With Xylia being so assertive, Joshua finallyy back down on the hospital bed.


    After Joshua settled in, Xylia left the ward. A few minutester, she came back carrying some takeout.


    “Eat first, then take your meds. We’re leaving this afternoon,” Xylia said, her voice cool and distant.


    She still looked a little frosty, definitely notpletely over whatever had made her upset earlier.


    Joshua obediently followed Xylia’s instructions, eating his food and taking his medicine just like she told him <ol><li>to. </li></ol>


    There was still work waiting for him at Garcia Group, so Joshua headed back there.


    After dropping Joshua off, Xylia left.


    Joshua asked where she was going, and she replied, “I’m going to get back at whoever did this to you. finish up your work and head home. I’ll probably beat you there.”


    Joshua watched her walk away, his brow furrowing slightly.


    ‘Get back at them?‘ Joshua mused, a hint of uncertainty shing in his eyes.


    ‘Is she going after Noelle?‘ he spected, the thought making him uneasy.


    You


    Joshua pulled out his phone and sent a quick message before returning to his desk to get started on his work.


    Xylia returned to Garcia Vi.


    Noelle was actually home.


    She was making her way down the stairs, her steps heavy and her face deathly pale. One hand clutched her stomach, grimacing with every step as if moving hurt.


    When she saw Xyliae in through the front door, Noelle paused for a split second, her eyes shing coldly.


    Still, she forced herself to keep going, descending one shaky step after another.


    “You here to get even with me?” Noelle’s tone was full of contempt.


    She walked past Xylia, her face cold and indifferent, and sat gracefully on the sofa without sparing her another nce.


    “Mrs. Wright, coffee. The usual,” Noelle ordered.


    “Of course, Miss Noelle,” Mrs. Wright replied.


    Mrs. Wright had served the Garcia family for years.


    :


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    1258 vouchers.


    Noelle’s brother once saved Joshua’s life, and Eliza and Aaron have treated Noelle as their own daughter for years. The longtime attendants at Garcia Vi truly dote on her.


    Xylia took a seat on the far end of the sofa.


    Mrs. Wright ced Noelle’s coffee in front of her, then walked away without so much as ncing at Xylia or asking if she wanted anything.


    Mrs. Wright had worked for the Garcia family for ages; she wasn’t the type to forget her manners. It was obvious she was deliberately snubbing Xylia.


    ‘She’s really going out of her way to ignore me,’ Xylia thought, feeling the chill of being sidelined.


    Xylia didn’t let it bother her.


    She’d been here for a few days now and already caught on to how some of the staff barely bothered to hide their subtle rejection.


    It was as if they saw her as the viin who suddenly crashed in, trying to steal someone else’s ce.


    Noelle sipped her coffee with practiced elegance, casting a sideways nce at Xylia full of open contempt, not even trying to hide her attitude.


    Noelle wasn’t the least bit afraid of Xylia showing up to call her out.


    If Xylia actually made a move, Noelle would jump at the chance to y the victim with Eliza.


    After all, Eliza had spoiled Noelle for years–she’d back her up without question.


    But to Noelle’s annoyance, Xylia just sat there in silence, not sparing her even a single nce.


    Noelle grew impatient, unable to stand Xylia’s calm indifference any longer. She put down her coffee, stared at Xylia, and demanded,


    “What exactly are you up to?”


    Xylia shot her a dismissive nce before replying, “What’s the big deal if Ie home to rest?”


    “Home?” Noelle echoed, unable to hide her disbelief.


    <b>‘</b>Is this seriously your ce?‘ Noelle scoffed inwardly.


    ‘Better keep my mouth shut–not gonna ask for trouble,‘ Noelle decided, biting back her retort.


    After all, Joshua was incredibly attentive to Noelle–ording to Eliza, it was almost like they were discussing marriage. <fndf86> Read full story at find[?]ovel</fndf86>


    So, in some way, this ce counted as half a home for Xylia.


    But Noelle was the true mistress of this house; there was no way she’d let Xylia swoop in and steal her territory!


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    Noelle bit back her anger, then red at Xylia. “Joshua was druggedst night. You weren’t even at the hospital looking after him. What kind of excuse ising back here to rest?”


    Xylia lounged against the sofa, her voice indifferent.


    “I’m beat. Since you’re Joshua’s sister, why don’t you y nurse for a while?” Xylia said, barely bothering to hide her indifference.


    Noelle shot her a skeptical look, thinking to herself, ‘Since when did you suddenly turn into Mother Teresa?” She couldn’t help but wonder what angle Xylia was working.


    ‘What’s she really scheming?‘ Noelle mused warily, still trying to figure out what Xylia’s game was.


    But she knew all too well–if she went to see Joshua now, it’d just give him another reason to hate her.


    Last night, she’d only made it as far as the doorway before losing her nerve and turning away.


    She could totally y the innocent card, ming everything on Richard, and pretend she had nothing to do with any of it.


    If she started tearing up and acted all pitiful around Joshua, who knows–he might even think he was too harsh on her and feel bad about that kick.


    Noelle held her stomach, already plotting her own little schemes.


    “I’m injured too, so forget about me looking after Joshua. You can’t boss me around,” Noelle shot back, her scowl making it clear she wasn’t about to cooperate.


    Xylia gave her a look–so baffled she didn’t even know what to say.


    Xylia knew just how clingy Noelle could get with Joshua–she never missed a chance totch onto him.


    Back in Norhill, Noelle hadn’t hesitated to go after Xylia directly.


    With everything between them, there was no way Noelle would ever turn down a chance to be alone with Joshua.


    Last night, Noelle turned up at Richard’s room and ran into Joshua. ‘Did she overhear anything then?‘ Xylia wondered.


    ‘Like Richard trying to talk Joshua into staying?‘ The thought made Xylia uneasy.


    Xylia couldn’t help but let her thoughts wander toward something she absolutely couldn’t ept.


    Xylia’s brow furrowed tightly.


    After sitting there for a while, she finally stood up and, without saying a single word, headed upstairs.


    Noelle was totally confused by Xylia’s actions.


    ‘Why did she evene back?‘ Noelle wondered, her confusion only deepening.


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    Back in the study, Xylia sat down in the painting corner Joshua had put together for her, lost in her thoughts.


    She only snapped out of her tangled emotions when her phone suddenly rang.


    It was Lily calling.


    “Mr. Sadler, do you have time to meet? I’d like to go over the n with you,” Lily said.


    The mention of work jolted Xylia straight back to herself.


    “Yeah, I’ve got time,” Xylia replied.


    After setting up a meeting spot with Lily, Xylia headed straight downstairs and zipped out of Garcia Vi.


    Noelle watched Xylia storm in like a whirlwind, only to dash right back out again.


    Noelle’s confusion kept building–her head was really starting to spin.


    ‘Is Xylia seriously losing it? Maybe she’s having some kind of breakdown,‘ Noelle wondered, baffled.


    Xylia showed up at the restaurant where she’d nned to meet Lily.


    The two had decided to go over the n while grabbing a bite together.


    Xylia was so deep in her own thoughts she didn’t even remember to text Joshua and let him know she was out.


    Lily, who was from Alvend, had sharp features and carried herself with an easy confidence. As soon as they met, she shed Xylia a big, friendly grin.


    Xylia actually found her pretty likable.


    “So d we finally get to meet in person, Xylia! I’m Lily, the creative director from Prairie Rose–you might remember we’ve chatted on the phone,” Lily greeted her warmly.


    Xylia shook hands with her. “Nice to meet you, Lily. If you don’t mind, just call me Xylia.”


    “Then I’ll happily do that, Xylia,” Lily responded with a friendly grin.


    Once they settled into their seats, Lily handed Xylia the menu and suggested she order whatever she liked.


    “Don’t be shy, Xylia–it’s all on thepany’s tab,” Lily said, sounding carefree and encouraging.


    Xylia let out a quiet chuckle. “Alright then, I’m definitely not gonna hold back.”


    She went ahead and picked out a few of her absolute favorite things from the menu, no hesitation at all.


    Waiting for food at a ce like this always took forever, so the two of them started talking about the n right away to kill the time.


    “I’ve read through your proposal, Xylia. I think it’s actually pretty doable–just have a couple of ideas to toss in,” Lily said,ying it out straight.


    Lily made her needspletely clear from the start.


    Xylia jotted down cach of Lily’s suggestions, assuring her she’d revise the n as soon as possible.


    They really hit it off and had a pretty lively chat.


    She’d always heard that the Prairie Rose crew could be tough to work with, but her chat with Lily ended up being surprisingly chill and productive.


    Once the business talk was out of the way, they shifted to some casual conversation.


    Even after the meal, Lily clearly wasn’t ready to call it a day and wanted to keep chatting.


    “Xylia, it’s honestly been a st chatting with you. If you’re free tonight, why don’t we hang out and blow off some steam together?” Lily said with a yful grin.


    AD