Chapter 123 She Can Only Be My Wife
Finnian naturally noticed Brandon's meaningful look.
He immediately went along with it, saying, "Right! You're still willing to get close to women, but only to one particular woman, isn't that right?"
As they talked, Candice clearly felt Finnian's gaze fall on her.
She suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable.
What Finnian was implying—it sounded like he was saying Brandon only got close to her?
Opal sensed her discomfort, glared at the two of them, and interrupted, "Alright, stop talking nonsense. There are kids here. Are you planning to be a bad influence on them? Hurry up and eat, or I'll teach you a lesson!"
Then she looked at Candice to reassure her, "Candice, don't mind him. Finnian always talks nonsense."
Candice nodded and replied casually, "Don't worry, Mrs. Obelon. It's just a joke. I didn't take it to heart."
"It's not really a joke though."
Brandon said quietly from the side.
Candice asked, "What?"
She looked at him in surprise.
But Brandon's expression was natural, as if he hadn't said anything at all.
Was she hearing things?
Opal was close enough to hear and chuckled, then called out to Candice, "Good that you didn't take it to heart. Come, this soup is very fresh, have some more."
Candice didn't refuse her kindness.
With Finnian there, the atmosphere at the dinner table became much livelier.
After dinner, Finnian took Elijah and Yasmin to the car to get the toys he had bought abroad.
Then he took them to play in the yard.
Candice stayed inside with Opal to make coffee.
Candice was skilled, and the coffee she made was very fragrant.
She had specially added some spices that had a calming effect.
It had been a long time since Opal had coffee like this.
Now tasting this flavor again, she felt nostalgic.
She said admiringly, "This is exactly it! After you left, no one else had this skill. I haven't had coffee that tastes like this in years."
Candice also remembered the days when they used to make coffee together.
She smiled and said, "It's actually quite simple, just the brewing order and timing are a bit particular, so the taste comes out different."
Opal nodded, and after drinking more than half a cup, she continued, "Candice, can I ask you something?"
Candice wasn't on guard and replied casually, "Sure, go ahead."
Opal glanced at the figures in the yard and lowered her voice to ask, "You said tonight that Yasmin is your relative's child. What's the story with this relative?"
Candice hadn't expected Opal to ask about this. Her expression froze for a moment, and she fell silent.
She seemed to be hesitating about whether to say anything.
Seeing this, Opal understood her concerns.
She didn't press her, saying, "I'm just asking casually, no particular reason. If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine."
Candice came back to herself. There was nothing to hide really, as long as she didn't reveal the Mortimer family's identity.
So she spoke up, "It's a relative from my biological parents' side."
"What?"
Both Opal and Brandon beside her looked at her in surprise.
The former asked directly, "Biological parents? You found your biological parents?"
Candice nodded, "Yes, I found them."
Hearing this answer, Opal seemed to breathe a huge sigh of relief, her face showing a relieved expression as she said, "That's wonderful. So you found your biological parents. Have you been living with them all these years?"
"Not really."
Candice shook her head, "Back then, after I left here, I was busy with my studies, and later busy with work. I haven't spent much time with them!"
Hearing this, Opal assumed that Candice's biological parents' financial situation might not be very good.
Or perhaps after being separated for so many years, their relationship was rather distant, with some emotional barriers.
It seemed Candice hadn't had it particularly easy these years.
Otherwise, why would a young woman push herself so hard and work so tirelessly?
Without support, one has to work hard to become better.
Opal couldn't help but hold Candice's hand and say, "You've had a hard time all these years."
Candice felt her concern, smiled, and said, "No, it hasn't been that hard."
Opal sighed, "How could it not be hard? When Brandon divorced you, it was so hasty, and then you disappeared without a trace. I was always worried, afraid something had happened to you.
That day in the private room, seeing you become so successful, I felt relieved. But thinking about it now, the Obelon family has really wronged you!"
Candice hadn't expected Opal to bring this up.
She paused, then said in a very casual tone, "Mrs. Obelon, it's all in the past. We don't need to bring those things up again. I'm doing fine now!"
Opal could hear the subtle resistance in her words.
She understood clearly.
How could what happened back then really be easily forgotten?
The Elikin family, who arranged marriage, and that "attempted murder" charge still hanging over her head—all of these were tremendous harm to Candice.
Opal regretted bringing this up.
She adjusted her emotions and changed the subject, "Candice, I talked too much. You're right, those unpleasant things are in the past. But I still really like you.
Even though you're not my granddaughter-in-law, you can be my granddaughter! Some people have no judgment, and they deserve to be without a wife!
But you're so wonderful, you deserve someone excellent to match you. I wonder what kind of man you like? Tell me, I can help you look around!"
Everything Opal said showed she was on Candice's side.
After listening, Candice found it oddly amusing.
How did the conversation suddenly turn to introducing her to boyfriends?
Brandon, on the side, hadn't expected Opal to pull this move either.
He couldn't help but frown, looking at Opal, trying to warn her with his eyes not to meddle.
But Opal didn't even glance at him, looking at Candice with great enthusiasm!
"Don't underestimate me. Although I'm old and don't socialize much, I have many good old friends. Their grandsons are quite excellent, and there's bound to be someone suitable for you!"
Opal assured Candice.
As if the moment she nodded, Opal could immediately arrange for people to come for her to choose from.
Candice laughed and quickly stopped her, "Mrs. Obelon, I'm not looking for a boyfriend right now. Work is too busy."
Opal said, "That's fine, I'm not asking you to start dating right away. We can start looking around first. But even if you don't say it, I probably know what kind of man you like!
Definitely someone handsome, career-driven, responsible to his family, and who can truly care for you, right? Don't worry, I'll keep an eye out for you, and if there's someone suitable, I'll let you know."
Candice didn't know how to respond to what Opal was saying.
Brandon watched this sudden turn of events, his face darkening.
Finally, he couldn't stand it anymore and spoke up, "Grandma, you shouldn't be lacking granddaughters, right? You already have four granddaughters—isn't that enough? Candice doesn't want to be your granddaughter!"
"That's not for you to decide!"
Opal said disapprovingly, "Why are you interrupting for no reason?"
"Of course it's for me to decide!"
Brandon's words were domineering.
If Candice was going to have any connection with the Obelon family in this lifetime, it could only be as his wife, as Elijah's mother!
There was no other possibility!