Xylia didn’t pull her hand away; she just gazed at him coolly.


    “How did you get here?” she asked.


    ording to the servant, Sonny had found this ce on his own. But how did he even know where to go?


    Sonny was the Ford family’s only heir. Given how sick he was, there was no way they’d just let him roam free without knowing where he was.


    Too many questions were swirling in Xylia’s mind.


    A flicker of panic shed in Sonny’s eyes.


    Sonny looked a little flustered. “I overheard Dad in the study mention you were staying here, so I snuck out to find you,” he admitted quietly.


    Xylia didn’t miss the way Sonny moved.


    After looking after Sonny all these years, she could read his little habits like a book.


    Just watching him nervously grab at his shirt, she knew right away he was making things up.


    She didn’t call him out on his lie and simply pulled her hand free from his grasp.


    “You’ve got a fever. I’ll arrange for someone to take you to the hospital, and I’ll tell your dad so he cane see you. Don’t run off from home again,” she said seriously.


    Sonny couldn’t believe it—even though he was burning up with fever, Xylia didn’t seem to care at all and just wanted to kick him out.


    He grabbed her hand tightly, desperation in his grip.


    “Mom, are you really going to leave me behind? Howe you don’t care about me anymore? I’m your son,” Sonny said, his voice trembling.


    His cheeks were burning hot from the fever, tears rolling down his face.


    He looked just like a poor kid left all alone by his parents.


    He looked so pitiful that anyone else watching would’ve felt instantly sorry for Sonny.


    But Xylia’s heart stayed cold–she didn’t feel even the slightest bit of sympathy.


    She slowly pulled her hand away.


    Sonny was just a kid, after all, and it wasn’t hard for Xylia to break free from his grip.


    “Mom!” Sonny cried out through sobs, his voice cracking.


    Sommy burst into tears.


    Seeing Xylia stand up to leave, he scrambled off the couch, trying to follow her.


    His steps were unsteady, and he was crying so hard it was almost impossible to breathe, hupping between sobs.


    Joshua strolled downstairs, only to walk right into this emotional mess.


    The moment he spotted Sonny at the estate, a chill shed through his eyes.


    Hardly anyone in the upper crust even had a clue where the Garcia family estate was hidden.


    So how did Sonny make his way here?


    Stomping down the stairs, Joshua reached out and forcefully pulled Sonny away from Xylia.


    Xylia’s chill towards Sonny was nothingpared to how cold–blooded Joshua could be.


    He didn’t care one bit that Sonny was bawling his eyes out, or that he was just a helpless kid.


    Joshua grabbed Sonny’s arm, his tone icy and fierce.


    “How did you get here?” Joshua demanded.


    Sonny was so startled by Joshua’s fierce re that he froze mid–sob, then immediately started bawling even louder.


    Joshua had zero patience for this. “Shut up! Keep crying, and I’ll throw you out!” he snapped.


    Sonny finally stopped wailing, but he just couldn’t stop hupping and sniffling.


    His gaze instinctively went to Xylia, but she didn’t even look his way, just turning her head aside.


    It was clear as day–she was on Joshua’s side.


    Sonny felt utterly crushed. With his head hung low and sniffling, he repeated the same exnation he’d just given Xylia, now to Joshua.


    Joshua scoffed, a mocking smirk on his lips.


    “Your dad? He’s a loser–he isn’t even qualified to know where the Garcia family estate is. Lie to me again and I’ll dump you out behind the house. The guard dogs out there? They’ll tear you apart before you can even scream.” Joshua’s voice was icy, every word a threat.


    He spoke with a chilling indifference.


    Sonny’s imagination ran wild–he could practically see himself getting gobbled up by some huge beast.


    Panicking, he struggled and cried out, “No! I don’t want to get eaten! Let me go!” The thought alone made his heart race with fear.


    <b>11:43 </b><b>Sat</b>, <b>Sep </b>27


    “Tell the truth?” Joshta snapped, his tone turning even colder.


    Joshua’s voice was downright icy now, sending chills down Sonny’s spine.


    Terrified of Joshua, Sonny hesitated for a moment before finally blurting out how he got here.


    “Dad’s friend brought me. He told me he could take me to Mom, so I came, Sonny mumbled, his voice trembling.


    <b>“</b>Who is this friend of your dad’s?” Joshua demanded, his voice ice cold,


    “I don’t know his name. I just call him Uncle Richard,” Sonny answered, barely above a whisper.


    ‘Richard? No way–Richard!‘ Xylia’s eyes shot wide open.


    Of all people, it’s actually Richard?‘ Xylia’s heart skipped a beat, shock hitting her hard.


    Xylia’s gaze sharpened–the surprise was all over her face.


    ‘Even if I was slow to catch on, I’d know something’s seriously wrong here, Xylia thought, a chill running down her spine.


    Joshua had always said Richard was nothing but trouble–<i>a </i>full–on enemy. Now, after showing up way too oftentely, Richard had gone as far as to drop Sonny off here himself, like he was making a point.


    That move practically screamed provocation–Richard was clearly trying to get under Joshua’s skin.


    If anything, Joshua wasn’t even fazed.


    The moment Sonny showed up at the door, Joshua instantly guessed Richard must’ve been behind it- nothing slipped past him.


    After all, there were barely a handful of people in Jupiton who knew the location of the Garcia family estate, and really, no one else would dare turn up unannounced except Richard.


    Sonny was just a kid–no one in their right mind would use him for something like this.


    If Sonny could name Richard without a hitch, then Richard sent him here on purpose. This was his way of flipping the warning right in Joshua’s face.


    Richard had all sorts of tricks up his sleeve to mess with the Garcia family.


    Joshua’s face grew colder and colder.


    His hand mped down even harder on Sonny’s arm, making him wince in pain.


    Sonny’s voice broke as he cried out, “It hurts! Let go of me! You’re such a jerk! Mom, save me!” ‘Why does nobody care about me anymore?‘ Sonny thought, panic and betrayal swirling in his chest.


    Seeing Joshua get distracted for a moment, Xylia rushed over and grabbed his hand, pulling him away and rescuing Sonny.


    <b>11:43 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>


    “How did Richard even know this address<b>?</b>” Xylia asked.


    When Joshua turned to Xylia, heposed himself.


    The icy glint in his eyes dissipated, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.


    He didn’t answer her question–instead, he reassured her softly,


    “Don’t worry. I’ll handle everything.”


    Xylia couldn’t shake her worries.


    But Joshua was already packing up and about to leave for work.


    The car to take Sonny to the hospital was already waiting, but Joshua said, “Just call the doctor over here.”


    Xylia asked, “So you’re really not sending him off?”


    Joshua pulled Xylia to the side.


    “Sonny was most likely sent here by Connor. Who knows what games he’s ying–it’s safer to keep the boy here for now,” Joshua said quietly.


    “Wasn’t it Richard who brought Sonny here?” Xylia asked, her eyebrows knitting with confusion. ‘How did Connor get involved all of a sudden?‘ she wondered.


    ‘I’m so lost–how is this about Connor now?‘ Xylia thought, her mind spinning.


    Joshua gave a littleugh and gently patted her head.


    “Richard and Connor are working together.”


    ‘Man, these connections are a total mess, Xylia thought, her mind tangled in knots.


    Xylia pressed her lips together, keeping quiet.


    Noticing her silence, Joshua quickly stepped in to reassure her.


    “I’ll have someone move Sonny to another vi where he can be taken care of. You won’t have to see him or worry about all this. There’s a drawing board and some art supplies waiting for you in the study–go check it out when you get a chance,” Joshua said gently, hoping to cheer her up.


    Xylia sounded a bit disappointed. “You’re really not letting me tag along to work today?”


    “Gotta meet clients today, so you’re staying here,” Joshua said, matter–of–factly.


    “Oh,” Xylia replied, her gaze dropping to the floor, uncertain what to think.


    Joshua looked down at her, a teasing smile on his face. “What’s wrong? Can’t bear to be without me?”


    Xylia shot him a quick nce, rolling her eyes. “You wish.”


    <b>11:43 </b>Sat, Sep 27


    Joshua smiled, gently lifting her face and leaned in to kiss her softly on the lips.


    “I know you can’t bear to be away from me. When I get back, I’ll bring you something really delicious,” Joshua teased.


    Joshua fussed and clung to Xylia for a bit, not wanting to leave her side, before he finally pulled himself away and walked out the door.


    Watching Joshua disappear out the door, Xylia felt her nerves tighten–the uneasy feeling in her heart only


    got stronger.


    She just knew deep down, the beef between Richard and Joshua wasn’t just about business. There was way more to it than some corporate fight.


    Xylia was sure there was some serious bad blood between them–some kind of hidden vendetta she still had no clue about.


    As she remembered the Prairie Rose deal she’d been talking over with Richard the past few days, Xylia absently fiddled with the edge of her shirt.


    ‘It’s time to make a choice,‘ Xylia thought, her mind running in circles.