My Mirror Image

Chapter 173

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.

Dean Schmidt hadn’t called yet, but she had told him to call her as soon as he found Joe.

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She paused, collecting herself in the car, then stepped out.

The motel was run–down and sketchy. A young man was nonchalantly working at the front desk with a

cigarette hanging from his lips.

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

find Yvonne Sundance. Can you tell me her room number?”

The young man glanced at her lethargically, about to respond, when a sudden crashing sound and

Yvonne’s distinct cries echoed from upstairs.

Without a second thought, Candice darted up the stairs and around a corner to a room with an

open door.

Inside, Joe, panting and leaning on his cane, glared at Yvonne, who knelt on the floor.

Anger contorted his features as he berated her, “Is this how I raised you? You’ve even sacrificed your

self–respect for a man. You’ve disgraced yourself, and now Candy is dragged into it.

“Have you seen how people are cursing her on the internet? Calling her heartless and predicting Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

her doom! Let me ask you this, who deserves to die? Where has she done you wrong? What did

she do to you, you good–for–nothing?”

Joe was coughing at the end, and his cane was thudding furiously.

Unsatisfied, he raised his cane to strike at Yvonne, but in his anger he was unstable, and as he

stepped forward, he almost lost his balance.

Candice rushed to assist him.

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

andpa, let me take you back to the nursing home,” she softly soothed, not wanting to look at Yvonne

kneeling on the ground. “If you don’t want to go back, I’ll take you to my house, okay?”

She deliberately avoided mentioning Yvonne or her own troubles, focusing solely on Joe’s well-

being.

Joe’s eyes brimmed with tears as he looked at her, his voice shaking with unrestrained anguish.”

Candy, my sweetheart, how have you managed to bear this?”

Tears flowed down the cheeks of the old man as he gripped Candice’s hand.

Candice’s eyes reddened in response. Throughout this ordeal, only Joe seemed to understand her

pain. No one else had offered any sign of empathy.

H

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It was as if they all perceived her as unbreakable, devold of emotion, and unable to experience distress

or pain.

Firmly pressing her lips together, Candice fought to keep her emotions in check.

Joe’s sadness grew as he saw her expression.

“You fool!” he cried as he raised his cane to strike Yvonne. “See the chaos you ve caused!

How could you be so evil as to harm your own daughter? Apologize to Candy now! Tell the world,

through media or online, how she has treated you throughout the years!”

Yvonne was still on her knees. Though the old man’s strength was weak, she still flinched as the cane

struck her.

She stood up, rubbing her arm. Her face conveyed her sense of injustice.

“Dad, I’m your daughter!” she argued. “You can blame me, but all I wanted was to help with Ivor!

Nothing of this would have happened if you had agreed to it. Why should I be blamed? You’re the one

who wouldn’t see me, leaving me no choice but to turn to Candy!”

Joe’s expression turned increasingly grim as he retorted, “You’re both foolish and wicked. How could I

have fathered someone like you? I’ve spent my entire life teaching with integrity, do you expect me to

demean myself in front of my students for your unworthy man? I might as well take my coffin to his

doorstep!”

His emotions peaked, turning his face worryingly red.

Candice acted swiftly, steadying the elderly man. She implored Yvonne in a hushed tone, “Please, just

be quiet.”

Yvonne was oblivious to Joe’s condition and continued her plea. “Dad, please!”

Joe’s body began to convulse uncontrollably.

Panic flashed across Candice’s face as she attempted to guide him out, but he stopped motionless at

the door.

Trying to quell her rising anxiety, Candice fumbled for her phone, only for Kayla to call at that exact

moment. She inadvertently answered.

Kayla began, “Candice, Mr. Elysian-”

But Candice’s alarmed voice interjected, “Grandpa, please hold on. We’re going to the hospital right

now, just for a moment.”

Candice had already hung up before Kayla could react.

Stunned, Kayla then turned her gaze towards the stoic man in front of her, her shiver

uncontrollable.