Chapter 0389


    Before Alex could respond, the door to the ward swung open.


    Hanley had rushed in earlier without properly closing the door, leaving a slight gap.


    The people on both ends of the door froze. Hanley sat by Candice''s hospital bed, looking calmly at


    Alex.


    Alex halted at the entrance, his once tranquil eyes now resembling ake in early winter, slowly


    freezing over.


    His gaze shifted from Hanley to Candice''s face as his eyes narrowed with a judgmental air.


    Candice spoke up. "What are you here for now?"


    There was a pin-drop silence in the ward.


    In Alex''s eyes, which were naturally deep and silent, a glimmer of light emerged. With his brows


    raised, he looked at Candice with his thin lips tightly pursed.


    Sawyer cleared his throat and exined, "Candice, you have another examination scheduled for


    today. It''s an impromptu order from the doctor, and they called Mr. Elysian. He''s here to take you for


    the examination."


    When Alex left in the morning, he had specifically instructed the on-duty doctor to contact him


    directly if anything came up because it would be inconvenient for Candice to handle such matters


    alone.


    Hence, when the doctor issued the examination order, they immediately called Alex, and he rushed


    over after finishing his meeting.


    After exining, Sawyer stepped back. He knew that Alex often preferred keeping the truth to


    himself. Even Shawn had reminded him that, if necessary, he could act as Alex’s spokesperson.


    However, Candice remained unfazed upon hearing this. She simply said, "There are caregivers at


    the hospital."


    Implicitly, she was suggesting that Alex didn’t have to get himself involved.


    Hanley happened to be getting up at that moment. Physically resembling Alex, he matched him in


    presence too.


    His voice had a hint of seriousness when he said, "Mr. Elysian, I appreciate your concern for


    Candice, but she is now associated with Burning Star Studio. We don’t want to trouble you further."


    Hanley''s words had a pointed tone.


    Alex''s expression remained unchanged as he calmly stated, "Mr. Baldwin, you’re such a


    considerate boss. I wonder if such consideration for employees would be a highlight during the


    uing tender conference."


    Hanley''s captivating eyes carried a sense ofpetition. "Mr. Elysian, instead of worrying about


    Burning Star Studio, perhaps you should focus on your own matters."


    Between Aether Corporation and Burning Star Studio, thetter faced fewer challenges. Hanley''s


    words carried a slight mockery.


    Hanley continued in a leisurely manner, "I suppose you''re quite busy, Mr. Elysian. I won''t keep you


    here. I''ll take care of Candice."


    This was Hanley''s way of asking Alex to leave.


    Meanwhile, Candice nced outside in tacit agreement.


    Alex, without a hint of emotion on his face, gave her a brief nce before turning to leave with


    Sawyer.


    Alex walked out inrge strides.


    Sawyer said, confused, "Mr. Elysian, why didn''t you tell Candice about her father spreading rumors


    about Aether Corporation? Now, people are saying you''re heartless, and that you tricked his


    daughter but you’re not taking responsibility. When I called Mr. Kemp just now, he sounded


    hesitant."


    The news about Alex, Candice and Henry’s dinnerst night had already spread. In smaller


    companies like Henry''s, the rumor mill ran more efficiently than thepany’s operations.


    Moreover, something happened after they left, and Henry almost ended up in the hospital due to


    anger.


    So, early this morning, Alex was alreadybeled as an irresponsible yboy, and Candice was


    criticized as an ungrateful and unfilial daughter.


    Sawyer spoke as they walked, inadvertently setting a tense atmosphere, especially when Stephan


    was mentioned.


    Alex came to Sris not only to coborate with the Quinton family but also to establish


    connections with Stephan. However, due to Henry''s actions, Stephan had rejected them twice.


    Even Sawyer himself was feeling a little frustrated.


    Alex listened without much reaction. He asked in a calm voice, "Are you trying to prolong her


    hospital stay?"


    "But—"


    Before Sawyer could say that matters were getting out of hand, Alex interrupted him as he looked


    ahead and said casually, "It''s just a rumor. Stephan is not a fool; he knows how to maximize his


    benefits. Right now, he simply hasn''t received what he wants.As for Henry..."


    Alex paused before saying, "Do you think Darius has that great of a rtionship with him?"


    As they talked, they didn''t notice a figure hiding behind a pir in the lobby.


    From afar, Sonia watched Alex and Sawyer leave with a deepening gaze.


    Without any apparent reason, Alex came to the hospital and left the inpatient department.


    As she recalled faintly hearing Candice’s name, her expression turned even more unpleasant.


    Just as she was about to contemte further, Quentin, who had gone ahead, turned around and


    asked, "Sonia, what are you doing?"


    Sonia quickly revealed a shy smile. She hooked her arm with Quentin''s and said, "Quentin, I’m


    surprised you''re taking me to visit your sister. Isn''t that a bit inappropriate?"


    Quentin paid no mind. He pinched Sonia''s waist and replied, "What''s inappropriate about it? You''re


    mine now. What are you afraid of?"


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Sonia pounded his chest yfully, and they continued upstairs.


    Quentin''s sister had just given birth to her second child and was staying on the second floor in the


    maternity ward.


    Originally uninterested, Sonia was just putting on a show of cooperation.


    However, as they passed by an open door, her steps suddenly halted. She couldn''t believe her eyes


    as she stared at the woman lying on the hospital bed.


    Why was Candice in the maternity ward?!


    Connecting the dots with the hastily seen figure of Alex downstairs, a dreadful thought emerged—


    could Candice be pregnant with Alex''s child?


    A wave of almost insane jealousy surged within Sonia. She tightened her grip on Quentin''s arm, her


    eyes filled with boundless resentment.


    Candice, that bitch! How did she get so lucky?


    How?!


    The thought of Candice being pregnant with Alex''s child ignited a frenzy of jealousy within Sonia.


    Just the idea made her want to rush into the room and strangle Candice.


    Candice, who was in the middle of answering the doctor''s questions, suddenly felt someone


    watching her. Instinctively, she nced toward the door but saw nothing.


    Outside the door, Sonia, pulled away by Quentin, left the area.


    Quentin frowned at her. "What’s up with you? Your grip was quite strong."


    Sonia quickly snapped back to reality and let go of his arm while shing a shy smile. "Quentin, I''m


    so sorry I hurt you. I just saw someone who looked familiar, and I got a bit lost in thought."


    "Someone familiar? Do you have friends in Sris?" Quentin asked.


    Shaking her head, Sonia put on an innocent look. "I’m not sure. I just felt like I recognized her, so I


    did a double take."


    She then smiled and continued, "But if it really is her, congrattions are in order. She seems to be


    pregnant."