My Mirror Image

Chapter 206

+15 BONOS

Yvonne acted quickly. She lunged forward, rushing to shield Peach from harm.

Ivor’s foot struck her arm brutally, and she screamed hoarsely.

Ivor cursed her harshly. “You piece of shit! How could you return empty–handed? I sent you to get

money from that slut, and you failed? Do you want me to die at the hands of those people?”

Enraged, Ivor rose. He removed his belt and struck Yvonne across the back with it.

The belt cracked loudly, mingling with his relentless curses and insults.

“Listen up, this is your warning! If you complicate my life, yours won’t be easy. Believe me, I’ll sell that

girl abroad as a child bride if I have to!”

Yvonne held Peach in her arms, sobbing.

Drained, Ivor slumped into a chair and scratched his face. “I’m serious,” he said darkly. He kicked

Yvonne. “I took out a loan, and if I don’t repay it, all three of us will die.”

Stunned, Yvonne questioned, “What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? I borrowed some money! What else can it mean? Your heartless daughter

doesn’t care about us, so I found my own solution.”

Full understanding dawned on Yvonne. She held Peach in a trance before breaking down in

uncontrollable sobs.

Candice was unaware of the turmoil unfolding in Noxville. She woke up to join Hanley for a meeting

with Francis.

Their meeting was set up in a café downtown, where Francis showed up with Lisa.

Lisa was not particularly surprised. She smiled at Candice upon her arrival.

Francis reached out for a handshake, his eyes on Candice deceptively soft, masking his leer. Candice,

I’m thrilled that we get to work together again.”

Candice ignored him, refusing to interact with Francis.

Hanley remained calm as he brushed aside Francis’s extended hand. “Mr. Moreno, let’s skip the

formalities and get down to business.”

+15 BONOS

Francis cast a regretful gaze at Candice, but quickly replaced it with a smile. “You’re both aware of the

agreement between Webrews Group and Dream Search. I’d like to explore a cooperative opportunity

with Mr. Baldwin. We’re both businessmen. Why incur losses and create unnecessary

conflict?”

Hanley appeared aloof when not smiling. “Are you implying that if we refuse to cooperate, you’ll make

things difficult for us?” he questioned Francis coldly.

“Why would you think that?” Francis asked, unfazed.

Hanley scoffed. “You seem quite adept at threats, Mr. Moreno.”

Francis smiled again. He turned to Candice and said, “Having been with Aether Corporation for a

long time, surely you grasp my point?”

His tone was anything but kind, and it instilled a profound sense of disgust in Candice. Like

nausea to the point of vomiting.

Nevertheless, Candice suppressed her discomfort and faced Francis expressionlessly.

“To be frank, your proposal is unacceptable,” she said firmly. “The product and strategies were created

by us, but Dream Search and a few other companies want to take full credit. Such a deal

is unheard of.”

Francis wasn’t taken aback by their rejection, seeming to have a trump card up his sleeve.

“Fairness isn’t the norm in this world,” he replied, relaxed. “It’s all about the survival of the fittest. where

the strong prevail. Candice, you of all people should understand that society is far from fair.

His demeanor remained cool, confident despite their refusal. As he spoke, his lewd expression

turned into one of irony and malice.

The meeting concluded on a sour note, with Francis’s arrogant demeanor suggesting he had

anticipated such an outcome.

Lisa lingered behind after Francis’s departure.

She hadn’t spoken much during the meeting, but turned to Candice with a complicated expression.

“You might want to consider yielding this time. I accidentally overheard Mr. Moreno mention they’ve

involved some influential people. The situation is quite complex. Perhaps it’s best to take the loss this

time.”

Candice’s expression remained cold. She raised her eyebrows and eyed Lisa skeptically. “Is this a

message from Francis?”

Stunned, Lisa smiled sourly. “No, it’s my own advice. It’s pointless to fight a battle you can’t win. But if

you don’t trust me, so be it,” she continued with a sigh. “I’ve said everything I needed to say. * Lisa left.

Candice stood there expressionless as she watched her depart.

Hanley was unimpressed. He scoffed and dryly commented, “People these days really are something.”

His tone dripped with sarcasm.

Candice mulled over their situation briefly. “Your thoughts?”

Hanley raised his brows slightly as he stared at Candice. His eyes were devoid of emotion as he

returned the question to Candice. “And yours?”

Candice ran her fingertips across the table. Eventually, she voiced a simple yet firm statement. What’s

there to be afraid of?”

She’d spent years at Aether Corporation and had her fill of various partnerships and clientele. Was she

supposed to back down just because Francis said a few words? That would mean her years as Chief

Secretary had been in vain.

Hanley’s eyes twinkled with a hint of amusement. He smiled. “Funny, I feel the same way.”

After their strategy discussion, Candice proceeded to Northdale.

Her house was almost set for her to move in.

Upon arrival, she encountered the residents‘ committee fixing the streetlight outside her

apartment.

“This area is mostly populated by elderly residents,” they warned Candice. “Because the lamps

frequently fail, this area has become a haven for thieves and troublemakers. In case of danger.

contact us or the police. Don’t try to handle it yourself.”

They left her with a contact number before departing.

Candice had planned to bring her grandfather here after he was released from the hospital. She Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

wanted to care for him in an environment that was familiar to him because she believed it would

help his recovery.

She forgot that reality rarely went according to plan.