Joshua picked up Grace’s husband, and the two returned to the hospital room.
Xylia turned to steal a nce at Joshua, but the moment their eyes met, she quickly looked away.
Her demeanor had softened, but Joshua was oblivious to the change.*
He assumed Xylia was still mad at him, to the point she couldn’t even stand to look his way.*
‘Why does my chest feel so sour?‘ Joshua wondered, a wave of self–doubt crashing over him. ‘Was I too forceful? Did I end up pushing Xylia, who’s always so gentle, into losing her temper?‘*
But he really didn’t want to see Xylia always busy in the kitchen anymore.
She just didn’t seem happy at all living like that.
Whatever crossed his mind made his face look even gloomier.
Grace nced at the couple, who were still acting awkward around each other, and just shook her head lightly.
“Xylia, now that your grandmaster is here, you two should head out. I’ll catch up with him for a bit,” she said warmly.
Noticing that Grace clearly had some private words to share, Xylia didn’t feel right hanging around. She exchanged farewells with Grace and her husband, then slipped out of the room.
Joshua trailed behind her, his steps heavy.
They walked one behind the other toward the hospital entrance, a quiet distance stretched between them.
Just yesterday, they were inseparable, their hands intertwined as they walked together. But today, they might as well have been strangers, the air between them thick with an awkward tension.
Xylia couldn’t stand the thick awkwardness hanging in the air.
She thought to herself, ‘I guess I can swallow my pride if I have to. Maybe I’ll just be the first to say sorry.
Just as she was about to turn and speak to Joshua, he suddenly grabbed her wrist from behind. A deep voice whispered in her ear.
“I’m sorry,” Joshua murmured, his voice low and rough.
Xylia was genuinely stunned–she froze for a moment before finally turning to face Joshua.
Joshua’s face was tense, his jaw clenched so tightly it made his cheeks stand out. His eyes were rimmed with red, like he was struggling to hold back a flood of emotion.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you this morning,” he continued, his voice quiet and pleading. “Can we
<b>6:59 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>
please not give each other the silent treatment anymore?<i>” </i>
Earlier, as she walked ahead of him–silent, her eyes icy, her pace unchanging, not slowing down for him even a bit—he couldn’t shake the feeling she was leaving him behind.
For a moment, he thought Xylia was done with him.
He thought she would just walk away, leaving him behind without a second thought.
They would break up, and from then on, they would be nothing more than strangers.
The mere thought of it made his chest tighten, like he couldn’t catch his breath.
So, just before he could lose control, Joshua reached out and grabbed Xylia’s hand, apologizing without hesitation.
His tone was humble,ced with a desperate plea, as if he was begging her not to leave.
Xylia was so stunned by his sudden apology that she stood frozen, unable to say a word for a long moment.
Joshua thought she was still angry, maybe even so mad that she wouldn’t forgive him, which exined why she didn’t react to his apology.
His grip on her hand tightened, his knuckles turning white.
Just as he was starting to feel hopeless, Xylia finally spoke. “I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”
Her voice was light and gentle, and Joshua wasn’t even sure he’d heard her right.
‘Wait… Xylia’s actually apologizing to me?‘ Joshua thought, baffled.
‘She’s not angry or ming me at all?‘ he wondered, surprised.
Xylia gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “From now on, I won’t go in the kitchen again, okay? So please, don’t be mad at me anymore.”
The crushing sadness in Joshua’s chest was suddenly swept away by a rush of pure joy—so sharp and fierce, it nearly drowned him, leaving his heart aching and numb all at once.
His eyes
burned as he yanked Xylia into his arms, holding her as tight as he could, refusing to let go.
“I’m not mad at you. Honestly, there’s no way I could ever be angry with you,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
All he ever wanted was to cherish her–hurting her was thest thing on his mind.
Xylia hugged him back, letting all her worries fade away as she rxed into theforting warmth of his
arms.
After everything that happened, the two finally made up and found somemon ground.
<b>6:59 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>
Xylia could head into the kitchen whenever she wanted, and Joshua wouldn’t stop her just as long as she kept
it to five times a year, tops.
Xylia nced at Joshua’s serious face and realized this was as much as he was willing topromise, so she decided not to argue anymore.
After Grace cleared things up for her, Xylia didn’t feel like rebelling anymore<i>–</i>her heart was just bubbling with sweetness.
‘Honestly, Joshua’s just the sweetest, Xylia thought, lips curving in a tiny smile.
Meanwhile, Connor had no idea that Xylia and Joshua had already arrived in Jupiton.
Lately, he’d been a wreck–ever since he’d gone out of his way to cover for Tessa.
After finally making bail and getting out of the police station, he returned home only to get chewed out by his parents. They just couldn’t figure out when their well–behaved son had started messing up so badly.
He was either getting into fights at school or throwing his family’s weight around to push other kids around.
Connor was already caught up in all the public drama, and once word got out that his son Sonny had been throwing his weight around too, the media flooded the feeds with stories.
Thanks to the Ford Group’s top execs screwing things up, their stock had crashed hardtely, and thepany was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.
Connor locked his troublesome son up in the Ford family home and turned his focus entirely to dealing with thepany crisis.
Since he hadn’t been sentenced, there was still a slim hope of saving thepany.
The shareholders kept putting the pressure on, demanding that a new chairman be chosen.
But the Ford Group was the Ford family’s inheritance, and Connor was determined to hold onto it–no matter what.
Just when Connor was about to lose all hope, a business partner from Daltonia got in touch. The deal they offered was massive.
It was big enough to potentially bring the Ford Group back from the brink of bankruptcy.
Connor didn’t waste any time–he scheduled a sit–down with the partner for Friday night.
Richard had already booked a private room, waiting unhurried and confident for Connor to arrive in
When Connor showed up with Sonny, Richard was leisurely sipping his tea.
person.
Richard was disarmingly refined–porcin–pale skin, schrly features, and a graceful air that radiated dignity. Even when he greeted Connor and his son, every word and gesture was gentle and weing.
<b>6:59 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>26
“You’re here! Come on in, have a seat. I just made some fresh tea,” Richard said warmly.
Richard gently ced two cups of tea on the other side of the table, offering them to his guests.
Connor and Sonny took their seats.
Connor was puzzled why Richard had insisted he bring Sonny to the contract meeting. The whole thing made him a bit uneasy, but he couldn’t risk losing out on this partnership, so he brought his son along and decided to keep a close eye on how things yed out.
Richard couldn’t help ncing at Sonny’s round, cheerful face.
The kid was the spitting image of Connor, but his eyes and brows were a perfect copy of Xylia’s.
Richard’s grin grew even wider.
“It’s my first time experiencing your country’s tea tradition–I hope it’s up to your standards,” Richard said with an easy warmth.
“We’re honored,” Connor responded.
Connor took a sip of the tea Richard offered, and Sonny copied him, trying a small taste.
But Sonny didn’t care for it–he scrunched up his nose at the bitter vor, set the cup aside, and didn’t touch it again.
Richard didn’tment on it at all.
After some polite chit–chat, Connor decided to cut to the chase and brought up the partnership.
Richard shed a rxed smile. “Jupiton is the capital of Alvend, and the Ford Group basically runs this city. Full disclosure, Mr. Ford–we’re not looking to work with any otherpany this time around.”
Connor couldn’t help but think, ‘This deal feels almost too good to be true. Whenever he’d worked with Burke Sterling before, he was always on guard.
Now, his guard was up even higher.
Richard caught the look in Connor’s eyes and said lightly, “Rx–we work with Burke, and he’s actually the one who put your name forward.”
Connor paused, a little caught off guard, but then finally let his guard down.
The Ford Group had what it took to stand at the very top, after all. If a trusted connection like Burke was vouching for him, then this partnership was all thanks to his own abilities.
Guess there was no reason to stay on edge anymore.
Just as they were about to get down to business, Richard suddenly shifted gears, his gaze turning sharp. “But I have one condition.”
Chapter 287.
<b>Chapter </b>287