Chapter 143


    Yana looked at Candice with a gaze devoid of malice, only curiosity.


    She generously invited Candice. “We’re all friends, so why not hang out together?”


    Candice, unfazed, replied, “You’ve misunderstood. Hanley and I aren’t what you think.”


    “What’s the importance of that? Encounters are fate; let’s just hang out. Besides, it’s the weekend! You


    should let loose a bit.” Yana was straightforward by nature and didn’t take Candice’s exnation to


    heart, thinking it was just her being polite.


    Despite Yana’s repeated invitations, Candice found it hard to refuse further. Besides, this was Hanley’s


    friend. and judging by his attitude, their rtionship should be quite good.


    She nodded in agreement.


    Hanley softly told her. “You don’t have to force yourself.”


    “What are you saying? Hanging out with us isn’t forcing yourself. Have you forgotten when we used to


    go to school together?” Yana overheard his words and couldn’t resist scolding him gently.


    Candice added, “It’s fine. It’s the weekend, anyway.”


    As there was no bar nearby, Yana suggested going to GT to have fun.


    When they reached the parking lot, Candice said, “I’ll drive there myself.”


    She didn’t want to stay in the same space with Alex anymore.


    However, Yana naively turned back and walked toward her, saying, “Oh, you’re driving? That’s great!”


    She then turned to Alex. “Mr. Elysian, Hanley’s friend drove here. We can ride in her car, which will be


    convenient if you n to drinkter.”


    Candice was taken aback. That wasn’t her intention.


    However, Yana had already opened the rear door and gotten in. She had deliberately worn heels today


    to make her legs look longer, but now, her calves were sore.


    With a furrowed brow, Candice stood in ce, a sudden shadow looming over her.


    Alex stood beside her, looking down at her. She pursed her lips and walked directly to the driver’s seat,


    opening the door and getting in.


    The passenger door was also opened, and the man’s cold aura soon enveloped the space. Candice


    looked up to see Alex sitting expressionless in the passenger seat.


    Her fingertips stiffened as she heard Alex sneer, “What, can’t you drive?”


    “Why are you sitting in the front?” However, before she could speak, a puzzled voice came from


    behind.


    Yana looked at Alex, her gaze somewhat strange.


    +15 BONOS


    His expression remained unchanged. “You said It’s been a while since you met your friend. I thought


    you’d


    want to catch up.”


    Yana subconsciously felt that something was off. She frowned slightly and said, “We don’t have to do it


    now.”


    Compared to reuniting with Hanley, she naturally wanted more interaction with Alex. Otherwise, it


    wouldn’t be easy to handle the old man at home.


    But Alex clearly showed no intention of changing seats. After Hanley got into the car, Candice drove


    directly to


    GT716 Bar.


    There was hardly any conversation along the way. Initially, Yana tried to initiate a few topics, but after


    receiving no responses, she quietly yed with her phone.


    GT wasn’t far from their location, just about fifteen minutes away. Candice stopped the car at the


    entrance.


    and Yana got out first, but her high heels were causing some difort.


    She instinctively looked at Hanley. “Hanley,e help me.”


    Candice hadn’t gotten out yet. She looked at Yana and softly reminded Alex beside her, “She might


    need your


    help now.”


    “What’s that got to do with me? She called for Hanley.” Alex was wearing a ck shirt today, making


    his already cold demeanor appear even more aloof.


    There wasn’t much emotion in his dark eyes as he nced indifferently at Candice, thenmented


    emotionlessly, “Your judgment of people is as poor as ever.”


    He said it without inflection, but to Candice’s ears, it was dripping with sarcasm.


    Still, he wasn’t wrong. Her Judgment of people had always beencking.


    She raised her eyshes slightly, trying to make her voice sound emotionless as she spoke, “You’re


    right. My


    judgment has always been poor.”


    Otherwise, she wouldn’t have persistently stayed by his side for so long.


    His eyes were deep as he stared at her for a moment. Suddenly, he snorted coldly and got out of the


    car.


    The door mmed loudly, enough to startle Candice before she slowly got out of the car herself.


    Yana and Alex had already gone inside while Hanley was waiting for her.


    Seeing her get out of the car, Hanley stepped forward and asked, “Are you okay?”


    Herplexion wasn’t good. Under the dazzling lights at the bar entrance, she looked even paler.


    She shook her head and inquired, “Are you very close to this Ms. Landor?”


    “Yeah. Yana is my neighbor, She’s straightforward and doesn’t have many hidden motives. If you feel


    ufortable with her words, you don’t have to endure it.”


    It was rare for Candice to hear such a high evaluation from Hanley about someone.


    +15 BONOS


    She was taken aback and said, “It seems like you’re quite close.”


    Hanley nced at her, seemingly recalling something. He furrowed his brow and exined, “I have


    many neighbors, not just her.”


    After he finished, he added, “There’s nothing between her and me, so don’t overthink it.”


    Alex had reserved a private room. When Candice and the others went in, Yana was ordering drinks.


    She asked. “What would you like to drink?”


    Candice said. “I’ll be drivingter, so no alcohol for me.”


    Hanley also declined, saying, “No, thanks.”


    “Whye to a bar if you’re not drinking?” Alex’s voice sounded cold beside them.


    He was sitting in a dimly lit area. Although Candice couldn’t see his expression clearly, she sensitively


    felt his gaze on her, and the words seemed directed at her as well.


    She lowered her eyes but persisted, “I drove here, so I can’t drink.”


    *You can get a designated driver.” Yana suggested and then added, “I heard from a friend that GT has


    a skilled


    new bartender.”


    Before Candice could respond, she saw Hanley standing in front of her. His voice was low and steady.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    “I’ll


    have a whiskey.”


    Yana raised an eyebrow, looking as if she saw through everything. “Didn’t expect you to be so


    considerate.”


    However, she didn’t push Candice to drink.


    But with very few topics to discuss among the four of them and Candice not inclined to talk, coupled


    with Alex and Hanley’s reluctance, Yana, who had been speaking alone for a while, started feeling


    annoyed.


    cing her ss on the table, she furrowed her brow and spoke up, “Why are you all so dull? We


    agreed to hang out, yet you’re acting like a bunch of nobodies here.”


    After her firm words, she swiftly left the room, her high heels tapping the ground whythmically, “You’re


    seriously


    boring. I’ll go check out that bartender.”


    After Yana had left, the atmosphere in the room grew even more silent. Candice remained silent for a


    moment,


    then stood up and said, “I’ll head back first.”


    However, before she could take a step, she heard Alex’s nonchnt and indifferent tone. “Leaving in


    such a rush. What are you afraid of?”


    Candice paused and looked at him.


    But Alex’s gaze inadvertently fell on Hanley. “Afraid he might find out that he’s just a backup?”