<b>Chapter </b>293


    When Joshua returned to the office, Xylia had alreadyid out all the food.


    Seeing Joshuaing in looking all stern, Xylia jumped in before he could say a word.


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    “We’ve been together for ages and you’ve never tried my cooking, you know. So eat up and don’t hold back,”


    she said.


    Joshua just bit his tongue and swallowed hisints.


    He sat down right next to Xylia, taking the chopsticks she passed to him.


    “You’ve used up one of your five annual kitchen passes already,” Joshua teased.


    He was talking about how she only got to cook in the kitchen five times a year.


    Xylia let out a helpless sigh.


    “Fine.”


    When Joshua got this stubborn, it was impossible to win against him.


    Joshua picked up a piece of ribs and took a bite.


    Xylia blinked her sparkling eyes at Joshua, watching him with clear anticipation.


    She asked, “Well? Do you like it?”


    ‘Wow, this <b>is </b>seriously delicious, Joshua admitted inwardly, a little surprised.


    Still, he kept his face perfectly neutral and teased, “It’s alright–but you know, it’s still not quite as good as mine.”


    Xylia’s smile froze for a second. She snatched the chopsticks straight out of Joshua’s hand, a pout on her face. “Fine, then–you can just get takeout next time.”


    Joshua’s expression flipped in an instant. He put on a sincere face and said, “No, seriously, Xylia, it’s delicious! I was only teasing you.”


    He wrapped his arms around Xylia, gently coaxing the chopsticks back from her grasp. ‘Better not risk her going nuclear,’ he thought.


    Xylia let it slide, no longer making it difficult for him.


    Joshua gave her a piece of rib. “You’ve got skills, but maybe leave the cooking to someone else next time.”


    ‘Okay, was that apliment or an insult?‘ Xylia thought to herself.


    Joshua mmed up right away, worried he’d push her buttons if he said anything more.


    After they finished eating, Xylia was about to head out to do some shopping, but Joshua stopped her.


    “You’ve got work to handle soon, and I’m bored just sitting around, so I’ll go check out some shops, Xylia said.


    “No,” Joshua replied, his tone unexpectedly firm.


    For once, Joshua’s attitude was insistently unyielding,


    Xylia was taken aback.


    But then, Joshua cleared his throat and squeezed Xylia’s hand, trying to reassure her.


    “I’ll finish up work real quick. Just wait for me–I’ll be your personal bag guy when we go out,” he promised.


    Joshua didn’t even wait for her reply; he was already out the door in a sh.


    Xylia just barely had time to blink. ‘What’s up with him today? He’s acting super odd, she thought.


    And earlier, when he got back, Xylia had no idea what he and Richard talked about–but from Joshua’s stormy face, it couldn’t have been anything good.


    Thinking back to Joshua saying that he and Richard were basically at odds, Xylia couldn’t help but worry. ‘If Richard came all the way here to talk, it’s gotta be something bad,’ she thought, tension prickling at her veins.


    With a soft sigh, she obediently settled herself down in the office, deciding to wait for Joshua’s return—even if it meant twiddling her thumbs for who knows how long.


    Time crawled by. Two whole hours slipped away.


    By then, Xylia had curled up on the sofa and drifted off to sleep.


    In her dream, she saw Joshua lying on the street, covered in blood.


    This time, there was no one around to save him.


    Xylia rushed over, shouting his name, but Joshua couldn’t hear her. She tried to grab him, but her hands just went right through his body.


    Suddenly, a pack of tattooed street thugs wielding knives and iron rods marched over, surrounding Joshua, who was huddled and bleeding in the gutter. With brutal force, they swung their weapons down at him.


    “No!” Xylia cried out, snapping awake.


    Xylia jolted awake, her forehead slick with cold sweat.


    The office was kept at a perfect temperature–air conditioning steady, afternoon sunlight filling the space with warmth–but her whole body still felt chilled to the bone.


    The nightmare’s images wouldn’t stop haunting her, heart pounding in her chest. She was breathless, like she’d just barely surfaced for air–her body wracked with lingering dread and panic.


    Joshua still hadn’te back.


    Just as Xylia was about to head out, Joshua walked in through the door.


    Seeing Xylia looking all flustered, Joshua asked, “What’s up? You gotta use the bathroom?”


    气味


    OD Vouctors


    But when Xylia saw Joshua standing right there, safe and sound, the panic that had been gripping her started to fade.


    She shook her head. “No, I just wanted to see when you’d be back.”


    Joshua could tell something was off with Xylia.


    He studied her face, noticing how pale she was, and saw her lips and cyshes trembling–she genuinely looked scared out of her wits.


    His gut reaction was to me Richard, that bastard.


    Joshua held Xylia’s cold hand tightly. “Hey, what’s going on? You look seriously shaken–did something happen?”


    Xylia shook her head.


    “Really, it’s nothing,” Xylia brushed him off, forcing a faint smile and quietly telling herself to get it together.


    ‘Just a stupid nightmare, that’s all,‘ she thought, trying to shake off the lingering fear.


    But ncing at Joshua standing here alive and well, she finally exhaled the tension she’d been holding in.


    Right then, Xylia felt a surge of gratitude toward her younger self–that she’d actually stepped up and dragged Joshua out of trouble on that street overseas, way back when.


    But Joshua kept pressing her, unwilling to back down.


    “Come on, tell me. What’s really going on? Did someone threaten you?” he asked, anxious.


    “No,” Xylia replied, casting him a confused look. “Why would anyone threaten me?”


    Seeing she was being honest, Joshua finally let out a sigh of relief.


    “I was just worried about you, that’s all,” he admitted.


    He couldn’t bring himself to tell Xylia about Richard’s problems. She was someone who belonged in the sunshine, far away from that sort of darkness.


    Joshua gently pulled Xylia into his embrace.


    “I’m all yours now, let’s go shopping together,” he said with a warm smile.


    Xylia gripped Joshua’s sleeve tightly, her pale fingertips betraying her unease.


    11:42 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>27 </b>


    “I don’t really feel like shopping anymore. If you’re finished, let’s just head home,” she said softly.


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    The sun was setting, and Xylia really didn’t want Joshua to be outside anymore–she just wanted him <i>to </i>stay


    with her.


    The lingering fear refused to fade. Even with Joshua’s steady heartbeat thumping right beside her, she found nofort–instead, the panic digging into her chest was impossible to hide.


    It was as if something huge was looming on the horizon, about to crash down at any moment.


    After Connor brought Sonny home, he basically put him on lockdown.


    Connor assigned two bodyguards to stick to Sonny like glue, keeping him under constant watch so he couldn’t slip out even if he wanted to.


    Sonny was fuming inside, but with his father calling the shots, he didn’t dare cause any trouble.


    Sonny slumped over his desk, half–listening as his teacher rambled about Han dynasty ssics–most of it went straight over his head. But all Sonny could really think about was every small memory he had with Xylia.


    Whenever he had extra lessons, Xylia always showed up with juice and fruit, sometimes reduced his workload, and would even take him out for a breather if he was feeling overwhelmed.


    Xylia was the best cook around, and honestly, the thing Sonny looked forward to most after all his sses was her delicious dinners.


    Whenever homework got dull, she’d invent little games and sneak his study material right into them–<b>so </b>even ying around made reviewing fun.


    Sonny missed his mom so much.


    “Sonny? Sonny?”


    Sonny snapped back to reality at his tutor’s voice. He turned and looked over, clearly distracted.


    The tutor frowned. “Sonny, if you keep cking off, I’m telling your dad.”


    “Go ahead!” Sonny shot back, temper shing in his eyes. He grabbed his book and flung it aside, then made a break for the door.


    But just as he yanked the door open, he froze–there stood his dad, blocking the way.


    Connor was looming over him, face dark and stern, giving off that unmistakable strict–dad vibe.


    Sonny was no match for his dad’s intimidation tactics–he dropped his head and tried to look as sorry as possible.


    “My bad, Dad. I’ll get back to studying right now,” Sonny mumbled, almost whispering.


    11:42 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>27


    “That’s enough,” Connor said, his voice calm but firm.


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    Sonny’s eyes lit up. He turned to Connor, hope shining on his face. “Really? Does that mean I can go out and y?”


    Connor didn’t answer Sonny right away. Instead, he turned to the tutor. “That’s it for today.”


    Since Connor had said so, the tutor gathered his things and left.


    Connor crouched down so he was eye–level with Sonny.


    Connor asked gently, “Sonny, tell me–do you want Mom toe home?”


    Sonny’s eyes sparkled with hope. “I do!”


    ‘I wish for Mom toe back every night, even in my dreams,‘ Sonny thought, heart aching with longing.


    Connor let a soft smile appear at the corner of his lips. “Then we’ll do everything we can to bring her back.”


    <b>AD </b>