Chapter 261


    Candice quickly recalled the details of the past, and she suddenly realized that the interaction


    between Sonia and Yvonne might be deeper than she had thought.


    Could the matter of her grandfather also be rted to her?


    Candice immediately mmed on the brakes on her thoughts. Some things had no evidence, and


    she did not even have the right to suspect. But she could not help but nce at Sonia a bit more.


    The expression on Sonia’s face cooled slightly, and she raised her chin slightly. “Candice, you’ve


    been looking at me, is there something on your mind?”


    Candice nced away. “Just a bit distracted.” She did a good job on the surface, and others could


    not see any clues to her true thoughts.


    Alex’s cold and calm eyes fell on her. The warm yellow light happened to be on him, softening his


    originally sharp gaze. But that softness was shattered when he spoke. “If it doesn’t concern you,


    do you really not care and are still distracted?”


    Every word was tinged with a hint of mockery, and it did not sound pleasant in Candice’s ears.


    She blinked.““If there’s anything you need me to do, I can cooperate.”


    Alex sneered. He casually lifted his eyes, and his tone became slightly serious. “Don’t act like


    you’re doing me a favor, Candice. These are things you should have done. Regardless of whether


    you admit it or not, it’s because of you that Ivor implicated me. Shouldn’t you return what you owe


    me?”


    His words were somewhat heavy, and Candice moved her lips but did not know how to refute. Or


    perhaps, she could not refute. Because what Alex said was the truth, Ivor had no grudges with him,


    and if it were not for Candice, he would not have been involved with Alex.


    This was her debt to him. She acknowledged it.


    Candice clenched her hands, and her nails left a deep mark on the soft flesh of her palm. It hurt a


    bit.


    Greg nced at Alex, then at Candice. Frowning, he tried to ease the tension. “Lex, why are your


    saying these things? Don’t you know what kind of a person Ivor is? What’s the point of scaring the


    girl like this?” He jokingly added, “And it’s all supposedly things she owes you. What are you


    doing, trying to y pick–up artist here?”


    Alex nced at him indifferently. “It’s not you who’s in trouble. Of course you find it easy.”


    +15 BONOS


    Greg touched his nose and remained silent. He had been in Noxville all along, and as soon as the


    Incident urred, he knew about it. Naturally, he was aware of the impact not only on Alex but also


    on Aether’s branch due to these events. Even the new coborative clients had been disrupted by


    those people.


    A few days ago, someone even audaciously came to Aether to cause trouble, which had prompted


    Alex to rush over in such a hurry to handle the situation. However-


    He nced at Candice, who stood still, and he, who was used to staying neutral, sighed lightly


    internally. Forget it. It was their own business, and he did not want to meddle too much.


    Candice had only had a light breakfast that morning, and since then hadn’t even drunk a sip of


    water. Herplexion was pale, andcked a healthy color. She looked at Alex, her slender figure


    standing straight, always carrying a stubbornness that seemed toe from her bones.


    “The incident has already happened,” she said, “and no matter how much I apologize to you, it’s


    useless. But what I owe you, whether it’s money or the trouble I caused you, I willpensate you


    for it.” Her voice, though soft, was exceptionally firm. “If you still don’t trust me, I can write you a


    guarantee letter. I’ll keep it until the matter is resolved.”


    No one responded for a moment.


    Even Greg frowned slightly. “Candice, aren’t you making this sound too serious…”


    Before he could finish, Alex’s low voice interrupted him. “Promissory notes and guarantees


    without sufficient abilities are as useless as scrap paper,” Alex said expressionlessly. “It’s


    sufficient to have just one of your worthless pieces of paper.”


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    He was referring to the IOU Candice wrote for the 1.5 million.


    Candice swallowed before speaking wearily. “I will return it to you. I just hope that you can give


    me some time.


    Alex’s lips twitched slightly, and a vague scoff came from his throat.


    Sonia, who had been watching from the side, finally reproached Alex. “Lex, what are you saying?


    Candice used to be your secretary. She’s in a difficult situation now, and you should help her.


    What’s wrong with that? And Candice used to be good to you. Even ifter…” she paused, skillfully


    shifting the topic. “But help should be given when it’s needed. Don’t worry. I won’t mind anything.”


    Although Song Yinyin’s words were tactful, they were rude. She had managed to indirectly bring up


    Candice’s past rtionship with Alex, mention Candice being fired by Alex, and finally subtly


    point out that Alex and her were no longer rted.


    It was a convoluted conversation, annoying to listen to. But when Candice heard her voice, her


    gaze, originally focused on Alex, shifted to Sonia. She had a bold spection in her mind, but it


    was not confirmed yet.


    Candice left shortly after. As she exited the hotel, it started raining outside. The rain was light.


    She used a ride–hailing app to hire a ride and randomly picked a hotel.


    Just as she arrived at the hotel, the rain outside turned into a torrential downpour, the sound of


    raindrops hitting the ground incessantly created a somewhat unsettling atmosphere.


    Candicepleted the check–in but had yet to unpack her luggage when her phone rang.


    It was a call from Yana. “Have you arrived in Noxville?”


    “I arrived this morning.”


    “Okay, I was just calling to check. By the way, that person from Blue Artifact, Mr. rk said he


    wants to invite you for dinner. You can contact him yoursell, right?”


    Candice hummed an acknowledgement. “Are you at the studio?”


    “I’ve been brought in as a reserve soldier again. Hanley was suddenly called back to the Baldwin


    homest night. His old man suddenly fainted at home.”


    Yana casually mentioned it without any further boration. Candice did not inquire further either.


    She did not know much about Hanley’s family matters either. She had only heard bits and pieces


    from Alex and others. Hanley seemed to have a strained rtionship with the Baldwins, and he


    had a half–brother from a different mother.


    After Yana hung up, Candice went to take a shower and rest, but she was not sleepy.


    Once the seed of suspicion took root in her mind, it was challenging to rx. She decided to sit up


    and began to reflect on everything that had happened since she met Sonia. She singled out a few


    ces where Sonia had interacted with Yvonne.


    Undeniably, during those time frames, Yvonne would alwayse to create some trouble for her.


    Candice’s expression grew colder. If Sonia was truly involved in her grandfather’s matters, she


    would not let her off easily. But this needed evidence.


    Sitting in silence on the bed for a moment, Candice picked up her phone, changed into fresh


    clothes, and left the room.