Hearing Connor’s confident words, Xylia let out a bitterugh.


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    Back when she loved him, she’d trusted himpletely and never imagined leaving.


    But now, seeing clearly that her so–called husband was really just a puppet master pulling her strings, her mind was made up that she would divorce him. She had to get away from Connor.


    Orion seemed about to say more, but catching sight of Xylia out of the corner of his eye at the top of the stairs, his expression instantly softened into a warm smile.


    “Xylia, you’re up and about.” he called out kindly. “Come join us.”


    Xylia had onlye downstairs for a ss of water when Orion called her over. From the moment she left her room to settling onto the sofa, she didn’t so much as nce in Connor’s direction.


    Connor frowned, a pang of panic shooting through him. He felt the chill in Xylia’s attitude. It really seemed like she’d made up her mind to go.


    “How are you feeling now, Xylia? Any better? Orion asked, his voice full of concern.


    Xylia touched her forehead and gave Orion a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’m all


    better now.”


    “d to hear you’re feeling better.” Orion said, giving Xylia’s shoulder a pat. A big, warm smile spread across his deeply lined face. “Stay here for a while. Just keep mepany for what time I have left.”


    “Grandpa, what kind of talk is that?” Xylia objected gently, “If you follow the doctors‘ advice, there’s still hope. Don’t worry, I’ll stay right here. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll take good care of you.“.


    Orion looked at Xylia with deep appreciation. ‘She really is the granddaughter–inw I’ve picked out. he thought, ‘So loyal and thoughtful.


    Hearing Xylia’s words, Connor felt his earlier panic melt away.


    He gave her a mocking nce, sure she was scheming. ‘All that talk about staying for Grandpa?‘ he thought, ‘Just an excuse to cling to life <i>at </i>Ford mansion.‘


    Connor was convinced Xylia couldn’t bear to lose theforts and influence that came with being Mrs. Ford, and even more certain she wasn’t ready to let go of him.


    Feeling suddenly magnanimous, he thought, ‘Since she’s pulling all these stunts just to stay-


    Chapici 24


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    and she is my wife–I’ll let her stay this time. I won’t make a fuss. But if she tries any dirty tricks against Tessa again, I might not let it slide!‘


    Over the next few days, Xylia stayed at Ford Mansion. Mnie sometimes made snide remarks or even tried to make things difficult for her.


    Xylia didn’t let it bother her. Her focus was solely on keeping Orionpany. She followed the doctor’s orders, tending to Orion’s every need despite the aching in her own arms and legs.


    Under her care, Orion brightened up noticeably. He wasn’t nearly as worn down as before.


    One day, Orion had ns to meet an old friend. Thinking the two old friends would want to talk privately, Xylia decided not to tag along.


    Later, a message popped up on her phone from Joshua, checking in on her. Seeing it, Xylia couldn’t help a small smile.


    Life at Ford Mansion wasn’t exactly easy for Xylia.


    Beyond Mnie giving her a hard time, every encounter with Connor brought back the hurt from him, let alone Sonny looking at her like she was something stuck to his shoe.


    All of this churned inside her, leaving her feeling trapped and unhappy.


    These days, the only constantfort was Joshua. His messages popped up daily, offering a chance to chat.


    Those moments talking with him became her only real escape, the only time Xylia could breathe easy amidst the grind.


    After replying to Joshua’s message, Xylia thought about the designer friend he’d mentioned the other day.


    An idea sparked. She went back to her bedroom, pulled out some drawing paper and pencils.


    Even Joshua is helping me look toward the future,‘ Xylia thought, ‘I shouldn’t be giving up on myself.


    She could no longer be a doctor or a dancer. Holding onto her art–that was the one dream she had left, and she refused to let go of it,e hell or high water.


    She loved drawing. Back in college, she’d even dabbled in fashion design for a while.


    After a moment’s thought, Xylia picked up her pencil. Her hand trembled as she painstakingly guided it across the paper, striving for smooth lines.


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    The old injury made drawing slow, painstaking work. Just sketching the draft of a single dress took her two solid hours.


    Xylia was so focused on each stroke, so lost in the process, that she didn’t even notice when Sonny came into the room.


    Sonny came home from school, not nning to bother with Xylia. But as he passed her bedroom door, some unseen force pulled him closer.


    Xylia had been glued to Orion’s side these past few days, pretty much ignoring Sonny. It fueled his frustration, making him feel even more strongly that she was petty and didn’t deserve to be his mother.


    The door was ajar. From the hallway, Sonny saw Xylia sitting by the window, her expression soft and focused as she held a pencil.


    He just walked in and moved closer to look. On the paper, wobbly lines sketched out the faint beginnings of a dress.


    Sonny snorted, his voice dripping with scorn. “That looks pathetic. How can you even stand to look at it?” Young as he was, he didn’t hold back.


    The sudden sound startled Xylia. She frowned at him.


    He kept going. “You don’t have an artistic bone in your body. What makes draw? Only Tessa gets it. Her drawings are a hundred times better than this mess.


    you think


    you can


    “You’re just a housewife. Your hands are only good for cooking. I’m hungry. Go make me something <i>to </i>eat now.”


    In his mind, Sonny figured he’d tossed her a lifeline.


    ‘If she just makes me a meal, he thought, smugly sure of himself, ‘I’ll forgive her. She’s so desperate to hang onto me and Dad, she’ll jump at this chance to suck up to me.


    But he’d gotten it all wrong. Xylia just gave him a cool look and went right back to slowly tracing lines on her paper.


    Seeing her ignore him, Sonny went off like a firecracker.


    Furious, he grabbed the pencil right out of her hand and flung it aside. “Are you deaf? I said I’m hungry. Go make me food now!”


    Xylia met his re, ice in her voice. “The mansion has staff. Tell them you’re hungry. They’ll get you something. You don’t need me to cook for you.”


    Sonny hadn’t expected her refusal. Before, a mere mention of hunger would send her


    scrambling to the kitchen.


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    A pang of hurt shot through him, instantly fueling his anger. He lunged forward, snatched the drawing right off the table, ripped it free, turned and bolted from the room.


    “What are you doing?” Xylia called out, chasing after Sonny.


    Sonny ran downstairs and tossed the painting straight into the firece, watching it burn.


    He spun around, ring fiercely at Xylia. “This is such crap. It’s so embarrassing you even drew this. You’re just a stay–at–home mom who can’t paint for anything. Even Tessa’s little doodles are way better than this junk. You’re not my real mom.”


    Sonny’s little face was flushed bright red with anger.


    Xylia looked at Sonny, her heart aching. She remembered how, when he was tiny, he’d been such a cuddly little boy who stuck to her like glue.


    Back then, they used to paint together. Sonny would sweetly call her “Mom” and, in the cutest way, tell her how beautiful her paintings were. He’d even say that when he grew up, he’d buy them with all the money in the world.


    But now, he had tossed the picture she’d worked so hard on into the fire like it was garbage.


    Xylia just gave Sonny one long, deep look. Without a word, she turned and walked straight upstairs. She bit back what she wanted to say, for the sake of being his mom, not wanting to hurt him.


    Back in her room, Xylia picked up her phone. Only then did she see that Joshua had sent her a


    message.


    <b>AD </b>