Connor’s words caught Xylia off guard.
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When she married into the Ford family, everyone treated her like an outsider–everyone except Orion Ford.
To spare Connor the burden, she had suggested keeping the marriage quiet and canceling the wedding ceremony.
Feeling guilty, Orion invited her into his study and ced in her hands the Ford family’s heirloom–their crest pendant.
At that time, Orion had said gently, “Good girl, you’ve suffered enough. From now on, in this family, you’ll have me to stand behind you. All I ask is that you promise me one thing–never divorce Connor, no matter what. Can you do that?”
Orion was the only one in the Ford family who had ever shown her kindness.
Deeply moved, Xylia agreed without hesitation.
Later, when Sonny was born, she passed the crest pendant on to him.
The half–open window let in the rush of wind, clearing Xylia’s dazed thoughts.
When she’d promised Orion back then, she hadn’t known the entire marriage itself was Connor Ford’s borate deception.
Now, bruised inside and out, how could she keep bleeding for the sake of a hollow promise?
She
gave a bitter little smile and spoke quietly. “I’ll exin things to Orion myself.”
There was a beat of silence on the other end.
Then Connor’s low<i>, </i>mockingugh cut through. “So it really is all an act. Is that all you’ve got?”
Xylia frowned, not grasping what he meant.
After a pause,
Connor let out a sharp scoff, contempt flickering in his eyes. “All you ever want is to y the victim in front of Orion, begging him to take your side. Don’t tell me you’re not clinging to your title as Mrs. Ford, to the Ford family’s power. Otherwise, why bother exining anything to him at all?”
His voice turned to ice, each word a de. “Xylia, tricks like that only make me despise you
more.”
<b>11:47 </b>Wed, Sep 10
:
Her lips curved into another weary smile.
She was leaving anyway. Even exining felt exhausting now.
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Connor’s voice cut in again, sharp and frigid, “Same thing I told you before–cut ties with that pretty boy, crawl back and beg, and I’ll pretend none of this ever happened. Without the Ford family, you’re nothing but a useless woman. Let’s see who in Jupiton would dare give you a way out.”
The line went dead.
Xylia lowered the phone, the color draining slowly from her face.
She had never imagined Connor would one day use power and influence to corner her, to make sure she has no ce left in Jupiton.
And
yet the cruelest irony was that it had taken her eight years to see him clearly.
Her gaze dropped, fixing on the blur of city lights beyond the window. She stayed silent for a long while.
Then a deep, low voice broke through the quiet.
“Xylia, what’s wrong?” Joshua asked.
Her pale lips moved faintly before she shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
He had already done so much for her. The mess between her and Connor was hers to resolve.
“That’s good then.”
Joshua’s words came soft, almost careless–but his blue eyes had already caught every flicker of her expression. His gaze narrowed, and in its depths, a sh of cold, lethal sharpness glinted and vanished.
As long as he was here, no one would every a hand on her.
*****
Back at the apartment.
Xylia and Joshua stepped out of the elevator.
She hesitated for a moment, then said softly, “Thank you, for what you did today.”
She thought he would brush it off with a polite word or two, but instead Joshua lowered his gaze to her.
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His fox–like eyes carried a hint of amusement, his lips curving as he replied, half–smile ying at the corners, “And how does Xylia n on thanking me?”
The drawl in his voice made her falter. She hadn’t expected that.
Caught off guard, she stammered, “With the way things are for me now, I can’t exactly buy you a gift, but I could… ”
“Then how about this–make me dinner. That’ll be thanks enough.”
His tone was light,ced with a smile, tinum blond hair falling carelessly around his pale face as he dropped onto the sofa as if he owned the ce.
“Huh?” Xylia blinked, startled, her heart skipping when she crashed straight into those teasing eyes of his. She looked at him, half–bewildered. “Cook for you?”
Joshua only pointed toward the window at the end of the hallway. Night had fallen, and beyond the ss stretched a sea of darkness.
“It’s gettingte, and your guest is starving.”
The way he said it drew a smile from her.
Back when she’d saved him abroad, his eyes had been all violence–like a lone wolf, ready to tear prey apart at any moment.
But once she knew him better, that frost eased. More like an oversized dog–restless, unpredictable, always at her heels.
But this–this was the first time he’d ever made such a simple request.
“Well, the fridge isn’t empty. Guess you’ll have to risk a taste of my cooking.”
A gentle smile touched her lips as she turned the key and opened the door.
Joshua arched a brow<i>, </i>his fox–like eyes narrowing as he fixed them on her gentle features, pushing down the flicker of something darker that stirred within.
“Well then… I’ll take that as my reward. Thanks, Xylia.”
In the dim glow of the lights, his gaze seemed almost ink–dark, waves of unspoken desire rolling beneath the surface.
‘Xylia, looks like I’ve found your soft spot!
Caught off guard by that look in his eyes, Xylia dropped her gaze, retreating into the kitchen as though fleeing from the sudden rush in her chest.
11:47 Wed<b>, </b>Sep 10
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Joshua followed her in, leaningzily against the doorframe as he watched her move about. “Need a hand?” he asked, almost offhandedly.
“No, thanks.”
Xylia wasn’t used to anyone being in the kitchen with her.
All those years as a housewife–Connor never once stepped foot inside, and they hadn’t even kept servants around.
She had grown used to cooking alone.
Joshua let out a soft “Oh,” the sound low and lingering.
Startled, she lost focus for a split second–the knife slipped, nicking her finger.
“Hss-” She drew in a sharp breath, pulling her hand back. A thin line of blood welled her fingertip.
“What happened?”
In an instant, Joshua was at her side, gripping her hand, brows furrowed deep.
Maybe it was just her imagination, but thezy, careless man from a moment ago now radiated a sharp, dangerous edge.
up on
“It’s nothing, just a small cut.” Xylia said with an embarrassed smile, trying to pull her hand
away.
But Joshua only held tighter, his voice dropping low, steady andmanding, “Don’t move.”
His voice was low, leaving no room for argument.
Xylia stilled.
Joshua led her out to the living room, his hand firm around hers. Without hesitation, he knelt by the cab beneath the TV and pulled out a first–aid kit as if he’d known it was there all along.
Xylia blinked in surprise.
That kit had been left by thendlord for emergencies, how did he even know where to find
it?
Before she could voice the question, a cool touch pressed against her finger, followed by the faint sting of antiseptic.
11:47 Wed<b>, </b>Sep 10
She let out a quiet sigh.
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Joshua worked with meticulous care, disinfecting and bandaging the cut. Only then did he
his gaze steady. “Go sit in the living room for a bit. I’ll make dinner.”
look up,
With that, he rose smoothly and disappeared into the kitchen.
She watched his retreating figure, and for a fleeting moment, it ovepped with the boy she’d once known years ago.
Back then, when they were overseas, she’de down with a fever.
Meals overseas were often cold and unsatisfying, but Joshua had gone to great lengths to gather the ingredients and made her a warm,forting Chinese dinner.
The warmth of that meal had eased the raw edges of her loneliness in a foreignnd, if only for a moment.
At the time, she’d seen Joshua as a younger brother–someone fragile, someone who needed protecting.
But now…
Through the half–open kitchen door, she caught sight of him at the counter.
His tailored suit traced the lines of his tall frame. Over the years, Joshua had grown taller, more handsome, carrying now the easy allure of a man in his prime.
Gone was the shadowy, feral youth she remembered. In his ce stood someone steadier, gentler. Someone who knew how to take care of her.
The sting from the bandaged cut pulsed at her fingertip, pulling her thoughts back.
She lowered her gaze and let out a faint smile at herself.
What on earth was she thinking?
From the kitchen, Joshua noticed Xylia’s eyes shift away, only to catch the quiet loneliness on her face. His expression darkened in an instant.
That look, was she thinking of Connor again?
Connor Ford.
Joshua’s head dipped, hisshes shadowing the glint of fury in his
eyes.
One day, he’d dismantle Connor’s life sopletely that every breath would taste of regret.
*****
:
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The next morning.
Xylia took a cab to the Ford Mansion.
Connor’s words fromst night still echoed in her mind–before she could file for divorce, she owed Orion an exnation.
But as soon as she reached the entrance, the sound of Tessa’s bright, carefreeughter spilled out from the hall.
She looked up.
In the living room, Connor was gazing at Tessa with a tenderness she had never seen, while Sonny clung to her andughed along.
The three of them, framed together, looked every bit like the picture of a perfect family.
Two servants passed by, unaware of Xylia’s presence, whispering as they went.
“The way Mr. Ford looks at Ms. Schultz, it’s softer than how he ever looked at Mrs. Ford. I’d wager he’s truly fond of her.”
“Every time Ms. Schultz visits, the whole Ford family lights up. And when she’s with Mr. Ford and Mister Sonny, they look even more like a real family.”
A sharp pang of bitterness gripped Xylia’s chest.
So this was her marriage—nothing but a cruel joke.
Just then, Sonny happened <i>to </i>nce toward the door. The moment he saw her standing there, his little face darkened at once.
<b>“</b>Ugly old witch! What are you doing here?”
田