Xylia eyed Ziggy warily.


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    After Mr. & Mrs. Schultz hade looking for her in Norhill and she’d just ignored them, Xylia was sure she’d never have anything to do with the Schultz family again.


    And now, out of nowhere, Ziggy was standing right in front of her.


    “What do you want?” Xylia said, keeping her voice cool but with a hint of wariness.


    As soon as Josie called to tell her that Ziggy was looking for her, Xylia instantly knew he wasn’t here for a friendly chat–he definitely had something up his sleeve.


    Unlike his parents, Ziggy had grown up hustling on the streets; there was nothing he wouldn’t dare to do.


    Ziggy sauntered up to her, his eyes cold and piercing as they locked onto hers.


    He scoffed, voice thick with disdain. “The real daughter of the Sadler family?”


    He smirked. “If my family hadn’t taken you in all these years, you think you’d ever get a shot at crawling back to the Sadlers and living it up in luxury like you do now?”


    Xylia didn’t need him to spell it out–she already knew exactly what he was after.


    It was probably for the same reason as his parents.


    She had no idea what kind of mess the Schultz Group was in, but one thing was obvious—they needed cash, and that’s why the Schultz family kepting back to hit her up for money.


    She stayed silent, letting him keep talking.


    Finally, Ziggy got to the point.


    “Give me a hundred million dors, and we’ll call it even. After that, whatever debt you owe the Schultz family–gone. That’s the price for everything we’ve ever done for you.”


    Xylia sneered, a hint of mockery in her voice. “Was it eight years ago? No, wait–it’s been nine. You really forgot you said the exact same thing to me nine years back?”


    “Marry Connor, help the Schultz Group through another round of financing, and the Schultz family will be square with you–that’s what you told me back then, remember?”


    When Tessa moved back in with the Schultz family, they cut Xylia off without a second thought–not a single penny more for her living expenses.


    She had to fend for herself, hustling for every dime just to get by.


    Then, after she married Connor, Yves and Ziggy started twisting her arm, demanding that she persuade Connor to bankroll the Schultz Group’s overseas ventures, dangling the years of so–called gratitude they’d


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    shown her as their weapon.


    Back then, Xylia had been drowning in guilt, so she’d swallowed her pride and asked Connor for help.


    Connor, who only wanted to marry her so he couldy out the red carpet for Tessa’s return, never hesitated- whatever she wanted, he gave it without question.


    He dumped a hundred million dors into the Schultz Group’s global business, jumpstarting their overseas ambitions from nothing.


    Xylia still felt guilty about it all, and for eight years of marriage, she did everything she could to take care of Connor, making up for what happened.


    She’d already repaid her debt to the Schultz family ages ago. So now, to see Ziggy show up and act like she owed him anything? The whole thing was honestlyughable to her.


    Ziggy’s gaze turned colder as he recalled what he’d said all those years ago, but he remainedpletely unashamed, his tone forceful and unapologetic.


    “Connor forked over that cash eight years back, not you. Now that you’re divorced, it means nothing. So this time, it’s gotta be your own hundred million–that’s what settles things between you and the Schultz family.”


    Xylia wasn’t the least bit surprised by Ziggy’s ridiculous demands.


    Everyst one of the Schultz family was utterly shameless–none of you have an ounce of decency.


    She fired back, “I don’t owe the Schultz family a thing. If you’re after money, you’ve asked the wrong person.”


    Xylia spun on her heel and started to walk away without looking back.


    But Ziggy’s temper red–he reached out and grabbed her arm, nearly yanking her back.


    “Today, whether you like it or not, you’re handing over that money!” Ziggy snarled, his voice sharp with fury.


    Xylia met his re, cold and unfazed. “Trying to scare me now? What if I refuse–what then, you gonna swing at me or something<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Ziggy had always yed rough, but ever since he’d been running the Schultz Group, he’d learned to keep his temper in check–a far cry from his wild younger days.


    He knew that if he reallyid a hand on Xylia, he wouldn’t just blow his shot at getting cash, he might end up with the Sadler familying after him.


    With things already falling apart at Schultz Group, thest thing he needed was another mess.


    But letting Xylia walk away without getting what he wanted? That wasn’t an option for him.


    “Come on, I’d never hit you–you were someone I used to look out for,” Ziggy shot back, voiceced with sarcasm. He let go of her arm and shook his hand, as if he’d just touched something disgusting.


    He sneered, “You know exactly the kind of trouble I used to stir up. If things go south for me, don’t think your


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    studio’s gonna have it easy, either.”


    “Oh? I’m curious to see what filthy move Mr. Schultz is nning next,” a mocking voice called out, thick with provocation.


    It wasn’t Xylia who spoke. It was Joshua, who had juste around the front of the car to stand next to her.


    Xylia shot a surprised nce at Joshua. The dim lights of the parking lot painted shadows on his profile, a few


    stray


    silver locks stered to his face with sweat. Those cool, distant eyes–so sharp and indifferent–were fixed squarely on Ziggy, giving nothing away.


    Ziggy’s face changed colors the moment he realized it was Joshua standing there–a jumble of emotions flickered across his features all at once.


    Back in Jupiton, he’d seen Joshua by Xylia’s side before.


    At the time, everyone thought Joshua was just the Garcia family’s lowly driver. Turns out, he was actually the heir to the Garcia family–the young master himself.


    Ziggy knew he couldn’t afford to cross someone like Joshua.


    He clenched his jaw, his eyes darted over to see Joshua standing right beside Xylia, his hand quietlycing with hers–a clear show of protection.


    ‘Damn it, how is she always under someone else’s wing? Just my luck…‘ Ziggy thought bitterly, unwilling to ept how things had turned out.


    “Mr. Garcia,” Ziggy said, squeezing out a fake smile, “Xylia’s been like a sister to me for over twenty years. She used to be the princess of our family. Now that you’re with her, shouldn’t you be taking on the Schultz family’s debts too?”


    Xylia shot him a frosty look. “I don’t owe the Schultz family a damn thing, so what makes you think he should take it on for me? He’s got zero connection to any of you.”


    Xylia was just as protective of Joshua as he was of her, not backing down in the slightest.


    Joshua bit back the words he was about to say, silently letting Xylia handle things on her own.


    Ziggy’s face was livid.


    “You can get lost now. I’m not giving you a single cent,” Xylia shot back.


    Ziggy nearly burst out cursing, but with Joshua right there, he bit his tongue, burning with rage on the inside but refusing to lose face.


    He shot Xylia a toxic re. “You better watch yourself,” he spat.


    With that, he spun around, climbed into his car, and tore out of the parking lot.


    Xylia shot a disdainful look at the spot where Ziggy had just disappeared, then turned to Joshua with a smirk. “You’re like some kind of emperor from the old days–everyone’s scared shitless of you.”


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    When she was alone with Ziggy, he’d been seconds away fromying a hand on her.


    But as soon as Joshua showed up, Ziggy didn’t even dare breathe–he just turned tail and ran.


    “Isn’t that a good thing? Saves us a whole lot of trouble,” Joshua replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.


    He looked her up and down, making sure she was okay, then said, “From now on, if anything like this happens, just let me know. I’ll see to it that none of the Schultz family dares to bother you again.”


    “I’d rather handle things myself. I want them to be afraid of me, not just back off because of you,” Xylia retorted, her eyes zing with confidence.


    Xylia’s stubborn streak was showing loud and clear.


    Joshua justughed, giving her a yful pat on the head. “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with letting your husband back you up once in a while.”


    Xylia’s cheeks flushed bright red. ‘Husband? We’re not even married!‘ she thought, her heart fluttering uncontrobly.


    Once they reached the building, Xylia turned and walked over to the elevator–she figured she might as well head back to her office and check things out.


    Joshua fell into step beside her.


    When they walked into the office, Josie hurried over to greet them.


    “Xylia, Ziggy from the Schultz family was here earlier. He was waiting for you for ages, but got impatient and left just a moment ago. You didn’t happen to bump into him, did you?” Josie said, sounding a bit worried.


    “Yeah, we did,” Xylia replied evenly.


    “What? Are you hurt?” Josie asked, her voice rising with concern as she reached out, fussing over Xylia from head to toe.


    Xyliaughed, gently swatting Josie’s hands away. “Seriously, Josie, I’m all good–no need to check me like


    that.”


    Josie finally rxed and let out a breath. “Okay, just making sure.”


    Seeing Joshua right by Xylia’s side, Josie thought, ‘With Joshua here, there’s no way anyone could mess with Xylia or take advantage of her. Finally reassured, Josie let out a quiet sigh of relief.


    Once they settled into her office, Xylia sat down across from Joshua, her eyes sharp and clear as she locked onto his face.


    “The mess at the Schultz Group–was that your doing?” Xylia asked bluntly.