Chapter 0325


    Jackson''s tone was tense as he looked at Candice, seemingly conflicted about her response.


    Candice recalled that Solomon had also asked her if she had rtives in Sris before. Something


    stirred in her mind. "Why are you asking this?"


    However, Jackson did not continue. He shook his head. "It must be me overthinking. I''m sorry."


    He had recently been confused, and he could not believe he thought there might be a connection


    between Candice and Darius. It made him think of Belle Quimby''s recent situation, adding more


    confusion to his thoughts.


    Sensing Jackson''s unusual emotions, Candice said, "If you have something on your mind, you can


    leave first."


    Jackson''s lips twitched slightly, and he looked conflicted. After a moment of silence, he lowered his


    voice and asked Candice, "Candy, why didn''t you break up with Alex back then?"


    Candice was a little surprised as to why Jackson would ask such a question. She sized him up.


    After all, Jackson never asked her these questions about love no matter how badly she had fought


    with Alex back then. At most, he helped out when she needed his help.


    However, she recalled his struggle earlier on and how he had previously mentioned E, she


    seemed to understand a little better.


    She looked at the cup of coffee on the table which had barely been touched and said tly, "When


    you can''t think things through, it''s like that. No matter how much other people give you advice, you


    wouldn''t be able to make sense of it."


    Just like she was in the past. She was well aware of Alex''s asshole behavior, but she had


    repeatedly reassured herself, thinking he was just ying around. However, in the end, she was the


    one being yed.


    With Jackson burdened by his thoughts, Candice did not want to disturb him any further and soon


    left.


    Before leaving, Jackson assured her, "I will handle Sonia''s matter as soon as possible. Don''t worry


    too much."


    Candice nodded and left.


    -


    Candice left the vi to have dinner with a client which she had previously scheduled. By the time


    she returned to the vi, night had already fallen.


    The vi was well-lit, and everyone was in the living room. "Where''s Hanley?” Candice asked Nadia


    casually. “I need to confirm the details with him."


    "He went to the hospital."


    Candice put her bag down. "What happened? Why did he suddenly go to the hospital?"


    Nadia shook her head. "It''s not about him. Someone in his family is sick, and he had to go check on


    them. Ryan and I both asked, but he left without saying anything."


    The situation in Hanley''s family was known to almost everyone at Burning Star. Candice


    acknowledged with a hum and turned to head to the study.


    Her busy schedule continued into the early morning. Just as she finished checking the documents,


    she heard the front door open.


    Hanley entered, and at a nce, he saw Candice.


    "Why aren’t you asleep yet?" His voice was a little dry.


    Seeing the exhaustion on his face, Candice stopped for a moment. "Nadia said that you went to the


    hospital. What happened?"


    Hanley brought in a chill from outside. Autumn had set in, and the temperature had dropped


    abruptly.


    He took off his coat and hung it on the rack before entering. "It''s my sister. She just returned to the


    country and had a car ident."


    "Your sister?" Candice blinked. It was the first time she heard Hanley mention his sister.


    Hanley''s voice carried a weary tone, and he sighed almost imperceptibly. "She has been in Northern


    Eushancia, and she came back recently due to a family emergency." Hanley moved in the direction


    of the kitchen. After a few steps he stopped. "Do you want somete-night snacks?"


    Candice realized that Hanley probably had not had dinner at the hospital, so she stepped forward.


    "I''ll do it. You should rest for a while." Approaching him, she could still smell the disinfectant on him,


    indicating a prolonged stay in the hospital.


    Hanley did not refuse. "Just make something simple. I''ll go upstairs to take a shower."


    Candice''s culinary skills were average, but making meatballs was within her capability.


    Just as she finished, Hanley came downstairs. He was wearing a white long-sleeved T-shirt, and his


    ck hair was damp. A few strands of hair across his forehead added a touch of gentleness to his


    already deep and captivating charming eyes.


    Hanley took the bowl from Candice and went to the dining table.


    Candice, who usually did not eat at night, found herself hungry tonight. She did not eat much during


    dinner and when she was making the meatballs, she found herself a little hungry.


    Candice waited until they had quietly finished the meatballs. "How is your sister doing?" she asked


    softly. She asked cautiously, mainly because Hanley did not seem rxed.


    Hanley paused for a moment. "Not good. Fractures in her lower leg, knee, and ankle, dislocated


    arm, fractured vicle, and internal bleeding. She had emergency surgery today, and she may need


    another surgery in a few days."


    Candice was stunned by the information. "Why is it so severe?"


    Hanley''s expression was a little mncholic. "I don''t know. She had just exited the airport and got


    rear-ended shortly after, then collided with the van next to her."


    Candice did not know what to say.


    Hanley, on the other hand, did not show a particrly strong reaction. He got up to clean the cutlery.


    "Take a rest. I''ll clean up."


    Looking at him, Candice asked, "Don''t you need to take care of your sister?"


    "My brother-inw came from Northern Euchansia," Hanley replied tly.


    Candice nodded and turned to go upstairs.


    However, Hanley suddenly stopped her. "Candice." She turned back, and Hanley''s tone softened.


    "The meatballs were delicious."


    -


    With Hanley''s sister involved in a car ident, he constantly shuttled to the hospital, leaving more


    tasks for others at the studio. Even Candice found herself busy.


    On the day she received a call from Jackson, Candice was still at the construction site with Nadia,


    assisting in measuring data.


    Jackson''s tone was serious. "Candy, there''s a problem with the situation involving Sonia. The


    process might not be as smooth as we thought."


    Candice''s face darkened, and she walked to a corner outside, asking Jackson in a low voice, "What


    do you mean?"


    "Somebody wants to protect Sonia," Jackson stated sinctly.


    Gloom settled in Candice’s eyes. She gazed at the clear sky outside for a while before asking, "Who


    is it?"


    "Candy—" Jackson hesitated.


    But Candice had already understood. She curled her lips. "Alex?"


    Jackson remained silent, tacitly confirming.


    Alex wanting to protect Sonia did not surprise Candice. After all, the information from Aether had


    been leaked by Sonia, yet Alex had not taken any serious action against her.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Candice stood outside with her phone for quite a while before going back with pursed lips.


    -


    At the same time at Aether, Sonia pushed open Alex''s office door.


    She knew she was going to meet Alex today, so she deliberately put on makeup to appear pitiful.


    She raised her eyes and cautiously looked at Alex in front of her.


    The man was impably dressed, exuding the same cold aura as always. His handsome face and


    the distant atmosphere around him created an unfriendly distance.


    Yet, this was precisely the aspect of Alex that captivated Sonia the most.


    Her eyes shimmered slightly as she spoke softly. "Lex."