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

Chapter 0536

The unexpected event left Candice feeling uneasy, and she lost her appetite.

She reported the incident to the police with a serious expression and meticulously checked every corner of the house, worried that something might have gone overlooked.

Alex wore a solemn expression as well. After making a few phone calls, he approached Candice and said, "I'll stay until this situation is resolved. It seems like the perpetrator is a repeat offender. I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving you and Little Mulberry alone."

Candice perused news reports on her phone, observing that the stalker had been active in the area for days without any police arrests.

Despite cleaning the red paint on the window, some traces remained.

Candice decided to have Alex nail shut all the living room windows as she couldn't shake the terrifying memories from their time in Dorrington. Back then, someone would come and smash their windows in the middle of the night because Ivor was in debt.

Given the circumstances, Alex's offer to stay seemed much more reliable than that of the perpetrator, especially with Ellis at home. The presence of a man could provide additional security in case of an emergency.

Despite the tension among the adults, Ellis seemed unaffected and even more lively.

Unaware of the situation, she happily played with toys on the floor, most of which Alex had bought for her during this time. Among them, her favorite was a teddy bear. She sat beside it, pulling at its ear and babbling in her baby language.

Seeing her like this, Alex gently picked her up. Ellis reacted quickly, hugging Alex's neck and giggling.

While Ellis played, Alex reassured Candice. He said, "I've checked. The security in this area isn't that bad. Most likely, the purpose is to intimidate you."

"Intimidate me?" Candice looked up.

Alex hesitated, then suggested, "Still, it's better to be cautious. I think we might be targeted. If you don’t mind, you could stay at my place. It's close by and has everything you need. Just bring some clothes to change into."

Considering the situation, Candice agreed without much hesitation. However, upon arriving at Alex's house, she realized she was too quick to have agreed to come here, as staying at a nearby hotel might have been another option.

Alex, understanding Candice's concerns, smoothly took her luggage while holding Ellis a bit higher in his arms.

He reassured her, "A single woman with a child can be an easy target. At the very least, you'll be safe here."

Still innocent and oblivious to her mother's concerns, Ellis simply clung to Alex's ear, expressing her longing for elevation.

Alex couldn't help but smile imperceptibly as he lifted Ellis higher and carried Candice's luggage into the room.

His house appeared sparse but clean.

Starting from the entrance, a thick carpet covered the living room floor, where Ellis was already seated.

"I've been expecting your arrival and was worried that I wasn't prepared on time. So, I started decorating the room beforehand," Alex explained softly, noticing Candice hesitating at the entrance.

He glanced at Candice and then Ellis on the floor. Suddenly, he opened a cabinet behind him, neatly filled with plush toys and various dolls.

"I noticed that other little girls like these, so I bought some too."

Describing it as 'some' was an understatement. Two cabinets were overflowing with toys, making it seem like Alex was setting up a toy store.

Despite Candice's discomfort, Ellis adapted much better, surrounded by toys and visibly happy.

"I've prepared something for you too," Alex said, his gaze deep as he pushed open the doors leading to the balcony.

Immediately, a colorful array of flowers came into view.

Candice recognized them instantly. These were roses.

Alex said, "When I was thinking of buying a house, I saw this garden, and it made me think you'd like it. Luckily, the flowers are blooming right now."

A gentle breeze was blowing at the time and caused the pink and white sea of roses to sway gently. It was a beautiful sight to behold.

A closer inspection revealed a pollen-proof glass cover protecting the roses.

Candice's gaze shifted subtly as she looked at the roses, but she remained silent.

"Candy," Alex slowed his speech and softened his tone, "I know that no amount of making up for the past or apologizing will suffice. I won't force you to forgive or accept me. I just want to offer you

everything you desire, anything at all, to the best of my ability."

He paused at this point. There was a hint of insecurity, and melancholy crossed his face as he asked, "At the very least, could you not reject me so outright?"

Candice didn't respond. She went straight to the room Alex had arranged for her.

It was clearly the master bedroom, from which Alex had removed his belongings to make space for Candice and Ellis.

However, Alex's cedar scent still lingered strongly in the room.

Candice bit her lip, opened a window, and saw a vast expanse of roses.

She spent the afternoon indoors. Ellis didn't actively seek her out, but her occasional joyful laughter was audible.

Candice also overheard Alex attempting to teach Ellis to say "daddy".

However, Ellis seemed to tease him on purpose, producing all sorts of sounds except for "daddy".

Frustrated, Alex tried guiding Ellis in several languages, but to no avail.

Candice couldn't bear it anymore and stepped outside, only to hear Alex attempting to speak Oxoshi.

Feeling exasperated, Candice knew Alex was fluent in multiple languages, having seen him effortlessly switch between them during business dealings. However, it was the first time she witnessed him using all these languages to try to get someone to call him "daddy".

Unable to contain herself any longer, Candice reminded Alex, "She doesn't understand any of that."

Ellis was sitting on the floor, reaching out for a hug and clearly calling out, "Mommy!"

Observing the interaction, Alex furrowed his brows, seemingly pondering something important.

After a moment, he tentatively uttered, "Candy."

His gaze then shifted back to Ellis, wondering aloud, "Can she understand Jellari?"

Candice noticed a fleeting look of disappointment in his eyes. She quietly picked up her phone and played a children's animation for Ellis.

Immediately, Ellis's baby voice chimed in, "Dada!" From NôvelDrama.Org.

Alex was taken aback.

Candice handed the phone to Alex and calmly explained, "She only says 'Daddy' when she sees this cartoon."

Alex gazed at the screen, where a clear "Daddy" echoed from the animation featuring two dogs—a big one followed by a smaller one—continuously calling out "Daddy".

His expression became subtly complex.