Joshua wasn’t kidding when he said he’d get Aaron back to work. He really did arrange for his early–retired dad to join Garcia Group.


    Eliza was clearly annoyed. ‘Why can’t he just enjoy his retirement?‘ she thought.


    Eliza said, “Your dad’s not getting any younger. Why does he need to work?”


    Joshua just shrugged, “Dad’s not even fifty yet. He’s still in his prime. He should be working, not sitting around


    bored <i>at </i>home.”


    Eliza didn’t buy it. She knew Joshua wasn’t the type to ck off on work just because he was in love. ‘Something’s definitely bothering him,‘ she thought to herself.


    She eyed Joshua closely, sensing that he had something on his mind.


    She motioned for Joshua to sit down across from her, taking her time as she prepared for a heart–to–heart conversation.


    “Son, talk to me. Tell me honestly–what’s going on?” Eliza asked gently.


    Joshua, who was usually the powerhouse in the business world, suddenly seemed like a confused kid. He hesitated for a couple of seconds before pouring his heart out to Eliza.


    “Eliza, what do you think Xylia really feels about me?” Joshua asked, sounding genuinely uncertain.


    “Huh?” Eliza blinked, totally caught off guard by the question.


    She needed a second to actually process what Joshua was talking about.


    Honestly, she thought this side of Joshua was kind of refreshing.


    It was surprising yet refreshing to see her usually tough–as–nails son ask such an innocent and serious question.


    “What’s going on? Did something happen between you and Xylia?” Eliza asked, intrigued.


    Joshua nced up at her, looking a bit sheepish. “No, nothing happened.”


    Maybe he felt embarrassed, but he clearly didn’t want to discuss it further. He mumbled an excuse and tried to slip away.


    But Eliza wasn’t having it. She grabbed his arm and pulled him back down.


    “It’s so rare for you toe to me with romantic troubles, so go ahead–spill everything! Let me break it down for you,” Eliza said, grinning like she was settling in for some juicy drama.


    Joshua nced at her amused expression and thought, ‘Why did I even bring this up to Mom? She’s definitely going to roast me for this.


    But he’d already started, so after a brief moment of hesitation, he just went for it and decided not to hold back.


    “Connor and Maddox showed up in Norhill. It’s messing me up,” he admitted.


    “Seriously, what are you even worried about? You honestly think Xylia would ever go running back to someone who hurt her?” Eliza scoffed,pletely unfazed by the whole thing.


    Eliza might be Xylia’s future mother–inw, but that didn’t stop her from digging into Xylia’s history a little


    bit.


    Back in Jupiton, she’d already taken issue with how the Ford family acted–and she knew Xylia had through hell because of them.


    gone


    She hadn’t spent all that much time with Xylia, but Eliza could sense that once Xylia made up her mind, she’d never look back.


    Xylia wasn’t foolish–she’d never let someone who hurt her off easy, and forgiving them was definitely not her style.


    “You honestly think Connor might steal Xylia away from you?” Eliza asked, her voice testing, half teasing.


    She was clearly probing, trying to see what Joshua would say.


    Joshua gave a dismissiveugh. “Connor? He’s nothing. What worries me is the little guy.”


    The kid–Sonny.


    Xylia’s son.


    Eliza suddenly realized what was troubling Joshua.


    Sonny may have hurt Xylia before, but he’s still her son—just a kid. No matter what he’s done, there’s always room for forgiveness, especially at his age.


    If Sonny keeps hanging onto Xylia, there’s no telling when her heart might melt for him.


    Eliza asked, “Have you actually talked to Xylia about this?”


    Joshua shook his head.


    “You remember all those times you sassed me as a kid?” Eliza said, her tone gentler now.


    Joshua paused, then asked, “Which time are you talking about?”


    Honestly, he’d lost count of all the times he’d mouthed off to her.


    “Back when you were in kindergarten, you hit that rebellious stage. You never wanted me at your school events, always worried I’d butt in and nag you about eating, studying, or force you into after–school tutoring. But I still showed up when I found out. You got so mad–you actually said you didn’t want me as your mom. Even now, I remember how much that hurt.” Eliza’s voice edged with sadness as she recalled it.


    10:10 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>20 </b>


    Joshua winced, instantly recalling that moment when Eliza brought it up.


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    “You realized right away you’d said something hurtful and rushed to apologize. You kept trying to cheer me up, even handed me the feather duster so I could smack you as punishment. That night, your dad and I really let you have it–you bawled your eyes out,” Eliza said, her tone gentler now.


    Joshua just sat there, totally speechless.


    “That was so long ago, Mom. Why bring it up now?” he muttered, cringing in embarrassment.


    The awkwardness was almost unbearable.


    Eliza continued, “Here’s the point: Even back then, you understood how much it hurt to tell your mom you didn’t want her. But Sonny? He doesn’t get it at all–he says those things to Xylia, and even goes searching for someone else to be his mom, like it’spletely normal. In his mind, he’s not doing anything wrong–he genuinely thinks he’s making the right choice.”


    “What I’m saying is, for Sonny, having Xylia as his mom is no big deal–he could take her or leave her, and if there’s a first time forgiving him, there’s bound to be a second betrayal. Do you really think Xylia would fall for that?” Eliza said, her words clear and sharp.


    Joshua couldn’t help but admit–Mom was making a lot of sense.


    Still, the one thing gnawing at him was the thought of Xylia giving in, even if it was just once.


    Seeing she’d said all she needed, Eliza just tidied her clothes, stood up, and gave Joshua’s shoulder a reassuring pat.


    “Trust me, Xylia’s way tougher than you think,” she told him with a little smile, then walked away.


    <b>***** </b>


    Joshua sat on the couch, turning over everything his mom had said. When he finally made up his mind, he thought, ‘I guess I’ll have to keep watch myself and make sure Sonny doesn’t spend too much time around Xylia.‘


    Xylia had no idea what Joshua was worrying about.


    ‘If I ever found out, Xylia would think, ‘I’d totally borrow my second brother Kaden’s scalpel and crack open Joshua’s skull just to see what kind of mush is rattling around in that brain of his.’


    With the designpetition looming, she was way too busy to care about anything else–Sonny was already ancient history as far as she was concerned.


    So she didn’t even notice that Joshua was sticking to her like gluetely,


    It wasn’t until Josie spotted Joshua once again showing up first thing in the morning, hovering around Xylia in the studio, that she had to tease him.


    “Mr. Garcia, you’re supposed to be super busy. Howe you’ve suddenly got so much time to hang out at our studiotely?” Josie said yfully.


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    With Josie’s sly look, Xylia finally caught on―Joshua really had been dropping by way too often these days.


    She put down what she was working on and nced over at Joshua, who was hovering nearby with a cup of tea, just in case she got thirsty.


    “Feeling pretty free these days, huh?” Xylia teased.


    Joshua shot her an annoyed look. “Really? You think I onlye around when I’ve got nothing else going on?”


    Xylia gave him a look. “I’m just saying–don’t you have a million things to deal with at Garcia Group?”


    Isn’t Garcia Group this massivepany? You must have a mountain of stuff to handle.


    Just look at my brother Kaden–he’s always drowning in work. I barely ever see him at home.


    By all rights, Joshua should be even busier.


    “Like I said the other day–I dragged my dad back into the office,” Joshua said, looking way too casual about it.


    Xylia shot him a curious look. “And why would you do that?”


    “So I could spend more time watching over you,” Joshua replied, not even pretending he had another reason.


    Xylia blinked, feigning innocence. “Watching over me? For what?”


    “To stop you from running off with someone else,” Joshua said, half joking, half serious, his eyes locked on her.


    Xylia shot him a look,pletely at a loss for words.


    Joshua–six foot tall and usually soposed–was now looking down at her, those charming eyes of his filled with a watery, aggrieved sparkle, as if she’d already left him behind.


    “Seriously, who do you think I’d run away with?” Xylia snorted, half amused.


    Just then, Be came bouncing up the stairs with her little backpack swinging, calling out brightly, “Xylia!”


    Without missing a beat, Joshua pointed straight at the pint–sized culprit by the door.


    “There she is your little kidnapper just walked in,” Joshua teased, pointing straight at Be in the doorway.


    ‘Was this guy for real?‘ Xylia thought, simply lost for words.


    Joshua and Be were both all over her, so Xylia had no choice but to put work aside for now.


    She took the two of them out to the mall next door.


    “Just for a little bit. I still have work waiting for me,” she reminded them.


    <b>“</b>Is work really more important than me?” Joshua said, putting on his most pitiful voice, sulking like a giant abandoned puppy.


    :


    <b>81 </b>


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    Be stood right by his side, tilting her head and fixing Xylia with those big, watery eyes–like she was doubling down with Joshua on the puppy–dog act.


    Xylia just wanted to bury her face in her hands and scream.


    After wandering the mall for a bit, Xylia suddenly realized she needed the bathroom. “Wait here for me,” she said to Joshua and Be, leaving them outside with a quick nce back.


    She’d barely made it through the restroom door before a hand shot out, grabbed her arm, and pulled her off to <i>the </i>side.