Chapter <b>60 </b>
In the heart of Jupiton’s bustling downtown stood a dazzling goldenndmark, more impressive than the High Desert Hotel. This <b>was </b>the Avery Music Lounge.
Outside the lounge, a row of luxury cars lined the entrance, while fans clutching glowing <b>signs </b>crowded around like ants. Reporters and photographers were lying in wait nearby.
As Leon’s luxury car rolled in, a chorus of screams filled the air.
The fans kept shouting his name. “Leon! Leon!”
Some of them yelled frantically, “Leon, look at me!”
A fan cried out, “Leon, here’s my letter! Come get it!”
Leon greeted his fans with a smile before heading straight into the lounge.
“Go collect the fans‘ letters and put them in the car,” he instructed his assistant, who nodded and left.
As Leon pushed open the doors to the inner <b>hall</b>, gentle, flowing music drifted out, and he saw the ce filled with sophisticated people from all walks of life.
This <b>was </b><b>a </bworking event where people traded resources and connections.
Leon was both a superstar and a big shot behind the scenes, so of course, he got an invite.
Tessa, dressed to the nines in a morous gown, was making conversation on the second–floor overlook. When she caught themotion downstairs, the corners of her lips curled up in a knowing smirk.
Finally, the one she’d been waiting for had arrived.
“Excuse me for a moment,” Tessa <b>said</b><b>, </b>slipping away.
Leon was chatting with a producer when he spotted Tessa approaching from the corner of his eye.
Because of Xylia, Leon could easily recognize members of the Schultz family.
He brushed off the producer just as Tessa walked up.
“Mr. Sadler, what a surprise to run into you here, Tessa said.
Leon gave her a cool look, not reciprocating her casual friendliness.
Tessa’s smile faltered slightly.
Tessa was the lead dancer, and even though she’d never starred in a movie, she was a star in her own right- her stage presence and poprity easily matched any top actress.
She expected Leon to recognize her.
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I’m Tessa Schultz, the lead dancer. It’s great to see you here–I’m a huge fan of your work,” she said.
Leon didn’t really know <b>what </b>went on with the Schultz family, but he was <b>well </b>aware that Xylia had lived as the real heiress for eighteen years..
He couldn’t help but wonder if, <b>after </bing back, Tessa, the true heiress, had been giving Xylia a hard time.
“Hello, Leon said, his smile warm.
Before Tessa could even catch her breath, Leon’s next wordspletely blindsided her. “I know you. You were all over the trending topics <b>a </b>couple of days ago. Wasn’t your sister a dancer too?”
Tessa was stunned. She hadn’t expected Leon to remember Xylia instead of her.
It had been eight years since Xyliast danced.
Tessa pushed down the jealousy bubbling up inside and looked at Leon.
“My sister used to be a dancer, but she stopped because she wanted to get married. She hurt her foot not long ago, so now she can’t dance at all. She can’t stand to see me on stage–she’s always been like that. But I’m used to it, I mean, she’s my sister…” Tessa <b>said</b>.
With that, she suddenly covered her mouth, like she’d just realized she <b>was </b>oversharing.
“Sorry for rambling,” she added.
Leon’s smile didn’t waver, but his eyes grew colder.
<b>‘</b><b>So </b>she’s been giving Xylia a hard time, he thought.
“Mr. Sadler, would you mind if we exchanged contact info? Maybe we can work together in the future,” Tessa
said.
“I’ll have my assistant contact youter. I need to take care of <b>something</b>, Leon replied.
Watching Leon walk away, Tessa couldn’t help but frown a little.
‘Why did he suddenly turn cold on me?‘ Tessa thought, confused.
<b>She </b>gritted her teeth, her gaze turning icy.
A realization suddenly hit her. It has to be because of Xylial The moment I brought her up, Leon’s whole vibe toward me changed.
“Leon must have figured out my connection to Xylia, and with all the bad press Xylia has online, he’s holding it <b>against </b><b>me </b><b>as </b>well.
I must get closer to Leon. If I want to make it in showbiz, I have to cling to this golden ticket–no matter what.”
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As Xylia finally received the prize money from the designerworking event, she grabbed her bank card and headed to the auction.
As soon as she walked through the auction house doors, she spotted Joshua not too far away.
Today, he was dressed casually in a ck long–sleeved shirt and jeans, his silver hair practically glowing under the lights.
He was talking to his assistant, his gaze lowered with a chill in his eyes. That sharp profile of his was so striking that people just couldn’t tear their eyes away.
“Keep
p an eye on that area,” Joshua said to his assistant, David Baldwin.
“Got it. Mr. Garcia, David replied.
Just as he called out “Mr. Garcia,” he nced up and met Xylia’s gaze from across the room.
“Ms. Schultz?” David called out.
Xylia blinked, a little thrown off. “Who is this guy? I don’t recognize his face or his voice at all, she thought, puzzled.
“Do you know me?” she asked.
David’s eyes darted around, then he instinctively nced over at Joshua.
Joshua was caught off guard by Xylia’s sudden appearance. He shot David a cold look, and David immediately. turned his attention back to Xylia<b>. </b>
“I heard about you from Mr… I mean, Joshua. Please excuse me for a moment,” David said, practically bolting
away.
“Oh man, I’m so screwed–1 actually called Mr. Garcia by his name! David thought, freaking out.
Xylia frowned, watching him go. Something felt off.
She turned back to Joshua, her eyes carrying <b>a </b><b>hint </b>of scrutiny. “Who is that guy? He called you Mr. Garcia so respectfully.
A subtle ripple crossed Joshua’s deep–set eyes, but his expression stayed perfectly calm as he replied to Xylia, “He’s a colleague. We address each other that way in private. <b>It’s </b>just for fun.”
He stayed perfectlyposed, like he was just answering something trivial.
Xylia nodded, not pressing further.
“Men always have their own little immature antics I’ll never understand, but whatever–it’s harmless, she thought.
Seeing that Xylia wasn’t suspicious anymore, Joshua finally rxed a little inside.
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“What brings you here?” he asked.
Xylia nced at him. “There’s a painting my grandma painted before she died. I want to bring it home. Are you here for something special too?”
Just here doing my boss a favor–he’s got his eye on a Vian blown ss cup set at the auction,” Joshua said.
Xylia nodded.
They kept chatting as they headed toward the auction hall.
Meanwhile, Sadie walked in with her arm linked through <b>Tessa’s</b><b>. </b>
As Sadie kept rambling about her ex–boyfriend, a flicker of irritation shed in Tessa’s eyes.
“Sadie, let’s be real. Sure, you helped your ex out, but he’s not even cute, and he doesn’t <b>have </b>any <b>drive</b>. Honestly, he’s way beneath you,” Tessa said.
“Why get hung up on just one guy? Wouldn’t it be better to find someone who’s hot and <b>rich</b>?” Tessa added.
Sadie pouted. She’d been surrounded by handsome, rich guys since she was a kid–she was <b>so </b>over <b>them </b>by
TOW.
From across the room, <b>Tessa </b>caught sight of Xylia and Joshua’s backs.
The moment sheid eyes on Xylia, her temper red.
After getting humiliated by Leon, Tessa was dead set on getting even.
“Sadie, what do you think of that guy over there?” Tessa asked, nodding toward Joshua.
Sadie was still in a bad mood, but when she followed the direction of Tessa’s finger, she spotted <b>Joshua</b><b>. </b>
Sadie had run into him twice before, and both times Xylia <b>was </b>with him.
Joshua’s looks had stunned Sadie both times, <b>but </b>with her ex on her mind back then, she’d never even thought about him like that..
But now, as Sadie watched Joshua from afar, she could see the auction hall’s cold lights cast his chiseled profile in sharp relief. Even dressed down in loose casual clothes, that broad–shouldered, slim–waisted frame was seriously eye–catching.
“Honestly, if a guy that good–looking wanted to date me, I wouldn’tin, Sadie thought, her heart giving a little skip.
Her heart was just starting to race, but before she could let her thoughts run wild, Tessa dragged her along toward Xylia and Joshua.
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