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    Connor listened to Tessa’s words in silence, his face showing none of the joy you’d expect from a groom.


    He had a lonely look about him, though he wasn’t even sure why.


    He wasn’t even sure what he was feeling lonely about.


    These past few days, all he could think about was Xylia–her face, the sound of her voice. But he really shouldn’t be thinking about her.


    But he knew he shouldn’t.


    Connor always told himself that the one he truly cared about should’ve been Tessa. The only reason he ended up marrying Xylia was because he had no other choice–all because of Tessa.


    Everything he’d done for Xylia as her husband was out of duty, not love–that’s what he told himself. He’d always believed he owed her, nothing more.


    ‘I’ve never loved Xylia, have I?‘ Connor questioned himself, convincing himself that’s just how it was.


    ‘But now?‘ Connor caught himself thinking, surprised at how things had shifted.


    On the eve of his wedding to Tessa, all he could do was worry about a phone call from his ex–wife. How ridiculous was that?


    ‘It’s like something deep inside me is quietly changing,” he thought, unsure when it had even started.


    Connor went back to his study to deal with some work.


    Just as he pulled out his phone, he got a text from an unknown number.


    Ford Group’s opening a branch in Norhill.


    When Connor saw the message, his furrowed brow rxed a little.


    Perfect, he’d been wanting to make a trip to Norhill before the wedding anyway.


    Xylia showed up at the bar on the dot, scanning the room as she stepped inside.


    The bar had just opened for the night, and guests were beginning to fill the ce one after another.


    She quickly noticed Noelle sitting at the bar counter.


    Noelle caught sight of her too and waved enthusiastically. “Ms. Sadler, over here!”


    Noelle was all smiles today, which instantly had Xylia raising an eyebrow.


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    Most days, Noelle was never warm to her–always finding ways to throw shade or shooting her dagger–like looks whenever she got the chance.


    ‘Where’s this friendly acting from all of a sudden?‘ Xylia wondered, genuinely baffled.


    Xylia sat down beside Noelle.


    Noelle waved at the bartender. “Can we get a drink for Ms. Sadler here?”


    “I can’t, I’m on medication,” Xylia replied.


    ‘Medication? Seriously?‘ Noelle thought, raising an eyebrow in obvious doubt.


    Noelle barely knew Xylia, so she figured Xylia was just trying to snub her. Her smile vanished, reced by a scowl.


    “Look, I didn’t ask you toe here just to chat,” Noelle said coldly. “If you won’t even have a drink, then you can kiss all that info goodbye.”


    Xylia looked at Noelle with cool indifference,pletely unbothered.


    “If that’s the case, Ms. Coffey, enjoy your drink alone,” she said tly.


    She picked up her bag and headed for the exit.


    Noelle freaked out and grabbed Xylia by the arm. “Who said you could leave?”


    Xylia turned back, her voice icy and unbothered. “Let’s not forget, you invited me here, Ms. Coffey. You can spill about Joshua or keep your secrets–I’ll get what I want, with or without you. So don’t think you can push


    me around.”


    Noelle’s face fell in an instant.


    Her gaze on Xylia grew icy.


    But it was gone in a sh. She masked the chill in her expression and relented.


    “No more pressure. Just take a seat,” Noelle said, her tone halfway between casual and begrudging.


    Xylia couldn’t help but stay on high alert around Noelle now.


    There’s no way Noelle dragged her here just to shoot the breeze–she definitely had something up her sleeve.


    Xylia noticed how desperate Noelle got when she pretended to leave, practically begging her to stay and biting back her annoyance. ‘Either she wants to tell me something major, or she’s got her own agenda and needs me for it, Xylia thought.


    Xylia masked her suspicion and coolly took her seat next to Noelle, keeping her guard up.


    She was curious to see what game Noelle was ying, and what kind of secrets she might try to drop tonight.


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    Noelle waved the bartender over and ordered a juice for her.


    Xylia epted the ss, but just held it in her hand, not taking a sip.


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    Noelle said, “Originally I was thinking we could grab dinner, but I randomly felt likeing for drinks instead. Guess I didn’t know you don’t drink–you’re not mad, are you?”


    ‘Not like I came here for a dinner anyway, Xylia thought coolly.


    “Of course I don’t mind,” Xylia replied, her tone calm and distant.


    Noelle stared at Xylia’s unfazed expression, sneering to herself.


    ‘Let’s see if you can stay this calm for long,’ she thought.


    “Ms. Sadler, you’re here because you want to know how Joshua got hurt all those years ago, right?” Noelle said, her voice carrying more of a smug certainty than anything else.


    Xylia didn’t reply, just gave Noelle a cool look that screamed, ‘Did you really need to say that out loud?‘


    Her gaze swept over Noelle, indifferent and almost bored, like she couldn’t be bothered with pointless talk.


    Noelle obviously knew exactly why Xylia had shown up tonight, and still insisted on asking. Honestly, it just made here off as kind of clueless.


    Her expression soured even further.


    But she bit her tongue and held it in.


    Noelle stopped beating around the bush and faced Xylia head–on. “The truth is, the ones who went after Joshua all those years ago–were the Garcia family’s sworn enemies.”


    ‘Sworn enemies?‘ Xylia frowned, shooting Noelle a probing look.


    Xylia kept her eyes fixed on Noelle, waiting for more.


    Now that Noelle had started spilling the beans, it was obvious she wasn’t nning on holding anything back.


    The Garcia family boasted a legacy that stretched back over a century, standing as one of Alvend’s true old- money dynasties–an elite household everyone knew about.


    Despite their wealth and influence, the Garcias always kept things humble and rarely made waves among the country’s wealthy elite. Still, when their name came up, even the most powerful had to show respect.


    Their roots traced back to an old–time bodyguard agency, but generations ago, the family patriarch began investing in Jupiton and amassed a fortune that set the Garcias apart for good.


    But when Aaron took over the Garcia Group, he ended up making enemies with a secretive organization from Kregonia.


    Back in his younger days, Aaron fought against this hidden group and won by just a hair. After that, he and his


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    family enjoyed a brief period of peace.


    For all the years while Joshua was growing up, that organization stayed in the shadows, never once troubling the Garcia Group.


    But as soon as Joshua took power as head of the Group, they finally reappeared–ready to make his life hell.


    ‘So that’s it… Xylia thought, her eyes growing a shade colder as she listened.


    She asked Noelle, “Is it that guy–Dexter?”


    Noelle froze, obviously thrown off–Wait, Joshua actually told her about Dexter?‘ she thought, hiding her surprise.


    Jealousy shed across Noelle’s eyes, but she quickly buried it, her tone noticeably chillier than before as she replied.


    “Dexter’s just a small–time boss in that secret organization. The real big boss still hasn’t made an appearance,” Noelle said.


    The bottom line was, a decade ago, the Garcia family’s sworn enemi just couldn’t seal the deal.


    wanted Joshua dead–they tried, but


    And even now, they’re still out there in the shadows, plotting against him without ever letting up.


    Joshua’s life ever since has basically been one long game of survival–like every day, he’s got a knife in his hand and wolves at his back.


    Xylia thought about how busy Joshua had beentely.


    But sometimes, even when work was piling up, he just wasn’t at the office. David always dodged her questions, never giving her a straight answer. ‘Maybe that’s what he’s been tied up with all this time,‘ she thought.


    After Noelle finished, she watched Xylia’s thoughtful face.


    Noelle smirked to herself.


    ‘Heck, even a regr person would steer clear of Joshua after hearing that,‘ Noelle thought.


    ‘So what’s Xylia going to do, now that she’s Joshua’s girlfriend? She must be freaking out,’ she sneered inside.


    Those Kregonian people? Laws mean nothing to them–they’d throw away lives without a second thought.


    If they failed to take down Joshua, his girlfriend would be first in the line of fire.


    Noelle sneered to herself, thinking Xylia must be scared out of her mind, itching to break things off with Joshua as soon as she could.


    But to Noelle’s surprise, Xylia didn’t look scared at all. Her expression was serious, but there was no trace of fear in her eyes.


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    Noelle gave Xylia a long, skeptical look before finally asking, “Aren’t you scared?”


    Xylia nced at Noelle, and it took her a second to realize what Noelle was getting at.


    “Scared of what?” Xylia replied.


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    “Scared for Joshua!” Noelle blurted out, her voice anxious. “He’s already got people after him. Now that you’re his girlfriend, you’re in danger too. Aren’t you freaked out?”


    Xylia understood what Noelle was getting at.


    She paused for a moment and said, “I’ve saved Joshua before and helped him drive a few of those people off. I bet they’ve had their eye on me for ages. If I’m scared, it’s not just because I’m dating Joshua.”


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