Chapter 0443
Candice hadn''t seen Sieg and the others for a long time, and her rtionship with Sieg was not
good. So, she originally intended to ignore them.
However, Sieg stopped her, and Candice could only look at Sieg, who furrowed his brows and
looked like he was scrutinizing her.
Sieg sneered disdainfully, "Candice, why do you look worse and worse? With your current
appearance, what can you use topete with Nina?"
Candice had been through a lot recently, and she had been under immense pressure. Despite trying
to take care of herself, she was still quite thin. But her outstanding facial features made her look
delicate and beautiful when she was slim. Sieg''sment about her looking bad was purely
because he disliked her.
Candice initially didn''t want to pay attention to him, but when she heard the name Nina, she couldn''t
help but cast her gaze toward him.
Nina was the daughter-inw approved by Helen. Now that Sieg knew who Nina was, it seemed
that things between her and Alex were progressing.
Candice lowered her eyes, a hint of irony shing in her gaze.
Sonia''s situation hadn''t been resolved, yet Nina had already entered the picture. Helen and Daniel
seemed quite impatient.
Noticing Candice''s gaze, Sieg raised an eyebrow and was about to say something when Hanley
caught up with them.
He happened to stand beside Candice, blocking Sieg''s line of sight as he whispered to Candice,
"Watch your step."
The restaurant''s decoration was unique, and the floor tiles at the entrance were intentionally
designed to be intricate and uneven. If she didn’t pay attention, she might trip on it and fall.
Sieg''s gaze on Candice was interrupted by Hanley. He seemed displeased and kept his eyes on
them as they entered.
Marc hesitated and asked him, "Wasn''t that Caspian''s older brother just now?"
Sieg withdrew his gaze indifferently. "He’s just trash, kicked out by an illegitimate child."
After Candice and Hanley entered the private room, Hannah and Yuric were already anxiously
waiting inside.
Spotting them finally, Hannah quickly stood up and asked, "Why are you guys sote?"
"We were stuck in traffic," Hanley exined.
Hannah blinked. "That''s the downside of Dorrington. So, do you guys want to considering back
to Winnd with us? There’s little traffic there; everyone rides bikes."
Getting straight to the point, Hanley asked her, "Just tell us why we’re here."
"Did you forget Dad’s birthday next month?" Hannah asked him nonchntly. "Come back with me.
He called mest night. It wouldn''t look good if I didn’t bring you along."
Before Hanley could respond, Hannah continued, "I know what you want to say. But now the issue
is that you’re still rted. Besides, some of Mom’s things are still with him. You''re not going to let
Caspian take everything away, are you?"
Hannah''s words involved the private matters of the Baldwins. Candice hesitated about whether to
step aside, but Hannah pulled her in, asking, "What are you afraid of? These aren''t secrets, and
besides, you''reing along too."
Candice raised an eyebrow. "Why should I go?"
N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.
Hannah pondered. "If you don''t go, Hanley might find it hard to leave there."
After saying this, she didn''t exin further. Candice could only look at Hanley, who whispered, "I still
have a grandmother..."
The dinner with Hannah didn''tst long. Yuric was called back to the hotel for work, and Hannah
followed him.
When Candice and Hanley returned to the vi, they went to check on Blue Artifact along the way.
After months of work, Blue Artifact''s exhibition area was finally nearingpletion. It was expected
to finish this week, and they only needed to go to Aether Corporationter to settle the final
payment.
Everything was slowly moving in a positive direction. With the New Year approaching, Burning Star
Studio had halted all progress and started preparing for the New Year.
Yana still visited frequently, and Nadia mentioned that the Landors were trying to force Yana to
marry Mason. Yana had argued with her family several times about it.
Candice asked Nadia, "Aren''t you going back home for the New Year?"
"We are, but on the 29th. Didn''t Hanley tell you? We usually celebrate in the studio on the 28th, and
then everyone goes home on the 29th," Nadia replied.
On the 25th, Candice returned to Northdale all by herself. In the past few years, during the New
Year, she had always brought Joe back home for the celebration.
Alone, she went to a nearby mall and bought many items for the New Year. Once back home, she
meticulously cleaned up the house and rearranged the furniture until it was dark. However, no
matter how much she cleaned, the lingering sense of emptiness in the house persisted.
Candice sat in the living room and turned up the volume of the TV. Hugging a newly purchased
throw pillow, she watched a TV series that had been ying in rotation for years. The drowsiness
gradually overcame her.
On the 27th, Yvonne was sent back to Noxville. It was said that she had applied for it, and due to
concerns about Peach''s situation, permission was granted. The future situation was uncertain.
Jackson informed Candice that Yvonne ultimately refused to divorce Ivor. Candice, however, was no
longer paying much attention to these matters. She prepared some items to visit Joe.
On the 28th, Candice went to the cemetery again, and the weather was good. She brought snacks
and fruits that Joe liked. She sat there from early morning until the afternoon. There were many
things she wanted to tell Joe, but she didn’t know where to start.
When she returned home, she received an email. After checking, she found that it was a Happy
New Year card from Aether Corporation, which was sent to every employee annually. Candice didn''t
pay much attention, thinking it was just a mass email, and someone probably forgot to delete her
ount.
She took a cab back to Northdale, and it started snowing on the way. The New Year atmosphere in
the old town was strong, and Candice felt a gradual sense of tranquility watching the snowfall.
She reached the entrance of the residential area and saw a familiar ck Maybach. The moment
she got out of the cab, the door of the Maybach opened as well, and Alex stepped out. His ck
windbreaker fluttered with the falling snow.
Candice kept walking inside. Alex followed her, and finally, she stopped and turned to him, asking,
"Why are you here?"
"Youe back here every New Year," Alex said in a low voice.
Candice paused. She had mentioned many times before that she wanted to bring Alex here to
spend the New Year with Joe, but he had nevere. He was always too busy.
She suppressed her emotions and asked him expressionlessly, "What do you want?"
Alex''s shoulder was wet from the snowkes. He looked at the almost melted snowkes on
Candice''s hair and paused before saying, "Let''s talk in the car."
Candice raised an eyebrow. She had just returned from Joe''s grave, and she was feeling quite low.
Upon hearing Alex''s words, she could only say, "Then I guess we won’t talk."
She turned to leave, but he suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Warmth transmitted from her wrist as Alex called out, "Candice."