My Mirror Image

Chapter 58

The silence in the car stretched on.

Candice waited for Alex’s decision. If he chose to drive, she would have to make her way back to the

hotel alone.

Sensing Alex’s hesitation, Nina offered a compromise while smiling, “It’s okay if you don’t want to drive;

I can take the wheel.”

Alex had little room to decline. He briefly glanced at Candice.

Perceiving the situation, Candice stated composedly, “I’ll head back to the hotel on my own.”

“Alright,” Alex replied softly.

Candice collected her belongings and stepped out of the vehicle.

In Stugan City, the intense ultraviolet rays from the glaring sun made the day uncomfortably bright.

Initially, she attempted to hail a taxi through a ride–sharing app, but with no cars

available, she had no option but to walk under the baking sun.

Midway through, Jackson called her, still eager to introduce her to his friend.

“I’m still in Stugan, so it might be difficult,” Candice explained.

“That’s fine. Hanley’s in Stugan too; he’s just returned to the country,” Jackson detailed. “If you’ve got

some free time, you should meet him. Hanley’s quite skilled in his field and has his own team.”

Grateful for Jackson’s efforts, Candice appreciated him pulling the ties. She took Hanley Balwin’s

number and promised to meet him if she had time.

Jackson chuckled contentedly. He reminded her, “Hanley has been a friend since childhood. Be aware,

though, that his temperament can be a little eccentric.”

Back at the hotel, Candice reached out to Hanley Baldwin on WhatsApp. However, he did not reply

immediately, and she did not think much of it.

Jackson’s call served to remind her of Stugan’s rich ethnic culture, which features numerous art

exhibitions and distinctive handicrafts.

After spending some time in her hotel room, she eventually ventured out to a nearby historic street to

shop.

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There, she discovered various fascinating handcrafted items, sharing photos of them with Jackson.

She purchased a few because he spoke so highly of the craft in question.

She returned to the hotel when she had almost finished seeing the city, but Alex and Nina had not yet

returned.

After having dinner alone, she noticed that Hanley had finally accepted her friend’s request.

She greeted him, but received no reply.

Candice was about to step into the shower when she heard a knock at the door.

Opening it, she found Nina standing there.

Nina was taken by surprise when the door opened far faster than she anticipated.

“Alex appears to have an upset stomach,” she explained after a little pause. “Can you get him some

medicine?”

Alex’s stomach was weak since he was compelled to drink a lot of alcohol throughout his early career,

and this led to chronic issues later on.

Candice quickly went downstairs to the pharmacy to get his usual medication.

Her room was on the eighth floor, and Alex’s on the tenth. When she arrived at his door, which was

slightly ajar, she thought Nina might be inside, so she knocked softly.

She heard footsteps coming from within.

Without glancing at the person who opened the door for her, she gave the prescription bag and stated,

“Here’s the stomach medicine.”

No one took it from her, but Alex’s voice echoed with a hint of sarcasm, “I’m sure it was quite the task

for you to fetch this for me.”

She saw Alex clad in a bathrobe, his demeanor somewhat condescending.

He had just gotten out of the shower, with his hair still wet and carelessly pulled back, displaying his

smooth forehead.

Ignoring the medicine Candice brought, Alex retreated further into the room.

Candice, still holding the medicine, hesitated before following him in.

Inside the spacious business suite, she placed the medicine on the table, advising, “Please take one

tablet from each type.”

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Alex, quietly drying his hair, gave no response.

His loosely tied bathrobe revealed a glimpse of his waist, prompting Candice to look away and head for

the door.

Before she could exit, Alex remarked, “It seems like you’re treating this business trip as a vacation.”

The flat tone of his voice left Candice feeling uneasy. His remark was ironic; she was sidelined because

of Nina, yet now it sounded like she was the one taking it easy.

Frustrated, Candice pursed her lips and replied sharply, “Isn’t Ms. Burgess available to assist you?”

After pausing midway through drying his hair, a cold snort escaped him as he gazed sharply at

Candice.

“Is there a problem?”

Candice lowered her gaze and replied, “No.”

He sat on the sofa and tossed the damp towel at her. His command was devoid of emotion, “Come

here and dry my hair. I’m exhausted.”

Despite holding the towel, Candice remained motionless.

Alex’s slight raise of his eyebrows hinted at his growing impatience.

“Must I personally invite you?”

Her fingers gently combed through his soft hair, presenting a striking contrast to his serious demeanor.

Candice had always thought that this greatly contradicted his nature.

She was preoccupied and, inadvertently, applied too much force. His gasp jolted her back to reality.

Alex shifted, evading her touch, and asked, “What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing.”

He paused briefly before sarcastically asking, “Are you thinking about Jackson?”

She was puzzled and slightly irritated by his constant mention of Jackson and shot back, “And you?

Perhaps your thoughts are with Sonia or Ms. Burgess?”

His eyes narrowed. The scorn on his lips increased as if he were about to say something sarcastic.

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Before he could speak his thoughts, he frowned deeply, his body curling inward and trembling slightly.

Noticing his movement, Candice paused at hers and recalled that he had been feeling unwell.

She had assumed his being so energetic earlier meant he was well.

Setting the towel aside, she quickly fetched the medication she had purchased and offered him a glass

of water.

Alex relaxed a little and took the pills quietly.

After setting down the glass, his gaze hardened on Candice, and he abruptly ordered, “Get out!”

She was yet to put down the medicine when his icy command continued to echo, ” Sonia or Nina?

When did it become your business to meddle in mine?”

Indeed, it was not her place to intrude into his personal matters.

Quietly exiting the room, Candice encountered Nina in the hallway.

Nina paused, eyeing Candice curiously, before peering into the room and asking, “Did you bring Alex

his medicine?”

“He has taken it,” Candice replied, preparing to leave.

Nina stopped her with a bright smile, instructing, “Postpone his schedule for tomorrow morning and let

him rest, okay?”

The implication of her remark was clear.

Candice, maintaining a stoic expression, retreated to her room, where she noticed Hanley had finally

responded to her message with a simple question mark.

She briefly introduced herself.

After some waiting, Hanley acknowledged her message, and there was no further interaction.

Meanwhile, Nina entered Alex’s room.

Alex raised his eyes when he heard the door open.

”

When he realized it was Nina, he looked down again and asked in a flat tone, What brings you here?”

Undeterred, her gaze lingered on Alex’s bare skin. She declared, “I’m here to take

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Alex paused with his movements, lifted his eyes, and gazed at her meaningfully. Nina sat beside him,

suggesting tentatively, “Shall we give it a try?”