My Mirror Image

Chapter 0173

Candice recognized the weight of the decision resting on her shoulders. Yet she was at a loss for what action to take, her thoughts clouded and indecisive.

The sudden ring of her phone cut through the tense atmosphere.

Seizing this timely distraction, she excused herself to answer the call. “Sorry, I have to take this.”

Once outside the meeting room, the suffocating air seemed to dissipate. She hastily answered the phone without glancing at the caller ID.

Dean Schmidt’s voice, laden with urgency, came through. “Ms. Renault, your grandfather has gone to find your mother by himself. He was determined to confront her after speaking with you this morning. We managed to stop him initially, but he vanished during lunch. Security didn’t notice his departure, which likely happened during the shift change.”

Candice nearly stumbled, steadying herself against the wall.

She replied with forced calmness. “I’m on my way to Yvonne’s place now. Could you and the caregivers please hurry over to get there?”

Candice dashed downstairs after quickly finishing the call, only remembering to notify Kayla of her abrupt departure and inability to return to the meeting.

Kayla cautiously conveyed this to Alex. “Mr. Elysian, Candice had an emergency and had to leave.”

Alex’s eyes flickered with curiosity. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure, but she’s in a hurry. She should be in the parking lot now.”

”

At this, Alex paused momentarily before standing and declaring coolly, “Meeting dismissed.”

Sonia observed his retreating back, her expression tinged with bitterness.

Receiving a call herself, she quickly ended it and followed Alex, maintaining a facade of indifference.

Candice drove hastily to the motel where Yvonne was staying, her driving erratic with urgency, and ran several red lights on her way there.

she had told him to call her as

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paused, collecting herself in the car,

A young man was nonchalantly working at the front desk with a cigarette

feeling worse from the smoke, Candice suppressed her discomfort and asked, “I

her lethargically, about to respond, when a sudden crashing sound and Yvonne’s distinct cries echoed

the stairs and around a corner to a room with

open door.

and leaning on his cane, glared

this how I raised you? You’ve even sacrificed your self–respect for a man. You’ve disgraced yourself, and now Candy

seen how people are cursing her on the internet? Calling her heartless

this, who deserves to die? Where has she done you wrong?

you, you

end, and his

strike at Yvonne, but in his anger he was unstable, and as

he almost

to assist

he saw her, he was taken aback. He took a few moments

not wanting to look at Yvonne kneeling on the ground. “If you don’t want

avoided mentioning Yvonne or her own troubles, focusing

being.

brimmed with tears as he looked at her, his voice shaking with unrestrained anguish.” Candy, my sweetheart, how have you managed to bear this?”

down the cheeks of the old man

reddened in response. Throughout this ordeal, only Joe seemed to understand her pain. No one else had offered any sign

H

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perceived her as unbreakable, devold of emotion, and unable to experience distress

together, Candice fought to keep her emotions in

as he saw her