Chapter 0440


    Candice looked down, her face staying calm, showing no real interest in what Alex was saying.


    The area was packed, with everyone crowding around Sonia''s hospital room, hoping for some


    action.


    Not wanting to stick around any longer than necessary, Candice began to walk away from Alex.


    But then, he gently grabbed her wrist. She looked up and met his intense gaze.


    N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    There wasn''t much emotion on his face as he reminded her, "It''s raining outside."


    Candice stopped in her tracks, a hint of confusion shing in her eyes. She wondered what he


    meant. His sudden change in demeanor made it hard for her to think positively.


    Before she could ask, Joan pushed her way through to Alex''s side.


    Her voice sounded pitiful as she spoke, "Mr. Elysian, Sonia never did you wrong when she was with


    you. Even if she messed upter, it was only because she was upset with you. You have no idea


    how much she suffered when she went home after your fights."


    Joan pleaded desperately for Sonia. She ignored everyone else around Alex.


    She shoved Candice aside, but Yana caught her before she could bump into someone else.


    Known for her temper, Yana snapped, "Hey! Can''t you see there are people here? What''s with the


    pushing? If someone gets hurt, you''ll have to pay for their medical bills."


    Joan paled and muttered an apology to Candice before quicklytching back onto Alex.


    Candice didn''t want to ask anything anymore. She left with Yana.


    Once Candice was out of sight, Alex withdrew his gaze and turned it coldly on Joan.


    Stuttering before, Joan now fell silent under Alex''s stare, unable to find her words.


    Candice and Yana didn''t leave the hospital. It was lightly raining outside.


    Yana, worried that Candice might catch a cold, decided to wait for the cab they had called. She


    muttered to herself, "Now I get why Sonia''s such a drama queen. Her mom''s no different."


    Joan was clearly good at ying the sympathy card.


    Yana asked, "Do you think Alex will soften up?"


    Candice wasn''t sure if Alex would soften up, but after ten minutes of waiting, their ride still hadn''t


    arrived.


    Getting impatient, Yana called the driver.


    The driver exined there was a traffic jam from an ident on the overpass and suggested


    canceling the ride.


    With Yana''s car in the shop, Hanley busy with clients, and Jackson tied up, they were stuck.


    "It''s fine; I''ll call another ride," Candice suggested.


    Just then, Sawyer approached them. He noticed the bags in Yana''s hand and asked Candice, "Are


    you leaving the hospital today?"


    Yana, already annoyed, knew Sawyer worked for Alex and couldn''t help but snap, "What do you


    think? That we''re off on vacation?"


    Sawyer coughed awkwardly. His gaze shifted to Candice as he mentioned, "There was a car crash


    near the overpass. You might have trouble finding a cab right now."


    He paused before offering, "I could drive you home. It''s raining, and it''s inconvenient for you to


    move around."


    Candice declined immediately.


    Yana replied icily, "You''re offering a ride? You''re not nning on using Alex''s car, are you?"


    Sawyer nervously rified, "No, no! It''s not like that. Mr. Elysian''s busy with the police investigation.


    He won''t be leaving anytime soon. I can drop you off ande back. He probably wouldn''t mind."


    But no matter what he said, Candice didn''t want toplicate things and preferred to decline the


    offer.


    Yana reluctantly agreed before she could express her doubts.


    "Fine. Since you''re so insistent on driving us, go get the car. I don''t want to be stuck in this awful


    weather any longer," Yana said.


    Sawyer nodded and headed off to retrieve the car.


    Candice nced at Yana, who blinked innocently and stated matter-of-factly, "Alex is such a snob.


    What''s the big deal about riding in his car? Plus, it''s hard to find a taxi in this weather. If someone''s


    offering us a ride, we might as well take it, right?"


    Yana was quite firm in her stance.


    When Sawyer pulled up with the car, Candice felt it was pointless to argue further. Besides, Sawyer


    mentioned that Alex wouldn''t be leaving soon, so she followed Yana into the car.


    However, shortly after leaving the hospital, Sawyer''s phone rang.


    He answered, and his expression turned serious as he nced at Candice through the rearview


    mirror.


    Noticing his demeanor, Candice asked, "What''s up?"


    Sawyer struggled to respond, "Mr. Elysian wants me to go back and pick him up."


    Candice fell silent.


    As they returned to the hospital, the rain grew heavier, obscuring the sky.


    Sawyer quickly instructed them to stay put in the car and grabbed an umbre to fetch Alex.


    Candice wanted to get out, but Yana held her back firmly.


    "We don''t have an umbre. Do you want to get drenched? Why should you avoid him? If anyone


    should feel guilty, it''s him, not you. If anyone should be avoiding anyone, it''s him avoiding you,"


    Yana reasoned.


    Candice whispered, "I''m not avoiding him; I just don''t want to be around him."


    She felt like she had gotten too involved with Alex in the past, and it never ended well for her. It was


    time to be smarter.


    Yana let out a soft sigh and reminded her, "Don''t forget you''re pregnant. Running out in the rain


    won''t help unless you want to end up back in the hospital for another two weeks."


    The doctor had already warned her to be careful when they discharged her.


    "Here hees," Yana murmured quietly.


    Candice nced out the car window.


    Through the misty rain, Alex walked toward them with a ck umbre, parting through the dense


    droplets.


    He seemed to sense something as he slightly lifted the umbre and looked at Candice.


    Their eyes met through the rain and the car window.


    Candice''s eyshes fluttered. She quickly looked away decisively.


    Only when the car door opened did she realize that the windows were one-way ss.


    Alex opened the passenger door, letting in the cold air from outside. The atmosphere turned


    somewhat tense.


    Sawyer followed closely behind. He quietly exined, "It''s raining outside; it''s not easy for them to


    find a cab."


    No one said anything in response.


    The car started moving toward the vi. They got stuck in traffic at an intersection.


    Alex spoke up in a deep voice and said, "Sonia might not face penalties as per the verdict."


    Candice, who had been staring nkly outside, snapped her attention to him at his words. She


    suddenly clenched her hands and looked at Alex.


    "Why?" she asked, her voice filled with agitation.


    Her fingers dug into her palm as she stared intensely at Alex, questioning him slowly, almost word


    for word.


    Alex met her gaze; his expression was difficult to decipher. After a moment of silence, he replied,


    "Someone has arranged for her to be released on medical bail."