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Nylia kept her head down, fidgeting awkwardly for ages before finally blurting out, “I was with Joshua”
“With Joshua,” Alia mumbled, barely meeting Cyrus’s eyes.
Honestly, it wasn’t even a big deal–teen couples hang out all the time, Nylia told herself, trying to act casual.
But why do I feel so guilty under Cyrus’s stare?
It’s like I’m sneaking out with my boyfriend and hiding it from my parents, getting a hotel together or something…
Nylia was caught between guilt and a guilty thrill, sneaking around like she was breaking the rules.
Cyrus knew immediately–that’s just how it was.
He’d been swamped with work at the hospitaltely, handling several major surgeries and feelingpletely drained. He hadn’t had much time to keep an eye on Xylia,
She’d been busy with her studio too, so it wasn’t unusual for her to stay out for a couple of days.
But usually, she’d text them early the next morning when she didn’te home.
But that day, they waited anxiously until almost afternoon before Nylia finally replied.
Lately, Aaron had been buried in Garcia Group business, so Joshua had time on his hands–he was practically living at Xylia’s studio.
Cyrus could tell how Joshua had dragged his sister off without even thinking twice about it.
He was a little annoyed, but facing Xylia, he just couldn’t bring himself to actually get angry.
“Have you ever thought about tying the knot with Joshua?” Cyrus asked, his gaze gentle but probing
Xylia blinked, a little stunned at his question.
She and Joshua hadn’t been dating for long, so marriage honestly hadn’t crossed her mind yet.
She wanted to focus on building up her studio first, and worry about that kind of stuffter.
“Right now, I’m just trying to make my studio a sess. Getting hitched isn’t even on my mind,” Nylia replied, straightforward.
Cyrus let out a sigh of relief.
“That’s good, he thought. ‘I don’t want my little sister rushing into marriage right after we’ve finally found
each other.‘
‘It’s <b>way </b>too soon for that!
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Even though he wasn’t all that happy about Joshua as a brother–inw, he couldn’t deny the change in Xylia– ever since she started dating Joshua, she’d be visibly brighter, her cheeks rosier, her whole vibe just overflowing with happiness.
Just for that, Joshua had absolutely earned the right to stay by her side.
After chatting with Cyrus, Xylia stepped out of the consultation room.
Joshua was nowhere to be seen by the door.
She was about to call and ask where he was, but then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted him all the way down the hallway, busy on his phone.
She couldn’t help but smile as she headed his way.
As she got close. Nylia overheard Joshua speaking in a low, dangerous tone–a real edge to his voice, almost radiating hostility.
“Bring him back and wait. I want to see just how tough he really is,” Joshua said, the menace in his words. unmistakable.
He hung up and was just about to turn back when-
Joshua saw Xylia standing right behind him.
“How long has she been there?‘ he wondered, momentarily taken aback.
Thinking back to the phone call he’d just had, Joshua felt a brief stab of guilt–he really hoped Xylia hadn’t
overheard too much.
He knew he was no saint. Joshua could be ruthless, and his ways were hardly squeaky clean.
He’d do anything to keep that side of himself hidden from Xylia.
“Hey, baby, all done talking with Cyrus?” Joshua asked, his tone suddenly turning sweet, flipping from cold to gentle in an instant.
Joshua walked over and took Xylia’s hand, giving it a soft, reassuring squeeze,
“I’ve got something I need to handle soon. Let me take you back to your studio first, then I’ll pick you upter. How about I spoil you with a homemade dinner tonight?” Joshua said, a warm smile flickering on his face.
Xylia nced up at him, worry etched in her eyes. “Did something happen? You looked seriously pissed off just now.”
“I grabbed a spy tailing me. I’m about to find out exactly who sent him,” Joshua replied, his voice cold but
controlled.
Since Xylia had heard everything, Joshua didn’t bother trying to hide the truth from her.
He just didn’t want Xylia to see the side of him that could be brutal or dangerous, but he also didn’t want to
hide everything from her and let her imagination run wild.
Xylia thought back to the dangerous edge in his voice just moments ago.
She pictured him years ago, covered in blood, lying on some grimy foreign street.
Her fingers curled around his hand without thinking.
“Can Ie with you?” Xylia asked softly, but her tone was determined.
Joshua looked at her, clearly surprised, then shook his head firmly.
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“No way. If he doesn’t talk, I might be forced to use some… extreme measures. I don’t want you to <i>see </i>that side of me. I’m afraid you’ll end up being scared of me, maybe even hating me,” Joshua admitted, his voice low
and tense.
Xylia saw he really didn’t want her involved, so she didn’t insist.
She could only remind him softly, “Just be careful, okay?”
“Sure thing. If you get a craving for anythingter, just text me–let me cook something special for you tonight,” Joshua said, his voice softer now.
Xylia had originally nned to go home tonight.
But she couldn’t rx until she was sure Joshua was safe, so she just nodded sweetly.
After dropping Xylia off at her studio, Joshua spun his car around and headed straight for Norhill Clubhouse.
David was already waiting by the entrance.
Joshua tossed his keys to the valet without even breaking stride and strode right inside.
David quickly fell in line behind him.
As they walked, David started giving Joshua a rapid–fire rundown of the situation.
“Mr. Garcia, this guy’s insisting your uncle Grant is the mastermind,” David reported with a frown.
Joshua gave a cold snort. “Seriously? What, does he expect Grant to crawl out of his coffin and go after him?”
Grant Garcia had passed away two years ago.
‘Let’s see which so–called ‘uncle‘ they’re actually working for,’ Joshua thought, his eyes narrowing.
The VIP lounge was shrouded in dim, moody lighting.
On the floory a guy, beaten ck and blue–his face was a bloody mess and his clothes were smeared with red.
The coppery stench of blood filled every corner of the room.
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When Joshua strode in, all the bodyguards crowded around the guy quickly stepped aside, making way for
him without a sound.
Joshua headed straight for an English–style sofa, sat down with his hands sped calmly in front of him, his eyes steady and cold as he fixed his gaze on the bloodied man below.
“Okay then, tell me how did my uncle Grant reach out from beyond the grave and order you to go after my dad?” Joshua mocked, his wordsced with biting sarcasm.
The guy lying on the floor was stunned speechless for a second,pletely thrown off by Joshua’s jab.
Then it dawned on him–Joshua was pointing out Grant had been dead for years.
He’d just been totally exposed.
The guy tried to scramble up, but a bodyguard stepped forward and mmed a foot down on his back, pinning him to the floor.
“Spit it out,” Joshua ordered, his gaze pinning the battered man in ce.
Joshua watched him, eyes cold and razor–sharp, never letting up for a second.
Finally, the
guy croaked out, “Grant Garcia gave me this job before he died. I’m just here to finish the task he left for me.”
Technically, Grant wasn’t really Aaron’s brother at all.
The Garcia family always kept the bloodline tight–Grant was just a distant rtive from an offshoot branch.
The Garcia Group was a gold mine, with all sorts of rtives swarming in for their cut. Grant was by far the boldest and most aggressive of them.
Grant grew up overseas, picking up tricks that would havended him behind bars for life if he tried pulling them back home.
Back in the day, Grant kept going after Aaron and his father, but in the end, he ended up losing–beaten by Aaron himself.
Joshua didn’t buy a word of it.
This
guy had been Aaron’s driver for years.
Five years embedded right next to Aaron, just now deciding to strike–no way in hell would this be about someone who’s been dead for years.
Joshua’s patience was wearing thin. He nced up at one of the bodyguards, his gaze sharp andmanding.
Without hesitation, the bodyguard whipped out a knife and with brutal efficiency severed one of the guy’s fingers.
The guy’s scream echoed through the room<b>, </b>sharp and piercing.
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The soundproofing was top–notch, so Joshua wasn’t the least bit worried about anybody overhearing. Annoyed by the screaming, he just ordered someone to gag the bastard, not caring for the noise.
“I’ve always been the type to pay back favors–and debts–with interest. You mess with me, I mess with you. Since you tried to take out my family, I’m not about to let you walk away alive,” Joshua said, his voice cold and unwavering.
Joshua stated tly, his tone devoid of any warmth.
“But if you’re not really the one pulling the strings, and you can give me some solid info, I might just let you walk out of here alive,” Joshua warned, iciness still lingering in every word.
“So, here’s your choice–lose every single finger and get tossed to the wolves while you’re still alive, or cough up the real name and maybe, just maybe, you walk out breathing,” Joshua threatened, his voice icy and merciless.
By the time Joshua finished, three bloody fingers were already lying on the ground.
Desperate now, the guy shot Joshua a pleading look, eyes wide and frantic, begging for a chance to speak.
The bodyguard didn’t even flinch–one more finger hit the floor before the grip finally loosened.
His voice was just a weak whisper, shaking as he blurted out a name without a second thought.
Joshua’s face fell, ice creeping into his eyes as the name hit him. ‘No way… he’s actually alive?‘##234.Chapter 234 Cheer Him Up
Josie brought in a dedicated HR person to take care of recruitment, handing them full responsibility for hiring new staff.
She didn’t have to worry about recruiting anymore; the HR person would handle everything.
With the team getting bigger, their small studio just couldn’t keep up, and it was time to relocate thepany as soon as possible.
Xylia had already locked down the new office, and she and Josie picked an auspicious date to make the move -next Wednesday.
Josie, taking a rare break, sprawled out on the couch in Xylia’s studio, her eyes wandering up to the ceiling.
“Honestly, I thought we’d be working out of here a lot longer. Crazy it’s only been a couple months. Did we even renew the lease for the rest of the year?” Josie wondered aloud.
Xylia nced up from the designer profiles the HR had just handed her and gave Josie a knowing nod.
“I’m nning to just buy the ce. So if you ever want toe over and chill, it’s yours whenever,” Xylia offered with a smile.
Josie grinned at that and shot Xylia an approving thumbs<b>–</b>up.
“No wonder you’re the Sadler family heiress<b>, </b>Xylia–always <b>so </b>generous!” Josie grinned.
Buying that ce? That’s gotta cost at least seven figures.
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Orders were rolling intely, sure, but honestly, the studio’s profits still weren’t hitting the goals they’d set.
“The hustle isn’t over yet, we’ve still got work to do!‘ Josie thought with a determined smirk.
Xylia had already narrowed down the ten resumes to five designers she wanted to interview.
After sending the list to the new HR person, she walked over and took a seat beside Josie.
“Once we’ve moved and filled all the positions, things will get a lot easier,” Xylia said, stretching a little.
“I’m not tired at all–in fact, I’m really happy. Seeing our studio grow day by day, I feel so proud,” Josie said, her pride shining through.
She meant every word.
But her gaze, full of thoughts, stayed fixed on the ceiling, not once meeting Xylia’s eyes.
Xylia could tell Josie was carrying something heavy on her mind.
And it just seemed to be getting heavier.
Even though they were close, Xylia knew better than to push Josie if she didn’t want to talk.
So she simply offered a few words offort.
“Josie, no matter whates your way, I’m always here to listen, and I’ll have your back—always,” Xylia said, her voice gentle and full of warmth.
Josie was taken aback for a moment, her mind nking as she was caught off guard by Xylia’s genuine
support.
With those words, Xylia gave Josie’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze before quietly stepping out of the office.
Josie watched her leave, eyes turning red as she bit her lip, holding back the tears threatening to fall.
The studio had been a whirlwind of activitytely.
At first, Xylia was worried about Joshua, but with the nonstop rush, honestly, he was thest thing on her mind these days.
By the time she finally wrapped things up <i>and </i>returned to the office, Joshua was already there–she had no clue when he’d shown up.
He was sprawled out in her chair, looking totallyid–back as he browsed through the documents on her desk.
Xylia didn’t care that he was reading through her files.
<b>As </b>she gazed out the window, it suddenly hit her–she hadn’t checked her phone <b>even </b>once all afternoon.
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There was a missed call and several messages from Joshua, but she hadn’t responded to any of them.
‘Damn, I totally forgot to check, Xylia thought with a sigh.
She walked into her office, apologizing as she made her way over to him.
“Sorry, I didn’t check my phone–Ipletely missed your call,” she said to Joshua.
Joshua held out his hand, silently asking Xylia toe over.
Xylia walked up to him, and he gently pulled her into hisp.
Joshua wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in the warm curve of her neck. Breathing in her soft, sweet scent, he finally felt the weight on his shoulders begin to ease. ‘Only she can make me feel this calm,‘ he thought.
Xylia noticed Joshua had changed outfits, a detail she’d picked up instantly. ‘He must’ve been busy,‘ she mused.
Xylia leaned close and asked with concern, “How did everything go? Did you find out who’s behind it?”
Joshua nodded but didn’t mention any names. Instead, he said, “I’ll have someone looking out for you–you’ll be safe, I promise.”
Xylia hesitated, her worry obvious. “But… what about you?”
As Xylia looked down, all she saw was Joshua’s messy, soft hair–he wouldn’t even look up.
Joshua wouldn’t let go–he was holding her so tight she almost couldn’t breathe. Softly, she patted his back, trying tofort him.
“Can you ease up a little? I can barely breathe here,” Xylia mumbled, her voice both soft and teasing.
Joshua finally loosened his grip, lifted his head, and looked into her eyes–worry flickered across his face as he answered her.
“I’ll protect you myself when I can, but you know I can’t be with you every minute. The bodyguards will stay out of your way, I promise,” he reassured her, his concern clear.
Xylia frowned, her brows drawing together. “Wait… someone’s actually targeting me?”
‘Is this for real?‘ she wondered, feeling a chill run down her spine,
Joshua shook his head. “No, it’s me they’re after.”
“Then maybe you should be the one with protection,” Xylia replied, concern creeping into her voice.
Joshua’s expression turned serious. “Now that we’re together, they can’t touch me. But they’ll definitely try to <b>get </b>to you. Your safety is what matters most.”
Xylia finally noticed the dark, unsettled look in Joshua’s eyes, and she knew this was way moreplicated
than it seemed.
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“Who is it, anyway? If you don’t tell me, what if I run into them and don’t even realize? I could totally get fooled,” Xylia insisted, her worry tightening in her chest.
Joshua hesitated before finally saying, “Dexter’s one of them. And Burke–you should keep an eye out for him
too.”
Xylia stared at him,pletely stunned. “Didn’t they die?”
Joshua’s lips twisted into a cold smile. “Yeah. They were supposed to.”
Xylia could sense that Joshua was still weighed down by something, secrets or worries he hadn’t spoken out loud.
She slid closer, wrapped her arms around him, and nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck.
“Don’t worry about me—I can take care of myself. Just go for it, do whatever you need to do. I’ve got you,” she murmured.
She didn’t ask.
But right then, she gave Joshua all the support he could ever need.
Joshua felt his heart skip a beat–his whole chest went soft, all the defenses he’d built just melting away.
With one hand, he lifted Xylia’s chin, drawing her gently closer, and pressed a tender kiss to her lips.
The kiss was gentle as water–his lips melting into hers, their sweetness lingering, curling softly around the hearts of them both.
When they got back to the apartment, Joshua didn’t even bother turning on the lights.
He pulled Xylia close, pinning her against the wall in the entryway, and kissed her deeply.
The gentle tenderness from earlier turned into a storm–their passion igniting, the soft moans echoing through the dimly lit space. Xylia wrapped her arms around Joshua, returning his kiss with just as much heat.
Clothes were scattered across the floor, a trail leading straight to the bedroom.
The night was soft, like water, spilling in through the window, casting a warm glow over the tangled figures on the bed.
The next day, Xylia didn’t wake up until three in the afternoon.
She felt like a thoughtful girlfriend, but definitely not much of a boss.
Joshua had been feeling down yesterday, so she’d tried her best tofort him–and pretty much went along
with whatever he wanted.
But her stamina had its limits. <i>By </i>the middle of the night, she just couldn’t handle it anymore and gently
pushed him away.
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But Joshua, his voice low and just a little needy, whispered right in her ear, “Come on, babe, just onest time… please?”
Xylia was so lost in his gentle pleading and soft teasing, her mind a little hazy–she just couldn’t bring herself to turn him down.
So of course, she let him talk her into it for a few more rounds.
In the end, she was so worn out she finally passed out halfway through.
She had no idea how long they’d been going at it.
No matter howte she slept, she was still dead tired–she honestly didn’t want to get out of bed at all.
She thought Joshua would have already woken up, but as she tried to move, she realized he was still lying right there next to her.
His handsome face was so close–he lookedpletely innocent and rxed, fast asleep.
His strong arm was draped firmly over her waist, locking her in ce–she couldn’t even budge.
Back then, Xylia used to swoon over Joshua’s handsome face, but now? All she wanted was to sock him one for making her <b>so </b>sore.
She waspletely wrecked–her body ached all over, and she was honestly afraid to move an inch.
‘Ugh, this is totally his fault!‘ Xylia internally cursed, shooting him a death re.
Joshua blinked awake, only to find the girl in his arms wide–eyed and spaced out, clearly deep in thought.
Feeling like a million bucks, Joshua snuggled up and buried his face in Xylia’s neck, acting all cute as he started to beg for attention.
“Hey, big sis, you’re finally up?” Joshua murmured in a teasing, puppy–eyed voice.
That was when Xylia, totally fed up, finally swung her fist and socked him right in the face.
Ten minutester.*
Xylia was washing up at the sink, still clutching her sore back, trying to freshen herself up.*
Meanwhile, Joshua was rubbing his cheek where she’d socked him, bent over picking clothes off the messy
floor.*
He didn’t look even a bit annoyed–instead, he looked almost dangerously satisfied, like he was weirdly enjoying the whole thing.*