Joshua was deep in thought when his phone buzzed. It was Maverick calling.
= 55 vouchers
“Mr. Garcia, I’ve run into a problem. Looks like Seth Wilson–the guy who gave false testimony against Ms. Schultz–has made contact with the real culprit. He’s moved, and now someone’s tailing me,” Maverick said.
Joshua’s brow furrowed. “I’ll send my men to help you, but you need to find a way to get evidence.”
“Got it, Mr. Garcia, Maverick replied..
After hanging up, Joshua tossed Leon’s profile aside and strode out of his office,
By the time Xylia finished catching up on her morning’s design work, it was already dark outside.
When she picked up her phone again, she saw messages from Joshua and Josie.
Joshua: [The onlinements about you have been deleted. Don’t worry. If anyone tries to dig up your personal info, call the police.]
“He really does care about me, Xylia thought, feeling the concern in his words.
A <b>small </b>smile tugged at her lips.
After replying briefly to Joshua, she then opened her chat with Josie.
Josie had sent a quick message. [You okay?]
Like always, Xylia let her know she was fine<b>, </b>and Josie called her <b>right </b><b>away</b>.
“I think you can turn all that online hate into something that actually helps you.” Josie was straight to the point, and she sounded pretty hyped.
Xylia <b>figured </b>Josie must’ve seen all the hate online, but she wasn’t sure what Josie was getting at.
“What <b>do </b>you <b>mean</b>?” she asked, confused.
<b>“Just </b>think about it! You’re about tounch <b>your </b><b>own </b>studio, right? Sure, people are dragging your name <b>through </b>the mud online, but it’s blowing up–so much attention right now.
“Once the truthes out and everyone realizes you were innocent, you’ll be the inte’s sweetheart.
“People will totally feel for <b>you</b>. You’ll be kind of a big deal online, and if you start an ount and build your brand, it’ll be huge for your studio!” Josie said, getting more and more fired up.
Xylia thought <b>Josie’s </b>words actually made sense.
But right now, <b>what </b>mattered most was clearing her name.
#55 vouchers.
After Josie finished talking, Xylia couldn’t help but ask, “You’ve seen all thosements online. Don’t you. ever doubt if any of it’s real?”
“Didn’t you say you didn’t do any of that stuff?” Josic shot back, which shut Xylia right up.
Josie kept surprising her. Xylia never imagined that someone she barely knew would put so much faith in her.
She was genuinely touched.
Thanks, Josie,” she said, heartfelt.
The two of them chatted a bit more about the studio..
Before they could hang up, there was a knock on Xylia’s bedroom door, and Sonny’s soft voice came through. “Mom, are you still drawing?”
Xylia was caught off guard. Ever since she’d brought up the divorce, Sonny hadn’t called her Mom so affectionately.
“Wait, Mom? Xylia, you have a kid?” Josie blurted out in surprise.
Josie, I’ll talk to youter,” Xylia said, cutting her off.
After hanging up, she finally went to open the bedroom door.
Sonny was standing there with a ss of milk, his round face tilted up at her, those big, clear eyes shining.
He grinned and held out the ss to her. “Mom, you must be tired from drawing. Have some milk.”
Xylia couldn’t help but feel a little dazed. Just a couple of days ago, this kid was chucking building blocks at her, leaving her arms covered in bruises–how did he go from that to being <b>so </b>sweet all of a sudden?
“Mom, aren’t you going to have it?” Sonny asked, sounding a little hurt.
With a hurt little pout, he looked up at Xylia, his eyes shining.
‘Nice try, kid, but I’m not falling for <b>that</b>, Xylia thought, keeping her tone cool. “I’m allergic to milk”
Sonny awkwardly pulled the milk away. “Sorry, Mom. I forgot. I’ll go get you some water instead.”
He made as if to leave.
<b>But </b>Xylia stopped him. “You were looking for Tessa, weren’t you? Why would youe to me instead of hanging around <b>her</b><b>?</b>”
“Tessa’s already gone,” Sonny said tly.
Xylia frowned.
‘Howe? Connor was just bringing Tessa breakfast upstairs this morning. How did she leave <b>so </b>suddenly?‘ she wondered.
9:50 Fri, Sep 12
65 vouchers
Sonny looked a little anxious<b>, </b>afraid Xylia wouldn’t believe him. He hurried to exin, “Tessa really left, Mom. You <b>don’t </b>need to <b>look </b>for her.”
He didn’t want Xylia to go after Tessa again.
“Mom. I’m sorry for <b>what </b>I said before. I shouldn’t have talked to you like that. Can you forgive me?” Sonny asked, his voice soft and a little nervous.
Sonny’s sudden change in attitude was honestly kind of weird.
With how much he disliked Xylia, there was no way he’d have a change of heart <b>so </b>quickly.
As she was still doubting him, Sonny suddenly pouted and burst into tears.
“Our teacher said that if we’re not nice to our mom, we’ll go to hell when we die. Mom, I was really wrong. Can you forgive me? I don’t want to go to hell,” he sobbed.
That <b>was </b>when it hit Xylia that Sonny really was just a kid.
She didn’t say anything about forgiving him. She just stayed silent.
Sonny didn’t seem too hung up on her answer. He stepped forward and reached out, gently taking Xylia’s hand in his.
“Mom, there’s a school celebration next week. My teacher said I should invite both my parents. Will youe with me? We can y games and win gold stars, just like we used to,” he asked, hope shining in his voice.
Seeing Sonny like this, Xylia couldn’t help but feel her heart melt.
After all, she’d raised him herself. For six years, she’d been there for Sonny day in and day out–caring <b>for </b>him, helping him with everything from homework to life’s little problems.
Whenever the school needed parents to join in activities and Connor couldn’t make it, she was always the one by Sonny’s side.
For those school puzzle games that needed the whole family, Xylia would always <b>cover </b>for Connor and take on his part, teaming up with Sonny to win again and again.
Sonny used to worry about her, gently wiping the sweat from her <b>forehead </b>with his tiny hands and saying in his gentle little voice, “Thank you so much, Mom.”
Maybe it was because of the flood of old memories, or maybe it was because of seeing that hopeful <b>look </b>on Sonny’s face, Xylia just couldn’t bring herself to say no.
“Alright, Xylia replied, her voice gentle, a soft warmth flickering in her chest.
“Yay! It’s a deal. You have toe next week!” Sonny shouted, practically skipping away in excitement with the milk in his chest.
Xylia watched his tiny figure disappear down the hall, <b>and </b>the <b>light </b>in her eyes faded bit by bit.
Sonny said he’d bring her a ss of water, but he never actually did.
Xylia didn’t really care.
55 vouchair
By dinnertime, Xylia noticed an auction catalog lying on the coffee table in the living room.
She flipped through it casually, and suddenly her eyesnded on a painting that looked strikingly familiar.
It was a bright, colorful piece called “Springtime in Jupiton.” Even in the painting, the fish looked <b>so </b>vivid, it was as if they could leap off the page at any moment.
Xylia <b>sat </b><b>up </b>straight, her <b>eyes </b>shining with barely contained excitement.
This painting was Laurel’s breakthrough piece–the one that made her famous before she passed away.
Laurel was a true artist, a reclusive painter who never sought the spotlight.
She never cared about profit, but years ago, when the Schultz Group was on the brink, she sold this iconic work <b>just </b>to keep the family afloat.
The painting ended up going for a jaw–dropping three million dors at auction.
With that money, Laurel single–handedly saved the Schultz Group from copse.
Now, the painting was back on the auction block, and the starting bid was only thirty thousand dors.
Xylia couldn’t hold back her tears.
This was one of Laurel’s most important works, a piece she left behind before she passed. Xylia knew she had. to bring it home.
AD