11:44 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>27 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b>299


    It was Ziggy’s voice.


    Xylia frowned slightly.


    :


    ‘Something Grandma left for me? The only thing Grandma ever gave me was that ne, and Tessa already ruined it. What else could there be?‘ she thought.


    She wasn’t about to get tricked. “I’m not with the Schultz family anymore–you all do whatever you want with whatever Grandma left. It has nothing to do with me.”


    Ziggy’s tone grew more agitated.


    “Xylia, no matter what, Grandma always doted on you most, didn’t she? We were clearing out the storage room and found her notebook–she wrote she’d left something especially for you. So if you still give a damn about Grandma,e to the vi tomorrow afternoon. If you don’t want it, I’ll just torch it. It’s nothing but bad luck to us anyway.”


    Without bothering to hear Xylia’s reply, he hung up.


    Xylia set her phone down, Ziggy’s words echoing in her mind.


    She couldn’t get Ziggy’s voice out of her head–it kept reying, no matter how hard she tried to ignore it.


    Grandma had left her things before–shares, a ne–but the Schultzes had taken them all back.


    Everything that was supposed to be hers ended up reimed by the Schultzes.


    She’d cut ties with them, so even if Grandma really had left her anything, there was no chance the Schultzes would actually give it to her.


    Now Ziggy was calling her, his tone sharp and urging her to hurry back.


    Clearly, something must have happened.


    She didn’t keep up with the Schultz Group anymore, so if she wanted the inside scoop, she’d have to ask an industry insider.


    She got up and walked over to Joshua. Seeing he was busy, she reached out and turned his face toward her.


    “Let me steal you for two minutes–I have a question,” she said.


    Joshua’s cheeks got squished between her hands, his lips forming a slight pout, which actually made him look kind of adorable.


    She gave them another gentle squeeze before letting go.


    Joshua asked, “What’s your question?”


    Is there any trouble at the Schultz Group right now? she asked,


    Joshua had overheard her phone call


    He asked, “Was that Ziggy?


    Xylia nodded.


    2300


    “Ziggy said Grandma left me something and wants me toe to the Schultz ce tomorrow afternoon to get it”


    Joshua snorted, “You really think the Schultzes would hand over whatever Grandma left you out of kindness?


    No way they’d be that generous


    As always, Joshua hit the nail on the head.


    “That’s exactly what I thought,” Xylia said.


    He took her hand and pulled her closer.


    “Don’t bother with the Schultzs. The Schultz Group’s being bought out by the Sadlers, and now they’re trying to rope you in. But with their stock tanking, they won’tst another two days. There’s nothing you can do for


    them.”


    Something seemed to ur to him, and his tone turned serious. “They’re not after your help–they just need someone to vent their frustration on. Don’t even think about going tomorrow.”


    It was like being bossed around. Joshua basically told her she wasing with him to the office tomorrow and wasn’t allowed anywhere else.


    ‘Xylia couldn’t help feeling a little helpless. she thought.


    Xylia said, “I wasn’t nning on going anyway.”


    Joshua gave her a satisfied look, like she’d finally learned her lesson, and gently squeezed her wrist.


    “Good. Go rest in the lounge,” Joshua said.


    Joshua’s office had a lounge tucked away behind a hidden door just behind his desk.


    Once, while waiting for Joshua, Xylia had dozed off in there–and when she woke up, she found herself still in that lounge.


    “Someone’s dropping by?” Xylia asked, ncing around.


    If nobody was actuallying over, Joshua would never have hustled her into the lounge in the first ce.


    Joshua nodded. “Didn’t want you to feel awkward. Go on, get inside.”


    Xylia grabbed her notebook and slipped into the lounge.


    11:44 Sat<b>, </b>Sep 27


    Not long after Xylia was inside, the office door swung open–the secretary showed Connor in


    “Mr. Garcia, Connor is here, the secretary announced.


    Joshua nodded and motioned for Connor to sit.


    Connor spotted the half–eaten apple dessert sitting on the coffee table and caught a lingering trace of sweetness wafting through the air.


    He couldn’t help but think, “That scent… Xylia must be here, suspicion flickering in his eyes.


    His expression darkening, Connor sat down on the sofa without a word.


    Once Joshua came over, Connor asked, “Is my son here with you?<b>” </b>


    Joshua shrugged, “Honestly, he’s been dropping by way too oftentely–I’m getting a bit tired of it.”


    But Joshua didn’t give a straight answer.


    Connor could feel Joshua’s anger practically radiating off him.


    But Connor just brushed it off. “Come on<i>, </i>Xylia’s his mom–of course my son wants to <i>see </i>her. Isn’t that justmon sense?”


    Connor thought Joshua would blow up at him, but Joshua barely batted an eye–his good looks totally unruffled, not a hint of annoyance on his face.


    “Yeah, it’s normal for a kid to want his mom. But you know what’s really messed up? When the kid pushes his own mother away, runs to some other woman, then acts like saying sorry is going to magically fix it. That’s not how it works.”


    Joshua shot Connor a cold, challenging look.


    “Connor, if you’re incapable of teaching your son how to behave, I’ll dly handle it myself,” he said.


    But trust me, my methods won’t be nearly as gentle or polite.


    Connor pressed his lips together, matching Joshua’s icy re with one of his own.


    “My son is none of your business, so back off. Where is he? I’m here to take him home myself,” Connor snapped.


    Joshua leaned back in his chair, absolutely unbothered. “Richard Shaw dropped him off, so tell him toe get his own kid.”


    Connor blinked, stunned. “Richard Shaw?”


    He never would have guessed Richard was the one who’d brought his son to Joshua. Connor’s mind spun. ‘What was he thinking?”


    ‘Why would Richard do something like that?‘ Connor couldn’t wrap his head around it.


    <b>11:44 </b>Sat, Sep 27


    Connor snapped, “You’re trying to steal my kid–I’ll sue you for this!”


    Joshua rolled his eyes. “Go ahead and call yourwyer. See if I care.”


    Seeing that Joshua wouldn’t budge, Connor finally got up and left the Ford Group.


    Joshua’s lips curled into a sly smile.


    <b>ZB </b>


    50 ouchers


    ‘Nothing like watching these two go at each other’s throats, he thought, thoroughly entertained by the mess unfolding.


    As soon as Connor walked out of the Ford Group, he went straight to find Richard.


    Richard might’ve brought him plenty of perks before, but when it came to his own flesh and blood, Connor wasn’t about to take any chances.


    “Mr. Shaw, you slipped away with my son behind my back, dodged the bodyguards, and went straight to Joshua–don’t you think that was crossing the line?” Connor said, his voice tight.


    Richard stared at Connor for a moment, then suddenly pped his forehead.


    “Man, I totally forgot to tell you.”


    “Your son missed his mom so much–and he was burning up with a fever, looking all kinds of miserable. I just couldn’t stand it, so I took him to the Garcia estate. My bad–I’m really sorry.”


    Richard put on his best apologetic face, but there wasn’t a shred of genuine remorse in his


    eyes.


    ‘Connor felt his temper rising, but he kept it in check. He said coldly, “Mr. Shaw, do you realize what you’ve done? I could charge you with kidnapping.”


    Richard offered Connor a ss of water, putting on a polite show of apology.


    “I know. I’m sorry,” Richard said, his tone almost too casual.


    Connor ignored the drink, his gaze calmly fixed on Richard.


    “Joshua said he’ll only hand over my son if youe pick him up yourself, so however you got him there, you’d better bring him home the same way,” Connor said, his tone clipped.


    With that, Connor stood up, clearly done with the conversation, and walked out without another word.


    As soon as Connor walked out, Richard’s warm smile disappeared, reced by a chilly, menacing look.


    Holt watched Connor leave and sneered, “The Ford family’s already on its way out, but he still thinks he’s the prince of Jupiton?”


    Richard flicked Connor’s untouched ss of water right into the trash can.


    “Since Joshua’s the one who told him toe, we should head over to the Garcia family estate,” Richard said.


    <b>11:44 </b>Sat, Sep 27


    “We brought him there, after all–so it’s on us to make sure he gets back safe.


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