Chapter 0537


    Candice felt a bit more relief as she observed the change in Alex''s expression.


    She retrieved her phone and picked up Ellis, watching her toddle around as she practiced walking.


    The thick carpet in Alex''s home provided a softnding in case of any falls.


    It took Alex some time to ept that Ellis seemed to prefer calling a dog "daddy" over him. He


    stood up quietly and asked, "What would you like for dinner?"


    Candice replied that anything would do, but Alex was determined to impress her. Over the next two


    days, he prepared various dishes, ensuring that the soup he made for Candice and Ellis''s baby food


    was different each time.


    Alex seemed to have a knack for capturing Ellis''s appetite perfectly. As mealtime approached, Ellis


    would head to the dining table, grab her spoon, and wait patiently for the meal to start.


    Candice noticed that all the dishes Alex prepared were to her liking.


    However, one thing remained unchanged. Alex''s persistence in teaching Ellis to call him "daddy".


    He continued mixing severalnguages but stubbornly avoided showing her the cartoon with the


    dogs.


    With Alex keeping the little one entertained, Candice found herself with more time to focus on work.


    During this period, she discovered Ellis''s talent fornguages.


    Gradually, Alex seemed to notice this too, and he started using variousnguages in his


    conversations with Ellis.


    At times, Candice felt as if Alex was genuinely bing a part of Ellis''s upbringing.


    Her phone interrupted her thoughts, and she saw it was Hanley calling.


    "I just saw the news. How are you?" he asked, concerned about the stalker situation near Candice''s


    home.


    Candice reassured him, saying, "Everything''s fine. Haven''t heard anything new these past few


    days."


    "That''s good to hear," Hanley''s voice sounded a bit rough as he continued, "I was worried you might


    be frightened and was consideringing over."


    Candice responded quickly, "You really don''t need to."


    After a brief pause, she continued, "Nadia informed me that you''re overburdened with work. Don''t


    waste your time; everything''s fine here."


    Hanley chuckled softly, almost teasingly, "I thought you didn''t want me to visit."


    Taken aback, Candice nced out at the expansive rose garden, her thoughts swirling.


    Suddenly, the door swung open, and Ellis toddled in, calling out for her mother. Alex trailed behind,


    holding onto her clothes to keep her steady.


    Candice quickly excused herself from Hanley and ended the call.


    She turned to Ellis, who had already plopped down on the floor, ying with her fingers.


    Alex lifted her onto the bed, then casually asked, "Who were you talking to just now? Hanley?"


    Candice shot him a sideways nce, replying, "Do I need to report to you?"


    Alex informed her, "Sieg just called. He mentioned that Oscar has gone missing."Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    She questioned, "And why is that relevant to me?"


    "I''m just letting you know," Alex''s voice was deep and soothing. He continued earnestly, "They say


    an apology needs to be genuine. I didn''t understand that before, but I realize it now, and I''ll make it


    right."


    Listening to his words, Candice fell silent for a moment before responding, "Sieg really can''t stand


    me. If he knew you were using his words to inform me, he''d probably want to throttle me."


    Alex frowned slightly, "He wouldn''t."


    Candice chuckled sarcastically, "Whether he would or not, I understand him better than you do."


    The tense rtionship between Sieg and Candice was well-known in their social circle. Sieg often


    looked down on Candice, viewing her as deceitful, and he would mock her whenever they crossed


    paths.


    Alex''s face tightened as he recalled. His jaw was clenched.


    When Sieg answered Alex''s call, he was busy flirting at a nightclub. His family''s pressure to agree


    to an arranged marriage led him to indulge in partying to maximize his remaining freedom.


    "Well, well, if it isn''t Mr. Elysian from overseas? What''s the asion for this call?" Sieg inquired.


    Alex remained silent, standing in his room with the door slightly ajar. Through the crack, he could


    see Candice and Ellis ying with dolls in the living room.


    "Why the silence? Is something wrong?" Sieg prodded.


    Finally, Alex spoke up, saying, "You''ve made some remarks to Candice in the past that were


    inappropriate."


    Sieg shrugged, seemingly indifferent. He asked, "Weren''t we all suspecting she had something


    going on with Jackson back then?"


    Changing the topic, Alex continued, "Sieg, I need your help. I''m willing to sacrifice two percentage


    points of the profits."


    Sieg furrowed his brow, asking, "What kind of help?"


    "I need you to apologize to Candice."


    After a moment of stunned silence, Sieg cursed in disbelief. Then, heughed bitterly and said,


    "Lex, are you serious?"


    Alex replied calmly, "If you have other conditions, feel free to voice them."


    Unaware of how much profit Alex had sacrificed for Sieg''s apology, Candice simply deleted the


    message upon receiving it, finding Sieg to be an annoyance.


    After erasing Sieg''s message, Candice turned her attention to scheduling a medical appointment for


    Ellis. There were several check-ups for the child, which she used to handle with Mrs. Robinson by


    her side.


    The following morning, when Candice began getting Ellis ready to leave, Alex voluntarily gathered


    their things and trailed along with them.


    Candice didn''t protest; handling it all alone was too overwhelming for her.


    However, Ellis was uncooperative during the appointment, particrly disliking the blood test and


    crying persistently.


    Alex stood by, visibly distressed. If it weren''t necessary, he probably would have taken Ellis away.


    Afterpleting all the check-ups, Ellis exhausted herself and fell asleep peacefully in Candice''s


    arms. Surrounded by strangers in an unfamiliar ce, Ellis refused to let anyone hold her but


    Candice.


    With everything wrapped up and Ellis nearly asleep, Alex gently suggested, "Let me hold her."


    He noticed Candice struggled a bit to support Ellis, who was nearing her first birthday and getting


    heavier. Candice had been carrying her around all morning, and her hand felt numb and weary.


    After handing Ellis over to Alex, she finally rxed.


    Passing by arge window, Alex caught sight of their reflection—him holding Ellis and Candice


    standing beside him, resembling a family of three.


    Joy lit up Alex''s eyes.


    He suggested, "Let''s swing by the supermarket on our way back home. I noticed Little Mulberry''s


    form is running low, and we need to stock up on groceries."


    At the mention of "home", he paused, feeling a flutter of happiness in his heart.


    It was as if nothing had evere between them; they were just an ordinary couple, starting a


    family and building a home filled with anticipated joy.