Chapter 234


    Candice had already spent twenty minutes in the emergency department when Hanley arrived.


    His face was serious, his brows creased with concern. “How are you feeling? Where did you get


    hurt?” he asked.


    Candice had gone to the hospital to keep Joe’spany, but she was waiting outside the


    emergency room. Evidently, she had been injured.


    Despite having taken pain relief, she was still experiencing a persistent ache in her shoulder.


    Under the stark hospital lighting, her face appeared unusually pale, and her lipscked their usual


    color.


    “I’ve got


    a slight fracture in my shoulder,” Candice said.


    Hanley’s eyes narrowed. “Was it him who caused this?”


    Candice avoided answering directly. She slowly stood up, grabbing her medication and medical


    report. “I’m not in a position to drive right now, could you please drive me home?”


    Her mood was low.


    Hanley’s stare lingered on her briefly before he offered his hand. “Give me your things, I’ll carry


    them.”


    Realizing there was no need to act tough, Candice handed over her belongings and followed


    Hanley to the parking lot.


    He courteously opened the car door for her, and Candice, with lips tightly pressed, got in.


    Closing the door gently, he hesitated a little before he offered, “Let me fasten your seatbelt.”


    Considering her limited mobility, Candice nodded in agreement.


    As he leaned in to assist, Candice could faintly smell a refreshing hint of peppermint on him. It was


    different to Alex’s colder aura. Hanley’s fragrance was more soothing and clean.


    Hanley maintained a respectful distance throughout. Once the seat belt was fastened, he quickly


    leant back.


    Dazed from the pain, Candice thanked him in a low voice and then remained quiet.


    “I saw Alex on my way here,” Hanley mentioned neutrally, his voice betraying no emotion.


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    Candice responded with a slight nod and said, “He was at the hospital by chance.”


    “Did he encounter Ivor?”


    “Yes.”


    It waste at night, and the streets were nearly empty. Hanley gently brought the car to a stop at


    a red light before clicking his tongue.


    Candice looked up and noticed the interior light of the car was on. It was a thoughtful gesture


    from Hanley. Ever since Jackson had confided in him about her night blindness, the car light was


    always on whenever Candice rode with him at night.


    In the car’s gentle yellow glow, Hanley’s usual expression seemed to soften..


    After a brief pause, Hanley broke the silence and said, “I got here a bitte.”


    Candice experienced a rush of emotions but chose not to voice them. She couldn’t quite grasp his


    meaning and didn’t feel the urge to ask further, especially with the unresolved issues surrounding


    Ivor.


    Thankfully. Hanley wasn’t one for small talk. He drove her home and waited until he saw the lights.


    come on before departing.


    Candice had a restless night because of her shoulder pain. It stung when she moved. She couldn’t


    even lie down, let alone find afortable position to sleep in. In the end, she spent the night


    upright on the sofa.


    The next morning, her limited mobility made even the simplest of tasks, like washing up, take a long


    time.


    She had already informed Hanley that she wouldn’t be going to the studio that day, but she still


    needed to visit the hospital.


    Just as she was preparing to leave, her phone rang.


    “Is this Candice Renault? This is Dorrington Police Station. Aboutst night’s altercation with Mr.


    Ivor Dawson, we have some information for you. The initial examination results of Mr. Dawson’s


    injuries are in. He has sustained severe damage to his reproductive organs, and further tests are


    ongoing. We’ve


    notified his family and need you toe to the station to address this matter.”


    Last night, Candice had kicked Ivor fiercely while wearing her leather shoes, but she had thought


    the man deserved it. She believed there was nothing to fear because she had acted in self-


    defense. Even with Ivor severely hurt, Candice felt she had every right to harm him given the


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    circumstances.


    Later, she visited the hospital.


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    Her grandfather was oblivious to the situation and was delighted to see her.


    Candice discreetly informed the staff and the doctors about the incident, requesting that they remain


    silent about it before taking a taxi to the police station.


    Ivor was still hospitalized and was not present at the police station.


    After interviewing Candice about the incident, the officers brought her to confront Ivor.


    At the hospital, Ivor was in a bed, his legs wide open, seething with suppressed anger.


    Upon seeing Candice, his eyes became furious, and he shouted venomously, “Bitch! I’ll kill you!”


    Candice faced him with an air of calm. The threat caught her off guard for a moment, but she swiftly


    recovered. “You started it, so this is just karma,” she said calmly.


    Ivor’s re was filled with murderous intent. In an attempt to grab an object nearby, he inadvertently


    moved his body too quickly, causing a sharp pain that made him groan deeply. He helplessly


    slumped back onto the bed.


    “Get out! Get the hell out of here! I’ll kill you! Whore! Why don’t you just die? You’re going to die


    miserably!” Ivor yelled profanities, and the officers frowned.


    Despite this, the officers couldn’t help but feel a bit of pity for him, considering his condition.


    Candice maintained her calm demeanor and suggested to the officer, “Perhaps we should consider


    arranging a psychiatric evaluation for him.”


    The officer was embarrassed. They found the situation rather tricky.


    Security footage clearly showed Ivor initiating the attack, validating Candice’s im of self- defense.


    Ivor’s injuries were serious, however, with doctors indicating a possible permanent loss. of certain


    functions.


    The fact that Ivor identified Candice as his stepdaughter only added to the dilemma.


    A stepdaughter causing such harm to her stepfather was a delicate and problematic situation. from


    any perspective.


    Feeling justified, Candice brought along her medical report, which confirmed a minor fracture in her


    shoulder due to Ivor’s assault.


    “I might even consider seekingpensation from him,” she mentioned, though she doubted she


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    would get it.


    Yvonne, looking gaunt and disheveled, arrived at the hospital with Peach.


    Her arrival was marked by a flood of tears and cries of despair as she entered the ward.


    “What’s happened to you? The police told me… What am I supposed to do now?” she waited.


    Ivor’s enraged voice followed. “You’re here to grieve? I’m not dead yet! It’s your damn daughter’s


    fault!”


    “Why is my life full of suffering?” Yvonnemented.


    Sitting outside on the bench, Candice listened to the chaotic blend of insults and wails emanating


    from the ward. She gazed emotionlessly at the ward’s door number.


    Yvonne hadn’t even looked at her when she arrived. Even though Ivor was a sleaze and a lowlife.


    her mother valued him more.


    The quarrel attracted a crowd of onlookers.


    Already enduring a headache and shoulder pain, Candice had reached her limit. She asked the


    officer, “Can I leave now?”


    The ward door abruptly swung open.


    Yvonne’s fragile form stormed out of the room and she pped Candice hard across the face..


    With tears streaming down her face, she pointed at Candice,menting, “How could I have raised


    such a heartless and cruel daughter?”