My Mirror Image

Chapter 89

They were certainly engaged in a high-stakes game. Candice had suffered a four-digit loss in that

round. Alex paid without even batting an eyelid.

Her luck was not improving, and she continued to lose in subsequent rounds.

Following one game, Sieg tossed his cards and remarked to Alex, “She’s losing intentionally, isn’t she?”

Candice, on a losing streak and feeling downcast, reminded them, “I did say I’m not good at this.”

Stan, who was watching the game unfold and emerging as the night’s biggest winner, commented,

“She’s losing, but Mr. Elysian is covering her losses. Why are you so worked up?”

His words made sense, yet Candice could not shake off a feeling of discomfort, sensing an underlying

implication in his statement.

After a brief pause, she got up from her seat.

At that moment, Alex took a seat beside her and casually requested, “Hand me the cards.”

The card shuffler had already prepared the next deck.

Stan asked, “Mr. Elysian, are you taking over the game?”

Alex responded, “She’s not playing well.”

In the presence of Alex’s distinct scent, Candice lowered her gaze and silently picked up the cards.

She could

easily identify his cold and unmistakable presence amid the myriad of other scents.

Temporarily sidetracked, she only snapped back to attention when Alex took the cards from her, his

fingers lightly brushing hers.

Perceiving her distracted state, he looked up nonchalantly, yet his words were stern. “If you lose again,

it will be deducted from your paycheck.”

Candice frowned, but her entire attention was on the game.

Whether it was Alex’s skill or something else, from the moment he joined, Candice stopped losing.

Their outcomes were mostly draws, with occasional wins.

On the other hand, Seig ended up being the biggest loser after losing to all three. His face grew dark as

the night progressed.

Sensing it was time to wrap up, Stan pushed the cards aside and called it a night.

Candice and Alex had come in their own car.

Sieg, needing a lift back to the hotel, decided to join them.

Candice had been drinking earlier; Alex became the designated driver because he was sober.

Somewhat recovered but still not in top form, Candice hesitated before getting into the back seat, then

+15 BONOS

She came to a halt and turned to the passenger seat. Copyright by Nôv/elDrama.Org.

Alex, without a word, drove with the car windows rolled down.

Candice’s temples ached when the chilly breeze blew on her.

She sank into her seat. It began to shower outside halfway through the voyage, prompting them to

close the

windows.

“It stinks,” Sieg grumbled as soon as the window was closed.

She knew he was referring to her but chose to ignore him, but he refused to let it go.

He turned to Candice with a disdainful tone and said, “Thinking you were being noble by drinking on

behalf of Alex?”

She remained silent.

He scoffed. “And taking drinks for Stan too, acting like you’re playing the role of Alex’s wife?”

At that moment, Alex’s phone began to ring.

Sieg craned his neck to see the caller’s identity, then, with evident glee, nudged Candice’s shoulder

and quipped, “Looks like the real wife is calling.”

Candice responded with a cold glare and avoided his contact.

Given Sieg’s evident favoritism for Alex and Sonia, one might mistake Sonia for his mother.

Alex, ignoring his friend’s comment, instructed Candice, “Pass me my phone.”

He was behind the wheel and could not answer the call himself.

Candice lowered her eyes and silently retrieved Alex’s phone.

Alex then directed, “Answer it.”

After a brief hesitation, she tapped the screen to answer and switched on the speaker, then set

the phone down.

Sonia’s voice came through, asking, “Lex, where are you? Aren’t you back yet?”

Candice looked out the window, her lips pressing together.

Alex replied, “On my way.”

“Lex,” Sonia said hesitantly, then slowly revealed, “I’m in the wrong. I shouldn’t have lost my temper

with you.”

Alex glanced at the phone and, while stopped at a traffic light, simply suggested, “You should get some

sleep early.”

“I’ll wait for you to return,” Sonia said, her voice filled with hope.

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Alex stopped objecting and gave a noncommittal hum. “Alright.”

He hung up the call.

Sieg, curiously, wondered as he asked, “Did you and Sonia have a disagreement?”

Alex’s answer was succinct. “No.”

“Ridiculous. Sonia wouldn’t be apologizing if there wasn’t a fight between you two,” Sieg retorted,

settling

comfortably in his seat and taking on the demeanor of a seasoned counselor.

“It’s typical for couples to have arguments. It’s part of a relationship, but you always reconcile in the

end. She’s already saying sorry. You should just let it go.”

Candice sensed that Sieg had momentarily forgotten her presence in the car.

She remembered a previous remark he made during a difficult phase between her and Alex, where he

had

dismissively said, “It’s just a woman. What trouble could she possibly cause?”

There had been times when the two argued, or more specifically, when she gave him the silent

treatment.

Yet, Alex never really yielded or pampered her. It was always she who eventually softened and sought

to make

amends.

Thinking back, Candice found her former self to be ludicrous. Why did she misread the

situation at the time?

When they reached the hotel, it was nearly midnight.

While waiting for the elevator, Sieg got a call from his family and stepped away, leaving Candice and

Alex

alone.

Caught in the rain, Candice felt uncomfortable, her clothes clinging to her damp skin.

In the quiet, her thoughts became clearer, but her body felt weaker. She leaned against the wall for

support.

As the elevator arrived, she weakly called out to Alex.

Alex came to a halt and his brow furrowed slightly.

Leaning there, she felt the effects of the alcohol and struggled to move. She pursed her lips and added,

“Sonia

is also in Stugan.”

Alex’s gaze sharpened, questioning, “So?”

“I’m planning to leave tomorrow,” Candice revealed. “It would be more convenient for you to be with her

rather

than me.”

He observed her with a sardonic smile, commenting, “Were you trying to please me today?”

Her complexion was not great. The combination of drinks she had earlier was now adversely affecting

her. Although the hangover remedy had initially cushioned the aftereffects, they were now striking her

hard.

Her hand slid down the wall as she found it challenging to remain standing.

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Alex, standing tall, looked condescendingly at her. In a chilly tone, he remarked, “You’re quite poor at

currying

favor.”

In the quiet of the empty lobby, his words resonated clearly. He cast her one last cold look before

entering the

elevator.

As the elevator doors gradually shut before her, Candice stood there, watching the floor numbers

increase, her complexion turning increasingly pale.

The cold breeze she had experienced earlier now left her feeling thoroughly chilled.