<b>Chapter </b>288


    The tension between Joshua and Richard was practically palpable, Xylia felt like she was sitting on <b>pins </b><b>and </b>needles.


    Joshua always seemed cold around strangers, but he never truly made enemies with anyone.


    Looking back now, Xylia realized Joshua’s expression had shifted the moment he heard Richard’s name.


    She couldn’t believe Joshua was this hostile just out of jealousy. Something must’ve really gone down between.


    those two.


    Xylia turned to Richard, her tone direct. “Sorry, Mr. Shaw–I’m not your ‘little sister, and we’re not that close. We’re just here to talk business today.”


    Her blunt reply caught both Richard and Joshua off guard.


    Joshua sat up a little straighter, shooting Richard a look that was pure mockery, like he was thinking, “Yeah, that’s right. You heard her.’


    Richard’s eyes flickered with something dark and venomous, but he quickly masked it with his usual warm smile.


    He didn’t miss a beat, smoothly apologizing to Xylia. “My bad, Ms. Sadler. I thought we were closer than that.”


    Xylia stayed quiet.


    Richard had helped her out before, and right now, they were still partners in business. She couldn’t afford to be too harsh.


    ‘I was just making my position clear, nothing more, Xylia thought to herself.


    ‘Between Joshua and Richard, I’d pick Joshua every single time,‘ she knew, without a shred of doubt.


    Joshua, feeling pretty pleased, drummed his long fingers on the table, his voice cool and icy, dripping with indifference.


    “Mr. Shaw, shall we talk business now?” he said.


    Richard was about to ask why Joshua even had the right to be part of these Xylic Studio partnership talks, but he bit his tongue.


    Even though Joshua and Xylia were sitting a bit apart, there was this undeniable vibe between them, like they were two halves of the same whole. It was clear to anyone who looked that they were a team, and no one coulde between them.


    So, Richard decided not to ask that stupid question.


    So Richard turned his attention to Xylia and started hashing out the partnership details.


    <b>953 </b>


    Joshua faded into the background, pretending to be absorbed in his phone, acting like he was just there for


    the ride.


    But in reality, his focus never wavered from Xylia. The moment Richard tried to sneak in anything unreasonable or push his luck, Joshua would jump in and cut him off–no hesitation.


    Honestly, it was like Xylia had brought her very own legal cagle to watch her back, making sure nobody could pull a fast one on her.


    By the time they wrapped up the partnership details, even Richard, who was usually so good at hiding his feelings, couldn’t help but look a little pissed off.


    ‘Really, Joshua? You just can’t help going against me every single time, Richard grumbled to himself.


    Once the meeting wrapped up, the three of them stepped out of the club.


    Richard invited them to dinner, but Joshua didn’t even wait for Xylia to answer–he cut in and turned Richard down for her, quick and sharp.


    “If we don’t have dinner, Mr. Shaw, are you going to back out of the partnership?” Joshua asked.


    “Of course not. How could apany project change just because of my personal feelings?” Richard replied.


    “You might as well eat by yourself, Mr. Shaw. If we stick around<i>, </i>you might just lose your appetite,” Joshua said.


    Joshua took Xylia by the hand and led her away without a second nce.


    Richard watched their figures disappear, the trace of a smile at the corner of his mouth gradually fading.


    Xylia nced at Joshua, unable to hold back her curiosity. “Joshua,” she asked, “is there some kind of history or bad blood between you and Richard?”


    Joshua’s answer was instant–almost reflexive. “No,” he said, just as Xylia finished asking.


    Xylia stopped in her tracks, her gaze fixed on him, silent but intense.


    Joshua turned and met her eyes–so dark, and already flickering with a hint of irritation.


    He knew he was in trouble. Clearing his throat, he admitted, “Okay, fine. There was some bad blood.”


    But he wasn’t about to spill the details.


    Xylia let go of Joshua’s hand, stepped forward and faced him head–on, her clear, unwavering gaze fixed on his eyes–like she wanted to see right through him.


    “Most people don’t stay at odds for this long,” she said, her voice steady. “Unless…”


    Joshua tensed up, his expression hardening.


    Xylia teased, “Don’t tell me you two were fighting over the same girl–and you came up short?”


    ‘Her imagination never ceases to amaze me. Joshua thought, then shot back, “Absolutely nort


    Joshua’s clenched jaw and gritted teeth said it all, at least to Xylia–he looked exactly like someone who called out on his secret and was low–key freaking out about it.


    Ha! I totally nailed it, Xylia thought, smug.


    got


    ‘Wow, why does that make me feel a little sad, though?‘ Xylia caught herself, but she shook it off quick and patted Joshua’s shoulder, all casual, like she was his cool big sis or something.


    “You know, sometimes life just throws you curveballs and you don’t always get what you want,” Xylia said, giving Joshua a reassuring pat. “Gotta learn to roll with it.”


    Joshua’s jaw tightened even more, his frustration almost palpable. ‘She has no idea how much this gets under my skin,‘ he thought.


    ‘Seriously, she’s hit a nerve.’


    Joshua didn’t hesitate; he slipped his arm around Xylia’s waist and pulled her flush against him.


    His voice was low but fierce, “The first woman I ever went after–and the only one who ever mattered–is you. So, tell me, when did Richard ever make a move on you?”


    Xylia’s eyes went wide in shock as she looked up at Joshua.


    ‘Wait, has he really never had a girlfriend before?‘ Xylia thought, half–stunned, half–skeptical.


    Hershes quivered, and as soon as she snapped out of it, she blurted out in a hurry, “What nonsense are you spouting? Since when did Richard try chasing me? I was the one questioning you!”


    ‘Seriously? How did he just flip the whole thing and make it sound like I’m the one at fault here?‘ Xylia grumbled inwardly, a little indignant.


    ‘No way I’m letting him pin this on me,‘ she huffed to herself, totally unconvinced.


    “You’re the one who said Richard and I were after the same woman,” Joshua shot back, his voice low and intense. “And the only woman I’ve ever gone after is you. So, isn’t it fair for me to ask you about this? Plus, you got it all wrong.”


    Joshua leaned in a little, their faces now just inches apart, his voice dropping to a soft, almost hypnotic tone. “I ended up with you, didn’t I? That means I win.”


    Xylia realized she’d totally walked right into Joshua’s trap.


    But honestly, with words like those–her being the only girl he’d ever put his heart on the line for–who could stay mad?


    Before she knew it, a gentle sweetness welled up inside her.


    Xylia studied Joshua’s face–so perfectly shaped it could have been carved by a god. Her gaze fell to his lips, red and tempting.


    7:00 Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    Suddenly, she leaned in and nted a quick kiss on his lips. “Yeah, you win,” she said softly to him.


    Joshua saw her smile blooming like a flower, and in that moment, all the anger lingering in his heart quietly faded away.


    He pulled her into his embrace, a low chuckle rumbling from his throat.


    “Yeah, I win,” he said, his voice full of satisfaction.


    From a distance, Connor and Sonny caught sight of Joshua and Xylia,pletely wrapped up in each other’s


    arms<b>. </b>


    They hadn’t even gotten out of the car yet.


    Watching through the window, they saw the couple standing together under the patchy shade–practically a match made in heaven. Xylia beamed with happiness as she leaned in and kissed Joshua, then the two hugged close. The whole scene radiated so much love and sugary affection, it felt like the sweetness was thick enough to seep into the air around them.


    It was so sickeningly sweet it almost made you want to gag.


    Sonny quietly averted his gaze, his little head drooping, silent—no one could tell what he was thinking.


    But Connor’s face darkened instantly. The frustration in his eyes grew, morphing into anger–he was so close to storming out and tearing that couple apart.


    But he knew he had no right to.


    His knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel.


    Connor turned his head away, refusing to look at them anymore. His voice was cold as he ordered Sonny, “Get out of the car.”


    “Get out of the car,” he said.


    Sonny obediently got out.


    Joshua and Xylia walked over, hand in hand–totally caught up in their own little world.


    Sonny couldn’t help gazing at Xylia, his eyes full of quiet hope and barely–hidden longing.


    Maybe he was staring a bit too openly, because Xylia suddenly looked his way. Flustered, Sonny ducked his head, avoiding her gaze in a hurry.


    Sonny braced himself, expecting Xylia to look at him with the same disgust as before.


    It hurt him so much that his mom disliked him, but he couldn’t help sneaking nces at her, longing just to see her face.


    But when Xylia finally nced their way, she just gave Connor and Sonny a nk look, like they wereplete strangers.


    <b>7:00 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    There wasn’t a hint of emotion in her eyes.


    She simply shifted her gaze away and continued her conversation with Joshua, as if nothing had happened.


    By the time Joshua and Xylia’s car was finally out of sight, Sonny’s face had drained of color, turning pale bit by bit.


    五


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