《My Mirror Image by Maybe Not (Candice And Alex鈥檚)》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 As soon as the banquet was over, Candice Renault left to pick up Alex Elysian. When she opened the door to a room, she bumped into a young girl. The girl looked clean and smart like an elf who could easily charm people. Candice had seen the girl before. She was the new intern at the Secretary¡¯s Office, Sonia Summers. Sonia looked up and met Candice¡¯s gaze. A hint of nervousness shed across her face and she greeted timidly, ¡°Candice.¡± Candice was travel-weary, with frost still on her shoulders. She looked outstanding but she was not a fan of smiling, which exuded aloofness. Candice hummed in acknowledgment and nced inside the room before she returned her attention to Sonia. She asked coldly, ¡°Where¡¯s Alex?¡± The name Alex made Sonia nervous. ¡°Mr. Elysian went out to buy a drink for me,¡± answered Sonia with a voice so hushed that it was drowned out by the room¡¯s music as she nced nervously at Candice. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Candice raised her brows and sized up Sonia carefully. Having been with Alex for many years and yet she had never asked him for a favor. Last month, Candice got into a car ident and hurt her left wrist. It was inconvenient for her to carry out her everyday tasks yet Alex did not even pour her a ss of water. Sonia grew nervous under Candice¡¯s scrutinizing gaze. She anxiously clutched the hem of her dress and spoke hesitantly, ¡°Mr. Elysian should be back soon.¡± Candice remained silent. She had been away in Noxville sincest week, attending a series of meetings, and had only returned today to go to the Elysian family¡¯s banquet. Alex was not particrly close to his family, so Candice had always acted as his representative. The twodies caught the attention of people in the room but the dim environment managed to veil Candice¡¯s face. They teased, ¡°Sonia, Mr. Elysian is only away for a while and you¡¯re already waiting for him at the door? How about the people here waiting for you?¡± Candice heard that loud and clear. Sonia was petrified. She awkwardly exined, ¡°Candice, they are joking. This is the first time Mr. Elysian brought me to a ce like this, that¡¯s why he¡¯s taking good care of me.¡± Candice wondered if Sonia was feigning ignorance. People who could be in the same room with Alex privately were all his friends in the same field. Candice nced at the man who spoke. He might be joking but she could tell that he was familiar with Sonia and had epted her as one of them. When Alex first brought Candice out to meet his friends, she was never treated with such hospitality. She was simply left in the corner on her own. The rich young men of Dorrington City were all arrogant and proud with the tendency to look down on people. If not for Alex, they would never have epted Sonia. Candice scoffed ironically. Despite being with Alex for years, she was not offered the same level of protection by him as the new intern was. She pulled her gaze back and decided to wait for Alex at the parking lot. When she turned around, she saw Alex approaching from the other end of the corridor. The first two buttons of his ck shirt were undone, and his sleeves were rolled up, exposing his beautifully chiseled forearms. Despite being in a club filled with deadly temptations and loud music, the man exuded a holy and elegant mien. The only thing unbefitting this appearance was the box of milk in his hand. It felt wrong. Candice watched as the box of milk was delivered to Sonia while he said, ¡°What are you doing out here? You can just chill with them while I¡¯m gone.¡± Sonia held the box of milk in her hand and her ears turned red as she muttered, ¡°I wanted to go to the washroom but I bumped into Candice.¡± Alex then spared a nce at Candice, but only for a moment. He gave Sonia another milk candy and said, ¡°I got this together with the milk.¡± Sonia was ttered as she epted the candy. Alex finally switched his attention to Candice and asked, ¡°You drove here?¡± Instead of retorting that he was the one who had asked her to pick him up, the words got stuck and she simply nodded. ¡°Drive Sonia home first.¡± ¡­ Sonia lived in the youth apartment on the northern side of the city, which was the direct opposite of the expensive residential area Candice and Alex lived in. Candice was already exhausted from the business trip but still had to cross half of the city just to drop the girl off. However, when Alex followed her into her home, she knew what was going on in the man¡¯s head. Despite living in the same building, Alex would only enter her ce when he needed his sexual needs satisfied. His strong arms curled around her slender waist. She looked down and saw his bony joints and slender fingers holding her tight. ¡­ After sex, Candice almost lost her voice to all the moaning. She saw Alex getting changed in the washroom. He never spent the night at her ce, which was also the reason he bought a unit for her in the first ce. Candice closed her tired eyes and asked, ¡°You¡¯re into that intern?¡± Alex did not stop buttoning his shirt. ¡°She¡¯s a good girl.¡± Candice scoffed. In the presence of such a man, everyone could act like a good girl, yet he never truly paid attention to any of them. She opened her eyes slightly to peek at the man¡¯s defined body. She grinned. ¡°If she¡¯s a good girl, what¡¯s holding you back?¡± Alex stopped. He looked at Candice grimly and furrowed his brows. ¡°A good girl¡ªthat¡¯s exactly what is holding me back.¡± Candice¡¯s grin froze. Rather than not wanting to ravage the girl, Alex did not have the heart to corrupt her innocence. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 The next day, Candice saw Sonia again at the office but thetter was being scolded. Sonia noticed Candice as well but quickly pulled her gaze away, seemingly in avoidance. Candice paused for a moment before she headed into the CEO¡¯s office. To her surprise, the assistant supervisor of the Secretary¡¯s Office, Lisa Lindom, was firedter in the afternoon. Lisa was the one who scolded Sonia the same morning. Sonia stood in front of Candice, looking afraid and youthful. She introduced herself timidly, ¡°Candice, Mr. Elysian told me to report to you.¡± Alex was right. Sonia was indeed a good girl. Candice flipped through the documents with her slender fingers. She looked at Sonia while leaning back in her seat; her aura remained imposing even when she was seated. 1 She spoke tly, ¡°What did Alex tell you to do?¡± Sonia grew nervous. ¡°He told me to shadow you and I could learn a thing or two from you.¡± Candice mmed the document shut and hummed a reply. She pointed at an empty desk and said, ¡°That¡¯s your ce.¡± Unlike the Secretary¡¯s Office, there were only three people in the CEO¡¯s office including Candice. With Sonia joining, the only spot left was the one in the corner. Sonia¡¯s expression froze for a moment but she quickly regained herposure. Candice noticed her urge to speak up and asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Sonia bit her lips and shook her head. ¡°N¨CNothing. Thank you, Candice.¡± Candice sized the girl up meaningfully. She asked, ¡°How far have you gotten with Alex?¡± Caught by surprise, Sonia reacted with shock and wide eyes. She looked at Candice and nervously exined, ¡°Mr. Elysian and I have a professional rtionship. He¡¯s a good boss. There¡¯s nothing between us, Candice. Please don¡¯t +15 BONOS Everyone in Aether Corporation was aware that Candice was more than just Alex¡¯s secretary. Many were wondering when Candice would officially rise in the ranks and be thedy boss of thepany. Candice¡¯s expression remained nk. She looked at Sonia and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m just telling you that Alex¡¯s interest doesn¡¯tst more than a month.¡± Sonia bit her lips and her eyes turned red, looking like a startled rabbit and shivering in fear. Candice frowned. Right before she could speak, footsteps were hearding from outside the door. Then, a man¡¯s voice was heard. ¡°Sonia.¡± Candice looked up and saw Alex. He looked astonishing; each action of his exuded elegance and nobility. Sonia snorted. Her head remained bowed and timidly she uttered, ¡°Mr. Elysian.¡± Alex was slightly baffled. He looked at the girl and sized her up, but the girl did not look up and continued to avert his gaze. The man lost his patience. He frowned and said sternly, ¡°Look up.¡± Candice was sitting at her desk as she watched Sonia reluctantly shift her gaze up, showing off her teary and aggrieved eyes. Alex narrowed his eyes and then looked at Candice. He tapped the desk with his fingers and asked coldly, ¡°Mind exining?¡± Candice looked at Sonia with the same nk expression. ¡°Exin?¡± Sonia¡¯s eyes got even more teary. She extended her hand and slightly tugged at Alex¡¯s sleeve. ¡°It¡¯s not that, Mr. Elysian, it¡¯s just that my contact lenses are making my eyes ufortable. Candice had nothing to do with it.¡± Candice saw Sonia tugging at Alex¡¯s sleeve. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Alex never liked being touched. Sonia noticed it as well. She quickly retracted her hand. Candice retracted her gaze. She then picked up an invitation card on her desk and said, ¡°The coming of age ceremony for the son of Tevar Group¡¯s chairman. It¡¯s at 211 +15 BONOS Alex stopped her before she could finish. ¡°You can attend it on my behalf.¡± The man then headed to his working space together with Sonia. Candice bowed her head and kept the invitation away. She could vaguely hear Alex telling Sonia, ¡°It¡¯s okay. You don¡¯t need to be afraid of her.¡± Candice believed there was nothing scary about herself, but she had to inquire about Lisa¡¯s dismissal. Lisa was the assistant supervisor at the Secretary¡¯s Office. She was good at her job but she got fired without a reason. However, when she saw Sonia standing in front of Alex like a little girl being bullied through the ss window, she decided it was not a good time to talk to the man. Sonia was inside the CEO¡¯s office for an hour. She came out with her face flushed red and nodded at Candice before heading back to her work station. Theoretically, she had no right to join the CEO¡¯s office because she was an intern, but since Alex had brought her in, Candice had to assign her some tasks. Candice handed Sonia a contract in a foreignnguage. Sonia looked embarrassed and she did not ept the document. Candice¡¯s expression turned cold as she asked, ¡°Can¡¯t do it?¡± Sonia bit her lips. Her face flushed. Unlike the shyness from before, this time she was embarrassed. She timidly uttered, ¡°I¡¯m not good at French.¡± Candice nodded. She took a sheet of paper out and asked, ¡°How about Excel? Can you fill in the sheets?¡± Sonia looked even more embarrassed. Her voice grew softer as she said, ¡°Thank you, Candice.¡± When Candice brought the invitation card to Alex, he was having a video conference and told her to wait. Candice stood and waited. Her eyes unintentionally picked up on a rabbit doll beside Alex¡¯s computer. It was poorly made and it looked old, like a little girl¡¯s toy. It stood out in the frosty interior of the room. +15 BONOS After the video conference, Alex asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Candice regained herposure immediately and handed him the invitation card. ¡°Since Tevart Corporation is working with us, we should show some respect.¡± Alex nced at the card with a hot stamping logo. His handsome face showed displeasure. Candice wanted to convince him but he looked at her, asking, ¡°You¡¯re not happy with Sonia working under you?¡± Candice remained unfazed. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be unhappy about.¡± ¡°Great.¡± Alex then gave her a ck card and said, ¡°You can attend the ceremony as my representative. Pick a fitting present.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± Candice took the card and turned around. Before she left, Alex held her back. He stared at her fiercely and warned her, ¡°Sonia is different. Don¡¯t touch her.¡± Candice could tell it was a stern warning, but it sounded different from Alex¡¯s mouth. As for how different, Candice would find outter in the evening. She was on her way to attend the ceremony when she realized she had forgotten her phone. She was forced to turn around and retrieve it from her desk. When she approached the CEO¡¯s Office, she heard a girl chuckling. Sonia was sitting beside Alex while the man¡¯s fingers were casually typing on the keyboard. Candice stood at a distance, but the quiet room allowed her to overhear Sonia¡¯s affectionate comints, ¡°Am I really that clueless? Candice assigned me the simplest task, yet I can¡¯t seem to get it right. Now you have to stay behind and help me with it.¡± Alex¡¯s hands froze. He casually said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be afraid of. She¡¯s even clumsier than you when she first started.¡± Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Candice looked at them in silence. Alex imed that he was busy because he was staying back with Sonia. Candice took a deep breath and feigned nonchnce as she retrieved her phone. Alex and Sonia then noticed her. Sonia got nervous. ¡°Candice, I¡¯llplete the task by today!¡± ¡°Mhmm¡­¡± Candice hummed a reply as she picked up her phone. ¡°With Mr. Elysian guiding you, you¡¯ll finish it in no time.¡± She was speaking the truth. The big boss of thepany stayed back just to help an intern complete an Excel sheet. However, a different thought struck Sonia and her face turned slightly pale. Alex looked at Candice. ¡°Why are you still here?¡± Candice waved her phone. ¡°I forgot my phone. I¡¯m going now.¡± Tevar Group¡¯s banquet was held at Southern Gin Hotel and the usual crowd of elites were present. Guests who noticed Candice was alone went up to her and asked about Alex. Candice handled them skillfully and confidently. ¡°He has a meeting to attend. He¡¯lle if he can make it.¡± A generic excuse that everyone understood once they read between the lines. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Alex made an appearance halfway through the banquet with Sonia by his side. The man exuded elegance with every move while the girl beside him was? adorable. They looked good together. A woman who was chatting with Candice signaled her to look behind. ¡°Who¡¯s that girl beside Mr. Elysian?¡± When Candice saw Sonia, she unconsciously tightened her grip on her ss. Alex saw her as well. He shot her a meaningful gaze and she tacitly knew what it meant. Candice then excused herself from the woman and went over to Alex. +15 BONOS ¡°I thought you weren¡¯ting,¡± she stated casually with the ss in her hand. ¡°I brought her here to have a look.¡± Alex¡¯s gaze was fixated on Sonia. Sonia blushed. She looked young for her age and her appearance fit the current trend of fair and slender looks; her innocent stare captivated those taller than herself when she looked up to them. ¡°Candice, I¡¯ve never been to an event so grand before, so I thought I¡¯d follow Mr. Elysian here to gain some exposure.¡± Candice simply nodded. A guest came over to chat with Alex. ¡°I was talking to Ms. Renault about you just now and I thought you couldn¡¯t make it, Mr. Elysian.¡± Alex chatted with those who greeted him. Candice would echo from the side asionally and things went well. Sonia, on the other hand, followed Alex around but she was not able to join in on any conversation. She peeked at Candice and noticed Candice¡¯s confidence in speech, eloquently handling every conversation with ease. Candice¡¯s keen eyes noticed the hint of embarrassment on Sonia. She raised her ss at the girl and said softly, ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it in the future.¡± Sonia nodded. ¡°Thank you, Candice.¡± Alex overheard their little conversation. He turned around to Sonia, asking, ¡± What¡¯s wrong?¡± Sonia forcefully smiled and said, ¡°Nothing.¡± Alex probed, ¡°Are you feeling unwell? I¡¯ll send you back.¡± Sonia¡¯s eyes curved into beautiful crescents immediately but she felt conflicted. Is it too much of a trouble? I can go back on my own though.¡± Candice simply remained silent as she watched Alex bring Sonia away. Sonia bade her goodbye but Alex did not even spare a nce at her when they left. The other influential figures then surrounded her and asked, ¡°Ms. Renault, who is that girl? Why is Mr. Elysian treating her like his precious?¡± The question sounded strange. +15 BONOS All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Everyone in the business world knew Candice and Alex¡¯s rtionship, yet Alex brought another girl to a public event and openly expressed his care for the girl. The other guests looked at Candice curiously. Candice had some wine and she did not want to drive, so she called for a substitute driver to get her home. She arrived home at midnight. When she opened the door, she saw a man in her living room. Candice kicked her heels to the side and entered without switching on the lights. I¡¯m tired today.¡± Alex¡¯s frosty smell from his collonge was mixed with a hint of strawberry sweetness; the scent entuated in the dark. The sweet fragrance was from Sonia. Candice froze. She stepped aside and asked, ¡°Have you sent the girl home?¡± Alex hummed heavily, but there was not much emotion behind his reply. ¡°She still doesn¡¯t know anything.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Candice replied, mirroring his unfeeling tone. ¡°So how long are you prepared to fool around this time? One month? Or three?¡± Candice had been with Alex since she was eighteen and it had been eight years now. She knew Alex well enough. However, as soon as the words escaped her mouth, she realized she was wrong. ¡°She doesn¡¯t know anything, so teach her more. Don¡¯t make her feel stupid,¡± Alex said slowly. The helplessness and care in his words were evident. Candice¡¯s heart sank when she heard him. ¡°Alex, are you into her?¡± ¡°As I¡¯ve said, she¡¯s a good girl,¡± Alex answered without a second thought. He added, ¡°I think it¡¯s not a bad idea to try being in love for once.¡± Candice went silent for a moment to calm herself down. ¡°What about me?¡± Chapter 4 Chapter 4 What about her? What did the eight years she had spent with Alex mean? Candice waited patiently for his answer while her breathing calmed down significantly. Alex used the same firm andposed tone when talking about Sonia to reply,¡± You know you are not my type.¡± It was true. Except for the early days when there were no women around Alex and the women ensued were worlds apart from her. He liked an obedient woman, but not too obedient like Candice. Candice¡¯s eyes were hidden in the dark, concealing any emotions from him. Her frosty voice said, ¡°Are you staying tonight?¡± Alex got up, grabbed his jacket and said, ¡°No.¡± Candice did not know whether Alex¡¯s ¡°no¡± meant that there was no chance between them, or simply literal. On the next day of work, Sonia¡¯s work station was transferred next to Candice and happened to be directly opposite the CEO¡¯s office, where Alex could see her by just lifting his head. Sonia greeted, ¡°Good morning, Candice.¡± Candice put her purse down. She saw the brazen delight in the girl¡¯s eyes and said calmly, ¡°You didn¡¯t like the ce I arranged for you yesterday? Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Sonia was stunned. She exined timidly, ¡°I liked it, but Mr. Elysian wanted me to sit here, so could supervise my work.¡± She blushed at the end of her sentence but quickly realized that Candice was still looking at her, which made her uneasy. Candice felt like she was the Evil Queen bullying Snow White. Her eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Continue what you¡¯re doing.¡± The news of Sonia moving to a new seat spread like wildfire within thepany. +15 BONOS When Candice went down to give assignments, she overheard some gossip. Those tale¨Ctellers noticed her and immediately switched to silentmunication through their suspicious gazes. Candice was not overly bothered. She grabbed her stuff and left. She was heading to Alex¡¯s office to remind him about a meeting with a clientter. When the elevator door opened, she saw Alex and Sonia inside. They were slightly startled when they saw Candice. Alex then said, ¡°I¡¯m going to meet Mr. Cobalt.¡± Candice nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll get the car ready.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Alex stopped her by raising his hand and then looked at Sonia. ¡°Sonia cane with me.¡± Candice¡¯s breath skipped before she nodded calmly. ¡°The board meeting is at three in the afternoon.¡± Alex and Sonia then left the office. Later in the afternoon, minutes before the board meeting, Alex was still nowhere to be found. Candice had to step up to manage the board members¡® impatience before she went out of the meeting room to call Alex. It took a while for the call to get through. Just when Candice wanted to ask when Alex would be back, she heard Sonia¡¯s meek voice uttering, ¡°Candice? What is it?¡± Candice was silent for a moment. ¡°Where¡¯s Alex?¡± ¡°He went to get some medicine for me.¡± Sonia sounded guilty. ¡°I identally sprained my ankle and Mr. Elysian brought me to the hospital.¡± ¡°Is it serious?¡± Candice stared at the trees outside the window, asking out of concern. ¡°Mr. Elysian said it¡¯s serious.¡± Sonia was still young and the youthful voice was pleasing to the ears. No one could be mad at her after listening to her mellow voice. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡®No wonder Alex liked the girl,¡® Candice thought. +15 BONOS She said, ¡°Tell him the board meeting is starting soon.¡± Then, a man¡¯s voice took over the call. ¡°Dy the board meeting. Tell them I have something urgent going on.¡± Candice stood in the corridor with her phone after Alex had hung up on her. It was not until the other assistant came from the meeting room for her that she collected her thoughts and rubbed her swelling temples. She returned to the meeting room to deal with the board members. It was a tall task to handle their impatience but she managed to send them off. Before she could catch a breather or a cup of water, she received a call from Alex¡¯s mother. Helen Elysian asked Candice to drop by their house. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Alex was not close with his mother, Helen. From the first time Alex brought Candice back home, Helen had never liked her. Alex preferred some distance between Candice and his family, so unless absolutely necessary, he would never send her back to his mother¡¯s ce. Candice called Alex. He answered this time. Judging from his tone and giggles, he seemed to be in a good mood. Candice paused briefly before she said, ¡°You seemed to be in a good mood.¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± Alex admitted without any boration. He stifled his giggles and asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Candice narrowed her eyes. ¡°Your mother wants me to drop by her house now.¡± Alex was silent but Candice heard a thud from his side, followed by Sonia¡¯s cry. She must have bumped into something. Before Alex ended the call at the next second, he said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to ask me about that.¡± Candice sat in the meeting room for ten minutes before she drove to the Elysians¡® residence. Alex must have forgotten about the first time he brought Candice home when Helen gave her a hard time and even spilled hot water on her hand. He gently stroked her ear and whispered to console her, telling her to be careful of his mother. Candice arrived at the Elysians¡® residence and bumped into Helen, who was sending ady off. She recognized thedy, so she smiled and nodded. Candice was beautiful and smart. Close friends with the Elysians viewed her as the future daughter¨Cinw of the family. After sending thedy off, Helen looked at Candice. ¡°Where¡¯s Alex? Why isn¡¯t he with you?¡± ¡°He¡¯s busy,¡± Candice said. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. e Helen scoffed and went to the study room. She then gave Candice an invitation ¨C puty b¡± +15 BONOS The event at Morinaga Estate was considered one of the most luxurious parties in Dorrington City. Everyone in the upper crust wanted an invitation and those who managed were either rich or influential. Candice epted the invitation card and called Alex again to inform him about the party. After finding out what happened, Alex said he woulde to meet her. Candice dared not leave on her own, so she waited for Alex at a nearby coffee shop. Alex arrived after a while, but his facial expression was frosty and he did not even bother to conceal the impatience in his eyes. Candice spotted a pink stain on his cor and she skipped a breath. Her hand on the coffee table curled unconsciously. She asked, ¡°Want anything?¡± ¡°No, thanks,¡± Alex said coldly as if he was dealing with mundane paperwork. Annoyed, he added, ¡°Give me the invitation card.¡± Candice took the beautiful card out of her purse and handed it to him. ¡°The party is this weekend. Do you want a bespoke suit or just a branded one?¡± Taking care of such small matters for him was a simple task for Candice as she was meticulous with a nurturing nature. Alex replied, ¡°Send Sonia the details as well. She¡¯sing with me to the party.¡± Candice reminded him, ¡°The party at Morinaga Estate is important. She¡¯s not suitable.¡± ¡°Anyone I bring is suitable.¡± Alex gave her no chance to argue. He grabbed the invitation card and wanted to leave. O Candice¡¯s sharp gaze noticed Alex¡¯s phone screen when a notification popped up. She could not see the content but saw a profile picture with a pink rabbit. She then simply looked away and remained quiet, a sign of her acknowledging what Alex said. He was right. As the CEO of Aether Corporation, he was someone everyone tried to tter. Anyone he brought to the party would certainly be suitable. Alex stood up and started leaving, so Candice started packing her things as well. Before she got up, Alex stopped and looked at her from a few steps away. TOREM A +15 BONOS ¡°Don¡¯t call this number anymore. Call my work phone,¡± he said emotionlessly. Candice had always contacted him on his private number as his work phone was constantly busy and she might not get to him in time. He frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t want people to misunderstand.¡± Candice knew exactly who he was referring to. She nodded with slight disappointment in her eyes. ¡°I understand.¡± X GET Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Since Alex said he would bring Sonia to the party this weekend, Candice did not interfere. Shepiled the information into a file, sent it to Sonia via email, and stopped asking. However, Sonia was just an intern. She had to juggle between dealing with her workload and preparing for the party, so it overwhelmed her easily. Candice saw her in a mess and Alex¡¯s reminder rang in her head. She asked Sonia, ¡°Do you need help?¡± Sonia was startled. Candice looked into the girl¡¯s eyes calmly. ¡°There will be a lot of guests at Morinaga Estate¡¯s party this weekend. I¡¯ve sent you the guest list. Try to remember their preferences and you just need to remind Alex when he meets them.¡± Sonia nodded repeatedly and showed an adorable smile. ¡°Thank you, Candice.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous.¡± Candice paused for a moment and added, ¡°Alex will take care of you.¡± Sonia blushed when Alex¡¯s name was mentioned. She bit her lips shyly and returned to her workstation with the file. Candice said nothing. She sent the same file to Alex¡¯s work phone as well. She had ceased contacting Alex via his private number ever since he asked her to do so. After she sent the file over, she unconsciously scrolled down and saw the disy picture on Alex¡¯s private number had turned into a pink rabbit. It had only been days. This reminded Candice of when she asked Alex to change his gray profile picture but he had always said it was troublesome. Later in the afternoon, the receptionist called to inform the arrival of Alex¡¯s client. Candice told the receptionist to arrange for the client to wait in the meeting room before she got up and informed Alex. +15 BONOS Alex nodded and headed to the meeting room with her. When he passed by Sonia¡¯s desk, he tapped on it and said coldly, ¡°Come to the meeting room.¡± Alex was obviously trying to train Sonia. Rumors abound in thepany that Candice was losing the CEO¡¯s affection, but she remained unbothered. She followed Alex to the meeting room and chatted with the client. She then looked at Sonia and said, ¡°Go bring us some tea.¡± When Sonia returned with tea, she saw Candice and Alex talking to the client masterfully. The sweet look on her face froze for a moment. After the client left, she grumbled softly, ¡°Candice, Mr. Elysian, I¡¯ll be going back to my work.¡± Candice barely reacted. The girl looked at Alex with reluctance and left the meeting room, leaving Alex alone with Candice. Candice frowned and asked, ¡°Are you sure about bringing her to the party?¡± ¡°If not?¡± Alex frowned and added, ¡°Tell J to join the meeting whenever the clientes.¡± J Lee was another secretary at the Secretary¡¯s Office and she had always managed internal affairs. Candice recalled Sonia¡¯s grievance from earlier and instantly figured it out. She could not help but sigh. ¡°You are too good to her.¡± Alex did not deny it. ¡°She¡¯s still a girl, of course I have to be good to her.¡± Then, a sudden thought rushed to his mind and he said, ¡°Oh and choose a dress for Sonia. I¡¯ll pay for it, just im from Financeter.¡± Candice never knew how caring Alex could be. She nodded stiffly and said, ¡°I¡¯ll ask for her preferenceter.¡± Before clocking out, Candice brought a few dresses to ask for Sonia¡¯s opinion. As she was about to enter the office, she heard Sonia¡¯s aggrieved voice, saying, Mr. Elysian, you should bring Candice to the party. I¡¯m clumsy and I can¡¯t do well. I don¡¯t want to embarrass you.¡± (( 213 N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. +15 BONOS Candice was stuck at the entrance, wondering whether to go in or leave. Then, she heard Alex say, ¡°She¡¯s just an employee. You are my girlfriend. Who do you think would embarrass me more?¡± Candice looked down. She was just an employee to him. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 During the weekend, Alex brought Sonia to the party. Candice was not overly concerned but she bumped into Alex when she left the house in the afternoon. He wore a simple shirt with the cor opened, exposing his cor bones and they looked tempting. Coincidentally, Candice wore a ck dress, which was the same color as Alex¡¯s shirt. In addition to his simple design, they had matching outfits like a couple. Candice paused for a moment. She looked nk when she asked, ¡°Going to the party now?¡± Alex hummed a reply. It sounded in as if he was uninterested. The elevator stopped on the first floor and Candice walked out first. She had a dinner date with Lisa, the unlucky secretary who got fired a while ago. When Lisa was fired, Candice wanted to talk to Alex about it but did not have the chance. Candice met up with Lisa at a Japanese restaurant. Lisa opened up to her andined about how unlucky she was. She only lectured Sonia for a bit when thetter did not finish her work, and the next thing she knew, she was given the letter. Candice said, ¡°That girl is Alex¡¯s precious baby now. You stepped on her tail, of course you¡¯d end up hurt.¡± Lisa was upset and confused. ¡°What did Mr. Elysian see in her?¡± She felt bad for Candice as well. ¡°I heard Mr. Elysian is training her too.¡± Everyone in Aether Corporation knew how much Candice had done for thepany¨Cshe worked hard and devoted her life to it. Whenever Alex wanted a particr client, Candice would secure the client by hook or by crook. Candice sipped her green tea in silence. Employees in Aether said that Sonia would be her recement, but she begged to differ. Alex groomed her himself since she was eighteen. From the ignorant young girl to the confident and masterful woman that she was now, Alex trained her every +15 BONOS Sonia was different. She was like a tiny pot of flowers in his hand that he would water every day. He asked Candice to help her and brought her to all kinds of important social events just to give her the exposure. He had been doing quite a lot to train her but the girl still underperformed. After parting ways with Lisa, Candice was about to head home when she received a call from Alex. The man sounded rushed, ¡°Dorrington Hospital. Come here now.¡± When Candice arrived at the hospital, Alex¡¯s hand was already in a bandage. Sonia was beside him, frightened and teary. Candice went up to the man and asked with furrowed brows, ¡°What happened? I thought you went to the party?¡± Alex was sitting in the emergency room, looking pale. ¡°We got into a car crash. The other guy is still here.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll settle the procedures.¡± Candice then looked at Sonia beside the man. She asked out of concern, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Sonia noticed the dress Candice wore, which strikingly matched Alex. She was slightly stunned and her eyes teared up even more. She snorted and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Mr. Elysian¡¯s wrist is hurt.¡± Her eyes were fixated on Candice¡¯s dress. Her lips moved but no words were uttered. Candice saw every expression on the girl¡¯s face and said nothing either. She went to look for the driver who caused the ident and negotiated with him. After dealing with all the necessary procedures, Candice went to the convenience store outside the hospital to buy two bottles of water and a pack of wet tissues. She noticed Alex¡¯s cracked lips. When she returned with the things, Alex was resting with his eyes closed. She was wondering if she should wake him. ¡°Candice.¡± Someone nudged her elbow. It was Sonia. +15 BONOS All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. She said, ¡°You can leave the water with me. When Mr. Elysian wakes up, I¡¯ll give it to him.¡± She tried her best to sound gentle and kind yet her smile felt forced and her eyes were still fixated on Candice¡¯s dress. X Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Before Candice could give the bottles of water to Sonia, Alex woke up. He asked in a deep voice, ¡°Settled?¡± ¡°Mhmm. The driver will take full responsibility and he has already contacted his insurance company.¡± Candice went straight to Alex, twisted the bottlecap and gave it to him. Her voice was slightly gentler than usual. ¡°I¡¯ve also contacted the person in charge of the party. I¡¯ll send you thereter.¡± Candice was able to take care of everything meticulously and confidently. Alex took gulps of water from the bottle. The two of them looked so harmonious together, to the point it formed an imaginary barrier around them. Sonia watched in silence for a while and only went up to Alex after he finished drinking. With a lowered head and a bitter voice, she apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry Mr. Elysian. If not for me, you wouldn¡¯t have gotten hurt.¡± Alex put the bottle aside and waved at her. ¡°Come here.¡± Sonia paused for a moment before she sat down beside him. Alex put his bandaged hand in front of her and asked softly, ¡°Scared?¡± Sonia remained quiet, her head lowered. Alex giggled. He tilted the girl¡¯s face up with his other hand and consoled her, I¡¯m not scared, so what are you scared of?¡± Sonia pouted. Her face puffed as she stared at him and stammered, ¡°I¡¯m scared that it hurts.¡± She spoke softly but Candice heard her. Candice looked down at the bottle of water that Alex put away. It was almost hitting the floor. ¡°Alex Elysian, is Alex Elysian¡¯s family here?¡± The nurse came out of the emergency room with an X¨Cray film, searching for Alex¡¯s family. She spotted Alex and then Candice, so she instinctively gave the X- +15 BONOS ¡°This is his X¨Cray. Take it to the doctor.¡± Sonia wanted to get up to take the film but she froze and quietly sat down. She forced a smile as looked at Candice, pretending nothing had happened. Candice held the X¨Cray film as she looked at the girl. She waited for the girl to speak but then Alex said nonchntly, ¡°Take it to the doctor. I have something to talk to Sonia about.¡± Sonia watched as Candice walked away. She seemed grumpy. Alex asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing. I just feel that you and Candice are much more suited for each other.¡± She tightened her lips right after the words escaped her mouth and carefully looked at Alex. It was a test; a test to find out Alex¡¯s true thoughts. Alex went silent for a moment and heughed. He casually answered, ¡°Suitable? I hated her boring and uninterested look. She bores me.¡± Sonia blinked a few times. Alex said something else and it put a bright smile on her face. Candice was standing at the corner, wanting to give the other bottle of water to Sonia but she was rooted when she saw the scene. Alex called her boring and uninteresting. Alex¡¯s hand was fine. All he needed was a few days of rest to recover. When Candice came back with the medicine, Alex and Sonia had returned to normal. There was a hint of obvious delight in Sonia¡¯s eyes and it affirmed Candice that what she heard and saw was not a dream. On the way back, Candice did not say a word. She dropped Sonia off before driving back to her neighborhood with Alex. The car was parked. Candice pulled the key out and asked, ¡°So you and her, is it confirmed?¡± When Sonia got out, Candice saw through the rear mirror that she kissed Alex on the cheek. +15 BONOS Alex nodded. ¡°Since when?¡± ¡°Just now. She¡¯s jealous of you. I had to cheer her up,¡± he said. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Candice tightened her grip on the car key. ¡°Why was she jealous of me?¡± Alex looked at her ck dress. ¡°Don¡¯t wear ck anymore. It looks terrible on you.¡± Candice pursed her lips. Did she look terrible in it or did Sonia not like it? Chapter 9 Chapter 9 +15 BONOS Alex and Sonia¡¯s rtionship spread like wildfire in thepany. Candice no longer took the CEO¡¯s private elevator to her workstation. She got to the office five minutes earlier and used the public elevator with the other employees. The reason was that Alex and Sonia were always togethering to and leaving the office. Candice waster than usual because of a traffic ident. When she arrived at the top floor, she saw Alex and Soniaing out of the CEO¡¯s private elevator together. Sonia¡¯s hands were curled around Alex¡¯s arm and she had an adorable smile on her face. When she saw Candice, she looked startled but then a sweet smile reappeared. ¡°Good morning, Candice.¡± Candice nced at her hand holding Alex¡¯s arm. She inly said, ¡°Morning.¡± Sonia then realized that she was still holding Alex¡¯s arm. She stuck out her tongue apologetically and let go of his arm. She looked at Alex cheekily and said, Candice saw us. What are we going to do?¡± Alex looked at Candice. ¡°She can watch us if she wants to.¡± Not wanting to witness their intimacy, she turned around and headed to her desk. Her heels clicked as she walked across the office. A few stepster, she even heard Sonia affectionately call out, ¡°Alex.¡± ¡± Later in the afternoon, Sonia came out of Alex¡¯s office with a bitter expression. She stood in front of Candice and said as she bit her lips, ¡°Candice, Mr. Elysian is looking for you.¡± It baffled Candice as there was no reason she could think of for him wanting to see her as most of her tasks were handed over to Sonia. Sonia noticed Candice¡¯s silence. She urged, ¡°Mr. Elysian is waiting.¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Candice was replying to a client¡¯s email, so she simply said, ¡°Is there something you can¡¯t do by yourself? I¡¯ll teach you. Though I¡¯m quite busy now.¡± Candice¡¯s words sounded different in Sonia¡¯s ears and the intern¡¯s already bitter look worsened. +15 BONOS Candice found out why Sonia looked bitter after meeting Alex. Alex¡¯s father, Daniel Elysian, was having a birthday party happening soon. Helen got news of his new girlfriend, Sonia, from some reliable sources, so she urged him to bring the girl home. Alex looked at her. ¡°She can¡¯t deal with my mother yet.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re asking me to take her ce to suffer?¡± Candice asked. She knew Helen was extremely strict in choosing her future daughter¨Cinw. Candice had had a hard time with Helen during the first time she visited the Elysian family as well. Back then, Alex did not prepare her for anything even though he was well aware that she would never leave in one piece. Candice curled her lips. ¡°What if I say no?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Alex was unfazed. He spun the pen in his hand and then put it on the desk. He said, ¡°You better think it over.¡± Only the two of them knew what he meant. A momentter, Candice nodded. ¡°Of course.¡± On the day of Daniel¡¯s birthday, Candice got off work and waited for Alex at the parking lot. She had agreed to attend the birthday celebration with him. However, Alex did not show up. Since it was gettingte, Candice texted him but he did not reply. She went back up to the office to look for him. There was no one around. Her expression turned grim. She asked a colleague who was workingte, ¡°Where¡¯s the CEO?¡± The female colleague was slightly surprised. ¡°Mr. Elysian left with Sonia.¡± X GET IT NOW Chapter 10 Chapter 10 When Candice arrived at the Elysians¡® residence, dinner was about to begin. She gave the present to the maid and spotted Alex, who was already at the table. The man was on his phone and he simply nced at her when she arrived. Daniel furrowed his brows and said sternly, ¡°You¡¯rete, Candice. Alex said you were noting.¡± ¡°I got stuck in traffic. Happy birthday, Daniel.¡± Candice showed a wless smile as she sat down beside Alex. She identally spotted Alex chatting with Sonia. Alex noticed her prying gaze, so he put the phone down on the table. He leaned toward her, whispering, ¡°I thought you were no show.¡± ¡°You told me to wait for you at the parking lot,¡± Candice said. Alex paused for a moment. ¡°I forgot.¡± He added frankly, ¡°It was going to rain, so I sent Sonia home first. You can drive anyway.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t reply to my text.¡± Candice narrowed her eyes to conceal her emotions. She sounded as calm and confident as usual but her hand was tightly clenched. ¡° You didn¡¯t even answer my call. I thought something happened to you.¡± He forgot about her because he was sending Sonia home. Many rtives came to celebrate Daniel¡¯s birthday. Helen was too busy hosting the guests to give Candice a hard time. Candice was smart enough to stay away as well. When Alex¡¯s marriage was brought up in a conversation, Helen reluctantly looked at Candice and simply said, ¡°Her? It¡¯s still early, everything is still up in the sky.¡± The rtives were surprised by her words. ¡°I thought Candice and Alex were together for years now. They are not tying the knot?¡± Even though it was not news that Helen looked down on Candice, Candice had All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. +15 BONOS Even Daniel had acknowledged their rtionship, so everyone thought Candice would eventually join the Elysian family. Helen was displeased. She was fed up with the rtives, so she called Candice over. She looked at Candice with a meaningful gaze and said, ¡°What should I tell people about you and Alex?¡± What else could Candice say about her rtionship with Alex? Helen was aware of Sonia¡¯s existence, so Candice was forced to be honest. ¡°It¡¯s still early. Alex and I are still young, we should put our careers first.¡± Talking to Helen was ufortable. Candice endured Helen¡¯s sneers for several minutes before she left with a stiff look. Before she walked away, she heard the rtives talking to Helen, ¡°You¡¯re really strict with her. If she really marries Alex, things won¡¯t be smooth for you two.¡± Helen was not afraid at all. She openly said, ¡°Alex won¡¯t marry her.¡± Candice froze for a moment. She stiffly moved to the other corner of the living room. As she made her way there, she walked past Alex who was having a video call. Candice heard his charming giggles. ¡°There¡¯s no one here, I¡¯m all alone.¡± She was petrified on the spot. She wanted to leave but Sonia spotted her through the screen and cried in shock. Candice did not hear what the girl said to Alex. Alex turned around with a frosty gaze. ¡°You¡¯re eavesdropping on me?¡± Candice curled her lips. ¡°I was just passing by.¡°. She wanted to leave but the man grabbed her wrist. Alex stared at her grimly. Candice pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I heard nothing.¡± Alex sized her up carefully and ultimately saw the bracelet on her right wrist. His brows furrowed. ¡°You¡¯re still wearing it.¡± Candice rotated her wrist. ¡°I got used to it.¡± Alex gave her the bracelet when she was still in university. It was not something +15 BONOS Alex released her wrist and said, ¡°It¡¯s been years, about time to get tired of Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Alex¡¯s sentence had multiple meanings to it. Was he implying that Candice should by now be bored of the bracelet, or was he hinting at himself getting bored with Candice? It was ambiguous. After the party, Daniel and Helen saw the guests off at the gate. Alex spotted Candice¡¯s car. ¡°I¡¯m busy. You can go home on your own.¡± Candice drove herself here anyway, so it was fine for her to part ways with Alex. She pursed her lips and asked, ¡°Going to Sonia¡¯s ce?¡± Alex nodded and looked at his phone. ¡°She¡¯s having her period and wants to eat cake.¡± Candice said, ¡°You really care about her.¡± Alex raised his brows and nced at her. ¡°I treat you well too.¡± He did and it was the truth. In the past eight years, Alex had treated Candice well and was generous with her. Candice nodded without refuting. She then nodded again, this time at Daniel before she drove back to her ce. The next day at work when Candice saw Sonia, there was a diamond ne on the girl¡¯s neck. Candice noticed the ne was thetest design of the brand that Alex liked. During lunch, Candice went to the pantry to refill her water bottle and she overheard a conversation at the entrance. Sonia¡¯s meek and adorable voice stood out. ¡°C¡¯mon guys, stop joking around. People can hear us. Besides¡­¡± Her voice suddenly had a hint of bitterness to it and she sounded conflicted. ¡°If Candice knows about this, she¡¯d get mad, wouldn¡¯t she?¡± The other girls stopped teasing her when she mentioned Candice. Candice indeed had a good reputation throughout thepany. She waited at the pantry¡¯s entrance for a while and decided to go downstairs to buy coffee instead. +15 BONOS After lunch, the Project Department delivered the document that Candice asked for. As she went through it, her brows furrowed. She mmed the document shut and gave it back. ¡°It¡¯s too messy. Do it again.¡± The department manager exined, ¡°I got the form and data from the Secretary¡¯s Office.¡± Sonia overheard the conversation and her face turned pale. She lowered her head and said meekly, ¡°Candice, I did thepiling.¡± Candice frowned. She scolded, ¡°You are still an intern, you are not qualified topile such complicated data yet.¡± Sonia snorted. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Candice.¡± There were a lot of corrections required and the Project Department refused to handle it, so Candice had to do it on her own. Sonia sat at her desk for the entire afternoon and worked on her calibration task. Later that evening, Alex came out of his office and stood in front of Candice. He knocked on her desk and said, ¡°Sonia is working under me starting tomorrow. Reassign her.¡± Candice heard the man and turned to Sonia, who was looking at the contract on her desk and did not seem to hear Alex. However, the girl bit her lips tightly and her lower jaw was contracted, looking awfully nervous. Candice pulled her gaze back to Alex. ¡°Give me a reason.¡± ¡°You are not suitable for guiding new hires. She can¡¯t learn anything from you,¡± he said nkly. Candice stared at the man. ¡°You¡¯re the one who told me to lead her in the first ce.¡± Alex was not angry but he sounded stern when he said, ¡°I know, so I¡¯m taking my words back.¡± The news of Candice targeting Sonia and Alex taking Sonia¡¯s side spread across thepany. When Candice got off work, she could feel the different gazes from her co- workers, but she simply turned a blind eye. +15 BONOS Dorrington was a rainy city, even more so when it was summer. On the way home, Candice stopped by the gas station for a refuel but when she was done, it was already raining cats and dogs. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. She drove in the storm. When she arrived at her home, the door was open and Alex was inside. X GET IT NOW + Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Candice paused for a moment. She put her purse down, took off her jacket, and asked with her usual tone, ¡°Here to talk about Sonia?¡± She could not think of another reason for Alex to be in her house now. Alex looked at her and answered with a question, ¡°Why are youte?¡± Candice had to work overtime for half an hour to fix Sonia¡¯s file, so she knocked offter than usual. She got a cup of milk to warm herself up amid the chilly weather. Alex stared at her as he leaned back on the couch, stretching his legs casually like he was the master of the house. Candice said, ¡°I workedte. It¡¯s raining outside. That¡¯s why I¡¯m homete.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem to like Sonia a lot,¡± Alex said with a firm tone as he raised his brows. Candice took a sip of milk and felt a lot morefortable. She was not interested in talking about Sonia with Alex. ¡°As long as you like her, does my opinion even matter?¡± Candice replied with no intention of concealing her impatience. A pauseter, she added, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Alex¡¯s phone on the coffee table rang for a moment. He nced at it before switching his gaze back at Candice. He continued to stare at her nkly. At the next moment, he turned back to his phone and picked it up to reply to the message. Then, his eyes traveled to Candice¡¯s slender waist and he chuckled. ¡± What else do you think?¡± Both of them were adults and Candice tacitly understood what the man wanted. Besides, they had been sleeping with each other for years. However, Candice was not in the mood tonight. She stared at the window and listened to the rain as it washed her thoughts away. Alex pinched her waist and kissed her on the lips. He said with his charming and deep voice, ¡°Candice, y along now.¡± The man was in a good mood tonight. At the end of the sexy session, he even brought Candice to the shower to clean up, +15 BONOS However, he left multiple marks on her body and they remained until the next day. Overdressing would attract attention, so Candice cleverly put on a long¨Csleeved shirt and matched it with high¨Cwaisted pants. The outfit gave her a mature woman look while covering wherever needed to be covered. She somehow overlooked the hickey on her neck, which only heavens knew if it was left by Alex intentionally. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Sonia had a foul mood for the entire day and she kept looking at Candice. During the lunch break, Candice heard a subtle argumenting from inside the CEO¡¯s office before she went out. Sonia darted out of the room with teary eyes. She paused for a moment as she strode past Candice before dashing away. Candice continued packing her things indifferently, ready to head to a client¡¯s meeting. When she returned to the office, Sonia was at her desk with the same teary eyes. Candice believed Alex and Sonia were still in their little fight, but it was none of her business. She brought a document to Alex¡¯s room. ¡°I need your signature on this,¡± said Candice as she handed him the document. Alex hummed a reply. He looked at her and then noticed the hickey on her neck. He furrowed his brows. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you cover it up? You wanted her to notice it?¡± Candice said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware of it.¡± She was cognizant that Sonia argued with Alex and he was in a foul mood too. She had to find an excuse for herself. ¡°If you need me to exin, I¡¯ll go talk to her.¡± Alex¡¯s hand froze with the pen in between his fingers. He scoffed and asked, ¡± How are you going to exin it?¡± ¡°I slept with someone else. You have nothing to do with it.¡± ¡°Candice¡­¡± Alex went silent for a while. He stared at her emotionless face as if she really had slept with another manst night. +15 BONOS He tightened his jaw and pressed his tongue against his pte. He mmed the pen on the table and sneered, ¡°Are you trying to make me an indecent man?¡± Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Candice narrowed her eyes. ¡°I just don¡¯t want the girl to overthink. It¡¯s not necessary.¡± Alex picked up his pen again and signed his name on the document. He tossed it back in her face with a frosty look. ¡°Fine. You can exin it to her.¡± Candice hummed a reply and was about to leave with the document. Then Alex¡¯s hand, holding his pen, froze for a moment and he called out, ¡°Tell Sonia toe to me if there¡¯s anything work¨Crted. Candice stopped. Alex continued, ¡°You don¡¯t have toe in anymore.¡± On the next day, Sonia¡¯s innocent and bright smile returned to her adorable face again. Alex must have said something to her. When Sonia came into the office with her hands around Alex¡¯s arm and greeted Candice, the caution and inquisition in her eyes disappeared. The girl was too young to learn how to conceal her emotions or hold secrets. While she was chatting with the other employees about rtionships, she jokingly confirmed her rtionship with Alex. Sonia and Alex¡¯s official rtionship spread across thepany. Even when Candice was beside or near Sonia with the other girls, they could still joke and chat about it. Alex must have said some sweet nothings to Sonia yesterday as she no longer avoided delicate topics and chose to go along with the flow when she struck conversation with Candice. up a ¡°Candice, have you gotten yourself a boyfriend?¡± Candice¡¯s hand that held the mouse froze. She looked at Sonia and asked, ¡°Alex told you that?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t.¡± Sonia teased with a raised eyebrow and giggled. ¡°He said it¡¯s your privacy and we should not pry too much, but I think you¡¯ve gotten a boyfriend.¡± Sonia looked at Candice straightly because the hickey on her neck remained. Candice looked down for a moment before looking back up at Sonia. The nervous inquisitive look in the girl¡¯s eyes was obvious, as if she was afraid No¨Cpen KARERINNE +15 BONOS Candice looked at her. Before Sonia¡¯s wide grin could reach both ends of her earlobes, she said calmly, ¡°Yeah, I found someone.¡± As soon as her voice subsided, the door of the CEO¡¯s office opened. Alex emerged and his gaze was fixated on Candice for only a moment before he retracted his gaze. Sonia¡¯s smile remained bright as she went over to the man to curl her hands around his arm. ¡°Alex, I was right. Candice got a boyfriend.¡± Alex hummed a reply and then nonchntly looked at Candice. ¡°When did that happen?¡± Candice¡¯s body turned stiff all of a sudden, but she bit the bullet and said, ¡°A few days ago.¡± Sonia then tugged Alex¡¯s arm and asked softly, ¡°Can Candice bring her boyfriend to the uing party? I want to see what kind of man has won her heart.¡± Candice frowned. She wanted to stop Sonia but Alex said, ¡°Okay, I want to see who¡¯s the lucky guy as well.¡± Neither did he give her the chance to speak nor even tell her what kind of party it was. He just simply decided for her. Candice¡¯s mood was ruined. When she drove home, her thoughts drifted away and she did not notice her gas tank was leaking. She was only made aware of the situation when she was pulled over by the traffic police. Her car was towed away. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Candice was in a terrible location to hail a taxi. She had been waiting for more than ten minutes by the roadside and still no taxi was sighted. Her phone was running low on battery, so with all options exhausted, she decided to call Alex. ¡°The number you dialed does not exist, please check it and dialter.¡± The monotonous voice was the only answer she got. Candice was slightly stunned. She checked the number and made the call again. The same monotonous voice sounded. +15 BONOS As if Candice was trying to challenge the automated reply, she dialed the number that she imprinted in her mind again and again. ¡°The number you dialed does not exist, please check it and dialter.¡± Meanwhile, in GT716 Bar¡¯s VIP room, Alex was peeling grapes on the couch. The purple skin of the grapes made his slender fingers look longer. He put the peeled grapes on the te and then forked one to Sonia¡¯s mouth. ¡° Here.¡± Sonia red at him. ¡°There are people here!¡± Alex wiped his hand and leaned back on the couchzily. ¡°No one will steal from you because I peeled them for you.¡± Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Sonia looked down and shyly said, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant!¡± The other people in the roomughed and said, ¡°Alex, you really look like a hen- pecked husband now.¡± Alexughed frivolously. His deep eyes then stared at Sonia and said casually, ¡± She¡¯s still a girl, I have to take good care of her.¡± Roars ofughter filled the room again. Then, someone said, ¡°I thought Candice was Alex¡¯s type.¡± The random question silenced the room immediately. Sonia¡¯s smile froze. She bit her lips and looked at Alex. Alex¡¯s expression remained unfazed, looking as frivolous as before. His eyes slightly narrowed as he said calmly, ¡°She was never my type. It was she who insisted on following me around.¡± Then, the guy who asked the question immediately echoed, ¡°I know right. We have never seen Alex change his number for any woman. Girl, you are the one and only!¡± Alex frowned. ¡°Who are you calling ¡®girl¡®? Don¡¯t try anything funny.¡± The group of friendsughed and joked for a while before someone said, ¡°Oh, Alex. Did you know Jackson is back? He¡¯sing as well.¡± Sonia was curious and asked Alex, ¡°Who is Jackson?¡± Alex simply said, ¡°Just a friend.¡± Sonia hummed a reply like the obedient girl she was. She moved back to her seat. If she was right, when Alex referred to Jackson as ¡°friend¡°, his expression did not look too friendly. Sonia had perfected the art of appearing as a good girl in the eyes of others over the years. When she nced at Alex, her heart would race. Considering her status and background, she was not a match for Alex, especially with an almost perfect woman like Candice by his side. However, the thought of Alex not fancying Candice and yet Candice insisting on following him gave Sonia a sense of superiority. +15 BONOS All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. No matter how capable Candice was, Alex did not like her. He liked Sonia. He even changed his personal number because she disliked it and he shared it with everyone but Candice. While Sonia reveled in her own delight, the person she had the lowest regard for entered. Candice had a long coat on and there was a tall man behind her. Sonia then heard the other guys call the man¡¯s name. ¡°Jackson Shyan!¡± Jackson looked humble, polite, and knowledgeable. He radiated elegance and gentleness, all while looking stunning when he smiled. Sonia looked at Alex and she spotted the furrowed brows on his face. Alex was looking at Candice. The girl tugged his sleeve and whispered, ¡°Alex, I¡¯m thirsty. Can you get me a ss of water?¡± Alex regained hisposure and Candice looked in the same direction where she met Sonia¡¯s gaze. Sonia was stunned. She forced an innocent smile and nodded in greeting. Candice nodded back at her and sat down. The other guys were close with Jackson. After their pleasantries, one of them asked, ¡°Jackson, how come you¡¯re here with Candice?¡± Candice was not informed of their recent parties, during which they had been badmouthing her, so it was rather awkward. Jackson smiled gently and said, ¡°I ran into Candice on the way here when her car broke down, so I gave her a lift.¡± ¡°Is that so? What a coincidence.¡± Alex poured a ss of wine and pushed it to Jackson. He said indifferently, ¡°Have some?¡± Jackson pushed it back subtly and said, ¡°No, thanks. Since Candice¡¯s car broke down, I have to drive her hometer.¡± Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Alex then looked at Candice. ¡°What he said¨Cmy car broke down,¡± she said as she picked up the ss of wine that Alex poured. She simply added, ¡°If you want a drinking buddy, I¡¯ll take his ce.¡± ¡°You take his ce?¡± Alex emphasized. He looked at Candice and Jackson meaningfully and asked frivolously, ¡°Who are you to him? You taking his ce?¡± Candice frowned. Alex was obviously displeased judging from his tone. Right then, Sonia, who had been quiet, suddenly eximed, ¡°Mr. Shyan, are you Candice¡¯s boyfriend?¡± Candice was surprised. She stared at Sonia coldly but before she could say a word, Alex added, ¡°Is it so?¡± His deep eyes were fixated on Candice, waiting for her answer. ¡°Don¡¯t give her a hard time,¡± Jackson said gently. His smile was as soothing as the spring breeze. He easily got Candice out of the tricky situation. ¡°We are just friends.¡± Since the man had made it clear, the others dropped the subject. Candice then excused herself to the restroom. It was purely a coincidence that she bumped into Jackson. Jackson had just returned from an overseas trip. He mentioned he was going to a party and kindly extended the invitation to Candice. Candice, on the other hand, did not want to mess up his n, so she tagged along. To her surprise, it was the party that Alex and Sonia talked about earlier. Frustrated, Candice came out of the restroom after washing her hands. She was nning to wait outside and text Jackson that she was leaving, but someone stopped her at the exit. Alex was outside the restroom, looking at his phone when Candice came out. He then looked at her and asked, ¡°Getting back with Jackson?¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Everyone in their circle knew Jackson admired Candice. He was also the person she could talk to among Alex¡¯s friends. +15 BONOS Candice was slightly taken aback. She wanted to exin herself but she found herself uttering something entirely different. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you be happy then?¡± Alex scoffed. ¡°What does that have to do with me?¡± ¡°You were the one who asked Sonia to ask me if I have a boyfriend,¡± Candice said as she stared at the man coldly. ¡°Alex, what kind of answer were you expecting?¡± The hallway was empty save for the two of them. The carpet silenced all footsteps with its furry texture. Candice curled her hands and said, ¡°I tried calling you earlier, but I couldn¡¯t get through. It¡¯s not in service.¡± Alex looked at her with his deep eyes. Candice used to love his eyes because they were the only way to see the side of Alex that no one knew. Now, when she looked at the same eyes again, she suddenly realized there was nothing but the cold abyss. Candice¡¯s eyshes flickered. Alex said, ¡°I changed my number. Sonia wasn¡¯t happy with the old one.¡± He registered his old number with Candice and their phone numbers were two digits different. ¡°And¡­¡± Alex walked a few steps and stopped. He turned around to Candice and said frivolously, ¡°If you are seeing someone, she would feel safer.¡± When Candice returned to the room, the group of friends were ying Truth or Dare and it was Sonia¡¯s turn. She chose Dare and was asked to kiss Alex. Everyone cheered and the girl shyly leaned into Alex¡¯s arms. Candice said goodbye to Jackson and told him to have fun while she made a move. Jackson got up immediately. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± He was not particrly loud but it was during the intermission of the game and no one was speaking, so everyone heard him. Sonia¡¯s giggles were exceptionally loud in the silence. She said, ¡°Candice, if you are really dating, you have to tell me!¡± Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Candice narrowed her eyes. ¡°I will.¡± Sonia then dragged Alex back into the game. Alex followed her without sparing an extra nce at Candice. When Candice left the club, she turned around to Jackson and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Jackson answered softly, ¡°You¡¯re wee. I¡¯ll drive you back.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± Before she could finish, Jackson stopped her by pointing at the sky. ¡°Forecast says there¡¯s a storm tonight. It¡¯s not safe for a girl like you to go home alone.¡± A rare persistence. Candice stopped arguing with him and got into his car. Jackson was a man who knew how to keep his distance. After he dropped Candice, he left without asking any other questions. Candice still had his jacket with her. He lent it to her earlier when her dress got dirty because of her car. She wanted to clean it before returning it to him. It was drizzling for the whole night and it escted into a storm around midnight. Candice was not a fan of thunder, so she shut the windows tight. Around two in the morning, beeps were heard from her security door unlocking. Her heart sank when she heard it as she was still awake. When she walked out of her room, Alex was already sitting on the couch with his jacket hanging on the coat rack and pouring himself a ss of water. He was still feeling chilly as he had juste in from the storm. Candice paused for a moment before she asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Alex did not answer. He put the empty ss down and got up. He then unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his perfectly toned body. He casually took his belt off and said, ¡°Get me some clothes, I¡¯m taking a shower.¡± Candice had Alex¡¯s clothes in her house, which he left behind many moons ago. ** Hecho +15 BONOS When she took the clean clothes out, Alex was already in the bathroom. The shower somehow sounded louder than the storm outside. Candice got herself a jacket and waited for him in the living room. Knocks came from the bathroom and Alex¡¯szy voice followed, ¡°Clothes.¡± Candice put her phone down and brought the man his clothes. Before she could knock on the door, it opened from the inside. Alex stood before her, naked. Candice instinctively looked away. The man scoffed and said, ¡°Which part haven¡¯t you seen before? You¡¯re shy now?¡± Candice kept her calm and said, ¡°It¡¯s better to keep things clear.¡± ¡°Clear? For who?¡± Alex wore his pants but he tossed the shirt away. He dragged Candice into the shower and pressed her against the wall. There was a subtle sneer in his tone when he said, ¡°Jackson is back and you¡¯re trying to steer clear from me?¡± Candice frowned at the man. She suddenly noticed the man¡¯s bloodshot eyes, which made his frosty eyes look disarray. Alex was drunk. Candice finally realized what was going on. It was rare for Alex to get drunk. The only time she remembered he did was during the first year she started following him. He was a fresh graduate and he got terribly drunk from a gathering. When Candice went to pick him up, he grabbed her waist and muttered gibberish at her. Alex was displeased when Candice¡¯s gaze started to drift away. He pinched her chin and peered down at her. He tilted her face left and right for a moment and frowned. ¡°Ugly.¡± Candice pped his hand away. When she bent over to pick up his clothes, she asked without looking at him, ¡°Then who is better?¡± Alex did not answer. He pushed her away and left the shower. +15 BONOS He crashed on the couch in the living room. Candice wanted to wake the man and tell him to go back to his own ce, but when she saw the frown on his face, she surrendered. When Candice woke up the next day, she saw Alex in the living room, looking terrible. He looked at her with furrowed brows. ¡°Don¡¯t tell Sonia about this.¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. +15 BONOS Chapter 17 Chapter 17 ¡°What is there to tell,¡± Candice muttered softly. She prepared some oatmeal for herself. Her period was around the corner, so she nned to skip coffee for the time being. She asked Alex, ¡°You want some?¡± The answer she got was the door mming on her. It was stormyst night and the road was still wet. Candice¡¯s car was in the workshop, so she had to take a taxi to work. When she went downstairs, she ran into Alex again but he turned a blind eye to her, so she wisely stayed away from him. She did not even ask him to give her a ride and would rather take a taxi. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Candice arrived at the office a few minutester than usual. When she got to her desk, she heard chuckles. She looked up and saw several other colleagues at Sonia¡¯s table. Sonia had a bag of coffee and breakfast on her table, which she got from downstairs. Sonia smiled at her and innocently said, ¡°Good morning, Candice. Come, have some breakfast.¡± Candice shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ve eaten.¡± ¡°But I bought coffee for everyone, and Alex paid for it.¡± Sonia had gotten used to calling Alex by his name. She brought a cup of Americano over and said with a bright smile, ¡°Candice, I know you like Americano, no sugar.¡± Candice looked at the girl¡¯s plump face nkly. ¡°Thank you, but I¡¯m not having coffee for the time being.¡± Sonia¡¯s smile froze on her face. She awkwardly retracted her hand and said weakly, ¡°Sorry, Candice.¡± Candice stayed silent./ ¨¹t When she passed by the pantry during lunch, she overheard a colleague saying, I don¡¯t know why Candice is still acting like she owns the ce. Sonia is already +15 BONOS Candice was bothered by how the colleague referred to Sonia as the real girlfriend. Alex was a yer and he had many women by his side before, but no one had ever legitimately taken the title of his girlfriend, not even Candice herself. Candice¡¯s mind wandered for the entire day. When it was time to go home, Alex called her to his office. ¡°There¡¯s a business trip next week. I¡¯m sending you and Peter.¡± The office door was open and Alex¡¯s voice was cold. Candice knew that from Sonia¡¯s ce, she was able to see what was happening inside Alex¡¯s office. She nodded and said, ¡°If that¡¯s all, I¡¯ll be going then.¡± She always had a tough time when she had her period. Her body would be sore and her tummy would rumble. She counted the days in her mind and believed her cycle was early this time. ¡°You didn¡¯t ept the coffee Sonia offered you?¡± Alex suddenly asked as he stared at Candice with his deep eyes. Candice started to feel the difort torturing her body. She frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not feeling well, I don¡¯t want coffee.¡± Alex paused and then frivolously said, ¡°She thought she angered you, she felt bad about it.¡± Candice knew Sonia must have told Alex about this morning. She looked at Alex and said, ¡°So?¡± ¡°Take whatever she gives you next time.¡± When Candice came out from the office, she saw Sonia¡¯s prying gaze. The cautiousness in the girl¡¯s eyes was brazen but she still wore a smile on her face. Candice was too tired to deal with the girl. She returned to her desk and packed up to leave. When she looked back up, she saw Sonia curling her hands around Alex¡¯s arms as they approached her. The girl was no longer uneasy with showing public affection. +15 BONOS Candice paused for a moment. Sonia said to her, ¡°Candice, don¡¯t forget the party this weekend.¡± Candice then remembered that she was forced to join the party, the one that she had to bring her ¡°boyfriend¡°. Sonia cheekily added, ¡°You can bring Mr. Shyan as well.¡± GET Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Candice went to the toilet before leaving the office. She already saw signs of her perioding earlier than expected this month. The building¡¯s main entrance was a terrible ce to catch a taxi. Candice had to walk several hundred meters to avoid the traffic. Alex¡¯s car drove out from the parking lot and stopped in front of her. The window wound down and revealed his handsome face. He simply asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t drive today?¡± Candice paused for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s at the workshop, for repairs.¡± Her eyes narrowed slightly. She told him yesterday that her car broke down and was sent to be fixed. It seemed like he did not listen to her at all. ¡°Are you going home or what?¡± he asked. ¡°Home.¡± ¡°Get in,¡± he said. Candice instinctively looked at Sonia in the passenger seat. Sonia¡¯s smile was already stiff and her eyebrows were slightly furrowed. She gently reminded Alex, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going shopping? What if Candice has other things to do? Wouldn¡¯t it be inconvenient for her?¡± Alex looked at Candice. ¡°Mind waiting?¡± Candice did not mind at all, but she clearly sensed the caution in Sonia¡¯s tone. She paused for a moment and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. My friend ising to pick me up.¡± Coincidentally, her phone rang. It was a call from Jackson. No idea why Jackson would call her in such a timely manner but she waved her phone at Alex without expressing much on her face. ¡°He¡¯s calling.¡± Sonia then immediately turned to Alex and pouted. ¡°Look, it¡¯s going to be inconvenient for Candice.¡± She sounded relieved/ Candice left the conversation as it was and simply walked to the side to answer the phone. +15 BONOS Alex¡¯s eyes were fixated on her. It was until Sonia tugged at his sleeve that he retracted his gaze. Sonia bit her lip and looked at Candice through the rear mirror. Candice stood tall and straight. Her hair flowed in the wind and her delicate facial features barely showed any emotions. It was difficult for Sonia to feel safe when Candice was around. The girl blinked several times. She felt aggrieved and hugged Alex¡¯s arm, saying, ¡°Alex, are you still thinking about her?¡± Alex¡¯s emotions had faded from his eyes. He looked at Sonia and said gently, ¡± I¡¯ve just been thinking since when she started seeing Jackson.¡± Sonia¡¯s arms stopped for a moment. She looked even more aggrieved as she said, ¡°Why do you care so much?¡± Alex scoffed and sneered, ¡°I just feel bad for Jackson.¡± He cheered her up before he drove the car away. Candice heard the engine roaring behind her. She turned around and the car had driven out of her sight. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. She pursed her lips. She agreed on the phone to have dinner with Jackson. Jackson was just around the block and he was on his way to her office. When he arrived, he had a little bag for her. ¡°It was such a rushst night. Here¡¯s a little something.¡± Jackson had always been the caring and gentle person that he was. Candice feltfortable in his presence and he was one of the few friends that she could have dinner with. Therefore, it would make the request she was about to ask sound unreasonable. Candice was in a dilemma about whether to ask Jackson. It was he who saw her unusual expression and asked out of concern, ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± Candice looked down. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I can handle it myself.¡± Jackson hummed. He then smiled and asked, ¡°You looked like you could use some help, maybe try telling me what¡¯s going on?¡± A little pauseter, he added, with a sense of probing, ¡°Is it about Alex and his +15 BONOS Everyone within Alex¡¯s circle knew about his new me but Alex never really publicly admitted their rtionship, so no one really talked about it. Jackson realized he was stepping out of line. Right before he could say the next word, he heard Candice saying, trying to sound as calm as possible, ¡°Can you be my boyfriend?¡± Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Candice¡¯s straightforwardness left Jackson speechless. ¡°It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t.¡± Candice looked down. She realized she was out of line as well. ¡°I¡¯m just simply asking. Don¡¯t take it seriously.¡± Jackson stayed quiet for a moment and asked, ¡°Candice, can I ask why?¡± ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve been single for too long and I should try dating,¡± she said. She did not mention Alex at all, and Jackson did not ask. After dinner, Jackson sent Candice home. At the neighborhood¡¯s entrance, they ran into Alex. Alex¡¯s ck Bentley was parked next to Jackson¡¯s car. He nced at Candice, who had juste out of the car, before looking at Jackson. Jackson nodded at him. ¡°Good evening.¡± Alex hummed and then with a meaningful look, he said, ¡°Ms. Renault, it seems like you are not just good at being a secretary.¡± Candice noticed his sneer in between the lines but she could not understand why. He already had Sonia, and because of the girl¡¯s insecurity, he hinted at her to find a boyfriend regardless of doing it openly and secretly. Yet he sneered and teased her in front of Jackson. Candice looked down for a bit before she parted ways with Jackson. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll return the jacket after I clean it.¡± Jackson shook his head with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s just one of my old jackets.¡± Candice knew Jackson was being courteous. If what she proposed to him earlier was considered offensive, then she would have crossed Jackson¡¯s boundary already. He had been taught to be a gentleman since he was young and it was why he sent Candice home. Candice was right about her menstrual cycle. It came early. The pain tormented her in the middle of the night, causing her to sweat profusely. +15 BONOS Her face turned pale. She got up to take some painkillers and curled up on the couch. The pain knocked her out after a while and when she opened her eyes, already the next morning. it was Her body was aching all over, and her hands and feet were cold. Her phone was buzzing on the table as messages spammed her. She forgot when she had joined a random group chat with Alex¡¯s friends and they were talking about going somewhere right now. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Candice pondered for a moment. She texted the group, telling them she was feeling unwell and could not show up. She put her phone down and went to the kitchen to prepare some soup. The warm corn soup was soothing and it warmed her belly. Halfway through the soup, the doorbell rang. She put the spoon down to answer the door. Alex, in his casual outfit, was standing at the door bearing his usual cold air. He looked at her and frowned. ¡°You caught a cold?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s just my period,¡± Candice said. Her period had always been on time and Alex used to remember her cycle. He would nevere to her ce when she was menstruating. Candice thought he was showing mercy and being kind but now she realized he simply disliked the trouble. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked. The opened door allowed the wind in and Candice¡¯s fingers were trembling. Alex looked at his phone and said, ¡°I still have time. Hospital?¡± He sounded casual, but it was simply an excuse without the slightest concern. Candice paused and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not that serious.¡± Since she rejected his offer, Alex did not insist. He left while replying to the text on his phone. When Candice returned to the table, her soup was already cold. She wanted to rest but Alex came back. This time, with Sonia. Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Candice concealed her emotions perfectly when she saw Sonia at her door. She asked, ¡°Yes?¡± Sonia dressed up for the asion. Her youthful cheeks had a hint of blush on them, and they amplified her innocence. She looked like the girl next door that every guy would fall for. ¡°Candice, Zach sent me a file that needed some amendments, and it¡¯s urgent. I thought I could make the changes if I didn¡¯t attend the party but¡­¡± Then, she red at Alex and continued, ¡°Alex said you are not going, and I could ask you to help me.¡± Candice looked at the document in her hands. Sonia already assumed that she would agree to help. She looked at Alex. ¡°Your idea?¡± ¡°Sieg and the others are waiting for us. Since you are not going, just take it as extra work. You can im overtime,¡± Alex said inly. Candice was still having cramps. She took a breath and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m not feeling well.¡± Alex furrowed his brows. He looked at Candice. Just when he thought Candice would provide an exnation, Sonia said, ¡°I told you Candice isn¡¯t avable. Alex, I think I should go back and make the changes. I can¡¯t just rely on Candice for everything.¡± The girl sounded aggrieved and bitter. Candice looked down for a moment and then looked at the girl, ¡°Give me to me. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. I¡¯ll do it.¡± Before she could take the document, the pain assaulted her lower abdomen again. The pain robbed her strength for a moment and her legs turned weak. Fortunately, before she fell, a strong arm held her up. Candice looked up and saw Alex holding her right arm. ¡°Can you stand?¡± he asked. ¡°Yeah, with a little help.¡± Candice wanted to get on her feet by holding onto Alex¡¯s arm. +15 BONOS Suddenly, Sonia pulled Candice¡¯s arm away from Alex and said, ¡°Candice, I¡¯ll help you.¡± Either the girl was weak or she did it on purpose, she lost all her strength in the midst of helping Candice. Candice lost her support but fortunately, she regained her bnce, or else she would fall again. She looked at Sonia with furrowed brows. The girl looked mortified. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Candice, I didn¡¯t mean it. I didn¡¯t expect you to be so strong.¡± Candice looked terrible. She did not have the strength to be bothered with Sonia anymore. ¡°Leave the document. I want to rest.¡± It was a clear exclusion order but someone was not able toprehend. Alex looked at her and said indubitably, ¡°Go to the hospital.¡± Candice said, ¡°It¡¯s just my period. I don¡¯t need to go to the hospital.¡± ¡°Yeah, Alex.¡± Sonia bit her lip. She looked at Candice and said, ¡°You just have to endure the menstrual cramps. It will be over soon. It¡¯s no big deal.¡± Thatst sentence rang loudly in Candice¡¯s ears. A while ago at Alex¡¯s ce, Sonia was on her period as well and the man almost burned down the house just to get her some dessert. Yet it became not a big deal at Candice¡¯s ce. Candice¡¯s refusal to budge coupled with Sonia¡¯s persuasion, Alex ultimately brought Sonia to the party instead of taking the former to the hospital. Candice held the document in her hand at the door for a while before she went back inside. After the door closed, Sonia, who was waiting for the elevator, immediately looked aggrieved. She looked down and asked Alex, ¡°Alex, is she still important to you? She¡¯s just having menstrual cramps and you got so nervous.¡± When Candice fell, Alex was behind Sonia, but he pushed the girl away just to prevent Candice from/falling. Sonia¡¯s expression turned bitter, but she could not and did not want tosh out at Alex, so she shifted all the me to Candice. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Alex brought Sonia to the party nevertheless, but everyone could tell that they just had an argument. Sonia sat down in a corner with a nk face and Alex did not even bother to cheer her up or console her. Sieg and Alex were rather close, so he went over to Alex with a ss of wine for a chat. ¡°Alex, are you serious with the girl?¡± Alex barely responded. He asked, ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Nothing in particr. I just want to say if you are serious about her, then cheer her up, don¡¯t make things worse.¡± go Sieg gestured at Sonia¡¯s spot as he spoke. Sonia was particrly young and not great at concealing her emotions. The sorrow and grief were smeared all over her face. Sieg scoffed cheekily and said, ¡°Not everyone is as good¨Ctempered as Candice. You wave at her and she¡¯lle wagging her tail.¡± Alex¡¯s friends disliked Candice for two reasons. First of all, her aloofness. Other than Alex, she rarely talked to others. Secondly, her obedience. She was so obedient andplied with Alex¡¯s every request to the point that people thought she had no temper. Even when Alex wanted to spend the night with another woman, she would book the hotel at his request and could even hand him the keycard herself with a poker face. The rich young men carried an air of superiority over the others and fancied an obedient woman, but not to Candice¡¯s extent. Therefore, Candice could not be one of them and they never took her seriously. Sieg then went off to chat with the others. As soon as he left, Sonia then eagerly came over. Alex looked at her, ¡°Still mad?¡± Sonia said meekly, ¡°I¡¯m not mad. It¡¯s just that whenever I saw Candice, I couldn¡¯t +15 BONOS She looked at Alex with a probing gaze. ¡°Candice is perfect. I bet she has a lot of admirers.¡± Candice spent the weekend at home and finally recovered on Monday morning. When she arrived at the office with the document that she amended for Sonia, she received a transfer notice. She was reassigned away from the CEO¡¯s office. The position remained but it was actually a demotion. Everyone in the office looked at her strangely. Only Sonia went up to her and held her hand with a regretful look. ¡°Candice, I¡¯ve only learned so much from you.¡± Candice tossed the document on the table and said emotionlessly, ¡°You didn¡¯t learn that much. I¡¯ve redone the whole file.¡± Sonia¡¯s expression stiffened. Candice pulled her hand away and strode into the CEO¡¯s office. Alex was going through a document when she came in. He looked at her calmly. Candice asked, ¡°I want an exnation. What did I do wrong?¡± Alex looked at her with his deep gaze. He was wearing a formal gray suit thatplemented his handsome looks. Candice realized it had been a while since she saw him in formal wear. Her fingers curled, pretending to be calm. She asked, ¡°I need an exnation if you want to transfer me. Tell me the truth.¡± Alex¡¯s fingers stopped at the tip of the page. He said, ¡°The truth is Sonia felt pressured around you.¡± He then added, ¡°If you are capable, you can excel at any ce. She can¡¯t. She¡¯s still young.¡± Sonia was young, so Alex could not bear to see her under pressure. However, he seemed to have forgotten that when Candice started following him, she was two years younger than Sonia was now. Even now, she was not much older than Sonia. When Candice walked out of the office, the others were helping Sonia keep her things. Candice had the best seat in the office and now it belonged to Sonia. Her stuff was already boxed and ced in a lonely corner. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. +15 BONOS GET IT NOW +15 BONOS Chapter 22 Chapter 22 The news of Candice¡¯s transfer out of the CEO¡¯s office spread like wildfire within thepany. There were a number of colleagues who tried to get more details from her, and they had been swarming her the whole morning. Fortunately, her detached personality was widely known and it sessfully kept her nosy colleagues away. She had just assumed her new position, so there were a lot of handovers. She did not have time to head outside for lunch, so she simply filled her stomach at the cafeteria. When she got into the elevator, she ran into Sonia and the other secretaries from her previous department, gossiping. The secretaries were keen¨Ceyed. They knew Alex had abandoned Candice, which strengthened Sonia¡¯s position, so they started to tter Sonia. Candice entered the elevator without showing any emotions. The others in the elevator felt a little awkward and they instinctively lowered their voices. Sonia nced at her and acted like she owned the elevator. She asked meekly, Candice, how are you doing out there? I asked Alex and he said you are more needed elsewhere now. He¡¯ll transfer you back at ater date.¡± If there was no obvious delight in between her lines, it would have sounded sincere. Candice coldly hummed a reply. She did not mind if Alex did not transfer her back, since it would be the same wherever she worked. Sonia thought she had won the war, the glorious smile on her face was showing. Aether Corporation was a fast¨Cpacedpany. Before Candice got off work, she received ast¨Cminute request to attend a social meeting with a client. Alcohol was inevitable at social meetings but Candice was still on her period. When she arrived, the client was already there. +15 BONOS ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . She was skilled at handling the client. After a few drinks, the deal was sealed and both parties were satisfied with the results. Candice¡¯s body then began to react to the alcohol she had ingested. She excused herself to go to the toilet, and as she was leaving the room, she bumped into the person next door. Jackson¡¯s unique scent was highly recognizable. Candice looked up when she picked up the scent and it surprised Jackson as well. He asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I have a meeting with a client,¡± Candice said. Jackson picked up the alcohol stench from her body. He frowned in silence. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Candice started to walk away, but she identally caught a glimpse of the door crack behind Jackson. Alex was sitting inside, looking rxed. Sonia was not around. Maybe she was absent or she was excused. No wonder Jackson would ask Candice what she was doing here. He probably assumed she was here to pick Alex up, like always. She quickly retracted her gaze and nodded at Jackson before she headed to the toilet. Jackson went out for a call. When he returned to the room, someone else said, ¡± Alex,e on. Tonight¡¯s the boys¡® night out, how can you leave so soon?¡± Alex was calmly looking at his phone. He said, ¡°She¡¯s workingte. I¡¯ll just send her something and I¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°There is no way you areing back,¡± Sieg whistled and teased him. Sieg then dragged Jackson into the fray and said, ¡°Jackson, am I right? Alex is going back to the princess¡® castle, how could he make it back in time?¡± Jackson looked at Alex thoughtfully. He somehow thought of Candice¡¯s slender figure from earlier. He frowned and called Alex, but all he got was a nk gaze. Jackson was stunned for a moment and said, ¡°Candice is just next door. I bumped into her just now.¡± The mention of Candice¡¯s name silenced the room. Alex barely reacted. +15 BONOS Sieg scoffed and said, ¡°Why do you even mention that irrelevant person?¡± Once Candice and the client wrapped up the discussion, all that remained was another round of drinks. When she finally saw the client off, she took a moment to sit in the room before taking her leave. She got tipsy and her head felt heavy. She stumbled out of the room but was caught by someone¡¯s strong arms. She was caught by surprise before she looked up. +15 BONOS Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Jackson frowned. He held Candice by the elbows and asked gently, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Candice pursed her lips in silence. It took her a while to realize it was Jackson who helped her. She got up on her feet slowly and took two steps away from the man. She said tiredly, ¡°Jackson. I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t know it was you.¡± ¡°Candice,¡± Jackson called her, but he did not know what else to say. Candice looked at him with her blushing cheeks and burning red lips. She was definitely tipsy. Jackson was slightly shocked. He took off his jacket and gave it to her. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you home.¡± When Jackson and Candice left the club, Sieg and the others were still waiting outside. Sieg spotted his friend and said, ¡°You wanna go for another round at GT? Dean said there¡¯s a cute girl¡­¡± Before he could finish, he saw Candice with furrowed brows behind Jackson. Jackson said, ¡°I¡¯m driving Candice home. You guys go ahead.¡± Candice¡¯s slender figure made her look like a stick beside Jackson. Sieg scoffed. He took a picture of them as they walked away and sent it to the group chat. The others were curious but Sieg was not overly bothered. He said, ¡°Don¡¯t you guys think Candice doesn¡¯t look like a woman at all? She¡¯s walking with a man but the man isn¡¯t even interested in her. No wonder Alex would rather send dinner to Sonia.¡± Candice saw the picture sent in the chat on the next day and several funny remarks followed. She was not bothered. She was trying to text a client but identally tapped into the group. Before she could exit the group, she spotted a text from Sonia. ¡°Candice and Mr. Shyan look good together.¡± +15 BONOS Sieg then replied, ¡°As good as you and Alex?¡± Candice¡¯s eyes paused at thetest text for a second before she exited the group. She grabbed her stuff on the table and headed to the CEO¡¯s office. She has a business tripter in the day and there was a document that needed Alex¡¯s signature. Before she could enter the CEO¡¯s office, Sonia stopped her. The girl was sitting in Candice¡¯s old ce. She smiled and asked, ¡°Candice, is there anything I can help you with?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for Alex.¡± Sonia casually said, ¡°Alex is having a teleconference, he¡¯s busy.¡± Candice looked at her nkly. ¡°I need him to sign some papers.¡± Sonia frowned. ¡°Candice, there are rules around here. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve forgotten them.¡± Candice¡¯s hands froze for a moment. ¡°When will he finish the teleconference?¡± ¡°Maybe ten minutester? Why don¡¯t you go back first, I¡¯ll inform you when he¡¯s free,¡± Sonia said. There was nothing else Candice could say. She nodded and was about to leave. Suddenly, Sonia called her in an almost inaudible voice. ¡°Candice.¡± The girl pointed at Alex¡¯s office and continued softly, ¡°At the end of the day, Alex is the CEO. I think you should call him Mr. Elysian, or else it might not look good to others. This is still thepany after all.¡± Sonia¡¯s smile was wless, even her eyes looked sincere. However, Candice felt like her heart was ripped out and tossed into an icy abyss. She had chills running down her spine. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. For the entire afternoon, Candice stayed behind her desk, waiting for the call that never came. When it was almost time to clock off, Alex came to her and knocked on her desk. (( Why are you still here? You have a business trip to Wing City today.¡± Candice looked at him and gave him the document by her desk. She said, ¡°I¡¯m waiting for your signature.¡± Alex scowled. + Chapter 24 Chapter 24 ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Alex stared at her, his fingers were tapping on the desk. It was rare for him to call her her full name. ¡°Candice Renault, don¡¯t try to shift the me.¡± Candice was stunned. She asked, ¡°Me? Shifting the me?¡± Alex¡¯s expression remained stern and indubitable. Candice¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed. Before she could speak, Sonia came over. The girl had a craft bag on her shoulder. She went up to Alex and tugged at his sleeve. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She then spotted Candice and smiled at her. Candice barely reacted. Sonia blinked several times and realization struck. ¡°Candice, I told Julie to inform you that Alex is free. Why didn¡¯t youe over?¡± Julie was one of the veterans of Aether. When Candice first joined thepany, the woman gave her a hard time. Everyone in Aether knew that Candice and Julie were not on good terms. Sonia intentionally asked Julie to inform Candice. No wonder Alex would question Candice for shifting the me. Candice looked at Alex in silence. She gave him the pen and said, ¡°Al¡­ Mr. Elysian, please sign here.¡± Alex looked at her and scoffed. He took the pen and signed the document Sonia was looking at her with wide eyes and curled lips. Even when the girl dragged Alex out of the office, Candice could still hear her sweet voice saying, ¡°Alex, let¡¯s go to a popr restaurant.¡± Alex was kind and gentle when he cared about someone but Candice had never experienced this side of him before. She pulled her attention away from the man. When she arrived at Wing City, it was already 10 p.m. Candice headed to the pre- booked hotel to rest for the night. N t- ex s +15 BONOS The next day, when Candice met with the client, the client did not look happy at all. ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Elysian?¡± The client was Aether¡¯s regr partner and he had always met with Alex and Candice together. The client insisted on seeing Alex himself or else there would be no deal. Candice tried persuading the client a few times but her efforts were futile. She was forced to call Alex. Alex was strangely easy¨Cgoing this time. He booked a ticket immediately and arrived at Wing City in the afternoon. Candice went to fetch him from the airport but she did not see Sonia anywhere. She asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t bring her along?¡± Everyone in thepany knew how much Alex pampered the girl so Candice thought she would tag along. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°She¡¯s busy with other stuff,¡± Alex replied sinctly. He strode fast with his long legs. Candice had a hard time keeping up with her heels. Despite the difort, she said with the same expression, ¡°I¡¯ll ask Peter to book another room for you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Alex said emotionlessly. ¡°I¡¯ll just stay at yours. Skip the trouble.¡± Alex was not a fan of trouble. Candice did not convince him otherwise as well. As a matter of fact, the man had always been like that. Whenever he brought her out for a business trip, the two of them usually shared a room. Those who tagged along had gotten used to it. When they arrived at Candice¡¯s room, Alex went to the washroom to clean up. Candice received a call from Jackson. His gentle voice always warmed her heart and soothed her mind. He invited Candice to lunch tomorrow. Before Candice could answer, the door to the washroom opened. +15 BONOS Alex¡¯s unbuttoned shirt was dripping, revealing his corbone and chest. His strong muscles were showing but not entirely. He looked at Candice and said, ¡°Get me a towel. I am taking a shower.¡± He was not particrly soft with his voice and the room was quiet, so Jackson heard him through the phone. A moment of hesitanceter, he asked Candice, ¡°Is Alex with you?¡± + Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Candice turned around to face Alex. Alex was emotionless as he took off his dripping shirt and threw it on the floor. He looked at Candice. His eyebrows moved, the meaning of which was self- exnatory. Candice pursed her lips. She turned around and spoke softly into the phone, ¡°I¡¯m on a business trip.¡± She hung up right away and did not mention Alex at all. Alex looked at her for a while. He then asked indifferently, ¡°Jackson?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Since when were you two so close?¡± Candice went to the closet to get a towel and answered nonchntly, ¡°We¡¯ve been close.¡± Alex pulled his attention away and did not pursue the conversation. The business suite they booked was spacious. The bed was huge and there was a small couch in front of it. Candice thought Alex would sleep on the couch after his shower but he came in half naked. His hair was dripping wet, his corbone was glistening with water droplets. There was even some trickling down his perfectly toned body and slipped into his obliques. He casually sat down beside the bed and tossed Candice a towel. He said sinctly, ¡°Wipe my hair.¡± Candice was verifying the details on the contract and was stunned by his request. A momentter, she picked up the towel and knelt beside Alex. It was not her first time wiping his hair. She was always afraid that he might have a headache so she offered to wipe dry his hair. Alex rejected it at first but after a few times, he allowed her to dry his hair this way. That was many years ago. She did not even remember when Alex stopped her from touching his hair. Even after they had sex at home, he would always leave with sweaty hair. Candice wiped the man¡¯s hair carefully. Alex¡¯s phone suddenly buzzed. Due to the proximity, Candice caught a glimpse of Sonia¡¯s name on it. +15 BONOS Alex saw the iing text as well. He got up all of a sudden and forgot that Candice was still kneeling beside him. The towel dropped and Candice fell back onto the bed. Alex went to the balcony and turned around to look at her. He frowned and said, I have a call to make.¡± Candice saw Alex¡¯s phone screen was already on showing the contact list. He was probably going to call Sonia. She packed her stuff and took the document out to the living room. The door was closed as soon as she left. Alex was on the call for quite some time. Candice heard his tender voice from outside and he even chuckled gently. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Even after Candice verified all the details, the door remained closed. Annoyed, Candice knocked on the door. The door opened almost immediately. Alex looked at her and asked, ¡°What?¡± Candice calmly pointed at the bed behind him and said, ¡°That¡¯s my bed.¡± Alex looked at the bed she pointed at. His furrowed brows eased up as he stepped aside. He said with a faint grin, ¡°Come in.¡± Candice did not know what he meant by that. This room was originally hers because she booked it. She went inside andy down on the bed. She closed her eyes and covered herself with the duvet. Then, the other side of the bed moved as the many down as well. Candice was beautiful when she slept. Alexy down beside her. His hand froze within an inch of her eyes. Her eyshes were long and voluminous. Her eyes were closed but she could feel Alex¡¯s movements. She pursed her lips and breathed gently. Whenever she was on the same bed with Alex, there was always¡­ +15 BONOS X Chapter 26 Chapter 26 However, at the next second, Alex pulled his hand back and the shadows before Candice¡¯s eyes disappeared. She subtly frowned. Alex sneered. ¡°You really think I want to sleep with you?¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Candice¡¯s eyelids froze for a moment. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. ¡°Then what do you want to do?¡± she asked. There was only a nightmp in the room, creating a dim environment that veiled Alex¡¯s expression. All she could hear him saying was, ¡°Sleep.¡± ¡°This is my room,¡± she said calmly. ¡°You can book a room yourself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s troublesome.¡± Candice turned away from him and closed her eyes. She was a light sleeper. The softest noise could wake her up. At midnight, Alex¡¯s phone suddenly rang. The electronic melody sounded irritatingly sharp. Candice woke up with furrowed brows. She saw Alex talking on the phone, and since they were on the same bed, she could also hear Sonia¡¯s cry. ¡°Alex, where are you? Can youe to the hospital right now? My dad got into a car crash and he¡¯s in the emergency room. I¡¯m scared.¡± Candice instinctively looked at Alex. He frowned and said heavily. ¡°I¡¯m on my my way.¡± As soon as he hung up the phone, he bolted up while pinching the center of his brows. While he got changed, he said, ¡°Book me a ticket back to Dorrington.¡± Candice did not reply immediately and only spoke after a while. ¡°We have a contract to sign tomorrow.¡± The contract was important to Aether. She opened her eyes and said. ¡°You can transfer some money to her first and go back tomorrow after we sign the contract.¡± Alex paused for a moment as he put on his shirt. He looked at her with narrowed eyes and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to repeat myself.¡± He was obviously angry. Candice pinched the nket tightly and asked, ¡°So you¡¯re serious about her?¡± She had never seen Alex care so much about a person, not even toward herself. She did not even dare to wake him up in the middle of the night. Alex had a quick temper, and things would only get worse if he were to be woken suddenly. He stared at her with a deep gaze and said sterly, ¡°Since when did I say I was not serious about her?¡± He was right, it had been Candice¡¯s assumption all along. She thought Sonia was simr to Alex¡¯s past flings, who he got bored of after a month. After Alex left, Candice stayed awake. She got herself a cup of warm milk and stood by the balcony. Her head was reying the words he said to her just now. ¡°Candice, you really are a turn¨Coff. Stop assuming things between us.¡± Candice was only eighteen when she started being with Alex. Simr to Sonia, she used to be a cheerful and happy girl who also liked to 1.2 be spoiled and spend time with Alex However, Alex never really pampered her and would never help her with unfinished work, nor fire anyone because of her. He would only tell her that he never kept useless people around him. Candice held the rail tightly. A hint of conflict shed across her eyes. She had no idea if she was still useful to Alex. The next day, the client was furious because of Alex¡¯s absence. Candice was scolded for an hour before she managed to persuade the client to sign the contract. When she returned to Dorrington, it was already five in the evening. Candice¡¯s car was at the airport¡¯s parking lot. As soon as shended, she drove to the city hospital. Behind the city hospital was an affiliated nursing home, where Candice¡¯s grandfather lived. She was raised by her grandfather alone. Her parents divorced when she was young and started their respective families. She barely saw them once or twice in a year. Candice¡¯s grandfather met with a car ident back then. In addition to his aging body, he had been living at the nursing home for years now. The nursing home shared the same parking lot as the hospital As soon as Candice parked her car, two people came out of the car in front of her. They were Sonia and Alex Candice was stunned. She was busy looking for a vacant spot and did not realize she parked right in front of Alex¡¯s car. Sonia looked pale and tired with dark circles under her eyes. She was also shocked when she saw Candice. A momentter, she forced a smile and looked at Alex, asking, ¡°Is Candice here to see my father as well?¡± Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Alex spared no nce at Candice. He took Sonia¡¯s purse for her and sald coldly, ¡°Beats me. Let¡¯s just bring the stuff up first.¡± He lett Wing Cityst night and parted with Candice on bad terms, so he was not in the mood to talk to her. Sonia hummed. She was obviously tired. She said, ¡°Candice, my father has justpleted his operation this morning and he¡¯s still in the ICU. No visitors allowed.¡± Candice looked at them with slightly narrowed eyes and exined, ¡°I¡¯m going to the nursing home.¡± Sonia was embarrassed when she heard Candice. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Candice then walked past them and headed to the nursing home. A few stepster, she heard Sonia grumbling to Alex. ¡°That was so embarrassing! Why didn¡¯t you tell me!¡± Alex whispered something to the girl but Candice could not hear this time. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. The couple went into the hospital with a few bags in their hands. Candice would visit the nursing home once a month, but she got so busytely that she had not visited for two months. Candice¡¯s grandfather, Joe Sundance, was a retired teacher. When she arrived, the old man was reading a newspaper under the tree with a pair of sses hanging over his nose. When Joe saw her, he removed his sses smiled, and said, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Candice gave him the cake she bought. ¡°I brought you some cake I got from La Pastiere.¡± ¡°Candice, you are not much of a talker but you really remember everything.¡± he said as heughed. Joe looked like a kind old man who loved to joke. He then looked at his granddaughter and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Alex? Too busy?¡± Candice and Alex started off their rtionship on good terms and Alex would asionallye along with her to visit her grandfather at the nursing home. Elderlies like Joe were neverplicated. He had always thought Alex was Candice¡¯s boyfriend, so even when Alex stoppeding, the old man would often ask about him. As usual, Candice said, ¡°He¡¯s busy working.¡± She had used this excuse many times but Joe believed her every time. ¡°It¡¯s good that he¡¯s busy. He¡¯s still young and he should focus on his career.¡± Joe sighed and added, ¡°Don¡¯t be like me, an old man with nothing to do.¡± ¡°You actually can have something to do. The director told me that the teachers from the local elementary school often asked you to help with their students¡® homework,¡± Candice said as she squatted beside him. Candice stayed at the nursing home for around two hours before she left. When she returned to the parking lot, Alex¡¯s car was still t She looked up at the hospital with aplicated gaze, wondering if Alex still remembered that he used to apany her to visit her grandfather at the nursing home. The news of Sonia¡¯s father getting into a car crash spread in thepany. Sonia was barely herself for days and no one dared to offend her. ¡°Candice.¡± another intern from the Secretary¡¯s Office called out. Candice looked up and saw a hesitant¨Clooking girl holding a document. She asked, ¡°What Is It?¡± there. ¡°This document is wrong. The format and the data are all wrong. It¡¯s done by Sonia,¡± the intern said worriedly. Candice understood it right away. Everyone in thepany knew Alex was behind Sonia, so no one dared to give the girl a hard time, let alone a mere intern. Candice took the document and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take it to her.¡± The intern felt relieved and immediately returned to her desk. Candice headed to the Secretary¡¯s Office. She skipped the chatters and put the document on Sonia¡¯s desk. ¡°The format and data are wrong. Take a look and amend.¡± As soon as her words subsided, Sonia¡¯s eyes turned watery and tears immediately dripped from her eyes as it Candice just scolded or bullied her. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 ¡°What are you doing?¡± Before Candice could say a word, Alex¡¯s loud voice came from behind. Candice frowned. ¡°I just wanted her to make changes to the document.¡± ¡°You want her to make changes to the document? Alex sneered. He stared at Candice coldly. Candice immediately knew what that meant. He probably thought she was ordering Sonia around like before. Surprised, she exined, ¡°This document is by Sonia Before she could finish, Sonia tugged at Alex¡¯s sleeve. Her eyes were still teary and her voice was hoarse, ¡°Alex, it¡¯s not like that. I was just thinking about my father in the past couple of days and I made some mistakes.¡± Candice¡¯s lips moved, wanting to speak, but her words were caught in her throat. She looked at Alex and waited for him to speak instead. ¡°Sonia is having a hard time because of her family. You can deal with this on your own,¡± he said coldly. He then brought Sonia into his room. Candice stood in front of Sonia¡¯s desk for a while before she left with the document. Later in the afternoon, the wholepany knew about Candice trying to give Sonia a hard time and was scolded by Alex. When Candice headed to the toilet, the word escted into Candice trying to take advantage of Sonia while the girt¡¯s father was hospitalized. The gossip made Sonia the poor Cindere, Alex her prince charming, and Candice the wicked stepsister. It sounded so vivid as if someone was there recording the whole scene. Candice was not bothered. She went into the toilet, washed her hands, and left without saying a word. The gossipers in the toilet were left embarrassed. document When she returned to her desk, the intern from earlier came to her with a troubled look. ¡°Candice. Mr. Nelson is asking for the d already.¡± The document was the one Sonia did wrong. Candice stopped packing her things and said to the intern, ¡°I¡¯ll redo for Mr. Nelson. You can go home.¡± The intern thanked her and left the office. Candice was left alone in the spacious office, workingte because someone could not fulfill their responsibility. Halfway through editing the document, her phone rang. The worker from the nursing home informed her that Joe was hit by a bike when he was on the way back from school and asked her toe to the hospital right away. Candice immediately packed her things. As soon as she exited the elevator, she bumped into Sonia and Alex. The girl was no longer crying, her eyes were as clear as crystal when she whispered to Alex. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Candice simply nced at them and walked away. However, Sonia was persistent. She released Alex¡¯s hand and ran in front of Candice, stopping her with a sincere and apologetic look. ¡°Candice. I¡¯m sorry. I couldn¡¯t control my emotions this morning and got you in trouble. I heard what the others have been saying.¡± The girl bit her lip as if she was making a huge decision. ¡°I will tell them what actually happened.¡± Candice was in a rush. She nodded. ¡°Whatever.¡± She wanted to leave but Sonia held her back by holding her hand, ¡°Candice, let¡¯s go to dinner.¡± ¡°No!¡± Candice was in a hurry and she lost control of her temper. Sonia was stunned but she held Candice¡¯s hand tighter. Looking like an innocent bunny while aggrieved, she could melt hearts.. ¡°Candice, you don¡¯t like me a lot, do you?¡± Candice looked at her phone impatiently. She tried to pull her hand back but maybe she put too much strength into it, Sonia lost her grip and fell on the floor. Recharge Promo: 1000 Bonus Free Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Candice was shocked. She frowned. She instinctively looked at Alex who was standing a little further away and said, ¡°I¡¯m in a hurry. I don¡¯t have time to have dinner with you Duys.¡± Sonia bit her lip in silence. She snorted and got up slowly before she walked back to Alex. She looked like she had suffered the greatest grievance. Alex stared at Candice coldly before looking at Sonia. He asked gently as if he was cooing a baby. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Sonia shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Alex, let¡¯s go. We are bringing fish soup to my father.¡± She then held Alex¡¯s hand and walked away. When she walked past Candice, she intentionally looked away. Alex allowed the girl to drag him like a puppet. He walked withrge strides but he slowed down for the petite girl. Fortunately, Candice¡¯s grandfather was not severely injured. He was on his way back from school and a bike identally sped past him, causing him to fall and sprained his ankle. He would be fine after a few days of rest. Candice was worried, so she insisted he stay at the hospital for a few days. She asked the doctor for a medical certificate. While she was on her way to pay the medical fee, she bumped into Alex at the elevator again. He was alone and had a thermal sk in his hand. He frowned when he saw Candice. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Candice paused for a moment and then pressed the button. She said calmly. ¡°My family is admitted.¡± She sounded as indifferent as always. Alex scoffed after a moment of silence. He looked at Candice, his deep eyes had a mix of frostiness and annoyance. ¡°Candice, you¡¯ve really gotten creativetely.¡± Candice did not understand what he meant. She frowned. Alex sneered, ¡°Your family is here?¡± He knew Candice¡¯s family¡¯s situation better than anyone. Her divorced parents were not in Dorrington City and her only family, her grandfather, was in the nursing home behind the hospital Alex narrowed his eyes and continued in a harsher tone, ¡°But you better think of a better excuse next time.¡± Candice was stunned. ¡°What excuse do I need?¡± ¡°Alex¡± hem. She was stunned when she saw Candice as well. As soon as she finished, Sonia came running from in front of them. She ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . She took the thermal sk from Alex and said, ¡°Alex, my father has something to say to you. Let¡¯s go back to the ward.¡± Alex hummed and nodded. He then looked at Candice and said coldly. ¡°I¡¯ll go visit your ¡°family¡± later?¡± He emphasized on the word ¡°family¡± on purpose. Candice¡¯s hands balled fists tightly. She said, ¡°No thanks.¡± Sonia then realized the situation. She frowned at Candice and reluctantly asked. ¡°Candice, your family is hospitalized as well?¡± ¡°Mhmm. I¡¯m going to check in,¡± she said. ¡°This is the orthopedic department, is something wrong with your family¡¯s bones or anything? Please take care.¡± Sonia said. Candice inhaled deeply. ¡°Thank you.¡± Sonia then looked at Alex, whose eyes narrowed with something on his mind. The girl was forced to keep a stiff smile and asked, ¡°Can I know what happened to your family? I¡¯ve been here a lot recently, and I¡¯ve learned a thing or two.¡± ¡°A bike hit him, but it¡¯s not that serious,¡± Candice said. The elevator bell dinged. The doors slid open and a group of people rushed out. Candice went in and headed downstairs to the reception. To her surprise, new rumors about her spread in the office the next day at thepany. Since Joe was not seriously injured, Candice could return to work with peace of mind, She still had to finish making changes to the document from yesterday. After amending the document, she called the intern over and told the girl to deliver it to Mr. Nelson. The intern stared at her for a while when she came over. Candice paused her work and asked, ¡°Is there something on my face?¡± The intern apologized and left in a hurry. til Candice did not find anything strange in her reaction at first until she realized the others were looking at her with the same look. Something was wrong. However, she had always lived in her own world, so she was not overly bothered.. When Candice headed down to the Human Resources department in the afternoon, she bumped into Julie. Julie was her arch¨Cnemesis in thepany, so she did not bother to talk to the woman. Julie sized up Candice and said to the Human Resources officer, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of copycat but I have never heard of someone copying the same ident with the same family member. I really am surprised.¡± Candice paused for a moment and looked at Julie. Julie was not afraid of her. She took her things and strutted away arrogantly. The Human Resource officer looked at Candice awkwardly. Candice asked her. ¡°What¡¯s the new rumor this time?¡± She was no idiot. Judging from Julie¡¯s tone, she knew it must be rted to her hospital visitst night. In fact she was almost correct in her guess. Early in the morning, someone spread a rumor about Candice copying Sonia¡¯s family ident and headed to the hospital, all because she wanted topete for Alex¡¯s attention. The Human Resource officer did not borate. Candice¡¯s keen eyes captured the hint of disgust in the officer¡¯s eyes. Thoughts rushed into her mind. She headed to Alex¡¯s office. When she was in front of the CEO¡¯s office. Sonia had a little cake in her hand and was smiling brightly. The colleagues around her were cheering as well. When Candice stepped inside, everyone¡¯s smile stiffened. Sonia reacted thestest. She said, ¡°Candice, is there anything I can help you with? Candice nced at her and sald without stopping. ¡°I¡¯m here for Alex¡± She sounded cold. Sonia was stunned and did not stop her. Julie scoffed. ¡°Look at her, she thinks she¡¯s still all that.¡± Sonia pursed her lips tightly. ¡°Julie, don¡¯t put it like that. Her rtionship with Alex is different.¡°¨C Candice went into Alex¡¯s office. The man was not particrly busy as well ¡°My grandfather was hit by a bike on his way back from school, He sprained his ankle,¡± she said emotionlessly. Alex looked at her. ¡°So?¡± ¡°Do you want to visit him? He asks about you a lot.¡± Candice sounded calm but her curled¨Cup fingers were a sign that she was nervous. Alex looked at her in silence for a while. Candice took a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Why should I go? Give me a reason,¡± he said. Candice¡¯s heart sank. She really could not find a reason for Alex to visit her grandfather. He was her boss, not her boyfriend. On a more intimate level, she was his friend with benefits and no one would bring someone like that to visit an elderly member of the family. Besides, these two friends no longer had benefits for each other. Ever since Sonia officially became his girlfriend, he had stoppeding to her. Candice looked down and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was thinking too much.¡± Alex looked at her. His deep eyes showed no emotions. He simply repeated, ¡°I said, give me a reason why consider.¡± my I have to visit and I can + Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Candice breathed carefully while standing in front of Alex¡¯s desk. She stared at the man for a while and then said slowly. ¡°You promised me to take care of my grandfather.¡± When Candice first brought Alex to meet her grandfather, he promised that as long as she continued to follow him and be an obedient girl, he would take good care of her grandfather. Candice did a great job. She had always been good but Alex eventually lost his patience with her. It was from many years ago, so long ago that even Alex had to think long and hard about this ever happening. He asked, ¡°Have I said something like that before?¡± Candice looked down. ¡°If you don¡¯t remember, then just pretend I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°Go back to work. If I have the time, I¡¯ll visit,¡± he said, He did not provide an exact answer and Candice stopped asking. However, after work, Candice waited for him at his office for an hour but he was nowhere to be found. When she arrived at the hospital it was already dinner time. Joe had dinner and was reading a book on his bed. He put his book down when Candice came in. ¡°Taken your dinner?¡± Candice had not eaten but she nodded. ¡°I came after I ate.¡± Joe shook his head. He sounded stricter than usual as he said, ¡°Candice, don¡¯t you lie to me. You look temible. You haven¡¯t eaten dinner, have you?¡± He then opened the drawer next to his bed and took two pieces of cake out for her. ¡°The teacher from the school got me these in the afternoon. Have some.¡± ¡°Oh, Alex Joe trailed when he gave Candice the cake. Candice instinctively took the cake and said, ¡°He¡¯s busy. There¡¯s been a big client recently and he¡¯s working overtime.¡± Joe was stunned. He then looked at Candice strictly and said, ¡°Candice, tell me. Did you have a light with Alex?¡± Candice said, ¡°No.¡± ¡°If not, then why do you keep saying he¡¯s busy when I mention him.¡± Joe did not believe her. He added softly, ¡°Alex came by this afternoon. I was wondering why you were not with him.¡± Candice was shocked. ¡°Alex came?¡± ¡°He came for a while and then said he was busy.¡± Joe sighed. ¡°Candice, don¡¯t keep everything to yourself. Alex is a good kid, it¡¯s just that he¡¯s not much of a talker.¡± Candice stayed until 9 p.m. before the nurse told her that visiting hours were over. On the way back, she got some takeaway for dinner. She was in deep thoughts while she was in the elevator. When she walked out, she took the other turn and headed to Alex¡¯s ce. A moment of struggleter, she pressed the bell but no one answered. She waited for a while and still no reply. Alex was either not home or refused to open the door. The takeaway she bought was getting cold. Candice turned around and wanted to head home. It was then she bumped into Alex. He wasing out of the elevator. He only had his white shirt on, his jacket was hanging over his arm. Alex paused when he saw Candice. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you.¡± Candice said straightforwardly. Alex frowned. He did not want Candice to enter his house. ¡°What is it? You can tell me here.¡± Candice blinked. She slowly said, ¡°I went to the hospital just now and my grandfather said you visited him in the afternoon.¡± Alex nonchntly said, ¡°I was sending Sonia there anyway, so in passing, I figured I could drop by.¡± Candice¡¯s grievance disappeared immediately. She and her grandfather were nothing but objects in passing to Alex. He was right. Why would she think he would purposely drop by to visit her grandfather? She even bought dinner and wanted to have a talk with him. Candice snapped out of her delusion and nodded. A momentter, she added, ¡°If you are busy, you don¡¯t have to.¡± She looked at the nt in theer and said with the same t tone. ¡°Old people tend to overthink.¡± ¡°Overthink? You asked me to go.¡± Alex clicked his tongue and went to open his door. Before he went inside, he impatiently said, ¡°Next time, think before youe to me. It¡¯s annoying.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. What followed was the door mming on her. Candice held the takeaway in her hand. It was already cold. She stood for a moment before she threw them into the trash can and headed home. Joe was hospitalized for two days and the doctor discharged him on the third. Candice went to pick him up. As Joe grew older, staying in the hospital for just two days was more than enough to drive him mad. He held Candice¡¯s hand and shook his head repeatedly. ¡°I said I was fine, but you insisted for me to stay here.¡± Candice was helping him pack. She said, ¡°I just need you to be safe.¡± Joe chuckled. When he opened the door, he saw a girl pushing a wheelchair with a man in it, whose leg was in a cast. It looked a little too strenuous for the girl He furrowed his brows and went up to give her a push. Sonia felt a sudden relief. She smiled obediently at Joe and nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± Candice came out from the ward with Joe¡¯s luggage and she saw him with Sonia. She instinctively frowned. Joe saw her. He waved at her and said, ¡°Candice,e give this girl a hand.¡± Sonia was stunned when she saw Candice. ¡°Candice? What are you doing here?¡± Candice went up and helped Sonia change the direction of the wheelchair. They managed to wheel past the corner with her help. ¡°Gramps, let¡¯s get you home first.¡± Candice did not want to interact with Sonia in front of her grandfather. She gave Sonia back the wheelchair and wanted to leave with the luggage. ¡°Candice!¡± Sonia reluctantly called her. ¡°Alex is on his way here with my father¡¯s medical report. Why don¡¯t you ask him to help you with the luggage?¡± Sonia asked out of concem but it sounded like she was exerting dominance in Candice¡¯s ears. Before Candice could decline, Alex had already arrived. Sonia waved at Alex and said, ¡°Alex,e give Candice a hand. She¡¯s carrying a heavy luggage.¡± ¡°Alex? Joe was standing by the side when he saw the young man. He frowned. He looked at Sonia and then Alex, and something was not right. Sonia noticed Joe¡¯s probing gaze as well. She cautiously nudged Alex¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Alex, this is Candice¡¯s grandfather. He helped me Just now.¡± Alex looked at Joe. He was slightly surprised. He nodded and said, ¡°You are being discharged today?¡± Joe did not answer the question. He looked at Sonia and asked, ¡°Alex, who is this girl to you?¡± He was referring to Sonia. Candice looked at him as well anticipating his answer. ¡°Sonia is my girlfriend.¡± Alex said unfazed. Candice then retracted her gaze immediately. She had no idea what she was looking forward to. Was she expecting Alex to say he did not know Sonia? Candice closed her eyes for a moment and then opened her eyes. She picked up the luggage and curled around her grandfather¡¯s arm. Let¡¯s go home.¡± Joe shook her hand off. He was a well¨Ceducated man, so even if he was mad, he knew he must control his emotions. He looked at Alex and asked, ¡°When did you break up with Candice?¡± Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Candice¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she instinctively looked at Alex. He didn¡¯t answer immediately but instead stared nkly at Candice Having known Alex for a long time, Candice easily Interpreted his silent gaze. She realized he was waiting for her to voluntarily exin. Joe, with a frown, shifts his attention to Candice, asking, ¡°Candy?¡± Candice¡¯s fingemails dog into her palm. Facing Alex, she then averted her eyes and softly exined to Joe, ¡®It¡¯s a matter from before.¡± Rxing her clenched hand, she moved to grab her luggage and said, ¡°I drop you off at the nursing house.¡± However, before she could grasp the sulicase handle, Alex quickly stepped in to take it. He lifted the luggage and looked at the two. He volunteered. ¡°Til bring it down for you¡± From behind, Sonia¡¯s sweet voice addressed him, ¡°Lex, well head back to the ward and wait for you.¡± Next, she politely bid Candice¡¯s grandfather goodbye and said, ¡°Mr. Sundance, thank you. Get well soon,¡± When the elevator arrived in the lobby, Candice paused and said, ¡°This is far enough.¡± After that, she attempted to take the suitcase from Alex, preparing to leave the hospital. Before Alex could respond. Joe said, ¡°Lex, I¡¯d like a word with you.¡± Candice¡¯s brows were slightly furrowed in concem. She was considering an excuse to prevent the two from having that talk when Alex¡¯s phone suddenly rang. Standing close to him, Candice noticed Sonia¡¯s name on the caller ID and quickly looked away. Alex did not hide it from them and answered the call right there. Candice could not hear what Sonia was saying on the other end of the phone, but she did catch Alex¡¯s brief grunt before he hung up. His face betrayed no emotion, yet he nodded towards them, excusing himself, ¡°Sorry, I have something to attend to.¡± He apologized verbally, but his demeanor had said it all. Candice dipped her head and quietly took the luggage from him. They had all descended from an upper floor In the elevator, which had briefly stopped midway. In the short span of a few minutes. Sonia already needed him for something. Candice, lugging the suitcase, assisted her grandfather as they slowly made their way to the parking area. Her grandfather maintained a solemn expression, his brows furrowed throughout the journey. It was only after Candice dropped him off at the nursing home that he finally voiced his concerns. ¡°Candy, what¡¯s really happening between you two?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. ¡°Nothing.¡± Candice replied, momentarily halling her task of organizing his medications. She casually continued. ¡°Perhaps we¡¯re just not right for each other. I didn¡¯t tell you because I didn¡¯t want to cause you any worry.¡± Her eyshes fluttered slightly as she pondered whether this exnation was more for hersell or for others. Gradually, she concluded it might be true. They just might be ipatible. Recently, a photo circted among Aether Corporation¡¯s employees, showing Alex pushing Sonia¡¯s father¡¯s wheelchair at Silverstone Hospital An employee who had been there for a check¨Cup coincidentally came across them. The staff were not used to witnessing their president¡¯s friendly demeanor, and they could not help but sigh emotionally. Candice, having seen the same photograph, remainedrgely unaffected. When Alex decided to be nice to someone, he was practically unstoppable. These events did not bother her much, though many were curious about her reaction, watching both overtly and covertly. Candice and Alex¡¯s rtionship was not a secret within thepany. This gave those who had resentment toward Candice a chance to ridicule her. In severalpany meetings, Candice bumped into Sonia. She chose to overlook Sonia, concentrating on the task at hand. On one asion, Sonia made an effort to reach out to Candice, but Candice dismissed her, reasoning that she was busy with work. Following this, Sonia behaved as though Candice was invisible to her. After thepany routine meeting concluded on Friday morning, Sonia approached with a document, concern etched on her face, and looked at Candice. Recharge Promo: 1000 Bonus Free GET IT + Chapter 32 Chapter 32 ¡°Candice, you¡¯re responsible for this document, aren¡¯t you?¡± Candice recognized it as one she had edited. Sonia expressed her disappointment. ¡°There¡¯s an error in the data, and it was submittedte. This led to the client withdrawing their cooperation. This project has suffered because of this.¡± Several co¨Cworkers had not left far away; they overheard their conversation and turned their inquisitive eyes toward Candice. Candice was a long¨Cstanding employee at Aether Corporation. No matter how many disliked her, no one questioned her ability. She gazed at Sonia, who was giving her a regretful look. Candice went to see Alex at noon, as he had a client meetingter in the afternoon. He had been in the middle of going over a contract when she walked in. Alex raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t think to knock first?¡± ¡°I needed to discuss something urgent.¡± Candiceid a document on his desk, asserting. ¡°These aren¡¯t the files I submitted. They¡¯ve been tampered with.¡± Alex stopped, nced up, and inquired. ¡°Do you have proof?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve kept backups of the originals,¡± Candice replied. Alex had always advised her to be cautious and prepared, especially given the numerous underhanded tactics in their line of work. He drummed his fingers on the table and said, ¡°Hmm, I believe you.¡± Alex¡¯s answer moved Candice. She was about to respond when Alex shifted the conversation, remarking. ¡°But it¡¯s irrelevant now. The client has already pulled out.¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. He raised his eyes to meet her gaze, stating matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°You werete in submitting those documents. That¡¯s on you.¡± Candice attempted to justify. ¡°I was dealing with an emergency that day.¡± *Thepany cannot be held ountable for your personal emergencies.¡± Looking at him, Candice had to question, ¡°What about Sonia? Does thepany make exceptions for her?¡± Alex¡¯s rhythmic tapping on the desk ceased. He idly nudged a new toy on his desk and responded nonchntly. ¡°Thepany might not but I do.¡± Candice was left momentarily speechless, and then realization dawned on her. Sonia had Alex¡¯s backing her. He was ready to defend her, which was why she was fearless. With a wry chuckle, Candice shut her eyes briefly. Looking at Alex, she inquired, ¡°Is this project valued at five million?¡± Alex, without any emotion, stated, ¡°You know the rules; three months of your sry will be deducted.¡± Despite her high ie, she did not have much in the bank because of Joe¡¯s high nursing care costs. Most of her monthly earnings went there. After a moment of silent contemtion, she proposed, ¡°What if I can fix this?¡± Alex responded, ¡°Then you still get yourmission.¡± Before she left the office, Candice acquired the contact information of the client and humbly invited him out for dinner, which he finally agreed to after several rejections. The dinner was arranged at a high¨Cend hotel downtown. He was there waiting for Candice when she got there. The client was a middle¨Caged man in his fifties. He disyed surprise upon seeing Candice, his irritation swiftly changing to a pleasant smile. In the adjoining private room, Sieg boasted to Alex. He pointed at a wine bottle, remarking, ¡°Lex, this wine is a gem from my father¡¯s collection. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll love it. It¡¯s unusual for us to get together these days. We have to drink to our heart¡¯s content.¡± Alex pushed the wine ss aside, stating tly, ¡°Not for me. I have things to deal withter.¡± Sieg, teasing, said, ¡°Whatmitments? Looking after your sweetheart?¡± He continued, ¡°You¡¯ve never been this devoted to anyone else. Why are you so smitten with her?¡± His questions took Alex by surprise. Just as Alex was ready to respond, another person poked fun at him, saying. ¡°What do you know? He just likes her. Do you recall how sweet and innocent Candice seemed while she was with him? Chapter 33 Chapter 33 ¡°Candice? Innocent? Isnt she in the next room with that old man, Humphrey Sieg snorted, his tone tinged with disgust. ¡°Everyone here is aware of the type of man he is.¡± Humphrey Moore was Infamously difficult to handle and known for his craftiness in the Dominaton City business scene. Despite Candice having drunk five sses, Humphrey had still not shifted their conversation to business matters. He gave her another ss of wine. Humphrey¡¯s delight was evident as he ttered Candice ¡°I¡¯ve heard so much about you, Ms. Renault. As it turns out, you¡¯re so gorgeous in person. Mr. Elysian is one fortunate man.¡± Candice, not adept at handling alcohol, found herself in an ufortable situation with Humphrey. When she had social engagements, she would typically bring along an assistant. Unfortunately, she was unable to find a suitable partner for this outing. She attempted to cover her ss and stopped Humprey from pouring more wine into it. That man took advantage of the situation by grabbing her hand and giving it a little squeeze. He praised, ¡°You¡¯re very young. Ms. Renault. You have such beautiful skin.¡± Candice, dizzy from the wine as she was, withdrew her hand abruptly. She forced down her difort, got to her feet, and said. ¡°Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom.¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . She felt dizzy from the alcohol she had ingested and leaned against the washbasin for some time, trying to keep the nausea at bay. The hotel¡¯s hallway seemed endless. Candice slowly made her way out of the restroom. The mere thought of Humphrey¡¯s lustful stare was enough to make her feel sick to her stomach. She bumped into the individual who emerged from a private room just as she was walking past it. Sieg was taken aback when he ran across Candice. He instinctively took a few steps back as he smelled booze on her. Candice briefly met his eyes before shifting her attention to Alex. She muttered. ¡°Sorry.¡± Sieg stepped out of the room to answer a phone call. He walked by her, impatiently warning. ¡°Hey, get out of my way!¡± Left alone at the doorway. Candice felt inexplicably rooted to the spot, standing there in a trance until someone from inside a room called her name. ¡°Candice.¡± Hearing her name, Candice looked up. She heard someone say, ¡°Close the door.¡± She quickly regained herposure, silently did so, and returned to her private room. After Candice departed, the man who had spoken earlier expressed a tinge of remorse, wondering, ¡°Was I too harsh? She looked like she was going to cry.¡± His friend, however, chuckled and dismissed his concems, ¡°Stop bbering nonsense. Hurry up! It¡¯s your turn to drink up!¡± Back in her private room, Candice found that Humphrey¡¯s secretaries had gone. He was the only person left in the room. When Candice entered, he motioned to the full ss of wine and said, ¡°Ms. Renault, remember our agreement: we won¡¯t leave tonight until we¡¯ve had our fill of drinks.¡± However, she was aware that his intentions were not genuinely business¨Crted. She nced at the ss and pushed it away, refusing. ¡°Mr. Moore, I¡¯ve reached my limit with alcohol for today. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a proper asion to talk about business. Let¡¯s schedule another time.¡± Attempting to leave, she was stopped by Humphrey, who, in a sleazy voice, remarked, ¡°The best time for business talks is after a few drinks.¡± Feeling nauseated and repulsed, Candice desperately struggled to free her wrist from his grip. Amid the struggle, the door swung open, and a man¡¯s indifferent voice inquired, ¡°Candice, how long will you keep me waiting?¡± She turned to find Alex standing there. His gaze fell unwittingly on her. Meanwhile, Alex showed no urgency to leave quickly. He rolled down his car window, his attention casually drifting towards the neon lights outside. In a mocking tone, he questioned. ¡°When did business deals start requiring such efforts from you?¡± Candice massaged her forehead and said nothing. She was suffering from a splitting Chapter 34 Chapter 34 headache. Alex with a cold short, ced his hand on the steering wheel pressed the gas pedal and drove off. | Outside, the wind was ousting, and Candice felt a chill. She attempted to close the window, but Alex objected. ¡°Keep it open! I can¡¯t bear the smell of alcohol on you.¡± Despite being slightly drunk, Candice, adept at discemina Alec¡¯s moods, sensed his anger. She figured that he was probably mad because the smelled like booze. She retreated further into theer, Upon reaching Candice¡¯s ce, Alex¡¯s phone rang Just as he escorted her into the condo. Sonia was on the line, inquiring about his arrival, as he had promised to meet herter. After ending the call as he was about to depart, his fingers were unexpectedly grasped. Candice sat on the couch, demurely holding onto his fingers. Her intoxication was evident from the strong scent of alcohol and the reddish tint in the corners of her eyes. Alex, taken aback, noticed her hand wrapping around his wrist. Lifting her head, her voice raspy, she remarked, ¡°You haven¡¯t spent time with me in a long time.¡± Having said that she rose to her feet and looped her arm around his neck. Leaning forward, she gently pressed her lips against his, aiming to please him. Upon waking up the next morning. Candice felt her entire body sore. Rubbing her temples, she headed to the bathroom. Gazing at herself in the full¨Clength mirror, the marks on her body confirmed that the previous night had indeed happened. Alex had been cautious, leaving no visible marks on her neck, likely to avoid raising Sonia¡¯s suspicions. Candice¡¯s mishandling of a five¨Cmillion¨Cdor deal for herpany became widely known. Julie seized the chance to taunt her. However, Sonia did not make an appearance. There were whispers of another fallout between her and Alex. Candice hardly ever saw Sonia in the staff cafeteria. Sonia regrly took Alex out to lunch, except for when she was first hired by the Sonia walked over to Julie, carrying the meal tray. When she saw Candice, she stopped in her tracks. Acknowledging their strained rtionship, Candice understandingly turned around and left. Yet Sonia followed and sat across from her, tentatively inquiring. ¡°Do you know where Lex wasst night?¡± Her question seemed to be a probe into Candice¡¯s knowledge. Momentarily baffled, Candice replied nonchntly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you aware of his whereabouts?¡± Sonia nervously touched her lips and squeezed the words out, ¡°I was busyst night and don¡¯t know where he was.¡± Candice responded coldly, ¡°Hmm, maybe he was busy.¡± Sonia quickly finished a few bites of her meal at Candice¡¯s table and left without saying much more. But by the afternoon, Sonia was back to adoringly following Alex, appearing as though they had never had any disagreements. She excitedly approached Candice, sharing that Alex wanted her to organize the uing company team¨Cbuilding activities scheduled in a few days. Aether Corporation was known for its generous employee benefits, with annual team¨Cbuilding activities organized by Candice every year. Candice handed over the nearlyplete n to Sonia, saying, ¡°I¡¯m almost done with it. You can always start over if you don¡¯t think it¡¯s good enough.¡± Sonia epted the file, her smile fading somewhat, and replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Candice was too preupied with preparing for next week¡¯s business trip to be worried about her thoughts. Asther Corporation had numerousmercial partners in the province. Alex had to travel on multiple business trips in mid¨Cyear. She wondered if Alex would include her on the trips this year, considering Sonia¡¯s presence in his life. To her surprise, the next day, Alex confirmed that she should join him on the trip to Noxville. Surprised, she asked. ¡®Is Sonia going?¡± Alex did not even nce at her. ¡°What do you th think?¡± Clearly. Sonia would be there, but more as Alex¡¯s girlfriend than as an intern, given her limited knowledge of the Noxville situation. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Candice, on the other hand, was there as his secretary. Recharge Promo: 1000 Bonus Free Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Upon their arrival in Noxville, a representative from their business partner was already waiting for them at the airport since early morning. For several years now, Alex had been apanied by Candice on these business trips. Thus, the representative immediately approached them and pushed over them with enthusiasm. Sonia was left on the sidelines. With a pale face, she tugged timidly on Alex¡¯s sleeve. Negotiations proceeded smoothly because they had worked with thispany many times before. Candice, taking out some papers from her bag, distributed coples to Alex and their business partner. Then, turning to Sonia as if by habit, she instructed. ¡°Make sure to arrange our hotel amodations.¡± Stunned and unable to engage in the conversation, Sonia felt even more ufortable as Candice treated her like an intern. She pursed her lips, standing motionless for a while. Her eyes turned red as she looked at Alex Candice, realizing her error, quickly corrected herself, ¡°Oh, sorry, I thought you were Ka.¡± Sonia replied quietly. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Candice, taken aback for a moment, gave Sonia a brief, indifferent nce before addressing Ka behind her. ¡°Book the hotel please, Do you remember Mr. Tumer¡¯s dietary restrictions?¡± Sonia¡¯s face grew even paler. She imed to be sick and stayed in her hotel room instead of going out to dinner, She looked at Alex with a hopeful expression, asking softly, ¡°Lex, would you take me there?¡± Alex had a scheduled dinner with Mr. Turner, and Candice assumed he would decline Sonia¡¯s request. To her surprise, Alex agreed, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll escort you.¡± He turned his head around and told Candice, ¡°I¡¯ll catch up with you allter.¡± However, Alex was dyed for so long that he missed the entire dinner. After Candice saw Mr. Tumer out, she hailed a taxi back and went back to the hotel. The door to Sonia and Alex¡¯s room was tightly shut, leaving it uncertain if they were inside. The business dealings in Noxville wrapped up swiftly, and Candice anticipated that would be the last of it. Unexpectedly, a photo was circted online out of the blue. It captured a moment from the night she had interacted with Humphrey. From the angle of the shot, it appeared as though she was throwing herself at Humphrey. Ka brought the photo to Candice¡¯s attention, expressing her concern, ¡°Candice, could this cause issues for you?¡± Candice viewed the photo with a stoic face and then opened the WhatApp group chat. The chat was lively, with members discussing various topics ranging from gaming to luxury cars. She browsed through the messages but found no mention of the photo. Yet, the moment she was about to leave the chat, a new message appeared. ¡°Who snapped that shot of Candice and that old man? It¡¯s sensational!¡± Candice stared at the screen of her phone, gazed at someone who should not be there, and laughed at her. Soon, someone tagged Alex, asking him provocatively. ¡°What¡¯s your reaction to seeing Candice and Humphrey interacting intimately?¡± This query seemed to strike a nerve, leading to a flurry of messages from the group members. After about thirty seconds, Alex finally responded with a single, blunt word. ¡°Scram!¡± N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Candice exited WhatsApp emotionlessly. On the day she returned to Dorrington City, the storm brought about by the photo persisted, with an increasing number of coworkers gossiping behind her back. ¡°Someone¡¯s looking for you, Candice.¡± Ka announced as she entered the office, with photocopied papers. She was one of the few who still spoke to Candice. Candice acknowledged her with a grunt and headed to the reception area. There, she found Jackson and a slightly familiar young man. She thought about it for a while, remembering that the young man was known to be part of Alex¡¯s social circle but that he was not particrly notable. When he noticed Candice, he promptly stood up and awkwardly apologized. ¡°Sorry, Candice. I snapped that photo and uploaded it to the group chat without giving it any thought. I had no idea it would affect you this much.¡± +15 RONUS Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Candice paused briefly before asking, ¡°You took that picture?¡± ¡°It was just an impulsive click,¡± he admitted, feeling a bit ashamed. He knew it was an invasion of Candice¡¯s privacy, especially after witnessing Alex escort her from the private roomter that night. At the time of posting, he had not thought much of it. But now, regret crept in after hearing negative gossip about Candice. He awkwardly touched his ear and said, ¡°I¡¯m Marc Freeman. What I did wasn¡¯t right. If you ever need anything, feel free to reach out to me.¡± Candice stayed quiet, recalling that Marc was the one who had asked her to shut the door to the private room that evening. Marc was visibly ufortable and apologized repeatedly before leaving. Candice then turned to Jackson, who had been quiet, and asked, ¡°Did you need something else?¡± Jackson¡¯s soft voice conveyed concern, ¡°Are you alright? With everything that¡¯s been happening¡­¡± Candice cut him off before he could continue. ¡°It hasn¡¯t bothered me.¡± Jackson observed her for a moment, a sense of helplessness in his gaze. He then asked, ¡°Would you like to have dinner tonight?¡± After spending some time in the reception area, Candice was about to head back to her office when Ka came in hurriedly. Ka looked hesitant as she approached Candice, catching her breath before exining. ¡°There¡¯s a disturbance in the secretary¡¯s office. A client is causing a scene.¡± Arriving at the scene, Candice discovered the client was a woman, furiously using a secretary of having an affair with her husband and branding her a homewrecker. The secretary¡¯splexion turned visibly pale with the usation. Scowled. Candice stepped forward and interrupted, ¡°Madam, please calm down. Let¡¯s discuss this calmly.¡± However, the client, engulfed in her fury, ignored Candice¡¯s plea and shoved her. The push,bined with Candice¡¯s high heels, caused her to sprain her ankle and nearly fall but Jackson was quick to support her from behind. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Jackson asked, helping her steady herself. Candice carefully moved her ankle. She lowered her gaze and shook her head. Themotion eventually drew Alex¡¯s attention. By the time he arrived, Candice had managed to calm the client down. Alex instructed Sonia to lead the client to the reception room. As Sonia walked past Candice, she whispered, perhaps intentionally, ¡°Candice. I¡¯ve noticed you¡¯ve been upsettely. Call me if you need to Talk.¡± Her words, though quiet, echoed in the silent office, leading everyone to specte about Candice¡¯s troubles. What could be the source of Candice¡¯s worrytely? The recent scandalous photo of her became the prime suspect for her distress. When that photo was brought up. Candice found herself the subject of strange looks from her colleagues. As the crowd gave them confidence, someone mumbled. ¡°Like leaders, like followers. If the superior uses underhanded tactics to get where she is, what can we expect from the rest?¡± Jackson, still present, nced disapprovingly at the speaker, then turned to Candice in concem, ¡°Should we head to the hospital?¡± Candice was about to decline, but Jackson insisted, ¡°You¡¯ve just sprained your ankle. It¡¯s better to have it checked.¡± She hesitated, asking. ¡°How did you know about the sprain?¡± in a gentle and measured tone, Jackson advised. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be stubborn about this.¡± Candice remained silent, but her actions, such as reaching for her bag, indicated her agreement with him. Alex re¨Centered the room at that moment and noticed Jackson assisting Candice, holding her bag in one hand and supporting her with the other. He stopped, his attention drawn to Candice¡¯s right ankle. Candice, noticing her boss, waited impassively for him to say something. Alex¡¯s dark gaze locked on her, questioning. ¡°Did you just get hurt?¡± ¡°Yes, I was pushed,¡± Candice replied. Alex gave her another look, chose not to say anything more, and walked away. Candice observed Alex leaving. Her lips tightened as she relied on Jackson¡¯s support to head to the hospital. It was not until after she received treatment at the hospital that Candice realized why Alex had sought her out earlier. Helen had posted on social media about another Elysian family gathering that evening. Alex, who had a strained rtionship with his family, typically avoided these events, with Candice often attending in his stead. Setting aside her phone, Candice gazed at her swollen ankle, contemting. Maybe Alex did think of her when he needed something. She did not break any bones. She left the hospital after being medicated. Jackson had stepped out to buy her a pair offortable t shoes before escorting her home. When her foot touched the earth, it throbbed with anguish. Jackson insisted on taking her home, despite her protests. As Jackson was leaving her ce, he opened the door and identally ran into Alex, who was just returning. He paused to greet him. Alex noticed the door slightly ajar and gave a significant snort. Jackson, sensing the tension, instinctively rified, ¡°Candy¡¯s hurt.¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Alex hesitated briefly while opening the door further, then asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you take her to the hospital?¡± Jackson spoke calmly. ¡°You¡¯re being too harsh on her. You and Candice¡­¡± He hesitated, finding it difficult to define Alex¡¯s and Candice¡¯s rtionship. Although Candice had been by Alex¡¯s side for a longer period of time than any other woman, it appeared that he had never truly acknowledged her. Furrowed, Jackson shook his head and repeated, ¡°Regardless, you shouldn¡¯t be so harsh.¡± Alex responded nonchntly as he opened the door, ¡°She¡¯s not my girlfriend. I¡¯m not obliged to care for her.¡± His words hung in the air as the door behind Jackson slowly closed, its creak resonating in the silent hallway. Candice, noticing the door ajar and thinking Jackson had left it open, went to shut it. She was caught off guard when she overheard Alex¡¯s statements. Her grip loosened, and she identally closed the door. Alex was right. She was never his girlfriend. There had never been any formal acknowledgment from him, and she had never questioned it. Contemting their rtionship seemed pointless. On the third day, Candice¡¯s ankle pain subsided. 1200 Her recovery was timely, coinciding with the announcement of apany team¨Cbuilding event. Candice reviewed the announcement, noting it wasrgely simr to previous ns, except for a change in the final activity. a word. Ka entered the office visibly upset, sitting down at her desk without saying a Candice, observing this, asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s those people upstairs. We¡¯re all secretaries, yet they act so superior!¡± Ka vented, ¡°I went to get Mr. Elysian¡¯s signature, but Julie and Sonia blocked me at the door and refused to let me in!¡± Candice suggested, ¡°Let them get the signature for you, then have them return it.¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t.¡± Ka retorted, upset. ¡°They insisted I have to get it myself, and they won¡¯t be responsible for any problems.¡± Even though Ka generally kept her cool, it was clear that she had been bullied into this outburst. Candice pondered for a moment, then decided, ¡°I¡¯ll go up there and get the signature for you.¡± Ka was reluctant to Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Ka was reluctant to int to give her consent. Everyone at Aether Corporation knew about the rtionship between Candice and Sonia, yet this fact did not seem to trouble Candice as she collected the papers and headed upstairs. She was lucky. Sonia and Julle were in the restroom when she arrived upstairs, allowing Candice to bring the documents straight to Alex. Alex exhibited mild surprise at her arrival in his office, raising his eyebrows slightly. Handing over the documents, Candice reminded him. ¡°These need your signature.¡± Alex epted and began to sign them without dy. Candice observed him. Her eyshes trembled slightly. The foremost lesson he had taught her was the importance of scrutinizing contracts, insisting she should always examine them closely. even if they came from a familiar source. Midway through signing, Alex casually inquired, ¡°How¡¯s your foot injury?¡± Candice replied softly, ¡°Almost healed.¡± ¡°Will you be able to join the team¨Cbuilding event?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As Alexpleted the signing and returned the papers to her, Candice prepared to leave. But then he added, ¡°Stop by the finance department to get your reimbursement for the medical expenses.¡± Candice paused, turning to look at him. After a brief silence, he exined. ¡°Someone posted a video online. Thepany ns to leverage your injury for public rtions.¡± His eyes were dimly lit and disyed no emotion as they gazed at Candice. Candice slowly opened her mouth, speaking gently after a moment. ¡°I thought you would at least ask if it hurts.¡± Alex¡¯s hand which was holding the pan, paused at her question. He offered, ¡°Compensation can be doubled, and paid leave is also possible.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Exiting Alex¡¯s office, Candice encountered So and Julie. Sonia, noticing her departure from Alex¡¯s office, disyed a mix of difort and wariness in her eyes, yet managed a forced smile. asking, ¡°Candice, what¡¯s your reason for being here?¡± Candice merely nced at her and continued on her way. With no response from Candice, Sonia clenched her lips and retreated to her desk. held at a hot Aether Corporation¡¯s team¨Cbuilding activity was held at a hot spring resort. Alex approved the n. The corporation reserved the entire resort for the function over the weekend. Everyone on the secretarial team was thrilled when they heard the news; such grandeur was umon even at Aether Corporation. Soon, word got out that Sonia was behind the nning. The internal chat groups buzzed with excitement. Those tterers even began referring to Sonia as the ¡°boss¡¯s wife.¡± Sonia, swamped by attention, sent gifts to everyone, along with a formal message wishing a delightful weekend, echoing the tone of at boss¡¯s wife. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. I on the team¨Cbuilding agenda, where Sonia had merely altered a game and carried her mug to the pantry. Candice reflected on Likely on a work¨Crted task, Sonia had gone downstairs and engaged in conversation with someone from the finance department. ¡°I¡¯m so grateful to you for being able to visit the hot spring resort this time. It¡¯s the first time in my years at Aether Corporation to enjoy such a privilege at the hot spring resort,¡± the deputy director of the finance department expressed his gratitude with a smide. ¡°I heard you nned this team¨Cbuilding activity.¡± Sonia had a lovely smile on her face. She was naturally chubby, which made her look more likable. Her silence seemed to affirm that im as she neither confirmed nor denied it. Candice, with a neutral expression, entered the pantry and poured water into her cup. Upon noticing Candice, Sonia¡¯s smile momentarily froze. Silently, Candice filled her cup and was about to leave when she overheard a contemptuous comment, ¡°With Candice in charge, we never visited such upscale ces. Thankfully, you¡¯re around. After all, you¡¯re practically the boss¡¯s wife.¡± Candice did not catch Sonia¡¯s reply, focusing instead on returning to her desk to gather her belongings. The team¨Cbuilding was set for the weekend, with everyone meeting at the office to board a bus for the trip. Candice ran into Alex as she was leaving. Alex gave her a sidelong nce but did not offer her a ride. She arrived roughly fifteen minutes after Alex. He was an expert driver who could go quickly and steadily, but Candice¡¯smute had taken several extra minutes due to a traffic jam. Thepany had organized five buses, and Candice found a seat next to Ka. Ka, not particrly keen on bus travel, looked enviously at Sonia and mused. ¡°When will I get to ride in a Maybach?¡± Sonia stated she was too sick to take the bus because of her motion sickness. Consequently, Alex drove her in his luxurious multimillion- dor Maybach. Candice diverted her attention from them to her phone, where Jackson had sent her a video of his Ragdoll.cat. As she bowed her head to view her phone, she missed the nce Alex directed her way. Alex barely glimpsed her profile, maintaining a neutral, unreadable expression. ¡°Lex? Are you listening to me?¡± Sonia gripped his arm, her tone pleading and pitiful. Redirecting his focus to Sonia, Alex paused briefly before responding. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I was asking if my outfit looks good today?¡± Sonia tugged at her dress, looking expectantly at Alex. ¡°It looks good on you.¡± Alex answered promptly. After that, Sonia perked up, linked arms with Alex, and confidently strode past the buses. Candice¡¯s gaze shifted back from her phone to the departing figures of Alex and Sonia, noticing Alex carefully holding Sonia¡¯s hand. The hot spring resort was nestled halfway up a mountain. It was already midday when they arrived. Candice and Ka enjoyed lunch together before returning to their room for some rest. As they were settling in, they overheard colleagues outside inquiring if anyone was interested in a hiking trip. Candice, nursing a recovering ankle injury, chose not to participate. Waking from her nap, she found the resort unusually quiet. Upon inquiring with the staff, she discovered that everyone had ventured out on the hike. Intent on enjoying some leisure time, Candice picked up a book and headed to the outdoor pavilion to bask in the sunshine. However, rounding a corner, she unexpectedly encountered Alex, who had just ended a phone call. Noticing her, he asked with a hint of curiosity. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you join the mountain hike?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t in the mood,¡± she responded, realizing Alex might have forgotten about her healing ankle. Alex was about to say something more when his phone rang, drawing him away for another call. His tone grew serious, indicating a work- rted conversation, Candice, still partly preupled with thoughts of Alex, descended the stairs and missed a step. Her foot went over the edge, lost her bnce, and tumbled downward. A refreshing breeze came up from behind. Suddenly, a strong, powerful arm wrapped around her waist. Alex, still on the phone, steadied her with his free hand. His brow wrinkled, and his tone was stern. ¡°Why must you always cause trouble?¡± Once she was stable, the coolness of his presence receded. Alex looked at her, his dark eyes betraying indifference. ¡°Are you unable to walk properly, or is this deliberate?¡± Candice paused, then softly inquired, ¡°Deliberate for what reason?¡± Alex¡¯s face twisted into a half¨Csmirk, his eyes lowering in a mocking gaze, ridiculed, ¡°Why are you asking knowingly?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not¡­¡± she began to object. Sonia bounded in joyfully before she could finish. The colleagues who had gone on the hike were returning. Candice attempted to distance herself from Alex, only to hear his low, disdainful remark, ¡°Your pretentiousness doesn¡¯t appeal to me.¡± Recharge Promo: 1000 Bonus Free GET IT Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Candice was still dazed and anchored to the ground when Sonia arrived. Sonia appeared to be feigning Innocence but was actually invitis. She approached Alex and asked, ¡°What were you both discussing? I saw you together earlier.¡± Alex¡¯s response was nonchnt. ¡°Nothing important.¡± He quickly diverted the conversation, acking, ¡°Did you enjoy the hike?¡± Sonia sensed that he was trying to downy the issue, but she was sharp and went along with him anyway, As Sonia passed Candice, she briefly hesitated beforementing. ¡°It¡¯s too bad you didn¡¯t join the like; it was truly scenic.¡± That evening, Sonia organized a game of ¡°Truth or Dare. The participants were divided into several groups due to therge number. Candice deliberately chose a spot away from Sonia and Alex, sitting on the outskirts with some less familiar colleagues The game initially began with participants being reserved in their questioning, but as time progressed, the nature of the questions graw increasingly bold. When Candice¡¯s turn arrived, a colleague inquired curiously. ¡°Candice, when and with whom was your first time? At that question, Candice fell silent. Sonia had just walked over to serve them fruits, paused and interrupted with a strained smile, ¡°It¡¯s inappropriate to ask a gift such personal questions.¡± Candice, following Sonia¡¯s interruption, replied candidly. ¡°At twenty, with Alex.¡± Her statement was not particrly loud, but most people had heard her since they stopped talking to listen to themotion. Sonia¡¯s face drained of color immediately. She quickly set down the fruit tray and left with reddened eyes. The mood became tense, but Candice remainedposed and picked up a game prop, urging, ¡°Shall we continue?¡± Everyone there was shrewd; sensing the sensitive situation, theyughed off the awkward moment and moved on. After several more rounds. Candice¡¯s interest waned. She decided to head back to her room. However, as she turned aer, she was stopped by someone trailing her. ¡°Can we talk?¡± Alex asked while frowning. Candice raised an eyebrow. ¡°Regarding?¡± After a moment of intense gaze, Alex¡¯s expression softened, and he dismissed the matter. ¡°Forget it Hesitantly, Candice inquired, ¡°Am I to me for what I said earlier?¡± Alex regarded her, musing. ¡°Who was thatment for? Me? Sonia?¡± He brushed it off lightly, ¡°I had already forgotten about it; why do you still remember it?¡± Surprised, she exined, ¡°I was just answering their question.¡± Alex, showing a trace of annoyance, cautioned, ¡°Avoid making such remarks in the future. It complicates things for me to exin to Sonia.¡± Candice contemted retorting¨Chis reputation was not exactly ster at thepany. But amidst her jumbled thoughts, she chose to remain silent. She stopped participating in the events that followed, and Sonia no longer made an effort to interact with her as she used to. At the office. Sonia¡¯s demeanor toward Candice had clearly changed. Ka noticed it too, frequently suggesting to Candice that it seemed like the people upstairs were intentionally making things challenging. for her. Candice remained silent on the matter, focusing instead on packing her things and preparing for her dinner with Jackson that evening. Jackson had invited her out several times before, but Candice had always been too upied to ept. He had chosen a restaurant that was popr on social media for their date. Upon Candice¡¯s arrival Jackson expressed a modest apology. ¡°Sorry for choosing this ce.¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually quite nice,¡± Candice reassured. Jackson, with a smile, Inquired about her well¨Cbeing. She understood he was indirectly asking about Alex and responded, ¡°Things are pretty much the same as always.¡± ¡°Lex..¡± Jackson looked concemed. He sympathized with Candice, aware that she and Alex had been together for years, a fact well¨Cknown in their social circle. But now Alex had Sonia at his side, and things between them looked serious. At the mention of Alex, Candice¡¯s movements froze momentarily, then quickly masked her reaction, She was not sure if it was meant to reassure Jackson or herself. She reasoned, ¡°He was never truly mine. Ours was a rtionship where two adults just fulfilled each other¡¯s needs.¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Candy,¡± Jackson¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Instead of worrying, you should just set me up with a boyfriend.¡± Candice quipped, her tonecking genuine enthusiasm. The suggestion, in reality, was not so simple. Her lengthy association with Alex made her a less desirable choice for any reputable family. Her predicament was identical to that of a divorcee. Jackson exhaled a sigh, shifting the conversation away from such matters. He Inquired, ¡°How¡¯s your foot injury healing?¡± ¡°Nearly healed,¡± she responded. Jackson then made an awkward request, ¡°Could you apany me to a party this weekend? It¡¯s my aunt¡¯s birthday, and she¡¯s insisting I bring a date.¡± Candice was familiar with Jackson¡¯s aunt, a renowned dancer in Domington City. On the evening of the event, she readied herself and awaited Jackson¡¯s arrival, However, at six, Jackson called, unable to make it, and asked Candice to go alone, Without a word, Candice simply went downstairs and hailed a cab. The Saturday night traffic was heavy, and she arrivedte to the already¨Cstarted party. Unable to contact Jackson by phone, she texted him and waited outside. While scrolling through her phone, she heard Sleg¡¯s voice approaching, talking about her company¡¯s recent team¨Cbuilding trip to a hot spring resort. Candice looked up slowly, noticing Sleg and Alex nearing her. Sieg, spotting her at the entrance, yfully remarked, ¡°Hey, what are you doing, ying doorman here?¡± Candice disregarded his mockery and kept waiting for Jackson. ¡°Would you like me to take you inside?¡± Alex¡¯s aloof voice broke the silence as he addressed Candice. ¡°Hmm?¡± Candice, after checking her phone and finding no response from Jackson, decided to put it away. She turned to Alex, expressing her gratitude. ¡°Thank you.¡± Alex, wordless, presented his invitation and proceeded into the banquet hall. SANDU SI+ O +15 BONUS Upon entering, he immediately noticed Jackson, who appeared to be hastily exiting. Candice called out to him. Jackson approached, looking somewhat defeated, and gestured towards a group of five or six children, exining apologetically. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t let me go. Sorry, Candy.¡± Sieg, curious, asked Jackson, ¡°So you¡¯re the one who brought Ms. Renault here?¡± Alex¡¯s attention remained fixed on Candice. She was dressed elegantly for the event in an apricot, form¨Cfitting long dress, her hair styled up, exuding a soft and graceful aura. Unaware of Alex¡¯s scrutiny, Candice followed Jackson to meet his aunt. Siegmented admiringly, ¡°Impressive; even Jackson¡¯s smitten with her.¡± Meanwhile, Marc approached with a wine ss in hand. The Freemans, not being prominent in Dorrington City, meant Marc was not a part of Sieg¡¯s inner circle. After exchanging greetings with Sieg and Alex, Marc lingered, seeming unsure of what to say next. Sieg, not one for patience, pressed, ¡°Got something on your mind?¡± ¡°Yes, sort of,¡± Marc replied, clearly nervous. His gaze shifted between Candice and Alex, and after a moment¡¯s hesitation, he awkwardly asked, ¡°Lex, is it really over between you and Candice?¡± Alex met his question wh a cool stare and responded tersely, ¡°Hmm.¡± Encouraged by Alex¡¯s response, Marc ventured further. ¡°Do you think I stand a chance with her?¡± Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Alex hesitated before raising his hand, giving Marc a cool nce. He snatched up the ss of wine that the waiter had just handed him and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Marc murmured in slight disappointment. ¡°I see¡­. Sieg, enjoying the scene, elbowed Marc and teased, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you were so ambitious.¡± Marc confessed. ¡°It¡¯s the pressure from my family for blind dates.¡± Candice, who was apanying Jackson to see his aunt, was oblivious to their conversation. Jackson¡¯s aunt, Nydia Griffith, in her forties, maintained her youthful appearance gracefully, thanks to her background as a dancer. She sized up Candice openly, then proceeded to question Jackson with a kind smile, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to introduce her?¡± Jackson cleared his throat and uttered. ¡°This is Candice.¡± Nydia, unimpressed, inquired, ¡°I recognize Ms. Renault, but isn¡¯t she close to Mr. Elysian of Aether Corporation? Her attention returned to Candice as she asked, with obvious curiosity in her voice. ¡°Ms. Renault, did youe here with Mr. Elysian?¡± Candice denied, ¡°No.¡± She offered Nydia a gift, rifying. ¡°I¡¯m here as Jackson¡¯s friend: this is for your birthday.¡± Nydia was well¨Ceducated and was aloof in her disposition. There had been a photo of Candice and Humphrey going around in the elite social circle recently, and Nydia had seen it. Rumors had been circting among the upper¨Css women in their social circle, saying that Candice was reaching above her station with Alex. Nydia, who was already disdainful of Candice¡¯s origins, looked down on her even more. She disregarded the present from Candice, haughtily instructing. ¡°Just put it there.¡± Jackson, observing Nydia¡¯s dismissive behavior, objected, ¡°Aunt Nydia, Candice came for your birthday.¡± Nydia gave Jackson a warning look and subtly reminded him, ¡°Jake, your parents will arrive soon.¡± It was obvious that she preferred Jackson to keep his distance from Candice. Candice pursed her lips, ced the gift down, and informed Jackson, ¡°I should leave then.¡± ¡°Candy!¡± Jackson impulsively seized her wrist, his expression apologetic, offering, ¡°Walt for me, I¡¯ll take you home in a bit.¡± Alex and Sieg had stopped by to toast Nydia. Nydia was an elder to them, despite their diverse fields of work. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. They saw Jackson holding Candice, promising to take her home. Sleg taunted her with a fake grin, ¡°After getting dumped by Alex, you¡¯re moving on to Jackson?¡± Alex passed by without stopping, casting a side nce at Candice¡¯s wrist in Jackson¡¯s grasp. The party, attended by the influential Griffith circle, required the younger generation, including Alex and Sieg, to socialize extensively and drink. Candice watched from a sofa in theer as Alex deftly navigated the social scene. Previously, she would have been by his side, encouraging him to cut down on his alcohol consumption. Now, his outings were rarely disclosed to her. And Sonia was frequently with him. Yet, curiously, Sonia was absent that evening. Sitting alone in the corner, Candice wentrgely unnoticed by the attendees, with only Jackson and Marc asionally engaging with her. She did not have much of an impression of Marc, but she politely provided her number when he approached to ask. As the event concluded, Jackson approached with a coat, thoughtfully advising, ¡°it¡¯s breezy outside; be careful not to catch a cold.¡± As Candice was just wearing a dress, she dly epted the coat. She donned the coat and followed Jackson toward the exit. Approaching the hotel¡¯s entrance, she noticed Alex seated on a couch, pinching the bridge of his nose, his expression slightly dark. Candice realized that without someone to help, he would have had too much to drink. ¡°Candy,¡± Jackson beckoned from ahead, his tone soft and kind, ¡°Stay here; I¡¯ll bring the car,¡± ¡°Okay,¡± she agreed, pulling the coat over hersell. The hotel¡¯s door was opened, allowing the cold wind from outside to enter. As Jackson left to fetch the car. Candice was about to step aside to wall. Then she saw Alex, who had been resting his eyes, suddenly open them. His eyes, reddened from alcohol held a deep and meaningful expression, fixed on Candice. She slightly knitted her brows. Alex, with amanding tone, requested, ¡°Candice, take me home.¡± Candice stood still momentarily, ncing around, noticing the absence of Sieg or any of Alex¡¯s other friends. His impatience mounted as he received no reaction from her. His face sank a little more as he locked his gaze on Candice. Candice averted her eyes and spoke clearly enough for Alex to hear, ¡°I didn¡¯te in my car, ask Sieg to drive you.¡± He stared at her intently, gave her a sarcastic grin, and asked. ¡°Have you hooked up with Jackson?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Candice stared at her shoes, hesitating before adding, ¡°Jackson and I are merely friends.¡± Whether or not Alex epted her exnation was unclear. He closed his eyes again and said no more. Candice moved her lips, but she quickly stifled the words that had almost escaped her mouth. She was unable to give Alex a ride home. He was intoxicated. While it might appear to be okay now, once he sobered up, he might use her of doing it on purpose. Soon, Jackson¡¯s car arrived. Candice cast onest nce at Alex and left. Jackson inquired, ¡°Hasn¡¯t Alex left?¡± ¡°He¡¯s waiting for someone,¡± Candice replied, her expression indifferent. Jackson stopped asking further and drove her home. Upon arrival, he presented Candice with a small box, exining, ¡°I crafted this as a hobby: consider it a thank you for tonight.¡± Inside the box was a ceramic figurine, which looked lifelike and animated. Candice was surprised to learn that Jackson possessed such a talent. She held onto the box before setting it on her desk. She was wearing heavy makeup today and had to spend over an hour in the bathroom to remove it. Stepping out, she found Alex lounging on her living room sofa. She stopped abruptly. Her home was secured with a keypad lock, and Alex knew thebination. She stoppedbing her hair, standing still. Alex, still reeking faintly of alcohol, looked up at Candice. The tone in his voice was unusual as he commanded. ¡°Come here, Candy.¡± Candice¡¯s brow furrowed, questioning. ¡°Should I call Sonia?¡± Alex kept his intense stare on her, silent for an extended period. Eventually, he unbuttoned his shirt cor and asked in a low voice, ¡°What does Jackson find attractive about you?¡± Candice remained quiet, responding. ¡°You¡¯re drunk.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t answered. What does Jackson see in you?¡± Alex¡¯s gaze narrowed, assessing Candice as if she were a product. Taking a deep breath, Candice, unwilling to engage further, approached to assist Alex, suggesting. ¡°Let me take you home.¡± As she reached for his arm. Alex swiftly grasped her wrist. He bowed his head, resting it on Candice¡¯s shoulder, and murmured in a deep voice, ¡°Candice.¡± Chapter 40 Chapter 40 His warm breath tickled Candice¡¯s neck as he spoke, and she tilted her head to the side in response. However, his hand firmly gripped Candice¡¯s wrist, trapping her in his arms. She experienced a cold sensation on her neck as his kisses trailed up to her ear. Candice¡¯s ears were particrly sensitive. Almost immediately, it caused her body to be limp, His gaze grew intense as he held her waist, pulling her onto the sofa. Their eight¨Cyear familiarity meant he understood her body well and could quickly make her aroused. Raindrops pelted the open window in the living room, causing the curtain to flutter and sway The cold wind on her exposed skin snapped Candice back to reality. Gritting her teeth, she gathered her strength and shoved Alex away. They were on the sofa, so Alex was pushed to the other side. His hair was unkempt. His shirt¡¯s buttons hade undone, exposing his chest and abs. ng over her shoulders. She took a moment to pull The slip dress that Candice was wearing had been pulled down and was now loosely hung up her straps. Regaining herposure, she demanded. ¡°Look at me. I am not Sonia.¡± Alex¡¯s face clouded over, but before he could respond, his phone rang. It was Sonia. He hesitated, then answered the call Sonia¡¯s upset voice came through, questioning. ¡°Lex, didn¡¯t you promise to be with me tonight? Why aren¡¯t you here yet?¡± Alex pinched the bridge of his nose, replying. ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡± He hung up the phone. Candice was still sitting on the sofa. Her slip dress had been severely ripped, exposing her entire back. Her thin frame gave the impression that her shoulder des were butterfly wings that could p and fly. Her paleplexion entuated her delicate appearance. Alex had promised Sonia; therefore, he got up to leave. He had only taken a step when he turned back to Candice, saying indifferently, ¡°Of course you are not Sonia.¡± Candice lingered in the living room before returning to her room. Her wrist had turned red and was hurting from where Alex had pulled her. But Alex could not see any of this, whose only intent seemed to be exploiting his drunkenness for intimacy with her. Candice spoke with a client in the morning before heading to the office the next day. Ka greeted her and said cryptically. ¡°It¡¯s quite lively upstairs.¡± Candice asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Word is. Mr. Elysian¡¯s mother has arrived and is being tough on Sonia, Ka remarked, sighing. ¡°But it¡¯s predictable, isn¡¯t it? How frequently do girls from the slums marry into money?¡± Candice paid no attention to anything else she said. She was surprised Helen would show up at the workce: she normally avoided bing involved in such situations. Before Candice could give this any more thought, she received a call from upstairs requesting that shee up. Upon Candice¡¯s arrival, she found Helen seated in the reception area with Sonia standing before her. Evidently. Sonia¡¯s eyes were red from crying. There was no sign of Alex. Helen had caught sight of Candice as she stood at the door, lost in thought. Her treatment of Candice was consistently poor. She asked, ¡± Where¡¯s Alex? ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Candice said. ¡°Aren¡¯t you his secretary?¡± ¡°I¡¯m no longer working in the president¡¯s office,¡± Candice said quietly. Seeing the coffee in front of Helen, Candice approached with a slight frown, suggesting. ¡°Allow me to rece this coffee with some ck tea for you.¡± Helen was never a coffee drinker. The woman hamrumphed and said, ¡°People from lowly backgrounds just aren¡¯t presentable.¡± It was unclear whether herment targeted Candice or Sonia. ustomed to such , Candice calmly reced the coffee with tea, maintaining a neutral expression. Sonia, already teary¨Ceyed, seemed even more distressed; her lips were pursed, exuding a sense of vulnerability. Helen, evidently in a foul mood, tasted the tea and then set the cup down, her voice dripping with sarcasm, ¡°Alex¡¯s tastes are consistently disappointing.¡± Candice did not linger, knowing it wasn¡¯t her ce to intervene with Helen, both emotionally and logically. As she made her way downstairs, she overheard some whispering.. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°Being a rich man¡¯s daughter¨Cinw is tough. Did you see how Sonia was belittled by Mr. Elysian¡¯s mother?¡± Helen¡¯s standards were high, and Candice had never been able to impress her over the years. She was curious as to Alex¡¯s level of indulgence toward Sonia. After Helen¡¯s departure, Alex arrived. Office staff returning from upstairs began to gossip, They imed Sonia had broken down in tears upon seeing Alex, voicing her grievances. Candice, focusing on her work, did not pay attention to what they were saying, nor did she join the discussion. Instead, Ka craned her neck and asked, ¡°What was Mr. Elysian¡¯s reaction?¡± ¡°What else but to immediately console her?¡± Candice, pausing her typing, reflected that Alex was indeed protective of Sonia. Helen¡¯s remarks to Sonia today, though softer than her initial encounter with Candice, still deeply affected Alex. Candice was surprised to see Jackson at Aether Corporation, ready to pick her up after work. She greeted him with a wave. ¡°What brings you here?¡± she inquired as she neared him. Jackson yfully responded, ¡°Can¡¯t I see you without a purpose?¡± Afterughing at his ownment, he presented a small box and said, ¡°I forgot thisst time. It pairs with the one I gave earlier, I thought it seemed lonely alone at home, so I brought its mate. Lovers must end up together.¡± herp The little figure in this box was holding a blue heart, as opposed to the pink one Jackson had given her previously. They were, indeed, at couple. Curiously, Candice asked if he was into ceramics. Jackson shared, ¡°My grandfather was; I picked it up from him as a kid.¡± Concluding, he suggested. ¡°There¡¯s a ceramic exhibit tonight. Care to join me?¡± Candice was going to agree because she had nothing nned for the evening. Then, she noticed Alex and Sonia exiting the building. Sonia, with red eyes, clung to Alex like a distressed kitten. Candice averted her sight. After thinking her coworkers were being overdramatic in the afternoon, she discovered they were actually understating the gravity of the situation. Jackson would always greet Alex upon seeing him, but Alex, who only gave him a passing nce, rarely returned the greeting. Candice, under his gaze, remained indifferent. In contrast, Sonia, who was holding Alex¡¯s hand, tightened her grip and said. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Lex; it¡¯s gettingte.¡± Alex acknowledged with a hum and headed to his car. Candice averted her look and inquired, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to the exhibition? It¡¯s gettingte.¡± Jackson was taken aback. Then he opened the car door for her and said with a smile, ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t be interested.¡± ¡°How could that be?¡± Candice paused before she answered, ¡°The ceramics you make are lovely, I like them a lot.¡± Recharge Promo: 1000 Bonus Free GET Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Although her voice was soft. Alex and Sonia overheard her words. Alex stopped in his tracks. Unaware of this, Candice entered the car with Jackson, still clutching the ceramic figure he had given her. Jackson smiled and added, ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t be interested in these things since many people find them boring.¡± His handsome and refined appearance, coupled with his gentle voice, quickly brought Candice back to the moment. Gazing at the figurine, Candice replied, ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with this field, but it¡¯s interesting.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be happy to share what I know,¡± Jackson responded warmly. They headed to the Expo Hall¡¯s ceramic exhibition in the city¡¯s north. By their arrival, it was nearly closing, with few visitors remaining. Candice, new to ceramics, attentively followed Jackson, listening to his exnation about each piece. They stopped before an elegant vase. ¡°This is one of my grandfather¡¯s masterpieces,¡± Jackson said as he looked at the vase tenderly. Candice, recalling his grandfather¡¯s passing, did not know what to say. She simply shared his admiration for the vase and eventually nodded in agreement, ¡°It¡¯s truly stunning.¡± He broke into a smile. Unlike his typical faint smile, this one was ge genuine. ¡°If this interests you, we could explore more such pieces another time.¡± Following their departure from the exhibition, it was time for dinner. Just as Jackson was about to invite Candice to dine, he got a call from a friend. His friend informed him of something, and he turned to Candice with an apologetic look, suggesting. ¡°There¡¯s a birthday party for a friend at a bar close by: would you like toe?¡± Unfamiliar with Jackson¡¯s acquaintances, Candice declined, ¡°I¡¯ll just grab a taxi home.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t take long; we¡¯ll leave soon after,¡± Jackson said with a helpless gesture, adding, ¡°If I show up alone, they¡¯ll insist I drink.¡± Candice knew Jackson and Alex¡¯s circles did not intersect much due to their differing personalities. So, she was taken aback to find Alex at the bar. Upon arrival, she paused at the private room¡¯s entrance, telling Jackson she had returned from the restroom shortly. Coming out of the restroom, she unexpectedly bumped into Alex. She came to a standstill, unsure about how to greet him, but Alex broke the silence. ¡°Did youe with Jackson?¡± ¡°It¡¯s his friend¡¯s birthday party.¡± Candice replied. She raised her eyes and asked rhetorically. ¡°And you? Are you out here having a good time with Sonia?¡± Maintaining herposure, she showed no sign of difort, as if she were engaging in a casual conversation with Alex. Alex gazed at her briefly before looking away nonchntly with a grunt. He then moved past her. Candice re-entered the private room soon after Alex, and she was not surprised by the scene unfolding before her eyes. She took a seat beside Jackson, whispering, ¡°If you decide to drink, I can drive you home.¡± The private room was noisy, making it hard to hear conversations. Candice was very close to Jackson. Right after she had spoken to Jackson, she noticed someone from across the room staring at her intently. ncing up, she recognized it was Alex. He was holding a drink, his face set in a cold expression, looking somewhat alien in the bustling, dimly lit space-as if disinterested and tired. As their eyes met, Candice quickly averted her gaze. When she dared to look again, Alex had shifted his attention away, making it seem like the previous exchange was just her imagination. Jackson was good friends with the host. Despite his refusals, he was persistently coaxed to drink, but he kept declining. Turning to Candice with a helpless look, he said to the others, ¡°I need to drive her hometer.¡± The room buzzed with more people urging him to drink. Candice reassured Jackson, ¡°It¡¯s fine: you can drink. I¡¯ll just call a taxi for us if needed.¡±. But Jackson firmly shook his head, insisting, ¡°I promised to drive you home.¡± She did not press further. Since Candice was not acquainted with the others, nobody seemed inclined to bother her. It was dull to just sit around and drink all night, so Sieg proposed they y a game after some time. People began to assemble around the table. While Candice was conversing with Jackson, she noticed someone sitting next to her. Turning, she saw Alex and Sonia had joined her. Sieg brought a deck of cards to the table, spreading them out and suggesting, ¡°How about King¡¯s Game? It¡¯s pretty straightforward, right?¡± It was indeed a basic game. Candice shuffled the cards and drew one, but she didn¡¯t get the King of Spades, which was the highest- ranking card in this game. Looking at the card in her hand, she silently picked up her cup and sipped her juice, thinking she¡¯d merely be an observer, until¡­ ¡°I want. The King of Clubs!¡± Sieg called out. He held up his own card, which was the King of Spades, meaning he would give the order that everyone else had to follow. Looking for some thrill, he deliberately dragged out his voice as he nced around the room. Candice momentarily froze, cup in hand. She was holding the King of Clubs. ¡°Choose to drink with and kiss either the 3 of Diamonds or the 8 of Hearts!¡± This request was by far the most daring one so far, and everyone began to look around to see who these three people were. Candice set her cup down, cing her card on the table. Her tone wasposed as she disclosed. ¡°I have the King of Clubs.¡± Her drawing on this card was an unexpected twist. The atmosphere became even more lively, but before the cheers could escte, Jackson, seated beside Candice, let out a sigh. ¡°Candy, you¡¯re really lucky.¡± After his remark, Jackson revealed his card, announcing, ¡°I have the 3 of Diamonds.¡± Sieg was quick to whistle and jest, ¡°Jack, I can¡¯t help you with this: just go for the kiss; I¡¯ll keep an eye out for you.¡± Unperturbed, Candice pointed out, ¡°What about the 8 of Hearts?¡± Azy, cool voice interjected from the side. ¡°That¡¯s mine.¡± Candice hesitated, then turned to see Alex beside her, holding the 8 of Hearts. Alex casually tossed his card on the table, his gaze icily sweeping across the group before he reclined on the sofa once more. The private room fell silent; all eyes were on Candice. Sonia was visibly upset with the situation. She tugged at Alex¡¯s sleeve, whispering. ¡°Lex¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Alex inquired, turning to her. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Sonia shot another look at Candice, then dropped her gaze, murmuring, ¡°I don¡¯t want to interfere with your The undertone of grievance and implication was clear to everyone present. Before Candice could respond, Alex drew Sonia close, then casually flipped the cards on the table, saying indifferently, ¡°Don¡¯t pick me. Dealing with a jealous girlfriend is tricky.¡± This sparked immediate teasing andughter from the group. Sieg yfully chided, ¡°Lex, just admit you¡¯re under her thumb. I¡¯ve never seen you so chaste before.¡± Alex retorted, ¡°Until now, no one was worth being chaste for.¡± Candice¡¯s brows twitched. She grabbed her drink and, turning to Sieg, said calmly, ¡°I¡¯ll take three drinks as my penalty. Let¡¯s move past this round.¡± While Sieg was lenient with Alex, he was less so with Candice. Heined, ¡°Candice, you¡¯re no fun. Can¡¯t you y along without Alex?¡± Chapter 42 Chapter 42 After Sieg¡¯sment, everyone¡¯s attention shifted to Candice. Alex¡¯s statement had inadvertently embarrassed Candice, making it sound like she was eager to kiss him. Sieg continued to ask, ¡°Jack is still here. Are you not going to respect Jack?¡± Candice¡¯s fingers tensed around her cup¡¯s rim. She was about to respond when Jackson stepped in, ¡°Sieg, enough. Candy¡¯s been swamped with work, and she doesn¡¯t handle alcohol well. I¡¯ll take her drinks for her.¡± ¡°Exactly. We¡¯re here to enjoy ourselves. It¡¯s enough to just drink and be merry.¡± Marc, who had been silent, now intervened to ease the tension. He filled his ss and toasted, ¡°Jack, I¡¯ll join you in this one.¡± With Jackson and Marc defusing the situation, Sieg backed off. Once Jackson had downed his drinks, they moved on to another game. Candice noticed Jackson¡¯s neck turning red. She felt bad about it and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± The group was daring in their game, and the alcohol was strong. After Jackson¡¯s three shots, they persuaded him to have two more. Squinting, he leaned back on the sofa and told Candice, ¡°It looks like you¡¯ll definitely have to drive me home.¡± Though the party was meant to continuete, with Jackson intoxicated, Candice left with him. Candice steadied Jackson, preventing him from stumbling, as they passed Alex and Sonia. She caught Sonia whispering something to Alex at a volume audible to the two of them. After assisting Jackson into the car, Candice realized she had forgotten her phone in the private room. Jackson, rubbing his temples in the passenger seat, retained his courteous nature despite his inebriation. He spoke softly, ¡°I¡¯ll wait here; go get your phone.¡± On her return to the room, she found the party even more animated. Unnoticed in her entry, with dim lights and someone singing into a microphone, Candice, struggling with mild night blindness, carefully navigated to her previous spot. Then, she overheard Sieg questioning Alex, ¡°Did you really not want to kiss Candice, or was it out of consideration for Sonia?¡± With Sonia apparently away, Sieg dared to pose such a query. Candice, finding her phone, heard Alex¡¯s indifferent reply. ¡°No considerations. I simply lost interest. I¡¯ve grown weary of her after being with her for so long.¡± She stopped breathing. She then quietly retrieved her phone before attempting to leave discreetly. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Unexpectedly, she collided with someone head-on. The person gasped and staggered back. Marc, startled, questioned, ¡°What are you still doing here? I thought you left?¡± ¡°I forgot my phone,¡± Candice exined. ¡°It¡¯s hard for me to see here.¡± Marc, processing the situation, then asked, ¡°Is your vision not good?¡± ¡°I have slight night blindness,¡± she admitted. ¡°Let me help you out; it¡¯s pretty dark in here,¡± Marc-offered to guide Candice out. Once outside, with Marc¡¯s help, Candice paused at the entrance of the bar before heading back to Jackson. Noticing her pale expression, Jackson expressed concern. ¡°You don¡¯t look well. Are you okay?¡± Candice shook her head and said, ¡°I think the loudness inside is giving me a headache.¡± She sounded strained. Jackson, studying her face, remained silent. He offered her a water bottle, suggesting. Take a break before we leave.¡± Candice, however, refused the water, insisting on driving him home first. Jackson hesitated, then proposed, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Drive to your ce instead. I can get an Uber from there.¡± She hesitated and then declined, saying, ¡°It would be too much trouble.¡± Jackson, not often one to persist, countered, ¡°It¡¯ste, and it¡¯s not safe for a girl to go home alone.¡± Once at her ce. Jackson did get an Uber. He handed her a small ceramic figurine from his car, advising. ¡°If you¡¯re upset, put coins in this.¡± Confused, Candice did not grasp his meaning at first. He rified. ¡°It¡¯s a trick my grandpa used, quite effective. It¡¯s like wishing well.¡± Candice went home with the figurines, cing them side by side on her desk. She pondered for a moment before dropping a coin into it. On Wednesday, Candice requested time off from work for Joe¡¯s medical follow-ub. Arriving early at the nursing home to collect him, she encountered the director, who gently reminded her about the uing quarterly fees. The nursing home¡¯s high standards meant substantial fees. Candice calcted her finances, nning to settle the bill on Friday. Joe, disapproving, remarked, ¡°I¡¯ve always said this ce is too costly. How much have you spent over the years?¡± As Candice assisted him into the car, she reassured him. ¡°It¡¯s fine. My job at Aether Corporation pays well.¡± After a pause, Joe inquired, ¡°Is your mom still asking for money?¡± After Candice¡¯s parents split up, Candice¡¯s mom uprooted and started a new family somewhere else. Joe Two yea years ago, her mother suddenly reached out to her, saying her younger daughter had fallen ill and needed arge sum of money. Candice responded after a brief silence, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know my limits.¡± Joe, limited in what he could say as her mother was his daughter, cautiously suggested, ¡°Maybe we can find a less expensive ce, or I could move back home.¡± Candice was adamantly opposed. The old man¡¯s health was deteriorating, and he was alone. She was preupied with work and just did not have time to care for him. Reassuring the older man, she said, ¡°Just focus on staying healthy; leave the rest to me.¡± At the hospital, they discovered it was the day Sonia¡¯s father was being discharged. He had recovered well enough to walk with a cane. While Candice was assisting Joe towards the elevator, they encountered Sonia helping her father exit the elevator. Alex was not in sight. As Candice helped Joe into the elevator, Sonia called out to her. Candice spun around, meeting a forced grin when her eyes settled on Candice. Exhaling deeply, she said. ¡°Lex is in the parking lot, putting things away.¡± It was clear that she wanted to show that she had note alone and that Alex was with her. Candice remained unmoved, grunting, ¡°Hmm.¡± Sonia¡¯s smile disappeared as she watched Candice and Joe enter the elevator. Feeling somewhat foolish and Intimidated by Candice¡¯s calm demeanor, she couldn¡¯t shake off her feelings of insecurity. Candice returned to the workce after ensuring that Joe¡¯s checkup went smoothly. Upon arrival, Ka eagerly told her. ¡°The photos from our team-building event are ready. Want to see them?¡± She gave the pictures a cursory look, not expecting much because they were just regr pictures. However, Ka was more observant. She browsed through the stack of photos and, with some uncertainty, pulled out one, ¡°Isn¡¯t this you with Mr. Elysian?¡± Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Upon hearing these words, Candice nced at the photo. In the picture, a man and a woman stood outside the lobby of a hot spring hotel. Alex was embracing the woman from behind, and she looked back at him. The picture was taken from a distance, making it hard to discern their expressions. However, the ambiguous emotions between the two could be clearly felt in the photo.. Ka¡¯s eyes clearly sparked, obviously eager to gossip. Candice said, ¡°That day when I almost fell, he was the one who pulled me up.¡± Ka wasn¡¯t the only one who had seen this photo. Most of the people in thepany had seen it. Sonia¡¯s face remained pale the entire day. Alex, on the other hand, showed no reaction. He didn¡¯t even spare a nce at the photo. Instead, he averted his gaze. Seeing his indifferent response, Sonia felt a bit relieved. In the afternoon, someone from the finance department approached Candice, handing her a paycheck to sign. Due to Candice losing the coboration with Humphrey, three months of her sry would be deducted ording to Aether Corporation¡¯s regtions. Candice¡¯s monthly sry was already substantial, and the total amount for three months looked somewhat staggering. Ka casually nced at the figure and couldn¡¯t help but exim, ¡°Candice, this amount of deduction could serve as a down payment for a house in my hometown.¡± Candice, however, hesitated to sign. She stared at the amount with a furrowed brow and pursed lips. It was only after the finance person urged her that she finally signed. Ka was aware of the situation, and she felt it was unfair to Candice. ¡°You can¡¯t be solely med for losing this deal. Why should you bear the punishment alone? That¡¯s too unfair!¡± Candice remained silent, Conveniently, her phone rang, and she checked it before standing up. ¡°I have to take this call.¡± In the pantry, a young girl¡¯s tender and fragile voice came through the other end of the line when Candice answered. ¡°Candice, when are youing to see me?¡± The girl, Peach, was Candice¡¯s half-sister. They had the same mother but a different father. Peach was only eight years old and suffering from congenital leukemia. She needed expensive treatments every month. Thest time Candice saw her was when Peach¡¯s mother had brought her before Candice, with tears streaming down her face. Over the years, aside from the monthly payments, Yvonne Lee, Candice¡¯s mother, rarely called her. Back in the office, after Ka mentioned going upstairs to deliver some documents, Candice thought for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± Sonia bit her lip when she saw Candice upstairs and asked, ¡°Candice, is something wrong?¡± ¡°Thave a document for Mr. Elysian,¡± Candice said as she gestured to the papers in her hand. Sonia stood up and offered, ¡°I¡¯ll hand it to him.¡± ¡°It requires his feedback¡± Candice calmly replied. Sonia stiffened and sat back down. When Candice pushed open Alex¡¯s office door, he was engrossed in work. Hearing the disturbance, he looked up, and Candice handed him the documents. ¡°I need your feedback and signature on these.¡± Alex acknowledged with a grunt, ¡°Leave it there; I¡¯ll look at itter.¡± He continued working, but Candice remained in ce without moving. After a moment, Alex paused and asked, ¡°Is there something else?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about the three months¡¯ sry deduction,¡± Candice said. She lowered her gaze to Alex¡¯s desk and spoke slowly. Alex paused, then he folded his hands on his desk. He replied, ¡°That¡¯spany policy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve mentioned that I can remedy the situation.¡± ¡°Have you seeded in remedying it?¡± Alex sneered coldly, then looked meaningfully at Candice, ¡°Candice. you¡¯re not an exception.¡± After saying this, he briefly nced through the documents Candice had handed him, then casually tossed them onto the desk. ¡°So, it¡¯s not worth making an exception for you. Recently, Candice and Ka had been having meals together in thepany cafeteria, opting for the most ordinary meals. In terms of employee benefits, Aether Corporation was generous and took good care of its employees. Ka asked curiously, ¡°Candice, why have you beening to the employee cafeteria lately?¡± Before Candice could respond, Ka answered her own question, ¡°Oh, I see. Is it because of the sry issue?¡± Candice nodded. Ka was not the only one who felt that Candice was being treated unfairly; others in the department shared the sentiment. However, they didn¡¯t dare question Candice about it directly and only discussed it privately behind her back. As Candice was about to push open the restroom door, she heard people outside discussing. She hesitated and stayed inside. ¡°If I were Candice, I¡¯d be furious. Three months¡¯ sry! And it¡¯s not even her fault! If it were me, I¡¯d quit. Besides, Candice is so capable. Whichpany wouldn¡¯t want her?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯s able to resign,¡± another person said, ¡°Candice seemed to have signed a non- compete agreement with thepany.¡± The voices outside gradually faded, and Candice finally emerged from the cubicle. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Indeed, she had signed a nonpete agreement with Aether Corporation. It was something Daniel had urged her to do back then. On Friday. Candice went to the sanatorium. She paid for another quarter and transferred Peach¡¯s monthly medication expenses. As she left. Joe slipped a passbook into her hand. Candice frowned, ¡°Why are you giving me this?¡± ¡°How can I let you keep spending money on Peach? I am, after all, her grandfather.¡± The old man sighed, There¡¯s not much in there, just enough for a few months.¡± When Candice returned home, she coincidentally ran into Alex, who looked like he was about to leave. Alex paused when he saw Candice. He asked, ¡°Took the afternoon off?¡± ¡°Yeah. I had some errands to run.¡± Alex¡¯s dark gaze lingered on her for a moment before he said, ¡°Tomorrow night. Southern Gin Hotel,¡± Tomorrow was Helen¡¯s birthday, and Candice thought he would ask Sonia to go with him. But before she could ask if they should go together, Alex had already left. The next day. Candice waited at home. She waited until half past five, but there was still no sign of Alex. So, she decided to drive to the Southern Gin Hotel herself. Upon arrival, she discovered that Alex had already been there for a while. Sonia was elegantly dressed and stood by his side. She was weing guests together with Alex as they followed Helen. Candice stood frozen in ce. She closed her eyes briefly, and then slowly approached them. Upon seeing her, the smile on Helen¡¯s face instantly turned mocking. Candice handed the gift to Helen, ¡°Happy birthday, Helen.¡± She knew Helen looked down on her and wasn¡¯t interested in what she brought. While Daniel might not appreciate Candice¡¯s background, he wouldn¡¯t be petty with a young girl. With a stern expression, he said, ¡°Since you¡¯re here, go on in.¡± When Sonia heard Daniel¡¯s words, she walked over with a smile. She took Candice¡¯s gift and said with a polite smile, ¡°Candice, let me take you inside.¡± It was Helen¡¯s birthday, and many of Alex¡¯s friends were present. Upon entering. Candice immediately spotted Sieg and the others. Sonia brought her over and whispered to Sieg. ¡°Sieg, Candice is here. Lex is busy, so take care of her for a bit. okay?¡± This was the first time Candice was in the position of the one who was being cared for at the Elysian family¡¯s banquet. She looked down and took a seat. Shortly after she had sat down, Alex entered. He gestured towards Candice, tapping his fingers twice on the table in front of her. Looking down at her, he said indifferently. ¡°Come and help.¡± Chapter 44 Chapter 44 It was Sonia¡¯s first time attending such a banquet, so it was inevitable that she was Ignorant of many etiquettes. Candice could guess the situation but didn¡¯t understand why Alex wanted her assistance. She looked up and said calmly. ¡°It¡¯s not quite appropriate for me to go over there.¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Alex looked down at her with dark eyes devoid of emotion. He said, ¡°Go and teach her.¡± He didn¡¯t need to specify who he was referring to. Candice pursed her lips without responding. Thest time Alex had asked her to teach Sonia, it had resulted in her being transferred out of the CEO¡¯s office. Before Candice could refuse, she heard Alex say casually, ¡°Consider it work. It¡¯ll be added to your sry.¡± Sieg, who was listening nearby, whistled with interest. He teased. ¡°Are you throwing money around, Alex?¡± After saying that, he looked at Candice and said. ¡°This is a windfall from the sky. Candice. Aren¡¯t you going to catch it?¡± Whether it was a windfall or a trap was hard to say. Candice looked outside and vaguely saw Sonia standing stiffly there. Those who didn¡¯t know her might mistake her for a waitress. It was Sonia¡¯s first time attending an Elysian family banquet, and she didn¡¯t understand many of the rules. She stood behind Helen, resembling a puppet with a forced smile. Helen was annoyed at Sonia¡¯sck of sophistication. Sonia felt aggrieved, but she didn¡¯t dare show it openly. So, she could only stand there with a stiff expression. When Alex approached, Sonia instinctively wanted to hide behind him. But before she could, she saw Candice behind Alex. Sonia stiffened and quietly asked Alex, ¡°Lex, why did you call Candice over? She¡¯s a guest.¡± Before Alex could speak, Candice moved to stand behind Helen. She politely and skillfully took what the guest handed over and casually exchanged a few words with the guest. The contrast was clear. Sonia pouted and pulled at Alex¡¯s sleeve, almost about to cry. ¡°Lex, do you think I¡¯m too stupid, so you brought Candice over?¡± Alex reached out and wiped her tears, soothing her with a deep voice. ¡°She¡¯s used to these things.¡± Candice was not far from them, and she heard Alex¡¯s words. She epted the gift with a slight pause, then Although Helen didn¡¯t like Candice, having her help made things much easier. She handed over the outside affairs to Candice and went inside to rest. Once Helen and Daniel left, Sonia finally rxed. She held Alex¡¯s hand, sniffed, and asked, ¡°Did I embarrass you today?¡± ¡°No.¡± Alex said, brushing her hair away and tucking it behind her ear. ¡°You¡¯re not a waitress; I don¡¯t need you to do these things to maintain my reputation.¡± Sonia felt a bit happier at this. Candice, who was in front, remained silent. Sonia was not a waitress; she didn¡¯t need to do these things. So, what was Candice? Jackson arrived a bitte,ing with his parents. He seemed a bit stunned to see Candice handling the reception. The Shyan couple had an air of gentleness and courtesy. Looking at them, Candice understood where Jackson¡¯s good temperament came from. After Jackson¡¯s family entered, Candice checked the guest list and noticed a few guests who hadn¡¯t arrived yet. Alex and Sonia had already gone in. By the time Candice ushered in the remaining guests, it was just in time for the banquet to begin. She didn¡¯t even have time to take a breather when her phone rang. Alex had sent her a message on WhatsApp. asking her to meet him. This was a task Candice had done many times over the years-apanying guests and attending to them. As she approached, Helen and Alex were already waiting there, apanied by Sonia. Helen¡¯s mood wasn¡¯t great. She nced at Candice and said, ¡°Bringing one embarrassment is enough; you had to bring two!¡± Alex responded, ¡°Sonia is allergic to alcohol. She can¡¯t drink.¡± ¡°Then why bring her?¡± Candice also wanted to ask the same. If Sonia couldn¡¯t drink, why did Alex bring her? But she soon understood. Having been with Alex for so many years, many people thought of Candice as the unmovable Mrs. Elysian. Therefore, when drinking, there were inevitably some jokes. As Alex¡¯s legitimate girlfriend, Sonia only needed to stand there and smile, effortlessly dispelling any misunderstandings. When they reached Sieg¡¯s group, Helen exchanged a few words with them and then left. After all, she was an elder of the family, and she didn¡¯t need to linger too long with them. On the other hand, Sonia rxed a bit, engaging in familiar conversation with them. Candice waspletely ignored. She didn¡¯t want to linger with Sonia¡¯s group, so she turned to find a ce to rest. ¡°Candice.¡± Jackson followed her, his expression gentle. ¡°Come with me to meet a few people.¡± There were many people from Dorrington City attending the banquet. Jackson took Candice to meet some bosses, iming they were in charge of an art exhibition. In the past, Candice had put in a lot of effort in the art field to please Helen. So, she could engage in a few conversations. With her business insight, the heads of these exhibitions took a liking to her. One even extended an olive branch and said, ¡°Ms. Renault, if you¡¯re interested, you should join us. We¡¯re currently preparing for a touring exhibition.¡± After leaving that group, Jackson looked at her and said seriously, ¡°Candice, I think you should give it a try.¡± Candice asked, ¡°Try what? nning an art exhibition?¡± ¡°I think you have great ideas.¡± After Jackson finished speaking, he happened to see Alex approaching from the front. He paused and said. ¡°Staying at Aether Corporation might not be the best choice for you now.¡± Candice and Alex¡¯s rtionship wasn¡¯t a secret; Alex had been open about it two years ago. So, everyone epted Candice¡¯s connection with him. But now that Sonia was with Alex, Candice¡¯s presence seemed redundant. Jackson said, ¡°Candice, it¡¯s not wrong to leave yourself a way out.¡± These words echoed in Candice¡¯s ears, shattering her thoughts. Of course, she knew that. But executing it was far from easy. While Candice¡¯s thoughts were surging in her mind, Alex approached. His gaze swept over Jackson and Candice, then he paused and said, ¡°Mr. Reeves from Constant Origin is over there. Are you avoiding him?¡± This was directed at Candice.. She looked up to see where the man Alex had mentioned was. Kenelm Reeves was a director at Constant Origin Enterprise and was a difficult man to deal with. He was entric and didn¡¯t care about the reputation of others. Candice was about to move when Jackson grabbed her wrist and said calmly, ¡°Candice, think about it carefully.¡± Alex looked at their linked hands, and his face was barely noticeably colder. Candice had had quite a few drinks after dealing with Kenelm, and her head felt heavy. She told Jackson she was heading straight to the suite upstairs to rest. Just as she turned the corner after exiting the elevator, she heard a voice, ¡°Lex.¡± Candice paused. From her viewpoint, she could see Sonia clinging to Alex, as limp as if she had no bones. Alex had one hand supporting her arm, as if afraid she would slide off. ¡°Lex, will you sleep with me?¡± Sonia was clearly showing signs of being drunk. But Alex had just stated that she was alcohol intolerant and couldn¡¯t drink. Candice understood; he probably did it to prevent Sonia from drinking. She was so distracted that she stumbled a few steps. She only managed to stay upright by grabbing onto the wall. Chapter 45 Chapter 45 The sound unavoidably reached Alex¡¯s ears. He looked up with an indifferent look and caught sight of Candice. She looked tipsy as she leaned against the wall and watched them. She seemed a bit more lonely than usual as she stood there alone, and also somewhat fragile. Alex¡¯s gaze slightly darkened as he watched Candice slowly enter the adjacent suite. When Candice walked past Alex, she paused momentarily, which allowed Alex to catch a whiff of the faint scent of alcohol on her. After reaching her suite, Candice slept deeply. She only woke up in the middle of the night because she was feeling thirsty. She wanted to get up to pour some water but was wide awake. Just then, her phone rang. Candice picked it up to find a transaction record. Alex had transferred ten thousand dors to her. Presumably, it was her sry for the night. News of Sonia attending Helen¡¯s birthday banquet quickly spread in the office, stirring a new wave of discussions. Ka discreetly asked Candice if it was true, and Candice nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± This further solidified the rumors that Alex was determined to be with Sonia. Sonia was an intern, and she needed three months to obtain her internship certificate. Alex was supposed to handle it, but she had first applied to the secretary¡¯s department and forgot to transfer it. Now, she had to go to Candice. Sonia studied at Dorrington University, which was a reputable institution. So, the internship certificate requirements were stringent. When Candice received her application, she still had several other documents and internship certificates to process. After some thought, she said. ¡°Come find me tomorrow; I have a lot to handle today.¡± Sonia acknowledged Candice¡¯s reply and turned to leave. Candice was busy herself, and Sonia didn¡¯te to see her the next day. With that, Candice assumed Sonia had found someone else to help and didn¡¯t bother asking. Instead, she processed the internship certificates for others and sent them out. Unexpectedly, two dayster, Ka gossiped in the office, ¡°Sonia¡¯s eyes are red from crying again. This time. As soon as she finished, a call from the upper floors came, instructing Candice to go up. Candice¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Going upstairs, she indeed found Sonia sobbing on the desk. When she approached, Sonia visibly paused. Candice stopped in front of her and asked softly. ¡°Did I do something to upset you?¡± Sonia halted her sobbing and slowly raised her tear¨Cstained eyes. ¡°Candice, if you didn¡¯t want to provide me with an internship certificate, why didn¡¯t you just tell me?¡± ¡°Sonia.¡± Candice paused, looking at Sonia. ¡°I asked you toe and see me the next day, but t you didn¡¯t.¡± This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. ¡°But Candice, I sent you emails and messaged you.¡± Sonia¡¯s voice choked as she spoke, her eyes tinted with a hint of grievance. ¡°I sent it to your inbox. The school collected the internship certificates yesterday. Mine wasn¡¯t included. If you couldn¡¯t help, you could have just told me. I would have found someone else.¡± Candice couldn¡¯t recall adding Sonia to her WhatsApp contacts. She took out her phone and checked, finding Sonia¡¯s messages on her work WhatsApp. There were only two brief messages: [Candice, can you sign my internship certificate?] [Sent it to your inbox. Thank you.] As she finished reading, the door to Alex¡¯s office opened. He raised his hand and knocked twice on the door frame. His voice was cold and detached when he spoke, ¡°Candice,e in.¡± His gaze shifted to Sonia. ¡°You too.¡± Indeed, Alex was here about Sonia¡¯s internship certificate. He asked Candice. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you provide Sonia with an internship certificate?¡± Candice pursed her lips, remaining silent for a moment before saying, ¡°I told her toe find me. I was very busy.¡± ¡°But you provided internship certificates for the other interns,¡± Alex said. His face showed little emotion as he looked at Candice. ¡°Is there really no differential treatment?¡± Candice opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to refute, but the words on her lips turned into. ¡°Did I treat Sonia differently?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± Alex raised his hand and took out a folder from the desk, tossing it in front of Candice. ¡°In the list of outstanding interns submitted, everyone is listed except Sonia.¡± Candice nced at the list. ¡°I didn¡¯t organize this.¡± ¡°The secretary¡¯s office submitted it. Haven¡¯t you seen it?¡± Alex¡¯s attitude made it clear he was taking Sonia¡¯s side, as if Candice had truly done something unfair to Sonia. She examined the list and calmly exined. ¡°This list is based on the interns¡® performance.¡± She looked at Sonia. ¡°Do you understand what I mean?¡± Sonia¡¯s face tumed pale. She understood Candice¡¯s implication. The interns in the secretary¡¯s office would go out to meet clients and negotiate business deals. But in Sonia¡¯s case, she followed Alex. By doing so, she didn¡¯t know anything about thepany¡¯s significant clients, and Alex didn¡¯t meet smaller clients. So, she indeedcked any substantial achievements. However¡­ Sonia bit her lip and nced at Candice. Did Candice dare say she had no personal motives? It was just one slot. If Candice really had really wanted to include Sonia in the list, how could she not make room for it? Candice happened to turn around and caught Sonia¡¯s gaze. She hesitated and said, ¡°If you want that slot. I can add you to the list.¡± Her tone was light, seemingly indifferent, but it made Sonia unusually concerned. Sonia quickly shook her head, looking wounded and fragile, ¡°Candice, I don¡¯t want it. I know I haven¡¯t made any progress.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Candice responded. However¡­ ¡°Candice, don¡¯t take advantage too much.¡± Alex frowned and nced at the open file. He casually picked up a pen and elegantly added Sonia¡¯s name. He was determined to include Sonia¡¯s name. Candice nced at Alex for a moment, then silently took the file and left. Before the door closed, she heard Sonia¡¯s nasal voice asking Alex, ¡°Lex, is this okay?¡± ¡°What¡¯s not okay about it?¡± Alex nonchntly tossed the pen onto the table. Before leaving work, Candice received a sudden call from Jackson. He said he had arranged to have dinner with the person in charge of the art exhibition tonight and asked if Candice would join. Candice knew Jackson wanted to help her and didn¡¯t refuse. For her, Aether Corporation might indeed no longer be a good choice. Candice silently contemted for a moment, then went through her existing assets. After some calctions, it barely covered her expenses for a while. Moreover, if she resigned from Aether Corporation, she would also receivepensation. It just meant she couldn¡¯t touch this industry again in the future. Candice sat at her desk in a daze. ¡°Candice, Mr. Elysian said he wants you to apany him to a social event tonight,¡± Ka said, tapping her desk. Candice snapped out of her thoughts. Alex hadn¡¯t taken her to social events for a long time. She looked down at the client information Ka handed her. However, her blood seemed to freeze in an Instant. The expression on Candice¡¯s face was unpleasant. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 As she read the name of the party on the document, her fingertips turned cold. Humphrey Moore, the CEO of Red Sun Corporation. Candice had narrowly escaped an ufortable encounter with Humphreyst time and even ended up with a photograph taken. Ka mentioned that Sonia kicked up a fuss and wanted to go with Alex, but he didn¡¯t agree. Candice had an indifferent look when she heard that. Of course, Alex wouldn¡¯t agree. Most people in the Dorrington social circle knew Humphrey¡¯s reputation. Since Alex cared so much about Sonia, he naturally wouldn¡¯t want her to have any contact with someone like Humphrey. Candice tried to ignore the gossip from her colleagues. Her phone on the side chimed with a message alert. She lowered her head to see a WhatsApp message from Yvonne, containing a picture of Peach receiving an infusion. After a moment of silence, Candice replied, (Is she okay?] The response came quickly, saying that Peach¡¯s condition suddenly worsened, and the expenses for this month might be a bit higher. Candice looked at her phone silently and transferred the ten thousand dors that Alex had given her. When Alex arrived, he went straight to Candice. ¡°Come with me.¡± Just thinking about Humphrey¡¯s oily gaze made Candice unconsciously furrow her brows. Alex noticed her hesitation and spoke with a slightly stern tone. ¡°Don¡¯t want to go?¡± Candice stood up without much expression. ¡°No. I¡¯m fine.¡± When they arrived at the venue, Humphrey hadn¡¯t arrived yet. Candice held her bag and said to Alex, ¡°I¡¯ll go to the restroom.¡± Alex asked, ¡°Nervous?¡± It was obvious he was referring to the incident with the photo of Candice and Humphrey. Candice looked at him, her eyshes fluttering. ¡°Alex, this joke isn¡¯t funny.¡± ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking with you?¡± Alex¡¯s expression remained calm. He didn¡¯t smoke, so his fingers were long and beautiful, and his skin was fair. His right hand casually rested on the wrist of his left hand, looking careless andzy. Candice didn¡¯t understand Alex¡¯s intentions. She wanted to ask him but didn¡¯t have a chance as Humphrey arrived. After exchanging greetings with Alex, Humphrey turned to Candice. He shook her hand with a smirk that made her feel ufortable. Candice forced herself to shake hands with Humphrey. But maybe because Alex was present this time, Humphrey didn¡¯t behave as brazenly as thest time. Instead, he talked seriously about the cooperation. However, towards the end, Humphrey shifted the topic back to Candice. ¡°Ms. Renault, you¡¯re young and beautiful. Do you have a boyfriend?¡± Candice looked up at Alex, who seemed indifferent. She replied softly, ¡°No.¡± ¡°How about I introduce someone to you?¡± Humphrey grinned and then pointed at himself, asking, ¡°What do you think of me, Ms. Renault?¡± Candice¡¯s smile was quite forced. ¡°Mr. Reeves, please don¡¯t joke around.¡± However, Humphrey insisted on discussing this with Candice for quite a while. He got a bit intrusive after drinking too much. Candice couldn¡¯t refuse and could only apany him in drinking. After Humphrey¡¯s secretary assisted him and left, Candice felt dizzy and ufortable. She tried to stand up. but her legs felt weak, and she nearly fell straight down. Luckily, someone caught her by the elbow, preventing her from falling. Candice lifted her hazy eyes and saw Alex¡¯s expressionless face. She was stunned for a moment, then reached out to hug him. Alex frowned and moved back. ¡°Candice.¡± Candice¡¯s mind was in a blur. She grabbed Alex¡¯s clothes and looked unsure if she wanted to sit down. Then, she looked up at him and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you like me anymore?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Her eyes, tinted with the effects of alcohol, disyed a hint of confusion. The hand grabbing Alex¡¯s clothes was surprisingly strong. Alex was taken aback by her question. After a moment, he nodded and calmly replied. ¡°No, I don¡¯t like you anymore.¡± Candice released her grip, letting Alex pull her up. However, when Alex was about to send her home, she grabbed onto him again. She asked in a soft voice,¡± Why?¡± Alex couldn¡¯t hear clearly. He put Candice on the sofa and was about to leave when she grabbed the edge of his shirt. Next, she pressed her soft body against him and rested her head on his back, murmuring. ¡°Alex¡­¡± When Candice woke up the next day, she found herself sleeping on the sofa without a nket, and the window was wide open. She had a splitting headache. When she checked the time, it was already nine in the morning. Realizing she couldn¡¯t go to work in this condition, Candice called Ka and told her she was taking the day off. After taking a shower, Candice still felt dizzy and weak. A thermometer confirmed she had a low fever. Candice had intended to take some fever-reducing medicine but found none at home, so she had to go out to buy some. As she stepped out, she coincidentally encountered Alex leaving as well. Candice looked at Alex with a pale face. She wanted to speak, but her throat hurt too much. Alex wasn¡¯t dressed as formally today, so he probably wasn¡¯t going to the office. Alex nced at Candice¡¯s pale face, then quickly looked away. He seemed to be in a hurry to leave. Candice felt weak andcking strength. She barely made it to the elevator before stumbling back home. She felt ufortably cold all over. After waking up from a nap, it was already afternoon. Candice touched her forehead to find that she was still feverish. Sitting on the sofa, she licked her lips and was about to check the time on her phone when she noticed numerous messages in thepany group chat. Opening it, she found a colleague sharing photos. The main characters in the photos were Alex and Sonia. Judging by the background, they were at Dorrington University. Today seemed to be Sonia¡¯s day to participate in some event at her alma mater. Candice stared at the photos for a long time, feeling a sudden chill L No wonder Alex was different today. Turns out, he was apanying Sonia back to school. Candice remembered the year she graduated. She had begged Alex for a long time to apany her to the graduation ceremony. However, he only replied with one word: Busy. So, was he truly busy, or did he just not want to be with her? Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her phone. It was Jackson. She answered the call, and Jackson¡¯s gentle and bright voice immediately sounded in her ear. ¡°Candice, where are you?¡± Candice remembered she stood up Jackson¡¯s Invitationst night. With a hand covering her forehead, she apologized. ¡°I¡¯m sorry aboutst night. Something came up suddenly.¡± Jackson paused, sensing something off in Candice¡¯s tone. He asked in a low voice, ¡°What happened? Are you not feeling well?¡± When Jackson arrived, he brought medicine and packed food. Seeing Candice¡¯splexion, he quickly covered her with a nket. ¡°What happened to you?¡± Jackson looked worried. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me if you feel unwell?¡± Candice was pale and covered in the nket. She looked extremely weak and fragile. She forced a smile and softly asked Jackson, ¡°Is the person in charge of the exhibition still willing to meet me? I want to talk to them.¡± After two days of illness, Candice finally recovered. On the third day, she went to meet the person in charge of the exhibition. The sry and conditions offered were lower than what Candice expected, so she didn¡¯t immediately agree. Jacksonforted her, ¡°I have a friend in this field; I can introduce you to them.¡± Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Jackson had mentioned introducing friends to Candice, and he did Introduce a few. Everyone got along well initially, but when the topic of sry arose, there was a clear gap expectation between the two parties. Jackson felt somewhat embarrassed, but Candice didn¡¯t mind. After all, finding a satisfying job was not that simple. ¡°Candice.¡± Ka tapped the desktop and called Candice. ¡°Mr. Elysian is asking if the meeting room is ready.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Candice handed her a copy of the meeting minutes, ¡°The meeting records are here, but Alex should be bringing Sonia over.¡± Ka was surprised. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going?¡± ¡°I have other things to do,¡± Candice replied casually. The secretary¡¯s office had a lot of work, and she was always busy. After Ka left, Candice proofread two documents and was about to go to the pantry when she saw Ka hurriedly returning. Seeing Candice, she eximed, ¡°Candice, quickly go to the meeting room. One of the meeting documents is missing, and Mr. Elysian is very angry.¡± Candice didn¡¯t prepare the meeting room documents, but Ka still pulled her over. When they arrived, the meeting room was quiet. Alex had a cold look, and the atmosphere was tense. The client hadn¡¯t arrived yet, but Alex, who came down first, noticed a missing document. Candice checked the time; the meeting was starting in five minutes. ¡°Mr. Elysian,¡± Sonia suddenly said softly. She held a record book and was dressed professionally. She looked a bit more mature than before. Candice had nothing to do with this meeting. She intended to turn back, but Sonia said, ¡°Candice scheduled this meeting. She should have the information.¡± Candice paused; indeed, she had scheduled this meeting during her time in the CEO¡¯s secretary office. However, when she was transferred, she handed everything over to Julle and Sonia. Alex remained silent with a displeased expression. His dark eyes coldly stared at Candice, who pursed her lips. ¡°I transferred the information to Sonia.¡± Candice knew Alex¡¯s temper and added, ¡°I can¡¯t ess any of your information now.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Alex¡¯s expression worsened. This meeting was crucial, or Candice wouldn¡¯t have scheduled it so early. 210144 He was genuinely upset. Sonia shrank into herself and dared not speak. The colleague responsible for reception led the clients towards them. The atmosphere in the meeting room was tense. Candice lowered her eyes. Taking the record book from Ka, she calmly walked to Alex¡¯s side and said softly. ¡°I roughly remember the contents of the documents.¡± Having worked at Aether Corporation for many years, Candice was adept at remembering documents. However, with her as a recorder in the meeting room, Sonia had to leave. As Sonia exited, her eyes shed with an unclear meaning. When the colleague ushered in the clients, Candice saw a somewhat familiar face among the people. Marc Freeman. He also noticed Candice and gave her a shy smile. With Candice present, the lost document¡¯s content was supplemented. After the meeting, Alex looked at her indifferently and said, ¡°Come to my office.¡± Candice calmly followed him, but once inside the office, Alex sneered at her, ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t want to work anymore.¡± Candice¡¯s recent attitude had be noticeably more negative, and there were rumors flying around that she wanted to resign. ¡°No.¡± Candice¡¯s expression remained unchanged as she ced the record book on the table. ¡°The records are here. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll head back.¡± ¡°Candice.¡± e was With how she acted, Alex couldn¡¯t help but grit his teeth. She now wore a deadpan expression as if she lifeless. It made him angry whenever he looked at her. So, he stopped her and said coldly, ¡°Are you trying to act all aloof in front of me?¡± Candice looked down. She cleared her throat and said softly, ¡°You told me not to bother you if there was nothing.¡± Alex¡¯s face darkened. He stared intently at Candice, seemingly trying to find a w in her face. Unfortunately, there was none. Impatience flickered in his eyes. He leaned back and said in a strained tone. ¡°Get out.¡± Candice left without hesitation. As she passed by Sonia¡¯s desk, she felt Sonia¡¯s guarded gaze on her. Back downstairs, Ka looked at Candice with admiration, ¡°Candice, you were so imposing just now!¡± Candice didn¡¯t care much about Ka¡¯s words. ¡°Did you deliver the files I gave you this morning?¡± As she finished speaking, a colleague outside called for Candice, ¡°Candice, someone is looking for you.¡± Candice didn¡¯t expect Marc to return and look for her again. Marc¡¯spany was also on the invitation list for the meeting this time, and Candice had just seen him. However, they were not particrly familiar with each other. Marc seemed nervous. He stammered as he greeted Candice; ¡°I-I heard you¡¯ve been looking into art exhibitionstely. ¡°I have an uncle in the business. If you¡¯re interested, I can introduce you.¡± Honestly, Candice didn¡¯t have a deep impression of Marc; she just remembered him often being with Sieg. She politely nodded. ¡°Thank you, but not for now.¡± Marc looked a bit disappointed, ¡°Is it that you¡¯re too busy?¡± He genuinely admired Candice and had been wanting to make amends since the incident at the hotel when he spoke harshly to her. But since Candice refused his help. Marc could only leave with regret. After seeing him off, Candice returned to the office and found that Alex hade down. He was tall and exuded an aura of authority in every gesture. When not smiling, he seemed especially arrogant. Candice paused in her steps before approaching him. Alex looked at her with mockery in his eyes. ¡°Arranging dates during working hours, huh? You sure have some skills.¡± The remark was blunt and unpleasant. Candice fist involuntarily curled up. ¡°You know Marc.¡± ¡°The Freeman family is a humble one. Are you really interested in someone like him?¡± Alex lightly taunted. Candice tightened her grip on the cup in her hand. After looking at Alex for a while, she forced herself to calm down and ask, ¡°Did you need something from me?¡± Alex threw a document at her. ¡°Handle the proposal for Silver Ocean Industries.¡± Silver Ocean Industries was a rising star in the financial district of Dorrington City. Candice flipped through the document. She was about to ask something when Alex added, ¡°Bring Sonia with you.¡± Candice was momentarily stunned, and then she understood. Alex remembered herment about Soniacking practical experience and not being considered an So, he wanted her to be involved in the tasks in name only. If Candice and Sonia worked on the proposal together, Sonia¡¯s name would appear on them, even if she was just making tea on the side. Candice¡¯s hand trembled a little. She bit her lip and looked up at Alex. ¡°What if I refuse?¡± Alex¡¯s icy gaze swept over her features, and then he sneered, looking down at Candice. ¡°Do you have a choice?¡± Indeed. Candice had no choice. As long as she remained an employee of Aether Corporation, she had to follow Alex¡¯s orders. Chapter 48 Chapter 48 For Sonia to work alongside the proposal with Candice, she couldn¡¯t just sit at the side and watch. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. The next day, she brought her belongings downstairs, standing obediently in front of Candice and addressing Candice respectfully. Candice handed her the materials for Silver Ocean Industries and said, ¡°Organize all the data before noon.¡± This time. Sonia didn¡¯t make a fuss. She knew the benefits of following Candice, so she diligently focused on the task. However, being young and having a rtionship with Alex, she soon shed with the other office colleagues. The information for Silver Ocean Industries wasplex, and Candice, already bothered by the chaos, found it even more annoying. She stood up and left the office, heading to the pantry for a break. As soon as she arrived in the pantry, her phone rang. It was a call from Yvonne again. Yvonne rarely contacted her so frequently, so Candice hesitated momentarily before answering the call Yvonne was sobbing heavily and struggling to catch her breath. Candice waited for her to cry enough before asking. ¡°What do you want? Just say it.¡± When Candice returned from the pantry, her face was even colder than before. Yvonne had asked for another ten thousand dors, iming Peach¡¯s medical expenses were not enough, and the hospital wanted to discharge her forcefully. Candice pinched her brow, feeling a strong headache building. ¡°Candice, when will the proposal be finished?¡± Coincidentally, Sonia approached at this moment and asked in a soft voice. Candice felt irritated. Even though she tried to suppress her anger, her tone still sounded harsh, ¡°You can do it yourself.¡± Sonia bit her lip and retreated. However, at lunchtime, she treated everyone in the office to milk tea, intentionally excluding Candice. ¡°Candice, I remember you don¡¯t like milk tea, so I didn¡¯t buy one for you. Hope you don¡¯t mind,¡± she innocently said to Candice. Candice was staring at the proposal documents in silence and had a throbbing headache. She didn¡¯t have the energy to deal with Sonia. At the end of the workday. Candice needed to go out to pick up something. As she stepped out of the office. she collided with Alex, who wasing to pick up Sonia after work. She ducked to the side without uttering a word. Alex didn¡¯t look at her, heading straight to find Sonia, who was still working on some forms. She awkwardly looked at Alex. ¡°I have a lot of work left. Maybe you shouldn¡¯t wait for me.¡± Alex casually brought over a stool and said, ¡°You can continue your work. I¡¯ll wait.¡± Sonia blushed, unable to resist ncing triumphantly at Candice. Candice had her head down and was diligently working on the proposal. She had an indifferent look on her face and looked like a working robot. When her overtime ended, it was already dark outside. Candice packed up and left. It was only when she reached downstairs that she realized it was raining. Just as Candice settled into the driver¡¯s seat, someone knocked on the window. Alex stood outside, holding an umbre. Candice rolled down the window, and Alex said calmly, ¡°My car broke down.¡± It meant Candice had to give him a ride. And also Sonia. Driving in the rain wasn¡¯t easy. Candice drove slowly, with Alex and Sonia sitting in the back, asionally exchanging hushed words that Candice couldn¡¯t quite make out. Candice drove and ignored the two in the back, leaving a slight crack in the window to listen to the rain outside. As Candice turned a corner, Sieg called to Alex to invite him to a bar. Alex agreed. He looked at Candice and said, ¡°Go to GT.¡± They were a almost reaching Sonia¡¯s home, and going to GT would require a detour. Candice originally nned to drop off Sonia first, but Sonia held Alex¡¯s hand and said coquettishly. ¡°Lex, take me with you, okay?¡± Candice looked at Alex through the rearview mirror. His expression was cold. The passing streetlights asionally softened it, revealing a hint of warmth. Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Casually, he nodded and agreed to Sonia¡¯s request. It was then that Sonia remembered Candice and apologetically said, ¡°Candice, sorry for the trouble.¡± Candice remained silent and left after dropping them off at GT. After all, Alex wouldn¡¯t be short of company with Sieg and others there. Back home, Candice immediately showered and slept. In the middle of the night, her phone disrupted her sleep. Alex¡¯s cold voice came through the other end, ¡°Come pick me up.¡± Listening to the rain outside. Candice tucked herself deeper into the nket, ¡°You can take a cab.¡± Just as she finished speaking, Alex hung up. Candice didn¡¯t want to go out in the cold. However, three minutester, her phone rang again. It was Alex. With the same cold and indifferent tone, he said, ¡°Come pick me up.¡± Candice remained silent, and the call ended on the other side. Three minutester, the phone rang again. Candice¡¯s sleep waspletely disrupted. When Alex called again, she simply replied with a ¡°Okay.¡± The calls stopped. Candice changed her clothes and headed to GT. It was still raining, so Candice drove slowly. By the time she reached GT, half an hour had passed. The bar was still crowded, and Candice searched inside but couldn¡¯t find Alex. She inquired with the bar owner, only to be informed that Sieg¡¯s group had left earlier. Due to staying upte that night, Candice¡¯splexion the next day was quite poor. Unlike her, Sonia was energetic. The proposal for Silver Ocean Industries was challenging, and Candice had some questions to ask Alex. When Sonia suggested joining her, Candice curtly replied, ¡°Your forms aren¡¯t finished yet.¡± Candice¡¯s words kept Sonia in her seat. When Candice went upstairs, Alex was on a video call. He gestured for her to wait. Candice stood there, surveying her surroundings. Theyout hadn¡¯t changed much but was always somewhat different from the memories in Candice¡¯s mind. Perhaps it was because of those openly disyed small ornaments. After finishing the call Alex nced at Candice and frowned. ¡°Did you not rest wellst night?¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Candice paused before saying, ¡°You asked me to pick you upst night, but you weren¡¯t at the bar.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Alex seemed indifferent. He raised his eyebrows slightly and casually said, ¡°I might have gotten drunk and not noticed.¡± His nonchnt words felt like a p to Candice¡¯s ears, making her appear ridiculous. She thought she had be a habit for Alex, but it turned out to be just a joke after he had too much to drink. It felt as if someone had knocked her head into a wall. It felt both bitter and painful. As she descended the stairs, she coincidentally met someone from the HR department delivering the list of newly hired employees and their sry details. Candice went through the list, finding no issues. Just as she was about to return it, she noticed Sonia¡¯s name in thest row. When new employees join the CEO¡¯s secretary¡¯s office, they receive a bonus as an encouragement. Alex was generous and never mistreated them in this regard. However, Candice saw that Sonia didn¡¯t receive this bonus. Did Alex forget? Seeing Candice staring at the list with a furrowed brow, the HR person thought there was an issue with the list. ¡°Candice, is something wrong?¡± Candice returned to her senses and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Whether Alex forgot or for any other reason, what did it have to do with her? ¡°Oh, by the way, I¡¯ll go over with you,¡± Candice said as she returned the list. Pushing aside those thoughts, she followed the person to the HR department. Candice made some adjustments to her employee contract. Herst appointment was three years ago, and there were less than three months before it expired. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Candice was lost in thought until her phone rang, snapping her back to reality. It was Helen. Candice furrowed her brows slightly; Helen rarely contacted her on her own initiative. Hesitatingly answering the call, Helen¡¯smanding tone came from the other end of the line. ¡°Come to Silverstone Hospital and bring some supplements.¡± Upon arriving. Candice learned that Jasmine Carter, Jackson¡¯s mother, had identally injured her arm and needed to be hospitalized for observation. Helen raised her eyebrows when she saw Candice and said, ¡°Drop off the items; you can leave.¡± Her tone was harsh, but Candice remained silent. Helen was Alex¡¯s mother, and publicly or privately, she couldn¡¯t say much. ¡°Thank you,¡± said the woman on the hospital bed politely and gently as Candice ced the items down. Shaking her head, Candice left the room under Helen¡¯s urging. As she stepped out of the ward, she collided with Jackson, who had hurriedly arrived. Jackson was surprised to run into Candice here. He steadied her and asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Candice didn¡¯t want to hinder him and stepped aside to let him in. Jasmine¡¯s ward was a single room. There was also a partition ced inside. As Candice hadn¡¯t left yet, she heard Helen¡¯s sharp voice, ¡°If there¡¯s anything needed, let Candice handle it. She doesn¡¯t have much to do anyway.¡± Candice¡¯s expression remained unchanged. When Helen called her over, she still had unfinished work. She expected that she needed to work overtime tonight to finish it. ¡°Candice?¡± Jackson also heard Helen¡¯s words. Heforted Candice softly before entering to see his mother. Originally, he had wanted to invite Candice to dinner. However, Candice declined as she thought about the work she needed to finish. Two hours had already passed by the time she returned to thepany. As Candice entered the office, she saw Sonia chatting with Ka. Seeing her return, Sonia sluggishly returned to her seat. Candice ced her bag down and asked, ¡°Is everything organized?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve sent it all to your email.¡± Candice nodded and sat back at theputer. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. The proposal for Silver Ocean Industries was challenging. Candice examined the form Sonia had modified and found one missing data. She initially thought of finding it herself, but she had too much on her te. So, she handed the documents back to Sonia, instructing her to make the correction. Sonia was reluctant. ¡°Wasn¡¯t the form already fixed?¡± ¡°There¡¯s one more data missing; it should be in the database. Please check it,¡± Candice replied. Her words were reasonable, as it was Sonia¡¯s responsibility. However, the database was extensive, and Sonia, who always stayed close to Alex, had yet to learn many things and tended to be clumsy. When Candice finished organizing the work she needed today, Sonia hadn¡¯t retrieved the required data. Candice couldn¡¯t stand how slow Sonia was working, and she reminded her with a frown. Sonia complied reluctantly. After finally finishing today¡¯s tasks, which made her half an hourte, Candice packed up and left. As she was leaving. Sonia stopped her and said, ¡°Candice, why don¡¯t we have dinner tonight? As thanks for taking me homest night.¡± Candice¡¯s expression remained unchanged as she replied, ¡°I have other matters to attend to.¡± As she finished speaking, someone pushed open the office door. The scent of cedar on Alex was cold and crisp. He nced at Candice and asked Sonia, ¡°Why sote today?¡± *Candice returnedte,¡± Sonia said, shifting both overtime issues onto Candice. Alex¡¯s gaze finallynded on her, and he raised his eyebrow, waiting for Candice¡¯s exnation. Candice took a breath and said slowly. ¡°Aunt asked me to deliver some things to the hospital.¡± ¡°You went just because she asked?¡± Alex threw out the question casually after a pause: Though he said that, it was clear he didn¡¯t really care, and there was no other meaning to it. It look Candice three days of hard work to outline the proposal for Silver Ocean Industries. Sonia had settled down these days, and the progress was much faster Aether Corporation was generous in employee benefits. As long as a deal was signed, the correspondingmission would be earned. Candice thought that when Alex handed her the proposal, it meant he wanted her to take charge of this matter. So, afterpleting the proposal, she went to find Alex. She asked Alex, ¡°Is next Tuesday suitable for a meeting with Silver Ocean Industries?¡± Alex was engrossed in reading the proposal, and he replied coldly, ¡°I have ns on Tuesday.¡± Candice furrowed her brow. ¡°What ns?* ¡°Sonia wants to return to school¡± Alex replied tersely. It was clear that he wanted Sonia to be involved throughout the coboration with Silver Ocean Industries. Candice pondered for a moment and said with feigned calmness, ¡°Her name is already on the proposal. Whether she goes or not makes no difference.¡± Alex paused while flipping through the proposal when he heard that. He frowned slightly and slowly looked up at Candice. There was no hint of any emotions in his dark eyes as he said, ¡°Your task regarding Silver Ocean is finished. You don¡¯t need to be involved anymore.¡± Candice could hardly believe what he meant. She looked at Alex with disbelief and said, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Whether you go or not doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Alex said calmly, looking down and cing the documents back on the desk. Candice¡¯s hands trembled as she stared at Alex. ¡°If I don¡¯t go, who will?¡± Alex paused and said slowly. ¡°I¡¯ll make arrangements.¡± Candice clenched her fists. Her voice trembled with anger. ¡°Your arrangement is to sideline me?¡± ¡°This is apany arrangement,¡± Alex replied indifferently. Candice chuckled self-deprecatingly. In the end, she was nothing more than a disposable item in Alex¡¯s eyes. On Monday, Alex took Sonia to Silver Ocean Industries. When they returned, the joy on Sonia¡¯s face was hard to conceal. Candice watched coldly. When Alex seemed to sense her gaze, he casually nced over. Their eyes met, and Candice immediately averted her gaze. She handed the documents in her hand to Ka while maintaining a facade of indifference. Ka looked at Candice, feeling genuinely sorry for her. She couldn¡¯t help butin. ¡°Candice, mark my words. Sonia is just clinging to Mr. Elysian like a parasite. When Mr. Elysian gets tired of her, she¡¯ll be miserable.¡± Candice remained silent. It still took some skill for Sonia to cling to Alex like that. Also, Alex was willing to spoll her. After work work, while Candice was still at the office. Jackson called her to have dinner. Candice agreed. ¡°I happen to be near Aether Corporation. I¡¯lle pick you up,¡± Jackson said. Jackson arrived quickly. After packing her things, she quickly went downstairs. There were more than a dozen stairs in front of thepany building. As she was distracted, she tripped and twisted her ankle. A sharp pain shot through her ankle, and Candice instantly paled. When Jackson saw this, he frowned and reached out to support her by her elbow. ¡°Are you okay?¡± As he spoke, a young girl¡¯s light and cheerfulughter sounded from behind them. Candice stiffened. She didn¡¯t need to look to know who it was. Sonia was holding Alex¡¯s hand, and they walked over. Alex¡¯s eyes came to rest on Jackson¡¯s hand, which was supporting Candice¡¯s elbow. Then, Candice shifted her foot and winced in pain. Her face became even paler. However, she gritted her teeth and said, ¡°I should be fine.¡± Jackson frowned. ¡°Let me carry you.¡± Alex paused, and his mystifying gazended on Candice¡¯s face. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Candice was well aware that her current situation wasn¡¯t great, so she didn¡¯t dare to act strong. She nodded and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Jackson lifted Candice steadily. Although Candice was tall, she was slender. Jackson was well over six feet, so he made her look petite in his arms. As Jackson held Candice, she looked up and happened to meet Alex¡¯s dark and cold eyes. Candice hesitated for a moment, then averted her eyes. ¡°Lex?¡± Sonia tugged at Alex¡¯s sleeve, softly reminding him, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you made ns to have dinner with Sieg?¡± Alex turned away. He nced at Sonia and grunted, then headed towards the car. Sonia pursed her lips slightly after giving Jackson and Candice a brief nce. But she soon rxed and linked arms with Alex. It was as if she were dering some kind of dominance. Candice followed Jackson to the hospital. Her previous sprained ankle had been aggravated, and the doctor sternly warned her not to wear high heels. Candice felt bad and apologetically said, ¡°Sorry. I know we nned to have dinner together.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good. Your health is more important,¡± Jackson said as he helped her up, ¡°Can you walk?¡± Candice changed into t shoes and managed to walk, albeit with difficulty. Dinner ns fell through, and Jackson had no choice but to escort her home. However, Candice couldn¡¯t drive due to her foot injury. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you to work tomorrow,¡± Jackson insisted. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll take a cab.¡± Candice was hesitant to trouble him. ¡°You¡¯ll have to walk a few hundred meters to catch a cab from here. Are you sure?¡± Jackson disagreed with her words. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up tomorrow morning.¡± Candice¡¯s protests were in vain. Sure enough, Jackson arrived on time the next morning. As he drove Candice to thepany, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up in the afternoon.¡± Ufortable with the arrangement, Candice was about to decline when she noticed Alex¡¯s Maybach stopping nearby. Every morning, Alex would pick up Sonia and apany her to thepany. Initially, there was gossip about it, but people got used to it over time. Candice looked down and entered thepany. Not even a few stepster, she heard rhythmic footsteps ¡°You¡¯re quite clever,¡± he paused beside her, his tone indifferent as he uttered these words. Candice¡¯s heart tightened, but her expression remained unchanged. ¡°I sprained my foot. I can¡¯t drive.¡± Alex scoffed. ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with me?¡± Candice clenched her fist before forcing herself to calm down. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one asking?¡± Alex didn¡¯t reply. He walked ahead, and Candice turned to see Sonia heading towards the coffee shop downstairs. Sonia¡¯s eyes lingered on her, and there was a cautious glint in them. She was probably specting about what Alex had just said to her. Due to her injured foot, Candice spent the whole day at her desk. After all, she was unable to move around easily. During the lunch break, she overheard colleagues discussing that the power would be cut off for electrical maintenance in the afternoon, so they should leave early. However, a pile of documents suddenly arrived from upstairs in the afternoon. Candice was so busy with work that she forgot about the impending power outage. It wasn¡¯t until the office lights went out that she realized. Just then, her phone rang. It was Jackson, and he asked, ¡°Candice, haven¡¯t youe down yet? They said there¡¯s an electrical maintenance.¡± Candice had night blindness, which meant she had problems seeing clearly at night. However, she could still see enough in the dim light. She slowly packed her things and replied, ¡°I¡¯ming down soon.¡± Jackson was one of the few who knew about her night blindness. He said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Wait for me. I¡¯ll come up.¡± The weather wasn¡¯t great today, and the office lights dimmed quickly. Candice dared not move and sat at her desk, waiting. Soon, footsteps approached the door. Thinking it was Jackson and afraid that he might not know where she was, she called out, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± The footsteps halted, then slowly approached her. Candice could only see a tall figure, but not the face. However, it was unlikely that anyone else would be here apart from Jackson. Candice whispered, ¡°Could you help me walk? I can¡¯t see very well.¡± A disdainful snort followed, and then the figure reached for her. Along with the looming shadow, Alex¡¯s mocking voice sounded out, ¡°Is this how you act cute with Jackson and get close to him?¡± Candice hadn¡¯t expected it to be Alex. She fell silent for a moment before she shot back, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you left yet?¡± Pretending not to hear the question, Alex said, ¡°Waiting for Jackson to pick you up?¡± When one couldn¡¯t see, their other senses would be more sensitive. Alex¡¯s deep voice sounded as if it were right by her ear. Candice tried to stay calm. ¡°I can¡¯t see.¡± She had mentioned her night blindness to Alex before, but Candice had always been cautious about this issue. She had made a big deal of it in front of Alex, so he probably forgot. Sure enough, Alex remained silent for a while. Candice asked, ¡°Is there anything else you need?¡± She could not see, and her hands on the table were clenched tightly, indicating her nervousness. Alex looked at her for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, Candice¡¯s phone lit up with Jackson¡¯s call. In this light, Candice finally saw Alex¡¯s expression-it was stone cold. His dark eyes appeared especially chilly in this dim light as he stared at Candice. ¡°Jackson has bad taste to be interested in you.¡± This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. A surge of frustration hit Candice. Unable to hold back, she retorted, ¡°Then you¡¯ve been blind for eight years.¡± Alex fell silent momentarily and then said, ¡°Candice, you think too highly of yourself.¡± He left, and Candice¡¯s phone went dark again, leaving the office pitch ck. When Jackson arrived, he had a shlight in hand. He reached for Candice as he said, ¡°Did you wait long? I went and bought a shlight.¡± Candice¡¯splexion wasn¡¯t great, but she didn¡¯t say anything. On the day the Silver Ocean Industries¡¯ proposal bonus was distributed, Sonia treated everyone in the secretary department to coffee. The atmosphere was lively, but Candice remained silent. No one dared to approach her, as everyone knew that Candice was the main person responsible for the project. However, it hadn¡¯t ended well for her. When Sonia handed her a cup of coffee, Candice¡¯s expression turned cold. She stood up and left directly. She felt irritated. She didn¡¯t expect Alex to handle the matter this way. After all, the bonus from Silver Ocean Industries¡¯ project was substantial. Candice was obviously ufortable about it. Because of this situation, everyone in the secretary department was walking on eggshells around her. However, the situation became a different story when it reached Alex¡¯s ears. It became that Candice had brought personal feelings into her work. When Candice went to find Alex, he kept her waiting for a while before casually saying, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to work, just say so.¡± Candice asked indifferently, ¡°Do you have any work for me?¡± Alex looked up and watched her with cold eyes. Then, he casually said, ¡°You¡¯re upset, right? The Stugan City branch is in trouble. Go handle it.¡± Candice¡¯s face darkened slightly. The Stugan City branch was the worst-performing branch among all of Aether Corporation¡¯s subsidiaries, and thepany had been considering shutting it down. Yet, Alex wanted her to deal with this mess. Chapter 52 Chapter 52 It took Candice a while to find her voice. She asked hoarsely, ¡°Alex, are you doing this on purpose?¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. You¡¯re just suited for the task.¡± Alex put down what he was holding, his ink-ck eyes assessing Candice. He raised an eyebrow and sneered, ¡°What, would this interrupt your romance with Jackson?¡± Candice looked at Alex, feeling a suffocating tightness in her chest. She had always thought that Alex treated her differently. But as it turned out, there wasn¡¯t much of a difference. Candice¡¯s throat felt tight. After a moment of silence, she slowly said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go to Stugan City.¡± The mockery in Alex¡¯s eyes intensified. He casually looked at Candice¡¯s lips, which were red with lipstick. ¡°You can leave tomorrow morning¡­¡± ¡°Alex.¡± Candice interrupted him. She looked at his stern brows, and a wave of weariness swept over her inexplicably. It had been a long time. She had been with Alex for a long time. Long enough for him to grow weary. ¡°I won¡¯t renew my contract when it expires,¡± she said. Her words sounded so far away at this moment as if she were hearing her own voice from outside a bubble. Something flickered in Alex¡¯s eyes, and he narrowed his eyes at Candice. His expression completely darkened. ¡°Are you threatening me? Asking for additional benefits?¡± Candice didn¡¯t know how he came to that conclusion. Wasn¡¯t this the result he had always wanted? She lowered her gaze and remained silent. In a cold and threatening voice, Alex said, ¡°Fine, as long as you don¡¯t regret it.¡± The news about Candice being assigned to the Stugan City branch came swiftly. The gazes from colleagues in the office were subtle, and only Ka dared to approach her and ask, ¡°Candice, how long does Mr. Elysian n on stationing you there?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Candice answered truthfully but didn¡¯t mention her intention to resign. In the afternoon, Candice packed up her belongings and went to the sanatorium after work. Since she was heading to Stugan City, she decided to visit her grandfather. Joe knew that Candice and Alex had broken up and had stopped mentioning Alex. However, upon hearing that Candice was going to Stugan City, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Did Alex ask you to go?¡± Candice replied, ¡°I just need to handle some issues over there. I should be back soon.¡± Joe sighed but didn¡¯t say anything more. He just told Candice to take care of herself, She ran into Jackson in Silverstone Hospital¡¯s parking lot as she left the sanatorium, who had just come from visiting his mother. Jackson hadn¡¯t expected to run into Candice. He smiled and asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I was visiting my grandfather.¡± Candice and Jackson were considered friends, so she didn¡¯t hide the fact that she was going to Stugan City from him. After hearing it, Jackson furrowed his brow. He immediately thought it was Alex¡¯s arrangement. However, Candice didn¡¯t think much of it. ¡°It¡¯s just work. Going to Stugan City might be more rxing.¡± At least she wouldn¡¯t have to see Alex unting his rtionship with Sonia in front of her all the time. However, Candice was mistaken. She had just arrived at Stugan City and met with The next morning; she had just met with Charles Welch, the manager of the Stugan City branch, when she received a call. It was a call informing her that Aether Corporation headquarters were sending additional personnel, and that Candice and Charles were required to pick them up in the afternoon. Charles asked Candice, ¡°Who is the headquarters sending?¡± Candice had no idea. It wasn¡¯t until that evening, when she and Charles went to the airport together, that she saw Alex and Sonia walking out. Her expression darkened. Alex had personallye over to Stugan City. Charles felt intimidated and immediately went forward to tter him. Candice didn¡¯t say much along the way. She sat in the front passenger seat and looked out the window while Sonia and Alex sat in the back.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Charles tried to get close and chatted enthusiastically with Sonia. ¡°This is my first time in Stugan City. Lex said it¡¯s like a graduation trip. Are there fun things to do here?¡± Sonia¡¯s tone was naive and romantic, truly sounding like a tourist. Candice nced back and saw Alex closing his eyes to rest. Alex liked the quiet, and he hated it when people were noisy during his rest. However, Sonia¡¯s cheerful voice didn¡¯t seem to bother him. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Candice used to remember Alex¡¯s preferences very well. Even during business trips, she would prioritize his rest by trying to postpone all work. She considered everything for him, but ultimately, she couldn¡¯t compare to someone like Sonia. Candice averted her gaze and didn¡¯t participate in Sonia¡¯s conversation. She leaned against the car window and closed her eyes to rest. Upon arriving at the hotel, there wasn¡¯t much to do in the evening. Candice went straight to her room. As she walked away, she could still hear Charles arranging a room for Alex. Candice thought Alex brought Sonia along to give her some prestige. However, when they left the hotel to go to the branch office the next morning, Sonia was nowhere to be seen. Alex didn¡¯t exin anything and simply got into the car. Charles brought a secretary along this time who upied the front passenger seat, so Candice had to sit in the back. With a person in between her and Alex, Candice looked out the window in silence. Charles enthusiastically exined the situation at the branch office. Alex, whether he was listening or not, asionally checked his phone and seemed to be responding to messages. Only when Charles finished speaking did he casually ask Candice, ¡°Candice, did you remember everything?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Candice replied softly. Alex scoffed lightly and turned his gaze to her. ¡°Is that so? I thought you were daydreaming just now.¡± Suddenly, a stray dog rushed out in front of the car. The vehicle made a sharp turn. Candice was unprepared for the sudden change in momentum and was tossed in Alex¡¯s direction. She collided with Alex, her handsnding on his sturdy thighs. Alex grunted at the impact. When the vehicle returned to its course, Charles kept apologizing. Candice used a bit of force on the hands that were on Alex¡¯s thighs to sit back properly. She took a slow breath and was about to move away from Alex when she heard him whisper, ¡°Was it intentional?¡± After saying that, he nced at Candice¡¯s hand that was still on his thigh. Candice withdrew her hand calmly and said, ¡°Sorry.¡± Alex snorted coldly and turned away. Candice and Alex followed Charles to tour the branch office. During lunchtime, Charles wanted to treat everyone to a meal, but Alex raised his phone and said, ¡°No need. Someone is waiting for me at the hotel.¡± That ¡°someone¡± was Sonia, who had indeede for sightseeing this time. Candice didn¡¯t go back with Alex and nned to have lunch with Charles. However, Alex called her in a cold and t tone, ¡°You¡¯reing back with me.¡± Candice wanted to refuse but heard him say, ¡°There¡¯s some work to be arranged.¡± Charles intended to send them back to the hotel, but Alex declined. So, Charles had to call for a car. In the car, Candice asked Alex, ¡°What work needs to be arranged?¡± Alexzily stared at her as he asked, ¡°Did you bring your driver¡¯s license?¡± Candice frowned, and Alex continued, ¡°We¡¯re missing a driver. Can you handle it, Miss Secretary?¡± By the time they reached the hotel, Sonia was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing Alex and Candice return together, she initially looked a bit displeased. But upon hearing that Candice would be the driver, she smiled again. ¡°Candice, thank you for your hard work, then. Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Candice¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and she didn¡¯t respond to Sonia¡¯s words. She looked at Alex and asked, ¡°When are we leaving?¡± Sonia hade with Alex for a leisure trip, and while he didn¡¯t involve her in work matters, he was willing to spend time with her during breaks. Candice was just an employee, so she had no right to say anything about how Alex pampered Sonia or how he was willing to spend time with her. She would focus on her job. Sonia wanted to have lunch near a scenic area, and Alex apanied her. Candice took the driver¡¯s seat. As soon as Sonia got into the car, she nestled into Alex¡¯s arms,ining softly that he went out in the morning without taking her. Alex calmlyforted her, ¡°It¡¯s rare to have a day off; get some extra sleep.¡± Although his tone wasn¡¯t exactly gentle, it was considerate. Candice concentrated on driving, but without a partition in the car, she could still hear Sonia acting cute with Alex. When they arrived at the restaurant, the parking lot was far from the dining area due to the scenic location. Afraid of not getting a seat, Sonia dragged Alex to go ahead. She said to Candice, ¡°Candice, Lex and I will go ahead and secure a spot. Can you join us after parking the car? Candice wasn¡¯t someone who couldn¡¯t read the room. Instead of going over after parking the car, she found another restaurant to have lunch. Sonia and Alex still hadn¡¯t contacted her after she finished her meal, so she had some leisure time to scroll through her phone. Her WhatsApp ount was still on her work number. When she opened the story section, she saw Sonia¡¯s nine-photo grid, most likely from her lunch with Alex. Candice took a look; the table was set for two, and the dishes were portioned for two. She wasn¡¯t even considered. Candice exited WhatsApp calmly. She was about to go out for a walk when she received a call from Alex, asking her toe over. He sent a location that was on amercial street. When she arrived, Sonia was busy shopping. They were at a jewelry store, and Sonia had her eye on a small pendant priced in the five digits. She wrinkled 1/2: Alex said, ¡°If you like it, buy it.¡± Candice nced at the pendant Sonia was interested in; indeed, the quality was good. However, she turned away after a brief nce. She asked Alex, ¡°Why did you call me over?¡± ¡°Candice.¡± Before Alex could respond, Sonia spoke up. She gave him a pout and said to Candice, ¡°Can you apany me to buy clothes? Lex is a man and doesn¡¯t understand anything about fashion.¡± It didn¡¯t seem like Sonia wanted Candice to apany her in buying clothes; it sounded more like she was emphasizing her rtionship with Alex. Candice paused and said, ¡°I¡¯m not good at picking clothes. Alex would be a better choice. He has better taste than me.¡± That was the truth. Even when Candice was with Alex before, he used to pick her clothes. Even now, her style of dress was based on Alex¡¯s preferences. It wasn¡¯t that Candice didn¡¯t have her own preferences; she just got used to it and was toozy to change. However, Sonia ignored Candice¡¯s refusal. She dragged Candice shopping as though they were close friends. Behind them, Alex was responsible for settling the bills. Candice saw Alex paying for it without batting an eye, including the pendant from earlier, ¡°Candice?¡± Sonia¡¯s sweet voice sounded in her ear. ¡°Do you think this is nice?¡± Candice followed her gaze to a couple¡¯s outfit. It was blue and white, and it looked very bright. Sonia was smiling brightly as she asked, ¡°What do you think, Candice?¡± Then, she added, ¡°It¡¯s for me and Lex!¡± Candice hesitated. ¡°You should ask Alex.¡± After she said that, Alex walked in from outside. He had just answered a phone call. Candice¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and she didn¡¯t respond to Sonia¡¯s words. She looked at Alex and asked, ¡°When are we leaving?¡± Sonia hade with Alex for a leisure trip, and while he didn¡¯t involve her in work matters, he was willing to spend time with her during breaks. Candice was just an employee, so she had no right to say anything about how Alex pampered Sonia or how he was willing to spend time with her. She would focus on her job. Sonia wanted to have lunch near a scenic area, and Alex apanied her. Candice took the driver¡¯s seat. As soon as Sonia got into the car, she nestled into Alex¡¯s arms,ining softly that he went out in the morning without taking her. Alex calmlyforted her, ¡°It¡¯s rare to have a day off; get some extra sleep.¡± Although his tone wasn¡¯t exactly gentle, it was considerate. Candice concentrated on driving, but without a partition in the car, she could still hear Sonia acting cute with Alex. When they arrived at the restaurant, the parking lot was far from the dining area due to the scenic location. Afraid of not getting a seat, Sonia dragged Alex to go ahead. She said to Candice, ¡°Candice, Lex and I will go ahead and secure a spot. Can you join us after parking the car? Candice wasn¡¯t someone who couldn¡¯t read the room. Instead of going over after parking the car, she found another restaurant to have lunch. Sonia and Alex still hadn¡¯t contacted her after she finished her meal, so she had some leisure time to scroll through her phone. Her WhatsApp ount was still on her work number. When she opened the story section, she saw Sonia¡¯s nine-photo grid, most likely from her lunch with Alex. Candice took a look; the table was set for two, and the dishes were portioned for two. She wasn¡¯t even considered. Candice exited WhatsApp calmly. She was about to go out for a walk when she received a call from Alex, asking her toe over. He sent a location that was on amercial street. When she arrived, Sonia was busy shopping. They were at a jewelry store, and Sonia had her eye on a small pendant priced in the five digits. She wrinkled 1/2: Alex said, ¡°If you like it, buy it.¡± Candice nced at the pendant Sonia was interested in; indeed, the quality was good. However, she turned away after a brief nce. She asked Alex, ¡°Why did you call me over?¡± ¡°Candice.¡± Before Alex could respond, Sonia spoke up. She gave him a pout and said to Candice, ¡°Can you apany me to buy clothes? Lex is a man and doesn¡¯t understand anything about fashion.¡± It didn¡¯t seem like Sonia wanted Candice to apany her in buying clothes; it sounded more like she was emphasizing her rtionship with Alex. Candice paused and said, ¡°I¡¯m not good at picking clothes. Alex would be a better choice. He has better taste than me.¡± That was the truth. Even when Candice was with Alex before, he used to pick her clothes. Even now, her style of dress was based on Alex¡¯s preferences. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. It wasn¡¯t that Candice didn¡¯t have her own preferences; she just got used to it and was toozy to change. However, Sonia ignored Candice¡¯s refusal. She dragged Candice shopping as though they were close friends. Behind them, Alex was responsible for settling the bills. Candice saw Alex paying for it without batting an eye, including the pendant from earlier, ¡°Candice?¡± Sonia¡¯s sweet voice sounded in her ear. ¡°Do you think this is nice?¡± Candice followed her gaze to a couple¡¯s outfit. It was blue and white, and it looked very bright. Sonia was smiling brightly as she asked, ¡°What do you think, Candice?¡± Then, she added, ¡°It¡¯s for me and Lex!¡± Candice hesitated. ¡°You should ask Alex.¡± After she said that, Alex walked in from outside. He had just answered a phone call. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 ¡°Lex!¡± Sonia happily pulled Alex to the couple¡¯s outfit, asking him enthusiastically, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s good? Candice just said it looks nice.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Alex looked at Candice, who stood there with no particr expression. Then, he gently nodded. ¡± It¡¯s not bad.¡± Alex turned away and casually asked Sonia, ¡°Want to wear it now?¡± Sonia was visibly excited, ¡°Can we?¡± With Alex¡¯s tall and well-proportioned figure, even bright and youthful colors like blue and white didn¡¯t look out of ce on him. It even subdued his usual mature aura, adding more vitality to his appearance. The store owner was full of praise when he saw them. He packed the clothes that Alex and Sonia had changed out of and handed them to Candice. ¡°Your two friends are a match made in heaven. Those clothes fit them perfectly!¡± Candice looked down at the bag, thinking of asking the owner to give it to Sonia. When she looked up, she realized Sonia had already pulled Alex out of the store. From the back, they indeed looked well suited for each other. Candice fell silent momentarily. Then, she took the bag and then walked out of the store. As soon as she stepped outside, she saw a delicately carved wooden sculpture disyed in the next store. It was about the size of a palm and was vividly lifelike. Candice stopped to take a look, and the owner came over, asking, ¡°Three hundred and eight each. Interested?¡± Candice nodded. ¡°Wrap it for me.¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. The moment she saw this wooden carving, she thought of Jackson. Just as she finished paying for her purchase, Sonia and Alex returned. Seeing Candice buying something, Sonia couldn¡¯t help but be curious and asked, ¡°Candice, do you like wooden carvings?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a gift.¡± Candice tersely replied. Soni?ughed. ¡°Is it for Jackson?¡± Candice didn¡¯t refute Sonia¡¯s words. She waited for the owner to pack the items. Alex calmly looked at Candice. Then, he said tly, ¡°You¡¯re giving Jackson some wood, huh? Aren¡¯t you afraid that he¡¯ll think you¡¯re a blockhead?¡± It was a tant mockery, but Candice didn¡¯t want to say much to him. She took the packaged items and asked, ¡°When are we going back?¡± There wasn¡¯t much to see on themercial street near the scenic spot. Sonia held Alex¡¯s hand and said, ¡± Lex, I¡¯m tired. Let¡¯s go back.¡± Candice had to go to the parking lot first to drive the car over. It was obvious that Sonia and Alex had no intention of going with her. When she brought the car back, Sonia had a bunch of flowers in her hand. With Stugan City having spring-like weather all year round, the flowers here were famous. Candice was allergic to pollen; it was manageable.from a distance or with a few flowers, but Sonia had a bunch, and Candice couldn¡¯t handle it. However, asking Sonia to throw away the flowers wasn¡¯t practical. Candice parked the car, took a mask from her bag, and put it on. When Sonia came up, she paused. Candice exined, ¡°I¡¯m allergic to pollen.¡± Sonia immediately looked at Alex, ¡°Lex, why didn¡¯t you tell me Candice is allergic to pollen?¡± Alex was still dressed in the blue and white couple¡¯s outfit, and he remained indifferent as ever. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his well-defined forearms. Then, he raised his hand to open the car window a bit and casually said, ¡°I forgot.¡± After a pause, he added, ¡°Besides, you like it, don¡¯t you?¡± A shy smile appeared on Sonia¡¯s face as she looked at Candice. She pretended to be modest and said, ¡°Don¡¯t do this again; it¡¯s not good.¡± As Candice¡¯s mask covered her face securely, she wasn¡¯t affected much. She drove the car directly back to the hotel, handed the keys back to Alex, and went upstairs. She hadn¡¯t taken off her mask yet, so her breathing felt a bit stuffy. 4 Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Candice had a mild allergic reaction, resulting in minor rashes on her chin. This happened just as she had requested sick leave from Alex, so that she could avoid field assignments. By the time Candice¡¯s rash subsided, Sonia was preparing to leave for Dorrington City, constrained by her limited days off. To Candice¡¯s astonishment, Alex chose not to apany Sonia, opting to stay behind instead. Sonia appeared ufortable about leaving Alex and Candice alone, engaging in a lengthy discussion with Alex before her departure. She even approached Candice with a warning disguised as a polite request, ¡°I¡¯m grateful you¡¯re staying. Knowing Lex¡¯s ways, I trust you to look out for him in my absence.¡± After bidding Sonia farewell, Candice and Alex headed to a client meeting. At this time, Alex was in the driver¡¯s seat while Candice was busy going over the materials. The ride was silent because she did not speak a word the whole time. The abrupt ring of her phone disrupted the silence. Candice answered the call with furrowed brows. It was her mother Yvonne, who had been calling her frequently ofte. Yvonne, tearful on the call, informed Candice, ¡°Candy, your sister has fallen ill again.¡± Candice¡¯s hold on her phone tightened as she said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I already send you ten thousand before this?¡± Yvonne lightly touched the subject and said, ¡°Could you possibly send another twenty thousand for Peach? She keeps asking for you.¡® Candice sensed something amiss, expressing her concern, ¡°I¡¯ve already sent money multiple times this month, haven¡¯t I?¡± Yvonne¡¯s sobbing persisted, and she evaded questions about why she needed the money. She eventually hung up without saying anything. The call deeply disturbed Candice, who was frowning. Alex had overheard their exchange. He asked with a raised eyebrow, ¡°Is there a Candice, preferring not to divulge much about her interactions with Yvonne, simply pursed her lips and remained silent. Alex did not pursue more and lightly advised, ¡°Try not to let it impact your work.¡± Their client, Ava Goodman, a skilled middle¨Caged businesswoman, had roots in Dorrington City before establishing her venture in Stugan City. Greeting Alex warmly, Avamented, ¡°Alex, your mother and I were ssmates.¡± Acknowledging her statement, Alex responded, ¡°Yes, my mother often spoke of you.¡± Ava introduced her daughter, standing beside her. ¡°This is Nina, my daughter. Has your mother mentioned her?¡± The young woman sized Alex up and shook his hand. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Nina Burgess.¡± Alex responded to the handshake politely. Candice, who was trailing Alex, was first ignored until they began discussing business, at which point she passed them the documents. Ava¡¯s attention shifted to Candice, asking Alex casually, ¡°Is she your secretary?¡± Alex rified, ¡°She¡¯s going to manage some affairs for our Stugan branch office in the future.¡± At the meeting¡¯s conclusion, Ava, showing hospitality, extended a dinner invitation to Alex. He epted the invitation. Ava stressed, ¡°I¡¯m an old friend of your mom¡¯s, so think of this as a private. dinner.¡± She then addressed Candice dismissively, ¡°Miss Secretary, you may head back to the hotel to rest.¡± Understanding the implication, Candice nced at Alex who nodded and said, ¡® You may leave.¡± Ava was a major client of theirs in Stugan and the key to the branch¡¯s continued sess. Her satisfaction could ensure the office¡¯s smooth operation. Back at the hotel, Candice could not shake off her unease regarding Yvonne¡¯s call. She decided to contact her grandfather, hoping he could inform her of any dealings with Yvonne. Joe stopped speaking before she could finish. He sighed and finally revealed, ¡°She called me at noon, distraught over Peach¡¯s illness and asking for money.¡± Sensing something amiss, Candice inquired, ¡°Did you send her any?¡± ¡°Yes, twenty thousand,¡± he confirmed. Ending the call, Candice remained worried, feeling Yvonne¡¯s situation was moreplicated than it appeared. But being in Stugan City, she could not leave immediately. Later that evening, Alex called Candice to pick him up. Arriving at the private dining room, she found Alex and Nina alone. Nina, seated opposite Alex, rose to help him as Candice walked in. Alex was massaging his temples and motioned to Candice, ¡°Come over here.¡± Observing the situation, Nina noticed the scene and tried to help, but Candice stopped her coldly and said, ¡°Ms. Burgess, it¡¯ste. You should head home. I¡¯ll look after my boss.¡± Nina showed displeasure when Candice intervened and prevented her from helping Alex. Candice then assisted Alex to the car and noted that he smelled strongly of alcohol. She rolled down the windows to allow some fresh air to enter and dissipate the smell. Handing him a bottle of mineral water from her bag, Candice remarked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just reject Ms. Burgess? Why do I have to be the bad guy?¡± It had be a routine for them; whenever Alex overindulged at social gatherings and needed Candice to fetch him, she would always bring a bottle of water. She had grown to understand his subtle cues to politely turn down someone¡¯spany. Alex epted the water, unbuttoning his cor. The alcohol had given his eyes a deeper hue. The wind ruffled his hair, lending a bit of ease to his appearance, though it could not mask the weariness in his eyes. He instructed, ¡°Take me back to the hotel.¡± Candice drove them back and assisted Alex in ascending the hotel stairs. Once in his room, she started to help him change but paused, hesitating to proceed. Alex caught her wrist, gazing at her questioningly, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you helping me undress?¡± Candice tried to pull away but was unable to do so, stating, ¡°This isn¡¯t appropriate.¡± Alex scoffed coldly. ¡°You¡¯ve touched me everywhere before; why pretend to be innocent now?¡± Unsure how to reply, Candice merely stared at him silently. His look slowly turned to impatience. After a brief pause, he released her hand, dismissing her coldly and saying, ¡± Leave.¡± Candice momentarily hesitated, then turned and exited the room. It appeared Ava harbored ulterior motives toward Alex. After their business discussions, she often sent Candice away, leaving Alex by himself. Although Alex avoided rejecting Ava¡¯spany directly, he always called Candice for a ride. On this asion, Candice arrived a bit early. Ava was still there, noticing Candice¡¯s arrival. She cast a peek toward Candice and stated nonchntly to Alex, ¡°Your secretary seems very concerned about you.¡± Alex responded matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°That¡¯s part of her job.¡± Ava then made a meaningful remark, looking at Candice, ¡°Some secretaries certainly perform a wide range of duties.¡± Candice detected the scorn and sarcasm in Ava¡¯s voice, choosing to stand by silently with her eyes downcast. Alex, unfazed, stated, ¡°A secretary¡¯s private affairs are not my business.¡± Ava then shifted her attention. She looked towards her daughter Nina, mentioning, ¡°Helen called mest night. She¡¯s hoping you might bring Nina along when you go back to Dorrington City.¡± Nina, despite coyly calling out to her mother, looked bashfully at Alex. Alex was quite the catch, after all. It would be a godsend if this man was willing to take her back to Dorrington City. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Nina¡¯s eyes, which were glued to Alex¡¯s, gave away her eagerness. Chapter 57 Chapter 57 ¡°Okay,¡± Alex reflected briefly with a downward gaze before promptly agreeing. Ava cheerily lifted her ss and casually remarked, ¡°Your mom and I used to half -jokingly talk about bing inws.¡± Candice observed their toast from a distance, noting Ava¡¯s emphasis on her long- standing friendship with Helen while deliberately avoiding any business talk. Contemting the duration of Alex¡¯s stay, she wondered if his departure would lead to more complications with Ava. Lost in thought, she missed the fact that they had concluded their chat. He tossed his coat her way, his calm, deep voice bringing her back to reality, and instructed, ¡°Please Ms. Goodman out. Holding his coat, Candice was about to follow Ava out but was stopped. Ava said, ¡°Oh, there¡¯s no need for that.¡± She then addressed Alex, ¡°Please look after Nina for a while. She¡¯s fresh out of college and still has much to learn.¡± Alex nodded reservedly, ¡°Alright.¡± Candice felt a twinge of unease. Ava¡¯s intent to leave her daughter in Alex¡¯spany was apparent. She wondered whether Alex perceived her motives. Yet, he must be aware; the question was how he would handle the situation, considering his girlfriend was waiting for him in Dorrington City. ¡°Bring the car around,¡± Alex said coldly, looking at her. Candice quietly headed to get the car, halting momentarily when she overheard Nina inquire, ¡°Alex, will I be apanying you back to the hotel tonight?¡± Hearing that made Candice momentarily stunned; following that, she quickly proceeded to the parking lot, carrying Alex¡¯s coat. Nina, not receiving an answer, impulsively edged closer, gently pulling at his sleeve. She asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Alex eventually averted his gaze, lowered his gaze, and turned to face her. With a grunt, he casually remarked, ¡°Sure, it¡¯s your call.¡± Candice arrived with the car, and the two were already waiting outside the hotel¡¯s lobby. He courteously opened the rear car door, gesturing for Nina to enter. ¡°Please get in.¡± The thoughtfulness and care he put into his action made Nina¡¯s smile brighter. Yet, in a surprising turn, he closed the door behind her and took his ce in the passenger seat. Candice looked at him, taken aback. Nina, equally puzzled, queried, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you joining me in the back?¡± Alex nonchntly exined, ¡°I reek of alcohol.¡± Alex was fascinating in every way, and despite his alcoholic stench, Nina was anxious to get to know him better. She insisted, ¡°I don¡¯t mind it.¡± Alex firmly declined, ¡°It¡¯s inappropriate for a youngdy to have the smell of alcohol on her. It¡¯s not safe.¡± Nina stopped pressing further when she sensed his worry. Candice remained silent the entire time, simply ncing at her employer and reminding him, ¡°Fasten your seat belt.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. The hotel¡¯s grand entrance cast a warm light inside the car, softening Alex¡¯s features. He lowered his gaze, his defined jawline bing prominent. Candice tightened her grip on the steering wheel. Alex was blessed with good looks; his features were practically wless. She had sketched his facial features countless times, often when he was sleeping. Lost in thought, Alex suddenly looked up, their gazes meeting unexpectedly. Candice felt a jolt, akin to an electric shock, and her heart skipped a beat. She quickly looked away, striving to regain her usual calm demeanor. She had to admit that her initial fascination with him was primarily because of his striking looks. A faint chuckle came from beside her, leaving her wondering if he had done it intentionally. Despite this, she refrained from looking his way. Arriving at the hotel, Nina was the first to exit the car to answer a call. Alex remained in his seat, seemingly dozing off with closed eyes. Assuming he had fallen asleep, Candice softly said, ¡°Alex, we¡¯ve arrived.¡± She scowled and pushed his arm after calling out to him twice and receiving no response. He swiftly grabbed her hand, holding it tight. Struggling to pull her hand free, Candice repeated, ¡°We¡¯re at the hotel.¡± Alex drank a lot that night and was drowsy on the way back. Holding Candice¡¯s hand tightly, his voice was hoarse, stating, ¡°Just a moment.¡± Candice hesitated and was about to say something when Nina knocked on the car window. She had concluded her phone call and was waiting for Alex outside. He opened his eyes, showing a brief flicker of irritation, which he quickly smoothed away. After parking the car, Candice watched as Alex helped Nina with her hotel check- 1. in. She then excused herself and retreated to her own room. At the reception, once Ninapleted her check¨Cin, she looked up at Alex and questioned, ¡°Doesn¡¯t your secretary seem to have more than professional feelings for you?¡± Alex merely replied, ¡°Really?¡± Nina pressed on, ¡°And you, the way you interact with her is not exactly professional either. Have you slept together?¡± Alex¡¯s expression shifted subtly, maintaining a neutral tone, ¡°I prefer not to discuss such matters.¡± ¡°Apologies, it¡¯s just a habit of mine,¡± Nina responded unapologetically; her major in university was psychology. His reply convinced her that he had been involved with his secretary at some point. It made no difference to her. In her opinion, all men were the same. Alex, at least, had money and looked in his favor. Candice was told the next morning that they needed to attend a meeting at the branch office, with Nina tagged along with them. Nina informed Candice, ¡°My mom wants me to learn from Alex, so I¡¯ll be acting as his secretary today. I hope you don¡¯t mind, Ms. Renault?¡± There was no way Candice would have protested. Nina seemed pleased, adding, ¡°Great, then please wait for us downstairs.¡± When Alex finished a phone call, he instructed Candice, ¡°Hand the documents to Nina; she¡¯s joining me for the meeting.¡± Nina, visibly excited, said, ¡°I have them already. Let¡¯s head out; we shouldn¡¯t bete.¡± Candice drove them to the branch office. Alex went upstairs with Nina without a nce at her. As she watched them leave, a sardonic smile crossed her face. Years of being by Alex¡¯s side had seemingly reduced her role to that of a chauffeur. To her surprise, Alex and Nina returned shortly afterward. Alex¡¯s face was expressionless, while Nina voiced her displeasure, ¡°This management is a joke. We need to clean the house. They call a meeting but can¡¯t even prepare properly.¡± Her tone and demeanor gave the impression that she was in charge of thepany. Alex, with a nk look, asked indifferently, ¡°Should we head back to the hotel or somewhere else?¡± They were unable to continue their work, but Nina seemed unconcerned about this. Her earlier rage was all a ruse for Alex. ¡°I¡¯d ordered a bag earlier, and it has arrived. Can youe with me to collect it?¡± she asked, casually discarding the documents in her hand. Alex responded nonchntly, ¡°Okay.¡± Noticing his agreement, Nina raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, ¡°Could you be the one to drive? I¡¯d like to be alone with you.¡± Chapter 58 Chapter 58 The silence in the car stretched on. Candice waited for Alex¡¯s decision. If he chose to drive, she would have to make her way back to the hotel alone. Sensing Alex¡¯s hesitation, Nina offered apromise while smiling, ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t want to drive; I can take the wheel.¡± Alex had little room to decline. He briefly nced at Candice. Perceiving the situation, Candice statedposedly, ¡°I¡¯ll head back to the hotel on my own.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Alex replied softly. Candice collected her belongings and stepped out of the vehicle. In Stugan City, the intense ultraviolet rays from the ring sun made the day ufortably bright. Initially, she attempted to hail a taxi through a ride¨Csharing app, but with no cars avable, she had no option but to walk under the baking sun. Midway through, Jackson called her, still eager to introduce her to his friend. ¡°I¡¯m still in Stugan, so it might be difficult,¡± Candice exined. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Hanley¡¯s in Stugan too; he¡¯s just returned to the country,¡± Jackson detailed. ¡°If you¡¯ve got some free time, you should meet him. Hanley¡¯s quite skilled in his field and has his own team.¡± Grateful for Jackson¡¯s efforts, Candice appreciated him pulling the ties. She took Hanley Balwin¡¯s number and promised to meet him if she had time. Jackson chuckled contentedly. He reminded her, ¡°Hanley has been a friend since childhood. Be aware, though, that his temperament can be a little entric.¡± Back at the hotel, Candice reached out to Hanley Baldwin on WhatsApp. However, he did not reply immediately, and she did not think much of it. Jackson¡¯s call served to remind her of Stugan¡¯s rich ethnic culture, which features numerous art exhibitions and distinctive handicrafts. After spending some time in her hotel room, she eventually ventured out to a nearby historic street to shop. There, she discovered various fascinating handcrafted items, sharing photos of them with Jackson. She purchased a few because he spoke so highly of the craft in question. She returned to the hotel when she had almost finished seeing the city, but Alex and Nina had not yet returned. After having dinner alone, she noticed that Hanley had finally epted her friend¡¯s request. She greeted him, but received no reply. Candice was about to step into the shower when she heard a knock at the door. Opening it, she found Nina standing there. Nina was taken by surprise when the door opened far faster than she anticipated. ¡°Alex appears to have an upset stomach,¡± she exined after a little pause. ¡°Can you get him some medicine?¡± This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Alex¡¯s stomach was weak since he waspelled to drink a lot of alcohol throughout his early career, and this led to chronic issuester on. Candice quickly went downstairs to the pharmacy to get his usual medication. Her room was on the eighth floor, and Alex¡¯s on the tenth. When she arrived at his door, which was slightly ajar, she thought Nina might be inside, so she knocked softly. She heard footstepsing from within. Without ncing at the person who opened the door for her, she gave the prescription bag and stated, ¡°Here¡¯s the stomach medicine.¡± No one took it from her, but Alex¡¯s voice echoed with a hint of sarcasm, ¡°I¡¯m sure it was quite the task for you to fetch this for me.¡± She saw Alex d in a bathrobe, his demeanor somewhat condescending. He had just gotten out of the shower, with his hair still wet and carelessly pulled back, disying his smooth forehead. Ignoring the medicine Candice brought, Alex retreated further into the room. Candice, still holding the medicine, hesitated before following him in. Inside the spacious business suite, she ced the medicine on the table, advising, ¡°Please take one tablet from each type.¡± Alex, quietly drying his hair, gave no response. His loosely tied bathrobe revealed a glimpse of his waist, prompting Candice to look away and head for the door. Before she could exit, Alex remarked, ¡°It seems like you¡¯re treating this business trip as a vacation.¡± The t tone of his voice left Candice feeling uneasy. His remark was ironic; she was sidelined because of Nina, yet now it sounded like she was the one taking it easy. Frustrated, Candice pursed her lips and replied sharply, ¡°Isn¡¯t Ms. Burgess avable to assist you?¡± After pausing midway through drying his hair, a cold snort escaped him as he gazed sharply at Candice. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Candice lowered her gaze and replied, ¡°No.¡± He sat on the sofa and tossed the damp towel at her. Hismand was devoid of emotion, ¡°Come here and dry my hair. I¡¯m exhausted.¡± Despite holding the towel, Candice remained motionless. Alex¡¯s slight raise of his eyebrows hinted at his growing impatience. ¡°Must I personally invite you?¡± Her fingers gentlybed through his soft hair, presenting a striking contrast to his serious demeanor. Candice had always thought that this greatly contradicted his nature. She was preupied and, inadvertently, applied too much force. His gasp jolted her back to reality. Alex shifted, evading her touch, and asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± He paused briefly before sarcastically asking, ¡°Are you thinking about Jackson?¡± She was puzzled and slightly irritated by his constant mention of Jackson and shot back, ¡°And you? Perhaps your thoughts are with Sonia or Ms. Burgess?¡± His eyes narrowed. The scorn on his lips increased as if he were about to say something sarcastic. Before he could speak his thoughts, he frowned deeply, his body curling inward and trembling slightly. Noticing his movement, Candice paused at hers and recalled that he had been feeling unwell. She had assumed his being so energetic earlier meant he was well. Setting the towel aside, she quickly fetched the medication she had purchased and offered him a ss of water. Alex rxed a little and took the pills quietly. After setting down the ss, his gaze hardened on Candice, and he abruptly ordered, ¡°Get out!¡± She was yet to put down the medicine when his icymand continued to echo, ¡± Sonia or Nina? When did it be your business to meddle in mine?¡± Indeed, it was not her ce to intrude into his personal matters. Quietly exiting the room, Candice encountered Nina in the hallway. Nina paused, eyeing Candice curiously, before peering into the room and asking, ¡°Did you bring Alex his medicine?¡± ¡°He has taken it,¡± Candice replied, preparing to leave. Nina stopped her with a bright smile, instructing, ¡°Postpone his schedule for tomorrow morning and let him rest, okay?¡± The implication of her remark was clear. Candice, maintaining a stoic expression, retreated to her room, where she noticed Hanley had finally responded to her message with a simple question mark. She briefly introduced herself. After some waiting, Hanley acknowledged her message, and there was no further interaction. Meanwhile, Nina entered Alex¡¯s room. Alex raised his eyes when he heard the door open. ¡± When he realized it was Nina, he looked down again and asked in a t tone, What brings you here?¡± Undeterred, her gaze lingered on Alex¡¯s bare skin. She dered, ¡°I¡¯m here to take Alex paused with his movements, lifted his eyes, and gazed at her meaningfully. Nina sat beside him, suggesting tentatively, ¡°Shall we give it a try?¡± Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Nina sat extremely close next to Alex, and he caught a whiff of her perfume as it drifted toward him. Her knee brushed against him. She leaned in and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m sure I can match up to your secretary.¡± Alex¡¯s gaze darkened, his eyes losing their yful spark, reced by a cool detachment. He uttered lightly, ¡°My purpose here is to conduct business with Ms. Goodman, not to sleep with her daughter.¡± Nina froze in response. She made a grab for his shirt, trying to convince him, ¡°My mother wouldn¡¯t mind. She¡¯s quite fond of you.¡± Alex maintained his cool as he stood up and picked up the prescription Candice had left on the table. He gently brushed her off, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate.¡± After pausing, he continued, ¡°And there¡¯s someone at home.¡± Nina looked at him, somewhat embarrassed. Her eyes flickered at the medicine in his hand, and she probed, ¡°Is it your secretary?¡± Alex remarked, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Meanwhile, Candice returned to her room and instantly fell asleep after taking a bath. She had been out shopping all day, and thefortable Stugan climate helped her fall asleep quickly. In the middle of the night, her phone, which was put beside her nightstand, rang and jolted her awake. Alex¡¯s voice broke through the silence, powerful and resonant. He merelymanded with two words, ¡°Come over.¡± Clutching the phone, her voice hoarse from sleep, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Nina was probably still in his room upstairs, but he actually asked her to go up there. Alex did not answer, and the line was cut. Candice climbed out of bed, donned her jacket, and headed upstairs. Upon reaching his room, she found the door slightly ajar. After a moment of hesitation, she gently pushed it open and stepped inside. There was no one in the room; she frowned and considered leaving. Then she saw Alex emerging in his pajamas through the opened balcony door. His figure was tall and lean, and the belt was loosely tied around his waist. He was on a phone call. Catching sight of Candice, he threw a brief nce her way before lowering his voice and saying goodnight to the person on the other end of the line. Candice stood awkwardly to one side, uncertain of his intentions. He took his time finishing the call. She overheard him say ¡°goodnight¡± to someone numerous times, and she could not tell if it was Sonia or Nina. Alex asked, ¡°What time is it?¡± He had finally disconnected the call and checked his WhatsApp, not looking up at her. Candice shot a nce at him, checking her phone, and responded, ¡°It¡¯s 1:40 am.¡± He muttered, ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°Do you want me to ask for room service?¡± she said, frowning. ¡°I need hot broth for my stomach,¡± He eventually put his phone away and nced at Candice.. ¡°But it¡¯s past one in the morning,¡± she said slowly. ¡°I¡¯m sure some shops are still open downstairs.¡± She asked slowly, ¡°It¡¯s past one in the morning; can¡¯t you eat something else?¡± Where could she get some broth for him in the middle of the night? The night wind in Stugan was chilly, and her thin clothing was unable to keep her warm. She had no desire to make the trip downstairs. His gaze was icy as he pointed to Candice, his voice devoid of emotion, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for your opinion.¡°, Candice turned and left without a word. Outside, the Stugan City wind was brisk and biting. She shivered in her thin ALAAMU ZA She was relieved to find a nearby stall still open. Quickly, she purchased the broth and hurried back. When she arrived, the door to his room was closed. A sense of dread filled her as she knocked repeatedly, but there was no answer. Just as she was about to give up and leave, the door finally opened from the inside. Alex stepped back into the room without so much as ncing at her. Candice followed him inside, noticing hisptop open on the coffee table, signaling he was working. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 She ced the broth beside him, announcing, ¡°Your broth is here.¡± He said nothing, his gaze fixed on theputer screen, clearly preupied with his task. Candice remained seated on a sofa nearby, unsure if he would need her for anything else, not daring to leave. She waited on the couch for approximately forty minutes for him to finish his task. He nced at her, his brow furrowed in confusion, ¡°Why are you still here?¡± ¡°I thought you might need something else,¡± she replied. ¡°What else could there be?¡± Alex closed hisptop with a nk expression, yet signs of exhaustion were visible on his face. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. His gaze was drawn to the broth she had purchased. As Candice rose to leave, he called out to her, his tone as cold as before, ¡°Take the broth with you.¡± Momentarily surprised, it took her a while before finally regaining her voice.¡± Wasn¡¯t it for you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s cold now,¡± he said indifferently. ¡°Just throw it away.¡± After being left out for a long period, the broth had inevitably turned cold. Candice felt utterly drained and still shivering from the biting cold she had endured outside, yearning for nothing more than to go back to her room and get some sleep. She picked it up and returned to her room without saying anything. Indeed, the broth had turned cold. Near the elevator was a trash can. She stood with the broth in hand, contemting for a moment before finally disposing of it in a trash can. Back in her room, Candicey in bed, restless and unable to sleep. She ended up staying awake until morning. Despite her sleepless night, she was still required to visit the branch office today. Dressed and ready, she descended to the lobby, only to find Alex and Nina already waiting for her. Spotted her arrival, Nina greeted her with a fake smile, ¡°Good morning, Ms. Renault.¡± Candice slowed her pace slightly and apologized, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯mte.¡± Nina, arms folded, eyed Candice unabashedly. Shemented, ¡°The secretary of Aether Corporation is indeed as capable as they say.¡± The remark came out more as ridicule than as praise. While Candice was unsure of what she had done to anger Nina, she noticed her boss¡¯s nonchnt demeanor and had no intention of speaking up. She waspelled to suck it up. Nina, on the other hand, was inly determined to make things tough for her. She began mocking her non¨Cstop on the way to the branch office. Frustrated, Candice eventually asked, ¡°Ms. Burgess, may I ask how I have offended you?¡± Nina turned her gaze to the window, her response lighthearted yet dismissive. ¡± Oh, how could someone as capable as Ms. Renault possibly offend me?¡± Candice yearned to probe further, but a cautionary nce from Alex in the rearview mirror stopped her. She pursed her lips and drove on in silence. The situation at Stugan¡¯s branch office was dire, with internal problems and viciouspetition from rivals. Ava¡¯s firm was the primary client for their branch. If Ava chose to sever ties, the branch would inevitably need to close down, and because of this, they could not offend Nina. Upon their arrival at the office, Alex was the first to exit the vehicle. He then disyed a courteous demeanor, opening the car door for Nina. For the day, Nina looked angelic in herce dress and heels. Observing Alex¡¯s courteous act, Nina arched her eyebrows and gave Candice a challenging look. She then reached out to Alex, requesting assistance. ¡°Can you assist me? Walking in these heels are quite a challenge.¡± Alex offered his hand indifferently. Nina took advantage of the chance to lean on his arm. In contrast, Candice who was tasked with driving, opted for practical ts. She carried a stack of files that Nina had deliberately handed to her, as they made their way into the office building. Candice remained silent throughout their walk, only speaking up as they approached the meeting room. Then, she turned to Nina and stated politely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Burgess, but this meeting is meant for internal staff only. It might not be appropriate for you to join.¡± Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Candice maintained her professional demeanor, replying, ¡°It¡¯s thepany¡¯s policy, Ms. Burgess.¡± Nina scoffed, then asked Alex, ¡°Is there really such apany¡¯s policy?¡± Alex¡¯s gaze shifted briefly between Candice and Nina. He then remarked nonchntly, ¡°Remember that bag you liked yesterday? I¡¯ll take you to get it this afternoon.¡± Nina pouted her lips, clearly dissatisfied with the oue. She pressed further, ¡± Am I not allowed to sit in?¡± Alex considered for a moment, then offered to Nina, ¡°If you¡¯re bored, perhaps Candice could apany you on a shopping trip.¡± Nina hastily rejected the suggestion, ¡°Why would I want to go shopping with her? 11 Her scorn was obvious in her tone. Candice, momentarily taken aback, looked to Alex, who casually supported Nina¡¯s preference. ¡°It¡¯s your choice,¡± he said. Though Nina wanted to stay, she recognized Alex¡¯s firm stance and eventually departed without further argument. Once she was gone, Alex turned his attention to Candice, his tone icy. ¡°Gather the documents.¡± She had previously organized the files, but Nina had added more papers to the pile, so everything was a mess now. It took her some time to sort through the clutter and pass the documents to her boss. Alex grew visibly impatient. He tapped on the table and sharply criticized, ¡°Have your skills deteriorated to this level?¡± As the meeting participants started to arrive, Candice took her ce beside Alex, with her materials in order. Charles, appearing anxious, nervously rubbed his hands and addressed, ¡°Mr. Elysian, the competition is tough. We¡¯re in a rough spot.¡± Alex¡¯s face was devoid of emotion, and his icy tone cut through the air as he tapped the table, demanding, ¡°Where are the market analysis reports and case studies I requested?¡± Charles appeared uneasy,cking a convincing exnation. Alex¡¯s demeanor grew colder, a clear indication of his rising anger. Candice, sensing the brewing storm, silently organized documents next to him, careful not to escte the situation. Yet, in a moment of tension, someone identally bumped into Candice¡¯s arm. As she was next to Alex who was going over some paperwork, the nudge caused the documents to shift out of order. Alex¡¯s mood darkened further. He gave Candice a frosty re and barked, ¡°Get out if you¡¯re incapable of doing your job!¡± Candice¡¯s face drained of color, and she meekly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Elysian. It was an ident.¡± Mr. His anger lingered after the meeting. No one dared to cross him for fear of the consequences. Charles, tailing him, tried to smooth things over with nods and submissive gestures as he escorted Alex out. Candice, maintaining a stoic facade, followed them. She felt wronged, having been chastised publicly for a mistake that was not hers. Alex had rarely reprimanded her for work¨Crted issues after her internship. Nina, who was waiting outside, saw Alex¡¯s sullen face and cheerfully approached. She asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Who upset you?¡± Faced with her, Alex felt obligated to hold back some of his rage. He pinched his brows and muttered, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Nina prodded further, ¡°So, are we still shopping for that bag?¡± Candice, standing in the background, could not see his face but heard him. respond in a subdued tone, ¡°If you want to, then yes.¡± Nina, evidently pleased, yfully warned, ¡°Better prepare your credit card; I won¡¯t be holding back,¡± Herments made Alex chuckle, lifting his mood. Candice, trailing a few steps behind, went unnoticed by the pair. The evening was reserved for a client meeting, so Nina had Candice drive them to a popr shopping area. Nina excitedly proposed, ¡°There¡¯s this restaurant I¡¯ve been dying to try, but never hadpany. Alex, how about joining me?¡± Alex was on his phone and nonchntly agreed, ¡°Sure.¡± Nina¡¯s delight was evident in the response. She then turned to Candice with a broad grin, saying, ¡°Ms. Renault, would you mind waiting outside while we dine? It¡¯s a ce for couples, so it might be awkward for you.¡± Alex looked up from his phone, frowned, and asked in surprise, ¡°A couple¡¯s restaurant?¡± Nina assured him, ¡°Yeah, any issue with that?¡± He nced briefly at Candice and gave a short nod. ¡°Alright then.¡± Candice caught the underlying frost in his nce. She perceived it as a silent. directive not to share this with Sonia. But then again, what was her rtionship with Sonia to ry such information? All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. As Alex and Nina stepped into the restaurant, Candice found a nearby spot to have lunch. Theck of rest the previous night,pounded with the stress of Alex¡¯s ire, weighed heavily on her. She ordered a meal, managing only a few bites before contemting finding a ce to rx for a while. Candice¡¯s phone, which had remained silent through the morning, buzzed with an iing message. Hanley, who had been absent since the previous night, reached out with a text. He mentioned that Jackson had been in touch with him and checked if Candice was up for a meeting, as he was currently avable. After a brief consideration, realizing that Alex and Nina likely would not require her services imminently, she weed the opportunity to meet with Hanley. It turned out that Hanley was in the vicinity. He proposed that Candice wait for him at the restaurant where she was. Candice agreed to the n and quickly texted Jackson to express her appreciation for the connection./ Jackson¡¯s response came promptly in the form of a voice message, his tone to interact with him and learn about the ins and outs of the industry.¡± ¡­y As Candice prepared to extend her thanks once more, Jackson yfully suggested that a dinner treat upon her return would be a suitable way of expressing her gratitude. Having replied to Jackson, Candice set her phone aside just in time to notice a young man making his entrance into the restaurant. He stood out with his height, dressed simply in a white shirt and ck trousers. His attire entuated his lean, model¨Clike figure and gave off the air of a model. The young man¡¯s arrival immediately drew the attention of those in the restaurant. Candice averted her gaze, considering it impolite to continue staring. To her surprise, the man surveyed the room briefly before making his way directly to her table. Stopping before her, he introduced himself with a maic voice, ¡°Hanley Baldwin.¡± He lightly tapped the table and studied her with a calm expression, ¡°You¡¯re Candice?¡± Candice was taken aback. She avoided looking directly at Hanley when he entered the restaurant, but she did get the impression that he was attractive and had an extraordinary temperament. Now, up close, she couldn¡¯t help but notice his striking features, particrly his alluring eyes. A small, red mole near the corner of his right eye, reminiscent of a teardrop, lent him an air of aloofness. Candice¡¯s heart pounded as she returned his gaze. Instinct told her that Hanley was not someone to be messed with. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 When he did not receive an answer, Hanley lifted his brows slightly and asked, Do you know Jackson?¡± Regainingposure, Candice confirmed, ¡°Yes, he¡¯s a friend of mine.¡± She extended her hands and introduced herself, ¡°I¡¯m Candice Renault.¡± Hanley shook her hand and sat opposite her. He quickly got to the point, ¡°Jackson mentioned your interest in artistic nning?¡± Candice nodded affirmatively, ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m exploring opportunities in this field.¡± Hanley¡¯s fingers were long and slender, giving him a graceful appearance. He snapped his finger to signal the waiter and asked for a pen and paper. Swiftly jotting down a series of numbers, he slid the note across to Candice. ¡°Here are some uing exhibitions worth visiting,¡± he said lightheartedly. His handwriting mirrored his character, vigorous and sharp, yet neat and beautiful. Candice nced at the strings of numbers and wondered, ¡°Is this your contact number?¡± ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t use WhatsApp often,¡± Hanley replied. Then he stood up, nced at his watch, and seemed to be in a hurry. He began by asking, ¡°How long will you be staying in Stugan?¡± Candice replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°Then contact me after you¡¯ve seen the exhibitions,¡± he continued, hinting that he had other obligations. Candice also stood up, failed to notice the edge of the table, and stumbled slightly, almost losing her bnce. His firm grip provided stability as she stumbled. The air was filled with Hanley¡¯s distinct blend of cologne and the faint smell of paint. Regaining her bnce, Candice cast an embarrassed nce at Hanley, expressing her gratitude. ¡°These furnishings boast a unique ethnic design; it¡¯s easy to run into them,¡± Hanleymented, his voice t as he quickly removed his hand from her shoulder. Candice was about to reply when her phone rang. It was Alex who coldly instructed, ¡°Collect your stuff. We have a client meeting now.¡± He then hung up without allowing her to answer. Although Hanley was still around, Candice had to excuse herself, ¡°The next meal is on me. Thank you for meeting me.¡± Acknowledging with a nod, Hanley departed. He had scheduled this meeting with Candice primarily to dodge a troublesome client. As Hanley exited, Candice hurriedly followed. Alex and Nina remained in the caf¨¦. Nina was speaking to Alex and smiling coyly at him when Candice arrived. Alex, noticing his secretary, nonchntly questioned, ¡°Where have you been?¡± ¡°I just grabbed a quick bite next door,¡± Candice answered simply. Her eyes caught sight of Nina¡¯s new handbag, presumably a recent purchase by Alex. Candice was not particrly interested in bags, yet she instantly recognized it as thetest release from a high¨Cend brand valued in the five¨Cfigure range. Nina, noticing Candice¡¯s observation, unted the bag and said, ¡°Like it? Alex was so generous; he didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment.¡± Candice silently acknowledged Alex¡¯s generosity. The future of their business cooperation remained uncertain, yet he had spent a considerable sum on Nina. Unfortunately, she could not voice these thoughts. Acknowledging this quietly, she went to get the car. The branch office mainly dealt with two significant clients¨CAva and Kenelm Reeves. Kenelm was in his mid¨Cthirties, wearing gold¨Crimmed sses, and presenting himself with the temperament of a schr. Candice immediately sensed that Kenelm¡¯s schrly demeanor masked a less approachable nature. Nina, eager to witness Alex¡¯s client interaction skills, came along. Alex, seeing no conflict of interest, allowed her to remain. Nina confidently positioned herself next to Alex, inadvertently leaving the seat beside Kenelm vacant. Candice, holding documents, chose to stand aside, not wishing to upy the seat. Nina, leaning towards Alex, pointedly remarked, ¡°Ms. Renault, it seems improper for you to stand.¡± Candice cast a brief nce at Nina, holding her ground. Nina pressed further, ¡°It might appear as if you¡¯re deliberately avoiding Mr. Reeves.¡± Candice calmly stated, ¡°As Mr. Elysian¡¯s secretary, I find it more appropriate to stand.¡± Nina¡¯s expression hardened. She was there as a secretary; it was highly unprofessional for a secretary to behave intimately with her employer in public. Kenelm¡¯s look towards Nina subtly shifted, implying, ¡°Mr. Elysian, you seem to be enjoying your youth to the fullest.¡± Alex remained stoic, his nce toward Candice carrying a trace of iciness. He bluntly stated, ¡°If you prefer not to be here, feel free to leave. There¡¯s no need for theatrics.¡± His tone, as sharp as his earlier public reprimand, showed disregard for Candice¡¯s feelings. Feeling unjustly made a scapegoat twice in one day, Candice clenched the documents in her hand, bracing herself to respond. Kenelm, amused by the unfolding scene, interjected, ¡°Mr. Elysian, it¡¯s quite a scene to see a young man like you lose your cool, especially in front of such a charming secretary.¡± Hemented as his gazended on Candice. ¡°You¡¯re safe sitting next to me,¡± he added with a smile to Candice. ¡°Miss Secretary, please have a seat.¡± Nevertheless, Kenelm¡¯s smile seemed insincere. Candice had such a firm grip on the papers that the whites of her knuckles began to show. Overwhelmed with a wave of nausea, she set the documents down in front of Alex and exited the caf¨¦ briskly. As she departed, she faintly heard Nina¡¯s voice trailing off, ¡°It¡¯s nice being your secretary. She leaves whenever she pleases.¡± Stepping outside, Candice found herself momentarily disoriented. It dawned on her that this was the first time in years she had disyed such dissatisfaction toward Alex. She looked back at the caf¨¦, unsure of her next move. Her agitation at the idea of returning and facing the couple was apparent. In the midst of her doubt, she remembered something and reached into her bag for the piece of paper Hanley had given her. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. When she checked the time and realized it was mid¨Cafternoon, she went online and learned that only one of the five exhibitions Hanley had mentioned was still open. She bought a ticket online and hailed a cab to the venue, a brief ten¨Cminute ride away. The exhibition was modest, showcasing a variety of paintings by the same artist, whom Candice had never heard of. The exhibition¡¯syout, on the other hand, was intriguing. The uniqueyout captivated her, and the unique arrangement brilliantly enhanced the appeal of otherwise mundane paintings. Candice stopped in front of arge portrait suspended in mid¨Cair in the center of the exhibition, only to hear a cold, disinterested voice nearby announce, ¡°Hi, we are about to close.¡± She turned toward the voice and saw Hanley, who had parted ways with her earlier that day. Chapter 63 Chapter 63 The unexpected encounter took Hanley by surprise. Raising his eyebrows, he approached her and inquired, ¡°You seem quite taken with artistic nning, don¡¯t you?¡± Responding with a smile, Candice remarked, ¡°It¡¯s quite the coincidence running into you here.¡± Hanley, maintaining his cool demeanor, rified, ¡°It¡¯s not so much a coincidence. I¡¯m overseeing this exhibition.¡± He gestured toward the painting behind Candice and exined, ¡°Today marks the opening of the exhibition, and you happen to be the first guest. We have to close the gallery, though. I need to make some adjustments to the positioning of this artwork.¡± Candice looked at the indicated painting but could not identify any issues. Curious, she asked, ¡°What adjustments are necessary?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. ¡°The lighting,¡± Hanley nced at her. ¡°Different lighting can evoke varied emotions from the artwork.¡± Candice, intrigued by this concept, repeated thoughtfully, ¡°So, even objects can embody emotions?¡± Not wanting to interfere with Hanley¡¯s task, she decided to leave. However, Hanley stopped her, saying, ¡°Hey, you can keep exploring. I just need to adjust this particr piece.¡± She took another round inside. As Candice made another round through the gallery, Hanley was done with the alterations. She discovered that the painting indeed felt different from before. The shift was slight yet evident¨Ca very subtle sensation. Exiting the exhibition hall around 7 p.m., night had already enveloped the sky. She checked her phone, finding no messages from Alex. Apparently, her employer did not care where she went. She tucked her phone back into her bag. ¡°Do you live nearby? I can give you a lift,¡± Hanley said, interrupting her daze. Candice politely declined, ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯ll just hail a cab.¡± Hanley noted, ¡°Cabs are hard toe by in this area at this hour.¡± He insisted on driving Candice back to the hotel. Upon arriving, Candice recalled her unfulfilled promise to take him out to supper, but he had to be elsewhere. ¡°Maybe next time,¡± she responded rather regretfully. As soon as she stepped out of the car, she saw Nina exiting another vehicle, with Alex close behind. She was surprised to see Candice. An icyment followed, ¡°Ms. Renault, it was quite bold of you to leave the boss like that.¡± Alex passed past Candice and gave her a cold look before continuing on his way. Candice stood still, momentarily frozen, only returning to her senses when Hanley¡¯s soft voice called out to her. She promptly apologized in hushed tones. Hanley¡¯s hands still gripping the steering wheel, nced at Candice with a furrowed brow and offered, ¡°If you ever need anything, don¡¯t hesitate to call me. Jackson asked me to keep an eye on you.¡± Realizing Hanley¡¯s kind gesture was due to Jackson¡¯s request, she gratefully declined and made her way back to the hotel. Reaching her floor, she was surprised to find Alex waiting outside her hotel room. He noticed her arrival and emotionlessly instructed, ¡°Open the door.¡± Candice quietly obeyed. Alex took the initiative to enter the room. Once inside, with Alex maintaining his silence, Candice broke the ice, ¡°Is there something you need?¡± Alex¡¯s cold and piercing eyes met hers as he questioned her sharply, ¡°Have I been too soft on you?¡± The chill in his tone and the icy gaze caused Candice to involuntarily shudder. ¡°Do you want to resign? Can you afford the breach of contract fee?¡± Alex mocked her after a brief pause, Candice responded hoarsely, ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Stop acting out if you can¡¯t afford it!¡± His warning snapped her back to reality. Obviously, she could not afford the cost of breaching her contract, obliging her to remain submissively by his side. Was she, however, acting out? Candice moved her lips slightly but ultimately opted not to respond to him. After all, if Alex thought she was acting out, she probably was. The room fell silent when the conversation concluded. She was expecting Alex to leave. Contrary to her expectations, Alex began to unbutton his shirt, showing no signs of departure. She stayed on the bed for a time, unable to urge him to leave due to the recent reminder about the vition of the contract. Candice retreated to the bathroom with her nightgown, secretly hoping Alex had left by the time she emerged from the bathroom. It was unfortunate that he was still there when she exited the shower. Her hair was damp and unkempt as she wrapped it in the hotel bathrobe. He seemed rxed and casually asked, ¡°Have you slept with anyone else recently? Candice was taken aback, ¡°What did you just say?¡± He coolly named a few individuals, ¡°Jackson, Marc, or the man who drove you back today. Have you been intimate with any of them?¡± Candice was left in shock by his usations, as if all her blood had turned to ice. Alex pressed on emotionlessly, ¡°Answer me.¡± She struggled to find the right term and finally asked in a shaking voice, ¡°Do you really think of me that way?¡± He seemed unconcerned about her feelings, examining her before adding calmly, ¡°Haven¡¯t you?¡± Unable to defend herself, Candice mped her mouth shut. Alex approached her, his hold on her chin icy as he dered sternly, ¡°It¡¯s better if you haven¡¯t. You know my disdain for filthy things.¡± As Alex¡¯s firm grip forced Candice to meet his gaze, a flicker of disdain was visible She felt as if arge stone was crushing against her chest, making it difficult to breathe. Struggling to speak, Candice mustered her strength and said, ¡°You, of all people, have no right to label me as filthy.¡± Alex¡¯s reputation as a womanizer was no secret, and he never turned down ady who threw herself at him. Sonia awaited him in Dorrington, while Nina remained upstairs. Candice felt the pressure increasing under her chin but did not attempt to resist. She stared at him instead, her lips pursed. However, she didn¡¯t realize that her eyes were turning red, making her look quite aggrieved. Alex noticed her distress, but his expression remained frigid, his grip intensifying as if attempting to crush her. Through clenched teeth, he spat out, So, who do you consider pure? Jackson? Some other man?¡± His grip was too powerful, and the pain made Candice¡¯s face turn pale. Losing herposure, she retorted tearfully, ¡°And you? Are you just another man I¡¯m involved with?¡± After eight years by his side, once perceived as his significant other, she now felt diminished to nothing more than an ordinary lover. Everything she had ever worked for before seemed like a p in the face. Candice bit her lip, closed her eyes, and refused to look at Alex. She had previously been so sure of herself, feeling she had a special ce in his heart, but the harsh reality dawned on her¨Cshe was merely one of his many ythings. Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Candice felt a sting in her lips and the slight taste of blood on her tongue, realizing she had hurt her own lips. As Alex rxed his hold, she instinctively turned her head away, causing her nightgown to slip and vaguely expose her corbone and arge area of her skin. Alex smiled scornfully as he looked down and took in the scenery. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± He mocked, returning to his former nonchnt tone. ¡°Are you upset because I didn¡¯t acknowledge you as my other half?¡± He let go of Candice and sat back down on the couch before she could answer, ¡°When did I say that you were my girlfriend?¡± He asked nkly, ¡°You¡¯re giving yourself way too much credit.¡± His statements made it apparent that he thought she was imagining things, and now she was reaping the consequences. The abrupt ring of a phone shattered the silence, Alex gave it a quick nce and picked up the call. Candice, standing nearby, could faintly make out Sonia¡¯s yful voice from the other end. His warm response to Sonia stood in stark contrast to his icy treatment of Candice. This interaction led Candice to the painful realization that this man was capable of being gentle and considerate with other women but never with her. Candice stood frozen until he called out her name. She looked up and saw him still absorbed in his conversation, his brow wrinkled ever so slightly. ¡°She¡¯s not here,¡± he nonchntly stated. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Not wanting to stay on and interrupt him after realizing he was chatting with Sonia, she moved across the room and opened the balcony door. The day¨Cto¨Cnight temperature changes in Stugan were particrly extreme. When she left the room, the cold immediately engulfed her. It was then that she received an unexpected call from Dean Schmidt, the head of Dean¡¯s tone was grave as he requested, ¡°Ms. Renault, could you pleasee to the nursing home tomorrow if you¡¯re avable?¡± Candice, taken aback, responded with concern, ¡°What¡¯s going on with my grandpa?¡± He detailed his worries, ¡°Mr. Sundance¡¯s recent actions are concerning. He¡¯s been making frequent bank visits and talking about earning money. We¡¯re worried he might be the target of a scam. Could you visit him tomorrow to check on him?¡± Once the call ended, Candice remained on the balcony, deep in thought. She contemted calling Joe, but given thete hour, she figured he was likely asleep. Instead, she decided to contact her mother, whom she seldom spoke to. Yvonne, who had left Candice¡¯s father when Candice was just ten, re¨Centered her life when she was twenty¨Ctwo. She had made an effort to reconnect, waiting for her daughter daily on her way to work with homemade meals and expressing remorse for leaving her. Candice hade to truly believe in her mother¡¯s enduring love for her. Instead of Yvonne, a gruff¨Cvoiced man answered the call, rudely questioning, Who¡¯s this?¡± Candice felt increasingly uneasy with this as she asked, ¡°Is Yvonne there?¡± The man¡¯s demeanor soured at the mention of Yvonne¡¯s name, asking disdainfully, ¡°Why are you asking for that bitch?¡± Following a loud thud, as if he had stumbled into something, he erupted in anger, ¡°That bitch bore a money pit and dares to ask me for money!¡± He cursed and raved for a little longer before abruptly hanging up the phone. Left holding her phone, Candice stood frozen on the balcony, lost in thought, until the cold breeze brought her back to reality. She slowly went back into the room. Alex had left, most likely to his own room. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. The next morning, she reached out to Joe. The call was quickly connected, but she felt a sense of weariness upon hearing his voice. Candice was in a difficult position, contemting whether to advise her grandfather to stop financially supporting her mother. However, she knew theplexities involved, where Yvonne was his daughter and Peach was his granddaughter. Adding to this was Joe¡¯s poor health. If he found out that the money he was providing for Peach¡¯s treatment was being wasted on gambling by that man, then¡­ Joe, noticing the awkward silence, finally broke it by asking, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Candice pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling conflicted and overwhelmed. After briefly hesitating, she said, ¡°I¡¯ve been quite busytely and really missed you.¡± The old man chuckled at her response. Their conversation continued about some trivial matters until Candice eventually touched on the topic, ¡°Have you been giving money to Momtely?¡± There was a moment of hesitation from Joe before he confessed, ¡°They¡¯re facing difficulties; I¡¯m just lending a hand.¡± Recognizing his good intentions, Candice chose not to probe any deeper. Later that day, as she was heading to a meeting and took the elevator down, she unexpectedly encountered Alex and Nina. Despite her hesitation, Candice still stepped into the elevator. She stood off to the side, agitated by the problems guing her family. Nina, seizing the chance to provoke her, sneered, ¡°Look who¡¯s actuallying to work today, Ms. Renault. I thought you were going to resign.¡± Frustrated, Candice frowned. Raising her head, she noticed Alex standing beside Nina. Her fingers tensed slightly before she replied calmly, ¡°I made a mistake yesterday and have already apologized to Mr. Elysian.¡°! Nina let out a scornfulugh, while Alex remained stoic, not even bothering to look at her. Candice lowered her head, hiding her emotions. Her thoughts were consumed by her family¡¯s troubles, leaving her distracted. Upon exiting the hotel, she nearly tripped on the stairs, identally bumping into Alex. He gave her a cold nce, cautioning, ¡°If you can¡¯t get your emotions in check, Nina gloated at the side. Candice bit her lip, apologizing, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I will quickly adjust.¡± He said nothing and walked to the parking lot. Candice, standing momentarily to rub her temples in distress, eventually hurried to catch up with them. But today, Nina seems to have even more schemes up her sleeve to make life difficult for Candice. Upon reaching the office, Nina tasked Candice with fetching coffee from a distant shop. Candice frowned, objecting, ¡°That shop is too far. It¡¯ll take an hour just to drive there and back.¡± Nina, visibly annoyed, turned to Alex and insisted, ¡°I only drink coffee from that shop.¡± Alex, unfazed, instructed Candice, ¡°Just go get it.¡± Candice stood still for a while before sheplied and set out for the coffee. Caught in morning traffic, it took her ny minutes to return. Upon asking at the reception, she discovered that Alex, Nina, and Charles had already left for a field trip rted to market research. Sitting in the pantry with the now¨Ccold coffee, she calmly sent a message to her boss, checking if he needed her to join them at the field trip location. Chapter 65 Chapter 65 After waiting ten minutes with no response from Alex, Candice stood up, intending to leave the pantry. However, she caught a glimpse of Charles, who seemed to be in a hurry and had returned to pick up something. He appeared surprised to find Candice there and asked, ¡°Ms. Renault, you¡¯re still here?¡± Feeling it was her duty to be present, she asked, ¡°Where are Mr. Elysian and the others?¡± ¡°They are at Proteus Corporation,¡± he said, presuming Alex had assigned Candice responsibilities. ¡°I¡¯m going back there right now. Would you like to join us?¡± Feeling it would be improper to decline now that she had been spotted, Candice agreed to join him. During the twenty¨Cminute ride, Charles attempted to engage Candice in conversation about the branchpany, subtly seeking insights into Alex¡¯s ns. Candice responded with poise, assuring him, ¡°With Mr. Elysian overseeing things in Stugan, the branch is in good hands. There¡¯s no need to worry too much.¡± Her natural cool demeanor was entuated by theck of warmth in her expressions. Charles twitched his lips slightly, afraid to say anything else. A representative greeted them when they arrived. He respectfully informed Charles, ¡°Ms. Goodman has just arrived and is with Mr. Elysian inside.¡± Candice, surprised to hear of Ava¡¯s presence, frowned slightly. Charles, seizing the chance to impress Candice, boasted, ¡°Ms. Goodman and I go way back.¡± As they spoke, the meeting room door opened. Nina emerged, hand in hand with her mother, followed by Alex. Charles quickly approached them, receiving a courteous nod from Ava. Standing behind Charles, Candice caught Ava¡¯s attention, but Ava soon looked away, turning to Nina. Ava said helplessly, ¡°I have to go to Mane City for a few days. You must not put Alex through too much hassle.¡± you know Then she smiled at Alex and said, ¡°This is an emergency, so I¡¯ll have to bother you to look after Nina for a little longer. As soon as I get back, I¡¯ll let what I think about renewing the contract.¡± Alex responded with a slight nod and said quietly, ¡°I¡¯ll be staying in Stugan for a while longer.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Helen when I get back. Nina, try not to be too much of a bother to Alex in theing days.¡± Nina responded agreeably. Once Ava had departed, she turned to Alex and said flirtily, ¡°My mother suggested I learn from you. How should I go about that?¡± Her suggestive tone caused Candice to look away and step back. It was then that Nina seemed to notice Candice, examining her from head to toe before asking in a disapproving manner, ¡°Where¡¯s the coffee you were supposed to get?¡± With the coffee shop being far away and her reminiscing about the past, the coffee she had brought back was nowpletely cold. Handing over the paper bag, Candice had long anticipated what Nina might say. As predicted, Nina frowned upon receiving the coffee, criticizing, ¡°I wanted a hot Americano, but this is iced?¡± Candice answered timidly, ¡°The coffee shop was quite far, and I didn¡¯t know you were here.¡± Nina mocked Candice¡¯s justification and reproached her, ¡°Ms. Renault, always with an excuse. When I asked for coffee, did you really think to buy only one?¡± Candice nced at Alex and hesitantly added, ¡°Mr. Elysian isn¡¯t much of a coffee drinker.¡± As she said this, her confidence wavered. The truth was that Alex had not been a regr coffee drinker, mainly due to the intense demands of his early career and poor sleep quality. Candice had discouraged him from drinking too much coffee, and eventually he stopped Candice¡¯s mind wandered briefly as she thought of this. Her rtionship with Alex could not be defined by their current coldness. Yet, there had been a time when she genuinely felt his sincere affection. Nina froze, interpreting this as Candice deliberately trying to embarrass her. Annoyance flickered across her face before she turned to Alex with a smile, her tone sweet yet assertive, ¡°Alex, how about I be your secretary for a few days? It would be a great learning experience.¡± Her proposal seemed reasonable. Alex gave her a cold stare and asked, ¡°My secretary?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I? Didn¡¯t my mother leave me in your care?¡± Nina asked, almost pleadingly. ¡°You can do whatever you want with me.¡± Alex regarded her with a detached coolness,menting dryly, ¡°It¡¯s unusual to have two secretaries, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°In that case, you can fire Ms. Renault,¡± Nina encouraged, clutching Alex¡¯s sleeve and pleading for his approval. Candice, who was the target of Nina¡¯sments, waited there impassively, waiting for Alex to respond. His brows twitched subtly, his gaze briefly falling on Candice before turning coldly away. In that fleeting moment of eye contact, Candice¡¯s mind went nk. Alex might fire her based on Nina¡¯s request, but if he fired her now, she would be in big trouble. For a moment, Candice could not breathe. Her mind wandered to Joe and Yvonne, while her hands grew numb with apprehension. Alex¡¯s voice, icy and detached, broke the silence, ¡°Enough.¡± It was aimed toward Nina. He paused for a moment before saying, ¡°Ms. Burgess, the internal affairs of Aether Corporation aren¡¯t for you to decide.¡± Nina stood there; her face was a mix of shock and reluctance as she looked at Alex, but she dared not say anything else. Although displeased with his rebuke, Nina, mindful of her mother¡¯s advice and aware of Alex¡¯s firmness, chose to lightly flirt and joke with him instead. Alex responded to her, but only half¨Cheartedly. Candice, meanwhile, remained in the background, silent and almost invisible. As the group readied to depart, Candice lingered by the roadside, uncertain about joining them in the car. It was then that she heard a familiar voice calling her name, ¡°Candice?¡± She turned to find Hanley approaching with an aloof demeanor. She asked, somewhat surprised, ¡°Why are you here?¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Yesterday, Hanley imed that he was in charge of the exhibition. He revealed his purpose, ¡°I¡¯m here for some inspiration.¡± His rolled¨Cup sleeves and the light blue paint on his wrist suggested he had been busy. Candice was about to ask Hanley if he needed anything because he was not a people person. She suddenly felt a shadow fall over her, along with the refreshing scent of cedar. Alex¡¯s voice, both cold and deep, followed, ¡°Candice, if you¡¯re looking to be fired, just say the word.¡± Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Although Alex¡¯s voice was calm, Candice could sense the annoyance in it since she knew him well. Confused about the reason for his irritation, she remained silent, her lips tightly pursed. This response seemed to intensify Alex¡¯s contempt. He narrowed his eyes, his tone icy as he used, ¡°Ms. Renault, it¡¯s working hours. Should you be flirting with men?¡± Taken aback, Candice looked up sharply, meeting his gaze and noting the brief sh of disdain. She attempted to rify, ¡°I just ran into a friend by chance.¡± This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. ¡°You seem to have a lot of friends,¡± Alex mocked. ¡°Which one is it?¡± His interpretation of ¡°friend¡± was inly different from Candice¡¯s. She could put up with Alex humiliating her, but he had gone too far in dragging Hanley into this mess. She swallowed and cleared her throat, ¡°Can¡¯t your thoughts be less filthy?¡± Adding bitterly, her tone twinged with rage, ¡°Can¡¯t I have my own friends?¡± Alex¡¯s face hardened as he locked his gaze on Candice. His already formidable demeanor, nowced with his foul mood, felt even more imposing. Candice¡¯s hands shook slightly under his scrutiny. Nina approached with files in her hand, just as she was ready to say something. She nced at Alex, asking. ¡°Mr. Elysian, shouldn¡¯t we be heading back to the office for a meeting? Why are we still here?¡± Candice was taken aback. She raised her eyes to Alex, who had already averted his gaze and was walking away. Nina trailed after him with the files in her arms. After a few steps, she paused, turning back to Candice with a probing stare. She warned, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be around Alex, better keep it that way in the future.¡± Candice detected a hidden implication in her words, but before she could reply, Nina had already left. She felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her only after they were both out of sight. Realizing Alex might have been waiting for her to join the meeting, she frowned and looked in the direction he had gone. Hanley¡¯s voice interrupted her thoughts, asking. ¡°Is that your boss?¡± Remembering that Alex had unjustly criticized Hanley, Candice pinched her brow, apologizing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you got dragged into this because of me.¡± Hanley, however, gave her a thoughtful look, replying apologetically, ¡°It seems my appearance caused you +15 BONOS Candice shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± She knew Alex would have found a reason to be upset with her regardless of Hanley¡¯s presence. Not wanting to delve deeper into her issues with Alex, she quickly changed the topic, ¡°Did you need to see me for something?¡± Hanley motioned towards a nearby warehouse, mentioning. ¡°I¡¯m working on some model tests here and need an extra pair of eyes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have staff?¡± Candice asked curiously. ¡°Jackson said you have a team.¡± Hanley rified. ¡°They¡¯re currently at the exhibition site from yesterday.¡± As they conversed, Candice followed him into the warehouse. Inside, the dim lighting cast shadows over numerous wooden frames, all different sizes,id out in an arrangement that seemed chaotic yet organized. Candice, looking around, asked, ¡°Are you nning another exhibition with this setup?¡± Hanley shared, ¡°The client is looking for something unique and impactful.¡± Candice, having seen various exhibitions, recognized that Hanley¡¯syout was distinct from the norm. Noticing her puzzled expression, Hanley began sketching in his notebook, exining. ¡°An exhibition is more than just disying art. Factors like positioning, lighting, electronics, and engineering are crucial.¡± Candice pondered, ¡°Is this amon theme in your work?¡± Pausing his sketching. Hanley looked at her and said, ¡°Commercial exhibitions are driven by profit.¡± Candiceughed, querying. ¡°Is that how it really is?¡± Just as she finished speaking, she heard some noise, resembling something falling. Startled and bewildered, Candice looked up, only to be met with Hanley¡¯s urgentmand, ¡°Move!¡± She was a moment toote to react as she noticed arge wooden frame toppling above her. Suddenly, she felt an arm grab her waist. Hanley pulled her swiftly to safety just before the frame could fall on her. Candice stood there, terrified, watching the wooden frame lying on the ground. Hanley, after ensuring her safety, released her and checked the fallen frame, apologizing. ¡°Sorry, I should have warned you these frames aren¡¯t securely attached and could fall.¡± Experiments were frequently dynamic during the early stages of setting up an exhibition, and items were not permanently mounted to the walls. Candice, although startled, was unharmed. She reassured him. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± +15 BONOS However, she spotted a cut on Hanley¡¯s forearm, likely from the frame¡¯s edge while protecting her. Concerned, she rummaged through her bag for a disinfectant wipe, saying, ¡°Hanley, you¡¯re hurt.¡± Hanley nced at the injury, his demeanor unchanged. He acknowledged with a grunt and focused on repositioning the big frame. Candice watched as the cut seemed to worsen with Hanley¡¯s movements, but he seemed unfazed, Once the frame was back in ce, he returned to his notebook, continuing his work despite the injury. After Hanley was done, Candice gently rmended, ¡°You should have that looked at in a hospital,¡± There was a clinic not far away. His cut was long but not deep. They left the clinic after cleansing the wound and applying medication. Candice mentioned the need for a tetanus shot, but Hanley informed her he was allergic to the vine and had his own treatment. ¡°Do you often get hurt?¡± Candice inquired, wondering who kept tetanus medication at home. Hanley responded, ¡°It happens asionally when handling things.¡± By the time they finished, it waste in the afternoon. Hanley rushed back to his work, while Candice headed to the hotel. The e sky was cloudy, and she got caught in evening traffic, reaching the hotel past dinner time.. She felt alright outside, but when she returned to the hotel, she waspletely spent, especially mentally. Candice shut the door, grabbed her clothes, and went to the bathroom. When the hot water poured over her body, it took away some of her tiredness. Emerging from the bathroom, Candice was surprised to find Alex sitting on her couch. The room door was open, likely because she had not closed it properly. Standing frozen for a moment, she then cautiously asked. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Alex¡¯s expression was unreadable, his gaze cold as he scrutinized her. After a pause, he softly said, ¡°You seem eager to shower. Are you worried I¡¯ll discover something?¡± Chapter 67 Chapter 67 +15 BONOS The window of the room was left open. Wind from the outside came through the opening. Candice who was d in a thin bathrobe, felt a slight flutter against her body. Candice was slightly stunned. She didn¡¯t understand what Alex was saying. She red at him before slowly saying, ¡°What do you want?¡± Alex didn¡¯t mind when he didn¡¯t get the answer he wanted to hear. He snorted. ¡°You left during working hours. Why do you think I¡¯m here?¡± He was here for what had happened in the afternoon. Candice looked into Alex¡¯s icy eyes, and she couldn¡¯t tell what he was feeling at the time. However, in the afternoon, Alex left her alone in anger and took Nina to see the client. Candice pursed her lips and spoke softly, ¡°I thought Ms. Burgess alone was enough.¡± Hearing Candice say that, Alex raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°Nina¡¯s not apany staff.¡± Candice didn¡¯t understand what he meant by that. Instead, she asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t she your secretary now?¡± Alex said nothing. He looked at Candice with some thoughts running in his mind and chuckled. ¡°That bothered you?¡± His tone was sharp. Candice couldn¡¯t help but shudder when his words were mixed with the cold wind from the outside. She slowly turned to close the window and didn¡¯t answer Alex¡¯s question. What was there to be said when her job had been taken away? What was the point, even if she was bothered? The window was shut, and the deafening wind from outside was muffled. Before she could even turn around. she could already hear the man¡¯s low tone. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, even if it bothers you. Candice, you¡¯re in no position to act willfully with me.¡± Candice¡¯s hands tightened on the window handles. She closed her eyes and slowly opened them back up. Then she turned around and looked at Alex. ¡°Mr. Elysian, isn¡¯t it too inappropriate to continuously appear in the room of your staff at night?¡± When she said that, her eyes were fixed on him. Candice¡¯s haughty re made her look like she was keeping her distance. She was standing up, and Alex was sitting down. Candice¡¯s eyes followed him as she slightly frowned. Alex didn¡¯t like how Candice was pressuring him. He stood up with a stony expression. He walked over and +15 BONOS He slightly bent down, his dark eyes looking at Candice without blinking. His sight was on her face, unmoved. ¡°Only now you¡¯re acting like an innocent girl after sleeping with me for so long?¡± The two of them were very close. The cedar scent that Alex usually had entered Candice¡¯s nostrils. She couldn¡¯t help but back up and raise her chin, wanting to leave Alex¡¯s vicinity. And then Alex held the back of her head. He put some strength into it and pushed her head back. His eyes looked at Candice¡¯s head, and he kept rubbing his thumb on her neck. ¡°I¡¯ve seen all that you have to offer. Is there a point to this act?¡± Candice¡¯s figure straightened up as she clenched her fists. Only after a long time did she say with difficulty.¡± Alex, can you please not do that?¡± She then shut her eyes embarrassingly. She had stayed with Alex for many years¡­ They had done everything. that couples did. In the past, she had believed that she and Alex knew each other inside out. Those were moments they treasured. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. But now, he used their past to say that she was merely acting. There was pressure on Candice¡¯s chest, pressing her. She felt she could hardly breathe. Alex red at her for a moment before letting go in agitation. A ringtone broke the icy atmosphere in the room. Alex nced at the mobile on the coffee table. With a smile, he picked it up. The moment the call went through, Sonia¡¯s joyful voice came through. ¡°Alex, did you have your dinner?¡± Alex let out a mm-hmm and then he nced at Candice¡¯s face. Candice regained herposure. Her eyes were slightly red and her face was pale as well. When her eyes met Alex¡¯s, she immediately turned around and got into the restroom, even if it was only a moment. Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Once she locked the door, Candice huffed and puffed as she put her hands on the sink. She could still hear Alex¡¯s voice outside. Candice raised her eyes and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She could only feel howughable it all was. Eight years and all she managed to get was that she had slept with him for so long. Candice suddenly raised her hand and pped herself brutally. She put in a lot of strength in that p, and tears rolled down from her eyes that were already red in the first ce. Two drops of tears fell on the back of her hand. They were burning. When she walked out again, Alex had already left with the door opened wide. Candice was stunned for a moment before walking over and closing the door. Only then did she get back to bed to rest. She still had to work the next morning. However, Candice had little sleep the whole night. When she woke up. her face was extremely pale. She cleaned herself up before leaving and then saw Nina who was at the elevator. When Nina saw Candice, she paused. And then, she started frowning in disgust and sneered, ¡°Ms. Renault, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to see the clients with that kind of expression on your face?¡± Candice had already put on some makeup, so it wasn¡¯t as bad as when she had just woken up. However, her condition was just too bad. Candice was too tired and didn¡¯t want to start a quarrel with Nina. She pressed her lips and simply went to the lobby. Alex was already there. He nced at Candice, and his brows furrowed. ¡°As a staff of Aether, isn¡¯t it disrespectful to meet the clients with that face?¡± Nina¡¯s sharp voice came from behind. Candice gulped and quickly replied, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m not feeling well today, so¡­¡± Before she could even finish it, she was cut off by Alex and he said, ¡°Find a driver.¡± Candice looked up but only to hear Alex say, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re thinking of driving in that condition?¡± Candice didn¡¯t mind the reduced workload. She got into the passenger¡¯s seat first and closed her eyes for a quick rest as she sat by the car window. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. However, for some reason, traffic was quite terrible this morning. As Candice was resting by the car window. her consciousness was slowly drifting away when she listened to the beeping honks outside. Slowly, the voices from the back disappeared, and Candice was feeling her eyelids bing heavier. Only when she heard someone knocking at the car window did she wake up. The traffic outside the window had already disappeared. They were in front of the branchpany. +15 BONOS Outside the car window, Alex knocked at the car window again with a cold expression on his face. Candice slowly opened the door and got out of the car. Alex nced at her. ¡°You were sound asleep.¡± Candice massaged her head and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. ¡°Other than apologizing, what else can you say?¡± Alex snorted. Candice said nothing other than lowering her head and then followed Alex inside. Once upstairs, Nina was already waiting in the lounge. A ss of water was in her hand as she looked at Alex, upset. ¡°What took you so long?¡± ¡°I picked up a call,¡± Alex answered. Nina didn¡¯t dare to ask more about it and simply nodded. She picked up the document on the desk and asked, ¡± To the meeting room?¡± Candice stood there, unmoving. She guessed Alex would take Nina to the meeting again. However, Alex simply gave Nina a dispassionate look and said, ¡°It¡¯s not suitable for you to join today¡¯s meeting. Candice will join me.¡± Nina was stunned before frowning. She wanted to object. However, Alex had already directly taken the document and tossed it over to Candice. With a frosty stare, he asked, ¡°Are you expecting me to carry you there?¡± Chapter 69 Chapter 69 +15 BONOS Candice frowned and held the document in her arms tightly. Nina looked from the side, obviously upset. She couldn¡¯t help but snort. ¡°Ms. Renault, before you go for the meeting, reapply your makeup first. You represent Aether now, you know?¡± After resting for a while, Candice¡¯s thoughts were much clearer now. She gave Nina a look and said, ¡°You¡¯ve worried about too much.¡± Alex had just told herst night that Nina wasn¡¯t a staff member, so she had no right to worry about Aether¡¯s image. Nina was ustomed to Candice¡¯s reserved behavior after following Alex for two days. Upon hearing Candice¡¯s retort, she narrowed her eyes and sneered. ¡°Aren¡¯t you getting a bit too spoiled? You skipped work yesterday, and you slept during work today. You have lived up to the expectation of being Alex¡¯s good secretary.¡± She added the emphasis on the words ¡°good secretary¡±. Candice frowned and just wanted to say something. and she heard Alex¡¯s voice in a heavy tone. ¡°Nina Burgess.¡± The warning in his tone was obvious. There was a hint of regret in Nina¡¯s eyes, but she said nothing else in the end. After entering the meeting room, the aura of dispassion and rejection from Alex was even heavier. He sat in the center seat as he looked straight at Charles Welch, the manager. ¡°I hope you¡¯re fully prepared today.¡± Mr. Welch quickly passed over a stack of documents. ¡°The proposal and reports that you wanted are all here.¡± Mr. Welch was further away from Alex, so he pushed the documents to Candice first. She then passed the documents over to Alex. When Candice handed the documents over, Alex¡¯s hand was extended toward her. Her fingers were icy, but Alex¡¯s skin was warm. She pulled her hand back promptly, as if she had been jolted by electricity. The meeting¡¯s content was like the ones earlier. They were thinking of a way to break through their opponent¡¯s cutthroatpetition. Candice would record the meeting minutes, and then search for examples and data that Alex would need. Other than that, Candice had a full understanding of Alex¡¯s habits. At least with work. And unlikest time, the meeting went very smoothly. However, when it was almost done, Mr. Welch suddenly asked, ¡°Mr. Elysian, now that Mr. Taylor¡¯s position has been cleared out, do you want us to hire someone new. or send over someone from headquarters?¡± Mr. Taylor was that traitor, selling the data over to theirpetitors. Now that he had been fired, his position was now empty. However, Mr. Welch wasn¡¯t sure how to proceed. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. +15 BONOS Alex paused and said, ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± After that, he stood up and left. Candice followed behind him.. After they turned around a corner, Alex suddenly stopped. He turned around and asked Candice, ¡°Do you want to stay in Stugan City?¡± Candice was quiet for a moment and asked, ¡°You want me to stay?¡± While Stugan City had a fantastic environment, it was extremely far away from Dorrington City. Without hesitation, Candice shook her head. ¡°My grandfather is in Dorrington City. I can¡¯t stay.¡± Alex raised an eyebrow casually. ¡°You sure?¡± Candice was very sure. However, when Alex stopped discussing it, Candice was feeling anxious. She couldn¡¯t tell what Alex was thinking and was worried that he would force her to stay in Stugan City. Her grandfather was in Dorrington City, and Candice didn¡¯t want to move too far away from him. Candice was thinking about it as she followed Alex back to the lounge. Candice was still waiting for them. She raised her head and greeted Alex as she held her phone. Candice ced the document on the desk, thinking of organizing it. Nina put down her mobile and then looked at her with a dry smile. ¡°Ms. Renault, can you please get me a ss of water?¡± The water dispenser was close to Candice, so she didn¡¯t think twice and got Nina a ss of water. ¡°I want hot water,¡± Nina said andined to Alex, ¡°The air conditioner for the lounge must have been. maxed out. I¡¯m feeling cold just waiting for you. Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Candice handed her the ss of water. Nina stood up and grabbed the ss whileining to Alex. Nina did her nails, and she had put diamonds and sequins on her nails. When she was taking the ss of water, the sequin on her nails seemed to have been raised, and it sliced on the tip of Candice¡¯s fingers, leaving a cut. Candice was startled by the pain, and she almost immediately let go. However, the moment that she let go, Nina had also let go. She had even applied some strength to it, and the entire ss of water was poured on Candice¡¯s hand. Candice let out a silent groan as she hissed in pain. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. She wanted to scream, but she gritted her teeth as she endured the pain out of habit. However, there was already sweat on her forehead and tearsing out from her eyes. Candice¡¯s lips went pale as she frowned deeply. Her right hand was all red from her wrist to her fingers. Alex immediately stood up and walked over, grabbed Candice by the arm, and said. ¡°To the hospital.¡± Candice¡¯s skin was quite pale. And now, her hands looked terrifying as they pulsed in red. She couldn¡¯t say anything and simply let Alex grab her arm and slowly dragged her out. Luckily, there was a clinic behind the branchpany, and he brought Candice over. However, her hand was terrifyingly red. There were even two blisters. Alex red at the female doctor who was treating Candice¡¯s injury and said, ¡°Can you do it? If you can¡¯t, tell me right now.¡± While holding a cotton bud in her hand, the doctor said with a displeased expression, ¡°If I can¡¯t, maybe you can try it.¡± Candice could still feel the burning sensation in her hand, and she couldn¡¯t say a word. All she could do was to raise her head and give Alex a scowl, signaling him to shut up. Alex¡¯s demeanor grew icy. He looked at Candice for a while and said, ¡°If anything happens, don¡¯t cry about thepany mistreating its employees.¡± With that, he walked out of the clinic. Meanwhile, despite the extensive burn on Candice¡¯s hand, her timely arrival and the prompt medical attention given by the doctor prevented it from getting worse. However, her hand was bandaged by a thinyer of gauze. The only ufortable part was the wound on the top of her ring finger, where Nina¡¯s sequin had cut her and then scalded by the hot water. Her skin was bing all white, and she felt upset looking at it. After being bandaged at the clinic, she thought Alex had already gone back to the office. She didn¡¯t expect him to wait for her outside. +15 BONOS Candice stopped before walking over with her usual expression on her face. When Alex saw her, he looked at her hand. After a moment, he said. ¡°Thepany will reimburse your medical bills. As this is considered a work injury. you¡¯ll bepensated as well.¡± Candice¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°What about Nina?¡± She then continued, ¡°Nina did it intentionally.¡± Alex slowly frowned. ¡°Do you have proof?¡± Candice looked away. She didn¡¯t have any. Alex looked at her with mixed feelings before saying in a hush. ¡°Don¡¯t throw out an usation with nothing to back it up. Thepany willpensate you at the highest level.¡± Candice was also feeling upset and instead asked Alex, ¡°You¡¯re hiding the truth for her sake?¡± Alex¡¯s expression became cold. ¡°Candice, you have no proof.¡± After being bandaged, Candice¡¯s hand was still in pain. When Nina had cut her finger, she felt that the pain had shaken her very being. Candice formed an unknown smile and asked Alex, ¡°If Sonia was the one that was hurt, would this be okay?¡± Alex looked at her, his patience thinning. ¡°Is there a point with that question?¡± Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Candice stood there for a while before nodding. ¡°Understood.¡± She spoke emotionlessly, her lips pale. Her gaze at Alex gradually grew calm. Candice smiled and said dryly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was overthinking.¡± Alex looked at his phone without caring too much. After a moment, he looked at her and asked, ¡°Do you need me to take you back?¡± He originally had other ns at night, but they had no choice but to return to the hotel for some rest now that Candice was hurt. Candice knew Alex¡¯s temper. If he really wanted to take her back, he wouldn¡¯t have asked. She waved her injured hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll call a cab.¡± Alex wanted to say something else, but his phone rang. He looked down at it, and he slowly frowned. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Candice looked at his expression. After standing there for a while, she left. She was not feeling very well, so she was walking away slowly. After making a turn, there was a bus stop, and she stopped there. She was in the Pioneer Park area, and it was mostly private vehiclesing to and fro. Candice was not in a hurry to get a cab, and she simply sat on the bench and looked at the cars quietly. She believed that she might have jumped the gun and she had overestimated herself. She thought that Alex was still the same. However, people could change in the end. When Candice reached the hotel, it was almost five in the evening. She had not even managed to sit down when she saw Yvonne was calling her. Yvonne had been calling her a bit too muchtely. She couldn¡¯t help but think about her suspicions. Candice grabbed her phone and walked over to the balcony. There was something that she wanted to verify with Yvonne. However, when she picked up the call, it wasn¡¯t Yvonne¡¯s voice. It was the brutish and aggressive voice of a man. ¡°You¡¯re Yvonne¡¯s daughter?¡± The man asked without hesitation. Candice¡¯s expression cooled. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I am her man! Your mother owes me 10,000. You will pay me back on her behalf!¡± Candice was so angry that her hand that was holding the phone was shaking. Her voice was extremely cold as she said, ¡°Get her to pick up the phone.¡± +15 BONOS The man clicked his tongue and said, ¡°I brought that waste of space to the hospital. Your name is Candice, right? You¡¯re responsible for paying your mother¡¯s debt. Now, pay me! I have something else to doter!¡± Candice quickly calmed down and said, ¡°She¡¯s married to you now and Peach is also your daughter. She wouldn¡¯t owe you money for treating your daughter.¡± ¡°Enough. If she didn¡¯t give birth to such a useless thing, I wouldn¡¯t have wasted so much money.¡± The man said as he refused to listen. Instead, he spoke louder and louder. ¡°I¡¯m not wasting my breath with you. Yvonne said that you eam a lot. If you won¡¯t pay for it, I can look for her father. He¡¯ll pay for his own daughter¡¯s debt, right?!¡± When she heard the man talk about her grandfather, Candice¡¯s frosty expression became even darker. He had been teaching his whole life and his health had been an issue as he grew older. If he heard about this. she wasn¡¯t sure just how angry he would be. When the man didn¡¯t hear Candice¡¯s response, he began cursing again. Candice was getting upset, so she decided to hang up. However, the man¡¯s threats still rang in her mind. Candice was worried that he would go and find her grandfather but wasn¡¯t sure how to tell him about that. While her grandfather hadn¡¯t said a thing, Candice had identally run across him a few times when he would simply stare at Yvonne¡¯s photo. Candice gave her head a massage. Yvonne was her mother, in the end. Even if she didn¡¯t bear much of the responsibility of being a mother, Candice could still remember her figure when she cooked in the kitchen every time she came home from school when she was still little. Chapter 72 Chapter 72 At the time, Yvonne would always grab a te of fruits from the cab for her after she heard her come home and said to her gently, ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready soon.¡± Candice¡¯s thoughts were drifting, and she lost herself for a while. Only after sitting on the sofa for a while did she remember that she had to give Jackson a call, asking him to keep an eye on her grandfather at the nursery home. Jackson agreed to it naturally, and Candice felt much better. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. My mom¡¯s going to get her review done tomorrow too.¡± Jackson didn¡¯t mind that much. Instead, he asked, ¡°How are things between you and Hanley?¡± Candice told him honestly, ¡°He¡¯s a good person.¡± Jacksonughed. ¡°That¡¯s great. Hanley treats his friend well.¡± After her right hand was injured, everything became inconvenient. Candice couldn¡¯t ask anyone else to help her, so she had to do everything herself slowly. The next morning when she went downstairs, she identally walked into Alex and Nina. The two of them weren¡¯t in the best of moods. Candice paused a little before going over and asked Alex, ¡°Can I take the day off?¡± Alex looked at her bandaged hand. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± There wasn¡¯t much emotion in his tone, as if it was just an interaction between a boss and his employee. Candice looked down. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a bit itchy. I want to go to the hospital to get it checked.¡± Alex looked at the bandaged hand for a moment before nodding. ¡°Sure.¡± Candice then asked the receptionist to call for a taxi and waited outside the door. It was not until her figure had left the hotel door did Nina ask Alex, ¡°Are you going to ignore what your mother said?¡± Alex¡¯s dark eyes looked at him as he let out a coldugh. ¡°Nina, I hate people who think they know better than anyone. The only reason I allow you toe along with me is because of your mother. I have never allowed you to interfere with Aether or my family matters.¡± Nina¡¯s face was slowly bing paler. She wanted to exin, but Alex had already started to leave. He stopped after taking two more steps and turned around to look at Nina. ¡°Don¡¯t contact my mother on your own, and don¡¯t follow me again. You¡¯re very annoying.¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Alex immediately left after saying that, leaving Nina behind, who looked shaken. Meanwhile, Candice entered a cab outside the hotel door and went to a nearby Level 1 hospital. The swelling on Candice¡¯s hand didn¡¯t recede much. The doctor put on some more medicine but no longer bandaged her hand with gauze, simply asking her to pay more attention. +15 BONOS She waited for the medicine in her hand to dry off before slowly leaving. Coincidentally, she had just left the department and ran into Hanley at the hospital lobby directly. Hanley was also holding a number in his hand, and the two of them were both stunned. Candice started the conversation first. ¡°Why are you at the hospital again?¡± ¡°The wound¡¯s infected, so I came to get it re-bandaged,¡± Hanley said with a frown, looking very ufortable. Candice furrowed her eyebrows and then raised her arm. ¡°Same here.¡± The truth was that the clinic was unreliable. Hanley¡¯s hand swelling was even more terrible than Candice¡¯s in appearance. She went with him to get his dressing changed before asking. ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe over yesterday when you¡¯re not feeling well?¡± Hanley said, ¡°I was too busy yesterday and didn¡¯t realize it.¡± ¡°That busy?¡± Candice couldn¡¯t help but look at Hanley¡¯s injury. ¡°Yeah,¡± Hanley said. ¡°My personal assistant had an emergency and had to go home, and I couldn¡¯t find anyone to help in such a short time.¡± And then, he raised his chin, letting Candice see the dark circles under his eyes. Suddenly, Hanley gave her a nce with those seductive eyes of his. ¡°Do you want to try?¡± Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Candice paused for a moment before realizing what he meant. She frowned and asked hesitantly, ¡°I don¡¯t think I can?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you?¡± Hanley asked as he straightened his back. ¡°I thought you wanted to learn about exhibition nning?¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Candice¡¯s fingers curled as she looked at her arm that was bandaged. ¡°My hand¡¯s injured. I can¡¯t help you.¡± She wanted to exin more to Hanley but simply heard him say in a nonchnt tone, ¡°I don¡¯tck anyone to help me with misceneous jobs. Not to mention that I¡¯m inviting you toe and learn. Do you really think that this is something you can master in a few days?¡± Candice still shook her head. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to cause any trouble for you.¡± Hanley then said, ¡°Just how much trouble can you cause?¡± His attitude piqued Candice¡¯s interest for sure. She also knew that it was a rare opportunity to be able to learn this from Hanley. After agreeing to Hanley¡¯s suggestion, she followed Hanley back to his studio, seeing that she had already taken her sick leave and had nothing to do in the afternoon. When Hanley brought her in, a few youths inside were arguing about something. When they saw Hanleye back, all of them shut up and greeted him, calling him ¡°boss¡±. Hanley turned around and nced at Candice. ¡°Take a seat wherever you like.¡± Candice looked around. The entire studio was filled with things. There was only one desk in the comer, and there was no ce for her to sit. When the youths inside the studio saw Candice, they were all stunned. One of them, a woman with sses, scanned her. Then, she took a deep breath before asking Hanley, ¡°Boss, you¡¯ve been hiding your girlfriend?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± a man who was wearing a id shirt nodded. Hanley nced at them and couldn¡¯t be bothered to say anything. Instead, He grabbed a design draft from the desk and asked, ¡°What were you doing just now?¡± When they had to talk about work, the two of them immediately put on their game faces. The woman with the sses said, ¡°In the earlier draft, I believe that it will be better if we use marble for the frame. It¡¯s aesthetically more appealing as well as being more practical.¡± The man in the id shirt let out a cry. ¡°Practical? Do you really know what practical is. Nadia Spencer? Do you know how much the marble will add to our budget?!¡± Candice was getting interested in hearing their arguments and couldn¡¯t help but get closer to them. Nobody knew that the man wearing the id shirt was getting more excited as they spoke and would swing. his arms backward and almost hit Candice. +15 BONOS ¡°Ryan Summers!¡± Hanley suddenly yelled, and Ryan froze. Only then did he realize that Candice was not far from him. Candice also didn¡¯t realize that Hanley would suddenly yell. She was feeling awkward and apologized. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Did I disturb you?¡± Hanley rested his hands on the desk. His cors were slightly undone, and she could see a jade amulet hanging from his neck. He looked at Candice and said, ¡°Come over here and listen.¡± After their discussion ended, they were going to go out and have a meal. Candice wasn¡¯t going to join them. She apologized to Hanley and then called a cab back to the hotel. It was already veryte when she got back to the hotel. Candice put her phone on the bedside table and then went to take a shower. When she was done and came back out, she saw a lot of messages on WhatsApp. Candice gave it a look. It was Sieg trying to form a group and invite everyone out on the weekend. He Alex a few times already. Candice read all the messages then exited the ap She didn¡¯t expect to see Sieg in the hotel lobby on the second day. Sieg was also quite surprised to see her. He raised an eyebrow and greeted her. ¡°You¡¯re here too, huh?¡± Candice didn¡¯t react much. ¡°I¡¯m here for work.¡± Sieg clicked his tongue. ¡°Why did Alex bring you along? Isn¡¯t he bored with you yet?¡± He was the ssic yboy, and his supermodel partners kept on changing. That was why he couldn¡¯t understand why Alex would bring Candice along every time. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 However, he wouldn¡¯t ask Candice about it anyway. Instead, he asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Alex?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Candice said. She really did not know where he was since she had not seen him since yesterday morning. Sieg frowned as she stared at Candice. ¡°Why are you being so aggressive with me so early in the morning. Candice?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just answering your question,¡± Candice said in a calm tone. However, all Sieg could feel was how rude Candice¡¯s tone was and he kept on pushing it. At first, Candice could still speak with him with patience, but even she had reached her limits in the end. She couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°If you¡¯re looking for him, why don¡¯t you call him? Why are you looking for me here? I¡¯m not his maid to know everything about him.¡± Sieg most likely didn¡¯t realize that Candice would get so angry, and his face was getting gloomy. Just as he was going to yell at her, he saw the figureing from behind Candice. He raised his hand and said, ¡°Alex.¡± Candice froze a moment before hearing Alex¡¯s deep voice. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I was getting bored at Dorrington City, so I came over to Stugan City for some fun.¡± Candice kept her pose and didn¡¯t move until Alex¡¯s dispassionate voice rang in her ears. ¡°You can¡¯t wait to resign, can you?¡± Candice said nothing as she smelled the cold cedar scent from him. She did want to leave Aether, but she hadn¡¯t solved the problem with Yvonne yet. And there was also the issue of Peach¡¯s medical bills. At the end of the day, she was still rted to her by blood. It was impossible for Candice to simply give up on her. And then there was her grandfather¡¯s health. Because of one sentence, Candice¡¯s mind was in a mess. But she was the one who had said that she wanted to resign. She couldn¡¯t go back on her own words. Candice closed her eyes, feeling that her heartbeats were slowly increasing in pace. When Alex didn¡¯t hear her replies, he assumed he was right. He clicked his tongue and slightly lowered his head, and his deep voice slowly rang in Candice¡¯s ear again. You found your next one already?¡± Candice straightened her back and then said, ¡°No, you¡¯re overthinking.¡± He chuckled. ¡°I thought Jackson had arranged everything for you.¡± Candice took in a deep breath and turned around, looking straight at Alex. It was at this time that she noticed the distance between them. Alex was so close to her that he was almost This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. touching her. As soon as Candice turned around, Alex¡¯s scent immediately enveloped her. Sho could even hear Alex¡¯s heartbeat. He was quite tall, and he had a powerful personal aura. Candice had to lift her head before she could see his eyes clearly. Candice¡¯s right hand curled into a fist and said, ¡°Alex, don¡¯t cross the line.¡± ¡°Me? Crossing the line?¡± Alex narrowed his eyes as he looked down at Candice. ¡°Did I touch a sore spot when I mentioned Jackson? Or was it that man from the other day?¡± ¡°Alex, can you stop being ridiculous?!¡± Candice said as her entire being was shaking. She closed her eyes slowly, almost unable to speak a word. She was a person and could feel pain, too. As soon as she said that, there were the sounds of children ying from behind her. And then, Candice felt that someone had rammed into her back, and she couldn¡¯t help but fall to the front. But Alex was in front of her. Alex managed to hold her waist tightly as she fell on him. Her forehead hit his chin, and Alex let out a slight groan, but his arms around her waist tightened. The voices of the parents¡¯ apologies came from behind her, but Candice was almost right on top of Alex¡¯s chest. She could feel the rise and fall of Alex¡¯s chest and could also hear his sneer. ¡°So, you didn¡¯t manage to find someone else, and wanted to continue to win me over?¡± Chapter 75 Chapter 75 ¡°Alex?¡± Candice had just wanted to speak when she suddenly heard Sonia¡¯s voice. She raised her eyes and looked, and saw Sonia was standing not far away with her luggage. Her face became pale as she looked at them. Alex was quite surprised to see Sonia there. He paused before letting go of his arms that were holding Candice. He walked over to Sonia and asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Sonia nced at Candie and then saw Alex frowning. Her eyes were red as she sobbed, ¡°I have some vacation days left, so I wanted toe over and apany you, but¡­¡± She extended her hand and grabbed Alex¡¯s clothes and would nce at Candice every once in a while, as if she had suffered much. Sieg, who was at the side, interrupted them and said. ¡°When I said I wasing yesterday, Sonia said that she wanted toe immediately.¡± He then teased Alex and said, ¡°You must be having a great time, right? This is such a great surprise! Your girlfriend traveled all the way here to visit you.¡± Alex didn¡¯t answer him and simply took the luggage from Sonia¡¯s hand and said in a deep voice, ¡°I¡¯ll take you upstairs to rest.¡± Sonia¡¯s eyes were still red as she looked at Alex. Alex paused and said, ¡°We¡¯ll talk when we¡¯re upstairs.¡± The vibe between them was loving, as if they had forgotten that Candice was nearby. It was not until Sonia passed by that Candice greeted her with a stiff voice. Only then did Sonia acknowledge her presence. She watched as Alex considerately took Sonia¡¯s luggage and suddenly felt a difort in her wrist. She guessed it had to have happened when she subconsciously resisted being in Alex¡¯s arms, causing her hand to press against his chest. Since Sonia was here, Candice thought that given Alex¡¯s personality, he would tell Sonia to follow him after that. But surprisingly, when it was lunch, Alex then called her down. ¡°Ms. Renault,¡± Sonia said with a sweet smile. But if one were to take a more careful look, one would notice that her makeup was lighter, and her essories were much more valuable. She also looked much more mature than before. From the looks of it, Alex had probably exined everything. When Candice looked around and didn¡¯t see Alex, she nodded and asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t Alex around?¡± +15 BONOS ¡°He¡¯s on a call¡± Sonia said as she scanned Candice, with a curious look in her eyes. Candice had nothing much to say to her in the first ce. She then pretended not to see her curiosity and simply looked at her mobile. However, Sonia had something to say. She faintly called out to Candice, and she raised her head. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Alex¡­¡± Sonia lowered her head and said before a slight pause. ¡°Is he doing alright during this time?¡± Candice looked at her, but there was no doubt that she was trying to check on him with this question. To find out if Alex had been together with another woman at this time. Or to make it easier to see if she had anything with Alex again. Candice then said to her with a cold expression, ¡°You should ask him directly.¡± Sonia was bing somewhat awkward, but she was still trying to make up an excuse. ¡°He won¡¯t tell me if he¡¯s not doing well.¡± Despite saying that, her eyes had always been with Candice. It was obvious that Sonia was very suspicious of Candice. Candice looked down. Just as she had wanted to say something, she then saw Alexing from the outside. His eyes nced at Candice before frowning again. ¡°You haven¡¯t called for a cab yet?¡± ¡°Ms. Renault just came down too. She probably hasn¡¯t had the time yet.¡± Sonia immediately held Alex¡¯s arm and spoke up for Candice sweetly. Alex then said in a dispassionate tone, ¡°Are you going to call it now?¡± Candice¡¯s hand paused. She was supposed to be on leave today as well, but Alex must have forgotten. She pressed her lips and said nothing, then followed them to the branch. Mr. Welch was already waiting outside the door. When he saw Alex, he greeted him with a smile. ¡°Mr. Elysian, Ms. Burgess is already waiting inside.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. After he said that, only did Candice notice that she hadn¡¯t seen Nina today. She thought she was still at the hotel. Alex said nothing and simply walked in. Sonia then walked next to Candice and asked, ¡°Ms. Renault, who¡¯s this Ms. Burgess?¡± Who else? There was already an answer in her mind, but she still said, ¡°A work partner.¡± Sonia heaved a sigh, but before she could even feel at rest, she saw Nina waiting in the meeting room. Nina nced at Sonia before moving her sight to Candice. ¡°You¡¯re willing toe to work today? How rare.¡± Candice¡¯s hand was still injured and hadn¡¯t recovered. While she was already quite upset with Nina, she remainedposed and put the documents in front of Alex. She then said, ¡°I am Mr. Elysian¡¯s secretary. This is my job.¡± Nina sneered and said, ¡°Normal people can¡¯t afford to have a secretary like you.¡± Candice knew she was talking about what had happened earlier, but Sonia didn¡¯t. She looked at Candice and Nina suspiciously before walking over to Alex¡¯s side and said, ¡°Alex, I don¡¯t want to bother you. I¡¯ll wait for you outside.¡± Alex looked up and then gave a document to her. ¡°No need.¡± And then, he looked at Candice and said emotionlessly. ¡°You may leave.¡± Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Candice was organizing the file, and her hand paused. She raised her eyes and looked at Alex, who had already looked away, focusing his attention on the contract in front of him. ¡°Is it because you have something you need to pick up?¡± Mr. Welch said at this time. He then carefully asked Alex. ¡°Maybe I can go pick it up? I did ask Ms. Renault to prepare a form for me, and I think she still needs to cross-check the data.¡± While no one knew if he understood the coldness In Alex¡¯s tone, he looked at him earnestly. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Alex¡¯s attention was turned toward him, but when he opened his mouth again, his tone was filled with a little irritation. ¡°You¡¯re quite good at telling others to do work for you.¡± Mr. Welch rubbed his hands together. He was also quite nervous, as the branch wasn¡¯t doing well. The branch could also work on the form, but he simply thought that as Candice was someone Alex brought along with him, so Alex should somewhat respect her, right? Candice didn¡¯t know what he was plotting, but she simply took out a printed report and gave it to Alex. ¡°The market direction for the past three months is all here.¡± Alex gave her a faint nce and then looked at her hand, which was still red. He snorted. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re quite ustomed to this ce already.¡± Candice paused before pulling back her hand and mumbling, ¡°It¡¯s work.¡± The topic of the meeting was still about the market. The meeting room wasn¡¯t thatrge. Candice was sitting opposite Alex with some documents next to her, so she could pass them to Alex when he needed them. However, two minutes before the meeting started, Sonia suddenly said, ¡°Ms. Renault, you can give me the documents. I can pass it to Alexter.¡± However, their branchpany¡¯s documents were quite messy, and it took even Candice a long time before she could fully organize them. Not to mention that, as Candice had her own system of doing things, so another person might not be able to find the needed document as easily. And so, she reflexively said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve arranged everything, so it¡¯s more convenient.¡± The smile on Sonia¡¯s face froze for a moment before she gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Ms. Renault, I can do it too.¡± Only after Candice finished responding did she realize that Sonia¡¯s real intention was not about passing the documents. She looked down and pushed all the documents toward her without saying anything. However, as Sonia had never personally organized all of this, she couldn¡¯t catch up to Alex¡¯s speed when she was looking for the documents. Alex had to wait for two minutes for her to catch up. Sonia could still keep calm in the beginning, but her face began to be pale as time went on. +15 BONOS Since Alex demanded some data to be the most current, they hadn¡¯t had the time to save it into the drive yet. And so, everything had been printed out, and it would take a lot of effort to arrange it. When trying to find one of theparison charts, Sonia couldn¡¯t find it for a very long time. In the end, all she could do was to ask Candice with a frown. ¡°Ms. Renault, did you forget to create this one?¡± Candice looked at the stacks of documents that Sonia had already messed up. Sonia looked at her. There was a hint of rxation in her eyes as she blinked and looked at Alex. It was obvious she was annoyed, but she still spoke innocently. ¡°Alex, it¡¯s not Ms. Renault¡¯s fault. I couldn¡¯t find it.¡± Alex¡¯s cold, ck eyes turned toward Candice. He couldn¡¯t even suppress the frigid aura that he was exuding. He was moments away from exploding. ¡°In the blue folder with a green sticker. There¡¯s a ck mark on the upper right-hand corner. That¡¯s the one,¡± Candice said, as she looked into Alex¡¯s cold eyes. There was a glint of light in Alex¡¯s eyes as he followed her words and singled out that report. Chapter 77 Chapter 77 The report was very thin, making it very easy to overlook when it¡¯s stacked with all the documents. Sonia looked at the document that Alex had retrieved and forced a smile. ¡°The secretaries from Aether are so interesting. You can follow your boss with this level of competence? Aren¡¯t you ashamed of yourself?¡± Nina, who had been ignored all this while, sald with an icy attitude. Her tone was high and mighty as she looked at Sonia. Sonia was also quite sensitive, able to sense Nina¡¯s unfriendliness. She clutched the seams of her clothes and worked hard to straighten her back, working hard to look back at Nina¡¯s hostile re. However, she quickly lowered her eyes after a moment and turned around, holding Alex¡¯s sleeve and whispering, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Alex. I couldn¡¯t find the file.¡± Her tone was soft, but there was an embarrassed tone that was mixed inside and couldn¡¯t be ignored. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Alex nodded and slowly said, ¡°It¡¯s not that important, anyway.¡± When he said it was not important, Candice heard it all. Her hands on her legs curled into a fist before letting it go again. The document that Alex said wasn¡¯t important was something she had prepared through the night. Sonia¡¯s eyes were already red as she grabbed at Alex¡¯s clothing even tighter, and her lips were bing pale. She sniffed and shook her head. ¡°Alex¡± Nina could see Sonia¡¯s expression, and her dislike of her was bing very obvious. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that you¡¯ll make your client angry by taking an intern like her into a meeting?¡± The sneer was too obvious. Sonia couldn¡¯t help but look in her direction as she bit her lips, ¡°Ms. Burgess, is it? I am Aether¡¯s intern, and it¡¯s my fault for being ipetent. It has nothing to do with Aether.¡± Sonia had an innocent appearance, so one could easily pity her if they saw her teary expression. She looked down and then added, ¡°Ms. Burgess, please don¡¯t link my ipetence to Aether. I didn¡¯t know how Ms. Renault organized it.¡± And then she pushed the problem toward Candice. Nina looked at her miserable expression and then turned to Candice, who was sitting there quietly. Thetter had no expression on her face, as if she had already gotten used to it. Candice could feel her looking at her, and she quietly looked back at her. Nina clicked her tongue, and her voice became even colder. She red back at Sonia and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so quick to take all responsibility. I never said that it¡¯s your fault.¡± Sonia paused while Nina smiled, as if she didn¡¯t want to talk to her anymore. And then, she immediately said to Alex, ¡°My mom ising back this afternoon. If you¡¯re thinking of meeting her with someone like¡­ this, you can forget about the contract.¡± Nina stood up and then left. Before she left, she even gave Sonia a disdainful re. Meanwhile, Sonia frozepletely after being red at. Only when Nina had left did she finally regain herposure, despite her face being as white as a ghost. This time, she did cry as she held Alex¡¯s arm and sobbed. ¡°Alex, am I really that useless?¡± Alex looked down as if he was considering something. However, only when he heard her words did she say, ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to worry about what she said.¡± Sonia was still feeling very sorry about it all and almost pounced into Alex¡¯s arms. However, she paused when her eyes shifted to Candice. As she bit her lips, she said, ¡°When discussing the partnership, I think you should still take Ms. Renault along, alright?¡± Candice froze a little, as if Sonia was begging for some favor on her behalf. She slowly stood up and then put all the documents that Sonia had messed up into one stack and said, ¡± Organizing documents is a basic skill that a secretary should have. Ms. Summers, your work competency requires substantial improvement.¡± Chapter 78 Chapter 78 It was very rare for Candice to be this direct. She silently grabbed her things and was going to leave. However, she could hear Sonia¡¯s trembling voice and said, ¡°Ms. Renault, I know you don¡¯t like me, but¡­.¡± She said nothing after she paused for a long time. Candice turned around as she calmly continued what she was going to say. ¡°But I shouldn¡¯t say that to you?¡± Sonia said nothing, but her expression was quite obvious. That was what she believed. ¡°If I don¡¯t say that, does that mean your professionalpetence won¡¯t be that bad?¡± Candice said nonchntly. She wasn¡¯t emotionally invested in this conversation anyway, but she simply reminded Sonia of something. ¡°You can¡¯t stay in Aether for long with that level ofpetence.¡± Then again, even if she wasn¡¯tpetent, Alex would continue protecting her anyway. Candice smiled at her own thoughts before leaving the meeting room. After she left, she didn¡¯t want to think about how Sonia would have sobbed and told Alex about how sorry she felt. She took the documents back to the hotel and was then going to head to the hospital to get her dressings changed. She could change it herself. However, she wasn¡¯t in a good mood and didn¡¯t feel like doing it. Since she didn¡¯t want to stay at the hotel anyway, she decided to simply go to the hospital. But she had just reached the hospital when she received a call from Hanley, asking if she was going to the studio today. Candice was on sick leave and didn¡¯t need to go to work anyway. She couldn¡¯t be bothered if Alex remembered, since he had Sonia by his side. After agreeing to it, Candice went over after she changed her dressings. It was still the same group of people, but she heard Nadia¡¯s annoyed voice the moment she stepped in. She could even hear Ryan¡¯s retorts, but she didn¡¯t see Hanley anywhere. Candice stopped at the door, hesitating to ask if she should go in. Nadia discovered her first and directly greeted her. ¡°You¡¯re here, Ms. Renault? The boss has just gone out since he just got a project. He told us that once you¡¯re here. Just Join us.¡± Candice nodded. ¡°Thanks for letting me join, then.¡± Nadia was someone generous and sincere. Once she knew what Candice wanted to learn about, she spent the entire afternoon teaching her about the basics. When Candice was going to leave, as it was gettingte, she even added Candice on WhatsApp, saying that they couldmunicate using the app. However, she met Hanley, who was on his way back the moment she had just left through the door. Hanley was still wet. When he saw Candice was going back, he said, ¡°It¡¯s raining out there. Let me send you back.¡± Stugan City had plenty of rain during summer. As such, Candice didn¡¯t refuse. Hanley was not someone talkative. After talking a little about art exhibitions, he said nothing else. However, once they arrived at the hotel, because the rain was getting heavier, he had to stop the car closer to the hotel¡¯s front door. Only then did he let Candice get out of the car. In the end, Candice saw Alexing out of the hotel with Sonia behind him the moment she stepped out of the car. Alex stopped when he saw her and looked at Hanley¡¯s car behind her. He narrowed his eyes. Candice looked down before greeting him. ¡°You¡¯re going out?¡± Alex raised an eyebrow and then said, ¡°Candice, do you think you can skip work at any time because of yourpetency at work?¡± It was as if he was mocking her like how she had said Sonia was ipetent in her work this morning. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Alex was protective of Sonia, as expected. He wouldn¡¯t even allow one word of criticism to touch her. Candice paused for a second before saying. ¡°I¡¯ve asked for a day off that day.¡± Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Alex nced at her right hand in one moment before averting his eyes, and then said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you three minutes. Come with me to see our prospective partner.¡± Candice looked at Sonia before asking. ¡°You¡¯re not taking her?¡± Everyone heard what Nina had said in the meeting room today, but Candice didn¡¯t believe that Alex would care about any of it. Sonia was standing by Alex¡¯s side. Her eyes, which were red in the morning, were no longer swollen. She was once again that meek little woman. ¡°Ms. Renault, I know that I¡¯m still not good at many things. Alex has told me to learn more from you.¡± Her tone was gentle, but Candice would only believe her if she could hide the unwillingness in her eyes better. ¡°We must secure the contract with Ava Goodman.¡± The rain in Stugan City fell in unpredictable bursts. They woulde and go just as quickl Candice heard Alex¡¯s deep voice among the falling raindrops. ¡°Candice, this is what you should do.¡± Ava¡¯s business trip went very well, that was why she came back early. When Candice and the others arrived, Nina was already speaking with Ava. Sonia was by Alex¡¯s side. After what happened in the morning, she didn¡¯t dare say a word. When they were seated, she was going to sit by Alex¡¯s side out of habit. But before she could sit down, she heard Nina say, ¡°What brand of foundation did you use, Ms. Summers? Your eyes were still red this morning. but it was so good that it could cover them?¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Sonia¡¯s back went stiff as she forced a smile. ¡°You jest, Ms. Burgess.¡± ¡°Am I joking with you?¡± The disdain in Nina¡¯s eyes was obvious for all to see as she scanned Sonia from top to bottom. Then, she asked, ¡°Are we acquainted? Why would I joke with you?: Sonia felt embarrassed and then turned to look for help from Alex. Alex looked at Nina coldly, and the arrogant look on Nina¡¯s face froze. Alex then directly asked Ava, ¡°You said you¡¯ll give an answer by the time you return, Ms. Goodman. Have you considered it?¡± After he said that, Candice expertly handed him the information she had already prepared earlier. Ava took them and put them aside but didn¡¯t give them a look at all. She was in her forties and a female entrepreneur who had worked in the business world for a long time. Her cunning was in to see. She then looked at Sonia and asked Alex, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen her before. She is¡­?¡± Before Alex could say a thing. Nina said, ¡°She¡¯s an intern from Aether, but she couldn¡¯t even complete the easiest of tasks. But she could follow Mr. Elysian to all the meetings.¡± Her tone and usage of words made it difficult not to take it the wrong way. Ava looked at Sonia in a displeased manner. Sophia was already feeling somewhat upset after being addressed in that way by Nina. And after being scrutinized by Ava in such a manner, all she could feel was a deep sense of humiliation. She lowered her head, biting her lip without saying a word. Candice looked from the side. She knew why Ava was showing such open hostility. When she discovered Ava would be their prospective partner, she investigated Ava¡¯s preference. She had found out that her husband divorced her because he cheated on the secretary from his office. As expected, Ava looked at Sonia with more and more irritation. She then spoke in a cold tone, ¡°You¡¯re bringing someone who knows nothing to negotiate with me about this contract? I can tell how sincere Aether is now!¡± Nina winked at Alex before saying, ¡°See? I told you that you can forget about the contract if you bring her along.¡± Sonia was on the verge of tearing up. Ava and Nina were mocking her, but she couldn¡¯t even retort it. Instead, she even had to keep her tears inside. Chapter 80 Chapter 80 The moment was getting somewhat awkward. Sonia didn¡¯t dare to even raise her head, knowing that Ava was an important client of thepany¡¯s Stugan City branch. The main reason Alex came here was to sign the contract with her. Alex closed his eyes, his thoughts concealed. Meanwhile, Nina smiled as the sneer in her eyes became obvious. She looked at Sonia and said, ¡°Is there anything you want to say?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Sonia looked at Alex pitifully when her name was being called. The man opened his eyes and looked at Nina who was acting all smug. He had just wanted to speak when a clear voice cut him off. Candice got up with a smile and raised the winess in her hand. She gave Sonia a look before slowly saying. ¡°Ms. Goodman, Sonia¡¯s my personal assistant. She is indeed still an intern. I called her over to help because I injured my hand a few days ago.¡± The smile on her face was maintained as her tone sounded sincere. ¡°If there¡¯s anything that you and Ms. Burgess are unhappy with, I¡¯ll drink this as an apology on her behalf.¡± Candice picked up and drank the entire ss after she finished it. The e way Ava looked at her was different, but she quickly returned to her usual self. However, Aether Corporation was indeed the best partner she could ask for, and so she used the chance that Candice had given her and gave her a light nod. The atmosphere had returned to how it was earlier. However, Sonia kept on grabbing the end of her outfit nervously and looked at Candice before looking back. Candice put down the ss and then saw how Sonia looked at her. She then said, ¡°Sonia, can you get another N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. bottle of wine?¡± Sonia was stunned. There was no wine on the table. It was obvious that Candice wanted her to leave. She gritted her teeth and said nothing. However, Alex looked at her with his dark eyes and said, ¡°Listen. You should go for now.¡± Not only was Sonia stunned, but even Candice gave him a look. In the end, Sonia had to leave even with her eyes still red. Ava¡¯s expression brightened a little, and Candice used this chance to guide their conversation toward the contract. She was used to steering conversations, so she was naturally able to bring them back on topic. However, she was sitting a bit further away, so it was not convenient for her. So, she switched her seat and sat next to Alex. Candice had just drunk some wine. When she got close to Alex, the scent of alcohol drifted toward him. Alex¡¯s hand with the wine ss paused as he turned to look at her. Candice thought he was upset that she sat next to her. She lowered her eyes and then whispered at a volume that only they could hear, ¡°It¡¯s more convenient this way. I can¡¯t switch seats anymore.¡± After she said that, she then wanted to grab a paper towel. However, Alex had just wanted to put the wine ss back on the table, and their bumped arms Candice quickly pulled her hand back and continued chatting with Ava as if nothing had happened. However, Ava wasn¡¯t in too much of a mood to listen. After she had finished, she then asked Alex, ¡°When are you going back to Dorrington City?¡± Candice had taken back the form that she had just wanted to give to Ava. It was obvious that no matter what she said, Ava wouldn¡¯t listen. Alex¡¯s expression didn¡¯t betray his thoughts, but his tone was calm as he said, ¡°I¡¯m going back after work.¡± ¡°Is there anything else that requires you to be here?¡± Ava nced at Candice and said, ¡°Or are the people by your side all so useless that they can¡¯t even solve the issues at the branch office? ¡°When I was on my way back home, Helen called me, hoping that you would go back soon.¡± When Ava said that, she unintentionally nced at Candice. Chapter 81 Chapter 81 ¡°Helen said that Ms. Candice is someone that you personally trained. She should be able to handle the matters in Stugan City, correct?¡± Candice didn¡¯t expect that Ava would shift the topic of conversation to her. But she could tell by Ava¡¯s cool expression that if Alex left, they could no longer be sure about the status of the deal. Alex was as calm as always as he raised his eyes, looked at Candice, and said in a nonchnt tone, ¡°He¡¯s not in the position to do so.¡± Candice was just a secretary. She was unable to rece Alex when negotiating about certain big projects. In the past, when she was with Alex, she would normally simply stay by his side unless it was approved by him in the first ce. Ava didn¡¯t expect him to answer her like that. Her expression became tense as Alex continued, ¡°Aether Corporation is sincere in this partnership. It¡¯s fine if you need more time to think about it, but I still hope you could hasten up a bit since there are plenty of businesses in Stugan City as well.¡± With that, he turned to look at Candice. Candice knew what he meant. He felt that there was no point in continuing with the dinner anymore and wanted to leave. She once again put on her professional smile and reminded Alex, ¡°We have another teleconference at half past nine.¡± Alex nodded, then politely said goodbye to Ava before leaving with Candice. As soon as Candice left the private room, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll get the bill.¡± Alex gave her a grunt as he looked at his phone, not pausing in his steps. Candice only left after she had paid the bill. But when she reached the door, she noticed that the rain was starting again. She looked around and finally saw Alex and Sonia in a corner. Sonia had been provoked by the mother and daughter and she was not in a good ce. Her entire face was pale, and it looked like she would faint at any time. Candice walked over, nced at her, and then asked, ¡°When are you leaving?¡± Sonia waspletely stunned. When she remembered how Candice was able to deal with Ava across the dinner table masterfully, she became upset, as if Candice had just pped her across the face. She didn¡¯t want to see Candice at all, so she said nothing as she lowered her head. When Candice didn¡¯t hear any replies, she raised her eyes to look at Alex. Thetter simply said, ¡°We¡¯ll go now.¡± Her voice was cold, and Sonia felt even more upset when she heard it. However, she was stubborn and didn¡¯t +15 BONOS Candice could also feel the atmosphere between them. And so, she picked up her phone and said, ¡°I¡¯m going out to call a cab.¡± However, after she called a cab, Alex and Sonia were still ignoring each other. Candice didn¡¯t care, though. No matter what happened between Alex and Sonia, it had nothing to do with her. She got into the passenger seat and then checked on her phone to see if there were any new messages. Then she noticed that there was a message from an unfamiliar number. Candice thought it was a junk message, but when she looked at it, her eyes opened wide. [Give me back my money now, bitch. Otherwise, I¡¯m going to yourpany and sue you! We¡¯ll see if you have any dignity left after that!] It was obviously from Yvonne¡¯s husband. In reality, Candice had never seen this man. When Yvonne came looking for her, she only brought Peach with N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. her. She vaguely remembered that this man¡¯sst name was Dawson. Luckily, he had only sent out one message. Candice deleted it with a dark expression on her face. Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Even when Candice had reached the hotel, she wasn¡¯t feeling any better. That was why she didn¡¯t notice the atmosphere between Alex and Sonia. After letting them know, she then returned to her own room. She didn¡¯t switch on the light and sat in the room for a long time. Then she gave Yvonne a call. Yvonne was probably busy at the time. She was still gasping for air when she picked up the call. She didn¡¯t even realize that the person calling was Candice and simply asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Candice said as she stood by the window, looking at the pouring rain outside. When Yvonne heard her voice, she was stunned. And then, she asked hesitatingly, ¡°Why did you suddenly call me?¡± There were very few mothers who would ask their daughters why they would call them in such a respectful tone. Candice closed her eyes and faced the room that was filled with darkness. ¡°Nothing. Just want to know how you¡¯re doingtely.¡± Yvonne stopped, bing somewhat embarrassed as she mumbled, ¡°Not that good. Peach is in the hospital again.¡± Upon hearing her tone, Candice fell silent. Yvonne then carefully probed her. ¡°How are you doingtely, Candice?¡± Candice then said with a stiff expression, ¡°I¡¯m on an out-of-town assignment in Stugan City.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re on a work trip,¡± Yvonne said and then asked, ¡°Can you transfer me some more money? Peach, she¡­¡± ¡°Her father was asking me for money.¡± Candice didn¡¯t let Yvonne finish and cut her off. She turned around and pushed open the window, letting the wind and rain inside. She then asked, ¡°Did you give him all the money I gave you in the past?¡± Yvonne exined bitterly, ¡°What else can I do?¡± Candice hung up, suddenly feeling helpless. All these years, she had given Yvonne arge sum of money, thinking that Peach was still so little, and that Yvonne was her mother. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Who could have known? Candice felt her head hurting. She slowly went to wash up before going to bed. She then wouldn¡¯t know that Sonia and Alex were still giving each other the silent treatment. Sonia felt sorry for herself. After Nina and Ava had humiliated her, not only did Alex not protect her, he had even sided with Candice and told her to leave. +15 BONOS She was his girlfriend. When Sonia recalled Candice, there was a hint of hatred in her eyes. She closed her eyes, growing somewhat nervous. She hadn¡¯t felt the type of inferiority she had when facing Candice for a long time after she got together with Alex. Alex was still working in the next room. Sonia walked over barefooted. She stood by the door. When she saw Alex wasn¡¯t responding, then she walked in. She squatted down, extended her hands, and held him by the waist. She then said as she sobbed, ¡°Alex, do you despise me?¡± Alex¡¯s hands that were striking away at the keyboard stopped as he said, ¡°No.¡± When he said that, his eyes were still on the screen. He didn¡¯t so much as nce at Sonia. Sonia could see his expression with her eyes. She was feeling frustrated but didn¡¯t dare to show it in front of Alex. She calmed down a little and then raised her eyes to look at his screen. She asked, ¡°What are you working on?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Alex said as he put in thest digit and then switched off theputer. Then he looked down at Sonia. His voice was deep and gentle, with a shade of helplessness. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it. Aren¡¯t you tired after everything today? Get some rest.¡± ¡°I want you to apany me,¡± Sonia whined as she held him. Alex¡¯s hands froze a little and then patted her arms as if consoling her. ¡°I have work.¡± Sonia bit her lips and said, ¡°Why do you have so much work?¡± After that, she worried Alex believed that she wanted to do something with him. She quickly added, ¡°Work¡¯s important, but so is your body.¡± Chapter 83 Chapter 83 He nodded and just wanted to say something when his phone lit up. Sonia nced at it and said, ¡°You have a message, Alex.¡± But before she could even finish, Alex had already grabbed the phone and looked at the screen. He then said with a deep voice, ¡°You should go to bed soon.¡± Sonia looked at him. He was holding his phone with furrowed brows. She decided to stay silent despite all the things she wanted to say. Candice felt she didn¡¯t get that much sleep. She felt she was in a state of half asleep and half awake, remembering many things that happened when they were little. It was already eight when she woke up the next day. Luckily, nothing much was happening today. After cleaning up a little, she noticed her scalded hand had almost fully recovered. Since she didn¡¯t have many things to do alone at the hotel, Candice suddenly remembered the few exhibitions that Hanley had rmended to her that she hadn¡¯t visited. She chose the closest one and went over. Since she visited on a workday and it was a small exhibition, the crowd was quite light. Candice snapped a few pictures inside and sent them to Hanley, asking him about the settings.. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Hanley didn¡¯t reply, as he was probably busy. When she got back to the hotel, only then did Hanley reply to the messages. Candice read it as she walked toward the elevator. However, when the elevator door opened, she saw Alex and Sieg stepping out of it. She had only seen Sieg once that day at the hotel. She thought he had gone back already. Sieg was still upset upon seeing her as usual. He teased and said, ¡°Candice, are you really here on a vacation?¡± Candice raised her eyes and said, ¡°I¡¯m not arranged for any work today, so it¡¯s my personal time.¡± Sieg let out a strange smile and then looked at Alex behind him, saying, ¡°Alex, you¡¯ve been looking for her, but she said she¡¯s not working today and it¡¯s her personal time.¡± Candice frowned. She had already checked yesterday around noon that she had no work today. However, Sieg said that Alex had been looking for her. Candice looked at him with a slight frown. ¡°We¡¯re going to meet up with Avater to get the contract signed.¡± However, Alex said little and simply arranged the work. ¡°I have things I need to do. I¡¯llplete it as soon as possible.¡± +15 BONOS Candice asked nothing more and simply turned around and left together with Alex. Meanwhile, when Sieg reached the hotel door, he stopped and turned around, saying, ¡°I hate doing business. I¡¯ll see youter.¡± Alex didn¡¯t stop him and simply went and met up with Ava, together with Candice. She then asked, ¡°Are you sure that Ms. Goodman wants to sign the contract?¡± The contract had been dragged on for too long, but Candice¡¯s thoughts were preupied, so she wanted to leave Stugan City as soon as possible. Alex nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± Candice rxed somewhat. But after she calmed down, she turned and looked at Alex. He was resting with his eyes closed. His frown was deep, and there was some blemish under his eyes. Looked like he didn¡¯t rest well last night. Candice looked at him, unable to speak. Alex could feel her looking at him, so he opened his eyes and asked, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Candice closed her eyes. After a moment of silence, she said, ¡°After the contract is signed, I want to take some days off.¡± Alex was already frowning, and now his frown was even deeper. His finger twitched almost undetectably, but he quickly returned to how he looked, as if he didn¡¯t care about a thing in the world. He clicked his tongue and said, ¡°Candice, I brought you here for work, and you¡¯re treating this as a vacation paid by thepany? Not only are you skipping work, you want to take days off now?¡± Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Candice¡¯s hands that were on her thighs balled into fists. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something. However, the vehicle suddenly jolted, causing her to uncontrobly lean to the side. And right beside her was Alex. A cool breath enveloped them as Candice fell into Alex¡¯s embrace. Her head happened to rest on his shoulder, and the impact made her feel a bit sore. The driver, turning apologetically, said, ¡°So sorry. There was a pothole just now. Is everything okay?¡± Candice was now sprawled on Alex. She wanted to sit back up, but she suddenly felt that something was pulling her hair as if they had been entangled in something. She subconsciously extended her hand at the source, and her hand streaked across a piece of fabric. Candice¡¯s finger then touched the button that her hair was entangled with. ¡°You¡¯re willing to do it inside a car just so you can ask for days off?¡± Alex looked down as he said with a sneer, his eyes fixed on the hand that was grabbing at the button on his cor. Candice paused for a moment before exining. ¡°My hair got caught in your button.¡± Her hair was long and curly, and the hair that was caught in the button was pulled straight. Candice tried to uncurl her hair with one hand, but it wasn¡¯t working, so she had no choice but to use both hands. However, she didn¡¯t know how her hair got entangled with the button. She couldn¡¯t do it even after a while. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Candice slowly frowned. She was on top of Alex right now, and she could even sense his breathing. She couldn¡¯t help but get agitated, and the strength she was applying was getting stronger. ¡°Are you trying to rip my shirt apart, too?¡± Alex had just finished speaking when an arm went over Candice¡¯s shoulder and immediately held Candice¡¯s hand that was trying to untangle her hair. His palm was warm, and when he was holding the back of Candice¡¯s hand, he was being gentle and careful. Candice was stunned and stopped moving. She was being held in Alex¡¯s arms, and it looked like they were so close and intimate. But quickly, she returned to her senses and quietly looked at Alex, trying to free those strands of hair. She bit her lips and whispered, ¡°Thanks.¡± Alex looked at her. There was a glint of light shing through his eyes as he revealed a faint smile. And then, he said in an indifferent tone, ¡°How long are you going to stay on me and hug me?¡± Only then did Candice realize she was still in Alex¡¯s embrace. But she took a closer look and noticed that Alex¡¯s hand was still holding the back of her hand. Her heart skipped a beat as she pulled out her hand and slowly sat back up, and then tried speaking in as +15 BONOS When Alex saw her reaction, the emotions in his eyes slowly receded. When they reached Ava¡¯s ce, Nina was there too. Nina evaluated the situation then said, ¡°Looks like you¡¯re much more sincere today.¡± Candice guessed she meant Alex didn¡¯t bring Sonia along today. But they were at the end of it all, so after saying that, Ava then signaled Nina not to say another word. Ava was sitting behind her desk, her eyes looking at Alex. To be honest, she wasn¡¯t feeling very comfortable with this. While working with Aether was the best choice she had, how Alex had responded bypletely stomping on her dignity made Ava somewhat annoyed. Candice was able to perceive her well, since she had been a secretary for a long time. While she didn¡¯t know how Alex had persuaded Ava to sign the contract, she could see how upset Ava was at this time. They had already wasted a lot of time in Stugan City. With what was happening to Yvonne, all Candice wanted was to finish this as soon as possible so that she could leave. She looked at Ava¡¯s expression and took a deep breath before slowly walking over. ¡°Ms. Goodman.¡± Ava didn¡¯t need to show her any seriousness at all and immediately dismissed her. However, Candice put on her professional smile and walked two more steps forward. ¡°Stugan City has developed well this year. We¡¯ve looked at the market¡¯s data earlier and even we can feel that the market¡¯s fluctuating greatly.¡± Chapter 85 Chapter 85 ¡°In such a state, theter we join the fray, the less opportunity we will get,¡± Candice said in a warm and polite tone. She was simply showing Ava the situation they were in. Ava¡¯s expression was still dark as she snorted and said, ¡°Do you think I need you to remind me of this?¡± Candice¡¯s voice was of good cheer as she said, ¡°Of course, you wouldn¡¯t need me to remind you. You are a very detailed person and can determine the perfect time to invest in the market.¡± ¡°All I want to say is that we can¡¯tpare to you when ites to understanding Stugan City¡¯s market. Aether is showing you great sincerity in wanting to work with you. Naturally, we hope our partnership is something that both sides can be happy with.¡± Candice¡¯s words were clearly ttery toward Ava, and it effectively eased the atmosphere. She didn¡¯t want to lose the partnership with Aether, but she was also quite irritated by Alex¡¯s attitude. What Candice was doing was to give her a chance to fold her cards. Ava let out a sigh, and Candice was able to calm down as well. They still needed to wait for a moment before the contract could be signed. Candice then used this chance to go to the restroom. She stood in front of the mirror. The woman reflected in the mirror had a lovely face adorned with makeup and a typical corporate smile. but no matter how she looked, the woman looked exhausted. After a moment, Candice then took out a lipstick from her purse to reapply her makeup. She only left afterward. However, she had just turned around a corner after leaving the washroom and saw Alex was picking up a call. His face was a little pale. Candice paused a little before walking past him. Then, she heard him sneer, ¡°Are you that greedy?¡± Once they were back at the office, Ava had already prepared the contract. Candice cross-checked it once more. When Alex got back to the office, they cross-checked the contract again. The moment it was signed, Candice rx her furrowed brows a little. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Nina was standing at the side, with her gaze on Alex. ¡°Now that we¡¯re partners, do you want to have dinner together?¡± Alex passed the contract to Candice and didn¡¯t even look at her when he refused, saying, ¡°I have ns tonight.¡± Nina had no choice but to give up. The reason he hade over to Stugan City was the contract with Ava. Now that the task was completed, Candice felt like he didn¡¯t need her here anymore. She gave it a thought and said to Alex, ¡°Now that I¡¯m done with everything here, I want to leave tonight.¡± +15 BONOS Alex stopped and looked at his phone before saying with an annoyed tone, ¡°You¡¯re being so direct with me, but why were you fawning all over Ms. Goodman like a ve just now?¡± Candice¡¯s face became pale as she couldn¡¯t help but force a smile. ¡°Like a ve¡±. Those were the words Alex had used to describe her. She closed her eyes and then said, ¡°Mr. Elysian, I¡­¡± Before she could finish, Alex¡¯s phone rang. He didn¡¯t avoid her and picked it up in front of Candice. She could hear Sieg¡¯s voice from the other side. She stood by the side, waiting for Alex to finish. However, her phone suddenly beeped, signaling that there was a new message that came in. She was stunned and looked at her phone. It was a message sent from Hanley with two pictures and an audio recording. Candice originally wanted to read the transcription, but she identally yed it on loudspeakers instead. Hanley¡¯s clear voice immediately yed. ¡°I¡¯m very busy today. You cane over directly in the afternoon.¡± She had been going to Hanley¡¯s ce for thest two days and she had just asked him a question this morning, so Hanley had thought she wanted toe over in the afternoon. Candice had just wanted to reply to his message when there was a shadow hanging over her. She couldn¡¯t tell if there was anger in his tone. ¡°You¡¯re already looking for men when you¡¯ve only stayed in Stugan City for a few days?¡± Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Candice tensed up as she raised her eyes to meet Alex¡¯s. Suppressing her unease, she said, ¡°He¡¯s a friend.¡± Alex, on the other hand, averted his gaze. ¡°Is that so?¡± he asked casually. His skeptical tone was unmistakable. Subconsciously, she did not wish for Hanley to be wrongfully criticized, yet she sensed it was useless to debate with Alex. Candice remained calm and suppressed her impatience. ¡°The contract ispleted,¡± she said, balling her fist. ¡°I¡¯ll send you the necessary documentation. Is it okay for me to leave now?¡± Alex observed her closely, a hint of mockery in his eyes, as if attempting to peer into her soul. He regained his calm in an instant and stated tly, ¡°No.¡± Candice frowned. It seemed to her that he was intentionally making things difficult for her. Her face tumed frosty as she spoke inly. ¡°I haven¡¯t used any of my annual leaves. I¡¯m entitled to that, correct?¡± With a cold sneer, Alex said, ¡°Abandoning your boss in the middle of a business trip and going off on your own. Candice, I¡¯m amazed by your professionalism.¡± Candice was at a loss for words. After a brief silence, she inquired, ¡°Should we return to the hotel now?¡± Alex nced at his phone and responded, ¡°First, apany me somewhere else.¡± Candice assumed he was leading her to a business-rted location. Surprisingly, he took her to a golf course. The caddy who came to greet them stated respectfully, ¡°Mr. Frowler is awaiting you.¡± Frowning, Candice inquired, ¡°Did Sieg request your presence?¡± She was filled with difort. Noted for being a yboy in the elite social circles and for being unscrupulous, Sieg probably invited Alex here to have fun. Candice, anticipating mockery and degradation on such an asion, hesitated and objected. ¡®I shouldn¡¯t apany you to meet Sieg.¡± Alex looked back, questioning. ¡°Then who should?¡± ¡®I can give Sonia a call.¡± +15 BONOS But before she could borate, Alex dismissed the idea with indifference. ¡°She isn¡¯t as sociable as you.¡± Pursing her lip, Candice understood that being called ¡°sociable¡± was not entirely ttering. She followed Alex inside and realized why he had brought her. There were around five or six other people there besides Sieg. There was an almost sexual air to the way men and women interacted with one another. She could tell they were not ordinary people based on their attire. Candice grasped that Alex¡¯s concern was Sonia being negatively influenced in this setting. Upon seeing Alex, Sieg approached with a woman by his side, surprised to see Candice and questioned, ¡°Why bring her?¡± Alex replied coolly, ¡°She¡¯s with me; we¡¯ve just finalized a contract.¡± Sieg, unbothered, shrugged nonchntly. He then turned to others nearby, whispering, ¡°They belong to Stugan¡¯s elite group, here to mingle andwork. okay?¡± Alex, of course, would not reject them because they were already present. Someone asked them to walk over there to y golf. Sieg, casually draping an arm around Alex, approached the group. Candice was not particrly interested in golf. Although she had visited golf courses often for work, her practical experience was minimal. Her limited golf skills were acquired from Alex. Previously, she had to engage a major client who was an avid golfer. Candice frequently enticed Alex to the golf course to approach the client. Sadly, her sports abilities werecking. Despite numerous lessons from Alex, she managed just the basic swing. Her scores were more like a stroke of luck. Those rich kids always found ways to enjoy themselves, and so when a bet was proposed during the game. everyone was in. Sieg, grinning, asked, ¡°What shall we wager?¡± Someone suggested, ¡°Money?¡± This was quickly refuted. ¡°Lame!¡± ¡°How about the loser running a circle in the nude?¡± suggested yfully the beauty Sieg had just embraced.¡± That would be entertaining.¡± She meant it as a joke, but the group unanimously agreed that it was a fantastic idea. +15 BONOS Candice, shadowing Alex, tried to blend into the background, putting on an act of ignorance. Despite her efforts to remain unnoticed, someone stopped to talk with her. A woman in a pink mini-skirt approached her, inquiring softly, ¡°Are you new here, or are you with someone? I¡¯ve never seen the man you¡¯re with before. Is he acquainted with Mr. Castillo and the others? Realizing that this woman might be a ¡°caddy¡±, Candice frowned. The woman, noticing Candice¡¯s silence, expressed dissatisfaction and said, ¡°Hey, I¡¯m speaking to you The woman¡¯s perfume was overpowering. Candice took a step back and prepared to respond, pausing asughter erupted nearby. As she averted her sight, she noticed a young man in spectacles giving Alex a business card and uttered. ¡°Mr. Elysian, it¡¯s an honor to have you join us. I¡¯m Stan Castillo. Let¡¯s get to know each other.¡± Alex epted the card with a polite nod and an air of superiority. Candice instinctively moved forward to take it. Stan seemed surprised to see Candice, then nced at Alex with a meaningful look and said, ¡°Mr. Elysian is a lucky man.¡± Feeling uneasy under Stan¡¯s stare, Candice retreated to stand behind Alex, peering down. Alex calmly stated, ¡°I thought we were here to y golf?¡± Stan shifted his attention from Candice and replied, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s our purpose here.¡± Alex indicated his readiness. ¡°Then let¡¯s begin.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Stan said, raising his eyebrows. ¡°I assumed Mr. Elysian didn¡¯t bring adypanion, so I didn¡¯t bring it up.¡± Candice¡¯s heart thumped furiously as she heard the words dypanion¡±, sensing something unpleasant. Sure enough, Stan suggested, ¡°Golf alone is dull, and it¡¯s less thrilling with just men. How about letting the women participate? The rule is simple-form teams of two, with the woman taking the swing. The team shares the oue of the game.¡± Stan looked at Alex and asked, ¡°What are your thoughts, Mr. Elysian?¡± Candice maintained a neutral face behind Alex, saying, ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t y golf.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know how; Mr. Elysian can guide you. I only said you must be the one to swing.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Candice got the point. This was supposed to be fun, but she wondered what kind of amusement it could be with Alex. She nced at Alex, expecting him to decline. +15 BONOS To her surprise, after pondering, he epted, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do it.¡± Candice was taken aback. Alex faced her, a slight crease on his brow, his voice steady as ever. ¡°Why are you just standing there?¡± Her reluctance was evident, but then she heard him chuckle softly and murmur, ¡°Stan¡¯s dad heads Suave Corporation. Why do you think I agreed to this silly game?¡± Rummaging through her memories, she remembered Suave Corporation as a notable private company in Stugan. Realizing Alex¡¯s motive towork with Stan, she blinked in understanding. Others urged them to begin. Alex, still calm but with a faintly raised brow, gently urged, ¡°Come here.¡± Candice walked over hesitantly. Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Being paired for golf meant Alex had to guide Candice, with him wrapping his arms around her from behind. She felt the warmth of his chest against her back, his heartbeat discernible through their clothes. When Alex dropped his head, his breath tickled her ear, causing a fluttering sensation. Stan quipped, observing them, ¡°Mr. Elysian, are you enjoying the embracement? You haven¡¯t swung the club for quite some time.¡± The remark sparkedughter among the onlookers. Candice tightened her hold on the golf club. She had zero understanding of golf. Alex adjusted her posture by casually resting her hand on her wrist. ¡°Why are you nervous?¡± he asked, his voice steady. ¡°Didn¡¯t I teach you before?¡± Hershes fluttered involuntarily, and her hold on the club stiffened. Unknown to Alex, his tone mirrored that of their lessons years ago. Candice¡¯s mind was in turmoil. She gripped the club tighter and swung, sending the ball flying. Alex, observing silently from behind, slightly raised his eyebrows. Candice took a step back and avoided Alex¡¯s embrace, feigning calmness. ¡°That¡¯s my shot.¡± Alex remained silent, his face giving nothing away. Sieg, however, whistled. ¡°Lex, it looks like Candice is taking her revenge; you¡¯re going to streak.¡± Only then did Candice realize her shot had not reached the golf hole. Alex came back. His demeanor wasposed, as though Sieg¡¯sment had not reached his ears. Candice finally realized she had failed. She bowed her head and humbly apologized. ¡°Sorry.¡± She had forgotten about the wager. ¡°What¡¯s the point of apologizing at this point? I assumed you did it intentionally,¡± remarked the same woman who had earlier tried to converse with her. She edged closer to Alex, giving him a suggestive nce, then continued speaking to Candice, ¡°After all, Mr. Elysian does appear to be in great shape.¡± Her intention to lean against Alex was clear. All of the women in the vicinity were perceptive; noting Stan¡¯s behavior toward Alex, they deduced he was an important man. Candice intercepted the woman before she could get nearer to her bace +15 BONOS The woman followed Candice¡¯s direction and indeed spotted a man watching her. She seemed reluctant, casting a fleeting look at Alex, then smiling back at the man. As the next round began, most attendees clustered to observe, leaving Candice and Alex alone. Candice was unsure what to say to Alex. He looked up, fixing a neutral gaze on her. After a pause, he sarcastically asked, ¡°You did that deliberately?¡± Caught off guard, Candice retorted, ¡°I told you, I¡¯m not skilled at golf.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± he said, lifting his gaze and looking at her thoughtfully. ¡°It appears that my instruction was in vain.¡± In the first round of the game, Alex and Candice¡¯s team finishedst. Stan, wielding his golf club, casually warned Alex, ¡°It¡¯s a best-of-three, Mr. Elysian. Watch out.¡± Candice trailed behind Alex. In a hushed tone, he asked her when they were close, ¡°Are you eager to have me strip for them?¡± Candice averted her eyes, quietly responding, ¡°I didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± Alex responded with a knowingugh. His hand oveid Candice¡¯s, his thumb applying gentle pressure to hers. This round, she exerted minimal effort, letting Alex guide the swing. The game included swift action. Almost ending in a tie, each team had one problematic swing. Regardless, none of them were worried about the oue, but they bantered with each other. Stan then invited everyone for a barbecue. With Alex attending, Candice had no choice but to join. The golf course, part of an exclusive club, offered scenic tour cars transporting guests to a barbecue location next to ake. While Sieg and Stan led the way and began drinking, Alex was out of sight. Candice, disinterested in alcohol, opted for a quieter area. She had not responded to Hanley¡¯s message. A call from Dean Schmidt came in right as she pulled out her phone. Candice picked up the call. ¡°Ms. Renault, when are you returning to Dorrington City?¡± Dean Schmidt asked, his voice tense. ¡°I believe we should have an in-depth discussion of Mr. Sundance¡¯s case. Your grandfather has made several rushed visits to the bank recently. His caregiver overheard that all his bank deposits were transferred.¡± 213 +15 BONOS Candice¡¯s expression grew grim. She had not yet decided how to break the news about Yvonne¡¯s actions to her grandfather. Her chest heaved violently. Suppressing her fury, she briefly conversed with Dean Schmidt before ending the call. Gazing at the calendar on her phone, her thoughts were in turmoil. Losing her appetite, Candice went to Alex and inquired about leaving early. Although there was a rxed seating arrangement at the barbecue, Stan and Sieg¡¯s presence energized the atmosphere. As she neared, Stan approached Alex with a drink, praising, ¡°Mr. Elysian, you¡¯ve achieved so much at a young age. Let me toast to you!¡± But just then, a woman cut in, ¡°Mr. Elysian has matters to attend to tonight. I¡¯ll drink in his stead.¡± Candice swiftly took three sses from the table and filled them. Facing Stan without hesitation, she said, ¡± Since Mr. Castillo is toasting Mr. Elysian, as his proxy, I shall drink three sses.¡± Stan, initially dissatisfied with the interruption, started to see Candice in a new light. Candice downed all three sses quickly, cing them back on the table with a slight flush on her cheeks. Her alcohol tolerance was low, yet she boldly faced Stan and poured another ss, dering, ¡°This one is my toast to Mr. Castillo.¡± He acknowledged her gesture but did not ept the drink. Stan observed Candice curiously, questioning, ¡°You¡¯re Mr. Elysian¡¯s secretary, right? What do you have to do with me?¡± Caught off guard, Candice justified, ¡°Without Mr. Castillo¡¯s invitation, how could I enjoy such a wonderful setting and Mr. Elysian¡¯spany?¡± Stan, looking at Alex,plemented, ¡°Your secretary certainly has a way with words.¡± Alex remained silent. After Stan departed, Candice courteously interacted with several other attendees, drinking on Alex¡¯s behalf. As the event wound down, she became so dizzy that she had to rest on a swing. The surroundings gradually quieted down. Candice, struggling to keep her eyes open, noticed everyone had left. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. She heard steady footsteps nearing and then halting before her. A familiar scent of cologne wafted over. Candice looked up at him, feebly trying to reach out but only grasping the edge of his shirt. She murmured while gazing up at him, ¡°Alex, I¡¯m feeling dizzy.¡± +15 BONOS Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Candice had admittedly consumed more alcohol than she could handle. Her mind was foggy, and she felt a heaviness in her head, her hand shaking as it clung to the corner of Alex¡¯s shirt. Alex noticed how she was tugging at his shirt, his tone void of emotion as hemented, ¡°You really can hold your liquor.¡± Her eyes began to redden and moisten, washing away her customary poise and calm manner. ¡°Don¡¯t you hate such socializing?¡± she questioned softly, her eyshes quivering slightly. Alex had his reservations in some aspects, usually staying away from smoking and drinking, only partaking when strictly necessary. Having worked closely with him for years, Candice was well-versed in his preferences. His brows twitched slightly, clearly unconcerned that Candice was still clinging to his shirt. He scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re so dedicated to your job now?¡± Candice felt a tightness in her throat, making her ufortable. She leaned into the swing, and her grip on Alex¡¯s shirt weakened. Pressing her lips together, she mentioned, ¡°Sonia is here in Stugan too.¡± Alex¡¯s eyes narrowed as he questioned, ¡°What about it?¡± As Candice looked down, contemting her next words, a man approached them. ¡°Mr. Elysian, everyone awaits you inside the vi,¡± he announced. Candice¡¯s nned words were cut off. She nced at Alex, who gave a nod and returned her gaze. She felt a bit woozy, but thankfully, she had preemptively taken a hangover remedy from the waiter earlier. Even so, her thoughts were slightly clouded. Grasping what Alex was implying, she steadied herself on the swing and followed him to the vi. The walkway leading to the vi¡¯s entrance was softly illuminated and decorated with begonias. Despite being cautious, Candice¡¯s night blindness made it difficult for her to walk steadily, and her alcohol use made it worse. She proceeded cautiously, taking one step at a time, trying to adapt to the low light. Alex abruptly halted, catching Candice by surprise as she stumbled into him. His voice, devoid of warmth, resonated, ¡°Can¡¯t you walk properly?¡± Candice, covering her nose, took a step back and gently exined, ¡°I didn¡¯t anticipate you stopping abruptly.¡± +15 BONOS He let out a dismissive snort. In the darkness, his tall figure overshadowed Candice, resembling a great mountain. With her vision impaired, Candice felt immense pressure around her. She clenched her hand and said, ¡± Everyone¡¯s waiting for you.¡± Attempting to walk past Alex with confidence, she misjudged her step and began to fall. Her heart raced in panic. She closed her eyes and braced for the impact, but it never came. Alex had caught her from behind just in time. Candice¡¯s heart skipped a beat, stilling to terms with what had just happened as Alex drew her close to him. The shock cleared her head, but her palms felt icy. Alex gripped her arm strongly, his tone emotionless as he remarked, ¡°Still as reckless as ever.¡± Candice intended to respond, but the difort in her throat intensified. She opened her mouth a few times but was unable to say anything. ¡°Scared?¡± Alex nced at her, questioning, ¡°Why are you so chicken?¡± Candice managed to utter a feeble ¡°I¡± before Alex released her arm and grabbed her wrist instead. The lingering warmth on her skin left her momentarily disoriented, yet she quickly recovered, biting her lip. Her voice was hoarse, but she was adamant. ¡°I can walk on my own.¡± Alex remained silent. He strode forward, holding her wrist tightly. She felt uneasy with the proximity and tried to pull away a bit. His voice,ced with a teasing tone, floated down to her. ¡°You were walking so sluggish before. I almost believed you were blind. What else is there?¡± Candice hesitated briefly before quietly rifying, ¡°I suffer from night blindness. I genuinely can¡¯t see well. It¡¯s not a pretense.¡± Alex came to a halt, then casually giggled. ¡°What a convenient excuse.¡± Candice stayed quiet, allowing Alex to guide her to the vi entrance. Upon entering the brighter area, she let out a sigh of relief. Alex looked down, adjusting his cuffs. He cast a casual nce at her before entering. Inside, Sieg and Stan were already sitting in the living room. They called out to Alex, inviting him to a game. ¡°Lex,e join us.¡± Candice noticed that they were ying cards. A heavily make-up girl was perched on Stan¡¯sp, holding and ying his cards as he directed. +15 BONOS Stan whispered asionally to the girl, which made the girl chuckle. Everyone else at the table was doing the exact same thing. It was your average scene of affluent youngsters enjoying fun. Candice, maintaining a neutral expression, settled into a seat beside Alex. Sieg, clearly enjoying himself, urged Alex to join the card game as soon as he took his seat. Alex looked at Candice and directed, ¡°You take over.¡± The sudden order surprised Candice. Alex, looking calm and slightly moving his wrist, remarked, ¡°My hand is sore, and I don¡¯t feel like moving.¡± His hands were slender and impable, the skin fair, and the knuckles well defined. Candice, observing his hand, sensed that her boss was subtly indicating the episode of them making it to the vi. Her eyes briefly flickered. Then she overheard Sieg, clearly unsatisfied, questioning, ¡°Lex, are you brushing me off?¡± Alex casually answered, ¡°I¡¯m really not up to it.¡± ¡°You looked alright a moment ago.¡± Alex chose not to borate further, and Sieg did not push the issue. Instead, Sieg turned to Candice with a click of his tongue, challenging, ¡°We¡¯re ying for high stakes. Are you sure you¡¯re up for it?¡± Candice had little desire to y in the first ce, and Sieg¡¯s words provided an excuse for her refusal. Before she could respond, Alex added, ¡°If she loses, it¡¯s on me.¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Stan reacted with a grunt. He took the cards from the woman beside him and threw them onto the table, stating, ¡°Mark your words. I won¡¯t hold back.¡± Candice positioned herself at the table, while Alex reclined on the sofa, observing her with aid- back demeanor. ¡°Hey, you¡¯ve been out so long today.¡± Sieg said nonchntly as he picked up the cards and approached Alex. ¡± Didn¡¯t Sonia look for you?¡± Candice hesitated for a moment while picking up her cards when she heard Alex¡¯s indifferent hum. Sieg made a tsk sound andmented knowingly. ¡°I see.¡± Luck was not on Candice¡¯s side, as she drew some weak cards, putting her at a disadvantage in the game. Even worse, she was the first to y. Noticing her hesitation, the woman with Stan prodded her to move. . +15 BONOS Candice eventually yed the 7 of diamonds. She rarely yed poker but was well-versed in the game¡¯s rules. However, her poor hand led to her defeat Stan chuckled and teased, ¡°Mr. Elysian, your secretary just lost.¡± Alex¡¯s face showed no reaction. His attention was on Candice. ¡°How much is the loss?¡± Candice replied, ¡°You were supposed to y this round.¡± He lounged back on the sofa, clearly not nning to get up, and reassured her. ¡°You lost, but I¡¯ll handle it. What¡¯s there to worry about?¡± Chapter 89 Chapter 89 They were certainly engaged in a high-stakes game. Candice had suffered a four-digit loss in that round. Alex paid without even batting an eyelid. Her luck was not improving, and she continued to lose in subsequent rounds. Following one game, Sieg tossed his cards and remarked to Alex, ¡°She¡¯s losing intentionally, isn¡¯t she?¡± Candice, on a losing streak and feeling downcast, reminded them, ¡°I did say I¡¯m not good at this.¡± Stan, who was watching the game unfold and emerging as the night¡¯s biggest winner,mented, ¡°She¡¯s losing, but Mr. Elysian is covering her losses. Why are you so worked up?¡± His words made sense, yet Candice could not shake off a feeling of difort, sensing an underlying implication in his statement. After a brief pause, she got up from her seat. At that moment, Alex took a seat beside her and casually requested, ¡°Hand me the cards.¡± The card shuffler had already prepared the next deck. Stan asked, ¡°Mr. Elysian, are you taking over the game?¡± Alex responded, ¡°She¡¯s not ying well.¡± In the presence of Alex¡¯s distinct scent, Candice lowered her gaze and silently picked up the cards. She could easily identify his cold and unmistakable presence amid the myriad of other scents. Temporarily sidetracked, she only snapped back to attention when Alex took the cards from her, his fingers lightly brushing hers. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Perceiving her distracted state, he looked up nonchntly, yet his words were stern. ¡°If you lose again, it will be deducted from your paycheck.¡± Candice frowned, but her entire attention was on the game. Whether it was Alex¡¯s skill or something else, from the moment he joined, Candice stopped losing. Their oues were mostly draws, with asional wins. On the other hand, Seig ended up being the biggest loser after losing to all three. His face grew dark as the night progressed. Sensing it was time to wrap up, Stan pushed the cards aside and called it a night. Candice and Alex hade in their own car. Sieg, needing a lift back to the hotel, decided to join them. Candice had been drinking earlier; Alex became the designated driver because he was sober. Somewhat recovered but still not in top form, Candice hesitated before getting into the back seat, then +15 BONOS She came to a halt and turned to the passenger seat. Alex, without a word, drove with the car windows rolled down. Candice¡¯s temples ached when the chilly breeze blew on her. She sank into her seat. It began to shower outside halfway through the voyage, prompting them to close the windows. ¡°It stinks,¡± Sieg grumbled as soon as the window was closed. She knew he was referring to her but chose to ignore him, but he refused to let it go. He turned to Candice with a disdainful tone and said, ¡°Thinking you were being noble by drinking on behalf of Alex?¡± She remained silent. He scoffed. ¡°And taking drinks for Stan too, acting like you¡¯re ying the role of Alex¡¯s wife?¡± At that moment, Alex¡¯s phone began to ring. Sieg craned his neck to see the caller¡¯s identity, then, with evident glee, nudged Candice¡¯s shoulder and quipped, ¡°Looks like the real wife is calling.¡± Candice responded with a cold re and avoided his contact. Given Sieg¡¯s evident favoritism for Alex and Sonia, one might mistake Sonia for his mother. Alex, ignoring his friend¡¯sment, instructed Candice, ¡°Pass me my phone.¡± He was behind the wheel and could not answer the call himself. Candice lowered her eyes and silently retrieved Alex¡¯s phone. Alex then directed, ¡°Answer it.¡± After a brief hesitation, she tapped the screen to answer and switched on the speaker, then set the phone down. Sonia¡¯s voice came through, asking, ¡°Lex, where are you? Aren¡¯t you back yet?¡± Candice looked out the window, her lips pressing together. Alex replied, ¡°On my way.¡± ¡°Lex,¡± Sonia said hesitantly, then slowly revealed, ¡°I¡¯m in the wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have lost my temper with you.¡± Alex nced at the phone and, while stopped at a traffic light, simply suggested, ¡°You should get some sleep early.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you to return,¡± Sonia said, her voice filled with hope. +15 BONOS Alex stopped objecting and gave a nomittal hum. ¡°Alright.¡± He hung up the call. Sieg, curiously, wondered as he asked, ¡°Did you and Sonia have a disagreement?¡± Alex¡¯s answer was sinct. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Ridiculous. Sonia wouldn¡¯t be apologizing if there wasn¡¯t a fight between you two,¡± Sieg retorted, settling ¡°It¡¯s typical for couples to have arguments. It¡¯s part of a rtionship, but you always reconcile in the end. She¡¯s already saying sorry. You should just let it go.¡± Candice sensed that Sieg had momentarily forgotten her presence in the car. She remembered a previous remark he made during a difficult phase between her and Alex, where he had dismissively said, ¡°It¡¯s just a woman. What trouble could she possibly cause?¡± There had been times when the two argued, or more specifically, when she gave him the silent treatment. Yet, Alex never really yielded or pampered her. It was always she who eventually softened and sought to make amends. Thinking back, Candice found her former self to be ludicrous. Why did she misread the situation at the time? When they reached the hotel, it was nearly midnight. While waiting for the elevator, Sieg got a call from his family and stepped away, leaving Candice and Alex alone. Caught in the rain, Candice felt ufortable, her clothes clinging to her damp skin. In the quiet, her thoughts became clearer, but her body felt weaker. She leaned against the wall for support. As the elevator arrived, she weakly called out to Alex. Alex came to a halt and his brow furrowed slightly. Leaning there, she felt the effects of the alcohol and struggled to move. She pursed her lips and added, ¡°Sonia is also in Stugan.¡± Alex¡¯s gaze sharpened, questioning, ¡°So?¡± ¡°I¡¯m nning to leave tomorrow,¡± Candice revealed. ¡°It would be more convenient for you to be with her rather than me.¡± He observed her with a sardonic smile,menting, ¡°Were you trying to please me today?¡± Herplexion was not great. Thebination of drinks she had earlier was now adversely affecting her. Although the hangover remedy had initially cushioned the aftereffects, they were now striking her hard. Her hand slid down the wall as she found it challenging to remain standing. +15 BONOS Alex, standing tall, looked condescendingly at her. In a chilly tone, he remarked, ¡°You¡¯re quite poor at currying favor.¡± In the quiet of the empty lobby, his words resonated clearly. He cast her onest cold look before entering the elevator. As the elevator doors gradually shut before her, Candice stood there, watching the floor numbers increase, herplexion turning increasingly pale. The cold breeze she had experienced earlier now left her feeling thoroughly chilled. Chapter 90 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. ¡°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 BONOSThis content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. 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. Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Candice¡¯s direct questioning caused Yvonne to tense up. She awkwardly fidgeted with Peach¡¯s clothes. Observing this, Candice asked with a stern expression, ¡°Has he been abusing you and Peach?¡± She noticed not only the marks on Yvonne¡¯s face but also the faint bruises on Peach¡¯s neck, partially concealed by her Cor. Initially hesitant, Yvonne, encouraged by Peach¡¯s expectant gaze, confessed through tears, ¡°It¡¯s not always like this. He just had too much to drink the other day and ended up bumping into me.¡± Candice, frowning deeply, probed further, ¡°Did he coerce you into giving him the money, or did you willingly give it to him?¡± Yvonne, visibly struggling, finally murmured, ¡°Peach is so young.¡± Candice silently regarded her. Yvonne¡¯s once upright posture now sagged, her hands on the table quivering as though weighed down by immense pain. Sensing her mother¡¯s distress, Peach started to weep. Yvonne quickly dried her tears and soothed her. After calming Peach, Yvonne cast a nce at Candice, then looked away. Candice, carefully watching her mother¡¯s expressions, was piecing together the truth. She was about to confront Yvonne further when her phone rang, interrupting her speech. Yvonne¡¯s phone, a model from an unknown brand, had a screen with several cracks. The moment the call connected, an angry man¡¯s voice bellowed out, ¡°Where the fuck have you been? I¡¯m starving to death here. Are you out there squandering money on that money pit again?¡± Due to the phone¡¯s poor sound istion, his loud and clear voice was fully audible to Candice, who heard every word. Yvonne was embarrassed. She whispered as she hastily covered the phone, ¡°Ivor, Peach is your child too!¡± Ivor Dawson, on the other end, grew more furious. ¡°I don¡¯t acknowledge such a worthless daughter! Come back soon, or you¡¯ll make mete for work this afternoon!¡± Yvonne¡¯splexion changed, and she asked, ¡°You¡¯re gambling again? Peach needs her shots next week!¡± But Ivor had already disconnected the call. Visibly upset, she buried her face in Peach¡¯s neck. Her shoulders were shaking. Blinked, Peach asked innocently, ¡°Mommy, is it okay if I don¡¯t get the shot?¡± Yvonne, momentarily taken aback, regained herposure and softly instructed Peach to y near the flowerbed. +15 BONOS As Peach obediently walked away, Yvonne¡¯s eyes followed her every move. Candice watched the entire scene unfold. Eventually, Yvonne¡¯s gaze returned to Candice, her eyes reflecting a turmoil of emotions and she settled into a resigned, bitter smile. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m lying to you all?¡± Candice remained silent. Yvonne went on, ¡°He wasn¡¯t always like this. He was kind to me and Peach once, but everything changed when Peach fell ill¡­¡± Struggling to speak further, she wiped away her tears and exined, ¡°He lost his job, then got into gambling. If I don¡¯t give him the money, they¡¯ll kill him.¡± ¡°You¡¯re allowing him to use Peach¡¯s treatment funds?¡± Candice inquired, her voice steady and her expression devoid of emotion. Yvonne ceased speaking andpsed into silence. She rubbed her hands anxiously, then hesitantly met Candice¡¯s gaze. ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t, but could you spare an additional 5,000 dors for Peach¡¯s treatment next week?¡± As she spoke, she raised her hand, emphasizing, ¡°I assure you, this is a loan from you, and I will repay it.¡± Seemingly worried Candice might doubt her, Yvonne offered, ¡°I can even write an IOU for you.¡± Candice sat immobile, as if she did not know her mother. She remembered her mother as a gentle, beautiful, and resilient woman. However, the woman in front of her appeared weary, emitting an air of desperate resignation and scheming. Yvonne looked at Candice as though she were herst hope, her voice shaky. ¡°Peach is also your sister, isn¡¯t she?¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Candice felt a choking sensation, as if her nerves had been severed. ¡°Lex, sorry to have youe all this way.¡± A man¡¯s soothing voice and footsteps came from behind. Startled, Candice was about to turn around, but Alex¡¯s detached voice came through. ¡°I was just passing by.¡± As she turned, Candice saw Alex and another man walking toward her. Alex, noticing Candice, came to a halt, his brow furrowed, and his eyes turned to Yvonne behind her. Feeling utterly exposed, Candice clenched her hand as Yvonne pressed on, ¡°Candy, with your well¨C paying job, five thousand isn¡¯t a significant amount, right? You wouldn¡¯t let your sister be without her medicine, would you?¡± Words stuck in Candice¡¯s throat as she overheard Alex let out a light scoff. 213: +15 BONOS Candice¡¯s hand tightened, her fingernails digging into her palm. She heard herself say, ¡°I can give you the money.¡± Yvonne let out a relieved sigh, but before she could say more, Candice continued, ¡°However, if this money goes to him again, I¡¯ll call the cops.¡± Their conversation, initially meant for privacy in a quiet corner of the garden, now echoed clearly in the confined space. Feeling Alex¡¯s steady gaze on her, Candice took a deep breath and stood up, bag in hand. Yvonne also rose, her voice soft as she asked, ¡°When will you send the money?¡± Feeling a heaviness in her head and a tightness in her chest, Candice stepped back to regain her bnce before impulsively transferring the money to Yvonne. From behind, the man who had been with Alex earlier called out, ¡°Lex? How about we grab lunch together?¡± Alex hummed affirmatively and headed toward his friend. Meanwhile, Peach, ying near the flowerbed, was terrified when she spotted Alex¡¯s expression. She instinctively stepped back without seeing the flower pot behind her, resulting in a collision. Everyone in attendance was shocked by the loudness. Yvonne was the quickest to react, rushing past Candice to reach Peach. Candice, pushed aside, stumbled a few steps before stabilizing herself. Soon, Peach¡¯s dyed cries filled the air, and Yvonne tenderly embraced her, whispering soothing words. Candice watched them, somewhat dazed. It urred to her that Yvonne had not lost her gentleness; she had simply reserved it exclusively for Peach. Feeling like there was a knot in her chest, making it hard to breathe, Candice quietly observed for a moment before deciding to leave. However, just as she was about to walk away, a teasing voice came from behind, ¡°Lex, ying the monster today, aren¡¯t you? Scaring everyone?¡± Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Alex came to a halt in the middle of his stride, shooting a frigid gaze at Greg Munoz¡¯s way. Greg, taken aback, queried, ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± Alex, with a detached tone, suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s head to the hospital wing.¡± He shifted his attention away from Greg and toward Candice. His eyes briefly flickered with curiosity as he asked, ¡°Did you just fly in today?¡± Candice, clutching her bag, tensed up at his question. ¡°I got herest night,¡± she replied. Alex scoffed. ¡°You seem anxious.¡± Candice momentarily averted her gaze,posing herself before calmly asking, ¡°What brings you here?¡± She appeared serene on the outside, but she was in turmoil on the inside. The unexpected run¨Cin with Alex in Noxville, coupled with him possibly overhearing her exchange with Yvonne, left her uneasy. She disliked the feeling of being transparent to him. All this time, she only introduced Alex to Joe and hardly mentioned her parents. This led to initial disapproval from Helen, who had critiqued Candice¡¯s family background and upbringing. ¡°What? Lex, do you know her?¡± Greg noticed the tension and took a step closer, looking inquisitively at Candice. Alex confirmed with a nod. ¡°She¡¯s apany employee.¡± Candice gripped her bag strap tighter, pressing on, ¡°I thought you were in a rush to return to Dorrington. What are you doing in Noxville?¡± She looked awful, herck of makeup today entuating the colorlessness of her lips. ¡°Lex is here visiting my dad,¡± Greg quickly interjected, giving Candice a genuine smile. ¡°You work for Aether Corporation, huh? Are you suddenly nervous about seeing your employer here?¡± Candice stayed quiet, her heart pounding and words lodged in her throat, leaving her unable to express herself. ¡°Candy!¡± Suddenly, Yvonne approached her in a panic, with Peach in her embrace. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. ¡°Peach has a big bump on her head. Could it be serious? We should get it checked!¡± Already dizzy, Candice felt overwhelmed by Yvonne¡¯s loud voice, her vision blurring. +15 BONOS As Yvonne persisted, calling out repeatedly, Candice felt as though her head might be about to explode. Candice struggled to stand and leaned slightly to one side. Clenching her teeth to steady herself, she hoarsely told Yvonne, ¡°I¡¯ve just sent you money. You handle it.¡± Yvonne retorted, concerned, ¡°But that money is for Peach¡¯s shots.¡± Candice felt like she was suffocating once more when she looked at Yvonne. Her already pallid complexion suggested she was on the verge of copsing at any moment. Alex watched her intently, his furrowed brows and icy demeanor startling Greg and driving him to believe Alex was upset about running into his employee. ¡°Go see the doctor,¡± Alexmanded, scarcely moving his lips. Candice scowled and was about to protest that her health was none of his concern, but Alex cut her off. ¡°Do you need me to carry you there myself?¡± Feeling drained and pale, Candice was inclined to refuse. Alex uttered sarcastically, ¡°Everyone knows you¡¯re here with me for work. Looking like this, are you implying I¡¯ve treated you poorly?¡± Exhausted, Candice merely shook her head, insisting weakly, ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡± Alex looked at her. His tone left no room for debate, dering, ¡°I don¡¯t want to repeat myself.¡± In a bustling hospital lobby, Candice trailed Alex to the registration desk, patiently awaiting her turn in the waiting area. ¡°Candy¡­¡± Yvonne approached cautiously, carrying Peach. Candice was clear about what she desired. Her mother was expecting her to pay for Peach¡¯s treatment. Feeling a pulsating ache in her head, Candice massaged her brows, about to rise from her seat. Greg stepped in, suggesting, ¡°Rest here. I¡¯ll apany your mom and sister for the registration.¡± Candice tensed, trying to decline. ¡°You don¡¯t have to¡­¡± But Yvonne was already gratefully epting Greg¡¯s offer before Candice could finish. Resigned, Candice reclined in her seat, her facial muscles numbed, fatigue engulfing her. A soft scoff nearby alerted her to Alex¡¯s presence. Hesitantly, Candice said, ¡°I¡¯ll reimburse your friend for the medical costs.¡± Alex dismissed it with a wave. ¡°That¡¯s a trivial amount.¡± His aloof response heightened Candice¡¯s unease. She inhaled deeply, looking away in silence. Alex, seemingly indifferent to her difort, asked casually, ¡°Struggling financially?¡± Candice pinched her palm and responded curtly, ¡°No.¡± Alex persisted nonchntly, ¡°Is that right?¡± +15 BONOS His tone made it clear that he was just striking up a conversation. Candice pursed her Ups, choosing silence. Her number was called, and she stood to enter the consulting room. The medical diagnosis revealed that she had a mild fever, exhaustion, and anxiety, which were the reasons that caused her heart rate to increase. Returning with her medication, she found Greg and Alex still there. Greg updated her, ¡°Your mom and sister left. It¡¯s just a minor head injury. A little ointment should do the trick.¡± Candice nodded and asked about the medical bill. ¡°How much? I¡¯ll repay you.¡± Greg dismissed her concern. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Reluctant to discuss finances in front of Alex, Candice suggested, ¡°Let me add you on WhatsApp. I¡¯ll transfer the moneyter.¡± Greg ultimately consented after sensing her insistence. Alex dryly remarked on their exchange, ¡°Quite the stickler for principles.¡± Candice could not determine if he was being sarcastic. After adding Greg on WhatsApp and collecting her medicine, she murmured, ¡°I should go now.¡± Alex remained quiet. Greg suggested, ¡°Stay for a meal?¡± Candice declined and departed with her medicine. Alone with Alex, Greg shared his observation. ¡°Your employee¡¯s family situation seems quite complicated.¡± Grunted, Alex responded nonchntly, ¡°Your father has been waiting.¡± Greg¡¯s father, a distant rtive of Helen¡¯s, had strong ties with their family. He had recently been in an ident. Since Alex was on a business trip in Stugan, he made a detour to visit him. They made their way to the ward. Candice, who was about to leave the hospital, noticed a big ruckus. She came to a halt and peered around. She saw Yvonne, who should have left by now, desperately holding back a man, attempting to prevent him from doing something. Behind her was Peach, crying so hard that she was gasping for breath. +15 BONOS Yvonne used her body as a shield against the man¡¯s blows and kicks. She locked eyes with Candice, her expression was one of hope, as if seeing a savior. Chapter 93 Chapter 93 In that moment, Candice felt rooted to the ground, immobilized. She waspelled to listen to Yvonne¡¯s cries for her name. ¡°Candy, get Peach out of here!¡± At these words, Ivar ceased his assault on Yvonne. He shifted his angry, murky gaze to Candice, sneering,¡± You¡¯re the daughter of this bitch, aren¡¯t you?¡± Regaining her senses, Candice instinctively retreated. Ivor had shaken off Yvonne, and Ivor advanced toward Candice. Though he was not a tall man, his stocky and. aggressive build made him intimidating. He spat on the ground, dering. ¡°You got luckyst time that I couldn¡¯t find you. Pay up now that you¡¯re here!¡± His loud voice,bined with Yvonne¡¯s cries, drew a crowd. Candice stood there with nowhere to go as Ivor approached her. She answered calmly, ¡°I don¡¯t owe you any money.¡± ¡°But your mother and sister do! And you should pay up! Aren¡¯t you sleeping with some rich guy? Get him to pay!¡± Ivor¡¯s words reverberated harshly in Candice¡¯s ears. Taking a deep breath, she countered, ¡°Yvonne is your wife, and Peach is your daughter!¡± ¡°Bullshit! They¡¯re just burdens!¡± Ivor, infuriated, shoved Candice¡¯s shoulder. Already feeling unwell, Candice lost her bnce and fell backward. Luckily, a bystander caught her and stabilized her footing. Ivor¡¯s strong cigarette odor engulfed Candice as he stood ufortably close, causing her dizziness and nausea. This was Candice¡¯s first experience of being publicly berated and pointed at on the street. The scrutinizing stares of the bystanders only intensified her humiliation. ¡°Motherfucker! Can¡¯t you hear me?¡± Ivor¡¯s aggression escted. He lunged forward, shoving Candice again. Reacting instinctively, Candice smacked his face with her bag of medicine, her voice icy. ¡°Back off, or I¡¯ll call the cops!¡± Her gaze shifted to Yvonne and Peach. Peach was weeping bitterly, while Yvonne, holding her, checked for any harm. 1/3. +15 BONOS She seemed oblivious to Candice¡¯s plight, as if she had no other daughter. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Yvonne did not give as much as a nce at Candice, as if she had forgotten another daughter who got pulled down into this mess because of her. Ivor took advantage of this moment of distraction. He snarled as he seized Candice¡¯s cor. ¡°What do you think you are? A whore that is cozying up to some rich guy. How dare you tilt me?¡± His hand rose to strike. Candice braced herself for the blow, her hand clenched tight, but the anticipated pain did not arrive. Instead, Ivor cursed, ¡°Damn it! Not you again!¡± Alex¡¯s calm voice followed. ¡°Greg, call the police.¡± Her heart was racing. She opened her eyes to Alex¡¯s stern expression, restraining Ivor¡¯s about¨Cto¨C strike hand. Candice was still trembling inside. Greg¡¯s face was likewise solemn. He made a phone call and barked loudly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to let go?¡± Realizing he was outmatched, Ivor quickly let go of Candice¡¯s cor, turning to Alex to demand, ¡°Let go of me!¡± As Alex¡¯s dark eyes deepened in intensity, he tightened his hold on Ivor¡¯s hand, eliciting a grimace and a cry of pain from Ivor. Greg, observing from a distance,mented with a cold snort, ¡°You seemed braver when you were assaulting a woman.¡± Alex maintained a frosty, foreboding demeanor, and he fixed his eyes silently on Ivor. Feeling Alex¡¯s intense stare, Ivor became visibly unsettled. He tried to pat Alex with his other hand. Despite her disdain for Ivor, Candice wished to avoid furtherplications, aware that dealing with him could be problematic. She turned to Alex and softly suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s leave this to the police.¡± Alex¡¯s prating gaze shifted to Candice, his eyes holding a depth that momentarily halted her. The police arrived swiftly, first inquiring about the incident with Greg before taking statements from Candice and Alex. In a state of panic, Ivor yelled at Yvonne, ¡°Do something! Your daughter¡¯s calling the cops on me!¡± Yvonne, holding Peach, nced at Candice, who quickly looked away as their eyes met. Greg nced at Candice, then at Alex, asking. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Alex, his eyes still on Candice, responded coolly, ¡°Are you deaf?¡± Taken aback, Candice turned to Greg, who gave a faint smile and asked, ¡°You¡¯re alright, aren¡¯t you?¡± +15 BONOS Candice affirmed, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine.¡± Alex let out a cold scoff, remaining silent thereafter. ¡°Candy,¡± came Yvonne¡¯s timid voice. Candice masked her vulnerability, avoiding Yvonne¡¯s gaze. Not looking at Yvonne, she focused on Peach¡¯s head and asked, ¡°Is there something else?¡± Yvonne, noticing Candice¡¯s changed tone, hesitated before asking weakly, ¡°Why did you call the police?¡± Candice sharply looked up at her. Yvonne continued, ¡°He won¡¯t be jailed, will he? How long will they hold him? Ivor didn¡¯t really mean it. He was just upset because I brought Peach to the hospital without telling him. He was worried about us.¡± Candice fixed her gaze on her mother for a long time, then unclenched her hand and asked coolly, ¡°What are you suggesting?¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t think it¡¯s that serious,¡± Yvonne mumbled. ¡°Disputes happen between husband and wife. If he¡¯s imprisoned, what will people say about Peach?¡± Candice closed her eyes, finding the situation ludicrous. Ivor had humiliated her, yet her mother had not stepped in. Now, Yvonne expected her to spare Ivor for Peach¡¯s sake. What did Yvonne see her as? A daughter or merely an ATM? Feeling overwhelmed, Candice covered her chest to get a hold of herself and struggled to breathe. Afterposing herself, she looked at Yvonne, asking deliberately, ¡°What if I say no?¡± Yvonne had clearly not expected this reaction. She stuttered, then pulled Peach close, instructing her quietly, ¡°Apologize to your sister. She¡¯s the one who cares about you most.¡± Peach, still scared and confused, hid behind Yvonne, reluctant toe forward. Losing patience, Yvonne yanked her out, scolding, ¡°Why are you hiding? Didn¡¯t you say you loved your sister the most? Come out!¡± Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Candice stood there watching this dramatic situation y out and felt a chill in her fingertips. She slowly recovered her voice and questioned, ¡°Are you¡­¡± Choked, words failed her, and she failed to express her feelings. Yvonne let go of Peach¡¯s hand and looked expectantly at Candice. She begged, ¡°Candy.¡± Candice diverted her eyes, inhaling deeply, about to respond. Greg cut in, ¡°It was me who called the police. What¡¯s the point of you bothering her?¡± Caught off guard, Yvonne hesitated, then turned to Greg. Disheveled from Ivor¡¯s attack, her hair and clothes a mess, she sped her hands together, imploring, ¡°Can you talk to the police? Ask them not to arrest my husband.¡± Greg and Alex exchanged nces, with thetter remaining mute. With a disapproving frown, Greg cautiously asked, ¡°You do understand your husband has assaulted someone, right?¡± ¡°No,¡± Yvonne quickly rified. ¡°He didn¡¯t mean any harm. He was just upset.¡± Greg struggled to grasp her logic. He nced at Candice, who had turned away with her lips pressed together tightly. Following his gaze, Yvonne seized Candice¡¯s hand, asserting, ¡°She¡¯s my daughter. This is a family matter. It shouldn¡¯t involve the police.¡± In her haste, her long nails scraped Candice¡¯s hand, leaving a faint mark. Yvonne¡¯s grip was surprisingly powerful, and despite Candice¡¯s efforts, she was unable to break away. She then turned to Candice, urging, ¡°Isn¡¯t this man your boss? Tell him!¡± Candice felt a coldness settle in her heart. She stifled her anger and retorted, ¡°What is there to exin? I don¡¯t even know him. Didn¡¯t you see him trying to hit me?¡± These were the harshest words she had ever spoken to her mother, and Yvonne froze in stupor. Yvonne, recovering, weakly countered, ¡°But he didn¡¯t actually hit you, right?¡± Candice¡¯s gaze hardened as she looked at her mother, her anger dissolving, and she forcefully removed Yvonne¡¯s grip. She firmly dered, ¡°Impossible.¡± The police quickly took Ivor away. Yvonne, with Peach in tow, persistently told the officers that Ivor was her husband and had no intention to harm anyone, pleading for his release. +15 BONOS Candice watched, feeling a suffocating sensation, her chest aching sharply. ¡°Lex, should we get that checked by a doctor?¡± Candice overheard this as she saw Ivor being pushed into the police car. Turning mechanically, she noticed the bruise on Alex¡¯s wrist. Alex had earlier intervened in Ivor¡¯s assault on her, receiving blows in the process. She had not noticed amidst the chaos, and he never mentioned it. Candice assumed it was nothing serious. Now, seeing the severity of his injury, she realized the force Ivor had exerted. Her face paled as she looked at Alex¡¯s wrist, asking, ¡°Are you alright?¡± Alex gave her a brief nce, his tone dismissive. ¡°I¡¯m not as delicate as you think.¡± This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. She wanted to say something, but Alex, furrowing his brow, impatiently pressed her, ¡°Focus on sorting out your own problems first.¡± Her eyes followed Alex¡¯s, and she saw Yvonne sitting on the ground with Peach, muttering something. After a moment of silence, she slowly approached them. Unsure what to say to Yvonne, she stated tly, ¡°I¡¯ll cover Peach¡¯s medical bills, but only up to ten thousand a month.¡± Yvonne looked up with tears in her eyes, using, ¡°How can you be so heartless?¡± Candice initially wanted to reach out to offerfort but halted and retracted her hand, asking dully, ¡°You think I¡¯m cold¨Chearted?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it true? Ivor might be a scoundrel, but he brings in 2,000 a month in unemployment benefits. That¡¯s what we live on. How can you be so selfish?¡± Yvonne¡¯s words struck Candice deeply. Her own mother branded her cold and selfish for a mere two thousand. With her gaze lowered and a turmoil of emotions inside, Candice stood lost in thought, oblivious to her surroundings, until someone grasped her arm. She looked up into Alex¡¯s deep eyes. ¡°Here¡¯s your stuff.¡± Alex handed her the medicine bag she had used against Ivor. She took the bag, her lips stretching in a weary attempt at a smile, words failing her. He watched Candice with a slightly pensive look and remarked, ¡°You really have a knack for getting yourself into these situations.¡± Candice, detecting the sarcasm, was too drained to feign otherwise. 213 Witnessing the exchange, Greg could not resist chiming in, ¡°Hey, can¡¯t you be a bit kinder to your employee? If you¡¯re concerned, just say it directly. There¡¯s no need for harsh words.¡± +15 BONOS Before Alex could respond, Greg addressed Candice, ¡°Let¡¯s grab lunch. It doesn¡¯t seem safe for you to go back alone like this. Better to rest a bit.¡± Candice initially hesitated, but Greg was natural when it came to socializing. He added, ¡°Alex is your boss. He wouldn¡¯t want anything happening to you on his watch.¡± Alex stayed quiet, apparently in agreement. As Candice left with Greg, she cast a final look at Yvonne, still sitting despondently on the ground. She followed them out of the hospital. They chose a restaurant close by, as Greg had to return to the hospitalter. As they settled in, Greg suggested to Alex, ¡°Why not call your secretary? She¡¯s probably bored alone in the hotel.¡± Candice was surprised and looked at Alex. He nonchntly answered, ¡°The hotel¡¯s too far.¡± Greg mocked, ¡°Too far? It¡¯s just a ten¨Cminute ride. The food hasn¡¯t even been served yet.¡± Sonia arrived just as their meal was served. Since Candice was facing away from the entrance, Sonia didn¡¯t immediately notice her. Sonia, puzzled, asked Alex, ¡°Why are we dining here all of a sudden? I thought we were going back after finishing our work?¡± After she finished, she saw Candice, who was sitting silently across from her. Greg smoothly interjected, ¡°Perfect timing. You can keep Ms. Renaultpany instead of just men like me and Lex here.¡± Sonia¡¯s expression changed subtly as she regarded Alex, who remained stoic. Turning to Candice, she asked gently, ¡°Weren¡¯t you in Stugan?¡± Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Candice, looking unwell, nodded slowly in response to Sonia. ¡°I¡¯ve got things to handle here.¡± Her voice was hoarse, betraying her fatigue. Sonia¡¯s gaze became wary. She forced a strained smile, asking, ¡°Howe you didn¡¯t join us?¡± Candicecked the energy to deal with Sonia and took a sip of her tea, answering, ¡°I¡¯m here on personal matters. I¡¯m on leave.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Sonia responded with a skeptical chuckle, then turned to Alex and asked, ¡°Have you wrapped up your business?¡± Alex, unfazed, sipped his tea. ¡°Not yet.¡± Sonia¡¯s expression soured slightly. Greg, sensing the tension, lightened the mood. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Sonia? Not a fan of Noxville?¡± Sonia quickly dismissed the notion with a wave, then admitted, ¡°I think the climate here doesn¡¯t agree with me. I¡¯ve developed some allergies.¡± Greg sympathetically responded, ¡°Oh no! You need to take care of that.¡± This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Candice stayed quiet, almost blending into the background. She barely touched her food. Meanwhile, Sonia and Greg struck up a rapport, their conversation flowing easily. Out of the blue, Sonia turned to Alex, probing, ¡°Is what Greg is saying true?¡± Alex remained silent, his brows knitted, evidently in a foul mood. Sonia had to call his name several times before he looked up. Taken aback by his cold expression, Sonia cautiously asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Greg set down his fork and regarded his friend, offering reassurance, ¡°Don¡¯t read too much into it. My dad¡¯s words aren¡¯t always to be taken to heart. You know how he is.¡± Sonia bit her lip, probing further, ¡°What happened?¡± With no forting response from Greg, Sonia turned toward Candice. ¡°Candice¡­¡± Her question was cut short by the ring of Candice¡¯s phone. Joe was calling. The urgent tone of the ring caused Candice¡¯s heart to race, a sense of foreboding creeping over her. She excused herself to take the call outside the hotel. ¡°Candy.¡± Joe was slightly breathless with a faint cough. ¡°Are you in Noxville?¡± Candice bypassed his question, asking instead, ¡°Has mom reached out to you?¡± Holding her forehead, she sighed. ¡°It¡¯s aplicated situation here. I¡¯ll exin once I¡¯m back.¡± +15 BONOS Joe fell silent for a moment before he said, ¡°No matter what she does, she¡¯s still your mother.¡± At his words, Candie¡¯s hand tensed. ¡°Peach is still your sister, even if she¡¯s a half¨Csibling. Remember, it was your father who cheated first.¡± ¡°Grandpa!¡± Candice interjected sharply, unwilling to linger on the topic of her parents¡® divorce. After a brief pause, she softened her voice. ¡°What did she say to you? That I¡¯m not paying for Peach¡¯s medical bills, or that I got the police involved with Ivor?¡± Joe, sensing her distress, spoke more softly. ¡°I was against your mother¡¯s decision to marry that man. She made her choice, and now she faces the consequences. But Peach is innocent in all this. If you can help, please do.¡± He added kindly, ¡°You¡¯ve always had a big heart.¡± The old man began coughing again. Candice remained quiet, then asked, ¡°How have you been feeling?¡± ¡°Same old issues. I had to use the nebulizer the day before yesterday,¡± Joe answered casually. She replied, ¡°I¡¯m dealing with things here in Noxville. I¡¯ve agreed to give her ten thousand monthly, but that¡¯s my limit.¡± Last night there was rain, and today was cloudy. The air was humid, and it made Candice ufortable. She looked at the gathering dark clouds, her expression bitter, and divulged, ¡°She had tricked both of us.¡± Joe, perhaps perceiving her granddaughter¡¯s sadness, fell silent for a moment before concluding the call. Standing at the door, phone in hand, Candice was lost in thought. Returning to the private room, she nearly collided with a waiter exiting. Through the slightly ajar door, she caught Sonia¡¯s voice, filled with disbelief. ¡°No way, how could Candice¡¯s mom do that to her?¡± Candice paused at the door, Greg¡¯s empathetic words ringing in her ears. ¡°If I had parents like that, I don¡¯t think I could have coped as she has.¡± Her hand tightened into a fist, a bitter smile forming on her lips, where her struggles and feelings seemed to be merely subjects of sympathy and gossip for others. She lingered at the door momentarily, then quietly walked away. +15 BONOS Greg was about to continue when Alex¡¯s icy intervention cut him off. ¡°Greg, that¡¯s enough,¡± Alex said sharply, his face stern. Realizing his mistake, Greg mimed, sealing his lips, and muttered, ¡°Sorry, my mistake.¡± Alex¡¯s gaze unintentionally swept toward the door. ncing at his photte, Greg noted, ¡°Ms. Renault¡¯s been away for quite a while, hasn¡¯t she?¡± Alex, his expression unreadable, stood and grabbed his phone, ready to leave. Sonia called after him. ¡°Where are you headed?¡± He paused briefly and said, ¡°To the restroom.¡± Candice, having reached the hotel lobby, remembered she had left her bag in the private room. She considered asking a waiter to fetch it but was worried they might mistake her for a fraud. Her bag, containing crucial documents and bank cards, necessitated her return to the room. As she rounded the corner, Candice unexpectedly encountered Alex exiting the room. She briefly met his eyes before quickly averting her gaze, her mood dampened by being a topic of mockery. But after just a few steps, Alex¡¯s icy, sarcastic voice reached her. ¡°Does Aether Corporation pay you too much?¡± Candice halted and faced him. With a scoff, Alex continued, ¡°Do you enjoy being a walking ATM for others? ying the role of generous giver? Every word from him felt like a p in the face; it was so painful that it left her breathless. However, he was not wholly incorrect. Visibly shaken, Candice stood in silence. Alex¡¯s eyes briefly lingered on the scratch on her hand from Yvonne, his expression darkening momentarily before he remarked coldly, ¡°You look rather pathetic. Are you attempting to elicit sympathy from others?¡± His tone was detached and cold. Candice felt as if her strength was being slowly drained; breathing itself felt like a struggle. Sympathy? She pondered who would genuinely sympathize with her? Who would understand her plight? Who could possibly rte to her? Her suffering was entirely her own fault. Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Candice¡¯s lips twitched, unable to find words to respond. Alex looked down at her disdainfully and sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t think too highly of yourself.¡± ¡°Lex?¡± Sonia¡¯s voice interrupted,ing from behind. She emerged from around the corner, her eyesnding on Candice, questioning. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you returning to the room? Everyone¡¯s waiting.¡± Sonia¡¯s probing gaze was subtle. Candice, trying to mask her feelings, responded, ¡°I¡¯ve just arrived.¡± ¡°I assumed you weren¡¯ting back,¡± Sonia remarked, her nce shifting toward Alex,ced with curiosity. Candice realized Sonia was reading too much into the situation, but shecked the strength to rify. She simply mentioned her intention to retrieve her bag from the private room. Before she could walk away, Greg approached, holding her bag. He appeared surprised to see Candice, handing over the bag. ¡°Sorry, I thought you left it in haste, so I brought it out.¡± epting the bag emotionlessly, Candice thanked him. ¡°Thanks.¡± Greg then addressed Alex. ¡°Lex, Sonia seems allergic to something. Maybe you should take her to the hospital.¡± Sonia quickly disyed her arm, showing several red blotches. She frowned, voicing her concern. ¡°These weren¡¯t here this morning. They just started itching.¡± Greg, puzzled, asked, ¡°Was there anything in our meal that could have caused this?¡± Sonia mentioned, ¡°I¡¯m allergic to peanuts.¡± Candice¡¯s gaze shifted subtly, recalling a dish served with peanut sauce. She had not eaten much, but that dish had been directly in front of her, so she had tried a bit. Realization dawned on Greg too. He turned to Alex and said, ¡°Sonia can¡¯t eat peanuts. Didn¡¯t you know?¡± Alex, caught off guard, replied dismissively, ¡°I wasn¡¯t paying attention to the order.¡± With no further discussion, they decided to head to a nearby hospital. Feeling it was not her ce to tag along, Candice remained stationary. She excused herself, ¡°I have other matters to attend to. I¡¯ll go back to the hotel.¡± Alex¡¯s nce passed over her with a cold detachment. Her eyes flickered momentarily under his gaze. +15 BONOS He responded curtly. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Grateful to be left alone, Candicecked the strength for any more interaction. Sonia, observing her, expressed concern. ¡°Candice, you should see a doctor too. You look really pale.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I saw a doctor earlier today.¡± Candice responded, aware of Sonia¡¯s ulterior motive. She knew Sonia¡¯s concern was not genuine. It was more about prying into whether Yvonne was still at the hospital and craving more drama. ¡°You look really unwell. We¡¯d be concerned if you went back to the hotel alone.¡± Looking toward Alex for support, she asked, ¡°Right, Lex?¡± Alex remained quiet, but Greg intervened, ¡°She works for Aether Corporation. Thepany ought to look after her well.¡± Alex raised an eyebrow at Greg and retorted sarcastically, ¡°Since when did you start running Aether Corporation?¡± Caught off guard by his reaction, Sonia clung to Alex¡¯s arm, her voice soft yet insistent. ¡°Candice is here on a business trip with us. We should be responsible for her.¡± Candice, growing uneasy with the conversation, became visibly stiff. Her voice grew colder and more decisive. ¡°I don¡¯t need anyone here to be responsible for me.¡± Having made her point, she left the hotel. Sonia was left speechless. Alex, withdrawing his attention, casually suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s head to the hospital.¡± Sonia had nothing more to say. Greg watched Candice¡¯s retreating figure thoughtfully. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Candice hailed a taxi and went straight back to the hotel. Feeling dizzy from the day¡¯s event, she sighed deeply, freshened up in the restroom, and then copsed onto the bed. Candice¡¯s head was reeling. Lying down, the room appeared to spin around her. As she closed her eyes, the memories of Yvonne¡¯s pleas and Ivor¡¯s harsh shouts haunted her. Abruptly, her eyes wide open, she sat up and gasped for breath. Once her emotions settled, she remembered her forgotten medication, quickly swallowing pills with a gulp of cold water. The silence of the room enveloped her. Candice was awake despite having taken her medication. She was thinking of getting something to do when her phone rang. +15 BONOS It was a message from Hanley, sharing a link to an exhibition in Noxville. Candice stared at her phone for a while before replying her thanks. It was ironic to consider that, despite having only known this man for a short time, he was the only person who made her feel at peace at the time. Even after the fever medication, her sleep was initially heavy. She was, however, tormented by the heatter in the evening. Her throat felt dry and sore. She struggled to get up, her clothes soaked in sweat. As the fever waned, chills took over. Confused, she instinctively picked up her phone to call someone. However, when she opened her contact list, she discovered she had no one to call. Yvonne would note; Joe was far away in Dorrington City; and Alex was less inclined to help her. The sound of a dial tone jolted her out of her reverie. Candice nced at her phone and realized she had identally called someone¨CAlex. Reacting slowly, she attempted to end the call, but her sweaty fingers repeatedly slipped on the screen. Then Alex¡¯s deep, somewhat rough voice came through. ¡°What is it, Candice?¡± Embarrassed, she hesitantly responded, ¡°Sorry, wrong number.¡± Her voice sounded dry and hoarse as she spoke. A violent coughing fit ensued until she managed to breathe normally again. Alex¡¯s response was a cold sneer. ¡°Wrong number? Who were you trying to call at this hour?¡± Feeling the negativity in his tone, Candice quickly apologized for the disturbance and ended the call. After hanging up, she exhaled in relief, noting it was four in the morning. Candice tossed her phone aside and tried to sit up, but dizziness and weakness forced her back down. Lying there, soaked in sweat, and feeling miserable, she could not resist a self¨Cdeprecating thought. After years in the workforce, she realized she had no one to turn to in illness. Picking up her phone again, she scrolled through her WhatsApp contacts. She found there were few true friends, mostly clients and acquaintances linked to Alex¡¯swork. Chapter 97 Chapter 97 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?¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. 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 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. Chapter 98 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. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°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 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. Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Holding the phone, Candice remained silent for a while. Yvonne thought she might not want to come over. She could not help but anxiously say, ¡°I just want to make you some delicious food. I know you work hard, and what I said yesterday was thoughtless. Candy, you¡¯re not mad at me, right? Can I just make it up to you?¡± In the end, Yvonne voice even carried a hint of a sob. Candice closed her eyes and heard herself numbly say, ¡°I¡¯m at the hospital.¡± Yvonne was taken aback. ¡°Why are you at the hospital? Should I bring the food to the hospital?¡± Her concern sounded genuine, and Candice hesitated for a moment but still said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Candy, wait for me. I¡¯ll bring Peach to the hospital right away.¡± Yvonne began packing things, the sound of clinking dishes audible. Suddenly, Sonia¡¯s soft voice came from behind. ¡°Lex, can you apany me to register?¡± Candice lowered her eyes, and hearing Yvonne¡¯s hurried and anxious movements through the phone, she paused before saying calmly, ¡°Give me the address. I¡¯lle over.¡± Yvonne sighed. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll wait for you toe.¡± Listening to the joy in Yvonne¡¯s voice, Candice could not muster much happiness. After all, she had to ask for Yvonne¡¯s address on¨Cthe¨Cspot. She hung up and turned around to find Sonia holding Alex¡¯s arm, staring at her thoughtfully. Candice acted as if she did not notice and calmly said, ¡°I have something to attend to. I¡¯ll leave first.¡± ¡°Candice.¡± Sonia called after her. ¡°Lex just said we could have lunch together.¡± Candice lowered her head to look at her phone. Yvonne had already sent the address. She looked up and declined softly. ¡°Thanks, but you two go ahead.¡± Looking at Alex, she remained silent for a moment before repeating. ¡°Thank you.¡± She was referring to Alex apanying her to the hospital, though she did not understand why he did so. Candice had realized in the morning that he probably sensed her difort when he came to see herte at night. Candice lowered her head, her fingers slightly curled. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it.¡± Alex¡¯s emotionless voice rang out. He looked at Candice with his deep ck eyes. ¡°If something happens to you, Aether Corporation can¡¯t afford to support those blood¨Csucking leeches of yours.¡± A seemingly casual sentence, but to Candice, it felt like a bolt from the blue. She suddenly looked up at Alex, opened her mouth to speak, but could not say a word. +15 BONOS Sonia blinked, then pretended to be angry as she patted Alex¡¯s arm. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°I said what¡¯s true.¡± Alex sneered. Candice staggered slightly. Alex¡¯s words made her feel embarrassed to the core. Unfortunately, Sonia still had to act all understanding and console her. ¡°Candice, we can¡¯t choose our family background. At least you¡¯re doing great now.¡± Candice did not miss the pity on Sonia¡¯s face. Her body trembled slightly, and her throat felt so tight that she could not utter a word. She felt as if she wanted someone to p her hard across the face. These were the things she least wanted others to see, but they were nowid bare for everyone to see. When Candice left, Alex and Sonia had already gone to the registration area in the lobby. She walked out of the hospital in a daze, standing under a sign for a while. It was not until Yvonne¡¯s urging that she snapped back to reality and hailed a taxi. The driver was a talkative local, and seeing Candice¡¯s pale faceing out of the hospital, he could not help advising her. ¡°Miss, there¡¯s nothing in life that can¡¯t be ovee. Life is bitter before it¡¯s sweet. Without experiencing storms, how can you see a rainbow? Surviving a great cmity brings great fortune.¡± Candice listened but did not respond. After a couple more sentences, the driver fell silent. Yvonne¡¯s home was not far from the hospital, in a run¨Cdown old neighborhood. The environment was poor, and at the entrance was an old jujube tree surrounded by various dpidated items. The whole neighborhood consisted of only a few buildings. As Candice entered, she saw Yvonne and Peach standing in front of one of the buildings. Spotting her, Yvonne called out to her. ¡°Candy, over here!¡± Yvonne had a loud voice, and there were quite a few neighbors around who could not help but look at Candice with curious eyes. ¡°Yvonne, is this your guest?¡± Yvonne waved her hand dismissively. ¡°None of your business, bunch of gossipers.¡± She pulled Candice toward the residential building. ¡°I¡¯ve had the dishes ready for a while. Seeing that you weren¡¯t here yet, I waited downstairs for you.¡± Following her, Candice stopped in front of a scratched iron door. On it, words written with chalk that had not been cleaned properly could still be seen. Seeing her looking there, Yvonne¡¯s expression turned strange for a moment. She then took out her keys, opened the door, and pushed Candice inside. The home was not decorated with anything fancy. The furniture was old and worn, with two obviously +15 BONOS Yvonne exined awkwardly, ¡°All the money at home is spent on Peach¡¯s medical bills, so we make do with what we have. ¡°By the way, have a seat. I¡¯ll reheat the dishes.¡± Yvonne pulled Candice to a stic table somewhat ufortably. The chairs were also stic, with newspaper crumpled under the table edges. Candice watched Peach, who had been quietly following behind. After a moment, she waved at her. ¡°Are you tired?¡± Peach¡¯s facial features were actually very delicate. Although Yvonne looked rough now, Candice remembered her from childhood¨Cgentle and beautiful, like a flower. Peach had inherited Yvonne¡¯s features perfectly. However, due to her frequent illnesses, she seemed tock the lively and spirited aura. After observing Candice for a while, Peach slowly approached. She shook her head timidly. ¡°I¡¯m not tired. I go upstairs every day.¡± ¡°Do you go to school?¡± Peach, with a childish voice, said, ¡°Mommy thinks I¡¯m not healthy, so she doesn¡¯t let me go to school.¡± Candice furrowed her brows slightly. Peach was already six years old. She should be starting elementary school next year. But Yvonne did not let her go to school? ¡°Candy.¡± Candice was still contemting when she suddenly heard Peach calling her. She lowered her head, and Peach took two hesitant steps closer. With anxiety in her voice, she asked, ¡± Mommy said the money for my treatment is all given by you. Is it true?¡± Looking at her, Candice asked, ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°I will pay you back in the future,¡± Peach said, her eyes suddenly turning red, and her voice beginning to choke. ¡°Candy, don¡¯t hit me in the future. Don¡¯t smash the table, okay?¡± Candice did not react to Peach¡¯s words, simply looking at Peach as her eyes turned red. Just as she was about to offer a tissue, Yvonne came out of the kitchen. ¡°I stewed this chicken soup all morning. Candy, drink more¡­ Peach, what happened to you?¡± Yvonne had yet to put down the bowl when she saw Peach¡¯s eyes turning reddish. She immediately ced the bowl on the table and turned to look at Peach. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. She put the bowl down with a bit of force, causing a few drops of soup to ssh out. Unfortunately, they