Patrick stood still without saying a word. After hearing Candice’s words, his body shifted slightly backward.
Candice lowered her eyes, slowly walked out. When passing by Patrick, her heart raced, and she didn’t dare to look into his eyes.
Suddenly, Candice turned pale, and when she was close to the door, she closed her eyes tightly and collapsed softly.
“Candy, Candy!”
Patrick quickly reached out and held her. Seeing the woman pale, falling into his arms without responding to his calls, he picked her up and carried her out of the study.
When Candice woke up again, she was lying on the large bed in the bedroom, covered with a blanket. Patrick was walking towards her, holding a cup of hot water in his hand.
The tension in the man’s eyes finally eased when he saw her, and he seemed relieved.
“Candy.” Patrick walked to the bedside, placed the cup of water on the bedside table, and helped Candice sit up, placing a pillow behind her.
“You’re awake. How do you feel now? Is there any discomfort?” Patrick’s voice was gentle. “I just had the doctor check you. He said it’s a lingering effect from before. Your body hasn’t fully recovered, so you shouldn’t overexert yourself.”
Candice looked pitifully at Patrick and subconsciously reached out to touch him, her eyes glistening with tears.
“Patrick…”
Seeing this, Patrick quickly took out a tissue from the bedside table to wipe away her tears. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying when you’re fine?”
“I-I…” Candice’s voice choked, “I know my illness is severe. When I was getting better before, I asked the doctor. He said even if there’s improvement, there’s still a possibility of a relapse. After all, it’s a terminal illness. I also know that I don’t have much time left.”
Patrick’s face revealed a deeply distressed expression. He moved closer to Candice, reaching out to embrace her. “Silly girl, what are you saying? I will find someone to cure you.”
Leaning against Patrick’s chest, Candice shook her head gently, lowering her eyes as she hesitated to say, “No need to bother, Patrick… I know my condition. I only have one wish, do you remember when we were young, you said you wanted to marry me in the little wooden house?”
“I remember.”
Candice felt secretly pleased. She adjusted her emotions and continued, “I just want, while I’m still alive, to be able to marry you, be your wife, and have a beautiful time with you. That’s all I ask for.”
Patrick frowned, and just when Candice thought he wouldn’t agree, the man’s voice came from above.
“All right, I promise you.”
A smile appeared on Candice’s face, and she wrapped her arms around Patrick’s waist. “Patrick, you’re so kind.” As long as she became the wife of the Pansy family, Antony couldn’t mistreat her anymore. Would she still need to endure others’ condescension? What a joke!
As expected, Patrick acted promptly. The day after he agreed to Candice, he released news claiming that he was about to get engaged to her. The media enthusiastically reported this news since the Pansy family was a prominent figure in the business world, making Patrick’s marriage a highly anticipated event.
[Love Comes from Heaven! Pansy Group’s CEO to Marry Childhood Sweetheart – Where Will She Go from Here?]
In various news articles, when Patrick and Candice were mentioned, there were also references to Jane. Candice was overjoyed when she saw the news reports, but not everyone felt the same.
Beatrice and Melissa, for instance.
When Melissa saw the news, she couldn’t help but feel jealous. She put her phone down with a snap and disdainfully said to Beatrice, “Aunt, who is this Candice? She’s obviously here for mu cousin’s money! And look, she and our family are from different backgrounds. She might have some ulterior motives, and my cousin can’t marry her!”
Beatrice, feeling extremely frustrated after Jane left, never expected another girl, Candice, to come into Patrick’s life. “A lounge singer, how could she marry into our family? It’s simply wishful thinking!”
Seizing the opportunity, Melissa tried to fan the flames, saying to Beatrice, “Aunt, I heard that she’s now living in the Water Moon Community. That’s my cousin’s own house. Allowing her to move in is like acknowledging her as the mistress of that place.”
Beatrice pursed her lips, displeased with what she heard, and gave her a disdainful look. “Let’s go, and let me see her.”
When the two arrived at the Water Moon Community, Melissa impatiently pressed the doorbell at the apartment entrance.
“Coming – ” Candice’s voice came from inside the door. She opened it and saw Beatrice and Melissa standing outside, feeling somewhat hesitant.
“Who are you?”
Melissa sneered disdainfully and walked straight in behind Beatrice.
After sizing up Candice, Beatrice said, “I thought my son was publicizing that he was marrying some celestial being. I didn’t expect it to be someone like you.”
Melissa, standing beside Beatrice, also arrogantly said, “Maybe my cousin just wants her for a bit of novelty. Aunt, look at her; no matter how you look at her, she’s not someone who can match my cousin.”
Candice understood instantly. These were Patrick’s mother and her cousin.
Although she felt indignant, she had to lower her head at this moment. She could only put on a smiling face and said, “So it’s Patrick’s mother and cousin who came. I didn’t know you were coming. Please have a seat; I’ll wash some fruit for you.”
Melissa sneered, “Don’t try to build relationships. Don’t think that just because you’ve hooked up with my cousin, you can be the mistress of the Pansy family. With your poor appearance, it’s simply a dream.”
“I came here today not to drink your tea.” Beatrice looked disdainfully at Candice. “To become the daughter-in-law of our Pansy family, you must be a refined young lady. You? I know you used to sing in a bar. Can a woman from such a place be clean? Tell me, what’s your purpose for getting close to Patrick?”
Candice felt a little startled, but she quickly calmed down. If they thought they could force her to retreat with just a few words, weren’t they too naive?
“I haven’t…” Candice’s voice was filled with grievances. “Mrs. Pansy, Patrick and I sincerely want to be together. He promised to marry me. How could you say such things about me?”
Melissa’s brows furrowed tighter and tighter. She had liked her cousin for so long, and he hadn’t even looked at her. Now, this poor girl suddenly appeared from nowhere. Why did she have the right to say these things?
She couldn’t bear it any longer. Walking over briskly, Melissa gave Candice a shove. “Stop pretending to be pitiful. Can someone like you climb up to our family?”
“Ah!”
Candice was pushed to the ground in an instant, and her hand got scratched, a cut appearing. She looked at Melissa with reddened eyes.
At this moment, Patrick returned.
When he saw Candice fall to the ground, his expression changed instantly. He hurriedly helped her up and, squinting his eyes, looked at the two women across from him.
“Who let you come?”
When Melissa saw Patrick entering the door, she was also surprised. She tentatively explained, wanting to gloss over the situation.
“Patrick, your mom and I just saw the news in the newspaper and came to see you.”
“It’s my business. You don’t need to worry about it!” Patrick was obviously displeased, bluntly throwing out these words, then tenderly cared for Candice with a soft voice.
Beatrice’s expression also changed. She and Melissa seemed to be outsiders here.
“Melissa, it seems that your cousin is very happy. Let’s go!”