Chapter 0503


    Candice had encountered Oscar briefly before in Alex''s hospital room, but this was her first proper


    meeting with him.


    Upon seeing him up close, she noted that despite bearing a striking resemnce to Daniel, their


    temperaments were pr opposites.


    While Daniel was openly harsh, Oscar exuded a more insincere charm. Despite his smiling facade,


    his eyes, hidden behind sses, betrayed a sense of cunning.


    Such types of individuals made Candice uneasy; she always felt like she was being preyed upon.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Deciding it was time to leave, Candice stood up and remarked, "Since the Chairman is upied, I


    won''t keep you any longer."


    Oscar chuckled lightly and prodded, "Ms. Renault, why the hurry? Your friend is looking after your


    daughter, isn''t she? No William to whisk her away this time, right?"


    Though Candice''s heart raced at the mention of William, she maintained a cold expression as she


    faced Oscar. "What do you mean?" she demanded.


    Oscar replied casually, "Ms. Renault, you brought your daughter back to Dorrington but left her


    elsewhere today. Surely, you arranged for a friend to care for her. Plus, everyone in Dorrington


    knows about William now."


    A hint of mockery flickered in Oscar''s eyes as he continued, "After all, Mr. Elysian made quite a


    scene for your sake."


    Candice regarded Oscar with a cold stare; her chin lifted slightly—a sign of her growing impatience,


    evident to those familiar with her. She stated firmly, "Mr. Sanburg, your indirect manner of speaking


    makes me uneasy. Please go straight to the point and stop beating around the bush."


    Oscar''s deliberate references to Ellis and William hinted at something more, suggesting he was


    putting on airs. While Candice was ustomed to navigating theplexities of the business world


    and maintaining herposure even in challenging situations, she found herself unusually


    impatient with Oscar.


    It was rare for her to harbor such a strong aversion toward someone she had barely acquainted


    herself with. Perhaps she and Oscar simply didn''t mesh well.


    Despite Candice''s directness, Oscar maintained aposed demeanor, showing only a fleeting


    hint of coldness in his eyes with no outward signs of displeasure.


    He nodded thoughtfully and began, "I''d heard some stories about you and Mr. Elysian in the past.


    It''s such a pity, a match made in heaven, yet..."


    Oscar sighed regretfully before continuing, "Mr. Elysian had deep feelings for you. It''s just a pity


    what happenedter.


    Pausing for effect, he added with a tinge of regret, "And it even led to you almost losing your child."


    Candice inwardly scoffed at the revtion that Daniel had called her over because of Alex. How


    misguided.


    She regarded Oscar impassively, cutting off his dramatics, and stated coolly, "I think you''re


    mistaken. The two of us aren''t the lovesick couple you imagine. We have nothing to do with each


    other, and having my baby was an ident. If you think you can leverage me to gain some


    advantage over Alex, think again. You should be looking for Sonia or Nina."


    With that, she made it clear she was ready to leave.


    Undeterred, Oscar spoke calmly from behind her, borating, "It''s not easy to determine whether


    it''s a misunderstanding, but Mr. Elysian''s devotion seems to have been in vain. Do you know why


    he left thepany headquarters?"


    Speaking leisurely with little emotion, Oscar pointed out, "He did it for you."


    It seemed like Oscar was attempting to sway Candice with his words. He continued, "You know the


    chairman''s methods. You were outstanding. Do you think he would easily let go of such a valuable


    employee?"


    Candice''s expression darkened slightly.


    Daniel''s desire for control was evident as he wanted to have a hand in everything and everyone.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have demanded Candice, a mere secretary, sign a nonpete agreement.


    However, no one stopped her when she left thepany headquarters with Alex. She believed it


    was because her position was too minor to warrant attention.


    Yet she remained skeptical of Oscar''s words.


    Entangled with Alex for nearly a decade, Candice initially believed it was deep love. But as time


    passed, she began to realize that perhaps what she considered deep love was merely Alex''s


    fleeting infatuation.


    Candice was slow to warm up to others, and it took her a long time toe to terms with this


    realization.


    She fixed a cold stare on Oscar, her words sharp. "Mr. Sanburg, you have a way with words, turning


    ck into white. You seem to have a remarkable memory, recalling things from the past while I''ve


    nearly forgotten them."


    Oscar responded, "I have had a vivid memory of you since my first days at thepany."


    Leaving the building, Candice''s expression was somber, Oscar''s words lingering in her mind.


    Daniel, Alex, Aether Corporation... They seemed like distant memories, so distant that Candice


    struggled to recall them clearly.


    Her first encounter with Daniel at the office caught her off guard.


    Back then, she had just started at Aether Corporation and was often too busy to even eat lunch.


    Alex was willing to pamper her. He would bring her lunch, even allowing her to pick out the foods


    she didn''t like on his te.


    It was during one of these lunches that Daniel had appeared.


    Candice then witnessed a side of Alex she had never seen before—his demeanor cold and aloof,


    his guard up as if wary of Daniel''s presence.


    She didn''t understand at the time. When she asked Alex, he remained vague. Afterward, he


    stopped having lunch with her at the office.


    Upstairs, Oscar watched Candice leave with a hint of mockery. He mused on how easily women


    could be swayed by doubt, knowing that once nted, doubt tended to grow rapidly.


    ncing back at his desk, Oscar''s eyes gleamed with determination.


    He eagerly anticipated the conflict between Daniel and Alex.


    Candice stayed outside until the afternoon before returning to the vi, her mind burdened with


    heavy thoughts.


    Oscar''s words had been suggestive, hinting at her past with Alex.


    Uncertain of his intentions, Candice decided not to dwell on it, knowing the dangers of falling into


    traps set by others.


    However, it seemed the Elysians were indeed entangled in internal strife. While Candice could


    handle it alone, now with Ellis, she feared being caught in the crossfire between Daniel and Oscar.


    Deep in thought, Candice returned to the vi.


    Meanwhile, at Aether Corporation, Sawyer informed Alex, "The Chairman reached out to Candice


    today."


    Alex was taken aback.


    Sawyer added, "It might be about the baby. He knows."