Noelle hadn’t expected Xylia to give an answer like that. She let out a sharp snort, totally convinced Xylia was just pretending to be all high and mighty. ‘Wait till something really goes wrong for her, Noelle thought coldly, let’s see if she can still act like she’s above it all then.‘
Darkness descended, wrapping the city in its velvet shroud.
The bar’s music pulsed harder, electrifying the air with its wild beat.
The dance floor at the center was already packed, crowded with young people lost in the rhythm.
It was midnight–colorful lights, bodies moving in sync, and a mysterious heat surging through the revelers. This was their technicolor celebration, sparked alive by a secret passion that only came out after dark.
Noelle kept ncing at the door while she spoke.
Xylia just acted like she didn’t notice and asked,
“Ms. Coffey, you brought me all the way here and spilled everything I wanted to know. So, what is it that you’re really after?” -Xylia
Noelle smiled. “You must be kidding. I’m Joshua’s only sister–so naturally, I know a ton about him.”
“He doesn’t want to tell you? Well, I thought I’d fill you in. Honestly, there’s no other motive.”
She deliberately put extra emphasis on “only,” almost like she was throwing it in Xylia’s face.
Noelle was clearly trying to show off just how close she was to Joshua, hoping to rub it in and outshine Xylia.
But Xylia couldn’t have cared less.
Just as Xylia was about to leave, Noelle’s eyes suddenly brightened–she’d caught sight of someone at the door.
Before Xylia could even say goodbye, Noelle jumped in, waving toward the entrance to grab attention.
“Miss Sinir! Over here!” Noelle called out loudly, making sure her voice carried through the crowd.
A chill ran down Xylia’s spine when she heard Noelle call out. ‘Jessica Sinir?‘–the name shed in her mind, her stomach twisting with nerves.
‘Jessica Sinir?‘–Xylia couldn’t believe her ears.
She spun around, and there she was–Jessica herself, standing right there.
Jessica stood there with her usual icy look, eyes zing with such fierce hostility it felt like she was ready to eat Xylia alive.
‘Oh, so that’s what Noelle was waiting for, Xylia realized.
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Noelle had actually asked Xylia out before Jessica ever showed up, so even if Noelle had some hidden agenda, Xylia would never have guessed it had anything to do with Jessica.
Xylia turned to Noelle and said, “Alright, since we’re done here, I’ll get going. Drinks are on me tonight.”
Just as she was about to leave, Noelle held her back.
“Hey, Ms. Sadler, since you’re already here, why not hang out a bit longer? Miss Sinir isn’t someke monster waiting to gobble you up,” Noelle added with a yful, pointed smile.
Just then, Jessica Sinir approached and stopped right in front of them.
Just like Noelle had predicted, Jessica had dropped the spoiled attitude she’d shown at Garcia Group; tonight, she simply greeted Xylia with unexpected calm.
“Ms. Sadler, you’re heading out as soon as I get here? Am I really that unimportant to you?” Jessica said, her voice edged with challenge.
“We’re not really close, Miss Sinir,” Xylia responded coolly.
Jessica’s eyes shed dangerously, but when Noelle shot her a look, she gritted her teeth and held her temper in check.
“Come on, chatting a little more and we’ll be besties in no time! Park it right here,” Noelle chimed in, clearly not taking no for an answer.
Jessica was already getting frustrated, and unlike Noelle, she wasn’t even trying to hide it.’-third person narration/psychological.
Caught between the two of them, Xylia had no choice but to sit back down.
Xylia remembered Leon had a gig somewhere close by tonight–probably kicking off around midnight. Not wanting to make a scene, she shot him a quick text under the table, asking if he could swing byter to get her out of here.
But before she could even blink, Noelle snatched her phone right out of her hand–no warning, just straight- up grabbed it.
“We agreed to actually talk–what’s with you texting instead?” Noelle snapped, not bothering to hide her
annoyance.
Then, without missing a beat, Noelle dropped Xylia’s phone straight into a nearby wine ss, sshing red all
over.
Xylia’s expression turned cold. “Even if we were friends, Ms. Coffey, what you just did really crossed the line.”
Noelle scoffed, dismissing Xylia’s anger like it was nothing. “Honestly, you should consider yourself lucky we’re even willing to be friends with you, Ms. Sadler.”
Xylia was speechless. “This woman seriously has no sense of shame, she thought.
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‘Unbelievable. She doesn’t even care if people think she’s shameless,‘ Xylia griped to herself.
Jessica Sinir eyed Xylia with growing annoyance, her re turning icier by the second.
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Jessica gave a mocking snort. “So, Joshua dumped me just to run after you–a piece of used goods?”
Noelle cut in, voice thick with sarcasm. “Seriously, Miss Sinir? Ms. Sadler saved Joshua’s life ten years ago. No wonder he feels he owes her everything–including his heart.”
Jessica’s eyes red with hatred for a split second.
“Give himself to her? Wasn’t she already married once? A twice–divorced, secondhand woman like her–how does she have the nerve to think she’s good enough for Joshua?” Jessica sneered.
Xylia’s expression went stone cold.
“Go ask Joshua yourself–was it me who forced him to be with me, or was he the one begging for it?” Xylia shot back.
“Even if Joshua is the one chasing after you, it’s just because he feels he owes you–let’s be real, you’ve already been married before, and now you want to snag him too? Aren’t you just dragging him down?” Jessica sneered.
Xylia snorted coldly. ‘Wow, what messed–up logic. She shot Jessica a look.
“So ording to you guys, any woman who’s ever got married isn’t allowed to fall in love again, huh?” –Xylia retorted, her voice full of sarcasm.
Jessica smacked her palm hard against the bar. But with the club sting music, nobody even blinked–her dramatic move barely made a ripple in the chaos.
She shot Xylia a venomous re, as if ready to throw down. “Are you seriously this clueless? Someone like you isn’t even worthy of Joshua!”
Xylia didn’t back down one bit.
“So what, you think you’re the only one worthy of Joshua?” Xylia fired back, eyebrow raised.
Jessica shed a smug smile. “Joshua and I have been engaged since we were kids-”
“Yeah? Well, that’s history. Engagement isn’t marriage–when both sides call it off, nobody’s gonna brand you as secondhand or anything, Miss Sinir. Seriously, what exactly is your issue?” Xylia interrupted, flipping Jessica’s own words right back at her.
Jessica was still mid–sentence when Xylia turned it around on her, leaving her speechless and fuming.
It was almost funny watching Jessica starting to lose it, her face twisting with rage that was about to burst out any second.
Xylia didn’t bother sticking around to watch Jessica lose her mind. She dropped her phone, grabbed her bag, and made a beeline for the exit.
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But Noelle wasn’t about to let her escape so easily. Smirking, she leisurely slid her foot out into Xylia’s path, clearly determined to cause trouble.
Xylia, caught off guard, stumbled forward–right into the path of a waiter bncing a tray full of drinks.
For a split second, the universe seemed to pause for dramatic effect–Xylia was about to head straight for disaster.
‘Great, just my luck, Xylia thought, squeezing her eyes shut and bracing herself for what wasing next.
Suddenly, a hand shot out and caught her by the waist, steadying her as she nearly lost her bnce.
In that dizzy moment, Xylia caught a whiff of a familiar scent.
“You okay?” someone asked softly, right beside her ear.
Xylia looked up and saw Mia Monroe’s delicate, pretty face.
Mia’s gaze was piercing–clear as ice, and cold enough to send a chill straight through Xylia.
“I–I’m fine…” Xylia stammered, her voice shaky as she tried to regain herposure.
Xylia just stared at Mia Monroe, momentarily stunned and unable to process what had just happened.
Noelle sprang up with what could only be called fake concern. “Ms. Sadler, seriously, how could you be so careless? Did you fall? Are you hurt? Just look at you! If something goes wrong, how am I supposed to exin it to Joshua? He’d never let me live it down!”
Xylia slipped away from Noelle’s reach and headed straight for Mia’s side.
Mia noticed Xylia was steering clear of Noelle and instantly guessed Noelle had been giving her trouble. She stepped right in front of Xylia, acting like her bodyguard and blocking Noelle off.
“What’s your rtionship with her?” Noelle demanded, her frustration obvious.
Noelle shot Mia an annoyed look, clearly seeing her as someone poking her nose where it didn’t belong.
“What’s it to you?” Noelle scoffed.
“It’s not my business, but I’m just the meddling type,” Mia replied, cool as ever.
Mia was taller than Noelle by a good half a head, and standing there with her head slightly lowered, her whole vibe justpletely overshadowed Noelle–it was like her presence alone made Noelle look small.
Noelle had no idea who Mia Monroe was, but something about her set off rm bells–she definitely didn’t want to get on her bad side. For a moment, Noelle was left speechless.
Jessica, on the other hand, didn’t have Noelle’s reservations.
When Mia butted in, Jessica went full berserk mode–snatching up a bottle and whipping it straight at her.
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Mia was quicker.
:
She swerved to the side, pulling Xylia with her, just barely dodging Jessica’s flying bottle.
The bottle smashed on the floor.
The loud crash caught everyone’s attention.
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Jessica was still spoiling for a fight, but Mia just straight–up kicked her out of the way, grabbed Xylia, and the
two of them took off, covering their faces as they dashed out of the bar.
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