Chris Shelby had always been with Esther, leaving Candace no opportunity to approach him. Only after Chris and Esther had separated did Candace drive over. As Chris walked toward her, he asked, puzzled, “Candace, did you need something?”
Candace bit her lip and said, “Chris, do you have time to join me for a cup of tea?”
“Uh?” Chris was taken aback.
Instinctively, Chris wanted to refuse, but seeing Candace’s pitiful look, his heart softened. Everyone knew Candace as a proud individual in the past. As the president of Nance Group, she carried a powerful aura wherever she went. However, since the last downfall of Nance Group and her father’s murder, everything had changed. Now, as the head of the Nance family, she seemed less imposing than before.
Hesitating momentarily, Chris nodded, “Okay!”
They then drove to a tea house, where Chris ordered some Oolong tea. Sitting there, the pair exchanged no words. Though they were childhood friends, they now seemed like the most familiar strangers.
Eventually, Chris broke the silence, “Candace, how have you been lately?”
Candace shook her head, “Not so good. Since my father was killed, my brother tried to seize power and I had to imprison him. Now the entire burden of the Nance family rests on my shoulders.”
“Moreover, Middleton has changed. It’s no longer the place it used to be. Even powerful families struggle to survive here, especially since the Nance family has weakened significantly without Nance Group, losing much of our former glory.”
Chris’s face showed a trace of embarrassment. After all, the death of Candace’s father, Ning Leiting, and the collapse of Nance Group were directly related to him. Candace’s current predicament had much to do with Chris.
At that moment, his phone rang. It was Esther calling.
“Dear, where are you?” Esther asked curiously.
Chris replied, “Dear, I’m out.”
“Oh? Why are you out? Are you alone?”
“This…” As Esther pressed for more details, Chris quickly said, “Cough, honey, what did you need?”
“Nothing much, just that it’s almost dinner time and I wanted you to come home to eat.”
“Alright, I’ll be right there.” Chris nodded and hung up.
After the call, Candace stared at him intently. Chris, embarrassed, said, “Candace, well… my wife wants me home for dinner… you see…”
“It’s okay, we can meet another time,” said Candace, standing up with a frosty demeanor.
Chris, unsure of what to say, stood up to leave.
“Wait!” Candace suddenly called out to him. Chris turned, looking puzzled.
Candace bit her lip again and said, “Chris, my grandfather’s birthday is coming up. I hope you can make it.”
“This…”
“How can you even refuse such a small request from me? I know that in your heart, there is no one but Esther, but aren’t we still friends? Can we not even remain friends?”
Seeing Candace say this, what could Chris Shelby say?
Helplessly, he nodded and said, “Fine, call me when it’s time, and I will attend personally.”
Afterwards, the two walked out of the teahouse.
Boom!
Just then, a dark green SUV drove up.
A young man in an Amerosia uniform decorated with three gold stars on his shoulder disembarked from the Hummer.
Seeing him, Chris Shelby slightly squinted his eyes.
Three gold stars-that was the rank of a three-star general in Amerosia!
However, Chris Shelby did not recognize this young man; he must have been recently promoted.
Indeed, Chris Shelby was not very familiar with most of the military leaders.
Though he was the Primus of Amerosia, he had spent most of his time battling at the frontier.
Many generals had not climbed their way up through combat, so naturally, he did not know them.
The young man got out of the vehicle and, smiling, said to Candace, “Candace, what brings you here?”
Candace, with a cold face, replied, “Jack Butler, what does it matter to you where I am?”
Jack Butler was not upset by Candace’s attitude.
The Butler family was one of the ten prestigious noble families.
Moreover, Jack Butler was a prominent member of the Butler family and a key figure being groomed for leadership.
With the support of his family, he had risen to the rank of a three-star general in Amerosia at a young age, a position that came with much prestige.
Ever since a banquet where Jack Butler had first seen Candace and fallen for her, he had pursued her relentlessly.
Unfortunately for him, Candace did not reciprocate his feelings.
Even so, Jack Butler had not given up his pursuit of Candace.
After all, she was the head of the Nance family and also considered the most beautiful woman in Middleton.
Only such a woman was worthy of him, Jack Butler.
At that moment, Jack Butler noticed Chris Shelby standing nearby.
Seeing Chris Shelby, Jack Butler frowned.
Who was this nobody, daring to stand next to the woman he admired?
However, to maintain his composure, Jack Butler ignored Chris Shelby and turned back to Candace with a smile, “Candace, I heard your grandfather’s birthday celebration is coming up soon. I have already picked out a gift for your grandfather.”
“What you gift my grandfather is none of my business.”
With that, Candace stopped paying any attention to Jack Butler.
Jack Butler turned to Chris Shelby and said, “Chris, I’ll be leaving first. I’ll call you later.”
“Alright!”
Chris Shelby nodded.
Then, Candace drove off in her Porsche.
After Candace had left, Chris Shelby suddenly sensed a hint of murderous intent.
He looked over and saw Jack Butler staring at him with a cold gaze.
Seeing this, Chris Shelby chuckled lightly.
With his sharp eyes, how could he not see that Jack Butler was smitten with Candace?
It seemed, however, that Candace did not care for Jack Butler at all!
“Kid, I advise you to stay away from Candace. Some women are not meant for you to touch, or else you’ll regret it!”
After warning Chris Shelby, Jack Butler drove off in his SUV.
Chris Shelby did not take Jack Butler’s warning to heart.
Although Jack Butler was a three-star general of Amerosia, he was still not impressive enough in his eyes.