<b>Chapter 312 </b>
Mrs. Wright had been with the Garcia family for years.
Lately, she’d been the one who most obviously ignored Xylia.
When Mrs. Wright came in, Xylia instinctively wanted to get up from Joshua’s arms.
But Joshua’s grip on her didn’t loosen at all, holding her tight so she couldn’t wriggle free. Seeing Mrs. Wright walk in, Xylia thought to herself that maybe it was better not to move after all.
Mrs. Wright shot them a look, put two sses of milk on the table, and left without saying anything,
Joshua didn’t even nce at the milk. His face was dark, like a storm was brewing.
He picked Xylia up and carried her out of the study, heading straight to their bedroom.
“You’re not having the milk?” Xylia asked.
‘It was her who had the allergy, not Joshua. He could’ve had the milk if he wanted,‘ Xylia thought to herself.
“I don’t. I’ve given it up,” Joshua said.
Joshua knew how to read people–years in business had taught him that much. Mrs. Wright’s behavior told him plenty without her saying a word.
When Xylia first moved into Garcia Vi, Joshua had made sure to hand the kitchen staff a list of all the things she couldn’t eat.
Mrs. Wright had been with the family the longest, so he’d even given her a written copy.
Turns out, she hadn’t remembered any of it. Joshua’s thoughts darkened: ‘Is she just getting forgetful, or did
she never bother to care?‘
But Mrs. Wright could recite Noelle’s allergies and preferences from memory. So it clearly wasn’t about her memory–it was about who she actually cared to remember.
Joshua decided it might be time <i>to </i>rece some of the staff.
The bedroom carried a faint aroma from the diffuser.
Joshua stopped in his tracks as soon as they stepped through the doorway, still holding Xylia in his arms.
His expression was icy–Xylia felt like he’d turned into a walking air conditioner, a steady chill pouring off him that was impossible to ignore.
Xylia didn’t notice the scent at all; right then, all she could register was how furious Joshua suddenly seemed.
Xylia nced up at him, hesitation in her eyes. “Is something wrong<b>?</b>” she asked quietly,
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Joshua lowered his gaze, giving her a small, almost teasing smile. “We’re not sleeping here tonight.”
“Where are we going, then?” Xylia blinked, looking at Joshua with a puzzled expression.
She honestly had no idea what he was thinking.
‘If we’re not staying in the bedroom… then where are we supposed to sleep tonight? Xylia wondered,pletely thrown off by his sudden decision.
Joshua didn’t say a word–he just swept Xylia up and carried her straight into the room next door.
The whole ce had a girly vibe, all warm tones andfy furniture. It instantly reminded Xylia of the apartment they used to share back in Norhill.
“Wait, what is this ce?” Xylia asked, a puzzled look on her face.
Joshua finally set her down, and she turned toward him, her confusion obvious.
“This is the room Eliza set up just for you,” Joshua exined, shing her a gentle smile.
Eliza started getting this room ready the moment she realized Joshua was really into Xylia.
She just knew he’d bring his future daughter–inw home sooner orter, so she made sure there’d be a space just for her.
Even if Xylia never ended up sleeping here, Eliza felt it was worth it–just in case her soon–to–be daughter–in-w ever visited and needed a ce to stay.
‘How wonderful,‘ Eliza thought to herself, feeling more than a little pleased with her ns.
Xylia couldn’t believe her ears. “She set up a room just for me?”
“Seriously… a whole room just for me?” Xylia thought, still stunned.
There were only two rooms up here, and it was obvious the one next to Joshua’s had beenpletely reworked.
Remodeling a ce like this must’ve taken ages.
‘Eliza went this far to set up a room for me–before I even got here?‘ Xylia wondered, a mix of shock and warmth blooming inside her.
Xylia couldn’t quite exin what she felt. She was both surprised and genuinely happy.
She was surprised, but there was a gentle happiness bubbling up inside her.
Joshua took her hand, his voice soft. “Eliza knew you’d probably go back to the Sadler family eventually. She was worried you wouldn’t have a ce to stay if you ever came back to Jupiton, so she made sure there’d be a room waiting for you. She wanted you to always have a home here, no matter what.”
Xylia felt a lump form in her throat, her eyes growing red and misty.
Joshua gently brushed his fingers against her cheek, his voice soft. “Are you touched?”
Xylia nodded, unable to speak, too overwhelmed for words.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Xylia finally managed to ask, her voice a little shaky.
She’d been staying at Garcia Vi for days, and she’d never even set foot in this room.
Xylia tilted her head at Joshua, her eyes holding a clear usation.
“Did you do this on purpose?” she demanded.
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‘He kept this room from me just so I’d have to sleep in his, Xylia thought, feeling equal parts exasperated and amused.
Joshua studiously ignored her re, clearly determined to steer the conversation elsewhere.
“Eliza actually left you a little surprise,” he said, his voice light.
He led her over to the bed, opened the nightstand drawer, and pulled out a photo album.
Xylia had been ready to press him for answers, her doubts still swirling–‘I’m not letting him off the hook that easy‘—but…
As soon as her eyesnded on the album, all her attention was swallowed up by it.
‘Wait, is this really Joshua’s childhood photo album?‘ Xylia thought, totally caught off guard and more than a little curious.
Joshua noticed her staring and answered the question before she could even get it out.
“That’s right–all my pictures from when I was a kid,” Joshua said with a proud little grin.
Xylia practically snatched the album from him, her eyes sparkling as if she’d just gotten her hands on the coolest toy. She flipped it open and started going through the pages.
The first photo showed Joshua as a wrinkled newborn.
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Beside the picture, someone had scrawled in bright red marker: [Our little Be is finally out to see the world!]
Below that were three hearts–two big, one small–plus his birth date.
It was clear that Joshua’s parents had carefully documented every moment in this album, pouring their hearts into preserving his childhood memories.
Xylia waspletely captivated.
Xylia had never had a childhood album of her own–there was nothing to look back on, no treasured
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snapshots from when she was growing up
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Back when Tessa had been away, Yves and Gia treated Xalia well enough<i>, </i>bon the couple’s tatly does very real parental love from them. It always felt like she was just passing through womeone else’s home, never triday belonging.
As for keepsakes like this, filled with memories so carefully recorded–Zylia had booty never seen of heard of anything like it before.
For her, this waspletely new–a kind of warmth she’d never experienced firsthand
Xylia kept flipping through the pages, her eyes glued to each photo.
There was <b>Joshua </b>at one year old, an adorable little cherub, clutching a crisp hundred–dor ball <b>in </b><b>his </b>day hand, happy as can be.
Beside the photo, someone had scribbled: [This kid was grabbing cash at his hundred–day celebration–hands down, he’s a born money–grubber! Seriously, is he the living embodiment of good fortune for our family or what?]
Xylia couldn’t help butugh out loud.
Joshua, obsessed with money? I just can’t wrap my head around that, Xylia thought, amusement sparkling in her eyes.
‘Honestly, I’ve never once seen him act like a money–chaser since the day we met, she mused, feeling genuinely puzzled.
‘Not even a hint of it, ever, Xylia reflected, seriously wondering.
‘Unless he’s just hiding it way better than anyone ever could?‘ she joked to herself, still trying to imagine it
‘I’m definitely going to get to the bottom of this when I get some free time, Xylia thought, amusement flickering in her eyes. ‘No way am I letting him hide his secret money–grubber side from me!”
Xylia was so caught up flipping through Joshua’s childhood photos that she didn’t even notice when he quietly left the room.
Joshua lingered in the shadows of the hallway.
After about five minutes, Mrs. Wright and Noelle snuck over, ncing around like a pair of conspirators.
They went straight for Joshua’s bedroom door.
Mrs. Wright paused when she noticed the door was left slightly open, unease flickering across her face. Noelle didn’t think twice–she nudged the door open, stepped inside, and called back, “Come on! What are you waiting for?” urging Mrs. Wright to follow her in.
“Mrs. Wright, your scheme is actually brilliant,” Noelle snickered, excitement shimmering in her eyes. “Spiking the aroma so they’d be dead asleep? Now I can have my way with them!”
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“Let’s get started–first, we need to check if Joshua’s really knocked out,” Noelle urged, voice low and urgent
Noelle pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Joshua stepped out from the shadows, his eyes cold and sharp as he fixed them both with a frosty stare.
“I’ve no idea if either of you managed to knock them out,” Joshua cut in, his tone biting, “but one thing’s for sure–you can feed a snake, but you’ll only get bitten for your trouble.”
Joshua’s sudden voice made Noelle and Mrs. Wright nearly jump out of their skins, spinning around with faces pale as sheets.
Noelle and Mrs. Wright spun around in shock, and the moment they saw Joshua, both went pale as ghosts.
“J–Joshua…” Noelle blurted out, her voice shaky with panic.
“M–Mr. Garcia…” Mrs. Wright whispered, looking like she wanted to disappear.
Joshua shot Noelle a cold look before letting his re settle on Mrs. Wright, his face like ice.
“Mrs. Wright,” he said, voice clipped, “after all these years working for the Garcia family—is this really what you’vee to?”