Chapter 0506


    After saying goodbye to thedy, Candice''s mind drifted as she walked away.


    Momentster, she used her spare key to unlock the door.


    The familiar smell of her long-empty home greeted her as she stepped inside. Everything looked


    exactly as she had left it, unchanged.


    However, the absence of dust indicated that someone had been cleaning.


    Candice decided to call the tenant.


    When the tenant answered the phone, there was a brief pause before he recognized Candice''s


    voice.


    Once he realized who was calling, the young man quickly apologized, "Ms. Renault, I''m sorry. I''ve


    been quite busytely. Is there something you need?"


    Candice noticed a dark blue cufflink on the coffee table but pushed aside her emotions as she


    asked calmly, "I just wanted to check if everything is okay with the house. Do you need any


    repairs or maintenance?"


    The tenant sounded relieved as he responded, "No, everything''s fine. The house is very


    comfortable, and we''re enjoying our time here. We haven''t encountered any issues, and we get


    along well with the neighbors."


    Candice hummed in response and said, "That''s good. Sorry to bother you."


    She was on the verge of ending the call when Candice overheard someone on the line saying, "Mr.


    Sandoval, Mr. Elysian''s ns need to be revised urgently. Julie just came by to hurry us


    up."


    Candice disconnected the call without disying any emotion. Her gaze lingered on the cufflink


    resting on the coffee table. It was a design she had seen Alex wear before; it was one of his


    favorites.


    Closing her eyes, she suppressed the rush of feelings welling up inside her.


    Meanwhile, at Aether Corporation, Tristram Sandoval rushed to deliver the revised ns to the


    CEO''s office.


    Thepany waspeting for a crucial contract with the headquarters, keeping everyone on


    their toes. After cing the documents on the desk, Tristram hesitated for a moment, ncing


    uncertainly at Alex.


    Alex was engrossed in reviewing the contract. He looked up with a neutral expression.


    "If you have something to say, go ahead," he said calmly.


    Tristram hesitated before speaking up, "Ms. Renault called me just now. She inquired about the


    house, asking if I''mfortable living there or if anything needs fixing."


    He was unsure if Alex remembered that he had once suggested Tristram rent a house.


    That particr house had brought him good luck. When he first applied to thepany after


    completing his PhD, thepetition was fierce. Thepany had high standards, and several


    other PhD holders were vying for the position, but Tristram wasn''t among the outstanding ones.


    Then, out of the blue, Sawyer asked if he came from another city and if he had housing


    arrangements.


    Though puzzled at first, after renting the house under his name, Tristram was hired by thepany.


    His capabilities led him to be a project team leader.


    However, the very night he rented the house, Alex took the keys from him. Tristram, being


    intelligent, somewhat understood the situation.


    A yearter, he wasn''t certain if Alex still remembered the incident.


    When Alex suddenly stopped, his expression took on a slight tension, and he asked, "How did you


    respond?"


    Tristram was ovee with a sense of panic, responding, "I assured her that everything was fine."


    Although Alex remained silent, his demeanor appeared serious, causing Tristram to worry that he


    had misspoken.


    Then Alex uttered, "I understand now. You can go."


    Feeling uneasy about this revtion, Alex pinched his nose in contemtion.


    Realizing Candice''s astuteness, Alex concluded that she wouldn''t have called Tristram without


    reason. Most likely, she had figured out that he was the one who had rented the house.


    Exhaling deeply, Alex gazed out the window at the bright sunlight.


    Candice lingered until the evening before departing. She had no intention of confronting Alex about


    the matter. If he wished to portray himself as a benefactor behind the scenes, trying to do all these


    things to move her, it was of no concern to her. After all, she stood to lose nothing.


    While nning to purchase pastries from a nearby century-old bakery, Candice unexpectedly


    encountered Oscar with an elderly woman who had silver hair.


    His presence caused Candice to wrinkle her brow and turn to leave.


    Oscar was the first to spot Candice. He greeted her with a smile, saying, "Ms. Renault, what a


    coincidence."


    Candice replied, "It''s not really a coincidence. It seems like I should have left a few minutester."


    Unfazed by her cold reception, Oscar asked his grandmother to go ahead and then pretended to be


    helpless, saying, "There''s no need to be so hostile toward me; I''m just working at the Elysian


    Group."


    "Mr. Sanburg, you''ve misunderstood. I simply don''t like interacting with strangers," Candice


    responded firmly.


    Oscar''s smile almost faded as he nced at Ellis. He asked, "Is this your daughter with Alex?"


    Candice''s expression turned cold, and she chose to remain silent.


    Oscar''s smile widened as he continued, "She''s very cute and resembles Alex a lot. No wonder he''s


    willing to fall into dispute with the chairman for you two. If I had such an adorable daughter, I


    wouldn''t want her to face any hardship either."


    His hypocrisy disgusted Candice, who felt repulsed by him.


    Oscar, being an illegitimate child, managed to manipte Daniel to the extent that his father had


    turned against both Helen and Alex. There had to be something more than just Daniel''s affection for


    Oscar''s mother.


    Exhausted from dealing with him, Candice fabricated an excuse and left with Ellis. She felt that


    being around Oscar was something she wanted to avoid at all costs.


    As Candice left with the child, Oscar watched her departure with a mocking nce in his eyes.


    Heposed himself calmly and turned back to join his grandmother, purchasing pastries with her.


    Holly Morton sighed. "Your mother always loved the madeleines from this shop. Bring some to her


    when you visit tomorrow. I''m getting old, and who knows how many more times I can go see her?


    You need to remember all these things."


    Oscar dropped his facade, his expression turning solemn.


    "I understand," he replied.


    Holly continued, "Your mother has had a difficult life."


    Oscar stated firmly, "She won''t anymore. Those who wronged her will get what they deserve."


    After speaking, he nced in the direction Candice had left, his gaze deep, clearly plotting


    something.


    The following day, Daniel received news that Alex had quietly recruited a coborator from the


    Elysian Group.


    Enraged, Daniel eximed, "He''s turned against me! He''s even taken my business partner right


    from under my nose!"


    Oscar was equally astonished. He questioned, "Why would Mr. Alex do this? He knows we''re in the


    midst of renegotiating with Mr. Snee. Taking Mr. Snee away at this time will leave us in a difficult


    situation."


    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    "Hmph! He''s not truly outgrown me yet! Right now, he is just relying on the power of the Sui family


    to challenge me," Daniel said, venom in his eyes.


    Alex''s deception was intolerable to him. Son?! He did not have such a scoundrel for a son!


    Daniel instructed, "Notify Mr. Chandler that he can stop keeping up appearances for Alex. If he


    dares to scheme against me, he had better be prepared for misfortune."


    Oscar hesitated and advised, "Isn''t that too harsh? After all, he''s your son. You should consider your


    granddaughter, right? Although Mr. Alex is quite ruthless, there must be a reasonable exnation,


    especially since he has a daughter to raise."