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Sonny looked utterly miserable; his chubby little face was covered in dust, and one strap of his overalls had slipped off during his frantic escape, leaving his clothes hanging loosely on his tiny frame.
Xylia paused for a moment, her heart softening. She just couldn’t bring herself to push him away.
But she didn’tfort him either. Instead, she asked in a detached tone, “What happened?”
Sonny clung tightly to Xylia’s leg, burying his face against her pant leg, his small body trembling all over from fear.
He didn’t reply, just kept mumbling “Mommy” over and over again.
Xylia’s fingers twitched, but she didn’t show any reaction.
After taking down the young guy, Joshua turned and caught sight of the scene.
He clenched his jaw and walked over, reaching out to pull Sonny off.
But Sonny just hugged Xylia’s leg even tighter, refusing to let go no matter what.
For someone so small, he was unexpectedly strong.
Joshua tugged a couple of times, but Sonny wouldn’t budge. Joshua’s patience was starting to wear thin.
“Let go,” Joshua said, his voice chillingly calm.
Sonny trembled at Joshua’s cold tone, but he only clung tighter to Xylia’s leg, refusing to let go.
Joshua’s face grew even more stern.
Xylia tugged Joshua’s hand. “Once the cops get here, let them call his dad.”
Hearing that, Joshua might’ve been annoyed, but he kept his mouth shut.
The cops showed up pretty quickly.
The blond punk freaked out as soon as he heard the sirens and tried to bolt, but Joshua pinned him down and kept him from escaping.
Sonny just wouldn’t loosen his grip on Xylia, refusing to let go no matter what.
Xylia had no choice but to drag Sonny along with her to the police station. Even after the police managed to contact Connor, Sonny still clung to her stubbornly.
Sonny clung to Xylia, voice trembling as he pleaded, “Mommy, I’m scared. Can you stay with me?” His words were barely a whisper, thick with dread.
His little face was streaked with dirt and tears, his eyes wide with fear and longing–a look that tugged at the
11:41 Sat<b>, </b>Sep 27
A
55 vouchaity
heartstrings with how vulnerable he was.
Xylia hesitated for two seconds, then softly unsped his small hands from her leg, despite her reluctance.
“Your dad will be here soon to get you. Be good and wait here for him, okay?” she told him in a gentle tone.
All of a sudden, Sonny just broke down–letting out a loud, aching wail that echoed through the station.
“Mommy, don’t go! Please don’t leave me! Don’t abandon me–wahhh!” he cried, clutching at her desperately.
His heart–wrenching sobs bounced off the walls of the police station. If anyone overheard, they’d probably think Xylia was some cold–blooded mom trying to ditch her own kid.
One of the cops, clearly feeling awkward, stepped up to Xylia and tried to persuade her.
“Since you’re his mom, why not just stay with him for a while? Letting the kid cry himself sick can’t be good
for him.”
Xylia had no choice but to let Sonny cling to her.
She shot a helpless look at Joshua, who’d been scowling since they arrived, and grabbed his hand with a resigned gesture.
“We’ll leave in a bit,” she said softly.
Joshua pursed his lips, casting a cold nce down at the little runt glued to Xylia’s leg.
He squeezed her hand back, staying silent.
When Connor finally showed up, his eyesnded on Xylia right away.
A flicker of somethingplicated crossed his face.
He walked over to them, but his gaze seemed topletely ignore Joshua.
“Xylia, you’re here,” Connor said.
His voice was so gentle, just like when they’d first gotten married.
Xylia got goosebumps all over.
She squeezed Joshua’s hand tighter and gently tried to push Sonny over to Connor.
“Since you’re here, I’ll leave Sonny to you,” she said, sounding determined but not cold.
But Sonny clung harder to Xylia, refusing to let go of her hand.
“Mommy, I want to be with you. Can youe home with me? I promise I won’t say you’re not my mom anymore. Let’s go back–can things be like before? Please?” Sonny begged, desperate and shaking.
Without a second thought, Xylia shook off Sonny’s hand.
<b>11:41 </b><b>Sat</b>, <b>Sep </b>27
Connor frowned at Xylia, a bit put off by how cold she was acting.
“Xylia, even though we’re divorced, Sonny is still your kid. You can’t be this heartless to him,” Connor said, his voice tinged with frustration.
Just as Xylia was about to respond, Joshua let out a low chuckle, his eyes filled with sarcasm.
“Did you forget about that custody termination agreement you signed when you two split? Just wiped it from your memory, huh?” Joshua said, his tone dripping with mockery.
Back when Xylia and Connor split up, full custody of Sonny went to Connor.
And, to make sure Xylia couldn’t ever try to im Sonny as her son again, Sonny made Connor push her into signing a family severance agreement.
There were two copies of the agreement.
One of them was still sitting in Xylia’s filing cab.
Connor red at Joshua, his tone icy. “Mr. Garcia, this is my personal business. You really have no ce to speak up here.”
No matter how you spin it, Xylia was my wife for eight years. That kind of connection–no piece of paper could ever truly cut those ties.
With all that history, Joshua would always be the outsider–end of story.
A sh of arrogance crossed Connor’s face as he looked at Joshua, almost smug, eyes full of contempt.
Joshua’s face was stone cold, about to say something, but Xylia stepped up, ring at Connor with icy eyes.
“If this is your so–called family business, then keep it to your damn selves. I’m not Xylia Schultz anymore- I’ve got zero ties to you or your kid. We’re outsiders, we helped out today, but you can’t even be bothered to thank us. And now you wanna act all entitled? Nobody owes you anything,” Xylia snapped back, her words sharp as knives.
After that rant, Xylia grabbed Joshua’s hand and marched out.
“Seriously, like anyone’s dying to clean up your family’s mess,” she threw over her shoulder, full of contempt.
She threw ‘your family this, your family that, we’re just outsiders‘ in his face over and over.
She was drawing the line for good–cutting all ties with them and making it clear she was backing Joshua all the way.
Xylia’s obvious siding with Joshua instantly sent Connor’s temper through the roof.
He lowered his gaze to Sonny, his face darkening with fury.
“So, you ran away from home, huh? Think you’re some kind of big shot now?” Connor said coldly.
<b>11:42 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>
Sonny turned his head away, acting like Connor didn’t even exist.
“Just stay out here and don’t make a scene!” Connor tossed over his shoulder.
He went with the cops inside to figure out what was going on.
Xylia storied out with Joshua, but she was still fuming inside.
‘Seriously, I just can’t stand seeing Joshua get bullied like that, she thought, her anger simmering.
‘I should’ve pped that jerk across the face right then and there!‘ she cursed herself.
‘Damn it, I’m really regretting not doing it now!‘ she grumbled.
Suddenly, Xylia halted, spun on her heel, and stormed back toward the police station.
Joshua pulled her back before she could get far.
“Where are you going?” he said, blocking her path.
“I just realized I forgot to p that bastard!” Xylia snapped, frustration zing in her eyes.
Joshua was momentarily stunned.
Then he let out a low chuckle and gave Xylia a little tug, pulling her back to his side.
Xylia looked up, her gaze meeting his eyes–eyes that sparkled like the night sky.
“Are you mad?” Joshua asked, his voice gentle.
Xylia frowned, her brows furrowing. “Don’t pay any mind to what Connor said. They’re the real outsiders!”
She didn’t want Joshua getting all up in his head, or holding onto any of that crap Connor said and letting it mess with their future together.
Honestly, every time Xylia actually lost her cool, it was pretty much always to stand up for him.
Damn, just like that, all his anger was gone.
Back in the station, he’d seriously been ready toy Connor out.
But seeing Xylia go to bat for him like that? It made Joshua feel all warm inside–and twisted as it was, he couldn’t help but be a little grateful to Connor for giving him the chance to see this side of her.
Seeing Xylia stand up for him like that, Joshua couldn’t help but feel a little grateful–he never thought he’d get to see this caring side of her.
Joshua smiled, “Honestly, I did care at first. But with you defending me like that? I don’t even mind it anymore.”
He wrapped an arm around Xylia and led her out of the police station.
<b>11:42 </b><b>Sat</b>, <b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>
Xylia watched Joshua closely, trying to spot any trace of anger. When she saw none, she finally breathed easy,
She couldn’t care less about whatever trouble Sonny had gotten himself into.
All she wished for was to never have anything to do with that father and son duo ever again.
AD