Chapter 0562
Chapter 0562
When Sonia had encountered those drunken men, her mind had gone blank.
She didn't know how to handle such a situation. The restaurant's standards were quite high, and such incidents were rare. Moreover, the men kept threatening her, saying they would complain and get her fired if she refused.
Sonia hadn't wanted to lose her job, so she'd had to endure the men's inappropriate behavior until a cold voice sounded beside her, and Alex stepped in front of her.
Sonia still remembered her accelerated heartbeat from that moment. She had secretly observed him from behind, seeing his handsome profile and broad features. She had thought they must have some fate.
After that, every time Alex came to eat, she would switch shifts with her colleagues just to serve him, just to see him more often.
She knew she wasn't ugly, although not as exquisite and beautiful as Candice. Still, she considered herself attractive, with many suitors at school. Gradually, she began to ignore Candice's presence and the intimate gestures between Candice and Alex.
Eventually, she overheard an unspeakable secret and learned that Alex needed an assistant. So, she volunteered, using the 60% resemblance to Candice that she had already learned to intercept Alex.
Her excuse was well-crafted; she had said she was willing to help Alex as a way to repay him for the help he had given her before. However, Alex had asked her who she was. He didn't remember her at all, didn't remember helping her before, didn't remember how many times she had appeared in front of him.
Sonia had left as if fleeing. Her self-confidence, which she thought was brimming, was shattered under Alex's indifferent and distant gaze.
She had thought everything would end there, but unexpectedly, a month later, she had received a call from his secretary.
It was only then that Sonia realized that Alex was the boss of Aether Corporation.
Suppressing her excitement and nervousness, she had gone to meet Alex. However, when she heard about his cooperation contract, her enthusiasm had gradually cooled.
Especially after entering the company, witnessing Candice's abilities, she had felt even more inferior.
However, this sense of inferiority gradually disappeared in her infatuation with Alex. Even though she knew that Alex's affection was often just an act, she couldn't help but immerse herself in it and brainwash herself.
She had always thought that as long as she stayed with Alex, even if it was just a contractual relationship, he might eventually fall in love with her.
She had immersed herself in her own brainwashing, gradually losing her sense of self, and even developing a twisted and stubborn possessiveness. This twisted possessiveness had made her increasingly resentful of Candice. Because only when Candice was around would she be pulled out of her illusory emotional bubble.
It had made her realize that she was just a substitute for Candice, nothing more.
Even during those times when Alex had glanced at her more, she had made an effort to mimic Candice's appearance.
But even after that, Alex would always warn her not to do those things again, because she wasn't Candice.
So Sonia hated her, resented her. She always thought that if Candice didn't exist, then Alex would truly belong to her.
Sonia's sobbing stopped, and she squatted on the ground, her thin figure looking pitiful. To someone unaware, they would probably think she had suffered some great injustice.
However, Candice looked at her without any sympathy on her face. Instead, a hint of mockery appeared in her eyes.
"Your so-called efforts to stand in
front of Alex. Do you mean that you worked hard to imitate and deceive me?" Candice asked. She chuckled lightly. "You are indeed diligent, but also thoroughly foolish. A person who considers imitation and stealing other people's behaviors as effort. Sonia, you need a new brain.
"You said you've tried hard for a long time. I originally thought I could respect your efforts a bit. I thought maybe you were studying hard of working hard. In that case, even if you were still stupid, at least you could be considered persistent.
"But you told me that your effort was to imitate and learn from me. I think 'foolish' might not even be the appropriate word for you, because you really..."
Candice stopped here because she couldn't find the right words to describe Sonia.
She had never imagined that one day someone would consider such things as their own efforts and would feel greatly aggrieved by not receiving enough reward. What was there to feel aggrieved about?
Candice picked up Ellis. She didn't pity Sonia; she just found it quite ridiculous. "A fool is a fool. I don't even care enough to scold you."Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
After saying that, she walked out of the restaurant.
Sonia looked up at Candice's departing figure, a bitter self-mockery appearing at the corners of her mouth.
A fool, indeed she was a fool.
She couldn't understand the
reasoning Candice explained
because she suddenly realized, after
being completely abandoned by
Aether Corporation and exploited by
Horizon Holdings, that during her time at Aether Corporation, she hadn't learned anything of accomplished anything.
She couldn't produce decent results, couldn't find a suitable job, and couldn't even do well as a secretary in a small company.
It was only then that she realized she had never truly entered Alex and Candice's world, where they stood as equals, side by side. And she couldn't even catch up.
No, there had been opportunities before her, but she hadn't cherished them.
But what use was it for her to realize it now? Everything was too late.
On the way back to the hotel, Yana couldn't help but praise Candice, "You were really amazing just now. 'A fool is a fool. I don't even care enough to scold you.' I'm going to remember this phrase and use it to scold people in the future."
Candice closed her eyes to rest. She didn't think she was amazing; instead, she felt a sense of fatigue.
That fatigue might have stemmed from the encounter with Sonia, or it might have been because she heard different versions of the story about her and Alex from Sonia.
Anyway, it was all a bit exhausting.
"However, are you going to let go of Sonia's matter like this?" Yana tentatively asked. "She still has a problem with medical parole, right?"
Candice paused, "This matter was done by Darius. Darius said he felt this kind of punishment was more interesting."
Darius's exact words were that being forcibly submerged in a tough situation and watching oneself drift further away from what one desires, was the most torturous pain.
Although she couldn't understand the meaning behind it, she couldn't refute his decision and could only wait for further opportunities.
After a day of flying plus jet lag, Candice was very tired. But as soon as she finished washing up at the hotel, a video call from Alex popped up.