Chapter 301


    Candice lowered her eyes, pausing briefly before answering the call.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Almost instantly, Shawn''s concerned voice came through. "Candy, are you still out?"


    As she observed the heavy rainfall, Candice detected the concern in Shawn''s voice and softly


    confirmed, "Yes, I''m still out."


    Shawn was quick to offer, asking, "Where are you now? Let Alexe and get you. It''s not safe to


    drive in such weather."


    Candice bit her lip, reluctant to let Shawn know she was in Alex''spany. Out of the corner of her


    eye, she noticed Alex''s indifferent gaze,ced with a touch of disdain.


    She hesitated. She intended to reassure old Mr. Elysian that she didn''t need Alex''s help, when she


    heard him coughing harshly through the phone, along with the background noise of Bruno


    comforting him and bringing him medicine.


    "Are you all right?" she asked, worried.


    Between coughs, old Mr. Elysian’s weakened and hoarse voice replied. "I''m all right. It''s pouring out


    there, just look after yourself and don''t act rashly because of that jerk."


    Shawn''s words came with difficulty, and Candice was about to respond when Bruno abruptly cut off


    the call.


    Raising her eyes, she encountered Alex''s impatient gaze.


    In a deep toneced with sarcasm, he challenged her. "Aren''t you sick of ying the obedient and


    sensible one with Grandfather?" His eyes were cold and probing, pressed further. "Do I really need


    to beg to get a simple yes to be allowed to give you a ride?"


    Candice''s uncertainty due to old Mr. Elysian’s concern vanished in an instant. She stared at Alex


    unflinchingly and confronted him. "What have you begged me for? You seem to enjoy presenting


    your thoughts as if they''re some benevolent gift to the rest of us." She fixed her gaze at him.


    Candice seemed kinder as her piercing eyes grew more tender in the warm light. She smiled


    scornfully. "It''s pointless, really."


    She had never lied to Alex or needed anyone to beg on her. Why should she put up with his


    repeated, unfounded usations?


    Candice collected her belongings and stood up smoothly, bypassing Alex without so much as a


    nce. She hade for business. Since this was a formal asion, she wore professional attire


    and let her long hair fall loosely over her shoulders.


    As Candice''s figure receded, Jessica couldn''t resistmenting to Alex, "You definitely got that


    sharp tongue of yours from your mother."


    -


    Candice hadn''t nned on leaving so quickly. Upon reaching the lobby by the main entrance, the


    roar of the torrential rain caught her attention, sounding as though it was being poured out by the


    bucketful.


    The severe rainfall made the thought of walking to the nearby hotel on her own seem like an


    overwhelming challenge. The streets were deserted, with not a car in sight, and the relentless rain


    showed no sign of easing.


    Candice frowned as she held her phone and peered outdoors.


    A person walked past her into the building as she called Hanley, bringing the chilly wind and rain


    from outside inside. Some of the wetness brushed Candice''s arm, leaving a chilly, lingering


    sensation.


    With thunder rumbling gently in the background, Hanley''s deep and captivating voice came through.


    "Are you out and about?"


    "I''m still at the mall," she informed him.


    After a brief silence, Hanley said, "It''s pouring out there. It''s risky to go out. I cane get you."


    Candice quickly declined. "I don''t think so. Don''t bother yourself. I''ll wait for the rain to ease up. If it


    doesn''t, I''ll just check into a hotel close by for the night."


    Just as Hanley was about to respond, a sudden burst of thunder cut him off.


    "I''m fine,” Candice reassured him. “I should get going."


    It seemed like Alex and Jessica opted to leave via the underground car park. Candice located a


    coffee shop nearby to wait out the rain.


    The rain came down in torrents as if it were making up for lost time, continuing for nearly an hour


    before it started to let up.


    While chatting with Yana on WhatsApp, Candice was interrupted by an unexpected message from


    Ka, eager to share some gossip and seemingly delighting in the misfortune of others.


    "Sonia''snded herself in hot water. Mr. Elysian had been counting heavily on the deal with the


    Quintons, and he finally secured a meeting after much effort, but Sonia ruined it for him. I''ve heard


    from the grapevine that Sawyer, Julie, and some other senior executives had to rush back for


    emergency overtime."


    Since Candice was stuck waiting nheless, she asked, "What happened?"


    She had known about Alex''s ambitions to connect up with Sris for a while now, but could Sonia


    possibly pull this off on her own?


    Ka responded swiftly. "Believe me, it was quite the drama. On the day of the meeting, Sonia


    fainted at thepany and demanded Mr. Elysian take her to the hospital.


    "Mr. Elysian initially delegated this task to Sawyer, but Sonia burst into tears and made quite a


    scene in the office. Mr. Elysian had no choice but to take her to the hospital because members of a


    social welfare group were present.


    "ording to Sawyer, that was the only day the Quintons had avable for the meeting. When they


    attempted to reschedule, they were outright rejected."


    As Candice reflected on this exnation, she recalled seeing Alex and Sonia at the hospital. It


    exined why Alex had been in such a somber mood, seemingly holding back his frustration.


    It all made sense now.


    Considering hisck of reaction, Alex probably didn''t think it was a big deal that Sonia had ruined


    Quinton''s contract.


    Alex was true to his word, and Candice thought cynically to herself that if Sonia slipped up, he''d be


    the one to support her. That level of support must be what true love was like, she thought.


    She nonchntly responded to Ka and soon shifted the conversation to another issue.


    -


    The same relentless downpour that had affected Candice showed no signs of easing up in


    Northdale either.


    Sitting in a cafe beneath her apartment, Sonia was notably unwell. "Why did youe to see me


    with such heavy rain?" she asked Xavier across the table.


    Xavier regarded her with concern. "I''d just gotten back from Fesa. When I heard you were sick, I


    couldn''t help but worry and feltpelled to check on you."


    He was notably handsome, and his gentle, measured way of speaking had a way of making Sonia


    feel deeply cherished above everything else. When she raised her eyes and was ready to say


    something, she met Xavier''s gaze, which was filled with a worried but repressed look.


    The floodgates of her pent-up grievances burst open, unable to stay bottled up any longer.


    Since returning from the hospital, she''d been feverish and needed to take a few days off. She had


    hoped for a visit from Alex, yet, aside from one WhatsApp message exchange, she hadn''t seen him


    at all. Whenever she reached out, he imed to be swamped with work.


    Considering the size of Aether Corporation and Alex''s role as CEO, she doubted he couldn''t find a


    single moment for her. Her suspicion grew. She suspected Alex was simply tired of her and looking


    to end things.


    Xavier didn''t miss the brief shadow of despair in her eyes.


    Adjusting his sses, he softened his tone further. "It might not be my ce toment, but seeing


    you hurt like this truly affects me." After a brief pause, with a look of resolve, he continued. "I''m


    aware of your feelings for Alex, but it’s breaking my heart to see you so upset. Do you understand


    my feelings for you?”