<b>Chapter </b><b>206 </b>
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<b>I </b>really pity my dumb old self for being tricked like that,‘ Xylia thought, shaking her head at her own gullibility.
She actually went and had her nose examined at the hospital back then. How clueless could she be?
Joshua chuckled, “Honestly, you should be the one who understands me the best.”
With that, Joshua pointed toward Xylia’s wrist.
Xylia paused to think. Sure, she’d gotten irritable recently from watching what she ate, but her situation wasn’t really the same.
After her surgery, all the doctors did was suggest she keep things light on the menu, and she knew for sure that a dash of spice never actually bothered her.
But for Joshua, it was a totally different story. The meds he’d been prescribed back then had a strict no–spicy- food rule–it’d actually impact how well the medicine worked!
“I get it, but I don’t have to respect it,” Xylia said as she leaned back in her chair, picked up her phone, and ignored Joshuapletely.
Joshua saw Xylia’s reaction and instantly panicked, worried she was genuinely upset. He rushed to exin, “Hey, I was just a kid back then–ten years ago, I didn’t know anything.”
“So now that I’m older, I’m even more clueless?” Xylia shot back, still not even sparing him a nce.
Joshua stiffened, totally floored by hereback. He couldn’t believe Xylia would spin his words like that.
He cleared his throat awkwardly and tried again, his tone softening. “No, no, that’s not what I meant. You’re not old at all–honestly, you’ll always be eighteen to me.”
“Quit making me worry about my age. I’m pushing thirty and honestly? Not ashamed–I’m proud of it!” Xylia snapped, sounding totally confident.
Joshua was about to <b>say </b>something, but Xylia waved him off. “Just keep your eyes on the road, okay? I need to text my brothers<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Finally, Joshua fell silent.
Sure enough, Kaden had actually called and texted Xylia, and she was only just now seeing his messages. ‘Wow, I really am out of the loop today, she thought, feeling a bit guilty as she started texting him back.
Once she’d fired off her reply, Xylia set her phone aside, letting out a small sigh of relief.
Joshua finally spoke up<b>, </b>his tone a little moody. “You didn’t respond to your brothers, so they didn’t show up to pick you up, did they?”
Xylia nced over at him. “So, what’s your point?”
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“It means I’m the only one who actually cares about you, so all those old screw–ups are water under the bridge,” Joshua said, trying to y it cool.
Xylia blinked at him. “So your care <b>is </b><b>just </b>about covering your own tracks?”
Joshua went quiet.
He realized that nothing he said would get him out of trouble now.
Xylia tilted her head slightly, a small smile tugging at her lips.
When they finally pulled up to the Sadler family’s ce, Joshua smoothly guided the car into the parking lot like he’d done it a million times before.
Just as Xylia was about to head inside, Joshua called out to her.
“I messed up.”
Xylia stopped in her tracks, the words slipping out before she even realized: “What did you mess up?”
After she blurted out the question, it suddenly hit her–wait, why did she even ask that?
Turns out, she wasn’t actually upset at all, so what was the point in demanding an apology?
Joshua sighed, “I screwed up by lying to you ten years ago. And just now, I made it worse by trying to use my concern for you as leverage for your forgiveness.”
Xylia just burst outughing.
Joshua looked <i>at </i>her, frowning in confusion. “What’s so funny?”
“I’mughing at how thick–headed you are. I’m seriously not mad,” Xylia said, still giggling.
“Really? You’re not mad?” Joshua asked, clearly unsure.
“For real, I’m not mad,” Xylia replied, her smile growing even brighter.
Joshua looked relieved and pulled her into a hug.
He whispered against her neck, “You didn’t even look at me.”
He was talking about the drive; Xylia had spent most of the ride just zoning out and staring out at the scenery.
“I mean, <b>I </b>can’t just keep my eyes glued to you the whole drive,” Xylia said, sounding a bit deadpan.
“So you’re saying I’m not cute enough?” Joshua teased, feigning a wounded tone.
Honestly, he was convinced he had looks to spare–he was easily way more attractive than Connor, no
contest.
“Oh, you’re plenty handsome,” Xylia replied with a yful grin, “but it’s not like I can stare at you forever.”
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“Why? Worried you’ll get tired of my face?” Joshua teased, pretending to pout.
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Xylia shrugged, “Well yeah, if I keep staring, eventually I might get bored. It’s better to give my eyes a break.”
‘Truth be told,‘ Joshua thought, ‘I just wish she’d never get bored of me. If only I could always stay new in her
eyes.‘
Xylia was honestly at a loss for words–did this guy actually want her to stare at him the whole time?
“If I stared at you the whole time, wouldn’t that make me a total creep? And could you even keep your eyes on the road?” she shot back, raising an eyebrow.
Joshua started to retort, but after a second’s pause, decided to just keep his mouth shut.
Honestly, he couldn’t even guarantee he’d be able to focus if that happened.
After that quick peck in the parking lot, he’d been dying for a chance to give her a proper kiss.
‘Maybe this is my shot?‘ he thought.
Joshua’s lips had just barely grazed Xylia’s cheek when the elevator doors slid open.
Kaden’s piercing gaze shot their way, and Xylia quickly shoved Joshua aside, spinning to face her brother.
“Kaden?” she stammered, her voice a little shaky.
“You’re back,” Kaden said, his voice t and clearly not pleased.
Joshua didn’t look any happier, either.
‘We’re a couple now. Why did she push me away just because Kaden showed up?‘ he thought, annoyed and puzzled.
Joshua took Xylia’s hand and absent–mindedly rubbed her fingertips, clearly sulking.
Xylia turned around and met Joshua’s puppy–dog eyes, full of grudging longing.
“Take my car home tonight–and don’t forget toe pick me up tomorrow,” she said, tossing him the keys with an easy grin.
Joshua’s face lit up<b>, </b>takenpletely by surprise. “For real?”
“Weren’t you dying to be my chauffeur? Well, here’s your shot–are you in, or not?” Xylia quipped, the corners of her mouth curling up in yful challenge.
“You bet!” Joshua replied, his whole face lighting up with sheer delight.
He held onto the car keys like they were pure gold, giving Kaden a smug, satisfied look.
Joshua shed Kaden an even bigger grin, basking in the triumph.
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“It’s gettingte, so I’m heading out. Make sure to get some rest, Kaden,” he said, his voice thick with self- satisfaction.
Then, strutting off like a proud peacock, Joshua hopped into the car and sped away–clearly on cloud nine.
Xylia watched Joshua and the car fade out of sight before finally walking over to Kaden.
“Sorry, Kaden–my phone waspletely dead, and I got mmed with stuff all afternoon. Barely had a chance to text you,” she said, trying her best to sound sweet and a little apologetic.
Just like that, as soon as Xylia yed the sympathy card, Kaden’s brooding look melted away.
“No worries. Come on upstairs,” he said, his tone already much lighter.
Xylia followed Kaden into the elevator, half–expecting him toy into her about not replying.
But to her surprise, there wasn’t even a hint of me in Kaden’s voice.
He even asked if she was hungry, saying he’d put together somete–night snacks for her.
Xylia nced at those nd midnight snacks and honestly couldn’t summon any appetite–even if she wanted ate bite, in food just wasn’t it for her.
She was about to politely refuse, but then caught the hopeful, expectant look in Kaden’s eyes.
How could she crush that look? She just gave a small nod instead, deciding she couldn’t bear to disappoint him.
She followed Kaden into the dining room, where her three other brothers were waiting.
“Hey, little sis, you made it! Grab a seat,” Hudson Sadler called out, quickly pulling out a chair for her.
Hudson promptly rushed over and gently guided Xylia to sit down at the table.
The scene before Xylia was totally different from what she’d pictured.
The dining table was absolutely packed with mouthwatering street eats<b>–</b>smoky barbecue, piles of spicy crawfish, takoyaki balls dripping with sauce… Everything you could dream of at a night market.
Just looking at all this is making my stomach growl, Xylia thought, swallowing nervously as she nced over at Cyrus Sadler.
“Is this whole spread really for me?” she asked, her voice tinged with excitement and disbelief.
Cyrus smiled gently, already knowing what she was worrying about. “It’s fine–just have a little,” he said softly.
Honestly, Xylia wasn’t greedy at all–just getting to taste a little was already a blessing in her book.
Her eyes sparkled as she picked up her chopsticks and dove right in, totally hyped about the midnight feast.
Kaden and Cyrus shot each other a knowing look, silently celebrating how right they’d been.
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Joshua was sly as ever–he knew Xylia loved junk food, so he’d always take her out for those treats, just to get her to spend more time with him.
But now, her brothers had caught on. By stocking the house with all her favorite snacks, they figured Xylia would be so happy, she wouldn’t be glued to Joshua all the time.
‘Man, we really are geniuses!‘ they thought, patting themselves on the back.
Xylia, totally oblivious to her brothers‘ genius scheme, finished her meal and headed back to her room.
While unpacking her bag, she suddenly realized she’d forgotten to give Joshua that fabric rmendation file Josie Dunn had handed her.
Then she remembered–with Joshuaing to pick her up tomorrow, her heart did a little happy dance.
‘No rush,’ Xylia thought, grinning to herself. ‘Tomorrow works just fine!‘
After she finished getting ready for bed andy down, Xylia checked her phone, saw Joshua’s “home safe” message, and fell asleep right away.
Meanwhile, Kaden had kept the whole thing about Yves and Gia showing up a total secret from Xylia.
He definitely didn’t tell her how he’d threatened them and basically chased them back to Jupiton.
To Kaden, now that Xylia was back, her ties to the Schultz family werepletely cut. There was no point in dragging her into all that drama.
And as for the Schultz Group’s downfall? He’d made sure to personally speed things along.
But Yves and Gia weren’t done yet. When they realized they couldn’t crack the Sadler Group, they immediately pivoted their attention to the Garcia Group.
They’d caught the news–Xylia was now dating the CEO of the Garcia Group.
‘That damn girl really is blessed,’ they fumed. ‘She leaves Jupiton, and somehow, in no time, starts rubbing shoulders with all these power yers!‘
Instead of heading back to Jupiton<b>, </b>they rerouted straight for the Garcia Group.
AD
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