Chapter 36
Candice paused briefly before asking, “You took that picture?”
“It was just an impulsive click,” he admitted, feeling a bit ashamed.
He knew it was an invasion of Candice’s privacy, especially after witnessing Alex escort her from the
private roomter that night. At the time of posting, he had not thought much of it.
But now, regret crept in after hearing negative gossip about Candice.
He awkwardly touched his ear and said, “I’m Marc Freeman. What I did wasn’t right. If you ever need
anything, feel free to reach out to me.”
Candice stayed quiet, recalling that Marc was the one who had asked her to shut the door to the
private room that evening.
Marc was visibly ufortable and apologized repeatedly before leaving.
Candice then turned to Jackson, who had been quiet, and asked, “Did you need something else?”
Jackson’s soft voice conveyed concern, “Are you alright? With everything that’s been happening…”
Candice cut him off before he could continue. “It hasn’t bothered me.”
Jackson observed her for a moment, a sense of helplessness in his gaze. He then asked, “Would you
like to have dinner tonight?”
After spending some time in the reception area, Candice was about to head back to her office when
Ka came in hurriedly.
Ka looked hesitant as she approached Candice, catching her breath before exining. “There’s a
disturbance in the secretary’s office. A client is causing a scene.”
Arriving at the scene, Candice discovered the client was a woman, furiously using a secretary of
having an affair with her husband and branding her a homewrecker.
The secretary’splexion turned visibly pale with the usation.
Scowled. Candice stepped forward and interrupted, “Madam, please calm down. Let’s discuss this
calmly.”
However, the client, engulfed in her fury, ignored Candice’s plea and shoved her.
The push,bined with Candice’s high heels, caused her to sprain her ankle and nearly fall but
Jackson was quick to support her from
behind.
“Are you alright?” Jackson asked, helping her steady herself.
Candice carefully moved her ankle. She lowered her gaze and shook her head.
Themotion eventually drew Alex’s attention.
By the time he arrived, Candice had managed to calm the client down.
Alex instructed Sonia to lead the client to the reception room.
As Sonia walked past Candice, she whispered, perhaps intentionally, “Candice. I’ve noticed you’ve
been upsettely. Call me if you need to
Talk.”
Her words, though quiet, echoed in the silent office, leading everyone to specte about Candice’s
troubles.
What could be the source of Candice’s worrytely? The recent scandalous photo of her became the
prime suspect for her distress. When that photo was brought up. Candice found herself the subject of
strange looks from her colleagues.
As the crowd gave them confidence, someone mumbled. “Like leaders, like followers. If the superior
uses underhanded tactics to get where she is, what can we expect from the rest?”
Jackson, still present, nced disapprovingly at the speaker, then turned to Candice in concem,
“Should we head to the hospital?”
Candice was about to decline, but Jackson insisted, “You’ve just sprained your ankle. It’s better to have
it checked.”
She hesitated, asking. “How did you know about the sprain?”
in a gentle and measured tone, Jackson advised. “You shouldn’t be stubborn about this.”
Candice remained silent, but her actions, such as reaching for her bag, indicated her agreement with
him.
Alex re–entered the room at that moment and noticed Jackson assisting Candice, holding her bag in
one hand and supporting her with the
other.
He stopped, his attention drawn to Candice’s right ankle.
Candice, noticing her boss, waited impassively for him to say something.
Alex’s dark gaze locked on her, questioning. “Did you just get hurt?”
“Yes, I was pushed,” Candice replied.
Alex gave her another look, chose not to say anything more, and walked away.
Candice observed Alex leaving. Her lips tightened as she relied on Jackson’s support to head to the
hospital.
It was not until after she received treatment at the hospital that Candice realized why Alex had sought
her out earlier.
Helen had posted on social media about another Elysian family gathering that evening.
Alex, who had a strained rtionship with his family, typically avoided these events, with Candice often
attending in his stead. Setting aside her phone, Candice gazed at her swollen ankle, contemting.
Maybe Alex did think of her when he needed something.
She did not break any bones. She left the hospital after being medicated.
Jackson had stepped out to buy her a pair offortable t shoes before escorting her home.
When her foot touched the earth, it throbbed with anguish.
Jackson insisted on taking her home, despite her protests.
As Jackson was leaving her ce, he opened the door and identally ran into Alex, who was just
returning. He paused to greet him.
Alex noticed the door slightly ajar and gave a significant snort.
Jackson, sensing the tension, instinctively rified, “Candy’s hurt.”
Alex hesitated briefly while opening the door further, then asked, “Didn’t you take her to the hospital?”
Jackson spoke calmly. “You’re being too harsh on her. You and Candice…”
He hesitated, finding it difficult to define Alex’s and Candice’s rtionship.
Although Candice had been by Alex’s side for a longer period of time than any other woman, it
appeared that he had never truly acknowledged her.
Furrowed, Jackson shook his head and repeated, “Regardless, you shouldn’t be so harsh.”
Alex responded nonchntly as he opened the door, “She’s not my girlfriend. I’m not obliged to care for
her.”
His words hung in the air as the door behind Jackson slowly closed, its creak resonating in the silent
hallway.
Candice, noticing the door ajar and thinking Jackson had left it open, went to shut it.
Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.
She was caught off guard when she overheard Alex’s statements.
Her grip loosened, and she identally closed the door.
Alex was right. She was never his girlfriend. There had never been any formal acknowledgment from
him, and she had never questioned it. Contemting their rtionship seemed pointless.
On the third day, Candice’s ankle pain subsided.
1200
Her recovery was timely, coinciding with the announcement of apany team–building event.
Candice reviewed the announcement, noting it wasrgely simr to previous ns, except
for a change in the final activity.
a word.
Ka entered the office visibly upset, sitting down at her desk without saying a
Candice, observing this, asked, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s those people upstairs. We’re all secretaries, yet they act so superior!” Ka vented, “I went to get
Mr. Elysian’s signature, but Julie and Sonia blocked me at the door and refused to let me in!”
Candice suggested, “Let them get the signature for you, then have them return it.”
“They wouldn’t.” Ka retorted, upset. “They insisted I have to get it myself, and they won’t be
responsible for any problems.”
Even though Ka generally kept her cool, it was clear that she had been bullied into this outburst.
Candice pondered for a moment, then decided, “I’ll go up there and get the signature for you.”
Ka was reluctant to