My Mirror Image

Chapter 174

Chapter 0174

Outside the emergency room of the hospital, Candice sat on a bench, accompanied by Dean Schmidt

and Silas.

Dean Schmidt noted Candice’s distant gaze and struggled to find consoling worde

When they found Joe at the motel, he had been in a state of severe convulsions.

The hospital’s doctors said his condition was critical. Joe had high blood pressure and a history of

medical problems, which was why the physicians had advised him to avoid emotional stress.

Across from them, Yvonne sat alone on a chair. Her head bowed, her hands anxiously intertwined. and

engrossed in her own thoughts.

Dean Schmidt let out a sigh and remarked, “Ms. Renault, you should try to stay calm. Perhaps Mr.

Sundance will recover with srest. He is a decent man, and fortune often favors the good.”

Candice appeared to be in a trance, barely hearing what he was saying.

The scene of Joe’s agonizing condition replayed in her mind. Merely sitting on that bench was. draining

her of all her strength.

She hid her face in agony, overcwith a sense of powerlessness and loss unlike any she had

experienced before.

Kayla’s voice sounded in the distance, snapping Candice out of her daze.

She slowly raised her head to see Kayla approaching.

“What brings you here?” Candice’s voice was rough and barely recognizable.

It was unclear whether Kayla understood her.

Exhausted, Candice didn’t have the strength to ask again. She dropped her eyes and fell silent.

At that moment, the doors to the emergency room swung open.

Candice instantly rose up and faced the doctor as he emerged into the room.

“The patient is elderly, with a background of high blood pressure and severe complications. Family

members must prepare themselves mentally,” the doctor advised as he removed his mask.

Candice’s face drained of color as she stared blankly at the doctor. She asked in a hoarse voice,

What’s wrong with my grandpa?”

“He has suffered a stroke due to cerebral hemorrhage, leading to hemiplegia,” the doctor explained.

The news struck Candice to the core, leaving her momentarily paralyzed.

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The doors flung open and Joe was wheeled out on a hospital bed, an oxygen mask covering his face,

his eyes shut. The harsh hospital lighting illuminated his wrinkled face, a sight Candice

struggled to process.

Joe was covered with a blanket as he was wheeled past her, his hand with the IV resembling a

fragile twig.

Fear overcCandice.

She found herself unable to follow Joe to his room or face his frail and aged appearance once

more.

As Joe’s bed wheel passed by Yvonne, she abruptly stood, lunging towards the bed.

Weeping, she pleaded, “Dad, please don’t scare me! I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have upset you.

Just open your eyes and see me. Don’t terrifylike this!”

Her sobs were loud enough for a nearby doctor to reprimand, “Please lower your voice. The patient

needs quiet rest.”

Wiping her tears, Yvonne responded in a tearful, choked voice, “But he’s my father!”

In the midst of this, Candice’s icy voice pierced the air. “Is it the money you’re after?”

Startled, Yvonne turned toward her daughter.

Candice’s gaze was devoid of emotion, her tone cutting and cold.

Tears still lingered in Yvonne’s eyes, and the bruises on her face hadn’t yet healed, making her look

both pitiable and ridiculous.

She uttered sheepishly, “Candy…”

“After all your efforts, isn’t it all for the five hundred thousand?”

Numbness overcCandice’s heart as she watched the doctor wheeling Joe’s hospital bed away.

Her hand clutched her bag’s strap tightly.

She faced her mother, stating, “I can give you the money. Will you leavealone after that? I never

want to see you again.”

Candice’s voice was as steady as ever as she said those words. But only she understood that by

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had now been utterly extinguished.

She watched Yvonne silently, noticing the turmoil in her eyes.

The woman feigned innocence, stating, “I shouldn’t have caused trouble at your office. I didn’t expect it

to end up like this.”

Candice briefly closed her eyes, then slowly responded, “Fine, leave now.”

Yvonne lingered, seemingly reluctant to depart.

Candice gazed at her mother.

Yvonne’s lips trembled slightly. With apparent guilt, she hesitantly asked, “When will you send the

money?”

Candice viewed Yvonne as if she were a stranger, appalled by the ridiculousness of the ordeal.

She had assumed that even if Yvonne didn’t care about her, she would at least show concern for her

father. Now, Candice realized they probably meant nothing to Yvonne.

Recalling her grandfather’s disappointed and frustrated expression, Candice paused.

She raised her hand, covering her eyes and burst out laughing. Tears streamed down her face.

She had been so foolish. Both she and her grandfather had been fooled. How had things cto this?

“Candice,” cKayla’s tentative voice.

Candice froze. She fell silent, then lowered her hand to look at Kayla.

Kayla reached for a tissue and handed it to her. She said softly. “Don’t be upset. Your grandfather will

pull through.”

Yvonne was gone. Kayla didn’t bring her up.

Candice didn’t accept the tissue. She calmed her emotions before looking at Kayla, barely managing to

ask, “Is there a reason you’re here?”

Sympathy welled up in Kayla, who averted her gaze and hesitantly explained, “There’s a lot of buzz

online. Our company executives needed a resolution, and you left the meeting midway.”

She didn’t need Kayla to complete her sentence to understand.

Clearly, Alex had sent her.

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With a blank expression, Candice replied, “You can inform Mr. Elysian that I’ll return to the office

tomorrow with an answer.”

Candice looked exhausted, and Kayla looked at her with concern.

“Do you need to rest somewhere? You seem unwell,” Kayla said with a frown.

Candice remained silent, signaling her disinterest in resting.

Kayla suggested. “Perhaps you should avoid the office tomorrow. Our boss is understanding, and

besides-”

Kayla had cto the hospital on Alex’s instructions.

After talking with Candice earlier, Kayla had struggled to fully comprehend the situation, but Mr. Elysian

had mentioned Silverstone Hospital.

It was evident he knew Candice’s whereabouts.

Before Kayla could discuss this with Candice, Dean Schmidt hurried over.

“Ms. Renault, your grandfather is awake. The doctor needs to see the family.”

Candice’s expression changed at the news. She rushed to the hospital ward.

Joe was lying frail on the bed, surrounded by medical apparatus.

On seeing Candice enter, he tried to acknowledge her but lacked the strength. He could only move his

fingers, turning his face toward Candice.