Lyle paused, looking at Xylia.
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Xylia continued, “She once told me that, from childhood, whenever your parents gave you snacks, toys, or clothes unfairly, you always found ways to share them with her. When you went to college, you even worked part–time and secretly sent her pocket money.
“But what you didn’t know is that, after your parents found out that you were sharing your things with her, they verbally abused and even physically beat her in private.
“That was also the reason she took her own life when she found out she had been forced to drop out of school. She felt like she couldn’t escape your parents‘ control.”
Lyle stood frozen in ce, reacting to Xylia’s words.
“To you, those two in the hospital are your parents, but to Nova, they were not,” Xylia added.
Xylia did not pay the fees on behalf of Nova’s parents. Instead, she paid them on behalf of Nova’s brother. If Nova were alive, she might not wish to see Lyle in this condition.
Lyle’s tears began to fall, and he turned toward the family portrait on the wall, his body trembling with emotion.
Xylia said, her voice calm, “I’m telling you this because I don’t want you to involve Nova in any more wrongdoings in the future. She was a burden to your family when she was alive. Don’t exploit her memory now that she’s gone.”
*****
After leaving Lyle’s house, Xylia offered to increase Maverick’s payment. After all, he had traveled such a long way to help her find clues, and she didn’t want him to cover all the travel expenses himself.
Maverick, hearing Xylia’s offer, involuntarily nced at Joshua, who was standing beside her. He had already epted money from Joshua,
He swallowed and said, “No need, Ms. Schultz. In our line of work, we only ept one payment.”
“Then let me treat you to a meal,” Xylia suggested.
Joshua raised an eyebrow.
Maverick, feeling uneasy, quickly replied, “Ms. Schultz, you don’t need to be so polite. I still have things to handle, so let’s talkter.” He hastily bid them farewell, turned, and left without a second nce.
Xylia noticed that Maverick seemed a bit off today. He looked really nervous. She didn’t dwell on it too much, instead transferring a sum of money into Maverick’s personal ount.
Joshua looked at Xylia and asked, “Are you nning to wait until after your grandmother’s memorial day to expose Tessa?”
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Xylia nodded. “Grandmother always said her greatest wish was to see the family reunited. She hoped the Schultz family would truly ept me. So, for her memorial day, I don’t want anyone missing.”
Joshua stopped and lowered his gaze to look at Xylia. His gaze was serious, his expression unreadable. “Have you considered that, given how much your grandmother cared for you, she wouldn’t want you to suffer?<b>” </b>
Xylia knew that Joshua was concerned about her. She smiled and reassured him, “Don’t worry<b>, </b>I’ll be free soon.” She walked ahead, feeling much lighter.
Joshua gazed at her slender back, a bittersweet ache rising in his heart. For the past eight years, she had endured so much hardship.
*****
Later, Joshua dropped Xylia off at her apartment. Just as they arrived, he received a phone call and quickly left.
Lately, Xylia had grown ustomed to Joshua’s rushed arrivals and departures.
She sat back on the sofa, reading through the detailed message Chase had sent regarding her design sketches. She carefully recorded the points before moving to the window to paint.
Her painting depicted the sunset, with the sky aze in red clouds.
She stretched her arms to ease the tension in her muscles and was about to start preparing dinner when she received a call from her brother. “Xylia, we’ll be in Jupiton in three days.”
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Xylia was surprised. “Even if you’reing to pick me up, isn’t it a bit early? There’s still half a month left.”
“We want to see you soon, and we have some matters to attend to as well. I’ve reserved a table at Caperson Bistro for three days from now. Let’s meet then,” her brother said.
As the topic of meeting came up, Xylia started to feel nervous. Under the orange sunlight, she nodded and softly said, “Okay.”
On the other end of the line, Kaden let out a long sigh, followed by faintughter. “By the way, your third brother is having some work trouble, so it’ll just be me and your second brother that day. Is that alright?”
“I don’t mind, work is important,” Xylia said this thoughtfully, and there was a brief silence on the other end.
Afterwards, her brother chatted a bit more before ending the call.
Xylia didn’t mind whether the others would be there when she was picked up. She put her phone down and walked into the kitchen.
Meanwhile<b>, </b><b>at </b>the Sadler family estate in Norhill, inside the study, Leon mmed his hand on the table, ring at Kaden Sadler, who was sitting behind it. “I must go pick up Xylia!”
“Have you cleaned up your own mess<b>?</b>” Kaden Sadler asked.
Cyrus Sadler sitting on the sofa next to them, organizing the medicine kit, teased Leon as though enjoying
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the drama. He ced a white bottle in the kit, then suddenly turned his head toward Leon.
“You say you’re Xylia’s idol, if you don’t go pick her up, she’ll probably forgive you, right?” Cyrus said.
“What are you saying, Cyrus?” Hudson Sadler wearing a leather jacket with silver–gray hair, had just finished a game. He tossed his phone aside and walked over to Leon, putting his arm around his shoulder.
“Leon, you’ve stayed in Jupiton all this time without revealing your identity to her. When Xylia finds out you’re her brother, do you think she’ll draw closer to you or stay away?” Hudson said.
Leon gritted his teeth. “It’s all because Kaden didn’t allow me to reunite with Xylia.”
“Kaden, did you say this?” Hudson asked.
Kaden, while sending a message to arrange the schedule, casually replied, “I said it in the beginning, but I haven’t said it since.”
Meaning, Leon had once had the chance to tell her the truth, but he hadn’t.
Leon felt wronged. He had intended to fully disclose everything to Xylia in front of the city hall, but was interrupted by a call from Kaden.
Because the live broadcast during the school anniversary came under public scrutiny, coupled with Leon’s recent scandal, certain individuals who sought to undermine him took covert actions.
Kaden instructed Leon to return and handle these matters, and not to involve Xylia. Only then did Leon hasten back without pause.
Unexpectedly, the situation proved to be even more challenging than Leon had anticipated, and, to make matters worse, Kaden was not assisting him this time. He had been left isted and unsupported.
After finishing organizing the medicine kit, Cyrus slowly spoke, “Xylia is the youngest surgeon at Jupiton Hospital. However, her tendons werepletely severed recently. The Ford family must give us an exnation for this.”
Cyrus looked at the three brothers at the desk. “We’re not just going to Jupiton for Xylia. We’re going to avenge her.”
AD
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