Chapter 577: Candice
Her fingers trembled. A third message followed.
"You don’t want your own secrets exposed, do you? Especially about your involvement in that drug chain."
Sel’s face drained of color. Her entire body went cold.
"W-Who are you?" she typed quickly, her hands shaking. "What do you want?"
On the other side... Aurora glanced at the message, a faint smile playing on her lips.
She typed calmly. "Who I am doesn’t matter."
A pause. "What matters... is your sincerity."
Her eyes gleamed coldly.
"If you continue to provoke Selena or trouble Mia... be prepared for the consequences."
Sel stared at the screen, her heart pounding violently against her chest. Her fists clenched tightly.
But beneath that anger was fear. Real, suffocating fear.
"I..." she muttered under her breath, swallowing hard. "I won’t... interfere anymore."
For the first time, she truly backed down.
.......
Meanwhile...after settling Selena’s matter, Aurora shifted her attention seamlessly.
Today was special. The birthday of Theodore and Olivia.
Twins. Which meant... a shared celebration.
Aurora personally oversaw every detail.
The venue was a grand hall, vast and elegant, filled with the faint fragrance of fresh flowers and polished marble.
"Everything needs to be perfect," she murmured softly.
Once everything was ready, she turned to her parents. "Call them," she instructed with a small smile. "It’s time."
Moments later...the doors opened. Theodore and Olivia stepped in. And froze.
Their eyes widened as they took in the breathtaking scene before them, the luxurious decorations, the soft music drifting through the air, the atmosphere that felt almost unreal.
"This..." Olivia whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. "Is this for us?"
She wore a champagne-colored gown that shimmered subtly under the lights, emerald jewelry accentuating her elegance. Beside her, Theodore stood in a perfectly tailored champagne suit, mirroring her presence like a reflection.
They looked like two halves of the same brilliance. Aurora watched them from afar, a soft sigh escaping her lips.
’Worth it,’ she thought.
The party began. Guests poured in, laughter and chatter gradually filling the hall.
Among them...a woman approached.
Candice.
She was middle-aged, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings with barely concealed jealousy.
Her gaze landed on Adam. She walked toward him.
"Well, well," she said with a faint smirk. "Look at you. You’ve changed quite a bit."
Adam turned, recognizing her instantly. His expression remained calm. "Candice."
Once upon a time, she had been his manager at the car repair shop.
Now...she looked exactly the same. But he wasn’t.
"You used to be just a mechanic," Candice continued, her tone laced with mockery. "How did you end up like this?"
Adam gave a small shrug, his voice steady. "Fortune favors those who dare to take a step. I simply took mine."
Candice rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. She leaned slightly closer, nudging him. "Oh, please," she muttered. "Don’t tell me there isn’t some secret. Did you... get close to some rich woman?"
Before Adam could respond...a voice cut in.
"Not everyone is like you, Candice."
Both turned. Mary stood there, her gaze calm yet sharp.
The moment Candice saw her... jealousy flared instantly. She remembered everything.
Adam’s previous boss, who once had a massive crush on Mary. The opportunity Candice had desperately chased.
She had selpt with her boss 5 times before she was given a position. And yet... if Mary had agreed to even a simple ice cream date, she would have been made a supervisor.
Candice’s lips tightened.
"You’re still the same," she muttered bitterly.
Mary tilted her head slightly, her voice soft but firm. "And you’re still making the same mistakes."
Candice let out a sharp, almost mocking laugh before lifting her chin slightly. "Well, well... if it isn’t Mary," she sneered, her eyes glinting with envy, "the one who managed to live such a comfortable life after Adam’s fortune took a turn. God truly favors you huh?"
Adam frowned instantly, his brows knitting together as displeasure flashed across his face. He stepped slightly closer to Mary, his tone firm and unwavering.
"It’s not Mary who’s living a good life," he said calmly. "It’s me."
He paused deliberately, his gaze steady.
"I’m the one who gets to enjoy my wife’s love. So if anyone here is favored by God... it’s me."
Before anyone could react, he leaned toward Mary and gently rubbed his cheek against hers, a soft, affectionate gesture that stood in stark contrast to the tension in the room.
A quiet murmur rippled through the nearby guests. Candice’s smile stiffened.
Jealousy burned in her chest, sharp and suffocating, as she swallowed it down forcefully.
"Since you’ve become such a big shot," she said, forcing a light tone that didn’t quite hide the bitterness beneath, "you should at least drink a few more glasses with me. Come on... have a toast."
Adam exhaled quietly, a hint of regret crossing his face.
’Who even invited her...’ he thought, irritation creeping in. ’I didn’t want to see her at all.’
Still, he reassured himself. ’This is probably the last time we’ll meet.’
Just as that thought settled...
Candice stepped closer again, her movements slightly unsteady as she leaned toward him.
"I’m feeling a bit dizzy..." she murmured, her voice soft, almost fragile. "Can you... drop me home?"
Her act was convincing. But not convincing enough.
Adam had seen enough of the world by now to recognize such tricks.
Without hesitation, he stepped back slightly, maintaining a polite distance. "There’s no need for that," he replied calmly. "We’ve already arranged several cabs for guests. Just give your address, and you’ll be dropped safely."
He gestured toward one of his trusted staff members. "Take her," he added. "Make sure she gets home properly."
Candice’s jaw tightened. Her fingers curled slightly as she gritted her teeth.
Still, she refused to give up.
"I don’t trust strangers," she insisted, her tone sharpening. "You should come with me."
Before she could continue pushing further... Mary, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.
Her voice was calm, but it carried a quiet authority that cut through the air.
"From the past until now, you haven’t changed at all, Candice," she said. "Still as unreasonable as ever."
Candice froze. Mary’s gaze remained steady.
"If you don’t trust the cab we arranged," she continued, "then call one you trust. No one is stopping you."
Candice let out a scoff, her expression turning sharp as she looked between them.
"Since you already know I was pretending," she said bluntly, dropping the act entirely, "I won’t bother hiding it anymore."
Adam and Mary both looked at her, slightly taken aback.
"I need money," Candice admitted, her tone now laced with desperation beneath the bitterness. "That’s why I was trying to get Adam alone, to talk about an investment."
She let out a harsh laugh.
"But who would’ve thought? He won’t even step aside for a private conversation. He has to stick with you everywhere."
Her eyes narrowed.
"What is he? Some kind of leech? Can’t survive without you?"
Despite the insult... Adam chuckled softly, a faint blush rising to his cheeks as he glanced at Mary.
"What can I do?" he said lightly. "I really love my wife. I don’t mind being dependent on her."
Mary shook her head slightly, though a faint smile tugged at her lips before she turned back to Candice.
"What kind of investment?" she asked calmly.
Candice crossed her arms. "I’m starting an online business," she replied. "I just need some funding. If you lend me the money, I’ll return it on time."
Adam’s expression turned serious.
"That’s not how money works," he said plainly. "If I lend you money without structure or returns, you can delay repayment however you like. And honestly..." his gaze sharpened slightly, "there’s no guarantee your business will yield any results."
He paused.
"So why would I invest? Or even lend it... especially when I’m not sure you intend to repay it at all?"
Mary added softly, "Are you asking for a loan... or just saying it is one?"
Candice stiffened. "You’re misunderstanding me," she shot back quickly. "I’m not that kind of person."
Mary chuckled faintly, though there was no warmth in it. "I’ve met plenty of people like you," she said. "I understand more than you think."
Candice’s face flushed with anger.
She turned to Adam, her voice rising slightly. "So you won’t even lend me a single penny?"
Adam shook his head without hesitation. "No."
That single word hit harder than anything else.
Candice’s hands clenched into fists as she pointed at him, her voice trembling with rage. "You’re just a henpecked husband!"
Adam didn’t even flinch. Instead, he smiled, almost shyly.
"Maybe," he admitted. "But I like it."
That was the final blow.
Candice’s expression twisted as she spun around and stormed away, her heels echoing sharply against the polished floor.
Mary frowned slightly, watching her leave before turning back and calling out, "Come here."
Soon, the children gathered. Aurora stepped forward among them.
Mary’s expression turned serious. "Who invited Candice?"