Xylia stood frozen in the doorway. Her chest throbbed with pain.
55 vouchers
She knew that everything Connor had done for Tessa must signify that he had special feelings for her. But seeing it personally still came as quite a shock.
Tessa quickly stood up and looked at Xylia. “Xylia, I was feeling a bit lightheaded from low blood sugar, and Connor helped steady me. Don’t read too much into it, she said.
“Besides, it was just a hug. It’s nothing serious, Connor and I have been close friends for years, so you really don’t have to worry about it.” Tessa added.
Connor walked over to Xylia, his eyes catching the things she was holding. He reached out to take them from
her.
Xylia instinctively pulled her hands back, dodging his touch.
“Don’t touch me, Xylia snapped, her voice cold.
“I told you. It was just a misunderstanding. Don’t make such a big deal out of it. Connor said, his brow barely twitching as he noticed Xylia’s anger.
Xylia’s lips curled up, her smile tinged with bitterness. “It’s not a misunderstanding. We’re getting divorced soon anyway, so whoever you end up with is none of my business anymore.”
Connor thought Xylia was justshing out, and his face instantly fell. “Xylia, how long are you going to keep making a scene?” he <b>said</b>.
Tessa walked over, her brow furrowed as she looked at Xylia. “Xylia, I get that we made you misunderstand, but do you really have to make such a fuss about it?” she said.
“Connor and I already exined everything. You know we’ve been best friends for years. Seriously, there’s nothing between us for you to be jealous of, Tessa added.
st now.
Xylia caught the hint of sadness in Connor’s eyes when Tessa spoke just
“You two acted in a way anyone would misunderstand, and you expect me not to think anything of it? Xylia said, her voice calm but firm. At that moment, she felt the storm in her heart finally begin to settle.
<b>“</b>Enough,” Connor cut her off, his voice deep and sharp. He shot Xylia a cold, hard look.
“Here we are, trying to exin things to you, and you’re still not happy? Is it because I’ve treated you: all these years that you’ve turned out so entitled?” he snapped.
so well
Tessa quickly tried to soothe Connor. “Alright, Connor, Xylia didn’t do it on purpose. She’s just a soft–hearted girl<b>. </b>
“But honestly, she’s been kind of dramatic these past couple of days. Like this morning, Sonny begged her to make some hearty porridge, but she wouldn’t do it. Sonny got so mad that he nearly passed out.”
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‘<b>Seriously</b>? Almost passed out? Xylia scoffed to herself.
Xylia caught the taunting look Tessa threw her way when Connor wasn’t watching.
Connor’s expression darkened even more after hearing Tessa’s words.
E 55 vouchers.
“Can’t even handle being a wife, and now you can’t do the mom thing either? Xylia, looks like I’ve spoiled you Way y too much. Go spend the next couple of days up in the attic and think things over, Connor snapped.
The attic in the Ford Mansion had no windows or lights, making it pitch ck inside.
It <b>was </b>a dark, suffocating ce; the only time any light got in was when someone opened the door.
Xylia had been locked up there once before, back when Mnie punished her.
Back then. Xylia had just married Connor, and they were living at the Ford Mansion. Mnie couldn’t stand Xylia and constantly found fault with everything she did.
One time, after Xylia identally broke a <b>vase</b>, Mnie locked her up in the attic.
Xylia was stuck there for a full day and night, and it nearly drove her insane.
Fortunately, Connor got back from his business trip just <b>in </b><b>time </b>and got Xylia out of that attic.
When Xylia finally woke up, barely able to <b>move</b>, Connor was there, tears streaming down his face as het pulled her into his arms, hugging her so tight it felt like he wanted to fuse her into himself.
“I’m so sorry, baby. I should’ve been here sooner. We’re moving out. We’re not staying here anymore,” Connor said, his voice thick with emotion.
After that, they packed up and left the Ford Mansion for good.
Connor knew just how much that attic had scarred Xylia, but now, he was the one personally sending her back <ol><li>in. </li></ol>
Connor called over two servants, making it clear he wanted them to drag Xylia away.
Xylia’s face twisted with panic.
“No, Connor, I’m not going. You made me misunderstand. Why are you locking me up?” Xylia cried, her voice shaking with fear.
Xylia was terrified of that dark, suffocating attic. Her face went pale, and her eyes reddened with panic.
Seeing her like that, Connor felt a pang in his chest, and for a moment, his eyes softened with pity.
Tessa let out a sigh. “Xylia, Connor <b>isn’t </b>trying to lock you up. He just wants <b>you </b>to take a good look at yourself. You’ve been stirring up drama over your pretty boy again and again. Honestly, that’s really out of
line.
When <b>Tessa </b>mentioned that guy again, the brief softness in Connor’s heart vanished, reced by coldness.
7:53 Thu, Sep 11
55 vouchers
His face turned icy as Connor snapped, “Xylia, if you can’t admit you’re wrong this time, then don’t even think abouting out.”
“Let go of me.” Xylia shouted, struggling desperately.
Two burly servants seized Xylia by the arms, one on each side, <b>and </b>hauled her up the stairs toward the attic on the top floor of the mansion.
Bang. The door mmed shut, plunging Xylia into total darkness. Her phone was confiscated, cutting her off from the outside world.
Xylia curled up on the freezing floor, her flimsy clothes no match for the chill. The darkness was so thick she couldn’t even see her hand, and with every heartbeat, her terror only grew.
Xylia couldn’t forget for a second what Mnie had put her through in this attic seven years ago.
Back then, Mnie had locked Xylia up here and even let snakes loose in there with her.
The memory of those snakes hissing in the pitch–ck room, their sinister sounds echoing all around, still haunted Xylia to this day.
Xylia’s tears kept falling. She rushed to the door in a panic, banging on it with desperate force.
“Let me out, Connor. I swear I was wrong. Please, let me out. Don’t lock me in here. Please,” Xylia screamed, her voice raw with terror.
Xylia was scared out of her mind, begging again and <b>again</b>, her pleas <b>echoing </b>in the darkness.
However, outside, there wasn’t a single sound. It felt as if the whole world <b>had </b>shrunk to nothing but her and the darkness.
Meanwhile, Joshua had just returned to his office. His <b>assistant</b>, David Baldwin, was giving him a rundown of the day’s work.
Joshua spun his phone absently, only half–listening to what David was <b>saying</b>.
He nced at the clock. ‘Xylia should’ve been home by now, Why hasn’t she texted <b>me </b><b>to </b>say she’s <b>home</b>?’ he wondered.
Joshua paused and pulled up his chat with Xylia. Hisst message, asking if she’d made it home safe, was still sitting there, unread. But Xylia <b>hadn’t </b>replied. That was weird.
“Mr. Garcia?” David’s voice snapped Joshua out of his thoughts.
Joshua looked up, his gaze sharp and cold. David immediately straightened up, suddenly on edge.
Why is he suddenly upset?‘ David wondered, feeling anxious. “Did he not like the proposal 1 just reported?”
“Go on,” <b>Joshua </b>said.
7:53 Thu, Sep 11
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David <b>spoke </b>up nervously, “I <b>heard </b>Connor’s been trying to cozy up to Mr. Fletchertely. Looks like Ford Group is after Mr. Fletcher’swork. Do you want us to step in?”
Joshua kept a straight face. Looks like Connor isn’t just sucking up to the Sadler family after all; he’s got his own ns to get out of this mess, he thought.
But Joshua wasn’t about to let that happen. “Set up a meeting with Mr. Fletcher for tomorrow,” he <b>said</b>, his
voice firm.
David nodded, then suddenly remembered something and added, “Oh, Mr. Garcia, you asked me to investigate the Sadler family. They really did <b>lose </b><b>a </b>daughter years ago. It was a baby <b>girl</b>.”
Joshua’s gaze sharpened. “Keep digging.”
David gave a quick nod and slipped out.
Joshua hesitated for a second as he looked at his phone, but in the <b>end</b><b>, </b>he hit the call button and tried Xylia’s number. But the call didn’t get through for a long time.
When the call finally went through, an <b>unfamiliar </b>woman’s voice answered. “Are you the pretty boy that Xylia is dating?”