Candice arrived at the Jackson family estate around 11:40 AM.

 

The butler was quite surprised to see her.

 

He had known another guest was expected, but he hadn’t realized it was the young madam. Considering the fact that Young Master Kyle and Miss Jones were currently in the living room, he instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

 

The only people who knew that Kyle and Candice were married, aside from both families’ parents, were close staff members like Terry and the Jackson family butler.

 

“This way, please,” the butler said, bracing himself to carry out the madam’s orders as he led her in.

 

Before they even reached the living room, a crisp, bell-like voice rang out from inside, coquettishly saying, “I won again. Kyle, were you letting me win?”

 

Candice halted in her tracks.

 

Her mind went momentarily blank, but she quickly pieced it all together.

 

“Heh.”

 

A cold chuckle escaped her lips as she resumed walking.

 

Since she had planned to move some books today, she hadn’t put on any makeup. She wore a simple outfit: a loose white shirt and jeans. Her long, waterfall-like hair was loosely tied back with a ribbon.

 

Even so, her skin was flawless and fair, her eyes bright and her lips red. A few loose strands of hair framed her face, lending a softer, more alluring innocence to her natural beauty.

 

Kyle looked up from the sofa and was visibly shocked when he saw Candice. “Why are you—”

 

“Your mother called me here,” she said calmly, her gaze laced with quiet sarcasm. “Huh? Weren’t you supposed to be in Hong Kong? When did you learn to teleport?”

 

“…”

 

A flash of guilt crossed Kyle’s eyes.

 

Mia Jones got up from the sofa and approached Candice, extending a hand in a taunting manner. “Hi, I’m Mia Jones.”

 

Candice didn’t even glance at her, treating her like air.

 

At that moment, Caroline Jenkins entered from outside.

 

She gave Candice a fleeting glance before warmly taking Mia Jones’s hand. “Mia, did you have fun today? Make yourself at home, alright?”

 

Then, she turned to introduce Candice. “This is Miss Hale, a manager from our company. I have something I need to discuss with her.”

 

Everyone knew Candice was Kyle’s wife. Yet Caroline deliberately introduced her as a company employee, making it obvious she didn’t welcome Candice. It also sent a clear message to Mia Jones: Candice was a nobody, and nothing stood in the way of a union between the Jackson and Jones families.

 

Mia Jones lifted her chin proudly. “So you’re just a company employee.”

 

Candice didn’t look at Mia or Caroline—she only looked at Kyle, silently watching his expression.

 

She wanted to see how he would react.

 

But his face remained cold and expressionless. He didn’t even attempt to clarify her identity.

 

Did he not realize what was happening? No. He knew. He just didn’t care if she was being humiliated.

 

“Mrs. Jenkins, didn’t you want to speak with me? Why not do it right here?” Candice turned to her mother-in-law.

 

“Another time. Since you’re here, stay for lunch.”

 

“No thanks. I have things to do,” Candice said, turning to leave.

 

Caroline Jenkins barked after her, “When an elder asks you to stay for a meal, what kind of attitude is that? Didn’t your parents teach you any manners?”

 

Candice turned back slowly, her gaze clear and cool. “Fine. I’ll stay for lunch. Just don’t regret it.”

 

She was the first to head over and sit down—choosing a single-seat armchair.

 

Mia walked right over to sit beside Kyle, clinging to his arm. “Kyle, let’s keep playing chess.”

 

Kyle pulled his arm away and looked toward Candice.

 

“Miss Hale, do you know how to play?” Mia asked, glancing at Candice.

 

Candice looked at the top-tier jade chess set on the coffee table. But rather than playing Go, they were clearly playing the far simpler Five-in-a-Row. And Kyle had actually lost earlier…

 

It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to coax someone. He just didn’t know how to coax her anymore.

 

She looked up at Kyle, lips curved into a faint, bitter smile. “Yes, I know how. Would you like to play, Miss Jones?”

 

Kyle’s eyes darkened with irritation, a warning glint shining in them.

 

Mia confidently reset the board. “Miss Hale, would you like white or green?”

 

Candice picked up the green pieces. “Green. Suits me.”

 

Kyle: “…”

 

Mia and Caroline had almost started laughing—who insults themselves like that? But a moment later, they realized Candice wasn’t insulting herself—she was insulting them.

 

Mia gritted her teeth and hurried to make the first move.

 

They went back and forth, placing dozens of pieces. Caroline watched Mia make precise, calculated moves while Candice scattered hers with seemingly no logic. Caroline, already biased, shot Kyle a look as if to say: See what a real socialite looks like?

 

Kyle didn’t react at all.

 

As more pieces fell into place, Mia’s mood shifted between excitement and irritation—she kept thinking she had a winning move, only for Candice to block her. Still, neither of them had won yet. At worst, it would be a draw.

 

“Hmph. Even a draw with her is beneath me,” Mia muttered.

 

“It’s your move,” Candice said evenly.

 

Mia had been building toward a sneaky win in a corner—three green pieces already in place. If she got one more, it was over.

 

Trying to appear calm, she placed her fourth and looked at Candice, holding her breath, hoping she wouldn’t catch it.

 

Sure enough, Candice placed her piece somewhere else.

 

Mia instantly lit up and cried out, “I won!”

 

Caroline immediately clapped to celebrate.

 

But the next second, they both froze.

 

Candice’s slender, porcelain-like fingers had already started collecting the pieces from the board.

 

Only then did they notice: Candice’s seemingly random pieces had formed a perfect line of five.

 

Both their faces turned pale instantly.