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    When Xylia woke up again, the sight of the familiar–yet–unfamiliar room left her disoriented, struggling to tell dream from reality. A dull ache still throbbed in her ankle.


    “Mrs. Ford,” a doctor’s voice reached her, “you really need to take care of that injury from now on. On damp, painful days, soak your feet. Try not to walk too much, or it might not heal right.”


    Pushing herself up, Xylia realized she was in her bedroom at Ford Mansion.


    She’d just thanked the doctor and hadn’t even had a moment to collect her thoughts when Connor pushed the door open and strode in.


    His expression was icy, and he seemed to carry a chill into the room with him. His gazended on Xylia, and a flicker of annoyance shed in his eyes.


    Connor stalked to the edge of her bed. His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist. A coldugh escaped him. “Xylia, nice move.”


    Xylia frowned, wrenching her arm free. “What is wrong with you?”


    “What’s wrong with me?” Connor scoffed, his eyes dark and stormy, teetering on the edge of fury. “You showed up without even knocking, stood out in the rain on purpose and made yourself sick–all just to y the victim in front of Grandpa? Hoping he’ll yell at Tessa for you? Xylia, how can you be so vicious?”


    Xylia was still deathly pale from her illness. When she heard Connor’s words, the realization hit her that he was just standing up for Tessa. The thought felt bitterly ironic.


    Sonny jumped in right after his dad, ring at Xylia like she was the enemy, not his mom. “You’re so mean.” he shouted, his eyes full of hate, “Why do you always pick on Tessa? You deserve to be locked up for another three months.”


    Xylia’s fingers curled slightly. A bitterugh escaped her lips, but her voice was ice cold when she spoke to the two of them. “I knocked. Didn’t you hear?”


    Sonny froze at her words. He shot a quick nce at Connor, checking for a reaction. Seeing none, a flicker of relief crossed his face.


    The truth was that Sonny had heard the knock. He’d ignored it on purpose. He was determined to teach Xylia a lesson for his dad.


    Just then, Tessa burst in. Her eyes were red and watery as she looked at Xylia.


    “Look, Xylia,” she started, her voice soft and weak, “I know you’re not happy seeing me stay at


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    Ford Mansion. I’m just really worried about Grandpa, you know? Connor and I have always been just friends. His grandpa feels like my grandpa too. That’s the only reason I’m here.


    “Well, if you’re mad at me, just say so. I’m not like you young girls who y all those mind games. I’m straightforward. If you’d just say you hate me, I’d stay out of your way for sure. You didn’t need to scheme to turn Grandpa against me.” Tessa’s voice trembled with tears by the end.


    Sonny, hearing this, red at Xylia, his little face puffing with anger. “You tried to make Great- grandpa hate Tessa? That’s so mean and sneaky. You’re not my mom anymore.”


    Connor’s face darkened as he looked at Xylia too, colder than before.


    “Xylia.” he said, his voice sharp, “ying these dirty games only makes me dislike you more. If you want to keep being Mrs. Ford, learn the Ford family rules. And leave those nasty prison habits behind.”


    Xylia listened to their usations, a strange numbness settling over her.


    A bitter smile touched her lips. “You lot are phony.” she said tly, “Don’t drag me into it. Grandpa is critically ill, and yet here you are, first thing in the morning, dancing and having a st in the living room.


    “Your music was so loud it drowned out my knocking. You didn’t hear me. You didn’t open the door. And now you me me? That’s rich.”


    Connor hadn’t expected Xylia to fight back. Her words stung him with a flicker of guilt. Grandpa had just been diagnosed with a terminal illness yesterday, and them dancing this morning, which was dead wrong.


    But what Xylia did–deliberately passing out at the door to win Grandpa’s pity and make him yell at Tessa–that was crossing the line.


    Connor’s face turned icy. “Xylia,” he snapped, “don’t turn it on us. Apologize to Tessa.”


    Xylia’s head throbbed, dizziness washing over her. She had no energy for this fight. “Believe whatever you want. I won’t apologize. Now get out.”


    Connor’s expression darkened instantly. He moved forward, ready toy into her, but Tessa grabbed his arm.


    “Oh, Connor, stop!” Tessa said, her voice dripping with false sweetness, “Xylia is just misunderstanding our friendship. She’s jealous. That’s all. Really, it’s nothing for me to get hurt a little. Don’t fight over me. You shouldn’t let thise between husband and wife.”


    She paused, pulling out her phone. “My mom just texted me toe home. I’ve got to go.”


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    Connor shot Xylia onest furious re before turning to Tessa. His expression softened instantly, like flipping a switch.


    “You’re the kind one.” he said gently. “Just ignore her. She’s not thinking straighttely. I’ll walk you down.”


    “Okay.” Tessa replied.


    The two left, Connor leading the way.


    Sonny hung back. He stared at Xylia, his little chest puffed up like an angry balloon.


    Xylia’s cool, detached gaze swept over him without a word. She simplyy back down, turning


    away.


    Seeing her ignore himpletely only made Sonny more frustrated. He let out a loud, angry huff, spun on his heel, and stomped off after Tessa and Connor.


    Lying in bed, Xylia let out a heavy sigh. The biggest regret of her life was buying into Connor’s sweet talk about love, marrying him, and having his child.


    But then she thought of Orion. That brought a tiny bit offort. At least she still had three months, well, just over two months left now. She’d spend that time right by his side. And when her time was up, she’d be free to leave.


    Thinking about that escape made her heart feel a little lighter.


    Xylia had assumed Connor and Sonny would see Tessa all the way home and stay away from the old house for a couple of days.


    <b>But </b>they just walked her downstairs, handed her off to the driver, and stayed put at Ford Mansion themselves.


    Seeing them clearly now, thest bit of warmth Xylia felt towards them was nearly gone. She wanted nothing to do with them. But stuck under the same roof, she constantly bumped into


    them<b>. </b>


    Plus, Orion desperately wanted Xylia and Connor to make a real go of their marriage. For his sake, Xylia still had to put on an act like everything was fine whenever he was around.


    As she was going downstairs, Xylia saw Orion sitting on the sofa.


    He looked worn out, stabbing a finger at Connor as he scolded him in a low voice. Nylia caught only bits and pieces from where she stood


    “No matter what, Xylia is your wife I don’t care how you treat Tessa. But if you break Xylia’s heart, and she finally walks away, you’ll regret it big time, and there’ll be nothing you can do!”


    Connor stood straight in front of Orion, not looking the least bit guilty.


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    “Rx, Grandpa.” he said, sounding way too sure of himself, “Xylia’s so head over heels for me. She won’t really leave.”


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