Xylia hadn’t expected their design proposal to be approved when Joshua told her just now.
For a moment, she thought Joshua had pulled some strings for her.
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But when she heard that another studio’s proposal had also been approved, she realized Joshua hadn’t given her any special treatment.
‘So I guess Joshua really didn’t do me any favors, Xylia thought to herself.
After she and Joshua agreed on a time, Xylia hung up, practically buzzing with excitement.
On the other side, as soon as Joshua ended the call, the warmth in his eyes vanished without a trace.
With his face nk and unreadable, Joshua turned to David and ordered, “Find out where Xylia went tonight.”
David headed out and before long, he was back.
He didn’t leave anything out as he told Joshua every detail of what went down at the bar with Xylia.
Joshua leaned back in his chair, looking allzy and casual with a couple of buttons undone, showing off just a hint of his sculpted chest. But the curl of his lips had a venomous edge to it–there was danger lurking in that smile.
“Do I seem like a nice guy to youtely?” Joshua asked, his tone all teasing.
David didn’t dare say a word.
Joshua had spent years wing his way through the dead waters of the Garcia family. Was he ever the merciful type? Hardly.
David had followed Joshua for years, and had witnessed firsthand how his boss could spill blood without so much as blinking–real devil stuff.
Whenever Joshua was with Xylia, he turned into a total puppy–all his edge just melted away.
But now, it looked like the Sinirs and Noelle were about to learn the hard way what crossing him really
meant.
Joshua rose from his seat, moving deliberately.
“Let’s go,” he said coolly. “Time to pay Mr. Sinir a little visit–got some old business to settle.”
David headed downstairs in silence to get the car, already mourning for the Sinirs in his heart.
*Two hourster*
*Sinir residence*
8:37 Thu, Sep 18 N
‘Bang! The sharp sound of breaking ss ripped through the room.
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Jessica’s head crashed into a bottle, smashing it to pieces. Blood mixed with the strong scent of alcohol, seeping into the air. Just moments before, she’d been basking in her smugness in front of Xylia–now, shey sprawled on the floor like a lifeless heap.
Her eyes fluttered shut as she slipped into unconsciousness.
Glenda and Ryan watched, unable to hide how distressed they were by the sight.
Glenda clung to Ryan’s sleeve, her gaze fixed on the crumpled form on the floor–she looked torn up, but was too afraid to go over and help her daughter.
Ryan’s face was dark with anger, his fists clenching and unclenching as he stood a little off to the side of Joshua, trying to keep hisposure.
Joshua had a cigarette pinched between his long fingers, its tip burning in and out in the dim room.
“Joshua, you storm into my home and leave my daughter in this condition–you think I’m afraid <i>to </i>call the police?” Ryan’s face was red with fury.
Joshua’s face stayedpletely nk, not a trace of emotion showing.
He stood there in the Sinirs‘ courtyard, half his face swallowed by darkness. Even if you couldn’t read his mood, everyone could feel the suffocating pressure pouring off him.
“Call the police?” Joshua snorted coldly. “Be my guest.”
He didn’t seem the least bit worried.
Ryan’s hands trembled as he fumbled for his phone, but before he could even dial, Joshua cut in.
“Let’s see what arrives first–the police, or your daughter’s death,” Joshua sneered, flicking the ash off his cigarette.
He wasn’t even smoking it–just watching it burn like it was nothing.
Joshua looked utterly cold, exuding an inescapable pressure–like some ancient emperor whose very presence crushed everyone around him.
Under the nearby streemp, silver in his hair shone with a frosty gleam, adding a chill to the night.
In the end, Ryan’s finger never pressed the button.
He knew Joshua wasn’t like other people–raised in a world far removed from normal. Most folks tossed around threats just to sound tough, but Joshua? He would actually follow through, Ryan understood that all too well–and that was what truly terrified him.
Seeing Glenda and Ryan frozen in ce, too scared to make a move, Joshua flicked his cigarette aside.
The burning tipnded on the grass. He stepped down with his leather shoe, grinding it out with slow,
<b>8:37 </b>Thu, Sep 18 N
deliberate force.
Joshua strode right past Jessica’s unconscious body, stopping directly in front of Ryan.
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“When I had Jessica sent back to you a couple days ago, I made it very clear–keep your daughter in line and don’t mess with my wife. Guess my words didn’t sink in for you people,” Joshua said, voice deadly calm.
Ryan’s hands trembled as he looked at Joshua, fear etched across his face.
“Mr. Garcia, Jessie was your fiancée once, after all, she…” Ryan could barely get the words out.
Joshua let out a dry, mockingugh.
Hisughter rang out even clearer now, brimming with cold contempt.
Ryan fell silent.
Joshua’s voice was icy. “How many years ago was that? You keep mumbling about some old engagement- what, nobody else wants your daughter now?”
Those words stung, cutting deep.
Glenda and Ryan’s faces fell, the room turning icy in an instant.
Joshua raised his hand, and David immediately handed him a document.
Joshua held it out to Ryan.
“Your daughter’s had Hyperman Syndrome since she was a kid, and now her mental problems have only gotten worse. You can’t even keep her in check, just let her run wild everywhere–seriously, what kind of parenting is that? Need me to give you a crash course in how to be a parent?” Joshua’s voice was ice–cold, slicing straight through the silence.
Glenda opened her mouth to say something, but Ryan quickly stopped her.
Ryan took the medical report, swallowed hard, and said to Joshua, “Rest assured, Mr. Garcia. Jessie won’t be leaving this house again.”
Joshua gave him an icy stare, then turned on his heel and walked out.
David followed close behind.
Once the two left, Glenda threw herself down and gathered her daughter in her arms, Jessica’s hair matted with blood.
“Call a doctor!” she shouted, panic shaking her voice.
Ryan stood there, staring at Jessica’s battered figure and the ten broken bottles of every size littering the floor.
If David had gone any further, his daughter might not have survived the night.
8:37 Thu, Sep 18 N
Ryan shot Jessica a look full of disappointment and anger, wishing she could be stronger.
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“How much longer do we have to keep cleaning up after her?” Ryan snapped, his anger clear for everyone to hear.
Spitting out those words, he stormed back into the house–who knew if he’d even bothered to call a doctor.
Meanwhile, after leaving, Joshua shot Noelle a message, telling her to head over to the Garcia ce.
When he arrived, Noelle was already settledfortably on the couch at the Garcia family home.
Eliza was wrapped up in conversation with Noelle, and the two looked genuinely happy, mother and daughter catching up like best friends.
Their smiles grew even brighter when Joshua walked in.
“Joshua,” Noelle called out in a sweet, almost bashful tone.
Her voice was soft, and you could see the tips of her ears turn slightly pink.
She really couldn’t hide how flustered she was.
When Noelle got Joshua’s message inviting her over, she honestly couldn’t believe it–her heart was racing with excitement.
‘He hardly ever messages me at all,‘ Noelle thought, her cheeks still warm. ‘This must mean something…‘
She’d been about to hit the hay, but she threw on a fresh outfit and rushed over without a second thought.
Eliza had even invited her to move in with the Garcia family.
Noelle couldn’t help feeling totally excited at the thought.
Just as they were chatting, Joshua walked in.
Joshua mmed the file down on the coffee table, then coolly leveled his gaze at Noelle, his eyes icy andmanding.
“The reason you took first ce in thatst jewelrypetition was because you bribed the judges to snatch the spot away from the real runner–up, isn’t that right?” Joshua’s words fell heavy, no room for denial.
At those words, Noelle went pale as a ghost, her heart skipping a beat–she waspletely shaken.
Eliza’s brows knitted with concern as she turned to Joshua.
“What do you mean?” Eliza asked, a note of worry in her voice.
Joshua simply signaled for Eliza to look through the file herself.
The papers insideid it all out–clear proof that Noelle had bribed the judges.
8:37 Thu, Sep 18 N
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Eliza scanned the papers, her eyes filled with disbelief as she looked over at Noelle.
O
“Noelle… how could you do this?” Eliza’s voice trembled, the hurt showing clear in her eyes.
Noelle avoided her gaze, panic flickering in her eyes.
“I… I just… I mean… I didn’t want to disappoint you,” Noelle mumbled, her words stumbling out in a rush.
When Noelle caught the sh of disappointment in Eliza’s eyes, her heart clenched so tight it felt like she might snap.
She shot Joshua a quick, anxious look, then turned back to Eliza.
“Aunt Eliza, it’s my fault… I just care so much about you and the Garcia family. If I want to be your daughter, I have to stand out. I didn’t want to let you down… I just wanted to make you proud…” Noelle’s voice trembled, barely audible.
She lowered her head, silent tears slipping down her cheeks.
Eliza’spassion welled up–she couldn’t help but feel pity for Noelle.
Joshua spoke in a t, frosty voice. “I’ve already had the organizers release a statement of guilt from the judges and restore the award to its rightful owner. You don’t object, do you?”
His words were disturbingly even, each syble icy and absolute–there was no room for Noelle to argue
back.
Noelle’s face went so pale it was almost translucent, her lips trembling with fear.
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