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Xylia and Joshua both sensed there was something wrong about tonight’s dinner.
When Noelle personally handed her the wine, Xylia felt a flicker of guarded suspicion.
Still, remembering how Joshua’sst mishap had involved a drink, Xylia wondered, ‘If Noelle really wanted to pull something, she wouldn’t choose a trick this childish.
Even if Noelle was up to no good, she wouldn’t stoop to such a basic move.
Xylia motioned for Noelle to sit down.
“Come on, don’t just stand there! Sit and eat with us, it’s your send–off dinner. No way we’re letting you go hungry,” Xylia said.
Shedled out a bowl of chicken soup for Noelle and handed it over.
Noelle was clearly annoyed by Xylia’s gesture.
Xylia was acting like she ran the show–as if she were already Joshua’s wife.
But Noelle had her own agenda, and now wasn’t the time to make a scene. She just had to let it slide, for now.
“Thanks,” Noelle managed, forcing a thin smile.
Xylia picked up some food and ced it on Joshua’s te.
“Eat up. Don’t you have something to do after this? Once you’re done, go handle your things, and don’t forget to rest early,” Xylia said.
Joshua froze for a split second before he caught on–Xylia wanted some one–on–one time with Noelle. He nodded in agreement.
Noelle couldn’t help but speak up for Joshua, her tone a bit sharper as she jumped in on his behalf.
“Seriously? I don’t care how busy Joshua is–he still needs a proper meal! How much could a few minutes possibly mess up his schedule?” Noelle huffed.
Xylia shot her a look and said, “You wouldn’t get it, Noelle. When you’re working, sometimes you can’t just do what you want.”
Noelle was out of a job right now.
‘And with the way things are going,nding a new one might just be wishful thinking, she thought, feeling a little bitter about her prospects.
Those words cut Noelle right to the core.
Noelle red at Xylia, her eyes full of fire, but in the end she bit back whatever she wanted to say and kept
8:10 Tue, Sep 30
silent.
After finishing his meal, Joshua headed upstairs. <fn88e8> Updates are released by FindN()vel</fn88e8>
He was going to reach out to Ethan’s uncle and pay back the money right away.
Xylia’s stuff wasn’t something for outsiders to be giving away.
必
While Joshua was up in the study, getting in touch with the Hayes Family, Xylia was downstairs, holding her own against Noelle.
As soon as Joshua left the table, Noelle’s face darkened instantly.
She shot Xylia a look burning with hatred, her eyes practically spitting venom.
Noelle banged her chopsticks hard on the table, ring daggers at Xylia.
“Did you do that on purpose?” she demanded.
“Me? What did I do on purpose?” Xylia replied, casually.
Xylia had finished eating and was now dabbing at her mouth with a napkin.
Noelle’s anger only grew as she watched Xylia’s cool, collected demeanor.
“You sent Joshua away on purpose, didn’t you? You didn’t want me to be alone with him!” Noelle used, her voice rising.
Noelle’s voice rose, sharp and using. “I honestly don’t get you! I already said I’m not going to fight you over Joshua. I even promised Mrs. Garcia I’d be the Garcia family’s daughter, just like a real sister to Joshua. Why are you still acting like I’m some kind of threat to you?”
Xylia tossed her napkin aside, an easy, almost mocking smile spreading across her lips as she met Noelle’s re.
“Obviously,” she replied, not bothering to hide her caution.
She spoke slowly and deliberately. “I saw with my own eyes just how obsessed you were with Joshua. You pulled every dirty trick you could think of to drive me away–even went so far as to team up with a lunatic to try and get rid of me for good. You’re that extreme. And you expect me to believe that just because you spent some time abroad, you suddenly don’t care anymore? Give me a break.”
Noelle’s fists clenched tight on herp.
“I told you already–I got dragged off to Daltonia and that whole mess knocked some sense into me! That’s why I finally woke up,” Noelle insisted, her voice trembling with emotion.
Xylia shot back, “Yeah? Then why is it that every time Joshua’s around since you came back, you can’t help staring at him like he’s the only one in the room?”
“I’ve had feelings for Joshua for so many years, you think I can just drop it in a snap? I mean,e on–now
8:10 Tue, Sep 30
2230
he’s officially my brother. Can’t fat least look at him a little without you going off on me? Noelle retorted
“Of course not,” Xylia replied coldly. “He’s my boyfriend
Her tone was frosty, making her im on Joshua crystal clear.
Noelle bit her lip, seething with all the things she wanted to say–yet in the end, she stayed silent.
Xylia rose to her feet, looming over Noelle with an icy, superior look that left no room for argument
Xylia scoffed, her wordsced with contempt. “Whatever you’re scheming in that head of yours, only you know. But whether you’re still eyeing Joshua or not, you don’t have to bother hiding it–I’m not stupid, and neither is anyone else.”
Then she added, voice cold as steel, “If your cheap tricks flopped once, you’d better quit while you’re aheart. Otherwise, one day you’ll burn through all the pity the Garcia family gives you for your brother’s death. Don’t think they’ll owe you forever.”
With that, Xylia turned and headed upstairs without another word.
Noelle watched her go, seething with hatred and grinding her teeth.
She swiped her arm across the table in a fit of rage, sending all the dishes crashing to the floor.
The noise was loud and sharp.
Xylia nced back, her face emotionless–she didn’t even blink before heading upstairs.
Mrs. Wright hurried over to the dining room and started picking up the mess scattered all over the floor.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Noelle’s flushed, angry face. Pausing mid–motion, Mrs. Wright said softly, “Miss Coffey, if you need anything, I’m here to help.”
Hearing her words, Noelle finally nced down at Mrs. Wright, who was kneeling at her feet, picking up the broken shards from the floor.
Noelle knew most of the household staff were on her side.
When she was living with the Garcia family, she used to slip the servants little perks from time to time.
It was just like those old pce cunuchs–give them a little something and they’d bend over backwards for
you.
Noelle asked, “So, what kind of help are we talking about?”
Mrs. Wright replied, “Miss Coffey, you’re leaving tomorrow–you could spend tonight with Mr. Garcia. He’s got a real sense of responsibility, you know he’ll take care of you.”
That’s the thing about the older folks–they really do know all the angles.
Sure enough, Mrs. Wright was thinking exactly what Noelle had in mind—and that was a bit of afort.
Noelle let out a weary sigh and rubbed her forehead, feeling her troubles piling up.
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“Joshua’s already holed up in his study, and you just know Xylia’s not gonna leave his side. How am I supposed to get even a moment alone with him?” Noelle grumbled.
Mrs. Wright chuckled as she stood. “If you really want it, Miss Coffey, there’s always an opening.”
Noelle’s eyes sparkled.
Mrs. Wright bent down and whispered her scheme into Noelle’s ear, already plotting ways to make it work.
A minuteter, Noelle’s whole attitude did a 180. “You’re a genius, Mrs. Wright! Your n is absolutely perfect. When this works out, I’ll make sure you get your reward,” Noelle grinned.
“Don’t worry, Miss Coffey, I’ll handle everything and make it look perfect,” Mrs. Wright promised confidently.
Xylia wasted no time–once she got upstairs, she headed straight for the study.
Joshua was glued to hisputer, still neck–deep in work.
Xylia peeked in, made sure he wasn’t on a video call, then swaggered right in like she owned the ce.
Xylia deliberately put on her best Noelle impression, cooing, “Joshie, did you finish that little favor I asked for?” Her voice dripped with yful sarcasm as she mimicked Noelle’s lovesick tone.
Joshua nced up from hisputer, a small, amused smile appearing as he beckoned her closer.
Xylia strolled over, and in one smooth motion, Joshua pulled her right onto hisp.
“Come on, say ‘brother‘ for me again,” Joshua coaxed, voice dripping with yful mischief.
He was absolutely loving it, grinning from ear to ear and unable to hide how much he enjoyed hearing it.
Xylia just shot him a look and stubbornly kept her mouth shut–she had no intention of humoring him any further.
“Enough ying around. Did you get a hold of Ethan yet? Has the money been sent?” Xylia asked, switching back to business.
Joshua gently rubbed her waist, his voice deep and maic. “Yeah, I got in touch with him, but the money won’t be wired until tomorrow. Banks are closed for the day–big amounts like that take time.
That made sense; with big transfers and the banks closed, it couldn’t be helped.
Xylia was clearly satisfied with his answer.
Joshua reached out and pinched Xylia’s cheek, his voice teasing. “Sleepy yet? Want to head to bed?”
Xylia shot a quick look at hisputer.
The screen was still pulled up to his project proposal.
8:10 Tue, Sep 30
“Are you going to be busy for a while longer?” she asked gently.
“Nope, I’m done. Work’s all wrapped up.” Joshua said, shing her azy smile.
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He made a show of reaching out, clearly ready to scoop Xylia into his arms and carry her straight off to their
bedroom.
There was a knock at the door, and Mrs. Wright walked in carrying two cups of warm milk.
“Joshua, Xylia, I brought you some hot milk–drink up and you’ll sleep well tonight, Mrs. Wright announced.
AD
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