Chapter 0337
Hanley''s gaze was intense and impossible for Alex to ignore.
Alex stood outside the fence. Meeting Hanley''s gaze, the look in his eyes revealed a determination
to not back down.
There was a clear unspoken standoff between the two.
"You seem pretty rxed, Hanley. Not worried about Caspian pushing you out of the family
business, aren''t you?" It was Sieg''s voice,ced with sarcasm, that cut through the air as he
nonchntly lit up a cigarette.
A slight frown crossed Hanley''s face. He subtly positioned himself to shield Candice before coolly
replying, "I see Caspian''s been putting on airstely. It turns out that he has secured the Frowlers''
support.”
Sieg''s response was a dismissive chuckle. "Well, it''s just a mutually beneficial partnership." He took
a drag of the cigarette, letting out a spreading cloud.
Candice was hypersensitive to the smell of cigarettes. When the aroma floated toward her, she felt
sick and reflexively stepped back.
Hanley observed how ufortable she was. He was momentarily stunned and then shielded her
nose with his hand, offering her a momentary respite.
Repressing her unease, Candice fixed her gaze on him.
"Go inside if you''re unwell," Hanley urged gently.
Despite being continually engaged inborious activity, Hanley always had a pleasant aroma with a
tinge of mint with him, which wasfortable for Candice.
Candice lowered her gaze. Her gaze followed the lines of his palm. "Thank you."
Theymunicated intimately and appeared to be unaware of their surroundings.
Alex''s face remained impassive, but the chill in his gaze deepened, and not even the rising sun
could melt it.
As Candice felt the chill of his steely gaze, the sight of Alex furtherplicated her already chaotic
thoughts.
Without ncing at Alex, she gently murmured to Hanley, "I''ll go inside. We can talkter."
"Sawyer mentioned that your studio hasn''t submitted the proposal and summary," Alex suddenly
spoke out before she departed. "You don''t seem to be in a hurry for the funding."
Candice froze briefly before turning to face Alex.
The two documents had previously been agreed upon. Aether Corporation would process the
payment after they submitted it. But Ryan hadn''t had time to finish everything because of the
unexpected start of work in the department, so Candice had to wait to submit them to Aether
Corporation.
"I''ll have them delivered in a few days," Candice assured quietly. She sounded exhausted. Her gaze
was fixed on the tree behind Alex.
Candice was still processing the news of her pregnancy and wasn''t ready to act as if nothing had
happened with Alex.
Alex seemed to pick up on it. His demeanor grew colder, and he spoke coldly. "My grandfather
invited you for dinner, but it seems unnecessary now."
The mention of Shawn brought a wave ofplexity to Candice''s expression. She was bing
increasingly hesitant to meet Shawn. Moreplications may arise if the old man learned she was
carrying Alex''s child.
Hanley adjusted the coat on her shoulders and urged in a reassuring voice, "It''s a little cold in the
morning. Go inside before you catch a cold."
Candice did not want to engage with Alex any further. She offered a quick nod and went inside.
Alex watched as she vanished into the yard. What was going through his head was hard to decipher
from the depths of his dull, profound eyes.
Hanley carefully observed his reaction. After that, he asked in a gentle tone, "Mr. Elysian, is there
anything else?"
Alex shifted his gaze to him.
"In addition, Mr. Elysian should be aware that Candice will not be acting as the liaison between the
project and Aether Corporation any longer," Hanley said, his contempt hardly concealed. "I''ll have
Ryan take over."
Alex''s gaze sharpened and narrowed dangerously. His aura grew oppressive. "Mypany doesn''t
ept sudden personnel changes."
"So? Is this your way of bing involved with her?" Hanley rebuked; the ridicule in his eyes was
clear.
Alex stared at him intently.
Hanley couldn''t deny that Alex was particrly irritating to him now, more so than ever before. Even
the small gestures he made when Candice was around were done deliberately for Alex to see.
"Ever familiar with the term ''obsession'' Mr. Elysian?” Hanley asked icily. “Surely the head of a major
corporation would not lower themselves to the level of obsessiveness over an ex-employee who
had been fired?"
A gentle breeze wafted through the yard.
Alex''s stern expression took on an even sharper edge. With an unusually hostile tone, he turned to
Hanley and confronted him, "Are you challenging me?"
Hanley gave a scornfulugh and replied, "Why would I?"
Having said that, he retreated to the vi.
Sieg watched Hanley walk away. Hemented with a tsk, "Quite the defiance from Hanley."
Alex kept his gaze fixed on the yard. His expression was as icier than the cier that had stayed
frozen for millennia.
Sieg gently patted his arm tofort him. After a brief pause, he urged, "Let''s go! Jessica is waiting
for you at home."
-
Upon her return to the vi, Candice wasted no time making her way to the study.
Hanley soon followed her inside. He brought her a ss of warm water and ced it on the table.
He insisted, "Drink some warm water. I don''t want you to catch a cold."
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Candice lifted her gaze to his, but Hanley avoided making eye contact.
"Hanley…" She began to speak but then stopped.
Hanley was silent for a while before finally turning to her.
To meet his gaze, she had to slightly angle her head as Hanley stood while she was seated. Her
eyes glimmered with emotion.
Hanley stared into her clear and beautiful eyes. Aplicated emotion, iprehensible to those
around him, gradually took shape in his almond eyes.
He swallowed hard before speaking in a raspy tone, "You don''t like him anymore, do you?"
The morning sun shone brightly outside, and a soft breeze blew through the window.
Candice peered into Hanley''s eyes and noticed the caution and probing that were lurking behind.
Out of nowhere, she was rendered speechless. Ultimately, her pregnancy was known only to Yana
and Hanley, who kept it a secret from everyone else.
Candice herself had adjusted to the situation quickly. After the decision to keep the child was made,
she saw no need for any additional hesitation.
-
Jackson was still pursuing Francis''s case. Initially, Candice had intended to meet Francis, but due to
her pregnancy, she opted against it.
Following more detailed examinations, the doctor advised Candice to be extra cautious due to her
physical condition. Instead of visiting Francis, Candice was unexpectedly approached by Xavier.
Xavier reached out to her via text, stating, "I possess something you desire. Juste and see
me."
Initially, Candice contemted disregarding his message, but Xavier then sent a photograph. It
depicted Sonia and Francis standing together, captured discreetly near the hotel''s side entrance,
where the drugging incident urred.
After a brief moment of indecision, Candice agreed to meet Xavier.
As she departed, she encountered Jessica and Alex at the entrance of the vi.