Chapter <b>20 </b>
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Sonny sidled up to Tessa andtched onto her hand with his small one. “After Dad divorces her, Tessa, you have to be my mom.” he dered, “I won’t have a mother who’s broken and had jail time. Tessa, you’re pretty and you dance so well. If you were my mom, the other kids would be so jealous.”
Then he shot a look of pure disgust at Xylia. “And you! Great–grandpa still hasn’t woken up because of you. You’re nothing but a bad luck charm.”
Xylia felt a wave of icy despair washing over her. In just a few words, they concluded that she was the culprit.
Sonny’s relentless chatter only added salt to the wound. “Besides, your dancing is clumsypared to Tessa’s. People call you a dance prodigy? I don’t think so.”
He then turned to Connor. “Dad, I’m right, aren’t I?”
Only then did Connor shift his gaze to Tessa. The moment his eyes met her sweet, smiling face, his expression softened instantly. “Tessa is a bit more graceful.” he confirmed, his voice noticeably warmer at the sight of her.
Xylia watched in silence as Connor gazed at Tessa with that softness in his eyes. A bitterugh echoed silently within her. ‘Of course Tessa dances gracefully. She’s his true love, the one who got away. How could she not?‘
Xylia remembered the past. Every time they’d visited the Schultz family, Connor’s eyes would unconsciously seek out Tessa. Seeing it, Xylia couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
But when she’d dared to mention it, Connor had turned cold. “Tessa is your sister.” he’d snapped, “How can you be <i>so </i>childish, jealous of your own sister?”
After that, she’d never dared to bring it up again.
Looking back now, though, Xylia realized Connor’s anger then was probably just himshing out from embarrassment–she’d hit a nerve he couldn’t admit.
Mnie beamed at Connor’s answer, her face practically glowing. “Connor, since you feel that way, I understand,” she said, her voice thick with implication, “Does this mean you’re thinking of… ?”
Tessa let out a yfully scolded “Mnie!” She gave a little pretend–stomp of her foot, as if ovee with shyness. Yet her eyes kept darting nces at Connor, unable to look away.
Connor remained silent, brow furrowed. What he thought he wanted eight years ago suddenly seemed within reach. But he hesitated.
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He did want to teach Xylia a lesson, but divorcing her hadn’t been part of the n. Besides, she’d already backed down. If she just apologized properly and made an effort to please him again, he’d keep her on.
‘Where else would she go?‘ Connor thought grimly, ‘A woman who can’t manage on her own- who else would put up with her? That kept man? Ridiculous!‘
Tessa’s smile faltered as Connor stayed silent. “Mnie,” she said quickly, a hint of panic in her voice, “Connor and I are just buddies. It’spletely above board.”
Mnie frowned, clearly about to argue.
“Dr. Schultz?” A middle–aged man’s voice cut in.
Xylia looked up to see a man beaming at her, striding over with obvious warmth.
“I can’t believe I’m running into you here.” He enthusiastically shook her hand, his voice bubbling with excitement. “Dr. Schultz, you’re an absolute miracle worker. My leg is fully recovered!”
The man’s praise sent a tremor through Xylia’s chest.
She remembered him. Before her imprisonment, this man had been rushed into the hospital after <i>a </i>terrible car ident, his left leg critically injured. The medical team’s consensus was amputation.
But Xylia had proposed a pioneering surgical approach, unprecedented both domestically and internationally. Against the odds—a mere 20% chance of sess—she performed the surgery and saved his leg.
But Xylia never got to see his recovery. Prison imed her before she could witness the
oue.
“No need to thank me.” Xylia murmured softly, “Treating patients is just a doctor’s duty…”
Yet a wave of bitter resentment surged within her, sharp and relentless. She couldn’t even lift a scalpel.
“But Dr. Schultz, you are a miracle worker.” the man insisted warmly, “I was actually hoping to find you to thank you in
person…”
Sonny’s mocking screech cut him off. “Her? A miracle worker? She can’t even cook a proper meal at home. How could she be some amazing doctor?”
He puffed out his chest, sneering. “She barely read any books. She only got to be a doctor because my Dad pulled strings. She’s just a nepo hire. You’d be better off thanking my Dad.”
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The childish voice cut like a knife de, making Xylia wince. She hadn’t expected Sonny to go
that far.
Every single step she’d taken to be department chief of medicine had been earned through her own sweat and grit. Connor hadn’t lifted a finger to help.
Xylia fixed Sonny with an icy stare. “I earned my ce as a doctor through pure grit and skill.” she stated, her voice dangerously low, “Have you ever seen me at work?”
Xylia could stomach his personal jabs, but having her life’s work smeared was a line he’d crossed.
Seeing Xylia’s cold expression–the look that meant she was genuinely angry–a momentary flicker of fear shot through Sonny. But disgust surged back almost instantly, washing away the
unease.
‘A woman who barely read any books couldn’t possibly be a real doctor. Sonny sneered inwardly, ‘Mom’s just being phony. She’s got nothing on Tessa’s genuine kindness.
“You only care about Dad’s money and clout.” he blurted out, his voiceced with contempt, “You barely cracked a book. How could you be a doctor? You think you’re anything like Tessa? She actually studied, and she’s smart.”
Nearby, Mnie shot Xylia an icy sneer. “Useless waste of space.” she spat, “Did you really think just because my son smoothed your way at the hospital, that made you a real doctor? What bad luck!”
you
Connor scowled at Xylia, his voice dropping to a dangerous chill. “Enough! Aren’t embarrassed enough? Do you really need to air all this dirtyundry about your connections out here for everyone to see?”
Frustration coiled tightly within Connor.
At home, he might tolerate Xylia acting out, but that didn’t mean he’d stand by while she embarrassed them all out here in public.
With just one sentence, Connor confirmed her guilt. An icy chill spread through Xylia’s chest. She lowered her head, a bitterugh escaping her lips.
The middle–aged man, witnessing the ugly scene, clearly wanted no part in Xylia’s private drama. He mumbled a quick excuse and made a swift exit.
Just then, the ER doors swung open. Xylia had no heart left for their arguments. Her only concern now was Orion’s condition.
As Orion was wheeled towards a private room, the doctor addressed them all, his tone
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somber, “The patient is suffering from severe age–rted decline. His time is limited.”
The doctor’s words exploded like thunder in Xylia’s ears, leaving her mind numb and reeling.
“How… ?” Xylia murmured. She remembered Orion had always been robust.
Mnie shoved Xylia aside and copsed into loud wails, pointing a shaking finger at her. “It’s all you. You brought this on him!”
Xylia stumbled to the floor, dazed by the sudden push and the usation.
Fueled by fury, Sonny charged forward. Small fists flying, he began hitting Xylia. Tiny as his fists were, they still stung where theynded.
“It’s your fault. You’re nothing but a jinx. You killed Great–grandpa!” Sonny screamed.
Connor grabbed Sonny’s arm, pulling him back. “What are you doing?” he demanded.
“Dad, it’s her fault that Great–grandpa’s dying.” Sonny sobbed, struggling against Connor’s hold, “I never want her as my mom again.”
Tessa quickly scooped Sonny into her arms, holding him close. She turned to Connor, her voice sweet yetced with implication. “Sonny’s just a child, Connor. He’s overwhelmed. But honestly, Xylia does have to shoulder some me for all this.”
Connor’s gazended on Xylia, sprawled and disheveled on the floor. An obscure pang of pity flickered deep in his eyes. His voice, when he spoke to her, remained cold and hard, “Get up. You’ve turned the family upside down, and now you’re ying the victim? Who exactly is this act for?”
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