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    A 19


    Being called out by Joshua, Mrs. Wright lost all theposure she’d had earlier when facing Noelle.


    After all, Joshua was the one who signed her paychecks. Now that her little tricks had been caught by the boss, she knew she was in a dangerous spot.


    She bowed her head, anxious. “Mr. Garcia, I just thought you and Ms. Sadler have both been so tiredtely, so I lit some soothing incense to help you sleep. I’ve been serving at the Garcia Vi for over ten years, and I’ve used this incense for Eliza before.”


    She meant Eliza.


    Her words showed she was one of the long–timers in the Garcia household, hoping Joshua would let her off the hook this once, out of respect for all her years on the job.


    But she really thought Joshua was going to let her off easy.


    “Old hand,” Joshua murmured, almost tasting the word on his tongue.


    He gave a cool little smile. “Since you’ve been around so long, you should know how to treat the Garcia family with respect. When I brought Xylia home, Iid out all her dietary restrictions for you. You’re an old hand here, so I even gave you a special reminder. But then you go and serve her milk–when you know perfectly well she can’t have it. That’s your idea of professional?”


    Mrs. Wright’s face drained of color at Joshua’s words.


    Of course, Joshua had made it clear about Xylia’s dietary restrictions when he first brought her home.


    But Mrs. Wright didn’t handle the kitchen duties, and honestly, Xylia hadn’t mattered enough for her to keep track–so she didn’t bother remembering.


    The one time she brought the milk, she got caught.


    “This job pays so well and the benefits are great—I really can’t afford to lose it, she thought anxiously.


    She blurted out in a panic, “I’m <i>so </i>sorry, Mr. Garcia. It was my oversight–I promise it won’t happen again.”


    “No second chances,” Joshua replied icily. “Mrs. Wright, pack your things tonight. The butler will settle your wages tomorrow.”


    It was like she’d just been struck by lightning–Mrs. Wright stared at Joshua, wide–eyed and refusing to believe what she’d just heard.


    “Mr. Garcia! You… you can’t do this to me! I’ve poured my heart and soul into this ce for ten years–I really don’t want to go, Mr. Garcia!” Her voice shook, every wordced with desperation.


    Mrs. Wright was falling apart, panic gripping herpletely.


    Noelle had wanted to speak up for Mrs. Wright.


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    But seeing Joshua’s anger–and knowing he seemed to have everything figured out–Noelle thought, ‘If I open my mouth now, wouldn’t I just be dragging myself into the line of fire?‘


    So she decided to stay quiet.


    Mrs. Wright, desperate when Joshua didn’t say anything, suddenly reached out and grabbed Noelle’s hand.


    “Miss Coffey, please–help me out! My whole family depends on my paycheck. If I lose this job, what are we supposed to do?” she begged, voice shaking.


    Noelle instinctively wanted to shake her hand off.


    But fear crept in–what if Mrs. Wright snapped and started spilling all her secrets? Gritting her teeth, Noelle forced herself to meet Joshua’s eyes.


    “Joshua… I…” Noelle managed, her words faltering as she struggled with what to say.


    Joshua fixed Noelle with an icy stare.


    “I’ll be counting every little thing you owe me, one by one,” his voice cold and threatening.


    Noelle didn’t dare utter another word.


    Seeing that Joshua’s mind was made up, Mrs. Wright just slumped to the floor,pletely defeated.


    Without another word, Joshua turned and walked into the next room.


    After a moment, the butler came over, stopping quietly at Mrs. Wright’s side.


    “Go and start packing,” he said, his voice without a trace of warmth. “Your wages are settled as of today. You’ll collect your final pay tomorrow, and then you need to leave.”


    Suddenly, Mrs. Wright looked up, her eyes filled with resentment as she red at Noelle.


    “Didn’t you say you were going to be the next Mrs. Garcia? Why can’t you keep me here?” she spat out, her voice dripping with bitterness.


    ‘Ugh, what nerve, Noelle thought, clearly annoyed by Mrs. Wright’s attitude.


    With Joshua gone, she felt a bit more daring.


    “You’re the one who tried to scheme against Joshua! Even if I end up with him, he’s not going to let a traitor stay in his house. Don’t drag me into the mess you made for yourself,” Noelle shot back.


    “Noelle! If I’d known you were like this, there’s no way I would’ve ever helped you!” Mrs. Wright spat, her wordsced with furious regret.


    Sheunched into a tirade of curses, venting all her bitterness at Noelle.


    But Noelle was already gone, heading straight to her room to hurriedly pack up.


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    I need to get out of the Garcia Vi before Joshuaes after me, Noelle thought, anxiety twisting in her gut.


    The bedroom at the Garcia Vi was so quiet and well–insted that Xylia didn’t hear a thing happening


    outside.


    She only realized Joshua had gone out when he walked back in.


    “When did you go out?” she asked, curiosity in her voice.


    Xylia had already flipped through most of the photo album in her hands.


    Maybe it was the joy of looking through the pictures, but her eyes were sparkling and her pretty face was all smiles. She looked just like a naive little girl, adorable and innocent.


    Joshua walked over and sat down next to her.


    “Having fun?” he teased casually, reaching for the album.


    Xylia immediately blocked his hand, not letting him take it.


    Honestly, Xylia didn’t care what Joshua had been up to–her whole attention was locked onto the photo album in her hands, fingers gripping the edge tight.


    “Don’t move!” she said softly, gently brushing Joshua’s hand away before leaning her head against his shoulder, yful and sweet.


    “I’m so happy! You were seriously adorable as a kid,” Xylia teased, her voice bubbling with affection.


    “Adorable.” Xylia couldn’t help but murmur, eyes still locked on the photo.


    Is that really the word she’s using for me?‘ Joshua thought, mood souring instantly.


    His face was visibly displeased, but Xylia was too caught up in the album to notice.


    She flipped to another photo, giggling twice before sliding it over for Joshua to see.


    “Look at this one–did your mom always wish she had a daughter instead?” Xylia teased, eyes full of yful mischief.


    Joshua nced down, his face going from annoyed to absolutely thunderous.


    The photo showed him at around five years old.


    Back then, Joshua looked like a perfect little doll, with striking features for a kid–both cute and handsome. Eliza loved dressing him up, and she didn’t care whether it was boys‘ clothes or girls.


    In this picture, Eliza had put him in a princess dress,plete with a wig and a shiny little princess crown on


    his head.


    The whole look was pure Disney princess–adorable.


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    It was insanely adorable–and it just somehow totally worked.


    Xylia thought this shot was absolutely priceless.


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    ‘If Joshua and I ever have a daughter, would she be just as adorable as this? Xylia wondered, heart racing with the thought.


    ‘Nope–she’d definitely out–cute Joshua’s childhood photos!‘ she grinned to herself.


    Just as she got lost in her little fantasy, Joshua’s hand suddenly swooped in, trying to snatch the photo away.


    Xylia was quick to react–she caught Joshua’s hand mid–grab and looked up at him, giving the culprit a yful yet using stare.


    “What are you doing?” she asked, half–amused and half–demanding.


    “Just erasing the evidence!” Joshua muttered, flustered and a bit embarrassed.


    He knew exactly what was in that album when Eliza left it around.


    The thought of Xylia discovering his childhood stories had him secretly proud and excited.


    But he hadn’t thought to double–check the album–and wouldn’t you know it, Eliza had sneakily slipped this photo in with the rest!


    ‘I seriously want to crawl into a hole right now,‘ Joshua thought, utterly mortified.


    Xylia grabbed his hand and wouldn’t let go.


    “Hands off! This photo is way too cute–I’m keeping it! When we have a daughter one day, I’ll use this to see who’s prettier, you or our little princess,” she chirped, stubborn and yful.


    Xylia shielded the picture, chattering away to herself and refusing to let Joshua near it.


    Xylia didn’t even notice that Joshua was sitting so tense beside her–he might as well have been frozen solid.


    She slid the album into the nightstand, ready to warn Joshua off touching any of her stuff.


    But when she turned, she ran right into Joshua’s smoldering stare.


    She jolted, asking, “You… what’s wrong?”


    Joshua dropped his gaze to meet hers, his voice husky and low. “Did you just say… our daughter?”


    Xylia blinked, suddenly realizing what she’d just blurted out.


    Her cheeks turned pink, but she refused to back down–she shot him a stubborn yet yful look.


    “What? Don’t tell me you’re secretly one of those guys who only wants a son instead of a daughter,” she teased, eyebrow raised.


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    Before Xylia could get another word out, Joshua suddenly tackled her, pressing her down onto the bed. “No way–I’m totally on team daughter! All I want is a little princess,” he said, his tone fierce and affectionate.


    He kissed Xylia, his hand moving unhurriedly to the buttons on her shirt.


    “But… I don’t want our daughter showing up too soon,” he murmured against her lips.