Chapter 0341


    Alex''s demeanor darkened gradually. His stare at Shawn was intense, almost as if he could pierce


    through it. There was an unspoken turmoil brewing deep within his eyes, waiting to burst out.


    His voice was cold and measured as he spoke slowly, "Did she tell you about her pregnancy?"


    Shawn''s cane tapped the ground as he retorted, "She went for a check-up at the hospital. I


    understand now why Candice hesitated to tell you. You! You rascals are skilled at tormenting her,


    aren''t you? You''ve driven her away. Are you happy now?"


    Despite Shawn''s barrage of insults, Alex remained impassive.


    "Are you even paying attention to what I''m saying?!" Shawn''s expression grew darker.


    He cautioned, "Listen, you aren''t the reason for me to adore Candice. Even if you''re not together, I


    still consider her a grandchild. Don''t dare to covet my granddaughter in the future!"


    With that, he rose abruptly and left the office with Bruno''s assistance.


    Only then did Alex snap back to reality. His pupils trembled slightly as he watched Shawn''s


    departure, his hands still frozen in the act of organizing documents.


    The office air seemed to thicken, quiet enough to hear a pin drop.


    After a prolonged moment, Alex lowered his gaze and returned the documents to their ce.


    Instead of sitting, he stayed standing in the same position.


    Shawn''s fiery words continued to reverberate in his mind—Candice was pregnant.


    A myriad ofplex emotions flickered in his eyes, his lips pressing into a tight line.


    "Mr. Elysian," Sawyer''s concerned voice interrupted.


    Alex eased his furrowed brow and looked up at Sawyer.


    Sawyer continued, "Your next meeting is in ten minutes. I''ve been trying to reach you several times.


    Is everything alright? Do you need to postpone the meeting?"


    Alex''s muddled thoughts dispersed as he reflected for a while. His tone was icy as he said, "Cancel


    the lunch break and push all the meetings slightly earlier."


    Observing Alex''s demeanor, Sawyer refrained from furtherments and simply nodded before


    exiting the room.


    Ever since Alex mentioned the dy in the third stage of the project, Candice had been urging


    Ryan toplete it upon his return.


    Ryan was aware of his role in the dy. He had been working overtime since returning from the


    construction site a few days ago, striving to catch up.


    Candice wanted to assist, but the project involved technical materials and precise data beyond her


    current expertise.


    Instead, she sought additional professional guidance from Hanley.


    Feeling apologetic, Candice remarked, "You''re already busy with work, and now, I''m burdening you


    with additional lessons."


    Hanley nced at her and produced a box of salty crackers from somewhere. He extended it to


    Candice.


    He cast her a gentle gaze and spoke in a deep, soothing tone, "A client sent these. His wife made


    them herself without any harmful additives. They should help alleviate your difort."


    Candice felt a surge of emotion in her heart as she gazed at the package of salty crackers.


    Her symptoms were more severe than those of other pregnant women since her hormone levels


    were very high. Nevertheless, she had to endure it every time because she couldn''t just take pills.


    Grateful, Candice epted the crackers and smiled at Hanley. She said, "Ryan mentioned he


    should be able to finish tonight. How about we go out for dinner together? Everyone''s been under a


    lot of pressuretely, so it''d be nice to unwind."


    Hanley remained silent.


    Nadia interjected, "Sure! There''s a new grilled fish restaurant across the street. It should be good."


    However, Hanley declined, "I don''t eat fish."


    Surprised, Nadia asked, "Why not?"


    Hanley exined casually, "The smell is overpowering and unpleasant."


    Disappointed, Nadia responded, "Oh, okay."


    Then, she brightened up and said, "How about barbecue then? Barbecue sounds good."


    Hanley''s Adam''s apple bobbled as if he were trying to speak.


    Candice feared that he would reject the suggestion, so she intervened quickly, "Barbecue sounds


    perfect. I''ve been craving ittely."


    Hanley arched an eyebrow but refrained frommenting.


    The barbecue joint wasn''t too far away. They wrapped up their meal by nine.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Nadia had suggested the restaurant. Not only was the ambiance pleasant, but the food was


    delicious—even Candice indulged in the food.


    Midway through their meal, Alex''s call interrupted her joy. Candice''s smile waned as she nced at


    her phone.


    She had anticipated Alex''s contact. With Shawn and Jessica already in the loop about her


    pregnancy, it was only natural for Alex to know too.


    After informing her colleagues, Candice excused herself to take the call.


    Once connected, silence greeted her from the other end.


    Candice remained silent, waiting for Alex to initiate the conversation. After a while, she heard a few


    weak breathing sounds from the opposite side.


    Then, a deep, hoarse voice asked, "Pregnant?"


    Standing beneath a streetlight, Candice watched her elongated shadow and affirmed.


    "Have you undergone any medical examinations?" Alex inquired.


    Candice exhaled slowly, saying, "You''re meddling too much in my affairs. This child has nothing to


    do with you."


    Alex was taken aback. He had trouble deciphering the tone of her response. He probed further, "It''s


    not mine?"


    He chuckled softly, adopting a nonchnt tone, "Then whose is it?"


    Candice gripped the phone tighter, feeling a surge of difort in her chest. She rebuffed, "Aren’t


    you too confident in yourself? Do you believe I can''t exist without you?"


    With a light chuckle, she retorted, "Do you need the hotel records?"


    Candice had rehearsed this scenario countless times in her mind, knowing Alex would eventually


    reach out.


    Her tone remainedposed as she continued, "Every time we were together, we took


    precautions. Over the years, it became a routine for me. So, the night we spent together, I took a


    contraceptive pill the next morning."


    Candice could not see Alex on the other end of the phone. He stood beside the floor-to-ceiling


    window in his office, gazing down at the dazzling night scene below.


    Her words seemed to breeze past him.


    He kept his lips pressed together until he heard a deep, enticing male voicee from Candice''s


    side.


    "We should head back now. It looks like it''s going to rain."


    Candice nced at the approaching Hanley, nodded, and promptly ended the call.


    Hanley asked, "Did I interrupt something? The forecast says it''ll rain in fifteen minutes. It''s best to


    hurry back."


    Observing the three taxis called by others nearby, Candice shook her head and replied, "It''s


    nothing, really."


    Hanley gave her a sidelong nce and suggested, "Let''s head home."


    True to the forecast, heavy rain poured as soon as they reached the vi.


    Sieg, having juste in from outside the bar, was drenched. He grumbled as he wiped his hair


    irritably, "This weather is so unpredictable. It started raining out of nowhere."


    ncing at the person sitting across the shadows, Sieg casually poured himself a drink and asked,


    "What''s wrong with you? Your expression is darker than the weather outside."