Chapter 0478


    Yana''s ex-ssmate was called Zack Yancey.


    As they entered the banquet hall, he immediately distanced himself from Candice. "Just contact me


    when you leave. Yana ordered me to make sure you get back safely."


    Candice chuckled. "Does she think there are dinosaurs here?"


    Zack shrugged. "Maybe."


    Just as he finished speaking, Candice spotted a figure that made her more ufortable than if


    she had seen a dinosaur. In such gatherings, she knew she might encounter Alex. Back in South


    City, she used to carefully go through the guest list at every event. This time in Sris, the invitation


    came directly from Darius, and she had no chance to refuse.


    Zack noticed her gaze. "What''s wrong?"


    "Nothing. I’m just thinking that this heavy rain had better not mess up my flight tomorrow morning."


    She smiled, shifting her gaze away from Alex. Almost a year had passed, and any connection


    between her and Alex had long faded. There was no need to waste time and energy on irrelevant


    people.


    After saying goodbye to Zack, Candice grabbed a ss of champagne and headed toward a group


    of people not far away. Some bosses from South City were chatting, and Catherine was among


    them.


    Even though Darius hadn''t mentioned anything about this party, Candice could guess his intentions.


    At the beginning, she and Darius had agreed that she would work for him in South City. Regardless


    of Darius''s initial motivations, he had undeniably saved Ellis.


    After a moment of contemtion, Candice raised hershes and walked over with a cheerful smile,


    effortlessly blending into the conversation.


    The discussion halted with the sudden, low voice of Alex. Holding a ss, he looked at Catherine.


    "Ms. Richardson, it’s been a while."


    Catherine''s eyes shed, and sheughed. "Mr. Elysian, you’re funny. I''m fortunate to have


    coborated with Aether Corporation, thanks to Mr. Simmons’ connections."


    She picked up a ss of juice and said, "Apologies, Mr. Elysian. I haven''t been feeling welltely


    and can''t have alcohol. Let''s toast to a Merry Christmas."


    Candice, with an unchanged expression, stood nearby. She had heard much about Catherine''s


    journey. Starting from scratch in South City, she had earned the title of ‘Ms. Richardson’ instead of


    Mrs. Simmons, a testament to her independent sess.


    Candice nced at Catherine again. Apparently noticing her gaze, Catherine yfully remarked,


    "Have you been busytely, Ms. Renault? I heard Mrs. Collins say there''s a trend of matchmaking


    for you."


    Actually, the way she put it was probably to avoid dwelling on business topics. Before Alex arrived,


    someone had brought up the Simmons and Rising Sun Group, and she had to casually steer the


    conversation away.


    Candice was happy to contribute to the diversion, continuing, "Quite a few people rmended


    some people to me."


    "But they might be disappointed," Catherine said. “I think I saw you with Zack from Mutemaw just


    now. You’re so young, beautiful, and capable; I’m sure you have many pursuers."


    Catherine seemed to have misunderstood the rtionship between Candice and Zack, but Candice


    didn''t know how to exin. Exining her love life in front of others felt strange, especially in front


    of several male bosses.


    However, she knew Catherine didn''t mean any harm, so she just smiled and nned to exin to


    Zackter. Yet, before she could respond, she felt a gaze. Without looking back, she knew exactly


    who it was.


    Candice exchanged pleasantries with the executives present, and although she did not achieve the


    desired effect, she didn''t want to stay there any longer. She turned and walked to another part of the


    room.


    In a corner, she saw Darius entering with a woman. The woman was elegant and slender, but very


    pale. Candice recognized her as Be.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Darius headed straight for Alex after arriving, while Be nced around before walking toward


    Candice.


    Her voice was genuinely pleasant, even in a low tone. "Hello, can I sit here?"


    Lacking enthusiasm, she sat down and began to daydream.


    Candice and Be had nomon topics. Minding her own business, Candice took out her phone


    and noticed a message from the mysterious ‘1’.


    It was sent eight minutes ago.


    ‘Are you in a rtionship?’


    Candice found the question odd. What business was it of his whether she was dating someone or


    not? The tone of this question from a stranger she hadn''t even met in person was weird.


    In Yana''s words, it was quite off-putting.


    But considering he was introduced by someone, she hesitated to block him outright. Maintaining


    social courtesy, she decided to delete their conversation. Out of sight, out of mind.


    Candice had initially nned to sit here until the end of the party and then head back.


    Unexpectedly, an incident urred.


    Be sat absentmindedly next to her, and two girls, not much older, approached. They started


    ridiculing Be, implying she wasn''t the real Ms. Quimby but a mistaken fake heiress, just kept


    around by Darius for show to attend high-end events.


    Their words were harsh, but Be remained silent. Candice frowned but didn''t want to intervene


    until one of the girls sshed a ss of juice on Be''s face. Candice stood up, reprimanding,


    "What are you doing?"


    She handed a tissue to Be, saying, "Wipe it off; I''ll apany you to the restroom."


    Seeing that Be didn''t take it, Candice noticed tears silently streaming down her face along with


    the fruit juice.


    For a moment, Candice didn''t know what to do. Themotion quickly attracted the attention of


    others, including Darius, who came over swiftly. He stared at Be''s face, and his eyes, which were


    eerily simr to Candice''s, were filled with coldness.


    "Which one of you did this?" he asked the two girls.


    Candice''s heart fell, and she feel like something was off. Just as she was about to speak, a cold


    breath came next to her, followed by her wrist being gripped.


    Alex led her out of the crowd, his voice icy as he reminded her, "Darius is losing it. Don''t get


    involved."


    Candice hadn''t said anything when she heard a tense voice.


    "Candice, are you okay?" Zack came from the other side, looking worried. "I heard themotion


    and came over. Are you in trouble?"


    Without thinking, Candice stepped toward him and said, "I''m fine."


    "That''s good," Zack replied. "It''s about time. Let me take you back to the hotel."


    Candice nodded and followed him, while Alex stood behind, his hand still in the position. It was as if,


    instead of grabbing Candice''s hand, he had only caught a handful of air.