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Chapter 18 Tonight Is Candice’s Doomsday
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Chapter 18 Tonight Is Candice’s Doomsday
Caroline Jenkins heard her silence and gave a light cough.
“Seven o’clock tonight. If you don’t show up, we stick to the previous agreement–ten billion.”
With that, she hung up without waiting for a reply.
Candice slowly lowered her phone, staring at the screen, deep in thought.
Sophia’s warning echoed in her mind–was Caroline really going to stir up trouble in the final two days?
She had never gotten along with Caroline. From the beginning, Caroline had looked down on her family background,
obstructed her relationship with Kyle, refused to let her live in the Jackson household even after the wedding, and would
throw cold jabs and veiled insults whenever she visited during the holidays.
That said, she hadn’t done anything overtly malicious… yet.
This invitation was likely just another attempt to reassert control–to intimidate her and seal the final compensation
agreement.
Candice was still debating whether to go, but an hour later, Jim sent another message:
“Miss Hale, what do you think?”
“…Seriously?”
Candice pursed her lips.
What was with the follow–up?
If it weren’t too rude, she would’ve just dropped the suit off with the building’s property manager. After all, Charlie lived right upstairs.
After some thought, she realized ignoring them any further might not be wise. Offending Charlie wouldn’t do her any
favors.
Maybe she could return the suit and meet with Caroline at the same time?
With a decision made, she replied to Jim:
“Alright. What time works best?”
Jim quickly responded:
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Chapter 18 Tonight Is Candice’s Doomsday
“8 o’clock.”
Candice put on light makeup and changed outfits before heading to her parents‘ place.
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Ever since Kyle showed up outside her complex, she’d been certain she was being followed. Over the past few days, she’d
noticed a suspicious car lingering near the villa, which only confirmed her suspicion.
She hadn’t been driving long when Kyle called.
“Taking a nap?”
Hah. Digging a hole for her to fall in.
Candice scoffed inwardly.
“I’m driving. Heading to my parents‘.”
“To drop off the suit?”
“…Yeah.”
She glanced at the suit on the passenger seat.
Kyle didn’t press further, sensing she wasn’t lying. Still, he instructed the people tailing her to continue surveillance
near her parents‘ home.
Candice arrived at her parents‘ apartment complex.
Both retired university professors, only her mother, Margaret Smith, was home at the time. Seeing her arrive in the
middle of the day, her mother looked surprised.
“Not working today?”
“Took the day off. Slight cold,” Candice replied, lightly touching her throat and faking a couple of coughs.
Margaret touched her daughter’s face gently.
“You don’t take care of yourself. Look how much weight you’ve lost. Kyle’s not treating you well, is he?”
Mothers know their daughters–no matter how much Candice tried to hide, Margaret could still sense something was
off.
“If he isn’t, I’ll just divorce him,” Candice said lightly, joking.
Margaret fell silent.
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Chapter 18 Tonight Is Candice’s Doomsday
Candice quickly changed the subject and chatted about other things.
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She planned to tell her parents about the divorce only after everything was finalized–no point in making them sad
ahead of time.
After dinner, she changed again and told them she was meeting a friend and would spend the night there.
In the elevator, she put on a mask and a hat, slipping out of the complex under the watchful eyes of her stalkers.
She arrived at the Hotel just before seven.
The exterior was antique and elegant, while the interior oozed low–key luxury.
Candice dropped the suit at the front desk, then called Caroline Jenkins.
“I’m here.”
A hotel staff member soon came to guide her through a maze of corridors until they arrived at a private room. The door
was opened for her.
Inside was a tea room, the air thick with the mingled scents of tea and jasmine.
Caroline Jenkins sat regally in a dark green silk dress, radiating the poise of wealth and power.
“Sit,” she said with a tilt of her chin.
“I thought we were here to sign the compensation agreement. Where is it?” Candice sat down and got straight to the point–she had no patience for pretense.
“What’s the rush? Have some tea first. Let’s talk,” Caroline said coolly.
Candice raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
She picked up the teacup and examined it carefully.
“Wouldn’t have put poison in this, would you?”
Caroline let out a short laugh.
“If you’re that paranoid, don’t drink it.”
Candice calmly set the cup down and pushed it away.
“Good idea. Probably safer.”
((
…
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Chapter 18 Tonight Is Candice’s Doomsday
Caroline gave a fake laugh, clearly annoyed, and prepared to launch into her usual insults.
“You really are-”
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“Alright, enough with the broken record. Aren’t you tired of this act? Let’s stick to business,” Candice cut her off
mercilessly.
Caroline’s face darkened with rage.
She took out the agreement and shoved it across the table.
“Sign it.”
Candice picked it up and flipped through it page by page.
For a simple compensation contract, a single page would’ve sufficed. This thing ran ten pages long, full of useless filler. Obviously meant to overwhelm her.
She finished reading and put the contract down casually.
“I’ll review this with my lawyer and give you an answer by noon tomorrow. How’s that?”
“If something’s off, just tell me. I’ll revise it.”
“Oh? So I can change it now? Why don’t I just redraft it entirely?”
“Absolutely not. It has to be my version.” Caroline’s tone turned icy.
Candice leaned back lazily in her chair.
“Didn’t you just say you’d make changes if I asked? Now you’re saying it has to be your way. What does that mean?”
“It means,” Caroline said, voice hard, “you’re not leaving until you sign it.”
Candice didn’t get angry.
She feigned contemplation.
“In that case, let me step out to call my lawyer. If she gives the green light, I’ll sign immediately.”
She stood up, contract in hand, and walked straight out.
The moment she left the room, she quickened her pace, never looking back.
A chilling sense of danger crawled up her spine.
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Chapter 18 Tonight is Candice’s Doomsday
There were clauses hidden deep in that contract that made her scalp prickle–one in particular:
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“If an improper relationship with another man is discovered before divorce is finalized, the agreement is null and void.”
At first glance, it seemed harmless.
But the more she thought about it, the more terrifying it became.
She didn’t have such a relationship–but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be framed.
She had clearly overestimated Caroline Jenkins’s conscience.
Back in the tea room, Caroline pulled out her phone and made a call.
“She left. Took the contract with her. Mia, are you really sure you can help Auntie save this compensation money?”
“Don’t worry, Auntie,” Mia Jones said sweetly.
“I’ve arranged everything. I guarantee the Jackson family won’t have to pay a cent–and she’ll never dare try to extort
you again.”
“Oh, you’re amazing, Mia. I’m counting on you.”
“No problem, Auntie. Leave it to me.”
They hung up.
Caroline took a satisfied sip of her tea, feeling pleased and relaxed.
The thought of announcing Jackson family’s engagement with the Jones family at her charity gala tomorrow–without
any lingering concerns–filled her with delight.
that little tramp Candice?
- h. Caroline didn’t know what Mia had planned, but it would do her some good to suffer a little.
lsewhere, Mia Jones stared down at her phone, eyes gleaming with malice,
Tonight, Candice dies.
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