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

Chapter 0479

Candice followed Zack into the car and took a moment to explain the conversation with Catherine that had caused people to misunderstand their relationship, but Zack didn't mind. He graciously drove Candice back to the hotel.

Despite the evening's hiccups, Candice did gain something. She had exchanged contact information with Catherine, and they agreed to meet again in South City.

Yana sent her a few videos of Ellis and then asked in the chat, ‘What do you think of Zack?’

Candice didn't overthink it and replied, ‘He's nice.’

‘Shouldn't you consider dating him? We were college classmates, and he's genuinely upright. I haven't seen him involved with any girls. His family is simple—he is an only child, and his parents parents are university professors.’

Messaging felt insufficient, so Yana called Candice directly. "Seriously, Zack is a responsible guy."

Candice sighed. "You're thinking too much. Besides, I'm fine as I am now."

"I just think you two should get to know each other. Next time, I'll arrange for you two to go on a date."

Hearing this, Candice knew Zack probably had no idea about this. She was afraid Yana might tell Zack to do it, so she told her off a few more times. She only hung up after Yana gave her assurance.

Candice was supposed to take the next morning's flight back to South City, but she tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. The rain continued outside, gentle and constant.

Candice's phone buzzed, breaking the silence. She picked it up, finding another message from the mysterious ‘1’ on WhatsApp. ‘In love, you should choose wisely. Not everyone is kind.’

The brief message made Candice incredibly uncomfortable. The self-righteous tone made her suspect it was an awkward middle-aged man with a beer belly behind the words. Suppressing her irritation, she pressed on his profile picture, ready to block the contact.

However, thinking it might be someone influential introduced by some rich lady in South City, she decided to reply coldly, ‘You have no right to pry into my private affairs.’

Ten minutes later, a lone period was the only response. Candice found the person offensive and chose not to engage further. She tossed her phone aside, determined to go to sleep.

Candice took the early flight back to South City. As she walked a few steps, she spotted a tall figure waiting for her.

South City's temperature was a bit warmer than Dorrington. Hanley, clad in a dark gray overcoat, looked remarkably refined. He stood amidst the crowd, his gaze momentarily pausing as he extended a hand to Candice. "Give me your luggage."

Since arriving in South City, Candice hadn't met Hanley often. He was always busy, but he would occasionally drop by South City on business trips and take her out for a meal before leaving again.

Candice had heard from Yana and Nadia that Hanley was facing significant conflicts at home these days, with Hannah still in Dorrington. However, Hanley never mentioned any of this to her. Every time he visited South City, he brought gifts for her and Ellis. These were thoughtful gestures that she appreciated.

Candice walked over, saying, “I didn’t expect to see you. Yana said that you only arrived in South City last night."

"I happened to have some time off, so I came over." Hanley's voice was warm. He seemed more mature now, with his clear features gaining depth. When he smiled, it was like a sudden spring breeze, making his whole demeanor more gentle.

He naturally took Candice's luggage. "Nadia and the others are planning to visit your place later. I was afraid of disturbing Baby Mulberry, so I told them to wait for you to come back."

His steady voice had a calming effect on Candice's heart. She felt grateful for Hanley. When she had first arrived in South City, even with Darius's arrangements, everything was chaotic. It was Hanley who had reached out to his old friends for help.

Especially when Ellis was born unexpectedly two weeks before her due date, Hanley had helped coordinate with the hospital and prepared everything they needed.

Hanley, despite not being physically present in South City, always provided significant assistance whenever Candice needed it.

Midway through the journey, Candice called Nadia and the others. When they returned home, they coincidentally met them.

Candice brought gifts for everyone. After getting their presents, Yana glanced at the pen in Hanley's hand, and she couldn't help but mock, "Candice, did you put the least thought into Hanley's gift? This pen looks really ordinary, like something you'd randomly pick up at a stationery store." This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Hanley gave her a glance, calmly put away the pen, and thanked Candice. "It’s an artist collaboration edition. I really like it. Thank you."

"I’m glad you like it."

The pen Candice gave Hanley was a limited edition commemorating a hundred years of a certain brand, and it featured a collaboration with a renowned artist. It was the most expensive among all

the gifts she prepared, but she felt it suited Hanley perfectly.

Ellis had an outgoing personality, so she was not afraid of the sudden influx of people. Being passed around by different people, she happily waved her little hands.

Candice didn't keep the fact of giving birth in South City a secret from the Burning Star Studio team. Originally, there were only seven or eight people in the team, including Hanley, and they all had a close relationship with him, so they naturally wouldn't spread gossip.

After playing with Ellis in the living room, Candice received a call from a South City client. When she came out of the study, she saw Yana and Nadia dressing Ellis.

Yana said, "The weather outside is nice. We plan to take Baby Mulberry out to soak up some sun and take a few photos."

Candice, an avid recorder, had a camera specifically for capturing Ellis's moments. Sometimes, she couldn't help but marvel at how quickly children changed every day.

After putting a hat on Ellis's head, Candice grabbed her camera and went out, while Hanley, Ryan, and the rest of the men stayed back to cook.

The residential area was close to a square, and the afternoon sunlight was just right. Yana took little Ellis to the largest deer statue for photos, with Candice handling only the camera shutter.

However, during the holidays, work was hectic. Many clients called to send their wishes, one after another. Candice had to hand the camera to another girl from the studio and find a quieter place to answer the phone.

"I thought South City would be different, but this square seems like a copy-paste of Silverstone Square. How boring. We flew all the way here to ski, and the resort got closed," Sieg complained. They specifically flew to South City, only to be informed about the closure of the scenic area. It

wasn't feasible to fly back to Dorrington immediately, so they had no choice but to wander around here.

He glanced at Alex, who was still expressionless, and couldn’t help but blame him. "I bet it's because of you. Even the heavens can't stand you resting and want you back at your desk. Hey, why don't you go back first—"

Sieg's words halted abruptly as he saw something in the distance. "Why is Yana here?" he asked with a frown.