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

Chapter 0540

After ending the call with Sieg, Alex set down his phone and glanced out at the vast rose garden on the balcony. Knowing Candice's fondness for flowers had drawn him to these roses when he purchased the house.

However, due to her pollen allergy, she rarely interacted with them.

Therefore, the first thing Alex did after buying the house was to install a pollen-proof structure around the roses, thinking Candice would appreciate it.

But liking flowers didn't equate to liking him.

A sense of desolation slowly crept into Alex's features as he gazed at the roses.

Candice was the one who taught him the language of flowers, where roses symbolized true love.

Alex tilted his head back, closing his eyes, a self-deprecating grin forming on his lips.

True love? He had forfeited the right to talk about sincerity when he thought he could deceive Candice. That's why she didn't trust him, why she had left him. Liars never prospered; that was a lesson he had learned long ago.

Alex sank into the sofa, enveloped in somber silence, until the shrill ring of his phone broke the stillness of the room.

It was Helen calling. Since the incident with Daniel, there had been little communication between Alex and Helen.

They were like strangers, far from the typical mother-son relationship.

After a moment's hesitation, Alex answered the call.

Helen's voice came through immediately, accusatory and angry. "When are you coming back to Dorrington?"

Alex's response was indifferent, "Are you not comfortable staying with your family?"

Helen was livid. She snapped, "What do you mean?! I'm asking why you haven't returned to Dorrington. Do you plan to neglect the company entirely?"

"I thought the support your family offered wasn't enough," Alex retorted icily, his eyes betraying no emotion. "I'm surprised you even remember to care about me. I thought you wanted nothing to do with anyone from the Elysians anymore."

Helen had attended Daniel's trial but never returned to the Elysians afterward. The only times she contacted Alex were to curse Daniel for his betrayal and demand "compensation" for her family.

Helen, hailing from the prestigious Sui family, always kept her family's interests in mind.

That was why she didn't divorce Daniel despite his infidelity; her family needed a connection to the Elysians.

To Helen, Alex was simply a troublesome consequence of her unhappy marriage.

Helen was seething with anger at Alex. Once a refined lady of high society, her tumultuous marriage with Daniel had transformed her into a bitter woman.

Furious, Helen berated Alex, "Have you lost your mind? I spoke to Sieg. He told me you went to find Candice. Has she enchanted you? She comes from a lowly background and is not fit to be seen in public! Don't think I haven't noticed how much you've been concerned about her all these years! Daniel was too blind to see it, but I knew everything!”

"You've been secretly paying off her stepfather's debts, covering her sister's medical bills, arranging for your uncle to perform surgery on her grandfather, giving her a house in Vestry Residence, and every time she visits Elysian Manor, you want to be with her! Alex, what are you so afraid of that I'll harm her?!"

It seemed like Helen had found an outlet for her pent-up frustration, unloading everything Alex had done over the years.

With a cold laugh, she concluded, "You have a daughter with you, don't you, Alex? Don't be so naive. I'm telling you, people of such low birth can't produce anything good. Just look at Daniel as an example."

"You need to shut up," Alex's expression darkened as he abruptly cut off Helen's words about Candice and Ellis.

Helen grew more agitated, continuing, "I shouldn't have warned her about Daniel. Now, this obsession consumes you, causing you to neglect the company as you pursue her abroad!"

Alex's demeanor turned menacing as he gripped his phone tightly. "I'll handle your divorce proceedings with Daniel," he declared before abruptly ending the call.

Helen's sharp and anxious voice faded away as the call disconnected, allowing Alex to finally breathe a breath of relief. He tossed his phone aside and closed his eyes once more.

The following day, being a weekend, Candice, not having to rush to work, hired another nanny. After discussing requirements, checking her credentials, and ensuring everything was in order, they finalized the arrangement.

Ellis spent the morning exploring the house, occasionally heading toward the corner, seemingly confused by the absence of the large toy cabinet.

Observing this, Candice placed her on the sofa and went to fetch her favorite toys. However, Ellis climbed down from the sofa and made her way back to the corner.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Candice saw Ellis sitting obediently and went to answer the door.

There stood Alex, holding a small box and a Barbie doll. He said in his usual manner, "I brought Little Mulberry's toys for her."

Before Candice could reply, she heard Ellis's excited squeals from behind her.

Reacting swiftly, Candice caught her by the collar and pulled her back.

She then turned to Alex and invited him in, saying, "Come in."

Unseen by Candice, a smile played across Alex's face as she turned away.

Ever mindful, he placed the toys down for Ellis and played with her for a while before instinctively heading to the kitchen to start cooking.

He acted so confidently that Candice didn't have a chance to object. Instead, she found herself listening to Alex's words, "You can go handle your work; I can take care of her. I'll call you when lunch is ready."

His tone was so natural, leaving Candice feeling uncertain.

Without lingering, she stepped outside to answer a call from Hanley.

Candice's expression froze as she picked up the call. "Hanley?"

In the kitchen, Alex paused his vegetable chopping, nearly cutting his fingertip.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Taking a breath to steady himself, he carefully set down the knife and went to the living room to pick up Ellis, who was engrossed in her toys.

With his forehead resting against Ellis's, Alex's gaze drifted outside as he softly spoke, "Have you ever heard the story of Cinderella? Her stepmother wouldn't have bought her toys and Barbies."