Ziggy grabbed Xylia’s wrist hard, his expression stormy.


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    He said, “We took care of you for eighteen years, and this is how you pay us back? So what if you turn out to be a Garcia? You stole Tessa’s ce for eighteen years. You’re going to owe her for the rest of your life!


    “If you’ve got any sense, when you return to the Garcia family, make sure they agree to a long–term deal with the Schultz family to settle their debt. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to ruin your reputation!”


    With that, Ziggy stormed off after Connor and Tessa.


    Gia shot Xylia a furious look, her eyes zing with anger, but Yves grabbed her arm to hold her back.


    She let out a slow breath before ordering Xylia. “Ziggy’s got a point. You stepped into Tessa’s shoes and enjoyed the good life for eighteen years.


    “Now it’s time to return the favor. Since you’re a Garcia, your dad will go to great lengths to make it right, so you’d better ensure the Garcia family and the Schultze family form a long–term partnership. Got it?”


    Only now did Xylia realize why Connor had dragged her to the Schultz family today.


    She moved her jaw, her face stinging from the swelling.


    She looked at Gia and Yves.


    Both of them stared at her. There was no hint of pleading, just pure expectation.


    To them, she was someone who’d lived off the Schultz family for eighteen years, and now it was payback time.


    Back when she was craving their affection, she would have agreed without hesitation.


    But she wasn’t that naive anymore.


    “If I remember right, you were the ones who took home the wrong kid eighteen years ago. I was just a child back then. I didn’t even know my real parents. How could I have told you I wasn’t yours?” Xylia said, her voice icy.


    Yves and Gia froze, not because of what she said, but because of her attitude.


    To them, Xylia always just went along with whatever came her way without everining.


    No matter how they scolded or hit her, she never fought back or resisted.


    But now, her gaze was cold and distant, as if she was drawing a line between them.


    She said firmly, “All the abuse and beatings I’ve endured over the past eight years and all the scars on my body have more than paid off any debt I owed you for raising me. From now on, I’m no longer a Schultz.”


    With that, Xylia turned to leave.


    Gia finally snapped. She marched over and mped down hard on Xylia’s right wrist.


    Her wrist hadn’t even healed yet.


    The sudden pain made cold sweat break out on Xylia’s forehead.


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    Gia said, “We took care of you for eighteen years. Do you think eight years of suffering makes us even? Xylia, listen up. You’re going to get us the deal with the Garcia family, whether you want to or not. You owe us, and you’re not getting out of it.”


    Yves’s face turned cold, and his voice dropped to a menacing growl. “Do you really think you’ve soared above us? Do you want to sever all ties with the Schultz family?


    “Even if you hate us, your grandmother was always good to you, wasn’t she? Her memorial is in a month. Do you really want her to be unable to rest in peace, even in death?”


    At the mention of Laurel, Xylia stiffened.


    She’d stayed this long because she wanted to wait until after Laurel’s memorial before acknowledging her true heritage.


    Now really wasn’t the time to break things off with the Schultze family. Otherwise, Yves and Gia would never let her attend Laurel’s memorial.


    Xylia went quiet.


    Gia jerked her hand away.


    “Do you think you made it on your own? If it weren’t for us, who knows where you’d have ended up. Maybe you’re dead in a ditch somewhere! You’d never have had a shot at getting in with the Garcia family without us!” said Gia.


    Xylia cradled her aching wrist, saying nothing.


    Yves’s expression softened a bit as he motioned for the butler to bring over some documents.


    “This is a new project from the Schultz Group. When you see your real dad, show it to him. You’d better make sure he invests. Understood?”


    Xylia took the documents, her mind sneering, ‘I haven’t even returned to the Garcia family yet, and they’ve already got their n ready!


    Seeing her take the documents, Yves softened his expressionpletely.


    “Alright, <i>go </i><i>to </i>the hospital and apologize to Tessa. Don’t you ever mess with her again,” said Yves.


    Gia shot her a sharp look. “Tessa is a lead dancer. If there’s even a scratch on her hands, I won’t let you go.”


    Ever since earlier, Gia had been fretting over Tessa.


    She thought, ‘Even if the coffee on the coffee table has cooled, Tessa’s skin is so sensitive. What if she got


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    She made up her mind to drag Xylia to the hospital to apologize to Tessa and check on her darling girl.


    Xylia had only been out of the hospital for two hours, and now she was back again.


    Her face itched, and she raised her hand to scratch it. It stung a little.


    She caught a glimpse of herself in the ss window of the hospital corridor. There was a small scratch on her left cheek.


    She thought of the ring on Connor’s hand. It must have scraped her face when he pped her.


    ‘Looks like I’ll need to put some ointment on thatter, she thought.


    Right outside the hospital room, Gia answered her phone.


    Just as Xylia got to the door, she heard Tessa and Connor talking inside.


    “Connor, now that Xylia is a Garcia, does that mean you’re not going to divorce her?” Tessa asked, her voice trembling with grievance.


    Xylia peeked through the ss window, catching sight of Connor perched on the edge of the bed, gently inspecting Tessa’s hand, which was wrapped in bandages.


    At Tessa’s words, Connor froze for a moment.


    “Tessa, even if she wasn’t a Garcia, I still wouldn’t divorce her,” he replied, his tone unwavering.


    “Why?” Tessa’s voice was sharp with hurt, her eyes wet with tears as she looked at Connor.


    “Xylia’s basically helpless now. She can’t get by without me,” Connor said, his voice steady.


    “But you said you’d divorce her… “Tessa’s voice trembled.


    “I only said that because I was upset. Xylia is a little reckless, but from now on, I’ll keep you two apart. She won’t hurt you again,” Connor replied firmly.


    Tessa was clearly upset by Connor’s words. She looked up at him, stubbornness flickering in her teary eyes.


    “Do you love her?” Tessa asked.


    Connor didn’t answer. He just slowly released Tessa’s hand.


    “I owe her, Tessa. But I promise I’ll do everything I can to make sure you have a good future. That’s all I can do for you now,” he said.


    “Why?” Tessa cried, looking at Connor.


    “Connor, is it because you feel guilty about Xylia? You made her take the me for my hit–and–run, so now you feel like you owe her, and want to look after her for the rest of her life?” asked Tessa.


    Xylia lingered at the doorway, her gaze flickering.


    “Tessa, don’t bring this up again. I’m doing this for your own good,” Connor said.


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    “For my own good? Someone has already gone to Seth’s ce asking about the hit–and–run. Xylia is onto you now. Do you really think she’ll just forgive you once she knows the truth?” Tessa asked.


    “What did you just say?” Connor stared at her.


    Tessa wiped her tears and continued, “Seth called me earlier. He said someone showed up at his house asking about the ident. Who else would be so determined to dig up the truth except Xylia? If she finds the third witness before we do, the whole thing’s going to blow up.”


    “The third witness?‘ Xylia froze in shock, thinking. ‘So there really was someone else at the scene that night.


    Just as she was about to keep listening, Gia came back.


    “What are you doing standing there? Why don’t you get in?” Gia snapped.


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