It took a while for her sickness to subside, leaving Candice looking pale as she raised her eyes to meet Hanley's.
He offered her a tissue, expressing his concern, "What's the matter? Are you sick?"
Without saying anything, Candice simply shook her head in confusion over the sudden discomfort. She placed her hand over her heart, attempting to soothe the panic within.
Following this, she found herself disinterested in continuing their racing activities.
Seeing her distraction, Hanley set aside the helmet and gently suggested, "Why don't we wrap up here and head back to the villa for some rest?"
Feeling her forehead, Candice nodded in agreement and said, "It might be a cold caught from the change of weather."
The nausea didn't trouble her on the ride back. Candice rested and suspected she had contracted a cold as a result of the seasonal change.
Back in the villa, she told Hanley she wanted to retire to her room for some rest.
Yana was downstairs in the living room. When she saw Candice didn't notice her, she asked Hanley, "What's wrong with her?"
"She's feeling unwell," Hanley said. "What brings you here?"
"Why wouldn't I be here?” Yana replied, annoyed. “You're hurt, and you didn't even bother to tell me. Are we not friends?"
Hanley simply stared at her.
After a pause, Yana continued, feeling defeated, "Your father sought out mine. He mentioned how much he wishes for you to return home. Both my father and I think you should temporarily put aside all other matters and reclaim your inheritance before Caspian gets his hands on it. It would be a shame to just hand it over to him."
Yana had no desire to be entangled in the Baldwin family drama. Yet, acknowledging the Baldwins' prominent status, she recognized it would be a significant loss for Hanley to give up his rights.
She felt her advice was genuine, but Hanley's reaction was nonchalant. "If he manages to claim it, then he's earned it."
Yana was ready to argue, but she changed her approach. "Seriously, how can you pursue Candice with confidence if you haven't proven yourself? Remember, her ex is Alex. Regardless of his character, the man is loaded!"
Hanley's gaze clouded. He gazed at the stairs and said nothing.
Yana continued to mock him. "Do you think I am blind? You've never cared so much about other women. I used to assume your interest in art meant your tastes were different.”
"How am I supposed to win her over?" Hanley cut in before Yana could continue her teasing.
Her critique came to an abrupt halt.
With a frosty tone, Hanley questioned, "In normal circumstances, who would welcome a man whose mother suffers from a mental illness?"
Yana was taken aback, whispering, "Don't think that way."
Her reassurance sounded hollow. The Baldwin family's situation was indeed complex, and Hanley's mother's disease was not late-stage, but congenital.
Hannah's encounter with Yuric had been fortunate, but it was challenging for most to overlook such matters.
-
After waking from her nap feeling refreshed, Candice received a call from the Northdale community office about some maintenance work.
It had been some time since she last visited Northdale following her grandfather’s passing.
She climbed up from the bed and got dressed.
Inside, the room's pleasant scent quickly made Candice feel sick and forced her to step out.
When Yana noticed this, she asked in confusion, "What's wrong with you?"
The nausea had worsened. It was more severe than in the afternoon. Candice eventually hurried to the restroom, leaning over the sink and retching.
Yana came in after her, looking on curiously, and asked, "Upset stomach?"
Candice hardly recovered and remarked, "Might be a cold."
"Well, that's a relief. You had me worried for a moment. You're acting just like my pregnant cousin did," Yana joked.
Candice panicked silently, her heart thumping violently. The word "pregnant" resounded like thunder in her mind, and then her thoughts went blank.
Candice slowly straightened up and stared at her pallid reflection in the mirror. She realized it had been a long time since her last period. She had blamed it on stress.
Furthermore, she was uncertain about Alex's precautions during their last time together, and she hadn't taken any preventive measures herself due to being upset.
Leaving the bathroom, Candice looked clearly troubled.
"Are you okay?" Yana asked, worried.
Struggling, Candice said, "We need to go to the hospital."
They rushed there. Yana wanted to assist with registration, but Candice beelined for the gynecology section. Yana tagged along worriedly.
At the door of the consultation room, Yana heard Candice ask the doctor in a worried tone, "Doc, I need to know if I'm pregnant."
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