Chapter4: Connection
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Candy was camped out in the university library to study for her medical school test with her friend, Natalie Beans~, her fellow nurse when she worked in the hospital. Natalie also went back to school to become a doctor. She's married to one of the doctors. They were fast friends now.
"Let me quiz you, Candy. What is the major symptom of a boy who has atopic dermatitis," Natalie tested Candy.
"A-atopic... what?" Candy asked. "Oh no! I will fail!"
"If you start studying and stop looking outside… no you won't." Natalie grinned.
Candy sighed. "Albert is going to a business trip the day after tomorrow for a year…"
"Then that's an acceptable excuse." Natalie put her textbook and looked at Candy sympathetically. "Why won't you go with him?"
"I have my classes…" Candy said gloomily.
"If you married Albert, you'd be busy taking care of the family charity organizations and other social activities anyway. You won't have the time to work as a doctor!"
Candy didn't answer. She didn't want to be a trophy wife. She wanted to make her own name to make Ms. Pony and Sr. Lane proud. Hopefully, it could motivate the children in Pony's Home to work hard and to set high goals in life too.
"Albert will settle down somewhere in Europe you said?" Natalie asked.
"He's thinking of it. But it's not yet decided."
"Oh Candy, what if he's taken by someone else?"
That's so scary, thought Candy.
"Will you move too if he does?" asked Natalie.
"I want to follow him to the end of the world, but the problem is I am not sure what he thinks of me..." Candy paused hesitantly. "I don't know if he wants me…"
"What do you mean? Can you tell from the way he kisses you?"
"We... never kiss."
Natalie gaped. "You two haven't kissed?"
Candy nodded, embarrassed. She looked away to avoid Natalie's eyes. "I like Albert a lot! He's very nice to me - like so so so nice..."
Natalie took Candy's hands and squeezed them. "Then perhaps you should kiss Albert first, dear. Some men are too gentlemanic and traditional, you know."
"K-kiss Albert?" squeaked Candy at the unexpected idea.
"Why not?" Natalie nodded firmly. "It's not that you never kissed anyone before. You kissed that actor!" She chuckled. "How is he doing? Terry is it? Any chance of going back to him?"
Candy shook her head firmly. "No."
"What about that one... the one who tried to force you to be engaged..."
"Neal? Oh, please. No!" Disgust contorted on Candy's face.
"What about-"
"No! No! No one else! I only want Albert, more than anything in the world," cut Candy.
"Then you need to fight for it, girlfriend. Will you meet Albert again before he leaves?" asked Natalie.
"We're going to have a picnic tomorrow."
"You know what you have to do, Candy!" Natalie winked. "Kiss him!" Natalie picked up her textbook and continued her study.
Candy sat still, blankly stared at her book.
It's uselessly to try to study. She gave up. Her brain felt too stuffy. She would go home and take an hour of sleep. That should wake her up.
Unfortunately, Candy overslept. The following morning, in a great rush she browsed through her textbook. She skipped breakfast and just grabbed whatever food available in the kitchen and charged downstairs to the car. George was already there.
"Good morning, Ms. Candice," greeted George.
"Morning George," Candy replied. Her eyes remained fixed on her book.
"Ms. Candice, do you remember the PO Box address you requested me to arrange for you a few weeks ago?"
"Yes, of course!" Candy looked up. "What about it?"
"There's one letter for you in that box," George said professionally. He handed an envelope to Candy and opened the car door for her to enter.
The message in the bottle person responded! Candy thought excitedly. "Thanks George." Candy took the envelope and got into the car.
"Don't forget that Sir William will pick you up at eleven today."
"No, I won't."
"Have a good day, Ms. Candice," George said as he closed the door for her and made a sign for the driver to drive.
Candy looked at the letter then her textbook. It's so tempting to read it. Oh, she shouldn't! She should study.
She knew she should study but Candy couldn't stop herself to tear the envelope and pull a paper from it. She quickly skimmed to the bottom of the letter and read the signature. Neo! She laughed. It's him! He replied!
Now, she should study first! Focus focus!
Candy put the letter inside her pocket to not distract her. Exam first! She reopened and read her textbook.
oOoOOOOOOOOoo
In the same morning, Albert was busily preparing for his business trip in his office. He heard the clock chimed eleven times.
I'm late!
He should have gone ten minutes ago to pick up Candy. Hurriedly, Albert tossed things to his suitcase. He was about to run outside when he heard someone tap at the door.
"Come in!" Albert shouted impatiently.
"Hi William, preparing for your trip?" Aunt Elroy appeared at the door.
"Aunt Elroy," greeted Albert ceremoniously.
"You've been working very hard. Your father would be proud," Aunt Elroy started. Albert mumbled some polite words in return. "Make sure you don't forget the task to continue the family lineage. It is equally important. Your father - and mother - would want it too."
"Eventually, aunt," Albert answered patiently. This was how their fight started usually, just before the business trip. Always.
"Have you thought of any lady in mind?"
"Aunt… " Albert picked up his suitcase. "Not now… What if I stop by in your study tonight? I get to go now."
"Sit down please… just one minute."
"Is this about another matchmaking, aunt? I'm quite busy, you see. I have a trip to catch -"
"Of course you are busy if all you do is to spend hours talking with Candice whenever you have time or in the weekends. Can you imagine the gossip that would explode if the media knew on Wednesday night you were in her room until midnight?"
"How did you know that?" asked Albert coldly.
Aunt Elroy poured herself a cup of tea and slowly sipped her tea. Albert impatiently watched her taking her time answering the question.
"I have a servant watch at Candice's door," aunt Elroy answered calmly.
"That's atrocious!" Albert almost yelled in exasperation. He hated it when she's spying on him.
"I don't want you to be too close to Candice. She's not the one for you." Aunt Elroy watched Albert.
The words hit him like a torpedo. There's no way he'd obey her like a lost puppy anymore!
"I am a 34 year old adult! I have the right to lead my own life without having to report and seek anyone's approvals." Albert breathed. "In case you must know, we're chatting about my plan to move to Europe."
"Tell that to the gossip hunter and see if it stops them from publishing the story and quells speculations."
"I can call George and annul the adoption."
"Good lord William! That orphan has no family background!"
"Aunt," said Albert trough his greeted teeth. "Her name is Candy."
"I know -"
"Then use it. Drop all your prejudice towards her and learn to live with the fact!"
Holding his gaze Aunt Elroy sighed and shook her head. "It's not because she's an orphan. There's another reason. You know what it is?"
Albert looked out of the window and stayed muted.
"Everyone says she looks like Rosemary. You agree? Anthony said that too.*"
Albert didn't answer. He agreed. But he didn't want to say it.
"And they, including you, haven't seen Helina," aunt Elroy continued. "I have been distancing myself from Candice since the beginning because she looks so much like your aunt Helina. And now she grows up, the likelihood is even more striking."
"Helina?" Albert murmured.
"Aunt Helina. Your mother's youngest sister, your grandfather's most beloved daughter. "
Albert didn't answer.
"What outside people know is Helina died young, but they never know why since our family kept the story secret," continued Aunt Elroy. "Helina was in love with a poor man who your grandparents didn't approve. She refused to listen to her parents and ran away with her man. Your grandfather searched and searched for her. When they finally found her, it was too late. She and her man had just died from typhoid. It was in the winter... Rumors had it that they had a baby..."
Albert rubbed his brow to calm him down. He looked up to meet aunt Elroy's eyes. "You think Candy is Helina's baby?" asked disbelief Albert.
"Aunt Helina, William. Respect your elderly," Aunt Elroy scowled. "Perhaps… It could be… We need to check that! Her freckles, green eyes, blonde hair… they are too similar."
"Aunt you make this up. There're millions girls with green eyes, blonde-"
"If she's Helina's daughter, she'd be your cousin, William! We can't do anything that jeopardizes our family value. I promise your father-"
"This is so baseless. I'm not talking about this!"
"Everything has been outlined in the will that your father -"
"I never want to be Sir William. You and the council can rescind my right and grant it to whoever you feel more capable!"
"If you don't care about the family wealth, at least you should respect your father's wish!"
"I need to go." Albert got up. "Don't do anything until I come back. And absolutely don't mention a single word of it to Candy. This is a highly sensitive issue!"
"You'll meet Candice, won't you! Lunch is at twelve and now is only eleven twenty."
Albert shook his head exasperatedly. "What If I do? It's my business-"
"No, it' not! Your behaviors have to be acceptable in the eyes of the shareholders, the council and-"
Albert wanted to scream and kick the desk in front of him. "Have a good day, aunt." Albert got up and quickly went to the door.
"William!" Aunt Elroy followed him outside. "I want you to stop seeing that orphan."
"Pouppe!" Albert ignored aunt Elroy. The skunk readily ran and sat on his shoulder.
Aunt Elroy watched Albert disappeared in mixed of dismay and fury. She was still nailed in the same spot furiously when Sarah and Neal found her. Sarah was doing her routine visit accompanied by her son.
"Something wrong?" Sarah asked watching aunt Elroy distressed face.
Aunt Elroy briefly told Sarah what happened. Standing several steps behind his mother, Neal listened to it all quietly.
Candy is still with William! He didn't know why but he couldn't help to be annoyed.
"Anthony has long gone… Archie and Stear have got married… Neal has moved on… But William is still stuck with the old problem!" Aunt Elroy growled.
"My fault. I am the one who picked her up," Sarah answered.
Aunt Elroy shook her head desperately. "I want to hire a detective to check who Candice's parents are. But I don't know whom to trust. The news shouldn't leak to the media and George for sure won't help. He only listens to William."
"If that's your concern then it should be easy. Neal knows some detectives," Sarah turned and called her son. "Neal, can you help?"
An idea passed in Neal's head. Secretly his heart jumped with excitement at the possibility.
Putting back the innocent mask on his face, Neal nodded obediently. "Yes, I can arrange someone to help."
-To be continued-
Thanks for reading
~Natalie = Nurse Natalie Beans, book 6 manga
* Anthony and Albert think candy looks like Rosemary is covered intensively in book 1 and 2 of the manga