My Mirror Image

Chapter 99

Holding the phone, Candice remained silent for a while. Yvonne thought she might not want to come

over.

She could not help but anxiously say, “I just want to make you some delicious food. I know you work

hard, and what I said yesterday was thoughtless. Candy, you’re not mad at me, right? Can I just make

it up to you?”

In the end, Yvonne voice even carried a hint of a sob.

Candice closed her eyes and heard herself numbly say, “I’m at the hospital.”

Yvonne was taken aback. “Why are you at the hospital? Should I bring the food to the hospital?”

Her concern sounded genuine, and Candice hesitated for a moment but still said, “It’s nothing.”

“Candy, wait for me. I’ll bring Peach to the hospital right away.” Yvonne began packing things, the

sound of clinking dishes audible.

Suddenly, Sonia’s soft voice came from behind. “Lex, can you accompany me to register?”

Candice lowered her eyes, and hearing Yvonne’s hurried and anxious movements through the phone,

she

paused before saying calmly, “Give me the address. I’ll come over.”

Yvonne sighed. “Then, I’ll wait for you to come.”

Listening to the joy in Yvonne’s voice, Candice could not muster much happiness.

After all, she had to ask for Yvonne’s address on–the–spot.

She hung up and turned around to find Sonia holding Alex’s arm, staring at her thoughtfully.

Candice acted as if she did not notice and calmly said, “I have something to attend to. I’ll leave first.”

“Candice.” Sonia called after her. “Lex just said we could have lunch together.”

Candice lowered her head to look at her phone. Yvonne had already sent the address.

She looked up and declined softly. “Thanks, but you two go ahead.”

Looking at Alex, she remained silent for a moment before repeating. “Thank you.”

She was referring to Alex accompanying her to the hospital, though she did not understand why he did

so.

Candice had realized in the morning that he probably sensed her discomfort when he came to see her

late at

night.

Candice lowered her head, her fingers slightly curled.

“Don’t overthink it.” Alex’s emotionless voice rang out. He looked at Candice with his deep black eyes.

“If

something happens to you, Aether Corporation can’t afford to support those blood–sucking leeches of

yours.”

A seemingly casual sentence, but to Candice, it felt like a bolt from the blue.

She suddenly looked up at Alex, opened her mouth to speak, but could not say a word.

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Sonia blinked, then pretended to be angry as she patted Alex’s arm. “What did you just say?”

“I said what’s true.” Alex sneered.

Candice staggered slightly. Alex’s words made her feel embarrassed to the core.

Unfortunately, Sonia still had to act all understanding and console her. “Candice, we can’t choose our

family

background. At least you’re doing great now.”

Candice did not miss the pity on Sonia’s face.

Her body trembled slightly, and her throat felt so tight that she could not utter a word. She felt as if she

wanted someone to slap her hard across the face.

These were the things she least wanted others to see, but they were now laid bare for everyone to see.

When Candice left, Alex and Sonia had already gone to the registration area in the lobby.

She walked out of the hospital in a daze, standing under a sign for a while.

It was not until Yvonne’s urging that she snapped back to reality and hailed a taxi.

The driver was a talkative local, and seeing Candice’s pale face coming out of the hospital, he could

not help advising her. “Miss, there’s nothing in life that can’t be overcome. Life is bitter before it’s sweet.

Without experiencing storms, how can you see a rainbow? Surviving a great calamity brings great

fortune.” Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

Candice listened but did not respond. After a couple more sentences, the driver fell silent.

Yvonne’s home was not far from the hospital, in a run–down old neighborhood. The environment was

poor,

and at the entrance was an old jujube tree surrounded by various dilapidated items.

The whole neighborhood consisted of only a few buildings. As Candice entered, she saw Yvonne and

Peach

standing in front of one of the buildings.

Spotting her, Yvonne called out to her. “Candy, over here!”

Yvonne had a loud voice, and there were quite a few neighbors around who could not help but look at

Candice

with curious eyes.

“Yvonne, is this your guest?”

Yvonne waved her hand dismissively. “None of your business, bunch of gossipers.”

She pulled Candice toward the residential building. “I’ve had the dishes ready for a while. Seeing that

you

weren’t here yet, I waited downstairs for you.”

Following her, Candice stopped in front of a scratched iron door. On it, words written with chalk that had

not

been cleaned properly could still be seen.

Seeing her looking there, Yvonne’s expression turned strange for a moment. She then took out her

keys, opened the door, and pushed Candice inside.

The home was not decorated with anything fancy. The furniture was old and worn, with two obviously

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Yvonne explained awkwardly, “All the money at home is spent on Peach’s medical bills, so we make do

with

what we have.

“By the way, have a seat. I’ll reheat the dishes.” Yvonne pulled Candice to a plastic table somewhat

uncomfortably. The chairs were also plastic, with newspaper crumpled under the table edges.

Candice watched Peach, who had been quietly following behind. After a moment, she waved at her.

“Are you tired?”

Peach’s facial features were actually very delicate. Although Yvonne looked rough now, Candice

remembered her from childhood–gentle and beautiful, like a flower.

Peach had inherited Yvonne’s features perfectly.

However, due to her frequent illnesses, she seemed to lack the lively and spirited aura.

After observing Candice for a while, Peach slowly approached. She shook her head timidly. “I’m not

tired. I go upstairs every day.”

“Do you go to school?”

Peach, with a childish voice, said, “Mommy thinks I’m not healthy, so she doesn’t let me go to school.”

Candice furrowed her brows slightly. Peach was already six years old. She should be starting

elementary

school next year.

But Yvonne did not let her go to school?

“Candy.” Candice was still contemplating when she suddenly heard Peach calling her.

She lowered her head, and Peach took two hesitant steps closer. With anxiety in her voice, she asked,

” Mommy said the money for my treatment is all given by you. Is it true?”

Looking at her, Candice asked, “Why do you ask?”

“I will pay you back in the future,” Peach said, her eyes suddenly turning red, and her voice beginning

to choke. “Candy, don’t hit me in the future. Don’t smash the table, okay?”

Candice did not react to Peach’s words, simply looking at Peach as her eyes turned red. Just as she

was

about to offer a tissue, Yvonne came out of the kitchen.

“I stewed this chicken soup all morning. Candy, drink more… Peach, what happened to you?” Yvonne

had yet to put down the bowl when she saw Peach’s eyes turning reddish. She immediately placed the

bowl on the

table and turned to look at Peach.

She put the bowl down with a bit of force, causing a few drops of soup to splash out. Unfortunately,

they

landed on Candice’s clothes.