Ch. 881..890

Chapter 881

Candice was shocked. She couldn't grasp what Elio meant by his words.

Was it possible that his desire for beauty and pleasure could drive him to such reckless extremes, even at the risk of his own life?

Elio declared his desire for her. Wasn't he afraid that her family would kill him for trying to make her his mistress? Didn't he have any moral boundaries?

Candice was livid. "Let go of me," she demanded.

Elio loosened his grip on her wrist and took a step back.

Candice massaged her aching hand. "Elio, just give up. Marry Josie and live a good life with her. Be good to her, and stop chasing after me."

With those words, Candice stormed off. She angrily unlocked and pushed through a large iron gate. As she walked, she cursed inwardly at Elio.

He was despicable. If he weren't already committed to someone else, she would've considered being with him, even as his secret lover.

But Josie had been by his side for many years, and their wedding was just a month away. Yet, here Elio was, pursuing Candice. He was a fucking scumbag.

Exhausted, Elio trudged into the living room of Hoffis Manor.

"Good evening, Mr. Elio," the maid greeted him.

He flung his suit jacket toward her and loosened his tie while continuing to walk, looking despondent. Mila's voice came to his ears as he walked past the living room. "Elio, you're back?" she called out.

Elio glanced at the couch and saw Michaela and Mila seated there. "Mom, Wanda," he said indifferently, without stopping as he continued toward the stairs. "Where have you been? You look worn out," Mila asked.

Michaela's expression turned sour with frustration. "He wouldn't look this upset even if he lost billions. It has to be her influence," she muttered darkly. "Do you mean Josie?" Mila asked.

"I'd be less worried if it were Josie. His marriage is deeply troubling me," Michaela grumbled.

Mila gave her a wry smile and patted her back reassuringly. "Mom, don't worry so much. Young people manage their own love lives. Let him choose for himself. Don't meddle or try to arrange anything. He can handle it on his own."

Michaela frowned. She leaned closer to Milla and lowered her voice. "I'm trying not to meddle, but he shouldn't have fallen for your niece."

Mila was taken aback. "Who?"

Concerned about being overheard, Michaela whispered into Mila's ear, "Candice Morrison, Daniel's daughter."

Mila smiled faintly while looking in disbelief. "That can't be. Elio doesn't even like Candice."

Michaela stayed quiet.

"He always avoids Candice whenever he visits Morrison Residence to see Jasper. He doesn't talk to her, ignores her completely, and even hides when he sees her. How could he possibly be interested in her?" Mila questioned.

Pointing to the room on the second floor, Michaela grumbled, "Go check his room, and you'll see his obsession with Candice. He's completely lost his mind. His thoughts are twisted, and he needs professional help."

"Mom, how can you speak about your son like that?" Mila responded with displeasure.

Chapter 882

Chapter 882

Chapter 882

Michaela suppressed her anger and stressed each word carefully. "Wanda, you've been away working in the frontier for so long that you might not realize how disturbing Elio's behavior is. He's Candice's uncle. They're related! Yet he's had an unhealthy fixation on Candice since her childhood.

"He collected her hair ties, cups, stuffed toys, and other random items. He hoarded her discarded pencil cases and even a used pen. Whenever he visited Morrison Residence, he secretly took things that belonged to Candice and stashed them away.

"What kind of man obsessively writes diary entries about a young woman? He stole her things, spied on her, stalked her, and filled his entire sketchbook with drawings of her. He...

"I was desperate and had to pressure him into finding a girlfriend. But then he and Josie deceived me. I had no option but to make him move abroad. I truly-"

Mila cut her off, her voice sharp with fury. "Mom, why did you read Elio's diary?"

"I did it for his own good," Michaela replied as if it were obvious.

Holding her throbbing forehead, Mila sighed deeply and muttered, "Your kind of 'motherly love' is stifling."

"How else would I have known how serious this was if I hadn't read his diary? Who knows what awful things could've happened if I hadn't intervened in his twisted behavior sooner?"

Mila was momentarily speechless. After a pause, she spoke sincerely, "Mom, Elio is not like other men. He's reserved and distant, and he struggles to express his emotions. It's not unusual for him to collect items related to his crush.

"Perhaps he followed her simply because he wanted to protect her or just to be near her often. He never peeked at her in the shower or stole anything deeply personal like her underwear. How can you label his behavior as twisted?"

Steadfast in her conservative views, Michaela objected. "Candice calls him uncle. Doesn't he realize what that implies about his place in our family? If such behaviors aren't considered twisted, what would be? Does he need to engage in actual incest for us to call it that?"

Mila saw things differently. She believed that as long as there was no blood relation and their relationship was legally allowed, there was no reason they couldn't be together. To her, any other concems were minor.

On the other hand, Michaela held traditional values dear and placed great importance on the family hierarchy. She felt that pursuing such a relationship was not only morally wrong but would also harm the relationships between their families.

The debate raged on in the living room, with the duo adamantly defending their viewpoints.

Elio locked his bedroom door and slumped against the wall. He stretched one leg out and bent the other, resting his arm wearily on his knee. His gaze was empty as he stared at the remains of the portrait that Michaela had destroyed.

He had devoted half a month to creating a portrait of Candice, meticulously writing her name tens of thousands of times in various sizes to form her image. Now, it lay in ruins.

The loss of the portrait wouldn't have been so crushing if Candice were willing to be in a relationship with him. But with the portrait destroyed and Candice's clear disinterest in him, he felt like the sky had come crashing down on him. Yet he had to continue clinging to the fragments of his composure.

Chapter 883

Chapter 883

There was a persistent knock on the door.

Unwilling to respond, Elio remained motionless. His gaze was desolate and distant. It was as if he was lost in another world.

It wasn't until the knocking ceased and Mila's voice came to his ears that he snapped back to reality.

"Elio, it's me, Wanda."

Although Mila was rarely home, she held a warm and kind image in Elio's heart. He found those affections he lacked from Michaela in Mila.

Shaken from his thoughts, Elio got to his feet and turned the portrait around before heading to the door.

As the door was opened, Mila noticed his somber expression and lifeless gaze. She felt a pang of sympathy.

"Wanda, do you need something?" Elio asked.

Mila's eyes crinkled into a smile as she asked softly, "May I come in and sit for a while?"

Elio hesitated briefly, then opened the door wider. "Come in."

Mila stepped into the spacious room. Despite the brightness of the lights, the atmosphere felt dull and cold. There was a large bed, a row of cabinets, and a couch, all in subdued, cool tones that mirrored Elio's personality.

It was no surprise that he had a secret crush on Candice. She was like a ray of sunshine-warm and radiant, with a naturally soothing presence.

Mila settled onto the couch, her gaze sweeping the room until it landed on the portrait, now facing the floor. She offered a faint smile and patted the spot beside her." Elio, come sit with me."

Elio complied and leaned back on the couch.

Mila looked at him from head to toe. He was young, handsome, wealthy, and five years older than Candice. Despite his less-than-charming personality, Elio was a fundamentally good man-kind, determined, and responsible.

These traits had seen him through the tough love of his upbringing under Michaela and shaped him into the man he was now. Candice could certainly have chosen someone far worse.

"Did you want to talk about something?" Elio asked.

"Yes, Nathan and I are here for your wedding next month," said Mila.

Elio's face clouded over, and he responded icily. "There won't be a wedding."

"But Mom has already sent out the invitations and told everyone in our circle.

Elio remained silent, his gaze turning frostier.

"I guess she's determined to push you into this, no matter what."

A scornful smirk crossed Elio's lips.

Mila frowned in concern. "Why aren't you speaking?"

Elio took a deep breath before responding, "I've been thinking about what to do if she was behind Candice's close call overseas. Should I have her arrested? Cut ties with her? Or just ignore it all?"

Mila's anxiety spiked. "What happened to Candice?"

"It's over now, and she's safe."

Mila sighed in relief and said firmly, "Mom truly adores Candice. She treats her like her own granddaughter. Don't worry too much. It definitely wasn't Mom." "Let's hope that's the case."

Mila gave Elio's shoulder a comforting pat and smiled gently. "You have feelings for Candice, don't you?"

Elio glanced at her in surprise, his eyes reflecting the uncertainty of what to do next.

Mila chuckled. "Don't give me that look. Mom spilled the beans."

Elio neither confirmed nor denied it. Instead, he leaned back on the couch and stared blankly at the ceiling.

Frustrated by his hesitation, Mila urged, "If you're into her, just go for it! Forget about Nathan and me. Nowadays, nobody cares about family ties or others' opinions anymore. What truly matters is your happiness. You're not here to live up to anyone else's expectations."

Elio offered a small, grateful smile and whispered with his eyes closed, 'Thanks, Wanda."

Noticing his troubled look, Mila asked, "What's wrong?"

"She's not into me."

Mila was caught off guard and fell silent for a moment. There would be no chance for them to be together if Candice didn't feel the same way about him.

Elio couldn't afford to cling to Candice or stir up troubles, given his status. Such behavior would undoubtedly strain the relationship between their families.

Chapter 884

Chapter 884

Mila sighed. "It's probably best to move on sooner if Candice doesn't have feelings for you. But you shouldn't settle for manying someone you don't love. Josie isn't the right match for you."

"Her aunt is shady," Elio responded with a relaxed drawl.

Surprised, Mila asked, "You knew about that?"

Elio hummed in acknowledgment.

Mila got to her feet and said, "Alright, I should head back. You should get some sleep. Meet me at Sudvilla at noon tomorrow."

Sudvilla, a villa granted to Nathan by the govemment, was located directly opposite Hudson Manor, where Josie lived.

"Why should I go there?" Elio looked at her, puzzled.

With a gentle smile, Mila said, "Come early and lend me a hand."

Then, she left Elio's room, quietly closing the door behind her. Elio's gaze lingered on the door, looking desolate.

At noon the following day, Candice arrived in a floral dress complemented by a lace-trimmed sun hat. She carried a wicker basket full of plant seedlings.

She stepped out of her car and walked toward the garden with buoyant, graceful steps reminiscent of a butterfly.

From afar, she noticed someone crouched over the soil in the middle of the garden, dressed in a white shirt. "Aunt Chubs, Aunt Chubs, Aunt Chubs," she called out.

As Candice drew closer, she stopped abruptly. Her words caught in her throat, and her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the man before her.

Elio stood when he heard the voice, questioning if he had misheard. As he turned and saw Candice rushing toward him, he was rooted to the spot in shock. Their eyes locked, and a palpable tension hung between them, leaving them momentarily stunned. Feeling the weight of Elio's stare, Candice looked away hastily, her eyes darting in panic.

"I thought you were Aunt Chubs. I-I came to deliver some seedlings to her. I-"

'She's gone to fetch some water," said Elio.

Initially, he couldn't fathom why Mila had insisted he come help in the garden instead of using their usual gardeners. Now, it clicked.

He set aside his small hoe and removed his glove. After taking a few steps toward Candice, he extended his hand. "Let me help you with that."

Candice passed him the basket and edged closer, carefully pointing out the different seedlings. 'These are magnolia seedlings. These are peony seedlings, and these are rose seedlings."

As she finished, she looked up and caught Elio staring at her rather than the seedlings in the basket. Their eyes met, and he quickly diverted his gaze to the basket, feeling flustered. He couldn't differentiate the seedlings at all.

Candice felt a sudden tightness in her chest, her breathing becoming unsteady. Uncertain of her next move, she took a cautious step back.

The air turned slightly awkward. In a soft voice, Elio asked, "Which flowers do you prefer?"

With a warm smile, Candice answered sweetly, "I love all kinds of flowers. I adore them if they're beautiful."

"Candice, you're here!" Mila called out, approaching them with several bottles of mineral water.

Turning around, Candice waved at Mila with a bright smile. "Aunt Chubs, I've brought some seedlings for you."

"You look lovely today," Mila praised.

Blushing, Candice glanced down at her dress, feeling delighted.

Mila noticed Elio's lingering gaze on Candice. She passed a bottle of water to Candice before approaching Elio and handed him one. Leaning in, she whispered, "Ease up on the staring. You might scare her."

Elio set the basket aside and glanced down. Then, he unscrewed the bottle cap and drank a large gulp of water.

Chapter 885

Chapter 885

Candice wanted to speak with Mila, but her attention was drawn to Elio. She was captivated as he tilted his head back to drink water; his Adam's apple was unexpectedly alluring. His simple act sent a surge of heat through Candice, leaving her flustered. She swiftly averted her eyes and turned to Mila.

"Aunt Chubs, is there anything I can help with?" she asked anxiously.

Mila pulled out her phone, her expression turning into a frown as she landed her gaze on it. "I just got some urgent experimental results from work that I need to handle immediately." Confusion clouded Candice's mind.

Pointing toward the seedlings in the basket, Mila instructed, "Candice, can you and Elio help me in planting these seedlings? I need to deal with this issue first."

"I..." Candice panicked, wanting to make Mila stay. "Aunt Chubs, I—"

With a warm smile, Mila began walking away as she said, "I'm swamped right now. Thank you so much, Candice."

Candice couldn't bring herself to reject Mila's request. She said, "Don't mention it, Aunt Chubs. Go ahead with your work."

As Mila's figure vanished, Candice's heart pounded. Overwhelmed by anxiety, her breath grew quick and shallow. She turned to find Elio standing behind her, his piercing gaze locked on hers.

He was a man of few words who always gave off a cool, distant air. In their childhood, Elio deliberately avoided Candice whenever they crossed paths.

Each attempt she made at conversation was met with silence. He would not even acknowledge her presence.

Over the years, Candice had come to view him as a person who was distant and unapproachable, notoriously reserved, and hard to engage in conversation.

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Yet she found her feelings toward him puzzling. Unlike with other guys, her heart would race and flutter whenever she saw Elio. It lefther

body tense and her mind unsettled.

Candice felt even more awkward and embarrassed now that they had slept together. She struggled to regain her composure.

Elio broke the silence and asked softly, "Do you want to plant them?"

Candice nodded in response.

Setting down the bottle of mineral water, Elio walked over to the corner to retrieve a pair of new gardening gloves. As he returned to Candice, she reached out to take them. Elio pulled back slightly and said huskily, "Let me help you with them."

Candice was surprised at first but then held out her hands. Elio carefully slipped the gloves onto her hands, his actions deliberate yet marked by noticeable tension. "Your hands are quite small," he commented, his soft voice pulled at her heart.

Candice looked down at her hands. She had never considered them small, but they seemed tiny next to Elio's.

After he had fitted the gloves on her

hands, Elio went to get the

gardening tools. He secretly let out a nervous breath. His breath was

uneven just from touching Candice's hands.

Yet this was minor compared to when he had climbed into her bed. That had been the most nerve-wracking experience of his life.

Candice glanced at the ill-fitting green rubber gloves on her hands and smiled joyfully. In a playful tone, she asked, "Elio, do my hands look like a frog's webbed feet?"

The affectionate way she said his

name made Elio's heart skip a beat.

He glanced at her gloves before his attention was captured by her radiant smile-warm like sunshine and breathtakingly beautiful.

Her smile and casual remark deeply touched Elio, softening his reserved demeanor. He found himself smiling back and said, "Yeah, they do look a bit alike."

Chapter 886

Chapter 886

Chapter 886

Candice was captivated by Elio's smile, a sight she realized she had never witnessed before. His smile was faint yet seemed to cast a magical spell.

Elio was typically reserved and aloof. It made Candice hope he would smile more often. As she pulled from her thoughts, she met his piercing gaze. She quickly lowered her head and crouched down to pick up some seedlings.

"Let's begin. Where do you think we should plant these?" Candice asked.

Elio approached her and said, "I'll follow your lead."

His simple words warmed Candice, sending a flutter straight to her heart. Even so, she tried to keep her composure and focused on planning the garden's layout.

Elio listened carefully as she explained her ideas.

Mila stood on the second-floor balcony, secretly watching the garden with a growing smile.

Nathan quietly approached and gently wrapped his arms around her from behind. He whispered in her ear, "What are you looking at?"

Leaning back against Nathan's chest, Mila sighed softly. "Elio has feelings for Candice. What should we do about it?"

"Candice is both beautiful and kind. It's only natural for Elio to fall for her," Nathan replied casually.

"Are you against it?" Mila asked.

"I'll follow Candice's decision. I won't interfere if she returns his feelings. Otherwise, I won't allow Elio to get close to her."

Mila turned to look at him.

With a tone of seriousness, Nathan added, "This isn't my opinion alone. It's the opinion of our entire family. We respect Candice's feelings."

Mila sighed in relief. "That makes things simpler. Now, it all depends on Candice's feelings."

"Stop worrying about the young ones now. Come and spend some time with me," Nathan said, taking her hand and leading her back into the room.

Mila smiled helplessly. Nathan's affectionate nature endured despite the years.

Whenever he had time off, he preferred to stay home with her, enjoying activities like cooking, watching movies, playing chess, resting, sharing affectionate moments, and exercising,

He always made sure to include Mila in everything he did. Yet Mila was someone who preferred stillness. She loved to spend her free time quietly immersed in a book.

Candice meticulously planted each seedling in the garden, and together with Elio, they watered the new plants. The perfect weather lifted her spirits.

Elio's frequent smiles throughout the day showcased his lighter side. "Take a rest inside, Candice. I'll tidy up the tools," he suggested cheerfully, apparently in a good mood.

Yet, Candice decided to help him in putting the tools away. Suddenly, a bell chimed. They both looked toward the large iron gate.

The butler quickly opened it, and Josie entered, carrying a basket of strawberries. Her smile was bright, and her expression was warm as she approached.

"Leo, Candice, you're both here?" Josie greeted them cheerfully.

Elio remained silent. Candice managed a smile and took a small step away from Elio. "Yes, I'm helping Aunt Chubs with her garden."

Josie lifted the basket she was carrying. "We had a bountiful strawberry harvest back home. My dad sent me to deliver some to Mr. and Mrs. Morrison. Why don't both of you come inside and try some with us?"

"Sure, thank you, Josie," Candice replied politely, placing the gardening tools down and following Josie toward the main house.

Elio stayed back to tidy up the tools.

As the two women walked together, Josie asked, "Candice, have you kept in touch with that guy you went to the movies with last time?"

Candice gave a small smile. "He's my friend's brother, and we haven't really stayed in contact."

Chapter 887

"Are you not interested in him?" Josie asked.

"We're not in the kind of relationship you're imagining," Candice explained.

Josie simply smiled and remained silent.

After entering the villa, she handed the basket of strawberries to the maid before settling on the couch with Candice. While Candice sat upright with formal poise, Josie lounged with ease as if she owned the place.

"My dad and Mr. Morrison have been close friends for years. I practically grew up here, running around as a kid," Josie said casually.

Candice looked puzzled. "With Uncle Nathan and Aunt Chubs so often away, how did you manage to visit?"

"Leo brought me here," Josie explained with a hint of pride. "He always tried to escape his parents' strict rules. He'd stay here for a few days whenever he felt suffocated at home."

She pointed at one of the rooms on the upper floor and added, "See that room up there? That's our secret hideout."

Candice followed the direction where Josie pointed. Any adult would immediately grasp the implication of a room being called a secret hideout.

Lowering her head, Candice forced a smile through her conflicting feelings of envy and discomfort. "So, you and Leo have been close since childhood," she commented, trying to sound indifferent.

Just then, Josie turned and noticed Elio was coming in. Seizing the moment, she said, "Isn't it similar to you and Mervyn? Your fathers were both comrades and colleagues. You practically grew up side by side with him, like childhood sweethearts."

Candice nodded in agreement.

"Mervyn has feelings for you, too," Josie added.

Candice was taken aback. She mulled over Josie's words, puzzled. Why had Josie suddenly mentioned that? And why the word "too"? What was Josie implying?

Unbeknownst to Candice, Elio stood just behind, his expression darkening. He lingered silently for a moment before turning to ascend the stairs. All he wanted to do was to retreat to his room, shower, and change into something clean.

As Elio's footsteps echoed up the staircase, Candice turned to find him already returned. Just then, the maid arrived with a plate of freshly washed strawberries. She set it down on the coffee table.

"Candice, try one," Josie urged, offering her a large strawberry. "They're sweet and fragrant."

With a faint smile, Candice said, "Sure, thank you."

As Candice took a bite, Josie rose and remarked, "Feel free to help yourself. I'll be back in a moment."

"Okay," Candice replied, still nibbling on the strawberry. Her gaze followed Josie as she headed upstairs toward the room she dubbed her secret hideout with Elio.

The sweetness in Candice's mouth turned inexplicably bitter. She lost her appetite and sank back into the couch, waiting silently.

Time crawled agonizingly slowly. Her heart throbbed with pain, each wave more intense than the last. The

agony grew unbearable as the minutes stretched on.

Candice was uncertain what or whom she was waiting for. The only certainty was the unbearable pain. She didn't want to endure the waiting any longer, so she left Sudvilla with a heavy heart.

Elio emerged from the bathroom to find Josie seated on his couch in his room. His expression darkened with anger. "What are you doing in my room?" he demanded.

Josie offered a slight smile and explained, "I was downstairs alone and got bored, so I thought I'd come up for a chat."

Elio grew anxious. "Alone?"

"Yeah, Candice just left."

Elio dropped the towel he was holding, hurried out of his room, and dashed down the stairs. He burst out of the villa, scanning the surroundings from the entrance. But Candice was nowhere to be seen.

Josie stood by the railing on the second-floor corridor, gazing downward with a smirk, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Chapter 888

Josie was certain that Candice didn't stand a chance of stealing Elio away.

Elio caused a commotion as he rushed down the stairs, prompting Mila and Nathan to emerge from their room, where they unexpectedly met Josie.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Morrison," Josie greeted them with a polite nod.

"Josie?" Furrowing her brow, Mila asked, "What brings you here?"

"My dad sent me to bring you some strawberries," Josie replied.

"Thank you," Mila responded politely, then turned to look downstairs.

She noticed Elio trudging back to the living room. He flopped down on the couch, shut his eyes, and sank back. He looked drained, but it was apparent that his weariness wasn't merely physical.

"Where's Candice?" Mila asked.

"Candice had to leave for something," Josie answered.

Mila fell silent as she pieced things together. She knew Candice too well.

Candice would have at least said goodbye if she had left under normal circumstances. She would never leave without a word.

"Make yourself at home." Mila's tone turned icy. She pulled Nathan back into their room.

Josie savored her moment of triumph, feeling quite pleased with herself. She headed downstairs to comfort Elio. However, as she reached the first floor, Elio abruptly grabbed his coat and stormed out of Sudvilla.

"Leo..." Josie called out nervously, chasing after him.

Elio jumped into his car and sped off. Josie tried to catch up, but it was futile. Frustrated, she stomped her foot hard on the ground.

The days that followed were quiet, yet Candice remained blissful, buoyed by the love of her family. She was never overly sentimental. She focused on staying happy and content.

Despite the heartache and disappointment caused by her thoughts of Elio, she never regretted falling in love with him or continuing to harbor a secret crush on him.

At work, Vanessa often asked Candice, "What do you think of my brother? Is there really no chance between you two?"

When Candice got home, her cousins bombarded her with questions, concerned she might be facing mistreatment at work.

It was evening, and the sky was painted with colorful clouds. As Candice walked out of her office building, she spotted a familiar car and a familiar face-Jasper.

Curious, she approached him and asked, "Jasper, why have you been picking me up lately? Where's the usual driver?"

Jasper caressed her head and softly replied, "Per my mother's instructions, I'll be the one driving you to

and from work for the foreseeable future."

"But why?" Candice was puzzled.

"Because I'm on a mission," Jasper said with a faint smile.

4M

Candice chuckled in response. They climbed into the car, buckled their seatbelts, and drove off. Candice rested her forehead against the window, her gaze distant and melancholic as the landscape blurred past.

Jasper watched her for a moment before breaking the silence. "Candice, there won't be a wedding next month."

Confused, Candice turned to face him. "What do you mean?"

"Uncle Elio isn't getting married," Jasper explained, his voice tinged with resignation. "It's caused quite the strain with Grandma."

"Wasn't he deeply in love with Josie? Why is he refusing to marry her now?"

Jasper shook his head and sighed. "No one really knows what's on his mind."

Chapter 889

Chapter 889

Jasper drove back to Morrison Residence. He allowed Candice to get out of the car before he parked it.

Candice slipped into a pair of fluffy slippers at the entrance, where a maid approached to take her bag. "Ms. Candice, we have a guest," the maid informed her. "Oh, thank you," Candice replied, handing over her bag absentmindedly.

Her thoughts were elsewhere as she entered the living room. There, she was greeted by the familiar faces of Gary, Florence, Daniel, Sienna, Taylor, and Tobias. Candice announced cheerfully, "Everyone, I'm back."

Everyone turned toward her, including the guest. Candice halted her step, and her smile froze as she stared at Elio-the last person she expected to meet. The Morrisons were a large family. Daniel and Sienna resided at Maple Abode, Nathan and Mila at Sudvilla, while Duke and Daphne lived independently. Each of Candice's cousins chose to live separately from their parents. Candice, however, preferred the lively atmosphere of staying with Gary and Florence. "Candice, you're back?"

"Have a seat, Candice."

"Look who's here, Candice. Come say hello."

Candice felt a buzzing in her ears, and a wave of nervousness washed over her. As she approached Elio, she noticed his deep, intent gaze fixed quietly on her.

She was unsure how to greet him, feeling a mix of guilt and embarrassment, with the latter dominating her emotions. She was concerned about offending her family by using Elio's first name, yet she knew he disliked being called "Mr. Hoffis".

After a moment's thought, Candice simply said, "Hello."

Sienna frowned disapprovingly. "Candice, why didn't you address him as Mr. Hoffis?"

Candice pouted and took a seat next to Sienna, looking visibly upset. "Mom, he doesn't like it when I call him that."

The room fell silent, and everyone was surprised. Elio responded calmly, "Yes, that was my request. Please, don't blame Candice."

Sienna and Daniel exchanged knowing looks while Gary asked, "Then, what should she call you?"

"Just call me Elio," Elio suggested.

Florence quickly added, "Yes, since you two are nearly the same age, why not just call him Elio like the rest of us instead of Mr. Hoffis?"

Elio nodded in agreement.

With a smile, Florence said, "Candice, there's no need to call him Mr. Hoffis and be so formal. It only makes you two seem more distant. Just call him Elio."

"Okay, Grandma," Candice responded meekly. Then, she greeted Elio sweetly, "Hello, Elio."

Elio didn't respond verbally but

nodded slightly, a small, embarrassed smile spreading. across his face. With Candice joining them, the conversation picked up where it had left off.

"Why the sudden change, Elio?" Daniel asked.

"It wasn't a sudden decision to call off the wedding. My mom announced the wedding at the banquet without my consent, organized the wedding, and even sent out invitations—all without consulting me," Elio explained.

Candice stared at Elio in shock, her mind reeling. Had she heard him correctly?

Florence sighed. "Your mother is a

wonderful woman in many ways but her controlling nature can be overwhelming. She insists on dictating your life according to her

plans."

"I learned from Jasper that you all had started preparing a lavish wedding gift for me. I felt I needed to come in person to explain and apologize," Elio said regretfully.

Gary waved his hand in response. "No, no, there's no need for all that. We're all family here. A simple phone call would have sufficed."

"Yeah. It's a shame, though. You and Cameron's daughter seemed like a good match," Taylor added.

"So, you're not planning to marry Josie after all those years with her?" Sienna asked.

Chapter 890

Chapter 890

Candice felt her hands sweating from nervousness as soon as the question was asked. She clenched her fists and lowered her head. She couldn't meet Elio's gaze, yet her ears remained sharply attuned to his voice.

After stealing a glance at Candice, Elio thought for a moment before saying, "Josie isn't my girlfriend."

"What?" Everyone fell into stunned silence.

Candice looked up, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at Elio in disbelief. Her reaction was so over the top that Elio almost laughed. He found her astonishment adorable and struggled to keep a straight face.

With a frown, Daniel asked, "What's the matter?"

Elio turned to Daniel and explained with a polite tone, "My mom was pressuring me to find a girlfriend back then. Out of desperation, I convinced my best friend to pose as one. We kept up the act for so long that everyone believed we were actually together."

"Why did you stop pretending?"

"My mom found out."

"That explains it."

Candice was dumbfounded, her mouth slightly agape in surprise. An unexpected sense of joy flooded her. The dilemma that had troubled her was resolved, and she sighed in relief.

So, Elio and Josie were never a couple. That meant Candice's relationship with Elio hadn't compromised her values. And the person she was interested in wasn't taken after all.

"Uncle Elio," Jasper called out as he entered the living room.

Elio looked up to find Jasper beaming while taking a seat beside him. Turning to the group, Jasper said, "Grandma Michaela is really something else. She's downright terrifying. I even have nightmares about her. Poor Uncle Elio had to grow up under her strict rule."

Florence glared at Jasper and scolded him, "Jasper, that's no way to talk."

Jasper furrowed his brow and sighed. "Grandma, I'm just being honest. Dad told me Mom didn't really have a childhood. All she ever did was study non-stop.

"Thankfully, Mom's a natural genius. That made her studies manageable, and she even became a researcher. Uncle Elio, though, wasn't as fortunate. He—"

Before Jasper could continue, Elio

gently patted his hand, signaling him to stop. Jasper caught the hint and swiftly skifted the conversation. "You know, I stayed with her dur my summer vacation for two weeks, and it was a complete nightmare. I swear I'll never do that again."

He shuddered at the memory, continuing, "Every day started at 5:30 am. had exactly 15 minutes for breakfast, which was always a timer and strictly portioned.

couldn't even pick what I wanted to eat Right after breakfast, it was

straight into lessons.

"I couldn't even take bathroom breaks longer than ten minutes. Oh my goodness, it was non-stop studying, reading, and writing. Lunch and dinner were half an hour each. I didn't get to shower and wind down until 11:00 pm."

Unable to contain her disbelief, Sienna laughed. "Jasper, you must be exaggerating, right?"

"Not at all. Those two weeks were a total nightmare," Jasper responded earnestly.

With a smile, Florence said, "I remember that year. Your grades improved dramatically, jumping over 30 spots to rank you within the top 50 of your grade."

"But at what cost? It wasn't worth sacrificing my life for those grades."

Florence gave him a loving smile paired with a playful glare. "Such nonsense," she said.

While the others continued to chat and laugh, Candice experienced a wave of sadness. She observed Elio with compassion, her heart heavy as she began to understand the reasons behind his reserved nature and rare smiles.

She pondered how some people might need a lifetime to recover from childhood traumas. Having grown up in a joyful and carefree environment herself, she struggled to comprehend the depth of his pain.

Despite coming from the wealthiest

family that provided money more than one could hope to earn in

several lifetimes, Elio's childhoodet

was marred by rigorous and relentless academic demands, robbing him of the joy and carefree experiences one might expect.

It seemed that each family had its own approach to education.

As Elio listened to Jasper recounting his tale, his eyes unintentionally met Candice's, who returned his gaze with a deep and thoughtful expression.