Chapter 0445


    The meatballs, chubby and appetizing, were topped with two strands of greens, and Alex dly


    epted. As he ate, his manner was meticulous and elegant, giving the impression that he wasn''t


    consuming meatballs but indulging in some gourmet delicacy.


    Candice, on the other hand, ate slowly, solely due to ack of appetite. As the TV yed some old


    TV series, Candice poked at her meatballs, wearing a faint expression.


    "Don''t you like meatballs anymore?" A warm and deep voice sounded beside her. Candice looked


    up to find Alex gazing at her.


    Candice actually enjoyed meatballs; back in school, whenever she couldn''t decide what to eat,


    meatballs were the go-to choice. She put her spoon in the bowl, checked the time on her phone,


    and reminded Alex, "It''s alreadyte."


    Alex''s gaze rippled slightly as he pondered. "You haven''t answered my question," he said while


    looking at the nearly untouched meatballs in her bowl. "Is this all you''re having for dinner? Are you


    sure it''s enough?"


    "I don''t have an appetite," Candice finally said after a prolonged silence.


    "Why?" Alex inquired, watching her.


    Candice, meeting Alex''s gaze, tightened and then slowly released her grip on the spoon, letting it


    tap against the bowl''s edge with a crisp sound. "No reason. I’m just not hungry."


    When Alex left, the whole room instantly quieted down. The familiar cedar scent that clung to him


    vanished in the air. Candice breathed a sigh of relief.


    The phone on the table rang; it was Yana. She sounded quitementable. "Candy, I can''t join you


    guys in Stugan City. My dad rented two vis on Bay Ind, and our whole family is spending the


    New Year there. We''re taking the morning flight tomorrow."


    Candice replied, "Sounds great."


    "Great? Mason''s family is going too." Yana was not pleased. "I bet that scumbag Mason will bring


    Susan along. I just don''t get it. Why does my dad have to disgust me like this?"


    Candice had heard Yana and Nadiain about the situation between Mason and Susan.


    Mason''s family had always opposed Susan marrying into the family, but Mason was determined, so


    he brought her everywhere. In the end, the Landors and Coopers somehow epted this strange


    behavior and allowed Yana and Mason to be engaged again, despite Yana''s protests.


    Yana was in an utterly dejected state, yet she fancied herself a reasonable child with generational


    wealth. Since she had been living off her family''s wealth, she knew she had to toe the line, as she


    didn''t have the confidence to break free from this lifestyle of relying on others for everything and


    living a casual life with a monthly allowance of three hundred thousand.


    When she called, it was simply to vent her frustrations, and once she was doneining, she


    hung up.


    With Yana''sint, Candice felt somewhat relieved. She put the dishes in the kitchen and, when


    she came out, found Alex''s coat still on the sofa.


    While she hesitated about what to do, a knock on the door sounded, coinciding with a message on


    her phone. It was from Alex.


    ‘It''s me.’


    Candice pursed her lips and opened the door. As expected, it was Alex. He had just been outside,


    and his body exuded a chill. Without entering, he stood at the doorway.


    Candice handed him his coat, saying, "You forgot your coat."


    Alex didn''t take it right away. Instead, he handed a bag to Candice. Seeing the content, Candice''s


    brow slightly furrowed. It was takeout from a restaurant near the entrance of the neighborhood.


    She looked at Alex, who had no particr expression on his face. He lowered his gaze and said in


    a low but unwavering voice, "As your business partner, I don''t want any issues with your health. It


    would affect our progress.”


    Candice cradled his coat, understanding that Alex was right. She took the bag in silence. The only


    thing Alex brought back was a hearty soup. Candice managed to force down a few mouthfuls before


    going to sleep. Having eaten, her body indeed felt much warmer, and she nestled in her nket,


    feeling an unusual drowsinesse over her.


    On the 29th, Candice was up early. She received various notifications in the group chat before


    returning to the vi.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Nadia, full ofints, wrote, ‘Yana initially nned to go to Stugan City with me. Turns out, she


    went on a vacation to Bay Ind herself. She''s probably on a ne by now. She’s heartless, really.’


    Candice replied, ‘Let''s make her buy us a meal when she''s back.’


    Nadia enthusiastically agreed.


    With everyone nning to go shopping for New Year''s Eve, Candice, Nadia, Ryan, and others


    gathered to purchase ingredients for the reunion lunch and gifts to bring home for the holiday. Amid


    the lively chaos, Candice found herself uplifted.


    Standing in front of a massive ‘Happy New Year’ artwork, Candice hesitated about whether to buy


    one for her living room. It would at least add a bit of a festive touch to the empty house.


    "Do you want to buy this?" Nadia bounced over, eyeing the huge artwork. Candice nodded. "It''s


    nice, but I''m not sure how to set it up at home."


    Nadia shrugged. "No big deal. You can ask Ryan or someone else to help you with that." Holding


    the artwork, she ced it next to herself, realizing it was almost as tall as her.


    The group returned to the vi after buying everything. The reunion lunch was scheduled for noon


    due to Nadia''s group rushing to catch a flight in the afternoon. Despite the bustling crowd, the tasks


    werepleted quickly.


    As a pregnant woman, Candice was sent to watch TV since no one dared to let her help. Sitting idly,


    she casually scrolled through her social media and lingered on a photo posted by Ka from Aether


    Corporation''s team-building New Year’s Eve dinner. It seemed to be from yesterday.


    Candice paused on that photo for a while before scrolling further.


    The dishes were served, and Hannah, apanied by Yuric, arrived. Candice opened the door,


    and as soon as Hannah entered, she embraced Candice, cheerfully wishing her a happy New Year


    in advance. The reunion lunch was lively. At one point, Hannah raised her ss, joyfully shouting,


    "Happy New Year!"


    Candice, somewhat influenced by the festive atmosphere, enjoyed the entire meal in a good mood.


    After the meal, not long after Nadia and the others left to pack, Candice stood alone in the yard and


    basked in the sunlight.


    Her phone began buzzing with New Year''s wishes, mostly group messages, even from Ang and


    Yondu, sounding almost identical.


    Candice replied to each one.


    In the afternoon, she saw off Nadia''s group and then returned to Northdale, hugging the huge


    artwork, preparing to spend New Year''s Eve alone.