Chapter 206
+15 BONOS
Yvonne acted quickly. She lunged forward, rushing to shield Peach from harm.
Ivor’s foot struck her arm brutally, and she screamed hoarsely.
Ivor cursed her harshly. “You piece of shit! How could you return empty–handed? I sent you to get
money from that slut, and you failed? Do you want me to die at the hands of those people?”
Enraged, Ivor rose. He removed his belt and struck Yvonne across the back with it.
The belt cracked loudly, mingling with his relentless curses and insults.
“Listen up, this is your warning! If youplicate my life, yours won’t be easy. Believe me, I’ll sell that
girl abroad as a child bride if I have to!”
Yvonne held Peach in her arms, sobbing.
Drained, Ivor slumped into a chair and scratched his face. “I’m serious,” he said darkly. He kicked
Yvonne. “I took out a loan, and if I don’t repay it, all three of us will die.”
Stunned, Yvonne questioned, “What do you mean?”
“What do I mean? I borrowed some money! What else can it mean? Your heartless daughter
doesn’t care about us, so I found my own solution.”
Full understanding dawned on Yvonne. She held Peach in a trance before breaking down in
uncontroble sobs.
Candice was unaware of the turmoil unfolding in Noxville. She woke up to join Hanley for a meeting
with Francis.
Their meeting was set up in a café downtown, where Francis showed up with Lisa.
Lisa was not particrly surprised. She smiled at Candice upon her arrival.
Francis reached out for a handshake, his eyes on Candice deceptively soft, masking his leer. Candice,
I’m thrilled that we get to work together again.”
Candice ignored him, refusing to interact with Francis.
Hanley remained calm as he brushed aside Francis’s extended hand. “Mr. Moreno, let’s skip the
formalities and get down to business.”
+15 BONOS
Francis cast a regretful gaze at Candice, but quickly reced it with a smile. “You’re both aware of the
agreement between Webrews Group and Dream Search. I’d like to explore a cooperative opportunity
with Mr. Baldwin. We’re both businessmen. Why incur losses and create unnecessary
conflict?”
Hanley appeared aloof when not smiling. “Are you implying that if we refuse to cooperate, you’ll make
things difficult for us?” he questioned Francis coldly.
“Why would you think that?” Francis asked, unfazed.
Hanley scoffed. “You seem quite adept at threats, Mr. Moreno.”
Francis smiled again. He turned to Candice and said, “Having been with Aether Corporation for a
long time, surely you grasp my point?”
His tone was anything but kind, and it instilled a profound sense of disgust in Candice. Like
nausea to the point of vomiting.
Nevertheless, Candice suppressed her difort and faced Francis expressionlessly.
“To be frank, your proposal is uneptable,” she said firmly. “The product and strategies were created
by us, but Dream Search and a few otherpanies want to take full credit. Such a deal
is unheard of.”
Francis wasn’t taken aback by their rejection, seeming to have a trump card up his sleeve.
“Fairness isn’t the norm in this world,” he replied, rxed. “It’s all about the survival of the fittest. where
the strong prevail. Candice, you of all people should understand that society is far from fair.
His demeanor remained cool, confident despite their refusal. As he spoke, his lewd expression
turned into one of irony and malice.
The meeting concluded on a sour note, with Francis’s arrogant demeanor suggesting he had
anticipated such an oue.
Lisa lingered behind after Francis’s departure.
She hadn’t spoken much during the meeting, but turned to Candice with aplicated expression.
“You might want to consider yielding this time. I identally overheard Mr. Moreno mention they’ve
involved some influential people. The situation is quiteplex. Perhaps it’s best to take the loss this
time.”
Candice’s expression remained cold. She raised her eyebrows and eyed Lisa skeptically. “Is this a
Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!
message from Francis?”
Stunned, Lisa smiled sourly. “No, it’s my own advice. It’s pointless to fight a battle you can’t win. But if
you don’t trust me, so be it,” she continued with a sigh. “I’ve said everything I needed to say. * Lisa left.
Candice stood there expressionless as she watched her depart.
Hanley was unimpressed. He scoffed and drylymented, “People these days really are something.”
His tone dripped with sarcasm.
Candice mulled over their situation briefly. “Your thoughts?”
Hanley raised his brows slightly as he stared at Candice. His eyes were devoid of emotion as he
returned the question to Candice. “And yours?”
Candice ran her fingertips across the table. Eventually, she voiced a simple yet firm statement. What’s
there to be afraid of?”
She’d spent years at Aether Corporation and had her fill of various partnerships and clientele. Was she
supposed to back down just because Francis said a few words? That would mean her years as Chief
Secretary had been in vain.
Hanley’s eyes twinkled with a hint of amusement. He smiled. “Funny, I feel the same way.”
After their strategy discussion, Candice proceeded to Northdale.
Her house was almost set for her to move in.
Upon arrival, she encountered the residents‘mittee fixing the streetlight outside her
apartment.
“This area is mostly popted by elderly residents,” they warned Candice. “Because themps
frequently fail, this area has be a haven for thieves and troublemakers. In case of danger.
contact us or the police. Don’t try to handle it yourself.”
They left her with a contact number before departing.
Candice had nned to bring her grandfather here after he was released from the hospital. She
wanted to care for him in an environment that was familiar to him because she believed it would
help his recovery.
She forgot that reality rarely went ording to n.