Connor strode over and barked at Jonah, his tone harsh <b>and </bmanding
Jonah’s eyes shed with menace, his lips curling in a sneer he couldn’t suppress.
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‘Connor, Xylia’s clothes are soaked. Let me take her to change, alright?” Jonah asked, trying to sound casual.
“I’ll do it,” Connor said coldly.
Connor shot Jonah a frosty re, then walked straight toward Xylia.
Suddenly, Tessa yelped, grabbing Connor’s attention.
“Tessa, what’s wrong?” Connor asked.
Tessa bent over, holding her leg, wincing in pain.
“When my sister pushed me over, I twisted my ankle. It hasn’t healed yet. I really shouldn’t have worn heels,” Tessa said, her voice trembling
Sadie supported Tessa, shooting her a worried look before turning to Connor and yelling, “Your wife hurt Tessa, and now she can’t even dance anymore! And you still had the nerve to bring her to this party- seriously, what were you thinking?”
“Come on, help me <b>hold </b>Tessa!” Sadie snapped.
Connor frowned, nced <b>at </b>Xylia, then turned and walked toward Tessa
“Connor!” Xylia called out, unable to stop herself as Jonah started pulling <b>her </b>away.
The memory of Jonah sending her to the hospital three years ago was still vivid in her mind. ‘Is Connor really going to let Jonah take me away?‘ she thought, panic rising inside her.
Connor turned to look at Xylia.
“Xylia, this is my brother’s house. He knows better than <b>I </b>do where you can change your clothes,” he said..
With that, Connor walked straight toward Tessa without a second thought.
He gently helped Tessa over to a nearby sofa, helped her sit down, and checked her ankle with obvious
concem.
He didn’t care at all how many people were watching, or that Xylia, his own wife, was standing right there.
Xylia was already so disappointed in him, but her heart still ached with a dull pain she couldn’t suppress.
Three years ago, Connor had brought her to a family gathering just like this.
The party was lively, and Connor got pulled aside by the elders to talk about Ford Group business.
9:52 FM, <b>Sep </b>12
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Meanwhile, Jonah dragged her out to a shed in the backyard and beat her so badly she nearly died.
By the time Connor found her, she was already on the verge of passing out.
Later, she found out Jonah <b>had </b>done it just to avenge Tessa.
But Xylia honestly had no clue what she’d done to make Tessa mad.
Connor tried to exin to her, telling her that Jonals had bipr disorder, and he was into <b>Tessa</b>. Whenever Jonah saw Xylia, he couldn’t help but <b>think </b>she’d stolen eighteen years from Tessa, so he dumped all his rage
on her.
Back then, Connor didn’t hold back–he <b>had </b>Jonah thrown out of Ford Group and gave him a good beating to stand up for Xylia.
After that, no matter what kind of gathering Han’s family held, Connor never brought Xylia along.
This time, she only came because Connor had threatened her.
Xylia had thought that with so many peopleing to the party, <b>Jonah </b>wouldn’t dare try anything, no matter how reckless he was.
But she was wrong.
With everyone watching. Jonah grabbed Xylia and tried to haul her upstairs, not caring who saw.
Xylia ripped her arm out of his grip, hiked up her dress, and bolted for the front door, ignoring all the stares.
‘It doesn’t matter if Connor cares about me or not, Xylia thought, panic rising. ‘If I really go with Jonah<b>, </b>I’m as good as dead.
“Xylia!” Connor shouted, about to chase after her.
But this time, it was Jonah who stepped in to stop him.
“Connor<b>, </b>just let her go. She’s always been stubborn anyway,” Jonah <b>said</b>, his eyes fixed on the direction Xylia had run.
His gaze was cold and calcting.
But then Connor remembered he needed Xylia for what was about to happen. Ignoring Jonah’s attempt to hold him back, he brushed past and hurried after her.
Outside, the sunlight was perfect.
Xylia kept running down the concrete <b>path</b>, not daring to look back.
She bitterly regretted ever <bing </b>there with Connor.
An eye–catching red sports car cruised up to Han’s ce’s front gate, where the security guards greeted it with extra respect and let it right in.
9:52 Fri, Sep 12
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Leon was behind the wheel, sunsses on<b>, </b>driving one–handed. His silver–gray headphones sparkled in the sunlight.
“Rx, bro. I’ve got no clue why Jonah invited all the big names from Jupiton to this family party, but since I’m here, I’ll dig up some info on Xylia for sure. Trust me, Leon said.
<b>A </b>calm, steady voice came through his headphones. “Keep an eye on Connor and Tessa. And when you get a <b>chance</b>, ask the police about Xylia’s hit–and–run.”
“Got it.” Leon replied.
Just as he hung up. Leon caught sight of a blue figure out of the corner of his eye up ahead.
Before he could even make out the woman’s face, a few bodyguards suddenly rushed over and snatched her
<b>away</b>.
They didn’t bother being gentle–just manhandled her without a second thought.
Leon’s brows knitted. ‘Seriously? Snatching someone right here?’ he thought, disbelief flickering in his eyes.
He floored the gas, and as soon as he got out, the butler came right over to greet him.
“Mr. Sadler, right? This way, please,” the butler said, gesturing politely.
Leon looked around, but the blue figure was nowhere to be seen<b>. </b>
“I thought I saw some bodyguards grab a woman just now. What’s going on?” Leon asked.
The butler nced away nervously, then smiled at Leon.
“<b>You </b>must be mistaken, Mr. Sadler. The party’s about to start. Please, follow me,” the butler said, trying to steer him away.
Leon shot the butler a <b>knowing </b>look, suspicion flickering <b>in </b>his eyes, but he kept quiet and followed him <b>into </b>the party without another word.
As soon as he stepped inside, all eyes turned to him.
“Leon Sadler! Is that really the Leon Sadler from TV?” someone blurted out.
“Yeah, that’s him. Bute on, even if he’s the hottest actor around, he’s still just a celebrity. Why would the Ford family bother inviting him?” someone snorted.
“Isn’t hisst name Sadler? Maybe he’s from the Sadler family in Norhill<b>?</b>” another person chimed in.
“Get real. If he was really a Sadler from Norhill, would he need to act for a living? I heard he started out <b>as </b><b>a </b>nobody. If he was from that Sadler family, his first role wouldn’t have been a blink–and–you–miss–it cameo,” someone scoffed.
“Good point, someone agreed.
9:52 Fri, Sep 12
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The high societydies loved to gossip about celebrities, but when they actually came face–to–face with these actors, they looked <b>down </b>on them with barely concealed disdain.
To them, anyone parading themselves on screen was just a second–rate nobodypletely beneath <b>their </b>
notice.
Leon never made it public that he was part of the Sadler family from Norhill.
He didn’t care about the whispers or the judgmental stares.
But when Tessa spotted Leon walking in, she practically bounced over to him, her face lighting up with excitement.
“Mr. Sadler, it really is you! Do you remember me? <b>I’m </b>Tessa Schultz. We’ve met before, Tessa said, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.
“Yeah. I remember you, Ms. Schultz, Leon replied, his tone polite but keeping his distance.
Tessa’s cheeks flushed as she stared at Leon’s strikingly handsome face, her ears turning a bright shade of red.
She’d pulled a lot of strings to get Jonah to invite Leon, all so she could use this party to cozy up to him and maybe make a real connection.
Leon was her stepping stone–if she could get him on <b>her </b>side, breaking into showbiz would be a whole lot easier.
When Connor saw the way Tessa was acting, something twisted in his chest.
He walked over, face cold, putting on airs like he <b>was </b>above it all. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Mr. Sadler, Now that I’ve met you in person, I can see you’re even more handsome than you are on screen.”
He reached out his hand, clearly expecting a handshake.
Leon just gave him a faint smile, showing <b>no </b>intention of shaking his hand.
obe-
‘So that’s the so–called husband Xylia ended up with? Leon thought, his gaze sharpening as he watched. Connor shielding Tessa. He sure doesn’t look like the loyal, devoted man the media makes him out to more like a spineless pushover
Leon was about to speak when that sh of blue he’d seen earlier suddenly popped into his mind.
His expression darkened.
‘Connor’s here… so where the hell is Xylia?‘ Leon wondered, a flicker of worry crossing his face.