Xylia turned around and saw Ziggying over with his arm around a woman.


    The smile on her face vanished in an instant. She turned away,pletely ignoring him, treating him like he <b>was </b>just some stranger.


    Ziggy wasn’t happy about Xylia’s attitude at all. If Joshua hadn’t been standing right there, knowing his usual temper, he definitely would’ve made Xylia pay for it.


    Backed by the Sadler family’s cash and reputation, Ziggy had been raking in one advantage after another in the business worldtely. He was starting to feel pretty untouchable.


    He was getting a bit too smug for his own good.


    Ziggy shot Xylia a frosty re. “What, now that you’re back with the Sadler family, you’re seriously going to pretend I’m not your brother anymore?”


    Hearing Ziggy call himself her “brother” made Xylia feel like she’d swallowed a live fly–she could barely hide her disgust. ‘Gross, Xylia thought to herself.


    Before Xylia could respond, Joshua drew her protectively into his arms, putting himself between her and Ziggy so their eyes couldn’t meet.


    Joshua was a shade taller than Ziggy, and when he nced down at him, his gaze was cool andmanding


    -a silent message that he was on a whole different level.


    “Didn’t you take two hundred million from Kaden in exchange for a contract severing all family ties? The terms are crystal clear. Now you’re trying to y both sides?” Joshua cut straight to the chase.


    Ziggy’s face immediately turned as ck as the bottom of a pot.


    The fact that Joshua would t–out humiliate him like this in public was an utter p in the face.


    The woman hanging on Ziggy’s arm didn’t recognize Joshua, but she definitely knew Xylia from seeing her before.


    She knew Xylia was just the fake heiress of the Schultz family but had never even heard of the Sadlers.


    She thought Xylia had simply found her birth family and cut off the Schultzs because of it.


    With clear sarcasm in her voice, she turned to Xylia and snarked, “Ms. Schultz, the Schultzs fed you, raised you, and even married you off. Don’t you think you at least owe them a little gratitude? So howe you’re acting all cold toward Ziggy and pretending the Schultzs don’t even exist?”


    Xylia didn’t want to waste any more time on these two.


    She was just out to grab some street food with Joshua, and if she let them ruin her mood, her whole snack run


    would be a bust.


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


    420


    She broke away from Joshua’s arms, her gaze cold and piercing as she looked straight at Ziggy and the


    Woman.


    Xylia had seen this woman before–one of Ziggy’s many girlfriends, and honestly, the only one who’d ever stuck around for more than five minutes.


    Xylia turned to Ziggy.


    “My real brother handed over two hundred million to repay the Schultzs for raising me. That was your idea, wasn’t it? You wanted a clean break. Now what? You signed the contract yourself, and now you want to pretend it never happened?” Xylia snapped.


    “If my brother finds out you took the cash and are still here pestering me, do you think you can keep leeching off the Sadler name to build up the Schultz Group?” she continued, voice icy.


    “You used me, and I don’t expect you to beg for forgiveness when we meet again–but do me a favor and just stay out of my sight. You’re polluting the scenery,” Xylia finished, eyes steely.


    Her words came out swinging, one verbal nuke after another.


    Ziggy’s face twisted with rage, turning a nasty shade of purple. His eyes burned so fiercely it looked like he was barely holding himself back from tearing Xylia apart.


    Joshua nced down at Xylia, watching her get all fired up–and couldn’t help the smirk tugging at his lips.


    ‘ssic Xylia,‘ he thought, a hint of pride in his eyes. ‘When it’s time to get tough, she never wimps out!


    Piecing together the truth from Xylia’s words, the woman realized Xylia’s birth family was just as well–off as the Schultzs and not someone she could look down on.


    Realizing she was way out of her depth, the woman wisely decided to keep her mouth shut.


    They finally made it to the front of the line at the grilled squid stand. Joshua tugged Xylia up to the counter to order.


    “Don’t waste your energy on those random people. Just pick something you love,” he said, his tone warm and


    easy.


    Xylia followed his lead, grinning as she told the vendor, “Two skewers–make them extra spicy!”


    Joshua watched her, looking like he had something to say, but held back.


    ‘Should’ve just ordered for her myself,‘ he thought, a bit regretful.


    Ziggy and that woman had slipped away at some point without anyone noticing.


    Xylia didn’t even care.


    Xylia and Joshua strolled down the food street, weaving from stall to stall and soaking up the lively vibe.


    Joshua took one bite of the super spicy squid and set it down right away.


    7.00


    <b>гп</b><b>, </b>бер <b>20 </b>


    A thin sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead, and his cheeks turned bright red–he was clearly feeling the


    heat.


    Xylia nced over at him in confusion. “Wait–didn’t you say you could handle spicy food?” she asked.


    Joshua shot her a deeply aggrieved look, like he’d just been wronged and had no one <i>to </iin to.


    To be honest, he couldn’t handle spicy food at all. Every time he shared something spicy at the table, it was just to keep Xyliapany because she liked it so much.


    But this level of fiery heat? Even for her sake, there was just no way he could handle it.


    Suddenly realizing, Xylia rushed to grab some milk for him to help with the spice.


    Joshua stopped her immediately, picking up a bottle of water for himself instead.


    “Milk works way better against spicy food,” Xylia reminded, still worried.


    “No can do,” Joshua interrupted, totally stubborn.


    He was unshakably stubborn about it.


    Xylia stared, baffled. “Why not?”


    ‘It’s not like he’s allergic or anything,’ she thought, confused.


    Joshua lowered his gaze to her, all serious.


    “If I drink milk, I can’t kiss you afterward,” he said, voice calm but teasing.


    Right. Xylia was allergic to milk.


    Xylia: …


    Xylia didn’t say a word–she just leaned over and took a bite out of the super spicy squid Joshua had eaten from, like it was the most natural thing in the world.


    After that, she was extra thoughtful, ordering herself the spiciest snacks while picking out the mild ones for Joshua so he wouldn’t get burned again.


    Joshua kept ncing at her, several times almost saying something, but hesitated each time and held back.


    But when he saw how much fun she was having, he couldn’t help but feel her happiness rubbing off on him, so he just let her do her thing.


    By the time they finished roaming the food stalls, Xylia was stuffed and sweating buckets–but honestly, she was on cloud nine.


    Joshua grabbed a wet wipe and started dabbing her face, his brows knitting together. “It’s pretty chilly out. You really want to risk getting sick?”


    <b>7:01 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    “Oh please, I’m not made of ss! One night like this won’t kill me. My immune system’s basically supercharged.” Xylia joked, waving him off.


    Joshua ignored her little bravado, just took off his own jacket and threw it around her shoulders.


    Xylia was about to say something smart, but Joshua shut her down with a look that screamed warning.


    “If you take it off, there’ll be consequences,” he said, with that teasing–but–serious vibe only he could pull <b>off </b>


    He didn’t spell it out, but trust–his eyes made it very clear what he meant.


    Xylia instantly zipped her lips and decided not to push her luck.


    They were heading toward the exit of the food street when, just a few steps in, a frantic shout broke out nearby.


    “Thief! Stop him!” someone yelled.


    A blur darted past, and Joshua, reacting on pure instinct<b>, </b>snatched up a little kid mid–run.


    The moment he looked down and saw who he’d grabbed, Joshua wished he could turn back time and just


    miss<b>. </b>


    ‘Seriously? Of all people, I had to grab Sonny?‘ he thought, exasperated..


    Sonny clung tightly to a handbag, his face instantly shing with fear the second he got caught.


    But the instant he spotted Xylia, every bit of fear melted into pure puppy–eyed misery–he burst into tears.


    “Mommy, help me!” he bawled, wailing for rescue.


    Xylia didn’t say a word.


    The guy who’d been yelling stomped over, grabbed Sonny roughly from Joshua’s hands, and threw him to the ground.


    Just as he was about to step on Sonny, Joshua lifted his leg and knocked the guy’s foot out of the way- effortless<b>. </b>


    The punk stumbled in ce before finally finding his bnce.


    As soon as he steadied himself, he jabbed a finger at Joshua and spat, “Who the hell are you to butt into my business<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Joshua just shot him a chilling nce, totally unfazed.


    He was a punk with brassy yellow hair, decked out in beat–up jeans.


    “If you really think he stole from you, let the cops handle it. And call your folks over while you’re at it,” Joshua said coolly.


    <b>7:01 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>26


    The moment he heard “folks,” the punk’s eyes narrowed with rage. He clenched his fist and swung at Joshua


    “Why don’t you mind your own damn business!” he yelled.


    Joshua kicked out, sending the punk crashing to the ground. He curled up in pain, all his swagger gone.


    Joshua went ahead and called the police.


    Sonny scrambled to his feet and dashed over to Xylia, grabbing her leg desperately and holding on for dear life.


    “Mommy…” he whimpered, his voice trembling.


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