Chapter 98


    Candice had added Alex’s friends on social media to gain insight into his interests and activities, yet


    she


    rarely interacted with most of them.


    Browsing through her contacts, she eventually came across Hunter Briggs’s profile and promptly


    deleted it.


    With sleep eluding her due to a pounding headache, she propped herself up against the headboard,


    methodically removing these social connections from her phone.


    Just as she set her phone aside, hoping to get some rest, it rang.


    Alex was calling.


    Hesitantly, Candice answered, “What’s…”


    She was cut off by his cold voice. “Where are you staying?”


    Somewhat bewildered, Candice gave her location. Before she could grasp the situation, he had already


    hung


    1. up.


    The doorbell sounded as if she was boiling water. She had yet to pour it into the ss.


    When Candice opened the door, she was shocked to see Alex standing there with a nk expression


    on his


    face.


    “Do you need something?” she asked.


    Sweat had dampened her pajamas. Her wet hair also clung to her pale face.


    Alex scrutinized her, a hint of displeasure crossing his brow.


    Candice, gripping the doorknob, stood firmly blocking the doorway, showing no intention of inviting him


    in.


    Alex’s eyes were contemtive as he looked at Candice and scoffed. “Up sote with the door


    unlocked. I wonder why I bothereding.”


    Candice, clutching the doorknob, responded dully, “What do you want?”


    Alex, undeniably handsome, scrutinized her with a soft gaze, reminding her, “Candice, remember your


    role as Aether Corporation’s secretary.”


    Exhausted, her body temperature went hot and cold by turns, and shecked the energy to argue with


    him.


    Resigned, she released the doorknob and retreated inside, sinking into an armchair.


    Alex entered behind her, his attention briefly on the open window, which he promptly closed.


    Candice, feverish and irritable, objected, “Don’t close it. I need air.”


    Alex responded indifferently, “It’s raining outside.”


    Unable to argue further, she asked after a moment of silence, “Did youe here thiste to lecture


    me about


    +15 BONOS


    His gaze, icy and piercing, settled on her.


    Narrowing his eyes, he stated, “I’m here to remind you of the importance of personal conduct for


    someone in your position. Aether Corporation can’t be associated with scandals.”


    Sensing the coldness of his words, Candice looked back defiantly, her voice hoarse. “You’re reading


    too much


    into things.”


    She wanted to know why he felt she was seeing other men. She only had eyes for him her whole life.


    Was he just trying to deliberately belittle her?


    He tossed a box of tissues on her andmented, “If you’re not well, you should be taking your


    medication.”


    The unexpected impact caused Candice a slight difort.


    She picked up the tissues and set them aside, her voice tired. “I’ve already taken medicine. There’s no


    need for


    your concern.”


    “You think I’m concerned about you?” Alex’s lips curled into a mocking sneer, as if amused by her


    misunderstanding.


    Drained, Candice requested, “I’m tired and need to rest. Could you please leave?”


    Alex regarded her with an impassive look, shifting the topic.


    “Do you still intend to address the situation with Ivor?”


    Candice was taken aback.


    The police had taken Ivor into custody earlier that day. Though Yvonne might not have thought things


    through in her haste, it was essentially a domestic issue and an attempted assault.


    Candice asked, gripping the armrest, “What happened to him?”


    “He’s been detained for up to fifteen days and fined five hundred,” Alex informed. “Your mother and


    sister went to the station to get him back.”


    Candice, who had hoped Yvonne would reconsider for Peach’s sake, was shocked to hear she was


    trying to get Ivor released.


    A wave of suffocating tightness overwhelmed her chest, herplexion growing even paler, and for a


    moment, she felt on the verge of fainting.


    Steadying herself on the armrest, she looked up at Alex after a pause and asked, “Why are you telling


    me all


    this?”


    Alex nced at her, then casually poured a cup of hot water and offered it to Candice.


    His tone was tinged with sarcasm. “Aren’t you deeply concerned about your family?”


    The irony in his remark was clear.


    +15 BONOS


    Candice eyed the cup he extended but refrained from taking it, sensing she appeared foolish in his


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    eyes.


    Unfazed, Alex set the cup down and pulled out his phone, inquiring, “When will you return to


    Dorrington?”


    Candice met his gaze but remained silent.


    He pressed on, “I’m not running a charity. I didn’t pay you to take a paid vacation here.”


    Eager to leave Novate, Candice nodded. “I’ll head back once I’ve sorted things out.”


    Alex insisted, devoid of emotion, “I need a specific date. I don’t do well with uncertainty.”


    She was about to answer when a sudden itch triggered a harsh cough. She fumbled for tissues,


    missing them repeatedly due to the intensity of her cough.


    As she reached out again, a hand efficiently extracted a tissue and handed it to her.


    Instinctively, Candice epted it, covering her mouth as she continued to cough violently.


    Her coughing was relentless, but it could not drown out Alex’s cold admonition. “Don’t spread it to


    others.”


    Her cough finally subsided after a strenuous bout.


    Alex thenmanded in an authoritative tone, “Drink some water if you don’t want to damage your


    voice


    further.”


    No longer refusing, she took the ss he had filled earlier and sipped the warm water.


    The warm water was the right temperature; it soothed her throat, and she felt noticeably better.


    After a short pause, she informed Alex, “I’ll go back to Dorrington in three days.”


    He stood over her, looking down with concern. “You think you’re fit to travel? You’re as white as a


    sheet.”


    Aware of her frail condition, Candice massaged her forehead and said, “I just need to rest.”


    He observed her with evident impatience.


    His stare was piercing and cold as hemanded, “What are you waiting for? Get up and change.”


    Candice, feeling genuinely unwell, protested weakly, “I’m not feeling good.”


    Alex’s patience was clearly wearing thin as he demanded, “Do I need to repeat myself?”


    Not feeling well, Candice ceased to protest further.


    She closed her eyes as soon as she got into Alex’s car, only vaguely aware of their


    conversation.


    When they stopped at the hospital she had visited that morning, she finally realized their destination.