Candice hung her head, her voice barely above a whisper as she uttered sadly, "I'm pregnant."Elio's heart skipped a beat at her revelation; excitement electrified every nerve and fiber of his being.He sprang up from his seat, almost feeling the urge to jump up and shout at the top of his lungs to release the excitement coursing through him. Yet, he managed to rein in his emotions.Candice was carrying his baby? Was he really going to be the father to Candice's child? It felt surreal, like a dream. He struggled to contain the overwhelming happiness within him.His reaction startled Candice. She glanced up and noticed his clenched fists, his back turned toward her, and his head tilted upward. She struggled to decipher his emotions.Was he, like her, grappling with the harshness of reality? Or did he share her sense of being lost and uncertain about the next steps?Candice had steeled herself for this conversation. Softly, she said, "Don't worry. I'm not here to force any responsi
Candice's heart thudded in her ears, threatening to break free. Her big, doe-like eyes were fixed on Elio, her mind reeling. The thought of Elio proposing was irresistibly enticing and she was bewildered by the sudden turn of events.Elio leaned forward, gracefully dropping to one knee while gently taking her hand. The gesture was so unexpected that Candice instinctively retreated, pressing herself against the couch as she stared at him in utter disbelief.Down on one knee, Elio gripped her hand firmly. His eyes were earnest and intense as he looked up at her. In a voice that was both tender and urgent, he asked, "Candice, will you marry me?"Candice was stunned. The thought that Elio would propose solely for the sake of their child overwhelmed her with a mix of joy and concern. With a hesitant tone, she replied, "Our families won't agree to this.""As long as you say yes, I'll handle everything else," Elio stated.Candice couldn't bear the thought of anything harming the child sh
What kind of photo is it that she mustn't see? Is it another woman? Feeling her patience wane, Candice said, "I'm going back now." Elio approached her and remarked, "I'll go with you and explain everything to your family." "No, you can't." Candice quickly stopped him, her nerves showing. "Let me first see how they feel about it. We can decide based on that." "No matter the situation or the outcome, I'm willing to bear it all alone. You don't have to worry about me," Elio reassured her. Worrying there might be unforeseen events, he was anxious to solidify their relationship and get the marriage certificate so he could finally be at ease. "There's no need to rush. Let's take it slow. I'll persuade my family, and you can do the same with yours. Is that okay?" Candice asked. Still, Elio was worried that something might go wrong. However, he couldn't be too hasty and risk scaring Candice, as it might potentially ruin everything. "Okay, I'll follow your lead." Candice curious
Josie looked somewhat taken aback. "Candice, you're here too?" Elio asked, "Is there something you need to talk to me about?" Josie forced a smile. "I wanted to discuss our wedding next month. Mrs. Hoffis has been pressuring me, and I had no idea what to do. I thought we could talk it over." Candice felt a wave of anxiety washing over her, and she nervously clenched her fists. Turning to Candice, Josie smiled and asked, "Candice, I wish to talk to Leo for a moment. Could you…?" Candice quickly responded, "I have something to attend to. You two talk, I'll head out." Just as she finished her words and was about to leave, Elio grabbed her wrist. "You don't need to go. Stay and listen." Candice was stunned.Josie's face darkened, and she said in embarrassment, "Leo, this isn't appropriate. This is between the two of us. Candice is an outsider." Elio replied solemnly, "She's not an outsider. She's my wife." Candice was shocked by his words. Josie was even more so. Both
Josie offered a wry smile, her gaze shifting to Candice, who sat quietly, absorbing the conversation. "Candice, you know, in terms of family hierarchy, you should call Leo 'uncle.' If you two end up together, how will your families cope? How will Aunt Chubs face such a complicated relationship?" she asked. The question caught Candice off guard. Before she could respond, Elio interjected angrily, "Are you here to cause trouble right in front of me?" Quickly, Josie defended herself, "As a friend, I'm just curious about how Candice plans to handle this. How is that causing trouble?" "This is between Candice and me. We'll figure it out. Focus on your issues. If you're done talking, you can leave," Elio said firmly. Josie's smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression. "Elio, our relationship might have been fake, but our years of friendship are real, aren't they?" "What are you trying to say?" Elio asked. "I'm advising you as a friend. Candice and you are never goin
Elio replied, "I don't want to wait anymore. Let me handle this." "No, no, I'll take care of it," Candice insisted. Three days later, just as Candice mustered the courage to come clean with her family, she noticed blood. Terrified, she rushed to the hospital, fearing a miscarriage. However, it turned out to be her period. Sitting before the doctor, Candice listened as she explained that sometimes pregnancy tests could be inaccurate and the only way to be sure was through a medical examination. It turned out to be a false alarm.While not being pregnant should have brought relief, Candice felt an inexplicable sense of sadness. What saddened her most was that her dream of marrying Elio was now shattered. There was no chance of a shotgun wedding. She didn't know how to explain this to Elio. Whenever Elio texted her, she chose to avoid him. A week passed quickly. In the design department, Sean personally went to find Candice, addressing her respectfully, "Ms. Morrison, Mr
"Why are you in my room?" Nervously, Candice urged him to leave. "You need to go. If my family finds out you sneaked in here, we'll be in trouble." Elio paid no heed to her warnings. Even if faced with imminent danger, he would get his closure. "I gave you time, Candice. You were supposed to talk to your family about our marriage." Elio's disappointment ran deep, his eyes reflecting a melancholic hue. "I just spoke to your grandparents, and it was clear you hadn't mentioned anything." "I…" Candice faltered. Elio lowered his head, closing the distance between them, his warm breath brushing against her skin, leaving her unsettled. His magnetic voice echoed, "Do you not wish to marry me?" Candice knew that deceiving Elio into marriage was wrong. It would only lead to more lies, leaving her feeling empty. "I'm sorry, Elio. I'm not pregnant." Elio felt as if a dagger had pierced his chest, making each breath a struggle. Candice lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry. It wasn't intention
Candice dashed downstairs, positioning herself at the corner of the staircase, and called out to Elio's departing form, "Elio, let's get married!" Her voice rang out clearly through the house. The once lively living room fell silent in an instant as if struck by a bombshell. All eyes turned to Candice; shocked expressions etched on everyone's faces. The entire household stood frozen in stunned silence. Elio's body froze in place, trembling. Initially, he thought he misheard, but the collective astonishment confirmed the reality of Candice's words. His heart raced uncontrollably. Turning to face Candice, Elio found her smiling sweetly, her eyes sparkling with joy, radiating a carefree demeanor as if she were a carefree child who could ignore everything as long as Elio liked her and wanted to marry her. She could bravely approach him. Candice repeated, "Elio, let's get married." Tears welled up in Elio's eyes. He mustered a light smile and nodded in agreement, declaring, "