Chapter 44


    It was Sonia’s first time attending such a banquet, so it was inevitable that she was Ignorant of many


    etiquettes.


    Candice could guess the situation but didn’t understand why Alex wanted her assistance.


    She looked up and said calmly. “It’s not quite appropriate for me to go over there.”


    Alex looked down at her with dark eyes devoid of emotion.


    He said, “Go and teach her.”


    He didn’t need to specify who he was referring to.


    Candice pursed her lips without responding. Thest time Alex had asked her to teach Sonia, it had


    resulted in


    her being transferred out of the CEO’s office.


    Before Candice could refuse, she heard Alex say casually, “Consider it work. It’ll be added to your


    sry.”


    Sieg, who was listening nearby, whistled with interest. He teased. “Are you throwing money around,


    Alex?”


    After saying that, he looked at Candice and said. “This is a windfall from the sky. Candice. Aren’t you


    going to catch it?”


    Whether it was a windfall or a trap was hard to say.


    Candice looked outside and vaguely saw Sonia standing stiffly there. Those who didn’t know her might


    mistake her for a waitress.


    It was Sonia’s first time attending an Elysian family banquet, and she didn’t understand many of the


    rules. She stood behind Helen, resembling a puppet with a forced smile.


    Helen was annoyed at Sonia’sck of sophistication. Sonia felt aggrieved, but she didn’t dare show it


    openly. So, she could only stand there with a stiff expression.


    When Alex approached, Sonia instinctively wanted to hide behind him. But before she could, she saw


    Candice behind Alex.


    Sonia stiffened and quietly asked Alex, “Lex, why did you call Candice over? She’s a guest.”


    Before Alex could speak, Candice moved to stand behind Helen. She politely and skillfully took what


    the guest handed over and casually exchanged a few words with the guest.


    The contrast was clear.


    Sonia pouted and pulled at Alex’s sleeve, almost about to cry. “Lex, do you think I’m too stupid, so you


    brought Candice over?”


    Alex reached out and wiped her tears, soothing her with a deep voice. “She’s used to these things.”


    Candice was not far from them, and she heard Alex’s words. She epted the gift with a slight pause,


    then


    Although Helen didn’t like Candice, having her help made things much easier. She handed over the


    outside


    affairs to Candice and went inside to rest.


    Once Helen and Daniel left, Sonia finally rxed.


    She held Alex’s hand, sniffed, and asked, “Did I embarrass you today?”


    “No.” Alex said, brushing her hair away and tucking it behind her ear. “You’re not a waitress; I don’t


    need you to do these things to maintain my reputation.”


    Sonia felt a bit happier at this.


    Candice, who was in front, remained silent.


    Sonia was not a waitress; she didn’t need to do these things.


    So, what was Candice?


    Jackson arrived a bitte,ing with his parents. He seemed a bit stunned to see Candice handling


    the reception.


    The Shyan couple had an air of gentleness and courtesy. Looking at them, Candice understood where


    Jackson’s good temperament came from.


    After Jackson’s family entered, Candice checked the guest list and noticed a few guests who hadn’t


    arrived yet.


    Alex and Sonia had already gone in. By the time Candice ushered in the remaining guests, it was just


    in time for the banquet to begin.


    She didn’t even have time to take a breather when her phone rang. Alex had sent her a message on


    WhatsApp. asking her to meet him.


    This was a task Candice had done many times over the years-apanying guests and attending to


    them.


    As she approached, Helen and Alex were already waiting there, apanied by Sonia.


    Helen’s mood wasn’t great.


    She nced at Candice and said, “Bringing one embarrassment is enough; you had to bring two!”


    Alex responded, “Sonia is allergic to alcohol. She can’t drink.”


    “Then why bring her?”


    Candice also wanted to ask the same.


    If Sonia couldn’t drink, why did Alex bring her?


    But she soon understood.


    Having been with Alex for so many years, many people thought of Candice as the unmovable Mrs.


    Elysian.


    Therefore, when drinking, there were inevitably some jokes. As Alex’s legitimate girlfriend, Sonia only


    needed to stand there and smile, effortlessly dispelling any misunderstandings.


    When they reached Sieg’s group, Helen exchanged a few words with them and then left. After all, she


    was an elder of the family, and she didn’t need to linger too long with them.


    On the other hand, Sonia rxed a bit, engaging in familiar conversation with them.


    Candice waspletely ignored. She didn’t want to linger with Sonia’s group, so she turned to find a


    ce to


    rest.


    “Candice.” Jackson followed her, his expression gentle. “Come with me to meet a few people.”


    There were many people from Dorrington City attending the banquet. Jackson took Candice to meet


    some bosses, iming they were in charge of an art exhibition.


    In the past, Candice had put in a lot of effort in the art field to please Helen. So, she could engage in a


    few


    conversations.


    With her business insight, the heads of these exhibitions took a liking to her.


    One even extended an olive branch and said, “Ms. Renault, if you’re interested, you should join us.


    We’re


    currently preparing for a touring exhibition.”


    After leaving that group, Jackson looked at her and said seriously, “Candice, I think you should give it a


    try.”


    Candice asked, “Try what? nning an art exhibition?”


    “I think you have great ideas.”


    After Jackson finished speaking, he happened to see Alex approaching from the front.


    He paused and said. “Staying at Aether Corporation might not be the best choice for you now.”


    Candice and Alex’s rtionship wasn’t a secret; Alex had been open about it two years ago. So,


    everyone


    epted Candice’s connection with him.


    But now that Sonia was with Alex, Candice’s presence seemed redundant.


    Jackson said, “Candice, it’s not wrong to leave yourself a way out.”


    These words echoed in Candice’s ears, shattering her thoughts.


    Of course, she knew that.


    But executing it was far from easy.


    While Candice’s thoughts were surging in her mind, Alex approached.


    His gaze swept over Jackson and Candice, then he paused and said, “Mr. Reeves from Constant


    Origin is over


    there. Are you avoiding him?”


    This was directed at Candice..


    She looked up to see where the man Alex had mentioned was. Kenelm Reeves was a director at


    Constant Origin Enterprise and was a difficult man to deal with. He was entric and didn’t care about


    the reputation of


    others.


    Candice was about to move when Jackson grabbed her wrist and said calmly, “Candice, think about it


    carefully.”


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Alex looked at their linked hands, and his face was barely noticeably colder.


    Candice had had quite a few drinks after dealing with Kenelm, and her head felt heavy.


    She told Jackson she was heading straight to the suite upstairs to rest.


    Just as she turned the corner after exiting the elevator, she heard a voice, “Lex.”


    Candice paused. From her viewpoint, she could see Sonia clinging to Alex, as limp as if she had no


    bones.


    Alex had one hand supporting her arm, as if afraid she would slide off.


    “Lex, will you sleep with me?” Sonia was clearly showing signs of being drunk.


    But Alex had just stated that she was alcohol intolerant and couldn’t drink.


    Candice understood; he probably did it to prevent Sonia from drinking.


    She was so distracted that she stumbled a few steps. She only managed to stay upright by grabbing


    onto the


    wall.