My Mirror Image by Maybe Not (Candice And Alex’s) novel Chapter 311

Everything was far from good with Sonia. Her chest was marked with bruises that vividly illustrated the ordeal of the previous night, stimulating imaginations with their bluish-purple hues.

The room was heavy with a lingering, musky odor, making Sonia feel sick to her stomach.

"What's wrong?"

Xavier's deep and scratchy voice filled the air as he extended an arm from under the covers to draw Sonia closer by the waist.

Sonia shuddered. She forcefully slapped away Xavier's hand, her expression one of revulsion. The events of the last night haunted her, each memory amplifying her dread and remorse.

Following her ejection from the Morningdale Resort the previous evening, Sonia had gone to a downtown bar to drown her sorrows with booze.

At first, she had kept her drinking in check, but as the evening went on, she found herself drinking excessively. At some point, she had called Xavier to join her.

What followed was a series of blurred moments, with only fragmentary recollections of Xavier's attempts to console her.

Her last vivid memory was being carried into a hotel by Xavier.

"Sonia, are you alright? Are you feeling ill?" The man's loud, raspy voice echoed alongside her.

Xavier propped himself up. His gaze was soft with concern, and he said, "I wasn't aware it was your first time. I'm sorry. I got carried away last night.

"Shut up!" Sonia interjected sharply before he could finish.

Her complexion was pale, and panic filled her eyes. She pulled off the covers as she attempted to escape the confines of the bed.

However, her legs failed her as soon as they struck the ground, sending her plummeting to the floor.

Her naked body testified silently to the previous night's entanglements.

Facing Xavier, Sonia accused him in disbelief, "How could you do this?! You…you raped me!"

Her voice trailed off as her reality crumbled back into place. A tidal wave of emotions engulfed her as she questioned, "How could you do this to me?!"

After Xavier's initial shock subsided, he softened his smile and asked, "What are you talking about? Remember how passionate you were last night? You were the one who clung to me."

His stare remained harmless, but it veiled a cold malice that chilled Sonia to the bone.

"I've got a video that proves it, Sonia. You can't deny it now."

Upon her return to the villa, Candice trod softly. She felt wide awake after spending the night in Alex's car, which led her to dive straight into work in the study.

The following morning, Nadia was taken aback by Candice's presence. She asked, "When did you arrive?"

Candice deftly avoided answering. She shifted the conversation and asked, "What's on the agenda for today?"

"The agenda is pretty much the same, though I heard from the boss that you might be assigned to a business trip soon."

Nadia was still sleepy. Her voice slurred somewhat as she continued, "It's probably Solaris. Since we're understaffed at the Dorrington office, it seems like you and the boss will be the ones to go."

Candice didn't worry about where the work trip would take her.

After a brief conversation with Nadia, she went to have breakfast.

The family portrait taken at Shawn's was processed quickly. He texted Candice a few photos just as she completed her meal.

Viewing the photos evoked a complex mix of emotions in Candice.

In the photo, five individuals were present. Shawn was seated in the middle, with Daniel and Helen standing close, and Candice and Alex positioned next to each other.

Her gown and Alex's iris brooch seemed to harmonize unexpectedly because of the photo's warm tones.

Candice's attention was drawn to Alex. She noted how the lighting mellowed his usually sharp features, casting his intense, dark eyes in a softer light. It reminded her of lustrous black pearls, both profound and tranquil.