<b>hapter </b><b>64 </b>
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Connor looked down at Sonny and said, “Sonny, why don’t you head back to bed? I need to talk to your mom for a bit.
Sonny looked a little reluctant, but in the end, he obediently left the room.
<b>Just </b>get to the point.” Xylia crossed her arms over her chest, giving Connor a cold, unyielding stare.
“Uncle Han is hosting a family dinner tomorrow. Get ready, we’re going together,” Connor said.
Orion had two sons: Connor’s father, Maddox, <b>and </b>Maddox’s older brother, Han,
Due to some issues at Ford Group, Maddox had been on a business trip overseas for nearly <b>a </b>month.
Han never had Maddox’s knack for business–he was always the yful type growing up.
After he married Willow, the only daughter of the Finley family, he moved out of the Ford Mansion.
Han never really cared about joining the Ford Group himself, but his son Jonah ended up as a director at one of the group’s subsidiaries. Over the years, Jonah actually pulled off some impressive numbers, and just recently, Han even tried to push for Jonah to be brought back to headquarters.
Connor, though, had always kept his guard up around Jonah.
“I’m not going. Xylia replied, her tone icy and resolute.
She wanted nothing to do with it–Han’s family had cast a long shadow over her life.
Connor’s expression darkened. “It’s a family dinner. You have <b>no </b>choice–you’re going
He paused, then added, “And if you refuse, I’ll destroy that painting <b>you </b>snatched from Tessa <b>today</b>.”
Xylia’s head snapped up, her eyes zing with fury. “You wouldn’t dare!”
“Go ahead and try me,” Connor replied, his voice cold and unyielding.
Connor would stop at nothing for Tessa–there was <b>nothing </b>he wouldn’t do.
Left with no choice, Xylia finally gave in.
Connor gazed at her beautiful face, momentarily distracted by her charm.
His voice grew gentle. “Xylia, we’re still husband and wife. You have to trust me if you just do as I say, we can
back to the way things were.”
go
With that, he reached out to <b>take </b>her hand.
Xylia abruptly stepped back, her gaze wary and guarded.
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*Connor, we’re going to get divorced sooner orter. You need to be prepared for <b>that</b>,” she said coldly.
Connor’s anger red. He strode forward and seized her by the wrist.
“Looks like I’ve been too soft on you!” he snapped.
<b>With </b>a sudden, forceful tug, he pulled her <b>into </b>his arms and imed her lips in a fierce kiss.
Suddenly, memories of what happened between Connor and Tessa on the couch that day shed through Xylia’s mind.
Her stomach churned with disgust.
<b>“</b>Are you crazy, Connor? Let go of me!” Xylia shouted, struggling desperately, her eyes brimming with tears.
She bit down hard on Connor, making him wince in pain as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
While Connor was still stunned, Xylia quickly shoved him away and backed up to the nightstand, her hand searching for something.
She found the scissors she’d left there earlier after treating the wound on her calf.
Gripping the scissors tightly, she held them out, aiming them straight at Connor.
“Don’t push me, Connor! Xylia warned, her voice shaking with anger,
Connor raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression darkening by the second.
He was about to step toward Xylia <b>when </b><b>a </b>knock sounded at the door.
“Dad, Grandpa needs to talk to you.” Sonny’s voice came from outside.
Connor stopped, shot Xylia a final re, then turned and walked out of the room.
Only then did Xylia finally feel like she could breathe again, the tension in her chest slowly easing-
Sonny walked in and found Xylia sitting weakly at the bedside, her face drained of color, clearly shaken by what had just happened<b>. </b>
He gently <b>took </b>Xylia’s hand,forting her in that sweet, gentle way of his. “Mom, don’t worry. I won’t let Dad bully you.”
Right <b>then</b><b>, </b>Xylia felt like her Sonny had finallye back to her.
Looking at his sweet, innocent <b>face</b>, she couldn’t help but feel her heart melt a little.
“Thanks, Sonny. Go on, get some rest, Xylia said gently.
Sonny gave a little <b>nod </b><b>and </b>slipped out of the room.
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But as soon as Sonny stepped out of Xylia’s room, his face changed, and he scoffed under his breath. ‘Dad belongs to Tessa. I won’t let you two be together!‘ Sonny thought to himself, stubbornly.
Suddenly, Tessa’s voice piped up from his smartwatch<b>. </b>
“Nice job, Sonny!” Tessa cheered.
Sonny shed a proud smile, waved his hand, and dashed off to his room.
“Don’t worry, Tessal I’ll keep Mom in a good mood these next few days. When the school anniversaryes, we’ll set her up to embarrass herself. Dad will totally divorce her, and then you can finally be my real mom for <b>real</b>!” Sonny grinned, his voice full of excitement.
When Connor walked into the study, Orion handed him a report.
“Ford Group is hanging by a thread. You pissed off Sadler Group’s assistantst time, and now Jonah’s managed to cozy up to them. If he can pull Ford Group out of this mess, I won’t mind leaving all my remaining shares to him,” Orion said, his tone firm.
“Grandpa!” Connor blurted out, panic in his voice, his knuckles pale as he clutched the report.
The report was a preliminary partnership n that the Ford family had put together with the Sadler Group for a new project.
If this deal actually happened, Orion would totally start favoring Jonah. And if Jonah really got he’d have more power than Connor at Ford Group.
Connor couldn’t let that happen..
Orion had always shown a clear preference for Connor.
Orion’s shares,
Seeing Connor’s reaction, he let out a long sigh, reached into the drawer, and took out a document, handing it
<b>over</b><b>. </b>
“I’ve watched you dedicate yourself to thepany all these years. This is thest time I’ll help you, Orion said, his voice heavy,
Connor opened the file, his brows furrowing in confusion–the first thing he saw was Xylia’s name.
“What… is this?” Connor muttered, still trying to process it as he looked up at Orion in shock.
Orion fixed Connor with a deep, meaningful look. “Now you see why I won’t let you divorce Xylia, don’t you? Her origins could really help our family.”
Connor gripped the file hard, his face clouding over with gloom as the truth <b>sank </b>in.
The next day, Xylia carefully packed up Laurel’s painting and arranged for it to be sent to the Sadler guys.
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Connor’s words from the night before <b>had </b>been a <b>wake</b>–up call–leaving the painting at the Ford Mansion wasn’t safe. <b>She </b>needed to get it somewhere secure.
She’d barely finished sending off the painting <b>when </b>Connor showed up with a makeup artist in tow.
“Make sure she looks her best,” Connor instructed.
Xylia <b>frowned</b>. ‘Seriously? It’s just a family dinner. Do I really need to get all dolled up for this? she thought.
Connor ext
exined tly. “Not just the Ford family members are invited to the dinner. We’ve also invited <b>some </b>elite families from the upper circle. Don’t embarrass me there.”
They’re even inviting outsiders to a family dinner? Xylia wondered, totally baffled.
She didn’t get it, and honestly, she had zero intention of showing any respect for the whole thing,
The makeup artist brought out a light blue strapless gown. Sparkling gems at the waist formed a delicate mermaid silhouette, and the skirt cascaded down like ocean waves, shimmering with every step Xylia took.
Xylia frowned. Why does this dress <b>look </b>so familiar?‘ she wondered.
When she finally came downstairs, Connor nced up–and for a second, he waspletely mesmerized. He just couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Even though Xylia <b>was </b>already a mom to a six–year–old, she still kept herself in amazing shape–her looks and figure were on point.
She was a natural beauty, and <b>with </b>just a little bit of dressing up, she looked like she’d stepped right out of a
dream.
Xylia caught Connor staring and barely spared him <b>a </b>nce, totally uninterested.
“Well, let’s go now. Connor cleared his throat, feeling awkward for zoning out like that.
He walked over and offered his arm, clearly expecting Xylia to link hers with his
Xylia just picked up her skirt and walked right out the door<b>, </b>not even giving Connor the time of day.
Connor didn’t mind at all–he just figured she was sulking.
‘Once this <b>phase </b><b>passes</b>, I’ll take her on a honeymoon, spoil her a little, and things will go back to the way they <b>were</b>, he thought.
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