Chapter 287.


    <b>Chapter </b>287


    After their argument, Xylia and Joshua’s rtionship seemed to heat up even more. They were back <b>to </b><b>being </b>inseparable, just like when they first fell in love.


    Honestly, ever since they first got together, they’d been glued to each other 24/7 anyway.


    After that incident, Joshua was totally rattled. The minute they got home, he turned clingy–hanging on to Xylia, stubbornly repeating over and over, “I’ll never leave you,” and, “I’ll never stop loving you.”


    It was onlyter that Xylia realized just how much what she thought was just a minor cold war had shaken him. That made her feel even guiltier.


    She wrapped her arms around Joshua, reassuring him again and again with, “I’m not leaving you either. I’ll always love you.”


    Joshua seemed to take her words to heart, but he still looked like there was a cloud hanging over him.


    The next morning, Xylia joined a scheduled video meeting with Prairie Rose’s Director Lily Evans.


    They finalized the details of their coboration, and Lily mentioned she was still overseas and needed some time beforeing to Jupiton. Fortunately, anotherpany executive was already in Jupiton, so Lily gave Xylia his number and suggested she reach out to him first to discuss the basics.


    Xylia nodded, “Got it, I understand.”


    As soon as the meeting wrapped up, Xylia wasted no time and called the executive Lily had mentioned.


    This deal was a once–in–a–lifetime windfall for her and her studio–no way was she letting this golden opportunity slip by.


    But when the call went through, Xylia was surprised to hear a voice she knew all too well.


    “Hello?”


    Xylia blinked in confusion, uncertainly asking, “Mr. Shaw?” “Wait, is that really him?‘ she wondered.


    Joshua had been right next to her, and the moment he heard Xylia talking on the phone, his head snapped in her direction.


    The line went quiet for a moment, then came a soft, warm chuckle.


    “So you’re the special designer Lily was talking about, huh, Xylia?” said Mr. Shaw.


    ‘No mistaking it—that was Mr. Shaw,‘ Xylia thought.


    She nced at Joshua, who had already walked over, and at his silent urging, she put the call on speaker.


    Richard continued, “Honestly, ever since we started brainstorming the new bridal collection, I thought it’d be incredible to coborate with someone as talented as you, Xylia. I can’t believe they actually brought you on


    4M4


    953


    board–I’m really looking forward to working together.”


    36 vouchers


    Joshua looked pretty grim and was about to say something, but Xylia was quicker–she pped her hand over his mouth before he could get a word out, shooting him a warning look.


    Xylia, feeling a bit awkward, scratched her head and said into the phone, “I’m really d to work with yourpany too. How about we pick a time to go over the details together?”


    Richard chuckled, “Lily told me you’re in Jupiton. How about we find some time to meet up and talk it through in person?”


    “Sure, just text me the time and ce,” Xylia replied.


    “No problem. Can’t wait to meet you,” Richard responded.


    As soon as the call ended, Xylia finally moved her hand away from Joshua’s mouth, letting him go.


    Just then, her phone buzzed with a new message. Before she could even reach for it, Joshua grabbed her wrist, pulled her down onto the couch, and pinned her there.


    He stared down at her, his voice tight with anger and a hint of hurt.


    “Why didn’t you let me talk?” Joshua demanded.


    Xylia could practically taste the jealousy thick in the air.


    She didn’t resist—she just gently reached up and hooked her arms around Joshua’s neck. “What were you about to say?” she asked softly.


    “I wanted to tell him to get lost,” Joshua said.


    His voice couldn’t hide the raw disgust simmering beneath the surface.


    Xylia wasn’t surprised.


    “But I have to work with him,” she said, keeping her voice level. “Honestly, I’ve got no idea how he went from being that banker upstairs at ourpany to suddenly owning a piece of Prairie Rose, but I really need to team up with him on this. This deal could make or break the future for me and my studio. You cannot blow this for me.”


    Joshua frowned. “I could set you up with way more contracts–top–tier brands, way bigger than Prairie Rose.”


    “Absolutely not,” Xylia retorted, not giving an inch. “If you help me like that, what’s the point of me going out on my own?”


    Xylia didn’t back down.


    ‘I started my own business to prove I could make it on my own, Xylia thought. ‘If I just coasted on Joshua’s connections, then everything would be meaningless.


    Joshua knew exactly what was on her mind. All his protests were just talk–when it came down to it, he always


    put Xylia first and let her have things her way.


    But Richard was obviously looking for every chance to worm his way into Xylia’s life.


    ??


    It was so clear: Richard’s real objective was to mess with Joshua, and he was trying to use Xylia as the perfect


    weapon.


    There was no way Joshua was letting him get away with that.


    Joshua gazed at Xylia’s gorgeous face, her eyes shining with pure innocence.


    Her lush crimson lips were far too tempting–Joshua couldn’t resist. He bent down and imed her mouth in a kiss<b>. </b>


    Right then, the maid walked in to tidy up. One nce at the two tangled up and kissing on the couch was all it took–blushing furiously, she covered her eyes and beat a hasty retreat from the living room.


    After a few minutes, Joshua finally let go of Xylia.


    Both of them were out of breath, and Xylia waspletely wrecked–kissing Joshua always left her feeling like she’d died ande back to life.


    Her cheeks were burning red, her shirt askew from their wild struggle, and her pale corbone was on full disy–drawing Joshua’s gaze like a ma.


    His eyes lingered on her, filled with such intense focus that it made her skin tingle.


    Feeling him look at her like a hungry wolf, Xylia hurriedly shoved him away.


    “Either way, I’m sticking with this partnership–there’s no chance I’m giving up on it,” Xylia said, absolutely determined.


    She had made up her mind. No matter how much Joshua tried to persuade her, she wasn’t going to back down.


    But she reassured Joshua, “I’ll keep things strictly professional with him, promise.”


    Joshua trusted Xylia, but he couldn’t bring himself to trust Richard for a second.


    He knew Xylia’s decision was set in stone, so he said, “If you’re meeting him for work, I’m going with you. No way I’m letting you deal with him alone.”


    This was as far as he was willing to bend.


    Xylia caught the stubborn determination in Joshua’s eyes and chose not to object.


    The appointment with Richard rolled around before they knew it.


    When Xylia and Joshua stepped into the private suite together, Richard looked like he’d been expecting exactly this–he wasn’t the least bit surprised.


    29530


    He slid two cups of tea across the table toward them, shooting Joshua a teasing grin.


    55 vouchers


    “Didn’t expect Mr. Garcia to be such a clingy guy–following your wife wherever she goes, Richard joked, not even bothering to hide his amusement.


    The word “wife” instantly warmed Joshua’s heart, but he just shot Richard a cold re. “There he goes again with that sanctimonious act–still the same phony jerk, Joshua thought, his disgust clear as he looked away.


    Xylia could sense something undeniably strange between them–it felt less like old friends catching up and more like two rivals sizing each other up. “They definitely weren’t buddies. It was more like a silent battle brewing, she thought.


    Richard tried to bait Joshua into reacting–even hoping for a heatedeback–but when Joshua stayed silent, he just shot Xylia a disappointed nce.


    All Xylia could do was sh him an awkward, cating smile.


    “He’s just got that personality–thanks for putting up with him.”


    Richard grinned and teased, “Come on, Xyli?, no need to stand on ceremony with me. With your boyfriend, we’re basically family now–he’s like my own brother–inw.”


    Before Xylia could even respond, Joshua suddenly hurled his knife and fork across the table. The cutlery shot past Richard’s face and embedded itself in the wall with a sharp, echoing thud.


    He’d put so much force into it that if his aim had been off by just a hair, he would’ve nailed Richard right in the face<i>. </i>


    Xylia’s eyes went wide in shock, and she frantically grabbed onto Joshua’s arm, desperate to hold him back.


    Joshua, though, didn’t even bat an eye. Totally unfazed, he just reached over and gently patted Xylia’s hand, casually reassuring her like nothing serious had happened at all.


    Joshua shot back icily, “Mr. Shaw, what gives you the right to call me your brother–inw? My wife doesn’t have some calcting brother like you sniffing around.”


    He was blunt, not bothering to sugarcoat his words.


    Xylia sat stiff as a board,pletely stunned–she couldn’t even move.


    ‘Great, the meeting hasn’t even kicked off and Joshua’s gone and ticked everyone off already,‘ Xylia thought, feeling utterly helpless.