My Mirror Image

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. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Hesitatingly answering the call, Helen’s commanding 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 accidentally 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 placed 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 placed 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.

He comforted 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 the company. As Candice entered the office,

she

saw Sonia chatting with Kayla.

Seeing her return, Sonia sluggishly returned to her seat.

Candice placed her bag down and asked, “Is everything organized?”

“I’ve sent it all to your email.”

Candice nodded and sat back at the computer.

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 plate. 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 hour late, 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 home last 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 glanced at Candice and asked Sonia, “Why so late today?”

*Candice returned late,” Sonia said, shifting both overtime issues onto Candice.

Alex’s gaze finally landed on her, and he raised his eyebrow, waiting for Candice’s explanation.

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

corresponding commission would be earned.

Candice thought that when Alex handed her the proposal, it meant he wanted her to take charge of this

matter.

So, after completing 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 plans on Tuesday.”

Candice furrowed her brow. “What plans?*

“Sonia wants to return to school” Alex replied tersely.

It was clear that he wanted Sonia to be involved throughout the collaboration 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 placing 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 a company 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 glanced over. Their eyes

met, and Candice immediately averted her gaze.

She handed the documents in her hand to Kayla while maintaining a facade of indifference.

Kayla looked at Candice, feeling genuinely sorry for her. She couldn’t help but complain. “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’ll come 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 the company 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 cheerful laughter 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 gaze landed on Candice’s face.