Chapter 214


    “Not exactly.” Candice said, “Remember, we had decided that once the Northdale house was


    ready, I’d move back?”


    Candice’s voice was soft, yet her mind swirled with conflicting feelings.


    She had brushed off Yana and Nadia’s jokes about her and Hanley, but Alex’s constant mention of


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Hanley made it impossible to continue doing so. It was unfair to involve Hanley in her personal


    issues.


    Hanley’s look toward Candice was unusually somber and searching.


    Shortly after, he averted his gaze and quietly said, “I can help


    p you.”


    Candice thought to refuse, but Hanley was already leaving before she could voice her objection.


    Resolved to return to Northdale, Candice started to pack up at the vi.


    Nadia was surprised when she learned of her move to Northdale. She wondered, “Did we bother you in


    any way? Why this sudden move?”


    Descending the stairs with a suitcase, Candice reassured her, “No, it’s just that the repairs at my


    Northdale house areplete. I feel it’s time to move back. I had already discussed this with


    Hanley.”


    Nadia tried to convince her to dy the move, saying, “Why don’t you stay a bit longer? It’s pleasant


    having you here, and it’s convenient for work.”


    Candice was resolute and replied, “I’ll still visit daily. It won’t take long using the bypass.”


    Her decision was firm, leaving no room for further persuasion.


    Without showing any emotion, Hanley took the suitcase from her and remarked, “Your hand is


    injured, let me carry it.”


    He was referring to Candice’s sprain from the car ident which was nearly healed but


    sometimes still ached. Candice was puzzled about how Hanley knew.


    He quietly loaded Candice’s luggage into the car. Her belongings were few, and the space of two


    cars was enough to transport everything.


    Once at Northdale, Hanley helped her move everything inside.


    Candice expressed her gratitude for his help and reassured him, “I’ll manage the rest myself.”


    Hanley observed her thoughtfully before leaving.


    +15 BONOS


    The old house, though clean, had an air of emptiness and the solitude of being uninhabited for a


    long time.


    Candice closed the door and faced the boxes in her living room, feeling weary.


    The apartment was on the ground floor. When the windows were open, it provided good lighting inside


    the house, especially when the surrounding foliage was trimmed.


    Sitting on the floor, Candice began to unpack one of the boxes.


    Inside were a variety of little trinkets, including ceramic figurines from Jackson, a book loaned by


    Hanley, and figurines acquired at random. With each item she picked up, memories of previous


    incidents emerged.


    As sheid the items on the floor, the liveliness and joy faded. She realized she hadn’t experienced


    genuine joy or excitement in a long time.


    The busy pace of life had worn down those emotions. In the quiet of the evening, they resurfaced but


    failed to stir any feelings in her heart.


    Sitting on the floor, Candice stared at the items in her hands.


    A knock on the door startled her from her train of thought.


    Opening it, she found Hanley standing there, this time with a cake and some boxes.


    He raised the goods in his hands with a gentle expression. He went on to say, “A celebration for


    housewarming.”


    Candice blinked and slowly replied, “This isn’t quite a housewarming celebration.”


    “Then we’re celebrating your homing.” Hanley responded with a rare yfulness in his tone.


    Candice had been depressed, but her mood lightened considerably.


    She stepped aside and then looked at the unloaded baggage on the floor, feeling a little


    embarrassed.


    Hanley’s eyes


    quickly scanned the room, stopping at the ceramic figurines on the floor. With a


    raised eyebrow, he asked, “Did those ugly piecese from Jackson?”


    Taken aback, Candice realized he meant the figurines.


    “They aren’t that bad, right?” she defended.


    Hanley chuckled and disclosed, “Jackson has given me something simr. His creations fail nine times


    out of ten.”


    This was new information for Candice about the figurines.


    After arranging the items Hanley had brought, she mentioned softly. “I thought you had already


    left.”


    Hanley didn’t respond but began helping Candice clear the dining area.


    It was dinnertime, and there was no food in the house. Candice would have had to eat out if Hanley


    hadn’t brought her food.


    After dinner, Hanley decided to leave as it waste.


    Candice offered to apany him to the door, but he refused, reminding her, “The corridor light


    isn’t working. Make sure to have it fixed tomorrow.”


    Jackson had told him about Candice’s mild night blindness.


    Candice nodded in understanding and said, “I will.”


    Nheless, she still opened the door to see Hanley off. The dim hallway light only allowed her to


    see his silhouette faintly.


    Just as she was about to close the door, the figure halted.


    “Candice,” Hanley’s voice, deep and a bit rough, echoed faintly.


    She turned toward him.


    He added, “You’re allowed to feel unhappy, sad, and aggrieved. You don’t have to suppress those


    feelings.”


    Back inside, Hanley’s words lingered in Candice’s mind. She tried to smile at the scattered belongings


    around her, but her smile soon faded.


    The major refurbishment wasplete, but the house still needed finishing touches.


    She ended up packing untilte and fell asleep on the couch.


    The next morning, she had the cake Hanley brought as breakfast along with a carton of milk he had


    thoughtfully left.


    After getting the house in order, Candice set off for the hospital. She had ns to meet Hanleyter,


    unwilling to let her work be further dyed.


    She felt a need to immerse herself in tasks.


    +15 BONOS


    That evening, she was to dine with Hanley and Jackson. After her hospital visit, she headed straight to


    the restaurant they had agreed upon.


    “Jonathan’s new ce–he’s been pestering me to check it out,” Sieg mentioned, juggling his car keys


    as he spoke with Alex, heading into the restaurant.


    Alex responded, “His family has a knack for the restaurant business.”


    Sieg raised an eyebrow and revealed, “He even wanted me to connect him with your family. It seems


    like a good idea. You’re organizing Sonia’s birthday party, aren’t you? Doing Jonathan a favor by


    choosing his ce seems like a win–win.”