Xylia left Ford Mansion, carrying her suitcase. A familiar Volkswagen was parked at the entrance. Xylia looked up and saw Joshua leaning against the car door.


    Seeing here out, Joshua smiled and looked at her. “I’m afraid you can’t carry these things, let me help you.”


    Xylia had just faced some grievances inside, and seeing a familiar face made her eyes well up with tears.


    Joshua furrowed his brow slightly, walked over, and stood in front of her. “What’s wrong? Did they bully you again?”


    Xylia shook her head, smiling. “I’m just so happy.”


    Joshua carefully observed her, noticing her slightly trembling legs. He furrowed his brow but said nothing. “Get in the car. I’ll take you to the apartment.”


    Xylia didn’t refuse. She let Joshua load her luggage into the car, then climbed into the front passenger seat.


    As the sun set, the winding mountain road was bathed in the orange–red glow of the sunset, casting a warm hue on the silver guardrails along the roadside.


    Xylia opened the window, and the breeze that slipped in carried a sense of freedom. Although her knee still hurt a bit, she felt a rare sense of peace.


    After dropping her off at the apartment, Joshua left.


    Xylia didn’t immediately unpack. Instead, she sat on the sofa, gently rubbing her knee. Ziggy’s earlier strike had caught her off guard. But thankfully, there were no serious injuries.


    The phone rang. Xylia nced at the screen, her gaze shifting slightly.


    She answered, and a low, gentle male voice came from the other end. “Xylia, the items you sent have arrived, and I’ve ced them in your room.”


    “Thank you,” Xylia said.


    “In less than a month, it will be your return date. We’lle to pick you up then,” her brother said.


    “No need. I’lle back on my own. Just send me the address,” she said.


    “Alright,” came the reply.


    After hanging up, Xylia sat on the sofa, her phone in hand, her expression distant. She had agreed to return home and reconnect with her family. But she wasn’t sure if her family would truly ept her.


    After all, her brother had contacted her years ago, but at that time, she had wanted to build a life with Connor and had refused to go back.


    :


    “Where are you going?” A sudden voice from the doorway startled Xylia.


    When she saw that it was Joshua, she let out a sigh of relief. “You scared me,” she said.


    <b>44 </b>


    10 vouchers


    Joshua, carrying a stic bag, walked over to the armchair beside her and sat down. He stared at her face, waiting for an answer.


    Xylia exined, “As I mentioned to you before, I have found my family, so I have to leave.”


    “Noting back?” Joshua asked.


    Xylia shook her head. “There’s no family for me in Jupiton, so I probably won’t return.”


    Joshua’s expression darkened.


    Xylia asked him what was wrong, but he didn’t reply. Instead, he opened the stic bag, took out a bottle of pain–relief ointment. “Extend your leg,” he said.


    Xylia was surprised. “What?”


    Joshua had already lost his patience. He grabbed her ankle and rolled up her pant leg to her knee. Xylia instinctively pulled her foot away, but Joshua quickly grabbed it. “Don’t move.”


    Xylia’s knee was exposed, covered in bruises that looked painful.


    Joshua poured the ointment onto his hands, rubbed it until it was warm, then gently ced his palm on Xylia’s knee, massaging the bruises with care.


    He half–knelt on the living room floor, his silver hair falling to cover his eyes. He looked serious, his sleeves rolled up to reveal his toned forearms.


    Xylia suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. “I’ll do it myself.”


    She tried to take the ointment, but Joshua dodged her hand. “I’ll take you to Rachel tomorrow. You must have gotten hurt quite a bit while staying at the Ford family’s ce,” he said.


    “I’m fine,” Xylia replied.


    “Your face is still marked with red bruises. How can you say you’re fine?” he said.


    Xylia instinctively touched her face. This was hit by Connor today. Joshua must have seen the livestream, and


    she felt a little awkward.


    Luckily, Joshua didn’t say anything more. After applying the ointment, he just gave her a few words of advice.


    During this time, he answered a phone call. After hearing something from the other end, his expression darkened.


    “If you’re busy, you can leave now. I can take care of this myself,” Xylia said.


    Joshua did not refuse. “I have ordered food for you. Finish tidying up and rest early.” With that, he hurriedly


    left.


    Xylia bit her lip. Joshua was <b>so </b>considerate, which surprised her a little.


    After tidying up, Xyliay down on the bed, finally falling into the most peaceful sleep she had had in a long


    time.


    Meanwhile, in stark contrast to Xylia’s rxed mood, the Ford Mansion seemed heavy with an oppressive air.


    Connor sat on the sofa in the living room, while Sonny knelt on the floor. The boy kept ncing up at his father, his eyes full of unease. Connor’s expression was dark.


    “Dad, didn’t you promise to find me a new mom?” Sonny asked.


    “Shut up!” Connor’s deep voice rang out, fierce and authoritative.


    Sonny, frightened, shrank back, his eyes reddening.


    “Did you invite your mother to the school anniversary celebration?” Connor asked.


    Sonny lowered his head, softly muttering, “Yes.”


    “Did you invite Tessa too?” Connor added.


    Sonny lowered his head even further. He knew lying was wrong, but he just wanted Tessa to be his mother as soon as possible.


    Connor pped the table, and Sonny jumped in fear. “Who taught you to lie? Did you set your mother up to be humiliated? You made Tessa face controversy at the school celebration. Are you getting bolder?”


    “You taught me to lie. When you asked me to lie at the police station to frame mom, wasn’t that lying too?” Sonny timidly replied.


    Connor wanted to argue but was at a loss for words.


    Sonny walked over, inteced his fingers with Connor’s, and said, “Dad, now that you’re divorced from mom, can Tessa be my new mom?


    “Tessa said you and mom must be really sad and asked me tofort you both. But I don’t like my mom. I really hope Tessa can be my new mom.”


    Connor looked down at his son, who resembled him so much, and his heart softened. He picked Sonny up in his arms. “Your mom will always be your mom, no matter what.”


    “I don’t care! I don’t want her to be my mom anymore!” Sonny shouted.


    Connor lost his patience and handed Sonny to a servant. “Rest early.”


    The servant carried Sonny away.


    Connor sat back on the sofa, rubbing his brow. His phone rang, and he answered an unknown caller.


    “Hello, are you Xylia Schultz’s husband?” the voice on the other end asked.


    <b>12:07 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>15 </b>