Xylia didn’t wake up untilte the next morning.


    <b>Last </b>night had been pretty intense.


    Joshua switched moods <b>so </b>fast.


    :


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    He had been <b>so </b>happy when she said she wanted a daughter, but he hadn’t stopped changing condoms.


    After they were both exhausted, he whispered in her ear,


    “If it’s possible, let’s never have kids. <b>I </b>just can’t stand to see you suffer again,” Joshua whispered softly in her


    ear<b>. </b>


    Xylia sat at the head of the bed, her cheeks flushed as she thought about Joshua’s tender words the night before.


    He always put her first. He protected her from everything.


    Joshua didn’t want kids–he worried about her health, and he was afraid she might be traumatized by what had happened with Sonny.


    But in reality, the one most affected by all of this was always Joshua.


    Xylia epted the idea of marrying Joshua and having kids–she didn’t feel special happiness about it, just saw it as part of life.


    But whenever she thought of that sweet, chubby–faced kid in the album, her longing for a daughter red up again.


    Suddenly, her smile stiffened.


    She hurried to open her nightstand and searched through the album for that photo.


    Thankfully, it was still there–Joshua hadn’t gone and made it disappear.


    Xylia got herself together and headed downstairs.


    Joshua was nowhere to be seen.


    She vaguely remembered him mentioningst night that he had an important meeting today.


    Xylia sent him a quick message just to check in, but he didn’t reply right away–he was probably still busy.


    Noelle was gone <i>too</i>.


    She sat in the dining room, her gaze drifting over the quiet vi. It felt like there <b>were </b><b>fewer </b><b>staff </b>than <b>usual</b>.


    ‘Where’s Mrs. Wright?‘ Xylia thought to herself.


    9:09 Wed, <b>Oct </b><b>1 </b>


    ‘Maybe she’s busy outside,’ she guessed.


    She was starting to get bored.


    :.


    After the Prairie Rose deal fell through, she immediately told Josie.


    But Josie didn’t seem as disappointed as Xylia had expected.


    Actually, Josie just let out a long sigh, sounding genuinely relieved.


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    The studio soon returned to its normal rhythm–everyone back to their own work, and Xylia focused on preparing for next month’s overseaspetition.


    After lunch, she headed to her study to work on some design sketches.


    Later that afternoon, her phone rang–it was an unknown number.


    “Hello, is this Ms. Sadler?” a man’s voice asked.


    ‘I think I’ve heard that voice before, Xylia thought to herself.


    “Yes, that’s me. Who’s this?” she replied.


    “My name is Ethan Hayes. We met at the auction–the pink diamond, remember?” the man said.


    Xylia let out a surprised “Oh!” before responding, “Yeah, I remember. Did you get the money?”


    Joshua had said yesterday he’d send the payment over to Ethan today.


    Xylia figured Ethan was just calling to confirm he’d received it.


    She’d already lined up a few casual responses for the conversation, ready to go through the motions.


    But instead, Ethan went quiet for a couple of seconds, and then muttered, “I already told you I don’t want the money. Why’d you go and send it anyway?”


    ‘Seriously? What kind of answer is that?‘ Xylia thought, a bit speechless.


    ‘Isn’t transferring money the normal thing to do?‘ she grumbled to herself.


    ‘Do people like him really not care about money?‘


    ‘We’re talking fifty million here! Who just turns down that kind of cash?!‘


    “Uh… look, we barely know each other, and I can’t just take advantage of you like that. I know you’re upset about the breakup, but hey, don’t let it make you do something crazy with money. Just ept it, alright?” Xylia said earnestly.


    “But that was just me driving up the price on purpose. The diamond’s not actually worth that much. How about this–I’ll send you back thirty million. I really can’t let you take a loss like that,” Ethan insisted, his tone


    earnest.


    9:09 Wed, Oct 1


    Xylia bit her lip, feeling stuck on what to say next.


    She could understand why Ethan felt guilty, but did he really have to be this stubborn about it?


    “No, seriously, just let it go. Let the numbers be what they are. I got that pink diamond for my boyfriend, and for me, it’s all about the meaning behind it–the price doesn’t matter, Xylia replied <b>firmly</b>.


    Especially since Joshua was the one footing the bill anyway.


    Ethan paused for a moment, clearly warming up to the idea, then said in a half–joking, half–serious tone, “Alright, dinner’s on me. No excuses, Xylia! If you say no, I swear I’ll show up at your ce and dump the cash on your doorstep.”


    Xylia couldn’t help butugh. There was really no way to turn him down, so she agreed.


    After she hung up on Ethan, Xylia found herself staring nkly at her design sketches.


    Her focus waspletely gone–there was just no way she could keep working now.


    Joshua finally texted her back. <fndaaa> For original chapters go to f?ndnovel</fndaaa>


    Once she was sure he was on break, she gave him a call.


    Xylia ended up telling Joshua all about Ethan asking her out for dinner.


    Joshua had heard from others about Ethan–he knew the guy was principled and decent. Plus, since Ethan was into men, Joshua wasn’t worried.


    Still, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy.


    “So, when’s this dinner?” Joshua asked, trying to sound casual.


    “He said tonight, and I said yes,” Xylia replied.


    “Take me with you,” Joshua said, his tone firm.


    “Take me with you,” Joshua dered, leaving no room for argument.


    Xylia looked puzzled for a second. “You want toe too?”


    “Hey, I’m the one who wired him the money–why shouldn’t I be there?” Joshua shot back, sounding totally unapologetic.


    He said it so matter–of–factly, it was obvious he wouldn’t take no for an answer.


    Xylia couldn’t hold back augh.


    “Alright, alright, I’ll let him know. See you tonight,” Xylia said with augh, still smiling.


    After hanging up, Xylia messaged Ethan to tell him Joshua would being along, too.


    <b>9:09 </b>Wed, <b>Oct </b><b>1 </b>


    :


    Ethan replied right away and said he didn’t mind at all.


    They settled on meeting at an authentic Datonese restaurant in Jupiton.


    But then, at thest minute, Joshua had somethinge up and had to bail.


    When Xylia called, she could practically feel the anger pouring out of him through the phone.


    Instead of feeling intimidated, she couldn’t help but find it hrious.


    “Want me to box up some for you?” she teased.


    She said jokingly.


    To her surprise, Joshua actually said yes–he really wanted her to bring him some food.


    Xylia could only give in with a sigh.


    <i>77 </i>


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    Ethan arrived just in the nick of time, practically sprinting over to Xylia’s table, doubled over and gasping for breath, hands on his knees.


    “Sorry, Xylia! The traffic was insane–I was runningte and basically had to dash over here!” Ethan apologized, still catching his breath.


    Today, he was rocking a simple white tee and jeans, his pale face radiating that unmistakable boyish charm- clean–cut and refreshingly youthful.


    Xylia grinned, “No worries, I just got here too. Come on, sit down and drink some water.”


    She poured him a ss straight from the pitcher.


    Watching Ethan, Xylia found herself remembering when she first met Joshua. ‘He kind of reminds me of that time,‘ she mused to herself.


    Back then, overseas, Joshua had swapped out his bloody clothes for a in white tee and a pair of jeans—he looked so boyish, just like Ethan did now.


    Still, Joshua definitely wasn’t this adorable. He was acting all smug, like he ruled the world.


    “Go ahead, sis–order whatever you want, tonight’s totally on me!” Ethan grinned, sounding super casual.


    “Then I’ll take you up on that,” Xylia joked back.


    She picked out a few dishes and handed the menu over to Ethan. “Your turn.”


    After they finished ordering, Xylia said with an easy smile, “Deal? Once we finish this dinner, the pink diamond thing is officially off–limits.”


    Ethan shot her a yful smile. “Deal.”


    Ethan was actually way more easygoing than Xylia had imagined–totally chill and friendly.


    9:09 Wed, Oct <b>1 </b>


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    He talked a lot, but always knew where to draw the line. With all the stuff he kept bringing up, the dinner just felt natural and easygoing, like they’d known each other for ages.


    “Hey, Xylia, is your boyfriend always this swamped with work? We set up this dinner ages ago and he still ditchedst minute for a meeting,” Ethan teased, a little incredulous.


    Xylia nced up at him, smirking. “Upset about it?”


    Ethan waved his hands frantically, face full of protest.


    “Me? No way! I’m just saying, if you guys are always too busy to hang out, it might mess with your rtionship a bit. That’s basically how things fell apart with me and my girlfriend…”


    At the mention of his girlfriend, Ethan instantly wilted, looking totally deted.


    Xylia wasn’t really sure how tofort him–she could only shrug inwardly.


    “Hey, we’re both busy with work sometimes, that’s just life. But honestly, we still spend plenty of time together, so our rtionship’s solid, trust me,” she said with an easy smile, trying to reassure him.