Chapter <b>250 </b>
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Joshua leaned close to Xylia, copying her earlier move, and whispered in her ear, “It’s most likely something George told your brother.”
Xylia just gave him a look, speechless. ‘Of course it’s got everything to do with Grandpa George, but what I really want to know is what he actually said,’ she thought.
“Still wanna y, or shall we head back?” Joshua murmured.
Just as Xylia was about to answer, someone tugged gently at her hand. She looked down and met Be’s adorable big eyes. “Sis, I have a present for you,” Be said.
Xylia nced at Joshua. “Looks like we’ll have to hold off for now.”
Be grabbed Xylia’s hand and led her through the garden, past the long pavilion out by the main estate, all the way to a private guesthouse sitting five hundred meters west of the main house.
“This is where I live with Mom and Dad!” Be grinned. “And your present’s waiting in my room. Come on, let’s go!”
When they stepped inside, the servants bustled around, flipping on lights and setting out tea.
By the time Xylia walked into Be’s cozy little room, the tea was already arranged, piping hot and ready for them.
Xylia thanked the staff and watched as Be headed over to her little dressing room, ncing back secretively while pulling out a pink box.
Be walked over, cheeks flushed, and shyly handed the pink box to Xylia.
“Open it<b>, </b><b>sis</b><b>!</b>” Be urged, excitement sparkling in her eyes.
Xylia lifted the lid; inside was a pair of dance shoes.
Xylia was genuinely surprised.
She blinked at Be, asking, “Be, why did you get me dance shoes?”
“I saw a video of you dancing online,” Be replied.
Thinking about that clip, Be’s eyes sparkled with excitement, her whole face lighting up.
“You looked gorgeous! Out of everyone, I spotted you right away. Mom said you dance like a butterfly breaking out of its cocoon, but to me, you’re a butterfly gathering nectar–beautiful
<b>13:12 </b>Mon, <b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>
and amazing at what you
do!”
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Xylia could pretty much guess which video Be was talking about—it must’ve been the one Be found by ident when Howard Jennings was doing his usual snooping around.
That clip came from a huge dance tour her coach put together years ago. Xylia was the main dancer in that show and spent six months training nonstop just to get every move perfect.
It was her very first time stepping onto a stage that massive–and, as fate would have it, also
thest.
After that, she got married and sacrificed all the things she was passionate about before- trading her old dreams for a new life.
Later, her injury sealed the deal; it meant she’d never set foot on stage again.
“Sis<b>, </b>could you wear these dance shoes and get back on stage? I really want to see you perform,” Be said softly, her eyes full of hope.
Xylia closed the box with a smile and gently pinched Be’s cheek.
“I can’t go back to dancing on stage because of my injury,” Xylia exined, her voice gentle. “But if you’d like, I can put on these shoes and dance just for you on your birthday. How does that sound, Be?”
Be’s face fell when she heard about Xylia’s injury. She softly grabbed Xylia’s hand, concern etched in every word.
“Where are you hurt<b>, </b><b>sis</b><b>? </b>It’s totally fine if you can’t dance–Be doesn’t need to see you perform. You just need to get better, okay?”
Kids never hide their feelings–her concern was pure and genuine.
Xylia’s heartpletely melted.
She smiled and gave Be’s soft, chubby hand a gentle squeeze.
“My injury’s healed now,” Xylia reassured her. “I just can’t dance on stage anymore, but I can still do an asional dance.”
Be looked a bit let down at first, but when she remembered about Xylia’s injury, she quickly hid her disappointment.
Trying her best tofort Xylia in a very grown–up way, Be said, “It’s okay if you can’t dance<b>, </b><b>sis</b><b>. </b><b>The </b>clothes you design are beautiful! Mom told me that as long as you’re really good at one thing, that’s enough.”
Xylia couldn’t help but feel her heart grow soft and warm.
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After leaving the Jennings family estate, Xylia hugged that pink box close, like she was holding onto a piece of her heart.
She carried it all the way home, treating it as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.
Joshua knew Xylia had just agreed to dance for Be on her birthday, and honestly, he couldn’t help but feel a bit left out.
As they sat together in the back seat, he scooted closer to Xylia, his voice full of simmering envy. “So… what about me?”
Xylia shot him a sidelong nce, brows raised with confusion. “What’s up with you?”
“You promised you’d dance for me too,” Joshua said, almost sulking.
“You’re the one who begged me to dance for you,” Xylia teased him.
“And you agreed,” Joshua grumbled, sounding almost petnt.
Xylia instantly caught onto it–Joshua was actually jealous of Be.
‘Seriously? Jealous of a little kid?‘ Xylia thought, amused. ‘Joshua is way too childish sometimes.’
She smiled, set the pink box aside, took his hand, and said gently, “I told you I’d need to get ready, remember? Just give me a bit of time, okay?”
Joshua was satisfied with her answer. He took her hand and gently drew her into his embrace.
As soon as Connor stepped out of the Jennings family estate, he pulled out his phone and called his assistant.
“Look into everything that’s been going on with Xylia while she’s been in Norhill.”
Back then, Connor figured Xylia had nothing and once life got tough, she’de back to him looking for help.
Just like she always did–turning to him whenever she needed someone to lean on.
But now, everything had changed.
Xylia wasn’t just with Joshua–she’d also started her ownpany in Norhill. And most importantly, she had a family now.
<b>13:12 </b>Mon<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>
…
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She was surrounded by people who loved her and would always support her. With all that in her life now, how could she possibly turn to him again?
Panic began to creep out from the depths of his heart, spreading through him.
For the first time, Connor realized that all this time, the belief Xylia woulde back to him was just an excuse he’d used tofort himself.
Xylia wasn’t evering back to him.
‘No!‘ Connor’s thoughts screamed in protest.
‘No way. I won’t let this happen!‘
‘There’s no way Xylia could just throw away eight years with me–she can’t forget all that so fast!‘
Connor yanked open the car door and climbed inside.
Tessa ran out, calling after him, but Connor didn’t notice her at all–he just got in and drove away, leaving her behind.
The cool night breeze whipped against Tessa’s bare skin, making her hair and dress flutter wildly. Alone in front of the sprawling Jennings family gates, her figure seemed heartbreakingly small and solitary.
Meanwhile, back in Jupiton, Ziggy had been struggling to keep the Schultz family together ever since they’d been hit with those mysterious attacks. Now, the Schultz Group was little more than an empty shell.
Ziggy sat at his desk, rubbing his temples in frustration.
More than half a year had gone by, and he was nothing like the energetic, self–assured man he used to be.
His once–sturdy frame was now thin and gaunt, dark circles hung below hollow eyes that had lost their rebellious spark.
“Mr. Schultz, you don’t have to keep struggling,” his assistant said with a weary sigh. “Garcia Group wants to take us over. Let’s just cut our losses and sell.”
Ziggy’s assistant had been hanging on with him all this time, but he was at his limit. He was really hoping Ziggy would just let it go.
He kept urging Ziggy to just give up.
13:13 Mon<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>
But Ziggy wasn’t ready to throw in the towel.
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Giving up the Schultz Group would be like tossing away all the blood, sweat, and tears they had poured into their legacy over the decades. From then on, the Schultz family wouldn’t even have a ce to stand in Jupiton’s high–society circles–they’d bepletely left out in the cold.
Ziggy had spent his life in luxury, always used to being on top. The idea of losing everything and getting looked down on by all those arrogant heirs—those snobby trust–fund kids who’d love to stomp on him–was something he just couldn’t ept.
He mmed his hand down on the desk, frustration boiling over.
“And Tessa, too! What is she doing, picking a fight with Connor at a time like this<b>? </b>It took so much work to finally get Connor to invest in the Schultz Group and bail us out of that crisis. Now with Connor’s money gone, tell me–how am I supposed to fill up this hole?”
Seeing Ziggy was ignoring his advice, the assistant couldn’t help but sigh in resignation.
Ziggy turned and snapped at him, venting his anger, “Why are you sighing? Listen up–the Schultz Group isn’t going down that easily!”
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