Connor didn’t spare Joshua even a single nce. His attention waspletely focused on Xylia, his gaze as gentle as the softest affection between lovers.


    Xylia felt goosebumps prickle across her skin. She ignored him.


    But Cecilia Jennings, standing nearby, caught the way Connor was looking at Xylia. Remembering what Tessa had just said, she blurted out, “So this is your secret second ship?”


    Xylia: …


    ‘Guess Cecilia didn’t hear a single thing I just said earlier.’ Xylia thought to herself.


    “Secret second ship?” Connor repeated Cecilia’s words, his gaze still fixed on Xylia. He raised an eyebrow, seemingly unfazed by the term.


    Joshua’s expression darkened, and he was about to speak up, but Xylia ced her hand on his arm to stop him, silently telling him to let her handle it.


    Xylia looked straight at Cecilia and said, “Miss Jennings, just because you’re younger doesn’t give you a free pass to say anything you want. Are you even aware your words are bordering on nder?<b>” </b>


    Cecilia pressed her lips together, ring stubbornly at Xylia, refusing to back down.


    Xylia turned away from Cecilia and faced Connor head–on.


    “There’s this saying online that I really like—a proper ex should be as good as dead. Yet you keep showing up and pulling the whole zombie act in front of me. Are you hoping I’ll call someone to haul you off already?”


    Connor’s expression darkened for a moment.


    He immediately picked up on the shift–Xylia wasn’t burning with anger or shing him looks of disgust anymore. Now she seemedpletely chill, like he barely registered in her world.


    Her voice had lost that harsh chill; instead, it was just t and emotionless.


    But her words still hit as sharp as ever.


    When the realization hit that Xylia was actually over him, Connor’s face went from stormy to pale in a sh. He frowned, staring at her, shaken.


    “Xylia, I swear I didn’t mean to bother you,” Connor managed, sounding a little uneasy.


    :


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    <b>55 </b>vouchers


    “Well, you are seriously getting on my nerves. Maybe take a second and realize how downright shameless you’re acting,” Xylia fired back, absolutely ruthless.


    Xylia didn’t cut Connor any ck at all.


    Joshua had been just hanging back on the couch, worried Xylia might get the short end of the stick, ready to step in and stand up for his girlfriend at any second.


    But to his surprise, she was fiercer than ever–herebacks had Connor totally speechless. ‘Guess I don’t need to worry about her at all,‘ Joshua thought, secretly impressed.


    Every word from Xylia hit Connor right where it hurt, fueling his frustration with each


    sentence.


    He shot back in a cold voice, “Xylia, do you really have to go this hard on me?”


    Joshua had been silent for a while, slouched on the couch with thatzy lift of his eyes. The silver hair and the icy look in his eyes just made him seem even more cool and aloof.


    “Mr. Ford, if you’d quit stirring things up, my girl wouldn’t being at you like this,” Joshua said evenly.


    Connor’s grip tightened instinctively around his wine ss.


    Joshua’s constant, deliberate digs every time they met really got under his skin.


    But this was George Jennings‘ birthday celebration, and if he started drama with any of the guests, he’d just end up embarrassing himself.


    With an indifferent, almost chilly nce at Joshua, Connor shifted his gaze back to Xylia.


    Connor said with quiet confidence, “Work’s going smoothly for you right now, and you don’t feel threatened. Sooner orter, you’ll be the one reaching out to me.”


    Back in the day, no matter what went wrong, Xylia’s first thought was always to find him.


    Connor hadn’t given up–he just thought Xylia was acting this way because she was still hurting from what he’d done.


    The way he saw it, there was no way their eight years together couldpare to the short fling she’d had with Joshua. That bond was stronger, deeper–she couldn’t possibly care less about him than she did about Joshua.


    He was sure that Xylia would eventuallye looking for him again.


    With that, Connor turned and walked away.


    <b>13:11 </b>Mon, <b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>


    Cecilia shot a look at Xylia and Joshua, then nced over at Connor.


    She hesitated for a couple of seconds before getting up and trailing after him.


    Inside the vi, the AC kept everything perfectly cool andfortable.


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    In the heart of the party, the dance had started up, elegant music drifting through the vi while couples–one after another–stepped onto the floor together.


    The women’s gowns came in every imaginable style and color, sparkling like fresh blooms, each one vying for the spotlight.


    Joshua stood up, gently taking Xylia’s hand, his voice teasing, “Should we join the dance?”


    Xylia hesitated for a second, then shook her head with a small smile.


    “Why not? Don’t know how to dance?” Joshua raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.


    Joshua raised an eyebrow.


    If Xylia hadn’t quit dancing for her family, she’d still be leading the show. Seriously, it’s not like she doesn’t know how to dance.


    Xylia pointed to her outfit. “This evening gown really isn’t meant for dancing, especially since I’m still wrapped up in your jacket.”


    She was sporting a fitted mermaid dress that pretty much kept her steps tiny. And Xylia was way too particr about proper dancewear–there was no way she’d ditch Joshua’s jacket right now, but wearing a suit jacket over an evening gown? That just killed the look for her.


    Thinking it over, Xylia decided it was better to sit this one out.


    Joshua’s eyes dropped to Xylia. With her hair elegantly swept back and held in ce by a simple jade pin, her makeup making her skin look like porcin, she stood there sparkling- even in that not–so–matching getup, she was impossible to ignore.


    He couldn’t help swallowing.


    Someone this captivating–yeah, Joshua would rather keep her out of the spotlight than let everyone else start eyeing her up.


    Joshua suddenly slipped his arm around Xylia’s waist, pulling her against him. He dipped his head to whisper in her ear, his voice teasing, “How about giving me a private dance when we get home? I’ve never seen your moves before.”


    Dancing had be almost foreign to Xylia now.


    <b>13:11 </b>Mon, <b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>


    ‘Her ears went warm, turning a bit pink. Xylia thought, flustered.


    She turned to meet Joshua’s fiery gaze and felt her chest flush hot.


    “Give me a little time to get ready,” Xylia said softly.


    “Sure thing, I’ll be waiting,” Joshua replied, his voice warm.


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    Joshua watched as Xylia turned away, her cheeks burning with shyness, and honestly, it just turned his heart to mush.


    His girl–even the way she breathed seemed to m right into his chest and leave him reeling.


    Over on the dance floor, petals of color kept blooming, but here in Joshua’s arms, with Xylia pressed close, they soaked in a stolen sliver of quiet right in the middle of all that chaos.


    George Jennings‘ birthday bash was set up outside.


    Once the dance in the banquet hall came to an end, everyone started making their way toward the garden at Jennings Manor.


    The garden had been thoughtfully set up well in advance.


    Mounds of fresh flowers lined the space, and each round table sported its own gorgeous floral centerpiece.


    Even though it was nighttime, floodlights and scattered streetmps bathed everything in light, making it almost as bright as day.


    Joshua led Xylia over to a random round table and pulled out a chair for her.


    “No clue why the Jennings family would invite the Sadler Brothers, but hey, it’s George Jennings‘ birthday bash. Both families will keep things nice on the surface, no doubt. If anything gets messed up, just let your big bro handle all the drama–you just focus on eating, drinking, and having fun,” Joshua teased, shooting Xylia a yful wink.


    Xylia chuckled, imagining how Kaden would react if he heard that–‘Would he go so crazy some actual steam would shoot out of his ears<b>?</b><b>‘ </b>she wondered.


    Speak of the devil–Kaden and Rosalind showed up out of nowhere and plopped down right next to Joshua and Xylia.


    The two settled in, joining the little group at the table.


    Kaden nced over at Joshua, lookingpletely unfazed.


    “You’re not the Sadler family’s son–inw yet, so you’d better mind your words. Otherwise,


    you can forget about marrying my little sister,” Kaden warned coolly.


    Joshua beamed, holding Xylia’s hand with a yful grin.


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    “Well, I’m not picky–I could just marry you instead,” he joked, tossing the words in Kaden’s direction.


    Xylia could only stare at him, totally at a loss for words.


    Rosalind couldn’t help but snort withughter.


    “Never thought ruthless Garcia would crack a joke like that. I gotta say, you sure know how to surprise me,” Rosalind snickered.


    Joshua shot an eyebrow at Kaden, then turned to Rosalind and teased, “Honestly, my brother would probably say yes if you proposed to him.”


    Rosalind perked up, tossing an expectant nce at Kaden.


    I


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