Chapter 0513


    Candice had a rare dream that night. It was a jumble of everything—her twenty-something self,


    Daniel, Alex, andter, even Sonia and Nina. Everyone wasughing, though she couldn''t fathom


    why, until she followed their gaze to see another version of herself standing in the corner, looking


    disheveled.


    Startled, Candice abruptly woke up in the dimly lit room. She blinked, feeling devoid of sleepiness.


    Ellis slept in her small bed, while Candice picked up her phone to check her WhatsApp. She noticed


    a video sent by Erica, which she watched on mute.


    It showed her, Hanley, and Ellis in the supermarket. Erica had even added subtitles, making the


    whole scene appear adorable.


    Erica wrote, ‘I captured this identally. I didn''t mean to intrude, but I found this moment


    heartwarming.’


    Candice reyed the video, observing Ellis''s vivid expressions. Since she liked to record Ellis''s


    growth, Candice decided to save the video and replied to Erica with a thank-you message.


    Unexpectedly, Erica immediately responded. ‘You''re still awake? Can I post this video on my


    Instagram? I''m filming my daily vlog, and you guys happened to be in the frame.’


    She added, ‘Don''t worry. I won''t single you out.’


    She then showed Candice the segment from her vlog, where Candice and Hanley were in the


    background. Unbeknownst to them, as soon as the video was posted, some keen-eyed viewers


    noticed Candice in the background.


    Alex watched the footage on his phone, his gaze fixed on Candice behind Erica. Though the video


    wasn''t clear, he could still recognize her.


    As events unfolded, he also witnessed the heartwarming scene. Even though he couldn''t hear what


    they were saying, he could imagine Candice''s scolding and feigned seriousness. It had been a long


    time since he had seen her so lively. Alex rewound the progress bar to the beginning.


    Beside him, Sawyer reminded him in a hushed voice, "Ms. Erica Wilkerson’s agent has been


    waiting outside for quite a while, wanting to discuss contract renewal with you."


    Alex raised an eyebrow. "Discuss with me? Isn''t there anyone in the PR department?"


    "No," Sawyer exined nervously. "Ms. Bowers, the agent, said Ms. Wilkerson''s previous


    coboration with Aether Corporation was personally approved by you, Mr. Elysian. So, this time,


    she wants to talk to you directly."


    Alex furrowed his brow, vaguely recalling the name Erica, a model.


    She was the granddaughter of the wealthy Wilkersons from Kelmdale. He had once done a favor for


    the Wilkersons and allowed her to sign with Aether Corporation. At a party, he had coincidentally


    encountered Erica being pressured by some executives to drink, so he stepped in and escorted her


    to the hotel.


    The video Erica posted attracted a lot of attention, but most inte users were scrutinizing it with a


    microscope. Soon, some spotted Candice scolding Ellis and then Hanley, finding it both amusing


    and entertaining.


    When Yana sent Candice the screenshots, her tone was teasingly jealous.


    ‘Oh, my. What''s going on here? Howe you''re acting lovey-dovey behind our backs?’


    Candice sighed inwardly. ‘I just told Hanley not to give Ellis chocte. That''s all.’


    ‘Yeah, right. We all know. Every family needs a strict mother and kind father.’


    Seeing Yana''s increasingly twisted words, Candice decided to stop chatting with her. She


    conveniently excused herself as a colleague called her.


    Darius''spany operated discreetly, with most employees being Clesians or foreigners. Candice


    primarily handled businessmunications and reported to Darius. Essentially, she was Darius''s


    eyes and ears here.


    The colleague who called her was a young Clesian girl who had just graduated this year. She said,


    "We''re nning to go to a hot spring hotel this weekend. Do you think you cane?"


    These colleagues were roughly the same age as Candice, and they got along well. So, Candice


    didn''t refuse.


    Lauren joked, "You can bring your daughter too. Let her experience the joys of adulthood."


    Ellis usually had a nanny, but if Candice wanted to go away for a few days, she had to take Ellix


    along. After all, the nanny wouldn''t stay overnight.


    Candice nned to make arrangements with the nanny before she received a call from Erica,


    asking her and Hanley toe over immediately to help her.


    Erica''s agent had gone back to her home country, and now Erica had to handle everything herself.


    She said she had to stay here for three months.


    Candice agreed after some thought, considering Erica was a client. Besides, she felt guilty about


    implicating Erica earlier.


    However, when she and Hanley arrived, they found Erica preparing for a shoot.


    She waved to Candice. "You two,e over here and help me find the right spot."


    Candice looked around, realizing they were the only ones there. "Where are the other staff


    members?"


    "I didn''t hire anyone else," Erica replied. "I just want to try setting up the scene myself and taking


    pictures in my own style."


    "So, why did you call us?"


    "I set up a scene for couples, but I can''t feel the effect by myself. You two have good looks. Can you


    help me see how well it matches?"


    Erica was straightforward, directing Candice and Hanley to the center of the tform. "Stand here.


    I''ll adjust theyout a bit."


    Candice and Hanley exchanged nces, feeling somewhat awkward.


    Erica''s setting was mostlyce and various flowers, looking like a wedding scene at first nce.


    Hanley smiled, lowering his head. "It''s very beautiful here."


    Taking advantage of the opportunity, Erica took many photos and prepared to go back andpare


    them.


    Later that night, when Candice opened her social media, she saw Erica''s post. It consisted of a


    photo of herself and Hanley against the backdrop she had built. It was dusk, with a hazy and


    ambiguous light.


    Given the background, it almost seemed like a proposal. Erica''s caption read—‘Lovers.’


    Naturally, Erica''s intention was to highlight her well-set scene and the good-looking photos, hoping


    to find an opportunity to transition to bing a photographer. But to others, it had a different


    connotation.


    Alex gazed at the photo of the two snuggled together, cracks forming in his deep eyes.


    This scene...


    Under Erica''s post, a few mutual friendsmented, ‘Who''s proposing?’


    Proposing.


    A pang shot through Alex''s heart as he incredulously stared at Candice in the photo, his breathing


    slightlybored.


    The day Candice and her colleagues nned to go to the hot spring hotel, Hanley happened to be


    heading back to Dorrington.


    She took Ellis along, and Lauren teased her, "You really brought your daughter? Then you might


    miss out on a great opportunity. This hotel is famous for one-night stands; you have a good chance


    of meeting some handsome guys."


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Candice replied, "I hope you do."


    Lauren raised an eyebrow, somewhat smugly. "I already have a target in mind. I just saw a super


    hot guy at the hotel entrance. I''ll go get his number in a while."