My Mirror Image

Chapter 0041

Although her voice was soft. Alex and Sonia overheard her words.

Alex stopped in his tracks.

Unaware of this, Candice entered the car with Jackson, still clutching the ceramic figure he had given her.

Jackson smiled and added, “I thought you wouldn’t be interested in these things since many people find them boring.”

His handsome and refined appearance, coupled with his gentle voice, quickly brought Candice back to the moment.

Gazing at the figurine, Candice replied, “I’m not familiar with this field, but it’s interesting.”

“I’d be happy to share what I know,” Jackson responded warmly.

They headed to the Expo Hall’s ceramic exhibition in the city’s north. By their arrival, it was nearly closing, with few visitors remaining.

Candice, new to ceramics, attentively followed Jackson, listening to his explanation about each piece.

They stopped before an elegant vase.

“This is one of my grandfather’s masterpieces,” Jackson said as he looked at the vase tenderly.

Candice, recalling his grandfather’s passing, did not know what to say. She simply shared his admiration for the vase and eventually nodded in agreement, “It’s truly stunning.”

He broke into a smile. Unlike his typical faint smile, this one was ge

genuine.

“If this interests you, we could explore more such pieces another time.”

Following their departure from the exhibition, it was time for dinner.

Just as Jackson was about to invite Candice to dine, he got a call from a friend.

His friend informed him of something, and he turned to Candice with an apologetic look, suggesting. “There’s a birthday party for a friend at a bar close by: would you like to come?”

Unfamiliar with Jackson’s acquaintances, Candice declined, “I’ll just grab a taxi home.”

“It won’t take long; we’ll leave soon after,” Jackson said with a helpless gesture, adding, “If I show up alone, they’ll insist I drink.”

Candice knew Jackson and Alex’s circles did not intersect much due to their differing personalities. So, she was taken aback to find Alex at the bar.

Upon arrival, she paused at the private room’s entrance, telling Jackson she had returned from the restroom shortly.

Coming out of the restroom, she unexpectedly bumped into Alex.

+15 BONUS

how to greet him, but Alex broke the silence. “Did you come

Jackson?”

She raised her eyes and asked rhetorically. “And you? Are you out here having a good time

of discomfort, as if she were engaging in

conversation with Alex.

her briefly before looking away nonchalantly

private room soon after Alex, and she

her eyes.

seat beside Jackson, whispering, “If you decide to drink, I can drive you

noisy, making it hard to

she noticed someone from across

her intently.

she recognized it

holding a drink, his face set in a cold expression, looking somewhat alien in the

disinterested

Candice quickly averted her

look again, Alex had shifted his attention away, making it

was just her imagination.

with the host. Despite his refusals, he was persistently coaxed to drink, but he

declining.

said to

buzzed with more people urging him to

fine: you can drink. I’ll

his head, insisting, “I promised to drive

not press

acquainted with the others, nobody seemed

drink all night, so

assemble around

she noticed

she saw Alex and Sonia

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brought a deck of cards to the table, spreading them out and suggesting, “How about

indeed a

she didn’t get the

card in this

the card in her hand, she silently picked up her cup and

an observer, until…

his own card, which was the King of Spades, meaning he would give the order that everyone else had to follow. Looking for some thrill, he

froze,

was holding the King of