Chapter 0514


    The hotel was nestled at the foot of a snow-capped mountain, where soaking in the hot springs


    while gazing at the perennially snow-covered peaks was a true delight.


    Candice returned to her room with Ellis, brushing off Lauren''s remarks about one-night stands with


    hot guys as a joke. She wasn''t particrly interested.


    They had arrived in the afternoon, and they nned to rest for the night and start exploring the next


    day.


    During dinner, Candice couldn''t help teasing Lauren, who was glued to her phone. "You got his


    number already?"


    Lauren looked up, shaking her head. "He said no. That guy has quite the personality. I don''t think I


    stand a chance."


    "Why pine over one person when there are plenty of fish in the sea?" Candice remarked.


    Lauren sighed softly. "Easy for you to say, with Hanley in your corner."


    During Hanley''s stay, he had been dropping Candice off and picking her up from work every day, so


    Lauren had gotten to know him. She looked at Candice with a hint of envy. "Usually, handsome


    guys have handsome friends, right? Does Hanley have any good friends?"


    Thinking of Ryan and Jackson, Candice earnestly replied, "You should focus on how to charm the


    handsome guy you met."


    Lauren sighed in frustration as Candice fed Ellis milk.


    Suddenly, Lauren let out an exmation. Candice asked without lifting her head, "What''s wrong?"


    "That handsome guy is here in the restaurant too!"


    While there were many famous restaurants nearby, Candice and her friends were too tired to


    venture out. Not many people dined at the hotel restaurant because the town''s specialties were


    turkey and fish, and many preferred the local cuisine served elsewhere.


    "Go on. Your chance hase..." Candice said, trailing off as she looked up, and she froze when


    she saw Alex entering the restaurant.


    Alex walked in slowly, dressed in a ck suit with every button fastened, emitting an aura that


    deterred anyone from approaching him.


    His dark and indifferent eyes slowly scanned the room until they met Candice''s, and then, like ice


    melting on a frozenke, a hint of emotion stirred within them.


    Candice and Alex locked eyes for a moment before she quickly looked away. Right then, Lauren


    excitedly eximed, "He''s looking at me! He''s looking at me!"


    Candice intended to say something, but Lauren had already stood up and greeted Alex with a


    radiant smile. "Want to join us for dinner?"


    Alex nced at Candice before making his way over.


    Candice picked up Ellis and whispered to Lauren, "I''m going back to the room."


    Lauren, looking at Alex with glee, replied in a low voice, "Sure, sure. Go ahead."


    Candice walked away with Ellis,pletely ignoring Alex as she passed by him. She didn''t know


    why he had suddenly appeared, but she didn''t want to spend any more time in his presence.


    As Candice walked away, she could hear Lauren''s slightly shy voice. "What a coincidence. You''re


    here for dinner too?"


    Back in her room, Candice put Ellis to sleep before realizing she was feeling hungry. She had been


    too preupied with feeding Ellis and hadn''t eaten anything herself before seeing Alex earlier.


    Fortunately, she had some cookies in her suitcase, so she settled for those and went to sleep


    directly.


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


    The next morning, everyone gathered downstairs and went for a pic by a nearbyke. Just as


    they were about to leave, Lauren stood on her tiptoes and looked around. "Wait a moment. I have a


    friend who hasn''t arrived yet."


    As soon as she finished speaking, a tall figure descended from upstairs.


    Alex was dressed casually today, looking different from his usual serious demeanor. He exuded a


    youthful and energetic vibe.


    Lauren greeted him. "Come on. We''re all waiting for you."


    Alex nodded but didn''t walk toward Lauren. Instead, he approached Candice.


    He stopped in front of her and looked at what she was holding. His voice was low as he said, "Let


    me carry that."


    Candice looked at him and took a step back, clearly refusing.


    She then nced at Lauren, who was looking at Alex with confusion. Candice thought for a moment


    before quietly warning Alex, "If you''re not interested in Lauren, don''t string her along."


    Lauren was a good person, and Candice didn''t want her to fall into Alex''s trap.


    Alex paused, exining, "I''m not stringing her along."


    Candice remained expressionless. "I''m just reminding you. What you do is your business, but I''ll


    also tell Lauren everything about you."


    Theke they were heading to was a bit far from where they were, so they had to drive there. They


    rented several off-road vehicles.


    Candice and Lauren sat in one vehicle, ying with Ellis. Candice looked at her with aplicated


    gaze and said, "You..."


    "Hmm? What about me?" Lauren asked.


    Suppressing her strange emotions, Candice looked outside and stated, "You should stay away from


    Alex. He''s not a good person."


    A mischievous glint shed in Lauren''s eyes. She suppressed her smile and asked Candice, "Why?


    I think he''s pretty nice; he’s handsome and wealthy."


    "You''re only seeing the surface. People like him are just ying around," Candice said.


    "I''m just ying around too. It’s not like I''m marrying him. Why overthink it?" Lauren retorted.


    Candice didn''t know how to advise her after that.


    She turned her gaze out the window, quietly watching the scenery.


    Seeing Candice''s nonchnt demeanor, Lauren smiled and spoke, "I get what you mean. Don''t


    worry. I understand. Besides..."


    She paused abruptly, then continued with a vague excuse to cover up her unfinished sentence.


    Observing Candice''s indifferent expression, Lauren quietly patted her chest, relieved that she hadn’t


    let slip her secret. But then a pang of guilt crept into her heart.


    She had knownst night that Alex hade to see Candice, although he hadn''t explicitly said so.


    Yet Lauren, with her keen sense of gossip, had picked up on the vibe.


    Afterward, she informed Alex about their ns for today and agreed to let him join them.


    As Lauren watched Candice''s profile, she wrestled with whether to tell her about it. However, she


    felt that meddling in matters of the heart wasn''t right, so she decided it was best for Candice to


    remain oblivious.


    Still, she couldn''t help but feel a tinge of envy toward Candice. After all, Candice was always


    surrounded by handsome men!


    Lauren''s mind raced with these thoughts, all while Candice remained clueless.


    Upon reaching their destination, Candice spotted Alex standing by the vehicle as soon as the car


    doors opened.


    He extended his hand toward Candice. "The car''s pretty high up. Let me take Ellis."


    It was just her and Lauren in the tall SUV, and Lauren had already hopped out from the other side


    as soon as the car came to a stop.


    Candice found it awkward to get out while holding Ellis. She nced at Alex, considering calling


    over a colleague for help. However, her coworkers were busy setting up the pic tents.


    Alex stood before her, casting a shadow that blocked the bright sunlight outside. His voice was low


    as he called out, "Candice."