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    Xylia was taken back to the vi by Connor. This was the ce where they had lived for six years after their marriage. Since Xylia filed for divorce, she hadn’t returned here.


    Connor dragged Xylia into the vi’s main entrance.


    Sonny was in the living room. When he saw Connor and Xylia returning together, his eyes lit up, but quickly turned disdainful as he looked at Xylia. “Aren’t you nning to divorce Dad? Why have youe back?”


    Xylia’s wrist was pulled sharply, causing her pain. She couldn’t break free, and instinctively replied, “Don’t you want me to divorce your dad and let Tessa be your mother?”


    Whether out of anger or something else, Sonny puffed up with rage. “That’s right. You’re not fit to be my mother. Who cares if youe back?” With that, he turned and ran upstairs.


    Connor dragged Xylia into the vi’s basement and violently threw her onto the floor. Xylia’s elbow hit the floor, the pain making her eyes water. She looked at Connor and asked, “What do you want?”


    Connor scoffed coldly, his gaze filled with disgust. “What, do you think I would ever touch a woman like you again? A filthy woman like you?”


    His voice was cold, as if it had emerged from the depths of an abyss.


    Though Xylia hadn’t expected anything from him, hearing those words still made her heart ache.


    She climbed to her feet, ring at him. “You used Grandfather to trick me intoing back–what exactly are you trying to do?”


    Connor red at her, his eyes bloodshot with anger, as if he might tear her apart. “Who did you meet at Caperson Bistro today? Why do you always ruin my reputation in front of others?”


    As he spoke, he grabbed her chin, ring down at her. “Do you know how long I’ve been working to secure a partnership with the Sadler family? You’ve ruined everything.”


    He forcefully flung her off, and Xylia staggered backward. She had to steady herself by holding onto a nearby shelf.


    She looked at him, her gaze just as cold. “When did the Sadler family agree to cooperate with you? You and Tessa have an ambiguous rtionship and people have misunderstood it. What does that have to do with


    me?”


    “Stop making excuses!” Connor shouted.


    Xylia tilted her face upward and stared stubbornly at Connor Ford.


    Connor’s hands trembled with anger as he turned around and smashed his fist into the wall.


    Xylia, terrified, realized that his emotions were unstable. She was sure he would do something to hurt her. Looking at the door, she quietly moved toward it while he wasn’t paying attention.


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    But suddenly, Connor turned around and caught her. “I’ve been too tolerant with you,” he said coldly. “From now on, stay here. You’re not allowed to leave.”


    Xylia watched helplessly as Connor walked toward the door. Her heart tightened, and she quickly followed. However, Connor was too fast. As soon as she reached the door, it mmed shut.


    The basement light flickered and dimmed. She pounded on the door. “Connor, you pervert. Let me out! We’re divorced, you’re imprisoning me. Open the door,” she screamed, panic rising in her voice.


    But Connor, standing outside, remained calm. “At this point, you still want to threaten me with a divorce? Stay inside and reflect. If you don’t understand your mistakes, you’re noting out. I won’t tolerate you anymore.”


    The sound of his footsteps slowly faded away. Xylia’s mind began to cloud over. Memories of the attic flooded her mind. Her body went weak, her heartbeat quickening as she copsed against the wall.


    Driven by instinct, she crawled along the wall to the light switch. The light turned on, and Xylia finally felt she could breathe again.


    Her face was pale as she sat against the wall. In just a few seconds, her clothes were drenched in sweat, as if she had just been pulled from water.


    There was no signal in the basement, and she couldn’t call for help or dial the police. She had to figure out a way to get out of here.


    Connor returned to the living room, and Sonny came forward. “Where is she?” Sonny asked.


    Connor nced at Sonny indifferently before walking toward the sofa. “Your mother made a mistake, and I made her admit it,” he replied.


    “Did you bring me back just to punish Mom?” Sonny asked.


    Connor noticed the disapproval in Sonny’s eyes and furrowed his brow. “Do you think I shouldn’t punish her?”


    Sonny crossed his arms, looking like a little adult despite his age. “Of course she should be punished. She’s been so willfultely–leaving home at the slightest provocation, even threatening you with divorce.


    “Most importantly, she’s been targeting Tessa. Dad, you should have done this a long time ago and taught her


    a lesson.”


    Connor stared at Sonny for a few seconds before pinching his brow and replying calmly, “It’s gettingte. You should go to bed now.”


    “Aren’t you going to sleep?” Sonny asked.


    “I have some work to do,” Connor answered.


    Sonny looked at his father’s weary face with concern and said. “Dad, vou should rest too. Your health is


    important.”


    :


    Only then did Connor smile.


    :


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    Sonny returned to his room, eager to call Tessa. He quickly took out his phone watch and dialed her number. He told Tessa everything that had happened, then added with excitement, “Tessa, Dad said I should make you my godmother.”


    Tessa’s expression twisted at the other end of the line. Connor had decided not to divorce Xylia after all.


    She sneered inwardly. She had never failed to get what she wanted.


    Trying to hide her frustration, Tessa said gently to Sonny, “Okay, as long as we’re living together, that’s fine, right?”


    “Yes! I want to live with you, Tessa,” Sonny eximed.


    “Alright, Sonny, get some rest. I’ll visit you tomorrow,” Tessa said softly.


    “Okay, I’ll wait for you toe over and y.”


    After ending the call, Tessa dialed someone from her contacts. This person was a gang member who had once been associated with Sadie. Tessa intended to buy certain substances from him.


    Since Connor had dyed officially being with her, she had no choice but to take drastic measures.


    *****


    The next day, Xylia woke up in the basement feeling groggy. The night before, she had searched the basement for a long time but couldn’t find anything to pry the door open. Instead, she found a musty nket.


    The basement was cold and damp. She shook the nket out, draped it over herself, and spent the night sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall.


    When she woke up that morning, her head felt heavy and groggy. She was most likelying down with a cold. Struggling to sit up, her stomach growled with hunger.


    Just then, the door opened. “Xylia, did you sleep wellst night?”


    AD