My Mirror Image by Maybe Not (Candice And Alex’s)

Chapter 0502

Candice's birthday celebration was lively, extending into the late hours of the night. Holding the exhausted Ellis, Candice was ready to head home. Ellis had already dozed off.

"Let me take her," Hanley offered softly.

The scent of barbecue lingered in the air. Hanley was not fond of greasy food, and he hadn't eaten much, leaving his clothes free of the smoky aroma.

Ellis had grown heavier over the past three months, making it challenging for Candice to carry her for an extended period. Grateful for Hanley's offer, she handed the baby to him. Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

"How did she get so heavy in just three months?" Hanley remarked.

"You've noticed it's been three months," Yana interjected as she rejoined them. "In that time, flowers could have withered. You took forever to come back. Mulberry might not be the only one who's changed; she could have gotten a new sibling by now."

Yana's words slipped out as she had been drinking, causing Candice to feel embarrassed, but Hanley simply chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Candice questioned him, shooting him a glare.

"I'm just grateful the flowers haven't wilted," Hanley replied with a light laugh.

Candice wanted to say something but hesitated, deciding against it.

A few days after the birthday celebration, Candice's colleagues had to return to South City to finish their unfinished work.

Candice assumed Hanley would accompany them, but he mentioned staying a few more days.

"Do you still have business to attend to in Dorrington? Last time you returned, you mentioned some important matters," Candice asked.

After a moment's pause, Hanley responded, "There are some other things, but the most important one has been taken care of."

Candice grunted in response, not pressing further when Hanley didn't elaborate.

After a brief silence, Hanley burst into laughter, his eyes full of resignation as he asked, "Aren't you curious about what the important matter might be?"

"Is it work-related or something concerning your family?" Candice asked seriously, her intentions genuine.

Hanley found himself at a loss for words. After a moment's pause, he sighed and replied, "Apart from celebrating your birthday, I can't think of anything more significant. Candy, you make me feel like a fool."

It was rare for Hanley to joke around. He genuinely felt helpless with Candice and thought she would at least ask him about it. Reflecting on his assumption, he couldn't help but laugh at himself.

Since the day he had met Candice, he should have realized she was all about boundaries, never crossing them.

Candice felt a twinge of embarrassment at his laughter.

"You're not foolish, but I didn't consider that," she admitted.

Just as she finished speaking, her phone rang.

The smile vanished from Candice's face as soon as she answered.

Daniel's voice came through the line, asking, "Have you thought about bringing your daughter to see me?"

With just that one sentence, he abruptly ended the call.

Candice's expression darkened completely. She had been hesitant to reveal her daughter's existence, mainly because of Daniel. If he could be ruthless with her, he could pose a threat to Ellis as well.

Candice wanted to leave as soon as possible because as long as they stayed in Dorrington, there was always a chance that he would find them.

It wasn't just to avoid William but also to steer clear of Daniel. While Alex and Helen might show mercy, Daniel might not.

Candice's demeanor turned solemn, her grip on the phone weakening as she struggled to maintain her composure.

Hanley asked, concerned, "What's the matter?"

Candice took a moment to compose herself before meeting Hanley's gaze.

"Daniel wants to meet me," she confessed.

Daniel's unexpected call left Candice deeply unsettled. She even briefly entertained the idea of buying a plane ticket to leave Dorrington immediately.

However, she quickly dismissed the thought knowing that Daniel, with the vast resources of the Elysians at his disposal, could easily track her down.

Recalling how Daniel had previously manipulated her medical records and orchestrated harm against her, Candice knew he was not to be underestimated.

Jackson had discussed the case with her. Alex's efforts to confront Daniel and the latter's resilience in the cutthroat business world of Dorrington over a few decades posed a significant threat.

Despite her concerns, Candice still went to the Aether Corporation's office the following morning.

She chose not to bring Ellis along, entrusting Hanley with her care. With someone as dangerous as Daniel, Candice couldn't risk exposing Ellis to him.

However, Daniel's in-depth familiarity with Ellis surprised Candice. His familiarity with her daughter far exceeded her expectations.

As she observed the array of photos of Ellis displayed on the office desk, Candice's eyes widened in shock.

Daniel sat casually behind the desk, amusement evident in his demeanor as he remarked, "Raising the child to this age, I underestimated you."

With a chill running down her spine, Candice realized the gravity of the situation.

"Is this Alex's daughter?" Daniel asked, his tone dripping with malice.

She cast her gaze downward, concealing her emotions before responding, "I'd like to think she's unrelated to your family."

Daniel countered sharply, "She carries Alex's blood. How can you deny her connection to us?"

Turning her attention to Oscar beside her, Candice gradually regained her composure. She directed her gaze back to Daniel, asking, "It seems like there's no connection between me and the chairman,

right?"

"Haha." Daniel's piercing gaze bore into Candice. He pressed, "No connection? Did Alex's support give you the courage to speak to me like this? Remember, you were once an employee of Aether Corporation. Even if Alex wrested that contract from me, I still have numerous means to teach you a lesson."

His voice carried a hoarse edge, bearing down on Candice with authority and scrutiny, causing her discomfort.

Daniel seethed with fury. His son's defiance was palpable. Not only had Alex severed ties with the Burgesses, but he had also allied with those in Solaris to target Daniel's company.

What's more, Alex had reignited discussions about their past conflict, showing no signs of backing down.

Daniel found it intolerable to have his own son challenge him in this way after dominating the business landscape for decades.

Internally, he resolved, "Fine! If Alex wants to challenge me, let's see how capable he truly is."

Daniel's frustration intensified as he directed his ire toward Candice. His gaze grew increasingly hostile as he attributed blame to her for the current situation.

Reflecting on his past decisions, Daniel acknowledged that when he first discovered Alex's interest in Candice and had been willing to agree to all his demands for her, he should have taken direct action to prevent this debacle.

Daniel's viciousness became more apparent. However, before he could lash out, a gentle voice interrupted from outside the office, saying, "Chairman, Mr. Snee is waiting for you in the office."

Oscar entered, wearing a smile, and addressed Candice, "May I speak with Ms. Renault?"