Chapter 0386
"She’s pregnant, so she should stay at home and take care of her unborn baby instead of running
around," Henry said to Alex with a warning tone while furrowing his brows.
"Although my family isn''t wealthy, I’ve showered Candy with love since she was little. I don’t care
that you’re rich and powerful—I won’t let you off if you dare to mistreat her."
"What are you talking about, Henry? I never knew you were so protective. It''s a matter between the
young couple. Why are you getting involved?" joked someone on the side.
Henry shot thementer a death re and stated firmly, "She’s my daughter; of course, I have to
be protective of her, especially since they aren’t married yet. But even after they get married, she
will still be my baby girl!"
Listening to their back-and-forth, Candice found the situation unbearably dull.
However, she felt that the two ‘actors’ Henry had brought in were skillful in steering the
conversation.
In just a few sentences, they had shifted to the topic of marriage.
After considering for a moment, Henry looked at Alex and Candice.
If Candice hadn''t seen Henry’s true colors that day, she might have been moved by the seemingly
genuine concern on his face now.
Henry directed a question at Alex. "Now that Candy is pregnant, when do you n to get married?"
Candice''s heart sank instantly. She spoke in a cold tone, "We’re not getting married."
"What did you say?" Henry raised his voice while ring at Candice. "What are you talking about,
silly girl? Why are you throwing a tantrum at a time like this?!"
He then turned to Alex, still frowning, but with a hint of probing in his tone. "Since Candy is carrying
your child, you will take responsibility for her, right?"
Alex casually tapped his finger on the table as his gaze, which was devoid of emotions, slowly
drifted back to Candice''s face.
This time, he paused for quite a while.
Candice was rmed by his intense scrutiny, and then she heard his nonchnt words.
"It''s mine. So, of course, I''ll take responsibility."
Henry nodded approvingly. "Great. Now, what’s the bride-dowry your family have decided on—"
Before he could finish, a loud crash interrupted him.
Candice had mmed a teacup onto the table. Exasperated, she looked at Henry, and then at Alex,
who wore a numb expression.
"Stop talking about marriage, bride-dowry, and whatnot. I''ve said it''s impossible. I have nothing to
do with him, and the child in my belly is not his."
Candice rarely felt such intense anger. She red at Henry, but before she could finish her words, a
resounding p echoed as Henry''s handnded on the table.
He scolded, "Candy, what are you doing? I’m discussing important matters with Alex. This is for
your own good. Why are you so stubborn?! You’re carrying his child. I’m not just talking about the
house and bride-dowry—he should provide for other things too! You’re my baby girl; do you think I’ll
just let you bear children for him for nothing?"
Henry''s emotions seemed genuinely that of a protective father advocating for his daughter. But what
kind of a father was he if his first reaction upon learning of his daughter''s pregnancy was to demand
a house and money from the man involved?
And what about the ''other things'' he had mentioned?
Candice didn''t dare to dwell on what those might be.
She propped herself on the table, almost numb to all emotions.
"Stop thinking about taking advantage of him. I have no connection with him, and the child in my
belly is not his."
"Candy!" Henry suddenly stood up, the soft glow in his eyes turning instantly icy. He gritted his teeth
while reminding Candice, "You should know what to say, and what not to say! If you don’t want me
to talk about marriage, fine. I won''t mention it again. But think before you speak! You’re a woman;
your reputation matters more than anything. Nobody will regard you as proper if they heard you say
those things! Besides, if you don''t marry him, who else will you marry? You already belong to him!"
Candice closed her eyes as she endured his scolding. Finally, she couldn’t hold it anymore.
She opened her eyes and looked at Henry while saying in a questioning tone, "So, in your eyes, a
so-called proper woman is someone who endures everything, someone who can''t do anything when
she’s pregnant, and someone who should stay at home waiting for her husband. It''s even better if
she can fetch a hefty dowry, huh? Henry, this is thest time I''ll call you ''Dad''.
"Do you remember what you taught me when I was little? You told me about Mn, about Florence
Nightingale. You said girls should have their own goals and dreams. So, I''ve been working hard and
facing every hardship head-on because I always remembered your words.
"But listen to what you''re saying now, and look at what you''re doing. When you held Hailey, who is
only neen, and did those disgusting things, did you feel no guilt at all?"
Candice almost roared out these words, which she had been holding inside since she saw Henry
with Hailey.
She always remembered sitting next to Henry when she was little, listening to him tell stories.
He said that girls should be independent and strong. He said she would grow up to be an excellent
and resilient young woman.
But now?
Candice couldn''t imagine that the person who had spoken those words would do such disgusting
things with a woman who was young enough to be his daughter.
When she saw the video Darius had shown her, she wanted to throw up.
Henry had destroyed her impression of him and made her question her entire worldview.
He was someone she used to look up to. Now, he had turned out to be the kind of person she
despised the most.
She almost couldn’t ept it.
Candice had been enduring it for all this while and had refrained from even thinking about Henry
until she heard the despicable things he had said just now.
He was no longer the good father she had remembered. He had be the kind of person she
encountered on a daily basis—selfish, narrow-minded, and ignorant.
Candice''s face turned pale, and her chest felt tight, making it difficult to breathe.
She picked up her bag, turning to leave.
She’d rather die than stay here for another second.
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She really couldn''t stand seeing Henry now; she couldn’t even nce at him without wanting to
throw up.
She had had enough.
But before she could take a step, she suddenly felt dizzy. This sensation was followed by a dull
ache in her lower abdomen.
Candice couldn''t maintain her bnce and was about to fall when someone behind her caught her
waist.
When she looked around, she met Alex''s profound and narrowed gaze.