Chapter 0468


    Candice had just finished talking when she heard a set of firm footsteps approaching from behind.


    During her pregnancy, her sense of smell seemed especially heightened.


    Originally, she wasn''t keen on turning around, but a familiar, refreshing scent drifted into her nostrils


    and changed her mind.


    A figure cast a shadow in front of her.


    Alex towered over Candice, his typically calm eyes showing a hint of emotion like ripples forming on


    a serene pond after a stone is thrown in. But soon, hisposure returned, masking any emotions.


    "I was just telling Candice that I came here to buy things for the engagement party, and then you


    showed up," Nina chimed in cheerfully, interrupting Alex''s thoughts.


    He nced up, his gaze icy and his tone detached as he spoke, "If you''re done shopping, I''ll have


    Sawyer take you back. I have a business to attend to at the office."


    As he spoke, everyone noticed Sawyer, who stood nearby holding a briefcase. It seemed they had


    just finished meeting with a client.


    Nina''s expression hardened, her chest rising and falling as if she were holding back something.


    With gritted teeth, she continued, "How can shopping be done so quickly? Choosing items for the


    engagement party requires careful consideration. After all, it''s a once-in-a-lifetime event. Aren''t you


    going to apany me? It concerns both of us, and I want to take it seriously."


    Before Alex could respond, Nina turned to Candice and added, "By the way, your dad was looking


    for you in Dorrington earlier. Did you see him?"


    She sighed and went on, "Speaking of which, it was my mom who bought the flight ticket for your


    dad."


    Nina subtly hinted at it, but by mentioning Ava, she made it clear to Candice what she meant. It was


    a subtle jab, insinuating that Henry was trying to please Ava.


    Candice remained calm, looking at her with aposed expression.


    She asked, "It seems like Henry and your mom are getting along well. Are you going to start calling


    him ''Dad'' now? In that case, let me congratte you in advance."


    Their eyes met and lingered in the air for three seconds before Candice casually shifted her gaze.


    She murmured softly, "I''m not really hungry anymore. Let''s go."


    Nina shot Candice a re, her expression momentarily contorted with anger that was barely


    concealed in her eyes.


    Candice simply turned and walked away, unaffected.


    Nina watched her walk away, her nails digging into her palm, leaving marks.


    She had struggled to ept Henry and Ava''s rtionship until now. Initially, she had brought it up to


    mock Candice, but it seemed Candice was unfazed.


    She nced up at Alex, only to find he had already walked away, leaving Sawyer by her side.


    Sawyer respectfully addressed her, "Ms. Burgess, I''ll take you back to Elysian Manor."


    Meanwhile, Candice and Yana left the mall, both in no mood to eat.


    Yana asked Candice to wait while she fetched the car from the underground parking lot.


    However, as Yana left, another figure approached.


    Alex furrowed his brows slightly as he stopped in front of Candice. He spoke in a low voice,


    "Candice."


    Candice lifted her eyes, her gaze cold and guarded.


    Alex''s pupils trembled slightly, his hands tightening as he lowered his gaze, focusing on Candice.


    His Adam''s apple moved subtly, and his lips seemed to want to say something.


    Before he could speak, he heard Candice''s indifferent voice.


    She said, "You''re blocking my way."


    With his tall stature and broad shoulders, Alex almostpletely blocked Candice when he stood in


    front of her.


    He looked at Candice, his frown deepening as he began, "I have something I want to tell you. About


    that day at the hospital—"


    But Candice looked up at him. Her cold gaze pierced.


    He stopped abruptly, and then, after a moment, he spoke in a deep voice, "I just think there''s


    something wrong with your medical report. I suggest you get it rechecked."


    "What''s wrong with it?" Candice asked, trying to suppress her disgust.


    The medical report definitely had issues. The real question was, who was behind it?


    But did she really need to ask? Daniel, Helen, even Nina and Ava—weren''t they all connected to


    Alex in some way?


    The coldness in Candice''s eyes intensified, gradually turning into seething anger.


    She stared at Alex and spoke each word deliberately, "Tell me, what''s wrong? Did your family


    tamper with my medical report, or are you nning something sinister behind my back, keeping me


    in the dark and trying to trick me into aborting my baby?"


    Each word was soft, yet they hit Alex like a hammer and nailed him on the spot.


    He looked at Candice, his dark eyes betraying a hint of confusion. It was an unusual expression for


    someone who was typically so detached and aloof, making it seem both strange and almost funny.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Candice''s heart grew colder, finding it almostughable.


    So, this was it! She realized that Alex had always treated her like a fool from the start. He believed


    she was stupid and was only there as a pawn for him and his family to y with.


    Feeling dejected, Candice headed home.


    When her colleagues learned about the test results, they breathed a collective sigh of relief.


    Hanley brought Candice some chicken soup as he had been doing almost every day recently. He


    said gently, "You can finally get a good night''s sleep tonight."


    Candice hadn''t been sleeping welltely due to worries about her child.


    After the test results came out, there was a small celebration, but then it was back to work as usual.


    Candice booked a flight back to Sris for the following Sunday.


    Unexpectedly, on Saturday morning, Henry showed up again, looking for Candice.


    This time, his tone was firm as he said, "I''ve heard about the child in your womb. It''s deformed. You


    need to take care of it for your sake and the child''s."


    Candice was caught off guard while she was out shopping. She looked pale as she responded, "I''ve


    told you before that my personal matters are none of your concern. If you keep bothering me, I''ll call


    the police."


    "This isn''t a joke. I''m serious. If you don''t deal with the situation, I won''t be so lenient next time!"


    Henry wiped the sweat off his forehead, recalling the meeting from yesterday afternoon.


    He schemed silently, knowing that Candice was his daughter and that he wanted the best for her.


    Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Henry recalled yesterday''s meeting, where he was reminded of


    the benefits promised to him. Hispany, which was on the brink of bankruptcy, could be saved.


    A cunning gleam flickered in Henry''s eyes. He wanted to assert his authority as a father.


    Candice turned away and headed back to the vi neighborhood.


    The security at the gate stopped Henry from entering.


    Finally free from Henry''s presence, Candice returned home, not taking his words to heart. It seemed


    like every time he visited, it was the same old story.


    Later that evening, her phone started buzzing with messages from Henry. It irritated Candice to no


    end, and she decided to just turn off her phone.


    She busied herself with packing for her return to Sris, and she had a flight to catch the next


    morning.


    However, no one expected that she would have an ident on the way to the airport.