Chapter 90


    That night, Candice had a difficult time falling asleep; her inebriation most likely contributed to her


    restlessness. A series of unsettling dreams kept her from finding peace, leaving her struggling to fully


    wake up.


    By the time she was able to lift her heavy eyelids, daylight had already filled the room.


    Groggily sitting up and reaching for her phone, she noticed it was already past ten.


    With not much left for her in Stugan, she decided to get ready for the day.


    She had gone straight to bed the previous night.


    Her clothes from the night before, which she had carelessly fallen asleep in, still bore the lingering


    scent of alcohol.


    Freshened up and out of the bathroom, she heard her phone ringing from the bedside table.


    It was a call from Charles at the branch office, asking, “Ms. Renault, what time are youing over?”


    His question caught her off guard, and she asked, “Is there something you need me for?”


    Charles exined, “We have an additional document that needs your attention. Mr. Elysian had to


    leave the city urgently and asked me to reach out to you.”


    Candice hesitated before calling Alex after she ended the call, but he never answered.


    Left with no choice, she attended to the pending work at the branch office.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    “When did Mr. Elysian leave?” she asked Charles once everything was resolved.


    “Early in the morning. He was already at the airport when I called,” Charles said, then asked, “Didn’t he


    tell you?


    Candice cast her eyes down and remained silent. Despite having spent the previous night together, he


    had not


    mentioned anything about his departure.


    Upon exiting the office, she checked her phone again, yet there was still no word from Alex..


    Consequently, she proceeded to book a flight for herself.


    By the time she was set to leave for the airport, it was well into the afternoon.


    Just after clearing the security check, her phone rang with a call from Hanley, making her realize she


    had not informed him of her leaving.


    With a touch of awkwardness, she answered, only to hear Hanley say, “There’s an opening for an


    exhibition today. If you’re free, you shoulde see it. It’s quite fascinating.”


    “Sorry, Hanley, I have some urgent matters to deal with,” she regretfully apologized, holding her


    luggage. “I’m


    now at the airport.”


    Hanley, sounding surprised, replied slowly, “I must have disturbed you.”


    +15 BONOS


    Feeling guilty, Candice suggested, “Next time you’re in Dorrington City, I’ll make it up to you with a


    meal.”


    She remembered Jackson mentioning that Hanley, too, hailed from Dorrington but often traveled for


    most of the year with his studio crew.


    Noxville, an ind city, was two cities away from Dorrington City.


    Candice reached there by evening and hailed a taxi to the hotel.


    Herst visit to Noxville had been for a conference.


    Ever since her mother remarried, she had never invited Candice to her house, despite Candice being


    just a little


    over ten years old at the time.


    Furthermore, whenever they met, she always visited Dorrington by high-speed train.


    Consequently, Candice had no clue about the address of her mother’s house.


    After dinner, she called her mother.


    Yvonne picked up quickly but sounded somewhat unsettled. “Candy? What’s the reason for your call?”


    Holding her phone tightly, Candice inhaled deeply before asking, “Where are you?”


    “I’m at home. Peach has just gone to sleep,” replied Yvonne, with the sound of footsteps indicating she


    had


    left her room.


    Gazing around her vacant hotel room, Candice calmly stated, “Can we meet? I’m in Noxville right now.”


    Yvonne, clearly taken aback, questioned, “You’re in Noxville? Why?”


    Candice tried her best to disregard the surprise and reluctance in Yvonne’s tone.


    “I need to talk to you about Grandpa,” she said tly.


    Yvonne, hesitant to agree to a meeting, queried, “What about him?”


    Showing uncharacteristic firmness, Candice pressed on, “He’s not able to give you more money..Why


    do you keep asking him for more? Is it really for Peach’s medical bills, or are you using it on that man?”


    This blunt confrontation took Yvonne by surprise.


    At that moment, the sound of Peach crying echoed in the background. Covering the phone, Yvonne


    hurriedly mentioned, “I have to take Peach to the hospital to get medicine tomorrow. Let’s meet then to


    talk.”


    She then abruptly ended the call.


    Listening to the busy tone, Candice slowly pursed her lips.


    She had picked up on Peach’s cries and sensed the anxiety in Yvonne’s voice.


    The weather in Noxville felt less pleasantpared to Stugan. Candice left her window open, allowing


    the warm outside air to flow in.


    The hospital was quite a distance from her hotel. The next morning, she traveled there early by taxi.


    +15 BONOS


    It had been a while since Candice and her mother had spoken, and Candice was surprised to see how


    much


    Yvonne had changed.


    Years ago, Yvonne still had a certain allure, but now she appeared worn and thin, d in dirty, old


    attire. Her hair was in disarray, hastily tied up.


    The little girl in Yvonne’s arms was d in oversized clothing, her face pale and lifeless.


    Standing before Candice, Yvonne appeared distressed and inquired, “What do you need to discuss?”


    Observing the bruises on Yvonne’s face, Candice’s expression hardened. She countered with a


    question


    instead of responding, “Has he been abusing you?”


    Yvonne averted her eyes and stuttered, “I just bumped into something by ident.”


    Candice remained silent, her attention shifting to Peach.


    The child, though six, appeared frail and tiny as she nestled in Yvonne’s embrace, gazing curiously at


    Candice.


    Her gaze flickered, and Candice reached into her bag, pulling out a chocte bar and offering it to


    Peach.


    The little girl nced at her mother, who subtly shook her head.


    Peach gently pushed the chocte back toward Candice, saying, “There’s a lot of things that I can’t


    eat.”


    Candice’s eyes then settled on Yvonne’s scarred, rough hands.


    As she was about to speak, Yvonne interjected, “All the money from Joe is for Peach’s


    medical treatment. Peach is his granddaughter too.”


    Candice raised her brows and shed an unbelieving look at her mother.


    Yvonne, avoiding Candice’s gaze, rationalized, “You’re well-off with your job, but Peach is only a child.


    Think of it as helping save your sister’s life.”


    Her voice became choppy as she talked.


    At her words, Peach drew closer to her mother, seekingfort in her embrace.


    Candice felt her heart sink. After a considerable pause, she finally found her voice.


    With a strained tone, she asked, “Do you really think I traveled here just to use you of using


    Grandpa’s


    money on Peach?”


    Yvonne looked at Candice, momentarily taken aback.


    Tightening her fists, Candice’s voice became sharper. “I’ve always given you money when you asked


    for it. But have you truly been using it for Peach, or for him? You know the truth.”


    “I…”


    “You’ve stayed away for so long, and Grandpa has been constantly worried about you. How can you


    deceive


    Candice found it difficult to describe her feelings.


    +15 BONOS


    She had always assumed that her mother would remember that she was her daughter. Yet it appeared


    that


    Yvonne saw her as a rival for Joe’s financial support,peting with Peach.