<b>Chapter </b>300


    After leaving the Garcia Group, Noelle headed straight back to the García family estate.


    She couldn’t stop reying what happened in the office in her head.


    ‘I was about to fall, and Joshua didn’t even bother to catch me?‘ Noelle thought, feeling aggrieved.


    200


    ‘And Xylia hasn’t even left Jupiton yet. Could it be that Joshua’s so worried about Xylia getting the wrong idea that he doesn’t even want me near him?‘ Noelle fumed inwardly.


    That shameless, clingy bitch Xylia just won’t stop hovering around Joshua, Noelle fumed to herself.


    ‘If it hadn’t been for that woman butting in all the time, I’d be the one at Joshua’s side now, Noelle seethed inwardly.


    Back at the Garcia family estate, Noelle didn’t waste any time and made a beeline for the study.


    She was nning to dig up some files for Aaron, and while she was at it, maybe track down that document Richard had been asking about.


    But when she opened the study door, she immediately noticed something that didn’t quite belong. The room, usually all somber and businesslike, suddenly had this jarring touch.


    By the floor–to–ceiling windows, a plush carpet wasid out, and everything needed for drawing–sketch paper, brushes–was neatly arranged.


    Beside a low stool sat a beanbag chair, absolutely overflowing with girlish charm.


    Noelle’s hands clenched into fists.


    She’d lived with the Garcia family for years–there was never any of this girly stuff here before.


    It was obvious this whole setup was for Xylia. ‘Seriously? Joshua pulls out all the stops for her,‘ Noelle thought, bitterly.


    ‘Oh, Joshua really knows how to take care of Xylia!‘ Noelle scoffed internally.


    Jealousy zed in her chest, hotter by the second.


    She barely held herself back from tearing up all those art supplies, gritting her teeth as she forced herself to start digging through the study for documents.


    The files Aaron wanted were a breeze to find; the real headache was tracking down that confidential file Richard had asked for.


    She searched the study for what felt like forever, and finally, she spotted a safe hidden at the bottom of a bookshelf.


    Her heart skipped a beat. Safes were where people stashed the really valuable stuff–things like confidential


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


    files. Surely, that was where it’d be.


    But then it hit her–she didn’t have the code. There was no way she could crack it open.


    ‘Guess I’ll have to get Richard to help with this, Noelle thought, sighing.


    She closed the bookshelf and walked over to the floor–to–ceiling windows.


    On the sketch paper was an almostplete clothing design, with a small note scribbled beside it about next month’s International Fashion Competition.


    Noelle figured this had to be Xylia’s entry for thepetition.


    A sly smile crept onto her face. She whipped out her phone, snapped a picture of the design, sent it to someone in her contacts, and then deleted all traces.


    Richard showed up the next day to pick up Sonny.


    Joshua had already left early that morning with Xylia, telling the servants to just hand Sonny over to Richard.


    Richard was a little disappointed he didn’t get to see Joshua or Xylia.


    Sonny was also bummed he didn’t get to see Xylia.


    He’d been staying at the Garcia family estate for two days, and even though he was feeling better now, he still hadn’t seen Xylia once.


    ‘So that’s how it is,‘ Sonny thought, finally realizing Xylia would never be his mom again.


    Noelle heard Sonny was here, and since she knew he was Xylia’s kid, she hurried outside to check it out.


    But right at the door, she bumped into Richard.


    “Richard, what brings you here?” Noelle asked.


    Richard, knowing Noelle hade back to Jupiton, didn’t look surprised. He just gestured at Sonny next to him.


    “I’m here to take him home,” Richard said.


    Noelle frowned, puzzled. ‘Why is Richard involved with Xylia’s son?‘ she wondered.


    ‘Could this be one of Richard’s tricks to win Xylia over?‘ she thought to herself.


    She shrugged it off. None of it was really her concern anyway.


    She leaned in and quietly told Richard about the safe.


    Richard paused, then told Noelle, “I’ll deliver what you need. Just wait for it.”


    “Richard, I’m almost done with my part. You really need to hurry up,” Noelle said.


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


    Richard didn’t pay her any more attention, just took Sonny by the hand and walked straight out of the Garcia family estate.


    At the Garcia Group, Joshua was watching the security footage showing Noelle meeting up with Richard..


    He couldn’t help but smirk, looking pretty pleased with himself.


    Xylia, lounging on the couch, caught that look on Joshua’s face, and instantly thought, ‘Yeah, whatever he’s up to–it can’t be anything good.


    Lately, Joshua’s been all cryptic, like he’s brewing up some kind of huge scheme.


    She let out a sigh and pushed the thought aside.


    Joshua usually tells her everything, buttely he’s been really secretive, keeping a ton of things to himself.


    Since he clearly didn’t want to talk, Xylia decided not to press him. She knew he’de clean when he was ready.


    ‘He’ll tell me eventually,‘ she reassured herself, letting it go for now.


    Joshua was clearly in a good mood. Suddenly, as if he’d thought of something, he set his phone aside and strode over to Xylia.


    He took the tablet right out of her hands.


    Looking at her, he said, “We’re free this afternoon. Why don’t we stop by the Schultz family estate?”


    “Wait, what?” Xylia shot Joshua a puzzled look. “Didn’t you say we weren’t going?”


    ‘What’s up with him changing his mind all of a sudden?‘ Xylia wondered to herself.


    Joshuaid it out, “I’ve been mulling it over. Ziggy has already zeroed in on you, and even if you skip out today, he’s just going to keeping after you.”


    “So I say we confront it head–on today and nip this problem in the bud for good!”


    With that striking silver hair of his, Joshua delivered those words with a kind of raw determination.


    He looked every bit like a hot–blooded protagonist straight out of an anime.


    Xylia thought she’d barely scratched the surface when it came to Joshua.


    Before she even snapped out of it, Joshua whisked Xylia off for lunch, and then they made their way to the Schultz family estate.


    At exactly two o’clock, Joshua’s car rolled to a stop in front of the Schultz family estate.


    They parked right at the grand entrance, the ce looming as silent as ever.


    It was just like Xylia remembered–only now, it felt eerily deserted. There wasn’t even a security guard


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


    Chapter 300.


    anywhere.


    Xylia locked eyes with Joshua, and when he gave her a nod, she stepped up and pressed the doorbell.


    After a while, Gia’s voice echoed from inside the house.


    “Who is it?” Gia called out.


    “It’s me, Xylia,” Xylia replied.


    There was a brief pause, and then the line cut off.


    Right then, the front door swung open.


    Xylia grabbed Joshua’s hand and led him inside the Schultz family estate.


    No wonder Xylia had that empty feeling. She remembered how bustling the ce used to be, with servants scurrying around everywhere.


    But now, there wasn’t even a security guard, and even the folks who used to look after the garden had disappeared.


    The garden was choked with weeds, and there were barely any flowers in sight.


    It looked like it hadn’t been tended to in ages.


    That was when it finally dawned on Xylia–just how long the Schultz family had been struggling.


    ‘Not that any of this has much to do with me,‘ Xylia thought to herself.


    They walked right into the main house.


    Ziggy was the one who answered the door.


    His face was thunderous, and he looked just about ready to snap at whoever was there.


    But the second he saw Joshua, he instantly bit his tongue, all that attitude vanishing in an instant.


    “Mr. Garcia, what brings you here?” Ziggy asked, his voice shaky.


    Joshua kept his face nk. “Xylia said Grandma Schultz left her something. We’re just here to see what it is.”


    But hearing Joshuay on that cold, bossy tone, Xylia couldn’t help but let out an amused snort to herself.


    When she’d first met him, she used to think Joshua was all ice and walls–totally impossible to warm up to.


    But ever since they’d gotten together, Xylia had gotten way too used to his soft looks and yful sweet–talk.


    Now that he was putting on this tough guy act, all she could think was, ‘He’s totally just faking it.‘


    Xylia ducked her head, pressing her lips together to smother augh. ‘Seriously, Joshua is reallyying it on


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


    thick with that icy act,‘ she thought, amused.


    :


    Ziggy’s expression turned uneasy when he heard Joshua speak.


    He mentally pped himself–he’d totally forgotten to tell Xylia she was supposed toe alone.


    He never thought she’d actually show up with Joshua in tow.


    of ‘Now how am I supposed to pull off the n I’ve spent all day setting up?‘ Ziggy thought, feeling a surge panic.


    “Wow, Mr. Schultz, did the Schultz Group go bankrupt already? Can’t even get us a ss of water these days?” Joshua joked, not holding back at all.


    Joshua sure didn’t pull any punches.


    Xylia watched as Ziggy’s face kept changing colors–one second pale, the next flushed. He looked ready to explode.


    Xylia, for her part, just found the whole scene funnier by the minute.


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