Ch. 871..880

Chapter 871

"Elio, did you hear me?" Candice asked. She was a bit nervous as her breathing grew rapid.

Finally, Elio spoke. He murmured with a low voice, "Why did you agree to share a room with a man so easily? Aren't you worried I might have bad intentions?" Candice hadn't even considered the possibility.

After all, he had a fiancée, and their families were related.

"You wouldn't," Candice replied firmly as she wore a confident smile.

His voice grew even lower, "I would."

Candice's heart pounded as if it would leap out of her chest. She was extremely nervous.

They were both adults and were also sharing the same hotel room. It was the perfect setting for something to happen.

Although Candice had never had a boyfriend or any sexual experience, she was already 22. Also, she was surrounded by friends who had been in multiple relationships. They often talked about intimate conversations, including sex.

Many of her friends separated love from physical intimacy.

Candice had never preferred a one-night stand, but when it came to the man she had secretly loved for over a decade, she had no resistance or self-control.

The room was filled with an ambiguous tension.

They both remained silent for a long time.

Candice clutched her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.

Was Elio making a move?

If Elio were single, she would be willing to try a one-night stand.

After all, virginity was never a thing for her. For her, living in the moment and following her heart mattered most.

If she did this, it would be a betrayal to Josie. She couldn't secretly like Josie's man because it was not the right thing.

Seeing her prolonged silence, Elio was unsure of her thoughts.

Women often valued their virginity. Since she loved Mervyn, she should be angry and chase him out instead of remaining silent.

Unless she felt lonely and wanted to have sex.

Suppressing his inner turmoil, Elio mustered the courage to ask, "Candice, do you want it?"

Candice turned on her side, facing him with her back.

She was still on the fence because it

was very intimidating. Despite

knowing how wrong it was, shel

couldn't refuse the man she had secretly loved for years.

As her body went weak, her heart was following suit.

She was still on the fence. Should she do it or not?

She tried to convince herself that she wouldn't become the mistress because she didn't want to destroy Elio and Josie's relationship, but the temptation of being with the man she had loved for years was overwhelming.

Even if it was just this once or just because he purely wanted to have sex, she was willing.

Candice's silence meant she had already given him the consent to have sex with her.

Elio hesitated no longer.

He stood up to take off his shirt and threw it onto the sofa.

Even if she regretted it later and accused him of raping her, or even if her family sought vengeance, he wouldn't regret it at all.

He stepped toward the bed.

As she heard him approach, she was so scared that her body stiffened. She shrank back and shivered a little.

His sweet scent enveloped her as he lay down and gently embraced her from behind.

With his strong arms encircling her waist, his solid and warm chest was pressed against her. His heavy and warm breath brushed her neck, making her go weak. She had never been so nervous before that she couldn't help but tremble.

Elio slowly kissed her neck.

At that moment, it was as if an

electric current surged through her entire body, sending waves of

indescribable shivers. She tight/met

gripped the bedsheet with both hands, her eyes closed and lips pressed together.

Chapter 872

Chapter 872

The more nervous Candice got, the more sensitive her body became.

Elio's hand slid down her thigh, slipping under her skirt.

He seductively whispered in her ear, "May I kiss you?"

Candice was already captivated by his touch. She was overwhelmed with a bewitching sense of emptiness she couldn't suppress. Breathing heavily, she didn't have the strength to answer his question. She was growing embarrassed that her skin flushed.

Her silence was taken as consent by Elio.

He adjusted her position then pressed down on her soft body, and leaned in to kiss her lips.

Candice shyly moaned. Her sweet moans could make any man tingle with anticipation.

They couldn't bring themselves to part from their kiss, losing themselves to it.

At that moment, he finally kissed the woman he had long yearned for. He couldn't suppress his emotions anymore and almost lost control.

The softness and sweetness of Candice exceeded his imagination. It drove him crazy, making him obsessive and confused.

As Elio touched her smooth skin and her curvy body, he felt like having her all to himself, including her body and heart. This desire made him reckless.

He quickly removed their clothes, pulling her close as he kissed her passionately.

As he kissed her, Candice felt breathless.

With his strong and muscular body, he pinned her down. He caressed every inch of her body, kissing her as their tongue danced passionately.

The relentless sensation left her body weak and trembling. The feeling of emptiness gnawed at her.

At that moment, she had lost control, so she didn't think much.

As their bodies became one, she moaned.

However, she instantly regretted it once she snapped back to her senses.

The tearing pain was excruciating, causing her to twist her head away from his kiss. She pushed against her firm chest with both hands as tears streamed down her face.

"It hurts, let go of me. Elio... Let go of me."

Elio froze. He didn't dare to move because he was afraid it would hurt her more.

Candice clenched her fists and pounded on his chest. She cried out, "Let go of me! I don't want it anymore!"

She had never imagined it would hurt so much.

Elio grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head. He kissed her lips to stop her from crying.

He hadn't realized it was her first time, so he had been too rough on her. Without having any experience, he was acting purely on instinct.

His heart ached for Candice, and he wanted to stop.

If he could, he wished to end it as fast as possible, so that she wouldn't be in so much pain.

But things didn't go as he hoped.

Even when he moved as gently and slowly as possible, Candice was still crying and struggling in pain.

He couldn't control the timing. He was enjoying pleasure amidst torment, feeling bad toward Candice while indulging in pleasure, and continuously tormenting her with his own desires.

He wished that he could bear the tearing pain himself, while Candice enjoyed the pleasure. That would have been so much better. That way, it wouldn't leave her with bad memories of her first time.

As time dragged on, Candice was on the brink of fainting from the pain. As she cried, she angrily choked out, "E-Elio, I hate you." This sentence was perhaps an emotional outburst in the heat of the moment, but she didn't know it would scar his heart. The words she said were like a thorn deeply pierced into his heart. Whenever he remembered, it would make his heart ache.

Chapter 873

Chapter 873

The morning of early autumn was chilly.

The sky was just turning white, casting a faint light into the room through the sheer curtains on the balcony.

A man lay shirtless on the large bed with a thin blanket covering his waist. He had well-defined muscles and flawless features.

A gust of cold wind brushed past, causing the sheer curtains to flutter gently.

Feeling the chill, he subconsciously reached out to the side.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes and turned his head to look at the empty space beside him. His heart shrunk instantly.

In the next moment, he quickly sat up then grabbed his clothes at the end of the bed, and put them on.

His expression was tense as he rushed to the bathroom. He quickly pushed the door open and called out anxiously, "Candice!" There was no one in the bathroom.

Elio anxiously searched everywhere, including the balcony, living room, kitchen, and study. After that, he returned to the bedroom.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number. Breathing heavily, his hand pressed against his forehead as he stared at the deep red bloodstains on the bed. His heart ached.

"Hello, the number you dialed is switched off."

He sat on the bed alone. His head was hung low, and a sense of loneliness washed over him. He dialed another number instead. "Good morning, Mr. Hoffis," Sadie answered from the other end.

"Where's Candice?"

Sadie replied, "She came to ask me this morning if the work here was done. I said yes, and she left."

"Left to where?"

"She went back to Norvania."

"Did I say she could go back?" he said angrily.

Sadie nervously said, "Mr. Hoffis, I told Candice that without your permission, she couldn't leave on her own. But she didn't listen to me, she-"

Elio didn't want to listen to the explanation any longer, so he ended the call and threw the phone aside. He looked listless and depressed.

The sheer curtains fluttered gently as the room fell into silence.

He found it hard to breathe as his stiffened heart beat hard. Feeling upset, he lay sideways on the bed with his eyes closed. He weakly lifted his hand to cover his eyes, pressing on his eyes.

For Candice, it was just a one-night stand.

But for Elio, it was only the beginning.

The journey took six hours by plane and an hour by car.

After Candice returned to Phoenicia in Norvania, she felt exhausted. She got out of the car, dragging her suitcase, and entered the picturesque Morrison Residence, where she punched in the code at the gate.

In the garden, a kindly middle-aged man greeted her politely.

"Ms. Candice, good afternoon."

The man was Camden, the butler of the Morrison Residence.

"Good afternoon, Camden."

After helping her with the luggage, he asked curiously, "Ms. Candice, you're back from your business trip. Why didn't you call home so we could pick you up?"

"It's okay, taking a taxi is convenient enough," Candice replied. Though she was born into a wealthy family, she had never liked luxurious living style or inconveniencing others.

Camden followed Candice to the main villa.

"Mr. Morrison and Mrs. Morrison have returned," Camden said.

Candice was stunned. She turned around and asked excitedly, "Uncle Nathan and Aunt Chubs are really back?"

Camden replied, "Yes, I heard that Mrs. Morrison's younger brother is getting married next month, so they came back from the frontiers specifically for that. They'll be back for quite a while this time."

"Getting married?" Candice was stunned and her heart ached. She asked again, "You mean Elio?"

"Yes, Elio."

At that moment, Candice felt as if the sky was falling. Her mind went blank and tears welled up in her eyes. She was speechless, frozen in place.

Chapter 874

Chapter 874

Camden didn't notice anything amiss with Candice, so he continued cheerfully, "Mr. Elio should be 27 years old by now, at the age to get married.

"After all, his parents had him at an older age, and they're quite old now. They're probably eager for grandchildren."

Candice lowered her head in confusion and sorrow as tears threatened to stream down her face. She wiped her tears discreetly.

Although the warmth of the evening sun fell on her, she was still overwhelmed by the coldness of her heart.

At that moment, she deeply regretted it. She hated herself for being selfish just for that one night.

Because of her own desires, she had sex with Elio. She felt very guilty toward Josie.

A secret admirer tended to admire the other person silently, not letting others know about their feelings, and not wanting to be an obstacle to the other person's happiness.

Now, she looked like a bitch that destroyed other people's relationships.

She hated herself so much.

Noticing something wrong with Candice, Camden quickly asked, "Ms. Candice, is everything alright?"

Candice immediately wiped away her tears. She forced a stiff smile and responded, "I'm fine."

After that, she strode into the house and entered the magnificent living room.

"Candice," Mila called out gently.

The moment Candice saw Mila, she smiled broadly and rushed over. She went to sit beside Mila. As she clung onto her arm affectionately, Candice said, "Aunt Chubs, it's been so long. I miss you so much."

Mila's smile was warm and gentle as she patted Candice's head. She replied, "It's been almost two years. You have become even more beautiful."

Nathan intentionally coughed.

Candice received the cue, so she quickly turned to the man beside her. She smiled as she greeted, "Hello, Uncle Nathan."

Nathan's gaze softened as he responded affectionately, "Good girl. I thought you only had eyes for Chubs and couldn't see me." Candice replied, "How is that possible? You're handsome and striking. You always had people's eyes on you whenever you go, so how could I ignore you?"

"You are such a honey-tongued," Nathan said. His smile grew even brighter, overflowing with affection.

Although Jasper was their son, they loved Candice more compared to Jasper.

Mila quickly took out a small ornament from her pocket and put it around Candice's wrist.

Candice looked surprised at the delicate and lovely beads on the bracelet. The bracelet was colorful and pretty.

"Aunt Chubs, what's this?" Candice asked, raising her wrist to look at the unique beads.

As Mila touched Candice's fair wrist, she sighed. She continued, "It suits you so well. It's a rare and natural chrysoberyl we found when we were mining at the frontiers. It's different from the normal chrysoberyl. This is a very rare and precious gemstone."

"It's too precious, Aunt Chubs. I can't accept it. You should give it to Jasper instead," Candice said before taking it off.

Mila stopped her. She pretended to be angry. "If you don't accept it, I will be angry."

"But-

"No buts. Jasper is a grown man, so it's not suitable for him to wear gemstones. It looks better on you," Mila commented. "Thanks, Aunt Chubs." Candice expressed her gratitude as she hugged Mila happily. After that, she turned to Nathan and expressed her gratitude too.

"As long as you're happy," Nathan said with a faint smile.

Mila gently caressed Candice's long hair, her eyes filled with love.

Over the years, she had been too busy with work. In the end, she couldn't give birth to a daughter for Nathan.

Luckily, they had such a cute niece like Candice.

Chapter 875

Chapter 875

Chapter 875

At this moment, Jasper walked in.

He greeted his parents politely, "Dad, Mom."

Mila responded softly, "Jasper, welcome back. Come, sit next to me. It's been a long time since we've seen you."

Jasper sat down beside Mila. He gently held her hand as his eyes filled with longing. They exchanged a smile.

The smile faded from Nathan's face as he adopted a stem expression. He asked, "Jasper, what have you been busy with lately?" "I've been leaming business with Uncle Elio," Jasper replied earnestly.

Nathan nodded, approving of his work.

When Elio was mentioned, Candice felt inexplicably nervous.

Suddenly, Jasper asked her, "Candice, didn't you go on a business trip with Uncle Elio? Why are you back? And where's Uncle Elio?"

Feeling uneasy, Candice nervously replied, "I don't know. My work was done, so I came back."

"Oh," Jasper responded.

Mila sensed Candice's discomfort, so she continued to ask Jasper, Jasper, when did Elio start dating? It's so sudden to talk about marriage. Whose daughter is she, do we know her?"

Candice lowered her head, feeling even more depressed. Her heart felt heavy as if she had fallen into a bottomless abyss.

Jasper said, "You know her. She's the daughter of clad's close friend, Cameron. Her name is Josie."

"Cameron's daughter?' Nathan was stunned.

Mila's expression turned grim instantly. She then turned to look at Nathan.

Nathan also looked bewildered because he was unaware of this matter.

Jasper noticed the dissatisfaction on his parents' faces. He quickly explained, 'Uncle Elio has known Josie since childhood. They've been childhood sweethearts, classmates, and friends.

"Also, they got together in college. It seems like she's Uncle Elio's first love, and it's been many years."

"We rarely interact with her. How is her personality and character?' Mila asked curiously.

After pondering for a few seconds, Jasper said, "She's alright. She's knowledgeable, generous, gentle, and kind-hearted. She's also quite cheerful and lively, very compatible with Uncle Elio, who is gloomy and aloof."

Mila couldn't compliment her because she was Fenna's niece. She looked at Candice, who was silent. She asked gently, "Candice, what do you think of Elio's girlfriend? Is she trustworthy?"

Feeling panicky, Candice let out a muffled sigh. She replied with a low voice, "Aunt Chubs, I rarely get in touch with Josie, so I don't know her very well. You should ask Elio.'

Elio?

Mila was stunned when she heard Candice call him 'Elio".

Then, she noticed her strange behavior.

"Aunt Chubs, Uncle Nathan, Jasper, I've been on a plane for several hours and I'm very tired now. I want to go upstairs to rest," Candice said.

"Go ahead..." Nathan said anxiously.

Caressing her long hair, Mila said softly, "Go rest first. When you have time, come and chat with me, okay?"

"Okay," Candice replied with a stiff smile. Then, she left the living room.

Mila told Nathan and Jasper, "Did you guys notice that Candice seems very unhappy?"

Nathan and Jasper responded in unison, "Yes, we noticed."

The three of them grew worried for Candice.

After returning to her room, Candice hid under the blanket. She was listless and Elio's figure kept appearing in her mind.

The intimate and heartbreaking scenes from last night continued to appear in her mind.

There was only pain and sadness instead of sweetness, along with a heavy sense of guilt.

Chapter 876

Chapter 876

Candice requested a day off, followed by the weekend ahead.

She spent three consecutive days holed up in her room. She didn't want to leave her room unless it was meal times.

She felt gloomy. She spent her time sleeping, listening to music, or simply staring blankly at the scenery outside the balcony.

Suddenly, her phone rang.

Lethargically, Candice reached for her phone and glanced at it. It was her colleague, Vanessa.

"Hello, Vanessa," Candice answered on speakerphone. She lay motionless on the bed, her voice lazy and weak.

Vanessa nervously said, "Candice, let's watch a movie."

Candice wasn't interested, so she rejected easily. "No, I have to work tomorrow."

"It ends at 9:00 pm. Come on, I'll introduce you to a handsome guy," Vanessa insisted.

Candice sighed in resignation. She had heard Vanessa mention her brother too many times, so she asked, "Your brother again?"

"Yeah, don't you always say you want to date? You're 22 years old and still haven't had a boyfriend. Why not take a look at my brother?" "Vanessa, we're not suitable for each other," Candice said solemnly. "I know your brother is very handsome, but we're not compatible." Their social status was incompatible, and her family would never agree to her marrying anyone who couldn't match her.

Vanessa didn't know her family's condition, so she always tried to introduce her brother to her.

"How do you know if you don't try it?' Vanessa countered.

Candice remembered what Camden had said, that Elio was getting married next month.

What was she still hoping for?

She and Elio couldn't be together, so why was she torturing herself with unrealistic fantasies about him?

After hesitating for a moment, Candice said, "Send me the address."

Vanessa replied excitedly. "Sure! I'll send it to you right away. Don't you dare stand me up!"

Candice pulled herself together. She got up and dressed.

Half an hour later, Candice arrived at the entrance of the movie theater on the fourth floor of Times Square Mall.

She saw Vanessa and a tall, handsome young man standing together. They waved excitedly at her.

Candice smiled. She walked over and greeted, "Hey Vanessa."

Vanessa took her hand and happily introduced her, "Wendell, this is my colleague and also good friend, Candice Morrison.

"Candice, this is my brother, Wendell Yates."

Candies politely nodded at him. She greeted, "Hello, Wendell."

Wendell's eyes sparkled. He smiled as he was unable to contain his happiness. He greeted, "Hello, Candice."

Vanessa held Candice's hand and led her inside. She said, 'I've bought the tickets, let's go."

The three of them walked into the cinema side by side.

Vanessa went to buy popcorn. Meanwhile, Wendell stood beside Candice. He was slightly nervous, so he tried to find a topic for them to chat about.

From their conversation, Candice learned that Wendell was a real estate sales consultant and was also a salesperson for real estate developments. He was 27 years old, the same age as Elio.

He didn't seem as handsome as Elio, but his personality was much brighter.

Candice's mind suddenly drifted as she thought of Elia. She quickly pulled her thoughts back and listened attentively to what Wendell was saying.

Suddenly, a familiar woman's voice came. "Candice?"

Upon hearing the voice, Candice turned around.

Josie was walking toward them with two cups of soda and a bucket of popcorn. She was smiling gently.

Candice hadn't expected to meet Josie at the cinema. She greeted, "Hi, Josie."

Josie smiled as she glanced at the man next to Candice. She asked, "Candice, are you here to watch a movie with your boyfriend?'

Chapter 877

Chapter 877

Candice panicked and quickly explained, "No, he's my friend's brother. We just met."

Wendell nodded in greeting, "Hello."

Josie smiled but didn't continue the conversation. Instead, she asked, "Which showtime are you here for?"

*7:00 pm, Theater 2," Wendell replied.

Josie remarked, "That's unfortunate. We're here for the 6:45 pm show in Theater 6.

Candice forced a smile. She politely smiled, "Yes, that's unfortunate."

Just then, Vanessa walked over with popcom and drinks. She handed some to Wendell while glancing at Josie.

Seeing that they were indeed a group of three, Josie pretended to be in a hurry. She said, "I can't chat anymore. Leo will worry if I'm gone too long. I gotta go." With that, Josie turned and left.

Were Elio and Josie watching a movie together?

Candice stood there in a daze. She felt stifled and miserable.

As all her good mood vanished, she was saddened by the revelation. She felt both upset and irrational.

Wasn't it normal for an engaged couple to watch a movie together? Why should Candice, an outsider, be jealous or heartbroken? She had no right.

Vanessa was unaware of Candice's discomfort, so she took her hand and led her inside. "Candice, let's go. The movie starts in ten minutes. Let's wait inside." Wendell followed them with the snacks in his hand.

After entering the theater, Josie handed the soda to Fenna and sat down. She said, "I just saw Candice outside. She was with a coworker and the coworker's brother. The three of them are watching a movie in Theater 2."

Focusing on the movie, Fenna took a sip of her soda and said calmly, "At a time like this, shouldn't you call Elio?"

Josie asked curiously, "Why should I call him?"

Fenna shook her head with a smile. She continued, "You're so dense. Didn't you tell me Elio likes Candice? Even though they're relatives, they aren't blood-related. She's your biggest rival, you know."

Josie immediately understood what she meant. She quickly took out her phone and walked out of the theater while dialing a number.

She went to a quiet comer and then looked around.

Elio answered the phone with a cold voice, "What is it?"

Josie said quietly, "Leo, I'm at the movies with my aunt. Guess who I saw?"

Elio replied coldly, "I don't want to guess. If you have something to say, say it. If not, I'm hanging up."

Josie complained, "Are you this cold to everyone? We've been friends for over 20 years, can't you at least-"

Elio interrupted, "I'm hanging up."

Josie panicked and quickly blurted, "I saw Candice."

The call almost ended, but then there was a long silence.

After a while, Elio didn't hang up the phone or say anything.

Josie knew that Elio wouldn't want to miss any news about Candice.

She pretended to be resigned and said, "But she's on a date with a really handsome guy. I don't know if he's her boyfriend, but they seemed pretty close.

*They were laughing and having a good time. They only bought one soda and one bucket of popcorn."

"Send me the location," Elio said coldly.

"Sure," Josie replied. After that, she ended the call and sent Elio the location.

After sending the location, she called Sadie, the design director of ND Group's design department.

She wanted to ask her for a favor, as they were close friends.

Chapter 878

Chapter 878

Chapter 878

Sadie arranged for a task that required Vanessa to leave the place. 15 minutes later, Vanessa hurriedly walked out of the movie theater.

"What the fuck? Why are they making me rush a PowerPoint on a weekend?" she grumbled. "They need it tomorrow but didn't say anything earlier. What time is it now? Jeez..."

Vanessa cursed as she walked. She quickly passed by Josie and left the theater in a rush.

Mission accomplished. Now, Josie just needed to wait for the results.

Two hours later, Candice walked out of the theater alongside Wendell. They took the elevator down and headed outside.

"I'll take you home," Wendell offered politely.

Candice declined his offer with a smile, "It's okay. I'll just take a cab."

"It's not safe to take a cab by yourself."

"Really, it's fine."

Just as Candice finished speaking, she suddenly stopped in the middle of the plaza. Her heart skipped a beat as she nervously looked at the car in front of her.

Elio sat in the driver's seat of a luxury car. He rolled down the window, looking at Candice and then the man beside her.

His expression was cold, and his eyes were filled with anger. He exuded a chilling and terrifying air.

Candice had no idea why Elio was so furious.

She felt her heart pounding. At the same time, she was overwhelmed with anxiety, embarrassment, and shame. Her palms were sweaty as she lowered her gaze, unable to look into his eyes.

She didn't know how to face Elio and Josie in the future.

At that moment, Josie walked out. She passed by Candice and said quietly, "I just came out from the restroom. I didn't expect Leo to arrive this fast. We're leaving now, Candice."

Candice forced a stiff smile. She waved at Josie and bid farewell to her.

"Bye," Josie said. She then walked to the front passenger seat of Elio's car and got in.

Elio looked at her coldly. "Why are you getting in?' he asked in confusion.

Josie grinned, "My aunt had something come up and left not long ago. Can you give me a ride?"

Elio was in a terrible mood. "Get out," he ordered coldly.

Josie sighed, "You saw it yourself. Candice always has men around her. She had Mervyn before. Now that he's gone abroad, she has a new boyfriend. She'd choose anyone but you, Elio."

Elio gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white with the strain. He stared straight ahead, his eyes bloodshot, and his breathing quickened.

"Get lost," Elio growled, unable to hold back his anger any longer. He was very harsh toward Josie.

Josie froze in fear. She glanced outside the window and saw Candice and Wendell step to the curb, hailing a cab.

She deliberately stalled for the time and said quietly, "Alright, don't be mad. I'm getting out now. But as your friend, let me say it again. Don't waste your feelings and time on Candice. She'll never love you."

Elio slowly closed his eyes. He felt as if his chest was being painfully torn apart.

Frustrated, Josie reluctantly got out of the car.

Elio started the engine and left the plaza. While driving, he saw Candice getting into the cab alone. The man was not accompanying her.

As the cab left, he followed.

Throughout the ride, Candice leaned against the window. Feeling lost and heartbroken, she silently wiped away her tears.

Chapter 879

Chapter 879

Chapter 879

"Miss, we're here," the driver softly called out after stopping the car.

Candice snapped out of her reverie. She quickly wiped away her tears and took out cash to pay.

'Thank you,' she said before getting out.

As the door closed, the cab slowly drove away.

Candice looked up at the brightly lit villa in front of her. She sighed heavily before walking dejectedly toward it.

Just as she approached the large iron gate, a figure suddenly rushed up from behind her. She was shocked when her arm was grabbed. Before she could react, she was yanked to the side of the wall.

Candice screamed in shock. Before she could comprehend what was happening, someone kissed her. At that moment, she was dumbfounded. She stared wide-eyed in terror at the face so close to hers.

Through the blurry vision, she saw Elio. Finally regaining her senses, she began to struggle.

However, the more she struggled, the harder he pressed against her. He pinned her wrists above her head with his solid chest pressed tightly against her.

His kiss was violent, aggressive, and wild. He sucked and bit her lips and tongue until they hurt, almost as if he wanted to devour her.

His fury was palpable, and his kiss was relentless.

Candice had never imagined that Elio could be so terrifying when he got angry, even when he kissed. She began to panic because she felt like he was going to eat her. As she gasped for breath, she could feel her lips were swollen and aching. She was held so tightly that she could barely breathe. Cold sweat broke out on her back, making her feel powerless.

She was so afraid of him that tears streamed down her face. Her body trembled as she sobbed, and she couldn't stop crying.

It wasn't until Elio tasted the salty tears that he slowly regained his senses. He released her lips and lowered his head to rest against her trembling forehead. Breathing heavily, he closed his eyes and remained silent.

Biting her swollen lips, Candice slowly cried out in pain. At that moment, she was still trembling with fear.

The dim yellow streetlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on Elio's figure. His shadow enveloped Candice.

Even in the faint light, he could see Candice's terrified and tear-streaked face. Her lips were swollen from his kiss. She looked so fragile and pitiful that it made his heart ache.

Candice was crying, but her hands were still pinned above her head. As she took deep, labored breaths, her tense and sorrowful mood gradually eased.

She sniffled and choked out, "You... Let me go... Or else... I'll call someone...

Elio tightened his grip on her wrists. His gaze was dark and intense, making it hard to read. He looked very intimidating.

He gulped. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Candice, when we slept together, you were sober. It was consensual, so it's not a drunken mistake. You're not confused as well, and there were no drugs involved."

Candice's face flushed with embarrassment. She nervously swallowed because she felt shy. As she looked at him nervously, she had no idea why he was bringing it up. In this modern society, wasn't a one-night stand normal, especially between two consenting adults?

Elio continued in a serious tone, I'm not looking for a thrill. You can't pretend nothing happened because our relationship is no longer innocent, so you'd better realize how serious this is."

Chapter 880

Chapter 880

Candice instantly panicked, wondering what Elio meant by his words.

She was stunned, staring at him blankly. Although tears still welled up in her eyes, she was dumbfounded.

Seeing her dazed expression, innocent and clueless, Elio asked angrily, "Did you hear me clearly?'

Candice was so shocked that she gulped. She quickly nodded.

Elio thought she understood until Candice blurted out, "I heard you. I don't need you to take responsibility. I won't cling to you."

Elio was furious. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to ease the pain deep in his heart. After a moment, he said coldly, "No, I want you to take responsibility." Candice froze. She bewildered ly asked, "I... need to take responsibility for you?"

Elio replied with a magnetic voice, "Yes."

Candice was stunned as her mind was a mess.

He had been the one to initiate making love with her, and even though she hadn't refused, she was still the passive party. The experience had been painful, with no pleasure for her.

She had been at a disadvantage. Now, she had to take responsibility for it?

Most importantly, Elio already had a fiancée. How could she take responsibility?

She might want to, but they were family, and he was getting married next month. By any chance, did he want to be friends with benefits and make her his secret lover? Candice could never be a mistress. She panicked and blurted out, "I don't want to."

Elio smiled bitterly as he looked into her eyes. He felt sad and a bit angry, saying, "Candice, from the moment you agreed to have sex with me, you had no choice." She panicked as a shiver ran up her spine. Did Elio plan this to make her fall into his trap?

He helped her secure a job as an intem, took her abroad for events and arranged for them to share a room. All of it, just to sleep with her and make her his secret lover or friend with benefits?

Why was he so terrifying?

Had she loved the wrong person all these years?

Was he a playboy?

Candice's heart sank. She was filled with regret. Although she was gentle and didn't have the temper and guts, she wouldn't obediently accept mistreatment.

She already regretted doing such a taboo thing; she wouldn't make the same mistake again.

With a firm stance, she lifted her chin and looked at Elio resolutely. She said, "Elio, aren't you afraid I'll tell Uncle Nathan? He'll shoot you dead."

Elio stared intensely at her. He said hoarsely, "I'd like to let everyone know about it."

Candice was taken aback.

Elio lowered his head and leaned closer to her ear. He whispered, "Candice, the moment I slept with you, I was ready to face death. You only have two choices. Tell your family and let them kill me, or keep this secret and be with me."

She didn't want Elio dead, nor did she want to be his mistress.

Candice sadly asked, "Why can't we pretend nothing happened? Why did you want to go into the deep end and cause so many problems for everyone?"

"Because I want you, Candice," Elio growled. Tears welled up in his eyes as he felt his heart breaking.

Chapter 881