Chapter 0409


    Throughout the morning, Alex remained in the conference hall, yet Candice acted as though he


    were invisible.


    While others enjoyed the aromatic coffee Alex had provided, Candice immersed herself in her files.


    Even the oblivious Ang couldn''t ignore the tension. She asked curiously, "What''s going on


    between you two? It feels like there''s a silent battle, and he''s trying to reconcile."


    Candice remained silent, focusing on her work.


    Undeterred, Ang sat down beside her. After a quick survey of the room, she remarked, "Have


    you noticed something missing today?"


    Candice nced up briefly, showing little interest.


    Ang continued, "It''s Sonia! Her forcedughter is absent today."


    She rubbed her arms and added, "It feels strange not having her around, doesn''t it?"


    Candice then realized she hadn''t seen Sonia all day. Given the conclusive evidence fromst night''s


    surveince footage, it was likely Sonia was still at the police station for questioning.


    Unexpectedly, at noon, Candice received a call from Jackson. His opening words were, "Francis


    confessed. He admitted Sonia instigated him to drug you, though he left out Xavier''s involvement."


    Candice paused in her tracks, pondering, "Why the sudden confession?"


    "He had been showing signs of confessing earlier, but he hesitated for reasons unknown,"


    Jackson rified, having been keeping track of the situation in Dorrington for Candice.


    In response, Candice stated, "Francis acknowledging Sonia''s involvement is sufficient."


    Sonia had done plenty. If her past actions were dug out, she wouldn''t be able to escape from them.


    Jackson didn''t pry into Candice''s motives but shared updates about her mother. He disclosed,


    "There''s been a change with Yvonne as well. I showed her the café videos, but... someone in jail


    mentioned Ivor having another son outside, and it seemed to deeply affect her. She appears to be


    struggling with her mental state."


    Candice felt oddly detached.


    Yvonne''s downfall was of her own making and unrted to anyone else. However, Francis''s


    confession had a silver lining.


    As Candice hastened to gather her belongings, Ang observed her newfound cheerfulness from


    the side and asked, "Who was that call from? You seem pleased."


    "Just a friend," Candice replied. "Indeed, I received some good news."


    A shadow fell over her as Alex approached. His gaze was intense as he demanded, "Leave with me


    later."


    Pausing her movements, Candice repeated, "As I''ve said before, until matters are resolved, it''s best


    for Mr. Elysian and me to limit our interactions."


    Her words were clear, and her stance was unwavering.


    Alex frowned, his gaze fixed on Candice. He suppressed his impatience and continued, "The results


    from the rear-end collision are in."


    He was referring to the car ident.


    Candice nced up at Alex, noting the healed wound on his forehead, now a faint pink scar.


    Sawyer joined them at that moment, his attention alternating between Alex and Candice as he


    remarked, "The car ident is also linked to Sonia. Mr. Elysian believes you were also a victim. You


    need to join us and understand the situation."


    Despite Alex''s cold stare, Sawyer persisted, "And as a victim involved, it''s only fair for you to


    apany us."


    With the situation tied to Sonia and presented in such a manner, Candice had little choice but to


    agree, "Fine, I''lle."


    Sawyer visibly rxed and said, "Then, we''ll leave togetherter."


    "Send me the address," Candice added after a brief pause. "Barox is waiting for me outside; I''ll go


    with him."


    As soon as she finished speaking, the air around them seemed to drop a few degrees.


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    Sawyer found himself at a loss for words. He instinctively turned to his boss for guidance.


    Candice also nced at him, her tone light and dismissive as she remarked, "In situations like this,


    it''s not necessary for me to remind Mr. Elysian that ying the third wheel isn''t exactly ethical."


    As Candice and Ang departed, Alex remained rooted to the spot.


    Ang was gradually piecing together the tension. Candice provided her with a straightforward


    ount of the situation with Sonia, including Alex''s protection of Sonia throughout the ordeal.


    Upon hearing the story, Ang''s expression was a mixture of speechlessness and disbelief.


    She eventually eximed, "Is that even humanly possible? How can Alex stand there in your


    presence acting entirely normal, as if nothing happened? No wonder you''re ignoring him; I''d do the


    same."


    She patted Candice''s arm with a heavy heart and added, "Seriously, you can submit this story to


    those strange tales or secrets columns."


    Ang continued to rant as she followed Candice out.


    Barox was indeed waiting outside. He seemed more rxed than usual, though his expression


    remained stoic.


    Today, he had even brought juice for Ang; it was from an ordinary shop, but it greatly pleased


    her. Winking at Candice, she remarked, "Well, at least your boyfriend knows how to show care."


    Candice turned to Barox and stated, "I need you to apany me to the police station today."


    Upon reaching the police station, they noticed a Bentley parked outside; Alex had already arrived.


    Candice entered without disying any emotion. The investigation''s findings showed that Sonia had


    hired the drunk driver who had caused the rear-end collision.


    Originally, Sonia''s target had been Candice. As soon as she learned of Candice''s presence in


    Sris, she had had someone tail her. This individual shadowed Candice for days to learn her


    routine.


    However, since Candice primarily relied on Alex for transportation to the conference hall during that


    period, the tracker failed to recognize Alex and mistakenly harmed him.


    As she flipped through the records, Candice recalled feeling paranoid about being followed, but she


    had brushed it off as her own anxiety.


    It turned out to be Sonia''s doing.


    Pausing her gesture to go through the confession record, Candice handed it back to the officer and


    advised, "You might want to review the hotel''s surveince footage; there may be evidence of


    someone tailing me."


    After a moment''s pause, she added, "Also, I noticed signs of tampering on the door of my hotel


    room; someone may have attempted to gain ess."


    She delivered the information calmly while the police officers attentively noted down her


    observations. One of them asked, "Is there anything else?"


    Candice lowered her eyes, took a moment to think, then slowly lifted her gaze. Her expression


    devoid of any emotion, she stated, "If the evidence is conclusive, what would be the consequences


    for Sonia?"


    "Intentional injury, invasion of privacy, incitement tomit a crime—if the evidence is conclusive,


    depending on how serious the offense is, she could face a minimum of three years in prison," the


    police officer responded, the words resonating clearly in the quiet office.


    Candice nodded in acknowledgment then lifted her eyes to meet Alex''s gaze across from her.