Chapter 0540


    After ending the call with Sieg, Alex set down his phone and nced out at the vast rose garden on


    the balcony. Knowing Candice''s fondness for flowers had drawn him to these roses when he


    purchased the house.


    However, due to her pollen allergy, she rarely interacted with them.


    Therefore, the first thing Alex did after buying the house was to install a pollen-proof structure


    around the roses, thinking Candice would appreciate it.


    But liking flowers didn''t equate to liking him.


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


    A sense of destion slowly crept into Alex''s features as he gazed at the roses.


    Candice was the one who taught him thenguage of flowers, where roses symbolized true love.


    Alex tilted his head back, closing his eyes, a self-deprecating grin forming on his lips.


    True love? He had forfeited the right to talk about sincerity when he thought he could deceive


    Candice. That''s why she didn''t trust him, why she had left him. Liars never prospered; that was a


    lesson he had learned long ago.


    Alex sank into the sofa, enveloped in somber silence, until the shrill ring of his phone broke the


    stillness of the room.


    It was Helen calling. Since the incident with Daniel, there had been littlemunication between


    Alex and Helen.


    They were like strangers, far from the typical mother-son rtionship.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Alex answered the call.


    Helen''s voice came through immediately, usatory and angry. "When are youing back to


    Dorrington?"


    Alex''s response was indifferent, "Are you notfortable staying with your family?"


    Helen was livid. She snapped, "What do you mean?! I''m asking why you haven''t returned to


    Dorrington. Do you n to neglect thepany entirely?"


    "I thought the support your family offered wasn''t enough," Alex retorted icily, his eyes betraying no


    emotion. "I''m surprised you even remember to care about me. I thought you wanted nothing to do


    with anyone from the Elysians anymore."


    Helen had attended Daniel''s trial but never returned to the Elysians afterward. The only times she


    contacted Alex were to curse Daniel for his betrayal and demand pensation" for her family.


    Helen, hailing from the prestigious Sui family, always kept her family''s interests in mind.


    That was why she didn''t divorce Daniel despite his infidelity; her family needed a connection to the


    Elysians.


    To Helen, Alex was simply a troublesome consequence of her unhappy marriage.


    Helen was seething with anger at Alex. Once a refineddy of high society, her tumultuous marriage


    with Daniel had transformed her into a bitter woman.


    Furious, Helen berated Alex, "Have you lost your mind? I spoke to Sieg. He told me you went to find


    Candice. Has she enchanted you? Shees from a lowly background and is not fit to be seen in


    public! Don''t think I haven''t noticed how much you''ve been concerned about her all these years!


    Daniel was too blind to see it, but I knew everything!”


    "You''ve been secretly paying off her stepfather''s debts, covering her sister''s medical bills, arranging


    for your uncle to perform surgery on her grandfather, giving her a house in Vestry Residence, and


    every time she visits Elysian Manor, you want to be with her! Alex, what are you so afraid of that I''ll


    harm her?!"


    It seemed like Helen had found an outlet for her pent-up frustration, unloading everything Alex had


    done over the years.


    With a coldugh, she concluded, "You have a daughter with you, don''t you, Alex? Don''t be so


    naive. I''m telling you, people of such low birth can''t produce anything good. Just look at Daniel as


    an example."


    "You need to shut up," Alex''s expression darkened as he abruptly cut off Helen''s words about


    Candice and Ellis.


    Helen grew more agitated, continuing, "I shouldn''t have warned her about Daniel. Now, this


    obsession consumes you, causing you to neglect thepany as you pursue her abroad!"


    Alex''s demeanor turned menacing as he gripped his phone tightly. "I''ll handle your divorce


    proceedings with Daniel," he dered before abruptly ending the call.


    Helen''s sharp and anxious voice faded away as the call disconnected, allowing Alex to finally


    breathe a breath of relief. He tossed his phone aside and closed his eyes once more.


    The following day, being a weekend, Candice, not having to rush to work, hired another nanny. After


    discussing requirements, checking her credentials, and ensuring everything was in order, they


    finalized the arrangement.


    Ellis spent the morning exploring the house, asionally heading toward the corner, seemingly


    confused by the absence of therge toy cab.


    Observing this, Candice ced her on the sofa and went to fetch her favorite toys. However, Ellis


    climbed down from the sofa and made her way back to the corner.


    Just then, the doorbell rang. Candice saw Ellis sitting obediently and went to answer the door.


    There stood Alex, holding a small box and a Barbie doll. He said in his usual manner, "I brought


    Little Mulberry''s toys for her."


    Before Candice could reply, she heard Ellis''s excited squeals from behind her.


    Reacting swiftly, Candice caught her by the cor and pulled her back.


    She then turned to Alex and invited him in, saying, "Come in."


    Unseen by Candice, a smile yed across Alex''s face as she turned away.


    Ever mindful, he ced the toys down for Ellis and yed with her for a while before instinctively


    heading to the kitchen to start cooking.


    He acted so confidently that Candice didn''t have a chance to object. Instead, she found herself


    listening to Alex''s words, "You can go handle your work; I can take care of her. I''ll call you when


    lunch is ready."


    His tone was so natural, leaving Candice feeling uncertain.


    Without lingering, she stepped outside to answer a call from Hanley.


    Candice''s expression froze as she picked up the call. "Hanley?"


    In the kitchen, Alex paused his vegetable chopping, nearly cutting his fingertip.


    Taking a breath to steady himself, he carefully set down the knife and went to the living room to pick


    up Ellis, who was engrossed in her toys.


    With his forehead resting against Ellis''s, Alex''s gaze drifted outside as he softly spoke, "Have you


    ever heard the story of Cindere? Her stepmother wouldn''t have bought her toys and Barbies."