Hudson took an angry sip of his juice, frustration written all over his face.
Xylia breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a lot lighter after Kaden spoke.
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Seeing him grinning like that, she figured his romance with his wife must be going strong these days.
Guess that’s why he’s cutting me so much ck today.
‘Xylia held back her gossipy side,‘ she looked at Kaden and said, “So, do you have something else you wanna say to me?”
Kaden nodded, handing her an invitation from the Jennings family. “This one’s for you.”
Xylia flipped open the invitation and saw her own name inside.
She blinked in surprise. “Wait, they invited me? What for?”
Thinking of Be, Xylia hesitated, torn for a moment before speaking up. ‘Could it be because I saved Be that one time?‘ she wondered to herself.
‘No, that can’t be it.‘ She continued, ‘Be’s stopped contacting metely–I thought Howard had forbidden her from talking to me. So what’s up with this invitation all of a sudden?‘
Noticing Xylia’s troubled look, Kaden asked, “So, have you had any contact with anyone from the Jennings family these days?”
“No…” Xylia started to reply, but just then, something popped into her mind–she remembered how Beatrice had ordered a Tang suit for George Jennings.
Xylia paused, the realization dawning on her.
She quickly mentioned this to Kaden, filling him in on what happened.
Hudson tensed up, unable to stay calm. “Beatrice Spencer! So she’s set her sights on you now!”
Xylia looked at Hudson, her eyes full of confusion. “You know Beatrice Spencer?”
Hudson nodded. “Beatrice Spencer is Howard Jennings’s sister–inw. On the surface, their family always acts close, but it’s mostly a bunch of behind–the–scenes scheming. This time she’s having you make that Tang suit, probably to use the feud between the Jennings and Sadlers and the fact you once helped Howard, just to stir up some big drama at George Jennings’s birthday banquet.”
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Xylia finally put the pieces together, her thoughts spinning. ‘Oh, so that’s what they’re up to–a full–blown family power struggle!‘
‘Guess I just got dragged straight into their family drama, Xylia mused, half amused and half exasperated.
Xylia piped up, “I’ve always wondered but never asked–what’s really going on between the Sadler and Jennings families? Joshua once said they’ve been enemies for decades.”
Hudson visibly bristled at the mention of Joshua, clearly not pleased.
Still, he went ahead and broke it down for Xylia.
This feud goes all the way back to the grandfathers.
Way back when, Dana Sadler came to Norhill from the countryside and, all by herself, made it big as one of the city’s topwyers.
Both George Jennings and Jared Sadler instantly fell for her the moment they met.
George and Jared had actually been childhood buddies, thick as thieves.
But after Dana chose Jared, things changed–their friendship cracked, and the bad blood began.
But that crack in their friendship wasn’t enough to make the Sadler family and the Jennings family fall out for good.
But what truly drove them apart was yet toe.
One night, while Dana Sadler was pregnant, George Jenningspletely drunk–grabbed onto her, identally causing her to fall down the stairs. She lost the baby, and the injury left her with permanent scars that never healed.
From then on, Jared Sadler and George Jennings were done for good.
Ever since that night, the Sadler family and the Jennings family cut all ties with each other.
Everyone from the older generation among Norhill’s elite families remembered this scandal like it was yesterday,
But when it came to the younger folks, most barely paid attention to it anymore.
Xylia finally realized what had gone down between the families.
She blinked and said, “Is it possible this was all just a big misunderstanding?”
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Hudson scoffed, “With how sharp Grandpa is, you really think some misunderstanding would’ve slipped past him? He would’ve figured it out a long time ago.”
Xylia frowned, “But what if Grandpa was just too in love, you know? Maybe he was so caught
in his feelings that he couldn’t see the real story.”
up
Kaden looked at Xylia, his expression serious. “Xylia, what exactly are you trying <i>to </i>say?”
Xylia paused for a few seconds before finally speaking up.
“What I mean is–what if someone set up George Jennings to make it look like he hurt Dana Sadler on purpose? All to break apart the brotherhood he had with Grandpa.”
Hudson let out a sigh. “Honestly, Grandpa already thought of that possibility back in the day. But after everything happened, there wasn’t anyone who actually got anything out of it. There was zero evidence of anyone pulling strings behind the scenes, and George Jennings never even tried to exin himself or defend what happened.”
Xylia couldn’t hold back a bitter sigh, her heart heavy with regret for how things turned out. ‘So, in the end, that’s all it was–just a tragedy caused by George Jennings losing control when he was wasted,‘ she found herself thinking.
The room went quiet.
Kaden said, “No need to get mixed up in George Jennings’s birthday banquet. Just toss that
invitation.”
Xylia nodded.
Honestly, she’d never nned on going. Getting thrown under the bus for their family drama? No thanks–it’s not like I’m clueless.
But the next day, when Howard came to her studio and personally invited her, Xylia was totally stunned.
‘Wait a sec, wasn’t Beatrice setting me up as her sacrificial pawn against Howard? Why is Howard himself inviting me now?‘ Xylia wondered, her mind spinning.
‘So, Howard wants me there <i>too</i>? What on earth is going on?‘ Xylia couldn’t help but feel even
more confused.
Howard handed Xylia an invitation.
“I’m guessing you’ve already gotten yours, Ms. Sadler. Can you pass this one to Kaden for me?”
‘Wait, Kaden’s invited too?‘ Xylia wondered, a wave of surprise hitting her.
…
:
Xylia just couldn’t figure out what kind of game the Jennings family was ying.
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Xylia hesitated for a moment, her confusion in, and finally asked, “Mr. Jennings, may I ask what made you invite us?”
Howard kept his face cold and expressionless.
“I think it’s time the Jennings and Sadlers finally settle this.” Howard said tly.
He didn’t wait for a reply, just turned and strode out.
‘Something about all this just felt weird,‘ Xylia thought, frowning.
‘Even if the whole Jennings–Sadlers feud needs to be settled, do they really have to do it at George Jennings’s birthday party?‘ she wondered.
‘He’s pretty old now–what if he gets all worked up and has some kind of health scare?‘ Xylia couldn’t help but worry.
After Howard walked out, Joshua stepped into the office.
Noticing the invitation in Xylia’s hand, he asked gently, “Are you thinking about going?”
Xylia nced at Joshua. He looked as unruffled as ever, totally unfazed by the whole thing.
She guessed that, since Joshua was the big boss of Garcia Group here in Norhill, the Jennings family must’ve sent him an invitation too.
She asked, “You’re going too, right?”
Joshua simply nodded.
“When the timees,
I’ll take you with me.”
Xylia shook her head. “I’m not even sure if I’m going. I’ll talk it over with Kaden tonight when I get home.”
Joshua couldn’t help but pout. “You’re really going home again tonight?”
Xylia had gotten the best sleep everst night–nobody bothered her, not even a hint of midnight drama.
She’d already decided she was going to stay at the Sadler family home for the next few days.
She nced up at Joshua with a yful smile. “Not just tonight. I’ll be heading home these next few days–my brothers have officially put their foot down.”
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Truth is, none of her brothers actually ordered her home. She was just using them as an easy excuse to get out of things.
She was just pretending her brothers were being strict so she’d have a reason to stay away.
Otherwise, now that Joshua’s gotten a taste, he wouldn’t want to slow down for even a second -he might never get tired, but she’d definitely end up exhausted.
Sure enough, as soon as Joshua heard her, he instantly deted–shoulders slumped, looking totally crestfallen.
Xylia packed up the papers from her desk, getting ready to move them into a box.
Joshua stirred, stepping forward.
“Let me do it,” he offered, his voice barely above a whisper.
He sounded so downcast.
Carrying the box out the door, his figure looked as forlorn as a puppy that had just been left behind.
Xylia couldn’t hold back and burst outughing.
The more time she spent with Joshua, the more she realized just how adorable he really was.
It took the whole morning, but they finally wrapped up moving the studio into the new office building.
Once everything was settled, Xylia checked the time and invited everyone out for lunch.
Joshua stayed quiet and downcast the whole time, clearly in a bad mood.
Josie grinned and decided to poke fun at him.
“What is it, Mr. Garcia? Are you feeling like a big fish in a small pond? Or is your brilliant talent just wasted on our humble littlepany?”
Josie had been binge–studying local ngtely, so she loved tossing out these new catchphrases whenever she got the chance.
Joshua shot her a cold nce and replied softly, “That’s not what has me down.”
“Then what?” Josie asked.
Josie was as bold as ever.
Joshua shot back, “It’s because your boss won’t let me have any… meat-”
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Before Joshua could finish his outrageousment, Xylia pped her hand over his mouth, shutting him up.
AD