The Wrong Woman

However, Sienna still mustered the courage to respond gently, "I love you too, Honey."

Sienna's daughter was named Candice, a name given by Florence.

Initially, Gary and his sons all vied to name the little girl, but amidst the fervor of discussion, none of their suggestions gained traction. Instead, Florence's spontaneous suggestion was accepted. Thus, she became Candice, or simply Candy. She was the darling of the family, showered with boundless love by all.

From a tender age, Candice was bright, sweet-natured, and exceptionally adorable.

When she started kindergarten, the entire family rallied to give her a grand enrollment ceremony. The celebration was so extravagant that it startled her teachers.

Several imposing men, holding banners and gifts of flowers and lollipops, played instruments at the kindergarten gate, making a spectacular scene.

Long after Candice had entered, they lingered outside, reluctant to depart. Upon inquiry, it turned out these enthusiastic family members were Candice's grandfather, father, and uncles.

It was said that distant relations were close kin. Yet, her closest companions were her elder cousins, who doted on her excessively, sometimes leading to bouts of jealousy and all sorts of quarrels.

If questioned, Candice would lament the burden of overwhelming love, often leaving her feeling troubled.

It was then on Candice's tenth birthday that her fourth cousin brother, Jasper, introduced her to a melancholic and strikingly handsome young man.

"Candice, meet my uncle, Elio!" Jasper declared.

Elio was Mila's younger brother and heir to the wealthiest family in Norvania. He was different from others, disliking Candice and finding her bothersome. He deliberately avoided her during his visits to Jasper. However, upon their initial encounter, Candice found herself drawn to Elio's charm and melancholic demeanor.

After Zach's passing, the

responsibility of the Hoffis family'sNôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

business fell upon Tristan and

Michaela Consumed by their duties for their huge family business, they neglected Elio, leaving him to navigate childhood in loneliness. en.s.net

With numerous children in the Morrison family, all around Elio's age, he found solace in their company He often visited and hung out with Jasper. Given Jasper's familiarity with Elio, the other children followed suit, addressing him as an uncle. en.s.net

Candice was ten years old back then while Elio was 15, and she developed an admiration for him upon first sight.

At the age of 12, Candice joined Jasper and Elio for a climbing expedition. Candice was bitten by a snake, and despite the danger, Elio risked his safety to suck out the venom. In the end, both of them ended up being poisoned.

Fortunately, most of the venom in her body was extracted and the situation wasn't dire. Elio and Candice were hospitalized, treated, and eventually recovered, sparing them from the harrowing ordeal.

By the age of 15, Elio was 20. He

ventured into college and got into a relationship: He deliberately introduced his girlfriend to Candice, prompting Candice to hide her tears in her quilt, her eyes swollen from the silent weeping. en.s.net

She dared not tell anyone that she had secretly admired Elio for five years. Alarmed by her swollen eyes, her family rushed her to the hospital for a comprehensive examination.

At 20, Elio was 25. While Elio embarked on further studies abroad, Candice pursued her university education.

The boy she had secretly admired for ten years left Norvania. Candice felt like her world had crumbled and she felt muddled every day. Whenever she thought of Elio, she would secretly cry.

Enduring two more years of heartache, she stepped into her twenty-second year, ready to embrace adulthood and a career. Unexpectedly, she crossed paths with Elio once more. It turned out, Elio was back and he was her boss.