Chapter 0508


    As soon as Candice followed Oscar inside, she spotted Daniel sitting in the main seat.


    She halted her steps, not approaching any further.


    Daniel raised his hawk-like gaze, his voice cold and deep as he said, "You’re quite hard to invite,


    aren’t you?"


    Candice replied calmly, "Mr. Elysian, your invitation is not something ordinary people like me can


    afford."


    What Daniel did was hardly an invitation. Candice concealed the sarcasm in her eyes and said no


    more.


    Daniel squinted at her. The dominance he exuded from years of being in power was palpable.


    His scrutinizing gaze fell on Candice, then slowly shifted to Ellis''s face. Ellis, already tired,y


    listlessly in Candice''s arms.


    Sensing his gaze, Candice instinctively pressed Ellis closer to her chest.


    Daniel asked, "Is she Alex''s kid?"


    Candice looked at him warily. "If you already know, why bother asking?"


    Daniel''s expression darkened slightly, displeasure evident in his eyes.


    "Do you think I wouldn''t dare touch you?" Daniel sneered, his gaze locking onto Ellis. "I’ve always


    known you were up to no good. Alex, however, refused to believe it and insisted on keeping you


    around. Now look at you. You’re in such a sorry state, yet you still dare to defy me."


    Daniel chuckled coldly. "Since he thinks he''s always right and thinks highly of himself, I want to see


    just how capable he really is!"


    As he finished, Daniel''s face twisted with anger. Sensing something amiss, Candice was about to


    message Yana to alert her to call the police when several bodyguards emerged from the resting


    area.


    Candice''s expression immediately turned cold. "What are you trying to do?"


    Daniel snorted disdainfully, looking at Candice. "I let you escape back at the hospital. Do you think


    you''ll always be so lucky?"


    Candice suddenly realized what was going on. She had already experienced Daniel''s ruthlessness.


    She held Ellis tightly, her body stiffening. The horror she had felt in the abortion room at the hospital


    flooded back.


    Daniel looked satisfied when he saw the panic in her eyes. He arrogantly ordered the nearby


    bodyguards, "Arrange for her to rest in the guest room."


    The bodyguards approached Candice upon his order. She couldn''t fathom Daniel''s intentions, and


    her heart was racing nervously.


    This was the first time Candice had encountered such a situation. She tried to keep calm, but her


    arm that was holding Ellis was trembling subconsciously.


    "Ms. Renault, hand over your daughter to us," the lead bodyguard said as he approached Candice.


    Though nervous, Candice still didn''t dare to move. The bodyguard repeated his demand, but


    Candice remained unresponsive.


    She was trying to figure out how to handle the situation in front of her.


    Daniel, growing impatient on the sidelines, snapped, "Quit the nonsense. Just take the child away."


    Candice watched as the bodyguards reached out toward her. She didn''t know where she found the


    courage and speed, but she lifted Ellis in her arms and dodged past the bodyguards.


    Her sudden movement seemed to startle Ellis, who immediately burst into tears.


    Candice held onto her tightly, her voice tense and hoarse as she red at Daniel. "What exactly do


    you want?"


    "What I want is none of your business." Daniel''s cruel gaze bore into her. "Candice, you should


    count yourself lucky. Your daughter may have some use, but don''t delude yourself into thinking


    she''ll help you climb the socialdder."


    With that, he instructed the bodyguards again, "Handle this quickly. It''s getting noisy."


    The bodyguards, hearing hismand, wasted no time and turned toward Candice.


    It was clear that they intended to use force this time. Candice, a lone woman facing several adult


    males, already had slim chances of sess. Moreover, she had Ellis with her. Even dodging the


    guards to protect Ellis would be difficult.


    Within two minutes, she was cornered by the bodyguards near a cab. Though they hadn''t yet


    made a move, they closed in on her like shadows, reaching out whenever they could to snatch Ellis.


    Honestly, it was no different from a kidnapping.


    Ellis''s loud cries filled the air. Candice couldn''t help but say to Daniel, "I''ve already had my friend


    call the police. Aren''t you afraid?"


    After she spoke, the door of the exhibition hall suddenly swung open, and following were hurried yet


    steady footsteps.


    As soon as Alex entered, he saw Candice, who was pale-faced, clutching a wailing Ellis in a corner.


    There was a barely restrained fierceness in his eyes as he red at Daniel, his voice chillingly cold.


    "What do you intend to do to them?"


    Daniel''s face darkened abruptly. "Who allowed you toe here?!"


    Oscar cautiously stepped forward to exin, "Sorry, Mr. Elysian. I failed to stop Mr. Alex."


    "Why did you bring them here?" Alex didn''t bother to be polite anymore. His gaze swept over the


    bodyguards surrounding Candice, his expression menacingly cold.


    Daniel snorted. "Do I need your permission to see someone?"


    After a moment of eye contact with Daniel, Alex suddenly sneered and turned directly to the


    bodyguards, barking, "Get out of here!"


    He reached out to lift Candice, feeling her trembling with fear.


    Alex''s anger hadn''t subsided. He held Candice''s hand, interlocking their fingers, and lowered his


    voice to reassure her, "It''s okay. Don''t be afraid."


    Candice was still afraid, but her concern for Ellis''s safety outweighed everything else. Ellis''s sobbing


    voice as she gasped for air made her heart ache.


    Daniel, seeing Alex''s indifferent attitude toward him, frowned deeply. "Alex! Have you forgotten that


    I''m your father?"


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    "Father?" Alex mocked, "So you haven’t forgotten you''re a father, huh?"


    As Alex saw Candice and Ellis surrounded when he arrived, their helpless and desperate looks


    stabbed his heart like a knife.


    Thankfully, he had arrived in time. He couldn’t imagine what would have happened if he had been


    late.


    Daniel dared not do anything further with Alex''s sudden arrival.


    Alex led Candice downstairs to his car. He handled her with care, afraid of frightening her further.


    Ellis, exhausted from crying, gasped for breath, looking pitiful.


    After a moment of silence, Alex asked Candice softly, "Are you okay?"


    Still shaken, Candice didn''t have the strength to reply. She just pressed her lips together and shook


    her head.


    Those people hadn''t actually harmed her, but the fear and oppression they brought were


    overwhelming.


    Candice closed her eyes, feeling the tension and panic still lingering in her chest.