Chapter 167
Chapter 0167
Before entering the office, Candice first went to the tea room and poured herself a cup of hot water to
warm her stomach. It was feeling a bit upset again
Back at the office door, she heard a commotion inside, as if something was being e
Candice slowed down before entering. However, as soon as she stepped in, the previously eas office
fell abruptly silent.
Candice hesitated for a moment, but she was not in the mood to pay much attention to the changes
around her. Instead, she went straight to her desk, called Kafa over, and handed her the reports on the
table, saying, “Check the data. If everything is fine, send it to the finance department.”
Kayla stared at her hesitantly.
Candice raised an eyebrow, “What’s wrong?”
“Candice, have you checked the company group chat?”
There were dozens of internal groups at Aether. “Which group? What happened?
“The private anonymous group.” Kayla looked at Candice, who seemed unaware, and hesitated before
speaking. “You and your mom were photographed at the Silverstone Hospital last night.”
Candice stopped cleaning up her desk. She had thrown her bag aside when she got hlast night
and had not checked her phone.
Kayla said, “Many people were discussing it in the group last night. Candice, you should be prepared.”
Kayla’s words were quite tactful.
In the restroom cubicle, Candice opened the group chat. People were still discussing, but all
anonymously.
[I really didn’t expect it. Candice usually acts so swiftly and decisively, I thought her family background
was quite good.)
[So, this is the reason why Mr. Elysian and Sonia got together. After all, the original family background
can also influence a person.]
+15 BONOS
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtCandice looked at the messages, her lips tightly pressed, and then began scrolling upward.
Thousands of messages later, she finally saw the video.
Candice’s fingers trembled as she clicked on the video. When the video started, the pitiful begging
voice of Yvonne cfrom the phone.
“I beg you, can you lendfive–hundred thousand dollars…”
Candice felt like she had been struck by lightning, her mind exploding. She stood there blankly.
The video had already finished playing and the screen returned to the chat.
The group of people below exploded, saying all sorts of things. Occasionally, there were a few morally
questionable individuals who sneaked in ssecretly recorded videos, but most were
just spectators.
Her gaze was unfocused as she stared at the phone screen, feeling chilled to her bones. Even
breathing felt like being stabbed in her chest.
The phone rang, and Candice was so startled she jumped as though electrocuted and almost threw it
away.
She quickly regained her composure however, and saw that the caller ID was Hanley.
Candice stayed silent for a moment, then answered the call.
There was a pause from Hanley’s end before he spoke. “Candice?”
“Yeah, I’m here.”
“I’ve arranged to have dinner together tonight with Blue Artifact. Do you have any plans?” Hanley had
previously mentioned connecting her with Blue Artifact.
Candice’s mind was in chaos now, and her voice was tense. She tried hard to keep her emotions
stable. “Hanley, sorry, I might not be in a good state tonight.”
She still did not know what would happen with Yvonne. Candice felt that she might not be ready to deal
with anything else for the tbeing.
She needed stto calm down.
Hanley could hear that her tone was off. He hesitated for a moment before speaking. “What
happened?”
“Nothing much.” Candice pressed her fingers against her temple helplessly. Her voice was very dry.
“Family matters. My my mom cover.”
+15 BONOS
Hanley had also met Yvonne before and knew what had happened between her and Candice. His tone
was a little surprised as he asked, “Isn’t she in Noxville?”
Candice did not explain, just informed Hanley that she would hang up.
When she returned to the office, her expression had returned normal and only her fs still felt stiff.
Quite a number of people sent her judgemental looks, but Candice kept her back straight, acting as if
she did not see them.
Her face was taut, and she continued with her work calmly until Julie gave her a call and asked her to
make a trip up.
Candice did not know why else Alex would want to see her. Her mind was in a daze.
When she went up, she realized that Sonia was there too. No wonder she hadn’t seen her in the
office today.
Candice pursed her lips. “Is anything the matter?”
Alex had his head lowered, looking at something. He spoke without raising his head. “Hand over
all your information on Blue Artifact.”
Candice fell silent.
Alex waited for her response, and when none came, he tapped his slender fingers on the table and
raised his head, speaking to her expressionlessly. “Candice, you do not have the right to reject my
request. You are only a secretary.”
Candice’s body shook a little. She bit the bottom of her lip and said softly. “I have a way to deal
with Mr. Matthias‘ issue. As long as you are willing to lettry once more.”
If Candice could secure the collaboration with Blue Artifact, she would not only gain a monetary
reward, she would also gain connections. She had no desire to give it up.
Alex laughed coldly and looked at Candice. “Do you still have the energy to deal with Blue
Artifact’s matters?”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmCandice’s face turned pale. She knew Alex was referring to Yvonne.
“Candice, your mom seemed to be in an urgent state last night. Why don’t you deal with your family
matters first?” Sonia stood to the side obediently, speaking sincerely. “And it seems like everyone in the
company is paying attention now. Candice, don’t overthink it. Everyone cares
about you.”
+15 BONOS
Her words sounded sincere, as if she was genuinely concerned about Candice.
The video clip of Candice had been taken by an employee who had been taking a child to the hospital.
What really stirred up discussion in the group was when someone asked Sonia wh
disheveled woman was.
That screenshot was still hanging in the group.
Certainly. Sonia could claim not to know why they were asking or assthat everyone knew.
Either way, she had too many excuses.
However, Candice could not even think of any blto place on her.
Because it was a fact.
Yvonne Sundance was her mother.
Even if she was hateful and pitiful even if she was like a blood–sucking leech, she was still Candice’s
mother.
Her biological mother with the sblood flowing in her veins.
Candice’s expression did not look good. Alex’s cold voice echoed in her ears. “Aether is not a charity
and doesn’t want to take any risks for you.” His chilly gaze landed on Candice’s face. After a moment,
he added. “I can’t clean up after you every teither.”
Candice closed her eyes and, after a while, whispered, “Okay, I understand.”
Alex was determined not to let her touch the Blue Artifact project again, and Candice had no choice.
She went downstairs to bring up the materials she had organized, but Sonia unexpectedly followed her
down.
She directly took the few documents from Candice’s hands, speaking crisply. “Candice, give them to
me. I’ll continue to work on Blue Artifact. Since we’re in the soffice, if there’s anything I don’t
understand, I can still ask you.”