The Wrong Woman

Candice slipped into a new evening gown, touched up her makeup, and glided back into the banquet hall.
The ambiance inside remained lively and effervescent. Casually, she made her way to the side, and upon reaching the dining
area; she selected her favorite dishes from the table.
Meanwhile, Michaela and Tristan approached the stage, each holding a wine glass. With a resonating voice, Tristan began,
"Thank you, esteemed guests..."
Candice stole a glance at the duo on stage, observing their radiant smiles and eloquent words. These formalities and social
graces were nothing new to her.
As the toasts circulated, she pondered whether to indulge in dessert tonight. However, thoughts of potential weight gain and skin
issues held her back. Maintaining her appearance and figure mattered, which meant carefully considering her diet.
Opting against dessert, she settled for pumpkin soup instead.
After Tristan's speech of pleasantries concluded, Michaela's voice filled the room. "Tonight, I'd like to take this opportunity to
share some joyful news. My son, Elio, will be engaged to Josie next month. We hope to see all of you there."
Hearing the announcement, Candice froze in place, her body going rigid, and the plate with food in her hand slipped, clattering
onto the table. Despite the loud noise, it was drowned out by the enthusiastic applause from the crowd.
Her ears buzzed, drowning out all sound except the chaos around her. A sharp pain pierced her heart, leaving her vulnerable.
It hurt so much!
Bowing her head, she slowly began to collect the scattered items. Her throat tightened and tears began welling up in her eyes.
Elio had been away for two years, and now he was suddenly back, engaged to Josie.
It had been 12 long years, and perhaps it was time for Candice to face reality.
Candice brushed away a tear, ensuring no one noticed her inner turmoil.
From the age of ten, her feelings had evolved from innocent admiration to adolescent infatuation, and eventually to unrequited
love in adulthood. She had a bittersweet journey of admiration alone.

The secret of her loving her cousin's uncle was guarded closely by herself, fearful of confiding in anyone.
It was a forbidden love, one that could never be openly acknowledged or shared. She had navigated the highs and lows alone, in
silence.
"Are you okay, Candice?" came a gentle, concerned voice.
Candice looked up at the man beside her. It was her eldest cousin, Hector Morrison.
Their eyes met, and Hector noticed the redness in Candice's eyes, the shimmering tears.
Alarmed, he hastily placed his wine glass down, gently cupping Candice's face. "What's wrong? Who upset you? Tell me, what
happened? Did someone hurt our precious girl?" en.swhovels.net
Candice's heart raced, torn between truth and concealment. Sniffling nervously, she explained, "Hector, I'm not crying, really."
"Don't lie to me, those are tears, your eyes are red. Is it because of Elio's engagement...?" Hector guessed.
Before he could finish, Candice hastily interjected, desperately seeking an excuse. "No! Hector, please don't think that way. I'm
just upset because out of the four interns, I'm the only one not offered a permanent position. I'll be unemployed after this week."
Hector was taken aback. "What?"
Candice's lip quivered, her tears threatening to spill over. "Yes, I didn't make it into the confirmation list. After this week's work, I'll
be unemployed." Hector was furious.
"It's an honor for them to have you at ND Group. How could they not offer you a permanent position? Come, I'll get justice for
you!" Candice panicked.
"No, Hector, really..."
Hector gently took her hand and guided her toward the center of the banquet.