《Billionaire And His Son Betrayed Me: Brothers Back Me Up》


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    The day Xylia Schultz got out of prison, they carried her out on a stretcher. She was so thin she barely looked human. Her right arm just dangled there with no strength in it, and both her legs were covered in blood.


    Three months earlier, somebody had set Xylia up, faked testimony, and threw her in jail in ce of the real Schultz daughter, Tessa Schultz.


    Inside, they cut the tendons in the hand Xylia once held a scalpel with. The legs that once carried her to international championships had been beaten until she could hardly stand.


    Xylia was ready to give up on everything, until her husband, Connor Ford, pulled every string he could to drag her out.


    When Connor saw her like that, he froze for a second, then stumbled out of the car and wrapped her up in his arms.


    ¡°Xylia, this is all on me. I came toote.¡± Connor¡¯s voice shook as he followed the medics into the ambnce.


    This man, who was usually all coldposure, actually cried. Xylia had only ever seen him cry twice before¨Conce on their wedding day, once when their son Sonny Ford was born.


    That tear fell on Xylia¡¯s face, and her own emotions finally broke. She hadn¡¯t cried when she was beaten. She hadn¡¯t cried when they cut through her hand. But now she couldn¡¯t hold it back.


    Xylia buried herself in Connor¡¯s chest, breathing in the one scent that always calmed her down. She thought, ¡®At least I still have my husband, my son, my family who love me.¡®


    Connor¡¯s eyes turned red as he held her tight and swore, his voice raw. ¡°Xylia, I¡¯ll find whoever framed you. I¡¯ll clear your name.¡±


    Pressed against his chest, listening to the tremor in his voice, Xylia¡¯s shattered heart softened just a little.


    With a husband and a son who loved her this much, she didn¡¯t care that the Schultz family only had eyes for Tessa, or that her ex¨Cfianc¨¦ had left her behind. None of that mattered


    anymore.


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    Connor lowered his head, guilt in every word. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t asked you to drive out that day, they wouldn¡¯t have had anything to pin on you. They wouldn¡¯t have had a way to charge you hit¨Cand-run.¡±


    Xylia shook her head. She thought, ¡®How could this be his fault? Everyone knew Connor was


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    one of the best husbands out there. After we married, he never let me lift a finger. He spoiled


    me in every way.


    ¡®He even worried I was working too hard, kept telling me to quit, said he¡¯d take care of me. The heir to the Ford family, and he still loved me like this. Everyone envied me.


    ¡®But now¡­ after what happened to me, do I even deserve him anymore?¡®


    Xylia¡¯s voice cracked as she whispered, ¡°I¡¯m scared I¡¯ll never be able to hold a scalpel again. I¡¯m scared I¡¯ll never dance again.¡±


    Connor¡¯s eyes filled up again. His voice shook as he tried to soothe her. ¡°If you can¡¯t hold a scalpel, then I¡¯ll take care of you for the rest of our lives.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t dance, then don¡¯t. Honestly, it always drove me jealous when other men stared at you anyway.¡±


    Xylia forced a bitter little smile. Connor had always loved her legs, and now they were nothing but scars. Once the wounds healed, they would still look ruined. She figured he¡¯d get tired of looking at them eventually.


    At the hospital<i>, </i>Xylia finally saw Sonny.


    The boy threw himself at her bedside and broke down crying. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know what I said would end up as testimony. It was all my fault. I misremembered. If I could trade my legs for yours, I would.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s mind went back to three months earlier, when she¡¯d been used of hit¨Cand¨Crun. Sonny, who had been called as a witness, said he remembered her leaving the house that day.


    Sonny had always been the kid who listened, who acted way older than his age. That little grown¨Cup side of him made him seem a bit distant sometimes.


    But now, he was crying so hard his face was a mess, snot and tears everywhere. He looked pitiful.


    For all his early maturity, he was still just a kid. Kids mixed things up. Xylia¡¯s heart melted as she stroked his hair. ¡°I¡¯m not mad at you.¡±


    Through sobs, Sonny choked out, ¡°Then let me be your legs. I¡¯ll run for you. I¡¯ll see the world for you.¡±


    That stung Xylia¡¯s heart. She thought, ¡®I¡¯m lucky. My son and my husband didn¡¯t walk away. If anything, they¡¯ve been treating me even better.


    ¡®I didn¡¯t get much love from the family I was born into, but the family I built for myself has


    been warm.¡®


    <b>***** </b>


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    After the surgery, Xylia still couldn¡¯t feel her hand or legs. Her mouth felt parched, and she tried to call for someone, but then she caught Sonny¡¯s voice outside the door.


    ¡°Dad, Mom looks so pitiful right now. She can still stand, but she¡¯ll never dance again. The doctor said she won¡¯t be able to hold a scalpel steady either,¡± said Sonny.


    Xylia¡¯s chest ached so badly she wanted to break down. She had known this was likely, but hearing it spoken aloud still hit her hard.


    Then Sonny added, ¡°Dad, didn¡¯t we go too far, making up false testimony to frame Mom, just to protect Tessa?¡±


    Xylia froze. She thought she must have heard wrong. Her eyes


    flew open


    wide in shock.


    Connor¡¯s reply came next, cold and t. ¡°Tessa is a principal dancer. Her record can¡¯t have a single blemish.


    ¡°As for Xylia, she stole Tessa¡¯s ce as the Schultz family¡¯s real daughter all these years and left Tessa to grow up an orphan. This is her debt. And besides, she married me, didn¡¯t she? What more could she want?¡±


    Xylia bit her lip so hard she almost drew blood, forcing herself to stay silent. She thought, ¡®So it was them. They¡¯re the ones who framed me.


    ¡®But I was switched at birth, I had no say in that. How could they call it me stealing Tessa¡¯s ce? And Connor¨Chow could he change like this? Were all those vows, all that love, nothing but lies?¡®


    Sonny let out a sigh and said in agreement, ¡°Mom kept picking fights with Tessa. It¡¯s about time she learned a lesson. We¡¯ll make it up to herter.¡±


    Xylia thought, ¡®Later? What ter¡± do I even have left?¡®


    Every word they said carried clear into Xylia¡¯s ears. The pain wed into her chest, worse than anything her body had gone through. A tear slid down the corner of her eye before she even noticed.


    So it was them. Her husband and her own son. They were the ones who ruined her body, who set her up to save Tessa. In their eyes, there was only Tessa.


    Sonny¡¯s voice softened, almost guilty. ¡°But Dad, we dragged out her surgery. That¡¯s why her hand and legs ended up like this. If she ever finds out, won¡¯t she lose her mind?¡±


    ¡®So if they had let the doctors work right away, my hand and legs might have healed? And they still dyed it?¡® A heavy despair pressed down on Xylia¡¯s chest, almost suffocating her.


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    Connor answered with weary impatience, speaking like he wasying down reason. ¡°So what if she finds out? She can¡¯t go back to the Schultz family. With her body wrecked, she¡¯ll never leave us anyway.¡±


    Then his tone suddenly shifted, lighter, almost amused. ¡°Sonny, you like Tessa, don¡¯t you? Now that Xylia¡¯s out of the way, she won¡¯t be stopping you from seeing Tessa anymore. Isn¡¯t that good news?¡±


    ¡°Of course it is. Mom¡¯s always been such a nag. Guess that¡¯s what happens when one never really went to school. All she ever cared about waspeting with other women.


    ¡°And she was always on me about talking to Tessa. It drove me crazy.¡± Sonny¡¯s little voice sounded so innocent, but the words that came out cut deep.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes went wide as tears streamed down her face, her chest tightening until she could barely breathe.


    She thought, ¡®Sonny told me, in his own words, that he didn¡¯t like Tessa. That¡¯s why I kept turning her down for him. How did it all get twisted into being my fault?¡®


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    Connor let out a long sigh, almost like a weight had lifted. ¡°And really, Xylia not being able to dance isn¡¯t the worst thing. That way no one¡¯s in Tessa¡¯s way. Being the lead was her dream.


    ¡°You have no idea how much I¡¯ve done just to make sure she gets to be happy. I even stepped right into the mess myself to make it happen.¡±


    Xylia just froze, a thinyer of despair spreading in her chest. Eight years back, when Tessa showed up, Xylia¡¯d found out she wasn¡¯t even the real daughter of the Schultz family.


    Xylia¡¯s fianc¨¦ dumped her right there in front of everyone, and swore he¡¯d kick her out of Jupiton. Then, he married Tessa.


    Overnight, Xylia became the punchline of every joke in their circle. Friends and family all treated her like she¡¯d stolen what wasn¡¯t hers. People whispered that she must¡¯ve been after the Schultzes¡® money if she held on to that title for so long.


    Only Connor hade to Xylia when she was falling apart. He¡¯d told her, ¡°Xylia, I¡¯ll marry you. From now on, I¡¯ll be the one standing behind you.¡±


    Xylia had been touched, overwhelmed even, and chose to marry him. She¡¯d believed he was her soulmate. For him, she even turned down an offer from a world¨Cfamous dancer.


    Later, when Xylia heard Tessa had be that dancer¡¯sst student and ended up the country¡¯s top dancer, she didn¡¯t think much of it. Looking back now, Xylia could see Connor¡¯s hand in all of it.


    No wonder, even after they got married and he treated her well, she always felt like she couldn¡¯t reach his heart. It had all been a setup. Every step. Just to make sure Tessa¡¯s dream


    came true.


    Xylia let out a soundlessugh, tears spilling anyway. She thought, ¡®So that¡¯s what ¡°stepped right into the mess myself¡± means.


    ¡®Who else but me would be this much of a fool? Eight years of running in circles, letting the same man y me like this?


    ¡®Eight years, and I gave up everything. I gave up dancing to be a doctor because Sonny¡¯s health was fragile. I bent over backwards to please Connor when I couldn¡¯t reach him. And all this time, I thought it was me.¡¯


    Xylia¡¯s tears soaked into the pillow. She tried to lift her hand to wipe them, but her hand just flopped right back down, useless. The tendons had been cut by an inmate when she was locked up, punishment for not obeying.


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    She would never hold a scalpel again. She had worked her way up to chief surgeon with these hands, and now it was all gone because Connor and Sonny dyed her surgery.


    The ss cup on the table ttered to the floor, the sharp sound slicing through the air. The voices outside cut off, and Connor rushed in.


    For a split second, panic shed in his eyes before he scooped Xylia into his arms. ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re awake? The surgery went really well. What seems to be the problem?¡±


    Connor¡¯s brow was tight, his face full of worry. If she hadn¡¯t heard what he¡¯d said earlier, Xylia might¡¯ve actually believed that concern.


    Sonny scrambled to her bedside, his voice breaking. ¡°Mom, are you thirsty? I¡¯ll get you some


    water.¡±


    Before, Xylia would¡¯ve thought her life was perfect. A husband who treated her like treasure; a son who doted on her. But now, all she felt was disgust at how fake it was. She, the one they fooled, looked nothing but pathetic.


    Xylia¡¯s nose burned, pain flooding through every bone in her body. She forced her tears back down, lowered her head, and managed a pale smile.


    Seeing her like that, Connor nearly shook with worry.


    He lowered his head, then looked up again, his eyes rimmed red. ¡°Xylia, does it hurt somewhere? I¡¯ll call the doctor back in. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll track down whoever gave false testimony. I won¡¯t let you suffer for nothing.¡±


    A tear slid down Xylia¡¯s face. Her eyes kept drifting, her whole body cold.


    She thought, ¡°They really put on a hell of a show. I let myself be fooled all these years, used up till there was nothing left, and I only saw the truth now.¡®


    Xylia¡¯s expression went t. For the first time, she cut sharp with her words. ¡°It¡¯s been three months. You still haven¡¯t found who gave false testimony? Are my hand and legs even salvageable?¡±


    In her mind, she added, ¡®And¡­ do you even feel the slightest bit of pity for me anymore?¡®


    Xylia¡¯s voice cut through the quiet room. Connor blinked, dazed, before he spoke. ¡°Xylia, I¡¯ll do everything I can to get justice for you. And your hand, I¡¯ll make sure the best people treat


    it.¡±


    Sonny leaned against Xylia¡¯s bed, holding her hand tight. ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t be sad. The doctors here just aren¡¯t that <i>good</i>, but Dad already brought in the best team from overseas.¡±


    ¡®Not because the doctors here were bad,¡¯ Xylia argued silently, ¡®but because you two dragged it


    out until it was toote.


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    She suddenly felt bone¨Cdeep exhaustion. She had held herself up in prison for three months, just so she could get out and see them. And now, the two people who meant the most to her handed her this kind of ¡°surprise.¡±


    ¡°Forget it,¡± Xylia said, pulling at the corner of her mouth. She locked eyes on Connor, watching every flicker in his face. ¡°All I want is to find the driver who ran from that crash, the one who faked the testimony, and clear my name.¡±


    For a second, Connor¡¯s perfect mask cracked.


    Xylia, you never used to nitpick like this.¡± His brow drew in, his voice turning cool. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best to avenge you, but I don¡¯t want you drowning in hate. Wouldn¡¯t it be better if we just lived our lives in peace?¡±


    Bitterness shot through Xylia. Her whole body ached until it was numb. She screamed inside, You two destroyed everyst hope I had. How the hell was I supposed to just ¡°live in peace¡°?¡®


    ¡°Mom, even if your hand never heals, me and Dad would never look down on you for being disabled. Please, let the hate go.¡± Sonny¡¯s words came out soft, but on his young face sat a look that cut cruelly.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t take that kind of guilt¨Cwrapped pity. She opened her mouth to say more, but Connor¡¯s phone rang. His cold face instantly melted soft.


    Xylia stared at Connor in silence, the taste in her chest bitter. Married all these years, he had treated her well, but his face was always distant, cold.


    She used to think maybe he just didn¡¯t know how to smile. Turned out he only saved that smile for someone else.


    After he hung up, Connor looked a bit apologetic, brows pulled tight. ¡°Xylia, something came up at Sonny¡¯s school. I need to take him there.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s head dropped. Connor forgot she always had sharp hearing.


    Even when the voice on the other end was quiet, she heard that woman¡¯s carefreeugh, ¡°Connor, my show just wrapped up. Come pick me up. I¡¯ll treat you to dinner.¡±


    That voice, Xylia knew all too well. Tessa Schultz, the real daughter of the family. Bright, bubbly, loved wherever she went.


    Xylia¡¯s chest went cold, the exhaustion heavier than ever. She looked at Connor and said in a calm tone, ¡°But today¡¯s Saturday.¡±


    Connor frowned, cutting Sonny a look. The boy caught on instantly. ¡°We had a performance


    at school, Mom. I need practice. When you get better, you¡¯lle see me on stage.¡±


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    The lie was paper¨Cthin, and Connor¡¯s impatience showed all over his face. Inside, she gave a bitter smile. So now that I¡¯m crippled and can¡¯t climb back up, they don¡¯t even bother pretending anymore, is that it?¡®


    Xylia¡¯s chest stung, but her face kept its pale smile. ¡°Go on.¡±


    That edge of impatience finally faded from Connor. He poured her a ss of milk and set it down. ¡°You always loved milk. Drink it up and wait here for me.¡±


    Then he strode out with Sonny, moving faster than he needed to, almost like he couldn¡¯t wait to leave.


    Xylia stared at the ss of milk and smiled faintly. She wasctose intolerant. The one who loved milk had never been her.


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    Connor had left in such a rush that his wallet slipped to the floor. Almost without thinking, Xylia bent down and picked it up.


    When they first got married, Xylia noticed the one Connor carried back then was all worn out. She scraped and saved for months and finally bought him a new one with her own money.


    Connor still kept that cool, detached look on his face, but he did say, ¡°This is the first gift you¡¯ve given me since we got married. I¡¯ll keep it with me forever.¡±


    But the one she was holding now wasn¡¯t the one she gave him. He had always carried that old wallet.


    Xylia opened it, and there it was¨Ca photo of Tessa and Connor. They looked younger, like it was taken years ago.


    Tessa was wrapped around him, wearing a wedding dress, grinning right at the camera like she didn¡¯t have <i>a </i>care in the world. And Connor, he actually had a soft smile on his face.


    Right across the middle, Xylia could see where the picture had been cut and pieced together. Connor had trimmed Tessa out of her own wedding photo and stuck her right next to himself.


    A wave of heaviness sat on Xylia¡¯s chest. The smile on Connor¡¯s face in that photo felt like a knife. All these years, not a single decent wedding portrait with her.


    Connor used to tell Xylia love didn¡¯t need to be shown off. Now she finally saw it for what it was. He just never thought she deserved to be standing beside him in a wedding dress. To him, only Tessa belonged there.


    In the bottom corner, Connor had written ¡°My One True Love,¡± followed by a date. It wasn¡¯t random. That was the very day he and Xylia got married, the same day Tessa left the country.


    All the scattered pieces lined up in her head. Lying in bed, Xylia let out a soundlessugh.


    To the outside world, she was the lucky one, the woman whonded the perfect husband. But the truth was, all this time, Connor¡¯s heart had belonged somewhere else.


    By dusk, Connor and Sonny still hadn¡¯te back. The weight in Xylia¡¯s chest grew heavier. The sad little marriage she had been holding together for years was already over.


    Watching thest of the sun sink down, she made a call. ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind. I¡¯lle


    home.¡±


    A year ago, she had picked up a call that changed everything. That was the moment she found


    out she wasn¡¯t an orphan after all.


    Xylia paused a moment, then added, ¡°But not until three months from now.¡±


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    Three monthster would be the anniversary of her grandmother Laurel Schultz¡¯s passing.


    Out of everyone in the Schultz family, Laurel had been the only one who treated her with kindness. Before she left this city, Xylia wanted to stand by Laurel¡¯s grave onest time.


    Three months would be long enough to get her strength back, end her marriage with Connor, and walk away.


    Meanwhile, at Mand¨¦ Manor overseas¨Cthe sprawling estate of the Sadler family, the richest family in the world¨Cone man hung up the phone.


    Impably dressed, polished down to thest detail, he stared in shock for a second before turning to his three equally striking brothers. His voice carried a rare kind of excitement. ¡°Our little sister finally said yes. She¡¯sing home.¡±


    *****


    Once Xylia¡¯s health picked up, she was discharged. Connor¡¯s eyes turned red again as he watched her lean on a crutch.


    He helped her into the Ford house, sat her down on the couch, and pulled her into his arms. ¡°It¡¯s all behind us now, Xylia. From here on out, we¡¯re a happy family.¡±


    In Xylia¡¯s head, she scoffed. ¡®Happy? After lying to me this far, you really expect me to buy that?¡®


    Sonny came running over, practically bouncing. ¡°Mom, happy discharge day.¡± Hended right on Xylia¡¯s injured hand, making her wince.


    Sonny scrambled back up, his face not showing much guilt. ¡°Sorry, Mom, you okay?¡±


    Xylia shook her head without a word. She didn¡¯t want to pick a fight, but she was done pretending, too.


    While Connor and Sonny stayed in the living room watching TV, Xylia slipped back to her


    room.


    She wanted to pack up everything that was hers¨Cor burn it if she had to. Except, once she looked around, there really wasn¡¯t much that was hers to begin with.


    Xylia gave a half¨Csmile. No surprise there. In this house, she barely left a trace, same as the ce she held in Connor and Sonny¡¯s hearts. Disposable.


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    But then, she noticed something missing. The pendant she had handed to Connor before going to prison was gone. Laurel¡¯s pendant. The only thing her grandmother had left her before she passed, and the only piece in this house worth taking with her.


    ¡°Mom, Tessa¡¯s here to see you.¡± Sonny¡¯s voice rang from the hall, snapping her out of it.


    In the living room, Tessa was already sitting there, gift box in hand, grinning wide. She looked too at case, sprawled out on the couch, chatting like she owned the ce. The whole room felt lighter with her around.


    But the moment Xylia walked in, Tessa¡¯s voice cut off. The air got thick fast.


    When Xylia stayed quiet, Tessa made a show of scooting a little away from Connor. ¡°Xylia, don¡¯t get the wrong idea, okay? Connor and I are just friends. Don¡¯t be jealous.¡±


    Connor¡¯s face flickered with impatience. ¡°Tessa came because she heard you were out of the hospital. That¡¯s all.¡±


    Xylia lowered her head, ignored them both, and sat on a stool across the room. She wasn¡¯t about to argue. Acting blind felt easier.


    ¡°Xylia, this is for you.¡± Tessa stepped closer, holding the box. ¡°I remember you used to love this style.¡± She opened it. Inside was a dance outfit¨Cexactly the kind Xylia used to adore.


    [Xylia¡¯s breath caught. Her legs would never dance again.] ¡°Ms. Schultz, I can¡¯t use it anymore.¡± Her tone stayed t.


    Tessa pped a hand over her mouth, ncing at Xylia¡¯s legs. ¡°Sorry, I forgot. My bad, Xylia. I¡¯m kind of rough, not as thoughtful as you girls. Don¡¯t be mad, okay?¡±


    Xylia gave a thin smile and finally lifted her gaze. Staring straight into the malice in Tessa¡¯s eyes, she only felt how bitterly ironic it was.


    Her voice stayed calm. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. I quit dancing a long time ago. Keep it for yourself.¡± The gift meant nothing. Same as the son and the husband she no longer wanted.


    Tessaughed and finally set the box down. That was when Xylia noticed the pendant hanging from her neck, swinging as she moved.


    Xylia¡¯s stomach dropped. Her fist clenched tight. It was Laurel¡¯s pendant.

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    Xylia¡¯s throat tightened as she locked her eyes on Tessa. Her voice was barely there. ¡°Why is that pendant on you?¡±


    Tessa froze for a second, then instinctively clutched it in her palm. ¡°Oh, this? Connor gave it to me. Why?¡±


    Her tone sounded perfectly casual, but to Xylia it cut like ss. ¡°You knew how much this pendant meant to me.¡± She turned toward Connor, her voice raw. ¡°Before I went to prison, I handed it to you myself.¡±


    Xylia had trusted Connor with it because she was terrified something would happen to it behind bars. That pendant was worth a lot, and more than that, it was irreceable. In her head, she couldn¡¯t wrap it up. ¡®He actually gave it away to Tessa?¡®


    Connor frowned, shot her a t look, and said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s just a pendant, Xylia. You used to not be this unreasonable.¡±


    Xylia felt ice crawl through her chest. She thought, ¡®Just a pendant? He knows it was Grandma¡¯s.¡¯


    Xylia remembered that winter when a snowstorm hit. The chain had snapped, and the pendant fell into the drifts. She¡¯d spent the whole night on her knees, digging through the snow till her hands split and bled.


    Connor had seen it all. And now he said, ¡°It¡¯s just a pendant.¡±


    Xylia dropped her head, her voice shaking. ¡°It¡¯s the only thing Grandma left me.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s it.¡± Tessa let out augh, grinning like she¡¯d said something clever. ¡°Don¡¯t take this the wrong way, but you¡¯re not even a real Schultz.


    ¡°Grandma was my grandma. I miss her sometimes, so of course I¡¯d want to hold on to something of hers.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s eyes went cold. ¡°Didn¡¯t you already get her inheritance? This pendant was the one thing she gave me herself.¡±


    Laurel had said, ¡°You may not be mine by blood, but you¡¯re mine by heart.¡± She had handed over the pendant as if it were a promise. The inheritance, the pendant, everything had been


    meant for her.


    And in the end, Tessa had taken the inheritance. Connor had told her not to fight, so she¡¯d walked away with just the pendant. Now Tessa had that too.


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    ¡°Come on, don¡¯t make a scene. I¡¯ll buy you another one,¡± Connor muttered, his brow furrowing tighter. His voice carried no warmth. ¡°Tessa¡¯s your sister. And Laurel was her grandma to begin with. It¡¯s just a ne. Why are you being so petty about it?¡±


    His words hollowed Xylia out. Her body shook, her voice trembling. ¡°I just want what belongs to me. How does that make me petty?¡±


    ¡°Mom, that¡¯s jealousy talking.¡± Sonny piped up, frowning. ¡°That¡¯s not cool. Whenever it¡¯s about Tessa, you¡¯re always out to get her.¡±


    And in his head, he added, ¡®Mom was always so harsh with me. But Tessa? She was the one sneaking me treats, letting me have fun. Tessa said it was about being free.


    ¡®But whenever Mom caught her taking me along, she blew up. That¡¯s jealousy. I don¡¯t get it. What¡¯s so wrong about wanting to be free?¡®


    He kept going, his little voice sharp as knives. ¡°Dad and I get it. You came out of prison hurt and insecure. But that doesn¡¯t mean you should take it out on Tessa.


    ¡°Being disabled isn¡¯t the problem. The problem is when your heart¡¯s all twisted. You should really drop the grudge and learn from Tessa what kindness looks like.¡±


    His childish words hit like des, stabbing into Xylia until she almost felt herself bleeding inside.


    She¡¯d always known Sonny liked Tessa. But watching the guys who had wrecked her life stand there on some moral high ground felt like the cruelest joke.


    She had given everything to this family for years. And in the end, it still didn¡¯t measure up to a single smile from Tessa.


    Tessa suddenly cut in, ¡°Why so serious?¡± She nced at Xylia¡¯s face and burst outughing. ¡°Rx, I was messing with you. You girls always make such a big deal out of nothing.¡±


    She slipped the pendant off her neck. ¡°Here, take it back before you start thinking I¡¯m sneaking around with Connor. Honestly, if something was going on, it would¡¯ve happened ages ago.¡±


    Connor¡¯s face shifted, just a flicker, but it was there.


    Xylia frowned hard, her eyes locked on that pendant. Just as she reached out, Tessa curled her lip into a smirk and let <i>go</i>. The pendant slipped right through her fingers, hit the floor, and shattered into pieces.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes went wide. Her hands trembled as she tried to stand, not even reaching for her


    cane.


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    The moment she put weight on her legs, pain shot straight up through her, knocking her off bnce. She pitched forward, and Tessa let herself fall sideways too, crashing down next to


    her.


    Connor and Sonny both yelled Tessa¡¯s name and rushed over to fuss over her. Not a single nce went Xylia¡¯s way.


    Connor pulled Tessa up, his voice cold as he looked down at Xylia. ¡°She already gave it back to you. Why would you shove her? You¡¯re getting more unreasonable every day.¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t even hear him. Her hands shook as she picked up the pieces one by one. No matter how she tried, the pendant wouldn¡¯t fit back together. Laurel¡¯sst gift to her was gone for good.


    Connor watched her, head bowed over the broken pieces, her blood streaking across the metal just like that winter night she searched the snow until her hands split open.


    Something flickered in his eyes. Almost pity. Connor said quietly, ¡°Xylia, just apologize to Tessa, and we¡¯ll let this go.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s shoulders shook, and suddenly sheughed. Laughed so hard tears slid down her cheeks. In her head she thought, ¡®Apologize? The one who should apologize is me?¡®


    Seven years of marriage had gone the same way. Tessa only had to stir the pot with a few words and Connor always sided with her. He had once ¡°stepped right into the mess himself¡± just to shield Tessa.


    And Xylia had been the fool, still begging for a scrap of his affection.


    Even knowing this was how it would end, her chest still felt heavy, her whole body aching like every nerve was tearing apart. When the pain ebbed, all that was left was exhaustion.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Xylia whispered. Her voice was drained, t, carrying nothing at all. ¡°I was wrong.¡±


    Something uneasy flickered across Connor¡¯s face, too quick for even him to notice. Still, his brow furrowed.


    ¡°Good. At least you admit it.¡± He steadied Xylia, leaned in close, and murmured where only she could hear, ¡°Tessa is your sister. Don¡¯t make life harder for her. She¡¯s been through enough.¡±


    Connor¡¯s voice softened. ¡°We¡¯re family. It¡¯s just a pendant. I¡¯ll have my assistant pick up another one at auction for you.¡±


    ¡°I know I was wrong.¡± Xylia¡¯s tone stayed t, unreadable. She looked Connor straight in the eye, then shoved him off, her gaze cold enough to make him flinch.


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    ¡°I was dead wrong,¡± she said. ¡°Wrong to mistake being moved for being loved. Wrong to take a cheating man for a decent husband. Wrong to marry you!¡±


    Öæ

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    <b>Chapter </b>5


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    Connor¡¯s <b>face </b>went stiff as he watched Xylia lean on the cane again, limping a few steps away from him.


    Some kind of irritation crawled up inside Connor. Ever since she got out of prison, she had only gotten more defiant. And here he was, still telling himself he wanted a decent life with her.


    ¡°Xylia, what kind of stunt are you pulling?¡± Connor¡¯s brows tightened, voice sharp and superior. ¡°It¡¯s just a pendant. You¡¯ve lost your mind.¡±


    Xylia stared back coldly. A chill spread through her chest. He had always known what that pendant meant to her, and still acted like it was nothing.


    At the end of the day, that was exactly what she was to him too¨Cnothing. But fine. She was leaving in three months anyway. What he felt, or didn¡¯t feel, didn¡¯t matter.


    ¡°Mom, could you quit being so dramatic?¡± Sonny mimicked Connor¡¯s frown. ¡°You¡¯re acting like a crazydy. You don¡¯t look like a mom at all.¡±


    That actually made Xyliaugh, sharp and bitter. She shot back, ¡°So being a mom means I can¡¯t ever lose my cool? Being a mom means I don¡¯t get to have feelings?¡±


    Sonny froze for a second, then lifted his chin. There was no warmth in his eyes, only suspicion and distance.


    ¡°If you keep this up, then you¡¯re not my mom anymore.¡± He huffed, tugging Tessa¡¯s hand like he meant it. ¡°I¡¯ll just let Tessa be my mom. She¡¯s educated; she¡¯s got ss. She¡¯s not like you, just some housewife.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s gaze hardened. Inside, she thought, ¡®If I hadn¡¯t married Connor, if I hadn¡¯t had Sonny, I would¡¯ve been finishing my doctorate by now.


    ¡®I gave that up to raise Sonny right. And now he stood there saying I wasn¡¯t fit to be a mother just because I didn¡¯t keep studying?¡®


    It all felt like one big sick joke. The son she carried for ten months, the son she gave her whole self to, had turned out just like Connor¨Ccold and cruel. A bitter smile curved Xylia¡¯s lips. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m not fit to be your mom.¡±


    Connor¡¯s face darkened. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±


    A flicker of struggle passed through Xylia¡¯s eyes, but she still spoke evenly to Sonny. ¡°I won¡¯t be your mom anymore. You can pick whoever you want.¡±


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    She gave him onest look, her voice quiet. ¡°Just don¡¯t regret it. And take care of yourself. Your health isn¡¯t great, so don¡¯t run yourself down-¡±


    ¡°I never wanted you as my mom anyway,¡± Sonny snapped, his face flushed red with rage. ¡°If I got to choose, I¡¯d pick Tessa every time!¡±


    He snatched a Lego model off the shelf and smashed it on the floor. Pieces scattered everywhere. ¡°Nobody needs you. You nag like some olddy. You said you¡¯re not my mom, so don¡¯t act like you can boss me around!¡±


    The broken Legoy in a mess across the floor. Xylia¡¯s chest ached as she looked at it. That had been Sonny¡¯s birthday gift, something they had built together, piece by piece.


    Xylia shut her mouth, quick and firm. If he didn¡¯t want her, then she had nothing left to say. He wanted Tessa as his mom? Fine. She would let him have her.


    Tessa covered her mouth. ¡°This is all my fault. I¡¯m so sorry, Xylia. If I¡¯d known how much you resented me, I never would¡¯ve stayed here.¡±


    Connor¡¯s patience snapped. His expression turned icy as he grabbed Xylia¡¯s wrist, squeezing until it hurt. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s smile twisted with mockery. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me? My biggest mistake was marrying you. Connor, I want a divorce.¡± Her voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it carried, clear enough to hit every corner of the living room.


    For his so¨Ccalled true love, Connor had ruined her. Now she was done. She would give him and Sonny their freedom.


    Connor¡¯s brow tightened even more. A sharpugh slipped from him. ¡°You¡¯ve lost your damn mind in prison, haven¡¯t you?¡± His tone was cold, his grip on her wrist unrelenting as he red down at her. His eyes were edged with ice.


    Connor had always been distant, but in all their years together, Xylia had never seen him this furious.


    ¡°Xylia, you think you can make it without me?¡± His tone was sharp enough to chill her. ¡°I¡¯ll shut down every one of your cards until you admit you were wrong.¡±


    Xylia almost found it funny. She opened her mouth, ready to tell him she was leaving in three months, but before she could, Tessa let out a little cry of pain.


    Connor instantly dropped Xylia¡¯s wrist and hurried toward Tessa. The force of it nearly knocked Xylia off her feet, and she had to grab the couch to steady herself.


    When she lifted her head, she saw Tessa leaning against Connor, her voice weak. ¡°Connor, my


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    leg hurts so bad. What if I can¡¯t dance anymore?¡±


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    The worry in Connor¡¯s eyes stung Xylia more than the grip on her wrist ever had. She let out a soft sigh, lips curling into a bitter smile.


    Maybe that was just how it was meant to be. She would slip out of this house without a sound, not even given the chance for a proper goodbye.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have someone draft the divorce papers. Connor, meet me at city hall to sign them.¡± Xylia¡¯s voice was t, and she didn¡¯t look at them once.


    Leaning on her crutch, she walked out, her figure small and unsteady. A flicker of emotion passed in Connor¡¯s eyes, but he shoved it back down just as quickly.


    ¡°Oh boy, what a mess,¡± said Tessa, eyes glinting for just a second before she covered it with a sweet smile. ¡°Honestly, women can be so dramatic. Everyone knows you and I are just friends. I mean, I¡¯m married already.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you go smooth things over with her? She shoved me, but I¡¯ll live. I¡¯m not half as fragile as she is.¡±


    Connor felt that restless irritation rising again. He dropped his gaze, his toneced with impatience. ¡°No need. Let her throw her fit. She¡¯s got nowhere to go in Jupiton; she won¡¯t make much trouble. You, on the other hand¨Cyour legs are worth protecting.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t the first time Xylia had been angry over Tessa. Usually, a gift or two smoothed things out. She had no real family in Jupiton, and now, with her body failing her, she had nowhere to


    turn.


    This was just her way of pushing for a little more care from him. After all, he was the one who had set her up. The least he could do was try to make it up.


    Sonny came over and wrapped an arm around Tessa. ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s just how she is. Dad and I spoiled her. She¡¯ll calm down in a few days ande back.¡±


    He nced at the broken Lego pieces scattered on the floor and felt a pang in his chest. Then he told himself, ¡®She loves me and Dad too much to really walk away. She must be saying all that out of anger again!


    When Xylia stepped out of the Fords¡® house, it hit her¨Cshe hadn¡¯t brought a thing, not even cash. Connor was right. If he froze her cards, she was stranded. In Jupiton, she really had nowhere to go.


    Xylia stood by the curb, leaning on her crutch, her mind drifting, when a smooth male voice came from behind her. ¡°Xylia.¡±


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    Her heart skipped. She turned.


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    A man leaned against his car door, the ck paint making his tanned skin stand out even more. His silver hair, slicked back but with a few strands falling over his forehead, caught the light. His eyes had that pull, that dangerous kind of charm.


    He looked effortlessly refined, lips curving into the hint of a smile. His gaze dropped briefly to Xylia¡¯s injured leg, pausing just a moment before he asked, almost casually, ¡°Need a ride?¡±


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    Xylia¡¯s hand tightened on the cane before she even noticed. She looked the man over for a while, then finally pulled out a smile. ¡°Joshua?¡±


    The face in front of her ovepped with the memory of that bloody, hostile kid who once held a knife on her.


    Compared to back then, Joshua Garcia seemed calmer now, softer even. But he carried himself with that air of someone used to being in charge.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d still remember me.¡± Joshua paused, a soft little smile flickering in his eyes, the corners of his eyes curving with it.


    And in his head, he added with a touch of warmth, ¡®Been a long time, Xylia.¡¯


    Xylia hadn¡¯t expected this at all. Before she got married, she had spent some time abroad studying medicine. That was when she ran into Joshua, who had been shot. Because they were both from Daton, she¡¯d saved him.


    Xylia hadn¡¯t expected that the first thing he did when he woke up was press a knife to her throat.


    Joshua had that ridiculously handsome face, but he was cold, angry, and dangerous. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a little pity for him, like he was some messed¨Cup younger brother.


    But once Tessa came back and things changed, that pity got tossed aside. Soon after, Xylia rushed home, and not long after that she got married.


    She still remembered Joshua sending her an email, wishing her well on the wedding. Xylia never thought the next time they met, he¡¯d be standing there calm and refined, like apletely different man.


    ¡°Get in?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice came low and smooth. Even though he phrased it like a question, there was something in it that didn¡¯t sound like Xylia could say no.


    Only then did Xylia notice the car. A Rolls¨CRoyce. She froze for a second, then lowered her head and got in.


    When she¡¯d met Joshua overseas, he had been just a broke student, wandering the streets with eyes like a stray dog. She had taken him in out of sympathy. Now it felt like the roles had flipped.


    Xylia settled into the back seat, let out a quickugh, and teased, ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve been doing pretty well. What, struck it rich?¡±


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    Joshua¡¯s eyes flickered. Then he chuckled and said, ¡°Rented.¡±


    That caught Xylia off guard.


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    ¡°I¡¯m here in Jupiton for some clients,¡± Joshua exined lightly. ¡°Of course I had to rent the car and the watch. Got to look the part.¡± He said it so naturally that there wasn¡¯t a hint of embarrassment in his tone.


    Xylia almostughed. Sitting back there, she studied Joshua. The suit, the watch, all fit perfectly. Sure, the things were rented, but the way he carried himself screamed money and ss. He pulled it off well.


    She was still sizing him up when their eyes locked in the rearview mirror. Xylia¡¯s chest tightened, and she quickly dropped her gaze to avoid his.


    Joshua¡¯s voice drifted over, casual but gentle. ¡°And you, Xylia¡­ those injuries.¡± His eyes brushed past the marks on Xylia¡¯s body,nding on her pale face. ¡°Do they hurt?¡±


    ¡°Just slipped,¡± Xylia murmured with a faint, bitter smile. She probably looked awful right now. But she and Joshua weren¡¯t close. There was no need to open up.


    The car was warm, the heater humming. After a while, with nothing more to say, Xylia drifted off to sleep. Joshua nced at her. Even asleep, her brows were drawn tight, though it didn¡¯t take away from that striking face.


    He thought of the things he had dug up about her, and the anger simmered in his chest. His eyes narrowed, shadows crossing his face.


    After a long pause, Joshua¡¯s expression softened again. A quiet smile tugged at his lips, and his voice dropped to a whisper, like he was afraid to wake Xylia. ¡°Xylia, if he can¡¯t take care of you¡­ then don¡¯t me me for stepping in.¡±


    The car rolled to a stop in front of an apartment building. When Xylia woke up, she blinked a couple of times and frowned. ¡°Where is this?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s voice was smooth, almost too casual, like he was tempting her into it. ¡°Not sure where you wanted to go. But I figured you probably need a ce to stay.


    ¡°My buddy¡¯s been trying to rent this one out forever. So, want to check it out?¡±


    The ce had everything¨Cfurniture, good lighting, even looked freshly cleaned. Xylia hesitated, standing in the doorway without moving. A ce like this was way out of her reach.


    It felt almost pathetic. She had worked herself sick for the Fords. She had run around putting out fires for theirpany, even handled clients face to face.


    And every dime ended up in Connor¡¯s pocket. Even her credit card wasn¡¯t hers¨Cit was the


    extra one off his ount. If he felt like it, he could just freeze it.


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    And Connor had no problem wiring money to Tessa whenever she asked, all under the excuse of ¡°helping family.¡±


    A bitter smile tugged at Xylia¡¯s lips. She shook her head. ¡°Thanks, but I¡ª¡±


    Joshua cut her off before she could finish. He spoke slowly, like he already knew what she was worried about. ¡°If it¡¯s the rent, don¡¯t stress. Stay a few days first. We can figure out the restter.¡±


    His tone was gentle, but something in it carried weight, as if he wasn¡¯t asking.


    Xylia was still caught in her own hesitation when Joshua handed her the keys. ¡°It¡¯s cheap,¡± he added, tossing out a number.


    Xylia stared at him, surprised. That price was basically a giveaway. Gratitude warmed her chest, and she managed a small smile. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Joshua¡¯s expression softened, and then he said, almost offhand, ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve got a friend in Jupiton. He¡¯s a pretty well¨Cknown divorcewyer. Thought you might need that, so¡­ want my number?¡± His voice came out unexpectedly gentle.


    The words hit harder than Xylia expected. Joshua had seen her bruises. He knew. Her throat tightened, her voice shook as she whispered, ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Truth was, if she could make the divorce happen cleanly, she¡¯d take it in a heartbeat. So she didn¡¯t turn him down.


    After getting married, Xylia had changed her phone and number, and they¡¯d lost contact. Now, she typed her new number into Joshua¡¯s phone.


    ¡°Sure thing.¡± Joshua nced at her, then added in a tone that lingered just a little too long, ¡°Xylia, I hope you get your freedom back soon.¡± After that, he stepped out and closed the door behind him.


    Xylia watched his back as he left, and a strange feeling stirred in her chest. Something about him seemed too eager. But it didn¡¯t make sense. He didn¡¯t know Connor. He was just some guy. There was no connection there,


    Xylia let it go. Turning to face the apartment, her eyes sharpened with a new kind of resolve. No matter what, this marriage was over,


    Outside, the door clicked shut, and the smile vanished from Joshua¡¯s face. What reced it was darker, heavier.


    His silver hair slipped across his forehead, sharpening the curve of his jaw. He toyed with the


    ¡­


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    ring on his finger, voice curling with something low and dangerous. ¡°Xylia, this time, I¡¯m not letting you walk away.¡±


    And in Joshua¡¯s head, the thought was sharper, colder. ¡®If it hadn¡¯t been for that ident<i>, </i>you would¡¯ve been mine already. As for Connor¡­ he¡¯ll pay for what he¡¯s done.

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    The light in the apartment grew dimmer and dimmer. Xylia turned on themp, savoring the rare moment of quiet.


    Back at the Ford family, noise was a constant. Sonny would fuss and yell every time Xylia asked him to do homework. Connor assumed she had it easy by just staying home with the kid. He had no idea she couldn¡¯t even steal a moment of peace.


    Xylia listened to the ticking of the clock on the wall. A wave of emotions welled up inside her. She just wanted to cry. Suddenly, a shrill ringtone shattered the silence.


    She picked up the phone and saw Connor¡¯s name on the screen. Without hesitation, she ended the call. But Connor kept calling, relentless. The incessant ringing throbbed in her temples until she finally gave in.


    Conner¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°Xylia, why aren¡¯t you home at this hour? Where have you been?¡± Though his words carried a carefully measured calmness, she could still detect the anger simmering beneath the surface.


    Xylia let out a bitterugh. ¡°Typical,¡® she thought sarcastically. This was their endless cycle. He would freeze her out for days, then reappear as if nothing had happened, all their problems neatly swept under the rug like yesterday¡¯s dust.


    ¡°Connor, we¡¯re getting a divorce. Did you forget?¡± Her voice was t, a little cold.


    Connor¡¯s face darkened in an instant. His knuckles nched as his grip tightened around the phone. ¡°Xylia, what¡¯s the goddamn point of this childish tantrum?¡±


    ¡°Childish tantrum?¡± Xylia scoffed, her voice icy. ¡°How many times do I have to say it? I want a divorce. Make sure you meet me at the courthouse to file the papers.¡±


    From the other end, Sonny¡¯s sweet voice piped up, ¡°Daddy, why do you keep babying her? Mommy¡¯s just being mean. The nicer you¡¯re, the meaner she gets. Maybe she shouldn¡¯te home at all.¡± His voice took on a sudden, startling venom. ¡°I don¡¯t want her anyway.¡±


    These words stabbed like an ice pick to Xylia¡¯s heart. She lowered her eyes, her fingers curling slightly. ¡°I¡¯m noting back. I¡¯ll draw up the divorce papers in the next few days.¡±


    Ending the call, Xylia didn¡¯t allow herself think too much. She copsed onto the bed like a marite with cut strings, and let the heavy curtain of sleep drag her under.


    Connor¡¯s frown hardened on the other end of the line. Without warning, he mmed the phone against the wall, sending it crashing to the ground in pieces.


    Xylia had always been so obedient to him. Even when she threw those asional little fits, a


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    few words would calm her down. ¡®But now she¡¯s staying out all night. She¡¯s really gotten bold, he thought angrily.


    He slumped onto the couch and exhaled heavily. ¡®I spoiled her <i>too </i>much, didn¡¯t I? Let¡¯s see how she manages in Jupiton, broke and alone.¡® Yet even as he thought it, he felt an odd hollowness in his chest.


    Sonny watched his father¡¯s outburst. After a while, he spoke up slowly, ¡°Dad, is she really noting back?¡± Sonny knew Xylia loved him too much to really leave. But that cold voice on the phone left him unsettled.


    Connor ruffled Sonny¡¯s hair. After a moment, a cold smile tugged at his lips. ¡°No, she won¡¯t. She can¡¯t leave us, and she can¡¯t leave Jupiton.¡± But as the words left his mouth, a knot of unease tightened in his gut.


    The house had no trace of Xylia. During her three months in jail, the space had never felt this hollow. Now, barely a day gone, the emptiness already gnawed at him. ¡®I must be fucking insane,¡® he frowned.


    <b>***** </b>


    Early the next morning, a sharp knock jerked Xylia awake. She stumbled to the door, still blinking sleep from her eyes, her hair a tangled mess. When she yanked it open, Joshua stood there, his trademark charming grin already in ce.


    Joshua¡¯s lips curved into a smirk. Without waiting for an invitation, he shouldered past her through the half¨Copened door. Xylia stood frozen, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Joshua heaved the two oversized bags onto the table with a thud, his grin widening at her startled expression. ¡°Just being neighborly,¡± he said, tapping one of the bags. ¡°Housewarming gifts.¡±


    Noticing her confused face<i>, </i>he continued to exin, unloading the bags into her refrigerator. ¡°That Jupiton client is a nightmare. Had to rent my buddy¡¯s ce. Just next door.¡±


    A strange feeling rose in Xylia¡¯s chest. She frowned, holding back her words. As she watched Joshua sort things out so deftly, Xylia felt a pang of bitterness.


    Back at the Ford family, Connor would never lift a finger. She remembered she asked him to help, only for his expression to frost over instantly. ¡®He¡¯s perfectly capable. He just thinks this is my work, Xylia thought.


    Joshua went into the kitchen and started bustling about. Xylia stared at his back, spacing out. His broad shoulders tapered to a narrow waist, the apron strings emphasizing his lean frame. He moved with model¨Clike grace, yet had that natural elegance of someone born wealthy.


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    Connor would never cook, wouldn¡¯t even step into the kitchen. He said, ¡°A gentleman keeps away from the kitchen.¡± Butter, she saw him cook pasta for Tessa with her own eyes.


    Xylia caught herself thinking of Connor again and let out a bitterugh. ¡®All those years of marriage. Her musings were interrupted as Joshua slid a te of pasta before her. She looked up at him, met by those perpetually charming eyes.


    His lips curved in a yful smirk. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind? Come, taste this.¡± His loose hair framed eyes that sparkled like crushed starlight,pleting the image of a charming rogue who knew his own appeal.


    Xylia¡¯s heart lurched. She ducked her head and shoved a forkful of pasta into her mouth, only to grimace as boiling heat seared her tongue. She forced down the scalding bite. Tears sprang to her eyes instantly, streaking down her face.


    For years, she had pleaded for just one te of pasta made by Connor¡¯s own hands, and for any sign he truly saw her as his wife. But between Connor¡¯s indifference and Sonny¡¯s icy disregard, neither had ever bothered to ask what she might need.


    Xylia lifted her face, tears still glistening on hershes, and forced a wobbly smile. ¡°It¡¯s really good. Thank you.¡± Her voice made the gratitude sound fragile, like porcin about to crack.


    The smile in Joshua¡¯s eyes faded. His frown carved sharp lines between his brows. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± Without that ever¨Cpresent smile, he radiated an intimidating presence.


    They weren¡¯t close enough to share their scars. Xylia dropped her gaze with a slight shake of her head. That little bit of friendship they had abroad years ago had probably worn away with time. Joshua had already done more than enough by helping her this much.


    He respected her silence and didn¡¯t push further. After she finished eating, he washed the dishes and left.


    Just then, a call came in. It was from her father, Yves Schultz. As soon as she answered, an authoritarian voice came through. ¡°Xylia, why did it take you so long to answer? Since when does my daughter keep me waiting?¡±


    Xylia frowned, a trace of sarcasm spreading in her heart. ¡°I didn¡¯t see it just now. What¡¯s the


    matter?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my birthday the day after tomorrow,¡± Yves said. ¡°You bring Connor and Sonny over.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s brows furrowed deeper, irritation rising in her. ¡°It¡¯s not convenient for them, and Sonny has school.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s inconvenient about it? It¡¯s my birthday. Can¡¯t my son¨Cinw even make time for that?¡± He hung up abruptly, not letting her argue.


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    As the line went dead, Xylia froze for a long while. Yves never liked her. Since Tessa¡¯s return, his disdain had only grown sharper. He truly believed she didn¡¯t deserve Connor¨Conly his real daughter did. Yet he still had to cling to the Fords through her.


    After hesitating for a long time, Xylia finally called Connor. The phone rang only twice before being answered. Connor¡¯s voice was a bit cold, ¡°What do you want now?¡±


    Xylia flinched at his icy tone, then said, ¡°My dad¡¯s birthday banquet is the day after tomorrow. Will you bring Sonny over?¡±


    Connor frowned, a flicker of something crossing his eyes. ¡®She finally cracked and called me. Still so childish, throwing a tantrum just to keep me. If she just acts right, I might let it slide. But that tone is really annoying!¡¯


    ¡°Since you want a divorce, there¡¯s no need for me to act as your husband anymore,¡± Connor said coldly. ¡°Is this your way of making up?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not making up,¡± Xylia took a deep breath, holding back her temper. ¡°My dad wants to see Sonny.¡±


    A bitter sneer curled inside her. ¡®Before prison, he yed the dutiful husband. Now, the mask is off.¡®


    Connor¡¯s brows tightened, coldness flickering in his eyes but a restless heat spreading in his chest. ¡®She only called about Sonny?¡® For some reason, he grew more irritable. ¡®Same old games. This is just another excuse. She can¡¯t stand being without me!


    ¡°Your excuse is really poor,¡± Connor¡¯s voice was low, a trace of impatience crossing his face. ¡°Where did you learn these shabby tricks?¡± He stabbed at her heart, word by word.


    Xylia no longer felt pain. She only felt numb. She took another deep breath, swallowing the sarcastic words in her mouth. ¡®Anyway, I¡¯m leaving in three months. I¡¯ll never have to see him again!¡¯


    On the other end, Sonny snatched the phone, ¡°You damn cripple! Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯re not my mom anymore? Why are you calling?¡±


    Those three words pierced like shards of ss. Xylia let out a bitterugh. ¡°Ten months of my life for this. She just realized they had turned her son into a spoiled monster.


    ¡°Your grandpa¡¯s birthday banquet is the day after tomorrow. He wants to see you,¡± Xylia¡¯s bright face now wore a touch of frost.


    Her cold voice cut through the phone, echoing sharply in the Ford family¡¯s living room. ¡°I


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    said I won¡¯t be your mom, and I won¡¯t go back on it.¡±


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    A weighted silence followed her words. Then it was shattered by a woman¡¯sugh, bright and careless. ¡°Why so serious? Connor, look at my dress! Am I prettier than your wife?¡±


    Xylia recognized that voice instantly. A bitter feeling rose in her heart as Tessa¡¯sugh oozed through the speaker, ¡°Xylia, don¡¯t be mad. I know I¡¯m around a lot, but it¡¯s strictly bro¨Ccode between Connor and me. Since you¡¯re not here, I have to help Connor take care of the family, right?¡±


    That mistress¨Clike tone drew a derisive snort from Xylia. ¡®Barely gone a day and Tessa¡¯s already nesting in my house¡®.


    But she didn¡¯t bother to care anymore. She was done wasting time on Connor and Sonny. Lowering her eyes, she ended the call without another word.


    *****


    Listening to the abrupt silence, Connor suddenly felt a hollow in his chest. He frowned tightly, almost reflexively reaching to call back, but Tessa seized his hand.


    ¡°I know how to handle women. The colder she acts, the less you reward it. Otherwise, she¡¯ll walk all over youter.¡± Tessa grinned. ¡°Trust me, I know her type. Starve a stray long enough, and it¡¯ll eat from your palm forever.¡±


    Connor nodded and put his phone away. ¡®Tessa is right. I¡¯ve been too soft on Xylia. Now she has the nerve to talk divorce? Does she really think she can make it without me? Fine. Let her stew. A taste of reality might do her good.¡®


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    After the unpleasant conversation, Xylia felt drained, her leg and hand injuries throbbing faintly. She sat on the sofa, scrolling through her phone. When she came across a painting exhibition, a sudden thought sparked in her.


    Before dance imed her heart, painting had been her first love. Though her leg might never fully heal, her hands still remembered the weight of a brush.


    A rare smile broke through Xylia¡¯s icy expression, her eyes alight with possibility, Pain had carved a new path for her. This wasn¡¯t an ending, but a different beginning.


    *****


    The next day, Joshua knocked on Xylia¡¯s door again. That smile still yed on his lips as he slowly carried things inside. ¡°Checking in on the patient,¡± he said, voicezy but firm.


    Xylia stared at the table full of food, her throat tightening. She tucked a loose strand of hair


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    behind her ear, eyes downcast. ¡°I don¡¯t even know how to thank you.¡±


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    Guilt prickled at her. Joshua was just scraping by himself, even his car and watch were rentals. Yet he had helped her again and again.


    A hint of coldness flickered across Joshua¡¯s face, but it quickly melted into a smile. ¡°In that case, will you apany me to a banquet?¡± Xylia froze for a moment, ncing awkwardly at her hand and leg.


    Joshua¡¯s eyes softened with tenderness as he spoke slowly, ¡°When you¡¯re better. When your leg and hand are almost healed.¡±


    Xylia hesitated, remembering how she had once begged Connor to take her to those glittering business parties.


    His refusal still stung. ¡°Those people are too rich, too powerful. You would only feel small. Besides, I can¡¯t stand the thought of others seeing you. I want you all to myself.¡±


    ¡®All that crap about wanting me all to himself,¡® Xylia now finally understood. ¡®Turns out it just meant I wasn¡¯t fit to be seen.¡¯


    Seeing her still hesitating, Joshua suddenly leaned closer, his smile not reaching his eyes, his tone carrying a faint pressure. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to thank me, Ms. Schultz?¡± His voice rose slightly at the end, still soft and gentle.


    In those charming eyes, Xylia caught a glint of mischief. Truth was, she wanted to go. It had been years since she wore a nice dress. So she nodded, ¡°I promise. If I¡¯m much better by then, I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    Joshua finally sat back in his chair, his gaze burning a fleeting moment. ¡®Sister, whatever he couldn¡¯t give you, I will.¡® Xylia missed the quiet determination in his eyes.


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    On the day of Yves¡¯s birthday, Xylia didn¡¯t receive a call from Connor or Sonny. When she tried calling them, the line disconnected immediately.


    She stood frozen for a long moment. With no other options, she grabbed the gift and hailed a cab to the Schultz residence.


    The moment Xylia entered the house, Gia Schultz¡¯s voice dripped with sarcasm. ¡°Our precious daughter finally blesses us with a visit! Your father and I aren¡¯t important enough for you now? Or is this grand entrance of yours carefully timed?¡±


    Seeing the injuries on Xylia¡¯s hands and feet, Gia¡¯s expression turned slightly uneasy. ¡°Tessa told me your injuries are almost healed. Who are you putting on this act for?¡±


    Xylia pressed her lips tight, a dull ache spreading in her chest. Gia had once been kind to her, but everything changed the day Tessa came home. Gia resented her for stealing Tessa¡¯s happy life, yet was forced to keep her around for the sake of the family¡¯s reputation.


    Life in the Schultz family had be a constant struggle for Xylia¨Cuntil Connor saved her. Back then, she thought it was her salvation. But it turned out to be an even fiercer hell.


    ¡°But the damage is permanent. I can never hold a scalpel again. I can never dance again.¡± Xylia¡¯s voice trembled as she stared straight into Gia¡¯s eyes, her gaze sharp with usation.


    A flicker of guilt shed across Gia¡¯s face, but she snapped back, ¡°You were never half the dancer Tessa was. Our family only need one star performer.¡±


    Seeing Gia¡¯s uneasy look, Xylia¡¯s heart grew cold. ¡®How much do they know about me taking the me for Tessa?¡® she wondered. ¡®How much are they involved?¡® She bit her lip and stayed silent, her face pale and fragile.


    ¡°What, cat got your tongue?¡± Gia snapped, her temper ring. ¡°After all these years I raised you, this is how you repay me? With silence?¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Yves¡¯s authoritative voice cut through the air as he descended the stairs, his brow furrowed. ¡°What¡¯s all this shouting? Have you forgotten how to behave?¡±


    He sank into the sofa and nced up at Xylia. Seeing she was alone, his expression darkened. ¡°Connor and Sonny didn¡¯te with you?¡±


    His sudden change in demeanor was painfully obvious. Xylia felt a bitter smirk twist her lips. ¡°Something came upst minute. They won¡¯t being.¡±


    Yves¡¯s eyes shed with impatience as he looked Xylia up and down. ¡°What good are you?¡± he sneered. ¡°Can¡¯t even keep your husband by your side. Years of marriage, and what have we


    11:44 Wed, <b>Sep </b>10


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    gained? Nothing.¡±


    ¡°After all, we wasted our years raising an ungrateful wretch,¡± Gia sneered, her voice thick with


    contempt.


    They took turns tearing into her, stripping away her worth. Xylia sat on the sofa, head bowed, listening silently, but her fingers curled into tight fists.


    ¡®How pathetic, Xylia thought. ¡®All this time craving their love. But to them, I¡¯ve always been just a disposable pawn.¡¯


    ¡°Mom, Dad, I¡¯m home!¡± A bright, bubbly voice chimed through the house. Xylia turned to see Tessa fluttering over like a butterfly,unching herself into Gia¡¯s waiting arms.


    Gia¡¯s face brightened instantly. Gently smoothing Tessa¡¯s hair, she said softly, ¡°There¡¯s my sweetheart! Did you miss me? What took you so long today?¡±


    Watching them share this loving moment, Xylia felt a sharp pain in her chest. Gia used to talk to her that way too. But after Tessa returned, everything was different. Xylia didn¡¯t understand what she had done wrong, but she kept trying to make them happy.


    There was a time when she had sold nearly all her jewelry just to buy Gia a beautiful jade set. All she got back was a icyment, ¡°No gift you give could ever make you equal to Tessa.¡± Then Gia smashed the jade pieces. Now, Xylia just felt numb.


    ¡°I brought guests,¡± Tessa giggled, gesturing toward the door as Sonny and Connor walked in.


    Sonny cheerfully threw his arms around Yves, ¡°Grandpa, happy birthday!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my boy,¡± Yves¡¯s earlier scowl melted into a beaming smile. He drew Sonny into a tight embrace, his eyes shining as he inspected his grandson.


    Xylia sat on the sofa, as if separated from them by an invisible wall. They looked like a happy family with her son and her husband, while she felt like an outsider.


    Numbness washed over her again. She had thought Connor wouldn¡¯te at all, but it turned out he just didn¡¯t want toe with her.


    Sonny proudly produced his gift, beaming as he handed it to Yves. ¡°We got this for you! Tessa helped me choose it.¡±


    Yves¡¯s earlier sternness vanished as he broke into a toothy grin. Ruffling Sonny¡¯s hair, he chuckled, ¡°What a charmer you are. Thank goodness you didn¡¯t take after your mother.¡±


    Sonny lifted his chin proudly. ¡°Mom¡¯s dumb. I¡¯m d I didn¡¯t get that from her. I got my brains from Dad.¡± He paused, then added with sudden seriousness, ¡°And Tessa helped too.¡±


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    Day after day, Tessa trained him to aggressively defend his interests. Now in kindergarten, he would attack at the slightest provocation¨Cshoving ssmates, snatching toys. Soon the other children gave him a wide berth.


    Tessa stuck out her tongue at Xylia with a mocking grin. ¡°Kids speak without filters. So amusing. Xylia, you¡¯re not offended, right?¡±


    Xylia let out a sarcasticugh, ¡°Not at all. I really am stupid.¡± She had been stupid enough to trust those two liars, stupid enough to buy into their carefully constructed hypocrisy.


    Gia¡¯s expression turned stern, her impatience showing. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat.¡± She tapped Tessa¡¯s nose affectionately. ¡°I made your favorite dish.¡± Then she threw Xylia a dismissive nce. ¡°You cane too,¡± she added, like tossing scraps to a dog.


    Xylia¡¯s expression went nk. She had once tried to maintain some semnce of peace with the Schultzes, but after this treatment, she saw no reason to hold back. Before leaving, she would sever all ties with them permanently.


    Connor noticed the Schultzes¡® distant demeanor. His gaze flicked to Xylia, eyebrows drawing tighter together. Xylia met his look with empty eyes, showing neither joy nor sorrow.


    Meeting her cold stare, Connor¡¯s chest went hollow, his frown deepening. ¡®What¡¯s she still holding onto? Doesn¡¯t she know she should be begging me? One soft word, just one, and I might¡¯ve forgiven her.¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯re too willful,¡± Connor said, his expression turning icy. He closed the distance between them in two strides and extended his hand. ¡°Your stubbornness is exactly why your parents are never pleased with you.¡±


    Xylia looked up sharply, a hint of mockery in her eyes. ¡°You really think that¡¯s it?¡±


    For years, he had watched the Schultzes treat her like an outsider. He knew every hurt she had suffered, yet he never <i>stood </i>up for her, and just kept telling her to bear with it.


    ¡®Maybe he never truly cares. He only brings me back here to get closer to Tessa, Xylia thought.


    She roughly pped his hand away and limped toward the dining room. ¡°Save your fake concern. Why don¡¯t you go fuss over your precious Tessa instead?¡±


    At the dinner table, the Schultzes clustered around Tessa,ughter and chatter flowing. Suddenly, a sharp voice interrupted, ¡°How thoughtful of you all to start without me.¡±

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    Xylia nced up. It was Ziggy Schultz, the eldest son of the Schultz family. Dressed in ck, he took a seat with natural case, sharp eyes glinting, a faint smile on his lips. His gaze flicked to Xylia, then he frowned. ¡°Why is she here?¡±


    Xylia pressed her lips together and stayed silent. She had known since childhood that Ziggy had never liked her.


    Meanwhile, Tessa naturally grabbed his arm and said, ¡°It¡¯s Dad¡¯s birthday<i>. </i>Of course she should be here. Ziggy, I was starving, so I started eating first. You¡¯re not mad at me, right?¡±


    The usually stern Ziggy let out augh and gently flicked Tessa¡¯s nose. Watching the siblings¡® easy affection, Xylia felt a pang in her chest. She had once admired him so much.


    From a young age, he showed great promise, founding his ownpany and single¨Chandedly lifting the Schultz family to sess. Yet no matter how hard she tried, he remained cold toward her.


    She had assumed he was just distant by nature. But after Tessa returned, he became so openly affectionate with his real sister. Xylia let out a bitterugh. ¡®Of course. Blood runs thicker than


    water.¡¯


    Nearby, Gia smiled as she added food to Tessa¡¯s te. ¡°How¡¯s your dancepetition prep going?¡± she asked gently. ¡°Feeling confident?¡±


    The mention of dancing pricked at Xylia¡¯s heart like a hidden thorn. Thatpetition, the very one Tessa was preparing for, had once been her own childhood dream. Only now, her dancing days were over.


    Tessa¡¯sughter tinkled as she cast a sidelong nce at Xylia. ¡°Almost ready,¡± she said breezily, ¡°just a few tricky parts left.¡±


    With deliberate sweetness, she ced a serving of fish on Xylia¡¯s te. ¡°Xylia, could you give me some advice? Even if you can¡¯t dance anymore, you know all the techniques by heart.¡±


    Xylia stared at the fish on her te, then dumped it into the trash without blinking. ¡°I¡¯m allergic to fish,¡± she said coldly. ¡°I can¡¯t eat this.¡± They all knew it. They just didn¡¯t care enough to remember.


    As a child, Xylia had once eaten fish by ident. Her throat swelled within minutes. The fever that followed burned so high she needed twenty¨Cfour hours of IV fluids. She still remembered Gia clutching her through the hospital night, tears soaking into her hair.


    Yet the next meal was fish again. Gia imed exposure would build immunity. Later, Tessa returned to the Schultz family. She loved fish, so every dinner became fish¨Ccentric. Not a


    :


    single meal since had ever considered Xylia¡¯s needs.


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    Yves lost his temper. His fist crashed onto the table. ¡°After all these years raising you,¡± he snarled, ¡°have you forgotten every bit of decency we taught? If you can¡¯t eat it, leave it be. Save your theatrics.¡±


    Xylia opened her mouth to defend herself, but didn¡¯t know what to say. They had spent years treating her like air, dismissing her needs and silencing her thoughts. Now that she had a mind of her own, their outrage, of course, erupted like a sudden storm.


    ¡®Forget it,¡® Xylia thought. ¡®Just three more months and I¡¯ll be home. Whatever the Sadler family is like, they¡¯re my real family bound by blood.¡¯


    ¡°Xylia didn¡¯t mean it,¡± Tessaughed, filling Xylia¡¯s ss with milk. ¡°Maybe she¡¯s just upset because I¡¯mpeting while she can¡¯t dance anymore.¡±


    Her small white teeth shed, eyes glinting with yful provocation. ¡°You¡¯re not mad at me, are you, Xylia?¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t drink milk either. She felt a surge of irony in her heart, ¡°How could I be? When I first started dancing, I won an award in thispetition.¡±


    ¡®If I hadn¡¯t given up my dance career for family, if my legs hadn¡¯t been crippled, Tessa would still be just another nobody in the audience,¡® she thought.


    Gia gave a dismissive sniff. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense. How could she everpare to you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Tessa is the best dancer,¡± Sonny chimed in cheerfully. ¡°My mom is just a housewife. I¡¯ve never even seen her dance.¡± Blinking his eyes, he asked Yves, ¡°Grandpa, was Mom actually good back then?¡±


    ¡°It was just a stroke of luck when she was young. If we¡¯re being honest, she can¡¯t hold a candle to Tessa now,¡± Yves said, patting Sonny¡¯s head.


    Xylia¡¯s hands clenched until her nails bit into her palms. Back then, she had danced through bloody toes and worn¨Cout shoes. They had seen it all, yet they attributed her hard¨Cearned sess to pure luck.


    Her gaze lifted, icy with realization. ¡°If I had been lucky,¡± she said slowly, ¡°my legs wouldn¡¯t have been ruined.¡± Then she suddenlyughed, her tone light, as she turned to Connor, ¡°Don¡¯t you agree, Connor?¡±


    Connor¡¯s eyes flickered with difort. His lips thinned into a tight line, face hardening like stone. ¡°You¡¯re overreacting, Xylia,¡± he said, voice edged with disapproval. ¡°Tessa just wanted your advice. None of us expected what happened to you.¡±


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    Xylia stared at his hypocritical face, a bitterugh rising in her throat. The whole family was nothing but a den of vipers, every second in this house turning her stomach. Shoving her chair back, she stood abruptly. ¡°I¡¯ve lost my appetite.¡±


    Gia¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°How dare you!¡± she exploded, mming her palms on the table. ¡°Throwing tantrums at the people who raised you? We may not be your blood, but you owe us everything!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t take everything so personally, Xylia,¡± Tessa chimed in. ¡°Can¡¯t we just be a happy family? Why so much bitterness? You pushed me into the pool before you got locked up, and I even kept it from Mom. Three months in jail should¡¯ve taught you some remorse.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s brow furrowed. She and Tessa had barely spoken privately before jail. ¡°I didn¡¯t push you,¡± she said coldly. But her words was suddenly cut off by Connor.


    ¡°Enough,¡± Connor¡¯s voice cut through the air, his deep¨Cset eyes unreadable. With deliberate control, he set his fork down. The metallic clink against porcin echoed sharply. His words then fell like stones. ¡°Xylia, apologize to your mom and Tessa.¡±


    The air turned to lead in Xylia¡¯s lungs. Lips pressed into a white line, she held her silence.


    ¡°It¡¯s all your fault,¡± Sonny said. ¡°You¡¯re just a nasty old hag. You don¡¯t deserve to be my mom.¡± A deafening silence swallowed the dining room.


    Xylia¡¯s gaze flicked across the table. A hollowugh escaped her. ¡°Why the hell should I?¡± With one sharp motion, she sent tes crashing to the floor and strode out. Behind her, Gia¡¯s curses and the family¡¯s uproar faded into white noise. She finally felt a sense of relief.


    After years of walking on eggshells around the Schultzes and breaking her back to please them, she still couldn¡¯t earn their love. Even her own husband and son didn¡¯t say a word in her defense.


    ¡®I should¡¯ve left this family years ago. The thought shed through her mind as she shoved the door open. Cold air whipped through her hair, carrying an unexpected lightness with it.


    Then footsteps echoed behind her. Before she could turn, a vise¨Clike grip mped around her


    wrist.

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    It was Connor. His grip bit into Xylia¡¯s wrist, sending a sharp pulse of pain through her half- healed wound. ¡°Let go,¡± she said, her face nk as still water.


    Connor¡¯s face hardened briefly. He frowned, then threw his coat over her shoulders. ¡°I was trying to stop your mother from going on about you pushing Tessa,¡± he said coldly, his tone dripping with superiority. ¡°They¡¯re your family. Be reasonable.¡±


    Connor stared at Xylia, his brow furrowing. She had always been so stubborn. Yet despite his hesitation, he came after her. Seeing her frail frame, his chest tightened with an unexpected pang of pity. ¡®But would indulging her only make things worse?¡® he thought.


    ¡°My family?¡± Xylia gave a hollowugh, feeling it was the cruelest joke she had ever heard. ¡®Tessa flirted with my husband and framed me to jail. What kind of family is this? She has gained the most from it all. She can¡¯t possibly be innocent.¡¯


    ¡°Xylia, what on earth are you fussing about?¡± Connor frowned in dissatisfaction, his expression cold. ¡°Tessa didn¡¯t return to her family until she was an adult. She has suffered a lot. Can¡¯t you stop being so petty?¡±


    ¡®I came myself to talk her down. What else does she want? How much longer will she keep this up?¡® Irritation surged through Connor, sharpening his re.


    Seeing the tenderness in his eyes for another woman, Xylia almostughed at the irony. His care for Tessa cut deeper than any insult to her. ¡°Thank god we¡¯re divorcing. Thank god I¡¯m leaving.


    ¡°I¡¯m not angry,¡± Xylia said with a gentle smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°You should go back inside.¡±


    ¡°Good¡± Connor¡¯s brow rxed slightly, his thin lips curving into something almost like a smile. He reached to tuck the loose strands behind her ear. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re not angry. Come home with me, back to the Ford family.¡±


    But his fingers grasped empty air, failing to catch even a single strand. Connor¡¯s face hardened, his earlier warmth freezing over. ¡°Xylia, what¡¯re you doing?¡±


    Xylia took a step back calmly. ¡°No need. I won¡¯t be returning. When I said I wanted a divorce, I meant every word.¡± The silence that followed was heavier than any shout.


    After a while, Connorughed abruptly, his eyes zing. ¡°Enough of this nonsense.¡± His grip locked around her wrist, fingers digging into her veins, as if he wanted to crush her bones. Xylia gasped in pain. She knew he was truly angry.


    ¡°Dad, what are you doing?¡± A child¡¯s voice interrupted, and Connor immediately released her.


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    Sonny rushed over, tugging at Conner¡¯s hand. ¡°Come on, Tessa says we can¡¯t cut the cake without you!¡±


    Sonny stubbornly avoided looking at Xylia, waiting for her to cave. ¡®If she begs to join us for cake, maybe I¡¯ll ask the grandparents for her, but only if she asks nicely. They always listen to me, not her<b>.</b><b>¡® </b>


    But Xylia remained silent. She lowered her eyes, trying to straighten her back. As she turned around, she heard the childish voice. ¡°Dad, are you really divorcing? Can Tessa be my new mom then? She¡¯s way better than that old hag anyway.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s lips twitched. Then she walked away without a backward nce. Connor watched her straight, slender figure, unbending as bamboo in a storm. An unexpected hollowness gripped him, his fingers flexing against the urge to grab her arm.


    At that moment, the phone rang. When Connor recognized his assistant¡¯s number, his thunderous expression eased slightly. ¡°Did you confirm the Sadler Group¡¯s attendance for the banquet in three days?¡± he demanded.


    On the other end, his assistant gave an affirmative answer, ¡°Yes, Mr. Ford. Our sources confirm the Sadler Group¡¯s attendance.¡±


    Soon, a relieved smile spread across Connor¡¯s face. ¡°Good. If we can establish ties with Sadler Group, Ford Group might just survive this.¡±


    *****


    Xylia returned home and sank onto the sofa, lost in thought. After calling herwyer to draft the divorce papers, she finally let out a shuddering sigh of relief.


    The next morning, when she arrived at the Ford residence with the divorce papers, Connor was nowhere to be seen. Only Tessa and Sonny were there,ughing together like old friends.


    The moment Sonny saw Xylia, he jumped off the sofa. ¡°You don¡¯t belong here! You don¡¯t even wanna be my mom. Go away!¡± He still couldn¡¯t forget how she had ignored himpletely yesterday.


    Xylia didn¡¯t bother to argue. Her eyes downcast, she said with deadly calm, ¡°You can hate me all you want, but my blood still runs in your veins.¡±


    Sonny¡¯s <b>face </b>flushed crimson. ¡°I never asked for your blood,¡± he spat, small hands shaking. ¡°I wish we weren¡¯t even rted!¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Connor?¡± Xylia settled onto the sofa. Though her injuries had mostly healed, a faint


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    ache still lingered when she walked. It was nothing serious, but a stubborn reminder.


    Hugging Sonny closer, Tessa asked, ¡°Xylia, why do you ask for Connor? Did youe to make


    fault.¡± up? Connor told me everything, saying you¡¯re throwing a tantrum. It¡¯s all


    my


    ¡°He told you everything?¡± Xylia¡¯s frown twisted into a joylessugh. ¡®Of course he did. She realized Tessa¡¯s fingers had clearly pried into every crevice of her marriage.


    Hearing Xylia¡¯s words, Tessa quickly waved her hands, ¡°Don¡¯t get the wrong idea, Xylia. Connor and I are straight¨Cup like brothers. And brothers help each other win back their girls, right?¡±


    She grinned and shrugged, ¡°Besides, I¡¯m basically one of the guys anyway. And honestly? Right now, no guy¡¯s on my radar, except myte husband, of course.¡±


    When Sonny heard these words, he worried Tessa might get upset. He knew that Tessa¡¯s husband passed away just two years into their marriage, and she had been heartbroken for a long time. Grabbing her arm tightly, he said, ¡°Tessa, Don¡¯t be sad. Dad and I both love you!¡±


    ¡°You little rascal,¡± Tessa pretended to be angry. ¡°What kind of talk is that? You¡¯re ruining the brotherly bond between your dad and me!¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t have time for their little moment. She tossed the divorce papers onto the table, her voice cutting through the room, ¡°Tell him to sign these when he gets back.¡± Sonny and Tessa froze, caught off guard by her sudden coldness.


    After a brief moment, Sonny rushed over to the table. His little hands grabbed at the papers, eyes wide with worry. ¡®Mommy¡¯s really leaving? But she loves Dad and me. Is she upset with me for not being on her team yesterday?¡®


    ¡®That¡¯s gotta be it. Mom¡¯s being silly. She¡¯s only trying to scare me with these papers!¡® Thinking this, Sonny scrunched up his face and said, ¡°Just because Dad and I didn¡¯t take your side yesterday, you¡¯re gonna leave us?¡±


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    11:44 <b>Wed</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>10 </b>

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    A chill rippled through Xylia Schultz<b>, </b>she sneered.


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    Her disappointment had been piling up, again and again¡ªnot from just one moment.


    Her voice was steady. ¡°Sonny, listen- I¡¯m divorcing your father even if nothing happened yesterday.¡±


    Seeing Sonny Ford freezed, she softened, letting out a quiet sigh.


    Now his big, bright eyes looked exactly as they had when he was a baby. Xylia couldn¡¯t help but warned, ¡°You¡¯re sensitive to some foods. Be careful with what you eat.¡±


    Her voice was gentle, her eyebrows were curved, and her skin was fair, with the grace ssical beauty.


    Now, speaking to Sonny, her expression was even more gentle, like a wash painting.


    of a


    Xylia paused for a moment and pulled out a smile. ¡°I can¡¯t take care of you from now on¨Cyou have to take care of yourself,¡± she added.


    Sonny¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.


    ¡®Mom is leaving me? That¡¯s impossible. How could she be so petty?¡®


    He kept his eyes wide open, cheeks puffed up. ¡°It is your duty to raise me up and I will report you <b>if </b>you fail to fulfill your responsibility. I will be Tessa¡¯s son¡°, he said.


    Xylia almostughed, but felt more sarcastic in her deep heart.


    Since when did her son be like this? The boy she gave birth to after ten months of


    pregnancy.


    What he called her care was a cage and Tessa¡¯s indulgence was freedom.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care¡°. She smiled and stood up from the sofa, the slim¨Cfit cheongsamplemented


    her waist even slim.


    Sonny was close to tears with anger, he held back.


    But inside, panic spread.


    Until he saw Xylia about to leave, he was already on his feet.


    <b>Tessa </b>Schultz caught him.


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    She fondled his head with smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your mother is just being affected, say some sweet talk to her and she¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°Your mom¡¯s just being dramatic. And honestly, it¡¯s not a bad thing she left. From now on, I¡¯m your sworn godmother¨Cone of me is worth two moms.¡±


    Her smile lit him up, he rushed into her arms gaily.


    ¡°yeah! I¡¯ve got a godmother now!¡±


    ¡®With a smart, high¨Cachieving godmother like Tessa, who needs a real mom? Even if that woman begged meter, I wouldn¡¯t forgive her!¡® Sonny thought, fuming.


    ¡®Hmph! She will be sorry when shees back to see me, my father and godmother, three of us living so happy.¡¯


    But two days passed, Xylia still heard nothing from Connor Ford.


    She sent him messages. It sank without a trace.


    Xylia frowned, irritation stirring.


    Suddenly, the doorbell rang.


    It was Joshua Garcia.


    He wore a fitted suit, his eyes carrying a trace of a smile¨Ccareless, yet striking.


    He leaned an arm against the doorframe and saidzily. ¡°Got time? How aboute with me?¡±


    Xylia hesitated but still followed him since she had nothing else nned today.


    Spotting the car at the curb, she smiled and said, ¡°change a new rental today?¡±


    He was driving an older¨Cmodel Toyota Camry, in but so clean it almost looked new.


    Joshua opened the door for her, his voice low and smooth. ¡°It is mine. I bought it years ago. I drive it sometimes.¡±


    tinum blond hair fell across his brow, his refined air making the in Camry look like a luxury ride.


    His


    <b>gaze </b>held a lingering warmth.


    Xylia slipped into the <b>seat </b>without fuss, her eyes avoiding his.


    The interior was spotless<b>, </b>emitting a new car smell.


    How could an old car be like this<b>? </b>


    It is weird, but she didn¡¯t ask.


    He drove steady, all the way to a fashion studio.


    Thevish decoration made Xylia frown. ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡±


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    Seeing her doubt, he moved with quiet grace, lips curving. ¡°Have you forgotten that you promised me a thank¨Cyou gift?¡±


    He meant the g she¡¯d promised to attend with him.


    Xylia lowered her gaze, murmured assent, and followed him in.


    She hadn¡¯t been to anything like a g in years.


    Inside, the rows of beautiful dresses pricked her


    eyes


    with heat.


    It had been years since she¡¯d worn any dress like them.


    While the upscale interior decoration only made her hesitate more.


    She wasn¡¯t one for dressing up, but years with Connor had taught her the price of things.


    This was nowhere an ordinary person could afford.


    Xylia looked at Joshua and hesitated. ¡°I can do my own makeup. Just rent a dress¨Cno need


    to¡­¡±


    She didn¡¯t have much left. The little money on her was from selling off her old jewelry a while


    ago.


    Joshua was just an ordinary man, and even if they pooled their money, it still wouldn¡¯t be enough for a ce like this.


    His expression cooled for a beat, then the warmth returned.


    He said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This is my friend¡¯s ce. We¡¯re here to give him some exposure.¡±


    Relieved, Xylia followed the stylist into the makeup room.


    Watching her slim figure. Joshua¡¯s eyes turned cold.


    Ice glinted in his gaze.


    <b>11:44 </b>Wed, <b>Sep </b>10


    ¡­


    ¡®How much have you suffered with Connor Ford? Xylia, he thought.


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    He thought of her cautious nce at the gowns, and the air around him sharpened.


    ¡®Connor Ford¡­ I will not let off.


    Xylia chose a gown and sat for makeup.


    The makeup artist greeted her warmly, eyes crinkling with a smile.


    As she leaned close, she caught the badge on her chest: Lead Stylist.


    ¡®How could it be? To let the Lead Stylist herself do the makeup for friends?¡®, she thought.


    All of these made Xylia puzzled. She asked, ¡°The man I came with¨Che¡¯s close with boss, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    your


    The Lead Stylist kept smiling, hands steady. ¡°The one outside? He¡¯s-¡±


    Crash-


    A heavy smash echoed from outside.


    The Lead Stylist paused, shot Xylia an apologetic look, and stepped out.


    A momentter, someone pushed the door open.


    A familiar figure walked up to her.


    ¡°Well, what a coincidence. Didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡±


    Xylia looked up and saw Tessa¡¯s smiling face.


    Instinctively, she frowned, had something of a feel that enemies are likely to meet each other.


    Xylia didn¡¯t answer. Tessa didn¡¯t care¨Cshe plopped into the seat beside her, grinning.


    ¡°This studio is the most famous in Jupiton. It is not easy to be a membership here. I¡¯m guessing you told them you¡¯re Mrs. Ford, right? Xylia Schultz, you¡¯re divorcing, but still shing that title?¡± Tessa said.


    Xylia raised her eyebrow.


    ¡°But Mrs. Ford only rates a junior artist, right?¡± Tessa smiled. ¡°Here, service goes by spending rank. I¡¯m premium¨Cspent millions. My makeup¡¯s by a Senior Stylist.¡±


    Xylia almostughed. Does it matter?


    :


    To her, it was all the same.


    The next second, the Lead Stylist came back in.


    Smiling, she walked straight over. ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting, Ms. Schultz.¡±


    A flicker of glee lit Tessa¡¯s eyes.


    Did her membership just get upgraded¨Cenough to let the Head Stylist serve her?


    She narrowed her eyes at Xylia, sneering inside.


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    Hick. After all these years without dancing, she probably couldn¡¯t even tell the good from the bad.


    Tessa leaned back like she owned the ce. ¡°Perfect timing¨CI have a g tonight. Shouldn¡¯t I


    curl it?¡± Tessa Schultz asked.


    Silence fell the moment she finished.


    Tessa looked up at the Head Stylist.


    Only to see her looking awkward¡ªas she walked to stand behind Xylia.

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    Her triumphant smile froze, like a hand had gripped her throat. ¡°You¡¯re her stylist?¡± she asked.


    The Head Stylist kept her polite smile and answered ¡°Of course, Miss.¡±


    She didn¡¯t even know her?


    How it could be?


    Could Xylia Schultz even afford this?


    Tessa¡¯s voice went hoarse. She pointed at Xylia, finger trembling. ¡°You sure you¡¯re not mixing us up? We¡¯re both Schultz¨Cmaybe I¡¯m the Ms. Schultz you mean?¡±


    The Head Stylist kept smiling and replied. ¡°No mistake. Ms. Schultz is our top¨Ctier member.¡±


    Top¨Ctier member?


    Tessa¡¯s eyes widened.


    How could that be?


    That level meant spending at least millions of dors just to qualify.


    Even Xylia was surprised. She nced up at the Head Stylist¨Cwho winked at her.


    A friend¡¯s pull was that strong?


    Was Joshua Garcia really just an ordinary man?


    But the memory of their bitter days abroad was still fresh¨Cif Joshua was rich or powerful, why would he have suffered with her abroad?


    She pushed the thought aside, smiling at the Director. ¡°I¡¯m in a hurry. Please, let¡¯s start.¡±


    Ignoring Tessa¡¯s simmering anger, she began the makeup.


    As she worked, she marveled at her skin.


    ¡°Ms. Schultz, you¡¯re lovelier than any star I¡¯ve seen. You really should dress up more.¡± The Head Stylist said with a sigh. ¡°We¡¯ve done makeup for countless celebrities¨Cbut on you, it¡¯s perfect.¡±


    Looking at her reflection, Xylia felt a pang.


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    She¡¯d stood out since she was a child¨Cin the in¨Cfaced Schultz family, she stood head and shoulders above the rest.


    People had whispered she didn¡¯t look like one of them.


    To avoid standing out, she only wore makeup for dance performances.


    Most days she dressed loose, eyes lowered¨Cdulling her own beauty.


    Even so, she never fit in with this family.


    Later, she got married. Casual clothes were suitable for staying at home and taking care of children.


    Working at the hospital never required her to stand out, and the low¨Ckey style had simply be a habit.


    By the time Xylia was done, Tessa had tried several dresses.


    But no matter how many times she tried, nothing satisfied her.


    Seeing Xylia¨Ccool and stunning¨Cmade her clench her teeth.


    She was already good¨Clooking, but now with makeup her beauty was breathtaking.


    At the sight of Xylia¡¯s gown, Tessa¡¯s expression shifted. She gave a short hum, chin lifting toward her.


    ¡°I want to try that one on.¡±


    The stylist was in a dilemma. ¡°Miss, that dress might not suit you.¡±


    Tessa onlyughed, stepped to Xylia, and patted her shoulder. ¡°Xylia, let me try your dress.¡±


    Xylia raised her eyebrow.


    ¡°You know<i>, </i>you used to dance, but it¡¯s been almost a decade. This cut takes real poise.¡± She chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you can¡¯t pull it off. Your poise is¡­ average. And you¡¯re a bit heavier than


    me.¡±


    Actually, Xylia had lost a lot of weight after three months in prison. Only her fuller bust made


    her look curvier than Tessa.


    She didn¡¯t bother arguing. Truth was, she found the dress too dull.


    Thus, she turned to change it in the fitting room.


    11:45 Wed, <b>Sep </b>10


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    The Head Stylist stopped her, handing her a dress still in its box. ¡°This is the pride of our store, Ms. Schultz. Please try it.¡±


    Xylia took it and changed.


    When she stepped out of the fitting room, the Head Stylist¡¯s breath caught.


    It was by Cathy, the most renowned designer in fashion¨Calmost no one could wear it well.


    But Xylia did.


    That fragile, reborn air about her matched the gown perfectly.


    Even the scar on her wrist read like a unique mark.


    ¡°Absolutely stunning,¡± the Head Stylist breathed. ¡°Like a work of art.¡±


    Xylia felt somewhat uneasy.


    She¡¯d studied art, so she could get the design.


    But wearing it, she felt a chill behind her waist and chest and the bare skin made her extremely ufortable.


    Tessa looked her over and gave a coldugh.


    She grabbed that dress and strode to the fitting room. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s my personality. I don¡¯t like this girly stuff¨Ccatering excessively to men. I can¡¯t stand it. I prefer high¨Cfashion dressing like a man¨Cconservative. All this bare chest and cleavage¡­ not my style.¡±


    But when she emerged and stood beside Xylia, she looked out of ce.


    Next to Xylia¡¯s bright gown, hers looked dull and lifeless.


    A young assistant frowned. ¡°Huh¡­This dress looked ssy on Ms. Schultz at the first¨Cbut


    now¡­¡±


    Tessa¡¯s smile stiffened.


    She stormed off to change again, leaving the room in a scowl.


    Outside, Xylia heard her clearly, ¡°There¡¯s nothing I like. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    A man¡¯s voice answered, ¡°Is there any dress you don¡¯t look good in? Fine. I¡¯ll stay as long as you want.¡±


    The man¡¯s voice cold, yet


    tender.


    Xylia frozed, then sighed.


    Eight years together, she knew that voice.


    The man with Tessa was Connor Ford.


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    In eight years, he¡¯d never once shopped with her¨Cbut with Tessa, he had the patience to


    spare.


    Inside, the young assistant sighed. ¡°Ms. Schultz and her husband are really close. Hees with her every time.¡±

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    Xylia just wanted tough coldly.


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    After years of secret marriage, even now at the brink of divorce, outsiders still didn¡¯t know she was the one married to Connor Ford.


    Let alone anyone praising them as a match.


    But at least she was finally getting divorced.


    Masking the flicker in her eyes, she steadied her breath and stepped out of the dressing room.


    Joshua Garcia waited on the sofa, now in a tailored suit, tinum blond hair swept back.


    An ordinary cut looked impossibly refined on him.


    Her chest tightened before she could stop it.


    She¡¯d seen his eyes sharp with rage, seen him at his lowest¡­


    But never like this.


    Joshua slouched with casual grace, one leg bent, a cigarette burning low between his fingers.


    Smoke veiled his features, etching distance and ice into his expression.


    When she paused in the doorway, he arched an eyebrow, stubbed out the cigarette, and let a faint smile thaw the frost in his gaze.


    ¡°Found your gown?¡± His voice softened.


    That earlier edge in his eyes might¡¯ve been her imagination.


    Xylia¡¯s dress dipped low, baring the pale lines of her corbones as she moved toward him.


    Under his stare, she suddenly felt uneasy.


    ¡°Does it¡­ not look right?¡± she murmured, avoiding his eyes.


    She¡¯d never worn anything like this.


    After years of motherhood, this was her first time putting herself first.


    Joshua¡¯s gaze lingered on the exposed curve of her lower back. Something unreadable shed in his eyes before he swallowedl.


    ¡°It¡¯s perfect.¡±


    ¡­


    :


    He looked down, smothering the heat rising in his chest.


    Too perfect.


    Perfect enough to make him want to hide her away where no one else could <i>see</i>.


    The gown clung to her as if forged for her alone.


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    Her cool elegance didn¡¯t sh with the dress¡¯s bold color¨Cit sharpened it. Like a rose blooming in the desert, delicate yet unbreakable.


    Silence thickened the air between them.


    The silence stretched between them until Xylia finally spoke.


    ¡°Time for the g? Should we head over?¡±


    This Jupiton g united top enterprises for investment deals.


    As Joshua listed organizers during the drive, Xylia frowned.


    These were Jupiton¡¯s elite dynasties.


    Such gs had velvet ropes.


    Even the Schultz family might struggle for invitations.


    How did Joshua¨Can ordinary employee¨Cget one?


    He caught her doubt, fingers tapping the steering wheel. ¡°My boss opens doors for client meetings,¡± he said, gaze lingering on her,


    Makes sense.


    Xylia looked down, cheeks warming. He¡¯d helped her, yet she¡¯d questioned him.


    They arrived in thick silence,


    The parking lot gleamed with luxury cars, their Toyota Camry seeming pathetically small.


    Inside, faces Xylia recognized from news moved through the crowd.


    Joshua watched her from the corner of his eye¨Cback straight, expression unreadable.


    His thin lips twitched.


    No wonder he had his eye on her.


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    A manager hurried over, his face respectful the moment he saw Joshua, his smile turning


    eager.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t expect¡ª¡±


    Joshua lifted a brow, silent.


    The manager cut himself short, forcing a smile at Xylia instead. ¡°You happen <i>to </i>be our hundredth guest. Care to join the raffle?¡±


    His smile stretched too wide.


    The stiffness thickened.


    Joshua broke the stiffness with a tilt of his chin.


    ¡°Go with him. Luck favors you.¡±


    With nothing to lose, Xylia followed.


    As she walked away, Joshua¡¯s chuckle escaped.


    Quick thinking.


    He typed amand into his phone, pocketed it.


    Across the ballroom, notifications pinged simultaneously.


    [If you ever <i>see </i>him with thatdy in the red dress¨Cno matter what, pretend you don¡¯t know him.]


    Guests exchanged bewildered nces. What trick was he pulling this time?


    *****


    The raffle corner looked shockingly makeshift¨Cunthinkable for a g this exclusive.


    The manager offered an apologetic shrug. ¡°Our little surprise. Rushed, I admit.¡±


    Her fingers closed around a slip marked ¡°Grand Prize¡°.


    Since when this lucky?


    She showed the manager the slip. ¡°Looks like luck¡¯s on my side. Grand prize¡ªwhat is it?¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Secret for now,¡± he beamed. ¡°Just leave your address. We¡¯ll deliver it personally.¡±


    Too strange.


    And they wouldn¡¯t even let her take the prize home yet.


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    But a g this grand¡­ there was no need to set up someone as penniless as her, was there?


    Her hand paused mid¨Cair. Address given.


    Back in the ballroom, her eyes sought Joshua instantly.


    At six¨Cfoot¨Cthree with tinum blond hair, he was impossible to miss in the crowd. Talking with a group, his broad shoulders cut down to a lean waist. Cold flickered in his eyes, his presence all chill and authority¡ªnothing like the warmth he showed her.


    Even from behind, his presence pressed down with authority.


    Raised ordinary? Not likely.


    She buried the questions. A faint smile touched her lips. She started toward him.


    ¡°Xylia Schultz.¡±


    A cial presence blocked her path. Connor Ford stood before her, eyes frosted over.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Her pulse jumped, his chilling expression from that night shing in her mind. Xylia frowned


    ¡°A friend¡¯s guest,¡± she said tly. ¡°You¡¯re attending too, Mr. Ford?¡±


    ¡°Friend.¡± His voice cut on the word. ¡°What kind of friend could get you into a g like this?¡±


    What friends could she possibly have?


    Years confined to the Ford family, no social circles.


    Who but Fords had this ess?


    He¡¯d cashed in favors just for an invite, all to meet the Sadler family¡¯s head.


    ¡°Not your concern.¡± Xylia gave a cool smile and brushed past him without slowing,

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    Connor mped her wrist. ¡°Xylia,¡± his voice dropped low. ¡°When will this end?¡±


    She must¡¯ve pulled strings to get here.


    Anyone asking around would know he was attending.


    Wasn¡¯t showing up just to beg for reconciliation?


    The sight of her dress made Connor¡¯s throat tighten, his brows furrowing.


    Even if he didn¡¯t want to admit it, tonight¨Cshe was stunning.


    So stunning he noticed her the second she walked in.


    Dressing like this¨Cwho else but for him?


    In the next breath, Xylia yanked her hand free.


    Cold impatience sharpened her eyes. ¡°I-¡±


    Before she could finish, Tessa floated in like a butterfly.


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    She slipped her arm through Connor¡¯s with a softugh. ¡°Connor! fans kept stopping me for autographs. If the paparazzi catch us like this, they¡¯ll think we¡¯re dating. And my die¨Chard fans wille after you.¡±


    Only then did she nce at Xylia, pulling her hand away in mock embarrassment.


    ¡°C¡¯mon, we¡¯re just friends. Don¡¯t get the wrong idea.¡±


    Her stare scraped over Xylia¡¯s gown, jealousy icing her pupils.


    But she quickly pasted on a generous look. ¡°Xylia, you came tonight for Connor, didn¡¯t you? I showed him your divorce papers the other day. Come on, there¡¯s nothing between a husband and wife that can¡¯t be smoothed over.¡±


    She grabbed Xylia¡¯s hand with a grin. ¡°Since you made it here, just apologize to Connor. I¡¯ll be the witness, and then it¡¯s all behind you.¡±


    Watching Tessa¡¯s eager little act, Xylia¡¯s lips curled in a coldugh.


    She shook off Tessa¡¯s hand, and in the next instant, Tessa cried out dramatically.


    Tessa cradled her wrist, face pinched. ¡°Don¡¯t shoot the messenger, Xylia! Good thing it¡¯s only


    my hand¡­¡±


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    Connor¡¯s expression froze. He examined the reddening skin.


    Connor¡¯s expression went dark, a chill in his eyes. He nced at Tessa¡¯s wrist, a red mark already blooming there. His voice cut sharp. ¡°Xylia, be willful if you want¨Cbut why go after Tessa? Apologize.¡±


    Augh caught in Xylia¡¯s throat.


    Connor Ford¨Cempire builder¨Cblind to this cheap act?


    Of course he could. He just chose not to.


    He only ever took Tessa¡¯s side.


    Whenever she and Tessa shed, he always stood with Tessa.


    The thought pressed down on her again,yer afteryer, until it stung.


    Even after deciding she wanted nothing from him or his son, the sting still lingered.


    Xylia lowered her gaze, brushed past Connor. ¡°I¡¯m going to find my friend.¡±


    ¡°Xylia.¡± Connor¡¯s voice cut sharp. ¡°Didn¡¯t prison teach you enough?¡± Her eyes flickered with impatience, and something sour twisted in his chest. ¡°Don¡¯t be reckless again.¡±


    Prison? Three months of nightmare. And he used it to threaten her?


    Catching her coldness, Connor reined in his tone, fingers mped on her arm, brows drawn. ¡°Xylia, without the Fords, no one will shield you.¡±


    That was him softening. And still, Xylia almostughed.


    If she didn¡¯t know¨Cthat the man in front of her was the very reason for those three months- she might have faltered.


    Might have let his brief surrender move her. Might have ignored the coldness, the favoritism, for the child¡¯s sake. Might have tried.


    But she knew<i>, </i>


    She tried to push him away. His hand mped harder.


    Tessa chimed in, sugar¨Csweet. ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re always hanging around shady friends. That¡¯s hardly what a married woman should be doing.¡±


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    Her words only fanned the fire, the chill in Connor¡¯s brow deepening.


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    ¡°Doesn¡¯t he keep shady friends too?¡± Xylia let out a lowugh, her gaze sliding over Tessa. ¡°And you? Who do you think you


    you are?¡±


    Tessa¡¯s face nched.


    The air froze¨Cuntil a low, maic voice broke through.


    ¡°Can¡¯t


    you see? She wants nothing to do with you.¡±


    Cool. Cutting. Xylia looked up. Joshua Garcia. He had closed in without her noticing, no more than two meters away, watching them with a half¨Csmile.


    Who knew how much he had heard.


    Family uglinessid bare before him¡ªand unease pricked at her skin.


    Connor finally let go, his narrowed eyes studying him with caution.


    The man before her had a face almost too striking to be real, his air regal¨Cnothing like an ordinary man.


    And that chill around him¨Cimpossible to ignore.


    But Connor¡¯s memory turned up nothing. No family matched.


    His clothes were in. His expression, faintly careless.


    ¡°And you are?¡±


    Joshua tucked away the sh of violence in his eyes.


    The moment he saw Connor¡¯s hand on her, something savage had surged¨Ca violent urge to snap his neck.


    Instead, his mouth curved. Gentle. Easy.


    ¡°I¡¯m Xylia¡¯s friend. You must be her ex¨Chusband.¡±


    ¡°Xylia.¡±


    The easy intimacy of it jolted all three of them.


    Too close. Too much. Xylia¡¯s brows drew tight.


    Even when it was just the two of them, he never called her that.


    :


    Instinctively, she nced at Connor. And yes¨Canger already red in his eyes.


    Connor narrowed his eyes, giving Joshua another look.


    Since when did she know a man like this?


    No money. No power. Just another pretty face.


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    The thought of him clinging to Xylia in private had Connor¡¯s eyes burning red with fury.


    His eyes pinned her, his words scraped out between his teeth. ¡°You want a divorce because of this boy toy?¡±


    What could she even see in him?


    His face? Just that?


    Xylia stared at his sudden fury, baffled. She shot Joshua a re, as if ming him.


    Joshua only lifted a shoulder, all innocence, a half¨Csmile tugging at his lips.


    Not on purpose? Xylia wavered.


    Connor caught that look¨Cand froze.


    They didn¡¯t seem close. So she was¡­ using him? Deliberately? To provoke?


    The thought clicked.


    Of course. That exined why she came tonight, dragging along some nobody.


    Just to spite him.


    A flicker of disgust crossed him.


    Connor leaned in, close enough to steal her breath. His anger twisted into augh, eyes chilling, razor¨Csharp, ¡°Xylia,¡± he murmured, ¡°you¡¯re being very naughty.¡±


    C

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    A chill flickered in the man¡¯s dark eyes, so cold it made her brows tighten. Instinctively, Xylia took a step back.


    ¡°Whether I¡¯m obedient or not,¡± she said coolly, voice steady and detached, ¡°doesn¡¯t seem to have anything to do with you anymore.¡±


    In the very next breath, Joshua moved forward, slipping an arm¨Clight, almost gentlemanly- around her waist.


    The ache that had surged up when she saw Connor and Tessa together, the weight of that humiliation, melted away the moment she felt the steady warmth of his palm.


    A soft heat unfurled in her chest, so sudden she almost wanted to cry.


    ¡®This¡­ this is what it feels like to have someone stand behind me?¡®


    In more than twenty years of living, her heart had never known such solid ground.


    Xylia lifted her gaze, meeting Joshua¡¯s eyes for a fleeting second. His long, fox¨Clike eyes, a deep, stormy blue, dangerous enough to pull her under.


    Her heart gave the faintest tremor, as if brushed by a feather.


    Connor¡¯s gaze turned sharp, his eyes cial, the chill in them bearing down like something real.


    He knew she was doing it on purpose¨Cbaiting him. And yet, the fury still burned in his chest.


    This time, she had gone too far.


    To put on a show like this at a major business g, did she have no sense of consequence?


    He had indulged her for far too long.


    ¡°Have anything to do with you anymore?¡± Connor let out a coldugh. ¡°You really think divorcing me means you¡¯ll have a better life with him?¡±


    He paused, narrowing his eyes, letting his gaze sweepzily between the two of them. A mocking smile tugged at his lips.


    ¡°With a powerless pretty boy like that? Your hands and feet are ruined. How could life possibly improve?¡±


    His voice dropped lower, edged with cruel certainty. ¡°Without the Ford family, you¡¯re going


    IItb?


    nowhere.¡±


    Eight years of marriage, and he knew exactly where to cut. Every word hit the sorest part of


    her heart.


    Funny. He spoke as if he wasn¡¯t the very reason she was bleeding in the first ce.


    Xylia let out a coldugh. She knew Connor hadpletely misread her and Joshua, but she was far too tired to exin.


    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business,¡± she said icily. ¡°Mr. Ford, just sign the divorce papers already. Let¡¯s cut it clean.¡±


    Cut it clean.


    Those three words stabbed at Connor¡¯s chest like the peck of a bird, sharp and raw. His eyes darkened, a flicker of shadow crossing his face. ¡°Leave me?¡± His voice dipped low. ¡°What, so you can be with him?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not your concern.¡±


    Connor¡¯s gaze


    turned stormy, his eyes narrowing as he pinned her in ce. A mocking smile tugged at his lips. ¡°What can he give you? When the world grinds you down, will he be the one to stand up for you?¡±


    ¡°Huh.¡± A dryugh broke the tension.


    Joshua leaned back with practiced ease, tinum blond hair falling forward to shade the


    sharp gleam in his eyes. His aristocratic face was calm, almostzy, but there was a dangerous edge in his tone as he cut in, ¡°Who¡¯s to say I can¡¯t?<b>¡± </b>


    In an instant, the room bristled¨Cthick with gunpowder and the threat of a match.


    Xylia¡¯s brows knitted almost instinctively.


    In Jupiton, the Ford family ranked near the very top.


    For years she had watched Connor Ford¡¯s ruthless methods with her own eyes.


    He was dangerous. Even as his wife for eight years, he¡¯d still tossed her into prison without hesitation¨Cjust to protect his so¨Ccalled first love.


    And Joshua? With his background, he couldn¡¯t possibly be a match.


    Connor narrowed his eyes, those longshes casting a sharp shadow as he sneered. ¡°And what exactly are you?¡± His voice dripped with contempt. ¡°I¡¯m speaking to my wife¨Cwho said you


    could cut in?¡±


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    He studied the man, a flicker of recognition stirring¨Cthen gone. Maybe all pretty boys blurred together.


    Joshua met his gaze without flinching, lips curved in that same half¨Csmile that never reached his


    he looked at Connor¨Cit was the same way one might nce down at an ant The way eyes. crawling underfoot.


    Then, with azy arch of his brow, he drawled, ¡°Mr. Ford harassing ady like this, shouldn¡¯t the host of the evening step in, Mr. Zimmer?¡±


    Only then did Xylia notice a figure approaching from the side, a man dressed in finery, radiating wealth.


    Walter Zimmer froze for half a second at the sight before him, then smoothed his expression into a smile and strode over quickly.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    Connor¡¯s expression eased just slightly, swallowing down the anger in his eyes.


    He knew him. Walter Zimmer¨Cthe Zimmers of Jupiton, hosts of tonight¡¯s g.


    Among the city¡¯s old¨Cmoney dynasties, even if he was the sharp¨Cedged neer who looked down on them as much as they looked down on him, they¡¯d still give him that much face.


    He cleared his throat, lowering his gaze, a glint of ice flickering there. ¡°My apologies, Mr. Zimmer. This is a private family matter.¡±


    At his words, Walter¡¯s smile thinned. He nced over the group, only to meet Joshua¡¯s warning stare. The smile returned, smaller, sharper¨Cservile almost. ¡°Joshua¡­ Just say the word.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s face was unreadable. He idly brushed his thumb along the edge of his watch, lips curling in the faintest, careless smile. ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Walter understood at once. With a p of his hands, he summoned the staff.


    ¡°Get security, Show Mr. Ford out.¡±


    Connor¡¯s face darkened in an instant.


    How the hell did this pretty boy know the Zimmers? He wasn¡¯t supposed to be anybody? And yet¨Clook at him. That cheap suit screamed broke.


    Even Xylia froze.


    Joshua ¡­ friends with Walter Zimmer? That didn¡¯t add up.


    A man like him, tied up with the heirs of Jupiton¡¯s old families?


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    The way Walter spoke to him¨Cit wasn¡¯t just casual. It was deference. Almost like he¡¯d been taking orders from Joshua for years.


    As if Joshua were the one he answered to.


    But why?


    ¡°Hey, you can¡¯t just throw us out!¡± Tessa nted her hands on her hips, voice shrill and grating. ¡°Do you even know who I am? I¡¯m the principal dancer¡ª¡±


    She didn¡¯t finish. The words died on her tongue as security stormed in, broad¨Cshouldered men in ck suits closing in fast. Her bravado shriveled on sight.


    Connor¡¯s jaw set, his expression colder by the second. ¡°One powerful friend won¡¯t save you. You think that¡¯s enough to bend this city to your will?¡±


    Joshua only regarded him with thatzy stare, the corner of his cold lips curling ever so slightly.


    Connor¡¯s gaze, in contrast, froze over like ck ice.


    He turned on Xylia, voice cutting sharp, ¡°So this is your type? Xylia Schultz, can¡¯t you live without a man? Already sniffing after the next one before our divorce is even done? At least pick someone better than me.¡±


    The words had barelynded before Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened, a ripple of cold slicing through the ink¨Cck depths of his gaze.


    The casual air drained from his face as he stepped in front of her, shielding Xylia without a word. For a fleeting moment, his charm dissolved into something shadowed, dangerous. ¡°You


    Connor didn¡¯t bother looking at him. His eyes stayed fixed on hers, voice low and venomous.


    ¡°Without the Ford family, you¡¯re nothing but useless. Can he afford to keep you?¡±


    Nothing but useless?


    The man who ruined her body¨Cdaring to call her that? Rage twisted in Xylia¡¯s chest.


    Xylia¡¯s brows drew tight as she stepped in, only for Connor to snap a hand around her wrist.


    His thumb ground down on the half¨Chealed scar, painced up her arm and her frown


    cinched harder.


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    ¡°You¡¯re so blinded by vanity. You think you can settle for an ordinary man? Don¡¯t be naive. An ordinary man will never satisfy that dream of yours¨Cto live as Mrs. Ford.¡±


    His voice dripped with frost, those eyes burning with cold fire.


    ¡°Xylia, who else but me could ever give you what you want?¡±


    Cannor¡¯s voice was a barb, driving straight into her chest.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes shot up in disbelief. ¡°Vanity? That¡¯s what you think I am?¡±


    ¡°What else?¡±


    Connor let out a suddenugh, releasing her wrist only to trail a hand across her cheek. ¡°If not vanity, then why cling to the Schultz name as their adopted daughter, hogging that ce instead of stepping aside for Tessa?


    ¡°If not vanity, then why¨Cafter breaking off your first engagement¨Cdid you turn right around and marry into our Ford family?¡±


    The words stung so sharply she almostughed.


    So that¡¯s what he¡¯d always believed.


    So after all these years, every sacrifice she made was, in his eyes, nothing more than the vanity he used her of.


    Xylia drew in a shaky breath, biting back the pain as she ground out, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m vain. Call me vain all you like, but I¡¯d never stoop so low as to covet the Ford family. Satisfied now? Then leave.¡±


    Her words weren¡¯t loud¨Cbarely above a whisper, in fact¨Cbut each one struck like a blow to Cannor¡¯s chest, leaving his expression dark and unsettled.


    His brows knit tight as he locked his gaze on her. After a long pause, a mirthlessugh slipped past his lips. ¡°Always putting on a show with me. Do you really find this amusing?¡±


    He¡¯d indulged her far too much. Spoiled her until she thought baiting him with barbs was some kind of power.


    In the end, wasn¡¯t all of this just because she still couldn¡¯t let him go?


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    es, word had it the Sadlers would make an appearance tonight.


    He hadn¡¯t caught sight of it yet¨Chow could he possibly leave now?


    Walter¡¯s expression faltered, hesitation written all over his face.


    The Ford family was a rising power in recent years¨Cnew money, truth be told. Old families like his, with generations of legacy behind them, had never truly respected the Fords.


    But the Fords had seized the perfect moment in their industry, riding the wave with ruthless


    momentum.


    Anypany that partnered with them walked away with overflowing profits. He couldn¡¯t afford to dismiss Connor outright.


    If he really threw the man out, his father would never let him off the hook.


    And yet¡­


    He risked a cautious nce toward Joshua.


    That man¡¯s reputation was on another level. This was a man you didn¡¯t cross¨Csomeone who could take a life without even blinking.


    ¡°I¡¯ll answer to Mr. Zimmer myself.¡± A sudden male voice cut through the tension.


    Everyone turned to look, only to see a man in gold¨Crimmed sses¨Chis expressionposed, his presence cool and distant.


    Connor¡¯s brows knit tightly. ¡°And you are?¡±


    The man tilted his chin ever so slightly. ¡°Judah Collins.¡±


    At once, everyone except Xylia and Joshua visibly paled.


    ¡°Wait¨Cthat¡¯s, he¡¯s with the Sadler Group!¡±


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    The quarrel had gone on long enough that onlookers had gathered, and the moment Judah gave his name, whispers broke out like sparks.


    ¡°The Sadler Group? As in the Sadler family?¡±


    ¡°What other Sadler could it possibly be? They¡¯re the world¡¯s top dynasty¨Cone that can move markets with a single word. Who would dare impersonate them?¡±


    ¡°Those four heavyweights of the Sadlers¨Ceach one at the very top of their field.¡±


    Sadler Group.


    Xylia froze for a beat.


    Her own family¨Cwasn¡¯t her surname Sadler too?


    Then, almost in spite of herself, she gave a small, bitter smile. But no¨Csurely it had nothing to do with her.


    She already had a family warm enough to call home. Whether rich or poor, what else could she possibly need?


    Connor¡¯s face darkened.


    He¡¯d done his research on the Sadler family¨CJudah Collins was exactly the kind of connection he¡¯d been desperate to make.


    ¡°A pleasure.¡± Connor forced down the flicker of shock in his eyes and extended a hand. ¡°I¡¯m Connor Ford, head of Ford Group. I¡¯ve got a project I¡¯d like to discuss with the Sadler Group.¡±


    Judah nced at him once, and didn¡¯t take the hand.


    ¡°We don¡¯t do business with men who thrive on petty theatrics.¡±


    Connor¡¯s smile <i>froze</i>, brittle as ss. He opened his mouth to protest¨Conly to see Judah turn


    his tone softening as he addressed Xylia.


    away,


    ¡°Hope that didn¡¯t give you a fright.¡±


    The man from the Sadler Group, siding with her?


    Connor¡¯s chest tightened, rage simmering just beneath his skin. When had Xylia gotten close


    to the Sadlers?


    His re on her grew venomous, the thought wing at him: because of her, his deal had just gone up in smoke.


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    His jaw flexed as his eyes narrowed to slits.


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    With the Sadlers watching, he couldn¡¯tsh out¨Cbut the way he stared at her, it was as if he wanted to devour her whole.


    This time, she¡¯d gone too far.


    Unaware of his viper¡¯s gaze, Xylia steadied herself and replied with quiet dignity, though a trace of wonder slipped into her voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t help but feel a little dazed at the unexpected kindness.


    Judah¡¯s unusual kindness toward her left Xylia puzzled.


    Did those people from the great families all enjoy ying crusaders of justice?


    Almost unconsciously, she nced at Joshua¨Conly to catch him watching Judah with shadowed eyes, his lips curved in a half¨Csmile that was anything but friendly.


    ¡°Come on, have a dessert. Loosen up.¡± Joshua finally spoke, steering Xylia toward the dessert table.


    Halfway there, he suddenly stopped and looked back. Sure enough, Judah was still staring at them.


    Their gazes collided, and Joshua¡¯s expression chilled.


    He remembered him. Years ago, overseas, they had crossed paths. Judah Collins¨Cthe right hand of the Sadler family¡¯s eldest heir.


    He wore the mask of refinement, but his methods were ruthless,


    And yet, there were no major deals in Jupitontely, only a routine business summit. Why would the Sadlers send their most trusted enforcer here?


    What exactly was the Sadler family after?


    Outside the ballroom, Connor and Tessa were escorted out by security.


    Still reying what had just happened, Connor¡¯s chest burned with fury, a dark haze settling deeper and deeper over his eyes.


    He didn¡¯t spare Tessa a nce. Without a word, he slid into his car and drove off alone.


    Back at the house, the thought of that pretty boy made Connor¡¯s teeth grind with rage.


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    Even if Xylia had brought him along just to spite him, that man¡¯s background was imprable¨Ceven Connor couldn¡¯t see through him. How could someone as foolish as Xylia possibly think she could gain anything from him?


    There was no way he¡¯d let her drag herself down by mingling with a man like that.


    Jaw clenched tight, Connor picked up his phone and dialed her number.


    *****


    Xylia didn¡¯t linger long at the g before heading home.


    In the car, Joshua turned on the heater even though it was only early autumn, as if afraid she might catch a chill.


    The warm air flushed her cheeks, painting them with a faint glow.


    The car was steeped in that cool cedar scent she¡¯d caught on him before¨Csharp, clean, with a quiet edge of possession.


    Neither spoke, the silence stretching taut between them.


    Then Joshua tilted his head slightly, his voice low and velvet¨Csmooth,ced with a teasing curl at the end, ¡°Tonight, you were stunning.¡±


    The words weren¡¯t just apliment. They lingered in the air, slow and deliberate, as if he were tasting them¨Ctasting her.


    Xylia¡¯s ears buzzed, her chest tightening with a sudden restlessness.


    Stunning. The word still echoed in her mind, as though it didn¡¯t belong to her.


    No one had ever said that about her.


    On the dance floor, praise was always for her technique, her poise¨Cnot her looks.


    In the Schultz family, no one mentioned it. After marrying Connor Ford, neither did he.


    Even Sonny, her own son, called her an ugly old witch.


    Almost without thinking, she turned her head toward Joshua. His profile was all sharp lines, his expression cool, a quiet authority pressing down on the air around him.


    But when he smiled, it was dangerous, almost wicked¨Clike a devil in disguise.


    Her gaze lingered <i>too </i>openly, and Joshua couldn¡¯t ignore it. He shifted, meeting her stare head¨Con.


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    And just like that, she fell straight into those bule eyes, rippling faintly with liquid depth.


    Hisshes fluttered¨Cher own private butterfly effect, leaving her breath unsteady.


    The call from Connor came in just then¨Clike a lifeline she didn¡¯t want.


    Connor Ford. For an instant she wanted to decline. But after a beat, she pressed ¡°ept.¡±


    Connor¡¯s voice came cold and sharp, ¡°Xylia, don¡¯t forget¨Cyou¡¯re a mother. I won¡¯t allow Sonny to be raised by a woman who¡¯s loose and shameless. Cut him off, and I¡¯ll act like none of this ever happened.¡±


    Even without speakerphone, his words carried clearly through the quiet car.


    Xylia felt her chest tighten. She cracked the window, finally letting out a breath.


    The next moment, a long, slender hand slipped the phone from her grasp.


    Joshua¡¯s voice came through, amused, a faint smile threading his words, ¡°Mr. Ford, how do you cut off something that never existed?¡±


    A short silence fell on the other end.


    Then Connor¡¯s fury erupted, ¡°You two¨Ctogether?! Xylia, while we¡¯re still married, you dare cheat on me?¡±


    Taking the phone back, Xylia¡¯s expression cooled, her tone calm and sharp, ¡°Connor, I¡¯ve already filed for divorce. Very soon, there won¡¯t be anything left between us.¡±


    Divorce.


    The word alone seemed <i>to </i>strike a nerve in Connor. His brows knit tight, anger rising so quickly it threatened to break loose.


    For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, with a bitterugh¨Chalf fury, half mockery¨Che finally spoke. Even if she was only ¡°acting¡°, this performance of hers had gone far too far.


    Catching sight of Sonny¡¯s worried little face beside him, Connor let out a cold scoff and barked into the phone, ¡°Xylia Schultz, you¡¯re not getting a divorce. Have you already forgotten the promise you made to my grandfather?¡±


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    Connor¡¯s words caught Xylia off guard.


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    When she married into the Ford family, everyone treated her like an outsider¨Ceveryone except Orion Ford.


    To spare Connor the burden, she had suggested keeping the marriage quiet and canceling the wedding ceremony.


    Feeling guilty, Orion invited her into his study and ced in her hands the Ford family¡¯s heirloom¨Ctheir crest pendant.


    At that time, Orion had said gently, ¡°Good girl, you¡¯ve suffered enough. From now on, in this family, you¡¯ll have me to stand behind you. All I ask is that you promise me one thing¨Cnever divorce Connor, no matter what. Can you do that?¡±


    Orion was the only one in the Ford family who had ever shown her kindness.


    Deeply moved, Xylia agreed without hesitation.


    Later, when Sonny was born, she passed the crest pendant on to him.


    The half¨Copen window let in the rush of wind, clearing Xylia¡¯s dazed thoughts.


    When she¡¯d promised Orion back then, she hadn¡¯t known the entire marriage itself was Connor Ford¡¯s borate deception.


    Now, bruised inside and out, how could she keep bleeding for the sake of a hollow promise?


    She


    gave a bitter little smile and spoke quietly. ¡°I¡¯ll exin things to Orion myself.¡±


    There was a beat of silence on the other end.


    Then Connor¡¯s low<i>, </i>mockingugh cut through. ¡°So it really is all an act. Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡±


    Xylia frowned, not grasping what he meant.


    After a pause,


    Connor let out a sharp scoff, contempt flickering in his eyes. ¡°All you ever want is to y the victim in front of Orion, begging him to take your side. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re not clinging to your title as Mrs. Ford, to the Ford family¡¯s power. Otherwise, why bother exining anything to him at all?¡±


    His voice turned to ice, each word a de. ¡°Xylia, tricks like that only make me despise you


    more.¡±


    <b>11:47 </b>Wed, Sep 10


    :


    Her lips curved into another weary smile.


    She was leaving anyway. Even exining felt exhausting now.


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    Connor¡¯s voice cut in again, sharp and frigid, ¡°Same thing I told you before¨Ccut ties with that pretty boy, crawl back and beg, and I¡¯ll pretend none of this ever happened. Without the Ford family, you¡¯re nothing but a useless woman. Let¡¯s see who in Jupiton would dare give you a way out.¡±


    The line went dead.


    Xylia lowered the phone, the color draining slowly from her face.


    She had never imagined Connor would one day use power and influence to corner her, to make sure she has no ce left in Jupiton.


    And


    yet the cruelest irony was that it had taken her eight years to see him clearly.


    Her gaze dropped, fixing on the blur of city lights beyond the window. She stayed silent for a long while.


    Then a deep, low voice broke through the quiet.


    ¡°Xylia, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Joshua asked.


    Her pale lips moved faintly before she shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    He had already done so much for her. The mess between her and Connor was hers to resolve.


    ¡°That¡¯s good then.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s words came soft, almost careless¨Cbut his blue eyes had already caught every flicker of her expression. His gaze narrowed, and in its depths, a sh of cold, lethal sharpness glinted and vanished.


    As long as he was here, no one would every a hand on her.


    *****


    Back at the apartment.


    Xylia and Joshua stepped out of the elevator.


    She hesitated for a moment, then said softly, ¡°Thank you, for what you did today.¡±


    She thought he would brush it off with a polite word or two, but instead Joshua lowered his gaze to her.


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    His fox¨Clike eyes carried a hint of amusement, his lips curving as he replied, half¨Csmile ying at the corners, ¡°And how does Xylia n on thanking me?¡±


    The drawl in his voice made her falter. She hadn¡¯t expected that.


    Caught off guard, she stammered, ¡°With the way things are for me now, I can¡¯t exactly buy you a gift, but I could¡­ ¡±


    ¡°Then how about this¨Cmake me dinner. That¡¯ll be thanks enough.¡±


    His tone was light,ced with a smile, tinum blond hair falling carelessly around his pale face as he dropped onto the sofa as if he owned the ce.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Xylia blinked, startled, her heart skipping when she crashed straight into those teasing eyes of his. She looked at him, half¨Cbewildered. ¡°Cook for you?¡±


    Joshua only pointed toward the window at the end of the hallway. Night had fallen, and beyond the ss stretched a sea of darkness.


    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, and your guest is starving.¡±


    The way he said it drew a smile from her.


    Back when she¡¯d saved him abroad, his eyes had been all violence¨Clike a lone wolf, ready to tear prey apart at any moment.


    But once she knew him better, that frost eased. More like an oversized dog¨Crestless, unpredictable, always at her heels.


    But this¨Cthis was the first time he¡¯d ever made such a simple request.


    ¡°Well, the fridge isn¡¯t empty. Guess you¡¯ll have to risk a taste of my cooking.¡±


    A gentle smile touched her lips as she turned the key and opened the door.


    Joshua arched a brow<i>, </i>his fox¨Clike eyes narrowing as he fixed them on her gentle features, pushing down the flicker of something darker that stirred within.


    ¡°Well then¡­ I¡¯ll take that as my reward. Thanks, Xylia.¡±


    In the dim glow of the lights, his gaze seemed almost ink¨Cdark, waves of unspoken desire rolling beneath the surface.


    ¡®Xylia, looks like I¡¯ve found your soft spot!


    Caught off guard by that look in his eyes, Xylia dropped her gaze, retreating into the kitchen as though fleeing from the sudden rush in her chest.


    11:47 Wed<b>, </b>Sep 10


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    Joshua followed her in, leaningzily against the doorframe as he watched her move about. ¡°Need a hand?¡± he asked, almost offhandedly.


    ¡°No, thanks.¡±


    Xylia wasn¡¯t used to anyone being in the kitchen with her.


    All those years as a housewife¨CConnor never once stepped foot inside, and they hadn¡¯t even kept servants around.


    She had grown used to cooking alone.


    Joshua let out a soft ¡°Oh,¡± the sound low and lingering.


    Startled, she lost focus for a split second¨Cthe knife slipped, nicking her finger.


    ¡°Hss-¡± She drew in a sharp breath, pulling her hand back. A thin line of blood welled her fingertip.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    In an instant, Joshua was at her side, gripping her hand, brows furrowed deep.


    Maybe it was just her imagination, but thezy, careless man from a moment ago now radiated a sharp, dangerous edge.


    up on


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a small cut.¡± Xylia said with an embarrassed smile, trying to pull her hand


    away.


    But Joshua only held tighter, his voice dropping low, steady andmanding, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡±


    His voice was low, leaving no room for argument.


    Xylia stilled.


    Joshua led her out to the living room, his hand firm around hers. Without hesitation, he knelt by the cab beneath the TV and pulled out a first¨Caid kit as if he¡¯d known it was there all along.


    Xylia blinked in surprise.


    That kit had been left by thendlord for emergencies, how did he even know where to find


    it?


    Before she could voice the question, a cool touch pressed against her finger, followed by the faint sting of antiseptic.


    11:47 Wed<b>, </b>Sep 10


    She let out a quiet sigh.


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    Joshua worked with meticulous care, disinfecting and bandaging the cut. Only then did he


    his gaze steady. ¡°Go sit in the living room for a bit. I¡¯ll make dinner.¡±


    look up,


    With that, he rose smoothly and disappeared into the kitchen.


    She watched his retreating figure, and for a fleeting moment, it ovepped with the boy she¡¯d once known years ago.


    Back then, when they were overseas, she¡¯de down with a fever.


    Meals overseas were often cold and unsatisfying, but Joshua had gone to great lengths to gather the ingredients and made her a warm,forting Chinese dinner.


    The warmth of that meal had eased the raw edges of her loneliness in a foreignnd, if only for a moment.


    At the time, she¡¯d seen Joshua as a younger brother¨Csomeone fragile, someone who needed protecting.


    But now¡­


    Through the half¨Copen kitchen door, she caught sight of him at the counter.


    His tailored suit traced the lines of his tall frame. Over the years, Joshua had grown taller, more handsome, carrying now the easy allure of a man in his prime.


    Gone was the shadowy, feral youth she remembered. In his ce stood someone steadier, gentler. Someone who knew how to take care of her.


    The sting from the bandaged cut pulsed at her fingertip, pulling her thoughts back.


    She lowered her gaze and let out a faint smile at herself.


    What on earth was she thinking?


    From the kitchen, Joshua noticed Xylia¡¯s eyes shift away, only to catch the quiet loneliness on her face. His expression darkened in an instant.


    That look, was she thinking of Connor again?


    Connor Ford.


    Joshua¡¯s head dipped, hisshes shadowing the glint of fury in his


    eyes.


    One day, he¡¯d dismantle Connor¡¯s life sopletely that every breath would taste of regret.


    *****


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    The next morning.


    Xylia took a cab to the Ford Mansion.


    Connor¡¯s words fromst night still echoed in her mind¨Cbefore she could file for divorce, she owed Orion an exnation.


    But as soon as she reached the entrance, the sound of Tessa¡¯s bright, carefreeughter spilled out from the hall.


    She looked up.


    In the living room, Connor was gazing at Tessa with a tenderness she had never seen, while Sonny clung to her andughed along.


    The three of them, framed together, looked every bit like the picture of a perfect family.


    Two servants passed by, unaware of Xylia¡¯s presence, whispering as they went.


    ¡°The way Mr. Ford looks at Ms. Schultz, it¡¯s softer than how he ever looked at Mrs. Ford. I¡¯d wager he¡¯s truly fond of her.¡±


    ¡°Every time Ms. Schultz visits, the whole Ford family lights up. And when she¡¯s with Mr. Ford and Mister Sonny, they look even more like a real family.¡±


    A sharp pang of bitterness gripped Xylia¡¯s chest.


    So this was her marriage¡ªnothing but a cruel joke.


    Just then, Sonny happened <i>to </i>nce toward the door. The moment he saw her standing there, his little face darkened at once.


    <b>¡°</b>Ugly old witch! What are you doing here?¡±


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    Following Sonny¡¯s gaze, Connor and Tessa both looked over.


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    Seeing Xylia show up, an icy look shed in Connor¡¯s eyes, and he let out a snort. He knew Xylia couldn¡¯t walk away from the title of Mrs. Ford in the end.


    Tessa grinned widely and waved Xylia over. ¡°Xylia, I knew you¡¯d be back. Seriously, being Mrs. Ford is the life. If it weren¡¯t for my dancing career, I¡¯d totally be a housewife myself.¡±


    Still smiling, Tessa hooked her arm through Xylia¡¯s and steered her towards the sofa. ¡°That guy from the other day? Total deadbeat. If you ask me, there is no point dragging in some nobody like that just to get back at Connor.¡±


    Xylia instinctively frowned and opened her mouth to speak, but Connor cut her off. ¡°<b>If </b>you know you messed up, then focus on home. Better straighten up and keep your distance from that man. Don¡¯t let me see you with him again.¡±


    At Tessa¡¯s words, Connor¡¯s face darkened, and he stared coldly at Xylia. It had never crossed his mind before that Xylia would try to get a rise out of him by bringing in another guy.


    Connor figured his threats fromst night must have hit home. Xylia was back, and she still couldn¡¯t help but cling to him.


    Tessa pped Connor on the shoulder like a buddy. ¡°Come on. Xylia was just throwing a little fit. Girls do that sometimes. Since she¡¯s back now and knows she was wrong, quit giving her the cold shoulder.¡±


    Connor looked at Tessa, the ice in his eyes thawing a bit, his expression softening. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who always cuts her some ck. She doesn¡¯t show a shred of remorse, you know.¡±


    Xylia watched them in silence, a wave of bitter amusement washing over her. Their cozy little scene was enough to turn her stomach.


    Just then, Sonny¡¯s shrill voice cut through Xylia¡¯s silence. ¡°What are you doing back here? You¡¯re broken and had jail time. If the other kids find out I¡¯ve got you for a mom, they¡¯llugh


    at me.¡±


    Sonny¡¯s words stabbed at Xylia¡¯s heart.


    Xylia could stay cold towards Connor. But this was Sonny, the child she¡¯d carried for nine months and given birth to. That bond still tugged at her somewhere deep down.


    Before, Xylia could tell herself maybe Tessa had poisoned Sonny¡¯s mind, turning him against his own birth mother.


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    But now, she saw the truth. It wasn¡¯t anyone whispering in his ear. It was Sonny himself, looking down on her from the bottom of his heart.


    Xylia pressed her lips together, her fingers curling slightly. A bitter thought settled in her mind, ¡®Fine. If Sonny doesn¡¯t see me as his mother, then he doesn¡¯t have to be my son either.¡® Even so, the sudden severing of that bond sent a sharp pang through her heart.


    Sonny watched her warily. ¡°You can¡¯t make it on your own in Jupiton. That¡¯s it, isn¡¯t it? Who else would want damaged goods like you, besides Dad and me?¡±


    He threw his head back, chest puffed up with smugness. ¡°If you beg us properly, I might just give you another chance.¡±


    Sonny hadn¡¯t forgotten those times Xylia¡¯d scolded him before. This time, he was determined to put her in her ce.


    Xylia gave a humorless tug at the corner of her mouth.


    ¡®My own son calling me damaged goods. A bitter ache spread through her chest. ¡®Of course he does. My own flesh and blood knows just how to twist the knife.


    ¡°Xylia, don¡¯t take it to heart. He is just a kid.¡± Tessa chirped, pping a hand yfully over Sonny¡¯s mouth, ¡°But he¡¯s got a point, you know?¡±


    Watching the three of them looking like a picture¨Cperfect little family, Xylia felt nothing but bone¨Cdeep exhaustion. She didn¡¯t even have the energy left to argue.


    Her gaze drifted calmly to Connor. ¡°Your phone¡¯s dead. Since you¡¯re here, let¡¯s go find Grandpa Orion together and get this divorce settled.¡±


    Connor¡¯s softened expression darkened again. He pulled out his cigarette case, tapped one


    out.


    ¡°Xylia, how much longer are you gonna keep this act up?¡± The scent of tobo filled the air as he looked at her, eyes cold and mocking. ¡°I¡¯ve given you more than enough.¡±


    Connor paused, taking a drag. ¡°I don¡¯t care for women who push their luck.¡±


    Xylia barked a short, bitterugh. She hadn¡¯t pushed it nearly enough, which made them torn her to pieces.


    ¡°You reminded me yesterday. We owe Grandpa an exnation. He has to hear about this divorce from us.¡± Xylia said.


    Connor¡¯s face twisted with rage. He mmed the cup he was holding to the floor. It shattered everywhere.


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    ¡°Xylia, enough is enough with this nonsense.¡± he roared, ¡°I spoiled you rotten, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll put up with your tantrums forever.¡±


    Xylia listened, a coldugh echoing silently inside her. ¡®Spoiled me? He has spun his web of lies so long that he probably starts believing them himself. The sheer nerve of him, making such pretty speeches.¡®


    Xylia had no more words to waste on him. ¡°If you won¡¯te, I¡¯ll go tell him myself.¡± With that, she turned and marched straight off toward Orion¡¯s room.


    Sonny watched her retreating back, his eyes, usually so clear, burning red. A jumble of thoughts tumbled through his mind. ¡®Mom hasn¡¯t looked at me once since she got here. Does she really not want me anymore?¡®


    A pang of fear shot through him, quickly smothered by anger. ¡®No! Tessa says Mom¡¯s just a spoiled brat throwing a fit to get back at Dad. Dad works so hard, and she pulls this running away nonsense. She just wants us to chase after her, doesn¡¯t she? What a drama queen! Well, I¡¯m not giving in. I won¡¯t let her win.¡¯


    Connor watched Xylia¡¯s determined back, that same unsettling unease bubbling up inside him again. Frustrated, he started after her.


    Suddenly, Ivan Wade, the butler, hurried over to the stairnding, calling out to Connor, ¡°Mr. Connor! Mr. Orion has copsed!¡±


    Connor bolted up the stairs. Xylia¡¯s heart lurched, and she hurried after him.


    Minutester, a car sped out of Ford Mansion, racing towards the hospital.


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    Xylia, Connor, Sonny, and Tessa were all stationed outside the ER doors.


    Paxton and Mnie rushed in momentster. The second Mnie spotted Xylia, she strode straight up and pped her across the face.


    Xylia, caught off guard, took the blow full force.


    ¡°Dad was fine until you showed up, and now he¡¯s in there.¡± Mnie snapped, her voice trembling with fury, ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a bad luck charm. You brought this on him.¡±


    Seeing Xylia struck, Connor frowned slightly. ¡°Mom, Grandpa copsed suddenly,¡± he said, stepping forward, ¡°It has nothing to do with Xylia.¡±


    It was rare for Connor to defend Xylia. Seeing her standing there, looking so fragile and pitiful after the p, tugged at him. Besides, she was still his wife. He wasn¡¯t about to stand by and watch her get hit.


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    Mnie shot Connor a re. ¡°Defending her now? At a time like this? Your grandfather is fighting for his life. Can¡¯t you think straight?¡±


    Seeing the tension, Tessa quickly stepped in, tucking her arm through Mnie¡¯s. ¡°Mnie, Grandpa really did copse out of the blue.¡± she said soothingly, ¡°As far as we saw, it wasn¡¯t because of Xylia. It¡¯s just that¡­¡±


    ¡°Just what?¡± Mnie asked.


    Tessa lowered her voice slightly, casting a meaningful nce at Xylia. ¡°It¡¯s just that Xylia¡¯s beenpletely out of line these past few days. Not only did she run off, but she¡¯s been getting awfully cozy with some other man out there. Maybe Grandpa heard about it, and that¡¯s what upset him enough to copse.¡±


    Mnie went ballistic. ¡°Xylia! You actually dared to sneak around behind my son¡¯s back?¡± she shrieked, ¡°You shameless woman!¡±


    Enraged beyond reason, Mnie lunged at Xylia, hand raised for another p.


    This time, Xylia was ready. She moved just enough to block the blow.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t run off. I¡¯m leaving for good. I want a divorce.¡± Xylia stated, her voice surprisingly steady, ¡°Isn¡¯t that exactly what you¡¯ve always wanted?¡±


    ¡°Xylia!¡± Before Mnie could fully process what Xylia¡¯d just said, Connor snapped furiously. ¡°Grandpa¡¯s still fighting in there, and this is what you pull? Have you no respect for your elders?¡± His voice was tight with rage.


    Sonny red at Xylia, his young face twisted with pure disgust. ¡°I¡¯m ashamed you¡¯re my mom. You made Great¨Cgrandpa copse, and you don¡¯t even feel bad. A woman who has served time in prison is just cruel and scary.


    ¡°You don¡¯t hold a candle to Tessa. You don¡¯t deserve to be my mom.¡±


    Mnie¡¯s gaze flickered between Xylia and Tessa.


    ¡®All these years as the daughter of the Schultz family, and she has turned out to be a phony. Mnie sneered inside.


    Mnie had always felt Xylia had no business marrying her brilliant son. Now, Xylia was demanding a divorce, which was music to Mnie¡¯s cars.


    Mnie patted Tessa¡¯s hand affectionately, then turned a look of undisguised contempt on Xylia. ¡°Since you know you¡¯re not good enough for my son, tell Dad yourself when hees out¨Cyou and Connor are getting divorced.¡±


    With that, she shifted her attention back to Tessa. ¡°Tessa, it¡¯s been years since your husband


    ¡­


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    passed. Why not find yourself a proper match?¡± She threw a meaningful nce Connor¡¯s way.


    Tessa didn¡¯t speak, but dipped her head, a shy smile ying on her lips.


    Connor missed it entirely. His eyes were locked on Xylia, his face like thunder.


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    Sonny sidled up to Tessa andtched onto her hand with his small one. ¡°After Dad divorces her, Tessa, you have to be my mom.¡± he dered, ¡°I won¡¯t have a mother who¡¯s broken and had jail time. Tessa, you¡¯re pretty and you dance so well. If you were my mom, the other kids would be so jealous.¡±


    Then he shot a look of pure disgust at Xylia. ¡°And you! Great¨Cgrandpa still hasn¡¯t woken up because of you. You¡¯re nothing but a bad luck charm.¡±


    Xylia felt a wave of icy despair washing over her. In just a few words, they concluded that she was the culprit.


    Sonny¡¯s relentless chatter only added salt to the wound. ¡°Besides, your dancing is clumsypared to Tessa¡¯s. People call you a dance prodigy? I don¡¯t think so.¡±


    He then turned to Connor. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I?¡±


    Only then did Connor shift his gaze to Tessa. The moment his eyes met her sweet, smiling face, his expression softened instantly. ¡°Tessa is a bit more graceful.¡± he confirmed, his voice noticeably warmer at the sight of her.


    Xylia watched in silence as Connor gazed at Tessa with that softness in his eyes. A bitterugh echoed silently within her. ¡®Of course Tessa dances gracefully. She¡¯s his true love, the one who got away. How could she not?¡®


    Xylia remembered the past. Every time they¡¯d visited the Schultz family, Connor¡¯s eyes would unconsciously seek out Tessa. Seeing it, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.


    But when she¡¯d dared to mention it, Connor had turned cold. ¡°Tessa is your sister.¡± he¡¯d snapped, ¡°How can you be <i>so </i>childish, jealous of your own sister?¡±


    After that, she¡¯d never dared to bring it up again.


    Looking back now, though, Xylia realized Connor¡¯s anger then was probably just himshing out from embarrassment¨Cshe¡¯d hit a nerve he couldn¡¯t admit.


    Mnie beamed at Connor¡¯s answer, her face practically glowing. ¡°Connor, since you feel that way, I understand,¡± she said, her voice thick with implication, ¡°Does this mean you¡¯re thinking of¡­ ?¡±


    Tessa let out a yfully scolded ¡°Mnie!¡± She gave a little pretend¨Cstomp of her foot, as if ovee with shyness. Yet her eyes kept darting nces at Connor, unable to look away.


    Connor remained silent, brow furrowed. What he thought he wanted eight years ago suddenly seemed within reach. But he hesitated.


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    He did want to teach Xylia a lesson, but divorcing her hadn¡¯t been part of the n. Besides, she¡¯d already backed down. If she just apologized properly and made an effort to please him again, he¡¯d keep her on.


    ¡®Where else would she go?¡® Connor thought grimly, ¡®A woman who can¡¯t manage on her own- who else would put up with her? That kept man? Ridiculous!¡®


    Tessa¡¯s smile faltered as Connor stayed silent. ¡°Mnie,¡± she said quickly, a hint of panic in her voice, ¡°Connor and I are just buddies. It¡¯spletely above board.¡±


    Mnie frowned, clearly about to argue.


    ¡°Dr. Schultz?¡± A middle¨Caged man¡¯s voice cut in.


    Xylia looked up to see a man beaming at her, striding over with obvious warmth.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m running into you here.¡± He enthusiastically shook her hand, his voice bubbling with excitement. ¡°Dr. Schultz, you¡¯re an absolute miracle worker. My leg is fully recovered!¡±


    The man¡¯s praise sent a tremor through Xylia¡¯s chest.


    She remembered him. Before her imprisonment, this man had been rushed into the hospital after <i>a </i>terrible car ident, his left leg critically injured. The medical team¡¯s consensus was amputation.


    But Xylia had proposed a pioneering surgical approach, unprecedented both domestically and internationally. Against the odds¡ªa mere 20% chance of sess¡ªshe performed the surgery and saved his leg.


    But Xylia never got to see his recovery. Prison imed her before she could witness the


    oue.


    ¡°No need to thank me.¡± Xylia murmured softly, ¡°Treating patients is just a doctor¡¯s duty¡­¡±


    Yet a wave of bitter resentment surged within her, sharp and relentless. She couldn¡¯t even lift a scalpel.


    ¡°But Dr. Schultz, you are a miracle worker.¡± the man insisted warmly, ¡°I was actually hoping to find you to thank you in


    person¡­¡±


    Sonny¡¯s mocking screech cut him off. ¡°Her? A miracle worker? She can¡¯t even cook a proper meal at home. How could she be some amazing doctor?¡±


    He puffed out his chest, sneering. ¡°She barely read any books. She only got to be a doctor because my Dad pulled strings. She¡¯s just a nepo hire. You¡¯d be better off thanking my Dad.¡±


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    The childish voice cut like a knife de, making Xylia wince. She hadn¡¯t expected Sonny to go


    that far.


    Every single step she¡¯d taken to be department chief of medicine had been earned through her own sweat and grit. Connor hadn¡¯t lifted a finger to help.


    Xylia fixed Sonny with an icy stare. ¡°I earned my ce as a doctor through pure grit and skill.¡± she stated, her voice dangerously low, ¡°Have you ever seen me at work?¡±


    Xylia could stomach his personal jabs, but having her life¡¯s work smeared was a line he¡¯d crossed.


    Seeing Xylia¡¯s cold expression¨Cthe look that meant she was genuinely angry¨Ca momentary flicker of fear shot through Sonny. But disgust surged back almost instantly, washing away the


    unease.


    ¡®A woman who barely read any books couldn¡¯t possibly be a real doctor. Sonny sneered inwardly, ¡®Mom¡¯s just being phony. She¡¯s got nothing on Tessa¡¯s genuine kindness.


    ¡°You only care about Dad¡¯s money and clout.¡± he blurted out, his voiceced with contempt, ¡°You barely cracked a book. How could you be a doctor? You think you¡¯re anything like Tessa? She actually studied, and she¡¯s smart.¡±


    Nearby, Mnie shot Xylia an icy sneer. ¡°Useless waste of space.¡± she spat, ¡°Did you really think just because my son smoothed your way at the hospital, that made you a real doctor? What bad luck!¡±


    you


    Connor scowled at Xylia, his voice dropping to a dangerous chill. ¡°Enough! Aren¡¯t embarrassed enough? Do you really need to air all this dirtyundry about your connections out here for everyone to see?¡±


    Frustration coiled tightly within Connor.


    At home, he might tolerate Xylia acting out, but that didn¡¯t mean he¡¯d stand by while she embarrassed them all out here in public.


    With just one sentence, Connor confirmed her guilt. An icy chill spread through Xylia¡¯s chest. She lowered her head, a bitterugh escaping her lips.


    The middle¨Caged man, witnessing the ugly scene, clearly wanted no part in Xylia¡¯s private drama. He mumbled a quick excuse and made a swift exit.


    Just then, the ER doors swung open. Xylia had no heart left for their arguments. Her only concern now was Orion¡¯s condition.


    As Orion was wheeled towards a private room, the doctor addressed them all, his tone


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    somber, ¡°The patient is suffering from severe age¨Crted decline. His time is limited.¡±


    The doctor¡¯s words exploded like thunder in Xylia¡¯s ears, leaving her mind numb and reeling.


    ¡°How¡­ ?¡± Xylia murmured. She remembered Orion had always been robust.


    Mnie shoved Xylia aside and copsed into loud wails, pointing a shaking finger at her. ¡°It¡¯s all you. You brought this on him!¡±


    Xylia stumbled to the floor, dazed by the sudden push and the usation.


    Fueled by fury, Sonny charged forward. Small fists flying, he began hitting Xylia. Tiny as his fists were, they still stung where theynded.


    ¡°It¡¯s your fault. You¡¯re nothing but a jinx. You killed Great¨Cgrandpa!¡± Sonny screamed.


    Connor grabbed Sonny¡¯s arm, pulling him back. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he demanded.


    ¡°Dad, it¡¯s her fault that Great¨Cgrandpa¡¯s dying.¡± Sonny sobbed, struggling against Connor¡¯s hold, ¡°I never want her as my mom again.¡±


    Tessa quickly scooped Sonny into her arms, holding him close. She turned to Connor, her voice sweet yetced with implication. ¡°Sonny¡¯s just a child, Connor. He¡¯s overwhelmed. But honestly, Xylia does have to shoulder some me for all this.¡±


    Connor¡¯s gazended on Xylia, sprawled and disheveled on the floor. An obscure pang of pity flickered deep in his eyes. His voice, when he spoke to her, remained cold and hard, ¡°Get up. You¡¯ve turned the family upside down, and now you¡¯re ying the victim? Who exactly is this act for?¡±


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    Xylia had no time for them. She scrambled to her feet and ran straight for the hospital room.


    She couldn¡¯t wrap her mind around it. Just a short while ago, Orion had seemed perfectly healthy. How could he suddenly be so ill?


    Inside the room, Orion was awake. Seeing Xylia enter, a kind smile touched his lips, as gentle as ever. He reached out a frail hand. ¡°Xylia, you came. Come closer. There are things I need to say.¡±


    Eyes red¨Crimmed, Xylia walked to the bedside and sat down, her gaze fixed on Orion. ¡°I¡¯m here, Grandpa.¡± she said softly, her voice thick with unshed tears, ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡±


    Orion looked awful lying in the hospital bed. Maybe because he¡¯d just woken up, his eyes were dull, and he seemedpletely worn out.


    He gave a weak smile, trying to reassure Xylia. ¡°Don¡¯t look so down. I know my own body. I¡¯m not kicking the bucket just yet.¡±


    ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re just sick.¡± Xylia replied, her voice tight, ¡°They¡¯ll get you


    fixed up. You¡¯ll see.¡±


    Orion just smiled faintly at that. He didn¡¯t push the conversation any further.


    ¡°Xylia,¡± Orion began, his voice raspy, ¡°over the years, you¡¯ve bent over backwards looking after Connor and Sonny. You hardly ever made it back to the Mansion.¡±


    He paused, then asked softly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay in this hospital. Could youe stay at the Mansion with me for a while? While I¡¯m still around, I¡¯d just like to see more of you. All I want is for you and Connor to be happy together. That¡¯d be enough for me.¡±


    Happy, the word felt like ash in Xylia¡¯s mouth. She lowered her head, a bitter thought shing through her mind, ¡®Grandpa probably has no clue what Connor¡¯s done.


    Her throat felt tight as she looked at Orion¡¯s ashen face. The words ¡°I want a divorce¡± stuck there, impossible to say out loud.


    After a long pause, Xylia managed a tight smile, ¡°Okay, Grandpa. I get it.¡± she said, her voice quiet.


    ¡®Fine.¡® Xylia told herself. I¡¯ll go along with it. After all, I¡¯m out of here in three months anyway, Grandpa is the only one in the Ford family who truly has my back. I can stick it out a little longer. Staying with him for a while is the least I can do. That¡¯s my way of saying thanks for everything he¡¯s done over the years.


    Xylia gently tucked the nkets around Orion. ¡°Grandpa,¡± she said softly, ¡°I¡¯ll be here with


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    Just then, Connor pushed the door open. He saw Xylia looking calm, her skin pale but her lips flushed in the sunlight streaming through the window. For a split second, she looked like some kind of figure of mercy, bathed in light.


    Connor¡¯s heart gave a sudden, sharp lurch. He frowned hard, but then he heard her say, ¡°I¡¯ll move back to the Mansion in a couple of days.¡±


    That strange flutter in his chest instantly curdled into scorn. Connor snorted. He figured that Xylia was just ying hard to get. How could she really leave him? She was obsessed with him, needed him too much.


    ¡°Cut the act, Xylia.¡± he sneered, ¡°You¡¯re just hungry for the Ford family¡¯s money and clout. Using Grandpa as your excuse toe back to Ford Mansion? Smooth operator. That¡¯s low, even for you.¡±


    Before Xylia could even respond to Connor, Orion cut him off, his face darkening. ¡°Connor! Is that any way to talk to your wife?¡± he snapped.


    Caught off guard by the sharp rebuke, Connor¡¯s expression soured. But one look at Orion¡¯s worn¨Cout face, and he swallowed whatever he was going to say.


    Seeing Connor back down, Orion¡¯s expression softened slightly.


    Deep down, he¡¯d known for a while that things weren¡¯t right between Connor and Xylia. He just hoped they could put a lid on the worst of it before he was gone. That would be enough.


    Hearing Orion stand up for her, Xylia lowered her gaze, masking whatever flickered in her


    eyes<b>. </b>


    Orion was the only one in the Ford family who¡¯d ever truly looked out for her. Come what may, she would stay by his side right to the end.


    ***


    That afternoon, Xylia headed home to pack her things. She¡¯d nned to give Joshua a heads- up, but as soon as the elevator doors slid open, there he was.


    He leaned casually against her front doorframe, dressed in a sharp suit. His head was bowed, those distinctive crescent¨Cshaped eyes downcast, a slight frown creasing his brow. He gave off


    a serious back¨Coff vibe.


    ¡°Joshua?¡± Xylia spoke first<b>, </b>surprised.


    Seeing her return from outside, Joshua arched an eyebrow slightly. The chill around him vanished instantly.


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    His gazended on her, and for a split second, something darker, more possessive flickered in his before he shuttered it away. When he looked up again, his expression was pure


    eyes


    nonchnce.


    ¡°Where have you been?¡± he asked.


    Xylia had actually been meaning to thank Joshua. She invited him inside.


    ¡°Joshua,¡± she began, her voice warm with gratitude, ¡°thanks for letting me crash at your ce these past few days. Thing is, I¡¯ve decided to head back to Ford Mansion tomorrow, so I won¡¯t be staying here anymore.¡±


    The moment the words left her mouth, it felt like the temperature in the room dropped.


    ¡°Oh? Ford mansion?¡± Joshua echoed slowly.


    Xylia frowned slightly. For just a split second, a sharp, dangerous edge seemed to flicker in his eyes before vanishing as quickly as it appeared.


    Joshua looked at Xylia, his expression perfectly calm now, not a trace of anything frightening left. If anything, his eyes, shining with a soft light, held something unreadable.


    ¡°No need to thank me.¡± he said, his tone deceptively casual, ¡°My buddy was actually looking to rent the ce out anyway. You saved me the trouble of finding someone.¡±


    His voice was pleasant enough, but there was something cold beneath the surface, impossible to pinpoint.


    Xylia murmured an ¡°Mhm,¡± but before she could get another word out, Joshua cut her off.


    His gaze swept over the room. ¡°I¡¯ll keep this ce open for you.¡± he stated simply, ¡°If you ever decide you need to get away from the Ford family, you know where toe.¡±


    Joshua seemed thoughtful in every way. Xylia felt a flicker of warmth at his consideration.


    ¡°But this is your friend¡¯s ce. Are you sure it¡¯s okay to make that call?¡± she asked hesitantly,


    ¡°It was practically unseble.¡± Joshua dismissed, waving a hand. ¡°If anyone should be saying thanks, it¡¯s me. You put up with it withoutining.¡±


    He leaned back against the sofa cushions, crossing one legzily over the other. His eyes lifted slightly, fixing on Xylia. ¡°Need a hand packing up?¡±


    Xylia sat across from Joshua. One nce up and she met his amused, appraising gaze. Her skin crawled; it felt like being sized up by a predator.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I can handle packing on my own.¡± she said.


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    Joshua lowered his eyes and let out a soft, derisive snort. ¡°Worried your husband might see


    the wrong idea?¡±


    me and


    get


    Xylia blinked at him, taken aback by the leap in logic. She hadn¡¯t meant it like that at all. She just didn¡¯t want to impose on him further.


    A weary sigh escaped her. ¡°Of course not. Alright, fine. You can help me pack.¡±


    A slow, satisfied smile curved up the corners of Joshua¡¯s lips.


    Xylia didn¡¯t have much stuff. While Joshua was helping her pack, a small stack of papers slipped out and scattered on the floor.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Joshua bent down to pick them up, his long, elegant fingers brushing over the sheets, knuckles clearly defined.


    Xylia nced over, her heart giving a painful squeeze. She snatched the papers from his hand before he could look properly and shoved them haphazardly into her suitcase.


    ¡°Nothing important.¡± she said, her voice unnervingly t. ¡°Just some junk paper.¡±


    They were her design sketches. The work she¡¯d poured her heart into during her student years, the things she¡¯d valued most back then.


    Xylia lowered her gaze, a flicker of sadness impossible to hide. Her hand was ruined. She¡¯d probably never pick up a drawing pencil again.


    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, those were jewelry design sketches?¡± Joshua spoke up, his dark eyes fixed intently on her. ¡°I¡¯ve got a friend in the business. Maybe I could set you up with an introduction?¡±


    Xylia met his gaze and gave a bitterugh. Even now, her hand sometimes shook. Holding a pen steady enough to draw a smooth line felt impossible, She had no clue if her dream of designing could ever be reality,


    ¡°Let¡¯s leave that for another time,¡± she said quietly, ¡°My hand trembles just holding a pen. No telling if I¡¯ll ever be able to handle a proper drawing brush again.¡±


    Joshua saw the deep disappointment etched on her face. The look in his eyes darkened and sharpened.


    He was silent for a long moment, then lowered his gaze, shuttering his expression.


    Right then, Joshua made a silent vow that he would find a way to fix Xylia¡¯s hand. Whatever it took.


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    A heavy quiet settled over the living room. Xylia continued packing in silence, only to look up and see Joshua smoothing out a sheet of drawing paper on the table.


    The harsh edge in Joshua¡¯s eyes had vanishedpletely. When he looked at Xylia, there was a hint of something unexpectedly soft.


    He raised an eyebrow at her. ¡°Throwing in the towel this early isn¡¯t really your style, is it?¡± He gestured towards the paper. ¡°Give it a shot?¡±


    Joshua stood in the middle of the room. The re of the overhead light fell on him, casting sharp shadows across the defined angles of his face.


    Xylia stared up at him, a tangled mess of feelings she couldn¡¯t name swirling inside. ¡®Is he trying to encourage me?¡® she wondered.


    Xylia hesitated for just a second, then sat down at the table. She picked up the pencil and touched its tip to the paper.


    A dull ache pulsed in her wrist, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead. The pain dragged her back, kicking and screaming, to her time inside.


    Memories of that night mmed into her, and her hand started to shake.


    Back in prison, the other inmates had hated Xylia because she could read and write. The ringleader of her cell block had led the pack. They¡¯d pinned her down and beat her senseless.


    To keep the guards from hearing, they¡¯d shoved a nket over her head, muffling her screams. Then, with a jagged shard of broken mirror, cold sharpness against her skin, they¡¯d cut the tendons in her hands and feet.


    That agony was etched into Xylia¡¯s bones, a pain she¡¯d never escape. And the ones who¡¯d delivered it was her own husband and son.


    They¡¯d looked down on her artwork. To pave the way for Tessa, they¡¯d destroyed Xylia¡¯s entire life.


    Xylia¡¯s hand shook violently now.


    Just as she was about to m the pencil down and give up, arge, warm hand suddenly closed over hers. The hesitant line on the paper steadied, then began to flow smoothly under Joshua¡¯s firm, guiding pressure.


    Xylia felt the warmth of his breath near her ear, catching the faint, clean scent of him as he stood close.


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    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Joshua¡¯s voice cut through Xylia¡¯s memories, sharp and clear. His tone was gentle, but there was a steel underneath it, brooking no argument.


    Xylia turned her head to look at him, meeting his downward gaze. In the dark pools of his eyes, she saw an intensity she¡¯d never seen before¡ªa kind of possessiveness he hadn¡¯t quite managed to hide.


    It hit her that Joshua wasn¡¯t always the easygoing guy he seemed. Kind of the opposite, actually. He could be really forceful, and that quiet power of his left no room for questions.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Joshua looked at Xylia.


    They were close enough for him to catch a hint of sweetness from her. His eyes darkened, the desire hidden deep within them.


    A faint blush touched Xylia¡¯s cheeks, and she just got up and moved away, putting some space between them.


    As her warmth faded beside him, the warmth inside Joshua faded too.


    ¡°I promise.¡± Xylia said, putting her paintbrush into the suitcase nearby, ¡°I¡¯ll give it a shot.¡±


    A slight smirk touched Joshua¡¯s lips, his eyes fixed on her. Where Xylia couldn¡¯t see, that possessive look was in as day.


    ¡°Alright then,¡± he replied smoothly, ¡°I¡¯ll look forward to it.¡±


    The next day, Xylia lugged her suitcase towards the Ford Mansion.


    Joshua had offered to drive her, but she¡¯d turned him down. She was worried Connor might see Joshua and give him a hard time. She didn¡¯t want Joshua getting dragged into her problems.


    Seeing how set Xylia was, Joshua didn¡¯t push it. Instead, right after she left, he pulled out his phone and made a call.


    ¡°Set things in motion.¡± he ordered.


    *****


    Rain was falling. On damp days like this, the old wound on Xylia¡¯s leg always acted up, sending a dull ache through it.


    She got out of the taxi, lugged her suitcase, and gritted her teeth against the pain as she walked to the mansion¡¯s front door.


    The porch roof kept off the steady drizzle, but she¡¯d had to make a run for it without an


    <b>11:48 </b>Wed, Sep 10


    umbre, so her clothes were a bit damp.


    :


    The pain in her leg sharpened, and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead.


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    The heavy front door was shut tight. Xylia rang the bell. No answer. So she started knocking.


    ¡°Anyone home? Ivan? Open up.¡± She kept knocking for what felt like ages, still no response.


    But that was weird. Xylia could clearly hear music ying inside. Someone had to be in there.


    Just as she was puzzling over this, Sonny¡¯s voice rang out from inside.


    ¡°Tessa, you


    dance so beautifully. Way better than Mom ever did. Dad¡¯s always saying how amazing you move, that you¡¯re a top dancer. When you be my momter, all my friends are gonna be so jealous.¡±


    Sonny was doing this on purpose. He¡¯d definitely heard Xylia knocking.


    But thinking about how she¡¯d barely paid him any attention these past few days, he felt ticked off.


    Sonny scoffed to himself. ¡®Mom can¡¯t do anything useful, and she never learns. All she does is make trouble for me and Dad.


    ¡®She got Great¨Cgrandpa hurt, and now Tessa has to apologize to Dad because of her. She¡¯s just a mean woman. She doesn¡¯t deserve to be my mom. No way I¡¯m opening that door for her.¡®


    Tessa shot a sly nce towards the front door, a smirk ying on her lips. She called out loudly, ¡°Connor, who dances better, me or Xylia?¡±


    Connor¡¯s gaze stayed locked on Tessa, feeling a little flutter inside. The answer came without thinking. ¡°You, of course.¡±


    Sonny piped up right after, his voice loud and clear, ¡°Tessa, you dance the best. Mom can barely walk properly now. She totally can¡¯tpare.¡±


    He made sure to say it loud enough for Xylia to hear outside. He wanted her to know she wasn¡¯t fit to be his mother anymore,


    Tessa beamed, reaching out to pat Sonny¡¯s cheek. ¡°Our Sonny here knows good stuff when he


    sees it,¡±


    Standing outside the door, Xylia heard every word. Itnded like a physical blow alongside the cold rain, chilling her to the core.


    She pressed her lips together and kept knocking. ¡°Sonny, open the door.¡±


    ¡­


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    No one answered her from inside. Or rather, that was deliberate ignoring.


    The porch roof was useless against the wind¨Cwhipped rain, which now drove against Xylia. She felt utterly frozen, inside and out.


    She stopped knocking. But the warm, happy sounds from within just drifted out, showing no sign of stopping.


    Sonny¡¯s voice carried on, saying crueler and crueler things¨Ctearing down Xylia, praising Tessa to the skies and wishing Tessa were his mom instead.


    Soaked by the rain, the pain in Xylia¡¯s leg red sharply.


    She had no idea how long she¡¯d been standing there when the dizziness started, washing over her in waves. Her strength gave out. She crumpled to the ground, consciousness slipping


    away.


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    When Xylia woke up again, the sight of the familiar¨Cyet¨Cunfamiliar room left her disoriented, struggling to tell dream from reality. A dull ache still throbbed in her ankle.


    ¡°Mrs. Ford,¡± a doctor¡¯s voice reached her, ¡°you really need to take care of that injury from now on. On damp, painful days, soak your feet. Try not to walk too much, or it might not heal right.¡±


    Pushing herself up, Xylia realized she was in her bedroom at Ford Mansion.


    She¡¯d just thanked the doctor and hadn¡¯t even had a moment to collect her thoughts when Connor pushed the door open and strode in.


    His expression was icy, and he seemed to carry a chill into the room with him. His gazended on Xylia, and a flicker of annoyance shed in his eyes.


    Connor stalked to the edge of her bed. His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist. A coldugh escaped him. ¡°Xylia, nice move.¡±


    Xylia frowned, wrenching her arm free. ¡°What is wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me?¡± Connor scoffed, his eyes dark and stormy, teetering on the edge of fury. ¡°You showed up without even knocking, stood out in the rain on purpose and made yourself sick¨Call just to y the victim in front of Grandpa? Hoping he¡¯ll yell at Tessa for you? Xylia, how can you be so vicious?¡±


    Xylia was still deathly pale from her illness. When she heard Connor¡¯s words, the realization hit her that he was just standing up for Tessa. The thought felt bitterly ironic.


    Sonny jumped in right after his dad, ring at Xylia like she was the enemy, not his mom. ¡°You¡¯re so mean.¡± he shouted, his eyes full of hate, ¡°Why do you always pick on Tessa? You deserve to be locked up for another three months.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s fingers curled slightly. A bitterugh escaped her lips, but her voice was ice cold when she spoke to the two of them. ¡°I knocked. Didn¡¯t you hear?¡±


    Sonny froze at her words. He shot a quick nce at Connor, checking for a reaction. Seeing none, a flicker of relief crossed his face.


    The truth was that Sonny had heard the knock. He¡¯d ignored it on purpose. He was determined to teach Xylia a lesson for his dad.


    Just then, Tessa burst in. Her eyes were red and watery as she looked at Xylia.


    ¡°Look, Xylia,¡± she started, her voice soft and weak, ¡°I know you¡¯re not happy seeing me stay at


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    Ford Mansion. I¡¯m just really worried about Grandpa, you know? Connor and I have always been just friends. His grandpa feels like my grandpa too. That¡¯s the only reason I¡¯m here.


    ¡°Well, if you¡¯re mad at me, just say so. I¡¯m not like you young girls who y all those mind games. I¡¯m straightforward. If you¡¯d just say you hate me, I¡¯d stay out of your way for sure. You didn¡¯t need to scheme to turn Grandpa against me.¡± Tessa¡¯s voice trembled with tears by the end.


    Sonny, hearing this, red at Xylia, his little face puffing with anger. ¡°You tried to make Great- grandpa hate Tessa? That¡¯s so mean and sneaky. You¡¯re not my mom anymore.¡±


    Connor¡¯s face darkened as he looked at Xylia too, colder than before.


    ¡°Xylia.¡± he said, his voice sharp, ¡°ying these dirty games only makes me dislike you more. If you want to keep being Mrs. Ford, learn the Ford family rules. And leave those nasty prison habits behind.¡±


    Xylia listened to their usations, a strange numbness settling over her.


    A bitter smile touched her lips. ¡°You lot are phony.¡± she said tly, ¡°Don¡¯t drag me into it. Grandpa is critically ill, and yet here you are, first thing in the morning, dancing and having a st in the living room.


    ¡°Your music was so loud it drowned out my knocking. You didn¡¯t hear me. You didn¡¯t open the door. And now you me me? That¡¯s rich.¡±


    Connor hadn¡¯t expected Xylia to fight back. Her words stung him with a flicker of guilt. Grandpa had just been diagnosed with a terminal illness yesterday, and them dancing this morning, which was dead wrong.


    But what Xylia did¨Cdeliberately passing out at the door to win Grandpa¡¯s pity and make him yell at Tessa¨Cthat was crossing the line.


    Connor¡¯s face turned icy. ¡°Xylia,¡± he snapped, ¡°don¡¯t turn it on us. Apologize to Tessa.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s head throbbed, dizziness washing over her. She had no energy for this fight. ¡°Believe whatever you want. I won¡¯t apologize. Now get out.¡±


    Connor¡¯s expression darkened instantly. He moved forward, ready toy into her, but Tessa grabbed his arm.


    ¡°Oh, Connor, stop!¡± Tessa said, her voice dripping with false sweetness, ¡°Xylia is just misunderstanding our friendship. She¡¯s jealous. That¡¯s all. Really, it¡¯s nothing for me to get hurt a little. Don¡¯t fight over me. You shouldn¡¯t let thise between husband and wife.¡±


    She paused, pulling out her phone. ¡°My mom just texted me toe home. I¡¯ve got to go.¡±


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    Connor shot Xylia onest furious re before turning to Tessa. His expression softened instantly, like flipping a switch.


    ¡°You¡¯re the kind one.¡± he said gently. ¡°Just ignore her. She¡¯s not thinking straighttely. I¡¯ll walk you down.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Tessa replied.


    The two left, Connor leading the way.


    Sonny hung back. He stared at Xylia, his little chest puffed up like an angry balloon.


    Xylia¡¯s cool, detached gaze swept over him without a word. She simplyy back down, turning


    away.


    Seeing her ignore himpletely only made Sonny more frustrated. He let out a loud, angry huff, spun on his heel, and stomped off after Tessa and Connor.


    Lying in bed, Xylia let out a heavy sigh. The biggest regret of her life was buying into Connor¡¯s sweet talk about love, marrying him, and having his child.


    But then she thought of Orion. That brought a tiny bit offort. At least she still had three months, well, just over two months left now. She¡¯d spend that time right by his side. And when her time was up, she¡¯d be free to leave.


    Thinking about that escape made her heart feel a little lighter.


    Xylia had assumed Connor and Sonny would see Tessa all the way home and stay away from the old house for a couple of days.


    <b>But </b>they just walked her downstairs, handed her off to the driver, and stayed put at Ford Mansion themselves.


    Seeing them clearly now, thest bit of warmth Xylia felt towards them was nearly gone. She wanted nothing to do with them. But stuck under the same roof, she constantly bumped into


    them<b>. </b>


    Plus, Orion desperately wanted Xylia and Connor to make a real go of their marriage. For his sake, Xylia still had to put on an act like everything was fine whenever he was around.


    As she was going downstairs, Xylia saw Orion sitting on the sofa.


    He looked worn out, stabbing a finger at Connor as he scolded him in a low voice. Nylia caught only bits and pieces from where she stood


    ¡°No matter what, Xylia is your wife I don¡¯t care how you treat Tessa. But if you break Xylia¡¯s heart, and she finally walks away, you¡¯ll regret it big time, and there¡¯ll be nothing you can do!¡±


    Connor stood straight in front of Orion, not looking the least bit guilty.


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    ¡°Rx, Grandpa.¡± he said, sounding way too sure of himself, ¡°Xylia¡¯s so head over heels for me. She won¡¯t really leave.¡±


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    Hearing Connor¡¯s confident words, Xylia let out a bitterugh.


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    Back when she loved him, she¡¯d trusted himpletely and never imagined leaving.


    But now, seeing clearly that her so¨Ccalled husband was really just a puppet master pulling her strings, her mind was made up that she would divorce him. She had to get away from Connor.


    Orion seemed about to say more, but catching sight of Xylia out of the corner of his eye at the top of the stairs, his expression instantly softened into a warm smile.


    ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re up and about.¡± he called out kindly. ¡°Come join us.¡±


    Xylia had onlye downstairs for a ss of water when Orion called her over. From the moment she left her room to settling onto the sofa, she didn¡¯t so much as nce in Connor¡¯s direction.


    Connor frowned, a pang of panic shooting through him. He felt the chill in Xylia¡¯s attitude. It really seemed like she¡¯d made up her mind to go.


    ¡°How are you feeling now, Xylia? Any better? Orion asked, his voice full of concern.


    Xylia touched her forehead and gave Orion a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandpa. I¡¯m all


    better now.¡±


    ¡°d to hear you¡¯re feeling better.¡± Orion said, giving Xylia¡¯s shoulder a pat. A big, warm smile spread across his deeply lined face. ¡°Stay here for a while. Just keep mepany for what time I have left.¡±


    ¡°Grandpa, what kind of talk is that?¡± Xylia objected gently, ¡°If you follow the doctors¡® advice, there¡¯s still hope. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll stay right here. I¡¯m not going anywhere. I¡¯ll take good care of you.¡°.


    Orion looked at Xylia with deep appreciation. ¡®She really is the granddaughter¨Cinw I¡¯ve picked out. he thought, ¡®So loyal and thoughtful.


    Hearing Xylia¡¯s words, Connor felt his earlier panic melt away.


    He gave her a mocking nce, sure she was scheming. ¡®All that talk about staying for Grandpa?¡® he thought, ¡®Just an excuse to cling to life <i>at </i>Ford mansion.¡®


    Connor was convinced Xylia couldn¡¯t bear to lose theforts and influence that came with being Mrs. Ford, and even more certain she wasn¡¯t ready to let go of him.


    Feeling suddenly magnanimous, he thought, ¡®Since she¡¯s pulling all these stunts just to stay-


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    and she is my wife¨CI¡¯ll let her stay this time. I won¡¯t make a fuss. But if she tries any dirty tricks against Tessa again, I might not let it slide!¡®


    Over the next few days, Xylia stayed at Ford Mansion. Mnie sometimes made snide remarks or even tried to make things difficult for her.


    Xylia didn¡¯t let it bother her. Her focus was solely on keeping Orionpany. She followed the doctor¡¯s orders, tending to Orion¡¯s every need despite the aching in her own arms and legs.


    Under her care, Orion brightened up noticeably. He wasn¡¯t nearly as worn down as before.


    One day, Orion had ns to meet an old friend. Thinking the two old friends would want to talk privately, Xylia decided not to tag along.


    Later, a message popped up on her phone from Joshua, checking in on her. Seeing it, Xylia couldn¡¯t help a small smile.


    Life at Ford Mansion wasn¡¯t exactly easy for Xylia.


    Beyond Mnie giving her a hard time, every encounter with Connor brought back the hurt from him, let alone Sonny looking at her like she was something stuck to his shoe.


    All of this churned inside her, leaving her feeling trapped and unhappy.


    These days, the only constantfort was Joshua. His messages popped up daily, offering a chance to chat.


    Those moments talking with him became her only real escape, the only time Xylia could breathe easy amidst the grind.


    After replying to Joshua¡¯s message, Xylia thought about the designer friend he¡¯d mentioned the other day.


    An idea sparked. She went back to her bedroom, pulled out some drawing paper and pencils.


    Even Joshua is helping me look toward the future,¡® Xylia thought, ¡®I shouldn¡¯t be giving up on myself.


    She could no longer be a doctor or a dancer. Holding onto her art¨Cthat was the one dream she had left, and she refused to let go of it,e hell or high water.


    She loved drawing. Back in college, she¡¯d even dabbled in fashion design for a while.


    After a moment¡¯s thought, Xylia picked up her pencil. Her hand trembled as she painstakingly guided it across the paper, striving for smooth lines.


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    The old injury made drawing slow, painstaking work. Just sketching the draft of a single dress took her two solid hours.


    Xylia was so focused on each stroke, so lost in the process, that she didn¡¯t even notice when Sonny came into the room.


    Sonny came home from school, not nning to bother with Xylia. But as he passed her bedroom door, some unseen force pulled him closer.


    Xylia had been glued to Orion¡¯s side these past few days, pretty much ignoring Sonny. It fueled his frustration, making him feel even more strongly that she was petty and didn¡¯t deserve to be his mother.


    The door was ajar. From the hallway, Sonny saw Xylia sitting by the window, her expression soft and focused as she held a pencil.


    He just walked in and moved closer to look. On the paper, wobbly lines sketched out the faint beginnings of a dress.


    Sonny snorted, his voice dripping with scorn. ¡°That looks pathetic. How can you even stand to look at it?¡± Young as he was, he didn¡¯t hold back.


    The sudden sound startled Xylia. She frowned at him.


    He kept going. ¡°You don¡¯t have an artistic bone in your body. What makes draw? Only Tessa gets it. Her drawings are a hundred times better than this mess.


    you think


    you can


    ¡°You¡¯re just a housewife. Your hands are only good for cooking. I¡¯m hungry. Go make me something <i>to </i>eat now.¡±


    In his mind, Sonny figured he¡¯d tossed her a lifeline.


    ¡®If she just makes me a meal, he thought, smugly sure of himself, ¡®I¡¯ll forgive her. She¡¯s so desperate to hang onto me and Dad, she¡¯ll jump at this chance to suck up to me.


    But he¡¯d gotten it all wrong. Xylia just gave him a cool look and went right back to slowly tracing lines on her paper.


    Seeing her ignore him, Sonny went off like a firecracker.


    Furious, he grabbed the pencil right out of her hand and flung it aside. ¡°Are you deaf? I said I¡¯m hungry. Go make me food now!¡±


    Xylia met his re, ice in her voice. ¡°The mansion has staff. Tell them you¡¯re hungry. They¡¯ll get you something. You don¡¯t need me to cook for you.¡±


    Sonny hadn¡¯t expected her refusal. Before, a mere mention of hunger would send her


    scrambling to the kitchen.


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    A pang of hurt shot through him, instantly fueling his anger. He lunged forward, snatched the drawing right off the table, ripped it free, turned and bolted from the room.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Xylia called out, chasing after Sonny.


    Sonny ran downstairs and tossed the painting straight into the firece, watching it burn.


    He spun around, ring fiercely at Xylia. ¡°This is such crap. It¡¯s so embarrassing you even drew this. You¡¯re just a stay¨Cat¨Chome mom who can¡¯t paint for anything. Even Tessa¡¯s little doodles are way better than this junk. You¡¯re not my real mom.¡±


    Sonny¡¯s little face was flushed bright red with anger.


    Xylia looked at Sonny, her heart aching. She remembered how, when he was tiny, he¡¯d been such a cuddly little boy who stuck to her like glue.


    Back then, they used to paint together. Sonny would sweetly call her ¡°Mom¡± and, in the cutest way, tell her how beautiful her paintings were. He¡¯d even say that when he grew up, he¡¯d buy them with all the money in the world.


    But now, he had tossed the picture she¡¯d worked so hard on into the fire like it was garbage.


    Xylia just gave Sonny one long, deep look. Without a word, she turned and walked straight upstairs. She bit back what she wanted to say, for the sake of being his mom, not wanting to hurt him.


    Back in her room, Xylia picked up her phone. Only then did she see that Joshua had sent her a


    message.


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    Chapter <b>25 </b>


    Joshua asked if she¡¯d been working on any design sketchestely.


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    Xylia¡¯s mind shed to the painting Sonny had tossed into the firece and burned to ashes.


    Truth was, she didn¡¯t really miss that painting. Even though she¡¯d put all that time in, she still couldn¡¯t get what was in her head down on paper right. The design felt soulless, and the brushstrokes were super awkward.


    Xylia looked down at her right hand, really wondering if she could even keep painting.


    Xylia replied: [No inspiration. Haven¡¯t been drawing.]


    Xylia figured that would be the end of the conversation with Joshua. But the next second, her phone was ringing.


    She answered, and Joshua¡¯s voice came through the line, deep and rich, surprisingly nice to listen to.


    ¡°Xylia,¡± he said, ¡°is it really no inspiration or are you just scared to pick up the brush?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s fingers trembled slightly on the phone. It felt like Joshua could read her mind. Even over the phone, it was as if he was right there in front of her, seeing right through her excuses.


    ¡°Both.¡± Xylia admitted honestly.


    The injury to her hand wasn¡¯t the real problem. The real problem was, every time Xylia tried to draw, she¡¯d get dragged back to her time in prison.


    Joshua was quiet for a beat. ¡°Wounds can heal over time.¡± he offered gently, ¡°But if you give up inside, that¡¯s when you lose all hope.¡±


    Then he made a suggestion, his voice soft, almost tentative, ¡°Look, tomorrow¡¯s supposed to be sunny. The sunset from Mount Evermore here in Jupiton is pretty famous. Why don¡¯t we go check it out? Might spark some ideas for you. You in?¡±


    Xylia nodded, even though he couldn¡¯t see it. ¡°Just send me the address.¡± she said. She didn¡¯t want Joshua picking her up at Ford Mansion. It could lead to unexpectedplications.


    There was a pause on the line, a couple of seconds of silence before Joshua finally replied, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Joshua hung up the phone, his face dark as he sank back into the sofa. The private room was silent enough to hear a pin drop.


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    Everyone had watched Joshua take the call, his expression shifting with every passing moment. The second the call ended, his features snapped shut again, a palpable menace radiating from him.


    For a moment, nobody dared breathe a word, not dumb enough to poke the bear.


    Suddenly, Joshua turned his head towards Xavi seated beside him. ¡°I¡¯ll hook you up with the contacts for the clothing business out West,¡± he stated tly, ¡°but you agree to one condition.¡±


    Xavi¡¯s eyes lit up. He almost jumped off the couch, then seemed to remember where he was. ¡°You guys carry on!¡± he barked at the others.


    Without another word, he pulled Joshua out into the hallway. ¡°Just tell me the condition,¡± Xavi pressed the moment the door shut behind them, ¡°so I can start getting ready.¡±


    Joshua draped his jacket over his arm, the muscles flexing under his shirt. He gave Xavi beside him a cold look. ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you to a designer. Make sure you look after her properly.¡±


    Xavi was puzzled that Joshua¡¯s request was such a minor thing. But if it meant getting the business deal, he¡¯d happily take on even a hundred designers.


    ¡°No problem.¡± he answered quickly.


    With Xavi¡¯s agreement, Joshua turned to leave.


    ¡°Not staying?¡± Xavi called after him.


    ¡°No time.¡± And just like that, Joshua vanished around the corner.


    Xavi scratched his head,pletely baffled. He wondered what kind of genius designer could be worthy of Joshua trading away a business deal.


    *****


    When Connor arrived home, Sonny immediatelyined about Xylia. ¡°Dad, Mom¡¯s getting worse and worse¨Cshe didn¡¯t even cook for me. You should just divorce her. I really want Tessa to be my mom instead.¡±


    Connor¡¯s expression hardened instantly. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± he snapped. The idea of divorcing Xylia had never once crossed his mind.


    When Sonny saw Connor scold him, his lip trembled and he pouted, looking so wronged.


    Connor saw this and realized his voice had been too harsh.


    He sighed, crouched down to Sonny¡¯s level, and softened his tone a bit. ¡°Look, no matter what, Xylia¡¯s still your Mom. She can¡¯t dance or practice medicine anymore. With the divorce, she


    can¡¯t do much. How do you expect her to get by on her own?¡±


    ¡°But Dad,¡± Sonny sniffled, ¡°don¡¯t you like Tessa?¡±


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    ¡°Of course I do.¡± Connor replied quickly, ¡°But it¡¯s just not the right time for that yet.¡±


    Xylia stood at the top of the stairs, catching every word of their conversation.


    She had been on her way down to make some soup for Orion to have when he got back.


    She hadn¡¯t expected to walk out and hear that. Their hypocrisy made her sick, right from the bottom of her heart.


    Fighting down the wave of nausea, Xylia headed down the stairs.


    Connor saw Xyliae downstairs and his face instantly turned cold, his brows knitting tightly. ¡°No matter what,¡± he said sternly, ¡°you are Sonny¡¯s mother. You have a responsibility to raise him. Neglecting his needs just because of your own whims¨Cdo you even deserve to be called a mother?<b>¡± </b>


    Connor truly hadn¡¯t considered divorcing Xylia, but if she mistreated their child, that was a different story.


    He believed that during their marriage, he hadn¡¯t treated her badly. He¡¯d just had her cooking and looking after the kid at home, letting her be Mrs. Ford without a care in the world. But he absolutely would not put up with her neglect.


    Because of her foot injury, Xylia walked with a limp. By the time she stepped off thest stair, a light sweat had beaded on her forehead.


    Ford Mansion did have an elevator, but ever since Xylia moved in, Mnie had installed an ess control system on it. Xylia didn¡¯t have the permissions to use it.


    Looking at Connor and Sonny who treated her with such cold indifference, Xylia had long since lost any desire to speak to them.


    She curled her lips into a sneer and walked straight past them as if they were air, heading directly for the kitchen.


    Connor and Sonny watched her head to the kitchen and both felt somewhat better inside.


    ¡°Looks like she¡¯s going to make you something to eat.¡± Connor said.


    Sonny gave a little ¡°hmph,¡± a touch of pride still showing on his face. ¡°If she doesn¡¯t make my favorite butter¨Cbraised chicken wings, I still won¡¯t forgive her.¡±


    Seeing Sonny like this, Connor could only shake his head helplessly.


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    Orion came back just as dinnertime rolled around. The table was alreadyid out with the evening meal.


    Mnie had also just returned. Seeing Xylia helping Orion to the dining table, her eyes filled with disgust.


    Mnie cursed inside, ¡®That bitch! She¡¯s sucking up to Orion all day long, just trying to use his pity to get him on her side, so she can cling onto Connor. I¡¯ll show her.¡¯


    Mnie handed her bag and coat to a servant, then walked up with a smile. She grabbed Xylia¡¯s arm and shoved her aside, positioning herself next to Orion.


    ¡°Oh, Dad.¡± she said sweetly, ¡°Why are you sitting here? That Xylia has no manners. Why didn¡¯t she help you to the head of the table? Wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she wanted to pull you down so she could sit in the Ford family¡¯s ce of head herself.¡±

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    Shoved by Mnie, Xylia stumbled, the jolt aggravating her foot injury. A sharp pain shot through her, nearly sending her crashing to the floor. Only grabbing the nearby chair saved


    her.


    She couldn¡¯t be bothered with Mnie¡¯s snide remarks.


    Lately, Mnie seized every chance she got to target Xylia. At first, she¡¯d called Xylia a jinx, ming her for bringing the bad luck that caused Orion¡¯s serious illness.


    Since then, she¡¯d made it a point to oppose Xylia at every turn¨Cbanning her from the elevator, forbidding her from moving freely around the mansion, and pointing the finger at her first whenever anything went missing.


    Xylia refused to waste her breath and energy on someone like that; it just wasn¡¯t worth the toll it took.


    Once steady on her feet, Xylia moved to the other side of Orion.


    ¡°Grandpa,¡± she said, ¡°have some creamy fish chowder. I made it specially for you this afternoon. The doctor said it would be better for you.¡± As she spoke, shedled out a bowl.


    The chowder looked delicate and smelled mouthwatering, immediately whetting Orion¡¯s appetite.


    Ignoring Mniepletely, Orion beamed at Xylia. ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re so thoughtful. You know this is my favorite.¡± With that, he took a sip and immediately started gushing praise.


    ¡°I¡¯m so d you like it, Grandpa.¡± Xylia said, ¡°I¡¯ll make it for you often.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s cooking skills had been honed over the years preparing meals for Connor and Sonny. Both were picky eaters, so she¡¯d even taken lessons from a top chef for a while.


    But her hands were injured now, and she couldn¡¯t overdo things.


    Orion noticed the scar on Xylia¡¯s wrist and shook his head with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know when I fancy it. Just have the staff help out. Don¡¯t push those hands of yours.¡±


    Xylia felt a pang of bitterness. Orion was the only one left in the Ford family who cared about her injured hands.


    Mnie watched the scene beside them, practically fuming. She seethed at how easily Xylia seemed to wrap Orien around her little finger.


    ¡°Xylia.¡± she demanded shrilly, ¡°Are you deaf? Who made you help Dad sit here?¡±


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    Before Xylia could respond, Orion spoke up, his voice low and firm. ¡°I chose this seat myself. The head seat is too far from the dishes. If you want the ce, go sit there. Stop giving Xylia a hard time.¡±


    Mnie shut her mouth tight, not daring to say another word.


    Xylia sat down beside Orion anddled out more chowder for him.


    Sonny sat across the table, fuming as he watched Xylia ce the bowl in front of Orion, giving him all the good stuff. His little face flushed bright red.


    Mnie, noticing Sonny staring hard at the fish chowder, thought he wanted some too. ¡°Sonny wants chowder.¡± she snapped at Xylia, ¡°Can¡¯t you see? Get him a bowl.¡±


    Xylia just nced at Sonny and looked away. ¡°This was specially made for Grandpa. The stuff in it isn¡¯t right for a kid. There¡¯s some the servants made over there. He can help himself if he wants it.¡±


    Sonny mmed his chopsticks down. ¡°Who wants your stupid chowder anyway?¡± he yelled, ¡°Tessa can cook too. Her food¡¯s a hundred times better than yours. Someday I¡¯m only eating


    what Tessa makes for me.¡±


    With that, he scrambled down from his chair and stormed off out of the dining room.


    Mnie¡¯s face instantly darkened. ¡°Xylia,¡± she said coldly, ¡°you¡¯re a grown woman. Why are you picking on a kid? All Sonny wanted was some fish chowder. Was it so hard to just dish him out a bowl? What kind of mother are you?¡±


    Connor frowned at Xylia, his voice icy. ¡°And here Sonny was craving your cooking. Turns out you spent the whole afternoon in the kitchen just to make one lousy pot of chowder. You didn¡¯t bother with a single thing Sonny actually wanted to eat. Some prize you turned out to


    be.¡±


    Faced with Connor and Mnie¡¯s taunts and scolding, Xylia just smiled silently.


    Because of them, her hands were pretty much ruined. This pot of chowder was all she¡¯d managed to pull off, and it had taken everything she had. Making anything else would have finished her hands off for good.


    Xylia wasn¡¯t about to go back to waiting on them hand and foot like she used to,


    Seeing Xylia didn¡¯t bother defending herself, Connor threw down his chopsticks and stormed out too. Mnie followed suit.


    Seeing this, Orion sighed. ¡°Xylia, don¡¯t pay them any mind. They¡¯re all acting like a bunch of nutjobs.¡±


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    Xylia couldn¡¯t help butugh at Orion¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Grandpa. Really. Just eat your dinner and get some rest soon, okay?¡±


    Orion looked at Xylia¡¯s face, thinner than usual these past few days. For the first time, he wondered if his idea to push Xylia and Connor together had been a wishful thinking.


    *****


    The next afternoon, the weather was hot and stuffy. Xylia headed out, changing into some cooler clothes.


    She wore a simple T¨Cshirt and jeans, fitted enough to show off her slim figure. Her long hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, and her face, smooth and without a w, looked so fresh and young. She didn¡¯t look like a mom at all.


    When she reached the meeting spot, Xylia spotted Joshua right away. He was leaning against his car.


    He was seriously good¨Clooking. He had on a simple button¨Cdown shirt and dress rolled up a bit at the wrists. The sunlight silhouetted the firm muscles in his arms.


    pants, sleeves


    He was staring off thoughtfully at a crowd not too far away, his face tilted up slightly, revealing a strong, sharp jawline. That perfect profile was something incredibly attractive.


    Maybe sensing her gaze, Joshua turned his head and met Xylia¡¯s slightly dazed eyes.


    A smile curved his lips, the brooding look on his face instantly warming over. ¡°You made it?¡±


    Xylia, realizing she¡¯d been caught staring, felt a flicker of embarrassment.


    She walked over with a smile, greeting him politely. ¡°Hope you haven¡¯t been waiting long?¡±


    Joshua shook his head. ¡°Not long. Just got here myself.¡±


    Xylia was about to suggest they head off when Joshua suddenly leaned in close. He was close enough that she could catch his familiar scent¨Ca clean, masculine fragrance that washed over


    her.


    Surprised by his sudden nearness, Xylia instinctively took a step back.


    Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened slightly, but his voice, smooth as velvet, cut through the air. ¡°Enjoying the view, Xylia? Looked like you got a little lost there for a second.¡±


    Appreciating beauty was human nature. But getting caught staring was a whole different story.


    A blush crept up Xylia¡¯s cheeks as she quickly changed the subject. ¡°I was just thinking about something else.¡±


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    ¡°Oh?¡± Joshua¡¯s lips curved into a knowing smile, his eyes crinkling attractively at the corners.


    He had to admit that having a decent face definitely came in handy sometimes.


    Xylia urged him to go. Joshua motioned for her to get in the passenger seat.


    ¡°Thought you might be hungry.¡± Joshua said, nodding towards arge bag, ¡°Picked up some stuff. See what you feel like and grab it.¡±


    Xylia took the hefty bag he handed over and peeked inside. It was packed with a whole assortment of snacks, and none of them looked cheap.


    She did a quick mental tally. This bag had to have set him back seven hundred dors.


    Xylia frowned slightly. Something felt off. Joshua clearly wasn¡¯t broke, sure, but he wasn¡¯t exactly rolling in it either. Why splurge on pricey snacks like this?

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    Suppressing the strange feeling, Xylia lowered her gaze and stopped speaking.


    Joshua drove steadily. Mount Evermore was a tourist spot, and they couldn¡¯t drive all the way to the top. For thest stretch, they took a cable car to reach the summit, considering her injured foot.


    The scenery at the top was beautiful, but they were the only two tourists around, making the ce feel empty.


    Xylia furrowed her brows. ¡°It¡¯s the weekend. There should be a lot of people visiting, but where is everyone?¡±


    Joshua suddenly chuckled, ncing at his phone with a meaningful look. ¡°Yeah, howe there are no other tourists?¡± he said casually.


    Xylia didn¡¯t think much of it, and they found a spot to sit at the top.


    The sun slowly dipped below the horizon, turning the clouds a fiery red.


    As she took in the view, Xylia feltpletely rxed, her mood lightened.


    Joshua kept watching her, noticing the change in her. He smiled. It seemed his n to have the ce all to themselves was working.


    Feeling his gaze, Xylia turned and met his eyes. ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    Joshua, unfazed, propped his head up on his hand, looking rxed. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful. I can¡¯t help but look.¡± His tone made it hard to tell if he was joking or being serious.


    Xylia blinked, giving him a quick re. ¡°Stop talking nonsense.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s mood lifted. He pulled a medicated patch from his bag. ¡°I talked to a friend who¡¯s a traditional medicine doctor. He made this for you. Says it works pretty well. You should give it a try.¡±


    As he spoke, he gently pulled her injured right hand over, applying the patch to her wrist. His palm was warm, but the patch felt cool against her skin.


    Xylia looked at him, noticing the sunset¡¯s warm glow on his face, softening <i>his </i>features. For a moment, she couldn¡¯t believe this was the same harsh young man she once knew.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said softly. After her release from prison and learning about everything Connor and Sonny had done to her, she was crushed. It was almost too much to bear.


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    Joshua had given her warmth. He found her a ce to stay and cared for her injury.


    While applying the patch, Joshua said casually, ¡°No need to thank me. I¡¯ll make you repay me someday.¡± His voice was teasing, his gaze intense.


    Xylia froze, but figured he was just joking. Changing the subject, she asked, ¡°You really have a lot of friends, huh?¡±


    Thewyer¡¯s business card he gave herst time turned out to belong to a very well¨Cknown attorney.


    This medicated patch was no ordinary one either. As someone who studied medicine, she could tell it wasn¡¯t something a regr doctor could make.


    Hiswork seemed too impressive. He knew top professionals from all kinds of fields.


    Joshua¡¯s expression darkened slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips, but he didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he shifted the topic.


    *****


    By the time she returned to Ford Mansion, it was already dark. Xylia walked in with a smile on her face, feeling much more at ease. She still held the bag of medicated patches in her hand.


    Connor was sitting on the couch, texting, his expression soft.


    Seeing the look on his face, Xylia instantly guessed who was on the other end of the phone.


    A sharp pain pierced her heart for a brief moment before quickly fading. She averted her gaze, walking up the stairs without a word.


    Connor¡¯s expression turned cold the moment he saw her. He asked, ¡°Where did you go?¡±


    ¡°Nowhere,¡± Xylia answered indifferently.


    Connor, irritated, stepped forward and blocked her path. His eyesnded on the bag she was holding, and he snatched it from her.


    Inside were the medicated patches. ncing at her wrist, he sneered, ¡°You went out just to buy these?¡±


    Xylia snatched the bag back, her voice cold. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡±


    Connor was frustrated by her attitude. He had let her return without forcing her to apologize to Tessa, which he thought was enough.


    Yet, she acted like she had been wronged and was still angry with him.


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    He sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°You¡¯re a useless wreck now. No medicated patch can fix that.¡±


    He knew exactly how to hurt her. The thought of her hands and feet being damaged, unable to dance or hold a scalpel, was what tormented her the most.


    ¡°Instead of trying to pick a fight, how about thinking about divorce?¡± Xylia tried to walk away, but Connor grabbed her wrist.


    ¡°Divorce? Xylia, you¡¯re pathetic. In front of Grandpa, you pretend to be a perfect granddaughter¨Cinw. But in front of me, you¡¯re always talking about leaving.


    ¡°Are you trying to win sympathy from Grandpa by acting like a victim?¡± he said.


    Xylia didn¡¯t want to argue, so she yanked her wrist away from his grip, her tone icy. ¡°Let go of me!¡±


    But Connor tightened his hold, squeezing her injured wrist without mercy. The pain shot through her arm, making her tremble.


    ¡°Xylia, if you want to keep yourfortable life, you¡¯d better stay in your ce. Be more like your sister, generous and sensible.¡± With that, Connor released her with a sharp push and walked upstairs.


    Clutching her wrist, Xylia waited for the pain to subside before heading upstairs. She and Connor didn¡¯t share a bedroom. It was her choice, and Connor hadn¡¯t protested. Mnie certainly didn¡¯t mind.


    Once in her room, she set down the bag of medicated patches. Her wrist still had red marks from where he had gripped it so tightly.


    Xylia stared at her hand for a moment before remembering Joshua¡¯s words earlier at Mount Evermore.


    ¡°If you want to earn money on your own, you can go for an interview with my friend¡¯spany in two days. But first, you need to design a piece of work to bring with you,¡± Joshua had said earlier.


    Xylia had thought about it. Even though she had been down after injuring her hand, she didn¡¯t n to give up on her future,


    If Joshua, someone she hadn¡¯t seen in a long time, was willing to help her, then she shouldn¡¯t give up so easily.


    She made up her mind to design something in the next two days and go to the interview. Her life, she would take control of it.

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    Over the past two days, aside from spending time with Orion, Xylia had been working on her design sketches in her room.


    The medicated patch Joshua gave her worked surprisingly well. After just two days, the pain in her wrist had eased.


    Although her hand still trembled a little when holding a pencil, after some practice, she was able to draw decently.


    Once the sketches were done, she messaged Joshua to ask for the interview address and headed out right away.


    Just as she left Ford Mansion, a Bentley pulled up. Tessa stepped out of the car, directing the driver to unload gifts.


    She stood in front of the mansion, looking at the grand doors with a smug smile on her face. She was confident that she would move in here sooner orter.


    <b>***** </b>


    When Xylia arrived at the location Joshua sent her, she quickly spotted him.


    He was dressed in a fresh, casual outfit, his hair slightly falling over his forehead, and his captivating eyes locked onto her the moment she approached.


    Xylia walked up and asked, confused, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve got nothing to do. Thought I¡¯de with you to the interview,¡± Joshua replied casually.


    Xylia looked at him, wondering how his job seemed so rxed, but she didn¡¯t ask more.


    She followed him through thepany gates. Quezada & Co. Apparel Design was one of the top high¨Cend brands in Jupiton, and walking into its headquarters made Xylia feel a bit


    nervous<b>. </b>


    She had only studied fashion design for a year or two, and now here she was, interviewing at such a bigpany. She wasn¡¯t sure if she¡¯d make it, but she kept herposure, not letting her fear show.


    As soon as they entered, Joshua took a call and motioned for Xylia to go ahead, saying he¡¯d catch up with herter. She nodded and walked toward the front desk.


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m here for the interview. My name¡¯s Xylia Schultz, and I¡¯m supposed to meet Mr.


    Quezada,¡± she said.


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    Mr. Quezada was the person Joshua had told her about and instructed her to ask for.


    The receptionist looked Xylia up and down, a hint of mockery in her voice. ¡°We didn¡¯t receive any notice for an interview. Are you sure you¡¯re at the right ce?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not mistaken. I¡­ ¡± Xylia paused, suddenly unsure if Joshua had mixed up the interview time.


    Seeing her hesitation, the receptionist sneered. ¡°Some people will do anything to get close to Mr. Quezada, even pretending to have an interview. You really think someone like you could meet Mr. Quezada?¡±


    Xylia furrowed her brows. ¡°I¡¯m not pretending, and please don¡¯t make assumptions about me.¡±


    The receptionist¡¯s tone became sharper. ¡°Look at you. This is a high¨Cend fashionpany. How could Mr. Quezada interview someone like you?¡±


    Xylia nced down at her clothes. They were from a few years ago, outdated.


    Since she¡¯d been married, Connor didn¡¯t give her much money, and she¡¯d learned to be frugal, wearing the same clothes for years. She didn¡¯t expect those clothes to now be used against her.


    ¡°Just leave, don¡¯t cause trouble here,¡± the receptionist said, growing more impatient.


    Just as Xylia was about to turn and leave, Joshua walked in after finishing his call. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you going up?¡± he asked.


    Xylia turned to him. ¡°Are you sure today¡¯s the right day for the interview? The receptionist says there¡¯s no interview scheduled.¡±


    Joshua looked at the receptionist. She was busy at her desk, but as soon as she caught his she looked up and froze.


    gaze,


    Joshua wasn¡¯t as patient with the receptionist as he was with Xylia. ¡°Is Mr. Quezada really not avable to interview her?¡± he asked firmly,


    The receptionist knew Joshua well. He was a major client and a close friend of the boss. She couldn¡¯t afford to upset him. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s avable. You can go up now.¡±


    The receptionist was about to say more, but a single nce from Joshua silenced her. He then led Xylia into thepany.


    Xylia felt something was off. The receptionist looked almost afraid of Joshua. She tentatively asked, ¡°Is your friend the owner of thispany?¡±


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    Joshua nced at her, his eyes briefly flickering. ¡°We met through a business deal. Not exactly friends,¡± he said.


    Xylia nodded, not pressing further. They took the elevator to the top floor.


    When the doors opened, they were greeted by Xavi, who was standing near the elevator with an excited expression. He looked a little shocked when he saw Xylia.


    Joshua cleared his throat, and Xavi quicklyposed himself. ¡°You must be the one Joshua rmended. Let¡¯s head to the meeting room,¡± he said.


    The interview wasn¡¯t at all what Xylia had expected. Xavi barely asked her any professional questions. Instead, he kept asking when she could start working, as if she was already hired.


    Confused, she interrupted him and showed him her design portfolio.


    Xavi¡¯s casual tone shifted as he looked at her work. ¡°The lines aren¡¯t perfect, but the ideas are really good.¡±


    Joshua nced at Xylia with a hint of surprise in his eyes, clearly impressed. It seemed that even without his help, she was capable ofnding the job.


    Xavi seemed even more excited now. ¡°When can you start? I¡¯ll arrange for one of our top designers to mentor you.¡±


    Xylia lowered her gaze, feeling at a loss with his sudden eagerness.


    Joshua cut in. ¡°Her right hand is injured. High¨Cintensity work isn¡¯t suitable for her right now. I had nned for her to submit designs on her own for now,¡± he said, his tone firm, almost interrupting Xavi.


    Xylia was taken aback. Joshua had thought of things she hadn¡¯t even considered. But judging by Xavi¡¯s reaction, it seemed like he was nning to hire her as a full¨Ctime employee.


    Sure enough, Xavi¡¯s expression turned a bit disappointed, but after seeing Joshua¡¯s serious attitude, he reluctantly agreed. He even epted Joshua¡¯s insistence on full¨Ctime benefits for


    her.


    Xylia felt a bit strange. She quietly observed the two of them and noticed that even though Xavi looked displeased, he agreed to all of Joshua¡¯s demands.


    Xavi¡¯s submissive attitude made her feel like they weren¡¯t friends, it was more like Joshua was the boss inspecting the work.


    While she was still in thought, Joshua nced at her and asked, ¡°Anything else you need?¡±


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°No, that¡¯s all.¡±


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    When Xylia left Quezada & Co. Apparel Design, she was still a bit dazed. The whole process felt more like a business negotiation than an interview. Of course, Joshua did most of the talking.


    In the end, Xavi agreed to give her simple frence work, and once her hand healed, she coulde to the office, where a talented designer would be assigned to guide her.


    As she reached the building¡¯s entrance, Xylia turned to look at Joshua with sincere gratitude. ¡°Joshua, thank you.¡± She knew that everything had gone smoothly today because of his connections.


    Joshua was taken aback by her serious tone. After a moment, he leaned down slightly, getting closer to her face.


    He smiled, his alluring eyes incredibly captivating. ¡°I told you, no need to thank me. I¡¯ll make sure you repay meter.¡±


    *****


    After Xylia left<i>, </i>Xavi stepped out and stood beside Joshua. ¡°I can tell Ms. Schultz has talent. Her injury isn¡¯t a big issue. I¡¯ll just make sure she doesn¡¯t get any heavy tasks. But you¡¯re really soft on her.¡±


    Since Xylia left, the smile on Joshua¡¯s face hadpletely disappeared, reced by coldness. He shot a brief nce at Xavi, and with just that one look, Xavi felt a little uneasy.


    Joshua said, ¡°You think her wrist injury is a small matter?¡±


    Xavi sighed. ¡°I saw her portfolio, and I can tell she¡¯s talented with a solid foundation. A small injury like this won¡¯t hold her back.¡±


    ¡°Every little thing with her is a big deal to me,¡± Joshua said tly.


    Xavi stared at him in shock.


    Joshua lowered his gaze, his voice soft with a hint of tenderness. ¡°She¡¯s been through too much already, I won¡¯t let her suffer anymore.¡±


    *****


    Xylia didn¡¯t head straight home. Instead, she stopped by the supermarket to pick up some ingredients, nning to make soup for Orion.


    When she returned to Ford Mansion, she saw Tessa and Sonny ying on thewn from a


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    distance. They were joyfully driving a bumper car,ughing.


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    Xylia¡¯s smile faded. She nced at Sonny for a moment before turning and walking toward


    the main house.


    Just as she was about to enter the vi, she ran into Connoring out. He was holding a cute thermos cup that wasn¡¯t Sonny¡¯s, so it was probably meant for Tessa.


    Connor froze for a moment when he saw Xylia. She had makeup on today. Normally, she went bare¨Cfaced, but today, her light makeup made her look a bit more lively and charming.


    His expression softened for a moment before his brows furrowed. ¡°Where did you go? And why the makeup?¡±


    Xylia remained indifferent. ¡°I went for an interview.¡± She didn¡¯t want to engage with Connor too much and tried to walk past him.


    Connor grabbed her wrist, stopping her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Xylia yanked her arm away from his grip. She had alreadynded the job, and her wrist needed to heal. She couldn¡¯t afford to let Connor hurt her anymore.


    Seeing Xylia pull away forcefully, Connor was taken aback and for the first time, saw something like disgust in her eyes.


    He froze, then quickly became angry. ¡°An interview? With your hands and feet practically useless, what kind of work can you even do?¡±


    Xylia sneered, her voice sharp. ¡°You should know better than anyone how my hands got like this.¡±


    For a split second, Connor¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He wondered if Xylia had figured out the truth.


    Just then, Sonny¡¯s voice came from nearby, mocking. ¡°You didn¡¯t go for a painting interview, did you? The stuff you draw is even worse than mine.


    ¡°Were you going out to embarrass yourself? I suggest you face the fact that you¡¯re useless and go back to being a housewife.¡±


    Sonny and Tessa walked over, and he didn¡¯t hold back, hurling insults at Xylia.


    Sonny¡¯s words had be so routine over the days that Xylia didn¡¯t even flinch anymore. Instead, she just felt a sense of regret¨Cregret for marrying Connor and for having Sonny.


    Tessa crouched down and put a hand on Sonny¡¯s shoulder, pretending to speak up for Xylia. ¡°Sonny, you shouldn¡¯t talk to your mom like that.


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    ¡°Her hands and feet are hurt, and she must feel really bad about it. You should sympathize


    with her.¡±


    Sonny pouted, turning to Tessa with a yful tone. ¡°Even if she¡¯s feeling bad, she shouldn¡¯t embarrass the Ford family like this. She was a housewife, and now she¡¯s out running around. So embarrassing.¡±


    Connor walked over and handed Tessa the cute thermos cup. ¡°Aren¡¯t you thirsty? I made some fresh juice for you. You should drink it to keep your nutrition up, especially since you¡¯re on your period.¡±


    ¡°Thank


    you, Connor,¡± Tessa said, taking the cup with a coy smile. She looked at Xylia with a nce full of provocation.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but sneer inwardly. He remembers Tessa¡¯s period. The rtionship between her husband and her sister sure was unusual. But Xylia had no interest in dealing with them anymore.


    She turned to leave, but Connor blocked her again. ¡°Sonny¡¯s talking to you. You¡¯re not even going to answer him? Is that how you¡¯re acting as a mom?¡±


    Tessa suddenly gasped, looking at Xylia with a sly grin. ¡°Xylia, when I came this morning, I saw you leaving all happy. You even had makeup on. So, did you really go for an interview, or did


    you meet someone else?¡±


    Tessa¡¯s words made Connor recall the young man he¡¯d seen at the party. He grabbed Xylia¡¯s arm, his voice demanding. ¡°Did you meet that guy again? We¡¯re still married, and you¡¯re already cheating on me?¡±


    Xylia winced from the pain as he grabbed her arm. ¡°You¡¯re hurting me! Let go!¡±


    Connor didn¡¯t let go, his grip tightening. Even though he wasn¡¯t holding the injured spot, it still hurt a lot.


    Just as Xylia was about to kick Connor away, a stern voice came from inside the house.


    ¡°What¡¯s all the noise about?¡± Orion had been wheeled out by the butler. When he saw Connor grabbing Xylia, his face instantly darkened. ¡°Connor, are you beating your wife?¡±


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    Orion suddenly appeared, and Connor¡¯s imposing demeanor clearly softened.


    Xylia seized the moment when Connor¡¯s grip loosened, quickly pulling her arm out of his hand and stepping back, distancing herself from him.


    With his hand now empty, Connor instinctively clenched his fingers, a feeling of emptiness creeping into his chest, as if Xylia would one day leave him just like this.


    Sonny, seeing Orion upset, rushed to stand in front of him,ining about Xylia. ¡°Great- grandfather, Mom¡¯s all dressed up like this because she¡¯s seeing another man. She¡¯s betraying Dad. She doesn¡¯t deserve to be


    my mom.¡±


    Tessa, hearing Sonny¡¯s words, instinctively nced at Xylia¡¯s face. Xylia had only applied light makeup, but she was naturally beautiful, with striking features that outshone many celebrities.


    Jealousy surged in Tessa¡¯s heart, and she regretted not having Xylia¡¯s face scarred in prison.


    Xylia found it all rather ironic but remained calm, not showing much reaction. She had once cared deeply for her son, but now she was only disappointed in him.


    Xylia didn¡¯t speak, but Orion, hearing Sonny¡¯s words, grew stern. ¡°If I hear you nder your mother like this again, I¡¯ll punish you by making you stand in the corner and reflect on your


    mistake.¡±


    Sonny was startled by Orion¡¯s sudden harshness. He was the youngest in the Ford family, always spoiled, especially by Orion, who had never shown him such a cold side. Today, Sonny was scolded for Xylia¡¯s sake.


    Sonny puffed out his cheeks, shouting at Orion in defiance. ¡°You¡¯re biased towards Mom! I don¡¯t want to talk <i>to </i>you anymore!¡± After yelling, he turned and ran off.


    ¡°Sonny!¡± Tessa called out urgently, but Sonny didn¡¯t stop, running straight toward the garden.


    Tessa turned to look at Xylia and then at Orion. ¡°Mr. Ford, I¡¯m not part of the Ford family, but I have to say, if Xylia hadn¡¯t done something that could be misunderstood, Sonny wouldn¡¯t be saying things like this about his mom.


    ¡°Don¡¯t take it out on the child.¡± With that, Tessa hurried off to catch up with Sonny,


    Connor shot Xylia a cold look. ¡°Xylia, are you happy now? Everyone¡¯s fighting because of you?¡± He red at her before turning to leave.


    ¡°Stop!¡± Orion¡¯smanding voice stopped Connor in his tracks. Orion¡¯s face darkened, and he couldn¡¯t suppress a cough.


    Xylia looked at Orion with concern.


    ¡°Grandpa, are you okay?¡± Connor stepped forward and helped Orion.


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    Orion, looking pale after his illness, smiled at Xylia, trying to reassure her. ¡°Xylia, you should go rest. I need to talk to Connor about something.¡±


    Connor looked up, casting a cold nce at Xylia before helping Orion into the house.


    Watching their backs, Xylia furrowed her brow. She wasn¡¯t sure what was going on, but seeing Orion¡¯s serious expression, she felt a twinge of worry.


    In her mind, Orion had always been the calm, wise elder. Despite Ford Group¡¯s many issues over the years, he had never shown such a look.


    But she didn¡¯t dwell on it. She made her way into the vi, heading straight for her room. As she passed the study, she overheard voices inside.


    Orion¡¯s voice sounded tired. ¡°The Sadler family deal, we have to secure it. Our group can¡¯t afford to lose any more.¡±


    The words froze her in ce. She instinctively peered through the slightly open door of the study.


    Connor was sitting with his back to her, visibly frustrated. His voice was tinged with anger. ¡°I met people from the Sadler family at the party, but¡­ ¡®


    ¡°1


    Just thinking about it made Connor even more agitated. He med Xylia for the whole situation.


    If she hadn¡¯t caused trouble back then, the Sadler family wouldn¡¯t have said they wouldn¡¯t work with Connor and kicked him out of the banquet hall.


    Before he could finish, Orion¡¯s voice cut him off sharply. ¡°I don¡¯t care what happened at the party. Since you¡¯ve offended the Sadler family, you¡¯ll have to fix it yourself.¡±


    Connor, feeling somewhat wronged, couldn¡¯t argue in front of Orion.


    Xylia listened for a while before turning back to her room. Even though Ford Group was facing a crisis, there was nothing she could do to help.


    Connor might be a terrible person, but he knew how to manage thepany, and this was not her business to meddle in. She had her own work to focus on.


    Since Quezada <i>& </i>Co. Apparel Design had agreed to coborate with her, she couldn¡¯t afford to rx. She would still need to make money with her skills.


    <b>74 </b>


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    Over the next few days, Xylia spent her time both apanying Orion and working on her design sketches.


    Every day, she exchanged messages with Joshua. During their chats, she realized Joshua actually had a decent understanding of fashion design. He would ask her to send her sketches and offer professional feedback.


    Xavi also sent her a packet of materials, including basic design learning resources and current trends in the fashion industry. Xylia was amazed. These learning materials were incredibly


    valuable.


    Xavi also introduced a designer to Xylia, telling her that this designer would mentor her and that she could reach out to him with any questions.


    Xylia was even more stunned when she found out the designer was Chase Bell, a world¨Css designer.


    She realized that all of this was a result of Joshua¡¯s help. Without his connections, Xavi wouldn¡¯t have given her such valuable resources.


    Though she was curious about how Joshua and Xavi knew each other, she was deeply grateful. After a moment¡¯s thought, she sent Joshua another message. [Thank you, Joshua.]


    *****


    Meanwhile, Joshua was lounging on the sofa, a subordinate standing rigidly by his side.


    Suddenly, his phone lit up. He nced down, and the usual coldness in his eyes softened when he saw Xylia¡¯s message. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he replied casually.


    *****


    Due to the Sadler family deal, Connor had grown more displeased with Xylia, sometimes even teaming up with Mnie to target her.


    Xylia ignored him, but Orion noticed and gave Connor a harsh lecture,


    Connor, intimidated by Orion, couldn¡¯t do much but stay silent, leaving quickly under the pretext of work.


    Xylia enjoyed the rare peace, using the morning to refine her recent design sketches and send


    them to Chase.

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    Chase quickly replied to Xylia¡¯s message, expressing how much he liked her design. He felt it was perfect for Quezada & Co. Apparel Design¡¯s next season collection.


    Xylia felt a rush of joy and hope as she read his response.


    Excited, Chase barged into Xavi¡¯s office without knocking. ¡°Mr. Quezada, the designer you rmended to me is truly talented. When can shee to thepany and work full¨Ctime? I want to mentor her properly.¡±


    Chase didn¡¯t notice Joshua sitting on the sofa nearby, speaking excitedly about Xylia¡¯s talent.


    Chase was Quezada & Co. Apparel Design¡¯s top designer. If he recognized Xylia¡¯s talent, it spoke volumes about her ability.


    Xavi coughed lightly, signaling to Chase that there was someone else in the room.


    Normally, Xavi was friendly with his employees, and since Chase was the most skilled designer in thepany, their rtionship was more like that of friends¨Ceasygoing and casual.


    Only then did Chase notice Joshua. Immediately, he greeted him respectfully, ¡°Mr. Garcia<b>.¡± </b>


    Joshua, lounging on the sofa, nced at Chase with an unreadable expression. ¡°Let me see Xylia¡¯s design.¡±


    Chase quickly pulled up the design on his tablet and handed it over.


    Xylia¡¯s design was a strapless dress with hints of leather,bining fresh, vibrant elements with a touch of wildness. It was bold for a neer, but the two styles blended perfectly.


    Joshua gave a faint smile, his eyes betraying a hint of satisfaction <b>as </b>he handed the tablet back to Chase. ¡°Since she¡¯s so talented, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time to start promoting her, Xavi?¡± He tapped his finger on his cup.


    Xavi quickly understood. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll get the team to post a preview on Twitter <b>and </b>give Ms. Schultz some proper publicity.¡±


    Joshua gave a small nod, satisfied.


    Chase¡¯s face darkened. He had thought he¡¯d found a promising designer, but now he was starting to feel that Xylia¡¯s sess was more about connections than talent.


    The one thing he couldn¡¯t stand was someone who got by on rtionships, not ability.


    Xavi acted swiftly. That very afternoon, he had Xylia¡¯s design posted on the official Quezada & Co. Apparel Design Twitter ount.


    Besides the usual clients, many of theirpetitors were also following the brand.


    It was clear this was an opportunity for Xylia, a rookie designer, to get some serious exposure in the industry. Quezada & Co. Apparel Design even dedicated a tweet just to praise her.


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    <b>Chapter </b>31


    [This new design is absolutely stunning. When will it be avable?]


    [Quezada & Co. Apparel Design! I <b>want </b>to see this <b>in </b>stores tomorrow!]


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    [I rarely fall for a design this much just from a sketch. Please hurry and make this into a real product.)


    [Did anyone notice? This is a rookie designer, and thepany is promoting her¨Cdefinitely someone to watch. We won¡¯t have to worry about having nothing to wear anymore.]


    <b>[</b><b>I¡¯m </b>following this designer right <b>now</b>. I¡¯m going to buy all her designs.]


    Xylia was startled when her <b>phone </b>kept <b>vibrating </b><b>with </b><b>notifications</b>. She was in the kitchen, making soup for <b>Orion</b>. She took out her <b>phone </b>and saw tons of Twitter notifications.


    She was a bit confused. This was a new ount she had only just registered. She had nned to build it up gradually after releasing a few designs.


    She never imagined that she¡¯d be tagged by the official Quezada & Co. Apparel Design ount before <b>even </b>posting anything herself.


    Many fans followed her because they loved the dress design and leftments praising her, asking her to draw the next design, <b>and </b>some even reached out for coborations.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel a rush of joy. There was nothing more rewarding than having her work appreciated.


    After turning down a few studio coboration offers, she sent a brief thank¨Cyou tweet and then returned to cooking.


    While more coborations meant more options, she still wasn¡¯t ready to betray Quezada & Co. Apparel Design just because her career was starting to take off. She still had a lot to learn.


    After delivering the soup to Orion, she returned to her room and began sketching <b>again</b>. She was so absorbed in it that she didn¡¯t notice time <b>passing</b>.


    Suddenly, Connor stumbled drunkenly <b>into </b>her bedroom.


    Xylia had just put down her pencil and turned around, only to have Connor copse into her arms. She instinctively reached out to catch him.


    Tessa, Connor mumbled, his words slurring as he leaned against her shoulder.


    Xylia froze. She knew deep down that Connor¡¯s heart still belonged to Tessa, but hearing him drunkenly call Tessa¡¯s name was still a shock. After all, this was the man she had truly loved for eight years.


    Biting her lip, Xylia shoved him off, and Connor fell limply to the floor. She didn¡¯t spare him another nce and went to the door to call for help.


    However, when she opened the door, she saw Ivan Wade, the butler who always served Orion, standing there. ¡°Ivan, could you please get two people to help Connor back to his room? Xylia asked.


    7:50 Thu, Sep 11


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    Ivan looked uneasy. ¡°Mrs. Ford, it¡¯s quitete, and <b>the </b>servants are already asleep. Since you and Mr. Ford are married, it¡¯s fine for you to share a room tonight.¡± Without waiting for her response, Ivan turned and left.


    Xylia called after Ivan a couple of times, but he didn¡¯t respond. She soon realized this was Orion¡¯s doing. Even Connor being drunk seemed to be part of his n¨Cto push her and Connor back together.


    She lowered her head with a bitter smile. Her whole life had been ruined by Connor. No matter how much Orion tried to y matchmaker, the wounds she carried were impossible to hide. There <b>was </b>no future for her and Connor.


    She nced back at Connor, who was still lying there, unable to move him herself. But someone could.


    A few minutester, Mnie arrived with a couple of people, and they helped Connor back to his room. As she left, Mnie shot Xylia a fierce re.


    ¡°If you¡¯re really divorcing my son, then stop trying to seduce him like this. Know your ce, you¡¯re nothing but a useless cripple now. You¡¯re not fit to be part of the Ford family, Mnie said.


    Her eyes brieflynded on Xylia¡¯s bedroom, catching sight of the drawing board. She sneered. ¡°Still pretending to draw with a <b>hand </b>like that? Sonny was right. Having you as his mother is the biggest misfortune of his life!TM

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    After Mnie left, Xylia clenched her right hand, still covered with a medicated patch. The slight pain made. her ufortable, but it was much better than before.


    Mnie¡¯s words reminded her of something. Although she had agreed to stay with the Ford Mansion for now, she could only be with Orion for these few months. If it meant sacrificing her future<b>, </b>she wouldn¡¯t agree to it.


    With just two months left until the day she had promised to return to the Sadler family, she needed to sort out the divorce with Connor during this time.


    She decided to talk to Connor the next day. Since he liked <b>Tessa</b>, she would step aside. He had no reason to disagree.


    The next day, before dawn, Connor yanked her out of bed.


    Xylia opened her eyes to find Connor¡¯s angry gaze. His hand was still tightly gripping her injured wrist, and the pain red up again, making her face turn pale as beads of sweat formed on her forehead.


    ¡°Xylia, look at what you¡¯ve done! You suggested we keep our marriage secret, and now you¡¯ve gone <b>public</b>. You were shouting about divorce before, but now you¡¯re using these sneaky tactics behind my back. You¡¯re disgusting!¡± Connor said.


    Xylia didn¡¯t understand what Connor was saying, <b>but </b>the pressure on her wrist intensified, making it unbearable. ¡°Let go of me!¡±


    Connor shoved her away, and she fell back onto the bed, clutching her wrist. ¡°What¡¯s your problem this early in the morning?¡±


    Connor red at her, his eyes full of fury. ¡°You better pray this blows over quickly, or I¡¯ll make you pay for it!¡± With that, he walked out of the room.


    Xylia held her wrist and got out of bed. She applied the medicated patch again, feeling the pain slowly ease. The injury, which she had just started to heal, was now back to square one after Connor¡¯s rough treatment.


    She was angry, but she didn¡¯t understand why he had toe to her room and throw a tantrum this morning.


    Xylia got up and went downstairs. As soon as Mnie saw her, she pped her across the face. Xylia didn¡¯t react quickly enough, and Mnie¡¯s long nails left deep scratches on her cheek.


    ¡°Xylia! You vile woman! You caused the car ident, and now you¡¯ve been exposed. And now you bring up your marriage with my <b>son</b>, what are you trying to do?¡± Mnie yelled.


    Sonny <b>was </b>downstairs too, following Mnie¡¯s lead to scold Xylia. ¡°You said you wanted a secret marriage with Dad, but now that things <b>have </b>gone wrong, you want Dad to clean up your mess.


    *Now everyone knows you¡¯re married to him. How is Tessa supposed to marry my dad and be my mom? Weren¡¯t you the one <b>who </b>wanted a divorce before? You¡¯re <b>a </b>liar!¡±


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    Xylia finally realized something was wrong. She took out her phone and saw what had happened.


    Her ount had gone viral because of Quezada & Co. Apparel Design. By the early hours, someone had dug up her hit¨Cand¨Crun incident and released evidence and dashcam footage.


    In an instant, the people who had praised her turned on her, filling herment section with insults, using her of ruining other people¡¯s families.


    Meanwhile, someone <b>had </b>leaked her and Connor¡¯s marriage certificate, revealing their rtionship and involving the Ford Group.


    Nylia frowned and exined. ¡°I didn¡¯t release the marriage certificate.¡±


    ¡°Who else could it be? Do you really <b>think </b>Connor would let Ford Group get involved in a scandal like this? Do you think he¡¯s stupid enough to get himself dragged into the mess?¡± Mnie said.


    Her anger red, and she raised her <b>hand</b><b>, </b>wanting to p Xylia again.


    A rough, stern voice stopped her. ¡°Enough!¡± Orion was standing at the top of the stairs, leaning on a cane, his gaze serious as he looked down at the scene.


    Mnic backed off immediately, not daring to provoke Orion.


    Orion turned to Xylia with a cold tone. ¡°Come here.


    Xylia saw that Orion was upset but said nothing, following him.


    Behind her, Sonny¡¯s voice whined, ¡°Grandma, I don¡¯t want this useless woman as my mom anymore. You said. you¡¯d get Dad to marry Tessa. Can you hurry up <b>and </b>make that happen? I want Tessa as my mom.¡±


    His childish voice was full of longing. Xylia couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly, sighing at her failure as a mother.


    In the study, Orion sat down, his expression serious as he looked at Xylia. ¡°Xylia, you shouldn¡¯t have done this.


    Xylia understood that Orion now thought she was responsible for the situation. She quickly tried to exin. ¡°Orion, I didn¡¯t do this¡­¡±


    ¡°Did you really cause the car ident and flee the scene?¡± Orion asked.


    Xylia fell silent. It wasn¡¯t a secret in the Ford family, but what Orion didn¡¯t know was that the whole ident <b>was </b>staged by Connor. She couldn¡¯t exin that to him.


    Orion sighed, disappointment clear on his face. ¡°Xylia, I wanted you and Connor to get along. I wanted your marriage to be publicly acknowledged, but not like this. Do <b>you </b>know how much damage you¡¯re causing to Ford Group right now?¡±


    Xylia looked at Orion, <b>and </b>for the first time, she realized that no matter how kind Orion <b>had </b>been to her, he couldn¡¯t tolerate any harm to Ford Group. His trust in her was no different from Connor¡¯s


    Her heart ached, and her eyes burned with unshed tears. ¡°Orion, I swear, I didn¡¯t do this.¡±


    7:51 Thu, Sep 11


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    Orion¡¯s disappointment grew as he saw her not admitting to it. He liked Xylia, and the previous night, he had even intentionally gotten Connor drunk, hoping to bring them closer.


    But no matter how much he liked her, he couldn¡¯t let Ford Group suffer.


    Xylia returned to her room and, as she scrolled through her messages, saw that the stores that had previously wanted to coborate with her were now part of the bacsh against her.


    In one night, she had gone from being praised to being vilified.


    When Connor came home, the family B enduring the scolding from everyone.


    for a meeting. Xylia sat in the corner of the living room,


    Mnie¡¯s voice was loud. ¡°I think they should just divorce. Xylia is causing chaos in the family. She¡¯s dragging my son down.¡±


    Sonny sat next to Mnie, nodding in agreement.


    Connor hadn¡¯t said anything yet when Orion suddenly shouted loudly. ¡°No! This marriage cannot end!¡±


    ¡°Orion!¡± Mnie was angry.


    Orion suddenly coughed a couple of times. Xylia quickly poured him a ss of water, but Orion didn¡¯t take it.


    ¡°This situation needs to be dealt with properly by you, Connor, but I <b>have </b>one condition. You and Xylia absolutely cannot divorce,¡± Orion added.


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    Chapter <b>33 </b>


    Orion¡¯s tone was stern as he spoke, and after that, he went upstairs,


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    No one understood what had just happened, and even Xylia was confused. Just earlier in the day, Orion had been angry with her for dragging Ford Group into this mess. Yet now, he was defending her marriage to


    Connor.


    For the Ford family, the best way to handle this would have been to quickly divorce her from Connor and publicly sever ties between her and the Ford family, shifting all the online hate onto her.


    This would clear up the crisis for Ford Group, but Orion wasn¡¯t willing to <b>take </b>the simple approach.


    Mnie, upset by Orion¡¯s words, ranted loudly in the dining room. ¡°You jinx! What did you say to Orion? Why is he so determined to protect <b>you</b>?¡±


    Sonny had originally thought Tessa would soon be his stepmother, but he didn¡¯t expect Orion to stop Xylia and his dad from getting a divorce.


    He jumped off the bench, ran up to Xylia, and angrily said, ¡°Even if you don¡¯t divorce, I¡¯m not calling you mom! I won¡¯t ept a bad woman like you as my mom!¡± With that, Sonny ran off.


    Mnie, who doted on her grandson, quickly chased after him, trying tofort him.


    That left only Connor and Xylia in the dining room. Connor¡¯s expression remained cold. He <b>lowered </b>his gaze. for a long moment, then finally lifted his eyes to re at Xylia.


    Confused, Xylia raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to speak,


    Connor finally broke the silence. ¡°The hit<b>¨C</b><b>and</b><b>¨C</b>run, you¡¯ve paid the price for it. You¡¯ve been with me for years. I¡¯m <b>not </b>going to cut ties with you. And besides, Grandpa doesn¡¯t agree.¡±


    His tone was condescending, and Xylia couldn¡¯t help but frown. She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, but he spoke as if she had actuallymitted a crime. The way he acted like he was doing her a favor made her feel disgusted.


    She looked up at Connor, determination in her eyes. ¡°Connor, let¡¯s get a divorce.¡±


    Connor¡¯s expression froze for a moment, and then he went silent.


    The silence stretched on, heavy and <b>tense</b>, until Xylia finally spoke, her voice firm. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Orion. We can file for the divorce in the next couple of days.¡±


    For Tessa, for the Ford Group¡¯s crisis¨Cdivorce seemed like the best choice. She felt there was no reason for him to oppose it.


    But Connor¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°What? You seem awfully eager to divorce me.¡±


    Connor looked at Xylia with aplex expression. He hadn¡¯t expected her to go this far for him.


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    He thought she was only choosing divorce to help him through this crisis, and a <b>sense </b>of guilt suddenly rose within him. ¡°Stop thinking about divorce all the time. With that, Connor stood up and left.


    Xylia watched him leave, her brow furrowed. She didn¡¯t understand why he was <b>so </b><b>against </b>the divorce, but this matter was urgent, and she had to make it happen as soon as possible..


    That night. Xylia tossed and turned in bed, unable to quiet her racing thoughts.


    The online abuse kept pouring in, with her phone buzzing non¨Cstop, <b>each </b>notification deepening her fear for


    the future.


    If the public kept feeding into the scandal, the hit¨Cand¨Crun would be something everyone believed. Even if she <b>designed </b>the most beautiful clothes, she¡¯d be shunned.


    But with Connor¡¯s involvement, someone <b>had </b>fabricated evidence that led to her imprisonment. The guilt was already pinned on her, and there was nothing she could do to clear her name.


    Unable to sleep, Xylia got up, went downstairs for some water, and tried to clear her mind. As she returned with her ss, she faintly heard familiar voices from the garden.


    Curiosity piqued, she walked over, and a familiar voice reached her ears¨Cone that made her blood run cold. Tessa, I was the one who posted the hit¨Cand¨Crun video online. It had nothing to do with you. Don¡¯t feel guilty.


    Xylia froze, a chill spreading through her body. In the dead of night, she clearly heard Connor¡¯s conversation through the speakerphone.


    Tessa¡¯s yful tone came through. ¡°She¡¯s my sister. Even though she stole eighteen years of my life, I¡¯ve never med her. But if she finds out, she¡¯ll definitely hate me.¡±


    ¦§


    Connor¡¯s voice grew <b>cold</b>. ¡°She lived the wealthy life for eighteen years. It¡¯s time she pays you back. Don¡¯t feel guilty.


    ¡°You¡¯re a top¨Ctier dancer now. You can¡¯t afford any stains on your record. The only way to secure your future is by pinning this on Xylia. This is <b>what </b>she owes <b>you</b>.¡±


    Tessa,forted by Connor¡¯s words, sighed and spoke in a soft tone. ¡°But you have to make it up to her, right?¡±


    Connor¡¯s voice immediately softened. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This is just a lesson for her. She¡¯s been too rebellious, so I had to let everyone know <b>what </b>happened.


    ¡°But her <b>issues</b>? Don¡¯t worry about them. Focus on yourpetition. I¡¯ll be waiting for you to shine on stage.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t listen anymore. Her mind was reeling as she stumbled back to her room, her <b>head </b>spinning from what she had just overheard.


    The online scandal was Connor¡¯s doing. For Tessa, he <b>had </b>destroyed her. Xylia remembered the old Connor, the one who would take the me for her in front of her parents, who wouldfort her when she felt hurt.


    She used to be moved by all the things Connor did for her. But now she realized¨Cthose injustices had <be </b>


    7:51 Thu, <b>Sep </b>11.


    from him in the first ce.


    A cold shiver ran down her spine, and she couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling of disgust.


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    She grabbed her phone, refusing to avoid the truth any longer. She had to clear her name online, even if it was just <b>a </b>tweet to exin things. She couldn¡¯t let Connor and Tessa frame her as a criminal and ruin her future.


    Just as she opened Twitter to post, she realized that all the notifications that had been popping up earlier were gone. She clicked on one of the old posts about her and saw that it had been deleted.


    In one night, all the negative posts and news about her had been wiped off the inte. Xylia stared at her phone in disbelief, feeling as though the events of the past two days had been a dream.


    Meanwhile, Connor had just hung up the phone with Tessa when he received a call from <b>his </b>assistant. ¡°Mr. Ford, something¡¯s wrong.


    ¡°The hit¨Cand¨Crun video we posted has been deleted, and all the negative news about your wife has vanished. We don¡¯t know who did it.¡±


    Connor¡¯s eyes turned cold. He hung up the phone, deep in thought.


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    <b>Chapter </b><b>34 </b>


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    Joshua rubbed his temples, sitting in the bright office, his exhaustion <b>showing</b>. He had just finished giving <b>his </b>assistant instructions to handle Xylia¡¯s situation when, to his surprise, the assistant turned back before leaving the office.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, all the negative posts about Ms. Schultz online are gone,¡± the assistant reported.


    Joshua opened his eyes and nced at him. The assistant handed over his tablet.


    Joshua took it, his fingers sliding across the screen, only to find that all the negative posts about Xylia had disappeared¨Cno traces of criticism, even thements had been deleted.


    This swift and decisive action didn¡¯t seem like something Connor would do.


    The assistant couldn¡¯t help butment, ¡°Mr. Garcia, the person helping Ms. Schultz must be very powerful. We tried deleting posts and controllingments ourselves, but the other side was much more thorough and efficient.¡±


    Joshua casually handed back the tablet to the assistant and calmly said, ¡°Investigate.¡±


    The assistant nodded and left the office.


    Joshua pulled out his phone, his eyes falling on the screensaver¨Ca side profile of Xylia, secretly <b>taken </b><b>that </b>day on Mount Evermore<b>. </b>


    He murmured, ¡°You really are loved by so many, but from now on, you¡¯ll only be mine.¡±


    Xylia had a restless night, and when she woke up the next morning, she looked pale and exhausted. At breakfast, Mnie and Sonny walked <b>past </b>her with gloomy faces, not <b>even </b>stopping to eat.


    Connor¡¯s mood was worse, especially when he saw Xylia. After having people investigate who had helped Xylia delete the posts, he still had no answers. On top of that, he had to go to work despite being dead tired.


    *Xylia, <b>who¡¯s </b>helping you?¡± Connor stared at her intensely.


    Xylia gave him a cold nce. ¡°What are you <b>talking </b>about?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb. All the videos and posts about you were deleted. This wasn¡¯t Ford Group¡¯s doing, and it¡¯s not rted to the Schultz family either. Who is helping you?¡± Connor pressed.


    Xylia stared back at him. ¡°The posts about me are gone, so Ford Group won¡¯t be affected anymore. Isn¡¯t that good for you? What¡¯s making you so angry?¡±


    Connor didn¡¯t expect her to talk back, and his anger red. ¡°Just answer my question!¡±


    Xylia fell <b>silent</b>.


    7:51 Thu, Sep 11


    Frustrated and with no outlet for <b>his </b>anger, Connor stood up and left.


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    Orion, back to his usual cheerful self, approached Xylia and smiled, trying to <bfort </b>her. ¡°That¡¯s <b>just </b>how Connor is. Don¡¯t worry, when he gets back, I¡¯ll deal with him. Don¡¯t let it bother you.¡±


    After yesterday, Xylia understood what Orion truly cared about. But she didn¡¯t think it was wrong for him to care about Ford Group.


    What bothered her was the way Orion didn¡¯t trust her. She had agreed to stay with Orion for three months to repay his kindness over the years, I


    the idea of divorce had never left her mind.


    She decided it was time to talk to Orion. ¡°Orion, I need to talk to you,¡± she said seriously.


    Orion immediately guessed it was something important, especially after how badly he had treated her the day before. He was ready to agree to whatever she asked to make up for it.


    ¡°I want a divorce from Connor. I hope you agree, but even if you don¡¯t, I¡¯m going through with it,¡± Xylia said calmly.


    Orion looked at her in disbelief, panic shing in his eyes. ¡°Xylia, are you upset with me because of <b>yesterday</b>? I¡¯m sorry, I only said that because I care about Ford Group. Please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡±


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°Orion, it¡¯s not about yesterday. Before you were hospitalized, we were already nning to get divorced. You¡¯re the only one in this family who¡¯s treated me well, <b>and </b>I didn¡¯t want to keep this from <b>you</b>.¡±


    Orion tried to convince her again, but Xylia made an excuse to leave after she¡¯d finished her meal.


    The butler walked over to Orion, and with a sigh, Orion shared his frustration. ¡°She¡¯s upset with me, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    The inte had no memory. After the flood of negativements about her disappeared, things seemed to calm down.


    However, Xylia soon noticed that her mentor, Chase, was bing distant.


    Previously, Chase had been very involved <b>with </b>her designs, even calling her to discuss issues in detail. But now, when she sent her designs over, the response was just a brief acknowledgment with no follow¨Cup.


    Xylia wasn¡¯t sure why this was happening <b>and </b>assumed it was just because <b>Chase </b><b>was </b>busy, so she didn¡¯t bring it up.


    Her wrist was healing a bit, so she decided to go to the hospital for a check¨Cup and perhaps talk to the director about <b>resigning</b>.


    The director had already discussed her resignation with her. While her hand might not be good for surgery anymore, she could still find a different field in medicine, <b>and </b>she didn¡¯t have to quit entirely.


    The director had given her time to <b>consider </b>it and didn¡¯t want her to make a rash decision.


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    Xylia had been thinking about it for some time. She realized that she would have to ept all the things she had lost in order to move forward.


    Her hand was essential for a surgeon, and it was clear she could no longer work in the hospital.


    At the hospital, she <b>had </b>just finished her check¨Cup and was about to <b>meet </b>with the director when she ran into him in the lobby.


    ¡°Xylia, have you thought about <b>what </b>we talked about?¡± The director asked, clearly happy to see her.


    Xylia felt a little awkward as she replied, I¡¯ve thought a lot about it, but I¡¯ve decided to leave the hospital.


    The director sighed. ¡°I thought you might want to continue working at the hospital. Well, if you¡¯d like, I could find a suitable position for you, but since you¡¯ve made up your mind, I won¡¯t insist.¡±


    The director had always been good to Xylia, and she respected him a lot. They talked for a bit before Xylia started the resignation process.


    Just then, Connor <b>and </b><b>Tessa </b>walked into the hospital. His sharp eyes immediately spotted her. ¡°Xylia? What are you doing here?¡± He called out, walking up to her with Tessa


    Before Xylia could speak, he added sarcastically. ¡°Are you thinking abouting back to work at the <b>hospital</b>? Your hand¡¯s ruined. Do you still think you can be a doctor?¡±


    Tessa patted Connor¡¯s arm<b>. </b>¡°How can you say that? She¡¯s <b>worked </b>here for so long. While she <b>hasn¡¯t </b>aplished <b>anything </b>major, it¡¯s been hard for her. You <b>can¡¯t </bpletely deny her abilities.


    Their words were clearly meant to mock Xylia, and their tone <b>was </b>especially harsh.


    The director frowned and interrupted, ¡°What are you two <b>saying</b>? Dr. <b>Schultz </b><b>has </b><b>worked </b>in the mostplicated surgical departments.


    ¡°Many of the surgeries we couldn¡¯t perform, she was the one leading them, and she¡¯s never made a mistake. If it weren¡¯t for her injury, she would¡¯ve been the head of surgery by now.¡±


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    The director¡¯s words left Connor stunned<b>. </b>He hadn¡¯t expected that Xylia was truly such a skilled doctor. Only now did he realize that by ruining Xylia¡¯s right hand, he had essentially destroyed her entire career.


    A trace of guilt spread in his eyes¨Cshe should have had a much better future.


    Tessa pretended to be surprised as she looked at Xylia<b>, </b>¡°So you¡¯re actually that good? Why didn¡¯t you ever tell us? We¡¯re <b>family</b>. Your achievements should be our pride too.


    She then shot a sly nce at the director. <b>¡°</b>And <b>you </b>and the director get along so well.¡±


    Tessa¡¯s implication was clear. If Xylia truly had such abilities, she wouldn¡¯t hide them. Now, it must have been because she¡¯d used some sort of trick to get close to the director, who was now speaking on her behalf.


    Hearing this, Connor¡¯s guilt vanished instantly. ¡°Xylia, is it that hard to admit you¡¯re not as good as you pretend? You think ying these games will make me think better of you? Don¡¯t dream.¡±


    Xylia let out a bitter smile. ¡°I¡¯m not ying any games for you. You don¡¯t need to be so narcissistic With that, she ignored Connor¡¯s angry re <b>and </b>turned to the director. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The director understood this was a personal matter for Xylia and didn¡¯t ask any further questions, following her out.


    Her back was slender, yet stubborn.


    As Connor watched her leave, an emptiness stirred in his chest. He instinctively wanted to call out to her, but Tessa held his hand.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Connor<b>?</b>¡± Tessa asked with a smile.


    He turned back to her and suddenly gave up. He had liked Tessa for so long, and now she was by his side. He shouldn¡¯t be tangled up with Xylia anymore. Lowering his gaze, he muttered, ¡°Nothing.¡±


    ¡°Connor, you really shouldn¡¯t have exposed Xylia in front of everyone like that. She must be upset. You¡¯re a man; you should be more generous.¡± Tessa patted him on the shoulder.


    Connor came back to his senses <b>and </b>smiled gently at Tessa. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll go with you to your check¨Cup.¡±


    After finishing her resignation formalities, Xylia was about to leave the hospital when her phone rang. It was a call from Joshua.


    Xylia rxed for a brief moment, not realizing that in the short <b>time </b>she had spent with Joshua, he had be the only person <b>who </b>could make her feel at ease.


    ¡°Xylia, do you have time?¡± His voice still carried that charm.


    Xylia immediately thought of his handsome face and <b>those </b>warm, gentle eyes. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Well, I just wanted to ask if you¡¯d like to have dinner with me,¡± Joshua said.


    7:51 Thu, <b>Sep </b>11 ¡­


    <b>Chapter </b>35


    Xylia suddenly realized how much Joshua had looked out for her during this time.


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    She had just received the payment from her coboration with Quezada & Co. Apparel Design, so it felt like the right moment to thank him. ¡°I should be the one treating you to dinner. How about it?¡±


    There was a brief pause on the other end, followed by a softugh. ¡°Sure, if you¡¯re paying. I¡¯lle.¡± His <b>voice </b>had a <b>hint </b>of yfulness that made her cheeks warm.


    After confirming the time. Xylia hung up the phone.


    Just as she looked up, she locked eyes with Connor, who was ring at her. ¡°Who are you having dinner with?¡± he demanded.


    Xylia¡¯s smile faded<b>, </b><b>and </b>she coldly replied, ¡°None of your business.¡±


    ¡°Is it <b>that </b>man? Xylia, don¡¯t forget you¡¯re still my wife. You went public with our marriage <b>online</b>, and now you want to go on a date with another man? Are you trying to embarrass me?¡± Connor¡¯s tone grew angrier.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t understand. Connor was the one who <b>had </b>released the video of her hit¨Cand¨Crun online. Even if her identity as Connor¡¯s wife had been exposed, that was also his own doing. And now, he was ming her.


    ¡°You know exactly who released those things online. If you¡¯re embarrassed by me, then let¡¯s go file for a divorce right now,¡± Xylia <b>shot </b>back.


    Connor could tell that Xylia had changed. She hadn¡¯t been this firm with him before, <b>but </b>now she was standing up for herself. He recalled what Tessa had said that Xylia had finally shown her true nature.


    Just then, <b>Tessa </b>walked over, holding medical reports, a smug look in her eyes. ¡°Xylia, I just heard from your colleagues that you¡¯ve resigned.


    ¡°You¡¯re not quitting because Connor and I exposed you, are you? But your rtionship with them seems really good. They were all praising you, saying they¡¯d throw you a farewell party.¡±


    Connor then realized that Xylia¡¯s phone call <b>had </b>been about <b>a </b>farewell dinner with her colleagues.


    Thinking about how her hand had been ruined because of him, his <b>anger </b>slowly faded. Her injury and resignation were his fault, and he knew he was the one who should make things right.


    He pulled a card from his pocket and handed it to Xylia. ¡°Go treat your colleagues to a nice mealter. Don¡¯t hold back


    <b>Tessa </b>frowned.


    Xylia coldly stared at the card, letting <b>out </b>a sarcasticugh. ¡°Keep it for yourself.¡± With that, she walked away.


    Tessa nudged Connor with her elbow. ¡°You gave her so little, no wonder she¡¯s unhappy. Can¡¯t you be more generous?¡±


    Connor¡¯s anger red <b>again</b>. Just as he was about to chase after Xylia, he stopped and snorted. ¡°Better this way, <b>saves </b>money!¡±


    7:51 Thu, Sep 11


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    That evening, Xylia arrived at the restaurant Joshua had chosen. It was a street¨Cside eatery.


    As night fell and the streetlights flickered on, the restaurants <b>lining </b>the streets were all lit up, filled with diners.


    When Xylia got off the bus and reached the destination, she saw Joshua stepping out of a car.


    Today, he wasn¡¯t wearing a suit. Instead, he had on a white t¨Cshirt, gray sweatpants, and white sneakers. Paired with his clear, handsome face, he looked like a college student.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Joshua</b>¡± Xylia called out.


    Joshua turned and his eyes immediatelynded on her, filled with a smile that masked the posses


    hidden beneath.


    He thought it sounded sweet when Xylia called his name.


    Xylia ran up to him and grinned. ¡°Thanks for picking this ce, it saved me money. When I earn more, I¡¯ll take you to a fancy restaurant.¡±


    Joshua smiled, his eyes reflecting the brightness of her face. His voice took on a teasing tone. ¡°Sounds good, I¡¯m already looking forward to it


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    Xylia and Joshua chose a <b>snack </b>shop with outdoor <b>seating</b>. The crowd bustled around, and the <b>air </b>was filled with the smell of food. It was lively, yet Xylia felt a long¨Clost sense of p


    peace.


    ¡°Remember when we were overseas, you made fish for me? You really like fish, don¡¯t you?¡± Xylia looked at the fish the waiter just brought over and then turned her eyes to Joshua.


    Joshua raised an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn¡¯t expected Xylia to bring up their time abroad. Ever since their reunion, she <b>had </b>always seemed distant with him.


    He ced a piece of fish on her te. ¡°I do,¡± he <b>said</b>, but his eyes weren¡¯t on the fish¨Cit was Xylia he was looking at


    ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll make it for you,¡± he added, his presence too refined for the humble eatery.


    Xylia smiled and nodded. Just as she was about to take a bite of the fish, a sharp female voice interrupted her. ¡°Xylia<b>?</b>¡±


    Xylia turned to see a familiar girl walking over with a stranger.


    ¡°It really is you!¡± The girl nced at Joshua, pausing for a second before her eyes narrowed with disdain<b>. </b>¡°Tessa was right. You haven¡¯t even gotten divorced and you¡¯re already out looking for another man.¡±


    Eight years ago, when Tessa returned to the Schultz family and exposed Xylia as the fake daughter, Xylia¡¯s fianc¨¦, Qadir Zinn, quickly broke off their engagement and married Tessa instead. But not long after marrying Tessa, Qadir fell ill and passed away.


    The girl in front of her was Sadie Zinn, Qadir¡¯s younger sister. Ever since Xylia¡¯s identity was revealed, Sadie had always disliked her.


    Hearing this, Xylia¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°Sadie, you¡¯re an adult now. Think before you speak. Spreading rumors is illegal.¡±


    Sadie scoffed. ¡°What<b>? </b>Are you denying what you¡¯ve done? You¡¯ve been pretending to be the Schultz family¡¯s daughter for years, and now you¡¯re still hanging around, just looking for their money.


    ¡°But you¡¯re still fake and will never be as good as Tessa!¡±


    Sadie¡¯s voice was loud, and some people nearby started looking over curiously.


    Xylia¡¯s face remained emotionless as she clenched her fist in herp.


    Joshua¡¯s expression darkened. He was about to say something when Xylia gently ced a hand on his arm. calming him. She turned back to Sadie. ¡°If you have nothing else to say, just leave.¡±


    Joshua looked at Xylia, sensing something different about her. She seemed much more assertive now, far stronger than the Xylia he had met not long ago.


    He then noticed the guy standing next to Sadie. The guy was dressed in a shirt <b>and </b>jeans, but his eyes kept drifting over to Xylia. Joshua¡¯s gaze darkened instantly.


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    Before he could speak, Sadie¡¯s voice became even sharper. ¡°Hey! Why are you looking at her? Don¡¯t forget who you¡¯re with now.


    The guy. Paul Cahill, flinched and nervously defended himself. ¡°I just <b>think </b>Ms. Schultz has a gentle appearance. She reminds me of someone from my hometown. It¡¯s familiar.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>Familiar? Paul! If you look at her again, I¡¯ll hit your Sadie said.


    Paul quickly looked away, clearly intimidated by Sadie¡¯s anger.


    Sadie red at Xylia<b>, </b>who, despite her bare face, still looked stunning. ¡°Xylia, you¡¯ll pay for this,¡± she spat before dragging her boyfriend away.


    After Sadie left. Xylia felt awkward. Though <b>Joshua </b>already knew about her messy marriage, talking about such personal matters still made her ufortable. Luckily, Joshua didn¡¯t press her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat, she said, trying to act casual and urging Joshua to eat.


    But Joshua¡¯s gaze lingered on her face. His brows furrowed, and his eyes seemed deeper than before. He casually spoke. ¡°Nylia, have you found your family?¡±


    Xylia paused for a moment, realizing her fake heiress identity must have already spread in Jupiton. It wasn¡¯t a secret anymore. She smiled softly and nodded. ¡®Yes, I have.¡±


    Her <b>voice </b>was calm and cold, and her delicate features seemed out of ce for someone from Jupiton.


    Joshua¡¯s eyes shifted as he returned his focus. His hair fell over his forehead, making him look even more handsome. ¡°Where are they from?¡±


    ¡°Norhill,¡± Xylia replied, smiling. ¡°Myst name is Sadler, Your family¡¯s from Norhill too, right?¡±


    Although many people in Norhill had thest name Sadler, when talking about the Sadler family from Norhill, there was only one family that came to mind¨Cthe powerful Sadler family.


    ¡°Congrattions,¡± Joshua said, hiding a hint of something cold behind his eyes, and put on a smile. ¡°There are many families in Norhill with thest name Sadler.


    Xylia smiled and looked at him. ¡°I won¡¯t hide it from you. I¡¯ve been in <b>contact </b>with my family. I¡¯ll be leaving in two months. They¡¯re <b>just </b>a regr <b>family</b><b>.</b>¡±


    Joshua lowered his eyes. He had looked into her biological parents, <b>and </b>if they were just a regr <b>family</b>, he would have found them by now.


    After dinner, the two of them walked <b>around </b>the street before deciding to head home.


    Joshua ignored Xylia¡¯s reluctance and insisted on calling a ride to take her home.


    Xylia <b>gave </b>in and got into the car. The driver <b>was </b>dressed in <b>a </b>suit, and the car was quite expensive.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but think about a post she had seen online. Some wealthy people would drive luxury cars <b>as </b>ride<b>¨C</b>sharing drivers to experience life. She smiled slightly.


    7:52 Thu, Sep 11


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    Joshua noticed her smile and suddenly asked. ¡°Are you nning to go back to Norhill to settle down?¡±


    Nylia nodded. ¡°I probably will, but it¡¯s not set in stone yet. It¡¯s just an idea?


    But right now, the most urgent thing was to get a divorce from Connor. And before that, she needed to clear her name of all <b>the </b>usations Connor had forced on her.


    When they <b>arrived </b>at Ford Mansion, Joshua got out of the car with Xylia. If you have time in a few days. I¡¯ll <b>take </b>you to see my friend who made the medicated pately for you. He can take a look at your wrist,¡± he said.


    ¡°Thanks¡± Xylia replied. This time, she didn¡¯t refuse. She felt grateful for Joshua¡¯spany and <b>was </b>d to <b>have </b>be friends <b>with </b>him.


    As soon as Connor returned, he saw Xylia and Joshua standing outside Ford Mansion. His anger red, and he mmed on the brakes,ing to a stop right outside the gates.


    The sudden noise startled Xylia<b>, </b>and <b>she </b>instinctively took a step back. But she didn¡¯t realize there was a <b>small </b>stone behind her, and she twisted her ankle, falling backward.


    Joshua quickly caught her. With a slight pull, Xylianded safely in his arms.


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    ¡°What are you two doing?¡± Connor barked, his face dark with anger as he walked over, reaching out to <b>grab </b>Xylia


    Joshua¡¯s eyes went cold. He released Xylia and stepped between them. ¡°Xylia almost fell. I was just helping her, is <b>that </b>a problem?¡±


    Connor red at Joshua, furious that Xylia had brought him to their home. ¡°Xylia, you really are something! Bringing a man home while still married? Are you out of your mind?¡±


    Xylia frowned. ¡°Connor, watch your mouth. He¡¯s my friend. Not everyone is like you!¡±


    It was the harshest thing Xylia <b>had </b>said to Connor. His face darkened. ¡°Say that again.¡±


    Joshua smiled at Connor. ¡°Mr. Ford, instead of ndering your wife here, maybe you should focus on yourpany. The Sadler family won¡¯t be helping you anymore. If you can¡¯t get any more contracts from East Gonsia. Ford Group won¡¯tst much longer<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Connor stiffened, his mind racing. Joshua knew about Ford Group¡¯s troubles so well.


    Xylia was too angry to pay much attention to Joshua¡¯s words.


    Joshua turned to Xylia. ¡°Xylia, we¡¯re just having a meal, and he already thinks the worst. I guess for him. having dinner with another woman is the same as being in an affair.¡±


    Connor clenched his fists tightly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave.¡± Joshua said, turning toward the car.


    ¡°Alright, let me know when you get home,¡± Xylia said.


    Joshua paused, ncing back at her with a soft smile. ¡°Sure.¡±


    As the car pulled away, Xylia didn¡¯t spare Connor a nce and walked toward Ford Mansion.


    Connor was fuming, desperate to stop her and get some answers.


    Xylia stepped aside to avoid him. Whenever he got angry and tried to grab her, his hand wouldnd exactly on her injured right wrist.


    ¡°Xylia, did you tell your lover about Ford Group¡¯s situation?¡± Connor demanded.


    ¡°He¡¯s not my lover,¡± Xylia shot back, ring at him. ¡°And I¡¯ve never been involved with yourpany. How could I know anything about it?¡±


    Connor always thought of Xylia as a woman with no real abilities, just someone who cared about the family He assumed she <b>wouldn¡¯t </b>understand anything about the business side.


    But his <b>anger </b>was clouding his judgment. ¡°I don¡¯t care <b>whether </b>you told him or not. I¡¯m warning you,


    if you


    7:52 Thu, Sep 11


    bring someone like <b>him </b>home again, I <b>won¡¯t </b>let it slide.¡±


    Xylia <b>scoffed</b>. ¡°Connor, how many times have I talked about divorce? Do you think I¡¯m joking?¡±


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    ¡°Nylia, you better not push me,¡± Connor growled, his teeth clenched. ¡°Do you think because those rumors about you are gone, everything is <b>fine</b>? You¡¯ve already hurt Ford Group. A woman like you, what can you do after you divorce me?¡±


    Xylia met his gaze, her voice cold. ¡°You know I didn¡¯t cause the hit¨Cand¨Crun, but you keep bringing it up to attack me.¡±


    Connor hesitated, his expression faltering. ¡°Even so, you spent three months in prison. Can you really say you didn¡¯t learn anything bad in there?¡±


    Xylia sneered. ¡°<b>Connor</b>, I¡¯ll find out who framed me. And I¡¯ll be divorced from you by the end of this month.¡± With that, she turned and walked into the mansion.


    Connor stood there, watching her retreating figure. A wave of unease surged within him. He had never seen Xylia like this before. Beneath her usual softness, there was now a strength he couldn¡¯t ignore. This time, she seemed serious.


    But he couldn¡¯t let Tessa¡¯s reputation be tarnished, so he couldn¡¯t take any risks.


    He pulled out his phone and called his assistant. ¡°Double¨Ccheck the hit¨Cand¨Crun case. We can¡¯t let anything suspicious get out.¡±


    Joshua sat in the backseat of his car, reying the events from earlier in his mind. Xylia had even asked him to let her know once he was home. It seemed like they were growing closer.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, the task you assigned is going smoothly,¡± his assistant said, speaking formally now that he <b>was </b>of his role as a rideshare driver.


    Joshua¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Keep watching¡±


    sout


    The next few days, Xylia took extra care of her injured wrist. Whenever she wasn¡¯t working on designs, she went <b>out</b>. She had hired a private investigator to quietly look into the hit¨Cand¨Crun case.


    After meeting with the investigator, she received a call from Ford Mansion. ¡°Mrs. Ford, you need toe back quickly. Your son is sick.¡±


    Xylia froze. After thinking it over, she decided to go back. Sonny was her son, after all.


    When she arrived <b>home</b>, she ran into Tessa, who was hurrying in. Seeing Xylia, Tessa didn¡¯t hide her disdain. ¡°Xylia, what¡¯s the point of rushing back? Sonny only <b>wants </b>me.


    ¡°Even when he¡¯s sick, all he talks about is <b>me</b>. If not, Connor wouldn¡¯t <b>have </b>called me toe. You really are a failure as a mother.¡±


    7:52 Thu, Sep 11


    Tessa said this with a smug look, leading the way into the mansion.


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    Xylia followed, her mind racing. Sonny was the youngest and most favored child in the Ford family. When he fell ill, everyone was worried. Even Mnie had rushed back to check on him.


    Sonny was lying in bed, his small face flushed with fever. The family doctor ced a cooling patch on his forehead. ¡°The fever isn¡¯t too high. Once it breaks, he¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°Mom¡­ Mom¡­¡± Sonny mumbled in his sleep, his voice soft and full of longing.


    Xylia¡¯s heart softened. She remembered how, when he was little, he always wanted her to hold him and make him his favorite foods when he was sick. She was about to move <b>closer</b>.


    But Tessa was already there, gently stroking Sonny¡¯s face. ¡°Sonny, I¡¯m here.¡±


    Sonny slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Tessa, then turned to see Xylia. His face immediately darkened, his eyes full of disgust. ¡°Get out! I don¡¯t want to see you. I <b>only </b>want Tessa, not you.¡±


    Mnie shot Xylia a fierce re. ¡°Get out of here! What are you doing here?¡±

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    Mnie had the servant kick Xylia out of Sonny¡¯s room. The servant grabbed Xylia¡¯s arm so hard that it left a red mark.


    Pressing herself against the door, Xylia strained to catch what Mnie and <b>Tessa </b>were saying inside.


    ¡°Tessa, Sonny always sticks to you. It¡¯s a lot for you toe over every time,¡± Mnie said.


    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all. Sonny¡¯s always clinging to me, and I really like <b>him</b>. As long as he gets better, I don¡¯t minding over as many times as needed, Tessa replied.


    Sonny struggled to sit up and hugged Tessa tightly. ¡°Tessa, you¡¯re always the nicest to me. I love you so much,¡±


    he said.


    They really looked just like a family


    Seeing that. Xylia gave a bitter littleugh and turned away. All she could feel now was how cruelly ironic it all


    <b>was</b><b>. </b>


    As soon as Xylia turned around, Orion appeared from around the corner of the stairs. ¡°Xylia, I need to talk to you,¡± he said.


    Orion was back to his usual gentle self with her.


    Xylia followed Orion into the study.


    Once inside, Orion said, ¡°Xylia,st time you told me you wanted to divorce Connor. Mind telling me why?¡±


    Xylia sat down on the sofa across from Orion. Staring at Orion¡¯s gentle smile, she spaced out for a moment.


    Xylia could still remember how forceful and overbearing Orion had been that day in the study.


    ¡°Mr. Ford, why are you so determined to keep me and Connor together? Xylia asked.


    Xylia used to think that Orion always told her not to divorce Connor because he liked her. But now, she wasn¡¯t sure what Orion was really after anymore.


    Xylia was not the real heiress of the Schultz family. Even if she did find her real family, they were <b>nothing </b>special¨Cjust regr folks.


    I have nothing to offer Connor, no advantages at all, so why is Orion still so dead set on keeping me married. to Connor?¡® Xylia wondered.


    Orion looked pale and tired. When he heard Xylia¡¯s question, he bowed his head, coughing quietly.


    Xylia pressed her lips together and poured Orion a ss of water.


    Orion took a few sips <b>and </b>finally looked a little better.


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    Orion said <b>and </b>let out a gentle sight, ¡°Xylia, I¡¯ve told you before. You¡¯ve always been such a kind and genuine. kid. Being with Connor, you help keep him on track. I care about you the most.


    ¡°Honestly, it would break my heart to see you leave the Ford Mansion. Xylia, you know how things <b>are </b>with Ford Group these days. It¡¯s a tough situation for Connor.¡±


    He continued, ¡°If he were to go through a divorce right now, it could really hurt thepany and everyone in the family. If you really have to divorce him, couldn¡¯t you just wait until Ford Group pulls through this crisis first?¡±


    There was a pleading look in Orion¡¯s eyes.


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°Mr. Ford, I have to divorce Connor,¡±


    Orion¡¯s expression darkened, his frail hands balled into fists on his knees.


    With trembling effort, he rose to his feet, as if about to bow before Xylia.


    Xylia jumped in surprise and rushed to support <b>him</b>. ¡°Mr. <b>Ford</b>, what are you doing?¡± she blurted <b>out</b>.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how much longer I have left, Xylia. If you really have to go, could you at least wait until after I¡¯m gone?¡± Orion pleaded.


    Xylia¡¯s heart was in knots. Hesitating for a while, she finally nodded. ¡°Mr. Ford, <b>please</b>, get up.¡±


    Seeing <b>Xylia </b>agree, Orion finally smiled with relief. As he lowered his head, there was a hint of a cunning <b>glint </b>in his shrewd, spirited eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s a promise, Xylia. Just stay with the Ford family until I¡¯m gone, okay? I won¡¯t let Mnie give you a hard time anymore,¡± Orion said.


    That was when Xylia finally realized that Orion had always <b>known </b><b>she </b>was being mistreated in the Ford family, but he¡¯d never lifted a finger to help.


    Xylia always thought Orion cared about her, but now she knew that wasn¡¯t true.


    Connor was already so indifferent, let alone his grandfather, who was more experienced and more cunning.


    No matter what Orion was really after, in two months, once her grandmother¡¯s death anniversary had passed, Xylia would be out of here for good.


    Since Sonny was so attached to her, <b>Tessa </b>ended up moving in with the Ford Mansion for a while.


    That night, Sonny didn¡¯te downstairs for dinner. Tessa made some soup and brought it up to his room.


    Connor watched Tessa, his eyes softening with a gentle warmth. ¡°Sonny¡¯s sick, <b>and </b>I really have to thank you for being here for <b>him</b>, <b>Tessa</b>,¡± he said.


    Tessa grinned, ¡°Come on, Connor, you don¡¯t have to thank me. I¡¯ve told you. As Sonny¡¯s aunt, of course, I¡¯ll take <b>care </b>of him.


    Connor looked at Tessa with gentle eyes. But when he turned to Xylia, his expression darkened.


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    ¡°Tessa¡¯s <b>just </b>Sonny¡¯s aunt, and yet she¡¯s so good to him. But you, his mother, justze around all <b>day</b>, not even sparing your son <b>a </b>single nce. Why are you so heartless?¡± Connor snapped.


    ¡°You <b>said </b>it, didn¡¯t you? Tessa will take care of him,¡± Xylia replied coolly. Without another word, she turned and headed upstairs.


    ¡°Stop right here, Xylia,¡± Connor called out, <b>his </b>voice low <b>and </b>sharp. But Xylia didn¡¯t stop.


    Tessa stepped in, trying to smooth things <b>over</b>. ¡°Come on, Connor, Xylia¡¯s been in her room all day. She¡¯s probably worn out. Just let her be, <b>okay</b>?¡±


    Connor just got even colder. ¡°This is all my fault for spoiling her. After all these years, how could she possibly <b>make </b>it on her own without us?¡±


    His voice <b>was </b>loud enough for Xylia to hear, and she sneered to herself. If it weren¡¯t for you, I never would have ended up like this, she wondered. Thankfully, in just two more months, I can finally leave this ce.¡±


    Tessa brought the soup into Sonny¡¯s room.


    Sonny¡¯s fever was gone, but he still seemed weak and sluggish. He was sitting on the soft carpet bedroom, listlessly holding some Legos.


    ¡°Sonny, it¡¯s time to eat, Tessa said gently.


    Sonny turned his head and saw Tessa and Connor walking in.


    in his


    Even though Sonny was happy to see Tessa, there was still a hollow feeling in his chest. He thought his mom <b>would </b>stubbornly show up to check on him.


    <b>Back </b>when Sonny got sick, no matter how much he acted up, his mom would always be there for him; she never ignored him.


    ¡°I made you <b>some </b>soup, Sonny. Come on, be good and have a little, okay?¡± Tessa coaxed gently.


    ¡°Tessa, I don¡¯t want to eat, Sonny mumbled, barely above a whisper.


    <b>Connor </b><b>said </b><b>in </b>a low, firm voice, ¡°Sonny, Tessa personally made this soup for you. You can¡¯t let <b>her </b>kindness go to waste.¡±


    Only <b>then </b>did Sonny obediently <b>take </b>a bite. The soup was nd, and after taking a bite, Sonny felt a <b>wave </b>of


    nausea


    Kids couldn¡¯t really hide how they felt. He just turned away and spat it out.


    Tessa¡¯s face darkened for a moment.


    ¡°Sorry, Tessa. I¡¯m just too sick to eat anything. Sonny apologized.


    Whenever Sonny was <b>sick </b><b>and </b>lost his appetite, Xylia would always look up new recipes and whip up tasty,


    ?


    7:52 Thu, Sep 11


    kid¨Cfriendly meals just for him.


    Xylia would sit by his side, coaxing and encouraging him until he finally managed to eat a little.


    55 vouchers


    Connor frowned. ¡°Even if you can¡¯t eat, you shouldn¡¯t just spit it out. Are you really going to waste Tessa¡¯s effort like that?¡±


    Sonny pouted, looking even more aggrieved. He just couldn¡¯t get it down, no matter what.


    <b>Tessa </b>swallowed her impatience and put on a gentle smile, stepping in to smooth things over. ¡°Hey, Sonny¡¯s just a kid. No need to get on his case,¡± she said.


    Tessa then turned to Sonny with a soft look. ¡°What would you like to eat, Sonny? I will make it for you.¡±


    Sonny thought of the hearty porridge Xylia used to make for him all the time. It had been so long since he¡¯d had it, and he really missed the taste.


    <b>Comment </b>

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    Early the next morning, Connor, still feeling sick, didn¡¯t go to school. By the time he got up, breakfast was. already over.


    When the maid offered to make him something, Connor puffed up <b>his </b>checks and pouted. ¡°I¡¯m not eating your gross food. Go get my mom to cook for me.¡±


    He didn¡¯t have an appetite, but the truth was, he¡¯d been hungry all night. Right now, he wanted Xylia¡¯s hearty porridge very much.


    When the maid came looking for <b>Xylia</b>, she <b>was </b>getting ready to head out ¡°I¡¯m busy. I can¡¯t cook for him right now. Just make sure he¡¯s looked after, <b>she </b>said.


    ¡°But Sonny says our cooking <b>is </b>awful,¡± the maid exined.


    ¡°Then let him go hungry,¡± Xylia replied, her face unmoved as she slung her bag over her shoulder and walked straight downstairs.


    Catching a glimpse, Sonny sat on the couch, acting all smug, waiting for Xylia toe over and beg him to


    cat


    But Xylia didn¡¯t even spare him a nce. She just walked straight toward the door. She <b>was </b>clearly about to head out.


    Sonny started to get anxious and blurted out, ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    Xylia stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him. ¡°I¡¯m going out.¡±


    ¡°I told the maid to get you to cook for me. It¡¯s not like you <b>have </b>anything important to do as a housewife, right? Just go make me something to eat. I want that hearty porridge you madest time,¡± Sonny snapped.


    Sonny was throwing his weight around, and Xylia couldn¡¯t help but frown. I have put my heart into raising Sonny all these years, so why has he ended up like this?¡± <b>she </b>wondered.


    ¡°The cook can make that soup, too. Just ask her to whip it up for you,¡± Xylia replied. Xylia didn¡¯t agree. Then she turned <b>and </b>walked out the door.


    After he was ignored, Sonny¡¯s eyes turned red with anger, and he looked like he was about to cry.


    Sonny couldn¡¯t believe that Xylia, who had always loved him, wasn¡¯t even willing to make him the hearty porridge he loved.


    Is there really something so important she has to leave right now? he thought.


    As Sonny stared at the door closing behind her, he started to feel a little panicked inside.


    It really felt like his mom was drifting further and further away from him.


    ¡®No way. That can¡¯t be happening, Sonny thought. After all, I¡¯m Xylia¡¯s son. There¡¯s no way she¡¯d ever really


    leave me.


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    Just as Xylia stepped outside, her phone rang. It was Joshua. ¡°Are you out yet?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m out. You¡¯re supposed to be taking me to meet your friend good at traditional medicine, right? Xylia replied.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Joshua murmured, his deep, velvety voiceing through the phone, oddly soothing to Xylia.


    I¡¯ve set the appointment for the afternoon. I¡¯m making fish for lunch. Do you want toe over and have some?¡± His <b>voice </b>was teasing.


    Xylia hesitated for a second, then agreed, ¡°Sure, why not?¡±


    The apartment wasn¡¯t <b>far</b><b>, </b>so Xylia got there in just half an hour.


    Xylia knocked on the door and soon heard footsteps approaching from inside. The lock clicked, and Joshua¡¯s almost otherworldly good looks came into view.


    Beneath his silver hair, those seductive eyes curved slightly, his gaze deep and mesmerizing.


    For a moment, Xylia found herselfpletely dazed.


    Joshua replied, his tone rxed, ¡°It¡¯ll be ready in <b>a </b>minute.¡±


    Xylia followed behind him, rolling up her sleeves as she made her way to the kitchen. ¡°Let me help you.¡±


    Joshua turned around, his tall frame blocking the entrance to the bar counter. Xylia had to stop short, nearly bumping into him.


    He was dressed in <b>a </b>white loungewear set and an apron, looking every bit the ideal husband. But with that air of sophistication about him, he didn¡¯t seem like someone who was used to working in the kitchen.


    Joshua bent down a little, closing the distance between them. ¡°Women don¡¯t cook in my kitchen. Your job is just to eat, Joshua said.


    Joshua¡¯s tall frame loomed over Xylia, making her instinctively step back.


    After hearing that, Xylia figured there was no point in arguing. ¡°Alright then,¡± she said.


    Xylia felt a bit embarrassed and quietly made her way over to the couch to sit down.


    Seeing Joshua busy in the kitchen, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit sentimental.


    Joshua always had that rebellious vibe about him. Back when they were living abroad, Xylia never even let <b>him </b><b>do </b>any chores at first.


    But he turned out to be a natural; whenever they were together, Xylia could just rx and never had to lift a finger.


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    Once they finished eating, Joshua brought Xylia along to meet his friend, who practiced traditional medicine.


    They ended up at Jones Health Center, the most famous spot for traditional medicine in Jupiton, run by the Jones family heir for <b>generations</b>.


    Xylia never would¡¯ve guessed that Joshua¡¯s so¨Ccalled friend was actually Rachel Jones.


    Rachel was still young, but she¡¯d already mastered the family¡¯s medical arts and was now the star doctor at Jones Health Center.


    Even though Xylia had been a surgeon before, as a fellow doctor, she¡¯d definitely heard of Rachel¡¯s name.


    Rachel usually only consulted on major cases.


    But Joshua just walked Xylia straight into Rachel¡¯s office.


    Xylia leaned over and whispered to Joshua, ¡°How do you know Rachel? Are you two really that tight?¡±


    ¡°My grandpa used to get treated here, so after a few visits, we got pretty familiar, Joshua replied.


    Xylia nodded, but she still found it kind of odd.


    Most famous traditional medicine doctors had all sorts of quirky traditions, but somehow <b>Joshua </b>was close enough <b>with </b>Rachel to just walk right in.


    Joshua definitely isn¡¯t as simple as he looks, Xylia thought to herself. Even though she was still a bit skeptical, she hesitantly held out her hand for Rachel to take a look.


    After examining her hand for a moment, Rachel <b>said</b>, ¡°Your injury was serious from the start. If you keep neglecting it, you¡¯ll lose your chance to ever heal.¡±


    Connor had been grabbing her wrist every time he <b>got </b>madtely, so the injury kept ring up again and again.


    Upon hearing Rachel¡¯s words, Xylia¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Really? There¡¯s still hope for recovery?¡± she blurted out, barely able to hide her excitement.


    ¡°Absolutely. Just stick to my regimen. I¡¯ll prescribe you some medicine, and keep applying the ointment. Joshua gave youst time. Come see me for follow¨Cups twice a month. Don¡¯t forget,¡± Rachel instructed.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Xylia <b>said </b>sincerely.


    After Xylia left to get her medicine, it was just Rachel and Joshua left in the office.


    Rachel turned to Joshua with a teasing smile. ¡°So, Mr. <b>Garcia</b>, this is the woman you¡¯ve been thinking about <b>all </b><b>these </b>years? I have to say, you have pretty good taste.¡±


    Joshua gave Rachel a frosty look. ¡°Not your ce to judge my taste.¡±


    Rachel just shrugged, dropping the subject.


    7:53 Thu, Sep 11


    After leaving Jones Health Center, they went their separate ways.


    50


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    Xylia was in <b>a </b>great mood as she headed home, but before she even stepped <b>inside</b>, she heard a surprised shout from inside the house.


    As soon as she walked in, Xylia spotted Connor and Tessa tumbled together on the couch, looking a little too close.


    Xylia was caughtpletely off guard, her face turning pale.


    Connor spotted Xylia in the doorway and sprang to his feet, his eyes shing with panic. ¡°Tessa almost tripped, so I tried to help her, but I couldn¡¯t steady her. Don¡¯t get the wrong idea,¡± he blurted out.

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    Xylia stood frozen in the doorway. Her chest throbbed with pain.


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    She knew that everything Connor had done for Tessa must signify that he had special feelings for her. But seeing it personally still came as quite a shock.


    Tessa quickly stood up and looked at Xylia. ¡°Xylia, I was feeling a bit lightheaded from low blood sugar, and Connor helped steady me. Don¡¯t read too much into it, she said.


    ¡°Besides, it was just a hug. It¡¯s nothing serious, Connor and I have been close friends for years, so you really don¡¯t have to worry about it.¡± Tessa added.


    Connor walked over to Xylia, his eyes catching the things she was holding. He reached out to take them from


    her.


    Xylia instinctively pulled her hands back, dodging his touch.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, Xylia snapped, her voice cold.


    ¡°I told you. It was just a misunderstanding. Don¡¯t make such a big deal out of it. Connor said, his brow barely twitching as he noticed Xylia¡¯s anger.


    Xylia¡¯s lips curled up, her smile tinged with bitterness. ¡°It¡¯s not a misunderstanding. We¡¯re getting divorced soon anyway, so whoever you end up with is none of my business anymore.¡±


    Connor thought Xylia was justshing out, and his face instantly fell. ¡°Xylia, how long are you going to keep making a scene?¡± he <b>said</b>.


    Tessa walked over, her brow furrowed as she looked at Xylia. ¡°Xylia, I get that we made you misunderstand, but do you really have to make such a fuss about it?¡± she said.


    ¡°Connor and I already exined everything. You know we¡¯ve been best friends for years. Seriously, there¡¯s nothing between us for you to be jealous of, Tessa added.


    st now.


    Xylia caught the hint of sadness in Connor¡¯s eyes when Tessa spoke just


    ¡°You two acted in a way anyone would misunderstand, and you expect me not to think anything of it? Xylia said, her voice calm but firm. At that moment, she felt the storm in her heart finally begin to settle.


    <b>¡°</b>Enough,¡± Connor cut her off, his voice deep and sharp. He shot Xylia a cold, hard look.


    ¡°Here we are, trying to exin things to you, and you¡¯re still not happy? Is it because I¡¯ve treated you: all these years that you¡¯ve turned out so entitled?¡± he snapped.


    so well


    Tessa quickly tried to soothe Connor. ¡°Alright, Connor, Xylia didn¡¯t do it on purpose. She¡¯s just a soft¨Chearted girl<b>. </b>


    ¡°But honestly, she¡¯s been kind of dramatic these past couple of days. Like this morning, Sonny begged her to make some hearty porridge, but she wouldn¡¯t do it. Sonny got so mad that he nearly passed out.¡±


    7:53 Thu, Sep 11


    ¡®<b>Seriously</b>? Almost passed out? Xylia scoffed to herself.


    Xylia caught the taunting look Tessa threw her way when Connor wasn¡¯t watching.


    Connor¡¯s expression darkened even more after hearing Tessa¡¯s words.


    E 55 vouchers.


    ¡°Can¡¯t even handle being a wife, and now you can¡¯t do the mom thing either? Xylia, looks like I¡¯ve spoiled you Way y too much. Go spend the next couple of days up in the attic and think things over, Connor snapped.


    The attic in the Ford Mansion had no windows or lights, making it pitch ck inside.


    It <b>was </b>a dark, suffocating ce; the only time any light got in was when someone opened the door.


    Xylia had been locked up there once before, back when Mnie punished her.


    Back then. Xylia had just married Connor, and they were living at the Ford Mansion. Mnie couldn¡¯t stand Xylia and constantly found fault with everything she did.


    One time, after Xylia identally broke a <b>vase</b>, Mnie locked her up in the attic.


    Xylia was stuck there for a full day and night, and it nearly drove her insane.


    Fortunately, Connor got back from his business trip just <b>in </b><b>time </b>and got Xylia out of that attic.


    When Xylia finally woke up, barely able to <b>move</b>, Connor was there, tears streaming down his face as het pulled her into his arms, hugging her so tight it felt like he wanted to fuse her into himself.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, baby. I should¡¯ve been here sooner. We¡¯re moving out. We¡¯re not staying here anymore,¡± Connor said, his voice thick with emotion.


    After that, they packed up and left the Ford Mansion for good.


    Connor knew just how much that attic had scarred Xylia, but now, he was the one personally sending her back <ol><li>in. </li></ol>


    Connor called over two servants, making it clear he wanted them to drag Xylia away.


    Xylia¡¯s face twisted with panic.


    ¡°No, Connor, I¡¯m not going. You made me misunderstand. Why are you locking me up?¡± Xylia cried, her voice shaking with fear.


    Xylia was terrified of that dark, suffocating attic. Her face went pale, and her eyes reddened with panic.


    Seeing her like that, Connor felt a pang in his chest, and for a moment, his eyes softened with pity.


    Tessa let out a sigh. ¡°Xylia, Connor <b>isn¡¯t </b>trying to lock you up. He just wants <b>you </b>to take a good look at yourself. You¡¯ve been stirring up drama over your pretty boy again and again. Honestly, that¡¯s really out of


    line.


    When <b>Tessa </b>mentioned that guy again, the brief softness in Connor¡¯s heart vanished, reced by coldness.


    7:53 Thu, Sep 11


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    His face turned icy as Connor snapped, ¡°Xylia, if you can¡¯t admit you¡¯re wrong this time, then don¡¯t even think abouting out.¡±


    ¡°Let go of me.¡± Xylia shouted, struggling desperately.


    Two burly servants seized Xylia by the arms, one on each side, <b>and </b>hauled her up the stairs toward the attic on the top floor of the mansion.


    Bang. The door mmed shut, plunging Xylia into total darkness. Her phone was confiscated, cutting her off from the outside world.


    Xylia curled up on the freezing floor, her flimsy clothes no match for the chill. The darkness was so thick she couldn¡¯t even see her hand, and with every heartbeat, her terror only grew.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t forget for a second what Mnie had put her through in this attic seven years ago.


    Back then, Mnie had locked Xylia up here and even let snakes loose in there with her.


    The memory of those snakes hissing in the pitch¨Cck room, their sinister sounds echoing all around, still haunted Xylia to this day.


    Xylia¡¯s tears kept falling. She rushed to the door in a panic, banging on it with desperate force.


    ¡°Let me out, Connor. I swear I was wrong. Please, let me out. Don¡¯t lock me in here. Please,¡± Xylia screamed, her voice raw with terror.


    Xylia was scared out of her mind, begging again and <b>again</b>, her pleas <b>echoing </b>in the darkness.


    However, outside, there wasn¡¯t a single sound. It felt as if the whole world <b>had </b>shrunk to nothing but her and the darkness.


    Meanwhile, Joshua had just returned to his office. His <b>assistant</b>, David Baldwin, was giving him a rundown of the day¡¯s work.


    Joshua spun his phone absently, only half¨Clistening to what David was <b>saying</b>.


    He nced at the clock. ¡®Xylia should¡¯ve been home by now, Why hasn¡¯t she texted <b>me </b><b>to </b>say she¡¯s <b>home</b>?¡¯ he wondered.


    Joshua paused and pulled up his chat with Xylia. Hisst message, asking if she¡¯d made it home safe, was still sitting there, unread. But Xylia <b>hadn¡¯t </b>replied. That was weird.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia?¡± David¡¯s voice snapped Joshua out of his thoughts.


    Joshua looked up, his gaze sharp and cold. David immediately straightened up, suddenly on edge.


    Why is he suddenly upset?¡® David wondered, feeling anxious. ¡°Did he not like the proposal 1 just reported?¡±


    ¡°Go on,¡± <b>Joshua </b>said.


    7:53 Thu, Sep 11


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    David <b>spoke </b>up nervously, ¡°I <b>heard </b>Connor¡¯s been trying to cozy up to Mr. Fletchertely. Looks like Ford Group is after Mr. Fletcher¡¯swork. Do you want us to step in?¡±


    Joshua kept a straight face. Looks like Connor isn¡¯t just sucking up to the Sadler family after all; he¡¯s got his own ns to get out of this mess, he thought.


    But Joshua wasn¡¯t about to let that happen. ¡°Set up a meeting with Mr. Fletcher for tomorrow,¡± he <b>said</b>, his


    voice firm.


    David nodded, then suddenly remembered something and added, ¡°Oh, Mr. Garcia, you asked me to investigate the Sadler family. They really did <b>lose </b><b>a </b>daughter years ago. It was a baby <b>girl</b>.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Keep digging.¡±


    David gave a quick nod and slipped out.


    Joshua hesitated for a second as he looked at his phone, but in the <b>end</b><b>, </b>he hit the call button and tried Xylia¡¯s number. But the call didn¡¯t get through for a long time.


    When the call finally went through, an <b>unfamiliar </b>woman¡¯s voice answered. ¡°Are you the pretty boy that Xylia is dating?¡±

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    <b>Chapter </b>41


    Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened, and he remained silent.


    37 55 vouchers.


    On the other end of the <b>line</b>, Tessa wasughing. ¡°We¡¯ve met before, you know. You¡¯re easy on the eyes, but I don¡¯t believe you actually like Xylia, a total troublemaker with a bad rep. Your taste is seriously questionable.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s gaze turned fierce. ¡°Where is she?¡± he snapped, his voice cold <b>like </b>ice.


    Tessa could feel the chill even through the phone, but she just kept <bughing</b>. ¡°Xylia messed up, so Connor¡¯s punishing her.


    ¡°He locked her up in a dark room to think about what she did. Want to y the hero ande save her? Trust me. She¡¯ll cling to you if you do so. After all, that¡¯s exactly how shetched onto Connor to begin with.¡±


    With that, Tessa hung up.


    Joshua¡¯s grip on his phone was so tight his knuckles turned white and veins stood out. His face was clouded with fury, his eyes burning red with anger.


    <b>Joshua </b>was itching to storm into the Ford Mansion right now and rip Connor and Tessa to shreds. But he couldn¡¯t just go charging in.


    Xylia and Connor were still married. If Joshua barged into the Ford Mansion, Connor would totally use it to smear Xylia¡¯s name; it¡¯d just make things worse for her.


    It took every ounce of self¨Ccontrol Joshua <b>had </b>to keep his anger in check. Without wasting a second, Joshua made a call. ¡°Hello, I need to report a case of domestic violence,¡± he said.


    Half an hourter, the wail of police sirens filled the air around the Ford Mansion.


    Meanwhile, Xylia was huddled in the pitch¨Cck room, her nerves strung so tight they felt ready to snap.


    Even though there were no bugs or rats, she couldn¡¯t <b>shake </b>the feeling that some wild beast was lurking in the shadows, watching her every move; her heart was hanging by a thread.


    Xylia kept crying, her whole body trembling nonstop. It felt like she was about to break downpletely at any second.


    Suddenly, footsteps thundered up the stairs. The attic door finally burst open.


    Xylia, slumped against the door, toppled to the ground as it opened. A servant rushed to her side and helped Xylia up.


    ¡°Mrs. Ford, the police are here for you. Pleasee downstairs, quick,¡± the servant urged.


    The sudden burst of light stung her eyes, but to Xylia, it was like grabbing onto a lifeline after drowning.


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    She scrambled desperately toward the doorway, half crawling, half stumbling, so frantic that the servant couldn¡¯t even hold her back.


    ¡°Mrs. Ford, be careful, the servant called out..


    Xylia dragged herself to the stairwaynding, clutching the railing as she struggled to haul herself upright. <b>But </b>her legs buckled, and she nearly went tumbling down the stairs.


    The servant turned pale with fright and rushed forward to support Xylia. She practically dragged and hauled Xylia down the stairs.


    The living room was packed with people, including Connor, Mnie, Orion, Tessa, and two police officers.


    When Xylia finally made it downstairs, the police looked her up and down before one of them spoke gently. ¡°Are you Xylia? Has your husband ever hit you or locked you up? Don¡¯t be scared. You can tell us the truth.¡±


    It slowly dawned on Xylia that someone had called the police, saying she was a victim of domestic abuse.


    Xylia looked up and caught Mnie shooting her a fierce re, clearly warning her not to say anything


    reckless.


    Connor, meanwhile, looked utterly unmoved, as if her pain had nothing to do with him. He stared at her coldly, a warning flickering in his eyes.


    Xylia forced a small, strained smile. She turned to the police and nodded decisively.


    ¡°Officer, my husband just locked me in the attic. It waspletely <b>dark</b>¨Cno light at all. He told me I couldn¡¯t leave unless I admitted I was wrong, Xylia said.


    ¡°Xylia, What nonsense are you spouting?¡± Mnie blurted out, terrified that this would ruin Connor¡¯s reputation.


    Xylia knew nobody here was going to have her back. All she could do now was pray the cops would get her out. of this ce. No way she was ever going back to that attic.


    The police officer shot Connor a sharp look. ¡°Are you kidding me? You can¡¯t just lock up your wife. Do your even realize that¡¯s <b>illegal</b>?¡±


    Connor¡¯s face turned icy, his eyes locking onto Xylia like a venomous snake ready to strike.


    After a long moment, he mped down on Xylia¡¯s wrist and gave the police a casual smile. ¡°It¡¯s just a little domestic squabble for a husband and wife, nothing to make a fuss about.¡±


    Mnie stepped in to smooth things over with the police. ¡°You know how it is. Couples bicker all the time. Officer, no need to make a big deal out of it. Just look at her, not a mark on her. We were just messing around.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t just call that a joke; there are limits, the officer snapped, clearly not buying it.


    Just as the police were about <b>to </b>take Xylia away. Orion brought his cane down hard on Connor¡¯s back.


    Connor let out a muffled groan, cold sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead. ¡°Who allowed you to treat.


    7:53 Thu, Sep 11


    ¦¥¦°¦©


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    your wife like this?


    ¡°Xylia¡¯s been part of this family for years, <b>and </b>you¡¯ve never so much as touched her before. Even if she <b>screwed </b>up.


    locking her in the attic? Are you out of your mind? Is this what I taught you?¡±


    ¡°No, Mr. Ford,¡± Tessa cried out, rushing over to shield Connor. Please don¡¯t be angry. Connor just saw <b>Xylia </b>getting too close to another man and got upset. That¡¯s why he lost his temper at her.¡±


    ¡°Another man? You bitch, how dare you cheat on Connor?¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes went wide, ring at Xylia. She marched right up to Xylia and, without hesitation, pped her across the face with all her strength.


    Smack. The p left Xylia dazed, her mind going nk. She could taste blood in her mouth, and her ears were ringing so loud that she could barely hear anything else.


    Mnie had hit her so hard that Xylia¡¯s cheek swelled up instantly.


    Seeing that, Connor instinctively stepped forward, a shadow ofplicated pain flickering in his eyes.


    But Tessa quickly pulled Connor back.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Are </b>you okay? Let me check, Tessa said, her voice full of concern.


    Connor stopped in his tracks, looking at Tessa¡¯s worried face, and gently shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he replied.


    Mnie raised her hand to strike again, but Xylia flinched back, staying just out of reach


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who cheated. If you hit me again, I¡¯ll hit you back,¡± Xylia said, her tone cold and unflinching.


    The cops quickly jumped in and held Mnie back.


    Mnie shot Xylia a venomous re before turning to the cops. ¡°Officer, honestly, this is just family business. My son would never hit her, but she really cheated on him here. So tell me<b>, </b>who¡¯s the one you should be arresting?


    ¡°And the guy who called the cops? Bet it <b>was </b>a man. He¡¯s the one Xylia¡¯s been fooling around with behind <b>our </b>backs.¡±


    The cops could tell this was just a domestic dispute. They gave the Ford family a verbal warning about domestic violence, reassured Xylia a bit, and then left.


    After all that went down, Xylia knew one thing for sure. If she stayed at the Ford Mansion any longer, she would be doomed. She had to leave.


    ¡°Xylia, I know Connor was in the wrong. For my <b>sake</b><b>, </b>could you try not to hold it against him?¡± Orion¡¯s voice called out to her just as Xylia was about to leave.


    Orion <b>leaned </b>on his cane, watching her with a kind, grandfatherly warmth in his eyes.


    Xylia forced a bitter smile. After exposing Orion¡¯s true colors, she finally saw it for what it was. His so¨Ccalled concern was just a cover. Deep down<b>, </b>he was always pulling strings to make sure Connor came out on top.


    7:53 Thu, Sep 11


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    Orion had only smacked Connor to throw the cops off his trail, worried they¡¯de down hard on his precious grandson. Orion was just covering his bases.


    Xylia gave a soft, almost mockingugh. ¡°Mr. Ford, you know better than anyone why I stayed at the Ford Mansion. But now? I don¡¯t want to stay here anymore. And as for Connor? I¡¯m definitely divorcing him.¡±


    ¡°Divorce? Perfect. Someone as shameless and unfaithful as you never deserved to be Connor¡¯s wife, Mnie snapped. She looked absolutely thrilled at the prospect of Xylia leaving.


    Xylia didn¡¯t bother responding and just spun around, heading straight upstairs


    ¡°Xylia, stop right here,¡± Connor shouted, storming after her with a furious look on his face.


    Xylia picked up her pace, practically sprinting.


    She rushed into the bedroom and tried to shut the door, but Connor was quicker. He caught it with his hand before it could close and shoved it open.

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    Seeing Connor now, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but remember how he had looked earlier that afternoon, his face cold as he ordered the servants to lock her in the dark room.


    Her face went pale<b>, </b>and fear twisted in her gut. She stepped back, eyes wary as she watched Connor. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Seeing Xylia like this, Connor couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of sympathy. ¡®Did I really scare her that much?¡± he thought.


    Connor¡¯s tone softened as he looked at Xylia with unexpected gentleness. ¡°I was wrong this afternoon. I promise I won¡¯t lock you in the attic again.¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t buy it. ¡°Get out,¡± she snapped.


    Instead of leaving, Connor took a couple of steps closer. I¡¯m not divorcing you, and you¡¯re not leaving the Ford Mansion.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just act like nothing ever happened between you and that pretty boy. You¡¯re still my wife. Face it. Your hands and legs are useless now. If you leave, where could you possibly go?¡±


    Xylia scoffed, herugh cold and sharp. ¡°You know damn well who¡¯s behind all these injuries.¡±


    Connor stiffened, his expression turning rigid. ¡°Does she know? he wondered. Panic shed in his mind. He demanded, <b>voice </b>tight, ¡°What do you know?¡±


    Xylia said, her voice steady but resolute, ¡°Connor, if you want to get this over with, let¡¯s just go file for divorce right now. I don¡¯t want any of your money or assets.


    ¡°Sonny can stay with you. I just want a divorce. Whatever happens between you <b>and </b>Tessa after that, I don¡¯t


    care anymore.¡±


    Connor¡¯s panic quickly turned to anger.


    I¡¯ve been lying to Xylia for so long. There¡¯s no way she could¡¯ve figured out the truth in just one night, he thought, suspicion flickering in his eyes. ¡®She¡¯s just acting jealous right now!


    Connor¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Xylia, I¡¯ve told you a million times. Tessa and I are just friends. Do you really have to keep bringing <b>this </b>up?


    ¡°Tessa¡¯s been loyal to her husband all this time. Do you really <b>think </b>she¡¯s like you, running around with other


    <b>men</b>?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s stomach twisted. ¡®So that¡¯s <b>really </b>what he thinks of me?¡® she wondered.


    ¡°Nothing you say will change my mind. I¡¯m divorcing you,¡± she shot back.


    Connor¡¯s anger red as he snapped, ¡°Let me spell it out for you, Xylia. This marriage ends when I say so, not when you want.


    65 vouchere


    ¡°And you¡¯re not allowed to go anywhere except the Ford Mansion. If you dare step outside, I promise I won¡¯t let that pretty boy you¡¯re seeing go.


    Xylia¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°What are you gonna do to him?¡± she demanded.


    ¡°That depends on your next move,¡± Connor replied coldly.


    Connor gave Xylia a frosty re, threw her phone to her, then turned and walked out of the bedroom.


    Xylia sat down on the edge of the bed, gripping her phone tightly in her hand.


    The Ford family was an elite powerhouse in Jupiton. Connor had countless ways to make him pay.


    That was the cold, <b>hard </b>truth; without any backing, Joshua was an easy mark for revenge.


    Xylia was still wrestling with her thoughts when her phone rang again. It was Joshua calling. She <b>took </b>a deep breath before answering.


    ¡°Hello, Xylia?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was low and maic, tinged with uncertainty.


    Xylia was so lost in her thoughts that she didn¡¯t even notice his tone was very gentle. Joshua, thank you.¡±


    Just now downstairs, when Xylia heard Mnie say that the person who called the police was a man, she guessed it was Joshua. She didn¡¯t have any other friends.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± <b>Joshua¡¯s </b>voice was full of concern. Before Xylia could say anything, he went on, ¡°You can¡¯t stay at the Ford Mansion anymore. My friend¡¯s apartment is empty.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you move out and stay there for now? I¡¯ll help you sort out the divorce.¡±


    Xylia could sense the worry in Joshua¡¯s voice. But she didn¡¯t want him to get caught up in her problems.


    because of her.


    ¡°No, thanks. Really, I¡¯m okay.¡± She blinked back tears and said quietly, ¡°Joshua, <b>this </b>is something I need to handle myself. Please, don¡¯t get involved, alright?¡±


    On the other end of the line, Joshua clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. A cold, menacing aura radiated from him; he looked downright terrifying.


    ¡®Don¡¯t get involved?¡® Joshua wondered, ¡®Like hell I¡¯m staying out of this.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joshua said, struggling to keep his emotions in check. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to take your meds and put on the ointment for your hand.¡±


    ¡°I will, Xylia replied softly.


    ¡°But,¡± Joshua paused, unable to hold back, ¡°if Connor everys a hand on you again, there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll just sit back and do nothing.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Xylia barely got the word out before <b>Joshua </b>ended the call.


    :


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    Xylia stared at her phone after the call ended, a wave of helplessness washing over her. But even more than that, she felt deeply moved by his kindness. <b>Joshua </b>really is so good to me, she thought.


    After hanging up, Joshua rose to his feet, his expression grim.


    David was justing in when they nearly collided at the door. ¡°Mr. Garcia?¡± he asked, looking uncertain.


    ¡°Get the car <b>keys</b>. We¡¯re going to find Crawford now,¡± Joshua ordered.


    David quickly snapped out of it and hurried after him<b>. </b>¡°But it¡¯s sote now. Mr. Fletcher <b>might </b>already be asleep.,¡± he said hesitantly.


    Joshua didn¡¯t even seem to hear him. He knew there was no time to waste. He had to make Connor pay the price.


    As Connor left Xylia¡¯s room and headed toward his own, he saw Tessa standing right outside his bedroom door, waiting for him.


    His icy demeanor melted in an instant. ¡°Tessa, were you waiting for me?¡± he asked.


    Tessa nodded, her eyes full of guilt as she looked at him. ¡°I came to apologize. Just now, a guy called Xylia, and I picked up instead.


    ¡°I identally told him about Xylia being locked up in the attic, and that¡¯s why he called the police. I¡¯m really sorry. It was all my fault.¡±


    When Connor heard that guy, his expression darkened. But seeing Tessa looking so guilty, he felt a pang of sympathy for her.


    He reached out and rested his hand gently on her head. ¡°This has nothing to do with you. You don¡¯t have to carry the burden for what Xylia did.¡±


    ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± Tessa asked.


    Connor¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°If Xylia owns up to her mistakes and changes, I¡¯ll forgive her and try to live peacefully together. But if she doesn¡¯t, then I¡¯ll see to it that guy vanishes from Jupiton permanently.¡±


    As soon as Tessa heard Connor¡¯s words, her gaze lost its light. ¡°Is that all? Just make him disappear?¡± she wondered.


    Suddenly, Tessa grabbed Connor¡¯s hand, her eyes brimming with tears as she gazed up at him.


    She¡¯d always been the bright, tomboyish girl; seeing her like this genuinely startled Connor. Tessa, what¡¯s wrong?¡± he blurted out.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Connor</b>, I¡¯ve been thinking a lot these past few days. It¡¯s bad enough that Xylia doesn¡¯t care about you Sonny, but now she¡¯s getting involved with other men.


    and


    ¡°That¡¯s really crossing the line. If you want to divorce her, you have my full support, Tessa said, her voice


    7:54 Thu, Sep 11


    shaky with emotion.


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    ¡®Here we go again with the divorce talk, Connor thought, annoyance bubbling up inside. It made him bristle instinctively.


    Deep down, Connor knew Xylia needed his protection. He owed her, and there was no way he¡¯d ever let divorce happen.


    Before Connor could say a word, Tessa said something thatpletely floored him. ¡°Connor, I know you¡¯ve always had feelings for me. I¡¯ve seen how good you are to me.


    ¡°I¡¯ve stayed faithful to Qadir all these years, but honestly, I think I¡¯ve done enough.


    Her meaning was crystal clear.


    Connor stared at her in shock, his eyes colliding with hers, filled with hope and longing. He stood there for a long moment before his brow suddenly furrowed.


    Connor should have felt happy; after all these years, the woman he¡¯d cared for was finally willing to be with him. But instead, the first image that shed through his mind was Xylia.


    Connor pulled his hand away. ¡°Don¡¯t joke around. Tessa. It¡¯ste. <b>You </b>should get some sleep.¡±


    Tessa watched as Connor disappeared into his bedroom, her face growing colder and harder with every step he took.


    ¡®Xylia, I really did underestimate you, Tessa thought, resentment simmering in her chest.


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    Comment

 Tricked 43

    ¡ª 55 vouchers


    Sommy had no appetite these <b>past </b>couple of days. His health <b>was </b>never great, and every time he got sick, it felt like going through hell.


    After going hungry for two days, Sonny missed Xylia¡¯s hearty porridge more than ever.


    He didn¡¯t go to school, <b>and </b>when he realized Xylin was still home, he couldn¡¯t help but go to her room.


    Xylia had moved her drawing board by the window. There was a bandage on her wrist, and her movements were slow but steady as she lifted her brush.


    The sunlight streamed in through the window, bathing Xylia in a gentle light.


    Maybe Sonny hadn¡¯t seen his mother in ages, <b>so </b>now that he saw Xylia, a deep longing welled up inside him.


    Out of the corner of her eye, Xylia noticed movement at the door and turned to see Sonny.


    Even though they lived in the same house, Xylia hadn¡¯t seen her son in days.


    Sonny had even been <b>sulking</b>, insisting on eating in his room just to avoid seeing her.


    ¡°Did you need something? Xylia asked, her voice cold.


    Sonny felt like his mother was a <b>stranger </b><b>again</b>. He pouted, stuck out <b>his </b>chin, and looked at Xylia acting all high and mighty.


    ¡°I want your hearty porridge, Go make it for me, <b>now</b>,¡± Sonny ordered.


    Xylia frowned at his bossy attitude. ¡°Is that really how you ask someone for a favor?¡±


    Seeing Xylia¡¯s expression, Sonny couldn¡¯t help but remember how strict she used to be whenever she was <b>in </b><b>charge </b>of his studies, meals, or anything else, and how stern she got whenever he messed up.


    Sonny instinctively lowered his head.


    Xylia¡¯s heart softened a little seeing him like that. She¡¯d raised Sonny herself; she knew every side of him.


    Upon seeing <b>how </b>his face had grown so thin after just a few days of illness, Xylia¡¯s heart ached for him.


    She put down her brush and removed the bandage she¡¯d had on for six hours. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said.


    Xylia still went to make Sonny his hearty porridge.


    While Xylia was making the hearty <b>porridge</b>, Sonny pulled aside the servant and told her to learn Xylia¡¯s recipe.


    That way, next <b>time </b>he wanted some, Sonny wouldn¡¯t have to bother his mom for it. The servant could whip it up for him whenever he wanted.


    7:04 1110, Sep 1


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    When Xylia finished making the hearty porridge and carried it out, Tessa came downstairs.


    Upon noticing Xylia serving Sonny his hearty porridge, with Sonny sitting there quietly waiting, Tessa¡¯s eyes. narrowed, and she strode over.


    ¡°So you finally made Sommy his porridge. He¡¯s barely eaten these past couple of days¨Ckept going on about your porridge nonstop,¡± Tessa said.


    Worried Tessa might get the wrong idea, Sonny quickly exined, ¡°Tessa, once I¡¯m better, I really like cooking, too.¡±


    your


    Tessa smiled and ruffled Sonny¡¯s <b>hair</b>. ¡°You can cat whatever you want, Sonny, I won¡¯t get jealous at all. Just tell me whenever you¡¯re craving something, and no matter what I¡¯m doing, I¡¯ll drop everything to make it for


    you.


    Tessa, you re so nice


    Sonny said,ying it on thick.


    Sonny <b>kept </b>buttering Tessa up, and honestly, he was starting to think she really was awesome. She¡¯d make <b>a </b>great mom.


    Tessa was not like his mom, who was always bossing him around, nagging about his homework, his bedtime, and even keeping tabs on when he went out to y.


    Xylia didn¡¯t get involved in their cozy chat and simply served up the hearty porridge. ¡°Your porridge¡¯s ready. Dig in.


    ¡°Let me do it,¡± Tessa offered, reaching <b>out </b>for the <b>bowl</b>. But just as her hand got close, she suddenly swatted at the bowl.


    Scalding soup spilled onto both their hands. Xylia jerked her hand back, while Tessa shrieked in pain.


    two voices called out at the same <b>time</b>.


    ¡°Tessa,¡± two


    In the next second, Connor rushed to Tessa¡¯s side, worry written all over his face as he gently took her hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t me Xylia. I messed up grabbing the bowl. I¡¯m not <b>that </b>delicate. I¡¯ll be fine. Just hurry and check on Xylia¡¯s hand,¡± Tessa <b>said</b>, waving off her injury, her skin flushed red from the scalding burn.


    Connor <b>shot </b>Xylia <b>a </b>fierce re. ¡°Xylia, there¡¯s a limit to your selfishness. Tessa¡¯s your sister, and she¡¯s a star dancer. You burned her hand. Are <b>you </b>trying to destroy her future?¡± he snapped.


    Sonny jumped in, yelling at Xylia, ¡°You¡¯re just jealous of Tessa. You can¡¯t dance anymore, so you want to mess things up for her. That¡¯s just nasty.¡±


    ¡°I- Xylia barely got a word out before Connor swept Tessa up in his arms and hurried out the door. Sonny scrambled off his stool <b>and </b>chased after them.


    Momentster, the engine revved up outside; they must be heading to the hospital.


    Xylia went back to the kitchen, running her hand under cold water before applying some burn cream.


    !


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    After she saw Connor and Sonny turn against her, her heart felt almostpletely still. There was still a dull ache in her chest, but she knew it would fade soon enough.


    Just as Xylia was about to head back to her room, her phone rang; it was Yves. ¡°Get back to the Schultz. residence within an hour, or face the consequences,¡± he snapped, then hung up.


    Xylia didn¡¯t want to go back. But she knew she needed to settle things with the Schultz family once and for <b>all</b>. Plus, it would be her grandmother¡¯s death anniversary in two months, and she had to be there for that.


    After a moment of thought, Xylia packed up and headed back to the Schultz residence.


    As soon as Xylia stepped into the vi, she spotted Sadie, whom <b>she¡¯d </b>run into not long <b>ago</b>.


    Ruby and Sadie were sitting on one couch, while Yves and Gia sat across from them on the other. Everyone¡¯s expression was grim.


    The moment Xylia stepped inside, Gia came at her, hand raised for a p.


    Xylia dodged just in time.


    ¡°You shameless bitch, still got the nerve to dodge? After all the crap you pulled out there, you¡¯ve made the Schultz family aughingstock,¡± Gia yelled.


    Xylia frowned. ¡°What did I even do?¡±


    ¡°How dare you even ask?¡± Gia snapped, her <b>hand </b>raised threateningly.


    Sadie suddenly jumped up from the couch, eyes zing and teary as she stormed straight toward Xylia.


    ¡°It¡¯s all because of you. You man¨Cstealing bitch, you seduced my boyfriend away,¡± Sadie yelled.


    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? I don¡¯t even know your boyfriend, Xylia retorted.


    ¡°How could you not know? You totally saw him that day at the street market. After he ran into you, he dumped me. He must¡¯ve gone chasing after you, Sadie used.


    Xylia was at a loss for words. ¡®I don¡¯t even know Sadie¡¯s boyfriend. She¡¯s just making up stuff to pin on me, she <b>thought</b>, exasperated.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know your boyfriend,¡± Xylia said tly.


    ¡°Still got the nerve to talk back?¡± Sadie snapped, her hand shooting up as if she was about to p Xylia.


    But Ruby called out, stopping her. ¡°Sadie, don¡¯t bother. She¡¯s not worth it. You¡¯ll just dirty your hands.¡±


    Ruby couldn¡¯t hide her disgust <b>as </b>she red at Xylia. ¡°Eight years ago, I already knew you weren¡¯t good enough for my son. Thank God he never married a phony like <b>you</b>.


    ¡°Word is you¡¯ve been throwing tantrums and sneaking around behind his backtely. Connor¡¯s sick of you. You really are just a shameless flirt.


    7:54 Thu, Sep 11


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    ¡°And now you¡¯ve got the guts to go after my daughter? Do you really think my girl is that easy to bully?¡±


    Hearing Ruby¡¯s words. Yves red at Xylia, his face twisted with rage. ¡°You really have the guts to betray Connor, huh?


    ¡°Do you even know what shame is. Xylia? If you drag the Schultz family into trouble and Connor decides to take it out on us, I won¡¯t let you g go.¡±


    Xylia was honestly at a loss. ¡®Seriously? They called me back here just to frame me for something I didn¡¯t even do?¡® she thought.


    ¡°I already said, I don¡¯t know Sadie¡¯s boyfriend. If you¡¯ve got nothing else, I¡¯m out of here,¡± Xylia <b>said</b>, not bothering to stick around.


    Xylia turned to leave, but Gia suddenly yanked her back, her grip digging painfully into Xylia¡¯s wrist.


    ¡°You think you can just walk away after pulling this shameless stunt? You owe Sadie an apology,¡± Gia snapped.


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 Tricked 44

    ¡°I keep telling you, it wasn¡¯t me, Xylia protested.


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    But no matter how she tried to exin, Yves and Gia were dead set on ming her<b>, </b>convinced she was the one who stole Sadie¡¯s boyfriend.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but think back to those eighteen years when she was mistaken for their daughter.


    Back then, Yves and Gia had actually treated her pretty well.


    But ever since Tessa came back, all that kindness turned into guilt for Tessa, and over the years, they¡¯d just gotten harsher and harsher with Xylia. They even doubted her character<b>. </b>


    Xylia was tired. Even the people she once called family could turn on her like this. There was <b>n </b>here worth holding onto.


    nothing left


    She lowered her eyes, her voice icy and t. ¡°Since you don¡¯t believe me, then let¡¯s be done with each other<b>.. </b>From now on, I¡¯m no longer part of the Schultz family.¡±


    Gia sneered<b>, </b>¡°Xylia, you took eighteen years that should¡¯ve belonged to Tessa. Ever since she came back, your stopped being one of us.


    *But you owe us for every penny and every bit of effort we wasted on you during those eighteen years. And you need to atone to Tessa. Otherwise, you¡¯re not leaving the Schultz family.¡±


    ¡®Here we go


    go again, Xylia thought. ¡®Yeah, I¡¯ve been living as Tessa for eighteen years, but I was just a baby when the whole mix¨Cup happened. How am I supposed to know I wasn¡¯t really your daughter?¡±


    Eight years ago, Qadir dumped Xylia to marry Tessa. Then, right now, Connor crippled her hands and feet <b>just </b>to pave the way for Tessa¡¯s dance career.


    And on top of that, Yves and Gia spent thest eight years constantly making her life miserable.


    ¡°Hasn¡¯t that paid them <b>back </b>enough? Xylia wondered.


    Sadie shot Xylia a look full of disdain. ¡°You fraud, you spent years pretending to be Tessa, living it up, and then you even tried to marry my brother.


    ¡°If Tessa hadn¡¯te back, our whole family would¡¯ve kept falling for your act. And now you¡¯re after my boyfriend, too? You really are shameless.¡±


    The more Sadie talked, the angrier she got, turning to Ruby for help. ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve got to do something


    ¡°<b>Enough</b>,¡± Yves snapped, stepping over to Xylia and grabbing her arm, pulling her toward the couch. <b>¡°</b>Apologize to Sadie.¡±


    Xylia felt like her heart had frozen over. Her voice came out rough, almost numb. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?¡±


    7:54 <b>Thu</b>, Sep 11


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    ¡°Not wrong? Really? First, you betrayed Connor, then you disrespected your parents, and worst of all, you¡¯re nothing but a shameless flirt¨Cthrowing yourself at anyone. Today, I¡¯m purging this family of your disgrace,¡± Yves shouted.


    Yves¡® face was red with anger, and he was just about to raise his hand when suddenly, there was amotion


    at the door.


    Connor and Tessa came in.


    I


    Tessa¡¯s hand <b>was </b>already bandaged up, and when she walked in and saw Sadie and Ruby, she lit up.


    ¡°Mrs. Zinn, Sadie, what are you guys doing here?¡± Tessa asked, her voice full of excitement.


    Connor walked in and immediately spotted Xylia standing off to the side.


    When he remembered how Xylia had deliberately burned Tessa¡¯s hand that morning, his face grew even more icy. He shot her a frosty re, not bothering to say a single word.


    Sadie, looking all teary¨Ceyed, threw herself into Tessa¡¯s arms. ¡°Xylia, that phony is bullying me. She¡¯s trying to steal my boyfriend, she whined.


    Tessaforted Sadie, then nced down at Xylia, who was still on the floor, her face clouded with displeasure. ¡°Xylia, you¡¯ve already got some guy, so why are you still trying to hit on Xylia¡¯s boyfriend?


    ¡°Sure, Qadir didn¡¯t marry you because I came back, but did you really have to go after his sister <b>just </b>to get


    revenge


    Hearing Tessa¡¯s words, Gia got even angrier.


    Seeing Connor standing there made her even more furious. Her face twisted with contempt. ¡°Xylia, how can you be so shameless? Connor treats <b>you </b>so well, and you still


    go out throwing yourself at other men? Are you really that pathetic??


    Yves, not wanting to upset Connor, quickly jumped in to show his support. ¡°Connor<b>, </b>Xylia messed up. Deal with her however you see fit. We won¡¯t stop it.¡±


    Yves had no intention of letting <b>Xylia </b>and Connor get divorced right now.


    Their whole partnership with Ford Group pretty much hinged on Xylia and Connor staying married.


    Even if Connor wanted to tear Xylia apart, divorce <b>was </b>absolutely off the table.


    <b>Connor </b>strode up to Xylia, staring her down with a cold, unblinking gaze. ¡°Say you¡¯re sorry to Sadie.<b>¡± </b>


    gon


    <b>Xylia </b>felt her heart go numb with cold. She let out a cold, mockingugh. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡±


    There was no way she¡¯d apologize.


    Sadie looked down her nose at Xylia<b>, </b>her <b>eyes </b>full of spite and arrogance. ¡°I want her to bow, begging for forgiveness. If she doesn¡¯t, I¡¯m not letting this go.¡±


    7:54 Thu, Sep 11


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    ¡°Keep dreaming,¡± Xylia snapped back. She spun on her heel to leave, but Connor seized her arm, yanking her


    to a halt.


    ¡°Connor, let go of me- Xylia protested.


    However, before she could get another word out, Connor grabbed her and shoved her down. His face was stone cold, eyes zing with fury as he pinned her on the ground, refusing to let her move.


    ¡°Apologize.¡± Connor demanded, his tone harsh and merciless.


    Xylia felt utterly humiliated. Tessa stood nearby, her eyes full of open provocation and gloating, clearly daring Xylia to break.


    Xylia mped her mouth shut, stubbornly refusing to utter a single word. She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. and she would never apologize.


    Connor¡¯s patience was running out. He ground his heel mercilessly into Xylia¡¯s injured ankle, not caring how much it hurt.


    ¡°Ah, Xylia cried out, a sharp gasp escaping her lips as pain exploded in her ankle.


    Connor leaned in close, whispering in Xylia¡¯s ear, ¡°Xylia, I know you didn¡¯t go after Sadie¡¯s boyfriend. But Tessa¡¯s still with the Zimmer family. You¡¯re her sister, so do it for her. Just say sorry.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s face turned pale, her heart feeling like it had been ripped open, pain flooding every inch of her.


    ¡°All for Tessa? I have to swallow this injustice and let him humiliate me like this?¡¯ <b>she </b>thought, bitterness burning in her chest. She would never apologize for something she hadn¡¯t done.


    Connor pressed his foot down even harder, his anger ring as Xylia trembled from the pain.


    ¡°Xylia, say it,¡± Connor barked, his voice edged with frustration. Seeing her face go even paler, he started to panic.


    ¡°Why is she so damn stubborn?¡¯ he thought, his patience wearing dangerously thin.


    ¡°I was wrong.¡± Just as Connor was about to give up and try smoothing things over with Sadie, Xylia¡¯s faint, emotionless words <b>broke </b>the silence.


    Connor realized she was finally apologizing, and he let out a sigh of relief. He nced up at Sadie. ¡°Satisfied


    now?¡±


    Sadie wanted to act up, but when she caught the look on Connor¡¯s face, she didn¡¯t dare say another word. After all, Connor was not someone she could afford to mess with.


    ¡°Whatever, Sadie huffed, finally letting it go.


    Only then did Connor bend down <b>and </b>lift Xylia into his arms. After a curt goodbye to Yves and Gia, he walked out with her, not looking back.


    As Connor carried Xylia <b>out</b>, Tessa¡¯s expression soured.


    7:54 Thu, Sep 11


    ¿Ú


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    Was Connor actually backing Xylia up just now? Tessa wondered, a surge of jealousy and unease twisting in


    her chest.


    Once they were in the car, Connor checked Xylia¡¯s ankle. It was swollen and red, looking downright rming.


    His heart softened as he <b>said</b>, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, honey. I really didn¡¯t have a choice. Tessa¡¯s got no one looking out for her in the Zimmer family.


    ¡°As her sister, if you didn¡¯t apologize to Sadie, they¡¯d just make things even <b>worse </b>for Tessa when they got back. You did live Tessa¡¯s privileged life for eighteen years, so the least you can do is think about her a bit more, right?¡±


    ¡°What <b>a </b>self¨Crighteous speech. Xylia thought, unimpressed. She turned to Connor, her facepletely expressionless. ¡°Connor, I was wrong.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong. I know you never tried to steal Sadie¡¯s boyfriend, Connor said, his tone softer than before.


    ¡°My mistake was taking Tessa¡¯s ce for eighteen years. My mistake was marrying you seven years ago. And <b>my </b>biggest mistake was having your child,¡± Xylia replied. Her face was expressionless, and her heart felt utterly dead inside.


    Connor stared at her for a long <b>moment</b><b>, </b>finally losing his <b>cool</b>. ¡°Are you about to throw another fit?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s lips curled into a <b>faint</b>, bitter smile. ¡°No, I won¡¯t fight back anymore.¡±


    Xylia resolved to remain at Ford Mansion, to stay by Connor¡¯s side.


    She would stay until she uncovered evidence <b>that </b>Connor and Tessa had set her up. She would leave with her name cleared, and she would make sure Connor and Tessa paid the price for what they¡¯d done.


    B

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    Connor rushed Xylia to the hospital.


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    After he examined her leg, the doctor¡¯s face turned serious. ¡°You¡¯ve got an old injury that¡¯s been aggravated by a new one. You need to stay in the hospital for observation.


    ¡°If we don¡¯t fix it properly this time, you could end up with permanent damage.¡±


    It hit Connor only now, after hearing the doctor, just how much he¡¯d hurt Xylia with what he¡¯d done.


    There was a chill of regret in his eyes as he looked at Xylia, his voice unconsciously softening. I¡¯m sorry, Xylia. This is all my fault.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get you the best medical team, and I¡¯ll take responsibility for everything. Even if you never fully recover, I¡¯ll take <b>care </b>of you for the rest of your life.¡±


    Xylia looked at Connor.


    Under the pale hospital lights, his face was still as handsome as ever with <b>sharp </b>brows and a defined nose. When he looked at her, his eyes carried a caring look.


    Just like they first got married when he treated her with such tenderness.


    But <b>Xylia </b>had already ripped <b>off </b>his mask. She wasn¡¯t going to expect anything from him ever again.


    ¡°Like I¡¯d ever need him to take care of me for the rest of my life,¡® she wondered.


    Her voice was cool and distant. ¡°You can go now,¡±


    Connor frowned. ¡°It¡¯s hard for you to move around. Let me stay and look after you.¡±


    ¡°You hurt my leg for Tessa. Aren¡¯t you worried about her? How can you rx if you don¡¯t go check on her?¡± Xylia stared at him, her face nk, her eyespletely emotionless.


    Connor opened his mouth, but couldn¡¯te up with <b>a </beback.


    Tessa had just gotten hurt that morning. Ruby was the petty type. Even though Ruby and Sadie had already let off steam, he didn¡¯t know if she¡¯d end up taking it out on Tessa.


    ¡°Anyway, I have already gotten Xylia to the hospital, so it¡¯d be fine to just go check on Tessa for a bit, he wondered. Connor nced at Xylia<b>, </b>a conflicted look shing in his eyes.


    ¡°Since you care so much about Tessa, I¡¯ll go check on her. You get some rest. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± With that, Connor <b>didn¡¯t </b>wait for a reply and left.


    Connor walked out in a sh, barely taking a moment before he was gone.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but let out a bitter chuckle. ¡®Of course, when it¡¯s someone you actually care <b>about</b>, you can¡¯t wait to run to <b>them</b>, she wondered.


    7:55 Thu, Sep 11


    66 vouchers


    Her leg was still aching, but she didn¡¯t bother thinking about anything else. Shey down and drifted off to sleep.


    Connor didn¡¯t show up the whole night, not that Xylia was surprised.


    Early the next morning. Sonny showed up at her hospital room door, looking sullen and clearly not happy to be there. The butler had brought him over and also passed on Orion¡¯s greetings.


    Sonny hadn¡¯t wanted toe at all. Connor had practically forced him here.


    ¡°She¡¯s your mom, and she¡¯s sick. You need to go take care of her, Connor insisted.


    But isn¡¯t Dad nning to divorce Mom? Sonny wondered.


    Sonny hated being pushed into things, but as soon as he walked in and saw how pale Xylia looked and her leg all wrapped up, he couldn¡¯t help but feel bad for her.


    ¡°Mom?¡± He walked up to the bed, <b>his </b>voice barely above a whisper.


    Xylia was genuinely surprised when Sonny suddenly called her Mom.


    ¡°Mom, does <b>it </b>still hurt? Sonny asked, his <b>face </b>showing a hint of worry.


    Xylia looked at him, and seeing the concern on his face, she felt her heart melt a little.


    Whatever happened, the years she¡¯d spent as Sonny¡¯s mom were real, and so was their bond.


    Xylia <b>shook </b>her head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>Dad went to work, so he told me to look after you. If you want some water, I¡¯ll get it for you, Sonny said.


    Xylia really didn¡¯t want to hear anything more about Connor. She looked at Sonny, her cold expression slowly softening. ¡°Sonny, why do you like <b>Tessa </b>so much?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Because Tessa is amazing. She¡¯s not like you, just staying at home and taking it easy. She¡¯s educated, she can dance, and she¡¯s even better at drawing than you. If she were my mom, I¡¯d have something to brag about<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Sonny said.


    Ever since Sonny started speaking his mind<b>, </b>he was even more open about how much he liked Tessa in front of <b>Xylia </b>


    Xylia forced a smile, but <b>inside</b>, she felt a pang of sadness.


    Sonny was her son, the boy she¡¯d raised herself from day one.


    The same little kid who used to be all soft and clingy, always <b>wanting </b>her attention, now acted like he couldn¡¯t


    stand her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Tessa will end up being your mom sooner orter,¡± Xylia murmured, her facepletely expressionless.


    7:55 Thu, Sep 11


    1 55 Vouchars


    Sonny stared at Xylia, and suddenly, a wave of panic hit him. It felt like something important was slipping away, and he couldn¡¯t do anything about it.


    Last night, Ruby still gave Tessa a hard time. The girl who was usually tough as nails ended up crying badly.


    Connor spent the whole nightforting her. The more Connor thought about it, the more he med Xylia. Why did <b>she </b>get involved with Sadie for no reason?¡® he grumbled to himself.


    But Connor didn¡¯t have time to deal with any of that right now; he had a big business deal to close this morning.


    After getting ready, Connor headed to the High Desert Hotel, where he was supposed to meet Crawford.


    Crawford had an overseas project lined up, and if Ford Group could secure the deal, everything would go well. It was a real lifesaver for thepany right now.


    That was why Connor was taking this meeting so seriously.


    Crawford showed up right on time. ¡°Sorry, hope I didn¡¯t keep you waiting,¡± he said.


    ¡°I just got here, too. Have a <b>seat</b>, Mr. Fletcher, Connor replied


    Crawford, who looked to be in his fifties, shed Connor a smile, but there <b>was </b>nothing friendly about it. He cut right to the chase. ¡°Mr. Ford, I know <b>what </b>you¡¯re <b>after</b>, but I¡¯ve already got someone else lined up for the <b>overseas </b><b>deal</b>. Sorry.¡±


    Connor¡¯s heart <b>sank</b>, and he asked urgently, ¡°But Mr. Fletcher, we were so close to finalizing the deal. You seemed really interested in the Ford Group before. Why the change?¡±


    ¡°When there¡¯s a better offer on the table, I¡¯m not going to pass it up. Mr. Ford, in business, it¡¯s all about the bottom line. <b>You </b>should understand that, Crawford replied.


    ¡®A better offer?¡® Connor thought. In <b>a </b>city as massive as Jupiton, Ford Group is the top dog. Who could. possibly outdo us?¡±


    seves


    Connor¡¯s eyes darkened, a dangerous glint shing in them. Was it that person again?¡± he wondered.


    ¡°Let me guess, Mr. Fletcher. Did the Garcia family reach <b>out </b>to you?¡± Connor asked, his tone sharp.


    The Garcia family was top¨Ctier in Jupiton, right at the top of the food chain among the city¡¯s elite.


    They kept things quiet, but their wealth was legendary. Nobody really knew <b>what </b>they were capable of, and that mystery was exactly what kept Connor on edge.


    And for reasons Connor still couldn¡¯t figure out, the Garcia heir had snatched up his deals right under his nose more than <b>once </b>over the past few years.


    Connor had tried to look into the Garcia family before, but every lead hit a dead end.


    7:55 Thu, Sep 11


    Is that mysterious person pulling the strings again? Connor thought.


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    Crawford didn¡¯t answer right away. He just took a sip of water, his expression calm. ¡°Mr. Ford, I never actually promised you anything, so I wouldn¡¯t say I¡¯m standing you up.


    ¡°No hard feelings. I hope. Maybe we¡¯ll get <b>a </b>chance to work together down the line.¡±


    Connor¡¯s face was nowhere <b>near </b>as calm as when he¡¯d first arrived. He left the hotel with a face like thunder. And then, just as he was leaving, he ran right into Joshua.


    Joshua was dressed in a dark, custom¨Ctailored suit, his silver hair catching the sunlight and giving off a soft glow.


    The air of refinement around him was unmistakable; he didn¡¯t look anything like the ordinary guy Xylia had described.


    ¡®Is he really something special?¡® Connor wondered. ¡®Joshua Garcia? Could he be some distant rtive of the Garcia family?


    Connor frowned, thinking. Even if he¡¯s something special, at best, he¡¯s just another spoiled trust¨Cfund kid. from some minor family. Why else would he be interested in Xylia?


    Connor shot Joshua a cold re, his mood sour and looking for him to take it out on. ¡°High Desert Hotel is the biggest ce in Jupiton. Someone from the sticks like you has no business being here.¡±


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    Joshua shot Connor a nk look, his eyes glinting with icy intent. ¡°Mr. Ford, do you even know why your contract got axed?¡± he asked coldly.


    Connor¡¯s face turned <b>grim</b>. ¡°Was this you?¡±


    ¡°If it happens again, it won¡¯t just be about losing a deal,¡± Joshua warned. He strode inside, deliberately knocking Connor aside with his shoulder.


    Connor flinched under Joshua¡¯s intimidating stare, but he quickly pulled himself together. He watched Joshua¡¯s retreating figure.


    Just then, Crawford stepped out, and they shook hands and greeted each other.


    Connor finally realized it was Joshua <b>who </b>had tanked his deal with Crawford.


    ¡®How could just a kept man have the kind of pull to make Crawford walk away from such a huge opportunity with Ford Group? Connor wondered, ¡®Could it be Joshua is working for the Garcia family?


    Xylia had been in the hospital for several days.


    Connor never came to see her, not even once. He just sent a caregiver to look after her instead. She couldn¡¯t


    care less.


    Joshua had invited Xylia out a few times, but she always said no.


    For one thing. Joshua had no idea Xylia was stuck in the hospital, and she didn¡¯t want him to get all worried


    about her.


    For another, Xylia didn¡¯t want to get him mixed up in her problems.


    Connor was the kind of guy who could pull anything.


    Xylia¡¯s foot was finally on the mend, and she could get out of bed and walk again.


    Just then, her private investigator suddenly <b>called</b>. ¡°Ms. Schultz, I¡¯ve got an update on that hit¨Cand¨Crun you were framed for four <b>months </b>ago, the one you asked me to look into,¡± he said.


    Without a second thought, Xylia, leaning on her crutches, left the hospital right away.


    Xylia arrived at the bar she¡¯d agreed to meet the detective at and took a seat across from him.


    The private investigator was a man in his thirties, dressed head¨Cto¨Ctoe in ck casual wear<b>, </b>sporting a gray- ck baseball cap.


    ¡°Go ahead, Mr. <b>Ward</b><b>, </b>Xylia said, nodding to him to get started.


    7:55 Thu<b>, </b>Sep 11


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    Maverick got straight to the point. ¡°Ms. Schultz, four months ago, you took your car out, and the next day, the cops locked you up for a hit<b>¨C</b><b>and</b>¨Crun.


    ¡°They <b>traced </b>the car that killed someone back to you, and you were the only one who¡¯d used it that day. After <b>digging </b>around, the police pinned it all on you and charged you..


    ¡°But there weren¡¯t any cameras on that stretch of road, and you kept saying you were set up, so I started looking into


    the people who lied to the police back then.¡±


    Maverick handed Xylia a photo.


    Xylia picked it up. It was a picture of a young <b>woman</b>.


    ¡°Her name¡¯s Xiomara Lane. I looked into her, and she¡¯s <b>been </b>missing from Jupiton ever since you went to jail,¡± Maverick exined.


    ¡°She¡¯s a local, born and raised in Jupiton, with her whole life and job here. How could she just disappear without anyone noticing? Something¡¯s definitely fishy,¡± he added.


    Xylia didn¡¯t need to think twice; this had Connor written all over it.


    Xylia met Maverick¡¯s gaze. ¡°I know exactly who framed <b>me</b>, but I need solid evidence. I¡¯m counting on you,¡± she said.


    Maverick nodded and assured her. ¡°You hired me, so I¡¯ll make sure to get <b>this </b>done right. You can count on


    me.¡±


    Maverick put the photo away, his eyes drifting to her leg. ¡°Is yourg okay?¡± he asked.


    Xylia smiled, I¡¯m fine, but thanks for worrying about me.¡±


    Maverick just nodded, said goodbye, and left.


    As soon as he stepped out of the bar, Maverick pulled out his phone and made <b>a </b><b>call</b>. ¡°Mr. <b>Garcia</b>, I¡¯ve <b>already </b>told Ms. Schultz everything, but she seems to be hurt,¡± he said.


    Just as Xylia was about to leave the bar, she ran into Chase walking in. Her eyes lit up, and she called out. ¡°Hi,


    Mr. Bell.¡±


    Chase turned at the sound of her voice, meeting <b>Xylia¡¯s </b>eyes shining with excitement.


    Chase paused for a second, and when he realized who she was, his expression instantly soured. He took a seat at <b>the </b>bar, acting like she didn¡¯t even exist.


    They¡¯d only ever talked online, just a couple of video calls. Xylia figured Chase probably didn¡¯t recognize her


    ¦°


    in <b>person</b>.


    She <b>made </b>her way <b>over </b>on her crutches and stopped right in front of him.


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    ¡°Mr. Bell, it¡¯s me, Xylia. I honestly didn¡¯t expect to bump into you here. I really appreciate all the help you¡¯ve given metely, Xylia <b>said</b>, her tone open and genuine.


    Chase just shot her a frosty look. ¡°Ms. Schultz, I¡¯m only helping because my boss told me to. If it wasn¡¯t for that, I wouldn¡¯t have bothered teaching you anything.


    ¡°You¡¯ve p


    got some real talent, but take my advice. Put your energy <b>into </b>proper design <b>work </b>and don¡¯t get distracted by pointless drama.


    <b>Chase </b>pretended <b>not </b>to <b>notice </b><b>her </b>injured leg.


    He had to admit that Xylia was incredibly gifted, but her work on the drafts <b>had </b>been pretty <b>inconsistent </b>these past few days.


    What Chase hated most were people who got ahead just because of their connections and didn¡¯t bother to work hard, like Xylia.


    <b>Xylia </b>caught the cold edge in his words and the frosty look on Chase¡¯s face.


    Even if she wasn¡¯t the most perceptive, she could sense the hostilitying off Chase.


    ¡®Guess he¡¯s pissed at me for not handing in my drafts these days, Xylia thought.


    ¡°Mr. Bell, I know I haven¡¯t been submitting my draftstely; that¡¯s my fault. There¡¯s been some stuff going on at home, but I¡¯ll be out of the hospital <b>soon</b>. Promise I¡¯ll get my work in on time once I¡¯m back,¡± Xylia said, her


    voice earnest


    Chase just ignored herpletely.


    Xylia rubbed her nose, feeling a bit embarrassed, and headed out.


    Not long after she got back to the hospital, Joshua walked in with Rachel in tow.


    Xylia was taken aback and blurted out, ¡°Why are you guys here?¡±


    Joshua stood there with a dark expression, giving Xylia a rare, cold look. He didn¡¯t even bother to answer her question


    ¡°Give her a check¨Cup,¡± he told Rachel in a serious tone.


    Rachel just looked a bit helpless.


    Rachel had a packed schedule today, but <b>Joshua </b>just showed up out of nowhere, didn¡¯t say a word, and hauled <b>her </b><b>straight </b>to the hospital, all just so she could check on his crush¡¯s leg.


    ¡®Wow, thanks for trusting my skills <b>so </b>much, Rachel thought, rolling her eyes inwardly.


    Ms. Schultz, let me take a look at your leg, Rachel said.


    Xylia was still reeling from the surprise, and when she caught Joshua¡¯s stormy expression, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little guilty and dropped her gaze.


    7:55 Thu, Sep 11


    Rachel checked her leg, her brows knitting tightly with concern.


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    ¡°Your legs haven¡¯t even healed from thest time, and now you¡¯ve got fresh injuries. If you don¡¯t take this seriously, you might never walk right again,¡± Rachel said bluntly.


    X had already heard the same warning from her attending doctor, so it didn¡¯t bother her at all.


    Joshua stood off to the side, fists clenched and lips pressed into a thin line; he was practically radiating cold


    anger.


    ¡°I¡¯ll head back and get you some meds.¡± Rachel let out a sigh, feeling a bit helpless. She didn¡¯t even wait for Joshua to say a word before heading out.


    Once Rachel was gone, Xylia turned to Joshua, feeling kind of awkward. ¡°How did you know I was in the hospital?¡± she asked.


    Joshua didn¡¯t say a word; he just stared at her face, silent. After what felt like forever, he finally spoke. ¡°Xylia, divorce Connor.


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    This was the first time since she¡¯d known Joshua that Xylia had ever heard him talk to her like this.


    He¡¯d always protected her dignity and never tried to interfere in her personal life. But now, he wasying out his expectations, making his request clear. <b>And </b>his tone was more serious than ever.


    Xylia was momentarily stunned. But when she <b>realized </b>Joshua was just worried about her, she simply smiled.


    ¡°Rx. I¡¯m going to divorce him soon. Seriously, you don¡¯t have to worry about me,¡± she <b>said</b>.


    But Joshua¡¯s frown stayed put. He walked right up to Xylia. He looked at <b>her </b>and said, ¡°If you think the divorce is a pain, just say the <b>word</b>, and I¡¯ll help you out.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not necessary, Xylia blurted out, clearly resisting.


    Joshua just stared at her, saying nothing


    ¡°This is my business. Please stay out of it,¡± she said quietly, avoiding <b>his </b>eyes.


    Joshua could feel the distance Xylia was putting between them, and it left him even more uneasy.


    Just as he was about to say something, Connor walked in. When he saw Joshua in the hospital room, his expression darkened even more.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Connor demanded, his voice raised and tinged with anger.


    Afraid Connor would cause trouble for Joshua, Xylia spoke up first. ¡°I¡¯m sick, and he just came to see how I was doing. What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Connor hadn¡¯t expected Xylia to defend Joshua like that, and his expression darkened even more.


    ¡°Xylia, I haven¡¯t seen you in a few days, and now you¡¯re letting hime visit you? Have you no shame?¡± he snapped.


    ¡°Connor, what nonsense are you spouting?¡± Xylia shot back, her voice sharp.


    Connor was already furious because Joshua had taken his business, and seeing Joshua getting close to Xylia made his rage hit the roof.


    Xylia looked at Joshua. ¡°Why don¡¯t you head back first?¡± she said softly.


    Joshua caught the concern deep in Xylia¡¯s eyes. His hand tightened at his side, and his face softened just a bit.


    ¡°Get some rest,¡± he said. With that, Joshua turned and walked out, not sparing Connor a single nce. Connor turned to Xylia, his face as dark as midnight. The gentle look he usually wore <b>was </b>now reced by a chilling frost.


    ¡°Xylia, did you forget what I told you? If you still refuse to cut him off, I swear I¡¯ll make him pay for it,¡±


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    Connor growled.


    Xylia said. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before. Joshua and I are just friends. You keep twisting things between us. What? Are you just dying to call yourself a cuckold?¡±


    Her voice <b>was </b>almost indifferent, but every wordnded right where it hurt, sharp and merciless.


    Connor¡¯s anger boiled over. He stormed up and grabbed Xylia¡¯s chin, his grip rough and unyielding. ¡°You screw up and still have the nerve to make excuses?¡±


    ¡°What did I do wrong?¡± Xylia shot back, meeting Connor¡¯s furious re with unwavering determination.


    Connor had never seen this side of her before, and for a moment, he waspletely thrown off. He yanked Xylia away, rough and merciless.


    Xylia steadied herself with one hand on the bed, refusing to let herself look weak.


    ¡°Xylia, don¡¯t test my limits. If you keep this up, even if Grandpa insists, I¡¯m done with you,¡± Connor warned.


    By the time Xylia looked up, Connor had already stormed out of the room.


    Xylia frowned, her heart leaping into her throat. She just couldn¡¯t figure out why Connor, who was obviously into Tessa, shot her down every time she brought up divorce.


    ¡®Orion is clearly trying to use me and this marriage for his benefit. What¡¯s he really after? I need to get to the bottom of this, she wondered.


    After leaving the room, Connor strode after Joshua, catching up to him in just a few quick steps. ¡°Stop right there,¡± he barked.


    Joshua turned to face Connor.


    ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn who you are, but if you keep sniffing around my wife, you¡¯re dead meat, Connor spat, his eyes zing with fury.


    Joshua¡¯s lips curled into a smirk, but there wasn¡¯t a trace of warmth on his face. ¡°What will you do?¡± he shot back, his tone dripping with sarcasm.


    Connor stepped right up to Joshua, <b>his </b>eyes scanning Joshua¡¯s face with a cold, calcting look.


    ¡°You work for the Garcia family, right? Even with their backing, don¡¯t think I can¡¯t mess with you here in Jupiton. If you want to keep your job, you¡¯d better stay in line, Connor threatened.


    <b>Joshua </b>scoffed, ¡°Mr. Ford, you im to care so much about your wife? Then why did you make her take the me for that car ident four months <b>ago</b>?¡±


    Connor¡¯s eyes widened in shock, his disbelief written all over his face. He couldn¡¯t believe Joshua actually knew about that. But he didn¡¯t admit it.


    ¡°I <b>have </b>no idea what you¡¯re talking about,¡± <b>Connor </b><b>said</b>, his voice tight.


    ¡°You know exactly <b>what </b>I


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    eyes cold and full of ¡°. A despicable ferk like you doesn¡¯t even deserve a wife, Joshua shot back, his


    ¡°Connor, this is just the beginning,¡± Joshua warned. With that, he turned and walked away.


    Connor watched Joshua walk away, feeling a chill crawl down his spine. ¡®Shit, if Joshua knows, does Xylia know, too?¡® he thought, panic rising in his chest.


    <b>Nylia </b>was just about to order some food online when Connor suddenly walked back into the room.


    ¡°I got your discharge done a total 180¨Che seemed <b>like </b>a whole new man.


    ned. Let¡¯s go home, he said. When Connor walked back into the room, it was like he¡¯d


    Connor met Xylia¡¯s eyes, and for once, there was actual regret flickering in his gaze.


    Connor stepped forward as if to pick Xylia up, but she immediately pulled away, refusing to let him touch


    her.


    ¡°I can walk by myself,¡± Xylia said firmly. She pushed herself up with her crutches, deliberately keeping her distance from Connor as she walked past him.


    Just now, she¡¯d been wondering when she¡¯d head back <b>to </b><b>the </b>Ford family. She had to figure out what kind of lies Orion was really hiding from her.


    Connor watched as Xylia kept her distance, and he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she must¡¯ve found out something.


    Joshua must <b>not </b>have spilled everything. Otherwise, there¡¯s no way she¡¯d be this chill,¡¯ he wondered. ¡®She¡¯s always been soft¨Chearted. If I treat her better for a while, maybe she¡¯ll let it go and forgive me!


    When they got home, Connor ignored Xylia¡¯s struggles <b>and </b>forcibly carried her into his own bedroom. ¡°From now on, you¡¯re sharing a room with me,¡± he dered.


    ¡°No way,¡± Xylia snapped. She resisted, dragging her injured leg as she tried to get out.


    Connor seized her arm, refusing to let her leave. ¡°We¡¯re husband and wife. We should be sleeping in the same


    TOOM


    ¡°These days apart have given us both time to cool off. If you could just chill <b>out </b>a bit, we could get things back to the way they were.¡±


    Xylia tried to shake off Connor¡¯s grip, but couldn¡¯t break free. Instead, she replied in a cool, detached <b>voice</b>, ¡°I don¡¯t want things to go back. I just want a divorce.¡±


    <b>Connor¡¯s </b>face darkened instantly as he wondered, ¡®I have already softened my tone, so why wouldn¡¯t she just go along with it? I¡¯ve spoiled her too much all this time, and now she thinks she can just walk all over me.


    ¡°I <b>don¡¯t </b>care what Joshua¡¯s been telling you. You¡¯re my wife. You should be trusting me, not <b>him</b>,¡± Connor <b>said</b>, his tone harsh and using


    7:55 Thu, Sep 11


    65 vouchers.


    ¡°Xylia, we¡¯ve been married for seven years. All this time, I never made you get a job or go through any hardship. <b>Why </b>can¡¯t you appreciate what I¡¯ve done for you?¡± Connor snapped, his frustration boiling over.


    Xylia gave a cold, mockingugh. ¡°For seven years, you were out making money, but do you really think I was just lounging around at home?


    ¡°I raised the kids, kept the house running¨Ceverything. Who are you to dismiss all that I¡¯ve done for this family?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve got servants, so what did <b>you </b>even do?¡± Connor sneered, his tone full of contempt.


    Xylia knew there was no point arguing with him; he¡¯d never get it. And honestly, she didn¡¯t even want to exin herself anymore.


    ¡°Fine, let¡¯s divorce. There¡¯s nothing left to talk about,¡± Xylia said, her voice icy and resolute.


    Xylia tried to walk away, but Connor grabbed her arm and held her back, refusing to let her leave.


    ¡°What if you had another baby? Would you still want a divorce?¡± Connor¡¯s voice was low and urgent.

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    Before Xylia could react, Connor pinned her down on the bed.


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    She met his gaze, burning with restlessness and anger, and her heart skipped a beat. He really meant it.


    Xylia started to struggle, ¡°Connor, are you out of your mind? Let me go.¡±


    Connor¡¯s hand moved to the buttons of Xylia¡¯s shirt, and the restlessness in his eyes faded, reced by a raw desire.


    Ignoring her struggles, he buried his face in her neck.


    Xylia¡¯s gaze turned icy. The tenser things got, the clearer her mind became.


    Her fingers reached for her pocket. The small knife she used for sharpening pencils was right there.


    After what she¡¯d been through in prison, she¡¯d gotten used to keeping something sharp on her, just in case.


    Bang. The sudden noise from the doorway cut her off.


    Xylia nced over and saw a cup lying on the floor, milk sttered everywhere. Tessa stood there, looking utterly embarrassed.


    ¡°Tessa?¡± Connor called out, a bit flustered.


    ¡°Sorry, I totally ruined the moment for you two, Tessa yelled, <b>then </b>spun around and dashed out, her eyes brimming with tears as she fled.


    Connor forgot all about Xylia and rushed after Tessa.


    Xylia scrambled to her feet, swiped at the tears on her face<b>, </b>and darted into her room, mming and locking the door behind her.


    ¡®Connor¡¯s downright terrifying right now. I have to finish what I came here for and get the <b>hell </b>out, fast, she wondered.


    Just then, her phone rang. It was Xavi.


    ¡°Ms. Schultz, there¡¯s a designer meetup in three days; ourpany and the International Designers Association are putting it together. Lots of famous designers from all over will be there. I already signed you up, so make sure youe, Xavi said.


    It felt like she¡¯d just won the lottery. Xylia <b>was </b>stunned for a moment. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°I never lie. Make sure you¡¯re ready. The day after tomorrow, you and Chase need to be there,¡± Xavi said.


    After <b>hanging </b>up, Xylia was still reeling from the news.


    This meetup was huge; all the big names in design would be there. She¡¯d get to meet top talent, make


    connections, and pick up a ton of new <b>skills</b>.


    pa


    Xavi was really looking out for her.


    She¡¯d already put her fear of Connor behind her. Pulling out her phone, she messaged Chase, asking if he wanted to go to the meetup together tomorrow.


    Chase¡¯s reply was as cold as ever. He said she should just go in by herself; he didn¡¯t have time.


    Xylia really had no idea what she¡¯d done to upset him, and she couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit lonely.


    She thought maybe she could talk things out with him at the meetup tomorrow and clear up any misunderstandings <i>as </i>soon as possible.


    Connor chased Tessa out of the vi. He caught up to her and grabbed her hand. ¡°Tessa, you-¡±


    Tessa¡¯s eyes were brimming with tears, her face full of grief. ¡®Connor, do you like Xylia?¡± she demanded.


    ¡°Of course not, I¨CConnor started to exin, but he just couldn¡¯t get the words out. He¡¯d always liked Tessa.


    Back then, Connor had only married Xylia so Tessa could be with the man she loved, <b>and </b>so Xylia wouldn¡¯t stand in the way of Tessa bing the real heiress.


    But now, Xylia was his wife. He couldn¡¯t just walk away from her.


    Seeing him stay silent, Tessa let out a scoff.


    ¡°You¡¯re just trying to humiliate me, aren¡¯t you? I confessed my feelings to you, and not only did you turn me down, but you went and slept with Xylia.


    ¡°Is it because I¡¯ve been married before, and now you think I¡¯m not good enough for you?¡± Tessa was crying as she spoke, big tears rolling down her cheeks.


    Connor¡¯s heart twisted, and he quickly pulled her into his arms. Im sorry, Tessa. I never meant to humiliate you. I admit I really like you, but Xylia depends on me even more. Please try to understand, Tessa.¡±


    Tessa curled up in Connor¡¯s <b>arms</b>, her expression growing colder by the second.


    She knew Connor well; if she pushed him too hard, it would only backfire. She had to get rid of that bitch Xylia first.


    The next day, Xylia received a package from Rachel.


    Rachel was truly the heir to a family of renowned doctors; the medicated patch she made worked like magic. After just two days of using it, the pain in Xylia¡¯s leg had faded a lot.


    For the past couple of days, Xylia had been avoiding Connor like the gue. She was scared he might go crazy on her again, just like before.


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    Luckily, Connor didn¡¯t seem interested in pressuring her anymore. He¡¯d been leaving early anding homete, and even when they bumped into each other at home, he¡¯d always be the first to walk away.


    Xylia finally felt like she could breathe again.


    On the third day, Xylia slipped into a slightly more formal dress and got ready to head out.


    By the stairs, she bumped into Sonny, who was also about to leave. Sonny was dressed in a sharp little suit, his chubby cheeks glowing with health.


    He was almostpletely well, and he was set to go back to school in a couple of days.


    When Sonny saw Xylia, his eyes lit up, but then he frowned at her. ¡°Are you dressed like that because <b>you¡¯re </b>going out to see that pretty boy again?¡± he asked.


    Over the past couple of days, Tessa had been visiting Sonny a lot, constantly nting ideas in his head about how Xylia had betrayed Connor.


    Sonny <b>had </b>just started to warm up to Xylia, but now he was back to resenting his mom again.


    Xylia was caught off guard by Sonny¡¯s question. ¡°I¡¯m heading to the High Desert Hotel for a designer event,¡± she said.


    ¡°What event? I bet you¡¯re just trying to mess up Tessa¡¯s big moment, Sonny snapped.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Xylia blinked, totally lost.


    Sonny was practically stomping his feet in anger, and Xylia just couldn¡¯t figure it out. How was Tessa involved in any of this?¡± she wondered.


    ¡°There¡¯s a business event at the High Desert Hotel today, and Tessa¡¯s been <b>invited </b>to perform. Are you going there just to mess up Tessa¡¯s performance? Sonny demanded. Sonny¡¯s cheeks were flushed with anger.


    Xylia looked at him quietly for a long moment before letting out a sigh<b>. </b>¡°No.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t help feeling helpless in the face of his hostility.


    ¡°Good. If you ever try to mess with <b>Tessa </b>again, I swear I¡¯ll never forgive you, Sonny shot back. With that, he stomped down the stairs.


    Xylia didn¡¯t pay him any mind. She just walked out.


    They arrived together at the entrance of the High Desert Hotel. The greeter at the door spotted Sonny <b>and </b>Xyliaing and hurried over to wee them.


    The greeter must¡¯ve been <b>told </b>in advance; he recognized Sonny and let <b>him </b>walk right in without a second thought.


    But when he saw Xylia, he stopped her with a polite


    smile. ¡°Sorry, miss, the hotel is booked for a private event <b>today</b>. Only <b>invited </b>guests can enter. Do you have an invitation?¡±


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    Xylia was left a bit bewildered. When Xavi <b>told </b>her about the event, he never said anything about needing an invitation.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have one, but Xavi asked me toe for the designer exchange meeting inside,¡± she exined.


    ¡°Mr. Quezada?¡± The greeter¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    Xavi was one of the big bosses at the High Desert Hotel.


    Sonny scoffed, ¡°Designer exchange meeting? Your drawings are a joke; how could you even get into something like that? You¡¯re just here to mess things up and make the Ford family look bad.¡±


    Sonny pointed at the greeter. ¡°Seriously, don¡¯t let her in.¡±


    Sonny¡¯s status was obvious. The greeter¡¯s gaze turned dismissive as he looked at Xylia, his politeness gone.


    ¡°Mess things up? No one¡¯s ever had the guts to stir up trouble in our hotel. If you don¡¯t leave right now, I¡¯ll have to start kicking you out,¡± the greeter warned, his voice sharp.


    Sonny tilted his chin up, ring at Xylia with a defiant, almost taunting look.


    Xylia sighed, feeling utterly helpless. She was about to call Xavi when a car pulled up at the entrance, and a familiar figure stepped out.


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    Chase stepped out of his car and immediately spotted Xylia and her group standing by the hotel entrance.


    Xylia was dressed in <b>a </b>white embroidered dress that entuated her sexy waist. With a touch of makeup, her delicate face looked <b>fresh </b>and ethereal; she was breathtakingly beautiful.


    Chase paused for a moment, then his expression hardened as he walked over.


    When Xylia spotted Chase, it was like she¡¯d just been thrown a lifeline. ¡°Mr. Bell, do you have an invitation? Mr. Quezada didn¡¯t give me one, but he told us to go in together,¡± she said.


    Chase pulled out his invitation and handed it to the host.


    Xylia finally let herself rx, but Chase¡¯s next words hit her like a p in the face. ¡°I don¡¯t know her.¡±


    Without even sparing Xylia a nce, Chase strode straight into the hotel.


    Xylia stood frozen, staring at his retreating back.


    Sonny mocked Xylia. ¡°You¡¯re such a joke. You think just anyone¡¯s going to <b>let </b>you in? You¡¯repletely incapacitated, yet you still <b>have </b>the <b>audacity </b>to attend a designer meeting. You¡¯re such an embarrassment to our family.¡±


    Sonny pointed at Xylia arrogantly <b>and </b>turned to the two bouncers. ¡°What are you waiting for? Get her out of here,


    The bouncers looked at Xylia with disdain. ¡°All dolled up like that, trying to <b>catch </b>some rich guy, huh? I¡¯ve <b>seen </b>girls like you a thousand times. Get lost before I have to throw <b>you </b><b>out</b>, one of them said.


    ¡°Move it. We¡¯re here to greet important guests, not some broke nobody,¡± the other added.


    Xylia frowned, getting anxious. She considered calling Xavi for help.


    But before she could pull out her phone, Xavi¡¯s voice rang out from inside. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    ¡°Hi, Mr. Quezada,¡± the bouncers said, straightening up immediately.


    Xavi turned to Xylia with a warm <b>smile</b>. ¡°Ms. Schultz, you¡¯re here. I forgot to give you an invitation, and when you didn¡¯t reply to my messages, I came down to check on you.¡±


    Xylia nced at her phone and saw that Xavi had indeed sent her a few messages.


    ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t check my phone,¡± <b>she </b>said.


    ¡°No worries,e on in, Xavi replied.


    As a major shareholder of the High Desert Hotel, Xavi was someone the bouncers didn¡¯t dare to cross. They lowered their heads, not saying a word.


    ¡°Thank you, Xylia <b>said</b>.


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    As Xylia followed Xavi toward the entrance, he suddenly turned to the bouncers. ¡°This is a formal event. Kids. aren¡¯t allowed inside,¡® he <b>said</b>.


    Sonny¡¯s eyes went wide in disbelief. ¡°Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to keep me out?¡± Sonny shot back.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter who I am. At your age, shouldn¡¯t you be in school instead of causing trouble here?¡± Xavi retorted.


    ¡°None of your damn business, Sonny snapped.


    The bouncers looked uneasy. ¡°Mr. Quezada, <b>this </b>is Mr. Ford¡¯s son. Mr. Ford told us to let him in, so, uh-


    Xavi¡¯s expression turned cold as he looked at the bouncers. ¡°Is Connor hosting any of the events today?¡± he


    asked.


    ¡°Uh-¡°the bouncers stammered.


    Today, the hotel hosted two events, a business conference organized by the Jupiton Economic Council and a designer¡¯s event hosted by Quezada & Co. Apparel Design.


    Connor was only an invited guest at the business conference, not the host.


    ¡°Connor¡¯s just a guest. What right does he have to sneak in his people?¡± <b>Xavi¡¯s </b>voice grew colder, a hint of impatience in his words.


    The bouncers felt a chill run down their spines. They didn¡¯t dare cross Xavi and quickly replied. ¡°Understood.¡±


    Xavi led Xylia inside.


    No matter how much Sonny kicked up a fuss at the entrance, he wasn¡¯t allowed in.


    Xavi led Xylia into the conference hall. Xavi said, ¡°Ms. Schultz, take your time and look around. I¡¯ve got a few. things to handle.¡±


    Xylia replied, ¡°Sure, thanks <b>again </b>for everything today.¡±


    Xavi shed her a friendly smile and made his way upstairs to the second floor.


    Xylia nced around the hall, taking in the scene.


    The ce was pure luxury; waiters wove through the crowd with trays, and a long table off to the side wast loaded up with all kinds of snacks <b>and </b>pastries.


    Talented designers from all over the world chatted in small groups, each with graceful manners and their own distinct ir.


    Xylia spotted <b>Chase </b>right away.


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    Chase was wearing a crisp white suit, with an eye¨Ccatching gray¨Cgold silk scarf draped stylishly at his waist. Every step he took <b>made </b>the scarf sway with effortless elegance.


    He was smiling lightly as he chatted with a female designer.


    As soon as he finished <b>talking</b>, Xylia walked up to him; his face immediately turned cold.


    Chase shot her a frosty look. ¡°How did you get in <b>here</b>?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s expression lost its warmth. ¡°Mr. Bell, have I done something to offend you?¡± she asked.


    His attitude toward her had changed so drastically. Today was her chance; Xylia needed answers.


    Chase let out a coldugh. ¡°You¡¯ve got Mr. Quezada backing you up. Even if you did offend me, I doubt it matters, right?¡± There he goes again, with <b>that </b>passive¨Caggressive attitude.


    Xylia frowned. ¡°Mr. Bell, you¡¯ve taught me design, and I¡¯ve always seen you as my mentor. If I¡¯ve done something wrong, just tell me and I¡¯ll fix it, but you don¡¯t have to keep throwing shade at me, she said.


    Chase scoffed, ¡°You don¡¯t even know what you did wrong, and you think you can fix it?¡±


    He shot her a <b>cold </b>re. ¡°Tll tell Mr. Quezada to get someone else to mentor you. I¡¯m not wasting my time on some nepotism case like you.


    Xylia opened her mouth to respond, but Chase had already walked away.


    Upon watching his retreating back, her expression grew cold. She wasn¡¯t some pushover. If he wanted to y cold, she wasn¡¯t about to keep trying to warm things up.


    On the other side of the hall, the host grabbed the mic and hopped on stage. ¡°We¡¯ve got a little game for everyone tonight. Over on the right, you¡¯ll find drawing boards and art supplies.


    ¡°Dear designers, your challenge is to design a gown themed around tonight¡¯s party. The grand prize is sponsored by Quezada & Co. Apparel Design <b>and </b>the Garcia Group together. Details of the prize will be announced soon.¡±


    The designers didn¡¯t look too excited at first. But when they heard the prize was from Quezada & Co. Apparel Design and the Garcia Group, <b>everyone¡¯s </b><b>eyes </b>went wide.


    Quezada & Co. Apparel Design was a global chain, famous everywhere.


    The Garcia Group was an ultra¨Crich, mysterious family from Jupiton. They were super low¨Ckey, and the Garcia family almost never showed up at business gatherings.


    But even so, anyone in business would instinctively show respect when they heard the name Garcia Group.


    No ordinary person could pull off being able to quietly build empires all over the country and be the richest family while staying humble.


    Most of the designers had <b>at </b>least heard of the <b>Garcia </b>family, so now, everyone <b>was </b>itching to win that reward.


    7:56 Thu, Sep 11


    Everyone rushed over to grab a board and started drawing like their lives depended on it.


    Xylia picked up a drawing board and started sketching out ideas.


    Sitting next to her was a round¨Cfaced girl who looked to be in her early twenties.


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    The girl nced at Xylia<b>, </b>her eyes lighting up with admiration. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re gorgeous. I hardly ever see anyone make a dress look as good as you do,¡± she said.


    ¡°She¡¯s got curves, but she looks ssy, not shy. There¡¯s something elegant about her, really unforgettable.¡± the girl wondered.


    <b>Xylia </b>smiled, ¡°Thanks. I¡¯m Xylia Schultz. I¡¯m just starting out as a designer.


    ¡°Just starting out?¡± The girl looked at Xylia in surprise, then checked out the quick sketch Xylia had made on


    her board.


    ¡°But you seem pretty skilled. But your lines are just a bit shaky. Did you hurt your hand or something?¡± she


    asked.

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    Xylia was surprised. ¡°You can tell that? Wow, that¡¯s impressive.¡±


    The girl with the round face smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve been through some tough times. I get it.¡±


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    She put down her brush and extended a friendly hand to Xylia. ¡°My name¡¯s Josie Dunn. I¡¯m a designer from Manedom. Honestly, I¡¯m the real newbie here.


    <b>Xylia </b>shook <b>Josie¡¯s </b><b>hand </b>back, her surprise still lingering. ¡°You¡¯re from Manedom? But <b>you </b>don¡¯t look like it.¡±


    ¡°I know, right? My grandpa¡¯s from Jupiton. I guess I got his genes, Xylia smiled.


    They chatted as they worked on their designs. Josie filled Xylia <b>in </b>on just how important this event really was.


    <b>Quezada </b>& Co. Apparel Design and the Garcia Group were co¨Chosting, and a lot of famous designers were here hoping to get in good <b>with </b>the Garcia family.


    ¡°The Garcia family?¡± Xylia murmured. She¡¯d heard of them before.


    Back when Tessa hadn¡¯t returned to the Schultz family yet, Yves was so desperate to get in with the Garcia family that he didn¡¯t even care about her engagement to Qadir. He just wanted to marry Xylia off to the Garcia family.


    Yves had always talked about the Garcia family as this mysterious, super¨Crich family. They were even more powerful than the Schultz Group or the Ford Group.


    Xylia heard that the Carcia family¡¯s heir had once been the target of some serious corporate retaliation, forced toy low overseas for a while. After they finally tracked him down and brought him back, the Garcia Group kept an even lower profile than before.


    Xylia thought to herself, ¡®Looks like the rewards for this contest must be seriously impressive.


    Xylia took a deep breath, steadied her hand, and poured even more focus into her sketch.


    Up on the second floor, leaning against the railing, Joshua¡¯s gaze <b>was </b>fixed on Xylia.


    She waspletely absorbed in her work. The soft light from themps above caught the loose strands of hair framing her face, making them look especially captivating.


    Joshua¡¯s eyes softened as he watched her. He decided to forgive her for being distant with him at the hospital.


    Xavi stood beside Joshua, a hint of anxiety in his posture. ¡°Joshua, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll have someone else mentor Ms. Schultz, he said quickly.


    ¡°Just someone else?¡± Joshua replied. His expression didn¡¯t change, but his voice remained cold.


    ¡°Of course not. Xavi immediately threw his star designer under the bus. ¡°There¡¯s an overseas position that¡¯s just right for Chase. I¡¯ll <b>have </b>him sent out tomorrow.¡±


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    Joshua didn¡¯t respond. Xavi carefully studied his expression. Joshua¡¯s face stayed nk¨Cat least he didn¡¯t lose


    his <b>cool</b>.


    Looks like that does the trick,¡® he wondered. Xavi let out a sigh of relief and finally looked down.


    Xavi couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about outing yourself by putting the Garcia Group in the spotlight like this?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯ll find out sooner orter.¡± Joshua replied.


    ¡°I¡¯m not talking about Ms. Schultz. I mean the ones with an agenda,¡± <b>Xavi </b>rified.


    Joshua¡¯s lips curled into a frosty smirk, his eyes glinting with pride and cold detachment. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m just


    afraid they won¡¯t catch on, he said.


    Xavi swallowed nervously. ¡®Right, he¡¯s not someone you <b>want </b>to mess with. Why am I even worrying about him?¡® he thought to himself.


    Half an hourter, the room was buzzing; almost everyone had turned in their first drafts.


    As Chase walked by Xylia, he couldn¡¯t stop himself from sneaking a look at her sketchpad. Just that one nce, and he was blown away all over again.


    Chase couldn¡¯t deny <b>that </b>Xylia was born for design. But he couldn¡¯t stand people who got ahead just because of their connections. That was just never his thing.


    While they waited for the results, Josie enthusiastically dragged Xylia around, introducing her to a ton of amazing designers,


    They swapped contact info, and Xylia made sure towork and chat with as many people as she could.


    Ten minutester, the host took the stage to announce the top designs. Xylia¡¯s design was front and center on the winners list.


    ¡°Every designer here brought their A¨Cgame tonight. Ms. Xylia Schultz¡¯s work earned unanimous approval from all the judges,¡± the host dered.


    People who <b>knew </b>Xylia, and those who didn¡¯t, were all stunned.


    Everyone at this famousworking event was a big name in the industry.


    Anyone who hadn¡¯t heard of Xylia could tell she was new, and even the people who¡¯d just met her knew she was a rookie.


    When Xylia¡¯s design was put on disy, one could feel the whole room shift; every designer¡¯s eyes lit up.


    She¡¯d gone with a dress, but this was no ordinary one. Xylia had reimagined the ssic look, adding daring patterns and a fresh silhouette that made her piece stand out from the crowd.


    Even the old¨Ctimers in the fashion world could spot something special, a kind of magic, in her sketch.


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    ¡°If Ms. Schultz keeps honing her craft for a few more years, she¡¯ll be an internationally renowned designer for sure, one designer remarked.


    ¡°T¡¯d have voted for her piece, too. It¡¯s daring and has a real creative spark,¡± another chimed in.


    ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re a natural. I absolutely love your design. Let¡¯s keep in touch and share ideas more often,¡± Josie said with a bright smile.


    Suddenly. Xylia found herself showered with praise from all sides. Her heart skipped a soft beat, warmth rising in her eyes.


    After being looked down on by everyone in the Ford family, always told she wasn¡¯t good enough, it felt almost unreal to suddenly be showered with praise from so many top designers.


    She was genuinely touched.


    Then, the grand prize jointly offered by Quezada & Co. Apparel Design and the Garcia Group was finally revealed. It turned out to be a 300¨Cthousand¨Cdor cash award.


    The designers had all been expecting something a bit more special, maybe some exclusive opportunity or honor, but in the end, it was just money.


    For these industry heavyweights, cash was hardly something theycked. But since it was only money, they actually felt a bit relieved.


    Sure, they respected Xylia¡¯s talent, but getting shown up by a rookie was still a blow to their pride.


    Even if no one said it out loud, it still didn¡¯t sit well with them. If the prize had been something truly irreceable, like a one¨Cof¨Ca¨Ckind honor, they would¡¯ve felt even more bitter about losing to a neer.


    But in the end, it was just cash, so they could live with that.


    Josie felt a little bad for Xylia; she honestly thought Xylia deserved more than just a cash prize.


    ¡°Honestly, I figured with the Garcia Group in the mix, the prize would be some kind of long¨Cterm partnership or something huge. But it¡¯s just 300 thousand dors?¡± Josie said, a bit let down.


    Xylia just grinned. ¡°300 thousand dors is awesome.¡±


    Right now, what she needed most was <b>cash</b>. With this money in hand, she could finally get things rolling.


    After Xylia received her prize, many designers came over to greet her. She chatted with them, her smile <b>gracious </b><b>and </b>her attitude humble. The senior designers all spoke highly of her.


    When praised, she handled it with poise, neither arrogant nor nervous in the spotlight.


    Up on the second floor, Joshua watched her, his gaze softening even more.


    Xavi clicked his tongue. ¡°You really went all out for Ms. Schultz, <b>huh</b>?


    ¡°You used the Garcia Group to boost the prize, roped all these designers into your little game, and then toned


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    down the reward at the end so no one would get jealous when she took first ce.¡±


    Joshua, I¡¯m honestly looking forward to seeing if Ms. Schultz will be so moved that she¡¯ll offer herself to you when she finds out about all this, Xavi teased.


    Joshua shot Xavi a cold look, his eyes sharp as knives. After a moment, he said quietly, ¡°I don¡¯t need her to be touched. I need her to <b>love </b>me.¡±


    Xavi didn¡¯t catch it. ¡°What did you <b>say</b>?¡±


    Joshua didn¡¯t answer. He just kept his eyes locked on Xylia below, a look of lingering affection softening his gaze. Xylia, this time, I¡¯m never letting you go again, he promised himself.


    Feeling like someone was watching her. Xylia nced up, a little


    wondered. But the second floor was totally empty, not a soul in siced. ¡®It¡¯s weird. Did I imagine that?¡® she


    The whole event was truly enjoyable..


    After the event wrapped up, Josie invited Xylia out for dinner, and Xylia happily agreed.


    But just as they stepped out, Xylia bumped into Connor and Tessa, who wereing out of the venue next. door.


    Connor frowned. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


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    Tessa was dressed in a red gown with a cinched waist that perfectly hugged her curves, showing off her dancer¡¯s sexy, supple figure to perfection.


    She nced at the hall Xylia had just exited, the corners of her lips curving into a faint smile. ¡°I heard this is a designer¡¯sworking event. Are you here to attend, Xylia?¡±


    Josie nced at Xylia. ¡°That¡¯s your <b>friend</b>?¡±


    Xylia looked over at Josie. ¡°Don¡¯t you have something to take care of? Go ahead. I¡¯ll treat you to dinner when you¡¯re free,¡± she said.


    Josie nodded with a smile. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off then.¡±


    After Josie left. Xylia turned her attention to the two of them. Her gazended on Connor¡¯s hand resting on Tessa¡¯s waist, and she smirked indifferently, ¡°If I¡¯m not here for theworking event, am I here to dance?¡±


    As soon as Xylia looked over, Connor dropped his arm from around Tessa¡¯s waist.


    For some reason, ever since Tessa told him how she felt, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he was betraying Xylia. But there was no way he could just leave Tessa behind.


    Hearing Xylia¡¯s words, he instinctively frowned. ¡°Do you have to be so snarky all the time? Tessa¡¯s your sister, not your enemy,¡± he <b>said</b>.


    Tessa deliberately put on her best wounded look. ¡°Xylia, your leg injury <b>wasn¡¯t </b>


    wasn¡¯t my fault. You got punished for your own hit¨Cand¨Crun, and you can¡¯t dance anymore. Stop throwing shade at me, okay?¡± she said.


    ¡°Besides, I¡¯m just looking out for you. You¡¯ve never been in the <i>de </i>fool of yourself by just jumping in,¡± she added.


    orld before. I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll make a


    Some of the designers who were still near the exit <b>caught </b>Tessa¡¯s words as they were leaving. Now, I they looked at Xylia was different.


    Xylia turned to Connor. ¡°Tell her who really caused the hit¨Cand¨Crun.¡±


    Connor looked away, dodging her eyes. He knew perfectly well that Tessa was behind the hit¨Cand¨Crun.


    way


    But Tessa had fought tooth and nail to be the lead dancer; if word got out, her whole future would be trashed.


    Xylia was different. They were married, and even if she couldn¡¯t dance anymore, he¡¯d make sure she lived like a queen, no matter what.


    He frowned at Xylia, deliberately steering the conversation away. ¡°Xylia, can¡¯t you just see where you stand? You¡¯re just a housewife who¡¯s never even tried your hand at art, and you think you belong at some fancy designer event<b>? </b>


    ¡°How did you even manage to sneak in here? Don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve embarrassed yourself enough already?¡±


    9:48 Fri, Sep <b>12 </b>


    67 55 vouchers:


    Xylia never really expected Connor to say anything good about her. But hearing him belittle her so bluntly still <b>hurt </b>more <b>than </b>she wanted to admit.


    She didn¡¯t see the point in arguing with someone so hopeless, so she turned around and walked away.


    ¡°Oh. Xylia.¡± Tessa suddenly lunged forward and seized Xylia¡¯s hand. She gripped Xylia¡¯s arm tightly, her nails pressed right against her skin.


    She leaned in so close that only Xylia could hear her whisper.


    ¡°Xylia, I stole your fiance. I snatched your lead dancer spot, and trust me. I can take your husband, <b>too</b>. You took eighteen years of my good life, so now, anything that¡¯s yours, I¡¯ll make it mine,¡± ¡°Tessa hissed.


    Suddenly, Tessa sank her nails deep into Xylia¡¯s skin. Xylia flinched from the pain and instinctively shook Tessa off


    ¡°<b>Ah</b>.¡± Tessa suddenly screamed, staggered to the side, and fell to the floor. ¡°My foot.¡±


    Connor hurried over and helped Tessa to her feet.


    Tessa¡¯s face was pale as she shot Xylia a wounded, pitiful look. ¡°Xylia<b>, </b>even if you hate me, you can¡¯t destroy my foot like this. How am <b>I </b>supposed to dance ever again<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Tessa cried, her voice trembling-


    Connor red at Xylia, his eyes zing with anger. ¡°Xylia, how could you be so vicious? Tessa¡¯s your you even care that you might ruin her whole life with this?¡± he shouted.


    sister. Do


    He didn¡¯t have time to deal with Xylia. He scooped Tessa up in his arms and rushed out of the venue. Over his shoulder, he threw back, ¡°We¡¯ll settle thister.¡±


    Not far away, a bunch of reporters who¡¯d been invited to the event saw everything go down. They instantly rushed over, cameras shing like crazy as they started snapping photos of Xylia.


    ¡°I know you. You¡¯re Xylia Schultz, the one involved in that hit¨Cand¨Crun four months back.


    ¡°You used to be a top dancer, but after you got injured in prison, you can¡¯t dance anymore, right? Is that why


    you!


    tried to hurt Xylia out of jealousy?¡± one reporter shouted.


    ¡°Ms. <b>Schultz</b>, I heard the family of the person you killed in that ident left Jupiton. Was it your family that drove them away?¡± <b>another </b>reporter pressed.


    ¡°Ms. Schultz, you killed someone and still have the nerve to show off like this. Is it because you¡¯ve got the Schultz and Ford families covering for you that you think you¡¯re untouchable?¡± a third reporter chimed in.


    The reporters at events like this were always aggressive with their questions.


    Xylia kept backing away, but the reporters were like dogs with a bone, refusing to let go as they closed in and surrounded her.


    ¡°I¡¯m not the one who ran that person over, Xylia blurted out, her voice shaky as she tried to defend herself.


    ¡°The police already convicted you. Are you saying they got it wrong. Ms. Schultz?¡± one reporter shot back.


    9:48 Fri, Sep 12


    1555 vouchers


    Xylia¡¯s protest died on her lips.


    Some of the designers who hadn¡¯t left yet hung back on the sidelines, watching the drama unfold with


    interest.


    They¡¯d just been wowed by Xylia¡¯s talent at theworking event, thinking she was the next big thing in the design world.


    But now, they couldn¡¯t believe she was actually so mean and jealous¨Chearted.


    Not only did she bully her <b>own </b>sister in front of everyone, but she¡¯d even gone to jail for a hit¨Cand¨Crun¨Cand then used her family¡¯s power to drive the victim¡¯s family out of Jupiton.


    People were convinced that someone like her could only get into an event like this if she had some powerful connections pulling strings for her.


    Was it Mr. Quezada from Quezada & Co. Apparel Design? Or maybe Mr. Garcia from Garcia Group?¡® they wondered.


    Designers exchanged whispers, their eyes filled with growing contempt for Xylia.


    Xylia was cornered for ages, microphones jammed right <b>up </b>against her as the reporters kept firing questions. She was totally on her own,pletely lost on what to do next.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Xavi¡¯s voice came from the side, cold and tinged with impatience.


    The reporters froze, and the once¨Cbustling entrance fell silent.


    Xylia seized the moment and broke free from the swarm of reporters. <b>She </b>barely had time to catch her breath before she found herself staring straight into Joshua¡¯s intense, unreadable gaze.


    Joshua was standing right beside Xavi, his suit crisp and immacte, exuding an unmistakable air of privilege and authority.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes


    widened in shock. ¡°Why would he show up here?¡® she thought,pletely thrown off.


    Xavi nced at the reporters, a polite smile on his face that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°You were invited in, but now you¡¯re harassing my guests. Did you ever ask for my permission?¡± he said coolly.


    Xavi was one of the major shareholders of High Desert Hotel and one of Jupiton¡¯s wealthiest heirs. The reporters all knew better than to cross someone with that much clout.


    After sending the reporters packing. Xavi turned to Xylia. ¡°Are you <b>alright</b>?¡± he asked.


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°Thanks for <b>that</b>.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Those reporters are just here to make a quick buck, chasing after gossip. Anyone who tries to spread rumors will get what they deserve. You don¡¯t need to worry about a thing, Xavi said, his tone reassuring.


    Xylia was genuinely taken aback; she <b>hadn¡¯t </b>expected Xavi to stand up for her like this. She stared at him in disbelief. ¡°Why do you trust <b>me </b>like that?¡±


    9:48 Fri, Sep 12


    55 vouchera.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s because you¡¯re friends with Joshua. Anyone he vouches for has to be a good person, Xavi said with a yful smile.


    Joshua didn¡¯t respond to Xavi; he just looked straight at Xylia. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s head out together,¡± he said,


    ?


    Ìï

 Tricked 52

    Xavi stayed behind to make small talk with the group of designers, while Joshua led Xylia out of the High


    Desert Hotel.


    <i>Xylia </i><i>ti </i>


    finally broke the silence, turning to Joshua and asking. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    The two of them hadn¡¯t spoken at all, and Xylia spoke up first just to keep things from getting awkward.


    Joshua¡¯s Xavi¡¯s friend, but it¡¯s not like he has to show up to events like this, Xylia thought to herself.


    Joshua didn¡¯t answer her. He just turned to look at her in silence. Then he said, ¡°I came here to ask you. What did you mean by what you said at the hospital?¡±


    Xylia remembered what she¡¯d told Joshua at the hospital. ¡°This is my family¡¯s business. You don¡¯t need to get involved,¡® she wondered.


    She said calmly, ¡°I meant it. Just stay out of my family¡¯s business; it¡¯ll only make things moreplicated for


    both of us.


    Joshua let out a soft snort. He could guess why Xylia was acting distant, but that didn¡¯t mean he had to like it.


    ¡°You think Connor¡¯s misunderstanding of our rtionship is going to mess with your family¡¯s happiness?¡± he asked, his tone sharp.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel a jolt of surprise. ¡°Of course <b>not</b>,¡± she replied quickly.


    Joshua continued, ¡°Or do you think Connor¡¯s going to throw me out of Jupiton, just like he did with those who lied to the police?¡±


    Xylia stared at him, eyes wide. ¡°H¨CHow do you know about that?¡± she blurted out.


    Xylia was stunned that Joshua knew about her worries and even more shocked that he knew someone had covered for her after the hit¨Cand¨Crun. Just how does he know so much about me?¡± she wondered.


    They stood under a streetlight, the dim yellow glow falling from above. Joshua lowered his gaze, the shadows. hiding his expression.


    ¡°Xylia, I always thought we were friends,¡± he said, his voice sounding so lonely.


    Xylia looked at him, and for a moment, she couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®He looks just like a big, wronged puppy.


    Xylia shifted ufortably. ¡°I-¡±


    ¡°You helped me out when I was overseas, and I still remember that, Joshua said. ¡°Now I¡¯m just returning the


    <b>favor</b>.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t remember thest time Joshua had mentioned anything about their time abroad. She frowned at him, not <b>sure </b>what to <b>say</b>.


    56 vouchers


    ¡°You know what kind of family Connores from,¡± Xylia said, ¡°I just don¡¯t want you getting caught up in my problems and having your life affected because of me.¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t have the power to mess with my life, he replied. Joshua¡¯s lips curled into a <b>faint</b>, confident smile. His gentle tone carried a hint of swagger.


    Xylia looked at him, confused.


    Joshua deliberately changed the subject, his eyes lingering on Xylia with an intense, almost possessive gaze.


    ¡°This is a society ruled byw,¡± he said. ¡°No matter how powerful <b>Connor </b>is, he can¡¯t do anything to me. So rx.


    Joshua paused, then added. ¡°Or is it that you just don¡¯t <b>want </b><b>to </b>get too close to me? You don¡¯t want to be friends anymore?¡±


    Joshua had put it all out there, and Xylia couldn¡¯t reject him again. She managed a smile at Joshua. ¡°Thanks, Joshua


    Joshua¡¯s eyes curved with satisfaction, a sly glint of victory shing in them. He knew it. Xylia was always <b>a </b>


    softie.


    Joshua wanted to walk Xylia home, but she shot him <b>down </b>without hesitation. He gave her a pitiful look, but Xylia just sent him packing.


    ¡°When I need your help, I won¡¯t hold back, Xylia said. ¡°But you really shouldn¡¯t get too involved in my family¡¯s business. If gossip starts spreading, it could make things tricky for you when you want to settle down.¡±


    Joshua could only stand there, watching helplessly as Xylia got into the taxi and drove away.


    Once she was gone, the yful glint in his eyes faded, leaving them shadowed and somber.


    Staring after the taxi as it disappeared into the night, he tugged at the corner of his mouth, his gaze burning with an intense, possessive longing. ¡®You¡¯ll be my wife. No one else, he vowed to himself.


    Joshua pulled out his phone and called his assistant. ¡°Remind a few media outlets who¡¯s in charge,¡± he said.


    On her way home, Xylia got a message from Josie Dunn, asking her out for dinner tomorrow. Since she had nothing going on, Xylia said yes without hesitation.


    Just as Xylia arrived at the Ford Mansion, Xylia almost bumped into Connor and Tessa, who were just getting back from the hospital.


    The moment Connor saw Xylia, his face darkened instantly.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve showing up here, Connor snapped. ¡°Look at Tessa¡¯s ankle.


    ¡°It¡¯s swollen


    up like a balloon. She¡¯s got a dancepetition next week, and you¡¯ve just trashed her future. Do you even realize what you¡¯ve done?¡±


    <b>Til</b><b>, </b>sep 12


    65 voucliers


    Connor was cradling Tessa in his arms. Xylia nced at Tessa¡¯s ankle, sure enough, it was swollen and red.


    Everyone knew it took a hundred days to heal from an injury like that. For Tessa, this hundred¨Cday downtime was a real hit to her career.


    Tessa was really willing to go that far <b>just </b>to set me up, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but think.


    ¡°You know better than anyone whether it was me who ruined things, or you did it to yourself, Xylia <b>said </b>coolly, fixing her gaze on Tessa. Not a hint of guilt showed on her face.


    Tessa, usually so carefree, now shrank into Connor¡¯s arms, looking like she¡¯d been wronged beyond measure.


    ¡°Nylia. I get it if you¡¯re jealous of me. Tessa said, her voice trembling but firm. ¡°But why would you ruin my dance career?


    ¡°Do you even know what¡¯s at stake in thatpetition next week? If I can¡¯tpete, I¡¯ll lose my spot as the lead dancer. Do you really hate me that much?¡±


    Tessa spoke in a timid yet determined voice, ying the innocent girl.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Her acting skills have really hit a new high. Honestly, it¡¯s such a waste she¡¯s not in showbiz.


    ¡°Who cares if she¡¯s the lead dancer? She¡¯d probably get way more attention ying the drama queen in some viral video; that¡¯d be her real im to fame.


    Seeing how much Tessa cared, it felt like Connor¡¯s heart <b>was </b>bleeding for her. He shot Xylia an even colder look.


    ¡°Xylia,¡± Connor snapped. ¡°Tessa¡¯s your sister. <b>You </b>stole eighteen good years from her, and she never once med you. But now you¡¯re being so cruel, trying to ruin her whole future? You really take the cake.¡±


    Connor red daggers at Xylia, then carried Tessa inside without another word.


    Xylia caught the faint sound of Connor murmuring words offort to Tessa as they disappeared down the hall. Just ignore her. From now on, pretend you never had a sister,¡± he whispered.


    Xylia watched Connor carrying <b>Tessa</b>, their figures fading into the house, a sarcastic smile curling on her lips.


    All these years together, Connor¡¯s obvious care for Tessa had been right in front of her, and she¡¯d been too blind to notice.


    Xylia decided not to think about them anymore and walked toward the vi.


    When she got to the front door, she found it locked; there was no way in. Xylia knocked, but nobody answered


    ¡°Mrs. Ford, Mr. Ford says you need to reflect on your actions out here. If you don¡¯t apologize to Ms. Schultz, you¡¯re not allowed inside,¡± a servant called from behind the door, all <b>high </b>and mighty, then vanished behind


    the door.


    9:48 Fri<b>, </b>Sep <b>12 </b>


    35 vouchers


    Xylia thought to herself, ¡®Connor never fails to amaze me. Whatever, if they don¡¯t let me in, I¡¯ll just go stay at a hotel.


    But all her passport and stuff were inside the house. Without them, she couldn¡¯t even check into a hotel.


    The night wind cut through Xylia¡¯s thin silk dress, sending a chill straight to her bones and raising goosebumps all over her arms.


    Xylia was just about to walk away when, suddenly, the front door of the vi swung open behind her.


    Mnie storied out and, without a word, pped Xylia hard across the face.


    ¡°You bitch,¡± Mnie spat, her voice full of spite. ¡°You ruined Tessa¡¯s chance topete. You¡¯re nothing but useless, and you can¡¯t stand to see your <b>sister </b>do well? I hope you end up crippled for the rest of your life.¡±


    Xylia was still stunned from the p when a bunch of red and blue toy blocks came flying at her.


    ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, you meandy,¡± a little voice yelled. ¡°You made Tessa hurt her ankle. I knew you went to the High Desert Hotel just to hurt her. Why did you have to be my mom? I hate you.¡±


    ?

 Tricked 53

    Xylia was caught off guard as Sonny started hurling wooden blocks at her, hitting her all over.


    Her <b>skin </b>was delicate, and soon, small bruises began to form on her arms.


    By the time she realized what was happening and tried to dodge, Mnie had already grabbed her <b>hair </b>and was dragging her further into the room.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to bow and apologize to Tessa right now,¡± Mnie demanded.


    ¡°Yeah, you have to say sorry to Tessa. You¡¯re such a mean woman. This time you really crossed the line,¡± Sonny shouted.


    Xylia felt like her hair was being yanked out by the roots. It wasn¡¯t until Mnie dragged her all the way to Tessa¡¯s room that she finally let


    By then, Xylia was hurting so much that tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.


    forto


    ¡°Well? Aren¡¯t you going to apologize to Tessa?¡± Mnie barked, her tone harsh and unforgiving.


    Xylia was thrown <b>to </b>the floor. When she looked up, she saw Tessa half¨Creclining against the headboard, and Connor sitting on the edge of the bed, looking down at her with open hostility.


    Xylia kept her mouth shut, and Mnie, furious, swung her foot at her, trying to kick her.


    But this time, Xylia was ready. As Mnie aimed the kick, Xylia quickly dodged back.


    Mnie¡¯s kick hit nothing but air, and the force sent her lurching forward.


    ¡°Ah, Mnie yelped. She lost her bnce and crashed to the floor.


    ¡°Grandma, Sonny cried out.


    ¡°Mom,¡± Connor shouted.


    Sonny and Connor rushed to Mnie¡¯s side and helped her up.


    Xylia stood up by herself, shooting the three of them a cold re.


    ¡°Xylia, you even dare to go against Mom now?¡± Connor snapped. After making sure Mnie was fine, Connor got up and shot Xylia a fierce re.


    ¡°Your mom tried to kick me. I just dodged. What did I do wrong?¡± Xylia retorted coldly. She looked at Connor like he was <b>just </b>some stranger to her now.


    Connor¡¯s heart gave a jolt, a wave of frustration welling up inside him. ¡°<b>You </b>messed up. Is it wrong for Mom <b>to </b>set you straight? You¡¯re my wife. You-¡± he started.


    ¡°What? Just because I¡¯m your wife, I¡¯m supposed to let you all walk all over me? Xylia cut him off before he


    could finish.


    Her face was still streaked with red marks, and her hair was all over the ce from Mnie yanking at it.


    She looked a mess, but the unbreakable spirit in her eyes made it clear she wasn¡¯t about to back down.


    Connor just gaped at her, lost for words for a long moment.


    But Sonny, wanting to stand up for his grandma, rushed at Xylia to push her away. ¡°You bullied Grandma. You¡¯re a meandy,¡± he shouted.


    Xylia, face nk, simply stepped aside, letting him rush past her. With a loud thud, Sonny mmed right into the wall and immediately burst into tears.


    ¡°Xylia?¡± Mnie yelled. Not even caring about her own mess, Mnie rushed over and scooped Sonny into her arms, fussing over him, ¡°My sweet boy, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯m here.¡±


    After making sure Sonny wasn¡¯t hurt, Connor shot Xylia a dark, stormy re. ¡°Sonny¡¯s your son; how could you just stand by and let this happen?¡± he demanded.


    ¡°So what if Sonny¡¯s my son? If he tries to hit his mother, am I just supposed to stand there and take it? If I could do it all over again, I would never have given birth to such a heartless son,¡± Xylia said coldly.


    Her wordsnded like <b>a </b>p, leaving Connor and Sonny frozen in shock.


    It wasn¡¯t for any other reason; they had simply never heard Xylia say anything so harsh before, especially Sonny.


    Sonny was always saying he didn¡¯t want his mom around, but he¡¯d never thought there¡¯de a day when she¡¯d say she didn¡¯t want him either, or that she regretted ever having him.


    Not even caring about his own pain anymore, Sonny looked up at his mom.


    But what he saw in her eyes was something he¡¯d never seen before, she was looking at him like he was nothing but <b>a </b>stranger.


    A wave of panic washed over Sonny.


    But he was still just a kid, stubborn and proud. Even though Sonny was terrified his mom might really leave him, he refused to let her see how scared he really was.


    Sonny shot Xylia a fierce re, his face all scrunched up in anger. ¡°Who cares? I don¡¯t want to be your kid anyway. If I could choose, I wish Tessa were my mom instead.¡±


    With that, Sonny jumped up and ran out, crying.


    ¡°Sonny, you¡¯ve got a bump on your head. Let me put some medicine on it,¡± Mnie called out, her voice full


    of worry.


    Connor red at Xylia, his anger ring up even more. ¡°Xylia, when did you turn into this person? Sonny¡¯s just a little kid. Don¡¯t you realize how much your words hurt him?¡±


    55 voucheric


    ¡°So just because he¡¯s a kid, he gets to say he doesn¡¯t want his mom? Once or twice, I could chalk it up to him just being upset.


    ¡°But if he keeps saying it, then I have to believe he means it. So if that¡¯s what he wants, I¡¯ll just let him have it,¡± Xylia shot back coldly.


    Xylia shot Connor a look, then nced over at Tessa lounging on the bed. The smirk on her lips never faded.


    ¡°Just like you,¡± Xylia said with a mocking tone. ¡°Crash at the Ford ce once, it¡¯s just dropping by. But if you keep hanging around, guess that makes you Connor¡¯s fianc¨¦e, huh?¡±


    ¡°Xylia, enough of it, Connor yelled. He grabbed her wrist. ¡°Are you out of your mind? What <b>nonsense </b>are you spouting?¡±


    Connor couldn¡¯t help but think Xylia was totally off the rails tonight, like she¡¯d gone crazy and was ready to bite anyone who came near.


    Tessa¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears, and they spilled down her cheeks as she listened to Xylia¡¯s words. I¡¯m sorry for causing all this trouble.


    ¡°Sonny is always clinging to me, so I juste over to keep himpany. I didn¡¯t know it upset you this much, Xylia. I¡¯ll leave right now.¡±


    She lifted the covers and tried to get out of bed. But the moment she tried to move her foot, a sharp pain shot through her, <b>and </b>she couldn¡¯t help but choke back <b>a </b>sob.


    Upon seeing her like that, Connor¡¯s heart twisted with worry, and he hurried over to stop her.


    ¡°Who told you to leave? Xylia doesn¡¯t get to decide what happens in this house. You can stay as long as you want,¡± Connor said, his tone leaving no room for argument.


    ¡°Connor, please, don¡¯t do this. Xylia already misunderstands me. Usually, our squabbles don¡¯t matter, but this is <b>your </b>marriage; it¡¯s too important. I can¡¯t be so thoughtless,¡± Tessa said.


    Tessa insisted on <b>getting </b>out of bed, and Connor tried to stop her, but she wouldn¡¯t be deterred.


    In his panic, he blurted out, ¡°Fine. Worst case, I¡¯ll just divorce her.¡±


    Right now, nothing was more important than Tessa¡¯s injury. She was a dancer; if her leg didn¡¯t heal right, it could mess up her whole future.


    Tessa put on a look of surprise and nced up at Connor. ¡°W¨CWhat did you just say?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I said, worst case, I¡¯ll just divorce Xylia,¡± Connor repeated, his voice firm and resolute.


    He braced himself and looked straight at Xylia. He thought he¡¯d see her totally crushed, but instead, she was actually smiling at <b>him</b>¨Ca cool, almost mocking smile.


    He froze for a second, but before he could say anything, Xylia cut in. ¡°Hold on to your words. Tomorrow morning, we¡¯re heading straight to city hall and getting that divorce.¡±


    55 vouchers


    She looked almost excited, like she couldn¡¯t wait to be done with him, <b>and </b>that hit Connor like a punch to the


    gut.


    Connor snapped, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll get the divorce papers ready tonight. You¡¯ll §Õ§Ö§ä what you deserve.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother. I already <b>said</b>. I don¡¯t want Sonny, <b>and </b>I don¡¯t want your money, I just want this divorce done, fast. Xylia replied, her voice icy and resolute.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bete tomorrow morning,¡± she shot back, not even looking at him.


    Just like that, the whole divorce was wrapped up in a couple of lines.


    Xylia shot Connor a look, his face all gloomy, then nced at Tessa, who couldn¡¯t even bother to hide how happy she was.


    She snorted coldly and wondered, ¡®If I¡¯d known all I had to do was lose my mind for a bit to get Connor to agree to a divorce, why did I bother dragging it out for so long?¡±


    Xylia was just about to walk out when the bedroom door suddenly swung open.


    Orion stood there<b>, </b>with the butler right behind him. He looked worn out, but his eyes were zing with intensity.


    His voice was calm but firm as Orion said, ¡°Divorce is a big deal. You really thought you could keep this from me? No one¡¯s going to city hall tomorrow.¡±


    AD

 Tricked 54

    Chapter <i>54 </i>


    With Orion¡¯s sudden appearance, the divorce was abruptly cut short.


    Tessa watched as Orion took Xylia and Connor away. She gripped the bedsheet so tightly that her knuckles. turned white, biting down on her lip until she drew blood, her anger threatening to spill over.


    Is that old man senile or what? Tessa fumed to herself. ¡°Why is he so obsessed with a bitch like Xylia? I was so close to getting what I wanted. Time to y hardball.


    Just then, her phone rang. She picked up immediately.


    ¡°Tessa, someone¡¯s tracked someone down to Seth Wilson¡¯s ce, a man¡¯s voice said, his tone urgent.


    Tessa¡¯s expression turned panicked. ¡°Didn¡¯t they already leave Jupiton? Who went there?¡±


    ¡°Seth called. Someone called to ask about the hit<b>¨C</b><b>and</b>¨Crun. He told them the same thing he told the before, managed to send them away, but now the risk of getting exposed is way higher,¡± the man said, sounding tense.


    cops


    Tessa clenched her fists. ¡°Look into who that person is. If you have to<b>, </b>make sure the guy never talks again,¡± she ordered coldly.


    ¡°Got it,¡± the man said before hanging up.


    As she hung up, the sweetness on Tessa¡¯s face faded, reced by a sharp, vicious glint in her eyes.


    ¡®I won¡¯t let anyone stand <b>in </b>my way, she thought, her eyes narrowing dangerously.


    Meanwhile, Orion had summoned Xylia and Connor to his study.


    Orion wasted no time. ¡°Connor, apologize to Xylia,¡± he said firmly.


    Connor protested, his tone stubborn. ¡°Grandpa, you really don¡¯t need to get involved in my marriage to Xylia.¡±


    Orion shot him a re. ¡°If I didn¡¯t step in, you two would be divorced in no time. Do you even realize how many eyes are on you as the heir to the Ford Group, watching your every move¨Cespecially your marriage?¡±


    Orion didn¡¯t spell it out, but Connor got the message loud and clear.


    Right now, the Ford Group was at a crossroads, and as CEO, Connor was under the watchful eyes of every shareholder.


    After that fallout with the Sadler Group, people in thepany were already unhappy with Connor. If he really divorced Xylia and married Tessa, any more drama in his personal life would ruin his credibility.


    Connor wasn¡¯t the only one in the Ford family¡¯s younger generation gunning for the top. All those cousins


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    from the other branches were just waiting for their chance to take his spot. He <b>couldn¡¯t </b>afford to make a mistake<b>. </b>


    But Xylia had gone way too far today: he <b>was </b>at his breaking point.


    ¡°Grandpa, I can take responsibility for my choices, Connor said firmly. With that, he walked straight out of the study, not hesitating for a second. He never spared Xylia a single nce the whole time.


    ¡°Connor?¡± Orion barked. He was furious, but he couldn¡¯t stop Connor.


    Xylia looked at Orion, her tone steady. ¡°Mr. Ford, I just don¡¯t get it. Why won¡¯t you let us get divorced?¡±


    She didn¡¯t buy that it was just about the <b>Ford </b>Group.


    Honestly, a CEO¡¯s personal life didn¡¯t affect thepany that much, and Connor¡¯s brought in a ton of value since he took over. His achievements far outweigh any drama in his


    private life.


    Just their marriage alone couldn¡¯t possibly rock the wholepany. There had to be more to it.


    Orion sighed deeply, ¡°Xylia, I know you¡¯re a good person. Only with you by Connor¡¯s side do I feel truly at


    ease.¡±


    ¡°Will you promise me you won¡¯t leave him?¡± he asked, his voice softening.


    Xylia could tell Orion wasn¡¯t telling the whole truth.


    She lowered her eyes, putting on a look of heartbreak. ¡°Mr. Ford, you know I love Connor so much. I really can¡¯t bear the thought of leaving him. But if he <b>insists </b>on divorcing me, there¡¯s nothing I can do.¡±


    Orion felt reassured by Xylia¡¯s words.


    He smiled at her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xylia. No matter how old Connor gets, he¡¯s still my grandson. As long as you don¡¯t agree to the divorce, I¡¯ll take care of him.¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t say anything, but her silence said it all.


    Orion cleared his throat and switched topics. ¡°Xylia, you know you weren¡¯t born into the Schultz family. Have you ever thought about looking for your birth family?¡± he asked.


    Xylia wasn¡¯t sure what Orion was getting at. But she was already wary of him.


    She shook her head. ¡°I used to think about it, but since I never found anything, I just stopped bothering


    Orion smiled gently. ¡°Everyone wants to know where they truly belong as they grow up. I might be able to help you find your real family. If you trust me, maybe you can work with me on this.¡±


    Xylia had never told anyone about reaching out to her birth family, except Joshua.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t tell if Orion was genuinely trying to help her or if he had some hidden agenda. After thinking it over, she decided to turn the tables and y along. ¡°Of course I trust you,¡± she said with a smile.


    9:49 Fri, Sep 12


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    ¡°Perfect. I just need a little bit of your blood to put in the gic database, so we can track down your birth parents faster,¡± Orion exined;


    Xylia nodded.


    Orion seemed prepared for this; he had the butler bring in someone to draw her blood.


    Xylia obediently let them <b>take </b>her blood, not making a fuss,


    She spotted the Ford Group logo on the blood collection tube, so she instantly knew the doctor was from a private hospital backed by the Ford Group.


    She quietly memorized the hospital¡¯s name. She nned to dig into itter and find out what kind of game Orion <b>was </b>ying.


    ¡°I know tonight was tough on you, Xylia. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make things right for you,¡± Orion said, his <b>tone </b>full


    of reassurance.


    Xylia just shrugged it off and went back to her room.


    After a while. Connor knocked on her door.


    When he saw her, his expression wasplicated; there was sympathy in his eyes, and maybe even a touch of tenderness.


    ¡°I was too impulsive tonight. We¡¯re not getting divorced.¡± His voice was calm, almost detached, as if he were granting her a favor.


    Xylia let out a softugh. ¡°Did Mr. Ford say something to you?¡±


    Connor didn¡¯t answer. He just told her to get some rest.


    As he was turning away, Xylia said coolly, ¡°We¡¯ll be at city hall to make our divorce official before the end of this month.¡±


    Connor was about to say something, but Xylia had already gone back to her room and locked the door behind


    her.


    He clenched <b>his </b>jaw, swallowing his anger, and after a moment, turned and walked away.


    Xylia pulled out her phone and dialed the hospital director she used to know. ¡°I need a favor,¡± she said.


    The next morning, Xylia was out the door early.


    Mnie had been waiting in the living room. She¡¯d even skipped her <b>usual </b>shopping session just to deal with Xylia


    <b>But </b>Xylia didn¡¯t even give her a chance to speak; she just walked straight out of the vi without looking back.


    9:49 Fri, Sep 12


    55 vouchers


    Mnie was so pissed off that she took it all out on Connor. ¡°Xylia¡¯s acting totally crazy these days. Why are you still with her? How much longer are you going to wait to get a divorce?¡± she snapped.


    Connor just let her rant, not saying a word in his defense. He just stared off in the direction Xylia had gone, lost in thought. Something about her had changed sincest night, and he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger <b>on </b>it.


    Once she was done at the hospital with the director, Xylia reached out to Josie. They decided to meet up at <b>a </b>


    Datonese restaurant.


    As soon as they met, Josie pulled Xylia aside. ¡°People are tearing you apart online. Can you tell me what¡¯s going on?¡±


    Nylia opened her phone, puzzled, and realized that everything fromst night, the reporters ambushing her, had exploded all over the inte.


    Words like ¡°hit¨Cand¨Crun,¡± ¡°Jealous wife,¡± and ¡°murderer¡® were blowing up the trending topics.


    Xylia scrolled through thements, her heart sinking as she saw the nonstop insults. Someizens had even dug up what they called irrefutable evidence against her.


    Xylia frowned, feeling a heavy weight settle in her chest.


    AD

 Tricked 55

    It hadn¡¯t been long since Xylia¡¯sst wave of online hate, and the trolls were quick to bring it up again.


    [It¡¯s that murderer again. How is she still allowed online?]


    [Just because she¡¯s got someone powerful behind her, she thinks she can do whatever she wants? The Jupiton authorities should lock her up already.]


    [Tessa has a dancepetition next week. Mess with Tessa and you deserve to die.]


    Josie sat across from Xylia, watching as her brows slowly knitted together.


    Josie broke the silence first. ¡°Ms. Schultz, those rumors online are not true, right?¡±


    Xylia finally looked up at Josie.


    Josie was resting her chin in her hand, her big, clear eyes full of innocence. She didn¡¯t seem to judge Xylia based on what people were saying online.


    Xylia felt a wave of surprise and gratitude wash over her. She gripped her phone tightly and gave a firm nod.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hit and run, and I wasn¡¯t the reason Tessa twisted her anklest night. I was set up, Xylia said seriously.


    Josie¡¯s face lit up with a bright smile. ¡°See? I told you, you don¡¯t seem like that kind of person at all.¡±


    Josie picked up the tablet to start ordering food, and Xylia watched her, a question nagging at her. ¡°I just brushed it off with a simple exnation, and you actually believe me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about believing you. I just trust my own instincts,¡± Josie replied.


    After ordering, Josie handed the tablet to Xylia. I picked my favorites. Now it¡¯s your turn.¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t catch even a hint of judgment or disdain in Josie¡¯s eyes. In that moment, Xylia felt a lump rise in her throat.


    Xylia had been betrayed by those closest to her, constantly put down and mistrusted by her family.


    And here was someone Xylia¡¯d just met, showing her such unexpected kindness.


    Josie didn¡¯t pry into Xylia¡¯s past. Instead, they dove right into sharing their views on fashion design.


    As they talked, they quickly realized they were totally on the same wavelength when it came to their perspective and taste in fashion design.


    ¡°There¡¯s a big fashion designpetitioning up here in two months. You should totally join,¡± Josie said. She leaned forward, her tone sincere <b>as </b><b>she </b>invited Xylia.


    Xylia nodded. ¡°What are the requirements for thepetition?¡±


    9:49 Fri, Sep 12


    € 55 vouchers.


    ¡°Well, first, you need to set up your own studio, and it should have some reputation back in your country. I¡¯m. sure you can pull it off,¡± Josie replied confidently.


    Two months was barely any time at all, and Xylia honestly didn¡¯t know if she could <b>make </b>it. But she was determined to give it a try. This was the only way she could get closer to her dream.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll make it happen, Xylia said, her voice full of determination.


    After parting ways with Josie, Xylia couldn¡¯t stop thinking about starting her own studio.


    Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Chase. ¡°Ms. Schultz, do you have a minute? I¡¯d like to meet up with you,¡± he said.


    Chase¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t as arrogant as before; there was even a trace of guilt in his tone.


    Xylia thought for a moment and decided to meet him.


    When they met, <b>Chase </b>handed Xylia his sketchbook, filled with years of design work.


    ¡°This is all the experience I¡¯ve gathered in my career. I hope it¡¯ll be useful to you. I wanted to see you today to apologize and to say goodbye,¡± Chase said.


    Xylia shot Chase a puzzled look.


    Just yesterday, they¡¯d been at each other¡¯s throats, and now Chase was actually apologizing to her.


    ¡®Why?¡® she wondered.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always hated people who get ahead by pulling strings. I thought you were like that, and that¡¯s why I treated you the way I did.


    ¡°But Mr. Quezada exined everything to me, and I want <b>to </b>apologize for how unfair I was to you,¡± Chase


    said.


    Chase¡¯s apology was so genuine that it made Xylia feel a bit embarrassed.


    She quickly said, ¡°It¡¯s really okay. You¡¯ve actually taught me a lot these past few days, and I¡¯m honestly grateful.¡±


    Chase smiled, ¡°With your talent, even without my help, you¡¯re bound to make a name for yourself as a world- ss designer someday.¡±


    Xylia looked a little shy at the praise. ¡°By the way, you mentioned you¡¯re leaving. What¡¯s going on?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Thepany¡¯s sending me overseas for some advanced training. I probably won¡¯t be back anytime soon,¡± Chase replied.


    ¡°So, can I still talk to <b>you </b><b>about </b>design stuff in <b>the </b>future?¡± Xylia asked.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Chase replied with a smile.


    MILE


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    After they talked things out, all the awkwardness between Xylia and <b>Chase </b>was gone for good.


    It felt just like when they first met, except now, they weren¡¯t just teachers and students; they were friends, too.


    All that stress from the inte trolls finally started to fade away, and Xylia felt so much lighter.


    After saying goodbye to Chase, Xylia decided to grab a cab back to the Ford Mansion.


    But just as Xylia was about to leave, she spotted a luxury car pulling up in front of the nightclub entrance across the street.


    Joshua stepped out of the passenger seat, looking sharp in a perfectly tailored ck suit.


    guy


    Xylia¡¯s eyes widened in shock. A Maybach worth millions? How could Joshua, just a uv working a regr job. possibly afford to be in a car like that?¡® she thought,pletely baffled.


    Xylia was still in shock when another woman got out of the driver¡¯s seat.


    This woman was rocking a ck suit <b>too</b>, with ck stilettos that had gold ents. Her short hair was styled in a way that screamed bossdy¨Cdefinitely someone who ran <b>the </b>show. She looked about thirty¨Csomething.


    The two of them headed into the bar together.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Wait, is Joshua seriously her sugar baby now?¡® she thought, totally stunned,


    As soon as Joshua stepped into the bar, the deafening music started getting on his nerves.


    ¡°Why do we have to talk business in a ce like this?¡± Joshua grumbled, clearly not happy about it.


    Yana, meanwhile, looked absolutely thrilled, practically itching to join the party on the dance floor. If she didn¡¯t have to babysit Joshua, she¡¯d be out there with the young crowd in no time.


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a big deal. This partnership means everything to me. If you mess this up, I won¡¯t let you go. Yana warned, her tone fierce.


    Joshua gave Yana a cold, sideways look. ¡®Is this about that guy¡¯s business <b>again</b>?¡±


    Yana just arched an eyebrow, not bothering to deny it.


    They headed upstairs to a private room.


    After hesitating for ages, Xylia finally stepped into the nightclub, trailing after them. She was worried Joshua. was being coerced into something.


    <b>But </b>once she got inside, the pounding music and packed crowd meant Joshua was nowhere to be seen.


    She pulled out her phone to call him, but it was already dead and had shut off


    Just as she was standing there, feeling totally lost, someone familiar walked up to her.


    ¡°Xylia? After hurting Tessa, you¡¯ve got the nerve to show up here and party?¡± Sadie sneered.


    9:49 Fri, Sep <b>12 </b>


    1:


    Xylia looked up and locked eyes with Sadie, who was ring at her with open disgust.


    <b>??? </b>


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    Sadie was rocking a leather jacket and pants, her hair dyed bubblegum pink and twisted into several dreadlocks¨Cthe ultimate rebel look.


    She was nked by a crew of girls dressed just like her, all shooting Xylia the same contemptuous re.


    Xylia wasn¡¯t about to waste her breath on Sadie. She spun around and headed out. She still needed to find Joshua.


    But just as Xylia turned, Sadie stepped in front of her, blocking her path.


    ¡°Xylia, you bitch, what are you running for? Feeling guilty about something, huh?¡± Sadie sneered.


    ¡°First, you steal my boyfriend, then you mess up Tessa¡¯s leg so she can¡¯t evenpete in the dancepetition. Seriously, what kind of trashy, pathetic girl are you?¡± she spat.


    Xylia gave


    Sadie a cold, dismissive stare. ¡°Seriously, use your brain for once. I don¡¯t even know your boyfriend. Why would I ever go after him? You think I¡¯m crazy?¡±


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re just a cougar who can¡¯t resist a younger guy, or maybe <b>you </b>just hate me so much you had to steal my boyfriend. You¡¯re the kind of person who¡¯d stoop to anything,¡± Sadie sneered.


    Xylia just rolled her eyes, not even bothering to argue anymore. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to waste on you,¡± she said. sharply, trying to brush past Sadie.


    But Sadie wasn¡¯t about to let her leave. She reached out and grabbed Xylia<b>, </b>yanking her back.


    E

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    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going? Today, we¡¯re settling this once and for all,¡± Sadie said.


    She grabbed Nylia and dragged her toward the private rooms on the second floor. The second floor was much quieter than the bustling first¨Cfloor lobby.


    Sadie was surprisingly strong, and with her friends helping out, Xylia couldn¡¯t break free no matter how much she struggled.


    At the door of the private room, just as Sadie was about to open it, Xylia saw her chance and grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking hard.


    Sadie yelped in pain and let go of Xylia.


    Sadie¡¯s friends immediately reached for Xylia¡¯s hair, too, but Xylia whipped out a can of pepper spray her bag and sted it right at the girls.


    from


    They screamed, covering their eyes <b>and </b>dropping to the floor. Taking advantage of the chaos, Xylia made a break for it.


    ¡°Xylia, you bitch, you¡¯re ying dirty.¡± Sadie¡¯s angry shouts echoed behind her.


    Xylia didn¡¯t slow down. She ran even faster.


    Thankfully, she always kept some self¨Cdefense items in her bag when she went out.


    Sadie might have been just a girl, but she¡¯d been spoiled rotten since she was a kid, spending money like it grew on trees and hanging out with all sorts of shady characters.


    Xylia wasn¡¯t about to go head¨Cto¨Chead with her in a ce like this.


    Just as Xylia rounded the corner to head downstairs, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted someone emerging from a nearby private room.


    The guy had broad shoulders, a trim waist, and an unmistakable <b>aura</b>. It was Joshua whom she¡¯d been searching for.


    As soon as <b>Joshua </b>stepped out, he felt an <b>intense </b>stare on him. He turned and met Xylia¡¯s eyes.


    A sh of delight flickered in his gaze, but when he noticed the pepper spray she was holding, his face fell. He strode over to her. ¡°What are you doing here?<b>¡± </b>


    Xylia looked at Joshua. His clothes were perfectly in ce, but there was a lingering scent of women¡¯s perfume on him.


    Xylia bit her lip, but couldn¡¯t bring herself to admit she¡¯d been following him.


    Just thought I¡¯d take a look around. What about you? Did youe here alone, or with someone?¡± she asked. Her eyes stayed glued to <b>Joshua¡¯s </b>face, trying to catch any flicker of truth..


    9:49 Fri, Sep <b>12 </b>


    [80


    56 vouchers


    But Joshua didn¡¯t look the least bit ufortable, Instead, he lowered his charming eyes, masking whatever he was feeling <b>inside</b>. Just here to talk business,¡± he replied.


    Before they could get more than a few <b>words </b>in, Sadie stormed over with her posse hot on her heels.


    Sadie was rubbing her eyes as she ran<b>, </b>and by now, they were puffy and red all around.


    When she saw Xylia standing next to Joshua, Sadie couldn¡¯t help but stare at Joshua for a second, totally Caught off guard by how handsome he was. But she snapped out of it fast.


    Sadie pointed at Xylia, her voice full of rage. ¡°You dared to hit me? I¡¯m going to make you


    This t


    you regret it today<b>.¡± </b>


    time, besides her usual crew of girlfriends, there were also a few guys along behind her.


    The moment these guysid eyes on Xylia, they couldn¡¯t hide how impressed they were, openly checking her


    <b>oul</b>.


    ¡°Honestly, Sadie, if Paul really ditched you for this chick, I can¡¯t even me him. He¡¯s got good taste,¡± one of the guys joked.


    ¡°For real, just look at her. She looks so fresh¨C<b>faced</b>, and that hot figure? If you hadn¡¯t told us she¡¯s a few years older than you, I¡¯d totally believe she¡¯s our age,¡± another chimed in.


    Hearing her buddies hype up her enemy like that, Sadie was fuming and finally snapped,


    ¡°You bunch of dickheads with balls <b>for </b>brains, keep running your mouths and I¡¯ll gouge your eyes out myself,¡± Sadie snapped.


    With Sadie blowing up like that, the guys instantly shut their mouths. But since they couldn¡¯t talk back, they turned their frustration on Xylia instead.


    As they started moving toward her, Joshua <b>quickly </b>stepped in front of Xylia, shielding her.


    ¡°Hey, handsome, of all the girls you could go for, you really had to pick this psycho? With a face like you could have anyone you want,¡± Sadie said, acting like she was <b>giving </b>Joshua some friendly advice.


    yours<b>. </b>


    But her eyes were full of disdain; she clearly thought <b>Joshua </b>must be out of his mind to be interested in someone like Xylia.


    Joshua stood with his back to Xylia, his face icy cold. Those usually charming eyes were now t and indifferent, and when he nced at Sadie and her gang, it was like he was looking at something he wouldn¡¯t touch with a ten¨Cfoot pole.


    ¡°Bunch of brats skipping school to get a taste of the real world, huh? Don¡¯te bawling when life smacks you in the <b>face</b>,¡± Joshua said coolly, his presence alone making it clear he wasn¡¯t someone to mess with.


    The guys looked like they were losing their nerve.


    ¡°What are you all scared of? She¡¯s nothing. There are so many of us. Are we really going to let one guy stand in our way?¡± Sadie barked, trying to fire up her crew.


    9:49 Fri<b>, </b>Sep 12


    With Sadie taking the lead, the whole group rushed straight at Xylin.


    55 vouchers


    Joshua unhurriedly rolled up his sleeves and loosened the <b>top </b>button of his shirt, the veins standing out against his lean, muscr forearms. He looked like he was about to throw down.


    The tension in the air was off the charts.


    Xylia stood behind Joshua, watching as he knocked out the guys in front of him with clean, ruthless moves- like it was nothing.


    By the time he was done, only Sadie and her two friends were left standing, frozen in ce. None of them dared to move a muscle.


    Suddenly, the door to <b>a </b>nearby private room swung open, and Yana¡¯s voice rang out before she even stepped


    outside.


    ¡°Joshua, how long does it take to step out for a smoke?¡± she called, her tone tinged with impatience.


    It


    Xylia looked up and saw a familiar figure standing in the doorway. It was she, the wealthy woman, who kept Joshua.


    <b>Yana </b>spotted Xylia, too, and she saw Joshua standing guard in front of her, with a bunch of punks sprawled. out on the floor.


    Yana marched right up to Xylia. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Yana <b>Garcia</b>. I¡¯m Jos


    Joshua gave Yana a warning re.


    Yana smiled and looked at Xylia. ¡°Boss. Joshua¡¯s my driver.¡±


    Xylia frowned, feeling a wave of confusion.


    ¡®Wait a second? If Joshua¡¯s supposed to be her driver, then why was she the one driving when they showed up? Shouldn¡¯t he have been behind the wheel?¡® she thought, suspicion creeping in.


    ¡°I know you. You¡¯re the champ fromst night¡¯s design contest, and you¡¯re also <b>Joshua¡¯s </b>close friend,¡± Yana. continued.


    Xylia eyed Yana, who was acting all chummy, warily.


    The guys scrambled to their feet, grabbed Sadie, and hustled her off to the side. Messing around was one thing, but none of them were dumb enough to risk their lives or futures over this.


    The moment that woman showed up, her presence alone was enough to make them think twice about crossing her.


    Sadie was yanked away, totally baffled; she still wanted to give Xylia a piece of her mind, but her crew just wouldn¡¯t let go.


    With her friends dragging her back, all <b>she </b>could do was grumble and curse <b>as </b>they hauled her into the private room<b>. </b>


    9:49 Fri, Sep 12


    E85 vouchers.


    Joshua caught the uneasy look on Xylia¡¯s face and shot Yana a nce that was more warning than request.


    ¡°Ms. Garcia, you handle the rest of the meeting. I¡¯m off the clock, so I¡¯m heading <b>out</b>,¡± he said.


    Yana barely had time to react before Joshua took Xylia by the hand and whisked her away.


    Yana <b>watched </b>them go, a small smile ying on her lips. Time to let my brother know; his little darling finally found his beloved one, Yana thought to herself.


    After leading Xylia downstairs, Joshua pulled out his phone, ready to call her a ride home.


    ¡°Joshua, are you really just Yana¡¯s driver?¡± Xylia asked, her tone full of doubt.


    ¡°Yeah, what else do you think it could be?¡± Joshua replied, sounding totally casual.


    ¡°Nothing.¡± Xylia said quickly, a little flustered. Seeing the clear look in Joshua¡¯s eyes, she realized she was probably just overthinking things.


    ¡°Maybe Joshua really is just here to help his boss with business, she thought. Talking pay in a nightclub isn¡¯t exactly unusual.¡®


    Suddenly, Joshua turned to Xylia, looked her up and down, and simply said, his voice low and steady, ¡°You¡¯ve changed.¡±


    E

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    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xylia asked, looking at Joshua with a puzzled expression.


    Joshua leaned in slightly, his gaze locked on Xylia¡¯s still¨Cbeautiful face. His eyes, with that signature flirtatious tilt, were dangerously charming.


    ¡°Xylia, you used to be such <b>a </b>goody¨Ctwo¨Cshoes. Now you¡¯re brave enough to hit up nightclubs?¡± he teased.


    ¡°There he goes again with this <b>tone</b>, Xylia <b>thought</b>. For some reason, every time Joshua spoke like that, Xylia always got this indescribable feeling.


    It was like, when those words came out of his mouth, they were wrapped in ayer of <b>flirtation</b>.


    And with Joshua¡¯s smooth voice and killer looks, it <b>never </b>came off as sleazy at all.


    ¡°How do you know I¡¯ve never been to a nightclub? Xylia shot back, forcing herself to tamp down the weird flutter in her chest.


    She really didn¡¯t go to nightclubs much. Before Tessa came back to the Schultz family, Xylia had always been the picture of a good girl.


    The only time Xylia had ever set foot in a nightclub was six years <b>ago</b><b>, </b>when she went to pick up a wasted


    Connor.


    One of Connor¡¯s friends had called her, saying he was totally drunk. She¡¯d braved a downpour just to get him


    home.


    When they got home, Connor had clung to his wallet like it <b>was </b>his lifeline, crying and ranting. ¡°I¡¯ll give you everything you want. You¡¯re the only one I¡¯ll ever love, he¡¯d slurred.


    At the time, Xylia had thought Connor was confessing his love to her, and her heart had melted.


    But now, after seeing the photo of him and Tessa tucked inside his wallet, Xylia realized those heartfelt drunken words had been nothing but empty promises meant for someone else.


    And Xylia had just been the altar for her husband¡¯s devotion to another woman<b>. </b>


    Those memories crept back <b>into </b>her mind, and Xylia found herself lost in them for a moment.


    Joshua¡¯s face turned serious as he grabbed her arm, <b>his </b>voice icy. ¡°How did you get these bruises?¡±


    Xylia snapped out of it, finallying back <b>to </b>herself.


    Following his gaze, she noticed her delicate skin mottled with a few bluish¨Cpurple bruises.


    They were from when Sonny chucked some building blocks at herst night; the kid really had quite <b>an </b><b>arm</b>.


    ¡°<b>I </b>just bumped into something.¡± Xylia said, trying to pull her arm away, but Joshua wouldn¡¯t let go.


    <b>9:49 </b><b>Fri</b>, <b>Sep </b>12


    His palm was almost burning against her skin, making Xylia feel uneasy.


    55 Vouchers


    Joshua looked closely at the bruises on her arm, suspicious thoughts forming in his mind. He knew she was lying, but he didn¡¯t expose her.


    He¡¯d make sure the entire Ford family paid for this, sooner orter.


    Without another word, he pulled her toward a nearby pharmacy. ¡°You really need to watch out. With all those


    still be


    bruises already, how can <i>you </i><b>so </b>careless?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. They¡¯ll fade in a few days,¡± Xylia said, trying to brush it off.


    ¡°Even the smallest injuries need medicine,¡± Joshua insisted.


    At the pharmacy. Joshua bought some ointment. As he pulled out his phone to pay, a sleek ck credit card slipped out of his pocket by ident.


    Xylia was quick to snatch it up before he could. She stared at Joshua, totally stunned. She asked, ¡°Is the card yours?¡±


    Guys like Joshua weren¡¯t supposed to have something this exclusive.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but think about thatdy boss from earlier. She looked at Joshua, her eyes disbelief.


    wide with


    Joshua took the card back and slipped it into his pocket, picked up the ointment, and walked out of the pharmacy with Xylia.


    They found a bench by the side of the road and sat down. <b>Joshua </b>pulled Xylia¡¯s arm over and started tending <b>to </b>her bruises with the ointment.


    He kept his head lowered, the light above throwing shadows across his sharp features, hiding his good looks in the gloom.


    Xylia opened her mouth to say something, then stopped, wrestling with her thoughts before finally speaking up, her tone careful. ¡°Joshua, you do have a steady job, don¡¯t you?¡± she asked.


    Joshua nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any debts?¡± she asked.


    Joshua looked up at her, puzzled. He didn¡¯t pause his movements. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Are you short on cash?¡± she asked..


    ¡°Nope,¡± Joshua answered honestly. He didn¡¯t notice how Xylia¡¯s frown was getting deeper by the second.


    ¡°Honestly, it doesn¡¯t really matter how much money you make in this life, Xylia said, speaking earnestly,


    Joshua finished applying ointment to thest bruise <b>on </b>her arm and finally looked up at her.


    9:50 Fri, Sep 12


    255 vouchers


    His signature flirtatious eyes now looked puzzled; he was totally lost about what Xylia meant.


    ¡°I know people who are obsessed with material things are everywhere these days, especially in a shy city like Jupiton. It¡¯s easy to get dazzled by all the glitz. Xylia continued.


    But you added.


    can¡¯t just let your desires take over and make reckless choices. That¡¯s <b>not </b>the way to go, is it?¡± she


    Joshua stared at Xylia, his eyes unreadable. ¡°What are you getting at?¡± he asked.


    Xylia cleared her throat, remembering all the times Joshua had been there for her. He was more than just an acquaintance; he was a real friend.


    She just couldn¡¯t sit back <b>and </b>watch him throw his life away like this. ¡®Ms. Garcia <b>is </b>not actually your boss, is she? Xylia asked, her tone cautious.


    Joshua felt a heaviness settle in his chest, but he didn¡¯t say a word.


    To Xylia, that silence was all the answer she needed. Upon realizing the truth, her heart grew even heavier.


    After a moment, Xylia steeled herself and said, Joshua, I won 300 thousand at the designer meeting yesterday. I¡¯m nning to use it <b>to </b>open my studio.


    ¡°If you help me find clients, I¡¯ll give you a generousmission. But there¡¯s one condition. You have to break things off with Ms. Garcia. You two really don¡¯t suit each other.¡±


    Joshua cocked his head, turning her words over in his mind. It finally hit him that she¡¯d gotten the wrong idea. She¡¯d clearly misunderstood what was going on between him and Yana,


    ¡°So, are you trying to be my sugar mama? Joshua teased, a yful glint in his eyes.


    ¡°Sugar mama? Please, I¡¯m just giving you a paycheck, Xylia retorted, dead serious.


    Joshua let out a softugh at herpletely earnest expression.


    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Xylia frowned, clearly annoyed.


    He pulled out the ck card from his pocket. ¡°You saw this card and thought I was hooking up with Ms. Garcia, didn¡¯t you?¡± he asked, a smirk tugging at his lips.


    ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t that exactly what it looks like? Xylia wondered, her suspicion growing.


    Joshua handed her the card with a little smirk. ¡°Go <b>on</b>, and take a good look.¡±


    Xylia, still puzzled, took the card and looked it over carefully. It turned out to be just a in ck bank card, not some exclusive ck card. She¡¯d totally jumped to the wrong <b>conclusion</b>.


    <b>¡°</b>So


    you mistook this card for a ck card, figured there¡¯s no way I could own one, and thought I was <b>someone¡¯s </b>kept man?¡± Joshua <b>teased</b>, raising an eyebrow.


    Xylia fidgeted with the card, feeling awkward. An awkward silence settled between them.


    9:50 Fri, Sep 12


    55 vouchers


    Joshua just stared at her, his gaze steady.


    Xylia let out a nervousugh and handed the card back to him. ¡°Sorry, I jumped to the wrong conclusion.¡±


    ¡°So, in your eyes, I¡¯m just the <b>kind </b>of guy who¡¯d toss his morals out the window for a little cash?¡± Jo teased. He let out a dramatic sigh, pretending to be heartbroken as he pocketed the card.


    Joshua


    Xylia¡¯s guilt spiked even higher. She quickly apologized. ¡°Of course not, I was just worried about you, I swear. I never doubted your integrity.¡±


    Seeing Xylia getting anxious, Joshua stopped teasing her.


    Under the warm streetlights, his signature flirtatious eyes seemed to hold a sprinkle of starlight, twinkling with yful warmth.


    ¡°I¡¯m just messing with you,¡± Joshua said with a grin.


    He slipped the <b>bank </b>card back into his pocket, his fingers brushing against the actual ck card he hidden there. A sly smile tugged at his lips.


    kept


    ¡°So, about what you said earlier? Are you really serious about opening your own studio?¡± he asked, curiosity in his voice.


    Xylia nodded. ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°When are you nning to open it?¡± Joshua asked.


    Xylia arched an eyebrow. ¡°Now¡¯s just not the right time.¡±


    The inte was still full of gossip about her. She couldn¡¯tunch a studio with all that dirt on her name. At the very least, she had to wait until she could clear her reputation.


    ?


    AD


    Comment

 Tricked 58

    55 vouchers


    The next day, a trending topic about Tessa Schultz, the chief dancer, leaving her position shot to the top of major news sites. Clicking the link, one would see Tessa¡¯s newly recorded video.


    In the video, <b>Tessa¡¯s </b>face was pale. She was smiling, but tears were brimming in her eyes. She looked strong. yet so fragile, making people¡¯s hearts ache for her.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, everyone. I twisted my ankle a couple of days ago, and it¡¯s still pretty swollen, so I won¡¯t be able to join the dancepetition next week. I hate to disappoint you all,¡± Tessa said.


    ¡°Once I¡¯m better, I promise I¡¯ll dance for you again, okay? Thank you so much for all your love and support,¡± she added.


    With just a few simple sentences, Tessa <b>managed </b>to show both her vulnerability and her strength.


    Her fans were heartbroken, and everyone started asking what happened to her. Soon, people started bringing up Xylia Schultz in thements.


    [It¡¯s all because of Tessa¡¯s shameless sister. She got hurt in prison and couldn¡¯t stand seeing Tessa doing well, so she ended up causing Tessa to hurt her ankle.]


    [I really feel bad for Tessa. How did she get stuck with a sister like her?]


    [I heard Xylia was in a hit¨Cand¨Crun and got off after just three months. Now she¡¯s married into the Ford Group and living the high life.]


    [Big families always get away with everything. Even if they kill someone, they barely spend any time behind bars. Why didn¡¯t those prison queens just take her out for good?]


    Tessa scrolled through thements, a mocking smirk appearing on her lips.


    A few minutester, Tessa posted another update. She wrote: [Guys, please don¡¯t make wild guesses. Xylia was framed.]


    Within seconds, her post went viral, racking up thousands of shares andments.


    Everyone felt even more sorry for Tessa, the chief dancer; her evil sister <b>was </b>the reason she got hurt, yet Tessal was still defending her..


    The drama online just exploded even more.


    It wasn¡¯t until Xylia got a call from <b>a </b><b>total </b>stranger, their voice shrill and furious, screaming at her to go die, that she realized just how bad things had gotten.


    Wait? I¡¯ve been doxxed?¡® Xylia thought. She yanked out her SIM card and refused to pick up any more calls.


    When Connor found Xylia in the bedroom with a grim frown, she was <b>sitting </b>at her desk,pletely absorbed <b>in </b>sketching her designs.


    9:50 <b>Fri</b>, Sep <b>12 </b>


    55 vouchers.


    Chase had already gone overseas and was still getting used to the new environment. They¡¯d agreed that once Xylia finished her designs, she¡¯d send them over for his feedback whenever he had time.


    Seeing <b>how </b>indifferent Xylia seemed, acting like all the chaos online had nothing to do with her, only made Connor¡¯s anger boil over.


    Connor stormed over and, with a swift kick, knocked Xylia¡¯s drawing board to the ground.


    The designs she¡¯d painstakingly worked on all morning were utterly destroyed, torn and scattered across the


    floor.


    Xylia¡¯s expression turned icy in an instant.


    ¡°Do you even realize how much trouble you¡¯ve caused? And you still have the nerve to sit here drawing like nothing happened. How could you be so heartless, Xylia?<b>¡± </b>Connor shouted.


    Xylia just red at him, not understanding what had gotten into him. ¡°Get out,¡± she snapped.


    ¡°This is my house. <b>Who </b>are you to tell me to get out?¡± Connor shot back.


    ¡°Because your grandfather begged me to move in, Xylia replied, her voice calm but sharp enough to cut through the tension.


    Connor was left speechless, clenching his jaw as he red at Xylia. His chiseled jaw tightened, and for a split second, his handsome features twisted with anger.


    ¡®Since when did Xylia get so quick with herebacks?¡® Connor thought, a bit thrown off.


    Connor¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t see what you¡¯re doing. You¡¯re just trying to use all this media attention totch yourself onto the Ford family.


    ¡°But these cheap tactics of yours are only dragging the Ford Group¡¯s name through the mud. Do you even realize that?¡±


    Xylia finally understood what Connor was so angry about. It was just all the online smear campaigns about her, dragging the Ford Group into the mess.


    She looked at Connor. ¡°<b>You </b>know I wasn¡¯t the one behind <b>that </b>hit¨Cand¨Crun. All of this is happening because you never even tried to find the real culprit.


    ¡°If you just told everyone who really did it, neither I nor the Ford Group would be in this mess.¡±


    ¡°Xylia, still making excuses, huh?¡± Connor snapped, his anger ring.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way I could throw Tessa under the bus. That would destroy her life for good, Connor thought. He shot Xylia an annoyed look.


    ¡°What¡¯s done is done. Why are you still dwelling on it? You think it¡¯s easy to find someone willing to lie to the police?¡± he snapped.


    Maybe out of guilt, Connor didn¡¯t wait for Xylia to say anything and stormed out of the bedroom.


    Xylia got up, locked the door, and started sketching again.


    <b>55 </b>vouche


    Meanwhile, in the Norhill Airport lounge, a man wearing sunsses was scrolling through what¡¯s trending on his tablet.


    He was dressed in a ck suit with gold¨Cthreaded patterns, his blond hair voluminous and slicked back with gel.


    The tips of his hair brushed against his smooth forehead, and even though his sunsses hid his eyes, the rest


    of his features still stood out.


    A pair of gray headphones sat snugly in his ears. ¡°Just trying to shut down the rumors won¡¯t work. Let¡¯s leave it for now. Once I get to Jupiton, I¡¯ll <b>find </b>out who set up Xylia,¡± the man said.


    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t you trust me? Even if we don¡¯t shut down the gossip, I¡¯ll help Xylia get through this,¡± he added.


    ¡°Okay, enough talk; my flight¡¯s boarding. Get the party ready at home. I¡¯ll make sure Xyliaes back with her head held high,¡± the man said..


    He lifted his hand, tapping his headphones with those long, well¨Cdefined fingers to end the call.


    Leon Sadler switched off his tablet and handed it to his assistant. ¡°Let Yasmeen know I¡¯ll go along with her artist¡¯s PR stunt, but I¡¯ve got one condition,¡± he <b>said</b>.


    The assistant took the tablet, feeling a wave of dread at his boss¡¯s words. ¡®Great, Mr. Sadler is about to stir up trouble again, he thought.


    Less than half an hourter, rumors about Leon, the Best Actor, and the new trending star¡¯s secret romance. dominated the headlines of every major site. Eighty percent of the trending topics were about them.


    In an instant, all the negative press Tessa had generated against Xylia was instantly shifted elsewhere.


    [Didn¡¯t expect to wake up and see Leon caught up in a dating rumor.]


    [Wait, who is it? Is Leon really in <b>a </b>scandal? No way. He¡¯s always kept such a squeaky¨Cclean image. How could he be in a rtionship? Leon, if you¡¯re being forced, just blink twice.]


    [Leon¡¯s almost thirty, and this is his first dating rumor. Could this actually be real?]


    [Isn¡¯t this the new rising starlet from that hit drama? She used to be a girl group leader, and now she¡¯s already linked up with Leon? That was fast.]


    [Maybe she¡¯s just using Leon¡¯s name to get some hype.]


    [Leon¡¯s been in showbiz for over ten years and never had a single dating rumor. You really think anyone could pull this off without Leon being in on it?]


    9:50 Fri, Sep 12


    55 vouchers


    Social media blew up with debates. Everyone was obsessed with whether Leon¡¯s romance was real, and the gossip spread like crazy.


    Leon¡¯s scandal totally crushed Xylia¡¯s trending topic.


    Joshua was checking out Leon¡¯s profile when the news broke.


    Leon Sadler, the Best Actor, had basically swept every major acting award both in the country and overseas¨Ca true legend.


    And that wasn¡¯t all. He was also the third son of the Sadler family from Norhill.


    Joshua¡¯s eyes glinted with intrigue, <b>a </b>storm of thoughts flickering in his gaze. ¡°It was obvious Leon was taking the heat for Xylia. Wait? Is Xylia actually a member of the Sadler family? he wondered.


    9:50 Fri, Sep 12

 Tricked 61

    Tessa called out. ¡°Xylia.¡±


    Xylia turned instinctively at the sound of Tessa¡¯s voice.


    65 vouchers.


    Tessa walked over with Sadie trailing behind. Sadie kept her head down, ncing uneasily at Joshua standing nearby.


    Tessa <b>shot </b><b>a </b>mocking smile at Joshua, who <b>was </b>standing next to Xylia.


    ¡°Xylia, let me give you some advice. You¡¯ve been married to Connor for years, and your kid is already six. If you keep messing around, and people find out, it¡¯ll be a real disgrace!¡± <b>Tessa </b>said.


    Xylia smiled and shot back, ¡°You¡¯ve been freeloading off our family for ages as a widow, and you don¡¯t seem to mind the shame, so who are you to lecture me?¡±


    Her offhandment almost made <b>Tessa </b>snap.


    Tessa hadn¡¯t expected Xylia to talk back. In the past, Xylia never argued with her.


    Back <b>then</b>, no matter what Tessa said or did, Xylia would just put up with it.


    But now, Xylia had grown a sharp tongue¨Cshe¡¯d snap back at anyone without a second thought.


    When Sadie saw Tessa getting called out, she dropped her shy act and shot daggers at Xylia<b>. </b>


    ¡°You¡¯re the one fooling around outside, <b>and </b>you¡¯ve got the nerve to <b>talk </b>about Tessa? If your brat wasn¡¯t always. hanging onto her, she wouldn¡¯t have to go over to your ce to look after him. Instead of being grateful, you¡¯re running your mouth like this?¡± Sadie snapped.


    Tessa grabbed Sadie¡¯s arm. ¡°Sadie, don¡¯t say <b>that</b><b>.¡± </b>


    She then turned to Xylia. T¡¯m not with the Ford family anymore. I only went over to help when Sonny was sick. Rx, Xylia, my heart¡¯s with Qadir. Breaking up your family isn¡¯t even on my radar.¡±


    Sadie watched Tessa, so devoted to Qadir, and couldn¡¯t help but feel a stab of pity.


    Her re at Xylia grew sharper and colder.


    The auction hall was getting lively, and Sadie nced around the luxurious hall before shooting Xylia a look full of contempt.


    ¡°You¡¯re nothing but <b>an </b>impostor, riding on Tessa¡¯s coattails to get the life you <b>have </b>now. If it weren¡¯t for her, you wouldn¡¯t even be allowed through the door at an event like this. So what exactly makes you so <b>cocky</b>?¡± Sadie scoffed.


    Tessa suddenly remembered something and let out a mockingugh. ¡°I heard Connor froze your secondary card. So, Xylia, are you actually here to buy <b>something</b>, or just here to window shop and see how the other half lives?¡±


    9:51 Fri, Sep <b>12 </b>


    Xylia didn¡¯t feel like wasting any more words on them.


    She nced at Joshua. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Joshua just nodded and followed her over to a seat off to the side.


    55 vouchers


    Sadie was about to step forward to stop Xylia, but Joshua turned and gave her a cold, piercing look.


    That look <b>stopped </b>Sadie dead in her tracks.


    She felt like her blood had turned to ice under his <b>gaze</b>.


    She didn¡¯t snap out of it until Joshua and Xylia were already gone.


    Her heart started pounding like crazy.


    ¡®Man, this guy¡¯s not just handsome¨Che¡¯s got that boss energy. Honestly, he¡¯s kind of irresistible, Sadie thought.


    ¡°Sadie, let¡¯s go.¡± Tessa said, tugging her along.


    Tessa dragged Sadie over, and they took the seats just behind Xylia and Joshua.


    Sadie sat directly behind Joshua, her eyes glued to him.


    Joshua¡¯s expression grew colder by the second, his hands clenched into fists on his knees¨Che could barely stop himself from kicking Sadie away.


    Xylia noticed Sadie¡¯s not¨Cso¨Cinnocent stare and nced at Joshua.


    ¡°Let¡¯s switch seats,¡± she suggested.


    Some of Joshua¡¯s anger faded when he caught the worry in Xylia¡¯s eyes.


    He nodded, and the two of them swapped seats.


    Sadie shot Xylia a re that could kill.


    Just then, the auctioneer stepped up to the podium, and the auction officially kicked off.


    Joshua was only there because Aaron had sent him on a mission.


    Aaron and Eliza were off traveling abroad, and just yesterday, Aaron messaged Joshua, making it clear that no matter what, he had to win that ss cup set at the auction.


    When the ss cup set hit the block, Sadie caught Joshua raising his paddle. Her eyes darted slyly, and she copied him, lifting her own paddle with a little smirk.


    ¡°150 thousand dors going once,¡± the auctioneer called out.


    <b>Joshua </b>immediately raised his paddle again. ¡°180 thousand dors.¡±


    ¡°180 thousand dors from this gentleman. Any more bids?¡± the auctioneer asked.


    Sadie didn¡¯t even hesitate¨Cshe shot her paddle up. ¡°195 thousand dors!¡±


    She knew Joshua was just a regr working guy. Honestly, it was a miracle he even got into a ce like this. If he was willing to drop serious cash on a ss cup set, he must really want it¨Cmaybe even enough to spend all his savings.


    ¡°If I win this ss cup set and give it to him, he¡¯ll totally be impressed <i>by </i>me!¡® Sadie thought, her heart racing with excitement.


    With that in mind, she raised her paddle even higher, determined to outbid everyone.


    Sadie didn¡¯t even give Joshua a chance to speak¨Cshe blurted out, ¡°300 thousand dors!¡±


    ¡°300 thousand from thisdy. Any higher bids?¡± the auctioneer called out.


    With no further bidding, he called out, ¡°300 thousand going once, 300 thousand going twice¡­¡±


    Joshua just frowned and sat back, not bidding anymore.


    Xylia nced at Joshua. ¡°Why¡¯d you stop? Did it go over your budget?¡±


    Joshua nodded. ¡°My boss said if it goes over 300 thousand, I should just let it go.¡±


    ¡°So, if you don¡¯t get it for him, is he gonna be mad?¡± Xylia asked.


    Joshua shook his head.


    He knew if he didn¡¯t win the ss cup set, Aaron would definitely nag him about it.


    Honestly, he could¡¯ve just gone all out and outbid everyone with his family¡¯s money, but he didn¡¯t want to reveal his true background in front of Xylia <b>over </b>something like this.


    It just wasn¡¯t worth it.


    Xylia finally felt relieved.


    *300 thousand, third <b>and </b>final call. Sold!¡± the auctioneer announced.


    Sadie had won the ss cup set, and her face lit up with a huge grin.


    She kept sneaking nces at Joshua, already picturing how thrilled he¡¯d be when she handed him the ss cup setter.


    ¡°Maybe he¡¯ll be all over me tonight!¡¯ she thought, her heart racing with excitement.


    The next item up for auction was the painting by Laurel.


    It was Springtime in Jupiton¨Ca stunning piece showing Jupiton in all its spring glory¨Cskyscrapers reaching for the clouds, streets packed with people and cars, every inch painted with insane detail. The scroll was


    9:51 Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>12


    nearly 6.5 feet long, and Laurel had poured half a year into it.


    Z 66 vouchers<b>. </b>


    ¡°This Springtime in Jupiton is a work by Laurel Schultz. Starting price: 30 thousand, the auctioneer called


    60 thousand, Xylia called out, raising her paddle before anyone else.


    No one else in the room seemed to care much about the painting.


    Back when Laurel was young, this was her one true masterpiece. But as the years went by and new artists kept. appearing, her fame faded into obscurity.


    Now, after all these years, almost no one even remembered her name.


    If Laurel still had her old reputation, there was no way this painting would start at just 30 thousand.


    ¡°60 thousand going once, 60 thousand going twice¡­ the auctioneer called out.


    ¡°150 thousand.¡± Tessa suddenly raised her paddle.


    She leaned forward, <b>giving </b>Xylia a pointed look.


    ¡°This is the only painting my grandma ever left behind. As her one and only granddaughter, it should belong to me,¡± Tessa dered.


    ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re not even family by blood. Even if Grandma doted on you, you¡¯re not her real granddaughter. You have no right to her legacy,¡± Tessa sneered.


    Xylia clenched her fists.


    Ever since Tessa moved back in with the Schultz family, Laurel <b>had </b>been the only one who ever showed Xylia any real kindness.


    Xylia could still remember Laurel gently patting her head, saying. ¡°This isn¡¯t your fault, sweetheart. You don¡¯t have to apologize to anyone. No matter <b>what </b>anyone else says, I¡¯ll always be your grandma.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t about to give up.


    Xylia raised her paddle. ¡°180 thousand<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she called out, her voice steady.


    Tessa immediately shot back, ¡°210 thousand<b>.</b>¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°240 thousand,¡± she countered, her eyes locked on Tessa,


    Tessa¡¯s voice rang out, sharp and determined. ¡°300 thousand<b>!</b>¡±


    No matter how high Xylia bid. Tessa was hot on her heels, never letting up.


    Now the price had hit 300 thousand, and Xylia was tapped out¨Cthat was all she had.


    She was dying <b>to </b>raise her paddle again, but she was t broke.


    55 vouchers


    ¡°Come on, Xylia, keep bidding! Connor froze your card, right? Out of <b>cash </b>already?¡± Tessa taunted with a smirk.


    ¡°Guess fate¡¯s finally stepping in. You have no right to Grandma¡¯s painting. You stole my life for years¨Cnow I¡¯m taking it back, <b>piece </b>by piece,¡± Tessa sneered.


    ?

 Tricked 59

    Joshua was deep in thought when his phone buzzed. It was Maverick calling.


    = 55 vouchers


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, I¡¯ve run into a problem. Looks like Seth Wilson¨Cthe guy who gave false testimony against Ms. Schultz¨Chas made contact with the real culprit. He¡¯s moved, and now someone¡¯s tailing me,¡± Maverick said.


    Joshua¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°I¡¯ll send my men to help you, but you need to find a way to get evidence.¡±


    ¡°Got it, Mr. Garcia, Maverick replied..


    After hanging up, Joshua tossed Leon¡¯s profile aside and strode out of his office,


    By the time Xylia finished catching up on her morning¡¯s design work, it was already dark outside.


    When she picked up her phone again, she saw messages from Joshua and Josie.


    Joshua: [The onlinements about you have been deleted. Don¡¯t worry. If anyone tries to dig up your personal info, call the police.]


    ¡°He really does care about me, Xylia thought, feeling the concern in his words.


    A <b>small </b>smile tugged at her lips.


    After replying briefly to Joshua, she then opened her chat with Josie.


    Josie had sent a quick message. [You okay?]


    Like always, Xylia let her know she was fine<b>, </b>and Josie called her <b>right </b><b>away</b>.


    ¡°I think you can turn all that online hate into something that actually helps you.¡± Josie was straight to the point, and she sounded pretty hyped.


    Xylia <b>figured </b>Josie must¡¯ve seen all the hate online, but she wasn¡¯t sure what Josie was getting at.


    ¡°What <b>do </b>you <b>mean</b>?¡± she asked, confused.


    <b>¡°Just </b>think about it! You¡¯re about tounch <b>your </b><b>own </b>studio, right? Sure, people are dragging your name <b>through </b>the mud online, but it¡¯s blowing up¨Cso much attention right now.


    ¡°Once the truthes out and everyone realizes you were innocent, you¡¯ll be the inte¡¯s sweetheart.


    ¡°People will totally feel for <b>you</b>. You¡¯ll be kind of a big deal online, and if you start an ount and build your brand, it¡¯ll be huge for your studio!¡± Josie said, getting more and more fired up.


    Xylia thought <b>Josie¡¯s </b>words actually made sense.


    But right now, <b>what </b>mattered most was clearing her name.


    #55 vouchers.


    After Josie finished talking, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°You¡¯ve seen all thosements online. Don¡¯t you. ever doubt if any of it¡¯s real?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you didn¡¯t do any of that stuff?¡± Josic shot back, which shut Xylia right up.


    Josie kept surprising her. Xylia never imagined that someone she barely knew would put so much faith in her.


    She was genuinely touched.


    Thanks, Josie,¡± she said, heartfelt.


    The two of them chatted a bit more about the studio..


    Before they could hang up, there was a knock on Xylia¡¯s bedroom door, and Sonny¡¯s soft voice came through. ¡°Mom, are you still drawing?¡±


    Xylia was caught off guard. Ever since she¡¯d brought up the divorce, Sonny hadn¡¯t called her Mom so affectionately.


    ¡°Wait, Mom? Xylia, you have a kid?¡± Josie blurted out in surprise.


    Josie, I¡¯ll talk to youter,¡± Xylia said, cutting her off.


    After hanging up, she finally went to open the bedroom door.


    Sonny was standing there with a ss of milk, his round face tilted up at her, those big, clear eyes shining.


    He grinned and held out the ss to her. ¡°Mom, you must be tired from drawing. Have some milk.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel a little dazed. Just a couple of days ago, this kid was chucking building blocks at her, leaving her arms covered in bruises¨Chow did he go from that to being <b>so </b>sweet all of a sudden?


    ¡°Mom, aren¡¯t you going to have it?¡± Sonny asked, sounding a little hurt.


    With a hurt little pout, he looked up at Xylia, his eyes shining.


    ¡®Nice try, kid, but I¡¯m not falling for <b>that</b>, Xylia thought, keeping her tone cool. ¡°I¡¯m allergic to milk¡±


    Sonny awkwardly pulled the milk away. ¡°Sorry, Mom. I forgot. I¡¯ll go get you some water instead.¡±


    He made as if to leave.


    <b>But </b>Xylia stopped him. ¡°You were looking for Tessa, weren¡¯t you? Why would youe to me instead of hanging around <b>her</b><b>?</b>¡±


    ¡°Tessa¡¯s already gone,¡± Sonny said tly.


    Xylia frowned.


    ¡®Howe? Connor was just bringing Tessa breakfast upstairs this morning. How did she leave <b>so </b>suddenly?¡® she wondered.


    9:50 Fri, Sep 12


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    Sonny looked a little anxious<b>, </b>afraid Xylia wouldn¡¯t believe him. He hurried to exin, ¡°Tessa really left, Mom. You <b>don¡¯t </b>need to <b>look </b>for her.¡±


    He didn¡¯t want Xylia to go after Tessa again.


    ¡°Mom. I¡¯m sorry for <b>what </b>I said before. I shouldn¡¯t have talked to you like that. Can you forgive me?¡± Sonny asked, his voice soft and a little nervous.


    Sonny¡¯s sudden change in attitude was honestly kind of weird.


    With how much he disliked Xylia, there was no way he¡¯d have a change of heart <b>so </b>quickly.


    As she was still doubting him, Sonny suddenly pouted and burst into tears.


    ¡°Our teacher said that if we¡¯re not nice to our mom, we¡¯ll go to hell when we die. Mom, I was really wrong. Can you forgive me? I don¡¯t want to go to hell,¡± he sobbed.


    That <b>was </b>when it hit Xylia that Sonny really was just a kid.


    She didn¡¯t say anything about forgiving him. She just stayed silent.


    Sonny didn¡¯t seem too hung up on her answer. He stepped forward and reached out, gently taking Xylia¡¯s hand in his.


    ¡°Mom, there¡¯s a school celebration next week. My teacher said I should invite both my parents. Will youe with me? We can y games and win gold stars, just like we used to,¡± he asked, hope shining in his voice.


    Seeing Sonny like this, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart melt.


    After all, she¡¯d raised him herself. For six years, she¡¯d been there for Sonny day in and day out¨Ccaring <b>for </b>him, helping him with everything from homework to life¡¯s little problems.


    Whenever the school needed parents to join in activities and Connor couldn¡¯t make it, she was always the one by Sonny¡¯s side.


    For those school puzzle games that needed the whole family, Xylia would always <b>cover </b>for Connor and take on his part, teaming up with Sonny to win again and again.


    Sonny used to worry about her, gently wiping the sweat from her <b>forehead </b>with his tiny hands and saying in his gentle little voice, ¡°Thank you so much, Mom.¡±


    Maybe it was because of the flood of old memories, or maybe it was because of seeing that hopeful <b>look </b>on Sonny¡¯s face, Xylia just couldn¡¯t bring herself to say no.


    ¡°Alright, Xylia replied, her voice gentle, a soft warmth flickering in her chest.


    ¡°Yay! It¡¯s a deal. You have toe next week!¡± Sonny shouted, practically skipping away in excitement with the milk in his chest.


    Xylia watched his tiny figure disappear down the hall, <b>and </b>the <b>light </b>in her eyes faded bit by bit.


    Sonny said he¡¯d bring her a ss of water, but he never actually did.


    Xylia didn¡¯t really care.


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    By dinnertime, Xylia noticed an auction catalog lying on the coffee table in the living room.


    She flipped through it casually, and suddenly her eyesnded on a painting that looked strikingly familiar.


    It was a bright, colorful piece called ¡°Springtime in Jupiton.¡± Even in the painting, the fish looked <b>so </b>vivid, it was as if they could leap off the page at any moment.


    Xylia <b>sat </b><b>up </b>straight, her <b>eyes </b>shining with barely contained excitement.


    This painting was Laurel¡¯s breakthrough piece¨Cthe one that made her famous before she passed away.


    Laurel was a true artist, a reclusive painter who never sought the spotlight.


    She never cared about profit, but years ago, when the Schultz Group was on the brink, she sold this iconic work <b>just </b>to keep the family afloat.


    The painting ended up going for a jaw¨Cdropping three million dors at auction.


    With that money, Laurel single¨Chandedly saved the Schultz Group from copse.


    Now, the painting was back on the auction block, and the starting bid was only thirty thousand dors.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t hold back her tears.


    This was one of Laurel¡¯s most important works, a piece she left behind before she passed. Xylia knew she had. to bring it home.


    AD

 Tricked 60

    Chapter <b>60 </b>


    In the heart of Jupiton¡¯s bustling downtown stood a dazzling goldenndmark, more impressive than the High Desert Hotel. This <b>was </b>the Avery Music Lounge.


    Outside the lounge, a row of luxury cars lined the entrance, while fans clutching glowing <b>signs </b>crowded around like ants. Reporters and photographers were lying in wait nearby.


    As Leon¡¯s luxury car rolled in, a chorus of screams filled the air.


    The fans kept shouting his name. ¡°Leon! Leon!¡±


    Some of them yelled frantically, ¡°Leon, look at me!¡±


    A fan cried out, ¡°Leon, here¡¯s my letter! Come get it!¡±


    Leon greeted his fans with a smile before heading straight into the lounge.


    ¡°Go collect the fans¡® letters and put them in the car,¡± he instructed his assistant, who nodded and left.


    As Leon pushed open the doors to the inner <b>hall</b>, gentle, flowing music drifted out, and he saw the ce filled with sophisticated people from all walks of life.


    This <b>was </b><b>a </bworking event where people traded resources and connections.


    Leon was both a superstar and a big shot behind the scenes, so of course, he got an invite.


    Tessa, dressed to the nines in a morous gown, was making conversation on the second¨Cfloor overlook. When she caught themotion downstairs, the corners of her lips curled up in a knowing smirk.


    Finally, the one she¡¯d been waiting for had arrived.


    ¡°Excuse me for a moment,¡± Tessa <b>said</b><b>, </b>slipping away.


    Leon was chatting with a producer when he spotted Tessa approaching from the corner of his eye.


    Because of Xylia, Leon could easily recognize members of the Schultz family.


    He brushed off the producer just as Tessa walked up.


    ¡°Mr. Sadler, what a surprise to run into you here, Tessa said.


    Leon gave her a cool look, not reciprocating her casual friendliness.


    Tessa¡¯s smile faltered slightly.


    Tessa was the lead dancer, and even though she¡¯d never starred in a movie, she was a star in her own right- her stage presence and poprity easily matched any top actress.


    She expected Leon to recognize her.


    9:50 Fri, Sep 12


    Áã


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    I¡¯m Tessa Schultz, the lead dancer. It¡¯s great to see you here¨CI¡¯m a huge fan of your work,¡± she said.


    Leon didn¡¯t really know <b>what </b>went on with the Schultz family, but he was <b>well </b>aware that Xylia had lived as the real heiress for eighteen years..


    He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if, <b>after </bing back, Tessa, the true heiress, had been giving Xylia a hard time.


    ¡°Hello, Leon said, his smile warm.


    Before Tessa could even catch her breath, Leon¡¯s next wordspletely blindsided her. ¡°I know you. You were all over the trending topics <b>a </b>couple of days ago. Wasn¡¯t your sister a dancer too?¡±


    Tessa was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected Leon to remember Xylia instead of her.


    It had been eight years since Xyliast danced.


    Tessa pushed down the jealousy bubbling up inside and looked at Leon.


    ¡°My sister used to be a dancer, but she stopped because she wanted to get married. She hurt her foot not long ago, so now she can¡¯t dance at all. She can¡¯t stand to see me on stage¨Cshe¡¯s always been like that. But I¡¯m used to it, I mean, she¡¯s my sister¡­¡± Tessa <b>said</b>.


    With that, she suddenly covered her mouth, like she¡¯d just realized she <b>was </b>oversharing.


    ¡°Sorry for rambling,¡± she added.


    Leon¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver, but his eyes grew colder.


    <b>¡®</b><b>So </b>she¡¯s been giving Xylia a hard time, he thought.


    ¡°Mr. Sadler, would you mind if we exchanged contact info? Maybe we can work together in the future,¡± Tessa


    said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have my assistant contact youter. I need to take care of <b>something</b>, Leon replied.


    Watching Leon walk away, Tessa couldn¡¯t help but frown a little.


    ¡®Why did he suddenly turn cold on me?¡® Tessa thought, confused.


    <b>She </b>gritted her teeth, her gaze turning icy.


    A realization suddenly hit her. It has to be because of Xylial The moment I brought her up, Leon¡¯s whole vibe toward me changed.


    ¡°Leon must have figured out my connection to Xylia, and with all the bad press Xylia has online, he¡¯s holding it <b>against </b><b>me </b><b>as </b>well.


    I must get closer to Leon. If I want to make it in showbiz, I have to cling to this golden ticket¨Cno matter what.¡±


    55 voucher


    As Xylia finally received the prize money from the designerworking event, she grabbed her bank card and headed to the auction.


    As soon as she walked through the auction house doors, she spotted Joshua not too far away.


    Today, he was dressed casually in a ck long¨Csleeved shirt and jeans, his silver hair practically glowing under the lights.


    He was talking to his assistant, his gaze lowered with a chill in his eyes. That sharp profile of his was so striking that people just couldn¡¯t tear their eyes away.


    ¡°Keep


    p an eye on that area,¡± Joshua said to his assistant, David Baldwin.


    ¡°Got it. Mr. Garcia, David replied.


    Just as he called out ¡°Mr. Garcia,¡± he nced up and met Xylia¡¯s gaze from across the room.


    ¡°Ms. Schultz?¡± David called out.


    Xylia blinked, a little thrown off. ¡°Who is this guy? I don¡¯t recognize his face or his voice at all, she thought, puzzled.


    ¡°Do you know me?¡± she asked.


    David¡¯s eyes darted around, then he instinctively nced over at Joshua.


    Joshua was caught off guard by Xylia¡¯s sudden appearance. He shot David a cold look, and David immediately. turned his attention back to Xylia<b>. </b>


    ¡°I heard about you from Mr¡­ I mean, Joshua. Please excuse me for a moment,¡± David said, practically bolting


    away.


    ¡°Oh man, I¡¯m so screwed¨C1 actually called Mr. Garcia by his name! David thought, freaking out.


    Xylia frowned, watching him go. Something felt off.


    She turned back to Joshua, her eyes carrying <b>a </b><b>hint </b>of scrutiny. ¡°Who is that guy? He called you Mr. Garcia so respectfully.


    A subtle ripple crossed Joshua¡¯s deep¨Cset eyes, but his expression stayed perfectly calm as he replied to Xylia, ¡°He¡¯s a colleague. We address each other that way in private. <b>It¡¯s </b>just for fun.¡±


    He stayed perfectlyposed, like he was just answering something trivial.


    Xylia nodded, not pressing further.


    ¡°Men always have their own little immature antics I¡¯ll never understand, but whatever¨Cit¡¯s harmless, she thought.


    Seeing that Xylia wasn¡¯t suspicious anymore, Joshua finally rxed a little inside.


    9:50 Fri, Sep 12


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    ¡°What brings you here?¡± he asked.


    Xylia nced at him. ¡°There¡¯s a painting my grandma painted before she died. I want to bring it home. Are you here for something special too?¡±


    Just here doing my boss a favor¨Che¡¯s got his eye on a Vian blown ss cup set at the auction,¡± Joshua said.


    Xylia nodded.


    They kept chatting as they headed toward the auction hall.


    Meanwhile, Sadie walked in with her arm linked through <b>Tessa¡¯s</b><b>. </b>


    As Sadie kept rambling about her ex¨Cboyfriend, a flicker of irritation shed in Tessa¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Sadie, let¡¯s be real. Sure, you helped your ex out, but he¡¯s not even cute, and he doesn¡¯t <b>have </b>any <b>drive</b>. Honestly, he¡¯s way beneath you,¡± Tessa said.


    ¡°Why get hung up on just one guy? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to find someone who¡¯s hot and <b>rich</b>?¡± Tessa added.


    Sadie pouted. She¡¯d been surrounded by handsome, rich guys since she was a kid¨Cshe was <b>so </b>over <b>them </b>by


    TOW.


    From across the room, <b>Tessa </b>caught sight of Xylia and Joshua¡¯s backs.


    The moment sheid eyes on Xylia, her temper red.


    After getting humiliated by Leon, Tessa was dead set on getting even.


    ¡°Sadie, what do you think of that guy over there?¡± Tessa asked, nodding toward Joshua.


    Sadie was still in a bad mood, but when she followed the direction of Tessa¡¯s finger, she spotted <b>Joshua</b><b>. </b>


    Sadie had run into him twice before, and both times Xylia <b>was </b>with him.


    Joshua¡¯s looks had stunned Sadie both times, <b>but </b>with her ex on her mind back then, she¡¯d never even thought about him like that..


    But now, as Sadie watched Joshua from afar, she could see the auction hall¡¯s cold lights cast his chiseled profile in sharp relief. Even dressed down in loose casual clothes, that broad¨Cshouldered, slim¨Cwaisted frame was seriously eye¨Ccatching.


    ¡°Honestly, if a guy that good¨Clooking wanted to date me, I wouldn¡¯tin, Sadie thought, her heart giving a little skip.


    Her heart was just starting to race, but before she could let her thoughts run wild, Tessa dragged her along toward Xylia and Joshua.


    9:50 Fri, Sep 12

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    Chapter <b>62 </b>


    Xylia¡¯s fingertips turned pale as she gripped the sign.


    Tessa¡¯s words felt like a curse, taking root in Xylia¡¯s mind.


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    She didn¡¯t think she owed Tessa anything, but the memory of Laurel being scolded by the Schultz family <b>for </b>favoring her kept reying in her mind.


    For a moment, Xylia¡¯s mind went nk.


    Everything slipped away¨Cthe memories of the Schultz family, Laurel, even Laurel¡¯s painting.


    The auctioneer called out, ¡°300 thousand going once, 300 thousand going twice, 300 thousand-¡±


    Just as the auctioneer¡¯s hammer was about to fall, Joshua raised his sign. ¡°600 thousand.¡±


    Joshua switched his grip, shing two fingers at the crowd.


    ¡°Anyone else want to raise the bid?¡± he asked.


    The signature outbid¨Ceveryone gesture¨Csomething only insiders would recognize¨Ccaught everyone¡¯s attention. People who hadn¡¯t cared about the painting now found themselves curious about Joshua.


    This was no small¨Ctime auction. Everyone there had serious money, and anyone bold enough to outbid everyone in a ce like this was clearly someone out of the ordinary.


    All eyes were on Joshua now, sizing him up.


    But not a single person there knew who he <b>was</b>.


    Xylia stared at Joshua,pletely stunned. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    She wondered, ¡°Earlier, when I said I wanted to <b>bid </b>on the painting, Joshua <b>didn¡¯t </b>say a word¨Cwhich means his boss clearly hasn¡¯t given him any instructions to bid. So is he suddenly bidding for my sake?¡±


    She hurried to stop him. ¡°Joshua, I don¡¯t need this. Don¡¯t do anything reckless.¡±


    She thought that if Joshua used his boss¡¯s money for something personal, he could easily get fired.


    Joshua shed her a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what I¡¯m doing.


    600 thousand, sold!¡± the auctioneer announced.


    With that insider¡¯s outbid¨Ceveryone gesture, everyone <b>knew </b>Joshua had it in the bag. The auctioneer mmed the hammer down hard.


    Sitting in the back, Sadie¡¯s face was twisted with displeasure.


    ¡®It¡¯s so obvious Joshua is bidding for Xylia. Seriously? Xylia has a man waiting for her at home, and now she¡¯s


    got another one on the side? She¡¯s got no shamel


    ¡®And the worst part? Her lover is ridiculously good¨Clooking.


    ¡®Like she even deserves someone like that. Sadie scoffed inwardly.


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    Tessa kept her cool as she watched Joshua. For the first time, it hit her¨Cthis man was definitely more than just some regr guy with <b>a </b><b>job</b>.


    After the auction ended, Joshua handed the painting to Xylia.


    Xylia didn¡¯t take it. Instead, she frowned at him. ¡°You should just take the painting back to your boss, so you don¡¯t get in trouble.¡±


    She figured that he¡¯d already spent the money, so he needed to bring something back to show his boss.


    She didn¡¯t want Joshua to lose his job because of her.


    Joshua just smiled and shoved the painting into her arms. ¡°Rx, it wasn¡¯t my boss¡¯s money. I paid for it myself.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Where did you get that much money?¡±


    600 thousand wasn¡¯t exactly pocket change.


    up


    She couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®He¡¯s only been working for a few years¨Chow could he have saved that much?¡±


    ¡°I earned it, obviously,¡± Joshua said with a shrug. ¡°Been working a few years, managed to save up a bit.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s frown only deepened as she scrutinized him, her gaze searching and a bit suspicious.


    Joshua met her stare with those slightly upturned, mischievous eyes of his, a subtle smirk ying at his lips- clearly a little pleased with himself.


    In the end, Xylia was the first to look away, conceding defeat.


    She hugged the painting and fished a bank card out of her bag.


    ¡°There¡¯s 300 thousand on this. I¡¯ll figure out how to pay you back the rest¨Cwith interest. Consider it a loan,¡± she said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly.


    Joshua¡¯s smile froze. He couldn¡¯t help feeling a little annoyed that Xylia was treating him like some <b>stranger</b>, counting every penny.


    But he couldn¡¯t really say anything right now.


    He <b>didn¡¯t </b>take the card.


    <i>¡°</i>Aren¡¯t you nning to open your own studio? If we¡¯re talking interest, just add this to the tab. Pay me back when you start making money, or treat it as my investment. When you¡¯re a big shot, just remember to share.


    the profits with me<b>, </b>Ms. Schultz,¡± Joshua said with a grin.


    E55 vouchers


    Xylia held onto the card, but she couldn¡¯t help worrying, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ll have enough left for yourself?¡±


    Joshua burst outughing.


    ¡°What¡¯s so funny? Xylia asked, a bit annoyed.


    Joshua nced at her, a teasing smile on his lips. ¡°You know, this is the second time you¡¯ve asked if I have enough money.¡±


    The first time was years ago, back when they were overseas. He was down and out, and she came to his rescue. Right before they went their separate ways, she looked at him and asked, ¡®Do you have enough cash to get by?¡±


    He told her he <b>was </b>fine.


    But she still wired him some money¨Cand even stuffed a handful of bills into his pocket when he wasn¡¯t looking.


    ¡®Some things never change.¡® Joshua thought, a little warmth blooming in his chest.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ve got plenty of cash. No need to worry about me,¡± Joshua said, his tone light and a little teasing.


    He stuffed his hands in his pockets, lookingzy and carefree, silver hair ruffling in the breeze. He looked just like some cocky college kid, totally at ease with himself.


    There he goes, acting all cheeky again, Xylia thought, shaking her head.


    She sighed helplessly and put the bank card back in her bag.


    I can¡¯t open the studio just yet, but it¡¯sing soon. Consider the 300 thousand as your investment, and the other 300 thousand as interest. I¡¯ll pay you back as soon as I start making money,¡± she said.


    Joshua¡¯s eyes crinkled with a smile. ¡°Deal.¡±


    Xylia hugged the painting, catching Joshua¡¯s crooked smile, and felt a rush of warmth bloom in her chest.


    A breeze kicked up, and some dust got caught in her right eye.


    She shut her eye, wincing as she reached up to rub it.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Joshua hurriedly asked.


    ¡°Just got some dust in my eye,¡± Xylia muttered, still rubbing.


    Joshua grabbed her wrist. ¡°Don¡¯t rub it.¡±


    He gently cupped her face, used his thumb to pull her eyelid open a bit, and blew softly at the corner of her


    eye.


    55 VOL


    Sadie came out arm in arm with Tessa, and the first thing they saw was that scene. From their angle behind Joshua, it totally looked like he and Xylia were kissing.


    Tessa just smirked, her lips curling with mockery.


    She pulled out her phone and snapped a photo, making sure to catch the moment.


    Sadie, still clutching the ss cup set, red at them, her eyes burning red with fury.


    By the time Joshua finally blew the dust out of Xylia¡¯s eye, Sadie¡¯s angry voice rang out behind them. ¡°What are you two doing?<b>¡± </b>


    Xylia blinked, and once she felt her eye was clear, she wiped away the tears at the corner of her eye.


    Joshua frowned, looking worried. ¡°You good?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine now, thanks.¡± Xylia replied.


    Neither of them paid the slightest attention to Sadie.


    Sadie, absolutely livid, stormed up and jabbed her finger right in Xylia¡¯s face, shouting at the top of her lungs. ¡°You filthy tramp! You¡¯ve got a husband at home and you¡¯re still out here seducing other men? Women like you should be drowned for being so dissolute!¡±


    Joshua¡¯s expression went ice¨Ccold, his gaze sharp as a de as he stared down Sadie.


    ¡°Say that again?¡± he said, his voice low and dangerous, stabbing into Sadie like needles.


    Her blood ran cold, and she just stood there, frozen in fear.


    Xylia had zero interest in arguing with a brat like Sadie. She turned to Joshua. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you had. something to take care of back home? Go on ahead. I¡¯m heading out too.¡±


    Joshua finally tore his gaze away from Sadie, his eyes gentling as he looked at Xylia. ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡±


    Xylia hailed a cab and headed home.


    Meanwhile, David pulled up in a in Volkswagen, pretending to be an Uber driver, and picked Joshua up.


    Tessa<b>, </b>in high spirits, sent the photo she¡¯d just snapped to Mnie. With a satisfied grin, she slipped her phone away <b>and </b>strolled over to Sadie.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,


    Sadie. <b>I </b>already sent that picture to Mrs. Ford. Xylia¡¯s going to get what¡¯sing to her. Just head home and wait for the fireworks,¡± Tessa said, her tone dripping with smug satisfaction.


    Sadie, still clutching the ss cup set, let out a frustrated huff.


    ¡°You go on ahead, Tessa. I¡¯ve got something to <b>take </b>care of.¡± With that, she grabbed the ss cup set and hopped into the car that had just pulled up.


    9:51 Fri, Sep <b>12 </b>


    ¡°Follow that Volkswagen, Sadie ordered the driver.


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    The driver just stared at her, confused.


    Sadie, losing her patience, snapped, ¡°Can¡¯t you understand in English? Just follow that car! If you them, I¡¯ll make sure to file aint about this!¡±


    lose


    The driver didn¡¯t dare hesitate. He floored the gas and quickly tailed the Volkswagen Joshua was riding in.

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    Joshua sat in the back seat, lost in thought, when David spoke up, concerncing his voice. ¡°Mr. Garcia, you


    dad?¡± didn¡¯t manage to get the ss cup set. How are you going to exin that to your


    Joshua, resting his head on his hand and staring out the window, gave a small, amused smile. ¡°If I¡¯d spent 600 thousand on it, he¡¯d have my head.¡±


    ¡°Wait, what?¡± David blinked in confusion.


    He still didn¡¯t get it.


    Joshua didn¡¯t bother exining.


    With Eliza keeping a close eye, if Aaron ever spent more than something was worth, she¡¯d practically skin him <b>alive</b><b>. </b>


    Joshua had already picked out another ss cup set for Aaron, one he was sure his dad would love.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, we¡¯ve got a tail,¡± David said suddenly.


    Joshua nced in the rearview mirror and spotted the luxury car trailing them..


    His expression hardened. ¡°Pull over.¡±


    Sadie, seeing Joshua¡¯s car pull over, signaled her driver to stop as well.


    Joshua stepped out and stood by his car; the sunlight, broken up by the branches overhead, scattered little flecks of light across his face.


    His chiseled features looked frosty, and in his dark eyes, Sadie¡¯s figure was clearly reflected as she walked over.


    Sadie cleared her throat and handed him the ss cup set.


    ¡°This is for you. I saw you didn¡¯t have much cash, so I bought it on purpose to give to you. Don¡¯t get all emotional,¡± Sadie teased, her voice light.


    Her tone was haughty, with a hint of condescension, as if she was tossing him a bone.


    Joshua fixed her with a cold stare, a dangerous glint in his eyes that he could barely hide. ¡°Next time you tail. me, you¡¯ll be seeing your brother sooner than you think.¡±


    His chilling tone cut through the gentle breeze, hitting Sadie like a p.


    She stood there, rooted to the spot.


    Joshua got in and the car sped off like an arrow.


    Sadie¡¯s knuckles went pale as she gripped the ss cup set, her eyes growing red with <b>anger</b>.


    After a long moment, she smashed the ss cup set she¡¯d spent 600 thousand on to the ground.


    ¡°What¡¯s so special about him, anyway?¡± Sadie muttered.


    He¡¯s got no taste! He¡¯d rather mess around with a tramp like Xylia than even nce at me!¡® she fumed.


    The driver stood meekly by the car door, head lowered<b>, </b>not daring to step forward or offer a word offort.


    Meanwhile, Xylia <b>had </b>just returned to Ford Mansion.


    Mnie and Orion were sitting in the living room, both looking grim. Mnie¡¯s face was especially darkened, like a storm cloud about to burst.


    As soon as Xylia walked in, Mnie exploded. ¡°You shameless <b>slut</b>! How dare you show your face here!¡±


    Xylia was already numb to Mnie losing her mind like this.


    She didn¡¯t even bother responding, just headed straight upstairs to her room.


    But Mnie snatched up a mug from the coffee table and flung it hard at Xylia.


    Xylia ducked out of the way just in time.


    The mug exploded, shards flying everywhere¨Cone of them nicked her smooth calf.


    Xylia gasped in pain as she nced down and saw blood streaming down her leg.


    Before she could react, Mnie was already in front of her, shoving her phone in Xylia¡¯s <b>face</b>.


    ¡°Is this you?¡± Mnie snapped, shoving the phone in Xylia¡¯s face.


    On the screen was a shot of Joshua from behind, his hands gently holding Xylia¡¯s head as he leaned in to blow sand from her eye. From this angle, it looked exactly like they were kissing


    Earlier, the only people at the auction entrance were Sadie and Tessa.


    It was pretty obvious who¡¯d sent Mnie the photo.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me, but my friend was just blowing sand out of my eye, that¡¯s all,<i>¡± </i>Xylia replied coolly.


    ¡°You shameless bitch!¡± Mnie spat, her voice dripping with <b>contempt</b>.


    She swung her hand and pped Xylia hard across the face.


    Xylia <b>couldn¡¯t </b>dodge in time¨Cthe blownded, <b>and </b>stars burst behind her eyes as pain red across her cheek.


    ¡°I told


    <b>you </b>to divorce my son, but you refused! Now you¡¯re cheating on him behind his back? What do you take <b>him </b>for? What do you <b>take </b>the <b>Ford </b><b>family </b>for? You must pay for this hard until you learn your lesson!¡±


    Mnie yelled..


    Mnie jerked her chin, and the servants started walking toward Xylia.


    ¡°Make her kneel outside! She¡¯s <b>not </b>setting foot in this house tonight!¡± Mnie barked.


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    Two burly servants lunged for Xylia<b>, </b>but she yanked out her pepper spray and sted them right in the face.


    Two blood¨Ccurdling screams shot up, echoing through the room. The servants staggered back, clutching their eyes, and crashed to the floor.


    Mnie hadn¡¯t expected Xylia to fight back, and her rage boiled over.


    ¡°Xylia, you dare dodge?¡± Mnie screeched.


    ¡°Why are you punishing me for something I didn¡¯t do?¡± Xylia shot back.


    Before, Xylia had put up with Mnie because she was Connor¡¯s mom. Even when Mnie tore into her, Xylia let it go for Connor¡¯s sake.


    But not anymore. She wasn¡¯t going to be that foolish again.


    ¡°You¡¯re still making excuses?¡± Mnie shrieked, her voice sharp as a whip.


    She raised her hand again, clearly about to strike Xylia.


    Orion finally cut in<b>, </b>his tonemanding. That¡¯s enough!¡±


    Mnie finally lowered her hand, but she was still ring furiously at Xylia.


    Orion coughed twice, his face flushing from the effort.


    His health had been getting worse these past few days, and he could feel his strength slipping away with each passing day.


    He knew he had to get a lot of things done, and fast.


    Once he finished coughing, the butler helped him over to Xylia,


    ¡°No matter what, this is between them as husband and wife. Why are you butting in?¡± Orion scolded Mnie.


    Mnie looked like she wanted to protest, her face full of unwillingness.


    But one sharp look from Orion made her fall silent.


    ¡°Xylia, I trust you.¡± Orion¡¯s voice was gentle, his eyes full of warmth as he looked at her.


    That <b>same </b>soft, loving gaze was just like always.


    But Xylia wasn¡¯t about to fall for his grandfatherly warmth again.


    9:51 Fri, Sep 12


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    As Mnie brushed past Xylia on her way upstairs, she leaned in and whispered a warning in her ear, ¡°Xylia, if you know what¡¯s good for you, you¡¯ll divorce Connor yourself. Otherwise, don¡¯t me me for what I do next.


    Xylia <b>knew </b>Mnie was at the end of her rope when it came to her marriage with Connor.


    If Mnie really <b>had </b>a way to force them to divorce, Xylia would actually be more <b>than </b>happy to go along


    with it<b>. </b>


    Connor and Sonny got homete


    Mnie wasted <b>no </b>time spinning a <b>dramatic </b>story about Xylia for Connor, but he didn¡¯t buy into her


    usations.


    ¡°Mom, I already checked. That guy and Xylia are just friends. The photo¡¯s misleading because of the angle. You¡¯re reading too much into it,¡± Connor said, his tone calm.


    Even Sonny, who was usually quiet, stood up for Xylia for once.


    ¡°Grandma, Mom¡¯s not like that. You¡¯re ming her for something she didn¡¯t do,¡± Sonny said, his voice steady.


    Mnie stared at them in disbelief.


    But Connor didn¡¯t even spare her a nce he just took Sonny by the hand and headed straight for Xylia¡¯s


    <b>room</b>.


    Xylia had just stepped out of the shower, dressed in a silk camisole nightgown. Her long hair was still damp, falling softly around her shoulders, <b>and </b>her fair, dewy face was veiled in a gentle mist, making her <b>look </b>especially delicate and pitiful.


    When Connor walked in and saw her like that, something stirred inside him.


    It had been a long <b>time </b>since they¡¯d been intimate.


    When Xylia saw Connor and Sonny walk in, she frowned<b>, </b>clearly annoyed. ¡®Seriously? Can¡¯t I get a moment of peace in this house?¡® she thought.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I lock the door?¡± Xylia muttered, exasperated.


    ¡°Mom, we did knock, but you didn¡¯t answer, so we used the spare key,¡± Sonny said, sounding <b>a </b>little guilty.


    The way Connor was looking at her made Xylia¡¯s stomach churn with disgust.


    She snatched up a nket and threw it over herself, shooting them a guarded look.


    ¡°Get out,¡± she snapped, not bothering to hide her irritation.


    Sonny nced up at Connor, his eyes darting slyly before he turned to Xylia. ¡°Mom, Dad needs to talk to you.¡±


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    <b>hapter </b><b>64 </b>


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    Connor looked down at Sonny and said, ¡°Sonny, why don¡¯t you head back to bed? I need to talk to your mom for a bit.


    Sonny looked a little reluctant, but in the end, he obediently left the room.


    <b>Just </b>get to the point.¡± Xylia crossed her arms over her chest, giving Connor a cold, unyielding stare.


    ¡°Uncle Han is hosting a family dinner tomorrow. Get ready, we¡¯re going together,¡± Connor said.


    Orion had two sons: Connor¡¯s father, Maddox, <b>and </b>Maddox¡¯s older brother, Han,


    Due to some issues at Ford Group, Maddox had been on a business trip overseas for nearly <b>a </b>month.


    Han never had Maddox¡¯s knack for business¨Che was always the yful type growing up.


    After he married Willow, the only daughter of the Finley family, he moved out of the Ford Mansion.


    Han never really cared about joining the Ford Group himself, but his son Jonah ended up as a director at one of the group¡¯s subsidiaries. Over the years, Jonah actually pulled off some impressive numbers, and just recently, Han even tried to push for Jonah to be brought back to headquarters.


    Connor, though, had always kept his guard up around Jonah.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going. Xylia replied, her tone icy and resolute.


    She wanted nothing to do with it¨CHan¡¯s family had cast a long shadow over her life.


    Connor¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°It¡¯s a family dinner. You have <b>no </b>choice¨Cyou¡¯re going


    He paused, then added, ¡°And if you refuse, I¡¯ll destroy that painting <b>you </b>snatched from Tessa <b>today</b>.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s head snapped up, her eyes zing with fury. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡±


    ¡°Go ahead and try me,¡± Connor replied, his voice cold and unyielding.


    Connor would stop at nothing for Tessa¨Cthere was <b>nothing </b>he wouldn¡¯t do.


    Left with no choice, Xylia finally gave in.


    Connor gazed at her beautiful face, momentarily distracted by her charm.


    His voice grew gentle. ¡°Xylia, we¡¯re still husband and wife. You have to trust me if you just do as I say, we can


    back to the way things were.¡±


    go


    With that, he reached out to <b>take </b>her hand.


    Xylia abruptly stepped back, her gaze wary and guarded.


    9:52 Fri, Sep <b>12 </b>


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    *Connor, we¡¯re going to get divorced sooner orter. You need to be prepared for <b>that</b>,¡± she said coldly.


    Connor¡¯s anger red. He strode forward and seized her by the wrist.


    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve been too soft on you!¡± he snapped.


    <b>With </b>a sudden, forceful tug, he pulled her <b>into </b>his arms and imed her lips in a fierce kiss.


    Suddenly, memories of what happened between Connor and Tessa on the couch that day shed through Xylia¡¯s mind.


    Her stomach churned with disgust.


    <b>¡°</b>Are you crazy, Connor? Let go of me!¡± Xylia shouted, struggling desperately, her eyes brimming with tears.


    She bit down hard on Connor, making him wince in pain as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.


    While Connor was still stunned, Xylia quickly shoved him away and backed up to the nightstand, her hand searching for something.


    She found the scissors she¡¯d left there earlier after treating the wound on her calf.


    Gripping the scissors tightly, she held them out, aiming them straight at Connor.


    ¡°Don¡¯t push me, Connor! Xylia warned, her voice shaking with anger,


    Connor raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression darkening by the second.


    He was about to step toward Xylia <b>when </b><b>a </b>knock sounded at the door.


    ¡°Dad, Grandpa needs to talk to you.¡± Sonny¡¯s voice came from outside.


    Connor stopped, shot Xylia a final re, then turned and walked out of the room.


    Only then did Xylia finally feel like she could breathe again, the tension in her chest slowly easing-


    Sonny walked in and found Xylia sitting weakly at the bedside, her face drained of color, clearly shaken by what had just happened<b>. </b>


    He gently <b>took </b>Xylia¡¯s hand,forting her in that sweet, gentle way of his. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t let Dad bully you.¡±


    Right <b>then</b><b>, </b>Xylia felt like her Sonny had finallye back to her.


    Looking at his sweet, innocent <b>face</b>, she couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart melt a little.


    ¡°Thanks, Sonny. Go on, get some rest, Xylia said gently.


    Sonny gave a little <b>nod </b><b>and </b>slipped out of the room.


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    But as soon as Sonny stepped out of Xylia¡¯s room, his face changed, and he scoffed under his breath. ¡®Dad belongs to Tessa. I won¡¯t let you two be together!¡® Sonny thought to himself, stubbornly.


    Suddenly, Tessa¡¯s voice piped up from his smartwatch<b>. </b>


    ¡°Nice job, Sonny!¡± Tessa cheered.


    Sonny shed a proud smile, waved his hand, and dashed off to his room.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Tessal I¡¯ll keep Mom in a good mood these next few days. When the school anniversaryes, we¡¯ll set her up to embarrass herself. Dad will totally divorce her, and then you can finally be my real mom for <b>real</b>!¡± Sonny grinned, his voice full of excitement.


    When Connor walked into the study, Orion handed him a report.


    ¡°Ford Group is hanging by a thread. You pissed off Sadler Group¡¯s assistantst time, and now Jonah¡¯s managed to cozy up to them. If he can pull Ford Group out of this mess, I won¡¯t mind leaving all my remaining shares to him,¡± Orion said, his tone firm.


    ¡°Grandpa!¡± Connor blurted out, panic in his voice, his knuckles pale as he clutched the report.


    The report was a preliminary partnership n that the Ford family had put together with the Sadler Group for a new project.


    If this deal actually happened, Orion would totally start favoring Jonah. And if Jonah really got he¡¯d have more power than Connor at Ford Group.


    Connor couldn¡¯t let that happen..


    Orion had always shown a clear preference for Connor.


    Orion¡¯s shares,


    Seeing Connor¡¯s reaction, he let out a long sigh, reached into the drawer, and took out a document, handing it


    <b>over</b><b>. </b>


    ¡°I¡¯ve watched you dedicate yourself to thepany all these years. This is thest time I¡¯ll help you, Orion said, his voice heavy,


    Connor opened the file, his brows furrowing in confusion¨Cthe first thing he saw was Xylia¡¯s name.


    ¡°What¡­ is this?¡± Connor muttered, still trying to process it as he looked up at Orion in shock.


    Orion fixed Connor with a deep, meaningful look. ¡°Now you see why I won¡¯t let you divorce Xylia, don¡¯t you? Her origins could really help our family.¡±


    Connor gripped the file hard, his face clouding over with gloom as the truth <b>sank </b>in.


    The next day, Xylia carefully packed up Laurel¡¯s painting and arranged for it to be sent to the Sadler guys.


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    Connor¡¯s words from the night before <b>had </b>been a <b>wake</b>¨Cup call¨Cleaving the painting at the Ford Mansion wasn¡¯t safe. <b>She </b>needed to get it somewhere secure.


    She¡¯d barely finished sending off the painting <b>when </b>Connor showed up with a makeup artist in tow.


    ¡°Make sure she looks her best,¡± Connor instructed.


    Xylia <b>frowned</b>. ¡®Seriously? It¡¯s just a family dinner. Do I really need to get all dolled up for this? she thought.


    Connor ext


    exined tly. ¡°Not just the Ford family members are invited to the dinner. We¡¯ve also invited <b>some </b>elite families from the upper circle. Don¡¯t embarrass me there.¡±


    They¡¯re even inviting outsiders to a family dinner? Xylia wondered, totally baffled.


    She didn¡¯t get it, and honestly, she had zero intention of showing any respect for the whole thing,


    The makeup artist brought out a light blue strapless gown. Sparkling gems at the waist formed a delicate mermaid silhouette, and the skirt cascaded down like ocean waves, shimmering with every step Xylia took.


    Xylia frowned. Why does this dress <b>look </b>so familiar?¡® she wondered.


    When she finally came downstairs, Connor nced up¨Cand for a second, he waspletely mesmerized. He just couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her.


    Even though Xylia <b>was </b>already a mom to a six¨Cyear¨Cold, she still kept herself in amazing shape¨Cher looks and figure were on point.


    She was a natural beauty, and <b>with </b>just a little bit of dressing up, she looked like she¡¯d stepped right out of a


    dream.


    Xylia caught Connor staring and barely spared him <b>a </b>nce, totally uninterested.


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s go now. Connor cleared his throat, feeling awkward for zoning out like that.


    He walked over and offered his arm, clearly expecting Xylia to link hers with his


    Xylia just picked up her skirt and walked right out the door<b>, </b>not even giving Connor the time of day.


    Connor didn¡¯t mind at all¨Che just figured she was sulking.


    ¡®Once this <b>phase </b><b>passes</b>, I¡¯ll take her on a honeymoon, spoil her a little, and things will go back to the way they <b>were</b>, he thought.


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    The family dinner was held at Han¡¯s house.


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    It was a grand, ancient¨Cstyle vi. Behind the iron gate, a long stretch of concrete driveway led in, nked by wide, manicuredwns on both sides.


    When Xylia and Connor arrived, a fleet of luxury cars was already parked in the parking area by thewn.


    As Connor got out of the car, he pulled Xylia close by the waist, ignoring her reluctance.


    ¡°You¡¯d better behave yourself tonight, Connor warned in a low voice. ¡°Don¡¯t embarrass me, or I can¡¯t say what


    I¡¯ll do.¡±


    Xylia sighed, knowing better than to argue.


    As Xylia revisited that ce, she felt her face tense and her whole body stiffen.


    Jonah was standing at the entrance. When he spotted Connor and Xylia approaching, he hurried over to greet them.


    ¡°Hey, Connor, Xylia. Jonah greeted them with a warm smile.


    His gaze lingered on Xylia, open admiration in his eyes. ¡°You look absolutely gorgeous, Xylia.¡±


    Jonah was a year older than Connor, and as cousins, there was a certain resemnce between them.


    But Jonah carried himself with a steadier, moreposed vibe. His hair was slicked back, showing off his sharp features and giving him an almost intimidating edge.


    Even when he smiled, there was always a hint of danger lurking beneath, like he was never as friendly as he


    seemed.


    Connor frowned, let go of Xylia¡¯s waist, <b>and </b>stepped in front of her, blocking her from view.


    ¡°We¡¯re family, no need for all the greetings. I¡¯ll take Xylia inside now.¡± With that, he took Xylia by the hand. and led her into the vi<b>. </b>


    <b>Jonah </b>watched the two of them walk away, the smile at the corner of his lips gradually turning cold.


    d away from


    As soon as they walked in, Xylia yanked her Connor.


    Connor gave her an impatient look, his brows furrowing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t push it,¡± Connor said, his tone clipped<b>. </b>Tonight¡¯s important.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like I wanted to be <b>here</b><b>,</b>¡± Xylia retorted.


    As soon as she stepped inside, Xylia felt her skin crawl with unease.


    9:52 Fri, Sep <b>12 </b>


    The memories of what had happened there three years ago still haunted her.


    65 vouchers,


    Connor knew exactly what this ce meant to her, yet he still <b>forced </b>her toe to this family gathering. expecting her to put on an act as the perfect couple.


    She had no intention of <b>ying </b>along.


    Connor was taken aback by her retort. He wanted tosh out at her, but thinking about what wasing, he bit back his anger and stayed silent.


    This so¨Ccalled family gathering was more like avish <b>party</b>.


    The grand hall was packed with socialites <b>and </b>big shots, all dressed to the nines, champagne in hand as they worked the room.


    As soon as Xylia and Connor stepped inside, all eyes seemed to drift toward Xylia¨Ceven if no one stared openly.


    Lately, news about Xylia, the Ford family¡¯s young madam, had been blowing up online, with rumors swirling everywhere.


    Everyone there was an insider; <b>even </b>those who didn¡¯t care for online drama had caught wind of the gossip that Xylia <b>was </b>fooling around with other men behind Connor¡¯s back.


    Some <b>said </b>she¡¯d been in a <b>hit</b><b>¨C</b>and¨Crun and just left the scene like nothing happened.


    Others imed she broke her own sister¡¯s leg out of pure jealousy.


    And of course, there was talk about her throwing <b>the </b>Ford <b>family¡¯s </b>weight around to bully people.


    All that dirt piling up about Xylia had turned into the rich <b>crowd¡¯s </b>favorite after¨Cdinner gossip.


    Xylia never bothered to mingle with this crowd, which just gave them even more reason to badmouth her.


    Connor led Xylia over to greet Willow and Han.


    ¡°Uncle Han, Aunt Willow,¡± Connor said politely.


    Han and Willow <b>were </b>busy entertaining guests when they spotted Connor and <b>Xylia </b>approaching.


    Han greeted them with a warm smile, but Willow¡¯s face instantly turned cold.


    ¡°Hey, <b>Connor</b>! How have you been<b>?</b>¡± Han asked warmly.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± Connor replied.


    He started chatting with Han.


    Meanwhile, Willow shot Xylia a smirk, her lips curled with barely hidden sarcasm.


    ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re really everywhere these days,¡± Willow said, her voiceced with mockery. ¡°You¡¯re even showing


    9:52 Fri, Sep 12


    up on TV <b>now</b><b>.</b>¡±


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    Everyone <b>knew </b>she was talking about all those nasty rumors about Xylia that had blown up online recently.


    Xylia met Willow¡¯s gaze.


    Willow, well into her forties, was impably maintained. The emerald silk gown she wore only made her look even more regal and refined.


    ¡°Thanks for thepliment, Xylia replied, her voice t and unmoved.


    Willow¡¯s smile faltered, her expression darkening.


    ¡®What¡¯s going on? When did Xylia turn into apletely different person?


    Thest time she came over, she was just a timid little thing, letting everyone push her around.


    And now she actually dares to talk back?¡® Willow wondered, caught off guard..


    Xylia had no interest in making small talk. She offered a perfunctory greeting, then headed straight for a <b>sofa </b>in the corner and sat down.


    The guests stared at her. ¡°That¡¯s Connor¡¯s wife? Seriously? She¡¯s already got a kid, and she¡¯s still out there hooking up with some pretty boy. Talk about shameless.¡±


    A young man shook his head. ¡°And it¡¯s not just that¨Cshe¡¯s always throwing the Ford name around, acting like she owns the ce and pushing people around¡±


    A youngdy whispered, ¡°I heard she <b>was </b><b>in </b>a hit¨Cand¨Crun, then had the victim¡¯s whole family kicked out of Jupiton. She¡¯s a real piece of work.¡±


    mptres


    The others shook their heads. ¡°Just look at her, all dolled up like some Bet she¡¯s got a heart of stone. The Ford family really drew the short straw with her.¡±


    The murmurs and judgmental stares only grew louder, the gossip swirling all around.


    Xylia looked up and saw two familiar girls heading her way.


    Sadie sneered, ¡°Xylia, you¡¯ve got some nerve showing up here.¡±


    She and Tessa walked over, arm in arm.


    Tessa¡¯s eyes locked onto Xylia, jealousy flickering in her


    gaze.


    ¡®She¡¯s already got a <b>six</b>¨Cyear¨Cold kid, but with <b>just </b><b>a </b>little effort, Xylia still looks like a total teenager. She¡¯s married and still gets all dressed up just to steal my thunder. She really has no shame <b>at </b>all, Tessa thought, bitterness rising in her chest.


    <b>¡°</b>If you two have the guts to show up at a Ford family <b>dinner</b><b>, </b>why shouldn¡¯t I? Xylia shot back, her tone cool


    andced with sarcasm.


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    Sadie sneered, ¡°You¡¯re messing around with other men, and you still dare to call yourself a Ford?¡±


    Sadie, hot¨Ctempered as ever, didn¡¯t care about the asion¨Cwithout a second thought, she flung her drink. right at Xylia¡¯s face.


    She never thought twice beforeshing out; anyone she didn¡¯t like, she¡¯d go after them without hesitation.


    Xylia was caught off guard, the drink sshing all over her and leaving her soaked and totally embarrassed.


    People nearby heard the ruckus <b>and </b>immediately turned to stare.


    Jonah noticed the drama from across the room and walked over, fixing Sadie with a look.


    ¡°Sadie, you really have the nerve to stir up trouble at a family event? I bet your mom¡¯s gonna tear into you when you get home, Jonah <b>said</b>, his voice low but sharp.


    Sadie snapped back, ¡°Jonah! I can¡¯t believe your family actually puts up with someone so shameless at a party


    like this.¡±


    Jonah¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°Sadie, don¡¯t start trouble. I¡¯m not saying <b>it </b>again.¡± His voice was icy.


    Sadie shrank back under his re and didn¡¯t dare say another word.


    Tessa, standing off to the side, couldn¡¯t just watch anymore.


    ¡°Jonah, Sadie¡¯s just a kid. Don¡¯t be so <b>harsh </b>on her, Tessa said, her voice soft and sweet.


    As soon as Jonah heard Tessa¡¯s voice, his expression softened.


    Remembering the news he¡¯d seen, he asked with genuine concern, ¡°I heard you hurt your ankle. How¡¯s it doing now?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s much better, but I still can¡¯t dance, Tessa replied, her voice tinged with disappointment.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, take your time to heal. You might have missed thispetition, but there¡¯ll be plenty more.¡± Jonah <b>said</b>, trying to cheer her up.


    Afterforting Tessa for a moment, Jonah turned to Xylia.


    ¡°Xylia, your clothes are soaked. Come on, I¡¯ll show you where you can <b>change</b>,¡± he said, his tone warm and considerate.


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯ve got something to deal with, so I¡¯m leaving now.¡±


    As Xylia tried to get up and leave, Jonah caught her by the wrist.


    He bent down, his gaze heavy and intense as he stared at Xylia, the curve of his <b>lips </b>icy.


    ¡°Leaving already? What, you don¡¯t care about the Ford family at all?¡± he said<b>, </b><b>his </b>voiceced with sarcasm.


    Xylia knew he was about <b>to </b>make her pay for what happened to Tessa.


    9:52 Fri, Sep 12


    She gritted her teeth, her hand tense but she didn¡¯t pull away.


    Suddenly, Connor called out from the side. ¡°Jonah, let her go<b>.¡± </b>


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    Connor strode over and barked at Jonah, his tone harsh <b>and </bmanding


    Jonah¡¯s eyes shed with menace, his lips curling in a sneer he couldn¡¯t suppress.


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    ¡®Connor, Xylia¡¯s clothes are soaked. Let me take her to change, alright?¡± Jonah asked, trying to sound casual.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Connor said coldly.


    Connor shot Jonah a frosty re, then walked straight toward Xylia.


    Suddenly, Tessa yelped, grabbing Connor¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Tessa, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Connor asked.


    Tessa bent over, holding her leg, wincing in pain.


    ¡°When my sister pushed me over, I twisted my ankle. It hasn¡¯t healed yet. I really shouldn¡¯t have worn heels,¡± Tessa said, her voice trembling


    Sadie supported Tessa, shooting her a worried look before turning to Connor and yelling, ¡°Your wife hurt Tessa, and now she can¡¯t even dance anymore! And you still had the nerve to bring her to this party- seriously, what were you thinking?¡±


    ¡°Come on, help me <b>hold </b>Tessa!¡± Sadie snapped.


    Connor frowned, nced <b>at </b>Xylia, then turned and walked toward Tessa


    ¡°Connor!¡± Xylia called out, unable to stop herself as Jonah started pulling <b>her </b>away.


    The memory of Jonah sending her to the hospital three years ago was still vivid in her mind. ¡®Is Connor really going to let Jonah take me away?¡® she thought, panic rising inside her.


    Connor turned to look at Xylia.


    ¡°Xylia, this is my brother¡¯s house. He knows better than <b>I </b>do where you can change your clothes,¡± he said..


    With that, Connor walked straight toward Tessa without a second thought.


    He gently helped Tessa over to a nearby sofa, helped her sit down, and checked her ankle with obvious


    concem.


    He didn¡¯t care at all how many people were watching, or that Xylia, his own wife, was standing right there.


    Xylia was already so disappointed in him, but her heart still ached with a dull pain she couldn¡¯t suppress.


    Three years ago, Connor had brought her to a family gathering just like this.


    The party was lively, and Connor got pulled aside by the elders to talk about Ford Group business.


    9:52 FM, <b>Sep </b>12


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    Meanwhile, Jonah dragged her out to a shed in the backyard and beat her so badly she nearly died.


    By the time Connor found her, she was already on the verge of passing out.


    Later, she found out Jonah <b>had </b>done it just to avenge Tessa.


    But Xylia honestly had no clue what she¡¯d done to make Tessa mad.


    Connor tried to exin to her, telling her that Jonals had bipr disorder, and he was into <b>Tessa</b>. Whenever Jonah saw Xylia, he couldn¡¯t help but <b>think </b>she¡¯d stolen eighteen years from Tessa, so he dumped all his rage


    on her.


    Back then, Connor didn¡¯t hold back¨Che <b>had </b>Jonah thrown out of Ford Group and gave him a good beating to stand up for Xylia.


    After that, no matter what kind of gathering Han¡¯s family held, Connor never brought Xylia along.


    This time, she only came because Connor had threatened her.


    Xylia had thought that with so many peopleing to the party, <b>Jonah </b>wouldn¡¯t dare try anything, no matter how reckless he was.


    But she was wrong.


    With everyone watching. Jonah grabbed Xylia and tried to haul her upstairs, not caring who saw.


    Xylia ripped her arm out of his grip, hiked up her dress, and bolted for the front door, ignoring all the stares.


    ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter if Connor cares about me or not, Xylia thought, panic rising. ¡®If I really go with Jonah<b>, </b>I¡¯m as good as dead.


    ¡°Xylia!¡± Connor shouted, about to chase after her.


    But this time, it was Jonah who stepped in to stop him.


    ¡°Connor<b>, </b>just let her go. She¡¯s always been stubborn anyway,¡± Jonah <b>said</b>, his eyes fixed on the direction Xylia had run.


    His gaze was cold and calcting.


    But then Connor remembered he needed Xylia for what was about to happen. Ignoring Jonah¡¯s attempt to hold him back, he brushed past and hurried after her.


    Outside, the sunlight was perfect.


    Xylia kept running down the concrete <b>path</b>, not daring to look back.


    She bitterly regretted ever <bing </b>there with Connor.


    An eye¨Ccatching red sports car cruised up to Han¡¯s ce¡¯s front gate, where the security guards greeted it with extra respect and let it right in.


    9:52 Fri, Sep 12


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    Leon was behind the wheel, sunsses on<b>, </b>driving one¨Chanded. His silver¨Cgray headphones sparkled in the sunlight.


    ¡°Rx, bro. I¡¯ve got no clue why Jonah invited all the big names from Jupiton to this family party, but since I¡¯m here, I¡¯ll dig up some info on Xylia for sure. Trust me, Leon said.


    <b>A </b>calm, steady voice came through his headphones. ¡°Keep an eye on Connor and Tessa. And when you get a <b>chance</b>, ask the police about Xylia¡¯s hit¨Cand¨Crun.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡± Leon replied.


    Just as he hung up. Leon caught sight of a blue figure out of the corner of his eye up ahead.


    Before he could even make out the woman¡¯s face, a few bodyguards suddenly rushed over and snatched her


    <b>away</b>.


    They didn¡¯t bother being gentle¨Cjust manhandled her without a second thought.


    Leon¡¯s brows knitted. ¡®Seriously? Snatching someone right here?¡¯ he thought, disbelief flickering in his eyes.


    He floored the gas, and as soon as he got out, the butler came right over to greet him.


    ¡°Mr. Sadler, right? This way, please,¡± the butler said, gesturing politely.


    Leon looked around, but the blue figure was nowhere to be seen<b>. </b>


    ¡°I thought I saw some bodyguards grab a woman just now. What¡¯s going on?¡± Leon asked.


    The butler nced away nervously, then smiled at Leon.


    ¡°<b>You </b>must be mistaken, Mr. Sadler. The party¡¯s about to start. Please, follow me,¡± the butler said, trying to steer him away.


    Leon shot the butler a <b>knowing </b>look, suspicion flickering <b>in </b>his eyes, but he kept quiet and followed him <b>into </b>the party without another word.


    As soon as he stepped inside, all eyes turned to him.


    ¡°Leon Sadler! Is that really the Leon Sadler from TV?¡± someone blurted out.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s him. Bute on, even if he¡¯s the hottest actor around, he¡¯s still just a celebrity. Why would the Ford family bother inviting him?¡± someone snorted.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t hisst name Sadler? Maybe he¡¯s from the Sadler family in Norhill<b>?</b>¡± another person chimed in.


    ¡°Get real. If he was really a Sadler from Norhill, would he need to act for a living? I heard he started out <b>as </b><b>a </b>nobody. If he was from that Sadler family, his first role wouldn¡¯t have been a blink¨Cand¨Cyou¨Cmiss¨Cit cameo,¡± someone scoffed.


    ¡°Good point, someone agreed.


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    The high societydies loved to gossip about celebrities, but when they actually came face¨Cto¨Cface with these actors, they looked <b>down </b>on them with barely concealed disdain.


    To them, anyone parading themselves on screen was just a second¨Crate nobodypletely beneath <b>their </b>


    notice.


    Leon never made it public that he was part of the Sadler family from Norhill.


    He didn¡¯t care about the whispers or the judgmental stares.


    But when Tessa spotted Leon walking in, she practically bounced over to him, her face lighting up with excitement.


    ¡°Mr. Sadler, it really is you! Do you remember me? <b>I¡¯m </b>Tessa Schultz. We¡¯ve met before, Tessa said, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.


    ¡°Yeah. I remember you, Ms. Schultz, Leon replied, his tone polite but keeping his distance.


    Tessa¡¯s cheeks flushed as she stared at Leon¡¯s strikingly handsome face, her ears turning a bright shade of red.


    She¡¯d pulled a lot of strings to get Jonah to invite Leon, all so she could use this party to cozy up to him and maybe make a real connection.


    Leon was her stepping stone¨Cif she could get him on <b>her </b>side, breaking into showbiz would be a whole lot easier.


    When Connor saw the way Tessa was acting, something twisted in his chest.


    He walked over, face cold, putting on airs like he <b>was </b>above it all. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot about you, Mr. Sadler, Now that I¡¯ve met you in person, I can see you¡¯re even more handsome than you are on screen.¡±


    He reached out his hand, clearly expecting a handshake.


    Leon just gave him a faint smile, showing <b>no </b>intention of shaking his hand.


    obe-


    ¡®So that¡¯s the so¨Ccalled husband Xylia ended up with? Leon thought, his gaze sharpening as he watched. Connor shielding Tessa. He sure doesn¡¯t look like the loyal, devoted man the media makes him out to more like a spineless pushover


    Leon was about to speak when that sh of blue he¡¯d seen earlier suddenly popped into his mind.


    His expression darkened.


    ¡®Connor¡¯s here¡­ so where the hell is Xylia?¡® Leon wondered, a flicker of worry crossing his face.

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    Jonah and his bodyguards had already gotten back up.


    :-


    But with Orion and hispanions blocking the doorway, they couldn¡¯t get out.


    From the moment Connor walked in, he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off Xylia.


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    Her hair was a mess, her dress smudged with dust, and the skin showing was covered in bruises, some worse than others.


    Anyone could tell she¡¯d taken a serious beating.


    A heavy ache gripped Connor¡¯s heart, and his gaze grew icy as he stared at Jonah.


    ¡°Jonah! How dare you beat my wife?¡± Connor demanded.


    Even after getting caught red¨Chanded, Jonah didn¡¯t bat an eye.


    ¡°She messed with Tessa, so I just taught her a lesson, that¡¯s all,¡± Jonah shrugged.


    ¡°Who the hell do you think you are toy a hand on my wife?¡± Connor snapped.


    Connor let go of Orion, strode forward, andnded a punch right on Jonah¡¯s face.


    Orion shot Jonah a fierce re, his eyes cold and sharp.


    ¡°A lesson? Since when is it your ce to teach your cousin¨Cinw a lesson? Turning on your own family for some outsider¨Care you even human?¡± Orion snapped.


    ¡°You¡¯reing back to the Ford Mansion with me right now. You¡¯re going to kneel there until you finally realize what you did wrong!¡± Orion ordered.


    Xylia watched them putting on a show together, a cold smile creeping onto her face.


    ¡®Kneeling in the Ford Mansion? He¡¯s ying favorites again. Orion sure knows how to protect his own, Xylia scoffed inwardly.


    Leon snorted and, without a second thought<b>, </b>whipped out his phone to call the police.


    ¡°This is straight¨Cup deliberate assault. You can¡¯t just handle it behind closed doors and pretend it¡¯s a family issue. I¡¯ll call the police,¡± Leon said, his voiceced with sarcasm.


    When Leon called the police, Orion¡¯s face instantly darkened. ¡°Mr. Sadler, this is a family matter. I think it doesn¡¯t concern you,¡±


    Leon didn¡¯t bother listening to Orion¡¯sints¨Che just went ahead and told the police exactly what happened.


    Orion felt a knot of frustration stuck in his chest, cursing inwardly. ¡®Why did Jonah have to drag this actor


    into the mess? All he¡¯s doing is stirring up trouble!¡®


    Xylia was in so much pain she could barely stand, her knees buckling as she staggered.


    Leon was right there to steady her.


    But Connor stepped in, pulling Leon away and supporting Xylia himself.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital,¡± Connor said.


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    He bent down, gently brushed the dust off Xylia¡¯s dress, and tidied up her hair, his movements soft, his gaze full of pity and care.


    ¡®Funny, Connor used to treat me just like this¨Cso gentle, so protective, like he actually cared. Too bad it was all just an act, Xylia thought, a bitter pang in her chest.


    Xylia yanked her hand free from Connor, her expression icy.


    ¡°Save it. I can handle myself,¡± she said coldly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡± Connor snapped.


    Connor seized Xylia¡¯s wrist, about to just pick her up and carry her out by force, when Yana suddenly cut in. ¡°Let me take her. You guys still have stuff to sort out here, and I could use some time with my young niece.¡±


    Orion instantly grew wary, ncing over at Connor. ¡°Let Connor go with her. I¡¯ll take care of things here.¡±


    Yana didn¡¯t refuse. She stepped forward, took Xylia¡¯s arm, and started leading her out.


    Connor went to get the car.


    Xylia turned to Yana. ¡°I¡¯m not really part of the Garcia family. There must be some mistake.¡±


    Yana didn¡¯t respond to that. Instead, she just looked over Xylia¡¯s bruises, her voice gentle and full of affection. ¡°With you beaten up like this, some people would be absolutely heartbroken to see it.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Xylia blinked, a bit lost.


    Yana nced up at Xylia, catching sight of Connor pulling up in the car from the corner of her eye.


    ¡®Let¡¯s talk about itter,¡± Yana said.


    *****


    Inside the hospital, Xylia was being examined. Outside, Yana and Connor waited in the hallway.


    ¡°The Garcia family has spent years searching for our beloved girl, and now that she¡¯s married to you, she¡¯s getting bullied by your family. Mr. Ford, I think you owe me an exnation,¡± Yana said, her tone sharp.


    ¡®So Yana Garcia really believes Xylia is the Garcia family¡¯s girl? That was almost too easy. Something feels off,¡® Connor thought, feeling uneasy.


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    But no matter how deep the Garcia family dug, the Ford family already made sure everything was airtight.


    Orion had gone to great lengths to use Xylia¡¯s identity as a way to connect with the Garcia family.


    Once they struck a deal with the Garcia family, Ford Group would finally have a shot at turning things. around.


    No way was Connor going to let anything mess up this chance.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Aunt Yana. I¡¯ll make sure Xylia gets the justice she deserves,¡± Connor promised.


    Since Xylia had banged her head, the doctors decided to keep her in the hospital for observation, just to be safe.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel like she¡¯d been cursedtely¨Calways ending up in the hospital.


    Yana didn¡¯t leave; with just a few words, she talked Connor into heading out.


    Before leaving, Connor shot Xylia a concerned nce and reminded her, ¡°Be good and don¡¯t go anywhere. I¡¯ll be back.¡±


    Xylia could tell Yana had something important to say.


    Yana sat down beside Xylia¡¯s bed and spoke in a gentle, low voice. ¡°My brother¡¯s youngest child is actually <i>a </i>son, and he was found years ago.


    ¡°Back then, my brother got tangled up in some business rivalries, and it ended up dragging his kid into the


    mess.


    ¡°Ever since, he¡¯s kept things pretty quiet, so hardly anyone outside the family even knows we ever had a missing child.¡±


    Xylia realized instantly¨CYana had known from the very beginning that she wasn¡¯t really a Garcia.


    ¡°Then why¡­¡± Xylia stared at Yana, her eyes full of confusion. ¡®If she knew all along, what was the point of going to the Ford family in the first ce?¡®


    ¡°I had to see for myself what kind of game Orion Ford was ying. After chatting with your cold¨Cblooded husband, I pretty much figured out his scheme,¡± Yana replied.


    Xylia let out a bitterugh. ¡°So they¡¯re after a deal with Garcia Group, huh?¡±


    Yana nced up at Xylia. ¡°You already know?¡±


    I¡¯m not stupid. I figured it out,¡± Xylia said.


    After Orion took her blood a while back, Xylia had asked a doctor friend to investigate for her.


    She found out Orion had used it for a paternity test.


    Back then, she didn¡¯t know what the test was for¨Cnow she did.


    Orion didn¡¯t care about her as a daughter¨Cinw; he cared that her identity was a nk canvas.


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    She was an orphan, and as long as no one could trace her family, her whole background could be made up.


    When the Ford family hit hard times, they could use her to fake being some other family¡¯s missing kid.


    Now that the Ford Group was in trouble, Connor had tried to work with the Sadler family and failed.


    So now, Xylia¡¯s identity was exactly what the Fords needed.


    Yana looked at Xylia and couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for her. ¡®She¡¯s got no family to rely on, and now even her husband¡¯s family is plotting against her,¡® Yana thought, her heart aching for the woman in front of her.


    Xylia nced at Yana, her eyes full of quiet desperation. ¡°Ms. Garcia, can I ask you for a favor?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Yana replied.


    Xylia hesitated, biting her lip as she tried to summon her courage. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Ms. Garcia, could you please not tell Connor or Orion that I¡¯m not really the Garcia family¡¯s daughter? At least for now?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Yana asked, still not getting it.


    She couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it¨CXylia had just told everyone at Han¡¯s ce she wasn¡¯t the Garcia family¡¯s missing daughter, so why was she suddenly changing her mind?¡±


    ¡°Because I want to use this identity to get a divorce,¡± Xylia said.


    Yana looked even more baffled. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that just make Connor Ford even less likely to let you go?¡±


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°No. He¡¯ll agree. I just need the right opportunity.¡±


    Her eyes were full of determination.


    Yana considered it for a moment, then nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep it to myself.¡±


    *****


    Joshua was driving to the hospital when Yana called him.


    After hearing what Xylia wanted, a sly grin crept onto his face.


    ¡°Well, looks like the scaredy¨Ccat is finally showing some bite. Just go along with her,¡± Joshua chuckled.


    ¡°Alright, brat. But you will exin this mess to your parents yourself,¡± Yana said.


    As soon as Joshua hung up, his car rolled to a stop right at the hospital entrance.


    He was just about to get out when he caught sight of Leon, mask on, hurrying through the hospital doors.


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    Leon broke into showbiz all on his own, never once dropping the Sadler name.


    Hardly anyone even knew he was part of the Sadler family.


    Yet, Joshua knew.


    It seemed like his guess was spot on. Xylia was really close with the Sadler family.


    When Leon got to Xylia¡¯s hospital room, Yana had already left early for somepany business.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes went wide when Leon took off his mask. ¡°Mr. Sadler!¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t had a chance to thank you for what happened today,¡± she added.


    Leon walked over and sat down by the bed, giving her a warm smile.


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    ¡°You gave me the chance to help out today. It really made my day. Honestly, I should be the one thanking you,¡± he said.


    Xylia was taken aback for a moment and then chuckled.


    She never would have guessed that the untouchable Leon was actually such a quirky guy.


    ¡°The cops couldn¡¯t find any evidence, and the Ford family just brushed it off as a family matter, so the police let it go,¡± Leon exined.


    Xylia had seen thating, so she wasn¡¯t surprised or upset.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Still, thanks again. If it weren¡¯t for you today, I would¡¯ve gotten beaten up,¡± she said.


    ¡°Does this happen to you a lot at home? That¡¯s domestic violence. It¡¯s against thew!¡± Leon blurted out, clearly pissed off.


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s my husband¡¯s cousin. He¡¯s got a few screws loose.¡±


    She really didn¡¯t want to get into it.


    She looked at Leon with a smile. ¡°Thanks foring by. Would you mind giving me an autograph?¡±


    Leon didn¡¯t get what she meant at first.


    When Xylia pulled out a piece of paper and her jacket from the side, he looked at her, surprised and a little pleased.


    ¡°You¡­ want my autograph?¡± Leon blinked, still a bit stunned.


    Xylia nodded. ¡°You¡¯re my idol. I¡¯ve watched everything you¡¯ve been in.¡±


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    ¡®I totally keep up with all the celebrity gossip too. But there¡¯s no way I¡¯d actually ask him about it¡­ she thought.


    Leon was absolutely thrilled.


    His own sister was actually his fan. If the other three found out, they¡¯d totally lose it with envy.


    Seeing how hyped Xylia looked, he quickly nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll sign. I¡¯ll sign.¡±


    He autographed Xylia¡¯s jacket.


    Then he looked at her and said, ¡°Let¡¯s exchange numbers. If you ever need anything, just hit me up.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t believe it. Leon, a superstar, was actually offering to exchange numbers with her.


    She thought, ¡®Doesn¡¯t he worry about his info getting leaked?¡®


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to?¡± Leon asked, looking a little disappointed when Xylia didn¡¯t reach for her phone right


    away.


    ¡°No, no! I do!¡± Xylia quickly grabbed her phone.


    After they exchanged numbers, Leon didn¡¯t stick around the hospital for long. He put his mask back on and headed out.


    As soon as he stepped outside, he couldn¡¯t wait to text the family group chat.


    Only Hot Guy in Town: [Xylia said I¡¯m her idol! Bet you didn¡¯t see thating, huh?]


    Total Good Guy: [What?]


    Motor King: [How did you even get to see Xylia?]


    Head Honcho: [Pick up the call.]


    As soon as Leon saw the messages, his phone started ringing.


    Kaden¡¯s calls were always urgent.


    ¡°How¡¯s Xylia?¡± Kaden asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s at the hospital. I talked to the doctor. She¡¯s not badly hurt. She just got a bump on her head, so they wanted to keep her in for observation,¡± Leon replied.


    Leon¡¯s tone turned serious when it came to the important stuff.


    ¡°Kaden, Xylia¡¯s marriage is far from happy. The Ford family is totally covering for their own members. We¡¯ve got to get back at them for her,¡± Leon said.


    There was a coldugh on the other end.


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    ¡°The Ford family must have a death wish if they think they can mess around in Jupiton,¡± Kaden said.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. None of them, young or old, is good. It¡¯s a miracle they can even keep their business afloat,¡± Leon kept talking as he slid into his car.


    Leon had just left when Joshua emerged from behind a pir outside the hospital.


    ¡®So she really is the Sadler girl?¡® Joshua thought. He¡¯d guessed right. Xylia was the Sadler girl from Norhill who¡¯d been swapped years ago.


    Joshua paused, shot off a text to his assistant, and strode back into the hospital.


    Xylia was over the moon, clutching the jacket Leon had just autographed for her.


    Despite her tough day, this small joy was enough to cheer her up.


    Leon was her favorite actor. He was not only super talented but also drop¨Cdead gorgeous.


    Not only did Leon save her today, but she also got his autograph and even exchanged numbers with him.


    She was so overwhelmed by all the surprises, and her head was spinning.


    Joshua¡¯s voice came from nowhere, teasing, ¡°You really love that autograph, huh?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m going to treasure this jacket forever,¡± Xylia blurted out, not even thinking.


    But right after she said it, Xylia realized something was off.


    She looked up and saw Joshua, who was standing right at her bedside.


    He kept his head down, his silver hair tousled by the breeze drifting in from the window. Those charming eyes that usually sparkled with mischief were now deadly serious.


    ¡®Is he upset?¡® Xylia thought, a little surprised.


    Once she realized it, Xylia quickly set the jacket aside and looked up at him.


    Xylia blurted out, ¡°How did you even know I was here?¡±


    But the second she said it, she mentally facepalmed.


    ¡®Yana is his boss. If he showed up, she must¡¯ve told him,¡® Xylia thought.


    Joshua set the fruit and food he was carrying down on the table beside her.


    ¡°Yana told me,¡± Joshua replied.


    ¡®Just as I thought, Xylia thought to herself.


    She watched as Joshua sat down on the edge of the bed, his eyes curving into that familiar, gentle smile.


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    Joshua teased, ¡°Xylia, tell me. Who¡¯s better looking, me or Leon, who autographed your jacket?¡±


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    Xylia was just about to say Leon was better looking, but when she nced at Joshua¡¯s face, she hesitated.


    Honestly, Leon and Joshua really had the same kind of vibe. Sharp jawlines, wless features, and even their hairlines were perfect. Both of them just radiated that same aura of ss and elegance.


    But Joshua¡¯s eyes were more charming.


    ¡°Is it really that hard to choose?¡± Joshua croaked.


    Xylia felt like his voice was so seductive.


    Honestly, his voice was even better than Leon¡¯s.


    Meeting Joshua¡¯s obsidian eyes, Xylia gave him an awkward little smile.


    ¡°Did you bring me something to eat? I¡¯m actually starving,¡± she asked.


    She had to admit that Joshua definitely had the edge in looks, but saying it out loud would just be way too


    awkward.


    So she changed the subject without hesitation.


    Xylia tucked the jacket by her pillow like it was a treasure, and then motioned for Joshua to set up the tray table so they could eat.


    Joshua¡¯s face fell, looking a little sulky.


    Even though Leon was her brother, Joshua still couldn¡¯t help feeling a twinge of jealousy.


    He wanted to toss that jacket straight into the trash and burn it to ashes.


    But faced with Xylia¡¯s killer smile, he just couldn¡¯t say no. He set up the tray table and ced the food in front of her.


    He¡¯d brought cereal and some light snacks.


    ¡°Start with something light. I¡¯ll bring you something more fillingter,¡± Joshua said.


    Xylia passed him a fork<i>, </i>raising an eyebrow at hisment.


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± she asked, genuinely puzzled.


    ¡°Yana told me to look after you. Just doing my job,¡± Joshua replied, taking the fork and helping her with the


    food.


    ¡°You really don¡¯t have to do this. I could just get a caregiver to help,¡± said Xylia.


    Before Joshua could respond, Connor¡¯s voice came from the doorway, tight with barely contained anger.


    ¡­


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a husband. Why do you need a caregiver?¡± Connor snapped.

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    Connor walked into the hospital room with a cold expression, ring at Joshua.


    ¡°I warned you to stay away from my wife,¡± he growled.


    Joshua was in a bad mood, and Connor¡¯s hostility just made him even more irritated.


    He forced a smile, about to respond, but Xylia beat him to it.


    ¡°He¡¯s Yana¡¯s driver,¡± Xylia said calmly. ¡°Yana sent him to bring me food. What¡¯s the problem?¡±


    Xylia referred to Yana.


    Hearing Xylia call Yana sweetly, Joshua couldn¡¯t help but feel oddly pleased.


    Besides, Xylia, Yana, and he would be a family soon.


    Connor finally realized that Joshua was working for Yana.


    Though he didn¡¯t press the issue, his expression remained stormy.


    ¡°I¡¯ll look after my wife. Get out,¡± he said coldly.


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    ¡°Ms. Schultz is part of the Garcia family now,¡± Joshua said, rising to his feet and facing Connor head¨Con. ¡°Mr. Ford, it¡¯s my turn to warn you.¡±


    Joshua was casually dressed in a T¨Cshirt and jeans, his silver hair gleaming in the natural light. Even standing in front of someone as privileged as Connor, he waspletely unfazed.


    They squared off, like a tiger facing a wolf.


    ¡°Connor, Joshua said coldly, ¡°the Garcia family will get justice for what you did to her.¡±


    Connor didn¡¯t miss the dangerous glint in Joshua¡¯s eyes.


    For a split second, he actually felt a chill run down his spine.


    With that, Joshua turned to Xylia. ¡°I¡¯m heading back now.¡±


    Xylia nodded. ¡°Be careful on your way.¡±


    After Joshua left, Connor turned his gaze to Xylia.


    She was dressed in a hospital gown, the bruises on her exposed neck hard to miss.


    She didn¡¯t even spare him a nce, just kept eating her food.


    Connor felt the anger simmering inside him, but seeing her like this, it just fizzled out.


    ¡°On Jonah¡¯s behalf, I¡¯m sorry for what happened today,¡± he said quietly.


    Xylia looked up, meeting Connor¡¯s concerned gaze. ¡°Where¡¯s Jonah now?¡±


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    ¡°Grandpa¡¯s got him reflecting on himself in the family chapel for three days,¡± Connor replied. ¡°By the time he finishes, he will probably be exhausted.¡±


    He sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at her with a softness that was almost unfamiliar.


    ¡°Honey, I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said gently. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have let you go with Jonah. I¡¯ll make him pay for what he did to you. Please, don¡¯t be mad at me, okay?¡±


    He reached out to gently touch the bruises on her neck, just like he had three years ago.


    His gaze was soft, overflowing with worry and love.


    Xylia dodged his hand, turning her face away.


    Connor awkwardly pulled his hand back, figuring she was still mad at him, so he didn¡¯t press the issue.


    After a pause, he finally asked, ¡°How did it go with your aunt?¡±


    His gaze was earnest, almost pleading, as he looked at her.


    Xylia set her fork down and fixed Connor with a serious look. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t feel like I belong to the Garcia family. Are you sure the DNA test wasn¡¯t a mistake?¡±


    ¡°Impossible!¡± Connor snapped, not missing a beat.


    ¡°The Garcia family¡¯s daughter, who disappeared years ago, is about your age,¡± Connor pressed, his tone firm. ¡°Grandpa went through hell to track down your real family. Don¡¯t act like this means nothing.¡±


    Xylia sneered, saying nothing.


    Connor folded up the tray table for her. Only then did he continue, ¡°Did your aunt mention when she¡¯s bringing you back to the Garcia family?¡±


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°Since I¡¯m not even sure who I am, I guess the Garcia family will want to double¨Ccheck before they take me home.¡±


    Connor¡¯s expression darkened at her words.


    ¡°What did you talk about with Yana?¡± Connor pressed, his voice sharp.


    ¡°Nothing, Xylia replied, her tone t.


    Connor stared at her, searching her face for any clue, but she gave nothing away.


    In the end, he gave up.


    ¡°Honey,¡± he said softly, ¡°you¡¯ll meet your real parents in the next couple of days. You don¡¯t have to doubt it.


    DNA doesn¡¯t lie.¡±


    :


    :..


    He gently took Xylia¡¯s hand, speaking with genuine sincerity.


    Xylia stayed silent.


    After two days of observation in the hospital, Xylia was finally discharged.


    For those two days, Connor barely left her side, acting way more attentive than usual.


    He even came to pick her up himself when she was discharged.


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    Once they were in the car, Connor turned to her and said, ¡°Let¡¯s drop by the Schultz residence. Yves and the others want to see you.¡±


    Not waiting for Xylia¡¯s opinion, he headed straight for the Schultz vi.


    It was a weekday, but Ziggy was at home.


    As soon as Xylia and Connor walked in, Yves and Gia greeted them with warm smiles. It was a big change from their usual distant attitude.


    ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re back!¡± Gia said brightly, taking Xylia¡¯s hand. ¡°I knew you wereing today, so I had the kitchen whip up all your favorite dishes. Are you hungry yet?¡±


    It was as if they were truly mother and daughter.


    Yves also smiled at Xylia, his eyes practically begging for her approval.


    For years, Xylia had craved the Schultz family¡¯s care and affection. Now that she finally had it, the irony was almost bitter.


    Tessa sat next to Ziggy, watching as Gia doted on Xylia. Her face was growing darker by the second.


    She never would have guessed that Xylia was actually the Garcia family¡¯s daughter.


    The Garcia family was the real power yers in Jupiton. They were low¨Ckey tycoons, with wealth and status that


    put the Schultz family to shame.


    Ever since they found out Xylia was a Garcia, Yves and Gia started acting totally different around her.


    Tessa clenched her fists, barely holding back the jealousy bubbling inside her.


    Ziggy noticed Tessa¡¯s distress and squeezed her hand, trying tofort her, ¡°No matter what, you¡¯re still my only sister.¡±


    He didn¡¯t bother to lower his voice, shooting Xylia a look full of contempt,


    What he was really saying was that even if Xylia was a Garcia, she still wasn¡¯t good enough to be his sister.


    ¡°Ziggy! Who do you think you are, talking like that? Xylia is your sister.¡± Yves was the first to speak up,


    his eyes


    shing a stern warning.


    Ziggy just ignored him.


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    He held Tessa¡¯s hand. ¡°Remember, Tessa¡¯s the only one who¡¯s really our family. Mom, Dad, you¡¯ve got to be careful not to break her heart.¡±


    Tessa clung to Ziggy¡¯s hand, managing a weak smile.


    ¡°Ziggy, I¡¯m fine,¡± Tessa said softly. ¡°Xylia has always been part of our family. Let¡¯s keep things peaceful, okay?¡±


    With that, Tessa stood up, acting all affectionate as she pulled Xylia over to the couch.


    ¡°Xylia, don¡¯t just stand there. Have a seat,¡± she said, her voice sweet as honey.


    But as she grabbed Xylia¡¯s arm, her long fingernails dug in hard.


    It was right on top of the bruise.


    Xylia winced in pain and jerked her arm away from Tessa.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± Tessa cried out. She fell toward the coffee table, knocking over a cup of hot coffee. The scalding liquid sshed onto her hand, turning it red.


    ¡°Tessa!¡± Everyone rushed to help Tessa, with Connor at the front.


    When Connor saw Tessa¡¯s hand turn red and swollen, something inside him snapped. His face went rigid, and in a sh, he spun around and pped Xylia hard across the face.


    ¡°Xylia!¡± Connor roared. ¡°How could you be so vicious? Do you think just because the Garcias are on your side, you can act whatever you want? Tessa was standing up for you, and this is how you repay her? Do you even deserve her kindness<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    But Tessa grabbed Connor¡¯s arm, speaking up for Xylia, ¡°Connor, she didn¡¯t do it on purpose. Please¡­¡±


    ¡°Stop it!¡± Connor cut her off, his tone icy and absolute. He bent down and picked Tessa up, striding straight for the door.


    Tessa nestled in Connor¡¯s arms, casting a sly nce at Xylia, her lips curled in a smug smile.


    Xylia pressed her hand to her swollen cheek, her heart twisting with pain.

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    Ziggy grabbed Xylia¡¯s wrist hard, his expression stormy.


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    He said, ¡°We took care of you for eighteen years, and this is how you pay us back? So what if you turn out to be a Garcia? You stole Tessa¡¯s ce for eighteen years. You¡¯re going to owe her for the rest of your life!


    ¡°If you¡¯ve got any sense, when you return to the Garcia family, make sure they agree to a long¨Cterm deal with the Schultz family to settle their debt. Otherwise, I won¡¯t hesitate to ruin your reputation!¡±


    With that, Ziggy stormed off after Connor and Tessa.


    Gia shot Xylia a furious look, her eyes zing with anger, but Yves grabbed her arm to hold her back.


    She let out a slow breath before ordering Xylia. ¡°Ziggy¡¯s got a point. You stepped into Tessa¡¯s shoes and enjoyed the good life for eighteen years.


    ¡°Now it¡¯s time to return the favor. Since you¡¯re a Garcia, your dad will go to great lengths to make it right, so you¡¯d better ensure the Garcia family and the Schultze family form a long¨Cterm partnership. Got it?¡±


    Only now did Xylia realize why Connor had dragged her to the Schultz family today.


    She moved her jaw, her face stinging from the swelling.


    She looked at Gia and Yves.


    Both of them stared at her. There was no hint of pleading, just pure expectation.


    To them, she was someone who¡¯d lived off the Schultz family for eighteen years, and now it was payback time.


    Back when she was craving their affection, she would have agreed without hesitation.


    But she wasn¡¯t that naive anymore.


    ¡°If I remember right, you were the ones who took home the wrong kid eighteen years ago. I was just a child back then. I didn¡¯t even know my real parents. How could I have told you I wasn¡¯t yours?¡± Xylia said, her voice icy.


    Yves and Gia froze, not because of what she said, but because of her attitude.


    To them, Xylia always just went along with whatever came her way without everining.


    No matter how they scolded or hit her, she never fought back or resisted.


    But now, her gaze was cold and distant, as if she was drawing a line between them.


    She said firmly, ¡°All the abuse and beatings I¡¯ve endured over the past eight years and all the scars on my body have more than paid off any debt I owed you for raising me. From now on, I¡¯m no longer a Schultz.¡±


    With that, Xylia turned to leave.


    Gia finally snapped. She marched over and mped down hard on Xylia¡¯s right wrist.


    Her wrist hadn¡¯t even healed yet.


    The sudden pain made cold sweat break out on Xylia¡¯s forehead.


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    Gia said, ¡°We took care of you for eighteen years. Do you think eight years of suffering makes us even? Xylia, listen up. You¡¯re going to get us the deal with the Garcia family, whether you want to or not. You owe us, and you¡¯re not getting out of it.¡±


    Yves¡¯s face turned cold, and his voice dropped to a menacing growl. ¡°Do you really think you¡¯ve soared above us? Do you want to sever all ties with the Schultz family?


    ¡°Even if you hate us, your grandmother was always good to you, wasn¡¯t she? Her memorial is in a month. Do you really want her to be unable to rest in peace, even in death?¡±


    At the mention of Laurel, Xylia stiffened.


    She¡¯d stayed this long because she wanted to wait until after Laurel¡¯s memorial before acknowledging her true heritage.


    Now really wasn¡¯t the time to break things off with the Schultze family. Otherwise, Yves and Gia would never let her attend Laurel¡¯s memorial.


    Xylia went quiet.


    Gia jerked her hand away.


    ¡°Do you think you made it on your own? If it weren¡¯t for us, who knows where you¡¯d have ended up. Maybe you¡¯re dead in a ditch somewhere! You¡¯d never have had a shot at getting in with the Garcia family without us!¡± said Gia.


    Xylia cradled her aching wrist, saying nothing.


    Yves¡¯s expression softened a bit as he motioned for the butler to bring over some documents.


    ¡°This is a new project from the Schultz Group. When you see your real dad, show it to him. You¡¯d better make sure he invests. Understood?¡±


    Xylia took the documents, her mind sneering, ¡®I haven¡¯t even returned to the Garcia family yet, and they¡¯ve already got their n ready!


    Seeing her take the documents, Yves softened his expressionpletely.


    ¡°Alright, <i>go </i><i>to </i>the hospital and apologize to Tessa. Don¡¯t you ever mess with her again,¡± said Yves.


    Gia shot her a sharp look. ¡°Tessa is a lead dancer. If there¡¯s even a scratch on her hands, I won¡¯t let you go.¡±


    Ever since earlier, Gia had been fretting over Tessa.


    She thought, ¡®Even if the coffee on the coffee table has cooled, Tessa¡¯s skin is so sensitive. What if she got


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    burned?¡®


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    She made up her mind to drag Xylia to the hospital to apologize to Tessa and check on her darling girl.


    Xylia had only been out of the hospital for two hours, and now she was back again.


    Her face itched, and she raised her hand to scratch it. It stung a little.


    She caught a glimpse of herself in the ss window of the hospital corridor. There was a small scratch on her left cheek.


    She thought of the ring on Connor¡¯s hand. It must have scraped her face when he pped her.


    ¡®Looks like I¡¯ll need to put some ointment on thatter, she thought.


    Right outside the hospital room, Gia answered her phone.


    Just as Xylia got to the door, she heard Tessa and Connor talking inside.


    ¡°Connor, now that Xylia is a Garcia, does that mean you¡¯re not going to divorce her?¡± Tessa asked, her voice trembling with grievance.


    Xylia peeked through the ss window, catching sight of Connor perched on the edge of the bed, gently inspecting Tessa¡¯s hand, which was wrapped in bandages.


    At Tessa¡¯s words, Connor froze for a moment.


    ¡°Tessa, even if she wasn¡¯t a Garcia, I still wouldn¡¯t divorce her,¡± he replied, his tone unwavering.


    ¡°Why?¡± Tessa¡¯s voice was sharp with hurt, her eyes wet with tears as she looked at Connor.


    ¡°Xylia¡¯s basically helpless now. She can¡¯t get by without me,¡± Connor said, his voice steady.


    ¡°But you said you¡¯d divorce her¡­ ¡°Tessa¡¯s voice trembled.


    ¡°I only said that because I was upset. Xylia is a little reckless, but from now on, I¡¯ll keep you two apart. She won¡¯t hurt you again,¡± Connor replied firmly.


    Tessa was clearly upset by Connor¡¯s words. She looked up at him, stubbornness flickering in her teary eyes.


    ¡°Do you love her?¡± Tessa asked.


    Connor didn¡¯t answer. He just slowly released Tessa¡¯s hand.


    ¡°I owe her, Tessa. But I promise I¡¯ll do everything I can to make sure you have a good future. That¡¯s all I can do for you now,¡± he said.


    ¡°Why?¡± Tessa cried, looking at Connor.


    ¡°Connor, is it because you feel guilty about Xylia? You made her take the me for my hit¨Cand¨Crun, so now you feel like you owe her, and want to look after her for the rest of her life?¡± asked Tessa.


    Xylia lingered at the doorway, her gaze flickering.


    ¡°Tessa, don¡¯t bring this up again. I¡¯m doing this for your own good,¡± Connor said.


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    ¡°For my own good? Someone has already gone to Seth¡¯s ce asking about the hit¨Cand¨Crun. Xylia is onto you now. Do you really think she¡¯ll just forgive you once she knows the truth?¡± Tessa asked.


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± Connor stared at her.


    Tessa wiped her tears and continued, ¡°Seth called me earlier. He said someone showed up at his house asking about the ident. Who else would be so determined to dig up the truth except Xylia? If she finds the third witness before we do, the whole thing¡¯s going to blow up.¡±


    ¡°The third witness?¡® Xylia froze in shock, thinking. ¡®So there really was someone else at the scene that night.


    Just as she was about to keep listening, Gia came back.


    ¡°What are you doing standing there? Why don¡¯t you get in?¡± Gia snapped.


    Ìï

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    Gia¡¯s words made the conversation insidee to a sudden halt.


    Xylia hurried to exin, ¡°I just went to the bathroom.¡±


    Giapletely ignored her, pushed the door open, and pulled Xylia inside.


    ¡°Tessa, how¡¯s your hand?¡± Gia¡¯s heart ached as she looked at Tessa¡¯s red and swollen hand.


    55 vouchern


    ¡°Tessa is the star of the dance team. What if her hand gets scarred? What are we going to do then?¡± Gia fretted.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m really fine. Ziggy went to get the best medicine from the doctor. You don¡¯t have to worry,¡± Tessa reassured her.


    Gia was still fuming inside.


    She shot Xylia a fierce re. ¡°Are you just going to stand there? Apologize to Tessa.¡±


    As soon as Xylia walked in, she could feel Connor¡¯s scrutinizing gaze fixed on her.


    She forced herself to stay calm, suppressing her inner panic, and looked steadily at Gia and Tessa sitting on the hospital bed.


    ¡°I pped her back, so I¡¯m not apologizing,¡± Xylia said firmly.


    ¡°Xylia! What did you just say?¡± Gia shot Xylia a death re, thinking, ¡®She just refuses to take the easy way out. Is she really forcing me to get tough with her?¡®


    Tessa reached out and held Gia¡¯s arm, her voice gentle andforting. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m really okay. I¡¯m sure Xylia didn¡¯t mean it. And now that she¡¯s a Garcia, it¡¯s not really your ce to discipline her anymore.¡±


    Gia grew angrier at Tessa¡¯s words.


    ¡°So what if she¡¯s a Garcia now? The Schultz family raised her into who she is. Am I not even allowed to discipline her a little? Xylia, let me make this clear. Today, you must properly apologize to Tessa.¡± Gia snapped, her tone brooking no argument.


    Xylia didn¡¯t want to stick around any longer. She was ready to turn and walk out.


    Connor suddenly spoke up, ¡°I¡¯ll apologize to Tessa for Xylia. Gia, can we please just drop this now?¡±


    Neither Gia nor Tessa expected Connor to actually take Xylia¡¯s side.


    Tessa nced at Connor and instantly saw the worry flicker in his eyes.


    Tessa wondered, ¡®Did Xylia hear what we were talking about just now?


    ¡®Connor was clearly trying to feel her out.


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    Tessa nodded softly. ¡°We¡¯re all family here. It¡¯s no big deal. Connor, why don¡¯t you take Xylia and have someone treat her face?¡±


    Gia started to say something, but Tessa gently held her back.


    Gia bit back her frustration and let Connor lead Xylia out of the room.


    After the doctor finished treating Xylia¡¯s face, Connor leaned in and spoke softly, ¡°I might¡¯ve gotten a little worked up earlier, so don¡¯t take it to heart. But Tessa was trying to help you out, and you still shoved her away. That wasn¡¯t right either.¡±


    As he spoke, his voice grew more stern.


    He reached out and brushed his hand over Xylia¡¯s slightly swollen cheek. ¡°From now on, stay away from


    Tessa.¡±


    Xylia pulled back, avoiding his touch.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need you making decisions for me,¡± she said, her voice cold.


    Xylia thought, ¡®Who I choose to see isn¡¯t up to him.¡¯


    Connor¡¯s hand hovered in the air for a moment, the warmth of her skin still lingering on his fingertips. He rubbed them together, not taking Xylia¡¯s little tantrum to heart.


    He had more important things on his mind right now.


    ¡°How long were you standing outside the room just now?¡± Connor asked, his voice calm but probing.


    Xylia was replying to Josie¡¯s message, answering offhandedly at the same time, ¡°What do you mean? I just got to the door after using the bathroom when Mrs. Schultz called me over.¡±


    Connor frowned, ¡°Mrs. Schultz?¡±


    Connor thought, ¡®Wow, she switched up fast.¡¯


    Xylia didn¡¯t say anything.


    Connor just scoffed, ¡°Xylia, I know exactly what you¡¯re thinking. Now that the Garcia family is on your side, you¡¯re just going to leave the Schultz family behind? Don¡¯t forget that they raised you for eighteen years. You owe them!¡±


    Xylia paused and looked up at him.


    ¡°Connor, you really have no idea what I¡¯ve been through thesest eight years, do you? Even if the Garcia family never showed up, I would¡¯ve cut ties with the Schultz family sooner orter,¡± Xylia said.


    Xylia thought, ¡®I¡¯d cut you off just as clean.¡®


    Connor pressed his lips together, just giving her a cold stare.


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    It had been ages since he¡¯d really looked into Xylia¡¯s eyes, and now that he did, there was something different about them.


    Back then, Xylia was always walking on eggshells around him and the Schultz family.


    She was always hoping for their love. She was soft and gentle, but every now and then, she¡¯d still show a bit of attitude toward him.


    He could always see the love in her eyes.


    ¡®When did the love in her eyes for me disappear?¡® Connor wondered.


    The thought hit Connor like a punch to the gut. His heart felt empty for a split second.


    No! Impossible!


    Xylia was crazy about him. All these years, she¡¯d been the one fussing over him, washing his clothes, making his food, even keeping his bed warm at night.


    They used to be inseparable.


    They were just having a little spat. Xylia¡¯s only mad because of that p earlier.


    Connor slowly calmed down, his voice softening as he spoke to Xylia, ¡°Let¡¯s head back.¡±


    Xylia turned and walked away without a word, and Connor followed behind, trying to reassure himself over and over.


    It seemed that Xylia didn¡¯t catch what he and Tessa were talking about.


    But Connor was dead set on tracking down whoever was investigating that hit¨Cand¨Crun.


    When Xylia returned to the Ford Mansion, she immediately noticed that the servants¡® attitudes toward her


    had shifted.


    In the past, because of her family background, the servants at the mansion never treated her as Mrs. Ford, and they always kept their distance.


    Now, they even greeted her when she walked in.


    Even Mnie didn¡¯t get snarky. When she saw Xyliae back, she greeted Xylia, though her voice was still cold.


    ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± Mnie said tly.


    Xylia gave her an indifferent look, ignored herpletely, and went straight upstairs.


    Mnie red at her as she walked away, muttering through clenched teeth, ¡°That bitch! Ever since she got in with the Garcia family, she¡¯s really grown a backbone, huh? She¡¯s so rude.¡±


    Connor said a few words tofort Mnie.


    :


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    Mnie dragged Connor to the side and whispered, ¡°Has Xylia met with the Garcia family yet? Any news from their side?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re still a bit hesitant. Once things are cleared up, they¡¯ll meet with her,¡± Connor replied.


    ¡°What are they so worried about?¡± Mnie snapped, clearly annoyed. ¡°How could a paternity test be fake? The Garcia family is always making a fuss over nothing!¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re just being cautious. If it were you, would you really trust a test result without double¨Cchecking?¡± Connor replied.


    ¡°Yeah, I suppose so,¡± Mnie sighed and then nced over at Connor.


    ¡°I used to want you to split up with Xylia, but now that she¡¯s part of the Garcia family, I¡¯d rather you stay married,¡± Mnie said.


    ¡°Rx, Mom. Divorce isn¡¯t even on my mind,¡± Connor replied.


    Connor nced up at the second floor, spacing out for a second.


    He thought for a moment and then stepped outside to call his assistant.


    ¡°Have you found the person yet?¡± Connor asked.


    His assistant replied.


    ¡°Keep a close watch on the tech team too. Don¡¯t let the Garcia family catch wind of anything,¡± Connor added.


    His assistant replied to him again.


    ¡°Have someone reach out to Seth and make sure he knows what to say and what to keep quiet about,¡± Connor


    instructed.


    As soon as Xylia got back to her room, she called her private investigator.


    She told him everything she¡¯d overheard at the hospital.


    After hearing what Xylia had said, Maverick was quiet for a moment before speaking up, ¡°Got it, Ms. Schultz. I¡¯ll follow this lead and see where it goes. Just don¡¯t do anything to tip them off.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Maverick. I owe you one,¡± Xylia replied.


    After hanging up, Xylia sat there zoning out in front of her drawing board for a while. Then she applied thest medicated patch to her wrist, grabbed her brush, and got back to working on her unfinished project.


    She was down to herst patch. Tomorrow, she¡¯d have to swing by Rachel¡¯s ce for more.


    Chapter To

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    The next day, after setting a time to meet up with Rachel, Xylia left the house early.


    She turned down the driver¡¯s offer to give her a ride and called a cab herself to head downtown.


    On the way, she got a call from Josie.


    ¡°Xylia, let¡¯s set up a time to meet. I¡¯ve got some new ideas for the studio that I want to discuss with you,¡± Josie said.


    Xylia thought for a moment and replied, ¡°How about tonight?¡±


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll pick the spot and send you the detailster,¡± Josie said.


    They chatted for a bit before hanging up.


    Xylia thought Josie was always so helpful and passionate about life.


    Josie was even more invested in the studio than Xylia herself.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel lucky to have Josie as her friend.


    She nced out at the view outside the window.


    After a while, she started to sense that something was off.


    This wasn¡¯t the route to downtown.


    ¡°Excuse me, I think you¡¯re going the wrong way,¡± she said.


    The driver acted like he didn¡¯t hear her. He just kept his eyes on the road and kept driving.


    Xylia finally realized something was seriously wrong. Forcing herself to stay calm, she clutched her phone, about to dial 911.


    All of a sudden, the car swerved hard. She lurched to the side, her phone flying from her grip.


    The driver handled the wheel with chilling skill, swerving and mming on the brakes. Xylia was tossed around in the back seat, her head mming against the window. Everything went ck for a moment.


    The car screeched to a halt, and the driver finally turned to face her.


    Beneath the hood, it was a surprisingly young face. The person red at Xylia, eyes cold and full of menace. ¡°Xylia, let¡¯s settle everyst score between us.¡±


    By midday, the Jones Health Center was overflowing with patients.


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    Rachel was on duty today, and people with all sorts ofplicated health issues had booked appointments


    with her.


    Only after Rachel finally wrapped up did she realize it was past the time she was supposed to meet Xylia, and Xylia still hadn¡¯t shown up.


    She called Xylia.


    The phone rang twice, and then it was abruptly powered off.


    Rachel frowned, a knot forming in her stomach. Something wasn¡¯t right.


    After thinking for a few seconds, she called Joshua.


    ¡°Joshua, do you know where Xylia is?¡± Rachel asked, a hint of worry in her voice.


    Joshua was heading home. His parents wereing back today, and he was going to wee them back.


    Halfway there, after getting Rachel¡¯s call, hemanded the driver to turn the car around, his tone cold and resolute.


    After hanging up, he immediately called his assistant.


    ¡°Find out everything you can about any cars that left the Ford Mansion this morning,¡± he ordered.


    His assistant, already drowning in work in the office, nearly wanted to throw himself out the window the moment he got Joshua¡¯s call.


    It was another impossible task.


    When Xylia finally came to, the sun was already setting.


    Orange light bathed the world, but not even a trace of it could find its way into the warehouse where Xylia was trapped.


    The stench of rotting grass filled her nose as she forced her heavy eyelids open.


    All she saw was a rusty old chandelier and the filthy, dpidated warehouse around her.


    She snapped fully awake and quickly pushed herself up.


    Her wrists and ankles were bound, and after struggling for a while, she finally managed to sit up.


    ¡°Finally awake?¡± A head poked in from the doorway.


    Sadie stood there in a leather jacket, her long hair loose, face caked in dramatic makeup.


    ¡°Sadie, what are you trying to do?¡± Xylia demanded.


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    Xylia locked her eyes on Sadie, her heart pounding with fear as she tried to steady herself.


    65 vouchers


    Sadie had been running with a bad crowd since she was little. Tyson and Ruby never tried to stop her. No matter what kind of mess she got into, the Zimmer family would always clean it up for her.


    That was how Sadie ended up so wild and out of control, doing whatever she wanted without a second thought.


    Sadie strutted over to Xylia, smirked, and gave her cheek a taunting pat.


    ¡°Nylia, did you ever imagine the day woulde when you¡¯d be at my mercy?¡± Sadie taunted.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Xylia shot her a wary look.


    ¡°What do I want? Revenge, of course. You¡¯ll have to pay for every grudge and every insult,¡± Sadie hissed.


    Sadie¡¯s eyes suddenly shed with cruelty.


    She gripped Xylia¡¯s chin hard. ¡°Tessa ended up in the hospital yesterday. Did you do this?¡±


    Xylia stayed silent, but Sadie began firing off one usation after another.


    Sadie used, ¡°Tessa missed thepetition because you made her sprain her ankle, didn¡¯t you?


    ¡°My boyfriend dumped me right after meeting you. You must¡¯ve seduced him, huh?


    ¡°Your son keeps pestering Tessa, forcing her to run to the Ford residence all the time and making everyone gossip about her. That¡¯s all on you, isn¡¯t it?


    ¡°You cheated on your husband and hooked up with other men. You¡¯re just a slut, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Sadie kept using.


    To Xylia, every usation Sadie threw at her was just a bunch of false ims.


    In her mind, Sadie was never the type to make such a big scene just to get revenge for someone else.


    ¡°Sadie, drop the act. If you were really doing this for Tessa, you would¡¯ve made your move a long time ago. So what¡¯s your real reason?¡± Xylia shot back.


    Sadie burst intoughter,


    She grabbed Xylia¡¯s hair, ring fiercely at her.


    Sadie snapped, ¡°Xylia, what I can¡¯t stand most is your attitude. What makes you think you¡¯re so great?


    ¡°You¡¯re just a slut. Why does Joshua like you so much? I could ept him rejecting me for anyone else, but why does it have to be you? Who the hell do you think you are?¡±


    Joshua? Since when did Sadie have a thing for Joshua?¡® Xylia wondered.


    <b>10:30 </b>Fri, Sep <b>12 </b>


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    Sadie shoved her aside and stood up, ring down at her with a menacing, almost triumphant air.


    ¡°Xylia, aren¡¯t you so wild? Well, today I¡¯ll make sure you get what you deserve. Let¡¯s see if Connor still wants you after you¡¯ve been raped, or if Joshua will even bother to look at you again!¡± Sadie spat, her voice dripping


    with venom.


    Just as Sadie finished talking, a couple of teenage punks with all kinds of dyed hair barged in through the doorway.


    They looked Xylia up and down, eyes wide with surprise and twisted excitement.


    ¡°Sadie, she¡¯s hot! Let¡¯s record a video. I bet we could make a fortune selling it online!¡± one of them snickered.


    ¡°Exactly. It¡¯d be a shame to waste a face like that,¡± another jeered.


    ¡°Look at her figure. I think we¡¯re going to have a real good time tonight,¡± the third guy said, his eyes lingering on Xylia with a sleazy grin.


    Xylia stared at Sadie, terror and fury mixing in her voice as she shouted, ¡°Sadie, you¡¯re insane. Do you even get it? This is a crime.¡±


    Sadie didn¡¯t even nce at her, just calmly set up the camera and switched it on.


    ¡°I brought her here, so we split the money from the video fifty¨Cfifty. Have fun,¡± Sadie said, her voice cold and indifferent.


    A couple of punks leered at Xylia as they closed in on her, eyes narrowed with twisted excitement.


    Xylia¡¯s face went pale.


    She struggled desperately, shouting, ¡°Let me go. Get away from me.¡±


    Her eyes rimmed red, tears rolling down her cheeks.


    Reflected in her eyes were their wicked, leering faces, making her feel sick to her stomach.


    At the very instant her cor was ripped open, a hugemotion erupted at the doorway.


    The suffocating pressure around Xylia vanished. She curled up on the ground, hugging her knees. Her tears blurred everything.


    But through the haze, she saw Joshua with a punk in each hand, pounding the crap out of them. Blood sttered everywhere as heid into their faces.


    She cried louder and louder. Her hands and feet were still tied, and her blouse was wide open, letting the cold air bite at her skin. She curled up as tight as she could, trying to make herself disappear.


    When Joshua heard Xylia¡¯s cries, his heart clenched painfully in his chest.


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    He sent thest guy flying into the warehouse wall with a brutal kick.


    The guy saw stars and copsed, not even able to budge.


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    Joshua quickly took off his jacket and draped it over Xylia. Then he scooped her up into his arms. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s okay,¡± he soothed.


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    Xylia buried herself in Joshua¡¯s arms and sobbed, all the grievances and hurt she¡¯d been holding back finally pouring out.


    Joshua untied her with trembling hands, gentlyforting her as he worked.


    His hands trembled, and his gaze was icy and terrifying.


    Sadie, who¡¯d been standing off to the side, was scared out of her wits by Joshua¡¯s sudden arrival. Seeing those guys beaten to the ground, she didn¡¯t care about anything else. She snatched up her camera and dashed to the door.


    But just as she reached the doorway, Joshua¡¯s bodyguards blocked her way.


    Sadie stood rooted to the spot, her face ghostly pale. ¡°You¡­ you guys¡­¡±


    Joshua stood up, still holding Xylia close. Then he turned to Sadie with a predatory, bloodthirsty re.


    ¡°Looks like you are really enjoying this, huh?¡± Joshua sneered, ncing at the guys sprawled all over the floor, a cold smirk ying on his lips.


    ¡°Well then, why don¡¯t you enjoy it yourself?¡± he said.


    ¡°No!¡± Sadie realized exactly what Joshua meant and tried to run away, but the bodyguards caught her in an instant.


    The camera ttered to the floor.


    Joshua carried Xylia out, giving a cold order to the bodyguards as he walked. ¡°Keep recording,¡± hemanded.


    The bodyguards nodded, picked up the camera, and set it up again.


    ¡°Joshua, you can¡¯t do this to me. Let me go. Don¡¯te any closer,¡± Sadie screamed, her voice echoing through the warehouse as the door mmed shut behind them, cutting off her cries.


    Xylia curled up in Joshua¡¯s arms, still crying, her emotions in turmoil. It was as if she¡¯d shut out the world,pletely unaware of anything happening outside.


    Even if she knew, she wouldn¡¯t have spoken up for Sadie.


    She wasn¡¯t the kind to repay evil with kindness.


    When she finally snapped out of it, she found herself sitting in the car, bundled up in Joshua¡¯s coat.


    The privacy screen in the back was already down.


    Joshua gently took her wrist and carefully tended to her wounds.


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    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. You¡¯re safe now.¡± His voice was soft now, nothing like the icy, ruthless guy he¡¯d been back in the warehouse.


    Xylia opened her mouth, but no words came out.


    Her chest felt so tight that she could barely breathe.


    Joshua¡¯s heart ached for her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital and have you checked out,¡± he said.


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go to the apartment. The one you used to stay in is still yours. I go over and clean up whenever I get the chance, so it¡¯s always nice and tidy,¡± Joshua suggested.


    Xylia agreed with a nod.


    Right now, she didn¡¯t want to go home. No ce felt safe to her anymore.


    But at least with Joshua by her side, she could calm down a little.


    When they arrived at the apartment, Rachel was already waiting by the door.


    Seeing Joshua and Xyliaing, she hurried over and gave Xylia a quick once¨Cover. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Rachel asked, her voice full of concern.


    ¡°Take her inside and give her a proper check¨Cup,¡± Joshua said.


    Rachel nodded.


    She took Xylia into the bedroom to give her a check¨Cup, while Joshua stayed in the living room, calling in some food.


    After that, he called his assistant. ¡°Dig up everything on Sadie tonight and expose it online. It¡¯s time the Zimmer family paid the price,¡± Joshua said, his voice cold and merciless.


    Beneath his silver hair, those eyes that were once soft and warm now held a wintry chill. It was enough to make anyone¡¯s blood run cold.


    After hanging up, he got a message from Eliza.


    Eliza: [Hey, you promised to throw us a wee party. Noelle is back with us this time, so you better get your butt home.]


    Joshua¡¯s expression darkened even more when he read the message.


    After sending a quick reply to Eliza, he turned his gaze toward the bedroom door.


    His eyes were gentle, but beneath that softness was a tangle of emotions,plicated and hard to <b>read</b><b>. </b>


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    After Rachel finished checking Xylia over, she frowned.


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    ¡°It¡¯s nothing major. Your wrists and ankles are still injured. I brought some ointment. Let me put it on for you,¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Xylia murmured.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Good thing that Joshua showed up when he did. Otherwise, who knows what you might¡¯ve gone through?¡± Rachel said.


    Xylia nodded.


    Even now, she was still a little shaken up.


    She looked at Rachel. ¡°But how did you guys know I¡¯d been kidnapped?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t show up all morning, and your phone kept going straight to voicemail, so I called Joshua. He¡­¡± Rachel paused.


    Then she went on casually, ¡°He called Yana, and once the Garcia family found out, they checked the security cameras and figured out where you were.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s how it was. Seriously, thank you guys,¡± Xylia said softly, her voice still a little shaky.


    After Rachel finished applying the ointment, she looked at Xylia.


    Joshua had already told her everything that had happened, down to the details.


    Rachel had thought Xylia would need some time to recover, but it turned out she was tougher than expected.


    When Rachel first saw Xylia at the door, she¡¯d noticed the fear and wariness in her eyes.


    But now, her face gave nothing away, as if the whole ordeal had never happened at all.


    But after she went through something like that, it was only natural she¡¯d have some kind of trauma response.


    Rachel gave Xylia a gentle pat on the shoulder and said softly, ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s walk out.¡±


    Xylia nodded.


    As soon as they stepped out of the bedroom, Joshua walked over. ¡°How is she?¡± he asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s fine. Her wrists and ankles are pretty banged up, but I put some ointment on them. Just make sure she ices them before bed tonight,¡± Rachel replied.


    Joshua nodded.


    Rachel nced at the time. ¡°Something¡¯se up, so I have to head out. See you guyster.¡±


    After Rachel left, Xylia turned to Joshua.


    ¡°Thank you for today,¡± she said softly.


    Joshua looked at her, worry flickering in his eyes. ¡°Are you¡­ really okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really fine,¡± Xylia said.


    She gave Joshua a gentle smile, trying to put him at ease.


    Even seeing her smile, Joshua still couldn¡¯t rx.


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    This wasn¡¯t the first time Xylia had been kidnapped. She¡¯d been through it before, back when she was


    overseas.


    Back then, she acted like nothing was wrong, but the trauma stuck with her for ages. She¡¯d wake up from nightmares every single night.


    Thinking of this, Joshua felt like he¡¯d let Sadie off way too easy.


    ¡°Food is on the way. Eat some and then try to get some rest,¡± Joshua said.


    Xylia nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    During dinner, Xylia barely spoke, keeping to herself.


    Joshua kept watching her quietly, and after a while, Xylia finally broke the silence.


    ¡°Seriously, I¡¯m fine. Do you still think I¡¯m that little girl from back then?¡± She brought up the old days with a grin.


    Joshua searched her face for any signs of distress, but seeing nothing, he finally rxed a little.


    ¡°You¡¯re still just a little girl to me. Of course, I¡¯m worried about you,¡± he said.


    His shameless attitude made Xylia¡¯s cheeks flush red.


    ¡®How can Joshua go from all cold and stoic to being such a pain?¡® Xylia thought.


    After dinner, Joshua kept Xyliapany until she finally drifted off to sleep. Only then did he flop onto the couch in the living room.


    He figured he¡¯d better stick around tonight and keep watch over her.


    Meanwhile, at the Ford Mansion, Connor had been trying to call Xylia over and over, but her phone kept going straight to voicemail.


    Something felt off, and he had a bad feeling about it. Without wasting another second, he ordered his people to track her down.


    The <b>living </b>room was thick with tension, like a storm was brewing.


    Orion coughed a few times, his wrinkled face flushing red from the effort.


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    ¡°No matter what, we have to find Xylia. We finally got in with the Garcia family. We can¡¯t mess this up now,¡± Orion said, his tone urgent.


    Connor didn¡¯t say a word. After a few tense seconds, he snatched up his car keys and got to his feet, face grim and determined.


    Right now, he couldn¡¯t care less about the Garcia family. Xylia¡¯s cab had headed out toward the suburbs. No way this was normal.


    He had to find her.


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    Connor followed the clues from his investigation and found the warehouse where Xylia was being held.


    Before he even stepped inside, a sordid, chaotic odor hit him.


    His face instantly drained of color.


    ¡°Xylia.¡± Muttering her name, he rushed into the warehouse.


    The warehouse was empty, but a chaotic mess littered the floor.


    Seeing those stains made Connor¡¯s blood boil.


    The bodyguard trailing behind him hesitated and then called out, ¡°Mr. Ford.¡±


    Connor¡¯s voice was low and intense. ¡°Go find Mrs. Ford!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Ford,¡± the bodyguard replied.


    Connor¡¯s eyes zed with fury.


    He was dead set on finding out who had hurt Xylia. When he did, he¡¯d make them pay, no matter what.


    Early the next morning, Xylia woke with a start from a nightmare. Her forehead was slick with sweat, and she felt miserable.


    She got up, washed her face, and as soon as she stepped out, she heard noisesing from the kitchen.


    Joshua was in the kitchen making breakfast.


    As soon as he saw Xylia, he shed her a smile and greeted her, ¡°You¡¯re up?¡±


    For a second, Xylia felt like she and Joshua were one of those couples who¡¯d been together forever.


    She quickly shook her head, thinking, ¡®Where did thate from?¡¯


    She automatically tried to help out in the kitchen, but Joshua waved her off.


    ¡®Kitchen¡¯s off¨Climits for you. Go sit and wait for your food,¡± he said.


    Xylia sat at the dining table, watching Joshua busy in the kitchen, and an unexpected calm settled over her.


    Back when they were living abroad, Joshua was usually the one cooking.


    She¡¯d let him handle whatever chores he wasfortable with, just to help him feel at home.


    Honestly, Joshua handled almost all the cooking back then.


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    At that time, Xylia didn¡¯t know the first thing about cooking. She only started picking it up little by little after marrying Connor.


    She had worked really hard to go from knowing nothing about cooking to bing pretty good at it.


    Too bad Connor and Sonny never gave a damn about all the effort she¡¯d put <ol><li>in. </li></ol>


    Joshua set breakfast on the table and called out to Xylia, telling her to dig in. Joshua asked, concern in his voice, ¡°Did you sleep wellst night?¡±


    Xylia nodded, forcing a small smile. ¡°Yeah, it was fine.¡±


    But honestly, it hadn¡¯t been fine at all. She¡¯d been haunted by nightmares the whole night.


    Even now, her head felt like it was stuffed with cotton.


    But she didn¡¯t want Joshua to worry, so she lied.


    Joshua frowned, ¡°Did you even look in the mirror this morning? You¡¯re as pale as a ghost, and you¡¯re telling me you slept well?¡±


    Xylia instinctively reached up to touch her face.


    Joshua gave her a look that said he wasn¡¯t buying it, and Xylia ducked her head, awkwardly taking a bite of her omelet.


    ¡®He really doesn¡¯t miss a thing,¡¯ Xylia thought.


    ¡°Just a nightmare. Nothing serious,¡± she said.


    Joshua just shook his head<i>, </i>a little helpless.


    He handed her the phone. ¡°Here, your phone. You seemed out of it yesterday, so I held onto it.¡±


    Xylia took the phone and turned it on.


    A flood of texts and calls popped up.


    Before she could even start checking them, Connor¡¯s name shed on the screen.


    Xylia frowned and answered the call.


    ¡°Xylia?¡± Connor¡¯s horse voice came through, tight with concern. He sounded utterly exhausted.


    ¡°It¡¯s me. What¡¯s up?¡± Xylia <b>said</b>.


    ¡°Where are you?¡± Connor asked urgently,


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Xylia replied.


    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>asked you. Where are you?¡± Commor pressed.


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    Connor suddenly exploded on the phone, his roar making Xylia jump in her seat.


    Joshua shot her a frown, but before he could get a word out, Xylia had already hung up.


    ¡°He¡¯s crazy.¡± Xylia switched her phone to silent and tossed it aside.


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    She hadn¡¯t gone backst night, and hadn¡¯t bothered to let anyone in the Ford family know because she knew nobody there actually cared about her.


    After breakfast, Joshua headed off to work, and Xylia suddenly remembered her promise to Josie.


    ¡°Shit!¡± she muttered.


    She snatched up her phone, ignored all of Connor¡¯s calls and texts, and called Josie straight away.


    Josie picked up almost instantly, sounding super annoyed.


    ¡°Xylia, you stood me upst night,¡± Josie snapped.


    ¡°Sorry, Josie. I swear I didn¡¯t mean to stand you up,¡± Xylia blurted out.


    Once Xylia exined, Josie immediately sounded worried.


    ¡°You got kidnapped? Are you alright?¡± Josie eximed.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay now. It¡¯s over. But let¡¯s hold off on dinner for a couple of days,¡± Xylia replied.


    ¡°It¡¯s cool. Just get some rest,¡± Josie said.


    After a few more words, Xylia finally hung up.


    Connor hadn¡¯t called again, and Xylia was more than happy to enjoy the peace.


    But as she thought about what had happened yesterday, her expression darkened.


    ¡®Sadie really dug her own grave this time, Xylia thought.


    At the Zinn residence, Connor was still burning with anger after Xylia hung up on him, but from her voice, he could tell she was safe,


    That thought eased his mind a little.


    The Zinn residence was thick with tension.


    Tessa came downstairs, frowning, with a ss of milk in hand.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Sadie </b>still won¡¯te out,¡± she said.


    Tyson Zinn and Ruby Zinn were sitting on the couch, both looking grim.


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    ¡°Let her starve, that shameless brat! She¡¯s made a total mess of our reputation,¡± Tyson growled.


    Ruby red at Tessa, her anger boiling over.


    ¡°And you! I told you to keep an eye on her. What the hell were you doing?¡± Ruby snapped.


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    ¡°I¡­ I was in the hospital a couple of days ago¡­¡± Tessa lowered her head, feeling wronged, and Connor immediately stepped in front of her, shielding her from Ruby¡¯s anger.


    ¡°Mrs. Zinn, this isn¡¯t Tessa¡¯s fault, is it?¡± he said.


    Ruby shot Connor a look full of contempt.


    ¡°Mr. Ford, this is our family business. You might be Tessa¡¯s brother¨Cinw, but that doesn¡¯t give you the right to meddle,¡± she said, her tone icy.


    Ever since Tessa married in and Qadir died not long after, Ruby had always held Tessa responsible, convinced she¡¯d brought bad luck and caused his death.


    She¡¯d been nursing that grudge for eight long years.


    Even though Tessa had never remarried and spent all those years mourning Qadir, it didn¡¯t make Ruby any less bitter.


    Connor sneered, ¡°Tessa¡¯s business isn¡¯t my concern, but anything about my wife is definitely my business.¡±


    His words could be taken the wrong way, and Tessa looked up at him, surprised.


    She thought Connor was about to take a stand in front of Ruby, maybe even say he wanted to marry her.


    But then Connor spoke up again, ¡°Yesterday, Sadie disguised herself as a cab driver and abducted my wife. Xylia still hasn¡¯te home. I¡¯m not letting this go.¡±


    Tyson snorted, ¡°Investigate all you want. Sadie¡¯s already disgraced our family. Frankly, we¡¯d be better off if she were dead.¡±


    Tyson was absolutely livid. With that, he stood up and walked out without a second nce.


    Sadie was found at the Zinn residence¡¯s front door that morning, barely clothed and utterly disheveled.


    Tyson and Ruby thought she¡¯d been attacked and were about to go off when suddenly a video from an unknown sender popped up on their phones.


    The footage showed Sadie with several different men in hotels, clubs, and all sorts of ces.


    In the videos, she was flirtatious and clearly reveling in it.


    Tyson and Ruby just stood there,pletely stunned.


    Then, Sadie¡¯s school bullying and kicking ssmates out started trending everywhere.


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    All the dirtyundry about Tyson and Ruby covering for Sadie got dragged into the spotlight.


    The Zinn Group¡¯s reputation took a massive hit, and its stock prices tanked.


    Tyson was so pissed that he nearly went after Sadie, but Ruby held him back.


    Even now, there was still a massive hole in thepany that needed patching up.


    So many business partners were scrambling to cut ties, and thepany was a total mess inside.


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    Downstairs, the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife, but upstairs, Sadie was having an even worse time.


    She was curled up in bed, her eyes burning with hatred.


    Just wait, Xylia. I¡¯ll get my revenge, no matter what,¡® she vowed to herself.


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    Xylia did not return to the Ford Mansion until the afternoon.


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    As soon as she entered, Connor grabbed her shoulders, checking to see if she was injured. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Xylia instinctively dodged Connor¡¯s hand. When she looked up, she met his eyes, filled with concern.


    In that moment, it felt like the past¨Cwhenever she was sick or injured, Connor would anxiously take care of everything for her. She quickly snapped back to reality and replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Sonny was sitting in the living room, looking at Xylia with disdain.


    Why is she acting like that? She just wants to make Dad worry. She wasn¡¯t hurt as badly as Tessa, Sonny thought.


    ¡°Mom, where did you gost night? Why are you wearing different clothes?¡± Sonny asked.


    Sonny¡¯s innocent voice drew Connor¡¯s attention to Xylia¡¯s outfit. His gaze darkened as he took her hand and led her upstairs. ¡°Come with me.¡±


    ¡°Let go of me, I can walk on my own.¡± Xylia struggled but was dragged into the bedroom by Connor.


    Connor closed the door and stepped toward Xylia, about to unbutton her clothes. Startled, Xylia jerked back violently. Her legs tangled, and she fell hard onto the floor.


    Her arm hit the floor,nding directly on a bruise that hadn¡¯t healed from two days ago.


    But Connor paid no attention to her injury. ¡°After Sadie took you away yesterday, what happened? Did someone do something to you?¡± Connor seemed out of his mind as he gripped Xylia¡¯s wrist and began undoing her blouse.


    Xylia¡¯s face turned pale. She struggled violently, lowering her head to bite Connor¡¯s arm with all her strength.


    Connor cried out in pain, quickly throwing Xylia aside.


    Xylia curled up, clutching her clothes tightly around herself.


    The chaotic memories of yesterday resurfaced in her mind. A buzzing filled her ears, making it impossible for her to hear what Connor was saying. Tears streamed down her face uncontrobly.


    ¡°Xylia Connor had intended to scold her, but when he saw her like this, he froze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯te any closer. Get away!¡± Xylia murmured.


    Connor¡¯s mind exploded. A troubling thought crossed his mind, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to finish it. He grasped Xylia¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Xylia, look at me. Were you bullied yesterday?¡±


    Xylia reacted strongly to his touch. ¡°Let go of me! Get away!¡±


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    ¡°Xylia, Connor said, trying to calm her down. In her struggle, she bit his arm again, harder this time. Connor winced in pain but didn¡¯t pull away, worried he might hurt her.


    Xylia¡¯s struggles only fueled Connor¡¯s anger toward Sadie. He wouldn¡¯t let her get away with it.


    After Xylia calmed down, she was sent back to her bedroom. Once inside, Xylia¡¯s expression returned to normal. She had been pretending.


    She knew Connor too well. If she directly asked for a divorce, he would likely refuse. But Connor was a hypocrite. Like most men, he would never allow his wife to be tarnished.


    Today, she put on this act to prevent Connor from losing control and trying to sleep with her. She was also preparing for the school anniversary. On that day, she would force Connor to file for divorce.


    The Zinn Group went through a rough time these past few days. Not only was it caught up in sensitive social issues, but it was also under heavy pressure from both the Garcia Group and the Ford Group.


    Unable to bear the pressure, Tyson sent Tessa to plead with the Ford Group.


    Tessa arrived at the Ford Group, clearly familiar with the ce.


    The front desk staff greeted her warmly as she walked in. ¡°Mr. Ford is in a meeting right now. Ms. Schultz, please wait in Mr. Ford¡¯s office.¡±


    When Connor saw Tessa, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit irritated.


    ¡°Connor.¡± Tessa said.


    ¡°You¡¯re here because of the Zinn Group, right?¡± Connor asked.


    Tessa followed Connor to the front of the desk and shook her head. ¡°Tyson asked me to plead with you, but I know your decision won¡¯t change, I¡¯m just here to check on you.¡±


    Hearing this, Connor actually felt a sense of relief. His favor toward Tessa increased sharply.


    Connor, in a couple of days, Sonny¡¯s school is holding an anniversary event. He wants me to go. What do you


    think<i>? </i>Tessa said.


    In the past, Connor wouldn¡¯t have paid any attention to something like this. But when he thought of Xylia¡¯s current condition, he felt it was better not to let her attend the event.


    He nodded, ¡°Alright. Sonny always likes you. Thanks for dealing with him.¡±


    I also like Sonny very much,¡± Tessa said, watching Connor with focused attention as he worked. The thought that he would soon be her husband made her feel a bit smug.


    Even though Xylia was the daughter of the Garcia family, Tessa was confident that she could take everything from Xylia and push her out.


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    On the winding mountain road, a Panamera sped upwards. Halfway up the mountain, a grand estate stood. The vintage buildings, surrounded by breathtaking natural scenery, made the white vis look like castles.


    Joshua drove into the estate and parked inside the garage.


    Aaron was in the garden watering the flowers. Hearing the engine, he put down the watering can and walked back to the main house.


    As soon as Joshua entered the room, Aaron hurried after him andunched into a tirade ofints.


    ¡°You brat. Did I ask you to get that cup set for me? You chickened out at the auction. Do you think our family is short on money?¡± Aaron shouted.


    Joshua looked at Eliza, who stood behind Aaron. ¡°The cup set went for 600 thousand. Do you think I should have bid on it?¡±


    600 thousand?¡± Eliza, with cucumber slices on her face, sat on the sofa and red at Aaron. ¡°Aaron<b>, </b>are you asking for trouble? How could that thing possibly be worth 600 thousand?¡±


    As a jewelry appraiser, Eliza had one rule for her family. They were never to spend more than an item¡¯s intrinsic value.


    Aaron felt slightly resentful and said, ¡°Everything at an auction needs to be bid on, right? Besides, didn¡¯t Joshua buy a painting for 600 thousand? Why aren¡¯t youining about him?¡±


    Eliza removed the cucumber slices from her face one by one. ¡°That¡¯s different. The painting Joshua bought was something my future daughter¨Cinw liked. No matter the price, it was worth it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s double standards.¡± Aaron really liked that cup set. Now that he couldn¡¯t have it, he could only re at his son.


    Joshua handed over the tea set he was holding. ¡°Here¡¯s a recement.¡±


    Aaron opened the box Joshua had been holding all along, and to his surprise, it was a full cup set. It was even better than the one he had been eyeing!


    His eyes lit up, and he quickly changed his tune. ¡°Actually, I wasn¡¯t that keen on the other cup set. My son has great taste,¡±


    Aaron was very pleased with the cup set and immediately went to the side to arrange it carefully.


    Joshua slumped onto the sofa, while Eliza looked at him. ¡°Noelle has left,¡± Eliza said.


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    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joshua replied, his tone cold and indifferent to the person mentioned by Eliza.


    Seeing this, Eliza shook her head helplessly. ¡°Surely you don¡¯t need to avoid Noelle like this, do you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already given her what she wanted. I can¡¯t give her more,¡± Joshua said. After speaking, he turned to his mother. ¡°You promised you wouldn¡¯t get involved in any decisions about my partner.¡±


    ¡°When did I say I would?¡± Eliza quickly distanced herself, insisting she only nagged asionally and didn¡¯t have the time to meddle in his love life.


    As a parent, Eliza knew best how to keep boundaries with her son. Her son was young, smart, and decisive- he didn¡¯t need her to be involved in his decisions.


    Joshua sat up straight, resting his head on his hand, and thought for a moment. ¡°Well, I need you to get involved now.¡±


    Eliza looked at him with confusion, she saw the usual scheming in his eyes. She narrowed her gaze. ¡°Get involved in what?¡±


    Joshua exined the situation, and Eliza stared at him, bewildered. ¡°After all this time, I didn¡¯t realize you were this kind of person.¡±


    ¡°Are you going or not?¡± Joshua asked.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Eliza patted her skirt and sat up straight. ¡°How could I not stand up for my future daughter¨Cin-w? Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t hold you back.¡±


    Joshua nodded with satisfaction.


    Zinn Group dered bankruptcy within just three days. Tyson and Ruby were in great distress, hoping Tessa would help them.


    Ziggy stepped in front of Tessa<b>, </b>shielding her, and looked coldly at Tyson and Ruby. ¡°Tessa has been widowed for eight years for your son. She¡¯s already done enough for you. Don¡¯t drag her into this.¡±


    Ziggy took Tessa¡¯s hand and left the Zinn family¡¯s residence.


    Back at the Schultz family home, Gia joyfully grabbed Tessa¡¯s hand, saying that no matter what, she would find her a better husband this time.


    Tessa only nodded, but in her heart, she knew that the most suitable person was still Connor. She had to drive Xylia away.


    The day before the school anniversary, Xylia finally arranged to meet with Josie.


    <b>10:30 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>12


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    Josie looked Xylia over carefully. ¡°Are those bruises from the kidnappers? Who did this to you? Did you report it to the police<b>?</b>¡±


    Xylia smiled as she pulled Josie¡¯s hand down. ¡°I¡¯m fine now, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Xylia had already heard about the Zinn Group¡¯s bankruptcy. Given Tessa¡¯s rtionship with the Zinn family, Connor wouldn¡¯t make a move. She suspected it was Joshua.


    She called him to confirm, and he confirmed that it was indeed the Garcia family¡¯s doing. After all, she was still considered the Garcia family¡¯s ¡°daughter,¡± and they would seek justice for her.


    Xylia felt a gentle warmth in her heart. It seemed that since meeting Joshua, everything in her life was moving in the right direction. She owed him a meal and needed to find a time to treat him.


    Josie, seeing that Xylia was truly fine, felt relieved. ¡°It seems that being the wife of a wealthy family is not easy. Danger is everywhere.¡±


    ¡°It was just an ident,¡± Xylia said.


    The two of them continued chatting and strolling.


    Eyshire Mall, located in the center of Jupiton, was the most luxurious shopping mall in all of Jupiton. It housed numerous luxury brand stores and upscale restaurants, making it a popr spot for the heirs of wealthy families.


    Xylia and Josie came here to shop for branded clothing in preparation for opening a studio.


    ¡°The national designpetition has been postponed for two months due to some issues, so you have plenty of time to focus on your studio now,¡± Josie said.


    Upon hearing this, Xylia was surprised. ¡°Why was it postponed?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, I just heard it from my dad. It seems like there¡¯s some kind of policy change,¡± Josie replied.


    Xylia felt overjoyed. She had been worried about running out of time, but now she had plenty of it. ¡°I won¡¯t be opening my studio in Jupiton. In just over a month, I¡¯ll be going back home,¡± Xylia said.


    ¡°Going home? Isn¡¯t your home in Jupiton?¡± Josie asked, puzzled.


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°My real family is in Norhill. In just over a month, after I divorce my current husband,


    I¡¯ll leave here forever.¡±


    The word ¡°forever¡± sounded so heavy, Josie frowned slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll visit you in Norhill in the future.¡±


    ¡°Okay<i>, </i>Xylia nodded.


    As they were talking, the door to a nearby luxury store opened, and Connor¡¯s deep voice was heard. ¡°Are you going to Norhill?¡±


    Xylia jumped at the sudden sound. Looking up, she saw Connor and Tessa standing at the door.


    LXH


    Chapter <i>77 </i>


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    Tessa, dressed in a luxurious silk slip dress, had long legs and smiled as she linked arms with Connor. Connor held a shopping bag in one hand, and his other arm was linked with Tessa¡¯s.


    Following Xylia¡¯s gaze, his eyes fell on Tessa¡¯s arm linked with his. He coughed awkwardly. ¡°You still haven¡¯t answered my question. Why are you going to Norhill?¡±


    ¡°You misheard me. I never said I¡¯m going to Norhill.¡± Xylia¡¯s expression was indifferent.


    After saying this, Xylia took Josie¡¯s hand to leave, but Tessa suddenly called out, ¡°Xylia, since we¡¯ve run into each other, let¡¯s have a meal together. Bring your friends too.¡±


    Xylia was about to refuse when Josie, with a smile, epted Tessa¡¯s invitation. ¡°Sure! I¡¯m hungry anyway. Xylia, let¡¯s eat together.¡±


    Josie winked at Xylia, who was confused.


    ¡°Look, your friend already said yes. Let¡¯s go together,¡± Tessa said.


    Xylia remained silent, allowing Josie to take her arm and follow Connor and Tessa.


    ¡°Connor, could you help me pick out some jewelryter? I have an audition next month for the role of <i>a </i>wealthy heiress, so I need the right essories,¡± Tessa said.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Connor said.


    ¡°Connor, when it¡¯s time to order, just help me with the menu. I need to use the restroom, but you already know what I like,¡± Tessa added.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Connor agreed to every one of her requests.


    Xylia and Josie watched the intimate interaction between the two ahead. An uninformed observer might have mistakenly assumed that Connor and Tessa were married.


    Xylia suppressed the dull ache in her heart, forcing herself to endure. This was just a stage she had to go through. Once she was free from Connor, time would heal her.


    Josie leaned in and whispered, ¡°This¡¯s the CEO of Ford Group, your husband, right?¡±


    Xylia nodded in silence<i>. </i>


    ¡°Is the person next to him really your younger sister?¡± Josie added.


    Xylia nodded again.


    Josie looked at her sympathetically. ¡°Poor Xylia.¡± She patted Xylia on the shoulder and smiled, ¡°Looks like it¡¯s time for me to help you turn the tables¡±

 Tricked 78

    The group arrived at a restaurant. While Tessa went to the restroom, Connor, ever the gentleman, invited Josie to order first as the guest.


    After Josic and Xylia had finished ordering, Connor skillfully listed a series of dishes and casually asked the waiter for three sses of milk.


    ¡°I really like milk, thank you, Mr. Ford,¡± Josie thanked with a smile.


    Connor nodded lightly. ¡°Tessa likes to drink milk, so I ordered a ss for each of you.¡±


    His gaze brieflynded on Xylia before quickly shifting away. He had been avoiding her these past few days. Every time he saw Xylia, he was reminded of how out of control she had been.


    He didn¡¯t know what she had gone through after the kidnapping, but just thinking about it made him angry and disappointed, and he found himself unable to face her.


    Josie, noticing the ss of milk in front of Xylia, moved it to her own side. ¡°You¡¯re allergic to milk, so I¡¯ll drink <b>it </b>for you.¡±


    Xylia looked at Josie, confused. It was their first time dining together, yet Josie seemed to know her well.


    ¡°You¡¯re probably wondering how I know you¡¯re allergic to milk?¡± Josie asked with a smile.


    Xylia nodded.


    Josie grinned. ¡°Anyone who really wants to understand you will naturally know everything about you.¡±


    Her words were pointed, and Connor, seated across from them, furrowed his brow, a flicker of guilt crossing his face.


    He knew all of Tessa¡¯s preferences, yet he couldn¡¯t even remember his wife¡¯s dietary restrictions.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get you some juice instead,¡± Connor said.


    ¡°No ice. Your wife doesn¡¯t like her drinks with ice,¡± Josie added.


    Xylia was surprised at how well Josie knew her.


    Connor looked at Josie with a stern expression, finally realizing that she was doing it on purpose.


    Tessa returned from the restroom and naturally sat next to Connor. She nced at Josie and smiled. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen Xylia with a friend.¡±


    Realizing her words might have been inappropriate, she quickly corrected herself. I mean, because of some mistakes Xylia made in the past, her friends have distanced themselves from her


    She didn¡¯t borate on what those mistakes were, but the implication was clear. Xylia had done something unforgivable, which caused her friends to leave her.


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    She was subtly warning Josie that Xylia was a problematic person and not worth getting close to.


    Xylia appeared to recall something. She remained silent, and her expression was visibly troubled.


    Josie smiled and said, ¡°Who hasn¡¯t made mistakes when they were young? With so many people in the world, surely you can find like¨Cminded friends.¡±


    ¡°Once you know what happened, you won¡¯t be saying such things, Ms. Dunn,¡± Tessa added. ¡°Well, I might¡¯ve said too much. I¡¯m always a bit careless, so please don¡¯t mind.¡±


    Xylia nced at Josic, who didn¡¯t seem to take Tessa¡¯s words to heart, and said nothing.


    During the meal, Tessa hesitated over the steak in her te. ¡°Connor, your steak¡¯s already been cut. Let¡¯s switch tes.¡±


    Connor, who had already taken a bite, hesitated for a moment, but Tessa quickly swapped their tes.


    ¡°Why worry about that between friends? Are you afraid your wife would mind?¡± Tessa added.


    Connor looked at Xylia. Xylia, as if unaware of their actions, absently stirred her sd. Only then did Connor remember that Xylia didn¡¯t actually like steak.


    He remained silent for a moment, then picked up the knife and fork and began to cut the steak.


    Josie was thoroughly enjoying her meal and chatting away with Tessa. ¡°So, you and your brother¨Cinw have be buddies? That¡¯s a bit unusual.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just my personality. I get along with people easily. I don¡¯t have the delicate, fragile temperament of a typical girl,¡± Tessa said.


    ¡°You¡¯re a dancer, right?¡± Josie asked.


    ¡°Yeah, do you know me?¡± Tessa replied.


    ¡°I know. You injured your ankle a while ago and couldn¡¯tpete.¡± Josie¡¯s casual words caused a silence to fall. over the others.


    Tessa nced at Xylia and said, ¡°That day, I didn¡¯t sprain my ankle on my own. It was Xylia who identally pushed me.¡±


    ¡°Really? The video online showed it as though you fell on your own.¡± Josie smiled at Tessa. ¡°But isn¡¯t it a bit weak of you, as a dancer, to drop out of thepetition just because of a sprained ankle?¡±


    Tessa¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    Josie replied, ¡°I¡¯ve seen so many celebrities online who push through injuries to finish their work. Two years ago, an international dancer got into a car ident a month before apetition and injured her leg badly.


    ¡°She stillpeted, asking the doctor for painkillers to help her get through¡±


    Josie looked at Tessa with a puzzled expression. ¡°It is often said that dancers are the most resilient, yet I did


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    not expect that you, as the principal dancer, would actually withdraw from thepetition simply because of a sprained ankle.¡±


    Josie then nced at Tessa¡¯s feet, which were encased in high heels. ¡°And it doesn¡¯t look like there¡¯s anything wrong with your foot.¡±


    Tessa¡¯s face grew darker.


    Connor set down his knife and fork with a crisp sound, his voice unusually stern. ¡°Miss Dunn, you¡¯re a friend of Xylia¡¯s, and that¡¯s why I invited you here. What¡¯s with this attack?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Josie shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m just telling the truth. Xylia injured her wrist and still kept drawing designs, but you, Tessa, the principal dancer, dropped out because of a sprained ankle?


    ¡°Someone who doesn¡¯t know the full story might think you¡¯re just avoiding thepetition and ming Xylia!¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Connor¡¯s face darkened as he red at Josie, then turned coldly toward Xylia.


    ¡°So these are the kinds of friends you keep? If you don¡¯t know how to socialize, just stay home and stop embarrassing yourself. Look at what kind of people you surround yourself with,¡± he added.


    Xylia let out a coldugh. ¡°My friends are far better than your so¨Ccalled buddies.¡±


    ¡°Xylia!¡± Connor shouted.


    Xylia set down her knife and fork, looking at Josie. ¡°Josie, if you¡¯re not happy with the food here, let me take you somewhere else.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Josie stood up, agreeing willingly.


    Tessa looked at Connor, feeling a little aggrieved. ¡°Connor, you know that¡¯s not how it is.¡±


    Connor, seeing Tessa upset, tried tofort her. ¡°I know. Don¡¯t listen to Xylia. I don¡¯t know where she found that third¨Crate friend.¡±


    Heforted Tessa with a few words, and only then did she stop feeling sad.


    Tessa looked at Connor and said, ¡°Sonny hopes you can also attend the school anniversary this time. Do you


    have time?¡±


    ¡°The school anniversary is the day after tomorrow, right?¡± Connor asked.


    Tessa gave a slight nod.


    Connor¡¯s gaze drifted to the direction where Xylia had left, his expression darkening. ¡°I will go,¡± he replied.


    Tessa spoke happily, ¡°It¡¯s settled then¨CSonny and I will wait for you on the day of the school anniversary.¡±


    Connor agreed,


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    Xylia and Josie left the restaurant. Josie, feeling indignant on Xylia¡¯s behalf, was speaking up for her.


    Xylia felt a warmth in her heart as she listened. She looked up, yet saw that familiar figure not far away.


    AD

 Tricked 79

    Joshua was speaking with the waiter. Today, he wore a perfectly tailored gray suit, its darker, more subdued colorplementing his silver hair. The design was simple, yet the details were wless.


    Few men could pull off a suit in such a shade, but on him it looked effortlessly striking.


    From Xylia¡¯s angle, she could only see his profile. His features were sharp and defined, his silver hair falling. neatly across his forehead. His captivating eyes held a hint of intensity.


    ¡°Do you know him?¡± Josie followed Xylia¡¯s gaze, just as Joshua turned his head and noticed them. He looked familiar to Josie¨Clike someone she had seen before.


    ¡°I do.¡± Xylia took Josie by the hand and walked up to Joshua. ¡°What a coincidence. Are you here for dinner too?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s eyes dropped to their linked arms, his gaze darkening. ¡°I am here to attend to some matters.¡±


    Then his eyes shifted past Xylia, catching sight of Connor and Tessaing out from inside. The hostility in his expression deepened. ¡°Ms. Schultz, Mr. Garcia would like to meet you tomorrow. Are you avable?¡± he added.


    Hearing him suddenly address her as ¡°Ms. Schultz¡± felt strange to Xylia. Still, upon hearing ¡°Mr. Garcia,¡± she hesitated for a moment before nodding.


    Upon hearing Joshua mention ¡°Mr. Garcia¡°, Connor quickly walked over. ¡°Mr. Garcia?¡± Connor looked at Xylia. ¡°Then I¡¯ll apany you tomorrow.¡±


    Without waiting for Xylia to respond, Joshua let out a coldugh and looked at Connor. ¡°Mr. Garcia didn¡¯t say he wanted to see you. If you want to meet him, make an appointment yourself.¡±


    Then Joshua turned back to Xylia, his expression softening. ¡°I still have matters to attend to. I¡¯ll pick you up


    tomorrow at ten.¡±


    Xylia nodded, then Joshua entered the restaurant.


    Connor, with a serious expression, pulled Xylia aside. ¡°Do you know what to say when you meet Mr. Garcia tomorrow?¡±


    Xylia looked at Connor. ¡°What?¡±


    He gave her a cold, sidelong nce. ¡°Although you have joined the Garcia family, do not forget that we are truly the ones who will spend the rest of our lives together as a family.


    ¡°The Ford family is facing a crisis. The Garcia Group has a project that could help. Bring it up casually, not too deliberately¡±


    Xylia scoffed. ¡°Do you really think Mr. Garcia believes I¡¯m the daughter who went missing years ago? With all his resources, he wouldn¡¯t have investigated?¡±


    ¡°A paternity test doesn¡¯t lie. No matter how much he investigates, you¡¯ll still be a Garcia,¡± Connor said.


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    ¡°Is that so?¡± Xylia lifted her eyes to study his face. It was a face she had known for eight years, yet now it felt blurred, unreal.


    Connor knew very well whether the test was fake. Xylia wondered why he was so certain the Garcias wouldn¡¯t uncover the truth.


    ¡°When we get home tonight, I will tell you about the matters concerning the Garcia family,¡± Connor said.


    Xylia only nodded and left with Josie.


    Joshua arrived at the window¨Cside seat on the upper floor of the restaurant. Eliza was already seated, flipping through a magazine.


    ¡°What did you call me here for?¡± Joshua asked, ncing casually at the magazine. It wasn¡¯t from the restaurant -it was a jewelry catalog.


    ¡°You¡¯re finally here.¡± Upon seeing Joshua arrive, Eliza hurriedly put away the manual, picked up her bag, and looked very hurried.


    ¡°I¡¯ve arranged for you and Noelle to meet. The two of you should talk things through. Whatever happens, don¡¯t damage your rtionship. I still have to see my mentor¨CI¡¯m already runningte,¡± Eliza said.


    She rattled off her words in a rush and dashed out, afraid that if she lingered even a second longer, Joshua might fling the cutlery on the table at her.


    As she expected, Joshua¡¯s expression was already beyond grim. Without wasting another moment, he left the


    restaurant.


    Ten minutester, a woman in an elegant dress hurried in, only for the waiter to inform her that the person she was meeting had already gone.


    The next morning, 10:00 a.m. Connor personally apanied Xylia to the door.


    Joshua¡¯s Maybach was already parked at the entrance. He gazed at the Ford Mansion, a strange light flickering in his eyes. He needed an outlet. When Joshua was in a foul mood, he always looked for something¨Cor someone¨Cto take it out on.


    Just then, Connor and Xylia walked over. Upon seeing Joshua, Connor gave him a piercing look.


    Xylia said that Joshua was the driver for the Garcia family. However, Connor always felt that Joshua¡¯s arrogant temperament was not characteristic of a simple driver.


    ¡°Have you been waiting long?¡± Xylia greeted Joshua with a smile.


    Joshua¡¯s eyes softened as theynded on her. ¡°Not at all. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Xyl¨ªa moved to get into the car, but Connor caught her wrist, stopping her. His hand brushed gently across


    her forehead, smoothing her stray hair. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you when you get back.¡±


    Xylia flinched back, putting distance between herself and Connor, watching him warily.


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    Connor¡¯s expression darkened. He hadn¡¯t expected her to humiliate him so openly in front of another man.


    ¡°We¡¯re about to get divorced¨Cwhy put on an act?¡± Xylia said.


    Joshua shot him a mocking look, then opened the passenger door. ¡°Come on, Xylia. Mr. Garcia is already waiting.¡±


    Xylia quickly got into the front passenger seat.


    After the door closed, Connor walked up and stood in front of Joshua. They were nearly the same height, both exuding amanding presence, as if locked in an invisible sh.


    ¡°My wife and I will never divorce. This is my final warning: stay away from her,¡± Connor said coldly, ring at Joshua, his toneced with threat.


    Joshua¡¯s lips curved faintly, though his expression remained devoid of warmth. ¡°What can you do to me?¡± His arrogance was evident, as if the heir of the Ford Group meant nothing to him.


    Connor¡¯s expression darkened, filled with anger.


    Joshua¡¯s smirk deepened, his eyes still carrying a hint of amusement, though it seemed mocking. ¡°You¡¯d better worry about yourself. Some holes are too big to patch.¡±


    After speaking, Joshua walked toward the driver¡¯s seat. Under Connor¡¯s fierce gaze, the Maybach sped away.


    Connor watched them leave, determined not to let Joshua get away with this¨Cafter all, he was just a driver.


    Inside the car, Joshua gripped the wheel, his expression still cold. The image of Connor¡¯s hand brushing Xylia¡¯s hair lingered in his mind, fueling his fury.


    He had already been in a foul mood, and now, after witnessing the scene earlier, his anger had only deepened. Connor would pay for this. Joshua wouldn¡¯t rest until he did.


    Beside him, Xylia nced over and asked softly, ¡°What did you two just say?¡±


    Joshua kept a stern expression. After hearing Xylia¡¯s words, he said, ¡°Nothing. Your husband just threatened me¨Ctold me to stay away from you, <i>or </i>he wouldn¡¯t let me off the hook,¡±


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    Xylia frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to Connor¡¯s nonsense.¡±


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    Connor wouldn¡¯t take any rash actions before securing the Garcia Group¡¯s project. And, more importantly, he wouldn¡¯t do anything impulsive.


    Joshua smiled, but didn¡¯t say a word.


    Xylia stole a nce at Joshua. Today, he wore a casual ck T¨Cshirt and ck pants. The car drove beneath the shade of the trees, and sunlight filtered through the branches and windshield, casting a soft glow across his face. His silver hair shimmered stunningly.


    ¡°I¡¯m handsome, right?¡± Joshua suddenly spoke, catching Xylia off guard.


    Xylia met Joshua¡¯s gaze as he nced at her while driving. Her cheeks flushed. She cleared her throat lightly, trying to change the subject. ¡°You, the Garcia family¡¯s driver, sure dress casually,¡± she said.


    Previously, she hadn¡¯t noticed Joshua¡¯s clothes. She¡¯d assumed it was normal for someone capable of saving 600 thousand to afford expensive clothing.


    Yesterday, after leaving the mall, it was only upon hearing Josie¡¯s remarks that Xylia found it strange.


    ¡°The Garcia family¡¯s driver? The tailoring of his suit alone would cost thousands, and the whole outfit must be worth at least ten thousand. Would a driver really wear such expensive clothes?


    ¡°Even if he allowed himself a bit of luxury, today is a workday. Families like the Garcia¡¯s always have their drivers on standby. How could he just casually go out like this?¡± Josie said.


    Since Xylia met Joshua, he seems quite rxed. And she clearly remembered that, apart from the suit she saw yesterday, there were several other expensive ones.


    He had only been working for a few years, yet he already had arge savings and several expensive suits, with casual wear that wasn¡¯t cheap either.


    Even if the Garcia family paid their drivers well, it couldn¡¯t possibly be enough for him. She began to doubt whether he was really just a driver.


    He replied, ¡°The personal driver for the Garcia family certainly can¡¯t dress as casually as I do. I¡¯m not a personal driver. I sometimes just tag along with the boss on some projects<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    It dawned on Xylia. The Garcia family¡¯s projects weren¡¯t small, most of Joshua¡¯s ie probably came frommissions on these projects. She gave him an appreciative thumbs¨Cup. ¡°You¡¯re young and sessful.¡±


    Joshua smiled. It seemed this exnation worked.


    ¡°But you really do have a connection with the Garcia family, don¡¯t you? Not only do you work there and earn a living, but you also share the same surname,¡± Xylia added.


    Joshua smiled again, smoothly changing the subject. ¡°I heard from the boss that you¡¯re not actually the daughter of the Garcia family, but you need to expose this truth tomorrow. Why?¡±


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    ¡°To get a divorce.¡± Xylia nced at Joshua, her eyes filled with anticipation. ¡°I won¡¯t invite you to tomorrow¡¯s show. But once I¡¯ve divorced that jerk, I¡¯ll treat you to dinner to celebrate.¡±


    ¡°Why won¡¯t you invite me?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Because even though it will have a good result, it¡¯s not fun,¡± Xylia said.


    Joshua nced at her, and she cheerfully winked back. His eyes flickered briefly, and he quickly looked away. The road ahead was smooth, but his mind was in turmoil, unsettled like he was climbing a steep hill.


    One hourter, the Maybach pulled up in front of the High Desert Hotel. Joshua led Xylia upstairs to a private room on the second floor.


    Aaron and Eliza were already waiting there. As the door opened, both of them turned their gaze toward the


    entrance.


    Xylia and Joshua entered the room one after the other. As they looked up, they immediately met two pairs of eager eyes. Xylia froze, feeling bewildered as she looked at them.


    ¡°These two are Mr. Garcia and his wife.¡± As he spoke, Joshua looked toward Aaron and Eliza, introducing Xylia to them. ¡°This is Miss Xylia Schultz.¡±


    Xylia had expected to meet only Yana, but she didn¡¯t anticipate that Aaron and Eliza would be here as well. Since Yana already knew that Xylia wasn¡¯t the daughter of the Garcia family, Xylia was surprised that they still wanted to meet her.


    Her mind was a whirlwind, and she forgot to greet them.


    Joshua nudged her shoulder with his elbow. ¡°Say hello.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Mr. Garcia, Mrs. Garcia,¡± she said instinctively, but something about it felt off.


    Eliza stood up with a bright smile and walked toward Xylia. She stared at her future daughter¨Cinw¡¯s face without blinking. ¡°Xylia, it¡¯s so nice to finally meet you. Are you hungry? Let¡¯s eat and chat.¡±


    Eliza pulled Xylia to the table. Joshua followed and sat down beside Xylia,


    Xylia greeted Aaron awkwardly, sending a pleading look toward Joshua. Joshua smiled and gave her a reassuring nce.


    With Eliza¡¯s warm hospitality, Xylia ordered two dishes.


    While waiting, she spoke first. ¡°Mr. Garcia, Mrs. Garcia, I¡¯m sorry to have wasted your time. I¡¯m not the Garcia family¡¯s daughter, and I¡¯ll exin everything to you.¡±


    ¡°Why are you saying that?¡± Eliza interrupted her, holding Xylia¡¯s hand. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re not part of our family now. After all, it¡¯s just a matter of time.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Xylia blinked, confused.


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    Eliza kept staring at Xylia, pleased with what she saw. She was <b>a </b>sucker for good looks and couldn¡¯t take her eyes off attractive people.


    But when Eliza looked up and met her son¡¯s eyes, she saw him ring at her, teeth clenched, as if warning her to stop talking.


    Eliza mentally cursed Joshua, but restrained herself from speaking further.


    Aaron cleared his throat and intervened. ¡°Ms. Schultz, Yana has already told us about your situation. We came today just to have a meal with you.¡±


    Xylia, feeling more anxious, forced herself to act calm.


    Noticing her difort, Eliza gave Aaron a meaningful look. Aaron excused himself, citing other matters, and left first.


    Eliza went to the restroom, but before leaving, she gave Joshua a pointed look. He pretended to answer a phone call and followed her out.


    Only now did Xylia have a moment to address her own emotions. Today really caught her off guard.


    Eliza waited for Joshua outside. The moment he stepped out, she confronted him. ¡°You were supposed to wait for Noelle at the restaurant yesterday. Why did you leave early?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s gaze was cold and stern. ¡°Why did you set this up?¡±


    Eliza was aware that Joshua was unwilling to meet Noelle. However, over the years, she had cared for Noelle as if she were her own daughter and did not wish to see discord arise within the family.


    ¡°Noelle has now left Jupiton as well, you two absolutely cannot have a falling out. Do you understand?¡± Eliza


    said.


    ¡°What you think is none of my business,¡± Joshua said.


    Eliza was furious and about to speak, but Joshua cut her off, saying, ¡°Alright, your future daughter¨Cinw is in there. Don¡¯t dwell on irrelevant things.¡±


    After speaking, Joshua did not wait for Eliza to say anything and turned around and entered the private room.


    Çú


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 Tricked 81

    <b>Chapter </b><b>81 </b>


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    Asorora Kindergarten was an elite private school in Jupiton, where most young heirs from wealthy families attended.


    Xylia wore the soft yellow dress that Sonny had brought her the day before, along with light makeup. Standing at the kindergarten entrance, she felt somewhat dazed.


    She knew this ce well¨Cit used to be her who dropped off and picked up Sonny every day. But she hadn¡¯t been back since she¡¯d been sent to prison. This was her first time returning and also herst.


    As an exclusive kindergarten, the anniversary celebration was more like a morous social gathering. Luxury cars crowded the entrance, and influential parents apanied their children through the gates. Xylia was the only one alone.


    The security guard at the entrance stopped Xylia and asked, ¡°Madam, do you have an invitation?¡±


    ¡°Invitation?¡± Xylia was confused.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the guard exined politely but firmly. ¡°Invitations were sent home with the children. You¡¯ll need one to enter today.¡±


    Xylia stayed silent. This was Asorora Kindergarten¡¯s first anniversary event, and she hadn¡¯t been aware an invitation was needed. Sonny hadn¡¯t given her one.


    ¡°I¡¯m Sonny Ford¡¯s mother. He didn¡¯t give me an invitation. Could I possibly sign in?¡± Xylia asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, that won¡¯t be possible.¡± The guard was professional but unyielding.


    Only then did Xylia call Sonny¡¯s teacher, but the teacher said that Sonny¡¯s mother had arrived long ago. Xylia finally realized that the mother whom the teacher referred to as Sonny¡¯s mother must be Tessa. Sonny deliberately embarrassed her.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid without an invitation, I can¡¯t let you in,¡± the guard repeated, blocking her path.


    Xylia smiled bitterly, once again feeling she¡¯d failed as a mother. But today was important. She had to get in.


    ¡°Mrs. Ford? Why aren¡¯t you going in?¡±


    A familiar, cheerful voice came from behind. Xylia turned and saw an acquaintance¨Cone of Sonny¡¯s ssmates¡® mothers. They¡¯d asionally chatted about parenting before.


    ¡°Mrs. Martin, I don¡¯t have an invitation, so I can¡¯t get in,¡± Xylia said with a bitter smile.


    ¡°Come in with me, I brought the invitation letter,¡± Kali Martin said.


    Since the kindergarten allowed guests apanied by invitation holders, the guard let them through.


    ¡°This anniversary event is quite grand,¡± Kali made small talk as they walked. ¡°I heard they even invited the celebrity Leon Sadler. He rarely makes public appearances¨CI wonder if he¡¯ll perform today.¡±


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    When they reached the ssroom, Xylia paused at the doorway. Inside, Connor and Tessa were adjusting Sonny¡¯s outfit. Dressed in a little ck suit, Sonny was having shimmer powder brushed onto his eyelids by Tessa, while Connor watched them with a tender gaze.


    Kali, standing beside Xylia, couldn¡¯t help but blurt out, ¡°Why do they look more like a family?¡±


    She immediately regretted it. ncing awkwardly at Xylia, she tried to recover. ¡°What I meant was, well, you and your sister have such a good rtionship.¡±


    Xylia smiled faintly. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. They are the family.¡±


    Flustered, Kali excused herself to find her own son.


    Just then, Connor looked up and noticed Xylia at the door.


    Dressed in a delicate pale yellow dress with a gauzy ovey, light makeup, her hair pulled back and fastened with a tiny yellow¨Cdiamond butterfly clip, she looked youthful and radiant.


    Frowning, Connor walked over and pulled her aside. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± he asked, toneced with reproach.


    Xylia let out a sarcasticugh. ¡°I¡¯m here for my son¡¯s school event. Is that not allowed?¡±


    She nced past him into the ssroom, where Tessa was smirking triumphantly. She looked at Connor again. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did I interrupt your perfect family moment?¡±


    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Connor red coldly. ¡°Is jealousy all you know? You know Tessa will being today, right?¡± he pressed, eyes sharp with usation.


    Sonny had already made all the arrangements with Tessa, so he had no intention of inviting Xylia. In fact, no one had even informed her about the event. She must have shown up just to spite Tessa.


    The disgust in his eyes deepened. ¡°Tessa is your younger sister, yet you continue to target her time and again. I know Sonny prefers her, but that¡¯s no reason to embarrass them both here.¡±


    Xylia was rendered speechless by Connor¡¯s words and could onlyugh.


    As Sonny¡¯s biological mother, she attended her son¡¯s kindergarten anniversary celebration, yet still ended up causing an embarrassing incident.


    She was about to say something when Tessa and Sonny walked out.


    When Tessa saw Xylia, she was also somewhat surprised. ¡°Xylia, what brings you here?¡±


    Sonny frowned and looked at Xylia. ¡°Mother, I did not invite you. Why did youe? Do you want to say in front of everyone that you are my mother and embarrass Tessa?¡±


    Tessa gently pulled Sonny¡¯s hand and quietly tried to reason with him. ¡°Sonny, this is your fault. After all, she is your mother¨Chow can you speak about her like that?¡±


    ¡°Tessa, she has repeatedly targeted you. You do not need to speak on her behalf. Sonny stared at Xylia with


    <b>10:31 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>12


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    A bitter, mocking smile touched Xylia¡¯s lips. She had expected Sonny¡¯s schemes, but facing her own son¡¯s cruelty still stung. He was learning from Tessa¨Calready mastering deception and maniption at such a


    young age.


    ¡°So, Sonny, Xylia asked calmly, without raising her voice, ¡°are you asking me to leave?¡±


    Sonny looked panicked. He couldn¡¯t let her leave¨Cnot yet. He had ns for herter, all meant to push his parents toward divorce.


    Tessa smiled and stepped in to smooth things over. ¡°Why leave? Now that you¡¯re here, you should stay for the whole event with Sonny.¡± She nced at Sonny. ¡°Right, Sonny?¡±


    Sonny nodded. ¡°Tessa¡¯s right. Since you¡¯re already here, just stay.¡±


    Xylia turned to Connor once more and asked, ¡°Do you have any further objections?¡±


    Connor pulled her aside and threatened her in a low voice. ¡°I¡¯m warning you¨Cwe¡¯re in public. Even if <b>it¡¯s </b>for Sonny¡¯s sake, don¡¯t you dare make trouble for Tessa.¡±


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    <b>Chapter </b>82


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    Xylia looked up, meeting Connor¡¯s gaze directly. ¡°Connor, you need to understand. No matter how close Tessa and Sonny are, I am his mother. If you insist on unting your perfect family in public, fine. Let¡¯s go file for divorce today. I won¡¯t even fight for custody.¡±


    Connor let out a scornfulugh. ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± She always threatened divorce, but she never went through with it.


    ¡°You use divorce as a threat whenever you¡¯re jealous. You know you can¡¯t survive without me. What good is the Garcia family¡¯s backing? You¡¯re a divorced woman with a child. Xylia, do not challenge my patience,¡± Connor added.


    With that, he turned and walked back to Tessa and Sonny. Xylia stood still, her face pale.


    She wasn¡¯t hurt¨Cjust deeply disappointed that she¡¯d refused to see Connor for who he really was all this time. Now, seeing his true nature, she finally felt free. Today she would divorce him.


    The anniversary ceremony was held in the school¡¯s grand auditorium¨Celegant and luxurious, filled with elites and their families.


    Leon had been seated in the front row, and as he spoke with the principal, his eyes scanned the crowd, searching for <i>a </i>familiar face. It took him a while to spot Xylia¡¯s group entering.


    Connor and Tessa walked in ahead, holding Sonny¡¯s hands, with Xylia trailing behind.


    They found seats near the front, while Xylia sat alone in a corner. From a distance, Connor, Tessa, and Sonny looked like a perfect family.


    The sight made Leon¡¯s blood boil. That jerk Connor left his wife out in the cold while he was all over her


    sister.


    Noticing Leon¡¯s gaze, Tessa looked up and smiled shyly, smoothing her hair. She thought he was looking at her<i>. </i>


    But Leon¡¯s expression remained cold, and he turned away before she could catch his eye. So this was the trouble Xylia was facing¨CConnor and Tessa.


    ¡°Daddy, remember to record my performance. And Tessa, you take pictures¨Cyours always turn out better.¡± Sonny chirped excitedly, behaving like any child basking in parental attention.


    From the very beginning, he deliberately avoided looking at Xylia and refrained from speaking to Xylia. He had initially assumed that Xylia would feel lonely as a result, but she showed an attitude of indifference.


    Sonny believed that Xylia was merely forcing herself to tough it out. She was enduring. Well, no matter- today, he would make sure his parents divorced.


    ¡°Sure! Sonny, you¡¯re so adorable¨Cyou¡¯ll definitely look great in any photo,¡± Tessa said.


    ¡°Hurry up and get ready; your teacher is calling you,¡± Connor said.


    10:31 Fri, <b>Sep </b>12


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    Once Sonny left for his performance, Connor moved to sit beside Tessa. They chatted andughed, making Xylia seem like a stranger.


    The school anniversary celebration program serves as a performance stage for children.


    Seizing the moment when Connor went to the restroom, Tessa turned to Xylia to boast. ¡°You¡¯re Connor¡¯s wife and Sonny¡¯s mother, yet you look like an unwanted guest. Does it hurt?¡±


    Xylia remained silent.


    Tessa pressed her advantage. ¡°You know, it¡¯s pathetic. Your husband doesn¡¯t love you, your son doesn¡¯t want you, and even your parents disowned you. Why stay? You should just leave.


    ¡°And that story about you being a Garcia¨Cdon¡¯t get your hopes up. Connor set that up. The Garcias will find out the truth sooner orter.¡±


    Tessa spoke at length, while Xylia listened with indifference and gave no response.


    By the end, Tessa felt annoyed. She let out a cold snort. ¡°You truly remain as aloof as ever. We¡¯ll see how calm you areter.¡±


    Just then, Connor returned. ¡°What¡¯s happeningter?¡± he asked, having caught only a snippet of the


    conversation.


    Tessa instantly switched to a sweet tone. ¡°Nothing, just talking about Sonny¡¯s performance.¡±


    Connor shot a cold nce at Xylia. ¡°You¡¯re his mother, yet Tessa cares more about him than you do.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond. She simply leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes to rest.


    Connor felt choked up, as if something was stuck in his throat¨Che couldn¡¯t swallow it down or let it out. He no longer pays attention to Xylia.


    Xylia waited quietly, knowing Tessa and Sonny had something nned. Then her phone vibrated¡ªa message from Joshua. [Yana is on her way. Just waiting for the right moment.]


    The children¡¯s performances ended one after another. As the host was wrapping up, a furious shout echoed through the hall. ¡°Xylia! You murderer! Give me back my daughter¡¯s life!¡±


    The entire venue was startled by the sudden sound and fell intoplete silence.


    A man in a ck T¨Cshirt and jeans stormed in, his face weathered and full of hatred. He charged toward Xylia, brandishing a knife.


    Panic erupted. Parents grabbed their children, teachers called the police, and Connor swiftly grabbed the man¡¯s arm. ¡°Who are you? How dare you attack someone here!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re Xylia¡¯s husband, aren¡¯t you? Ask your wife who I am!¡± the man said.


    Xylia found this person familiar, but regrettably could not recall who he was.


    Upon seeing Nylia¡¯s evident confusion, the man grew even angrier.


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    ¡°You murderer! When my younger sister was in her third year of high school, you forced her to jump off a building andmit suicide. She was still so young. She had her whole future ahead of her, and all of it was ruined by someone like you,¡± the man shouted.


    As the man continued to speak, his distress intensified, and ultimately, he broke down in tears.


    Xylia finally recognized him, and her face went pale. She had not anticipated that the trouble Tessa brought her would be this person.


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    The year she was a senior in high school was also the year Tessa returned to the Schultz family.


    Xylia, feeling upset, had a conflict with a ssmate. When sheter learned that the ssmate had jumped from a building, the ssmate¡¯s family approached her and used her of school bullying.


    At that time, the police conducted a thorough investigation of her and ultimately cleared her of any wrongdoing.


    But by then, the damage was done. The truth didn¡¯t matter to the gossiping students and teachers¨Cin their eyes, Xylia was a murderer.


    From that moment onward, the Schultz family felt ashamed of Xylia and began to distance themselves from


    her.


    A voice cut through the crowd, ¡°Is that really Connor Ford¡¯s wife? How old was she in high school? She drove someone to suicide back then?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t she just get out of prison for a hit¨Cand¨Crun?¡± someone else added, ¡°It was all over the inte. She must be a repeat offender.¡±


    ¡°Why did the school even let someone like her in? She¡¯s a danger to our children,¡± someone said.


    ¡°Exactly!¡± a fourth voice chimed in, ¡°And now she¡¯s brought a madman with a knife to a school event. How does a murderer have the nerve to show her face?¡±


    Once it was clear the danger wasn¡¯ting their way, the parents rxed and settled in to watch the show.


    ¡°Today is the anniversary of my sister¡¯s death,¡± the man shouted, his voice breaking. ¡°And you, Xylia, you¡¯re wearing a dress she designed!¡±


    His eyes were bloodshot as he struggled against Connor¡¯s grip, trying to get to Xylia.


    Connor was strong. He twisted the man¡¯s wrist sharply, forcing him to drop the knife with a cry of pain.


    The man spat, tears mixing with rage. ¡°You married a murderer. Had a child with a murderer. What, you think your money and power make you above thew? I will get justice for my sister today.¡±


    It was only then that Connor noticed the small camera mounted on the man¡¯s chest. This was being livestreamed.


    Leon, not far away, noticed it too and quickly pulled out his phone. Sure enough, he found the stream trending online. Hundreds of thousands of viewers had already joined, and thements were a torrent of


    hate.


    [Her again! Are the rich so powerful now they can protect murderers? What are the police even doing?l


    [First <i>a </i>hit¨Cand¨Crun, now we find out she was a bully in high school? Some people are just born evil.]


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    [She¡¯s the one who made my favorite dancer sprain her ankle and miss thepetition! A jealous witch like her should just die!]


    Leon¡¯s grip on his phone tightened, his face darkening. This wasn¡¯t something one of his own scandals could overshadow. He knew that Xylia wasn¡¯t capable of such things, but clearing her name publicly wouldn¡¯t be


    easy.


    Just as Leon was thinking, the crisp sound of a p suddenly rang out. Connor had struck Xylia hard across the face. ¡°Xylia, what else are you hiding from me?¡±


    Given the current public sentiment, Connor knew he had to act fast. His only move was to publicly rify that he had been kept in the dark. It was the only way to protect the Ford Group.


    Xylia took the blow without a sound. She wasn¡¯t even surprised. Even though Connor knew the truth of what happened back then, she knew he would never defend her under pressure like this.


    ¡°Xylia, I was just about to mention this. I saw this dress in Nova Moore¡¯s sketchbook. She designed it. You might be a designer now too, but that doesn¡¯t give you the right to im the work of someone you drove to death.


    ¡°And to wear it on the anniversary of her passing. How could you?¡± Tessa¡¯s words sent another wave of fury through the live chat.


    [She has no shame!]


    [Punish her! The police need to act NOW!]


    [Bullies must die! And the Ford Group that shelters them must fall!]


    Connor¡¯s phone vibrated nonstop in his pocket¨Chis assistant. He knew a single livestream linking him to Xylia could tank the entirepany¡¯s stock. He red at her. This was all her fault.


    As Connor stepped away to take the call, Xylia turned to the man. ¡°You¡¯re her brother. You should know better than anyone why Nova really died.¡±


    ¡°Of course I know,¡± he yelled. ¡°Our family was poor. She got into that elite school on schrship. She had so much pride, but she always felt beneath you rich kids.


    ¡°You mocked her for her old clothes, humiliated her publicly. She couldn¡¯t take it anymore. That¡¯s why she jumped.¡±


    His story, a tale of a poor girl bullied to death by a wealthy heiress, perfectly yed to the audience¡¯s sympathies. The hate online intensified.


    However, the wealthy heirs and their families who were still present at the scene exhibited little emotional fluctuation.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t see thements, but she could imagine them. Since this was being dragged back into the light, she would use the chance to clear her name.


    ¡°Nova does indeed have strong self¨Cesteem, but the person who truly insulted her was not me¡ªit was all of


    10:31 Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>12


    you,¡± Xylia said.


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    Her voice clear and firm. ¡°We were ssmates for three years. If I had bullied her, why did it onlye out in our final year? The police investigated everything and found no evidence I bullied her. Do you not even trust their findings?¡±


    ¡°You rich people can buy off the police,¡± Nova¡¯s brother said.


    ¡°You give me far too much credit,¡± Xylia retorted.


    Just as she was about to continue, Tessa cut in. ¡°Xylia, how can you be so heartless? Nova is dead. And you¡¯re here arguing with her grieving brother?¡± Tessa was the picture of righteous anger, defending the man beside her.


    ¡°Who is truly causing trouble here?¡± Xylia said coldly. ¡°Save your fake concern. I will prove my innocence today.¡±


    She pushed Tessa aside to continue speaking. It wasn¡¯t a hard shove, but Tessa stumbled dramatically and fell to the floor.


    Connor, returning from his call, saw it happen. ¡°Tessa!¡± He rushed to help her up.


    ¡°My ankle,¡± Tessa whimpered, eyes welling with tears.


    After settling her in a chair, Connor grabbed Xylia¡¯s wrist, his voice venomous. ¡°You¡¯ve hurt so many people. Now you¡¯re attacking your own sister?¡±


    Connor¡¯s words once again condemned her. Xylia¡¯s wrist hurt, and she struggled vigorously. ¡°Let go of me!¡±


    Connor shoved her away hard. Xylia lost her bnce, stumbling backward toward the concrete steps. Just as she was about to fall headfirst, a familiar figure rushed forward and caught her.


    A man¡¯s voice spoke calmly above her. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit premature to dere her guilty before the police have even arrived?¡±


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    Turning her head, Xylia looked into Leon¡¯s strikingly handsome face, remembering that he¡¯d been invited by the school and was here today.


    No one had expected Leon to speak up for Xylia. It was a situation where even ordinary people would steer clear, yet here he was¨Ca superstar of his stature¨Cjumping into the fray with boldness.


    ¡°Is Leon actually defending her?¡± a voice remarked. ¡°Could there be more to the story?¡±


    ¡°At a time like this, self¨Cpreservation is key,¡± another added. ¡°Why would a celebrity stick his neck out for Xylia?¡±


    ¡°This is getting interesting.¡±


    The onlookers seemed to have forgotten their fear,pletely absorbed in the drama unfolding before them -a suspected murderer, a wealthy family¡¯s dirtyundry, and a famous actor taking sides. Each twist was more sensational than thest.


    Tessa was equally shocked that Leon would protect Xylia. ¡°Mr. Sadler,¡± she said anxiously, ¡°you have nothing to do with this. As a public figure, you should really stay out of it.¡±


    Leon put his hands in his pockets and looked at Tessa. ¡°It¡¯s precisely because I¡¯m a public figure that I can¡¯t just stand by and do nothing.¡±


    Tessa didn¡¯t understand his motives. Whatever the oue, stepping into this mess would only make him a target for controversy.


    His fans might support him, but his critics would seize the opportunity to attack. Tessa couldn¡¯t understand why he would step forward for something that offered him no benefit and everything to lose.


    ¡°Mr. Sadler, you¡¯re defending Xylia without even knowing her. Aren¡¯t you afraid of the consequences?¡± Tessa hoped that Leon would heed what she said.


    But Leon didn¡¯t even nce her way. Instead, he turned to Connor, who had been standing stiffly to the side.


    ¡°Mr. Ford, Xylia is your wife<b>, </b>correct? Yet you have not spoken a single word on her behalf all this time. Do you truly believe your wife has used your influence tomit wrongdoing?¡± Leon asked.


    Connor nced at Xylia, then nced at Leon. ¡°I know my wife better than you do. What happened with Nova urred when she was still in high school. It has nothing to do with our family.¡±


    Connor¡¯s meaning was clear. Even if Xylia had bullied her ssmate back then, it had nothing to do with the Ford family. He was already beginning to distance himself from her.


    Xylia felt a bitter smile in her heart and remained silent.


    Leon stepped boldly in front of Xylia and shot Connor a look of pure contempt. ¡°How ironic, Mr. Ford. When your wife is in trouble, you don¡¯t stand by her¨Cyou stand with her sister. Anyone watching would think you two were the married couple.¡±


    <b>10:32 </b>Fri, <b>Sep </b><b>12 </b>


    Upon hearing Leon¡¯s remarks, those nearby began talking among themselves.


    Someone said, ¡°Yeah, today¡¯s event is for families, so why did Mr. Ford bring his sister¨Cinw?¡±


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    Another added, ¡°Did you see? During the games and before the performance, it was Mr. Ford and his wife¡¯s sister helping Sonny. The actual mother was treated like a stranger.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I just thought it was really strange,¡± someone added.


    The discussion quickly shifted from bullying to the Ford family¡¯s own domestic drama.


    Connor and Tessa flushed with anger and humiliation.


    ¡°Watch your words, Mr. Sadler!¡± Connor snapped. ¡°As a public figure, you should know loose talk has consequences. I could sue you for defamation once the police arrive.¡±


    Upon witnessing their favored actor being criticized, viewers in the livestream room began to flood the chat with messages.


    [A bastard who throws his own wife under the bus when something goes wrong¨Cdoes he have any right to criticize Leon?]


    [Leon must have hit Connor¡¯s sore spot, which is why he reacted so strongly. Shame on him¨Cgetting cozy with his sister¨Cinw!]


    [Stay on topic! If my wife were a bully, I¡¯d make sure she regretted it!]


    [Wow, why are you so worked up? Are you a friend of Connor¡¯s or something?]


    The buzz continued both online and off until the police finally arrived.


    Upon the arrival of the police, the school authorities were greatly relieved.


    Nova¡¯s brother showed no fear upon seeing the police. Instead, he raised his voice to use Xylia, demanding that she give him an exnation today.


    The police ordered him to shut down the live broadcast<b>, </b>but Nova¡¯s brother refused to end the livestream, even holding the knife to his own throat.


    ¡°Stay back! If you approach, I will slit my own throat and end my life! You¡¯ve already killed my sister. What¡¯s one more life?¡± Nova¡¯s brother shouted.


    The police did not dare to act rashly. ¡°What do you want?¡± one officer asked calmly.


    Nova¡¯s brother looked at Xylia with those eyes full of hatred.


    ¡°You killed my sister. My parents cried themselves sick¨Cthey¡¯re in the hospital now. You need to pay their medical bills, then I¡¯ll let this go!¡± Nova¡¯s brother said.


    Tessa shot him a furious look. ¡®You fool! We had a n. Why are you messing it up for money? she thought.


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    Xylia walked up to Nova¡¯s older brother. He warily took two steps back, the hand holding the knife trembling slightly, yet the fierceness in his eyes remained undiminished.


    ¡°I am willing to cover the medical expenses, but the events of that year must be clearly exined,¡± Xylia said.


    She looked at the police officer. ¡°Officer, ten years ago, a student suicide urred at Phario School. The deceased, Nova Moore, was my ssmate.


    ¡°At that time, I was investigated, but the conclusion was that I did not bully Nova. Nova died from depression. The police department must have a record of this case. Can you clear my name?¡±


    The police officer nodded and walked up to Nova¡¯s older brother. ¡°We reviewed the case beforeing. Nova¡¯s death was ruled a suicide resulting from depression¨Ccaused by extreme family pressure.


    ¡°You were the favored son. Her living and educational conditions were consistently neglected. In her final year of high school, your parents forced her to drop out. She saw her future copse¨Cthat¡¯s why she jumped.¡±


    The crowd fellpletely silent, absorbing the shocking truth. After a moment, whispers began again.


    Someone murmured, ¡°So the police confirmed it. It must be true.¡±


    Another voice added, ¡°Obviously. You think just anyone can bribe the entire police force? Trust the official report.¡±


    A third person eximed, ¡°What a twist. Using his sister¡¯s death to extort money?¡±


    Yet another remarked, ¡°It seems his parents are sick, but that¡¯s probably just an excuse¨Che just wants money, right?¡±


    The sound of whispered conversation was heard nearby, and Nova¡¯s older brother blushed deeply. ¡°I¡¯m not lying. They really are in the hospital. We need that money.¡±


    ¡°You can tell us all about it at the station,¡± an officer said firmly. ¡°If there¡¯s a real need, we¡¯re here to help.¡±


    Her brother broke down sobbing. In that moment of distraction, the police swiftly disarmed him, ended the livestream, and led him away.


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    <b>Chapter </b><b>85 </b>


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    <b>After </b>Nova¡¯s older brother was taken away by the police, order was restored in the grand hall. The school <b>staff </b>began to maintain order and nned to evacuate parents and students.


    Sonny finally had the chance to rush over and hug <b>Tessa </b>tightly. ¡°Tessa, I was so worried just now.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>I¡¯m fine,¡± <b>Tessa </b>said.


    Xylia looked at them, her gaze filled with mockery. She was the one who had almost been attacked, yet throughout the incident, Tessa had been protected by Connor, and still, Sonny was more worried about <b>Tessa</b>.


    Xylia¡¯s gaze shifted to Connor. ¡°It just so happens we have this opportunity today. I¡¯d like everyone to witness something.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s voice was loud, causing the people who had been leaving in an orderly manner to stop and look back. ¡°Connor, I want a divorce¨Cright now.¡±


    Connor looked at Xylia with a dark expression. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    Tessa¡¯s face first lit up with delight, then she pretended to advise. ¡°Xylia, what are you doing? Even if there are problems between you two, you shouldn¡¯t bring them up here.


    ¡°Although you were just recognized by the Garcia family, you¡¯ve been married to Connor for many years. Do you look down on him now?¡±


    Tessa¡¯s words seemed to ease the tension, but she was subtly suggesting that after Xylia joined the Garcia family, she had be arrogant and looked down on Connor.


    The surrounding crowd began whispering.


    Someone said, ¡°I heard the Garcia family recently found their daughter, but I¡¯ve never heard of the Garcia family having a daughter.¡±


    Another person responded, ¡°The Garcia family has always been low¨Cprofile. How could you know if they have a daughter? But in terms of wealth and power, they shouldn¡¯t be any weaker than the Ford family.¡±


    ¡°Why be so subtle? The Garcia family is a super¨Crich family. Even if all the famous wealthy families in Jupiton werebined, they still wouldn¡¯tpare to the Garcia family,¡± Someone else chimed in.


    ¡°Well, <b>if </b>it were me, why stay with the Ford family if I could return to the Garcia family?¡± Another person added.


    Someone finally remarked, ¡°You can¡¯t say that. After all, they¡¯ve been married for so many years. How could she abandon her husband just because she became sessful? She is ungrateful.¡±


    There were murmurs about how Connor had never cared about Xylia¡¯s fake heiress status and had taken care of her for seven years. Now that she became rich, she abandoned her husband.


    Holding <b>Tessa¡¯s </b>hand and having heard her words, Sonny was very worried that Xylia and his <b>father </b>might not be able to get divorced today.


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    He quickly echoed the crowd. ¡°Fine, divorce then. But I¡¯m not going with you. I want to stay with Dad, not with a woman who abandons her husband and child.¡±


    Leon nced at the little one, a cool smile ying at his lips. ¡°Quite the sharp¨Ctongued one,¡± Leon said, then turned his gaze back to Tessa, whose hand was tightly held by Sonny, before looking at Connor.


    ¡°Anyone who doesn¡¯t know might think you and the person next to you are his parents,¡± Leon added.


    ¡°Mr. Sadler, if you keep talking nonsense, I won¡¯t be so easy to talk to.¡± Connor seemed to grow angry and yelled at Leon.


    Tessa quickly exined, ¡°Mr. Sadler, Sonny is just attached to me since he was little. Connor and I are long- time friends, so we may appear close. It doesn¡¯t matter if you misunderstand, but what if this affects Xylia¡¯s marriage?¡±


    Tessa couldn¡¯t understand why Leon kept speaking on behalf of Xylia.


    ¡°Tessa seems to be advising, but it¡¯s actually full of scheming,¡± Someone said.


    Another person responded, ¡°Not only that. Under the guise of friendship, she gets close to her brother¨Cinw and still maintains her sister and brother¨Cinw¡¯s reputation. Her methods are truly impressive.¡±


    Someone else asked, ¡°Really? She¡¯s a scheming woman?¡±


    Another person added, ¡°Trust me. Over the years, my husband has had all sorts of lovers, so I¡¯ve seen it all.¡±


    The whispers resumed around them.


    Tessa¡¯s face flushed with anger, but she dared not speak again.


    However, when Connor shot a nce, hismanding presence made everyone around them quiet.


    He then looked at Xylia again. ¡°Enough! No matter how unreasonable you¡¯ve beentely, I haven¡¯t argued with you. Did


    you really have to make a scene at Sonny¡¯s school?¡±


    Xylia smiled and said, ¡°I am serious.¡±


    Connor snorted. He clearly didn¡¯t believe Xylia could bring herself to divorce him. He thought she was making a big show of this because of the Garcia family.


    He should tell Xylia the truth that her identity as a Garcia family daughter was something he had fabricated. Without him, she was nothing. ¡°Is it because you¡¯vetched onto the Garcia family that you want a divorce? I won¡¯t grant it,¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, a cheerful female voice came from the doorway. ¡°There was a mistake earlier. Ms. Schultz has no connection to the Garcia family.¡±


    Yana walked in. Her voice was perfectly pitched to be heard by everyone present.


    Connor turned pale upon hearing Yana¡¯s voice,


    12:04 Mon<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>15


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    <b>44 </b>


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    Someone said, ¡°<b>Is </b>this Ms. Garcia?¡±


    ¡°The Garcia family hase to clear the rumors. This is quite a show,¡± Another person responded.


    Someone else said, ¡°Wow, this is amazing. I should have brought some popcorn.¡±


    *****


    Connor looked at Yana and said, ¡°Ms. Garcia, the previous paternity test has already confirmed that Xylia is your biological niece. What do you mean by this?¡±


    Yana took a document from her bag. ¡°The paternity test you did was probably tampered with. This is the new test report from another institution we found¨Ctake a look.¡±


    Connor, trembling, took the report. He didn¡¯t need to look to know the result, but he had no choice but to check. ¡°Couldn¡¯t this report also be tampered with?¡± Connor was still trying to argue.


    Yana was confident in her response. ¡°No, I personally supervised this, and our family doesn¡¯t have a missing daughter¨Conly a missing son.¡±


    Her words were like a stone thrown into a calmke, causing ripples in everyone¡¯s hearts.


    Connor, in shock, realized that the missing person wasn¡¯t a daughter.


    Others were stunned by the revtion that the Garcia family actually had a missing son.


    Yana fixed her gaze on Connor, her eyes seeming to see through all his little moves. She smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Ford, I came here today specifically to discuss this. Xylia is a good girl, but unfortunately, fate didn¡¯t bring us together.¡±


    Yana smiled at Xylia before leaving. Xylia gave her a grateful look.


    Connor gripped the paternity test report tightly. The long¨Cnned scheme he and his grandfather had put together was ruined.


    Xylia looked at him. ¡°So, what now? Shall we go to courthouse now to apply for a divorce?¡±


    Connor red at Xylia, his eyes stormy. ¡°Since you want a divorce so badly, I¡¯ll grant your wish.¡±


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 Tricked 86

    hapter 86


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    At the city hall, Xylia and Connor registered their divorce, and the staff informed them toe back in a month to collect their divorce decree.


    ¡°Since we¡¯ve already registered for the divorce, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for me to stay at the Ford Mansion. I¡¯ll pack my things and move out tomorrow,¡± Xylia said.


    ¡°As you wish,¡± Connor replied coldly. Before leaving, he mocked Xylia onest time. ¡°Let¡¯s see when you regret this.¡±


    He still believed that Xylia¡¯s insistence on divorcing him was just a result of anger. She was upset because he hadn¡¯t defended her at the school anniversary event and because he had protected Tessa.


    But under those circumstances, he had to protect the Ford family¡¯s reputation. Besides, Tessa was her sister, and Xylia¡¯s narrow¨Cmindedness prevented her from epting her sibling.


    Now, Xylia wasn¡¯t even the daughter of the Garcia family anymore¨Cshe was just an ordinary person. Leaving him meant giving up a luxurious lifestyle.


    He was sure that someone as materialistic as Xylia would beg him to reconsider and wouldn¡¯t go through with the divorce.


    Xylia rolled her eyes at Connor¡¯s back and was about to leave when Leon appeared, having arrived silently.


    He suddenly spoke up, ¡°Has your husband always treated you this badly?¡±


    Xylia was startled by Leon¡¯s sudden question. She turned to face him and didn¡¯t recognize him at first.


    Leon wore a mask and sunsses that covered most of his face. If it weren¡¯t for his voice, Xylia would have thought he was a robber.


    ¡°Have you been following me?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m just here to watch the fun,¡± Leon grinned, lowering his sunsses slightly to reveal his eyes.


    ¡°You said you¡¯re moving out. Have you found a ce to stay? Do you need help?¡± he asked.


    Xylia felt that Leon, whom she had only just met, was being a bit too eager. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll find a ce myself,¡± she replied.


    Leon noticed her wariness, understanding that even as a celebrity, she wasn¡¯t keen on trusting him. ¡°Actually, I¡­¡± he began, but his phone rang before he could finish.


    Apologizing with a smile, he stepped aside to answer the call. When he returned, his expression was dark. ¡°I have to leave. There¡¯s an urgent matter. If you need anything, just reach out to me directly,¡± he said.


    Xylia smiled gently and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Leon gave her a deep look. ¡°We¡¯ll meet again.¡± Then, he put on his sunsses and walked away.


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    Xylia found Leon a bit strange, though she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on why. Still, she didn¡¯t expect to see him again anytime soon.


    On her way back to the Ford Mansion, Xylia received a call from Joshua. ¡°Congrattions on finally getting divorced,¡± he said.


    Xylia chuckled. ¡°Well, I haven¡¯t received the divorce decree yet, but I am definitely happy to finally be divorced.¡±


    In a month, not only would she have divorced Connor, but she would also be leaving Jupiton for good.


    With this in mind, she thought she should find an opportunity to invite Joshua to dinner, since he had helped


    her so much.


    Just as she was about to ask when he was avable, Joshua spoke first. ¡°Since you¡¯re moving out, why not stay at the apartment I offered before? That ce is empty, so you might as well use it.¡±


    Since she only needed a ce for a month and staying at a hotel wouldn¡¯t be cost¨Ceffective, she agreed. ¡°Alright, but you¡¯ll need to transfer the rent for this month to your friend at the regr price.¡±


    ¡°This month? Are you only staying for one month?¡± Joshua asked.


    Xylia smiled and said, ¡°Yes, I will be leaving in a month.¡±


    Joshua frowned slightly, but before he could ask more, Xylia quickly hung up. ¡°I¡¯ll exinter. I¡¯m home now,¡± she said and ended the call.


    *****


    After hanging up the phone, Joshua looked at Yana, who was sitting opposite him and eating snacks.


    He was in a bad mood and found everyone irritating. ¡°Keep eating, that new dress won¡¯t fit in no time,¡± he muttered.


    Yana wanted to throw chips at his head. ¡°After getting humbled by a woman, you take it out on your aunt?¡± she scolded.


    Joshua kept a cold expression and didn¡¯t respond.


    Yana dusted off her hands, walked over to him, and looked down at him. ¡°Is Xylia really from the Sadler family?¡± she asked.


    Joshua remained silent.


    Yana continued, ¡°Although Leon hides his identity as a Sadler, there are still people who know the truth. I heard the Sadler family lost a baby girl many years ago. Given how Leon defended Xylia at the school celebration today, it¡¯s highly likely that she¡¯s the missing girl.¡±


    At this point, Yana looked directly at Joshua. ¡°The Sadler family isn¡¯t easy to mess with. Looks like marrying a wife isn¡¯t as simple as you thought,¡± she said.


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    Joshua frowned, clearly annoyed by Yana¡¯s gleeful expression. ¡°I overheard my parents discussing setting you up on a blind date,¡± he said.


    ¡°Recently, there have been some problems in Kregonia. No one else can go except me, so tell your parents I¡¯ll leave immediately,¡± Yana added, before walking out of the office.


    Joshua hadn¡¯t had the chance to tell her yet, but the matchmaking partner his parents had arranged for her was in Kregonia.


    He opened the file his assistant had sent, which contained the current online search terms for Leon.


    The livestream today had already be a major news event, and with the involvement of a big celebrity like Leon, its poprity was through the roof.


    Leon himself was already entangled in rumors recently, and now he was caught in another uncontroble public sentiment. This was affecting his career.


    After a moment of thought, Joshua sent a message to his assistant. ¡°Send Leon Sadler an invitation for the International Brand Week next quarter.¡±


    *****


    When Xylia returned to the Ford Mansion, Mnie was happily running out the door. ¡°Great! My son has finally divorced her,¡± she eximed.


    But when Mnie saw Xylia enter, her smile froze, and she looked at her with clear displeasure. ¡°What are you doing back here? Since you¡¯re getting divorced, you can¡¯t juste and go as you please,¡± she snapped.


    ¡°I¡¯m here to pack my things and leave immediately,¡± Xylia replied.


    Mnie, still in a good mood, was even more pleased to hear that Xylia was leaving. ¡°Then hurry up and pack. Don¡¯t take a single thing that belongs to our family,¡± she said, before running off to gossip with her friends.


    As Xylia walked through the vi¡¯s door, she saw Orion sitting in the living room.


    His face looked haggard, and as soon as he saw her, his sharp eyes locked on hers, tinged with disappointment. ¡°Xylia,e here. I want to talk to you,¡± he said, his voice hoarse.


    Xylia sat down across from him. Orion coughed, and his hand, resting on his knee, trembled slightly. His condition seemed to be worsening.


    He looked at Xylia, his voice breaking slightly. ¡°Xylia, you promised me you wouldn¡¯t divorce Connor. Why are you doing this<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Xylia met his gaze calmly and replied, ¡°Orion, the Garcia family knows the truth now¨Cthat I am not their daughter. I can¡¯t help you anymore.¡±

 Tricked 87

    apter 87


    Xylia bluntly revealed what was on Orion¡¯s mind, catching himpletely off guard.


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    Orion¡¯s face wrinkled, and a rare flicker of panic appeared in his eyes. But he quicklyposed himself and looked at Xylia with great tenderness.


    ¡°Xylia, the Ford Group is something I worked so hard to build. Please don¡¯t me me,¡± he said.


    Xylia sneered, ¡°Orion, I¡¯m not a Ford. It¡¯s understandable that you treat me this way, but I won¡¯t forgive you.¡±


    Orion looked at her, his voice full of sincerity. ¡°But my kindness toward you is genuine.¡±


    ¡°Even if it is, so what? You treat me well only because I¡¯m an orphan, someone you can use when it suits you,¡± Xylia¡¯s voice was cold.


    Orion suddenly began to cough violently; his face flushed a deep red from coughing, and he appeared on the verge of losing consciousness.


    The butler rushed over to help him catch his breath, offer him water, and give him his medication. After a long while, Orion finally calmed down.


    Xylia¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed as she watched, feeling some sympathy despite herself.


    ¡°Mrs. Ford, please don¡¯t anger Mr. Ford. His health is not well. You used to make him soup, buttely, you haven¡¯t even done that,¡± the butler said.


    Xylia felt a heaviness in her chest and stood up without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ll go back to my room,¡± she said. Without another nce at Orion, she walked upstairs.


    The butler, looking at Xylia¡¯s retreating back, spoke with indignation.


    ¡°Mrs. Ford is really something. You let her be a Garcia, which was helping her. Why is she dissatisfied? Today, she insisted on making such a fuss that she ended up divorcing Mr. Connor Ford,¡± the butler added.


    Orion said calmly, ¡°Let her go. She no longer serves any purpose.¡±


    *****


    Xylia returned to her bedroom to pack her things. There wasn¡¯t much to pack¨Cjust a few clothes and her art supplies. When she finished, she only had onerge suitcase,


    Since she had already finished packing and it was still light out, she decided to leave the Ford Mansion today.


    She sent Joshua a message to ask whether the password for the apartment¡¯s main entrance had been changed. After receiving Joshua¡¯s reply, she carried her suitcase downstairs.


    Downstairs, several unexpected guests were waiting. Xylia¡¯s parents, along with Tessa, were there, and even


    Connor had returned.


    As Xylia came down the stairs, a group of people all turned to look at her in unison.


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    Gia ran over angrily and scolded her, ¡°How dare you divorce without consulting the family first? You¡¯re getting bold, huh?¡±


    Yves sat on the sofa, motionless, but his re could almost pierce Xylia. ¡°Connor has treated you so well these years, and you force him to divorce at your son¡¯s school anniversary.¡±


    Tessa sat nearby, casting a mocking look at Xylia. Connor leaned back on the sofa, lookingpletely indifferent, as though he were waiting for Xylia to apologize on her own.


    Xylia ced her hand on her suitcase and replied calmly, ¡°I brought up the divorce long ago. Today is just the result. What¡¯s so surprising about it?¡±


    ¡°How dare you talk back!¡± Gia shouted, livid, and pped Xylia.


    Xylia sidestepped to avoid the p. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯ll stand here and let you hit me?¡±


    Gia, enraged, was breathless with fury. She never expected Xylia, who had always been so easy to control, to defy her like this.


    ¡°Xylia! Is this how you speak to Mom?¡± Ziggy¡¯s voice came from the doorway. With a dark expression, he walked over, grabbed Xylia¡¯s wrist, and pulled her toward the living room.


    Xylia struggled, but couldn¡¯t break free from his grip. ¡°Let go of me!¡±


    ¡°Get down on your knees and apologize to Connor. Tell him the divorce doesn¡¯t count,¡± Ziggy ordered. He dragged Xylia in front of Connor and, with a quick motion, Xylia staggered and almost fell.


    Connor Ford, noticing she was about to fall, instinctively reached out to catch her, but he held back.


    Xylia steadied herself and looked down to meet Connor¡¯s cold gaze. With determination in her voice, she said, ¡°This divorce is final.¡±


    Connor¡¯s face darkened instantly. ¡°Fine,¡± he spat out.


    Before Connor could say more, Ziggy lifted his foot and kicked Xylia in the back of the knee.


    Xylia cried out in pain, stumbled, and fell to her knees in front of Connor. Her knees mmed into the floor, pain shooting through her, causing sweat to bead on her skin.


    ¡°Xylia, you are still a daughter of the Schultz family. Whether you get divorced or not is not up to you. Hurry up and apologize <i>to </i>Connor.¡± Ziggy¡¯s voice was filled with fury, directing all his anger at Xylia.


    Tessa stepped forward <i>to </i>help Xylia up, giving Ziggy an angry look. ¡°Ziggy, what are you doing? Even if Xylia made a mistake, you shouldn¡¯t hit her.¡±


    ¡°Tessa, are you defending her? She¡¯s embarrassed our family,¡± Ziggy snapped.


    Tessa, however, didn¡¯t care about defending Xylia; she just didn¡¯t want the Schultz family to make a scene now


    that the divorce was almost finalized.


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    Xylia pulled her hand away from Tessa and, still clutching her knee, slowly stood. She turned to Ziggy and, with all her strength, pped him across the face.


    Caughtpletely off guard, Ziggy staggered from the force of the p. ¡°Xylia, what are you doing? How dare you?¡± he yelled.


    Ziggy¡¯s eyes widened as he raised his hand to return the p, but Connor stood up, his cold gaze shifting to the Schultz family. ¡°What are you going to do?¡±


    Ziggy did not deliver the p.


    Xylia looked coldly at Ziggy. ¡°In the past, I obeyed because I considered you my family, but not anymore.¡±


    Xylia pushed Ziggy aside and walked toward her suitcase. She endured the pain in her knee and walked out.


    Yves, realizing he could not control Xylia, could only turn to Connor. ¡°Connor, you should understand that in families like ours, divorce is definitely not just a matter between the two of you.¡±


    Connor moved his eyes away from the doorway and replied in a cold tone. ¡°She covets the wealth and status of the Ford family, she would never truly divorce me.¡±


    He still believed that Xylia was just acting out of spite.


    Upon hearing this, Tessa suppressed her anger, but she truly couldn¡¯t understand why, even now, Connor Ford still seemed to have expectations for his marriage to Xylia.


    She decided it was time to take more drastic action¨Cshe had to make sure they got divorced.


    The Schultz family, upon hearing Connor¡¯s words, felt some relief. They didn¡¯t care whether Xylia¡¯s marriage was happy or not.


    What mattered to them was that if Xylia and Connor really divorced, the benefits the Schultz family had gained from the Ford family would be lost. For that reason alone, they couldn¡¯t say that Xylia had been raised in vain.


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 Tricked 88

    Xylia left Ford Mansion, carrying her suitcase. A familiar Volkswagen was parked at the entrance. Xylia looked up and saw Joshua leaning against the car door.


    Seeing here out, Joshua smiled and looked at her. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you can¡¯t carry these things, let me help you.¡±


    Xylia had just faced some grievances inside, and seeing a familiar face made her eyes well up with tears.


    Joshua furrowed his brow slightly, walked over, and stood in front of her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did they bully you again?¡±


    Xylia shook her head, smiling. ¡°I¡¯m just so happy.¡±


    Joshua carefully observed her, noticing her slightly trembling legs. He furrowed his brow but said nothing. ¡°Get in the car. I¡¯ll take you to the apartment.¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t refuse. She let Joshua load her luggage into the car, then climbed into the front passenger seat.


    As the sun set, the winding mountain road was bathed in the orange¨Cred glow of the sunset, casting a warm hue on the silver guardrails along the roadside.


    Xylia opened the window, and the breeze that slipped in carried a sense of freedom. Although her knee still hurt a bit, she felt a rare sense of peace.


    After dropping her off at the apartment, Joshua left.


    Xylia didn¡¯t immediately unpack. Instead, she sat on the sofa, gently rubbing her knee. Ziggy¡¯s earlier strike had caught her off guard. But thankfully, there were no serious injuries.


    The phone rang. Xylia nced at the screen, her gaze shifting slightly.


    She answered, and a low, gentle male voice came from the other end. ¡°Xylia, the items you sent have arrived, and I¡¯ve ced them in your room.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Xylia said.


    ¡°In less than a month, it will be your return date. We¡¯lle to pick you up then,¡± her brother said.


    ¡°No need. I¡¯lle back on my own. Just send me the address,¡± she said.


    ¡°Alright,¡± came the reply.


    After hanging up, Xylia sat on the sofa, her phone in hand, her expression distant. She had agreed to return home and reconnect with her family. But she wasn¡¯t sure if her family would truly ept her.


    After all, her brother had contacted her years ago, but at that time, she had wanted to build a life with Connor and had refused to go back.


    :


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± A sudden voice from the doorway startled Xylia.


    When she saw that it was Joshua, she let out a sigh of relief. ¡°You scared me,¡± she said.


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    Joshua, carrying a stic bag, walked over to the armchair beside her and sat down. He stared at her face, waiting for an answer.


    Xylia exined, ¡°As I mentioned to you before, I have found my family, so I have to leave.¡±


    ¡°Noting back?¡± Joshua asked.


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s no family for me in Jupiton, so I probably won¡¯t return.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s expression darkened.


    Xylia asked him what was wrong, but he didn¡¯t reply. Instead, he opened the stic bag, took out a bottle of pain¨Crelief ointment. ¡°Extend your leg,¡± he said.


    Xylia was surprised. ¡°What?¡±


    Joshua had already lost his patience. He grabbed her ankle and rolled up her pant leg to her knee. Xylia instinctively pulled her foot away, but Joshua quickly grabbed it. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s knee was exposed, covered in bruises that looked painful.


    Joshua poured the ointment onto his hands, rubbed it until it was warm, then gently ced his palm on Xylia¡¯s knee, massaging the bruises with care.


    He half¨Cknelt on the living room floor, his silver hair falling to cover his eyes. He looked serious, his sleeves rolled up to reveal his toned forearms.


    Xylia suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself.¡±


    She tried to take the ointment, but Joshua dodged her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to Rachel tomorrow. You must have gotten hurt quite a bit while staying at the Ford family¡¯s ce,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Xylia replied.


    ¡°Your face is still marked with red bruises. How can you say you¡¯re fine?¡± he said.


    Xylia instinctively touched her face. This was hit by Connor today. Joshua must have seen the livestream, and


    she felt a little awkward.


    Luckily, Joshua didn¡¯t say anything more. After applying the ointment, he just gave her a few words of advice.


    During this time, he answered a phone call. After hearing something from the other end, his expression darkened.


    ¡°If you¡¯re busy, you can leave now. I can take care of this myself,¡± Xylia said.


    Joshua did not refuse. ¡°I have ordered food for you. Finish tidying up and rest early.¡± With that, he hurriedly


    left.


    Xylia bit her lip. Joshua was <b>so </b>considerate, which surprised her a little.


    After tidying up, Xyliay down on the bed, finally falling into the most peaceful sleep she had had in a long


    time.


    Meanwhile, in stark contrast to Xylia¡¯s rxed mood, the Ford Mansion seemed heavy with an oppressive air.


    Connor sat on the sofa in the living room, while Sonny knelt on the floor. The boy kept ncing up at his father, his eyes full of unease. Connor¡¯s expression was dark.


    ¡°Dad, didn¡¯t you promise to find me a new mom?¡± Sonny asked.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Connor¡¯s deep voice rang out, fierce and authoritative.


    Sonny, frightened, shrank back, his eyes reddening.


    ¡°Did you invite your mother to the school anniversary celebration?¡± Connor asked.


    Sonny lowered his head, softly muttering, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Did you invite Tessa too?¡± Connor added.


    Sonny lowered his head even further. He knew lying was wrong, but he just wanted Tessa to be his mother as soon as possible.


    Connor pped the table, and Sonny jumped in fear. ¡°Who taught you to lie? Did you set your mother up to be humiliated? You made Tessa face controversy at the school celebration. Are you getting bolder?¡±


    ¡°You taught me to lie. When you asked me to lie at the police station to frame mom, wasn¡¯t that lying too?¡± Sonny timidly replied.


    Connor wanted to argue but was at a loss for words.


    Sonny walked over, inteced his fingers with Connor¡¯s, and said, ¡°Dad, now that you¡¯re divorced from mom, can Tessa be my new mom?


    ¡°Tessa said you and mom must be really sad and asked me tofort you both. But I don¡¯t like my mom. I really hope Tessa can be my new mom.¡±


    Connor looked down at his son, who resembled him so much, and his heart softened. He picked Sonny up in his arms. ¡°Your mom will always be your mom, no matter what.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care! I don¡¯t want her to be my mom anymore!¡± Sonny shouted.


    Connor lost his patience and handed Sonny to a servant. ¡°Rest early.¡±


    The servant carried Sonny away.


    Connor sat back on the sofa, rubbing his brow. His phone rang, and he answered an unknown caller.


    ¡°Hello, are you Xylia Schultz¡¯s husband?¡± the voice on the other end asked.


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    Chapter <b>89 </b>


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    Connor¡¯s brow furrowed slightly when he heard the voice on the phone. ¡°Who is this?¡± he asked.


    ¡°My name is Frankie Harding. I¡¯m a high school ssmate of Xylia¡¯s. We have a ss reunion scheduled for next week, but we¡¯ve been unable to contact her.


    ¡°We found your contact details. Could you please help pass along the message to her?¡± the voice on the other end exined.


    Connor replied briefly and hung up the phone. After thinking for a moment, he dialed Xylia¡¯s number. However, he quickly realized that he couldn¡¯t reach her. She had blocked him.


    Furious, he immediately called his assistant. ¡°Find out where Xylia is,¡± hemanded.


    *****


    The next day, Xylia was at home packing, preparing to head over to Rachel¡¯s ce shortly.


    There was a knock at the door, and Xylia, thinking it was Joshua, hurriedly went to open it. But to her surprise, it was Connor standing at the door. ¡°Why are you here?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Who else did you expect?¡± Connor replied with a mocking nce as he lowered his gaze to her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to invite me in?¡±


    Xylia blocked the doorway. ¡°If you have something to say, just say it,¡± she said firmly. She had nothing to talk about with him.


    Her guarded demeanor annoyed Connor. ¡°Why did you block me?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal to block you after a divorce?¡± Xylia responded coldly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, we haven¡¯t actually received the divorce decree yet,¡± Connor said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll remove you from the cklist once we go to collect the divorce decree,¡± Xylia said.


    Connor clenched his fist tightly at his side. If Xylia weren¡¯t still his wife, he would have probably punched her by now.


    He suddenly sneered at her. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you¡¯ll actually hold out until then.¡±


    He had felt how dependent Xylia had been on him throughout their seven years of marriage. He didn¡¯t believe she could truly let go of the marriage or her feelings for him.


    ¡°Your high school ssmate called me,¡± he continued, ¡°saying they couldn¡¯t reach you and invited you to a reunion. I epted on your behalf.¡±


    Xylia furrowed her brow. She had never attended any reunions since graduation.


    And after the events from the livestream yesterday, she had be the center of attention. It was no surprise


    12:07 Mon<b>, </b>Sep 15


    that her ssmates managed to get her contact info, they likely had an ulterior motive.


    She red at him. ¡°What gives you the right to agree for me?¡±


    ¡°Just because I¡¯m still your husband. Until the divorce certificate is finalized, we¡¯re still married.¡±


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    Xylia believed Connor was doing this on purpose. Yesterday, he had been forced to register the divorce, which humiliated him, and now he was looking for an excuse to pick a fight with her.


    She red at him again and tried to close the door.


    But Connor stopped her by pushing his hand against the door and grabbing her wrist. ¡°Xylia, my patience is limited. If youe back with me now, I can act as if nothing happened.¡±


    Xylia frowned, about to say something, when suddenly, an apple was thrown from a distance and struck Connor hard on the head.


    Connor winced in pain, clutching his head as he turned to see who it was. Joshua was walking from the elevator with a bag of fruit.


    He was dressed in a casual ck¨Cand¨Cwhite tracksuit, his silver hair parted neatly, and the strands <i>at </i>his temples swaying as he walked.


    His handsome face darkened. The aura of authority around him was far stronger than Connor¡¯s.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Connor asked, frowning.


    Joshua sneered. ¡°Why do you care where I am? But you, ex¨Chusband, can¡¯t seem to let go of your wife of seven years, are you here to beg for forgiveness?¡±


    ¡°Beg for forgiveness?¡± Connor spat out, turning his attention back to Xylia. He tightened his grip on her wrist.


    In his mind, he wasn¡¯t at fault. Xylia, who was always acting willfully, had pushed him to this point¨Calienating him and their son, while still holding onto petty grudges against her sister.


    Xylia kept trying to pull away, but the pain was making her pale. Suddenly, a firm hand twisted Connor¡¯s wrist, and he was forced to release her.


    Before Xylia could even <i>see </i>what had happened, Connor was knocked back and hit the floor hard. She panicked, grabbing Joshua¡¯s shirt to stop him from moving forward.


    Joshua turned to her, then nced at Connor. ¡°Leave,¡± he said coldly.


    Connor watched Xylia protect Joshua behind her and said with growing anger, ¡°Our divorce is a done deal. If you keep harassing me, don¡¯t me me for being rude.¡±


    After delivering her words, Xylia quickly pulled Joshua inside and mmed the door shut behind them.


    Connor, still holding his side, struggled to get up. That kick from Joshua had been fast and painful. Joshua clearly wasn¡¯t just some pretty boy, but someone well¨Ctrained.


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    He hadn¡¯t expected Xylia to be so protective of Joshua, which made him suspect that her divorce was for Joshua.


    Connor stared at the closed door with intense focus. Finally, he smirked. A woman like Xylia, who valued wealth over everything, couldn¡¯t possibly be truly interested in a penniless guy like Joshua.


    Connor was certain she was just trying to make him jealous. He was determined to see how long Xylia could endure. He sent Xylia¡¯s contact information to her ssmate who had called him earlier and then left the


    scene.


    Inside the apartment, Xylia began to scold Joshua. ¡°Why did you do that?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°I hit him¨Cdo you feel sorry for him?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m worried about you. Someone as petty as Connor could use you of intentional harm. He has connections at the hospital and could make you pay a fortune for damages,¡± Xylia said.


    Xylia¡¯s exnation visibly eased Joshua¡¯s mood. ¡°I¡¯m not stupid. I wouldn¡¯t actually kick him to death.¡±


    Although Joshua had wished he could do just that, he knew he couldn¡¯t let Xylia see it.


    Xylia sighed, then sat down next to him. ¡°From now on, if you see him, stay <i>as </i>far away as possible. Got it?¡±


    Xylia still couldn¡¯t forget how Connor had once threatened to harm Joshua. She couldn¡¯t let anything happen


    to him.


    Joshua could not stand to hear this. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s petty, what if he retaliates against you?¡± Xylia said.


    ¡°He needs to have the ability to retaliate before he can hurt me,¡± Joshua said, his expression filled with disdain for Connor.


    Xylia looked at him, then suddenly asked, ¡°Joshua, do you really have no connection to the Garcia family?¡±


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    Joshua¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Xylia with feigned confusion. ¡°Why do you ask? You know I¡¯m the Garcia family¡¯s driver, right?¡±


    Xylia closely observed Joshua¡¯s face. His features were still strikingly beautiful, and his expression and gaze seemedpletely sincere.


    Xylia felt she might have been overthinking it. There was something about Joshua¡¯s demeanor that struck her as unusually noble, something that reminded her of Connor, but even more so.


    So whenever Joshua and Connor were together, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Joshua might not be an ordinary person.


    But his experiences abroad had made her push this thought away, time and time again. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just feel like your demeanor doesn¡¯t match that of a driver.¡±


    Joshua smiled slightly. He sat on a single armchair, his arm resting on the armrest, his charming eyes lifting with a yful glint.


    ¡°What kind of demeanor do you think I have?¡± His voice was deep and smooth, with a hint of warmth.


    Xylia cleared her throat, trying to shift the subject. ¡°You haven¡¯t had breakfast yet, have you? I made some, let¡¯s eat together.¡± She quickly hurried to the kitchen, almost escaping the conversation.


    Joshua looked at her cute back and smiled slightly.


    *****


    After breakfast, they both headed to Jones Health Center. Just as they arrived, Joshua¡¯s phone rang. He nced at the caller ID, and his rxed expression immediately turned serious.


    He looked at Xylia. ¡°Go inside and find Rachel, I¡¯ll catch up with you soon.¡±


    Xylia assumed he had something important and nodded. Joshua walked off, holding his phone.


    Xylia went inside and headed straight for the office but was stopped by a staff member. ¡°Hi, are you here for a consultation or to buy medicine?¡±


    ¡°I have an appointment with Dr. Rachel Jones,¡± Xylia replied.


    ¡°But Dr. Jones is out right now,¡± the staff member said.


    Before the staff member could say anything more, a mocking voice came from behind. ¡°Xylia, if you¡¯re going to lie, at least make it believable.


    ¡°Rachel is from a famous traditional medicine family in Jupiton. Even if you were a renowned surgeon, there¡¯s no way you¡¯d know her, right?¡±


    Xylia turned around and saw Tessa and Connor walk in. Connor had just left her apartment and was now here


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    with Tessa for a checkup.


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    They walked right up to Xylia. Tessa was <b>still </b>holding Connor¡¯s arm, leaning into him slightly, her weight resting on him. The two looked very close.


    Seeing Xylia¡¯s gaze, Tessa quickly offered an exnation. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. It¡¯s just that you made me sprain my foot again yesterday. With the new injury on top of the old one¨Cand I¡¯m the lead dancer¨Cmy feet are everything to me, so I have to get it checked.


    ¡°Rachel is a well¨Cknown traditional medicine doctor in Jupiton, and Connor helped me secure an appointment. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here. But I¡¯m surprised to see you, Xylia. Are you here <i>to </i>apologize to Connor?¡±


    Tessa implied that Rachel¡¯s appointment was something only Connor could have arranged, and there was no way Xylia could have booked a renowned doctor like Rachel. So, Xylia must be here to apologize to Connor.


    Connor recalled how, just earlier <i>at </i>her apartment, Xylia and Joshua had teamed up to deal with him. Maybe Xylia came here to apologize because she was worried he was angry.


    He let out a small hum, tilting his head slightly in a way that was meant to make him look imposing.


    Xylia thought Tessa was crazy. ¡°Narcissist.¡±


    Xylia turned to the staff member. ¡°Can I wait for Rachel in her office?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. Dr. Jones¡¯s office isn¡¯t open to just anyone,¡± the staff member responded firmly.


    Connor looked at Xylia, his patience running out. ¡°Can you stop embarrassing yourself all the time? Do you really think Dr. Jones will see you just because you ask?


    ¡°You could just apply some medicine to your injuries and be done with it. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?<b>¡± </b>


    Tessa leaned on Connor, moving her sprained foot slightly, letting out a soft hiss that made Connor look down at her with concern. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Connor asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. My ankle just hurts a little when I move it,¡± Tessa replied.


    Connor frowned. ¡°You need to danceter. If your foot gets ruined, your whole career could be over.¡±


    Xylia sneered. <b>It </b>seemed like he understood the consequences of a ruined foot, but when he dyed her treatment at the hospital, he clearly didn¡¯t care about those consequences.


    Connor suddenly turned to look at Xylia. ¡°You¡¯re the one who caused Tessa¡¯s foot injuries both times. Don¡¯t you have anything to say?¡±


    Xylia smiled lightly. ¡°What should I say?¡±


    ¡°Apologize,¡± Connor demanded, his tone harsh.


    Xylia raised her bruised wrist in front of Connor. ¡°Then Mr. Ford, don¡¯t you think you owe me an apology?¡±


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    Connor¡¯s expression shifted slightly as he saw her wrist. Xylia¡¯s wrist and ankle injuries were both his doing, meant to cripple her. He felt a bit anxious, wondering if she had figured out the truth.


    ¡°This is what you just did, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve forgotten?¡± Xylia added.


    At her words, Connor breathed a sigh of relief.


    Tessa patted Connor¡¯s hand and, pretending to be sweet, said, ¡°Alright, Connor. She¡¯s my sister after all. There¡¯s no need to apologize. You know I¡¯m not some delicate woman. Why don¡¯t we take Xylia to see Dr. Jones together?¡±


    Her condescending tone made Xylia roll her eyes.


    Suddenly, Rachel¡¯s voice came from the doorway. ¡°I don¡¯t take patients unless their condition isplicated.¡±


    The staff member, upon seeing Rachel, rushed to greet her.


    Tessa and Connor turned around, first seeing Rachel, then noticing Joshua standing beside her.


    When Connor saw Joshua again, his expression grew cold. The two exchanged a silent confrontation.


    Rachel walked up to Tessa, checked her face, and then nced at her exposed ankle. ¡°You sprained your ankle and are still wearing high heels?¡±


    Tessa, in her green dress, leaned slightly on Connor, her right foot lifted and supported by him. Her bare foot was in a pair of white high¨Cheeled sandals. Tessa blushed at Rachel¡¯s words.


    She was about to argue, but Rachel spoke again. ¡°You don¡¯t need to waste my time with such a minor issue. I¡¯ll have another doctor from the clinic take a look at you.¡±


    ¡°Dr. Jones<b>, </b>we have an appointment,¡± Tessa replied.


    Rachel only said coldly, ¡°Take care of your feet, or no matter how hard you try, they won¡¯t heal.¡± Then Rachel turned to Xylia, her expression softening considerably. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Just as they were about to go in, Connor blocked their path. ¡°We made an appointment with you, Dr. Jones. Is this how you deceive people?¡±

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    Rachel stopped walking and turned to look at Connor. ¡°<b>If </b>you¡¯re not happy, sue me.¡±


    Connor didn¡¯t expect Rachel to be so bold.


    Rachel didn¡¯t respond to him and grabbed Xylia¡¯s hand, leading her into the office.


    Connor started to follow, but Joshua stepped forward and blocked his way.


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    Joshua still looked the same as he had this morning at Xylia¡¯s door. Wearing ck and white casual clothes, his silver hair glimmered in the light, his presence as noble and cold as before.


    Connor¡¯s eyes were cold. ¡°Joshua, do you really think I won¡¯t do anything to you?¡±


    ¡°Well, that depends on whether you¡¯re capable of it.¡± With his hands in his pockets, Joshua¡¯s eyes were dangerous, staring at Connor coldly. ¡°Since the divorce ising soon, you should stop lingering around. It¡¯ll make you look pathetic.¡±


    Connor snorted. ¡°Pathetic? You¡¯re always around Xylia. Doesn¡¯t that make you pathetic too?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not the same as you.¡± Joshua¡¯s smile widened slightly. ¡°Instead of worrying about me, Mr. Ford, you should focus on your ownpany. Can it even make it through this quarter?¡±


    <b>As </b>soon as the words left his mouth, Joshua saw Connor¡¯s face turn pale. He gave a mocking nce and turned to leave.


    Connor¡¯s hand clenched into a fist at his side, still ring at Joshua¡¯s back.


    Tessa looked at Connor and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Connor, how does he know about the Ford Group¡¯s situation?¡±


    Connor didn¡¯t answer but felt a sudden chill down his back.


    ¡°Connor?¡± Tessa called out, her voice tinged with concern.


    Only then did Connor look at Tessa. ¡°He said he was the driver for the Garcia family.¡±


    Tessa understood. ¡°Well, he¡¯s just the driver for the Garcia family. It¡¯s normal for him to overhear business things from his boss.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t concerned about Joshua. She believed anyone who hung out with Xylia couldn¡¯t be that wealthy.


    But Connor remained deep in thought. He sensed that Joshua¡¯s background was moreplicated than it appeared.


    *****


    In Rachel¡¯s office, she examined Xylia¡¯s external injuries. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. Your wrist and ankle just need new medicated patches. I¡¯ll take care of that for you.¡±


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    Xylia nodded in thanks, but she kept ncing toward the door. She was genuinely worried about another sh between Joshua and Connor.


    As Rachel prepared the medicine, she nced at Xylia out of the corner of her eye. Finally, Rachel smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Joshua is not someone ordinary people can easily handle.¡±


    Xylia was still worried. ¡°But Connor is not an ordinary person.¡± He was the CEO of Ford Group, and the Ford family was one of the top wealthy families in Jupiton. If he wanted to ruin someone, it wasn¡¯t hard.


    Rachel chuckled lightly. ¡°You¡¯d better not let Joshua hear that. He¡¯ll be furious.¡±


    Given Joshua¡¯s jealous nature, if he had heard the woman he likedplimenting another man, he would have probably wanted to destroy Connor.


    Xylia thought Rachel was simply watching for amusement, so she did not offer any further exnation.


    Rachel finished the prescription, her eyes darting around thoughtfully. Then she asked Xylia, ¡°What do you really think of Joshua?¡±


    Xylia looked at Rachel, confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Rachel paused, then studied Xylia¡¯s eyes and expression carefully, as though trying to read her. She came to a conclusion. Xylia didn¡¯t understand Joshua¡¯s feelings at all and probably just saw him as a friend.


    Rachel felt strangely amused. Joshua finally got a taste of his own medicine. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just wanted to ask, what did you think of Joshua?¡±


    Xylia thought for a moment and replied seriously. ¡°He¡¯s a good person, handsome, gentle, and considerate. His future girlfriend will be very lucky.¡±


    Rachel couldn¡¯t hold back andughed out loud.


    Xylia looked at her, confused. She silently wondered what Rachel wasughing at.


    Rachel shook her head, printed the prescription, and handed it to Xylia. ¡°You¡¯ll be happy in the future.¡±


    Xylia took the prescription, eyeing Rachel suspiciously. She had no idea what had made Rachelugh. She shrugged and was about to leave with the prescription. As she stepped out, she saw Joshua standing at the door.


    Joshua¡¯splexion was poor. He was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, his head slightly bowed. The shadow of his silver hair covered his eyes, and he looked a little gloomy.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you going inside?¡± Xylia asked.


    Joshua tilted his head to look at her. His charming eyes curved, but his smile didn¡¯t reach his mood.


    Although he was smiling, Xylia could feel that Joshua was in a bad mood.


    Xylia gave a forcedugh. ¡°It¡¯s just a checkup¡± She waved the prescription in front of him. ¡°I¡¯m going to get the


    medication from the staff.¡±


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    <b>As </b>soon as Xylia left, Rachel walked to the door and stood beside Joshua, watching Xylia leave. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d hear someone describe you as gentle and considerate. People really do change in front of those they like.¡±


    Joshua wasn¡¯t happy with Rachel¡¯s teasing. ¡°Don¡¯t bring up random things in front of her again.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>What? Are you still nning to keep your crush a secret?¡± Rachel sneered.


    Joshua¡¯s lips curved into a confident smile. ¡°Of course not.¡±


    Right now, Xylia hadn¡¯t fully freed herself from the Ford family¡¯s marriage. If Joshua forced his way in now, not only would it cause her trouble, but it could also make her dislike him. He¡¯d waited this long¨Che couldn¡¯t afford to fail at the wrong time.


    Rachel looked at Joshua, who was so sure of himself, shrugged, and returned to the office.


    Meanwhile, Joshua walked outside.


    While the store clerk prepared the medicated patch, Xylia received a call from an unknown number.


    The same unknown number had called Connor the day before. The person named Frankie had personally called to invite Xylia to the ss reunion.


    After she refused, Frankie started pressuring her. ¡°I finally got your contact info. You haven¡¯te to any reunions in years¨Cdo us a favor and join us this time. I¡¯ll send you the time and location. Don¡¯t miss it. We¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡±


    He quickly hung up, giving Xylia no chance to refuse.


    Xylia sighed, realizing that Connor must have given out her number. She wasn¡¯t sure what would happen at the reunion.


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    <b>Chapter </b><b>92 </b>


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    Over the next week, Xylia enjoyed a particrly peaceful time. There were no interruptions from the Ford family, and no tedious family matters to deal with.


    She stayed in the apartment the whole week, not stepping outside. Every day, she sat by the windowsill, holding her sketchpad, working on design ideas.


    The apartment had a great location and good exposure to sunlight. The sun streamed into the room from the morning, casting a warm glow over her, making her feel like her future was shining just as brightly.


    After sending hertest design sketch to Chase, she received a call from the private detective.


    The private detective hadn¡¯t contacted her in a while, so the sudden call made her excited. There must be some new clues. She quickly answered the phone.


    ¡°Ms. Schultz, we¡¯ve tracked down the third person at the scene. She¡¯s in Jupiton,¡± the private detective said.


    Xylia was excited. ¡°Where is she? I¡¯ll go find her.¡±


    ¡°This person is a bit timid. Ms. Schultz, you mustn¡¯t rm her. I¡¯m on my way back to Jupiton now. Once I arrive, we¡¯ll go together,¡± the private detective added.


    Xylia thought for a moment, the private detective¡¯s negotiation skills were definitely better than hers. She nodded. ¡°Okay, thank you for your hard work.¡±


    With this good news, Xylia wasn¡¯t worried about tomorrow¡¯s ss reunion anymore. After all, she would be leaving soon, so this would probably be thest time she would see these old ssmates.


    A knock came at the door. Xylia opened it to find Joshua standing outside with a bag of groceries. ¡°I finished work early today. Want to have dinner together?¡± Joshua asked.


    Xylia stepped aside to let him in, ncing at the time on her phone in surprise. ¡°You finished work at 11 this morning<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Drivers don¡¯t have fixed hours,¡± Joshua replied.


    Joshua walked into the kitchen. He took out some vegetables and fruit and put them in the fridge, then made a fruit tter and brought it to the living room. ¡°Have some fruit first. Dinner will be ready soon.¡±


    Xylia sat down andfortably started eating the fruit. It wasn¡¯t that she was too proud to help. It was just that every time she mentioned helping in the kitchen, Joshua would send her out.


    After a while, she got used to staying out of the kitchen.


    For the past few days, she had been thinking about what Rachel had said at the Jones Health Center. Rachel seemed to be implying that Joshua liked her.


    Xylia immediately dismissed the thought. After all, Joshua was younger than her, and she was still married. It seemed impossible that he would like someone like her. But he treated her really well¨Cthat much was true.


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    So, over thest couple of days, Xylia subtly tried to bring it up while talking to Joshua. The conclusion was that Joshua considered her <b>just </b>a friend. This put her at ease.


    Her marriage with Connor had already drained so much of her emotional energy. She couldn¡¯t afford to go through another one.


    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>have some things to do tomorrow, so I won¡¯t be able to join you for dinner.¡± During the meal, Joshua mentioned.


    Xylia nodded first, then, while chatting casually, asked, ¡°Do you also have to work on weekends?¡±


    Joshua shook his head, ¡°It is a private matter.¡±


    Xylia, sensing the situation, did not ask any further questions.


    Noticing her silence, Joshua felt a sh of disappointment in his eyes.


    After dinner, Joshua left the apartment. He received an update from his private detective. ¡°Connor has found the third witness to the hit¨Cand¨Crun incident.¡±


    Joshua turned off his phone and walked toward the elevator.


    <b>***** </b>


    The next day, Xylia wore a light blue shirt with a floral cor, paired with dark red jeans, and sneakers<b>. </b>This outfit was bought some time ago when she went shopping with Josie. It wasn¡¯t too expensive but had a touch of affordable luxury.


    After applying light makeup, she left the house and headed to the venue for the reunion.


    As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw a group of people gathered around a booth, chatting excitedly.


    Frankie, who had just finished ordering drinks from the waiter, spotted Xylia, looked her up and down with a hint of mockery, and still smiled as he walked over to greet her. ¡°Xylia, right? You finally made it¡ªwe¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±


    His loud voice immediately attracted the attention of everyone around. The crowd parted, and Xylia finally saw Tessa sitting in the booth.


    Xylia frowned. Tessa didn¡¯t even <i>go </i>to the same school as her.


    Xylia followed Frankie to the booth.


    Tessa stood up, her blue, diamond¨Cstudded gown shimmering like a mermaid just emerging from the water. ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re here,¡± Tessa smiled sweetly, her expression carrying a smugness Xylia knew all too well.


    Tessa had always been determined to steal everything from her. Parents, brother, lover, even high school ssmates.


    ¡°Xylia, what are you wearing? Even if you¡¯re divorced, you¡¯re still the Schultz family¡¯s heiress. How could you


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    not afford a decent piece of clothing?¡± Tessa said, looking at Xylia with disdain.


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    The people around her nced at Xylia, then at Tessa, and gave Xylia the same look of contempt.


    ¡°Heiress? When Tessa was found by the Schultz family, Xylia¡¯s true identity was exposed. How can a fake heiress dress so well?¡± someone said.


    ¡°Exactly, a fake is still a fake¨Cnothing can change that,¡± another person chimed in.


    Xylia knew that attending this reunion wouldn¡¯t be easy, but she didn¡¯t expect Tessa to be involved.


    Ignoring the mockingments from those around her, she looked directly at Tessa. ¡°You didn¡¯t go to the same high school as us, right?¡±


    Before Tessa could exin, Frankie quickly spoke up. ¡°Although Tessa didn¡¯t go to the same school as us, she gets along very well with us.


    ¡°Every year we try to invite you to the reunion, but you changed your contact information right after graduation, and none of us could get in touch with you.


    ¡°Luckily, Tessa said you were busy and came in your ce. She¡¯s been maintaining your rtionships with us for years, so don¡¯t be too hard on her.¡±


    Because of Nova, Xylia had lost all her friends in her senior year. So after graduation, she changed her contact information, starting fresh. But it was unexpected that Tessa had the patience to continue pretending with Xylia¡¯s ssmates.


    Xylia remained silent as Tessa stood up and hooked her arm around hers.


    Tessa turned to the group and said, ¡°It¡¯s not easy for Xylia toe to the reunion, so let¡¯s not leave until we¡¯re all drunk.¡±


    The crowd cheered and gathered around the long table.


    Tessa¡¯s hand tightened around Xylia¡¯s, her sharp nails digging into her flesh.


    Xylia tried to pull away but couldn¡¯t break free.


    Tessa leaned close to Xylia¡¯s car, speaking in <b>a </b>cold, sinister tone. ¡°Xylia, I¡¯ve got a gift for you¨Cmake sure you enjoy it tonight.¡±


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    <b>Tessa </b>led Xylia to the long table and had her sit down. When she let go, Xylia noticed red marks on her arm from where Tessa had pinched her.


    ¡°Xylia, I watched the livestream. I can¡¯t believe, after all these years, that Nova¡¯s family is still holding a grudge against you.¡±


    The woman with pink hair sitting across from Xylia was dressed in a mini skirt. Her face was attractive but somewhat unnerving, as though she¡¯d had cosmetic work done.


    Xylia thought for a long time but couldn¡¯t recall who this person was.


    The pink¨Chaired woman looked at Xylia with a mocking smile. ¡°You don¡¯t recognize me?¡±


    Xylia shook her head.


    The mocking tone in the woman¡¯s voice became more evident as she flicked her hair back. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve been a housewife for all these years and never came to a single ss reunion. It¡¯s understandable that you don¡¯t recognize us.¡±


    She then turned to the group of ssmates. ¡°Everyone, it seems Ms. Schultz has forgotten about us. Why don¡¯t we each introduce ourselves to her?¡±


    She turned back to Xylia, smiling. ¡°My name is Analia Ruiz. You¡¯d better remember it.¡±


    Upon hearing the name, Xylia finally remembered. Analia was the youngest daughter of the Ruiz family, who made their fortune in real estate. She transferred into the high school midway.


    Analia was arrogant, relying on her family¡¯s wealth. She had even led the group in bullying Nova, which caused a major conflict between them over the Nova incident.


    Next, Frankie cheerfully introduced himself to Xylia. ¡°I¡¯m Frankie Harding, I¡¯m the one who organizes these ss reunions<b>.¡± </b>


    The rest of the group introduced themselves one by one. Finally, Analia looked at Xylia. ¡°Ms. Schultz, now you know everyone, right?¡± She gave a slight, mocking smile, and her eyes showed obvious disdain.


    Xylia frowned slightly.


    Tessa, meanwhile, smiled and stirred the pot. ¡°Xylia knows you all. After all, she has been Mrs. Ford for so many years, so familyes first. It¡¯s perfectly understandable that she doesn¡¯t remember people she hasn¡¯t seen in ages.¡±


    Analia scoffed in disdain. ¡°What¡¯s there to be proud of? In the end, you¡¯re still just a housewife, dressed so poorly. Looks like Connor doesn¡¯t love you that much. I remember that Connor and Tessa were pretty close, right?


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Tessa¡¯s beautiful and kind. Unlike some people, who stole someone else¡¯s identity, enjoyed a few good years.¡±


    12:08 <b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>15 </b>


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    Xylia looked at Analia and smiled. ¡°Recently, due to policy changes, the real estate industry has been struggling. Instead of worrying about me, maybe you should think about what you¡¯ll do in the future.¡±


    Analia mmed the table, ring fiercely at Xylia. ¡°You bitch, how dare you say that?¡±


    ¡°And what does my business have to do with you?¡± Xylia retorted.


    Analia was left speechless by Xylia¡¯s response. Xylia stared at her without backing down.


    Tessa grabbed Xylia¡¯s arm and smiled, ¡°Xylia, it was just a joke. Did you really take it seriously?¡±


    She turned back to Analia, exining for Xylia. ¡°Analia, Xylia just divorced Connor yesterday. She¡¯s in a bad mood, so please don¡¯t be too hard on her.¡±


    The room fell silent for a moment before an uproar erupted.


    ¡°Divorce?¡± Analia looked <i>at </i>Xylia and mocked, ¡°I thought after all these years as a housewife, taking such good care of your husband<i>, </i>you wouldn¡¯t get dumped. Who would¡¯ve thought you still got dumped?


    ¡°Well, seeing you show up in such shabby clothes, you probably didn¡¯t get anypensation after the divorce. How pitiful.¡±


    Analia spoke of pity, but her eyes held no sympathy.


    Some of the ssmates, who had respected Xylia earlier, now looked at her with cold eyes after hearing about


    her divorce with Connor.


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    ¡°Hey, Tessa, I¡¯ve always thought you and Connor were a better match. He treats you so well¨Cmaybe he actually likes you,¡± Analia added.


    Tessa quickly defended herself, ¡°Enough, Analia. Connor and I are just good friends.¡±


    ¡°You may see Connor as a close friend, but he might not feel the same way about you,¡± Analia teased.


    Xylia listened as the others teased Tessa, remaining silent the entire time.


    Analia, growing bored, waved her hand dismissively and set a wine bottle on the table. ¡°Alright, alright. We¡¯re here to have fun, not gossip. Let¡¯s y a game of Truth or Dare.¡±


    Analia ced the bottle on the table and pressed her finger on it. ¡°I¡¯ll spin the bottle, and whoever it points to will have to ept a punishment. We¡¯ll alle up with the punishment together.¡±


    ¡°Agreed!¡± No one had any objections.


    Analia began to spin the bottle, her eyesnding on Xylia, then on Frankie, who was sitting next to her. She tapped the bottle with a little force<b>, </b>making it spin slowly.


    The bottle spun four or five times before stopping, pointing directly at Frankie.


    Everyone started to cheer. Frankie smiled and looked at Analia. ¡°Go ahead, what punishment should I take?¡±


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    <b>44 </b>


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    Analia thought for a moment, then grinned. ¡°How about this, kiss the person to your right passionately for ten


    minutes.¡±


    The person sitting to Frankie¡¯s right was Xylia. Upon hearing Analia¡¯s suggestion, Xylia¡¯s expression darkened.


    The others eagerly agreed with Analia¡¯s proposal, encouraging Frankie. ¡°Frankie, you liked Xylia in high school, and now here¡¯s your chance.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mess around,¡± Frankie said, though his eyes lingered on Xylia¡¯s full lips, a slight warmth rising in his chest. But he stayed rational. ¡°We can y games, but not too much.¡±


    ¡°Too rigid!¡± Analia scoffed. ¡°If you don¡¯t go all in, how can it be fun? And Xylia, you¡¯ve been married, don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t even kiss? Or is it that, even after your divorce, you want to <i>stay </i>faithful to Connor?¡±


    Tessa looked at Xylia with a triumphant smile. ¡°Xylia, it¡¯s just a game. Don¡¯t be a coward, okay?¡±


    ¡°If you were sitting in my ce, would you kiss a stranger for the game?¡± Xylia said.


    When Xylia said ¡°stranger,¡± Frankie¡¯s expression subtly changed.


    Analia smiled, adding, ¡°If Tessa were sitting there, the punishment would change. Frankie would have to kiss the person sitting next to Tessa for ten minutes.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s temper red. ¡°This game isn¡¯t fun. You guys y <i>it </i>yourselves.¡±


    She grabbed her bag, ready to leave, but Tessa grabbed her arm. ¡°Xylia, the game isn¡¯t over yet. Where are you going?¡±


    The others surrounded Xylia, urging Frankie to act.


    ¡°Frankie, you won¡¯t even y the game?¡± someone said.


    ¡°You couldn¡¯t get a date in high school, and now you¡¯re too scared to y?¡± someone else said.


    ¡°Frankie, you¡¯re such a coward!¡± another person said.


    Frankie¡¯s face turned livid with anger. He grabbed Xylia¡¯s wrist tightly,


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 Tricked 94

    apter 94


    Xylia¡¯s wrist was suddenly seized, and her heart gave a violent jolt. Her face turned pale.


    As soon as Frankie grabbed her, the crowd began to cheer.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a game. I don¡¯t mind, so why should you?¡± Frankie looked at Xylia. ¡°Or are you saying you don¡¯t like


    me?¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Xylia struggled, trying to pull away. She felt that Frankie was a creep, and that the ss reunion was just a trap set specifically for her.


    Seizing the opportunity, Tessa raised her hand and pushed Xylia in the back. Xylia stumbled forward and was caught by Frankie in his arms. The crowd¡¯s cheers grew louder.


    Xylia struggled, shouting, ¡°Let go of me!¡±


    But Frankie held her tightly, refusing to release her, and lowered his head to kiss her. Xylia quickly dodged, and pped Frankie hard across the face.


    Amid the crowd¡¯s uproar, Frankie¡¯s anger red up. He gripped Xylia¡¯s hands tightly, pulling her closer.


    ¡°Get off me!¡± Xylia shouted.


    A loud bang sounded nearby.


    Frankie stopped his movements and turned his head just as a bottle flew from afar, striking him hard on the head. He cried out in pain, clutching his forehead as blood began to pour out.


    Xylia saw this, but didn¡¯t stop to care. While everyone was still in shock, she quickly got up and broke out of the crowd.


    As she stepped outside, she looked up and saw Joshua¡¯s cold face. ¡°Joshua? What are you doing here?¡±


    Joshua looked at her pale face, her eyes still glistening with the tears she had been too frightened to shed. His expression grew darker, and the predatory gleam in his eyes was unmistakable.


    Frankie looked down at his hand, seeing the blood pooling in his palm. His anger red. He stood up and red at Joshua. ¡°How dare you hit me? Do you have a death wish?¡±


    Joshua silently observed everyone, his cold gaze impossible to ignore.


    Tessa walked to the front of the crowd, eyeing Joshua and Xylia. With a mockingugh, she said, ¡°So you¡¯re the man Xylia¡¯s been keeping on the side? I don¡¯t think you were invited to our reunion, were you?¡±


    Analia stepped forward, examining Joshua closely. She let out a softugh. ¡°You¡¯re definitely good¨Clooking, but what could you possibly see in Xylia?


    ¡°She¡¯s no longer a wealthy wife. How could she possibly afford to keep you? Why don¡¯t youe with me? I can be your sugar mommy.¡±


    Xylia nced at Joshua¡¯s pale face, frowning as she was about to say something.


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    Joshua grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him. ¡°Your family will be bankrupt by tomorrow. What do you have to support me?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Analia cursed at Joshua. ¡°Are you cursing me? Do you have a death wish?¡±


    Analia started to move toward him, but Tessa stepped in front of her. Tessa walked up to Joshua with a mocking look. At this point, she stopped pretending.


    ¡°You¡¯re just a driver for the Garcia family¨Cwhat¡¯s there to be so arrogant about? Do you even know who the people here are? You can¡¯t afford to offend any of them,¡± Tessa said.


    Then she called over a waiter. ¡°Get security to throw this man out, or I¡¯ll file aint against you.¡±


    The venue was reserved for them, and an outsider here was definitely the owner¡¯s fault.


    Upon seeing Joshua¡¯s face, the waiter froze. Joshua looked at him, and the waiter immediately shifted his gaze to Tessa. ¡°Sorry, but you¡¯re the ones who need to leave.¡±


    Analia could no longer take it. She rushed forward, pointing at the waiter, ¡°What did you just say? We paid to reserve this ce, and now you want to kick us out?¡±


    The crowd around her started speaking all at once.


    ¡°Who does business like this? I¡¯ll file aint right now,¡± someone said.


    ¡°We paid, so why are you treating us like this?¡±


    The waiter maintained a calm, firm demeanor. ¡°We have surveince here. Everything that just happened, including how you bullied thisdy, was recorded. You can either leave now or I¡¯ll call the police.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Analia shouted, but was stopped by Tessa. If this escted to the police station and the footage was released, Tessa would not escape public bacsh.


    She whispered in Analia¡¯s ear, ¡°Analia, if this blows up, it¡¯ll be hard to exin when we get home.¡±


    Although Analia was the spoiled youngest child in her family, her father cared deeply about face. If he found out she ended up at the police station over a ss reunion, he would actually take action.


    She shivered and cast a fierce re at Xylia and Joshua. ¡°Just wait!¡± With that, she grabbed her bag and left.


    Tessa approached Joshua and Xylia, lowered her voice, and said, ¡°You¡¯re just the Garcia family¡¯s driver. Using their influence to act arrogantly. Sooner orter, I¡¯ll make you pay for this.¡±


    Joshua snorted coldly. ¡°Try it.¡± Joshua¡¯s presence was truly overwhelming.


    Tessa had intended to warn Joshua, but she was nearly suffocated by the oppressive force of his presence. She followed behind Analia, almost as if she were fleeing.


    The others left one by one as well, clearly afraid of police involvement. Soon, only Joshua, Xylia, and Frankie


    <b>12:08 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>15 </b>


    -whose forehead was still bleeding¨Cremained.


    :


    ¡°<b>I¡¯ll </b>call an ambnce for you,¡± Xylia took out her phone, but Frankie shouted, stopping her.


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    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>don¡¯t need your fake kindness, Xylia. I¡¯ll remember what happened tonight.¡± He red at Xylia, then shot a death re at Joshua, clutching his forehead, and walked away.


    Xylia stood there, speechless. She wasn¡¯t being kind¨Cshe was worried that if something happened to him, Joshua would get dragged into it.


    ¡°Is everything alright?¡± A worried voice came from above.


    Xylia looked up and met Joshua¡¯s concerned gaze. She smiled. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°You obviously don¡¯t get along with these people. Why did you evene to the ss reunion?¡± Joshua asked.


    ¡°I thought that, since I was about to leave, it would be nice to see my old ssmates. Unexpectedly, it turned out that it would have been better not to see them at all,¡± she replied.


    Xylia nced at the darkening sky and asked, ¡°Have you eaten?¡±


    Joshua shook his head.


    ¡°Well, in that case, let me treat you to dinner. No need to save money for me today,¡± Xylia said.


    Joshua furrowed his brows, observing her closely as if trying to find even the slightest hint of pretense in her expression. But there was nothing. It seemed like she had truly moved on from what just happened.


    Although just moments ago, she had been on the verge of tears from fear.


    Joshua pressed his lips together and said softly, ¡°Alright.¡±


    É«

 Tricked 95

    After dinner, Xylia and Joshua each returned to their own homes.


    Xylia appeared calm, butte at night, she was still jolted awake by a nightmare.


    She dreamed of events that had happened abroad many years ago, dreamed of the small dark room in the attic of the Ford Mansion, and dreamed of that warehouse filled with a foul stench.


    Xylia sat up and turned on the bedsidemp. It took a long while for her to calm down.


    She picked up her phone, intending to scroll through some videos to ease her mood, and saw two messages.


    One was from her biological older brother. [We talked about it, and we¡¯ve decided toe to Jupiton and bring you home.]


    The words ¡°bring you home¡± sent a warm rush through Xylia¡¯s chest.


    The second message was from Joshua, sent just a minute ago. [I¡¯ve hidden a surprise for you in the living room. If you can¡¯t sleep, go take a look.]


    Her curiosity was piqued, and the faint fear she felt earlier began to fade. She turned on the living room light. The soft yellow glow of the ceiling lights made the room feel warm and cozy.


    She looked around but didn¡¯t notice anything unusual. Just as she was about to ask Joshua, she noticed that the drawing board she had left in the living room had been moved.


    She walked over and saw a small box ced beside it. Confused, she picked up the box. The moment she opened it, her tears nearly spilled over.


    It was the pendant her grandmother had given her.


    The pendant had been shattered by Tessa. Xylia had carefully collected the broken pieces. She never imagined it could be repaired.


    She picked it up, her hands trembling, as she feared dropping it again.


    The pendant had been restored. There were faint traces of repair on the patterns, but the pieces fit perfectly together, making it look whole again.


    Her phone buzzed again¨Canother message from Joshua. [Did you see it?]


    Xylia¡¯s eyes blurred, and finally, the tears began to flow. [I saw it. Thank you.]


    [Could you please open the door?] Joshua asked.


    Xylia held the pendant tightly and, almost instinctively, rushed to open the door.


    Joshua, who had been worried about her nightmares, looked at her face streaked with tears, and a flicker of panic appeared in his eyes.


    20 vouchers


    Before he could say anything else, Xylia threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. Joshua stiffened, his mind going nk for a moment.


    ¡°Thank you, Joshua. Thank you so much,¡± Xylia said.


    The pendant her grandmother had given her was the only link she had to her. She had once tried to fix it, but the pieces were too small, and she didn¡¯t have the skill. She had failed.


    She never imagined Joshua would repair it for her. She was deeply moved.


    Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moved slightly. His hands hovered in the air, unsure, as he didn¡¯t dare to return her


    embrace.


    The warmth of her soft body pressed against him, and the faint scent enveloped him<b>, </b>causing his face to flush and his heart to race.


    He had always been cautious, never daring to hope for more with Xylia, afraid of scaring her. But now, with her in his arms, he couldn¡¯t control himself. He was dying to marry her and bring her home.


    Fortunately, Xylia quickly regained herposure. She pulled away from Joshua. By then, Joshua had already collected himself, smiling gently at her.


    Xylia, realizing what she had just done, felt a blush rise on her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I got a little too emotional.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I don¡¯t mind.¡± Joshua¡¯s smile remained warm. He even wanted to hold her a little longer. But he knew he couldn¡¯t be too forward. He had finally gotten this close to her, and he couldn¡¯t risk ruining it now.


    Xylia held the pendant in her hand, her eyes full of wonder. ¡°How did you fix it?¡±


    Joshua smiled. ¡°When you were moving, I identally saw the pendant fragments. Since you kept them, I figured it must be important. I¡¯ve learned a bit about jewelry repair, so fixing it wasn¡¯t too difficult.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°You know jewelry repair?¡±


    Joshua nodded. ¡°Just a little.¡±


    It was all thanks to Eliza. She was a jewelry appraiser who could also repair jewelry. Joshua had learned by working alongside her.


    He looked at Xylia and saw the excitement and gratitude in her eyes. There was no fear in them. Only then did he feel reassured. ¡°I still owe you an apology for taking your pendant without asking.¡±


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°You have already helped me a great deal.¡±


    They stood at the door, talking. The night breeze whispered through the windows, making a soft whooshing


    sound.


    Only then did Xylia realize she hadn¡¯t invited him inside. But it waste, and it didn¡¯t feel quite appropriate for a man and a woman to be alone at this hour.


    She hesitated for a moment, and <b>just </b><b>as </b>she was about to speak, Joshua spoke first<b>. </b>¡°I just wanted <i>to </i>see your


    E 20 vouchers


    reaction. Now that I¡¯ve seen it, I¡¯ll head back. You should get some <b>rest</b><b>.¡± </b>


    Xylia looked at him. ¡°Thank you, Joshua.¡± This was the third time she had thanked him tonight.


    Joshua looked a bit helpless<b>, </b>his eyes warm as <b>he </b>gazed at her. His charming eyes sparkled under the light from inside. The smile on his lips carried a yful undertone.


    He leaned slightly forward, meeting her gaze. ¡°I told you, I¡¯ll ask for it back.¡±


    The crisp scent of his cologne filled Xylia¡¯s senses. While she was momentarily stunned, he had already opened the door to his apartment and gone inside.


    Xylia stood at the door for a few seconds, smiled, put the pendant away, and entered. She would repay Joshua for his kindness.


    *****


    The next day, at the Ford Mansion, Orion¡¯s condition had worsened. The doctor suggested hospitalization, but Orion refused, insisting on staying at home.


    Connor entered Orion¡¯s bedroom, holding the medicine. Orion shifted his gaze from the family photo in his hand to Connor¡¯s face.


    Connor handed the medicine to Orion. ¡°Grandpa, Dad is already on his way back and will arrive tonight.¡±


    At this moment, Orion looked even thinner and more haggard than before. His gaze, no longer sharp, now seemed softer.


    He looked at Connor Ford and said calmly, ¡°Connor, it seems I made a wrong move this time.¡±


    Connor followed Orion¡¯s gaze to the family photo, which included Xylia. He understood his grandfather¡¯s unspoken words.


    ¡°Grandpa, don¡¯t worry. Xylia doesn¡¯t want to divorce me. In half a month, it¡¯ll be the anniversary of her grandma¡¯s passing. To avoid upsetting her grandmother, Xylia will still visit the memorial as the Ford family¡¯s daughter¨Cinw,¡± Connor said.


    This was Xylia¡¯s grandmother¡¯s wish¨Cto see Xylia live happily with him. Xylia loved her grandmother and would never let her worry. So she was only sulking, hoping he wouldfort her more.


    Orion let out a sigh and said, ¡°Let¡¯s hope so.¡±


    <b>12:08 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>15

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    For as long as the crisis at Ford Group remained unresolved, Connor couldn¡¯t rx.


    Because of Xylia, not only was the coboration with the Sadler Group off the table, but even the possibility of working with the Garcia family was no longer viable.


    Two days ago, Connor tried calling Yana, only to find out she had already left Jupiton. Thinking about this made Connor even more dissatisfied with Xylia. If it weren¡¯t for her, he would have secured the deal with Sadler Group.


    Just then, his assistant knocked and entered, his face lit up with excitement. ¡°Mr. Ford, I have good news. Mr. Sadler from Sadler Group will arrive in Jupiton in three days.¡±


    Connor¡¯s eyes snapped to the assistant. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°This is Mr. Sadler¡¯s personal itinerary, and we¡¯ve worked hard to get this information,¡± the assistant said, his excitement palpable.


    ¡°The person you met at the banquetst time was just his assistant, but this time Mr. Sadler himself ising to Jupiton. You may have a chance to speak with him directly,¡± his assistant added.


    This was indeed an opportunity. As long as they could meet, there was a chance to turn things around.


    He looked at his assistant, ¡°Find out where Mr. Sadler will be staying in Jupiton.¡±


    ¡°No need to look any further.¡± Tessa walked in with a smile in her eyes. ¡°I attended an event hosted by the Sadler family earlier this year. I made some inquiries and found out that Mr. Sadler will be dining at a private


    restaurant.¡±


    Connor asked, ¡°Which restaurant?<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Caperson Bistro,¡± Tessa replied.


    Connor turned to his assistant. ¡°Make a reservation for us at Caperson Bistro for three days from now.¡±


    The assistant nodded and left, while Tessa moved to Connor¡¯s side, looking up at him. ¡°Connor, take me with you in three days. I have connections with Sadler Group, and I might be able to help.¡±


    Connor looked at Tessa<b>, </b>feeling warmth in his chest. Compared to Xylia, Tessa was clearly the better choice. Tessa had made aplishments in her career and had a generous personality, which made it hard not to like her.


    Seeing Tessa, Connor¡¯s mood, which had been dark all morning, improved significantly. He smiled at her. ¡°Thank you, Tessa.¡±


    ¡°No need to thank me, we¡¯re good friends.¡± Tessa smiled, pping him on the shoulder. She then took his hand and pulled him along. ¡°It¡¯s almost noon, let¡¯s grab lunch together.¡±


    Connor, pulled along by Tessa, felt the warmth of her soft hand in his. His heart melted. His fingers twitched <b>as </b>he allowed her to lead him out of the office<b>. </b>


    <b>12:09 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>15 </b>


    Tessa<b>, </b>seeing that Connor didn¡¯t resist<b>, </b>smiled with a sense of triumph.


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    Laurel¡¯s death anniversary was in half a month. Xylia went ahead and ordered flowers and other items, and Joshua apanied her.


    After she had ordered everything she needed, Xylia received a call from her private detective Maverick.


    ¡°Ms. Schultz, I¡¯m in Jupiton now, and I can go speak with the eyewitnesses from the scene of the hit¨Cand¨Crun. Are you free to meet now?¡± Maverick said.


    Excited, Xylia quickly replied, ¡°I¡¯m free now. Where should we meet?¡± After confirming the details, she ended the call.


    Joshua asked, ¡°What has happened?¡±


    ¡°I have found the third eyewitness of the hit¨Cand¨Crun ident,¡± Xylia said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Joshua replied.


    Xylia hesitated, but Joshua immediately pulled her into the car.


    Twenty minutester, they arrived at an old residentialplex. Maverick was waiting outside.


    When Maverick saw Joshua with Xylia, his pupils briefly contracted. Joshua shot him a look, and Maverick quickly looked away and resumed a normal expression.


    Xylia first introduced Joshua to Maverick, saying, ¡°This is my friend.¡±


    Maverick gave Joshua a polite nod, then began to discuss the main business. ¡°The person we¡¯re looking for is named Lyle Moore.¡±


    Xylia frowned slightly. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s Lyle Moore?¡±


    ¡°Confirmed. I reviewed the surveince footage from the roads near the ident site, and I saw him there. After further investigation, I¡¯m certain it was him,¡± Maverick said.


    Looking at Xylia¡¯s troubled expression, Joshua asked, ¡°Do you know him?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s Nova¡¯s brother. He was the one who caused the trouble at the school anniversary,¡± Xylia replied.


    Joshua nodded, understanding. He patted Xylia on the shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    His calm and steady voice reassured Xylia.


    Maverick led them to a building in the farthest corner of the residentialplex, and they walked up to the


    seventh floor.


    It had been a while since Xylia had climbed such a long staircase, and she was out of breath, her face flushed and a thinyer of <b>sweat </b>on her forehead.


    <b>12:09 </b>Mon<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>15


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    Joshua raised an eyebrow, noticing <b>her </b>struggle. ¡°Well, you really should exercise more.¡±


    She raised her eyes and nced at Joshua, noticing that he had climbed seven floors in one go, his <b>face </b>unflushed and his heart not racing, <b>as </b>if it had <b>cost </b>him no effort at all.


    She considered the disparity in their physical strength to be rmingly great.


    She yfully shot him a reproachful look, but didn¡¯t respond.


    Joshua smiled, taking out a tissue to wipe the sweat from her forehead.


    Xylia took the tissue. ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± Her tone carried a hint of petnce, as if she was displeased with Joshua for seeing her as a joke.


    Joshua felt a tightness in his chest. It seemed like she was acting cute towards him.


    Maverick cleared his throat as they reached the door. He had never seen Mr. Garcia look at someone like this, with such a lovesick expression.


    Joshua lifted his gaze and looked at Maverick. His smiling eyes unexpectedly shed with a sharp, icy gleam.


    Fearing Joshua might do something to him, Maverick quickly knocked on the door.


    After several knocks, a weary male voice finally came from inside. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± The voice sounded sleepy, but the tone was slightly high¨Cpitched, as if the person had been drinking.


    As Xylia was thinking, the door opened.


    As soon as Maverick saw the door opening, he immediately pushed it open.


    When Lyle saw Xylia, his eyes widened, and he seemed to sober up quickly. He reached for the door to close it.


    Joshua raised his hand and gently tapped the door frame, preventing Lyle from closing it. ¡°Want to talk?¡±


    Lyle, now nervous, said, ¡°What do we have to talk about? Get out of here, or I¡¯ll report you for trespassing!¡±


    Xylia frowned at him and said, ¡°We just need to talk to you, not hurt you. Why are you so nervous?¡±


    Lyle had mostly sobered up by this time. Seeing that the door couldn¡¯t be closed, and the three of them were persistent, he hesitated for a moment before letting them in.


    <b>12:09 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>15 </b>


    C

 Tricked 97

    hapter 97


    Chapter <b>97 </b>


    The three of them walked into Lyle¡¯s home.


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    Xylia had expected someone like Lyle to be messy at home, but to her surprise<b>, </b>despite the small, run¨Cdown room, it was surprisingly clean.


    Even the empty wine bottles Lyle had consumed were scattered carelessly on the only table in the living


    room.


    Xylia and the others casually grabbed three stic stools and sat down.


    Lyle sat at the table, watching them. His gaze eventuallynded on Xylia. ¡°Did you pay for my parents¡® medical bills?¡± Lyle asked.


    Xylia nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± After the school anniversary event, she had contacted a doctor she knew and paid for Nova¡¯s parents¡® medical expenses. She also inquired about their conditions.


    Two elderly people, one with uremia and the other with dementia, were in different departments of separate hospitals.


    Only now did Xylia realize how difficult it must have been for Lyle, who was handling the medical bills for both of his parents, while also managing his own life.


    That was why she had decided to cover the entire medical cost for Nova¡¯s parents. Most of the prize money she had won at the conference had gone into that.


    Lyle lowered his gaze, his voice almost a whisper. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°I came to talk to you about something,¡± Xylia shifted the topic. ¡°Five months ago, there was a serious car ident on Kurtin Road. The driver fled the scene. You were there, right?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lyle responded instantly, his denial sharp.


    Xylia was still opening her mouth when Lyle¡¯s quick response cut her off.


    Maverick chimed in, ¡°Why are you denying it so quickly? Ms. Schultz only mentioned five months ago. She didn¡¯t even specify a date. How can you be so sure you weren¡¯t there?¡±


    Lyle¡¯s face turned paler, his gaze now filled with fear. ¡°I¡¯ve never been involved in a car ident. I wasn¡¯t there, no matter the day,¡± he replied.


    Maverick fixed him with a piercing gaze, one that seemed to corner Lyle like a predator locking onto its prey.


    ¡°If we didn¡¯t have leads, we wouldn¡¯t be here. Ms. Schultz and your sister were high school ssmates. Since the police investigated this thoroughly back then, do you really think it was Ms. Schultz who hurt your sister?¡± Maverick added.


    Lyle was reminded of his outburst at the school anniversary, and the buzz surrounding it still lingered online. He was taken back to the police station and given a warning, and since the school did not press charges, he was released shortly thereafter.


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    He had been struggling with his parents¡® medical fees when he learned that everything had been paid off. Immediately, Lyle thought of Xylia.


    Now, with the truth being drawn out, he couldn¡¯t help but feel embarrassed, as if he was being reminded of his actions¨Cof how he repaid kindness with betrayal. He stayed silent, his eyes darting nervously.


    After a long pause, Joshua spoke. ¡°Does anyone else know you were a witness that night?¡±


    Lyle shook his head. Suddenly, he raised his head, meeting Joshua¡¯s eyes, which were deep and intense.


    ¡°You admitted it,¡± Joshua said, his voice cold and unwavering.


    Lyle felt a chill run down his spine as he stared into Joshua¡¯s unyielding gaze.


    ¡°You caused a disturbance at the school anniversary because you were coerced. Let me guess¨Cwas it Tessa?¡± Joshua asked.


    Lyle¡¯s face grew even paler. He looked at Joshua, who seemed like an authoritative figure who saw right through everything, waiting for an honest answer.


    Xylia, too, was watching him, although she already had a strong suspicion, she still wanted to hear the truth.


    Lyle finally sighed deeply. ¡°It was her. My parents were ill and in the hospital. Tessa paid part of their medical bills for me and asked me to make a scene at the school anniversary. I had no other choice.¡±


    Tessa had promised to pay the remaining amount after he caused the disturbance, but after he was taken by the police, she changed her mind and refused to pay, even blocking him when he tried to contact her again.


    ¡°Since you know Tessa, you must also know who the real perpetrator of the car ident five months ago was, right?¡± Xylia asked.


    Lyle lowered his head in silence for a long while before responding. ¡°I saw it. I saw Tessa get out of the car, look at the person who died, then panic and run back to the car, driving away.¡±


    ¡°Would you be willing to testify on my behalf?¡± Xylia asked eagerly. This was herst chance.


    Lyle fell silent again. He had run away that night to avoid trouble. The car involved in the hit¨Cand¨Crun had clearly been expensive, and he didn¡¯t dare offend those with power and influence, fearing retaliation.


    Furthermore<b>, </b>after interacting with Tessa, he thought that she was a ruthless woman whom he dared not offend lightly.


    Lyle remained silent.


    Joshua sneered. ¡°You had the courage to cause a disturbance at the school celebration, but now youck the courage to reveal the truth?


    ¡°When Tessa paid a small portion of your parents¡® medical expenses, you were willing to do it. But when Xylia covered the entire medical bill and asked you to testify to prove her innocence, you refused. Is it because you think she <b>is </b>easier to bully?¡±


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    Joshua pointed at Xylia. Lyle was rendered speechless by Joshua¡¯s words and stood frozen in ce. ¡®If I¡¯m willing to do bad things for Tessa for money, then why wouldn¡¯t I do good things for Xylia for the same reason? This task is <b>so </b>simple,¡® Lyle thought.


    Joshua¡¯s patience was gradually wearing thin. Now that Lyle had been found, if Lyle kept being so tactless, Joshua would have to resort to more extreme measures.


    Joshua was about to take Xylia away, nning to deal with Lylenter. Before he could act, Lyle spoke, ¡°I brought a video camera that has a recording of the whole ident. I will show it to the police.¡±


    Xylia looked up in surprise. ¡°Are you truly willing to help me?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve helped me, so I¡¯m just returning the favor. Besides, you¡¯re Nova¡¯s friend,¡± Lyle said. He looked at Xylia, as if he were seeing Nova.


    Xylia smiled in relief. ¡°Then wait until the end of the month, and I¡¯ll take you to the police to testify.¡±


    ¡°Why the end of the month?¡± Lyle asked, puzzled.


    Xylia shook her head without giving an exnation. Her grandmother¡¯s death anniversary fell at the end of the month. During that time, she didn¡¯t want anything to interfere with her preparations.


    She considered it the final way to repay her grandmother¡¯s kindness. She wanted every member of the Schultz family to present flowers to her grandmother, including Tessa.


    Xylia offered no exnation, and Lyle did not inquire further. Instead, he agreed.


    Just before she left, Xylia¡¯s eyes fell on a family portrait hanging on the living room wall. Nova¡¯s face was in the photo, still a high school student with a hesitant smile.


    This was likely taken at the time when Nova¡¯s family had forced her to drop out of school. At that time, Nova felt like her life had no hope.


    Suddenly, Xylia spoke up. ¡°Nova told me once, when she was in high school, that you were the best to her in the family.¡±


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    Lyle paused, looking at Xylia.


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    Xylia continued, ¡°She once told me that, from childhood, whenever your parents gave you snacks, toys, or clothes unfairly, you always found ways to share them with her. When you went to college, you even worked part¨Ctime and secretly sent her pocket money.


    ¡°But what you didn¡¯t know is that, after your parents found out that you were sharing your things with her, they verbally abused and even physically beat her in private.


    ¡°That was also the reason she took her own life when she found out she had been forced to drop out of school. She felt like she couldn¡¯t escape your parents¡® control.¡±


    Lyle stood frozen in ce, reacting to Xylia¡¯s words.


    ¡°To you, those two in the hospital are your parents, but to Nova, they were not,¡± Xylia added.


    Xylia did not pay the fees on behalf of Nova¡¯s parents. Instead, she paid them on behalf of Nova¡¯s brother. If Nova were alive, she might not wish to see Lyle in this condition.


    Lyle¡¯s tears began to fall, and he turned toward the family portrait on the wall, his body trembling with emotion.


    Xylia said, her voice calm, ¡°I¡¯m telling you this because I don¡¯t want you to involve Nova in any more wrongdoings in the future. She was a burden to your family when she was alive. Don¡¯t exploit her memory now that she¡¯s gone.¡±


    *****


    After leaving Lyle¡¯s house, Xylia offered to increase Maverick¡¯s payment. After all, he had traveled such a long way to help her find clues, and she didn¡¯t want him to cover all the travel expenses himself.


    Maverick, hearing Xylia¡¯s offer, involuntarily nced at Joshua, who was standing beside her. He had already epted money from Joshua,


    He swallowed and said, ¡°No need, Ms. Schultz. In our line of work, we only ept one payment.¡±


    ¡°Then let me treat you to a meal,¡± Xylia suggested.


    Joshua raised an eyebrow.


    Maverick, feeling uneasy, quickly replied, ¡°Ms. Schultz, you don¡¯t need to be so polite. I still have things to handle, so let¡¯s talkter.¡± He hastily bid them farewell, turned, and left without a second nce.


    Xylia noticed that Maverick seemed a bit off today. He looked really nervous. She didn¡¯t dwell on it too much, instead transferring a sum of money into Maverick¡¯s personal ount.


    Joshua looked at Xylia and asked, ¡°Are you nning to wait until after your grandmother¡¯s memorial day to expose Tessa?¡±


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    Xylia nodded. ¡°Grandmother always said her greatest wish was to see the family reunited. She hoped the Schultz family would truly ept me. So, for her memorial day, I don¡¯t want anyone missing.¡±


    Joshua stopped and lowered his gaze to look at Xylia. His gaze was serious, his expression unreadable. ¡°Have you considered that, given how much your grandmother cared for you, she wouldn¡¯t want you to suffer?<b>¡± </b>


    Xylia knew that Joshua was concerned about her. She smiled and reassured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry<b>, </b>I¡¯ll be free soon.¡± She walked ahead, feeling much lighter.


    Joshua gazed at her slender back, a bittersweet ache rising in his heart. For the past eight years, she had endured so much hardship.


    *****


    Later, Joshua dropped Xylia off at her apartment. Just as they arrived, he received a phone call and quickly left.


    Lately, Xylia had grown ustomed to Joshua¡¯s rushed arrivals and departures.


    She sat back on the sofa, reading through the detailed message Chase had sent regarding her design sketches. She carefully recorded the points before moving to the window to paint.


    Her painting depicted the sunset, with the sky aze in red clouds.


    She stretched her arms to ease the tension in her muscles and was about to start preparing dinner when she received a call from her brother. ¡°Xylia, we¡¯ll be in Jupiton in three days.¡±


    ?


    Xylia was surprised. ¡°Even if you¡¯reing to pick me up, isn¡¯t it a bit early? There¡¯s still half a month left.¡±


    ¡°We want to see you soon, and we have some matters to attend to as well. I¡¯ve reserved a table at Caperson Bistro for three days from now. Let¡¯s meet then,¡± her brother said.


    As the topic of meeting came up, Xylia started to feel nervous. Under the orange sunlight, she nodded and softly said, ¡°Okay.¡±


    On the other end of the line, Kaden let out a long sigh, followed by faintughter. ¡°By the way, your third brother is having some work trouble, so it¡¯ll just be me and your second brother that day. Is that alright?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind, work is important,¡± Xylia said this thoughtfully, and there was a brief silence on the other end.


    Afterwards, her brother chatted a bit more before ending the call.


    Xylia didn¡¯t mind whether the others would be there when she was picked up. She put her phone down and walked into the kitchen.


    Meanwhile<b>, </b><b>at </b>the Sadler family estate in Norhill, inside the study, Leon mmed his hand on the table, ring at Kaden Sadler, who was sitting behind it. ¡°I must go pick up Xylia!¡±


    ¡°Have you cleaned up your own mess<b>?</b>¡± Kaden Sadler asked.


    Cyrus Sadler sitting on the sofa next to them, organizing the medicine kit, teased Leon as though enjoying


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    the drama. He ced a white bottle in the kit, then suddenly turned his head toward Leon.


    ¡°You say you¡¯re Xylia¡¯s idol, if you don¡¯t go pick her up, she¡¯ll probably forgive you, right?¡± Cyrus said.


    ¡°What are you saying, Cyrus?¡± Hudson Sadler wearing a leather jacket with silver¨Cgray hair, had just finished a game. He tossed his phone aside and walked over to Leon, putting his arm around his shoulder.


    ¡°Leon, you¡¯ve stayed in Jupiton all this time without revealing your identity to her. When Xylia finds out you¡¯re her brother, do you think she¡¯ll draw closer to you or stay away?¡± Hudson said.


    Leon gritted his teeth. ¡°It¡¯s all because Kaden didn¡¯t allow me to reunite with Xylia.¡±


    ¡°Kaden, did you say this?¡± Hudson asked.


    Kaden, while sending a message to arrange the schedule, casually replied, ¡°I said it in the beginning, but I haven¡¯t said it since.¡±


    Meaning, Leon had once had the chance to tell her the truth, but he hadn¡¯t.


    Leon felt wronged. He had intended to fully disclose everything to Xylia in front of the city hall, but was interrupted by a call from Kaden.


    Because the live broadcast during the school anniversary came under public scrutiny, coupled with Leon¡¯s recent scandal, certain individuals who sought to undermine him took covert actions.


    Kaden instructed Leon to return and handle these matters, and not to involve Xylia. Only then did Leon hasten back without pause.


    Unexpectedly, the situation proved to be even more challenging than Leon had anticipated, and, to make matters worse, Kaden was not assisting him this time. He had been left isted and unsupported.


    After finishing organizing the medicine kit, Cyrus slowly spoke, ¡°Xylia is the youngest surgeon at Jupiton Hospital. However, her tendons werepletely severed recently. The Ford family must give us an exnation for this.¡±


    Cyrus looked at the three brothers at the desk. ¡°We¡¯re not just going to Jupiton for Xylia. We¡¯re going to avenge her.¡±


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    Xylia had been away from Ford Mansion for two weeks. Over the past half month, she hadn¡¯t been in contact with anyone from the Ford family. She had erased all traces of her presence the day she left.


    When Sonny returned home from school that day, he was unusually dazed. It felt like it had been forever since he hadst seen Xylia.


    The servant asked if he was hungry. He instinctively responded, ¡°Make me a bowl of hearty porridge.¡±


    He remembered that Xylia used to make hearty porridge for him, and he had asked the kitchen staff to learn how to make it. The servant nodded and left to prepare the porridge.


    Sonny then began searching through the snack cab. The living room had a snack cab lined against the wall, filled with snacks specially prepared for Sonny.


    In the past, Xylia would make snacks and ce them inside, so Sonny could indulge whenever he wanted.


    But ever since the argument between Xylia and Connor about the divorce, the snacks in the cab hadn¡¯t been restocked.


    Earlier that day, some kids at school asked him for the cookies Xylia used to make. He promised to bring some tomorrow. But now, the cookies Xylia made were all gone.


    Annoyed, he stormed into the kitchen. ¡°I want more cookies. Make them, I want to bring them to school for my friends tomorrow.¡±


    The servant was startled when Sonny suddenly barged in. After hearing him, she nodded and said, ¡°Yes, Mr. Ford.¡±


    In a better mood, Sonny went back to the living room, sat down, and started eating some chips he found in the snack cab.


    Xylia used to tell him not to eat <i>too </i>many snacks like these. He found it annoying. Tessa was better¨Cshe never told him what to eat or do. If Tessa were his mother, he would be much freer. At that thought, his frustration eased a bit.


    But when the servant brought the porridge and biscuits that tasted odd, his mood soured again. Sonny¡¯s face quickly darkened, and he looked as serious as his father when angry.


    The servant nervously asked, ¡°Sonny¡±


    ¡°What you made <b>tastes </b>awful,¡± Sonny shouted. He angrily swiped the food off the table. The bowl shattered,


    and the biscuits scattered all over the floor.


    Climbing onto a stool, he stood above the servant, scolding her from above. The servant lowered her head, her face turning pale.


    Connor had juste downstairs and saw the scene. He walked over with a stern expression and said, ¡°What are you doing? Is this house a ce for you to throw tantrums?<b>¡± </b>


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    Sonny flinched at the sound of Connor¡¯s voice, and his bravado faded.


    Connor gave the servant a meaningful look, and the servant left.


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    This time, it was Sonny who had to bow his head. ¡°We pay them to work, not to insult them. Where are your manners?¡± Connor¡¯s tone was stern.


    Sonny lowered his head further, not daring to speak.


    Connor nced at the mess on the floor and understood what had happened. He softened his voice. ¡°Your mother and I aren¡¯t actually getting divorced. She¡¯ll be back in a few days, and when she does, she¡¯ll make food for you.¡±


    ¡°Who wants her back?¡± Sonny muttered. ¡°I want Tessa to be my mom.¡±


    ¡°Sonny!¡± Connor said firmly.


    Sonny lowered his head again, not daring to argue with his father. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about adult matters. Xylia is your real mother. Even if you don¡¯t like her, you can¡¯t deny that.¡±


    Sonny looked at Connor. ¡°Dad, does that mean Tessa can¡¯t be my mom?¡±


    Connor paused for a moment, then replied calmly, ¡°You can acknowledge Tessa as your godmother. Your mom is just throwing a tantrum. She¡¯ll be back soon. Do you understand?¡±


    Sonny nodded, though he was still unhappy that Tessa couldn¡¯t be his mother. But he still looked forward to the day Xylia would return.


    He stoppedining and began picking up the biscuits scattered on the floor.


    *****


    Three dayster. When Xylia arrived at Caperson Bistro, she received a message from Kaden saying that he had been dyed on the road and would be a few minuteste.


    Xylia said it was okay. She entered Caperson Bistro, told the waiter her private room number, and followed him further inside.


    The restaurant¡¯s decor was antique, exuding an air of nobility and elegance. Wooden corridors were nked by lush greenery, with a few casual chairs scattered around. Walking further in led to the main dining hall.


    ¡®Ms. Schultz, your reserved room is on the top floor, on the southern side. It offers a great view, and it¡¯s perfect for enjoying the scenery,¡± the waiter exined.


    As Xylia walked, she noticed something seemed to be happening with the waiter. He apologized and said he would inform the manager to escort her to the dining area.


    Xylia nodded, not thinking much of it. She waited near the elevator, but before the manager could arrive, Tessa and Connor walked in.


    Tessa walked in, arm linked with Connor¡¯s. Both of them froze when they saw Xylia, clearly shocked.


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    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Connor spoke in surprise, his gaze naturally falling on Xylia.


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    Today, Xylia wore a white dress. The fitted dress perfectly showcased her figure, making her even more captivating. Her hair was gathered at the back of her head and secured with a hairpin.


    Connor felt his heart skip a beat, his eyes falling on Xylia and unable to look away.


    Tessa also looked at Xylia, trying to maintain a graceful smile, though her fist was clenched behind her back.


    ¡°How did you know we wereing here? It¡¯s our mistake¨Cwe should¡¯ve invited you, but we have something important to discuss today. Sorry, we can¡¯t host you this time,¡± Tessa said with a polite smile, acting like the hostess<b>. </b>


    Xylia nced at them indifferently but didn¡¯t respond. She just didn¡¯t feel like talking to them.


    Tessa, seeing her words ignored, grew more annoyed and turned to Connor. ¡°Connor, Xylia probably followed you here. She might want to apologize. But we have something important to do. If she causes trouble again likest time¡­¡±


    Connor¡¯s expression darkened, recalling the event at the party when the Sadler family¡¯s assistant had announced they wouldn¡¯t work with him because of Xylia.


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    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about itter. Get out right now,¡± Connor said coldly. This was his only chance to discuss cooperation with the Sadler family. He couldn¡¯t let Xylia ruin it again.


    ¡°I didn¡¯te here to find you,¡± Xylia replied coolly, her gaze toward Connor filled with impatience.


    Connor didn¡¯t believe her words. ¡°You didn¡¯te to see me? Xylia, are you too ashamed to speak the truth


    now<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Tessa chimed in. ¡°Xylia, you should be more sensible. When you forced Connor to divorce you a few days ago, you should¡¯ve known you¡¯de back to plead with him.


    ¡°But today, Connor has something important. Mr. Sadler will be dining here soon, and as someone who¡¯s worked with the Sadler Group, I can help Connor secure the deal. This is serious, so you better not make <i>a </i>


    scene.¡±


    Upon hearing Tessa¡¯s words, Connor¡¯s gaze shifted. Moments ago, he was in awe of Xylia¡¯s beauty, but now he looked at her with disdain for her uselessness.


    Xylia not only ruined his chance with the Sadler Group but also caused him to lose the Garcia family deal. She couldn¡¯t help him in any way.


    In contrast, Tessa was beautiful, kind¨Chearted, and sessful, offering real help.


    Connor¡¯s gaze grew colder as he thought about this. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to divorce, then leave now!¡± he said sternly.


    Xylia thought these two people were crazy. ¡°I¡¯ve already said, my being here has nothing to do with you¡ªI¡¯m meeting someone.¡±


    ¡°Are you meeting someone?¡± Tessa let out a mockingugh. ¡°You don¡¯t mean you¡¯ve arranged to meet the Garcia family¡¯s driver, do you?


    ¡°How could a driver possibly get a meal at Caperson Bistro? Do you really think this restaurant just epts anyone?¡±


    Connor couldn¡¯t stand Xylia¡¯s attitude anymore, ¡°You¡¯re getting better at lying. Don¡¯t you feel ashamed? You and that lowly driver are here eating?¡± he scoffed.


    Xylia¡¯s brows furrowed in anger. Connor could insult her, but not Joshua. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being a driver? At least they earn their own living, unlike you, a rich kid born with a silver spoon,¡± Xylia shot back.


    Connor¡¯s face turned ashen. He never expected Xylia would scold him for Joshua¡¯s sake. ¡°Say that again,¡± he demanded.


    ¡°<b>I </b>said¡­¡± Xylia started, but as she tried to speak, Connor grabbed her chin, cutting her words short.


    She struggled to free herself, but she didn¡¯t have the strength to shake him off. She red at him defiantly.


    Connor, with rage in his eyes, stared right back at her. ¡°Xylia, don¡¯t test my patience, Get out of here, now!¡±


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    With a flick of his hand, he motioned for the waiter. ¡°Get this woman out of here,¡± he ordered.


    The waiter, looking ufortable, nced at Connor. ¡°Mr. Ford, we can¡¯t just kick guests out.¡±


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    Connor shot him a cold re that made the waiter uneasy. ¡°She¡¯s my wife, and she came here to cause trouble. If the restaurant suffers any losses because of her, can you handle that?¡±


    The waiter, though internally criticizing Connor, remained professional. Afraid of any further esction, the waiter leaned in. ¡°Miss, pleasee with me,¡± she said quietly.


    Xylia, rubbing her sore chin, shot onest cold nce at Connor. ¡°I told you I¡¯m meeting someone, and I reserved a private room¨CRedmead,¡± she stated.


    ¡°Redmead?¡± Tessa repeated, then sneered. ¡°Redmead is the best private room here, and the reservation fee starts in the five figures. Do you really think you and that lowly driver could afford that?¡±


    Xylia felt a pang of uncertainty. She hadn¡¯t known it would be this expensive.


    Tessa looked at the waiter. ¡°To be honest, she¡¯s been unfaithful. She doesn¡¯t have any money on her to book such a luxury room. She¡¯s just deceiving you.¡±


    The waiter looked at Xylia¡¯s outfit. It looked well but not high¨Cend luxury, which made it seem unlikely she could afford such a private room.


    The waiter had already begun to side with Tessa and was starting to adopt a more assertive attitude toward Xylia. ¡°Miss, if you cause a disturbance here, I will call security.¡±


    Connor turned to Xylia onest time. ¡°Leave.¡±


    Xylia stood still, not moving. The waiter reached for her, ready to pull her away.


    Just then, the restaurant manager arrived. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± the manager asked, hurriedly walking toward the scene.


    Upon seeing the manager approach, the waiter promptly greeted him.


    The manager walked over and looked at Xylia. ¡°My apologies for the wait, Ms. Schultz. I¡¯ll escort you to your dining area now<i>.</i>¡±


    Everyone else looked shocked except for Xylia and the manager.


    Tessa, pointing at Xylia, turned to the manager. ¡°Are you sure she reserved the Redmead private room here?¡±


    The restaurant manager nced at <b>Tessa </b>and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s correct. Ms. Schultz is a VIP guest of Redmead.¡±


    ¡°How is that possible?¡± Tessa¡¯s voice grew sharp.


    Connor stood nearby, gazing thoughtfully at Xylia. After a long pause, he finally spoke, ¡°Who have you been seeing behind my back?¡±


    Only those who were either wealthy or distinguished could reserve the Redmead private room. He was


    :


    certain that Xylia and Joshua could not have booked that room.


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    Unless Xylia had secured another advantageous connection, and that connection was at least equal to Connor in status<b>. </b>


    Xylia¡¯s face flushed with anger. ¡°What? In your eyes, does living a little more luxuriously mean I have an improper rtionship with other rich people?¡± she shot back.


    Tessa mocked her. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve lost the use of your arms and legs, and things have escted to divorce with Connor, how could you even be here?¡±


    She sneered, speaking up for Connor. ¡°No wonder you¡¯re so determined to divorce Connor.¡±


    The manager and waiter¡¯s attitude toward Xylia shifted. But adhering to customer service principles, they said nothing.


    The elevator doors opened, and the manager turned to Xylia. ¡°The elevator¡¯s here, please let me escort you up.

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    Xylia didn¡¯t want to waste time arguing with Connor and Tessa<b>, </b>so she prepared to take the elevator with the


    manager.


    Connor¡¯s expression grew more somber, his face darkening further. Just as Xylia was about to step into the elevator, Connor quickly stepped forward and pulled her out. ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re not going anywhere today!¡±


    He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her meeting another man right in front of him. He was burning with rage. He even had the urge to go upstairs with her and confront that man personally.


    Xylia struggled, trying to shake off Connor¡¯s hand, but her strength was no match for his. She couldn¡¯t free herself.


    He pulled her outside, and she stumbled after him, almost falling multiple times in her high heels.


    ¡°Let go of me, Connor!¡± she shouted.


    Connor said coldly, ¡°Before I lose my temper, you must leave this ce.¡±


    Suddenly, three people approached from the entrance. Upon seeing Connor pull Xylia along, their faces immediately turned cold. ¡°Mr. Ford, what¡¯s going on here?¡± one of them asked.


    Connor looked up to find Kaden Sadler, the head of the Sadler family, standing before him. Kaden was apanied by two men, neither of whom Connor recognized, but he could guess their identities.


    The Sadler family had four sons. On the left was a man dressed in a sharp suit, likely the second son, Cyrus


    Sadler.


    On the right, a man with silver¨Cgray hair wearing a leather jacket, probably Hudson Sadler, the fourth son of the Sadler family.


    As for the third son, he had never appeared in public. There were rumors that he was ill and had been kept at home all his life.


    Noticing Xylia behind him, Connor immediately moved her behind himself, afraid she might disrupt his conversation with the Sadler brothers.


    ¡°Mr. Sadler,<i>¡± </i>Connor greeted, then forced a polite smile. ¡°It¡¯s a personal matter.¡±


    Seizing the opportunity, Connor turned to re at Xylia. ¡°Get out now, don¡¯t make me take action.¡±


    ¡°Connor, you lunatic,¡± Xylia shot back, anger rising.


    She still didn¡¯t know who Kaden and his brothers were but vaguely recognized Kaden¡¯s voice as familiar. However, she never imagined they were her older brothers.


    Upon seeing the Sadler brothers, Tessa¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Mr. Sadler, it¡¯s good to see you again. I¡¯m Tessa, and I worked with yourpany two years ago,¡± she said, smiling.


    :


    Kaden didn¡¯t spare her a nce and kept his attention on Connor and Xylia.


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    Tessa, following Kaden¡¯s gaze, saw the struggle between Xylia and Connor. She shot Xylia a re before quickly speaking up.


    ¡°Mr. Sadler, this is Mr. Ford and his wife, who he¡¯s about to divorce. Well, but his wife was unfaithful during their marriage. Mr. Ford found out, and understandably, he¡¯s not in the best mood. Please, bear with us,¡± Tessa said.


    She walked over to Xylia and whispered, ¡°Hurry up and leave. Don¡¯t mess things up here.¡±


    She gave Xylia a push. Already wearing high heels, Xylia stumbled as Tessa pushed her, almost losing her bnce.


    Before Connor could reach out to support her, someone else quickly stepped forward, wrapping an arm around her waist and helping her stand. ¡°Are you alright?¡± came a concerned voice.


    Xylia quickly stood, startled, as she lifted her gaze and met a pair of stunning eyes. His gaze was deep, with a gentle and soft light in his eyes that seemed to hold unspoken emotions.


    Xylia shook her head and quickly said thank you. ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you.¡±


    Cyrus lowered his gaze to look at Xylia. He had only seen her in photos before, but now, seeing her in person, she was even more beautiful than he had imagined.


    ¡°Mr. Ford, you don¡¯t seem to treat your wife with the same affection that¡¯s rumored online,¡± Kaden remarked coldly.


    Xylia furrowed her brows. That voice sounded so familiar¨Cit reminded her of her older brother¡¯s voice on the phone. She looked toward Kaden.


    Kaden had strong features, with a sharp jawline and refined facial features. His slightly upturned eyes gave him amanding presence. Sensing Xylia¡¯s gaze, Kaden looked at her and gave her a small smile.


    A chill ran down her spine. She began to doubt if her suspicions were true.


    Upon hearing Kaden¡¯s words, Connor quickly replied, ¡°I¡¯ve had some disagreements with her recently. I apologize for letting <i>you </i>witness this, Mr. Sadler,¡±


    As he spoke, Connor again turned his gaze toward Xylia, a faint glint of menace flickering in his eyes. He said in a low voice, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to hurry up and leave?¡±


    Still in shock, Xylia didn¡¯t hear Connor¡¯s words. Connor moved to grab her again.


    But before he could, Cyrus stepped forward and blocked him, his gaze cold as he red at Connor. ¡°Try touching her, and see what happens.¡±


    Connor frowned, confused as to why the Sadler family was defending Xylia.


    Tessa quickly stepped forward to mediate. ¡°We¡¯re all familiar faces here. Let¡¯s not ruin the atmosphere over something trivial,¡± she said, trying to smooth things over. But it didn¡¯t work.


    10:45 <b>Tue</b>, <b>Sep </b>16


    ¡­


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    Hudson, who had been silent up to this point, let out a sharpugh. ¡°Who said we¡¯re familiar?¡± Hudson sneered.


    Tessa¡¯s smile froze. ¡°I have worked with Sadler Group.¡±


    ¡°There are countless people who¡¯ve worked with the Sadler Group. You¡¯re just a spokesperson. Why would Kaden remember you?¡± Hudson interrupted.


    Tessa¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment, but she quickly regained herposure.


    She turned to Kaden. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t remember me. But this is Mr. Ford from Ford Group- surely you know him?


    ¡°Mr. Ford would like to discuss a major coboration with you today and hopes that you will do us the honor of considering it, Mr. Sadler.¡±


    Connor jumped in, ¡°Mr. Sadler, may I have ten minutes of your time? I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be interested in this project once I tell you more.¡±


    Kaden looked at Connor, his expression turning cold again. ¡°Why would I waste ten minutes talking with you?¡± Kaden replied bluntly.


    Connor stood frozen for a moment, stunned by Kaden¡¯s directness.


    Kaden then looked at Tessa, his gaze sharp as he spoke. ¡°You just said Ms. Schultz was unfaithful, but your rtionship with Mr. Ford seems even closer. Seems like you¡¯re the one pointing fingers first.


    ¡°Mr. Ford, your conduct is reprehensible. Sadler Group will never cooperate with you,¡± Kaden said, his tone harsh and filled with disdain.


    Connor¡¯s face instantly darkened.


    Çú

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    Chapter <b>102 </b>


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    Xylia didn¡¯t want to waste time arguing with Connor and Tessa<b>, </b><b>so </b>she prepared to take the elevator with the


    manager.


    Connor¡¯s expression grew more somber, his face darkening further. Just as Xylia was about to step into the elevator, Connor quickly stepped forward and pulled her out. ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re not going anywhere today!¡±


    He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her meeting another man right in front of him. He was burning with rage. He even had the urge to go upstairs with her and confront that man personally.


    Xylia struggled, trying to shake off Connor¡¯s hand, but her strength was no match for his. She couldn¡¯t free herself.


    He pulled her outside, and she stumbled after him, almost falling multiple times in her high heels.


    ¡°Let go of me, Connor!¡± she shouted.


    Connor said coldly, ¡°Before I lose my temper, you must leave this ce.¡±


    Suddenly, three people approached from the entrance. Upon seeing Connor pull Xylia along, their faces immediately turned cold. ¡°Mr. Ford, what¡¯s going on here?¡± one of them asked.


    Connor looked up to find Kaden Sadler, the head of the Sadler family, standing before him. Kaden was apanied by two men, neither of whom Connor recognized, but he could guess their identities.


    The Sadler family had four sons. On the left was a man dressed in a sharp suit, likely the second son, Cyrus Sadler.


    On the right, a man with silver¨Cgray hair wearing a leather jacket, probably Hudson Sadler, the fourth son of the Sadler family.


    As for the third son, he had never appeared in public. There were rumors that he was ill and had been kept at home all his life.


    Noticing Xylia behind him, Connor immediately moved her behind himself, afraid she might disrupt his conversation with the Sadler brothers.


    ¡°Mr. Sadler,¡± Connor greeted, then forced a polite smile. ¡°It¡¯s a personal matter.¡±


    Seizing the opportunity, Connor turned to re at Xylia. ¡°Get out now, don¡¯t make me take action.


    <i>¡°</i>Connor, you lunatic,¡± Xylia shot back, anger rising.


    She still didn¡¯t know who Kaden and his brothers were but vaguely recognized Kaden¡¯s voice as familiar. However, she never imagined they were her older brothers.


    Upon seeing the Sadler brothers, Tessa¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Mr. Sadler, it¡¯s good to see you again. I¡¯m Tessa, and I worked with yourpany two years ago,¡± she said, smiling,


    <b>10:45 </b>Tue<b>, </b>Sep 16


    Kaden didn¡¯t spare her a nce and kept his attention on Connor and Xylia.


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    Tessa, following Kaden¡¯s gaze, saw the struggle between Xylia and Connor. She shot Xylia a re before quickly speaking up.


    ¡°Mr. Sadler, this is Mr. Ford and his wife, who he¡¯s about to divorce. Well, but his wife was unfaithful during their marriage. Mr. Ford found out, and understandably, he¡¯s not in the best mood. Please, bear with us,¡± Tessa said.


    She walked over to Xylia and whispered, ¡°Hurry up and leave. Don¡¯t mess things up here.¡±


    She gave Xylia a push. Already wearing high heels, Xylia stumbled as Tessa pushed her, almost losing her bnce.


    Before Connor could reach out to support her, someone else quickly stepped forward, wrapping an arm around her waist and helping her stand. ¡°Are you alright?¡± came a concerned voice.


    Xylia quickly stood, startled, as she lifted her gaze and met a pair of stunning eyes. His gaze was deep, with a gentle and soft light in his eyes that seemed to hold unspoken emotions.


    Xylia shook her head and quickly said thank you. ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you.¡±


    Cyrus lowered his gaze to look at Xylia. He had only seen her in photos before, but now, seeing her in person, she was even more beautiful than he had imagined.


    ¡°Mr. Ford, you don¡¯t seem to treat your wife with the <i>sam </i>coldly.


    affection that¡¯s rumored online,¡± Kaden remarked


    Xylia furrowed her brows. That voice sounded so familiar¨Cit reminded her of her older brother¡¯s voice on the phone. She looked toward Kaden.


    Kaden had strong features, with a sharp jawline and refined facial features. His slightly upturned eyes gave him amanding presence. Sensing Xylia¡¯s gaze, Kaden looked at her and gave her a small smile.


    A chill ran down her spine. She began to doubt if her suspicions were true,


    Upon hearing Kaden¡¯s words, Connor quickly replied, ¡°I¡¯ve had some disagreements with her recently. I apologize for letting you witness this, Mr. Sadler.¡±


    As he spoke<i>, </i>Connor again turned his gaze toward Xylia, a faint glint of menace flickering in his eyes. He said in a low voice, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to hurry up and leave?¡±


    Still in shock, Xylia didn¡¯t hear Connor¡¯s words. Connor moved to grab her again.


    But before he could, Cyrus stepped forward and blocked him, his gaze cold as he red at Connor. ¡°Try touching her, and see what happens.¡±


    Connor frowned, confused as to why the Sadler family was defending Xylia.


    Tessa quickly stepped forward to mediate. ¡°We¡¯re all familiar faces here. Let¡¯s not ruin the atmosphere over something trivial,¡± she said, trying to smooth things over. But it didn¡¯t work.


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    Hudson, who had been silent up to this point, let out a sharpugh. ¡°Who said we¡¯re familiar?¡± Hudson sneered.


    Tessa¡¯s smile froze. ¡°I have worked with Sadler Group.¡±


    ¡°There are countless people who¡¯ve worked with the Sadler Group. You¡¯re just a spokesperson. Why would Kaden remember you?¡± Hudson interrupted.


    Tessa¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment, but she quickly regained herposure.


    She turned to Kaden. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t remember me. But this <b>is </b>Mr. Ford from Ford Group- surely you know him?


    ¡°Mr. Ford would like to discuss a major coboration with you today and hopes that you will do us the honor of considering it, Mr. Sadler.¡±


    Connor jumped in, ¡°Mr. Sadler, may I have ten minutes of your time? I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be interested in this project once I tell you more.¡±


    Kaden looked at Connor, his expression turning cold again. ¡°Why would I waste ten minutes talking with you?¡± Kaden replied bluntly.


    Connor stood frozen for a moment, stunned by Kaden¡¯s directness.


    Kaden then looked at Tessa, his gaze sharp as he spoke. ¡°You just said Ms. Schultz was unfaithful, but your rtionship with Mr. Ford seems even closer. Seems like you¡¯re the one pointing fingers first.


    ¡°Mr. Ford, your conduct is reprehensible. Sadler Group will never cooperate with you,¡± Kaden said, his tone harsh and filled with disdain.


    Connor¡¯s face instantly darkened.


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    Upon seeing this, Tessa quickly interjected, ¡°Mr. Sadler, isn¡¯t your statement a bit too extreme?<b>¡± </b>


    The situation became tense. Tessa stood beside Connor and looked at Kaden. ¡°Mr. Sadler, there seems to be a misunderstanding between us. I¡¯m actually the younger sister of Mr. Ford¡¯s wife.¡±


    Hudson sneered, ¡°Brother¨Cinw and your wife¡¯s younger sister¨Care you disregarding basic morality?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Sadler!¡± Connor looked at Kaden with a dark expression. ¡°<b>If </b>you don¡¯t want to cooperate, just say <b>so</b>. There¡¯s no need to nder anyone.¡±


    Connor stepped aside to shield Tessa behind him. ¡°After all, Tessa has worked with your Sadler Group before. Is this how you treat your business partners?¡±


    Tessa¡¯s expression also turned cold. ¡°Mr. Sadler, your staff recently contacted me about continuing our coboration, yet now you¡¯re humiliating me like this. Is this really appropriate?¡±


    Kaden simply murmured, ¡°Right.¡± He then took out his phone and made a call.


    The call was quickly answered. Kaden spoke to the person on the other end, ¡°Tell the marketing department that, from now on, Sadler Group¡¯s spokespersons are never to work with Tessa Schultz, and we will never cooperate with Ford Group.¡±


    With a simple statement, Kaden effectively shut off thest remaining path for Connor and Tessa.


    Tessa immediately panicked.


    Connor, however, red at Kaden and said, ¡°Mr. Sadler, is this how you do business? So emotional?¡±


    Kaden gave a mocking smile. ¡°I have the right to be emotional. Do you?¡±


    Connor was left speechless. He gritted his teeth and nced at Xylia, who stood motionless nearby. He once again med all the mistakes on Xylia.


    Just then, the restaurant manager received a call and walked over, gesturing for Connor and Tessa to leave. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ve received instructions to ask you to leave. We cannot serve you here.¡±


    Tessa, already seething, pointed at the manager and shouted, ¡°Who are you to kick us out? You¡¯re just a manager.¡±


    The manager remained calm. ¡°Sorry, we are just following orders. If you don¡¯t leave voluntarily, I¡¯ll have to call security¡±


    Connor, unable to hold back any longer, snapped, ¡°What orders? We¡¯re just here to eat, and this is how you treat your customers?¡±


    Upon seeing them behave in such a manner, the restaurant manager, without hesitation, used a walkie¨Ctalkie to call security and had them escorted out.


    As they were leaving, Connor¡¯s furious gaze lingered on Xylia.


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    After the scene settled down, the restaurant manager turned to the Sadler brothers and Xylia. ¡°Are you all together? Let me take you to your private room.¡±


    Cyrus smiled and looked at Xylia. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Xylia.¡±


    Xylia looked at the three brothers in disbelief. ¡°You are my brothers?¡± She asked again, unsure.


    Hudson, hands in his pockets, walked over to her, nudging Cyrus aside with his elbow, then put his arm around her shoulders. ¡°Of course. Let me introduce myself¡ªI¡¯m Hudson, your fourth older brother.¡±


    Hudson then pointed to Cyrus and Kaden, introducing them briefly, and finally looked at Xylia with a meaningful expression.


    ¡°Xylia, your third brother had an urgent matter and couldn¡¯t make it. You can me him if you like, but please don¡¯t think he¡¯s avoiding you on purpose. We¡¯re just so happy you¡¯re back home,¡± Hudson added.


    Cyrus nodded. ¡°When hees back, we¡¯ll make sure to give him a good scolding.¡±


    For the first time, Xylia felt truly cared for by her family, and a warmth spread through her heart.


    Kaden noticed her rxed expression and quietly sighed in relief. He looked at the others. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll eat first.¡±


    The four of them followed the manager into the private room. The room wasvishly decorated. Although Xylia had grown up in the Schultz family andter married Connor, living in luxury, she had never really experienced such a ce.


    Especially after marriage, she and Connor kept their rtionship private, and she became a housewife. Connor was always busy and never invited her to social events. The few times he gave her gifts to please her, but they rarely ate out together.


    As a result, Xylia rarely found herself in such high¨Cend venues.


    Once seated, Hudson pulled out a box and handed it to Xylia. ¡°Here, this is a gift for our first meeting. Do you like it?¡±


    Inside the box was an entire set of jewelry. It looked incredibly expensive. Xylia was at a loss for words.


    Although Hudson was her real brother, Xylia felt no emotional connection to them yet. Receiving such an expensive gift for the first time made her feel uneasy. But she was afraid that rejecting it outright would hurt his feelings.


    Hudson didn¡¯t wait for her to respond. He quickly ced the box in her arms. ¡°Every girl loves jewelry, and I searched for this set for a long time.


    ¡°The moment I saw you, I knew it was perfect for you. You are beautiful and graceful, and you deserve the finest. Should I help you put it on?¡±


    Xylia quickly refused, closing the box and putting it aside. ¡°My outfit today doesn¡¯t go with the jewelry. Thank


    you. I¡¯ll wear itter.¡±


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    ¡°Alright then.¡± Hudson looked at Xylia, his admiration growing the more he looked at her. He just knew that their younger sister must be exceptionally beautiful.


    Cyrus looked at Xylia. ¡°Let¡¯s exchange contact details first.¡±


    Xylia took out her phone and exchanged contact info with Hudson and Cyrus. Then, Cyrus transferred 2 million directly to her.


    He shook his phone at her with a smile. ¡°My gift is a bit tacky. Since we¡¯re just getting to know you, and I don¡¯t yet know your preferences, here¡¯s some pocket money for you. You¡¯ll get this every month from now on.¡±


    Xylia nearly dropped her phone in shock. 2 million was an exaggeration.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Xylia said. She didn¡¯t know what else to say other than to thank them.


    Hudson looked at Kaden and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Kaden, what gift do you have for our little sister?¡±


    Kaden slowly took out a contract and handed it to Xylia. ¡°This is 20% of the shares in Sadler Group.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s phone fell with a loud crash onto the table. The three brothers¡® gazes focused on her.


    Based on the group¡¯s current market value, this meant she could earn billions every year, without doing anything.


    Xylia felt a surge of anxiety. She looked at Kaden, forcing a smile as she said, ¡°Kaden, this gift is far too precious. I¡¯m already so happy that you¡¯ve weed me back into the family. There¡¯s no need to give me something so valuable.¡±


    AD

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    Xylia¡¯s words plunged the private room into an eerie silence. After a long pause, just when Xylia thought Kaden was angry, the seemingly stern Kaden let out a softugh, his lips curling slightly.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t really a gift from me,¡± Kaden said with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s something you truly deserve.¡±


    Xylia furrowed her brows in confusion, looking at Kaden.


    Kaden smiled affectionately as he exined, his gaze tender as it rested on Xylia. ¡°You were born into our family with great anticipation. These shares were prepared by our parents and grandparents long before you


    were even born.¡±


    Cyrus spoke up after Kaden. ¡°You¡¯re the little princess of the Sadler family. Our parents, and even our grandparents while they were alive, always thought about you. We¡¯re all so happy you¡¯vee back to us.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s eyes grew misty. All these years, she had felt like a lost soul, drifting aimlessly, unable to fit into the Schultz family and unable to enter Connor¡¯s heart. But across the world, her true family had been waiting eagerly for her return.


    A bitter ache welled up in her chest, and she nearly burst into tears.


    Hudson gently rubbed Xylia¡¯s head, offering reassurance. ¡°The gift from Kaden doesn¡¯t count. Let him go back and prepare something better for you.¡±


    Through her tears, Xylia managed a smile, her heart lighter. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being so stubborn and not wanting to return home. I know it must have upset you all.¡±


    Kaden had indeed found herst year, but she had refused to return because she didn¡¯t want to leave Connor. Despite Kaden¡¯s repeated attempts to reach out, she had been unwilling to reconnect with them. Looking back, she was really heartless.


    ¡°It¡¯s all in the past. As long as you¡¯re back now, we¡¯re all just happy to have you home,¡± Kaden said.


    Xylia felt their warmth and affection, and her body rxed.


    During the meal, Kaden suddenly asked, ¡°You mentioneding home with us at the end of this month. What¡¯s going to happen then? Do you need any help?¡±


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°The Schultz family¡¯s grandmother was the kindest to me. I need to wait until after the anniversary of her passing before leaving.


    ¡°Also, the end of the month marks one month since Connor and I registered for divorce, and I need to get the divorce certificate first.¡±


    At the mention of Connor, the three brothers of the Sadler family¡¯s gazes instantly turned cold.


    Hudson spat in contempt. ¡°That bastard! He has feelings for his own sister¨Cinw¨Chow can someone like him expect to work with us?¡±


    He looked at Xylia, his tone fierce. ¡°If anyone dares to hurt you, I won¡¯t let them off easily.¡±


    Xylia said lightly, ¡°It¡¯s all in the past. In any case, I will handle my own matters well.¡±


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    Kaden and Cyrus exchanged a look, realizing that Xylia didn¡¯t want them to interfere. They fell silent.


    Then, recalling the earlier incident, Xylia asked, ¡°Kaden, was it you who had Connor and Tessa kicked out just


    now?<b>¡± </b>


    Kaden shook his head. ¡°Caperson Bistro is owned by the Garcia Group. I don¡¯t have the power to order the staff to expel people.¡±


    Besides, Connor¡¯s name carried weight in Jupiton. The staff wouldn¡¯t have just kicked anyone out. It must have been the owner¡¯s decision.


    Kaden had never met the mysterious heir of the Garcia Group. However, this time when Leon returned home, he mentioned that Xylia had grown close to a driver from the Garcia family. He did show interest in this driver.


    *****


    At that very moment, the driver Kaden mentioned was in the CEO¡¯s office of Garcia Group.


    He signed a document and handed it to his assistant.


    The assistant ryed the information about what had happened at Caperson Bistro. ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Garcia. We¡¯ve expelled Connor and Tessa, and both have been permanently cklisted from Caperson Bistro.¡±


    Joshua nodded, recalling the surveince footage where Connor and Tessa were cornering Xylia. His anger red again. ¡°Prepare everything for next month. We¡¯ll start the acquisition of the Schultz Group then.¡±


    The assistant nodded, took the signed documents, and left the office.


    Joshua¡¯s phone vibrated with a message from an unknown number. [Joshua, are you really not going to meet me?]


    He turned off the screen impassively, his eyes growing colder. It seemed he needed to wrap up these bothersome matters even faster.


    *****


    When Xylia returned home, she had bought too much fruit and decided to give some to Joshua. She sent him a message asking if he had returned.


    Joshua called her back. ¡°I¡¯ll be home around eight. Is something wrong?¡± he asked.


    Xylia smiled and replied, ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing. I just bought some fruit and was nning to bring some over for you.¡±


    Joshua felt a sense of joyful surprise at being favored.


    Xylia continued, ¡°Thene to my ce to pick it up when you return. If you have not had dinner yet, I can prepare something for you.¡±


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    ¡°Got it,¡± Joshua said, then hung up. After the call, he quickened the pace of his meeting<i>. </i>Originally scheduled to end at 6:30, he wrapped it up at 6:00.


    Afterward, he passed all remaining tasks to his assistant. The assistant grumbled under his breath.


    Joshua calmly said, ¡°Your end¨Cof¨Cmonth bonus will be doubled.¡±


    The assistant immediately stoppedining, swearing to serve Joshua with unwavering loyalty.


    As Xylia arrived at her residentialplex, she saw Connor waiting at the entrance. Seeing her, he immediately walked over with a dark expression. ¡°Come with me.¡±


    Xylia was caught off guard as he grabbed her wrist. He pulled her toward the car parked nearby. Xylia struggled. ¡°What are you doing? Who wants to go with you? Let go of me!¡±


    Connor forcefully shoved her into the front passenger seat. ¡°Grandfather is about to pass away. Come back with me.¡±


    Hearing this, Xylia stopped resisting. The news was expected, yet still took her by surprise.


    <i>The </i>doctor had said that Orion might not make it through the month. Despite her resentment toward him for using her, she couldn¡¯t forget the kindness he had shown her in the past. She wouldn¡¯t refuse to see him off for thest time.


    She


    gave in and sat quietly in the car. However, after a while, Xylia began to feel something was off. ¡°This isn¡¯t the road to the Ford Mansion!¡±


    She looked at Connor, but saw only a grim expression on his face, his eyes fixed ahead. A cold, ominous aura surrounded him.


    Xylia began to feel afraid. She asked Connor, ¡°Is Orion alright? Are you lying to me?¡±


    Outside the car window, streetlights flickered on one by one, and the sky darkened rapidly. The orange- yellow light shed across Connor¡¯s cold face.


    He nced at her briefly, his gaze devoid of warmth. ¡°Xylia, you¡¯ve gone too far this time.¡±


    ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Xylia looked at him warily.


    Connor didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he mmed his foot on the gas pedal.


    The ck Porsche sped down the highway, overtaking all the vehicles ahead.


    When Joshua returned to his apartment, he knocked on Xylia¡¯s door first. But after waiting for a long time, there was no answer. Joshua stood at the door, frowning slightly.

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    Xylia was taken back to the vi by Connor. This was the ce where they had lived for six years after their marriage. Since Xylia filed for divorce, she hadn¡¯t returned here.


    Connor dragged Xylia into the vi¡¯s main entrance.


    Sonny was in the living room. When he saw Connor and Xylia returning together, his eyes lit up, but quickly turned disdainful as he looked at Xylia. ¡°Aren¡¯t you nning to divorce Dad? Why have youe back?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s wrist was pulled sharply, causing her pain. She couldn¡¯t break free, and instinctively replied, ¡°Don¡¯t you want me to divorce your dad and let Tessa be your mother?¡±


    Whether out of anger or something else, Sonny puffed up with rage. ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯re not fit to be my mother. Who cares if youe back?¡± With that, he turned and ran upstairs.


    Connor dragged Xylia into the vi¡¯s basement and violently threw her onto the floor. Xylia¡¯s elbow hit the floor, the pain making her eyes water. She looked at Connor and asked, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Connor scoffed coldly, his gaze filled with disgust. ¡°What, do you think I would ever touch a woman like you again? A filthy woman like you?¡±


    His voice was cold, as if it had emerged from the depths of an abyss.


    Though Xylia hadn¡¯t expected anything from him, hearing those words still made her heart ache.


    She climbed to her feet, ring at him. ¡°You used Grandfather to trick me intoing back¨Cwhat exactly are you trying to do?¡±


    Connor red at her, his eyes bloodshot with anger, as if he might tear her apart. ¡°Who did you meet at Caperson Bistro today? Why do you always ruin my reputation in front of others?¡±


    As he spoke, he grabbed her chin, ring down at her. ¡°Do you know how long I¡¯ve been working to secure a partnership with the Sadler family? You¡¯ve ruined everything.¡±


    He forcefully flung her off, and Xylia staggered backward. She had to steady herself by holding onto a nearby shelf.


    She looked at him, her gaze just as cold. ¡°When did the Sadler family agree to cooperate with you? You and Tessa have an ambiguous rtionship and people have misunderstood it. What does that have to do with


    me?¡±


    ¡°Stop making excuses!¡± Connor shouted.


    Xylia tilted her face upward and stared stubbornly at Connor Ford.


    Connor¡¯s hands trembled with anger as he turned around and smashed his fist into the wall.


    Xylia, terrified, realized that his emotions were unstable. She was sure he would do something to hurt her. Looking at the door, she quietly moved toward it while he wasn¡¯t paying attention.


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    But suddenly, Connor turned around and caught her. ¡°I¡¯ve been too tolerant with you,¡± he said coldly. ¡°From now on, stay here. You¡¯re not allowed to leave.¡±


    Xylia watched helplessly as Connor walked toward the door. Her heart tightened, and she quickly followed. However, Connor was too fast. As soon as she reached the door, it mmed shut.


    The basement light flickered and dimmed. She pounded on the door. ¡°Connor, you pervert. Let me out! We¡¯re divorced, you¡¯re imprisoning me. Open the door,¡± she screamed, panic rising in her voice.


    But Connor, standing outside, remained calm. ¡°At this point, you still want to threaten me with a divorce? Stay inside and reflect. If you don¡¯t understand your mistakes, you¡¯re noting out. I won¡¯t tolerate you anymore.¡±


    The sound of his footsteps slowly faded away. Xylia¡¯s mind began to cloud over. Memories of the attic flooded her mind. Her body went weak, her heartbeat quickening as she copsed against the wall.


    Driven by instinct, she crawled along the wall to the light switch. The light turned on, and Xylia finally felt she could breathe again.


    Her face was pale as she sat against the wall. In just a few seconds, her clothes were drenched in sweat, as if she had just been pulled from water.


    There was no signal in the basement, and she couldn¡¯t call for help or dial the police. She had to figure out a way to get out of here.


    Connor returned to the living room, and Sonny came forward. ¡°Where is she?¡± Sonny asked.


    Connor nced at Sonny indifferently before walking toward the sofa. ¡°Your mother made a mistake, and I made her admit it,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Did you bring me back just to punish Mom?¡± Sonny asked.


    Connor noticed the disapproval in Sonny¡¯s eyes and furrowed his brow. ¡°Do you think I shouldn¡¯t punish her?¡±


    Sonny crossed his arms, looking like a little adult despite his age. ¡°Of course she should be punished. She¡¯s been so willfultely¨Cleaving home at the slightest provocation, even threatening you with divorce.


    ¡°Most importantly, she¡¯s been targeting Tessa. Dad, you should have done this a long time ago and taught her


    a lesson.¡±


    Connor stared at Sonny for a few seconds before pinching his brow and replying calmly, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should go to bed now.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to sleep?¡± Sonny asked.


    ¡°I have some work to do,¡± Connor answered.


    Sonny looked at his father¡¯s weary face with concern and said. ¡°Dad, vou should rest too. Your health is


    important.¡±


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    Only then did Connor smile.


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    Sonny returned to his room, eager to call Tessa. He quickly took out his phone watch and dialed her number. He told Tessa everything that had happened, then added with excitement, ¡°Tessa, Dad said I should make you my godmother.¡±


    Tessa¡¯s expression twisted at the other end of the line. Connor had decided not to divorce Xylia after all.


    She sneered inwardly. She had never failed to get what she wanted.


    Trying to hide her frustration, Tessa said gently to Sonny, ¡°Okay, as long as we¡¯re living together, that¡¯s fine, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes! I want to live with you, Tessa,¡± Sonny eximed.


    ¡°Alright, Sonny, get some rest. I¡¯ll visit you tomorrow,¡± Tessa said softly.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for you toe over and y.¡±


    After ending the call, Tessa dialed someone from her contacts. This person was a gang member who had once been associated with Sadie. Tessa intended to buy certain substances from him.


    Since Connor had dyed officially being with her, she had no choice but to take drastic measures.


    *****


    The next day, Xylia woke up in the basement feeling groggy. The night before, she had searched the basement for a long time but couldn¡¯t find anything to pry the door open. Instead, she found a musty nket.


    The basement was cold and damp. She shook the nket out, draped it over herself, and spent the night sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall.


    When she woke up that morning, her head felt heavy and groggy. She was most likelying down with a cold. Struggling to sit up, her stomach growled with hunger.


    Just then, the door opened. ¡°Xylia, did you sleep wellst night?¡±


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    Tessa was dressed infortable loungewear and had a natural face, already exuding the image of the mistress of the house.


    Xylia frowned as she looked at her, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Tessa was holding a ss of milk. She smiled as she looked at Xylia. ¡°I came to bring you something to eat. Connor left for the office so early and didn¡¯t even bring you anything to eat. What if you get hungry?¡±


    She handed the milk to Xylia. Xylia didn¡¯t take it, simply staring at her coldly.


    Tessa seemed to realize something suddenly, pulling her hand back with a surprised exmation. ¡°Oh no, I forgot, you¡¯re allergic to milk. So I guess you¡¯ll just have to go hungry.¡±


    Tessa sneered and threw the ss at Xylia.


    Xylia, still dazed, couldn¡¯t react in time and was sshed with milk.


    The cup shattered when it hit the floor, sending ss fragments flying. One of them scraped her exposed lower leg, and blood started to flow.


    Xylia bent down in pain, clutching her calf. The sweet, pungent scent filled her nostrils. It was honey.


    Tessa walked up to Xylia and casually pushed aside her loose hair. The kiss marks on her neck were now fully visible to Xylia.


    ¡°When I arrivedst night, Connor was drinking. He got drunk and kept saying my name,¡± Tessa said.


    She looked <i>at </i>Xylia with a provocative expression. ¡°Xylia, you¡¯ve had Connor all these years. Isn¡¯t it time you gave him back to me?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Xylia scoffed. She stood up and faced Tessa. ¡°When you came back to the Schultz family, Qadir couldn¡¯t wait to break off his engagement with me and marry you. Connor proposed to meter.¡±


    Tessa¡¯s voice became sharp. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s monopolized him!¡±


    She looked like a madwoman now, grabbing Xylia¡¯s hand. Her dislike was no longer concealed. ¡°I¡¯m the true heiress of the Schultz family. You stole my identity and enjoyed eighteen years of wealth and privilege. All of that belongs to me.


    ¡°My parents are mine, my brother is mine, Qadir is mine, and Connor is mine. Everything you have should rightfully be mine.¡± Tessa screamed with rare rage, her expression twisted.


    Xylia stared at her in disbelief, feeling a mix of amusement and pity. She pulled her hand away from Tessa¡¯s grip. ¡°If I could, I¡¯d rather never have been a Schultz.¡±


    Tessa sneered at Xylia. ¡°Someone as greedy as you could never resist the Schultz family¡¯s money. You married Connor because he¡¯s the heir to Ford Group, didn¡¯t you?¡±


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    Xylia felt it wasn¡¯t worth exining herself further, <b>so </b>she stayed silent, focusing on the open basement door. Her mind was racing, looking for a way to escape.


    Tessa<b>, </b>secing Xylia¡¯s silence, assumed she¡¯d hit a nerve, and her contempt grew.


    Just as she was about to say something, Xylia suddenly bent down and threw the musty nket from the floor over Tessa¡¯s head. ¡°What is this<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    As Tessa struggled with the nket, Xylia dashed for the door. Though her head was fuzzy, her body moved with sharp focus.


    She made it to the living room, only to spot Sonny standing by the TV. ¡°How did you get out?¡± he asked, looking displeased.


    Xylia wasn¡¯t in the mood to argue with him. Since Connor wasn¡¯t home, she had to seize the opportunity to escape. She ran quickly toward the front door.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave!¡± Sonny immediately called for the servants, who tried to grab Xylia. She dodged them, but she managed to reach the front door and open it.


    Just as she was about to escape, a bodyguard standing at the door seized her.


    At that moment, Tessa emerged from the basement. Her twisted, cold expression froze when she saw Sonny. She quickly forced a stiff smile.


    ¡°Sonny, I brought breakfast to your mom. She didn¡¯t eat it and even hit me, then took the chance to run. If she escapes, your father will be angry when hees back,¡± Tessa said.


    Sonny ran nervously up to Tessa. ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    Tessa pressed her forehead and smoothed her messy hair. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Sonny¡¯s anger red, and he turned to the bodyguards holding Xylia. ¡°You¡¯re really going too far. Tessa was worried you¡¯d be hungry and brought you breakfast, and not only did you refuse, you hit her.


    ¡°Dad was right¨Cif someone like you isn¡¯t punished, you¡¯ll never learn.¡±


    Sonny, showing his authority, nced at the bodyguards. ¡°Take her back to the basement and don¡¯t feed her today.¡±


    The bodyguards obeyed, dragging Xylia back to the basement. Xylia was struggling. When she saw Tessa¡¯s proud smile, an unsettling feeling crept up her spine.


    Back in the basement, her body waspletely drained of strength. As soon as the bodyguards let go of her, she copsed to the floor.


    The basement door mmed shut, and the room was once again swallowed by darkness. Despair filled her, and she felt like there was no way out.


    Suddenly, she heard the sound of ¡°buzz, buzz, buzz¡°. The sweet, honeyed scent from the milk and honey on her clothes filled her nostrils, and she finally understood what Tessa was nning.


    ¡­


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    She hurriedly took off the dress she was wearing. But before she could finish, sharp pain shot through her arm and shoulder.


    She gritted her teeth, trembling as she threw the clothes aside, the buzzing sound slowly fading away.


    She made her way to the door, and as soon as she turned on the light, a horrifying scene greeted her.


    Large wasps were gathered around her clothes, which were soaked in milk and honey. A few flew in the air, and not far from them, there was a wasp nest on the floor.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes widened in fear as she shrank into the corner, her skin exposed, d only in her underwear. The smell of honey and milk lingered on her skin, and the wasps slowly drifted toward her.


    Her arm and shoulder, still stinging from the earlier bites, were hurting intensely.


    Terrified, she quickly rummaged through a box in the corner, finding two discarded garments, which she hastily threw over her body.


    The smell of mildew almost made her vomit. The wasps, however, no longer approached her.


    She crouched in the corner, her entire body trembling as tears slowly slid down her face.


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    <b>Chapter </b>107


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    In the living room, Sonny called Connor and reported everything Xylia had done to bully Tessa.


    Connor hadn¡¯t expected that even while confined, Xylia would still dare to bully Tessa. He agreed with Sonny¡¯s decision to let Xylia go hungry for the day, and informed him that he would return home for lunch.


    Tessa was especially happy to hear that Connor would being home. ¡°Sonny, it¡¯s been so long since you had a meal made by me, hasn¡¯t it? How about I cook lunch for you and your dad today?¡± she suggested.


    Sonny hesitated, instinctively rejecting the idea, because he felt Tessa¡¯s cooking didn¡¯tpare to his mother¡¯s. But not wanting to hurt Tessa¡¯s feelings, he forced a smile and replied, ¡°Sure!¡±


    Tessa patted Sonny on the head with a smile and entered the kitchen.


    As Sonny watched her, he couldn¡¯t help but picture Xylia working in the kitchen. Despite disliking being bossed around by Xylia, he had to admit her cooking was really good. Whenever Xylia prepared food, he always felt well taken care of.


    At that thought, an inexplicable guilt began to creep into Sonny¡¯s heart.


    He was a bit concerned that his mother might be hungry, but he quickly shook his head, trying to push the thought away. Xylia deserved to be punished for what she had done to Tessa.


    With this thought, he felt at ease and began watching television in the living room.


    By the time Connor returned home, Tessa had already finished preparing the meal. ¡°Connor, wee back. I¡¯ve cooked lunch myself today. I hope you¡¯ll enjoy it,¡± she said.


    Connor seemed distracted. In the past, when his rtionship with Xylia had been good, she would always have a meal ready for him when he came home. The smell of home cooking would ease the fatigue he brought home from work.


    Xylia would hang his suit, and lovingly prepare a table full of dishes that both he and Sonny loved. After Sonny was taken care of, she would run a bath for him, and sometimes, he would even pull her in to join him.


    ¡°Connor?¡± Tessa¡¯s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.


    He blinked and turned to look at her, offering a soft smile. ¡°I¡¯d be honored.¡±


    Sonny quickly ran to Connor¡¯s side, taking his hand and leading him to the dining table. ¡°Dad, Godmother made so many dishes for us,¡± Sonny eximed.


    ¡°Godmother?¡± Connor frowned and asked.


    Sonny smiled and exined, ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me to recognize Tessa as my godmother? Now she¡¯s my godmother.¡±


    <b>Tessa </b>smiled and nodded, stepping forward to take his arm and guide him to the table. ¡°Well, Sonny told me about this. Since you don¡¯t want to be with me, I don¡¯t mind just being a godmother.¡±


    10:46 <b>Tue</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>16


    ¡°No, I¡­¡± Connor began, instinctively trying to defend himself. He didn¡¯t dislike Tessa, but he had responsibilities toward Xylia.


    Tessa looked at him, her gaze full of hope, waiting for his response.


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    But Connor said nothing else, simply adding softly, ¡°Thank you.¡± He had wronged Tessa<b>, </b>and he didn¡¯t know what else to say.


    Tessa¡¯s smile faltered. Hatred for Xylia bubbled up inside her once more.


    Suddenly, Connor stood up and walked toward the basement door. Tessa, seeing this, grew anxious. ¡°Where are you going?<b>¡± </b>she asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to check on Xylia,¡± Connor replied.


    ¡°No!¡± Tessa shouted, her voice rising.


    Connor paused, looking at her in confusion.


    Realizing she had lost control, Tessa quickly exined, ¡°I just went to see Xylia. She kicked me out and said that when she gets out, she¡¯s going to find her man and get revenge. I think it¡¯s best if you don¡¯t go down there right now.¡±


    Connor¡¯s face darkened. He nced at the basement door before returning to the table.


    Tessa let out a quiet sigh of relief.


    Meanwhile, Joshua was at the entrance of the Ford mansion, leaning against the car, his expression dark. His silver hair fluttered in the wind, reflecting his impatience.


    The butler came out of the mansion and looked at Joshua. ¡°We apologize, but Mrs. Ford is not home,¡± the butler said.


    ¡°Is she really not here, or have you locked her up again?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was cold and menacing.


    Even the butler, who had served Orion for many years, was still intimidated by the menacing aura that surrounded Joshua. ¡°She¡¯s truly not here.¡± The butler¡¯s tone softened,


    Joshua straightened up and walked toward him. ¡°Where is Connor?¡±


    The butler, not knowing Joshua, felt a sudden unease at the repeated questioning about Connor and his wife. He instinctively thought Joshua might be there to cause trouble.


    ¡°May I ask what business you have with Mr. Ford and Mrs. Ford?¡± the butler inquired.


    Joshua, now losing his patience, was about to push the butler aside when Mnie walked out in her high heels.


    She noticed Joshua, nced at the unremarkable car behind him, and smiled briefly. ¡°Looking for Xylia? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re the man she¡¯s having an affair with?¡± Mnie asked with a smirk.


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    She snorted. ¡°Xylia has already divorced my son. If you¡¯re looking for her, you¡¯d be better off searching at a nightclub. A woman who can¡¯t stand being alone is bound to be with multiple men.¡±


    Mnie covered her mouth and let out a miserable scream, when she took her hand away, her palm was coated with blood.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Her scream echoed outside the Ford mansion¡¯s gate.


    The butler hurried over to Mnie to check on her injury. A stone struck the corner of her mouth, leaving <b>a </b>long wound that bled.


    ¡°Ah, my face! I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± She grabbed her bag and hurled it at Joshua.


    With a swift motion, Joshua kicked her waist, sending her crashing to the ground.


    ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far. I¡¯ll call the police,¡± the butler shouted in fury, trying to shield Mnie.


    Joshua casually toyed with a stone in his hand, bent down, and looked at them with a chilling expression. His face was devoid of a smile, yet the cold glint in his dark eyes was enough to make anyone shiver.


    ¡°If anything happened to Xylia, I¡¯d make you pay,¡± he said, his voiceced with menace.


    The butler, visibly shaken, swallowed hard, not daring to provoke him. Even Mnie, covering her mouth, looked at him in fear, unable to speak.


    At that moment, Joshua¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Mr. Garcia, we found out that Ms. Schultz was taken back to Connor¡¯s vi.¡±


    After hanging up, Joshua didn¡¯t look at the two on the ground again. He got into his car and drove off.


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 Tricked 108

    Xylia curled up in the corner of the basement, her eyes fixed on the nearby wasps, afraid they might rush toward her at any moment.


    The buzzing sound in her ears felt like a spell, constantly ringing in her mind. Her nerves were on edge.


    Suddenly, the lights in the basement went out. Darkness flooded the room


    Xylia¡¯s tightly wound nerves snapped. ¡°No¡­ don¡¯t¡­¡± she whispered.


    Tessa¡¯s voice came from outside the door. ¡°Xylia, do you still like the surprise I prepared for you? Don¡¯t worry, this is just the beginning.¡±


    Xylia hugged herself tightly, curled up in the corner, her body trembling uncontrobly. The sound of Tessa¡¯s voice faded from her ears.


    It felt like she was back in that attic from years ago, surrounded by darkness and filled with the hissing of snakes. Now, the buzzing of wasps joined the noise.


    She feared the attack hidden in the darkness, her eyes wide open as tears silently fell. Her mind finally copsed, but her exhausted body refused to faint.


    Outside the door, Tessa stood listening, but there was no response from inside. She wanted to open the door and check, but then remembered the wasps inside. She needed to be fully prepared before going in.


    She returned to the living room, holding the food. Connor, preparing to go back to the office, frowned when he saw the meal had been brought back untouched.


    ¡°Connor, she won¡¯t eat,¡± Tessa said. She lowered her head, a sad expression briefly flickering in her eyes.


    Connor scoffed quietly. ¡°Let her stay hungry then. Don¡¯t worry about her. If she wants to fend for herself, let her.¡±


    Tessa looked at him disapprovingly, pouting as she spoke sweetly, ¡°You can¡¯t be so harsh with her.¡±


    Connor¡¯s expression softened. Tessa was always so kind. He smiled at her, said his goodbyes, and headed for the door. As soon as he opened the front door, he saw Joshua standing there.


    ¡°How did you¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, Joshua kicked him, sending him flying.


    Connor crashed hard to the floor, groaning in pain as waves of difort spread through his back. Before he could recover, Joshua grabbed him by the cor and threw a punch at his face.


    After a few punches, Connor finally regained his bearings, but before he could fight back, Joshua picked him up and threw him aside. Despite Connor¡¯s tall and muscr build, Connor felt weightless in front of Joshua, like he could be crushed with <b>ease</b>.


    He fell heavily to the floor, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.


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    ¡°Connor!¡± <b>Tessa </b>cried, dropping the tray and rushing to help him.


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    Joshua nced at the food scattered on the floor and then looked at the spot where Tessa had been standing. His gaze quickly shifted to the basement door.


    With a stern expression, he walked toward the basement door.


    Seeing this, Connor scrambled to get up and chase after him. But suddenly, a group of bodyguards poured in from outside, blocking his path.


    The leader of the group was someone Connor recognized¨Cthe executive assistant from Garcia Group. He stood frozen, a bad feeling creeping into his mind.


    Joshua kicked open the basement door, and several wasps flew toward him. He raised his hand to block, but the wasps couldn¡¯t sting through his suit.


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯te closer¡­¡± Xylia¡¯s voice, low and filled with fear, trembled from inside.


    Joshua¡¯s heart sank. He took off his suit jacket, used it to protect his head, and stepped inside. ¡°Xylia!¡± he called


    out.


    The room, oncepletely dark, now had some lighting through the doorway. Joshua¡¯s heart clenched as he saw Xylia, curled up in the corner. His face twisted with heartache.


    He quickly moved to her side and draped his jacket over her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t! Go away! All of you, go away,¡± Xylia cried out, retreating from him in panic.


    ¡°Xylia, it¡¯s me. Don¡¯t be afraid, it¡¯s me,¡± Joshua said gently, his heart aching as he looked at her.


    But Xylia couldn¡¯t hear him. All she could hear was the hissing of snakes and the buzzing of wasps in her mind. Terrified of anything approaching her, she recoiled instinctively.


    With no other choice, Joshua had to knock her unconscious. His eyes reddened with emotion as he held her in his arms, covering her with his jacket, and carried her out.


    As Joshua walked out of the basement, he noticed Sonny in the living room.


    Sonny couldn¡¯t save his own father. Seeing a stranger holding his mother, he shouted, ¡°Who are you? Who let you hold my mom?¡±


    Joshua looked down at the boy with a cold smile. ¡°From now on, she¡¯s not your mother anymore. Get lost!¡±


    Sonny froze, trembling, and didn¡¯t dare say another word.


    Several wasps flew out from the basement and hovered in the living room.


    Joshua turned to his assistant, David Baldwin. ¡°Find some protective gear and pour honey on them, then


    throw them back in the basement.¡±


    The basement had be a wasp nest. Joshua wanted Connor and Tessa to experience the suffering Xylia


    had endured.


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    ¡°Joshua Garcia! How dare you? I¡¯ve already called the police. You broke into my home and hit us. I¡¯m going to hire the bestwyer and make sure you go to jail!¡± Tessa threatened.


    Joshua scoffed, ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    He didn¡¯t waste any more words with them. He left the vi, carrying Xylia in his arms. He drove her to the hospital.


    Outside the emergency room, he stood against the wall with his head slightly lowered, his entire demeanor radiating an intense hostility.


    He had seen the several wasp stings on Xylia¡¯s body. She was running a fever, her face bright red, and delirious as she muttered incoherently, repeating ¡°don¡¯te near her.¡± It is evident that someone was startled.


    His expression darkened further, and he felt a surge of rage. He wished he could make Connor pay immediately.


    When the emergency room door opened, the doctor came out, frowning. ¡°The patient is fine. The wasp venom is mildly toxic. However, her mental state might be affected. We¡¯ll treat her properly once she wakes up.¡±


    In the VIP hospital room, Joshua sat by Xylia¡¯s bed, watching her pale face. His eyes were bloodshot.


    It was his fault¨Che had searched for her too long, and now she had suffered so much. He had thought that after her divorce, he could openly protect her. But now, he couldn¡¯t wait any longer.


    David knocked and entered, saying, ¡°Mr. Garcia, everything¡¯s been handled. Mr. Ford won¡¯t press charges.¡±


    Connor and Tessa had been locked in the basement for an hour, covered in wasp stings.


    David had threatened them, saying that even if they reported the incident, nothing woulde of it. It would only expose the Ford Group¡¯s dark secrets.


    Connor, seemingly lost in thought, silently agreed.


    Sonny was crying loudly, and soon after, he followed Connor and Tessa to the hospital.


    Joshua barely reacted to this. He looked at Xylia lying in the bed and said quietly, ¡°The n is moved up to tomorrow.¡±

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    David looked at Joshua in confusion. ¡°Mr. Garcia, advancing the schedule may affect Ms. Schultz.¡±


    Joshua turned to David, his gaze dark and deep, making David feel a chill run down his spine. ¡°Understood, Mr. Garcia. I¡¯ll get started right away.¡± David turned and left the hospital room.


    Joshua finally turned his gaze back to Xylia, whoy on the hospital bed.


    With just over a week until the anniversary of Laurel¡¯s passing, advancing the schedule shouldn¡¯t cause any significant changes. He needed to find something for Connor to do. He couldn¡¯t let him keep watching over Xylia.


    Joshua gently took Xylia¡¯s cold hand. ¡°This time, it¡¯s my turn to protect you.¡±


    At midnight, Xylia finally woke up. The room was dark, only the moonlight streaming through the window illuminated the hospital room, making it feel suffocating.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Xylia cried out in rm, curling up and scrambling towards the wall.


    Hearing her scream, Joshua hung up his phone and rushed into the room in a panic. The light flickered on, illuminating the room.


    Seeing Xylia curled up on the bed, Joshua rushed over to her and grabbed her shoulders. ¡°Xylia.¡±


    Xylia instinctively struggled when she felt Joshua¡¯s touch. But his grip was strong, and his warm palm held her firmly. ¡°Xylia, it¡¯s me. Don¡¯t be afraid, it¡¯s me.¡±


    He spoke gently, offering continuous reassurances.


    Xylia slowly began to regain herposure, tears clinging to her eyes. Meeting Joshua¡¯s concerned gaze, she instinctively threw herself into his arms. ¡°Joshua¡­¡± She cried freely, unrestrained.


    Joshua embraced her, feeling a sharp pain in his chest as her sobs wracked her body. He gently patted her back and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay.¡±


    Xylia cried for a long time, eventually growing drowsy in his arms.


    When her sobs subsided, Joshua gently pulled away. Ignoring the dampness on his shirt, he carefully wiped away the tears from her face. ¡°Would you like me to call the doctor to check on you?¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t want to be alone in the hospital room. She looked at him with furrowed brows, her eyes filled with apprehension. She still tightly held onto his coat.


    Joshua smiled softly, gently holding her hand in return. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t leave.¡±


    Joshua pressed the call button by the bedside. The nurse and doctor arrived together.


    The doctor instructed both the nurse and Joshua to leave the room. Joshua nced at Xylia. She didn¡¯t react much, so he stepped outside.


    <b>10:47 </b><b>Tue</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>16


    :


    After a series of examinations, the doctor confirmed that Xylia¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t serious.


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    When the doctor was about to ask for Joshua, she looked at the doctor with nervous eyes. ¡°Doctor<b>, </b>can you wait for them toe in before you leave?¡±


    The doctor paused for a moment, then nodded.


    After the nurse entered, the doctor called Joshua outside. ¡°Ms. Schultz¡¯s condition is not serious, she was just startled. She should not be left alone for the time being.


    ¡°It may be difficult for you as her husband over the next couple of days, but please stay with her.¡± After saying this, the doctor left.


    Joshua stiffened slightly, then, as if remembering something, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He returned to the hospital room after the nurse left.


    Xylia¡¯splexion was still pale. She looked at Joshua, her moist eyes tinged with unease.


    Joshua felt a sharp pain in his chest as he walked over and sat by the bed. ¡°Go to sleep, I¡¯ll stay with you.¡±


    Hearing his words, Xylia¡¯s heart began to calm. When no one was around, she felt unsafe.


    She obedientlyy down, but as soon as her mind rxed, the physical pain hit her again. The stings from the wasps caused sharp pain with every slight movement. Xyliay back, grimacing in pain.


    Joshua frowned and looked at her. ¡°Is the wound hurting?¡±


    Xylia shook her head.


    Before Joshua could speak again, her stomach rumbled loudly. ¡°Are you hungry?¡±


    Xylia felt embarrassed and shook her head again.


    Joshua smiled, standing up to find something to eat for her.


    As soon as he moved, Xylia grasped his hand, looking rmed. ¡°Where are you going<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    She suddenly sat up, her moist eyes wide with fear, looking helpless.


    Joshua¡¯s heart clenched painfully, overwhelmed by the heartache. The person he cherished had been hurt like


    this.


    He softened his expression, held her hand, and spoke gently. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving. I just need to call for some food to be brought here.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s toote. I don¡¯t need to eat. I¡¯m not hungry,¡± Xylia said.


    Joshua smiled teasingly and said, ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m deaf?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s face flushed, embarrassed that he had noticed her stomach growling.


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    She had not eaten sincest night, and though she had received nutrients through an IV, her stomach still cried out. She didn¡¯t refuse this time.


    Joshua walked to the window, dialing his assistant¡¯s number. During this time, Xylia¡¯s gaze never left him.


    He noticed her watching him, and while part of him was pleased by her reliance on him, another part ached for her.


    Locked in that dark basement, betrayed and tortured with wasps. She hadn¡¯t copsed mentally, which was already a huge ordeal.


    When he finished the call, he sat down by the bedside. Noticing her distracted gaze, he tried to start a conversation. ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time Connor has hurt you. Will you continue to endure it?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s expression turned pained at the mention of Connor. She had nned to keep things civil when divorcing him, but now it seemed that Connor still treated their divorce as her nonsense.


    Since he allowed Tessa to harm her, she could only make Tessa the cause of his downfall.


    She shook her head and replied softly, ¡°I¡¯ve endured for so many years. I don¡¯t want to anymore, and I won¡¯t anymore.¡±


    Joshua raised his hand and gently tidied Xylia¡¯s slightly disheveled hair. ¡°If you need anything, just tell me.¡±


    Xylia was about to refuse but stopped, remembering how Joshua had stormed into Connor¡¯s house alone to save her. She looked at him with concern.


    ¡°Did you go into Connor¡¯s house alone? After rescuing me, did Connor give you trouble?¡± Xylia asked.


    Joshua noticed her concern and raised an eyebrow with a slight smile. ¡°He didn¡¯t cause me trouble. He has more pressing issues to deal with now.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xylia didn¡¯t understand.


    Joshua didn¡¯t borate. ¡°Rest for now. I¡¯ll let you know when the food arrives.¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t press him further and obedientlyy back down.


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    At this moment, Connor and Tessa were receiving intravenous therapy in the hospital room. Both of them had been severely stung by wasps after being covered in honey, causing their faces to swell up.


    When Tessa regained consciousness, she saw Yves, Gia, and Ziggy in the hospital room.


    Gia quickly rushed to her side, concerned, ¡°Tessa, you¡¯re finally awake. Are you feeling okay? Let me know if something still hurts, and I¡¯ll have the doctore check on you.¡±


    Tessa felt miserable. Her body was covered in lumps, and her face was so painful that even the slightest movement felt like it was tearing her apart.


    ¡°Pain! Everything hurts,¡± she struggled to speak, tears streaming down her face before she even finished the


    sentence.


    Gia quickly called for the doctor to administer a painkiller, and Tessa felt some relief afterward.


    Once her thoughts became clear, her hatred surfaced. It was all because of Xylia that they were stung by the wasps, and they were also threatened by the Garcia family to prevent them from calling the police.


    She didn¡¯t even know how powerful Joshua, the Garcia family¡¯s driver, was<b>¨C</b>so much so that even the assistant from Garcia Group came to stand up for him.


    Ziggy looked at Tessa with concern, ¡°Tessa, what exactly happened?¡±


    Tessa reluctantly recounted everything that had transpired that day, leaving out the part where she had released the wasps herself.


    Ziggy mmed his fist into the hospital wall, radiating an aura of hostility. ¡°Xylia! Again, it¡¯s her.¡±


    Gia was also furious. ¡°That bitch! The Schultz family has been more than generous with her, and yet she still bullies Tessa. Does she really think we¡¯re pushovers?<b>¡± </b>


    Ziggy looked at Gia. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going to get revenge for Tessa.¡± After speaking, Ziggy left the hospital room. Gia and Yves didn¡¯t stop him.


    Meanwhile, in another hospital room, Connor woke up to an unfamiliar face standing beside his bed. The man was holding a magazine and wearing gold¨Crimmed sses, which glimmered in the sunlight.


    Connor struggled to sit up and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    The man set the magazine down and turned to him. ¡°Awake? Let me introduce myself. I¡¯m Burke Sterling, a businessman from Kregonia.¡±


    Connor remained silent, narrowing his eyes. He had heard of Burke, the top businessman in Kregonia.


    Burke was still young, yet in less than three years, he had mastered both the legal and underground worlds,


    ¡­


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    bing Kregonia¡¯s top businessman. Even the president of Kregonia showed him respect.


    With a smile, Burke added, ¡°Mr. Ford, I¡¯m here to discuss a partnership with you.¡±


    Connor raised an eyebrow, still doubtful, but asked, ¡°What kind of partnership?¡±


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    Burke handed him a contract. ¡°I believe you¡¯re looking for a partnership strong enough to turn the tables on the Ford Group.¡±


    Connor flipped through the contract. After a quick nce, his surprise grew even more. He looked sharply at Burke. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Burke¡¯s smile widened. ¡°If you find this deal advantageous, please sign it.¡±


    <b>***** </b>


    Xylia slept straight through until noon. When she woke up, her clothes were soaked with sweat. Indeed, she had once again fallen into a nightmare.


    David had just delivered the clothes. Joshua returned to the bedside with the clothes in hand and saw that Xylia was already awake. ¡°You¡¯re awake¨Cjust in time. Get up and change into these clothes,¡± he said.


    Last night, while Xylia had been asleep, she had murmured and talked in her sleep multiple times. Her eyes were tightly shut, her brow furrowed, and even her body trembled uncontrobly.


    Joshua had been wiping the cold sweat from her forehead with a tissue, trying to wake her, but she remained deep in sleep despite his repeated attempts.


    Her clothes were drenched in sweat, and worried she might catch a cold, he had his assistant bring her a change of clothes. As soon as the clothes were delivered, she woke up.


    Xylia sat at the edge of the bed, momentarily dazed, before finally pulling herself out of the dream. She stared at Joshua in a daze, feeling like she had been back to that time abroad.


    Every time she woke from a nightmare, Joshua would bring up random topics, acting smug, to distract her.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± She received the clothes, got out of bed, and entered the bathroom.


    Looking in the mirror, she saw her shoulders and arms were still red and swollen, and even her back was aching with numbness. She gently pressed on the swollen areas, but strangely, there was no pain at all.


    She changed clothes and left the bathroom, only to run into someone she really didn¡¯t want to see.


    Ziggy was standing in the room, ring at Joshua. ¡°The nurse said Xylia is in this room. Where is she?¡± he


    demanded.


    No sooner had Ziggy spoken, then the bathroom door opened. Xylia came out.


    When Ziggy saw her, he raised his hand in anger, about to strike her.


    Joshua immediately kicked him in the side, sending him flying to the floor. ¡°You really think you can hit her


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    in front of me?¡± Joshua said coldly.


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    Not only Ziggy, but even Xylia was startled by the sudden action. She quickly moved to Joshua¡¯s side, but before she could speak, he pulled her behind him.


    Ziggy, clutching his side in pain, slowly got to his feet, his face contorted in difort. He red at both Joshua and Xylia.


    He sneered, ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re really something, aren¡¯t you? Is this your lover? You and Connor aren¡¯t even divorced yet.¡±


    Joshua tightly grasped Xylia¡¯s hand, the heat from his palm spreading throughout her body. The slight unease in her heart seemed to fade away inexplicably.


    Joshua looked at Ziggy with a cold, disdainful nce. His voice was sharp, like ice. ¡°First, Xylia has already filed for divorce from Connor, and the divorce certificate will be issued soon.


    ¡°Second, I¡¯m not her lover. Xylia and I are just friends. Third, you have no right toe here and bully my friend.¡±


    Joshua wouldn¡¯t have bothered exining so much to someone insignificant. Although he wanted to be with Xylia, he would never jeopardize her reputation.


    When he pursued her, it would be after she hadpletely freed herself from this marriage, and he would pursue her openly.


    Ziggy sneered, ¡°Who do you think you are? Are you threatening me?¡±


    Joshua smiled faintly, but his eyes glinted with cold malice. ¡°If you insist, you can give it a try. His calm words held a weight of threat.


    Ziggy wasn¡¯t familiar with Joshua but knew from Tessa that he was connected to the Garcia family. Given Joshua¡¯s arrogance, there had to be someone powerful supporting him.


    Ziggy hesitated, not daring to provoke him further. He red at Xylia. ¡°I¡¯ll let you off today, but since you hurt Tessa so badly, I¡¯ll make you pay for this eventually.¡±


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    Only after Ziggy left did Joshua turn to look at Xylia. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked.


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°Thank you.¡±


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    Joshua frowned, about to speak, when Xylia waved her hand yfully. ¡°I got it. Every ¡®thank you¡® will be remembered, and I¡¯ll return the favor in the future.¡±


    She released Joshua¡¯s hand and walked over to sit on the sofa. There was an unopened bottle of water on the table. She opened it and took a sip.


    Seeing that she had regained herposure, Joshua felt a sense of relief and walked over to sit beside her on the sofa.


    Xylia asked, ¡°I¡¯m curious, what exactly do you expect me to repay? It seems like you don¡¯t really need any help from me.¡±


    Joshua didn¡¯tck money, had plenty of friends, and his career and personal life were going well. There didn¡¯t seem to be much she could do for him.


    Upon hearing this, Joshua nced at her, and though there was a hint of possessiveness in his eyes, he didn¡¯t show it. ¡°Who knows what the future holds? Let¡¯s leave it unsettled for now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± she replied. Xylia didn¡¯t mind, making friends with Joshua was incredibly lucky for her.


    A faint smile appeared at the corner of Joshua¡¯s lips. His eyes slightly lifted, and the emotions in his gaze grew deeper.


    *****


    Xylia spent the entire week recuperating in the hospital. Soon, it was the anniversary of Laurel¡¯s passing.


    ¡°Tomorrow is my grandmother¡¯s anniversary. I need to prepare to go back,¡± Xylia said while packing her things in the hospital room. She looked at Joshua.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back in Norhill tomorrow evening. Let me treat you to dinner tonight,¡± Xylia added.


    During the week, Joshua had stayed by her side, taking care of her without leaving.


    After she regained herposure, she didn¡¯t need anyone around. She didn¡¯t want to dy Joshua¡¯s work, but he insisted and even took time off to look after her.


    Xylia decided to invite Joshua for a meal before she left.


    When Joshua heard she was leaving, his gaze hardened for a moment before returning to normal. ¡°Alright, where should we eat?¡±


    Xylia fiddled with her phone for a moment before replying, ¡°I made a reservation at Caperson Bistro a couple of days ago. Last time I went there with my brothers, the food was really good.¡±


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    Joshua leaned against the window, watching Xylia. Upon hearing her words, he stiffened slightly. ¡°Do you like the food at Caperson Bistro?¡±


    Xylia nodded and put her phone away. ¡°The Datonese food there is excellent. It¡¯s on me today, don¡¯t worry about the cost.¡±


    She had received a generous sum of money from her brothers, and now her bank ount had enough to livevishly for the rest of her life.


    Seeing her rarely disy the demeanor of a richdy, Joshua could not help but let out a gentle chuckle. He walked over, took the bag from her hand, and left the hospital room with her.


    As they walked, they chatted. ¡°Have you seen your brothers?¡± he asked.


    Xylia nodded, then, after thinking for a moment, leaned in and whispered into his ear with a yful tone, ¡°I¡¯m actually from the Sadler family.¡±


    ¡°The Sadler family?¡± Joshua raised his eyebrows and asked, feigning confusion.


    Xylia nodded. ¡°I never expected my family to be from the Sadler family, the wealthiest in Norhill. When my eldest brother contacted me, he told me that our parents had passed away, and it was just the four brothers left.¡±


    ¡°I thought we were just an ordinary family, but I had no idea we were this wealthy.¡±


    It took Xylia a few days to ept this reality. In thest couple of days, talking to her brothers had felt much more rxed than before.


    Joshua nced at Xylia, noticing the slight apprehension in her expression, and smiled softly. ¡°The Sadler Group¡¯s businesses span the entire country. The Sadler family is incredibly wealthy. They¡¯re truly lucky to have you as part of their family.¡±


    Xylia suddenly looked at Joshua. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be the lucky one?¡±


    ¡°For generations, the Sadler family has only had sons. They wanted a daughter, but it never happened¡ªuntil your generation, when they finally got you,¡± Joshua said.


    Xylia chuckled at Joshua¡¯s words. After everything that happened with the Schultz family¡¯s true and fake daughters, her expectations of family had been low.


    But after reconnecting with her three brothers and realizing how wealthy they were, she felt a bit more afraid.


    She feared that the Sadler family might be like the Schultz family, and that her own apprehension might hurt her rtionship with her brothers.


    Yet, one simple remark from Joshua helped case much of that fear. She now valued Joshua even more as a friend.


    *****


    They drove to Caperson Bistro. The waiter recognized his boss and was about to greet him, but a stern nce


    10:47 Tue, Sep <b>16 </b>


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    Xylia noticed the waiter standing still, looking flustered, and took the initiative to speak first. ¡°Hello, we have a


    reservation.¡±


    The waiter, finally snapping out of his daze, checked Xylia¡¯s reservation and led her and Joshua to the private


    room.


    As they were about to enter the room, a familiar voice interrupted their steps. ¡°Xylia?¡±


    Xylia turned to see Kaden. He was apanied by Xavi, and it seemed they were about to discuss some coboration.


    ¡°Xylia?¡± she said, surprised.


    Xavi¡¯s eyes widened as he darted his gaze between Xylia and Kaden.


    Kaden looked at Xavi. ¡°Mr. Quezada, do you know my younger sister?¡±


    Xavi nced at Joshua before managing to suppress his shock and spoke to Kaden. ¡°I¡¯ve coborated with Ms. Schultz before.¡±


    Xylia nodded. ¡°Mr. Quezada is


    my


    benefactor.¡±


    Kaden understood and then looked at Joshua.


    Xylia suddenly realized and promptly made an introduction to Kaden. ¡°Kaden, this is my friend Joshua. Joshua, this is my eldest brother, Kaden.¡±


    Joshua smiled and greeted Kaden. ¡°Hey, Kaden.¡±


    Kaden¡¯s gaze was less than friendly. He then asked, ¡°Are you here to eat?¡±


    Xylia nodded. ¡°I¡¯m leaving tomorrow, so I want to treat my friend to a meal.¡±


    With that, Xylia said goodbye to Kaden and Xavi. ¡°Since you have business, we won¡¯t keep you. We¡¯ll go ahead and eat.¡±


    She pulled Joshua into the adjacent private room. During this time, Kaden¡¯s hand lingered on Xylia¡¯s hand, which was holding Joshua¡¯s sleeve. His gaze darkened. Another man was trying to make a move on his most cherished sister.


    Xavi, still in shock, waited until Xylia and Joshua disappeared into the private room before speaking. ¡°Mr. Sadler, shall we leave now?¡±


    Kaden nodded coolly. ¡°Our cooperation is confirmed. If you have any other requests, just tell my assistant. If they¡¯re reasonable, Sadler Group will agree.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Xavi blinked, a bit lost.


    ¡°Since we¡¯ve run into someone we know, let¡¯s see if we can score a free meal,¡± Kaden said.


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    While Xavi was <b>still </b>in shock, Kaden walked to the door of the private room that Xylia and Joshua had entered, pushed it open.


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    Xylia and Joshua had just taken their seats and hadn¡¯t had a chance to order yet when two familiar figures appeared at the door.


    ¡°Kaden? Mr. Quezada? How did you two¡­¡± Xylia froze.


    Kaden walked slowly up to them, his cold gaze sweeping over Joshua before softening as he looked at Xylia. ¡°Mr. Quezada and I have finished our discussion. Would you mind if we joined you at your table?¡±


    Xylia looked somewhat troubled as she looked at Joshua. Since she had invited him to dinner, she wanted to make sure he didn¡¯t mind.


    Joshua nced at Xavi, who was following behind Kaden. Xavi shrugged at him, indicating that he did not understand either.


    Joshua smiled and said, ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    Only then did Xylia allow Kaden and Xavi to take their seats. Joshua sat next to Xylia.


    The waiter brought the menu, and Xylia handed it to Joshua and Xavi to ce their orders.


    Kaden felt a sense of satisfaction. It seemed like Xylia still considered him family, as she allowed them to order.


    Joshua handed the menu to Xylia. ¡°I¡¯ve never eaten here before. Order whatever you like I¡¯m good with anything.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Xavi choked. As the owner of this restaurant, Joshua had never eaten here. Xavi struggled to suppress the urge tough.


    ¡°Mr. Quezada, are you alright?¡± Xylia asked, concerned.


    Xavi waved his hand, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. <b>I </b>just got a bit thirsty and choked on my own saliva. A little water will fix it.¡±


    Joshua nced at him, a faint trace of disdain in his eyes.


    Xylia didn¡¯t pay much attention to Xavi anymore. She took the menu from Joshua, picked out what she liked, and then handed it to her brother. ¡°Sadler, you should order something too.¡±


    Kaden took the menu and began ordering while speaking to Joshua. ¡°This restaurant is part of Garcia Group. Mr. Garcia, have you never eaten here before?¡±


    A faint smile tugged at Joshua¡¯s lips. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Really? I thought you were a member of the Garcia family. Isn¡¯t that the case?¡± Kaden asked.


    An ufortable tension filled the air. Xavi could sense the brewing hostility and lowered his head, focusing intently on the menu. Out of everyone at the table, he was the only one there just to freeload.


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    Xylia quickly rified, ¡°Kaden, Joshua is actually the Garcia family¡¯s driver. He¡¯s an employee, and he¡¯s pretty frugal. He hasn¡¯t had the chance to eat here.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Kaden responded. He gave Joshua a brief, indifferent look, then fell silent.


    Joshua could tell that Kaden had keen insight and that his true identity would eventually be uncovered. It might even be that Kaden already knew who he really was.


    A warning bell went off in Joshua¡¯s mind. He needed to tell Xylia the truth about his identity first, or if Kaden exposed him, Xylia would definitely be upset.


    Xylia, unaware of Joshua¡¯s concerns, thought he was just ufortable. She leaned toward his ear and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t feel uneasy. Kaden just looks a little expressionless.¡±


    A faint smile yed at the corner of Joshua¡¯s lips, finding Xylia rather endearing at that moment.


    Kaden continued to observe the two, his gaze fixed on them. Xylia made an effort to ease the awkward atmosphere, talking to Joshua more and even serving him food.


    Kaden¡¯s grip on his chopsticks tightened as he watched their interaction. The sister he had only recently found was being lured away by Joshua.


    Hedled a bowl of soup and ced it in front of Xylia. ¡°Xylia, we¡¯ve finished our business in Jupiton. You should say goodbye to your friends here. After tomorrow, we won¡¯t being back to Jupiton very often.¡±


    His words were clearly meant for Joshua to hear. Xylia, now the beloved heiress of the Sadler family, was not someone Joshua could just get close to.


    Xavi, eating nearby and watching the drama unfold, finally couldn¡¯t help but look at Xylia. ¡°Are you really the long¨Clost youngest daughter of the Sadler family?¡±


    Xylia nodded.


    Xavi continued to ask, ¡°Are you leaving Jupiton tomorrow?¡±


    Xylia nodded again.


    Xavi set down his fork and looked at Xylia, his expression slightly aggrieved. ¡°Ms. Schultz, we¡¯ve known each other for so long¨Cdoesn¡¯t that make us friends? Howe you¡¯re leaving without telling me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just that I haven¡¯t had the chance yet,¡± Xylia said.


    Xavi then pointed at Joshua again. ¡°Then why did you bring Joshua to the farewell dinner?¡±


    ¡°Just a casual meal. It¡¯s not like we won¡¯t see each other again,¡± Xylia said, furrowing her brows at Xavi.


    Realizing his mistake, Xavi looked at Joshua¡¯s dark expression and tapped his mouth. ¡°Okay, okay, I misspoke.¡±


    He sighed dramatically, then yfully looked at Xylia. ¡°I was looking forward to you joining thepany as our chief designer. Now that you¡¯re leaving, what will Joshua and I do?¡±


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    Xavi¡¯sment seemed to suddenly revive the long¨Cneglected atmosphere of farewell.


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    Xylia smiled at Xavi. ¡°I¡¯ll still be working with yourpany in the future. Once <b>I </b>start my own studio, <b>I¡¯ll </b>still be looking to you for support.¡±


    ¡°That is inevitable.¡± Xavi nced at Joshua and raised his eyebrows. ¡°But some people might lose sleep over it.¡±


    Joshua, sitting across from Xavi, immediately kicked him under the table.


    Xavi winced in pain but couldn¡¯t suppress his smile.


    Kaden¡¯s gaze toward Joshua grew increasingly wary.


    After leaving the Caperson Bistro, Kaden spoke first. ¡°Xylia,e with me. I¡¯ll take you home.¡±


    Xylia nced at Joshua, then said to Kaden, ¡°Kaden, you go ahead. Joshua and I live very close. Let¡¯s meet at the airport tomorrow.¡±


    Kaden furrowed his brows. ¡°Are you living together with him?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. I live across from him, that apartment belongs to his friend, and I¡¯m just staying there for <i>a </i>while,¡± Xylia said.


    Kaden regretted not pressing Xylia for her address when she had refused to tell him earlier. In other words, the two of them had been together almost every day. His chest tightened, and his face darkened with anger.


    Joshua was in good spirits after seeing Kaden¡¯s frustration. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Kaden. I¡¯ll make sure Xylia gets home safely.¡±


    Xylia, unsure if it was her imagination, couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there was an inexplicable tension between Joshua and Kaden.


    Kaden only said a few words before turning to leave.


    Xylia suddenly forgot to take her phone and turned back to the restaurant.


    Xavi patted Joshua on the shoulder, pretending to be sympathetic. ¡°Take my advice: you need to win her family over. Now that you¡¯ve offended her brother, if Xylia goes back and neveres out again, what will you do?¡±


    Joshua, who had always been fearless, froze in ce as if struck by sudden realization.


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    The next day, Xylia packed her things early in the morning and returned to the Schultz family home.


    Contrary to Xylia¡¯s expectations, she had assumed the Schultz family would organize a grand ceremony for her grandmother¡¯s memorial day.


    However, only the Schultz family members were there, and even Tessa was nowhere to be found.


    Yves and Gia red at Xylia with angry expressions as soon as they saw her return. ¡°You heartless bitch, how dare you show your face here again?¡±


    They were all dressed in ck, preparing to go to the cemetery to pay their respects to Laurel.


    Xylia nced around and asked, ¡°Where is Tessa?¡± Today was the anniversary of Laurel¡¯s passing, and Tessa should have been here to pay her respects.


    Ziggy, recalling the humiliation he endured in the hospitalst week, immediately scowled. ¡°You still have the nerve to ask about Tessa? She¡¯s covered in bee stings, and you did that to her.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± Xylia replied coldly.


    She gave Ziggy a cold stare and stopped him from speaking before he could continue.


    ¡°Today is Grandmother¡¯s memorial day. I don¡¯t want to argue with you. Grandmother always valued family unity above all else. No matter how busy Tessa is, she should be here today, shouldn¡¯t she?¡± Xylia added.


    Gia let out a cold snort. ¡°Why are you pretending to be such a devoted child in front of us?¡±


    Gia walked up to Xylia, looking at her with undisguised contempt.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been married to the Ford family for so many years, and Orion treated you well, didn¡¯t he? Why didn¡¯t you go back to his funeral when he passed away?


    ¡°It¡¯s only because Tessa is kind¨Chearted that she¡¯s been cleaning up your mess, while you still pretend to be a filial daughter in front of us,¡± Gia said.


    Xylia froze, struck by the words. She didn¡¯t know he had passed away.


    She had blocked Connor and Sonny¡¯s contacts, and during her time in the hospital, she hadn¡¯t received any


    news.


    ¡°When did Orion pass away?¡± She asked indifferently, once again eliciting a burst of contempt from Gia.


    ¡°What? Connor didn¡¯t even tell you that Orion passed away this morning? You¡¯ve been causing trouble for yourself, and now look¨Cyour marriage to Connor is definitely over,¡± Gia said.


    Xylia slightly furrowed her brows. There was no great sense of sorrow, just an overwhelming emptiness. Although Orion had taken advantage of her, he had also treated her well in the past.


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    Conflicting emotions made her feel disoriented, but she didn¡¯t allow herself to dwell on it. She hade here today to pay her respects to her grandmother.


    She said lightly, ¡°It is about time, let us go pay respects to grandmother first.¡±


    As she turned to leave, Ziggy suddenly stepped in her way. ¡°Grandmother? Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to cut ties with the Schultz family? You have no right to pay respects to her or even call her ¡®Grandmother¡®!¡±


    ¡°Ziggy, I don¡¯t want to argue with you. Grandmother¡¯s only wish in her lifetime was for the family to be united. Today is her memorial day¨Cwhy are you making a scene today?¡± Xylia responded, her patience wearing thin.


    Ziggy sneered at her, clearly disdainful. ¡°A family reunion? That¡¯s for the Schultz family, not you. You¡¯re just an outsider.


    ¡°You should have realized this eight years ago, Xylia. You were the one who shamelessly clung to the Schultz family¨Cdid we ever force you to stay?¡±


    In the past, hearing such words from Ziggy would have deeply upset Xylia, but now, after finding her true family, his words no longer had any effect on her.


    It wasn¡¯t numbness from being hurt, but the indifference that came after seeing the truth about each member of the Schultz family.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she said lightly, ¡°After today, I won¡¯t be in the way of your family reunion.¡±


    Ziggy frowned at Xylia, and for some reason, he felt she was serious and would definitely follow through.


    A brief flicker of panic shed through his mind, but when he remembered how Xylia had hurt Tessa, he figured that even if she left, it would be a blessing for the Schultz family. His panic gradually faded.


    ¡°You¡¯d better keep your word,¡± Ziggy added.


    Xylia nced at him indifferently, stepped around him, and walked out the vi gate.


    *****


    Meanwhile, at the Ford Mansion, the entire estate was immersed in deep sorrow.


    Connor¡¯s eyes were red¨Crimmed. Tessa<b>, </b>wearing a ck suit, silently walked over to stand by his side. ¡°Connor, please ept my condolences,¡± she said softly.


    Connor gazed at his grandfather¡¯s photograph, a deep sadness filling him. He had known Orion¡¯s time was running out, and he had prepared himself for it, but the reality of the loss was still overwhelming.


    Guests whispered quietly nearby.


    ¡°Now that Orion has passed, why isn¡¯t the granddaughter¨Cinw here?¡± someone said.


    ¡°Right, the granddaughter¨Cinw isn¡¯t here, but her sister is attending the funeral as if she¡¯s part of the family. What¡¯s going on here?¡± someone else remarked.


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    ¡°I heard that Connor is having a fight with his wife over a divorce. She must be angry,¡± another person whispered.


    ¡°Even so, there¡¯s got to be a limit to her temper¨Cshe should havee back for the funeral, right?¡± someone added.


    Connor was already feeling low, and the gossip made him even more irritated. He turned sharply and red at the gossiping guests. They immediately fell silent.


    Mnie quietly approached Connor and whispered, ¡°Today is your grandfather¡¯s funeral. He always cared about his reputation. No matter what, you should have Xyliae back.¡±


    Whenever Mnie mentioned Xylia¡¯s name, it was through gritted teeth, filled with hate. Connor said calmly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. She wille back.¡± His tone was firm.


    Mnie asked him, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because today is thest day of the divorce cooling¨Coff period. She¡¯ll regret it ande back to apologize to me,¡± Connor said.


    Mnie thought for a moment, then suddenly looked at Connor with suspicion. ¡°Connor, you¡¯re not telling me you never actually nned to divorce Xylia, are you?¡±


    Tessa stood beside Connor, hearing Mnie¡¯s question. She clenched her fists.


    Connor gazed at the photograph of Orion, his expression tightly drawn. ¡°She can¡¯t leave me.¡±


    Tessa¡¯s heart sank at those words. She bit her lip until the taste of blood filled her mouth, regaining a sense of rity amidst her burning anger. ¡°Connor, can you justify treating me this way?¡±


    Today was her grandmother¡¯s memorial, and though she had heard of Orion¡¯s passing, she rushed here without a second thought, neglecting her own grandmother¡¯s memorial. Yet Connor still had to push her


    away,


    Connor lowered his gaze, a hint of inner conflict showing in his eyes.


    Seeing him remain silent for so long, Tessa, her eyes red, red at him before running out.


    ¡°Has Tessa been feeling down these past few days? Do you think it¡¯s safe for her to run off like this?¡± Mnie asked, her voiceced with concern.


    Connor snapped back to reality and immediately ran after her.

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    The Schultz family arrived at the cemetery. Laurel¡¯s gravestone had been cleaned, and the photograph at its center still showed her smiling gently.


    At a nce, it almost seemed as if she were standing there, kindly and benevolently watching over her family.


    Xylia had not visited the cemetery in a long time, nor had she paid her respects to her grandmother for quite some time.


    In previous years, because Connor was always busy with work andcked patience, she would rush through the memorial, paying her respects quickly before leaving just as fast.


    After marriage, she longed for a family that truly belonged to her. In the end, she was left alone.


    Xylia ced her grandmother¡¯s favorite sunflowers in front of the gravestone and silently spoke to her in her heart.


    ¡®Grandmother, this may be thest time I visit you. I¡¯m leaving now. I¡¯ve found my true family. You once told me that if one day I could no longer stay with the Schultz family, I should leave bravely. Now, the time hase,¡¯ she thought.


    Xylia quietly gazed at the photograph on the gravestone.


    Although Yves and Gia were displeased with Xylia, they did not make a scene on the anniversary of Laurel¡¯s passing.


    Ziggy watched Xylia in silence, his gaze growing increasingly deep. No one knew what he was thinking.


    After leaving the cemetery, Xylia handed Yves a document. ¡°It¡¯s to sever ties with the Schultz family.¡±


    Yves was initially shocked by her sudden move. After a moment, he looked at her with disdain. ¡°What is this about?<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Once this agreement <b>is </b>signed, I will have no further connection with the Schultz family. This is what you wanted, right?¡± Xylia¡¯s voice was cold, and her gaze toward them had grown more distant.


    Yves and Gia exchanged nces<b>, </b>each seeing delight in the other¡¯s eyes. In fact, they had long wished to sever ties with Xylia.


    The wrong child had been raised in their home for so many years. If Xylia hadn¡¯t married Connor at that time, Yves would not have kept her in the family, as he valued the partnership with the Ford Group.


    Now that Xylia and Connor were divorcing, she was no longer useful to them. Let the rtionship be severed.


    Gia grabbed the document from Yves and signed it decisively.


    As they prepared to leave, Ziggy suddenly grabbed Xylia¡¯s arm. ¡°Where do you n to go after the divorce?¡±


    <b>¡°</b><b>It¡¯s </b>none of your business<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>Xylia said.


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    Once all the formalities for severing ties werepleted, Yves and Gia didn¡¯t spare Xylia another nce and left immediately.


    However, Ziggy nced at Xylia¡¯s indifferent expression, feeling a persistent difort in his chest. But he didn¡¯t ask any further and left with Yves and Gia.


    Xylia had not yet removed Connor from her cklist, but today marked thest day of the divorce cooling- off period, and the divorce needed to be finalized.


    She called Connor. The first two calls went unanswered, but the third call was finally picked up.


    Connor¡¯s impatient voice came through. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Today marks thest day of the cooling¨Coff period. Let¡¯s go to the city hall and finalize the divorce,¡± Xylia said.


    There was silence on the other end. Then Connor¡¯s voice came through, gritted with anger. ¡°Xylia, do you know what day it is today?¡±


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s the day of our divorce.¡±


    ¡°Damn it, my grandfather just passed away, and you¡¯re bringing up divorce now?¡± Connor shouted.


    ¡°You only need to spare a few minutes to collect the certificate. Anything else has nothing to do with me,¡± Xylia¡¯s voice was cold and emotionless.


    It was only then that Connor realized how ruthless a woman could be when she decided to let go. ¡°Just you wait!¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Xylia immediately stood waiting at the entrance of the city hall.


    It was an overcast day, with a few rays of sunlight forcing their way through the clouds to shine onto the earth.


    Xylia looked up at the golden rays in the sky, feeling inexplicably calm. She, too, would be like those rays of light, determined to pass through the many obstacles ahead and embark on a new journey.


    Connor arrived at city hall twenty minutester, apanied by Tessa.


    Xylia hadn¡¯t expected him to arrive so quickly, the journey from Ford Mansion to city hall should have taken at least half an hour.


    Connor approached her with a sullen face, not even bothering to look at her. ¡°Aren¡¯t we getting the divorce decree? Hurry up!¡± He was impatient, his tone almost sulking.


    Tessa, who arrived with him, had slightly disheveled hair, a rosyplexion, and red lips. Xylia quickly realized what the two had just been doing.


    She let out a cold snort inwardly. Orion had just passed away, and Connor and Tessa were already doing this.


    But Xylia didn¡¯t say anything. Under Tessa¡¯s provocative gaze, she followed Connor into city hall.


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    The divorce process was simple and straightforward. The two quickly obtained their divorce decree.


    Connor didn¡¯t look at Xylia once throughout the process. In a huff, he walked down the steps of city hall.


    Tessa nearly burst with joy. She looked at Xylia and, with a provocative tone, said, ¡°Xylia, you won¡¯t regret this, will you?¡±


    Connor sneered. ¡°Xylia, I gave you countless chances. You insisted on the divorce, and now there¡¯s no turning back.¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t bother responding, her gaze calm as she looked at Tessa. ¡°Whether I regret it doesn¡¯t matter. What matters is that you, my younger sister, are about to regret it very soon.¡±


    It was rare for Xylia to call Tessa ¡°younger sister.¡± The sudden use of the term made Tessa feel uneasy. But she didn¡¯t take Xylia¡¯s words to heart, thinking she was just trying to save face.


    Connor, seeing that Xylia ignored him, pulled Tessa into the car.


    Xylia smiled as she watched them leave and sent a text to Maverick. [The evidence can now be posted online.]


    Maverick promptly replied with an ¡°OK¡± sticker.


    She was about to leave, and it was time to settle the score with Connor and Tessa. The emotional betrayal, the wrongful imprisonment, and the agony of her crippled body could not be buried by this couple.


    After blocking Connor again, she got ready to head to the airport. Just as she was about to hail a cab, a familiar Volkswagen came into view.


    Joshua lowered the car window, smiled, and looked at Xylia. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you to the airport. Your luggage is already in the car.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Xylia said. Without hesitation, she got into the car.


    ¡°Even though I¡¯m moving to Norhill<b>, </b>our friendship won¡¯t change. Let¡¯s stay in touch.¡± Xylia smiled as she looked at Joshua.


    However, Joshua said lightly, ¡°It¡¯s all right. We will meet again.¡±


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    Until she boarded the ne back to Norhill, Xylia¡¯s mind kept reying thest words Joshua said to her as he saw her off. ¡°Go back and wait for me.¡±


    ¡®Wait for him? What does it mean?¡® she thought.


    The ne passed through the clouds, and Xylia¡¯s gaze lingered on them for a long time. When Hudson called her name, she turned her head, and for a moment, her eyes remained unfocused.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Hudson?¡± she asked.


    Hudson sat next to Xylia, resting his head on his hand while looking at her. ¡°Xylia, are you feeling sorrowful?¡±


    From the moment she boarded the ne, Xylia¡¯s eyes had been fixed on the window. She was so quiet, as if draped in a thinyer of sadness. It wasn¡¯t overwhelming, but it was enough to worry those around her.


    Hudson exchanged a nce with Cyrus. Hudson was the first to speak.


    Xylia turned to face him. Across the aisle, she saw Hudson leaning sideways, resting his head on his hand. His eyes were full of concern.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you and Connor. Why would you want a man with such aplicated rtionship with his wife¡¯s sister?


    ¡°And your son, although you share an undeniable blood bond, everyone has the right to choose. Since he chose to be with Connor, maybe you should consider that you no longer have this son,¡± Hudson said.


    ¡°Hudson.¡± Cyrus shot Hudson a disapproving look.


    Realizing his mistake, Hudson quickly apologized, gently tapping his lips, then looked at Xylia. ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re going home now. We will make sure you¡¯re not bullied again.¡±


    Xylia smiled slightly, trying to reassure them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m fine. I was just thinking about something a friend said.¡±


    From the moment she boarded the ne, she had severed all ties with Jupiton. After sharing her new contact details with close friends, she discarded her old SIM card.


    With Maverick¡¯s help, Connor and Tessa would get what they deserved. There was nothing left in Jupiton for her to hold onto anymore.


    She understood her brothers¡® concerns, but there was no longer any need for them.


    ¡°Friend?¡± Kaden, sitting in front of her, sharply turned his head. ¡°Which friend are you thinking about?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Joshua, the one you met yesterday,¡± she said.


    ¡°What did he say to you? Even after an hour on the ne, you¡¯re still thinking about him?¡± Kaden asked.


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    Xylia hesitated, but chose not to tell her brother what Joshua had said. His words could be easily misunderstood. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    She looked out the window as Kaden¡¯s expression grew colder.


    ¡®Could it be that Xylia is also interested in Joshua?¡® Kaden thought.


    Cyrus and Hudson didn¡¯t meet Joshua yesterday, but they were both familiar with the name. Because Leon Sadler had mentioned it before. Two, and the heir of the Garcia family was also named Joshua.


    Xylia reclined her seat and started to sleep. Her brothers didn¡¯t press her further.


    Four hourster, as Xylia started to doze off, they finally arrived at the Sadler family residence in Norhill.


    When she stepped out of the car, she was taken aback by the sight of the Sadler family¡¯s estate.


    The Sadler family¡¯s manor was built against the mountains. The architecture was primarily traditional courtyard residences, with modern technology incorporated to create a retro¨Cstyle manor.


    The car entered the underground private garage, and they took the elevator to the ground level.


    The design of the manor was elegant and exquisite, with plenty of nts, all carefully tended by dedicated servants. Walking along the path, crossing the pond, and passing through the corridor, they finally arrived at the main hall.


    A middle¨Caged man walked up to several people. Kaden looked at the man and said, ¡°Ruben, we have returned with little sister.¡±


    When Ruben Hudson saw Xylia following behind Kaden, his eyes immediately filled with tears. ¡°Miss Sadler, you¡¯ve finally returned. If your parents and grandparents knew you were back, they¡¯d be so happy.¡±


    As he spoke, Ruben wiped his eyes.


    Xylia nced helplessly at Kaden, and he patted Ruben¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ruben, has her room been tidied up?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. I¡¯ll take her there right now,¡± Ruben said.


    Kaden turned to Xylia. ¡°Let Hudson take you to your room. If you need anything, don¡¯t hesitate to ask.


    Xylia nodded and followed Ruben and Hudson upstairs.


    Cyrus walked up to Kaden and asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°Joshua Garcia, do you remember?¡± Kaden asked.


    Cyrus furrowed his brows slightly.


    Kaden continued, ¡°Eight years ago, your hospital received a severely injured patient, one with gunshot wounds. The Garcia family secretly sent this patient, and your mentor personally cared for him.¡±


    As distant memories resurfaced, a trace of panic flickered in Cyrus¡¯s eyes. ¡°Are you saying Xylia¡¯s friend¡­?¡±


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    ¡°He is the heir of the Garcia family and also the patient from eight years ago,¡± Kaden reached his conclusion firmly.


    Cyrus, now understanding the gravity of the situation, furrowed his brows deeply.


    The Garcia family, though low¨Ckey, was an influential wealthy family in the country. As <b>far </b>as he knew, the members of the Garcia family were not ordinary¨Cthey wielded power in both legal and illegal circles.


    From Joshua¡¯s gunshot and burn scars eight years ago, it was clear that his life was far from simple. If Xylia continued associating with Joshua, she might have run into unforeseen trouble.


    Cyrus looked at Kaden seriously. ¡°Kaden, what do you think the rtionship is between Xylia and Joshua?¡±


    Judging from Xylia¡¯s behaviorst night, it was clear that she had deep feelings for her friend. But Kaden could see that Joshua¡¯s feelings toward Xylia were anything but simple.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to jump to conclusions, but since Xylia has returned, we cannot allow her to continue associating with the Garcia family,¡± Kaden turned to Cyrus. ¡°Isn¡¯t Leon dealing with some messtely? Go give him something to do.¡±


    Cyrus felt some sympathy for Leon. He nodded and walked out.


    Xylia followed Ruben to her own room.


    Although the exterior of the house was distinctly retro, the interior was apletely different world.


    The bedroom, located at the corner on the second floor, faced south. When the window was opened, a flood of sunlight poured in, casting a brilliant glow across the wooden floor.


    The room was furnished with light yellow bedding, rosewood furniture, a walk¨Cin closet, and smart appliances¨Ceverything one could need. Both the style and the decoration created a perfectly warm


    atmosphere.


    Ruben led Xylia to the cloakroom, where he found a wardrobe about three meters wide and reaching all the way to the ceiling. He opened it, revealing a dazzling array of toys.


    ¡°Miss Sadler, these were prepared for you by your parents when they were alive. You¡¯ve been missing for many years, but every year, they would prepare many gifts for you.


    ¡°They hoped that if you were ever found and returned, you would have thetest toys to y with,¡± Ruben said.


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    Xylia felt an inexplicable sensation in her heart¨Cwarm yet slightly sour.


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    The wardrobe was deep, and the wall contained small cabs filled with dolls that little girls y with. Many of them were famous animated figurines from specific years, nearly all being collector¡¯s editions.


    Toys for children and teens covered an entire wall.


    Hudson, standing in front of Xylia, pointed to a small racing car model in the corner and proudly said, ¡°This is the prize I won at the city¨Clevel model car assemblypetition when I was seven.


    ¡°I kept it for you, thinking you would enjoy racing once you came back.¡±


    Hudson looked at Xylia. ¡°Do you like racing?¡±


    Xylia nodded. ¡°Yes, I do. I¡¯ve participated in racingpetitions before.¡±


    She bent down and picked up the model car from the floor, imagining the seven¨Cyear¨Cold boy who had received this reward, his eyes filled with excitement and pride.


    Upon hearing Xylia mention racing, Hudson became even more interested. ¡°When did you participate in a race? Which one?¡±


    Xylia thought for a moment and said, ¡°It was probably ten years ago. I secretly entered a racingpetition in Jupiton and won the championship.¡±


    After thinking for a moment, Hudson¡¯s eyes lit up in surprise. ¡°Did you participate in a Mountain Circuit Race back then?<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Yes,¡± Xylia confirmed.


    Hudson suddenly grabbed Xylia¡¯s shoulders, his eyes red with excitement.


    ¡°Hudson, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Xylia asked.


    ¡°It turns out we met ten years ago.¡± Hudson¡¯s voice was hoarse as he spoke after a few seconds of silence.


    Ten years ago, due to racing, he had a difference in values with his parents. He had secretly bought a ne ticket and traveled to Jupiton to attend a small racingpetition. He didn¡¯t race but watched an exciting race as a spectator.


    At that moment, Xylia was driving in the outerne, at a disadvantage, yet she skillfully overtook herpetitors on the curves. He immediately remembered her.


    But after thepetition, she disappeared, and he couldn¡¯t find her despite searching for a long time. To his surprise<b>, </b>the female racer he admired was his own sister.


    Xylia, having never met Hudson before, was baffled by his sudden excitement. But after he exined, she understood that Hudson was thrilled because she shared his passion for racing.


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    ¡°Xylia, our racing team has apetition next month. Would you like to join? With your skills, you can easily win the championship,¡± he said.


    Xylia absentmindedly pinched her wrist. Her current physical condition didn¡¯t allow her to participate in racing, so she could only gently refuse Hudson¡¯s excitement. ¡°I think I¡¯ll pass<b>.¡± </b>


    Hudson didn¡¯t press her. After giving her instructions, he and Ruben left, leaving Xylia to rest alone.


    Xylia sat at the edge of the bed, gazing at the very spacious yet inviting room<b>, </b>and felt her heart a bit empty. She felt somewhat dazed. Everything seemed profoundly unreal.


    In Jupiton, Connor was in the mourning hall, paying his respects to his grandfather, Orion. Restless, his mind kept drifting back to the divorce.


    Xylia was truly ruthless. Orion had treated her so well during his lifetime, yet not only did she fail to attend his funeral, but on this crucial day, she even brought up divorce.


    She knew full well that Orion didn¡¯t want them to divorce, yet she insisted on it on the very day he passed


    away.


    In the silence of the night, as he stewed in his anger, the peace was suddenly interrupted by a burst ofmotion from outside.


    The butler hurried into the room, visibly flustered. ¡°The police are here.¡±


    Connor turned to see two police officers standing at the door, their sharp gazes fixed on him.


    Ten minutester, Sonny, still in bed, was woken up and brought to the hall. As soon as he saw the police, he was instantly alert. ¡°Officer, what¡¯s going on?¡± Sonny asked.


    One of the officers crouched down, smiling as he spoke to Sonny. ¡°Sonny, I have a question for you. Five months ago, you told us that your mom left the house the day of the car ident. I just want to confirm¨Cwas that the truth?¡±


    Hearing the officer¡¯s question, Sonny froze, his mind goingpletely nk. Instinctively, he looked at


    Connor.


    Connor sat leaning against the sofa, dressed in a ck suit. He looked solemn but his eyes were cold and piercing as he stared at the officers.


    ¡°Officers, hasn¡¯t my wife¡¯s case already been concluded? Why are you questioning us again?¡± Connor asked.


    ¡°This afternoon, a third eyewitness from the ident scene came forward with video evidence. They testified that it wasn¡¯t your wife who caused the ident,¡± one officer exined.


    Connor¡¯s heart tightened upon hearing this. The eyewitness he had been searching for all this time suddenly showed up at the police station.


    Sonny quickly interjected. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood my mom. Why are you here?¡±


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    The officer stood up, looking at Connor. ¡°Mr. Ford, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll find the real culprit. We¡¯re just here to confirm that you haven¡¯tmitted perjury, as falsifying evidence <b>is </b>a crime too.¡±


    Connor clenched his fists tightly.


    ¡®Could it be that the police already know that the person responsible for the hit¨Cand¨Crun at that time <b>is </b><b>Tessa</b><b>?</b>¡® he thought.


    ¡°We haven¡¯t lied,¡± Connor said, his voice steady.


    ¡°Then please provide evidence that your wife left the house that day,¡± the officer replied.


    Connor¡¯s mind raced. Xylia hadn¡¯t left the vi at all that day, and he had no evidence. Most importantly, Tessa was at the Ford family residence, and he needed to keep her from being arrested by the police.


    Just then, there was another noise from outside. ¡°Connor! Connor, help me!¡±


    Sonny was the first to react. ¡°Tessa!¡± He quickly ran outside.


    The officer nced at Connor before following Sonny outside.


    On the open ground outside, Tessa was being led away in handcuffs. She kept ncing back, hoping Connor woulde to her rescue.


    Sonny rushed out first, hugging the officer next to Tessa. ¡°Please don¡¯t take Tessa. It was my mom who hit the person, not Tessa,¡± Sonny pleaded, tears streaming down his face.


    The officer gently tried to pry Sonny off. ¡°Let go, kid. We¡¯ll figure out who was responsible, but we have our own conclusions<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°I won¡¯t let go! You are not allowed to take Tessa away,¡± Sonny cried, tearfully and stubbornly.


    By the time Connor and the other officer arrived, the scene was chaotic.


    Before Connor could speak, the officer addressed him first. ¡°Mr. Ford, we are simply following thew. We know your family has other matters to attend to, so we¡¯ll leave you to it.¡±


    Once the police have evidence<b>, </b>they proceed with arrests without hesitation. Connor could only watch as Tessa was taken away,pletely confused by the events unfolding before him.


    ?


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    <b>10:48 </b>Tue, Sep 16

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    Tessa was actually the one responsible for the hit¨Cand¨Crun that happened five months ago. The news quickly made its way to major trending tforms.


    Tessa¡¯s fans flooded thement sections under the trending topics, insisting that she could never do something like that.


    It wasn¡¯t until the police issued an official statement confirming that Tessa was indeed the perpetrator of the hit¨Cand¨Crun that urred five months ago that her fans were proven wrong.


    Curious onlookers, seeing several simr search terms dominating the trending list, clicked on them to learn more. After reading the full story, they couldn¡¯t help butsh out.


    [Isn¡¯t this just like causing an ident, running away, and making someone else take the fall? The so¨Ccalled top dancer is nothing but a murderer!]


    [Earlier, it was said that her sister was the real murderer¨Cwho would have thought the truth woulde out so quickly?]


    [Poor Xylia, she shouldered it all.]


    [The Jupiton police are amazing. They pursue the truth and clear the names of the wronged.]


    [This isn¡¯t just about a hit¨Cand¨Crun. There¡¯s also the crime of framing and nder. As the top dancer, she made her sister take the me. So shameless<b>.</b>]


    [Tessa, apologize!]


    [Tessa, apologize!]


    The tform was flooded with abusivements towards Tessa.


    The event Connor feared the most had finallye to pass. Tessa¡¯s career waspletely ruined.


    He sat dejectedly on the stool in his study, head down, face buried in his hands, lost in thought.


    Suddenly, he realized that the ultimate beneficiary of this matter was Xylia. It must have been Xylia who found the third¨Cparty witness and exposed the truth behind everything.


    He immediately took out his phone and called Xylia. ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed is no longer in service.¡±


    Hearing this, Connor was so furious that he nearly threw his phone. She had blocked him again.


    He borrowed the butler¡¯s phone and called Xylia again. On the other end, it was the same familiar voice.


    He borrowed several more bodyguards¡® phones, calling her from numbers she had never saved, knowing that with her personality, she would answer.


    However, the phone hadn¡¯t rung yet<b>, </b>and again, it was the same female voice on the other end, mechanically


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    repeating the same words.


    It was only then that Connor realized Xylia had changed her phone number. A chill ran down his spine, and panic began to rise in his chest.


    ¡®Why did she change her number? Could it be that she really won¡¯t contact me again? Impossible! Xylia loves me so much. There¡¯s no way she could truly sever ties with me,¡¯ he thought.


    He called his assistant and said, ¡°Find out where Xylia is.¡±


    The assistant paused for two seconds before answering. ¡°Mr. Ford, she left yesterday. I saw her at the airport with the driver from the Garcia family.¡±


    ¡°Joshua!¡± Connor gritted his teeth. ¡°Find out which flight they took.¡±


    ¡°Got it. But, Mr. Ford, the hit¨Cand¨Crun incident involving Ms. Schultz is still affecting Ford Group. Should we delete thements or take another approach?¡± his assistant asked.


    Connor didn¡¯t immediately understand what his assistant meant. He couldn¡¯t grasp how Tessa¡¯s situation could affect thepany.


    The assistant diligentlypiled all the online news and sent it to Connor. Connor scrolled through it and quickly realized that the inte had already linked him to Tessa.


    The incident with Tessa twisting her ankle at the designer exchange event. The high school bullying incident involving Xylia at the kindergarten anniversary celebration. The three of them had appeared on trending searches many times.


    So now, when Tessa got into trouble, he was also exposed for perjury.


    [My god, to help his sister¨Cinw escape, hemits perjury and lets his own wife take the fall? Is that something a husband would do?]


    [I heard the one whomitted perjury was Xylia¡¯s son. The kid is so young, he must have been influenced by his father. Xylia is really unfortunate¨Cher son and husband teamed up against her.]


    [I heard that while she was in prison, someone severed the tendons in her hands and feet, and she was left crippled.]


    [Yes, that¡¯s right. I am a patient of Dr. Schultz. Three months ago, I saw Dr. Schultz being deliberately given a hard time by Connor and his family outside the operating room.]


    [Really? I knew it¨Cwomen who marry into wealthy families really have it tough!]


    [Xylia was renowned as a master surgeon at the hospital. Unfortunately, her tendons in her hands and feet were severed, and she will never be able to operate again.]


    [Yes, I also heard that Dr. Schultz¡¯s hands and feet could have been saved at the time, but because her husband kept dying treatment, she missed the best opportunity for treatment and was left permanently disabled.]


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    [Are you saying that we would have had a highly skilled, life¨Csaving doctor, but he was framed by that shameless couple?]


    [That despicable couple!]


    The level of hatredizens had for Xylia back then was now being mirrored in their anger towards Connor and Tessa.


    Ford Group, which Connor had worked so hard to save by signing contracts<b>, </b>was now once again being affected because of his image.


    Connor¡¯s face darkened as he read through the insults. Both the perjury and the dyed treatment were highly private matters, yetizens knew every detail.


    He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there was a mastermind behind all of this. And most crucially, this happened while Xylia was missing. It seemed like everything was nned in advance.


    After a long period of contemtion, he finally said to his assistant. ¡°Don¡¯t respond to this matter. Gather all of Ford Group¡¯s charitable work from this year, and find the right time to push it to the trending topics<b>.¡± </b>


    The assistant nodded, and after the call ended, Connor remained restless.


    He stubbornly called Xylia several more times, but once again, received the same notification. After <i>a </i>long while, he got up, grabbed his coat, and headed out the door.


    Joshua, looking at the positive online trend, nodded in satisfaction.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, Ford Group has recently established a strategic partnership with Kregonia. Our previous n might fail,¡± his assistant said.


    Joshua paused his hand on the tablet, looked up at his assistant. ¡°Kregonia?¡±


    The assistant nodded and said, ¡°It should be the one who came for you.¡±


    Joshua smiled faintly, a coldness in the smile that sent a chill through anyone who saw it. ¡°Then let Connor have a little peace for now and focus on dealing with the Schultz family.¡±


    Joshua set the tablet aside, his smile widening, while his eyes remainedpletely emotionless. ¡°In one week, I want to see the Schultz family bankrupt and every member of the family homeless.<b>¡± </b>


    Seeing Joshua¡¯s demeanor, the assistant couldn¡¯t help but shiver. He received the order and left the office.


    Joshua leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the tablet as it refreshed again. Jupiton was truly not a good ce.


    As he was deep in thought, the phone suddenly rang, Joshua looked at the iing call notification. His cold expression softened instantly.


    He held the phone to his <b>ear</b><b>, </b>smiling as he asked, ¡°Have you missed me?¡±

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    Upon hearing Joshua¡¯s joking tone, Xylia rolled her eyes.


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    After spending some time adjusting to life with the Sadler family, she began thinking again about the studio.


    Whenever she thought about the studio, she also recalled the 600 thousand Joshua had lent her¨C300 thousand as an investment and the other 300 thousand as a personal loan. Now that she had money, she should pay him back.


    ¡°Joshua, please provide me with your bank card number so that I can return the money to you,¡± she said.


    ¡°Money?¡± Joshua was momentarily confused.


    ¡°Did you forget? You helped me sessfully bid on Grandma¡¯s painting for 600 thousand,¡± she added.


    As his memory returned, Joshua smiled faintly. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that an investment in your studio?¡±


    ¡°You invested 300 thousand, and my studio hasn¡¯t even started yet. I¡¯ll transfer the remaining 300 thousand to you, plus two months of interest. Would a total of 330 thousand work?¡± she said.


    ¡°Ms. Schultz, you quite generous now. It would be rude of me to refuse,¡± Joshua replied.


    He sent Xylia his bank ount number. Once she received it, Xylia quickly made the transfer. After Joshua confirmed he received it, he started chatting casually with Xylia.


    Wearing headphones, Xylia hung her grandmother¡¯s painting on the bedroom wall while talking to Joshua.


    ¡°How¡¯s it going? Are you getting used to living with the Sadler family?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. My brothers are all very kind to me,¡± she replied, though she still needed time to fully adapt to life there.


    Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Give me your address, and I¡¯ll send you a medicated patch.¡±


    ¡°Rachel gave me one before I left,¡± she said.


    ¡°She has changed the form again and asked me to send it to you,¡± he added.


    Xylia was puzzled, Rachel could have just asked for her address to send it directly, without needing to go through him. But she didn¡¯t question him further and gave him her address.


    Joshua also told Xylia about the recent situation with Connor and Tessa.


    Xylia didn¡¯t show much of an emotional reaction. From now on, she wanted nothing to do with the Ford or Schultz families.


    After hanging up, the butler knocked on her bedroom door. Xylia opened the door, and the butler smiled at her. ¡°Mr. Sadler has returned. You¡­¡±


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    Before the butler could finish, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway. ¡°Xylia!¡±


    Xylia turned toward the sound, her eyes widening in disbelief. ¡°Leon?¡±


    Leon, still dressed in an elegant suit, his makeup still intact, and his hair stiff with gel from the travel, looked a bit disheveled from his journey.


    He stood before Xylia, breathing heavily, with a smile on his face and excitement shining in his eyes. ¡°Xylia, let me introduce myself properly. I¡¯m Leon Sadler, I¡¯m your third brother.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s eyes grew wide as she stared at Leon, her mind racing with memories of their previous encounters. No wonder she had always felt that Leon had been looking at her strangely and helping her all the time.


    Seeing her silent, Leon assumed she was upset and quickly exined, ¡°I meant to meet you in Jupiton, but the situation at the time was unusual. I wanted to know if you were living well, so I kept it a secret.


    ¡°<b>If </b>you¡¯re upset, just hit me or tell me what you want. I¡¯ll get it for you. Just don¡¯t be angry and don¡¯t ignore


    me.¡±


    Xylia looked at Leon, her brows furrowing slightly. It wasn¡¯t so much that she was angry, but she didn¡¯t like being deceived.


    However, since Leon was her idol and he was standing there, eagerly looking at her, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to be mad. ¡°I¡¯m not angry.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that.¡± Leon quickly took Xylia¡¯s hand and pulled her downstairs. ¡°I brought you a gift. Come take a look.¡±


    Xylia was pulled upstairs by Leon. On the third floor, there was arge room with venttion on all sides. The moonlight poured in through the windows, illuminating the room even without the lights on.


    There was a bookcase along the wall, arge desk, and an easel with a stool beside the bed.


    Leon turned on the light. The light made the furnituree to life¨Cthe solid wood bookcase and desk, the wooden floor, and the cab near the door filled with paints. It was a well¨Cdesigned andfortable room, perfect for a designer.


    ¡°When I was in Jupiton, I knew you liked drawing design ns. I had designers work overtime to renovate this studio for you. Do you like it?¡± Leon asked.


    Xylia nodded slightly, deeply touched. ¡°But how did you know I liked fashion design?¡±


    Seeing how much she liked the room, Leon couldn¡¯t hide his joy. He proudly lifted his chin. ¡°I have my ways.¡±


    He said it mysteriously, but Xylia had already figured it out. She remembered posting a design drawing on her Instagram before. Maybe Leon had seen it there.


    Leon suddenly put his arm around Xylia¡¯s shoulder, gently pushed her into the studio, and began showing her theyout.


    ¡°The bookshelf and the books were picked by Kaden. He always thought his taste was more refined, and he


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    asked many design industry experts for advice. These books should be helpful to <i>you</i>, so take a look.


    ¡°These paints and brushes were bought by Cyrus. He had a patient whose family is full of colorists. They have a wide variety of paints, which are perfect for you.


    ¡°Hudson is yful, and he picked out themp and snacks in the cab. Cyrus bought those snacks because he¡¯s a foodie. Feel free to help yourself if you¡¯re hungry.


    ¡°As for me¡­¡± Leon smiled mysteriously and led Xylia to the spacious desk.


    The desk was covered in drawing tools and sketches, with a photograph in the center. Leon picked up the photo and looked at Xylia. ¡°This is our family portrait.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s eyes widened as she stared at the photo reflected in her pupils.


    The photo showed nine people¨Ctwo elderly figures in the middle, with a couple standing behind them, both smiling happily. The woman was holding a very young baby, and four young boys stood on either side.


    The woman was dressed in a hospital gown, her face pale but still smiling sweetly. It was obvious that both she and the baby had been photoshopped into the picture. Everyone¡¯s face was filled with joy.


    Leon exined, ¡°This photo was taken when you were born. Mom held you and took the picture. After you went missing, we inserted this photo into the family portrait, so it looks like you were never gone.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s gaze lingered on the four adults in the photo. These were her parents and grandparents. They were her true family in this world. Sadly, she would never see them again.

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    After touring the design studio, Leon led Xylia downstairs. The remaining three brothers were at home.


    When Leon and Xylia came downstairs, Hudson craned his neck, looking at Leon¡¯s face as if trying to read his mood.


    He noticed that Leon was full of energy, while Xylia walking ahead had a somewhat unpredictable expression. He felt a bit disappointed. So, Leon really managed to calm her down.


    Hudson would have loved to see Xylia angry and making things difficult for Leon. If she ignored him for another ten days or so, the drama would be even more interesting.


    Kaden put


    down his workputer and looked at Xylia.


    Over the past few days, he had sensed Xylia¡¯s initial difort upon returning home. After spending these days together, he could tell that she had noticeably rxed.


    He believed that, with time, Xylia would truly begin to see herself as part of the family.


    ¡°You¡¯ve returned, Xylia. Next week, we¡¯ll take you to pay respects to our parents. Is that okay?¡± Kaden asked.


    Xylia nodded.


    ¡°And regarding your name, would you like to change your surname to Sadler?¡± Kaden added.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Xylia said.


    ¡®Xylia Sadler,¡® she thought. Xylia smiled slightly at the thought of the name. She really liked it. From now on, her life would begin a new chapter.


    Connor personally took a flight to visit Seth Wilson. He ced a check and a document in front of Seth.


    ¡°This money will ensure your daughter¡¯s financial security for the rest of her life, I will also guarantee the quality of her life, including her education and career,¡± Connor said.


    Seth looked at Connor cautiously. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Go to the police station and turn yourself in. Say that your mother had a terminal illness and deliberately walked in front of my car that night tomit insurance fraud,¡± Connor added.


    ¡°You¡¯re a bastard!¡± Seth trembled with anger.


    His mother died on that road. The hit¨Cand¨Crun driver fled, and although he had alreadymitted perjury once, he didn¡¯t want to further defame his mother.


    In the face of Seth¡¯s fury, Connor was actually much moreposed. He sat across from him, his eyes calm yet faintly showing disdain.


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    He spoke calmly, ¡°You can take your time to think. Your mother is already dead, and your daughter is now attending an elite school.


    ¡°If I leave today, everything you¡¯ve gained will be wiped out. I¡¯m giving you time to think about your future.¡±


    His words were t, but they carried a clear threat. Seth understood the message.


    Connor had been in the business world for years, holding power and status. If he wanted to deal with someone like Seth, he had more than enough ways to do so.


    Not only could he take back his money, but he could also use other schemes to harm Seth¡¯s family, and Seth would have no way to fight back.


    Seth¡¯s face turned pale. Suddenly, he smiled bitterly and looked at Connor. ¡°Mr. Ford, may I ask you something?¡±


    Connor gestured for him to continue.


    Seth slowly said, ¡°For Ms. Tessa Schultz, you first sent your wife to prison, and now you¡¯vee all this way to threaten me. Since you care so much about Ms. Schultz, why didn¡¯t you marry her in the first ce?¡±


    Connor¡¯s expression changed. He looked at Seth coldly and said, ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.<b>¡± </b>


    Seth smiled faintly, his smile tinged with bitterness. He picked up the folder on the table, which contained his mother¡¯s terminal illness records and her insurance policy.


    Connor was truly worthy of being the heir to the Ford Group. He could even create things as fake as this.


    ¡°Mr. Ford, you are unworthy of having a family,¡± Seth said.


    Two dayster, Tessa was released. The online discussions about Tessa¡¯s hit¨Cand¨Crun incident took a new turn.


    Those who had once condemned her now began to sympathize with her.


    [I told you Tessa was innocent before, but you didn¡¯t believe me. Now you see you were wrong, don¡¯t you?]


    [I can¡¯t trust the inte anymore. The Schultz sisters were wronged time and again, and in the end, the victims themselves were part of the n. So what was all my online outrage worth?]


    [But a hit¨Cand¨Crun is still a hit¨Cand¨Crun. Even if the victim jumped in front of the car, you shouldn¡¯t just hit someone and drive off, right?]


    [Are you crazy? Not running and letting yourself be taken advantage of?]


    <b>[</b><b>The </b>inte is full of idiots. Even if this was the victim¡¯s n, Tessa stillmitted a hit¨Cand¨Crun.]


    [So, you n to just stand there and let yourself be falsely used, is that it? Well, I hope that in the future, when someone schemes against you, you¡¯ll obediently stand there and let yourself get beaten!]


    <b>[</b>It¡¯s unlikely that Tessa didn¡¯t know the other party¡¯s intentions. She took the me in silence and paid arge sum to Seth, most likely to protect his family. She is really kind¨Chearted.]


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    [Given Tessa¡¯s status and abilities, she must have known what Seth was doing. The reason she took the me was probably because she couldn¡¯t bear to see them suffer. She must have wanted to help them.]


    [How can there be such a kind and lovely girl in the world?]


    [Tessa¡¯s fans, stop awkwardly hyping her up. If she were really that kind¨Chearted, why would she let her sister take the me?]


    [Her elder sister must have volunteered to take the me. Otherwise, why didn¡¯t Xyliae forward to exin personally?]


    [Exactly! Tessa is so well¨Cliked, her elder sister certainly wouldn¡¯t want her to be hurt!]


    The online debates only intensified the incident¡¯s poprity. Unfortunately, not long after, these arguments faded like the retreating tide. As time passed, the controversy gradually died down.


    Tessa was brought back to the Schultz family residence by Ziggy.


    She had thought that when she returned, she would see Connor, the one she longed for. But to her surprise, there was no sign of him in the living room. ¡°Ziggy, where is Connor?¡±


    Ziggy said, ¡°Xylia is missing, and Connor is doing everything he can to find her.¡±


    Tessa frowned and looked at Ziggy. ¡°She¡¯s missing? Where did she go?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I haven¡¯t seen her since grandmother¡¯s death anniversary,¡± Ziggy replied.


    Although Tessa was puzzled, she felt relieved. Xylia had already broken up with Connor, and now that Xylia was missing, Connor would definitely be with her. ¡°Ziggy, I want to go to the Ford Mansion.¡±


    ¡°You are not allowed to go!¡± Ziggy suddenly scolded sharply, startling Tessa.


    She looked at him, bewildered.


    ¡°Are you out of your mind? He didn¡¯t evene to pick you up after you were released from prison today. Clearly, he doesn¡¯t care about you, and now you¡¯re still running after him?¡± Ziggy said.


    Tessa thought for a moment. It seemed to be true. She needed to wait for Connor toe to her. So, she decided to follow Ziggy¡¯s suggestion and went upstairs to rest.


    AD

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    Chapter <b>120 </b>


    When Joshua learned of <b>Tessa¡¯s </b>release from prison, he was nning a business trip to Norhill.


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    David informed him, ¡°Mr. Garcia, Tessa was rescued by Connor Ford, and Connor has been searching for Ms. Xylia during this period.¡±


    Joshua looked at the itinerary and gave a slight nod.


    He had long suspected that Connor would take such extreme measures for Tessa.


    ¡°The evidence has been collected, right?¡± he turned to David, asking.


    David replied, ¡°Everything has been collected. The entire process of Connor threatening Seth Wilson was all recorded on video.¡±


    Joshua nodded, adding, ¡°Keep this for now.¡±


    With Burke Sterling now advising Connor, orchestrating a takeover of the Ford Group was no longer a certain victory.


    However, he would definitely avenge this.


    ¡°In addition, it appears that Ziggy Schultz is also quietly looking for Ms. Xylia.¡±


    Ziggy?


    Only then did Joshua raise his eyes to look at David.


    His gaze first grew somber, then gleamed with a sharp brilliance.


    ¡°It¡¯s time <i>to </i>make a move on the Schultz Group,¡± he slowly dered.


    Once she had been Xylia Schultz, but by then she went by Xylia Sadler.


    A day prior to stepping into the family chapel for the ceremony to honor their ancestors and wee her back into the fold, Kaden had taken care of the official processes¨Ctransferring her legal ties to the Sadler family and officially renaming her Xylia Sadler.


    Presently, Kaden and the other three Sadler brothers were busy preparing for tomorrow¡¯s ceremony.


    All of Xylia¡¯s attempts to assist were stopped.


    Hudson gestured to afortable armchair. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about any of that, Xylia. Your only job right now is


    to rx.


    ¡°<b>I </b>got you some snacks¨Cthey¡¯re on the table. Just sit, watch some TV, and unwind. If you don¡¯t like them, just <b>say </b>the word and <b>I¡¯ll </b>find you something else<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


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    As Hudson spoke, Cyrus gently took Xylia¡¯s wrist, <b>his </b>fingers careful around the medicated patch. He gave it a brief, professional nce.


    ¡°The patch is working well,¡± he stated. ¡°The damage to your wrists and ankles <b>is </b>significant, but it¡¯s not permanent. I promise you, I will get them healed.¡± He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. ¡°For now, just focus on resting up. Tomorrow is a big day.¡±


    Cyrus gave her a quick, smiling pat on the head before leaving.


    Xylia settled onto the soft sofa, clutching her snacks and tablet.


    As she watched her brothers buzz around, a warm contentment filled her.


    She couldn¡¯t help but smile, finally feeling like she was home.


    Her four elder brothers treated her with incredible kindness, a happiness so intense it felt surreal, yetpletely real.


    Her tablet suddenly pinged with a notification¨Ca message from Josie.


    Josie: [Honestly, I think the office spaces downtown are overrated. This two¨Cstory storefront in themercial district is a much better find.]


    Xylia: [I love it, too. The foot traffic is perfect, and I¡¯m really happy with the rent and the square footage.]


    Josie: [Then it¡¯s settled! I¡¯m definitely flying back for your grand opening.]


    Xylia<b>: </b>[I thought you were already back abroad?]


    Josie: [What, you think I wouldn¡¯t fly all the way back to celebrate you?]


    Xylia: [Of course you would! I¡¯d love that.]


    Though they hadn¡¯t known each other long, Xylia and Josie clicked instantly. They were like old friends, with endless things to talk about, from daily life to fashion design.


    They had be best friends in a remarkably short time.


    Now that she was settled with the Sadler family, Xylia was focused on her next goal¨Copening her own studio.


    She was young, and it was the perfect time to make her mark.


    Her thoughts were interrupted as Josie forwarded another news article from back home¨Cthis one about Connor and Tessa,


    Josie: [I swear, these two are a match made in hell. They¡¯re utterly revolting.l


    Xylia had seen some of the news online over the past few days.


    ording to Maverick, Connor had contacted the victim¡¯s family. Shortly after, the family went to the police to retract their statement and confess to the crime, leading to Tessa¡¯s release. She then <b>signed </b>a <b>letter </b>of


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    understanding, ensuring the family avoided severe punishment.


    Xylia knew Connor had orchestrated the entire thing.


    He would do anything for Tessa.


    But now, when she thought of them, she felt nothing but a calm indifference.


    They were strangers to her.


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    She told Josie that she had officially changed her name and returned to the Sadler family, and that from now on, she would have no connection to Jupiton or its dramas.


    Josie was genuinely happy for her.


    Early the next morning, Xylia entered the family chapel with her four brothers. In a ceremony that was both simple and profound, she was formally weed back into the Sadler lineage.


    Kaden carefully inscribed her name¨CXylia Sadler¨Cinto the ancient family genealogy.


    ¡°Xylia,¡± he said, his voice thick with emotion. ¡°You¡¯ve endured too much already. Now that you¡¯re home, we will make certain you never face injustice again.¡±


    Tears of happiness welled in Xylia¡¯s eyes, a fragile warmth spreading through her chest. This was real. She was home.


    With the ceremony concluded, her brothers dispersed to their own duties.


    All except Hudson, who lingered behind with a mischievous glint in his eye.


    He dropped onto the sofa next to her. ¡°So, sis,¡± he began, his tone conspiratorial. ¡°There¡¯s a big race down at Emberhill this afternoon. Feel like checking it out?¡±


    Xylia flexed her wrist slightly, a silent reminder of her injuries.


    ¡°I¡¯m not exactly race¨Cready yet.¡±


    ¡°Who said anything about racing?¡± Hudsonughed. ¡°We¡¯re just going to watch. I want to introduce you to some people.¡±


    Xylia agreed. A trip out would be the perfect chance to scout a location for her new studio,


    ¡°Okay,¡± she said. ¡°But you have toe with me somewhere first.¡±


    ¡°Where to?¡± Hudson asked, his curiosity piqued.


    *****


    Half an hourter, they stood before a vacant two¨Cstory storefront, nestled just off the main thoroughfare of


    10:49 Tue<b>, </b>Sep 16


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    Norhill¡¯smercial district.


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    Hudson looked from the ¡®For Lease¡® sign to his sister, surprise spreading across his face.


    ¡°You want to rent this ce?¡±


    Xylia nodded. ¡°<b>Is </b>that a problem?¡± she asked.


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    ¡°Problem? It¡¯s brilliant!¡± he eximed. ¡°Do you have enough for the deposit? If not, <b>I </b>can give you some right


    now.¡±


    He pulled out his phone, thumb hovering over the transfer app, but Xylia reached out and stopped him, her hand light on his wrist.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Hudson. The money you all transferred is more than enough to cover this and my living expenses for a long time.¡±


    ¡°That was just pocket money! This is a business venture,¡± he insisted, his thumbs flying across the screen. ¡°That needs upfront cash¨Cpaint, canvases, renovations. Lucky for you, money¡¯s thest thing we¡¯re short on. We¡¯re all in this with you.¡± He raised an eyebrow.


    The next second, a notification chimed on Xylia¡¯s phone. He had just transferred another 600 thousand.


    She shook her head in helpless affection.


    Just two months ago, she was scraping by. Now, her savings were inching toward three million, all from her brothers¡® quiet, unasked¨Cfor generosity.


    Yet she was genuinely d that Hudson supported her studio venture.


    The space itself was perfect. The previous tenant had run a salon, so the two¨Cstoryyout and location were ideal, though the interior would need aplete overhaul.


    After a final walk¨Cthrough, Xylia signed the lease.


    ¡°Perfect timing,¡± Hudson said as he surveyed the entire shop. ¡°A good friend of mine is a genius designer. He¡¯ll be at the race¨CI¡¯ll introduce you. He¡¯ll have killer ideas for this ce.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Hudson,¡± Xylia said, a genuine smile on her face,


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± he said, giving her hair a yful ruffle.


    ¡°Nowe on, we¡¯re going to bete.¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t move. She fixed him with a knowing, mischievous look.


    ¡°We¡¯re not just going to watch the race, are we?¡±


    Hudson froze, then guiltily averted his eyes. He couldn¡¯t hold her prating gaze for long.


    ¡°Okay, okay!¡± he conceded, grabbing her good arm to steer her toward the car. ¡°I might need you to¡­ help me


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    with a tiny, little thing. You¡¯ll see! It¡¯s no big deal!¡±


    Xylia justughed, allowing herself to be pulled along. She had a feeling ¡°no big deal¡± was going to be very interesting indeed.

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    One hourter, the sleek car pulled to a stop outside the imposing gates of the Apex Racing Club.


    Xylia and Hudson stepped out, the roar of high¨Cperformance engines already humming in the air.


    ¡°This is a club owned by my friend,¡± Hudson exined, nodding toward theplex. ¡°There¡¯s a¡­ let¡¯s call it a ¡®friendly match¡® happening here today.¡±


    ¡°What kind of friendly match?¡± Xylia asked.


    ¡°Colloquially? They¡¯re here to ¡®kick the club,¡± Hudson said, shoving his hands in his pockets. ¡°The wager is ownership of the entire ce.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°The entire club? That¡¯s the stake?¡±


    This was far beyond a simple friendly match.


    The challengers were clearly the club owner¡¯s sworn enemies.


    Hudson nodded grimly.


    ¡°My friend, Zayn Scott, and the guy leading the other team have been at each other¡¯s throats for years. Theirtest argument was over some woman, and it escted into this. The Apex Racing Club is on the line.¡±


    Xylia was at a loss for words.


    She sneered, ¡°They¡¯re racers. If they have a problem, they should settle it on the track. Why drag a woman into it as an excuse?¡±


    Hudson, detecting her scorn, could only shrug and touch his nose in embarrassment, offering no defense.


    ¡°Hudson,¡± Xylia pressed, ¡°what exactly do you need me to do?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen your races,¡± he said, his tone turning serious. ¡°Your skills are one thing, but your strategic mind is another. I want you to lead Zayn¡¯s racing team today. Be their tactician.¡±


    Xylia frowned. ¡°But I don¡¯t know these drivers.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re here early,¡± he said with a grin.


    Before she could protest further, he¡¯d already grabbed her hand and pulled her through the


    9:36 Wed, Sep 17


    main gates, past the gleaming supercars, and into the backstage lounge.


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    He pushed the door open. Five men were inside, lounging on couches and leaning against tool benches. All eyes turned to them.


    ¡°Everyone,¡± Hudson announced, pulling Xylia forward. ¡°This is my little sister, Xylia.¡±


    ¡°Little sister?¡±


    The five men exchanged confused nces.


    ¡°Since when do you have a sister?¡±


    ¡°The one who was lost! Our biological sister. We found her!¡± Hudson said, beaming with pride as he slung an arm around Xylia¡¯s shoulders.


    The men¡¯s confusion melted into surprise and genuine delight. ¡°You found her? That¡¯s incredible! Congrattions!¡±


    ¡°Hey, sis, we¡¯re Hudson¡¯s friends,¡± they said, gathering around with easy smiles.


    The one named Zayn stepped forward. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Zayn. This is my club. If you ever want to race, juste find me.¡± He gave a warm, weing smile.


    Hudson yfully shoved them back.


    ¡°Hey, give her some space! And she¡¯s my sister, not yours. Don¡¯t get any ideas.¡±


    ¡°You dog!¡± one of themughed. ¡°Who knew you¡¯d be such a sis¨Ccon?¡±


    ¡°Hey, Xylia,¡± another joked, ¡°your brother¡¯s got a terrible temper. I¡¯ll be your new brother, okay?¡±


    Hudson mock¨Ckicked at him. ¡°Get lost!¡±


    The room erupted inughter and easygoing ribbing.


    Finally, Hudson revealed the real reason they were there.


    ¡°My sister is an aplished racer. She can¡¯tpete today because of her injuries, but I brought her to lead the team. To be your strategist.¡±


    The five men looked at Xylia again. This time, their gazes were puzzled.


    Dressed in a soft, ivory cashmere sweater and a floaty silk skirt, her delicate appearance was one of sheltered gentility, making her seem a world apart from the gritty, petrol¨Cscented realm ofpetitive racing.


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    Zayn rubbed the back of his neck, choosing his words carefully. ¡°It¡¯s not that we don¡¯t trust you, Xylia. It¡¯s just¡­ you don¡¯t exactly look like you¡¯re into racing.¡±


    Hudson nced at his sister.


    Today, she looked like a figure from a watercolor painting¨Csoft, serene, and untouched¡ª instead of someone who belonged among the roaring engines and oil¨Cstained asphalt ofpetitive racing.


    The contrast was almostical.


    Hudson cleared his throat and said, ¡°Do you still remember when I previously went to Jupiton to observe a race and filmed the entire process of a girl participating in it?¡±


    The five men nodded, their interest piqued.


    Zayn¡¯s eyes went wide as he pointed at Xylia.


    ¡°You don¡¯t mean¡­<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Pull it up,¡± Hudson challenged. ¡°Compare it to her.¡±


    The men fumbled for their phones, pulling up the grainy, thrilling footage they¡¯d watched countless times.


    They looked from the screen¨Cshowing a determined driver masterfully controlling a powerful car¨Cto the polished, smiling girl standing before them. The face was unmistakably the same.


    A wave of shocked excitement swept through the room.


    ¡°It is her! When I saw that race, I thought her driving was absolutely badass! And she was so young¨Cgive her a few years, and she¡¯ll be a world champion for sure!¡±


    ¡°Technical skill is just the start with her. Her racecraft is impable!¡±


    ¡°Xylia, you have to help us! Please, devise our tactics for today!¡±


    Xylia hadn¡¯t expected to be weed into the fold so instantly and enthusiastically.


    She looked at Hudson, a silent question in her eyes.


    He gently squeezed her shoulder. ¡°I brought you here, but the choice is yours. If you¡¯re notfortable with this, we walk away. No pressure.¡±


    Xylia regarded him in silence, inwardly rolling her eyes.


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    ¡®As if I have a choice now,¡® she thought. With so many people pleading with her, how could she possibly say no?


    Seeing her reluctant nod, Hudson¡¯s face broke into a grin.


    ¡°Yes! I knew I could count on you!¡± He excitedly guided her to the sofa. ¡°Alright, everyone. Brief my sister. Tell her everything about your team and the guys you¡¯re up against.¡±


    <b>***** </b>


    One hourter, Xylia had aprehensive understanding of each driver¡¯s strengths and weaknesses.


    Thinking a moment, she proposed a solution.


    Hardly had she finished than a voice cut in.


    The next second, the lounge door swung open to reveal a familiar figure.


    Xylia stared in astonishment.


    It was Xavier Zinn, Qadir Zinn¡¯s paternal older cousin.


    He maintained a rtively good rtionship with Qadir. However, his family had branched off from the main Zinn line years ago to start their ownpany.


    Xavier had always been obsessed with racing, and Xylia had even raced alongside him.


    It had been so long that she hadn¡¯t made the connection when Hudson first mentioned the


    name.


    It was only upon seeing Xavier in person that she recognized him.


    The surprise was mutual. Xavier was also surprised upon spotting her.


    His eyes scanned the room beforending on her, and a sneer twisted his features. ¡°Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in,¡± he drawled, swaggering into the room, followed by his own


    crew.


    His gaze, full of contempt, slid from Xylia to Hudson and back again.


    ¡°I heard you got dumped by the Ford heir. Guess you¡¯ve fallen so low you¡¯re scrounging for men in Norhill now?¡±


    He let out a coldugh. ¡°You¡¯d have more fun being my whore. My buddies and I know how to show a girl a good time.¡±


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    Nylia¡¯s frown was instant, but she never got a chance to speak. A blur of motion shot past her.


    Hudson¡¯s fist connected with Xavier¡¯s jaw with a sickening crack, sending him sprawling to the floor.


    Chaos erupted. Before anyone could react, Hudson was on him, yanking him up by the cor and driving another punch into his face. The brutal, rhythmic thuds of fist meeting flesh filled


    the room.


    By the time Xavier¡¯s crew surged forward to pull him off, Xavier¡¯s face was already a swollen, bloody mess.


    Hudson delivered a final, savage kick to his ribs, his face a mask of pure rage.


    ¡°You filthy piece of trash! How dare you speak to my sister that way? Do you have a death wish? You will apologize, or I swear this isn¡¯t over!¡±


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    No one had ever seen Hudson¡¯s temper explode like this.


    Xavier, dazed and bleeding, was first enraged, then confused by Hudson¡¯s words.


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    ¡°Your¡­ sister?¡± he slurred through split lips, looking from Hudson¡¯s furious face to Xylia¡¯s cold


    one<b>. </b>


    Even beaten, his malice couldn¡¯t be contained.


    ¡°What is this, some kind of kinky role¨Cy? Since when did you get a sister?¡±


    ¡°Are you trying to get yourself killed?¡± Hudson roared, struggling against the friends holding him back.


    Xylia moved quickly to his side, cing a calming hand on his arm.


    ¡°Hudson, don¡¯t. He¡¯s not worth it. He¡¯s just a toad croaking nonsense.¡±


    Xavier¡¯s expression darkened.


    ¡°What did you just call me, you bitch?¡±


    ¡°I called you a toad,¡± Xylia said, her voice icy and clear, cutting through the tension in the room. ¡°Eight years ago, you were a pathetic creature. Now you¡¯re just an uglier, more viler one. Your essence hasn¡¯t changed.¡±


    Her wordscerated his pride.


    Xavier red, his eyes burning with hatred.


    ¡°You dare? Say that again!¡±


    He tried to lunge at her, but his own crew held him back.


    Hudson shook off his friends¡® grip and stepped diagonally in front of Xylia, a solid wall between her and any threat.


    Xavier couldn¡¯tprehend it. Why was a Sadler treating this discarded woman like she was made of ss<b>? </b>


    ¡°Spare me the noble act, Sadler! I know I can¡¯t match your family¡¯s money, but this <b>is </b>a race. Did you bring this shameless woman here to sick us all out before it even starts?¡±


    That was the final straw. A wild, dangerous smile spread across Hudson¡¯s face¨Ca chilling sight.


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    ¡°Zayn,¡± he said, his voice deceptively calm. ¡°Sorry for ruining your lounge. Dinner¡¯s on me next time.¡±


    Before Zayn could process the apology, Hudson moved.


    He exploded forward like a sprung coil. His foot mmed into Xavier¡¯s chest, catapulting him back into the hallway.


    Hudson was on him again, pinning him to the concrete floor. His fists became relentless hammers, raining down blow after blow on Xavier¡¯s face and body, each impact echoing with a dull thud, apanied by Xavier¡¯s uncontroble, guttural howls of pain.


    ¡°I warned you,¡± Hudson growled, his voice a low, dangerous snarl. ¡°My sister is not someone you can insult. Since you have no respect for your own life, don¡¯t me me if I put you in the hospital.¡±


    Their separate crews rushed forward to intervene.


    But this time, Zayn and his group moved to block Xavier¡¯s teammates, creating a wall that allowed Hudson his cathartic release.


    Seeing the terrifying force behind the blows, Xylia quickly stepped forward and grabbed his


    arm.


    ¡°Hudson, stop!¡±


    She was terrified that in his blinding rage, he might go too far, and the consequences would


    be irreversible.


    Hudson finally stilled, his chest heaving. He pulled Xylia to her feet, then looked down at Xavier, who was curled into a whimpering ball on the ground.


    His expression was one of pure, cold contempt.


    ¡°Remember this, Xavier,¡± he said, his voice icy and precise. ¡°From now on, every time I see you, I will do this.¡±


    After delivering the threat, he took Xylia¡¯s hand and led her out of the racing club.


    ¡°Hudson, what about the race?¡± Xylia asked, ncing back worriedly.


    ¡°Racing against that filth would sully my eye and my character,¡± he stated, not breaking his stride.


    Once outside, they had only walked a short distance when Hudson suddenly stopped and turned to her.


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    ¡°Xylia,¡± he asked, his anger reced by concern, ¡°how do you know someone like Xavier?¡±


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Xylia exined part of her past.


    She told him how, after Tessa returned to the Schultz family, Qadir hade to annul their engagement.


    He had married Tessa but passed away from a sudden illness less than a monthter.


    ¡°Though the circumstances were never clear,¡± Xylia said quietly, ¡°Xavier decided I was to me. When I was in Jupiton, he targeted me relentlessly. It only stopped after I married Connor and he left for Norhill.¡±


    Listening to her story, Hudson¡¯s eyes filled with a pained protectiveness.


    He said nothing, simply gave her head a gentle pat before leading her away.


    *****


    At the Ford Mansion.


    Following Orion¡¯s passing, his will had entrusted the Ford Group to Connor.


    Connor¡¯s uncle and his family had received a small portion of shares; after a brief, contentious scene at the Mansion, they had departed.


    Connor¡¯s father still had unfinished affairs overseas. After the funeral service¨Ca somber, formal gathering held a week after the burial¨Che boarded another ne, still wearing the dark suit he had worn to the quiet, formal memorial service.


    Mnie had flown out with him to help settle what remained, and neither of them hade back.


    The Mansion was now oppressively silent, upied only by Connor and Sonny.


    As Sonny came downstairs, he saw his father standing by the living room¡¯s floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, phone pressed to his ear.


    ¡°Useless!¡± Connor snapped, his voice cutting through the quiet. ¡°It¡¯s been two weeks and you haven¡¯t found a single trace of her! You have three more days. If you have no news by then, you¡¯re all fired!¡±


    In Sonny¡¯s memory, his father was controlled and stoic; he rarely lost his temper sopletely.


    The boy hovered at the bottom of the stairs, watching with concern.


    9:36 Wed, <b>Sep </b>17


    When a servant ushered Tessa inside, a wave of relief washed over Sonny¡¯s face.


    He immediately ran over and hugged her.


    ¡°Aunt Tessa, you¡¯re here! Please, you have to talk to Dad. He¡¯s been so angrytely.¡±


    He looked up at her, his small face etched with worry.


    Tessa crouched down and gently cupped his face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, sweetheart. Mommy will help calm your father down.¡±


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    When she called herself ¡°Mommy,¡± Sonny was momentarily surprised, then beamed with delight.


    The idea thrilled him. Now he could finally have Tessa as his mother.


    He watched her walk toward Connor, then covered his mouth to hide a giggle and scurried back upstairs.


    Tessa walked up behind Connor.


    He had just ended his call and was staring down at his phone, his brow furrowed as he typed out a work message.


    A delicate, manicured hand suddenly slid around his waist.


    He flinched violently, sidestepping the touch and spinning around to see who was behind him.


    Tessa jumped back, startled by his strong reaction, her hands raised as if in surrender.


    When Connor saw it was her, his furrowed brows rxed.


    ¡°Tessa. What are you doing here?¡± he spoke lightly.


    She pursed her lips, looking up at him with a wounded expression.


    ¡°You haven¡¯te <i>to </i>see me once since I was released,¡± she said, her voice soft andced with grievance.


    She looked fragile and pitiable, a look designed to evokepassion.


    The coldness in Connor¡¯s eyes did soften. A hint of his usual affectionate demeanor returned.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been busy,¡± he said, his tone quieter, gentler.


    9:37 Wed<b>, </b>Sep 17


    ¡°With what?¡± Tessa pressed, taking a tentative step closer.


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    Connor remained silent. He pocketed his phone and walked toward the living room without answering.


    Tessa quickly followed, wisely dropping the subject. Noticing the water pitcher on the coffee table, she poured a ss and handed it to him.


    ¡°Here,¡± she said softly. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not angry with you anymore.¡±


    Her tone was forgiving, designed to soothe. Connor epted the ss almost absently and took a sip.


    As he drank, Tessa watched him, a faint, triumphant smile ying on her lips before she quickly schooled her features back into a mask of gentle concern.


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    Early the following morning, Connor awoke with a groggy, thick¨Cheaded feeling, his body heavy with a strange weakness.


    He tried to sit up, but a weight restrained him.


    His hand brushed against something¨Csomeone¨Csoft and smooth beside him.


    A familiar perfume lingered in the air.


    His eyes


    flew open.


    Tessa was lying in his arms, both of them unclothed beneath the rumpled sheets.


    He jolted upright in a panic.


    The movement woke Tessa.


    She blinked sleepily, then her eyes widened in feigned shock.


    ¡°Ah! Connor!¡± she gasped, clutching the nket to her chest and scrambling away from him. ¡°I thought you were my friend! How could you¡­ how could you take advantage of me like this?¡±


    Her


    eyes welled with tears, which began to fall in soft, pathetic patters onto the sheets.


    The sight of her crying, as always, twisted something in him. Flustered and filled with a growing sense of dread, he stumbled over his words.


    ¡°Tessa, I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡­ I don¡¯t remember¡­¡±


    The previous night was a blur.


    He remembered talking, confessing his frustration over being unable to find Xylia.


    They had shared a few drinks.


    After that, nothing¨Cjust a nk void until this horrifying awakening.


    His gaze fell on the bluish¨Cpurple marks scattered over Tessa¡¯s exposed skin, and a wave of despair washed over him.


    He had always cared for Tessa, but to have lost control like this, especially now, filled him with self¨Cloathing.


    Tessa¡¯s quiet sobs filled the room, each one amplifying his guilt until it solidified into a heavy,


    9:37 Wed, Sep 17


    agitated weight on his chest.


    :.


    He reached out, taking her hand in his, his expression earnest.


    ¡°Tessa, I will take responsibility for this.¡±


    Her sobs hupped to a stop. She looked up at him, her vision blurred by tears.


    ¡°R¨CReally?¡±


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    ¡°At this point, how could I possibly deceive you?¡± he said, the words feeling both right and terribly wrong. ¡°I¡¯ve¡­ I¡¯ve always had feelings for you but never felt I could act on them. Now that I¡¯m divorced, there¡¯s nothing standing between us. Tessa, will you marry me?¡±


    The proposal was blunt, a solution born of panic and duty rather than joy.


    After a moment of calcted silence, Tessa gave a reluctant, barely perceptible nod. ¡°I¡­ I am willing,¡± she whispered.


    Connor pulled her into an embrace, holding the woman he thought he had always wanted.


    But strangely, a profound emptiness echoed where happiness should have been.


    Nestled against his shoulder, hidden from his view, Tessa¡¯s expression shiftedpletely. The vulnerability vanished, reced by a cold, triumphant smile.


    *****


    After settling his affairs in Jupiton, Joshua set out for Norhill.


    Eliza had teased him more than once that he was more lovesick than the most desperate romantic, that he clearly wished he could tie a string to Xylia to ensure she could never wander far without him.


    Joshua had always been indifferent to such jokes. In fact, he weed any jest that linked his name to Xylia¡¯s.


    His future wife would bear that name, after all.


    In the airport¡¯s VIP lounge, Joshua was seated on a plush sofa, attending tost¨Cminute work on his phone.


    His head was bowed, his silver hair catching the light with a cool sheen that mirrored the serious, focused set of his brows.


    A man approached and sat down opposite him, leaning back with his hands in his pockets.


    9:37 Wed, Sep 17


    ¡°Mr. Garcia. We meet again.¡±


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    Joshua¡¯s hand stilled on his phone. He looked up, and the chill in his gaze deepened.


    ¡°I thought you intended to keep hiding,¡± he said coolly, recovering hisposure instantly.


    A slight, cold smile touched his lips.


    The man, Burke, was dressed in an impably tailored deep blue suit that spoke of maturity and sharp intellect. His features wereposed, his expression one of unshakable confidence.


    Upon hearing Joshua¡¯s remark, Burke¡¯s own smile didn¡¯t falter.


    ¡°Of course not. We¡¯re¡­ acquaintances, Mr. Garcia. It seemed only right to look I¡¯m in your territory.¡±


    you up while


    Joshua¡¯s sharp gaze swept over Burke¡¯s face, searching for a crack in the calm facade and finding none.


    ¡°Was our meeting here a coincidence?¡± he asked, his voice low.


    Burke¡¯s smile was easy. ¡°We¡¯re already well acquainted. No need for the formality of a restaurant. Since we¡¯re headed the same way, this seemed a perfectly suitable ce to¡­ catch up.¡±


    Headed the same way?


    Joshua¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°What business could you possibly have in Norhill?¡±


    ¡°Pursuing opportunities,¡± Burke said with a casual shrug. ¡°Nothing surprising.¡±


    Just then, the boarding announcement for their flight echoed through the lounge.


    Burke was the first to stand.


    ¡°The ne is about to take off, Mr. Garcia. Shall we?¡±


    He walked toward the gate with an infuriatingly rxed air.


    Joshua watched him go, a dangerous glint in his eyes.


    He couldn¡¯t help but wonder what on earth this predator was hunting now.


    *****


    Two hourster, Joshua exited the customs gate and immediately spotted Xylia in the arrivals


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    hall.


    A genuine smile broke through his usual reserve as he walked toward her.


    She handed him a cold bottle of lemonade.


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    ¡°I still don¡¯t get your obsession with this stuff,¡± she said with a yful shake of her head.


    Smiling, Joshua epted the bottle and took a sip.


    It was perfectly chilled, the vor a bnce of tart and sweet he found nowhere else.


    During his years abroad, Xylia had often made it for him, and he¡¯de to crave that specific


    taste.


    ¡°You¡¯re mistaken,¡± he corrected gently. ¡°It¡¯s not lemonade I enjoy. It¡¯s the lemonade you prepare. It¡¯s the only one that suits my taste.¡±


    Xylia smiled, falling into step beside him as they walked out.


    ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect you toe to Norhill,¡± she admitted. ¡°No wonder you told me to wait for you. You knew you were being transferred here with a promotion, didn¡¯t you? Why didn¡¯t you just say so?¡±


    ¡°Are you surprised?¡± he asked, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°Surprised,¡± she said, ¡°and a little scared.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± he chuckled. ¡°That was my intention.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t suppress her own smile.


    Spending time with Joshua felt like slipping back into the familiar rhythm of their lives years ago abroad.


    They were debating where to go for dinner when a voice called out from behind them.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler! A moment, please!¡±


    Xylia turned instinctively to see the man in the blue suit from the lounge. He closed the distance with a few quick strides, stopping before her with a polished smile.


    ¡°Can I help you?¡± she asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Burke Sterling,¡± he said, offering a business card. ¡°Founder of Scentree. I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re opening a studio. I¡¯m certain we¡¯ll find exciting opportunities to coborate in the future.¡±


    9:37 Wed, Sep 17


    Xylia was bewildered but moved to ept the card out of politeness.


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    Joshua was faster. His hand shot out, snatching the card before her fingers could touch it.


    His expression had turned to ice.


    ¡°She has no interest in coborating with you,¡± Joshua stated, his voice low and final.


    Burke¡¯s pleasant smile didn¡¯t slip.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, we¡¯re both businessmen. No need to be so territorial. Ms. Sadler is a sought¨Cafter designer. I merely wish to explore a profitable venture. Would you really stand in the way of that?¡±


    Xylia looked between the two men, her confusion growing.


    ¡°Do you two know each other?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know him,¡± Joshua replied coldly.


    He tossed the card back at Burke, his warning looked unmistakable.


    ¡°She isn¡¯t interested. Get lost.¡±


    Without another word, he took Xylia¡¯s hand and led her firmly away.


    Burke watched them go, tapping his business card thoughtfully against his arm.


    A slow, intrigued smile spread across his face. ¡°How very interesting,¡± he murmured to himself. *****


    Xylia could not understand why Joshua had suddenly lost his temper and driven away such a potential coborator.


    She tilted her head, studying his tense profile.


    ¡°Why does that man call you ¡®Mr. Garcia¡®?¡± she finally asked.


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    Joshua¡¯s gaze met hers, the storm in his eyes shing with her confusion.


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    The moment of truth was here. He couldn¡¯t hide his identity much longer, and perhaps it was better toe clean himself.


    Just as he drew a breath to confess, Xylia suddenly burst outughing.


    ¡°Wait, don¡¯t tell me. Is it one of those corporate inside jokes? Like he¡¯s the ¡®CEO¡® of the parking lot and you¡¯re the ¡®CEO¡® of the breakroom?¡± She shook her head, amused by her own logic. ¡°It¡¯s so weird. You guys and your weird power games. Do you all call each other ¡®Mr. to feel more important?¡±


    Joshua could only stare at her, utterly speechless.


    Xylia found his reaction even more amusing.


    ¡°Was that man a friend of yours? Did you two have a falling out?¡±


    In her experience, Joshua, with his easy charm, had many friends and few enemies. His direct hostility toward Burke suggested a serious conflict, which exined his rudeness.


    Joshua remained silent, the perfect opening for his confession now lost.


    Xylia, believing she had guessed correctly, gave a small, conciliatory smile.


    ¡°You can have your arguments, but don¡¯t scare off my potential coborators,¡± she protested lightly.


    ¡°You cannot work with him,¡± Joshua said, his expression turning uncharacteristically stern, his voice low andced with a protective urgency that bordered on intimidation.


    Xylia froze, startled by the intensity in his tone.


    Seeing her reaction, Joshua quickly softened his demeanor.


    ¡°I¡¯m not his friend; I¡¯m his adversary,¡± he exined, choosing his words carefully. ¡°His business practices are¡­ hical. You should stay far away from him.¡±


    ¡°But Scentree is an internationally renowned brand,¡± Xylia countered, puzzled. ¡°Did he use underhanded means to build it?<b>¡± </b>


    Joshua stopped walking and looked directly at her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you believe me?¡±


    <b>9:37 </b>Wed<b>, </b>Sep 17


    ¡°I do,¡± she said hurriedly. ¡°I¡¯m just curious.¡±


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    Not wanting to borate further or risk her seeking out Burke, Joshua feigned a wounded, disappointed demeanor.


    ¡°Well, if you don¡¯t believe me, you can go back and find him. I¡¯m sure working with a prestigious CEO is far better than with a mere driver.¡±


    Seeing his uncharacteristic pout, Xylia quickly backpedaled.


    ¡°Alright, alright, I believe you! I was just curious because it¡¯s so unlike you to make enemies.¡±


    ¡°So, your curiosity about him is because of me?¡± Joshua ventured, steering the conversation away from danger.


    Though his conclusion wasn¡¯t entirely urate, Xylia nodded, relieved to see his mood lift.


    A satisfied smile finally appeared on Joshua¡¯s face.


    Soothed, Xylia dropped the subject of Burke.


    She hade to wee him, and naturally, she offered to treat him to dinner.


    After a brief discussion, Joshua chose the most renowned restaurant in Norhill¨CSavoria.


    ¡°Now that you¡¯re a Sadler heiress,¡± he teased, ¡°you can afford to treat me to a proper luxury meal, right?¡±


    Xyliaughed and made a sweeping gesture.


    ¡°Order whatever you like!¡±


    Located in the heart of Norhill¡¯s most exclusive district, Savoria was the city¡¯s oldest and most distinguished restaurant, known for its modern take on global fusion cuisine with an emphasis on exquisite, artfully presented dishes.


    Xylia had made a reservation, and upon their arrival, a staff member led them directly to a coveted window¨Cside table on the third floor.


    The dusk light streamed through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, casting a warm glow over them.


    Xylia handed him the leather¨Cbound menu.


    ¡°Order anything. Don¡¯t even think about the price.¡±


    A hint of cunning flickered in Joshua¡¯s smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t.¡±


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    He ordered several dishes, and Xylia noticed, with a warm flutter in her chest, that every one was her favorite.


    She added a delicate truffle broth before finalizing the order.


    As they waited, they chatted easily.


    ¡°You said you were transferred,¡± Xylia began, ¡°but the Garcia family has no business in Norhill. Who are you driving for now?¡±


    Joshua smiled. ¡°I wasn¡¯t transferred here to be a driver.¡±


    Xylia looked at him, her expression prompting him to continue.


    Joshua pressed his lips together, gathering the courage to finally reveal his identity.


    After a moment¡¯s mental preparation, he began, ¡°Xylia, the truth is¡ª¡±


    ¡°Xylia? What are you doing here?¡± A voice cut in, severing his confession at its root.


    Joshua¡¯s jaw tightened, the words dying on his lips. They both turned toward the interruption. ¡°Kaden?¡± Xylia eximed, her surprise shifting the focus entirely.


    Kaden walked towards them, a striking, unfamiliar woman poised at his side.


    The woman on Kaden¡¯s arm wore a sharply tailored business suit. Her long hair was swept back, revealing a delicate yet strong¨Cfeatured face that exuded both intellect and assertiveness.


    Noticing Xylia¡¯s gaze, Kaden introduced her with a tone that seemed slightly reluctant. ¡°This is my¡­ friend, Rosalind Webb.¡±


    He then gestured to Xylia. ¡°This is my sister, Xylia.¡±


    ¡°Sister?¡± Rosalind¡¯s sharp, probing gaze swept over Xylia. ¡°Since when do you have another


    sister?¡±


    Instinctively, Xylia felt a flicker of hostility in the woman¡¯s appraisal.


    Kaden¡¯s gaze, however, softened noticeably when itnded on Xylia.


    He exined to Rosalind, ¡°We¡¯ve found my sister, the one who was missing.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Rosalind said, her demeanor shifting into one of polished courtesy.


    ¡°The lost heiress. Congrattions on your family¡¯s reunion.¡±


    The subtle hostility Xylia had sensed moments before vanished, reced by a cool,


    9:37 Wed, Sep 17


    professional warmth.


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    It was then that Xylia felt certain that Rosalind and Kaden¡¯s rtionship was far more than just friends.


    ¡°Are you here for dinner as well?¡± Xylia asked politely.


    Rosalind nodded, a polite smile on her lips, but before she could reply, Kaden interjected.


    His voice was calm, but his eyes, fixed on Joshua, held an unmistakable coolness. ¡°Would you mind if we joined you?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. His every instinct was to refuse.


    Then he recalled David¡¯s warning: if he intended to marry Xylia, he would need the approval of all four of her brothers. Now was not the time to offend the eldest.


    Fortunately, Rosalind saved him the trouble. She grabbed Kaden¡¯s arm and gave him a yful, if slightly exasperated, tap on the shoulder.


    ¡°Are you that clueless? I finally managed to free up my schedule for this dinner, and your first instinct is to share a table? That¡¯s hardly the point of a date.¡±


    Kaden¡¯s face darkened. He looked at Rosalind, gritting his teeth in exasperation.


    ¡°You were the one who insisted on dinner.¡±


    It struck Rosalind that it was indeed the case.


    But the reminder still amused her. ¡°When I insist on dinner, it¡¯s for a private table for two. Not a group gathering.¡±


    A date? A private table?


    Xylia watched the exchange with growing amusement.


    Hudson had mentioned Kaden might be in a rtionship soon. It seemed the prediction wasing true.


    ¡°Rosalind,¡± Kaden warned, his voice tight with irritation.


    Joshua chose that moment to interject with a gentle, diplomaticugh. ¡°I think thedy has made her preferences quite clear. Perhaps we should all enjoy our own evenings.¡±


    ¡°My conversation wasn¡¯t with you,¡± Kaden retorted, his cold stare returning to Joshua.


    Xylia quickly stepped in to defuse the tension.


    9:37 Wed, Sep 17


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    ¡°Kaden, Joshua and I do have some business to discuss. It would be a bit inconvenient to share a table tonight. Let¡¯s n a family dinner another time, yes?¡±


    Before Kaden could argue, Rosalind smoothly took charge.


    ¡°Of course, Xylia. It was lovely to meet you.¡±


    She gave Xylia a genuinely warm smile and then, without a nce back for Kaden¡¯s opinion, firmly steered him away by the arm toward a table on the other side of the dining room.


    They were seated close enough that Kaden could still nce in their direction throughout the meal, his expression unreadable.


    Joshua sighed inwardly. The moment for his confession was thoroughly ruined.


    Chapter <b>125 </b>

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    Chapter <b>125 </b>


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    Over the following days, Xylia was constantly busyunching her studio.


    Her to¨Cdo list was daunting: filing the paperwork to register her business with the state, obtaining an Employer Identification Number from the IRS, setting up her business banking ount, and beginning the search for talented designers and a project manager.


    For now, she was a one¨Cwoman show, and the weight of every task fell on her shoulders.


    Kaden had suggested she simply take a wing of the Sadler Group headquarters. Though the corporation had no fashion division, he assured her they could easily create one for her.


    Xylia had refused.


    Building her own studio was about independent entrepreneurship; she didn¡¯t want to take a shortcut reliant on the family name.


    Seeing her determination, Kaden didn¡¯t press the issue.


    The studio space needed aplete build¨Cout, so Xylia asked Hudson for Zayn¡¯s contact information.


    Lately, Hudson had been mysterious¨Cleaving early,ing homete, and far busier than usual.


    Yet, he always returned home buzzing with energy, unlikely to have spent his time on work.


    Whenever Xylia asked what he was so busy with, he would just blink and give her a mysterious look.


    ¡°I¡¯m upied with something very important,¡± he¡¯d say.


    Seeing he wouldn¡¯t borate, Xylia didn¡¯t press


    him.


    He forwarded Zayn¡¯s contact info and gave her an encouraging pat on the shoulder.


    ¡°Work hard, Xylia! I know you can do it. Once I¡¯m done with this¡­ I¡¯ll have a surprise for you!¡± he eximed.


    ¡°A surprise? What kind of surprise?¡± Xylia asked.


    She thought of Rosalind and looked at him with a sly expression.


    ¡°Hudson, don¡¯t tell, me you¡¯re bringing home a girlfriend, too?¡±


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    ¡°Tsch! What nonsense!¡± he brushed it off with augh.


    But he zeroed in on her word. ¡°Why ¡®too¡°?¡±


    Xylia told him about seeing Kaden and Rosalind at the restaurant.


    Hudson¡¯s eyes lit


    lit up


    with immediate interest.


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    He pulled Xylia out onto the balcony swing, handed her a ss of iced juice, pulled up a stool, andunched into the story with the relish of a seasoned gossip.


    ¡°So, the epic saga of Kaden and Rosalind,¡± he began, settling in. ¡°It¡¯s a tale of childhood friends and lifelong rivals¡­¡±


    Hudson chattered away, happily spilling all of Kaden¡¯s secrets.


    The Sadlers and the Webbs were both old¨Cmoney families, their children destined to grow up in the same exclusive circles.


    ¡°Rosalind is the youngest and most brilliant daughter of the Webb family,¡± Hudson exined.


    ¡°But the Webbs have one ring w: a ridiculously old¨Cfashioned preference for sons over daughters.


    ¡°The elders won¡¯t allow women into senior management. Rosalind may have enjoyed a privileged life, but she¡¯s no unambitious socialite. She¡¯s fiercely driven and has been striving topete with her own brother for a top position in thepany.¡±


    He lowered his voice. ¡°She and Kaden were actually together once. But she ended it to focus entirely on her career. A pretty massive barrier has been between them ever since.¡±


    Xylia listened, captivated. ¡°But I can tell they still have feelings for each other. After all this time, can¡¯t they find a way to reconcile?¡±


    Hudson shrugged.


    ¡°They¡¯re both too stubborn and proud to yield. But the rest of us brothers have already epted Rosalind as our future sister¨Cinw. Sooner orter, I¡¯m sure Kaden will be the one to cave<i>,</i>¡±


    Xylia nodded; she thought so too.


    That night at the restaurant, she had watched them.


    Though Kaden had maintained a stoic front, his attention never wavered from Rosalind, responding to her ¡®every word despite his sullen demeanor.


    9:37 Wed, Sep 17


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    Just as they finished their conversation and stood up to leave, they turned to find Kaden himself standing silently in the balcony doorway.


    Neither had heard him arrive.


    Hudson and Xylia froze, identical looks of guilt shing across their faces.


    Hudson forced a wide, nervous smile. ¡°Kaden! Xylia and I were just¡­ uh¡­ we have things to do. We¡¯ll get out of your way!¡±


    He grabbed Xylia¡¯s hand and tried to make a quick escape.


    ¡°Xylia,e with me to the study,¡± Kaden said, his voice cool and even.


    He nced at Hudson. ¡°You. Get lost.¡±


    Hudson could only shoot Xylia a desperate ¡®good luck¡® look before practically fleeing the


    scene.


    Xylia watched his retreating back, clenching her jaw in frustration.


    ¡®Some brother you are!¡® she fumed inside.


    In the study, Kaden handed Xylia a thick folder.


    She opened it with curiosity to find aprehensive business n tailored for her studio. It included detailed market analysis, operational structures, and even a list of potential investors and partners.


    She looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprised delight. ¡°Kaden, you did all this for me?¡±


    He nodded.


    ¡°While fashion isn¡¯t my industry, I have contacts who are experts. I consulted them to put this together. I thought it might be helpful.¡±


    ¡°This is incredibly helpful! Thank you, Kaden!¡± she eximed, genuinely touched.


    As a first¨Ctime entrepreneur, she had often felt overwhelmed.


    This guidance was a crucial and timely gift, and she held the folder like a precious treasure.


    Seeing her happiness<b>, </b>a gentle smile touched Kaden¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re home now. You can try to rely on us more.¡±


    His words struck a chord. Xylia was momentarily taken aback, then smiled warmly.


    9:38 Wed<b>, </b>Sep 17


    ¡°Thank you, Kaden. I will.¡±


    He watched her, his heart aching for her.


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    He could <i>see </i>how hard she was trying to integrate into the family, but the deep wounds from her time with the Schultzes and Fords had left a lingering sense of inferiority.


    Her fierce independence in handling the studio herself was admirable, but it also spoke of a fear of being a burden.


    For him and their brothers, nothing concerning their sister was a trouble.


    He knew building her trust and reliance would take time; he could only patiently help her regain her confidence in having a family to lean on.


    ¡°By the way,¡± he added, his tone shifting slightly. ¡°That Joshua¡­ you shouldn¡¯t get too close to him.¡±


    A young man who hid his true identity from her couldn¡¯t possibly have


    He couldn¡¯t bear to see his newly found sister get hurt again.


    Xylia gave a soft, helplessugh.


    pure


    intentions.


    ¡°Kaden, Joshua is my friend. He helped me consistently when I was in Jupiton. Please don¡¯t be hostile toward him.¡±


    ¡°No one is that kind without a motive. Do you know what his motive is?¡± Kaden pressed gently.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t need a motive. We¡¯re friends,¡± Xylia stated decisively.


    Kaden fell silent, recognizing the stubborn set of her jaw. Arguing further would only upset her.


    Xylia stood up, clutching the folder to her chest.


    ¡°I have a meeting soon, Kaden. I should get going.¡±


    With a final smile, she left the study.


    Alone, Kaden let out a long sigh and leaned back into the sofa.


    His mind drifted back to the fragment of Hudson¡¯s conversation he¡¯d overheard on the balcony.


    ¡®Sooner orter, I¡¯m sure Kaden will be the one to cave.¡®


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    9:38 Wed, Sep 17


    :


    The image of Rosalind surfaced in his mind unbidden¨Cher tears, herughter, her stubbornness, the vulnerable look she tried so hard to hide.


    *****


    Xylia¡¯s phone buzzed with a notification. It was a news link from Josie.


    The article detailed a paparazzi scoop: photographs of Tessa walking arm¨Cin¨Carm with a man, appearing intimate as they dined out andter returned home together.


    A clear, frontal shot identified the man as Connor.


    A momentter, Josie¡¯s call came through.


    ¡°Well, there they are. Your ex¨Chusband and his mistress, finally out in the open.¡±


    Seeing those two faces again stirred no emotion in Xylia¡¯s heart. She felt nothing but a distant, cold indifference.


    She even managed a lightugh for her friend.


    ¡°You¡¯re all the way abroad, yet you¡¯re better informed than I am.¡±


    Josie¡¯s voice held a mysterious smile. ¡°Who said I was abroad?¡±


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    Xylia was surprised. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡±


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    ¡°I originally intended to surprise you,¡± Josie confessed, ¡°but I¡¯m terrible at keeping secrets. Consider this your advance notice. I¡¯m in Jupiton wrapping something up, and I n to visit you in Norhill in a couple of days.¡±


    ¡°You have business in Jupiton?¡± Xylia asked.


    Josie gave a sly chuckle.


    ¡°I¡¯ll save that story for when I see you. Just get ready to wee me!¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Xylia replied, her mood lifting at the thought of her friend¡¯s visit.


    After a few more words, they ended the call.


    The good news kept Xylia in cheerful spirits as she made her way to her meeting with Zayn.


    Hudson had given her Zayn¡¯s contact info, and she¡¯d reached out for help designing her studio.


    It just so happened that Zayn was avable today, so they¡¯d arranged to meet at the cafe next to her rented storefront.


    As she got out of the car, she spotted Zayn through the window, already seated and looking over some papers.


    She smiled and started toward the entrance.


    But before she took two steps, arge, gloved hand mped over her mouth and nose from behind.


    A sickly¨Csweet chemical fragrance filled her senses, and her world went ck in less than a second.


    *****


    She woke to the brutal sound of a fist cracking against bone.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, please¡­ I was wrong! Spare me¡­¡± a weak, familiar voice begged.


    Xylia struggled to open her eyes. She was lying across the back seat of a car, the window partially rolled down.


    <b>55 </b>vouchers


    Through the gap, she saw Joshua, his expression terrifyingly cold, grab a man by the cor and drive his fist into his face.


    The man cried out, spitting blood and a tooth onto the


    pavement.


    Joshua threw the limp man to the ground like a ragdoll.


    Around his feet, half a dozen other meny groaning, curled up and bloodied.


    Xylia¡¯s mind raced.


    ¡®How did I get here?¡®


    ¡°Joshua,¡± she called out, her voice a weak, hoarse whisper.


    She tried to roll the window down further, but her body felt leaden, sapped of all strength.


    He heard her.


    His body went still for a fraction of a second.


    He took off his jacket, turned, and strode to the car, his tall frame blocking her view of the


    carnage.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake,¡± he said, his voice rough with tension.


    Xylia managed a slight nod, her face still pale.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°I was on my way to your studio,¡± he exined, his gaze scanning her for injuries. ¡°I arrived just as these men were forcing you into that van.¡±


    He gestured behind him without moving, still shielding her from the sight.


    The memory of the hand over her mouth surfaced.


    Xylia tried to sit up, but a wave of weakness washed over her.


    Joshua¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to the hospital.¡±


    ¡°What about them?¡± she whispered, her words slurred. ¡°You can¡¯t just leave them here¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them,¡± he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. ¡°They¡¯ll be taken


    care of.¡±


    He opened the car door, carefully secured her seatbelt, and slid into the driver¡¯s seat. As he


    <b>9:38 </b>Wed<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>17 </b>


    sped away from the scene, the world blurred again, and Xylia slipped back into


    unconsciousness.


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    She woke for the second time to the sterile scent of disinfectant.


    Joshua was gone.


    The first person she saw was her brother, Cyrus, adjusting her IV drip.


    ¡°Xylia! You¡¯re awake!¡± he eximed, his face brightening with relief.


    His words brought her other brothers rushing to her bedside.


    Hudson gently grasped her hand, his usual boisterous energy reced by palpable concern.


    ¡°Xylia! Thank god. Are you hurt? Does anything feel wrong?¡±


    Xylia struggled to sit up.


    Hudson hurried to adjust the bed for her.


    As her vision cleared, she looked around the room but saw no sign of Joshua.


    ¡°Joshua had to leave,¡± Kaden exined, noticing her searching gaze. ¡°He said something urgent came up.¡±


    Xylia nodded slowly, the fog in her head beginning to clear.


    The most pressing question surfaced. ¡°Did he find out who was behind this?¡± she asked.


    Hudson¡¯s face darkened, his hands clenching into fists. ¡°It was that bastard Xavier,¡± he voice trembling with rage. ¡°It was all him.¡±


    Xavier?


    Before Xylia could ask, Leon had smacked Hudson hard across the back of the head.


    Leon must have juste from an event.


    spat,


    his


    His face was adorned with exquisite stage makeup, and his hair was dyed a striking palevender. He wore a sleek ck overcoat, the cor open to reveal a perfectly tailored suit


    underneath.


    ¡°You idiot! You thought you could humiliate Xavier in your way, and now he¡¯s taking it out on our sister? If anything serious had happened to her today, I¡¯d have dragged you to our parents¡®


    graves myself to apologize!¡±


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    Hudson shot back, unconvinced. ¡°That bastard Xavier used to bully Xylia and recently insulted her at the racing club! I was just teaching him a lesson!¡±


    <b>¡°</b>Is that true?¡± Leon asked, his anger shifting to surprise.


    ¡°Why would I lie?¡± Hudson snapped, brushing Leon¡¯s hand aside.


    Leon¡¯s own fists clenched. ¡°Even if Joshua already beat him to a pulp, I still owe him a punch!¡± he dered, turning as if to march out right then.


    Cyrus snagged his arm.


    ¡°This is a hospital. If you¡¯re going to hit him, at least wait until his wounds have just scabbed over. It¡¯ll hurt far more then,¡± he said.


    ¡°You have a medical degree, Cyrus,¡± Leon seethed, ¡°You know how to cause unbearable pain without leaving a mark. You¡¯re going to give me a demonstration.¡±


    Xylia looked at them with a mixture of affection and exasperation.


    If this were ever recorded, they could all be charged with conspiracy tomit assault. The thought made her blood run cold.


    Her slight smile froze as she suddenly looked at Kaden, a new fear dawning on her.


    ¡°Kaden, is Joshua at the police station?¡±


    Kaden remained silent. The other three brothers suddenly found something very interesting to look at on the walls.


    Xylia threw back the nket and moved to get out of bed.


    Kaden hurriedly stopped her.


    ¡°He¡¯s fine. He won¡¯te to any harm,¡± he assured her.


    ¡°No,¡± Xylia insisted, pushing his hand away. ¡°Joshua fought those men to save me. I have to give a statement. I have <i>to </i>testify on his behalf.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry,¡± Kaden said, his voice calm. ¡°Xavier and his men only look seriously injured. It¡¯s mostly superficial. The police aren¡¯t likely to press charges against Joshua for a justified defense.¡±


    Xylia was not reassured.


    9:38 Wed, Sep 17


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    ¡°But what if Xavier insists on pressing charges? His family has resources. They could im excessive force or make a civil case out of it. Joshua could be in real trouble.¡±


    Her knowledge of the legal system was vague, but she knew powerful people could manipte it.


    Hearing her concern, the four brothers fell into an awkward silence.


    The idea of Joshua Garcia, heir to a prominent business empire, being bullied by someone like Xavier was almostughable.


    But seeing Xylia so genuinely anxious that her eyes were beginning to glisten with tears, Kaden immediately softened. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xylia. I won¡¯t let anything happen to him.¡±


    Xylia quickly grabbed his hand.


    ¡°Please, Kaden, help him. He¡¯s only in this situation because of me.¡±


    ¡°I will. Now get some rest,¡± he said, patting her hand.


    ¡°Can you go see him now?¡± she pleaded, her eyes red¨Crimmed.


    Kaden felt a flicker of frustration. Xylia and Joshua were supposedly ¡°just friends,¡± yet her protectiveness over him was intense. If their rtionship developed further¡­ He didn¡¯t even want <i>to </i>consider it.


    He gently patted her head. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go check on him now.¡±


    Only after Kaden left did Xylia rx back against the pillows.


    If Kaden was involved, Joshua would be safe.


    The remaining three brothers stood by the bed, exchanging a loaded look before turning their thoughtful gazes on their sister.


    Xylia finally noticed their intense scrutiny.


    She frowned. ¡°What?¡±


    Leon sat on the edge of the bed, hisvendar hair stark against the clinical white room, his expression uncharacteristically serious.


    ¡°Sis,¡± he began, his tone leaving no room for evasion. ¡°Level with us. Are you and Joshua really just friends?¡±


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    Xylia watched as three intensely curious faces leaned in, feeling utterly exasperated.


    ¡°What are you all thinking? I just got divorced. How could I possibly drag someone else into my mess right now?¡±


    Leon frowned. ¡°So what if you just got divorced? You¡¯re stunning. If you hadn¡¯t met that Ford scumbag and married so young, who would even be worthy of you?¡±


    Hudson shot Leon a re.


    ¡°Why are you bringing that guy up for no reason?¡± he snapped.


    He turned back to Xylia, his expression earnest.


    ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re the princess of this family now¨Cbeautiful, capable, and with the Sadler name behind you. There¡¯s no need for you to feel insecure about anything. If anyone gets to be with you, they should be the one worrying about whether they¡¯re good enough for you.¡±


    Xylia cut them off with a helpless sigh.


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. Joshua and I are just friends. Besides, I have zero ns to start dating anyone right now, so can we please drop this?¡±


    Cyrus quickly intervened. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. Xylia is still weak. Stop crowding her and go home.¡±


    ¡°Go home? I¡¯m staying right here to take care of her,¡± Hudson dered, plopping down onto a nearby chair with <i>a </i>look of finality.


    Leon moved to sit down too, but Hudson stopped him with a sly grin.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have that charity g tonight? If you no¨Cshow, Ste will have your head on a tter.¡±


    Ste Cole was Leon¡¯s notoriously strict agent.


    His recent solo stunt¨Ccoborating with a rising starlet to fabricate dating rumors, followed by the drama at his university¡¯s anniversary in Jupiton¨Chad already generated a wave of bad


    press.


    Even for a Best Actor like him, the constant negativity was taking a toll, and Ste was in no mood for further willfulness. Another misstep, and she would not go easy on him.


    Leon swallowed hard.


    9:38 Wed, Sep 17


    :


    He looked at Xylia, guilt written all over his face.


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    ¡°Xylia, I¡¯m really worried about you, but I also have to survive under my agent¡¯s reign. I¡¯ve got


    to run.¡±


    Xylia offered an understanding smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Leon. Really. Go handle your work.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you! I¡¯ll take you out somewhere amazing when I¡¯m free,¡± he promised before hurrying out of the room.


    Cyrus also had rounds to make at the hospital. After giving Xylia a few more instructions, he left as well.


    Finally, alone with Hudson, Xylia¡¯s thoughts drifted back to Joshua.


    Seeing her brother settled nearby, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Hudson, have you these past few days because you were getting back at Xavier for me?¡±


    Hudson nodded, a shadow of guilt crossing his face.


    been busy


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Xylia. I just wanted to help you vent your anger. I never thought he¡¯d retaliate against you like this. This is my fault.¡±


    He lowered his head in frustration.


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°How exactly did you ¡®discipline¡® him?¡±


    ¡°Xavier¡¯s obsessed with car racing,¡± Hudson muttered. ¡°So I set up a few races and challenged him to high¨Cstakes bets. He lost a lot of money and even more face. I guess it pushed him over the edge.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Xylia was surprised.


    Hudson nodded. ¡°I wanted to beat him up at first, but for guys like him, losing his pride and his wallet hurts a lot more than a few bruises.¡±


    Something felt off to Xylia.


    Xavier talked a big game, but in reality, he was less bold than even Sadie.


    The likelihood of him orchestrating a daylight kidnapping was low.


    There had to be more to the


    story.


    *****


    Meanwhile, Joshua was exiting the police station.


    He came face to face with Kaden, who was waiting outside.


    9:38 Wed, Sep 17


    Joshua paused for a brief moment before stepping forward.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, since you hit Xavier, let me handle the people behind him.¡±


    Joshua ignored his words, but noticed how Kaden addressed him.


    As expected, Kaden knew his identity.


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    He recalled David¡¯s advice: to be more courteous to Xylia¡¯s family if he ever hoped to gain their eptance.


    He reined in his imposing demeanor.


    ¡°Mr. Sadler,¡± he replied, his tone more respectful than usual, though it still carried inherent authority. ¡°I was the one who dismantled the Zimmer family¡¯s influence in Jupiton. It¡¯s only right that I deal with their remaining¡­ disgraces.¡±


    If David were here, he would certainly find Joshua¡¯s attitude to be a hundred times better than usual.


    However, Joshua had been ustomed to a cold and unyielding manner; when his tone reached Kaden¡¯s ears, it still carried an indefinable air of defiance.


    Kaden let out a soft, humorlessugh. ¡°Are you suggesting Ick the capability to avenge my own sister?<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Certainly not,¡± Joshua said, ¡°I simply wish to do something for Xylia.¡±


    ¡°In what capacity are you acting for Xylia?¡±


    Seeing the subtle hostility in Kaden¡¯s eyes, Joshua began to suspect gaining his approval would be an uphill battle.


    ¡°For now, as a friend,¡± Joshua stated. ¡°But that may not always be the case.¡±


    Kaden¡¯s eyes sharpened, his gaze turning icy cold.


    His eyes, so simr to Xylia¡¯s, held a cool detachment that could be piercing.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, I don¡¯t care what game you¡¯re ying by hiding your identity and staying close to my sister. But if you¡¯re toying with her, you¡¯d better quit now. Otherwise, I will make absolutely certain your life bes very difficult.¡±


    Joshua met his gaze squarely, his expression utterly serious.


    ¡°You have my word,¡± Joshua said, his voice low and steady. ¡°I value her more than you can possibly imagine.¡±


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    Kaden held his cold stare for a long moment before finally turning and walking away without another word.


    *****


    In his hospital room, Xavier groaned as consciousness returned, bringing with it a symphony of pain from every part of his body.


    He hadn¡¯t expected Joshua, a mere driver, to hit that hard.


    His n had been simple: snatch Xylia from the cafe and spirit her away to the suburbs.


    But almost immediately, a car had tailed him, cutting him off and forcing him to stop.


    What followed was a brutal, one¨Csided beating that left him and his men broken on the asphalt.


    ¡®The Garcia¡¯s driver will pay for this,¡® he seethed internally, viciously cursing both Joshua and Xylia.


    ¡®Once I¡¯m out of here, I¡¯ll make him wish he¡¯d never been born.


    The door to his room creaked open, interrupting his vengeful thoughts.


    A figure in a nurse¡¯s uniform and a surgical mask entered.


    But Xavier immediately recognized the eyes ring down at him.


    ¡°Sadie?¡± he hissed, his voice a mixture of pain and panic. ¡°What are you doing here? Are you insane? Get out before someone sees you!¡±


    He tried to wave her away, wincing as the movement sent a fresh jolt of agony through his ribs.


    The hatred in Sadie¡¯s eyes was palpable.


    ¡°They¡¯ve all left, Xavier. All the men are gone from Xylia¡¯s room. Now is the perfect time.¡±


    ¡°This is a hospital! There are cameras everywhere!¡± he argued, his anxiety spiking.


    He had agreed to help her get revenge, but this¨Cthis was a reckless, suicidal move that would implicate them both.


    ¡°Just wait. Let me heal. Then we can n this properly-¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait any longer!¡± she growled.


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    The hatred in her eyes grew even more intense, and even her body trembled uncontrobly.


    Her eyes, already bloodshot, welled with tears of pure, undiluted rage.


    ¡°She ruined me! She destroyed my family! I want her to pay now!¡±


    She took a shaky step back from his bed, her body vibrating with manic energy. ¡°You were useless. You couldn¡¯t even deliver her to me. I don¡¯t need your help anymore. I¡¯ll do it myself.¡±


    Before he could form another word of protest, she turned and darted out of the room.


    Xavier tried to shout, to stop her, but the painncing through his body pinned him to the bed. He could only watch, helpless, as the door swung shut behind her. *****


    Down the hall, Hudson had just stepped out to take a phone call. The room was quiet, lulling Xylia into a light doze.


    A nurse came in, preparing Xylia a fresh IV bag. ¡°Xylia Schultz? It¡¯s time to change your drip,¡± the woman said, her voice oddly t.


    Xylia¡¯s gaze traveled from the IV bag up to the nurse¡¯s face¨Cto the familiar, hate¨Cfilled eyes ring down at her over the top of the surgical mask. Xylia¡¯s own eyes slowly widened in dawning horror.


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    Without saying a word, Sadie drew a small knife from her pocket and thrust it toward Xylia¡¯s heart.


    Xylia, rmed, rolled to the side.


    The small knife grazed her hair and pierced into the hospital bed mattress.


    Xylia also fell off the bed due to the excessive movement while turning over,


    The needle on the back of her hand became dislodged, and blood rapidly diffused into the


    gauze.


    She had no time to check the stinging back of her hand before Sadie attacked her again, gripping the knife,


    A sudden jolt passed through Xylia¡¯s mind, and she wanted to continue to turn over and run away.


    However, she was trapped by the nket that had slipped down, leaving her unable to move.


    She watched helplessly as the small knife, glinting with silver light, stabbed toward her temple; instinctively, she closed her eyes.


    As a loud crash with a bang and a woman¡¯s cry of pain were heard, Xylia opened her eyes suspiciously.


    Suddenly, Joshua rushed over and pinned Sadie against the wall, with her arms behind her back.


    The police officers following behind him acted swiftly as well, stepping forward to take custody of the individual from Joshua and restraining Sadie with handcuffs.


    After the police took over, Joshua quickly ran to Xylia and freed her from the quilt that had been wrapped around her.


    His luminous, charming, eyes were filled with worry as he asked, ¡°Are you injured?¡±


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°No.¡±


    Joshua kept checking on her, and he noticed blood oozing from the back of her left hand.


    He grasped her hand tightly, his voice tense. ¡°No?¡±


    Just as Xylia was about to speak, Hudson rushed into the hospital room.


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    He nced around the entire room and quickly ran to Xylia.


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    Seeing Joshua tending to the wound on the back of Xylia¡¯s hand, he asked with concern, ¡°What happened exactly?¡±


    Xylia looked at Sadie, who had been subdued by the police.


    At that moment, Sadie¡¯s mask had already been removed. She had be much thinner, and her face no longer had the firmness and sticity it did a few months ago. Instead, her whole face was haggard, with only her bright, shining eyes remaining¨Ceyes filled with a fierce, hateful re.


    ¡°Xylia, it¡¯s all your fault that I¡¯ve be like this! Go to hell now! Drop dead!¡± Sadie shouted at Xylia.


    If the police had not been restraining her, she could hardly stop herself from rushing at Xylia.


    Hudson angled his body in front of Xylia, blocking Sadie¡¯s view.


    Sadie was quickly taken away by the police.


    After two police officers remained to inquire about the situation, they also departed.


    Hudson looked at Xylia, his face filled with guilt. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Xylia. It¡¯s entirely my fault for stepping out to take a phone call, which almost got you into danger.¡±


    Hudson was full of frustration today.


    Because he targeted Xavier, Xylia suffered retaliation.


    Then, Xylia¡¯s life was again threatened due to his brief absence to answer a phone call.


    He kept ming himself because he really wasn¡¯t apetent elder brother.


    However, Xyliaforted Hudson, saying, ¡°I¡¯m fine, Hudson. There¡¯s no wound on my hand; the needle just fell out.¡±


    Hudson remained silent.


    Xylia then turned to look at Joshua. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Joshua helped her sit on the hospital bed and said, ¡°What could possibly happen to me?¡±


    Xylia said worriedly, ¡°You struck Xavier and his associates. Did the police hold you responsible? Xavier is not an easy person to deal with; he will not let you off so easily.¡±


    Joshua looked into her eyes, reassuring her, ¡°You do not need to worry about this. Sadie had


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    Xavier drug you and abduct you, which constitutes a vition of criminalw. They have sustained minor injuries, and my situation is not serious.¡±


    Upon hearing Joshua¡¯s words, Xylia finally felt her anxious heart rx.


    However, she had not expected that all of this was actually Sadie¡¯s scheme.


    No wonder Xavier suddenly wanted to kidnap her.


    Observing the interaction between Xylia and Joshua, Hudson realized profoundly that their rtionship was by no means the ordinary friendship she had described.


    He was able to discern that,pared to the four brothers, Xylia was actually more reliant on Joshua.


    Connor still had not received any information regarding Xylia; however, since that night, Tessa had officially moved into the Ford Mansion in Jupiton.


    However, Connor and Tessa had never registered their marriage.


    Tessa had urged Connor several times, both openly and discreetly, yet Connor had consistently evaded her.


    Orion was only recently buried, so Connor could not marry at this time.


    Tessa thought that Connor was acting out of self¨Cinterest, but she did not dare to press him too hard, fearing that such pressure might produce the opposite effect.


    When Tessa first moved into the Ford Mansion, Sonny was the happiest since the mommy of his dreams was finally going to live with him.


    During the first two days, Sonny was closely attached to Tessa. Each time he returned home, he would cheerfully call out her name.


    Yet within just one week, Sonny experienced an indescribable sense of emotional disparity.


    Now that Tessa was about <i>to </i>marry Connor, she was no longer as attentive to matters concerning Sonny as she was before.


    In the mornings when he went to kindergarten, it was always the servants who prepared his breakfast and packed his schoolbag, while Tessa was still sleeping soundly.


    When he was attending school in the past, Xylia would personally prepare his breakfast and escort him to school.


    After he came home from school, Tessa was practicing in the dance studio. When Sonny came to find her, she would wave him off, signaling for Sonny to y on his own.


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    In the past, after he returned home, Xylia would always apany him and y with him.


    Moreover, Tessa wouldpletely hand over all the handicraft assignments to the servants.


    Wearing a facial mask, she gently stroked Sonny¡¯s hair and said, ¡°Sonny, I will not discipline you as your mother did; from now on, you will be free.¡±


    The handicraft project made together with the servant was unattractive and was not disyed on the ss honor wall, which hurt Sonny¡¯s self¨Cesteem.


    After returning home, he felt dispirited.


    At that moment, Tessa saw this and walked over to ask Sonny what had happened, and Sonny confided everything to her.


    Tessa smiled and said, ¡°You are a child; there¡¯s no need for children to be so outstanding. Besides, handmade assignments have little real value, so there¡¯s no reason to feel upset.¡±


    After hearing Tessa¡¯s words, Sonny became even more upset and spent the entire afternoon shut in his room withouting out.


    He couldn¡¯t help but begin to miss the time when Xylia was still around.


    In the past, when he attended a tutoring ss, Xylia apanied him in a caring way and also prepared small snacks for him.


    Although he was under her constant supervision, his academic progress had not suffered in the slightest. The craft project he previouslypleted with Xylia still hung on the honor wall.


    There were so manyparisons. They made Sonny feel that the life Tessa led as his mother didn¡¯t seem to be the kind he liked.


    Sonnyy prone on the carpet beside the bed all afternoon. When he got tired, he fell asleep.


    When he woke up again, he saw Tessa sitting at his bedside with a storybook.


    Tessa gently felt Sonny¡¯s cheek, her voice soft and tender. ¡°Sonny, you¡¯re up? You spent the entire afternoon alone and bored, and even fell asleep by the bedside. What if you catch a cold?¡±


    She stayed by Sonny¡¯s side, her lips curved in a gentle smile, radiating maternal radiance.


    Sonny didn¡¯t know why, but he missed Xylia even more now.


    He curled his lips and, unable to restrain himself, began to cry loudly.

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    Tessa tried tofort Sonny, but seeing that he continued to cry incessantly, the irritation in her eyes became increasingly apparent.


    Finally, she shouted impatiently, ¡°Stop crying!¡±


    Perhaps because the sound was somewhat sharp, Sonny was startled, stopped crying, and looked at Tessa.


    Hisrge, tearful eyes were filled with hurt and fear.


    Tessa, aware of her problematic attitude, immediatelyposed herself and looked gently at Sonny. ¡°Sonny, you have been asleep for so long. You must be hungry. Would you like me to take


    you to get something to eat?¡±


    ¡°No! You are not my mommy!¡± Sonny suddenly pried Tessa¡¯s hand open, lifted the quilt, and climbed out of bed.


    He ignored Tessa¡¯s calls from behind, ran out of the room to Connor¡¯s study, and tiptoed to open the study door.


    Right then, Connor was looking at the data on hisputer with a somber expression.


    Suddenly, he heard Sonny¡¯s loud cries.


    Sonny ran up <i>to </i>stand in front of Connor, grabbed his hand, and sobbed so hard he was out of breath. ¡°Dad¡­ Daddy¡­ I want Mommy¡­ I want¡­ want Mommy¡­¡±


    Connor hurriedly picked up Sonny and gently patted his back to help him catch his breath. ¡°Did you have a nightmare?¡±


    Sonny kept sobbing. ¡°I¡­ I want my mother¡­¡±


    Connor rarely saw Sonny like this, but feeling heartache for his son, he could only gently try tofort him. ¡°It¡¯s okay, boy. I¡¯m here.¡±


    He suppressed his irritation and repeatedly soothed Sonny,


    When Tessa ran after Sonny to the study door, that was the scene she saw.


    She walked up to Connor and stood in front of him. ¡°Sonny slept all afternoon and may have experienced a nightmare.¡±


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    As soon as she spoke, Sonny heard her voice and hugged Connor even more tightly. ¡°I do not want her! I want my mommy! I want my own mommy!¡±


    His face was flushed from crying. After saying these words, he could not help but sob, his chest heaving. He looked extremely pitiful.


    Connor¡¯s frown deepened as he wondered, ¡®Previously, Sonny was very attached to Tessa and was always talking about wanting her to be his mother. Now that Tessa truly apanies him. every day, does he miss his own mother instead?¡®


    He was puzzled when Sonny suddenly began to cough violently.


    Within just a few seconds, the little flushed face turned a dark purplish¨Cred from coughing.


    Connor¡¯s expression changed; he immediately helped Sonny drink water and patted his back.


    After Sonny had slightly recovered, Connor decisively picked him up and stood up.


    Tessa hurriedly asked, ¡°Connor, where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Hospital,¡± Connor said without looking back.


    One hourter, Sonnyy asleep on a small hospital bed, an intravenous drip attached to his hand.


    Connor and Tessa stood by the hospital bed.


    Suddenly, he looked up and asked Tessa, ¡°What exactly happened?¡±


    Tessa promptly exined, ¡°I have no idea. Sonny came home in the afternoon and immediately locked himself in his room. After I used the spare key to open the door, I found him sleeping on the carpet. I carried him to the bed to sleep. When he woke up, he suddenly started crying for his mother.¡±


    At this point in the discussion, Tessa could not help but feel angry.


    She fumed, ¡®I thought that bitch Xylia¡¯s son was brought under my control, but unexpectedly, within just a few days, Sonny is moring to see his biological mother. What does that make


    me?¡®


    However, for now, she could only seethe inwardly. After all, she had not yet officially married Connor, and she still had to support that brat.


    Connor sighed. ¡°No matter what, he is Xylia¡¯s biological child.¡±


    How could the bond between mother and child be severed so easily?


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    Tessa¡¯s hands hung at her sides; she clenched them tightly into fists, looked at Connor, and demanded, ¡°Connor, are you still missing Xylia?¡±


    Connor¡¯s expression froze instantly.


    Tessa became even angrier. ¡°Have you forgotten how she treated you? Not only did she cheat, but she also failed to attend your grandfather¡¯s funeral. By forcing you to divorce, she abandoned both you and Sonny.¡±


    ¡°I know that,¡± Connor replied in a cold voice.


    Seeing Tessa with reddened eyes and tears welling up in her eyes, his heart softened again.


    He gently held Tessa¡¯s hand andforted her in a soft voice, ¡°I will be on a business trip to Norhill next week, so I appreciate your help in taking care of Sonny.¡±


    Tessa worriedly asked, ¡°How long will you be away?¡±


    ¡°Approximately half a month,¡± Connor replied.


    An rm sounded in Tessa¡¯s mind. ¡®No! Half a month is far too long; if Connor were to flirt with another woman again during this period, wouldn¡¯t everything I¡¯ve worked so hard for and is about to achieve be a joke?¡®


    After a moment¡¯s thought, she said, ¡°Coincidentally, I also have an event in Norhill in a few days. I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    Connor frowned, uneasy about Sonny being home alone.


    Tessa hurriedly added, ¡°Let¡¯s bring Sonny with us and treat this as a family trip to Norhill.¡±


    Connor felt an inexplicable emotional aversion when he heard the phrase ¡®family¡®.


    Tessa shook Connor¡¯s arm, acting like a spoiled child.


    Whenever she did that, Connor would yield. ¡°Fine.¡±


    Tessa seized the opportunity to throw herself into his arms. ¡°Thank you, Connor.¡±


    Connor still had not grown ustomed to Tessa throwing herself into his arms. He couldn¡¯t figure out why he had yet to truly feel happy while she was clearly the woman he had loved for years.


    One weekter, Xylia and Zayn had finalized the renovation n for the design studio and were starting the renovation in ordance with Zayn¡¯s suggestions.


    Xylia had lunch at home and was about to have a look at the studio when she suddenly


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    received a call from Kaden. ¡°Xylia, I left a document in the study. If you¡¯re avable<b>, </b>could you help me deliver it?¡±


    Xylia checked the time. ¡°I¡¯m free now. I¡¯ll bring it over to you in a bit.¡±


    Xylia first located the document in the study. After informing Zayn that she would arriveter, she drove to Sadler Group.


    It was Xylia¡¯s first visit to Sadler Group since arriving in Norhill.


    Although she was one of the shareholders of Sadler Group, she was unfamiliar with the overall structure and operations of the group.


    The magnificent sixty¨Cstory building was situated in the center of Norhill. Its architecture integrated modern design with advanced technology, presenting a strikingly impressive appearance at first nce.


    After entering the hall, Xylia called Kaden, but he did not answer.


    After she gave her name at the reception desk, the young receptionist frowned and looked at her with disdain. ¡°You im to be Mr. Sadler¡¯s younger sister? However, Mr. Sadler does not have a younger sister at all.¡±


    Xylia did not expect the receptionist to be so cautious.


    However, it was reasonable forrgepanies to be a bit more cautious.


    She simply said, ¡°I¡¯m Mr. Sadler¡¯s younger sister. We just reunited. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can contact him and ask.¡±


    The young man raised an eyebrow. ¡°Mr. Sadler is in a meeting right now and doesn¡¯t have time to deal with you.¡±


    He looked at Xylia mockingly. ¡°Everyone is scheming to get close to Mr. Sadler, but your excuse is themest¨Ciming to be some long¨Clost sister. Let me tell you, Mr. Sadler doesn¡¯t have a sister. Get lost and go back to wherever you came from!¡±


    Xylia became somewhat angry. ¡°This receptionist is so snobbish¨Che even curses at me?¡®


    She was about to say something when a surprised and familiar voice sounded behind her. ¡°Xylia, you want to pretend to be Mr. Sadler¡¯s sister just to meet him? How could you stoop so low?<b>¡± </b>


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    Upon hearing the voice, Xylia froze suddenly.


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    She turned around and saw Tessa standing in the lobby of Sadler Group with Connor and Sonny.


    She furrowed her brow slightly, not knowing what they were doing there.


    Tessa and her twopanions were also surprised to see Xylia there.


    However, Tessa was only briefly surprised before she began to malign Xylia using her customary tactics.


    On the other hand, when Connor saw Xylia, a sh of delight appeared in his eyes.


    However, when he saw her radiant expression, his face instantly darkened.


    He was thinking, ¡®No wonder there has been no news of hertely; it turns out she has been hiding in Norhill. She¡¯s covered in designer brands¨Cwho knows which guy she¡¯s hooked up with this time to get those perks.


    Tessa looked at Xylia from head to toe, finally revealing a hint of mockery.


    She affectionately took Connor¡¯s hand and spoke to him with a smile. ¡°Connor, you were worried your ex¨Cwife would have a hard time after leaving you, but it turns out she¡¯s doing even better than before. And look at those designer clothes¨Cwho knows who bought them for her?¡±


    After Xylia joined the Sadler family, every item in her wardrobe was thetest seasonal fashion, scoured from major luxury boutiques by the four Sadler brothers.


    All the Sadler boys made purchases at the same time, piling clothes in the cloakroom until they covered the entire wall. Xylia persuaded them for a long time before they finally stopped buying more.


    Now, Xylia was wearing the most popr high¨Cend luxury brand apparel of the season.


    She was in a pale yellow camisole maxi dress paired with a white, ice silk long¨Csleeved cardigan, softly curled long hair cascading smoothly down her back¨Cher entire presence exuded a sense of gentleness and liveliness.


    Sonny, however, stared wide¨Ceyed at Xylia, without uttering a word.


    With what Tessa said, Connor¡¯s gaze toward Xylia grew even more hostile. ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re really shameless<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>


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    Xylia had long lost any desire tomunicate with this family.


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    She ignored them and lowered her head to send a message to Kaden, stating that she had been stopped downstairs.


    Connor became even more furious when he saw that Xylia was ignoring him.


    He let out a coldugh. ¡°Why are you still pretending to be so superior now?¡±


    As he spoke, Connor¡¯s gaze swept across the opulent hall, and he began to speak in a retaliatory manner. ¡°The Sadler Group is not a ce for cheap women like you who always try to seduce men, and Mr. Sadler is someonepletely out of your league. You¡¯d be wise to recognize your ce and back off.¡±


    Connor¡¯s remarks had be increasingly unpleasant.


    The hall was crowded with people, including employees of Sadler Group as well as partners who hade to discuss cooperation with thepany.


    Upon noticing the noise at the reception desk, everyone instinctively paused to watch themotion.


    Xylia felt it was inappropriate to make a scene there, so she replied calmly, ¡°If that¡¯s all you wanna say, please leave at once. And if you¡¯re thinking of cooperating with Sadler Group, just give up on that idea.¡±


    Kaden had already explicitly stated that he would not cooperate with Ford Group.


    Moreover, now that Xylia held shares in the Sadler Group, she was also qualified to propose refusing to associate with Connor.


    Connor sneered. ¡°Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to interfere in Sadler Group¡¯s partnership?¡±


    Xylia said tly, ¡°Mr. Ford, you haven¡¯t forgotten that when you were in Jupiton, Mr. Sadler explicitly told you there would be no further cooperation with the Ford Group, have you?¡±


    Connor¡¯splexion grew even more livid.


    He was indeed not there to seek cooperation with the Sadler Group; instead, he apanied Tessa topete for an endorsement opportunity.


    Although Tessa encountered resistance from Kaden during their previous meeting, she had yet to receive any response indicating a refusal to cooperate, which led her to believe that, during theirst interaction at the restaurant, Kaden was not genuinely angry with them.


    In the business world, there were always times when people used emotions to keep up


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    Tessa believed that Kaden¡¯s anger that day was merely due to the presence of outsiders and his mistaken assumption that they were bullying Xylia; as a result, he only put on a show and confronted them in that manner.


    She firmly believed that there remained an opportunity for her to coborate with the Sadler


    Group.


    She was being overly optimistic.


    Tessa let out a derisiveugh. ¡°You don¡¯t seriously believe that when Mr. Sadler spoke harshly to usst time, it was actually to help you, do you?¡±


    Before they realized it, a group of people had gathered around them.


    Connor continued with cold sarcasm, following Tessa¡¯s remark, ¡°Or do you think that just because Mr. Sadler helped you once, he now sees you differently? Don¡¯t delude yourself. As a woman of loose morals, even vagrants wouldn¡¯t want you, let alone Mr. Sadler.¡±


    Seeing Xylia act so shamelessly, Connor was so furious he could hardly contain himself.


    It seemed as though back at the Ford family, he had made Xylia endure considerable hardship.


    Seeing more and more people gather around, Xylia didn¡¯t want to be the center of attention again.


    She looked at Connor and the other two coldly. ¡°My life is not for you to interfere with, Connor. Before you judge me, you should first reflect on what you have done to me.¡±


    Connor felt his hair stand on end under Xylia¡¯s gaze, wondering if she already knew what he had done to her.


    Upon seeing Connor being reprimanded, Sonny took a step forward with a cold expression, pointed at Xylia, and said icily, ¡°You even abandoned me, your own son; you¡¯re not a good person. Dad was right¨Cyou can¡¯t do anything, and even homeless people look down on you!¡±


    Two days ago, Sonny was still missing Xylia.


    After leaving the hospital, he was constantly cared for by Tessa. He felt as though the caring Tessa from before had returned, which once again dispelled his idealized perception of Xylia.


    Now, seeing Xylia being embarrassed in public, he couldn¡¯t help but feel as if he was being disgraced too.


    He once again assumed his previously arrogant demeanor andunched into a bout of


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    reproaching Xylia.


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    Regrettably, the current Xylia had already undergone aplete transformation.


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    Even though Sonny was her own flesh and blood, since he did not understand gratitude, she naturally severed the mother¨Cson bond entirely, cutting it off at the root.


    Just as Xylia was about to speak, the receptionist could no longer remain silent.


    He directly rushed out and gave Xylia a push. ¡°If you want to make a fuss, do it outside. Stop being an eyesore here! I¡¯ve seen enough of your lot. Mr. Sadler would never be interested in you. Get out immediately!¡±


    The receptionist kept urging Xylia, and Xylia frowned as she looked at him. ¡°Why are you expelling only me? They were the ones who started this!¡±


    The young man sneered. ¡°Mr. Ford is here to discuss a business partnership. How could he possibly bepared to a woman like you, who resorts to ttery? Are you leaving or not? If you refuse, I will call security.¡±


    He just now overheard a bit and thus gained a general understanding that Connor and the other two had distinguished identities.


    To retain the partner, he naturally turned his attention to Xylia.


    Connor looked coldly at Xylia. ¡°People should have self¨Cawareness. Someone like you¨Ca housewife¡ªwhat ability do you have to pull off wearing clothes like these after just a month, unless you took a shortcut!¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, whispers crept in from all around. ¡°She looks quite attractive, but I never expected she¡¯d be the kind of person who sleeps her way to the top.¡±


    Another one whispered, ¡°It¡¯s precisely because she¡¯s beautiful that she relies on her looks. Unfortunately, she¡¯s barking up the wrong tree¨Cour Mr. Sadler is famously known for his integrity and most averse to women who throw themselves at him.¡±


    Xylia trembled with anger. When the receptionist raised his hand to push her again, she grabbed

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    She shook off the receptionist¡¯s hand, swept her cold gaze over the surrounding crowd, and finally fixed her eyes intently on Connor. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being a housewife?


    ¡°Connor, don¡¯t forget that before you crippled my hands and legs, I was an outstanding surgeon and a versatile dancer. I am fully capable of supporting myself!


    ¡°You use me of seducing men simply because I wear luxury brands? In this day and age, how can you still casually fabricate sexual rumors about women? And to think you are the heir to a corporate group that has received an excellent education since childhood¨Cyet this is all you amount to!¡±


    Xyliaunched into a rapid, noisy, and forceful outpouring, a stark contrast to thepliant demeanor she had disyed previously.


    Connor and Tessa were both surprised by the way she looked.


    When he heard Xylia state that it was he who caused her to lose the use of her limbs, Connor¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    She did indeed discover that it was his intentional dy in providing timely treatment back then that prevented her injuries to her hands and legs from healing.


    He did feel a sense of guilt, but more than that, he believed Xylia was not magnanimous enough.


    At that time, Xylia was still his wife andcked nothing; nevertheless, she relied on her talent for dance topete with Tessa for her livelihood.


    When Tessa ran into trouble, he was left with no choice but to resort to thisst resort for her


    sake.


    He believed that at that time, Xylia had already lived eighteen years of a luxurious life by assuming Tessa¡¯s identity. She inherently owed Tessa, so making such a sacrifice was only to be expected.


    At this thought, the sense of guilt in Connor¡¯s heart was immediately alleviated,


    Tessa, however, couldn¡¯t stand Xylia¡¯s haughty attitude. ¡°You speak in such lofty terms, but it was you whomitted infidelity when you were still married to Connor.¡±


    Xylia let out a cold snort. ¡°You two have been secretly involved behind my back for eight years -does that not count as cheating?¡±


    ¡°You-¡± Tessa red fiercely at Xylia, surprised that after just a few days apart, she¡¯d gotten so


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    Tessa looked at the receptionist, pointed at Xylia, and said fiercely, ¡°Why are you still standing there? Kick her out right now! You should know I¡¯m the one yourpany is begging to cooperate with. If you offend me, I¡¯ll have you fired immediately!¡±


    The young receptionist found Tessa familiar and certainly didn¡¯t dare to offend her.


    He promptly called security to have Xylia removed.


    As the security guard approached, Kaden¡¯s voice came from the side. ¡°Stop!¡±


    Some onlookers were all very surprised to see Kaden walk over, wondering, ¡®How could such a minor matter bring Mr. Sadler here in person?¡®


    Kaden walked over to Xylia and cast a worried nce over her. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Xylia nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Upon seeing that Xylia truly knew Kaden, the receptionist felt a sudden jolt in his heart. ¡®Could she truly be Mr. Sadler¡¯s younger sister?¡®


    Hisplexion turnedpletely pale.


    Connor, however, noticed that Xylia and Kaden were speaking in a familiar tone; it didn¡¯t seem like they didn¡¯t know each other.


    His gaze sharpened as he wondered, ¡®Does she truly have an affair with Kaden Sadler as well?¡®


    Only after Kaden confirmed that Xylia was unharmed did he turn and direct his attention to Tessa. ¡°You think I¡¯m begging you to cooperate?¡±


    Kaden let out a mockingugh, while Tessa¡¯s face turned slightly pale.


    He continued, ¡°I already told you two when I was in Jupiton that the Sadler Group would never cooperate with you. I thought you could understand my words.¡±


    Kaden¡¯s words were highly impactful.


    Tessa¡¯s face went pale, then turned ashen. ¡°Mr. Sadler, I never received any notice from your staff about refusing <i>to </i>cooperate. At that time, we had already moved the cooperation forward. And now you want to stop the deal? Don¡¯t you have any integrity at all?¡±


    Kaden shot her a nce. ¡°Progress isn¡¯t the same as signing a contract¨Cyou do know the difference, right?¡±


    Tessa¡¯s words were stifled.


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    Indeed, unless both parties had entered into a contract, there could be no breach of contract.


    Kaden, with a stern expression, instructed the security personnel, ¡°Remember these three individuals. From now on, they are not permitted to set foot in the Sadler Group again.¡±


    As he spoke, Kaden¡¯s gaze again paused on Sonny¡¯s face for two seconds.


    He then averted his gaze as if nothing was wrong.


    Kaden looked at Xylia. ¡°Have you brought the document?¡±


    Xylia nodded and was about to take it out when Kaden said gently, ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡±


    Xylia left with Kaden.


    The security personnel immediately turned around and, with stern expressions, expelled Connor and the other two from the Sadler Group.


    Totally embarrassed, the three did not shamelessly linger any further; instead, they left immediately.


    The receptionist, dazed and disoriented, returned to his workstation. Shortly after, he received a resignation notice from Human Resources and slumped in despair.


    Xylia followed Kaden to the top¨Cfloor office.


    After exiting the elevator, Kaden introduced Xylia to the staff of the secretary¡¯s office. ¡°This is my biological younger sister, Xylia Sadler. Everyone, remember this: from now on, if anyone in thepany makes things difficult for her, you must proactively submit your resignation application.¡±


    The secretaries all nodded. ¡°Understood, Mr. Sadler.¡±


    Xylia followed behind Kaden, forcing an awkward smile.


    The sight of so many people standing up together in a respectful manner was truly magnificent.


    She had not yet adapted it.


    Upon arriving at Kaden¡¯s office, Xylia handed the document to him. ¡°Kaden, is there anything


    you need?¡±


    else


    Kaden took the document and motioned for Xylia to take a seat.


    Xylia sat down on the sofa, and Kaden got her a drink. ¡°Was that your son just now?¡±


    9:40 Wed, Sep 17


    Xylia nodded. ¡°He was, but not anymore.¡±


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    Kaden did not fully know everything Xylia experienced in the past; he only vaguely knew that her marriage was unhappy and that her husband did not treat her well.


    He had always been afraid to ask her about these matters. However, now that Connor had gone so far as to provoke the Sadler Group, Kaden could no longer sit by and do nothing.


    He looked at Xylia and said wholeheartedly, ¡°Xylia, about what happened before¨Cif you don¡¯t want to talk about it, I won¡¯t press you. But please remember, we are family, and family should always support and help one another.¡±


    Xylia knew that Kaden was worried about her.


    However, she did not wish to recall that failed marriage anymore.


    She smiled at Kaden. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about me, Kaden. I¡¯m already divorced from him, and I¡¯m no longer the Xylia I used to be. They can¡¯t hurt me now.¡±


    Kaden then asked, ¡°If I had not gone down just now, what would you have done?¡±


    Xylia said with a smile, ¡°I knew you woulde down.¡±


    Actually, Kaden had not expected Xylia to respond in this manner.


    Xylia let out a sigh, her voice soft. ¡°Kaden, please rest assured. Should I encounter any genuine difficulties, I will seek your help.¡±


    Since the discussion had reached this point, Kaden had nothing further to say.


    As long as Xylia gradually integrated into the Sadler family¡¯s life and was able to try to rely on him and his other brothers, that would be sufficient.


    After a brief conversation with Kaden, Xylia left the Sadler Group.


    Over the following days, she and Zayn were busy with studio matters.


    After Josie finished her business in Jupiton, she came to Norhill to see Xylia.


    Her opening statement was, ¡°Include me as a technical shareholder in


    Xylia looked at her in confusion. ¡°You want to work for me?¡±


    Josie nodded solemnly.


    your studio.¡±


    Xylia was incredulous. ¡°With your level of ability, you¡¯d have plenty of offers even if you stayed in the country. So why are you hanging around with a small fry like me?¡±

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    Xylia and Josie were having steak in a fancy restaurant.


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    Upon hearing Xylia¡¯s remark, Josie immediately threw down her knife and fork, her gaze toward Xylia filled with usation. ¡°There¡¯s only a month left before our country¡¯s designerpetition starts, and your studio has just gotten off the ground. I¡¯m here to help you, you know?¡±


    Xylia smiled and said, ¡°I know you want to help me, but there¡¯s no need to risk your future for it. If youe work in my small ce, you¡¯ll really lose out.¡±


    Josie gently shook her head. ¡°I trust my own judgment.¡±


    Xylia genuinely smiled. ¡°Then I would like to extend an early wee to you, Ms. Dunn, the famous designer.¡±


    The two smiled and discussed that, since it was still early, Xylia could take her for <i>a </i>walk around Norhill.


    After excusing herself for a bit, Xylia stood up and went to the restroom.


    As she was about to leave the restroom, Xylia suddenly heard a sound from outside. ¡°Yasmeen,


    with my


    knack for attracting negative attention, you want me to join a dating reality show and hype up a rtionship with an award¨Cwinning actor like Leon Sadler? Don¡¯t you know this will <i>get </i>me in huge trouble?¡±


    Upon hearing Leon¡¯s name, Xylia immediately stopped as she was about to leave and listened attentively to the sounds outside.


    The woman continued, ¡°No matter what, I¡¯m not joining this dating reality show.¡±


    The person on the other end of the line said something, and the woman outside the door began to act coquettishly, saying in a high¨Cpitched voice, ¡°Oh, Yasmeen, I can¡¯t risk my career, you know<i>. </i>Do you not want to look after me anymore? Is that why you¡¯re so eager to get rid of


    me?


    ¡°What? Leon Sadler actually agreed to such an absurd request?


    ¡°600 thousand? Holy crap! I¡¯m heading back right now, getting myself ready as fast as I can, and going straight to the dating show set right away!¡±


    The sounds outside the door grew increasingly distant.


    Xylia did not go out until she was certain the person had truly gone far away.


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    She wondered, ¡®Leon is going to participate in a dating reality show? And he¡¯s going to stir up romantic rumors with a celebrity? That¡¯s interesting.¡®


    Xylia chased after the woman outside, but saw no trace of her.


    But just as she was feeling frustrated, a cold female voice came from behind her. ¡°I must say, you really are quite a stalking fan¨Chave you actually followed me all the way here?¡±


    The abrupt sound startled Xylia. She turned around and immediately faced a strikingly beautiful, coldly elegant face.


    The woman had striking, high¨Ccontrast features, with a prominent brow bone and a pair of captivating eyes that now reflect a cial indifference. Her slightly wavy, long hair was gathered behind her, and her entire demeanor carried a hint of aggressiveness.


    She raised an eyebrow and mocked, ¡°You are quite attractive, so why are you so hung up on this that you came here to corner me?


    Xylia looked at the woman in confusion, unsure when she had ever cornered her.


    The woman walked up to Xylia, lowering her gaze to look at her with an expression that seemed to look down on all living beings. ¡°Have you been squatting in the restroom for a long time? What did you record?¡±


    Xylia looked puzzled. ¡°I did not record anything.¡±


    The woman did not listen to Xylia¡¯s exnation at all.


    She extended her hand toward Xylia and threatened, ¡°Hand over your phone.¡±


    Xylia was a bit irritated. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Just because you followed me all the way here! You stalking fans are truly a disgrace to the industry. If I sue you, I will definitely win!¡± As she spoke, and without regard for Xylia¡¯s objections, the woman casually snatched the phone from her hand.


    Xylia eximed in shock and was about to snatch, but was silenced by a single nce from the woman, who demanded, ¡°Your password?¡±


    Xylia waspletely annoyed. ¡°How could I possibly tell you the pass¡­¡±


    Before Xylia could finish speaking, the woman raised her phone in front of her,


    Xylia didn¡¯t have time to react; her phone had already been unlocked by facial recognition,


    The woman spent¡¯a long time fiddling with her mobile phone; no suspicious audio was found in the recordings, and there were no photographs in the album.


    9:40 Wed, Sep 17


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    She looked up at Xylia with suspicion. ¡°You¡­ did not take photographs or make audio recordings?<b>¡± </b>


    Xylia snatched the phone and red at her. ¡°Why would I record your voice for no reason?¡±


    The woman, as if startled, raised her voice and said, ¡°What are you sneaking around in there


    for?¡±


    Xylia was pissed. ¡°I¡¯m not being sneaky at all¨CI just heard that you and Leon Sadler are going to record a romance reality show, and I¡¯m just a bit surprised, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Upon hearing Xylia¡¯s words, the woman widened her eyes.


    She seized Xylia¡¯s hand, her demeanor shifting abruptly from domineering to pitiable as she looked at her. ¡°Listen, girl, you absolutely must not tell anyone about the dating show, or I¡¯ll hunt you down to the ends of the earth!¡±


    Xylia was genuinely at a loss for words.


    The woman was wearing a pitiful expression, yet resorting to maniptive social tactics to intimidate Xylia.


    Xylia had now developed some interest in the female celebrity who was about to participate in publicity stunts with Leon.


    She promised, ¡°I won¡¯t tell anyone.¡±


    The woman reluctantly nodded. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll trust you this once.¡±


    She did not continue bickering. She took sunsses from her pocket, put them on, and walked straight out of the restaurant.


    Xylia shrugged her shoulders and went back to Josie.


    After Josie joined the studio, Xylia felt much more rxed.


    The studio renovation would take half a month. During this time, Xylia and Josie had already started developing their business.


    They began nurturing their ounts by producing short videos, intending to take on private custom orders or groupmissions to establish their reputation.


    Josie was fairly well¨Cknown within the designmunity. She had enlisted several well-


    acquainted friends to help promote herself.


    Very soon, the first business order arrived.


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    <b>The </b>order was from a fifth¨Ctier minor celebrity who was going to attend a charity g and required a morous outfit.


    When Xylia received the order, it was the celebrity¡¯s assistant who made the call.


    The assistant made several requests over the phone. Xylia inquired whether a meeting would be convenient, as seeing the individual in person would enable her to design clothing that better reflects their temperament.


    After consulting the celebrity, the assistant told Xylia to meet her at the beach bonfire party. She was currently recording a variety show and could not leave.


    Xylia didn¡¯t mind and hurried to the seaside by taxi.


    This fifth¨Ctier celebrity, named Gina rk, was introduced by a friend of Josie.


    Gina had been in the entertainment industry for many years, working diligently on acting, but her roles had always been minor.


    Recently, she gained public recognition through her role as the third female lead in a hit drama. Only now had she begun to receive opportunities, with prospects emerging in both variety shows and acting roles.


    The charity g she was going to attend this time was arge gathering of the capital circle.


    Upon learning that several distinguished producers and directors would be in attendance, she went to great lengths to secure an invitation to the charity g.


    During a break in the variety show, Gina approached Xylia and conveyed her request. ¡°My requirements are not extensive: the attire must be appropriate for a charity g, must highlight my beauty and elegance, and the fabric should be of high quality. Cost is not a


    concern.¡±


    Xylia nodded slightly and looked over Gina.


    She had previously searched for Gina online. Based solely on the photos and videos, Gina was just a girl with a sweet appearance.


    To Xylia¡¯s surprise<b>, </b>when she met Gina in private, the stubbornness revealed in her eyes contrasted with her sweet appearance, giving her a distinctive style.


    Xylia said, ¡°Understood. I will provide you with a preliminary design sketch within the next two days. We can discuss it further at that time, and once you are satisfied, we will proceed to create the sample garment.¡±


    Gina furrowed her brows slightly and, a little embarrassed, asked, ¡°The charity g will be held in one week. Can the preparations bepleted within that time?¡±


    9:40 Wed, Sep 17


    A one¨Cweek timeframe was indeed highly constrained.


    However, as this is the studio¡¯s first order, Xylia could not give up.


    She nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±


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    Gina exhaled deeply in relief. ¡°I will finish recording in another half an hour. If you are avableter, please wait for me. There is an excellent restaurant nearby, and I would like to treat you to a meal.¡±


    Xylia was about to say it wasn¡¯t necessary, but then thought that spending more time with Gina might spark some inspiration.


    She then nodded and agreed.

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    Gina said the recording would be finished in half an hour; Xylia waited nearby for a full two


    hours.


    As dusk approached, the remnants of the western sun cast a mournful light upon Xylia.


    After waiting for an hour, she wanted to leave. However, seeing that Gina was busy and remembering her promise, she felt it would be inappropriate to go.


    She waited for a full hour again.


    After Gina finished, she came over and saw Xylia sitting by the flower bed, holding a pen notebook, though she had no idea what Xylia was drawing.


    and a


    Gina approached her and said apologetically, ¡°Apologies for keeping you waiting. The director has just added a new mini¨Cgame, so the recording took a bit longer.¡±


    Xylia said gently, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I didn¡¯t wait long.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s words contradicted her true feelings, yet her face, as usual, disyed a gentle smile.


    She was now Party B and must be a bit more submissive.


    Gina brought Xylia and the assistant to the nearby seaside rooftop restaurant.


    This was a restaurant in Norhill renowned for its high prices.


    The ss by the windows was transparent, so when one looked down, one could see the gently rippling blue and white sea below¨Ca truly breathtaking sight.


    Gina had a table reserved. When they arrived, she handed the menu to Xylia. ¡°You don¡¯t need to cut costs for me. I¡¯ve known Josie for a long time, and she told me you¡¯re a very talented designer. I trust you.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s hand froze <b>as </b>she held the menu.


    A gentle, tingling warmth welled up in my heart.


    She raised her eyes to meet Gina¡¯s sparkling gaze; the feeling of being trusted unconditionally was really nice.


    Xylia said softly, ¡°Thank you for trusting me.¡±


    Gina smiled gently, then handed another menu to her assistant.


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    The assistant, Chloe, was very cute, with a round and smooth face. The way she interacted with Gina was also very cute; rather than seeming like colleagues, they came across more as friends.


    After Xylia had casually ordered the dishes, she started chatting with Gina.


    Gina came from an affluent family. Although she had mingled in the entertainment industry for many years, she still maintained a passionatemitment to her dreams.


    Whenever she talked endlessly about each of her performances and every role she had yed, her eyes shone brightly, as if countless stars of hope had been gathered within them.


    Xylia felt a stir in her heart.


    She recalled her former dream: to dance upon the world stage.


    At that time, she was likewise filled with passion and hope.


    Regrettably, since getting married, she chose to abandon her dreams and shift her focus to her family, which ultimately resulted in an irreparable result.


    At present, she was no longer able to dance.


    However, she adopted a new aspiration: to be the most aplished designer in the world. She wanted to recapture her initial passion and to devote herself to excelling in this profession.


    While waiting for the dishes, Gina and Xylia kept chatting.


    Out of the corner of her eye, Xylia noticed a familiar figure. She turned to look and saw Joshua, with his silver hair, as he rounded the restaurant corner and walked toward the other side.


    There was a trace of shock in her eyes.


    It was not Joshua¡¯s presence there that was unexpected, but rather the fact that he was dressed in a luxurious ck suit.


    During this period, Xylia devoted herself to researching suit brands, including luxury brands avable on the market and purely bespoke brands.


    By coincidence, the outfit Joshua was wearing closely resembled the high¨Cend, bespoke suit she had seen two days ago¨Ca single suit could cost over 300 thousand.


    The key point was that the proprietor of this bespoke establishment exclusively served members of the upper ss.


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    The doubts that had lingered in Xylia¡¯s mind resurfaced once again. ¡®Joshua is just an ordinary employee; even if he¡¯s made some money by investing in projects with Mr. Garcia, he probably wouldn¡¯t be willing to spend so much on such an expensive custom suit, would he?


    ¡®Moreover, based on my observations to date, Joshua has worn no fewer than three high¨Cend luxury suits.


    ¡®Is Joshua truly just a very ordinary driver for the Garcia family?¡®


    Gina called out to her, ¡°Xylia?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Xylia came back to herself and saw Gina looking at her with amusement. ¡°What are you thinking about? You seem so absorbed.¡±


    Xylia shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom. If the dishes arrive, just go ahead. Don¡¯t wait up.¡±


    After speaking, she ignored Gina¡¯s reaction and directly stood up, leaving her seat.


    Xylia went to look in the direction Joshua had gone.


    Her gaze swept across the entire restaurant, but she didn¡¯t see him.


    She was somewhat puzzled, but did not persist in searching, so she returned.


    After the meal, Gina wanted to ask her chauffeur to take Xylia home, but Xylia declined.


    She would visit the studio shortly to conduct a routine inspection.


    Gina did not insist; she simply reminded Xylia not to forget the design of the dress.


    After Xylia promised she wouldplete on a regr basis, the two parted ways.


    After seeing Gina off, Xylia prepared to take an Uber back.


    As soon as she got into the car, she saw Joshuaing out of the restaurant, apanied by a man in a suit.


    The man said, ¡°Mr. Garcia, you truly are a remarkable heir of the Garcia family. Since our cooperation has been finalized, let me wish us a pleasant coboration.¡±


    Joshua said politely, ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure working with you.¡±


    After the two exchanged a polite handshake, the man departed first.


    Xylia stood near the doorway, yet her position remained unobtrusive.


    9:41 Wed, Sep 17


    :


    Joshua did not see her. However, she heard their conversation very clearly.


    She couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®Heir to the Garcia family?¡¯


    Xylia experienced a brief moment of mental nkness.


    Many memories with Joshua came flooding into her mind all at once.


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    During her time of adversity, he provided her with amodation, introduced her to Xavi, and bid for and won Laurel¡¯s collection for her at the auction.


    Numerous details told her that Joshua was not just a worker.


    She had never thought about this before, and didn¡¯t expect that he really was the heir of the Garcia family.


    As if sensing something, Joshua had just turned his head when he met Xylia¡¯s incredulous


    gaze.


    He immediately got nervous, and there was a fleeting sense of uneasiness on his face that had always exuded strategic calm. ¡°Xylia?¡±


    He walked up to Xylia in a few steps and asked in a low voice, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Xylia looked up and saw panic revealed in those familiar, charming eyes.


    For a moment, she was uncertain how to respond.


    After a short while, she finally asked softly, ¡°Are you the mysterious heir of the Garcia family?¡±


    Joshua felt as if his throat were stuck, his heart ached with a bittersweet pain, yet he was urgentlypelled to exin, ¡°I did not intend to deceive you; I was afraid that if you knew my identity, you would refuse to ept my assistance.¡±


    His typically austere eyes were now suffused with fear.


    He was afraid¨Cafraid that, once Xylia learned the truth, she would ignore her. She despised any form of deception.


    He asked cautiously, ¡°Please don¡¯t be mad, okay?¡±


    Xylia did not speak, simply looked at him calmly.


    Night had fallen. The light from the streetmps poured down from above, illuminating Joshua¡¯s silver hair and his luxurious suit, making the obsidian brooch at his chest shine brightly.


    <b>9:41 </b>Wed, <b>Sep </b>17


    Xylia did not know what she was feeling at this moment.


    However, she wanted to escape.


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    She was not angry as Joshua had expected, but she also did not give him a positive answer.


    She was the first to look away. ¡°I have something to do. I gotta go.¡±


    As she was speaking, the Uber she had ordered arrived.


    Under Joshua¡¯s intense gaze, she opened the door and got into the car.


    The car sped away, leaving Joshua standing beneath the streemp, his features somber yet touchingly fragile.


    I

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    Xylia did not go to the studio.


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    After returning home, she told her brothers that she was going to the design studio before setting off.


    She thought about Joshua the entire way.


    On one hand, she was angry that Joshua had deceived her; from beginning to end, Joshua had been putting on an act in front of her.


    Even when Orion fabricated her identity as the daughter of the Garcia family, Joshua, who knew everything, still did not tell her the truth.


    She felt as if she were a fool,ying herself bare before him, while he remained concealed, like a matryoshka doll, refusing to reveal his true self.


    On the other hand, Joshua had indeed been the person who had helped her the most during this period.


    She had neither the reason nor the standing to be angry with him.


    Yet it was precisely this internal conflict that flowed through her heart, leaving her uncertain about how to face him.


    The phone kept buzzing with messages and calls from Joshua.


    Xylia neither checked them nor replied.


    It was not until she had sat in front of the drawing board for nearly an hour, with her phone remaining silent for a long time, that she seemed toe to herself and finally unlocked her phone.


    In the message sent by Joshua, instead of a lengthy exnation as one might expect, he simply asked her if they could meet to talk.


    Xylia replied: [I¡¯ve been a bit busytely. Let¡¯s chat again when I have some free time.]


    It was only after two minutes that she received a message from Joshua.


    Joshua<b>: </b>[I¡¯ll wait for you at the studio tomorrow. If you don¡¯te, I¡¯ll make trouble.]


    It was a tant threat.


    Xylia tossed her phone aside and crossed her arms, sulking,


    <b>9:41 </b>Wed<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>17


    She couldn¡¯t help but fume, ¡®He deceived me, and yet he¡¯s so brazen about it?¡®


    A knocking sound was heard at the door.


    After steadying herself, Xylia said, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Leon pushed open the door and entered the design studio.


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    Today, it was rare for his schedule not to be tight, so he went home. He had hoped to chat with Xylia, whom he hadn¡¯t seen in a long time. Unexpectedly, as soon as she arrived home, she shut herself in the design studio.


    He had no choice but to carry a cup of milk as he went to look for her. ¡°Xylia, I heated some milk for you.¡±


    Xylia took the milk, thanked Leon, and then looked at him with a puzzled expression. ¡°Howe you¡¯re back already, Leon? Haven¡¯t you been busy these past few <i>days</i>?¡±


    Leonined grumpily, ¡°You heartless thing, I haven¡¯t been back in so long¨Cdon¡¯t you


    miss me?<b>¡± </b>


    Xylia took a sip of milk and asked doubtfully, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to participate in a dating reality show? I thought you would be quite busy during this period.¡±


    Leon¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°How did you know I was going to participate in the dating show?¡±


    The matter in which he would participate had only just been finalized; even his agent had only just been informed.


    Leon continued in shock, ¡°Girl, even though I¡¯m your idol, you¡¯re really something else! I just got scolded by Ste, and you already know I¡¯m joining a dating show?¡±


    Xylia hesitated a bit. ¡°Well¡­ I have only heard about it.¡±


    She heard about it from that morous female celebrity.


    However, she did not tell Leon about encountering that celebrity.


    She suddenly looked at Leon with keen interest and asked, ¡°Leon, which female celebrity are you nning to hype up on the romance reality show?¡±


    <b>It </b>was unclear whether it was just Xylia¡¯s imagination, but Leon¡¯s eyes seemed to soften slightly when that celebrity was mentioned.


    He sat cross¨Clegged in front of Xylia and looked at her with a smile.


    Just as Xylia was getting ready to watch the drama unfold, Leon spoke softly, ¡°You¡¯ll see once


    <b>9:41 </b><b>Wed</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>17


    it¡¯s broadcast<b>.</b>¡±


    Xylia was rendered speechless.


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    She had considered asking Leon for the name of that celebrity, but upon reflection, she realized that searching online would be more reliable.


    ¡°Fine. Whatever.¡± Xylia finished her milk in one gulp and set the cup aside. ¡°But Leon, your career is booming right now¨Cwouldn¡¯t participating in a dating reality show affect you?¡±


    ¡°Of course, it will.¡± Leon flipped through Xylia¡¯s sketches and said calmly, ¡°Once I participate in the romance reality show, a significant number of my girlfriend fans will undoubtedly stop liking me.¡±


    Puzzled, Xylia asked, ¡°So will you still participate?¡±


    Leon said nonchntly, ¡°I am an actor, not a traffic star. Being in a rtionship or getting married has little impact on me.¡±


    As expected of the best actor, when he made that statement, he spoke with genuine confidence.


    Xylia caught a keyword from his remarks, rolled her eyes, and looked at Leon with a mischievous smile. ¡°Rtionship? Get married? Leon, you don¡¯t have someone you like in the dating show you joined, do you?¡±


    Leon raised an eyebrow. ¡°Of course. Why would I go to that thing otherwise?¡±


    He just admitted it so directly.


    Xylia¡¯s passion for gossip was burning so intensely, it felt as if mes were shooting up to the top of her head.


    She moved closer to Leon and asked, ¡°What¡¯s my future sister¨Cinw¡¯s name? How did you meet her? You haven¡¯t won her over yet, have you? How do you n to win her over?¡±


    Observing Xylia¡¯s evident enthusiasm, Leon chose not to keep her in suspense. ¡°I won¡¯t tell you who it is until I¡¯ve made it. I havee to seek your advice.¡±


    Xylia quickly thought of something. ¡°Are you asking me how to woo her?¡±


    Leon nodded solemnly.


    Xylia frowned. ¡°However, since I do not know her at all, how can I offer you any advice?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to¡¯give me any advice¨CI just need to buy a little something for her. When do you have time? Will you go shopping with me?¡± said Leon.


    <b>9:41 </b><b>Wed</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>17


    Xylia looked troubled. ¡°However, my schedule is rather tight this week¡­¡±


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    Xylia had just epted a new order. Within one week, she must not onlyplete the design drawings but also produce the finished garments. The timeline was extremely tight.


    Leon shrugged his shoulders. ¡°No worries, I¡¯m not free this week either. Let me know when you¡¯re done, and when I¡¯m free, let¡¯s go together.¡±


    Xylia nodded. ¡°Sure.¡±


    Leon let out a long sigh of relief, looked at Xylia, and eximed, ¡°Having a sister is truly wonderful!<b>¡± </b>


    Xylia looked at Leon slyly. ¡°How do you


    intend to repay me?¡±


    ¡°Transferring money to you right away!¡± Leon immediately took out his phone, but was stopped by Xylia.


    She shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. I have more than enough money. Can you give me a few of your autographed photos?¡±


    Leon looked confused. ¡°Is that all you want? A few of my autographed photos?¡±


    Xylia nodded.


    Leon patted Xylia on the shoulder in a heartfelt manner, looking at her with heartfelt gratification. ¡°As expected of my sister, your taste is out of this world.¡±


    Leon stood up and ran out of the design studio. A few minutester, he ran back in with quick, lively footsteps, holding a stack of signed photographs.


    There were thirty of them.


    He patted his chest proudly. ¡°If you ever need more autographed photos, just tell me!¡±


    Xylia held the signed photographs and smiled helplessly as she watched Leon¡¯s departing figure.


    But somehow, she felt great.


    Leon, her brother, was a renowned film actor, so she could take as many autographed photos <b>as </b>she wanted. Thinking back to her days as a fan of Leon, she felt like she was over the moon.


    After her talk with Leon, Xylia¡¯s mood also improved significantly.


    She took out the drawing board and began to sketch the design ording to Gina¡¯s specifications.


    <b>9:41 </b>Wed, Sep 17


    The next day, Xylia went to the studio as agreed.


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    Early in the morning, she saw Joshua standing at the entrance of the studio, looking at the gradually forming studio with his head lowered, seemingly lost in thought.


    Upon seeing Xylia get out of the car, Joshua hurried over. ¡°Hey, Xylia! Let¡¯s find somewhere to sit and talk.¡±


    Xylia nodded.


    They entered a dessert shop, found an outdoor seat on the second floor, and sat down.


    Joshua was the first to speak. ¡°It was wrong of me to conceal my identity from you, and I apologize for that.¡±


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    ?


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    Xylia shook her head. ¡°There is no need to apologize. In fact, I am not particrly angry, since you have helped me a lot.¡±


    Joshua saw the indifference in her eyes and immediately realized that the situation was not as simple as she imed.


    He knew she was mad.


    At that moment, his mind raced, and for the first time in his life, he felt at a loss.


    After a brief pause, he said, ¡°Actually, I was nning to tell you in the past two days, but before I had a chance to arrange a meeting, you found out by yourself. I really didn¡¯t do it on purpose. Please don¡¯t be mad, okay?¡±


    He decided to yield first, hoping that Xylia would, in consideration of the time they had together, choose not to hold it against him.


    spent


    Xylia crashed into his aggrieved gaze, feeling utterly helpless.


    She wondered, ¡®How can a grown man present himself in such a touchingly pitiful manner?¡®


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I wasn¡¯t angry?¡± Xylia said.


    Joshuained innocently, ¡°With such a cold demeanor, does it look like you¡¯re not angry?¡±


    Joshua pushed the dessert that Xylia likes in front of her. After a quick thought, he said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Get mad if you want, but just don¡¯t ignore me.¡±


    He smiled and pointed in the direction of the studio. ¡°I am now also a shareholder of the studio, so you cannot ignore me.¡±


    Xylia had more or less found out that Joshua was a man who knew how to y dirty, and in this aspect, she was no match for him.


    She was not genuinely angry to begin with, so she did not pursue the topic further,


    She said calmly, ¡°Reflecting on it now, it was quite a coincidence that I met you just after leaving the Ford family, and that you happened to help me while concealing your identity.¡±


    She looked up at Joshua, her gaze cool and clear, as if calmly describing something.


    However, Joshua knew that a burnt child dreaded the fire; she was reying every frame of his presence by her side.


    <b>9:42 </b><b>Wed</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>17


    He shook his head. ¡°It was not a coincidence; I nned it.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Xylia <b>was </b>puzzled.


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    Joshua looked into her eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯tpletely ignore the time we spent abroad, did you?¡±


    Even if he did not harbor any improper intentions toward her, it was entirely reasonable for him to assist her out of their former friendship.


    Xylia was rendered speechless.


    Indeed, when they were abroad before, she was grateful to him.


    However, that period has long since passed. At the time, she was in a difficult situation and happened to encounter Joshua, who offered his help. Deep down, she felt inferior and uneasy.


    Joshua continued, ¡°And, about you¡­¡±


    Joshua was summoning his courage to speak when he was abruptly interrupted by an unexpected voice. ¡°Hey, Xylia!¡±


    Zayn came over, looked at Xylia, and said, ¡°Xylia, you mentioned the design studio¡¯s renovation style to me before. I¡¯ve thought of another idea. Have you finished eating? If so, let¡¯s go take a look together.¡±


    The studio was a significant matter.


    Xylia looked at Joshua and said, ¡°Let¡¯s all go take a look together as shareholders.¡±


    Joshua wore a cold expression and shot a fierce re at Zayn; if this scoundrel hadn¡¯t shown up, he would have confessed his feelings.


    Zayn looked at Joshua, puzzled, and kept feeling that his back was cold.


    Over the following week, Xylia was upied with designing Gina¡¯s gown, entrusting all aspects of the studio renovation to Josie.


    Joshua invited her to go out, but she didn¡¯t have time to go,


    As a result, Joshua¡¯s demeanor has be gloomy and frightening this week.


    When David handed the financial statements of the branch office in Norhill to Joshua, he noticed that Joshua maintained a stern expression and remained silent, which made David feel uneasy.


    David asked hesitantly, ¡°Mr. Garcia, Burke Sterling has requested another meeting with you.


    <b>9:42 </b>Wed<b>, </b>Sep <b>17 </b>


    This <b>is </b>the fifth time. Are you going to go?¡±


    Joshua was agitated. ¡°No.¡±


    He thought there was no point in seeing that weirdo.


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    The one he wanted to meet was upied, while those whom he did not wish to meet were exceptionally free.


    David, unwilling to risk misfortune, merely shrugged and handed an invitation to Joshua. ¡°This is the invitation letter for the charity dinner scheduled for tomorrow night; your attendance has been arranged by your father.¡±


    Joshua nced at the invitation, his gaze cold. ¡°Go get ready ande with me tomorrow evening.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± David pointed to himself, appearing somewhat perplexed.


    He wondered, ¡®In the past, Mr. Garcia always attended such asions by himself and never brought me along. Furthermore, is it not customary to bring a femalepanion? Why would he bring me, a dude, instead?¡®


    Joshua raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you busy?¡±


    David hurriedly shook his head. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯ll go get ready right now.¡±


    With that, he immediately went out.


    The CEO¡¯s office had felt dark and chilly all week. David thought it was necessary to keep some cold medicine at his workstation, since it was hard to say when he might catch a cold from the chill.


    *****


    Connor was staying in a hotel suite, apanied by Tessa and Sonny.


    His current business trip was, in fact, arranged by Burke,


    He would attend the charity dinner scheduled for tomorrow night.


    Because Sonny was present, Tessa did not attend the charity dinner but stayed behind to take care of Sonny,


    Sonny had seemed unusually distracted these past few days; it was not clear what was wrong.


    Tessa asionally heard Sonny talking in his sleep, calling out Mommy.


    <b>9:42 </b>Wed, <b>Sep </b><b>17 </b>


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    Whenever she heard this, Tessa could not help but feel angry. ¡®Sure enough, he¡¯s a heartless bastard. Even after I spent the past few days pampering and ttering him, he still turns around and keeps that bitch Xylia in his heart.


    Since that night, Connor had also been unwilling to touch her.


    She felt even more uneasy.


    She knew that for tomorrow night¡¯s charity dinner, she must get rid of this troublemaker and go together with Connor.


    When Sonny was asleep, Connor was sitting on the sofa, holding aptop, busy with something.


    Tessa approached and saw him staring vacantly at theptop screen, where only a screensaver was disyed.


    The screensaver disyed a fair¨Cskinned hand holding a rose; that hand was hers.


    Tessa¡¯s mood improved somewhat.


    She walked over to Connor and sat down beside him, leaning against him. ¡°Connor, would you like me to apany you to the charity dinner tomorrow evening?<b>¡± </b>


    Connor was absorbed in his own thoughts when Tessa suddenly approached, startling him.


    After he realized Tessa¡¯s words, he frowned slightly. ¡°We cannot leave Sonny at the hotel alone.¡±


    Tessa didn¡¯t give up. ¡°Sonny is old enough now; we can simply have the hotel staff look after him. We will return promptly after attending the dinner.¡±


    Connor frowned, appearing to disagree.


    Tessa continued, ¡°It has been a long time since Ist attended a banquet. I genuinely wish to go this time. My work has stalled, and I need to build connections. You will not prevent me from going, will you<b>?</b>¡±


    Her hand moved restlessly across Connor¡¯s chest.


    Connor suddenly grasped her hand, his voice hoarse. ¡°I will not prevent anything that is beneficial to your career.


    Tessa smiled. ¡°I just knew you were the best to me.¡±


    Tessa wanted to erbrace him, but Connor suddenly stood up and did not spare her a single nce. ¡°I have a meeting to attend shortly, so I¡¯m going to the study now. You should get some


    <b>9:42 </b>Wed<b>, </b>Sep 17


    rest now.¡±


    He dashed into the study as if fleeing in panic.


    Tessa sat on the sofa, her face flushed with anger.


    ¡®Why?¡® she wondered.


    Clearly, she used to be fatally attractive to Connor.


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    But since that night, although Connor said he would take responsibility for her, he neither married her nor was unwilling to be close to her.


    She was avoided as if she were more dangerous than venomous snakes or wild beasts.


    She thought, ¡®Is it possible that he doesn¡¯t like me anymore? Or is it that he is still missing Xylia?¡®


    Regardless of the reason, Tessa would not yield; she was determined to win Connor.

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    On the eve of the charity g dinner, Xylia finally managed to finish Gina¡¯s gown just before the deadline.


    This ensemble featured a light blue mermaid gown crafted from satin with a pearl¨Clike sheen. The bodice was ented with subtle pleating, further highlighting Gina¡¯s curvy and toned figure. Around her neck was a pearl¨Csheen silk scarf.


    The overall appearance was elegant and dignified; although dressed in in colors, it no longer seemed too understated.


    Gina was very satisfied with this formal attire. ¡°Thank you. I am very pleased with it. I will remit the remaining payment as soon as possible, noter than tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°Sounds great.¡± Xylia nodded.


    She hesitated for a few seconds before tentatively asking, ¡°Gina, I am currently promoting my studio through social media. May I record a video of this dress and post it to the first ount? Of course, as a public figure, even a single dress might have some impact. If you are unwilling, I will not post it.¡±


    Xylia looked at Gina uneasily.


    Unexpectedly, Gina made a sweeping gesture and said in a forthright manner, ¡°It¡¯s no problem. Go ahead and post it. Do you need me to help record a video as well, and I can help you promote it too?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°If that¡¯s possible, that would be wonderful.¡±


    They both acted swiftly; Gina assisted Xylia in recording a video.


    Xylia said gratefully, ¡°It is my honor that my studio has just opened and already received the support of a renowned celebrity.¡±


    Gina smiled. ¡°I will reach out to you again in the future. Please remember to offer me a discount.¡±


    Xyliaughed. ¡°I will offer you a 90% discount.¡±


    Afterpleting Gina¡¯s order, Xylia immediately copsed onto the sofa.


    She had barely slept that week; each day upon waking, she immediately began working on drafts and handling procurement.


    Fortunately, with Josie¡¯s assistance, she was able toplete the gown this week; otherwise,


    9:42 Wed, Sep 17


    finishing it within this timeframe would have been highly uncertain.


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    Josie, with a lollipop in her mouth, walked over and sat down beside Xylia. ¡°This short video was well shot. Once I have edited it, I will post it to our ount.¡±


    Xylia watched her work and said, ¡°Remember to send it only after Gina has finished attending the charity dinner tomorrow night.¡±


    Josie nodded. ¡°Of course.¡±


    Xylia was really tired. After saying goodbye to Josie, she returned home.


    She had just entered the house when I ran into Kaden, who had just returned.


    When Kaden saw Xylia, he beckoned to her and said, ¡°Xylia, I have something to tell you.¡±


    Xylia walked up to stand in front of Kaden. ¡°What is it?¡±


    Kaden said, ¡°Get ready to apany me to a charity g tomorrow evening.¡±


    Xylia was puzzled, ¡°Charity g?¡±


    Kaden nodded. ¡°Since you are starting a business, establishing awork of contacts is essential. At tomorrow night¡¯s charity g, many leading business figures will be present. If you apany me and get to know a few more people, it will be beneficial for your studio.¡±


    At that moment, Kaden¡¯s tall figure appeared even more imposing in Xylia¡¯s eyes.


    She promptly nodded in agreement.


    Kaden continued, ¡°If you have a gown of your own design, wear it; if not, I will prepare one for you.¡±


    Xylia smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble you to prepare it for me, Kaden. So far, the only formal dress I have truly designed andpleted is still the one for Gina.¡±


    The copyright for the previously created design drawings now belonged to Xavi.


    Xylia had not yet properly designed a gown for herself.


    Kaden dotingly gave Xylia a couple of gentle pats on the head. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get it ready for you. Go get some rest¨Cjust look at those dark circles under your eyes.¡±


    Xylia smiled and went straight upstairs.


    *****


    9:42 Wed, Sep 17


    The following evening, Xylia received the dress that Kaden had prepared for her.


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    The silver¨Cwhite strapless gown featured jewel embellishments on the skirt and a fitted waist design that entuated the waistline.


    Kaden also hired a top¨Ctier makeup team to style her, and two hourster, Xylia came downstairs.


    Kaden looked Xylia up and down.


    Her exquisite face was adorned with exquisite makeup. All her long hair was swept up at the back of her head, with a few loose strands falling gracefully beside her ears, intertwining with emerald¨Cgreen earrings. Her delicate features and gentle temperament made her appear especially captivating.


    Kaden nodded with satisfaction. ¡°Not bad.¡±


    Xylia was also quite satisfied with her


    appearance.


    She took Kaden¡¯s arm and got into the car bound for the charity g.


    The charity g was held aboard a cruise ship at a seaside location in Norhill.


    When Xylia and Kaden boarded the ship, the banquet had already begun.


    The banquet hall was elegant and luxurious, and the guests attending the dinner were either wealthy or of noble status.


    As soon as Kaden entered the banquet hall, someone called him over.


    Kaden lowered his head and said to Xylia, ¡°The charity event has not officially started yet. Go to the dining area over there and have something to eat. I wille and find you shortly.¡±


    Xylia gave a slight nod, and then Kaden left.


    Xylia walked in the direction indicated by Kaden and soon arrived at the dining area.


    A variety of desserts and alcoholic beverages were arranged in a row, and even the decorations were iid with luxurious jewels.


    It was the first time Xylia had attended such avish banquet.


    <b>It </b>certainly lived up to its reputation as thergest charity g in Norhill.


    A familiar child¡¯s voice came from below. ¡°Mommy? Howe you are here?¡±


    Xylia lowered her gaze and immediately saw Sonny standing by her.


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    He was dressed in a tailored suit, with a ck bow tie at the cor, and a precious ck diamond set at the center of the bow tie.


    Small as he was, his hair waspletelybed back, revealing a handsome and clear little


    face.


    He looked at her with wide eyes and called her ¡®Mommy,¡® as if there had never been any estrangement between them.


    He asked again, ¡°Howe you¡¯re here?¡±


    ¡°Sonny!¡± The voice of Tessa came from behind.


    Sonny looked at Xylia with aplicated expression, then turned and ran toward Tessa.


    Xylia set down the small te in her hand and turned to look.


    Tessa wore a ck satin gown, her long hair cascading over her shoulders. Her makeup was refined, and therge earrings entuated her innate wildness. As a dancer, her exceptional physique was disyed to its fullest.


    Sonny ran up to her, and she frowned and asked with concern, ¡°Did you not promise Mommy that you would not wander off? Why are you engaging in conversation with strangers so casually?¡±


    After she finished speaking, Tessa only then raised her gaze, as if she had just noticed Xylia, and deliberately said in a surprised tone, ¡°Ah! Xylia! You¡¯re dressed so beautifully now that I didn¡¯t recognize you at first. You didn¡¯te alone, did you? Isn¡¯t your old boyfriend with you?¡±


    Every time Xylia heard Tessa speak, she couldn¡¯t help but want to shut her up.


    Tessa¡¯s speech consistently blended a gentle tone with an undercurrent of hostility, deliberately targeting Xylia for attack.


    For example, she deliberately imed to be Sonny¡¯s mother in front of Xylia, or she intentionally mentioned her old boyfriend, leading outsiders to misinterpret him as her sugar daddy.


    Fortunately, Xylia was not very concerned about these things now,


    She had no desire to pay attention.


    However, the two women apanying Tessa sized up Xylia with undisguised contempt. ¡°Tessa, <b>is </b>this the sister you mentioned?¡±


    The other one said, ¡°She¡¯s got that vixen look, but I didn¡¯t expect her to be so not picky when


    9:42 Wed, Sep 17


    ¡­


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    ites to men. Hey! Who¡¯s your geezer boyfriend? Come on, tell us so we can check him out!¡±


    Tessa deliberately covered her mouth and spoke with evident frustration, ¡°I misspoke earlier. My sister¡¯s boyfriend is not a geezer, but rather a chauffeur employed by the Garcia family. My sister even divorced her husband for this chauffeur. They are truly in love.¡±


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    As soon as Tessa finished speaking, the two women beside her looked at Xylia with even greater contempt. ¡°The Garcia family¡¯s chauffeur? Seriously? That kind of guy?¡±


    The other one said, ¡°Tessa, your sister is quite clever. She spends her old boyfriend¡¯s money while keeping the Garcia family¡¯s chauffeur as her lover. Just look at what she¡¯s wearing¨Cthose are certainly not clothes a chauffeur could afford to give her.¡±


    Tessa had noticed the gown on Xylia long ago.


    Not only was the style trendy, but the skirt wasvishly covered with rhinestones as if cost were no object, with its luxury evident everywhere.


    It was considerably more ornate than the gown Tessa was wearing.


    Tessa let out a cold snort. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by how wealthy my sister appears; in truth, she is despicable to her very core and miserably poor to her bones. Otherwise, she could never have stolen the identity of the Schultz family¡¯s heiress for eighteen years.¡±


    As soon as Tessa finished speaking, a wealthy¨Clooking woman standing not far from Xylia


    cried out in shock.


    The attention of the crowd was drawn to her.


    She eximed, ¡°Damn it! Where is my ring? It was clearly on the stage just now!¡±


    The noblewoman was adorned with countless pieces of jewelry, and even her ten fingers were covered with all kinds of rings.


    She had just declined the server¡¯s offer to serve her cake and chose to do it herself. While doing so, she removed the emerald ring from her right thumb and ced it on the table. However, in the blink of an eye, it suddenly vanished.


    Xylia was closest to her, and the noblewoman¡¯s scrutinizing gaze fell upon her. ¡°Was it you who stole my ring?¡±


    Xylia frowned and looked at her. ¡°I did not take your ring.¡±


    The noblewoman red at her. ¡°Clearly, you were the closest to me. If you didn¡¯t take it, then


    who did?¡±


    Xylia asked, ¡°Could it have fallen to the floor?¡±


    The noblewoman said angrily, ¡°Nonsense! If it had fallen on the floor, I would have seen it. Besides, I searched everywhere and still couldn¡¯t find it. You must have taken it!¡±


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    Xylia was somewhat at a loss for words.


    Just as she was about to continue exining, the wealthy woman stepped forward and seized Xylia¡¯s hand, demanding fiercely, ¡°Return my ring at once! Do you know how much that ring costs? My husband went to great lengths to get me that fine emerald ring. Even your life wouldn¡¯t fetch as much as that ring!¡±


    Upon seeing this, Tessa and her two besties could not help but mock. ¡°Xylia<b>, </b>even if you¡¯vetched onto a rich guy and managed to get into this top¨Ctier g, it still doesn¡¯t change the fact that you¡¯re just a shabby pretender!¡±


    One of her friends said, ¡°You¡¯re even stealing at a charity g. If the organizers find out, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be kicked off the ship.¡±


    The other one said mockingly, ¡°I don¡¯t think so. The ship has already set sail; at this point, it¡¯s not about getting off the ship, but about jumping into the sea!¡±


    Tessa let her two close friends ridicule Xylia.


    Themotion in this area was considerable. Observing the increasing number of onlookers, Xylia realized that she could not afford topromise her reputation at the charity g.


    Even if not for herself, she must clear her own name to avoid disgracing the Sadler family. ¡°There must be surveince at the venue. If you pull up the footage and take a look, you¡¯ll know whether I stole the ring or not.¡±


    Tessa said, ¡°Xylia, are you not aware? There is no surveince in this venue, so even if you take the ring, there will be no witnesses. You should return the ring to this ma¡¯am as soon as possible; otherwise, if she gets angry, the consequences could be serious.¡±


    The well¨Cdressed woman addressed as ¡°ma¡¯am¡± appeared somewhat displeased and turned her head to re at Tessa.


    Tessa picked at her nails and shrugged, indicating that she was telling the truth.


    Xylia had not anticipated that there would be no surveince at this venue.


    She wondered, ¡®Isn¡¯t there usually surveince at such an important banquet?¡®


    She had no time to continue thinking; she suddenly looked at Sonny. ¡°You were right beside me just now. You should have seen whether I took the ring<i>, </i>right?¡±


    At that moment, Xylia still held onto hope. Even if Sonny was dissatisfied with her <b>as </b>his mother, he was still <b>a </b>child and would not tell many lies.


    Regrettably, she was wrong.


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    Sonny nced at her, then looked at the noblewoman who was grabbing her.


    He spoke with absolute certainty, ¡°She¡¯s the one who took it. I saw it.¡±


    Xylia frowned as she looked at Sonny.


    Sonny¡¯s eyes were clear, yet Xylia saw a little demon within them.


    Xylia felt a dull ache in her heart. It was not that she was hurt by Sonny¡¯s nder, but rather by her own disappointment in herself.


    She didn¡¯t know how she ended up teaching Sonny to be like this.


    Upon hearing Sonny¡¯s words, the noblewoman became even more animated.


    She red fiercely at Xylia, pressing both hands forcefully on her wrists. ¡°Return my ring to me!¡±


    She pressed on Xylia¡¯s old wrist injury, and she struggled. ¡°I said I didn¡¯t take your ring, but I can help you look for it. Maybe it fell on the floor.¡±


    The noblewoman yelled fiercely, ¡°Are you trying to secretly return the stolen ring to me while we¡¯re searching? You bitch, I¡¯ll make you suffer!¡±


    Waves of intense pain radiated from Xylia¡¯s wrist.


    She raised her hand and forcefully shoved the noblewoman away. The noblewoman¡¯s long fingernails scraped across Xylia¡¯s forearm, leaving several gashes from which blood flowed freely.


    Xylia winced in pain.


    The crowd of onlookers grewrger andrger, while Xylia kept thinking of ways to escape.


    The noblewoman appeared not to notice the bloodstains on Xylia¡¯s arm. After being pushed away, she became thoroughly enraged and lunged at Xylia once more. ¡°If you don¡¯t return my ring today, I¡¯ll make you pay terribly!¡±


    Xylia stepped aside, and a clear, crisp voice rang out from the crowd. ¡°She didn¡¯t steal the ring. I¡¯ve recorded a video here¨Ctake a good look yourself.¡±


    Xylia turned her head, then saw Gina emerge from the crowd.


    She wore the gown designed by Xylia, with refined makeup and her hair <b>styled </b>in an updo, presenting <b>an </b>elegant and dignified appearance.


    She held a mobile phone in her hand, and the screen was <b>disying </b>everything that had just


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    Xylia was holding a te and choosing desserts when Sonny suddenly walked up beside her and called to her.


    At that moment, beside Xylia, the noblewoman was removing her ring while picking up food with her fork. As she did so, she identally touched the ring, causing it to fall into a gap in the dining table.


    Gina looked at the server behind the dining table. ¡°Check if there is a ring at the back.¡±


    The waiter bent down and looked at the floor, and indeed saw the ring lying near the edge of the table.


    He picked it up and handed it to the noblewoman, saying, ¡°I am sorry, I did not see your ring fall in either.¡±


    The ring had been found, and there was video evidence. It had no connection to Xylia.


    After taking the ring back, the noblewoman¡¯s gaze wandered guiltily.


    Gina looked at her and said, ¡°Now that the ring has been found, shouldn¡¯t you offer an apology?¡±


    As she spoke, Gina again noticed the bloodstains on Xylia¡¯s forearm and continued, ¡°Furthermore, she has been injured. Should you notpensate her for medical expenses and emotional distress? Otherwise, if she files a defamation im against you, my video will serve as evidence to convict you.¡±


    The noblewoman was startled by Gina¡¯s words.


    She really did not dare to go to the police station.


    She quickly apologized to Xylia, saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I misunderstood you. But you shouldn¡¯t me me entirely. Those three people and the child all testified that it was you, which is why I was so certain.¡±


    The ones singled out by the noblewoman turned visibly pale.


    <b>9:43 Wed</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>17 </b>

 Tricked 138

    <b>Chapter 138 </b>


    :


    Tessa¡¯s eyes darted as she prepared to make a preemptive move.


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    She looked at Gina and said, ¡°Mobile phones are not allowed in the banquet hall. Why are you breaking the rules? You should know I can report you right now and have the organizers kick you out.¡±


    Gina crossed her arms and looked at Tessa.


    She knew Tessa, who was the Chief Dancer.


    After spraining her ankle some time ago, Tessa had not participated in any dancepetitions since.


    She even missed thepetition for the Chief Dancer title, and now the title belonged to someone else.


    The two people beside Tessa looked at Gina and suddenly burst intoughter. ¡°I was wondering who it was¨Cturns out it¡¯s you, Gina rk. The new starlet who climbed the ranks through the casting couch. No wonder you two are together.


    ¡°Someone of your status wouldn¡¯t have been invited by the organizers. Did you sneak in?


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to tell the organizers and kick you out!¡±


    Gina¡¯s expression grew somber.


    Xylia suddenly let out a softugh and stepped forward to take Gina¡¯s phone.


    She shielded Gina behind him without betraying any emotion.


    Then, she slid the video¡¯s progress bar forward and sessfully saw the footage showing <b>Tessa</b>, her friends, and Sonny framing her.


    She smiled and said, ¡°The organizer did not prohibit everyone from bringing mobile phones. You chose not to bring yours, but you can¡¯t stop others from doing it.¡±


    As she spoke, she held up that video clip in front of Tessa. ¡°Ms. Schultz<b>, </b>why don¡¯t you post this video online and let everyone judge for themselves if you¡¯re wrong?<b>¡± </b>


    One of Tessa¡¯s friends mocked, ¡°Even if you post this video online, we¡¯re just making a fewments without knowing the full story. Do you really think you¡¯re somebody that so manyizens would stand behind you?¡±


    Xylia said calmly, ¡°Is that so? Would you like to give it a try?¡±


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    Xylia paid no attention to what the two said; her eyes were fixed only on Tessa¡¯s face.


    She wasn¡¯t familiar with others, but she knew Tessa extremely well.


    Tessa¡¯s dancing skills were not top¨Cnotch; her appointment as chief dancer was merely the result of Connor¡¯s behind¨Cthe¨Cscenes maniption.


    Back then in Jupiton, Tessa deliberately arranged to sprain her ankle in order to avoid participating in this year¡¯s round of the principal dancepetition because she knew she would not win this year.


    Leon said that Tessa had previously taken the initiative to approach him and make friends, which suggested she intended to enter the entertainment industry.


    Before she officially entered the entertainment industry, she would not actually reveal her own scandals to the public.


    The influence of this video was limited, but Gina currently had some online poprity. If this matter started to ferment online, there would definitely be some stir.


    Xylia knew that Tessa did not dare to take the risk.


    As expected, Tessa, with a livid expression, looked at Xylia and, after a long pause, finally spoke, ¡°I wrongly used you, Xylia. I hope you will not be upset.¡±


    The two beside Tessa looked at her, both appearing somewhat stunned.


    However, upon seeing Tessa¡¯s nce signaling them not to continue speaking, they inevitably suppressed their impulse to continue speaking.


    Xylia returned the mobile phone to Gina.


    She no longer wished to speak with them and took Gina by the hand, about to leave.


    Tessa suddenly said, ¡°But Xylia, even Sonny doesn¡¯t trust your character. You¡¯re really too much of a failure.¡±


    Xylia lowered her head and looked at Sonny,


    Sonny had justmitted perjury once again, thrusting her into another conflict.


    She saw Sonny lower his eyes, guiltily avoiding her gaze.


    She gave a nonchnt smile. ¡°For you, Ms. Schultz, he is willing tomit perjury time and again, and repeatedly harm his own biological mother. Children, after all, do not yetprehend the concept of moral character.¡±


    9:43 Wed, Sep 17


    With that, she left arm in arm with Gina.


    However, Sonny was frightened pale by the words left behind by Xylia.


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    He watched her departing figure, his entire body immobilized as if nailed to the spot.


    It turned out that she was aware.


    She knew that the false testimony about the hit¨Cand¨Crun was deliberately fabricated by him. She knows the repeated harm inflicted upon her by him and Connor.


    At that moment, Sonny felt his blood freeze and his mind gopletely nk.


    Tessa called out to Sonny twice, but he did not hear her.


    It was not until Tessa gently patted his face that he came back to his senses. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Tessa?¡±


    Tessa frowned. ¡°Why are you still calling me Tessa? I¡¯m your mom now.¡±


    ¡°Mom¡­ Mom¡­¡± He mumbled the word twice, struggling to finally utter it.


    He found it strange. In the past, he was eager for Tessa to be his mother as soon as possible.


    But now that Tessa had truly be his mother, he was, on the contrary, less happy.


    Had he not kept pestering to attend the dinner together today, he would have been left at the hotel.


    However, aftering along, when he saw all kinds of unfamiliarity in Xylia¡¯s eyes, he felt afraid again and regretted havinge with Tessa.


    Tessa said, ¡°By the way, you did really well just now¨Chow about I reward you with some dessert?¡±


    When Sonny heard the word ¡®dessert,¡® he felt a throbbing pain in his mrs.


    During this period, he ate sweets whenever he wanted, and Tessa continually provided him with candy; as a result, he developed cavities.


    In the past, Xylia certainly would not have allowed him to eat so many candies,


    If he had cavities, Xylia was also undoubtedly the first to notice.


    Sonny shook his head. ¡°Mommy, I have a toothache and don¡¯t want to eat desserts.¡±


    9:43 Wed, Sep 17


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    Tessa said nonchntly, ¡°It¡¯s just a toothache; it shouldn¡¯t affect your appetite, right? Just go ahead, Sonny. After you finish cating, I will take you to see the dentist. Once you¡¯ve seen the dentist, I guarantee the cavity will be gone soon.¡±


    After Sonny heard Tessa¡¯s gentle words, the sadness in his heart gradually faded.


    He thought, ¡°Tessa still treats me well. The mom I chose will certainly not be wrong!


    Xylia took Gina to the sofa beside the dining area, and they sat down.


    Xylia was indeed somewhat hungry. After asking the server to serve them some desserts and wine, she only then started chatting with Gina.


    Gina smiled and looked at Xylia. ¡°I did not expect you toe. I saw you from a distance just now, but since you were dressed so formally, I was afraid I might mistake you for someone else. I spent quite some time confirming it was you. I intended to record a video to tease you, but unexpectedly, the video turned out to be useful.¡±


    Xylia picked up a ss of champagne and raised it toward Gina. ¡°Thank you for what you did.¡±


    ¡°No worries.¡± With that, Gina clinked sses with Xylia. ¡°But why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier that you were alsoing to the g?¡±


    Xylia replied, ¡°My brother only arranged for me toe here when I got homest night, and I don¡¯t know if the charity g you attended is this one.¡±


    Gina was puzzled. ¡°Your brother?¡±


    Xylia nodded, nced around, and, not seeing Kaden, abandoned the idea of pointing him out to Gina.


    She said directly, ¡°My brother is Kaden Sadler.¡±


    ¡°Kaden Sadler?¡± Gina was stunned, and her voice rose by several decibels, drawing repeated nces from some of those who had not yet dispersed.


    Xylia made a ¡°shh¡± sound toward her.


    Only then did Gina realize and lowered her voice to say to Xylia, ¡°Are you a member of the Sadler family?¡±


    Xylia nodded slightly.


    Gina was totally dumbfounded. ¡°Damn! You¡¯re already part of the Sadler family¨Cwhy would you still open your own studio? I thought you were just like me, quietly working your way up from nothing. Turns out I put my trust in the wrong person after all!¡±


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    Xylia looked at Gina helplessly. ¡°Josie has told me everything¡ªyou¡¯re a secret rich heiress, not from a humble background.¡±


    Gina shook her head. ¡°Butpared to the Sadler family, I¡¯m just a nobody.¡±


    She sat up and stared hard at Xylia. ¡°The Sadler family is a prominent wealthy family in Norhill and even throughout all of Alvend, with assets amounting to hundreds of millions. Your brother has repeatedly ranked among the top five on international rich lists. With your current worth, is it truly necessary for you to establish a studio?¡±


    Xylia was aware that the Sadler Group was highly renowned.


    But when a friend said it, she found it kind of interesting.


    It appeared that she had not really gotten to know the family she currently belonged to.


    Xylia just said, ¡°Everyone must discover their own value. Aren¡¯t you also working hard in the entertainment industry without relying on your family?¡±


    Gina smiled as she looked at Xylia, her eyes filled with admiration. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect we were alike.¡±


    They kept chatting. When Gina saw the productionpany she was looking for, she excused herself from Xylia and then left.


    Kaden was likely engaged in conversation with his businessman friends and had note to find Xylia for quite some time.


    Xylia sat for a while, then stood up to look for the restroom.


    She walked along the edge of the cruise ship¡¯s corridor, thinking that the restroom might be at the end of the hallway.


    She lifted her skirt and walked in that direction.


    After leaving the restroom and walking through the corridor again, Xylia looked out at the deck through the corridor¡¯s transparent ss window and saw two familiar figures.


    It was Joshua and Connor.


    Xylia had not anticipated that Joshua would also attend this charity banquet.


    The cruise ship was pursuing the setting sun toward the center of the sea, as the sky turned orange and illuminated the two figures on the deck.


    9:43 Wed, Sep 17


    Connor suddenly grabbed Joshua by the cor and raised his fist fiercely.


    Xylia moved nervously toward the window.


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    In the next second, Joshua reversed his hand to break free from Connor¡¯s grip and punched him in the face.


    Connor staggered backward several steps before managing, with difficulty, to steady himself.


    Joshua pped his hands, said something to Connor¨Cthough Xylia didn¡¯t know what he said


    -and then turned to walk toward the banquet hall.


    Connor stood still for a moment, as if calming himself. Just as he turned to re¨Center the banquet hall, he caught sight of a figure in the nearby cabin out of the corner of his eye.


    He saw Xylia standing before the ss window. She was dressed in splendid attire, and her gaze was resolute.


    It felt as if they were worlds apart; at this moment, he found Xylia both unfamiliar and distant.


    Xylia did not linger by the corridor and, turning slightly, walked toward the banquet venue.


    Connor watched her leave; his pupils contracted slightly, and he unexpectedly felt a wave of


    fear in his heart.


    It seemed that Xylia, who loved him deeply, was gradually drifting away from him, just as she was doing at that very moment.


    Right then, his mind was nk as he strode toward the banquet.


    Xylia had just returned to the main hall when she ran into Kaden.


    Kaden was somewhat concerned. ¡°Where did you go?¡±


    After finishing his conversation with an old friend, he returned to look for Xylia and, while doing <i>so</i><i>, </i>overheard some gossip.


    Fearing that Xylia might be bullied, he hurried over to find her.


    Only after confirming that Xylia¡¯splexion was rosy and her demeanorposed did his anxious heart gradually rx.


    Xylia answered, ¡°I went to the restroom. Are you done with your business?<b>¡± </b>


    Kaden nodded. ¡°The banquet is about to begin. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    9:43 Wed, Sep 17


    Xylia linked arms with Kaden and walked toward the banquet seats.


    Their seats were positioned closer to the front.


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    Xylia and Kaden had just taken their seats when a familiar fragrance drifted over from Xylia¡¯s other side.


    Xylia turned back and met Joshua¡¯s smiling eyes. ¡°Xylia, we meet again.¡±


    Xylia thought helplessly, ¡°Here we go again.¡±


    Xylia looked at him and pointed to the namete on his seat. ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem to be ce, right?¡±


    Joshua shrugged. ¡°I changed seats.¡±


    Xylia asked, ¡°Where is your original seat?¡±


    Joshua raised his hand and pointed forward.


    your


    Xylia looked in the direction indicated by Joshua and saw an awkward and uneasy old man seated in the most central and frontmost seat.


    At high¨Cend evening events of this nature, the seats located at the very front, center, and with the best view were typically reserved for individuals of the highest status.


    Since Joshua¡¯s alternate identity was exposed, he had not made any deliberate effort to keep a low profile.


    Xylia looked at him helplessly.


    Kaden suddenly grasped Xylia¡¯s wrist and said calmly, ¡°Xylia,e take


    my


    seat.¡±


    Xylia asked, ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Kaden just said, ¡°I don¡¯t have a good view here¨Cmind if we switch ces?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s position was rtively central.


    She didn¡¯t give it much thought and directly exchanged with Kaden.


    Kaden sat down beside Joshua and turned his head to look at him. His gaze was cold and indifferent.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, why do you choose not to sit in a prime seat and insteade to sit here?¡±


    Joshua, in fact, was not angry; a faint smile always hung on his lips. ¡°A front position is not


    <b>9:43 </b>Wed, <i>Sep </i>17


    necessarily a good one; it is my privilege to be seated alongside you, Mr. Sadler.¡±


    Kaden cast him a cold nce and did not say anything more.


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    Connor, seated in the second row not far from them, saw how Xylia interacted with Kaden and Joshua, and could not help but feel a sense of doubt.


    He wondered, ¡®Xylia is clearly on better terms with Kaden Sadler; could it be that he is the sugar daddy she found in Norhill?


    ¡®No wonder he was so supportive of Xylia at Caperson Bistrost time. It turns out he was already interested in her back then.


    ¡®And what about Joshua Garcia? Isn¡¯t he the chauffeur for the Garcia family?


    ¡®Howe he¡¯s seated so close to the front at this charity g?


    ¡®And he¡¯s sitting so close to Kaden Sadler, yet the two of them haven¡¯t started fighting?¡®


    Connor kept feeling that something was not quite right.


    While he was lost in thought, on the other side, Tessa noticed Connor staring intently in Xylia¡¯s direction, and her expression gradually darkened. ¡°Connor, are you looking at Xylia?¡±


    Connor finally returned to his senses when he heard Tessa¡¯s voice. ¡°I¡¯m just thinking about things.¡±


    Tessa asked, ¡°What are you thinking about? You seem so absorbed.¡±


    Observing Tessa¡¯s persistent questioning, Connor decisively shifted the topic. ¡°Where¡¯s Sonny?¡±


    Tessa knew she could not press too hard and also followed his lead in shifting the topic. ¡°Sonny is still young, and this asion is not suitable for him, so I have taken him to his room


    to rest.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s alone in the hotel?¡± Connor was clearly uneasy.


    Tessa said calmly, ¡°Sonny is not a little kid anymore. You should stop worrying about him so


    much.¡±


    Connor slightly furrowed his brows.


    Sonny was only a six¨Cyear¨Cold child, so how could he possibly feel at ease?


    The charity event did not conclude until nearly midnight.


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    Under the guidance of Kaden, Xylia became acquainted with many individuals in the businessmunity.


    These people all had expertise in the apparel industry, and Xylia Studio could briefly coborate with some of them during the initial phase.


    <b>***** </b>


    Joshua, acting on his father¡¯s instructions, discussed the recent project with a foreign magnate and reached a preliminary cooperation agreement.


    Having just concluded a discussion with this foreign tycoon, he saw Burke as he stepped out.


    Burke was making a phone call at the end of the corridor. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have found an excellent designer in Norhill, and I guarantee that she will be ourpany¡¯s most outstanding chief designer. I haven¡¯t managed to poach her yet, but with my abilities, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be able to lure her over to ourpany very soon.¡±


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    Burke hung up the phone and, turning around, saw Joshua standing behind him.


    He first stiffened, then rxed, and smiled as he looked at Joshua. ¡°Mr. Garcia, you walk so quietly.¡±


    Joshua looked at him expressionlessly and asked, ¡°Which designer do you intend to poach?¡±


    Burke shrugged his shoulders with a smile. ¡°Apart from Miss Xylia Sadler, who else could possibly catch my eye?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s face grew somber. ¡°Did I not warn you to stay away from her?¡±


    ¡°By all rights, I should heed your warning. However, Mr. Garcia, do not forget that I am also a businessman. Businessmen always weigh the pros and cons. Compared to the benefits that Ms. Sadler can bring me, your threat is truly insignificant.¡± With that, Burke walked up to Joshua.


    The two men, simr in height, stood face¨Cto¨Cface. Although their temperaments differed, the collision of their equally domineering auras generated an invisible sense of


    pressure.


    Burke continued, ¡°Mr. Garcia, do not forget everything that happened five years ago in Kregonia.¡±


    A ruthless glint shed in Joshua¡¯s eyes, and his hands, hanging at his sides, were tightly clenched into fists.


    Burke sneered and attempted to get past Joshua to leave.


    However, Joshua suddenly raised his hand and pressed down on Burke¡¯s shoulders.


    Burke felt an immense pressure descend upon his shoulders, from which he could not break free.


    ¡°Since we¡¯re talking about five years ago, you haven¡¯t forgotten the omnipresent blood in that building, right?¡± A faint smile appeared at the corners of Joshua¡¯s lips, bloodthirsty and cruel.


    He continued, ¡°If you so much asy a hand on her, I don¡¯t mind making you relive that heart¨Cstopping scene from before.¡±


    The smile vanishedpletely from Burke¡¯s face.


    When he met Joshua¡¯s cold gaze, he fell silent.


    Joshua stopped wasting words with him and turned to leave.


    9:44 Wed, Sep 17


    By the time midnight arrived, Xylia was already very tired.


    The cruise ship would not begin its return voyage until tomorrow morning.


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    After saying goodnight to Kaden and requesting a room card from the attendant, she was about to return to her own room.


    After taking the elevator up ten floors, as Xylia reached the doorway, she was grabbed by


    someone.


    She instinctively screamed, and then that man covered her mouth tightly.


    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± A familiar voice sounded from behind.


    Xylia immediately broke free from his grasp and turned to face him.


    She saw Connor standing beneath the dim lights of the corridor, his gaze unfocused and his face tinged with a slight flush.


    As he spoke, the smell of alcohol wafted from his mouth; he obviously looked drunk.


    Xylia was irritated. ¡°Connor, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    Connor let out a derisiveugh and took two steps forward, approaching Xylia.


    However, Xylia recoiled in fear.


    Connor said very calmly, ¡°Xylia, you really are something. After forcing me to divorce you¡¯re just living it up in Norhill. One chauffeur wasn¡¯t enough for you¨Cyou even got involved with the Sadler family¡¯s heir. Just how despicable can you be?¡±


    you,


    Although Xylia felt angry, she knew there was nothing to say to a drunkard.


    She observed Connor¡¯s position, considering how she could avoid him while swiping her card to enter the room and then locking him outside.


    Noticing that Xylia had remained silent, Connor became somewhat angry.


    He reached out to grasp her hand.


    Xylia noticed his movement and turned to evade his attack.


    Connor lurched forward, nearly falling to the floor.


    Xylia seized the opportunity to run to the room door, took out her room card, and was about to swipe it to enter.


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    Just as the beep sounded, before Xylia could grasp the door handle, Connor took hold of her


    wrist.


    With a forceful motion, Connor acted; Xylia felt the world spin as her back mmed heavily against the door.


    Her coiled hair was loosened by the impact, and the long, curly locks cascaded down.


    Connor was about to speak, but seeing Xylia in this state made him pause.


    Her eyes were bright and pitifully delicate, her features beautiful. Her long hair fell down, with several strands slipping along her neck and into her bodice.


    Connor suddenly thought about the time when he and Xylia were still married.


    It was characterized by perfect harmony and boundless joy.


    Now, those lingering, enchanting memories once again flooded his mind, and he instantly forgot what he was about to say.


    Instead, his mind was incessantly urging him to kiss her.


    He thought about it and did so.


    Xylia noticed his movement and immediately turned her head, which made his kissnd in


    vain.


    Xylia immediately took the opportunity and kicked at him.


    Only the sound of Connor letting out a muffled groan could be heard as he clutched his crotch where he had been kicked, softly moaning in pain.


    Xylia forcefully wiped the spot on her face where he had touched her, her eyes filled with disgust. ¡°Get lost, Connor! Stop acting crazy here!¡±


    Xylia grasped the door handle and opened the door.


    As soon as she entered, Connor braced his palm against the door. Xylia did not have his strength and, after quite a while, still couldn¡¯t close it.


    Xylia was terrified. ¡°Connor! What exactly are you trying to do?¡±


    Connor seemed to regain some rity. When he looked up at Xylia, his gaze was no longer vacant and unfocused; instead, it carried a hint of aversion. ¡°Xylia, are you aware that Sonny has been ill these past few days and has been constantly calling for his mommy?¡±


    Xylia frowned. ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡±


    9:44 Wed, Sep 17


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    She thought, ¡®Sonny already has a new mother. When he falls ill and calls out ¡®Mommy,¡® why would he be calling me?¡®


    Connor felt a surge of anger upon seeing Xylia¡¯s indifferent attitude. ¡°How could you? After the divorce, you don¡¯t even care about your child?¡±


    After being entangled for such a long time, Xylia also became angry.


    She red angrily at Connor. ¡°We are already divorced, and Sonny¡¯s custody is with you. Isn¡¯t it only natural that I don¡¯t care for him? Furthermore, now it is Tessa who is Sonny¡¯s mother. No matter what happens to him, you should note looking for me.¡±


    Upon hearing the words that Tessa was Sonny¡¯s mother, Connor felt a sense of inexplicable uneasiness.


    Confronted once again with Xylia¡¯s angry and disgusted gaze, he found himself utterly unable to justify himself. ¡°Xylia, the situation with Tessa isn¡¯t what you think. I¡­¡±


    Xylia spoke up and interrupted him before he could finish speaking. ¡°Whatever you do, it no longer concerns me. If you don¡¯t leave now, I will call security.¡±


    When Connor saw the impatience and disgust in Xylia¡¯s eyes, he tried to suppress the dull pain in his heart, but this only gave rise to waves of uncontroble frustration.


    ¡°No longer concerns you?¡± Connor let out a coldugh. ¡°Xylia, I have stood by you for eight years¨Cseven of them as your husband. Are you really going to dismiss all of that so lightly? Are you really that heartless? Can the past truly be severed just because you say so?¡±


    Xylia let out a mockingugh, her gaze toward Connor devoid of any warmth. ¡°Me? Heartless?


    <i>¡°</i>Connor, we have been married for seven years. Sonny is six years old. I have devoted myself to being a homemaker, focusing all my attention on our family, yet you have been secretly in love with Tessa all along.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you marry me just <i>so </i>Tessa could fulfill her wish to marry Qadir?¡±


    When Xylia mentioned this, Connor felt a sudden jolt in his heart.


    He looked at Xylia with a hint of guilt in his eyes. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    Xylia said, ¡°You have always been helping Tessa scheme. Shemitted a hit¨Cand¨Crun and fled the scene, and you and Sonny colluded to give false testimony and put the me on me,


    ¡°My limbs were injured, and your dy in providing medical treatment rendered them crippled. This was also done to ensure that Tessa could secure the position of chief dancer.


    ¡°But have you ever considered that I have been a housewife for seven years? What


    9:44 Wed, Sep 17


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    opportunity do I have to return to the stage, or topete with Tessa for that honor?¡±

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    Every word Xylia spoke felt like a needle piercing Connor¡¯s heart.


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    With each sentence spoken by Xylia, hisplexion grew increasingly pale; by the end, his gaze had once again be vacant <b>and </b>dull.


    Xylia saw the hand he used to block the door tremble as it clenched into a fist.


    She was thinking of closing the door now to rid herself of this detestable drunkard.


    Unexpectedly, the drunkard was still forcefully pressing against the door.


    Connor muttered, ¡°Xylia<b>, </b>all of this is my fault. But Tessa¡­ the life she was meant to have was taken away by you. I am repaying the debt on <b>your </b><b>behalf</b>.¡±


    Connor now finally understood why Xylia acted so uncharacteristically¨Calmost with crazed determination- resolutely insisting on divorcing him three months ago.


    It turned out she had known all along. He made her take the me to protect Tessa and even broke her limbs.


    No wonder he had previously sensed that something <b>was </b>amiss with Xylia; she hated him.


    Xylia was sick of such words.


    She no longer wished to engage in arguments with him.


    ¡°I did not interfere with her life. If you have feelings for her, do not use me as an excuse. From the moment we received our divorce certificate, there has been no rtionship between us.¡± With that, Xylia used both hands in an attempt to close the <b>door</b>.


    But Connor suddenly straightened <b>up </b><b>and</b>, with great force, pushed the entire door open.


    Startled, Xylia had no time to react before Connor once again seized her hand and pressed her against the


    <b>entryway</b>.


    ¡°Do you hate me? Do you hate me right now?¡± Connor stared at Xylia <b>as </b>if possessed.


    Xylia attempted to repeat her previous tactic and kick him, but he restrained her legs, leaving her unable to


    move.


    ¡°Connor, let go now!¡± She struggled desperately, ring angrily at Connor as she fought.


    Connor looked at Xylia in this state and, to his surprise, felt somewhat reassured.


    He suddenly smiled and muttered, ¡°Your hatred for me only proves that you still love me. Without love, there can be no hare.


    Xylia thought <b>that </b>he had lost his mind.


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    She yelled. Let go of me!¡±


    Connor said. ¡°However, Xylia, even if you hate me, you should not willingly degrade yourself by seeking one patron after another to <b>protect </b>you. Yes, Kaden Sadler is rich, but what¡¯s with Joshua Garcia? You even fancy a lousy chauffeur like him. Are you really that desperate, or are you just not picky and will take any <b>man</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    His remarks became increasingly inappropriate.


    Xylia¡¯s checks flushed with anger, but she could only resign herself helplessly to Connor¡¯s methods.


    Connor was smelling the <b>familiar </b>fragrance on Xylia, then suddenly buried his head in her neck, drawing in


    her scent.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears; her struggle grew more intense.


    ¡°Help!¡± she shouted loudly.


    Connor hooked the room door with his foot and was about to kick it shut..


    Just after exiting the elevator, Joshua heard Xylia¡¯s cry for help. His gaze sharpened, and he ran over in a few


    steps.


    As he saw Connor holding Xylia, his eyes immediately reddened, ¡°Go to hell!¡±


    He <b>kicked </b>open the door just <b>as </b>it <b>was </b>about to <b>close</b>, grabbed Connor by the back of his <b>cor</b>, and immediately punched him.


    Connor fell to the floor, a metallic tang spreading in his mouth.


    He became somewhat more clear¨Cheaded.


    Seeing Joshuaforting Xylia in his arms made my anger re up instantly. Joshua Garcia, don¡¯t forget <b>that </b>you¡¯re the Garcia family¡¯s chauffeur. Even if your position is lowly, you still have a chance to get ahead <b>thanks </b>to the Garcias. How could you possibly be interested in a shameless slut like Xylia<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Joshua gently patted Xylia on the back. Upon hearing Connor¡¯s words, he calmly spoke in her ear, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. Let me handle this.¡±


    He let Xylia go back to her room. Then, he closed the door before he walked toward Connor.


    Step by step, he walked silently across the soft carpet, an endless sense of oppression apanying him <b>as </b>he approached Connor, whoy on the floor.


    Connor was intoxicated, and his reactions were half a beat slower than usual.


    It <b>was </b><b>not </b>until Joshua walked up to him and grabbed the front of his cor that he finally reacted.


    Joshua said gloomily, ¡°Connor Ford, you failed to cherish what you <b>had </b>and repeatedly debased yourself in front of Xylia. Now, you <b>must </b>bear the consequences yourself.¡±


    Connor had not yet grasped what Joshua meant by his words.


    1


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    However, when confronted with Joshua¡¯s eyes as terrifying as a <b>demon¡¯s</b>, he felt waves of bone¨Cchilling cold. spread throughout his body.


    ¡°<b>You</b>¡­¡± <b>As </b>soon as he opened his mouth, Joshua started punching him.


    A barrage of punches and kicks struck him, leaving him barely conscious.


    A few minutester, Connory on the floor, covered in blood.


    Joshua tapped his hands together.


    He lifted his gaze and nced indifferently at the surveince camera at the end of the corridor, pointed <b>at </b>Connor on the floor, then walked to Xylia¡¯s room <b>and </b>knocked on the door.


    His voice became gentle once more. ¡°It¡¯s me, Xylia.¡±


    Soon, Xylia opened the door.


    Within just a few minutes, Xylia had already regained herposure.


    As she opened the door, Joshua was the first to step in front of her, even before she could look toward the corridor.


    He merely instructed gently, ¡°Go in.¡±


    Xylia had no choice at all and was pushed into the room by Joshua.


    Connory copsed in the corridor, his entire body wracked with pain, still muttering to himself, ¡°Just a lousy chauffeur, and you dare to hit <b>me</b><b>? </b>I¡¯ll make you pay for this¡­¡±


    Ten minutester, the rescue team prepared by the cruise ship arrived on the tenth floor and carried Connor down to a lower floor.


    Xylia had already changed into loungewear.


    When she returned to the living room, Joshua heated a cup of milk for her.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Xylia said.


    She took a sip of milk and then looked at Joshua.


    In the <b>end</b>, unable to restrain herself any longer, she asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t beat him up too badly, did you?¡±


    Joshua looked at her and asked, ¡°Are you concerned about him?¡±


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°I am just afraid of causing you trouble.¡±


    Joshua reclined on the sofa, smiled, and looked at Xylia, then spoke with wild arrogance, ¡°You need not concern yourself unnecessarily. Even if I were to incapacitate himpletely, he would still be unable to do anything against me<b>.</b>¡±


    8:08 Thu, Sep 18 N


    He was the heir of the Garcia family.


    Even if Connor retaliated against him, he could handle it.


    Nylia sighed. ¡°You have saved me once <b>again</b>.¡±


    Every <b>time </b>she was in danger, Joshua was the one who saved her.


    He saved her in Jupiton; now in Norhill, he saved her <b>again</b>.


    <b>90 </b>


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    Joshua frowned as he looked at her. ¡°I saved you¨Cwhy are you sighing? You don¡¯t want me to be the one who saved you?


    When the final sentence was spoken, Joshua looked displeased.


    Xylia set down the milk, smiled, looked at Joshua, and made a joke. ¡°Certainly not. I simply feel that I owe you 100 many favors and do not know how I will ever be able to repay them.¡±


    Joshua stared intently at Xylia.


    He sat on the sofa as the ship rocked, and the lights swayed gently in response.


    His eyes shimmered, and within the silent atmosphere, something indescribable seemed to flow.


    Xylia noticed his silence <b>and </b>assumed her words had been hurtful. She was about to speak when Joshua suddenly said, ¡°If you want to repay me, it¡¯s not that <b>hard</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Xylia looked at him in confusion, her <b>gaze </b>silently asking how he intended to achieve that.


    Joshua¡¯s fingertips moved slightly as he swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and only then did he speak, his voice trembling faintly. ¡°Let¡¯s date.¡±


    E

 Tricked 142

    Joshua¡¯s sudden confession left Xylia¡¯s mind instantly nk.


    Her eyes quivered slightly, and for a moment, she did not know how to respond.


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    Joshua showed no urgency. He looked at her in silence for two seconds, and only thenughed aloud. ¡°Is it notmonly said that one should pledge oneself in gratitude for a life¨Csaving favor?¡±


    Noting his joking demeanor, Xylia finally let out a long sigh of relief.


    However, she was still haunted by lingering fear. ¡°Are you still joking at a time like this?¡±


    Joshua smiled and leaned against the sofa, his elbow resting on the back and the back of his fingers supporting his chin.


    Those shimmering, charming eyes fell upon Xylia, but their owner did not directly answer her question.


    Joshua asked, ¡°However, since you have already embarked on a new life, have you truly never <b>considered</b><b>. </b>beginning a new romantic <b>rtionship</b>?¡±


    Xylia said. ¡°I haven¡¯t even sorted out my studio yet¨Chow could I possibly think about dating?¡±


    She had been tormented by a dysfunctional marriage to the point of being a wreck, <b>and </b>for the time being had no intention of entering into a romantic rtionship.


    During this period, she had more or less figured out a principle: Women must possess a sense of self in order to find a life that was truly their own and filled with happiness.


    She would not allow herself to be involved in emotional entanglements again until her career <b>had </b>developed.


    Xylia poured a ss of water for Joshua and said lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t forget that my studio still has Do you really want me to <b>lose </b>my ambition by indulging in romance?¡±


    your


    investment.


    Joshua raised <b>an </b>eyebrow. ¡°In what way does engaging in a romantic rtionship constitute a loss of ambition<b>?</b>¡±


    Joshua took a sip of water and, as he set down the ss, drew in a sharp breath.


    Xylia looked over in confusion and saw a long scar on the back of Joshua¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡¯re injured?¡±


    Joshua responded indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡±


    Xylia immediately said, ¡°Wait here. Let me <b>look </b>for the medical kit.¡±


    Joshua shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s <b>not </b>necessary. Such a minor injury will heal even before medication is applied.¡±


    Xylia did not heed Joshua¡¯s advice and found a medical kit beneath the television.


    8:08 Thu, Sep 18 N


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    She checked his wound. ¡°This wound was clearly scratched by metal. Did you hit the metal button on Connor¡¯s suit? Failure to disinfect may result in infection. No injury should be disregarded.¡±


    She pulled Joshua¡¯s hand over and applied medication to it.


    Her movements were gentle, and her gaze was earnest.


    Joshua lowered his gaze to look at her. Her lovely face shone even more brilliantly in his luminous eyes.


    He found himself thinking of the time when he had just met Xylia.


    He was pursued with the intent to <b>kill</b>, his body covered in blood.


    After being rescued and brought home by Xylia, he opened his eyes to find a beautiful, unfamiliar <b>woman</b>. His initial reaction was one of vignce, and he nearly attacked her.


    At that moment, Xylia reacted with remarkable speed. Not only did she evade his punch, but she also unleashed a flurry of blows on him.


    At that time, she was probably <b>in </b><b>a </b>bad mood. Seeing him repay kindness with ingratitude, she said whatever came to mind.


    She said that he was shameless; although she had saved him, he still wanted to hit her, as if she had rescued a snake.


    She said that, had she known things would turn out this way, she would not have saved him.


    She chattered away, but he only understood that he was safe. Gradually, <i>as </i>fatigue set in, he slowly drifted off to sleep.


    When he woke up again, Xylia was carefully and attentively applying medicine to his wound, just like how she


    was now.


    ¡°All done.¡± After Xylia finished applying the medicine to Joshua, she looked up and unexpectedly met his eyes, which were filled with tenderness.


    Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively looked away.


    ¡°Remember not toe into contact with water over the next two days.¡± With that, she began to organize the medical kit.


    A smile yed at the corners of Joshua¡¯s mouth as he lowered his gaze to look at the wound on his own hand. ¡°Xylia, since I have invested in the studio, do I also <b>have </b><b>a </b>say in it?¡±


    Xylia was feeling anxious, but when she heard Joshua discussing <b>work</b>¨Crted matters, she once more breathed a long sigh of relief. ¡°Certainly, What would you like to say?¡±


    Joshua asked, ¡°Do you remember Burke Sterling, whom you met at the airport earlier?¡±


    Xylia nodded.


    8:08 Thu, Sep 18 M


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    Joshua looked at her with a slightly <b>serious </b>expression and said, ¡°I want the studio to never cooperate with him.¡±


    Xylia rarely saw Joshua look so serious and solemn.


    She recognized the gravity of the matter, yet remained deeply curious. ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention it at the airportst time?¡±


    Joshua said, ¡°But you didn¡¯t agree back then.


    Xylia smiled helplessly and said, ¡°You have my word. In fact, Burke Sterling did not leave me with an especially good impression.¡±


    That <b>was </b>indeed true.


    For reasons unknown, Xylia felt a chill akin to being watched by a venomous snake the moment she first saw


    Burke.


    <b>Joshua </b>was curious. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Xylia described her feelings to Joshua.


    Joshua smiled. ¡°Your intuition is correct. He is indeed a venomous snake.¡±


    The sea breeze slipped through the window, stirring the curtains and making Joshua¡¯s silver hair leap and dance. In his slightly upturned, charming eyes, coldness was brimming


    Shortly after Connor was taken to the infirmary, Tessa hurried over anxiously.


    When she saw Connor covered in bandages, her eyes immediately filled with tears. ¡°<b>Connor</b>? How are you feeling, Connor?¡±


    Connor was now sober. Upon seeing Tessa enter, he struggled to sit up. I¡¯m fine.¡±


    His voice was clear, yet suppresses anger.


    He had just felt the ruthless move delivered by Joshua, but after the doctor¡¯s examination, it was determined that <b>these </b>were only minor injuries.


    Connor thought, ¡°Looks like Joshua Garcia is a seasoned professional. Before he became the chauffeur for the <b>Garcia </b>family, he was definitely a young punk who used to hang around with shady people. Otherwise, how could he know how to fight <b>so </b>well?¡®


    Tessa said worriedly, ¡°Who did this to you? I¡¯ll go to the organizer right now and demand an exnation!¡±


    With that, she was going to run out of the hospital room, but she was pulled back by Connor.


    ¡°I will take care of this myself¡­ Connor had not finished speaking when someone knocked on the hospital room door.


    8:08 Thu<b>, </b>Sep 18 W


    In the next moment, Kaden <b>and </b><b>David </b>walked in.


    ¡°Mr. Sadler?¡± Connor watched the two people warily.


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    Kaden nced at how Connor looked and said calmly, ¡°Mr. Ford, I heard you were injured, so I came to check


    on you.


    Connor thought of the romantic rivalry between Joshua and Kaden and let out a mockingugh. ¡°Mr. Sadler, do you know who hit me?¡±


    Kaden merely said, ¡°I do not know, nor am I interested in knowing


    Connor¡¯s expression darkened instantly.


    Tessa looked coldly at Kaden and said, ¡°Mr. Sadler, you¡¯re not here to check on Connor, are you? What exactly do you want?¡±


    Kaden did not spare even a nce for <b>Tessa</b>. He merely looked at Connor with a nk expression. ¡°Mr. Ford, I¡¯m here to let you know that today¡¯s <b>charity </b>g is very important to all of Norhill. It would be best not to let matters that are best kept private escte.¡±


    What he meant was that it would be preferable not to pursue the matter of Connor being assaulted.


    Connor sneered. ¡°Mr. Sadler, <b>are </b><b>you </b>cleaning up after a chauffeur?¡±


    When he said the word ¡°chauffeur¡°, Tessa frowned, and the image of Joshua immediately appeared in her mind.


    She wondered, ¡®Was it <b>Joshua Garcia </b>who hit Connor? Why?


    ¡°<b>I </b><b>am </b>saying this for your own good, and I have a word of advice for you: although the Ford Group has managed to survive this round of crisis by luck, it is uncertain whether it will be able to withstand the next one. As Kaden spoke, his piercing gaze fell upon Connor.


    His tone was distinctly threatening.


    <b>Connor </b>narrowed his eyes at Kaden, realizing that he was not seeking revenge for that chauffeur, but for Xylia.


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 Tricked 143

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    Connor never expected that Xylia, a divorcee, could still manage to attract so many men.


    Connor¡¯s hand, resting on the <b>quilt</b>, was tightly clenched into a fist as anger surged within him.


    <b>An </b>abrupt sound emanated from the doorway. ¡°Hey, what are you guys talking about<b>?</b>¡±


    Burke entered with a smile, first noticing Kaden and David, and said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Sadler, Mr. Hayes, are <b>you </b>also here to see Mr. Ford?¡±


    After Burke greeted Kaden and David, he walked over to Connor¡¯s bedside, looked at him<b>, </b>and said, ¡°Mr. Ford, <b>I </b><b>heard </b>that you were injured, so I came to check on you. How are you feeling now?¡±


    Connor replied politely, ¡°Burke, sorry to trouble you toe and see me. I am fine.¡±


    Burke said, ¡°As we are all friends, there is <b>no </b>need for formalities.¡±


    Kaden frowned as he looked at the person before him.


    Burke was the richest man in Kregonia


    Connor had heard of <b>Burke¡¯s </b>reputation, but <b>had </b>never actually met him.


    However, he wondered exactly how Burke knew him.


    <b>David </b>looked at Burke and <b>said </b>indifferently, ¡°Since you¡¯re well, I will <b>take </b>my leave now, Mr. Ford. If you have any dissatisfaction, Mr. Garcia will certainly provide <b>you </b>with an exnation.¡±


    Burke called out to <b>David</b><b>, </b>who was about to leave, ¡°Mr. Hayes, please ry a message to Mr. Garcia<b>.</b><b>¡±¡° </b>


    David halted and looked at Burke indifferently. Only then did <b>Burke </b>resume speaking. I have kept Mr. Garcia¡¯s words in mind. However, I have my <b>own </b>matters to attend to, which may inevitably cause him some displeasure in the future. I ask for his understanding in advance.


    <b>Burke </b>was smiling, but those fierce eyes coiled around David like a venomous <b>snake</b>.


    Even someone as tough as David could not help but feel apprehensive when confronted with Burke, whose cordial demeanor concealed a more menacing intent.


    However, he showed no outward emotion, merely responded with a subdued ¡®Alright, and then turned to


    <b>leave</b>.


    Connor let out a soft snort. ¡°Mr. Garcia is actually quite considerate toward a chauffeur.¡±


    Kaden nced at Connor and also prepared to turn and leave.


    Burke suddenly called out to Kaden, ¡°Mr. Sadler, <b>please </b>wait. I have some business <b>matters </b>I would like to discuss with you.¡±


    8:09 Thu, Sep 18 N


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    Kaden did not pause, leaving behind only an offhand remark. The Sadler Group currently has no prospect of developing in Kregonia. Mr. Sterling, please talk to someone else.


    Only after Kaden¡¯s figure disappeared through the doorway of the hospital room did the smile on Burke¡¯s face <b>finally </b>fade.


    He tilted his head and looked at Connor. ¡°Mr. Ford, do you have a grudge against Mr. Sadler?¡±


    Connor looked at Tessa, who was standing beside him. ¡°Tessa, step outside for now.¡±


    Tessa was still sizing up Burke in front of her.


    She did <b>not </b>know Burke, but from what Kaden just said, she had a general idea that Burke was from Kregonia.


    She had intended to stay and listen to something, but Connor quickly drove her out.


    Although she was unwilling, she nevertheless went out.


    Connor and Burke talked for a long time in the hospital room. By the time Burke came out, Tessa, who had been standing by the corridor, was nearly stiff.


    When she heard the hospital ward <b>door </b>open, she instinctively looked over.


    Burke walked over to stand in front of Tessa with a smile. ¡°Ms. Schultz, are you Ms. Sadler¡¯s younger sister?¡±


    ¡°Ms. Sadler?¡± Tessa was puzzled; she did not know anyone named Ms. Sadler.


    Burke said, ¡°I mean Ms. Xylia Sadler.¡±


    Tessa thought for a moment and <b>said</b>, ¡°Are you referring to Xylia Schultz? I am not her sister. She is a daughter adopted by the Schultz family¨Can impostor.¡±


    Tessa thought that, because Burke was a foreigner, after noticing the ambiguous rtionship between Xylia and Kaden, he began referring to Xylia as Xylia Sadler.


    ¡°Is that <b>so</b>?¡± Burke said, smiling.


    He suddenly moved closer to Tessa and looked at her with a smile. ¡°Are you considering pursuing <b>a </b>career in the entertainment industry, Ms. Schultz?¡±


    Tessa looked at him with a puzzled expression, but still nodded.


    Burke handed Tessa a business card. ¡°I wish you every sess. If you require any assistance in the future.. <b>please </b>feel free to contact me<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    After 5 speaking, Burke took Tessa¡¯s hand and, with gentlemanly grace, ced a kiss on the back of her hand.


    Tessa¡¯s body shuddered.


    Watching Burke¡¯s departing figure, she was surprised to find that she felt no resistance at all to his approach.


    8:09 <b>Thu</b>, Sep 18 N


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    The next day, the cruise ship <b>arrived </b>at the dock.


    Xylia followed Kaden off the ship.


    Gina spotted Xylia from a distance and came over to greet her.


    She was wearing sunsses and a mask, disguising herself as an ordinary tourist.


    As the two were about to part, Gina leaned in to Xylia¡¯s ear and said, ¡°Xylia, I want tomission a few more outfits from you. This time, it¡¯s not just for a simple reason¨CI¡¯m about to participate in a reality dating show. Please design several stylish and distinctive personal outfits for me, and I¡¯ll promote you on the show as well.¡±


    Xylia quickly nodded in agreement. That¡¯s great! You¡¯ve really helped me get off to a good start. I¡¯ll treat you to a <b>meal </b>sometime!¡±


    Gina smiled and joked, ¡°Alright! When the timees, I¡¯m going to make you treat me to a big feast!¡±


    <b>Gina </b>was about to leave in haste when Xylia stopped her and also urged Kaden to leave quickly.


    Kaden <b>was </b>inexplicably driven away.


    Meanwhile, Xylia followed Gina and got into her car.


    Noticing Xylia¡¯s mysterious demeanor, Gina asked. ¡°What¡¯s going on? You¡¯re acting weird.¡±


    Xylia patted her arm. ¡°I want to ask you, who are the people participating in this dating show?¡±


    The official list of participants for the dating reality show had not yet been announced, and she really couldn¡¯t figure out which obscure celebrity Leon intended to woo.


    Gina looked at Xylia with suspicion. ¡°Why are you concerned about this?¡±


    Xylia begged, ¡°I¡¯m a little curiouse on, just tell me! I swear I¡¯ll keep it secret!¡±


    Xylia tugged at Gina, pleading with her, and after some consideration, Gina told her. <b>¡°</b>Actually, <b>I¡¯m </b>not really sure who the guests are, but I do know there are four pairs, eight people in total. From what I know right now, besides myself, there¡¯s someone named Be Wird, but I don¡¯t know who the other two are<b>.</b>¡±


    Xylia looked quite disappointed. ¡°You are about to begin filming, yet you still do not know who will be <b>participating</b>?¡±


    <b>Cina </b>shrugged. ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do; I¡¯m just a worker. If the director doesn¡¯t tell us what¡¯s going on, we don¡¯t know anything


    After Xylia understood the situation, she bid farewell to Gina.


    She searched for Be online.


    Be was also a <b>beautiful </b>female celebrity, but she was <b>a </b>singer. The voice in the video was different <b>from </b><b>that </b>


    M


    8:09 Thu, Sep 18 N


    of the woman Xylia encountered in the restaurant that day.


    It seemed that Leon was not pursuing the female celebrity named Be.


    Nylia let out a long sigh¨Cshe¡¯d wasted her effort again.


    After the charity dinner concluded, Josie posted a video of Cina to the ount.


    The first video published by <b>the </b>studio ount surpassed 30 thousand likes.


    The studio ount also rapidly umted more than 5,000 followers.


    The first order was nicelypleted.


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    The studio renovation had beenpleted, and Xylia and Josie had been busy all day recruiting workers and sourcing materials, running off their feet by the hectic. pace.


    When Leon finally managed to clear <b>his </b>schedule to visit Xylia, she was still overwhelmed with work.


    Leon urged, ¡°Xylia, I don¡¯t have much time. Hurry up ande out with me.¡±


    Xylia had previously promised Leon that she would apany him to select some gifts to help him win the favor of the person he secretly admired..


    However, since the studio work was quite overwhelming, and she was too embarrassed to dump all the work on Josic, she kept hesitating.


    Josie waved her hand. ¡°Go on. There¡¯s not much left to do. I can handle it.¡±


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    Josie¡¯s empathy received Leon¡¯s profound gratitude.


    Josie just waved her hand impatiemly.


    Leon pulled Nylia away and left.


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    Xylia had assumed that Leon would take her to a luxury boutique to select jewelry. Unexpectedly, he brought her to an antique shop instead


    Xylia was puzzled. ¡°Leon, why did you bring me here? Does my future sister¨Cinw like these?¡±


    Leon was looking <b>at </b>the items in the antique shop while nodding gently. ¡°To my knowledge, she is very fond of antiques, paintings, ceramics, and things like that. Although I am not very familiar with these, I remember my grandfather collecting some when I was a child, so I came to take a look.¡±


    Xylia said. ¡°But I don¡¯t understand these things. Since you know about them, why don¡¯t you buy the gift yourself?


    ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Leon turned to Xylia, his expression stern. ¡°Although you may not know much about. antiques, you certainly understand a woman¡¯s thoughts. I¡¯ll make my selection first, and after I¡¯m done, you can help me take a look.¡±


    Xylia could notprehend Leon¡¯s train of thought.


    But since she had alreadye, how could she possibly turn him down now?


    She could only nod.


    Leon walked over to the tea set and picked through it.


    As for Xylia, she walked over to the jewelry section.


    These pieces of jewelry were artifacts handed down from ancient times. While it was not feasible to wear them in public, they might be purchased as collectibles.


    Moreover, many of these patterns were previously unknown to Xylia and were still quite novel to her.


    She took out her mobile phone in preparation to take a photograph when a store clerk suddenly approached and said to Xylia, ¡°Excuse me, miss, but photography is <b>not </b>permitted here.


    ¡°Oh, sorry, I didn¡¯t know.¡± Embarrassed, Xylia put away her phone.


    A <b>mocking </b><bugh </b>sounded nearby. ¡°Country bumpkin! Did you not see therge ¡®No Photography¡® signs at the <b>shop </b>entrance?*


    Xylia turned her head and immediately saw a man and a woman walking toward her, hand in hand.


    The woman was dressed in a luxurious satin dress<b>, </b>adorned with rings, earrings, and bracelets made of pearls.


    8:09 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Appearing to be in her fifties, she presented the image of a wealthy married woman.


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    The man she was walking arm¨Cin¨Carm with appeared to be rtively young, seemingly no more than twenty- five or twenty¨Csix years old.


    The man possessed striking good looks, yet his expression bore traces of malice.


    After Nylia turned her head, he saw Xylia¡¯s face and was momentarily stunned.


    Subsequently, his voice of mockery grew louder. ¡°I wondered who it was so it was you, Xylia Schultz.¡±


    As he spoke, the man looked at the wealthydy and exined in a sycophantic manner, ¡°Darling, do you remember what I told you before about the real and fake heiresses of the Schultz family in Jupiton? This is the fake heiress of the Schultz family, Xylia Schultz.¡±


    The wealthydy, Marie Carter, regarded Xylia with an impassive gaze, her expression marked by unmistakable disdain. ¡®She¡¯s just a counterfeit; is there any reason I need to recognize her?¡±


    Upon hearing Marie¡¯s remarks, the man hurriedly and anxiously exined, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not trying to introduce you or anything I¡¯m just letting you know.


    ¡°She used to be my senior, and before the real heiress of the Schultz family came back, she was really something!


    ¡°She was a prominent figure at school, despite her poor academic performance and her bullying <b>of </b>ssmates. I previously saw online that the hit¨Cand¨Crun perpetrator who was widely discussed was her.¡±


    The man, as if he had found an interesting topic of conversation, held the wealthydy¡¯s arm and spoke without pause.


    Xylia could not help but roll her eyes and say coldly. ¡°Who are you? I don¡¯t think we know each other.¡±


    The man¡¯s expression changed abruptly. ¡°Xylia Schultz, do you not recognize me?¡±


    Xylia asked, ¡°Am I supposed to know you<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    The <b>man </b>said, ¡°We were in the same ballet club back then. Have you forgotten? I¡¯m Zac Lawrence.¡±


    Xylia sneered, ¡°Why should I care who you are? I don¡¯t know you, and I don¡¯t want you making up rumors


    about me.¡±


    Zac looked at such a strong Xylia, and his eyes suddenly filled with tears.


    He turned his head toward the richdy and acted in a cute, spoiled way. ¡°Darling, look! She¡¯s bullying me!¡±


    Xylia pressed her lips together, her wide eyes fixed on the man acting yfully and the cold, wealthydy.


    Thisbination was indeed novel to her.


    The wealthydy finally spoke; her voice was benevolent yet carried a note of authority. ¡°Miss, whether you are the real daughter of the Schultz family or not, you should apologize for having mistreated my


    H


    8:09 Thu, Sep 18 N


    sweetheart.¡±


    Nylia was at a loss for words. ¡°When did I ever bully him?¡±


    ¡°Are you refusing to apologize?¡± Marie released Zac¡¯s hand and walked over to Xylia.


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    She was about eight inches shorter than Xylia. <b>When </b>she looked up at Xylia, Xylia could see the faint wrinkles on her face.


    Marie <b>asked </b>arrogantly, ¡°Do you know who I am<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Xylia frowned. ¡°And who are <b>you</b>?¡±


    Marie sneered. ¡°My husband is a shareholder of Sadler Group. If you offend me, I¡¯ll <b>make </b>sure you pay for it!¡±


    Xylia was stunned when she heard that.


    She nced at Zac, then looked at Marie. ¡°Ma¡¯am, does your husband know you¡¯re keeping a boyfriend?¡±


    A trace of panic <b>and </b>vexation flickered in Marie¡¯s eyes.


    She seemed annoyed with herself for how she had brought up the matter about her husband.


    Xylia said calmly. ¡°Have you ever thought about what would happen if you offended me? I could go to the Sadler Group and make a scene, shouting that you¡¯re keeping a pretty boy. Do you think your husband would be happy about that?¡±


    ¡°How dare you!¡± Marie finally became flustered.


    She angrily pointed at Xylia¡¯s nose and said fiercely. ¡°I can make sure you can¡¯t get out of this door <b>today</b>!¡±


    Zac hurried forward and grabbed her. ¡°Darling, that woman is so hateful! But we shouldn¡¯t let her ruin our date, should we? Weren¡¯t <b>you </b>going to buy me that painting I like? Let¡¯s go take a look, shall we?¡±


    When <b>Marie </b>revealed the fact that she was a married woman, Zac kept cursing her inwardly. ¡®How could she be so stupid?


    ¡°<b>Now </b>that Xylia Schultz knows her husband is a shareholder of the Sadler Group, she must¡¯ve already thought through every possible way to retaliate.


    I¡¯d better not provoke Xylia Schultz <b>any </b>


    further.


    Marie had already been provoked to anger by Xylia; there was no way she would be willing to leave now.


    She fixed Xylia with a fierce re.


    Xylia did not wish to continue arguing with them and prepared to leave, intending to look for Leon.


    But <b>as </b>soon as she turned around, Marie kicked at her calf.


    Marie, wearing stilettos, had her heelnd on Xylia¡¯s calf. Xylia felt a sharp pain and fell forward.


    8:09 Thu, Sep 18 W


    A porcin vase was ced a short distance ahead.


    She identally knocked it down, and the porcin vase fell to the <b>floor </b>and shattered.


    Fragments scattered in all directions as Zac pulled Maric aside.


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    ¡°That is the most expensive vase in our store!¡± The shop assistant let out a startled cry and hurriedly ran to get the manager.


    A smile yed at the corners of Marie¡¯s lips, her expression one of self¨Csatisfaction, as she looked at Xylia. ¡°Impostor heiress, this vase is <b>an </b>artifact dating back five centuries and is worth a million. Let¡¯s see how you n to pay for it!¡±


    Zac stood to the side with a look of someone enjoying the spectacle, watching Xylia¡¯s embarrassed look.


    Smiling, he said, ¡°Xylia Schultz, how about you kneel and plead with me? Maybe I can help you pay for this vase. Think about it.¡±


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 Tricked 145

    Xylia had <b>no </b>impression of Zac at all.


    He was deliberately making things difficult for her, which was totally uncalled for.


    The store clerk quickly called the manager over.


    Leon also heard themotion over here and walked over.


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    Today, he dressed inconspicuously and wore sunsses. Without close observation, it was difficult to recognize him as the renowned celebrity Leon.


    He gently asked. ¡°What happened, sis?¡±


    Zac looked at Leon, puzzled, then his eyes lit up. ¡°You must be Mr. Schultz, right?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Schultz? Screw you!¡± Leon had noticed early on that this pretentious man was making impudent remarks to Xylia, but the distance prevented him from hearing exactly what was being <b>said</b>.


    He looked at Zac with a cold expression <b>and </b>asked, ¡°Who are you?<b>¡± </b>


    After being coldly rebuffed by Leon, Zac felt displeased, but knowing the other¡¯s distinguished status, he would restrain his temper a bit. ¡°I am Zac Lawrence, a former junior schoolmate of Xylia.¡±


    After offering a brief exnation to Leon, Zac nced at Xylia with evident disdain before continuing, ¡°Mr. Schultz, you are truly kindhearted. Even towards this so¨Ccalled younger sister, you treat her so well and have brought her to the antique shop for a visit


    At this point, he suddenly remembered something, his eyes lighting up as he asked, ¡°Mr. Schultz, did you deliberately bring her here to provoke her? Are you nning to buy gifts for your real sister while letting this fake sister watch, making her crave and feel jealous?¡±


    The more Leon listened, <b>the </b>more his expression darkened.


    He did not approach <b>Zac </b>until Zac had finished speaking.


    Leon stood 6¡¯23¡± tall. Years of regr training had given him broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and an imposing physique. He was several inches taller than Zac.


    Standing <b>face </b>to face, Leon¡¯s presence was markedly moremanding than Zac¡¯s.


    Leon gestured toward the vase on the floor. ¡°Did you break it?¡±


    Zac <b>was </b>intimidated by <b>Leon¡¯s </b>imposing manner and quickly waved his hand dismissively. ¡°I didn¡¯t break it. It was Xylia Schultz! She broke it!¡±


    As soon as <b>Zac </b>finished speaking, the shop assistant brought over Peter Levine, the manager of the antique


    shop.


    8:09 Thu, Sep 18 H


    Chapter 145.


    Peter observed the disorder at the scene and also noticed Marie standing nearby.


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    His eyes widened as he hurried to <b>Marie </b><b>and </b>greeted her with utmost respect. ¡®Greetings, Mrs. Carter.¡±


    Marie withdrew her gaze from Leon and, with her head held high, looked at Peter with an air of arrogance. ¡°Mr. Levine, this woman smashed things in your store. Shouldn¡¯t she pay for them?


    ¡°Pay for it? Of course!¡± Peter followed Marie¡¯s gaze toward Xylia, his face turning livid. ¡°Miss, the vase you have broken is a five¨Chundred¨Cyear¨Cold antique, valued at 2 million.¡±


    Xylia let out a soft hum and looked at Peter. ¡°Mr. Levine, is that right? You¡¯re basing your judgment solely on Mrs. Carter¡¯s ount and concluding that I deliberately broke this vase. Isn¡¯t that a bit too arbitrary?¡±


    Peter sneered. ¡°Mrs. Carter is a regr customer here¨Cdo you really think she¡¯d trick me? Can¡¯t <b>afford </b>to pay for this vase! If you don¡¯t have money, why are you even in an antique shop?¡±


    Xylia wouldn¡¯t back down. ¡°When I entered your store, no one asked me to provide proof of funds. So why now? Are you trying to judge whether I have money just by looking at me?¡±


    Xylia was talking with Peter while scanning her surroundings.


    Observing Xylia¡¯sposed demeanor, Peter began to question her identity, wondering if she was also a richdy.


    Marie scoffed from the side, ¡°A shameless fake¨Cat a time like this, you still <b>have </b>to put on airs. Do you really think your fake brother will pay for you?¡±


    As she spoke. Marie cast a disdainful nce at <b>Leon</b>.


    ¡°Mr. Schultz, right?¡± Marie let out a coldugh. ¡°Even if you want to stand up for your fake sister, I am not afraid <b>to </b>offend you. My husband is a shareholder of the Sadler Group¨Cdo you really dare to cross me so easily?¡±


    ¡°Sadler Group?¡± Leon¡¯s lips curved slightly, and beneath his sunsses, his eyes were cold. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Matt Carter¡¯s wife from the Sadler Group is a real vain freak¨Cdespite her age, she¡¯s all the time dressing up and unting herself in public.¡±


    Leon <b>nced </b><b>at </b><b>Zac</b>, who was standing beside Marie, and the sarcasm at the corner of his lips deepened. ¡°If Matt Carter were to discover that his wife was using his money to pursue young studs, who do you think he would me first?¡±


    Marie did not expect Leon to urately state her husband¡¯s name.


    Her deeply wrinkled face turned pale in an instant. ¡°How do you know so much about the shareholders of Sadler Group?¡±


    There were three shareholders in Sadler Group with the surname <b>Carter</b>, yet Leon was able <b>to </b><b>urately </b>name Matt, her husband, which suggests he was very familiar with the shareholders of Sadler Group.


    Marie wondered, ¡°But didn¡¯t Zac say that he is the son of the Schultz family? How could he have such a thorough understanding of matters concerning the Sadler Group?¡±


    8:09 Thu, Sep 18 N


    E- 55 vouchers


    Leon did not deign to exin and simply turned to face Peter coldly. ¡°Doesn¡¯t your store have surveince cameras? Retrieve the footage and review it to determine who is responsible for the broken vase.¡±


    Leon¡¯s aura was fully unleashed. His tone remained calm, yet carried an inexplicable deterrent force.


    Upon hearing about monitoring, Zac¡¯s expression changed. He looked at Marie with <b>some </b>concern.


    Marie, however, remained unconcerned after exchanging nces with Peter.


    Only then did Peter say lightly. ¡°The surveince cameras in our store broke down. Nothing was recorded.¡±


    Leon raised an eyebrow. ¡°All the surveince cameras broke down, so what evidence do you have to prove that my sister broke this <b>vase</b><b>?</b>¡±


    ¡°There is no physical evidence, but there is witness testimony.¡± Peter pointed at Xylia and asked the staff member who had just gone to call <b>him</b>. ¡°Did you see her break the vase?¡±


    The shop assistant nodded promptly and said, ¡°That¡¯s correct. I personally witnessed this youngdy shatter


    the vase.¡±


    Marie spoke imperiously. ¡°Did you hear that? Do not im that we have wronged anyone. If you truly cannot afford to pay this sum. perhaps I can devise a solution for you.¡±


    As she spoke, Marie approached Leon, scrutinizing him from head to toe with an appreciative look in his eyes. You¡¯re a hottie. If you are willing to spend the night with me, I will pay this money for you.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s eyes widened as she couldn¡¯t believe that the old witch had taken a fancy to Leon.


    She went to observe Leon¡¯s expression with great care. As expected, even with sunsses covering half his face, his exposed jaw was tense, as if suppressing anger.


    She quickly stepped forward to shield Leon, lowering her gaze to give Marie a cold, sidelong nce. ¡°You and that idiot Zac Lawrence are perfect together, so stop messing with my brother.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Leon¡¯s voice could be heard from behind as he spoke on the phone. ¡°Matt Carter, I will send you <b>an </b>address. Come retrieve your wife.¡±


    Upon hearing Leon¡¯s words, Marie was first stunned before finally beginning to mock, ¡°As if you would know my husband! To be honest, my husband is already <b>away </b>on a business trip. It¡¯s impossible for him to rush over


    here!


    Xylia couldn¡¯t believe <b>how </b>shameless Marie was, who openly brought her toy boy to the <b>antique </b>shop <b>and </b>shamelessly dered her husband¡¯s name.


    Upon hearing Marie say this, Zac, who had been timid, now raised his head again. ¡°If you can¡¯t afford to pay for it, then just say so. Why are you still pretending here? Mr. Levine, your <b>store </b><b>has </b>already lost a vase worth 2 million. Are you still gonna take this lying down now?¡±

 Tricked 146

    After hearing Zac¡¯s remarks, Peter looked at Xylia and Leon with a cold expression. ¡°Since you refuse topensate, I will call the police.¡±


    Xylia nodded. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t report it to the police, I will report it anyway.¡±


    Marie had not expected Xylia to say that.


    Xylia took out her mobile phone, preparing to make a call while speaking to Peter, ¡°We came to your store to make purchases as consumers, yet were ndered through the collusion of staff and other customers, and


    but faced attempts to sell us goods forcibly at unreasonable prices. It is not that we cannot afford to pay, rather that we despise your collusive and unscrupulous behavior.¡±


    Peter was just saying he would call the police, but he knew that having the police at the store would more or less affect its business.


    He hurried forward, attempting to snatch away Xylia¡¯s phone.


    Leon¡¯s gaze suddenly hardened beneath his sunsses as he stepped to Xylia¡¯s side, his expression cold as he looked at Peter


    Peter did not dare to act rashly but advised, ¡°The store¡¯s surveince cameras all broke down. Even if the policee, they won¡¯t be able to figure out the truth right away. So why bother?¡±


    Xylia said coldly, ¡°If the truth cannot be rified immediately, then investigate further. In any case, I am determined to make public the misconduct of your store in mistreating customers.¡±


    At this point, Peter finally flipped out.


    Seeing that Xylia was about to dial the number, he hurriedly <b>said</b><b>, </b>¡°Actually, the store¡¯s surveince system is not malfunctioning.¡±


    Only then did Xylia stop what she was doing with her hands and look toward Peter. ¡°It turns out the surveince system is still working.


    Peter looked at Marie in rm, then lowered his head in guilt.


    Xylia no longer paid attention to Marie¡¯s ashenplexion; instead, she turned her gaze to Peter. ¡°Go the surveince footage and see exactly what happened<b>.</b>¡±


    Just as Peter was about to move, Marie suddenly grabbed him. ¡°I dare you to go!¡±


    retric


    As she spoke, she turned to Xylia and snapped, ¡°You little bitch, even if the surveince footage is reviewed, it was you who identally tripped and broke the vase. No matter <b>what</b>, you have to pay for it!¡±


    Zac chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right! We all saw with our own eyes that you broke the vase. Didn¡¯t you say you could. pay for it? Then pay up!¡±


    With Marie¡¯s support, the respect Zac had shown to Leon just moments ago disappeared.


    He looked at Leon and let out a cold snort. ¡°Greeting you just now was a sign of respect. You¡¯re just the small Schultz family from Jupiton¨Cdo you really think you have enough influence to get Mr. Carter of the Sadler Group here<b>?</b>¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, a calm and steady voice came from the doorway. ¡°Mr. Sadler, what can I do for you?


    Matt walked along, smiling apologetically.


    From a distance, upon seeing Xylia and Leon present, he began to feel uneasy.


    When Xylia visited the Sadler Group previously, Kaden instructed that every employee in thepany must recognize Xylia.


    The shareholders were no exception.


    It appeared that the youngdy who had just reunited with the Sadler family had already be the apple of the Sadlers eye, to the extent that Matt did not dare to offend her lightly.


    He walked up to Xylia and greeted her with a smile, ¡®Ms. Sadler.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Sadler?¡± Marie looked at Xylia with wide eyes, in disbelief.


    Zac could hardly believe it. ¡°She is clearly the fake heiress of the Schultz family, named Xylia Schultz. When did she be Ms. Sadler?¡±


    If they had remained silent, they could¡¯ve avoided further trouble, but once they spoke, Matt immediately noticed them.


    At that moment, Zac stood beside Marie, who had one hand linked through Zac¡¯s arm; the two appeared exceptionally <b>close</b><b>. </b>


    Man¡¯s face turned pale in an instant. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    What are you all doing?


    Marie finally realized what was happening and hurriedly shook off Zac¡¯s hand.


    Her overbearing demeanor, disyed just moments ago, hadpletely vanished. ¡°H¨Choney¡­ this is my cousin. He apanied me to browse around the antique shop.¡±


    It was clear that Marie was an old fox. She quickly came up with an excuse to brush off Matt.


    Matt looked at Zac beside her. ¡°Since when do you have a cousin? Howe I didn¡¯t know?¡±


    Marie said, ¡°He¡¯s a distant cousin with whom I only recently established contact after he arrived in Norhill.


    You have not met him.¡±


    Matt merely <b>cast </b>a suspicious nce at the two, then did not say anything further.


    Xylia finally understood why Marie was so arrogant. Apparently, Matt was a fool.


    8:10 Thu, Sep 18 H


    F+53 vouchers


    Xylia and Leon exchanged a nce. Although Leon did not remove his sunsses, Xylia could still discern the same sense of doubt from the small part of his facial expression that asked just how Matt became a shareholder of Sadler Group.


    Xylia looked at Peter and said, ¡°Retrieve the surveince footage.¡±


    Before Peter could respond, Marie immediately shouted loudly, ¡°You can¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Matt shouted at Maric even louder.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler has asked for the surveince footage¨Cwhat does that have to do with you?¡± Matt pointed at Peter. ¡°Go quickly and bring out the surveince footage Ms. Sadler requested.¡±


    Peter left as instructed.


    Marie knew that she was doomed. Zac stepped back, intending to run toward the door.


    Upon seeing this, Leon reacted swiftly and delivered a kick to Zac¡¯s calf.


    y of porcin


    Zac staggered forward and crashed heavily into the shelf ahead. The shelf, disying an array of bowls and antique artifacts, was struck by his fall, causing the items to scatter <b>onto </b>the floor.


    Now it was Peter¡¯s turn to exim.


    The porcin bowls and antiques on this shelf are so valuable that even all his assets would not be enough to cover the loss.


    Zac crouched on the floor, clutching his hand and groaning. Small cuts on <b>his </b>arm, caused by porcin shards, made him scream and wail in pain.


    However, no one cared about him.


    Peter stepped forward and grabbed Zac by the cor. ¡°These porcin pieces are valuable items in our <b>store</b>, and you have knocked all of them over! The total damages amount to three million. You must pay for this!¡±


    When Zac heard that he had to pay three million, he didn¡¯t have time to care about the pain in his body and stared wide¨Ceyed at Peter. ¡°I only fell because he kicked me just now. He should pay for the damages!¡±


    He pointed at Leon. Leon shrugged. ¡°Did any of you see it?¡±


    No one said anything.


    Zac, growing anxious, looked at Peter. ¡°The surveince system is working, right? Hurry and take us to see the surveince footage! Then you¡¯ll <b>know </b>if I¡¯ve been framed!¡±


    Faced with three million, Zac could <b>not </b>even recall his time as a mistress.


    He pulled Peter along and was about to go look for surveince footage to prove his innocence.


    At that moment, <b>Marie </b>was so furious with Zac that she felt like biting his head off.


    8:10 Thu, Sep 18 N


    She now wished to escape as well.


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    Nylia looked at Maric. ¡°Mrs. Carter, let¡¯s go take a look at the surveince footage together and see if the truth. is as <b>you </b>say <b>that </b>you two are <b>cousins</b>.¡±


    No matter how foolish Matt was, he could still discern the meaning in Xylia¡¯s words.


    He red at Marie and stepped forward to seize her wrist. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve been hiding from me!¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t go! Honey, you can¡¯t doubt me like this!¡± No matter how loudly Marie called out, it was to no avail.


    Matt pulled Marie and Peter to the reception deskputer.


    Leon and Xylia followed closely behind.


    He spoke to Xylia in a low, worried voice, ¡°Xylia, are you really not <b>hurt</b>? That poser who fell just now got cut by the shards¨Care you sure none of the broken porcin pieces scratched you?¡±


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Leon. I¡¯m fine¨CI dodged just in time.¡±


    ?

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    <b>Chapter </b>147


    Leon was only able to rx <b>after </b>seeing that Xylia was truly unharmed.


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    After they went together to the reception deskputer and watched the surveince footage, Matt¡¯s face darkened immediately, and he <b>was </b>furious


    He instantly pped Marie hard. ¡°Is he your cousin, or your <b>lover </b>that you¡¯ve been keeping secretly? You bitch! I work hard to earn money, only for you to use it to keep a gigolo? How dare you offend Mr. Sadler? You may not care about your prestige, but I <b>care </b>about miner


    Panic finally appeared on Marie¡¯s face.


    She persistently pulled on Matt, pleading for mercy. ¡°It¡¯s all on him! He forced me. I was also forced. We¡¯ve been married for over thirty years¨Chow could I possibly betray you?¡±


    Upon seeing that Marie had shifted all the me onto him, Zac was no longer willing to ept it. ¡°When have I ever forced you? Just look at how old you are. If you hadn¡¯t thrown money at me<b>, </b>would I have chosen to sleep with a geezer like you?¡±


    Marie raged. ¡°How dare you!¡±


    Zac sneered. ¡°Am I wrong? You¡¯re an old woman with sagging skin and loose flesh, but I, damn it, am still willing to share a bed with you. Just look at other men¨Cwho else would <b>still </b>want to be with you?¡±


    Zac and Marie argued back <b>and </b><b>forth </b><b>and </b><b>nearly </b>came to <b>blows</b>.


    No one noticed the fury surging in <b>Matt¡¯s </b>eyes.


    Right <b>now</b>, he wished he could beat this despicable pair to death.


    Leon saw in the surveince footage that Marie had tripped Xylia.


    He looked at Matt. ¡°Mr. Carter, I will not get involved in your family disputes. However, regarding the incident where your wife caused my sister to fall, you must make things right. Although my sister was not physically injured, she was harassed by two <b>strange </b>people and suffered psychological trauma as <b>a </b>result.


    Suppressing his <b>anger</b>, Matt said to Leon, ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Sadler, I will <b>make </b>things right.¡±


    Leon nodded. ¡°Once it is resolved, go and inform my brother.¡±


    Once he had finished speaking, Leon immediately left the shop with Xylia.


    Just <b>as </b>Xylia stepped out of the main entrance, she heard anguished wailing and howlinging from inside.


    Marie wailed, ¡°No! Matt, you bastard, how can you have the nerve to ask for a divorce after all these years <b>of </b>marriage? We can¡¯t get a divorce¡­¡±


    Xylia <b>shook </b>her head helplessly and then followed Leon into the car.


    H


    8:10 Thu, <b>Sep </b>18 <b>N </b>


    She turned to <b>ask </b>him, ¡°Leon, <b>have </b><b>you </b>picked out the gift yet?¡±


    Leon shook <b>his </b>head. ¡°There is truly nothing of value in that shop.¡±


    Sh vouched.


    Looking at Leon¡¯s dejected expression, Xylia thought for a moment and said to Leon, ¡°I¡¯ll send you an address. Let¡¯s go there.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡± Leon was puzzled.


    Xylia kept him in suspense. ¡°Juste with me to the ce where you can buy a gift for my future sister¨Cin-w.¡±


    Leon did not continue asking and hurriedly drove to the address Xylia had sent.


    The location they arrived at was a shopping mall.


    This shopping mall was not thergest in Norhill. Previously, when Xylia was designing a trendy outfit to pair with sunsses, she came <b>to </b>this mall to browse.


    A CRR brand sunsses store located within the shopping <b>mall </b>was thergest sunsses brand store in the country.


    After Leon followed Xylia into the shop, he looked at her with a hint of confusion. ¡°Why did you bring me here? Do you want to buy sunsses?¡±


    Xylia said, ¡°I won¡¯t buy sunsses here, but you will.¡±


    <b>Leon </b>was still confused. ¡°I <b>do </b>notck sunsses.¡±


    As Leon <b>spoke</b>, he began to stroll about with an air of ease.


    Xylia shook her head helplessly. ¡°What I mean is, you should choose a pair of sunsses to give to the girl you wish to woo<b>. </b>


    Leon was <b>wearing </b>sunsses, so Xylia could not see his expression clearly.


    However, his tone conveyed a degree of disagreement. ¡°Sunsses? As public figures<b>, </b>it is indeed necessary for us to wear sunsses when going out. <b>However</b>, I do not <b>think </b>she necessarily likes them¡±


    Xylia said confidently, Trust me, Zac. Choose a pair of sunsses that are both practical and stylish, and go for a higher¨Cend option. She will definitely like them.¡±


    Leon undoubtedly looked at Xylia. <b>¡°</b>Are you sure?¡±


    Xylia nodded with unwavering determination.


    Leon nced at the time. He had already spent too long at the antique shop, which greatly reduced the amount of free time he originally had.


    He figured <b>that </b>if he couldn¡¯t pick a gift he needed, buying <b>a </b>pair <b>of </b>sunsses for <b>himself </b>was fine.


    <b>8:10 </b>Thu, Sep 18 N


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    He knew that Nylia would never trick him, and things that girls liked could be shared among them. Therefore, he chose to trust Nylia this time.


    He walked to the exclusive counter and began selecting.


    Xylia nodded in satisfaction.


    In fact, she was just guessing,


    Thest time she saw the young celebrity at the restaurant, she immediately noticed that the corners of her sunsses appeared <b>somewhat </b>stretched, and she also heard the conversation between that celebrity and her agent.


    She was so frugal that she refused to rece even her sunsses. Moreover, for the sake of money, she was determined to participate in this romance reality show, disregarding the negative publicity caused by media hype with Leon. This suggests she was probably quite short of money.


    Therefore, Xylia thought that purchasing two pairs of slightly more expensive sunsses should be a <b>good </b>idea.


    She watched Leon¡¯s focused figure as he carefully selected sunsses, her heart tingling with curiosity.


    She really wished she could watch the romance reality show right now, and she was even more curious to find out which girl Leon liked.


    Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered her train of thought. ¡°Leon?¡±


    She saw a girl cautiously approach Leon and ask him tentatively.


    While Leon was handing the selected sunsses to the shop assistant, his body visibly stiffened. ¡°You have mistaken me <b>for </b>someone else.


    Leon deliberately altered his voice timbre.


    However, the girl remained unconvinced and moved closer to Leon to observe him carefully.


    Finally, she was sure. ¡°Leon! You are Leon Sadler¡®


    Her voice was loud, instantly attracting arge group of fans who know Leon.


    Xylia was relieved <b>that </b>she was standing a fair distance away from Leon.


    She could just stand there calmly, watching as these frenzied fans crowd <b>toward </b>Leon.


    She silently prayed for Leon for two seconds in her heart, then left the shop without hesitation.


    Leon¡¯s <b>fans </b>were all crazy.


    After sending Leon a message telling him he was on his own, Xylia <b>began </b>to wander through the mall by herself.


    8:10 Thu, Sep 18 N


    She intended to purchase some food for Josie and bring it back to the studio..


    Leon didn¡¯t send a message until two minutes had passed.


    Leon: [Xylia, I¡¯ll look for a chance to slip away. I¡¯ll have Bene and pick you up in a while.]


    Ben was the dedicated chauffeur for the Sadler family.


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    Xylia promptly replied: [I¡¯m good, Leon. I¡¯m going to browse the mall for a while and will go back by myselfter.]


    Leon: (Okay. Tell me when you have arrived home safely. I gotta run for my life.]


    Xylia stood on the fourth floor of the shopping mall, watching as fans followed Leon down to the first¨Cfloor hall. Soon after, they all exited through the main entrance at the same time.


    She smiled radiantly, thinking, Even buying a gift for my future sister¨Cinw is so full of ups and downs. It seems Leon¡¯s romantic journey will have its own unique style.


    Connor had not been feeling well over the past two days.


    Whatever he did, his mind was filled with the image of Xylia, including her smile, her tears, and the way she looked when she was mad.


    He wondered, ¡®Since she knew early on about the various things I¡¯ve done to her, why did she not bring it up at the time<b>? </b>


    ¡®Also, she didn¡¯t seek revenge or retaliate against me.


    <b>¡®</b>Could it be that she still has feelings for me?¡®


    At this thought, Connor felt quietly pleased.


    He had just returned to the hotel, opened the room <b>door</b>, and walked into the living room when he suddenly heard Tessa¡¯s voiceing from the balcony. ¡°How useless! I told you to capture Xylia for revenge, but you messed up on your own. Now you want me to clean up your mess? Wishful thinking!¡±


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 Tricked 148

    Connor froze upon hearing Tessa¡¯s words, and his mind went nk.


    After Tessa hung up the phone and came in from the balcony, she saw <b>Connor </b>standing rigidly by the balcony. door. Her expression changed dramatically. ¡°Con¡­ Connor¡­ When did youe back?¡±


    She didn¡¯t know how much of her conversation he had heard.


    Connor did not speak. He simply gazed at Tessa with a quiet, mncholy look.


    At that moment, he found the woman before him to be utterly unfamiliar.


    After a moment of silence, he asked, ¡°What did you mean by ¡®capture Xylia for revenge, as you just mentioned?¡±


    Tessa felt her heart skip a beat since he had indeed heard everything.


    She avoided eye contact out of guilt, her lips slightly parted, and quickly came up with an excuse. ¡°<b>What </b>¡®capturing Xylia for revenge? Connor, you must have misheard. I have an audition opportunity recently, don¡¯t I? I was just on the phone with the producer, and she asked me to deliver a harsh line. I made something up on the spot, so don¡¯t take it seriously!¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Connor looked at Tessa.


    Although Tessa¡¯s exnation could smooth things over, he was not entirely convinced.


    Given Tessa¡¯s character, even when auditioning, she would choose to y a virtuous role rather than portray a viin, so as not to damage her own reputation.


    Tessa nodded. ¡°Of course! When have I <b>ever </b>lied to you?¡±


    Then, she hurriedly took Connor by the hand into the <b>living </b>room. ¡°Your injury hasn¡¯t fully healed yet, so try not to overexert yourself during this time. Have you <b>had </b>dinner? If not, I¡¯ll cook.¡±


    She shifted the topic and reverted to that gentle and gracious Tessa.


    Connor merely nodded indifferently. Watching her busy figure as she went to the kitchen, he felt an intensifying sense of unfamiliarity.


    After dinner, Tessa asked to share a bed with Connor, but he refused, using work as an excuse.


    This time, Tessa didn¡¯t even bother to hide her feelings. ¡°Connor, tell me honestly: do you not intend to marry me? Do you not n to take care of me?¡±


    Connor instinctively replied, ¡°It¡¯s not that.¡±


    However, Tessa was no longer receptive <b>to </b>such tactics.


    She red at Connor. ¡°You said you needed to observe mourning for your grandfather, and I understand why


    8:10 Thu, Sep 18 N


    you <b>haven¡¯t </b>married me.


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    ¡°But you have always been indifferent toward me. Now, aftering to Norhill and meeting Xylia, you seempletely lost, as if your soul has left you.


    ¡°Are you still thinking about her, and do you no longer intend to take care of me?¡±


    Connor was somewhat annoyed. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡±


    His divorce from Xylia waspelled, and what happened with Tessa that night was also unintentional.


    None of the events that urred during this period were what he wished for. It seemed as though a hand of fate repeatedly pushed him onto a path <b>that </b>went against his will.


    His career had not been going smoothly, and even his marriage had ended inplete failure.


    He had long been extremely irritable.


    Now, confronted by Tessa¡¯s persistent questioning, Connor felt increasingly annoyed and was unwilling to argue with her.


    ¡°I still have work to attend to, so I will sleep in the study tonight. Good night.¡± With that, Connor left the bedroom.


    Tessa, consumed by anger with no outlet, hurled every item in her bedroom onto the floor.


    When Sonny pushed open the door, he saw the floor inplete disarray.


    He saw Tessa with her hair loose, forcefully mming the pillow onto the floor in a manner reminiscent of a madwoman.


    He could no longer bring himself to ask her to tell him <b>a </b>story to help him fall asleep, as he had originally intended.


    Tessa turned her head and immediately saw Sonny standing rigidly at the doorway.


    Those eyes, which bear a striking resemnce to Xylia, instantly reignited the fire she had managed to suppress, ¡°Get <b>lost</b>!¡±


    She threw the pillow in her hand toward Sonny, but it was blocked by the door frame and fell to the floor.


    Sonny was startled by Tessa¡¯s sharp voice.


    At <b>that </b>moment, he couldn¡¯t even cry. He darted back to his room and hid under the covers, shivering.


    All he could <b>think </b>of was, That¡¯s so scary. Tessa is so scary!


    ¡®Although Mommy used to be strict with me and manage every aspect of my life, she never once raised her


    voice at me.


    ¡°However, <b>Tessa </b>now acts like a beast, wanting to devour me.


    8:10 <b>Thu</b>, Sep 18 <b>M </b>


    ¡°That¡¯s so scary. I <b>miss </b>Mommy


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    Early the following morning, Connor left the study and did not see Tessa or Sonny, assuming that both were asleep.


    After he had reserved breakfast at the hotel, he was about to go wake Sonny up.


    However, there was <b>no </b>one in Sonny¡¯s room.


    Connor furrowed his brow and entered the master bedroom again, only to find the room inplete disarray. Tessay on the bed, sleeping soundly.


    He felt a sudden jolt and quickly stepped forward to wake Tessa. Tessa? Tessa? Wake up!¡±


    When Tessa opened her eyes and saw Connor, memories of the previous night came to mind, and she looked. at him with a cold expression. ¡°Leave me alone!¡±


    Sonny grabbed her and shouted anxiously, ¡°Sonny is missing. Have you seen him?¡±


    ¡°I have only just woken up. How could I have seen him?¡± Annoyed, Tessa shook off Connor¡¯s hand and red at him fiercely.


    She was thinking. I spend all my time caring about that bitch¡¯s child. I don¡¯t owe them anything, so why should I constantly watch over him like a surveince camera?


    Connor was dissatisfied with Tessa¡¯s attitude.


    But as things stood now, he must first find Sonny.


    He paid no further attention to Tessa and left the hotel with the car keys.


    Only btedly did Tessa realize that her attitude earlier wasn¡¯t very friendly.


    Over the years, she had consistently used this approach to win over Sonny. Now, at this critical juncture, she must not push this kid into the opposing camp.


    It was only after she regained consciousness that she got out of bed and then went out to search for Sonny.


    Right then, Sonny was sitting in a taxi with his bag. After telling the taxi driver his destination, Xylic Studio, he gazes absentmindedly at the scenery outside the window.


    Xylic Studio was the studio established by Xylia in Norhill.


    At the charity dinner that day, Sonny happened to overhear Xylia, while chatting with others, mention the studio she had established.


    He couldn¡¯t sleepst night. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see <b>was </b>Tessa going crazy<b>. </b>


    He was afraid, so he decided to look for Xylia, his biological <b>mother</b>.


    8:11 Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


    Chapter 148.


    <b>90 </b>


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    Half an hourter, he got out of the taxi, saw the storefront of Xylic Studio, and summoned the courage <b>to </b>step inside.


    <b>As </b>soon as he entered, he saw Xylia and Joshua embracing each other.


    His expression changed instantly.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Sonny¡¯s childish voice was crisp, faintly tinged with some anger.


    Xylia was holding Joshua¡¯s arm, rotating her ankle to case the sudden pain she had just felt.


    When she heard Sonny¡¯s voice, she thought she must have misheard.


    She looked over and indeed saw Sonny standing at the doorway, carrying a small bag and wearing the overalls she had once bought for him.


    His young face, strikingly simr to Connor¡¯s, was filled with anger. ¡°So it turns out that everything Dad and Tessa said was true. You really are a promiscuous woman. For the sake of this shameless driver, you have abandoned both me and Dad!¡±


    Xylia looked at Sonny with a nk expression.


    She did not <b>know </b>exactly why Sonny hade here so early in the morning to make a scene.


    However, she had long since lost all patience with Sonny as she used to be. ¡°Go home now. You shouldn¡¯t <b>have </be here.¡±


    Logically speaking, Sonny was Xylia¡¯s biological son. Even though she was divorced from Connor, the child. still shared a blood rtionship with her, so she should not be indifferent.


    However, while she was still married to Connor, Sonny repeatedly did things that hurt her, his mother.


    Therefore, in her mind, she had long ceased to have a son.


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    Xylia¡¯s indifference left Sonny feeling both agitated and uneasy.


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    In his <b>view</b>, Xylia should put him and Connor first in everything; even when he and Connor lost their temper, Xylia should <b>endure </b>it.


    Yet now, Xylia was actually telling him to leave.


    Moreover, her gaze was indifferent, as if she did not wish to see him. He could not ept it.


    Sonny pointed at Joshua and shouted loudly, ¡°What right do you have to drive me away? Even if you and Dad are divorced, you are still my mother. I won¡¯t let you be with this man, so you are not allowed to be with him!¡±


    Xylia furrowed her brows, the impatience in her eyes nearly overflowing.


    Her voice was icy. ¡°You seem to have said that, from then on, I would no longer be your mom.¡±


    Sonny felt deted, his gaze flickering, with a guilty look on his face. ¡°Even if I don¡¯t acknowledge you as my mom, you are still my <b>mom</b>. No, what I mean is¡­¡±


    Sonny was still young and had not yet developed flexible thinking <b>skills</b>.


    However, he knew that even though his parents were divorced, his mother remained his mother.


    He just couldn¡¯t fully express it.


    Joshua looked at the shorty before him and let out a disdainful, cold snort


    He wrapped his hand around Xylia¡¯s waist and drew her into his embrace.


    Xylia was startled and instinctively grasped his arm.


    Their posture was intimate, resembling that of a couple.


    Joshua slightly lowered his eyes and looked at Sonny. ¡°I remember your mother¡¯s name is Tessa Schultz, so don¡¯t go calling my girlfriend Mom.¡±


    Upon hearing Joshua¡¯s words, Xylia could not help but pinch him hard at the waist, thinking, ¡®His girlfriend? Seriously?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s back muscles tensed as he lowered his gaze and blinked apologetically at Xylia.


    Xylia released him, did not spare Sonny another nce, and turned to walk upstairs to the second floor.


    ¡°Mom¡­¡± Sonny instinctively wanted to follow, but was startled by Joshua¡¯s sudden change in expression. Hist steps halted, and he could not move forward.


    <b>Joshua </b>did not turn to look at Sonny until after Xylia had left.


    8:11 <b>Thu</b>, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


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    His handsome <b>face </b>no longer bore the gentleness it showed when facing Xylia. Instead, it <b>was </b>shadowed, and his eyes were fierce.


    Even in front of a six¨Cyear¨Cold child, Joshua did not restrain himself.


    He coldly threatened Sonny. ¡°<b>Don¡¯t </be to disturb her again.¡±


    Sonny <b>was </b>young, and within the Ford family, he was always cherished.


    He <b>had </b>never been threatened like that.


    Out of fear, his entire body was trembling.


    <b>Only </b>after Joshua turned <b>and </b>went upstairs did Sonny turn and run out of the studio.


    The studio had been renovated


    Joshua went directly to Xylia¡¯s studio.


    Upon seeing Joshua enter, Josie tactfully left the office.


    Joshua walked up to Xylia¡¯s desk, braced himself with both hands on the desk, and leaned forward slightly, lowering his gaze to look at Xylia. ¡°Are you mad?¡±


    <b>Xylia </b>lifted her gaze to look at him, her expression showing neither anger nor joy,


    ¡°Do you feel that, in front of your own son, you do not wish to have a rtionship with another man?¡± Joshua¡¯s lips curved in a <b>smile </b>as his eyes seized her gaze, taking in every expression on her face.


    Xylia


    frowned and looked at him. ¡°It¡¯s not just about my <b>son</b>; such jokes shouldn¡¯t be made lightly.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Joshua did not agree.


    Seeing that Xylia¡¯s eyes reflected only resistance <b>and </b>not aversion, he felt somewhat relieved.


    His eyes flickered with a sudden idea. He turned, walked over to the only sofa in the office, sat down, and casually poured himself a ss of water. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect you to dislike me <b>so </b>much, Xylia. It looks like 1 should contact you less in the future.¡±


    Xylia looked at him. ¡°When did I ever say that I disliked you?¡±


    <b>¡°</b>It¡¯s all on your face<b>.</b>¡± As Joshua spoke, he gestured to her face with his index finger.


    Xylia could not bear to see Joshua in such a dejected state.


    She came out from behind the desk, walked over, and sat down opposite <b>Joshua</b>. ¡°You have misunderstood me. I simply believe that, as friends, we should not make such jokes casually; otherwise, this friendship may be distorted.¡±


    Joshua <b>said </b>indifferently, ¡°Distorted? <b>But </b>I don¡¯t think it¡¯s distorted.¡±


    8:11 Thu, Sep 18 M


    Chapter 149.


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    From the very beginning, when he approached Xylia, he never thought about any lousy friendship.


    He had always harbored intentions toward her. Therefore, he thought that this could not be regarded as distorted.


    Nylia parted her lips, intending to exin, but realized that no matter how much she said, it would be of no use to someone as obstinate as Joshua.


    She lowered her voice and soothed him, ¡°Then just assume I don¡¯t like such jokes. Please don¡¯t make these jokes again in the future, okay?¡±


    Joshua rotated the ss in his hand, his gaze lowered and devoid of emotion. Yet, upon closer observation, a subtle chill could be seen in his eyes.


    He did not answer.


    Xylia regarded him as having given tacit consent<b>. </b>


    She thought for a moment, then <b>changed </b>the subject. ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask¨Csince you¡¯re the heir of the Garcia family, why were you in such a sorry state back then when you were abroad?¡±


    Xylia had wanted to ask about this matter for a very long time, but had never found a suitable opportunity.


    When she first met Joshua, he was covered in blood, dressed in street¨Cmarket clothing, and appeared both impoverished and disheveled.


    It <b>was </b>worlds apart from the image of the Garcia family¡¯s heir.


    Joshua paused in the act of turning his water ss. He looked up at Xylia, a hint of a teasing smile on his lips. ¡°You want <b>to </b>get to know me already?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Xylia looked at Joshua, puzzled.


    Joshua set down the ss, braced his elbows on his knees, and leaned in closer to Xylia. ¡°Xylia, I think you like


    me.¡±


    Xylia widened her eyes in disbelief as she looked at Joshua.


    Joshua, however, seemed not to notice her expression and continued speaking regardless, ¡°Only someone who truly cares about me would want to get to know my past and who I am.


    ¡°Xylia, did you take to heart what I said that night and now wish to date me?


    ¡°Actually, <b>this </b><b>could </b>work too. My parents keep urging me <b>to </b>get married, and after thinking it over, I feel <b>you¡¯re </b>the only one who truly suits me. So, why don¡¯t we make this rtionship distorted?¡±


    A bright gleam shone in Joshua¡¯s charming eyes.


    But Xylia looked at him with a helpless expression. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to tell me, then don¡¯t. Isn¡¯t it tiring to ramble on so much?¡±


    ?


    8:11 Thu, Sep 18 N


    She poured herself a ss of water and returned to her desk.


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    ¡°I¡¯m a bit busy today, so I won¡¯t be able to keep chatting with you,¡± she said lightly, as if she were issuing an order to <b>leave</b>.


    Joshua rose and leaned against the back of the sofa, his gaze distant as he looked at Xylia, who was not far


    away.


    The cold morning light added a touch of detachment to her inherently cool demeanor.


    He wondered, Whenever this topic is brought up, Xylia always finds an excuse to leave. Is she truly unwilling, or does she simply not wish to confront this topic?


    ¡®If she¡¯s truly unwilling, she would either explicitly refuse me or, to some extent, harbor aversion toward me, wouldn¡¯t she?


    ¡®However, none of these phenomena have ever manifested in Xylia.


    ¡®Is it possible that she simply has not yet decided to begin a new rtionship?¡±


    After a long period of contemtion, Joshua silently stood up, said goodbye to Xylia, and then left immediately.


    It wasn¡¯t until Joshua¡¯s figure disappeared at the doorway that Xylia finally let out a heavy sigh of relief.


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    At that moment, Connor was still anxiously <b>and </b>hurriedly searching for Sonny.


    He made countless calls, but Sonny did not answer any of them.


    It was not until half an hourter that Sonny finally answered.


    The moment the call connected, Connor immediately shouted out, ¡°Where are you?¡±


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    Sonny was startled by Connor¡¯s furious voice; lie trembled, <b>and </b>only then did he report the address.


    Connor said gloomily, ¡°Wait right there. Don¡¯t run around.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Connor began to make his way alone to the entrance of Xylic Studio.


    Since being driven out by Joshua, Sonny had not left.


    He was squatting on the ground at the entrance of Xylic Studio, hugging his legs.


    Some of the passersby, disying kindness, approached and asked whether he was lost and unable to find his parents.


    Sonny shook his head obediently. ¡°My mom works here, and my dad will be here to pick me up soon.


    Upon hearing his words, the helpful pedestrians then left.


    Soon, Connor¡¯s car stopped by the roadside.


    He stepped out of the car briskly and walked up to Sonny.


    Sonny stood up. ¡°Dad<b>.¡± </b>


    Connor crouched down to examine was uninjured, he frowned and


    asked, ¡°Why did you run out alone ny¡¯s condition. Seeing that Sonny


    Sonny¡¯s eyes had been brimming with tears, and at the moment he saw Connor, he finally could not hold them back. ¡°Dad, I miss Mommy!¡±


    He was crying with his mouth open.


    Connor felt a tremor in his heart and was somewhat at a loss <b>in </b>response to Sonny¡¯s reaction.


    He had no choice but to hold Sonny gently and reassure him, saying, ¡°Tessa <b>is </b>waiting for us at the hotel. We are going back now.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want Tessa anymore! She was harsh to me, andst night she told me to get out. I want my own mom.¡± Sonny struggled in Connor¡¯s arms, his small hand pointing toward the entrance of Xylic Studio.


    He continued, ¡°Mommy is inside. When I arrived, she was embracing that chauffeur. Dad, go bring Mommy


    8:11 Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


    back!¡±


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    He wanted Xylia toe home <b>so </b>that when he fell ill, his mother would be avable to care for him, and he could also enjoy snacks prepared by her.


    Xylia never yelled at or frightened him. She used to pick him up and drop him off at school, apany while he did his homework, and even when he lost his temper, she never left him.


    him


    When Sonny thought of Xylia¡¯s meticulous care for him in the past, he felt nostalgic.


    <b>When </b>hepared Xylia to Tessa, he became even more sorrowful and regretful.


    Connor looked in the direction Sonny <b>was </b>pointing and happened to see Joshuaing out of the main


    entrance.


    As their eyes met, Connor was the first to recall the night when he had been beaten ck and blue by this guy.


    The wounds on his body were still faintly <b>aching </b>now.


    After putting Sonny down, Connor straightened up and looked coldly at Joshua. ¡°Is Xylia really here?¡±


    Joshua had already suffered a setback with Xylia and was feeling down. Now, upon hearing Connor mention Xylia¡¯s name, he felt even more displeased.


    He put his hands in <b>his </b>pockets and walked up to Connor.


    The heir of the Garcia Group possessed an exceptional innate aura, with an oppressive presence that hit Connor the moment he appeared.


    Connor¡¯s heart unexpectedly fluttered.


    Joshua said nonchntly, ¡°What do you think you can do here? Take your son and get lost, or I¡¯ll beat you and your son.¡±


    up


    both


    Connor was breathless with anger, thinking. This guy is just like a terrorist. Every time he speaks, it¡¯s about fighting.


    How could Xylia like <b>such </b>rubbish?


    ¡®Her taste is really getting worse and worse!¡±


    He sneered, ¡°Joshua Garcia, I just can¡¯t understand it. Xylia divorced me. She¡¯s not only a divorcee now but also a materialistic woman. How much do you make in a year? Can you really support her?


    Upon hearing the vulgaritiesing from Connor, Joshua really wanted to rip his mouth off right then.


    Connor continued, ¡°When I was married to Xylia, I gave her 2 million in <b>pocket </b>money every year. <b>As </b><b>a </b>mere chauffeur, how much money could you possibly give her?¡±


    When Joshua heard 1.5 million, he let out a derisiveugh.


    8:11 Thu Sep 18 M


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    He was thinking. He¡¯s the CEO of the Ford Group. While they were married, he merely gave her 2 million at year?


    ¡®She could only afford two bags with that much money, so how can he even bring this up?


    I must be really bored to stoop so low as topare myself with this kind of riffraff!!


    Joshua said lightly. ¡°Mr. Ford, the newlyunched limited edition luxury handbag this year costs two million So is it really that much for you to give her 2 million a year?¡±


    Joshua looked at Commor with disdain, taking note of the sudden unpleasant change in his expression.


    Connor couldn¡¯t understand why Joshua, just a chauffeur, was acting so cocky.


    He looked at Joshua coldly. ¡°Regarding the incident at thest cruise charity event, I have not yet held you ountable. You would be wise not to provoke me. Otherwise, I will settle both old and new grudges, and I can ruin your reputation in an instant.¡±


    That was a threat.


    Joshua was adjusting his cuffs, not taking Connor¡¯s words to heart at all. ¡°Mr. Ford, if <b>you </b>have time, you¡¯d better pay more attention to your own group. Don¡¯t let this revival be just ast sh before death. And just so you know, you and Xylia are already divorced. She is mine now,¡±


    Joshua raised his eyes to Connor, his fierce gaze undisguised, like shards of ice piercing Connor¡¯s skin. ¡°If you dare to mess with her again, I won¡¯t mind ruining you.¡±


    On the way back to the hotel, Connor still couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill in his heart.


    He did not think that Joshua, a mere chauffeur, could do anything to him.


    However, the harsh words Joshua <b>had </b>just uttered,bined with his demeanor, were profoundly frightening.


    Connor wondered, ¡®It seems that Joshua Garcia is a demon by nature, with fresh blood on his hands and murderous intent in his eyes. He is certainly <b>not </b>an ordinary person.¡¯


    However,


    rer, Connor had already ordered multiple investigations into Joshua¡¯s identity. The records indicated that Joshua was just an ordinary chauffeur, with nothing remarkable about him.


    Yet Connor could not suppress the apprehension in his heart.


    Sonny, seated nearby, <b>sensed </b>the oppressive vibe emanating from <b>Connor</b>.


    He sat beside without <b>speaking </b>


    He did not utter a sound <b>until </b>he arrived at the hotel; then he said in <b>a </b>soft voice<b>, </b>¡°Dad, are you really not going to get Mommy <b>back</b>?¡±


    Only then <b>did </b>Connor tilt his head to look at Sonny.


    8:11 Thu, Sep 18 N


    The child¡¯s sparkling eyes were filled with anticipation.


    Connor asked<b>. </b>¡°Didn¡¯t you use to dislike your mom and want Tessa to be your mother?¡±


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    Sonny, feeling ufortable after his past embarrassing incidents were brought <b>up</b>, pouted and spoke <b>in </b>a sulky tone, ¡°I used to feel that Mommy disciplined me, and I had no freedom. But <b>now </b>Tessa doesn¡¯t supervise me, and I feel that you don¡¯t value me. If you don¡¯t bring Mommy back, then let me go live with Grandma!¡±


    His tone was very defiant.


    Connor disliked Sonny¡¯s willful behavior the most.


    Hecked the patience required tomunicate with children.


    Connor said coldly, ¡°Your grandmother and grandfather are abroad and cannot return for the time being. You were the one who chose Tessa, so even if you do not like her, you have to put up with her.¡±


    Sonny was startled by Connor¡¯s suddenly cold tone. He lowered his head, tears falling. ¡°If I had known earlier, I wouldn¡¯t have listened to Tessa during the school anniversary. I wouldn¡¯t have invited that man from the livestream, who caused trouble for Mommy and pressured her to divorce you.


    Connor had originally thought that he was being excessive toward Sonny.


    Upon unexpectedly hearing Sonny¡¯s <b>words</b>, it hit him like a thunderbolt.


    He asked through gritted teeth, ¡°What did you say?¡±


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    Sonny was startled by Connor¡¯s suddenly sharp tone.


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    He drew his neck back and, upon lifting his gaze, saw Connor¡¯s expression, fierce and severe¨Cnot much different from the look Joshua had worn earlier at Xylia¡¯s studio.


    Trembling, he repeated <b>what </b>he had just <b>said </b>to Connor.


    Connor feltpletely devastated; his heart sank.


    He looked at Sonny and asked solemnly, ¡°Are you and Tessa hiding anything else from me?¡±


    Sonny was startled by Connor¡¯s demeanor, his mind goingpletely nk. ¡°No, Dad. I have only cooperated with Tessa once.¡±


    Connor suddenly recalled that when Joshua went to the basement to rescue Xylia, wasps had unexpectedly appeared in the vi.


    He asked Sonny, ¡°Who brought the wasps into the house previously?¡±


    Sonny thought for a moment. ¡°I think Tessa brought it.¡±


    He appeared to have thought of something and nodded decisively. ¡°Tessa said she wanted to get or make the freshest honey for me to eat, so she bought bees and brought them home. At that time, you locked Mommy in the basement. She also wanted to give Mommy some fresh honey.¡±


    Connor couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®So, Tessa ced the wasps in the basement deliberately to harm Xylia?¡±


    He recalled hearing Tessa make that phone call on the balconyst night.


    He took out his mobile phone and called his assistant. ¡°Investigate whom Tessa contacted when Xylia was previously kidnapped in Jupiton. Do it now!¡±


    Although the assistant did not understand the necessity of investigating the matter after such a long time had passed, he had no choice but to agree since Connor was his boss.


    After all, he could not evade the tasks assigned by his boss.


    Sonny did not understand why Connor was suddenly so angry.


    Tilting his head, he looked toward the hotel entrance outside the car.


    Recalling Tessa acting crazyst night, he was reluctant to go upstairs.


    He spoke softly and shyly, ¡°Dad, I want to go home.¡±


    Connor lowered his gaze to look at him, and there was deep gloom in the depths of his eyes. ¡°When we get <b>home</b>, I¡¯ll have a few tutors give you a proper lesson¨Clet¡¯s see if you still dare to team up with outsiders to bully your own mother!¡±


    8:11 Thu, Sep 18 M


    5 35 vouchers.


    Sonny was unwilling to ept it. ¡°Was


    it not also for Tessa that you had Mommy sent to prison<b>, </b>and deliberately dragged out the time so that she became disabled?¡±


    ¡°I did this for Tessa¡¯s <b>sake</b>. She wanted so much to marry you, but Mommy had been dying the divorce for a long time.


    ¡°That is why I let Mommy <b>face </b>a minor punishment, so that Tessa can be my mom.¡±


    He spoke boldly, confident that he was in the right.


    In his efforts to defend himself, he forgot everything Tessa had done to him during this period.


    Connor wore a grim expression and remained silent.


    Only then did he realize the kind of values his actions had imparted to Sonny.


    In the past, he repeatedly undervalued


    ylia for the sake of Tessa. Sonny followed his example, also cing


    Tessa first, <b>which </b>led him to neglect and hurt his own biological mother.


    At that point, regret served no purpose.


    Connor nced at Sonny with disappointment <b>and </b>said lightly, ¡°Tomorrow, I will have the butler pick you up. After you return home, you must obey your tutors. Until you admit your mistake, there will be no time for y<b>.</b>¡±


    Sonny immediately protested, ¡°Dad!¡±


    Connor no longer listened to Sonny, opened the door, and got out of the car.


    After the father and son returned to the hotel, Tessa had alreadye back ahead of them.


    As <b>soon </b>as the door opened, Tessa rushed over and hugged Sonny. ¡°Sonny, where have disappeared early this morning. Do you know we were worried about you<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>you </b>


    been? You


    Her tone was filled with worry, and her hands trembled as she held Sonny.


    Connor arranged for Sonny to go home. Although Sonny was <b>not </b>very enthusiastic at first, <b>seeing </b>Tessa so worried about him made him think that perhaps she had simply been in <b>a </b>bad moodst night, which was why she treated him <b>that </b>way.


    He had already somewhat forgiven her.


    He said softly, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    Tessa let go of him, raised her hand, and touched his face. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m so relieved that you¡¯re <b>back</b>.¡±


    Connor looked at Tessa, his brows gently furrowing <b>as </b>he observed her expression.


    Her concern for Sonny did not appear to be feigned, and after spending these years with Tessa, he thought that she did not seem like an evil person who would secretly harm others.


    8:11 Thu, Sep 18 N


    He prayed silently. Hopefully, I¡¯m just overthinking.


    65 voucher


    The studio had not yet recruited any staff, so all responsibilities currently fell on Xylia and Josie.


    Thanks to the poprity of Gina¡¯s video, the studio was flooded with orders as soon as it opened¨Cso many <b>that </b>the two of them could have celebrated with several pots of drinks, leaving no time for a ribbon¨Ccutting


    <b>ceremony</b>.


    Xylia recognized that continuing in this manner was not a viable solution; it was imperative to prioritize the recruitment process.


    She discussed it briefly with Josie before publishing a dozen or so job postings on the recruitment website.


    Josie was responsible for interviewing employees, while Xylia managed order processing and coordinated. with partner factories.


    Previously, when Kaden apanied her to the cruise dinner, she became acquainted with several owners <b>of </b>clothing factories.


    She took advantage of this period before her schedule became fully upied to contact each person individually.


    By contacting only three executives, she made a miscalction.


    When these executives met with her and heard her request for cooperation, they all eagerly <b>agreed</b><b>. </b>


    However, during the subsequent conversation, the executives did not continue discussing the scale of her studio. Instead, they directly and indirectly probed for information about Kaden.


    Sadler Group did not operate a clothing brand. However, these executives not only owned garment manufacturing factories but also had other projects for potential coboration with the Sadler Group.


    ¦©¦Ð


    their eyes, Xylia was merely the willful little princess of the Sadler family, and her entrepreneurial pursuits were seen as nothing more than just for fun.


    Therefore, they did not attach importance to this cooperation


    Xylia felt somewhat disappointed and somewhat angry.


    Ultimately, no cooperation was achieved.


    At the moment when she was feeling dejected, Joshua sat down in front of her.


    She was working at the coffee shop adjacent to the studio, seeking a suitable factory.


    When Joshua sat <b>down </b>in front of her, she stiffened briefly, then deliberately pretended to be unaffected. ¡°What brings you to <b>me again</b>?¡±


    Joshua frowned. ¡°What do you mean, again? I haven¡¯te to see you for three days, right?¡±


    8:12 Thu, Sep 18 M


    Xylia wondered. ¡®Is three days <b>a </b>long time?¡®


    Xylia did not know how to face Joshua as he was now<b>. </b>


    <b>She </b>vaguely sensed that Joshua wasn¡¯t really joking when he made those <b>jokes</b>.


    90


    55 vouchers


    Having experienced marriage and love before, she was naturally sensitive to the romantic feelings emanating from Joshua.


    However, she believed that, given Joshua¡¯s circumstanc her, a woman who had been divorced.


    there was no need for him to get entangled with


    She thought that he had a promising future and would meet a better woman<b>. </b>


    She did not wish to impede him, and even less did she wish to hinder her own progress.


    She remained silent, focusing intently on the information retrieved on theptop.


    Joshua ordered a cup of coffee and gazed at Xylia with a somber gaze.


    She appeared to be somewhat estranged from him, which he thought was indeed an undesirable sign.


    He said. ¡°I need you to do me a favor¡±


    Xylia raised her eyes to look at <b>him</b>, her gaze filled with doubt,


    He seldom asked her for help.


    Joshua took out his phone, casually scrolled with his finger, and turned the screen toward Xylia. ¡°This is my university ssmate, who has established a garment contract manufacturing factory and is seeking business opportunities through my introduction.


    ¡°As you are aware, my group already maintains long¨Cterm partnerships with existing factories.


    ¡°After careful consideration, I believe you are the most suitable candidate for this opportunity.¡±


    Ìï


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    Comment

 Tricked 152

    8:12 Thu, Sep 18 N


    It was really timely help.


    65 vouchere


    Xylia did not mind that the other party was <b>also </b>someone who had just started a business; as long as the quality was up to standard, she <b>was </b>open to discussion.


    However, she noticed something amiss.


    She looked at Joshua. ¡°Is he truly your university ssmate?¡±


    In recent days, whenever she encountered difficulties, Joshua always helped her for various reasons.


    From a friend¡¯s apartment in Jupiton to now, a university ssmate¡¯s startup factory, it seemed that every step she took had been thoughtfully arranged for her by Joshua.


    She disregarded his feelings, yet epted his constant help.


    This was not good.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Joshua appeared calm. ¡°I will send you his contact information. You canmunicate with him.¡±


    Xylia spoke softly. ¡°That will not be necessary.¡±


    Joshua paused, raised his eyes to look at Xylia.


    Xylia smiled at him and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted a partner factory, so I may not be able to help <b>you </b>with


    this


    Joshua frowned. ¡°Which factory have you contacted?¡±


    Xylia said, ¡°I will tell you once the contract has been signed.¡±


    <b>Joshua </b><b>asked</b>, ¡°When will you sign the contract?¡±


    Xylia frowned slightly. Observing Joshua¡¯s persistent questioning, she could no longer maintain the lie.


    She selected Derek Warren from the three executives she had previously arranged to meet. She then showed Joshua the chat records of their coboration. ¡°This Mr. Warren is someone I met at the charity g. He has already agreed to coborate with me¡±


    All three executives had agreed to cooperate.


    It was only because of theirck of sincerity that Xylia refused.


    To reassure Joshua, she decided to just cooperate with any executive.


    It was not necessary to establish a long¨Cterm cooperation agreement; periodic cooperation was also eptable.


    8:12 Thu, Sep 18 H


    65 vouchers 55


    Joshua nced at Xylia¡¯s phone and then began to speak fluently and at length, ¡°Derek Warren is arge¨Cscale contract manufacturing factory for several well¨Cknown domestic garment brands. As <b>your </b>studio has only recently been established, the volume of orders you have received is insufficient to support long¨Cterm cooperation with him.¡±


    He looked at Xylia, subtly adopting Mr. <b>Garcia¡¯s </b>authoritative demeanor, and proceeded to analyze for Xylia from a professional standpoint. ¡°You met at a charity g. The reason he chose to work with you is because of the Sadler family¡¯s background.


    ¡°He may simply regard you as a wealthy youngdy who likes to have fun, and he might not take the orders. you submit very seriously,


    ¡°Are you sure you want to coborate with him?¡±


    Xylia had also considered the concerns raised by Joshua.


    However, at present, she was merely using <b>this </b>matter as an excuse to evade Joshua¡¯s help, and she felt somewhat guilty about it.


    ¡°Therefore, I did not enter into a long¨Cterm cooperation agreement with him. We are only coborating on this batch of orders for now.¡± Even her <b>voice </b>sounded somewhat faint.


    Joshua nodded and continued, ¡°Since there is no long¨Cterm cooperation, then you should consider my university ssmate.¡±


    He looked unwaveringly at Xylia, without ncing aside, taking in every nuance of her facial expression.


    Xylia had always believed that, although Joshua was the heir of the Garcia family, he was essentially yful by


    nature.


    She never expected that, once he got serious, he would be so overwhelming that she could not handle him.


    She opened her mouth, intending to find an excuse to continue refusing, but Joshua spoke first, ¡°So you think I¡¯m helping you on purpose, and that¡¯s why you¡¯re trying every possible way to refuse me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that¡­¡± Xylia¡¯s voice was faint.


    ¡°I see. With that, Joshua ced both hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, and looked at Xylia.


    The light reflected in those charming eyes carried a hint of fierceness. Its sharpness seemed as if it could see straight through Xylia. ¡°If you are not refusing my help, then you must be rejecting my feelings.¡±


    Xylia no longer denied it


    Instead, she remained silent.


    Soft, melodious music filled the cafe, while sunlight streamed through the ss windows, bathing the interior


    in warmth.


    Yet the air lingering between them was as frigid and piercing as cold molecules at high altitude.


    8:12 <b>Thu</b><b>, </b>Sep 18 <b>N </b>


    After a prolonged silence, it was Joshua who spoke first. ¡°Why?¡±


    His voice carried a trace of hoarseness that was almost imperceptible.


    Xylia finally looked up at him.


    65 vouchers


    His face was devoid of its customary smile, instead remaining expressionless; beneath his silver hair, hist strikingly ck eyes seemed to carry a trace of hurt.


    Xylia felt a pang in her heart, yet she still said what she wanted to say. ¡°I am unable to immediately enter <b>into </b>a new rtionship, and you deserve better. L¡­


    Before she e could finish speaking, Joshua suddenly let out a <b>cold </bugh. ¡°What is better?¡±


    Xylia felt as though her throat was stuck. She collected herself and continued, saying, ¡°I was once married, and I have been hurt. Although I appear to be working hard to run my studio now, in reality, I am already broken. My spirit is broken, and even my limbs are crippled. I cannot give you the healthy rtionship you.


    desire.¡±


    Her eight years of married life were abnormal.


    Connor exploited her for the sake of another woman, and Sonny despised her because of the same woman.


    Nevertheless, she continued to care for these two people with the purest and most self¨Crighteous love.


    To be honest, although she had escaped that embarrassing past, deep down she could no longer trust in love, nor could she treat a partner with the same passionate heart.


    If she truly let Joshua in, it would be unfair to him.


    Joshua knew what Xylia was concerned about.


    However, he really did not want <b>to </b>listen.


    He did not directly respond to Xylia¡¯s self¨Cdeprecating remark, instead extending his well¨Cdefined fingers. ¡°Then let¡¯s not talk about feelings. Let¡¯s talk about something else.¡±


    Xylia did not know what Joshua intended to say, but she followed his lead and asked, ¡°What do


    <b>you </b>


    mean?¡±


    Joshua said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about favors <b>and </b>social debts.¡±


    Xylia watched as Joshua¡¯s fingers bent down. ¡°Back then, when I was <b>in </b>a foreignnd, you saved my life. I owe you a <b>debt </b>of gratitude for saving me, right?¡±


    Xylia frowned, looking at him with a puzzled expression.


    Joshua smiled and continued. ¡°After you left the Ford family, I arranged an apartment for you. At the auction,


    I helped you win your grandmother¡¯s painting. When you were kidnapped, I rescued you twice. When your were bullied by the Ford family, I rescued you twice¡­¡±


    Joshua was bending down more and more fingers.


    8:12 Thu, <b>Sep </b>18 H


    Xylia¡¯s brows knitted and arched higher and higher.


    She wondered if he was trying to use favors <b>as </b><b>a </b>means of coercion.


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    Only after all ten fingers had curled did Joshua lift his gaze to <b>Xylia</b><b>. </b>¡°All the assistance I have provided to you is entirely predicated on the fact that you once saved my life; therefore, it does not constitute <b>a </b>personal


    favor.¡±


    Xylia waspletely perplexed, wondering, ¡®So what¡¯s the point of all that calcting?¡®


    Joshua smiled, and that trace of warmth reappeared in his eyes. ¡°So, Xylia, it was you who provoked me, not me deliberately pestering you.


    ¡°What <b>I </b>appreciate is you as a person, not the series of so¨Ccalledbels such as having been married, having been hurt, being physically or mentally unhealthy, and so on


    ¡°If you had not married Connor back then, the person you would have married would have been me.¡±


    Xylia wondered if it was merely her imagination. She seemed to see a strong sense of possessiveness sh across Joshua¡¯s eyes.


    Her mind was already muddled by Joshua¡¯s candid confession.


    She did not know how to respond to Joshua; she only knew that, from today onward, her rtionship with Joshua could no longer remain as it once <b>was</b>.


    <b>AD </b>


    Comment

 Tricked 153

    During the journey from the cafe back to the studio, Xylia had been in a state of distraction.


    365 vouchers.


    She did not return to her senses until Josie called out to her loudly. ¡°What are you thinking about, so lost in thought? Your face is so pale¨Care you sick?¡±


    Xylia shook her head. I¡¯m fine. Is there something wrong?¡±


    Josie pointed at the phone. Tve selected a few promising candidates for interviews. Are you avable tomorrow to interview together?¡±


    Xylia nodded. ¡°Yeah<b>. </b>You¡¯ll arrange it.¡±


    Josie nodded, then sensed that something was truly amiss with Xylia.


    She followed Xylia into the office.


    Looking at Xylia, who seemed as lost and dejected, Josie narrowed her eyes and asked, ¡°I just saw Joshua go to the cafe to look for you. What did you two talk about? Why do you look so spaced out, like the conversation took your soul away?¡±


    When she heard Joshua¡¯s name, Xylia¡¯s gaze flickered.


    With great curiosity, Josie observed all of her reactions, then leaned on the desk and moved closer to her. ¡°It seems there really is something going on. What exactly happened? Did he confess to you?¡±


    It seems there really is something going on. What exactly happened? Did he confess <b>to </b>you?


    Xylia looked up in surprise, her eyes unmistakably conveying the question. ¡°How did you know?¡±


    Josie clicked her tongue, turned to the refrigerator to retrieve a beverage for herself, and then seated herself on the sofa. ¡°Joshua treats you differently from everyone else. His double standards are so obvious. Only a fool would fail <b>to </b>see that he likes you.¡±


    As the person involved, Xylia simply didn¡¯t notice these details.


    She recalled the words that could not be refused that Joshua spoke just now after his confession in the cafe. ¡°Now that everything is clear, I will no longer hide my pursuit of you.


    ¡°If you are willing to speak harsh words to me, I will <b>not </b>cry in front of you; <b>instead</b>, I will go back and find a corner to quietly heal my wounds.


    ¡°I have sent you the contact information of my university ssmate. If you are unwilling to assist me with this minor request, I will not seek your help again, regardless of how great the difficulties I may encounter in the future.¡±


    He made himself out to be as pitiful as possible.


    Although Xylia felt he was putting on an act, his words made her suddenly feel <b>guilty</b>.


    8:12 Thu, Sep 18 H


    He had helped her so much, and after finally managing to ask her, she still refused.


    She just <b>felt </b><b>that </b>it wasn¡¯t right.


    Xylia sighed softly.


    E55 vouchers-


    She raised her eyes and looked at Josie, who was sitting on the sofa, cating snacks. After thinking for a moment, she walked over and sat down opposite her. ¡°Josic, I have a question I¡¯d like to ask you.¡±


    ¡°Is this about your love life?¡± Josie asked with keen interest, finishing thest crisp in her hand. She looked at. Xylia with a serious, attentive expression. ¡°Go ahead¨Cif there¡¯s anything I can help with, I will certainly do so.¡±


    Her eyes sparkled; she was in a gossipy mood.


    Xylia observed the faint excitement appearing on her face and began to lose her resolve.


    However, as she currently had no better outlet for confiding, she could only brace herself and continue speaking, Josie. I did not ept Joshua¡­¡±


    Before Xylia could finish speaking, Josie interrupted her in shock. ¡°You didn¡¯t? Why?¡±


    Josie stared at Xylia with wide eyes, <b>unable </b>to believe it. ¡°That is impossible. You definitely like Joshua! Why did you reject him?¡±


    At that moment, it was Xylia who wore an expression of disbelief. ¡°When did I ever say I liked Joshua?¡±


    The tips of her ears grew slightly warm.


    She believed that she had absolutely no romantic interest in Joshua.


    Josie leaned in toward Xylia, narrowing her eyes as she carefully examined Xylia¡¯s expression. At <bst</b>, she spoke as if a realization had dawned on her, ¡°You have not yet realized it yourself, have you?¡±


    Xylia looked puzzled. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Josie said, ¡°You have not realized your dependence on Joshua.¡±


    Xylia felt inexplicably perplexed.


    Josie had previously regarded Xylia as highly intelligent. However, after eight years of marriage, seeing that Xylia was still so insensitive about feelings, Josie now considered her rather foolish.


    She continued, ¡°Since I arrived in Norhill, I have noticed that you exhibit two distinct attitudes when interacting with your elder brothers from the Sadler family and with Joshua.


    ¡°Although you behave normally toward the Sadler brothers, there is still ack of closeness between you. However, it is different when ites to <b>Joshua</b>.


    ¡°For instance, during thest renovation, when Joshua and Hudson were present, you were undecided about the curtain color, and the first person you consulted was Joshua.¡±


    8:12 Thu, Sep 18 H


    Xylia remembered this matter.


    At that time, the renovation of the studio was nearingpletion.


    <b>55 </b>vouchers.


    She looked at the office curtains, deliberating between choosing whitece curtains or light blue patterned


    curtains<b>. </b>


    Both Hudson and Joshua were nearby: she instinctively asked, and it was indeed Joshua whom she addressed.


    Xylia said, ¡°Hudson is indeed my family, but I have only recently reunited with the Sadler family. Although I <b>am </b>now getting along well with them, we are not yet that close. I did meet <b>Joshua </b>in Jupiton, and we are friends<b>. </b>Compared to Hudson, I am indeed more familiar with him.¡±


    Getting along always took a process.


    During her time in Jupiton, she and Joshua <b>had </b>gradually be close and developed a tacit understanding.


    This was also within the bounds of reason.


    She thought Josie was overthinking it.


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°Never mind. You haven¡¯t dated before, <b>so </b>asking you is pointless.¡±


    She simply gave upmunicating with Josie.


    Josie¡¯s eyes widened abruptly, and she eximed, ¡°Xylia, you actually struck a nerve!¡±


    She suddenly jumped up to chase <b>Xylia</b><b>. </b>Xylia hurriedly rushed out the door, escaping from Josie¡¯s clutches.


    In the evening, Xylia returned to the Sadler family¡¯s ce.


    She p


    picked up her phone countless times, looking at the chat interface with Joshua.


    The chat interface showed a message sent to her from Joshua, asking her if she had arrived home safely. The message above was the contact card of <b>Joshua¡¯s </b>university ssmate.


    Xylia was drawing in the design studio, holding a paintbrush in her left hand and her mobile phone in her right hand.


    She gazed absent¨Cmindedly at her phone.


    It was not <b>until </b>the paintbrush tip pierced the drawing paper that she came back to herself.


    The design drawing on the drawing board was ruined<b>, </b>and the tip of the paintbrush had also snapped off.


    Xylia put down the paintbrush with a hint of despair.


    After considerable deliberation, she friended Joshua¡¯s university ssmate.


    She never thought about hurting Joshua, nor did she truly wish to see Joshua crouched in <b>a </b>corner, healing his wounds<b>. </b>


    <b>8:12 </b>Thu, Sep 18 N


    55 vouchers


    She thought. I¡¯ll just get along peacefully with him for now. After I reject him again and again, Joshua will eventually give up.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s university ssmates quickly epted her friend request.


    Within two minutes, they <b>had </b>added each other <b>as </b>contacts.


    Henry Payton: [Hi, I am Henry Payton, a university ssmate of Joshua. You must be Xylia Sadler, the designer Joshua introduced. Has Joshua discussed our coboration with you? If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. If it is difficult to exin over the phone, we can arrange a time to meet and talk in person.]


    Xylia exchanged a few words with him.


    During the conversation, she could <b>sense </b>Henry¡¯s enthusiasm and urgency, which differed from a mere intention to cooperate.


    She could sense that Henry wanted her to gain a deeper understanding of his factory.


    His writing consistently reflected a <i>de </i>


    passion for his career, mirroring the demeanor she disyed when


    introducing her studio to several executives.


    Xylia felt much more relieved.


    <b>It </b>appeared that Henry was not someone whom Joshua had authority over.


    After arranging to meet with Henry for a detailed discussion tomorrow, she let out a long sigh of relief.


    She thought perhaps she really should not have <b>thought </b>of Joshua in that way.


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    Comment

 Tricked 154

    Xylia arrived at a fine restaurant at the agreed time.


    Henry had been waiting there for quite some time already.


    Joshua also came along with Henry.


    Xylia did not expect Joshua to be <b>present </b>as well.


    55 vouchers


    He sat beside Henry, remaining <b>seated </b>while Henry stood up. Resting one hand on the table, he smiled lightly at Xylia.


    From afar<b>, </b>Xylia saw the slyness in his eyes<b>; </b>a surge of emotion caught in her throat, leaving her uncertain how to vent it.


    Henry greeted her. ¡°Hi, you must be Ms. Sadler. My name is Henry Payton. We spoke online yesterday.¡±


    Faced with Henry¡¯s enthusiasm, Xylia had no choice but to withdraw her gaze from Joshua and smile at Henry. ¡°Nice <b>to </b>meet you. I¡¯m Xylia Sadler¡±


    Henry said politely, ¡°Please have a seat.<b>¡± </b>


    Xylia sat down opposite Henry.


    Joshua¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Xylia, following her movements and finallying to rest on the seat diagonally opposite her.


    Henry noticed the way Xylia looked at Joshua and spoke to Xylia, ¡°Ms. Sadler, you know Joshua better than I do. Since Joshua is free today, he came by to catch up with me. You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡±


    Before Xylia could speak, Joshua spoke up. ¡°She certainly wouldn¡¯t mind. We¡¯re really close.¡±


    <b>Xylia </b>shot him a covert re.


    That utterly non¨Cthreatening re actually made Joshua find it very cute.


    Facing Henry¡¯s gaze, Xylia could only maintain <b>a </b>polite smile. ¡°I do <b>not </b>mind.¡±


    Henry smiled more cheerfully.


    He handed the menu to Xylia and <b>said</b>, ¡°It¡¯s Joshua¡¯s treat. Please feel free to order, Ms. Sadler. There¡¯s no need to stand on <b>ceremony </b>with him.¡±


    Joshua tilted his head slightly and looked at Henry. <b>¡°</b>I¡¯m the one who connected you two¨Cshouldn¡¯t you be treating <b>us</b><b>?</b>¡±


    Henry showed no embarrassment regarding financial matters and spoke in a forthright manner<b>, </b>¡°<b>I </b><b>am </b>currently in the startup phase, and all my funds have been invested in the factory.¡±


    8:12 Thu, Sep 18 N


    85 Voucherd!


    As he spoke, he looked at Xylia. ¡°Only when the factory¡¯s funds are in ce can my cooperation with you. <b>remain </b>stable, Ms. Sadler, Joshua is <b>a </b><b>close </b>friend to both of us, <b>and </b>he¡¯s happy too when our partnership is steady. So he should be the one to pay for this meal.


    Nylia was amused by Henry¡¯s words. ¡°You are right. Since Joshua was the one who introduced us to this coboration, he should indeed treat us to a meal.¡±


    Joshua smiled as he looked at Xylia, but did not refuse.


    Money was thest thing he was short of


    Just seeing Xylia¡¯s heartfelt smile was enough for him.


    After cing the order, they waited for the dishes to be served.


    Henry promptly handed the documents, which had been prepared in advance, to Xylia. ¡°Ms. Sadler, here <b>are </b>the materials regarding my factory for your review.¡±


    While Xylia was reading the documents, Henry was exining beside her. ¡°My factory is rtively small in scale, but we spend all our money on equipment <b>and </b>recruiting talent. The team includes master craftsmen with twenty years of experience, as well as design interns from my own <b>graduating </b>ss. Every member is highly motivated¡±


    Henry¡¯s garment factory was located in Norhill, near the outskirts. Although its scale was modest, its equipment <b>was </b>its strength.


    Upon reviewing <b>the </b>factory equipment in the documentation, Xylia noted that nearly all the machines were precision¨Coriented. Such equipment produced fabric and executed stitching with exceptional uracy and refinement, which was indeed impressive.


    Furthermore, she nced at the profiles of certain employees, including a senior craftsman with many years. of experience at a major brand¡¯s garment factory.


    Xylia¡¯s first impression of Henry¡¯s factory was highly favorable.


    ¡°Ourbel was founded as a partnership among several of us. Ms. Sadler, you¡¯re the first person with whom I discussed coboration.


    ¡°If we reach an agreement, our strategic friendship willst longer than with any future partners. Once thebel is established, your studio will also grow in scale.


    ¡°By working together and striving side by side, we will surely carve out a bright future together,¡± Henry demonstrated with boundless enthusiasm.


    Xylia believed that this was the <b>passion </b>inherent to entrepreneurs.


    She closed the documents and ceased further consideration. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure working with you.¡±


    She extended her hand toward Henry.


    Henry was momentarily stunned and only then spoke in pleasant surprise, ¡°Ms. Sadler, you¡¯re indeed.


    8:12 Thu, Sep 18 N


    straightforward!¡±


    Xylia said. ¡°Please do not call me Ms. Sadler; address me <b>as </b>Xylia instead.¡±


    Henry nodded. ¡°Okay, Xylia¡±


    He reached out and shook Xylia¡¯s hand.


    <b>90 </b>


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    Joshua <b>had </b>been sitting nearby, his gaze fixed intently on the pair of sped hands, his expression inscrutable.


    After the dishes were served. Xylia and Henry were chatting about their coboration.


    Joshua repeatedly poked at the steak on his te with his fork.


    Watching the two converse happily and hearing Henry constantly calling out Xylia¡¯s name, he felt deeply stifled.


    His efforts to facilitate this coboration seemed to have brought unpleasantness upon himself.


    Just as he was lost in thought, a familiar and detested figure approached from nearby.


    Connor entered this restaurant, his gaze sweeping the room <b>as </b>if searching for someone.


    <b>After </b><b>searching </b>for quite some time without finding Xavier, he impatiently took out his phone. Finally, as if sensing something, he nced toward the location of the table where Xylia was seated.


    He was momentarily stunned, then <b>his </b>face darkened.


    He tapped the phone screen a few times at random, put the phone away, and walked toward the table where Xylia <b>was</b>.


    Xylia and Henry were chatting when they sensed another presence nearby: turning around, they saw Connor standing beside them.


    Connor¡¯s gaze fell on Henry, and he let <b>out a </b>coldugh. <b>¡°</b>Another new face, Xylia Schultz. You really <b>know </b>how to mess around, huh?¡±


    ¡°Xylia Schultz?¡± Henry looked at Xylia and asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t your surname Sadler?¡±


    Before Xylia could exin, Connor asked with a smile, ¡°Sadler? Xylia, just how many identities do you have? And how many men have you strung along using those identities?<b>¡± </b>


    Xylia¡¯s expression turned cold as she looked at Connor, her gaze tinged with annoyance. ¡°My affairs are not


    your concern.¡±


    ¡°Not my concern?¡± Connor was floored.


    He lifted his gaze slightly and met the dark eyes of Joshua beside him.


    He could not help but recall how Joshua had threatened and warned him time and again, and the resentment


    8:13 <b>Thu</b><b>, </b>Sep 18 N


    in his chest lingered, refusing to dissipate.


    He spoke to Xylia in amanding tone, ¡°Come out with me. We need to talk.¡±


    Xylia frowned. ¡°I have nothing to say to you. You should leave <b>now</b>.¡±


    Xylia was annoyed by Connor¡¯s habit of asionally showing up in front of her and acting crazy.


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    Connor lowered his head to look at Xylia and threatened in a low voice, ¡°There are still things between us that haven¡¯t been settled. If you don¡¯t want me to make a scene in public, you¡¯d bettere outside with me.¡±


    Xylia was puzzled, wondering. <b>¡®</b>Are there any unresolved matters between us?¡®


    There was a pronounced sense of threat in Connor¡¯s eyes.


    Xylia fell silent for a moment, then nced at Henry, whose face was filled with confusion, and at Joshua, whose expression was visibly troubled.


    She considered it imperative to resolve the matter concerning Connor; otherwise, his relentless entanglement would inevitably cause her trouble one day.


    She looked at Henry <b>and </b>Joshua. ¡°Excuse me, I will step out for a moment.¡±


    Xylia stood up and looked coldly at Connor. ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside.¡±


    Connor smirked at Joshua, whose <b>face </b>was sullen, shrugged provocatively, <b>and </b>then turned to follow Xylia


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    Henry watched the two figures depart and, puzzled, asked Joshua, Joshua, could Xylia get into danger? That man seems like trouble¡±


    <b>Joshua </b>lowered his gaze and looked at him askance, choosing not to respond to his question but instead shifting the topic. ¡°You know, you speak too <b>much </b>when you two talk.¡±


    Henry was silent for a long moment before saying, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You know what I <b>mean</b><b>.</b>¡± Joshua felt jealous.


    Even someone as ordinarily careless as Henry sensed that something was amiss at that moment.


    He approached Joshua with a smile <b>and</b>, with gossipy intent, said, ¡°I was wondering howe someone as busy as you is so invested in my startup¨Cconnecting us anding along to meet my potential partner? Turns out, my business partner is actually your crush!¡±


    Joshua did not deny it. ¡°d you know it.¡±


    Henry, now interested, asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you go out and take a look? That man clearly has ulterior motives.¡±


    Henry pointed at the two people outside the ss window by the entrance.


    His initial impression of Connor was extremely negative. Not only did Connor speak in a mocking and <b>sarcastic </b>manner, but he also threatened women.


    Henry thought that he looked like a coward.


    Joshua looked at the two people outside the door, his gaze growing somber.


    He remained silent, neither responding to Henry nor intending to go after Xylia.


    Xylia and Connor were facing each other at the entrance of the restaurant.


    She deliberately selected a <b>location </b>that was rtively quiet and visible to others to prevent Connor from losing control again, as he did that night on the cruise.


    She looked at Connor with an indifferent face. ¡°Go ahead, say it. What exactly is the matter?¡±


    Connor asked, ¡°Did Sonnye to see you that day?¡±


    Xylia nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Connor frowned at her and, in a lecturing tone, said to Xylia, ¡®No matter what <b>happens</b><b>, </b>Sonny is still your child. You should not project all the conflicts between us onto him. He came to you because he <b>still </b>sees you as his mother. You ought to care for him, not drive him away.¡±


    Xylia had originally assumed that he had something important to tell her and didn¡¯t expect that.


    8:13 Thu, Sep 18 <b>H </b>


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    She gave a lightugh and said, ¡°The divorce agreement clearly <b>states </b>that custody of Sonny belongs to you. I have severed all legal ties with both you and your <b>son</b>. Surely you have <b>not </b>forgotten this?¡±


    ¡°Nylia, must you truly be so ruthless?¡± Connor nearly roared those words out.


    The warmth in Xylia¡¯s eyes faded little by little.


    Her voice also grew increasingly indifferent. ¡°Connor, I hope you understand one thing<b>: </b>our rtionship ispletely over. From now <b>on</b>, even if we meet, we should be strangers¨Cnot repeatedly pestering me as you


    have done.¡±


    ¡°Me? Pestering?¡± Connor was out of breath<b>, </b>his chest heaving markedly.


    His voice attracted passing pedestrians, whose gaze would asionally turn in this direction.


    He lowered his voice, pointed at Joshua in the restaurant, and spoke to Xylia, ¡°Take a look at the life you¡¯re living. You sleep with one man after another¨Cdon¡¯t you find that disgusting? You run a <b>failing </b>studio and <b>still </b>need the Garcia family¡¯s chauffeur to help you. Are you really this despicable?¡±


    Xylia could not help but p Connor. ¡°Watch <b>your </bnguage! My current way of life is none of your concern. If you continue to defame me or my friends, I won¡¯t hold back!¡±


    Connor¡¯s <b>head </b>was tilted to the side, and his ears were ringing.


    By the time he regained hisposure, Xylia had already returned to the restaurant.


    Through the ss window, he could see that Xylia had alreadyposed herself and was seated opposite Henry.


    Perhaps out of concern, Henry asked a few questions. Xylia shook her head to indicate that <b>she </b>was fine and immediately picked up her fork again.


    Joshua leaned back against the chair, giving his head a devil¨Cmay¨Ccare tilt to the side, his gaze settling on Connor outside the <b>ss </b>window.


    A wicked smile curled at his lips as he traced a throat¨Cslitting gesture across his neck, then arched his eyebrows.


    Has fully assumed the demeanor of a victor.


    Connor clenched his fists tightly, thinking. The lousy chauffeur clearly saw Xylia p me, which is why he¡¯s now provoking me


    ¡°Mr. Ford, I apologize for having kept you waiting.¡± The person Connor arranged to meet has arrived.


    He turned to look at Xavier <b>and </b>stopped him before Xavier entered <b>the </b>restaurant.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat somewhere else.¡± With that, Connor turned and walked straight away.


    He was thinking <b>that</b>, after eight years of marriage, she kept seeing all kinds of people after their divorce. If word <b>got </b>out, he would be disgraced.


    8:13 Thu, Sep 18 N


    He silently vowed to himself to get Xylia back <b>from </b>Joshua, that mere chauffeur.


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    Xavier did not know why Connor suddenly changed his mind, but seeing his serious expression, she did not dare to ask more and closely followed him away from the entrance of the restaurant.


    After the meal, Xylia bid farewell to Henry.


    As for Joshua, he followed Xylia.


    Xylia lowered her head to get an Uber on her phone. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Joshua, who had always been beside her, and she frowned slightly. ¡°Are you not leaving?¡±


    Joshua did not answer but responded with a question. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    Xylia put <b>away </b>her phone and turned to <b>face </b>Joshua. ¡°Mr. Garcia, as the current chairman of Garcia Group. you must be very busy every day, right?¡±


    Joshua nodded. ¡°I¡¯m very busy, but right <b>now</b>, I¡¯m <b>not </b>busy.¡±


    His smile remained unchanged, <b>and </b>he was thick¨Cskinned.


    Xylia <b>was </b>utterly unable to cope with him in <b>this </b>state.


    She stood there, stunned and frowning, unable to ask a single question.


    Joshua, with a broad smile, nced at the sunlight, now less ring, and then looked at Xylia, whose face appeared slightly haggard. ¡°Are you going back to the studio?¡±


    Xylia red at him. ¡°I need to go back and tell Josie the news about the coboration.¡±


    ¡°You could just say this over the phone¨Cdo you really need to go all the way there?¡± <b>Joshua </b>asked.


    Xylia simply said, ¡°There are many tasks in the studio.¡±


    ¡°Still, you gotta rest. It¡¯s a cool day. I will take you somewhere.¡± As Joshua spoke, he ignored Xylia¡¯s opinion and dragged her by the wrist onto the nearby Maybach.


    Xylia tried to stop him, signaling Joshua to let go.


    Joshua had indeed let go of the steering wheel, but right then, Xylia took the front passenger¡¯s seat.


    As Joshua closed the car door, he smiled and reminded Xylia, ¡°Don¡¯t forget to cancel the Uber order.¡±


    As he spoke, he closed the car door.


    As he went from the front passenger¡¯s seat to the driver¡¯s seat, Joshua even locked the car door.


    Unable to open the <b>door</b>, Xylia had no choice but to cancel the order.


    <b>Joshua </b>took the driver¡¯s seat, while Xylia turned her head to look at him helplessly. ¡°Do you know what you <b>look </b>like right now?¡±


    8:13 Thu, Sep 18 H


    <b>Chapter </b>155


    Joshua asked. ¡°What do I look like?¡±


    ¡°Like a rascall¡± Xylia angrily put away her phone and fastened her seatbelt.


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    Joshua did not rush to start the car. He turned his head to look at Xylia, then moved closer to her.


    Xylia was startled and moved closer to the car door. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s face was wless from every angle. Even when Xylia observed him from an unttering, close¨Cup perspective, his striking good looks remained undiminished.


    He was so close to her that his breath seemed to brush against her face.


    She was both angry and embarrassed.


    However, just as she was about to say something. Joshua spoke first, ¡°If I only act like a rascal toward the one I like, am I still a rascal?¡±


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    Xylia¡¯s cheeks flushed a deep red.


    Ever since confessing his feelings, he had been acting more and more strangely.


    She red at Joshua and said, ¡°Just hurry up and drive<b>!</b>¡±


    After she finished speaking, she turned to look out the window and no longer looked at him.


    Joshua gave a gentleugh and did not tease her further.


    He started the vehicle and drove away from the restaurant entrance.


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    Connor sat at a window seat on the second floor of the building opposite the restaurant, watching every interaction between Joshua and Xylia. The ss in his hand was nearly crushed in his grip.


    The interior of the car remained quiet throughout the journey.


    Xylia gazed out the window, her expression weighed down by worries.


    Joshua nced at her while paused at the wheel, his eyes somber, and it was unclear what he was thinking.


    The car drove all the way <b>to </b>Norhill Central Hospital.


    Upon arriving at the ce, Xylia was perplexed. ¡®Are you unwell?¡±


    Joshua looked at her. ¡°No. You are the one who is unwell.¡±


    Xylia felt like she had just heard ame joke.


    Joshua smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s <b>go</b><b>.</b>¡±


    Although Xylia did not know why Joshua was taking her to the hospital, she still went with him.


    They arrived at the surgical department.


    Joshua walked directly into the director¡¯s office.


    In the office were Cyrus and an unfamiliar foreign face.


    Cyrus watched as the two entered, feeling somewhat pleasantly surprised. ¡°Xylia, what brings you here?¡±


    <b>Xylia </b>smiled.


    <b>She </b>also wanted to know what she was doing there..


    Cyrus appeared to deliberately ignore <b>Joshua</b>, bringing only Xylia to sit on another sofa opposite the foreign-


    8:13 Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


    looking person, ¡°Xylia<b>, </b>have a seat first. Let me get you some water.


    Xylia looked toward Joshua, who stood nearby, ignored.


    She furrowed her brows slightly and beckoned to Joshua. ¡°Come and sit here.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s smile did not fade as he stepped forward and took a seat beside Xylia<b>. </b>


    As he sat down<b>, </b>he greeted the foreigner seated opposite him. ¡°Dr. Weiss.¡±


    When she heard ¡°Dr. Weiss,¡± Xylia¡¯s eyes widened.


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    Perry Weiss was the foremost authority in the field. During her time at the hospital, Xylia was very eager tomunicate with him.


    However, Perry seldom participated in academic exchanges in the country. Consequently, during her brief professional career, Xylia did not have the opportunity to engage with this eminent schr.


    Perry smiled at Joshua and said, ¡°Hello, Mr. Garcia. Thank you very much for inviting me to Norhill. Norhill is truly beautiful, and I am very fond of this ce.¡±


    Joshua appeared to be on friendly terms with Perry. ¡°I am also pleased that you were able toe here.¡±


    At this moment, Cyrus brought over two sses of water, cing one in front of Joshua and handing the other to Xylia


    ¡°Thanks, Cyrus,¡± Xylia said.


    Joshua also said, ¡°Thank you, bro.¡±


    Cyrus gave Joshua a cutting re. ¡°Don¡¯t try to im kinship with me. I¡¯m not your bro.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll be <b>soon</b>,¡± Joshua spoke as he picked up the ss of water he had just poured and took a sip.


    Cyrus felt that Joshua was hinting at something.


    Perry, unaware of the rtionships among the several people and assuming they were all rtives, asked, ¡°Mr. Garcia, is this youngdy the one you wish me to treat?¡±


    He pointed at Xylia.


    Xylia looked toward Joshua in <b>confusion</b>. ¡°Treat?¡±


    Joshua gave her a reassuring look. ¡°Yes, Dr. Weiss. This is Ms. Sadler, a friend of mine. She sustained injuries


    to her wrist <b>and </b>ankle four months ago, and they have not healed. Given your exceptional medical expertise, I would like <b>to </b><b>ask </b>you to examine her.¡±


    Perry nodded. ¡°Of course, no problem. Let me take a look at Ms. Sadler¡¯s <b>injury </b>first.¡±


    Xylia had not yet recovered from her shock.


    8:13 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Instinctively, she extended her wrist for Perry to examine.


    Perry pressed several spots on her hand and stated calmly. ¡°The


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    tendon was carefully severed and was not surgical intervention, the deformity will


    properly reattached. The bone is also slightly deformed. With don was carefully severed and was not


    progressively worsen.¡±


    Xylia looked at Perry with <b>pleasant </b>surprise. ¡°Will surgery result in any long¨Ctermplications?¡±


    Perry spoke with great confidence, ¡°If I am the lead surgeon, I guarantee it will not ur.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s heart pounded.


    The injuries to her wrists and ankles were a pain she could not alleviate.


    Although she usually didn¡¯tin, each <b>time </b>she picked up her paintbrush to draw and felt a faint pain in her wrist, she was still bothered by it.


    She was previously a surgeon, and she had always known what happened with the injuries to her limbs.


    It was just that the surgical procedure was highlyplex.


    She was unable to find any doctor within the country who could perform this surgery.


    She didn¡¯t expect that Joshua actually invited Perry to Norhill.


    If she was not mistaken, Joshua had specifically invited Perry to Norhill for her.


    She felt a bit guilty, mixed with feelings she could not describe.


    When he saw Xylia¡¯s evident joy after learning that the injuries to her limbs could be treated, Cyrus¡¯s lips curved slightly.


    Although Xylia had just reunited with the Garcia family, deep down, Cyrus did not wish for her to marry and leave the <b>family </b>so soon.


    However, he had witnessed everything that Joshua had done to help Xylia during this period.


    He could tell that, although Xylia did not outwardly show any liking for Joshua, she certainly had a <b>favorable </b>impression of him.


    Having recently experienced a marriage marked by trauma, it was entirely reasonable that she was unable to ept another person within a short period.


    Time healed all things.


    Moreover, for someone as thick¨Cskinned as Joshua, this was not a difficult matter.


    Cyrus decided not to interfere recklessly.


    After discussing and finalizing the surgery time with Perry, Xylia once again encountered a difficulty.


    8:13 Thu, Sep 18 N


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    The studio was just getting started, and orders were still backlogged. She had undergone surgery and needed time to recover. Altogether, at least three months would be needed.


    Furthermore, she intended to participate in a fashion designpetition abroad next month.


    She had some concerns. ¡°Dr. Weiss, how long will you be staying in Norhill?¡±


    Perry said. ¡°I was invited by Mr. Garcia to travel here. I expect to stay for about a week before returning, as there are matters at the institute awaiting my attention.¡±


    Xylia had nothing further to <b>say </b>


    It would be ideal if the surgery could be scheduled after <b>the </b>fashion designpetition concludes next month.


    Unfortunately, Perry did not have time.


    Joshua noticed Xylia¡¯s hesitation.


    Upon leaving the hospital<b>, </b><b>he </b>asked her, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? <b>It </b>appears you are reluctant to undergo surgery.¡±


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°It is not that I am unwilling¡±


    Shemunicated all <b>her </b>concerns to Joshua


    Joshua gazed at her in silence for a long time, then asked, ¡°I think this is not something you need to worry about.¡±


    Xylia raised her eyes to look at Joshua, her gaze filled with confusion.


    Joshua continued, ¡°I believe you have exceptional talent in fashion design. Previously, while in Jupiton, you came out on top among a group of renowned designers. Such an achievement is not something typically expected of a novice designer. Moreover, <b>that </b>honor <b>was </b>attained before the injury on your hand had healed.¡±


    He looked at Xylia, his gaze shining with the light of trust. ¡°Without pain, you can better walk the path of <b>fashion </b>design, isn¡¯t that <b>so</b><b>?</b>¡±


    Joshua¡¯s words gave Xylia an immediate sense of profound enlightenment.


    Indeed, when it came to health,petitions and money were not important.


    She knew that she should distinguish between what was important and what was less important.


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    Xylia squinted at Joshua, as if something had just urred to her. ¡°It suddenly urred to me at that designer exchangepetition in Jupiton, you didn¡¯t tamper with the ranking I received, did you?¡±


    Joshua frowned at her and said, ¡°Do you think I am such a person who cannot distinguish between public and private matters?<b>¡± </b>


    It was not to that extent.


    Xylia dispelled her doubts.


    What he said meant that she truly earned the 300 thousand reward through her own ability at that time.


    She felt happy again. T¡¯m going back to tell Josie. After I have arranged the studio matters, I will begin the


    surgery.


    Joshua gazed at her with indulgent affection. ¡°Do you need me to take you back?¡±


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°If you¡¯re busy, go ahead with your business. I¡¯ll take an Uber.¡±


    Joshua was momentarily stunned, not knowing how she knew he was busy.


    Xylia noticed his confusion and exined, ¡°Normally, you don¡¯t ask if I need a ride¨Cyou just push me into the car. The fact that you¡¯re asking now means something¡¯s up.


    The <b>smile </b>at the corner of Joshua¡¯s lips grew wider.


    After Xylia finished cing an Uber order, the two stood side by side at the roadside in silence, yet there was not the slightest sense of awkwardness.


    The weather was cool and overcast. Wind, carrying warm <b>air</b>, swept by and lifted the mist¨Clike hem of Xylia¡¯s skirt.


    She pressed her lips together. Only when the Uber <b>was </b>about to arrive did she turn to look at Joshua. ¡°Joshua, thank you.¡±


    Joshua was dumbfounded by her sudden expression of gratitude.


    He gave a slight smile and, referring again to his earlier joke, said, ¡°I will remember every ¡®thank you¡® you say. One day, you will return all the favors.¡±


    As he spoke, he leaned in toward Xylia and said, ¡°It would be best if you married me.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s face flushed slightly. <b>This </b>time, she did not avoid him.


    <b>¡°</b>Joshua.¡± Her voice conveyed a measure of seriousness.


    The gaze directed at Joshua became noticeably more serious.


    <b>8:13 </b>Thu, <b>Sep </b>18 <b>W </b>


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous and on edge.


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    He blinked his eyes and stood obediently, listening to her. ¡°You are three years younger than I am. You are not that old. When ites to matters of emotion, I hope you will consider carefully.


    ¡°Indeed, I did save you once when we were abroad. If you feel grateful to me for that, then with all the times you have helped me recently, any debt of gratitude has long since been repaid.


    <b>¡°</b>Affection is not an emotional obligation. Please think it over carefully again: do you truly love me, or is what you feel merely sympathy distorted by a sense of indebtedness?¡±


    After hearing what Xylia said, Joshua¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. ¡°Are you doubting <b>me</b>?¡±


    Xylia said seriously. ¡°I am not doubting you; rather. I hope you can gain a clear understanding of yourself. I need time to find the courage to enter a new rtionship, <b>and </b>I do not wish to hold you back.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s expression grew increasingly grim.


    Xylia¡¯s smile remained unchanged. ¡°Joshua, I promise you <b>that </b>once you have made up your mind, no matter what your answer is, I will give it serious consideration.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, the Uber had already arrived in front of her.


    Xylia got into the car.


    Joshua remained <b>standing</b>, watching as the rear of the car carrying Xylia gradually disappeared along the <b>road</b>.


    After a long while, he finallyughed out <b>loud</b><b>. </b>


    He had deliberated for nearly a decade and long ago reached the utmost rity in his considerations.


    The person who truly needed to consider it was Xylia<b>. </b>


    Those who had been deeply hurt by marriage, even if they epted kindness from the opposite sex, would still <b>put </b>upyers of armor to protect themselves.


    ¡°What a coward.¡± With that thought, Joshua smiled helplessly, turned around, and returned to his car.


    The car departed in the opposite direction.


    A few secondster, a light, pitter¨Cpatter rain began to fall from the sky.


    Muffled thunder expanded from the horizon <b>toward </b>the center. After the deafening sound, lightning streaked across the sky.


    It was a night of torrential rain.


    At midnight, lightning shed, brilliantly illuminating the warehouse on the outskirts of the city.


    8:13 Thu, Sep 18 N


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    Joshua was standing at the warehouse entrance in a ck trench coat, facing outside and looking at the bodyguard holding an umbre. ¡°Are they here?¡±


    The bodyguard without an umbre huddled under the umbre held by his colleague, while the people he was restraining were left exposed to the pouring rain, already soaked like a drowned rat.


    Joshua turned around and entered the warehouse, then sat down on a soft chair.


    The bodyguards threw the individuals to the <b>ground </b>and lifted them up by pulling their <b>hair</b>.


    All the exposed heads were exclusively foreign faces.


    Some had blue eyes and blond hair, while others had green eyes and ck hair. All of them were muscr <b>and </b>physically robust.


    At this moment, all of them were tied up and trampled to the ground, their bodies soaked, faces bruised and swollen, with fresh blood streaming down their faces and bodies, looking utterly miserable.


    ¡°Tell me, who¡¯s the person behind the scenes?¡± Joshua¡¯snguid voice descended from above, its low timbre inexplicably tinged with a chilling undertone.


    However, the ones lying on the ground remains unafraid.


    They kept their mouths tightly closed and did <b>not </b>speak.


    Joshua raised an eyebrow. ¡°Not talking? Then I¡¯ll send you to the underground detention center in the west.


    There was no legal constraint there, and life received no legal protection.


    For those who went there, whether they lived or died, no one knew; and whether they became human or animals, no one could say for sure.


    The foreigners lying face down on the ground, whose faces were already pale, turned even paler after hearing Joshua¡¯s worde


    One of them raised his head and looked toward <b>Joshua</b>.


    Joshua lowered his gaze, casting a cold, sideways nce at him.


    Yet the man suddenly smiled. Anger surged within his blue eyes.


    ¡°We will not betray our leader!¡± As he spoke, his lips moved hesitantly.


    Joshua¡¯s eyes widened. He hurriedly said, ¡°Stop them!¡±


    The bodyguards had already responded swiftly <b>to </b>intervene.


    However, these foreigners all crushed the poison concealed in their teeth and died almost instantly.


    A mad gleam shed in Joshua¡¯s eyes.


    <b>8:13 </b><b>Thu</b>, Sep 18 H


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    He realized that these people were professional assassins, just like that group of people he met abroad back


    then!


    At that time, he assumed that Aaron had offended someone, and as a <b>result</b><b>, </b>Joshua became implicated.


    Contrary to expectations, the situation was entirely different.


    Although he discovered over the years that these individuals were connected to Burke of Kregonia, there was still another person behind Burke.


    Up to now, Joshua still had no clues.


    One of the bodyguards asked, ¡°Mr. Garcia, how should we handle these people?¡±


    Joshua said gloomily, ¡°Send them back to where they came <b>from</b><b>!</b>¡±


    Joshua stood up with a cold expression, his gaze falling on several people on the ground. ¡°Since they have already taken action, it is impossible that only these few individuals are involved. Keep a close watch on Burke Sterling.¡±


    The bodyguards nodded. ¡°Understood, Mr. Garcia.¡±


    Xylia did not draw any <b>designs </b>tonight.


    After she discussed the surgical procedure with Josie in the afternoon, Josic strongly agreed.


    Josie also <b>took </b>over all of Xylia¡¯s orders during this period, patted her chest, and promised confidently, ¡°I have already recruited a designer. If we can¡¯t fulfill orders on time, we can always outsource. Please focus on your treatment and rest assured¨CI will definitely take good care of the studio for you!¡±


    Xylia was deeply touched.


    Josie also took the opportunity to overcharge her for several limited¨Cedition handbags.


    Lying in bed, Xylia was rarely not thinking about the surgery.


    Instead, the image of Joshua kept surfacing in her mind.


    Today, she asked Joshua to truly think about his feelings.


    In fact, she was the one who most needed to engage in serious reflection.


    She did not dare to ept Joshua¡¯s affection because she <b>had </b>only recently withdrawn from a previous rtionship and was unable to devote herself wholeheartedly to a new one.


    If she said yes rashly, it would be <b>unfair </b>to Joshua.


    She sighed, turned over, and closed her eyes.


    8:14 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Somehow, in her dream, various events that had urred abroad in those years appeared.

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    Chapter <b>158 </b>


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    At that time, Xylia graduated from high school after taking the college entrance examination, coinciding with Tessa being found and reunited with the Schultz family.


    After that, Xylia became a superfluous presence in the Schultz family. Feeling dispirited, she traveled to Manedom for a vacation in an attempt to alleviate her mood.


    She stayed in Manedom for a week, and not a single member of the Schultz family called her during that


    <b>time</b>.


    One night, she went out for a walk, but in a secluded alley, she bumped into the injured Joshua.


    When Joshua first met her, his eyes were wary; he even grabbed a shard of a wine bottle from the street and was about to attack her.


    She was afraid and had intended to leave immediately.


    Just as Xylia turned around, she heard a bang behind her. Joshua copsed unconscious.


    Motivated by a sense of fellowship aspatriots, she brought him back to her rented apartment and treated


    his injuries.


    After Joshua woke up, he was quite wary of her. However, upon realizing that she had no intention of harming him, he gradually rxed,


    At that time, Joshua resembled a homeless person. He had no money and, when going out, would always wear a mask and sunsses. He was in a pitiful state.


    Joshua left on the day before Xylia returned to the country.


    Only <b>a </b>stack of small change <b>remained</b>.


    Xylia did not me him for leaving without saying goodbye; she simply felt empty <b>again</b>.


    When she woke up the next day, that sense of emptiness has be even worse.


    She washed up absent¨Cmindedly and ate breakfast absent¨Cmindedly.


    Leon had recently been upied with various engagements and had not been at home.


    Therefore, at the dining table now, apart from Xylia, only Kaden, Cyrus, and Hudson remained.


    The three brothers watched as Xylia ate her breakfast in an almost mechanical manner.


    Cyrus cleared his throat slightly and inquired with concern<b>, </b>¡°Xylia, are you worried about the surgery? Rest assured, Dr. Weiss is highly professional. Once you have recovered from the procedure, the wounds on your limbs will healpletely.¡±


    At the mention of surgery, Kaden and Hudson simultaneously looked at Cyrus.


    Chapter 158.


    ¡°What surgery?¡± Hudson said in astonishment.


    Kaden furrowed his brows as well, looking at Cyrus with a serious expression.


    Cyrus suddenly realized that he had not yet informed his brothers about Xylia¡¯s surgery.


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    He spoke up <b>and </b>informed Kaden and Hudson about Perry¡¯s n to perform surgery on Xylia.


    After hearing this, the two of them also began tofort Xylia. ¡°Xylia, do not be afraid. We will be with you during the <b>surgery</b>.¡±


    They thought that Xylia was troubled because she was worried about the surgery.


    Xylia offered no exnation; she simply smiled and said, ¡°I know that.¡±


    Suddenly, <b>a </b>sh <b>of </b>white light appeared in her mind, and suddenly, distant memories surged forth.


    During her time abroad that year, Joshua actually wore a mask and sunsses when going out to avoid


    someone.


    During that period, she vaguely sensed that someone was monitoring them.


    On one asion, when she was returning home alone, she saw a woman wearing a leather jacket and leather pants following her at the intersection. However, by the time Joshua arrived to pick her up, the woman had disappeared.


    Xylia was unsure whether that person was targeting her. However, she was certain that someone was secretly watching Joshua.


    Although the Garcia family maintained a low profile, Joshua was the sole heir of the Garcia Group.


    All prominent families had offended countless individuals.


    At that time, Joshua had already suffered such harm. Xylia wondered if someone was secretly watching his


    every move now.


    Xylia grew somewhat concerned about Joshua.


    The three brothers noticed that Xylia¡¯splexion suddenly looked terrible.


    All eyes turned to her with concern.


    Xylia suddenly set down her utensils and said to them, ¡°I¡¯ve had enough. I have something to <b>attend </b>to, so I will step out for a while first.¡±


    Hudson hurriedly asked, ¡°Where are you going? I just happen to be going out. Let me give you a ride.¡±


    He thought tha


    that she was in such a distracted state that she shouldn¡¯t go out alone.


    Although he had a racingpetition to attend today, at that moment, Xylia took precedence.


    Xylia was going to the studio to arrange subsequent matters.


    She noticed the concern in Hudson¡¯s expression and nodded.


    Hudson skipped <b>breakfast </b>and followed behind Xylia.


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    Before leaving, he made a gesture to Kaden and Cyrus, indicating that he would take good care of Xylia.


    After Xylia and Hudson left, only Kaden and Cyrus remained in the dining room.


    Kaden looked at Cyrus and asked, ¡°What do you <b>think </b>of <b>Joshua </b>Garcia<b>?</b>¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Cyrus did not react at first; only after understanding the meaning of Kaden¡¯s words did he respond, ¡°He is indeed extremely attentive to Xylia, but his identity is far too dangerous.¡±


    Kaden did not respond.


    He only instructed Cyrus when both of them were about to leave for work. Assign bodyguards to secretly protect Xylia. Joshua Garcia has grown close to her, and it <b>is </b>uncertain <b>when </b>an incident might ur.¡±


    Seeing how serious Kaden was, Cyrus became serious as well. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll take care of the hospital stuff <b>too</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Kaden nodded, and the two left the vi.


    As soon as Connor got up early in the morning, his expression turned extremely grim.


    Tessa had an event today; she rose early to dress up in formal attire.


    Once she had finished getting ready, she walked up to Connor. ¡°Connor, do I look good like <b>this</b>?¡±


    The mermaid dress outlined her figure in a sexy and charming way, but because the dress <b>was </b>white, it added a touch of gentleness to her overall appearance.


    She appeared particrly joyful, as the event she attended today was the first she had participated in since joining the entertainment industry.


    But Connor sat on the sofa with a cold expression,pletely ignoring her questions; even when he looked up at her, his gaze was icy.


    Tessa noticed Connor¡¯s indifference. The smile at the corner of her lips faded slightly. She looked at him in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Connor took out his phone and opened the pre¨Crecorded audio.


    Xavier¡¯s voice came through the phone. ¡°That¡¯s right. Sadie did abduct Xylia during her time in Jupiton, but this matter is in the past now, and Sadie has already been punished. What are you still suspicious about?*


    Xavier paused momentarily. He then restrained his overbearing demeanor<b>, </b>and his voice gradually weakened. ¡°That¡¯s right, Sadie was instigated by <b>Tessa</b><b>. </b>It was Tessa who said that those who hurt her should be properly


    <b>8:15 </b>Thu, Sep 18 N


    taught a lesson, and only then did Sadie go and kidnap Xylia.¡±


    Connor paused the recording and looked at Tessa.


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    At that moment, Tessa¡¯s face <b>had </b>already turned pale. After a few seconds, her expression turned serious as she looked at Connor. ¡°Connor, what do you mean by this?¡±


    ¡°Why did you do this?¡± Connor looked at her coldly.


    Tessa refused to admit it. ¡°Sadie was bullied, <b>and </b>I justforted her. How was I supposed to know it was Xylia who bullied her? Besides, I never told Sadie to kidnap Xylia¨Cso why are youing to me with usations<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Connor looked at her and said, ¡°Tessa, do not make me reveal all the evidence. Just answer my questions.¡±


    Tessa was now fullymitted<b>. </b>


    She had not expected that Connor would actually investigate her.


    Her eyes brimmed with tears.


    In the past, whenever she felt even <b>slightly </b>wronged, Connor would feel distressed for a long time. Now, however, he remained unmoved even when faced with her face on the verge of tears.


    Connor stood up, walked over to Tessa, and continued his questioning. ¡°A month ago, I locked Xylia in the <b>basement</b>. Was it you who released the wasps<b>, </b>intending to harm her<b>?</b>¡±


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    Tessa finally realized that Connor hade to confront her.


    She did not know how much evidence Connor possessed.


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    However, she was confident that, at the time of carrying out these actions, she had not left any evidence that could be used against her.


    She sneered, ¡°Connor, I have finally understood the reason why you have been reluctant to marry me.¡±


    Connor did not see any sign of guilt on Tessa¡¯s face; instead, her face was filled with sadness and disappointment.


    He frowned slightly when Tessa said. ¡°Mourning for your grandfather is just your excuse. In fact, you simply can¡¯t stand seeing Xylia with another man, especially when he¡¯s a mere chauffeur! You can¡¯t let go of your male pride and feel that Xylia¡¯s actions are meant to humiliate you.


    Tessa spoke each word with deliberate emphasis, meaning to get to Connor.


    Connor furrowed his brows, his face as <b>gloomy </b>as it could possibly be.


    Tessa continued, ¡°You want to prove yourself in front of Xylia, which is why you seek justice for her. However, you should not assign unfounded usations to me.¡±


    Tessa looked at him, feeling wronged; <b>as </b>soon as she finished saying these words, tears began to fall.


    Connor could not bear to see her in such a state.


    Honestly, he did not actually obtain any evidence.


    However, whether it was Xavier¡¯s words or Sonny¡¯s remarks, both implicitly suggested that Tessa was not entirely innocent.


    Still, Connor currentlycked further evidence to interrogate her.


    He suppressed the urge tofort her, remaining silent and saying nothing.


    Tessa felt a surge of grief and indignation as he continued to disregard her grievances.


    ¡°Connor! I hate you!¡± she shouted, turned around, and ran away.


    Connor did not go after her.


    His agitation had nearly reached its utmost limit.


    Tessa attended a small¨Cscalemercial performance event today, where a well¨Cknown brand invited <b>several </b>


    celebrities to make an appearance.


    Because she once served as Chief Dancer, she was quite famous.


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    8:15 Thu, Sep 18 N


    By the time she arrived at the venue, she was already the central figure.


    The brand representative warmly weed her.


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    Getting this kind of attention finally helped Tessa bounce back a bit after Connor had messed up my mood earlier this morning.


    The representative said. ¡°Tessa, you¡¯ll be the headline act soon. We¡¯ve already built up the pre¨Cevent hype, and your fans have filled <b>the </b><b>mall</b>.¡±


    Tessa nodded proudly. ¡°Alright.¡±


    In fact, she considered this small¨Cscalemercial performance venue beneath her.


    However, today, a well¨Cknown productionpany, whose owner was a friend of the brand owner, was also present.


    Tessa¡¯s goal was to win over the productionpany and have them choose her as the lead actress for the new drama<b>. </b>


    While waiting in the lounge area, Tessa saw from a distance that the producer, Alex Harrison, was greeting the brand owner.


    Alex appeared to be in his thirties, an age considered young within the entertainment industry. Nevertheless. he had a keen eye; whether selecting scripts or casting actors, his judgment was always spot¨Con.


    Since the beginning of his career, nearly every television drama and film for which he had overseen overall nning <b>had </b>be <b>a </b>major hit.


    Therefore, although he was young, he was still someone whom everyone in the circle tried to curry favor with.


    This time, therge¨Cscale historical costume drama centered on political intrigue, overseen by Alex, was currently seeking actors.


    Tessa submitted her resume well in advance, but did not receive an audition notice.


    She had no choice but to put herself forward.


    She believed that this time, she would definitely secure the lead role in this television drama.


    Lifting the hem of her dress, Tessa walked <b>toward </b>Alex with a smile on her face.


    On the way, she was bumped into by a woman who was clumsy with her hands.


    Tessa staggered briefly, managed to steady herself with difficulty, and immediately became angry. ¡°Are you blind? You should know I can totally have you kicked out!¡±


    Assuming the person was <b>a </b>staff member, Tessa began to reprimand her before even seeing her face clearly.


    Upon hearing the familiar voice, Xylia realized that the person she had bumped into was Tessa.


    H


    8:15 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Originally, she meant to apologize, but she held back the urge to say those words,


    Tessa then noticed <b>that </b>the person who had been bumped into was Xylia.


    Her previously angry mood was further intensified.


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    Just this morning, Connor had a disagreement with her over Xylia. And now, as <b>luck </b>would have it, Xylia showed up before her. Tessa couldn¡¯t afford to miss this opportunity to strike against Xylia.


    Tessa red at Xylia in a domineering manner. ¡°Xylia? Are you a staff member here? What gives you the right. to be here?¡±


    Nylia


    nced at her indifferently and did not respond immediately.


    After finishing his work, Hudson noticed that Xylia was still in low spirits, so he took her out to help her rx.


    While visiting the shopping mall, she saw that it was packed with people and realized that an event was being held.


    Hudson stated that he had previously shared a meal with Greg Dawson, the owner of <b>this </b>brand.


    Xylia was initially uninterested.


    However, she inadvertently saw the female celebrity, whom she had previously encountered in the restroom of the seaside restaurant and thought was Leon¡¯s crush, walking toward the lounge.


    <b>Xylia¡¯s </b>curiosity was rekindled once <b>again</b>.


    She asked Hudson if she could go to the lounge to see the celebrities.


    After Hudson talked to Greg, he led Xylia <b>backstage</b>.


    Xylia searched backstage for a while. After seeing the female celebrity, she <b>prepared </b>to go over and greet her.


    Unexpectedly, she bumped into Tessa.


    Xylia rolled her eyes. ¡°Whether I <b>am </b>qualified to be here is not for you toment on.


    Tessa sneered, ¡°I am the distinguished guest they invited. Do you think I am qualified toment on you? Even if I were to ask them to remove you right now, I would also have the right to do so.¡±


    Xylia did not wish to waste <b>words </b>with her and bypassed her to seek out the female celebrity.


    After the minor incident just now, she hadn¡¯t seen the celebrity since.


    Tessa turned sideways to block Xylia¡¯s way out. ¡°Trying to leave? You bumped into me¨Cshouldn¡¯t you apologize?¡±


    ¡°What the hell are you talking about? Xylia rarely uses profanity.


    However, when confronted with Tessa, she felt her anger gather within her and linger, refusing to dissipate for


    8:15 Thu, Sep 18 M


    a long time.


    Themotion among them quickly attracted arge crowd of onlookers.


    The staff members did not know <b>Xylia</b>.


    However, they were aware that Tessa was the distinguished guest the brand had invited.


    Therefore, when Xylia and Tessa argued, they immediately sided with Tessa.


    One of them said to Xylia, ¡°Miss, you are not one of our backstage staff. Please leave now.¡±


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    Another one said. ¡°You bumped into her and didn¡¯t apologize¨Cwhat are you being so arrogant about?¡±


    A girl warned. ¡°If you do not leave immediately, do not me me for calling security to have you removed.¡±


    Hudson went to chat with the brand owner.


    At that moment, Xylia seemed utterly alone.


    Yet she showed no trace of timidity, regarding them with indifference. ¡°I am not the one who should apologize<b>.</b>¡±


    She looked at Tessa and said, ¡®Ms. Schultz, if we are to speak of apologies, you owe me far too many!¡±


    Tessa narrowed her eyes and gave her a dangerous look.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Xylia to be so stubborn, but that was a good thing for her. ¡°It is indeed rare to encounter someone socking in civility. It appears that the only option is to have security escort you out.¡±


    Some staff members had already called for security. The security guards approached Xylia with a serious demeanor. ¡°Will you leave on your own, or shall we force you out?¡±


    Xylia did not speak.


    Amid the stalemate, a voice broke the silence. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Everyone looked toward the source of the sound and saw Greg walk over together with Hudson.


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    hapter 160


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    Hudson saw that Xylia looked upset, so he frowned and walked over to her. ¡°What happened?¡±


    The staff did not know Hudson. However, upon seeing Hudson arrive with Greg, they assumed he was a friend of their boss<b>. </b>


    When they saw Hudson walk straight up to Xylia, they knew that their rtionship was anything but ordinary.


    The staff member felt uncertain, wondering, ¡®Could it be that this woman is also a friend of Mr. Dawson?¡±


    All of <b>those </b>people turned pale.


    Xylia spoke <b>in </b>a subdued tone, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just ran into someone annoying, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Under ordinary circumstances, Xylia rarely singled someone out with personal feelings in front of so many people.


    However, she was <b>in </b>a bad mood today.


    Moreover, her longstanding resentment toward Tessa ran deep. She truly did not wish to tolerate her any longer.


    When Xylia openly described Tessa as annoying. Tessa feltpletely embarrassed.


    Then, she noticed that Greg was present, and Alex from the production team also walked over, looking puzzled.


    Tessa promptly adopted a resolute stance, determined not to be suppressed by Xylia. ¡°Mr. Dawson, not only did this woman bump into <b>me </b>without apologizing, but she also criticized my appearance <b>in </b>public. How could you allow someone like her into the lounge?¡±


    In Tessa¡¯s view, there was a distinction between the owner of this brand and the owner of a major brand.


    She previously served as an ambassador for major fashion brands; now, by lowering herself to participate in such a small<b>¨C</b>scalemercial event, the organizer ought to ord her the highest level of respect.


    Therefore, she was waiting for Greg to drive Xylia out.


    Greg could not simply sit by and do nothing.


    He walked over, preparing to mediate the conflict between the two troublemakers.


    Before he could speak, Tessa, as if she knew what he was about to say, immediately spoke up. ¡°If you don¡¯t make her leave now, I won¡¯t go on stage.


    Her voice was <b>cold</b>, yet carried a hint of willfulness and disdain.


    Greg furrowed his brow.


    <b>8:15 </b>Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


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    With so many employees present, if he didn¡¯t respond to Tessa¡¯s threat, he would risk losing his authority within thepany.


    He said calmly, ¡°Ms. Schultz, we have signed a contract. I am afraid this kind of attitude may not be ideal, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Tessa had not expected Greg to say this.


    Whispers could be heard nearby. ¡°The woman who refused to apologize seems to be Mr. Dawson¡¯s friend. Tessa Schultz used the incident of going on stage to threaten Mr. Dawson in front of so many people. Isn¡¯t this obviously asking for trouble?¡±


    Another one said, ¡°Tessa Schultz wasn¡¯t injured, so what¡¯s the point of holding on to this?¡±


    Someone else nodded. ¡°Exactly. She¡¯s about to go on stage, but she just had to make such a fuss and dy our


    work.¡±


    That group of employees overwhelmingly criticized her.


    Tessa felt very embarrassed and indignant.


    Then, she saw that Alex had already walked over.


    She thought that if Alex heard such evaluations from these people, she would be unable to take on the role of the female lead.


    Therefore, <b>Tessa </b>could not lose this round.


    She said indignantly, ¡°We did sign a contract, but she collided with me, <b>and </b>my arm still hurts. This has caused me serious psychological trauma<b>. </b>It¡¯s not wrong for me to ask her to apologize, right?¡±


    She loudly denounced, ¡°Mr. Dawson, please don¡¯t side with your friend Xylia just because she¡¯s your friend and let her bully me. My requests are reasonable¨Cam I really in the wrong?¡±


    However, suddenly a coldugh rang out from within the crowd.


    Tessa looked in the same direction and saw only a radiant face.


    The woman¡¯s tone was disdainful. ¡°After being lightly bumped, you ended up with both arm pain and severe psychological trauma. Are you a porcin doll, Ms. Schultz?¡±


    Xylia looked over, somewhat pleasantly surprised.


    The woman was the female celebrity she was just searching for¨Cthe one Leon had a crush on.


    Although Xylia did not clearly see her face in the restaurantst time, she would never forget this voice.


    This <b>time</b>, she finally saw the celebrity¡¯s face clearly.


    It was indeed a bright and captivating face.


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    Her skin was exceptionally fair, her facial features were refined, and her nose bridge was prominent. Her fox- like eyes were strikingly captivating, and even her figure was impable.


    She possessed an innate sense of solitary pride; merely standing there, she resembled a beautiful flower defying the winter snow¨Cpeerlessly independent, standing alone in the world.


    When Alex saw Mia Monroe, his eyes lit up instantly.


    Tessa nced at Mia, whom she did not recognize. Mia was wearing makeup and branded clothing, indicating that she was also likely one of the artists invited to today¡¯s event.


    However, she appeared to be an obscure celebrity, which made Tessa look down on her even more.


    Tessa sneered, ¡°Who are you? Whether I am injured or have suffered emotional trauma is not for you to deny on my behalf.¡±


    Mia had no intention of standing out, but Tessa¡¯s overbearing manner made it impossible for her to like


    Tessa.


    Since she had already spoken out to uphold justice, she no longer hid behind the crowd.


    She stepped out and stood a short distance in front of Tessa, giving her a quick once¨Cover. ¡°I know you.¡±


    Tessa knew that her public profile was still rtively high, and she felt a bit proud when she heard Mia say


    this.


    Tessa arrogantly replied, ¡°However, <b>I </b>do not know you.¡±


    Mia, in fact, was not concerned by <b>Tessa¡¯s </b>attempt to shut her down with words.


    She curved her lips into a smile, gentle and soft. ¡°Previously, I saw reports in entertainment news about your past with Ms. Xylia Schultz. You two are sisters, right? However, it seems you falsely used her of a hit¨Cand- run, andter, you were arrested, correct?¡±


    After Mia finished speaking, Tessa¡¯s expression darkened.


    She had those scandals removed earlier on.


    She couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®Since people usually care about the news that¡¯s trending, not the one in the past, why, then, does this woman before me know about this matter?¡±


    She hurriedly retorted, ¡°That was a misunderstanding!¡±


    Mia nced at her. ¡°Regardless of whether this is a misunderstanding, it is true that you and thisdy have <b>had </b>a feud, correct?¡±


    Mia did not give Tessa a chance to speak and continued, ¡°If your personal grievances are handled privately, I have no interest in whether you fight or hurl insults at each other.


    ¡°However, this asion is not the ce for you to resolve personal disputes.


    8:15 Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


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    ¡°So many staff members worked hard to organize these activities, only to have their time wasted because of your trivial matters. Don¡¯t you feel even a little ashamed?¡±


    The work rted to today¡¯s event had indeed been affected by the conflicts urring there.


    Furthermore, when Tessater said she would not go on stage, it made the staff¡¯s hearts skip a beat.


    Therefore, after hearing Mia¡¯s remarks, each of them nodded vigorously, expressing deep gratitude to this righteous person for speaking on their behalf.


    Tessa was indeed unsettled by Mia¡¯s forceful presence.


    She could no longer remainposed, especially when it came to matters where there was no distinction between public <b>and </b>private.


    She angrily questioned, ¡°Who exactly are you?¡±


    ¡°My name is Mia Monroe. I am an actress. If you want to argue with me, please make an appointment through my agent, since I don¡¯t have time to deal with idiots.¡± Mia spoke with biting sharpness. After making this remark, she turned and left.


    Tessa stood motionless<b>, </b>resembling a defeated clown.


    Greg looked at Tessa again and asked, ¡°Ms. Schultz, are you still going to take the stage?¡±


    Tessa cast a fierce re at Xylia, <b>lifted </b>her skirt, and turned to leave.


    There was no way she¡¯d tolerate any indignity there.


    Greg waved to his assistant toe over. ¡°Withdraw all promotional posters rted to Tessa Schultz. Instruct the public rtions department to prepare; we <b>have </b>a tough battle ahead.¡±


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    The brand¡¯s internal operations were in disarray.


    Hudson believed that, even if Xylia was not at fault, given how the situation had developed, he ought to make some gesture toward Greg, his friend.


    He turned to Greg. ¡°If you need any help, just let me know. The PR Department at Sadler Group is no slouch.


    Greg patted Hudson on the shoulder. ¡°I would also like to thank you for enabling me to discern the character of this spokesperson. In the jewelry industry, we value the utmost purity and integrity of character. Ms. Tessal Schultz will no longer serve as our brand¡¯s jewelry ambassador.¡±


    Hudson and Xylia left the lounge.


    Hudson asked. ¡°You had been looking for the celebrity named Mia Monroe just now. Why did you not greet her when you saw her?¡±


    Xylia noticed that Hudson seemed unaware of the matter involving Mia and Leon.


    She smiled slyly and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. There will be plenty of opportunities for us to meet in the future.¡±


    Hudson was utterly perplexed.


    Seeing that Xylia¡¯s mental state had greatly improved, he stopped worrying about Mia¡¯s affairs..


    It was time for Xylia¡¯s surgery.


    She was admitted to the hospital the previous day.


    After Perry confirmed that all indicator assessments were urate, the surgery was scheduled early the following morning.


    Perry reassured Xylia, saying that he was very steady when performing surgery.


    Xylia felt reassured about this.


    Leon was busy, but upon learning that Xylia was about to undergo surgery, he hurried over.


    When he arrived at the hospital, it was the same as before¨Che was wearing oversized sunsses that concealed <b>half </b>of his face.


    He arrived in haste without removing his makeup or styled hair, having quickly thrown on a jacket.


    When he arrived at the ward, he was drenched in sweat and went straight to Xylia¡¯s bedside. ¡°How are you feeling, Xylia? Do you feel any <b>pain </b>anywhere?¡±


    Cyrus was conducting an examination for Xylia.


    8:16 Thu, Sep 18 N


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    Seeing Leon hurrying over and asking irrelevant questions, he pped him on the back of the head. ¡°The surgery won¡¯t be done until tomorrow morning. Why would she feel any pain now?¡±


    It was only at that moment that Leon realized it. ¡°Oh, right, she¡¯ll undergo the surgery tomorrow.¡±


    Exhausted, he sat down on the hospital bed and let out a long sigh of relief.


    He did not rx for even a few seconds before his heart was once again filled with anxiety. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, Xylia. I¡¯ve heard that Dr. Weiss is very skilled¨Cthere definitely won¡¯t be any problems<b>.¡± </b>


    Xylia looked at his tense face and could not help but find it amusing. ¡°Leon, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s nervous, aren¡¯t <b>you</b><b>?</b>¡±


    Leon said worriedly, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m nervous! No matter how big or small, it¡¯s still surgery. It is bound to hurt. How are you going to get through the recovery period?¡±


    As he spoke, Leon turned to Cyrus, <b>his </b>expression fierce. ¡°Cyrus, after the surgery, you must help relieve Xylia¡¯s pain. Don¡¯t let her suffer.¡±


    Cyrus shot Leon a nce. ¡°As if I wouldn¡¯t know that.¡±


    Xylia felt a gentle warmth in her heart.


    She had developed a reduced sensitivity to pain. During her three months in prison, she endured daily torture, and the wounds on her wrists and ankles were repeatedly injured<b>. </b>


    She was not afraid of pain.


    However, she was deeply moved by the concern shown by her family.


    When Joshua arrived, Leon had just hurriedly left, and he promised that he would definitely be outside the operating room tomorrow morning to cheer for Xylia


    When Xylia saw Joshua enter, that inexplicable emotion surged within her once again.


    She wanted to ask him <b>about </b>what exactly happened back then, but she seemed to <b>have </b>no reason to do so.


    Cyrus still had patients to see, so he left the ward.


    Before leaving, he walked up to Joshua and looked at him with a smile. ¡°Mr. Garcia, if you have timeter, let¡¯s have a chat.¡±


    Joshua nodded.


    Cyrus then left.


    Joshua ced the supplements he brought on the table.


    Upon seeing the supplements, Xylia could not help but make a yful remark. The surgery hasn¡¯t even started yet, and you¡¯ve already brought supplements?¡±


    8:16 Thu, <b>Sep </b>18 H


    Joshua smiled. ¡°It¡¯s always good to take precautions before trouble <b>arises</b>.¡±


    Xylia got off the hospital bed, walked to the sofa in the hospital room, and sat down.


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    She got a ss of water for Joshua. ¡°What have you been up to these past days?¡±


    Joshua raised his eyebrows and looked at Xylia. ¡®Starting to care about me? Have you thought it through?¡±


    Nylia knew what Joshua was <b>asking</b>.


    She was drinking water and did not respond to him.


    Silence was her camouge.


    Joshua did not press her for answers. Tlle over tomorrow morning. Don¡¯t be nervous.¡±


    Xylia put down her ss. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. My brothers will all be here. Just focus on your own business.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, I want you to be clear about one thing,¡± Joshua¡¯s sudden serious expression left Xylia somewhat puzzled.


    She frowned and looked at him.


    Joshua said calmly, ¡°Since I am currently at the stage of wooing you, no matter how busy I am, I still need to work on winning favor with you and your brothers<b>.</b>¡±


    <b>Xylia </b>pressed her lips together, somewhat at a loss for words.


    The way he spoke and acted now was really too reckless.


    After spending some time in the hospital ward, Joshua went to see Cyrus.


    Cyrus got straight to the point. ¡°Mr. Garcia, before you get together with my sister, I hope you will clear any unresolved issues or problematic people around <b>you</b>. I don¡¯t want Xylia to suffer any harm.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Has she been targeted?¡±


    Cyrus answered, ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but you should know <b>that </b>as long as the root cause of the trouble remains unresolved, she will always be in danger.¡±


    up


    Joshua was <b>silent </b>for a few seconds before saying, ¡°I will arrange for my men to protect her in secret. As for the possible danger, I will handle it.¡±


    Cyrus looked at him with an expressionless face. ¡°The Sadler family will assume full responsibility for Xylia¡¯s personal <b>safety</b>. You only need to keep your distance from her now.¡±


    Joshua now understood the purpose of Cyrus wanting to talk to him.


    He looked at Cyrus, and a faint smile curved at the corner of his <b>lips</b>.


    Joshua did not answer Cyrus directly but said, ¡°Rest assured, even if I lose my life, I will not allow anything to


    8:16 Thu, Sep 18 N


    happen to her. Well, if that¡¯s all, I¡¯ll head off now, Cyrus.¡±


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    Cyrus frowned as he watched the direction in which Joshua departed, thinking, ¡°That brat¡¯s so arrogant.


    Upon leaving the hospital, Joshua proactively contacted Burke. ¡°Care for a talk?¡±


    Early the following morning, at the veryst second before Xylia was wheeled into the operating room, Joshua arrived.


    The moment she saw <b>him</b>, Xylia felt unexpectedly at ease.


    Joshua¡¯s voice was deep and alluring. Just take a nap and you¡¯ll feel better. Be good.¡±


    He lowered his head, a faint smile lingering at the corner of his lips. His silver hair was especially striking in the sunlight, yet it could not overshadow the gentle radiance in his eyes.


    Xylia¡¯s cheeks flushed.


    She remained silent as she was wheeled <b>into </b>the operating room.


    <b>Then</b>, the operating room door was closed.


    Joshua turned around and met four pairs of eyes.


    Leon and Hudson merely frowned at Joshua, seemingly displeased that Xylia relied more on Joshua than on


    them.


    Kaden and Cyrus, however, were different.


    Their icy stares seemed <b>as </b>if they wanted to drive Joshua out.


    Cyrus walked up to Joshua. ¡°Have you considered what I said yesterday?¡±


    ¡°What should be considered?¡± Joshua smiled faintly. He <b>didn¡¯t </b>need to consider it at all.


    He had waited for Xylia for nearly ten years. If he left now, there was no guarantee she wouldn¡¯t be snatched away by some bastard again.


    He must keep constant watch over Xylia to guard against others exploiting any vulnerability.


    Cyrus frowned, <b>about </b>to say something, when Kaden called out and stopped him. ¡°Mr. Garcia, may I have a word with you in private?¡±


    Joshua, however, did not refuse and followed Kaden over.

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    6:


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    Joshua had initially assumed that Kaden, like Cyrus, would disy themanding presence of the person


    in charge of Sadler Group andpel him to leave Xylin.


    Unexpectedly, Kaden <b>said</b>, ¡°Need <b>my </b>help?


    Joshua looked at Kaden with a puzzled expression. ¡°With what?¡±


    Kaden said. ¡°With dealing with those who secretly want to kill wou


    When Kaden said this, he <b>was </b>veryposed. Although he seemed concerned, there was not the slightest bit of emotion in his words.


    Joshua refused outright, ¡°No, thanks.¡±


    He had no intention of drawing the Sadler family into this turmoil; their sole responsibility was to protect Xylia.


    However, during this period, he would arrange for some people to secretly protect Xylia.


    After all, that group of people had already started to be rampant.


    Kaden furrowed his brows. ¡°You should be aware that, given your ensure a safe environment for my sister.¡±


    rent <b>c </b>


    <i>nt </i>circumstances, it is difficult to


    Joshua seemed not to have expected Kaden to say such a thing.


    He wondered, ¡®Does this statement mean that he has already agreed to let Xylia be with me? I 1 make efforts to win over the Sadler family, yet I¡¯ve already obtained a pass so quickly?¡±


    I have yet to


    ¦³¦¯


    Kaden noticed the doubt in Joshua¡¯s eyes.


    He let out <b>a </b>sneeringugh. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. It¡¯s just that i she¡¯ll get dragged into trouble because of you.¡±


    that if you keep chasing after Xylia, sooner or


    Joshua was unconcerned by his remarks <b>and </b>replied calmly. ¡°You may rest assured¨CI am more unwilling than any of you to see her harmed.¡±


    Kaden still wanted to say something when his phone started ringing.


    It was a matter concerning thepany.


    Joshua did <b>not </b>disturb him further and returned to wait at the entrance of the operating room.


    waitsted throughout the morning.


    Everyone went from initial calmness to bing increasingly anxious.


    Joshua stood against the wall, his gaze indifferent as he looked at the operating room door where the light was


    8:16 Thu, Sep 18 N <ol><li>on. </li></ol>


    56 vouchers:


    He appearedposed, yet only he himself was aware of the extent of his inner torment.


    The operating room was not a good ce to stay.


    As noon approached, the lights in the operating room went out.


    Xylia was wheeled out.


    Perry looked at Joshua and said, ¡°The surgery was very sessful.¡±


    Only then did Joshua feel his long¨C<b>held </b>anxietypletely dissipate.


    The four Sadler boys were already gathered around Xylia¡¯s hospital bed.


    She was still under the effects of anesthesia, her mind aplete mess, yet her gaze bypassed everyone and settled directly on Joshua.


    Joshua hurried to the bedside. He smiled and looked at Xylia. ¡°The surgery was very sessful. You can paint with peace of mind from now on.¡±


    Xylia was currently slow to process her thoughts, and by the time she realized what Joshua had said, she had already been wheeled into the hospital room.


    The administration of the anti¨Cinmmatory solution hadmenced.


    The four brothers kept watch in the hospital room without leaving. After Xylia regained consciousness, Cyrus said, ¡°I have prepared analgesic medication and equipment. If you feel any pain, just let me know at any


    time.


    Cyrus¡¯s eyes were filled with concern, fearing that she might experience pain at any moment.


    Xylia smiled. ¡°Got it. You must be busy. You should get back to work, Cyrus.¡±


    Cyrus <b>was </b>dyed throughout the morning and was required to make medical rounds in the afternoon.


    He only gave Xylia a few brief instructions, then called Hudson over and said, ¡°Look after Xylia. If anything happens<b>, </b>let me know at once.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Hudson replied seriously.


    Only then did Cyrus leave the hospital room.


    Joshua sat <b>on </b>a stool at the head of the hospital bed, holding a phone in <b>his </b>hand.


    The phone <b>case </b>was a SpongeBob design¨Cit was obviously a girl¡¯s phone.


    <b>Hudson </b>stood on the opposite side of the hospital bed, unable to shake the feeling that the phone <b>Joshua </b>was holding looked familiar. In the next moment, Joshua spoke to Xylia, ¡°Josie has sent you a message. Would you like to reply?¡±


    mu<b>, </b>sep


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    Xylia was unable to move half of her body; she looked toward Joshua, who was holding her phone. ¡°What did she send?¡±


    Joshua knew that it meant she was okay with him unlocking her phone.


    Just as he activated the screen, a prompt to enter the password was immediately disyed,


    He showed the interface to Xylia, who immediately told him the lock screen password, allowing Joshua to unlock the phone.


    Leon and Hudson were both stunned, wondering, ¡®She even let him know her phone¡¯s lock screen password? They really are getting closer and closer.


    Kaden watched this scene, his brow furrowed.


    Josie¡¯s message was simply to send regards to Xylia and to check whether she hadpleted the surgery.


    After Joshua helped Xylia reply to the message, Josie called.


    Joshua¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, involuntarily.


    Still, he hit the answer button and put the phone to Xylia¡¯s ear.


    Josie¡¯s voice was apologetic. ¡°Sorry, Xylia. There are quite a few interviewees this morning, so I am unable to be there for you at the hospital.¡±


    Xylia smiled, and her voice was still somewhat weak. ¡°By ensuring the studio is well managed, you have already provided me with substantial assistance. What¡¯s there to apologize for?¡±


    you


    Josie said, ¡°Once I¡¯m done here, I¡¯lle see y


    The two exchanged a few words.


    Joshua took the phone and said lightly, ¡°She needs to rest. You two can talkter.¡±


    Without waiting for Josie¡¯s response, he hung up the phone directly while speaking.


    Kaden still had business matters, so after telling Xylia that he¡¯d be back, he left.


    Leon¡¯s phone kept ringing and never stopped.


    He hung up the phone, but received another call again within a few seconds.


    He was somewhat agitated, holding his phone and sending messages,


    Right now, he really wasn¡¯t in the mood to work or attend events; he wanted to stay at the hospital to be with Xylia.


    Observing Leon, Xylia could not help but find his demeanor amusing. ¡°Leon, if you are busy, you should go. Hudson is <b>here </b>with me.¡±


    8:16 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Upon hearing Xylia¡¯s voice, Leon promptly replied, Tm not busy.¡±


    No sooner had the words been spoken than his phone rang again.


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    Hudson teased with a <b>smile</b>, ¡°Judging by all the calls you hung up today, Ste will <b>kick </b>your ass once she sees you.¡±


    No sooner had Hudson finished speaking than his own phone also began to ring.


    When he saw the caller ID, hisplexion changed suddenly.


    Joshua sat by the hospital bed, watching the two keep answering their calls, feeling thoroughly pleased.


    He smiled as he looked at Hudson and Leon. ¡®Gentlemen, if you¡¯re busy, please feel free to attend to your own matters. I¡¯m here for Xylia.


    Hudson and Leon immediately turned off their phones. ¡°Busy? Not at all. We¡¯re very free<b>!</b>¡±


    What is there to be busy with? We¡¯re very free!


    They would not let Joshua continue to stay alone with Xylia.


    Xylia was truly too exhausted to contend with the three any longer. She closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.


    However, when she woke up again, only Joshua was left in the hospital room.


    The sky turned dark.


    Joshua was sitting at the edge of the bed, holding his phone <b>and </b>watching something.


    The white light from the phone screen illuminated his face, rendering his rigid features even more serious.


    Xylia felt her mouth was dry and instinctively moved.


    Joshua noticed the disturbance <b>and </b>immediately looked over.


    Upon seeing Xylia awake, he turned on the light.


    At the instant the lights came on, Xylia suddenly closed her eyes. She opened them slowly only after adjusting to the brightness.


    <b>Joshua </b>leaned over to look at her, <b>his </b>gaze gentle. ¡°Are you hungry, or do you need some water?¡±


    Xylia parted her dry lips <b>and </b>said softly, ¡°I want some water.¡±


    Joshua poured a ss of warm water, helped Xylia sit up, and helped her with it.

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    After drinking water, Xylia felt significantly morefortable.


    She looked at the empty hospital room and <b>asked</b>, ¡°Where are my brothers?¡±


    Joshua replied, ¡°They have gone to eat and will return shortly.¡±


    Xylia looked at Joshua. ¡°Have you had dinner yet?¡±


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    ¡°Yeah.¡± As he spoke, he asked Xylia, ¡°Are you hungry? There¡¯s stewed soup made by your housekeeper. I can heat it up for you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat right now. I¡¯ll wait a bit. With that, Xylia tried to sit up.


    Joshua helped raise her bed.


    Xylia said, ¡°My brothers will take care of me. Why don¡¯t you go home first?¡±


    Joshua, however, did not refuse.


    He sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at Xylia<b>. </b>¡®I will leave once your brothers have returned.¡±


    He indeed had other matters to attend to.


    After seeing that Xylia¡¯s surgery was very sessful, he felt reassured.


    Xylia nodded.


    After Hudson and Leon returned, Joshua left.


    Leon let out a long breath of relief. ¡°He has finally left!¡±


    Hudson took the soup and dishes delivered by the housekeeper to heat up.


    Leon sat on the stool beside the bed and looked <b>at </b>Xylia. ¡°Does your wound hurt, Xylia<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Xylia shook her head.


    Cyrus administered an analgesic to her. Even after the anesthesia wore off, she did not feel even a little pain.


    Leon only then breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°If it hurts, tell us immediately.¡±


    After a moment¡¯s consideration, Xylia finally <b>said</b>, ¡°Guys, perhaps it would be better if you arranged for a caregiver for me. You are all very busy, and any further dy would not be ideal


    In fact, Xylia was not really afraid of disturbing them; rather, she found it awkward to be cared for by several


    grown men.


    She had a wound on her leg, which impaired her mobility.


    8:16 Thu, Sep 18 M


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    Although she was a biological sibling of Leon <b>and </b>the others, she thought that she and they should keep at proper distance since they were men. Things like helping her use the bathroom or wash up together were inappropriate.


    Leon did not consider these possibilities. He simply assumed that Xylia was concerned about dying their main business and waved his <b>hand</b>. ¡°It¡¯s okay. We¡¯re not busy.


    Hudson said, ¡°You are now the top priority of the Sadler family. No matter how busy we are, we must not leave you alone in the hospital.¡±


    Xylia had nothing further to say.


    She decided to arrange for a caregiver herself.


    Leon mysteriously leaned in close to Xylia<b>, </b>smiled, and said, ¡°Xylia, I have something to tell you<b>.</b>¡±


    Xylia looked at him. ¡°What is it?¡±


    Leon said happily, ¡°I¡¯m d I listened to you and bought those sunsses¨Cit was really the right decision.


    Xylia beamed. ¡°She likes them?¡±


    Xylia found it rather amusing to see Leon so evidently lovestruck.


    Leon¡¯s previous on¨Cscreen persona was aloof and serious, as if, apart from acting, nothing else interested him.


    He never expected that after truly falling for someone, he would act like a lovestruck fool¨Cjust giving a gift could make him proud.


    He said proudly, ¡°Yeah! I¡¯ve noticed that she has been wearing this pair of sunsses over the past few days.¡±


    Xylia asked, ¡°Has the filming of your romance reality show begun already?¡±


    Leon shook his head. ¡°It starts tomorrow. It¡¯s just that we¡¯ve been seeing each other more often these p days.¡±


    past


    few


    After all, since he and <b>Mia </b>intended <b>to </b>generate publicity, there were numerous matters that required. negotiation among the teams.


    Xylia¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°Which ount? I want to watch your livestream.¡±


    Leon said, ¡°I will send it to you shortly.¡±


    While the two were conversing, Hudson entered carrying the heated food.


    Xylia had just finished her meal when a caregiver knocked on the door and entered the hospital room. ¡°Excuse me, are you Miss Xylia Sadler?¡±


    <b>Xylia </b>nodded. ¡°That¡¯s me.¡±


    The caregiver said, ¡°I am the caregiver whom Mr. Garcia has hired for you. It should be inconvenient for your


    8:16 nu, Sep 18


    brothers to look after you, so if <b>you </b>require any a


    A warm current <b>flowed </b>through Xylia¡¯s heart.


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    I will help you.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t believe how considerate Joshua was.


    However, Hudson and Leon looked displeased, thinking. ¡®Damn! He beat <b>us </b>again!¡±


    Leon left the hospital that evening to prepare for the dating reality show scheduled for the following day.


    After repeatedly instructing Hudson to take good care of Xylia, he left in haste.


    At noon the following day, Xylia found the link Leon had sent the previous day and entered the livestream.


    Upon entering<b>, </b><b>she </b>saw that nearly 200,000 people were already watching it.


    Fans from diverse backgrounds were sending bulletinments.


    The primary fan base belonged to Leon.


    Netizen A: [You got this, Leon!]


    Netizen B: [I love you, Leon! Although I can¡¯t bear to see you in a rtionship, I¡¯ll still support you!]


    Netizen C: [Unconditional support for Leon!]


    Netizen D: [Just imagine how happy a girl would be in a rtionship with Leon.]


    It was actually Xylia¡¯s first time watching this type of livestream, and she found it quite novel.


    The guests had note out yet, and Hudson ced the prepared dishes on the dining table.


    ¡°Eat while you watch.¡± With that, he handed the spoon to Xylia.


    Xylia thanked him, ced the phone on the small dining table, and gestured to Hudson to watch it together. ¡°Let¡¯s see how Leon woos his girl.¡±


    They looked at each other and smiled, each seeing mockery in the other¡¯s eyes.


    At the scene of the live broadcast, Mia was the first to arrive at the vi prepared by the production team.


    <b>me </b>racing


    Dressed in a ck and gold evening gown and wearing four¨Cinch high heels, she nevertheless came over from afar <b>on </b><b>a </b>shared bicycle.


    Her reputation in the entertainment industry was not considered particrly good.


    Whenever she appeared on screen, the real¨Ctimements were overwhelmingly abusive.


    Netizen A: [Ugh, it¡¯s that resource¨Cbacked actress again! She and her team kept pushing for more scenes in the


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    drama with my favorite actor¨Cshe¡¯s <b>just </b>a supporting role, but she¡¯s got more screen time than the actual female lead. I hate to see herl


    Netizen B: [Does it even matter if she¡¯s got more scenes? Ultimately, <b>she </b>remains scandalous.]


    Netizen C: II heard she¡¯s stirring up romantic rumors with Leon.)


    Netizen D: [No! Mia Monroe, get lost¨Cdon¡¯te and bring trouble to Leon!]


    Netizen E: [Get Mia <b>Monroe </b>out!]


    Netizen <b>F</b>: Get Mia Monroe out!]


    Xylia looked at the barrage of insults in the livements, feeling somewhat perplexed.


    Although she had not had any contact with Mia, after these two meetings, she had a pretty good impression


    of Mia.


    Especially the second time, Mia¡¯s heroic and spirited demeanor truly made it impossible for anyone to look


    away.


    Xylia didn¡¯t really pay attention to the entertainment industry. She just assumed that Mia seemed to have been misunderstood.


    Mia could not see any of those bulletments.


    Obeying the director¡¯s instructions, she entered one of the six temporary sheds constructed on the right side of the vi


    She asked, ¡°What do I need to do now?¡±


    Andrew Smith, the director, said off¨Ccamera, ¡°You are the <b>first </b>guest to arrive and therefore have the priority to select props.


    Mia looked at the six balloons on the table.


    There were three pairs of patterns on the balloon: pig, mouse, and rabbit.


    Andrew said, ¡°The balloons contain props required for the uing activity. If a guest whoes after you selects the same prop as you, you will automatically be paired together.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Mia, in one swift motion, used her freshly manicured nails to puncture the balloon printed with a pig in front of her.


    The directing team was caught off guard and startled by the sound of the balloon exploding


    A slip of paper flew out of the balloon, with ¡®kite¡® written on it.


    Mia furrowed her brows as she looked at the word ¡®kite¡®..


    She neither knew how to fly a kite nor enjoyed doing so.


    8:17 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Andrew said. ¡°Congrattions on getting a kite.¡±


    The fans began praying in the <bment </b>section.


    Fan A: [I hope Leon doesn¡¯t get the kite.]


    Fan B: [May Leon stay far away from Mia and not get himself into any trouble!]


    Fan C: [Leon, do not puncture the pig balloon <b>under </b>any circumstances!]


    Mia entered the vi carrying a kite.


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    The next person to appear was Xander Reid, a highly popr young actor known for his adorable looks and captivating smile.


    He chose the pig balloon.

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    Among the bulletments, some express relief while others voice outrage.


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    Netizen A: [Wonderfull Leon is safe now! Thank you so much, Xander! We will support your next movie!]


    Netizen B: [Xander. I love you! Thank you for helping Leon fend off those bad romantic interests! We <b>will </b>always remember your kindness!]


    Netizen C: [Oh, no! Xander, do you really like pigs that much?]


    Netizen D: [Why did you have to pick the pig? What¡¯s so <b>great </b>about pigs anyway? <b>Xander</b>, do you know you¡¯re about to be shipped with Mia?]


    Xander pierced the balloon and was about to open it for disy when Andrew stopped him. ¡°Xander, don¡¯t open it yet. We want to keep the suspense and will reveal everything together after all the remaining guests have finished their drawings.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Xander nodded.


    He entered the vi as well, holding the note.


    Hudson looked at the scene and smiled mischievously. ¡°Xylia, do you think that it¡¯s a kite on that note?¡±


    Xylia considered for a moment and nodded. ¡°Balloons with identical patterns probably contain identical


    notes.


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily the case.¡± Hudson leaned back, restingzily in his chair. ¡°You know too little about Leon.


    Xylia looked at Hudson with a puzzled expression


    Hudson kindly exined to her, ¡°In other words, regardless of whether that note is currentlybeled ¡®kite, the note with kite¡® written on it will ultimately end up in Leon¡¯s hands.¡±


    Xylia tried to discern the underlying meaning in Hudson¡¯s words.


    Then, she looked at Hudson in shock. ¡°Are you suggesting that Leon would engage in behind¨Cthe¨Cscenes. maniption?¡±


    Hudson nodded withposed assurance.


    At that point, Xylia¡¯s perception of Leon shifted somewhat.


    She didn¡¯t expect that, for the sake of love, Leon had resorted to such methods.


    Xylia and Hudson were watching the livestream of the romance reality show attentively in the hospital room.


    Meanwhile, <b>Joshua </b>and <b>Burke </b>had arranged to meet at a fancy restaurant.


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    The two sat facing each other by the window. The surroundings were silent, and not another person was


    present.


    Burke smiled as he teased <b>Joshua</b>, as if they were quite well acquainted. ¡°Mr. Garcia, you are as generous as ever. You¡¯ve even reserved the entire restaurant.¡±


    Joshua did not intend to waste words with him and immediately got straight to the point. ¡°I agree to the cooperation you previously proposed.¡±


    ¡°You agree?¡± Burke appeared surprised, yet the smile at the corner of his lips remained steady, as if he had spent a long time preparing for this day,


    09


    He mocked. ¡°Mr. Garcia<b>, </b>your previous attitude gave me the illusion that you would never work with me. Howe you want to coborate with me now?¡±


    His sarcasm was evident, but he did not embarrass Joshua.


    The corners of Joshua¡¯s lips still curved into a faint smile. ¡°You know well why I agreed to cooperate.¡±


    Burke was smiling and was about to continue to say something.


    But Joshua obviously had no patience for any back¨Cand¨Cforth and interrupted him directly. I will personally travel to Kregonia to negotiate this coboration. You have one month to prepare the details of the cooperation. We will depart on time after one month.¡±


    Burke¡¯s smile stiffened for a brief moment, but quickly returned to <b>normal</b>.


    He shrugged his shoulders and very willingly reached out to Joshua. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure working with you.¡±


    Here¡¯s to a pleasant coboration.


    Joshua nced at Burke¡¯s hand, the corner of his eye tinged with mockery.


    He stood up and looked down at Burke. He had no intention of shaking hands with Burke, cast an indifferent nce at him, and left the restaurant without hesitation.


    Burke withdrew his <b>hand</b>, yet his expression showed none of the expected embarrassment.


    After Joshua left, he called the waiter and ordered food.


    Subsequently, he made a call to a certain person far away in Kregonia. ¡°He has agreed. Wishing us a pleasant coboration.


    Connor received a call from Jupiton. There was a problem at thepany, and he must hurry back.


    Tessa had been distressed over repeated setbacks at work over the past two days.


    She had confined herself to her room and had not gone out for several days.


    Before leaving, Connor knocked on Tessa¡¯s <b>door</b>.


    He waited for a long time but got no response.


    Connor gave the doorknob a slight turn and found that the door was not locked.


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    He opened the door, and before stepping inside, the disarray covering the floor immediately caught his eye.


    All the cosmetics, clothing, and bags were thrown to the floor by <b>Tessa </b>as a way to vent her anger.


    Connor frowned slightly when he saw Tessa shumped on the carpet, and he could not bear to be indifferent.


    He walked over, crouched in front of Tessa, and quietlyforted her, ¡°I will help you in arranging the work. However, the productionpany is very small and requires investment.¡±


    Only then did Tessa raise her head and nce at Connor. ¡°Do you mean that?¡±


    Connor nodded. ¡°There has been an issue at Ford Group, and I must return. Freshen up and get some rest. We will head back tonight.¡±


    Tessa was not reconciled to it.


    However, since Connor had already said so, she felt it would be inappropriate to keep asking.


    Seeing that Connor was neatly dressed and seemed about to go you going?¡±


    put, <b>she </b>asked, ¡°Are you going out? Where are


    Connor did not respond to Tessa immediately. After hesitating for a split second, he finally said, ¡°I¡¯ve g something to deal with. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    He patted Tessa¡¯s shoulder and <b>said </b>with forced gentleness, ¡°See you.¡±


    got


    Tessa watched Connor¡¯s departing figure, a vague suspicion forming in her mind. Connor must be going out to see Xylia.


    She ran her fingers through her disheveled hair. The frustration in her chest refused to dissipate. She rose, casually put on a jacket, <b>and </b>followed Connor outside.


    Connor first went to Xylia¡¯s studio to <b>look </b>for her.


    When Josie saw that it was Connor, she was cold toward him and did not tell him where Xylia was.


    Unexpectedly, the newly hired employee suddenly asked Josie, ¡°Josie, when are we going to Norhill Central Hospital to visit Ms. Sadler?¡±


    ¡°Hospital?¡± Connor felt his heart jolt violently in his chest, wondering, ¡°Why is she hospitalized? Is she sick?¡®


    Even he himself did not realize that simply hearing about Xylja¡¯s hospitalization made him so anxious.


    Before Josie said anything in response, Connor turned and ran out of the studio..


    He drove all the way to Norhill Central Hospital.


    Right then, Xylia and Hudson were watching the romance reality show with keen interest.


    As Hudson anticipated, it was indeed Leon who ultimately obtained the kite¡¯s note.


    Leon was able to form a team with Mia, just as he had wished.


    There was widespreadmentation among the bulletments.


    56 vouchers


    Xylia sighed and said, ¡°I think Mia is quite nice¨Ca modern¨Cday heroine. Why are there so many people criticizing her in the bulletments?¡±


    Hudson shrugged his shoulders helplessly. ¡°Well, the showbiz is inherently harsh toward female celebrities. Mia, with her striking appearance, gained widespread recognition with her very first role, which consequently attracted the attention of those with ulterior motives.¡±


    ¡°Are you suggesting that all of her current negative reputation is the result of being targeted by others?¡± Xylia asked.


    Hudson nodded.


    Xylia continued to ask, ¡°Who is targeting her?¡±


    Hudson pointed at one of the girls among the six people seated on the vi sofa as shown on the livestream. ¡°That¡¯s Cindy Stanton.


    ¡°Last year, she coborated with Leon on a historical drama. As the female lead, she gained widespread poprity.


    ¡°She persistently tried to stir up romantic rumors with Leon, and even attempted to turn their on¨Cscreen romance into a real rtionship. However, Leon firmly rejected her advances.¡±


    Xylia was puzzled. ¡°If she isn¡¯t targeting Leon, why <b>is </b>she targeting Mia?¡±


    Hudson answered, ¡°Because Leon agreed <b>to </b>stir up romantic rumors with Mia.<b>¡± </b>


    Xylia was speechless.


    E

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    Xylia and Hudson were engaged in a heated dispute over whether Leon¡¯s actions were truly in Mia¡¯s best


    interest.


    During the dispute, Connor suddenly pushed open the door to the hospital room and burst in


    Xylia¡¯s expression instantly darkened.


    ¡°Are you alright. Xylia<b>?</b>¡± Connor appeared deeply concerned about her. He hurried <b>over</b>, fine beads of sweat still breaking out on his forehead.


    Xylia <b>had </b>no intention of paying attention to him.


    Hudson immediately stood up <b>and </b>blocked Connor¡¯s way before he could rush over. ¡°You are not wee here. Get out!¡±


    Upon seeing Hudson there, Connor¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. ¡°Mr. Sadler, I am here to visit my ex¨Cwife. You have no right to stop me, and moreover, in what capacity are you stopping me?¡±


    anymore. Aren¡¯t


    Hudson let out a derisiveugh. ¡°Your ex¨Cwife? You two have nothing to do with each <b>other </b>you ashamed to keeping up and pestering her? Let me tell you: Xylia is now my sister. As long as I¡¯m here, you won¡¯t be able to bother her again!¡±


    When Connor heard that Xylia was Hudson¡¯s sister, he looked at Xylia on the bed <b>with </b>a hint of disappointment.


    He truly hadn¡¯t expected that, after him, Xylia would sink so low as to desperately cling to <b>men</b>, getting herself a ¡°brother¡± and a sugar daddy.


    Connor¡¯s face turned slightly livid. ¡°Mr. Sadler, do you know what kind of person Xylia is? And yet you wanna make her your sister?¡±


    Hudson clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and stared coldly at Connor. ¡°You have no right to talk about my sister! If you don¡¯t leave, I won¡¯t hesitate to throw you out myself!¡±


    Xylia paid no attention to the conflict between Hudson and Connor.


    She turned her head to the side to gaze at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window, struggling to endure the disgust in her heart.


    She couldn¡¯t get it¡ªshe and Connor were already divorced, so what was the point of him getting involved. with her?


    She used to think Connor was steady and dignified. Now, looking back, she realized how blind she had been back then.


    Seeing Hudson standing in front of the hospital bed and blocking the way, Connor realized that he would not be able to speak privately with Xylia today.


    He did not leave immediately. Instead, he said to Xylia, who was lying in the hospital bed, ¡°I need to handle


    something in Jupiton, and I will leave tonight.


    17.55 Vouchers


    65


    ¡°Before I go, I want to tell you that even though we <b>are </b>already divorced, I will not truly abandon you.


    ¡°If you need anything, whether financial support or otherwise, <b>I </b>can provide it. I only hope you don¡¯t let yourself go down the wrong path.¡±


    He had assumed that, after saying <b>these </b>words, Xylia would be moved; even if she did not shed tears, she would <b>thank </b>him gently, just as she used to when they were together before.


    However, he waspletely wrong.


    Not only did Xylia refrain from thanking him gently, but she did not even spare him a single nce.


    She only said to Hudson, ¡°Hudson, I am tired. I wanna rest.¡±


    Hudson no longer had the patience to listen to Connor¡¯s nonsense.


    He grabbed Connor by the cor, walked toward the door, and threw him out of the hospital room with a single motion.


    Before closing the door, he warned Connor with a stern expression, ¡°If you harass my sister again in the future, I will not be as courteous <b>as </b>I am now.¡±


    With that, Hudson closed the hospital room door with a bang.


    Connor stood outside the hospital room door, looking at it in disbelief.


    It was only after he processed what had happened that he btedly realized he had truly been looked down upon by Xylia.


    He clenched his fist, thinking that Xylia had only herself to me.


    Filled with indignation, he turned and left.


    Shortly after he left, Tessa appeared at the corner of the hospital room.


    She watched Connor¡¯s departing figure, then turned her gaze to the doorway of the hospital room where Xylia was


    She gnashed her teeth in anger. ¡®Sure enough, Connor hase to see Xylia!


    ¡°Clearly, even though they are already divorced, this bitch still tries to seduce my fiance.


    ¡®I must teach Xylia a <b>lesson</b>!¡®


    After ten minutes, Hudson went out with the medical record, presumably to consult the doctors.


    Tessa seized the opportunity and entered the ward directly.


    Xylia assumed that Hudson had left ande <b>back</b>. She did not look up, and her gaze remained fixed on the


    livestream on her phone as <b>she </b>asked. ¡°What did you forget to take?¡±


    She got no response.


    65 vouchers,


    Xylia found it rather strange. When she looked up, she saw Tessa with her hair inplete disarray.


    Xylia just met her a few days ago. Now, Tessa had unexpectedly be so disheveled.


    Her hair was disheveled and hung loosely behind her. She wore no makeup, and even her clothing consisted of two randomly chosen pieces, entirelycking coordination.


    This really didn¡¯t fit Tessa¡¯s personality,


    Connor had just left, and now Tessa had arrived.


    Xylia was already a bit impatient. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Tessa looked at Xylia, whose arms and legs were encased in casts, and suddenly let out a mockingugh. ¡°So, you <b>are </b>once again resorting to such means to win Connor¡¯s sympathy.¡±


    When Tessa said ¡®such means,¡¯ she ced emphasis on it.


    She suspected that Xylia <b>had </b>deliberately arranged to be hospitalized and had a cast applied again to the site <b>of </b>her previous injury.


    She thought, ¡®After Connor sees this and thinks of everything he <b>once </b>did to Xylia, he will feel guilty and, consequently, feel heartache for her. This is indeed <b>an </b>excellent strategy!¡®


    Xylia had no idea what she was talking about.


    She felt that Tessa was acting like a lunatic. Having just undergone surgery, she knew <b>that </b>if Tessa went crazy and rushed <b>over </b>to hit her, she would have no chance to fight back.


    She watched Tessa warily, hoping that Hudson, who had gone to see Perry, would return soon.


    ¡°You are not wee here. Leave immediately!¡± Xylia issued an order to leave.


    However, Tessa was thick¨Cskinned.


    Despite Xylia driving her <b>away</b><b>, </b><b>she </b>even <b>took </b>two <b>steps </b>closer to the hospital bed. ¡°Xylia, you just won¡¯t leave me alone. Do you have <b>any </b>idea how badly you embarrassed mest time in the <b>mall</b>?¡±


    Tessa got extremely angry just bringing it up.


    That day, she had originally nned to distinguish herself at thatmercial performance, win Alex¡¯s favor, and receive an invitation to y the female lead in an internal costume drama centered on political intrigue.


    <b>However</b>, she had not expected <b>that</b><b>, </b>halfway through, Xylia would suddenly appear, along with an unknown


    actress.


    In the end, she made a fool of herself at thatmercial performance.


    8:17 Thu, Sep 18 M


    55 voucher/


    The brand required her to pay liquidated damages for refusing to participate inmercial performances and revoked her endorsement.


    She attempted to <b>reason </b>with Greg, but he produced surveince footage from the break room.


    If her aggressive actions were posted online, she would certainly be subjected to cyberbullying again.


    Furthermore, Mia directly <b>mentioned </b>the <b>hit</b>¨Cand¨Crun incident.


    Tessa did not want the matter to escte further, as it would be detrimental to her public image. Therefore, she resigned herself to payingpensation and cooperated in withdrawing her endorsement..


    But when some fans spoke out on her behalf, she could only suppress her emotions and reassure them in order to prevent her personal matters from being exposed.


    Whenever she thought about how all these things were caused by Xylia, she felt that if Xylia had <b>just </b>apologized at the time, she would not have kept pressuring her.


    As she med everything on Xylia, <b>Tessa¡¯s </b>face was contorted with anger.


    She advanced toward Xylia step by step, her gaze so intense <b>it </b>seemed almost predatory,


    Xylia sensed that something was amiss.


    Unable to move, she turned her gaze to the bell beside her, considering that with sufficient effort, she might still be able to press it to <b>call </b>for help.


    Just as she was gently shifting toward the head of the bed. heavy footsteps were heard at the entrance to the


    ward.


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    Tessa did not notice the noise at the door.


    All her attention was fixed on Xylia¡¯s face, and she was thoroughly mad.


    Observing the casts on Xylia¡¯s limbs, she let out a coldugh, drew a knife from her pocket, and was about to stab Xylia¡¯s other healthy ankle.


    She wanted to make Xylia aplete cripple.


    But just as she raised the knife, before it couldnd, her wrist was gripped tightly by someone.


    The force was so great that it nearly broke her wrist by twisting.


    Screaming. Tessa¡¯splexion turned pale instantly.


    Her grip ckened, and the knife fell to the floor.


    Joshua casually tossed her, then forcefully threw her to the floor.


    Then, he walked over to Xylia, lowered his head, and observed her with concern. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Xylia nodded. ¡°You arrived just in time. She was about to attack me<b>.</b>¡±


    She pointed at Tessa lying on the floor.


    Joshua seemed to let out a long sigh of relief before turning to <b>look </b>at Tessa.


    ¡°Did you think about the consequences beforeing to the hospital to hurt her?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was cold.


    He stood with his back to Xylia<b>. </b>As Tessa looked up, she saw the cold, hard expression on Joshua¡¯s face and the murderous intent in <b>his </b>eyes.


    A chill surged up her back, and almost instantly, cold sweat broke out on her forehead.


    She wondered, ¡°When did that mere chauffeur ever have such an air of authority?¡±


    Given the circumstances, Tessa did <b>not </b>give up or act recklessly.


    She awkwardly scrambled to her feet, avoided Joshua¡¯s gaze, and pointed at Xylia¡¯s legs as she said, ¡°When did I <b>ever </b>hurt <b>her</b><b>? </b>Is there any wound on her?¡±


    The knife on the floor glinted with a cold light. Before Joshua could speak, she said shamelessly. I took the knife solely to peel an apple for my sister. Is it wrong for me to be concerned about her illness?¡±


    I took the knife solely to peel <b>an </b>apple for my older sister. As her younger sibling, is it wrong for me to be concerned about her illness?


    She was assertive and confident.


    Joshua¡¯s expression grew increasingly somber,


    Xylia suddenly pointed at her phone. I have just turned on the camera, <b>and </b>the video of you attempting to attack me with the knife has already been recorded. Would you like to watch it?¡±


    Tessa¡¯s face turned pale <b>in </b>an instant.


    She had not anticipated <b>that </b>Xylia actually recorded it.


    Nylia made a gesture as if to unlock her phone, preparing to call the police. ¡°If you refuse to watch it, I will have no choice but to ask the police toe and see whether you had any intention to harm me just now.¡±


    Upon seeing Xylia making a phone <b>call</b>, Tessa immediately turned <b>around </b>in panic and ran out of the hospital


    room.


    She nearly rushed out the door and almost collided with Hudson, who was just entering.


    Hudson <b>was </b>slow to react for a second. After recalling that the woman who had dashed out was Tessa, who had always bullied Xylia, he rushed into the hospital room.


    <b>¡°</b>Are you alright?¡± Before he could finish his sentence, he saw Joshua standing by the hospital bed, one hand still holding Xylia¡¯s <b>hand</b>.


    Hudson raged immediately.


    He pointed at Joshua and said harshly, ¡°When did you get here? Let go of her!¡±


    He rushed over to separate Joshua and Xylia.


    Xylia was somewhat embarrassed.


    However, before Hudson could rush over, Joshua used his foot to drag a nearby stool and positioned it as <b>a </b>barrier between them.


    Hudson stopped in front of the stool, but he was already ring fiercely at Joshua.


    ¡°Bro, I am not a lecher. Why are you so guarded against me?¡± Joshua¡¯s hand remained tightly sped around Xylia¡¯s <b>palm</b>, yet his words continued to sound flippant.


    Xylia raised her hand to her forehead in resignation.


    As expected, Hudson erupted in the next moment. ¡°Don¡¯t bro me! We¡¯re not family!¡±


    Joshua merely said, ¡°We will be <b>soon</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Hudson was furious.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. Stop teasing Hudson.¡± Xylia withdrew her hand from Joshua¡¯s grasp, gave him a slight re, and then turned to look at Hudson.


    She said innocently, ¡°Hudson, just now, Tessa tried to attack me with a knife. Joshua happened toe to sec


    me and drove her away. He was checking to see if I was


    injured.¡±


    Is 55 vouchers:


    Joshua intively lowered his gaze to look at Xylia, wondering. ¡®Is it necessary to exin so much?¡±


    Xylia pretended not to notice Joshua¡¯s gaze.


    Hudson felt a sense of relief only after hearing Xylia¡¯s words.


    Recalling how Tessa had juste in and tried to hurt Xylia, Hudson felt the breath he had just let out catch in his chest once again.


    ¡°Tessa Schultz dared to <b>sneak </b>into the hospital rooms andmit an assault? She must pay the price!¡± As he spoke. Hudson <b>was </b>about to call the police.


    Xylia stopped him. ¡°Forget it. Without evidence, the police would just ask a couple of questions¨Cthere¡¯s no need to waste energy.


    Joshua looked at Xylia and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you record a video?¡±


    Xylia shook her head and said, ¡°I lied. If I had not said that, she would have continued arguing here for quite some time. I truly do not wish to see her any longer.¡±


    Joshua did not agree with Xylia¡¯s approach. ¡°However, by acting in this manner, you are abetting wrongdoing.¡±


    Hudson could not stand Joshua speaking to Xylia like that. ¡°What is wrong with my sister being kind and forgiving?¡±


    As he spoke, he stepped around the stool, walked to the edge of the bed<b>, </b>and forcefully pulled Joshua away. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Just talk¨Cdon¡¯t stand so close.¡±


    <b>Joshua </b>was pushed away, his expression <b>grim</b>.


    However, since Hudson was Xylia¡¯s brother, no matter how bad his temper was, Joshua must restrain himself.


    Xylia <b>found </b>it amusing


    She looked at Hudson and said, ¡°Hudson, I¡¯m a bit hungry. Could you get me something to eat?¡±


    Hudson realized that Xylia was deliberately sending him away.


    He <b>said</b>, ¡°Let me order food delivery for you.¡±


    Xylia remained silent, simply gazing at him with a pair of bright, sparkling eyes.


    In the end, Hudson backed down after all. ¡°Fine. What would you like to eat? I¡¯ll go buy it for you.¡±


    Xylia said, ¡°I¡¯d like to have some burritos.¡±


    Of course, Hudson would get her whatever she wanted.


    Before leaving, he cast a warning nce at Joshua. ¡°Keep your distance from my sister.¡±


    8:18 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Joshua remained silent, refusing even to spare him a nce.


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    It was only after Hudson left that Xylia looked at Joshua<b>. </b>¡°Is there something you want to say to me?¡±


    Joshua paused. ¡°Can¡¯t I simplye to see you?¡±


    Xylia pointed at the clothes he was wearing.


    Dressed in a bespoke <b>suit</b>, with meticulously styled silver hair set with hairspray, his formal appearance made it clear that he was definitely not there just to visit her.


    ¡°Are you going somewhere?¡± Since Xylia had already asked so directly, Joshua decided not to be evasive any longer.


    He walked to the edge of the bed and sat down, his dark eyes <b>locking </b>onto hers, piercing into her gaze. ¡°I have some matters to attend to and will need to be away. I expect to return in approximately one to two months.¡±


    Upon hearing one or two months, Xylia felt a sudden pang of anxiety in her heart. ¡°Has something serious happened?¡±


    Joshua shook his head. ¡°It is merely a routine business trip. Before I leave, I would like to ask you a question.¡±


    Xylia looked at him, puzzled.


    Joshua asked, ¡°You told me to think it over that day. I had already thought it through long before. My feelings for you are neither a passing impulse nor an act of gratitude. If I had not known that you were married to Connor Ford, I would havee to you long ago.¡±


    Xylia stood frozen in ce.


    Joshua held Xylia¡¯s hand and continued, ¡°I will return to Norhill in two months. Will you give me your answer


    then?¡±

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    By the time Hudson hurried back with the burritos, Joshua was already nowhere to be found.


    After letting out a long breath, he looked at Xylia with a puzzled expression. ¡°Where is Joshua Garcia?¡±


    Where is Joshua?


    Xylia said calmly, ¡°He left.¡±


    She appeared to be in low spirits, yet she was not sad.


    Hudson slightly furrowed his brows, stood up with a swift movement, and questioned Xylia<b>, </b>¡°Has he bullied you? Just tell me, and I¡¯ll avenge you!¡±


    As he spoke. Hudson rolled up his sleeves, preparing to make Joshua pay.


    Xylia sighed helplessly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Hudson, he did not bully me


    Joshua not only did not bully her, but also helped her a great deal.


    From Jupiton to <b>Norhill</b>, in just a few months, she owed him quite a few favors.


    Even just now, after Joshua persistently requested an answer from her, he left two contact details.


    He was aware that Xylia¡¯s studio wascking talent.


    These two individuals were talents he had carefully selected. They were experienced designers.


    If Xylia was able <b>to </b>hire them, the studio¡¯s operations for the next six months would run smoothly.


    After hearing Xylia¡¯s words, Hudson breathed a slight sigh of relief.


    As he set up the small tray table, he said, ¡°You¡¯ve just reunited with us, so you can take some time to enjoy yourself. You¡¯re <b>not </b>even thirty yet¨Cthese are the best years of your life. Don¡¯t go tying yourself down to a man again.¡±


    Hudson earnestly and repeatedly offered heartfelt advice.


    Xylia smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m turning thirty.¡±


    Hudson said seriously, ¡°Still, you¡¯re the little princess of the Sadler family!¡±


    Hudson ced the burritos and the other purchased food on the table.


    He looked at Xylia and said, ¡°Xylia, even if you like Joshua, when ites to choosing a man, we need to test him further for you.¡±


    Hudson maintained a serious demeanor and spoke with conviction.


    E55 vouchers-


    However, Xylia was drawn to certain words in his speech. How did you figure out I like Joshua<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Hudson raised an eyebrow. ¡°How could that not be obvious? Compared to us, you rely on him much more.¡±


    Xylia appeared to be immobilized in ce.


    At that moment, her heart surprisingly pounded wildly.


    She involuntarily recalled what Joshua


    aid before he had just left. ¡°When I return, I will ask you for an answer. Don¡¯t avoid me or change the subject. If your answer is negative, I will keep wooing you affirmatively


    until you nod


    Xylia had just been criticizing Joshua¡¯s domineering manner, yet now she inexplicably felt her cheeks growing


    warm<b>. </b>


    Hudson noticed that Xylia¡¯s face was flushed and assumed she was feeling unwell. ¡°Are you alright, Xylia? Does the wound hurt?¡±


    Xylia shook her head.


    Hudson said decisively, ¡°I¡¯ll ask Cyrus toe over and check on you.¡±


    Xylia immediately grabbed him to stop him. ¡°I¡¯m truly fine, Hudson. Join me and have something to eat <b>as </b>well<b>. </b>


    Hudson was still <b>worried</b>. ¡°Are you really


    really okay?¡±


    Xylia nodded. I¡¯m really fine.¡±


    Hudson sat down suspiciously, his gaze lingering on Xylia¡¯s face for several seconds.


    Only after seeing that she truly appeared entirely untroubled did he feel at ease.


    That night, Leon made time and came to see Xylia. ¡°Hudson told me that crazy woman came to bother you? How are you, Xylia? You weren¡¯t hurt, were you?¡±


    <b>Xylia </b>felt helpless. ¡°I am truly fine. You¡¯re making a big deal out of this.¡±


    Today, Cyrus came to check on her, and Hudson specifically adjusted his schedule to visit her at the hospital.


    She had answered the same thing several times throughout the day and was now somewhat fatigued.


    Before Leon was about to speak, she hurriedly changed the subject. ¡°What brings you here, Leon? Aren¡¯t you recording the show anymore?¡±


    When the reality show was mentioned, Leon was like a deted ball¨Csomewhat disappointed and a bit sulky. ¡°How could a show be more important than you? Can¡¯t I make time toe see you?¡±


    How could a program be more important than my younger sister? Can¡¯t I make time toe see you?


    Xylia had been consistently following the livestream.


    8:18 Thu, sep


    ET $5 vouchers


    She knew that Leon ultimately seeded in teaming up with Mia, and they looked quite sweet together on the show, so howe Leon looked dejected now?


    Xylia exchanged a nce with Hudson.


    She then asked Leon, ¡°What happened? Is your n to woo your beloved not going well<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°It¡¯s much more than just not going welll¡± Leon seemed to be waiting for Xylia to ask him.


    He moved a stool and sat at the edge of the bed, his gaze upon Xylia tinged with both anger and pity. ¡°I gave her a pair of sunsses. Seeing that she wore them frequently, I assumed she liked the gift. Guess why.¡±


    Xylia shifted her gaze and asked tentatively, ¡°Is it because she only has this pair of sunsses?¡±


    Leon froze, then looked at Xylia with anger and discontent. ¡°How do you know?¡±


    Xylia exined with a smile, ¡°Judging by your expression, it is clear that the situation is not as you imagined. I was merely specting in that aspect.¡±


    Leon¡¯s expression darkened. He hung his head in dejection, a stark contrast to the spirited movie star seen on


    screen


    Xylia patted Leon on the shoulder. ¡°You need to be patient when wooing girls, but if you give up, just forget 1 said anything.


    ¡°I¡¯m not giving up!¡± Leon flipped out. ¡°It took me so much effort to find her¨Cthere¡¯s no way I¡¯ll ever give up! Isn¡¯t it just a pair of broken sunsses? Isn¡¯t it just hype? Just watch me turn this fake act into reality!¡±


    His sudden burst of drive startled both Xylia and Hudson.


    After he finished speaking, Leon patted Xylia on the shoulder. ¡°Xylia, I won¡¯t visit you for the next two days. Once you have recovered, I¡¯ll bring my girl to see <b>you</b>.¡±


    Watching the way Leon strode out of the hospital room, Xylia actually did not think that Leon¡¯s failure to visit her meant he did not value her.


    On the contrary, she found the deal between Leon and Mia even more interesting.


    She asked Hudson, ¡°Leon said it was not easy to find Mia. What happened between them before?¡±


    Hudson became interested. ¡°It¡¯s a long story¡­


    Xylia savored the aromatic burritos while listening to Hudson recount the old stories <b>of </b>Leon and Mia.


    She realized that Leon¡¯s love story was as full of twists and turns as her own.


    Kaden was somewhat surprised when he learned that Joshua had left Norhill.


    He took the contract handed to him by David and asked casually, ¡°Where has he gone?¡±


    8:18 Thu, Sep 18 N


    David replied, ¡°Mr. Garcia¡¯s trip this time is <b>private</b>. I don¡¯t know either.¡±


    Since David worked for Joshua, Kaden did not expect him to answer truthfully.


    65 vouchers


    He did not look at David until he had quickly nced at the contract. ¡°Is Joshua <b>Garcia </b>about to take down both the Schultz Group and the Ford Group at once?¡±


    David gave a slight nod. The Ford Group is deeply entrenched in Jupiton, and it is difficult for the Garcia Group alone to deal with them. Therefore, we¡¯d appreciate your assistance, Mr. Sadler.¡±


    ¡°Why should I get myself involved in this mess?¡± Kaden spoke calmly, tossing the contract onto the coffee table, nning something.


    Smiling. David looked at Kaden. ¡°Mr. Garcia said that, even for Ms. Sadler¡¯s sake, you wouldn¡¯t let the Ford<b>. </b>Group go. So why not cooperate and make sure the Ford Group is utterly unable to recover¨Cisn¡¯t that truly avenging Ms. Sadler?¡±


    He continued, ¡°However, he knows that before the n is implemented, you should first have a taste of sess, Mr. Ford. The first thing to deal with is still the Schultz Group<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Kaden looked at David, who was smiling gently.


    He gave a cold, inwardugh. As expected of Joshua Garcia¡¯s man. Everyone who works for him is so shrewd and cunning.

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    Tessa returned to the hotel as if fleeing


    The moment she stepped inside, she ran straight into Connor.


    Connor noticed her distressed state and frowned slightly.


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    ¡°Where have you been? I told you to pack your belongings and prepare to return to Jupiton tonight. Have you packed?¡± Connor asked.


    A chill ran through Tessa¡¯s heart; upon seeing Connor, she instinctively rushed into his arms.


    Connor froze for a moment, then, feeling the trembling of the woman against him, wrapped his arms around her.


    His voice softened.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


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    Tessa shook her head in Connor Ford¡¯s arms. ¡°Connor, let¡¯s go back now. Once we¡¯re back, let¡¯s get married, shall we?¡±


    The word ¡°marriage¡± made Connor¡¯s brows knit.


    ¡°Tessa, didn¡¯t I say¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to brush me off with the excuse of mourning for your grandfather!¡± she burst out. ¡°We can get a marriage certificate without holding a wedding ceremony. Or do you n to stay chaste forever for Xylia?¡±


    ¡°Tessa!¡± His tone turned sharp.


    Tessa¡¯s sudden, sharp outburst displeased Connor.


    He had always <b>thought </b>of her as sensible, but now she seemed willful, and he hated it.


    Tessa saw Connor being harsh to her <b>and </b>suddenly burst <b>into </b>tears.


    ¡°Connor, how can you treat me this way? You¡¯ve already slept with me and promised to take responsibility. But every time marriagees up, you dodge it with excuses. If you don¡¯t intend to take responsibility, just say it! I won¡¯t bother you!¡±


    Connor parted his lips, but no words came. Tessa¡¯s usation left him speechless.


    Seeing his silence, Tessa jerked free of his hand.


    ¡°I understand. I will not appear before you again. We¡¯re done.¡±


    She turned to leave, but Connor grew anxious.


    8:18 Thu, Sep 18 N


    He grabbed her hand. ¡°Tessa, wait-


    Before he could finish, Tessa suddenly spun back, using his momentum to pull him into <b>a </b>kiss.


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    Connor instinctively tried to push her away, but she pressed <b>closer</b>. She didn¡¯t even realize what she was doing, only that she had ignited his desire.


    Soon, their clothesy scattered across the hotel room, adding to the mess.


    Half a monthter, Xylia¡¯s ster cast was finally removed.


    However, during her recovery period, she still couldn¡¯t walk much. Apart from doing rehabilitation exercises, her four older brothers ordered her to sit in a wheelchair.


    Therefore, when Hudson wheeled her into the studio, Josie thought that Xylia had been utterly ruined.


    ¡°Xylia! What happened to you?¡±


    Xylia twisted her wrist and lifted her foot to show she was <b>fine</b>.


    Hudson exined on Xylia¡¯s behalf.


    ¡°She¡¯s still recovering and should avoid excessive movement.¡±


    Josiepletely put her mind at ease.


    She actually didn¡¯t think what Hudson did was very exaggerated.


    After all<b>, </b>serious injuries could have lifelong consequences if things go wrong, so it was best to be cautious.


    She took over from Hudson and wheeled Xylia to the reception area on the first floor.


    ¡°The studio has two floors, but there¡¯s no elevator. Since your foot isn¡¯t well right now, you have to sit here for


    now.¡±


    Josie instructed the receptionist to bring two sses of water for Xylia and Hudson.


    The receptionist, Macy, was a charming youngdy with a round face; her temperament closely resembled. that of Josie.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, would you care for some juice? It was freshly made today.¡±


    She was cheerful and full of vitality.


    Xylia looked at her <b>in </b>confusion. ¡°Do you know me?¡±


    During this period, she didn¡¯te to the studio; not even the employees had seen her.


    This young girl actually recognized her at a nce.


    ¡°You¡¯re so close with Ms. Dunn, so I guessed right away.¡±


    Xylia continued to marvel at her perceptiveness.


    Josie rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t <b>listen </b>to her. She saw your photo on my phone.¡±


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    Macy immediately pouted. ¡°Ms. Dunn, can¡¯t you let me at least look smart in front of Mr. Sadler?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Macy, with her head bowed in dejection, returned to her post.


    Xylia looked at Josie with a smile.


    ¡°You have recruited a girl who is just as cute as you.¡±


    ¡°Tsk! Don¡¯t call me cute. I¡¯m a cool girl!¡±


    Xylia gave a small smile.


    Just then, Hudson received a phone call and needed to deliver something to Kaden.


    ¡°I¡¯lle to pick you up shortly. Wait here.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Xylia said. ¡°We¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    After Hudson left, Josie smiled and looked at Xylia.


    Her eyes, as round as grapes, studied Xylia closely.


    Since arriving in Norhill, surrounded by love, Xylia¡¯splexion had grown rosy, her energy brighter than it had been in Jupiton.


    ¡°Now this is the beginning of a good life,¡± <b>Josie </b>said <b>warmly</b>.


    Xylia tilted her head, puzzled, but Josie quickly changed the <b>subject</b>.


    ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve confirmed the contacts you gave me. They¡¯re both niche designers, experienced and creative, even if not widely known. I asked them to submit sample drafts. Coincidentally, one of them will bring his draft today, <b>so </b>you may review it <b>as </b>well.¡±


    Xylia nodded slightly.


    Just as Josie finished speaking, a middle¨Caged man in sses stepped into the studio..


    Macy said to <b>Josie</b>, ¡°Ms. Dunn, Leroy Bonner has arrived.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s him. Wait here for a moment.¡±


    8:18 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Josie hurriedly said a quick word to Xylia before heading toward Leroy.


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    From a <b>distance</b>, Xylia saw Josie say something to Leroy, then brought <b>him </b>over here and sat down together.


    Leroy had a handsome and dignified appearance and looked to be about forty years old. His eyes convey a sense of pride, giving him the air of an artist..


    He gave Xylia <b>an </b>indifferent nce, then handed the carefully wrapped painting he had been holding in <b>his </b><b>hand </b>to Josie.


    Josie unwrapped the painting and nced at its contents.


    Leroy designed a vintage¨Cinspired <b>dress </b>featuring a spaghetti strap design. The waist is ruched with diagonal draping, and the skirt falls to the knee with a neat hemline.


    Josie assigned randomness as the theme to encourage designers to demonstrate their true abilities.


    After viewing the painting, she furrowed her brow slightly.


    ¡°Mr. Bonner, it¡¯s vintage, yes¨Cbut a little too stiff. It¡¯s missing something.¡±


    Josie has alwaysmunicated straightforwardly.


    Leroy¡¯s expression instantly darkened.


    He didn¡¯t wait for Josie to continue speaking and quickly pulled back his design drawing from her hands.


    ¡°I thought your studio understood design, but you¡¯re just amateurs!¡±


    ¡°Mr. Bonner, please don¡¯t get angry. This is just feedback. Please sit down and listen to me finish. If I¡¯m wrong, we can revisit it, okay?¡±


    Josie said to Leroy, making every effort to remain calm andposed.


    Leroy let out a snort.


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of talking to people like you who don¡¯t understand design?¡±


    Carefully packing away his sketch, he turned to leave.


    Xylia suddenly called out <b>to </b>stop him.


    ¡°Mr. Bonner, may I have a <b>look </b>at your painting?¡±


    Xylia <b>sat </b>in her wheelchair at an awkward angle, so she had not clearly seen Leroy¡¯s <b>work </b><b>just </b>now,


    Leroy stopped, turned his head, and eyed Xylia.


    ¡°And who are you?¡±


    Xylia smiled gently and said, ¡°I¡¯m the owner of this shop.¡±

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    Leroy¡¯s expression grew even more unfavorable.


    He pointed at Josie and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s actually the boss among you?¡±


    Josie pointed at Xylia.


    ¡°She¡¯s the boss. I¡¯m a shareholder and currently responsible for recruitment.¡±


    Leroy uttered a grunt.


    ¡°Someone responsible for recruitment, whose background isn¡¯t even rted, still criticizes my design drawings. Do you have no shame?¡±


    His words were rude, and Josie¡¯s face flushed with anger.


    Her temper was not particrly good, <b>and </b>she was <b>about </b>to snap back when Xylia gently took hold of her wrist and gave her a reassuring look.


    ¡°Let me handle this.¡±


    Josie bit back her temper, shot Leroy a re, and stepped aside toward the front desk.


    Leroy came back and handed his painting to Xylia.


    ¡°As the owner, you must be different from those whose expertise does not match their roles, right? This dress is the most perfect one I have created recently. It features retro¨Cinspired design lines, and even the coloring reflects my own ideas.¡±


    He spoke with confidence, presenting his work with full confidence and presented his ideas in a clear and well¨Corganized manner.


    <b>As </b>if it were the best in the world.


    Xylia first introduced herself to Leroy, then epted the design drawing.


    ¡°Good day, Mr. Bonner. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Xylia, and I am a designer. I may be young, but I won first ce at the Jupiton Designers¡® Exchange Conference. My mentor is Chase Bell, and I¡¯ve coborated with Quezada & Co. Apparel Design.¡±


    Leroy¡¯s eyes brightened upon hearing Xylia¡¯s introduction.


    He was aware of Chase Bell, a highly skilled designer<b>. </b>Additionally, Quezada & Co. Apparel Design was a renowned brand both domestically and internationally.


    His stance softened, admiration creeping in.


    Xylia carefully examined the design drawing before handing it back to Leroy.


    8:18 Thu, Sep 18 N


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    ¡°From this design drawing, it is clear that you have a solid professional foundation. I¡¯d guess you¡¯ve been in the field for about twenty <b>years</b>.¡±


    Leroy looked at Xylia in surprise.


    ¡°You really have a sharp eye! This year marks my twentieth year in the profession. Honestly, I entered this industry out of genuine interest. Over the years, I¡¯ve served as the chief designer for bothrge and small brands. However, working on brand design can be exhausting, and it often doesn¡¯t allow me to fully demonstrate my design talent.


    The primary objective of a brand was to generate profit; designers, even when creating apparel, must align their work with prevailing fashion trends.


    After working at several brands, Leroy found it especially boring and resigned to take on jobs from home.


    But without employment, the ie from asional assignments barely sustained the household, and the savings umted in youth had nearly been exhausted.


    He thought it would be best to find a job to support his family and make ends meet.


    Compared to the pursuit of art, survival remains of greater importance


    Xylia had a general understanding of what Leroy meant.


    ¡°So you¡¯re hoping for a rxed environment to design freely. That isn¡¯t hard.¡± She paused, then asked, ¡°When <b>was </b>thest time youpleted a <b>garment </b>design?¡±


    She didn¡¯t immediatelyment on his design drawing; instead, she began a casual conversation with Leroy.


    Leroy paused for a moment and, with a hint of resignation, replied, ¡°About a year ago.¡±


    ¡°What have you been doing this year?¡± Xylia asked.


    Leroy furrowed his brows and looked at Xylia.


    Xylia quickly said, ¡°Just asking casually. If you don¡¯t feelfortable answering, that¡¯s okay.¡±


    Leroy paused for several seconds before speaking in an indifferent tone.


    I¡¯m fine talking about it. Someone in my family is ill. I¡¯ve been caring for them and taking on some jobs to make money, but opportunities are scarce.


    Xylia nodded, somewhat agreeing-


    ¡°True. The industry is crowded with new talent, andpetition has grown fiercer, leading to a natural decrease in avable orders.¡±


    Leroy seemed to have foundfort in Xylia.


    Just as he was about to pour out his troubles to Xylia, Xylia spoke first.


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    ¡°Another reason is that you have not designed clothing for a considerable period; this hiatus has significantly diminished your innate talent and <b>lessened </b>your creative spirit.¡±


    Leroy¡¯s expression changed abruptly.


    Xylia continued, ¡°Don¡¯t rush to refute me.¡±


    Xylia held up the design drawing toward Leroy and pointed at the hemline.


    ¡°See here. The pleated waist already introduces an irregr element to the dress, but the hemline is so neat. Doesn¡¯t that make the lively design feel stiff? What if you tried to design the hemline with an irregr diagonal cut instead?¡±


    Xylia spoke calmly and showed little emotion whenmunicating with Leroy.


    Leroy gazed silently at his own painting.


    There were no signs of anger on the face.


    After a long while, he finally let out a long sigh.


    ¡°You are absolutely right. Actually, when this design drawing waspleted, I already felt that something was off. Now that you¡¯ve pointed it out, I immediately see it.


    Xylia returned the design <b>drawings </b>to Leroy.


    ¡°Do you agree with what I said?¡±


    Leroy nodded and said, ¡°Agreed.¡±


    Xylia pointed at Josie, who was not far away.


    ¡°She, like me, is a designer with exceptional talent. The issue I pointed out is what she noticed, too. So you. know what to do now, right?¡±


    Leroy¡¯splexion turned pale; finally, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    He rose, walked over to <b>Josie</b>, and bowed slightly.


    ¡°Ms. Dunn, I apologize for my arrogance and disrespect just now. I was wrong-


    <b>Josie </b>blinked in surprise.


    She had <b>been </b>irritated, but his sudden apology left her momentarily speechless.


    <b>Just </b>then, Xylia maneuvered the wheelchair over here.


    Josie nced at Xylia and promptly responded to Leroy.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I understand how you feel,¡± she managed.


    8:19 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Leroy nodded. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll get going now.¡±


    As he turned to leave, Xylia suddenly said, ¡°<b>Mr. </b>Bonner


    <b>working </b>here?¡±


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    if you¡¯re free tomorrow, would you like to start


    He froze mid¨Cstep, turning back in disbelief. ¡°W¨CWork here?¡±


    Xylia nodded. ¡°If you have other arrangements, we can discuss the specific time.¡±


    Leroy¡¯s eyes grew moist.


    ¡°Wh¨Cwhy? My draft isn¡¯t perfect. I thought¡­


    ¡°You have both talent and capability, Mr. Bonner. You¡¯ve only shut yourself away during this chance to return, I believe you¡¯ll shine again.¡±


    gap.


    With the


    Xylia stated sincerely, ¡°Right now, our studio designs finished products for clients, but my long¨Cterm goal is to build a brand where designers have full creative <b>freedom</b>, without outside interference. Mr. Bonner, would you like to join us?¡±


    Leroy¡¯s lips trembled; after absorbing Xylia¡¯s words, he <b>was </b>nearly brought to tears.


    ¡°Yes! Of course! I can start tomorrow!¡±


    Josie said to Leroy, ¡°I <b>will </b>send the offer to your email shortly. The currentpensation package includes a base sry of 7000 dors plusmission. If you have any concerns regarding the sry, we can discuss them further.¡±


    The figure exceeded his expectations.


    He responded promptly, ¡°No problem, let¡¯s do it this way!¡±


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    After Leroy left. Josic looked at Xylia.


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    hers


    ¡°How did you persuade him to apologize? He seems so arrogant. What if he is rude to customers in the future?¡±


    Xylia <b>gave </b>a small smile.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have better options for now. He¡¯s highly experienced. And when someone needs to make a living. even the proudest temperament must yield. Let¡¯s wait and see.¡±


    Josie fell silent.


    The second design drawing would be avable the next day.


    Josie asked Xylia toe to the store tomorrow, and she agreed,


    Later. Hudson came to pick her <i>up</i>, somewhat excitedly, and gossiped with Xylia.


    ¡°Hey, guess what I saw when I went to deliver some documents to Kaden?¡±


    His eyes were remarkably bright, sparkling with mischief.


    Xylia looked at him in a puzzled way.


    ¡°When I stepped into his office, I saw Rosalind sitting on hisp. His face was bright red!¡± Hudson said.


    Xylia raised her brows, amused by the gossip.


    ¡°And then? What happens after you interrupt them?¡±


    ¡°Then Kaden immediately pushed <b>Rosalind </b>away.¡± Hudson leaned closer, lowering his voice.


    ¡°But he was embarrassed, directing all his frustration at me. Rosalind stood nearby, secretlyughing. When I handed over the documents, I even spotted lipstick at the corner of his mouth.¡±


    Regret flickered across Xylia¡¯s face.


    ¡°What a waste! I should have gone with you. I can¡¯t believe I missed such an amazing <b>scene</b>,¡± she said.


    In the evening, after Kaden returned home, both Xylia and Hudson had an unusual look in their eyes as they gazed <b>at </b><b>him</b><b>. </b>


    He could guess what Hudson had exaggeratedly told Xylia upon his return.


    Unwilling to lose his temper with Xylia, he merely cast a casual nce at Hudson.


    ¡°Give me half of your car racetrack dividends this quarter, Kaden said.


    8:19 Thu<b>, </b>Sep 18 N


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    ¡°Why?¡± Hudson became anxious at once.


    ¡°Because I am your brother, Kaden replied casually before heading to his room.


    Hudson slung an arm over Xylia.


    ¡°Nylia, maybe we should stay low¨Ckey from now on.¡±


    Xylia imitated his gesture, cing an arm around his shoulder. ¡°Kaden didn¡¯t me me, so it is only you who needs to restrain yourself.¡±


    Xylia smiled as she maneuvered her wheelchair into the elevator.


    Only Hudson remained standing in ce, his expression marked by evident distress.


    It has been more than half a month since Joshua left. Apart from one message confirming his safe arrival, Xylia hadn¡¯t heard from him.


    She felt slightly down and was somewhat worried about Joshua.


    Fortunately, the studio was stabilizing-


    Her hand was unable to <b>move</b>. During this period, her visits to the studio were limited to providing her. suggestions on the design drawings.


    Joshua introduced a new designer named Sheryl Carson, who was <b>a </b>young <b>girl</b>.


    She graduated from a prestigious university. During her time at university, she participated in variouspetitions and coborated with brands.


    It could be said that she was young and promising, with extensive experience.


    Her design drawings possess a vivid, inspired quality.


    Xylia and Josie were both satisfied when they <b>saw </b>her draft manuscript.


    ¡°You¡¯re so talented, why would you like to join our small, newly established studio?¡± Xylia asked.


    Sheryl exined, ¡°Since entering the industry, I have consistently coborated with major brands that have well¨Cdefined and meticulously nned design processes. Although I have made certain contributions, I have be distanced from the customers.


    ¡°I hope to gain a thorough understanding of the people I serve, so that I can showcase my talents beyond merely meeting their needs. That way, I can grow while creating something meaningful.¡±


    Xylia and Josie agreed that Sheryl was a sincerely passionate talent in the industry, and soon, Sheryl became part of Xylic Studio.


    8:19 Thu, Sep 18 H


    On a gloomy day, dark clouds loomed over Norhill, and the weather was cool and overcast.


    Orders had been piling up, leaving the whole team overwhelmed.


    Only Xylia sat in the office, looking at the iing financial reports, lost in deep thought.


    A knock at the <b>door </b>pulled her back. Sheryl entered with a <b>smile</b>.


    Xylia, could you help <b>me</b><b>? </b>1 don¡¯t quite understand this client¡¯s instructions.¡±


    Xylia <b>was </b><b>spacing </b>out and didn¡¯t hear <b>what </b>Sheryl <b>said</b>.


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    With a puzzled expression, Sheryl walked over to Xylia¡¯s desk and waved her hand in front of her eyes.


    ¡°Nylia?¡±


    Xylia finally came back to her senses,


    She looked at Sheryl and asked, ¡°Sorry. What¡¯s it?¡±


    Sheryl repeated what she said.


    Xylia took the phone from her hand and nced at the customer¡¯s requirements.


    She opened the customer¡¯s Instagram, casually scrolled a couple of times, and only then spoke to Sheryl.


    ¡°She¡¯ll be attending a blessing ceremony for her child. From her Instagram, she¡¯s a wealthy woman. She wants clothing that¡¯s modest and understated. Therefore, design some garments that are simple and elegant enough to stand out among affluentdies.¡±


    Sheryl suddenly understood. ¡°Got it. Thank you, Xylia.¡±


    Xylia handed the phone back to her.


    Sheryl was about to leave with her phone, but after taking only two steps, she turned back.


    ¡°Xylia, is something bothering you? You don¡¯t seem very happytely¡±


    Xylia instinctively touched her own face.


    ¡°Is that obvious?¡±


    Sheryl nodded, then dragged a chair over and sat down in front of Xylia.


    ¡°I took psychology as an elective in university and also have some experience as a psychologist¡¯s assistant. Would you like to talk? Maybe I can help you feel better.¡±


    Xylia looked at the sparkling eyes of the girl before her.


    After thinking for a moment, she leaned forward and rested her chin on her hands, then looked up at Sheryl.


    8:19 Thu, Sep 18


    ¡°Will you


    keep it a secret?¡±


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    Sheryl nodded. ¡°Of course!¡±


    Xylia thought for a moment, organized her words, and whispered.


    ¡°I have a friend¡­<b>¡± </b>


    Sheryl¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile at this <b>familiar </b>opening line.


    ¡°He said he was going abroad for two months on business. It¡¯s been over half a month, and he¡¯s only sent me one message. Is it possible that something has happened to him?¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t believe that Joshua was too busy to reply to messages.


    She had a vague sense that something had happened.


    Sheryl squinted at Xylia and asked, ¡°Xylia, may I ask who he is? What is your rtionship with him?¡±


    Xylia blinked her <b>eyes </b>and <b>said</b>, ¡°I already <b>said </b>he was my


    friend.¡±


    ¡°There are many kinds of friends, Sheryl teased<b>. </b>¡°Boyfriends, girlfriends, crushes, suitors.¡±


    Xylia felt she had said a little too much.


    She let out <b>a </b>breath of relief and waved her hand at Sheryl.


    ¡°Forget it. Go on with your work. I¡¯ll think about it myself<b>.¡± </b>


    Upon noticing that Xylia was unwilling to speak, Sheryl shrugged helplessly and rose to her feet.


    ¡°Well, whoever he is, since you¡¯re worried, why not just send him a message?¡± Sheryl said and left the office.


    Xylia sat motionless, staring at her phone.


    Finally, she opened her chat with Joshua, hesitated a moment, and typed a message.


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    When Joshua received Xylia¡¯s message, he had already obtained clues about the mastermind and <b>was </b>hurrying over.


    Dark circles shadowed his eyes, but when he saw her simple greeting message, his tense expression softened.


    Almost without thinking, he replied.


    [Work is going smoothly. Wait for me.]


    Xylia didn¡¯t expect such a quick response.


    At the <b>very </b>moment she saw <b>Joshua¡¯s </b>reply, she <b>was </b>momentarily taken <b>aback</b>.


    Upon seeing the words ¡®wait for <b>me</b>, Xylia¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    She forced herself to reply calmly.


    [Please stay safe.]


    A faint smile traced the corner of Joshua¡¯s lips.


    In that moment, the fatigue of countless sleepless nights seemed to vanish.


    He decided to quickly finish the affairs of Kregonia and return to see her <b>as </b>soon as possible.


    Moreover, he had a strong premonition that good news would be waiting in Norhill.


    They exchanged a few more words.


    Joshua reminded her, without shame, not to forget what he¡¯d said before leaving, then asked about her recent <b>days</b>.


    By the time the conversation ended, the vehicle carrying him <b>had </b>already reached its destination.


    After putting away his phone<b>, </b>all traces of gentleness vanished from his face, reced by a cold, detached


    calm.


    He <b>no </b>longer looked like the same man who had just been chatting tenderly with Xylia


    His location <b>was </b>the most prosperous, yet also the most impoverished district in Kregonia.


    Makeshift huts built from dpidated rain shelters encircle the outer ring, <b>while </b>inside stood an ancient castle constructed of gold.


    An impoverished, gaunt man turned his head expressionlessly, fixing his luminous gaze on Joshua, as though expecting alms..


    Joshua¡¯s gaze carried a hint of caution.


    8:19 Thu, Sep 18 N


    ¡°If I don¡¯te out in one hour, proceed <b>as </b>nned.¡±


    The man seated in the driver¡¯s seat nodded.


    a stepped toward the Golden Castle.


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    His leather shoes stepped into the muddy ground, and fine droplets of muddy water sshed up.


    The ragged onlookers watched in silence as he strode toward the Golden Castle.


    Inside, a bodyguard greeted him.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, you¡¯ve finally arrived.¡±


    The bodyguard led Joshua into the hall.


    Four people are ying Bridge at a table¨Ctwo women and two men.


    The women kept their heads bowed the entire time, as if they were merely there <b>to </b>apany the two men ying bridges.


    One of the men was Burke, who was mboyantly dressed in a pink suit, wore hair gel, and had neatlybed hair.


    He clenched a cigar in his mouth, the corners of his lips curved, and his eyes glinted with a hint of bloodlust.


    Another man, dressed in a ck suit, sat with his back to Joshua


    Burke kept his hands moving and shot a nce at Joshua.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, since it¡¯s still early, care to y a few rounds?¡±


    Joshua said indifferently, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t?¡± Burke suddenly burst into loudughter. ¡°Is there really something in this world that even you Joshua Garcia, can¡¯t do?¡±


    Burke looked at another man.


    ¡°Mr. Smert, isn¡¯t this hrious?¡±


    As the man in ck turned slowly, Joshua froze in ce.


    <b>Almost </b>in an instant, the fury rising in his eyes nearly burned away his reason.


    Rain finally fell in <b>Norhill</b>.


    Though she hadn¡¯t spoken much with Joshua, Xylia felt lighter; much of the <b>emotional </b>burden she had been carrying during this period was considerably <b>alleviated </b>


    8:19 Thu, Sep 18 N


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    When she left the office, Sheryl and Josie noticed the smile at the corner of her lips and looked at her teasingly.


    Josie was arranging the fabric in her hands.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, done chatting with your boyfriend?¡± Josie <b>said</b>.


    Facing the teasing gazes of Sheryl and Josie, Xylia¡¯s checks flushed.


    ¡°Quick, help me down. I¡¯m going back now.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Ms. Sadler¡±


    Josie set down the fabric and walked over to Xylia.


    Josie supported her carefully, step by step, while Sheryl lugged the wheelchair downstairs.


    Outside the door, the rain fell in nted sheets, forming a patch of deep darkness.


    Josie furrowed her brows.


    ¡°Is Hudson noting to pick you up?¡±


    Xylia said, ¡°Leon is picking me up today. Perhaps he was dyed on the way.¡±


    ¡°Leon?¡± Sheryl practically screamed. She crouched in front of Xylia, eyes wide and sparkling. ¡°Are you talking about Leon Sadler? The top¨Ctier Best Actor who can sing, <b>dance</b>, and act, Leon Sadler, right?¡±


    Her voice shook with excitement.


    Xylia saw Sheryl be so excited when she heard her idol¡¯s name that she spoke incoherently.


    ¡°So you¡¯re a fan?¡±


    Sheryl nodded emphatically and said, ¡°Hardcore!¡±


    Sheposed herself before realization struck.


    ¡°Wait, why would he pick you <b>up</b>? You both have the same surname¡­ don¡¯t tell me¡­¡±


    Josie cut in casually from the side.


    ¡°They¡¯re siblings. By blood.¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± Sheryl¡¯s scream was even louder than the thunder outside.


    Xylia covered her ears.


    She was also a fan of Leon. When she first met Leon, her reaction was not as dramatic as Sheryl¡¯s.


    ¡°Am I dreaming? I get to work with Leon¡¯s sister? Oh no¨Cfor Leon¡¯s sister!¡±


    8:19 Thu, Sep 18 N


    155 vouchers


    Sheryl suddenly grasped Xylia¡¯s hand and said earnestly, ¡°Ms. Sadler, I¡¯ll work hard and strive to achieve more than triple the performance this quarter. Could I maybe get a <b>photo </b>with himter?¡±


    Xylia smiled and said. ¡°I¡¯ll ask. If he refuses, I¡¯ll tie him up and bring him over so you can take a photo together. Is that okay?¡±


    Sheryl¡¯s gaze toward Xylia grew even more intense.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, I swear to follow you to the end of my life.¡±


    Xylia and Josie both burst intoughter.


    Just then, a sleek ck car stopped outside.


    A man who looked like a bodyguard stepped out with an umbre.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, Mr. Sadler had somethinge up and asked me to pick you up and take you home first.¡±


    Xylia looked at the dejected Sheryl.


    She gave her shoulder a fewforting pats and said, ¡°Don¡¯t


    Her words reignited Sheryl¡¯s excitement


    worry, there¡¯ll be other chances.¡±


    Xylia was escorted into the car by the bodyguards.


    Sheryl and Josie watched as that car departed.


    Sheryl was about to go upstairs to continue working, <b>but </b>Josie lingered at the doorway, her disappearing taillights.


    gaze


    fixed on the


    ¡°Josie, stop looking, the car¡¯s already gone far away, I didn¡¯t expect you¡¯d be so reluctant to part with Ms.


    Sadler.¡±


    However, Josie ignored Sheryl¡¯s teasing.


    She suddenly said, ¡°Sheryl, that car had no license te.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Sheryl blinked, a bit lost.


    At that moment, another ck Maybach stopped at the entrance of the studio.


    Leon walked over, holding an umbre, his stride reminiscent of a model.


    Upon seeing Josie, he raised a brow and greeted her.


    ¡°Josie, I¡¯vee to <b>pick </b>up Xylia.¡±


    Sheryl and Josie froze in shock, their eyes locked on his impossibly handsome face.


    Meanwhile, inside the first car, Xylia caught <b>a </b>strange scent.


    8:19 Thu, Sep 18 N


    She remembered that there was no such scent in Leon¡¯s car.


    Leon¡¯s


    The bodyguard ahead focused on driving.


    55 Vouchers


    The sound of rain pattered intermittently outside the window as Xylia looked out absent¨Cmindedly.


    The scenery along the street gradually grew unfamiliar.


    A sudden, intense fear arose in her heart, and she looked once again in disbelief at the person in the driver¡¯s


    seat.


    Through the rearview mirror, he met her eyes, shing a triumphant smile.


    8:19 Thu, Sep 18 <b>M </b>


    <b>Chapter </b>172


    Chapter <b>172 </b>

 Tricked 172

    Chapter <b>172 </b>


    Xylia felt this year was her unlucky year, a year full of adversity.


    Kidnapped three <b>times </b>already.


    This time, however, it was she who took the initiative to get in the car.


    After she saw the figure in the rearview mirror give her a sinister smile<b>, </b>her mind became dazed.


    65 vouchers


    Only now did she realize that the unusual fragrance in the car was capable of inducing unconsciousness.


    However, she realized it toote; in just two seconds, shepletely lost consciousness.


    Upon awakening once more, a ticking sound echoed around her.


    Xylia slowly opened her eyes, her heart seemingly under pressure, making her almost unable to breathe.


    The air was damp, and thunder rumbled in the distance.


    The wind rushed in from all directions, making her slender figure look as if she were about to fall.


    The ce was an industrial ruin exposed on all sides.


    Dense fog shrouded the outdoors, yet the naturalndscape remained faintly visible.


    The tree branches, tossed by wind and rain, resembled ghostly shadows, baring their teeth and ws as if poised to lunge and tear at her at any moment.


    Xylia lowered her head, shielding herself from the wind as she took several breaths until she gradually <b>rxed</b>. Yet her body <b>shook </b>violently from the cold. Worse, her arms and legs were bound to a <b>chair</b>. She couldn¡¯t move.


    Beep¡­ beep¡­.


    Amidst cold <b>winds </b><b>and </b>heavy rain, she heard a strange sound.


    She looked at her abdomen and, to her surprise, found it encircled by a ring of explosives.


    She stared wide¨Ceyed in terror, unable to believe what she was witnessing.


    ¡°Help! Is anyone there?¡± she screamed.


    The storm swallowed her voice. No one came. She was alone, trapped between life and death.


    Meanwhile, Joshua <b>was </b>watching the scene on the surveince screen. His eyes were bloodshot.


    He seized Burke¡¯s cor and red at him fiercely.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare touch her!¡±


    8:20 <b>Thu</b>, Sep 18 N


    55 vouchers,


    With a smile, Burke tried to <b>pull </b>Joshua¡¯s hand away from his cor. However, Joshua increased his grip; his hand suddenly clenched, causing Burke to be unable to breathe.


    ¡°M¨CMr. Garcia<b>, </b>are you sure you want to make an enemy of me here?¡± Burke wheezed.


    He smiled, <b>but </b>his eyes, venomous as serpents, tightly seized Joshua¡¯s eyes.


    The people around moved from <b>the </b>shadows into the light, each of them tall and robust, their <b>hands </b>full of firearms


    Another man smiled warmly at Joshua.


    Joshua, don¡¯t be angry. As long as our agreement remains valid, your girlfriend will not be harmed.¡±


    The man wore <b>an </b>eyepatch over his left eye, leaving only his right eye exposed¨Csharp with killing intent.


    He has regr features and an upright physique, exuding an aura thatmands respect.


    Joshua released Burke, who stumbled to the ground.


    Joshua didn¡¯t look at him. His gaze, however, remained fixed on the one<b>¨C</b>eyed man¨CDexter Smert. Hatred burned beneath his calm exterior.


    ¡°Old grudges and new ones,¡± Joshua said coldly. ¡°We¡¯ll settle them all tonight.¡±


    Dexter¡¯s lips curved into <b>a </b>bloodthirsty smile.


    Joshua, to be honest, it was truly beyond my expectations that you found me so quickly.¡±


    He gazed at <b>Joshua </b>with apparent longing. ¡°You <b>are </b>still so clever¡­ clever enough to make me want to silence you forever.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s expression was icy; he sneered.


    ¡°You¡¯re as vile as ever. You deserve to be shut up for good.¡±


    As he looked at Dexter¡¯s repulsive face, his memory suddenly returned to the ce engulfed in the smoke and mes of war ten years ago.


    That was the battlefield of Kregonia.


    The bullet seemed to fly past, brushing by the car.


    He was injured and protected by his <b>close </b>friend Nelson Lomas as they attempted to break out.


    However, just as they were about to seed, Dexter stopped them..


    <b>To </b>save Joshua, Nelson lost his life, but he only injured one of Dexter¡¯s eyes.


    The <b>blood </b>feud would be repaid tonight.


    8:20 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Dexter let out a derisiveugh. ¡°You¡¯re still as young <b>and </b>impetuous as ever.


    He pointed at the group of people who had formed a circle nearby and spoke to Joshua.


    ¡°At this point, you don¡¯t <b>think </b>you can emerge unscathed, do <b>you</b><b>?</b>¡±


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    His expression suddenly turned ruthless. ¡°If you don¡¯t sign the contract today, neither you nor your girlfriend will survive.¡±


    Joshua looked at the screen, where Xylia appeared on the verge of copse in the wind and rain; his hand hanging at his side was clenched tightly <b>into </b><b>a </b>fist.


    If he signed, the entire Garcia Group would be implicated. Once the truth parents would end well.


    If he didn¡¯t sign. he could leave unharmed, but what about Xylia?


    me out, neither he nor his


    The <b>hall </b>fell silent but for the echoes of Dexter and Burke¡¯s maliciousughter, as piercing as that of demons.


    Back in Norhill, despair gnawed at Xylia.


    She boarded the wrong vehicle, was restrained here by unknown criminals, and had explosives strapped to <b>her </b>body.


    As if her life was about toe to an end at this <b>very </b>moment<b>. </b>


    But she didn¡¯t want to die.


    Her career had only just begun. Her life was only just starting again.


    She still needed to wait for Joshua to return and respond to his parting words.


    Facing the cold wind, she lowered her head to look at the bomb on her abdomen. Ten minutes left on the


    timer<b>. </b>


    Her wrists were bound with thin wire, but one finger brushed against the wheelchair¡¯s control button.


    She moved her wheelchair to the wall of the abandoned building and sheltered there from the cold <b>wind</b>.


    Meanwhile, in the Golden Castle, all eyes remained on Joshua. No one noticed that the figure on the screen. had vanished.


    When he looked up again, an expression of incredulity appeared on Dexter¡¯s face.


    ¡®Where¡¯s she?¡® he wondered. ¡®She was tied up there a moment ago, yet disappeared in less <b>than </b>a second?¡±


    The surveince footage only captured the spot where Xylia had paused. Now the spot was empty.


    Joshua noticed Dexter¡¯s gaze and tilted <b>his </b>head toward the screen.


    As soon as he turned his head, the screen was switched off.


    8:20 Thu, Sep 18 N


    :


    Dexter deliberately feigned indifference as he coldly threatened Joshua.


    You¡¯ve seen enough. Sign the <b>contract</b>, and she¡¯ll be released.¡±


    Joshua remained silent for a moment and walked to the side of the table.


    A contract and a pen were ced on the surface.


    Joshua picked it up, his face unreadable, and scrawled his name.


    ¡°Can you let her go now?¡±


    He turned his head and looked at Dexter coldly.


    Dexter put away the contract and said to Joshua, ¡°Of course.¡°.


    ¡°Bring up the surveince screen, show me <b>she¡¯s </b>safe.¡±


    Dexter smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, my men need time to reach the site.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s expression suddenly turned icy and bone¨Cchilling.


    ¡°You left her there alone?¡±


    Dexter had no time to react before Joshua seized his cor and delivered a forceful punch.


    Upon witnessing the situation, Burke and those beside him immediately wanted to rush over.


    Dexter stopped them.


    B55 vouchers


    m yourself, Mr. Garcia. Our deal isplete. I guarantee that Ms. Sadler will be safe. Would you prefer to


    stay for dinner, or return first to prepare the thing I asked for?¡±


    Joshua exuded a chilling aura. Before he could <b>speak</b>, the driver¡¯s voice sounded in his car.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, your father has rescued Ms. Sadler.¡±


    Light glinted off the ck studs in Joshua¡¯s ears as his lips curled <b>into </b>a cold smile.


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m going back to preparing what you want.¡±


    Without another word, he turned and strode out of the Golden Castle.


    Burke walked over to Dexter.


    ¡°Mr. Smert, do you think he¡¯ll really prepare?¡±


    Dexter smiled <b>and </b><b>said</b>, ¡°He signed the contracts. Once I release it, the entire Garcia Group <b>will </b>be ensnared. Whether he prepares or not, he¡¯ll have no choice

 Tricked 173

    Ten minutester, Golden Castle was raided by arge number of local police.


    Joshua stood on the periphery, watching the smoke and mes of battle within.


    The innocent residents had already been dispersed.


    The driver asked Joshua.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, about that contract¡­¡±


    Joshua twirled the pen between his fingers.


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    Dexter had prepared a pen specifically for signing the contract, but when he signed, he switched to a pen contained thermosensitive ink.


    Once heated, the writing would vanish permanently. And now the Golden Castle was engulfed in mes.


    ¡°It¡¯s all right. Keep searching for that thing. This time, Dexter won¡¯t be able to escape.¡±


    The driver nodded.


    that


    Seeing the local police gain the upper hand, Joshua turned away, got in his <b>car</b><b>, </b>and immediately called Aaron.


    At the hospital, Aaron and Eliza were waiting for Xylia, <b>who </b>was currently receiving diagnosis and treatment. from Cyrus.


    ¡°Rest assured, she¡¯s safe now,¡± Cyrus said.


    Their arrival in Norhill had been a coincidence.


    Eliza came to Norhill at a friend¡¯s invitation, intending to visit Xylia.


    Upon arriving at Xylic Studio, they saw Xylia get into a car without license tes. Sensing something was off, they followed.


    Fortunately, Aaron had served in the military during his youth, which gave him a certain aptitude for bomb disposal.


    The device strapped to Xylia was crude, clearly meant to intimidate rather than kill.


    When they found Xylia <b>behind </b>the ruined wall, she was struggling to free herself from the wire.


    Even with this exnation, Joshua remained uneasy. He longed to return to Norhill at once.


    ¡°How are things going on your end?¡± Aaron asked.


    8:20 Thu, Sep 18


    ¡°Rtively smoothly<b>,</b>¡± Joshua replied, then informed him about Dexter¡¯s situation.


    Silence fell for a moment before Aaron spoke again.


    ¡°Remember to tell Noelle about Dexter¡¯s death.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s tone grew cold. ¡°You can go tell her.¡±


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    ¡°No,¡± Aaron <b>said </b>firmly. ¡°Her brother died protecting you. You must be the one to exin this matter.


    Joshua was silent for a long while. Finally, he muttered, ¡°Understood.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Joshua hurried back to the capital of Kregonia.


    He would resolve the matters here as quickly as possible and hurry back.


    Xylia was generally fine; her wrists and ankles were bound by steel wire ropes and needed to be checked again.


    While awaiting the results, Eliza held Xylia¡¯s hand <b>and</b>, for a while, expressed concern for her well¨Cbeing-


    ¡°Xylia, do you feel any difort? You¡¯re exposed to wind and rain, so you should guard against a cold. Did the doctor prescribe any cold medication<b>?</b>¡±


    Xylia had met Eliza before.


    Previously, when Connor asked her to impersonate the Garcia family¡¯s daughter, Eliza was just as gentle,


    Now that she knows Eliza was Joshua¡¯s mother, her feelings have changed once more..


    She appeared somewhat uneasy.


    I¡¯m fine now. My brother prescribed me some medication, and I will take it shortly. Thank you for saving me today.¡±


    ¡°Silly child, why thank me? This is what we should do.¡±


    As Eliza spoke, she let out a sigh.


    ¡°Fortunately, you are unharmed. If anything had happened to you, how could we face my son?¡±


    Leon, standing nearby, was ovee by intense lingering fear.


    If he had gone to pick up Xylia earlier, she would not have had to endure such hardship.


    In recent days, he and his brothers had never left Xylia¡¯s side, yet even their hidden guards failed to prevent. her abduction.


    It was only after the car Xylia had been gone for a long time that they started to chase after it


    Fortunately, Xylia was safe.


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    Leon said to Xylia, ¡°Xylia, remember, whenever we say we¡¯ll pick you up, we¡¯ll alwayse in person. Even if we can¡¯t make it, we¡¯ll call you ourselves. Never go with strangers again<b>. </b>


    His words sounded almost paternal.


    Nylia¡¯s ears burned.


    Why does this statement sound as though it is instructing a child?¡® she thought.


    She simply never imagined that an adult like herself could be kidnapped in broad daylight.


    Cyrus came over, carrying the report results.


    ¡°Fortunately, Xylia is fine; otherwise, <b>you¡¯d </b>be in for family punishment!¡±


    Cyrus cast a sidelong nce at Leon. Aware of his own mistake, Leon offered no rebuttal.


    Xylia quickly said, ¡°Cyrus, don¡¯t me Leon. I was the one who trusted the wrong person.¡±


    <i>¡°</i>Xylia, you don¡¯t need to speak on his behalf. If he had been on time, no one would have had the chance.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough, Cyrus ced the medication he had brought from the pharmacy on the table and said to Xylia, ¡°You¡¯ve only recently undergone surgery. You must be especially careful during your recovery. Fortunately, there were noplications this time; otherwise, your wound could have resulted in a lifelong condition.¡±


    Xylia flexed her hands and feet.


    There was slight pain, but it was manageable.


    ¡°I will,¡± Xylia replied softly.


    Cyrus handed the cold medicine to Xylia and said, ¡°Take some cold medicine as a precaution.¡±


    Xylia obediently swallowed it.


    Soon after, Kaden arrived, checked on her, then stepped out <b>with </b>Aaron.


    Eliza remained by her side until Xylia¡¯s phone rang.


    Joshua¡¯s name shed on the screen.


    Cyrus saw and, with a cold expression, shifted his


    Xylia subconsciously nced at Eliza.


    <b>gaze</b>.


    ¡°Is <b>that </b>Joshua calling? Answer it quickly; he¡¯s really worried about you.¡±


    Eliza gazed intently at Xylia.


    56 vouchers:


    Cyrus said, ¡°Mrs. <b>Garcia</b>, thank you for saving my sister today. Would you like to step outside <b>and </b>talk?¡±


    Eliza felt that the Sadler brothers were all tough to deal with and seemed quite displeased by their


    appearance.


    She raised her eyebrows; her son obviously hadn¡¯t managed to win over these brothers¨Cinw.


    ¡°Okay,¡± She stood up and spoke softly to Xylia. ¡°Have a good chat,


    The teasing tone caused Xylia¡¯s face to flush slightly.


    Only Xylia and Leon remained in the hospital ward.


    Xylia answered Joshua¡¯s call.


    Joshua¡¯s first words were heavy with guilt. T¡¯m sorry. This happened because of me.¡±


    Xylia was puzzled.


    ¡°Why do you say that?¡±


    ¡°Someone is targeting me. You were dragged in<b>.¡± </b>


    Xylia frowned and asked, ¡°So, are you all right<b>?</b>¡±


    She had suspected his sudden trip to Kregonia wasn¡¯t simple. She¡¯d even overheard Kaden mention the Garcia family¡¯s many enemies.


    Thinking of how Joshuay on the ground overseas, his whole body covered in blood.


    Her heart was in her throat.


    ¡°I am fine. I¡¯lle back in a few days.¡±


    ¡°A few <b>days</b>?¡±


    Xylia was confused. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to Kregonia for two months?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re hurt. How could I possibly feel at ease here? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take care of everything in the next couple of days. Just focus on getting better.¡±


    They spoke only briefly before he hung up, clearly pressed for time. He had only wanted to confirm her safety.


    Xylia <b>nced </b>at Leon, who was seated on the adjacent sofa, and beckoned to <b>him</b><b>. </b>


    Leon sat down beside the hospital bed.


    ¡°Leon, I feel like all of <b>you </b>are hiding something from me. Can you tell me about it?¡±


    Xylia looked at him pleadingly.


    8:20 Thu, Sep 18 N


    55 vouchers


    Leon was silent for a long time before finally saying. ¡°Xylia, in fact, all four of us brothers do not wish for you to be with Joshua.¡±


    Xylia was actually surprised that Leon was so direct.


    She waited quietly, heart heavy, for him to continue.


    Chapter 1/4

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    Leon said to Xylia. ¡°The Garcia family has made many enemies, <b>and </b>now Joshua is being targeted both <b>openly </b>and covertly by various factions. He is a very dangerous man.¡±


    While all the members of the Garcia family were called away by the two older brothers, Leon patiently tried to persuade her.


    ¡°Actually, I know you just escaped from a marriage and don¡¯t have time to think about dating right now, so don¡¯t waste another thought on Joshua.¡±


    Xylia looked at Leon in silence.


    Her eyes remained unperturbed, and it was impossible to tell whether Leon¡¯s words had reached her.


    Leon waited for Xylia¡¯s response, but instead of responding directly, she suddenly asked, ¡°How are things between you <b>and </b>Mia?¡±


    Since the dating show began airing, Leon had tried to get close to Mia both openly and subtly within the


    program.


    Fans who once used Mia of throwing herself at him had gone quiet after realizing it was Leon doing the chasing. Many who had mocked her were forced to eat their words.


    At first, <b>fans </b>thought it was all hype. ¡®How could Leon possibly be interested in someone like <b>Mia</b><b>?</b>¡±


    As a result, during the game, Leon was the team¡¯s weak link, while Mia demonstrated intelligence and skill, winning over the audience.


    While fans were bashing Mia, they even admitted, though grudgingly, that the two were well¨Cmatched.


    This made many people feel that there was something wrong with their mental health.


    Didn¡¯t know what he was thinking, Leon¡¯s cheeks flushed.


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ okay.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    At the mention of Mia, Leon¡¯s thoughts leapt.


    He forgot about persuading Xylia and responded to her remarks, following her lead in the conversation.


    ¡°Recently, Mia hasn¡¯t been avoiding me as much. That¡¯s progress. I¡¯m sure with persistence, I¡¯ll win her heart!¡±


    When Leon spoke of <b>Mia</b>, his eyes blossomed with love.


    It seemed as if he was already in a romantic rtionship with Mia.


    Xylia didn¡¯t tease Leon in her usual gossipy way.


    She discouraged Leon for the first time.


    ¡°To be honest, Leon, you don¡¯t deserve Mia¡±


    Leon was immediately displeased and looked at Xylia with furrowed brows.


    565 vouchers,


    ¡°You can¡¯t turn around and criticize me just because I criticized the matter between you and Joshua.¡±


    Nylia shook her head. ¡°I am telling the truth.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± His temper rose.


    Xylia said, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry. In my opinion, Mia is both attractive and intelligent. Her career may not be at its peak now, but one day she¡¯ll be <b>an </b><b>A</b>¨Clist star or even more.¡±


    Leon was not angered by these words; instead, he sat leaning against the edge of the hospital bed and spoke with some pride..


    ¡°You are correct; Mia does indeed possess this capability.¡±


    She was beautiful and a talented actress. Although she was subjected to harsh criticism at the beginning of this reality dating show, verbal abuse gradually faded thanks to his utmost cooperation.


    Although the fans were crazy, he knew that most of his fans were rational.


    If they saw someone like Mia, who was both intelligent and highlypetent professionally, they wouldn¡¯t keep targeting her.


    The recent shift in online public opinion regarding Mia over the past few days serves as evidence of this point.


    Xylia continued, ¡°But, Leon, just look at yourself. You are the young master of the Sadler family and a Best Actor; your status alone makes you the ideal partner for countless women. If Mia knew this, she would certainly avoid you as much as possible for the sake of her career.


    ¡°Besides, your performance on the dating show wasn¡¯t particrly good. You came across <b>as </b>a bit clueless. Mia is a wise person, so she might not necessarily be into someone like you.


    ¡°Not long ago, you were involved in rumors with another celebrity. Before this, your image was always clean, without any scandals. Mia probably thinks you have someone you like, but since you also went on a dating show, maybe she thinks you¡¯re fickle.¡±


    With each sentence Xylia spoke, Leon¡¯s expression grew a shade dimmer.


    When the recent rumors were mentioned, Leon became visibly anxious.


    ¡°I spread that rumor just to¡­


    To suppress the trending search about Xylia¡¯s hit¨C<b>and</b>¨Crun incident at that time.


    Yet, when confronted with Xylia¡¯s puzzled gaze, Leon remained silent.


    <b>8:20 </b>Thu, Sep 18 N


    2018


    ¡°Better not to add pressure on her, he thought.


    ¡°What?¡± Xylia inquired.


    Leon decided to shift the me to his agent..


    ¡°To do Ste a <b>favor</b>!¡±


    ÁãˆF


    55 vouchers


    ¡°However, as far as I know, that celebrity is an up¨Canding young actress, while you are a Best Actor. Why would Ste ask you to mentor someone so unknown?¡±


    Leon said, ¡°That girl is from ourpany.¡±


    <b>Xylia </b>understood,


    Amon trick in the entertainment industry¨Cusing prominent figures to boost lesser¨Cknown ones.


    Leon looked <b>at </b>Xylia. ¡°You¡¯re not just mocking me, are you? Do you want me to give up on Mia?¡±


    Xylia nodded honestly. <b>¡°</b>Yes.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Leon refused without a moment¡¯s hesitation.


    Xylia continued, ¡°What if Kaden says the <b>same</b>?¡±


    Kaden was the head of the Sadler family. The three younger brothers rarely dared to defy his words.


    ¡°No way! Why should anyone else decide whether I go after the person I like? If I want to chase her, I willl¡±


    Xylia leaned against the headboard, looking at Leon in silence.


    After a long while, Leon finally waved his hand,


    ¡°Never mind. I won¡¯t get involved in the matter between you and Joshua anymore. Just pretend I didn¡¯t say anything carlier.¡±


    Leon <b>wasn¡¯t </b>foolish. He knew that Xylia wanted him to know her feelings were hers alone, not something for others to interfere with.


    Whether it <b>was </b>suitable or whether she liked it was a personal matter for her.


    Xylia fiddled with her fingers, quiet and thoughtful.


    Leon felt heaviness in his heart upon seeing her behave this way.


    ¡°You and Joshua¡­ you¡¯re not really in a rtionship, are you? Do you really like <b>him</b>?¡±


    Xylia replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    She only knew that she felt a bit more at ease when she was with Joshua.


    8:21 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Leon, sensing her reluctance, let the <b>matter </b>drop.


    Aaron and Eliza settled in Norhill.


    Nylia had also been discharged from the hospital.


    55 Vouchers


    Eliza¡¯s enthusiasm for Nylia was as radiant as the summer sun, and she wished she could envelop Xylia in it every day.


    Knowing that Nylia has been bored recently, she took Xylia to attend a jewelry design exhibition.


    As a designer. Xylia had also done some research on jewelry design.


    However, her knowledge was modestpared to Eliza¡¯s.


    The exhibition was held in a high¨Cend convention and exhibition center, where a <b>gigantic </b>oval disy tform upied the center. This tform showcased this year¡¯s award¨Cwinning jewelry designs.


    ¡°This year¡¯s champion is a genius,¡± Eliza exined to Xylia. The crown disyed at the booth is her design.¡±


    When this topic was brought up, Eliza unexpectedly disyed a hint of pride.


    Xylia looked at Eliza. ¡°Do you know this genius<b>?</b>¡±


    Eliza nodded slightly. ¡°Not only do I know her. She¡¯s part of my family.¡±

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    :


    <b>89 </b>


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    Part of their family? Joshua never mentioned that there was a design genius in his family, Xylia thought.


    Eliza looked at Xylia with a smile.


    ¡°You¡¯ll get to knowter.¡±


    Xylia also didn¡¯t continue to ask.


    Today, she had chosen not to use her wheelchair. A little walking was good for her recovery, though she couldn¡¯t stand for long.


    After a short stroll, Eliza guided her to a seat nearby.


    ¡°Xylia, sit here for a moment. I just spotted an acquaintance and wanted to say hello. I¡¯ll be right back.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Xylia replied softly


    Once Eliza left, Xylia rubbed her ankle, her gaze drifting toward the crown disyed on the stand.


    To be honest, she preferred the jewelry beside it¨Ca set of pearl hair essories.


    Intricately woven from smooth and delicate pearls throughplex craftsmanship, blending romantic style with traditional aesthetics to create a look that was both unique and refined.


    The sharp click of heels interrupted her thoughts.


    Xylia saw a tall, beautiful woman walk up to the disy booth. She took out her camera and took several photos of the crown.


    Then she walked to a spot not far away, in front of Eliza.


    After a brief greeting, Eliza delightedly embraced her.


    ¡°Noelle, when did you get back? Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡±


    Noelle smiled warmly and said, ¡°Thepetition ended early, so I returned ahead of schedule. Yesterday, Joshua messaged me. He said he wanted to talk.¡±


    At that, a faint blush spread across her cheeks.


    Joshua unexpectedly took the initiative to message her, which made her so excited that she immediately purchased a ne ticket and came back early.


    Eliza¡¯s heart ached at the sight of her excitement, but she quickly masked it.


    ¡°Come, Noelle. There¡¯s someone I want you to meet.¡±


    Eliza, holding Noelle, walked up to Xylia.


    8:21 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Xylia rose politely as they approached.


    :


    Eliza, holding Xylia¡¯s hand, introduced her to Noelle, saying, ¡°Noelle, this is Xylia Sadler.¡±


    She then teased, ¡°Maybe she¡¯ll soon be your sister¨Cinw.¡±


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    Noelle¡¯s expression changed; the smile at the corner of her lips froze, then she pressed her lips into a straight line.


    Her gaze toward Xylia carried a sh of hostility, though she quickly smothered it and forced a smile.


    She smiled and greeted Xylia, saying, ¡°Hello, Ms. Sadler. My name is Noelle Coffey, Joshua¡¯s younger sister.¡±


    Xylia was taken aback by Eliza¡¯s teasing remark. Though she felt ufortable, she didn¡¯t exin herself.


    She shook Noelle¡¯s outstretched hand. ¡°Hello.¡±


    Eliza immediately continued the conversation, gesturing toward the crown at the exhibition booth as she introduced it to Xylia.


    ¡°The jewelry designer genius I just mentioned is Noelle.¡°¡±


    Noelle gave a gentle smile and, holding Eliza¡¯s arm, acted coquettishly towards her.


    ¡°I am not as aplished as you. You are truly a leading figure in the field of jewelry design.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been out of the scene for years, now it¡¯s just a hobby for me. Your talent is even greater than mine was when I was your age.¡±


    Their close bond was obvious, leaving Xylia on the sidelines. Only after their exchange ended did she interject with a polite smile.


    ¡°Ms. Coffey, winning such a prestigious award at your age is truly impressive.¡±


    Noelle¡¯s smile faded when she faced Xylia.


    ¡°Thank you for yourpliment, Miss Sadler.¡±


    Noelle¡¯s attitude toward Xylia was not enthusiastic. Compared to her warmth toward Eliza, her attitude toward Xylia was noticeably cold.


    Xylia sensed that Noelle didn¡¯t like her.


    She searched her memory and confirmed that she had neither met Noelle nor offended her before.


    ¡®Perhaps it¡¯s simply a sh of temperament,¡® she thought.


    Not long after, Noelle tugged Eliza¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Let¡¯s go out for dinner. You have to keep mepany.¡±


    Eliza spoiled her, and she agreed at once.


    8:21 Thu, Sep <b>18 </b><b>W </b>


    Noelle looked at Xylia.


    ¡°Are you going to join us?¡±


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    Although she was soliciting Xylia¡¯s opinion, her tone was distinctly cold, as if she hoped Xylia would refuse.


    Xylia had no intention of forcing herself where she wasn¡¯t wee. She smiled faintly. ¡°No, thank you. You two go ahead.¡±


    ¡°No way!¡± Eliza objected immediately. ¡°I was the one who brought you out. I won¡¯t leave you behind. Come with us. It¡¯ll just be the three of us girls.¡±


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Mrs. Garcia. I¡¯m a bit tired and want to go back and rest. I¡¯ll take a taxi and leave in a while, so you go ahead.¡±


    Eliza considered her injuries to the hands and feet and understood that she could notpel her to go along.


    ¡°At least let the driver take you home. I¡¯m notfortable letting you take a taxi by yourself.¡±


    Xylia considered for a moment and agreed.


    She got into the car driven by the Garcia family¡¯s driver and headed in the direction of the Sadler Mansion.


    She couldn¡¯t help but recall how Joshua had once disguised himself as the family¡¯s driver. The memory made her smile.


    Had he revealed his true identity earlier, she might never have epted his help.


    ¡®Help. That word lingered in her mind. ¡®Was her feeling for Joshua merely gratitude or dependence?¡®


    *****


    At a restaurant, Eliza and Noelle sat facing each other.


    Eliza studied her closely, recalling the hostility Noelle had shown toward Xylia at the exhibition.


    She was aware that Noelle had always harbored feelings for Joshua. But love couldn¡¯t be forced.


    The woman Joshua had longed for all these years was Xylia, not Noelle.


    Moreover, Joshua was stubborn by nature; once he had made up his mind about someone, he rarely changed it.


    She had repeatedly tried to persuade Noelle, both openly and discreetly, but unfortunately, Noelle stubbornly insisted on going her own way.


    With Joshua¡¯s marriage approaching, she decided it was time for an honest talk. After all, she still cherished Noelle as a daughter.


    ¡°Noelle, how long will you be staying this time? When you have time, let¡¯s formally register your information under the Garcia family. That way, you¡¯ll officially be our daughter, and no one will dare to bully you in the


    8:21 Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


    future.¡±


    Noelle paused while cutting the steak.


    Eliza meant formally adopting her, and she would be Joshua¡¯s legal sister.


    That meant there could never be anything between her and Joshua.


    Herplexion looked slightly unwell, and she remained silent, offering no response to Eliza.


    Upon witnessing the situation, Eliza felt a pang of sympathy.


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    ¡°Noelle, Joshua has devoted his heart to a woman all these years. You know this. Feelings cannot be forced.¡±


    ¡°Is it Xylia?¡±


    Noelle finally spoke. She raised her head expressionlessly.


    Eliza met her dark, steady gaze and gave a small nod.


    ¡°I¡¯ve met her before. She used to be Connor¡¯s wife. This¡¯ll be her second marriage. Do you and my uncle not mind?¡±


    Eliza frowned. ¡°Noelle, what do you mean by this?¡±


    ¡°Women who remarry are looked down upon. Do you truly think she¡¯s worthy of Joshua?¡±


    Eliza¡¯s expression darkened, and her tone became serious.


    ¡°Should a woman¡¯s worth be measured by marriage? Noelle, when did you begin to embrace such shallow, worldly views?¡±

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    After Eliza delivered a stern admonition, Noelle lowered her head and did not dare to speak.


    Eliza also softened his expression and, with affection, pulled Noelle¡¯s hand over and held it in his own.


    ¡°Noelle, I understand that this is not what you mean. But so many years have passed. You can¡¯t remain fixated on Joshua alone. There are many good men out there. Once your household registration is transferred to our family, I will help you find a suitable match, all right?¡±


    No!


    There were many good men out there, but there was no one like Joshua.


    She had liked Joshua for a long time.


    He was good¨Clooking and came from a distinguished family. Though he is unruly and unrestrained, he upheld his own values and sense of right and wrong.


    Noelle insisted that Joshua was the only man she must marry in this lifetime.


    However, she couldn¡¯t have a falling out with Eliza at this time.


    She forced a faint smile.


    ¡°I understand, Mrs. Garcia. However, regarding the household registration, I still hope it remains with our family. I don¡¯t want to sever thest bond with Joshua.¡±


    After hearing this, Eliza also realized that she was not qualified to force Noelle to abandon the Coffey family.


    As long as Noelle coulde to terms with it, everything would be fine.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Even if your household registration isn¡¯t transferred here, you will always be the only daughter of the Garcia family.¡±


    Noelle nodded sweetly.


    Eliza thought that she hade to terms with it and was overjoyed.


    As long as Eliza and Joshua could get along, she would be at ease.


    ¡°By the way, Mrs. Garcia, Garcia Group¡¯s Norhill branch is seeking designers. May I apply for the position?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Why wouldn¡¯t you be able to work at your ownpany? Besides, you just won an award and are now a highly sought¨Cafter designer. With you on board, it¡¯ll take thepany to a whole new level.¡±


    Noelle smiled and said, ¡°Then I will submit my resume when I go back tonight.¡±


    ¡°Why bother submitting more resumes? I¡¯ll talk to your uncle when I get back and get it done.¡±


    LL


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    ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Garcia.¡±


    Noelle did not refuse.


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    She had long heard that Joshua would be overseeing the Norhill branch. As she entered Garcia Group this time, she knew she must seize the initiative and make Joshua recognize that she alone was qualified to stand by his side.


    And that so¨Ccalled Xylia, a remarried woman who was once a housewife, is in no way worthy of him!


    *****


    Joshua returned to Norhill on the afternoon of the following day.


    He rushed to Xylic Studio immediately after getting off the ne.


    Upon arrival at the location, it began to drizzle.


    During her recovery period, Xylia observed Sheryl Carson and Leroy drafting design sketches, and felt a strong urge to participate herself.


    She was holding a pen and making a few casual strokes in her own office.


    Just then, Josie led Joshua and knocked on the office door.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, your proprietress is back.¡±


    Josie made a teasing remark with a beaming smile.


    Xylia looked up and saw Joshua. As she recalled Josie¡¯s words, a blush rose to her cheeks.


    Seemingly afraid that Xylia would reprimand her, Josie left immediately after saying this.


    Xylia felt a surge of frustration and vowed to give Josie a proper lesson.


    Joshua raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Proprietress?¡±


    He spoke as he walked toward Xylia, one hand in his pocket and the other draping a suit jacket, his stride marked by an unruly confidence.


    After more than a month apart, he appeared noticeably thinner. Faint dark circles lingered beneath his indicating inadequate rest.


    Yet the corners of his beautiful eyes lifted, his eyes deep as pools filled with a rich smile, showing not the slightest trace of fatigue.


    ¡°Josie just loves to fabricating stories. Don¡¯t listen to her.¡±


    Joshua was not satisfied with this answer.


    eyes<b>, </b>


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    8:22 Thu, Sep 18 N


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    He gave a slight twist to his lips, casually draped his suit jacket over Xylia¡¯s desk, then strode forward to stand before her.


    The paintbrush in Xylia¡¯s hand was snatched away.


    She instinctively tried to snatch it back. As she began to lift herself up, Joshua¡¯s body suddenly pressed down.


    He ced his hands on the sides of her chair and leaned over her, half his body pressing down, prompting her to instinctively lean back.


    Her back rested against the chair.


    The distance between them was but a breath.


    She could distinctly smell the fresh scent on Joshua¡¯s body.


    Her cheeks were slightly flushed.


    Joshua watched her face closely, grabbed her bandaged wrist to examine it and then leaned close to touch her forehead.


    Afterpleting the sequence of movements, Xylia did not have time to react.


    However, Joshua withdrew his hand first and said with a smile.


    ¡°You¡¯ve taken good care of herself.¡±


    A searing heat rushed to Xylia¡¯s ears, making them feel scorching hot.


    She raised her hand and pushed Joshua away. ¡°Stay away from me.¡±


    Joshua suddenly seized her wrist. Instead of stepping back, he leaned in close, their breaths mingling, separated by no more than the width of a fist.


    Xylia felt a chill run down her spine.


    ¡°It¡¯s been so long since west met. Don¡¯t you miss me?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I send a message?¡±


    She yfully dodged his question and answered in an almost inaudible voice.


    Joshua was not satisfied with this answer.


    He asked, ¡°I said I woulde to you for an answer when I returned. Have you made up your mind?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s fingernails trembled slightly, and her cold fingertips were instantly grasped in Joshua¡¯s palm.


    Confronted with such a forceful attack from Joshua, she was nearly defeated.


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    8:22 Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


    She actually had not yet made a decision.


    :


    However, she could sense that she did not feel any aversion toward Joshua.


    Joshua wasn¡¯t in a hurry and waited with considerable patience for her response.


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    Xylia¡¯s heart beat much faster than usual. Her eyshes trembled slightly as she tilted her head and looked at Joshua¡¯s face of heartbreaking beauty.


    In fact, his face alone is sufficient to win her heart.


    She opened her lips and said, ¡°We can give it a try. If we ultimately found that we weren¡¯t a good fit, then¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, Joshua kissed her, silencing all the words she was about to say.


    Xylia¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, and she stood frozen in ce.


    Joshua simply brushed her lips lightly before quickly pulling away.


    Standing so close, Xylia could see his beautiful eyes, like a spring filled with flowers, radiating a happiness that words could not capture.


    ¡°We¡¯ll definitely be a great fit.¡±


    His deep, maic voice seemed to tremble, imbued with lingering gentleness and unwavering resolve.


    Xylia¡¯s ears flushed once again.


    She realized and immediately pushed Joshua away.


    ¡°Who said you could kiss me?¡±


    Joshua straightened up, squatted beside Xylia, and looked up slightly at her eyes.


    His face once again took on a roguish expression, with a pronounced smile at the corner of his lips.


    He held her hand and, brimming with pride, dered, ¡°Just because I¡¯m now the official proprietress of Xylic Studio.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help butugh at his unexpected disy of pride.


    The rain outside the window grew heavier, pounding on the windowpane, making a ttering noise that was really annoying.


    Joshua clicked his tongue.


    ¡°It¡¯s raining on such a beautiful day. What a shame if we don¡¯t go on a date.¡±


    Xylia eximed in surprise, ¡°A date?¡±


    ¡®Is it that urgent?¡® she thought.


    8:22 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Joshua suddenly lifted her up in his arms.


    :


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    Xylia let out a startled cry, wrapped both arms around his neck, and awkwardly patted his shoulder.


    ¡°Put me down!¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t let go. If you go to dinner with me, I¡¯ll forgive you for not picking me up at the airport.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Xylia blinked, totally lost.


    I¡¯m already like this, and he wants me to go to the airport to pick him up?¡® she wondered.


    Joshua¡¯s breath suddenly brushed her ear.


    ¡°I have awaited this day for a very long time.¡±


    4.45 <b>u</b><b>, </b>Sep 18

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    Xylia was carried all the way to the car by Joshua.


    :


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    Josie and Sheryl looked at her with mischievous smiles, both shamelessly cupping their hands in front of their chests to tease her from afar.


    Xylia was overwhelmed by shame and anger, yearning tond a punch on the culprit holding her with one punch.


    After getting into the car, Xylia turned her head and looked at Joshua with a serious expression.


    ¡°You are not permitted to behave like this in front of others again.¡±


    ¡°Otherwise?¡±


    Joshua feigned confusion and said, ¡°I just carried you down. Wasn¡¯t your foot injured?¡±


    ¡°My foot injury is no longer a problem. I can walk a little now.¡±


    Xylia looked at Joshua¡¯s innocent expression and realized that it was impossible to exin this to him.


    She said, ¡°They always joke about my rtionship with you. Aren¡¯t you just handing them gossip?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s dark eyes were deep as he moved around the central console and leaned toward Xylia.


    Xylia instinctively stepped back defensively.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Joshua reached out with his long arm, pulled her seatbelt over, and fastened it for her. Then, cing hisrge hand on the back of her head, he leaned in and kissed the corner of her lips.


    He said, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, our rtionship is set in stone now. You are now my girlfriend, so no matter how much they gossip, there is nothing left for them to specte about.¡±


    Xylia suddenly realized.


    That made sense. They had already confirmed their rtionship, so it didn¡¯t really count as gossip anymore.


    However, she did not want to appear inferior in front of Joshua. She pushed his head, making him return to his seat.


    ¡°Why are you always kissing me?¡±


    Her delicate, unintentional shyness made Joshua¡¯s heart swell, and his smile grew even brighter.


    He took Xylia¡¯s hand, as if to release the emotions he had suppressed for years.


    ¡°Please understand, I have waited a long time for this day.¡±


    <b>8:22 </b><b>Thu</b>, <b>Sep </b><b>18 </b><b>N </b>


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    Xylia¡¯splexion flushed faintly.


    Although she had previously considered Joshua to be assertive, she had not thought of him as thick¨Cskinned.


    Joshua took her to a Datonese restaurant with an ancient charm.


    It was simr to Caperson Bistro in Jupiton.


    However,pared to Caperson Bistro, this location is more refined and tranquil.


    ¡°Is this restaurant also under Garcia Group?¡±


    The two entered hand in hand, and the waiter guided them to their reserved seat.


    Joshua was originally thinking about Xylia¡¯s injury and intended to carry her inside when getting out of the


    car.


    He was forcefully stopped by Xylia.


    She was easily embarrassed and did not wish to be the center of attention in public.


    Joshua did not insist.


    He was in an exceptionally good mood today.


    After hanging up several concerned calls from Eliza, the phone was set to silent mode.


    No one should even think about disturbing him today.


    Joshua reserved a private room well in advance. The room is located at an excellent spot on the top floor.


    Norhill was aze with lights at night.


    The Sylverian River, flowing through Norhill, was illuminated by neon lights from both banks. The reflected glow brightened its shores even further.


    The table was ced by the window. On the square dining table sat fresh and beautiful roses.


    The music in the private room was a popr light tune, with soft notes dancing in the air and creating a romantic atmosphere between the two lovers.


    Joshua handed the menu to Xylia.


    ¡°See what you¡¯d like to eat.¡±


    Recently, Xylia¡¯s four brothers imposed dietary restrictions on her. Although there were many foods she was allowed to eat, spicy and strongly vored dishes were prohibited.


    She had a bit of a craving for food.


    He ordered several spicy dishes and several meat dishes, then handed the menu back to Joshua.


    <b>8:22 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>18 N


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    Joshua reviewed the dishes she had ordered, then added several pte¨Ccleansing side dishes and broth. Finally, he selected dessert and fruit before handing the menu to the waiter.


    ¡°It¡¯s only been a month since west met, and your taste¡¯s already changed?¡±


    Xylia let out a sigh. ¡°After my surgery, my brothers have been supervising my diet. It is either bone broth or medicinal meals. Only asionally do they allow me to eat something with a stronger vor. I find myself craving such tastes.¡±


    Joshua smiled.


    ¡°I am not a specialist, but I consulted Professor Weiss regarding your surgery. Aside from foods believed to exacerbate certain conditions, there are no specific dietary restrictions.¡±


    ¡°Yes. But my brothers are making a big deal out of nothing.¡±.


    At times, Xylia felt that her four older brothers were excessively protective of her.


    Regarding dietary restrictions, Cyrus, as a physician, knew exactly what she could and couldn¡¯t eat.


    Nevertheless, he exaggeratedly warned her not to consume excessive amounts of spicy or strongly vored foods, cautioning her to be mindful of the risk of wound inmmation.


    The corners of Joshua¡¯s lips curved slightly.


    ¡°From now on, when I take you out to dine, you may order anything you wish.¡±


    He seized every opportunity to ingratiate himself.


    Xylia was clearly receptive to this approach.


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    She didn¡¯t want to eat medicinal meals or things like that anymore.


    Joshua got what he wanted and was feeling very pleased.


    Although they had just confirmed their rtionship, it seemed that the atmosphere between them hadn¡¯t changed much even after that.


    Whenever they were together, they had endless topics to talk about.


    When Xylia was with Joshua, she felt naturally rxed and spoke without needing to think.


    Their interaction pattern back then was the same as it had been before.


    ¡°By the way, did you resolve the matter during your trip to Kregonia?¡±


    Joshua picked up a piece of boneless fish and handed it to Xylia. ¡°It¡¯s all taken care of. You won¡¯t have to worry about it anymore.¡±


    <b>8:22 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>18 N


    Xylia recalled the circumstances abroad in the past.


    She finally asked, ¡°When we first met, you were so badly injured. Who did that to you?¡±


    Joshua paused in his actions, yet did not conceal anything.


    ¡°I was attacked by an adversary, but this adversary has already been dealt with. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    He did not say who it was.


    He thought Xylia shouldn¡¯te into contact with these bloody and brutal stuff.


    Seeing he didn¡¯t want to talk, Xylia didn¡¯t ask anymore.


    After finishing the meal, it was gettingte.


    Phone calls from her brothers arrived one after another.


    First was Hudson¡¯s.


    He asked where Xylia was, as he intended to pick her up and take her home for dinner.


    Xylia told Hudson very honestly that she had already eaten.


    Hudson asked her who she had had the meal with.


    Xylia said it was Joshua.


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    Hudson remained silent for a moment, then asked Xylia to provide her address so that he could pick her up.


    Joshua took Xylia¡¯s phone and spoke to Hudson.


    ¡°Hudson, you need not trouble yourself. I will escort Xylia back.¡±


    Hudson said, ¡°Stop calling me that. I will pick up my sister myself. Tell me the address.¡±


    Xylia frowned, displeased with Hudson¡¯s attitude.


    Joshua acted as if he did not sense Hudson¡¯s hostility and still responded with a pleasant smile.


    ¡°She¡¯s my girlfriend, and I would make sure to get her home safely. I¡¯m hanging up now.¡±


    Xyliaughed aloud.


    Joshua was certainly not someone who could be easily taken advantage of. Hudson was likely to be furious.


    Phone calls from Kaden and Cyrus arrived in quick session.


    Xylia did not answer.


    Instead, a message was sent in the family group chat.


    8:22 Thu, Sep 18 N


    [Xylia: Guys, Joshua will bring me back. Please do not worry.]


    After she sent her message, Kaden and Cyrus no longer made phone calls.


    Only after a while did they post the message ¡®Take care¡® in the group.


    The news about Xylia confirmed what Joshua had said to Hudson.


    They are already boyfriend and girlfriend.


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    Xylia¡¯s proactive admission was her way of telling her four brothers that she made her own decisions about her affairs.


    No one was allowed to intervene.


    After putting away her phone, Xylia said to Joshua, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Take me home.¡±

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    Rain continues to fall.


    She instructed Joshua to drive his car into the Sadler family¡¯s garage.


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    Taking the elevator to the vi¡¯s living room, the four older brothers were still awake, waiting in the living room for someone toe in.


    They did not look very well.


    There was a strong urge to confront and call someone to ount.


    Xylia held Joshua¡¯s hand. Facing her four brothers, she showed no sign of nervousness.


    Needless to say, Joshua¡¯s possessiveness toward Xylia, both overt and covert, was tantly disyed before the four brothers of the Sadler family.


    Now that he has finally gained official recognition, he is even more eager to show off at the first opportunity in front of the four brothers of the Sadler family.


    Look!


    ¡®So what if they are your biological elder brother? Your husband is truly the one who will apany you throughout your life.¡® Joshua thought.


    He was very proud.


    Xylia took Joshua by the hand and led him before her four brothers, her voice gentle yetmanding.


    ¡°Guys, I would like to tell you something.¡±


    She lifted the hand that was joined with Joshua¡¯s and said, ¡°Joshua and I are together now.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s lips curved into a smile. He felt absolutely fantastic.


    Official recognition has finally been granted.


    However, the four brothers did not look well.


    Kaden and Cyrus looked somewhat displeased.


    So did Hudson.


    Only Leon looked as if he had expected it all along. Although his expression was also neutral, he was already considered rtively gentlepared to his three brothers.


    Joshua appeared not to notice the looks on her brothers¡® faces and greeted them with a smile.


    ¡°Hello, guys. From now on, we¡¯re family.¡±


    He was very excited and spoke as if he were provoking others.


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    Xylia shook his hand. When he lowered his head to look at her, she signaled with her eyes for him to be a little more restrained.


    Joshua smiled at her.


    ¡°I¡¯m just being honest.¡±


    Kaden rose abruptly.


    Xylia was startled and instinctively stepped back. Her left foot caught on her right, and she fell backward without noticing.


    She gave a cry of surprise.


    Fortunately, Joshua grabbed her hand and, with his other arm, wrapped it around her waist, stopping her from tumbling backward.


    He turned to look at Kaden, and the smile vanished from his face as his expression became somewhat colder.


    ¡°Kaden, you have frightened Xylia.¡± His voice was cold and indifferent.


    The other three brothers also stood up, looking at Xylia with some concern.


    Cyrus was the first to react. He quickly stepped forward and pulled Xylia out of Joshua¡¯s arms.


    You didn¡¯t twist your foot, did you? Come over and sit down. I¡¯ll take a look at it for you.


    He separated Xylia and Joshua, but not in a particrly deliberate way.


    Xylia knew she was fine, but she could not stop Cyrus from worrying.


    He looked at Joshua.


    Kaden suddenly said to Joshua, ¡°Thank you for bringing my sister home today, Mr. Garcia. It is quitete. Let me escort you to the garage.¡±


    Kaden was driving Joshua away.


    Joshua nced at him, then turned to Cyrus and asked, ¡°Is Xylia¡¯s wound all right?¡±


    Cyrus appeared not to have heard.


    Xylia replied to Joshua, ¡°It¡¯s all right. I didn¡¯t twist my ankle just now. Let me take you downstairs.¡±


    As she attempted to stand, Cyrus pressed her down.


    Cyrus said, ¡°Let Kaden escort him. You need to rest.¡±


    Joshua gave Xylia a reassuring look.


    8:23 Thu, Sep 18 N


    ¡°It¡¯s all right. Let Kaden. Get some rest. I wille to see you tomorrow.¡±


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    Xylia brought him upstairs, intending to rify their rtionship to her brothers so they would stop targeting


    him.


    She didn¡¯t expect it to be still so awkward.


    She was somewhat regretful about bringing Joshua upstairs.


    ¡°Send me a message when you get home.¡±


    Joshua smiled and nodded to her, then, appearing unaffected, bid farewell to her three brothers.


    Only Leon responded to Joshua with a slight nod.


    Cyrus and Hudson both ignored him.


    Xylia felt a pang in her heart, and her face darkened.


    ¡°Kaden,e up quickly. I need to talk to you about something.¡± She said to Kaden.


    Kaden understood that she was worried he might make things difficult for Joshua, and responded with a slight nod.


    After the two entered the elevator and went down, Xylia withdrew her gaze and turned to look at her three brothers.


    She did her best to restrain her emotions. ¡°Guys, being with Joshua is my own decision. You may choose not to support me, but I hope you will give him the respect he deserves.¡±


    Her voice was subtle, yet possessed an intangible power that they could not ignore.


    Cyrus looked <i>at </i>Xylia and asked, ¡°What kind of respect?¡±


    ¡°The most basic courtesy between people.¡±


    For instance, when Joshua spoke, they shouldn¡¯t have ignored him or put him in an awkward position.


    Cyrus frowned. ¡°Xylia, respect is mutual. You got together without the consent of us. You were the first to not respect us.¡±


    Xylia looked up at Cyrus in surprise.


    ¡°Cyrus, I am 29 years old. I am an adult and capable of making my own decisions about whom I date, right?¡±


    Cyrus shook his head.


    ¡°If you were capable of making your own judgments, you would not have been together with Connor and ultimately seen your marriage fail.¡±


    At the mention of Connor, Xylia¡¯s expression abruptly darkened.


    <b>8:23 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>18 </b>N


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    She no longer conceals her emotions.


    ¡°Cyrus, I am grateful for the care and favoritism you all have shown me, but I do not believe you can control the course of my life.


    ¡°During the darkest period of my life, it was Joshua who persistently helped me ovee adversity. He is not only my partner but also my benefactor. If you continue to treat him this way, I will consider myself never having returned to the Sadler family.¡±


    Cyrus¡¯s expression darkened.


    That was taking it too far.


    Xylia rose to her feet and said calmly, ¡°I am tired and need to rest.¡±


    She went upstairs.


    Cyrus was visibly angry, yet he continued to suppress his anger and was unable to take action.


    Hudson was stunned by Xylia¡¯s words and stood frozen in ce, feeling somewhat sad and disappointed.


    ¡°How could Xylia say such things to us just because of a man? She has truly hurt our feelings!<b>¡± </b>


    Leon stood up, his hands in his pockets, and looked rather helplessly in the direction where Xylia had left.


    ¡°Let us be realistic. Had we protected her as she grew up, we might now have the standing to intervene in her life. Unfortunately, we had not.¡±


    Hudson did not agree with what Leon said.


    ¡°No matter what, we¡¯re her biological brothers. It¡¯s impossible that we would harm her, right? So how can we be considered not qualified to be involved in her life decisions?¡±


    ¡°Do not forget, she knew Joshua before she knew any of us.¡± Leon spoke in a subdued tone, as if tinged with


    regret.


    ¡°During the period when she was suffering through her divorce, it was Joshua who apanied and supported her. We were merely bystanders. What gives us the right to interfere with her decisions?¡±


    Having said this, Leon also went upstairs.


    Hudson stopped abruptly in ce.


    After thinking about it, that did seem to make sense.


    Therefore, from the very beginning, Xylia relied on Joshua more than she did on those four.


    She seemed lost in telling apart the close¨Cknit bonds from the distant ones.


    He looked at Cyrus, who stood silently nearby, and asked, ¡°Cyrus, do you think so as well?¡±


    8:23 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Cyrus remained silent for several seconds before speaking.


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    ¡°No matter what, we are now her only blood rtives. Even if she still doesn¡¯t get us, we can¡¯t disregard her safety. Right now, Joshua is still rather risky.¡±


    Underground parking garage.


    Joshua and Kaden stood facing each other.


    Joshua smiled at Kaden and said, ¡°Kaden, if you have something to say, just say it.¡±


    <b>Chapter 179 </b>

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    <b>Chapter 179 </b>


    Kaden looked at Joshua, ¡°Has the matter in Kregonia been resolved?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Joshua said.


    Kaden mentioned the incident involving Xylia¡¯s kidnapping that urred a few days ago.


    ¡°We finally managed to bring our sister back. I can¡¯t let her have any chance of being hurt again.¡±


    Joshua raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°What do you mean, Kaden?¡±


    Every time Joshua called Kaden¡¯s name, Kaden felt a sudden throb between his brows.


    He was provoked to anger.


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that. Also, I do not approve of Xylia being with you.¡±


    Joshua continued to smile, though the smile in his eyes had long since vanished.


    55 vouchers


    ¡°You disapprove of Xylia being with me? Are you trying to dictate Xylia¡¯s life just because of some blood rtionship?¡±


    Kaden said, ¡°It¡¯s not about arranging her life, but about helping her avoid danger. Being by your side is very dangerous. Her kidnappingst time was a wake¨Cup call.¡±


    Joshua indeed experienced lingering fear in retrospect after Xylia was kidnapped.


    He hesitated briefly, but still persisted.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already dealt with those people. This won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    ¡°You think just saying it wouldn¡¯t happen means it really wouldn¡¯t?¡± Kaden¡¯s voice became a bit colder.


    ¡°Although the Garcia family has maintained a low profile for many years, they offended quite a few people in the past. Many of those around you have already been through all sorts of bad luck. You still gonna pull Xylia into this mess right now?¡±


    Joshua fell silent.


    Kaden continued, ¡°She is unaware of theplexities within the Garcia family, but I will not stand by and watch her, who has only just returned, jump into your pit of fire. Mr. Garcia, conduct yourself with restraint. Do not approach her again. This is my warning.¡±


    After Kaden finished speaking, he turned and walked away.


    Joshua clenched his fists tightly, unable to utter a single word in rebuttal.


    <b>8:23 </b><b>Thu</b>, <b>Sep </b>18 <b>N </b>


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    He recalled Nelson, whose vital signs gradually faded amid the smoke and mes of war, and his childhood friend, who was slowly drifting away from him.


    All of a sudden, to his surprise, he felt his resolve begin to waver.


    However, he was not reconciled.


    He has loved Xylia for so many years. There was no way he could abandon her because of something like this..


    He wouldn¡¯t let go. He would eliminate all obstacles.


    He turned around and got into the car, leaving the Sadler Mansion.


    When Kaden returned to the living room, he found that Xylia was no longer there.


    He asked Cyrus, who was beside him, ¡°Where is Xylia?¡±


    ¡®Didn¡¯t she have something to say to me?¡® Kaden wondered.


    Hudson told Kaden everything that had just happened and said a Co. of words in defense of Xylia.


    ¡°She is currently devoted to Joshua, so her remarks inevitably show partiality toward him.¡±


    Kaden shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not partiality.¡±


    He appeared to sigh.


    ¡°Joshua appeared before our Xylia earlier than we did, and the person she relies on more is Joshua, not us.¡±


    Hudson and Cyrus exchanged a nce and remained silent.


    *****


    Joshua was not in a good mood.


    I had intended to go to the racetrack to vent my frustration by racing, but received an urgent call from Eliza.


    She told him to go back, saying that Noelle was waiting for him at home.


    Joshua thought for a bit and realized that Noelle was really a pain in the neck.


    He turned the steering wheel and drove toward Garcia Mansion in Norhill.


    The rain was pouring down hard, but it was gone in a sh.


    When Joshua returned, the rain had nearly stopped.


    He drove the car to the entrance, opened the car door, got out, and entered the house.


    Upon entering the living room, a thin veil of rain vapor enveloped him.


    8:23 Thu, Sep 18 N


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    Eliza, Aaron, and Noelle were sitting in the living room, chatting happily. Nobody knew what they were chatting about.


    When Joshua entered the room, Noelle reacted most strongly.


    When she saw Joshua at the door, she immediately stood up and ran to the door to greet him.


    ¡°Joshua, you¡¯re back.¡±


    She wanted to help Joshua take the coat from his hands.


    But he stepped aside a bit and dodged her outstretched hand.


    ¡°Come here. I have something to tell you.¡±


    Having changed his shoes, Joshua walked around Noelle and headed toward the living room.


    He saw Eliza pulling Aaron to leave and said calmly, ¡°Everyone, sit down. I have to say something.¡±


    Eliza and Aaron exchanged a nce and, after just starting to get up, sat back down.


    Noelle had long been used to Joshua¡¯s indifference and pretended not to see it.


    All she needed was to see Joshua.


    A smile returned to her lips as she followed Joshua back to the living room.


    The long sofa in the living room was upied by Eliza and Aaron, leaving only the short sofa nearby. She moved toward Joshua, so she could naturally end up sitting beside him.


    Unexpectedly, Joshua walked straight to the inconspicuous single sofa and sat down.


    Noelle bit her lower lip and sat down on the short sofa.


    Eliza noticed the rainwater on Joshua¡¯s hair and couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    ¡°Did you not drive the car inside? It¡¯s raining outside. Must you get wet? At your age, why do you still enjoy ying with water?¡±


    Eliza fished out a dry towel from under the coffee table and tossed it to Joshua.


    Joshua ran his hand casually over his hair a couple of times. The silver strands, dampened by rain, clung to his forehead until he brushed them aside. Amid the disarray, an inexplicable, rebellious charm emerged.


    Noelle gazed at Joshua, her eyes filled with longing.


    During this period, she was always finding various excuses to see him.


    But he kept avoiding her all the time.


    She hadn¡¯t seen him for ages.


    <b>8:23 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>18 </b><b>N </b>


    Joshua casually tossed the towel onto the armrest of the armchair, his cold gaze fell on Noelle.


    Noelle¡¯s heart raced.


    ¡°First, Dexter is dead. Your brother¡¯s death has been avenged.¡±


    *


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    His voice was cold and detached. Upon hearing it, Noelle¡¯s heart trembled, and the smile at the corner of her lips faded abruptly.


    Her brother¡¯s death has finally been avenged.


    It was supposed to be a happy thing, but faint traces of worry arose in her heart.


    ¡®Now that my brother¡¯s revenge has been fulfilled, is my connection with the Garcia family also severed?¡® she thought.


    She suppressed her sinister thoughts and forcibly pulled the corners of her mouth into a smile.


    ¡°That is great.¡±


    ¡°Second,¡± Joshua looked at Eliza and Aaron. ¡°Xylia and I are together now.¡±


    The smile that Noelle had just forced onto her face froze instantly, and her gaze gradually revealed a fury marked by jealousy and resentment.


    Eliza was initially cheerful, but when she subconsciously noticed Noelle¡¯s expression, she restrained herself a little.


    ¡°Joshua, you¡¯re really fast. We thought you¡¯d be kept waiting a bit longer.¡±


    After all, the four brothers of the Sadler family did not seem to ept Joshua.


    Joshua nodded and said, ¡°If I don¡¯t act quickly, I¡¯m afraid she¡¯ll be snatched away by another man.¡±


    Noelle stood up with sudden resolve.


    Eliza was startled and looked at Noelle, somewhat worried.


    ¡°Noelle, you¡­¡±


    Noelle¡¯s eyes grew slightly red, but she still forced a smile. ¡°Joshua, congrattions.¡±


    She had intended to lose her temper, but Joshua had never given her any hope. If she were to lose her temper now, it would only make Joshua even more annoyed with her.


    She gritted her teeth to hold back her reluctance and said, ¡°I¡¯ve got things to do. I¡¯m leaving. You guys should get some rest early.¡±


    ¡°Noelle!¡±


    Eliza chased after Noelle out the door.


    8:23 Thu, Sep 18 N


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    Joshua, however, seemed not to notice this scene. He looked seriously at Aaron, who had remained silent.


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    ¡°Dad, it¡¯s time you told me about the old matters of the Garcia family. I must root out everyone hiding in the shadows with the intent to harm the Garcia family.¡±


    Seeing Joshua¡¯s determined look, Aaron knew that his son finally had someone he wanted <i>to </i>protect.


    It was time to tell him about those things.


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    8:23 <b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>18 </b>N

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    After a night of processing, Xylia hade to terms with what happenedst night and believed there was no need to make her rtionship with her brothers so tense.


    She and Joshua had only just confirmed their rtionship, and it is not yet stable.


    She thought they¡¯d better just take things one step at a time.


    Unfortunately, Xylia didn¡¯t realize until the next day that Kaden and Cyrus had grounded her by force.


    ¡°Xylia, you need to rest and recover from your injury. For now, let¡¯s have Josie take care of the studio. I have already informed her.¡±


    Kaden spoke in an understated tone.


    Xylia intended to say something to ease the tension, but the words caught in her throat, and her expression immediately darkened.


    ¡°Kaden, what does this mean?¡±


    Kaden said, ¡°Xylia, we are doing this for your own good.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t even have her meal anymore.


    She set down her chopsticks, didn¡¯t say anything more to them, and turned and went upstairs.


    ¡°Xylia¡­¡±


    Hudson called out, but Xylia did not respond.


    Hudson and Leon exchanged a nce, then looked toward Kaden and Cyrus, whose faces remained expressionless.


    Leon spoke up, ¡°Kaden, Cyrus, is this really okay?¡±


    Cyrus said, ¡°It¡¯s better than her going out and encountering danger.¡±


    ¡°An upromising attitude may create a barrier between Xylia and us. She has only just returned. There is no need <i>to </i>pressure her in this way.¡±


    Kaden wiped his mouth and stood up.


    ¡°Later, have Sarah deliver some food to Xylia.¡±


    After he finished speaking, he immediately went out.


    Leon shook his head. He knew that his brother had always been stubbornly independent.


    He was unable to dissuade him.


    <b>8:23 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>18 </b>N


    ¡°Let me deliver it to her.¡±


    Leon picked out some food that Xylia likes and went upstairs.


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    He initially thought Xylia was in the bedroom. After knocking and entering, he found no one there, so he went to the design studio on the top floor.


    At this moment, Xylia was standing in front of the drawing board, lost in thought.


    A smile tugged at the corners of Leon¡¯s lips as he ced the tray on the desk.


    ¡°Xylia, you should still have breakfast. No matter what, don¡¯t neglect your health.¡±


    Xylia remained silent, only gazing quietly at the unfinished painting on the drawing board..


    That was the general design drawing she created prior to the surgery.


    It was a women¡¯s outfit with color¨Cblocking. Since only half of it had been painted, the colors on the other half were still missing.


    Leon walked over to Xylia and, following her gaze, looked at the design drawing.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    Xylia said, ¡°I am looking at my design drawings.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s only half finished.¡± Leon asked Xylia, ¡°Do you want toplete the remaining half now? But your hand¡­¡±


    Leon did not continue with what he was saying.


    Because she saw that Xylia shifted her gaze with a hint of helplessness.


    ¡°Leon, aren¡¯t you very busy? Go and get to work.¡±


    Leon did have scheduledmitments, but with Xylia in this condition, there was no way he could set his mind at ease.


    ¡°Xylia, the other guys are also worried about you. Joshua¡­¡±


    ¡°Leon.¡± Xylia interrupted Leon, ¡°You should go and attend to your work.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s tone was somewhat firm.


    Leon opened his mouth, but ultimately left.


    Xylia sat before the drawing board, propping her chin on one hand, a trace of annoyance in her heart.


    In the past, she deeply longed to have a family.


    However, when actually constrained by her family, she found herself feeling thoroughly ufortable.


    8:23 <b>Thu</b>, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


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    In the past, she lived with extreme caution, lost one dream after another, and was constrained by insincere rtionships, which made her a person with a narrow¨Cminded outlook.


    After she arrived in Norhill, she decided to start a new life.


    Originally, the development of the situation was proceeding ording to her step¨Cby¨Cstep arrangements and was beginning to move in a positive direction.


    Unexpectedly, a single romantic rtionship had gradually brought underlying familial conflicts to light.


    She knew that her older brothers acted in her best interest.


    The previous kidnapping incident might have left a significant impression in their hearts.


    However, this was not a reason to discipline her.


    Since she had chosen to be with Joshua, she must have carefully considered all aspects. Furthermore, Joshua would undoubtedly remove any obstacles to ensure her safety.


    ¡®Why would they, just like those wealthy families in TV dramas, break up the couple when the problem could clearly be solved?¡® she thought to herself.


    They even did this whole confinement thing, not letting her go out.


    She felt somewhat aggrieved.


    Joshua called her at the very moment when she was feeling emotionally blocked inside.


    ¡°Going to the studio today?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Noticing the unhappiness in Xylia¡¯s voice, Joshua asked, ¡°What is the matter?¡±


    Xylia informed Joshua that she had been grounded.


    Joshua gave a lightugh and remarked, ¡°Your brothers are certainly action¨Coriented.¡±


    Xylia lowered her gaze slightly.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    There was a noticeable pause on the other end of the line. ¡°What is there to apologize for?¡±


    ¡°<i>My </i>brother and the others are just worried about me. They¡¯re not targeting you.¡±


    Joshua did not act ording to conventional norms.


    ¡°If I were to target your brothers, would you be upset?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


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    8:24 Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


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    Xylia spoke up in confusion. After processing Joshua¡¯s words, she asked, ¡°How do you target them?¡±


    This depended on the extent.


    Joking would be fine, but she certainly did not wish for Joshua and her brothers to have any unpleasantness between them.


    Joshua thought for a moment and then said, ¡°Your elder brother has a female rival named Rosalind. She has approached me several times, aiming topete with him for a partnership deal with Garcia Group.¡±


    ¡°What kind of cooperation? Does it have a big impact on you?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then give it to Rosalind.¡±


    Xylia made a snap decision without thinking.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°As long as it doesn¡¯t affect you much, just think of it as teaching my brother a lesson.¡±


    ¡®By the way, the emotional dispute between Rosalind and Kaden is anything but simple. If we could find something for him to do, he wouldn¡¯t have to keep a close watch on me all the time.¡® she thought.


    Besides, Kaden has always been rather shady in the way he does things. Since he¡¯s working with you but still prevents you from seeing his sister, you should teach him a lesson.


    Joshua sighed, ¡°But I¡¯m afraid that if I offend him too much, he might beat me in the future.¡±


    ¡°With me here, what are you afraid of? If he hits you, can¡¯t you hit him back?¡±


    Joshua was momentarily at a loss for words.


    Alright, he had to do it himself.


    After chatting for a while, Xylia felt much better.


    They have discussed and decided.


    Since those four did not approve of their rtionship, Joshua would take the lead. After removing obstacles for Garcia Group, he would demonstrate his sincerity to those four.


    Xylia felt a bit of heartache for Joshua.


    But this was the only solution.


    After hanging up the phone, David came to urge Joshua to attend the meeting.


    Today¡¯s meeting focused on the promotional strategy andunch ns for the jewelry brand in the uing quarter. In his office, Joshua encountered an unexpected visitor.


    8:24 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Noelle.


    She was seated at the far end of the right row.


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    She noticed Joshua was slightly surprised when he saw her, and she responded to him with a smile.


    Regrettably, Joshua¡¯s gaze did not linger on her for long.


    His gaze was quickly averted.


    After the meeting concluded, Joshua returned to his office.


    Noelle also followed Joshua to the office.


    However, David stopped her at the doorway.


    ¡°Ms. Coffey, Mr. Garcia is currently in an international video conference. It would be inappropriate to enter at this time.¡±


    David served as Joshua¡¯s assistant for many years, and Noelle did not dare to offend him.


    Though she was unwilling, she still said, ¡°Mr. Hayes, please let me know when Joshua is avable. I have something I need to discuss with him.¡±

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    As Joshua¡¯s assistant, David did not directly agree to Noelle¡¯s request.


    ¡°It¡¯s work time now. Ms. Coffey, please go to work.¡±


    It was Eliza who arranged for Noelle to join thepany.


    David also received the news regarding this matter today.


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    Having failed to conduct a prior investigation or report to his boss, he was already extremely apprehensive.


    If he really helped Noelle arrange her schedule, he¡¯d probably end up being sent by Joshua to Kregonia to dig mines.


    Noelle left in disappointment.


    David entered the office.


    Joshua hadn¡¯t started the international meeting.


    He asked David in a nonchnt tone, ¡°Did Eliza arrange for her to join thepany?¡±


    David nodded. ¡°Ms. Coffey recently won the championship in the jewelrypetition, so Mrs. Garcia appointed her as the chief designer¡±


    Joshua did not express any opinion.


    He put on his Bluetooth headset and said lightly, ¡°Strictly adhere topany standards to ensure the sessfulunch of thepany¡¯s jewelry brand next quarter.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± David replied.


    As David was about to leave, Joshua asked again, ¡°How are Schultz Group and Ford Group doing?¡±


    ¡°Ford Group is currently showing signs of recovery, while Schultz Group is about to go bankrupt.¡±


    Joshua nodded and joined the video conference.


    David left the office.


    <b>***** </b>


    For a whole week, Xylia was confined to the Sadler Mansion and didn¡¯t go out.


    She was not anxious, nor did she lose her temper or quarrel with her four brothers.


    She remained unusually quiet, quietly eating when it was time to eat, carefully taking her medication when it


    was time to take it, and peacefully resting when it was time to rest.


    8:24 Thu<b>, </b>Sep 18 N


    Each of the four brothers of the Sadler family harbored his own doubts.


    But they felt quite relieved about Xylia being in this state.


    Kaden was in a bad mood these past couple of days.


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    He usually had an expressionless, cold look on his face. Although his manner remained just as icy now, his face clearly disyed a noticeably greater amount of anger.


    Xylia had probably figured out what was happening.


    She took out her phone and looked at the message sent to her by Rosalind.


    She deliberately cleared his throat.


    ¡°Kaden, Rosalind invited me to go out and have fun.¡±


    Upon hearing the words ¡®Rosalind¡®, Kaden was visibly unsettled.


    He frowned at Xylia and asked, ¡°When did you get in touch with her?¡±


    ¡°A few days ago, when Rosalind was discussing a potential coboration with Joshua, she mentioned me and took the opportunity to ask Joshua for my contact information.¡±


    She did not conceal anything and sincerely told Kaden.


    Kaden heard Joshua again, which made him even more displeased.


    ¡°Did they mention you when discussing cooperation? Was it a casual chat?¡±


    Xylia pretended to be calm as she scrolled through her phone. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know,¡± she said. ¡°Anyway, Rosalind asked me to go out, but since you grounded me, I had to turn her down.¡±


    Xylia stood up with her phone and said to Kaden, ¡°I¡¯m going to call Rosalind.¡±


    ¡°Wait a moment.¡±


    Xylia halted the step she had just taken.


    The corners of her lips lifted slightly, revealing a faint triumphant smile where Kaden could not see.


    ¡°Since she invited you, you should go. I happen to be heading out and can give you a ride.¡±


    Xylia raised an eyebrow.


    ¡®I didn¡¯t expect that Kaden was also someone who pretends not to care but actually does.¡® she thought.


    Rosalind invited Xylia to go shopping at Purrfect World.


    This was a recently constructed shopping mall in Norhill, featuring a cat¨Cthemed design. Models ofrge orange tabby cats were disyed throughout the mall, both inside and outside, creating a warm and cute


    <b>8:24 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>18 <b>N </b>


    atmosphere.


    Kaden brought Xylia to the location arranged by Rosalind.


    A Japanese restaurant.


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    Kaden had intended to leave after escorting Xylia to the restaurant entrance, but Xylia suddenly grabbed him and stopped him.


    ¡°You¡¯re already here. Why not go in and say hello?¡±


    Kaden was dragged into the dining room by Xylia.


    Rosalind was sitting at the dining table by the window, resting her head on her hand as she watched the two people walk over.


    ¡°Rosalind, I¡¯ve brought the person. I¡¯m going to im my reward.¡±


    Xylia pressed Kaden down into the seat opposite Rosalind, winked at Rosalind, and then turned to leave.


    Only now did Kaden realize that he had been yed by these two women.


    He stood up to leave, but Rosalind said lightly, ¡°Sit down.¡±


    Kaden paused, thinking that he shouldn¡¯t make a fuss with a woman.


    So he sat down again.


    ¡°Go ahead, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Can I reach out to you only if there¡¯s something particr? You¡¯re such a busy person, Mr. Sadler. It¡¯s not easy at all to get an appointment with you.


    When his gaze met the radiant smile on Rosalind¡¯s face, Kaden slightly pursed his lips and did not think about leaving anymore.


    Xylia stood at the doorway, watching as two people sat facing each other.


    Kaden maintained an icy expression, yet was repeatedly defeated by Rosalind¡¯s frequent smiles.


    Xylia found this pair fun to ship.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. What¡¯s so interesting about watching others fall in love? Let¡¯s go on a date ourselves.¡±


    Joshua held Xylia¡¯s hand and led her toward another restaurant.


    Xylia followed him.


    ¡°Are you hungry?¡±


    Joshua felt it for a moment and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    <b>8:24 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>18 </b><b>N </b>


    ¡°Let¡¯s look around and then go grab a bite.¡±


    Joshua did not refuse.


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    They seized this opportunity to finally meet each other after much difficulty, and they were as clingy as newlyweds who hadn¡¯t seen each other for a long time.


    Passing by the jewelry store, Xylia recalled a list Josie had sent her two days ago.


    The client requested that the clothing should incorporate jewelry designs with diverse design elements.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and take a look.¡±


    Xylia pulled Joshua into the store.


    Joshua assumed that she wanted to buy jewelry and was very enthusiastic about helping her pick out and match the pieces.


    However, Xylia looked left and right, appearing to have no intention of making a purchase.


    ¡°Not buying?¡± Joshua asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not buying,¡± Xylia said. ¡°I already have several sets at home. I came in to take a closer look at these pieces. I have a client who wants to add diverse design elements to a gown, so I¡¯m here to seek inspiration.¡±


    Joshua smiled. She just couldn¡¯t let go of work, even on a date.


    A graceful figure emerged from the high¨Cend VIP reception room.


    Noelle said to the store clerk, ¡°Make it the store¡¯s high¨Cend jewelry collection that I just mentioned. And in the future, mainly rmend that collection when customerse in.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Noelle.¡±


    As Noelle was walking out, she saw Joshua in the product disy area.


    From her vantage point, the column blocked the spot where Xylia stood, so she could only see Joshua.


    Her eyes lit up. She tidied up her appearance and walked toward Joshua.


    ¡°Joshua¡­¡±


    Her greeting was interrupted by another voice.


    ¡°Joshua, do you consider jewelry with different colorbinations to be diverse design elements? Would disying these several types of jewelry together on a single dress appear incongruous?¡±


    Joshua gave Xylia a teasing look. ¡°We finally get to see each other, and you want to talk about work?¡±


    Xylia smiled and took his arm. ¡°We¡¯re chatting, anyway.¡±


    8:24 Thu, Sep 18 N


    They appeared intimate.


    Joshua looked at Xylia with a doting and sweet gaze.


    :


    Noelle stood not far away, watching the scene, her heart stung with pain.


    She clenched her fist with all her strength.


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    Although she heard from Joshua that day about him and Xylia being together, hearing about it and witnessing it in person are fundamentally different.


    Her face was pale, and it took immense effort for her to suppress the anger within her heart.


    She forced a smile and greeted Joshua as if nothing had happened.


    ¡°Joshua.¡±


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    Upon hearing Noelle¡¯s voice, Joshua¡¯s expression instantly darkened.


    Xylia turned her head.


    She saw Noelle approaching with a warm smile.


    She recognized Noelle.


    At the jewelry exhibition that day, Eliza stated that she was Joshua¡¯s younger sister.


    However, this sister of Joshua was not friendly toward her.


    Joshua, following Xylia, turned to look at Noelle.


    This time, Noelle behaved differently than she did


    during


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, we meet again.¡±


    Joshua looked at Xylia, puzzled.


    ¡°You¡¯ve met before?¡±


    <b>* </b>


    ¿¾Î¶)


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    previous meeting. She greeted Xylia warmly.


    Xylia nodded. ¡°Last time, Mrs. Garcia took me to the jewelry exhibition. And I met your sister there.¡±


    Hearing Xylia utter the words ¡°sister¡± and seeing that her expression showed no difort, he immediately knew.


    Eliza arranged for Xylia and Noelle to meet in advance. This allowed Xylia to understand that Noelle is only his sister, preventing any unnecessary misunderstandings in the future.


    He should thank Eliza for this.


    Joshua nodded, then turned to look at Noelle.


    When Noelle noticed that Joshua¡¯s expression softened slightly, she concealed her jealousy and unwillingness, smiled, and looked at Joshua.


    ¡°Joshua, I came to the store to do my regr check¨Caround and arranged the featured jewelry pieces for this quarter.¡± Noelle deliberately brought up work matters.


    ¡°A few days ago, I wanted to discuss the design direction for this quarter¡¯s jewelry with you, always unavable. Today, I finally caught you, so you need to spare some time for me.¡±


    but


    you were


    Her tone was somewhat yful and familiar.


    So it was about work.


    Xylia looked at Joshua.


    <b>8:24 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b>Sep 18 <b>N </b>


    :-


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    Joshua maintained a neutral expression, yet his slightly furrowed brows betrayed his current displeasure.


    He said, ¡°I don¡¯t have time right now. Just talk to David.¡±


    Noelle had finally caught up with Joshua. There was no way that she would simply give up.


    She quickly replied, ¡°How could that be eptable, Joshua? You are always busy with work, and every time I try to reach you, you have no time. Theunch of the jewelry brand is a top priority for the group, and as the chief designer of Garcia Group, I must give it my full attention.¡±


    She deliberately portrayed the matter as being highly serious.


    Then she looked at Xylia.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, can you get Joshua to free up some private time for us to talk about business<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Here it came again.


    That look again.


    Xylia found this gaze both unfamiliar and familiar.


    A manner that was polite and formal, but unintentionally tinged with a hint of aversion and hatred.


    She once again sensed a subtle hostility emanating from Noelle.


    Xylia looked at Joshua. ¡°Do you want to discuss business?¡±


    Joshua shook his head.


    ¡®Damn, after finally getting a date, who wants to talk business?¡® thought Joshua.


    Xylia looked at Noelle apologetically.


    ¡°Joshua doesn¡¯t want to talk about business right now. You should ask Mr. Hayes instead. He knows all of Joshua¡¯s ideas and will definitely know the direction for jewelry design next quarter.¡±


    Noelle did not expect Xylia would make a decision for Joshua.


    Joshua oversaw Garcia Group. He was a well¨Cknown workaholic.


    In general, as long as it involved official business, he would make time to handlepany matters properly, no matter how busy he was.


    ¡®On what grounds, Xylia? What gives you the right to arrange for me to discuss the design with David on Joshua¡¯s behalf?¡® Noelle thought bitterly.


    A sh of malice passed through Noelle¡¯s eyes, but itsted only an instant. She did not show it on her face.


    However, Xylia did not miss a single expression on her face.


    <b>8:24 </b><b>Thu</b>, <b>Sep </b><b>18 </b>N


    She finally determined where that first originated.


    Noelle harbored distinctive thoughts about Joshua.


    9:0


    55 vouchers.


    Therefore, when Eliza introduced her to Noellest time and joked about her rtionship with Joshua, Noelle became displeased. She immediately distanced herself from her.


    Now that she was with Joshua, this hostility had be even more pronounced.


    ¡®A younger sister is indispensable in each of her romantic rtionships. She is either my younger sister or his younger sister.¡® Sheughed inwardly.


    Seeing that Joshua did not refute her, Noelle frowned and said, ¡®Ms. Sadler, this is work for Joshua and me. It would be best if you did not get involved.¡¯


    Xylia did not speak.


    She became a little unhappy.


    Joshua lifted his gaze indifferently and looked at Noelle.


    ¡°I do not discuss work matters during my personal time. Furthermore, the design direction for jewelry in the uing quarter is the responsibility of your jewelry design department. You want to talk to me without a concrete proposal?¡±


    ¡°Joshua¡­¡±


    Noelle had not expected Joshua to criticize her in public.


    Her eyes rimmed red instantly, and her vision blurred with tears as she looked at Joshua.


    It looked as if she had been greatly wronged.


    Joshua acted as if he hadn¡¯t seen it; he gently held Xylia¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Are we done looking around here? Let¡¯s go eat.¡±


    Joshua took Xylia by the hand and led her away.


    Noelle clenched her fists, watching their departing figures, the corners of her eyes bloodshot.


    ¡®Why? I¡¯ve known Joshua for a longer time. My brother also sacrificed his life to save Joshua. Why does Joshua not like me, but instead prefers this twice¨Cmarried woman who possesses no redeeming qualities?¡® she fumed inwardly.


    She did not agree. She was determined to snatch Joshua back.


    The manager sensed that Noelle was angry and quietly stepped back.


    Fortunately, Noelle did not lose her temper and walked straight out of the jewelry store.


    <b>8:24 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>18 <b>N </b>


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    After stepping outside, Joshua gently squeezed Xylia¡¯s hand and, with a hint of pride, said softly in her ear.


    ¡°Look, I absolutely never think about work during my personal time.¡±


    Xylia nced sideways at Joshua.


    ¡®He was subtly implying that I was mentally still at work during our date?¡® Xylia wondered.


    The knowing smile at the corner of Joshua¡¯s lips confirmed Xylia¡¯s guess.


    She nodded and said deliberately, ¡°You are indeed principled, not discussing business during personal time. But I also have principles.¡±


    Joshua asked in confusion, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I will not give others any opportunity to take advantage during a romantic rtionship.¡±


    A knot of tension tightened in Joshua¡¯s chest instantly.


    ¡®So she found out after all?¡® he thought.


    He slightly tightened his grip on her hand and quickly exined, ¡°She is the younger sister of a close friend of mine. That friend sacrificed his life to save me. Now, only Noelle remains in their family. My mother, unable to bear her situation, brought her home and intends to adopt her as a foster daughter.¡±


    Xylia responded indifferently with a soft ¡®hmm¡®, indicating that she understood.


    Joshua continued to confess.


    ¡°True, she does have feelings for me. However, I swear I have not given her any opportunity, nor will I ever develop feelings for her. My heart belongs solely to you.¡±


    He was devout.


    When Xylia heard his sudden final confession, the tips of her ears were still red.


    She nced at him, then looked away.


    Recalling past experiences, her gaze involuntarily grew somewhat dim.


    Although she knew that Joshua was different from Connor, she still wanted to avoid even that one¨Cin¨Cten- thousand possibility.


    She called out Joshua¡¯s name.


    Joshua looked at her apprehensively.


    ¡°I trust you now. However, the future remains unpredictable for anyone. If, I mean, if one day¡­¡±


    ¡°That day will nevere!¡± Joshua seemed to anticipate what Xylia was about to say. With aposed expression, he interrupted her, ¡°There is no ¡®if¡® either! I am not Connor. When I love someone, I choose her


    8:24 Thu, Sep 18 N


    with unwavering certainty.¡±


    <b>8:25 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b>Sep 18 N

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    Joshua¡¯s voice was not loud, yet it struck heavily in Xylia¡¯s heart.


    Now that she thought about it, that did seem to be true.


    Since meeting Joshua, he had always firmly stood by her side.


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    Even when she was abroad and was inexplicably confronted by a woman who used her of being a mistress, Joshua immediately gave her his full trust.


    It was ten years ago.


    Joshua was recuperating from her injuries in the house she rented.


    His injury had mostly healed. However, the fractured bone still required further recuperation.


    At that moment, Xylia was seated on the sofa reading a book. When the violent knocking at the door sounded, both instinctively assumed it was those who had been pursuing Joshua.


    Xylia signaled Joshua to hide.


    Joshua chose a concealed spot not far from the entrance, in order to be able to protect Xylia if any real danger


    arose.


    As soon as Xylia opened the door, a blonde, slightly overweight woman pped her across the face.


    Xylia was suddenly pped, catching her off guard.


    She then listened as the woman, who was speaking a fluent foreignnguage, berated her for being her


    husband¡¯s mistress.


    Xylia was totally baffled.


    The woman was evidently furious and even raised her hand to strike Xylia.


    Joshua darted out and, with a single kick, sent the woman out the door.


    Speaking in equally fluent foreignnguage, he sharply remarked that the woman¡¯s husband was old enough. to be Xylia¡¯s father and she didn¡¯t need to go after an old man like that.


    That was also the first time Xylia realized that Joshua was actually quite skillful with his words.


    Unable to outargue Joshua, the woman left grumbling under her breath.


    Later, the police and the woman¡¯s husband came to her home to apologize.


    It was only then that she and Joshua realized just how severe that woman¡¯s suspicion was. Even when she was out with her husband, if he looked at another woman for just a moment longer, she would suspect him of having an affair with her.


    <b>8:26 </b>Thu<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>18 </b>N


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    The woman¡¯s husband exined that the day before yesterday, he encountered Xylia on the street. Finding Xylia very attractive, he looked at her a moment longer, which led his wife to watch him closely.


    The woman¡¯s husband continually apologized.


    Xylia didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Joshua suddenly remarked from behind, ¡°If you look at beautiful women on the street and make your wife so suspicious, there must be something wrong with your character as well.¡±


    The woman¡¯s husband¡¯s face turned livid in an instant.


    Xylia promptly epted the apology and politely asked the person to leave.


    She sat back on the sofa, frowning as she looked at Joshua.


    ¡°It is inadvisable to make enemies outside the home. Be mindful of possible retaliation.¡±


    Joshua nced at the morning newspaper that had just been delivered and scoffed with defiant arrogance. ¡°If he¡¯s got the guts toe, I¡¯ll break his balls myself! Let¡¯s see if he dares to leer on the street again!¡±


    Xylia thought it was understandable that Joshua was beaten like that.


    But she was a little moved anyway. ¡°Thank you for trusting me.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Joshua did not understand.


    Xylia said, ¡°That woman said I am a mistress. Most people would look at me with prejudice, but you me without hesitation. Thank you.¡±


    At that time, Joshua felt sorry for Xylia.


    trusted


    She had been traveling alone abroad, feeling gloomy all day. Now, even such a small thing as him believing she was not a mistress moves her so much.


    ¡®How much suffering must she have endured previously? There are certainly no genuine friends around her.¡¯ thought Joshua.


    He waved his hand with a roguish air. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    As her thoughts returned to the present, the proud, prickly child she remembered fused with the sophisticated, handsome man before her.


    There was no sense of incongruity.


    She said, ¡°I understand.¡±


    Joshua could tell she was brushing him off. He sensed her lingering trauma.


    ¡®She was definitely ready to dump me at any moment. He felt emotionally stifled.


    8:27 Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


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    ¡®No way! I¡¯ve finally won her heart. I can¡¯t let her go. I must ensure that Xylia feels fully secure.¡¯ thought Joshua.


    He took Xylia away from the shopping mall and went to the Datonese restaurant they had visitedst time for a meal.


    He remembered that Xylia said the food at this restaurant was good and wanted to try other dishes next time.


    This was just an opportunity to curry favor.


    Xylia was very satisfied with this arrangement.


    Her eldest brother and his prospective sister¨Cinw were dining and did not have time to attend to her.


    At the Sadler family, it was light cuisine. For her, it was yet another week without any sense of taste.


    After ordering dishes at the restaurant, she let out a sigh.


    ¡°It remains uncertain whether there will be another opportunity for me to go out.¡±


    She schemed against Kaden this time. Given the temperament of the four brothers of the Sadler family, her next attempt might not go as smoothly.


    She even considered not living with them anymore.


    At least she could have freedom.


    Joshua smiled and gently tapped Xylia¡¯s forehead. ¡°Rest assured, your confinement will be lifted soon.¡±


    Xylia looked at Joshua with a puzzled expression.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve reached a cooperation with Ms. Rosalind Webb. She¡¯ll help. It might just be these two days, and you¡¯ll definitely be free.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s eyes lit up.


    She never realized how wonderful freedom was until she was confined once.


    ¡°Certainly.¡±


    Seeing Joshua¡¯s confident demeanor, Xylia knew he was not lying to her.


    She was pleased.


    As expected, two dayster, Xylia was notified that she could go to the studio.


    Xylia was very pleased.


    8:27 Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


    As a result, even Kaden¡¯s characteristically cold expression now appeared much easier on the


    More than a week of confinement had left Xylia displeased with all four Sadler brothers.


    Today, everyone looked pleasing to the eye.


    Cyrus looked at Kaden and objected, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree on one month?¡±


    At the very least, let the injuries heal a bit more.


    Kaden said, ¡°As long as Xylia is happy.¡±


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    eyes.


    Rosalind told him that the more he pushed and tried to break them apart, the closer the couple would be.


    Joshua was such aplex heir that his ws were only revealed upon closer inspection. Once Xylia realized how dangerous the Garcia family truly was, she would have to leave him voluntarily.


    This was preferable to an intervention by all four brothers.


    At least in their sister¡¯s eyes, they were great family members.


    Kaden offered no exnation and left, carrying his coat.


    As soon as Kaden left, Xylia also greeted the remaining three brothers before heading out.


    She was going to the studio, going to work, and going to have an online romance with every client.


    Hudson was about to speak but stopped himself.


    Oh well, since Kaden has spoken, they¡¯d just go along with Xylia¡¯s wishes.


    After all, Kaden was correct. The happiness of Xylia was of utmost importance.


    Xylia arrived at the ground floor of the studio. Before she could go upstairs, she saw two figures rushing toward her from the side.


    The previous kidnapping incident at the entrance of the studio left her withsting psychological trauma.


    Upon seeing two figures rushing toward her, her immediate reaction was to throw the diamond¨Cstudded handbag in her hand.


    The bag happened to strike the head of the person directly in front.


    That person crouched down, clutching their head, and wailed in distress.


    ¡°You ungrateful girl! We went to all the trouble ofing to Norhill to visit you, and you hit me with your bag?<b>¡± </b>


    The sound was very


    familiar.


    T


    8:27 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Xylia looked carefully.


    They were Yves and Gia.


    :


    ¡®What are they doing here? Looking for me?¡® Xylia thought.


    Xylia¡¯s expression immediately darkened.


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    She walked over, picked up the bag from the ground, and said indifferently, ¡°I do not know any of you.¡±


    While speaking, she entered the studio.


    Yves and Gia immediately stood up and followed Xylia into the studio.


    ¡°Xylia, we have been your parents for over 20 years. Even if we did not give you life, we have raised you. Now that we are facing difficulties, you must help us.¡±


    8:27 Thu, Sep 18 N

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    :


    Yves and Gia abandoned their formerly imperious attitude toward Xylia.


    They had been forced to keep a low profile and act humbly.


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    Xylia noticed that their clothing had lost its former mour, and the fabric had been reced with material costing only a few hundred bucks.


    ¡®Has something happened to Schultz Group?¡® she wondered.


    Xylia was lost in thought, yet she did not show even the slightest unnecessary emotion to the two people before her.


    ¡°Macy, do not let these two enter. If they attempt to force their way in, call the police.¡±


    Macy was the receptionist.


    Receiving an order from the boss, Macy hurriedly stepped forward to block in front of Yves and Gia.


    ¡°Would both of you please leave? Otherwise, I¡¯ll call the police.¡±


    With her adorable appearance andck of aggression, Macy was not taken seriously at all by Yves and Gia.


    ¡°How can you expel your customers?¡±


    ¡°Are you customers? You look like troublemakers.¡±


    Macy appeared well¨Cbehaved, but she was very decisive in her actions.


    She took out her mobile phone and pretended to make a call.


    ¡°Hello, is this the police? I want to report¡­¡±


    Yves and Gia, seeing the situation unfold, chose not to escte the matter and left the house, grumbling as they left.


    Xylia was in the upstairs office, watching as Yves and Gia left in a dejected manner.


    Her gaze was cold.


    Josie sat on the sofa, drinking tea, and said to Xylia, ¡°The stock price of Schultz Group has plummeted, and thepany is on the verge of filing for bankruptcy.¡±


    Xylia said, ¡°But why would theye to me? Moreover, judging by their demeanor, they seem to believe I am able to help them.¡±


    After she left Jupiton, her whereabouts became unknown to everyone except Connor and Tessa, whom she had encountered earlier.


    8:27 <b>Thu</b><b>, </b>Sep 18 <b>N </b>


    Tessa Schultz.


    :


    Xylia let out a coldugh. She knew who had leaked the information.


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    Josie was holding a tablet, sketching design drafts on it. She put a half¨Ceaten lollipop into her mouth and spoke to Xylia nonchntly.


    ¡°You may no longer be following affairs in Jupiton, but a client from Jupiton told me a few days ago that the heir of the Ford family is getting married, and the partner is the daughter of the Schultz family.


    ¡°But I find it rather perplexing. Connor and Tessa are about to get married, and Schultz Group is on the verge of bankruptcy. Instead of seeking assistance from their own daughter and son¨Cinw, why would they travel all the way to Norhill to ask for your help?¡±


    As Josie spoke, she found it difficult to understand. She set down her paintbrush and turned to look at Xylia.


    ¡°Do they know that you are the daughter of the Sadler family?¡±


    Xylia showed no reaction to Connor and Tessa¡¯s uing marriage.


    She no longer cared about these two.


    However, there was some validity in what Josie said.


    ¡®Why would Yves and Giae to me?¡® she wondered.


    Xylia shook her head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. But even if they know, it doesn¡¯t matter. I have had nothing to do with them for a long time.¡±


    Josie nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯m d you think this way.¡±


    Josie was no longer able to continue drawing. She beckoned to Xylia.


    Xylia walked over to her and sat down in front of her.


    Josie asked, ¡°Will another two months of rest be sufficient for your hand?¡±


    Xylia rotated her wrist and nodded slightly.


    Josie became interested.


    ¡°I¡¯ve asked around. In three months, Norhill will host a fashion designpetition jointly organized by the authorities and Quezada & Co. Apparel Design. If you participate and win, you will be the most outstanding designer in all of Alvend.


    ¡°At that time, our studio will be able to achieve substantial growth, and even going public will not pose any issues.¡±


    Xylia took the tablet from Josie and looked at thepetition information for three monthster.


    8:27 Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


    The corners of her mouth lifted slightly.


    0:


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll participate in thepetition on behalf of our studio.¡±


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    ¡°Excellent!¡± Josie eximed. ¡°Take this time to recover properly, but do not neglect your design work. You must review every client requirement in the studio and assist the two colleagues outside with their tasks. This will ensure your time is not wasted.¡±


    Xylia gave a slight nod.


    ¡°I know.<b>¡± </b>


    Josie truly had the best interests of the studio and Xylia at heart.


    Feeling moved, Xylia, without hesitation, decided to treat everyone in the studio to a meal today.


    Any location would be fine.


    Upon learning that Xylia is the eldest daughter of the Sadler family, Josie did not stand on ceremony and reserved the most luxurious Datonese restaurant in Norhill.


    It happened to be the ce where Joshua brought her on the previous two asions.


    The studio had a small team, consisting of two owners¨CXylia and Josie, along with two designers and a receptionist.


    There were five people in total.


    When Xylia arrived, the staff greeted her with exceptional warmth.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, your private room is inside. Please follow me.¡±


    When Leroy was a designer for major brands, he was fortunate enough to have dined here and is quite familiar with this ce.


    Josie was a neer to Norhill and had never visited before. She found the environment to be rich in traditional charm and was particrly fond of the architecture of Alvend. &&&&&After asking the staff if photography was permitted, she took out her phone to capture images of the attractive architectural features.


    For Sheryl and Macy, this was their first visit to such a luxurious ce.


    The two girls, being of simr age, engaged in lively conversation all the way.


    Xylia and Leroy were chatting.


    On the way to the private room, they bumped into Noelle, who came here to eat.


    She likely went to the restroom during the meal and was now returning to the private room.


    When Noelle saw Xylia, her expression instantly turned cold.


    8:27 Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


    :


    She scoffed inwardly, then was the first to step forward and greet Xylia.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, what a coincidence. Are you here to eat too?¡±


    Xylia saw her and, unexpectedly, smiled.


    ¡°Yes, ourpany is holding a dinner gathering.¡±


    ¡°Company?¡±


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    Noelle regarded the five pathetic ones, the faint smile at the corner of her lips tinged with a trace of mockery.


    ¡°I have heard of your studio. It¡¯s nice to be able to have a meal here. You¡¯re generous.¡±


    Xylia feigned ignorance of both the overt and implicit sarcasm in her remarks.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be going now, so we won¡¯t disturb you while you eat, Ms. Coffey.¡±


    With that, Xylia left with her employees.


    Noelle watched Xylia¡¯s departing figure, her gaze cold.


    They entered the private room.


    Josie quietly asked Xylia, ¡°Who is that woman?¡±


    ¡°An unimportant person.¡±


    Josie was unconvinced. ¡°From what I see, she harbors considerable hostility toward you. She does not seem like an insignificant person.¡±


    Xylia did not provide rification to Josie.


    She did not like to gossip about others. Besides, she was indeed not acquainted with Noelle.


    She shifted the topic and allowed them to order their own food.


    Josie was the least reserved, always choosing the most expensive items.


    With her taking the lead, the remaining few employees, who were still apprehensive, also became less reserved and felt at ease to order what they liked.


    The dishes were served promptly.


    Several people were eating. The private room door was knocked twice, then pushed open.


    They had assumed it was the waiter arriving, but unexpectedly, Eliza and Noelle appeared at the door.


    ¡°Mrs. Garcia?¡±


    Xylia immediately stood up and walked over to stand in front of them.


    ¤Þ¤º


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    Eliza smiled at Xylia and said, ¡°I heard from Noelle that you and your friend are dining here, so I came over to greet you.¡±


    Xylia promptly replied, ¡°Mrs. Garcia, you are too kind. I should havee over to greet you. However, I was hosting the staff today and didn¡¯t know that you and Ms. Coffey were having a meal, so I didn¡¯t <i>go </i>over.¡±


    Noelle suddenly interjected, ¡°But I just told you that Mrs. Garcia and I were eating here. Why would you lie?¡±


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    Noelle¡¯s remark made it seem as if Xylia knew Eliza was there but deliberately chose not to greet her.


    Xylia frowned and looked at Noelle, ¡°Ms. Coffey, just now you did not mention who you were dining with, did you?¡±


    Noelle maintained her smile, yet a hint of malice flickered in her eyes.


    She deliberately covered her mouth and looked at Xylia with an expression that seemed apologetic.


    ¡°Oh, what am I saying? Ms. Sadler has apany dinner today. Even if I were dining out with Joshua, she might not necessarilye over to greet.¡±


    She deliberately cast a nce at the four people dining in the private room, a trace of disdain flickering in her


    eyes.


    Pathetic studio. Pathetic people.


    She simply wanted Eliza to know that, for her sake, Xylia disregarded even the most basic etiquette for those pathetic employees at her stupid studio.


    And Xylia was simply not worthy of being the Garcia family¡¯s daughter¨Cinw.


    Unexpectedly, Eliza was already gently holding Xylia¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Work is certainly important. I am only here to see you, and we will leave after finishing our meal.¡±


    Xylia knew that Eliza was helping her out, and she gave Eliza a grateful look.


    ¡°I remember there¡¯s another jewelry exhibition in Norhill the day after tomorrow. Mrs. Garcia, if you¡¯re free, shall we go together?¡±


    In any case, Joshua was her boyfriend, and she must show respect to his mother.


    Incidentally, she had a matter she wishes to consult Eliza about.


    Eliza was overjoyed and eximed, ¡°Of course, that¡¯s great! I¡¯m free, really!¡±


    After the two reached an agreement, Eliza saw that Xylia was busy, so she left with Noelle.


    Noelle was deeply displeased, though she did not reveal it on her face.


    It was not until they had left the restaurant that she spoke to Eliza.


    ¡°Mrs. Garcia, may I join you all at the jewelry exhibition the day after tomorrow?¡± She asked cautiously.


    This made Eliza feel a bit sorry.


    She pulled Noelle¡¯s hand into hers and held it, her voice gentle and loving.


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    ¡°Noelle, given how busy thepany has beentely and the fact that this jewelry exhibition is rather niche, it would be best for you to stay at home and get some proper rest.¡±


    This means she had tactfully declined.


    Noelle¡¯s anger intensified further, yet she continued to present an obedient demeanor in front of Eliza.


    ¡°Okay, understood.¡±


    Eliza affectionately stroked her head.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡±


    When Xylia returned to the private room again, Josie came over and asked.


    ¡°Who was it?¡±


    ¡°A friend¡¯s mother came over and said hello.¡±


    Josie did not inquire further.


    Once the brief episode had passed, they happily resumed eating and drinking.


    Xylia is still in the recovery period and couldn¡¯t consume alcohol.


    She was just looking after these people, making sure they didn¡¯t get too drunk and could at least find their way home.


    When Joshua called, she was smiling as she watched Josie and Leroy learning about the drinking culture of Alvend.


    Xylia answered a call from Joshua.


    Joshua said, ¡°Did you not see the message I sent you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m having dinner with colleagues from the studio and I didn¡¯t notice. What¡¯s wrong? Is it something urgent?¡±


    As she spoke, Xylia picked up her phone to check her messages.


    The chat interface with Joshua is rich in content.


    She saw a photo sent by Joshua.


    The photograph shows Leon and Mia entering a hotel hand in hand.


    Both of them were wearing masks.


    But Xylia still recognized those two people at a nce.


    She couldn¡¯t help but widen her eyes and asked Joshua, ¡°Did you just meet them?¡±


    O.LI


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    Joshua replied, ¡°Mm¨Chmm.¡±


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    This hotel is owned by the Garcia family. I just came here on business and ran into your third brother checking into a room with someone.


    Xyliaughed softly twice.


    ¡°It appears that my third elder brother has seeded.¡±


    Sessfully won the beauty¡¯s heart.


    Xylia asked Joshua, ¡°Did you call just to tell me this?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was low. ¡°I miss you.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s ears began to feel warm.


    ¡®Why did this guy suddenly start saying romantic things?¡®


    ¡°When will the meal be over?¡±


    Joshua softened his tone. His voice was deep and maic.


    Xylia found Joshua¡¯s voice really pleasant.


    She nced at the group who were in high spirits from drinking and said, ¡°It will likely take a while.¡±


    ¡°Send me your address. I will pick you upter and take you home.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alreadyte. Once you¡¯ve finished your work, just go home. I¡¯ll go back by myself in a bit.¡±


    Xylia did not want Joshua to be so exhausted.


    Joshuained, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you for two days already.¡±


    There was a subtle undertone of grievance in the voice.


    Xylia had no choice but to provide the address.


    ¡°Xylia! Mr. Sadler! What are you doing? Come over and have a drink!¡±


    Josie was clearly intoxicated and unable to speak coherently.


    Xylia hurriedly said to Joshua, ¡°I¡¯ll hang up first.¡±


    Upon returning to the dining table, she began advising them not to drink.


    Josie was young and loved to have fun.


    With a mix of coaxing and trickery, Xylia took the wine ss from her hand.


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    Leroy was ustomed to such asions and possessed a considerable tolerance for alcohol. After this round, his face showed a slight flush, but there were no other noticeable effects.


    Sheryl and Macy each drank only a small amount, yet both became slightly intoxicated.


    The two young girls did not have a high tolerance for alcohol.


    Josie was the drunkest person here.


    She typically drank alcoholic beverages with low alcohol content when abroad. However, the alcoholic beverages in Alvend had quite a high alcohol content.


    She identally drank too much.


    Everyone was already drunk, yet she was still urging people to drink.


    Seeing that everyone had put down their chopsticks, Xylia said, ¡°If you have all finished eating, let¡¯s go back. The dinner went on toote today. Tomorrow, you will have a day off.¡±


    Upon hearing that, Sheryl and Macy perked up right away.


    ¡°That¡¯s our boss<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°That¡¯s our boss<b>!</b>¡±


    After settling the bill, Xylia led them toward the main entrance.


    The restaurant provided shuttle service, and Xylia requested the waiter to arrange a car to take them back.


    The waiter went to make arrangements.


    They were standing at the entrance, waiting for a vehicle.


    Xylia held Josie, who was making a drunken scene, as Sheryl stood before them.


    She looked at Xylia for a moment, then suddenly said, ¡°Xylia, I will follow you for the rest of my life!¡±


    ¡°Count me in!¡±


    Macy raised her hand in approval.


    She was extremely satisfied with this job. The sry was high, the workload was light, and the boss was very


    nice.


    She really lucked out.


    Xylia smiled, merely assuming they were drunk.


    Leroy suddenly said, ¡°Add one.¡±


    Xylia was dumbfounded. She had not expected someone asposed as Leroy to join them.


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    As if having understood Xylia¡¯s confusion, Leroy smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve learned a great deal in the studio. I¡¯m grateful to you for giving me this opportunity, and I¡¯ll contribute my efforts to the studio.¡±


    It appeared to be demonstrating his loyalty.


    Xylia felt a gentle warmth in her heart.


    When the restaurant¡¯s vehicle arrived, Xylia arranged for Leroy, Sheryl, and Macy to leave.


    She was preparing to escort Josie back.


    However, for some inexplicable reason, Josie quickly pushed Xylia away upon hearing that Xylia intended to escort her home.


    ¡°I will return on my own!¡±


    As she spoke, she walked unsteadily toward the main road.


    Xylia felt her temple throb and quickly stepped forward to grab Josie.


    ¡°Why are you trying to act tough when you¡¯re already this drunk? The car is waiting for us. Hurry up and get in.¡±


    ¡°No, I can go back by myself!¡±


    Josie raised her voice a bit, her tone tinged with wariness.


    Xylia finally realized that something was wrong.


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    Josie was dead set against Xylia sending her home.


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    She was like a little wild animal fiercely guarding its territory, always on high alert if anyone tried to enter her


    space.


    Xylia had no other option but to say, ¡°I won¡¯te inside. I¡¯ll just walk you to your door. Once I see you¡¯re home safe, I¡¯ll leave. Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°No way!¡± Josie suddenly shouted, shaking off Xylia¡¯s hand and speaking slowly and clearly.


    ¡°I can get home by myself!¡± said Josie.


    Xylia thought, ¡®How can I possibly let her go home like this?


    ¡®Besides, if no one is home, who will take care of her?¡®


    ¡°Is there anyone at home?¡± asked Xylia.


    Josie seemed to think about Xylia¡¯s words. After a long silence, she finally nodded. ¡°My aunt looks after me at home.¡±


    ¡°Could you give me her phone number? I need to know you got home safely. Otherwise, I¡¯ll definitely bring you back myself,¡± said Xylia.


    ¡°No,¡± Josie shouted again.


    She pulled out her phone and scrolled for ages before finally finding her aunt¡¯s number. ¡°Here it is.¡±


    Xylia quickly dialed the number on her own phone. The call connected right away. ¡°Excuse me, are you Josie¡¯s aunt?¡±


    There was a brief pause, and then the voice on the other end replied, ¡°Yes, what¡¯s wrong with Josie?¡± She sounded anxious.


    Xylia quickly reassured her, ¡°Josie is fine. She was just drunk and wouldn¡¯t let me take her home. Could you save my number? I¡¯ve arranged a car to bring her back. When she gets home, could you let me know she¡¯s safe?¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± the person said, and then hung up.


    After talking to Josie¡¯s aunt, Xylia felt relieved and let Josie get into the car.


    It was the middle of the night.


    Xylia let out a long sigh of relief.


    Kaden called again. ¡°It¡¯s sote. Why aren¡¯t they back yet?¡± His tone was clearly worried.


    <b>8:28 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>18 <b>N </b>


    Xylia replied, ¡°I went out for a meal with my studio colleagues today and will be back shortly.¡±


    ¡°Do you need me to pick you up?¡± Kaden asked.


    Xylia said, ¡°Don¡¯t bother, Kaden. I can get back by myself.¡±


    After reminding her to be safe, Kaden ended the call.


    Just then, Joshua arrived. He was driving a different car today, a ck Porsche.


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    He pulled up in front of Xylia and waved. ¡°Am Ite?¡± Joshua asked as soon as Xylia got in the car.


    He noticed that only Xylia was standing at the door. ¡®Weren¡¯t she supposed to have dinner with the studio people? Did they all leave?¡® he thought.


    Xylia smiled, ¡°You¡¯re just in time. I¡¯ve just seen them off.¡±


    Joshua frowned in frustration, ¡°I was stillte.¡±


    ¡°Late? You¡¯re right on time,¡± Xylia said, fastening her seatbelt.


    ¡°If I¡¯d gotten here earlier, you wouldn¡¯t have had to worry so much,¡± Joshua said, suddenly taking Xylia¡¯s hand and leaning in.


    Before she could react, he kissed her gently.


    He held her chin, kissing her with deep affection.


    Xylia clenched her fists and her heart pounded.


    After a long while, Joshua let her go, his eyes soft with affection.


    She felt him acting a bit clingy.


    Blushing, she pushed Joshua away and refastened her seatbelt.


    ¡°Today, I met your mom and your sister at the restaurant,¡± she said.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have a sister¡­¡± Joshua said. Before he finished, he realized who she was talking about.


    He didn¡¯t start the car right away. Holding her hand, he said, ¡°I heard from Mom about the dinner. She invited me, but I didn¡¯te. If I¡¯d known earlier, I would have.¡±


    He sounded a bit regretful.


    Xyliaughed. ¡°Why do you seem like a kid?¡±


    Her words made Joshua frown.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m too young?¡± asked Joshua.


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    He thought, ¡®Don¡¯t most women these days go for younger, good¨Clooking guys? I¡¯m three years younger than her, which is just the perfect age gap.¡®


    Though Xylia was older than him, she looked much younger.


    Her fair and radiant face showed no signs of aging, remaining as tender and delicate as a woman in her early twenties.


    As he pondered, he reached out and pinched her cheek with his bent index finger.


    Xylia brushed his hand away. ¡°I meant you were acting like a kid.¡±


    She gestured for him to start the car. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Kaden is waiting.¡±


    Joshua started the car in silence.


    At the Sadler Mansion¡¯s door, Joshua spoke to Xylia, who was about to get out of the car. ¡°Ms. Sadler, how about we have a coboration?¡±


    ¡°What kind of coboration?¡± Xylia asked.


    ¡°I want to partner with your studio. It will bring long¨Cterm benefits. If you¡¯re interested,e to the Garcia. Group tomorrow and find me.¡±


    Seeing his secretive look, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but tease him. ¡°Not interested.¡±


    Joshua frowned, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°No reason. I¡¯m just not interested,¡± Xylia said deliberately. Then she opened the car door and got out.


    Joshua called after her, ¡°Really not interested?¡±


    Xylia took a few steps and turned to look at him. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it tomorrow.¡±


    With that, she walked inside.


    Joshua watched her disappear through the gate. Then he smiled and drove away.


    *****


    The studio was closed the next day.


    After confirming that Joshua would only be avable in the afternoon, Xylia had lunch and then headed to the Garcia Group.


    Maybe Joshua had told the receptionist.


    As soon as Xylia entered the main entrance of the Garcia Group, the receptionist guided her to the CEO¡¯s elevator.


    She arrived half an hour early.


    8:28 <b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>18 </b><b>N </b>


    Joshua was in a meeting.


    :


    David escorted Xylia to Joshua¡¯s office and asked her to wait there for a while.


    Xylia just sat on the sofa, waiting, feeling utterly bored.


    She also took a look around Joshua¡¯s office.


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    The office was spacious, withrge south¨Cfacing ss windows that flooded the entire workspace with natural light.


    The ck office furniture and wall¨Cmounted bookshelves, filled with various hardcover books<b>, </bbined with a minimalist design style, gave the entire office an atmosphere of stability and grandeur.


    David served Xylia a cup of coffee and pointed to a small cab beside the bookshelf.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, the snack cab has some treats that Mr. Garcia prepared just for you. Feel free to grab one if you¡¯re craving something. Mr. Garcia will be done with his meeting soon.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Let him take his time. I¡¯ll wait for him here,¡± said Xylia.


    David then left.


    Xylia opened the snack cab. Along with the trendy snacks, there were also some healthier options. She grabbed the spicy potato chips without hesitation. The Sadler family¡¯s meals were just too healthy. She craved something spicy.


    She didn¡¯t mind making Joshua¡¯s office smell like spicy chips. She took out her tablet, waited for Joshua, ate snacks, and sketched simple design drawings.


    When Joshua returned, this was the scene he saw.


    Xylia sat on the sofa, holding a half¨Cfull pack of spicy chips.


    She gazed intently at the drawing on the tablet, her brow slightly furrowed, as if confronted with a difficult problem.


    He walked over with a smile. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why the worried look?¡±


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    Xylia had just fallen into deep thought and didn¡¯t notice Joshua came in.


    He made a sudden noise nearby, which startled her.


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    ¡°You scared me. When did you get here?¡± Xylia patted her chest. After calming down, she looked back at the tablet.


    Joshua¡¯s gaze followed hers to the tablet.


    A simple sketch of a top and trousers was on the tablet. It looked like a in T¨Cshirt and jeans.


    He stopped watching and looked at Xylia. ¡°I¡¯ve been here for a while. You were just too focused.¡±


    Xylia quickly ate thest of the chips in her hand. She closed her tablet and looked at Joshua. ¡°Go ahead. What¡¯s the cooperation about?¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, the office door opened again.


    The visitor didn¡¯t knock but barged in, just like she was in her own office.


    ¡°Why does it smell so strongly of spicy chips?¡± Noelle covered her nose in disgust. Then she noticed Xylia and Joshua sitting on the sofa.


    Her brows furrowed deeply when she saw Xylia. ¡°Why are you here, Ms. Sadler?¡±


    She walked over, holding a document.


    Noticing the spicy chips beside Xylia, she frowned and quietly scolded, ¡°Ms. Sadler, how can you eat spicy chips in the office? This is Joshua¡¯s office. The smell of spicy chips everywhere is quite inappropriate and could have a negative impact.¡±


    Here it came again. This familiar drama.


    In the past, Tessa often acted this way. She would first criticize in the softest, cutest tone, and then pretend to care about others, ultimately making her seem malicious and foolish.


    Xylia stayed silent.


    Joshua said coldly, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you knock?¡±


    He was talking to Noelle. His voice was icy, and his face looked frozen.


    Noelle bit her lip. Her eyes instantly reddened because of Joshua¡¯s cold words.


    She said, ¡°Joshua, I wanted to discuss jewelry design with you earlier, but you said that business matters aren¡¯t suitable to talk about outside. Now that we¡¯re in the office, I hope I¡¯m not disturbing you by bringing it up


    now?<b>¡± </b>


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    As she spoke, she nced at Xylia.


    The implication was clear. She and Joshua were about to discuss official business for entirely legitimate reasons, and Xylia, as an uninvolved party, shouldn¡¯t be listening.


    Joshua held back his temper and said, ¡°As I¡¯ve said, all matters concerning the jewelry brand should be discussed with David.¡±


    ¡°Joshua, as the overall leader for this jewelry brand project, you can¡¯t just dump all the work on David.¡±


    Under normal circumstances, Noelle wouldn¡¯t dare contradict Joshua.


    However, he had brushed her off a few times, and she had seen how sweet Joshua and Xylia were together.


    She was extremely jealous.


    She no longer wanted to stay timid. Instead, she wanted to actively look for chances to talk to Joshua.


    Even if Joshua disliked her, she was determined to seize this opportunity.


    A hint of sarcasm curled at the corner of Joshua¡¯s lips as he finally looked directly at Noelle.


    But his usually warm eyes were now icy cold, and that chill seemed to seep into Noelle¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Are you telling me what to do?¡± asked Joshua coldly.


    Noelle was taken aback by his cold, stern look. It was like she¡¯d plunged into a freezer. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean it like that, Joshua¡­¡±


    Joshua didn¡¯t look at her anymore. Instead, he nced at Xylia.


    More precisely, he was looking at the pack of spicy chips in her hand. ¡°Give me one too.¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t expect him to change the subject so fast.


    She handed over the spicy chips without thinking.


    Joshua took it, opened the packaging at his leisure, and started eating.


    He¡¯d had a refined upbringing. Even when eating spicy chips, he moved with grace.


    The aroma of the spicy chips filled the air.


    It seemed to p Noelle in the face silently.


    Xylia discreetly watched Noelle¡¯s expression. Her face was pale, and her eyes were brimming with tears, like she might cry any second.


    She said, ¡°Sorry, Ms. Coffey. I also have work¨Crted matters to discuss with Mr. Garcia. Even for official business, priorities must be observed.¡±


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    She wasn¡¯t particrly polite, but she gave Noelle a way out.


    Noelle fixed her with a fierce re.


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    ¡°With that lousy studio of yours, do you really think you can work with the Garcia Group?¡± Overwhelmed by anger, she spoke without thinking.


    Xylia was about to respond when Joshua turned to Noelle, his gaze cold and emotionless. ¡°Leave.¡±


    His voice was icy cold. Anyone could tell he was impatient.


    Noelle still called out, ¡°Joshua.¡±


    ¡°Get out!¡± Joshua was obviously angry.


    Tears welled up in Noelle¡¯s eyes. She red at Xylia one more time before turning and running out of the office.


    Xylia looked at Joshua.


    Caught by her gaze, Joshua felt uneasy for a moment before finally exining, ¡°She was brought into thepany by my mom. Though I¡¯m in charge of this jewelry brand project, I¡¯ve barely interacted with her. Rest assured. I won¡¯t let her take advantage of anything.¡±


    Joshua held Xylia¡¯s hand to show his loyalty.


    Deep down, Xylia really cared.


    Her romantic past was far from perfect. When Tessa stayed by Connor¡¯s side as his friend, she didn¡¯t take it seriously.


    But it wasn¡¯t until Connor was cheated that she realized how serious things were.


    Once bitten, twice shy. She liked Joshua, but she didn¡¯t want to get hurt again.


    ¡°Joshua, I feel insecure. If I ever find you getting closer to her, I¡¯ll dump you without hesitation.¡± Her voice was soft, but it carried a hint of determination.


    Hearing her words, Joshua felt like his heart was being squeezed, filled with pain and bitterness.


    He squeezed Xylia¡¯s hand back.


    But that still wasn¡¯t enough. He sat down beside her again and pulled her into a full embrace.


    ¡°That day will nevere.¡± His voice was firm and resolute. ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not making you feel secure, but in this lifetime, you¡¯ll never have the chance to shake me off.¡±


    Xylia stayed silent, just quietly leaning against him.


    After a long pause, she finally asked, ¡°What do you mean by cooperation?¡±


    8:28 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Only then did Joshua mention the cooperation to her.


    :


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    The fiftieth anniversary of the Garcia Group wasing up, and thepany nned to provide customized uniforms for its employees.


    These uniforms must not only reflect the Garcia Group¡¯s corporate culture but also meet the staff¡¯s aesthetic preferences, ensuring they were suitable for wearing outside the workce.


    Joshua said, ¡°The group has over ten thousand employees. For your studio, this is a huge order. However¡­¡±


    He lowered his gaze to Xylia. ¡°We¡¯ve talked to many subcontractors about this order. I¡¯m just giving you, Ms. Sadler, a chance. Whether you can get the order will ultimately depend on your abilities.¡±


    Xylia, intrigued, joked, ¡°Mr. Garcia, won¡¯t you give me some special treatment?¡±


    Joshua shook his head in a businesslike manner, keeping a serious expression.


    ¡°I can¡¯t do this. I have to ensure every employee¡¯s welfare.¡± His eyes flickered, and he suddenly leaned in close to her ear, speaking softly, ¡°But if you beg me as Mrs. Garcia, I¡¯ll be foolish just this once and bend the rules for you.¡±

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    Joshua¡¯s voice was deep and maic.


    Xylia¡¯s ears turned red at the words. She calmly pushed Joshua away and sat up straight.


    She said, ¡°Funny, I don¡¯t like taking shortcuts. Rest assured, Mr. Garcia. Xylic Studio will get this order!¡±


    Joshua looked into Xylia¡¯s eyes, which sparkled with confidence.


    The smile on his lips grew wider. He liked Xylia¡¯s confidence and vitality.


    Xylia spent another hour in Joshua¡¯s office. After fully understanding the order¡¯s requirements, she was about to head back to her studio.


    Joshua frowned, displeased.


    He¡¯d been really tiredtely and just wanted to spend more time with Xylia. He thought of it as recharging.


    Sometimes, Xylia felt like Joshua was a kid. Sheforted him, and after a long hug and some kisses<b>, </b>she finally left the office.


    Joshua didn¡¯t walk her downstairs because he had another international meeting to attend.


    When Xylia left, her lips were a little red and swollen.


    The group of secretaries outside the CEO office didn¡¯t dare look at her directly. They just nced at her out of the corner of their eyes.


    After Xylia took the elevator, a few gossipy secretaries started whispering.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you she¡¯s Mrs. Garcia? Look at her lips. They¡¯re all red.¡±


    ¡°I saw it! I saw it! Noelle acted like a hostess as soon as she joined. She came out with red eyes just now.¡±


    ¡°She definitely has a crush on Mr. Garcia, but now that he¡¯s into someone else, she¡¯s disappointed.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s way more than disappointment. He must have seen something really scandalous, which is why her eyes are so red!¡±


    *****


    A few people were chatting about the gossip when David silently walked up behind them and suddenly spoke up, startling them. ¡°Is the work done?¡±


    The gossipy secretaries quickly returned to their cubicles, their expressions serious and focused.


    David shook his head helplessly. He thought, <Gossiping about Mr. Garcia inside thepany? These secretaries are really ying with fire. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to gossip outside thepany?>


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    Noelle stormed back to her office, feeling agitated. She saw the items on her desk and swept them all onto the floor in one motion.


    The design drawings her subordinate had delivered that morning, along with the coffee cup, fell to the floor and got dirty.


    The employees outside heard themotion and exchanged uncertain nces. None dared to enter or ask what had happened.


    Noelle¡¯s anger didn¡¯t subside.


    In her mind, Xylia had already been torn into a thousand pieces.


    She thought, ¡®What gives a remarried woman the right to win Joshua¡¯s favor? Just because she saved him once? But my brother lost his life to save Joshua. Why does Joshua ignore me like this?


    ¡®No. I can¡¯t let Xylia and Joshua keep dating. Otherwise, I¡¯ll have no chance at all. I remember that I investigated and found out that Xylia¡¯s ex¨Chusband was involved with another woman. It looks like Connor and Tessa are about to get married.¡¯


    A calcting smile curled at the corner of her lips.


    <b>** </b>


    Xylia arrived at the studio alone.


    She had given the employees the day offst night, thinking the studio would be empty. But when she got there, she found the door was open.


    Josie was lying face down at the front desk, looking unwell.


    Xylia hurried over. ¡°Josie? Are you feeling sick? Weren¡¯t you supposed to be off today? Why are you here?¡±


    Josie hadn¡¯t expected Xylia toe to the studio. She lifted her head from her arm, her face a little pale.


    Xylia felt her forehead. ¡°Luckily, you don¡¯t have a fever.¡±


    She grabbed a bottle of liquid medicine from the medicine cab and handed it to Josie. ¡°Have this. It¡¯ll help.¡±


    Josie had never tried this liquid medicine before. After the first sip, she nearly gagged. ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°Robitussin. It¡¯s like a cure¨Call.¡±


    Xylia smiled and took a piece of candy from her bag, handing it to Josie.


    This was snuck out of Joshua¡¯s office.


    After eating the candy, Josie felt better and looked at Xylia. ¡°Why are you here too?¡±


    Xylia pulled up a chair and whispered, ¡°We¡¯re about to get a huge order, ten thousand employee uniforms.¡±


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    Josie snapped into work mode, her previously listless expression reced by a sharp, focused gaze. ¡°Ten thousand? Are you sure this order is for our small studio?¡±


    Xylia nodded, and then shook her head.


    Josie was confused. ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    Xylia told Josie about her coboration with Joshua. ¡°The Garcia Group is a toppany in Alvend. If wend this order, we¡¯ll not only make a lot of money, but we¡¯ll also have the chance to expand our studio and boost our reputation. It¡¯s a win¨Cwin.¡±


    Josie¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°You and Joshua are dating. Securing this order is a done deal, right?¡±


    Xylia rolled her eyes. Josie was so good at teasing. She didn¡¯t bother exining.


    Josie burst intoughter, shedding her earlier listlessness. ¡°Alright, Ms. Sadler. I know you don¡¯t like pulling strings. Let¡¯s work together. Xylic Studio has to win this order!¡±


    Xylia gently patted Josie on the shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ve got great potential!¡±


    Josie, being from abroad, didn¡¯t get many of the local expressions. ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    Josie followed her upstairs. ¡°Come on. What does it mean?¡±


    Kylia climbed the stairs with her


    bag, ignoring the q


    Xylia said, ¡°I¡¯m saying you¡¯re smart.¡±


    ¡°You bet,¡± smiled Josie.


    *****


    The next day, after sending Joshua¡¯s requirements to the employees, Xylia went to meet Eliza. They attended a jewelry exhibition.


    When Eliza saw Xylia, her face lit up.


    Eliza looked amazing at nearly fifty. Her face was fresh and dewy, not a bit like her age.


    ¡°Xylia, check it out. If you like anything, I¡¯ll buy it for you,¡± said Eliza.


    They browsed the jewelry. Though Xylia specialized in fashion design, she could still chat about some jewelry design concepts with Eliza.


    As Eliza looked at Xylia, she realized she was growing fonder of Xylia.


    ¡°No need, Mrs. Garcia,¡± Xylia said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stand on ceremony with me.¡± Eliza looked Xylia up and down.


    Today, Xylia wore a light yellow Chanel¨Cinspired top and skirt, looking yful yet intellectual.


    8:28 Thu, Sep 18 N


    <b>88 </b>


    55 vouchers


    ¡°Your temperament is one in a million. I must design a set of jewelry for you,¡± Eliza said.


    O


    Xylia felt a bit uneasy. ¡°Mrs. Garcia, that¡¯s so sweet of you. You must be tired. How about we grab something to eat nearby?¡±


    ¡°Sure!¡± Eliza¡¯s focus shifted immediately. She was pulling Xylia outside.


    ¡°Yesterday, I checked out all the good restaurants around here. There¡¯s a seafood ce next to the jewelry exhibition that¡¯s supposed to be great. How about that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m good with anything,¡± said Xylia.


    They agreed and headed to the seafood restaurant.


    <b>8:28 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b>Sep 18 <b>N </b>

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    Chapter <b>189 </b>


    During the meal, Eliza kept looking at Xylia.


    :


    Feeling embarrassed, Xylia said, ¡°Mrs. Garcia, is there something you want to talk about?¡±


    Eliza nodded slightly.


    Xylia gestured for her to go ahead.


    Eliza asked directly, ¡°Xylia, have you ever thought about getting married?¡±


    Xylia nearly spat out her coffee, choking violently.


    Eliza patted her back and handed her water. ¡°Did you choke?¡±


    hing


    After a long while, Xylia finally felt better, her face bright red from coughing.


    Eliza was deeply concerned. ¡°Take your time. What if you choke badly and


    get


    bronchitis?<b>¡± </b>


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    She asked the waiter for a ss of warm water and handed it to Xylia.


    Xylia was momentarily stunned by her words.


    It seemed this was the first time she¡¯d heard such words from a mother worried about her child.


    But she quicklyposed herself, took the water Eliza¡® handed her, and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Eliza didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with her question.


    She cleared her throat and said to Xylia, ¡°Xylia, I¡¯m not trying to rush you into marriage. Joshua has liked you for years, and I can see you feel the same. If possible, I hope you two can get married soon.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. ¡°Mrs. Garcia, why the rush?¡±


    A flicker of unusual emotion crossed Eliza¡¯s eyes. She shook her head and said, ¡°His dad and I are getting older. Our only wish is to see Joshua start a family. Besides, we really like you.¡±


    Xylia said, ¡°But neither you nor Mr. Garcia are that old.¡±


    It might sound harsh, but even if they decided to have a second child, Xylia wouldn¡¯t be surprised.


    Xylia asked, ¡°<b>Is </b>it that you hope I marry Joshua, so Noelle willpletely give up on him?¡±


    She got straight to the point.


    Eliza paused for a moment, and then looked at Xylia with aplex expression.


    She thought, ¡®Xylia is sharp. Nothing escapes her notice.¡®


    <b>8:29 </b><b>Thu</b>, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


    883


    55 vouchers


    Eliza said helplessly, ¡°Xylia, we¡¯ve never tried to hide anything about Noelle from you. Joshua only loves you. We all know that. That¡¯s why we hope Noelle can realize this sooner and stop focusing on Joshua. It¡¯s best for everyone.¡±


    Xylia nodded slightly. ¡°I understand your point, but¡­¡±


    She looked into Eliza¡¯s eyes, her gaze gentle yet firm. ¡°Mrs. Garcia, to be honest, I¡¯m afraid of marriage. If marriage is just a bargaining chip for someone else¡¯s benefit, for both me and Joshua, I¡¯d rather not get married.¡±


    ¡°Xylia, I¡¯m not pressuring you. I just think it¡¯s best for everyone.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s different, Mrs. Garcia.¡± Xylia shook her head, a bitter smile forming. ¡°You know I¡¯ve been married before. My previous marriage was apromise, not about love. It was driven by a sense of duty and the desire to make everyone happy. That¡¯s why I got married and that¡¯s why I ended up like this now.¡±


    Eliza realized she might have made a mistake. She frowned at Xylia, her mouth open, yet no words came out.


    Xylia continued, ¡°Mrs. Garcia, my rtionship with Joshua isn¡¯t a secret. If I marry him, it should be for our feelings and to build a family together, but absolutely not because of Noelle.¡±


    Eliza worried that, because of her, Xylia and Joshua might rift.


    She quickly said, ¡°I got it. It¡¯s my fault. I apologize.¡±


    The meal wasn¡¯t as cheerful as just now.


    <i>lop </i>a


    que yak


    Xylia was so preupied that she forgot to ask Eliza the to ask.


    she¡¯d intende


    After returning home, Xylia got a call from Joshua. His voice was anxious. ¡°I¡¯m at your door.¡±


    Confused, Xylia asked, ¡°What are you doing at my doorstep?¡±


    Xylia was in the design room. Looking down from the upper floor, she could shining outside the main gate.


    See the car h


    As she reached the gate, Joshua immediately embraced her. ¡°Please don¡¯t take my mom¡¯s words to heart. Let¡¯s take it slow.¡± His voice trembled slightly, tinged with meekness and fear.


    Xylia was visibly taken aback. She hugged Joshua back and asked, ¡°What are you afraid of?¡±


    She hugged Joshua in return and asked, ¡°What are you afraid of?¡±


    ¡°I was afraid you¡¯d be scared away.¡± Joshua was speaking truthfully. He genuinely looked forward to marrying Xylia, but he knew it was already a big step for her to be with him.


    No matter how anxious he was, he wouldn¡¯t force her to marry him. Moreover, if marriage was being considered, he should be the one to propose, not Eliza on his behalf.


    So when Eliza told him about what had happened today, he was initially angry, and then worried that Xylia might back away because of this.


    8:29 Thu, Sep <b>18 </b><b>N </b>


    <b>88 </b>


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    The thought of losing the woman he¡¯d worked so hard to win made him tighten his grip on Xylia¡¯s hand. ¡°Xylia, I won¡¯t pressure you into marriage. My mom was just talking nonsense. Don¡¯t back away.¡±


    Xylia had to bury herself in his arms, feeling his grip around her waist tighten.


    She patted his back and said with difficulty, ¡°You¡¯re about to strangle me to death.¡±


    Only then did Joshua release Xylia.


    Xylia looked up and noticed the trace of worry on his face. She snorted withughter, ¡°When have I ever run away? Am I really that timid?¡±


    Joshua dominated the business world, unrivaled and confident, yet when faced with Xylia, he lost all that confidence.


    He had to admit that he won Xylia back by shamelessly pursuing her. It was also through his exhaustive scheming that he managed to get her to his side.


    He loved Xylia deeply, yet hecked confidence in her feelings for him. ¡°You¡¯re just timid.¡±


    When Joshua noticed a fleeting change in Xylia¡¯s expression, he immediately corrected himself and said, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m just worried that you might find my mom bothersome, and even more afraid that you would consider Noelle a hassle and dump me.¡±


    At this point, he felt even more aggrieved. He believed that Xylia could truly dump him because of such a hassle.


    He stared at Xylia without blinking, as if any nod or affirmation from her would make him immediately throw himself on the floor and make a scene.


    Hearing his words, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing. ¡°You said¡­¡±


    Xylia looked at Joshua, noting his slightly furrowed brow, and said slowly, ¡°That is quite reasonable. Why did I never realize that Noelle was a hassle?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s face turned pale. He wished he could take back his words.


    Just as he was about to pledge loyalty, Xylia spoke again, ¡°However, aren¡¯t youcking confidence in me or, rather, in yourself?¡±


    Joshua was exasperated, thinking, <If I truly had confidence, why would Ie here in the middle of the night?>


    Xylia looked at Joshua seriously. ¡°I truly meant it when I said I wanted to try with you. When two people are together, they must face many challenges. If I were to run away because of this, I might as well remain alone for the rest of my life.¡±


    Joshua tried to discern any trace of perfunctoriness in her gaze. But no, there wasn¡¯t.


    He let out a long sigh of relief. Immediately after, he embraced Xylia again. ¡°Then swear to me that<b>, </b>no matter what difficulties we may face in the future, you will never bring up breaking up with me.¡±

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    Xylia frowned at him and asked, ¡°Does this mean only you are allowed to end the rtionship? Am I not permitted to do so?¡±


    Joshua said firmly, ¡°I will never break up with you.¡±


    Xylia was silent.


    Joshua urged her to make a vow without dy. His attitude was resolute, as if he wouldn¡¯t leave tonight unless she swore an oath.


    Xylia was about to speak. Unexpectedly, Joshua said, ¡°Swear by your studio.¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t give in. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a bit much?¡±


    Joshua became visibly agitated. ¡°So you really have considered breaking up with me.¡±


    ¡°Knock it off,¡± said Xylia.


    Joshua¡¯s eyes were brimming with tears. ¡°Do you hate me? Have you been nning to break up with me for a long time?¡±


    Joshua was just like a child, insisting on getting what he wanted before he would give up.


    Xylia was concerned that he might say something else inconsistent with his image.


    She raised her hand helplessly and swore, ¡°I swear by my studio¡­¡±


    ¡°Which studio?¡± Joshua took it seriously.


    Xylia gritted her teeth and dered, ¡°I swear on Xylic Studio that I will never break up with Joshua. If I ever do, my studio will never seed.¡±


    With that, she felt she had be childish again. She lowered her hand and red at Joshua.


    ¡°Is it okay?¡± asked Xylia.


    Joshua got what he wanted and immediately broke into a smile. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s enough.¡±


    He hugged Xylia affectionately, but then Cyrus¡¯s voice came from inside the gate. ¡°Mr. Garcia, why are youing to our ce and holding Xylia in the middle of the night?¡±


    Cyrus made no effort to hide his displeasure toward Joshua. Yet Joshua seemedpletely unaware of Cyrus¡¯s hostility and always greeted him with a smile.


    ¡°Cyrus, you¡¯re here.¡± As soon as Xylia heard Cyrus¡¯s voice, she stepped out of Joshua¡¯s embrace.


    She and Joshua stood hand in hand in front of Cyrus. She nced at Cyrus¡¯s gloomy face, and then at Joshua¡¯s ever¨Csmiling one.


    255 vouchers


    She remembered seeing someone on TV say that a person who truly loved her was always humble and eager to please in front of her family.


    So Joshua tried to win over her family, hoping they¡¯d ept him.


    Back then, Connor always acted superior in the Schultz family.


    It surprised her that she¡¯d only just fully understood this.


    Seeing Xylia lost in thought, Cyrus suddenly became cautious.


    Whenever Joshua met them, he deliberately put on a ttering look, but they always responded with obvious disdain.


    In Xylia¡¯s eyes, this became undeniable proof that they were bullying Joshua. Naturally, Xylia felt bad for Joshua and resented them.


    Joshua is a real master at manipting people¡¯s emotions,¡® thought Cyrus.


    At the thought of this, Cyrus miraculously smiled at Joshua, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, Mr. Garcia. Maybe you should head back for now.¡±


    Joshua was creeped out by his sudden friendliness.


    Joshua thought, ¡®Not only did he not object to being called Cyrus, he even smiled back. Is this reaction right?¡®


    He and Xylia exchanged a nce, both thinking Cyrus was possessed.


    But deep down, Joshua was happy. No matter the reason, the fact that Cyrus didn¡¯t strongly object to him was


    progress.


    He lowered his head and said to Xylia, ¡°Then I¡¯ll head back first.¡±


    Xylia gave a slight nod. ¡°Drive safe.¡±


    Joshua squeezed her palm in a sweetly clingy way. Then he got into his car and left.


    It wasn¡¯t until his car disappeared around the street corner that Xylia turned to look at Cyrus. ¡°Let¡¯s go back, Cyrus.¡±


    Cyrus looked at Xylia, hesitating to speak. In the end, he said nothing.


    The night was tranquil. The Sadler Mansion featured ssical architecture. As Xylia walked from the courtyard toward the main building, the simple, ancient atmosphere almost made her feel like she¡¯d traveled back in time.


    Cyrus walked half a step ahead of Xylia. She tilted her head and saw his profile. He looked tense, as if he was in a bad mood.


    After a moment, Xylia said, ¡°Cyrus, do you still want to oppose my rtionship with Joshua?¡±


    Cyrus wanted to say yes, but he managed to hold it back.


    69 vouchers,


    He tilted his head and nced at Xylia, thinking about what Kaden had said. After a moment, he slowly shook his head. ¡°I noticed you were going outte at night and, feeling concerned, decided to follow you.¡±


    Xylia could tell his words didn¡¯t reflect his true intentions. But she didn¡¯t expose him. She stopped speaking. It wasn¡¯t until they returned to the room that Cyrus could no longer endure it and rushed into Kaden¡¯s office.


    Cyrus said, ¡°Kaden, Joshua is getting way too bold these days. He¡¯s meeting Xylia privately right at the entrance of the Sadler Mansion. Shouldn¡¯t you do something?¡±


    Kaden sat at his desk working, the white light from theputer screen illuminating his face and making his deep¨Cset features even more defined.


    It wasn¡¯t clear what official business he had, but at that moment, his face turned oddly flushed and his eyes looked a bit uneasy.


    However, upon seeing Cyrus enter, he once again calmly concealed that trace of strange emotion.


    After hearing Cyrus¡¯s words, he was, surprisingly, veryposed. ¡°What can I do?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re our big brother! You need to keep an eye on Xylia¡¯s situation!¡± Cyrus leaned forward, cing both hands on Kaden¡¯s desk and said earnestly, ¡°You used to care so much about the Garcia family. Just a few days ago, you didn¡¯t want Xylia to be with Joshua. What happened? Why the sudden change?¡±


    Kaden looked at Cyrus and closed theptop. ¡°What can we do about it?¡±


    What had happened these days proved they were wrong. Lately, Xylia had been kept at home. Though she appearedpliant, Cyrus could clearly feel that she was growing distant from them.


    Cyrus remained silent.


    Kaden said, ¡°Joshua is a decent person, but many people are targeting him. If we truly care about Xylia, we should help him eliminate those who operate in the shadows.¡±


    Cyrus frowned and asked, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡®Why the sudden change?¡® he thought.


    Kaden was silent for two seconds before speaking to Cyrus, ¡°Because Xylia likes him.¡±


    There was no specific reason.


    Cyrus fell silent. The atmosphere in the study reached freezing point.


    In the end, Cyrus let out a long sigh. ¡°Understood.¡±


    After he left the study, Kaden secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    A woman¡¯s voice came through the headphones.


    8:29 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Rosalind mocked him, ¡°That¡¯s why you guys are so self¨Cimportant. Who needs your protection?¡±


    She made a sarcastic remark and then hung up the call.


    Kaden stood there stunned for a few seconds, unable to grasp what Rosalind was saying.


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    To secure the Garcia Group¡¯s order, Xylia personally stepped in.


    After the studio members convened a meeting, a preliminary general direction was established, with Josie serving as the principal designer.


    Xylia¡¯s wrist injury hadn¡¯t healed yet, so she could only help from the sidelines.


    Xylia was in the middle of intense work when her phone rang. Seeing an unfamiliar number, she thought it was a telemarketing call and didn¡¯t want to answer.


    But worried it might be a call from a customer, she picked up.


    As soon as she did, Gia¡¯s sharp, fearful voice came through. ¡°Xylia, your dad¡¯s been kidnapped. Can youe and rescue him?¡±

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    Gia sounded frantic.


    Xylia listened, said nothing, then hung up and blocked her number.


    #56 vouchers


    She had no idea how Gia got her number, but one thing was certain¨Cshe didn¡¯t want anything to do with the Schultzs anymore.


    She was done getting tangled up with the Schultzs.


    Kidnapped or not, Yves¡¯s troubles had nothing to do with her.


    ¡°Who was that?¡± Josie asked.


    Xylia just shrugged. ¡°Scam call,¡± she said, her tone detached.


    Meanwhile, Gia just stared at her phone in disbelief. She never expected Xylia to hang up¨Cand when she tried dialing again, her calls wouldn¡¯t go through at all.


    Yves, sitting on the hotel bed, overheard Gia¡¯s anxious voice from the next room. His face flushed with rage.


    He mmed his palm down hard on the mattress.


    ¡°Can you believe that cold¨Chearted ingrate! Now that she¡¯s off in Norhill rubbing shoulders with the rich, she acts like we never raised her? What a thankless traitor!¡± Yves raged.


    Gia was fuming too.


    Before Tessa came back to the Schultz family, they¡¯d always made sure Xylia had everything she needed. Food, clothes, whatever¨Cshe was never shortchanged.


    ¡®Raising her was the biggest favor she could ever get,¡® Gia thought bitterly.


    And now, after telling her Yves had been kidnapped, Xylia didn¡¯t show a shred of sympathy.


    ¡®Yves was right¨CXylia¡¯s nothing but a cold¨Chearted ingrate,¡® Gia seethed.


    Gia shot Yves a panicked look. ¡°What now? She blocked my number.¡±


    ¡°Call Tessa,¡± Yves snapped.


    Gia didn¡¯t hesitate. She called Tessa and exined everything.


    Tessa let out a coldugh on the other end.


    ¡°That¡¯s just how Xylia is. Now that she¡¯s hooked up with the Sadlers and messing around as someone¡¯s mistress, there¡¯s no way she¡¯d actuallye forward to help Mom and Dad,¡± Tessa sneered.


    Yves¡¯s voice went cold. ¡°You and Connor are about to get married, but I haven¡¯t seen you lift a finger to help us


    8:30 Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


    with the Schultz family¡¯s problems.¡±


    0:


    Gia quickly reached over, gesturing for him to keep quiet.


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    Tessa paused on the other end before responding, her tone distant. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to help, but Ford Group just suffered a huge blow, and Connor¡¯s got his own hands full trying to stay afloat right now¡­¡±


    Yves looked like he was about to snap, but Gia quickly pressed a hand over his mouth to shut him up.


    ¡°We know, that¡¯s exactly why we¡¯re trying to reach out to Xylia,¡± Gia said, her voice edged with frustration. ¡°The Sadlers have serious influence, and since Xylia¡¯s Kaden¡¯s mistress, if she ys that card, maybe the Sadlers would throw in some help for the Schultzs too.¡±


    She let out a long, helpless sigh. ¡°But Xylia won¡¯t see us or even pick up the phone. I really don¡¯t know what else we can do.¡±


    Tessa paused for a second. ¡°Maybe there¡¯s someone who might actually help you guys out.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Gia jumped at the chance.


    Tessa shot Gia a number in a text.


    ¡°They¡¯re the head jewelry designer at Garcia Group¨Cgot a bit of history with Xylia. Maybe they can get through to her and help you,¡± Tessa said.


    ¡°Tessa, you¡¯re really our lucky star!¡± Gia said, her relief bubbling over.


    She hung up the call with a cheerful smile, feeling hope spark anew now that Tessa had sent over the number.


    Tessa had already sent Gia the contact info.


    Gia handed the phone to Yves.


    ¡°See? Tessa¡¯s always looking out for our family. Saying things like that only ends up hurting her feelings,¡± Gia sighed, nudging Yves.


    Yves snorted.


    ¡°Garcia Group suddenly turns on Schultz Group, and now we¡¯re supposed to go begging their people for help? Does Tessa really mean this, or is she just messing with us?¡± he muttered.


    Gia shot him a sharp look. ¡°If you don¡¯t trust our daughter, then figure it out yourself!¡±


    Yves fell silent.


    Gia sighed. ¡°Schultz Group is about to go bankrupt. Ziggy¡¯s out there begging anyone who might help, just trying to get thepany back on its feet. This is our only shot¨Cwe¡¯ve got to at least try.¡±


    Yves fell silent.


    Gia dialed the number Tessa had sent.


    05 vouchers


    Xylia had spent a week perfecting the employee uniform designs for Garcia Group.


    She reached out to Joshua to see if he had some time, so she could bring the designs over herself and get his feedback.


    Joshua had a packed schedule that day, both work and personal.


    He asked Xylia toe by at noon.


    Xylia, unaware of how busy he was, asked where he nned to grab lunch.


    Joshua said he¡¯d just grab something quick at the office, so Xylia packed two meals and headed over to Garcia Group to wait for him.


    She walked into Joshua¡¯s office like she owned the ce.


    She plopped down on the couch, bored, and opened a bag of spicy snacks.


    Noelle walked in without knocking.


    The moment she entered, the strong smell of spicy snacks hit her and she instantly grimaced, her brows pinched together even tighter.


    She nced at Xylia with obvious disdain. ¡°Joshua never said you could make his office smell like a food stall, you know. Shouldn¡¯t you have a little more self¨Cawareness? Just imagine if he brought a client in here and the only thing they remembered was the overwhelming stench of spicy snacks,¡± Noelle added, her tone sharp and condescending.


    ¡®Ugh, annoyingly, Noelle actually had a point, Xylia thought, ncing around the room.


    She hopped off the couch and flicked on the office venttion system.


    In just a few minutes, the smell of spicy snacks faded away.


    Noelle wasn¡¯t impressed by how unbothered Xylia acted, but since she actually needed something today, she reined in her usual edge.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, do you have a minute?¡± Noelle asked.


    She took the seat straight across from Xylia.


    Xylia just met her gaze, calm. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    Noelle kept smiling, as if she and Xylia were the best of friends.


    ¡°I was thinking we could have lunch together,¡± she offered.


    Xylia shot her a puzzled look. ¡®We¡¯re not that close, she thought, a bit wary,


    8:30 Thu, Sep <b>18 </b><b>N </b>


    ¡°No, thanks¡­¡± Xylia replied coolly.


    Just as Xylia was about to decline, Noelle jumped in and cut her off.


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    ¡°Ms. Sadler, aren¡¯t you even a little curious about what¡¯s going on between Joshua and me?¡± Noelle teased, her voiceced with flirty undertones and a hint of challenge.


    Noelle¡¯s words hung in the air, thick with implication, almost as if she was dangling some secret right in front of Xylia, waiting to see her squirm. ¡®Is she really trying to y mind games with me?¡® Xylia wondered,pletely unamused.


    Xylia met Noelle¡¯s gaze, utterly unreadable. ¡®Why would I even care?¡® she thought, her face an emotionless mask.


    ¡°Nope,¡± Xylia answered tly.


    If she wanted to know, she¡¯d hear it straight from Joshua.


    Noelle hadn¡¯t expected Xylia to brush her off so coldly.


    She tried again. ¡°Ms. Sadler, Joshua must¡¯ve told you that my brother died saving him.¡±


    Xylia stayed silent.


    ¡®Let¡¯s see what you¡¯re really after, Xylia thought, keeping quiet.


    Noelle kept at it, her voice soft butyered with meaning. ¡°He feels guilty about what happened to my brother, that¡¯s why he always looks after me. But the people who want Joshua gone¨Cthey¡¯re still out there. Aren¡¯t you dying to know who¡¯s really pulling the strings against him?¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t say a word, her silence heavy with a thousand thoughts.


    ¡®Damn it, I actually want to know, Xylia felt her heart skip.


    That day she went out with Eliza, the question had been burning at the back of her mind.


    But Eliza had blindsided her, tossing out that whole marriage bomb and throwing everything off.


    Noelle had been hanging around the Garcias for ages¨Cshe definitely knew who hurt Joshua back then, and who he¡¯s still watching out for.


    Xylia was super curious; she¡¯d tried to get answers from Joshua more than once, but whether she asked outright or tried hinting, he always gave her the runaround.


    She could tell he really didn¡¯t want her in on it.


    After thinking it over, Xylia finally turned to Noelle.


    ¡°You set the time and ce. I¡¯m open the next couple days,¡± she said.


    ¡°Alright, 3 p.m. tomorrow then. I¡¯ll text you the address,¡± Noelle replied, her smile lingering.


    8:30 Thu, Sep 18 N


    After confirming the meeting with Xylia, Noelle slipped out of the office.


    She ran right into Joshua at the entrance as he stepped back into the office.


    Joshua¡¯s expression instantly soured the moment he spotted her.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± he snapped, clearly not in the mood for surprises.


    Noelle immediately looked uneasy, almost shrinking back as she met Joshua¡¯s eyes.


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    ¡°I just stopped by to say hi to Ms. Sadler. That¡¯s all. I¡¯ll just head out now,¡± she muttered, practically making <i>a </i>dash for the exit.


    Joshua paid her no mind and just pushed open the door, stepping into the office.


    ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± Xylia said, her voice calm and steady as she watched him enter.


    Xylia watched Joshua walk in, her eyes steady and unfazed.


    She looked perfectlyposed, not a trace of distress¨Cclearly, Noelle hadn¡¯t managed to shake her whatsoever.


    Joshua caught that and finally felt at ease.


    ¡°Did you bring the designs?¡± he asked, his tone softening.


    C

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    Xylia pulled the design proposal from her bag and handed it to Joshua.


    As he started looking it over, sheid out the food she¡¯d brought on the table.


    The delicious smell made Joshua look at her, delighted. ¡°You brought me lunch?¡±


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    Xylia smiled. ¡°I hadn¡¯t eaten either, and since you said you¡¯d just grab a bite at the office, I packed a little of everything. Take a look and see if there¡¯s anything you like¡­¡±


    Joshua jumped in before Xylia could finish, blurting out, ¡°I love everything!¡±


    ¡°Honestly, my one good trait¨CI¡¯m really not picky when ites to food,¡± he added with a grin.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but smile at him, amusement flickering in her eyes.


    ¡®No need to call him out for bragging, she thought, letting it slide.


    Whenever they had a meal together, Mr. Garcia always turned his nose up at anything seafood¨Che made it pretty obvious he wasn¡¯t a fan.


    She¡¯d even asked him if he was allergic to it once.


    He t¨Cout said no¨Cbut Xylia wasn¡¯t fooled.


    ¡®So that¡¯s the deal¨Che just doesn¡¯t like seafood, Xylia thought to herself.


    Just then, David knocked and came in, nning to ask Joshua what he wanted for lunch so he could ce the order.


    But when he saw Xylia already setting out the food, he stopped short,pletely caught off guard.


    David just stood there, looking stunned, unsure what to say.


    For a moment, he couldn¡¯t even process what he was seeing.


    Xylia offered, ¡°David, want to join us for lunch?¡±


    She¡¯d noticed David lingering in the doorway, looking a little dazed.


    ¡®I did bring plenty of food today¨Cmight as well invite him, Xylia thought, deciding to extend the offer.


    As soon as Xylia made the offer, David could feel Joshua shooting him a cold re.


    A sudden chill hit his back and he hurriedly said, ¡°No need, Ms. Sadler, I already got the employee lunch. You two go ahead and enjoy.¡±


    Saying that, David hustled out of the room.


    8:30 Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


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    ¡®Mrs. Garcia?¡® Xylia gawked at the office door, too stunned to say anything. ¡®When did I get promoted to Mrs.


    Garcia?¡®


    Joshua, on the other hand, seemed pretty pleased with the title.


    When Xylia nced over at him, Joshua toned down his smile and gave a couple of polite coughs.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat before the food gets cold,¡± he said.


    He was the first to open a pair of disposable chopsticks and handed a set to Xylia.


    Joshua¡¯s brows drew together just a little as he muttered, ¡°Looks like I should keep an extra pair of chopsticks in the office for next time.¡±


    These disposable ones aren¡¯t exactly the cleanest, you know..


    Xylia didn¡¯t even hear what he was mumbling.


    ¡®Not that I care to know, anyway,¡¯ Xylia thought, feeling zero interest.


    As they ate, Joshua turned to Xylia and said, ¡°I¡¯ve looked over the design proposal. It¡¯s really good, but we¡¯ll need the proper people to evaluate it.¡±


    Xylia nodded.


    ¡®Business is business. Joshua always keeps his hands off these things,¡® she thought.


    ¡®If I don¡¯t get this deal, I¡¯m not gonna let it get me down,¡® Xylia reminded herself.


    They had a two¨Chour lunch break.


    After they finished eating, Xylia noticed the dark circles under Joshua¡¯s eyes and couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a nap?¡±


    ¡®Man, look at those dark circles¨Che must be running on empty,¡® Xylia thought, feeling a sh of concern.


    She gently brushed her fingers across his face, her heart aching for him.


    All of a sudden, Joshua hugged Xylia close, burying his face in the crook of her neck and nuzzling up to her just like a big puppy.


    His soft silver hair grazed against her cheek, tickling her and making her want tough.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t stop herself¨Cshe reached up and stroked his hair, fingers running through the silky strands.


    ¡°How many nights have you been up?¡± Xylia asked, her voice soft with concern.


    Joshua mumbled, ¡°I haven¡¯t had a decent night¡¯s sleep in three days.¡±


    ¡°Been busytely?¡± Xylia asked, her voice gentle.


    8:30 Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


    ¡°A little¡­¡± Joshua muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, soundingpletely worn out.


    ¡®I must look like a wreck right now, Joshua thought, feeling the exhaustion seep into his bones.


    Xylia¡¯s heart ached even more for him.


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    Xylia looked at Joshua with concern. ¡°Hey, does your office have a break room or somewhere you can crash for a bit? Set an rm and get some rest while you can.¡±


    They still had an hour before they had to get back to work.


    Joshua looked up at her, exhaustion written all over his face. ¡°Stay with me for a while, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Xylia sputtered,pletely thrown off.


    She barely had time to react before Joshua whisked her off to the break room next door.


    Honestly, the break room here looked less like an office space and more like a boutique hotel suite.


    It was fully loaded¨Cfurniture, appliances, a private bathroom, and even a little dressing room tucked off to the side.


    Seriously, it put the one she¡¯d seen in Kaden¡¯s office to shame.


    Joshuay down on the bed, pulling Xylia into his arms and holding her close.


    He tucked her against his chest, gently nuzzling her hair like he couldn¡¯t bear to let go.


    ¡°Just rest,¡± he murmured softly.


    Xylia wasn¡¯t nning <i>to </i>sleep at all.


    But Joshua held her so close she couldn¡¯t get away; nestled against his chest, her face started burning red.


    Xylia could hear Joshua¡¯s steady, rhythmic breathing right by her ear.


    He¡¯d already drifted off.


    She waited a while longer, but just couldn¡¯t fall asleep herself¨Cso she tried to quietly slip away without waking him.


    But the second she tried to slip away, Joshua¡¯s arm around her waist just tightened even more.


    ¡®Perfect, Xylia grumbled to herself. ¡®Now I¡¯mpletely stuck.


    Guess I¡¯m officially just his human pillow now, she thought, resigning herself to being cuddled.


    Everything was perfectly quiet.


    Without even feeling sleepy at first, Xylia found herself nodding off in Joshua¡¯s arms, the peaceful silence lulling her into sleep before she knew it.


    <b>8:30 </b>Thu<b>, </b>Sep <b>18 </b><b>N </b>


    By the time Xylia came to, a whole two hours had already flown by.


    She shot upright in bed, still feeling half¨Casleep and totally out of it.


    Joshua was already gone¨CXylia had no clue when he¡¯d slipped out.


    Xylia pulled out her phone and found a message from Joshua waiting for her.


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    [You looked totally out cold, so I didn¡¯t wake you. Got a packed afternoon ahead, but if your studio isn¡¯t busy, wanna grab dinner tonight?]


    He¡¯d even tacked on an absolutely adorable sticker at the end.


    It was a silver¨Chaired anime avatar with a big question mark floating over its head.


    Xylia had never seen that anime character before, but it was uncannily simr to Joshua.


    She texted back, ¡°Sounds good.¡±


    Joshua didn¡¯t reply¨Che must have been busy.


    Xylia freshened up a little and figured she¡¯d use the spare time to just wander around the ce.


    As soon as she stepped out of the office, she nearly bumped into a shy¨Clooking womaning her way.


    One of the secretaries was guiding her in, clearly ufortable, and said,


    ¡°Miss Sinir, Mr. Garcia is really in a meeting right now. He doesn¡¯t have any time to see visitors¡­¡±


    But before she could finish, the woman¨CMiss Sinir¨Cstopped dead in her tracks.


    She yanked off her sunsses and shot Xylia a re that could cut ss.


    ¡°Who the hell are you? Why are youing out of Joshua¡¯s office?¡± she snapped.


    Then she turned back to the secretary, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say Joshua was in a meeting? So who¡¯s this chick?¡±


    The secretary looked about ready to drop dead on the spot.


    ¡°That¡¯s the boss¡¯s future wife right there! Seriously, she just walked out of Mr. Garcia¡¯s office, big deal or what?¡® the secretary griped inwardly, feeling absolutely stuck.


    But she was way too scared to say any of that to Miss Sinir¨Cwhat if the woman just snapped and pped her out of nowhere?


    Honestly, it wasn¡¯t even an exaggeration. Jessica Sinir could absolutely pull something wild like that.


    The secretary was totally at a loss, her lips parting but no wordsing out.


    Xylia quickly spoke up, ¡°Joshua really is in a meeting right now¡­¡±


    8:30 Thu, Sep 18 N


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    Jessica snapped before Xylia could finish, her voice sharp and scornful. ¡°Who are you to call Joshua by his name? Just who do you think you are?¡±


    Xylia barely got a word out before Jessica cut her off, barking at her with obvious fury.


    ¡®What¡¯s with this woman?¡® Xylia frowned, sizing her up. ¡®Is she trying to act like she¡¯s got Hyperman Syndrome or something?¡®


    The secretaries watched nervously from the sidelines, none of them daring to step in.


    Not a single one had the guts to interfere.


    A junior assistant trailing behind Miss Sinir edged close to Xylia and murmured under her breath, ¡°Ms. Sadler, that¡¯s Miss Sinir over there¨Cthe one clinging to Mr. Garcia all these years.


    Her family and Mr. Garcia¡¯s were supposed to be joined by marriage ages ago, but that deal fell through. Still, Miss Sinir keeps popping up and causing Mr. Garcia endless drama¡­¡±


    Even though she kept her voice low, Miss Sinir¡¯s ears caught it anyway.


    Without so much as a warning, Miss Sinir whipped her crocodile bag right at the junior assistant¡¯s head.


    The assistant squealed in pain.


    Still fuming, Miss Sinir grabbed the junior assistant by the hair.


    ¡°You little bitch! I¡¯m Joshua¡¯s fianc¨¦e¨Cthat¡¯s never changed! Who told you it¡¯s off? Spread lies like that one more time and I¡¯ll shut that big mouth of yours for good!¡± Jessica screamed.


    Xylia quickly stepped forward and pushed Jessica aside.


    Jessica still had a fistful of the assistant¡¯s hair clutched in her hand.


    The


    poor assistant was in so much pain, tears instantly sprang to her eyes.

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    Xylia gently helped the secretary, worry clear in her voice. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    The secretary shook her head, her eyes red and swollen from crying.


    The secretaries who¡¯d just been watching finally crowded around after seeing someone get hit.


    Xylia told them, ¡°Take her to the hospital and get her checked out.¡±


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    Jessica mmed her diamond¨Cstudded crocodile bag at the secretary¡¯s head, splitting it open and drawing blood.


    The secretary was helped into the elevator by the others.


    Only then did Xylia turn to Jessica. ¡°What gives you the right to hit someone?¡±


    Jessica shot Xylia a deadly re, looking like she was ready to eat her alive. ¡°Why do you care? What are you to Joshua, anyway?¡±


    She clutched her crocodile bag, eyes fixed on Xylia, clearly waiting for an answer. If it turned out to be the rtionship she was thinking of, she looked ready to smash that bag over Xylia¡¯s head at any second.


    There was no way Xylia was going to butt heads with Jessica right now.


    Her wrists and ankles were still on the mend; if she tried to go up against her, she¡¯d probably just get herself hurt all over again.


    Xylia asked softly, ¡°So, what¡¯s your rtionship with Joshua, anyway?¡±


    Jessica was fuming. ¡°Ugh, didn¡¯t I say it already? We¡¯re engaged to be married!¡±


    Xylia pointed out, ¡°But you guys called off the engagement, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Jessica¡¯s face was practically twisted in fury. ¡°I already told you¡ªwe didn¡¯t break it off! Joshua dumped me all on his own, and I NEVER agreed!¡±


    Xylia privately wondered, ¡®Did this woman just escape from the psych ward or something?¡±


    ¡°So, what exactly brings you here looking for Joshua?¡± Xylia deflected, hoping to get the conversation away from the awkward engagement drama.


    Xylia quickly changed the subject, trying to distract Jessica and diffuse the tension.


    She shot a quick look at the secretary beside her, subtly hinting that she should go get security.


    The secretary caught on and gave her a discreet ¡®OK¡® sign with her fingers.


    Jessica, still seething, shot back, ¡°I¡¯m obviously here to demand why he broke off our engagement! We were childhood sweethearts¨Cwhat right does he have to just toss me aside?¡±


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    Then she zeroed in on Xylia, her eyes narrowed. ¡°And who the hell are you to grill me like this? You still haven¡¯t answered¨Cwho exactly are you, and why did you walk out of Joshua¡¯s office?¡±


    She stared at Xylia almost like she was the other womaning between them.


    Xylia kept her cool. ¡°I¡¯m his sister.¡±


    Jessica shot back, ¡°Don¡¯t give me that! He¡¯s an only child¨Cno sister!¡±


    Xylia just shrugged. ¡°Even cousins are basically sisters.¡±


    Jessica narrowed her eyes, looking suspicious, but she sort of seemed to buy it¨Cfor now.


    Lying came so easy to Xylia, she didn¡¯t even break a sweat.


    Jessica paused to think, then suddenly exploded, ¡°You¡¯re lying! Joshua¡¯s mom is an only child¨Cthere¡¯s no way he has a cousin or even a ¡®sister¡® like you!¡±


    ¡®Wow, looks like this Hyperman Syndrome patient has got some smarts, Xylia thought to herself, a bit surprised.


    Xylia was already nning how to keep up her story.


    But before she could get another word out, Jessica swung her jeweled crocodile bag right at her.


    ¡°You slut! I know you¡¯re trying to seduce my fianc¨¦! Today I¡¯m going to beat you to death!¡± Jessica screamed furiously.


    Xylia dodged to the side in a sh, thinking, ¡®Seriously, where¡¯s security? At this rate, I¡¯m no match for a Hyperman Syndrome freak going berserk!¡®


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Joshua¡¯s furious shout cut through themotion.


    A burst of angry yelling came from the side.


    Xylia nced over and saw Joshua rushing toward them from the direction of the elevator, tension etched across his face.


    His whole demeanor radiated worry.


    Jessica stopped dead in her tracks, her whole face lighting up the instant she spotted Joshua.


    ¡°Joshua! I finally get to see you!¡± she burst out, her attitude flipping in a heartbeat. She quickly stowed her bag and all but threw herself at him, beaming from ear to ear.


    But Joshua didn¡¯t give Jessica a single look. He strode straight up to Xylia,pletely focused on her.


    Joshua¡¯s eyes swept her anxiously from head to toe, taking in every detail.


    He blurted, ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


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    Xylia shook her head. ¡°Why are you here? Weren¡¯t you supposed to be in a meeting?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s tone was gentle but firm. ¡°If I didn¡¯t show up, what would you do without me?¡±


    Seeing Xylia was unharmed, Joshua finally let out a breath he¡¯d been holding.


    That¡¯s when Xylia noticed the same secretary from earlier following right after Joshua.


    The moment the secretary met Xylia¡¯s gaze, she shed another ¡®OK¡® gesture at her.


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    Xylia facepalmed, feeling helpless. ¡®Seriously? She thought I wanted her to get Joshua toe help? I meant security, not him,¡® she grumbled inwardly.


    ¡®Great, she totally misunderstood me,¡¯ Xylia thought, half amused and half exasperated.


    Jessica Sinir was about to lose it, practically seething as she watched Joshua fuss over Xylia.


    ¡°Joshua, are you even seeing me? Is she all you care about now¨Cyour precious ¡®cousin¡®? Why are you so obsessed with her?¡± Jessica snapped, barely keeping her anger in check.


    Joshua looked down at Xylia, his brows knitting in confusion. ¡°Cousin?¡±


    Xylia rubbed her nose, admitting quietly, ¡°I made that up¨Cjust trying to protect myself.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s expression darkened, and without even ncing at Jessica, he called out, ¡°David!¡±


    David, who had been trailing behind Joshua, had just finished a call. ¡°Yes, Mr. Garcia?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s voice was cold and sharp. ¡°Get the Sinirs toe pick up this nutjob, and have security throw her out.¡±


    ¡°Right away, Mr. Garcia,¡± David replied, already on the move.


    ¡®Seriously, she¡¯s totally off her rocker,¡® Xylia thought, shaking her head.


    ¡®Guess my instincts were spot on¡­ I didn¡¯t expect Jessica to actually be nuts, Xylia mused, half amused and half speechless.


    Jessica snapped again the moment she heard Joshua call her crazy, her rage practically exploding.


    ¡°Joshua! How could you say I¡¯m insane? Even if I am, it¡¯s all your fault! You drove me mad! Tell me¨Cwhy did you dump me? Why? Why?¡± she screamed, her voice shaking with anger and heartbreak.


    As she shrieked, she stormed toward Joshua, wild¨Ceyed and out of control.


    Joshua pulled Xylia behind him, throwing a frosty look at Jessica that could chill anyone to the bone.


    Those eyes that were always full of warmth now glinted cold as ice, his presence so overpowering it felt like the whole room froze over.


    Even Jessica Sinir, infamous for her Hyperman Syndrome bravado, found herself cowering under that


    8:31 Thu, Sep <b>18 </b><b>N </b>


    stare.


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    She stopped dead just a few steps away from him, suddenly too scared to move any closer.


    Joshua¡¯s tone was icy. ¡°This isn¡¯t the ce for your craziness.¡±


    Icy cold, Joshua spoke, shutting down all chaos around him.


    Jessica¡¯s eyes were rimmed with tears and fury, her face twisted in rage.


    ¡°Joshua, you heartless bastard! You-¡± she shrieked, but before she could finish, security burst onto the scene.


    Screaming, Jessica was cut off mid¨Crant by the arrival of security.


    At Joshua¡¯smand, the guards mped a hand over Jessica¡¯s mouth and dragged her out, fighting every step of the way.


    Once Jessica was dragged out, the Executive Office finally quieted down.


    With his meeting interrupted, Joshua told David to reschedule, then held Xylia by the hand and headed back to his office together.


    Noelle hade up right after them, watching everything unfold. She balled her fists so tightly she could barely feel her fingers, trying to hold back her emotions.


    She hadn¡¯t expected it¨Ceven Jessica Sinir, with all her wild drama, hadn¡¯tid a finger on Xylia.


    The way Xylia stayed so calm the whole time, it was like Jessica didn¡¯t even matter to her.


    ¡®Is she really that unfazed?¡® Noelle couldn¡¯t help but wonder, her thoughts spinning.


    The door to the Executive Office closed firmly. Jessica Sinir lingered for a moment, her eyes cold and hard, before finally turning away and walking off.


    Inside the office, Joshua took Xylia¡¯s hand and started to exin in a rush.


    ¡°That whole engagement thing? My dad just made it up after one too many drinks, back when I was a kid. The moment I grew up, I did everything I could to get rid of it. I swear¨Cthere¡¯s absolutely nothing between me and that lunatic. Not even a shred!¡±


    Joshua spoke so fast he barely paused for breath, desperate to clear things up.


    Xylia pressed her lips together, thinking it over for a long time before finally asking, ¡°Is any of this because of you?¡±


    If Jessica had really lost her mind just because of the broken engagement, the Sinirs never would¡¯ve let Joshua off the hook.


    Joshua shook his head.


    ¡°She¡¯s always been that way, just a bit milder as a kid. The older she got, the worse her temper became. They


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    diagnosed her with anger issues once, but honestly, I don¡¯t know what she¡¯s dealing with now,¡± he exined.


    ¡®So that¡¯s how it is, Xylia thought, feeling a bit of relief settle in.


    She let out a small sigh of relief.


    But then she frowned, her mind racing. ¡°Wait a minute¨Cif she¡¯s got mental issues, shouldn¡¯t she be in a hospital or kept at home and away from any drama? How did she even get out? And why show up here looking for you?¡±


    Even if her family wasn¡¯t keeping her under lock and key, she hasn¡¯t been stirring up drama for Joshuately.


    It¡¯s not like she¡¯s popped up causing chaos these past few weeks.


    So why is she suddenly showing up now?


    Joshua¡¯s lips quirked into a chilling half¨Csmile, a predatory glint flickering through his eyes. ¡°Yeah, strange how she managed to get out, isn¡¯t it?¡°##194.Chapter 194 Love Makes You Unrecognizable


    Joshua had to reschedule the meeting, and because of the dy earlier, it ended up running much longer than nned.


    He was feeling restless as he headed out to the meeting.


    But just as he reached the door, Joshua whined a little, turned back, and grabbed Xylia¡¯s hand like a big softie.


    ¡°Baby, if I¡¯m tied up and get homete, just go eat by yourself, okay? Don¡¯t go hungry on my ount,¡± Joshua said gently.


    Joshua¡¯s sweet ¡°Baby!¡± echoed in the room¨CXylia could only stare at him, absolutely speechless.


    Her mind went nk with disbelief; was this really the same Joshua?


    Ever since she¡¯d started dating him, the man she once knew for his arrogant, frosty exterior had practically turned into a big softie, dropping the tough act to shower her with affection at a moment¡¯s notice.


    ¡®Where had his ruthless side gone?¡® Xylia wondered, a wry thought crossing her mind.


    ¡®And what about that rebellious streak he used to have?¡®


    Xylia nudged his head away and told him what he wanted to hear.


    Xylia reassured him, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my girl,¡± Joshua said, doting on her.


    He leaned in, gave her cheek a quick kiss, and strode out of the office.


    Xylia shook her fist at Joshua¡¯s retreating back, half¨Cangry, half¨Camused.


    ¡®He¡¯s acting like he¡¯s worried I¡¯ll go hungry! Hah, as if


    8:31 Thu, Sep 18 N


    ¡®Truth is, he¡¯s just terrified I won¡¯t wait and eat dinner without him.¡®


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    But honestly, whenever he gets all whiny and cute, all my defenses just go out the window.


    Seriously, how am I supposed to say no when he looks that freaking handsome?


    Xylia just shrugged it off and walked out of the office, leaving Garcia Group behind.


    Her first stop was at the studio, where she casually updated Josie about handing the proposal over to Joshua.


    Sharon leaned in, grinning from ear to ear.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, if we score this order, it¡¯ll be our studio¡¯s first real payday!¡± she chirped, practically bouncing with excitement.


    But Xylia couldn¡¯t help but dampen her enthusiasm a little.


    ¡°Garcia Group hasn¡¯t just sent an olive branch our way¨Cthey¡¯ve reached out to other top studios andpanies, too. Their expert team will do the picking, so it¡¯s anyone¡¯s game right now,¡± Xylia said.


    Sharon¡¯s face fell, and she slumped back in her chair, but then her eyes suddenly sparkled again as she turned to Xylia.


    ¡°Xylia, you gotta do this for the studio! Just turn on a little charm for Mr. Garcia¨Che never stands a chance against you! You know what they say, even the biggest tough guys can¡¯t say no to a gorgeous girl. Just give him a teasing smile and I bet he¡¯ll sign off on the deal before you know it!¡± Sharon teased.


    Josie bobbed her head in wild agreement.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there that old saying? ¡®If you want something done, just work your magic at home. Go on, Xylia, try it out!¡± Josie urged.


    Xylia caught the mischievous glint in their eyes.


    With a yful grin, she reached out and gave each of them a light smack on the head.


    ¡°Stoping up with these awful ns,¡± Xylia scolded.


    After their little mischief, Sharon and Josie burst outughing and darted away.


    Of course, neither Sharon nor Josie would ever seriously ask Xylia to y dirty just tond a deal.


    If you only win contracts by pulling strings instead of showing true skill, your sess isn¡¯t going tost long in this game.


    No matter what life throws at you, the real key is making it on your own.


    After a while working at the studio, Xylia¡¯s phone suddenly rang.


    It was an unknown number.


    8:31 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Ha


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    Xylia froze for a second, remembering thest call she got from Yves and Gia¨Cyeah, she really wasn¡¯t in the mood for a chat with them.


    But it could be a client, and after a quick second of hesitation, she picked up anyway.


    Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t Gia on the other end.


    Bad news? The caller didn¡¯t say a word¨CXylia had no idea who it was.


    ¡°Hi, this is Xylic Studio. Are you calling about a custom order? You can just tell me what you¡¯re looking for,¡± Xylia said.


    Xylia tried a couple more times to get a response, but there was nothing but silence on the other side.


    After a moment, Xylia hung up.


    ¡®Bet that¡¯s just another scam call, Xylia thought to herself, rolling her eyes.


    Joshua was swamped with work until seven that evening before he finally had a chance to breathe.


    He¡¯d already had David reserve a restaurant early, and the moment Joshua got back to his office, he couldn¡¯t wait to invite Xylia out for dinner.


    But as soon as he stepped in, what he saw stopped him in his tracks¨Cthere was Xylia, curled up on the sofa, deep asleep and looking so sweet it made his heart soften.


    She¡¯d snuggled into a ball, having rummaged through his cab for a nket, then burrowed herself under it like it was her safe little haven.


    Joshua¡¯s footsteps unconsciously slowed, a gentle smile tugging at his lips and even his brows rxed in soft affection.


    His warm eyes lingered on Xylia, her sleeping face reflected in his gaze as he just stood there, utterly captivated.


    For the first time in ages, Joshua¡¯s long¨Cempty heart overflowed with a sense of belonging.


    Joshua didn¡¯t want to wake her.


    But Xylia must have sensed his intense gaze because she slowly opened her eyes.


    When she saw Joshua standing so close, she rubbed her eyes and sat up.


    ¡°Are you done with work?¡± Xylia asked.


    Once she was done at the studio, Xylia casually dropped by Garcia Group again.


    Joshua was still buried in work, so Xylia decided not to interrupt. She made herselffy on the office sofa and started watching old runwaypetition videos, quietly passing the time.


    Somewhere along the way, she ended up dozing off.


    <b>8:31 </b>Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


    When Xylia woke up again, she was met with Joshua¡¯s hungry eyes locking right onto her.


    Not getting a reply from Joshua, Xylia asked, ¡°Are we heading out for dinner now?¡±


    Joshua was silent for a couple seconds.


    Then, out of nowhere, he leaned in and imed her lips in a sudden, passionate kiss.


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    Xylia was caught off guard¨Cit all happened so suddenly that her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively grabbed Joshua¡¯s hand, a little nervous.


    She shyly responded to his kiss.


    After what felt like forever, Joshua finally pulled away.


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    ¡°Love isn¡¯t real without hugs, kisses, and picking you up in my arms,¡± he teased, shing her a yful grin.


    His grin stretched even wider, looking totally smitten and head¨Cover¨Cheels, like he was all sunshine and springtime just for her.


    ¡®Honestly, Xylia thought to herself, ¡®falling in love really does turn you into a whole different person.


    The news of Connor and Tessa¡¯s wedding had been blowing up everywhere for ages.


    Ever since the headlines were all about his big day, Connor just kept his phone close by, waiting for a call that. never seemed toe.


    He was always hoping he¡¯d get that one confrontational phone call.


    But as the wedding buzz faded and news slowed to a quiet trickle, that call from her¨Cstill never came.


    Connor was starting to get antsy.


    ¡®Does Xylia really not give a damn that I¡¯m getting married again so soon?¡® Connor thought, frustration bubbling up inside him.


    Compared to Connor¡¯s moody vibe, Sonny was seriously riding high.


    Sonny was practically bouncing off the walls¨Che was that happy.


    For as long as he could remember, he¡¯d always wanted Tessa to be his mom, and now that wish was finallying true. The excitement on his face said it all.


    Ever sinceing back from Norhill, Tessa slipped right back into her old Ms. Schultz ways¨Calways taking Sonny out to y, making his favorite meals, and caring for him in all the little everyday ways that really


    mattered.


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    She might not fuss over every detail like his birth mom used to, but to Sonny, Tessa was just the perfect mom for him¨Cno one could fit that role better.


    After Tessa finished a quick call with Ziggy, she headed back to the bedroom.


    Sonny was in there, animatedly telling Connor all about his day at school.


    As Tessa looked at Sonny¨Chis features uncannily simr to Xylia¨Cshe couldn¡¯t help but feel her dislike for him deepen even more.


    ¡°Dad, why are you still so moody? You¡¯re about to marry Tessa, aren¡¯t you?¡± Sonny asked, frowning at Connor.


    Sonny frowned hard at Connor, a confused look on his face.


    Connor, clearly annoyed by Sonny¡¯s attitude towards Xylia, said seriously, ¡°No matter who I marry, Xylia is the only mom you¡¯ll ever have.¡±


    Sonny just pursed his lips and only half¨Clistened, clearly unimpressed.


    Deep down, he just wished Tessa could be his one and only mom.


    Just then, Tessa walked in and spotted Sonny sulking on the couch, looking all seriously gloomy. She grinned and teased, ¡°Why the glum face, huh? Did you get into it with your dad or something?¡±


    Sonny took a deep breath, struggling with his feelings before finally speaking up to Tessa.


    In a soft voice, he said, ¡°Tessa, I really want you to be my real mommy, but Dad says I can only have one


    mom.¡±


    He hung his head, feelingpletely crushed.


    Tessa reached out and gently stroked his hair, soothing him.


    She reassured him with a loving promise, ¡°From now on, I¡¯m your mom¨Cnobody can ever change that.¡±


    Feeling much better, Sonny hugged his picture book to his chest and quietly went back to his room.


    Finally, Tessa looked over at Connor.


    ¡°Connor, do you still not want to marry me?¡± Tessa asked, her voice barely hiding the hurt.


    Connor hesitated, then replied, ¡°No, it¡¯s not that¡­¡±


    Tessa could tell Connor was lying, but she didn¡¯t press the issue.


    She just smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s all I needed to hear. You don¡¯t have to worry about a thing¨CI¡¯ve got the


    whole wedding handled. Just focus on your work at thepany, okay?¡±

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    Connor listened to Tessa¡¯s words in silence, his face showing none of the joy you¡¯d expect from a groom.


    He had a lonely look about him, though he wasn¡¯t even sure why.


    He wasn¡¯t even sure what he was feeling lonely about.


    These past few days, all he could think about was Xylia¨Cher face, the sound of her voice. But he really shouldn¡¯t be thinking about her.


    But he knew he shouldn¡¯t.


    Connor always told himself that the one he truly cared about should¡¯ve been Tessa. The only reason he ended up marrying Xylia was because he had no other choice¨Call because of Tessa.


    Everything he¡¯d done for Xylia as her husband was out of duty, not love¨Cthat¡¯s what he told himself. He¡¯d always believed he owed her, nothing more.


    ¡®I¡¯ve never loved Xylia, have I?¡® Connor questioned himself, convincing himself that¡¯s just how it was.


    ¡®But now?¡® Connor caught himself thinking, surprised at how things had shifted.


    On the eve of his wedding to Tessa, all he could do was worry about a phone call from his ex¨Cwife. How ridiculous was that?


    ¡®It¡¯s like something deep inside me is quietly changing,¡± he thought, unsure when it had even started.


    Connor went back to his study to deal with some work.


    Just as he pulled out his phone, he got a text from an unknown number.


    Ford Group¡¯s opening a branch in Norhill.


    When Connor saw the message, his furrowed brow rxed a little.


    Perfect, he¡¯d been wanting to make a trip to Norhill before the wedding anyway.


    Xylia showed up at the bar on the dot, scanning the room as she stepped inside.


    The bar had just opened for the night, and guests were beginning to fill the ce one after another.


    She quickly noticed Noelle sitting at the bar counter.


    Noelle caught sight of her too and waved enthusiastically. ¡°Ms. Sadler, over here!¡±


    Noelle was all smiles today, which instantly had Xylia raising an eyebrow.


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    Most days, Noelle was never warm to her¨Calways finding ways to throw shade or shooting her dagger¨Clike looks whenever she got the chance.


    ¡®Where¡¯s this friendly acting from all of a sudden?¡® Xylia wondered, genuinely baffled.


    Xylia sat down beside Noelle.


    Noelle waved at the bartender. ¡°Can we get a drink for Ms. Sadler here?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t, I¡¯m on medication,¡± Xylia replied.


    ¡®Medication? Seriously?¡® Noelle thought, raising an eyebrow in obvious doubt.


    Noelle barely knew Xylia, so she figured Xylia was just trying to snub her. Her smile vanished, reced by a scowl.


    ¡°Look, I didn¡¯t ask you toe here just to chat,¡± Noelle said coldly. ¡°If you won¡¯t even have a drink, then you can kiss all that info goodbye.¡±


    Xylia looked at Noelle with cool indifference,pletely unbothered.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, Ms. Coffey, enjoy your drink alone,¡± she said tly.


    She picked up her bag and headed for the exit.


    Noelle freaked out and grabbed Xylia by the arm. ¡°Who said you could leave?¡±


    Xylia turned back, her voice icy and unbothered. ¡°Let¡¯s not forget, you invited me here, Ms. Coffey. You can spill about Joshua or keep your secrets¨CI¡¯ll get what I want, with or without you. So don¡¯t think you can push


    me around.¡±


    Noelle¡¯s face fell in an instant.


    Her gaze on Xylia grew icy.


    But it was gone in a sh. She masked the chill in her expression and relented.


    ¡°No more pressure. Just take a seat,¡± Noelle said, her tone halfway between casual and begrudging.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but stay on high alert around Noelle now.


    There¡¯s no way Noelle dragged her here just to shoot the breeze¨Cshe definitely had something up her sleeve.


    Xylia noticed how desperate Noelle got when she pretended to leave, practically begging her to stay and biting back her annoyance. ¡®Either she wants to tell me something major, or she¡¯s got her own agenda and needs me for it, Xylia thought.


    Xylia masked her suspicion and coolly took her seat next to Noelle, keeping her guard up.


    She was curious to see what game Noelle was ying, and what kind of secrets she might try to drop tonight.


    8:31 Thu<b>, </b>Sep 18 N


    Noelle waved the bartender over and ordered a juice for her.


    Xylia epted the ss, but just held it in her hand, not taking a sip.


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    Noelle said, ¡°Originally I was thinking we could grab dinner, but I randomly felt likeing for drinks instead. Guess I didn¡¯t know you don¡¯t drink¨Cyou¡¯re not mad, are you?¡±


    ¡®Not like I came here for a dinner anyway, Xylia thought coolly.


    ¡°Of course I don¡¯t mind,¡± Xylia replied, her tone calm and distant.


    Noelle stared at Xylia¡¯s unfazed expression, sneering to herself.


    ¡®Let¡¯s see if you can stay this calm for long,¡¯ she thought.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, you¡¯re here because you want to know how Joshua got hurt all those years ago, right?¡± Noelle said, her voice carrying more of a smug certainty than anything else.


    Xylia didn¡¯t reply, just gave Noelle a cool look that screamed, ¡®Did you really need to say that out loud?¡®


    Her gaze swept over Noelle, indifferent and almost bored, like she couldn¡¯t be bothered with pointless talk.


    Noelle obviously knew exactly why Xylia had shown up tonight, and still insisted on asking. Honestly, it just made here off as kind of clueless.


    Her expression soured even further.


    But she bit her tongue and held it in.


    Noelle stopped beating around the bush and faced Xylia head¨Con. ¡°The truth is, the ones who went after Joshua all those years ago¨Cwere the Garcia family¡¯s sworn enemies.¡±


    ¡®Sworn enemies?¡® Xylia frowned, shooting Noelle a probing look.


    Xylia kept her eyes fixed on Noelle, waiting for more.


    Now that Noelle had started spilling the beans, it was obvious she wasn¡¯t nning on holding anything back.


    The Garcia family boasted a legacy that stretched back over a century, standing as one of Alvend¡¯s true old- money dynasties¨Can elite household everyone knew about.


    Despite their wealth and influence, the Garcias always kept things humble and rarely made waves among the country¡¯s wealthy elite. Still, when their name came up, even the most powerful had to show respect.


    Their roots traced back to an old¨Ctime bodyguard agency, but generations ago, the family patriarch began investing in Jupiton and amassed a fortune that set the Garcias apart for good.


    But when Aaron took over the Garcia Group, he ended up making enemies with a secretive organization from Kregonia.


    Back in his younger days, Aaron fought against this hidden group and won by just a hair. After that, he and his


    <b>8:32 </b>Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


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    family enjoyed a brief period of peace.


    For all the years while Joshua was growing up, that organization stayed in the shadows, never once troubling the Garcia Group.


    But as soon as Joshua took power as head of the Group, they finally reappeared¨Cready to make his life hell.


    ¡®So that¡¯s it¡­ Xylia thought, her eyes growing a shade colder as she listened.


    She asked Noelle, ¡°Is it that guy¨CDexter?¡±


    Noelle froze, obviously thrown off¨CWait, Joshua actually told her about Dexter?¡® she thought, hiding her surprise.


    Jealousy shed across Noelle¡¯s eyes, but she quickly buried it, her tone noticeably chillier than before as she replied.


    ¡°Dexter¡¯s just a small¨Ctime boss in that secret organization. The real big boss still hasn¡¯t made an appearance,¡± Noelle said.


    The bottom line was, a decade ago, the Garcia family¡¯s sworn enemi just couldn¡¯t seal the deal.


    wanted Joshua dead¨Cthey tried, but


    And even now, they¡¯re still out there in the shadows, plotting against him without ever letting up.


    Joshua¡¯s life ever since has basically been one long game of survival¨Clike every day, he¡¯s got a knife in his hand and wolves at his back.


    Xylia thought about how busy Joshua had beentely.


    But sometimes, even when work was piling up, he just wasn¡¯t at the office. David always dodged her questions, never giving her a straight answer. ¡®Maybe that¡¯s what he¡¯s been tied up with all this time,¡® she thought.


    After Noelle finished, she watched Xylia¡¯s thoughtful face.


    Noelle smirked to herself.


    ¡®Heck, even a regr person would steer clear of Joshua after hearing that,¡® Noelle thought.


    ¡®So what¡¯s Xylia going to do, now that she¡¯s Joshua¡¯s girlfriend? She must be freaking out,¡¯ she sneered inside.


    Those Kregonian people? Laws mean nothing to them¨Cthey¡¯d throw away lives without a second thought.


    If they failed to take down Joshua, his girlfriend would be first in the line of fire.


    Noelle sneered to herself, thinking Xylia must be scared out of her mind, itching to break things off with Joshua as soon as she could.


    But to Noelle¡¯s surprise, Xylia didn¡¯t look scared at all. Her expression was serious, but there was no trace of fear in her eyes.


    8:32 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Noelle gave Xylia a long, skeptical look before finally asking, ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared?¡±


    Xylia nced at Noelle, and it took her a second to realize what Noelle was getting at.


    ¡°Scared of what?¡± Xylia replied.


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    ¡°Scared for Joshua!¡± Noelle blurted out, her voice anxious. ¡°He¡¯s already got people after him. Now that you¡¯re his girlfriend, you¡¯re in danger too. Aren¡¯t you freaked out?¡±


    Xylia understood what Noelle was getting at.


    She paused for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯ve saved Joshua before and helped him drive a few of those people off. I bet they¡¯ve had their eye on me for ages. If I¡¯m scared, it¡¯s not just because I¡¯m dating Joshua.¡±


    P

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    Noelle hadn¡¯t expected Xylia to give an answer like that. She let out a sharp snort, totally convinced Xylia was just pretending to be all high and mighty. ¡®Wait till something really goes wrong for her, Noelle thought coldly, let¡¯s see if she can still act like she¡¯s above it all then.¡®


    Darkness descended, wrapping the city in its velvet shroud.


    The bar¡¯s music pulsed harder, electrifying the air with its wild beat.


    The dance floor at the center was already packed, crowded with young people lost in the rhythm.


    It was midnight¨Ccolorful lights, bodies moving in sync, and a mysterious heat surging through the revelers. This was their technicolor celebration, sparked alive by a secret passion that only came out after dark.


    Noelle kept ncing at the door while she spoke.


    Xylia just acted like she didn¡¯t notice and asked,


    ¡°Ms. Coffey, you brought me all the way here and spilled everything I wanted to know. So, what is it that you¡¯re really after?¡± -Xylia


    Noelle smiled. ¡°You must be kidding. I¡¯m Joshua¡¯s only sister¨Cso naturally, I know a ton about him.¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t want to tell you? Well, I thought I¡¯d fill you in. Honestly, there¡¯s no other motive.¡±


    She deliberately put extra emphasis on ¡°only,¡± almost like she was throwing it in Xylia¡¯s face.


    Noelle was clearly trying to show off just how close she was to Joshua, hoping to rub it in and outshine Xylia.


    But Xylia couldn¡¯t have cared less.


    Just as Xylia was about to leave, Noelle¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened¨Cshe¡¯d caught sight of someone at the door.


    Before Xylia could even say goodbye, Noelle jumped in, waving toward the entrance to grab attention.


    ¡°Miss Sinir! Over here!¡± Noelle called out loudly, making sure her voice carried through the crowd.


    A chill ran down Xylia¡¯s spine when she heard Noelle call out. ¡®Jessica Sinir?¡®¨Cthe name shed in her mind, her stomach twisting with nerves.


    ¡®Jessica Sinir?¡®¨CXylia couldn¡¯t believe her ears.


    She spun around, and there she was¨CJessica herself, standing right there.


    Jessica stood there with her usual icy look, eyes zing with such fierce hostility it felt like she was ready to eat Xylia alive.


    ¡®Oh, so that¡¯s what Noelle was waiting for, Xylia realized.


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    Noelle had actually asked Xylia out before Jessica ever showed up, so even if Noelle had some hidden agenda, Xylia would never have guessed it had anything to do with Jessica.


    Xylia turned to Noelle and said, ¡°Alright, since we¡¯re done here, I¡¯ll get going. Drinks are on me tonight.¡±


    Just as she was about to leave, Noelle held her back.


    ¡°Hey, Ms. Sadler, since you¡¯re already here, why not hang out a bit longer? Miss Sinir isn¡¯t someke monster waiting to gobble you up,¡± Noelle added with a yful, pointed smile.


    Just then, Jessica Sinir approached and stopped right in front of them.


    Just like Noelle had predicted, Jessica had dropped the spoiled attitude she¡¯d shown at Garcia Group; tonight, she simply greeted Xylia with unexpected calm.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, you¡¯re heading out as soon as I get here? Am I really that unimportant to you?¡± Jessica said, her voice edged with challenge.


    ¡°We¡¯re not really close, Miss Sinir,¡± Xylia responded coolly.


    Jessica¡¯s eyes shed dangerously, but when Noelle shot her a look, she gritted her teeth and held her temper in check.


    ¡°Come on, chatting a little more and we¡¯ll be besties in no time! Park it right here,¡± Noelle chimed in, clearly not taking no for an answer.


    Jessica was already getting frustrated, and unlike Noelle, she wasn¡¯t even trying to hide it.¡¯-third person narration/psychological.


    Caught between the two of them, Xylia had no choice but to sit back down.


    Xylia remembered Leon had a gig somewhere close by tonight¨Cprobably kicking off around midnight. Not wanting to make a scene, she shot him a quick text under the table, asking if he could swing byter to get her out of here.


    But before she could even blink, Noelle snatched her phone right out of her hand¨Cno warning, just straight- up grabbed it.


    ¡°We agreed to actually talk¨Cwhat¡¯s with you texting instead?¡± Noelle snapped, not bothering to hide her


    annoyance.


    Then, without missing a beat, Noelle dropped Xylia¡¯s phone straight into a nearby wine ss, sshing red all


    over.


    Xylia¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°Even if we were friends, Ms. Coffey, what you just did really crossed the line.¡±


    Noelle scoffed, dismissing Xylia¡¯s anger like it was nothing. ¡°Honestly, you should consider yourself lucky we¡¯re even willing to be friends with you, Ms. Sadler.¡±


    Xylia was speechless. ¡°This woman seriously has no sense of shame, she thought.


    8:32 Thu, Sep 18 N


    ¡®Unbelievable. She doesn¡¯t even care if people think she¡¯s shameless,¡® Xylia griped to herself.


    Jessica Sinir eyed Xylia with growing annoyance, her re turning icier by the second.


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    Jessica gave a mocking snort. ¡°So, Joshua dumped me just to run after you¨Ca piece of used goods?¡±


    Noelle cut in, voice thick with sarcasm. ¡°Seriously, Miss Sinir? Ms. Sadler saved Joshua¡¯s life ten years ago. No wonder he feels he owes her everything¨Cincluding his heart.¡±


    Jessica¡¯s eyes red with hatred for a split second.


    ¡°Give himself to her? Wasn¡¯t she already married once? A twice¨Cdivorced, secondhand woman like her¨Chow does she have the nerve to think she¡¯s good enough for Joshua?¡± Jessica sneered.


    Xylia¡¯s expression went stone cold.


    ¡°Go ask Joshua yourself¨Cwas it me who forced him to be with me, or was he the one begging for it?¡± Xylia shot back.


    ¡°Even if Joshua is the one chasing after you, it¡¯s just because he feels he owes you¨Clet¡¯s be real, you¡¯ve already been married before, and now you want to snag him too? Aren¡¯t you just dragging him down?¡± Jessica sneered.


    Xylia snorted coldly. ¡®Wow, what messed¨Cup logic. She shot Jessica a look.


    ¡°So ording to you guys, any woman who¡¯s ever got married isn¡¯t allowed to fall in love again, huh?¡± ¨CXylia retorted, her voice full of sarcasm.


    Jessica smacked her palm hard against the bar. But with the club sting music, nobody even blinked¨Cher dramatic move barely made a ripple in the chaos.


    She shot Xylia a venomous re, as if ready to throw down. ¡°Are you seriously this clueless? Someone like you isn¡¯t even worthy of Joshua!¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t back down one bit.


    ¡°So what, you think you¡¯re the only one worthy of Joshua?¡± Xylia fired back, eyebrow raised.


    Jessica shed a smug smile. ¡°Joshua and I have been engaged since we were kids-¡±


    ¡°Yeah? Well, that¡¯s history. Engagement isn¡¯t marriage¨Cwhen both sides call it off, nobody¡¯s gonna brand you as secondhand or anything, Miss Sinir. Seriously, what exactly is your issue?¡± Xylia interrupted, flipping Jessica¡¯s own words right back at her.


    Jessica was still mid¨Csentence when Xylia turned it around on her, leaving her speechless and fuming.


    It was almost funny watching Jessica starting to lose it, her face twisting with rage that was about to burst out any second.


    Xylia didn¡¯t bother sticking around to watch Jessica lose her mind. She dropped her phone, grabbed her bag, and made a beeline for the exit.


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    But Noelle wasn¡¯t about to let her escape so easily. Smirking, she leisurely slid her foot out into Xylia¡¯s path, clearly determined to cause trouble.


    Xylia, caught off guard, stumbled forward¨Cright into the path of a waiter bncing a tray full of drinks.


    For a split second, the universe seemed to pause for dramatic effect¨CXylia was about to head straight for disaster.


    ¡®Great, just my luck, Xylia thought, squeezing her eyes shut and bracing herself for what wasing next.


    Suddenly, a hand shot out and caught her by the waist, steadying her as she nearly lost her bnce.


    In that dizzy moment, Xylia caught a whiff of a familiar scent.


    ¡°You okay?¡± someone asked softly, right beside her ear.


    Xylia looked up and saw Mia Monroe¡¯s delicate, pretty face.


    Mia¡¯s gaze was piercing¨Cclear as ice, and cold enough to send a chill straight through Xylia.


    ¡°I¨CI¡¯m fine¡­¡± Xylia stammered, her voice shaky as she tried to regain herposure.


    Xylia just stared at Mia Monroe, momentarily stunned and unable to process what had just happened.


    Noelle sprang up with what could only be called fake concern. ¡°Ms. Sadler, seriously, how could you be so careless? Did you fall? Are you hurt? Just look at you! If something goes wrong, how am I supposed to exin it to Joshua? He¡¯d never let me live it down!¡±


    Xylia slipped away from Noelle¡¯s reach and headed straight for Mia¡¯s side.


    Mia noticed Xylia was steering clear of Noelle and instantly guessed Noelle had been giving her trouble. She stepped right in front of Xylia, acting like her bodyguard and blocking Noelle off.


    ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with her?¡± Noelle demanded, her frustration obvious.


    Noelle shot Mia an annoyed look, clearly seeing her as someone poking her nose where it didn¡¯t belong.


    ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Noelle scoffed.


    ¡°It¡¯s not my business, but I¡¯m just the meddling type,¡± Mia replied, cool as ever.


    Mia was taller than Noelle by a good half a head, and standing there with her head slightly lowered, her whole vibe justpletely overshadowed Noelle¨Cit was like her presence alone made Noelle look small.


    Noelle had no idea who Mia Monroe was, but something about her set off rm bells¨Cshe definitely didn¡¯t want to get on her bad side. For a moment, Noelle was left speechless.


    Jessica, on the other hand, didn¡¯t have Noelle¡¯s reservations.


    When Mia butted in, Jessica went full berserk mode¨Csnatching up a bottle and whipping it straight at her.


    8:32 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Mia was quicker.


    :


    She swerved to the side, pulling Xylia with her, just barely dodging Jessica¡¯s flying bottle.


    The bottle smashed on the floor.


    The loud crash caught everyone¡¯s attention.


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    Jessica was still spoiling for a fight, but Mia just straight¨Cup kicked her out of the way, grabbed Xylia, and the


    two of them took off, covering their faces as they dashed out of the bar.


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    Mia was a pro at making a quick getaway.


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    She grabbed Xylia¡¯s hand, shoved her way through the crowd, and the two of them darted out of the bar in no time.


    Noelle reacted quickly and took off after them, but with all the people in the way, chasing them turned into an uphill battle.


    By the time Noelle managed to look up again, Xylia had already vanished from her sight.


    Noelle was so mad she could¡¯ve kicked something.


    Just as Xylia was being yanked out the front door by Mia, she overheard some incredulous voices from the crowd behind them.


    ¡°Wait, doesn¡¯t she look familiar? Isn¡¯t she a celebrity or


    me in the


    crowd blurted out.


    ¡®Wow, it finally clicked¨CMia¡¯s poprity has shot through the roof ever since that reality dating series, Xylia thought to herself.


    Once they were outside the hotel, Mia had alreadye to a stop, but Xylia kept pulling her along until they¡¯d rounded the corner, only then did she finally let go.


    Mia shot her a confused look. ¡°Why¡¯d you haul me out here anyway?¡±


    Xylia was just about to speak when Mia suddenly caught on.


    ¡°Oh, I see¨Cyou wanna thank me, right? Seriously, don¡¯t sweat it. I just can¡¯t stand it when people try to scheme against others at bars,¡± Mia said.


    As if she¡¯d suddenly remembered something, a sh of irritation appeared in Mia¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°I mean, yeah, I really do owe you one,¡± Xylia said, ¡°but honestly, that¡¯s not the only reason I dragged you away. I overheard people inside talking about recognizing you. If we¡¯d hung around the entrance, they might¡¯vee out and totally spotted you¨CI just didn¡¯t want you getting mobbed.¡±


    After hearing Xylia¡¯s exnation, Mia gave her a once¨Cover, finally taking a proper look.


    As if something had just clicked, Mia¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Wait a minute, I remember you! We ran into each other in the restroom at that beachside restaurant!¡±


    Xylia smiled and nodded. ¡°Yeah, that was me.¡±


    Mia continued, ¡°And I saw you again in the backstage lounge at that fashion brand¡¯s event.¡±


    Xylia grinned, ¡°Yeah, that was me too.¡±


    She stared Xylia down. ¡°So, what¡¯s up between you and Leon?¡±


    Mia hadn¡¯t met Xylia before, but she sure knew Hudson.


    255 vouchers


    Leon had kept his connection to the Sadlers hidden in showbiz, but Mia was no stranger to the truth.


    She also knew Hudson was Leon¡¯s little brother.


    And she¡¯d caught Hudson calling Xylia ¡°little sister¡± once.


    Xylia figured Mia had misunderstood her rtionship with Leon, so she quickly rified, ¡°I¡¯m Leon¡¯s sister- his actual sister.¡±


    Mia¡¯s expression turned even colder, like something unpleasant had just dawned on her. She gave Xylia a chilly nce. ¡°I see, so that¡¯s what it is.¡±


    Feeling Mia¡¯s sudden coldness and not knowing what she¡¯d done wrong, Xylia blurted out in a rush, ¡°Did I do something?¡±


    Mia shot back, usation clear in her voice. ¡°I knew it! So that¡¯s why Leon¡¯s been hounding metely¨Cit¡¯s you pulling the strings, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡®Wait, what? Why is she ming me for this?¡® Xylia thought, totally bewildered.


    Xylia pointed at herself, staring at Mia in disbelief.


    ¡°Me? What did I do?¡± Xylia said, shaking her head in confusion.


    Mia red at her, arms folded. ¡°You heard me talking to my manager in the restroom that day, right? You went and told Leon I wasn¡¯t keen on working with him, so now he won¡¯t leave me alone! He¡¯s got the whole show turning on me¨Clike I¡¯m some kind of scapegoat!¡±


    Xylia felt her lips twitch, honestly kind of speechless.


    ¡®So she actually thinks Leon¡¯s out to get her, not trying to win her over?¡® Xylia wondered. Out loud, she asked, ¡°Wait, you think Leon¡¯s messing with you rather than chasing after you?¡±


    Mia kept her arms crossed, her gaze chilly. ¡°I know exactly where I stand. Do me a favor and let your brother know¨Cthis whole fake partnership deal stops right here. I¡¯m done working with him.¡±


    Mia spat out herst words, her voice icy, and started to storm off.


    But just as she spun around, she saw Leon striding toward them, a mask covering his face¨Clooking like he¡¯d dropped everything to get there.


    Xylia caught sight of him too. ¡®Wow, he really did rush over as soon as he saw my message, she thought.


    His hair and makeup were only half finished, making it obvious he¡¯d been yanked straight out of prep.


    She hesitated for a second before calling out to Leon, ¡°Hey, Leon, you should probably set the record straight with Mia. She seems to be misunderstanding you.¡±


    8.32 Thu Sep 18 0


    th that Xylta sarted to walk away, figuring it was best to give them space.


    But Leon pointed to the dessert shop next door. ¡°Go inside, pick out some treats you want, and wait for me.¡±


    His tone was firm¨Che clearly wasn¡¯t asking.


    Xylia got the hint and headed into the dessert shop.


    Through the ss window, she watched as Leon and Mia started talking.


    But it didn¡¯t take long before things got heated. Leon reached out to grab Mia¡¯s hand, but she yanked it away and stormed off.


    It was clear they¡¯d ended on a sour note.


    Xylia was so anxious she almost sprinted out the door to break things up herself.


    But deep down she knew crashing their talk would only make things messier.


    Some problems in a rtionships were off¨Climits to outsiders¨Ceven if you were Leon¡¯s actual sister, you just had to stay out of it


    Leon lingered out on the street <b>for </b>a while before finally heading into the dessert shop.


    Xylia saw his eyes were a little red around the edges.


    Honestly, seeing a grown man that close to tears was kind of wild


    Right then, Xylia couldn¡¯t helps boom feel a lie bad for him.


    ¡®So¡­ what happened? Xylia asked, her voice soft


    Leon hesitated to say anything: he was worried that if he talked to Xylia about it, the tears might <be </b>whether he wanted them to oF NOL


    He didn¡¯t want to seem weak in front of his little sister.


    Instead, he took the stuff from Xylia¡¯s hands and headed to the counter to pay.


    Xylia handed Leon the boxed cake. I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s up between you guys, but you¡¯re the one trying to win her over. You¡¯ve got to stick with it¨Cthat¡¯s what chasing someone means. And if I remember right, Mia actually likes this one, so take it to her and set the record straight.¡±


    Leon epted the hazelnut cake, still looking a bit puzzled. ¡°Wait¨Chow do you even know she likes this?


    Mia had told him before she didn¡¯t even like cake.


    Xylia gave a little shrug. ¡°Well, apparently her fans say she¡¯s into it


    Leon was totally stumped


    ¡®How did I never think of checking her fan groups for tips on what she actually likes?¡® he thought, kicking himself a little inside.


    He gave Xylia aplicated look.


    Xylia grinned. ¡°No worries. When I get back, I¡¯ll jot down all her favorite stuff and send it your way.¡±


    Leon finally let out a genuine smile.


    He grabbed the cake and tugged Xylia outside with him.


    ¡°I already asked my assistant to get you a ride home¨Cthe car should be here any minute. By the way, what was up with you earlier? You sent me a message, and when I tried to call you back, you didn¡¯t answer,¡± Leon said, sounding a little worried.


    He¡¯d finally remembered to check in with Xylia about what happened.


    Xylia decided not to mention the whole mess¨Cno point in stressing Leon out, especially since he still had work to get toter.


    After all, he still had a job waiting for him.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing major, just a little hup. Honestly, Mia really came through for me¨Cyou better make sure to thank her properly,¡± Xylia teased, shing him a quick grin. ¡°Seriously, this is your shot to score some points with her.¡±


    Another perfect opening for Leon to shoot his shot.


    Leon nodded, realizing exactly what she was pushing him toward.


    The car showed up pretty fast.


    Xylia climbed in, finally able to breathe easy as she headed out.


    Her phone got drenched in booze back at the bar, and just thinking about Joshua panicking if he couldn¡¯t get through made her anxious. So, on her way out, she hurried to get a new phone and a fresh SIM card¨Cno way was she letting him worry himself sick.


    As soon as she fired up the new phone, Joshua¡¯s call lit up


    her screen.


    ¡°Why was your phone off?¡± Joshua asked.


    His concern came through loud and clear.


    ¡°Oh, it just slipped and fell into some water. I just picked up a new one,¡± Xylia said, keeping it casual.


    ¡®No way I¡¯m bringing up Noelle or Jessica¨CJoshua doesn¡¯t need that kind of stress, Xylia thought to herself.


    On the other end of the line, Joshua let out a huge sigh of relief.


    ¡°Wait, how¡¯d your phone end up in the water? You¡¯re alright, right?¡± he asked, still sounding pretty


    worried.


    8:32 Thu, Sep 18 N


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    ¡°It was just my phone that went for a swim, not me. Seriously, no need to worry,¡± Xylia reassured him.


    ¡°You¡¯re my future wife¨Cwho else would I ever worry about?¡± Joshua replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.


    He soundedpletely confident, like it was justmon sense.


    Xylia let out a helplessugh.


    Joshua¡¯s tone became businesslike. ¡°Here¡¯s the deal: your studio¡¯s design proposal got approved, but another outsourced studio¡¯s pitch also passed through. Tomorrow, do you have time toe by the office? We¡¯ll need to work out the specifics for both teams and, after that, choose which one to officially partner with.¡±


    Whenever things got down to business, Joshua was all seriousness.


    Xylia lit up with excitement. ¡°Absolutely! I¡¯ll be there!¡±


    8:37 Thu, Sep 18 N

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    Xylia hadn¡¯t expected their design proposal to be approved when Joshua told her just now.


    For a moment, she thought Joshua had pulled some strings for her.


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    But when she heard that another studio¡¯s proposal had also been approved, she realized Joshua hadn¡¯t given her any special treatment.


    ¡®So I guess Joshua really didn¡¯t do me any favors, Xylia thought to herself.


    After she and Joshua agreed on a time, Xylia hung up, practically buzzing with excitement.


    On the other side, as soon as Joshua ended the call, the warmth in his eyes vanished without a trace.


    With his face nk and unreadable, Joshua turned to David and ordered, ¡°Find out where Xylia went tonight.¡±


    David headed out and before long, he was back.


    He didn¡¯t leave anything out as he told Joshua every detail of what went down at the bar with Xylia.


    Joshua leaned back in his chair, looking allzy and casual with a couple of buttons undone, showing off just a hint of his sculpted chest. But the curl of his lips had a venomous edge to it¨Cthere was danger lurking in that smile.


    ¡°Do I seem like a nice guy to youtely?¡± Joshua asked, his tone all teasing.


    David didn¡¯t dare say a word.


    Joshua had spent years wing his way through the dead waters of the Garcia family. Was he ever the merciful type? Hardly.


    David had followed Joshua for years, and had witnessed firsthand how his boss could spill blood without so much as blinking¨Creal devil stuff.


    Whenever Joshua was with Xylia, he turned into a total puppy¨Call his edge just melted away.


    But now, it looked like the Sinirs and Noelle were about to learn the hard way what crossing him really


    meant.


    Joshua rose from his seat, moving deliberately.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said coolly. ¡°Time to pay Mr. Sinir a little visit¨Cgot some old business to settle.¡±


    David headed downstairs in silence to get the car, already mourning for the Sinirs in his heart.


    *Two hourster*


    *Sinir residence*


    8:37 Thu, Sep 18 N


    ¡®Bang! The sharp sound of breaking ss ripped through the room.


    <b>87 </b>


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    Jessica¡¯s head crashed into a bottle, smashing it to pieces. Blood mixed with the strong scent of alcohol, seeping into the air. Just moments before, she¡¯d been basking in her smugness in front of Xylia¨Cnow, shey sprawled on the floor like a lifeless heap.


    Her eyes fluttered shut as she slipped into unconsciousness.


    Glenda and Ryan watched, unable to hide how distressed they were by the sight.


    Glenda clung to Ryan¡¯s sleeve, her gaze fixed on the crumpled form on the floor¨Cshe looked torn up, but was too afraid to go over and help her daughter.


    Ryan¡¯s face was dark with anger, his fists clenching and unclenching as he stood a little off to the side of Joshua, trying to keep hisposure.


    Joshua had a cigarette pinched between his long fingers, its tip burning in and out in the dim room.


    ¡°Joshua, you storm into my home and leave my daughter in this condition¨Cyou think I¡¯m afraid <i>to </i>call the police?¡± Ryan¡¯s face was red with fury.


    Joshua¡¯s face stayedpletely nk, not a trace of emotion showing.


    He stood there in the Sinirs¡® courtyard, half his face swallowed by darkness. Even if you couldn¡¯t read his mood, everyone could feel the suffocating pressure pouring off him.


    ¡°Call the police?¡± Joshua snorted coldly. ¡°Be my guest.¡±


    He didn¡¯t seem the least bit worried.


    Ryan¡¯s hands trembled as he fumbled for his phone, but before he could even dial, Joshua cut in.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see what arrives first¨Cthe police, or your daughter¡¯s death,¡± Joshua sneered, flicking the ash off his cigarette.


    He wasn¡¯t even smoking it¨Cjust watching it burn like it was nothing.


    Joshua looked utterly cold, exuding an inescapable pressure¨Clike some ancient emperor whose very presence crushed everyone around him.


    Under the nearby streemp, silver in his hair shone with a frosty gleam, adding a chill to the night.


    In the end, Ryan¡¯s finger never pressed the button.


    He knew Joshua wasn¡¯t like other people¨Craised in a world far removed from normal. Most folks tossed around threats just to sound tough, but Joshua? He would actually follow through, Ryan understood that all too well¨Cand that was what truly terrified him.


    Seeing Glenda and Ryan frozen in ce, too scared to make a move, Joshua flicked his cigarette aside.


    The burning tipnded on the grass. He stepped down with his leather shoe, grinding it out with slow,


    <b>8:37 </b>Thu, Sep 18 N


    deliberate force.


    Joshua strode right past Jessica¡¯s unconscious body, stopping directly in front of Ryan.


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    ¡°When I had Jessica sent back to you a couple days ago, I made it very clear¨Ckeep your daughter in line and don¡¯t mess with my wife. Guess my words didn¡¯t sink in for you people,¡± Joshua said, voice deadly calm.


    Ryan¡¯s hands trembled as he looked at Joshua, fear etched across his face.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, Jessie was your fianc¨¦e once, after all, she¡­¡± Ryan could barely get the words out.


    Joshua let out a dry, mockingugh.


    Hisughter rang out even clearer now, brimming with cold contempt.


    Ryan fell silent.


    Joshua¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°How many years ago was that? You keep mumbling about some old engagement- what, nobody else wants your daughter now?¡±


    Those words stung, cutting deep.


    Glenda and Ryan¡¯s faces fell, the room turning icy in an instant.


    Joshua raised his hand, and David immediately handed him a document.


    Joshua held it out to Ryan.


    ¡°Your daughter¡¯s had Hyperman Syndrome since she was a kid, and now her mental problems have only gotten worse. You can¡¯t even keep her in check, just let her run wild everywhere¨Cseriously, what kind of parenting is that? Need me to give you a crash course in how to be a parent?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was ice¨Ccold, slicing straight through the silence.


    Glenda opened her mouth to say something, but Ryan quickly stopped her.


    Ryan took the medical report, swallowed hard, and said to Joshua, ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Garcia. Jessie won¡¯t be leaving this house again.¡±


    Joshua gave him an icy stare, then turned on his heel and walked out.


    David followed close behind.


    Once the two left, Glenda threw herself down and gathered her daughter in her arms, Jessica¡¯s hair matted with blood.


    ¡°Call a doctor!¡± she shouted, panic shaking her voice.


    Ryan stood there, staring at Jessica¡¯s battered figure and the ten broken bottles of every size littering the floor.


    If David had gone any further, his daughter might not have survived the night.


    8:37 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Ryan shot Jessica a look full of disappointment and anger, wishing she could be stronger.


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    ¡°How much longer do we have to keep cleaning up after her?¡± Ryan snapped, his anger clear for everyone to hear.


    Spitting out those words, he stormed back into the house¨Cwho knew if he¡¯d even bothered to call a doctor.


    Meanwhile, after leaving, Joshua shot Noelle a message, telling her to head over to the Garcia ce.


    When he arrived, Noelle was already settledfortably on the couch at the Garcia family home.


    Eliza was wrapped up in conversation with Noelle, and the two looked genuinely happy, mother and daughter catching up like best friends.


    Their smiles grew even brighter when Joshua walked in.


    ¡°Joshua,¡± Noelle called out in a sweet, almost bashful tone.


    Her voice was soft, and you could see the tips of her ears turn slightly pink.


    She really couldn¡¯t hide how flustered she was.


    When Noelle got Joshua¡¯s message inviting her over, she honestly couldn¡¯t believe it¨Cher heart was racing with excitement.


    ¡®He hardly ever messages me at all,¡® Noelle thought, her cheeks still warm. ¡®This must mean something¡­¡®


    She¡¯d been about to hit the hay, but she threw on a fresh outfit and rushed over without a second thought.


    Eliza had even invited her to move in with the Garcia family.


    Noelle couldn¡¯t help feeling totally excited at the thought.


    Just as they were chatting, Joshua walked in.


    Joshua mmed the file down on the coffee table, then coolly leveled his gaze at Noelle, his eyes icy andmanding.


    ¡°The reason you took first ce in thatst jewelrypetition was because you bribed the judges to snatch the spot away from the real runner¨Cup, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Joshua¡¯s words fell heavy, no room for denial.


    At those words, Noelle went pale as a ghost, her heart skipping a beat¨Cshe waspletely shaken.


    Eliza¡¯s brows knitted with concern as she turned to Joshua.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Eliza asked, a note of worry in her voice.


    Joshua simply signaled for Eliza to look through the file herself.


    The papers insideid it all out¨Cclear proof that Noelle had bribed the judges.


    8:37 Thu, Sep 18 N


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    Eliza scanned the papers, her eyes filled with disbelief as she looked over at Noelle.


    O


    ¡°Noelle¡­ how could you do this?¡± Eliza¡¯s voice trembled, the hurt showing clear in her eyes.


    Noelle avoided her gaze, panic flickering in her eyes.


    ¡°I¡­ I just¡­ I mean¡­ I didn¡¯t want to disappoint you,¡± Noelle mumbled, her words stumbling out in a rush.


    When Noelle caught the sh of disappointment in Eliza¡¯s eyes, her heart clenched so tight it felt like she might snap.


    She shot Joshua a quick, anxious look, then turned back to Eliza.


    ¡°Aunt Eliza, it¡¯s my fault¡­ I just care so much about you and the Garcia family. If I want to be your daughter, I have to stand out. I didn¡¯t want to let you down¡­ I just wanted to make you proud¡­¡± Noelle¡¯s voice trembled, barely audible.


    She lowered her head, silent tears slipping down her cheeks.


    Eliza¡¯spassion welled up¨Cshe couldn¡¯t help but feel pity for Noelle.


    Joshua spoke in a t, frosty voice. ¡°I¡¯ve already had the organizers release a statement of guilt from the judges and restore the award to its rightful owner. You don¡¯t object, do you?¡±


    His words were disturbingly even, each syble icy and absolute¨Cthere was no room for Noelle to argue


    back.


    Noelle¡¯s face went so pale it was almost translucent, her lips trembling with fear.


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    If the judges published an admission, it would be as good as sting her bribery for the world to see. The inte would roast her alive. And once the news spread, her awards would be seen as dirty, and she¡¯d be called out as a cheater by everyone. There¡¯d be noing back for her.


    ¡°Joshua, please¡­ you can¡¯t do this, you¡¯ll destroy me!¡± Noelle cried out, her voice trembling.


    Noelle was clearly anxious, her words quivering with fear.


    Eliza heard Noelle¡¯s plea, and for a moment, she hesitated.


    She looked over at Joshua. ¡°Joshua, I know Noelle messed up, but do we really have to <i>go </i>this far? Maybe there¡¯s another way to deal with this?¡±


    Eliza wasn¡¯t going to cover for Noelle, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself topletely destroy her either.


    Noelle heard Eliza¡¯s words, and for a moment, a sh of hatred flickered in her eyes.


    Eliza always treated her like she was precious, but when push came to shove, all Eliza cared about was punishing her.


    Noelle thought, ¡®How did I never notice how two¨Cfaced Eliza could be before?¡®


    Joshua didn¡¯t miss the flicker of hatred in Eliza¡¯s eyes.


    He dered, ¡°That¡¯s final. I¡¯ll be recing the chief designer at Garcia Group. If you want to remain here, you¡¯ll have to settle for being an ordinary designer.¡±


    Then, Joshua strode up to Noelle, his voice deep and icy.


    ¡°This is yourst warning. If you screw up again, even for your brother¡¯s sake, I won¡¯t hesitate to make you pay,¡± he said coldly.


    His words, frosty and merciless, drilled straight into Noelle¡¯s heart, leaving only a biting chill behind..


    That¡¯s when it hit Noelle¨CJoshua had an agenda all along.


    He knew that she¡¯d secretly set up Xylia at the bar, and even joined forces with Jessica to take her down.


    So this was payback¡­ revenge for Xylia.


    Joshua turned and headed for the door.


    Eliza called out to him, but Joshua just waved her off.


    ¡°Kids grow up and move out,¡± he said, his tone casual.


    ¡°That kid!¡± Eliza muttered, clearly annoyed.


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    Eliza turned to Noelle, who was standing there with tear¨Cstained, red eyes, looking ready to break down. Seeing her like that, Eliza found herself unable to utter any harsh words.


    So instead, she spoke in a gentle,forting tone.


    ¡°Noelle, I know you messed up this time, but taking responsibility and fixing your mistakes is the right thing to do. You¡¯re a gifted jewelry designer¨Chonestly, you don¡¯t need shortcuts or schemes. In my eyes, you¡¯ll always be the best.¡±


    ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t do things like this again just because you¡¯re worried you¡¯ll let us down, okay?¡±


    Noelle quickly nodded, sounding meek and obedient. ¡°I understand, Mrs. Garcia.¡±


    Eliza gently held Noelle¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Joshua isn¡¯t really going to paint a target on your back. Let this be a lesson, okay? Treat it as a chance to start over,¡± she said in a soft,forting voice.


    Noelle felt anger swirling inside her, but she forced her expression to stay sweet and obedient.


    ¡°Okay, Mrs. Garcia,¡± she replied, trying to sound steady despite the sting in her chest.


    Eliza gently patted Noelle¡¯s head, offering for her to spend the night.


    But Noelle politely declined, insisting she¡¯d rather go home.


    Watching Noelle walk away, her silhouette growing smaller by the second, Eliza let out a weary sigh.


    Just as she turned around, she caught Aaron¡¯s gaze from the second floor.


    ¡°How long have you been standing there?¡± she asked.


    Aaron answered, ¡°I¡¯ve been here since Joshua came back.¡±


    Aaron descended the stairs, each step steady as he approached Eliza.


    He nced at her, sighing, ¡°It¡¯s been years since Ist saw Noelle. She¡¯s really be someone else.¡±


    Eliza was painfully aware of how much Noelle had changed, but deep down, she still couldn¡¯t help wanting to pull her back from the edge.


    After all, her brother had once put his own life on the line to save Joshua.


    ¡°Let¡¯s try again,¡± Eliza murmured. ¡°Maybe fate hasn¡¯t given up on us yet.¡±


    Aaron sensed Eliza¡¯s sadness and pulled her into aforting embrace.


    *******


    The next day, Xylia arrived bright and early at Garcia Group. No sooner had she stepped through the front doors than she bumped into Noelle.


    8:37 Thu, Sep 18 N


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    Noelle looked like a total wreck after a sleepless night¨Cher face pale, eyes red and swollen, exhaustion written all over her.


    As soon as she spotted Xylia, she red at her like she was about to pop a vein, her whole face twisted with


    resentment.


    Xylia was confused as hell.


    She figured Noelle must¡¯ve gotten beat up by Jessicast night.


    But honestly, Xylia thought she totally deserved it.


    Xylia averted her gaze, didn¡¯t even spare Noelle a second look, and walked right past her like she was invisible, heading for the CEO¡¯s private elevator.


    Joshua had postponed all his morning meetings, leaving David to take charge for him.


    As soon as Xylia stepped out of the elevator, Joshua was there, took her by the hand, and led her straight to his office.


    The secretaries kept their heads down, pretending to work, but their eyes were constantly sneaking over to Joshua¡¯s side of the office.


    Once Joshua and Xylia stepped into his office and closed the door, the secretaries started gossiping in hushed


    tones.


    ¡°No wonder Mr. Garcia looked so lively this morning¨Cturns out his fianc¨¦e was stopping by!¡± one whispered.


    ¡°For real! Didn¡¯t you hear? The future Mrs. Garcia just started her own studio, and ourpany¡¯s new gift pack might feature uniforms from her brand,¡± another chimed in.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been sifting through proposals for days and Mr. Garcia¡¯s kept his hands off. Wouldn¡¯t it make sense for him to just hook his fianc¨¦e up?¡± someone snickered.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia¡¯s always been strict about keeping work and personal life separate. He¡¯d never y favorites!¡± someone chimed in.


    Xylia saw that Joshua was all smiles today, so she asked, ¡°Did something good happen?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the good thing that happened¨Chaving you here is enough for me,¡± Joshua replied with a yful grin.


    Xylia thought to herself that Joshua¡¯s flirting was really getting out of hand.


    With a helpless shrug, Xylia parked herself next to him.


    She¡¯d purposely skipped breakfast, trusting Joshua when he said he¡¯d have it covered.


    Joshua pulled out sandwiches, a bottle of milk, and some adorable little pastries he¡¯d put together that morning.


    ¡°Dig in!¡± he urged, eyes lit up and practically sparkling.


    8:37 Thu, Sep 18 <b>N </b>


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    Seeing him getting all hyped up over breakfast, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®Why is he <i>so </i>eager? Is he up to something with this food?¡®


    ¡°Did you make this?¡± she asked.


    Joshua nodded.


    Since she¡¯d eaten Joshua¡¯s cooking before, Xylia didn¡¯t hesitate and started eating.


    ¡°So, how does it taste?¡± Joshua leaned in, eyes wide with anticipation.


    Xylia nodded. ¡°Your cooking¡¯s always top¨Cnotch.¡±


    Joshua looked totally satisfied, soaking up the praise.


    Between bites, Xylia casually asked, ¡°By the way, what time¡¯s the meeting?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still early. Finish your breakfast first,¡± Joshua replied.


    Xylia didn¡¯t push it any further.


    At eleven o¡¯clock, the head of the other studio showed up.


    Joshua kept things open and transparent throughout the meetingying out the requirements for the employee uniforms and then inviting both studios to refine their earlier proposals.


    ¡°If we don¡¯t end up coborating this time, we¡¯ll send a token of appreciation to the studio that doesn¡¯t make the cut. We want every partner to feel valued,¡± he said.


    Xylia didn¡¯t often get to see Joshua when he was all business.


    During the meeting, she kept stealing nces at him, her eyes full of admiration. ¡®Wow, he¡¯s seriously impressive when he gets into work mode,¡® Xylia thought to herself.


    After the meeting ended, Joshua leaned down, his voice oozing with yful confidence as he whispered in Xylia¡¯s ear.


    ¡°So, was my boss mode too irresistible for you? Did I knock you off your feet with how hot I am when I¡¯m working?¡±


    Xylia was totally honest, ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re seriously handsome like that.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s eyes lit up, clearly ready to take things further, but before he could, Xylia cut in, ¡°But the moment we leave the conference room, your boss mask drops faster than a Halloween costume¨Cback to your usual self in no time.¡±


    Xylia shot him a yful look, purposely pouting as if she was truly disappointed.


    Feeling a bit stubborn and defiant, Joshua pulled Xylia into his office and shot her a ridiculously serious look.


    ¡°Alright, feast your eyes¨CI¡¯ll give you all the boss energy you can handle,¡± he announced, half teasing, half


    8:37 Thu, Sep 18 N


    proud.


    He straightened up, channeling his inner hard¨Cass CEO, posture perfect and expression stern.


    Xylia just stood there, deadpan, quietly watching his little performance.


    But in less than five seconds, Joshua totally lost it, the act crumbling as he cracked up.


    Xylia thought to herself, ¡®Honestly, messing with Joshua is way too entertaining sometimes.¡¯


    Joshua, feeling a little indignant, pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard.


    Noelle spotted the head of the other studio downstairs and walked right up to them.


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    ¡°Your studio¡¯s not getting this deal¨Cyou know why?¡± Noelle asked, her tone condescending and smug.

 Tricked 199

    Ang Bright from Bridge Studio was the project lead¨Ca woman who always gave off an air of efficiency. She wore gold¨Crimmed sses and a sharp business suit,ing across as clean¨Ccut andpetent.


    Her whole look radiated a no¨Cnonsense vibe.


    Noelle spotted her immediately. Ang looked busy, and as Noelle stopped her, Ang¡¯s brow twitched in


    annoyance.


    But years in the business kicked in. Ang quickly collected herself, smoothing out her frown.


    Her professional smile returned as she turned to face Noelle, her expression calm and polite.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve met before,¡± Ang said, her tone polite but a little cautious.


    Noelle introduced herself, calm and confident: ¡°I¡¯m Mr. Garcia¡¯s sister. Do you have time for a quick chat?¡±


    Ang¡¯s curiosity was clearly stirred. ¡°Of course,¡± she replied, her smile bing more genuine.


    Noelle led her over to a nearby caf¨¦.


    After they¡¯d ordered two coffees, Noelle leaned forward, she spoke with unwavering confidence. ¡°There¡¯s no way your studio is getting the Garcia Group contract.¡±


    Ang kept her cool and didn¡¯t bat an eye.


    Ang just asked, ¡°Why?¡±


    Noelle replied, ¡°Because the owner of Xylic Studio, yourpetition, happens to be Mr. Garcia¡¯s girlfriend.¡±


    Ang¡¯s poker face almost shattered with shock. She took a steadying breath, her mind working fast, before replying to Noelle, ¡°The Garcia Group is known for their impable reputation, and Mr. Garcia has always been all business¨Cnever the type to blur the lines between his work and personal life. As for you, you say you¡¯re his sister? That¡¯s odd. I¡¯ve never heard about Mr. Garcia having a sister.¡±


    Noelle privately scoffed at Ang¡¯s whole act. Nothing bugged her more than women who paraded around like elite powerhouses, talking and moving as if they were the only brains around. Noelle was rolling her eyes so hard in her head, she could practically see her brain.


    ¡°I¡¯m Joshua¡¯s sister,¡± Noelle said, unflinching. ¡°Seriously¨Cif you don¡¯t buy it, we can go straight to him and settle this face¨Cto¨Cface.¡±


    Ang looked at Noelle, who spoke with such assurance it was hard not to believe her¨Chonestly, Ang was already about 70% convinced.


    Thinking back to the meeting, Ang remembered Joshua seeming unusually familiar with the owner of Xylic Studio. She¡¯d caught them exchanging loaded nces not just once, but a few times.


    ¡®Okay, guess I¡¯m about 90% convinced now,¡® Ang thought to herself.


    8:38 Thu, Sep 18 N


    ¡°If you¡¯re really Mr. Garcia¡¯s sister, why are you telling me all this?¡± Ang asked.


    Noelle¡¯s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. She could tell Ang was starting to buy it.


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    ¡°I don¡¯t like Xylia,¡± Noelle said, not bothering to hold back. ¡°She doesn¡¯t deserve my brother. I¡¯m going to make sure she¡¯s out of his life, one way or another.¡±


    Noelle didn¡¯t bother hiding her true feelings.


    Ang, however, had zero interest in getting tangled up in this drama¨Cshe knew better than to dip her toes in trouble that wasn¡¯t hers.


    ¡°Bridge Studio¡¯s just a small outfit working with Garcia Group,¡± Ang replied, her voice polite but clearly putting distance between herself and Noelle. ¡°Sorry, Miss, but I¡¯m not about to meddle in whatever¡¯s going on with you and Mr. Garcia. I¡¯ve got other matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±


    Ang didn¡¯t so much as nce back. She got up and headed out, wanting no part of this twisted sibling feud.


    Noelle let her go without a word.


    ¡®Mission aplished, Noelle thought, satisfaction flickering in her eyes. ¡®No point wasting breath on people like her anyway.¡®


    ¡®So Xylia wants to team up with Garcia Group, does she?¡® Noelle mused, her attitude icy. ¡®Bridge Studio¡¯s got a serious reputation in Norhill¨Clet¡¯s see if she can actually swallow all that glory if she does snag the contract.¡®


    Xylia left Garcia Group with her cheeks zing red.


    She kept her head down, all but barging out, silently cursing Joshua every step.


    ¡®Unbelievable!¡® Xylia grumbled in her head. ¡®All I did was tease him, and he had to make me so flustered I could hardly breathe!¡®


    Xylia had just left Garcia Group, originally thinking she¡¯d pop back to her studio. That n crashed and burned when her phone lit up¨CKaden was calling, and apparently, she was needed at Sadler Group instead.


    Last time she¡¯d gone over there, it was all about transferring shares. ¡®Wonder what this is about this time, Xylia thought, vaguely uneasy.


    She didn¡¯t bother overthinking it¨Cjust hailed a cab and headed off to Sadler Group. No point stressing; she¡¯d deal with whatever came her way when she got there.


    It was lunchtime when Xylia arrived at Sadler Group.


    She headed straight for the top floor, where Kaden¡¯s office was.


    Kaden was buried in work, even during his lunch break.


    Xylia knocked and stepped in. Two meals were already set out on the desk.


    Kaden looked up from his work when she came in and said, ¡°You¡¯re here. Let¡¯s eat first.¡±


    8:38 Thu, Sep 18 N


    Kaden quickly finished up his work and made his way over to the sofa.


    Xylia took the chopsticks he handed her and asked, ¡°So, Kaden, what¡¯s the asion?¡±


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    ¡°Remember when I told you about the 5% shares Grandpa left for you?¡± Kaden said. ¡°The transfer agreement is done¡ªjust sign it when you¡¯re ready, then drop in and say hi to the other shareholders.¡±


    Last time she signed for that 20% stake, she just put her name on the papers and walked right out¨Cnever even met the other shareholders.


    ¡°Honestly, Kaden, I don¡¯t really need all these shares. What Mom and Dad left me is already more than enough.¡±


    With 25% of Sadler Group under her name, Xylia was basically a key shareholder already.


    She hadn¡¯t really done anything for Sadler Group, and honestly, she felt kind of guilty about it.


    Kaden slid her favorite dishes in front of her, meeting her eyes with firm resolve. ¡°This is Grandpa¡¯s dowry for you. You¡¯re not allowed to refuse.¡±


    Xylia went quiet, not knowing how to respond.


    Kaden could tell she was struggling to put her feelings into words, and he let out a gentle sigh. ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re a Sadler. You¡¯re one of us. There¡¯s no shame in epting what our family wants you to have.¡±


    Xylia gave him a small smile and nodded.


    Kaden saw right through it¨Che knew that nod was just for show. She hadn¡¯t actually taken his words to heart.


    After lunch, Kaden had Xylia sign the paperwork, then introduced her to the major shareholders at Sadler Group. Xylia didn¡¯t head out until all of that was over.


    As soon as she walked out of Sadler Group, she ran smack into thest two people she wanted to see¨CYves and Gia Schultz.


    Seriously? Mr. & Mrs. Schultz were actually right there, in the flesh.


    Xylia pretended not to see them, spun around, and made a beeline for a side street¨Choping she could catch a cab and vanish before they even noticed her.


    But Mr. & Mrs. Schultz caught up to her anyway, determined not to let her slip away.


    Gia¡¯s voice rang out, barely containing her thrill. ¡°Xylia, we finally found you!¡±


    Her eyes nearly sparkled with greed, as if she¡¯d just lucked into a winning lottery ticket.


    Xylia instinctively backed away a couple steps, putting more space between them.


    ¡°I have nothing to do with you anymore. Please, just stop trying to bother me,¡± Xylia said coldly.


    Gia pretended she hadn¡¯t heard a single word Xylia said, her smile fixed and overly sweet as her eyes swept


    8:38 Thu, Sep 18 N


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    over Xylia like she was sizing up a prize.


    ¡°Xylia, I saw you leaving Sadler Group just now. So¨Cdo you actually know Mr. Sadler?¡± Gia asked, her tone sticky¨Csweet but a little probing.


    Xylia instantly went on alert¨Cshe knew exactly how the Schultzs operated. If she admitted she had any real connection with Kaden, they¡¯d no doubt turn around and make trouble for the Sadler Brothers.


    Her eyes betrayed a sh of annoyance, even though she tried to hold her poker face.


    I¡¯ve already cut ties with the Schultzs and left Jupiton behind. So why the hell are they still hounding me?¡± Xylia thought, her frustration bubbling up.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know him,¡± Xylia said coolly. ¡°I was just here trying to work out a deal, but they basically showed me the door.¡±


    Gia knew Xylia had started up a design studio¨Cshe¡¯d taken a quick nce at it from the street ages ago.


    It was basically just a cramped, two¨Cstory office. Pretty shabby, honestly.


    Gia¡¯s eyes shed with clear contempt.


    She¡¯d thought Xylia had really made some waves in Norhill¨Cwasn¡¯t Tessa always saying she¡¯dtched onto the Sadler family? Turns out, evennding a basic business deal was out of her league.


    ¡°But I¡¯ve heard you and Mr. Sadler are on pretty good terms,¡± Gia insisted, clearly not willing to drop the subject.


    She pressed further, refusing to give up.


    Xylia frowned slightly, puzzled. ¡°Who told you that?¡±


    ¡°Tessa said she saw Mr. Sadler stand up for you. I just thought you two must be close,¡± Gia remarked, sounding convinced she was in the know.


    ¡°Men out there care a lot about keeping up appearances,¡± Xylia shot back dryly. ¡°Ask your husband¨Cif he saw a woman getting picked on, wouldn¡¯t he step in to help?¡±


    Yves, who hadn¡¯t even said a word up till now, suddenly found himself dragged into the mess.


    He frowned, clearly exasperated. ¡°That all depends on whether the woman¡¯s actually being bullied! And as for Tessa saying you two are closee on, just because you help someone doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re close!¡±


    ¡°Tessa¡¯s always spouting nonsense¨Cyou guys should know that better than anyone,¡± Xylia said with a careless


    smirk.


    Xylia¡¯s tone waspletely casual, like she couldn¡¯t even be bothered to take their questions seriously.


    Yves and Gia fell silent, clearly at a loss for words.

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    Yves and Gia didn¡¯t like Xylia¡¯s assessment of Tessa, but knowing they needed her help, they had to suppress their irritation.


    Yves said, ¡°Since you¡¯re close with Mr. Sadler, help connect us so we can talk business with him. Think of it as paying us back for all those years we raised you.¡±


    Afraid Xylia might refuse, Gia quickly added a threat. ¡°Either you hand over two hundred million dors as payback for your upbringing, or cutting ties with us won¡¯t be so simple.¡±


    Xylia let out a scoff, incredulous. ¡°When I signed that agreement to sever ties, we were done. And now you seriously think you can demand money from me?¡±


    ¡®Seriously, they really have no shame,¡® Xylia thought to herself.


    ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t we? You really think cutting ties with us is that simple? That agreement means nothing- unless we agree, you¡¯ll always owe the Schultz family!¡± Gia snapped.


    Gia was already losing her patience; she just wanted to push Xylia into backing down and setting up that meeting with Kaden.


    Xylia was fed up with how shameless Yves and Gia were acting. There¡¯s no way she was going to introduce Kaden to them. And as for giving them money? Not a chance.


    Just then, her ride pulled up. Seeing Yves and Gia still acting all high and mighty, Xylia hopped in and mmed the door.


    ¡°If you think you¡¯re so clever, go track down Mr. Sadler yourselves. Stop bothering me!¡± she snapped.


    Yves and Gia tried to block her way, but Xylia didn¡¯t even hesitate¨Cshe got into the car and told the driver to go, leaving them behind in the dust.


    Gia shot a venomous re at the car, spitting in disgust.


    ¡°Ungrateful little snake! All those years wasted raising her!¡±


    Yves cast a resentful look at the Sadler Group building, frustration simmering beneath the surface. But since Xylia was already gone, there was no point in chasing after her anymore.


    He stared at the massive ss tower looming close by and squared his shoulders. ¡°Come on, even without Xylia, we still have to give it a shot!¡±


    Gia bit her lip nervously. ¡°You can¡¯t just walk in to see Mr. Sadler¨Cyou need an appointment. We don¡¯t even have his assistant¡¯s number. There¡¯s no way we¡¯ll be able to meet him if we go now.¡±


    ¡°Trying is better than doing nothing!¡± Yves shot back, his jaw set.


    The thought of seeing his life¡¯s work crumble left Yves burning with bitter frustration. Years of effort¨Che refused to let them vanish without a fight.


    Even if there were beasts lurking on the road ahead, he¡¯d carve out a future for the Schultz Group no matter the cost.


    Without another word, Yves strode toward the Sadler Group building. Gia hastily followed, unwilling to fall behind.


    When they walked up to the reception desk, Yves exined why they were there. The receptionist just gave them a practiced, polite smile.


    ¡°Sorry, but without an appointment, you can¡¯t see Mr. Sadler,¡± she replied.


    Yves¡¯s eyes shed as inspiration struck. He leaned forward and asked, ¡°That girl who just walked out¨Cyou recognized her, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    The receptionist nodded honestly.


    After all, that was Ms. Sadler, the little sister Mr. Sadler had just reunited with. The wholepany had seen her photo, and everyone¡¯d been strictly told¨Cno one¡¯s allowed to disrespect her, no exceptions.


    It was obvious how much weight Ms. Sadler carried in thepany¨Ceveryone had seen her photo, and there were strict orders not to give her any trouble, no exceptions.


    Yves leaned forward and lowered his voice. ¡°She¡¯s the one who told us toe see Mr. Sadler.¡±


    The receptionist instantly looked awkward, her confidence slipping as she realized things just gotplicated with Ms. Sadler involved.


    ¡®Should I really get involved in Ms. Sadler¡¯s family mess?¡® the receptionist fretted. ¡®If I ignore this, and Mr. Sadler finds out, I could lose my job¡­ After a moment¡¯s struggle, she finally made up her mind.


    ¡°Alright, please wait a moment. I¡¯ll double¨Ccheck with Mr. Sadler.¡±


    She quickly called Kaden¡¯s assistant.


    When Kaden heard the news, he paused. ¡°Schultz?¡±


    The assistant nodded. ¡°The receptionist sent over a photo. It¡¯s the family that adopted Ms. Sadler when she was in Jupiton.¡±


    Kaden let out a cold chuckle. ¡°The Schultzs¡­ how amusing,¡¯ he thought.


    ¡®The Schultzs in the capital.¡® Kaden¡¯s eyes narrowed, dismissive.


    ¡®Perfect. There are plenty of scores I still need to settle with the Schultzs, Kaden thought coldly.


    He instructed brusquely, ¡°Let them up.¡±


    Meanwhile, Xylia returned to the studio and filled Josie in on the new n they¡¯d discussed at the Garcia Group.


    With a confident p of her palm on the table, Josie grinned. ¡°Piece of cake! I¡¯ll have a new proposal ready today. We¡¯ll nail this deal!¡±


    Josie¡¯s enthusiasm was contagious, and Xylia found herself caught up in it. She ended up stayingte at the studio to help.


    By the time they finished up and headed out, Joshua¡¯s car was already parked right outside, waiting for Xylia.


    Josie and Xylia walked out together.


    Josie nudged Xylia yfully and teased, ¡°First it was your brother picking you up, and now it¡¯s your husband. I¡¯m seriously jealous!¡±


    Xylia smiled. ¡°Want me to drop you off on my way home?¡±


    Josie immediately straightened up and cleared her throat, pretending to be all serious.


    ¡°I¡¯d better head out. You two take your time,¡± Josie said, suddenly turning all serious as she straightened up.


    Xylia watched Josie give Joshua a quick wave before heading off toward the bus stop.


    She let out a small tsk, amused.


    Sure, prying into a friend¡¯s business wasn¡¯t exactly polite, but honestly, she couldn¡¯t help being curious.


    ¡®Was Josie secretly hiding a guy at home?¡® Xylia wondered to herself.


    Xylia walked over to the car and tapped on the window, motioning for Joshua to get out.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Joshua asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m a little hungry. Want to go grab ate¨Cnight bite?¡± Xylia said, her eyes shing with something unreadable.


    Joshua narrowed his eyes at her, looking at her suspiciously.


    ¡°What scheme are you plotting now?¡± Joshua asked.


    ¡°What trouble am I up to?¡± Xylia huffed, rolling her eyes. ¡°There¡¯s a snack street right over there with loads of good eats. My treat!¡±


    Joshua got it¨CXylia just had the munchies.


    He hesitated, frowning at her outstretched hand.


    ¡°I¡¯m seriously starting to wonder if I should let you eat all that sketchy street grub,¡± he teased.


    Xylia shot him a look. ¡°Hey, those ces are legit! Who says they¡¯re dirty?¡±


    Seeing Xylia get annoyed, Joshua softened right away and tried to coax her. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m just kidding. Come on, let me treat you.¡±


    Xylia watched him for a moment, making sure he really meant it and wasn¡¯t just appeasing her. Once she was sure, she went along after him.


    At a corner just down from Xylic Studio, Ang spotted Xylia and Joshua strolling hand in hand toward the food street.


    Scowling, she pulled out her phone and called her boss.


    ¡°Boss, they¡¯re looking pretty cozy. That woman was right¨Cthey really are a couple,¡± Ang reported.


    ¡°Understood,¡± Ang replied.


    Her boss finally spoke, voice low and cold. ¡°Mm, we¡¯re definitely not letting this go.¡±


    Ang ended the call, spun on her heel, and strode away without another nce.


    Joshua felt like someone was watching him, so he nced over in Ang¡¯s direction¨Cbut saw nothing but empty street.


    ¡®What¡¯s up?¡® Xylia asked, curious.


    Joshua looked back at Xylia. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    That night, Xylia finally satisfied her craving and got her hands on some grilled squid after dreaming about it for days. She made sure to air out the snack smell before heading back to the Sadler family¨Cshe wasn¡¯t about to walk in reeking like a street food vendor.


    Two dayster, when it came time to submit the new design proposals for the Garcia Group project, only Xylic Studio had turned anything in.


    Bridge Studio didn¡¯t show up at all, and nobody could reach them either.


    Joshua just kept his cool through the whole thing.


    ¡°Guess they¡¯re forfeiting,¡± he said, calm as ever. ¡°So, Xylic Studio gets the contract.¡±


    Joshua looked over the design Xylia handed in and was genuinely impressed.


    He couldn¡¯t care less about why Bridge Studio had dropped out.


    After years in the business, he¡¯d seen plenty of clients bail halfway¨Canyone that unreliable, he simply cut ties for good.


    Joshua locked in the deal¨Cfinal word.


    Still, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but wonder.


    The rep from Bridge Studio hadn¡¯t seemed like he was nning to throw in the towel¨Cso why¡¯d they suddenly drop out?


    But it wasn¡¯t something she really cared about.


    With the Garcia Group order in the bag, Xylia excitedly spread the news to Josie, barely able to contain her grin. And just like she¡¯d promised, she called everyone from the studio together and took them all out for a big celebratory dinner.


    Joshua gave Xylia a yful, exaggerated pout. ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to spend tonight with. me?¡±


    Xylia reached out and stroked his cheek to coax him. ¡°We eat together all the time, but I hardly ever get the chance to treat my team. I¡¯ll make it up to you tomorrow, okay?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s mood brightened instantly¨Che couldn¡¯t stay upset for long.

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    <b>Chapter </b><b>201 </b>


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    <b>Chapter </b><b>201 </b>


    <b>While </b><b>Xylic </b>Studio <b>was </b>going full throttle with the Garcia Group¡¯s uniform customization<b>, </b><b>a </b>bombshell hit <b>the </b><b>headlines</b>.


    The headline read: [Garcia Group CEO¡¯s Romance with Xylic Studio Owner Leads to <b>Partner </b><b>Exploitation</b><b>]</b>.


    The article imed that the Garcia Group had picked Xylic Studio as its partner behind closed doors<b>, </b><b>all </b><b>the </b>while stringing the other studios along.


    Besides Bridge Studio, there were dozens more that had been strung along and left empty¨Chanded.


    It was a minor issue, but the disgruntled studios stirred up a storm online.


    Soon, the scandal made headline news.


    Netizens tore into the Garcia Group.


    [¡®Dating at work? Talk about mixing business and pleasure!¡®]


    [¡®If you already picked your favorite, just say so! Why waste everyone else¡¯s time for nothing?¡®<b>] </b>


    [¡®Seriously, can¡¯t stand people who mix business and pleasure. With a boss like that, the Garcia Group¡¯s gonna crash and burn sooner orter!¡®]


    [¡®Eh, not so sure. Garcia Group is a top¨Cthreepany, gossip like this won¡¯t even scratch them.]


    [¡®Well, hope Xylic Studio tanks then. Heard it¡¯s a brand¨Cnew design startup, and Gina rk did a video for them not long ago¨Cmade them famous overnight.¡®]


    [¡®Why even bother starting your own studio when you¡¯re dating the CEO? If you wanna be a strong, independent woman, how about standing on your own instead of using your boyfriend¡¯s connections at <b>Garcia </b>Group!¡®]


    [¡®Honestly<b>, </b><b>if </b>I had a boyfriend like that, I¡¯d totally make the most of it too!¡°]


    <b>[</b>¡®Fine<b>, </b>climb thatdder, but don¡¯t mess over your business partners while you do it! That¡¯s just shady!¡®]


    ¡­¡­


    <b>Joshua </b>was totally unfazed by a little online hate¨Cnews like this wouldn¡¯t make the slightest dent in <b>Garcia </b><b>Group</b><b>, </b>


    <b>Most </b><b>of </b><b>Garcia </b>Group¡¯s big clients only came on board because <b>of </b>Joshua himself.


    <b>This </b>time<b>, </b><b>they </b><b>reached </b>out to smaller studios purely because big brands wouldn¡¯t bother <b>with </b>something as <b>basic </b><b>as </b><b>employee </b>uniforms.


    Some <b>trolls </b>knew that the <b>Garcia </b><b>Group </b><b>was </b>too big to be hurt, so they started <b>steering </b><b>public </b><b>outrage </b><b>right </b>toward <b>Xylia¡¯s </b>studio <b>instead</b>.


    <b>7:37 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>19 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b>201


    <b>Within </b><b>a </b>single <b>day</b><b>, </b>Xylic Studio lost <b>70</b>% <b>of </b>its orders.


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    <b>After </b>factoring in wages and operating <b>costs</b><b>, </b><b>the </b>studio was bleeding money¨Ctaking a huge financial hit.


    Xylia <b>was </b>feeling pretty down about it all.


    Josie <b>was </b>so mad she could hardly sit still.


    ¡°They¡¯re saying we got this deal through nepotism? We put our hearts and souls into those designs, and they were vetted by a panel of experts! How is that nepotism?¡± Josie snapped.


    ¡°These idiots talk total garbage every time they open their mouths. I¡¯d love to shut each of them up with a bullet!¡± Josie ranted.


    Good thing gunws are loose in other countries, or Josie might¡¯ve really done it.


    Josie was practically breathing fire, her words as sharp as knives.


    Sharon and the rest of the team looked pretty crushed too.


    Xylia said, ¡°We¡¯ve got to set the record straight, or we can kiss new orders goodbye.¡±


    Saying that, Xylia stood up.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to Joshua. If Garcia Groupys out their official procedure, those rumors won¡¯t stand a chance.¡±


    Josie looked worried.


    ¡°Garcia Group hasn¡¯t really taken a hit from this whole thing. Do you think they¡¯d actually make their selection process public?¡± Josie asked.


    ¡°They will,¡± Xylia replied without hesitation. ¡°If not, I¡¯ll just break up with Joshua¨Cthen no one can say I only got the deal because I¡¯m dating him!¡±


    Even though it was clearly just Xylia venting, Josie and the others still took it to heart and jumped in to talk her out of it.


    ¡°Come on, no need to go that far¨Ckeeping business and personal life separate is better anyway,¡± Josie said.


    Xylia smiled, grabbed her bag, and made her way to Garcia Group.


    When Xylia arrived at Garcia Group, a few reporters were staking out the front entrance. She didn¡¯t notice them at first, but the moment she walked by, they blocked her path.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler<b>, </b>is it true that you and Mr. Garcia are in a rtionship<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, were you aware that Garcia Group was stringing along other studios?¡±


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, when did you start dating the heir of the Garcia Group?¡±


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    7:37 <b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>19 </b>


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    <b>There </b>weren¡¯t many reporters around¡ªjust a handful hoping to get some info about her rtionship with Joshua.


    After all, the heir of the Garcia Group hadn¡¯t had any romantic rumors floating around for


    <b>ages</b>.


    Any tidbit about his love life would be headline¨Cworthy.


    ¡°I¡¯m not avable for interviews at the moment,¡± Xylia replied coolly.


    The reporters tried to block her path.


    Xylia shot them a cold look. ¡°If you keep harassing me, I¡¯ll call the police,¡± she warned.


    The reporters backed off.


    It wasn¡¯t until Xylia had stepped inside Garcia Group that some of the reporters let out disdainful snorts.


    ¡°Just a nobody running a tiny studio. She only leveled up because shetched onto the heir of the Garcia Group. Now she walks around like she¡¯s some queen bee!¡± one journalist scoffed.


    ¡°What else is new? These days it¡¯s all about clinging to power. People love to ride on someone else¡¯s coattails<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>another added, voice dripping with sarcasm.


    ¡°1


    11


    Xylia had just stepped in when she practically bumped into Joshua, who looked like he was about to head out.


    ¡°Xylia? Didn¡¯t expect to see you here,¡± Joshua said, his stern face immediately softening at the sight of her.


    He strode over to her, then shot a quick nce out the door, spotting a few shady figures hovering nearby.


    Yep, the same reporters from before.


    ¡°Did they hassle you?¡± Joshua asked, concern flickering in his eyes.


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°I need to talk to you about something.¡±


    Joshua gently took her hand and headed outside with her.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a dinnering up. Come with me¨Cwe¡¯ll talk on the way,¡± he suggested.


    Xylia didn¡¯t hesitate and slid into the car beside him.


    The moment Joshua and Xylia got into the car together, the reporters pounced¨Ccameras clicking like crazy <b>to </b><b>catch </b>the <b>juicy </b>shot.


    But before they could even send those hot pics back to their editors, a couple of employees from Garcia Group strode over, catching them red¨Chanded,


    ¡°Sorry, but you need to delete those photos, now. If you don¡¯t, we¡¯ll take legal action¨Cyour choice,¡± one of the staff said coldly.


    <b>7:37 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b>Sep 19


    <b>Chapter </b><b>201 </b>


    The <b>reporters </b><b>just </b><b>froze</b>, <b>totally </b><b>caught </b>off guard.


    back


    Xylia hopped into the <b>backseat </b>of <b>the </b>ck Rolls<b>¨C</b><b>Royce </b>with Joshua.


    ¡°What¡¯s the dinner for?<b>¡± </b><b>she </b>asked.


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    ¡°<b>It¡¯s </b><b>just </b>a simple meeting with one of Garcia Group¡¯s partners. Nothing special¡ªjuste along, <b>eat </b>and drink,¡± Joshua said.


    He pulled her hand in, their fingers locking together, his fingertips gently teasing her palm.


    ¡°You¡¯re here about all that talk online, right? The stuff about me ¡®stringing along¡® those studios<b>?</b>¡± Joshua asked, his voice gentle.


    Xylia nodded, then shared what was on her mind with Joshua.


    Joshua smiled at her, amused.


    ¡°So I guess we¡¯ve basically made our rtionship official online?¡± he teased.


    Xylia was momentarily speechless.


    ¡®Looks like that¡¯s how it is¡­¡® Xylia thought to herself.


    Noticing those fox¨Clike eyes Joshua was giving her, Xylia shot him a look. ¡°Are you really that happy?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Joshua pulled her firmly into his arms.


    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯d tell the whole world you belong to me!¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help butugh.


    She nestled into his arms, breathing in that light, familiar scent he always wore.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really care, but now your romantic luck has totally dried up¨Caren¡¯t you gonna miss your little fan club?¡± Xylia joked.


    ¡°Romantic luck? What luck?¡± Joshua blinked at her, ying dumb,


    ¡°Noelle, <b>Jessica</b>¡­¡± Xylia ticked the names off on her fingers.


    <b>Joshua </b><b>caught </b>her counting admirers and quickly held her hand. ¡°I swear, I¡¯m not interested in any of those <b>other </b>girls<b>¨C</b>you¡¯re the only flower <b>I </b><b>care </b>about.¡±


    <b>As </b>he spoke, he leaned in and stole <b>a </b>quick kiss from Xylia¡¯s <b>lips</b>.


    <b>Xylia </b>couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    <b>Up </b>front, David quietly lowered the divider between the front and <b>back </b><b>seats</b><b>, </b>acting like he <b>hadn¡¯t </b><b>seen </b>anything.


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    ¡®Honestly, it doesn¡¯t matter who starts dating¨Ceveryone gets cheesy when they¡¯re in love,¡® David couldn¡¯t help thinking to himself.


    As they pulled up to the ce, Xylia realized Joshua still hadn¡¯t answered what she¡¯d asked him earlier.


    Joshua shot her a reassuring nce.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll sort out everything online. Since it¡¯s messing with Garcia Group¡¯s reputation, I¡¯ve gotta handle it myself,¡± he promised.


    With that, Xylia finally felt at ease.

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    <b>Chapter </b><b>202 </b>


    The dinner was as dull <b>as </b>expected.


    :


    Xylia, doing as Joshua told her, sat quietly and ate her meal.


    The business partner dining with Joshua was a woman in her fifties.


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    She kept ncing at Xylia, and after a long silence, said, ¡°I saw online that Mr. Garcia has a girlfriend. I thought it was just gossip, but looks like it¡¯s actually true.¡±


    Xylia looked up at the woman.


    Thinking the woman might have misunderstood that Joshua was mixing business with pleasure and giving her special treatment, she quickly exined, ¡°Joshua and I are dating, but our business dealings arepletely professional. Joshua doesn¡¯t mix work and personal life.¡±


    The woman smiled. ¡°I know. I¡¯ve worked with Mr. Garcia for years. I know what kind of person he is.¡±


    Xylia nced at Joshua, who was smiling, his eyes warm and gentle. She felt relieved, d that her presence hadn¡¯t caused any issues for him.


    Xylia nced at Joshua¨Che was smiling, his trademark eyes shimmering with tenderness, as if holding ripples of soft spring water.


    She let out a silent breath of relief. ¡®As long as I¡¯m not making things difficult for him, that¡¯s all that matters, she thought.


    Midway through the meal, Xylia excused herself to use the restroom.


    <b>As </b>soon as she left, the woman turned to Joshua and said, ¡°I¡¯ve always wondered which heiress would win Mr. Garcia¡¯s heart. So it turns out the precious daughter of the Sadler family, who was just recently acknowledged, <b>is </b>a perfect match for you.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s eyes widened in surprise<b>. </b>¡°You know her?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve bumped into her before.¡±


    Joshua didn¡¯t say anything more.


    When Xylia walked out of the restroom, she found herself facing a whole row of private rooms down the hallway, and her mind started to spin. Where was she supposed to go?


    She had just trailed after Joshua earlier, totally zoned out and not even bothering to check the room number.


    All she could remember was that the room was somewhere on the right side, but after those winding turns <b>to </b>get to the bathroom, she was fuzzy on the directions.


    And of course, she didn¡¯t have her phone on her.


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    She almost wanted to smack herself for being so hopeless.


    Out of options, she forced herself to rely on her barely¨Cthere memory and headed forward.


    She¡¯d barely turned the corner when¨Cbam!-she ran straight into someone.


    ¡°Sorry, sorry!¡± Xylia stammered, the apology tumbling out of her mouth.


    She¡¯d bumped her forehead against the stranger and, half¨Cdazed, instinctively apologized.


    ¡°Xylia?¡± The voice was instantly recognizable.


    Xylia¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she looked up. It really was Connor standing there.


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    ¡®Just my luck,¡® she thought, a mix of surprise and resignation. ¡®Of course I¡¯d bump into Connor here!


    Xylia¡¯s face froze over in an instant, any warmth wiped clean as she instantly regretted having apologized at all. ¡®Why was I being so polite to him?¡® she scolded herself.


    Without a word, she turned to leave.


    But Connor suddenly caught her arm. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Xylia jerked her arm away, her voice sharp. ¡°Since when is it your problem where I am?¡±


    Xylia was seriously fed up with Connor haunting her post¨Cdivorce¨Cit was like he just couldn¡¯t take a hint and kept popping up everywhere, clinging to her life like a stubborn ghost.


    ¡®Can he just vanish for good?¡® she grumbled inwardly. Seeing him was thest thing she ever wanted.


    Connor caught the frosty look on Xylia¡¯s face and guessed she must¡¯ve heard about his marriage to Tessa, which exined why she wasn¡¯t pleased.


    Thinking this, he actually felt a bit relieved.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that between Tessa and me,¡± Connor said, his voice low. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to take responsibility for her<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    He stepped in front of Xylia<b>, </b>blocking her way as he tried to exin himself.


    Xylia gave him a puzzled look. ¡®What does any of this have to do with me?¡® she wondered, her tone icy and distant.


    ¡°Whatever¡¯s going on between you and her is none of my business. Now, could you get out of my way?¡± she snapped.


    Her face stayed cold as ever.


    Connor couldn¡¯t help but feel stung by her icy attitude. ¡®Why does she always have to be so cold to me?¡® he thought.


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    He was about to say something else when Tessa stepped out of one of the private rooms.


    ¡°Connor, what are you doing here?¡± Tessa called out, her tone tinged with suspicion.


    She took a few steps and immediately spotted Xylia.


    Her face changed in a sh, and she hurried over to Connor,tching onto his arm right in front of Xylia¨Cas if marking her territory.


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re here too, Xylia?¡± Tessa nced over the restaurant, her tone sharp. ¡°There¡¯s gossip all over the inte that your studionded a deal with Garcia Group just because you¡¯re hooking up with the CEO. So, are you here dining with Mr. Garcia or what?¡±


    Tessa said it with a sneer, sarcasm practically dripping from every word.


    She didn¡¯t buy into any of those ridiculous rumors for a second.


    The heir of Garcia Group was always shrouded in mystery, but the business world was full of wild legends


    about him.


    Mr. Garcia had a reputation for being cold as steel¨Cnever interested in women, ruthless with his deals, and thest person on earth you¡¯d expect to be caught up in a romance.


    Given Garcia Group¡¯s elite status, there¡¯s no way they¡¯d ever go for someone like Xylia¨Cshe¡¯s damaged goods in their eyes, totally out of their league.


    Tessa figured the news was probably a setup, some kind of trap because Xylia must¡¯ve pissed off the wrong


    person.


    Connor was on the exact same page. He just couldn¡¯t wrap his head around Joshua actually being interested in Xylia¨Cit made no sense to him at all.


    ¡°Sure, we¡¯re divorced, but if you ever hit a rough patch, I wouldn¡¯t just stand by and do nothing,¡± Connor said, trying to keep his tone casual.


    He was pretty sure someone out there was trying to mess with Xylia.


    No matter how things were between them now, if Xylia ever came to him for help, Connor knew he¡¯d end up lending her a hand.


    Tessa¡¯s face darkened as she listened to Connor.


    When the Schultz Group was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, she¡¯d begged Connor for help, but he¡¯d brushed her off, making excuses about the business having no chance to turn things around.


    And now, without a shred of shame, he was bending over backwards to help Xylia.


    Who could me her for hating him?


    Xylia wasn¡¯t about to stand there arguing with them. ¡°I don¡¯t need your help,¡± she said, keeping her tone cold


    and detached.


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    She¡¯d finally managed to shake Connor off¨Cno way was she ever going to ask him for anything again.


    She turned and walked off without looking back.


    Tessa sneered, ¡°Who did youe with, anyway? Are you really going to let us meet this big shot?¡±


    Xyliapletely ignored her, not even slowing down¨Cjust kept walking as if Tessa hadn¡¯t said anything at all.


    The doors to the private rooms didn¡¯t have any windows¨Cif she wanted to know who was inside, she¡¯d have to just open the door and hope for the best.


    Xylia really didn¡¯t want to die of embarrassment by barging into the wrong room, so she tracked down a waiter and asked for directions.


    Tessa, trailing right behind her, couldn¡¯t help but throw shade. ¡°Did you seriouslye all the way to this fancy restaurant just for the bathroom or something, Xylia?¡±


    ¡°You im you¡¯re not directionally challenged, yet can¡¯t even find your own private room? Honestly, are you sure you were even invited?¡±


    She shot <i>a </i>look at the waiter and snarked, ¡°Just a heads up¨Cif you take her and she barges in on the wrong guests, anyints are gonnand on you.¡±


    The waiter scratched his head, looking utterly baffled by the whole situation.


    ¡°Um, actually, thisdy dide in with Mr. Garcia¨CI¡¯m the one who led them to their room earlier,¡± he stammered, clearly out of his depth.


    Tessa blinked in disbelief. ¡°Mr. Garcia?¡± Her voice was almost a squeak, eyes wide as saucers. ¡®Wait, Xylia¡¯s actually here with Mr. Garcia?¡® she mentally reeled, mind spinning at the thought.


    Tessa¡¯s jaw dropped, unable to hide the shock written all over her face.


    ¡®No way¡­ Xylia¡¯s really hooked up with Mr. Garcia?¡® Tessa couldn¡¯t help the incredulous thought that popped into her head, suspicion swirling in her eyes.


    Connor¡¯s expression soured instantly, a shadow crossing his features as he processed what he¡¯d just heard. ¡®So it¡¯s true¨CXylia¡¯s really with Joshua?¡® He could feel irritation prickling under his skin.


    Xylia dismissed thempletely and told the waiter to just take her straight back to the private room.


    Almost without thinking, Tessatched onto Connor and followed after them.


    Xylia was beyond fed up with the two of them clinging to her like a pair of leeches.


    She spun around and snapped, ¡°What, you two want to join my table now? Just tagging along hoping to pick up the scraps?¡±


    Her words were sharp and fierce¨Cnothing like the gentle, meek tone she used to speak with.


    Connor and Tessa¡¯s faces clouded over in an instant.


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    The waiter escorted Xylia to the door of the private room, and she stepped in.


    Joshua saw her looking a little off and asked softly, ¡°Is everything okay?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Joshua asked, concern in his eyes.


    Xylia forced a smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    She didn¡¯t want to bring up anything else in front of Joshua¡¯s business partner.


    Joshua didn¡¯t push it.


    The dinner wrapped up quickly.


    Joshua and Xylia headed out together with the business partner.


    The partner had to leave early for something.


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    Joshua and Xylia walked hand in hand at the back of the group. Joshua nced down at her and asked softly, ¡°So, are you ready to tell me what happened earlier?¡±


    Only then did Xyliae clean to Joshua about bumping into Connor and Tessa.


    Joshua¡¯s smile faded.


    He¡¯d already heard rumors that Connor was about to open a branch in Norhill.


    He¡¯d tried to put pressure on Ford Group, but with some influential allies backing them up, he hadn¡¯t been able to bring them down¨Cin fact, it only helped them expand.


    But honestly, that wasn¡¯t much of a big deal.


    He nced down at Xylia, his voice low and a hint of teasing in his eyes.


    ¡°Should your husband help you finally shake off those two leeches?¡± he asked, a yful smile on his lips.


    Xylia clicked her tongue. ¡°Stop calling yourself that!¡±


    Joshua wrapped his arm around her, wearing that smug grin of his¨Ctotally shameless.


    ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time,¡± he quipped, sounding way too pleased with himself.


    Xylia¡¯s ears went red in an instant. She red at him, half embarrassed and half annoyed. ¡°You seriously have a way to ditch those two for good?¡±


    ¡°Obviously,¡± Joshua smirked, sounding way too sure of himself.

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    Xylia asked Joshua what he had in mind, but Joshua just shrank back and kept his mouth shut, clearly too scared to say a word.


    As they walked out, they ran into Connor and Tessa at the door.


    Xylia was holding Joshua¡¯s hand, and they were so close it was almost like they were glued together. Joshua would lean down and whisper something in her ear every now and then, and Xylia would lean in, listening intently. Whatever he said made her blush, and she leaned in to kiss his cheek. Joshua looked like he was on cloud nine.


    But to Connor, who was standing at the door, it was like a punch in the gut.


    Without even thinking, he started walking toward them.


    His face was thunderous, simmering with rage, his eyes practically shooting daggers.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± Connor roared, like he¡¯d just busted his wife cheating. A few passersby stopped


    to stare<b>. </b>


    Connor looked like he was about to reach for Xylia.


    Joshua brushed off his hand with icy indifference.


    It seemed like such a light gesture, but suddenly Connor¡¯s hand was mottled with red, proof of just how much force was behind it.


    ¡°Mr. Ford, what are you trying to do?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was cold.


    Just then, Tessa caught up to them. ¡°Con-¡±


    But before she could finish, Connor cut her off.


    ¡°Xylia is mine. Who do you think you are, letting her hang around with this crowd?¡± Connor snapped, his voice low and dangerous.


    ¡®Connor saw it like this: Whether Xylia was cozying up to Kaden or getting caught up in those rumors about her and Mr. Garcia, it all traced back to Joshua pulling the strings.¡¯


    Joshua was just some guy¨Ca mere driver for the Garcia family¨Cbut he knew how to use a beauty like Xylia to push his own agenda.


    ¡®Of course he¡¯de up with ways to make her meet Mr. Sadler and Mr. Garcia, all so he could cash in on her looks for his own benefit.¡¯


    ¡®And look at him now¨Cbarely a few days and Joshua was already strutting around, dressed up and acting like he was someone important.


    He was dressed to the nines, his clothes made from the finest fabrics and tailored so well you could tell he


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    As Connor spat out those words, he burned Xylia with a scathing re, seething with resentment. It was like he believed she¡¯d tossed her self¨Crespect aside, all for money and for other men.


    Behind him, Tessa stood frozen, her face drained of color.


    Xylia scoffed, ¡°Yours? Seriously?¡± Her words hung in the air like a p.


    Joshua¡¯s jaw clenched, his anger spreading like wildfire through his body.


    ¡°Did you forget you¡¯re divorced, Mr. Ford? She¡¯s got nothing to do with you anymore.¡±


    Connor wasn¡¯t backing down either.


    ¡°So what if we¡¯re divorced? We¡¯ve still got a child together. You can¡¯t just cut off blood ties with a signature,¡± he fired back, his tone loaded with possessiveness.


    He turned to Xylia, standing at Joshua¡¯s side. ¡°Sonny¡¯s been missing you. You¡¯re still his mother. Officially, I¡¯ve got custody, but I¡¯m not about to keep you from seeing him.¡±


    He made it pretty clear¨Cif Xylia wanted to see Sonny, she could, anytime. There was no way to hide the threat and invitation mixed into his words.


    If Xylia still had a shred of pride, she¡¯d take the hint, step away from Joshua, and y right into Connor¡¯s hands.


    But Xylia just frowned, shooting him a look like he¡¯d lost his mind. ¡®Does he actually think I¡¯d fall for that?¡® she thought, impatience flickering in her eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯ve cut off the Ford family for good. Do you seriously not get what ¡®cut off¡± means?¡± Xylia retorted, her voice cold and biting.


    Far from being grateful for the so¨Ccalled olive branch, she was fed up with his endless attempts to push his <b>way </b>back into her life.


    Connor had never experienced this kind of humiliation from Xylia before¨Ceven she dared to turn him down so harshly.


    She¡¯d actually rather let herself be used by a mere driver like Joshua than ever choose him again.


    ¡®Is she really that low?¡® Connor scorned inwardly, unable to believe what he was seeing.


    Joshua kept hold of Xylia¡¯s hand, raising his eyes and giving Connor a look so cold and sharp it could cut.


    ¡°Wow, Mr. Ford, I never figured you for someone so pathetic. Already moving on with someone new, yet you can¡¯t stop acting like Xylia¡¯s still your property?¡± Joshua¡¯s tone was icy, his wordsced with mockery.


    That was when Connor finally noticed Tessa standing beside him.


    He turned and caught sight of Tessa¡¯s red¨Crimmed eyes.


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    Guilt hit him, but he still didn¡¯t want to see Xylia fall into a trap.


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    He said to Tessa, ¡°You don¡¯t want to see your sister set up as bait by that Garcia family driver, right?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened, his expression turning stormy.


    ¡®What does that even mean?¡® he wondered.


    Xylia was just as lost.


    Tessa knew exactly what Connor meant¨Che couldn¡¯t stand the thought of Xylia getting hurt, and he was itching to step in and take care of her again.


    She scoffed, ¡°There¡¯s gossip everywhere about Xylia and Mr. Garcia, and on the side she¡¯s messing around with this driver. Even Mr. Garcia doesn¡¯t care, and Xylia herself seems happy with how things are¨Cso why do you think she needs you to y savior?¡±


    Tessa had always assumed Connor cared for Xylia simply out of a husband¡¯s sense of duty.


    But now, she could see his feelings for Xylia ran much deeper than mere responsibility.


    He was in love with her.


    That realization soaked Tessa¡¯s heart in jealousy and ache¨Cit hurt<b>, </b>sharp and sour, like she¡¯d swallowed a mouthful of vinegar.


    ¡®Why her? Why not me?¡® Tessa thought, jealousy gnawing at her.


    Tessa had worked so hard to finally get Connor to marry her, yet Xylia just kept haunting their rtionship- never backing off, always in the way.


    Connor cut in, ¡°She¡¯s got no choice in this.¡±


    He turned to face Xylia, no more beating around the bush¨Cjust straight up. ¡°Xylia, I¡¯m asking you again¡ªare youing with me or not?¡±


    Xylia just stared back, at aplete loss for words. ¡®Is he for real? Does he think I¡¯ll cave?¡® she thought, annoyed.


    Joshua was so pissed he looked like he might blow a fuse. He gave a mocking chuckle, his eyes icy and fixed right on Connor.


    ¡°You seriously don¡¯t quit, huh? Gotta smash into a wall before you give up?¡± Joshua jabbed.


    Then Joshua turned to Xylia, a faint, knowing smile tugging at his lips, his eyes glinting with sly charm.


    He brushed a quick, possessive kiss to her lips, his voice rumbling low and intimate as he spoke.


    ¡°Baby, you gonna go with him?¡±


    Xylia caught the dangerous glint in his eyes¨Cthis wasn¡¯t joking anymore. She fell silent.


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    ¡®When did this turn into a damn multiple choice question?¡® she grumbled to herself, feeling boxed in.


    The answer was pretty damn obvious.


    She shot Connor a cold look and said tly, ¡°Connor, I¡¯ve been keeping my distance. Stay out of my life.¡±


    ¡°Listen, if he¡¯s forcing you or something, just say the word¨CI¡¯ll help you!¡± Connor blurted, his desperation in to see.


    Connor couldn¡¯t contain himself anymore; he was practically bursting to intervene.


    Xylia was getting fed up with how clueless he was. ¡°I¡¯m not being threatened. I¡¯m with him now<i>, </i>okay? Seriously, how many times do I have to say it?¡±


    Hearing Xylia say that so directly, Connor was hit with an even sharper wave of disbelief¨Cit was like he¡¯d just been pped by reality.


    Deep down, it felt as if something inside him had split wide open, raw and aching straight to the core.


    He¡¯d known there was something going on between her and that driver, but he never expected her to admit it outright¨Cand with such obvious happiness.


    Earlier, Joshua had kissed her in front of everyone and she didn¡¯t even react, didn¡¯t shy away.


    To anyone watching, they just looked like a couple head¨Cover¨Cheels for each other, totally caught up in their own world.


    Joshua was instantly pleased.


    He kept hold of Xylia¡¯s hand and gave Connor a look of pure contempt.


    ¡°I¡¯ve finally figured you out, Mr. Ford,¡± Joshua sneered. ¡°You¡¯re shameless to the bone. You don¡¯t care about being a husband¨Cyour eyes are always glued to every woman except your own.¡±


    When Xylia was his wife, he only had eyes for Tessa,pletely ignoring the woman he¡¯d actually married.


    And now that he¡¯s about to put a ring on Tessa<b>, </b>suddenly he¡¯s back to lusting after Xylia again.


    Seriously, this guy is shameless to the core.


    Joshua didn¡¯t bother with Connor¡¯s furious re, just held Xylia¡¯s hand and started walking out.


    As they neared Connor, Joshua paused, as if something had just crossed his mind.


    ¡°Oh, right¨CI¡¯m not some Garcia family driver. Turns out, I¡¯m the Mr. Garcia you keep talking about.¡±


    Joshua said it coolly, then headed out with Xylia, not sparing a nce at Connor.


    Connor and Tessa just stood there like statues, totally dumbstruck as they watched the two walk away.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia?¡± Tessa blurted out, her voice full of shock as she shot a look at Connor,pletely stunned.


    7:38 Fri, Sep 19


    ¡°No way¡­ he was Mr. Garcia this whole time?¡± she gasped, still reeling.


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    <b>Chapter </b><b>204 </b>


    After leaving <b>the </b>restaurant,*


    :..


    Xylia shook Joshua¡¯s hand a little, her tone yful and a bit curious.<b>* </b>


    Xylia asked, ¡°Why did you tell them who you really are?¡°*


    ¡®Was that really necessary?¡® Xylia wondered to herself.


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    Joshua¡¯s <b>face </b>was still clouded with anger, his usually charming eyes shing with lingering irritation.


    ¡°I wanted him to know I¡¯m not someone you can just push around!¡± Joshua shot back, his tone unmistakably defiant.


    Xylia grinned and nudged him yfully, ¡°Hey, remember, you were the one who hid your real identity from everyone in the first ce.¡±


    What she meant was, if Connor didn¡¯t know Joshua was tough to mess with, it was only because Joshua himself had kept that a secret.


    Joshua frowned. ¡®Wait, are you actually taking his side now?¡®


    Xylia quickly raised her hands in mock surrender. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t get me wrong! I¡¯m not taking his side at all.¡±


    Joshua caught the teasing glimmer in her eyes and let out a ¡®tsk,¡® reaching over to pinch her nose and give it a yful tug.


    ¡°Here I am backing you up, and you¡¯re still teasing me?¡± Joshua said, shooting her a mock¨Coffended look.


    Xyliaughed, feeling every bit like his pampered, proud girl.


    The next day, the Garcia Group¡¯s official social media ount posted a statement.


    <b>It </b>stated that the rumors about the Ford Group cheating its partners werepletely baseless. The process had been fair and transparent, and the Ford Group reserved the right to pursue legal action against anyone spreading false ims.


    At the end, they attached a <b>list </b>of all the studios involved and the payments each received.


    Even Bridge Studio, which had pulled out halfway, still received a substantial payout.


    Almost immediately, the vibe in thement section totally changed.


    [¡®Wait, Bridge Studio bailed and still got paid? Okay, I get not winning means no payout for the other studios, but Bridge dropped out and still bagged that much cash? Seriously?¡®]


    [¡®The Garcia Group¡¯s always been crazy generous. Top three worldwide¨Cthey wouldn¡¯t bother pulling <b>shady </b>moves on their partners, that¡¯s way beneath them.]


    [¡®Damn, where do I find a sugar daddy client like this? Everyone who showed up got paid, even if it wasn¡¯t a ton. At least it wasn¡¯t some freebie gig!]


    [¡®Garcia Group mainly does jewelry, but this time they even brought in legit fashion design experts to review the work uniforms. Zero chance anything underhanded happened here.¡®]


    [¡®People online flip sides as fast as ever¡ªit¡¯s just like tucking your long johns into your socks: weirdlyforting.¡®]


    This whole situation wasn¡¯t all that serious.


    Thanks to the Garcia Group¡¯s statement, Xylic Studio¡¯s reputation was slowly bouncing back.


    Some of the orders they¡¯d lost started trickling back in.


    And because of all the buzz, Xylic Studio¡¯s name was getting out there. The ce was buzzing with activity these past couple of days.


    Xylia watched her team hustling around, thinking about whether it was time to expand.


    Josie said, ¡°Yeah, hiring more people is a must, but for now, what matters most is the Garcia Group¡¯s order. Once we finish the designs, I¡¯m just worried Henry¡¯s little factory might not be able to handle the workload.¡±


    The Garcia Group¡¯s order wasn¡¯t exactly urgent, but their deadline wasing up fast.


    More than twenty thousand uniforms¨Chanding the entire job over to Henry¡¯s tiny workshop was going to be a massive task and it¡¯d definitely eat up a ton of time.


    And right now, they only had a preliminary concept, not an actual finished design. They still had to finalize the patterns, pick out the fabrics, get the garments made¡­ There were so many steps left to go.


    ¡°I¡¯ll touch base with Henry soon and we¡¯ll work out a n,¡± Xylia said.


    Josie nodded. ¡°And I¡¯ll get started on hiring more folks. Looks like our hands are about to be full these days<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Just as Josie was about to dive back into work, something seemed to pop into her mind. She turned around and called out, ¡°Oh, and don¡¯t forget about the designpetition next month, alright?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I remember,¡± Xylia said.


    Josie finally looked reassured and headed out.


    Xylia knew Josie always had her back when it came to climbing up in the design game. After she decided to join thepetition, Josie couldn¡¯t help but check in and remind her about it nearly every day.


    Xylia smiled and gave Henry a call.


    Henry had just finished up for the day, so they set up a meeting at the studio.


    7:38 Fri, Sep 19


    By the afternoon, Henry hustled over.


    In Xylia¡¯s office, he epted the water Xylia offered him.


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    ¡°Hey, Xylia, I¡¯m telling you¨Ctwenty thousand units? Our factory can totally handle it,¡± Henry said, full of confidence.


    Spotting how anxious Henry looked¨Clike he honestly thought she was about to rece him¨CXylia shed him a calm, ¡°chill out¡± smile.


    ¡°Seriously, Henry, I brought you here to brainstorm solutions, not to break up the team. No need to stress,¡± Xylia reassured him.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to rx too, but this is the factory¡¯s first major order. There¡¯s no way I can bepletely at ease,¡± Henry admitted.


    Xylia smiled.


    ¡°It¡¯s the first big order for our studio too.¡±


    Xylia spoke gently, her whole vibe soothing.


    Henry let out a breath he hadn¡¯t realized he¡¯d been holding, finally loosening up a bit.


    ¡°Rx, Xylia. Our workshop can crank out ten thousand pieces a month. The deadline¡¯s set for the end of next month¨Cif my team works overtime, I¡¯m sure we can hit twenty thousand in time,¡± Henry said, his confidence clear.


    After a second, Henry grinned, ¡°We¡¯ve been working together for ages¨Cyou know we¡¯re solid when ites to both quality and keeping our word, right?¡±


    Xylia nodded. ¡°Definitely. It¡¯s just, the designs will only be ready by next week, and since it¡¯s already mid- month, I¡¯m a bit worried your schedule might get too tight.¡±


    ¡°No problem!¡± Henry said, thumping his chest with a huge grin. ¡°Just leave it to me, Xylia¨CI¡¯ll deliver every piece right on time, and I promise the quality will be wless.¡±


    He looked ready <i>to </i>conquer the world.


    Of course Xylia trusted him. She never doubted Henry for a second.


    ¡°Here¡¯s to us crushing this order and teaming up for even more wins,¡± Xylia replied.


    Henry finally let out a breath, feeling thest bit of tension fade away.


    With a pile of chores waiting for him back at the workshop, Henry dashed off right after their talk.


    Xylia teamed up with Josie to get started on those design sketches for the Garcia Group order.


    The Garcia Group had its own set of hoops to jump through¨Cthey had to finish the first draft by the deadline, send it over, and wait for the higher¨Cups to sign off before moving to the next stage.


    That¡¯s exactly why the designs wereing in <i>a </i>bitter than usual.


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    ¡°I¡¯ve shortlisted a couple of fabrics based on the advance payment Garcia Group sent over. You should double¨Ccheck them with Joshua,¡± Josie said, passing thest task to Xylia for the day.


    After that, Josie stretched her neck and arms, trying to work out the knots¡ªshe couldn¡¯t hide her relief that the workday was finally over.


    Finally, it was quitting time.


    Xylia nodded.


    Before they realized it, the clock had struck 11 PM¨Cthey¡¯d both been lost in work all evening.


    Xylia had driven in today and wanted to give Josie a ride home, but remembering how Josie preferred to keep her ce private, she decided not to push it.


    ¡°Text me when you get home so I know you¡¯re safe,¡± Xylia said.


    ¡°Will do!¡± Josie replied, giving Xylia¡¯s head a pat like a caring big sis. ¡°And don¡¯t speed, okay?¡±


    After their quick goodbye, Josie was the first to head out of the studio.


    Xylia wrapped things up for the night. After locking up the studio, she headed over to the parking lot, ready


    to drive home.


    Norhill was pretty quiet at night, especially around the business district. Only a few streetmps lit up the area, leaving most of the malls shrouded in darkness.


    As Xylia made her way toward the parking lot, she spotted someone standing by her car, even from a distance.


    The lighting was pretty dim, but just from the silhouette alone, Xylia could tell it looked a lot like Joshua.


    Xylia smiled, already pretty sure it was him, and made her way over¨Cher heart feeling a little flutter of anticipation.


    But as she got closer, Xylia realized that it wasn¡¯t Joshua waiting by her car¨Cit was Connor instead. ¡®Seriously?¡® she thought, her heart sinking a little.


    Her smile froze instantly, lips tugging downward as her face fell, all the warmth draining away in a split second.


    Connor spotted Xylia approaching and stepped forward, moving into the glow of a streetlight.


    He lookedpletely drained¨Cthe kind of exhausted thates from more than just a long day. When he saw Xylia, he hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself. There was a hint of irritation darkening his gaze.


    ¡°Xylia Schultz, you knew back in Jupiton that he was the heir of the Garcia Group, didn¡¯t you?¡± Connor demanded, his voice tight and using.

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    Connor looked utterly defeated, his eyes shimmering with tears that hadn¡¯t quite fallen yet.


    Xylia pressed her lips together and said nothing.


    Connor didn¡¯t wait for her answer. He strode right up to her and went on, ¡°So, back in Jupiton, when I told you to act like the Garcia Group¡¯s princess, you knew damn well it was all just an act. You knew everything.¡±


    ¡°You already had someone lined up before our divorce, didn¡¯t you? Joshua is your new backup, right?¡±


    Every word Connor spoke was tinged with hurt, but each syble was barbed.


    Xylia wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised he¡¯d think of her this way.


    Honestly, she¡¯d only missed Connor¡¯s ugly side because she¡¯d been naive.


    After the Schultz family kicked her to the curb, she¡¯d drifted like a lost soul, desperately clinging to Connor as if he was her lifeline. But he¡¯d never truly been her salvation¨Cshe¡¯d been imagining things all along. He¡¯d merely given her a temporary ride, while his heart was always longing for another ce to call home.


    But now that she¡¯d finally let go, the real Connor was showing himself, piece by piece.


    Cowardly. Never could make up his mind.


    Always judging people by his own narrow standards.


    Even his feelings for someone had to be proven to himself, again and again.


    ¡°Before I married you, I was a hell of a dancer. And before you screwed up my hands and feet, I was an outstanding surgeon. Connor, get this straight: I don¡¯t need anyone propping me up to shine. Marriage is just an extra in my life.¡±


    Connor¡¯s face gradually turned ghostly pale.


    It wasn¡¯t just that one word from Xylia that struck a nerve¨Che started to anxiously defend himself.


    ¡°I¡­ I can exin. Your injury was on me, but I couldn¡¯t help it, it was because of Tessa¡­¡±


    ¡°No need to exin. I don¡¯t care to hear it.¡±


    Xylia sidestepped Connor and headed for the driver¡¯s seat, her voice drifting out into the night¡¯s faint chill.


    ¡°Stay out of my life.¡±


    As Xylia opened the car door, warmth suddenly brushed over the back of her hand.


    She frowned and instinctively shook it off¨Cright then, a familiar voice sounded in her ear. ¡°Sweetheart, it¡¯s


    me.¡±


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    It was Joshua.


    Xylia stopped in her tracks.


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    Joshua casually slipped her soft hand into his, then smoothly took the car keys right out of her palm.


    ¡°Your injuries aren¡¯t fully healed yet. Why are you even trying to drive? Your personal driver isn¡¯t dead, you know¨Cput him to work.¡±


    And of course, the ¡°driver¡± he was talking about was none other than himself.


    When Connor heard Joshua¡¯s voice, he tensed up on the spot.


    He turned and saw Xylia and Joshua standing right by the driver¡¯s side, practically shoulder to shoulder. Joshua was leaning in to talk, and from Connor¡¯s angle, it looked almost like they were about to kiss.


    Connor¡¯s temper red instantly as he snapped, ¡°Mr. Garcia, back in Jupiton, Xylia and I weren¡¯t even divorced yet, and you were already moving in on her. Have you no shame?¡±


    Joshua let out a soft scoff, straightened up, and turned to face Connor.


    Joshua¡¯s icy gaze was like a thousand knives, each one cutting right into Connor.


    ¡°Cheating on your wife, Mr. Ford¡ªdoes that really make you proud?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± Connor blurted out, his voice strained, eyes flicking desperately toward Xylia.


    Xylia just kept her back to him, focused on Joshua, not even sparing Connor a nce.


    Joshua shrugged, ¡°You and I both know the answer, but honestly? That¡¯s all water under the bridge now. In fact, I should thank you¡ªbecause you gave me the chance to be the one beside Xylia.¡±


    Joshua lowered his gaze, looking at Xylia with undeniable tenderness.


    Xylia tilted her head up, her eyes meeting his¨Cthose eyes were swirling with emotion, bright and clear, as if ripples danced across their surface.


    Her gaze was as pure as autumn water, wless and utterly captivating.


    Joshua felt a soft tug at his heart. He bent down, pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, and lovingly patted her head.


    <i>¡°</i>Get in the passenger seat, sweetheart. Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    Xylia still hadn¡¯t gotten used to how Joshua would steal kisses whenever he felt like it.


    Her face flushed a deep red as she slipped into the passenger seat, not giving Connor so much as a second thought.


    The scene stung Connor¡¯s eyes.


    But he was powerless to stop any of it.


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    He could only watch as Joshua got behind the wheel and drove away.


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    An overwhelming sense of emptiness and fear washed over Connor. Without even thinking, he took a step forward.


    But the car was already gone, out of sight down the street.


    Xylia rolled the window down a little, letting the cool night breeze chase away the warmth lingering on her cheeks. Only then did she turn to Joshua and ask, ¡°Why¡¯d youe looking for me?¡±


    ¡°Why¡¯d youe looking for me?¡± Xylia asked.


    ¡°I texted you and got nothing. Tried calling, your phone was dead. So, I figured I¡¯d just track you down myself,¡± Joshua replied.


    Xylia suddenly realized what was going on. She dug around in her bag, found her phone¨Cit had been dead and powered off the whole time.


    She shed him a guilty little grin, ¡°I¡¯ve been buried in work all day, didn¡¯t even get a chance to look at my phone.¡±


    She instinctively grabbed the car charger, plugged it into her phone, like she¡¯d done it a thousand times before.


    Letting it juice up a bit while she had a spare moment.


    Joshua was in a pretty good mood and stole nces at Xylia whenever he got the chance while driving.


    She kept her eyes glued to her phone as it powered up, looking stressed¨Clike something was really bugging


    her.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Joshua asked.


    ¡°Kaden¡¯s been way too strict with metely. I¡¯m worried he¡¯ll totally chew me out if I miss his call,¡± Xylia said.


    Joshua blinked in surprise. ¡°Seriously? Your brother gives you that kinda grief?¡±


    Xylia considered it for a moment, then shook her head. ¡°He doesn¡¯t really yell at me, but these days he¡¯ll just put on that stern face and <i>try </i>to act intimidating.¡±


    Joshua felt like something wasn¡¯t adding up.


    ¡°So when was thest time your brother tried to give you the cold shoulder?¡± he pressed.


    Xylia hesitated, but with Joshua urging her on, she finally spilled.


    ¡°It was that night we went out for thosete¨Cnight snacks,¡± she admitted.


    She¡¯d tried everything to get rid of the smell before sneaking back home, but it still lingered¡ªand she¡¯d gotten in way past curfew.


    ane u veen sneaking junk food.


    He ratted her out to Cyrus right away.


    <b>a </b>bloodhound. It took him no time at all to sniff out that


    The two brothers then tag¨Cteamed their lecture, not giving her a break.


    Now Xylia was super cautious every time she wanted to eat anything.


    It¡¯s not that she can¡¯t eat¨Cshe¡¯s just <i>too </i>freaked out to go near anything oily or spicy.


    Joshua was quick on the uptake and instantly caught on to why her brothers got so worked up.


    He mulled it over and said, ¡°Next time you go for a secret snack run, just swap your clothes¨Cguaranteed they won¡¯t sniff you out.¡±


    Xylia hadn¡¯t expected that kind of advice from him.


    It sounded totally doable, but the fact that Joshua was the one suggesting it honestly cracked her up.


    ¡°You sure sound like you¡¯ve done this before,¡± she teased.


    Joshua tapped his long fingers on the steering wheel, his lips parted casually as he spoke.


    ¡°Back when we were overseas, whenever you went out with your friends, I¡¯d sneak in a hot pot dinner at home,¡± he admitted.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes went wide.


    She always felt like that hot pot smell was stuck in the house during that time.


    And there Joshua had been, looking all weak and sick on the couch. She¡¯d asked him if he could smell it, and he¡¯d just shaken his head, pretending he didn¡¯t have a clue.


    That was back when she had just rescued Joshua¨Che was badly injured, and had toy off anything spicy while he was on his medication.


    Xylia, on the other hand, was all about greasy, spicy food. So while she devoured her slow¨Cbraised BBQ pork belly, Joshua had to settle for in steamed fish.


    She¡¯d always told herself that once Joshua recovered, she could move on.


    At the time, Joshua didn¡¯t really seem like the most trustworthy guy, but since there wasn¡¯t even a hint of hot pot on him, she kept her doubts to herself.


    But Joshua¡¯s recovery dragged on forever.


    She¡¯d pinned it on his lousy physical condition, but now she realized he¡¯d been going behind her back, secretly eating the stuff he wasn¡¯t supposed to have.


    ¡®I knew I smelled hot pot back then!¡® Xylia blurted out. ¡®I actually thought my nose was ying tricks on me!

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    <b>I </b>really pity my dumb old self for being tricked like that,¡® Xylia thought, shaking her head at her own gullibility.


    She actually went and had her nose examined at the hospital back then. How clueless could she be?


    Joshua chuckled, ¡°Honestly, you should be the one who understands me the best.¡±


    With that, Joshua pointed toward Xylia¡¯s wrist.


    Xylia paused to think. Sure, she¡¯d gotten irritable recently from watching what she ate, but her situation wasn¡¯t really the same.


    After her surgery, all the doctors did was suggest she keep things light on the menu, and she knew for sure that a dash of spice never actually bothered her.


    But for Joshua, it was a totally different story. The meds he¡¯d been prescribed back then had a strict no¨Cspicy- food rule¨Cit¡¯d actually impact how well the medicine worked!


    ¡°I get it, but I don¡¯t have to respect it,¡± Xylia said as she leaned back in her chair, picked up her phone, and ignored Joshuapletely.


    Joshua saw Xylia¡¯s reaction and instantly panicked, worried she was genuinely upset. He rushed to exin, ¡°Hey, I was just a kid back then¨Cten years ago, I didn¡¯t know anything.¡±


    ¡°So now that I¡¯m older, I¡¯m even more clueless?¡± Xylia shot back, still not even sparing him a nce.


    Joshua stiffened, totally floored by hereback. He couldn¡¯t believe Xylia would spin his words like that.


    He cleared his throat awkwardly and tried again, his tone softening. ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not what I meant. You¡¯re not old at all¨Chonestly, you¡¯ll always be eighteen to me.¡±


    ¡°Quit making me worry about my age. I¡¯m pushing thirty and honestly? Not ashamed¨CI¡¯m proud of it!¡± Xylia snapped, sounding totally confident.


    Joshua was about to <b>say </b>something, but Xylia waved him off. ¡°Just keep your eyes on the road, okay? I need to text my brothers<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Finally, Joshua fell silent.


    Sure enough, Kaden had actually called and texted Xylia, and she was only just now seeing his messages. ¡®Wow, I really am out of the loop today, she thought, feeling a bit guilty as she started texting him back.


    Once she¡¯d fired off her reply, Xylia set her phone aside, letting out a small sigh of relief.


    Joshua finally spoke up<b>, </b>his tone a little moody. ¡°You didn¡¯t respond to your brothers, so they didn¡¯t show up to pick you up, did they?¡±


    Xylia nced over at him. ¡°So, what¡¯s your point?¡±


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    ¡°It means I¡¯m the only one who actually cares about you, so all those old screw¨Cups are water under the bridge,¡± Joshua said, trying to y it cool.


    Xylia blinked at him. ¡°So your care <b>is </b><b>just </b>about covering your own tracks?¡±


    Joshua went quiet.


    He realized that nothing he said would get him out of trouble now.


    Xylia tilted her head slightly, a small smile tugging at her lips.


    When they finally pulled up to the Sadler family¡¯s ce, Joshua smoothly guided the car into the parking lot like he¡¯d done it a million times before.


    Just as Xylia was about to head inside, Joshua called out to her.


    ¡°I messed up.¡±


    Xylia stopped in her tracks, the words slipping out before she even realized: ¡°What did you mess up?¡±


    After she blurted out the question, it suddenly hit her¨Cwait, why did she even ask that?


    Turns out, she wasn¡¯t actually upset at all, so what was the point in demanding an apology?


    Joshua sighed, ¡°I screwed up by lying to you ten years ago. And just now, I made it worse by trying to use my concern for you as leverage for your forgiveness.¡±


    Xylia just burst outughing.


    Joshua looked <i>at </i>her, frowning in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯mughing at how thick¨Cheaded you are. I¡¯m seriously not mad,¡± Xylia said, still giggling.


    ¡°Really? You¡¯re not mad?¡± Joshua asked, clearly unsure.


    ¡°For real, I¡¯m not mad,¡± Xylia replied, her smile growing even brighter.


    Joshua looked relieved and pulled her into a hug.


    He whispered against her neck, ¡°You didn¡¯t even look at me.¡±


    He was talking about the drive; Xylia had spent most of the ride just zoning out and staring out at the scenery.


    ¡°I mean, <b>I </b>can¡¯t just keep my eyes glued to you the whole drive,¡± Xylia said, sounding a bit deadpan.


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying I¡¯m not cute enough?¡± Joshua teased, feigning a wounded tone.


    Honestly, he was convinced he had looks to spare¨Che was easily way more attractive than Connor, no


    contest.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re plenty handsome,¡± Xylia replied with a yful grin, ¡°but it¡¯s not like I can stare at you forever.¡±


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    ¡°Why? Worried you¡¯ll get tired of my face?¡± Joshua teased, pretending to pout.


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    Xylia shrugged, ¡°Well yeah, if I keep staring, eventually I might get bored. It¡¯s better to give my eyes a break.¡±


    ¡®Truth be told,¡® Joshua thought, ¡®I just wish she¡¯d never get bored of me. If only I could always stay new in her


    eyes.¡®


    Xylia was honestly at a loss for words¨Cdid this guy actually want her to stare at him the whole time?


    ¡°If I stared at you the whole time, wouldn¡¯t that make me a total creep? And could you even keep your eyes on the road?¡± she shot back, raising an eyebrow.


    Joshua started to retort, but after a second¡¯s pause, decided to just keep his mouth shut.


    Honestly, he couldn¡¯t even guarantee he¡¯d be able to focus if that happened.


    After that quick peck in the parking lot, he¡¯d been dying for a chance to give her a proper kiss.


    ¡®Maybe this is my shot?¡® he thought.


    Joshua¡¯s lips had just barely grazed Xylia¡¯s cheek when the elevator doors slid open.


    Kaden¡¯s piercing gaze shot their way, and Xylia quickly shoved Joshua aside, spinning to face her brother.


    ¡°Kaden?¡± she stammered, her voice a little shaky.


    ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± Kaden said, his voice t and clearly not pleased.


    Joshua didn¡¯t look any happier, either.


    ¡®We¡¯re a couple now. Why did she push me away just because Kaden showed up?¡® he thought, annoyed and puzzled.


    Joshua took Xylia¡¯s hand and absent¨Cmindedly rubbed her fingertips, clearly sulking.


    Xylia turned around and met Joshua¡¯s puppy¨Cdog eyes, full of grudging longing.


    ¡°Take my car home tonight¨Cand don¡¯t forget toe pick me up tomorrow,¡± she said, tossing him the keys with an easy grin.


    Joshua¡¯s face lit up<b>, </b>takenpletely by surprise. ¡°For real?¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you dying to be my chauffeur? Well, here¡¯s your shot¨Care you in, or not?¡± Xylia quipped, the corners of her mouth curling up in yful challenge.


    ¡°You bet!¡± Joshua replied, his whole face lighting up with sheer delight.


    He held onto the car keys like they were pure gold, giving Kaden a smug, satisfied look.


    Joshua shed Kaden an even bigger grin, basking in the triumph.


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    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, so I¡¯m heading out. Make sure to get some rest, Kaden,¡± he said, his voice thick with self- satisfaction.


    Then, strutting off like a proud peacock, Joshua hopped into the car and sped away¨Cclearly on cloud nine.


    Xylia watched Joshua and the car fade out of sight before finally walking over to Kaden.


    ¡°Sorry, Kaden¨Cmy phone waspletely dead, and I got mmed with stuff all afternoon. Barely had a chance to text you,¡± she said, trying her best to sound sweet and a little apologetic.


    Just like that, as soon as Xylia yed the sympathy card, Kaden¡¯s brooding look melted away.


    ¡°No worries. Come on upstairs,¡± he said, his tone already much lighter.


    Xylia followed Kaden into the elevator, half¨Cexpecting him toy into her about not replying.


    But to her surprise, there wasn¡¯t even a hint of me in Kaden¡¯s voice.


    He even asked if she was hungry, saying he¡¯d put together somete¨Cnight snacks for her.


    Xylia nced at those nd midnight snacks and honestly couldn¡¯t summon any appetite¨Ceven if she wanted ate bite, in food just wasn¡¯t it for her.


    She was about to politely refuse, but then caught the hopeful, expectant look in Kaden¡¯s eyes.


    How could she crush that look? She just gave a small nod instead, deciding she couldn¡¯t bear to disappoint him.


    She followed Kaden into the dining room, where her three other brothers were waiting.


    ¡°Hey, little sis, you made it! Grab a seat,¡± Hudson Sadler called out, quickly pulling out a chair for her.


    Hudson promptly rushed over and gently guided Xylia to sit down at the table.


    The scene before Xylia was totally different from what she¡¯d pictured.


    The dining table was absolutely packed with mouthwatering street eats<b>¨C</b>smoky barbecue, piles of spicy crawfish, takoyaki balls dripping with sauce¡­ Everything you could dream of at a night market.


    Just looking at all this is making my stomach growl, Xylia thought, swallowing nervously as she nced over at Cyrus Sadler.


    ¡°Is this whole spread really for me?¡± she asked, her voice tinged with excitement and disbelief.


    Cyrus smiled gently, already knowing what she was worrying about. ¡°It¡¯s fine¨Cjust have a little,¡± he said softly.


    Honestly, Xylia wasn¡¯t greedy at all¨Cjust getting to taste a little was already a blessing in her book.


    Her eyes sparkled as she picked up her chopsticks and dove right in, totally hyped about the midnight feast.


    Kaden and Cyrus shot each other a knowing look, silently celebrating how right they¡¯d been.


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    Joshua was sly as ever¨Che knew Xylia loved junk food, so he¡¯d always take her out for those treats, just to get her to spend more time with him.


    But now, her brothers had caught on. By stocking the house with all her favorite snacks, they figured Xylia would be so happy, she wouldn¡¯t be glued to Joshua all the time.


    ¡®Man, we really are geniuses!¡® they thought, patting themselves on the back.


    Xylia, totally oblivious to her brothers¡® genius scheme, finished her meal and headed back to her room.


    While unpacking her bag, she suddenly realized she¡¯d forgotten to give Joshua that fabric rmendation file Josie Dunn had handed her.


    Then she remembered¨Cwith Joshuaing to pick her up tomorrow, her heart did a little happy dance.


    ¡®No rush,¡¯ Xylia thought, grinning to herself. ¡®Tomorrow works just fine!¡®


    After she finished getting ready for bed andy down, Xylia checked her phone, saw Joshua¡¯s ¡°home safe¡± message, and fell asleep right away.


    Meanwhile, Kaden had kept the whole thing about Yves and Gia showing up a total secret from Xylia.


    He definitely didn¡¯t tell her how he¡¯d threatened them and basically chased them back to Jupiton.


    To Kaden, now that Xylia was back, her ties to the Schultz family werepletely cut. There was no point in dragging her into all that drama.


    And as for the Schultz Group¡¯s downfall? He¡¯d made sure to personally speed things along.


    But Yves and Gia weren¡¯t done yet. When they realized they couldn¡¯t crack the Sadler Group, they immediately pivoted their attention to the Garcia Group.


    They¡¯d caught the news¨CXylia was now dating the CEO of the Garcia Group.


    ¡®That damn girl really is blessed,¡¯ they fumed. ¡®She leaves Jupiton, and somehow, in no time, starts rubbing shoulders with all these power yers!¡®


    Instead of heading back to Jupiton<b>, </b>they rerouted straight for the Garcia Group.


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    Yves and Gia Schultz arrived at the Garcia Group headquarters, but just as they¡¯d expected, there was no way they were getting past the lobby.


    No matter how many times they dropped Xylia Schultz¡¯s name, the receptionist just shook her head, refusing to let them upstairs.


    Yves and Gia exchanged worried nces, their anxiety growing by the minute.


    Just then, Gia¡¯s phone lit up¨Cit was Ziggy calling. In her anxiety, she snatched the phone, desperate for good


    news.


    ¡°Ziggy, we¡¯re here to see Mr. Garcia, but he won¡¯t see us,¡± Gia said, her voice tight with frustration.


    On the other end, Ziggy paused for a moment, his tone serious and steady. ¡°Mom, Dad,e back to Jupiton. I know how to bring the Schultz Group back to life.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Gia asked, hope creeping into her voice.


    Ziggy didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Yes,¡± he replied, his voice full of certainty.


    Gia let out a long breath, relief flooding through her.


    Without wasting another second, they left the Garcia Group headquarters and booked the next flight back to Jupiton.


    Meanwhile, Tessa couldn¡¯t care less about the Schultz family¡¯s drama.


    Her mind was swirling with all the little signs that Connor cared about Xylia¨Cas if he still couldn¡¯t let go of her.


    ¡®Wasn¡¯t Connor supposed to love me? So why does he keep acting like Xylia¡¯s the only one he cares about?¡® Tessa thought, a pout forming on her lips.


    Tessa was sitting on the hotel sofa, lost in thought, when Connor shuffled out of the bedroom, barely awake. He shot her a quick nce, didn¡¯t say a word, and went straight to the kitchen for some water.


    Tessa didn¡¯t ask Connor about what happened yesterday.


    ¡®I¡¯m just scared of what Connor might say, Tessa thought, biting her lip.


    Tessa walked right up to Connor, her voice turning soft and a little flirtatious as she pleaded, ¡°Connor, can you help with the Schultz Group<b>?</b>¡±


    Connor couldn¡¯t help recalling all the things Yves and Gia had done to Xylia¨Call those memories left a bitter taste in his mouth.


    Even now, even if he had the power to save the Schultz Group, he just couldn¡¯t bring himself to step in


    anymore.


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    <b>He </b>took <b>a </b><b>slow </b><b>sip </b>of water<b>, </b><b>then </b>sighed, turning to Tessa. ¡°Tessa, the Ford Group is barely keeping <b>itself </b>afloat right now. I really wish I could help, but my hands are tied.¡±


    Tessa hadn¡¯t really expected Connor to help in the first ce.


    She knew the Ford Group had taken a huge hit after Orion¡¯s death¨CConnor had told her all about it.


    But after seeing how much Connor still cared about Xylia that day, Tessa realized she couldn¡¯t risk everything on him alone.


    The Schultz family was still her safety.


    <i>¡®</i><i>I </i>need to figure out a way to help them,¡® Tessa thought, determination shing in her eyes<b>. </b>


    ¡°Okay, I get it,¡± Tessa murmured, her voice small as she lowered her head in defeat.


    Tessa hung her head, looking genuinely crushed, sadness shadowing her face.


    Seeing Tessa looking so down, Connor just couldn¡¯t stay cold. He reached out and gave her head a gentle pat. ¡°Weren¡¯t you saying you wanted to make your mark in showbiz? Well, I¡¯ve already pulled some strings for you -there¡¯s a hot new blockbustering up, and in a couple of days, I¡¯ll take you to meet the director.¡±


    Tessa¡¯s eyes lit up instantly.


    She had talked about wanting to be part of that big project to Connor before, but she never thought he¡¯d actually make it happen.


    ¡®Connor really came through for me!¡® Tessa thought, her heart racing with excitement.


    Deep down, Tessa knew that when it came down to it, nothing mattered more than her own future¨Cnot even the fate of the Schultz family.


    With a burst of excitement, Tessa threw herself into Connor¡¯s arms. ¡°Thank you so much, Connor!¡± she gushed gratefully, her heart soaring with joy.


    But Connor gently pushed her away, his voice calm but distant. ¡°I¡¯ve got some things to take care of. You should rest.¡±


    With that, he headed back to the bedroom, changed into a crisp suit, and walked out the door.


    Right now, Tessa wasn¡¯t even thinking about her own jealousy or heartbreak¡ªshe just grabbed her phone and called Ziggy.


    ¡°Ziggy, I¡¯m sorry, Connor¡¯s just not listening to me at all right now, so he¡¯s not going to help us out.¡±


    ¡­¡­


    Meanwhile, Joshua was already aware that Yves and Gia Schultz hade looking for him.


    He just scoffed, feeling utterly contemptuous.


    <b>7:39 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>19 </b>


    ¡­


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    ¡®Since when did every random nobody think they could knock on my door?¡® Joshua sneered to himself, his pride refusing to be touched.


    Joshua was so caught up in flirting with Xylia, he couldn¡¯t be bothered with anything else.


    That morning, he swung by the Sadler ce at the crack of dawn to pick her up, just <b>as </b>she¡¯d told him to.


    ying her personal chauffeur, Joshua followed Xylia¡¯s route exactly, and soon enough, they pulled up at the Garcia Group HQ.


    Joshua had assumed Xylia was here to talk about their rtionship, but the moment they stepped into his office, she switched gears and immediately handed him the documents she¡¯d forgottenst night¨Cstraight to business, no hesitation.


    ¡°These are the fabric samples Josie picked for the employee uniforms. They¡¯re all within the Garcia Group¡¯s budget. Take a look and pick the one you prefer,¡± Xylia said, her tone all business.


    Joshua took the documents with zero enthusiasm, looking totally bored.


    He barely nced at them before randomly picking a fabric sample.


    ¡°This one. Whatever.¡±


    Xylia nced at the fabric Joshua pointed to¨Cit was exactly the one she¡¯d nned to pick herself.


    She epted his choice, packed away the documents, and got ready to head out.


    But Joshua wasn¡¯t having it.


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving already?¡± he blurted out, his voice rising in panic.


    ¡°We¡¯re done with work. What else is there to do?¡± Xylia replied, her tone matter¨Cof¨Cfact.


    ¡°Just because we¡¯re done with work doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t talk about us,¡± Joshua shot back, clearly annoyed.


    Joshua looked grumpy, his head down and silver hair half covering his eyes, making him look extra moody.


    Xylia settled back onto the sofa, ncing at him and asking softly, ¡°You¡¯re not busy?¡±


    ¡°Nope, not busy at all,¡± Joshua huffed, stubbornly.


    But just as he finished, David knocked and walked in.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, the conference room is ready. You¡¯ve got ten minutes,¡± David said, his tone professional.


    Joshua¡¯s scowl deepened, irritation shing across his face.


    ¡®Freaking work!¡® he muttered under his breath. ¡°Tomorrow, Aaron can have this dumpster fire back. Let him run his own wreck of apany!¡®


    Sensing Joshua¡¯s chilly mood, David realized he¡¯d just barged in on some personal time between the boss and


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    thedy boss. He rubbed his nose awkwardly and slipped out of the office without another word.


    Xylia grinned and yfully pinched Joshua¡¯s check.


    ¡°Come on, why are you acting so childish today? Be sure to pick me up after work¨Cwe¡¯ve got <b>a </b>candlelit dinner waiting,¡± she teased warmly.


    Just that simple promise of dinner with her was enough to turn Joshua¡¯s mood around.


    After seeing Xylia off at the elevator, Joshua headed straight for the conference room.


    Xylia headed back to her studio.


    Right as she reached the entrance, a little girl rushed toward her and bumped into her.


    The girl looked about six or seven years old, and she was so light that Xylia barely felt it.


    But the little girl lost her bnce and fell to the ground, starting to sob right then and there.


    ¡°Hey there, are you alright?¡± Xylia crouched down, concern showing as she reached out to check on the little girl.


    The girl¡¯s face was smudged with dirt and sweat clung to her brow. She didn¡¯t cry or make a sound¨Cjust sat frozen on the ground, staring up at Xylia with wide, terrified eyes.


    But before Xylia could help her up or see if she was hurt, a harsh shout erupted from behind.


    ¡°Hey! What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± a man¡¯s furious shout rang out from behind.


    The little girl¡¯s whole body jerked <i>at </i>the sound. She scrambled up in a panic and clung tightly to Xylia¡¯s sleeve, desperate for protection.


    ¡°Sister, that man¡¯s trying to kidnap me! I don¡¯t know him¨Cplease, help me!¡± she pleaded, her voice shaking and eyes wide with terror.


    Xylia looked up and saw a man she¡¯d never seen before, frantically rushing over to them.


    The little girl¡¯s eyes were rimmed red as she quickly ducked behind Xylia, trying to hide herself.


    ¡°Hey! What are you doing with my kid?¡± the man barked, storming over with a harsh re.


    ¡°Sister, I¡¯ve never seen him before, I swear!¡± the little girl blurted out, her voice shaking as she tried to hide behind Xylia.


    The little girl clung desperately to Xylia¡¯s hand, eyes wide and pleading¨Cshe was terrified Xylia might get tricked by that man, just like other people had before.


    Xylia gave the little girl¡¯s hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze, leaning down to whisper softly, ¡°It¡¯s okay, don¡¯t be


    scared. I¡¯m here.¡±


    The girl saw that Xylia wasn¡¯t about to turn her over to that man, and only then did she let herself rx a


    <b>7:39 </b>Fri, <b>Sep </b><b>19 </b>


    little, relief flickering in her eyes.


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    Xylia shot the man a cold, guarded look, making it clear she wasn¡¯t about to trust him. ¡°I¡¯m going to need to see some proof she¡¯s really your daughter,¡± she said, her tone sharp and resolute.


    The man huffed, his temper ring. ¡°Why the hell should I have to prove my own damn kid is mine?¡±


    He nced over at Xylia, saw how skinny she was, and thought to himself she was basically no threat at all.


    With barely anyone nearby, he figured thest thing he wanted was to make a scene and have the cops show up¨Che just wanted to handle this quickly and get out.


    He raised his fist and charged straight at Xylia.


    Xylia didn¡¯t even flinch¨Cshe just calmly shed her phone, emergency dial already open and ready.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t prove she¡¯s your daughter, she¡¯s not leaving with you. We¡¯ll let the police sort this out,¡± Xylia shot back, her tone sharp and unyielding.


    The man froze, totally caught off guard by how fast Xylia had called the cops.


    ¡°You little bitch, you¡¯re gonna regret this!¡± he snarled, lunging at her.


    He swung his fist right <i>at </i>Xylia.


    Xylia pulled the little girl aside, dodging the man¡¯s attack in one swift move.


    The crowd just whipped out their phones to record the whole thing¨Cno one even tried to help.


    Out of nowhere, a firm hand grabbed the man¡¯s arm just before his fist could reach Xylia, halting him in an instant.


    ¡°Unbelievable how brazen these traffickers have gotten these days!¡± someone snarled in pure outrage.


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    Leroy Bonner caught the kidnapper¡¯s arm and mmed him to the ground in an over¨Cthe¨Cshoulder throw.


    The guy started whining and yelping in pain, muttering curses, but when he saw things going south, he tried


    to make a run for it.


    Leroy pinned him to the ground with one swift move.


    He nced at the employees who hade out from the shop next door to watch themotion. ¡°Come on, help me out! You guys are all grown men. Why are you so scared?¡±


    At Leroy¡¯s shout, the onlookers stopped filming and came over to help him hold the guy down, just waiting for the cops to show up.


    Now all they could do was wait for the police to arrive.


    At that moment, Xylia was busy trying tofort the little girl.


    ¡°Hey, my ce is just next door. Why don¡¯t youe with me and rest for a bit, okay?¡± Xylia spoke kindly, her voice gentle.


    The little girl gave a small nod.


    Xylia smiled and led her inside.


    The police showed up fast. Once they confirmed the guy really was a kidnapper, they took him away¡ª bringing the little girl along with them.


    Xylia followed the officers to the station, ready to make her statement.


    Leroy had been nning to go with Xylia, but she handed him some documents from the Garcia Group.


    Xylia smiled, ¡°I¡¯ll handle things at the station. Just pass these to Josie. The studio¡¯s been super busytely¡ª appreciate all you guys pulling through.¡±


    Leroy joked, ¡°With the pay you offer, we¡¯re always fired up to work.¡± He cracked a grin and didn¡¯t hesitate, grabbing the papers and heading back to the studio.


    The little girl seemed shaken up. She didn¡¯t trust anyone else, clinging tightly to Xylia¡¯s sleeve the whole way.


    Xylia simply let her do as she pleased, matching her pace as they walked.


    Half an hourter, the little girl¡¯s parents rushed into the station.


    ¡°Be, are you okay? Did you get hurt?¡± the woman asked, her voice trembling with worry.


    The woman looked to be in her early thirties, dressed sharp and strikingly gorgeous. Panic was written all over her face, and the moment sheid eyes on Be, shepletely broke down.


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    She grabbed the little girl, frantically inspecting her from head to toe. When she was sure Be was unharmed, she pulled her in tight, unable to let go.


    ¡°Thank God you¡¯re all right, sweetheart! If anything had happened, I swear I would¡¯ve torn that kidnapper apart myself!¡± she cried, relief and fury mixing together in her voice.


    The man beside her was just as anxious, his eyes glued to Be the whole time.


    As soon as his wife mentioned the kidnapper, his expression turned grim.


    ¡°Officer, please, make him pay for what he did,¡± he said, voice unwavering.


    ¡°That¡¯s right! Just shoot him already!¡± the woman fumed.


    Her outrage was written all over her face.


    Be clung to her mom¡¯s hand, her eyes turning to Xylia with gratitude.


    ¡°Mommy, it was Big Sis who saved me,¡± Be said earnestly.


    Linda Lynch turned quickly to Xylia, her voice bursting with gratitude. ¡°Thank you for saving my daughter. I heard on the way over that it was a brave woman who rescued Be. I¡¯m really grateful to you.¡±


    Xylia shook her head, not taking the credit. ¡°Your daughter was smart enough to realize what was happening and kept asking for help. But kids are still little, so just try to keep a closer eye on her in the future.¡±


    Linda let out <i>a </i>heavy sigh, guilt flickering in her eyes.


    ¡°We messed up¡­ Be wanted a toy today and we said no, which just made her angry. I never expected she¡¯d actually follow a stranger over something so small. I promise, nothing like this will ever happen again,¡± she said, her voice trembling.


    ¡®God, just thinking about it now makes me panic,¡® she thought, the fear settling in.


    Linda squeezed Be¡¯s hand even tighter, still rattled by the close call.


    Xylia crouched down, gently patting Be¡¯s head with a warm smile. ¡°Your name¡¯s Be, right? Remember, if a stranger ever offers you candy or toys, don¡¯t go with them. There are bad people out there, so always stay close to your parents when you¡¯re out, okay?¡±


    Be nodded, her voice <i>soft </i>but determined. ¡°I understand, Big Sis.¡±


    Be was still a bit shaken, clinging to her mom¡¯s side forfort before nervously ncing up at Xylia, her lingering fear written all over her face.


    She piped up softly, ¡°Big Sis, is it okay if Ie visit you and y sometime?¡± Her voice carried just a hint of hope.


    Be¡¯s eyes sparkled as she looked at Xylia, full of trust and eager anticipation.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but spot a shadow of loneliness in those big eyes of hers.


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    :


    Xylia hesitated for a second before looking up at Linda.


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    Linda smiled gratefully at Xylia. ¡°Do you have some time, Xylia? Would you let us take you out for dinner to thank you?¡±


    Xylia smiled, shaking her head. ¡°Really, you don¡¯t have to.¡±


    Linda insisted, ¡°No, we really mean it. You saved Be¡¯s life¨Cjust a dinner hardly seems enough.¡±


    Be tugged on Xylia¡¯s hand, acting all cute as she pleaded, ¡°Come eat with us, Big Sis! My parents are super rich, you know¨Corder the fanciest thing you want, it¡¯s on me!¡±


    She smacked her chest proudly like a little boss, making her promise sound extra convincing.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t say no to Be anymore, grinning as she finally gave in.


    The dinner was set for two dayster. As they parted ways, Be couldn¡¯t help but keep ncing back at Xylia, her eyes shining with expectation.


    Xylia smiled warmly. ¡°Be, if you ever feel bored, just drop by Xylic Studio and find me. I¡¯m always around.¡±


    Be¡¯s face instantly lit up with happiness.


    She clung to Xylia¡¯s hand, her voice sweet as honey. ¡°I¡¯m not calling you ¡®Auntie¡®¡ªthat makes you sound old! You¡¯re young and pretty, Big Sis, I like you way more!¡±


    Xylia chuckled; honestly, who wouldn¡¯t love being sweet¨Ctalked like that?


    Once Xylia was back at the studio, she put it all behind her and threw herself into work.


    Josie had the first draft ready and handed it off to Xylia for a look.


    Xylia tossed out a few more ideas, and the two tweaked it together¨Cnning to run it by Joshua that night.


    Josie stopped and frowned, skeptical. Something about this n didn¡¯t add up.


    ¡°I mean, Joshua may be the spokesperson for Garcia Group, but does he really know anything about fashion design? Sure, maybe he understands fabrics, but shouldn¡¯t these sketches go to the actual project lead at Garcia Group?¡± Josie questioned, her doubt clear in her voice.


    Honestly, even though theynded the Garcia Group order through Joshua, Xylia found herself handling every step directly with him.


    All the follow¨Cup and coordination had gone straight through Joshua, and not once had she dealt with anyone else<b>. </b>


    Despite all that, she still hadn¡¯t met the real project manager for this order.


    Xylia had to admit, Josie had a point.


    But honestly, Joshua wasn¡¯t some amateur when it came to fashion design. Every time they talked over ideas,


    <b>7:39 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>19 </b>


    his feedback was sharp and actually pretty professional.


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    Still, she¡¯d only ever worked with Joshua directly, which kind of came off as if she was getting some kind of special pass or favor.


    After thinking it through, Xylia made up her mind¨Cshe¡¯d go talk things over with Joshua herself tonight.


    When Xylia got off work, she found Joshua waiting right on time downstairs<b>¨C</b>sitting behind the wheel of her


    own car.


    He looked every bit like her personal chauffeur, ready to drive her wherever she needed <i>to </i>go.


    But Xylia didn¡¯t get in the car. Instead, she grabbed Joshua¡¯s hand and led him straight to a shop inside the nearby mall¨Ca tea house she¡¯d had her eye on.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been dying to try this tea house for a while now, and tonight¡¯s the perfect chance,¡± she said, her excitement clear.


    She had already made a reservation.


    But this ce didn¡¯t have any private rooms.


    So they grabbed a spot by the window, with all the hustle and bustle of themercial street right outside. Across the street, a giant screen shed with all sorts of shymercials, and the colorful lights cut right through the ss, painting the two of them in cozy, warm tones. With the whole vibe wrapping around them, the couple felt even closer, their intimate moment popping against the glow.


    Joshua rested his chin in his hand, his eyes half¨Clidded and smoldering withzy affection as he watched Xylia -the kind of gaze that could melt anyone.


    After they¡¯d ordered, Xylia noticed him staring at her like that and instinctively touched her own cheek.


    ¡°Do I have something on my face?¡± she asked, a bit unsure.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m <b>just </b>admiring you. You look gorgeous,¡± Joshua replied, soundingpletely sincere.


    Joshua was nothing if not honest.


    Xylia felt her cheeks heat up.


    First, she gotplimented by a little girl earlier, and now Joshua wasying it on thick.


    That warm, floaty feeling she got from all the attention wasn¡¯t half bad.


    Thinking about it, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but smile. Ever since she started dating Joshua, she felt like she was slowly growing a thicker skin.


    She blushed for a second, but then quickly rxed again.


    Thinking back to what Josie said earlier, Xylia nced at Joshua. ¡°Hey, so who¡¯s running the show for the uniforms project on your end? Should I start dealing with them directly from now on?¡±


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    Hearing Xylia¡¯s question, the yful curve of Joshua¡¯s lips slowly slipped away, fading into something more


    serious.


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    <b>Chapter </b>209


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was low.


    0:0


    Joshua sounded serious, his voice carrying a hint of warning.


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    Seeing Joshua¡¯s obvious displeasure, Xylia hurried to exin, ¡°I mean, you¡¯re the CEO of Garcia Group with a million things on your te every day. I didn¡¯t want to bother you with something as small as the employee uniforms, so I just sorted it out directly with Mr. Garcia.¡±


    Joshua didn¡¯t miss the quick sh of unease in Xylia¡¯s eyes.


    He considered her words for a moment before asking, ¡°So, you think if you talk to me about this, people might assume you¡¯re trying to pull strings?¡±


    Xylia admitted honestly, ¡°Yeah, I was worried it could also reflect badly on your reputation.¡±


    Lately, social media had been boiling over with all kinds of gossip about Joshua¨Ceveryone seemed to have something to say.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy about it all.


    Before this, Joshua¡¯s name had never even made an appearance on any trending list, but now he was getting dragged into scandals just because of her, and that made her feel even more guilty.


    Joshua noticed that Xylia hung her head a little, clearly looking upset.


    He went quiet, lightly drumming his fingers on the table. Thatid¨Cback, carefree attitude he usually had was nowhere to be seen.


    Xylia nced up at him and could tell he was definitely a little mad.


    She wanted to say something, but couldn¡¯t get any words out.


    ¡°Alright, from now on, you can talk to Mr. Garcia directly,¡± Joshua said, his tone surprisingly calm. He didn¡¯t seem upset at all, and actually seemed to understand her point of view.


    Xylia was taken aback.


    ¡°So, can you give me Mr. Garcia¡¯s contact info?¡± she asked cautiously.


    Joshua nodded, pulled out his phone, and sent her a message.


    Xylia looked down at her phone in silence.


    The message from Joshua wasn¡¯t a contact for Mr. Garcia at all. Instead, it just said: ¡®I¡¯m the project lead for Garcia Group¡¯s employee uniform project. Looking forward to working with you.¡¯


    Xylia looked back up at Joshua,pletely speechless.


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    Joshua set his hands on the table and leaned in a little closer to Xylia, his whole posture shifting toward her.


    ¡°Sis, I¡¯m the one calling the shots at Garcia Group, and trust me, having stylish uniforms actually helps keep everything running smooth behind the scenes. So it makes perfect sense for me to take the lead here¨Cthere¡¯s nothing wrong with that.¡±


    ¡°Or¡­ do you just think I don¡¯t know a thing about design and that¡¯s why you don¡¯t wanna discuss it with me?¡± Joshua teased her, shing a sly grin.


    Whenever Joshua called her ¡°Sis,¡± Xylia¡¯s heart would skip a beat, for reasons she couldn¡¯t exin.


    ¡°So, you really don¡¯t know design?¡± Xylia asked.


    Joshua blinked, surprised. ¡°Well, do you think I do?¡±


    ¡°If you didn¡¯t know, I wouldn¡¯t even bother talking design with you.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, feeling just a bit helpless at Joshua¡¯s teasing.


    ¡°Okay then, I¡¯m officially passing the first draft to you, Boss Garcia,¡± she joked, reaching into her bag.


    She pulled out the mockup and handed it over to Joshua.


    But Joshua didn¡¯t reach for it right away; a scowl creased his brows, clear annoyance flickering across his face.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xylia asked.


    ¡®Wait¡­ is he actually mad?¡® she wondered.


    Joshua, a bit miffed that Xylia didn¡¯t even realize what she¡¯d done to irk him, finally grabbed the draft and dropped it on the table like it was no big deal.


    ¡°Did you seriously forget that you were supposed to treat me to a ¡®candlelight dinner¡® tonight?¡± Joshua said, each word biting a little harder as he tried to make his point.


    When he spoke the words ¡®candlelight dinner,¡® Joshua practically ground them out between clenched teeth, putting extra emphasis on each syble¨Cclearly, he was not happy.


    Xylia caught his meaning instantly; she knew he was talking about tonight¡¯s dinner.


    <b>¡®</b>But¡­ I did bring him out for this, Xylia thought to herself, a little baffled.


    ¡®I honestly have no clue why he¡¯s so upset right now,¡¯ she added inwardly.


    ¡°Yeah, the food¡¯sing soon. Hungry already?¡± Xylia teased, her eyes sweeping over the empty table.


    She tried thinking like Joshua for a moment, then nudged, ¡°Should I ask the staff to grab a couple of candles- make it official?¡± She shot him a yful look.


    ¡®Guess that counts as <b>a </b>candlelight dinner, huh? Xylia thought, a little amused.


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    Joshua couldn¡¯t help butugh out of exasperation, his tongue poking at his cheek.


    He just sat back and let Xylia go ahead and ask the server for candles.


    The restaurant didn¡¯t have any, so Xylia asked the server if they could pick up a couple of electric candles¨Cor honestly, any kind that didn¡¯t need a real me.


    ¡°Xylia,¡± Joshua suddenly called out.


    Hearing Joshua call her by her full name out of nowhere, Xylia felt weirdly unsettled.


    She frowned and asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    Joshua was clearly annoyed, but when he looked at Xylia¡¯s face, all his frustration quietly faded away.


    ¡°Can we just not talk about work during our date?¡± he said, sounding awkward.


    He blurted it out, looking a bit embarrassed, his ears tinged with red.


    ¡®Seriously? Did I really have to spell it out for her?¡® he grumbled inwardly.


    Finally, Xylia realized what had really been bothering Joshua.


    Seeing his face darken, she couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud.


    ¡°You¡¯re stillughing!¡± Joshua eximed.


    Joshua reached out and pinched Xylia¡¯s cheeks, stopping herughter dead in its tracks.


    ¡®Wow, her cheeks are so soft,¡® Joshua thought, a bit smug.


    He just grinned at Xylia¡¯s feeble re, not bothered in the slightest.


    Then, just to tease her, he gave her cheeks another yful squeeze.


    Xylia smacked his hand away¨Chard.


    ¡®You¡¯re just like a kid sometimes, Xylia thought to herself, rolling her eyes at him.


    ¡°Oh yeah? Would a kid be able to date you?¡± Joshua shot back, undeterred, his tone full of yful defiance,


    Xylia just pursed her lips, keeping quiet. She wasn¡¯t about to get into a pointless back¨Cand¨Cforth with him.


    She let it slide.


    The mockup sat forgotten on the edge of the table, and neither of them brought it up again during dinner.


    Joshua was genuinely pleased with how Xylia handled things after that.


    To show his appreciation, he decided to treat Xylia to some stinky tofu.


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    Xylia was over the moon, hooking her arm around Joshua¡¯s and saying all sorts of sweet things to him¡ªeven buttering him up a little. The more she went on, the more Joshua just wanted to steal a kiss from her.


    As they bought some street snacks, Joshua leaned in close to her ear and murmured something teasingly.


    Xylia jerked her head up, her earlobes burning red¨Cas if they might start bleeding any second.


    Right away, she lifted her hand and gave him a yful smack on the head.


    The next day, after wrapping up an online chat with Joshua about buying fabric, Xylia didn¡¯t bother to talk to him at all.


    ¡®He just keeps getting less and less serious, Xylia thought, a trace of annoyance flickering in her mind.


    ¡®Seriously, the stuff he said to mest night was so inappropriate¨Cit totally made me lose a lot of respect for


    him.¡¯


    But even after taking a smack, Joshua didn¡¯t get mad at all. Instead, he pulled her close, leaned in, and murmured right in her ear, his voice low and yful, ¡°Sis, we¡¯re already together now. Isn¡¯t it about time you really got to know what kind of guy I am?¡±


    Xylia instantly got goosebumps all over.


    ¡®Getting to know someone is supposed toe before you start dating, isn¡¯t it?¡®


    ¡®So what¡¯s he even getting at now?¡®


    Xylia was convinced Joshua was just teasing her¨Cflirting on purpose.


    Most of the morning, Xylia couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Joshua.


    Josie caught how spaced out she was and grinned, ¡°Whoa, Ms. Sadler, got your mystery man on your mind already¨Cand it¡¯s not even lunchtime yet! Hello, we¡¯re at work!¡±


    That snapped Xylia back to reality.


    She bantered back with Josie for a moment, but before she could say more, someone came looking for them outside.


    Just then, Be Jennings showed up at the door.


    Xylia suddenly rememberedst night, when she¡¯d told Joshua about saving that little girl from the kidnappers earlier in the day.


    When Joshua found out the girl¡¯sst name was Jennings, he¡¯d mentioned that the Jennings family in Norhill had some kind of beef with the Sadler family.


    He wasn¡¯t sure what went down between them, but he told Xylia to stay away from anyone tied to the Jennings family.


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    It was prettyte when she got homest night, so she hadn¡¯t had a chance to ask Kaden about the Jennings family yet.


    She¡¯d nned to bring it up today, especially since they were supposed to have dinner with the Jennings family tomorrow.


    But before she could even get around to it, Be showed up at her door.


    ¡°Sis! I came to see you!¡± Be chirped, her voice sweet and lively.


    Be hade all by herself, carrying a pink elephant backpack and beaming up at Xylia with an adorable, radiant smile.


    Xylia blinked in surprise. ¡°You came here all by yourself?¡±


    Be shook her head.


    ¡°The driver uncle dropped me off downstairs, and I came up on my own! Mommy and Daddy both know I¡¯m here to see you, Sis,¡± she said proudly.


    Xylia didn¡¯t say anything else.

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    Chapter <b>210 </b>


    Xylia thought back to seeing Be¡¯s parents at the police station yesterday.


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    I¡¯ve just reunited with the Sadler family, so maybe Be¡¯s parents don¡¯t even know I¡¯m one of them yet, Xylia wondered. ¡®That¡¯s probably why they¡¯re okay with me spending time with their daughter!¡®


    Be nced around Xylia¡¯s studio, then looked over at Josie, who was standing next to her.


    ¡°Are you working right now, Xylia?¡± Be asked.


    Xylia was just about to answer when Be obediently took off her backpack and sat quietly on the sofa, hugging her bag close.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Xylia. I won¡¯t bother you while you work. I¡¯ll just wait here until you¡¯re finished, and then you can y with me¨Cpromise!¡± Be said, sounding especially sweet and sensible.


    Be was such a sweet and thoughtful kid.


    Be¡¯s well¨Cbehaved manner made Xylia feel a little embarrassed.


    Josie knew Be was the girl who Xylia and Leroy had helped out yesterday. Not wanting Be to be left waiting, she figured Macy, who had some free time, could y with Be for a while.


    But Be shook her head¨Cshe really didn¡¯t want that.


    Be just kept her eyes on Xylia, thinking, ¡®I only want to stay with Xylia. Nobody else!


    Xylia didn¡¯t want Be to just be left waiting, so she quickly finished up her work talk with Josie and then took Be by the hand, heading straight for the dessert shop next door.*


    ¡°Take a look, Be. See anything you want to eat? My treat,¡± Xylia said with a gentle smile.*


    Be pulled out a ck card from her bag, shing it with a proud little grin as she boasted, ¡°I¡¯ve got money, Xylia! If there¡¯s anything you want to eat, I¡¯ll buy it for you!¡°*


    This ck card was clearly way out of a kid¡¯s league¨Cit wasn¡¯t something you¡¯d expect a child to have.


    Xylia crouched down in front of Be, smiling. ¡°Hey Be, where did you get this card from?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my dad¡¯s,¡± Be replied, not hiding anything.


    ¡°Did Daddy give it to you so you could go shopping?¡± Xylia asked, her voice gentle.


    Xylia¡¯s tone was full of warmth, as if she didn¡¯t want to frighten Be.


    Be fidgeted with the card, suddenly looking sheepish. ¡°I¡­ I took it from my dad¡¯s wallet,¡± she admitted.


    Xylia asked softly, ¡°Does your dad know?¡±


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    Be sheepishly shook her head, eyes cast downward.


    Xylia reached out and gave Be¡¯s head a loving little pat. ¡°Alright, how about you give your dad his card back tonight? As for today, the cakes are on me¨Cgo ahead and pick out anything you like.¡±


    Be, soothed by Xylia¡¯s gentle voice, nodded in a daze.


    Xylia smiled, ¡°Go ahead, Be¨Cpick any cakes you like.¡±


    Remembering her own milk allergy, Xylia gently asked, ¡°Be, are you allergic to anything or is there anything you shouldn¡¯t eat?¡±


    Be paused to think, then shook her head, looking sure.


    Xylia gave her an encouraging nod and let Be make her own choices.


    Be picked out two cute cakes, while Xylia just took a bread roll and a vitamin drink. The two of them¨Cone big, one small¨Csat together at a little table by the window, sharing their desserts.


    Seen from outside, Xylia looked every bit the gentle mother, her gaze soft as she watched Be across the table.


    Be got a dab of cream on the corner of her lips, and Xylia reached over to carefully wipe it away, all warmth and tenderness<b>. </b>


    Sonny hopped out of the car, still holding Tessa¡¯s hand, when he nced through the window and saw the scene inside.


    In that split second, a burst of jealousy shot up inside Sonny like a firecracker. ¡®What the¨Cwhy is my mom suddenly being <b>so </b>soft with someone else¡¯s kid?¡® he fumed to himself.


    He just couldn¡¯t believe it¨Csince when did his mom treat other kids with that kind of gentle care?


    Grumbling under his breath, Sonny tore his hand away from Tessa and dashed straight toward the dessert shop.


    The shop clerk standing by the door saw Sonny¨Ca cute and dapper little boy¨Cdashing over, assuming he was just another customer and gearing up to greet him with a smile.


    But before she could even get a word out, Sonny blew right past her, not sparing her a nce.


    He pushed the door open and zeroed in on Xylia, charging straight for her spot without any hesitation.


    He barreled over to the table like a whirlwind, throwing a death re straight at Be.


    ¡°Who do you think you are? Can¡¯t you even eat cake on your own? Or do you need my mom to hold your hand and feed you?¡± Sonny huffed, sounding super jealous.


    Sonny was acting all bossy.


    He was just a bit taller than Be, stood with his hands on his hips, ring down at her, trying his hardest to


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    Be¡¯s lips started to tremble, and next thing anyone knew, she just burst into loud sobs¨CSonny¡¯s harsh words had totally scared her.


    Sonny was stunned; he hadn¡¯t expected her to bawl like that at all, and for a split second, he just stood there,pletely bewildered, thinking, ¡®Wait, why¡¯d she start crying so suddenly?¡®


    ¡°Sonny, what do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Xylia scolded, her voice cutting through the air¨Cworlds away from her usual gentle self.


    Sonny froze on the spot, not sure what to do as he heard her sharp tone behind him.


    He was so used to Xylia always being soft with him; for once, she was actually yelling at him.


    Sonny watched as Xylia hurried to Be¡¯s side, gathering the girl into a gentle embrace and quietlyforting her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Be. I¡¯ll have your big brother apologize to you,¡± Xylia reassured, her tone soft and protective.


    She turned to Sonny next, frowning seriously, ¡°Say sorry to your little sister.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Sonny snapped, sticking his neck out, stubborn and defiant.


    He stared at Xylia, hurt filling his eyes¨Che couldn¡¯t believe she¡¯d take someone else¡¯s side over him.


    Connor had always told him, ¡°No matter who I marry, Xylia will always be your mom.¡± That fact would never change, not for


    anyone.


    Sonny did really like Tessa¨Caunt Tessa was super nice, and deep down, he really wanted her to be his mom.


    But no matter what, Xylia would always hold that special ce in his heart as ¡®Mom.¡®


    He figured that after Dad and Tessa got married, he¡¯d still make time toe over to Norhill and see Xylia whenever he could.


    But he hadn¡¯t expected that, this time when he showed up, he¡¯d find Xylia already treating another kid with all that tenderness¡­ and for some reason, seeing that made his little heart ache.


    ¡®No way! I won¡¯t let this happen!¡® Sonny stubbornly thought, digging his heels in.


    Xylia¡¯s voice came out soft and steady, only saying, ¡°Apologize.¡±


    She didn¡¯t get loud or harsh, but those two simple words left no space to argue¨Cthe quiet firmness behind them was impossible to ignore.


    Whenever Xylia spoke like this, Sonny would fall right in line without a fuss.


    And this time was no exception.


    Sonny nced at Xylia, then over at Be.


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    That bloodline suppression¨Cthey always say family ties have a power of their own¨Chit him like an invisible wall. Shoulders slumping, he lowered his head, about to mutter an apology to Be.


    <b>Just </b>then, Tessa¡¯s voice broke in from behind.


    ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re not Sonny¡¯s mom anymore¨Cwho are you to make my Sonny apologize?¡± Tessa snapped, her tone bristling with protectiveness.


    When Tessa appeared, ready to stand up for Sonny, his eyes instantly reddened and he looked close to <b>tears</b>.


    He whirled around and rushed over to Tessa¡¯s side, crying out, ¡°Mom, they¡¯re picking on me!¡±


    With a shaky finger, Sonny pointed straight at Be, never once looking at Xylia.


    Even with all the drama, Sonny couldn¡¯t help feeling nervous around Xylia.


    Xylia looked at her son¨Cher heartpletely still, almost numb.


    Long before she¡¯d left the Ford family, she¡¯d already seen the real Sonny she¡¯d spent all those years raising.


    She knew she¡¯d put in real effort raising him.


    But for Sonny to end up this way¡ªprone to lying and acting like he owed nothing to his mom¨Cshe knew it wasn¡¯t just Tessa or Connor¡¯s influence. Sonny himself was part of the problem.


    No fixing a piece of paper that¡¯s wed from the start.


    As far as she was concerned, there was nothing left of her rtionship with Sonny¨Cthey weren¡¯t really mother and son anymore.


    ¡°Ms. Schultz, your son barged in and started yelling at this little girl out of nowhere. If he won¡¯t apologize, shouldn¡¯t you, as his mom, say sorry for him?¡± Xylia said coldly, not giving Tessa any chance to dodge the me<i>. </i>


    Sonny froze on the spot, totally blindsided.


    It was the first time he¡¯d ever heard Xylia actually acknowledge Tessa as his mom.


    But instead of the happiness he¡¯d always imagined, it just felt like something precious had quietly slipped right out of his grasp.


    He was left freaked out and at a total loss<b>. </b>


    And in that instant, all those feelings melted away into a dull, restless frustration he couldn¡¯t shake.


    Sonny clung to Tessa¡¯s hand, sounding bossy and aggrieved. ¡°This is all your fault! You guys upset me first! Even if you and Dad are divorced, you¡¯re still my mom! If you don¡¯t want to be nice to me, whatever¡ªjust tell me, but why do you treat her so much better than me? Why is she getting all your hugs and kindness, and I get nothing?¡±


    Sonny was being absolutely impossible right now, Xylia thought, reaching a whole new level of unreasonable.


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    He was the one who¡¯d cast her aside as his mom, but now he was turning around and trying to use that word to keep her tethered to him. The nerve.


    She¡¯d brought him into this world, raised him for all of seven years¨Cseriously, when had she ever owed him anything?


    Xylia gave a quiet scoff. ¡°Sonny, you need to remember this¨CI¡¯m not your mother. The woman standing beside you, Tessa, is your mom now.¡±


    Tessa clenched her jaw, shooting Xylia a re that could cut ss.

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    ¡°Xylia, Sonny is the son you carried for nine months. How can you treat him this way just because of another


    kid?<b>¡± </b>Tessa said.


    Sonny couldn¡¯t help but feel wronged. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m your real son. We¡¯re family, you know. Why are you taking an outsider¡¯s side just to gang up on me?¡±


    Xylia looked at them with icy indifference, her gaze lingering especially on Sonny.


    ¡°My real son? Blood? Really?¡± Xylia let out a dry, mockingugh.


    ¡®How ironic those words sound, evening from me,¡® she thought to herself.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t


    you always say you liked Tessa? You kept pestering everyone, saying you wanted her to be your mom. Now you¡¯ve finally got what you wanted¨Cwhat¡¯s wrong, not happy after all?¡±


    Sonny¡¯s face darkened, a hint of embarrassment creeping in.


    Faced with Xylia¡¯s cold question, he just stood there, unable toe up with anyeback.


    ¡®Well, that was what I said before¡­ How can I argue with that?¡® Sonny thought, feeling helpless.


    But before, Xylia Schultz had never talked to him this sharply, not even when he screwed up.


    Thinking about it, Sonny still felt a little wronged.


    The cake shop wasn¡¯t all that busy, so hardly anyone was paying much attention to Xylia and the others. The staff pretended to be working, but you could tell they were really just watching the drama unfold.


    Tessa couldn¡¯t help but sneer at Xylia. ¡°Geez, Xylia, you¡¯re way too old¨Cschool now, picking fights with a kid?¡±


    Then she lowered her gaze to Sonny, eyes full of gentle warmth as she gave his little hand a soft squeeze.


    ¡°You were always drilling him with study and homework when you were raising Sonny. Things aren¡¯t like the old days, you know. If you don¡¯t let kids rx sometimes, it messes with their growth. Turns out you pushed him so hard he ended up wanting me¨Can outsider¨Cas his mom, and now you y the victim?¡±


    ¡®Wow<i>, </i>Tessa really gets me, Sonny thought, feeling like she¡¯d said exactly what he¡¯d been thinking all along.


    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡® he told himself.


    ¡®Mom is always on my back¨Cnot letting me y, just making me study all the time.¡¯


    ¡®Only Tessa ever tells me that learning isn¡¯t everything and kids should just have fun and be themselves.


    That¡¯s why he started to resent how Mom was always hovering¨Cpicking him up from school like clockwork, controlling what he <b>ate</b><b>, </b>fussing over when he slept and even how he spent his downtime.


    Sonny felt he wasn¡¯t wrong at all.


    ¡®It¡¯s Xylia who never knew how to be a real mom. That¡¯s why I ended up hating her!¡® he told himself.


    I¡¯m not the one at fault here!¡®


    ¡°That¡¯s right! You¡¯re the reason I can¡¯t even like you as my mom. It¡¯s all your fault!¡± Sonny blurted out, frustration simmering in his voice.


    Even now, Xylia felt her heart turn to ice over Sonny¨Cshe was justpletely let down by him.


    Connor was an only child, the sole heir to the Ford family.


    And Sonny was Connor¡¯s only son.


    In a family business like Ford Group, if they didn¡¯t start training the heir from day one, who was supposed to inherit all that wealth and power?


    Since Sonny was just a kid, Connor had been all about raising him as the next boss of Ford Group¨Cand grandpa Orion was always piling on the homework, whether Sonny knew it or not.


    It was Xylia, relying entirely on herself, who carefully managed Sonny¡¯s schedule, just so he¡¯d finally have a little room to breathe.


    Since Sonny had mild food allergies, Xylia learned to cook from scratch and nned every meal just so he could stay safe and healthy.


    She¡¯d devoted seven years of her life to Sonny, doing everything for him¨Cnever in her wildest dreams expecting she¡¯d end up raising an ungrateful brat.


    But that was all water under the bridge now.


    Xylia waspletely done with Sonny¡ªshe didn¡¯t have a shred of feeling left for him.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t even like me, then what¡¯s the point ofing here?¡± Xylia said calmly, her tone chilly and distant, clearly uninterested in their pointless drama.


    Her gaze was frosty, making it obvious she had no intention of dragging things out with them over meaningless talk.


    Sonny felt even more frustrated.


    Be stood silently next to Xylia, barely making a sound.


    When Sonny shot her a death re, she shrank back a little and clung tighter to Xylia¡¯s hand, clearly freaked


    out.


    Sonny stared daggers at Be¡¯s hand holding Xylia¡¯s, and he could feel his anger bubbling up again.


    Tessa held Sonny¡¯s hand and gave Xylia a friendly, almost mocking smile.


    ¡°Sonny just got to Norhill today, and I was nning to let him meet his actual mom. But looking at things now, seems like there¡¯s no point,¡± she said.


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    Xylia nodded without hesitation. ¡°Honestly, there¡¯s no reason for you to show up here anymore. Just stay away -you¡¯re not wee.¡±


    <b>Tessa </b><b>was </b>left speechless by Xylia¡¯s words, stiffening for a moment before shooting her a resentful re.


    Xylia remained perfectly indifferent, her expression showing she couldn¡¯t care less¨Clike she was talking to someonepletely irrelevant.


    Xylia was a whole new woman now. Gone was the meek, spineless version of her¨Cthese days, she exuded self- assurance, sharp and in control like someone running the show. Herplexion glowed with health, and her style was seriously upgraded; she looked vibrant, confident, and fashion¨Cforward.


    ¡®She must have scored some major backingtely, Tessa thought, a twinge of envy crossing her mind. ¡®No. wonder she¡¯s walking around so fearless.¡¯


    Tessa stepped right up to Xylia, staring her down. ¡°So, Xylia, you really think getting close to Mr. Garcia is gonna let you sleep easy for the rest of your life? Or do you seriously believe the Garcia Group¡¯s glory willst forever?¡±


    Xylia just met her gaze, cold and silent.


    Tessa scoffed, ¡°Better cherish it while itsts¨Cwon¡¯t be yours for much longer.¡±


    With those words, Tessa took Sonny by the hand and headed out.


    Before leaving, Sonny couldn¡¯t resist onest look back at Xylia and Be.


    But whatever bit of reluctance lingered in his heart was chewed up by rage, and he stormed out after Tessa without looking back.


    With Tessa and Sonny gone, the cake shop finally returned to its usual calm.


    Be gently shook Xylia¡¯s hand, her voice soft and curious. ¡°Sis, was that boy really your son?¡±


    Xylia was drawn out of her distant thoughts by Be¡¯s innocent question. For a moment, she hesitated, then answered with little emotion.


    ¡°Not anymore. Come on¨Clet¡¯s just enjoy our cake.¡±


    She sat back down.


    But Tessa¡¯s parting words kept echoing in her mind.


    ¡®Why¡¯d she mention the Garcia Group and then tell me to cherish what I have? Is something about to go down with Joshua? Xylia wondered, feeling uneasy.


    ¡®Could something bad be happening to Joshua?¡® Xylia thought, a chill creeping down her spine.


    But Xylia quickly shook her head, trying to dismiss that unsettling thought swirling in her mind.


    ¡®Come on, by herself, Tessa could never actually hurt the Ford Group, Xylia reminded herself.


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    And anyway, Joshua was a tough nut to crack¨Che wasn¡¯t the type to get steamrolled by anybody.


    ¡®No point stressing over it,¡® Xylia said to herself, forcing her nerves to settle down.


    Over on their side, Tessa led Sonny out and got him into the car.


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    Once they were in the car, Tessa ignored Sonnypletely, settling into her seat and closing her eyes to rest, acting like he wasn¡¯t even there.


    Sonny felt all pent up inside, his chest tight with frustration.


    He peeked over at Tessa, who was pretending to nap, and said, ¡°Hey Tessa, when we get home, let¡¯s totally snitch on Mom to Dad¨Cshe was <b>so </b>mean to us!¡±


    Tessa¡¯s lips curled into a cold, fierce smile as she opened her eyes and looked right at Sonny.


    Her eyes weren¡¯t soft anymore¨Cthey were cold and sharp, almost scary.


    ¡°Mom? Remember this¨Cnow, I¡¯m your mom. Got it?¡± Tessa said, voice low and threatening.


    Her tone was ice cold.


    Sonny couldn¡¯t help but shrink his neck, his heart pounding as he looked up at Tessa with a hint of fear in his


    eyes.


    ¡®She¡¯s never given me that look before,¡® Sonny thought, a cold shiver running through him.


    Tessapletely ignored Sonny¡¯s fear, acting like it didn¡¯t exist.


    Noticing how Sonny¡¯s features resembled Xylia¡¯s, she couldn¡¯t hide the disgust that shed briefly in her eyes.


    ¡°What are you looking at? Hear me clearly¨Cfrom now on, forget that Xylia was ever your mother. From this day forward, I¡¯m your mom. If you call it wrong in public, there¡¯ll be consequences,¡± Tessa warned, her voice icy and fierce.


    ¡°Not a word. I need to rest. Don¡¯t disturb me,¡± she ordered.


    With that, Tessa shut her eyes again, refusing to spare Sonny even a single nce.


    Sonny¡¯s face went ghostly pale; he mped a hand over his mouth, not daring to breathe a single word. ¡®I better not say anything¡­ Tessa¡¯s really scary when she gets like this,¡® he thought, his nerves on edge.


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    Even though Xylia was sure Tessa couldn¡¯t really get to Joshua, she still told him exactly what Tessa had said when they met.


    ¡°I know Tessa doesn¡¯t have what it takes to mess with you, but she¡¯s sly and calcting. Just watch your back when you¡¯re dealing with anyone these days,¡± Xylia warned him.


    They were strolling hand in hand through the streets.


    Joshua nced at Xylia, his eyes filled with yful teasing.


    Joshua teased, ¡°My baby¡¯s really looking out for me these days, huh?¡±


    Xylia had grown immune to his constant sweet¨Ctalk and flirty nicknames.


    She lightly tapped Joshua¡¯s arm. ¡°Be serious,¡± Xylia said.


    Joshua let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, ¡°Rx¨Canyone I¡¯m up against isn¡¯t this basic.¡±


    Xylia widened her eyes at him. ¡°So, do you really have a lot of powerful rivals?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s smile grew even more yful, clearly amused.


    ¡°Not really. Now that my old man¡¯s running thepany, he takes care of most of the seriouspetition himself.¡±


    Xylia justughed.


    That day, Norhill Expo was hosting a fashion show.


    Joshua managed to score two tickets and nned to take Xylia with him.


    When they got to the expo entrance and saw there was plenty of time left, they decided to wander around for a bit.


    Just behind the expo, there was a park nestled against the mountains.


    Since Xylia was still in recovery, Joshua made sure not to walk too far with her.


    The sky was crystal clear, with soft sunlight warming everything around.


    Joshua asked, ¡°Are you tired?<b>¡± </b>


    Xylia shook her head,


    ¡°I¡¯m good.¡±


    Joshua noticed a thin sheen of sweat on her forehead. He moved down a <b>step </b>and crouched a bit.


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    ¡°Come on, let me carry you,¡± he offered.


    ¡°No, really, I¡¯m fine,¡± Xylia replied.


    It wasn¡¯t much further, and Xylia figured she could handle it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it¨Cyou¡¯re still supposed to be taking it easy,¡± Joshua reminded her.


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    Xylia nced around at the people scattered nearby, suddenly feeling shy with so many eyes around.


    She stepped forward, reaching out to take Joshua¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Seriously, you don¡¯t need to,¡± Xylia said. ¡°Let¡¯s just keep moving.¡±


    Joshua clicked his tongue, then without warning, bent down and swept Xylia right off her feet, carrying her bridal style.


    Xylia gasped, instantly grabbing hold of his neck, her face and ears turning crimson. ¡®Oh no¨Cthis is so embarrassing, everyone¡¯s watching!¡® she panicked inwardly.


    ¡°Put me down!¡± Xylia blurted out, flustered.


    Joshua just hugged her even closer, striding effortlessly down the steps.


    ¡°The doctor said you¡¯re supposed to take it easy after surgery. But hey, if you¡¯re itching for that wheelchair again, I can always put you down,¡± he teased.


    Joshua never missed a chance to tease with a fake threat.


    Xylia stopped making <i>a </i>fuss, but getting carried around bridal¨Cstyle was honestly too much¨Cher cheeks were burning.


    ¡°Just let me down and give me a piggyback instead,¡± she mumbled.


    She said it in a small voice.


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help the smile tugging at his lips when he saw her ears so red they were practically glowing.


    He set Xylia down and squatted in front of her, inviting her to hop on.


    Xylia scrambled onto his back, and Joshua grabbed her legs, hoisting her up with ease.


    They¡¯d only gone a few steps down when Joshua suddenly blurted out, ¡°Xylia, you really need to eat more, seriously.¡±


    Xylia<b>, </b>thinking he was making fun of her yet again, gave his back a good p. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±


    she huffed.


    ¡°I mean, you¡¯re way too light. Being this skinny just isn¡¯t healthy,¡± Joshua shot back, totally matter¨Cof¨Cfact.


    Joshua said it so sincerely.


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    Xylia realized she¡¯d totally misread him.


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    She looped her arms around his neck, teasing him, ¡°Isn¡¯t that what guys always go for¨Cskinny girls?¡±


    ¡°You men?¡± Xylia teased, but Joshua¡¯s voice came back low and clipped, each word almost bitten off.


    Xylia instantly realized her words had another meaning. Now that she was with Joshua, mentioning other men¨Ceven jokingly¨Cwas almost like bringing up Connor again.


    She bit her lip, not quite sure what to say.


    ¡°You¡¯re reallyparing me to thoseme, shallow guys?¡± Joshua shot back, his toneced with annoyance.


    Xylia turned her head to nce at him, a trace of surprise flickering across her eyes.


    ¡®Wait¡­ That¡¯s what he¡¯s actually upset about?¡® Xylia realized, taken aback.


    She buried her face in his shoulder, her wordsing out soft and muffled. ¡°I didn¡¯t say that.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s voice softened. ¡°Whether you¡¯re thin or curvy, as long as you¡¯re healthy, that¡¯s all I care about.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but think back to the days after she¡¯d had Sonny¨Cfor so long, she¡¯d starved herself and pushed her limits, terrified that Connor would find her disgusting. That period of her life had been downright miserable.


    Just remembering it now made her chest ache a little.


    She hugged Joshua tighter, her words heartfelt. ¡°You¡¯re so good to me.¡±


    And she really meant it.


    After a solid month of hard work, everyone at Xylic Studio finally wrapped up the staff uniform order for Garcia Group.


    The order waspleted without a hitch.


    When the final payment from Garcia Group came through, Xylia generously handed out bonuses to every employee.


    She was nning to eat by herself, but Joshua and Henry turned up out of nowhere.


    ¡°Dinner¡¯s on <i>me </i>tonight!¡± Joshua announced, making a grand gesture. ¡°Everyone from Xylic Studio and Payton Manufacturing is invited!¡±


    Joshua made an extravagant show of waving everyone in.


    Everyone was thrilled.


    Not everyone from Payton Manufacturing could make it, but a few alumni from Payton¡¯s school who weren¡¯t


    <b>Sal</b><b>, </b>


    busy dropped by.


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    After handing over the samples to Henry, Xylia had personally gone to the factory, so she already knew most of the people who came by.


    They were all from the same school, and they knew Joshua pretty well too.


    As soon as they walked into the restaurant, the teasing started.


    ¡°Joshua was famous for being totally uninterested in girls back in college. He was one of the real legends¨Chis romantic record waspletely nk!¡± one of the Payton crew joked as soon as they sat down.


    Frank Lynch, Joshua¡¯s old roommate, chimed in with a grin, ¡°We all used to wonder who could ever get through to the untouchable Joshua. When we found out it was you, Xylia, that¡¯s when we knew this guy only goes for the very best!¡±


    Joshua shot his foot out, grinning. ¡°Come on, ¡®untouchable¡® doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m some damn eunuch!¡±


    Frank snorted, ¡°Oh please, don¡¯t tell me you forgot the time you tried out that eunuch kung fu!¡±


    Joshua kicked him again, and the whole group burst outughing.


    The atmosphere was buzzing withughter.


    Xylia¡¯s been running herself ragged these days.


    With the designer contesting up in just two weeks, she¡¯s got her hands full at Xylic Studio.


    Her hands and feet were pretty much back to normal, but she still wasn¡¯t totally satisfied with her design. The submission deadline was staring her down tomorrow night¨Cyeah, she¡¯d technically finished it, but she was second¨Cguessing herself and really wanted to give it another round of checks.


    By the time dinner wrapped up, Xylia had barely paid attention to her food, totally distracted.


    Joshua picked up on Xylia¡¯s exhaustion almost immediately.


    He footed the bill and led Xylia out first<b>, </b>so the rest of the crew could finally kick back and really enjoy their food.


    Xylia was happy to go. She knew some of the staff felt a little stiff with Joshua sitting there¨Cnow, with him gone, they¡¯d loosen up a lot more.


    Once they stepped out of the restaurant, Xylia told Joshua to just take her home.


    But Joshua had other ns¨Che led her straight to a show venue instead.


    He had a quick word with one of the staff, and soon enough, they were ushered through <b>a </b>side hallway and straight inside the venue.


    ¡°Seriously, what are we doing here?¡± Xylia blurted out, a puzzled look on her face.


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    Watching a show was thest thing on her mind tonight¨Cshe just wanted to hurry home and double¨Ccheck her drafts onest time.


    Joshua wrapped his arm around her and led her right to a spot with a picture¨Cperfect view of the runway, so they could catch everyst detail on the models.


    He kept her close, his hold just a bit too tight¨Cobviously making sure she couldn¡¯t slip away, even if she wanted to.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel a little irritated.


    Joshua gave her a gentle look. ¡°You¡¯ve been carrying way too much stresstely, Xylia. Come on, just rx a little¨Clet¡¯s watch the show, take your mind off things for a bit.¡±


    ¡°Stress is what pushes me forward. Seriously, I don¡¯t want to watch any show right now,¡± Xylia replied, a stubborn edge in her voice.


    Xylia was stubborn as ever, determined to stick to her n.


    Joshua looked down at her, his expression softening. He gave her wrist a gentle squeeze.


    ¡°Seriously, Xylia, with creative work? If you let the pressure get to you, the soul of your art just disappears,¡± he said in a gentle, steady voice.

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    Joshua¡¯s voice was deep and maic, and no matter how hard he tried, the tenderness in his tone always shone through whenever he spoke to Xylia.


    ¡®He really does make sense,¡® Xylia thought to herself.


    As she listened to his gentle voice, the frustration in Xylia¡¯s heart slowly melted away.


    Seeing her fall silent, Joshua steadied himself and gently led her to their seats.


    This runway show was pretty modest. Everything about it¨Cthe set design, the outfits¨Cfelt a lot smaller than the ones Xylia had been to before.


    But then, Xylia spotted someone she never expected to see here.


    ¡®Xavi?¡® she thought, surprised.


    As Xavi took a seat next to Joshua, Xylia leaned over, her eyes wide. ¡°Mr. Quezada, is this your


    ¡®She couldn¡¯t believe it,¡® Xylia thought, still trying to wrap her head around it.


    Xavi nodded. ¡°I was involved, just a little.¡±


    show<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®With Xavi¡¯s attitude, there¡¯s no way he¡¯d get involved in a runway this small.


    And seriously, ¡®When did he even show up in Norhill?¡® Xylia found herself wondering.


    After she asked Xavi a couple of quick questions, he exined he¡¯de for the big designpetition happening in two weeks. Suddenly, everything made sense to Xylia.


    Turns out, Quezada & Co. Apparel Design was one of the main organizers for the uing event.


    Joshua sat there, watching the two of them talk over him, and couldn¡¯t help but get a bit peeved.


    He straightened up, shifting just enough to block Xylia¡¯s view of Xavi, like he was staking his im.


    ¡°Seriously, what¡¯s there to chat about? Trust me, it¡¯s better if you keep your distance from the organizers before thepetition,¡± Joshua said, shooting Xavi a look.


    <i>¡®</i>Okay, he¡¯s got a point, Xylia thought, feeling a little more grounded. She quietly stopped talking to Xavi.


    Xavi, on the other hand, was visibly annoyed.


    ¡°Joshua, seriously? The only reason you even got into this little show was because I hooked you up. What¡¯s so wrong about me catching up with a former coborator?¡± Xavi retorted, his tone sharp,


    Ever since Xylia hadunched her own studio, Xavi would throw a few gigs her way every now and then.


    They weren¡¯t exactly huge projects, but for a small outfit like hers, the pay was actually pretty generous.


    10:08 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>20


    Joshua didn¡¯t even bother looking at Xavi. ¡°I didn¡¯t need you to get in.¡±


    Typical move¨Cusing people and then tossing them aside.


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    Xavi clearly wasn¡¯t interested in talking to Joshua anymore; instead, he deliberately leaned over towards Xylia.


    ¡°Hey, Xylia. I heard you¡¯re entering next week¡¯s designpetition. Did you already send in your sketches?¡± Xavi asked.


    Xylia shot him a nce and said, ¡°Mr. Quezada, honestly, I think it¡¯s safer if I steer clear of you for now.¡±


    ¡®I really can¡¯t deal with people using me of getting ahead just because of my connections, Xylia thought, feeling tired of that whole mess.


    ¡®I may not care what people say about me, but I still have a studio to run. My team shouldn¡¯t have to get dragged into my drama,¡® she reminded herself.


    Xavi just stared at her, totally at a loss for words.


    Joshua¡¯s smile lingered in his eyes as hepletely blocked Xavi out, brushing his fingers through Xylia¡¯s hair with a gentle touch. ¡°Once this show¡¯s over, I¡¯ll take you home,¡± he whispered softly.


    Xylia gave a nod, her heart settling down in the soothing warmth of Joshua¡¯s presence.


    Thanks to Joshua¡¯s gentle reassurance, Xylia felt a weight lift off her chest.


    By the time they stepped out of the show, there was no trace of worry left on her face.


    Xavi shuffled after them like a totally abandoned puppy, shooting daggers at Joshua¡¯s back¨Che was radiating pure resentment.


    Xylia poked Joshua¡¯s side. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you at least gofort him a little?¡±


    Joshua looked downright revolted.


    ¡°Comfort you? Sure. But you want me to go sweet¨Ctalk some guy? Not a chance.¡±


    ¡°Says you! You¡¯re the real stink! Your whole crew reeks!¡± Xavi shot back, cutting through with a mouthy snap.


    Before Xylia could even say a word, Xavi¨Chaving caught everything they said¨Cblew up on the spot.


    ¡°Back then it was you who pushed me to hire Xylia and give her all that technical support. Now look at you, turning your back and pretending we¡¯re strangers¨Cseriously, that¡¯s just nasty!¡± Xavi fired ott, voice full of indignation.


    As soon as he spoke, Xavi got nailed by Joshua¡¯s icy re.


    Xavi suddenly went meek, his bravado evaporating in a sh.


    He whipped out his phone, faking an iing call.


    <b>10:08 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>20 </b>


    :


    ¡°What? Now? Right away, I¡¯m on it,¡± he blurted out, his voice a little too loud.


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    Clearing his throat, he tossed out an awkward goodbye to Xylia and Joshua before speedwalking off to his car.


    Xylia remarked offhandedly, ¡°He was actually holding his phone upside down.¡±


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud.


    He looked down at Xylia and saw she seemed totally chill, so in his mind, he was already plotting how to change the subject.


    But before he could get a word out, Xylia jumped in first.


    ¡°So it was you who made him take me on as a designer?¡± Xylia asked, her voice calm.


    She looked up at him, her eyes just as clear and pure as ever, and Joshua couldn¡¯t spot a hint of feeling behind them.


    Joshua replied cautiously, ¡°It wasn¡¯t really forcing him.¡±


    ¡°So, the interview was just for appearances? And you had Xavi y along to make me think I was some kind of prodigy?¡± Xylia pressed.


    Joshua¡¯s brow furrowed as he hurried to exin.


    ¡°I told him to hire you no matter what, and to make sure your self¨Cesteem stayed intact. Honestly, Xavi actually thought you had real talent during the interview,¡± Joshua said.


    Xylia didn¡¯t seem to take in any of his words.


    She suddenly remembered something.


    ¡°So that designer contest back in Jupiton¨Cwhen I took first, and Garcia Group handed out the prize, was that all you behind the scenes too?¡± Xylia pressed.


    ¡°No way!¡± Joshua blurted out, sitting up straighter.


    ¡°That was totally up to the judges. I didn¡¯t pull any strings. I just bumped the prize up by an extra 300 thousand,¡± Joshua said quickly.


    He knew if he didn¡¯t spell it out, Xylia would definitely make him pay for it down the line.


    ¡°Really?¡± Xylia said, leaning in so close there was barely any space between them, her gaze narrowed with suspicion as she stared Joshua down.


    Her almond¨Cshaped eyes narrowed, all luminous and shimmering, hershes fluttering with a gentle wave that made her pupils look even brighter.


    Joshua¡¯s throat bobbed as he swallowed, a little flustered under her sharp stare. ¡°Of course it¡¯s true.¡±


    Joshua felt his nerves getting the better of him.


    10:09 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>20 </b>


    :


    Xylia rarely saw him like this and found it pretty entertaining.


    ¡°If that 300 thousand was all because of me, do you want me to give it back?¡± Xylia teased.


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    Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened for a second as he caught the cheeky glint in her gaze, then let out a huff ofughter, somewhere between exasperated and amused.


    He slipped his arm around her waist, his thumb idly kneading the soft flesh there.


    ¡°Of course you owe me, but you¡¯ll have to settle it a little differently,¡± Joshua murmured, his toneced with yful heat.


    Xylia froze, her mind nk for a second. ¡®Wait, is he actually serious about this?¡® she wondered, just a bit flustered.


    Joshua didn¡¯t give her a chance to answer¨Che swooped in, catching her lips in a deep, possessive kiss. Instantly, a sultry, ambiguous tension settled around them, making the world feel just a little smaller.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    ¡®Oh god, there are people walking around!¡® she panicked, feeling her cheeks burn.


    She let out a soft whimper, struggling to push him away.


    But Joshua just shifted, turning his back to the doorway to shield her from any prying eyes, all while kissing her, unbothered and relentless<b>. </b>


    Xylia was left dizzy and breathless from the kiss, her mind turned to mush by Joshua¡¯s relentless affection.


    By the time he let her go, her legs felt like jelly and she almost sagged to the floor¨CJoshua wasted no time scooping her up tight into his arms.


    Joshua grinned and murmured, ¡°There, debt settled,¡± clearly meaning that steamy kiss was her payback for the 300 thousand.


    Xylia gritted her teeth, her face flushed with embarrassment, and gave Joshua a sharp pinch on the waist.


    Her legs were still wobbly, so the pinch didn¡¯t really pack much of a punch, but Joshua stiffened anyway.


    His grip subconsciously tightened around her, pulling her even closer.


    With his other hand, he caught Xylia¡¯s mischievous hand, holding it firmly.


    Joshua leaned down, his voice going husky as he murmured something teasing right into Xylia¡¯s ear.


    Xylia¡¯s face flushed scarlet¨Clike a tomato about to burst¨Cand she snatched her hand away, stumbling back a couple steps in a panic <b>as </b>she shoved him aside.


    She red at him<b>, </b>cheeks practically glowing, finally sputtering out two words.


    ¡°Shameless<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>


    Saying that, she hurried off toward the car, cheeks still burning.


    Joshua watched her flustered retreat, an adoring grin spreading across his lips.


    He took his time following after her, popped open the driver¡¯s door, and got in.


    ¡°Heading home, or wanna go somewhere fun first?¡± Joshua asked, his tone light and teasing.


    ¡°Home!¡± Xylia said, crisp and clear.


    ¡°You got it, Princess,¡± Joshua said with a yful grin.


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    Xylia rolled her eyes at Joshua¡¯s cheeky smile, thinking to herself, ¡®Honestly, he¡¯s got a new nickname for me every other day.¡®


    10:09 <b>Sat</b>, Sep <b>20 </b>

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    After Joshua¡¯s little drama the night before, Xylia felt a lot less stressed.


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    She went back to her design, checked it over, and once she was satisfied, she sent it off to thepetition¡¯s email.


    Then she went to bed.


    Early the next morning, Xylia arrived at the studio carrying the fabric she¡¯d carefully selected in advance. She went straight to the cutting room and got to work.


    Since her wrist couldn¡¯t handle long stretches ofbor, she spent the past two weeks tackling the project bit by bit each day¨Cmaking sure every detail was perfect.


    At lunchtime, Josie came looking for her.


    Xylia figured Josie was inviting her to grab a bite, so she set her work aside.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Josie said.


    ¡°Not really, someone¡¯s here to see you,¡± Josie replied.


    ¡®Who woulde looking for me at noon?¡® Xylia wondered, a little confused.


    Josie stepped aside, revealing a small figure behind her.


    It was Sonny.


    Xylia instantly lost all interest in lunch.


    Sonny¡¯s vest was all wrinkled, and his soft ck hair stuck out in every direction, like he hadn¡¯t touched ab in days.


    His once chubby cheeks had slimmed down a lot in just a month.


    Anyone could tell Sonny hadn¡¯t been having an easy timetely.


    ¡°Mom,¡± Sonny called out softly, his voice trembling with tears, like he¡¯d been through the worst.


    Xylia looked at him with a calm, almost indifferent stare. She didn¡¯t show a single emotion in response to his vulnerability.


    Not even a flicker of sympathy crossed her face.


    ¡°I¡¯m not your mom,¡± she said firmly.


    Sonny¡¯s eyes immediately turned red, tears welling up until they threatened to spill.


    ¡°You¡¯re my mom! You can¡¯t pretend I¡¯m not your kid!¡± he choked out, his voice wavering from emotion.


    10:09 <b>Sat</b>, Sep 20


    Unable to hold back, he rushed over and clung tightly to Xylia, his whole body shaking.


    In the six months since they¡¯dst met, Sonny had shot up a little.


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    He used to barely reach Xylia¡¯s waist, but now, when he hugged her, he could bury his head in her stomach.


    Xylia nearly toppled over when Sonny crashed into her.


    She was saved by the table behind her, which stopped her from falling.


    Xylia grabbed Sonny¡¯s arms and yanked him off her, not gentle at all.


    She kept her tone strict. ¡°I gave you the chance to choose your mother. You made your choice¨Cdon¡¯t regret it now.¡±


    Xylia suspected that Tessa must have done something to Sonny, but honestly, she couldn¡¯t care less anymore.


    The affection Xylia once held for Sonny hadpletely vanished; in the Ford family, even the shadow of that love was long gone.


    Sonny finally broke down, clutching Xylia¡¯s hand with everything he had, tears spilling from his eyes.


    ¡°Mom, I still want you to be my mom. I don¡¯t want Tessa to be my mom anymore,¡± he sobbed, his voice cracking with desperation.


    Tessa had totally changedtely. She¡¯d ignore Sonny most of the time, and when she did speak to him, she¡¯dsh out <i>at </i>him with harsh words. If he messed up, she¡¯d make sure he got punished.


    Sonny triedining to his dad, hoping for some backup, but it was pointless.


    Tessa would just cling to Connor¡¯s arm and put on her sweet act, insisting it was all for Sonny¡¯s own good.


    Connor was buried in work these days¨Cthe branch office was a mess, and things at the main office weren¡¯t any better.


    He couldn¡¯t care less about Sonny and Tessa¡¯s drama.


    So, most of the time, Connor just took Tessa¡¯s side, telling Sonny to stop being so stubborn and to listen to her.


    Feeling hurt and wronged, Sonny had finally run to Xylia, hoping she¡¯d give him somefort.


    But now even Xylia didn¡¯t want him anymore. Sonny felt like his whole world was falling apart.


    Xylia didn¡¯t bother asking what happened. She wasn¡¯t in the mood to know.


    She grabbed Sonny¡¯s phone and called Connor.


    The phone rang for what felt like forever before Connor finally picked up.


    ¡°Sonny, I¡¯ve told you¨Cif you need anythingtely, go to Tessa. I¡¯m busy.¡±


    10:09 <b>Sat</b>, <b>Sep </b><b>20 </b>


    Connor¡¯s voice wasced with a chill.


    Xylia¡¯s brows knit, a hint of impatience shing in her eyes.


    ¡°Sonny¡¯s here,¡± she said coldly. ¡°Send someone to get him, now.¡±


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    After a few seconds of silence, Connor¡¯s voice came through, a note of surprise creeping in. ¡°Xylia?¡±


    ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t want to go back!¡± Sonny cried out, his voice breaking.


    Xylia didn¡¯t even bother to respond to him. ¡°Just tell me the address and I¡¯ll make sure he gets home.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re bringing Sonny here?¡± Connor asked, his tone a little surprised.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get him a cab,¡± Xylia replied tly.


    There was another pause, and then Connor¡¯s voice came through, sounding a lot more subdued.


    ¡°I¡¯lle get him,¡± he said.


    ¡°Hurry up,¡± Xylia said.


    She hung up the phone and handed it back to Sonny.


    Sonny didn¡¯t grab the phone. Instead, he looked up at Xylia, his eyes shimmering with tears.


    ¡°Mom, do you really not want me anymore?¡± Sonny asked, his voice barely holding together.


    Xylia just sighed and met his gaze, not softening at all. ¡°You¡¯re the one who pushed me away. This was all your


    choice.¡±


    She put the phone firmly back in Sonny¡¯s hand and walked straight out of the office without looking back.


    Josie just watched silently the whole time, never once chiming in.


    As soon as she stepped out, her phone rang. It was Joshua.


    <i>¡°</i>Come down. I¡¯m taking you out for lunch,¡± he said.


    Hearing Joshua¡¯s voice, Xylia¡¯s expression softened a little.


    But then she remembered her little shadow trailing behind her and felt a bit conflicted.


    Josie saw what was going on and stepped up, giving Sonny a reassuring pat on the shoulder.


    ¡°Go hang out with your boyfriend,¡± she said to Xylia. ¡°I¡¯ll look after the kid, and when his dad shows up, I¡¯ll


    hand him over.¡±


    Sonny jerked away from Josie¡¯s touch, backing off like she¡¯d burned him.


    Xylia shed Josie a grateful smile. ¡°Really appreciate it, Josie!¡±


    After thanking Josie, she headed downstairs.


    :


    Sonny tried to follow Xylia, but Josie grabbed the back of his shirt and stopped him.


    ¡°Where are you going?<b>¡± </b>she asked.


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    ¡°I don¡¯t need you watching me! I¡¯m going to find my mom!¡± Sonny snapped, his voice full of frustration.


    Josie scoffed. ¡°Funny, you didn¡¯t care about your mom when you were ganging up with others to mess with her. Now it¡¯s you getting picked on, and suddenly she¡¯s all you want? Wow, what a loyal kid.¡±


    Sonny¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment at her words.


    But Sonny stubbornly stuck out his chin, refusing to give in. ¡°She¡¯s my mom! Even if <b>I </b>screw up, she¡¯s supposed to forgive me!¡±


    Josie rolled her eyes hard, thinking that having a brat like Sonny was probably Xylia¡¯s life¡¯s biggest headache.


    ¡°Mom? More like you treat her like your maid!¡± Josie shot back, totally losing patience. She grabbed him and hauled him straight toward the office.


    ¡°Xylia finally caught a bit of happiness, so if you mess that up for her, don¡¯t me me if <b>I </b>start bullying kids,¡± she snarked.


    ¡°Let go of me! You¡¯re such a meanie!¡± Sonny shouted, thrashing around as hard as he could.


    But at the end of the day, he was just a little kid¨Cno way he could overpower an adult like Josie.


    Josie hauled him straight back into the office, showing him absolutely no mercy.


    Xylia practically bounced downstairs, catching sight of Joshua standing outside the shop with his back to her.


    Sunlight poured over his tall, lean frame, making him look every bit like her own guardian angele to rescue her.


    A grin curled at Xylia¡¯s lips <b>as </b>she dashed over, slipping her hand into his before he even had a chance to turn around.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go! So, what¡¯s for lunch?¡± she chirped, her voice bright and yful.


    Seeing her so happy, Joshua couldn¡¯t help but smile back.


    ¡°Guess,¡± he said, teasing.


    Whenever they had a meal together, Joshua was always the one who picked the restaurant. It was like opening a blind box every time¨Cyet somehow, he always nailed her favorite spot.


    Xylia thought for a second, then grinned. ¡°Datonese food?¡±


    Joshua didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he just intertwined his fingers with hers, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.


    10:09 <b>Sat</b>, Sep 20


    :0


    ¡°You¡¯ll see when we get there,¡± he said, his voice full of mystery.


    He was being mysterious again.


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    But Xylia didn¡¯t mind at all. She justughed and walked off with him, chatting and joking the whole way.


    Up on the second floor, Sonny stood by Xylia¡¯s office window, watching her and Joshua walk off together. His big, round eyes were filled with amazement, stunned by what he saw.


    ¡®When was thest time Mom ever looked that happy?¡® Sonny wondered, a mix of surprise and longing churning in his chest.


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    When Connor came to pick up Sonny, Xylia was nowhere to be seen.


    He frowned. ¡°Where¡¯s your mom?¡±


    Sonny hung his head, his voice muffled. ¡°She went out to dinner with her boyfriend.¡±


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    Connor was taken aback by the word ¡°boyfriend¡°-and just like that, a wave of jealousy zed inside him.


    He red at Sonny, his irritation clear.


    ¡°Boyfriend?¡± Connor¡¯s tired face twisted in anger. ¡°Oh, so you wanna swap me out for a new dad now or what?¡±


    It was obvious he was taking his frustration out on Sonny.


    Sonny was scared of his dad. At Connor¡¯s outburst, he shrank back, his eyes immediately getting watery.


    ¡°I don¡¯t!¡± Sonny shot back, voice trembling.


    Sonny stiffened his neck, refusing to back down.


    Connor kept pressing on. ¡°Who let you walk out by yourself? Didn¡¯t I tell you not to leave the hotel alone?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re always too busy for me, and Tessa keeps picking on me. Why would I wanna stay at the hotel?¡± Sonny protested, his voice shaking.


    ¡°If you hate the hotel so much, then just go back to Jupiton!¡± Connor snapped.


    Connor didn¡¯t even bother asking about Tessa messing with Sonny.


    Sonny¡¯s eyes went red and he burst into tears.


    ¡°I hate you, Dad! I¡¯m never going back!¡± Sonny yelled, voice shaky with emotion.


    And with that, Sonny bolted out the door.


    Connor¡¯s anger boiled over. He stormed after Sonny.


    Josie watched it all go down, <b>a </b>mocking glint in her eyes, but she didn¡¯t say a word.


    Sharon wasn¡¯t really up to speed on Xylia¡¯s situation. When she heard the kid call Xylia ¡°Mom,¡± she edged closer to Josie, eyes wide with disbelief.


    ¡°Josie<b>, </b>is that kid actually Xylia¡¯s son? And that guy¨Cis he really her ex¨Chusband?¡± Sharon blurted out.


    Josie quirked a brow. ¡°You really wanna dive into the drama of Scumbag Dad and his little spawn?¡±


    Sharon was dying to know, but she didn¡¯t want to stir up gossip about Xylia behind her back. She just shrugged.


    10:09 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>20 </b>


    ¡­


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    ¡°They¡¯re both trash, honestly. Nothing worth knowing,¡± Sharon said with a shrug.


    Josie justughed and waved her off. ¡°Go get some rest¨Cwe¡¯ve got a ton to do this afternoon.¡±


    They went back to their desks and settled in for a quick nap.


    Meanwhile, Joshua took Xylia to a Datonese eatery¨Cnot the upscale spot they¡¯d been to before, but an old, tucked¨Caway restaurant in Norhill, famous for its authentic local vors.


    They didn¡¯t bother with a private room, just grabbed a table out in the main dining area.


    Xylia loved it. It felt so real, so alive.


    There was this cozy, homey vibe about the ce¨Cit was full of that everyday warmth and bustle.


    After they ordered, Joshua asked, ¡°So, what did Sonny want earlier?¡±


    Xylia looked at him, surprised.


    ¡®How does he know?<b>¡® </b>she wondered.


    Joshua pointed at her phone. ¡°You forgot to hang up when you were talking to Josie.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s eyes widened in realization.


    Xylia didn¡¯t bother hiding it and just told him straight out.


    ¡°Probably ¡®cause Tessa¡¯s been rough on him, so he came looking for me again,¡± Xylia replied offhandedly.


    Xylia just shrugged, like it was no big deal.


    Joshua nced at her, and seeing her so chill, he finally rxed.


    He didn¡¯t press her for more.


    But deep down, <b>a </b>sharp sense of insecurity gripped him.


    Sure, he¡¯d won Xylia over, and Connor was no longer a threat at all.


    But Sonny was Xylia¡¯s flesh and blood¨Cher son, the one she¡¯d carried for nine long months.


    What if one day, Xylia¡¯s heart softened toward Sonny, and she chose her kid over him? What would he do then?


    A flicker of gloom shed in Joshua¡¯s eyes just imagining that day.


    ¡®Damn it!¡® Joshua cursed inwardly.


    No way was he letting that happen.


    Sonny was starting to act out, throwing angry fits and ignoring any attempt to keep him in line.


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    No matter how Connor made time to personally try and talk things through, Sonny just tuned him outpletely.


    Since they nned to stay in Norhill for a while, Connor bought a vi and enrolled Sonny in a decent international school.


    Thanks to Connor¡¯s introduction, Tessa scored a role in a new TV series as the second female lead.


    The main female lead was Mia Monroe.


    Tessa wasn¡¯t pleased at all.


    Mia was just aplete unknown in showbiz¨Ca nobody who¡¯d been torn apart online not long ago. The only reason people paid any attention to her was because of those rumored flings she stirred up with Leon Sadler on that dating reality show.


    Most of the buzz about her was just straight¨Cup hate and bad press.


    ¡®Why the hell does she get to be the lead?¡® Tessa fumed inwardly.


    The night she found out, Tessa clung to Connor¡¯s arm, pouting and begging him to pull some strings so she could snag the lead role.


    ¡°Connor, you know how much I¡¯ve always wanted to break into showbiz. I used to be a lead dancer, and now I¡¯m just starting out in acting. If I¡¯m stuck ying second fiddle, it¡¯s gonna mess up my whole career. People will think I¡¯m only good for supporting roles,¡± Tessa whined.


    Back in the day, whenever Tessa put on her puppy dog eyes, Connor would bend over backward to help her out, always thinking about her future.


    Buttely, Connor was buried in work, and all the problems with Sonny were making his head spin.


    He didn¡¯t even have the patience to deal with Tessa right now.


    Connor¡¯s face was full of irritation. ¡°Casting <b>is </b>the director¡¯s call. I can¡¯t change his decision.¡±


    The director for this show was a tough nut to crack. If the investors ever tried to mess with the script, he¡¯d just tell them to pull their funding.


    Tessa was well aware of that.


    But she just couldn¡¯t let it go.


    Tessa went on and on, trying to convince Connor with all kinds of arguments.


    Finally, she dropped a bombshell. ¡°Connor, there¡¯s something else we need to talk about. Now that I¡¯m diving into showbiz, getting married might mess with my career. Can we hold off¡® on tying the knot for a bit?¡±


    Connor¡¯s frown eased up a little.


    He looked down at Tessa, his expression unreadable.


    10:09 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>20 </b>


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    Tessa thought Connor was upset and parted her lips to say something, but he just said, ¡°Alright.¡±


    He agreed almost instantly.


    Worried Tessa would keep pressing, Connor quickly added, ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do with the director when I get back. You should get some rest.<b>¡± </b>


    With that, he headed straight to his study to finish up his work.


    Tessa was all smiles¨Cshe just knew Connor still had her in his heart.


    Even if they weren¡¯t getting married now, he still wanted to support her dreams.


    In her good mood, she was even a lot kinder to Sonny than usual.


    Sonny was in the living room, lined up his toy cars like he was ying. But his little face was all gloomy¨Che barely moved the race car in his hand, just smacked it against his palm now and then.


    ¡°Want mommy to y with you today?¡± Tessa asked softly as she came over and sat beside him.


    Tessa settled next to Sonny, wearing her gentlest, mostforting smile.


    She reached out to take the toy, but Sonny jerked away like a startled animal, clutching it close. He shot Tessa a look¨Cthose eyes were icy and sharp, way too cold for a little kid.


    Tessa caught that same frosty look Connor always had, shing across Sonny¡¯s face.


    ¡°Sonny?¡± Tessa called out, her voice gentle.


    Sonny jumped to his feet, clutching his toy car. ¡°You¡¯re not my mom, and you never will be. Don¡¯t bug me.¡±


    With that, Sonny headed straight for his room.


    Tessa just stood there, stunned.


    She couldn¡¯t believe Sonny had the guts to talk to her like that.


    Anger bubbled up inside her, and she shot a re at Sonny¡¯s closed door.


    ¡°Ungrateful little brat! Just like your mom, running off with some guy¨Cboth of you are nothing but shameless trash!¡± Tessa spat.


    Tessa didn¡¯t need to please Sonny anymore. Whatever he did now was none of her concern.


    She couldn¡¯t be bothered with a child.


    Having gotten nowhere, she just turned and walked off to her room.


    Back in his room, Sonny leaned quietly against the door, hearing every harsh word Tessa hurled at him echo through the wood.


    ¡­


    Right now, all he wanted was his real mom.

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    Joshua wasn¡¯t kidding when he said he¡¯d get Aaron back to work. He really did arrange for his early¨Cretired dad to join Garcia Group.


    Eliza was clearly annoyed. ¡®Why can¡¯t he just enjoy his retirement?¡® she thought.


    Eliza said, ¡°Your dad¡¯s not getting any younger. Why does he need to work?¡±


    Joshua just shrugged, ¡°Dad¡¯s not even fifty yet. He¡¯s still in his prime. He should be working, not sitting around


    bored <i>at </i>home.¡±


    Eliza didn¡¯t buy it. She knew Joshua wasn¡¯t the type to ck off on work just because he was in love. ¡®Something¡¯s definitely bothering him,¡® she thought to herself.


    She eyed Joshua closely, sensing that he had something on his mind.


    She motioned for Joshua to sit down across from her, taking her time as she prepared for a heart¨Cto¨Cheart conversation.


    ¡°Son, talk to me. Tell me honestly¨Cwhat¡¯s going on?¡± Eliza asked gently.


    Joshua, who was usually the powerhouse in the business world, suddenly seemed like a confused kid. He hesitated for a couple of seconds before pouring his heart out to Eliza.


    ¡°Eliza, what do you think Xylia really feels about me?¡± Joshua asked, sounding genuinely uncertain.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Eliza blinked, totally caught off guard by the question.


    She needed a second to actually process what Joshua was talking about.


    Honestly, she thought this side of Joshua was kind of refreshing.


    It was surprising yet refreshing to see her usually tough¨Cas¨Cnails son ask such an innocent and serious question.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did something happen between you and Xylia?¡± Eliza asked, intrigued.


    Joshua nced up at her, looking a bit sheepish. ¡°No, nothing happened.¡±


    Maybe he felt embarrassed, but he clearly didn¡¯t want to discuss it further. He mumbled an excuse and tried to slip away.


    But Eliza wasn¡¯t having it. She grabbed his arm and pulled him back down.


    ¡°It¡¯s so rare for you toe to me with romantic troubles, so go ahead¨Cspill everything! Let me break it down for you,¡± Eliza said, grinning like she was settling in for some juicy drama.


    Joshua nced at her amused expression and thought, ¡®Why did I even bring this up to Mom? She¡¯s definitely going to roast me for this.


    But he¡¯d already started, so after a brief moment of hesitation, he just went for it and decided not to hold back.


    ¡°Connor and Maddox showed up in Norhill. It¡¯s messing me up,¡± he admitted.


    ¡°Seriously, what are you even worried about? You honestly think Xylia would ever go running back to someone who hurt her?¡± Eliza scoffed,pletely unfazed by the whole thing.


    Eliza might be Xylia¡¯s future mother¨Cinw, but that didn¡¯t stop her from digging into Xylia¡¯s history a little


    bit.


    Back in Jupiton, she¡¯d already taken issue with how the Ford family acted¨Cand she knew Xylia had through hell because of them.


    gone


    She hadn¡¯t spent all that much time with Xylia, but Eliza could sense that once Xylia made up her mind, she¡¯d never look back.


    Xylia wasn¡¯t foolish¨Cshe¡¯d never let someone who hurt her off easy, and forgiving them was definitely not her style.


    ¡°You honestly think Connor might steal Xylia away from you?¡± Eliza asked, her voice testing, half teasing.


    She was clearly probing, trying to see what Joshua would say.


    Joshua gave a dismissiveugh. ¡°Connor? He¡¯s nothing. What worries me is the little guy.¡±


    The kid¨CSonny.


    Xylia¡¯s son.


    Eliza suddenly realized what was troubling Joshua.


    Sonny may have hurt Xylia before, but he¡¯s still her son¡ªjust a kid. No matter what he¡¯s done, there¡¯s always room for forgiveness, especially at his age.


    If Sonny keeps hanging onto Xylia, there¡¯s no telling when her heart might melt for him.


    Eliza asked, ¡°Have you actually talked to Xylia about this?¡±


    Joshua shook his head.


    ¡°You remember all those times you sassed me as a kid?¡± Eliza said, her tone gentler now.


    Joshua paused, then asked, ¡°Which time are you talking about?¡±


    Honestly, he¡¯d lost count of all the times he¡¯d mouthed off to her.


    ¡°Back when you were in kindergarten, you hit that rebellious stage. You never wanted me at your school events, always worried I¡¯d butt in and nag you about eating, studying, or force you into after¨Cschool tutoring. But I still showed up when I found out. You got so mad¨Cyou actually said you didn¡¯t want me as your mom. Even now, I remember how much that hurt.¡± Eliza¡¯s voice edged with sadness as she recalled it.


    10:10 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>20 </b>


    Joshua winced, instantly recalling that moment when Eliza brought it up.


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    ¡°You realized right away you¡¯d said something hurtful and rushed to apologize. You kept trying to cheer me up, even handed me the feather duster so I could smack you as punishment. That night, your dad and I really let you have it¨Cyou bawled your eyes out,¡± Eliza said, her tone gentler now.


    Joshua just sat there, totally speechless.


    ¡°That was so long ago, Mom. Why bring it up now?¡± he muttered, cringing in embarrassment.


    The awkwardness was almost unbearable.


    Eliza continued, ¡°Here¡¯s the point: Even back then, you understood how much it hurt to tell your mom you didn¡¯t want her. But Sonny? He doesn¡¯t get it at all¨Che says those things to Xylia, and even goes searching for someone else to be his mom, like it¡¯spletely normal. In his mind, he¡¯s not doing anything wrong¨Che genuinely thinks he¡¯s making the right choice.¡±


    ¡°What I¡¯m saying is, for Sonny, having Xylia as his mom is no big deal¨Che could take her or leave her, and if there¡¯s a first time forgiving him, there¡¯s bound to be a second betrayal. Do you really think Xylia would fall for that?¡± Eliza said, her words clear and sharp.


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help but admit¨CMom was making a lot of sense.


    Still, the one thing gnawing at him was the thought of Xylia giving in, even if it was just once.


    Seeing she¡¯d said all she needed, Eliza just tidied her clothes, stood up, and gave Joshua¡¯s shoulder a reassuring pat.


    ¡°Trust me, Xylia¡¯s way tougher than you think,¡± she told him with a little smile, then walked away.


    <b>***** </b>


    Joshua sat on the couch, turning over everything his mom had said. When he finally made up his mind, he thought, ¡®I guess I¡¯ll have to keep watch myself and make sure Sonny doesn¡¯t spend too much time around Xylia.¡®


    Xylia had no idea what Joshua was worrying about.


    ¡®If I ever found out, Xylia would think, ¡®I¡¯d totally borrow my second brother Kaden¡¯s scalpel and crack open Joshua¡¯s skull just to see what kind of mush is rattling around in that brain of his.¡¯


    With the designpetition looming, she was way too busy to care about anything else¨CSonny was already ancient history as far as she was concerned.


    So she didn¡¯t even notice that Joshua was sticking to her like gluetely,


    It wasn¡¯t until Josie spotted Joshua once again showing up first thing in the morning, hovering around Xylia in the studio, that she had to tease him.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, you¡¯re supposed to be super busy. Howe you¡¯ve suddenly got so much time to hang out at our studiotely?¡± Josie said yfully.


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    With Josie¡¯s sly look, Xylia finally caught on¨DJoshua really had been dropping by way too often these days.


    She put down what she was working on and nced over at Joshua, who was hovering nearby with a cup of tea, just in case she got thirsty.


    ¡°Feeling pretty free these days, huh?¡± Xylia teased.


    Joshua shot her an annoyed look. ¡°Really? You think I onlye around when I¡¯ve got nothing else going on?¡±


    Xylia gave him a look. ¡°I¡¯m just saying¨Cdon¡¯t you have a million things to deal with at Garcia Group?¡±


    Isn¡¯t Garcia Group this massivepany? You must have a mountain of stuff to handle.


    Just look at my brother Kaden¨Che¡¯s always drowning in work. I barely ever see him at home.


    By all rights, Joshua should be even busier.


    ¡°Like I said the other day¨CI dragged my dad back into the office,¡± Joshua said, looking way too casual about it.


    Xylia shot him a curious look. ¡°And why would you do that?¡±


    ¡°So I could spend more time watching over you,¡± Joshua replied, not even pretending he had another reason.


    Xylia blinked, feigning innocence. ¡°Watching over me? For what?¡±


    ¡°To stop you from running off with someone else,¡± Joshua said, half joking, half serious, his eyes locked on her.


    Xylia shot him a look,pletely at a loss for words.


    Joshua¨Csix foot tall and usually soposed¨Cwas now looking down at her, those charming eyes of his filled with a watery, aggrieved sparkle, as if she¡¯d already left him behind.


    ¡°Seriously, who do you think I¡¯d run away with?¡± Xylia snorted, half amused.


    Just then, Be came bouncing up the stairs with her little backpack swinging, calling out brightly, ¡°Xylia!¡±


    Without missing a beat, Joshua pointed straight at the pint¨Csized culprit by the door.


    ¡°There she is your little kidnapper just walked in,¡± Joshua teased, pointing straight at Be in the doorway.


    ¡®Was this guy for real?¡® Xylia thought, simply lost for words.


    Joshua and Be were both all over her, so Xylia had no choice but to put work aside for now.


    She took the two of them out to the mall next door.


    ¡°Just for a little bit. I still have work waiting for me,¡± she reminded them.


    <b>¡°</b>Is work really more important than me?¡± Joshua said, putting on his most pitiful voice, sulking like a giant abandoned puppy.


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    Be stood right by his side, tilting her head and fixing Xylia with those big, watery eyes¨Clike she was doubling down with Joshua on the puppy¨Cdog act.


    Xylia just wanted to bury her face in her hands and scream.


    After wandering the mall for a bit, Xylia suddenly realized she needed the bathroom. ¡°Wait here for me,¡± she said to Joshua and Be, leaving them outside with a quick nce back.


    She¡¯d barely made it through the restroom door before a hand shot out, grabbed her arm, and pulled her off to <i>the </i>side.

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    <b>Chapter </b><b>217 </b>


    Xylia instinctively swung her bag at the intruder, but arge hand intercepted it mid¨Cair.


    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± a voice said.


    Xylia nced up quickly and saw Mia Monroe.


    ¡°Wait, Mia? You?¡±


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    Mia was dressed in a stylish long dress, her hair cascading over her shoulders, with her whole face covered by a pair of oversized sunsses.


    That pair of shades was a gift from Leon.


    Surprisingly, Xylia recognized her just from the small part of her face that wasn¡¯t hidden.


    ¡°Do you need something from me?¡± Xylia asked, a bit surprised.


    Mia slid off her sunsses and met Xylia¡¯s gaze, her eyes quietly pleading for help.


    ¡°Girl, I need a favor,¡± Mia said.


    Seeing Mia hiding out in thedies¡® room, Xylia immediately thought she was being chased by some obsessive fan.


    Xylia quickly said, ¡°Is a crazy fan after you? I can block them for you.¡±


    Mia shook her head.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a fan,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Then who is it?¡± Xylia asked.


    ¡°Leon,¡± Mia replied.


    Xylia was speechless.


    ¡®Leon¡¯s not very good at chasing after women. It¡¯s been so long, and Mia¡¯s still avoiding him,¡® she thought.


    ¡°What happened between you two?¡± Xylia asked.


    Mia didn¡¯t answer, just held onto Xylia¡¯s arm and looked up at her with those obsidian eyes, a little vulnerable.


    ¡°So, will you help me or not?¡± Mia asked.


    Xylia asked, half¨Cjoking, ¡°Did Leonmit some kind of serious offense against you?¡±


    ¡°Girl, as another woman, you can¡¯t just leave me hanging here,¡± Mia said.


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    Xylia let out a resigned sigh. ¡®Seriously, why do I always end up in these situations?¡® she thought.


    ¡°Is Leon outside?¡± she asked.


    Mia nodded.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll head out and buy you some time. Just sneak out when you get the chance,¡± Xylia said.


    Mia shed her an OK sign.


    Xylia quickly used the restroom and then stepped out.


    She took a quick look around the mall, her eyes sweeping over the area, but Leon was nowhere in sight.


    Instead, Joshua had bought Be an ice cream, and the two¨Cone grown¨Cup, one little¨Cwere sitting sweetly together on a bench outside the restroom, both looking well¨Cbehaved as they waited for her.


    When Xylia came out, Joshua didn¡¯t even pay Be any attention¨Che just got up and walked straight to Xylia.


    ¡°Want me to call Howard and ask him toe take this kid home?¡± Joshua asked.


    Xylia could see how impatient he was from the look in his eyes.


    She¡¯d just watched him and Be getting along and figured he actually liked being around kids.


    ¡®Wow, turns out he¡¯s just been biting his tongue the whole time,¡® Xylia thought.


    ¡°You don¡¯t like kids?<b>¡± </b>she asked.


    ¡°Nope,¡± he replied instantly.


    Joshua blurted it out without hesitation.


    Xylia nced past him to where Be was sitting nearby, holding her ice cream.


    Seems like Joshua¡¯s words actually worked¨CBe didn¡¯t rush over, just stayed put and waited quietly for Xylia toe to her.


    ¡°Alright, go ahead and call,¡± Xylia said.


    Honestly, Be swings by to hang out so much, it¡¯s starting to be a bit of a hassle.


    Joshua¡¯s eyes lit up<b>, </b>and he quickly stepped aside to make the call.


    Xylia didn¡¯t forget her mission. She beckoned Be over, and the little girl scurried to her side.


    ¡°Sis!¡± Be called out.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go wait for Joshua outside,¡± Xylia suggested.


    Be grabbed Xylia¡¯s hand and tagged along with her out.


    Finally, Xylia spotted Leon at the edge of the mall corridor.


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    Dressed in a ck coat and wearing a face mask, Leon was keeping a low profile as he fiddled with his phone.


    Now Xylia realized why she hadn¡¯t recognized Leon at first¨Che¡¯d purposely used makeup to change his double eyelids to singles,pletely switching up his look. If he hadn¡¯t shot her a nce when she came out, she honestly wouldn¡¯t have known this was her superstar brother Leon.


    Xylia led Be by the hand and walked over.


    ¡°Hey Leon, what are you up to?¡± Xylia asked.


    Leon shot a curious nce at the little girl beside Xylia, but didn¡¯t bother with it right now.


    ¡°Did you see Mia in the restroom?¡± he asked.


    Xylia shot Leon a confused look. ¡°Mia? She wasn¡¯t in the restroom when I was there.¡±


    ¡°Come on, that can¡¯t be right. I¡¯ve been standing guard out here this whole time; no way she slipped past me,¡± Leon protested.


    Xylia eyed him like he was some sort of suspicious stalker. ¡®Does he even realize how sketchy that sounds?¡® she thought.


    Leon awkwardly scratched his head, realizing how weird his exnation must¡¯ve sounded. ¡°I mean, we just had <i>a </i>little spat. One moment we¡¯re shopping, next thing I know, she bolts. That¡¯s all.¡±


    As he talked about it, Leon¡¯s voice sounded a little hurt.


    ¡°What exactly happened between you two to make her avoid you like this?¡± Xylia asked.


    Leon said, ¡°She was supposed to star as the female lead in a new drama, but the director suddenly switched things up and gave the job to some random nobody. I tried to use my status as one of the Sadler heirs to pressure the director, but Mia chewed me out for it.¡±


    Xylia was honestly taken aback.


    From what she knew, Leon had been hustling in showbiz all these years, never, not once, riding on the Sadler family¡¯s name¨Che did everything by himself.


    Back when he was a nobody, just ying extras, the guy got plenty of heat from the big names<b>, </b>even though he had the looks going for him.


    He¡¯d wed his way up to where he was now and thought those days of needing family backup were long


    gone.


    But for Mia¡¯s sake, he was finally ready to y the Sadler card.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a solid reputation in the industry now¨Cdoesn¡¯t your word mean anything?¡± Xylia asked.


    Leon¡¯s eyes shed with a rare, simmering anger.


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    ¡°It¡¯s all about the investors on this one. The director¡¯s always been someone who calls his own shots, never bothered by outside pressure. But now he¡¯s suddenly done a one¨Ceighty. I looked into it¡ªthere¡¯s a major high¨Csociety family meddling in the background,¡± Leon exined.


    Leon had dug up that it was Connor orchestrating the whole thing.


    But he didn¡¯t want to mention that creep to Xylia and end up making her feel bad.


    Xylia paused, weighing her options.


    Leon, growing anxious, pressed her, ¡°Xylia, are you sure Mia¡¯s not inside? Could you go check for me one more time?¡±


    Xylia felt torn¨Cshe¡¯d already promised Mia she¡¯d help, but she still gave Leon a long, searching look.


    Leaving Be by Leon¡¯s side, Xylia turned and went back into thedies¡® room.


    Mia was still holed up in there.


    ¡°You¡¯re really determined to dodge Leon, huh?¡± Xylia asked.


    Mia shot her a suspicious look. ¡°You¡¯re not gonna sell me out, right?¡±


    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m always Team Leon. Helping you would basically make me a traitor,¡± Xylia quipped.


    Now Mia looked even more suspicious.


    But Xylia changed her approach.


    ¡°So tell me are you running away because you don¡¯t want Leon pulling the Sadler Group card to get you the lead role, or are you actually just trying not to face whatever¡¯s going on between you and him?¡± Xylia pressed.


    Mia knit her brows<b>. </b>


    ¡°Why would you even ask me that?¡± Mia shot back.


    ¡°Because I don¡¯t think disagreeing over that drama gig is why you¡¯re hiding from Leon. You¡¯re not someone who avoids tough conversations. Be honest, Mia¨Cdo you just not have feelings for him?¡± Xylia asked.


    Mia went quiet,


    Xylia had a feeling she knew what was going on, but she couldn¡¯t help wanting to say a few words for Leon.


    I¡¯m not going to betray you or anything,¡® Xylia said, her tone gentle. ¡®But if you really don¡¯t like Leon<b>, </b>you better let him know now¨Cthe longer you drag it out, the messier these feelings get.


    Xylia slipped out of the restroom.


    Leon was still anxiously waiting right outside, looking pretty stressed.


    Joshua had just finished his call and was standing next to him.


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    Xylia shook her head. ¡°The restroom¡¯s not that big. I checked everywhere, and Mia¡¯s definitely not in there. Maybe she slipped out when you weren¡¯t looking?¡±


    ¡°No way,¡± Leon said, his voice firm.


    But deep down, he wasn¡¯t so sure about his own memory.

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    Xylia stayed quiet, letting Leon work things out on his own.


    Leon trusted his little sister wouldn¡¯t lie to him. After thinking it over, he just epted his fate.


    He dropped his head, looking downright defeated.


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    Leon muttered under his breath, ¡°If I¡¯d known things would end up like this, I wouldn¡¯t have said all that to her.¡±


    ¡®Man, I really messed up,¡® Leon thought to himself, feeling seriously annoyed.


    Xylia was honestly a bit curious about how Leon and Mia Monroe first met. She also wondered, ¡®Just when did Leon fall so deep for her, anyway?¡®


    From Xylia¡¯s perspective, it didn¡¯t seem like the two were very close at the beginning. ¡®Guess I wasn¡¯t the only one who noticed that,¡® she mused.


    But this wasn¡¯t the moment to get caught up in all that.


    Xylia shot Joshua a look.


    Joshua spoke up, ¡°Howard¡¯ll be swinging by soon to pick up this little munchkin.¡±


    As soon as Howard¡¯s name dropped, both Be and Leon¡¯s gazes snapped to Joshua.


    Be demanded, ¡°Who told you to call my dad?¡±


    Leon blurted out in surprise, ¡°Howard¡¯sing here?¡±


    Be and Leon spoke at the same time.


    Be rushed over to Xylia, grabbing her hand in a panic.


    ¡°Sis, don¡¯t let Dade get me! I don¡¯t wanna go home!¡±


    Leon frowned at Xylia. ¡°Since when did you start hanging out with the Jennings family, little sis?¡±


    Xylia told Leon about what happened that day.


    Only then did Leon realize how serious it all was¨Che felt a chill run down his spine.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let us know about any of this? You actually took on those traffickers by yourself? Are you hurt?¡± Leon demanded, sounding both anxious and frustrated.


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m really not hurt¨Cdon¡¯t worry, seriously.¡±


    Leon frowned at her, his tone strict but caring. ¡°Promise me, you¡¯ll tell your brothers right away next time. Don¡¯t face things alone, you hear me?¡±


    10:11 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b>Sep 20


    ¡­


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    Leon¡¯s concern was so real, Xylia could see the sincerity right there in his eyes.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of emotion¨Cit really got to her.


    Back at the Sadler family home, her brothers never missed a chance to remind her: whatever came her she¡¯d never have to face it alone as long as they were around.


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes at their mushy sibling moment.


    <b>way</b>,


    He sauntered over and slipped his hand around Xylia¡¯s other hand. ¡°Hey, you got me too. Next time anything goes down, remember toe find me first.¡±


    Leon red at Joshua, looking thoroughly annoyed.


    ¡°Seriously, why do you keep popping up everywhere?¡± Leon muttered, barely hiding his frustration.


    Joshua shot back azy look, his calm gaze tinged with a yful challenge.


    Leon was so mad, he nearly stomped his feet.


    Be¡¯s eyes were brimming with tears as she gazed up at Xylia. Xylia couldn¡¯t help but find it odd, so she crouched down, looking at the little one with concern.


    ¡°Be, why don¡¯t you want your dad to pick you up?¡± Xylia asked softly.


    ¡°It¡¯s always just me by myself when I get home. I don¡¯t want Dad to take me back,¡± Be murmured, her voice trembling.


    Just the thought of going home alone made Be break down in tears.


    Xylia reached into Joshua¡¯s pocket, grabbed a tissue, and carefully wiped Be¡¯s tears.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry, sweetheart,¡± Xylia soothed gently.


    Leon muttered from the side, his toneced with mockery.


    ¡°The Jennings family is so busy, they can¡¯t seem to spare a minute for their own kid.¡±


    The sarcasm in his voice was impossible to miss.


    <i>¡°</i>Our family business is none of your concern,¡± Howard¡¯s voice cut through the air, sharp and cold.


    He strode over, his assistant trailing behind him.


    Howard¡¯s gaze flicked over Leon¡¯s face, barely registering him, before turning to Xylia,


    ¡°Sorry for the trouble Be¡¯s caused you,¡± Howard said, his tone polite but distant.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Howard¡¯s attitude toward her had changed. It wasn¡¯t the same gentle demeanor she¡¯d seen at the police station.


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    Instead, there was an unmistakable undercurrent of hostility in the way he spoke.


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    Howard looked down at Be, who was practically glued to Xylia¡¯s side.


    ¡°Be,e here,¡± he called, his tone distant butmanding.


    Be clung tighter to Xylia¡¯s shirt, her misty eyes flicking anxiously between Howard and Xylia.


    Reluctantly, Be released her grip on Xylia¡¯s shirt hem, still looking as if she never wanted to let go.


    ¡°Sis, Be¡¯s heading out now,¡± she murmured, the disappointment and hurt clear in her tiny voice.


    Hearing that, Xylia¡¯s heart melted. She couldn¡¯t help herself¨Cshe turned to Howard and spoke up for Be.


    ¡°Mr. Jennings, you and your wife seem to be running a million things every day, but maybe you should carve out some time for your own kid,¡± Xylia said, her words gentle but with a subtle bite.


    Howard took Be¡¯s hand, then nced up at Xylia, his tone noticeably frosty.


    ¡°Our family affairs really don¡¯t require your concern, Ms. Sadler. Still, we owe you for what you did, and Be¡¯s already caused you enough troubletely. For today, any shopping you do at the mall is on me,¡± Howard said coolly, keeping his tone distant but polite.


    He gave Xylia a curt nod and led Be away by the hand.


    Howard¡¯s assistant walked over and handed Xylia a business card.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, most of the stores here belong to the Jennings Group. Just show this card and shop as much as you like it¡¯s all taken care of,¡± the assistant said, expression perfectly polite but detached.


    After that, the assistant turned and left as well.


    Leon, clearly annoyed, snatched the card from Xylia¡¯s hand and tossed it into a nearby trash can.


    ¡°The Sadlers¡® princess doesn¡¯t need to rely on some outsider¡¯s money,¡± Leon said, pulling out a ck card and handing it to Xylia. ¡°Today¡¯s shopping spree is on me. Have fun.¡±


    Leon ruffled Xylia¡¯s hair affectionately before turning to leave.


    Xylia stood there, clutching the ck card, totally at a loss for words.


    ¡®Is this even apetition?¡® she couldn¡¯t help thinking.


    Joshua reached over, plucked the ck card from Xylia¡¯s hand, and tucked it right into her bag.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make it look like the heir of the Garcia Group is living on scraps. No spending other guys¡® cash¨Cuse your future husband¡¯s,¡± Joshua teased, a cocky grin on his face.


    Not missing a beat, he slipped his arm around Xylia¡¯s waist and headed straight for the luxury boutiques.


    Xylia just rolled her eyes, totally speechless.


    Once the coast was clear, Mia finally strolled out of the restroom.


    ¡®Man, these folks could really yak, Mia thought to herself, grinning wryly.


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    She threw on her sunsses, snuck over to the elevator, and slipped right out of the mall without anyone noticing.


    The designerpetition was officially underway.


    Xylia carried her gown backstage to the dressing room, looking for her model.


    When she finally saw the model in person, Xylia was absolutely floored. This woman was drop¨Cdead gorgeous -wless features, a killer figure. Xylia just stood there for a few seconds,pletely taken aback by her beauty.


    ¡®Wow, the organizers aren¡¯t messing around this time,¡® Xylia thought.


    <i>¡°</i>They even brought in an international supermodel for this show!¡®


    While the model was changing, the door to the dressing room suddenly swung open.


    Xylia figured it was probably another designer hunting for a spot, so she was about to say, ¡°Sorry, this one¡¯s taken,¡± when she looked up¨Conly to be met by Tessa¡¯s challenging re.


    Xylia¡¯s expression immediately turned icy.


    ¡°Well, well, sis, I can¡¯t believe you actually signed up for thispetition,¡± Tessa scoffed, her voice thick with sarcasm. ¡°Marching in like a clueless rookie who thinks she owns the ce¨Chow brave, how na?ve.¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t even flinch. She just kept working,pletely unfazed by Tessa¡¯s snide remarks.


    ¡°This <b>is </b>a backstage dressing room. If you¡¯re not involved, you need to leave,¡± Xylia said, her tone firm and unwavering.


    Instead of backing off, Tessa stepped further into the room, her smirk growing wider.


    ¡°Not involved? Sis, do you even know who¡¯s backing thispetition?¡± Tessa asked, her voice dripping with mockery.


    Xylia didn¡¯t want to waste her breath on Tessa.


    But Tessa wasn¡¯t about to let it go. She leaned in closer, clearly trying to get under Xylia¡¯s skin.


    ¡°Connor¡¯s one of the big investors here, and I¡¯m about to be his wife. So, what do you think¨Cis thispetition my business or not?¡± Tessa said, eyes gleaming with smug pride.


    Xylia rose to her feet, her expression icy and unimpressed as she stared Tessa down.


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    ¡°Whatever your connection is, that¡¯s not my concern,¡± Xylia replied, her voice cutting and direct. ¡°Backstage <b>is </b>for those who belong here. Leave now, or I¡¯ll get security to escort you out.¡±


    Seeing Xylia keep her cool, acting all high and mighty, only made Tessa seethe even more.


    Just then, the model emerged from the dressing room, fully dressed.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, is this really how I¡¯m supposed to wear it?¡± the model asked, looking totally lost and a bit embarrassed by theplicated gown.


    The dress was so borate, the model just couldn¡¯t figure out how to put it on right.


    Tessa took one look at the ckce top and matching skirt on the model, then let out a sharp snort and smirked, not hiding her mockery at all.


    ¡°Xylia, this is your so¨Ccalled masterpiece?¡± Tessa sneered, her voice thick with sarcasm.


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    ¡°Um¡­¡± The model hesitated, just about to speak, but Tessa didn¡¯t let her finish.


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    Tessa gave the model¡¯s clothes a snide once¨Cover, then turned to Xylia with a smirk. ¡°Xylia, you seriously think you¡¯ve got what it takes topete here? Honestly, you¡¯re just here to embarrass yourself. Why even bother stepping onstage? Just quit now and save us all the cringe.¡±


    The model was just about to exin that the outfit wasn¡¯t designed by Xylia. Xylia caught her eye and shook her head.


    ¡®Even if I tried exining to Tessa, she¡¯d never care. No point wasting my breath,¡® Xylia thought.


    Xylia fixed her gaze on Tessa, her tone steady. ¡°Whether Ipete or not has nothing to do with you. Now, please leave¨Cstop bothering my model.¡±


    Tessa let out a sharpugh and stepped up to Xylia.


    ¡°So, Xylia, you really think just because you¡¯re cozying up to Mr. Garcia, your path¡¯s gonna be all sunshine and rainbows? Designer? Please. If you don¡¯t have the skills, no amount of connections will get you that trophy. I¡¯ll be front row when you crash and burn in front of everyone,¡± Tessa smirked.


    With that, Tessa turned on her heel and stormed out of the dressing room.


    Xylia didn¡¯t pay her any more attention. She turned back to the model, offering a gentle, apologetic smile. ¡°Sorry you have to deal with this mess. The real outfit should be arriving any minute¨Cjust bear with this one for a little longer, alright?¡±


    Xylia had gotten mixed up today and identally brought the wrong outfit.


    This sample was from a client a couple days ago, and since the model thought it looked pretty good, she wanted to try it on for fun. With the right outfit still on its way, Xylia just let her go ahead and wear it.


    The model waved off her concerns. ¡°It¡¯s really no trouble, Xylia. Your studio¡¯s designs all have a special touch. Even this piece¨Cwhile it looks simple at first¨Chas something unique to it. I¡¯ve worn a ton of big brands, but your team¡¯s work truly stands out.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but smile at the praise. ¡°Thank you, that really means a lot! After the show, let¡¯s exchange contacts¨Cif you ever want something custom for yourself, just let us know.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯d love that!¡± the model replied brightly.


    Xylia was thrilled¨Canother potential client in the bag.


    When Josie finally burst in, breathless from hauling the right outfit all the way over, she couldn¡¯t help but put Xylia in a friendly chokehold andunch into her rant.


    ¡°Seriously, how could you mess up at such a crucial moment? Are you trying to throw away your shot at winning? After all my naggingtely¨Cthis is how you repay me? Do you even appreciate how much I¡¯ve been helping you?¡± Josie grumbled.


    Xylia craned her neck, shing Josie a sheepish grin as she clung to her arm.


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    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Josie! But lucky for me, I have you to bail me out¨Cyou brought the outfit and totally saved my skin today. What would I ever do without you, huh?¡±


    Xylia spent ages coaxing Josie, and only then did Josie finally let go of her irritation¨Cif just barely.


    ¡°Next time, pay more attention, alright? You¡¯re meant to be the next big name in design,¡± Josie scolded, still sounding half¨Cannoyed.


    ¡°Alright, alright, I swear¨CI¡¯ll keep my head in the game,¡± Xylia grinned, giving a yful salute.


    Just then, the model strutted out in the right outfit, looking absolutely stunning. Xylia and Josie couldn¡¯t take their eyes off her.


    Josie instantly forgot about being mad, nced at Xylia with excitement, and dered, ¡°That¡¯s a champion¡¯s look. You¡¯re totally winning this.¡±


    At the judging panel for the fashion show, Xavi sat front and center, surrounded by several other judges.


    Connor had somehow managed to sneak onto the panel too, with Tessa sitting right behind him.


    And then there was Howard, seated on the other side of Xavi.


    Xylia and Josie made their way to the front row.


    Joshua was already there, sporting sunsses¨Cwhich was a rare look for him¨Cplus a casual T¨Cshirt, jeans, and crisp white sneakers. He blended right in with the college crowd; you¡¯d never guess he was anything but your


    average guy.


    There were two empty seats next to him, so Xylia and Josie walked over and settled in beside him.


    Josie looked Joshua up and down. ¡°Mr. Garcia, you rocking that college kid look today?¡±


    Joshua didn¡¯t bother taking off his sunsses and ndly replied, ¡°My wife looks way too young, so I had to switch up my wardrobe to match her.¡±


    Josie gave a theatrical shudder. ¡°Ugh, you two are just too much!¡±


    Xylia settled in beside Joshua, casting a thoughtful nce over his casual look before giving an approving nod. ¡°Honestly, it does look like I¡¯m the one scoring here.¡±


    Joshua reached for her hand, all his usual coolness melting away as he shuttled even closer. ¡°No way¨CI¡¯m definitely the lucky one.¡±


    His voice softened, and he clung to Xylia¡¯s hand like a big, loveable puppy, whining sweetly as he tried to act


    cute.


    Josie had seen so much of their lovey¨Cdovey drama that at this point, she barely even blinked at it.


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    Meanwhile, Tessa was sitting behind Connor, and when she nced over, she couldn¡¯t help but notice Joshua and Xylia looking all lovey¨Cdovey.


    Even with his sunsses on, Tessa instantly recognized Joshua as the guy they¡¯d once mistaken for the Garcia family¡¯s driver¨Cwho turned out to be the family¡¯s sole heir.


    Seeing Xylia¡¯s happy, glowing face made Tessa¡¯s blood boil.


    She clenched her fists and, just before the show kicked off, strode right up to Xylia and Joshua, making sure all eyes were on her.


    ¡°So this is the legendary Mr. Garcia, huh? We¡¯ve crossed paths back in Jupiton before, but I had no clue who you really were. If I ever stepped out of line, I hope you won¡¯t take it to heart,¡± Tessa said, her voice ringing out loud and clear with a fake smile, making sure the whole front row could hear her perform her little apology.


    The front row instantly started buzzing, everyone perking up to watch the drama unfold.


    Joshua kept his sunsses on and didn¡¯t so much as nce in her direction.


    Tessa, feelingpletely snubbed, shifted her focus to Xylia, annoyance written all over her face.


    ¡°So I heard the Garcia Group¡¯s sponsoring this event, and Ms. Schultz not only entered the contest, she¡¯s also dating Mr. Garcia himself. Guess that means the trophy¡¯s practically reserved¨Cright, Ms. Schultz?¡± Tessa¡¯s words rang out loud, loaded with sarcasm and a not¨Cso¨Csubtle wink to the crowd.


    She was tantly stirring the pot, making sure everyone knew that if Xylia took first ce, it was all thanks to favoritism¨Clike she was getting special treatment through backstage connections.


    Whispers started spreading through the crowd behind them.


    ¡°Ms. Schultz? Who¡¯s that? I thought Mr. Garcia¡¯s girlfriend¡¯sst name was Sadler¨Clike the one sitting next to him up front?¡±


    ¡°Maybe the news got it wrong. But with Mr. Garcia backing this show, it¡¯s pretty much a done deal¨Cshe¡¯s gonna win.¡±


    ¡°Seriously? Then what¡¯s even the point of us being here?¡±


    ¡°Wait, does the Garcia Group really have that much pull? Can they just rig an officialpetition like this?¡±


    ¡°Why not? But hey, let¡¯s see for ourselves¨Conce Mr. Garcia¡¯s girlfriend steps out, we¡¯ll find out if she¡¯s got the


    skills or not,¡±


    §¯


    Tessa frowned, clearly annoyed by the crowd¡¯s reactions.


    ¡®When did this crowd get so reasonable?¡® Tessa thought, unimpressed.


    ¡®Or maybe they¡¯re only holding their tongues because Joshua¡¯s sitting right here,¡® she scoffed to herself.


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    ¡­


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    Xylia was about to say something, but Joshua gave her hand a quick squeeze¨Chis way of telling her to just let


    it go.


    Xylia shut her mouth and just let it slide.


    Joshua lifted his head slowly, his eyes shielded by his sunsses, gaze cool and unreadable as itnded squarely on Tessa.


    She couldn¡¯t see his eyes, but the sharpness of his stare cut right through her¨Csending shivers down her spine.


    Joshua deadpanned, ¡°Are you on the judging panel?¡±


    Tessa froze for a second before answering, ¡°No.¡± She hesitated, totally thrown off by the random question.


    ¡®What¡¯s his deal?¡® Tessa thought, suddenly unsure what game Joshua was ying with her.


    Joshua kept going, still totally unfazed. ¡°So, your guy¡¯s a judge, right? Did I go whisper in his ear to make sure my girlfriend gets a winning score or something?¡±


    ¡°Connor¡¯s not my husband! We¡¯re not even married,¡± Tessa snapped back, sounding flustered.


    ¡®That¡¯s weird¡­¡® Xylia thought, taken aback by how quickly Tessa denied being married to Connor.


    ¡®Normally, the Tessa I know would be bragging about her rtionship with Connor right now, maybe rubbing it in to get under my skin. So why is she suddenly backtracking?¡® Xylia mused, feeling more and more suspicious.


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    Xylia let it slide without digging deeper.


    Joshua didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°So tell me, did I really try to bribe him?¡±


    Tessa pressed her lips together, saying nothing. She was certain¨Cthere hadn¡¯t been any bribery.


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    The truth was, Connor and Joshua were at odds. Even if Joshua tried to slip Connor a bribe, Connor wouldn¡¯t have gone for it.


    But now that she¡¯d steered the conversation in this direction, denying it would just make her look like she was stirring up trouble.


    She replied coolly, ¡°That¡¯s on you. How would I know?¡±


    Joshua stood up, walked past Tessa, and made his <i>way </i>to the judges.


    Some of the judges were officially¨Cappointed veterans¨Cfolks who couldn¡¯t be bribed so easily.


    Joshua took off his sunsses and looked at the judges politely.


    ¡°So, experts, have I ever tried to bribe any of you? Rx, this is a live broadcast. <b>If </b>I did, just blink hard and everyone watching will catch on.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at Joshua¡¯s words.


    ¡®What kind of nonsense is he even spouting now?¡® she thought.


    Howard frowned at Joshua.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, the show¡¯s about to start. This isn¡¯t the ce to cause a scene,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡¯m not making a scene. Someone¡¯s out here saying I bribed you to give my girlfriend a high score. Come on, this is an official contest¨Ca big deal. I can¡¯t be the one to taint the whole thing with scandal.¡±


    Joshua nced Connor¡¯s way, his tone sharp. ¡°Right, Mr. Ford?¡±


    Connor had spotted Tessa heading over to Xylia and Joshua earlier, and the moment he saw it, he got this anxious feeling¨Clike something messy was about to happen.


    ¡®So she really did stir things up. Figures. Connor thought, annoyed.


    His <b>face </b>soured. Connor knew he¡¯d only gotten the judging seat thanks to some strings pulled behind the


    scenes<b>, </b>


    Now that Tessa had thrown the whole subject of behind¨Cthe¨Cscenes connections out into the open, Connor couldn¡¯t help but worry¨Cif she failed to target Joshua, she might just end up digging up dirt on him instead.


    ¡®What an idiot, Connor thought darkly.


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    Connor kept up his poker face, shooting Joshua a look. ¡°What does that have to do with me? I¡¯m not exactly


    close with Mr. Garcia.¡±


    ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, I didn¡¯t bribe Mr. Ford, right?¡± Joshua pressed.


    Joshua looked straight at Connor and asked, ¡°So, I didn¡¯t bribe you, right?¡±


    Connor had no clue what Joshua was nning, but he nodded anyway.


    Joshua spun around to face Tessa.


    ¡°Ms. Schultz, even your future husband says I didn¡¯t bribe anyone. Now do you believe me?¡± Joshua said, his voice dripping with mockery.


    Tessa clenched her fists so hard her whole body shook with anger.


    Tessa couldn¡¯t really argue back¨Cshe had nothing to prove the bribery usation.


    Joshua¡¯s smirk vanished bit by bit as he straightened up beside the judges, his gaze icy and locked on Tessa.


    ¡°The fairness of thepetition is under strict supervision. If you keep throwing wild usations and messing with my name, trust me¨CGarcia Group¡¯swyers don¡¯t mess around,¡± he warned, his tone chilling.


    Joshua¡¯s stern face gave off an unmistakably intimidating vibe.


    Josie nudged Xylia¡¯s arm, whispering, ¡°Girl, your guy is absolutely owning the ce right now. Total boss energy.¡±


    ¡°Girl, no wonder Joshua is the head honcho at Garcia Group. Your boyfriend is seriously rocking the boss vibes right now,¡± Josie grinned.


    Xylia didn¡¯t see Joshua get serious often, but every time he did, she felt a sense of calm and security wash over her.


    Tessa¡¯s face drained of color as the audience¡¯s whispers started to reach her.


    ¡°She¡¯s using someone of bribery before the show even starts? And she doesn¡¯t have any proof? Sounds like she¡¯s just making stuff up,¡± one person said.


    ¡°If Ms. Schultz ispeting, I¡¯d say her future husband on the judging panel is the one who might be biased. That¡¯s not fair,¡± another voice chimed in.


    ¡°I¡¯ve looked into these judges before, especially Mr. Jennings¨Ctrust me, he¡¯s totally stone¨Ccold, never lets emotions get in the way. If anyone here would refuse a bribe, it¡¯s him,¡± someone piped up.


    ¡°Whatever, let¡¯s just see how the results shake out. If something shady went down, it¡¯ll be pretty obvious soon enough,¡± someone else said.


    ¡±


    ¡±


    Xavi spoke up right then.


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    ¡°If Ms. Schultz still thinks our design contest isn¡¯t fair, she¡¯s free to report it to the officials. But we¡¯re about to kick things off, so let¡¯s not stir things up,¡± he said.


    Now, Tessa was the one under fire.


    She cast a pleading look at Connor, hoping he¡¯d speak up for her.


    But Connor didn¡¯t spare her a single nce.


    His eyes wandered,nding absent¨Cmindedly on Xylia in the crowd.


    Tessa¡¯s anger red up, and she turned to Joshua.


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying Mr. Garcia is bribing anyone right now, but if your girlfriend¡¯s design doesn¡¯t measure up, who¡¯s to say you won¡¯t step in and talk her up at thest minute?¡± Tessa snapped.


    Joshua shot her a sarcastic grin. ¡°So in your view, Ms. Schultz, an official contest like this is that easy to rig? You think I could just say a couple of words and crown my girlfriend champion?¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t put it past you¡­¡± Tessa muttered under her breath.


    ¡°Tessa!¡± Connor¡¯s voice cut through the air.


    Tessa flinched, turning her wounded gaze on Connor.


    ¡°Go sit down,¡± Connor said sharply.


    ¡®Does she seriously think she can stir up trouble in a ce like this?¡® Connor thought, barely containing his


    annoyance.


    She¡¯d already dragged the officials into it, and still kept running her mouth. She had no clue how much bacsh she was about to bring on herself.


    Even though Tessa was boiling with anger, Connor¡¯s dark stare made her mp her mouth shut.


    Tessa shot Joshua a cold, hard re.


    ¡°Hope you stick to what you said. If your girlfriend¡¯s work gets roasted by everyone, just zip it,¡± she threw over her shoulder.


    With that, Tessa stormed back to her seat.


    Joshua sank into his seat as well.


    Joshua¡¯s expression was stormy.


    Xylia could see how pissed he was and tried to calm him down. ¡°Don¡¯t let her get under your skin.¡±


    Joshua gripped Xylia¡¯s hand, fury shing in his eyes.


    ¡°She actually dared to use you of pulling strings? I wanted to help you out, but you wouldn¡¯t let me¡ªand


    now she¡¯s talking trash about you,¡± he spat, frustration heavy in his voice.


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    ¡°If you¡¯re innocent, you¡¯ve got nothing to worry about. Don¡¯t bother stooping to her level,¡± Xylia said, trying to


    soothe him.


    Joshua went quiet for a few seconds, then whipped out his phone and started texting.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s tone was ice¨Ccold. ¡°<b>If </b>I¡¯m in a bad mood, nobody gets to walk away happy.¡±


    She nced down and caught a few lines on his phone screen.


    ¡®Send word to the organizers¨Cthere¡¯s something shady about how Connor became a judge.¡®


    Clearly, he was giving orders to his assistant.


    Xylia¡¯s curiosity got the better of her. ¡°So Connor¡¯s the one who pulled strings to get on the judging panel?¡± Joshua turned his head, frowning, a sour note clear in his voice. ¡°Why do you care so much about him?¡±


    Xylia felt wronged. ¡°When have I ever cared about him?¡±


    ¡°You just said his name,¡± Joshua retorted.


    ¡®Seriously, can¡¯t even say his name now?¡® Xylia snarked to herself, rolling her eyes.


    Joshua gave Xylia¡¯s hand a little squeeze. ¡°No talking to him, no texting, not even a hello. From now on, he¡¯s off¨Climits.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, someone¡¯s jealous,¡± Xylia teased.


    She leaned back in her chair, deciding to drop the subject of Connor.


    It wasn¡¯t her business anyway, and it was only making Joshua more upset. Not worth it.


    Connor¡¯s eyes flicked over to Xylia and Joshua. The way the two of them acted so close together got under his skin instantly.


    Their hands stayed locked, neither one letting go, and Connor could feel his irritation growing with every second.


    ¡®So what if the Garcia Group is sitting pretty now? No family stays on top forever,¡® Connor thought, bitterly.


    ¡®Joshua<b>, </b>don¡¯t think I¡¯m letting you off easy,¡® he vowed silently, teeth clenched.


    The fashion show kicked off.


    The lights over the audience faded out, and the stage exploded with festive<b>, </b>energetic music.


    The crowd instantly forgot all about the drama earlier, hyped up and buzzing with fresh excitement.


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    One by one, gorgeous models stepped out in dazzling evening dresses, and the whole venue lit up with ooohs and ahhs of pure amazement.

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    <b>Tessa </b>sat in the audience, her <b>face </b>a mask of indifference <b>as </b>she watched the fashion show unfold.


    But inside, she was burning with anticipation. She couldn¡¯t wait for the models wearing Xylia¡¯s designs <b>to </b><b>step </b>out¨Cthen the whole room would finally <b>see </b>it for themselves.


    ¡®Xylia is nothing but a publicity¨Cchasing phony, Tessa thought bitterly to herself.


    ¡®She doesn¡¯t even deserve to be called a designer!¡®


    ¡°Wow! That dress <b>is </b>stunning!¡± someone in the crowd gasped.


    ¡°Seriously, it¡¯s gorgeous! I thought the first few models were amazing, but this dress blows them all out of <b>the </b>water!¡± another person eximed.


    ¡°Have you guys noticed? It¡¯s not just some fancy gown¨Cit¡¯s actually super versatile. You could totally wear it out for something casual and it would still look incredible!¡± <i>a </i>third voice chimed in.


    ¡°I already voted¨Cthis dress totally deserves MVP today!¡± someone else dered.


    11


    The show wasn¡¯t even over yet, but Tessa could already hear bursts of admiration from behind her.


    Joshua gave Xylia¡¯s hand a gentle squeeze, leaning in close to her ear, his voice yful and <i>a </i>little flirty.


    ¡°Hear that? Everyone can¡¯t stop talking about your designs,¡± he murmured, grinning.


    Xylia looked at Joshua with clear confusion, her eyes narrowing. ¡®Wait, I never actually showed you any of my designs,¡® she thought, her suspicion growing.


    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I never let you see the clothes I made,¡± she said quietly.


    Joshua really had been hanging around her studiotely, but whenever she was working, she kept him at arm¡¯s length. That way<b>, </b>he ended up stuck in the office¨Che definitely hadn¡¯t gotten a peek at her new designs.


    Joshua shed her a sheepish grin.


    Xylia could tell in a heartbeat¨Che¡¯d definitely sneaked a look at her designs behind her back.


    She couldn¡¯t even bring herself to be <b>upset</b>; honestly, Joshua was just acting like a big kid.


    He snuggled up against Xylia¡¯s shoulder, clinging to her like a big, needy puppy and not caring one bit how he looked.


    <b>¡°</b>The moment <b>I </bid <b>eyes </b>on your finished designs, I just knew you had the win in the <b>bag</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Joshua said, his <b>voice </b>brimming with pride<b>. </b>


    Xylia <b>really </b><b>wasn¡¯t </b>used to this much PDA, especially out in public.


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    She gave her shoulder a light shake. ¡°Hey, seriously, we¡¯re out here in the open.¡±


    ¡°Whatever, I¡¯m not shy,¡± Joshua replied, shing a carefree grin.


    Xylia just rolled her eyes. ¡®Like I care whether you¡¯re shy or not,¡¯ she thought.


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    Joshua was absently ying with Xylia¡¯s hand, and since everyone nearby was glued to the runway, she just let him be, not bothering to stop his antics.


    He lounged against her shoulder, sunsses already discarded. Joshua nced up at the judges¡® table, locking eyes with Connor.


    The moment their gazes met, a smug smile tugged at Joshua¡¯s lips.


    Without missing a beat, he raised his free hand and slowly flipped Connor off.


    Connor, on the other hand, was absolutely livid.


    But with Joshua¡¯s tant provocation staring him down, all Connor could do was grit his teeth and plot his revenge, thinking darkly, ¡®Just wait, one day I¡¯ll make you pay for this!


    Tessa sat through the whole show, eyes fixed on the runway, but that dress Xylia designed? She never saw it once. ¡®What¡¯s going on? Did I miss it?¡® she wondered, feeling more and more frustrated.


    She had gotten a good look at Xylia¡¯s gown backstage earlier, so she hadn¡¯t even bothered paying attention to the number back then¨Cshe was so sure she¡¯d recognize it when it showed up.


    Now she couldn¡¯t help but suspect¨Chad Xylia swapped out her design at thest minute or something?


    Or maybe word got out about her sneaky connections, so she bailed before things got messy?


    But the organizers didn¡¯t say anyone had dropped out, which just left Tessa even more confused.


    The judges began to vote, chatting about which outfit on the runway had truly wowed them.


    In the end, they all unanimously went for number 6.


    And number 6? That was Xylia¡¯s design.


    When the host finally announced the winner, both Connor and Tessa froze in shock.


    Connor¡¯s eyes widened as he stared at the screen. ¡°That name¨CXylia? Since when did she start calling herself that?¡® he wondered.


    ¡®Did she really just change herst name?¡®


    ¡®Is she really so desperate to avoid me she¡¯d change her whole name for it?¡® Connor thought bitterly.


    Tessa was so stunned that Xylia had actually won, she didn¡¯t even notice the wholest¨Cname change thing at


    all.


    12:09 Sun, Sep <b>21 </b>


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    When she saw Xylia going up to ept her award, Tessa literally jumped up from her seat.


    Not caring one bit that she¡¯d already made a scene before, she just went off again¡ªyelling right at the stage like nothing could stop her.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t even have <b>a </b>single outfit walk the runway, and she still gets the prize? Are you kidding me¡ªisn¡¯t this just a total scam? Seriously, can none of you see what¡¯s going on?¡±


    Tessa¡¯s words left everyone in the roompletely baffled.


    Number 6 was that stunning dress that had blown everyone away.


    The audience had been raving about it all night, so when it won, nobody thought twice about it.


    From what Tessa was saying, it almost sounded like that dress wasn¡¯t even Xylia¡¯s design.


    Tessa¡¯s never¨Cending antics were really starting to get on Xavi¡¯s nerves. As the main organizer, he looked more and more fed up with the whole mess.


    He shot Connor a pointed look and frowned.


    ¡°Mr. Ford, your person keeps causing drama at ourpetition again and again. Seriously, aren¡¯t you going to step


    in and do something about it?¡±


    Connor wasn¡¯t a fan of Xavi lecturing him, honestly¨Cit always rubbed him the wrong way.


    But even he had to admit, Tessa was seriously out of line this time.


    ¡®How did I never spot Tessa going after Xylia so hard before?¡® Connor thought, a surge of annoyance rising up inside him.


    It was pretty obvious¨CTessa had been trashing Xylia non¨Cstop all day, but she didn¡¯t have a single shred of evidence to back it up.


    And now, at the end of thepetition, she was pulling yet another stunt.


    At this point, anyone could see she was just trying to stir up trouble on purpose.


    Connor turned to Tessa, his voice cold and angry.


    ¡°Cut it out¨Cnot here.¡±


    ¡°Me<b>? </b>I¡¯m the one causing trouble?¡± Tessa snapped, clearly pissed that Connor was sticking up for Xylia. ¡°Connor, so you¡¯re really just going to trust her and not me now?¡±


    Tessa totally ignored Connor¡¯s warning, marching a couple steps forward before turning around to face the


    entire crowd.


    ¡°Everyone, listen! I went backstage today and saw what Xylia Schultz actually designed¨Cit was nothing but a ckce top and a skirt. Definitely not that gorgeous number 6 dress everyone¡¯s raving about!¡±


    12:10 Sun, Sep <b>21 </b>


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    ¡°I called her outfit ugly in the dressing room, so she must¡¯ve gotten all salty. Then she used Mr. Garcia¡¯s connections to swipe another designer¡¯s masterpiece, threw any old dress at the real designer, and now she¡¯s trying to steal someone else¡¯s glory!¡±


    Her voice rang out, catching everyone¡¯s attention in the entire venue.


    When she was done, Tessa spun back to face Xylia, giving her a sharp, knowing look. ¡°We grew up together, you know. I know exactly the kind of person you are, sis.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got nothing left. Yeah, you lucked out andnded Joshua, but without real skill, there¡¯s no way you¡¯ll ever make it at Garcia¡¯s. So you cooked up this whole scheme for the spotlight, just to look worthy of him. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    Xylia just stared at Tessa, thinking, ¡®She¡¯spletely lost it.


    ¡°The nerve of her, spewing usations with absolutely nothing to back it up.¡®


    And to top it off, thispetition was being broadcast live across the country.


    Unbelievable¨Cshe¡¯s got guts, I¡¯ll give her that.


    Xylia met Tessa¡¯s gaze, her calmpletely unshaken. ¡°Every part of my design process¨Cfrom the first draft to the finished piece¨Cis still there in my studio. If you¡¯re so curious, feel free to check it yourself.¡±


    Her tone was smooth and light, but each word rang out with unshakable conviction.


    That was the kind of easyposure that onlyes from someone who knows they¡¯ve done nothing


    wrong.


    Tessa¡¯s brows knitted, unsettled by Xylia¡¯s unfazed attitude. ¡®What does she mean by that?¡® she thought.


    Xylia strode forward confidently, fixing her gaze right on the judges.


    ¡°Go ahead¨Csend whoever you want to my studio and see for yourselves if I actually designed this dress. If it turns out I was framed, I want the organizers to set the record straight and clear my name.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s voice was steady, her confidence unwavering.


    By now, the crowd was almostpletely on Xylia¡¯s side.


    ¡°She¡¯s so chill about letting the supervisors dig into it¨Cno way she¡¯s faking it. This has got to be her real work,¡± someone remarked.


    ¡°Did you hear thatdy call Ms. Sadler ¡®sis¡®? Bet they¡¯ve got some juicy drama. You know how it is, when sisters start airing each other¡¯s dirtyundry¨Cmajor frenemy vibes!¡± another spectator whispered, gossip practically dripping from their voice.


    ¡°Maybe, maybe not. Let¡¯s just wait and see what the organizers do,¡± someone else said.


    ¡±


    Of course Xavi trusted Xylia¨Che¡¯d seen her talent firsthand and knew she was the real deal.


    But Howard Jennings stood up, his eyes cold as he looked at Xylia.


    ¡°Since Ms. Sadler insists, let¡¯s have the supervisors conduct an investigation,¡± he said, his tone crisp and businesslike.


    :.

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    As Howard finished speaking, Tessa started to panic.


    :


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    If it turned out Xylia really was the designer behind the dress, Tessa would have just gone and smeared Xylia¡¯s name in front of everyone¨Clive on national TV, no less.


    The thought of embarrassing herself on a broadcast watched by the whole country made her stomach drop.


    It hit herte, but now regret was gnawing at her, realizing what she¡¯d done.


    With the investigation underway, the awards ceremony came to a halt and the live stream was shut down.


    The broadcast was shut down.


    Xavi couldn¡¯t hold back his anger any longer and shot Tessa a hard look.


    ¡°Ms. Schultz, you better remember this¨Cif the investigation proves you wrongly dragged Ms. Sadler into this, then you¡¯ll be responsible for every bit of damage thispetition has suffered,¡± he said, his tone icy.


    Joshua got up and walked onto the stage, offering his hand to Xylia as she stepped down.


    He spoke in a deceptively casual tone, but his words cut sharp.


    ¡°And about the crap you just said about my girlfriend¨CI¡¯m not one to let that slide. If the investigation shows everything you imed was fake, I¡¯ming after you for defamation. Rest assured, Garcia Group¡¯swyers are the best in the business,¡± he said.


    Joshua¡¯s voice stayed light, but there was a cold edge to it that chilled Tessa to the bone.


    She felt a cold shiver run down her back.


    But she quickly snapped back to reality.


    ¡®They¡¯re just trying <i>to </i>intimidate me,¡¯ she thought.


    She¡¯d seen Xylia¡¯s dress designs in the lounge earlier¨Cabsolutely none of them looked like the one that model was wearing.


    Xylia¡¯s only been a designer for a few months. There¡¯s no way she pulled off something as incredible as entry number six on her own.


    No way she did this by herself¨Csomeone must¡¯ve helped her cheat.


    Even if the investigators went through every inch of Xylia¡¯s office, they wouldn¡¯t find a damn thing.


    With that thought, Tessa started to rx, her confidenceing back.


    She shot Xylia a contemptuous look. ¡°I stand by everything I said and did. But if my dear sister¡¯s the one who slipped up, Mr. Garcia¨Cand all you organizers¨Cdon¡¯t let her off the hook just because she¡¯s got Mr. Garcia in


    <b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>


    her corner.¡±


    Even with everything that had happened, Tessa was still hell¨Cbent on ming Xylia for all of it.


    Connor was starting to think she was beyond saving.


    ??)


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    The audience still hadn¡¯t left, and just as Connor was about to speak, an event official strode in and walked straight up to him.


    ¡°Connor, our investigation shows you weren¡¯t originally on the judges¡® panel¨Cyou were brought in out of nowhere. Word is, you got in by cozying up to Secretary Li. On behalf of the organizers<b>, </b>I¡¯m here to officially strip you of your judge status,¡± the official announced.


    As soon as the official finished speaking, a wave of whispers swept through the crowd.


    ¡°Turns out the real backdoor deal was someone else!¡±


    ¡°All that talk about Ms. Sadler cheating, but Mr. Ford¡¯s tight with Ms. Schultz. If she really cheated, no way Mr. Ford votes for her. Are those two even working together? Do they have any clue what the other¡¯s doing?¡±


    ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t Ms. Schultz kind of familiar? Is she a celebrity or something?¡±


    ¡°Oh, right! She was a top dancer back in the day¨Ccrazy famous in the dance world. Didn¡¯t she quit a while ago?¡±


    ¡°Ohe on! I heard she¡¯s about tond a TV role. Do these celebs even care about their public image anymore? Why would she get herself tangled up in all this drama?¡±


    As soon as Tessa realized someone had recognized her, she instantly ducked her head to avoid attention.


    ¡®Why do they have to spot me at the worst possible moment?¡® Tessa thought.


    Connor, dragged into this mess thanks to Tessa, his face had turnedpletely ashen.


    And of course, Joshua just had to twist the knife, showing zero mercy as he piped up to Connor. ¡°Ms. Schultz has been gunning for my girlfriend from the start, always talking about cheating¨Cwho would¡¯ve thought your ¡®husband¡® is the one who really pulled strings to sneak in?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not married!¡± Tessa snapped back, her voice sharp.


    <b>Tessa </b>shot back without missing a beat.


    Now that people in the audience had spotted her, she couldn¡¯t risk them finding out about her wedding ns.


    Getting hitched would be a total buzzkill for her showbiz career.


    Connor looked like he¡¯d swallowed a lemon, his face going even paler.


    Xylia looked from Tessa to Connor, trying to read their faces.


    <b>in</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>


    She thought<b>, </b>¡®Guess they¡¯re not as picture¨Cperfect <b>as </b>they pretend to be after all.


    Joshua noticed Xylia¡¯s gaze and, a little possessive, tilted her chin up, making her meet his eyes.


    ¡°Hey, what are you looking at?¡± he asked, sounding a bit moody.


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    Xylia, sensing the jealousy rolling off him, blinked yfully. ¡°Just admiring my boyfriend¨Che¡¯s seriously handsome!¡± she teased.


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help but grin.


    He took Xylia¡¯s hand and led her out of thepetition venue.


    ¡°Take all the time you need for the investigation, but I expect my girlfriend¡¯s name to be cleared when it¡¯s done,¡± Joshua said, his tone unwavering.


    The designpetition hosted by Quezada & Co. was now in shambles, all thanks to Tessa¡¯s sabotage¨Cits reputationpletely shot.


    The whole thing reeked of unfairness now.


    The venue was forced to clear out in a hurry.


    The awards ceremony would have to wait until the investigation was done.


    Josie followed the event officials back to the studio.


    Meanwhile, Joshua took Xylia to a private lounge set up by the organizers¨Cfor the sake of appearances, of


    <b>course</b>.


    Now it was just Joshua and Xylia in the lounge.


    As soon as the door shut behind them, Joshua pulled Xylia into a tight embrace, lowering his head to gently squeeze her cheek¨Cas if settling some scores.


    ¡°You checked Connor out three times just now,¡± he grumbled, obvious jealousy in his tone.


    Xylia felt his yful grip on her face, her eyes widening in disbelief.


    ¡°Are you really this petty? Actually counting how many times I nced at him?¡± she shot back, half amused, half exasperated.


    ¡®Is he for real? Who even does that¨Ckeeping tabs like some jealous boyfriend?¡® she thought.


    ¡°I¡¯m not petty. <b>I </b>just don¡¯t like you looking at him,¡± he said, his voice low and serious.


    Xylia swatted his hand away and looked up at him, a teasing smile tugging at her lips.


    ¡°What about Xavi? Can I look at him?¡± she asked, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°Nope. I don¡¯t like you looking at any guy but me,¡± he said, his tone firm.


    <b>12:10 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>21 </b>


    ¡­


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    There was a sulky undertone in his words¨Ceven though it sounded like he was pouting, Joshua¡¯s face was all


    serious.


    Seeing that, Xylia started to wonder if he actually meant it.


    She shot Joshua a cautious look.


    ¡°Wait, are you one of those crazy possessive boyfriends from web novels? Is it illegal for me to even talk to other guys now? What¡¯s next, are you gonna lock me in some golden cage?¡± Xylia joked, side¨Ceyeing him, half teasing and half testing how far he¡¯d <ol><li>go. </li></ol>


    Joshua seemed to actually stop and weigh her words, like he was genuinely considering whether her ¡®suggestion¡® was doable.


    ¡°Honestly, that doesn¡¯t sound so bad,¡± Joshua replied, sounding way too serious forfort.


    Xylia, fed up, gave him a yful punch. ¡°You¡¯re too much!¡±


    With a pitiful look, Joshua scooted over and hugged her again.


    ¡°Then say you love me,¡± he murmured, sounding shameless.


    Xylia stared at Joshua, totally at a loss¨Cher ears had gone pink. ¡®Why¡¯s heying it on so thick?¡® she thought.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so cheesy,¡± Xylia grumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.


    ¡°Cheesy? How is saying ¡®I love you¡® cheesy? Whatever, I don¡¯t care¨CI need to hear it,¡± Joshua shot back,ying on the puppy eyes. ¡°I get insecure, okay?¡±


    He was in full clingy boyfriend mode now.


    Xylia let out a helpless sigh and hugged him back. ¡°How could you feel insecure?¡±


    ¡®Did I do something that made him feel that way?¡® she wondered, puzzled.


    ¡°I just feel like I¡¯m never your number one. Whether it¡¯s work or some other guy, it¡¯s like I could be reced at the drop of a hat,¡± Joshua admitted, his voice raw and honest.


    Joshua was beingpletely sincere now.


    Xylia could hear the heavy disappointment in his voice, and it made her chest ache,


    ¡®A sharp ache gripped Xylia¡¯s heart, so sudden and piercing she almost couldn¡¯t breathe.¡¯


    Xylia hugged Joshua even tighter, gently patting his back tofort him.


    ¡°You could never be reced,¡± Xylia whispered softly, conviction in her voice. ¡°To me, you¡¯re one of a kind¡ª my one and only boyfriend.¡±


    ¡°Say you love me,¡± Joshua whined, not above begging just to hear her say it.


    <b>12:10 </b><b>Sun</b>, Sep <b>21 </b>


    ¡­


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    ¡°Obviously I love you¨Cwhy else would I put up with you?¡± Xylia teased, but her words were full of warmth.


    That did it¡ªJoshua looked instantly relieved, all the poutiness melting away as he basked in her reassurance.


    Joshua absolutely hated the way Connor kept eyeing Xylia,¡® he thought, the jealousy almost making his skin crawl.


    ¡®And thest thing he wanted was for Xylia to eveny eyes on Connor¨Cit¡¯d just drag up all that old hurt from her past,¡® he told himself firmly.


    ¡®He never saw Connor getting mixed up in thispetition. If he¡¯d known ahead of time, he would¡¯ve made damn sure Connor was nowhere near it,¡® Joshua mused, his regret clear.


    <b>***** </b>


    Meanwhile, after Connor was escorted out, something about Xylia¡¯sst name suddenly hit him.


    ¡®Why did she choose the name Sadler?¡® he wondered, his mind racing.

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    The investigators discovered clear traces of Xylia¡¯s signature style at Xylic Studio, which pointed unmistakably to her creative hand.


    This confirmed that the dress was indeed designed by Xylia.


    The official statement was posted online, making it clear that Xylia¡¯s design was fully her own work from start to finish, with no signs of taking credit for any other designer¡¯s creations. They also invited anyone who felt there was unfairness in thepetition to share their feedback at any time.


    At the end of the official post, Xylia¡¯s design was featured for everyone to see.


    The dress was a stunning example of modern chic¨Cit featured a soft pastel green tulle skirt sprinkled with tiny nude¨Cyellow blossoms, and was cinched at the waist with a slim leather belt. Romantic in spirit, it carried an air of effortlessly free elegance.


    In no time, the official post blew up with random users piling on thepliments for this dress.


    [Oh my god, this is literally my dream dress! Is there a link yet? Has it gone on sale? My paycheck¡¯s just sitting here waiting to be spent!]


    [Hallelujah, women¡¯s fashion finally has hope!]


    [This is hands down my most¨Cwanted item of the year. Forget the iPhone 17, nothing else evenes close!¡®


    [¡®I know this designer¨Cher studio is called Xylic Studio. They haven¡¯tunched an online shop yet, but their team of amazing designers create one¨Cof¨Ca¨Ckind pieces tailored exactly to your requests. The best part? The pricing is super reasonable.]


    ¡®Xylic Studio, noted!]


    ][¡®Xylic Studio always delivers something special. Xylia runs the ce¨Cthere¡¯s no way she¡¯d ever risk her brand by copying anyone.]


    [People are just jealous, that¡¯s all. They <i>try </i>to stir up drama, but honestly, Xylia¡¯s legit talented!]


    The inte was on fire.


    Women¡¯s fashion had gotten so bizarretely that everyone was fed up with not being able to find something decent to wear¨Cbut as soon as Xylia¡¯s new designs dropped, Xylic Studio became the answer to their prayers.


    Everyone scrambled to add Xylic Studio¡¯s customer service contact.


    The studio, already busy, was suddenly swamped with requests.


    Even though Tessa was suspected of making usations against Xylia, the organizers only gave her a warning instead of any real punishment, since they had an open policy about people voicing their opinions.


    Meanwhile, Connor was officially called out for using his connections to influence things behind the scenes.


    12:10 <b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>21 </b>


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    But in the same post that criticized Connor, <b>Tessa </b>actually got a shoutout from the organizers¨Cpraised for her integrity and impartiality, for speaking up and pointing out the problem right in front of everyone at thepetition, even when it involved someone close to her.


    Thements under this post switched up their vibepletely.


    ¡®LOL, she was aiming for Xylia, and somehow turned her own guy in instead.¡¯


    ¡®Not her man, okay? She¡¯s denied it twice<b>¨C</b>said she¡¯s single and not married. At best<b>, </b>that¡¯s her future husband!¡®


    ¡®The official ount <b>is </b>savage. Levels of irony: maximum!¡®


    ¡®Never thought I¡¯d witness someone totally ying themselves online¨Cprops to Ms. Schultz for that move!¡®


    ¡®Heard Ms. Schultz was a principal dancer once, but she had to bow out after missing the selection round. Now she¡¯s just trying to get noticed in showbiz.


    ¡®I remember catching some drama about Tessa before¨Cdidn¡¯t she get into trouble for a hit¨Cand¨Crun?¡®


    ¡®For real? That¡¯s seriously messed up. If people like her can make it in showbiz, the whole industry is done for!¡¯


    1


    As things heated up, online sleuths started doing a deep dive into Tessa¡¯s history.


    Connor had already made sure the inte was scrubbed of anything about Tessa¡¯s hit¨Cand¨Crun scandal.


    But mysteriously, someone managed to bring it all back to the surface.


    All of a sudden, those users who¡¯d been lurking for months sprang back to life, digging up hidden dirt¨Cevery buried detail of Tessa¡¯s hit¨Cand¨Crun incident.


    With the officials backing it all up, the inte went full¨Con witch hunt¨Cnobody was safe, and Tessa was getting dragged through the mud like never before.


    But Connor had already set things up so someone else took the fall for Tessa. No matter how wild the inte got<b>, </b>they could rant all they wanted but couldn¡¯t pin anything solid on her.


    Still, Tessa¡¯s reputation was toast.


    At the vi, Connor snapped at Tessa for the first time.


    ¡°You¡¯re not the type to act without thinking. Why would you target Xylia like that, especially in public? Now your reputation is shot, and Ford Group¡¯s Norhill branch is dealing with endless headaches because of you. When did you be someone like this<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Connor was fuming.


    Connor¡¯s face was stormy as he tore into Tessa.


    12:10 <b>Sun</b><b>, </b>Sep 21


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    Tessa was already feeling hurt, and the moment Connor startedying into her, tears welled up and spilled down her cheeks.


    She red at Connor, her voice shaking as she shouted, ¡°You¡¯re yelling at me just because of Xylia, aren¡¯t you? You feel bad for her, so the minute I go after her you¡¯re all over me, desperate to find fault!¡±


    ¡°Tessa, this has nothing to do with Xylia. You¡¯re the one who messed up! Can¡¯t you see that?¡±


    Hearing Connor defend Xylia only made Tessa¡¯s anger boil over.


    ¡°Connor! I knew it¨Cyou still have feelings for Xylia. You¡¯ve been dragging your feet on marrying me because you¡¯re hung up on her. Ever since we got to Norhill and you started seeing her, you¡¯ve been acting like a totally different person. The way you look at her¡­ it¡¯s obvious you¡¯re in love with her, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Connor met her gaze, eyes cold and unyielding. He didn¡¯t bother answering herst usation¨Cinstead, a smirk curled at the corner of his lips.


    ¡°Twice now, you denied being married to me right there at thepetition. So tell me, who¡¯s really the one unwilling to walk down the aisle?¡±


    Tessa felt a twinge of guilt, but she quickly brushed it off, refusing to let it show.


    She honestly didn¡¯t think she¡¯d done anything wrong. She was about to join a new cast soon, and if news about marriage leaked, it could totally tank her career momentum.


    Plus, Connor kept dragging his feet every time the topic of marriage came up¨Cit was pretty obvious he wasn¡¯t nning on going through with it.


    Now he was just trying to flip the script and me everything on her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to change the subject. I know you still can¡¯t get Xylia out of your head. Good luck going up against Joshua!¡±


    With that, Tessa stormed out, mming the door behind her.


    Furious, Connorshed out and kicked the coffee table over. Cups and tea ttered to the floor, the crash echoing through the room.


    Upstairs, Sonny stood at the top of the stairs, watching Connor and Tessa go at it.


    Those bright, grape¨Clike eyes didn¡¯t show the slightest fear¨Che just looked on like an outsider watching someone else¡¯s drama.


    In just a month, he¡¯d gone from a headstrong kid to a cold, unfeeling machine.


    Even when it came to his own father, all Sonny could feel inside was disappointment.


    He really missed the days when his mom was still there for him.


    Just remembering her gentle hugs and soft, loving smile almost made him cry.


    12:10 <b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>21 </b>


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    He wished he¡¯d never acted out or treated her so badly before.


    If only he¡¯d protected her when his dad was hurting her¨Che hated himself for not stepping up.


    But now, it was toote. His mom didn¡¯t want him anymore.


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    Meanwhile, Joshua was the one pulling the strings, making sure the hit¨Cand¨Crun scandal involving Tessa blew up online.


    He even sent someone down to Jupiton¡¯s police station to talk to the person who took the me in her ce.


    You could bet it wouldn¡¯t be long before the real truth was about to explode online.


    Joshua sure wasn¡¯t about to let anyone who messed with Xylia get off easy.


    Aaron was handling a mountain of tasks for Garcia Group.


    Once he¡¯d finished his own tasks, Joshua made his way over to Xylic Studio again.


    With Connor stationed in Norhill, Joshua knew he had to keep constant watch over Xylia.


    He couldn¡¯t risk her getting hurt, not even for a second.


    AD

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    Chapter <b>224 </b>


    <b>58 </b>


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    With the sudden surge in orders, the five¨Cperson studio was clearly overwhelmed.


    It was obvious that the team of five just couldn¡¯t handle that many orders anymore.


    Xylia and Josie quickly put the expansion n into action. Josie took charge of hiring new talent, while Xylia focused on finding arger workspace.


    Josie handled recruitment, while Xylia started searching for a bigger studio to move into.


    Joshua showed up just when they needed him most.


    Xylia wasted no time inmandeering him as her personal driver.


    ¡°My baby¡¯s really stepped up her game,¡± Joshua teased.


    Xylia was used to him calling her all sorts of mushy names and didn¡¯t bat an eye¨Cshe just wasn¡¯t sure what ¡®progress¡® he was talking about.


    ¡°She knows how to put her boyfriend to work now,¡± he added with a yful grin.


    Xylia just stared at him speechlessly.


    ¡®I¡¯ve had him drive me around plenty of times already,¡® she thought.


    Xylia just brushed him off with a couple of casual replies, then turned her attention to texting the realtor to check on the studio options.


    Joshua realized she was tied up, so he wisely kept his jokes to himself and let her focus.


    Following the address Xylia gave them, they arrived at an office building about three kilometers away.


    The ce was recently built, just within thest couple of years¨Cand the Garcia Group had actually invested


    in it.


    Xylia didn¡¯t know any of this, while Joshua simply nced at the building, keeping quiet, though he knew exactly what¡¯s up.


    The realtor brought Xylia up to the sixteenth floor, and the whole ce was totally vacant.


    While the realtor and Xylia were talking about renting only half the floor, Joshua finally chimed in.


    ¡°Just take the whole floor. Your studio¡¯s not gonna stay small¨Chaving the whole ce will be way more convenient for you,¡± he said.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but hesitate.


    This floor was at least ten times the size of her current studio. Even if they hired a bunch more people, there¡¯s no way they could use all that space right away.


    Renting the whole floor just seemed kinda excessive.


    Joshua pointed to the two offices next door.


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    ¡°These could work great as pattern¨Cmaking rooms. If you don¡¯t have a ton of people yet, each designer can have their own private space¨Cthey won¡¯t get in each other¡¯s way, and everyone can really get into the zone and do their best work,¡± he suggested.


    Xylia found Joshua¡¯s suggestions a little odd.


    He sounded reasonable enough, but honestly, it just wasn¡¯t necessary.


    ¡®You only need a quiet space when you¡¯re actually designing; pattern¨Cmaking¡¯s not that demanding,¡® she thought.


    She pulled Joshua aside and asked, ¡°Why are you so insistent I rent the entire floor?¡±


    Joshua lowered his voice and came clean. ¡°The Garcia Group helped fund this building. If you take the whole floor, the rent¡¯s discounted¨Cit¡¯s actually a steal.¡±


    Xylia caught on immediately and didn¡¯t hesitate¨Cshe went ahead and rented out the entire floor then and there.


    ¡®Who says no to a discount?¡® she thought.


    Plus, the ce had a great vibe and was close to where all the team lived¨Ccouldn¡¯t get more convenient than that.


    Just like that, the studio¡¯s new location was settled.


    Joshua had wanted to whisk Xylia away for a little fun, but with the mountain of studio work piling up, she couldn¡¯t swing it.


    She sweet¨Ctalked him for a moment to keep him happy, then slipped back to the studio to dive right back into work.


    Joshua sat alone in the car, feeling abandoned by the whole world.


    He dialed Leon¡¯s number, and said, ¡°Leon, wanna go get a drink?¡±


    Leon just stared at his phone in bewilderment, not sure what Joshua was suddenly calling him for.


    ¡®We¡¯re not exactly close, man¡­¡® Leon thought to himself.


    Joshua must¡¯ve been keeping tabs on Leon¡¯s schedule, because he was hell¨Cbent on getting him out for a drink now that he knew Leon had nothing going on.


    Leon tried every excuse under the sun to dodge the invitation.


    Joshua said coolly, ¡°I¡¯ve got a way to make Mia the main star.¡±


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    Leon paused for two seconds, then gave in and said yes to Joshua¡¯s invitation for a drink. ¡®For Mia, I guess I have no choice,¡® he thought.


    The two of them headed straight for the bar.


    Since Leon was a bit of a celebrity, Joshua made sure to reserve a VIP room for them.


    When Leon arrived, Joshua was already nursing a drink.


    ¡°Got dumped by my sis?¡± Leon said with zero hesitation as he dropped into the seat across from Joshua.


    He didn¡¯t bother asking and just grabbed the bottle, pouring himself a drink like he owned the ce.


    Joshua gave him a sideways nce. ¡°You must be used to getting ditched, huh? Is that why you¡¯re so quick to assume I got tossed aside too?¡±


    Leon had half a mind to just lob his drink at Joshua¡¯s head right then and there.


    But thinking about that deal Joshua dangled over the phone, Leon gritted his teeth and somehow kept it together. ¡®Anything for Mia, I guess,¡¯ he sighed to himself.


    ¡°So, how are you nning to help Mia?¡± Leon cut right to the chase.


    ¡°Well, that really depends on what you¡¯re willing to do, Leon,¡± Joshua replied, a sly smile ying at his lips.


    Joshua curved his lips into a subtle smile, and Leon caught the sly, almost dangerous glimmer in his eyes¡ª something about it sent a chill right down his spine.


    Leon stared at Joshua, all nerves and suspicion. ¡®What kind of scheme is he cooking up again?¡® he thought.


    Leon narrowed his eyes and demanded, ¡°What exactly are you nning?¡±


    Joshua gave a short, crisp p, signaling for something to happen.


    The VIP room door flew open, and a bunch of gorgeous women, each with her own vibe, strolled right in.


    With a cheeky grin, Joshua gestured toward Leon. ¡°Ladies, this is none other than Leon Sadler¨Cthe superstar himself. Make sure he gets the royal treatment tonight.¡±


    As soon as Joshua finished speaking, Leon¡¯s face darkened.


    The women immediately swarmed around Leon, their eyes lighting up with excitement as they stared at him.


    ¡°Oh my god, it¡¯s really Leon! Can I get your autograph? Forget the photo¨Cdon¡¯t wanna get you in trouble,¡± one of them squealed, practically bouncing with excitement.


    ¡°Come on, Ruby, Leon picked us! What¡¯s there to worry about? Leon, we¡¯ll take great care of you,¡± another one chimed in, her voice dripping with flirtation.


    Before any of them couldy a finger on him, Leon shot up from his seat, his face a mask of ice.


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    His cold, piercing gaze swept across the room, and in an instant, the women froze, too scared to move any


    closer.


    Leon fixed Joshua with an icy stare, his eyes sharp and full of warning.


    ¡°Joshua, what the freak is this supposed to mean?¡± Leon barked, barely keeping his temper in check.


    ¡°Oh, nothing. Just thought you could use a proper break,¡± Joshua replied, totally unfazed.


    Joshua casually pocketed his phone and gave Leon a cocky, punch¨Cworthy smirk.


    Leon finally snapped. He swung a fist straight at Joshua, not holding back for a second.


    Joshua just sidestepped, letting the punch whiz right past him with ease.


    Seeing the chaos about to pop off, the women bolted for the door, not wanting to get caught in the middle of a bro showdown.


    ¡°Joshua, I¡¯m seriously gonna beat you to a pulp today! How dare you scheme against me? I¡¯ll make sure Xylia cuts you off for good¨Cshe¡¯ll never speak to you again!¡±


    Joshua kept sidestepping with an annoyingly calm look. ¡°If Xylia knew what I was doing, she¡¯d be so thankful she wouldn¡¯t even know how to repay me.¡±


    ¡°Please! With how quick you are at calling in girls, you must be a regr here. I¡¯m definitely telling Xylia what kind of sleazeball you really are. As long as I¡¯m around, forget ever marrying her!¡± Leon snarled, practically fuming.


    ¡°Getting married is between me and Xylia. You might be her long¨Clost brother and have your opinion, but you can¡¯t stop her from choosing what she wants,¡± Joshua shot back, calm and confident.


    Joshua lookedpletely sure he¡¯de out on top.


    Leon was even more pissed now.


    Joshua figured the timing was just right, so he rushed over to the door. Just as he got there, the door flew open with a bang.


    Joshua quickly sidestepped.


    Leon¡¯s fist, already in motion, couldn¡¯t stop in time and went straight for Mia, who was standing right in the doorway.


    Leon¡¯s eyes went wide as he tried to pull back, but it was toote.


    Mia, on the other hand, was super calm. She just stepped aside, and Leon¡¯s punch sailed right past her.


    But in a split second, Leon instinctively pulled Mia into his arms, holding her tight.


    Their momentum sent both of them crashing down, but Leon managed to twist his body mid¨Cfall, shielding Mia in his embrace. He took the brutal impact himself, mming his back onto the floor with a heavy thud.


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    :


    ¡°Ugh!¡± Leon let out a muffled groan as the pain coursed through him.


    Mia instantly hurried over and helped Leon to his feet<b>, </b>concern written all over her face.


    ¡°Did you get hurt? Are you alright?<b>¡± </b>she asked, her voiceced with worry.


    Leon just gazed at Mia in a daze, afraid that even a single word might send her running again.


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    Mia had been dodging him for ages, and all this time, he hadn¡¯t been able <i>to </i>even catch a glimpse of her.


    Now that she was finally right in front of him, he wasn¡¯t about to mess things up¨Che had to be extra careful not to scare her away.


    Joshua stuck his hands in his pockets, giving them both a chill, satisfied nce from above.


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave you two to it,¡± he said with a smirk.


    With that, he strode out of the room like a boss who¡¯s just wrapped up his business¨Cmission aplished.


    Leon finally realized¨CJoshua must¡¯ve been the one who got Mia toe over.


    Realization hit him and his face grew even darker.


    ¡°Why did Joshua tell you toe here? Did he threaten you or something? I¡¯m not letting him get away with this¨CI¡¯m gonna give him a piece of my mind!¡± Leon blurted out, about to chase after Joshua that instant.


    Leon was about to storm off after Joshua when Mia grabbed his arm, stopping him dead in his tracks.


    ¡°What¡¯s there to settle with him? I¡¯ve got some things to settle with you first!¡± Mia snapped, her voice sharp and full of fire.##226.Chapter 226 Cheer Her Up


    Joshua stepped out of the private room and slipped straight into another one.


    Xavi was already waiting inside; Howard was with him.


    Joshua didn¡¯t even bother to look at them when he came in. He just opened hisptop and pulled up the feed from Leon¡¯s room.


    On the screen, Mia had Leon by the arm.


    Leon turned to look at her.


    Mia said coolly, ¡°Leon, I didn¡¯t expect you to be so wild behind closed doors.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a question¨Cit was a statement.


    Leon felt his scalp prickling.


    Leon shot back without thinking, ¡°How was I being wild?¡±


    He felt so wronged, he almost jumped up in protest.


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    Mia just stared at him, her face expressionless. Those stunning eyes held no emotion, but somehow they made Leon feel like everything was crashing down¨Cchills crept down his spine.


    ¡°What were you doing in that room?¡± she asked.


    That¡¯s when Leon remembered¨Cback when all those girls were crowding around him, that jerk Joshua had actually been taking pictures with his phone.


    Leon caught on to Joshua¡¯s scheme almost instantly.


    Joshua must have known Mia was here, so he cooked up some excuse just to make sure she¡¯de up and see


    Leon.


    There was no doubt¨CJoshua had sent those photos straight to Mia, most likely with a little threat attached.


    Something like: if she didn¡¯t show up, he¡¯d leak the pictures and trash Leon¡¯s reputation for good.


    So chances are, Mia only came up here because she was worried about him.


    At that realization, a spark flickered in Leon¡¯s eyes.


    No time to be mad at Joshua now¨Che grabbed Mia¡¯s hand andunched into his exnation at lightning speed.


    ¡°Joshua totally set me up! He dragged me out for drinks, and as soon as I got here, he threw a bunch of girls at me. He¡¯s obviously trying to destroy me!¡±


    This was his cue to pin everything on Joshua without hesitation.


    ¡®ming Joshua? Best idea ever,¡® Leon thought to himself.


    Joshua froze mid¨Crecording.


    If Xylia saw this, there¡¯s no way he¡¯d ever clear his name.


    He narrowed his eyes, a frosty glint directed at Leon.


    ¡®Seriously? This is how you pay me back?¡® Joshua thought.


    Mia remembered that strange text, and instantly linked those threatening words to Joshua.


    She was pretty much convinced now.


    Leon pushed his luck, gripping Mia¡¯s hand like he was afraid she¡¯d run off the second he loosened his hold.


    ¡°Last time was my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have tried to control your decisions. Please, don¡¯t be mad at me, alright?¡± Leon pleaded, sounding a little desperate,


    That was one thing about Leon¨Cwhen it came time to swallow his pride, he never hesitated.


    Mia was the girl he¡¯d been secretly in love with for years, and now that he¡¯d finally managed to win her over,


    12:58 Mon, Sep <b>22 </b>M¡­


    Leon wasn¡¯t about to let this rare chance slip through his fingers.


    ¡°I¡¯m not mad,¡± Mia said softly.


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    Her brows drew together as she realized just how different Leon was from the distant, untouchable man she thought she knew from the spotlight.


    He was always so intentional¨Cnot only that, but he could be shameless when it mattered, and the way he clung to her with that out¨Cof¨Cnowhere possessiveness left her honestly baffled.


    For the longest time, Mia never really believed Leon actually liked her¨Cmuch less that he¡¯d decided no one else would ever do.


    But the way he acted around her made it painfully clear¡ªhe¡¯d fallen for her, and he wasn¡¯t trying to hide it at all.


    She nced at Leon, curiosity in her voice. ¡°Did we know each other before?¡±


    There was always this odd sense of familiarity every time she was with Leon.


    But if they¡¯d crossed paths before, how could she not remember?


    I mean, with a face like his, seriously¨Chow could she ever forget him?


    But instead of his usual quick reply, Leon gazed at her, eyes filled with undeniable affection and longing.


    He didn¡¯t say a word.


    Mia knew exactly what that look meant.


    ¡°My agent told me I¡¯m still set as the lead for Mr. Schumer¡¯s series, so you don¡¯t need to do anything,¡± Mia said, sounding rather nonchnt.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like you ever really needed my help anyway,¡± Leon mumbled under his breath,


    feeling totally pointless just hanging around¡ª¡®Ugh, I¡¯m literally no use at all,¡® he thought.


    Mr. Schumer¡¯s show switched the female lead back to Mia, probably because Tessa had just gotten hit with waves of bad press online thesest few days. Even with investors trying to force someone in, there¡¯s no way they¡¯d risk the show¡¯s future just to keep Tessa as the star.


    Honestly, it was very likely she wouldn¡¯t even make it into the cast at this point.


    Even though the news was something to celebrate, Leon couldn¡¯t help but feel bothered that Mia didn¡¯t really want his help.


    Mia was fiercely proud¨Cshe definitely didn¡¯t want to be the reason his career got held back.


    That¡¯s why, when it came tonding roles, she preferred Leon not get involved in her business.


    Leon mumbled under his breath, earning a teasing look from Mia. ¡°What was that you were muttering?¡± she


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    asked, eyebrow raised.


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    ¡°Nothing!¡± Leon grinned, trying to y it cool as he met her eyes. ¡°So, does this mean we¡¯re cool again?¡±


    Mia just tilted her head toward their hands, still firmly entwined, making her answer clear without a word.


    ¡°You tell me,¡± she said with a little smirk.


    ¡®Man, I¡¯m really happy right now,¡® Leon thought, unable to hide the grin on his face.


    All the gloom from thest few days seemed to just vanish in that instant.


    Joshua caught sight of the pair locking lips on the screen, then casually shut off the surveince feed.


    Grinning, he forwarded the second half of the recording straight to Xylia.


    Honestly, Joshua knew Xylia had been super busytely¨Ca bit of entertainment like this was just the thing to lift her spirits.


    Once Joshua wrapped things up, Howard finally spoke.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, you called me in here and then just zoned out staring at yourptop. Isn¡¯t that a bit off?¡± Howard said, his tone a little teasing.


    Joshua snapped hisptop shut, leaned backzily, and looked like he was in no rush to talk business¡ªjust chilling, not a hint of urgency on his face.


    ¡°Rx, Mr. Jennings. I just brought you here for a little chat, nothing serious,¡± Joshua said with azy flick of his hand.


    Howard wanted to protest, ¡°I¡¯m not nervous at all.¡± Still, he just couldn¡¯t figure out what Joshua was really up <ol><li>to. </li></ol>


    Over the years, the Jennings family and the Garcia family had worked together plenty of times¡ªyou could even say they were pretty tight. Howard had met Joshua, the sole heir to the Garcia Group, a few times before.


    Joshua carried a maturity way beyond his years. His business instincts were frighteningly shrewd¡ªhe could be ruthless when it counted, and his judgment was razor¨Csharp.


    Howard genuinely admired Joshua.


    Still, he couldn¡¯t figure out why Joshua had handed over most of thepany¡¯s real power to his father, all for a girl.


    To just set aside his own business empire like that¨Cyeah, that definitely wasn¡¯t the move of a shrewd


    businessman.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the topic, Mr. Garcia? If you¡¯ve got something to say, just say it,¡± Howard replied, keeping things open and direct.


    Joshua cut straight to the chase. He locked eyes with Howard and said, ¡°Ford Group wants to get a foothold in


    Norhill, so working with you is pretty much inevitable.


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    ¡°But honestly, I think the Garcia Group is the better match for this project you¡¯ve got on the table.¡±


    Howard could tell right away¨CJoshua definitely didn¡¯t want Connor staying in Norhill.


    ¡°Why are you targeting Mr. Ford?¡± Howard asked, ncing over with honest curiosity.


    He had no idea about Xylia¡¯s past with Connor, so the reason behind Joshua¡¯s hostility was a total mystery to


    him.


    From Howard¡¯s perspective, having one more friend in the business world was always better than collecting new enemies.


    Well¡­ except for the Sadlers, obviously.


    Joshua didn¡¯t waste time with exnations. He went straight for it: ¡°Honestly, the Garcia Group leaves Ford Group in the dust when ites to sheer strength.


    For the Jennings Group¡¯s resort project, we¡¯re obviously the better fit to partner up with¨Cnot Ford Group.¡±


    ¡®Well, obviously,¡® Howard thought, not even needing to say it out loud.


    ¡®If I could just partner up with Garcia Group, what¡¯s the point in jumping through all these hoops with Connor?¡® he mused.


    Seeing that Connor wasn¡¯t about to exin himself, Howard honestly had zero interest in hearing all the drama between Joshua and him.


    ¡°Thing is, I¡¯ve already given Mr. Ford my word about the partnership,¡± Howard said, sounding a bit resigned.


    ¡°Verbal promises mean nothing in business, Mr. Jennings. I mean, if a guy has to pull strings to win an official design contest, do you honestly think he¡¯s got the smarts to be your partner?¡±


    Howard paused for a moment, gaze lowered. Then he looked up at Joshua.


    ¡°Alright. You¡¯ve got a deal,¡± he said.

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    With the sudden surge in orders, the five¨Cperson studio was clearly overwhelmed.


    It was obvious that the team of five just couldn¡¯t handle that many orders anymore.


    Xylia and Josie quickly put the expansion n into action. Josie took charge of hiring new talent, while Xylia focused on finding arger workspace.


    Josie handled recruitment, while Xylia started searching for a bigger studio to move into.


    Joshua showed up just when they needed him most.


    Xylia wasted no time inmandeering him as her personal driver.


    ¡°My baby¡¯s really stepped up her game,¡± Joshua teased.


    Xylia was used to him calling her all sorts of mushy names and didn¡¯t bat an eye¨Cshe just wasn¡¯t sure what ¡®progress¡® he was talking about.


    ¡°She knows how to put her boyfriend to work now,¡± he added with a yful grin.


    Xylia just stared at him speechlessly.


    ¡®I¡¯ve had him drive me around plenty of times already,¡® she thought.


    Xylia just brushed him off with a couple of casual replies, then turned her attention to texting the realtor to check on the studio options.


    Joshua realized she was tied up, so he wisely kept his jokes to himself and let her focus.


    Following the address Xylia gave them, they arrived at an office building about three kilometers away.


    The ce was recently built, just within thest couple of years¨Cand the Garcia Group had actually invested


    in it.


    Xylia didn¡¯t know any of this, while Joshua simply nced at the building, keeping quiet, though he knew exactly what¡¯s up.


    The realtor brought Xylia up to the sixteenth floor, and the whole ce was totally vacant.


    While the realtor and Xylia were talking about renting only half the floor, Joshua finally chimed in.


    ¡°Just take the whole floor. Your studio¡¯s not gonna stay small¨Chaving the whole ce will be way more convenient for you,¡± he said.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but hesitate.


    This floor was at least ten times the size of her current studio. Even if they hired a bunch more people, there¡¯s no way they could use all that space right away.


    Renting the whole floor just seemed kinda excessive.


    Joshua pointed to the two offices next door.


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    ¡°These could work great as pattern¨Cmaking rooms. If you don¡¯t have a ton of people yet, each designer can have their own private space¨Cthey won¡¯t get in each other¡¯s way, and everyone can really get into the zone and do their best work,¡± he suggested.


    Xylia found Joshua¡¯s suggestions a little odd.


    He sounded reasonable enough, but honestly, it just wasn¡¯t necessary.


    ¡®You only need a quiet space when you¡¯re actually designing; pattern¨Cmaking¡¯s not that demanding,¡® she thought.


    She pulled Joshua aside and asked, ¡°Why are you so insistent I rent the entire floor?¡±


    Joshua lowered his voice and came clean. ¡°The Garcia Group helped fund this building. If you take the whole floor, the rent¡¯s discounted¨Cit¡¯s actually a steal.¡±


    Xylia caught on immediately and didn¡¯t hesitate¨Cshe went ahead and rented out the entire floor then and there.


    ¡®Who says no to a discount?¡® she thought.


    Plus, the ce had a great vibe and was close to where all the team lived¨Ccouldn¡¯t get more convenient than that.


    Just like that, the studio¡¯s new location was settled.


    Joshua had wanted to whisk Xylia away for a little fun, but with the mountain of studio work piling up, she couldn¡¯t swing it.


    She sweet¨Ctalked him for a moment to keep him happy, then slipped back to the studio to dive right back into work.


    Joshua sat alone in the car, feeling abandoned by the whole world.


    He dialed Leon¡¯s number, and said, ¡°Leon, wanna go get a drink?¡±


    Leon just stared at his phone in bewilderment, not sure what Joshua was suddenly calling him for.


    ¡®We¡¯re not exactly close, man¡­¡® Leon thought to himself.


    Joshua must¡¯ve been keeping tabs on Leon¡¯s schedule, because he was hell¨Cbent on getting him out for a drink now that he knew Leon had nothing going on.


    Leon tried every excuse under the sun to dodge the invitation.


    Joshua said coolly, ¡°I¡¯ve got a way to make Mia the main star.¡±


    <b></b>s


    Leon paused for two seconds, then gave in and said yes to Joshua¡¯s invitation for a drink. ¡®For Mia, I guess I have no choice,¡® he thought.


    The two of them headed straight for the bar.


    Since Leon was a bit of a celebrity, Joshua made sure to reserve a VIP room for them.


    When Leon arrived, Joshua was already nursing a drink.


    ¡°Got dumped by my sis?¡± Leon said with zero hesitation as he dropped into the seat across from Joshua.


    He didn¡¯t bother asking and just grabbed the bottle, pouring himself a drink like he owned the ce.


    Joshua gave him a sideways nce. ¡°You must be used to getting ditched, huh? Is that why you¡¯re so quick to assume I got tossed aside too?¡±


    Leon had half a mind to just lob his drink at Joshua¡¯s head right then and there.


    But thinking about that deal Joshua dangled over the phone, Leon gritted his teeth and somehow kept it together. ¡®Anything for Mia, I guess,¡¯ he sighed to himself.


    ¡°So, how are you nning to help Mia?¡± Leon cut right to the chase.


    ¡°Well, that really depends on what you¡¯re willing to do, Leon,¡± Joshua replied, a sly smile ying at his lips.

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    Joshua felt a chill run down his spine under Xylia¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked.


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    Xylia let out a soft scoff. ¡°I never thought someone would¡¯ve had this day all nned out ages ago. You sure have a lot of confidence in yourself, huh.¡±


    Joshua picked up on her teasing. He grinned and pulled her into his arms, rubbing his messy hair against her neck like a giant dog begging for attention.


    ¡°It¡¯s not about confidence. I¡¯m just that shameless¨Cyou were always going to be mine, sooner orter,¡± Joshua said.


    It all started the moment he learned Xylia was thinking of divorcing Connor.


    Since then, Joshua was like a lion lurking in the shadows; eyes locked on his prey, silently biding his time.


    It was like the old saying goes¨Chard work pays off in the end. After everything, he¡¯d finally brought Xylia into his world.


    Xylia turned to look at Joshua resting on her shoulder, taken aback. He spoke with that yful, almost puppy- like tone, yet his words were so direct and possessive. If this had been the old Xylia, she would¡¯ve been on high alert around him.


    But now, she wasn¡¯t afraid of Joshua at all.


    Because she knew, no matter what, he¡¯d never hurt her.


    Xylia nudged Joshua¡¯s head off her shoulder and said, ¡°Alright, you stink of booze. Is there any honey at home? I¡¯ll make you some honey water.¡±


    Joshua trailed after Xylia into the kitchen.


    Truth was, he did smell like alcohol¨Che¡¯d tossed back a few with Xavi earlier that afternoon, but he hadn¡¯t gotten drunk.


    He¡¯d crashed for a nap in Xylia¡¯s studio afterward, and by the time he woke up, any trace of tipsiness was long


    gone.


    The fridge was packed¨Cplenty of fresh fruits and veggies, all kinds of good stuff.


    Xylia looked over and asked, ¡°Have you been staying heretely?¡±


    Joshua shook his head.


    ¡°Just started today.¡±


    Xylia thought, ¡®So he stocked up on all this food? Was this just another one of his calcted moves?¡®


    13:0 Mon, Sep 22


    Joshua blinked at her with those wide, innocent eyes.


    Xylia realized it.


    ¡®So he¡¯s been scheming around me this whole time,¡® she thought.


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    ¡®Hell no, Xylia thought with a re of defiance. ¡°There¡¯s gotta be a way for me to turn the tables on Joshua.


    Joshua made dinner himself.


    When he realized Xylia hadn¡¯t had anything to eat, all that puppy¨Ceyed sweetness vanished in a sh¨Chis face went cold, and he gave her a straight¨Cup lecture, full of worry.


    Xylia just stared down at her toes, looking properly chastened.


    As Xylia started heading for the kitchen, Joshua smoothly pulled her away.


    ¡°Kitchen duties are a guy¡¯s territory. From now on, you¡¯re officially banned from stepping foot in there at home,¡± he teased.


    Xylia propped herself on the kitchen ind, grinning as she watched Joshua start his cooking routine.


    ¡°So, what if I want to be your helper?¡± Xylia asked.


    ¡°Nope. Not allowed in the kitchen, got it? Is that so hard to get?¡± Joshua shot back.


    ¡®Ha!¡® Xylia watched Joshua, amused. ¡®Look at him, acting all fierce now. Guess this puppy finally grew some


    teeth.¡®


    With the open kitchen, Xylia didn¡¯t have to step inside at all¨Cjust leaning on the ind gave her a clear view of Joshua¡¯s every move.


    He made her some tomato and egg noodles in no time, cracking eggs like a pro.


    Xylia noticed there was only one bowl of noodles and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating too?¡±


    Joshua grinned, ¡°Unlike someone around here, I actually had dinner earlier. So, I¡¯m not hungry.¡±


    <i>¡®</i>Okay, that was a bit of a dig, Xylia thought, but she kept her mouth shut.


    While Xylia ate her noodles, Joshua tidied up the kitchen and brought over a small te of fresh blueberries and melon just for her.


    Moving through the kitchen in his apron, Joshua seemed like he was made for this¨Ceffortlessly gentle, the kind of caring partner most people could only wish for.


    Golden light washed over them¨CJoshua bustling about, Xylia leaning over the ind with her noodles, the whole scene feeling cozy and close<b>. </b>


    Xylia¡¯s lively, gorgeous eyes never strayed from Joshua, their glow echoing a quiet happiness that filled the


    whole room.


    :.


    She wished time could freeze right here, letting this momentst forever.


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    And right then, Xylia had to admit¨Cher feelings for Joshua ran way deeper than she¡¯d ever dared to believe. It wasn¡¯t just a little crush; it was something that snuck up and took over her heart before she knew it.


    After Joshua finished cleaning up, he stood behind the kitchen ind, just watching Xylia enjoy her noodles.


    With both hands braced on the countertop, his eyes¨Csoft and sparkling,pletely focused on her¨CJoshua said with a yful smile, ¡°Come on, finish up. Soon it¡¯ll be my turn to feast¡­ on you.¡±


    Xylia wasn¡¯t about to make it obvious that she¡¯d gotten the hint.


    But honestly, her brain betrayed her¨CJoshua¡¯s brazenment totally threw her for a loop, and she ended up sucking a mouthful of noodles down the wrong pipe, coughing and spluttering.


    Joshua quickly poured her a ss of water,


    lookingpletely unbothered, as if he¡¯d said nothing out of the ordinary.


    ¡°Easy there. I¡¯m not fighting you for the noodles.¡±


    Joshua gently dabbed Xylia¡¯s lips with a napkin.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t even force herself to finish thest few noodles after that.


    She gave Joshua a long, wounded look, but he just blinked back at her, all innocent, as if he had no idea what kind of trouble he¡¯d just stirred up.


    Then, almost childlike, he obediently slid the fruit te toward her.


    ¡°Dessert fruit,¡± Joshua said softly.


    Xylia stabbed a blueberry with her fork and popped it into her mouth, trying to hide her annoyance.


    After dinner, Xylia paced around the living room in circles, trying to walk off her meal.


    Meanwhile, Joshua headed to the bathroom to take a shower.


    The bedroom door was left open, and the sound of the shower drifted out¨Cgentle, steady, the trickling water tickling Xylia¡¯s ears.


    She couldn¡¯t help but start daydreaming about Joshua¡¯s body.


    Sure, he looked slim on the surface, but Xylia knew better¨Che was packing some serious muscle underneath.


    She¡¯d even copped a little feel of his abs during their hugs before¨Cfirm, sculpted, and that touch was addictive.


    The more she thought about it, the warmer her face got, a blush creeping up as her imagination started running wild.


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    She knew exactly what was about to happen, and her heart raced with anticipation and a touch of shyness.


    But she wasn¡¯t going to shy away.


    Suddenly, rain started tapping against the window, gentle and steady. Xylia wandered over, almost without thinking, drawn by the sound.


    Looking down from the twentieth floor, she could see all of Norhill spread out below, the whole city blurred behind sheets of rain, soft and misty like a paintinge to life.


    That¡¯s Norhill for you¨Crain could just roll in out of nowhere, no hint or warning at all.


    As Xylia stood there, still lost in wonder, suddenly a pair of firm arms snaked around her waist out of nowhere, and Joshua rested his head on her left shoulder.


    He smelled clean, almost addictively so¨Cfresh from his shower, with steamy warmth and his own heat rolling off him in soft waves, hitting her face.


    Xylia felt her pulse race.


    ¡°You done walking off dinner yet?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice came out even deeper and raspier than usual, almost teasing


    her.


    Xylia was just about to nod when Joshua let out a soft, wicked chuckle behind her, his tone full of yful teasing. ¡°If dinner¡¯s not settled yet, I can always help you¡­ work it offter.¡±


    Xylia turned around¨Cand saw him standing there with nothing on but a towel slung low around his waist.


    ¡°Why are you just strutting out here with barely anything on?¡± Xylia teased.


    ¡°What¡¯s the point? It¡¯s alling off soon anyway,¡± Joshua shot back, totally unbothered.


    Talk about being shameless.


    Xylia quietly pulled the curtains shut and threw a wry little mutter over her shoulder. ¡°Such a show¨Coff,¡± she mumbled.


    After that, she picked up her clothes and slipped into the bathroom.


    No sooner had Xylia stepped out of the bathroom than Joshua scooped her right off her feet.


    She squeaked in surprise, instinctively throwing her arms around Joshua¡¯s neck.


    She didn¡¯t even get a word out before he sealed her lips with a fierce kiss.


    It was wild and scorching.


    Xylia could feel just how desperate he was¡ªand she responded in kind, tightening her arms around his neck and kissing him back with matching passion.


    Pieces of her newly donned clothing slipped away, falling one after another as their bodies pressed close.


    P:


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    A winding trail of tossed clothes marked their path from the bathroom door all the way to the side of the bed.


    The next day. Xylia woke up¨Cit was alreadyte morning.


    The sun was high up, no doubt about it.


    Thanks tost night¡¯s rain, Norhill looked so much fresher. The whole city seemed washed clean, like it had just gotten a breath of new life.


    Xylia rolled over in bed and let out a groan¨Cshe felt like she¡¯d just gotten ttened by a steamroller. Every muscle was sore and weak, her whole body totally spent.


    ¡°That beast Joshua, Xyliained to herself, ¡®it was like he¡¯d been saving it up for centuries and finally explodedst night.


    He started out acting all caring and sensitive, asking if I was alright and checking on me.


    But by the end, he just lost all restraint and went wildpletely ignoring how I felt.


    When Xylia woke up, Joshua¡¯s side of the bed was already empty.


    She sat up and saw that any trace ofst night¡¯s chaos had been cleared away; her clothes wereid neatly at the head of the bed, all ready for her.


    AD

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    Xylia lingered in bed for a while longer before finally getting up.


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    She figured Joshua would be at work by now, but to her surprise, as soon as she finished getting dressed and stepped out, she saw him working in the living room.


    Joshua looked up when Xylia walked out.


    He set hisptop aside and strolled over to her, his smile warm and confident, like a soft spring breeze.


    Joshua gently took her hand and pressed a kiss to her lips.


    ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± Joshua said with a teasing glint in his eyes, making it clear his words had more than one meaning.


    Xylia¡¯s ears turned pink. She tilted her head, trying to dodge his yful question. ¡°I¡¯m starving. Is there anything to eat?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I made breakfast ages ago, just waiting for you to wake up,¡± Joshua replied.


    Joshua had gotten up early to make a full breakfast for Xylia, keeping everything nice and warm until she woke up.


    Xylia was still feeling a bit worn out, but seeing how bright and refreshed Joshua looked made her feel a touch unfair about the whole thing.


    ¡®Howe guys always look so energized after this kind of thing anyway?¡® she grumbled inwardly.


    ¡®It¡¯s not like I wasn¡¯t working just as hard as he was,¡® Xylia continued toin to herself.


    Joshua had alreadyid out a proper meal¨Cthree dishes and a soup. Hedled a bowl of chicken soup and set it right in front of her.


    ¡°I already called your studio and told them you¡¯re taking the day off. No need to show up,¡± Joshua said, sounding smug.


    Xylia paused mid¨Cbite and looked up at him.


    ¡°You do realize I¡¯m the boss, right? I don¡¯t need permission to skip work.¡±


    Joshua cocked his head and grinned. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you at least tell your assistant?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have an assistant,¡± Xylia shot back.


    Joshua blinked and went, ¡°Oh.¡± He¡¯d always casually assumed Josie was Xylia¡¯s personal assistant.


    He was used to letting David know whenever he took a day off himself, so this time he¡¯d just gone ahead and notified Josie too¨Cdidn¡¯t even bother checking with Xylia first.


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    Xylia could almost see Josie¡¯s gossipy grin, no doubting up with a hundred crazy stories after getting that call from Joshua.


    Xylia just felt totally helpless¨Cthere was no way to stop Josie¡¯s imagination now.


    She nced up and saw Joshua settling in across from her,ptop in his arms, looking perfectly rxed.


    ¡°Did you already eat?¡± Xylia asked.


    Joshua nodded, a hint of a smile on his face. ¡°I have, but I¡¯ll keep youpany while you eat.¡±¡±


    Xylia asked Joshua to bring her phone over.


    At the dining table, Joshua worked on hisptop while Xylia ate and checked her phone.


    There were a few messages from her brothers, wondering why she wasn¡¯t home.


    She casually replied that she was at the studio, but before she could put her phone down, Leon¡¯s call popped <ol><li>up. </li></ol>


    ¡°I just swung by the studio, and they said you took the day off. Where¡¯d you disappear to?¡± Leon¡¯s voice came through, a bit anxious.


    Xylia nced at Joshua across the table. He looked totally rxed, eyes sparkling like he was waiting for her


    next move.


    ¡°Seriously, I¡¯m fine. Since when do you have so much free time to check up on me?¡± Xylia replied, skillfully sidestepping the question.


    She didn¡¯t give him a straight answer.


    Joshua tried not to look disappointed, but Xylia could see it written all over his face.


    Xylia threw him a nce, and Joshua just gave her a quick, reassuring smile.


    Leon was actually calling to share some exciting news: he and Mia were officially back together, and Xylia was the first person he wanted to tell.


    But since Xylia had changed the subject, he just went with it.


    Xylia listened to Leon talk, thinking to herself that she¡¯d already found out about this yesterday.


    Joshua had actually sent her the scoop ahead of time.


    But she didn¡¯t want to spoil Leon¡¯s good mood, so she acted surprised and congratted him like it was all


    news to her.


    Leon asked if she wanted to grab lunch, but Xylia turned him down¨Cshe remembered she still needed to stop by the studioter.


    Since Leon was busy that evening anyway, they¡¯d have to raincheck the meal.


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    While Xylia ate, Joshua finished up his work.


    These days, Aaron had been taking on most of the workload, leaving Joshua with a lot of free time.


    Eliza¡¯s only condition for letting Aaron take over thepany was that Joshua needed to lock things down with Xylia¨Cget married, have a wedding, and start a family, all in one go.


    But Joshua had his own ns. He was determined to skip the baby part.


    He told Eliza, ¡°I¡¯ve waited years for her. I¡¯m not ready to share her with some little kid just yet. No way!¡±


    Eliza was so mad she nearly chased him around the house with her slipper.


    But the truth was, Joshua didn¡¯t want Xylia to go through the pain of childbirth again. He¡¯d heard how rough it was when she had Sonny¨Cshe¡¯d almost died from blood loss. And after all that, Sonny had turned out to be such an ungrateful brat.


    Just thinking about Xylia suffering like that again made Joshua swear he¡¯d rather never have kids in this lifetime.


    But that wasn¡¯t his problem right now. First things first¡ªhe had to get their marriage license.


    And before that came the proposal.


    Before he popped the question, though, he needed to figure out how Xylia felt about it.


    If she wasn¡¯t ready, he wouldn¡¯t go all out with some big, over¨Cthe¨Ctop proposal that might put too much pressure on her.


    After finishing her meal, Xylia saw Joshua leaning on the table with one hand, head lowered, clearly lost in his own thoughts. Not wanting to disturb him, she picked up the empty dishes and got ready to clear the table.


    ¡°Leave it,¡± Joshua said, his voice calm but impossible to argue with.


    He stayed exactly where he was, those charming eyes of his flicking up ever so slightly, the wordsing out soft¨Cbut absolutely firm.


    Xylia paused mid¨Caction.


    She cast her gaze down, catching sight of her own hands holding the dishes.


    ¡°You cook, I do the dishes. Seems fair, right?¡± she said, keeping it casual.


    Joshua clicked his tongue. ¡°Tisk, didn¡¯t I say no kitchen for you? Selective hearing today?¡±


    He got up, strode over, and snatched the dishes from her hands. Then, almost absent¨Cmindedly, he reached over and ruffled her messy hair, all gentle and loving.


    Joshua bent down, those dark, luminous eyes fixed intently on Xylia¡¯s face.


    ¡°From now on, no more housework for you. Just sit back and be my princess.¡± His voice was gentle, yet you


    could hear he wasn¡¯t backing down.


    :


    Xylia could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, her heart pounding.


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    ¡®I never imagined someone would treat me this carefully,¡® she thought, a little dazzled by his tenderness.


    ¡®It¡¯s like I was made to be pampered like this,¡® Xylia mused, feeling the warmth spread through her chest.


    Xylia lifted her arms and wrapped them around Joshua¡¯s neck, her face burrowing into the crook of his shoulder, nestling up to him like a spoiled kitten.


    ¡°Joshua, why are you so good to me?¡± Xylia whispered, sounding both shy and genuinely moved.


    She felt her heart swelling¨Che really touched her.


    Joshua was loving every second of Xylia being clingy and sweet for once.


    He slid one arm around her waist, breathing in the light, natural scent of her skin, and honestly felt like he could just float away.


    ¡°I¡¯ll only ever treat you this way¡ªjust you,¡± Joshua whispered, his voice husky and intimate, like he was making a vow that belonged to her alone.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help it; her smile bloomed even bigger, pure happiness shining in her eyes.


    Noelle¡¯s bribery scandal had blown up across the entire industry¨Ceveryone was talking about how she¡¯d bribed the judges just to snatch that award.


    The international jewelry designpetition was a huge deal, and Joshua didn¡¯t pull any punches¨Che made the judges put up a public apology on their official page, and the trophy went straight back to the real winner.


    The whole jewelry scene exploded.


    Noelle was notorious now, totally disgraced in the field.


    She¡¯d been knocked down a peg at Garcia Group, and honestly, if she ever quit, nobody in the industry would touch her with a ten¨Cfoot pole.


    Her career was basically over.


    But what really stung was <b>that </b>she wasn¡¯t just getting roasted online¨Ceven at Garcia Group, she¡¯d dropped all the way to the bottom.


    Back when she was chief designer, everyone was lining up to tter her.


    Now that she was down and out, people just treated her coldly. She could literally hear them whispering about her in the bathrooms or cafeteria, not even trying to hide it.


    ¡°Never thought Noelle¡¯s big jewelry design genius¡® title was just smoke and mirrors. When she was chief


    13:01 Mon, Sep <b>22 </b>


    designer, she acted like she ruled the world¨Cguess it¡¯s karma she ended up like this.¡±


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    ¡°With a reputation like hers, she really should¡¯ve been fired. I don¡¯t know what Mr. Garcia was thinking¨Cjust a demotion, and she still gets to stay in the design department.¡±


    ¡°Well, what can you do? She¡¯s got connections. Rumor has it she¡¯s the Garcia family¡¯s adopted daughter.¡±


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    A sudden loud bang came from one corner of the cafeteria.


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    A few employees were crowded around a table; when they noticed everyone¡¯s surprised looks, they hurriedly waved them away.


    ¡°We¡¯re just talking here, nothing for you to worry about. Go ahead and eat,¡± one of them said.


    Some folks from the design team who couldn¡¯t stand Noelle were sitting together, gossiping.


    They all knew Noelle had connections, but nobody realized she was the adopted daughter of the Garcia family.


    ¡°I used to see Noelle hanging around Mr. Garcia¡¯s office every single day. Loads of people said she was trying to get his attention. Turns out she¡¯s the Garcia family¡¯s adopted daughter! Why would she even bother trying to seduce him if they¡¯re basically family? That¡¯s just messed up!¡±


    ¡°Well, it might not be like they¡¯re really family. I heard from someone in the secretary¡¯s office that when Mr. Garcia¡¯s girlfriend showed up before, Noelle actually got into an argument with her, and Mr. Garcia took his girlfriend¡¯s side.¡±


    ¡°Honestly, she knew he had a girlfriend and still tried getting close. That¡¯s just sad¨Cand kind of shameless, honestly.¡±


    ¡°Right? She used to use her chief designer title to meet with Mr. Garcia about projects, but he didn¡¯t even care to see her. Still, she kept trying to get close to him every chance she got. Now she¡¯s just another regr designer, plus the Executive Office is back in Aaron¡¯s hands. In the end, she¡¯se up empty.¡±


    Office chat always came back to rtionship gossip anyway.


    Noelle was already having a rough day when she came to the cafeteria for lunch. She ended up overhearing all the smack these people were talking behind her back.


    Fed up, she grabbed a steaming bowl of soup, marched straight over, and drenched the gossip crew with the whole thing.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    The


    soup was scalding hot, and the unlucky employees clutched their faces, howling in pain.


    ¡°Noelle, what the hell are you thinking?!¡± one of the soaked employees blurted out, voice rising in confusion and anger.


    The whole cafeteria erupted¨Cpeople scrambled to call an ambnce<b>, </b>some tried to pull Noelle away, and others just watched, stunned by the wild scene.


    ¡°You bunch of losers! Gossiping about me behind my back? I swear, I¡¯ll shut your mouths for good!¡± Noelle snapped at them, fire in her eyes.


    :


    Normally, Noelle would never have let her emotions get the better of her in a ce like this.


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    But after feeling down for days, then overhearing people saying Joshua didn¡¯t care about her, her anger boiled over¨Cshe snapped, unable to hold herself back any longer, and stormed over to set them straight.


    ¡°What, did we lie about anything? Back when you were chief designer, you always acted all high and mighty, looking down on us. Whenever you threw a tantrum, you found any excuse to yell at us. And everyone knows the only reason you won that award was because you bribed the judges! You tried to get Mr. Garcia¡¯s attention, but he never even looked your way. Now you¡¯re in a bad mood, so youe after us? Listen up¨Cif my face gets ruined because of you, trust me, I¡¯ming after you!¡± one of the employees yelled, her voice shaking with rage.


    ¡°Go ahead, sue me if you¡¯ve got the guts!¡± Noelle snapped right back, defiant as ever.


    Things quickly blew up into a full¨Con shouting match.


    The cafeteria was in total chaos, and as soon as Aaron got wind of it, he had his assistant rush the injured staff to the hospital, then had Noelle called into his office.


    Noelle, who¡¯d just been fierce and unstoppable a few minutes ago, found all that bravado instantly wiped away when she faced Aaron.


    With Joshua, she could risk a few soft words even when he had his icy look on¨Cthrow out a little sister act, and most of the time, he¡¯d just let her off the hook.


    But with Aaron, it was a whole different ballgame.


    He had that kind of quiet authority, built over years, that filled the room even when he was just sitting there. Just one calm look from him could send a chill right down your spine.


    Right now, Noelle felt an uneasy dread starting to creep up inside her.


    ¡°Noelle, rx. Take a seat,¡± Aaron said, his voice calm but firm.


    Noelle sat down on the couch, her hands shaking. She was about to apologize when Aaron spoke first.


    ¡°Do you hate Joshua?¡± he asked, his tone steady.


    ¡°What?¡± Noelle blinked, caught off guard.


    She¡¯d been bracing herself for a lecture, not this out¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cblue question.


    After a moment, she shook her head quickly.


    Noelle shook her head earnestly, her voice a little anxious. ¡°Of course not! How could I possibly hate Joshua?¡±


    ¡°Then you must hate Xylia,¡± Aaron said, his gaze unwavering.


    Noelle clenched her fists on her knees. The moment Aaron mentioned Xylia¡¯s name, a sh of pure hatred shot through her eyes.


    :


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Xylia, Joshua never would have treated her so harshly.


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    Now she couldn¡¯t even show her face in the industry, her whole life was a mess, and Joshua pretty much despised her. She med every bit of it on Xylia.


    I mean, how was she supposed not to hate her?


    ¡®No, I don¡¯t,¡¯ Noelle replied, her voice soft and obedient in front of Aaron, even though deep down she was anything but calm.


    Aaron was silent for a long time, simply staring at her with that unreadable look. Finally, his voice was as chilly and measured as ever: ¡°Go to HR and process your resignation.¡±


    Noelle¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.


    ¡°Uncle Aaron, why?¡± she asked, her voice trembling.


    Aaron¡¯s tone was ice¨Ccold. ¡°You haven¡¯t done your job welltely, and your temper¡¯s been out of control. The ones you sshed will getpensated, but their sries are getting cut too. It¡¯s not just you taking the hit.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Noelle¡¯s voice trembled, all her calm gone.


    Those people talking smack about her were only getting a pay cut, but she was the one getting fired from Garcia Group.


    ¡®How is that even fair?¡® Noelle thought furiously, her mind spinning.


    Aaron¡¯s tone was icy and resolute. ¡°Noelle, no matter how you feel, the Garcia family will always provide for you. Mrs. Garcia likes you, she feels responsible for you. I¡¯ve ignored a lot of your past behavior, but threatening my son and his fianc¨¦e is where I draw the line. Even if that makes me seem heartless, I won¡¯t let anyone hurt my family. Do you understand?¡±


    Noelle felt a cold shiver crawl down her spine under Aaron¡¯s unblinking gaze.


    ¡®So even the favor my brother did for Joshua means nothing now?¡® she thought angrily.


    She let out a scornfulugh. ¡°My brother was an absolute fool for dragging Joshua off that damn battlefield!¡±


    That was all she dared to say before storming out of the office.


    After Noelle stormed out, David slipped into the office.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, about Ms. Coffey-¡± David began hesitantly.


    Aaron just replied coolly, ¡°No need to mention this to Joshua.¡±


    David bobbed his head quickly, making it clear he understood.


    Working under Joshua made him a little nervous, butpared to Aaron¡¯s unreadable poker <b>face</b>, it was honestly a lot more stressful.


    And honestly, Aaron was way more intimidating than Joshua ever was.


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    Noelle had just exited the building when she ran right into Tessa.


    She barely knew Tessa¨Cthey¡¯d only exchanged a few words before¨Cand with her mood at an all¨Ctime low, she nned to sidestep her and leave without another word.


    But Tessa blocked her way.


    ¡°Ms. Coffey, can I have a word?¡± Tessa said, stepping in front of her.


    ¡°No time,¡± Noelle replied coldly, not even sparing her a nce.


    Noelle couldn¡¯t be bothered to deal with Tessa¨Cnot even sparing her a nce.


    But Tessa wasn¡¯t letting up. ¡°What if it¡¯s about Xylia?¡± she pressed, her voice low and urgent.


    Noelle stopped in her tracks and turned to look at her.


    Tessa, thinking she¡¯d finally gotten Noelle¡¯s attention, moved in a little closer and kept pushing.


    ¡°I won¡¯t lie, Xylia totally messed me uptely¨Cbecause of her, I lost a really important part. You know how it goes: the enemy of my enemy is my friend. So, Ms. Coffey, what do you say we team up and give Xylia a taste of her own medicine?¡±


    ¡°Xylia.¡± Noelle practically spat out the name, barely hiding the annoyance in her voice. When she nced at Tessa again, she thought to herself, ¡®Is this girl for real? What an idiot!


    Noelle scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t heard¨Cshe goes by Xylia now. Seriously, you didn¡¯t know?¡±


    Tessa just brushed it off, totally unfazed. She¡¯d figured out Xylia switched herst name during that design contest a while back¨Cprobably just another ploy to run away from her past life over in Jupiton.


    Honestly, that¡¯s ssic Xylia¨Calways doing something totally useless, like it¡¯s her signature move.


    ¡°Of course I know,¡± Tessa scoffed. ¡°But what does that change? I still want to take her down.¡±


    Noelle couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes; honestly, Tessa was such an idiot, running around like a clown,


    She leaned in close, her voice dropping to something cold and devilish. ¡°The Sadler family of Norhill¡­ You really think you can mess with her without getting tangled up with the family?¡±

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    Noelle turned and walked away.


    Tessa was left standing there, flustered and awkward in the breeze.


    Not even the sunlight zing high overhead could warm the chill creeping down her spine.


    ¡®Xylia Schultz, Xylia¡­ Tessa¡¯s mind spun in disbelief. ¡®So she¡¯s actually from the Sadler family?¡®


    ¡®I can¡¯t believe it¡­ She really is one of the Sadlers!¡®


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    ¡®I remember hearing ages ago that the Sadler family lost a child¨Ca girl. They searched everywhere for her, but she was never found!¡®


    ¡°That missing kid¡­ was a girl.¡¯


    ¡®And if I do the math, her age should match Xylia¡¯s almost exactly.¡®


    ¡®Wait, does this mean Xylia Schultz is actually the Sadlers¡® long¨Clost daughter?¡® Tessa felt her heart skip a beat.


    ¡®No! No way!¡® Tessa¡¯s thoughts raced, panic rising in her chest. ¡®This can¡¯t be real!¡®


    ¡®I refuse to believe it.¡® she told herself stubbornly.


    ¡®There¡¯s no way that bitch Xylia could ever be one of them!¡® Tessa seethed internally.


    Tessa stumbled back into the vi, feelingpletely out of it.


    Connor wasn¡¯t home, and instead Sonny was curled up on the couch, snacking and watching TV¨Cbut it was clear he wasn¡¯t enjoying himself at all.


    What a pity. Usually, Sonny¡¯s delicate little face and sparkling eyes were full ofughter, but today, there wasn¡¯t a trace of a smile in them.


    When Sonny saw Tessa walk in, he nced up briefly but then quickly looked away.


    Tessa red at Sonny, her anger bubbling up as she caught the uncanny resemnce between his features and Xylia¡¯s. ¡®Even your face pisses me off,¡® she fumed to herself.


    Her anger red up, and she stormed over, snatching the snacks out of his hands and throwing them to the floor.


    ¡°Why are you stuffing your face? Everything you eat, wear, and y with is paid for by my husband. If you¡¯ve got what it takes, why don¡¯t you go call your precious mom toe and take you away?¡±


    Sonny shrank back, startled by Tessa¡¯s sudden meltdown. His fear was in as day.


    He was just a kid, and already his eyes were misting over, tears threatening to spill out.


    :.


    Seeing Sonny all pitiful and teary only made Tessa¡¯s rage re hotter.


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    Tessa spat, ¡°Why the hell are you crying? Just like your loser mom¨Ctotally useless! Completely worthless!¡±


    Sick of the whole scene, Tessa started flinging every snack from the table straight at Sonny.


    Sonny winced from the pain and burst into tears, sobbing loudly.


    ¡°You¡¯re so mean!¡± he cried, voice shaking. ¡°You¡¯re not even married to my dad! You have no right to use his money¨Cyou¡¯re the one who should get out of here!¡±


    The housemaids, busy with their chores, heard the ruckus and rushed over to shield Sonny.


    Someone quickly called Connor to let him know what was happening.


    After the maids rushed over and restrained her, Tessa finally snapped out of it and realized what she¡¯d just done.


    Her face went ghostly pale as she looked at Sonny.


    ¡°Sonny, I¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± she stammered, her voice trembling. ¡°Mom didn¡¯t mean it, Mom just¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not my mom!¡± Sonny yelled, choking up as he cried. ¡°You¡¯re just a bad woman! You don¡¯t deserve to be my mom!¡±


    His sobs only grew louder, his whole little body shaking.


    There was a small scratch on his cheek from where the chip bag had hit him, and a thin line of blood had started <i>to </i>seep out.


    ¡°Sonny, let me take care of that scratch for you,¡± one of the maids offered softly.


    When Tessa tried to help too, Sonny angrily snapped at her, ¡°Stay away! I don¡¯t need your help!¡±


    Tessa held herself back and stepped aside, forcing herself to calm down.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Connor <i>to </i>get back home.


    He spotted the fresh scratch on Sonny¡¯s face, and his expression immediately turned dark.


    As soon as Sonny saw Connor, he rushed over and hugged his dad¡¯s leg tight.


    ¡°Dad, Ms. Schultz tried to hit me!¡± Sonny sobbed, voice shaky. ¡°She yelled at me and said awful things about Mom! Please, make her leave! Don¡¯t marry her. I don¡¯t want her to be my mom anymore!¡±


    Hearing that, Tessa¡¯s fists tightened with rage. She was itching to drag Sonny over and give him a real beating.


    ¡®I knew it¨Che¡¯s just someone else¡¯s brat. No matter how much you try, he¡¯ll never be grateful. Total ungrateful little wolf!¡® Tessa fumed inwardly.


    Connor crouched down and scooped Sonny up into his arms, his face darkening even more when he saw the


    scratch.


    Then he turned to re at Tessa, his gaze icy.


    :


    Tessa¡¯s heart skipped a beat and she stood rooted to the spot, fear gripping her.


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    She¡¯d finallynded the lead in Mr. Schumer¡¯s new show, but thanks to all the recent drama and bad press, she got booted not just from the lead role¨Cthe production team didn¡¯t even want her in the cast anymore.


    She¡¯d nned to use that one chance to break into the spotlight, but before she could even taste fame, everything went up in smoke.


    Now, Connor was all she had left. She had to cling onto him for dear life.


    ¡°Connor, I¡­ it really wasn¡¯t on purpose,¡± Tessa pleaded, trying to sound pitiful. ¡°Sonny was acting up again. As soon as I walked in, he started shouting at me, and I¨Cwell, the snacks just slipped out of my hand. I didn¡¯t mean for them to hit him.¡±


    Sonny was Connor¡¯s only kid. Tessa knew she absolutely couldn¡¯t afford to be on his bad side now.


    Sonny¡¯s face flushed with rage as he listened to Tessa¡¯s excuses.


    ¡°Liar! I didn¡¯t even talk to you! You barged in, called my mom a loser, told me to go find her, said I don¡¯t even deserve Dad¡¯s money¨Cyou¡¯re nothing but a wicked woman!¡±


    ¡°No, Connor, don¡¯t listen to him,¡± Tessa said quickly, trying to sound collected. ¡°He¡¯s just a kid¨Cyou know how children make stuff up.¡±


    But the maids couldn¡¯t stand to see Sonny med for nothing and came forward to defend him.


    ¡°Mr. Ford, we saw it ourselves,¡± one of the maids said, clearly. ¡°Ms. Schultz came in while Sonny was just watching TV¨Cshe was the one yelling from the start.¡±


    Tessa¡¯s eyes narrowed in irritation as soon as she heard the maids speak up for Sonny.


    She spun around and fixed them with a deadly re.


    ¡°Do you believe I won¡¯t fire every single one of you on the spot?¡± she snapped.


    ¡°Tessa.¡± Connor¡¯s voice was cold and clipped, every sybleced with menace.


    Just hearing him call her name made Tessa¡¯s heart drop. ¡°That¡¯s it. I¡¯m screwed,¡® she thought, dread flooding


    her mind.


    His gaze was frigid, eyes devoid of any warmth¨Cso cold it was almost scary.


    ¡°Sonny is my son,¡± Connor continued, voice like steel. ¡°Just where do you think you can send him?¡±


    Tessa trembled uncontrobly under Connor¡¯s icy stare, fear gripping every nerve in her body.


    ¡°Connor, I¡­ <b>I </b>swear I wasn¡¯t trying to send Sonny away,¡± she pleaded, desperate and barely able to get the


    13:02 Mon, Sep <b>22 </b>


    words out. ¡°I just¡­ I just¡­¡±


    :.


    She was at a total loss for words; nothing she could say would justify her actions.


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    ¡®Connor¡¯s all I¡¯ve got. If I lose him now, I¡¯ve got nothing left, she thought, panic gnawing at her heart.


    Tears streamed down her cheeks as she stepped up to Connor, reaching for his hand with trembling fingers- only for Connor to turn aside coldly, dodging her touch without hesitation.


    Tessa looked visibly shaken, her face crumpling in lost fear and despair.


    ¡°Connor, I was just¡­ in a terrible mood,¡± she pleaded, voice cracking. ¡°I know I was wrong, I really messed up. Honest, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    She nced over at Sonny, forcing a weak smile. ¡°Sonny, it was all my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have dragged my own mess home. No¨Cforget that, I am your mother now. Can you give me another chance? I swear I¡¯ll love you properly from now on, okay?¡±


    Sonny shot her a look full of pure disgust, wrapped his arms tight around Connor¡¯s neck, and turned his head away¨Clike he couldn¡¯t stand to even nce at her.


    He made it painfully clear¨Cshe was nothing to him now, and he never wanted to deal with her again.


    Tessa¡¯s face went ghostly pale, feeling as though her whole world hade crashing down at once.


    After checking Sonny¡¯s scratch and making sure it wasn¡¯t serious, Connor finally signaled for the maids to bring him upstairs to rest.


    ¡°No! Dad, don¡¯t talk to her¨Cdon¡¯t marry her! If she bes my mom, she¡¯ll hurt me for sure!¡± Sonny sobbed, wrapping his arms tight around Connor¡¯s leg.


    Connor reached out and gently ruffled Sonny¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Be good. Go upstairs and rest.¡±


    Sonny was his only kid, after all. Whenever Sonny griped about Tessa before, Connor just figured he was being dramatic¨Cchalked it up to childishints.


    But now that Sonny was actually hurt, there was no way Connor could just stand by and let it happen. No way he¡¯d let his son get messed with like that.


    Once the maids had taken Sonny away, Connor finally turned his attention back to Tessa.


    ¡°So you were just pretending to care about Sonny all this time. Was it all just an act?¡± Connor said, his voice icy and full of disappointment.


    Tessa was stunned, totally thrown off. She rushed forward and grabbed Connor¡¯s hand, blurting out her <b>excuses </b>in a panic.


    ¡°No, I swear, it¡¯s not like that!¡± she pleaded anxiously. ¡°Sonny¡¯s so adorable, of course I care about him¨CI mean, how could I not? I was just really out of sorts today, that¡¯s all, I¡­


    Connor pulled his hand free from her grip, his expression growing even colder.


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    ¡°Now I finally get it,¡± he snapped, voice icy. ¡°All this time, you¡¯ve been putting on an act, ying me and Sonny for fools. This is the real you, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Tessa felt a cold emptiness spread through her¨Cher heart turned to ice.


    Connor¡¯s voice was icy and resolute, his tone leaving no room for doubt¨Che was cutting her off, once and for


    all.


    Her jaw clenched as she made up her mind¨Cno more holding back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend with me, Connor,¡± she spat, voice raw and furious. ¡°You¡¯re just looking for a chance to dump me, aren¡¯t you? So you cantch onto Xylia and ride the Sadler family¡¯s coattails to power!¡±


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 Tricked 230

    Chapter <b>230 </b>


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    Connor suspected Tessa was about to start talking about Xylia and the Sadler brothers again. He frowned and ignored her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a ce somewhere else. From now on, you don¡¯t need to stay here anymore,¡± he said.


    At first, Connor thought Tessa really liked Sonny, and Sonny was quite fond of her too.


    But at some point, a wedge came between them. The two¨Cone grown¨Cup, one still a kid¨Cjust couldn¡¯t get along anymore, like oil and water.


    She had even started openly hitting Sonny right in front of him.


    Connor couldn¡¯t bear to imagine how Sonny might¡¯ve been bullied by Tessa when no one else was around.


    Tessa nervously bit her lip, hiding her unease as she nced up at Connor.


    ¡°You want me out of here¨Cis that it? What, are you nning not to marry me next?¡± Tessa¡¯s voice trembled, unable to mask her hurt.


    Connor looked at Tessa like he¡¯d just heard a joke. He walked right up to her, his lips curled in a half¨Csmile, eyes glinting with a teasing amusement.


    ¡°You want to get married?¡± Connor asked, his tone half¨Cjoking, half¨Cserious.


    ¨C


    Tessa was just about to blurt out, ¡®Of course I do what girl wouldn¡¯t want that?¡®


    But Connor cut her off. ¡°You didn¡¯tnd the lead in Mr. Schumer¡¯s film, sure, but if you¡¯re serious about making it in showbiz, that¡¯s hardly your only chance. Once the rumors online finally blow over, you¡¯ll still be in the running for major roles with top directors. So tell me, are you absolutely sure this marriage is what you want?¡±


    Tessa fell silent.


    ¡®If I really want to break into showbiz, marriage is just going to drag me down, Tessa thought to herself.


    ¡®I can give up on marriage, but I absolutely can¡¯t afford to lose Connor¨Che¡¯s the only lifeline I¡¯ve got left.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure!¡± Tessa replied, her tone unwavering.


    ¡®Worst <b>case</b><b>, </b>I¡¯ll just say yes now and stall himter, Tessa thought slyly. That was a move she¡¯d picked up straight from Connor himself.


    A flicker of disgust crossed Connor¡¯s face.


    He used to admire Tessa¨Cher fierce independence, that unshakable self¨Cassurance<b>, </b>the way she lit up every stage she stood on, bold and vibrant.


    But now<i>, </i>it hit him¨Cshe¡¯d been putting on a show all along.


    And on top of that, she¡¯d hurt Xylia behind his back.


    Now, she was hurting his son.


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    As Connor remembered those years when Xylia needed him the most, all he did was stand by Tessa without a second thought¨Cand ended up hurting Xylia.


    Just thinking about it now made his chest feel like it was walled off, suffocating and aching, eating him up


    inside.


    He didn¡¯t respond to Tessa¡¯s words. Instead, he simply said, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone help you move your things.¡±


    With that, he turned and headed upstairs.


    Tessa was frozen to the spot, thunderstruck, like the sky hade crashing down on her.


    It was time for Xylia¡¯s post¨Cop checkup.


    Joshua hade along with Xylia to the hospital.


    Joshua had been pretty freetely.


    Now that he¡¯d been reaping the benefits around Xylia, any work Aaron tossed his way, he just dumped on David¨Cno fuss<b>. </b>


    He devoted all his attention to hanging out with Xylia, and was subtly probing to see how she felt about the idea of marrying him.


    Whether she¡¯d actually be willing to tie the knot.


    Once Xylia was done with all her checkups, she nced over and saw Joshua just spacing out nearby. She thought, ¡®Looks like he¡¯s bored out of his mind.¡¯


    So Xylia walked over, smiled, and said, ¡°Aaron asked me to drop by his ce real quick. Give me a sec¨Conce I¡¯m done, lunch is on me.¡±


    Joshua looked at Xylia¨Cher cheeks were glowing, hershes curled sweetly, and in those clear, ssy eyes, he was the only one she saw.


    ¡®Man, she¡¯s just <i>too </i>adorable,¡® Joshua couldn¡¯t help but think, feeling his heart turn to mush.


    Heced his fingers through hers, matching her every step as they walked side by side toward Cyrus¡¯s office.


    ¡°No worries, you go talk to Cyrus as long as you need¨CI¡¯m not in any rush,¡± Joshua said, shing her a reassuring smile.


    On the way, Xylia leaned in and spoke to him in a low, gentle voice, sharing little things just between the two


    of them.


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    Joshua thought to himself, ¡®Damn, she might actually be into me way more than I ever realized.


    With that revtion, Joshua felt as if his feet barely touched the ground¨Che was practically floating.


    When they got to Cyrus¡¯s office, Joshua stayed outside so Cyrus and Xylia could have their private talk.


    Cyrus stopped Joshua at the door, saying he needed some one¨Con¨Cone time with his sister.


    Joshua wasn¡¯t bothered at all. He just found a seat in the hallway, sat down, and casually started scrolling through his phone.


    He started typing in questions: [How can I tell if my girlfriend wants to marry me?]


    [When¡¯s the best time to pop the question?]


    [How do I test if she¡¯s actually open to marrying me?]


    [¡­¡­]


    Advice wasing in from all corners of the inte¨Ceveryone had their own take on what <i>to </i>do.


    One dude shared: [I tried proposing to my girlfriend three times, got turned down every time. It wasn¡¯t until I kinda cornered her when we were in bed that she finally agreed.]


    Joshua thought to himself, ¡®Isn¡¯t that pretty much just forcing someone to get married?¡®


    A flicker of disgust crossed Joshua¡¯s face, and he quickly swiped past thatment.


    Another guy shared: [When I was with my girlfriend, she always insisted on just dating, never marriage. But eventually, she stopped mentioning it, so I picked ament online where someone shared her view and showed it to her, saying, ¡°Hey, here¡¯s someone who thinks like you.¡± She immediately shot back that marriage actually has its perks. That¡¯s when I knew it was time to pop the question.]


    Joshua thought, ¡®Now that¡¯s actually some solid advice.


    He kept scrolling.


    Another post caught his eye: [My girlfriend¡¯s divorced. Her ex¨Chusband treated her badly, so she¡¯s pretty much scarred when ites to marriage¡­]


    Joshua¡¯s eyes lit up¨Cthis one hit a little too close to home. He leaned in, reading it even more carefully.


    The guy kept going: [I treated her so well while we were together. She slowly started to pull herself out of the shadow from her previous marriage and began to depend on me more. She was the first one to mention marriage¨Cshe¡¯d been through it all before and handled everything. After we tied the knot, she basically took care of my whole family and neverined, not even once. But then I met my so¨Ccalled ¡°true love,¡± and without a second thought, I divorced her.]


    By the end of the post, Joshua¡¯s expression looked like it was carved from ice¨Ccold and hard.


    ¡®Seriously? What a scumbag. First he cheats, then he throws the word ¡°true love¡± around like he¡¯s some victim?


    Trash like that makes my blood boil, Joshua snapped inside.


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    ¡®Why can¡¯t lowlifes like him just drop dead?¡® Joshua thought harshly, disgust written all over his face.


    Joshua found the user¡¯s ID, sent it over to David, and added a straightforward message.


    ¡°Look into whoever owns this ID,¡± Joshua instructed.


    David shot back a quick ¡°OK.¡±


    Joshua kept scrolling through the site, but everything he found was just random junk¨Cnothing that actually helped.


    No solid answers, just a bunch of brain¨Cdead hot takes that made him even more annoyed.


    With a huff, Joshua shoved his phone away. ¡®Relying on others? Useless. I¡¯ll just figure this out myself, he thought.


    The door to the exam room was still shut. Joshua¡¯s phone buzzed, and he stepped away to a quieter spot to take the call.


    Inside the exam room, Cyrus was looking over Xylia¡¯s test results, nodding as he read.


    ¡°You¡¯re recovering great,¡± Cyrus said, a smile on his face. ¡°These old injuries of yours? Even if it rains or gets cold now, you won¡¯t be hurting at all. Painting and stuff is totally fine for you, but dancing is still out of the question.¡±


    It had been ages since anyone had said the word ¡°dance¡± to her. For a split second, Xylia¡¯s mind drifted, a little lost in old memories.


    ¡®It really has been a long time,¡® Xylia thought, feeling a bit dazed.


    She


    gave a small smile. ¡°Honestly, I knew after my injury that I¡¯d never be dancing again. But it¡¯s alright¨CI haven¡¯t danced in a really long time anyway.¡±


    Xylia was born to dance, but after she married Connor, she barely danced at all


    anymore.


    Before she got sent to prisonst year, her dance teacher had really hoped she¡¯dpete for principal dancer.


    She¡¯d wanted to do it¨Cif only because her teacher had asked and she owed that much.


    Just because her teacher personally came to her for help.


    But once Tessa and Connor caught wind of it, they schemed behind her back and set her up, leaving wounds that would haunt her for the rest of her life.


    Thinking about it, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but want to visit her old teacher.


    She¡¯d heard there¡¯s a touring show in Norhilling up, and apparently her teacher is leading the troupe.


    After Xylia returned, the four Sadler brothers started investigating everything that had happened to her back


    in Jupiton.


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    Even though they didn¡¯t learn the whole story, Cyrus had a pretty good idea who was responsible for all the pain Nylia ended up with.


    A hard edge shed across his usually cool face, but it disappeared almost instantly.


    Cyrus changed the subject. ¡°You haven¡¯t been home these days. Where¡¯ve you been sneaking off to?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡®Uh¨Coh,¡® she thought.


    So this is what Cyrus was really after¨Che¡¯s here to confront me, Xylia realized.

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    Nylia kept her head down, fidgeting awkwardly for ages before finally blurting out, ¡°I was with Joshua¡±


    ¡°With Joshua,¡± Alia mumbled, barely meeting Cyrus¡¯s eyes.


    Honestly, it wasn¡¯t even a big deal¨Cteen couples hang out all the time, Nylia told herself, trying to act casual.


    But why do I feel so guilty under Cyrus¡¯s stare?


    It¡¯s like I¡¯m sneaking out with my boyfriend and hiding it from my parents, getting a hotel together or something¡­


    Nylia was caught between guilt and a guilty thrill, sneaking around like she was breaking the rules.


    Cyrus knew immediately¨Cthat¡¯s just how it was.


    He¡¯d been swamped with work at the hospitaltely, handling several major surgeries and feelingpletely drained. He hadn¡¯t had much time to keep an eye on Xylia,


    She¡¯d been busy with her studio too, so it wasn¡¯t unusual for her to stay out for a couple of days.


    But usually, she¡¯d text them early the next morning when she didn¡¯te home.


    But that day, they waited anxiously until almost afternoon before Nylia finally replied.


    Lately, Aaron had been buried in Garcia Group business, so Joshua had time on his hands¨Che was practically living at Xylia¡¯s studio.


    Cyrus could tell how Joshua had dragged his sister off without even thinking twice about it.


    He was a little annoyed, but facing Xylia, he just couldn¡¯t bring himself to actually get angry.


    ¡°Have you ever thought about tying the knot with Joshua?¡± Cyrus asked, his gaze gentle but probing


    Xylia blinked, a little stunned at his question.


    She and Joshua hadn¡¯t been dating for long, so marriage honestly hadn¡¯t crossed her mind yet.


    She wanted to focus on building up her studio first, and worry about that kind of stuffter.


    ¡°Right now, I¡¯m just trying to make my studio a sess. Getting hitched isn¡¯t even on my mind,¡± Nylia replied, straightforward.


    Cyrus let out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°That¡¯s good, he thought. ¡®I don¡¯t want my little sister rushing into marriage right after we¡¯ve finally found


    each other.¡®


    ¡®It¡¯s <b>way </b>too soon for that!


    13.03 Mon, Sep 22


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    Even though he wasn¡¯t all that happy about Joshua as a brother¨Cinw, he couldn¡¯t deny the change in Xylia¨C ever since she started dating Joshua, she¡¯d be visibly brighter, her cheeks rosier, her whole vibe just overflowing with happiness.


    Just for that, Joshua had absolutely earned the right to stay by her side.


    After chatting with Cyrus, Xylia stepped out of the consultation room.


    Joshua was nowhere to be seen by the door.


    She was about to call and ask where he was, but then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted him all the way down the hallway, busy on his phone.


    She couldn¡¯t help but smile as she headed his way.


    As she got close. Nylia overheard Joshua speaking in a low, dangerous tone¨Ca real edge to his voice, almost radiating hostility.


    ¡°Bring him back and wait. I want to see just how tough he really is,¡± Joshua said, the menace in his words. unmistakable.


    He hung up and was just about to turn back when-


    Joshua saw Xylia standing right behind him.


    ¡°How long has she been there?¡® he wondered, momentarily taken aback.


    Thinking back to the phone call he¡¯d just had, Joshua felt a brief stab of guilt¨Che really hoped Xylia hadn¡¯t


    overheard too much.


    He knew he was no saint. Joshua could be ruthless, and his ways were hardly squeaky clean.


    He¡¯d do anything to keep that side of himself hidden from Xylia.


    ¡°Hey, baby, all done talking with Cyrus?¡± Joshua asked, his tone suddenly turning sweet, flipping from cold to gentle in an instant.


    Joshua walked over and took Xylia¡¯s hand, giving it a soft, reassuring squeeze,


    ¡°I¡¯ve got something I need to handle soon. Let me take you back to your studio first, then I¡¯ll pick you upter. How about I spoil you with a homemade dinner tonight?¡± Joshua said, a warm smile flickering on his face.


    Xylia nced up at him, worry etched in her eyes. ¡°Did something happen? You looked seriously pissed off just now.¡±


    ¡°I grabbed a spy tailing me. I¡¯m about to find out exactly who sent him,¡± Joshua replied, his voice cold but


    controlled.


    Since Xylia had heard everything, Joshua didn¡¯t bother trying to hide the truth from her.


    He just didn¡¯t want Xylia to see the side of him that could be brutal or dangerous, but he also didn¡¯t want to


    hide everything from her and let her imagination run wild.


    Xylia thought back to the dangerous edge in his voice just moments ago.


    She pictured him years ago, covered in blood, lying on some grimy foreign street.


    Her fingers curled around his hand without thinking.


    ¡°Can Ie with you?¡± Xylia asked softly, but her tone was determined.


    Joshua looked at her, clearly surprised, then shook his head firmly.


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    ¡°No way. If he doesn¡¯t talk, I might be forced to use some¡­ extreme measures. I don¡¯t want you to <i>see </i>that side of me. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll end up being scared of me, maybe even hating me,¡± Joshua admitted, his voice low


    and tense.


    Xylia saw he really didn¡¯t want her involved, so she didn¡¯t insist.


    She could only remind him softly, ¡°Just be careful, okay?¡±


    ¡°Sure thing. If you get a craving for anythingter, just text me¨Clet me cook something special for you tonight,¡± Joshua said, his voice softer now.


    Xylia had originally nned to go home tonight.


    But she couldn¡¯t rx until she was sure Joshua was safe, so she just nodded sweetly.


    After dropping Xylia off at her studio, Joshua spun his car around and headed straight for Norhill Clubhouse.


    David was already waiting by the entrance.


    Joshua tossed his keys to the valet without even breaking stride and strode right inside.


    David quickly fell in line behind him.


    As they walked, David started giving Joshua a rapid¨Cfire rundown of the situation.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, this guy¡¯s insisting your uncle Grant is the mastermind,¡± David reported with a frown.


    Joshua gave a cold snort. ¡°Seriously? What, does he expect Grant to crawl out of his coffin and go after him?¡±


    Grant Garcia had passed away two years ago.


    ¡®Let¡¯s see which so¨Ccalled ¡®uncle¡® they¡¯re actually working for,¡¯ Joshua thought, his eyes narrowing.


    The VIP lounge was shrouded in dim, moody lighting.


    On the floory a guy, beaten ck and blue¨Chis face was a bloody mess and his clothes were smeared with red.


    The coppery stench of blood filled every corner of the room.


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    When Joshua strode in, all the bodyguards crowded around the guy quickly stepped aside, making way for


    him without a sound.


    Joshua headed straight for an English¨Cstyle sofa, sat down with his hands sped calmly in front of him, his eyes steady and cold as he fixed his gaze on the bloodied man below.


    ¡°Okay then, tell me how did my uncle Grant reach out from beyond the grave and order you to go after my dad?¡± Joshua mocked, his wordsced with biting sarcasm.


    The guy lying on the floor was stunned speechless for a second,pletely thrown off by Joshua¡¯s jab.


    Then it dawned on him¨CJoshua was pointing out Grant had been dead for years.


    He¡¯d just been totally exposed.


    The guy tried to scramble up, but a bodyguard stepped forward and mmed a foot down on his back, pinning him to the floor.


    ¡°Spit it out,¡± Joshua ordered, his gaze pinning the battered man in ce.


    Joshua watched him, eyes cold and razor¨Csharp, never letting up for a second.


    Finally, the


    guy croaked out, ¡°Grant Garcia gave me this job before he died. I¡¯m just here to finish the task he left for me.¡±


    Technically, Grant wasn¡¯t really Aaron¡¯s brother at all.


    The Garcia family always kept the bloodline tight¨CGrant was just a distant rtive from an offshoot branch.


    The Garcia Group was a gold mine, with all sorts of rtives swarming in for their cut. Grant was by far the boldest and most aggressive of them.


    Grant grew up overseas, picking up tricks that would havended him behind bars for life if he tried pulling them back home.


    Back in the day, Grant kept going after Aaron and his father, but in the end, he ended up losing¨Cbeaten by Aaron himself.


    Joshua didn¡¯t buy a word of it.


    This


    guy had been Aaron¡¯s driver for years.


    Five years embedded right next to Aaron, just now deciding to strike¨Cno way in hell would this be about someone who¡¯s been dead for years.


    Joshua¡¯s patience was wearing thin. He nced up at one of the bodyguards, his gaze sharp andmanding.


    Without hesitation, the bodyguard whipped out a knife and with brutal efficiency severed one of the guy¡¯s fingers.


    The guy¡¯s scream echoed through the room<b>, </b>sharp and piercing.


    13:03 Mon<b>, </b>Sep 22


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    The soundproofing was top¨Cnotch, so Joshua wasn¡¯t the least bit worried about anybody overhearing. Annoyed by the screaming, he just ordered someone to gag the bastard, not caring for the noise.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always been the type to pay back favors¨Cand debts¨Cwith interest. You mess with me, I mess with you. Since you tried to take out my family, I¡¯m not about to let you walk away alive,¡± Joshua said, his voice cold and unwavering.


    Joshua stated tly, his tone devoid of any warmth.


    ¡°But if you¡¯re not really the one pulling the strings, and you can give me some solid info, I might just let you walk out of here alive,¡± Joshua warned, iciness still lingering in every word.


    ¡°So, here¡¯s your choice¨Close every single finger and get tossed to the wolves while you¡¯re still alive, or cough up the real name and maybe, just maybe, you walk out breathing,¡± Joshua threatened, his voice icy and merciless.


    By the time Joshua finished, three bloody fingers were already lying on the ground.


    Desperate now, the guy shot Joshua a pleading look, eyes wide and frantic, begging for a chance to speak.


    The bodyguard didn¡¯t even flinch¨Cone more finger hit the floor before the grip finally loosened.


    His voice was just a weak whisper, shaking as he blurted out a name without a second thought.


    Joshua¡¯s face fell, ice creeping into his eyes as the name hit him. ¡®No way¡­ he¡¯s actually alive?¡®##234.Chapter 234 Cheer Him Up


    Josie brought in a dedicated HR person to take care of recruitment, handing them full responsibility for hiring new staff.


    She didn¡¯t have to worry about recruiting anymore; the HR person would handle everything.


    With the team getting bigger, their small studio just couldn¡¯t keep up, and it was time to relocate thepany as soon as possible.


    Xylia had already locked down the new office, and she and Josie picked an auspicious date to make the move -next Wednesday.


    Josie, taking a rare break, sprawled out on the couch in Xylia¡¯s studio, her eyes wandering up to the ceiling.


    ¡°Honestly, I thought we¡¯d be working out of here a lot longer. Crazy it¡¯s only been a couple months. Did we even renew the lease for the rest of the year?¡± Josie wondered aloud.


    Xylia nced up from the designer profiles the HR had just handed her and gave Josie a knowing nod.


    ¡°I¡¯m nning to just buy the ce. So if you ever want toe over and chill, it¡¯s yours whenever,¡± Xylia offered with a smile.


    Josie grinned at that and shot Xylia an approving thumbs<b>¨C</b>up.


    ¡°No wonder you¡¯re the Sadler family heiress<b>, </b>Xylia¨Calways <b>so </b>generous!¡± Josie grinned.


    Buying that ce? That¡¯s gotta cost at least seven figures.


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    Orders were rolling intely, sure, but honestly, the studio¡¯s profits still weren¡¯t hitting the goals they¡¯d set.


    ¡°The hustle isn¡¯t over yet, we¡¯ve still got work to do!¡® Josie thought with a determined smirk.


    Xylia had already narrowed down the ten resumes to five designers she wanted to interview.


    After sending the list to the new HR person, she walked over and took a seat beside Josie.


    ¡°Once we¡¯ve moved and filled all the positions, things will get a lot easier,¡± Xylia said, stretching a little.


    ¡°I¡¯m not tired at all¨Cin fact, I¡¯m really happy. Seeing our studio grow day by day, I feel so proud,¡± Josie said, her pride shining through.


    She meant every word.


    But her gaze, full of thoughts, stayed fixed on the ceiling, not once meeting Xylia¡¯s eyes.


    Xylia could tell Josie was carrying something heavy on her mind.


    And it just seemed to be getting heavier.


    Even though they were close, Xylia knew better than to push Josie if she didn¡¯t want to talk.


    So she simply offered a few words offort.


    ¡°Josie, no matter whates your way, I¡¯m always here to listen, and I¡¯ll have your back¡ªalways,¡± Xylia said, her voice gentle and full of warmth.


    Josie was taken aback for a moment, her mind nking as she was caught off guard by Xylia¡¯s genuine


    support.


    With those words, Xylia gave Josie¡¯s shoulder a reassuring squeeze before quietly stepping out of the office.


    Josie watched her leave, eyes turning red as she bit her lip, holding back the tears threatening to fall.


    The studio had been a whirlwind of activitytely.


    At first, Xylia was worried about Joshua, but with the nonstop rush, honestly, he was thest thing on her mind these days.


    By the time she finally wrapped things up <i>and </i>returned to the office, Joshua was already there¨Cshe had no clue when he¡¯d shown up.


    He was sprawled out in her chair, looking totallyid¨Cback as he browsed through the documents on her desk.


    Xylia didn¡¯t care that he was reading through her files.


    <b>As </b>she gazed out the window, it suddenly hit her¨Cshe hadn¡¯t checked her phone <b>even </b>once all afternoon.


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    There was a missed call and several messages from Joshua, but she hadn¡¯t responded to any of them.


    ¡®Damn, I totally forgot to check, Xylia thought with a sigh.


    She walked into her office, apologizing as she made her way over to him.


    ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t check my phone¨CIpletely missed your call,¡± she said to Joshua.


    Joshua held out his hand, silently asking Xylia toe over.


    Xylia walked up to him, and he gently pulled her into hisp.


    Joshua wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in the warm curve of her neck. Breathing in her soft, sweet scent, he finally felt the weight on his shoulders begin to ease. ¡®Only she can make me feel this calm,¡® he thought.


    Xylia noticed Joshua had changed outfits, a detail she¡¯d picked up instantly. ¡®He must¡¯ve been busy,¡® she mused.


    Xylia leaned close and asked with concern, ¡°How did everything go? Did you find out who¡¯s behind it?¡±


    Joshua nodded but didn¡¯t mention any names. Instead, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone looking out for you¨Cyou¡¯ll be safe, I promise.¡±


    Xylia hesitated, her worry obvious. ¡°But¡­ what about you?¡±


    As Xylia looked down, all she saw was Joshua¡¯s messy, soft hair¨Che wouldn¡¯t even look up.


    Joshua wouldn¡¯t let go¨Che was holding her so tight she almost couldn¡¯t breathe. Softly, she patted his back, trying tofort him.


    ¡°Can you ease up a little? I can barely breathe here,¡± Xylia mumbled, her voice both soft and teasing.


    Joshua finally loosened his grip, lifted his head, and looked into her eyes¨Cworry flickered across his face as he answered her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll protect you myself when I can, but you know I can¡¯t be with you every minute. The bodyguards will stay out of your way, I promise,¡± he reassured her, his concern clear.


    Xylia frowned, her brows drawing together. ¡°Wait¡­ someone¡¯s actually targeting me?¡±


    ¡®Is this for real?¡® she wondered, feeling a chill run down her spine,


    Joshua shook his head. ¡°No, it¡¯s me they¡¯re after.¡±


    ¡°Then maybe you should be the one with protection,¡± Xylia replied, concern creeping into her voice.


    Joshua¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Now that we¡¯re together, they can¡¯t touch me. But they¡¯ll definitely try to <b>get </b>to you. Your safety is what matters most.¡±


    Xylia finally noticed the dark, unsettled look in Joshua¡¯s eyes, and she knew this was way moreplicated


    than it seemed.


    A


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    ¡°Who is it, anyway? If you don¡¯t tell me, what if I run into them and don¡¯t even realize? I could totally get fooled,¡± Xylia insisted, her worry tightening in her chest.


    Joshua hesitated before finally saying, ¡°Dexter¡¯s one of them. And Burke¨Cyou should keep an eye out for him


    too.¡±


    Xylia stared at him,pletely stunned. ¡°Didn¡¯t they die?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s lips twisted into a cold smile. ¡°Yeah. They were supposed to.¡±


    Xylia could sense that Joshua was still weighed down by something, secrets or worries he hadn¡¯t spoken out loud.


    She slid closer, wrapped her arms around him, and nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me¡ªI can take care of myself. Just go for it, do whatever you need to do. I¡¯ve got you,¡± she murmured.


    She didn¡¯t ask.


    But right then, she gave Joshua all the support he could ever need.


    Joshua felt his heart skip a beat¨Chis whole chest went soft, all the defenses he¡¯d built just melting away.


    With one hand, he lifted Xylia¡¯s chin, drawing her gently closer, and pressed a tender kiss to her lips.


    The kiss was gentle as water¨Chis lips melting into hers, their sweetness lingering, curling softly around the hearts of them both.


    When they got back to the apartment, Joshua didn¡¯t even bother turning on the lights.


    He pulled Xylia close, pinning her against the wall in the entryway, and kissed her deeply.


    The gentle tenderness from earlier turned into a storm¨Ctheir passion igniting, the soft moans echoing through the dimly lit space. Xylia wrapped her arms around Joshua, returning his kiss with just as much heat.


    Clothes were scattered across the floor, a trail leading straight to the bedroom.


    The night was soft, like water, spilling in through the window, casting a warm glow over the tangled figures on the bed.


    The next day, Xylia didn¡¯t wake up until three in the afternoon.


    She felt like a thoughtful girlfriend, but definitely not much of a boss.


    Joshua had been feeling down yesterday, so she¡¯d tried her best tofort him¨Cand pretty much went along


    with whatever he wanted.


    But her stamina had its limits. <i>By </i>the middle of the night, she just couldn¡¯t handle it anymore and gently


    pushed him away.


    :


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    But Joshua, his voice low and just a little needy, whispered right in her ear, ¡°Come on, babe, just onest time¡­ please?¡±


    Xylia was so lost in his gentle pleading and soft teasing, her mind a little hazy¨Cshe just couldn¡¯t bring herself to turn him down.


    So of course, she let him talk her into it for a few more rounds.


    In the end, she was so worn out she finally passed out halfway through.


    She had no idea how long they¡¯d been going at it.


    No matter howte she slept, she was still dead tired¨Cshe honestly didn¡¯t want to get out of bed at all.


    She thought Joshua would have already woken up, but as she tried to move, she realized he was still lying right there next to her.


    His handsome face was so close¨Che lookedpletely innocent and rxed, fast asleep.


    His strong arm was draped firmly over her waist, locking her in ce¨Cshe couldn¡¯t even budge.


    Back then, Xylia used to swoon over Joshua¡¯s handsome face, but now? All she wanted was to sock him one for making her <b>so </b>sore.


    She waspletely wrecked¨Cher body ached all over, and she was honestly afraid to move an inch.


    ¡®Ugh, this is totally his fault!¡® Xylia internally cursed, shooting him a death re.


    Joshua blinked awake, only to find the girl in his arms wide¨Ceyed and spaced out, clearly deep in thought.


    Feeling like a million bucks, Joshua snuggled up and buried his face in Xylia¡¯s neck, acting all cute as he started to beg for attention.


    ¡°Hey, big sis, you¡¯re finally up?¡± Joshua murmured in a teasing, puppy¨Ceyed voice.


    That was when Xylia, totally fed up, finally swung her fist and socked him right in the face.


    Ten minutester.*


    Xylia was washing up at the sink, still clutching her sore back, trying to freshen herself up.*


    Meanwhile, Joshua was rubbing his cheek where she¡¯d socked him, bent over picking clothes off the messy


    floor.*


    He didn¡¯t look even a bit annoyed¨Cinstead, he looked almost dangerously satisfied, like he was weirdly enjoying the whole thing.*

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    Xylia simply didn¡¯t have the energy to go back to the office, so after dinner she just started working from her


    apartment.


    Luckily, Joshua had arranged a private art studio for her before she moved in.


    She sat in front of her drawing board in a shy, slightly awkward posture, carefully working on thetest order for a traditional outfit.


    After being ignored by Xylia all afternoon, Joshua started seriously reconsidering his actions.


    At that moment, he came over with a ss of milk, putting on his most charming smile to try and win her favor.


    ¡°Sweetheart, you must be tired from drawing. Want some milk? Or how about some fruit? I can wash it for you,¡± he offered.


    Xylia turned her head to look at Joshua, who was going all out to win her over. She couldn¡¯t help but notice how he could switch moods in the blink of an eye.


    Right now he was happily calling her ¡°sweetheart¡± every other word, but the moment they were in bed, he¡¯d suddenly switch and start calling her ¡°sister,¡± especially when he wanted to act all cutesy. Honestly, it was¡­


    ¡®Seriously¡­ Xylia thought to herself.


    ¡®Is this supposed to be some kind of weird kink?¡® she wondered, feeling baffled.


    Conveniently, Xylia was a little thirsty, so she epted the milk from Joshua and took a sip.


    As soon as she tried to set the ss down, Joshua¨Ceager as ever¨Csnatched it from her hands like a loyal puppy and ced it on the floor himself.


    When he saw Xylia¡¯s expression soften, Joshua immediately jumped in, saying, ¡°Sweetheart, I¡¯m sorry. I promise I won¡¯t <i>lose </i>control like I didst night.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s ears flushed red in an instant.


    ¡°You still have the nerve to bring that up!¡± she retorted, louder than usual.


    She hardly ever raised her voice, but right now she just couldn¡¯t help herself.


    Seeing that she was finally paying attention to him, Joshua¡¯s grin grew even bigger, and he immediately tried to butter her up, shamelessly pushing his luck.


    ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll zip it. From now on, I¡¯m all yours¨Cwhatever you say goes, whether it¡¯s out here or¡­ you know, in bed¡­¡±


    ¡°Joshua!¡± Xylia¡¯s cheeks burned bright red as she shot him a fierce re. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare finish that sentence!¡±


    Joshua¡¯s trademark flirtatious eyes curved up in a teasing smile.


    He pressed a gentle kiss into Xylia¡¯s palm.


    Xylia snatched her hand back like she¡¯d been burned, her cheeks burning up even more.


    ¡°I won¡¯t say another word. I¡¯ll be good, promise,¡± Joshua said quickly.


    &


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    Xylia gave him a bossy re, then refused to pay him any more attention and focused on her drawing again.


    Joshua grabbed a little stool and scooted over right next to her.


    Since his stool was lower than Xylia¡¯s, his long legs had nowhere to go, so he folded them up awkwardly. Ended up looking shorter than her, and then¨Clike a spoiled kid¨Che snuggled in and rested his head on herp.


    She looked down at him for a moment but didn¡¯t push him away either.


    Sunlight poured in through the window, bathing their cuddled¨Cup figures in a gentle golden light.


    Joshua stayed quiet, not causing any trouble.


    After a long while, when Xylia finally finished her sketch, she realized Joshua hadn¡¯t moved an inch.


    She figured he must¡¯ve dozed off.


    But when she nced down, she saw his eyes open, quietly watching her drawing.


    Sensing Xylia pause, Joshua spoke up, ¡°Who¡¯s the Tang suit for?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s for ady named Beatrice. Her grandfather¡¯s birthday is next month, so she wants a luxury, custom Tang suit for him. She¡¯s really picky about the details¨Ceven brought in some high¨Cend fabric for us to use,¡± Xylia exined.


    While she was talking, Xylia reached out and lightly poked Joshua¡¯s cheek. ¡°Are there any big¨Cname families with their old man celebrating a birthday next month?¡±


    Xylia nced up at him as she asked.


    Joshua looked up at her. ¡°Why are you so sure it¡¯s someone from an old¨Cmoney family? Just because she brought in fancy fabric doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯s got pedigree. Could be she¡¯s just loaded.¡±


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°No way. Beatrice is really refined¨Cshe doesn¡¯t give off that nouveau riche vibe at all.


    Besides, the fabric she brought in isn¡¯t some luxury brand you can just pick up if you¡¯re rich; it¡¯s exclusive, takes months to pre¨Corder, and even with money you couldn¡¯t get it unless you¡¯ve got real connections or status. If she wasn¡¯t from a truly influential family, there¡¯s no way she could have gotten her hands on it.¡±


    Joshua paused for a second, thinking it over. ¡°George Jennings has his big birthdaying up next month.¡±


    Xylia blinked in surprise. ¡®Huh, I never would¡¯ve guessed it was someone from the Jennings family,¡® she


    thought.


    Thinking about all the drama between the Sadler and Jennings families, Xylia frowned.


    20 vouchers


    ¡°If George Jennings finds out I designed the Tang suit, you think he¡¯ll just reject it outright? Or maybe even me Beatrice for it?¡± Xylia muttered worriedly.


    Joshua chuckled.


    He sat up from herp, but even after straightening, he still had to look up at her.


    ¡°Everyone in Norhill knows about the feud between the Jennings family and yours. If Beatrice calls George Jennings her grandfather, do you really think she doesn¡¯t know who you are?¡± he said.


    Xylia paused, the realization hitting her. ¡°Oh, so she nned this?¡±


    Joshua took her hand and started gently massaging it, trying to soothe away her fatigue.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter if it was deliberate or not. Just mind your own business¨Cthe Jennings family is totally out of your orbit,¡± he said.


    Xylia mulled it over and agreed.


    Be¡¯s little face suddenly popped into Xylia¡¯s mind.


    She sighed gently. ¡°Ever since Mr. Jennings took Be away that time, I haven¡¯t seen her at all. He probably made her stay away from me.¡±


    Joshua suddenly spaced out, just staring at Xylia with a nk look. ¡°You like kids?¡±


    Xylia was just about to respond when Joshua¡¯s brows knitted together sharply. ¡°Wait, are you thinking about that little traitor again?¡± he blurted, sounding a bit jealous.


    At first, Xylia didn¡¯t catch who he meant by ¡°that turncoat.¡±


    But one look at Joshua¡¯s face and she realized he was talking about Sonny¨Cthe little traitor.


    She gave Joshua a quick smack on the forehead.


    ¡°Cut it out with the jealousy already. I¡¯ve got nothing to do with the Ford family anymore¨Cwhy would I even care about him?¡± Xylia shot back, rolling her eyes.


    Everyone says family ties are supposed to be unbreakable, but for Xylia, that¡¯s just not true.


    She¡¯d given everything for her own flesh and blood¨Conly to be betrayed by him in the end.


    Even though Sonny was once a part of her, now that he¡¯s gone rotten, she¡¯d never take him back.


    Joshua still looked pretty grim.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes sparkled mischievously as she leaned in close to Joshua.


    ¡°How about I give you a baby?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s face turned bright red in an instant, caughtpletely off guard by her words.


    He was blushing so hard, he looked like a ripe tomato.


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    Xylia stared at him, totally shocked. She¡¯d just thrown out his usual flirty line, thinking they were close enough for that kind of joke¨Cand yet, as soon as she mentioned having a baby, he was blushing like crazy? She couldn¡¯t believe it.


    Instead of turning away in embarrassment, Joshua looked Xylia right in the eyes, his expression resolute.


    ¡°Would you really have my child?¡± he asked, hope and anticipation clear in his voice.


    Seeing how seriously Joshua took her words, Xylia was kind of stunned for a second. But honestly, she didn¡¯t feel weird about it at all¨Cin fact, it didn¡¯t sound so bad. ¡®Huh, maybe I¡¯m really okay with this,¡® she thought.


    But then, she couldn¡¯t help remembering just how much giving birth hurt. Last time, when she had Sonny, Mnie didn¡¯t let her have any painkillers, and she ended up suffering for twenty¨Cfour hours straight.


    Choosing her words carefully, Xylia nced over at Joshua.


    ¡°If I have your baby, will you make sure I get the epidural next time?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s heart squeezed painfully at her question.


    He remembered how people always said giving birth was like knocking on death¡¯s door, and the thought of Xylia ever going through that terrified him¡ªhe instantly shoved the baby idea right out of his mind.


    ¡°Absolutely not! Even if we get married, no kids for us,¡± Joshua blurted out, almost reflexively, his voice full of determination and worry for her.


    He didn¡¯t hesitate for a second.


    Xylia didn¡¯t quite follow his train of thought. ¡®Weren¡¯t we just talking about the epidural? How did it turn into not having kids at all?¡® she wondered.


    ¡®Did he really just switch the topic that fast?¡® Xylia thought, still a little lost.


    ¡°You already went through hell once¨Cand ended up with a turncoat for a kid. I don¡¯t want you going through that again, and I sure don¡¯t want you dealing with all that pain,¡± Joshua said, voice full of feeling.


    Xylia was honestly touched.


    As she nced down at Joshua, she could see that raw tenderness and deep care shining in his eyes.


    He really did feel for her.


    She leaned over and wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice meltingly gentle.


    ¡°Joshua, you¡¯re so good to me,¡± she murmured.


    :


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    Joshua¡¯s mind was haunted by the thought of Xylia suffering through childbirth¡ªall that pain, all that agony.


    He hugged her back, holding her fiercely in his arms.


    Joshua swore in his heart, he would never let Xylia endure that kind of pain again.

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    Joshua and Xylia spent the whole day being all lovey¨Cdovey together.


    The next day.


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    After Joshua dropped Xylia off at her studio, he made a rare appearance at Garcia Group himself.


    Aaron barely looked up when his son walked into the office, his expression calm and indifferent.


    ¡°Did you dismiss Noelle?¡±


    Joshua stepped up to the desk, meeting his father¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°You couldn¡¯t do it yourself, so I took care of it for you. Is that an issue?¡±


    ¡°Not at all.¡±


    He pulled up a chair and sat down across from Aaron, leaning backzily.


    Joshua lounged in the seat, his roguishly handsome face and trademarkzy, flirtatious gaze making him look utterly unconcerned.


    ¡°I just didn¡¯t expect you to handle it like that. Aren¡¯t you worried Eliza will be upset?¡±


    Aaron didn¡¯t look up from the papers on his desk as he replied.


    ¡°What about you? Are you upset?¡±


    Joshua replied, ¡°Why would I be?¡°-though inside, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder what his father was getting at.


    ¡°She¡¯s Nelson¡¯s sister.¡±


    Joshua fell silent, his thoughts spinning.


    The curve of his lips stayed the same, but theughter in his eyes quietly faded¨Che thought, ¡®No matter what, I can¡¯t really me her


    Nelson had literally traded his life for Joshua¡¯s. Just for that, Joshua knew he couldn¡¯t ever really lose his patience with Noelle.


    ¡°If Nelson found out his little sister tried to frame someone out of jealousy, he¡¯d be the first to give her a beating,¡± Joshua remarked, finally getting serious.


    After saying that, he dropped his usual carefree act and sat up straight.


    ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s not talk about this. I¡¯ve got something important to discuss.¡±


    ¡°I already know about Dexter,¡± Aaron said, still buried in his documents.


    <b>13:04 </b>Mon, Sep 22


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    Joshua often thought, ¡®Dad may look like he¡¯s just living it up behind the scenes, but really, he¡¯s like some emperor from the old days¨Cnothing ever gets past him.¡®¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all you need to know,¡± Joshua shrugged.


    He¡¯d really juste by for a quick heads¨Cup. ¡°Taking care of Dexter is gonna take a while. After that, I¡¯m gonna spend some serious time trying to steal your future daughter¨Cinw back home. Thepany¡¯s all yours for the next couple of years.¡±


    Aaron¡¯s brow twitched in surprise, and he finally looked up from his paperwork to actually meet Joshua¡¯s


    gaze.


    ¡°Your mother and I were nning on traveling abroad next year,¡± he mentioned.


    ¡°Push it to three yearster. So, do you want that vacation, or do you want your son actually hitched?¡± Joshua teased, totally unfazed.


    Joshua never felt he was asking too much from his parents¨Cheid it out like it was the most normal thing


    ever.


    Aaron clenched the paperwork so hard, it looked like he was about to shred it into confetti.


    Joshua shot his dad a nonchnt look, then got up and strolled toward the door.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna check in with Eliza and see which one she thinks matters more,¡± he said with an easy shrug.


    Joshua was just about to reach the doorway.


    Aaron closed his eyes for a moment, as if silently telling himself, ¡®Can¡¯t smack my own kid¡­¡®


    Just as Joshua was about to reach the door, Aaron called after him.


    ¡°Hold up,¡± he said.


    Joshua stopped and nced back, his eyes shing that unmistakable ¡®I knew it¡® look.


    Joshua thought, ¡®Knew it. Dad never lets me off that easy!¡®


    ¡°One year. That¡¯s all I¡¯m willing to give you. You¡¯reing back to work after that,¡± Aaron said, his voice firm.


    ¡°Two years. Not a day less,¡± Joshua shot back, just as stubborn.


    Aaron frowned. ¡°One and a half years.¡±


    ¡°Two years,¡± Joshua repeated, his tone unwavering.


    One was sitting, the other standing¨Cneither willing to back down.


    An awkward chill hung in the air between them.


    After a silent battle of wills, Aaron finally admitted defeat.


    13:04 Mon<b>, </b>Sep <b>22 </b>


    He could only pinch the bridge of his nose, helplessly.


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    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll keep an eye on Garcia Group for two years. But you can¡¯t just ghost everyone¨Cyou¡¯ve gotta show up for the key executive meetings, or else no one¡¯s going to remember your face when youe back,¡± Aaron relented, half resigned, half stern.


    ¡°Dad, you dumped the wholepany on me when I was eighteen. I¡¯ve been holding it down for nine years. Two years off isn¡¯t enough for them to forget who I am,¡± Joshua shot back, grinning.


    Aaron saw just how determined Joshua was to ditch all responsibility, and honestly, his hands were itching to give his kid a smack or two.


    ¡®Man, I could really go for punching this brat in the face,¡® Aaron thought to himself.


    ¡°Whatever, have it your way. Next month, I¡¯m out on a business trip, so the whole Jennings family birthday celebration is yours to handle,¡± Aaron said, sending a pointed look at Joshua. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re gonna ke on that too?¡±


    He kept his face nk, but his eyes made it crystal clear¨CJoshua refused, Aaron was definitely ready to dish out some fatherly discipline.


    Joshua didn¡¯t reply. He just turned, waved a hand at Aaron, and headed for the door.


    ¡°Thepany¡¯s all yours for the next two years,¡± Joshua said with a grin.


    Once Joshua waspletely out of the office, Aaron let out a long, exasperated sigh.


    ¡°That little brat,¡± he muttered under his breath.


    Meanwhile, Xylia ran her first draft by Beatrice for approval.


    Beatrice loved it, so Xylia got straight to work on the final version.


    She was still in the middle of a work talk with Josie when her phone rang.


    Spotting an unfamiliar number, Xylia instantly assumed it was someone calling about a new order.


    She answered, and Noelle¡¯s voice immediately came through on the other end.


    ¡°Xylia, you won,¡± Noelle said.


    It took Xylia a moment to realize whose voice it was.


    She frowned. ¡°Noelle?¡±


    ¡°Xylia, don¡¯t get toofortable just because Joshua¡¯s with you now. The way he treated me¡ªjust wait, someday he¡¯ll do it to you too,¡± Noelle said, her voice shaky with barely hidden jealousy.


    Xylia honestly had no clue what Joshua had actually done to Noelle.


    <b>20 </b>vouchers


    But Noelle didn¡¯t sound truly hurt¨Cjust kind of shaky¨Cso Xylia figured, ¡®She must be fine physically, at least.


    ¡°What did he do to you?¡± Xylia asked.


    ¡°You wanna know?¡± Noelle sneered. ¡°Thene see me¨CI¡¯ll send you the address<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°I¡¯m busy,¡± Xylia replied, her tone cool.


    She really didn¡¯t have the time or patience to deal with Noelle¡¯s drama.


    Noelle, catching on that Xylia was about to hang up, hurriedly blurted out, ¡°Xylia, my brother died for Joshua already. What, you want me to do the same? If I die, he¡¯ll remember me forever. Hahaha¡­¡±


    By the end, Noelle just soundedpletely out of it¡ªlike she¡¯d totally lost her mind.


    Xylia¡¯s brows knitted together even tighter.


    Noelle seemed really shaken up, like something had seriously messed with her head. Her whole vibe was just off.


    ¡®If she actually does something crazy, it¡¯ll be a disaster for Joshua,¡¯ Xylia thought, worry gnawing at her.


    ¡°Alright, send me the address. I¡¯lle see you soon,¡± Xylia said, keeping her voice steady.


    As soon as Xylia finished speaking, the line went dead.


    Less than two secondster, she got a text with an address.


    Seeing the serious look on Xylia¡¯s face, Josie asked with concern, ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s urgent. Can you take care of the rest for me? I need to head out,¡± Xylia said, already scooping up her things in a hurry.


    Before Josie could even reply, Xylia was already out the door.


    Noticing the worry etched all over Xylia¡¯s face, Josie hesitated, then decided to shoot Joshua a quick text¨Cjust in <b>case</b>.


    She had no idea what was going down, but that Noelle girl? Yeah, Josie had definitely heard her name before.


    Ten minutester, Xylia arrived at the address Noelle had sent her.


    It was <b>a </b>coffee shop.


    When Xylia walked in, Noelle was nowhere to be seen.


    Just as Xylia was about to call Noelle, her phone buzzed with a text.


    [Come upstairs.]


    13.04 Mon, Sep <b>22 </b>


    Looks like she really might do something crazy, Xylia thought, anxiety tightening in her chest.


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    Xylia didn¡¯t hesitate¨Cshe asked the barista for directions to the rooftop, and once she knew the way, headed straight for the stairs.


    But as soon as she stepped onto the stairs, she stopped in her tracks.


    ¡®This doesn¡¯t feel right, she thought.


    If Noelle wanted to hurt herself just because of Joshua, why get Xylia involved? Wouldn¡¯t she just try to threaten Joshua directly?


    ¡®Or is Noelle really nning to end it all¡ªand trying to set me up for it?¡® Xylia thought, suspicion rising.


    When she¡¯d asked about the rooftop, the barista pointed her straight there without missing a beat.


    His tone waspletely nonchnt, and he spoke fast, not seeming to care at all.


    Almost like he¡¯d been waiting for her to ask.


    Xylia stopped in her tracks, suddenly on high alert.


    Xylia shot a look at the barista, then at the customers scattered around the shop.


    All of them were staring back at her, with that glint in their eyes like they¡¯d just trapped their


    prey.


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    When Joshua arrived at the coffee shop, he saw a ¡°Closed¡± sign hanging on the door.


    But oddly enough, the door wasn¡¯t locked.


    Joshua pushed the door open.


    The tightly shut curtains had thrown the whole shop into semi¨Cdarkness.


    Joshua spotted several people sprawled across the floor, knocked out cold and each sporting a few bruises on


    their faces.


    His brow furrowed, and he turned to dash toward the stairs.


    Just as he reached the top floor, before he could even step out onto the rooftop, a warm handtched onto his


    wrist.


    A glint of danger shed in Joshua¡¯s eyes, and he tensed, ready to fling the hand off.


    But the moment he nced over, it was Xylia¡¯s delicate face that came into view.


    Noticing the cold, dangerous look in Joshua¡¯s eyes, Xylia quickly waved her free hand and said, ¡°Hey¨Cit¡¯s me! It¡¯s just me!¡±


    Joshua froze for a moment, then, realizing who it was, pulled her into a tight embrace.


    Joshua asked in a low, husky voice by her ear, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Xylia could hear the slight tremor in his voice.


    She hugged him back, reassuring him softly, ¡°I¡¯m fine, really. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    There was movement outside on the rooftop.


    Xylia tugged Joshua into the narrow gap by the stairwell, peering through a sliver in the door. She gestured for Joshua to listen to the sounds outside.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t Joshua up here yet?¡± came a man¡¯s impatient voice.


    It was Dexter¡¯s voice<b>. </b>


    Joshua¡¯s brow furrowed, and he pulled Xylia closer to him.


    Then Noelle¡¯s <b>voice </b>cut in.


    ¡°Guess he¡¯s still looking for Xylia. Honestly, your crew is pathetic¨Cthey can¡¯t even catch one woman,¡± Noelle sneered, total contempt in her voice.


    Just as Xylia was getting ready to head upstairs, the people in the coffee shop were about to go after her.


    <b>13:04 </b>Mon<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>


    But she had Joshua¡¯s men there to protect her.


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    The moment Xylia turned around to face them, her bodyguards burst right in, ready to shield her.


    Clearly, they were top¨Cnotch¨Cjust two guysid out everyone in the shop, no sweat.


    Xylia stood frozen,pletely floored by what she¡¯d just witnessed. It took her a moment to collect herself before she dashed out of the shop with the bodyguards.


    Once she¡¯d made it outside, Xylia figured there was no way Noelle would risk making such a bloody scene in broad daylight.


    After a quick thought, she grabbed her bodyguards and snuck up another passage to the rooftop.


    Hiding out up there, she wanted to see what Noelle was really nning.


    She overheard Noelle arguing with a guy, and as they were about to leave, he suddenly got all jumpy and blurted out, ¡°Joshua¡¯s here.¡±


    So she just stayed put and waited for Joshua to show up.


    ¡°You never mentioned Xylia had bodyguards. If I¡¯d known, I wouldn¡¯t have left those useless bums downstairs,¡± Dexter said, sounding borderline bored.


    Dexter just shrugged¨Cit didn¡¯t really matter to him.


    He¡¯d neverid eyes on Xylia before and had no clue what type Joshua was into.


    But catching her on the surveince feed now, Dexter had to admit she was a whole lot more stunning than he expected.


    ¡°Gotta say, Joshua¡¯s girl isn¡¯t bad at all,¡± Dexter muttered, a note of grudging admiration in his voice.


    His voice oozed cocky arrogance and outright disdain.


    Joshua, out in the hall, immediately felt his face harden.


    ¡®Damn it, Dexter really is after Xylia this time,¡® Joshua thought, his heart pounding.


    He knew he needed to act even faster now.


    Noelle and Dexter caught sight of Joshua climbing the stairs on the surveince feed, but to their surprise, he still hadn¡¯t reached the rooftop.


    Noelle frowned, growing impatient. Dexter couldn¡¯t help but feel a flicker of anxiety¨C¡®What¡¯s taking him so long?¡® he thought.


    The two of them made their way toward the door to the rooftop.


    <b>As </b>soon as they swung open the rooftop door, Dexter was swept off his feet by a flying kick¨Che sailed a good <b>six </b>feet across the floor before crashing down hard.


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    He hadn¡¯t even recovered from thatst fire, and getting booted out of nowhere like this made his spine feel like it¡¯d been busted to pieces.


    He tried to get up, but the pain was just too much.


    Gritting his teeth, he forced himself up a little¨Conly to see Joshua standing at the rooftop entrance, his expression cold and stormy.


    Noelle froze the moment she saw Joshua.


    Even though she knew he wasing, it was still a total shock to actually see him right there.


    Running into him like this caught herpletely off guard.


    She was terrified¨Cher heart flipped in her chest, and every fiber of her being was shouting at her to run.


    Xylia stood behind Joshua, checking out the rooftop, her gaze sweeping every corner.


    She suddenly spotted over a dozen men dressed in casual attire scattered around.


    The second Dexter was kicked flying, these guys sprang into action, rushing right over.


    A couple of them scrambled to help Dexter to his feet, while the rest instantly shielded him, standing guard up front.


    These men were clearly not cut from the same cloth as those amateurs downstairs in the coffee shop.


    They were all tall and broad¨Cshouldered, their faces grim, and every pair of eyes gleamed with cold, murderous intent.


    Xylia might¡¯ve been kidnapped a few times before, but even here at home, she¡¯d hardly ever seen a scene this intense.


    She tightened her grip on Joshua¡¯s hand.


    Joshua pulled her behind him, his eyes fixed warily on Dexter and the men he¡¯d brought along.


    Dexter was helped to his feet, then spat a bloody wad viciously onto the ground.


    He looked like a total mess.


    But the hatred in his eyes only burned brighter.


    He red at Joshua, eyes zing with hate. ¡°Joshua, didn¡¯t see thating, did you? I¡¯m still alive!¡±


    Damn, after that massive fire, he¡¯s actually still alive.


    Joshua let out a cold, mockingugh. ¡°How long do you think you¡¯llst<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Evil never dies. Trust me I¡¯ll be around way longer than you,¡± Dexter shot back, his voice full of venom.


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    His men propped him up and brought him to the front line, Dexter¡¯s re at Joshua getting icier with every


    step.


    ¡°You knocked me down hard, man. What makes you think I¡¯d ever let you get away with it?¡± Dexter sneered.


    ¡°Funny you should say that,¡± Joshua replied coolly, his face stone cold. ¡°Letting you off was never on my mind.¡±


    With only Xylia standing behind him, Joshua was hopelessly outnumberedpared to Dexter and his men.


    But Joshua¡¯s presence was somanding, it felt as if an entire army stood with him¨Cmaking you believe that even if all those guys rushed him at once, none of them would stand a chance.


    Dexter, knowing full well what Joshua was capable of, couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill of intimidation.


    This wasn¡¯t somewless ce overseas¨Chere, every move he made was locked down by local rules.


    Dexter had figured he¡¯d use Xylia as a bargaining chip to teach Joshua a lesson once he showed up, but killing him today? That was never part of the n.


    Now, looking around Joshua¡¯s own turf, he realized that if he tried anything stupid, he¡¯d end up paying dearly.


    Dexter¡¯s gaze shifted to Xylia, standing just behind Joshua.


    He could only make out half her face, but damn, she was way more gorgeous in real life than she was on camera. Even Dexter had to admit, she was a knockout.


    A cold smirk tugged at Dexter¡¯s lips as he turned his attention back to Joshua.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, I¡¯ll let today slide,¡± Dexter said, his voice dripping with mockery. ¡°But don¡¯t think this is over. We¡¯re not done yet.¡±


    Dexter made a quick gesture, signaling his guys.


    Immediately, his men helped him down the rooftop stairs and disappeared into the night.


    Noelle spotted an opportunity and tried to melt into Dexter¡¯s crew, slipping quietly out of the corner <b>as </b>they started to leave.


    But the moment she made a move, Joshua¡¯s cold voice rang out, loaded with authority.


    ¡°Stop right there,¡± Joshua ordered, his eyes fixed on her.


    Noelle was so intimidated by Joshua that she had no choice but to stop dead in her tracks.


    Joshua angled his head toward her, his stare brutally cold¨Cchill to the bone.


    Noelle¡¯s face went ghostly white as she instinctively stepped back, two paces. She¡¯d never seen Joshua look at her this way before¨Chis eyes were full of raw disgust, the kind of loathing you¡¯d reserve for an enemy.


    ¡°Joshua¡­¡± she blurted out, her <b>voice </b>shaky.


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    Noelle wanted to exin herself so badly, but her tongue felt tied in knots¨Cno matter how hard she tried, not a single word came out.


    Joshua¡¯s voice cut through the silence, cold and merciless. ¡°You¡¯ve got two choices. Pick wrong, and you¡¯ll be facing a lot more than just getting fired.¡± ##238.Chapter 238 Go to Hell First


    On the way back, Joshua wore a cold, unreadable expression the whole time.


    Xylia wanted to say something a few times, but seeing him like that, she kept quiet.


    Once they got back to the apartment, Joshua shut the door and practically crushed Xylia into his chest, holding her so close it felt like he never wanted to let her go.


    Xylia wanted tofort him, to go along with the hug, but it was just too tight, too suffocating. She patted his back.


    ¡°Not so tight. I can¡¯t breathe,¡± Xylia said.


    Joshua finally eased up, his head drooping as his face buried into the crook of her neck.


    Her subtle, natural scent filled his senses, and only then did the anxiety inside him finally begin to ease up.


    He held her for so long that Xylia could feel her body starting to go stiff.


    Atst, Joshua found his voice, rough and low. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m gonna have to stick to you like glue from now


    on.¡±


    I guess I¡¯ll need to stay by your side every damn second from now on.


    Dexter came from Alvend, and when he made a move, he was utterly ruthless¨Cpractically deranged.


    Joshua had caught the look Dexter gave Xylia earlier, hungry and cold, like a predator sizing up its prey.


    That was the kind of look Dexter gave when he¡¯d picked his next victim.


    His methods were brutal and savage; things likews or consequences were never even on his radar.


    Joshua knew he couldn¡¯t let Xylia out of his sight for a second.


    ¡®He¡¯s really worried about me, Xylia thought, noticing the concern written all over Joshua¡¯s face.


    She didn¡¯t push him away¨Cof course not.


    Xylia asked, ¡°But what about your own business<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Joshua didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he swooped in and imed her lips in a fierce, possessive kiss.


    It wasn¡¯t gentle in the slightest¨Cit crashed into her like a tidal wave, urgent and overwhelming. Xylia <b>was </b>forced to tilt her head back, surrendering to the raw tremble in his kiss.


    Their burning, mingled breaths tangled in the entryway, the heat between them rising fast.


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    Just as Joshua¡¯s hand slipped under her shirt, Xylia grabbed his wrist and turned her head away, dodging his hungry kiss<b>. </b>


    She tried to catch her breath, blurting out before he could continue, ¡°I still have to head back to the studio


    In one swift motion, Joshua swept Xylia into his arms and carried her right into the living room.


    Xylia tumbled onto the couch, and Joshua braced himself over her, nting his hands on either side.


    ¡°Do you really have to go back?¡± he asked.


    His voice sounded aggrieved, and his breaths came heavy, rough around the edges.


    It was obvious he was holding himself back, fighting to control the heat in his eyes.


    Xylia gazed at Joshua, her heart melting at the hint of pink at the corners of his eyes. She felt a sudden tenderness and didn¡¯t give him an answer right away.


    That tiny hesitation was all the invitation Joshua needed¡ªhe immediately took it as her silent consent, acting as if she¡¯d already agreed.


    And before Xylia could speak, Joshua sealed her lips with a kiss, capturing the words she tried to utter.


    Two hourster.


    Xylia was so worn out she didn¡¯t even want to lift a finger.


    Joshua helped clean her up, then just lingered, staring at her soft, sleeping face. Still not satisfied, he bent down and kissed her gently on the forehead.


    ¡°Get some sleep,¡± he whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back when you wake up.¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t have the energy to move, let alone talk.


    She meant to ask where he was heading off to, lips opening as if to speak, but nothing came out.


    The moment she heard the lock click, sleep took her under in an instant.


    Joshua drove out of the bustling downtown of Norhill, heading straight for the outskirts.


    Once he hit those quiet, unmonitored back roads, he mmed on the gas, not holding back for a second.


    He finally parked at a lonely mountaintop just beyond the city limits.


    Right at the edge of a sheer cliff.


    Dexter hung bound and helpless right over the edge of the cliff, nothing below him but empty air.


    Suspended hundreds of meters above the ground, the guy who always acted like an untouchable boss was now shivering like crazy, his fear messing him up so bad he was nothing like his usual arrogant self.


    Joshua stepped out of the car.


    His boots crunched against loose gravel as he made his way right up to the cliff¡¯s edge.


    One of the bodyguards who¡¯d been protecting Xylia earlier came over. ¡°Mr. Garcia.¡±


    Joshua just nodded.


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    The bodyguard walked up to the rope suspending Dexter, pulled out a knife, and made a menacing show of slicing through it.


    Dexter started shaking even more violently.


    He struggled harder, desperate to break free.


    ¡°Joshua! Call yourself some kind of hero, stabbing me in the back? You take me out now, you¡¯ll be dragging yourself down with me!¡± Dexter yelled, voice shaking.


    Joshua let out a cold, mockingugh. ¡°Oh? You¡¯re talking about the man pulling strings behind Burke, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Dexter¡¯s eyes widened in shock¨Che hadn¡¯t expected Joshua to know about that.


    He blurts out, desperate, ¡°If you kill me, he¡¯ll hunt you down!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a disposable pawn,¡± Joshua sneered, his words like ice. ¡°You should¡¯ve burned to death in that fire. You got lucky and crawled out alive¡­ but you really think you deserve any more time in this world?¡±


    Joshua said all this with a chill so deep, it didn¡¯t carry a shred of mercy.


    For the first time, Dexter was hit with the gut¨Cchurning realization¨Chis time was up, and death was staring him down for real. Joshua wasn¡¯t joking around this time; the look in his eyes said everything¨CDexter knew this was no bluff.


    Joshua was dead serious. There was no backing down now.


    ¡°Joshua! This is Alvend! You really think you can just do whatever the hell you want here?¡± Dexter screamed, his voice breaking with panic and rage.


    Joshua slid his hands into his pockets, as cool and calm as ever.


    The wind at the cliff¡¯s edge howled, whipping his coat around him, but Joshua stood tall and unmoving, like a lone pine defying the storm¨Cunshakably steadfast.


    Gusts messed up his cor, letting the fresh kiss mark at his neck peek through.


    Dexter suddenly understood¨Cdeath was on him now, and the reason was crystal clear.


    He¡¯did eyes on someone who belonged to Joshua!


    As the de hovered close to the rope, Dexter¡¯s terror spiked; he writhed and shook with panic, watching the


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    bodyguard getting ready to cut him loose.


    ¡°Joshua! Do you even dare let your girlfriend see you like this? Someone soaked in blood like you¨Chow could you ever be worthy of her? Aren¡¯t you afraid you¡¯ll drag her straight to hell with you?¡± Dexter shouted, his voice raw with fear, trying desperately to rattle Joshua.


    Joshua¡¯s face went hard; a cold edge settled over his features.


    His eyes shed with murderous intent, dark and unforgiving.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be the one to go to hell first,¡± Joshua said tly, giving Dexter no chance for mercy.


    Joshua spat out coldly, ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s going to hell first.¡±


    The bodyguard¡¯s knife was already hacking at the rope.


    Dexter let out a chilling scream as he plunged straight down, dropping like a stone.


    This cliff was hundreds of meters high¨Cthere was no way he was making it out alive. He was doomed.


    Joshua turned to the bodyguard. ¡°This time, I want the body in my hands. No slip¨Cups.¡±


    ¡°What about the body?¡± the bodyguard asked.


    A wicked, dangerous smirk yed at Joshua¡¯s lips. ¡°We¡¯re sending it as a gift¨Cto that man.¡±


    Joshua looked downright cold¨Cblooded¨Cthe kind of chill that made anyone watching uneasy.


    Seeing that, the bodyguard felt a shiver run right down his spine.


    Joshua motioned for the bodyguard toe closer, gave him a few more instructions, and then drove off.


    By the time Joshua got back to the apartment, it was already evening.


    The ce was dark and quiet, so silent you could hear a pin drop.


    Figuring Xylia was still asleep, Joshua quietly set the groceries he¡¯d just bought on the kitchen counter before tiptoeing into the bedroom.


    The bedroom was dim and shadowy.


    The bed was perfectly made, butpletely empty.


    A surge of panic mmed into Joshua¨Chis heart was pounding in his throat.


    He turned on his heel and sprinted out of the bedroom, keys clutched tight, tearing toward the front door.


    He¡¯d only taken a couple steps when a sudden realization hit him. Turning his head, Joshua noticed the study door was slightly ajar, a faint sliver of light leaking out.


    He hurried to the doorway, pushed it open, and there¨Cfinally¨Cwas Xylia, sitting in his chair with hisptop


    13:05 Mon, Sep <b>22 </b>


    in her hands, focused on whatever was on the screen.


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    She hadn¡¯t bothered with the overhead light, just clicked on the deskmp, leaving the rest of the room wrapped in shadows.


    The lighting was so dim, the first thing that shed through Joshua¡¯s mind was, ¡®She really shouldn¡¯t be straining her eyes like this.


    Relief hit him hard, knocking the breath right out of him. He walked in, shoulders finally unclenching.


    Xylia nced up at him, her voice soft. ¡°Can you turn on the light?¡±


    Joshua flipped the switch, and the room flooded with bright, warm light.


    Joshua only now realized¨CXylia was wearing his shirt.


    The oversized gray tee pressed close against her bare, porcin skin. Watching her, Joshua¡¯s throat tightened, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing as he swallowed hard.


    He walked around to the back of the desk, instantly catching sight of her long, wless legs left exposed. His gaze darkened, a heated look flickering in his eyes.


    Xylia didn¡¯t notice the heat in his eyes¨Cshe just waved him over casually.


    ¡°Hey,e here and help me out,¡± she called. ¡°Does this n look good to you?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s studio was about to relocate to a bigger ce, and with things expanding so fast, she¡¯d have to make the wholepany structure and the workflows a lot more legit.


    She¡¯d drafted a rough n, but couldn¡¯t shake the worry she¡¯d mess something up. So of course, she thought of roping Joshua in¡ªif anyone could spot the problems, it¡¯d be him.


    But when Joshua stayed silent for a long moment, Xylia nced over¨Conly to catch that smoldering look in his eyes, hotter than ever.


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    ¡®Xylia sensed danger creeping in instantly.¡¯


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    She looked down at herself, wrapped in Joshua¡¯s oversized T¨Cshirt. It did cover all the right ces, but somehow, she still felt like she was showing off a bit much.


    That was exactly the problem¨Cit made her look more provocative, boldly flirting without really trying.


    ¡®Can I just im I waszy, so I threw on whatever was nearby?¡® Xylia thought to herself, not even caring to head over to the closet.


    ¡®I couldn¡¯t even be bothered to walk to the wardrobe, honestly,¡® sheined inwardly.


    That T¨Cshirt was one of two Joshua had picked out earlier that morning, letting Xylia choose which one she wanted. The one she didn¡¯t pick got carelessly tossed by the bed.


    When Xylia woke up, way toozy to get up, she just grabbed it and threw it on.


    Joshua was tall and broad¨Cshouldered, so his shirt on Xylia looked just like a mini dress, the hem falling perfectly at her thighs.


    Seeing how Xylia was all on guard, Joshua couldn¡¯t help butugh a little.


    He reached out and grabbed her wrist, giving her a gentle pull and easily lifting her up.


    Before she even knew what he was up to, Joshua had dropped into his desk chair and whisked her right onto hisp.


    His sturdy arm slid around Xylia¡¯s waist, gentle yet firm, keeping her snug in his embrace.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind you wearing my clothes, baby,¡± Joshua said, his voice low and teasing, obviously loving the sight.


    ¡°Seriously, you should do it more often.¡± He winked, enthusiasm clear in his tone.


    ¡°I could watch you like this all day,¡± he added,pletely smitten.


    Xylia felt her ears heat up with embarrassment. She reached up and gave Joshua a little nudge, motioning for him to turn his attention to theputer.


    ¡°Come on, help me out here,¡± she urged, her voice trying for casual but clearly flustered.


    Joshua knew that whenever Xylia got started on something, she would always go all out.


    He figured if he teased her any more, she¡¯d probably blow up.


    So he just kept her on hisp and started looking through the files on theputer.


    Seeing Joshua finally focus on theputer, Xylia felt the blush in her ears slowly ebb away.


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    ¡°This n is great, baby¨Cjust needs a little touch¨Cup on the details¡­¡± Joshua said gently, his voice almost melting in her ear.


    Joshua¡¯s voice was so smooth and warm it practically curled around Xylia¡¯s ear like silk, and before she realized it, she was already turning to steal a look at him.


    Whenever Joshua got down to business, those eyes of his¨Cusually so soft and full of affection¨Cturned absolutelyser¨Cfocused.


    ¡®My heart¡¯s totally doing flips, Xylia thought,pletely zoning out on whatever he was saying, just drinking in the sight of him instead.


    ¡°Like what you see?¡± Joshua asked, his voice low and teasing.


    Just as Xylia was getting lost in her thoughts, Joshua¡¯s face suddenly loomed closer.


    She looked into his eyes¨Cthose deep, almond¨Cshaped eyes that were usually so intense when he was focused, but now they were filled with warmth and a hint of yfulness.


    It was like she could almost see a tail wagging behind him, he was so pleased with himself.


    With a deadpan look, Xylia turned her head away, keeping her expression neutral.


    ¡°So, where were we?¡± she asked, her tone all business.


    Joshua had totally expected Xylia to get all shy and adorable¨Che¡¯d been hoping for that bashful wife moment.


    He was practically itching to tease her even more, ready to y the mischievous guy.


    But to his surprise, Xylia didn¡¯t even flinch. With zero embarrassment, she just looked him dead in the eye and said, all business, ¡°So, where were we?¡± Joshua couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit deted.


    Reading the room, Joshua decided to drop the teasing now that they were getting down to business.


    He continued with his exnation.


    Xylia stayed perched on Joshua¡¯sp, grabbed theptop, and typed out every tweak and adjustment he suggested.


    In no time, the updated proposal was good to go.


    She gave it a quick run¨Cthrough, then shot it over to Josie Dunn.


    Only then did Joshua wrap his arms around her again, nuzzling his chin onto her shoulder.


    ¡°Hey, prettydy, can you pay attention to me now?¡± he murmured, his voice teasing and deliberately sweet.


    Xylia was still aching all over, and Joshua was being so adorably clingy she could hardly resist him.


    She caught his hand, her voice soft but serious. ¡°Behave yourself today, okay?¡±


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    Joshua knew it wasn¡¯t good to get carried away, so he hadn¡¯t nned on making any moves tonight.


    ¡°Alright, he replied softly.


    Seeing Joshua so cooperative, Xylia finally felt relieved.


    Xylia nestledfortably in Joshua¡¯s arms and asked, ¡°What did you step out for just now?¡±


    ¡°Nothing much¨Cjust dealt with a minor hassle,¡± Joshua said, brushing it off like it was no big deal.


    She could tell he wasn¡¯t up for sharing more, so Xylia didn¡¯t press.


    Outside, the sky had turnedpletely dark.


    Out of nowhere, Xylia¡¯s stomach let out two loud, almostical growls.


    She nced up at Joshua, catching his eyes filled with mischief and that teasing smirk.


    A little flustered, she shoved his head away.


    ¡°Quit staring and get in the kitchen,¡± she huffed.


    ¡°Your wish is mymand,¡± Joshua replied, a cheeky smile on his face.


    He gently tilted Xylia¡¯s chin up, gave her a teasing peck right at the edge of her lips.


    Then, with an exaggerated bounce in his step, he trotted off to the kitchen.


    After chatting with Josie about the proposal, Xylia headed to the living room and turned on the TV.


    She flipped to a fashion channel, watching and learning as she went.


    Sounds from the open kitchen kepting in, off and on, as Joshua busied himself with the meal.


    Xylia¡¯s thoughts kept drifting further and further away.


    Noelle¡¯s hateful stare from earlier kept reying in Xylia¡¯s mind, making her shudder every time she remembered it.


    Sometimes, Xylia really thought Noelle was just way too dramatic¨Clike, goingpletely overboard with her thoughts and actions.


    Especially when it came to Noelle¡¯s obsession with Joshua.


    As another woman, Xylia did feel a bit sorry for Noelle, knowing exactly how crushing it was to want someone you could never have.


    But she seriously couldn¡¯t understand¨Cwhy hurt some innocent girl all because of a guy? That¡¯s just messed <ol><li>up. </li></ol>


    Tessa used to be exactly like that.


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    Now Noelle¡¯s acting the same way.


    They¡¯re both way too intense, and honestly, neither of them cares who gets hurt as long as they get what they


    want.


    Earlier that day, Joshua gave Noelle two choices.


    ¡°First: I turn all your dirtyundry over to the cops and you spend your days behind bars. Second: you pack up, leave Alvend for good, go live abroad, and until your wedding day, Garcia Group picks up the tab for every single thing you need,¡± Joshua said, his voice t and cold as ice.


    Noelle didn¡¯t dare mess with that icy look Joshua was giving her¨Cshe went with option two without a second thought.


    But Xylia had a feeling Noelle wasn¡¯t about to give up that easily.


    She shot a look at Joshua, bustling in the kitchen, wanting to speak up but ended up swallowing the words back down.


    Joshua was caught up in the cooking and totally missed the turmoil ying out on her face.


    It wasn¡¯t until dinner that Xylia finally brought it up.


    ¡°Are you really going to send Noelle abroad?¡± she asked, her voice soft butced with concern.


    Joshua picked up a rib and set it on Xylia¡¯s te. ¡°I can¡¯t give her what she wants. Because of her brother, I can¡¯t just cut her offpletely, but there¡¯s no way I can let her stay here in Norhill.¡±


    If I did, she¡¯d pull some crazy stunt any day¨Churting you without a second thought.


    She¡¯s honestly like <i>a </i>ticking time bomb. You never know when she¡¯ll go off.


    Xylia kept quiet, not saying a word.


    Joshua looked at her, concern flickering in his eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t want me to send her abroad?¡±


    Xylia shook her head.


    ¡°It¡¯s just kind of sad,¡± Xylia said quietly, her tone full of bittersweet feeling.


    She looked thoughtful, a hint of wistfulness in her eyes.


    ¡°Honestly, aside from Noelle being a bit intense, she¡¯s actually incredibly talented. Her methods in the design. contest were questionable, but I¡¯ve seen her work¨Cshe¡¯s a real genius. To see someone so gifted tie herself up in love and end up doing things she shouldn¡¯t¡­ it¡¯s honestly a pity.¡±


    Joshua gazed at Xylia, his admirationpletely undisguised.


    Back in herst marriage, Xylia had been the real victim, and her ex was constantly surrounded by scheming women just like Noelle.


    13:05 Mon<b>, </b>Sep <b>22 </b>


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    Too bad the guy never had the guts to stand up for her, and Xylia, stubborn as she was, wasn¡¯t about to bend for anyone.


    She¡¯d never try to force anything that just wasn¡¯t meant to be.


    Good thing, Joshua was nothing like Connor¨Che actually had a backbone.


    Joshua never yed both sides; loving Xylia was in his nature, and he¡¯d never care about anyone else the way he cared about her.


    ¡°Let people talk¨Clet¡¯s just focus on our own lives and keep leveling up,¡± Joshua said, his voice steady and soothing.


    Xylia took the bowl of creamy fish chowder from Joshua, his gentle words and that reassuring smile making her feel instantly calmer.


    She felt much more at peace now.


    She smiled <i>at </i>Joshua and nodded.


    They shared their dinner together, the world outside sinking deeper into the night, just the two of them wrapped up in their own cozy little bubble.


    But while they were enjoying their meal, someone else was spending the silent night wide awake, unable to find even a moment¡¯s rest.


    Noelle sat alone in the thick darkness of the living room, unmoving and sleepless, wrapped in her own loneliness¨Conly leaving her seat when the faint, gray light of dawn finally broke through the gloom.

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    Noelle was secretly sent abroad.


    Eliza only realized what had happened after Noelle was already gone.


    She was fuming and stormed off to confront Joshua.


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    Right then, Joshua was hanging out in Xylia¡¯s office, watching her talk to the movers, getting everything ready for the big move tomorrow.


    He had his elbow propped on the sofa¡¯s armrest, and honestly, he couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away from Xylia <b>as </b>she worked.


    ¡®People always look their best when they¡¯re totally focused on something,¡® he thought.


    ¡®Man, Xylia looks like she¡¯s glowing right now,¡® Joshua couldn¡¯t help but think.


    The sunlight nted through the window, wrapping her in this soft golden light.


    ¡®How can someone possibly be this gorgeous?¡® Joshua thought, feeling as if even the sunlight was jealous of Xylia.


    ¡®Every single strand of her hair feels like it¡¯s wrapped around my heart,¡® Joshua added to himself.


    Xylia was too busy to notice Joshua¡¯s lovestruck expression.


    She didn¡¯t mind Joshua¡¯s clinginesstely and had no ns to push him away.


    The sudden ring of a phone cut through the room, snapping both of them out of their thoughts.


    Xylia looked up from her busy work and nced at Joshua.


    Joshua shot Xylia a look and motioned that he was heading out to take the call.


    Xylia nodded.


    With his phone in hand, Joshua made his way downstairs and left the studio.


    Eliza called out, ¡°Joshua!¡±


    ¡°Why did you send Noelle overseas? She¡¯s Nelson¡¯s little sister, the Garcia family¡¯s adopted daughter¡ªshe¡¯s your sister too!¡± Eliza¡¯s words came out sharp with anger.


    Joshua just lounged there, his tone allzy and almost mocking, like he hadn¡¯t even noticed Eliza¡¯s anger. ¡°She <b>actually </b>went after Xylia¡¯s life. Am I supposed to pretend she¡¯s family after that?¡±


    Eliza went silent on the other end.


    Joshua then ran through what had happened yesterday, keeping it short.


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    ¡°Mom, I get it. You like Noelle, and you feel guilty because her brother saved my life. But we can¡¯t keep covering for her every time she messes up. If Nelson found out, he¡¯d probablye back from the dead to kick my ass,¡± Joshua said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got everything set up for her overseas¨Cschool, a ce to stay. The Garcia Group will keep sending her money until she gets married. Even if she never ties the knot, we can afford to take care of her. But I can¡¯t risk Xylia¡¯s safety. Do you get that?¡±


    Eliza rarely ever heard Joshua talk this much.


    And when he called her ¡°Mom¡± like that, it was clear¨Che wasn¡¯t going to budge on this.


    Eliza sighed. ¡°Noelle¡¯s really painted herself into a corner. Once she¡¯s settled abroad, I¡¯ll head over and check on her.¡±


    Joshua knew Eliza had agreed. He tossed off a few more casual words and hung up.


    It was getting close to lunchtime, and seeing just how swamped Xylia was, Joshua figured there was no way she¡¯d make it to the restaurant.


    So, he just ordered delivery for them.


    Kaden frowned the moment he saw that invitation from the Jennings family.


    All these years, the Sadler family and the Jennings family never had anything to do with each other¨Cnot even a single word exchanged.


    ¡®So why would they suddenly send something like this to our house?¡® Kaden wondered, feeling more uneasy the longer he stared at the envelope.


    Hudson couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes when he saw it.


    ¡°Seriously, what kind of weird stunt is Howard Jennings trying to pull, inviting us? Is he hoping we¡¯ll show up and wreck his party? Isn¡¯t he worried his old man might just keel over from the shock?¡± Hudson scoffed.


    Kaden shot Hudson a frosty look, not hiding his annoyance. ¡°The invitation¡¯s for Xylia,¡± he said, his voice t.


    ¡°What?¡± Hudson blinked, totally lost.


    Hudson practically snatched the envelope from Kaden, only to see it for himself¨Csure enough, the name ¡°Xylia¡± was printed right there. He stared, a little dumbfounded.


    His expression turned more serious.


    ¡°So, just because Xylia saved Howard¡¯s daughterst time, he¡¯s inviting her to his grandfather¡¯s birthday party? What kind of weird way to say thank you is that?¡± Hudson snarked.


    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I doubt this <b>is </b>Howard¡¯s idea¨Csomeone else must be behind it.¡±


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    He¡¯d never had any direct dealings with Howard himself,


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    but both the Sadler family and the Jennings family were top¨Ctier in the city, and they¡¯d crossed paths more than once at high¨Cprofile business events.


    As far as Kaden knew, Howard was steady, professional, and had a reputation for integrity.


    His character was praised by just about every business partner he¡¯d ever worked with.


    Kaden didn¡¯t think Howard was the type to repay kindness with betrayal.


    ¡°Let¡¯s call Xylia back and ask if she¡¯s up for it,¡± Kaden said.


    Hudson made a face.


    ¡°Xylia hasn¡¯t even set foot at hometely. ims she¡¯s mmed with work, but every single time I swing by, she¡¯s practically attached at the hip with Joshua,¡± Hudson grumbled.


    Kaden knew exactly what was up.


    It wasn¡¯t like Xylia had been stuck at the office this whole time¨Cshe and Joshua were basically glued together, always off on dates.


    ¡®They¡¯re still in the honeymoon phase. I get it,¡® Kaden thought.


    ¡®But seriously, nevering home? That¡¯s going a bit too far,¡® he told himself.


    Kaden nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll call her in a bit.¡±


    Right as the workday was winding down, Xylia¡¯s phone buzzed¨Cit was Kaden calling.


    After hanging up, she turned to Joshua. ¡°I¡¯m heading home tonight.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s face fell instantly.


    When Joshua dropped Xylia off at the Sadler family home, he was acting downright clingy, almost like he couldn¡¯t get enough of her. He wrapped her up in a long, lingering kiss,pletely reluctant to let go, and only released her when she promised he¡¯d be able to pick her up first thing tomorrow.


    Xylia¡¯s cheeks flushed red as she finally pushed Joshua away, feeling both flustered and secretly pleased, before hurrying inside.


    Cyrus was tied up with a surgery, and Leon had some event to go to, so tonight it was just Kaden and Hudson holding down the fort.


    As soon as Xylia stepped inside, she found Hudson standing in the doorway, arms crossed, face set in a hard stare¨Cblocking her way like a statue.


    Xylia startled, taken aback by his intense re.


    ¡°What¡¯s with you? Trying out for bouncer duty now?¡±


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    She let out a long breath, tossed her bag onto the entryway cab, grabbed her slippers, and settled onto the cushioned bench to swap out her shoes.


    ¡°Joshua dropped you off?¡± Hudson asked, still blocking the doorway with his arms crossed.


    ¡®Here we go again¨Cfamily watchdog mode kicking in just because I¡¯m dating someone, Xylia grumbled inwardly.


    ¡®No use denying it, Xylia thought, giving a resigned nod.


    ¡°He¡¯s picking you up tomorrow?¡± Hudson asked, arms still crossed and voice full of suspicion.


    Xylia looked up sharply. ¡°You heard that?¡± she blurted, surprised.


    ¡°Heard it? I saw everything!¡± Hudson retorted, clearly annoyed.


    ¡®That shameless Joshua, just can¡¯t keep his hands off my little sister,¡® Hudson fumed to himself.


    ¡®If Kaden hadn¡¯t grabbed me, I would¡¯ve gone out there and beaten Joshua into next week, he thought, practically vibrating with righteous big brother fury.


    Xylia¡¯s face flushed bright red.


    Sure, she and Joshua were all over each other all the time, but having someone actually catch them in the act? That was a whole different level of embarrassing¨Cespecially when it was her own brother.


    Xylia quickly finished changing her shoes, sidestepped Hudson, and made a beeline for the living room.


    Just then, Kaden came out of the kitchen with two sses of orange juice in his hands.


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re back. I poured you guys some orange juice¨Cone each,¡± Kaden said, offering the drinks.


    Xylia took her ss and smiled. ¡°Thanks, big bro.¡±


    Hudson grabbed his and muttered, ¡°Thanks, bro.¡±


    Xylia settled onto the couch, <i>took </i>a sip of her orange juice, then nced up at Kaden.


    ¡°So, big bro, what¡¯s going on? You wanted me home for something?¡±


    Kaden raised an eyebrow. ¡°This is your home. Shouldn¡¯t you being back?¡±


    Xylia figured her brothers were about to give her a lecture for not being aroundtely.


    Honestly, it was Joshua¡¯s fault¨Che was just way too swoon¨Cworthy and she¡¯d beenpletely under his spell, staying out almost every night.


    She hung her head, bracing herself for the inevitable scolding.


    But instead of getting mad, Kaden let out a shortugh.


    13:06 Mon<b>, </b>Sep <b>22 </b>


    Xylia finally looked up at Kaden.


    It wasn¡¯t the icy attitude she¡¯d been expecting.


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    She¡¯d honestly thought Kaden woulde down hard on her, just like when she first started dating Joshua.


    ¡°Look, I¡¯m not ming you. Dating¡¯s your own thing. Just don¡¯t forget¨Cyou¡¯ve still got a family at home.¡±


    Hudson just couldn¡¯t figure it out¨CKaden wasn¡¯t calling Xylia out for anything.


    He was about to speak up, but after a single look from Kaden, he mped his mouth shut.


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    Hudson took an angry sip of his juice, frustration written all over his face.


    Xylia breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a lot lighter after Kaden spoke.


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    Seeing him grinning like that, she figured his romance with his wife must be going strong these days.


    Guess that¡¯s why he¡¯s cutting me so much ck today.


    ¡®Xylia held back her gossipy side,¡® she looked at Kaden and said, ¡°So, do you have something else you wanna say to me?¡±


    Kaden nodded, handing her an invitation from the Jennings family. ¡°This one¡¯s for you.¡±


    Xylia flipped open the invitation and saw her own name inside.


    She blinked in surprise. ¡°Wait, they invited me? What for?¡±


    Thinking of Be, Xylia hesitated, torn for a moment before speaking up. ¡®Could it be because I saved Be that one time?¡® she wondered to herself.


    ¡®No, that can¡¯t be it.¡® She continued, ¡®Be¡¯s stopped contacting metely¨CI thought Howard had forbidden her from talking to me. So what¡¯s up with this invitation all of a sudden?¡®


    Noticing Xylia¡¯s troubled look, Kaden asked, ¡°So, have you had any contact with anyone from the Jennings family these days?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± Xylia started to reply, but just then, something popped into her mind¨Cshe remembered how Beatrice had ordered a Tang suit for George Jennings.


    Xylia paused, the realization dawning on her.


    She quickly mentioned this to Kaden, filling him in on what happened.


    Hudson tensed up, unable to stay calm. ¡°Beatrice Spencer! So she¡¯s set her sights on you now!¡±


    Xylia looked at Hudson, her eyes full of confusion. ¡°You know Beatrice Spencer?¡±


    Hudson nodded. ¡°Beatrice Spencer is Howard Jennings¡¯s sister¨Cinw. On the surface, their family always acts close, but it¡¯s mostly a bunch of behind¨Cthe¨Cscenes scheming. This time she¡¯s having you make that Tang suit, probably to use the feud between the Jennings and Sadlers and the fact you once helped Howard, just to stir up some big drama at George Jennings¡¯s birthday banquet.¡±


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    Xylia finally put the pieces together, her thoughts spinning. ¡®Oh, so that¡¯s what they¡¯re up to¨Ca full¨Cblown family power struggle!¡®


    ¡®Guess I just got dragged straight into their family drama, Xylia mused, half amused and half exasperated.


    Xylia piped up, ¡°I¡¯ve always wondered but never asked¨Cwhat¡¯s really going on between the Sadler and Jennings families? Joshua once said they¡¯ve been enemies for decades.¡±


    Hudson visibly bristled at the mention of Joshua, clearly not pleased.


    Still, he went ahead and broke it down for Xylia.


    This feud goes all the way back to the grandfathers.


    Way back when, Dana Sadler came to Norhill from the countryside and, all by herself, made it big as one of the city¡¯s topwyers.


    Both George Jennings and Jared Sadler instantly fell for her the moment they met.


    George and Jared had actually been childhood buddies, thick as thieves.


    But after Dana chose Jared, things changed¨Ctheir friendship cracked, and the bad blood began.


    But that crack in their friendship wasn¡¯t enough to make the Sadler family and the Jennings family fall out for good.


    But what truly drove them apart was yet toe.


    One night, while Dana Sadler was pregnant, George Jenningspletely drunk¨Cgrabbed onto her, identally causing her to fall down the stairs. She lost the baby, and the injury left her with permanent scars that never healed.


    From then on, Jared Sadler and George Jennings were done for good.


    Ever since that night, the Sadler family and the Jennings family cut all ties with each other.


    Everyone from the older generation among Norhill¡¯s elite families remembered this scandal like it was yesterday,


    But when it came to the younger folks, most barely paid attention to it anymore.


    Xylia finally realized what had gone down between the families.


    She blinked and said, ¡°Is it possible this was all just a big misunderstanding?¡±


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    Hudson scoffed, ¡°With how sharp Grandpa is, you really think some misunderstanding would¡¯ve slipped past him? He would¡¯ve figured it out a long time ago.¡±


    Xylia frowned, ¡°But what if Grandpa was just too in love, you know? Maybe he was so caught


    in his feelings that he couldn¡¯t see the real story.¡±


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    Kaden looked at Xylia, his expression serious. ¡°Xylia, what exactly are you trying <i>to </i>say?¡±


    Xylia paused for a few seconds before finally speaking up.


    ¡°What I mean is¨Cwhat if someone set up George Jennings to make it look like he hurt Dana Sadler on purpose? All to break apart the brotherhood he had with Grandpa.¡±


    Hudson let out a sigh. ¡°Honestly, Grandpa already thought of that possibility back in the day. But after everything happened, there wasn¡¯t anyone who actually got anything out of it. There was zero evidence of anyone pulling strings behind the scenes, and George Jennings never even tried to exin himself or defend what happened.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t hold back a bitter sigh, her heart heavy with regret for how things turned out. ¡®So, in the end, that¡¯s all it was¨Cjust a tragedy caused by George Jennings losing control when he was wasted,¡® she found herself thinking.


    The room went quiet.


    Kaden said, ¡°No need to get mixed up in George Jennings¡¯s birthday banquet. Just toss that


    invitation.¡±


    Xylia nodded.


    Honestly, she¡¯d never nned on going. Getting thrown under the bus for their family drama? No thanks¨Cit¡¯s not like I¡¯m clueless.


    But the next day, when Howard came to her studio and personally invited her, Xylia was totally stunned.


    ¡®Wait a sec, wasn¡¯t Beatrice setting me up as her sacrificial pawn against Howard? Why is Howard himself inviting me now?¡® Xylia wondered, her mind spinning.


    ¡®So, Howard wants me there <i>too</i>? What on earth is going on?¡® Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel even


    more confused.


    Howard handed Xylia an invitation.


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing you¡¯ve already gotten yours, Ms. Sadler. Can you pass this one to Kaden for me?¡±


    ¡®Wait, Kaden¡¯s invited too?¡® Xylia wondered, a wave of surprise hitting her.


    ¡­


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    Xylia just couldn¡¯t figure out what kind of game the Jennings family was ying.


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    Xylia hesitated for a moment, her confusion in, and finally asked, ¡°Mr. Jennings, may I ask what made you invite us?¡±


    Howard kept his face cold and expressionless.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s time the Jennings and Sadlers finally settle this.¡± Howard said tly.


    He didn¡¯t wait for a reply, just turned and strode out.


    ¡®Something about all this just felt weird,¡® Xylia thought, frowning.


    ¡®Even if the whole Jennings¨CSadlers feud needs to be settled, do they really have to do it at George Jennings¡¯s birthday party?¡® she wondered.


    ¡®He¡¯s pretty old now¨Cwhat if he gets all worked up and has some kind of health scare?¡® Xylia couldn¡¯t help but worry.


    After Howard walked out, Joshua stepped into the office.


    Noticing the invitation in Xylia¡¯s hand, he asked gently, ¡°Are you thinking about going?¡±


    Xylia nced at Joshua. He looked as unruffled as ever, totally unfazed by the whole thing.


    She guessed that, since Joshua was the big boss of Garcia Group here in Norhill, the Jennings family must¡¯ve sent him an invitation too.


    She asked, ¡°You¡¯re going too, right?¡±


    Joshua simply nodded.


    ¡°When the timees,


    I¡¯ll take you with me.¡±


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not even sure if I¡¯m going. I¡¯ll talk it over with Kaden tonight when I get home.¡±


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help but pout. ¡°You¡¯re really going home again tonight?¡±


    Xylia had gotten the best sleep everst night¨Cnobody bothered her, not even a hint of midnight drama.


    She¡¯d already decided she was going to stay at the Sadler family home for the next few days.


    She nced up at Joshua with a yful smile. ¡°Not just tonight. I¡¯ll be heading home these next few days¨Cmy brothers have officially put their foot down.¡±


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    Truth is, none of her brothers actually ordered her home. She was just using them as an easy excuse to get out of things.


    She was just pretending her brothers were being strict so she¡¯d have a reason to stay away.


    Otherwise, now that Joshua¡¯s gotten a taste, he wouldn¡¯t want to slow down for even a second -he might never get tired, but she¡¯d definitely end up exhausted.


    Sure enough, as soon as Joshua heard her, he instantly deted¨Cshoulders slumped, looking totally crestfallen.


    Xylia packed up the papers from her desk, getting ready to move them into a box.


    Joshua stirred, stepping forward.


    ¡°Let me do it,¡± he offered, his voice barely above a whisper.


    He sounded so downcast.


    Carrying the box out the door, his figure looked as forlorn as a puppy that had just been left behind.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t hold back and burst outughing.


    The more time she spent with Joshua, the more she realized just how adorable he really was.


    It took the whole morning, but they finally wrapped up moving the studio into the new office building.


    Once everything was settled, Xylia checked the time and invited everyone out for lunch.


    Joshua stayed quiet and downcast the whole time, clearly in a bad mood.


    Josie grinned and decided to poke fun at him.


    ¡°What is it, Mr. Garcia? Are you feeling like a big fish in a small pond? Or is your brilliant talent just wasted on our humble littlepany?¡±


    Josie had been binge¨Cstudying local ngtely, so she loved tossing out these new catchphrases whenever she got the chance.


    Joshua shot her a cold nce and replied softly, ¡°That¡¯s not what has me down.¡±


    ¡°Then what?¡± Josie asked.


    Josie was as bold as ever.


    Joshua shot back, ¡°It¡¯s because your boss won¡¯t let me have any¡­ meat-¡±


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    Before Joshua could finish his outrageousment, Xylia pped her hand over his mouth, shutting him up.


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    Xylia seized the moment to stuff a rolled¨Cup duck into Joshua¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you love roast duck? Eat more,¡± she said, tossing him a warning look.


    Joshua caught the warning in her eyes-¡®Guess I¡¯d better keep my mouth shut, he thought.


    He swallowed the duck in silence and finally kept quiet.


    Xylia shot Josie a look as she finally turned her gaze away from Joshua. ¡°He¡¯s just messing around, ignore him.¡±


    Josie eyed the two of them, shed a knowing grin, then caught on quick and zipped her lips.


    After that, she turned to chat with someone else.


    Once Xylia was sure no one was paying attention, she pinched Joshua¡¯s waist.


    She leaned in close, warning him in a low voice by his ear, ¡°Don¡¯t start talking nonsense!¡±


    ¡°What did I say?¡± Joshua protested, all innocence. He pointed at the meat dishes on the table. ¡°Just said you wouldn¡¯t let me have any of the meat¡ªis that really such a crime?¡±


    His voice took on a teasing edge.


    Xylia shot him a re and didn¡¯t say anything else.


    Seeing she was upset, Joshua kept serving her food, hoping she¡¯d forgive him.


    Meanwhile, Connor was driving past when he happened to nce at the restaurant where Xylia was sitting with Joshua by the window. Instantly, he caught a glimpse of their cozy moment together.


    He nked out for a split second, emotions overwhelming him. His grip slipped, the steering wheel jerked, and his car veered sharply left¨Csmashing right into a Volkswagen nearby.


    The deafening crash made people on both sides of the street whip their heads around.


    Xylia nced over just in time to see a ck car get smashed by a white one¨Cit spun in a wild circle before screeching to a stop at the curb.


    The whole road came to a sudden standstill.


    Cars piled up, while waves of people started rushing over to see what the fuss was about.


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    The crew from Xylic Studio couldn¡¯t help themselves, cramming against the windows to get a better look at the aftermath.


    The traffic police showed up fast, and the wailing ambnce sirens echoed through the city.


    Xylia was pressed into a corner.


    Xylia wasn¡¯t in the mood for the spectacle. The crash had triggered an old memory¨Cshe recalled the family of the victim killed in Tessa¡¯s hit¨Cand¨Crun, pretty sure she¡¯d seen their name online somewhere before.


    The cops cleaned up the crash site in no time¨Clike nothing had ever happened.


    Once the team from Xylic Studio finished their meal, they all made their way back to the new office.


    Xylia was busy with work, but noticing Joshua had time to kill, she told him, ¡°See if you can dig up anything about the victim¡¯s family.¡±


    Joshua shot her a confused look. ¡°Why bother?¡±


    Xylia said casually, ¡°That crash just now made me think of it.¡±


    Since she¡¯d moved to Norhill, she hadn¡¯t kept tabs on what was going on back in Jupiton.


    When she left, she¡¯d dropped such a bomb on Tessa that she was sure there was no way Tessa could get out of it¡ªshe should¡¯ve been hauled off to the station with no escape in sight.


    But when she ran into Tessa in Norhill, she instinctively figured Connor must¡¯ve pulled some strings <i>to </i>get Tessa out of jail.


    Now that she thought about it, after everything that went down, a shady actress like Tessa shouldn¡¯t have been able to make it in the entertainment industry.


    Yet Tessa was still trying her hardest to break into showbiz.


    It was like that whole hit¨Cand¨Crun mess hadn¡¯t even touched her.


    ¡®So how did Connor get Tessa off the hook?¡® Xylia wondered,


    ¡®Did he find a scapegoat for her?¡®


    ¡®And what if that scapegoat was actually the victim¡¯s own family?¡® The thought made her


    uneasy.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel she was onto something.


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    Joshua was already on it. He squeezed Xylia¡¯s hand, shooting her aforting smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll handle it.¡±


    Xylia felt the steady warmth of his hand, and for a moment, it calmed her nerves.


    She let out a quiet breath and got back to work.


    Later that evening, Xylia got home and handed Kaden the invitation she¡¯d been holding.


    Kaden couldn¡¯t figure out why Howard would want him at George Jennings¡® birthday banquet. ¡®Why on earth would he invite me?¡® he wondered, but kept his thoughts to himself.


    ¡®Whatever. Not worth making a fuss,¡® Kaden thought, letting it go without a word.


    Kaden looked at Xylia and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you to George Jennings¡® birthday banquet.¡±


    With that, he headed back to his study.


    Xylia gave Howard a call to reply.


    *****


    Meanwhile, at Norhill Hospital, Connor was lying in a hospital bed. The maid guided Sonny in, and the moment he caught sight of his dad looking so pale, he felt his heart twist, and his eyes went red with tears.


    Sonny¡¯s voice trembled as he choked out, ¡°Dad, are you gonna die?¡±


    He darted to Connor¡¯s side, his gaze locked on the bandages wrapped around his father¡¯s head, that paper¨Cwhite face, and the IV hooked to his hand¨Cit was all too much.


    When Connor heard Sonny¡¯s tearful outburst, he nearly shot up, so annoyed he almost whacked his kid on the head.


    ¡®Is this little punk trying to jinx me or something?¡® Connor grumbled to himself, exasperated.


    ¡°Your old man is perfectly fine¨CI¡¯m not dying anytime soon,¡± Connor grunted, clearly annoyed.


    He impatiently nudged Sonny¡¯s head away with his hand¨Cthe one not stuck with an IV.


    His hand caught some of Sonny¡¯s snot and tears, making Connor wrinkle his nose in disgust. ¡°Go grab me some tissues, and hurry it up,¡± he said, bossing his son around.


    Seeing Connor was still talking, Sonny knew his dad was gonna be okay.


    He let out a huge sigh of relief.


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    ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good,¡± he said, patting his tiny chest.


    Then he dragged a stool over and sat down right beside Connor.


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    Sonny stared right at Connor and said, ¡°Dad, even if you kick the bucket, you gotta help me win Mommy back first¨Cthat¡¯s non¨Cnegotiable!¡±


    Connor just gaped at him, totally thrown off for a second. ¡°This kid¡¯s trying to stress me out to death,¡® he grumbled inwardly.


    Then he finally recovered and shot Sonny a look. ¡°Get your mom back, huh?¡±


    At that, Sonny straightened up, real serious. He dug around in his little backpack and proudly whipped out a notebook.


    He opened it up, solemn as could be, and pointed to the huge word he¡¯d scribbled inside: ¡°APOLOGY.¡±


    He meant to write ¡°apology,¡± but he couldn¡¯t spell it¡ªso he just scrawled ¡°owe¡± instead, thinking it was close enough.


    Sonny pointed at his notebook and looked up at Connor, his eyes wide and totally serious. ¡°Dad, we have to apologize to Mom. Before, we did all those bad things¡ªlet that meandy, Ms. Schultz, send Mom to jail, and even didn¡¯t let the doctors help her. It was all our fault!¡±


    He puffed up a little and recited, ¡°Mom always says, when you do something wrong, you have to say you¡¯re sorry, and that means you have to fix it too.¡® If we tell Mom we messed up and promise to be better, she¡¯ll forgive us, right?¡±


    Sonny¡¯s eyes sparkled with hope as he spoke.


    In his mind, he was already picturing the day Mom came home¨Cmaking yummy food for him, fussing over his homework, tucking him in at night, and evening to pick him up after school.


    He really missed the way things used to be, when life with Mom felt warm and whole.


    But Connor couldn¡¯t get the scene he¡¯d just witnessed out of his head.


    The memory of Joshua and Xylia sitting together by the restaurant window shed before his


    eyes.


    Joshua kept picking out food for Xylia, feeding her with all that gentle doting. When Xylia leaned closer, Joshua swooped in and stole a quick kiss on her lips before she could react. Flustered and embarrassed, Xylia red at him, her cheeks burning, then smacked him in mock anger.


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    She looked so shy and annoyed, but honestly, there wasn¡¯t even a hint of real irritation in her


    eyes<b>. </b>


    Even after eight years of marriage, Connor had never seen Xylia like that¨Cso tender, so full of life, so truly happy.


    He¡¯d married Xylia only for Tessa¡¯s sake, and their days as husband and wife had always felt distant and formal¨Cnever any warmth or intimacy, let alone moments as sweet and loving as


    that.


    So when that scene unfolded before his eyes, the first thing that hit him was a surge of jealousy.


    It was so overpowering, he wanted nothing more than to take Joshua out of the picture himself.


    Sonny watched Connor, noticing how his dad¡¯s face just kept looking worse and worse the longer he stayed quiet.


    He immediately thought Connor was dead set against apologizing to Mom, and his little face crumpled in disappointment.


    ¡°Dad, you always say a real man should know when to bend and when to stand tall! If you wanna get Mom back, you need to go say sorry to her¨Cright now!¡± Sonny insisted, not backing down one bit.


    Sonny looked dead serious, like this was the most important thing ever.


    Just as Connor was about to speak, the hospital room door swung open¡ªTessa came in, hanging onto Mnie¡¯s arm.


    Mnie shot Connor a frown, then nced over at Sonny. ¡°Hey, what are you even saying? Your mom¡¯s standing right here.¡±


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    gust.


    ¡°Just because you apologize doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll forgive you. I¡¯ve had enough of you. Don¡¯t ever let me see you again!¡±


    Sonny¡¯s whole aura was Connor through and through¨Che was seriously channeling his dad right now, copying him to a tee.


    The way he spoke just then was legit intimidating, like he¡¯d picked up Connor¡¯s knack for making people nervous.


    Tessa kept her head bowed, looking every bit the brokenhearted victim, but beneath it all, no one noticed the sheer hatred burning in her eyes.


    Mnie¡¯s expression darkened.


    ¡°You¡¯re not even married to Connor yet and already rough with Sonny? What¡¯s gonna happen if you really be his stepmom?¡± Mnie shot Tessa a re, her voice sharp.


    Tessa blurted out, ¡°I¡¯ll change, I promise! You can have someone watch me if you want!¡±


    Mnie stayed silent.


    Connor finally cut in, ¡°We¡¯ll discuss thister. Mom, what brings you to Norhill?¡±


    Mnie was still handling things for Paxton and the rest of the Ford family back in Jupiton, so


    her suddenly turning up in Norhill clearly meant something else was going on.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, just a little mess¨Cup on your dad¡¯s end,¡± Mnie said.


    Connor¡¯s gaze turned sharp.


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    At such a critical moment, any slip¨Cup could seriously jeopardize the Norhill branch¡¯s future.


    When Tessa heard Mnie¡¯s words, her lips unconsciously curled into a faint, cold smirk.


    Xylia had nearly finished crafting the Tang suit for George Jennings, and Beatrice Spencer had taken time out of her day toe to Xylia¡¯spany just to see it in person.


    The moment Beatrice saw the Tang suit, you could tell from her face¨Cshe was seriously impressed.


    The navy Tang suit was covered with twelve lifelike crane motifs, each one stitched with such care and precision that it was better than any luxury brand out there.


    Beatrice Spencer gently traced the embroidered patterns with her fingertips and asked Xylia, ¡°Ms. Sadler, did you do this embroidery yourself?¡±


    Xylia shook her head.


    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not that good with a needle,¡± she admitted with a smile. ¡°I got one of Norhill¡¯s top embroiderers to help out. Those twelve crane patterns stand for longevity and nobility- only the very best could do justice to it and make the suit special.¡±


    Beatrice looked really pleased.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, you truly put a lot of thought into this,¡± Beatrice said warmly. ¡°It¡¯s still early¨Chow about I treat you to a nice meal?¡±


    Xylia politely declined. ¡°I¡¯ve got some things to handleter, so maybe next time? Beatrice, if you think the suit needs any tweaks, just let me know anytime.¡±


    But Beatrice acted like she hadn¡¯t even heard Xylia turn her down.


    ¡°So if lunch¡¯s out, how about dinner?¡± Beatrice pressed. ¡°Will you join me after work?¡±


    Xylia stared at Beatrice in silence.


    ¡®Why is she so insistent on grabbing dinner with me?¡® Xylia wondered.


    But seeing how persistent Beatrice was, Xylia couldn¡¯t bring herself to turn her down.


    She thought for a moment and said, ¡°Alright, Beatrice. You can send me the addresster.¡±


    ¡°All set, then,¡± Beatrice replied with a warm smile.


    With that, Beatrice headed out.


    13:07 Mon, Sep <b>22 </b>


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    When Xylia got back to the office, she immediately told Josie what had happened.


    Joshua was busy outside, so Xylia didn¡¯t bother him about any of it.


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    Josie knew all about the bad blood between the Sadler family and the Jennings n. Knowing Beatrice was one of the Jennings, she started getting worried for Xylia.


    ¡°Beatrice probably knows your background,¡± Josie warned, frowning. ¡°Tonight¡¯s dinner could be a total setup¨Cyou better watch your back.¡±


    Xylia just nodded in agreement.


    At eight o¡¯clock sharp, Xylia showed up at the restaurant for her dinner with Beatrice.


    Beatrice was already waiting, looking perfectly at ease as she took her ce at one end of the table.


    There was also some guy sitting next to her¨Ca total stranger to Xylia. ¡®Who¡¯s he supposed to be?<b>¡® </b>she wondered.


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    When Xylia walked in, Beatrice instantly got up to greet her. Beatrice said, ¡°Hey Xylia, you made it! Come on, have a seat.¡±


    Beatrice seemed a bit different from when Xylia had seen her at the


    At thepany, Beatrice had kept up an air of elegance, every move and gesture refined and measured.


    But now, the way she smiled looked like she¡¯d just spotted fresh prey¨CXylia couldn¡¯t help but think she was acting like an old brothel madam sizing up a promising new girl.


    Beatrice ushered Xylia over and had her take a seat.


    The man sitting across from Xylia smiled gently at her.


    He was handsome, with refined features and a distinct schrly vibe¨Csomeone you could tell was a true bookworm.


    Beatrice gave Xylia an apologetic smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Sadler. This is my son, Kevin Jennings. He just got back from overseas for his grandfather¡¯s birthday celebration.¡±


    ¡°I only remembered tonight to have a wee dinner for him, so I thought I¡¯d just let him join us. I hope you don¡¯t mind?¡±


    Xylia thought, ¡®He¡¯s already here and seated¨Cwhat good would it do for me to say anything


    now?¡®


    Though Xylia felt a bit put off, she made sure her face stayed perfectlyposed.


    ¡°Not at all,¡± Xylia said with a faint smile. ¡°Just feels a little low¨Ckey to have Mr. Jennings¡® wee dinner with me as your only guest¨Cdoesn¡¯t that seem a bit bare¨Cbones?¡±


    As soon as Xylia finished speaking, the looks on Beatrice and Kevin¡¯s faces changed in an instant.


    They¡¯d both assumed Xylia was mild¨Cmannered and quietly sweet, the kind of girl who¡¯d just bottle up any slight and never speak up.


    And yet here she was, tossing out such a cutting remark.


    Xylia was definitely not happy with how Beatrice had handled things.


    She thought, ¡®Seriously? Who throws a wee dinner for their own son and just invites some outsider having a quick meal and calling it a celebration?¡®


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    ¡®It¡¯s obvious this mother¨Cson pair isn¡¯t as innocent as they look.¡±


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    Beatrice put on a smooth act, pretending she hadn¡¯t noticed the jab in Xylia¡¯s words. She chuckled, ¡°Oops, I guess I said that wrong. This isn¡¯t really a wee dinner for Kevin. He just arrived in Norhill, and as his mom, of course I wanted to take him out for a bite.¡±


    After all, Xylia was her client.


    Xylia let it drop and didn¡¯t say anything else.


    Once the food was served, Xylia just felt sick to her stomach the whole time she was eating.


    All through dinner, Beatrice wouldn¡¯t stop trying to get Kevin and Xylia talking, insisting they were about the same age so they definitely had tons to talk about. She even kept bragging that Kevin knew a thing or two about fashion design himself¨Cand that one of his buddies was some hotshot designer.


    ¡®Even if Xylia was slow on the uptake, she couldn¡¯t miss what Beatrice was really angling for,¡® Xylia thought.


    ¡®Wait, is she honestly trying to y matchmaker between me and Kevin?¡® Xylia wondered.


    ¡®But I¡¯m from the Sadler family, and Beatrice knows that. Is she pulling this stunt just to mess with the Jennings family on purpose?¡® Xylia mused.


    Xylia¡¯s face was turning downright frosty now¨Cshe didn¡¯t even bother to hide how annoyed she was.


    She grabbed whatever excuse popped into her head and excused herself to the restroom for a breather.


    Once inside the restroom, Xylia dialed up Joshua.


    ¡°Joshua, swing by and grab me in a little while,¡± Xylia said.


    ¡°Already on my way,¡± Joshua answered. ¡°You heading back to the Sadler family¡¯s ce tonight?¡±


    Joshua sounded a bit cautious, but there was an unmistakable note of anticipation in his voice.


    Xylia didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to my apartment.¡±


    ¡°Wait for me!¡± Joshua chirped¨Che sounded truly delighted.


    Xylia could practically hear how thrilled Joshua was.


    After hanging up, Xylia took a moment topose herself before heading back out.


    Just as she stepped out of the restroom, she found herself face to face with Kevin.


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    She really wasn¡¯t in the mood to deal with Kevin or his mom right now¨Cshe didn¡¯t even want to bother saying hello.


    Kevin was the first to speak.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, I apologize for my mother¡¯s rudeness,¡± Kevin told her, sounding sincere.


    He actually gave her a respectful bow, his posture stiff with embarrassment.


    Xylia frowned. ¡°I really don¡¯t see why you have to drag me into your family¡¯s mess.¡±


    Kevin was caught off guard¨Che hadn¡¯t thought Xylia woulde out and say it like that.


    His


    gaze met Xylia¡¯s eyes and caught a hint of disgust there. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. My mom can be a little much sometimes, but I promise, I had no intention of dragging you into this or trying to set you up. I sincerely apologize again for what happened today,¡± Kevin said, soundingpletely earnest.


    Kevin¡¯s eyes were sincere.


    Xylia felt her frustration melting away, no matter how much she wanted to stay angry.


    ¡®I just hope you and your mother can realize there are still old grudges between our families- it¡¯s best not to let things go any further,¡® Xylia said.


    ¡®You¡¯ve


    got my word, Ms. Sadler. I¡¯ll make sure to talk to my mom about this,¡® Kevin replied earnestly.


    Seeing he¡¯d understood her meaning, Xylia chose not to say anything more.


    Xylia grabbed her bag from Kevin, didn¡¯t say another word, and headed straight out of the restaurant without looking back.


    Xylia stood waiting at the entrance for about ten minutes until Joshua finally pulled up.


    When Joshua saw Xylia standing at the entrance with a stormy look on her face, he instantly frowned and hurried out of the car, heading straight for her.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Joshua asked, concern etched in his tone.


    Xylia scrunched her lips and threw her arms around him. ¡°Turns out, Beatrice only invited me to dinner to y matchmaker with her son. Can you believe that?¡±


    :


    As soon as Xylia finished speaking, she felt the air around Joshua go icy cold.


    Xylia nced up and saw that his expression had turned downright murderous.


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    ¡°Rx, Kevin wasn¡¯t interested either. I bailed, saying I needed the bathroom, and got out of there,¡± Xylia said.


    ¡°Let me go see for myself,¡± Joshua growled, his anger barely contained.


    Joshua released Xylia and was about to storm back inside, but she quickly grabbed his arm to stop him.


    ¡°Forget it, Joshua. Beatrice is my client now¨Cno need to make a scene. I already told her son straight up this won¡¯t happen again,¡± Xylia said.


    Joshua was still fuming, his anger nowhere near fading.


    He thought, ¡®Seriously? I step away from Xylia for just a moment and somebody¡¯s already trying to move in on my girl?¡®


    After much convincing, Xylia finally managed to coax Joshua back toward the car.


    Just then, Beatrice and Kevin came out of the restaurant, having finished their meal.


    Kevin trailed behind Beatrice, his head hanging low, while Beatrice walked ahead, her face set in a scowl.


    Joshua caught sight of them out of the corner of his eye, then smoothly reached back and took Xylia¡¯s hand, pulling her along right toward Beatrice and Kevin.


    It wasn¡¯t like Xylia could do anything to stop a jealous guy anyway.


    Plus, she figured, why not use this chance to shut down Beatrice¡¯s matchmaking nonsense once and for all? So she just went along with Joshua, barely resisting.


    Beatrice was still pissed, nagging Kevin all the way about how he just didn¡¯t appreciate all the stuff she¡¯d done for him.


    She was mid¨Crant when, out of nowhere, two people suddenly appeared right in front of her.


    It was Xylia¨Cwho she thought had left¨Cand Joshua, the privileged golden boy from the Garcia family.


    When Beatrice spotted the two of them holding hands, acting obviously close, her face darkened even more.


    She was sure Joshua hade to settle the score, so she was ready to talk her way out of it.


    But to her surprise, Joshua just smiled and said,


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    ¡°You must be Beatrice, right? Xylia talks about you all the time¨Csays you¡¯re the most worry- free client she¡¯s ever had, and someone who really cares about her family. I heard you picked out only the finest fabrics for George Jennings¡® birthday gift. Clearly, you put a lot of heart into it. It¡¯s truly my honor to finally meet you.¡±


    Beatrice was momentarily stunned, staring in surprise.


    ¡®Well, who could stay upset after hearing such ttering words?¡¯ she thought to herself.


    All the witty retorts she¡¯d lined up in her mind scattered in an instant.


    Beatrice shed a courteous smile at Joshua. ¡°You¡¯re ttering me, Joshua. As the Garcia family¡¯s only son, I bet you pull out all the stops for your parents¡® birthdays¨Canything I do can¡¯tpare.¡±


    Joshua nodded, grinning. ¡°Honestly? I never used to get my parents anything special for their birthdays. If I¡¯d met Xylia back then, she would¡¯ve totally designed my picky mom the perfect dress. After all, if it¡¯s made by her own daughter¨Cinw, my mom would be over the moon.¡±


    Beatrice instantly caught on to what Joshua was really hinting at.


    Xylia was part of the Garcia family now¨Canyone trying to set her up was just asking for trouble.


    Her smile stiffened awkwardly at the corners.


    Kevin¡¯s shame was written all over his face as he dropped his head, not daring to look up.


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    Feeling embarrassed and out of sorts, Beatrice managed an awkward smile at Joshua.


    ¡°Yeah, Ms. Sadler really is the most gifted fashion designer. I saw the traditional suit she made for my dad¨Cit¡¯s fantastic, and I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll love it. Anyway, it¡¯s gettingte, so we should probably get going,¡± she said.


    Beatrice hurriedly said goodbye to Joshua and Xylia, then left in a rush.


    Kevin trailed behind, gave Xylia an awkward look, and mumbled his apology, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    With that, he hurried after his mom.


    ¡°Does he really think just saying sorry makes everything alright?¡± Joshua muttered, still visibly annoyed.


    Joshua¡¯s irritation was written all over his face¨Che hadn¡¯t let it go yet.


    Xylia teased as she yfully shook Joshua¡¯s hand. ¡°Honestly, with your temper, I thought you¡¯d blow


    up


    and start something. Didn¡¯t expect you to actually hold your tongue for once.¡±


    Joshua pulled her into his arms.


    ¡°If she wasn¡¯t your client, I wouldn¡¯t have cut her any ck,¡± he replied.


    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered to hide the warning in his words at all.


    Xylia let out a couple of lightughs, her mood already brightening.


    The heaviness that had hung over their evening melted away atst.


    Once they got back to the apartment, Xylia shot her brothers a quick text to let them know she was alright. Then she got busy with some work Josie had sent her way.


    On his own, Joshua headed off to the kitchen to whip up somete¨Cnight snacks.


    Xylia hadn¡¯t eaten much earlier, so she was still feeling kind of hungry.


    She ced an order for two dishes with Joshua, then headed straight to his study.


    Since she didn¡¯t bring her ownptop, she just grabbed Joshua¡¯s and started working away like it was totally normal.


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help grinning to himself, feeling genuinely content.


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    With the girl he likedpletely woven into his life, every space and every little thing in his apartment started feeling like it was theirs¨Cshared and close.


    Just thinking about it brought a sweet kind of happiness that made his heart flutter.


    Yeah, Joshua was really pleased with how things were going.


    Halfway through cooking, it hit him¨Cthey were out of condoms.


    He quickly set down what he was doing and jumped online to order some.


    After all the effort it took to get Xylia to move in, there was no way he was letting anything get in the way of his happily¨Cever¨Cafter.


    Once he¡¯d ced the order, he headed back into the kitchen, feeling pretty pleased with himself.


    Joshua was in such a great mood, he even started humming as he worked.


    Soon enough, Xylia shuffled out of the study, holding her belly with a slight grimace. She wandered over to the kitchen ind and shot Joshua a look.


    ¡°Did you stock up on any pads? Pretty sure my period just came knocking,¡± she said, sounding half¨Camused, half¨Cresigned.


    Joshua¡¯s mood instantly hit a wall¨Cjust like that, all his good vibes came crashing down. ¡®Well,


    so much for my romantic night¡­¡® he thought, sighing inwardly.


    Following Joshua¡¯s directions, Xylia found the stash of pads in the bathroom drawer just where he¡¯d told her.


    When she opened it, her jaw dropped. The drawer was crammed full¨Cevery brand and length under the sun.


    She couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®I¡¯d probably still have some left when I hit retirement age.


    Xylia grabbed her go¨Cto brand, went to change, and only came out once she was done.


    Joshua ced a mug of warm brown sugar water on the table. As soon as he spotted Xylia, his voice was full of concern as he said, ¡°I made you some brown sugar teae on, drink it while it¡¯s hot.¡±


    Instead of heading back to the study, Xylia slid into a seat at the dining table. Wrapping her hands around the mug, she shot Joshua a mischievous, crinkly¨Ceyed smile.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she said.


    <b>13:08 </b><b>Mon</b>, Sep <b>22 </b>


    She deliberately ignored the pitiful, forlorn look Joshua was throwing her way.


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    ¡®Honestly, seeing him so seriously disappointed was just too funny, Xylia thought to herself.


    She took small sips of the brown sugar water, putting up with the waves of cramping pain twisting through her stomach.


    Before, whenever her period came around, Xylia barely felt a thing¨Cno pain, no fuss. She could eat hot or cold foods, anything she liked, and it never caused any problems.


    But after Sonny was born, she didn¡¯t really rest up like she should¡¯ve afterward.


    That ended up causing no end of pesky health problems for her.


    These days, period cramps were just one of the issues she had to deal with.


    Back when her cramps first started up, Xylia could still tough it out. Connor was barely ever home, Sonny was just a little kid, and Mnie wouldn¡¯t even consider getting a nanny. So everything fell squarely on Xylia¡¯s shoulders.


    All that stress and exhaustion really took a toll on her health.


    It wasn¡¯t until Sonny was older that she finally had the time to start looking after herself¨Cand once she did, things finally began to turn around.


    The warm brown sugar tea finally brought her some much¨Cneeded relief from those cramps.


    Joshua had been upte simmering a pot of chicken soup and was all set to make some grilled skewers. But when he saw Xylia was under the weather, he quickly switched things up¨Cgrilled the skewers with just cumin, no chili, and reced the sparkling water with extra brown sugar


    tea.


    The chicken soup was made specially to help Xylia recover and regain her strength.


    When the food hit the table, Xylia immediately got what Joshua was up to, and she felt a cozy warmth bloom in her heart.


    ¡°Why do you look so pale? Are you in a lot of pain?¡± Joshua asked, worry creasing his eyebrows <b>as </b>he saw how washed¨Cout Xylia looked.


    He brushed her cheek and felt the mmy sweat on her skin.


    Joshua immediately dragged a chair over so he could sit close beside her.


    His warm hand slipped under her shirt and gently settled on her belly.


    With his palm radiating heat and his fingers softly massaging, Xylia could actually feel some


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    of the pain melting away.


    Xylia tilted her head at Joshua, teasing, ¡°Who knew you had all these moves?¡±


    Joshua shot her a cocky grin. ¡°The moment I decided to be your guy, I started picking up all sorts of tricks just for you.¡±


    He raised his brows with no shame, totally pleased with himself.


    Xylia¡¯s curiosity was piqued and she started ticking off his skills on her fingers.


    ¡°Cooking, cleaning,undry duty, soothing my cramps¡­ Is there any skill of yours I haven¡¯t stumbled on yet?¡± she teased.


    Joshua thought about it for a moment, then shed a proud grin. ¡°I can wash your hair, do your makeup, take care of you if you¡¯re ever pregnant¡­ even help deliver a baby if ites to that.¡±


    ¡°Deliver a baby?¡± Xylia repeated, halfughing, her eyebrows shooting up in disbelief.


    She couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Seriously, is he training to be my personal life coach or something? This is more like a full¨Con husband bootcamp than just picking up some skills!¡®


    While still gently massaging her stomach, Joshua grinned, ¡°Delivering babies? Yeah, that¡¯s a skill I¡¯ll probably never need, since we¡¯re not nning on having kids anyway.¡±


    Seeing Xylia¡¯s stunned expression, Joshua couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Man, she¡¯s ridiculously adorable when she gets surprised like that.¡®


    He leaned in and dropped a soft kiss on her cheek.


    Xylia found herself wavering for a moment, torn between feelings.


    She let herself melt into Joshua¡¯s arms, fully rxed and trusting.


    Joshua instinctively wrapped his arms around her, holding her close,


    ¡°When we¡¯re married, I¡¯d still like for us to have a kid someday,¡± Xylia said gently.


    Joshua frowned. ¡°But giving birth hurts like hell, and you could even end up dying because of it.¡±


    <b>¡°</b><b>It¡¯s </b>really rare, though,¡± Xylia replied, shrugging.


    ¡°Still, I¡¯d rather never have kids if there¡¯s even the slightest risk to you. Your well¨Cbeing means more to me than anything else,¡± Joshua said, unwavering.


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    Xylia snorted withughter. ¡®Does having a kid suddenly mean I won¡¯t live to old age or something?¡® she thought.


    She could keenly sense just how strongly Joshua resisted the idea of having kids.


    For now, Xylia decided to drop the subject.


    ¡®That¡¯s stuff for the future anyway. We¡¯re not even married yet¨Cno point stressing about it now,¡® she thought.


    It took Joshua a moment to realize that Xylia had actually brought up marriage.


    ¡®Does this mean she¡¯s actually open to marrying me?¡® he wondered, a bit surprised.


    At that thought, a rush of happiness bubbled up inside him.


    ¡®Looks like it¡¯s time to start nning the proposal,¡® he thought.


    Once Xylia was clearly feeling better, she gently pushed Joshua¡¯s hand away to stop his


    massage.


    ¡°I¡¯m doing much better. The food¡¯s practically getting cold¨Clet¡¯s eat before it does,¡± she said.


    Seeing that Xylia was genuinely alright and not just trying to tough it out, Joshua finally let go, a look of relief crossing his face.


    After dinner, they went straight to bed together.


    Joshua kept things innocent that night. He just held Xylia close, his hands gently massaging her stomach to ease the pain.


    For as long as she could remember, Xylia had never slept so soundly during her period.


    The next day, while Xylia was at work, she got a call from Rachel Jones¨Cit had been ages since they¡¯dst talked.


    ¡°Xylia, text me your address, will you? I¡¯m going to send you some herbs to help you feel better,¡± Rachel said affectionately.

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    Since Xylia had moved to Norhill, she hadn¡¯t really kept in touch with Rachel much.


    Getting a call out of the blue from Rachel and hearing she was sending medicine, Xylia¡¯s mind went straight to Joshua.


    ¡°What kind of medicine?¡± Xylia asked.


    ¡°Your boyfriend hit me up and asked if I could mix something up for your health¨Cand to help with period pain,¡± Rachel replied, yful teasingcing her words. ¡°He didn¡¯t answer when I asked for your address, so I figured I¡¯d just call you instead.¡±


    ¡®Knew it,¡® Xylia thought to herself.


    A smile crept onto her face, warm and full of happiness.


    After giving Rachel her address, they chatted for a bit before hanging up.


    Joshua had just rushed out, saying he¡¯d be back soon.


    Seeing how hurried he was, Xylia didn¡¯t give it much thought.


    When the office door opened again, she figured it was Joshuaing back.


    Without even looking up, she asked, ¡°Where did you just go?¡±


    Her voice was soft¨Cnot really a serious question, just a gentle, everyday greeting, full of


    warmth.


    When she didn¡¯t hear a reply, Xylia lifted her gaze.


    Her smile instantly faded as her eyes met Connor and Maddox.


    ¡°Who told you toe here?¡± Xylia asked, her tone frosty.


    It was t, devoid of any warmth.


    Josie squeezed in from the side and said to Xylia, ¡°They¡¯re new clients. They¡¯ve got a big deal to discuss. You need to keep things professional, boss.¡±


    Josie couldn¡¯t hide the grin on her face, cocking her eyebrow like she was saying, ¡®Time to squeeze them for every cent.


    Xylia didn¡¯t answer. Josie tugged her aside and whispered, ¡°Xylia, I get that you hate them¡ª honestly, the more you hate, the more it means you care. If you really want them out of your


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    life, you¡¯ve got to treat them likeplete strangers. That¡¯s the only way they¡¯ll stop mattering.¡±


    Xylia almost wanted to say her life wasn¡¯t affected by them at all these days.


    ¡®I just feel nothing but disgust toward them now,¡® she thought.


    Josie¡¯s advice really struck a chord with her.


    Even if it was just in disgust, the fact that seeing Connor and Maddox instantly shifted her mood, even subconsciously, said enough.


    That wasn¡¯t good. She had to start viewing them asplete strangers.


    Once Josie stepped out, Xylia fixed them each a ss of water in a businesslike way¡ªjust as she would for any other client.


    Connor and Maddox epted the water almost respectfully.


    Maddox¡¯s clear, dewy eyes never left her as he cradled the ss, sipping quietly like he was entranced by water straight from some enchanted spring.


    Xylia cast them a detached nce. ¡°Go ahead, what kind of partnership are you proposing?¡±


    Her attitude was cold and distant.


    Connor and Maddox, though, weren¡¯t phased at all.


    Connor set his ss down, fixing his gaze on Xylia, clearly refusing to look away.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking to buy into yourpany,¡± Connor said, handing over a contract he¡¯d prepared. ¡°Take a look.¡±


    His tone was softer than usual¨C<i>a </i>rare moment of tenderness.


    Connor believed that once Xylia saw both the amount he was proposing to invest and his ns for Xylic Studio, she couldn¡¯t possibly doubt his sincerity.


    ¡®She¡¯ll say yes,¡® he told himself.


    ¡®No way she¡¯d turn me down,¡® Connor thought, unwavering.


    But Xylia didn¡¯t even nce at the contract.


    She paused for a couple seconds, then said coolly, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, you should go.¡±


    She shut him down without so much as a look at his offer.


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    Connor paused for a split second, then hurriedly said, ¡°Xylia, just give the contract a chance. My offer is ten times higher than anything else on the market. You seriously don¡¯t want to


    miss out on this.¡±


    He was clearly getting anxious now.


    Connor knew Xylia well enough to realize that, even if she ran her own studio, she¡¯d never ept an investment from Joshua, just because he was her boyfriend.


    With rtionships, Xylia always kept things clean and simple.


    She¡¯d never let moneyplicate things with someone she cared about.


    Even when they were married, Xylia had never leaned on his connections for her medical career. She¡¯d earned her spot as lead doctor step by step, all on her own.


    Connor knew he didn¡¯t have any right to be close to Xylia now, but if he could get her to work with him on business, maybe he¡¯d finally have a chance to reconnect.


    The more chances they had to meet, considering the feelings Xylia once had for him¡ªand the fact that they had a son¨Cgetting back together was basically inevitable.


    With that thought, Connor swore to himself he¡¯d make Xylia ept his investment, whatever it took.


    Maddox jumped in to back his dad <ol><li>up. </li></ol>


    ¡°Mom, just let Dad invest already! He¡¯s loaded, and of course you should spend his money,¡± Maddox said, all eager and innocent.


    Xylia¡¯s tone remained ice¨Ccold. ¡°Let me repeat myself: I¡¯m not your mom. I have nothing to do with the Ford family anymore.¡±


    She met Connor¡¯s eyes, every word edged with finality.


    ¡°And let me make this clear¨Cno matter how much money you put on the table, I¡¯m never letting you buy in. After I broke away from Jupiton, I never once nned to have anything to do with you <i>or </i>your family again. So if you¡¯ve got nothing else, get out.¡±


    She meant every word. There was no chance she¡¯d ever budge.


    Seeing her like this, Connor couldn¡¯t help but get a little annoyed.


    ¡°Xylia, don¡¯t be so hard¨Cheaded,¡± he said, his tone sharpened. ¡°Starting apany isn¡¯t nearly as simple as you imagine. Now that you¡¯re scaling up, you¡¯re gonna need serious cash flow. What are you just gonna keep going to Joshua every time you need money?¡±


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    ¡°My investment¡¯s ten times the market rate, and I¡¯ll help you expand, too. It¡¯s a win¨Cwin, honestly. If you¡¯re turning this down just because of our history, you¡¯re just letting your feelings get in the way.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s face stayed utterly nk.


    ¡°So you mean to say that with my own abilities and resources, I¡¯m somehow helpless to run thepany unless you swoop in to save me? Is that it?¡± she asked, her tone icy.


    ¡°That¡¯s not how I meant it. I just think you could use a partner,¡± Connor tried, keeping his voice even.


    A faint, biting smile curled on Xylia¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Connor, you¡¯re just as arrogant as ever. Funny how you pride yourself on ¡®knowing¡® me, but you really don¡¯t have a clue. Do you actually believe I¡¯d turn down my boyfriend and crawl to you, my ex who should be long gone? What is it¨Cdo you think you¡¯re irresistible, or do you really think I¡¯m as low as you are?¡±


    Her words dripped with pure contempt, meant to utterly humiliate him.


    Connor¡¯s face darkened in a sh, jaw clenched tight.


    Xylia didn¡¯t blink. ¡°Save yourself some dignity and walk out on your own, unless you want me to have security toss you out. And don¡¯t evere back here just to ruin my day.¡±


    Maddox listened to Xylia¡¯s icy reply, quietly set down his ss, and moved hesitantly over to


    her.


    ¡°Mom, it was me and Dad¡¯s fault before. We came here to apologize. Dad had a car ident a


    the couple days ago, and he¡¯s still not all there¨Chis brain¡¯s not working right now. If he says wrong thing, please don¡¯t be mad at him, okay?¡± Maddox pleaded, his voice gentle and innocent.


    Xylia caught sight of the bandage wrapped around Connor¡¯s head.


    But that had nothing to do with her.


    She didn¡¯t bother insisting Maddox stop calling her ¡°Mom.¡± When his small hand reached for her, she simply sidestepped and stood, heading straight for the door.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re not leaving, I¡¯ll have someone escort you out,¡± she said, her tone t and final.


    Xylia swung the door


    There stood Joshua.


    open.


    His face was dark¨Cshe couldn¡¯t tell how long he¡¯d been there, or what he¡¯d heard.


    Xylia froze for a second, then blurted out, ¡°When did you get here?¡±


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    ¡°You just got here? Did we have guests?¡± Joshua said, his expression dark.


    Xylia, guessing he was annoyed, moved closer and took his hand.


    ¡°We did, but they¡¯re leaving soon,¡± Xylia answered. <ol><li>G) </li></ol>


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    She turned to Connor and Sonny, her tone no longer soft. ¡°I won¡¯t walk you out.¡±


    Connor hadn¡¯t expected Joshua to show up here. ¡®Shouldn¡¯t he be busy at Garcia Group? What¡¯s he doing here?¡® Connor wondered.


    ¡®Isn¡¯t he supposed to be working at the Garcia Group? Why did hee here instead?¡® he questioned silently.


    But when Connor saw Xylia and Joshua holding hands, looking so close and intimate, his face. instantly fell¨Che couldn¡¯t hide his displeasure.


    Sonny was still a little scared of Joshua.


    He still remembered thest time he¡¯d tried to find his mom, and that guy had kicked him


    out.


    Joshua looked super scary to him¨Clike one of those grown¨Cups who could eat little kids for breakfast.


    Sonny shrank behind Connor, not daring to say a word.


    Connor stood up and fixed his gaze on Joshua.


    Their


    eyes met, and the air was thick with an unspoken tension.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, shouldn¡¯t you be running yourpany instead of showing up here?¡± Connor asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.


    Joshua shot back, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be asking you that? You just got to Norhill, and your foundation is shaky at best, but now you want to throw money around on overpriced deals? Ford Group must be having a rough time with a fool like you calling the shots<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Connor was just being passive¨Caggressive, but Joshua went straight for the jugr with his words.


    Connor¡¯s face darkened even more.


    Xylia lowered her head and chuckled softly.


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    Joshua let go of Xylia¡¯s hand, then with practiced case slipped his arm around her waist, gazing down at her with tender eyes.


    ¡°Baby, yourpany is running better than ever. You¡¯ve got so much cash flow, you could go public anytime you want. So why are there people out there so shameless, practically pushing themselves onto you, desperate to invest? I¡¯m pretty sure it¡¯s just because they see how bright your future is and want to get a slice of the action. Don¡¯t let anyone fool you.¡±


    Joshua spoke earnestly to Xylia, paying no mind to Connor standing right there.


    Xylia chuckled. ¡°Rx, give me some credit¨CI¡¯m not that dumb.¡±


    Joshua made a show of letting out a relieved sigh before reaching up to ruffle her hair.


    ¡°See? That¡¯s my smart girl,¡± Joshua grinned, clear pride shining in his eyes.


    Joshua amped up the sugary affection right in front of Connor, evenying on a cutesy voice just to annoy him.


    Xylia¡¯s skin crawled at the disy¨Cshe could¡¯ve sworn she actually shivered.


    She hadn¡¯t realized Joshua could put on such a show; the man reallyid it on thick.


    She turned her head and, just as she expected, Connor looked absolutely furious.


    Even Sonny, sticking close to him, was clearly peeved too.


    Joshua saw the two still lingering and snapped, ¡°What, waiting for someone to throw you out?¡±


    Connor knew sticking around any longer would piss him off beyond belief, so he grabbed Sonny¡¯s hand and made straight for the exit.


    As he passed by Xylia, Connor shot her a cold look. ¡°Hope you don¡¯t regret this.¡±


    Joshua was so pissed off he nearly went to kick Connor, but Xylia held him back just in time.


    ¡°Enough, why get worked up over someone so irrelevant?¡± Xylia said, her tone cool and unbothered.


    Joshua¡¯s mood instantly brightened when he heard her call Connor ¡°irrelevant.¡±


    As Connor and Sonny stepped outside, Sonny couldn¡¯t help but grumble.


    ¡°Dad, you were supposed to apologize to Mom, but you totally chickened out! And then you just started yakking about work instead. You didn¡¯t really mean to say sorry at all. Now Mom¡¯s even more ticked off, and it¡¯s all your fault!¡± Sonny huffed.


    13:09 Mon<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>


    He puffed up his cheeks, ring in obvious annoyance.


    Connor was a bit embarrassed and irritated by Sonny¡¯sint.


    He really was here to say sorry.


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    Sonny¡¯s words at the hospital made a lot of sense, and Connor had genuinely nned to apologize to Xylia.


    But when push came to shove, he just couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it.


    So he ended uping over with an investment contract, figuring it would at least let Xylia save face.


    Honestly, Connor saw that kind of money as nothing short of a favor¨Clike he was doing Xylia a huge service just by offering it.


    But to his surprise, Xylia t¨Cout refused.


    After the way she and Joshua teamed up, putting on that little show just to mock him, there was no way he could actually swallow his pride and apologize.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you get it? Even if we tried apologizing, she wouldn¡¯t forgive us. Her whole mind is wrapped around that bastard Joshua now,¡± Connor spat.


    Just thinking about the way Xylia looked at Joshua made Connor¡¯s blood boil.


    They¡¯d only been divorced for a little over six months, and already Xylia was practically joined at the hip with Joshua.


    ¡®She must¡¯ve been cheating with Joshua even before we split!¡® Connor thought furiously, jealousy twisting in his chest.


    Connor felt like he¡¯d walked right into Xylia¡¯s trap.


    He thought, ¡°That whole divorce thing was just so she could end up with Joshua. And I was such a fool, feeling all that guilt over the earlier drama!¡®


    ¡®Since she doesn¡¯t know a <i>good </i>thing when she sees it, I¡¯m pulling my investment¨Cend of story.¡®


    ¡®<b>It¡¯s </b>not like I¡¯m the one who¡¯s missing out!¡®


    ¡®When Xylia finally crashes and burns with thatpany, she¡¯ll be the one kicking herself!¡®


    Sonny was having none of it¨Che tilted his chin up, fixing his dad with a stubborn, no-


    nonsense stare.


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    ¡°Dad, you¡¯re getting it all wrong. Apologizing isn¡¯t about making Mom forgive us, it¡¯s about owning up when we¡¯ve messed up. If she decides to forgive or not, that¡¯s her business, not ours,¡± Sonny said, not backing down an inch.


    Sonny may have been right, but Connor couldn¡¯t care less at this point¨Cnone of it got through to him.


    He swept Sonny up in his arms, impatient.


    ¡°Just forget it. If she doesn¡¯t want to be your mom, then stop calling her that. Don¡¯t mention it ever again,¡± Connor said sharply.


    ¡°No way!¡± Sonny shot back, his voice firm.


    ¡°Pick one¨Cme or your mom,¡± Connor said, his tone icy, clearly trying to intimidate Sonny.


    Connor¡¯s voice was cold, a clear threat aimed at Sonny.


    Sonny instantly shut his mouth, intimidated by his father.


    Even though he desperately wanted his mom, in that moment, with his dadying down thew, he felt like he¡¯d better stick with Dad.


    He kept quiet, a heavy silence hanging between them.


    Connor scooped Sonny up and strode out without looking back.


    As Connor and Sonny got into the elevator, Josie finally rounded the hallway corner.


    She watched the elevator doors seal shut, then shrugged, giving an exaggerated sigh¨Clike she was some all¨Cknowing spectator in a drama she couldn¡¯t bother to join.


    ¡°And that right there is why you¡¯ll never catch up to Mr. Garcia,¡± Josie murmured, half amused, half pitying.


    With that, she slipped into the office, not sparing them another thought.


    Back in the office, Joshua took Connor¡¯s seat and looked over the investment contract Connor had just dropped off.


    Once he was done, Joshua barely spared it a nce before ripping the contract to pieces and tossing them in the trash.


    ¡°Six hundred thousand and he acts like he¡¯s saving the world. Seriously, what a joke,¡± Joshua scoffed, rolling his eyes.


    Xylia, with a yful smile, handed Joshua a freshly poured ss of water. ¡°Come on, I didn¡¯t


    13:10 Mon, Sep <b>22 </b>


    say yes to him, so quit sulking already.¡±


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    ¡°I¡¯m not mad,¡± Joshua replied coolly, setting the ss down on the coffee table. Then, with a teasing glint in his eyes, he tugged Xylia onto hisp.


    Xylia immediately got flustered, bracing her hands on his shoulders to push herself up. ¡°The office door isn¡¯t even locked! Someone could walk in any second.¡±


    Joshua didn¡¯t let go, his arm locked tight around Xylia¡¯s waist. ¡°We¡¯re not up to anything¡ª unless you¡¯re seriously thinking about locking that door and getting a little wild?¡± he teased, ncing at her with a wicked grin.


    He leaned in, his breath warming her ear, and she felt goosebumps prick her skin.


    Just a second ago, Joshua had been all fired up and annoyed, and now he was shamelessly flirting again¡ªlike he could flip the switch whenever he wanted.


    Xylia gave him a dead serious look and warned, ¡°If you keep this up, don¡¯t even think about setting foot in my office again.¡±


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help but pout, pulling her into his arms and resting his chin on her shoulder.


    His voice was filled with exaggerated hurt, practically whining.


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling so wronged here, and you¡¯re not evenforting me. Now you¡¯re saying I can¡¯te in anymore?¡± he grumbled.


    Xylia knew Joshua was just being dramatic again. She shook her head with a helpless sigh, reaching out to give his cheek a resigned little pat.


    Joshua was already grinning, totally convinced she was about tofort him.


    But Xylia just teased, ¡°Seriously? All this, and you¡¯re already feeling wronged? Guess you¡¯re still too soft, babe. You definitely need more practice.¡±

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    Eventually, Joshua was kicked out of Xylia¡¯s office. He was just too restless and was getting in the way of her work.


    ¡®Seriously, how can anyone get anything done with Joshua around?¡® Xylia couldn¡¯t help but sigh to herself, already feeling a headacheing on from his constant antics.


    Time passed in a blink, and soon, George Jennings¡® birthday banquet was just around the


    corner.


    Xylia had already finished tailoring the outfit and delivered it to Beatrice well in advance.


    On the surface,st time¡¯s incident didn¡¯t seem to have affected their partnership.


    But deep down, only Xylia and Beatrice knew¨Cthere was now an unspoken knot between them.


    Before the banquet, Joshua was all set to help Xylia out and book her a m team.


    But Xylia just smiled and told him, ¡°Kaden already took care of it for me.¡±


    Joshua felt a hint of disappointment swirling in his chest. ¡®Guess I¡¯m just extra around here now,¡® he couldn¡¯t help but think.


    Still, Xylia steeled her heart and kicked Joshua out without a second thought.


    Lately, they¡¯d been all over each other, and honestly, Xylia was starting to feel like she just couldn¡¯t handle all the clinginess anymore.


    After wrapping up her work early, Xylia headed back to the Sadler family home.


    The m team Kaden had booked was already waiting for her.


    When the team leader, Lucy, saw Xylia, her eyes lit up.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, you¡¯re absolutely stunning!¡± Lucy said admiringly,


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but blush at thepliment, mumbling a quick thank you before slipping into the seat at the vanity.


    ¡°It¡¯s a birthday banquet tonight, so let¡¯s go for something elegant and refined,¡± Xylia suggested.


    Lucy nodded, all smiles. ¡°Got it, Ms. Sadler.¡±


    Four hourster, just as Xylia was starting to nod off from boredom, the m team finally


    <b>13:10 </b><b>Mon</b>, <b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>


    finished her makeup.


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    Lucy grinned and brought over the dress she¡¯d been hiding all evening, handing it to Xylia with an excited flourish.


    The gown was <b>a </b>shimmering pink mermaid dress with an elegant off¨Cthe¨Cshoulder cut. Soft, luxurious fur¨Ctrimmed satin cuffs dangled from her arms, striking the perfect bnce between ssy and a touch of mischief.


    Xylia¡¯s figure was the stuff of envy, and once she slipped into the dress, she looked breathtaking¨Cand she knew it.


    Lucy was practically showering her with nonstop praise.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, you¡¯re honestly the most gorgeous person I¡¯ve everid eyes on! I mean, your face glows even without a touch of makeup, and as for your figure¨Cyou¡¯re just born to wear anything! Literally every style looks amazing on you.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but blush, a little embarrassed by all the attention.


    She hurried downstairs to find Kaden.


    All four Sadler brothers were here tonight. As Xylia came down, each looked at her with admiration.


    Hudson Sadler stepped over, circled her, and praised, ¡°No wonder you¡¯re The Sadlers Princess. You¡¯re beautiful, and tonight you look like a goddess.¡±


    Leon Sadler nodded in agreement.


    Leon grinned, teasing, ¡°With that gorgeous face of yours, you¡¯d totally be the hottest star in showbiz. Directors would fight over you for every lead role!¡±


    Hudson rolled his eyes and shot back, ¡°Oh, knock it off. Like we¡¯d let our princess loose in that crazy scene¨Cno way I¡¯m letting showbiz mess up our little sister.¡±


    Hudson turned to Xylia with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t mind Leon, sis, he¡¯s just messing with you.¡±


    Leon clicked his tongue, walked right over, and grabbed Hudson by the back of his cor. ¡°Hey, you brat<b>, </b>it¡¯s been way too long since I put you in your ce¨Care you just begging for trouble or what?<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Come on, let go! I¡¯m not some kid anymore, you know. You really want me to lose face in front of everyone?¡± Hudson grumbled, wriggling to get free.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter how old you get, you¡¯re still my little brother! Like I¡¯d ever care about your pride when ites to keeping you in line.¡± Leon shot back,ughing.


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    Xylia grinned at Leon and Hudson¡¯s usual bickering. She didn¡¯t bother getting involved and just walked straight toward Kaden and Cyrus.


    Once she reached them, Xylia asked, ¡°So, when are we heading out?¡±


    Kaden nced at the time and nodded. ¡°Heading out now should be just right. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Cyrus eyed Xylia¡¯s high heels and couldn¡¯t help but offer a little professional advice.


    ¡°Sis, if you get a chance to sit down at the banquet, take it! Those heels will have your feet aching in no time¨Cand your foot¡¯s barely recovered from surgery, so go easy, alright?¡±


    Xylia grinned, ¡°I hear you, Cyrus.¡±


    Leon and Hudson had stopped bickering by now.


    Slung an arm around each other¡¯s shoulders, they both turned to Cyrus and teased, ¡°Cyrus, you¡¯re turning into a real worrywart. Is this what being a doctor does to you¨Cmakes you act like a total mother hen?¡±


    Leon quickly sidestepped away from Hudson, throwing him under the bus as he pointed over. ¡°That mother hen stuff came from Hudson, not me, Cyrus¨Cdon¡¯t drag me into this!¡±


    Cyrus nced over at Hudson.


    ¡®Hudson felt an icy chill shoot down his spine.¡¯


    Right on cue, Cyrus¡¯s tone turned cool as he spoke up.


    ¡°Kaden, I heard the Carters are looking for a marriage alliancetely. If we don¡¯t want to offend them, why not just send Hudson? I mean, out of all of us brothers, he¡¯s got the most free time on his hands anyway.¡±


    ¡®If they¡¯re calling me a nag, I might as well double down,¡® Cyrus thought to himself with a wry grin. ¡®Hey, making sure my little brothers are set for life¨Cthat¡¯s just part of the big brother gig!¡¯


    Kaden couldn¡¯t deny it¨CHudson was barely ever home these days, always glued to the racetrack.


    Hudson barely got a chance toin before Kaden waved him off, ¡°Don¡¯t even start whining¨CI¡¯ll get back to Mr. Carter tomorrow.¡±


    Not giving Hudson any chance to protest, Kaden simply took Xylia with him and stepped out.


    As Xylia reached the door, she couldn¡¯t help but hear Hudson¡¯s dramatic wailing echoing behind her.


    13:10 Mon, Sep <b>22 </b>


    She chuckled softly and turned to Kaden.


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    ¡°Are you really going to let Hudson meet that Carter girl for a blind date?¡± she teased, ncing


    at Kaden.


    Kaden shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Just one meeting, not a big deal. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s going to hurt him.¡±


    It might¡¯ve been summer, but the night air still carried a hint of chill.


    Seeing how delicate Xylia¡¯s dress was, Kaden shrugged off his suit jacket andid it gently over her shoulders¨Ca quiet gesture that spoke volumes about how protective he was.


    ¡°Yourpany¡¯s just starting out and you¡¯re busier than ever. This is exactly when you need to take extra care of your health,¡± he reminded her, concern clear in his voice.


    Xylia nodded with a warm smile. ¡°Thanks, Big Bro.¡±


    Being back in Norhill, surrounded by the warmth of the Sadler family, was the most rxing and loving time Xylia had ever known.


    For Xylia, these were the moments when she felt truly at peace, wrapped in love¨Cnothing else ever came close.


    George¡¯s birthday banquet was held at the Jennings family estate.


    Perched halfway up a hill, the estate came into view as soon as Xylia rounded the winding mountain road. The Jennings Manor was lit up like a beacon, casting a warm glow over everything.


    At the entrance, dedicated hosts were waiting to greet them.


    As soon as the Sadler family¡¯s car pulled up, a valet quickly stepped forward to guide the driver to the parking area. Meanwhile, Xylia and Kaden got out and hopped into a golf cart that the Jennings family had arranged just for them.


    They cruised along the long, white stone path, heading straight for the main vi.


    As soon as they pulled up to the vi, Xylia spotted Joshua and Rosalind waiting by the


    entrance.


    The moment she stepped out of the cart, Joshua strode right over without a hint of hesitation, his eyes fixed on Xylia.


    Seeing Kaden¡¯s jacket around her shoulders, Joshua immediately plucked it off and tossed it to Rosalind, then smoothly slid his own suit jacket over Xylia. His every move was full of that signature possessiveness¨Cas if he had to make it clear to everyone that she was with him.


    <b>13:10 </b>Mon<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>


    Joshua gave an approving nod, clearly pleased with himself.


    Then he added with a satisfied smirk, ¡°Now that¡¯s much better.¡±


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    Even the always¨Ccool Kaden almost let out an eye¨Croll at Joshua¡¯s possessive little stunt.


    Xylia gave the edge of the jacket a helpless tug, eyes on the vi entrance. ¡°We¡¯re about to head in¨CI really don¡¯t need this anymore.¡±


    She started to slip the jacket off, but Joshua reached out and stopped her.


    Joshua leaned in, his voice low and teasing by her ear, ¡°Did you seriously not notice the bite mark on your right shoulder?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s hand flew up to cover her shoulder, her gaze snapping up to meet Joshua¡¯s¨Ceyes wide with disbelief.


    She had definitely been fooling around with Joshua these past few days¡­ but was there really a bite mark on her shoulder?


    ¡®Wait, he did nibble my shoulder the night beforest,¡® Xylia realized, her cheeks heating up. ¡®But I swear it wasn¡¯t that hard, so howe the damn mark is still there?¡® Now she was just


    mortified.


    Joshua leaned in closer, dropping his voice to a teasing whisper. ¡°It¡¯s still red as ever¨Cyou can totally see it¡­¡± he murmured, sounding almost proud of himself.


    Xylia¡¯s cheeks were on fire.


    She hadn¡¯t noticed a thing until now. If Joshua saw it, then¨CGod, how long has it been showing? From the moment I changed until now?


    ¡®Shoot, did everybody see it?¡® The thought made her want to crawl under a rock.


    No wonder Kaden had draped his jacket over her shoulders¨Ceven though it wasn¡¯t chilly.


    Xylia felt like she¡¯d lost all dignity. She huddled deeper into Joshua¡¯s jacket, not even daring to think about taking it off.


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    Xylia, exasperated, couldn¡¯t help but pinch Joshua¡¯s outstretched hand.


    ¡°It¡¯s all your fault!¡±


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    ¡°I know, I know. Whatever punishment you want tonight, I¡¯ll take it,¡± Joshua grinned.


    ¡°Joshua!¡± Xylia snapped.


    Seeing she was genuinely riled up, Joshua finally stopped teasing her.


    There weren¡¯t any bite marks on his right shoulder at all¡ªJoshua had made the whole thing up just to mess with Xylia.


    When Joshua was helping Xylia get changed, he couldn¡¯t help but be captivated by how absolutely breathtaking she looked in that elegant evening dress.


    There were going to be a lot of men at the g tonight, and Joshua really hated the idea of any of them staring at Xylia.


    Even though most folks knew Xylia was his girlfriend, Joshua couldn¡¯t help but feel possessive -he just didn¡¯t want anyone¡¯s eyes on her but his own.


    Joshua held out his arm, grinning at Xylia.


    ¡°Your brother¡¯s probably heading in with Ms. Webb, so I guess you¡¯ll just have to put up going in with me,¡± he teased.


    with


    It was only then that Xylia noticed Rosalind watching the two of them with an amused look. Suddenly feeling a little bashful, she greeted Rosalind quickly and slipped inside with Joshua,


    Rosalind walked up to Kaden, holding his coat, and arched an eyebrow with a teasing grin.


    ¡°Guess you¡¯ll just have to put up with being my escort tonight, Mr. Sadler,¡± she joked.


    Kaden nced at the coat she handed over, his eyes lingering a little longer on the generous stretch of her fair skin exposed to the air. His gaze grew a shade deeper as he took the coat and draped it over her shoulders.


    ¡°No trouble at all. Let¡¯s go, he replied quietly.


    He took Rosalind¡¯s hand, linked it through his arm, and led her into the vi.


    Walking alongside Kaden, Rosalind could tell he was slowing down on purpose just to match her steps. Her smile grew wider.


    13:10 Mon<b>, </b>Sep 22


    ¡®Who knew this icy guy could actually be so sweet?¡® Rosalind thought to herself.


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    Joshua walked in with Xylia on his arm, and instantly every pair of eyes in the ce zoned in


    on them.


    For starters, Joshua was the one and only heir to the Garcia Group, and he almost never showed his face at these events. So whenever he did make an appearance, everyone wanted to finally see what the infamous Garcia heir was really like.


    On top of that, the word around town was that Joshua¡¯s girlfriend came straight from the Sadler family.


    The Sadlers and the Jennings had been bitter rivals for ages, so seeing someone from the Sadlers show up to the old man¡¯s birthday party had everybody talking. Some folks were even joking that George Jennings might just keel over from rage before the night was over.


    Xylia hadn¡¯t expected to walk in and feel like she was on disy.


    She edged closer to Joshua and whispered, ¡°Why is everyone staring at us like we¡¯re some kind of spectacle?¡±


    ¡°Because we¡¯re just too damn good¨Clooking together. A hot guy and a gorgeous girl like us¨Cof course we¡¯d catch everyone¡¯s eye,¡± Joshua said, shing her a yful grin.


    Xylia shot him a look, speechless at his shamelessness.


    Still, his joke managed to make her rx, even if just a little.


    Trailing close behind Joshua and Xylia were Kaden and Rosalind.


    Both were stars in their own families and regrs at these parties, so everyone in the room had seen them around plenty of times.


    But people couldn¡¯t help but stare when Kaden walked in¨Ceyes widened in shock.


    Xylia showing up with Joshua wasn¡¯t exactly headline news.


    But when Kaden arrived? That was a whole new level.


    That could only mean one thing: Kaden must¡¯ve been personally invited by the Jennings family.


    The Jennings sent Kaden an invite¨Cand he actually showed up.


    Was tonight really the moment when the feud between the Sadlers and the Jennings would finally get settled?


    Mon<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>


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    The crowd was wild with spection, but the ones at the center of all this drama kept their mouths shut.


    Xylia hadn¡¯t eaten anything all evening, and now she was starting to feel hungry.


    With the fancy background music ying, Joshua heard her stomach grumbling from across the room. Grinning, he grabbed her hand and steered her straight to the dessert table.


    He grabbed two pastries for her, piled them onto a te, and then led her over to afy booth set up for the guests.


    ¡°Here, get something in your stomach before you start fading. Who knows when they¡¯ll finally get dinner going,¡± he said, handing her the te.


    Xylia scooped up a bit of cake and yfully offered it to Joshua, holding the spoon up to his lips.


    Joshua looked a little caught off guard at first, but then just leaned in and ate it like it was the most natural thing in the world. ¡°Go on, you should eat. I¡¯m not hungry,¡± he said.


    Xylia stared at him, lost for words.


    ¡®Not hungry, huh? You sure didn¡¯t hesitate snatching that bite,¡¯ she grumbled inwardly.


    She took a small bite of the pastry, and Joshua gged down a waiter to grab her a ss of juice.


    Meanwhile, with Joshua¡¯s high¨Cprofile status, a bunch of people who wanted to cozy up to the Garcia Group starteding over, trying to strike up conversations with him.


    After Joshua had brushed off a few people, Xylia leaned in close to his ear and whispered, ¡°You really should go mingle a bit. God knows what they¡¯ll say about you if you just sit here all night.¡±


    Joshua was just about to reply, but Xylia cut him off with a sly grin.


    ¡°Rx, I¡¯ll stay right here and wait for you,¡± she promised, sounding yful.


    Joshua knew he couldn¡¯t just park himself there forever, so he gently ruffled Xylia¡¯s hair and said, ¡°Alright, wait here for me¨Cno sneaking off.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Xylia replied.


    ¡°And don¡¯t you dare take off that dress,¡± Joshua added, giving her a yful warning look.


    Xylia rolled her eyes,pletely speechless.


    13:10 <b>Mon</b>, <b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>


    As she watched Joshua walk away, she couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    Sometimes, his overprotective side was just too damn cute.


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    After polishing off her pastry, Xylia found herself sitting there with nothing to do, bored out


    of her mind.


    Off in the distance, Kaden and Rosalind were chatting with some people they knew. Rosalind caught Xylia¡¯s eye and raised her ss in a silent toast.


    Xylia raised her juice in return, giving a little cheers back.


    Suddenly, a stranger stepped in between her and Rosalind, blocking her view.


    Xylia looked up and saw a girl who looked like she¡¯d stepped right out of a doll shop, staring down at her with that critical, almost doll¨Clike gaze.


    ¡°Is there something you want?¡± Xylia said, her toneced with annoyance as the girl just stood there silently, sizing her up.


    ¡®Seriously, who just stands there staring like that? How rude.¡® Xylia thought, feeling pretty offended as she decided to speak up first.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re Xylia?¡± the girl finally asked, her tone sharp as she looked Xylia up and down.


    Xylia gave her a confused look. ¡°Do we know each other?¡±


    Yeah, she definitely didn¡¯t know this girl¨Cno way.


    The girl was almost unnaturally cute, dressed in a puffy yellow dress withyers of tulle and wless makeup, looking like some luxury dolle to life¡ªshe was drop¨Cdead gorgeous.


    No doubt about it, Xylia thought, if she¡¯d ever met a stunner like this before, she¡¯d remember for sure.


    The girl scoffed, ¡°Never met you before.¡±


    Xylia could tell right away she wasn¡¯t friendly at all, so she just kept her mouth shut.


    ¡°If you¡¯ve already got a boyfriend, then why¡¯d you let yourself get set up with my brother?¡± the girl said sharply, ring at her.


    ¡°Set


    up with your brother?¡± Xylia protested, feeling totally wronged. ¡°I swear, I don¡¯t even know your brother.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb! My brother saw you the day he flew back,¡± the girl snapped, her voice icy.


    ¡®So it¡¯s Kevin she¡¯s talking about,¡® Xylia realized.


    She stood up and looked the girl right in the eyes.


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    ¡°Seriously, I was just having dinner with Beatrice that night. Your brother only showed up because Beatrice brought him along¨Che¡¯d just flown in and needed some food. Trust me, it wasn¡¯t some arranged date. You¡¯ve totally got the wrong idea,¡± Xylia said, sounding both exasperated and firm.


    Hearing how upfront Xylia was, Cecilia wasn¡¯t sure what to believe for a second.


    ¡°Yes, just like you said, I already have a boyfriend. Why would I need to be set up with anyone else?¡± Xylia replied, keeping her voice calm but firm.


    ¡°What if you¡¯re actually two¨Ctiming and got a thing for my brother?¡± Cecilia pressed, her wordsing out sharp.


    Xyliaughed, shaking her head. ¡°Why would I even risk hurting my boyfriend for someone I don¡¯t even know?¡± she fired back.


    Cecilia just mmed up, unable toe up with aeback.


    Her face was a picture of tangled¨Cup confusion.


    Honestly, even she had to admit¨Cher brother couldn¡¯t hold a candle to Joshua, neither in looks nor in family background.


    She couldn¡¯t see why Xylia would ever hurt Joshua for her brother.


    Yeah, that didn¡¯t make sense at all.


    Just as Cecilia was about to say something, an unfamiliar voice chimed in.


    ¡°That¡¯s because Ms. Sadler has a bit of a reputation,¡± the neer added with a mocking


    tone.


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    Xylia turned toward the voice and spotted a familiar figure. She couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. ¡®Great, trouble really does follow me everywhere!¡®


    It was Tessa.


    As Tessa approached, she saw the impatience on Xylia¡¯s face and felt indignation bubbling up


    inside her.


    ¡®Xylia acts like she¡¯s suddenly too good for everyone just because her fortunes changed? Now she has the nerve to give me that look!¡® Tessa thought.


    Xylia stayed silent, but Cecilia Jennings, hearing Tessa¡¯s words, turned to her. ¡°What do you mean by that? What kind of baggage are you talking about?¡±


    Tessa stepped up to them, shooting Xylia a cold, cutting re before turning to Cecilia. ¡°Because Xylia was already hooking up with Joshua before she even split with her ex¨Chusband. Would you call that cheating during her marriage, or just straight up two¨Ctiming?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s face went cold.


    ¡°Tessa, you should really watch what you say. nder can get you in serious trouble,¡± Xylia said, her voice icy.


    ¡°Oh? So you did it, but can¡¯t stand people talking about it?¡± Tessa sneered.


    Tessa crossed her arms, eyes full of contempt as she red at Xylia.


    ¡°You were already getting cozy with Joshua before you ever split with Connor. Who knows when you two actually started?¡± Tessa added, letting her disdain show.


    Cecilia shot Xylia a wary, unfriendly look after hearing what Tessa said.


    ¡°You really have a crush on my brother? Listen up¨Csomeone from the Sadler family is never setting foot in the Jennings family, so you can forget about it,¡± Cecilia sneered.


    Just as Xylia was about to retort, Tessa cut her off with a snide chuckle.


    Tessa nced over at Cecilia. ¡°So, you¡¯re Miss Jennings from the Jennings family?¡±


    Cecilia tilted her chin up, her voice dripping with pride. ¡°That¡¯s right. Today¡¯s my grandfather¡¯s birthday banquet.¡±


    Tessa pressed on, ¡°You¡¯re still young, so maybe you don¡¯t understand. Some women go after men not because they want to walk down the aisle¨Cthey just want to mess around and grab


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    whatever benefits they can.¡±


    Cecilia narrowed her eyes. ¡°So you¡¯re saying Xylia went on a date with my brother not because she actually wants to marry him, but just to get her hands on his money?¡±


    ¡°Please, Ms. Sadler isn¡¯t hurting for cash. But considering all the drama between the Jennings family and the Sadlers, for all you know she¡¯s only cozying up to your brother to get some sweet revenge¡­¡± sneered Tessa.


    ¡°Tessa!¡± Xylia coldly interrupted, her voice cutting through the tension.


    ¡®She¡¯s seriously crossing the line,¡® Xylia thought, her patience snapping.*


    ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be a guest invited by the Jennings family, but here you are, inciting them and trying to stir up bad blood between our families. What exactly are you after?¡±


    Tessa let out a scornfulugh. ¡°What am I after? I¡¯m simplyying out the facts for Miss Jennings. Don¡¯t forget, I know exactly what kind of games you y.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Xylia stepped right up to Tessa, her gaze fixed and unflinching.


    ¡°I know perfectly well what kind of person you are, Ms. Schultz. You¡¯re just here stirring things between me and her, hoping to create drama between the Jennings family and the Sadlers¡ª all so Connor can get ahead. Tell me, if I called you out in front of everyone at the banquet right now, who do you think they¡¯d believe?¡±


    Obviously, no one would be quick to trust either side.


    But these were all power yers from elite families, the kind who¡¯d made an art out of scheming¨Cthey¡¯d never just buy into anyone¡¯s story.


    Instead, they¡¯d size up the situation, weighing the influence of the Sadler family, the Jennings family, and the Ford family, who were still neers in Norhill.


    In no time, they¡¯d know exactly whose toes they could step on and who was best left alone.


    Tessa might not be the brightest, but even she knew when to weigh her options and y it safe.


    She wanted to nt seeds of discord between Xylia and Cecilia, but she wasn¡¯t looking to start an all¨Cout war.


    After all, she really had been smearing Xylia¡¯s reputation, and drawing too much attention would only end up hurting herself.


    She shot Xylia a cold re before turning on her heel and walking away.


    <b>13:10 </b>Mon<b>, </b>Sep <b>22 </b>


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    Even though Tessa didn¡¯t say another word before leaving, that little seed of doubt was already taking root in Cecilia¡¯s mind.


    She walked away without losing a thing.


    After Tessa left, Xylia turned to Cecilia.


    The girl nced at her with obvious suspicion, lips pressed into a thin line¨Cshe clearly wasn¡¯t dropping her guard anytime soon.


    Xylia just shrugged, her voice breezy. ¡°Rx. I couldn¡¯t care less about your brother.¡±


    Xylia settled back onto the couch, picked up her juice, and took a slow, rxed sip.


    Cecilia had thought Xylia would try to exin herself, but instead, she showed zero reaction; actingpletely unbothered, she just sat down and started nibbling on her snack.


    Cecilia decided to watch Xylia more closely.


    Instead of leaving, she helped herself to a small cake and sat across from Xylia.


    Xylia didn¡¯t say a thing.


    Before the banquet officially kicked off, everyone was mingling and chatting freely.


    From across the room, Connor caught sight of Xylia¡ªand immediately felt his mood take a nosedive. ¡®Why is she here?¡®


    He¡¯d just watched her walk in with Joshua, sticking close by his side, and the whole scene left Connor fuming inside.


    Back when they were married, Xylia could never be bothered toe with him to any of these stuffy parties. Now here she was, showing up as Joshua¡¯s date. Just great.


    ¡®Has her feelings for Joshua really run that deep now? Was she ever this devoted¡­ to me?¡® Connor thought bitterly.


    He politely brushed off a few people trying to strike up conversation, holding his wine ss as he made his way toward where Xylia was sitting.


    Before he could make it over, someone stepped in and blocked his path.


    It was Kaden.


    Kaden gave Connor a cold, dismissive look. ¡°We meet again, Mr. Ford.¡±


    Connor instantly felt uneasy when he saw Kaden.


    13:10 Mon<b>, </b>Sep 22


    After all, Kaden had embarrassed him pretty badly recently.


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    But since Connor was trying to get a foothold in Norhill now, he knew better than to disrespect the Sadler family.


    The fewpany heads he¡¯d just brushed off were nothingpared to the Sadlers. With Kadening over personally, Connor had no choice but to put on a friendly face for him.


    Connor¡¯s eyes flicked over Kaden¡¯s shoulder, and sure enough, Joshua was already by Xylia¡¯s side¨Che¡¯d beaten Connor to it.


    Connor gritted his teeth inwardly, hating that he¡¯d missed his chance to get there first.


    Still, he forced a polite smile and raised his ss toward Kaden, masking his frustration with practiced grace.


    ¡°Mr. Sadler, it¡¯s been a while¡­¡± Connor said.


    Just as Connor leaned in to clink sses, Kaden coolly pulled his own away, leaving Connor hanging in the most obvious way.


    Without even sparing Connor another nce, Kaden turned and walked away.


    For Connor, it was straight¨Cup humiliating¨Che could almost feel the sting on his face.


    Connor¡¯s cheeks burned as he stared at Kaden¡¯s retreating back. ¡®Isn¡¯t he supposed to be Xylia¡¯s so¨Ccalled lover? How does he just stand there, saying nothing, while she gets all chummy with Joshua? Doesn¡¯t even have the guts to speak up,¡® Connor sneered to himself.


    ¡®Is Kaden actually afraid of Joshua?¡® Connor mused in disgust.


    The more Connor thought about it, the more he found Kaden utterly contemptible.


    ¡®So much for the Sadlers I used <i>to </i>try to buddy up to¨Cthey¡¯re just spineless, after all!¡® Connor scoffed internally.


    Connor¡¯s gaze drifted back to Xylia. Joshua was leaning down, murmuring something to her, and Xylia gave him a light, annoyed smack¨Ceven though her cheeks were pink.


    Her gesture had a girlish, yful ir, her face flushed with embarrassment.


    Seeing them together, acting all lovestruck like two teenagers, was enough to set Connor¡¯s nerves on edge.


    Connor clenched his jaw, swallowing down his pride and jealousy¨Cthen strode over anyway.


    Meanwhile, Xylia was ring at Joshua, clearly warning him to watch his mouth or she¡¯d


    <b>13:11 </b>Mon, <b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>


    ignore him for the rest of the night.


    Joshua finally got the hint and backed off.


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    Cecilia, sitting across from them, bit her lip, her face flushed as she watched the whole exchange. It was hard to tell what was going through her mind.


    Xylia caught Cecilia¡¯s flustered expression and figured she and Joshua were probably making the girl ufortable. With an apologetic nce, she tugged at Joshua, suggesting they should head out.


    Before they had a chance to move, someone¡¯s shadow loomed over them. Xylia looked up- Connor was standing right there, blocking their way.


    ¡°Xylia, we meet again,¡± Connor greeted, his tone strangely polite but with tension simmering underneath.


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    Connor didn¡¯t spare Joshua even a single nce. His attention waspletely focused on Xylia, his gaze as gentle as the softest affection between lovers.


    Xylia felt goosebumps prickle across her skin. She ignored him.


    But Cecilia Jennings, standing nearby, caught the way Connor was looking at Xylia. Remembering what Tessa had just said, she blurted out, ¡°So this is your secret second ship?¡±


    Xylia: ¡­


    ¡®Guess Cecilia didn¡¯t hear a single thing I just said earlier.¡¯ Xylia thought to herself.


    ¡°Secret second ship?¡± Connor repeated Cecilia¡¯s words, his gaze still fixed on Xylia. He raised an eyebrow, seemingly unfazed by the term.


    Joshua¡¯s expression darkened, and he was about to speak up, but Xylia ced her hand on his arm to stop him, silently telling him to let her handle it.


    Xylia looked straight at Cecilia and said, ¡°Miss Jennings, just because you¡¯re younger doesn¡¯t give you a free pass to say anything you want. Are you even aware your words are bordering on nder?<b>¡± </b>


    Cecilia pressed her lips together, ring stubbornly at Xylia, refusing to back down.


    Xylia turned away from Cecilia and faced Connor head¨Con.


    ¡°There¡¯s this saying online that I really like¡ªa proper ex should be as good as dead. Yet you keep showing up and pulling the whole zombie act in front of me. Are you hoping I¡¯ll call someone to haul you off already?¡±


    Connor¡¯s expression darkened for a moment.


    He immediately picked up on the shift¨CXylia wasn¡¯t burning with anger or shing him looks of disgust anymore. Now she seemedpletely chill, like he barely registered in her world.


    Her voice had lost that harsh chill; instead, it was just t and emotionless.


    But her words still hit as sharp as ever.


    When the realization hit that Xylia was actually over him, Connor¡¯s face went from stormy to pale in a sh. He frowned, staring at her, shaken.


    ¡°Xylia, I swear I didn¡¯t mean to bother you,¡± Connor managed, sounding a little uneasy.


    :


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    ¡°Well, you are seriously getting on my nerves. Maybe take a second and realize how downright shameless you¡¯re acting,¡± Xylia fired back, absolutely ruthless.


    Xylia didn¡¯t cut Connor any ck at all.


    Joshua had been just hanging back on the couch, worried Xylia might get the short end of the stick, ready to step in and stand up for his girlfriend at any second.


    But to his surprise, she was fiercer than ever¨Cherebacks had Connor totally speechless. ¡®Guess I don¡¯t need to worry about her at all,¡® Joshua thought, secretly impressed.


    Every word from Xylia hit Connor right where it hurt, fueling his frustration with each


    sentence.


    He shot back in a cold voice, ¡°Xylia, do you really have to go this hard on me?¡±


    Joshua had been silent for a while, slouched on the couch with thatzy lift of his eyes. The silver hair and the icy look in his eyes just made him seem even more cool and aloof.


    ¡°Mr. Ford, if you¡¯d quit stirring things up, my girl wouldn¡¯t being at you like this,¡± Joshua said evenly.


    Connor¡¯s grip tightened instinctively around his wine ss.


    Joshua¡¯s constant, deliberate digs every time they met really got under his skin.


    But this was George Jennings¡® birthday celebration, and if he started drama with any of the guests, he¡¯d just end up embarrassing himself.


    With an indifferent, almost chilly nce at Joshua, Connor shifted his gaze back to Xylia.


    Connor said with quiet confidence, ¡°Work¡¯s going smoothly for you right now, and you don¡¯t feel threatened. Sooner orter, you¡¯ll be the one reaching out to me.¡±


    Back in the day, no matter what went wrong, Xylia¡¯s first thought was always to find him.


    Connor hadn¡¯t given up¨Che just thought Xylia was acting this way because she was still hurting from what he¡¯d done.


    The way he saw it, there was no way their eight years together couldpare to the short fling she¡¯d had with Joshua. That bond was stronger, deeper¨Cshe couldn¡¯t possibly care less about him than she did about Joshua.


    He was sure that Xylia would eventuallye looking for him again.


    With that, Connor turned and walked away.


    <b>13:11 </b>Mon, <b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>


    Cecilia shot a look at Xylia and Joshua, then nced over at Connor.


    She hesitated for a couple of seconds before getting up and trailing after him.


    Inside the vi, the AC kept everything perfectly cool andfortable.


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    In the heart of the party, the dance had started up, elegant music drifting through the vi while couples¨Cone after another¨Cstepped onto the floor together.


    The women¡¯s gowns came in every imaginable style and color, sparkling like fresh blooms, each one vying for the spotlight.


    Joshua stood up, gently taking Xylia¡¯s hand, his voice teasing, ¡°Should we join the dance?¡±


    Xylia hesitated for a second, then shook her head with a small smile.


    ¡°Why not? Don¡¯t know how to dance?¡± Joshua raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.


    Joshua raised an eyebrow.


    If Xylia hadn¡¯t quit dancing for her family, she¡¯d still be leading the show. Seriously, it¡¯s not like she doesn¡¯t know how to dance.


    Xylia pointed to her outfit. ¡°This evening gown really isn¡¯t meant for dancing, especially since I¡¯m still wrapped up in your jacket.¡±


    She was sporting a fitted mermaid dress that pretty much kept her steps tiny. And Xylia was way too particr about proper dancewear¨Cthere was no way she¡¯d ditch Joshua¡¯s jacket right now, but wearing a suit jacket over an evening gown? That just killed the look for her.


    Thinking it over, Xylia decided it was better to sit this one out.


    Joshua¡¯s eyes dropped to Xylia. With her hair elegantly swept back and held in ce by a simple jade pin, her makeup making her skin look like porcin, she stood there sparkling- even in that not¨Cso¨Cmatching getup, she was impossible to ignore.


    He couldn¡¯t help swallowing.


    Someone this captivating¨Cyeah, Joshua would rather keep her out of the spotlight than let everyone else start eyeing her up.


    Joshua suddenly slipped his arm around Xylia¡¯s waist, pulling her against him. He dipped his head to whisper in her ear, his voice teasing, ¡°How about giving me a private dance when we get home? I¡¯ve never seen your moves before.¡±


    Dancing had be almost foreign to Xylia now.


    <b>13:11 </b>Mon, <b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>


    ¡®Her ears went warm, turning a bit pink. Xylia thought, flustered.


    She turned to meet Joshua¡¯s fiery gaze and felt her chest flush hot.


    ¡°Give me a little time to get ready,¡± Xylia said softly.


    ¡°Sure thing, I¡¯ll be waiting,¡± Joshua replied, his voice warm.


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    Joshua watched as Xylia turned away, her cheeks burning with shyness, and honestly, it just turned his heart to mush.


    His girl¨Ceven the way she breathed seemed to m right into his chest and leave him reeling.


    Over on the dance floor, petals of color kept blooming, but here in Joshua¡¯s arms, with Xylia pressed close, they soaked in a stolen sliver of quiet right in the middle of all that chaos.


    George Jennings¡® birthday bash was set up outside.


    Once the dance in the banquet hall came to an end, everyone started making their way toward the garden at Jennings Manor.


    The garden had been thoughtfully set up well in advance.


    Mounds of fresh flowers lined the space, and each round table sported its own gorgeous floral centerpiece.


    Even though it was nighttime, floodlights and scattered streetmps bathed everything in light, making it almost as bright as day.


    Joshua led Xylia over to a random round table and pulled out a chair for her.


    ¡°No clue why the Jennings family would invite the Sadler Brothers, but hey, it¡¯s George Jennings¡® birthday bash. Both families will keep things nice on the surface, no doubt. If anything gets messed up, just let your big bro handle all the drama¨Cyou just focus on eating, drinking, and having fun,¡± Joshua teased, shooting Xylia a yful wink.


    Xylia chuckled, imagining how Kaden would react if he heard that¨C¡®Would he go so crazy some actual steam would shoot out of his ears<b>?</b><b>¡® </b>she wondered.


    Speak of the devil¨CKaden and Rosalind showed up out of nowhere and plopped down right next to Joshua and Xylia.


    The two settled in, joining the little group at the table.


    Kaden nced over at Joshua, lookingpletely unfazed.


    ¡°You¡¯re not the Sadler family¡¯s son¨Cinw yet, so you¡¯d better mind your words. Otherwise,


    you can forget about marrying my little sister,¡± Kaden warned coolly.


    Joshua beamed, holding Xylia¡¯s hand with a yful grin.


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    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not picky¨CI could just marry you instead,¡± he joked, tossing the words in Kaden¡¯s direction.


    Xylia could only stare at him, totally at a loss for words.


    Rosalind couldn¡¯t help but snort withughter.


    ¡°Never thought ruthless Garcia would crack a joke like that. I gotta say, you sure know how to surprise me,¡± Rosalind snickered.


    Joshua shot an eyebrow at Kaden, then turned to Rosalind and teased, ¡°Honestly, my brother would probably say yes if you proposed to him.¡±


    Rosalind perked up, tossing an expectant nce at Kaden.


    I


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    :


    Kaden tactically sipped his tea, trying to keep a straight face.


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    He knew, even if he wanted to, he could never be as shameless as Joshua, calling him ¡°bro¡± all buddy¨Cbuddy before even putting a ring on Xylia¡¯s finger.


    Kaden thought, ¡®Guys like that¨Ceven if I ever have to marry into someone¡¯s family, you better believe I¡¯d think twice before jumping in.¡¯


    Rosalind caught the look on Kaden¡¯s face and rolled her eyes at him.


    Rosalind grinned. ¡°Xylia really knows how to pick ¡®em. Mr. Garcia isn¡¯t just handsome¨Che¡¯s head over heels for you. You managed to bag the best guy on earth.¡±


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help but smile at that.


    Xylia nced at Kaden. The moment Rosalind dropped the ¡®best guy on earth¡® line, Kaden looked like he¡¯d just swallowed a lemon¨Chis face was practically green.


    Xylia cleared her throat. As his little sister, she figured she ought to help him out.


    ¡°So, Rosalind, where does my brother stack up in your world rankings?¡±


    Kaden could only stare, at aplete loss for words.


    Joshua burst outughing.


    His eyes curved like crescent moons, white teeth shing. The face that was once cold and carried a hint of gloom suddenly lit up, as if sunlight cut through thick clouds¨Cso bright you couldn¡¯t look away.


    Even Xylia had rarely seen himugh so openly and with such genuine emotion¨Cit caught her off guard.


    Without even realizing it, she just stared, unable to tear her eyes away.


    Joshua reached out, his warm fingertips brushing softly against Xylia¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°Do you think I look good when Iugh?¡± he teased.


    Xylia nodded honestly, not hiding her feelings for a second.


    Even though Joshua was alwaysid¨Cback with her, his smile was usually a little mischievous. But now, without any of his usual teasing¨Cjust pure, heartfeltughter¨CXylia thought he was


    even more attractive.


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    :


    Joshua was very satisfied with how lost Xylia looked in his smile.


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    Kaden couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit disgusted seeing his sister get all look¨Cthirsty over Joshua.


    He always thought Xylia was the calm, reserved type.


    Why did she let Joshua lead her around by the nose every single time?


    Joshua leaned in closer, propping his chin on one elbow, that cheeky smile disappearing from his lips¨Cbut his eyes stayed soft as he gazed at Xylia.


    ¡°If you wanna stare, go ahead¡ªyour man¡¯s all yours,¡± he said, full of yful affection.


    Xylia swatted his face, nudging him forward to face the right way.


    ¡°Behave, will you? We¡¯re outside.¡±


    ¡°Oh, fine¡­¡± Joshua muttered, pretending to give in.


    Joshua dropped the smile and put on his best wounded¨Cpuppy look, acting all aggrieved.


    Rosalind couldn¡¯t hold back and broke into a fit ofughter at his dramatics.


    Kaden took a tactical sip of water, keeping his poker face locked in, but the little smirk at the corner of his eyes totally gave him away.


    ¡°Xylia! I finally found you!¡± Be called out, her voice bubbly with excitement.


    Be seemed to appear out of thin air,tching onto Xylia¡¯s hand and refusing to let go.


    She was totally rocking her princess look¨Chair swept back, a glittering crown set with diamonds that shed and sparkled on her head.


    Xylia blinked in surprise.


    ¡°Be, when did you get here?¡±


    Linda walked over with Howard, following right behind Be. She greeted Xylia warmly, ¡°Ms. Sadler, it¡¯s been ages¨Cso good to see you again.¡±


    Howard chimed in, ¡°Be¡¯s been going on about wanting to see you since this afternoon. She nearly started crying when she couldn¡¯t find you in the banquet hall just now.¡±


    Linda carried herself with the same grace and quiet confidence as she had back at the police


    station.


    Be grabbed Xylia¡¯s hand and gave it a little shake.


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    ¡°Xylia, you look so pretty today!¡±


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    Xylia leaned down and yfully booped Be¡¯s nose. ¡°You¡¯re looking gorgeous too, Be. Our little princess is stealing the spotlight tonight.¡±


    Be blushed, ducking her head, then stepped forward to snuggle right up against Xylia.


    Her sudden clinginess made Linda and Howard pause in surprise, not quite expecting Be to be <b>so </b>attached.


    Linda and Howard were both taken aback¨CBe never clung to them like this at home.


    Howard greeted Joshua and the others at the table.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, Ms. Webb, Mr. Sadler, let me arrange a better table for you,¡± Howard offered, realizing their current spot was too far from the main action.


    This location was right at the end of the banquet, and considering these were some of Norhill¡¯s most well¨Cknown guests, it really wasn¡¯t fitting for them to be seated here.


    Joshua replied politely, ¡°Mr. Jennings, this is George¡¯s birthday celebration. We¡¯re all here to pay our respects¨Chonestly, there¡¯s no need for special treatment. We¡¯re happy to sit right


    where we are.¡±


    Rosalind waved off the suggestion. ¡°But seriously, why isn¡¯t George Jennings out here yet?¡±


    ¡°He should be out any moment now.¡±


    Howard didn¡¯t push the issue, ncing at his watch before turning to Linda.


    ¡°Grandpa¡¯s almost here. Let¡¯s get ready,¡± he said.


    Linda nodded and crouched down to talk to Be. ¡°Be, we need to go see your great- grandpa now. We¡¯lle back to y with Xyliater, okay?¡±


    Be pouted but reluctantly let go of Xylia¡¯s hand.


    She wasn¡¯t thrilled about it, but today was George¡¯s birthday, and she¡¯d promised to help him blow out the candles.


    Be looked up at Xylia, her eyes shining with excitement. ¡°Xylia, you have to wait for me! I¡¯lle find youter¨CI¡¯ve got a present for you!¡±


    ¡°Wait, I get a present too?¡± Xylia blinked, surprised.


    Be nodded fiercely. ¡°Don¡¯t go anywhere, okay? You have to stay right here!¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡± Xylia replied with a little smile.


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    Only then did Be, reluctant as ever, follow her parents away, ncing back at Xylia the


    whole time.


    Once they left, Xylia nced over at Kaden.


    ¡°Hey, seems like no one¡¯s treating us any differently,¡± Xylia remarked.


    Kaden nodded. ¡°Yeah, when Howard was talking just now, he didn¡¯t act weird with us at all- guess we really are just here for the party.¡±


    Rosalind jumped in, ¡°You know, your families have had bad blood for years. Now that Howard took the initiative to invite you all to George¡¯s birthday, maybe it was at George¡¯s request¨Che probably hopes to settle the score while he¡¯s still around.¡±


    Rosalind jumped in, ¡°You know, your families have had bad blood for years. Now that Howard took the initiative to invite you all to George¡¯s birthday, maybe it was at George¡¯s request¨Che probably hopes to settle the score while he¡¯s still around.¡±


    Joshua poured Xylia a ss of water.


    ¡°At the end of the day, the feud between your families is from way back. It¡¯s just about run its course with you guys,¡± he said.


    Xylia pushed the ss away. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like it.¡±


    Joshua frowned. ¡°Your lips look dry. Aren¡¯t you even a little bit thirsty?¡±


    Xylia pressed her lips together, feeling a slight sting.


    She finally took the ss and took a small sip.


    The water was perfectly warm¨Ceverything tonight was handled with such thoughtful care.


    Rosalind couldn¡¯t help but feel a little jealous, seeing how thoughtful Joshua was with Xylia.


    Out of nowhere, a warm ss of water appeared in front of her. She looked up past the elegant hand and locked eyes with someone who lookedpletely unfazed.


    ¡°Your lips might look fine, but I think you¡¯re actually thirsty,¡± Joshua remarked, his tone soft with just a hint of teasing.


    Rosalind nearly wanted to toss the water right into his face.


    Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and on the circr stage not far away, the Jennings family helped an elderly man with silver hair onto the tform.


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    He wore a traditional¨Cstyle suit that Xylia had personally designed and crafted for him, giving him a gentle yetmanding presence.


    A six¨Ctiered cake was slowly rolled onto the stage, and George took the microphone.


    ¡°Thanks so much for joining this old man¡¯s birthday bash! Eat, drink, and be merry¡ªthere¡¯s some fun stuff nned forter, so I hope you all enjoy yourselves,¡± George announced with a smile.


    His slightly raspy, yet powerful voice radiated vitality¨Cclearly, he¡¯s still going strong.


    He didn¡¯t bother with any stiff formalities¡ªjust kept it chill and said what needed to be said, making sure everyone felt at ease instead of stuffy.


    After that, it was time for the usual birthday routine: the Jennings family gave their birthday wishes to George, blew out the candles, and cut the cake.


    George cut two slices of cake, and Howard grabbed them, tagging along as George strolled over to Xylia¡¯s table.


    When they got there, George nodded for Howard to set the tes down.


    ¡°You must be the Sadler siblings, yeah? These are for you,¡± George said, smiling warmly.


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    Xylia and Kaden were both stunned by what George Jennings did.


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    Just being invited by George was surprising enough, but who¡¯d have thought he¡¯d actually put his status aside and personally bring cake over for us juniors?


    And that genuine, cheerful grin on his face wasn¡¯t just for show either.


    He really felt like a kindly old grandpa looking out for the younger generation.


    Xylia and Kaden took the slices of cake, ncing at each other before turning to George. With genuine smiles, Xylia said, ¡°Thank you, Grandpa George.¡± Kaden chimed in, ¡°Yeah, thank you, sir.¡± Their voices carried a warmth that matched the old man¡¯s kind gesture.


    George¡¯s eyes, usually clouded with age, lingered on Xylia, suddenly lighting up with a touch of nostalgic warmth.


    ¡°You really remind me of your grandmother¨Cthere¡¯s quite a resemnce,¡± he remarked fondly.


    Xylia had heard Kaden talk about Grandpa George and their grandparents before, so with him watching her now, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little embarrassed.


    She tilted her head and nced over at Kaden, hoping he might say something.


    Kaden spoke up, ¡°Grandpa George, if my grandparents were still here, they¡¯d definitely havee today to celebrate your birthday.¡±


    George finally tore his gaze from Xylia.


    With a wistful look in his eyes, he stared out into the dense darkness, as if searching for something lost, fixated on a distant spot.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ If only they were still here, the Sadlers¨CJennings families would never have ended up like this.¡±


    After a while, George finally turned his gaze back to Kaden.


    <i>¡°</i>Come here, let¡¯s have a talk¨Cjust the two of us as grandfather and grandson,¡± George said softly, but with a certain gentle authority.


    Kaden followed George out.


    Be came over with another slice of cake and offered it to Xylia. ¡°Sis, have some cake!¡±


    13:12 Mon<b>, </b>Sep <b>22 </b>


    Xylia now found herself with two slices of cake.


    She looked hesitant. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can eat anymore, Sis.¡±


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    She¡¯d already indulged in so many pastries back in the banquet hall, and honestly, she was getting a bit sick of sweets now.


    Be didn¡¯t push her, though. Instead, she turned and ced the cake in front of Joshua.


    ¡°Then let the bad brother have it,¡± she said, sticking her tongue out yfully.


    Joshua raised an eyebrow at the nickname, shooting Be a sideways look.


    ¡°Why am I the bad brother?¡± he asked, feigning hurt.


    Be nted her hands on her hips and stared Joshua down, her little face full of indignation.


    ¡°You totally are the bad brother! Last time you called my dad toe and drag me away, just so I couldn¡¯t hang out with Sis!¡±


    She was still holding that grudge, all this timeter.


    Joshua just shrugged, clearly not bothered in the slightest.


    He leaned in, shing a wicked smile at Be. ¡°Because Sis belongs to me¨Cnot to you.¡±


    Be stood there,pletely stunned, like she¡¯d just been struck by lightning.


    Xylia gave Joshua a mock¨Cscolding re, clearly fed up with his antics.


    ¡°Seriously, why do you have to tease her like that?¡± Xylia said, her tone full of gentle reproach as she nced at poor Be.


    ¡®Just look at her¨Cshe¡¯s totally petrified because of you,¡® Xylia thought, concern bubbling up


    inside her.


    But Joshua didn¡¯t seem the least bit guilty.


    Just then, Beatrice showed up with Kevin and Cecilia right behind her.


    Cecilia nced at Xylia, her re from earlier fading into a look that was almost¡­ sympathetic.


    Beatrice offered Xylia a friendly nod. ¡°Ms. Sadler, thanks again for the Tang suit you made for my father.¡±


    ¡°He really loves it, you know. Not everyone has talent like yours,¡± Beatrice added sincerely.


    ¡°You tter me, Beatrice, Xylia responded modestly, keeping her tone low¨Ckey.


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    Maybe thanks to that awkward setupst time, they weren¡¯t nearly as distant or awkward now -they could actually talk without the initial walls.


    Kevin, sharp as ever, made himself invisible in the crowd, melting into the background


    scenery.


    As the conversation continued, the crowd around them started to buzz with curiosity.


    The long¨Cstanding feud between the Sadlers and the Jennings had been a hot topic for years, and everyone had been expecting some drama when the Sadler siblings showed up at George¡¯s birthday party.


    But instead, George had calmly taken Kaden aside, and even Xylia seemed to be getting along just fine with the Jennings kids.


    The other clite families just stared at each other,pletely lost.


    ¡®Wait, did the beef between the Sadlers and the Jennings get squashed ages ago and nobody realized?¡® folks wondered, surprised.


    ¡®Or did we just never get the memo?¡® people wondered, scratching their heads.


    Connor and Tessa were seated nearby, catching bits of the hushed conversations swirling around them.


    Tessa remained totally unfazed, while Connor just sat there, staring at Xyliapletely lost in thought.


    ¡®A Sadler kid?¡®


    ¡®What does that mean?¡® The crowd couldn¡¯t help but whisper among


    themselves.


    ¡®Xylia¡­ Sadler¡­ Wait, is Xylia really from the Sadler family?¡®


    ¡®So does that mean Xylia is a Sadler daughter, and Kaden is her brother?¡® More guests started to connect the dots, their shock growing.


    Connor felt like all the half¨Cformed suspicions swirling in his mind had suddenly locked together into one blindingly clear realization.


    Back in Jupiton, he¡¯d crossed paths with Xylia and the Sadler boys¨Cthose guys had gone totally ballistic on him for her sake.


    Even in Norhill, every time he¡¯d bumped into Xylia, he¡¯d always figured she was just some ordinary girl mysteriously mixed up with the Sadler brothers.


    But looking back now, it all clicked¨CXylia taking the Sadler name wasn¡¯t some dramatic act to burn her bridges with the past. She was never just a side character in the Sadler family¡¯s story. She was their long¨Clost daughter, finally found.


    Connor felt like his brain was buzzing¨Che just couldn¡¯t ept the truth staring him in the


    face.


    But then he nced over at Tessa, who was sitting right next to him, listening to the whispers around them. Her face was pale, but there wasn¡¯t a hint of surprise in her expression.


    And that¡¯s when Connor realized¨CTessa must¡¯ve known all along.


    He turned to her, his voice low and steady. You knew Xylia was a Sadler, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Tessa was totally caught off¨Cguard by the sudden question¨Cher brain just nked for a second.


    It was honestly one of the only times Connor had bothered to speak to her in days¨Cand of course, it was still all about Xylia.


    She snapped back, blurting out, ¡°Yeah, I knew. I even told you.¡±


    Connor blinked, looking genuinely confused. ¡°Wait, when did you ever tell me that?¡±


    ¡°That day you kicked me out of the vi. Tessa said, sounding a little exasperated. ¡°I literally asked if you knew why Xylia was using the Sadler name. You acted so chill about it, I assumed you already knew.¡±


    Finally, Connor actually spoke to her after days of cold shoulder. Tessa knew this was her chance to close the distance between them.


    Her tone lost its usual edge, turning all soft and sweet as she replied.


    Connor thought back and realized, yeah, Tessa really had asked him that question that day.


    But back then, he hadn¡¯t really thought much of it.


    The idea that Xylia could be one of the Sadlers had never even crossed his mind.


    If Xylia was really a Sadler, starting apany would¡¯ve been no big deal for her. Even without Joshua¡¯s help, she¡¯d always have Kaden in her corner.


    With that kind of backing, it made sense she was <b>so </b>confident¨Cno wonder she could shut down his investment offer without even blinking.


    As the truth hit him, Connor¡¯s face turned dark as a storm cloud.


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    ¡®If Xylia¡¯s actually a Sadler, why didn¡¯t she say something earlier?¡® Connor thought, his mind in overdrive.


    He¡¯d been worrying like a total fool, stressing about whether she had enough capital or whether someone would try to y her.


    All that worrying? Turns out, it was nothing but a bad joke¨Cand he was the punchline.


    Watching the party over there, with everyoneughing and looking so close, Connor felt like he was getting punched right in the gut. It was almost too much to bear.


    Before he knew it, his fists were balled up tight¨Che couldn¡¯t help himself.


    Totally clueless about the storm raging inside Connor, Tessa just saw this as her chance. ¡®<b>If </b><b>I </b>can keep this up, maybe he¡¯ll finally help me out. I seriously have no one else to turn to now- he¡¯s all I¡¯ve got,¡® she thought.


    She was about to say something, but Connor shot to his feet, barely touching his food, and strode straight out of the garden without another word.


    Panicking, Tessa didn¡¯t think twice¨Cshe jumped up and chased after him.


    Kaden only came back when the banquet was winding down. He looked as calm as ever- guess that talk with George must¡¯ve gone pretty smoothly.


    ¡°Kaden,¡± Xylia called out, ¡°Miss Lynch said to let you know she¡¯s got a private dinner set up for you in the dining room. She wanted you to head over when you got back.¡±


    Kaden waved off the idea. ¡°Nah, it¡¯s cool¨CI already ate with Grandpa George. Tell her thanks, though.¡±


    Xylia was just about to ask Kaden what he¡¯d talked about, but he nced over at Rosalind instead.


    ¡°Ready to go home?¡± he asked her.


    Rosalind had just had a bit to drink, her face flushed. When Kaden spoke to her, she blinked in surprise, not quite registering that he was addressing her.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she murmured, nodding a little dazedly.


    Only then did Kaden turn to Joshua and Xylia. ¡°I¡¯m gonna take her home first. Don¡¯t stay out toote, okay? And if you¡¯re noting back, at least shoot me a text so I know you¡¯re safe.¡±


    With that, Kaden led Rosalind away.


    Xylia tugged on Joshua¡¯s arm, whispering, ¡°Is it just me, or does Kaden seem a little sad right


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    Joshua leaned close to Xylia, copying her earlier move, and whispered in her ear, ¡°It¡¯s most likely something George told your brother.¡±


    Xylia just gave him a look, speechless. ¡®Of course it¡¯s got everything to do with Grandpa George, but what I really want to know is what he actually said,¡¯ she thought.


    ¡°Still wanna y, or shall we head back?¡± Joshua murmured.


    Just as Xylia was about to answer, someone tugged gently at her hand. She looked down and met Be¡¯s adorable big eyes. ¡°Sis, I have a present for you,¡± Be said.


    Xylia nced at Joshua. ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll have to hold off for now.¡±


    Be grabbed Xylia¡¯s hand and led her through the garden, past the long pavilion out by the main estate, all the way to a private guesthouse sitting five hundred meters west of the main house.


    ¡°This is where I live with Mom and Dad!¡± Be grinned. ¡°And your present¡¯s waiting in my room. Come on, let¡¯s go!¡±


    When they stepped inside, the servants bustled around, flipping on lights and setting out tea.


    By the time Xylia walked into Be¡¯s cozy little room, the tea was already arranged, piping hot and ready for them.


    Xylia thanked the staff and watched as Be headed over to her little dressing room, ncing back secretively while pulling out a pink box.


    Be walked over, cheeks flushed, and shyly handed the pink box to Xylia.


    ¡°Open it<b>, </b><b>sis</b><b>!</b>¡± Be urged, excitement sparkling in her eyes.


    Xylia lifted the lid; inside was a pair of dance shoes.


    Xylia was genuinely surprised.


    She blinked at Be, asking, ¡°Be, why did you get me dance shoes?¡±


    ¡°I saw a video of you dancing online,¡± Be replied.


    Thinking about that clip, Be¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement, her whole face lighting up.


    ¡°You looked gorgeous! Out of everyone, I spotted you right away. Mom said you dance like a butterfly breaking out of its cocoon, but to me, you¡¯re a butterfly gathering nectar¨Cbeautiful


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    and amazing at what you


    do!¡±


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    Xylia could pretty much guess which video Be was talking about¡ªit must¡¯ve been the one Be found by ident when Howard Jennings was doing his usual snooping around.


    That clip came from a huge dance tour her coach put together years ago. Xylia was the main dancer in that show and spent six months training nonstop just to get every move perfect.


    It was her very first time stepping onto a stage that massive¨Cand, as fate would have it, also


    thest.


    After that, she got married and sacrificed all the things she was passionate about before- trading her old dreams for a new life.


    Later, her injury sealed the deal; it meant she¡¯d never set foot on stage again.


    ¡°Sis<b>, </b>could you wear these dance shoes and get back on stage? I really want to see you perform,¡± Be said softly, her eyes full of hope.


    Xylia closed the box with a smile and gently pinched Be¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°I can¡¯t go back to dancing on stage because of my injury,¡± Xylia exined, her voice gentle. ¡°But if you¡¯d like, I can put on these shoes and dance just for you on your birthday. How does that sound, Be?¡±


    Be¡¯s face fell when she heard about Xylia¡¯s injury. She softly grabbed Xylia¡¯s hand, concern etched in every word.


    ¡°Where are you hurt<b>, </b><b>sis</b><b>? </b>It¡¯s totally fine if you can¡¯t dance¨CBe doesn¡¯t need to see you perform. You just need to get better, okay?¡±


    Kids never hide their feelings¨Cher concern was pure and genuine.


    Xylia¡¯s heartpletely melted.


    She smiled and gave Be¡¯s soft, chubby hand a gentle squeeze.


    ¡°My injury¡¯s healed now,¡± Xylia reassured her. ¡°I just can¡¯t dance on stage anymore, but I can still do an asional dance.¡±


    Be looked a bit let down at first, but when she remembered about Xylia¡¯s injury, she quickly hid her disappointment.


    Trying her best tofort Xylia in a very grown¨Cup way, Be said, ¡°It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t dance<b>, </b><b>sis</b><b>. </b><b>The </b>clothes you design are beautiful! Mom told me that as long as you¡¯re really good at one thing, that¡¯s enough.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart grow soft and warm.


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    After leaving the Jennings family estate, Xylia hugged that pink box close, like she was holding onto a piece of her heart.


    She carried it all the way home, treating it as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.


    Joshua knew Xylia had just agreed to dance for Be on her birthday, and honestly, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit left out.


    As they sat together in the back seat, he scooted closer to Xylia, his voice full of simmering envy. ¡°So¡­ what about me?¡±


    Xylia shot him a sidelong nce, brows raised with confusion. ¡°What¡¯s up with you?¡±


    ¡°You promised you¡¯d dance for me too,¡± Joshua said, almost sulking.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who begged me to dance for you,¡± Xylia teased him.


    ¡°And you agreed,¡± Joshua grumbled, sounding almost petnt.


    Xylia instantly caught onto it¨CJoshua was actually jealous of Be.


    ¡®Seriously? Jealous of a little kid?¡® Xylia thought, amused. ¡®Joshua is way too childish sometimes.¡¯


    She smiled, set the pink box aside, took his hand, and said gently, ¡°I told you I¡¯d need to get ready, remember? Just give me a bit of time, okay?¡±


    Joshua was satisfied with her answer. He took her hand and gently drew her into his embrace.


    As soon as Connor stepped out of the Jennings family estate, he pulled out his phone and called his assistant.


    ¡°Look into everything that¡¯s been going on with Xylia while she¡¯s been in Norhill.¡±


    Back then, Connor figured Xylia had nothing and once life got tough, she¡¯de back to him looking for help.


    Just like she always did¨Cturning to him whenever she needed someone to lean on.


    But now, everything had changed.


    Xylia wasn¡¯t just with Joshua¨Cshe¡¯d also started her ownpany in Norhill. And most importantly, she had a family now.


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    ¡­


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    She was surrounded by people who loved her and would always support her. With all that in her life now, how could she possibly turn to him again?


    Panic began to creep out from the depths of his heart, spreading through him.


    For the first time, Connor realized that all this time, the belief Xylia woulde back to him was just an excuse he¡¯d used tofort himself.


    Xylia wasn¡¯t evering back to him.


    ¡®No!¡® Connor¡¯s thoughts screamed in protest.


    ¡®No way. I won¡¯t let this happen!¡®


    ¡®There¡¯s no way Xylia could just throw away eight years with me¨Cshe can¡¯t forget all that so fast!¡®


    Connor yanked open the car door and climbed inside.


    Tessa ran out, calling after him, but Connor didn¡¯t notice her at all¨Che just got in and drove away, leaving her behind.


    The cool night breeze whipped against Tessa¡¯s bare skin, making her hair and dress flutter wildly. Alone in front of the sprawling Jennings family gates, her figure seemed heartbreakingly small and solitary.


    Meanwhile, back in Jupiton, Ziggy had been struggling to keep the Schultz family together ever since they¡¯d been hit with those mysterious attacks. Now, the Schultz Group was little more than an empty shell.


    Ziggy sat at his desk, rubbing his temples in frustration.


    More than half a year had gone by, and he was nothing like the energetic, self¨Cassured man he used to be.


    His once¨Csturdy frame was now thin and gaunt, dark circles hung below hollow eyes that had lost their rebellious spark.


    ¡°Mr. Schultz, you don¡¯t have to keep struggling,¡± his assistant said with a weary sigh. ¡°Garcia Group wants to take us over. Let¡¯s just cut our losses and sell.¡±


    Ziggy¡¯s assistant had been hanging on with him all this time, but he was at his limit. He was really hoping Ziggy would just let it go.


    He kept urging Ziggy to just give up.


    13:13 Mon<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>


    But Ziggy wasn¡¯t ready to throw in the towel.


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    Giving up the Schultz Group would be like tossing away all the blood, sweat, and tears they had poured into their legacy over the decades. From then on, the Schultz family wouldn¡¯t even have a ce to stand in Jupiton¡¯s high¨Csociety circles¨Cthey¡¯d bepletely left out in the cold.


    Ziggy had spent his life in luxury, always used to being on top. The idea of losing everything and getting looked down on by all those arrogant heirs¡ªthose snobby trust¨Cfund kids who¡¯d love to stomp on him¨Cwas something he just couldn¡¯t ept.


    He mmed his hand down on the desk, frustration boiling over.


    ¡°And Tessa, too! What is she doing, picking a fight with Connor at a time like this<b>? </b>It took so much work to finally get Connor to invest in the Schultz Group and bail us out of that crisis. Now with Connor¡¯s money gone, tell me¨Chow am I supposed to fill up this hole?¡±


    Seeing Ziggy was ignoring his advice, the assistant couldn¡¯t help but sigh in resignation.


    Ziggy turned and snapped at him, venting his anger, ¡°Why are you sighing? Listen up¨Cthe Schultz Group isn¡¯t going down that easily!¡±


    É«


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 Tricked 251

    <b>Chapter </b><b>251 </b>


    The assistant kept quiet, silently weighing his options about quitting.


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    The Schultz Group has been just an empty shell for ages now¨Ccan¡¯t even pay his sry, so who¡¯s even talking about reviving it?


    He¡¯d figured out these past few days that the Schultz Group was being deliberately targeted.


    And it was the Garcia Group leading the attack, making no effort to hide it.


    Back when Xylia and Joshua¡¯s rtionship was blowing up online, the assistant was pretty sure Joshua was helping Xylia get her revenge.


    On top of all that, the Sadler Group seemed to be making sneaky moves against the Schultz Group too.


    A bunch of deals that were supposed to go to the Schultz Group got swiped by the Sadler Group¨Cthey stole them right out from under their noses.


    And when he thought about how Xylia switched her surname over to Sadler after moving to Norhill, the assistant figured their feud probably had something to do with Xylia¡¯s family drama.


    Maybe Xylia had finally found her real family¨Cthe Sadler brothers.


    As far as he was concerned, he was just a regr employee¨Cstuff like this was way above his pay grade.


    He just needed a stable gig to keep his family afloat.


    If the Schultz Group couldn¡¯t even pay him properly, he had to jump ship before things got any worse.


    Just as he was about to bring up quitting, Ziggy suddenly stood up.


    ¡°Is everyone trying <i>to </i>bail right now?¡± Ziggy asked.


    The assistant hesitated before answering, ¡°Yeah, pretty much.¡±


    ¡°Go tell those who stick it out with thepany¨Conce the Schultz Group makes aeback, they¡¯ll get the reward they deserve. But if anyone betrays and jumps ship now, good luck surviving in Jupiton,¡± Ziggy said coldly.


    The assistant mmed up, not daring to mention quitting again.


    Ziggy had always been the untouchable prince of the elite¨Cwhen it came to making someone¡¯s life hell, there was nobody who could stop him.


    After the assistant left, Ziggy¡¯s phone buzzed¨Cit was Tessa calling.


    He was starting to get really sick of her.


    Ever since the Schultz Group hit rock bottom, Tessa hadn¡¯t given a damn about the family. All she cared


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    about was marrying Connor and making it big in the entertainment industry.


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    Now that Connor had dumped her, she was suddenly acting like she gave a shit about them again.


    Ziggy answered the phone.


    ¡°Ziggy, I¡¯ve got some huge news for you,¡± Tessa said, her voice all excited.


    ¡°Oh yeah? Connor¡¯s finally gonna throw us some cash?¡± Ziggy said.


    ¡°Typical, Ziggy thought, his toneced with sarcasm.


    Sure enough, Tessa whined, ¡°After everything that¡¯s happened between us, he won¡¯t even look my way. How am I supposed to even ask him for money now?¡±


    She was doing her usual cutesy act, trying to get his sympathy like she always did.


    In the past, if Ziggy heard his little sister in trouble, he wouldn¡¯t have thought twice about helping her out. He¡¯d even feel sorry for her.


    But now? He didn¡¯t feel even a shred of sympathy¨Cher needy attitude just annoyed him.


    Unlike Tessa, Xylia had always cared deeply about him and the family. Even when times were tough for her, she kept it all inside so they wouldn¡¯t worry.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not asking for money, then I¡¯m hanging up,¡± Ziggy said coldly.


    ¡°No, don¡¯t hang up, Ziggy! Seriously, it¡¯s super important!¡± Tessa begged, her voice shrill.


    Ziggy clenched his jaw, irritation bubbling up inside him.


    ¡°Just spit it out. What¡¯s so important?¡± he said, clearly annoyed.


    ¡°Hey, Ziggy, did you hear Xylia goes by Xylia now?¡± Tessa said, sounding like she was breaking news.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a name change. Why should I care?¡± Ziggy replied, not even bothering to hide his indifference.


    Xylia had cut them offpletely; changing herst name was only natural. Nothing surprising about it¡ª why make such a fuss?


    ¡°But Sadler isn¡¯t just a surname¨Cshe¡¯s the Sadler family¡¯s daughter, the one who¡¯s been missing for years!¡± Tessa blurted out, barely able to contain her excitement.


    ¡°What?¡± Ziggy snapped upright, totally stunned.


    ¡°You mean she¡¯s really the Sadler family¡¯s lost daughter?¡± he asked, disbelief clear in his voice.


    Tessa spilled everything she knew, making sure Ziggy understood that when Xylia was hanging out with Kaden and the others, it wasn¡¯t romance or drama¨Cthey¡¯re real siblings, not like that at all,


    Ziggy listened, and for a moment, he wasn¡¯t sure what to think.


    A hint of worry shed across his face; then, suddenly, he smacked his palm down on the table.


    A


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    ¡°So you¡¯re telling me the Sadler family¡¯s beening at us behind the scenes because of Xylia? She¡¯s actually trying to get back at us?¡± Ziggy demanded, his anger boiling over.


    ¡°I¡¯m not really sure, but maybe this news could be useful for the Schultz Group right now, don¡¯t you think?¡± Tessa said, almost teasing.


    With a sly, satisfied grin, she hung up the phone.


    Ziggy was practically grinding his teeth, just imagining Xylia pulling Joshua and the whole Sadler family in to gang up on the Schultz Group.


    Come on¨Cthey¡¯d looked after her for years. Before Tessa returned, Xylia was basically the Schultz family¡¯s little princess, with everyone spoiling her rotten.


    They bent over backwards to make her happy.


    Who would¡¯ve thought she¡¯d turn around and scheme against them the moment she came back? Talk about biting the hand that fed you.


    Ziggy mmed the inte and snapped, ¡°Book me the earliest flight you can find to Norhill¨CI¡¯m heading out right now!¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t go to the office today. Leaving Joshua behind, she set off to meet someone who meant a lot to her.


    Inside the caf¨¦.


    As soon as Xylia stepped in, she spotted her teacher sitting by a table.


    Her eyes grew hot with emotion. She hurried over, a happy grin lighting up her face, addressing her teacher.


    ¡°Teacher,¡± Xylia called out warmly.


    Grace was so excited to <i>see </i>Xylia that she jumped to her feet, took Xylia¡¯s hands, and checked her from head to toe, her eyes shining with unshed tears.


    ¡°I¡¯m just d you¡¯re here. That¡¯s all that matters,¡± Grace said, her voice trembling with emotion.


    Xylia and Grace had a bond that went way back¨Cover ten years as teacher and student, and honestly, even closer than family.


    Xylia started dancing practically as soon as she could walk, and out of a sea of hopefuls, Grace spotted her at a nce. She personally took Xylia under her wing, teaching her the art of ssical dance with hands¨Con care.


    When Xylia was about to marry Connor, Grace had tried to talk some sense into her. ¡°Trust me, marriage might sound perfect, but once you walk away from what you truly love, you¡¯ll end up just feeling hollow inside,¡± Grace said, her voice sincere. Xylia could still remember those words¨Cthey¡¯d stuck with her all these


    years.


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    Back then, Xylia really thought she and Connor were chasing their dreams together. She was totally convinced she made the right call.


    But after all those years, she had to admit¨Cher teacher was right.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Miss Chase. I feel like I¡¯ve let you down,¡± Xylia said, her voice thick with regret.


    ¡°Oh, you silly girl. There¡¯s nothing to apologize for¡ªit¡¯s your life, your choices. You¡¯ve always been my brightest star, and that never changed,¡± Grace replied, her eyes shining with pride.


    Xylia choked up for a second, blinking back tears.


    She wiped her eyes and grinned, helping Grace to sit down with her at the table.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat first, Miss Chase! It¡¯s been way too long©¤I¡¯ve missed you so much, we¡¯ve gotta catch up properly,¡± Xylia said, sounding genuinely happy.


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Grace replied, smiling warmly.


    After they¡¯d ordered, Grace sat across from Xylia with perfect posture, her back straight and a gentle smile on her face as she watched her.


    Grace was all ss¡ªa truly dignifieddy, with decades in the dance industry behind her. Even just sitting there, she carried herself with grace and elegance, every movement refined from years of discipline.


    ¡°Your cheeks have such a healthy glow, and there¡¯s real light in your eyes. I can tell you¡¯ve been doing well since the divorce,¡± Grace remarked warmly.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but think of Joshua¨Cthe first image that sprung to her mind.


    Her cheeks went a little pink, and she smiled warmly at Grace. ¡°I really am doing great these days. How are you, Grace?¡±


    Xylia nced Grace up and down and shed a rare, yful grin.


    ¡°You look healthy and full of energy. Your husband must be taking wonderful care of you,¡± Xylia joked.


    They bantered lightheartedly, trading old stories andughter, totally at ease together.


    Xylia shed a rare, gentle look of longing¨Ca fondness she hadn¡¯t let show in ages.


    Only Grace ever saw this side of her¨Cthe quiet attachment reserved just for her teacher,


    Today, Xylia decided she¡¯d spend some real quality time with Grace, letting all her work pile up¨Cher teacher came first.


    ¡°Grace, I haven¡¯t been in Norhill for long, and I haven¡¯t really had a chance to see the city yet. Once you¡¯re done with this tour, how about I take you out and we explore it together?¡± Xylia offered warmly.


    Xylia linked arms with Grace as they headed toward the Grand Hall together,


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    The touring schedule was packed, but Xylia made sure to be there with Grace, watching over the dance troupe¡¯s rehearsal¨Cjust being the teacher¡¯s support.


    ¡°That sounds great,¡± Grace replied, grinning. ¡°We¡¯ve never taken time off to just hang out together as teacher and student¨Cthis is the perfect chance to rx for once.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s bring the old man along too¨Cmake it a family day out!¡± Xylia said with a grin.


    ¡°Ha, who knows if that grumpy old fellow is even willing to go anywhere far,¡± Grace teased, chuckling.


    As they chatted and made their way to the rehearsal studio, Xylia walked in¨Conly to find herself face to face with thest person she wanted to run into today.


    Standing right there was¡­ Tessa.


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    Tessa hade to check in on Grace at the studio, tagging along with a few fans who had been waiting outside. She was hoping to show everyone how close she was with her teacher.


    To her surprise, she saw Xyliaing in together with Grace.


    Xylia had her arm linked with Grace¡¯s, the twoughing and chatting like best friends¨Ctheir bond looked closer than ever.


    Tessa¡¯s fists clenched.


    ¡®Xylia¡¯s running her own studio now, so what¡¯s with all this sucking up to Grace?¡® Tessa thought, jealousy ring in her chest.


    ¡®Seriously? With her health, she actually thinks she¡¯s got a shot back on stage?¡® Tessa scoffed inwardly.


    Even though she was feeling bitter inside, Tessa didn¡¯t let it show on her face. She slipped on her best smile and strutted over to Grace like it was second nature.


    ¡°Ms. Chase, I came to visit you!¡± Tessa chimed sweetly, her expression perfectly bright.


    Tessa was also one of Grace¡¯s students.


    But since Tessa became the principal dancer, she stopped showing Grace the respect she used to, so Grace naturally grew less close to her.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been working hard,¡± Grace said, her voice polite but a little distant.


    Tessa shed a sweet smile, stepped right up to Grace, and took hold of her hand, putting on her cutest, most


    affectionate act.


    ¡°Oh Ms. Chase, what are you saying? It¡¯s never a hassle for your student to drop by and see you!¡± Tessa gushed, shing her brightest smile. ¡°I brought some fruit for you and the girls. I almost got bubble tea since it¡¯s so popr these days, but I figured none of us want those extra calories messing with our dance figures¨Cso I went with something lighter.¡±


    Grace smiled. ¡°That¡¯s thoughtful of you.¡±


    Tessa took the opportunity to subtly edge Xylia aside, sliding her own arm through Grace¡¯s and walking forward with her as if she belonged there.


    ¡°Let me join you, Ms. Chase. I¡¯d love to see how the girls are doing,¡± Tessa chimed in cheerfully.


    Grace nodded, then looked back at Xylia. ¡°Xylia,e join us¨CI¡¯m sure you can give the girls some pointers.¡±


    Xylia stepped up to Grace¡¯s other side, copying Tessa¡¯s move, acting like Tessa didn¡¯t even exist.


    ¡°Ms. Chase, honestly, it¡¯s been ages since Ist danced. There¡¯s no way I could keep up with these girls,¡± Xylia said humbly.


    5 vouchers


    ¡°Oh,e on, Grace sighed. ¡°You¡¯re the most gifted student I¡¯ve ever had. If you hadn¡¯t married so early, you¡¯d be shining on stage right now. These girls still have plenty to learn¨Cgive them some guidance, will you?¡±


    Xylia smiled. ¡°Got it, Ms. Chase.¡±


    Beside them, Tessa clenched her jaw.


    She¡¯d held the principal dancer spot for years and had never once heard Grace call her gifted. And now she was actually saying Xylia was the most talented of them all.


    ¡®A cripple? What kind of talent could she possibly have?¡® Tessa thought, bitterness twisting inside her.


    Not far away, Tessa¡¯s fans who hade in with her watched as Tessa and Grace strolled up arm¨Cin¨Carm, looking cozy and close. People started whispering about how great their teacher¨Cstudent rtionship seemed.


    But just as they were soaking it in, another girl suddenly came over and struck up a lively conversation with Grace, looking like they were best friends.


    Even though the fans couldn¡¯t catch the whole exchange, they definitely heard Grace say, ¡°You¡¯re the most gifted student I¡¯ve ever had.¡±


    That one line made the fans instantly lose their cool.


    ¡®If she¡¯s the most gifted student Ms. Chase has ever seen, then what about Tessa? She¡¯s been our principal dancer for years!¡® one fan whispered, a mix of confusion and indignation in her voice.


    ¡®So, is it all about talent now? Does hard work even count?¡® another fan muttered, annoyed at the implication.


    Tessa had already reminded her fans not to cause any drama when they came in.


    So, they kept their irritation to themselves and started secretly googling on their phones, desperate to figure out who this girl was.


    What they found made their jaws drop.


    Turns out she¡¯s Xylia Schultz¨Cthe ssic ¡°imposter heiress¡± from that family drama, the one who used to be Tessa¡¯s older <b>sis</b>.


    But now, she was going by Xylia, and rumor had it she was dating Joshua.


    ¡®No wonder Ms. Chase is praising her so much, one fan muttered. ¡®Joshua¡¯s basically Garcia Group royalty. Now that Xylia¡¯s with him, of course she¡¯s getting all this attention.¡¯


    ¡®What else is Grace supposed to do? Of course she has to hype her up,¡® one fan scoffed.


    The fans put their phones away, still shooting dirty looks at Grace and her group,pletely annoyed.


    ¡°Xylia thinks she¡¯s the real deal just because shended herself a rich boyfriend? Please! Typical gold digger vibes. Just coz she¡¯s mooching off some big shot, now she thinks she¡¯s some dance prodigy?¡± another fan


    snarked.


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    ¡°Tessa¡¯s the legit principal dancer year after year¨Cshe¡¯s earned her spot fair and square! Compared to her, that imposter heiress <b>is </b>seriously out of her league. How does she have the nerve to im she¡¯s talented?¡± someone else grumbled.


    ¡°Pfft! She¡¯s got nothing on Tessa. Zero talent, honestly! We¡¯ve got to win this back for Tessa and show everyone who really deserves the spotlight!¡± one fan scoffed, rallying the group.


    The group huddled together, whispering and plotting their next move.


    Out on stage, the dancers glided and spun, their movements light and elegant, captivating everyone in the


    room.


    Xylia hadn¡¯t watched a performance up close in ages, and as she watched, she felt that old itch¨Ca familiar longing to jump in and dance herself.


    When the dance ended, the students gathered around, waiting for Grace¡¯s feedback.


    But instead of diving right in, Grace turned to Tessa and Xylia. ¡°What do you two think? Did you notice anything?¡±


    Tessa jumped in first. ¡°Everyone did pretty well, and the whole routine felt really tight. Just a heads up¨Csome of you girls might want to pay more attention to how you use your hands. Put a bit more energy in those


    movements.¡±


    While talking, Tessa pointed out a handful of the dancers on stage.


    The girls she named were practically buzzing¨Cgetting tips from Tessa herself, the former principal dancer! They nodded eagerly, all saying they¡¯d fix it for sure.


    Grace didn¡¯t give her own opinion right away¨Cshe just turned toward Xylia, a hint of anticipation in her eyes. ¡°What about you, Xylia? Got any thoughts?¡±


    ¡°Xylia, what do you think?¡± Grace asked, her tone inviting.


    Xylia nced at the lead dancer, then pointed casually. ¡°Hey, is the lead dancer nursing an injury or something?¡±


    ¡±


    The lead dancer¡¯s face instantly paled, and she hurried to defend herself.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hurt!¡± she blurted out, maybe a little too quickly.


    But Xylia definitely caught the look of panic in her eyes.


    ¡°You messed up two moves<i>,</i>¡± Xylia said calmly. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just a memory slip¨Cit¡¯s because your leg is hurt. One of your moves was too slow<i>, </i>and the angle on the other one was way off.¡±


    Grace¡¯s eyes lit up with admiration as she looked at Xylia.


    Tessa couldn¡¯t keep quiet¨Cshe stepped up to defend the lead dancer.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this the first time you¡¯ve seen this routine, Xylia? How can you be so sure her slower pace wasn¡¯t


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    intentional? And as for her angle¨Cmaybe that¡¯s exactly what the choreography called for,¡± Tessa fired back, her tone sharp.


    Xylia just shrugged. ¡°Ms. Chase choreographed this piece herself, and I know her style inside out. The spots the lead dancer tripped up on stick out like a sore thumb. If you¡¯re really that skeptical, why don¡¯t you check if she¡¯s actually injured?¡±


    She was clearly rattled.


    She dreaded anyone finding out about her injury¨Cif they did, she knew she might get dumped for the understudy before the big performance.


    After all these years, this was her only shot at the lead. No way she was giving it up now.


    She looked at Grace, desperate to hold onto her ce. ¡°Ms. Chase, I twisted my ankle right before going on. The mistakes were my fault, but I swear it won¡¯t mess up the show two days from now.¡±


    Xylia knew the lead dancer was just faking it about her ankle, but she kept quiet and let it slide for now.


    The moment Tessa overheard the lead dancer¡¯s excuse, she realized Xylia had guessed it spot on.


    Tessa gritted her teeth, shooting the lead dancer a cold, pointed re.


    ¡°So, are you really hurt or not? If an injury¡¯s going to drag down the whole show, maybe it¡¯s time to let the understudy step up. We owe it to everyone on that stage,¡± Tessa said, not bothering to sugarcoat her words.


    Her face set in a determined, no¨Cnonsense look¨Cthe embodiment of someone who truly cared about the stage and took responsibility seriously.


    Not far away, Tessa¡¯s fans watched, absolutely fangirling over how cool andmanding she looked.


    For all the sapiosexuals in the room, seeing her that sharp and meticulous was basically a dreame true.


    No way were they missing out on this power move¨Cher fans instantly whipped out their phones to record every second of Tessa owning the moment.


    The fans already had their posts nned out.


    ¡°Tessa is so serious when she¡¯s working! That¡¯s our dedicated, ambitious principal dancer¨Cno wonder we love her so much!¡®


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    The lead dancer on stage grew even more panicked, her voice trembling as she pleaded, ¡°I swear I won¡¯t ruin the performance in two days. Please, let me dance!¡±


    Tessa stayed cold and unyielding. ¡°Her promise doesn¡¯t mean anything to me¨Constage, there¡¯s no room for error,¡± she thought.


    ¡°If I really let you perform and you make a mistake, can you bear all the consequences?¡±


    The lead dancer knew Tessa was a big deal; if she put her foot down, Ms. Chase might actually swap her out for the backup.


    She immediately looked at Grace, desperation clear in her eyes.


    ¡°Ms. Chase, please don¡¯t take this chance away from me! I¡¯ll be on painkillers, I swear I won¡¯t ruin the show in two days.¡±


    Grace couldn¡¯t just stay silent. She looked at the lead dancer with a gentle gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Why don¡¯t you tell me about your injury first?¡±


    The lead dancer gritted her teeth, slipped off her dance shoes, and bared the sole of her right foot for everyone to see.


    Her foot was streaked with blood, the wound split open again from all that dancing, and fresh blood was trickling down.


    Grace frowned, her voice gentle but concerned. ¡°How did this happen to your foot?¡±


    The lead dancer winced, ¡°I was sorting out my stuff, and a nail somehow fell into my shoe¡­ It stabbed right through my foot.¡±


    Grace, Tessa, and Xylia exchanged nces. Anyone could tell what was really going on. ¡°That nail¨Cin¨Cthe¨Cshoe story? Total cover¨Cup, Xylia thought.


    That was just an excuse.


    Dance shoes aren¡¯t like regr slippers you can carelessly shove your feet into. Serious dancers always pick


    first, sliding them on carefully to feel the soft sole against their skin.


    them


    up


    If a nail had actually fallen inside, the lead dancer would¡¯ve noticed it the moment she put her shoes on.


    The only way something like this could happen is if someone deliberately fixed a nail to the sole¨Chidden just enough to pierce her foot without being detected.


    Anyone could guess who was behind this.


    The real issue was that her foot injury was an unpredictable variable¨Cletting her perform was just too much of a risk for the stage.


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    On the flip side, this lead dancer <b>was </b>Grace¡¯s hard¨Cearned choice, and it was her very first time stepping onto the big stage. Missing this chance could seriously mess up her whole career.


    They wouldn¡¯t swap her out unless there was absolutely no other choice.


    Grace and Xylia exchanged a look, and just as Xylia was about to chime in, Tessa cut her off.


    ¡°This is a risk you brought on yourself. Honestly, I think it¡¯s safer to bring in the understudy¨Cno one can predict what might happen with a foot injury that serious.¡±


    Tessa was adamant about recing the lead dancer.


    Then, pausing for a moment, she turned to Grace. ¡°But that¡¯s just my two cents. In the end, it¡¯s your decision, Ms. Chase.¡±


    The lead dancer¡¯s eyes were brimming with tears as she begged, ¡°Ms. Chase, I can endure it. I could get a numbing shot¡­¡±


    Tessa cut her off sharply, ¡°Being numb means you can¡¯t control your legs like you normally would¨Cdoing that is just reckless. You¡¯d be putting the entire performance in jeopardy.¡±


    Tessa was starting to get pretty aggressive¨Cher tone was borderline confrontational.


    Xylia shot her a frustrated look. ¡°Ms. Schultz, the stage is Ms. Chase¡¯s responsibility. She¡¯ll make the decision, not you. Just stay out of it, okay?¡±


    Tessa immediately seized the chance to vent once Xylia spoke up.


    She scoffed, her gaze dropping to Xylia in mockery. ¡°Suddenly feeling generous, are you, sis? Or did you forget¨Cyou¡¯re the one who called out her injury in the first ce.¡±


    ¡°So getting hurt means you HAVE to swap her out?¡± Xylia fired back.


    ¡°If her injury puts the show at risk, then yeah, she needs to be reced. That¡¯s called respecting the stage,¡± Tessa said coolly.


    Xylia shed Tessa a smile, but her eyes were ice cold.


    ¡°Ms. Schultz, you keep harping on about being ¡®responsible¡® for the stage, but don¡¯t you get it? The lead dancer is handpicked, and unless we¡¯re totally out of options, nobody just swaps them out so easily. If you¡¯re so quick to ditch her, that¡¯s what really puts the uing show at risk.¡±


    Tessa couldn¡¯t find a singleeback, left utterly speechless.


    Some of Tessa¡¯s fans couldn¡¯t stay quiet any longer. They put their cameras aside and walked right up, faces full of righteous anger.


    ¡°Who are you to criticize Tessa? She¡¯s been our champion lead dancer for years¨Cseriously, you think you know more about this than she does<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who called out her injury with everyone watching, and now you¡¯re the one saying not to swap


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    her out? Talk about acting all high and mighty! Who do


    you think


    you are?¡±


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    ¡°Exactly! You only got here by clinging to some guy anyway. Ms. Chase gave you one littlepliment and you actually think you¡¯re talented? Give me a break!¡±


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    They started roasting her right in Xylia¡¯s face, their words full of righteous anger and spite.


    Tessa stood there, a smug smile ying on her lips, clearly enjoying every second of it.


    Before Xylia could even get a word in, Grace had enough. She shot up from her seat, her face dark with anger -gone was her usual gentle demeanor, reced by a cold, steely look.


    Ms. Chase, always known for her kindness, now looked utterly indifferent.


    ¡°This is the rehearsal space. Who let you outsiders in here?¡± she demanded, voice sharp andmanding.


    The fans froze, exchanging nervous nces, clearly worried they might cause trouble for Tessa.


    Tessa jumped in, apologetic. ¡°My apologies, Ms. Chase. They¡¯re my fans¨CI saw them baking outside in the sun and just couldn¡¯t stand it, so I let them in. Don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t say a word about the rehearsal.¡±


    Grace wasn¡¯t about to cut her any ck.


    ¡°This ce is massive. Don¡¯t tell me the only way to get out of the sun is to barge into rehearsal?¡±


    Tessa went pale, then blotchy with frustration, but she had no choice but to bite her tongue¨CGrace was the teacher here.


    But the fans, seeing Grace humiliate Tessa in front of everyone, instantly lost all respect for her.


    They crowded protectively around Tessa, shooting daggers at Grace.


    ¡°Just because you¡¯re Tessa¡¯s teacher doesn¡¯t mean you get to bully her! She¡¯s sweet¨Cshe let us in because she actually cares about us. What¡¯s your problem anyway?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, typical favoritism! You¡¯re just cozying up to Xylia because she¡¯s Joshua¡¯s girlfriend. Like, please¡ªwho knows if they¡¯ll evenst? When Joshua finally dumps her, I wonder who you¡¯ll run after next!¡±


    ¡°Seriously! Aren¡¯t you old enough to act with some decency? Quit going after Tessa like it¡¯s your hobby!¡±


    Grace had been around long enough to think she could handle anything life threw her way, always keeping her cool no matter what,


    But seeing these fans <b>act </b>so brazenly, she actually felt her cheeks burn with anger¨Cshe couldn¡¯t remember thest time she¡¯d been this furious.


    Xylia was starting to get pissed too.


    She could let their trash talk about her slide, but them pointing fingers and yelling at her teacher? That was


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    crossing the line.


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    She positioned herself in front of Grace, gaze frosty as she stared down those self¨Cproimed Tessa fans.


    ¡°Rules are rules¨Cnobody unrted to the cast <b>is </b>supposed to be at rehearsal. You¡¯re just here because you¡¯re fans of Tessa. Tell me, does that sound okay to you at all?¡±


    ¡°Seriously? And how are you any different? You¡¯re just as much an outsider!¡± one fan snapped back.


    ¡°I¡¯m Ms. Chase¡¯s student, which makes me more qualified to be here than any of you. Plus-¡±


    Xylia turned her eyes to Tessa, her tone icy. ¡°Letting your own fans trash your teacher like that¨Cdo you actually think that¡¯s cool, Tessa?¡±


    With everyone throwing ¡°disrespecting your teacher¡± at her, Tessa could only grit her teeth and, swallowing her pride, forced out a few words to tell off her fans¨Cthough her face made it pretty clear she was just doing it because she had no other choice.


    Her scolding was so half¨Chearted it was barely a p on the wrist, and not a single fan looked like they¡¯d done anything wrong.


    The fans took it as a sign of kindness from Tessa, but Grace had nothing but disappointment written all over


    her face<i>. </i>


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    Tessa caught a glimpse of Grace¡¯s eyes, and suddenly a cold wave of panic washed over her.


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    Back in the Dance Association, even when Tessa argued with Grace just because of her own status, Grace had never given her that look before.


    It <b>was </b>almost as if Grace was about to give up on her as a student.


    Tessa¡¯s heart skipped a beat¨Cshe was getting anxious.


    ¡°Ms. Chase, this was my fault¨CI¡¯m sorry,¡± Tessa said, her voice trembling.


    She was so uneasy, she¡¯d even begun speaking to Grace in formalnguage.


    But her fans didn¡¯t take it seriously at all. They thought their queen was being bullied, so they started treating Grace even worse.


    ¡°Sis, you don¡¯t need to apologize to her. Not everyone¡¯s fit to be a real teacher,¡± one of them scoffed.


    ¡°For real, you did nothing wrong today! You were just looking out for the show, but now your own teacher won¡¯t stand up for you¨Cinstead she¡¯s backing some random girl who probably can¡¯t even dance? What, just ¡®cause she¡¯s got cash? Wow, she¡¯s even selling out her own stage. We don¡¯t need teachers like that!¡± another fan


    spat.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, queen¨Cwe¡¯ve got your back today. No one¡¯s humiliating you with us around!¡± a third fan called


    out.


    ¡±


    ¡±


    Tessa was starting to regret letting these fans in.


    No matter what, Grace was her teacher. If this mess made its way online, people wouldn¡¯t care about her side. of the story¨Cthey¡¯d just call her ¡°disrespectful¡± and ¡°ungrateful.¡± With that kind of reputation, how could she ever work with directors in show biz again?


    Besides, Grace was basically royalty in the world of dance.


    Only an idiot would dare cross Grace.


    With that in mind, <b>Tessa </b>spoke up seriously to her fans.


    ¡°Guys, she¡¯s still my teacher, okay? Please don¡¯t talk about her like that,¡± she said, sounding unwavering.


    She was clearly determined in her attitude.


    Seeing their queen suddenly get serious, the fans finally kept quiet.


    They weren¡¯t mad at Tessa for turning stern so abruptly¡ªif anything, they admired her more. They thought it showed just how much she respected her teacher and valued tradition.


    Xylia listened to Tessa¡¯s words, and she felt a coldness settle deep in her heart.


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    Tessa had only told her fans not to say those things about Grace¨Cshe never actually refuted their nder.


    Deep down, Tessa couldn¡¯t deny she agreed with her fans.


    Grace noticed the resentment flickering in Tessa¡¯s eyes, and a chill ran through her heart.


    She had devoted herself to teaching every one of her students, never expecting that, at heart, Tessa would hold such feelings toward her.


    She said coldly, ¡°Anyone not involved, leave right now. And if what happened on stage today gets out, I¡¯ll pursue legal action against anyone responsible for leaking it.¡±


    Grace¡¯s fury was in for everyone to see.


    Tessa was burning with resentment¨Cshe just couldn¡¯t let it go.


    She knew it. The moment Xylia arrived, Grace¡¯s world shrank down to just her¨Cnobody else even existed


    anymore.


    Tessa still remembered how, after winning her third straight lead dancer spot, she¡¯d gone to Grace¡¯s office to get her to sign an application.


    She¡¯d caught snippets of conversation through the half¨Copen office door.


    She heard Grace saying, ¡°Xylia¡¯s talent is truly exceptional. If she hadn¡¯t left the scene, maybe she could¡¯ve joined us for this dance performance.¡±


    Then, another voice asked Grace, ¡°But Tessa¡¯s been our lead dancer three times in a row. With skills like hers, she¡¯s surely up to being the main dancer in your show, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    Grace¡¯s voice was tinged with weariness and sorrow.


    ¡°Tessa¡¯s good, but she just doesn¡¯t measure up to Xylia<i>. </i>Xylia¡¯s the most gifted dancer I¡¯ve evere across<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Grace admitted.


    Tessa could still remember the crushing humiliation of standing in front of Grace¡¯s office that day. From that point forward, she made a silent vow¨Cshe would never allow Xylia to set foot on that stage again.


    And as for Grace, Tessa no longer saw her as a mentor. In her eyes, Grace was nothing but another selfish, favoritist adult.


    Sost year, when Grace just couldn¡¯t help herself and tried to get Xylia to join her on tour, Tessa immediately went to Connor and spilled her worries. If Xylia got that chance, then all those years Tessa had spent wing her way up in the dance world would mean nothing¨Cshe¡¯d be left with absolutely nothing. She was desperate. She couldn¡¯t lose everything, not her career, not now.


    That car ident? It was all Tessa¡¯s doing. And the person she wanted to destroy most was Xylia.


    Connor didn¡¯t disappoint. He pulled every string he had to toss Xylia in prison. Worse still, he ordered the


    <b>10 </b>vouchers


    guards to ¡°teach her a lesson¨Ccut the tendons in her hands and feet, dy her medical care, and make absolutely sure she¡¯d never be able to dance again.


    Every time Tessa saw Xylia looking hopeless and shattered, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of satisfaction. Watching her rival fall so far? It was pure bliss for Tessa.


    But now, even though Xylia waspletely crippled, Grace was still acting like she was the only one who really mattered.


    And to make things even worse, Grace had publicly kicked out Tessa¡¯s fans, just for Xylia. It was a full¨Con humiliation¨Clike mashing Tessa¡¯s pride right into the ground.


    Honestly, how could Tessa not be fuming?


    That simmering jealousy finally ignited into a zing fire inside Tessa. She stepped forward, locking her eyes on Grace with a mix of usation and heartbreak.


    ¡°Ms. Chase, I¡¯ve always respected you,¡± Tessa said¨Cher voice steady, but you could hear the hurt bubbling underneath. ¡°But you¡¯ve never really seen me. They¡¯re my fans. Can¡¯t you at least let me keep some dignity in front of them?¡±


    Tessa was finally letting all her pent¨Cup resentment and frustration burst out, unable to hold it back any longer.


    Xylia noticed the fans clustering protectively behind Tessa, their phones tantly pointed and recording every second.


    Her gaze grew frosty. If Grace said even one wrong word, with Tessa¡¯s insane online clout, her fans would have Grace drowning in rumors before anyone knew what hit them.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t stand the thought of her teacher taking the fall for no reason. No way would she let Grace get dragged into this mess.


    Xylia quickly moved between Grace and the cameras, making sure no one got a direct shot of her teacher. She shot the fans a cold look and said, ¡°Unless you want to get pped with awsuit for illegal filming and leaking private info, I seriously suggest you cut the recording right now.¡±


    The fans behind Tessa didn¡¯t show a shred of shame when they got caught. Scoffing, they shot Xylia a look full of disdain.


    ¡°We¡¯re filming to stand up for our queen, what¡¯s it to you?¡± one of them snapped.


    ¡°Yeah, seriously¨Ctake a look at yourself! Why the hell would we want to record you? Like we¡¯d waste phone storage on that. You¡¯d just mess up our screens,¡± another mocked.


    The fans¡® words were downright vicious, but Xylia was no stranger to this kind of drama¨Cshe took it all in


    stride.


    Back in Jupiton, she¡¯d faced humiliation way worse than these pathetic little jabs. This was nothing to her now.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re iming it¡¯s all about filming your queen, how about you let us all see your camera roll?¡± Xylia


    interjected before the fans could get a word out, shutting them down cold.


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    ¡°Why do you think you get to go through my photos? That¡¯s my private business!¡± one of the fans snapped.


    ¡°You entered the rehearsal without authorization,¡± Xylia said coolly. ¡°If you can¡¯t prove you haven¡¯t filmed anything, we¡¯ll have to call the police for trespassing and trying to leak confidential material. And you¡¯d better realize just what this stage stands for.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s voice was measured, deliberate.


    Grace was a legend in the National Dance Association¨Cevery single show she put on carried the honor of the nation itself.


    Tessa and her fans instantly caught the threat in Xylia¡¯s words¨Cthe implication that messing with this performance wasn¡¯t just some minor drama. The fans nched, fear flooding their faces, while Tessa clenched her jaw and shot Xylia a look, her eyes zing with barely¨Ccontained hatred.


    ¡°What if I take responsibility for them?¡± Tessa finally cut in, her tone firm.


    Her fans were genuinely moved¨Ctheir queen had their backs.


    But inside, Tessa knew the truth. She wasn¡¯t doing this to protect her fans; she just couldn¡¯t stand the thought of losing face in front of Xylia.


    Xylia¡¯s tone remained light and indifferent. ¡°With your status, Ms. Schultz, vouching for them shouldn¡¯t be an issue¨Cso long as you¡¯re certain your fans won¡¯t upload today¡¯s footage online, drop it on your superchat, or pass it around to their friends. If you can truly guarantee that, then there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡±


    She paused, a sly smirk ying at the corner of her mouth as she looked at Tessa. ¡°So, Ms. Schultz, are you really willing to stake your name on it?¡±


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    Tessa fell silent.


    She couldn¡¯t possibly trust her fans¨Cfor just moments ago, she¡¯d been standing right behind them, clearly seeing them record a video of Grace and Xylia.


    She knew these fans inside out; all that talk about caring for her was just a cover for their own self¨Cinterest.


    They were just looking for a chance <i>to </i>show off on fan forums about meeting her face¨Cto¨Cface, trying to make other fans jealous and stroking their own vanity.


    Tessa cocked her head towards the fans and said, ¡°Hey, could you guys delete those videos?¡±


    The fans were caught off guard¡ªthey hadn¡¯t expected Tessa to ask them to delete what they¡¯d recorded.


    But seeing that look in her eyes, they didn¡¯t want to make things any harder for her.


    So they just quietly pulled out their phones and deleted everything they¡¯d filmed and snapped at the rehearsal¨Ceven emptied the trash, just to be safe.


    Finally, with a look of righteous indignation, they thrust their phones at Xylia.


    ¡°We¡¯ve deleted everything, so if any rehearsal footage ends up online, don¡¯t you dare try to smear our Tessa!¡±


    Xylia nced at the girls hanging around Tessa¨Cthey looked pretty young, but it was obvious they were genuinely looking out for her.


    ¡°You can go now,¡± Xylia said.


    The fans hesitated, wanting to say something, but afraid of giving Tessa any more hassle. So in the end, they didn¡¯t say another word and just headed off.


    Once the fans had left, Tessa fixed Grace with a look full of loneliness and disappointment.


    ¡°Grace, I¡¯m still your student, aren¡¯t I? I made my suggestions for the good of the stage¨Cbecause I care about your reputation. Don¡¯t you realize how much it hurts to be treated like this?<b>¡± </b>


    Saying that, she shot Xylia an especially fierce re, then turned and walked away.


    The rehearsal had been noisy and lively, but as soon as things got heated between Tessa and Grace, the whole ce turned silent.


    Everyone kept quiet until Tessa walked out.


    Grace looked toward the center of the stage. ¡°Lead dancer,e with me. The rest of you, keep rehearsing.¡±


    Xylia helped Grace make her way to the backstage lounge.


    As soon as they stepped inside, Fiona rushed to Grace and blurted out, ¡°Please, don¡¯t drop me from the team!¡±


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    Grace turned to Xylia. ¡°You used to be a doctor, if I recall correctly¨Cso you¡¯re the most qualified to weigh in


    here.¡±


    Fiona nced nervously at Xylia, her eyes full of anxious anticipation.


    ¡°Have you had your tetanus shot?¡± Xylia asked.


    Fiona bit her lip and hung her head, too embarrassed to answer¨Cher silence said it all.


    Before Xylia could get a word in, Grace burst out, ¡°Seriously? You stepped on a massive nail and didn¡¯t even bother with a tetanus shot?¡±


    Fiona finally managed to speak, her voice small and hesitant.


    ¡°The performance is almost here, and rehearsals are super packed¡­ I just¡­ didn¡¯t want to mess things up for everyone¡­¡±


    Grace red. ¡°What¡¯s more important, the show or your life?¡±


    Grace¡¯s eyes practically burned with anger.


    Fiona kept her head down, too scared to say anything more.


    Xylia gently stepped in, trying to ease Grace¡¯s anger. ¡°Grace, please don¡¯t be upset. She really just wanted what¡¯s best for the performance. I¡¯ll take her to Norhill General Hospital right away for her tetanus shot, and I promise she won¡¯t miss her chance to get on stage.¡±


    Grace remembered that before Xylia ever hit the stage, she¡¯d already made a name for herself as a brilliant


    surgeon.


    Grace never doubted Xylia for a second.


    She let Xylia escort Fiona out, gave Fiona a couple of reminders, then went back to the rest of the crew to keep watching over their practice.


    On the drive over, Xylia was behind the wheel and Fiona rode shotgun.


    Perhaps from the pain in her injured foot, Fiona¡¯s slender face was slick with cold sweat.


    Every now and then, she¡¯d sneak a nce at Xylia, as if she wanted to say something, but just kept biting her


    tongue.


    Xylia could see right through her anxiety, so she reassured Fiona, ¡°I promise, you won¡¯t miss your chance to go on stage the day after tomorrow.¡±


    Fiona finally found an outlet for the unease she¡¯d been bottling up.


    ¡°Xylia, are you really sure I won¡¯t be reced?¡±


    ¡°The lead dancer doesn¡¯t get reced unless it¡¯s really necessary,¡± Xylia said, keeping her eyes on the road. ¡°Are you upset that I called you out about your injury earlier?¡±


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    Fiona shook her head. ¡°I made a mistake because I got hurt, and you just called me out on it. I don¡¯t have any reason to be angry at you.¡±


    Xylia stole a nce at her through the rearview mirror.


    Fiona had delicate yet refined features and carried herself with a graceful air¨Cno matter how worn out she looked, her elegance shone through.


    With a face and figure that belonged on stage, losing her would be a real blow to the whole show.


    Without another word, Xylia drove them straight to Norhill General Hospital.


    Xylia had already given Cyrus a heads¨Cup earlier.


    Fortunately, Cyrus didn¡¯t have much going on that day, so when Xylia said she was bringing someone over for a check¨Cup, he just waited for them in his office.


    Before long, Xylia showed up with Fiona, stepping straight into Cyrus¡¯s office.


    ¡°Cyrus, she¡¯s got a nasty puncture wound on her foot from a nail, but she needs to be up on stage the day after tomorrow. Is there any way you can make sure she¡¯ll be able to perform without having to worry about her injury?¡±


    Cyrus didn¡¯t answer Xylia right away¨Che just had Fiona take a seat so he could check out the puncture wound on her foot.


    Fiona slipped off her shoe, exposing the spot where the nail had gotten her.


    Her cheeks went pink, eyes kept dropping to the floor, but she couldn¡¯t help sneaking nces at Cyrus from under hershes.


    ¡®Wow¡­ I¡¯ve literally never met a guy this ridiculously handsome, Fiona thought, flustered.


    After checking the wound, Cyrus said, ¡°It¡¯s pretty deep and hasn¡¯t been properly cleaned¨Cthere¡¯s some pus building up. We¡¯ll get you a tetanus shot and bandage it right away. When it¡¯s time for the show, I¡¯ll give you a pain¨Crelief shot¨Cyou¡¯ll be able to perform without any worries.¡±


    Cyrus spoke with a steady calm, his tone leaving no room for doubt.


    For the first time in days, Fiona¡¯s face lit up with a sincere smile.


    ¡°Thank you, doctor,¡± Fiona said, her voice brimming with gratitude.


    Cyrus started typing her info into theputer. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Fiona Young,¡± she replied.


    After a few clicks, Cyrus handed her the form. ¡°Go get your tetanus shot first<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Xylia was just about to stick around with Fiona, when suddenly her phone buzzed¨Cit was an urgent call from


    the studio.


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    Noticing the anxious look on Xylia¡¯s face, Fiona gave her a gentle nudge. ¡°Go ahead, I¡¯ll be fine here.¡±


    Xylia lingered for a second, torn, but finally made up her mind and headed back to the studio.


    ¡°Cyrus, do me a favor and make sure she¡¯s alright. This show means everything to her, and if her foot gets any worse, it could really affect her whole career,¡± Xylia said, her concern clear in her voice.


    Cyrus frowned with concern. ¡°Sure. But what¡¯s up with you? Did something happen?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll fill you in when I get home,¡± Xylia replied.


    Xylia gently patted Fiona¡¯s shoulder, giving her a bit offort.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let it get to you. Focus on healing up and give it your all when you step on stage,¡± Xylia encouraged.


    Fiona nodded, and Xylia left the hospital.


    On her way back to the studio, Xylia gave Grace a call and let her know about Fiona¡¯s injury.


    Grace just said she got it.


    ¡°Grace, the show¡¯s almost here. If people find out Fiona¡¯s still good to perform, whoever¡¯s been targeting her will probably try to sabotage her again,¡± Xylia warned.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry¨CI¡¯ll handle these little headaches myself. You focus on whatever you need to do,¡± Grace reassured her.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll drop by and see you on show day,¡± Xylia replied.


    After hanging up, Xylia pulled into her studio¡¯s parking lot.


    As soon as she got out of the car, she saw the unexpected visitor she¡¯d just heard mentioned on the phone.


    Ziggy.


    Ziggy had no idea how long he¡¯d been waiting. Seeing Xylia step out, he shoved his hands deep into his pockets and sauntered over, taking his time.


    ¡°Well, little sis, seems like life in Norhill suits you just fine,¡± Ziggy said, the hint of a smirk ying on his lips.


    The sarcasm in his smile was almost impossible to hide.

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    Xylia eyed Ziggy warily.


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    After Mr. & Mrs. Schultz hade looking for her in Norhill and she¡¯d just ignored them, Xylia was sure she¡¯d never have anything to do with the Schultz family again.


    And now, out of nowhere, Ziggy was standing right in front of her.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Xylia said, keeping her voice cool but with a hint of wariness.


    As soon as Josie called to tell her that Ziggy was looking for her, Xylia instantly knew he wasn¡¯t here for a friendly chat¨Che definitely had something up his sleeve.


    Unlike his parents, Ziggy had grown up hustling on the streets; there was nothing he wouldn¡¯t dare to do.


    Ziggy sauntered up to her, his eyes cold and piercing as they locked onto hers.


    He scoffed, voice thick with disdain. ¡°The real daughter of the Sadler family?¡±


    He smirked. ¡°If my family hadn¡¯t taken you in all these years, you think you¡¯d ever get a shot at crawling back to the Sadlers and living it up in luxury like you do now?¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t need him to spell it out¨Cshe already knew exactly what he was after.


    It was probably for the same reason as his parents.


    She had no idea what kind of mess the Schultz Group was in, but one thing was obvious¡ªthey needed cash, and that¡¯s why the Schultz family kepting back to hit her up for money.


    She stayed silent, letting him keep talking.


    Finally, Ziggy got to the point.


    ¡°Give me a hundred million dors, and we¡¯ll call it even. After that, whatever debt you owe the Schultz family¨Cgone. That¡¯s the price for everything we¡¯ve ever done for you.¡±


    Xylia sneered, a hint of mockery in her voice. ¡°Was it eight years ago? No, wait¨Cit¡¯s been nine. You really forgot you said the exact same thing to me nine years back?¡±


    ¡°Marry Connor, help the Schultz Group through another round of financing, and the Schultz family will be square with you¨Cthat¡¯s what you told me back then, remember?¡±


    When Tessa moved back in with the Schultz family, they cut Xylia off without a second thought¨Cnot a single penny more for her living expenses.


    She had to fend for herself, hustling for every dime just to get by.


    Then, after she married Connor, Yves and Ziggy started twisting her arm, demanding that she persuade Connor to bankroll the Schultz Group¡¯s overseas ventures, dangling the years of so¨Ccalled gratitude they¡¯d


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    shown her as their weapon.


    Back then, Xylia had been drowning in guilt, so she¡¯d swallowed her pride and asked Connor for help.


    Connor, who only wanted to marry her so he couldy out the red carpet for Tessa¡¯s return, never hesitated- whatever she wanted, he gave it without question.


    He dumped a hundred million dors into the Schultz Group¡¯s global business, jumpstarting their overseas ambitions from nothing.


    Xylia still felt guilty about it all, and for eight years of marriage, she did everything she could to take care of Connor, making up for what happened.


    She¡¯d already repaid her debt to the Schultz family ages ago. So now, to see Ziggy show up and act like she owed him anything? The whole thing was honestlyughable to her.


    Ziggy¡¯s gaze turned colder as he recalled what he¡¯d said all those years ago, but he remainedpletely unashamed, his tone forceful and unapologetic.


    ¡°Connor forked over that cash eight years back, not you. Now that you¡¯re divorced, it means nothing. So this time, it¡¯s gotta be your own hundred million¨Cthat¡¯s what settles things between you and the Schultz family.¡±


    Xylia wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised by Ziggy¡¯s ridiculous demands.


    Everyst one of the Schultz family was utterly shameless¨Cnone of you have an ounce of decency.


    She fired back, ¡°I don¡¯t owe the Schultz family a thing. If you¡¯re after money, you¡¯ve asked the wrong person.¡±


    Xylia spun on her heel and started to walk away without looking back.


    But Ziggy¡¯s temper red¨Che reached out and grabbed her arm, nearly yanking her back.


    ¡°Today, whether you like it or not, you¡¯re handing over that money!¡± Ziggy snarled, his voice sharp with fury.


    Xylia met his re, cold and unfazed. ¡°Trying to scare me now? What if I refuse¨Cwhat then, you gonna swing at me or something<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Ziggy had always yed rough, but ever since he¡¯d been running the Schultz Group, he¡¯d learned to keep his temper in check¨Ca far cry from his wild younger days.


    He knew that if he reallyid a hand on Xylia, he wouldn¡¯t just blow his shot at getting cash, he might end up with the Sadler familying after him.


    With things already falling apart at Schultz Group, thest thing he needed was another mess.


    But letting Xylia walk away without getting what he wanted? That wasn¡¯t an option for him.


    ¡°Come on, I¡¯d never hit you¨Cyou were someone I used to look out for,¡± Ziggy shot back, voiceced with sarcasm. He let go of her arm and shook his hand, as if he¡¯d just touched something disgusting.


    He sneered, ¡°You know exactly the kind of trouble I used to stir up. If things go south for me, don¡¯t think your


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    studio¡¯s gonna have it easy, either.¡±


    ¡°Oh? I¡¯m curious to see what filthy move Mr. Schultz is nning next,¡± a mocking voice called out, thick with provocation.


    It wasn¡¯t Xylia who spoke. It was Joshua, who had juste around the front of the car to stand next to her.


    Xylia shot a surprised nce at Joshua. The dim lights of the parking lot painted shadows on his profile, a few


    stray


    silver locks stered to his face with sweat. Those cool, distant eyes¨Cso sharp and indifferent¨Cwere fixed squarely on Ziggy, giving nothing away.


    Ziggy¡¯s face changed colors the moment he realized it was Joshua standing there¨Ca jumble of emotions flickered across his features all at once.


    Back in Jupiton, he¡¯d seen Joshua by Xylia¡¯s side before.


    At the time, everyone thought Joshua was just the Garcia family¡¯s lowly driver. Turns out, he was actually the heir to the Garcia family¨Cthe young master himself.


    Ziggy knew he couldn¡¯t afford to cross someone like Joshua.


    He clenched his jaw, his eyes darted over to see Joshua standing right beside Xylia, his hand quietlycing with hers¨Ca clear show of protection.


    ¡®Damn it, how is she always under someone else¡¯s wing? Just my luck¡­¡® Ziggy thought bitterly, unwilling to ept how things had turned out.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia,¡± Ziggy said, squeezing out a fake smile, ¡°Xylia¡¯s been like a sister to me for over twenty years. She used to be the princess of our family. Now that you¡¯re with her, shouldn¡¯t you be taking on the Schultz family¡¯s debts too?¡±


    Xylia shot him a frosty look. ¡°I don¡¯t owe the Schultz family a damn thing, so what makes you think he should take it on for me? He¡¯s got zero connection to any of you.¡±


    Xylia was just as protective of Joshua as he was of her, not backing down in the slightest.


    Joshua bit back the words he was about to say, silently letting Xylia handle things on her own.


    Ziggy¡¯s face was livid.


    ¡°You can get lost now. I¡¯m not giving you a single cent,¡± Xylia shot back.


    Ziggy nearly burst out cursing, but with Joshua right there, he bit his tongue, burning with rage on the inside but refusing to lose face.


    He shot Xylia a toxic re. ¡°You better watch yourself,¡± he spat.


    With that, he spun around, climbed into his car, and tore out of the parking lot.


    Xylia shot a disdainful look at the spot where Ziggy had just disappeared, then turned to Joshua with a smirk. ¡°You¡¯re like some kind of emperor from the old days¨Ceveryone¡¯s scared shitless of you.¡±


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    When she was alone with Ziggy, he¡¯d been seconds away fromying a hand on her.


    But as soon as Joshua showed up, Ziggy didn¡¯t even dare breathe¨Che just turned tail and ran.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing? Saves us a whole lot of trouble,¡± Joshua replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.


    He looked her up and down, making sure she was okay, then said, ¡°From now on, if anything like this happens, just let me know. I¡¯ll see to it that none of the Schultz family dares to bother you again.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather handle things myself. I want them to be afraid of me, not just back off because of you,¡± Xylia retorted, her eyes zing with confidence.


    Xylia¡¯s stubborn streak was showing loud and clear.


    Joshua justughed, giving her a yful pat on the head. ¡°Hey, there¡¯s nothing wrong with letting your husband back you up once in a while.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s cheeks flushed bright red. ¡®Husband? We¡¯re not even married!¡® she thought, her heart fluttering uncontrobly.


    Once they reached the building, Xylia turned and walked over to the elevator¨Cshe figured she might as well head back to her office and check things out.


    Joshua fell into step beside her.


    When they walked into the office, Josie hurried over to greet them.


    ¡°Xylia, Ziggy from the Schultz family was here earlier. He was waiting for you for ages, but got impatient and left just a moment ago. You didn¡¯t happen to bump into him, did you?¡± Josie said, sounding a bit worried.


    ¡°Yeah, we did,¡± Xylia replied evenly.


    ¡°What? Are you hurt?¡± Josie asked, her voice rising with concern as she reached out, fussing over Xylia from head to toe.


    Xyliaughed, gently swatting Josie¡¯s hands away. ¡°Seriously, Josie, I¡¯m all good¨Cno need to check me like


    that.¡±


    Josie finally rxed and let out a breath. ¡°Okay, just making sure.¡±


    Seeing Joshua right by Xylia¡¯s side, Josie thought, ¡®With Joshua here, there¡¯s no way anyone could mess with Xylia or take advantage of her. Finally reassured, Josie let out a quiet sigh of relief.


    Once they settled into her office, Xylia sat down across from Joshua, her eyes sharp and clear as she locked onto his face.


    ¡°The mess at the Schultz Group¨Cwas that your doing?¡± Xylia asked bluntly.

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    Joshua thought Xylia was about to call him out. He nced away, then took a tactical sip of water, trying to y it cool.


    When she saw his evasive moves, Xylia immediately got the picture. She let out a softugh, her porcin face bathed in sunlight, giving off a yful, girlish vibe.


    Joshua¡¯s eyes flickered, and his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. For a second, his heart skipped a beat.


    Then he snapped back to reality and asked, ¡°You¡¯re not mad?¡±


    ¡°Mad about what?¡± Xylia flopped back on the couch, finally letting herself rx after such a long day.


    ¡°The Schultz Group has nothing to do with me. You¡¯re obviously going after them because of me, so why would I be upset with you?¡±


    Seeing that Xylia really wasn¡¯t upset, Joshua finally let out a sigh of relief.


    Xylia walked over to Joshua¡¯s single sofa and squeezed herself in right next to him.


    ¡°Why do you have to squish me like this?¡± Xylia grumbled yfully.


    Joshua ignored her protest, sticking close to her and pulling her tightly into his arms, refusing to let go.


    ¡°It¡¯s been so long since west saw each other. Don¡¯t you miss me?¡± Joshua asked, his voice soft and teasing.


    Xylia let out a helpless sigh. ¡°We literally left the house together this morning.¡± ¡®It¡¯s not even close to evening, we¡¯ve only been apart for like half a day,¡¯ she thought, a bit exasperated.


    ¡°But it feels like forever. Don¡¯t you feel the same way? Don¡¯t you miss me?¡± Joshua pressed, dialing up the puppy¨Cdog eyes.


    ¡®Here we go again,¡® Xylia thought with an inward eye roll, watching Joshua slip right into his puppy mode- soft, clingy<i>, </i>impossible to resist. He wasying it on extra thick, and honestly, what else could she do but just go with it and indulge him a little?


    She reached out from Joshua¡¯s embrace, gently wrapping her arms around his waist, and leaned into him, letting herself rx.


    ¡°Of course I miss you. How could I not? I think about you all the time,¡± Xylia said, her voice soft and sweet.


    After spending so much time with Joshua, Xylia had gotten every bit as thick¨Cskinned as he was.


    Her words were dusted in sugar, slipping straight into Joshua¡¯s heart and curling sweetness into his smile.


    Instinctively, he tightened his arms around her, pulling her even closer.


    Their embrace on that sweltering afternoon was warmer than the zing sun outside,


    ed, Sep


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    On the day of Grace¡¯s stage performance, Xylia brought Joshua along with her.


    I¡¯ve got to introduce you to my teacher, Grace,¡± Xylia said.


    That perked Joshua right up.


    Joshua got up at the crack of dawn and began fussing over himself¡ªa rare sight, considering he hardly ever cared about his appearance. Today, though, he was digging through Xylia¡¯s makeup table, holding up a light lipstick, and asked, ¡°Should I put on makeup too?¡±


    Xylia was still half¨Casleep, the early morning sunshine barely peeking through the curtains.


    But Joshua was making such a racket that there was no way she could get any rest.


    She sat up at the edge of the bed, giving him a long¨Csuffering look as he paraded back and forth. When he came over waving that lipstick and asked his question, she couldn¡¯t help but burst outughing, caught somewhere between exasperation and amusement.


    Xylia reached out and snatched the bright red lipstick from Joshua¡¯s hand, giving him a look that was equal parts exasperated and amused.


    ¡°Seriously? Does this color even suit you? You were really going to wear it?¡± she asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Joshua, totally lost when it came to makeup, shot her a hopeful look. ¡°Can you help me out? Please?¡± he said, trying his best puppy¨Cdog eyes.


    Xylia set the lipstick down and tugged softly on his sleeve. ¡°The show isn¡¯t until tonight. We won¡¯t leave until this afternoon. It¡¯s only six in the morning¨Ccan I sleep a bit longer, please?¡±


    Joshua looked out at the sky, still dark beyond the window, then at Xylia¡¯s sleepy blue eyelids.


    Sunday, atst¨Ca rare weekend.


    She deserved to sleep in for once.


    Especially since they¡¯d stayed up way tootest night. Joshua was bursting with energy, sure, but his girl? She was t¨Cout exhausted.


    A twinge of guilt crept in.


    Joshua changed out of his clothes, slipped back into his pajamas, and crawled back under the covers, cuddling Xylia close.


    ¡°Let¡¯s sleep a bit longer,¡± he murmured.


    Atst, Xylia could finally rx.


    She nestled into Joshua¡¯s arms, found afy spot, and soon drifted off to sleep.


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    Xylia¡¯s gentle, even breathing filled the room, but Joshua couldn¡¯t sleep a wink¨Che was simply too wound up.


    He hadn¡¯t even felt this nervous when facing the Sadler Brothers.


    Grace had truly raised and looked after Xylia for years, like family¨Calmost like a second mother to her.


    Joshua knew just how important Grace was in Xylia¡¯s life, and he was determined not to slip up¨Cnot even a little¨Cin front of someone Xylia held in such high regard.


    All he wanted was to reassure Grace that she could hand Xylia over to him and not worry for a moment.


    When Xylia woke up again, it was almost ten o¡¯clock.


    As she opened her eyes, she found herself staring right into Joshua¡¯s dark, soulful eyespletely overflowing with affection.


    She blinked, momentarily stunned, her fingers unconsciously curling against Joshua¡¯s abs. ¡°You haven¡¯t slept at all, have you?¡± she asked.


    Joshua leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, his low, sultry ¡°Mm¡± sending tingles straight into Xylia¡¯s ear.


    Her heart melted, and she tilted her head up to give him a gentle kiss on the lips.


    ¡°I¡¯m up now, Joshua. Come here¨Clet me do your makeup,¡± Xylia said, with a yful wink.


    They finally rolled out of bed and went to wash up together.


    Joshua started making lunch in the kitchen while Xylia poked around his wardrobe, picking out an outfit for


    him.


    After lunch, Xylia started fussing over Joshua¡¯s look, getting ready to do his makeup.


    ¡°Wow, I didn¡¯t expect you to care this much about your appearance,¡± Xylia teased, grinning as she chatted with him.


    She kept up the yful banter while she dabbed a gentleyer of foundation onto his face, her motions smooth and practiced.


    Joshua couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her as she worked.


    ¡°What I care about is the impression I make on your teacher,¡± he said quietly, his gaze soft and earnest.


    Xylia paused, ncing up to meet his genuinely clear and honest eyes.


    A soft smile yed at her lips.


    Her heart went all soft and gooey inside.


    ¡®So this is what it feels like, being fully treasured in someone¡¯s heart,¡® she thought, warmth bubbling up inside. ¡®Man, it¡¯s really nice.¡¯


    Before the show started, they stopped by backstage to visit Grace.


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    When Grace spotted Xylia and Joshua, she rushed over to greet them, taking a moment out of all the backstage hustle.


    ¡°And this <b>is</b>¡­¡± Grace began, looking straight at Joshua.


    Grace gave Joshua a quick once¨Cover, sizing him up with curious eyes.


    Joshua, a guy who¡¯d spent years navigating the fame game, was actually so shaken up meeting Xylia¡¯s teacher that he broke out in a cold sweat.


    Xylia jumped in proudly, ¡°Grace, this is my boyfriend, Joshua.¡±


    Joshua quickly stammered, ¡°Hi, Grace, it¡¯s really nice to meet you.¡±


    Grace nced Joshua up and down with a kind smile. ¡°You¡¯re a handsome one, but just remember¨Cbe good to our Xylia, alright?¡±


    ¡°I know, Grace. Since you¡¯re in Norhill, why don¡¯t Xylia and I show you around after the show? It¡¯ll be a nice way to unwind,¡± Joshua said, trying to sound casual but still a bit nervous.


    Grace¡¯s smile became even more genuine and warm.


    ¡°You two really are a perfect match¨Cyou think alike,¡± Grace said with a chuckle.


    Xylia and Grace bothughed, while Joshua just blinked, a little dazed by their


    easy


    camaraderie.


    Just then, someone called Grace away, and she had to hurry off.


    As Xylia and Joshua headed to their seats, Xylia exined, ¡°I actually told Grace about our sightseeing ns in Norhill a while ago.¡±


    Joshua finally pieced it together. He let go of Xylia¡¯s hand, slipped an arm around her waist, and whispered, ¡°Seriously, could we be any more in sync?¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help butugh, feeling a mix of affection and helpless amusement at his smug little act.


    Joshua suddenly snorted in yful surprise. ¡°Well, would you look at that¨Cnever pegged Cyrus as the artsy type. Guess he¡¯s here for the dance performance!¡±


    Xylia followed Joshua¡¯s gaze and spotted Cyrus in the crowd, clutching his ticket and scanning around for his


    seat.


    The two of them made their way over, and Xylia called out cheerily, ¡°Hey, Cyrus!¡±


    Cyrus nced back, and his eyes widened just a touch when he saw Xylia and Joshuaing over together.


    He didn¡¯t oppose their rtionship nearly as much as he used to; with Xylia staying over at Joshua¡¯s cetely, Cyrus had quietlye to ept it.


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    ¡°Hey, you guys came too! Xylia, can you help me find my seat? I can¡¯t figure it out,¡± Cyrus called, sounding a bit lost but not too bothered.


    His ticket was a VIP pass, and the seat numbers were different from the regr ones.


    Cyrus had been looking around for quite a while but still hadn¡¯t found his seat.


    Xylia grinned and pulled out her and Joshua¡¯s tickets. ¡°We¡¯ve got special tickets too. Our seats are up front. Come on, follow us.¡±


    Xylia shed her VIP ticket and beckoned Cyrus with a grin. ¡°We¡¯ve got special seats up fronte with me!¡±

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    <b>Chapter 258 </b>


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    <b>At </b>the precinct, the officers only asked Xylia a few routine questions. After she cooperated with the investigation, they let her go.


    As Xylia stepped out of the precinct<b>, </b>she was still in a daze, still unable to believe how fast it had <b>all </b>gone.


    ¡®Did I really get out so easily this time?¡® Xylia thought to herself, incredulous.


    Last year in Jupiton, she¡¯d been detained right away, and after Sonny faked his testimony, her verdict <b>was </b>handed down in no time.


    She¡¯d expected it¡¯d go the same way this time, that she¡¯d at least be stuck at the precinct for a while.


    She¡¯d already braced herself for the worst, but she hadn¡¯t expected to walk out so soon.


    Joshua seemed to see right through her worries. He squeezed her hand gently andforted her, ¡°Rx, they don¡¯t have enough proof against you. Just what Tessa said and that other person¡¯s word isn¡¯t enough for the cops to really pin anything on you. They still need to connect the dots and check things out before making any moves.¡±


    But even though the cops were looking into it, Xylia knew she couldn¡¯t just sit around and wait.


    Because Tessa was a public figure, Xylia had already been dragged into the spotlight online, getting mmed by Tessa¡¯s fans and bystanders online.


    And the fallout from all the drama was hitting Xylic Studio hard.


    Since Xylic Studio mainly took orders online, and they¡¯d justunched their online store recently, the bacsh from the inte was causing a flood of malicious orders and cancetions, seriously messing with the studio¡¯s normal operations.


    Clearing her name quickly wasn¡¯t just about her reputation¡ªit was about the wholepany and her employees too.


    ¡°I know David Dalton¨Che¡¯s a backup dancer in Ms. Chase¡¯s troupe. The ident happened on the day I took Fiona to the hospital. On my way back to work, after Josie called, I walked down that road. But David should¡¯ve been at rehearsal with the troupe. What was he even doing there?¡± Xylia said.


    ¡°More importantly, I¡¯m 100% sure I didn¡¯t go down that construction road that day. So how could she possibly have seen me run into Tessa<b>?</b>¡± Xylia added.


    Joshua let out <b>a </b>cool, almost mocking smirk. ¡°Guess it¡¯s time we ask her which magic eye she <b>supposedly </b><b>used </b>to see you running into Tessa<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>So</b><b>, </b>Joshua and Xylia <b>headed </b>over to the dance troupe together.


    <b>Xylia </b><b>had </b><b>already </b>let <b>Grace </b>know she wasing, so when they arrived<b>, </b>Grace was waiting <b>for </b>them at <b>the </b>door.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Xylia</b><b>, </b><b>Joshua</b><b>, </b><b>you¡¯re </b><b>here</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b><b>Grace </b>said <b>with </b>a warm smile,


    10:54 Wed<b>, </b>Sep <b>24 </b>


    Xylia greeted Grace and linked arms with her as they walked inside.


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    Before Xylia could even ask, Grace seemed to guess what was on her mind and offered up an answer.


    ¡°This is ourst show of the year, so under normal circumstances, we¡¯d all be heading home now. Some students have already left, but David¡¯s still here because of the whole thing with Tessa¨Che stayed to help out after the ident and is packing up his stuff in the dorm right now,¡± Grace exined.


    Xylia turned to Grace and asked, ¡°Was it David who put the nail in Fiona¡¯s shoe?¡±


    If Fiona, the lead dancer, got hurt, the only one who stood to gain was David, the understudy.


    If Fiona didn¡¯t have any feuds with anyone else, then David would have had the biggest motive.


    Grace¡¯s brow furrowed, a hint of sadness and pity showing in her eyes.


    ¡°I really couldn¡¯t find any evidence against him,¡± Grace said, ¡°but Fiona mentioned that David came to see her on the day she got injured. And when you caught on to her foot injury, he seemed genuinely thrilled. He even came up to me, saying he¡¯d guarantee he could fill in for Fiona as lead dancer.¡±


    Xylia knew Grace had a soft spot for each and every one of her students.


    She¡¯d never want to think the worst of any of them unless hard evidence forced her hand.


    But with David¡¯s motive for hurting Fiona and snagging the lead role being so tant, even Grace couldn¡¯t help but suspect him.


    Xylia gave Grace¡¯s hand a gentle, reassuring pat tofort her.


    ¡°Ms. Chase, could you take me to see David?¡± Xylia asked softly.


    Grace nodded, her words turning gentle with concern as she looked at Xylia.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen all the stuff online,¡± Grace said. ¡°I know what kind of person you are, Xylia¡ªyou¡¯d nevery a finger on Tessa just because of jealousy. If you need help with anything else¨Cnot just meeting David¨Cjust say the


    word.¡±


    Xylia was genuinely touched. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Chase,¡± she said quietly.


    When they reached the girls¡® dorm, Xylia and Grace went inside to find David, while Joshua waited for them downstairs.


    David was busy packing up her things.


    When she heard footsteps approaching, she seemed to sense something was up. Her hands paused for a moment, but then she quickly got back to it, continuing to pack.


    Grace knocked on the door twice, and David opened it.


    When she saw the two of them, she didn¡¯t look the least bit surprised.


    <b>&</b>..


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    ¡°Ms. Chase, Ms. Sadler,¡± David greeted them.


    ¡°Hi,¡± Xylia gave her a gentle smile. ¡°I¡¯m also one of Ms. Chase¡¯s students¨Cso just call me Senior Xylia, we¡¯re all like family here.¡±


    David blinked, clearly thrown off.


    She¡¯d used Xylia of running into Tessa, and while no one else might know the truth, only Xylia would know she¡¯d faked her testimony.


    ¡®Why is Xylia still grinning at me like that?¡® David wondered.


    ¡®And she¡¯s seriously calling me Senior Xylia?¡® David thought.


    ¡®Wouldn¡¯t you expect her to just p me across the face right now?¡® David wondered to herself.


    When they reached the dorm, Xylia had quietly asked Grace to head out for a bit so she could have a private word with David.


    So after showing Xylia to the room, Grace excused herself and slipped away.


    With just the two of them left inside, David instantly understood¨CXylia hade here on purpose, just to talk to her. ¡®So, she¡¯s really here because of me,¡® David thought, her nerves tightening.


    ¡®Hmph, like I¡¯d ever be scared of her,¡® David sneered inwardly, the chill in her heart betraying not a hint of fear toward Xylia.


    Xylia sized


    up David without letting it show.


    As the understudy for the lead dancer, David¡¯s presence and build stood out among the others. Her features were even bolder than Fiona¡¯s, and her eyes, not even trying to hide it, shimmered with raw ambition.


    There¡¯s nothing wrong with wanting more.


    Especially for someone like David¨Ca backup dancer¨Cambition is what gives you the drive to fight your way to the top.


    But when ambition bes the excuse for crossing lines, that¡¯s when it rots into something ugly,


    Xylia¡¯s smile didn¡¯t fade as she stepped quietly into the dorm, chose a stool, and settled in, her gaze soft as she took in the whole ce.


    The room had four beds; three were already stripped and empty, with just one left showing signs of someone still living there.


    The bed was perfectly tidy, but most of her belongings looked like they¡¯d already been packed away.


    So, David really was about to head out soon.


    The ce was dead quiet.


    10:55 Wed, Sep 24 <b>d</b>.


    Xylia kept silent, but David was the first to speak up, unable to stay quiet any longer.


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    ¡°Senior Xylia, just spit it out. No need for the suspense, say whatever you want,¡± David said, her tone blunt.


    She grabbed a stool and slid it over, sitting down close to Xylia with an air of defiance, not intimidated in the slightest.


    ¡°Have you apologized to Fiona yet?¡± Xylia asked, keeping her tone calm and steady.


    David was bracing herself for Xylia to confront her about the fake testimony, but instead, Xylia threw her a curveball about Fiona.


    The sudden question caught David off guard¨Ca flicker of panic shed in her eyes before she could hide it, and Xylia didn¡¯t miss a thing.


    ¡®No doubt about it now, Xylia thought to herself. She¡¯d seen that sh of panic¨Cand that was all the confirmation she needed.


    ¡°Fiona and I are on good terms. I never did anything to let her down, so why should I apologize?¡± David replied, her tone even and almost dismissive after quickly regaining her cool.


    As her initial panic faded, David¡¯sposure returned, and she answered Xylia in an unfazed, leveled voice.


    Xylia nodded, a knowing look shing in her eyes¨Cshe had seen right through David.


    ¡°Fiona¡¯s already handed that nail to the cops,¡± Xylia said, her voice steady but with a hint of warning. ¡°They¡¯ll be pulling fingerprints off it sooner orter. If you still want to call Fiona a friend, I¡¯d suggest you apologize before the truth hits and things get ugly.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying! Fiona tossed that nail out ages ago!¡± David snapped, her voice spiking with a hint of panic.


    ¡°You honestly think Fiona¡¯s the type to just suck it up and walk away?¡± Xylia shot back, her words cutting. ¡°That nail turned up in her shoe right before a big performance¡ªit nearly wrecked her whole future. You really believe she¡¯d just take that blow and pretend nothing happened?¡±


    Hearing that, David instantly tensed up and couldn¡¯t sit still any longer, her calm facade slipping away as she started fidgeting in her seat.


    É«

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    ¡­


    David jumped to his feet, his calm facade finally breaking.


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    ¡°You really think you can drive a wedge between me and Fiona after all these years with just a few words?¡± he snapped.


    Xylia stayed cool. ¡°Yeah, all those years together, and yet you wanted to make sure she could never perform again. That massive nail you used¨Cpretty gutsy move.¡±


    ¡°I told you, it wasn¡¯t me!¡± David insisted, his voice rising.


    ¡°The evidence is about to show it was you,¡± Xylia replied, steady as ever.


    Unruffled, Xylia set her bag neatly onto herp.


    ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a wless scheme. I never even drove down that construction road, but somehow you swore you saw me m into Tessa. You really went out of your way to fake a story that ridiculous, which just shows how clueless¨Cand conniving¨Cyou truly are. Tricks like yours always leave a trail. The cops are about to clear me any day now. And of course¡­¡±


    Her smile grew, a cold edge slipping in as her clear eyes bore down on David, making her warning impossible to ignore.


    David couldn¡¯t help but feel exposed under her stare, a chill creeping up his spine at whatever she was about to say next. And there was nothing he could do to stop her.


    He was powerless <i>to </i>silence Xylia¡¯s words.


    ¡°We¡¯re not really friends, so don¡¯t bother apologizing. What I want is for you to own up and deal with thew for what you¡¯ve done¨Cand to join Tessa in reflecting on your mistakes.¡± Xylia¡¯s tone was icy and relentless.


    With those words, she picked up her bag, stood, and strode out the door.


    David was left standing alone in the middle of the room, fists tightly clenched, fear etched in his eyes, his whole body trembling with every shaky breath.


    Once Xylia reached the bottom of the stairs, she finally let out a heavy breath, like she was unloading all the stress she¡¯d been carrying.


    Joshua, who had been waiting for her, quickly walked over. ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡±


    Xylia just nodded.


    ¡°I stuck to the script like you said. Judging by her reaction, I doubt it¡¯ll take long before she goes running to


    Tessa.¡±


    Joshua stayed cool as ever. ¡°I¡¯ve got someone posted outside Tessa¡¯s hospital room. The moment David makes a move, we¡¯ll know exactly what¡¯s going down between them.¡±


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    Xylia found Joshua¡¯s methodical approach genuinely reassuring; with him on the case, everything always felt under control.


    She looked around for their teacher but didn¡¯t see anyone¨Cso she asked Joshua.


    ¡°Our teacher just got an urgent call and had to leave,¡± Joshua replied.


    Xylia didn¡¯t ask any more questions.


    The two of them headed back together.


    If David was bold enough to give false testimony with such conviction, he must¡¯ve covered all his bases ahead of time.


    Xylia knew there was no way he¡¯d just spill without a push, so Joshua came up with a scheme to mess with his head. The goal: put so much pressure on David that he¡¯d start to panic and hand over the evidence himself.


    While Xylia and Joshua were having lunch, they got the tip from the hospital¨CDavid had gone to visit Tessa.


    The two of them were having a private conversation in the hospital room.


    Tessa¡¯s VIP room was well soundproofed, so Joshua¡¯s lookout outside the door couldn¡¯t catch any of their conversation.


    Xylia and Joshua hadn¡¯t arrived at the hospital yet.


    Then, out of nowhere, Cyrus sent Xylia a voice recording on her phone.


    Right after, Cyrus sent over another message.


    ¡®I was checking Tessa¡¯s leg, and totally by ident, I hit the record button on my phone, Cyrus messaged.


    Joshua pulled over, nced at Xylia¡¯s phone, and just cracked up.


    ¡°Cyrus disappears off the face of the earth whenever he¡¯s at the hospital. I honestly never thought to ask him for help, Joshua chuckled.


    Xylia privately agreed¨CCyrus really was like that.


    Except for when he was treating her or objecting to her being with Joshua, Cyrus barely ever showed his face around the Sadler family.


    Xylia sent Cyrus a quick thank¨Cyou emoji and opened the audio clip.


    David¡¯s nervous voice came through first.


    ¡°You said the car ident was foolproof¡­¡±


    Then, right in the middle of his sentence, David¡¯s voice abruptly stopped, as if someone had just walked in and he didn¡¯t dare say another word.


    10:55 Wed, Sep 24 <b>d </b>


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    Tessa¡¯s voice came through, calm and unfazed.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Go ahead, keep talking.¡±


    After a couple seconds, David finally spoke up. ¡°Xylia tracked me down just now. She ims the cops are going to dig up proof I never saw her drive through there. If they realize I made it up, we¡¯re both facing serious legal consequences.¡±


    Tessa gave a dismissive littleugh.


    ¡°We wiped all the surveince from the other roads, remember? The police won¡¯t find anything. You¡¯re the only ¡®eye¨Cwitness, so who else could clear her? Seriously, you let her freak you out with a couple lines? Wow, that¡¯s just dumb.¡±


    Tessa¡¯s sarcasm waspletely unapologetic.


    But that seemed to put David at ease, and his voice grew steadier.


    ¡°Either way, you said if things blow up and they catch me lying, you¡¯d back me up.¡±


    ¡°Why would I bother lying to you?¡±


    Then came the sound of the hospital room door opening and closing, followed by Tessa threatening Cyrus.


    ¡°You know what you should and shouldn¡¯t say, right? If even a hint of this gets out, don¡¯t bothering back to work here,¡± Tessa warned.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Cyrus responded tly.


    Then the recording just cut off.


    Xylia and Joshua both shot each other a look¨Cclearly stunned that Tessa actually had the nerve to threaten Cyrus.


    ¡°Tessa¡¯s honestly on another level of stupid,¡± Joshua muttered.


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help but shake his head in disbelief.


    Cyrus was right there in the hospital room when he caught all this on tape. It was supposed to be hush¨Chush, but Tessa just didn¡¯t give a damn that someone else was listening. And then she went ahead and threatened someone you really don¡¯t want to mess with.


    He¡¯d never seen anyone this dumb in his life.


    Xylia put away her phone and picked up where Joshua left off.


    ¡°Tessa really cares about her legs. She spent big just to set me up this time, and maybe she actually got hurt. But dancing is everything to her, so she¡¯s extra serious about her recovery, Cyrus is the one checking up on her, and there¡¯s no way she¡¯d risk her own recovery for anything else.¡±


    That was why she didn¡¯t kick Cyrus out.


    10:55 Wed, Sep 24 <b>d</b>.


    Xylia had Tessa all figured out¨Cher little tricks weren¡¯t hard to spot at all.


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    Back when she had the Schultzs and Connor and Maddox to back her up, those schemes left Xyliapletely burned every time.


    But now that nobody¡¯s got her back, all Tessa¡¯s screw¨Cups are right out in the open, and catching her is just too


    easy.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head to the police station,¡± Xylia said.


    They nned to hand over both the recording and the footage from Xylia¡¯s dashcam to the cops.


    That morning had been so hectic, neither of them realized the dashcam had captured Xylia¡¯s whole drive.


    It was only when Joshua noticed the dashboard while driving that he remembered.


    Once the police got the new evidence, they kicked off another round of investigation.


    David was summoned to the station for questioning, while at the same time, officers went to Tessa¡¯s hospital room to interview her.


    It didn¡¯t take long for it all to unravel¨CTessa and David were exposed for scheming together to frame Xylia.


    The police released an official announcement, finally clearing Xylia¡¯s name.


    At the same time, the Jupiton Police issued a major announcement about a high¨Cprofile criminal case.


    The news revealed the truth behind Tessa¡¯s hit¨Cand¨Crun.


    I

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    The case reported by Jupiton authorities was a hit¨Cand¨Crun from a year ago.


    That case involved both Xylia and Tessa, and it went through three hearings before the truth finally came out.


    The first time, Xylia ended up in jail for three months, all because her own son falsely testified against her.


    The second time, the victim¡¯s family member, Seth, confessed to murder and insurance fraud.


    These two wrongful convictions let the real culprit, Tessa, walk free. During the first trial, Xylia came forward with video evidence from a third eyewitness, proving Tessa was the one behind the wheel.


    The second time, the police discovered a video of Connor threatening Seth into confessing, which ended up turning Tessa from the hit¨Cand¨Crun driver into just an innocent passerby.


    This third time, as the truth finally came to light, the authorities in Jupiton stepped in and started making


    arrests.


    Tessa was taken away by the police, and Connor wasn¡¯t let off the hook either¡ªhe was taken straight to the station.


    When Xylia saw all the chaos blowing up online, she found herself totally frozen for a second.


    Still dazed, she instinctively pushed open the study door. ¡°Joshua, are you-¡±


    ¡°1


    But before she could finish, her sharp eyes caught Joshua had a Bluetooth headset on, eyes locked on his screen¡ªhe was clearly in the middle of some kind of meeting.


    She immediately mped her mouth shut, motioned that she¡¯d wait outside, and slipped out without making a sound.


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    He wasn¡¯t actually in a meeting¨Che was on a video call with his father, Aaron.


    Aaron had promised Joshua he¡¯d run thepany for two years, keeping all the business stuff off his te so Joshua could fully focus on winning Xylia back. Still, even if Joshua wasn¡¯t in charge, he had to stay in the loop about everything that happened at thepany during those two years.


    That was a non¨Cnegotiable order from Aaron.


    Joshua didn¡¯t argue.


    As soon as Xylia left, Joshua jumped at the excuse. He grinned at Aaron over the video call, ¡°Your daughter¨Cin-w needs me for something. Gotta run.¡±


    Without waiting for Aaron to respond, he hung up first.


    Typical¨Cgot himself a wife and his dad instantly dropped lower on the priority list.


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    Aaron prided himself on being zen his whole life, but hitting middle age only to face Joshua¡¯ste¨Conset rebellious streak¨Cnow that was something else.


    He had to take a few deep breaths just to get his mood back in check.


    Xylia was curled up on the living room couch, still glued to her phone.


    Joshua came out of the study and casually sat down beside Xylia, wrapping his arm around her. He asked softly, ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up?¡±


    Xylia nudged her phone closer to him, showing him the screen.


    ¡°Did you do this?¡±


    On the screen was the video of Connor threatening Seth.


    Joshua barely nced at it and shrugged, saying, ¡°Just figured I¡¯d use this chance to deal with Connor too¡ª saves him from going nuts at you every other week.¡±


    He¡¯d kept that video under wraps for ages, and with all eyes on Tessa¡¯s scandal now, dropping it on Connor was a win¨Cwin.


    Joshua had been feeling pretty pleased with himself, but then something crossed his mind, and his face instantly clouded over.


    He lowered his eyes with a hint of grievance, ncing at Xylia like a puppy begging for attention.


    He muttered, ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of cutting him any ck, are you? Are you worried about him? Or that little troublemaker?¡±


    Xylia calmly reached out, pinched his chin, and turned his head back.


    ¡°If you¡¯re just fishing for jealousy, then go pout somewhere else.¡±


    Getting called out like that actually put Joshua in a great mood.


    As long as you¡¯re not thinking about Connor and Maddox, that¡¯s all that matters to me.


    He leaned down, resting his forehead against hers.


    ¡°I knew it¨Cthose two are just part of your past. I¡¯m the one you¡¯re meant to be with.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t figure out where Joshua had learned all these sweet¨Ctalking lines¨Che always had a way with


    words.


    Still, she just found him impossibly cute, and couldn¡¯t resist reaching up to ruffle his soft silver hair.


    ¡°Seriously, how are you so good at this? You even managed to dig up that super clear video of Connor threatening Seth?¡±


    Gettingplimented like that made Joshua feel like he was floating way above the clouds, ready to leave the


    10:55 Wed, Sep 24 <b>d</b><b>. </b>


    stratosphere.


    :


    He looked mighty proud of himself. ¡°Come on, stuff like this is a piece of cake for me.¡±


    994


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    Xylia thought he looked so excited, she could almost see his tail wagging¨Cshe just couldn¡¯t stopughing.


    Meanwhile, Connor had been swampedtely.


    By the time the news started blowing up online, he hadn¡¯t even seen it yet. It wasn¡¯t until the police called him that he finally found out what was going on.


    With the head of thepany getting called out for such sleazy behavior, Ford Group was facing a total media firestorm.


    [No way, this drama has way more explosive twists than I ever expected! When I was scrolling online before, I just saw people dragging Mr. Ford¡¯s wife for a hit¨Cand¨Crun and her getting sent to jail. Turns out she was framed by her own husband¨Call because of another woman! That¡¯s beyond trashy!]


    [For all those folks who im rich guys are the most devoted¨Cguess again! The bigger the mansion, the wilder the mess. Word is, Tessa¡¯s actually Mr. Ford¡¯s ex¨Cwife¡¯s little sister.]


    [Brother¨Cinw hooking up with his sister¨Cinw? Sure, sounds spicy in a webnovel, but IRL, it¡¯s just straight up repulsive.]


    [Question for Tessa¡¯s stans: Did she snag all those dance lead titles just because Mr. Ford bankrolled her way to the top?]


    [Ford Group¡¯s trying to expand into Norhill? Please, keep your bad vibes out of our city! Just go back to Jupiton!]


    [No room for scumbags like him in Jupiton either! Boycott Ford Group!]


    [Boycott Ford Group!]


    [Boycott Ford Group!]


    [Also, can someone check if Tessa cheated her way into those dance lead titles? @National Dance Association]


    [Exactly! We¡¯re done with scandalous artists! Tessa did a hit¨Cand¨Crun, wrecked her own sister¡¯s marriage, and then pulled the same stunt by framing her sister again. Who¡¯s feeling sorry for her? Not us.]


    [@National Dance Association, we need a thorough investigation!]


    Within just two days, Ford Group¡¯s stock plummeted once again.


    Some stubborn Tessa stans were still trying their best to whitewash her online, but with all the legal and moral lines crossed, even her reasonable fans started dropping her¨Cand some were straight up dragging her


    10:55 Wed, Sep 24 <b>d</b>.


    instead.


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    The National Dance Association, swept up in all this public drama, kicked off a full investigation into Tessa¡¯s reign as the dance lead over the past few years.


    But meanwhile, Tessa was totally cut off from the outside world, stuck in the detention center andpletely clueless about any of it.


    When Connor was being interrogated by the police, he didn¡¯t have a leg to stand on¨Cthere was nothing he could say to save himself.


    All he could do was seethe in silent hatred for the true culprit¨CTessa.


    ¡®I must¡¯ve been out of my mind,¡® Connor thought bitterly, ¡®tricked by a worthless nobody I foolishly saw as a treasure. How could I have let myself get led astray by that idiot and end up in a mess like this?¡®


    The once¨Cpowerful head of Ford Group was shipped back to Jupiton in disgrace.


    And Ford Group¡¯s branch in Norhill? It was done for.


    When Joshua caught wind of this, he grinned in approval and gave a satisfied nod.


    Bad guys always have to pay for what they¡¯ve done¨Cthat¡¯s karma, in and simple.


    With Connor and Maddox out of the picture and no chance to mess with Xylia anymore, Joshua was so pumped he nearly wanted to pop some champagne and celebrate right on the spot.


    But Xylia didn¡¯t even get a second to celebrate¨Cher studio¡¯s online shop had just been nuked, after trolls flooded it with fake refund requests and reports, getting it shut down in no time.


    But with her name finally cleared, Xylic Studio shot right back into the spotlight. Loads of curiousizens went down the rabbit hole and tracked down her ce.


    Xylic Studio got absolutely mobbed¨Cthe ce was bursting at the seams.

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    Chapter <b>261 </b>


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    The premium oflice tower in Downtown Norhill had been buzzing with activity since the crack of dawn.


    The subway line heading downtown was always packed during the morning rush hour on weekdays.


    But today, it was on a whole different level. At Central Station, lines wound around the entrances and exits, and every subway car had queues at every single door¨Cpeople were packed in tight, barely squeezing on.


    Commuters grumbled and cursed under their breath. The Metro Transit Department scrambled to add extra trains, pushing out a new one every two minutes just to keep things moving.


    By the time the trains reached Central Station, the crowd spilled out like a swarm of bees, buzzing and pushing their way through the exits.


    The whole crowd moving out to work had all their pent¨Cup irritation from the morning simmering, and as soon as they hit the exit, it kind of exploded¨Ceveryone was cranky, and you could feel the tension in the air.


    ¡°Seriously, does the whole damn city work here now? Yesterday wasn¡¯t nearly this packed. Did somepany just open up and hire everybody?¡± someone griped loudly.


    That started a chain reaction. The rest of themuters, just as annoyed and in a rush, instantly chimed in, letting all theirints spill out at once.


    ¡°For those of us who always clock in at thest minute¨Cno way I¡¯m making it today! Say goodbye to my perfect attendance bonus!¡± someone wailed.


    ¡°It¡¯s Friday! Why is everyone acting so desperate to get to work? Last Friday was way less packed¡ªthis is insane!¡± anotherined.


    ¡°If I¡¯d known, I would¡¯ve just requested a day off. At least I wouldn¡¯t bete and miss out on my perfect attendance bonus,¡± someone else grumbled.


    ¡°Lucky for me, mypany doesn¡¯t start until ten. Still got a whole Sonny¨Cplenty of time,¡± another said, sounding a little smug.


    The station was so thick with frustrated energy it almost felt like the whole ce had been hit with a curse- like Evil Sword Immortal just came through, leaving his trademark ck and purple aura swirling everywhere.


    The staff, worried these frazzled office workers might snap at any moment, doubled their team and rushed around trying to keep everyone chill. Signs popped up all over, guiding the sea of folks and keeping the chaos


    in check.


    Finally, after fighting their way out of the crush at the subway exit, the oflice workers stumbled gasping toward the tower entrance. Just when they thought the worst was over, they ran smack into yet another bottleneck¡ªa sea of people already stretching through the elevator area, every line longer than thest. ¡®You¡¯ve got to be kidding me,¡® someone thought, their hope evaporating.


    8:33 Thu, Sep 25


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    The lobby was packed, with lines stretching all the way from the elevator banks to the front doors.


    To top it all off, the time clock system downstairs had been malfunctioning these past couple days¡ªnow anyone could flood upstairs whenever they wanted, making the chaos even worse.


    Employees who used to think they¡¯d have a chance to clock in were losing their minds.


    One of the office workers, fed up and frazzled, cornered a stranger and snapped, ¡°Hey, whichpany are you from?¡±


    ¡®I gotta see what kind of business moved in here and suddenly hired half the city,¡® she thought, sizing up the


    neer.


    ¡°Actually, we¡¯re not staff,¡± one of the girls replied, grinning. ¡°We¡¯re headed to Xylic Studio on the 16th floor to get custom women¡¯s fashion.¡±


    The girl was practically bursting with excitement, her eyes shining bright with anticipation¨Ctotally unfazed by the workce chaos around her.


    The office worker¡¯s rage meter shot through the roof.


    ¡°You seriously dragged yourself out this early just for custom clothes? Is that why there¡¯re suddenly so many elevator hogs? You all aren¡¯t even employees¨Cgive us workers a break! We¡¯re gonna bete!¡± she snapped.


    The girl¡¯s excitement crashed instantly. It wasn¡¯t what that person said¡ªit was how she said it.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re working or shopping¨Crules are rules! We¡¯re all waiting our turn, so how about you just stand in line like everyone else?¡± she fired back.


    ¡°I¡¯m usually riding up and clocking in at this time! You guys just had to pack the elevators right during rush hour, huh? Now you¡¯re actually acting like it¡¯s your right?¡± the office worker snapped.


    ¡°Where does it say these elevators are only for you office folks?¡± the girl shot back, arms crossed.


    The argument turned into a shouting match, and onlookers started crowding around, splitting fast into two squads¨Csome taking the office workers¡® side, others backing the shoppers.


    It was the office workers from the tower versus the Xylic Studio customers¨Ceveryone split into two camps, and you could practically see sparks flying in the lobby.


    Tensions ran high, with both sides shouting over each other until the entire lobby was caught up in chaos.


    Finally, security rolled in, started sorting people into separate groups, and ushered them upstairs. Just like that, the war came to a halt.


    Still fuming, the office workers trudged to their desks, muttering nonstop about Xylic Studio up on the 16th. ¡®What¡¯s with that lousy fashionpany acting like they own the ce? Their customerspletely took over the elevators¨Chow¡¯s anyone supposed to make it to work?¡® someone groused.


    8:33 Thu, Sep 25


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    But before they could really get into it, apany¨Cwide announcement shed onto their screens.


    [Because of this morning¡¯s chaos, no one will be markedte. And as a peace offering, Xylic Studio is treating everyone in the building to free snacks and drinks at 4 PM. Don¡¯t miss out!]


    Suddenly, every singleint vanished into thin air.


    Everyone was giving each other side¨Ceye, thinking, ¡®Whoa, Xylic Studio must have some serious clout¨Cwho knew they could get even our HR department to y nice for them?¡¯


    No penalties for beingte and free treats in the afternoon? That took the sting out of everyone¡¯sints.


    in no time.


    Meanwhile, Xylia was working overtime in the lobby, patiently ushering out thest batch of walk¨Cins. Smiling through her exhaustion, she kept saying, ¡°If you want to order custom pieces, just drop us a DM on WhatsApp or hit up our website¨Cwe¡¯ll reply to everyone one by one, promise!¡±


    She practically had to beg and reason with everyone before they finally headed out. By the time it was all done, Xylia¡¯s throat felt scorched, and it was nearly lunchtime.


    Joshua came down from upstairs and told Xylia that he¡¯d just waived a whole month¡¯s rent for every business in the building, all to calm everyone down.


    He also made sure that the message came under Xylic Studio¡¯s name, reaching out to all the employees to reassure them and smooth things over.


    ¡®I don¡¯t even know how to feel about this, Xylia thought, a little overwhelmed.


    The whole ce was actually owned by Garcia Group, and losing a month¡¯s rent meant taking a hit of over a million bucks.


    Joshua handled all the fallout without even a hint ofint, and still found time to bring her a cup of warm water. ¡°Here, have some¨Cit¡¯s good for your throat,¡± he said, genuinely caring.


    That sense of security, knowing someone would always have her back no matter what¨Conly Joshua could give her that kind of certainty.


    After taking a few sips, Xylia and Joshua headed back to the studio.


    Josie wasted no time posting a notice on the website, letting everyone know the online shop would be up really soon. If anyone needed help, they could just call instead¨Cshe made it clear that swinging by in groups for custom orders wasn¡¯t a great idea. And, most importantly, she offered a big apology to anyone whose day got thrown off by all the drama.


    Meanwhile, the inte was already blowing up over the morning¡¯s drama.


    Comments about Xylic Studio were all over the ce¨Chalf of them were roasting the studio, while the other half were defending it.


    [¡°So thepany¡¯s customers basically shut down the whole city? Shouldn¡¯t they be held responsible? Rush hour is tough enough, and all those people rushing to Xylic Studio¨Cwhat were they even thinking? Just made


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    everything a nightmare for the rest of us.¡°]


    [¡°Exactly! So many people ended upte because of this mess. There goes my whole month¡¯s attendance bonus, thanks a lot! Do office workers even matter anymore?¡°]


    [But then you hadments like: ¡°Why are there so many people online just fanning the mes? This whole blowup has nothing to do with Xylic Studio! Their owner was already wrongly used a few days ago, and their shop got shut down because of all you bandwagon jumpers fake¨Cordering and mass¨Ccancelling. Now the truth is out, but people are still showing up to mess with their business. Honestly, Xylic Studio hasn¡¯t done anything wrong from the very beginning.¡°]


    [Another reply: ¡°Totally agree with the person above. Xylic Studio barely has any fans to begin with. Their shop got dragged into a disaster for no reason, and now folks are still trying to trash them. The boss really can¡¯t catch a break!¡°]


    [And another user chimed in: ¡°Anyone with half a brain wouldn¡¯t go out and stir up trouble in real life. It¡¯s not like Xylic Studio is some regr clothing store you can just drop by whenever. Get a grip, sheeple¡ªtry using your heads for once!¡°]


    Xylia stared at the nonstop flood ofments online, feeling wave after wave hit her.


    Good or bad, right at this moment, she just felt deeply tired.


    No matter what people said, there was no denying it¨Cthis morning had left a really nasty impact.


    ¡®For all the time I¡¯ve spent running Xylic Studio, I¡¯ve never felt this helpless before,¡® Xylia thought, letting her phone drop as she let out a long sigh.


    C


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    Xylia couldn¡¯t hide how exhausted she was.


    65 vouchers


    Joshua, feeling a pang in his chest, reached out and softly stroked her cheek. That alone wasn¡¯t enough¨Che had to mess up her hair a little too.


    ¡°Running apany is just like living life¡ªit¡¯s never all smooth sailing,¡± he said.


    He didn¡¯t tell Xylia, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡±


    Joshua nned to prove it with every move, always being her safe harbor. But he also wanted Xylia to remember: the road ahead wouldn¡¯t be easy, and there¡¯d be a whole lot of unknowns waiting for her.


    Xylia knew she had to mentally brace herself for all the challenges that kepting her way.


    Joshua¡¯s words soothed her. With a steadying breath, Xylia refocused and threw herself back into work.


    By the end of the day, the store was back online and rolled out a brand¨Cnew collection of womenswear.


    Xylia and Josie had mapped all this out in advance.


    They realized that just doing custom orders wouldn¡¯t be enough if they wanted to build their brand. They had to stock up on ready¨Cto¨Cwear pieces as a solid starting point.


    That¡¯s why, over the past few weeks, Xylia and Josie teamed up to design a whole batch of women¡¯s outfits. After hashing things out with Henry, they decided to kick things off with a few thousand sets and put them up for sale online.


    The n for opening a physical store would depend on the feedback they received from their online sales, shaping the roadmap for a brick¨Cand¨Cmortarunch.


    Joshua suggested that Xylia bring in a team of professionals to take over both the online and physical store operations so that she and Josie could devote themselves to developing the high¨Cend collection.


    For starters, they could enter internationalpetitions to build their personal reputations as designers, break into the global scene, and make a ssh in top fashion magazines.


    Both tracks would move forward side by side.


    Xylia and Josie totally agreed with Joshua¡¯s suggestion. Since they¡¯re both all about action, without missing a <b>beat</b><b>, </b>they started recruiting a team of professionals.


    After a whole day hustling non¨Cstop, Xylia finally made it to the end¨Cshe could almost taste the relief of clocking out.


    Joshua, without missing a beat, grabbed Xylia¡¯s bag and slipped his fingers into hers, leading her out with that easy, caring style that just screamed ¡®I¡¯ve got you!


    Xylia curled her arm around his, leaning her head gently on his shoulder. The way she was glued to him,


    inside and out, made the world between them shrink to nothing.


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    ¡°Joshua, you¡¯re totally my behind¨Cthe¨Cscenes MVP. With you by my side, everything just feels a whole lot easier,¡± Xylia said, her voice soft.


    When Xylia opened up like that, Joshua¡¯s grin stretched even wider.


    ¡°I¡¯ll always have your back,¡± he promised.


    Xylia loved hearing that.


    As their car rolled out of the open¨Cair parking lot, Ziggy stood alone on the empty lot, eyes locked on their retreating figures. His face was clouded with something unreadable¨Cwhatever was brewing in his head, nobody could guess.


    After a moment, he slipped into his own car and drove off, not sparing them another nce.


    Early the next morning, in the CEO¡¯s office at Sadler Group, Kaden was greeted by Ziggy, who¡¯d dropped by unannounced.


    Kaden didn¡¯t bat an eye at the unexpected visit, handling it all with his usual calm.


    When the secretary came in carrying tea, Ziggy instinctively reached out to take the cup.


    But with a quick twist of her wrist, the secretary handed the cup straight to Kaden, leaving Ziggy awkwardly hanging.


    Ziggy felt awkward.


    Kaden didn¡¯t even bother to look up, his tone t: ¡°Mr. Schultz, you¡¯re not here for tea. Spit it out¨Cwhat do you want?<b>¡± </b>


    Ziggy bristled at Kaden¡¯s chill attitude. He leaned back on the sofa, his gaze rebellious and locked onto Kaden.


    ¡°Mr. Sadler, I came here today to settle some scores,¡± Ziggy said.


    ¡°Oh? What are you here to settle?¡± Kaden took a sip of his tea, put the cup down, and said, ¡°Far as I know, Sadler Group and Schultz Group haven¡¯t ever done business. So what exactly do we owe each other?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about business deals,¡± Ziggy replied. ¡°I¡¯m talking about personal favors.¡±


    Kaden just raised his eyebrows, silently telling him to go on.


    Ziggy sat back like he owned the ce, voice loud and clear as he spelled out his reasons foring.


    ¡°Xylia Schultz¨Cnow your sister, Xylia. Let¡¯s get one thing straight: you only have her in your life because the Schultzs raised her. That¡¯s a favor your family owes us, right?¡± Ziggy dered.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Kaden replied coolly.


    Kaden stayed totally unfazed, just calmly waiting for Ziggy toy out what he wanted.


    Just as expected, the moment Kaden said nothing. Ziggy cut straight to his demand.


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    ¡°Back when Xylia was living with the Schultzs, we made sure she wanted for nothing. She was loved like one of our own. So here¡¯s the deal¨Cthe Sadler family owes us 600 thousand. Pay up, and the whole debt- emotional or otherwise¨Cis settled. After that, Xylia is yours, and the Schultzs are officially out of the picture,¡± Ziggy said, his tone firm.


    Kaden mulled it over for a moment, then nodded coolly. ¡°No problem,¡± he thought.


    He told his secretary, ¡°Print up the contract.¡±


    ¡°Once the paperwork¡¯s signed, I¡¯ll have the 600 thousand check ready for you. That work for you?¡± Kaden


    said.


    Ziggy couldn¡¯t believe how easy this was¨Cwhen Kaden agreed right away, it threw him for a loop.


    As soon as he snapped out of it, he didn¡¯t hesitate to say yes.


    He¡¯d tried to get 300 thousand out of Xylia before and totally struck out. He¡¯de in today expecting to argue his head off with Kaden.


    Who would¡¯ve thought that if he hiked up the price to 600 thousand, he¡¯d actually get it handed over just like that?


    ¡®If I¡¯d known, I should¡¯ve said 900 thousand instead!¡® Ziggy kicked himself, feeling like he totally missed a golden chance.


    ¡®Man, I really dropped the ball on that one,¡® Ziggy thought, cursing his own carelessness.


    After signing the paperwork, Ziggy didn¡¯t stick around at all¨Che took the 600 thousand check and walked straight out of Sadler Group.


    That money was more than enough for Ziggy to get Schultz Group back on its feet.


    After Ziggy left, the secretary turned to Kaden and asked, ¡°Mr. Sadler, are you really going to hand over that much money? Ever since they found their biological daughter, the Schultzs have treated Miss Xylia like an enemy. I heard they even tried to force her to pay them back.¡±


    Kaden recalled the days he¡¯d investigated Xylia¡¯s past with the Schultzs, the memories ying in his mind. ¡®If I hadn¡¯t looked into it myself and seen the truth¡­¡®


    ¡®Handing over 600 thousand isn¡¯t something I¡¯d do if I hadn¡¯t made sure the Schultzs genuinely cared for her back then, Kaden thought, his expression unreadable.


    ¡°The Schultzs raised Xylia, and that¡¯s a debt I¡¯ve just paid. But everything Tessa did to hurt her after she came home¨Cdon¡¯t think I¡¯ll let that slide,¡± Kaden said coldly.


    The secretary finally put the pieces together, understanding exactly what Kaden meant.


    ¡®So this is what it means to keep grudges and gratitude crystal clear¡­¡® the secretary thought, equal parts shocked and impressed.


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    ¡°Get things ready. When Schultz Group¡¯s back from the dead, we¡¯ll make sure Ziggy gets a ¡®gift¡® he¡¯ll never forget,¡± Kaden added.


    ¡°Got it,¡± the secretary replied, nodding.


    After the secretary left, Kaden¡¯s gaze grew icier by the second.


    Ziggy wasted no time¨Che grabbed the 600 thousand and headed straight back to Jupiton.


    He¡¯d heard all about Tessa¡¯s drama, but after the Schultz family¡¯s downfall, he and Tessa had been on the outs. When Schultz Group went under, she turned tail and ran, hiding out like nothing was her problem. So now that Tessa was in hot water, Ziggy figured she was on her own.


    Besides, the evidence against Tessa was irond. Even if he shelled out for the bestwyers, facing a pile of proof and the whole world rooting against her, he¡¯d have to be bored out of his mind to get mixed up in that


    mess.


    When Ziggy got back to Jupiton, Yves and Gia sought him out¨Cthe first thing they did was bring up Tessa¡¯s situation.


    Ziggy, beyond annoyed, didn¡¯t bother hiding it. Heid out two choices for them, his tone sharp with impatience.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got 600 thousand right now. So tell me which is it? Do you want me to use it to save thepany, or waste every penny on Tessa, knowing she¡¯s still headed straight for jail?¡± Ziggy said.


    Yves and Gia wentpletely silent, not a word between them.


    In the end, Yves made the final decision¨Che was the one to determine Tessa¡¯s fate.


    ¡®She needs to pay for everything she¡¯s done,¡® Yves dered, his voice leaving no room for doubt.


    While waiting in lockup, Tessa¡¯s mind couldn¡¯t stop spinning¨Cshe imagined every possible way this could go down.


    Connor? Forget it. She could <i>see </i>it in his eyestely¨Che waspletely over her. Hoping he¡¯d swoop in was just pointless.


    But at least she still had her parents and Ziggy. They were her family¨Cthey had to love her, right?


    Tessa held tight to one thought: when disaster struck, her dad, her mom, and her brother would never let her face it alone. Someone would definitelye to save her.


    But as the days dragged on, nobody from the Schultz family came to the station to get her out. All she got was the worst news imaginable: her official sentencing.


    Twelve years behind bars, plus 600 thousand to pay the victim¡¯s family¨Cno way out.


    Even when the verdict was read out loud, Tessa¡¯s eyes darted around, desperate for someone from her family


    8:33 Thu, Sep 25


    to swoop in and save her. But nobody showed up.


    Only then did it sink in¡ªshe¡¯d beenpletely abandoned.

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    People online had a lot to say about Tessa being the dance lead for five straight years.


    55 vouchers


    As the head of the Dance Association, Grace was told by the higher¨Cups to dig into whether Tessa had pulled any shady moves during her time as dance lead.


    Now Grace was suddenly swamped with work.


    Meanwhile, Xylia¡¯spany was thrown into chaos thanks to the flood of online criticism. She¡¯d been busy putting out fires and trying to get things under control these past few days.


    The trip Xylia and Noelle had nned to Norhill had to be put on the back burner for now.


    After a few days, Xylia finally started to get a handle on things at work¨Cthe chaos was settling down, little by little.


    Xylia let out a long sigh of relief, thinking to herself, ¡®Finally, I can catch my breath.¡®


    ¡°Joshua, I can¡¯t take it anymore. I have to go out for a proper meal tonight!¡± Xylia said, her exhaustion showing through.


    Joshua was sitting on the sofa, holding Xylia¡¯sptop and looking over some proposals for her.


    Hearing her, he turned toward Xylia, who was slumped in her office chair. There was a faint bluish tint under her eyes, and after just a few days, her face had grown noticeably thinner.


    Joshua felt a sharp pang in his chest, like something was tugging at his heart.


    He set aside what he was working on and said to Xylia, ¡°What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll make a reservation right


    now.¡±


    Xylia said she wanted to hit up the Datonese ce they¡¯d gone to before.


    Joshua called up right away and booked a table.


    Normally, you had to reserve a spot at that restaurant a week ahead of time, but since it was owned by the Garcia Group, Joshua was the boss¨Che could waltz in whenever he felt like it.


    The moment Xylia thought about what they¡¯d be having for dinner, her eyes started to sparkle.


    She immediately shot to her feet, grabbed Joshua¡¯s hand, and pulled him toward the door.


    ¡°We¡¯re going now!¡± she called out, her excitement obvious.


    It was already ten PM, and everyone else in the office had already clocked out.


    After locking up, Xylia urged Joshua to start the car at once¨Cshe just couldn¡¯t wait to head out.


    Good thing the Datonese restaurant stays opente¨Cfrom 2 PM all the way until 2 AM.


    They showed up around eleven.


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    Xylia already knew exactly what she wanted to eat, so while they were on their way, she grabbed Joshua¡¯s phone and texted their order straight to the manager. That way, their dinner would be waiting for them as soon as they walked in.


    Since they were eating sote, this was definitely ate¨Cnight treat.


    Joshua watched Xylia happily devouring her food, but he couldn¡¯t help nagging her gently.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stuff yourself just because it¡¯ste. Let¡¯s take a walk afterwards to help you digest, and hey, tomorrow¡¯s the weekend¨Cyou can sleep in as much as you want.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Xylia replied, still chewing.


    Joshua was fussing over her again.


    Xylia was acting like an overgrown kid¨Cher mouth said ¡°I know, I know,¡± but she didn¡¯t slow down for a second, happily munching away.


    Joshua almost chimed in again, but stopped himself. He just quietly piled more food onto his own te, hoping Xylia wouldn¡¯t start binge¨Ceating out of protest.


    After dinner, Xylia felt perfectly satisfied¨Cnot too full, not still hungry, just right.


    She leaned back in her chair, content, gazing out the window at the tranquil garden outside.


    She felt her worries begin to fade, her heart gradually growing calm.


    All those troubles were swept away by time, and atst, the dust from the chaos settled for good.


    Her name had finally been cleared, and her studio was back on track, running smoothly.


    ¡®Everything¡¯s finally good again, Xylia thought, a sense of peace washing over her.


    Joshua caught the small smile on Xylia¡¯s lips and the way she¡¯d finally rxed. He couldn¡¯t help but feel happy for her too.


    He knew this was it¨CXylia had truly moved on from her past, finally embracing her new life.


    The next morning, Xylia was jolted awake by the sharp ring of her phone.


    Groggily, she fumbled for her phone on the nightstand, but before she could grab it, Joshua pulled her into his arms. The ringtone cut off, reced by Joshua¡¯s gentle voice in her ear.


    ¡°Just a spam call. Go back to sleep,¡± he said gently.


    Joshua gently rubbed her back, and Xylia was out like a light in no time.


    Once Xylia¡¯s breathing had settled, peaceful and gentle against him, Joshua finally nced at her phone


    screen.


    <b>8:33 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>25 </b>


    After cutting off the call, he quickly set her phone to silent, making sure not to disturb her sleep.


    But that same number was still relentlessly calling, refusing to give up.


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    Joshua carefully disentangled himself from Xylia, stepped out of the bedroom, and lowered his voice as he picked up the call.


    ¡°Hello?¡± he murmured.


    The caller was clearly caught off guard when a guy picked up Xylia¡¯s phone.


    After some rustling noises on the other end, they finally asked, ¡°Wait, is this Xylia¡¯s number?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s Joshua,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Oh, Mr. Garcia!¡± Chase Bell sounded relieved, then couldn¡¯t help but joke, ¡°Well, look at you¨Chaven¡¯t seen you in over half a year and you¡¯re already shacked up with Xylia?¡±


    Joshua was always distant with outsiders; even though he knew Chase Bell was Xylia¡¯s mentor, and Xylia had been rmended to Chase by him.


    Still, whenever another man called Xylia, Joshua couldn¡¯t help feeling a stab of jealousy inside.


    He wasn¡¯t up for small talk with Chase.


    ¡°What do you want with Xylia?¡± Joshua asked coldly, skipping any pleasantries.


    Chase Bell suddenly remembered why he¡¯d called. ¡°Right¨CXylia opened her own studio, didn¡¯t she? I¡¯ve been keeping tabs on the international scene these days, and I wanted to chat with her about going for a more luxury vibe. There¡¯s an international fashion design contest happening here in about three months, and with Xylia¡¯s skills, she¡¯d crush it for sure. Hope she¡¯ll give it some thought.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pass it on,¡± Joshua said curtly, not wasting another word.


    He hung up right away, not even giving Chase a chance to respond,


    Chase was left standing there, stunned. He hadn¡¯t even finished his sentence!


    He quickly shot Xylia an email with all the details about thepetition and sent her a WhatsApp message.


    He left a message for her: ¡°Xylia, I¡¯ve already sent you all the steps for signing up for the international fashion contest to your inbox. Make sure to check it out.¡±


    Joshua saw the message but didn¡¯t say anything. He just quietly put his phone away,


    He¡¯d stayed up prettytest night, so he was still feeling groggy.


    Just as he was about to crawl back into bed and catch up on some sleep, his phone rang again.


    It was David calling.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, Ms. Coffey has gone missing overseas,¡± David said, his voice tense.


    Joshua¡¯s brow furrowed, and his tone turned icy.


    ¡°When did this happen?¡± he asked sharply.


    E55 vouchers


    ¡°We just found out this morning. The school said she¡¯s been missing for three days,¡± David replied.


    Joshua¡¯s face grew even darker, his jaw set in a hard line.


    ¡°Any clues?¡± he asked coldly.


    ¡°The security footage shows Noelle packing up and leaving her ce by herself. No one knows where she went,¡± David said quickly.


    ¡°Get hold of everyone over there. Start looking. Now,¡± Joshua snapped.


    After hanging up, Joshua had no intention of heading back to bed.


    Noelle was Nelson¡¯s only sister¨Cno way Joshua would ever let anything happen to her.


    He slipped back into the bedroom to change, nced over at Xylia sprawled on the bed, then softly called out to her.


    ¡°Xylia, I¡¯ve got to step out for a bit. Lunch is already taken care of¨Cit¡¯ll be delivered to you. Make sure you eat, alright?¡±


    Xylia, still mostly asleep, barely registered Joshua¡¯s words. She just nodded sleepily, her eyes still shut.


    Seeing her like that, Joshua knew she hadn¡¯t really heard him.


    He gave her a soft kiss on the forehead, then quietly slipped out the door.


    As the apartment door clicked shut, the faint sound made Xylia stir, half¨Cawake.


    She instinctively reached over, searching for Joshua¨Chis warmth still lingered beside her.


    Her hand found the cozy spot where Joshua had slept, and she dozed off again, drifting into sleep without a


    care.


    At the Garcia Group, Joshua tracked down Aaron.


    The moment they locked eyes, they both knew what the other was thinking.


    * There was a tense silence between father and son, each reading the other¡¯s thoughts without a word. *


    Aaron spoke first. ¡°I¡¯ve already had people looking into it. Noelle took her luggage and boarded a flight to


    Daltonia.¡±


    8:34 Thu, Sep 25


    Daltonia<i>. </i>


    :


    Joshua¡¯s face turned grim; whatever he just thought of clearly wasn¡¯t good news.


    ¡°Who has she been in contact with these past few days?¡± Joshua asked, his voice low and tense.


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    ¡°Not entirely sure,¡± Aaron sounded just as tense. ¡°I looked into her call log, and there were two calls from Daltonia, but both numbers were disconnected.¡±

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    Joshua had Aaron send over the number and, without missing a beat, scooped up Aaron¡¯sptop.


    His fingers dashed across the keyboard, moving so fast they were a blur. Code flooded the screen in a wild frenzy, crawling everywhere like a swarm of ants¨Cimpossible to keep up with.


    After a long while, Joshua finally stopped, his expression turning grim.


    ¡°Thest signal pinged at Kaiser Street in Daltonia. If I recall, Richard headed there just recently¨Csupposedly to discuss some contract, right?¡±


    When Joshua brought up Richard, Aaron¡¯s face


    grew serious.


    His eyes narrowed, a chill shing through them as he thought to himself, ¡®So that¡¯s how it is¡­


    He said quietly, ¡°Honestly, if Noelle¡¯s holding a grudge against us and goes to Richard for help, that makes perfect sense.¡±


    Richard had been the Garcia family¡¯s sworn enemy for decades. This wasn¡¯t your average powerhouse rivalry -it went way beyond that.


    He wasn¡¯t like the usual rivals among the rich and powerful.


    Richard was technically from Alvend, but his family originated from Daltonia.


    Richard¡¯s father used to be Aaron¡¯s right¨Chand man, but he betrayed the Garcia Group by stealing confidential information,nding the Garcia family in deep trouble. Aaron had no choice but to take him to court for the massive losses he caused.


    While in prison, Richard¡¯s father somehow found a way out¨Cpulled some serious strings, escaped custody, smuggled himself abroad, and started fresh under a new identity.


    It wasn¡¯t until Aaron traveled to Daltonia for business that he unexpectedly ran into Richard¡¯s father again.


    By then, the Shaw family were already running the show in Daltonia¡¯s criminal underworld.


    Richard, still young, had already picked up his father¡¯s knack for scheming and cruelty. Behind those wide, innocent eyes was nothing but a thirst for blood and mayhem.


    Aaron gotpletely blindsided back in Daltonia¨Che never saw iting¨Cand even Joshua got caught up


    in the fallout,


    Back then, Joshua was being hunted down overseas by Dexter¡¯s crew, and that was when Xylia pulled off her legendary rescue,


    Aaron and his father got totally yed by Richard and his dad.


    That was when Richard and his father stopped hiding¨Cevery little scheme they¡¯d pulled against the Garcia Group before, they brought it all out into the open. Using their dirty tricks, they threatened countless listed


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    For those years, Joshua and Aaron were kept busy¨Con one hand, working nonstop to keep thepany safe from outside threats; on the other, figuring out how to give the Shaw family back some of their own


    medicine.


    But Richard and his father had been dug deep in Daltonia for way too long, their political connections ran strong. The Garcia family had never done business there and had no one on the inside to help them.


    In other words, there was just no way topletely corner the Shaw family, so long as they kept themselves holed up in Daltonia, always staying one step out of reach.


    It wasn¡¯t until Richard¡¯s father diedst year that Joshua and Aaron finally got a bit of breathing room.


    Recently, Richard had been keeping an unusually low profile, and the Garcia family¡¯s sources in Daltonia hadn¡¯t spotted anything out of the ordinary.


    But now, even though Noelle knew Richard was the Garcia family¡¯s sworn enemy, she still chose to team up with him. Aaron was worried this would end up upsetting Eliza.


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep this from Mom for now,¡± Aaron said.


    Joshua¡¯s expression softened, clearly thinking the same thing.


    After all, Eliza had always treated Noelle like her own daughter.


    Aaron nodded. ¡®Got it.¡®


    ¡°I¡¯ll have Graham look for Noelle in Daltonia and keep tabs on Richard. If any business tripse up, I¡¯ll take care of them myself,¡± Joshua said.


    Aaron shot a sideways look at his son.


    He was young and fit.


    Joshua snorted, ¡°What, you think your old man¡¯s past his prime?¡±


    ¡°You calling me old now?¡± Joshua quipped back, raising an eyebrow.


    Aaron stifled augh, chest rising with faint exasperation. ¡®With a mouth that sharp, if this brat tried licking his own lips, he¡¯d poison himself!¡®


    ¡°Alright, enough already. We agreed I¡¯d handle thepany for two years¨CI¡¯m sticking to that. Just hurry and bring your future wife back, would you? Your mom¡¯s been on my case about it every single day.¡±


    Joshua gave Aaron a silent look, then let the matter drop.


    When Joshua returned to the apartment, it was already noon.


    Xylia had already gotten up<b>, </b>and the lunch Joshua had ordered was set out on the table.


    <b>8:34 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>25 </b>


    Xylia¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re back already?¡±


    ¡°Everything¡¯s taken care of, so I came back,¡± Joshua replied.


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    He¡¯d only ordered one serving of rice, so Xylia grabbed a bowl and split it with him.


    Xylia said as she started heading for the kitchen, ¡°There¡¯s not much food. I¡¯ll go make some noodles.¡±


    But just as Xylia stepped toward the kitchen, Joshua stopped her. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    Joshua was dead serious about his no¨CXylia¨Cin¨Cthe¨Ckitchen rule¨Che guarded that ce like it was top secret.


    Xylia set her chopsticks down and waited, watching Joshua busy himself in the kitchen. Her gaze lingered on him as she asked, ¡°Did something happen?¡±


    After spending so much time side by side, Xylia could sense straight away that something was wrong. Joshua still wore that usual rebellious attitude on his face, but there was a heaviness about him tonight she couldn¡¯t shake off.


    He was never like this¨Cnot unless something serious had gone down.


    As Joshua got the water boiling and started prepping the food, he heard Xylia¡¯s question and answered without hesitation.


    ¡°Noelle¡¯s out of touch overseas, but I¡¯ve more or less figured out where she is,¡± he said.


    He waspletely honest with Xylia.


    ¡°Is she in some kind of danger?¡± Xylia asked, worry evident in her voice.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help thinking of all those international news reports she¡¯d seentely¨Cgirls vanishing one after another, most likely kidnapped by traffickers. The thought made her uneasy; what if Noelle had run into the same thing?


    ¡®Noelle¡¯s put me through a lot¨Cmore times than I can count,¡® Xylia admitted to herself. ¡®But she¡¯s Joshua¡¯s savior¡¯s little sister, and honestly, none of her tricks ever actually hurt me. I really don¡¯t want anything bad happening to her.¡®


    Joshua heard the worry in Xylia¡¯s tone and paused, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes.


    ¡°She¡¯s probably not in any real danger. Looks like she left with someone of her own free will,¡± Joshua replied, his voice edged with uncertainty.


    Xylia¡¯s brows knitted as she nced over at Joshua, obvious confusion on her face.


    Joshua didn¡¯t have the full picture yet, so he said, ¡°We¡¯re still checking things out. If Noelle went with someone willingly, it¡¯s probably nothing serious<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Xylia wanted to ask more, but Joshua had already turned away.


    He started rummaging through the fridge.


    <b>8:34 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>25 </b>


    He clearly didn¡¯t want to talk about it, so Xylia hesitated and let it go.


    But one thing <b>was </b>obvious¨CJoshua had something weighing on his mind.


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    Joshua brought over two modest bowls of noodles, and finally, the two of them sat down together for lunch.


    It was the weekend, so Xylia was off work and finally got to chill for once.


    With nothing pressing on her schedule, she finished lunch and immediately started plotting to crawl right back into bed and make up for all the sleep she¡¯d been missing.


    But before she could even flop onto the mattress, Joshua caught her by the wrist and yanked her out of bed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about napping right after eating. It¡¯s murder on your stomach. At least walk around a bit first,¡± he teased.


    Xylia stared out at the scorching sun and scrunched up her brows. ¡°Ugh, I really don¡¯t wanna go outside.¡±


    ¡°Who says you need to step out to walk it off?¡± Joshua replied, already steering her straight toward the gym.


    He set the treadmill to a slow pace and basically dragged Xylia onto it.


    Xylia walkedzily on the treadmill while Joshua propped himself nearby, eyes glued to his phone.


    Xylia turned her head, catching sight of Joshua¡¯s perfect profile. With the warm sunlight pouring in, his silver hair fell softly over his eyes, casting a gentle shadow across his features.


    ¡®Just great, Xylia grumbled inwardly. ¡®He¡¯s telling me to walk off my lunch while he just stands there, barely lifting a finger. Typical.¡¯


    The AC was set perfectly, sunlight warmed the room, and Xylia was getting seriously sleepy. She barelysted two minutes on the treadmill before hopping right off.


    ¡°Okay, walk¡¯s over. I¡¯m going back to bed for a nap.¡±


    Çú


    AD

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    Joshua put his phone away, a little helpless. ¡°You just stepped away for two minutes.¡±


    ¡°Two minutes is more than enough to help with digestion,¡± Xylia chimed in.


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    Seeing Joshua frown, about to protest, Xylia hurried over and wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling into his arms. Her voice turned soft and sweet, yfully pleading.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been running myself ragged for days. I seriously need to catch up on some sleep. I didn¡¯t even eat much at lunch, so skipping dinner just this once won¡¯t hurt, right? Let me sleep, please,¡± she coaxed.


    Joshua might look pretty chill most days, but when it came to health, he never let anything slide¨Calways super strict about every little thing.


    He was stubborn as a mule.


    Last night, after she went a bit overboard on midnight snacks, he¡¯d nagged her forever about it. Then, once they got home, he insisted on some ¡°couple¡¯s workout¡± to help her burn it off¨Cwith his own hands, no less.


    Finally, it was the weekend, and all she wanted was to just crash and sleep the whole day away.


    As soon as she dove into his arms, Joshua pulled her close. Hearing her voice soften like that, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed and he could feel himself caving inside¨Cthere was no way he could resist her now.


    She honestly looked exhausted, with those faint shadows under her eyes making it clear just how spent she


    was.


    ¡®This was a total loss for me,¡® he thought, admitting defeat.


    ¡°Alright, get some sleep,¡± Joshua said softly, finally giving in.


    Xylia happily climbed into bed. She was so wiped out that she was asleep the second her head hit the pillow.


    Joshua tucked her in, then suddenly remembered that he¡¯d forgotten to tell her about Chase¡¯s invitation for her to join thepetition earlier that morning.


    ¡®Oh well, I¡¯ll just tell her when she wakes up,¡® he thought.


    With that, Joshua quietly slipped out of the room.


    ***


    In Daltonia, Noelle followed the hulking man in ck down a corridor awash in eerie red and purple lights. The haze hung heavy, blurring her vision, and it felt like the hallway might go on forever.


    When the huge double doors creaked open, that uneasy silence shattered¨Cnoise crashed in from every


    direction.


    Screams. Sobs. Desperate begging. It all hit her ears at once,


    Then the sharp, bloody stench mmed into her, thick and nauseating.


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    Noelle¡¯s heart was seized by fear, rising uncontrobly from deep inside. For a moment, her steps slowed and she almost froze in ce.


    ¡°Ms. Coffey, let¡¯s go,¡± the man ordered, his voice icy and devoid of any warmth.


    His tone was utterly emotionless.


    Noelle bit down on her lip¨Cthere was no way out now. She was already in <i>too </i>deep to run.


    She followed him in.


    The faint smell of blood she¡¯d caught at the entrance was now overwhelming, filling her nose with every breath, thick and sickly.


    <i>The </i>ce was sunken, almost like a bar lounge but dropped beneath her feet, giving off that shady underground vibe.


    Three burly meny scattered across the red velvet carpet. One had his arm snapped, another¡¯s legs were cut off at the knees, and thest was down on his knees in the center.


    He was tied up, head forced back, while a beefy guy in a ck T¨Cshirt shoved a pair of pliers into his mouth. In one cruel motion, the man ripped out his tongue¨Cbloody and raw. The guy instantly went limp and toppled over, his sobs cut short.


    Noelle¡¯s face was white as a sheet. She pped a trembling hand over her mouth, spun around, and nearly puked right there¨Cher legs were so weak, she could barely stay upright.


    Never in her wildest nightmares had she witnessed anything so savage, so horrifying.


    She¡¯d known the person she was about to confront wasn¡¯t some garden¨Cvariety criminal, but she never dreamed he¡¯d be this much of a monster.


    To him, human life was worthless.


    ¡°Ms. Coffey, wee. Sorry you had to witness such a sight for our first meeting.¡± The words drifted from the bar, spoken by a man whose voice was deep, mocking, tinged with amusement.


    Noelle turned, unsettled, searching for the source.


    Sitting at the bar was a man in a light gray suit¨Cdark¨Chaired, dark¨Ceyed, definitely from Alvend. His featurescked Joshua¡¯s razor¨Csharp handsomeness, but he exuded a gentleman¨Cschr vibe, a kind of old- world <b>grace </b>that set him apart.


    His almond¨Cshaped eyes curved in a smile, warmth on the surface¨Cyet as Noelle met his gaze, a deadly chill ran through her. There was something cold¨Cblooded, viper¨Clike lurking behind that smile, and she shivered despite herself.


    She couldn¡¯t help but tremble.


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    Richard didn¡¯tment on herck of response. He downed his ss of red wine in one gulp, then stood up from the bar stool and walked over to her.


    Noelle instinctively took a step back.


    But Richard stopped right in front of her, took her hand with all the grace of a gentleman, and gently pressed a kiss to the back of it.


    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to work with you, Ms. Coffey,¡± Richard said smoothly. ¡°You want that woman out of Joshua¡¯s life, and I want Joshua gone. Our goals are perfectly aligned.¡±


    Noelle¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I never meant for Joshua to die.¡±


    ¡°Disappearing doesn¡¯t always mean dying,¡± Richard replied softly, his voice almost hypnotic. ¡°If he belonged to you alone, vanished from the Garcia Group¨Cwell, that¡¯s just another kind of disappearance, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Richard was every bit the devil¨Ctempting her step by step, drawing her deeper into the pit he¡¯d dug.


    ¡®But the devil¡¯s temptation was just too strong,¡® Noelle thought, her heart trembling.


    Just the thought of having Joshua all to herself was almost addictive.


    The possibility alone sent a rush of excitement through Noelle.


    She nodded. ¡°If you help me take care of the woman around Joshua, I¡¯ll hand over the Garcia Group¡¯s secrets to you.¡±


    Richard grinned, ¡°Ms. Coffey, you¡¯d better stick to your word.¡±


    Richard¡¯s smile spread even wider.


    After Noelle left, Richard epted a wet wipe from his subordinate and began delicately cleaning the very fingertips that had touched her. His expression waspletely unreadable, almost as if purging any trace of


    contact.


    He wiped each finger slowly and carefully, making sure not to miss a single spot.


    ¡°Mr. Shaw<i>, </i>can we really trust that Ms. Coffey?¡± the subordinate asked in a low voice.


    Richard¡¯s eyes glittered with a chill. ¡°Ms. Coffey is no fool. After what she witnessed today, I¡¯m not worried about her loyalty¨Cnot anymore.¡±


    He tossed the dirty wet wipe onto the floor andmanded, ¡°Book me a flight to Alvend.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the subordinate replied.


    Once the guy left, Richard pulled out his phone and brought up her profile.


    On the screen was a gorgeous smiling face, with the name right beside it: Xylia, 28 years old, Norhill Native¡­


    The more Richard scrolled, the bigger his grin got.


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    ¡°Married? So that¡¯s Joshua¡¯s thing. No wonder all those women I¡¯ve tried to surround him with never worked. Looks like I¡¯ve been going at this all wrong,¡± Richard muttered to himself.


    His snake¨Clike gaze fixed on Xylia¡¯s photo.


    She really had the looks he¡¯d always dreamed of in a woman.


    Too bad¨Ctainted.¡®


    Richard tossed his phone into a nearby wine ss. It fizzled for a moment before goingpletely dead.


    Xylia slept straight through until four in the afternoon.


    Finally feeling refreshed, she stretchedzily in bed before slowly getting up.


    After a quick wash, Xylia stepped out of the bedroom.


    The study door was left wide open, and Xylia could hear Joshua inside, talking on the phone.


    ¡°Stop him. Don¡¯t let him get away. I¡¯ll be there soon,¡± Joshua ordered, his tone sharp.


    Just as she heard those words, Joshua stepped out of the study.


    When Joshua caught sight of Xylia, he stopped in his tracks, momentarily stunned¨Che hadn¡¯t expected to see her up and about.


    He strode over to Xylia, concern in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re up! Did you get enough rest?¡±


    Xylia nodded.


    Seeing him with clothes draped over his arm, she asked, ¡°Heading out?¡±


    Joshua didn¡¯t hide it. ¡°Yeah, something¡¯se up. Someone will drop off dinner soon¨Cjust eat, chill for a bit, and try to get an early night.¡±


    Xylia picked up on the hint¨Che might be getting back reallyte tonight, or maybe not at all.


    She frowned a little.


    Why do you look so troubled?¡® she asked. ¡®Is something big going on?¡®


    Joshua ruffled her hair gently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I just need to ask Burke Sterling a few questions. The ce is a bit far, so I might be held up on the way, but there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡±


    Xylia finally rxed, fussing with his tie for a moment before smiling up at him. ¡°Juste home soon, okay?


    And take <b>care </b>out there.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s lips quirked into a gentle smile. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips, then turned and left the apartment.

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    On the outskirts of the city stood a secluded vi, its gates looming in the evening light.


    Joshua floored the elerator all the way, sting down the road¨Che made it in just an hour and a half.


    David Baldwin was already waiting by the entrance. As soon as Joshua pulled up, David rushed over.


    Without wasting a second, David quickly brought Joshua up to speed on everything that had just happened.


    ¡°The news about Dexter¡¯s death got to Burke Sterling fast. With Connor gone too, Burke tried making a break for it out of the country¨Cwe managed to corner him at the airport just in time. Dude hasn¡¯t struggled or said a single word since<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°If anything, he¡¯s almost smug, like he knows for sure nothing¡¯s going to happen to him.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s expression stayed cool. ¡°He¡¯s got someone backing him. That¡¯s why he¡¯s acting so fearless.¡±


    David frowned. ¡°Who¡¯s behind him?<b>¡± </b>


    Joshua¡¯s tone was t as he uttered just one name: ¡°Richard.¡±


    David¡¯s heart skipped a beat-¡®No way¡­ it¡¯s really him!¡® He nearly stumbled back, blurting out, ¡°Richard?!¡±


    With Kaden¡¯s two hundred million dors, the Schultz Group was back from the brink.


    Ziggy was riding high again, feeling like he was on top of the world.


    Even his assistant, who had been ready to quit, was back to work with a newfound enthusiasm.


    ¡°Everyone who stuck with the Schultz Group through this mess is a hero. You¡¯re all getting the afternoon off,¡± Ziggy announced.


    His assistant rolled his eyes inwardly. ¡®After all we¡¯ve been through together, shouldn¡¯t there be some real reward?¡®


    ¡®Like a pay raise, or maybe some kind of bonus?¡®


    ¡®Seriously, just giving us half a day off and calling it a reward? That¡¯s it?¡®


    But it was Ziggy¡¯s decision, and he didn¡¯t get a say in the matter. He headed out to spread the word, just as he


    was told.


    With the afternoon free, Ziggy decided to drop in on those fair¨Cweather friends of his¨Cthe ones who couldn¡¯t wait to kick him when he was down. It was time to remind them that Ziggy was way more than what met the


    <b>eye</b><b>. </b>


    At the Capital Gold Club, Ziggy sprawled across the center of a leather sofa in the private lounge.


    Two gorgeous women sat snuggled up close beside him, barely clothed.


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    They cozied right up to him, pouring drinks and feeding him fruit¡ªjust like some spoiled princeling living it up at the brothel in days gone by. Ziggy knew how to enjoy himself, no doubt about it.


    On the other couch sat those guys who used to look down on Ziggy when the Schultz Group was hanging by a thread.


    Now, their faces were stered with fake smiles.


    ¡°Bro, I always said you had mad skills! The Schultz Group was in deep water, but you hauled it back like it was nothing. Seriously, surviving all that mess means good luck¡¯sing your way. Soon you¡¯ll be calling the shots as Jupiton¡¯s biggest boss!¡±


    ¡°For real! You just swung by Norhill and snagged two hundred million in backing¡ªbrought the Schultz Group back from the dead. That¡¯s legendary, man!¡±


    ¡°Ziggy, you gotta teach me that hustle sometime! My dad won¡¯t shut up about me taking over our family¡¯s business, and now he¡¯s literally telling me to hang around you and learn your tricks.¡±


    ¡°1


    Ziggy could see straight through their fake praise, but honestly? Their words were music to his ears.


    He didn¡¯t care if their loyalty was fake. All that mattered was making it absolutely clear: Ziggy was no pushover.


    The drinking session dragged on until the early hours, and Ziggy stumbled back to the former Schultz family home, totally hammered.


    <i>¡°</i>Xylia, can you whip up some hangover soup for me?¡± he called out the moment he stepped inside.


    Ziggy didn¡¯t even make it two steps past the front door before he started shouting for someone.


    Gia, who had juste out to get some water, hurried over, worry etched on her face as she reached out to steady him.


    ¡°Why¡¯d youe home so drunk? Your dad said you gave everyone the afternoon off at thepany¨Cwhat kind of drinking session did you get yourself into?¡± Gia asked, her voice full of concern and a hint of reproach.


    Ziggy squinted at her, trying to focus. ¡°Mom?¡±


    Gia helped him to the couch and handed him a ss of water.


    ¡°Who else would it be? Your sister¡¯s in jail, remember? Unless you n to spring her out, how¡¯s she supposed toe home and make you hangover soup?¡± she shot back, her tone sharp.


    Ziggy was so hammered he was practically living in the past, back when Xylia had just been locked up by


    Connor and Maddox.


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    He gave a sloppy half¨Csmile. ¡°C¡¯mon, Connor¡¯s not gonna just leave his own wife to rot. He¡¯ll get her out, no


    doubt.¡±


    Gia shook her head. ¡°Connor can barely keep himself out of trouble these days!¡±


    Gia looked at Ziggy in his sorry, wasted state and couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of motherly worry. She quietly called for a servant to help him back to his room.


    Ziggy, still half¨Cdrunk, muttered ¡°Xylia Schultz¡± as he was led away, the name slipping past his lips almost unconsciously.


    Before Tessa returned to the family, Xylia was the one sister Ziggy truly cared about.


    Xylia spent the weekend catching up on all the sleep she¡¯d missed over the past few days.


    She finally managed to pay back her sleep debt and wake up feeling truly rested.


    By Monday, she showed up to work looking radiant and in great spirits, fully recharged.


    Joshua, though, came back superte that weekend night. Xylia was half¨Casleep, barely registering the soft rustling as he moved around, slipping into bed next to her.


    She called out for Joshua, her voice muffled with sleep, then drifted off again.


    She reached up and touched her cheek¨Cit was like Joshua¡¯s kiss fromst night had left her skin burning, the heat lingering all the way to morning.


    When Josie walked in, she found Xylia sitting there with her hand pressed to her cheek.


    ¡°Why are you covering your face? Got a toothache or something?<b>¡± </b>


    Xylia lowered her hand and shook her head. ¡°Do you need something?¡±


    ¡°You missed out on that big international eventst time, but there¡¯s another shot now¨Cyou better check your inbox!¡± Josie said, a yful grin on her face as she urged her.


    Xylia pulled up her inbox and found two new messages¨Cone from Josie and another from Chase Bell.


    She opened Josie¡¯s email first.


    The email was about a huge international fashion design contest in Daltonia¨Cput together by a bunch of top brands. Pretty much the most high¨Cprofilepetition out there. If Xylia could snag first ce, she¡¯d blow up overnight and everyone in the business would know her name.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help grinning.


    ¡°I¡¯m signing up right now!¡±


    Josie chuckled. ¡°Hold your horses. The entry requirements for this one are pretty strict. I checked, and you


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    ..


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    tick all the boxes<b>¨C</b>except for one. You need a rmendation from someone who¡¯s a true international heavyweight in the industry<b>, </b>somebody recognized worldwide.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s mind immediately jumped to Chase.


    She opened up Chase¡¯s email¨Cand sure enough, it was about the samepetition. ¡®Knew it, she thought, a flicker of excitement sparking in her chest.


    Xylia¡¯s grin grew even bigger¨C¡®Well, that solves my biggest headache.¡¯


    ¡°Looks like my rmendation¡¯s sorted,¡± she muttered with a self¨Csatisfied little smirk.


    Joshua showed up at Xylic Studio around noon.


    He was carrying an insted lunch container¨Cit looked like he¡¯d cooked the meal himself and brought it for


    her.


    Xylia saw how exhausted Joshua looked, and her heart went out to him¨C¡®He must¡¯ve had a rough night¡­


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you catch some extra sleep? You came home sote, remember?¡± Xylia¡¯s voice was gentle as she spoke.


    The moment Joshua spotted her, it was like some of that tiredness melted away from his face. He reached <i>a </i>hand out toward Xylia, wanting her close.


    Xylia didn¡¯t hesitate¨Cshe walked over, slid her hand into his, and curled up next to him on the couch.


    It was lunchtime, and most of the staff had already headed out to grab a bite.


    Josie had been about to ask Xylia to join her for lunch, but when she saw Joshua there, she figured the two of them wanted some alone time. So, she just shrugged and headed downstairs with Sharon and the others<b>. </b>


    With most of the office cleared out, the ce was pretty quiet.


    ¡°I can¡¯t fall asleep when you¡¯re not around,¡± Joshua said softly,ying on the affection.


    He was being cute again¨Cssic Joshua.


    Xylia stroked his cheek with gentle fingers. ¡°Then let¡¯s get an early night together.¡±


    Joshua leaned in and kissed her gently on the cheek,


    As they ate, Xylia asked, ¡°Did you find Noelle?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we found her,¡± Joshua replied.


    He¡¯d gotten a call from Graham carlier that day. Noelle had booked a flight back to Norhill, and she <b>wasn¡¯t </b>going alone¨CRichard was with her.


    Looks like <b>they¡¯ve </b>got a n. With those two heading to Norhill together, you just know that <b>ce </b><b>is </b>about to explode.


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    <b>Chapter </b>267


    Xylia didn¡¯t ask Joshua about Noelle again.


    After they finished their meal, Joshua headed out, promising he¡¯de pick her up after work.


    Joshua had been practically glued to her side these days, and now that he was suddenly nowhere to be seen, Xylia felt a bit lost. She wasn¡¯t quite used to the emptiness.


    She shook herself out of her spiral of random thoughts and fully immersed herself in work.


    By the afternoon in Norhill, dark clouds started rolling in, making the whole city feel heavy and dreary.


    As Xylia ducked out to use the restroom, she overheard some coworkers by their workstationsining.


    ¡°Why does the weather flip so fast? I bet it¡¯s gonna be pouring when we get off work.¡±


    ¡°The forecast didn¡¯t even mention it. I was carrying my umbre every day when it was all sunshine, and of course, now that it¡¯s gloomy, I left it at home. Just great.¡±


    ¡°Seriously. I had an umbre in my bag all week, and the one day <b>I </b>switch bags¨Cbam, bad luck.¡±


    ¡±


    Xylia nced out at the gloomy sky.


    It was definitely about to rain, and of course, she hadn¡¯t brought an umbre either.


    Sure enough, it started pouring just as she clocked out.


    The rain was pounding down, and the lobby turned into a madhouse¨Ceveryone was scrambling to grab a cab. Cars were nowhere in sight, and it just kept getting more crowded and hectic by the minute.


    Some folks were trying to hitch rides with coworkers, and the underground parking lot was jam¨Cpacked too.


    Joshua had taken her car, so she was stuck.


    She gave Joshua a <b>call</b>, and he told her the rain had traffic backed up all over the main street by her office. ¡°It¡¯s a mess out here,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m probably at least ten minutes away.¡±


    Xylia told him to be careful and hung up.


    Some coworkers spotted her and offered to let her join them, but she politely turned them down.


    Before long, the parking lot had mostly emptied out.


    After about seven or eight minutes of waiting, Xylia suddenly felt a sharp, intense gaze locked onto her.


    After those kidnappings, her body automatically tensed up, every nerve on alert. <ol start="8"><li>8. </li></ol>


    Lately in Norhill, there had been a series of violent crimes.


    Word on the street was that it was all bitter loners trying to get revenge on society.


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    Without thinking, her hand slipped into her bag, instinctively wrapping around her self¨Cdefense tool.


    She spun around, but saw no one there.


    Instead, a man emerged from the elevator¨Caround thirty, with features so gentle they seemed carved from jade, not a hint of aggression. His eyes curved in a warm, easy way, and the subtle smile at his lips made him. look disarmingly gentlemanly.


    He walked over, catching her watching him.


    With a friendly smile, he said, ¡°You¡¯re the boss of Xylic Studio up on the 16th floor, right?¡±


    Xylia froze, her guard going up even more.


    ¡°You know me?¡± she asked, her voice cautious.


    The man chuckled. ¡°A few days ago, you treated everyone in the building to afternoon tea. We¡¯ve all been pretty curious about the person running Xylic Studio up on the 16th floor.¡±


    Xylia rxed a little.


    After all, it had been a bit of a hassle for everyone that day, so even mentioning it now made her feel kind of embarrassed.


    ¡°Sorry for the hassle I caused you guys,¡± Xylia said.


    She shot a quick look at the entrance, just waiting for Joshua to walk in.


    Suddenly, the man reached his hand out to her.


    ¡°I¡¯m Richard, manager of thepany on the 17th floor. Our team arrived on time that day, so we didn¡¯t get caught up in the mess. We just kind of lucked into afternoon tea thanks to you, so I really appreciate it.¡±


    Since he was being so courteous, Xylia couldn¡¯t really turn down his kindness.


    She offered him a brief, polite handshake. ¡°No need to thank me. It was nothing, really, I was happy to do it.¡±


    Richard was the first to let go; his gentle demeanor matched his refined look, a real gentleman through and through.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, are you waiting for someone?¡± he asked.


    Xylia nodded.


    ¡°Alright then<b>, </b>I¡¯ll head out first. See you around,¡± Richard said.


    After exchanging polite greetings, Richard made his way to his reserved parking spot and drove off,


    ever the


    gentleman.


    His car had barely left when Joshua¡¯s pulled up right behind, almost as if he¡¯d been timing it.


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    The rain had thoroughly soaked Joshua¡¯s car<b>, </b>cold droplets turning the whole ride into an icebox.


    Xylia climbed in and shut the door. Joshua shot her a sharp look, cold suspicion flickering in those usually gentle eyes. ¡°Who did you just meet?¡± he asked.


    Xylia stared at Joshua, shocked. ¡®How did he even know I¡¯d run into someone?¡® she wondered.


    ¡°Just ran into the manager from the 17th floor. He just said hi and mentioned the afternoon tea,¡± Xylia replied.


    Joshua¡¯s eyes stayed sharp, his suspicion still lingering. Xylia raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    Joshua hesitated for a moment, then let it go.


    ¡°There¡¯s just something about your scent that¡¯s familiar. Maybe I¡¯m just overthinking it,¡± he said.


    ¡°You¡¯re definitely overthinking,¡± Xylia teased, shooting him a yful look. ¡°You¡¯re always with me in this office building, so it¡¯s normal you¡¯d catch a familiar scent. Don¡¯t act like I¡¯m sneaking around behind


    your back!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d never cheat,¡± Joshua said, his voice unwavering.


    His tone was firm¨Cthere was no doubt in it.


    Xylia let out a teasing hum. ¡°You really trust me that much?¡±


    Joshua cleared his throat, a yful grin flickering at the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°Come on, I¡¯m insanely good¨Clooking and loaded¨Cno way you¡¯d ever go for someone less than me. No one else could measure up to your standards.¡±


    Xylia burst outughing, buckling her seatbelt as the car slowly pulled toward the exit.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a pretty clear picture of yourself, don¡¯t you?¡± she teased.


    Joshua¡¯s lips curved into a gentle smile.


    ¡°What are we having for dinner tonight? Should we swing by the supermarket?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯m in the mood for hot pot. How about we make it at home?¡± Xylia suggested.


    ¡°Sounds good,¡± Joshua replied.


    Their car slipped away into the rainy evening.


    Not far away, Richard¡¯s car was idling at the curb, as he watched Joshua and Xylia drive right past him.


    From the shadows, his stare was cold and vicious, reeking of danger¨Ca far cry from the gentleman he¡¯d appeared to be moments ago.


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    In the back seat, John tapped away on hisptop, but paused for a split second when he caught Richard¡¯s low, sinister chuckle.


    Having followed his boss for years, John could read Richard¡¯s moods from even the smallest things- especially hisughter.


    Right now, he could sense it clearly: Richard was practically vibrating with excitement.


    John paused for a beat before finally asking, ¡°Boss, you must be in a good mood after meeting that woman- did she catch your interest or something?¡±


    <b>¡®</b>Is he into her?¡® The thought jolted through John¡¯s mind, but he instantly pushed it away.


    ¡®No way. Not possible!¡®


    ¡®That¡¯s not his style. My boss isn¡¯t the type to fall for anyone.¡®


    Richard leaned back in the driver¡¯s seat, his voice low and casual. ¡°She is pretty decent looking. No wonder Joshua¡¯s so taken with her. Too bad.¡±


    Richard didn¡¯t finish his sentence, but John knew exactly what he meant.


    John knew. That woman was doomed. And so was Joshua.


    He nced at hisptop screen. ¡°The number we used to call Noelle a couple of days ago got traced. Joshua probably knows where we are by now.¡±


    ¡°Let him figure it out. Honestly, I¡¯d be disappointed if he didn¡¯t,¡± Richard said, his tone calm but edged with


    menace.


    His old man had said it on his deathbed¨Chis death was tangled up with Joshua, no escaping it.


    This trip to Norhill wasn¡¯t just about some bet with Noelle. That was just the cover.


    Richard was here for revenge.


    He was going to make Joshua suffer so badly he¡¯d wish he¡¯d never been born.


    John didn¡¯t say another word. He knew exactly how cold¨Cblooded his boss could be¨Cno need to worry about anything else. He¡¯d just stick to his ownne and let the rest y out.


    The car started up and slipped into the curtain of rain, moving through the jam¨Cpacked streets and quietly falling in behind Joshua¡¯s ride.

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    Chapter <b>268 </b>


    The supermarket was pretty packed.


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    Some folks had gotten caught in the rain and couldn¡¯t grab a cab, so they just ducked into the store to kill some time until the skies cleared.


    Joshua pushed the shopping cart, sticking close to Xylia and following her lead as they wandered from the household supplies section over to the fresh foods area.


    As Xylia was about to grab some seafood, Joshua held her back.


    ¡°Remember, Rachel said no seafood for you for the next three months while you¡¯re taking your meds,¡± he reminded her.


    Xylia paused for a moment and put the shrimp back in the freezer.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she replied.


    She felt <i>a </i>little bummed out.


    It wasn¡¯t really that she was a huge fan of shrimp.


    It was just that it had been so long since she¡¯d had any, she couldn¡¯t help missing it a little.


    Ever since Rachel sent over her meds, seafood was pretty much off the table. Still, Joshua kept things interesting in the kitchen, and Xylia wasn¡¯t fussy about food.


    Just seeing all that seafood had her craving it for a moment.


    Rachel never actually told her she had to avoid seafood.


    Lately, she¡¯d always been having meals with Joshua, and he¡¯d been so careful to keep anything off¨Climits out of their meals that she hadn¡¯t noticed a thing.


    Thinking she might be feeling a bit down, Joshua freed one hand and gave her hair a gentle tousle.


    ¡°Remember, Rachel said it¡¯s just three months, Once your health¡¯s back on track, I¡¯ll whip up a seafood feast for you,¡± he promised.


    Xylia grinned, threading her fingers through his. ¡°Sounds good! But I¡¯m calling dibs on picking the dishes.¡±


    ¡°Whatever you want,¡± he replied.


    After picking out some hot pot ingredients, the two of them made their way to the checkout.


    By the time they finished paying, the rain had let up a lot.


    Their car was parked outside, so Joshua carried both shopping bags in one hand and held the umbre over


    them with the other.


    Xylia tried to help out, but Joshua shut that down right away.


    ¡°If I let you carry heavy stuff, what¡¯s the point of having me around?¡± he teased, making it clear he wasn¡¯t about to let her do any of the lifting.


    She reached for the umbre, but Joshua wouldn¡¯t let her take it either.


    ¡°You¡¯ll get


    tired holding the umbre up. It¡¯s just a short walk, so let¡¯s go,¡± Joshua said.


    Xylia stayed silent, her expression resigned as she followed along. ¡®Whatever. Guess being tall means you get to make all the decisions,¡® she thought.


    As they loaded the groceries into the trunk, Xylia was hit by an intense sensation that someone was watching her again.


    She instinctively snapped her head toward the direction her sixth sense pointed her.


    All she saw was people hustling by under their umbres, cars crawling along in the drizzle, and the traffic flowing on as the light turned green.


    Everything looked perfectly normal.


    Not a single thing seemed out of ce.


    But why did she feel this sudden wave of anxiety?


    ¡®Why am I feeling so on edge?¡® Xylia wondered, a little unsettled.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Joshua¡¯s gentle voice came from right beside her.


    Xylia turned back to him and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s go,¡± she said, trying to sound casual.


    She figured there was no point in worrying him over something so vague.


    Joshua didn¡¯t say anything more. He held the umbre, helped Xylia into the passenger seat, then cast a look toward the spot where she¡¯d nced just moments before.


    A ck sedan sped by, sttering water onto the flowers lining the sidewalk before vanishing into the busy flow of traffic.


    Joshua frowned slightly.


    ¡®Was that just my imagination?¡® he wondered.


    Shaking off the feeling, he walked around the car, slid into the driver¡¯s seat, and pulled away.


    Leon was getting ready to head out and shoot a movie.


    This film had been in the works for almost two years, with a whole year invested just in fine¨Ctuning the script.


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    This time around, Leon was the producer, and he¡¯d been busy behind the scenes from the very start.


    The crew was heading off to film in some remote western mountains.


    Right before leaving, Leon hosted a farewell dinner and called all his siblings from the Sadler family back home for it.


    He wanted to invite Mia too, but worried she might feel ufortable, so instead he asked Joshua and Rosalind to join them.


    With the siblings all showing up with their partners, Cyrus and Hudson were stuck sitting together, feeling totally third¨Cwheeled. Neither of them was exactly enthusiastic about dinner that night.


    Xylia had been swampedtely and hadn¡¯t had a chance to catch up on any entertainment news online.


    Everything she knew about Mia and Leon making up and Mia getting that part in the movie¨Cshe¡¯d only heard about it through Joshua.


    When Xylia saw Mia at the Sadler family get¨Ctogether, it was obvious Mia and Leon were even closer than before¨Cthey seemed more like a real couple now.


    ¡®Looks like Mia¡¯s made her choice,¡® Xylia thought to herself.


    Joshua quietly tugged Xylia up the stairs and slipped into her room with her.


    ¡°Your brothers kicked all the kitchen staff out, and now they¡¯re just sitting there, staring at me like I¡¯m their personal chef. No way am I cooking for them,¡± heined, sounding genuinely put out.


    He was more than happy to cook for Xylia.


    But being roped into making food for her brothers? That seriously bugged him.


    Xyliaughed and gently squished his cheeks. ¡°Then don¡¯t. Leon¡¯s the host tonight¨Clet him deal with dinner.¡±


    Joshua frowned, still feeling awkward about the whole thing.


    ¡°If they actually got in the kitchen and helped, I wouldn¡¯t really mind cooking,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°How about I join you in the kitchen?¡± Xylia suggested.


    Joshua¡¯s frown deepened, and just as he was about to speak, Xylia pressed a finger to his lips.


    ¡°Alright, alright, <b>I </b>get it. I won¡¯t go near the kitchen,¡± she said, backing off.


    Joshua yfully nipped at her finger, and Xylia yanked her hand back with a yelp.


    ¡°What was that for?¡± she asked, rubbing her finger.


    ¡°Just making sure you remember,¡± he replied with a grin.


    Then, he leaned in closer, pointing at his own lips. ¡°Wanna bite me back?¡±


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    Xylia gave him a yful shove.


    Joshua didn¡¯t get annoyed. He just rolled with Xylia¡¯s shove, changing direction and casually started to look


    around her room.


    It was his first time stepping into Xylia¡¯s bedroom.


    The ce was really spacious..


    It gave off a cozy, weing vibe¨Cclearly, everything had been picked and set up with a lot of care.


    Suddenly, an idea popped into Xylia¡¯s head. ¡°Oh, I have something for you,¡± she said.


    Joshua watched as she headed for her walk¨Cin closet, and after a moment, she reappeared.


    She came back holding a charcoal¨Cgray coat, simple and understated but looking seriously ssy.


    The design was minimalist, reaching right to Joshua¡¯s knees. The shoulders and sleeves were tailored perfectly to match his build.


    As Joshua slipped it on, his eyes lit up.


    ¡°Wait, you designed this?¡± Joshua eximed, genuinely surprised.


    Xylia nodded, taking a step back and checking him out in the coat.


    Her expression shifted from pleased to downright dazzled¨Cshe couldn¡¯t hide just how much she loved the way he looked in it.


    ¡°I always thought you¡¯d look amazing in a coat, but I¡¯ve never seen you wear one. So I made you one. Like it?¡±


    She nudged him over to the full¨Clength mirror.


    Joshua stood tall and broad¨Cshouldered, the coat draping perfectly over him and making his silhouette look even leaner and more refined. With his chiseled features and that striking silver hair, he looked like he¡¯d stepped right out of a graphic novel; even the color of his hair seemed to match the whole vibe.


    Xylia could feel her heart pounding uncontrobly as she looked at him.


    Joshua¡¯s gaze in the mirror wasn¡¯t on himself, but on Xylia¨Cher fair face, her expression delicate and captivated.


    He caught the admiration and longing reflected in her eyes, Joshua had no clue what she was thinking, but suddenly her cheeks flushed a soft pink,


    ¡°I love it,¡± he murmured.


    His voice was low and maic, every wordced with a kind of lingering affection. And in the mirror, his heated gaze didn¡¯t move from Xylia¡¯s reflection¨Clike she was all he saw.


    Honestly, she couldn¡¯t tell if he was talking about the coat¡­ or maybe even about her.


    8:35 Thu, Sep 25


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    Xylia cleared her mind of those not¨Cso¨Cinnocent thoughts, and a smile tugged at her lips.


    ¡°As long as you like it.¡±


    Truth was, she¡¯d seen what Joshua had hanging in his closet¨Cnothing but top¨Ctier custom pieces. So deep down, she¡¯d always worried that her own design might not be enough to catch his eye.


    ¡°Now, let me thank you properly,¡± Joshua murmured, his tone yful.


    Xylia nced up, puzzled, catching that mischievous sparkle in his eyes¨Cthen, before she could

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    As Xylia came down the stairs, she found herself regretting¨Ccountless times¨Cgiving Joshua that shirt.


    With the Sadler family present, Joshua couldn¡¯t really do anything, so it was Xylia who had to put in all the effort, and now her arms were still aching.


    With that contented look on his face, Joshua pulled Xylia into his embrace.


    ¡°I messed up. Punish me any way you want,¡± Joshua said with azy smile.


    ¡®Punish¨Cthat word seemed to burn in her ears, sending heat flooding through her whole body.


    Her irritation burned even stronger.


    She shot Joshua a fierce re.


    ¡®If you ever¡­ ever¡­ she fumed in her mind, unable to spit out the rest.


    Flustered and embarrassed, she blurted out, ¡°I¡¯m staying at the Sadler house this week. Go back to the apartment on your own!¡±


    Realizing he¡¯d taken things too far, Joshua lowered himself, putting on his softest voice andying on every sweet word he could think of to coax Xylia.


    But Xylia wasn¡¯t having any


    of it.


    Hudson, who came to get them, rounded the stairs and spotted Joshua acting like a total suck¨Cup.


    Then seeing Xylia all annoyed, Hudson jumped at the chance to give Joshua a big brother lecture, pointing at him with that ssic older brother vibe.


    ¡°Did


    you bully my sister?¡± Hudson said sternly.


    Well, Joshua definitely had, but there was no way he was admitting to that.


    Xylia turned her head to look at Joshua<b>, </b>and just as he was about to open his mouth, she just knew he was about to spout nonsense.


    Before Joshua could get a word in, Xylia jumped in, ¡°He didn¡¯t bully me. Hudson¨Cwere youing to get us? Is it time for dinner?¡±


    Hudson let the topic drop right away thanks to Xylia¡¯s quick thinking.


    He shot Joshua a look and said, ¡°Here at our house, the guys do the cooking. If you want to marry my little <b>sister</b>, you¡¯ve got to roll up your sleeves and cook with us<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Hudson suddenly seemed to think of something funny¨Che shed a grin.


    ¡°But you, Mr. Garcia, probably haven¡¯t ever so much as boiled an <b>egg</b>, huh? If you can¡¯t handle yourself in the


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    kitchen, we¡¯re definitely not letting you marry into the Sadler family,¡± Hudson teased.


    Hudson, thinking Joshua had no clue how to cook, straightened up, ready to roast him the moment he


    chance<i>. </i>


    Xylia just stared at Hudson, speechless.


    Joshua, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t help but smirk.


    ¡°Hate to disappoint you, Hudson, but I¡¯m actually the one who cooks at home,¡± Joshua said, grinning.


    Hudson was left speechless.


    In the living room, Xylia, Mia, and Rosalind were just lounging together on the couch.


    got


    the


    Xylia kept sneaking nces toward the kitchen, worried her brothers might start something with Joshua.


    After all, those four were always looking for new ways to mess with Joshua just to see him squirm.


    Rosalind caught Xylia sneaking nces and joked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Worried your boyfriend¡¯s gonna get eaten alive by your brothers?¡±


    Xylia gave an honest nod. ¡°Yeah, kind of.¡±


    Rosalind chuckled.


    She reached out and pinched Xylia¡¯s cheek. ¡°You really are just such a straightforward little one.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s face turned a shade red¨Ccouldn¡¯t believe she was still getting called ¡®kiddo¡® at her age.


    Rosalind said, ¡°Your brothers just don¡¯t know how to make it up to you, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Xylia shot Rosalind a puzzled look. ¡®Make it up to me?¡® she thought, eyebrows furrowed.


    ¡®Seriously? Is giving Joshua a hard time supposed to be their way of ¡°making it up¡± to me?¡® Xylia couldn¡¯t help but snark internally.


    Rosalind said, ¡°You were out there on your own for so many years. By the time your family finally found you, you¡¯d already been through a lot. When you first came back to the Sadler family, you weren¡¯t exactly close with your brothers, were you?¡±


    Xylia nodded, a little self¨Caware, ¡°That goes without saying,¡® she thought.


    After years apart without even knowing each other, it wasn¡¯t realistic to juste home and suddenly have some deep bond with all four brothers.


    Not to mention, back then she¡¯d actually refused toe home¨Call because of Connor.


    Thinking back, she must¡¯ve really broken her brothers¡® hearts at that time.


    ¡°Ever since you refused toe home back then, Kaden and the other Sadler brothers have been pretty


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    anxious, afraid you¡¯d nevere back and they¡¯d lose their little sister for good,¡± Rosalind said.


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    Rosalind seemed to catch on to what Xylia was thinking and kept going, ¡°But then you finally said yes, and they were over the moon.¡±


    ¡°Kaden once told me, now that you¡¯ve grown up, all the money in the world can¡¯t make up for those two decades of missing out on having you as family. They¡¯re tough on Joshua because they want to actively be a part of your future¨Ceven influence it a little. There¡¯s no way they¡¯re letting just any guye in and whisk their little sister away,¡± Rosalind exined.


    ¡°And since things ended badly in yourst marriage, they¡¯re going to be even more demanding of Joshua. They want to make sure he knows you¡¯ve got family behind you,¡± Rosalind added.


    At that moment, something clicked inside Xylia¨Cshe finally understood.


    Her brothers, whether they fought her every step of the way, stood by her, or just quietly backed off, every move was about one thing: giving her the freedom to choose what she wanted.


    They respected her decisions, in and simple.


    But deep down, they just didn¡¯t want her getting hurt again because of those choices. That¡¯s why they always had her back, firm and steady¨Cher safety.


    Xylia suddenly felt a sharp squeeze in her chest, bittersweet warmth rushing through her heart.


    Rosalind slid a te of fruit across the table to Xylia.


    ¡°Your oldest brother, Kaden, cut these up himself¨Che picked out every single fruit you love,¡± Rosalind said.


    Xylia was never picky; she¡¯d eat pretty much anything at home. Kaden had only asked her once what things she wouldn¡¯t eat, and after she told him, he just never brought it up again.


    Kaden never asked about it again after that.


    But she never imagined he¡¯d actually pay so much attention¨Che¡¯d quietly kept track of her tastes, even down to the fruits she liked most. Xylia felt her heart squeeze, a soft smile tugging at her lips. ¡®He really remembers the little things,¡¯ she thought, touched.


    ¡°Kaden¡¯s just the sweetest,¡± Xylia murmured, a soft warmth in her voice.


    She took the te of fruit, quietly nibbling with her head lowered¨Ca small, happy smile flickering at the corners of her lips.


    Rosalind exhaled, like she¡¯d finally crossed something off her to¨Cdo list¨Ca look of true relief.


    ¡°Honestly, your brother might be the most considerate guy I¡¯ve ever met,¡± Rosalind said.


    She couldn¡¯t help the way her eyes softened, all that affection for Kaden practically shining through.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help joking, ¡°Seeing you two together, I finally understand what they mean by ¡®enemies are destined to meet again.¡±


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    ¡®Rivals turning into a married couple¨Cnow that¡¯s a love story for the ages, she thought.


    Rosalind effortlessly shifted the spotlight to Mia, teasing, ¡°Seriously, is there anything juicier than a celebrity romance?<b>¡± </b>


    Mia immediately perked up, then tried to make a run for it. ¡°Uh¡­ I need to go to the bathroom,¡± she muttered, trying to escape the topic.


    But Xylia and Rosalind blocked her way, insisting she dish out the inside scoop on dating in showbiz.


    The three girls were soonughing up a storm in the living room, trading stories and teasing one another. Rosalind¡¯s words had worked like magic¨CXylia was so swept up in the fun that shepletely forgot to worry about what her brothers might do to Joshua.


    Meanwhile, the Sadler brothers were all lined up in the kitchen like judges at a cooking contest, staring in shock as Joshua handled the knife and pan with absolute pro skills.


    Hudson¡¯s eyes popped wide, and he elbowed Leon hard, not trying to hide his surprise.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t we all saying Mr. Garcia couldn¡¯t even scramble an egg?¡± Hudson blurted, half using, half stunned.


    ¡°Bet he learned just for our little sis,¡± Leon said, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°No way¨Che just started and he¡¯s already this good? When did he secretly be Gordon Ramsay?¡± Hudson muttered, still refusing to believe his own eyes.


    Joshua was working that cutting board like a seasoned chef; his knife moved fast and sure, every move was on point¨Cdude looked like he¡¯d spent years in the kitchen, not just messing around.


    Leon couldn¡¯t help but pause, lost in thought for a moment.


    He remembered how, back at Xylia¡¯s office, he¡¯d bumped into Joshua a couple times, always carrying those lunch boxes like some secret delivery guy.


    He¡¯d just assumed Joshua had grabbed them from some swanky restaurant downtown, thinking, ¡®Bet he doesn¡¯t even know how to boil water.¡¯


    But seeing Joshua cook now, Leon was floored¨Cturns out, all those home¨Ccooked meals weren¡¯t from a restaurant at all. Joshua had made them with his own hands.


    ¡®Nice, not bad,¡¯ Leon thought to himself, a satisfied smirk creeping onto his face.


    ¡®Well, that scores some real points. At least my little sis won¡¯t have to ve away over the stove for this guy, Leon mused, feeling genuinely relieved.


    Joshua tossed the seasoning into the pot, then nced over at the Sadler brothers, who were lined up like a bunch of bouncers at the kitchen door.


    He gave them a cool stare. ¡°You guys just gonna stand there guarding the door, or am I supposed to be the only one ving away in here?¡±


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    Hudson shot back, ¡°Bro, you¡¯re basically the Sadlers¡® live¨Cin son¨Cinw now. If you¡¯re not doing the heavy lifting, who is?¡±


    Joshua thought about it for a second, then nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Can¡¯t argue with that. I mean, my cooking¡¯s basically unforgettable. Anyone who tries my food can¡¯t help but crave it after. Wonder if our two sisters¨Cinw out there can resist my culinary charm?¡± Joshua finished, a smirk ying on his lips.


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    As soon as Kaden and Leon heard that, they dove right into the fray, leaving just Hudson and Cyrus¨Cthe only bachelors left¨Cstanding there looking miserable.


    Now only Hudson and Cyrus, the Sadlers who were still single, were left awkwardly on their own, their faces. practically green with envy.


    Hudson, clearly annoyed, slung his arm over Cyrus¡¯s shoulder andined, ¡°Well, I guess this is what we get for being single¨Cbetrayed by our own family! Fine, today, Cyrus and I are just here for the food. We¡¯ll watch the show and wait for dinner!¡±


    Hudson tried to tug Cyrus toward the door, but Cyrus stood his ground, not moving an inch.


    After thinking it over, Cyrus said, ¡°If being single means catching all the heat, then trust me¨CI won¡¯t be in this club for much longer.¡±


    Then he shot Hudson a look; seeing his youngest brother¡¯s shell¨Cshocked expression, Cyrus shed a wicked smirk.


    ¡°Pretty soon, you¡¯ll be the only lonely bachelor left in this whole family.¡±


    With that, Cyrus dove right into the kitchen showdown.


    Hudson stood there, utterly stunned, before suddenly snapping out of it and darting over to Cyrus.


    ¡°Wait¨Cwho?! Seriously, who is it, bro? Cyrus, how could you do this to me? Who are you dating now? Is it one of your patients? Come on,e clean¨CI¡¯m not gossiping, I swear, I just really care about you!¡±


    Hudson wasn¡¯t the only one hit with shock¨CKaden and Leon were just as floored when they heard Cyrus drop that bomb.


    Cyrus had always been the academic in the Sadler family, and Kaden seriously thought he¡¯d be married to his work as a doctor for life.


    No one expected Hudson¨Cthe guy everyone thought was immune to romance¨Cto finally have a clue about love!


    Kaden practically couldn¡¯t wait to grill Cyrus and dig out all the juicy secrets he was hiding.


    Leon was straining to listen in, desperate not to miss a single word of the drama unfolding.


    But Joshua? He couldn¡¯t care less about Cyrus¡¯s love life.


    He was way more interested in the raw beef sitting on the counter, debating whether to turn it into tomato beef soup or stir¨Cfry it as a ssic beef dish.


    Cyrus wasn¡¯t about to give his gossip¨Chungry brothers any names. All he¡¯d admit was that it wasn¡¯t one of his patients, and told them, ¡°I¡¯ll spill once it¡¯s official.¡±


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    Hudson pestered him for ages trying to get the scoop, but when Cyrus wouldn¡¯t budge, he just threw his hands up in defeat and let it go.


    By the time dinner rolled around, Hudson was still in a pretty sour mood.


    But when Xylia slid into the seat next to him, his eyes spun with mischief.


    Xylia was the ultimate gossip partner; whenever there was juicy drama about Leon and Mia, Hudson always discussed it with his little sister first.


    So, if anyone could get Cyrus to spill the beans, it had to be Xylia¨Che never refused her anything.


    Without missing a beat, Hudson leaned in close and whispered everything that had happened in the kitchen.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes went wide and she kept sneaking nces at Cyrus across the table, her curiosity bubbling up. She leaned toward Hudson and whispered, ¡°Is it one of his patients?¡±


    Hudson shook his head. ¡°Nope, Cyrus said it¡¯s not a patient.¡±


    Xylia pretty much lost all her interest in the gossip.


    She remembered how Cyrus had gotten that invitation to the dance from Fiona, and figured that must¡¯ve been when he finally caught the love bug.


    Since this mystery girl was someone she¡¯d never met¨Cand Cyrus obviously didn¡¯t want to talk about <i>it</i>¨CXylia decided not to poke her nose in and mess with his pursuit just because she was nosy.


    She nudged Hudson with a sly grin, ¡°Bro, instead of obsessing over who Cyrus is dating, maybe you should focus on your own love life. If you end up as thest single guy in the family, I wouldn¡¯t want you to be the odd one out at our family dinners.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t trying to pressure him or anything¨Cjust telling it like it is.


    But Hudson looked absolutely shattered, as if he¡¯d been hit by a bolt of lightning and leftpletely crushed -like Xylia had just dropped a bomb he couldn¡¯t recover from.


    ¡°Even you, sis? I didn¡¯t expect you to join the betrayal squad¡­¡±


    ¡®Did I really just hit Hudson right in the heart with that?¡® Xylia worried, seeing his wounded expression. She quickly tried to make it up to him. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s totally cool if you¡¯re single, bro. Nowadays, you definitely don¡¯t have to get married if you don¡¯t want to.¡± Xylia murmured, hoping tofort him.


    ¡®Why does that hurt even worse?¡® Hudson thought, feeling even more gutted.


    He fell silent.


    Joshua, who¡¯d overheard everything from the sidelines, let out a quiet chuckle anddled a bowl of herbal tonic soup for Xylia.


    ¡°Here, try this herbal soup¨CI made it using Rachel¡¯s recipe. Tell me how it tastes,¡± he said, passing her the


    bowl.


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    Xylia¡¯s curiosity was piqued by Joshua¡¯s words, and she turned her attention to the soup.


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    She took a sip, noticing how mild and subtle the vors were, with a gentle hint of medicinal herbs.


    ¡°Delicious,¡± she said, nodding in approval.


    Xylia summed it up in just two words: ¡°Delicious.¡±


    Joshua had mad cooking skills¡ªno matter how new the recipe was, he somehow made it taste amazing every single time.


    Joshua grinned, noticing Hudson shooting him a look, and deliberately reached over to ruffle Xylia¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Such a good girl,¡± he teased, sounding like the doting big brother.


    Xylia was leftpletely speechless, staring at him in silent protest.


    Hudson: ¡­


    A table loaded with food, and everyone gathered round.


    It was a far cry from the old days, when just the Sadlers four brothers would sit and eat in awkward silence, the vibe chilly and quiet.


    Now, with seven people at the table,ughter and chatter filled the air¨Cthe atmosphere couldn¡¯t be better.


    Leon, the mastermind behind tonight¡¯s send¨Coff, raised his ss with a big grin and toasted the whole crew.


    ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯m heading deep into the mountains to level up,¡± Leon announced, his voice buzzing with excitement. ¡°Wish me luck out there!¡±


    Mia was the first to lift her ss, and soon everyone else jumped in. sses clinked all around¨Cthe atmosphere was so festive, it felt way more like a homing than a farewell.


    The atmosphere was so lively that everyone joined in for a drink.


    Everyone except Xylia, who had to pass thanks to her doctor¡¯s advice,


    Even though it was supposed to be Leon¡¯s send¨Coff, the Sadler brothers all started urging Joshua to drink, acting almost as if they¡¯d rehearsed it.


    Joshua didn¡¯t back down from the challenge, though¨Che kept drinking until his face turned bright red.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t watch the scene <i>go </i>on any longer and had to step in, stopping her brothers from getting Joshua


    to drink more<b>, </b>


    ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re way too good to him. I¡¯m honestly a little jealous,¡± Leon teased, the alcohol clearly getting to


    him.


    Joshua slumped against his chair, cheeks flushed and eyes zed with a drunk, dazed look,


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    Hearing Leon¡¯s words, Joshua grinned, sped Xylia¡¯s hand, and drunkenly let himself tip over, his heading to rest on her shoulder.


    ¡°Of course¨Cshe¡¯s my wife,¡± he dered with a goofy pride.


    ¡°What are you talking about? You two aren¡¯t even officially hitched yet! And Joshua, didn¡¯t you promise you¡¯d marry into the Sadler n?¡± Hudsonughed, pointing right at him.


    Hudson pointed at Joshua as he spoke, his grin widening.


    Joshua¡¯s mind felt foggy, but once Hudson¡¯s words sank in, his smile grew even goofier.


    ¡°Sure¡­ why not!¡± Joshua slurred.


    Xylia propped Joshua up, watching his totally drunk face and could only roll her eyes in helpless disbelief.


    ¡®Seriously, why do guys always turn every get¨Ctogether into a drinking contest?¡® Xylia thought to herself.


    Even Kaden¨Cthe rock of the family¨Cwas looking a bit buzzed tonight.


    Cyrus, on the other hand, just barely sipped his drink, not daring to risk tomorrow¡¯s surgery.


    Since Cyrus was the only one still sober, and Rosalind¡¯s driver had already shown up to collect her, he asked Kaden to walk her out.


    Mia had been harassed by haterstely, so it was way too risky for her to go back to her apartment alone at night. Cyrus calmly arranged for a guest room to be set up, and made sure she¡¯d have a car to take her home safely the next morning.


    And then there was Joshua.


    He was hanging onto Xylia, refusing to let go, his eyes barely open¨Cclearly on the edge of beingpletely wasted.


    Xylia helped him to his feet, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of him.¡±


    Joshua waspletely dead weight, and by the time Xylia dragged him back to their room, she was totally worn out and sweating buckets.


    Xylia muttered at him, half exasperated, ¡°Seriously, you just drink whatever¡¯s handed to you. Ever heard of saying no? You¡¯re hopeless.¡±


    Her heart went out to him seeing him like this¨Cdespite everything, she felt a pang of sympathy for Joshua.


    She grumbled under her breath, but Joshua must¡¯ve heard her; in a drunken daze, he rolled over, grabbed her hand, and pulled her right into his arms.


    The two of them copsed onto the bed together, Joshua burying his face against her neck, his voice slurred with alcohol as he began to speak.


    ¡°You know, I wasn¡¯t actually drunk,¡± he whispered against her neck.

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    After saying that, Joshua let go of Xylia and crawled onto the bed, making himselffortable.


    Xylia was speechless.


    ¡®Seriously? He still thinks he¡¯s sober?¡® Xylia thought to herself.


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    She had no choice but to wet a towel and wipe Joshua¡¯s face. She took off his clothes and put on a set of pajamas she¡¯d borrowed from Leon¡¯s room.


    Drunk Joshua was surprisingly well¨Cbehaved. Even with his eyes closed, he just did whatever Xylia told him to do.


    He sat up the moment she told him to, and lifted his arms just like she asked¨Ctotally following orders without a fuss<b>. </b>


    Once he was changed, he sprawled face¨Cdown on the bed and drifted right off, dead to the world.


    Xylia shook her head, chuckling to herself. ¡°Look at that¨Che¡¯s actually kinda sweet when he¡¯s drunk.¡±


    Just then, Joshua¡¯s phone started ringing. Xylia nced at him¨Che was already out cold¨Cso she picked up his phone and checked the screen.


    It was Eliza calling.


    As soon as Xylia picked up, Eliza jumped right in, not even giving her a chance to say hello.


    ¡°Joshua, you need toe home. Noelle¡¯s back,¡± Eliza said, her voice urgent.


    Eliza sounded really anxious.


    Xylia took a moment before answering, ¡°Aunt Eliza, Joshua¡¯s had a bit too much to drink tonight and he¡¯s already out cold. Maybe he cane home tomorrow instead?¡±


    On the other end, Eliza clearly hadn¡¯t expected Xylia to pick up.


    As soon as she realized, Eliza hurried to say, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, Xylia, Joshua told me he was having dinner at your ce tonight, so I thought he¡¯d be done by now. No worries, let him sleep if he¡¯s drunk.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Aunt Eliza, I¡¯ll let him know to head home tomorrow,¡± Xylia replied.


    There was a brief pause<b>, </b>then Eliza simply said goodbye and hung up.


    Xylia set Joshua¡¯s phone on the nightstand.


    After getting cleaned up, she flopped onto her bed and was out in no time.


    The next morning, Xylia filled Joshua in on Eliza¡¯s call from the night before.


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    Joshua was still feeling a bit groggy from the night before, and when he heard what Xylia said, he paused for a


    moment.


    Then he let out a coldugh. ¡°Got it.¡±


    ¡®So she actually went back to the Garcia family?¡® Joshua thought.


    ¡®Trying to cozy up to soft¨Chearted Eliza for protection, huh?¡® Joshua mused.


    Xylia kept her distance when it came to anything rted to Noelle¨Cshe wasn¡¯t about to get involved.


    That morning, after the family sent Leon and Mia on their way, Xylia went to the office and Joshua returned to the Garcia family home.


    The quiet sound of sobbing drifted from the living room, mixed with the soft,forting tone of Eliza¡¯s voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s all behind you now. Just stay here at home and don¡¯t worry about anything else. I¡¯ll make sure Joshua doesn¡¯t send you abroad again,¡± Eliza reassured her.


    Hearing Eliza¡¯s voice, Joshua made his way slowly into the room.


    In the sunken living room, two women sat together on the couch.


    Eliza, dressed in rxed homewear, sat close by, worry etched on her face as she tried to soothe the girl next to her.


    Noelle had only been out of the country for a few weeks, but she¡¯d really lost weight and looked totally drained.


    She was still wearing the same white dress from before she left, but it was hanging loose and baggy now- guess things hadn¡¯t been easy for her out there.


    As Joshua walked in, Eliza spotted him first.


    ¡°Joshua, you¡¯re back. I need <i>to </i>talk to you. Have a seat,¡± Eliza said.


    Joshua sat down on a nearby single sofa, silent and nk¨Cfaced, not showing any reaction at all.


    Noelle barely nced at Joshua before quickly dropping her gaze.


    She kept her gaze lowered, trying to hide the mix of fear and hope in her eyes.


    She was shaking so pitifully it made Eliza¡¯s heart ache.


    Eliza reached out and squeezed Noelle¡¯s hand, trying tofort her, before turning to Joshua.


    ¡°Joshua, Noelle knows she was wrong. Let her apologize to Xylia and just let this go, okay? She¡¯s not <b>safe </b>on her own out there¨Cthis time, she got tricked into going to Daltonia. If she hadn¡¯t been clever enough to fool those gang members, she probably wouldn¡¯t have made it back,¡± Eliza pleaded.


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    Just imagining Noelle having to face all that dangerous stuff alone left Eliza deeply unsettled.


    Her voice grew serious and determined. ¡°Anyway, this time, I¡¯m not letting Noelle leave the Garcia family again.¡±


    Joshua stayed quiet.


    The lowered shadows from hisshes concealed the chill lurking in his eyes.


    Eliza¡¯s concern for Noelle came straight from the heart¨Cshe truly saw her as one of their own.


    But Noelle was fabricating the whole thing, pretending to be a victim just to win sympathy, and it instantly softened Eliza¡¯s heart.


    After a brief silence, Joshua slowly shifted his gaze toward Noelle.


    ¡°Tell me how exactly did Richard lure you to Daltonia, and how did you manage to escape him?¡± Joshua asked, his tone cool and direct.


    When she was with Eliza, Noelle could put on her frail facade and spin her tale effortlessly, talking about her made¨Cup ordeal without missing a beat.


    But facing Joshua, all herints were caught in her throat¨Cshe simply couldn¡¯t speak.


    Deep down, she knew that no matter if her story was made up or heartbreakingly real, even if she poured her soul out to Joshua, he wouldn¡¯t bat an eye.


    The Joshua who¡¯d do anything for her was long gone.


    Now that he had a girlfriend, he wouldn¡¯t even spare her a second nce.


    Xylia had stolen every bit of Joshua¡¯s attention.


    Thinking about all that, Noelle clenched her fists on her knees, barely holding back the wave of anger boiling up inside.


    ¡°I¡­ a few days ago, I got this random call. Some guy said he had dirt on you¨Che wanted me to go to Daltonia, or he¡¯d use it to mess with you,¡± Noelle finally forced out, hands clenched tight as she spoke.


    ¡°What dirt?¡± Joshua interrupted coldly, not letting her finish.


    Joshua cut her off without giving her a chance to exin.


    Noelle muttered, ¡°Your soft spot¨CXylia.¡±


    Her voice barely carried, and when she said Xylia¡¯s name there was this subtle edge of resentment¡ªalmost hidden, but it was there.


    Joshua¡¯s smirk grew even colder, the sarcasm clear on his lips.


    ¡°Oh really? Why not juste to me with it¨Cwhat, did you have to jet off to Daltonia for that?¡± Joshua shot


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    back, his voice sharp.


    ¡°I¡­ I was scared to call you,¡± Noelle mumbled, her voice shaky.


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    ¡°Scared to call me, huh? What, you couldn¡¯t have called my mom either?¡± Joshua pressed, narrow¨Ceyed.


    Noelle¡¯splexion turned ghostly white. Her lips moved, but she couldn¡¯t get anything out¨Ctoo flustered even to speak.


    Seeing Noelle so upset, Eliza stepped in to defend her. ¡°Joshua, she¡¯s only worried about you¨Cwhy are you grilling her like this? Can you talk to her nicely?¡±


    Since Eliza had spoken, Joshua let it drop and just said, ¡°Go on.¡±


    Noelle quietly exhaled, feeling a bit of relief, then continued, ¡°I went to Daltonia and met Richard. That¡¯s when I realized he only wanted to use me to threaten you. He knew my brother had saved your life, so he thought you¡¯d never let me die no matter what.¡±


    ¡°I saw corpses¡­ and watched them rip out people¡¯s tongues. I was terrified, so I lied and said you¡¯d already repaid my brother¡¯s favor¨Cand that the only person you care about now is Xylia,¡± Noelle added, her voice faltering.


    Noelle burst into tears as she spoke, unable to hold it in any longer.


    She lifted her gaze to Joshua, her eyes hollow with despair.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Joshua¡­ I was just so terrified that I told Richard everything about you and Xylia. After I escaped, Richard followed me to Norhill¨Che¡¯s definitely going to make trouble for Xylia. That¡¯s why I rushed back to tell you right away. I¡¯m so, so sorry,¡± Noelle stammered, her voice quivering.


    She was sobbing uncontrobly now, like she was falling apart inside.


    Seeing her like this, Eliza couldn¡¯t bear it¨Cshe passed her one tissue after another, murmuring soft words of


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sweetie. The important thing is that you¡¯re home safe now,¡± Eliza kept reassuring her.


    Joshua just watched it all with a cold, distant look¨Che was totally unaffected, his eyes growing <b>even </b>chillier.

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    <b>Chapter </b><b>272 </b>


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    ¡­


    <b>96 </b>


    Noelle felt somefort after Eliza¡¯s soothing words, her anxious heart starting to settle down.


    But when she turned and caught Joshua still staring at her with that chilly, razor¨Csharp look, Noelle thought, ¡®Damn, why does my heart always jump whenever he looks at me like that?¡®<b>* </b>


    ¡°From what I know, Richard is brutal and never trusts anyone easily. And you¡¯re telling me he believed you just because you said so?¡± Noelle couldn¡¯t hide the skepticism in her voice as she looked at Joshua.


    Noelle stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief.


    ¡°Joshua, what do you mean by that?¡± Noelle asked, her voice trembling.


    ¡°Those little tricks of yours might work on my mom, but don¡¯t think you can get one past me,¡± Joshua shot back, his voice icy.


    Eliza frowned, about to defend Noelle, but Joshua cut her off.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care what deal you made with Richard. But if anything happens to Xylia, I¡¯ll make sure both of you pay for it,¡± Joshua said, his eyes narrowing.


    ¡°Joshua¡­¡± Eliza tried to get a word in, but he didn¡¯t give her the chance.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯d never put Xylia in danger. In the past, if Noelle was just pulling her little stunts, I could turn a blind eye. But this time, it¡¯s not about money or some fleeting power¨Cshe¡¯s after your future daughter¨Cinw¡¯s life. Maybe it¡¯s time you took a good look at this daughter you¡¯ve spoiled all these years and ask yourself who she really is,¡± Joshua said, voice unwavering.


    Usually, Joshua went with the formal ¡°Mrs. Garcia,¡± but whenever things got serious, ¡°Mom¡± just slipped out without him thinking.


    Eliza felt trapped¨Con one side were her son and daughter¨Cinw, and on the other was the daughter she¡¯d cherished and spoiled for years.


    They were both a part of her¨Clike choosing between her own two hands. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to favor either side.


    By the time Joshua headed upstairs, Eliza remained silent,


    Noelle was still crying, and Eliza looked at her, letting out a long sigh.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry anymore, Noelle. Mrs. Garcia believes you. It¡¯s just¨Cbecause you¡¯ve messed up so many times before, Joshua finds it hard to trust you. Give it time. If you really didn¡¯t do anything, Joshua will trust you again,¡± Eliza said softly.


    Her words didn¡¯tfort Noelle at all.


    But Noelle <b>still </b>managed to choke back her sobs and replied to Eliza, ¡°I understand.¡±


    <b>8:37 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>25 </b>


    :


    ¡°Alright, go get some rest. From now on, you¡¯ll be staying with us,¡± Eliza said.


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    Noelle bit her lip, hesitating. ¡°I think maybe I should stay somewhere else¡­ Uncle Aaron doesn¡¯t really seem to like me¡­¡±


    ¡°Who said that? Uncle Aaron mighte off a bit strict, but he actually cares about you. You should stay here -it¡¯s much safer than being out on your own,¡± Eliza reassured her.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Noelle replied.


    She dropped her gaze, hiding the little smirk of satisfaction in her eyes.


    Xylia got a message from Joshua letting her know he¡¯d be staying home all day, so she figured she¡¯d just grab some takeout for lunch.


    It wasn¡¯t even lunchtime yet.


    While she was scrolling through delivery options, someone knocked on her office door. And almost instantly, Josie came in, bringing along a face Xylia definitely recognized.


    Xylia paused, a little stunned. ¡®Wait, isn¡¯t that Richard¡ªthe guy I ran into in the parking garage two days ago?¡® she thought.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, long time no see,¡± Richard said with a polite smile.


    Xylia motioned for Richard to sit down and poured him a ss of water.


    She asked, ¡°So, what brings you here?¡±


    Richard nodded. ¡°Well, since I¡¯m dropping by during office hours, you know it¡¯s gotta be business.¡±


    Xylia stayed quiet, giving Richard a look that said ¡®Go on, I¡¯m listening!


    Richard took a sip of water. ¡°So, my friend¡¯s son has his birthdaying up next month. He¡¯s really into fashion¨Calways likes to look sharp. I was hoping to get him some custom casualwear. Do you think you could design something special?¡±


    Xylia nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Actually, we¡¯ve got this amazing kids¡® fashion designer¨Clet me introduce you. You two can talk the details.¡±


    Richard fixed Xylia with a sharp, unwavering gaze.


    ¡°And the boy¡¯s dad needs a suit too. Any chance you¡¯d design that one yourself?¡± he added, looking straight at


    her.


    Xylia thought to herself, ¡®Business handed to me on a silver tter<b>¨C</b>no way I¡¯m letting this slip through my fingers!¡®


    She quickly ran through her schedule in her head and figured she could squeeze it in.


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    So, she nodded and replied, ¡°Yeah, I can take care of that personally.¡±


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    Richard¡¯s smile eased, and he started discussing the design requirements with Xylia, giving her the measurements for both the child and the father.


    When Xylia saw the measurements for the suit, she froze for a moment.


    She knew those numbers all too well¨Cthey were Connor¡¯s.


    Back when she was with Connor, she used to handle all his clothes, even coordinating with designers for his custom suits for those fancy events.


    So, yeah, she knew his measurements like the back of her hand.


    But Xylia quickly brushed that strange thought aside.


    ¡®Why am I overthinking this? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m designing a suit for Connor,¡® she muttered to herself.


    Richard handed over the deposit and headed out.


    Xylia didn¡¯t think much of it.


    Chase had already messaged her, saying he¡¯d finished the rmendation letter and she should go ahead and apply right away.


    Xylia thanked him.


    The next second, Chase¡¯s call popped up on her phone.


    ¡°So, Ms. Sadler, how do you n on thanking me?¡± Chase teased.


    Hearing the teasing in his voice, Xylia let out a softugh.


    She suddenly remembered the way Chase used to look at her back then, with that not¨Cso¨Csubtle ¡®you must¡¯ve gotten in through connections¡® re¡ªhe just couldn¡¯t hide his annoyance.


    ¡°How about this¨Cwhen I head to thepetition, you get to be my local guide and take me out for some fun.


    pay for everything, whatever we do. Sound good?¡± Xylia grinned,


    I¡¯ll


    ¡°Damn, Ms. Sadler, you sure know how to spoil people,¡± Chaseughed.


    Chase was probably just feeling a bit bored, so he called Xylia up for some casual chatting and everyday gossip.


    They were more than just colleagues¨Cthey were mentor and buddy both. Even though they hadn¡¯t seen each other in a while, their bond didn¡¯t fade¨Cinstead, every time they bounced design ideas back and forth, their friendship grew even deeper.


    Xylia wasn¡¯t exactly an expert when it came to designing menswear.


    Apart from that one coat she did for Joshua and the Tang suit for George, that was pretty much all she had


    under her belt.


    She figured she should reach out to Chase for some advice.


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    Taking advantage of the call, Xylia told Chase about what just happened and suggested they team up for the design project, splitting the profits fifty¨Cfifty.


    ¡°Wait, I¡¯m only doing part of the design and you wanna split it fifty¨Cfifty? Man, I¡¯d be making out like a bandit,¡± Chase said,ughing.


    Xyliaughed. ¡°Hey, after everything you¡¯ve done for me, giving you more would be totally fair.¡±


    Chase agreed to join in on the coboration.


    After hanging up, Xylia felt like she was walking on air.


    She skipped the takeout and joined Josie downstairs for lunch.


    Downstairs from their office was a little cafeteria. The prices were lower than most ces, and there were tons of dishes to pick from. Josie and pretty much everyone at work liked eating here.


    It was pretty crowded.


    Xylia and Josie picked out their food, grabbed their trays, and as soon as they spotted a free table, hurried over before anyone else could grab it.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, what a coincidence,¡± a familiar voice said as soon as they sat down. It was Richard.


    He was almost done eating, dabbing at his mouth with a napkin. When he saw Xylia, his eyes crinkled with a warm smile, making him look even more charming than usual.


    ¡°Yeah, funny running into you. You here on your own?¡± Xylia asked.


    Richard nodded. ¡°My coworkers all went for hot pot at the mall next door, but I¡¯m not big on greasy lunches, so I figured I¡¯de here instead.¡±


    As he spoke, Richard tidied up his tray, all polite and poised as he said his goodbye to Xylia.


    ¡°Enjoy your meal. I¡¯ll free up the seat for someone who needs it,¡± he added with a courteous smile.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Xylia replied.


    Xylia actually had a pretty good impression of Richard.


    He was polite, knew how to keep just the right amount of distance, and had that refined, almost vintage elegance¨Clike one of those gentlemen straight out of an old novel.


    She set her tray down and was just about to pick up her chopsticks when Richard¡¯s voice suddenly cut in, sharper than before.


    ¡°Watch out!¡± Richard called out.


    8:37 Thu, Sep 25


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    Before Xylia could react, he yanked her toward him, and shended right in his arms, surrounded by the unmistakable scent of ssic cologne.


    In the next instant, her ears were filled with shouting and screams all around.

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    <b>Chapter </b><b>273 </b>


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry! I <b>just </b>twisted my ankle¨Cdid you get burned? Let me take you to the hospital!¡±


    ¡°Xylia<b>, </b><b>are </b>you okay?¡± Josie asked.


    Xylia finally understood what had happened.


    Someone walking by had tripped right next to her, and their tray went flying toward her, spilling food everywhere.


    Richard, who was right beside her, quickly pulled her out of the way, saving her from getting sshed with scalding soup.


    Richard had shielded her, so his arm got sshed instead.


    Arge part of his skin was angry red.


    Xylia answered Josie, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She then got up and turned her attention to Richard.


    His forearm was covered in red blotches, and slick with soup and oil.


    Richard looked a little pale, but he still managed a gentle smile.


    ¡°Really, it¡¯s just a burn. No need for the hospital,¡± he reassured.


    ¡°You look like it might be serious, so¨Chow about we swap contacts? I¡¯ve got something I have to handle in a bit, but I¡¯ll call you a cab to the hospital and cover all the costs,¡± the person who bumped into them offered.


    Richard could sense the apology was genuine, so he didn¡¯t make a fuss.


    The whole scene was a mess, but none of Richard¡¯s coworkers were anywhere close¨Cthey must¡¯ve already wandered off to the mall next door, so nobody familiar came over to help.


    Xylia knew she couldn¡¯t just let Richard go off to the hospital by himself, especially since he¡¯d gotten hurt for her sake<i>, </i>so she spoke up and offered to go with him.


    Richard didn¡¯t turn her down.


    Xylia quickly told Josie what was happening, then helped Richard out of the building.


    They made <b>it </b>to the hospital pretty quickly.


    While Richard was getting his arm treated in the exam room, Xylia took a moment to order a new shirt online and have it <b>sent </b>over by courier.


    She <b>was </b>starting to feel hungry¨Cshe hadn¡¯t even touched the lunch she¡¯d packed earlier.


    Noticing the exam room was still closed, Xylia headed to the vending machine and grabbed a bread roll and a juice.


    After eating, she finally felt alive again.


    After what felt like forever, the door to the exam room finally opened.


    Richard¡¯s burn had been treated.


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    The doctor wrote him a prescription, and Xylia handed him the new shirt she¡¯d just gotten from the courier.


    ¡°Your shirt got pretty dirty. Here, change into this. I¡¯ll go grab your meds,¡± she said.


    Richard paused for a couple seconds as he looked at the shirt Xylia offered, then finally took it from her.


    ¡°You got burned trying to save me, so this is the least I can do to thank you,¡± she said, handing him the shirt.


    Richard smiled as he took her little gift, and for a moment, his gaze on Xylia held something she couldn¡¯t quite put into words.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± he said.


    He went to the restroom to change.


    Xylia waited for him after picking up his medication.


    Richard took the afternoon off and headed home, while Xylia had to get back to work.


    The whole incident was soon forgotten.


    Joshua showed up right on time to pick Xylia up after work.


    Xylia really meant it when she said she was heading back to the Sadler family ce.


    Joshua knew he couldn¡¯t change her mind, so he took her out to dinner first, and only after did he drive her to the Sadler family home.


    They picked a casual caf¨¦ and ordered their food. As soon as they were settled in, Xylia asked Joshua, ¡°So, did you get things with Noelle sorted out?¡±


    At the mention of Noelle¡¯s name, Joshua¡¯s brows tightened and his whole expression went cold.


    ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± Joshua replied, his gaze shifting like he wanted to say something more, but in the end he kept his


    mouth shut.


    He¡¯d been tempted to tell Xylia about the whole Richard situation, but it was all just too dirty¨Che didn¡¯t want to drag her into that mess.


    He couldn¡¯t bear to taint her with those ugly details, and he definitely didn¡¯t want her living in constant fear


    because of it.


    She was hustling to build her own business and had already got more than enough stress¨Cno need for him to pile on any more anxiety.


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    It was actually good she was staying at the Sadler family¡¯s ce for the next few days. With him dropping her off and picking her up every morning and night, even if Richard dide to Norhill, he wouldn¡¯t have a chance to try anything.


    As for Richard, Joshua had to make sure to deal with him while he was still in Norhill.


    Xylia saw the look in Joshua¡¯s eyes turning colder and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Joshua shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± But worried she¡¯d overthink it, he added, ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ seeing Noelle end up like this makes me feel guilty towards her brother.¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t often get to hear Joshua open up like this.


    Whenever he did share something real, he¡¯d always make it sound like it was just a joke¨Cnever too serious, she thought.


    But now, she could actually see the sadness on his face.


    ¡°Were you and Noelle¡¯s brother really close?¡± she asked.


    She thought, ¡®If Noelle¡¯s brother was willing to risk his life for Joshua, he must have truly seen him as a brother.¡¯


    Joshua found himself thinking back to his past with Nelson after Xylia¡¯s question.


    ¡°Nelson and I go way back. He went to the school next to mine, and when I skipped ss in middle school and got cornered by some thugs, he saved me. After that, we just naturally became friends,¡± Joshua exined.


    As he spoke, Joshua couldn¡¯t help but cough awkwardly.


    Back then, skipping ss didn¡¯t seem like a big deal, but saying it now in front of the girl he liked, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little embarrassed.


    Xylia always thought Joshua could be a bit offbeat sometimes, but she never would¡¯ve guessed he was skipping sses as early as middle school.


    ¡°Honestly, I figured your rebellious phase must¡¯ve hit in college,¡± she teased.


    Back then, he was literally on the run overseas¨Cnow that was no small mess.


    Joshua dodged that and hurried to switch topics.


    ¡°His family situation wasn¡¯t great¨Chis parents split up and everything was messy at home. He pretty much raised Noelle himself. I tried to help him out with some side gigs so life wouldn¡¯t be so tough. Once my mom learned about their situation, she started paying for everything Noelle needed for school,¡± Joshua said.


    ¡°But Nelson was stubborn. He kept insisting he could handle it all himself¨Cwouldn¡¯t take my mom¡¯s help no matter what. When he was in high school, he enlisted. Just before he shipped out, he told me once he got back, he¡¯d apply to be our family¡¯s bodyguard¨Cand from then on, he¡¯d take care of my safety, like it was his own mission,¡± Joshua continued.


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    Joshua couldn¡¯t help butugh at that. He thought, ¡®Me? Getting protected by somebody younger than me?¡®


    ¡°He knew what my family was dealing with, so he left the military early and stuck with me. On the battlefield in Kregonia, he gave his life to save mine. Before he died, all he asked was that I look after his sister,¡± Joshua said quietly.


    His tone was so t and even, it was like he was just narrating someone else¡¯s story.


    It had the feel of something far removed, like he wasn¡¯t talking about himself at all.


    But Xylia could sense the loneliness wrapped around him.


    She thought, ¡®When your best friend and the guy who saved your life asks you for onest favor¡­ No matter what Noelle does, Joshua could never really me her. He owes her brother that much.¡®


    But what if the person you¡¯re supposed to care for, the legacy your best friend left behind, has a heart that¡¯s been bent and twisted by hardship? What do you do then?


    Xylia didn¡¯t have a perfect answer for that.


    But she reached out, took Joshua¡¯s hand from where it rested on the table, and with her delicate fingers, gently traced the lines on his palm.


    ¡°People¡¯s hearts change. No matter what the future holds, no matter where you find yourself, I¡¯ll stay with you,¡± Xylia said, her voice gentle and steady.


    Joshua nced up at Xylia, catching the gentle smile ying on her lips.


    The overhead lights cast a snowy glow over her fair face, making her look almost magical¨Clike she belonged in a miracle.


    Joshua squeezed her hand, his smile deepening. ¡°Alright.¡±


    The rest of their dinner was purefort¨Cwarm and full of quiet joy.


    As they got into the car and Joshua was about to drive Xylia back to the Sadler family home, his phone buzzed.


    He pulled it out and saw an email from an unknown sender.


    He hadn¡¯t meant to check it right away, but for some reason, he found himself opening it anyway.


    Inside the email was a photo of Xylia nestled against the chest of a man Joshua couldn¡¯t recognize. The angle was sneaky¨Cwhile the guy¡¯s face was obscured, Xylia¡¯s was perfectly clear, and the two looked intimate, almost like lovers.


    Attached underneath was <b>a </b>single sentence.


    ¡®Mr. Garcia, looks like that perfect little wife of yours isn¡¯t nearly as innocent as you

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    Chapter <b>274 </b>


    Joshua¡¯s gaze grew heavy, and for a moment, a sh of panic darted across his eyes.


    He tossed his phone aside, turned on his heel and pulled Xylia¡¯s hand, looking her over anxiously from head


    to toe.


    ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Joshua asked, voice tight with concern.


    Xylia was momentarily stunned by his sudden intensity. Noticing the genuine panic in his eyes, she ced her hand gently over his, replying, ¡°I¡¯m really fine, Joshua. What¡¯s got you so worried?¡±


    Seeing her calm and unharmed, Joshua finally let out a slow breath, the knot of anxiety inside him beginning to loosen.


    But the image of that photo, with its up¨Cclose, intimate vibe, kept haunting Joshua, growing stronger the longer he thought about it.


    Even though the picture was shot from a sneaky angle, Joshua immediately recognized the ce¡ªit was the cafeteria right below their office building. He trusted Xylia without a doubt, but it was obvious someone had deliberately sent him that photo, trying to drive a wedge between them.


    If someone had schemed against her in such a public spot, it meant Xylia was definitely being watched.


    Joshua¡¯s enemies in Norhill were really just a handful of usual suspects.


    Time <i>to </i>check them all out, one at a time.


    But deep down, Joshua suspected the real troublemaker was that mutt who¡¯d shown up from Country D.


    He kept the photo from the email to himself, opting instead to ask Xylia about everything that had happened today.


    Xylia picked up on Joshua¡¯s unusually calm exterior and found herself a little confused.


    ¡®Why¡¯s he acting so jumpy all of a sudden?¡® Xylia wondered to herself.


    She didn¡¯t think much of it, and with a shrug, she told Joshua everything that happened at lunch, leaving out nothing.


    Listening to her story, Joshua¡¯s brow knit tightly once again.


    <b>He </b>reached over, as if ready to check her for burns himself. ¡°Are you sure you really didn¡¯t get hurt?¡±


    Xylia grabbed his hand and sighed, ¡°I¡¯m fine, seriously. If it wasn¡¯t for Richard from thepany upstairs, my <b>face </b>would¡¯ve been totally ruined.¡±


    She tried to crack a joke to ease things up, but Joshua¡¯s face only grew darker,


    ¡°I¡¯m really okay,¡± Xylia insisted.


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    Joshua didn¡¯t rush to start the <b>car</b>. Instead, he gently scooped up Xylia¡¯s small hand in his palm, holding it


    close.


    ¡°You said his name was Richard?¡± Joshua pressed.


    Xylia nodded, matching Joshua¡¯s suddenly serious expression. ¡°Is<b>¡­ </b>is there a problem?¡±


    ¡®Of course there¡¯s a problem.¡® Joshua¡¯s thoughts shed coldly.


    ¡®Hell yes, there¡¯s a problem!¡® Joshua¡¯s possessive side red up¨Cno way he¡¯d let this slide.


    Richard¡­ Richard¡­ Joshua chewed over the name in his mind, icy suspicion flickering in his eyes.


    The guy in the photo was too blurry to make out, but Joshua figured he¡¯d have to confirm it himself¨Cface to face.


    His dark expression slowly melted away, reced by a faint smile. His eyes softened, as if the stormy look from a moment ago had been nothing but a trick of the light.


    ¡°No problem, just asking,¡± Joshua replied smoothly. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll need to thank this life¨Csaver in person tomorrow.¡± His voice was easygoing, but there was something unreadable behind it.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there was something dangerous lurking beneath his words.


    But when she saw Joshua acting so calm¨Cexcept for a trace of lingering worry in his eyes¨CXylia finally dismissed her uneasy feeling.


    ¡°Yeah, we really owe him a proper thank you,¡± Xylia said with a smile.


    Joshua finally started up the car.


    The streets were quiet at night, and as Joshua guided them down the familiar road, his foot instinctively eased up on the elerator.


    The car slowed down.


    He¡¯d driven this road to the Sadler family¡¯s ce more times than he could count.


    Joshua drummed his fingers absent¨Cmindedly on the steering wheel, clearly weighing something up in his mind.


    <b>¡°</b>It¡¯s getting prettyte,¡± Joshua said in a soft, even tone, as if it wasn¡¯t anything important.


    Xylia nced at the clock¨Cit was almost ten o¡¯clock.


    ¡°<b>Yeah</b>, <b>it </b><b>is </b>getting <bte</b>,¡± Xylia agreed, stifling a yawn. ¡°I¡¯m pretty beat. I¡¯ll just crash as soon as I get home.¡±


    Joshua shot a nce at her and went on, ¡°Your family¡¯s ce is way out there. It¡¯ll take a whole hour to <b>get </b>there. By the time you finally get home, it¡¯ll be close to eleven. Then you still have to wash up and get to bed, and tomorrow you¡¯ve got to get up so early again. That¡¯s really exhausting, you know?¡±


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    Xylia propped her arm against the window, her face turned toward the city lights and the busy crowds


    outside.


    When she heard Joshua¡¯s words, the corners of her mouth curled into a soft smile.


    Her apartment was close by¨Ca quick ten to fifteen minute drive from here.


    Joshua was pretty much wearing his intentions on his sleeve.


    Xylia pretended not to get it. ¡°Who isn¡¯t tired from work? Just gotta push through a few more dayse the weekend, I¡¯ll catch up on sleep.¡±


    The traffic light flipped red.


    The car rolled to a stop at the intersection.


    The next right was her turn¨Coff back to the apartment.


    Joshua kept a calm exterior, but inside he was quietly scheming.


    When Xylia mentioned staying at her family¡¯s ce for a few days, Joshua had agreed without hesitation.


    But now, as he drove her home, he realized he couldn¡¯t bear to see her go.


    Just thinking about not being able to hold her tonight, not having her familiar softness and scent next to him, Joshua knew he¡¯d be tossing and turning all night.


    ¡°It¡¯s reallyte,¡± Joshua said, sounding casual but not fooling anyone. ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay at the apartment tonight?¡±


    He didn¡¯t beat around the bush.


    Xylia turned to look at him, her smile soft and tender.


    Joshua tilted his head, heart thumping. ¡®Looks like I¡¯ve got a chance!¡® he thought, hope flickering in his chest.


    But in the next second, Xylia shut him down, her voice cool and decisive. ¡°Nope, I promised Sonny I¡¯d be staying at the Sadler family¡¯s ce for the next two weeks.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s brow knitted in annoyance,


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say it¡¯d just be a few days? How did that get bumped up to half a month?¡± Joshua protested, clearly


    put out.


    <b>She </b>was just making it sound way more dramatic than it actually was.


    Honestly, even if Joshua didn¡¯t care, Xylia herself couldn¡¯t stand being apart from him that long.


    She <b>stared </b>at Joshua¡¯s <b>face</b>¨Che looked like he¡¯d just been struck by lightning¨Cand couldn¡¯t help <b>messing </b>with him, <b>refusing </b><b>to </b>answer on <b>purpose </b>and enjoying his reaction.


    The light turned green.


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    The constant honking from behind forced Joshua to start the car, no matter how much he didn¡¯t want to.


    He never got an answer from Xylia, and when the light turned green at the next intersection, Joshua had no choice but to steer the car toward the Sadler family¡¯s ce, going against his own wishes.


    The silence hung heavy between them,sting all the way until they reached her destination.


    They arrived at the Sadler family¡¯s house.


    As Xylia was about to get out, she suddenly turned to Joshua and said, ¡°By the way, I¡¯ll drive myself to work tomorrow. You don¡¯t have to go all that distance just for me¨CI don¡¯t want you tiring yourself out.¡±


    Xylia smiled softly and said, ¡°By the way, I¡¯ll drive myself to work tomorrow. It¡¯s too far for you toe all that way¨CI don¡¯t want you running yourself ragged.¡± Joshua¡¯s face darkened, his brow furrowing deeply.


    Seeing him this way, Xylia let out a gentleugh and reached out to ruffle his fluffy silver hair, just about to exin that she actually wasn¡¯t going to stay at the Sadler family¡¯s ce for half a month.


    But before she could say anything, Joshua suddenly caught her hand and, without warning, leaned in, iming her lips in a fierce, desperate kiss.


    The kiss was burning hot, unapologetically forceful, his hand anchoring the back of her head as he stole her breath away¨Cpossessive and relentless.


    Xylia, flustered and breathless, clung to Joshua¡¯s shirt. Every exnation she had melted away in the heat of the moment, leaving her powerless¨Cshe could do nothing but pour all her focus into surviving his fiery, demanding kiss.


    After what felt like forever, Joshua finally let her go.


    He lingered, his big hand gently massaging the back of her head¨Clike a king staking his im,manding everything about her.


    Their foreheads bumped together, breath tangled and uneven in the hush between them.


    ¡°Xylia,¡± Joshua whispered, his voice husky, ¡°don¡¯t stay at the Sadler family¡¯s for so long¨Cjust three days, all right? Promise me.¡±


    Three days¨Cthat was really the max he could take.


    Back when he still hadn¡¯t won Xylia over, Joshua had no way to pour out the jealousy and longing that was always brewing inside him.


    Now that the two of them were basically inseparable, having to spend time apart felt downright unbearable- like someone was punishing him on purpose.


    He kept telling himself to stay chill; after all, they weren¡¯t even married yet, so not living together was just how things were supposed to go.


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    But they¡¯d already built a cozy little home together, and Joshua wanted Xylia¡¯s warmth and presence to linger in every room, every corner¨Cit just didn¡¯t feel like home without her.


    He needed her to be wrapped around him all the time, clinging to him, hooked on him¨Conly then could he rx and feel truly secure.


    Xylia, gasping for air, was genuinely startled by the pleading note and fierce possessiveness threading through Joshua¡¯s words.


    As she nced up, she was caught off guard by his eyes¨Cdeep and bottomless, like falling into endless night.


    Lost in his intense gaze, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but nod, almost dreamily.

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    Even the next day, Xylia still couldn¡¯t understand why she¡¯d given in to Joshua so easily.


    Lost in that dreamy haze, all Xylia could see was Joshua¡¯s impossibly handsome face, and all she could hear was his voice, smooth as velvet.


    It was like she¡¯d been enchanted by a devil¨Cevery word out of her mouth was exactly what the devil wanted to hear.


    As Xylia was sketching her designs, she couldn¡¯t help but have the scene fromst night¨Cthe heated parting with Joshua¨Crey in her mind.


    When Joshua heard her agree, all that gloom he¡¯d had vanished in a sh, reced by the satisfied grin of someone who¡¯d just gotten exactly what he wanted.


    After that, he kept her close in the car for ages, showering her with kisses until Xylia waspletely undone, breathless and weak in his arms. Only then did he send her back to the Sadler family, leaving her all flustered and thoroughly tamed.


    Just remembering all this, Xylia felt a mix of embarrassment and indignation burning on her cheeks.


    And of course, the troublemaker himself was making himself right at home¨Csprawled out on the one and only couch in her office like he owned the ce. Joshua was so at ease, he¡¯d brought an entire tea set and was brewing tea with all the time in the world.


    Joshua must¡¯ve felt Xylia¡¯s gaze on him; his eyes met hers, a knowing glint flickering in his smile.


    He finished pouring a cup, got up smoothly, and strolled over to Xylia with that faint air of smugness only he could pull off.


    ¡°Have some tea. First cup, just for you,¡± Joshua said, his voice a little yful as he offered her the fine porcin cup, his long fingers bnced beneath its rim.


    With an easy, confident smile tugging at his lips, Joshua looked every bit the elegant charmer¨Cgentle, self- assured, and impossibly handsome.


    Today, Joshua kicked back in a casual outfit¨Ca in white cotton shirt hugging his tall, lean frame, not a wrinkle to be seen. The sunlight pouring in through the window outlined his figure against the shadows, giving him an air of effortless mystery.


    But Xylia couldn¡¯t miss it¨Cthe unmistakable look of triumph shing in his eyes.


    ¡®Seriously, he¡¯s so smug right now!¡® Xylia thought, a mix of embarrassment and indignation bubbling inside


    her.


    Xylia didn¡¯t say anything, just gave him a nod to put the teacup down on her desk.


    Joshua set the cup on the desk but didn¡¯t leave immediately.


    He moved around the desk, leaned <b>casually </b>against the edge, and nced down at Xylia, his eyes soft. ¡°The


    manager upstairs isn¡¯t in today.¡±


    Xylia hadn¡¯t realized Joshua had already scoped things out upstairs.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s your n for thanking him?¡± Joshua asked, a teasing smile ying on his lips.


    ¡°Just treating him to a meal,¡± Xylia said, not making itplicated.


    Nothing fancy¨Csimple, practical, and it gets the job done.


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    Xylia thought about it and said, ¡°He probably burned himself pretty badly and needed some time off. We¡¯ll just wait until he¡¯s back at work and then invite him out.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s smile grew even wider.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he replied, casual as ever, a hint of amusement flickering across his face.


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help but feel a little curious about Richard¡ªhe figured he might as well meet the guy himself.


    Noelle said she was heading out to the Jewelry Expo, just so she could slip away from the Garcia house.


    After she arrived at the expo, Noelle made sure the Garcia family¡¯s driver left before grabbing a cab to head straight for Richard¡¯s ce.


    Richard was at home, changing the dressing on his arm. The burn fromst night had left his skin red, swollen, and painfully tender.


    While the doctor applied the ointment, Richard didn¡¯t spare his injury a nce. But whenever a jolt of pain shot through him, his eyes would flick to the burn, his gaze growing cold and intimidating in an instant.


    The doctor¡¯s hands trembled even more under that sharp pressure.


    By the time Noelle arrived at the apartment, the doctor had already finished treating Richard.


    The same henchman Noelle had seen back in Daltonia grabbed the doctor by the cor and, with no hesitation, drew his knife¨Ccarving a long, nasty gash across the doctor¡¯s right hand.


    Noelle stepped right into the gruesome scene and instantly let out an involuntary scream,


    Richard lifted his gaze without even sparing Noelle a look. Instead, he unraveled the fresh bandages the doctor had just wrapped, baring the burn on his arm all over again.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t even heal a simple wound, you might as well stop pretending to be a doctor,¡± Richard said, voice icy and mocking.


    The doctor¡¯s mouth was quickly covered, eyes wide with terror. One of Richard¡¯s men shoved a coat over him, grabbed him by the cor, and dragged him out of the apartment.


    Noelle¡¯s legs went weak.


    Every single time she ran into Richard, he was either in the middle of hurting someone or on his way to do it.


    For the first time ever, Noelle had to wonder if teaming up with a guy like Richard would get her a fate no better than his victims.


    ¡®What if I end up just like them?¡® The thought kept spiraling out of control in her mind.


    Suddenly, Noelle couldn¡¯t stand the idea of working with Richard one second longer.


    Richard shot her an unreadable, icy gaze that seemed to strip her bare¨Clike he could see every thought passing through her mind.


    Those venomous eyes didn¡¯t linger on Noelle for long; instead, he coolly gestured at the couch across the


    room.


    ¡°Ms. Coffey, have a seat,¡± Richard said, his tone calm yet leaving no room for discussion.


    Noelle understood exactly what kind of guy Richard was¨Cshe didn¡¯t dare refuse and sat down without a word.


    As soon as Noelle sat down, Richard spoke up.


    ¡°I met Ms. Sadler,¡± he said, voice cool and direct.


    At the mention of Xylia, Noelle looked up at Richard, surprised to catch a rare hint of softness in his usually icy demeanor. ¡®Is that genuine?¡® she wondered, puzzled.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler isn¡¯t as vicious as you described,¡± Richard went on, sounding almost amused. ¡°Honestly, I think she¡¯s adorable¨Cbeautiful, genuinely kind, not at all what I expected.¡±


    As he said this, Richard fixed his attention on Noelle, watching her every reaction.


    With each word, Noelle¡¯s face grew colder¨CRichard¡¯s grin only got bigger, savoring her difort.


    ¡°No wonder Joshua likes her,¡± he remarked, with a knowing edge.


    That line hit a nerve for Noelle.


    Any doubt she¡¯d just had disappeared in a sh¨Cher resolve was rock¨Csolid now.


    Noelle shot Richard a cold re. ¡°If you¡¯re so into her, why don¡¯t you chase her yourself? You¡¯re the one who promised to get Xylia away from Joshua. That¡¯d do the trick, wouldn¡¯t it? Maybe that¡¯s the best way for you


    after all.¡±


    ¡°You think you can tell me how to handle my business?¡± Richard¡¯s voice was chillingly cold.


    His icy tone was terrifying¨Clike a knife to Noelle¡¯s nerves.


    All the courage Noelle had just screwed up vanished in a blink, leaving her feeling helpless.


    Noelle didn¡¯t say a word.


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    Richard stared at the burned skin on his hand, watching the shiny blisters swell up and look nasty as hell.


    It stung and itched, but he didn¡¯t care one bit¨Cpain like this barely registered with him.


    What really got his blood pumping was thinking about the advantage this injury could bring him.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been back for days. Did you get those files I told you to find yet?¡± Richard¡¯s tone was razor¨Csharp, giving Noelle no room to hide.


    Noelle¡¯s heart skipped a beat¨Cshe felt ice in her veins.


    ¡°I¡¯m still working on it,¡± Noelle replied, forcing herself to sound steady but her nerves were on edge.


    Right now, it wasn¡¯t just Joshua keeping an eye on her¨CAaron was on high alert too, making sure she didn¡¯t get up to anything suspicious.


    Even though Noelle lived at the Garcia residence, she never got a real chance to step into the study. Sometimes she¡¯d try to use the excuse of delivering something to Aaron, but every time, the servants would shut her down before she even got close.


    Noelle knew full well¨Cit was Aaron¡¯s orders keeping her out.


    She was strictly forbidden from ever setting foot in that study.


    The more they kept her out, the more Noelle felt certain¨Cthere had to be something important stashed away in that study.


    She was obsessed with the idea that somewhere in there was exactly the confidential file Richard needed.


    ¡°Just give me a little more time,¡± Noelle murmured, her voice trembling ever so slightly.


    Richard ignored her words¨Che just grabbed his phone and sent out a message, cool and casual, never losing that icyposure.


    The silence in the living room was suffocating for a moment.


    Then, with a sharp movement, Richard tossed his phone onto the coffee table. The crack echoed, shattering the stillness like a stone sshing into a calmke, sending ripples through the heavy air.


    Noelle¡¯s heart skipped¨Ca chill ran down her spine and her face went pale.


    Sure enough, Richard spoke up the next second.


    ¡°Ms. Coffey, I¡¯ve already put my ns in motion. You¡¯d better deliver as promised¨CI want results, and they¡¯d better be concrete. Otherwise, I¡¯ll start doubting our partnership, and trust me, that¡¯s not good for you,¡± Richard said, his voice cold enough to freeze the room.


    And if you bail halfway, you¡¯ll face the consequences¨CRichard¡¯s way.


    Everyone in this world knew about Richard¡¯s way of doing things¨Cand Noelle had studied his rules inside out before ever agreeing to work with him.


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    Now, hearing Richardy it out again, fear spiked so high in her chest it almost made her sick.


    She swallowed hard, clutching her knees as her hands started shaking without her even realizing it.


    ¡°I¡­ got it.¡±


    Noelle¡¯s voice was barely a whisper.


    Richard lookedpletely satisfied with how shaken Noelle was. ¡°I hear Joshua¡¯s mother¡¯s birthday ising up. Set something up¨Cmake it look natural¨Cand get me an invitation to the Garcia house.¡±


    Noelle¡¯s head snapped up, her eyes wide with disbelief.

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    Noelle almost reflexively refused.


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    ¡°Even if I threw a birthday party for Mrs. Garcia, given how things are between you and the Garcias, how could you show up? At that point, not just Joshua, but Mrs. Garcia herself would stop trusting me-pletely. How am I supposed to get my hands on that confidential file then?¡±


    Noelle refused to y the viin here.


    Richard didn¡¯t care at all about what Noelle said.


    He said, ¡°That¡¯s not my problem. I just need to tell you what I want, and you do whatever it takes to make it happen. Since we¡¯re working together here, I¡¯ll try my best to help you out with what you want, too.¡±


    ¡°No way!¡± Noelle shot back, her voice rock¨Csolid.


    Her stance was unyielding; anyone could see she wasn¡¯t about to back down.


    There was a dangerous glint in Richard¡¯s eyes as the smile faded from his lips.


    ¡°You¡¯re in no position to refuse,¡± he said, his voice cold, the danger obvious even behind his gentle facade.


    His tone was icy, and though his features seemed soft, there was an unmistakable threat hidden underneath.


    Noelle¡¯s mind immediately raced to that doctor just now¨Cfor doing nothing worse than failing to bandage Richard¡¯s wound properly, he¡¯d been shed, had his mouth covered, and dragged downstairs, not knowing what fate awaited him.


    Richard was just like those ancient nobles who trampled on lives without a second thought¨Ccruel and unstoppable.


    The bloody chaos at the Daltonia event kept shing through her mind.


    She didn¡¯t dare say no to him again.


    With no way out, she hurriedly agreed to Richard and left in a rush.


    After Noelle left, Richard¡¯s henchman Holt came back into the room.


    ¡°Boss,¡± Holt greeted.


    ¡°Watch Noelle. If she tries to y any tricks, take her out,¡± Richard said coldly.


    ¡°Understood,¡± Holt replied.


    Holt noticed that Richard had already removed the bandage from his arm, and he nced at his boss,


    nervous<b>. </b>


    ¡°Boss, should I call <b>in </b>another doctor to take care of that for you?¡± Holt offered.


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    ¡°No need,¡± Richard said, staring at the wound. His mind wandered back to yesterday when he brushed close to Noelle¨Cher subtle fragrance had lingered in the air, setting his heart racing like it hadn¡¯t in ages.


    A crooked smile formed at the corner of his mouth. ¡°I¡¯m keeping this wound. I¡¯m gonna need it.¡±


    Richard hadn¡¯t shown up to work for three days straight.


    Joshua had been chasing after him for three days, and even the receptionist upstairs was starting to suspect Joshua really needed to talk to Richard about something big.


    The receptionist was about to reach for the phone to call Richard, but Joshua waved her off, telling her to just let him know when Richard finally showed up.


    Xylia used to think Joshua was making a big deal out of nothing.


    But now, with Richard skipping work for three days straight, she started to wonder if his wound hadn¡¯t fully healed yet.


    She¡¯d only checked in on him a little the day they left the hospital¨Chadn¡¯t even really asked about his injury.


    ¡®He got hurt because of me. I should at least ask how he¡¯s doing,¡® she thought to herself.


    She pulled up her messaging app, tapped on Richard¡¯s chat, and sent him a message.


    Richard replied almost instantly, sending her a voice message.


    It was a voice message.


    Xylia tapped y, and Richard¡¯s gentle voice came through her phone, soft as ever.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, you don¡¯t need to worry about me. I¡¯m okay. The heat¡¯s been messing with my recovery, so I took


    a few days off to rest at home. Got the wound cleaned out today¨Creally, I¡¯m fine now.¡±


    Joshua pulled up a swivel chair and sat down at Xylia¡¯s desk, helping her with some paperwork.


    He caught Richard¡¯s voice message to Xylia¨Cit was impossible not to hear it.


    Joshua looked up from the documents, fixing his gaze on Xylia. His eyes were unmistakably chilly.


    Xylia caught Joshua looking at her and furrowed her brow. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Did Richard <b>message </b>you?¡± Joshua asked, his voice cool.


    Xylia nodded, handed him her phone, and the two of them listened to the voice message together.


    Richard had just sent over a video.


    In it, his arm was freshly bandaged, and the trash can beside him was stuffed with used medical supplies and bloody gauze.


    ¡°It¡¯s all got pus¨Clooks like his recovery¡¯s been pretty rough these days,¡± Xylia said, frowning.


    Joshua¡¯s brows furrowed higher than ever.


    He looked at Xylia. ¡°You care about him?<b>¡± </b>


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    Someone¡¯s seriously jealous right now.


    She shot him a look, clearly exasperated. ¡°He got hurt saving me¨Cof course I should ask how he¡¯s doing, no matter what.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s face was even stormier now¨Cyou could tell he was seriously annoyed.


    Xylia was just about tofort him, but Joshua shoved the phone in front of her and reyed the video Richard had sent.


    ¡°Notice anything?¡± Joshua asked.


    Xylia stole a nce at Joshua¡¯s face, then said with yful caution, ¡°Does ¡®his hand is kinda attractive¡® count?¡±


    She was pretty much dancing right on Joshua¡¯s jealousyndmine.


    As expected, Joshua¡¯s scowl got even thunderier.


    Xylia chuckled. ¡°Rx, I¡¯m just messing with you.¡±


    Joshua took a deep breath, forcing down the jealousy boiling inside.


    He pointed <i>at </i>the spot in the video where Richard had made sure his abs were on disy.


    Xylia leaned in to follow his finger, but before she got a chance to actually see the abs, Joshua¡¯s thumb slid over the screen, blocking it out.


    She blinked,pletely lost.


    ¡°What?¡± she asked.


    Joshua said, ¡°He¡¯s acting like he¡¯s just sending a quick ¡®I¡¯m fine¡® update, but if you pay attention¨Cthe pus- stained bandages in the trash, not¨Cso¨Cidentally flexing his abs, and that perfect angle for his hand, all screaming ¡®look at me¡® and trying to catch your eye.¡±


    When it came to the hand, Joshua gave Xylia a frosty stare.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel a shiver run down her back and unconsciously sat up straighter, as if she¡¯d just been called out.


    Joshua finally broke eye contact and went on, ¡°And in that message, he ims he¡¯s okay, but throws in that his wound got infected. If he really wanted you not to worry, there¡¯s no way he¡¯d mention all that.¡±


    To Joshua, it was a ssic scheming move¨Cthe whole thing just screamed green tea behavior.


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    Xylia honestly didn¡¯t notice any of the stuff Joshua was talking about.


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    To her, none of it seemed like a big deal¨CJoshua was just stuck on it because he was jealous, acting all childish.


    She let out a helpless sigh and reached to take her phone back.


    Before Xylia could even reach for her phone, Joshua snatched it first and deleted the video Richard had sent.


    ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to look at him anymore,¡± Joshua dered, his tone leaving no room for argument.


    ¡°Okay, okay, I won¡¯t,¡± Xylia soothed, grabbing her phone back. She sent Richard a polite little reply before putting her phone aside.


    ¡°So, do you think my hand looks good?¡± Joshua¡¯s low voice suddenly murmured right by her ear.


    He slid his warm, broad palm into hers, almost unting it¨Cinviting Xylia to get a good look.


    Joshua¡¯s hand was beyond attractive¨Clong, elegant fingers, sculpted knuckles, neatly trimmed nails with a subtle pink flush, and veins tracing across the back like mountain ridges, a perfect bnce of grace and strength.


    Honestly, sometimes it felt like God just couldn¡¯t help but y favorites when it came to Joshua¡¯s looks.


    Some people didn¡¯t just have a gorgeous face¨Ceven every limb and every strand of hair was perfect, not a single w anywhere.


    Xylia thought Richard¡¯s hand in the video looked good, like it was straight out of aic book, butpared to Joshua¡¯s, it still couldn¡¯t evene close.


    ¡°Your hand looks amazing,¡± she murmured, closing her fingers around Joshua¡¯s and feeling the soft roughness of his palm.


    Before Joshua could even say anything, she quickly added, ¡°Honestly, your hand¡¯s way more attractive than Richard¡¯s¨Chands down.¡±


    Joshua looked pretty pleased with her answer¨Cuntil, of course, his good mood vanished in the blink of an eye and he was back to brooding.


    ¡°Hold


    up, are you seriouslyparing me to Richard now?¡± he grumbled, sounding every bit the jealous boyfriend.


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    Xylia didn¡¯t want to talk to Joshua anymore. She shook off his hand and turned her gaze back to theputer


    screen.


    ¡°You can entertain yourself for a while. I need to work,¡± Xylia said, not even looking at him.


    Joshua pressed his lips together, as if a thousand words were stuck in his throat.


    But seeing Xylia focused so intently on herputer¨Cobviously determined to ignore him¨Che had no choice but to swallow his words.


    Why does this feel so suffocating?¡® Joshua thought, a dull frustration tightening in his chest.


    But then, as if something clicked in his mind, Joshua¡¯s lips curled up into a faint smile.


    Today was the fourth day¡ªthe day Xylia was supposed toe back to his ce.


    Just thinking about it made Joshua rx inside. ¡®Maybe things will turn out okay after all, he thought.


    They were a couple, and yet Xylia actually praised another man right in front of him. That felt like a real sign of disrespect¨Calmost like she was dissatisfied with him.


    Stuff like that could really hurt their rtionship.


    ¡®Maybe I should make Xylia pay a little for that,¡® Joshua thought to himself.


    His expression shifted from dissatisfaction to anger, then all the way to excitement¨Chis mood dropping and soaring like he was strapped into an emotional drop tower, changing from one extreme to another in seconds.


    Out of the corner of her eye, Xylia noticed Joshua¡¯s lips curling up slightly, as if he¡¯d managed to cheer himself up.


    She felt a wave of relief wash over her.


    Sometimes, dealing with Joshua¡¯s random bouts of jealousy was just too much for her.


    Joshua lingered beside her for a bit, then picked up hisptop and headed over to the coffee table.


    He settled in, typing away rapidly, totallyser¨Cfocused on whatever he was doing.


    Xylia could only hear the steady click¨Cck of the keyboard filling the room.


    Even though Joshua had been spending a ton of time with hertely, he still had plenty of responsibilities of his own. There was no way Aaron could shoulder all the duties of Garcia Group alone.


    Xylia knew Joshua was dealing with a lot.


    She didn¡¯t need to be glued to him all the time, but she also didn¡¯t want to kill his vibe whenever he was being


    sweet to her.


    She¡¯d heard Eliza¡¯s birthday wasing up soon.


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    So Xylia decided to pick out a thoughtful gift¨Cas a gesture for both Joshua and herself, a way <i>to </i>express her true feelings.


    Lines of code flickered in Joshua¡¯s eyes, reflected from hisptop screen.


    Hisptop was hooked up to Xylia¡¯s phone, and whenever a message from Richard popped up in her chat app, Joshua wasted no time tracking down the sender¡¯s IP.


    The address pinged as Royal Heights Community in Daltonia¨Cthe exact same location he¡¯d previously found linked to Richard.


    ¡®Looks like my hunch was spot¨Con,¡® Joshua thought.


    Meanwhile, David sent Joshua a file.


    Joshua opened it and saw when Richard had started at the office upstairs.


    It was exactly five days ago¨Cthe day Xylia first ran into Richard.


    A chill swept across Joshua¡¯s face. ¡®So Richard¡¯s after Xylia,¡® he thought grimly.


    Joshua shut hisptop and got up, walking over to Xylia.


    Xylia looked up, thinking he had something to say. She was just about to speak when Joshua¡¯s hand slipped to the back of her head, and he pulled her in for a long, lingering kiss.


    The kiss was fierce, stamped with Joshua¡¯s signature dominance and possession, leaving her nowhere to


    escape.


    Xylia felt flustered, her hands clinging tightly to his shirt, each breath stolen by his demanding kiss.


    After what felt like an eternity, Joshua finally let Xylia go.


    His shirt, which started out crisp and smooth, was nowpletely crumpled from the way she¡¯d grabbed


    onto him.


    Joshua pressed his forehead to hers, feeling how fast she was breathing. His voice was low and gentle as he whispered, ¡°I¡¯ve got to head out for a bit this afternoon.¡±


    Once Xylia finally caught her breath, she pushed Joshua¡¯s head away with mock annoyance,


    ¡°You¡¯re just heading out, but you suddenly ambush me with a kiss? What¡¯s up with that?¡± Xylia teased.


    ¡°I just can¡¯t bear being away from my sweetheart for a whole afternoon,¡± Joshua replied, grinning fondly.


    Xylia shot Joshua a re and pushed him away.


    Her cheeks still rosy, she turned back to herputer, but the pile of files on the screen had be aplete blur¨Cshe couldn¡¯t make sense of any of them anymore.


    And the culprit behind it all just let out a briefugh and strode out of the office.


    Xylia let out a long sigh, burying her face in her hands as she slumped over the desk.


    ¡®Honestly, Joshua isn¡¯t just immature¨Che¡¯s like two totally different guys rolled into one!¡® Xylia thought.


    After lunch, Joshua drove straight over to Royal Heights Community.


    He went directly to Richard¡¯s apartment.


    When Joshua knocked, it was Richard who answered the door.


    Richard was clearly caught off guard when he saw Joshua, but after a brief hesitation, he stepped aside and let him inside.


    ¡°Wow, Mr. Garcia, you¡¯re faster than I thought you¡¯d be,¡± Richard chuckled, a hint of surprise in his voice.


    Joshua didn¡¯t budge, lingering in the doorway. His gaze was icy as he fixed his eyes on Richard, speaking with zero warmth.


    ¡°Mr. Shaw, you came all the way to Daltonia¨Cwhy not give us a heads¨Cup? Your father used to work for my family, after all. Out of respect for that history, my dad would¡¯ve wanted to wee you properly,¡± Joshua replied.


    Richard¡¯s father used to work for Aaron, which meant their family was always considered beneath his household.


    In terms of status, the Shaws were constantly looked down upon.


    Joshua¡¯s reminder instantly brought back memories for Richard¨Cthe years his family had been driven from their home, left to eke out a living in Daltonia, all because of what Aaron and his son had done to them.


    The two of them faced off in the entryway, the atmosphere bristling with challenge, neither willing to back down.


    Joshua caught Richard¡¯s brows knitting together¨Chis expression shifting from rxed to tense in a heartbeat. That faux¨Cgentle look in Richard¡¯s eyes didn¡¯tst; beneath it shed a cold, dangerous glint, like a warning that things could get ugly real fast.


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help but feel pleased with himself. ¡®Right where I want him,¡® Joshua thought, satisfaction curling in his chest.


    Without waiting for permission, Joshua strode right in and sprawled out on the couch, acting like he owned the ce.


    Richard wasn¡¯t home alone¨Chis enforcer Holt was there with him too.


    When Joshua walked in, Holt fixed him with a cold, watchful stare, eyes glinting with a silent threat. It was


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    clear Holt wasn¡¯t just suspicious¨Che looked ready to pounce if things went south.


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    Richardposed himself with a deep breath, then took a seat right across from Joshua. He flicked his hand, silently signaling Holt to head into the other room.


    <b>¡°</b>What can I get you to drink?¡± Richard asked, his face slipping back into that calm, polite mask.


    Joshua shrugged, his tone casual. ¡°Coffee¡¯s fine. Your dad used to make a mean cup. I bet you picked up his skills, right?¡±


    For a split second, a dangerous glint shed in Richard¡¯s eyes¨Chis killer instinct leaking through before he could rein it back in.


    Joshua spoke like he was royalty, every word oozing superiority, as if Richard and his father were nothing but lowly ants beneath his feet. It had been ages since anyone dared talk to Richard like that.


    After all, the people who used to look down on him? These days, they¡¯re all lining up in hell, waiting for their next round.


    Even on Richard¡¯s home turf, Joshua wasn¡¯t fazed in the slightest.


    He wore a mocking smile. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Mr. Shaw? Don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t even make your guest a cup of coffee.¡±


    Richard¡¯s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.


    Joshua¡¯s smug grin was like a red g, and Richard had half a mind to wipe it off his face.


    But this was Alvend, and starting a fight here would only make things messy.


    Without a word, Richard turned and walked over to make Joshua a cup of coffee.


    When Richard set the coffee down in front of him, Joshua didn¡¯t even nce at it.


    His voice was calm, almost bored. ¡°I didn¡¯te here for coffee. I just heard you were in Norhill, so I thought there were some things we needed to discuss.¡±


    Richard met Joshua¡¯s gaze with totalposure, not the slightest hint of flinching.


    ¡°We¡¯ve still got unfinished business,¡± Joshua warned, his tone ice¨Ccold. ¡°So you¡¯d better watch your back every second you stay in Norhill, Mr. Shaw. The blood I lost overseas? You¡¯ll pay it back¨Cright here in Norhill.¡±


    It was pure, undiluted threat¨Cno beating around the bush.


    Richard had honestly expected Joshua to show up about Xylia, but he came out swinging with a threat instead. That was unexpected.


    ¡®So these are mind games¨Che wants the spotlight off Xylia and all on me,¡® Richard thought.


    ¡®Joshua¡¯s crazy for Xylia¨Cno doubt about it, Richard mused, a flicker <b>of </b>something unreadable passing over


    his face.


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    Joshua ultimately didn¡¯t touch the coffee. After issuing his icy threat, he turned and strode out without a second nce.


    As the door closed behind him, the living room was left in heavy silence for several seconds.


    Richard suddenly mmed his hand down, flinging the coffee off the table in a fit of rage.


    Coffee sttered across the sofa, staining it with dirty marks as the cup shattered into fragments. Shards scraped across his calf, and tiny beads of blood welled up.


    When Holt came out, the first thing he saw was Richard¡¯s face twisted in fury.


    He couldn¡¯t help but shudder as he walked up to Richard.


    ¡°Boss, you want us to hit him now?¡± Holt asked.


    He¡¯d heard everything from the other room, so he knew damn well what had set Richard off.


    ¡®Joshua¡¯s just as full of himself as ever,¡¯ Holt thought.


    Richard¡¯s face was dark, his usually soft features now twisted with murderous intent, giving him an eerie, almost unrecognizable look.


    After a moment, he finally said, ¡°No need. Joshua went out of his way just for Xylia¨Cit¡¯s obvious she¡¯s his top priority, maybe even more important to him than his own life.¡±


    As he said this, Richard¡¯s brow rxed slightly.


    His voice softened as he added, ¡°He just dropped his Achilles¡® heel right in front of me. How could I possibly let that go?¡±


    Holt parted his lips, wanting to say something, but the words stuck in his throat.


    He knew exactly how much Richard despised women. ¡®Isn¡¯t he just putting himself through hell by forcing himself to deal with one?¡® Holt thought, a trace of worry flickering in his eyes.


    But in the end, he swallowed his words.


    Richard waved Holt over to take care of the mess, then, clutching his phone, headed straight into his room.


    He barely got the screen unlocked when an email notification popped up. He opened it¨Cbig, bold letters: ¡°Termination of Employment.¡±


    The dangerous edge in his eyes sharpened even further.


    When Joshua got back to Xylic Studio, he found Xylia wasn¡¯t in her office.


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    He waited for a while, and finally, she walked in.


    When she saw Joshua, she was momentarily surprised, then asked, ¡°You¡¯re back already?¡±


    She didn¡¯t have much on her te that afternoon, so she walked over and sat down next to him.


    As soon as she sat down, he pulled her into his arms.


    He tossed his phone onto the coffee table and just grunted softly.


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    His deep, maic voice sounded a little gloomy¨CXylia could tell right away he wasn¡¯t in a good mood.


    She tilted her head up, looking at him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± he replied.


    Joshua reached out and gently touched Xylia¡¯s face. ¡°The guy upstairs¨CRichard. I sent him a little parting gift, so my debt¡¯s paid. You don¡¯t have to bother with him anymore.¡±


    Xylia finally put it together. ¡°So you went to talk to him just now?¡±


    Joshua nodded.


    He ruffled her hair, steering the conversation elsewhere.


    ¡°Anything important happening this afternoon?¡± he asked.


    Xylia thought for a moment. She¡¯d already wrapped up her work for the day¨Cjust had to catch up with Leroy Bonner to talk through the next design proposal, and that was about it.


    She told him straight, then asked, ¡°Why? You need something?¡±


    Joshua squeezed her hand.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you hit a creative block a couple days ago?¡± Joshua murmured, ¡°Well, I know just the ce that¡¯ll kickstart your inspiration again.¡±


    ¡°Where is it? Xylia asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯ll know once you see it. Go handle your work first, Joshua said.


    Joshua nudged Xylia gently, sending her off to catch up with Leroy for their meeting.


    By the time she finished, it was already past three in the afternoon.


    She sent Josie a quick heads¨Cup and then headed out with Joshua.


    The car cruised its way out toward the suburbs.


    Xylia didn¡¯t bother asking where they were headed¨Cafter all, Joshua wasn¡¯t about to sell her off or anything.


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    Joshua¡¯s driving was so smooth, Xylia melted into thefy seat, drifting off in a sleepy haze.


    Before she knew it, Joshua was softly nudging her awake.


    Joshua gently called her name, ¡°Xylia, we¡¯re here.¡±


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    Xylia blinked awake, her blurry eyes gradually sharpening until Joshua¡¯s charming face came into view, reflected in her clear gaze.


    Still half¨Casleep, she mumbled, ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± echoing him.


    She repeated after Joshua with a soft, absent¨Cminded whisper.


    ¡®Man, she¡¯s just too cute, Joshua thought, a wave of affection bubbling up inside him.


    Unable to resist, he gently ruffled her hair and gave her cheek an affectionate little squeeze.


    ¡°Come on, we¡¯re here,¡± Joshua coaxed softly. ¡°Let¡¯s get out.¡±


    Xylia lingered for a moment, still a bit groggy, then slipped out of the car after Joshua.


    Right in front of them stood Norhill¡¯s Saint Garment Museum¨Cthe only clothing museum in the whole city.


    Xylia had seen some short videos about this ce a while ago, and had been meaning toe by and see it for herself.


    But with everything going ontely, she¡¯d never actually found the time.


    Turns out Joshua actually remembered.


    Feeling moved, she reached over and took Joshua¡¯s hand herself.


    ¡°You¡¯re so sweet, she murmured,


    Joshua grinned, gave her hand a gentle squeeze in return, and led her inside the museum.


    The museum was tucked away on the outskirts of Norhill, sprawling across a vast stretch ofnd. It ranked among the top threergest museums in the city.


    Inside, the exhibits ranged from centuries past to recent times¨Cshowcasing garments from both local designers and international creators.


    Every outfit highlighted the most iconic traits of its era, each one telling the unique story of both its time and


    its wearer


    The museum wasn¡¯t crowded; most visitors wandered quietly, taking everything in at their own pace.


    Photos weren¡¯t allowed inside, so as Xylia and Joshua moved through the exhibits, the only thing they could hear <b>was </b>the low, scattered murmur of other people¡¯s conversations.


    Joshua leaned in close to Xylia, lowering his voice. ¡°I remember the theme for yourpetition this time <b>is </b>


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    ¡®elegance. I think elegance is more than just a person¡¯s temperament¨Cmaybe the depth of history here will spark your inspiration.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®If Joshua ever got into design, he¡¯d definitely make a fantastic designer.¡®


    She never doubted Joshua¡¯s taste.


    Xylia shot him a smile. ¡°You¡¯re a lifesaver.¡±


    Joshua chuckled, ¡°Let¡¯s talk reward after you get your muse back.¡±


    Who says I¡¯d actually reward you?¡® Xylia snarked to herself.


    Xylia gave his arm a teasing little twist, acting all coy as she flirted.


    She barely used any strength, but Joshua yed right along, dodging dramatically just to mess with her.


    Museums have a kind of magic about them¨Cno matter how stressed you were before stepping in, the weight of history all around just quiets your mind and brings you a sense of calm.


    Bit by bit, Xylia found herself rxing, and fresh ideas started bubbling up inside her.


    She took out her phone and started typing up the inspiration as it came.


    Whenever she got wrapped up in her design ideas, everything else around her faded into the background.


    As she wandered through the exhibits, she was mentally piecing together new concepts¨Cso focused she barely noticed time passing. When she snapped back to reality, Joshua was nowhere to be seen.


    ¡°Joshua?¡±


    Xylia called out softly.


    Xylia waited for a reply, but heard nothing.


    With a slight frown, she put away her phone, not noticing the message Joshua had left for her.


    She slipped out through a nearby side door, leaving the medieval costume disy behind and heading into


    the main hall.


    The crowd murmured all around, but Joshua was nowhere to be seen, making Xylia¡¯s nerves tighten just a bit.


    ¡®Where¡¯d he run off to? Xylia wondered, ncing around with a hint of nervousness.


    Only then did it ur to her¨Cshe should just call Joshua.


    But before she could even dial, a familiar voice called out to her from nearby.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler? Fancy bumping into you here!¡±


    Xylia turned around and was greeted by Richard¡¯s gentle smile. She couldn¡¯t help but raise her brows in


    8:40 Thu, Sep 25 <b>G</b>¡­


    surprise.


    ¡°Mr. Shaw? I didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡±


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    ¡°It¡¯s not often I get a day off,¡± Richard said with an easy smile. ¡°Just out stretching my legs, taking in the sights.¡±


    His voice was soft and gentle.


    Xylia nodded, answering his earlier question. ¡°I¡¯m here with my boyfriend. Just came to look around with him.¡±


    ¡®Boyfriend?¡® Richard thought, a flicker of coldness passing over his smile.


    Richard¡¯s smile grew noticeably colder.

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    Richard quickly buried the cold glint in his eyes, fixing Xylia with an easy, gentlemanly smile¨Cying the perfect gentleman.


    ¡°So, Ms. Sadler, I heard you¡¯ll bepeting in the international fashion event soon. Came here hunting for inspiration?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Xylia replied simply.


    ¡®Honestly, my mind is on Joshua right now,¡¯ Xylia thought, barely paying any real attention to Richard.


    Out of courtesy, Xylia chose not to prolong the conversation any further.


    Before Richard could get another word out, Xylia cut him off.


    ¡°Sorry, Mr. Shaw, I need to go find my boyfriend. Let¡¯s talk another time.¡±


    A sharp glint shed in Richard¡¯s eyes, but he quickly masked it.


    ¡°No worries, Ms. Sadler. There¡¯s no need for formalities¨Cjust call me Richard.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Then you can call me Xylia too.¡± She nodded with a polite smile and walked away.


    Xylia responded with a smile, gave Richard a nod, and was just about to leave.*


    But as she turned around, a museum staff member suddenly stopped her.*


    ¡°Excuse me, miss, could you wait a moment?¡°*


    Xylia turned toward the staff member. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡°*


    ¡°Were you just in the Medieval Costume Gallery?¡± the staff member asked.


    Xylia looked a little puzzled, but she gave an honest nod.


    Instantly, the staff member¡¯s face grew stern.


    ¡°Sorry to trouble you, miss, but we¡¯ve just discovered that one of the medieval court dresses in there has been deliberately damaged. I¡¯d need you to cooperate and let us do a quick check.¡±


    The staff member sounded unyielding, making Xylia knit her brows at her.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t damage any of the clothes here,¡± Xylia replied, her voice unwavering.


    None of the medieval costumes in the gallery were locked away in ss cases; they were just roped off with red cords to keep people from getting too close.


    Xylia hadn¡¯t even gone near them, much less touched or damaged anything.


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    She looked the staff member in the eye. ¡°Go ahead and check the security cameras if you want.¡±


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    The staff member shook her head. ¡°The cameras in there have been down sincest week, so we can¡¯t use them to clear your name right now.¡±


    Xylia was starting to get annoyed.


    ¡®Great, so there¡¯s no proof, and I¡¯m just supposed to take the me?¡® she thought.


    Just as she was about to say something, a deep male voice interrupted from nearby.


    ¡°So you¡¯re just going to use her without a single shred of evidence, since the cameras aren¡¯t working?¡±


    Richard stepped forward, giving the staff member a cold stare. ¡°If that¡¯s how you want to y it, we could take you to court for spreading lies.¡±


    Richard might have looked soft on the outside, but the air of authority he carried was impossible to ignore.


    Just a single sharp look and a few cool words¨Cand suddenly the staff knew this was not a guy you could mess with.


    The staff member hesitated for a moment.


    But even so, she kept her brow furrowed and wouldn¡¯t let Xylia leave.


    ¡°These museum pieces are way too valuable. Even if you take me to court, I¡¯m not dropping this until I find out what really happened.¡±


    Xylia had no option but to follow the staff member inside.


    Richard trailed behind.


    Once they were back in the gallery, Xylia spotted the dress she saw earlier.


    It was a stunning medieval court gown¨Cwide hoop skirt, tight bodice, cinched waist, the craftsmanship just exquisite. But now, the skirt had a jagged gash in it, sliced by something sharp, and the damage was in as day.


    Xylia thought back carefully before saying, ¡°When I saw the dress earlier, it waspletely intact. I¡¯m not carrying any des, so this wasn¡¯t me.¡±


    The staff member looked at her.


    ¡°How can you tell it was cut with a de?¡±


    Xylia shot her a look of exasperation. ¡°I¡¯m a fashion designer. Believe me¨Cwhen a dress gets sliced like this, I can tell right away.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re a designer. That just means you know all the tricks to secretly ruin a dress without anyone even noticing, huh<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


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    Xylia just red at the staff member, frustration simmering in her eyes.


    It was obvious this staff member just wanted to stick the me on her.


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    There hadn¡¯t been a soul inside earlier, and Joshua was nowhere to be seen¨Cshe didn¡¯t have a single witness to vouch for her.


    ¡°Go ahead and call the police. Damaging an artifact is a serious usation¨Cyou can¡¯t just p thatbel on me based on nothing but your own imagination,¡± Xylia said confidently, reaching for her phone.


    But before she could make the call, the staff member suddenly snatched her phone away.


    ¡°Hey, what do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Xylia shot at her, anger ring up.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± Xylia snapped, her eyes zing as she stepped forward, reaching out to grab her phone back.


    ¡®Unbelievable¡ªthis staffer actually snatched my phone!¡® Xylia fumed, feeling her anger boiling over.


    But the staff member just stepped back, holding the phone up in triumph. ¡°You broke our artifact and now you¡¯re trying to cause a scene? I¡¯m calling the curator¨Cdon¡¯t think you can talk your way out of this!¡±


    ¡°Give me my phone back, right now!¡± Xylia demanded furiously.


    Xylia took two urgent steps after her, ready to snatch her phone from the staff member¡¯s grip.


    The staff member backed up two steps, and Xylia missed entirely, grabbing at nothing.


    But Richard wasn¡¯t having it. He strode forward with purpose, snatching Xylia¡¯s phone straight out of the staff member¡¯s grip.


    Richard fixed the staff member with a piercing stare, ice cold andyered with threat. The chill in his eyes actually made her shrink back a little.


    ¡°You won¡¯t let her call the cops, but you¡¯re bringing in the curator instead? What, trying to pin this on her for your own convenience?¡± Richard¡¯s voice cut through the air, sharp and unforgiving.


    The staff member¡¯s gaze faltered, suddenly unable to meet his eyes.


    Richard shook off the staff member¡¯s grip and handed Xylia her phone.


    He moved to stand just ahead of Xylia, shielding her with a quietly protective stance.


    ¡°Xylia, call the police,¡± Richard urged, voice unwavering.


    Xylia barely reacted to the way Richard called her name. She pulled out her phone and dialed for help.


    Once she hung <b>up</b>, she finally noticed Joshua had messaged her.


    Joshua¡¯s message popped onto her screen: [Stepped out to take a call, be right back.]


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    He¡¯d sent it ten minutes earlier.


    :


    Just knowing Joshua had checked in put Xylia a little at ease.


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    She shot him a quick reply, asking if he wasing back soon¨Cbut when there wasn¡¯t any answer right away, she just slipped her phone back into her bag.


    By now, the staff member was shooting them a look full of icy resentment.


    But with both Xylia and Richard standing firm, she was clearly wary¨Ckeeping herself in check and not daring to make a move.


    The curator and Joshua showed up at the same time.


    Since the artifact had been damaged, the curator had already shut the museum down and was telling everyone that the cops were on their way, so nobody was allowed to leave until they¡¯d sorted things out.


    Word spread quickly, and groups of curious visitors started gathering outside the Medieval Costume Gallery to see what all the fuss was about.


    As soon as Joshua walked in, his eyesnded on Richard, and his expression instantly turned icy.


    ¡®He was acting all frail at my ce, and now he¡¯s suddenly right here at the museum with us?¡® Joshua thought, annoyance rising.


    ¡®Did he put <i>a </i>tracker on us or something?¡®


    All sorts of scenarios involving Richard¡¯s sneaky tactics shed through Joshua¡¯s mind, and his mood darkened even more.


    Without even ncing at Richard, Joshua strode straight over to Xylia, grabbing her arm and giving her a quick once¨Cover.


    ¡°What happened? Did you get hurt?¡± Joshua asked, his tone urgent and full of concern.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Xylia replied, giving Joshua¡¯s hand a reassuring squeeze.


    Then she quickly walked him through everything that had just gone down.


    Joshua turned a cold, stony gaze on the staff member, his eyes icy.


    Just as Joshua was about to speak, Richard¡¯s voice sliced through the silence¨Cicy cold andced with snide mockery.


    ¡°So you just ditch your girlfriend, don¡¯t even bother to check in with her, and then when she actually needs you, you¡¯re nowhere to be found? Pretty lousy boyfriend move, don¡¯t you think?¡±


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    Joshua¡¯s eyes grew cold as he listened to Richard. His icy gaze locked onto Richard, the message clear: ¡°Do you have a death wish?¡± Joshua thought.


    The air between them crackled with tension, a silent standoff brewing¨Cso intense it made the busted artifact seem trivial byparison.


    Xylia was taken aback when Richard suddenly made such a remark¡ªespecially since it was so pointed.


    Anyone could see his words were aimed directly at Joshua.


    ¡®Were things awkward when these two met earlier?¡® Xylia wondered.


    Xylia tightened her grip on Joshua¡¯s hand, turning to Richard and said, ¡°He had something urgent to take care of just now, but he reported it before leaving.¡±


    She shook her phone slightly, showing that there was a record to prove it.


    ¡°Honestly, that¡¯s not the issue here. What really matters is the damaged artifact,¡± Xylia said, redirecting the conversation.


    Xylia deliberately steered the discussion away from the confrontation and back to the real problem.


    Joshua finally broke his icy stare, stepped up beside Xylia, and shielded her from Richard¨Cmaking it clear he wasn¡¯t letting Richard get anywhere near her.


    The curator stood there, ring at the ruined garment. The longer he stared at the huge tear, the grimmer his expression became, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t hide the panic in his eyes.


    ¡°Pull up the surveince footage now! I want to know who dared mess with the museum¡¯s collection!¡± the curator snapped.


    The staffer shuffled nervously behind the curator. ¡°Curator, don¡¯t you remember? The cameras in this hall brokest week¨Cthey still haven¡¯t been fixed.¡±


    ¡°Then pull up the surveince from outside! I want to see exactly who walked in today!¡± the curator snapped.


    The staff member gulped and rushed off to carry out themand.


    The curator¡¯s frown was so deep it looked like he could pinch a fly between his brows. He nced over at Xylia and the others, fixing his gaze on Joshua.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Garcia. I¡¯ll make sure you get the answers you deserve, but I¡¯ll need your full cooperation with the investigation,¡± the curator said.


    Joshua nodded. ¡°Of course<b>, </b>Curator. We¡¯ll do whatever it takes to help.¡±


    The police showed up soon.


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    While the cops were checking out the scene, Xylia leaned in and quietly asked Joshua, ¡°Hey, you know the curator, right?<b>¡± </b>


    Joshua leaned in, his voice nearly inaudible by her ear. ¡°The Garcia Group put money into this museum.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡®So that¡¯s the connection!¡® she realized.


    After thinking for a bit, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What kind of call did you get just now? You were gone for ages!¡±


    She deliberately put on a pouty tone, halfining, half yfully using him of leaving her alone too long.


    Joshua immediately picked up on it, pulled her close, and murmured softly, ¡°Sorry about that. My assistant called¨Csomething went wrong with that project I¡¯m managing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the one in charge, and my dad doesn¡¯t know the details, so I had to handle it myself. It took longer than I thought. I¡¯m sorry for making you worry and leaving you here alone.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel a little guilty. Joshua had been sticking by her side all this time, barely even ncing at his work for the Garcia Group.


    Feeling a bit bad about it, she looked up at him and said softly, ¡°Maybe you should go back to work at thepany? I don¡¯t want you to fall behind because of me.¡±


    Joshua frowned slightly, about to say something, when the cops wrapped up their investigation.


    A police officer stepped up to Xylia and asked, ¡°The cameras caught you both entering the exhibit. When you were inside, was that garment still in one piece, or did you notice any damage?¡±


    Joshua walked in with Xylia, barely able to tear his eyes away from her for even a second.


    ¡®When she gets all serious and focused, she just blows me away,¡® Joshua thought, too mesmerized by Xylia to spare a nce at any of those artifacts.


    He couldn¡¯t take his eyes off Xylia, leaving it to her to answer the cop¡¯s question.


    Xylia nodded confidently. ¡°It was in perfect condition from the moment I walked in until I left.¡±


    The cop frowned, clearly skeptical. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡±


    ¡°Positive,¡± Xylia replied without hesitation.


    Xylia was so sure because she¡¯d been focused on that garment for most of the night.


    It had inspired her, so she¡¯d been paying extra close attention to it.


    With her photographic memory, there was no way she could¡¯ve gotten it wrong.


    The cop looked stumped.


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    ¡°Footage from the outside cameras shows you were thest person to leave. No one else went in after you. If that garment was still intact when you headed out, the timeline just doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± the cop pressed.


    ¡°What¡¯s the problem here?¡± Richard chimed in, sounding almost bored.


    His tone was nonchnt, like he couldn¡¯t care less about the whole mess.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t that staff guy head in after her?¡± Richard asked, nodding toward the staffer.


    He jerked his thumbzily in the direction of the nervous employee standing behind the curator.


    The staffer blurted out, ¡°This was clearly deliberate! I work here¨Cwhy would I ever damage the museum¡¯s artifacts?¡±


    ¡°You never know,¡± Richard replied, sounding casual. ¡°Some folks have some pretty dark motives. If you harbor a grudge against the curator, it¡¯s not out of the question you¡¯d do something like this.¡±


    The staffer¡¯s face flushed scarlet. ¡°Nonsense!¡± he snapped.


    No point in arguing here¨Cthe cops just went ahead and started grilling everyone one by one, hunting for clues.


    Richard lingered nearby with Xylia and Joshua, standing off to the side.


    Joshua stepped forward, nting himself squarely between Richard and Xylia, blocking Richard¡¯s view of herpletely.


    The cops acted fast¨Cbefore anyone knew it, they¡¯d already found the tool used to mess up the artifact and pinned the me squarely on the staffer as the culprit.


    As the cops escorted the staffer out, he nced back at Xylia, Joshua, and Richard, his eyes full of bitterness- like he just couldn¡¯t swallow what had happened.


    After all the chaos, the crowd finally cleared out.


    The curator walked over to Xylia, looking genuinely apologetic.


    ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry for all the trouble you never should¡¯ve had to deal with. As a small gesture from the museum, please ept this limited collector¡¯s edition of our collection book,¡± the curator said.


    Xylia epted the hefty volume from the curator with a grateful nod.


    The book was thick, packed with images of the museum¡¯s most ssic outfits.


    Xylia shed the curator a grateful smile, then headed out of the museum hand in hand with Joshua.


    All things considered, it wasn¡¯t a wasted trip after all.


    She was in high spirits now¨Cthe excitement had fully reced any lingering anger from being wrongly


    used.


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    When they got to the museum doors, Joshua stopped, turned, and shot an impatient look at Richard.


    ¡°Are you seriously going to trail us forever?¡± Joshua said, voice edged with annoyance.


    Xylia snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of Joshua¡¯s voice.


    Xylia stepped forward, noticing Richard right beside her. As she listened to Joshua, it was obvious he seemed to have a real problem with Richard.


    Just as she was about to speak, Richard shed her a friendly smile.


    ¡°Well, I won¡¯t keep you any longer. Goodbye, Xylia,¡± he said, his tone perfectly courteous.


    He made his farewell in an impressively gracious manner.


    Xylia smiled and said goodbye in return.


    Even after Richard was out of sight, Xylia could still feel that cold aura lingering around Joshua¨Cit was like the chill just wouldn¡¯t leave him.


    She looked at Joshua and asked, ¡°You said you ran into Richard this afternoon. Did something happen between you guys? Because honestly, the vibe between you two just feels seriously weird.¡±


    Joshua tightened his grip on Xylia¡¯s hand.


    ¡°My sixth sense is screaming¨Che¡¯s bad news,¡± Joshua said quietly, his voice edged with warning.


    Joshua was still keeping Richard¡¯s true identity a secret from Xylia. Richard was way too dangerous, too ruthless.


    Joshua worried that if Xylia found out, she¡¯d be scared out of her mind.


    So he needed to find some other way to keep her away from Richard.


    Joshua turned to Xylia, his gaze serious and protective. ¡°Xylia, trust me¨Cmy instincts are spot¨Con with stuff like this. Please, just keep your distance from him. If you ever see him, don¡¯t hesitate¨Cget as far away as you can. I mean it.¡±


    Xylia could tell just from the look in Joshua¡¯s eyes¨Che was dead serious, and the worry swirling in them wasn¡¯t something you could chalk up to just a hunch. This went way deeper, she realized; Joshua must have his own reasons for being so on edge.


    She was sure he wouldn¡¯t warn her for no reason. There had to be more to it.


    Xylia shed him a reassuring smile and nodded without hesitation. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do what you say,¡± she replied softly, feeling strangely relieved inside.

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    <b>Chapter </b>281


    Xylia stopped going to the office.


    58 Vouchery


    She needed to focus on the uing designpetition, so Josie suggested she stay home and concentrate on her drawings. Now that thepany was running smoothly, as the boss, Xylia could ck off for a <b>few </b>days.


    Xylia was grateful to Josie, and figured she should carve out some time to adjust the equity split and give Josie a bigger share.


    She spent several days just holed up in her apa


    Joshua was right there with her the whole time.


    They¡¯d been practically glued together for two months now, and honestly, neither of them seemed even a little bit tired of it.


    The afternoon sun nted through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, bathing Xylia in a golden outline as she worked at her drawing board.


    Joshua stepped into the patch of sunlight, moving quietly. His gaze lingered on the fluffy back of Xylia¡¯s head before drifting to the dress that had already taken shape on her sketchpad.


    Xylia had just wrapped up thest strokes and was staring hard at the design, her face shadowed with dissatisfaction.


    She¡¯d been working at it so long, but aside from a nagging sense that something felt off, she couldn¡¯t spot any real problem.


    She slumped a little, feeling deted.


    Joshua¡¯s voice suddenly piped up behind her, easy¨Cgoing as ever. ¡°How about we go out for a bit? Clear your head¨Cyou might just spot whatever¡¯s bugging you when we get back.¡±


    Xylia turned to face him. ¡°Did you notice anything off?¡±


    ¡®I didn¡¯t even say there was a problem, but he just somehow knew. He must¡¯ve noticed something! Xylia thought to herself.


    But Joshua kept his secrets, only grinning and reaching out to gently ruffle her hair. ¡°So, want to chill at home, or head out for a little adventure?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s shoulders were aching from hunching over her work.


    She mulled it over for a moment, then decided to go out.


    Being stuck in the apartment all day just wasn¡¯t cutting it.


    Suddenly, Hudson¡¯s race track popped into her mind. Her eyes lit up as she looked at Joshua.


    <b>6:58 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    ¡°Can you race?¡± she asked.


    195


    55 vouchers


    Joshua arched a brow, amusement flickering in his eyes.


    Two hourster, they showed up at Hudson¡¯s racing club.


    Hudson came out in person to greet Xylia, but when he caught sight of Joshua, his look was tinged with yful disdain.


    ¡°Why are you always tagging along behind my sister like her personal shadow?¡± Hudson joked.


    Joshua was not only unashamed by Hudson¡¯s teasing¨Che actually looked downright proud.


    Hezily draped his arm over Xylia¡¯s shoulders, boldly unting their couple vibe so much that Hudson instinctively kept his distance.


    ¡°Hey, sticking close to my wife isn¡¯t anything to be embarrassed about. If you¡¯re jealous, go find one for yourself to follow around,¡± Joshua quipped.


    Hudson¡¯s scowl just kept deepening, his fists bunching so tight you¡¯d think he was about to pop a vein.


    Honestly, it took everything in him not to just sock Joshua right then and there.


    Hudson shot Xylia a stiff sideways nce. ¡°Sis, seriously¨Che¡¯s only still standing because you¡¯re here.¡±


    Xylia burst outughing; watching Joshua mess with her brothers was aedy show all on its own.


    Xylia had been to the club before and had even helped out with the pit crew¡¯s race strategy, so everyone in the club was pretty chummy with her.


    ¡°Hey, sis! Perfect timing¨Cthere¡¯s a big race today. Come on in and watch!¡± someone shouted.


    Xylia and Joshua headed into the track together.


    Hudson¡¯s club was massive, with a racetrack winding dramatically around the mountains. Giant screens sted live footage as the cars ripped through the circuit, engines screaming at full throttle.


    The stands were packed to the brim, the audience going absolutely wild¨Cshouts and cheers filled the air, everyone losing their voices in the excitement and pure speed happening on the track.


    For a split second, Xylia found herself drawn right into the action, adrenaline surging and her heart thumping -she almost forgot all her worries.


    She turned to Hudson, about to say something.


    But Hudson shut her down before she could get a word out. ¡°No way. Don¡¯t even think about it.¡±


    His tone was strict, and Xylia just pouted¨Cshe hadn¡¯t even said anything yet!


    ¡°I know exactly what you¡¯re nning, but you¡¯ve only just recovered. You¡¯re not cleared to race,¡± Hudson said, making it clear he wasn¡¯t going to budge.


    <b>6:58 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    #yum


    He purposely turned his head so he wouldn¡¯t have to look at her pleading eyes¨Che knew if she gave him <b>that </b>innocent look, he might just cave and let her race.


    If anything happened to Xylia, he knew their parents would probablye back from the dead just to kick his ass<b>. </b>


    Joshua pointed at a sleek sports car parked on the track and asked Hudson, ¡°Is that your car?¡±


    Hudson nced over where Joshua was pointing¨Cthere it was, his race car, decked out in a slick ck¨Cand- gold paint job, sitting confidently at the starting line. The smooth, streamlined body made it look seriously cool.


    He nodded with unmistakable pride. ¡°Yep, that¡¯s my pride and joy.¡±


    Joshua nodded, asserting himself with unshakable confidence.


    ¡°Alright, this one¡¯s mine¨Clet me drive. I¡¯ll race on your behalf,¡± he dered.


    Hudson hesitated, reluctant to hand over his beloved car. But when he caught the sparkle in Xylia¡¯s eyes, he gave in and handed Joshua the keys.


    ¡°Just make sure you treat her right,¡± Hudson warned, unable to hide how much the car meant to him.


    ¡°Rx, I¡¯ve got this,¡± Joshua replied with a confident grin.


    Joshua and Xylia hopped into the car, and as soon as she got her seatbelt on, Joshua floored it¡ªthe car sted ahead, tearing down the track in a burst of adrenaline.


    That long¨Clost jolt of excitement surged through Xylia, washing away all the gloom she¡¯d been carrying.


    Joshua¡¯s racing skills were absolutely elite¨Cevery sharp turn, every burst of speed, he handled with effortless finesse. The ck¨Cand¨Cgold machine tore across the road, leaving only a streak of color in its wake.


    Hudson watched his car tearing up the track on the big screen, a wave of pride washing over him.


    ¡°Hudson, your brother¨Cinw-¡± one of his teammates started.


    The moment Hudson heard the word ¡°brother¨Cinw,¡± he shot the guy a cold, sharp look.


    The teammate quickly backpedaled, changing his tune.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia! I mean, Mr. Garcia! I¡¯ve never seen him on the track before, but damn, his skills are top¨Cnotch. If we could get him on our team, we¡¯d be unstoppable!¡±


    ¡°Yeah,e on Hudson¨Cif you asked, I bet Joshua would say yes, right?¡± one of the guys egged him on.


    As soon as someone brought it up, the rest of the crew joined in, all hyping Hudson up.


    Hudson just frowned, knowing they were all nervous about the big race overseas next month.


    ¡°You guys are the onespeting,¡± he said, ¡°So do it on your own strength. Put your heads down and train


    <b>6:58 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    hard.¡±


    It was obvious¨Che wasn¡¯t nning to drag Joshua into this.


    The guys all knew how stubborn Hudson could be¨Conce he made up his mind, there was no changing it. So they dropped the subject.


    One by one, the cars rolled up to the finish line. Joshua and Xylia came in second, the car gliding in with a wless, drifting stop.


    That stunt sent a wave of wild apuse crashing through the stands.


    You¡¯ve got to hand it to him¨Cthis was only a practice run, and Joshua started deadst, a full minute after the slowest car. But somehow, he crossed the line before anyone else.


    Right as everyone expected the camera to focus on the door of the ck¨Cand¨Cgold sports car, the shot abruptly panned elsewhere.


    From the stands, nobody could spot Joshua or Xylia anywhere.


    A woman stepped out of the car that finished first and walked straight over just as Joshua and Xylia¡¯s car came


    to a stop.


    She locked eyes with Joshua, her red lips curving into an enticing smile..


    ¡°Never seen anyone like you on this track before. Nice driving,¡± she said, her tone both admiring and <i>a </i>bit.petitive.


    In her eyes flickered a mix of appreciation and possessiveness.


    Xylia frowned, a hint of displeasure flickering in her eyes.


    Joshua gave the woman the cold shoulder, taking Xylia¡¯s hand and leading her away without a second thought. The woman¡¯s face fell the moment she realized they were holding hands¨Cwait, they were actually together?


    ¡®Did I seriously just flirt with him right in front of his girlfriend?¡® the woman thought, instantly mortified and wishing she could disappear.


    She gritted her teeth¨Cthis was hands down the most embarrassing thing she¡¯d ever experienced.


    <b>6:58 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>

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    <b>Chapter </b>282


    Joshua and Xylia walked over to Hudson, who shot Joshua a dismissive nce, making it clear he was trying <b>to </b>put him in his ce.


    Then, looking at Xylia, Hudson said, ¡°If you weren¡¯t injured, Joshua wouldn¡¯t even be able to touch you.¡±


    As Xylia¡¯s big brother,


    and as the brother of the racing legend everyone looked up to,


    there was no way Hudson would ever admit that Joshua could outshine his sister.


    Joshua thought to himself, ¡®Not sure where Hudson gets all that quirky pride from<b>, </b>but honestly, it¡¯s kind of adorable.¡®


    He shot Hudson azy nce, clearly couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t resist a grin at that.


    Xylia said, ¡°If I could get behind the wheel, there¡¯s no telling who¡¯de out on top.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t just being cocky¨CXylia could definitely hold her own on the track.


    She tilted her head towards Joshua, her gaze filled with an unmistakable mix of yful challenge and spoiled affection.


    Joshua indulgently pinched her cheek, the tenderness in his eyes nearly overflowing.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way I could ever beat you, baby,¡± he said, his voice full of doting warmth.


    It was like watching him flip a switch¨Chiszy, careless attitude vanished in an instant. When he looked down at her, every sharp edge about him softened, leaving only gentle affection.


    Hudson was already used to Joshua pulling this act, and honestly, he couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes¨Chis annoyance was practically written all over his face.


    But as soon as he saw how Joshua treated Xylia, Hudson suddenly felt pretty satisfied. Yeah, this was exactly the kind of attitude he wanted to see from the guy who was chasing his little sister.


    ¡®That¡¯s right,¡® Hudson thought, ¡®Show everyone loud and clear just how much you¡¯re head over heels for my sister!¡®


    Thinking about that, Hudson¡¯s whole vibe mellowed out when he nced at Xylia.


    Meanwhile, a few of his racing buddies off to the side couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit sour¨Cthey were basically getting force¨Cfed a whole bowl of puppy love.


    ¡®Man, this is kind of embarrassing,¡® Xylia thought to herself.


    <b>6:58 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    She nudged Joshua with her elbow and said to Hudson, ¡°Bro, we just came to check out the cars. We¡¯ve already had our fun on the track, so you guys go do your thing. We¡¯ll head up and catch the race for a bit.¡±


    Hudson didn¡¯t try to stop them.


    So Xylia grabbed Joshua¡¯s hand and led him up to the stands.


    They grabbed some seats, and all around them people were still hyped up and couldn¡¯t stop talking about the wild action from earlier.


    ¡°That guy in the ck and gold race car was insane! He was trailing way behind, but somehow managed to overtake everyone right at the finish!¡± someone said, cyes wide in disbelief.


    ¡°Seriously! No one even knows who it was¨Cjust as the camera was about to catch a glimpse of the driver getting out, it switched away the second the door opened!¡± another personined.


    ¡°That drives me nuts! Who¡¯s messing with the camera? Someone needs to dock their pay!¡± someone grumbled.


    ¡°1


    77


    Xylia leaned in close to Joshua and whispered, ¡°Looks like Mr. Garcia¡¯s charm is as irresistible as ever.¡±


    ¡°So, have you surrendered to my charm yet, Ms. Sadler?¡± Joshua teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.


    Xylia nodded decisively. ¡°I gave in a long time ago.¡±


    It was just a casual reply, but Joshua felt totally over the moon inside.


    They shared a few lighthearted words before turning their eyes back to the race.


    For the rest of the afternoon, Xylia kicked back in the stands, totally caught up in the adrenaline and thrill of the race.


    She¡¯d been stressed out for days over that design, but now, watching the action unfold, all the pent¨Cup frustration finally melted away.


    Meanwhile, with Grace in charge, the National Dance Association wasted no time investigating all those years Tessa kept snagging the lead dancer spot for herself.


    Just like the inte had guessed, Tessa didn¡¯t exactly y fair whennding that top job.


    Whenever the lead dancer was up for grabs, Tessa would secretly stir up trouble for every contender behind closed doors.


    Her tactics included everything from straight¨Cup cash bribes to organizing intimidation squads¨Cand sometimes, she¡¯d go totally ruthless, making sure her rivals had zero chance, just like she did to Xylia.


    The deeper Grace dug, the more it blew her mind.


    <b>6:58 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep 26 </b>


    CA


    She never imagined her own student could cross so many lines and do things like this right under her nose,


    Grace¡¯s heart ached so bad she almost couldn¡¯t breathe.


    After working with the officials to get the statement out, Grace holed up at home for days, too drained to deal with anyone.


    She was in aplete slump, the whole ordeal had really knocked the wind out of her.


    When Xylia got the news, she was really anxious.


    She knew Grace was all about feelings¨Cno matter how Tessa turned out, in Grace¡¯s mind, she was still her student, first and foremost.


    Seeing her own student do something so cruel, Grace was bound to feel guilty and me herself for it.


    Xylia called her grandmaster and invited the old couple to Norhill for a little change of scenery.


    But her grandmaster told her that Grace had fallen ill and was already hospitalized.


    Xylia was really anxious and tried to book a flight to Jupiton that very night.


    But all the night flights were sold out.


    Joshua tried to calm her down.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already booked us tickets for tomorrow morning. We¡¯ll head back together,¡± he said.


    With Joshua reassuring her every step of the way, Xylia found herself slowly settling down¨Ctaking things one at a time, her mind gradually at ease.


    She shot Kaden a quick message, wrapped up what needed to be handled at work, ande sunrise, she and Joshua were on a ne to Jupiton, ready to face whatever came next.


    Meanwhile, Richard learned from Noelle about Xylia¡¯s ex¨Chusband and his son.


    Richard couldn¡¯t help but find the whole thing amusing.


    When he found out that Xylia and Joshua had flown to Jupiton early in the morning, he reached out to his contacts there and decided to follow them.


    Richard shot Holt a chilling look, his eyes shing with an almost predatory glint of excitement Holt had never seen before.


    ¡°Honestly, who would¡¯ve thought Joshua would go for used goods? That¡¯s a terrible habit¨Csomeone¡¯s got to knock some sense into him,¡± Richard scoffed.


    Holt asked Richard how he nned to do that.


    Richard looked at him like he¡¯d lost his mind. ¡°Simple¡ªI¡¯m gonna snatch Xylia away. If someone as picky as Joshua thinks she¡¯s worth it, she¡¯s gotta have something special going on. I need to see for myself.¡±


    <b>6:58 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    Holt was silent,


    ¡°Didn¡¯t Burke work with Connor before?¡± Richard asked, squinting.


    Holt gave a nod.


    Richard went on, ¡°Try to get in touch¨Conce we hit Jupiton, I¡¯m not just gonna sit around twiddling my thumbs. I don¡¯t want Joshua thinking I¡¯m only here to tail him.¡±


    ¡°Burke¡¯s been off the grid for ages. As soon as wend, I¡¯ll hit up Connor,¡± Holt replied.


    Richard shot Holt a nce. ¡°Burke¡¯s missing?¡±


    Holt nodded, all business. ¡°Based on my research, odds are, Joshua¡¯s got him.¡±


    Richard gave a quick, dryugh. ¡°Mr. Garcia never disappoints.¡±


    ÁÐ


    As soon as Xylia and Joshuanded, they headed straight to the hospital.


    Grace was really starting to feel her agetely, and after all the stress from everything with Tessa, her body just couldn¡¯t take it anymore¨Cshe ended up fainting.


    By the time Xylia got there, Grace had been in the hospital for two days and was already on the mend.


    She still looked a little pale, though.


    Xylia set the flower basket she¡¯d brought on the bedside table and looked at Grace, worry written all over her face.


    ¡°How are you feeling now, Grace?¡± Xylia asked softly.


    When Grace saw Xylia, her lips curled into a gentle smile. ¡°I¡¯m doing much better now. You two came such a long way just to see me¨Cthank you.¡±


    ¡°Grace,e on, don¡¯t say that. Once someone¡¯s your teacher, they¡¯re family for life. There¡¯s no need for those formal words between us,¡± Xylia replied warmly.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Grace said, her voice softening.


    Perhaps seeing another one of her star students helped ease some of the pain she¡¯d been carrying.


    She looked a lot better than she had the past couple of days.


    Grace took Xylia¡¯s hand and let out a sigh. ¡°I always thought Tessa was just a bit too eager to climb thedder, but I never imagined she¡¯d go this far.¡±


    <b>6:58 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>

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    <b>Chapter </b><b>283 </b>


    Xylia stayed silent.


    She actually knew way back that Tessa was no angel. Back when they were with the Schultz family, Tessa <b>was </b>always scheming against her, sometimes right to her face, sometimes behind the scenes.


    If someone had told her before that Tessa would go so far¨Churting others and even herself for the sake of power in an official position¨Cshe¡¯d have been totally shocked. But now? It just felt normal.


    Back when Tessa pushed Connor and Maddox to pin the hit¨Cand¨Crun on Xylia, her only goal was to keep Xylia out of the lead dancer finals.


    Tessa was downright vicious¨Cshe never left anybody a way to save themselves. ¡®With someone like her, Xylia thought, ¡®there¡¯s nothing left that could surprise me.¡¯


    Grace gently grabbed Xylia¡¯s hand, her expression a mix of worry and hesitation. ¡°Xylia<b>, </b>can you drop by the jail and see Tessa for me? I need you to pass a message to her.¡±


    Xylia paused for a couple seconds, then said, ¡°Grace, what exactly do you want me to tell her?¡±


    Grace visibly rxed when she saw Xylia agree, but at the same time, she couldn¡¯t help feeling guilty for having to ask her for this favor. ¡°Thank you, Xylia.¡±


    They¡¯d just arrived in Jupiton, and Joshua¡¯s car was still parked at the Garcia family¡¯s ce.


    The two of them took a cab to the police station.


    Joshua frowned and said to Xylia, ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t think you should go see Tessa.¡±


    Xylia turned to Joshua, a small smile ying on her lips.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s about time I saw her when she¡¯s at her lowest.¡±


    Joshua shook his head. ¡°Honestly, just setting eyes on someone like her makes me feel gross. If Grace hadn¡¯t asked, you wouldn¡¯t even bother with her.¡±


    Xylia yfully scratched Joshua¡¯s palm, her smile not fading one bit.


    ¡°Grace didn¡¯t really beg me,¡± Xylia replied, letting out a soft sigh. ¡°She¡¯s the type who genuinely cares for every student, invests so much heart in all of us. With Tessa ending up like this¨Cnot showing much on the outside, but inside, Grace¡¯s heart must be shattered.¡±


    Joshua couldn¡¯t bear seeing Xylia act all strong. He just wrapped her up in his arms.


    He muttered, ¡°Grace could always wait till she¡¯s feeling better and go see Tessa herself.¡±


    Hearing Joshua grumble right by her ear, Xylia justughed. ¡°Rx, it¡¯s just a visit to Tessa. Think of it as me


    <b>6:58 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    taking a little victoryp.¡±


    For a moment, Joshua felt a wild urge to lock Xylia away in his own world, never letting anyone else even <b>get </b>


    close.


    In his heart, he wanted her to be entirely his, and for him topletely belong to her.


    It was like, from now on, nothing and no one existed but the two of them¨Ctheir entire world was just each other.


    He tightened his arms around her, pulling her even closer.


    Half an hourter.


    Xylia entered the visitation room by herself.


    Tessa, dressed in prison clothes, sat down across from her.


    She¡¯d been in jail for a while now, and it showed. She looked thin, worn out, andpletely defeated- nothing like the confident lead dancer she used to be.


    Xylia had figured Tessa would totally lose it and go off the rails the moment they met.


    But Tessa barely spared her a nce¨Cjust cold and dismissive¨Cthen wordlessly picked up the phone on the table.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been stuck in here a while,¡± Tessa started, her voice low and almost hollow, like she¡¯d already given up on life. ¡°I thought the first person to visit me would be my parents, maybe Ziggy, or even Connor. Never once did it cross my mind that it¡¯d be you.¡±


    Not moved in the slightest¨Cthe smirk on her lips was dripping with mockery.


    Xylia just stared at her, totally indifferent. Not a shred of sympathy for Tessa¨Cthis was the ending she¡¯d always deserved.


    ¡°I didn¡¯te here because I wanted to,¡± Xylia said, her tone t. ¡°If Grace hadn¡¯t asked me to deliver a message, I wouldn¡¯t have even given you another nce.¡±


    As she spoke, her eyes shed briefly with impatience.


    To Tessa, that attitude screamed superiority¨CXylia acting like she was sitting on a pedestal, looking down on her.


    But now, Tessa no longer had the right to be arrogant like before.


    ¡°Grace?¡± Tessa sneered, her voice thick with contempt.


    ¡°Grace?¡± Tessa pressed, a mocking look on her face. ¡°What, already forgot how you were teaming up with your groupies in Norhill to throw shade at her? Now you act like it never even happened?¡±


    Tessa red at Xylia, obviously annoyed at her attitude.


    <b>6:59 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    Xylia didn¡¯t even bother acknowledging her reaction¨Cshe couldn¡¯t care less.


    ???) ?


    ¡°Grace asked me to <b>pass </b>on a message,¡± Xylia said coolly. ¡°She¡¯s mentored tons of students and always thought she could judge people right. Turns out she was wrong about you. So from now on, don¡¯t bother calling her your teacher¨Cthe connection¡¯s cut.¡±


    With that, Tessa finally snapped. ¡°No way! You¡¯re making this up to mess with me!¡±


    She mmed her hand on the table, her voice turning shrill.


    All this time locked up, Tessa kept getting ditched¨Cagain and again, everyone turned their backs on her.


    She kept wishing her parents would swoop in and save her, hoping Ziggy woulde, maybe even Connor- anyone, really.


    But inside that cold, windowless cell, she kept waiting and waiting¡­ and all she got was silence.


    Little by little, her hope just dried up and she finally got it¨Cnobody wasing for her. She was truly on her


    own now<b>. </b>


    Now, hearing that even Grace was severing all ties with her, it felt like the final blow¨Cthest straw crushing her heart, leaving Tessa gasping for air, almost unable to breathe beneath the weight of it all.


    ¡°Xylia, you nasty bitch! If you¡¯re just here to watch me fall, go ahead and say it! How dare you make up crap about Grace ever caring about me? You¡¯re such a shameless loser, an absolute joke!¡± Tessa spat out, her voice trembling with fury.


    Tessa was shouting into the phone, her emotions spiraling out of control.


    Xylia stared calmly through the ss at Tessa, unbothered and cold. Tessa¡¯s once¨Cgorgeous face was wrecked -every trace of beauty ground away by her fury, twisted up into a mask of rage as she howled at the world.


    She looked less like a fallen star and more like a monster, torn straight out of the darkness¨Cscreaming, rabid, losing all control.


    Xylia¡¯s mind drifted back to those months she¡¯d spent in prison, remembering how the people who tormented her felt just like this¡ªdark beasts ripped out from the void, sinking their teeth into her soul, gnawing at her every nerve without mercy.


    Among those monsters, Tessa stood out. And so did Connor and his son, Maddox.


    ¡°Message delivered. What you do now is up to you,¡± Xylia said, her tone cool and detached.


    She set the phone down with calm finality.


    The sound of Tessa¡¯s furious screams was sealed off by the ss.


    Without another nce at Tessa, Xylia turned and strode out of the visitation room.


    Joshua was waiting outside for Xylia. As soon as he spotted her, he practically sprinted to her side, like he couldn¡¯t wait a second longer.


    <b>6:59 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    Joshua asked eagerly, ¡°All done?¡±


    Xylia shed a smile, looking totally chill¨Cclearly, whatever had just happened inside hadn¡¯t touched her mood at all.


    ¡°All done. Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± she said breezily


    Joshua reached out and softly ran his hand through Xylia¡¯s hair, then took her hand so they could walk out together.


    They didn¡¯t go back to the hospital. They just called Grace to let her know everything was taken <b>care </b>of.


    They¡¯d only just arrived in Jupiton, so they still had to get themselves sorted out.


    Xylia didn¡¯t have a home of her own in Jupiton anymore.


    So Joshua brought her straight to the Garcia family¡¯s estate.


    This luxurious European¨Cstyle mansion sat halfway up the hillside, looking almost untouched by time. Even if no one was living there, staff kept everything immacte all year round.


    The Sadler family¡¯s ce had that timeless style courtyard vibe¨Cfull of traditional elegance¨Cwhile the Garcia estate was all about modern design and high¨Cend luxury.


    ¡®Why do I feel so uneasy?¡® Xylia thought, ncing up at the fancy mansion looming ahead, her nerves buzzing.


    Right before they stepped through the gates, she reached out and gripped Joshua¡¯s hand tight.


    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s alright for me to crash here?¡± she blurted out, a little flustered. ¡°Maybe I should just book a hotel instead?<b>¡± </b>


    Joshua nced down at her, his dark eyes shadowed with emotions she couldn¡¯t quite decipher.


    He leaned in, his breath brushing softly against her neck.


    ¡°Babe, I¡¯ve already spent the night at your ce. For us, crashing at my ce is perfectly normal,¡± he said, voice soft.


    ¡°That¡¯s totally different!¡± Xylia said, her voice tinged with nervousness.


    It¡¯s not like Xylia was being pickyst time Joshua crashed at her ce, he was drunk out of his mind. But now, with his parents gone and her just moving in with him? It felt way too weird, almost like she was stepping over a line.


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    <b>Chapter </b>284


    Joshua had a pretty good idea of what Xylia was thinking. He paused to consider.


    ¡°How about I call my mom and let her know you¡¯re staying over, just so it¡¯s not a surprise?¡± Joshua suggested.


    ¡°We¡¯re already at the doorstep¨Cit doesn¡¯t really make sense to go all the way down and book a hotel now, right?¡±


    The Garcia family¡¯s estate was nestled halfway up the mountain, and it had taken them a while to get there. Driving back down to the city would take even longer.


    Xylia thought Joshua¡¯s suggestion made sense, so she called Eliza to ask if it was okay for her to stay the night at the Garcia estate.


    Eliza picked up right away, her voice full of warmth and energy.


    ¡°Xylia, don¡¯t be so formal with us! You¡¯re always wee to stay. After all, this <b>is </b>going to be your home one day, so stay as long as you want!¡±


    Xylia felt her cheeks warm at Eliza¡¯s words. ¡®I¡¯ve thought about a future with Joshua, but we¡¯re not nning on getting married yet¡­ Eliza treats me like I¡¯m already her daughter¨Cinw. It¡¯s a little embarrassing,¡® Xylia mused.


    After she hung up, Joshua cocked an eyebrow at her, giving her a knowing, teasing look.


    ¡°So, you can settle in without stressing now, right?¡± Joshua teased.


    Joshua held Xylia¡¯s hand, leading her inside the estate side by side.


    The ce was huge, but Joshua didn¡¯t bother with the golf cart. Instead, they strolled together along the white stone path, heading straight for the main house.


    By dusk, the setting sun bathed the whole estate in a golden glow. Behind them, their shadows stretched long and close, weaving together on the ground¨Csometimes merging, sometimes intertwining¨Cas if the waning light wanted to capture the quiet affection between them.


    Night had fallen.


    Xylia sat on a chaise lounge in the middle of the greenhouse, the faint scent of blossoms drifting in the gentle


    air.


    Above her, the ss dome gave an unbroken view of the star¨Cfilled sky¨Cthe flowers below dazzling in vibrant color, as ifpeting with the brilliance above. With the night air fragrant and the garden aglow, sweetness and tranquility wrapped warmly around her, settling her heart.


    Joshua walked in carrying two sses of juice, setting them on the small table between their lounge chairs.


    ¡°Here, have some juice¨Cgotta keep your Vitamin C up,¡± Joshua said with azy smile.


    <b>6:59 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    ¡°Thanks, Xylia replied, taking a ss and sipping from it,


    Xylia took the ss and started drinking.


    Joshua settled into the chair next to her, and they both looked up at the same sky.


    Joshua, did your parents pick out all the flowers in this greenhouse?¡± Xylia asked.


    Joshua nodded. ¡°I¡¯m not really into this stuff, but my mom loves it.¡±


    As Joshua spoke, bits and pieces of old memories came flooding back, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    He continued, ¡°This spot used to be a tea room¨Cmy grandfather had it built back in the day. But since my mom is crazy about flowers, and some of them need the perfect temperature, my dad went ahead and turned the tea room into a study. Eventually, it became this greenhouse.¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t run it by my grandfather, though. Grandpa was so furious he nearly went after my dad¡¯s legs with his cane.¡±


    Xylia hardly ever heard Joshua open up about his family.


    She just sat there quietly, letting Joshua talk.


    Joshua spoke for quite a while, sharing story after story.


    Joshua recalled how his dad spent two months prepping the greenhouse as a surprise for his mom, but when he finally brought her in, a swarm of bees crashed the party and left his dad¡¯s face so puffy he looked like he¡¯d gone a few rounds with a boxing glove.


    He talked about how his mom loved to travel, and no matter how hectic his work got, he always managed to carve out time to take her exploring new ces.


    He even shared that after he was born, his dad refused to hold him for a whole month¨Cjust because the delivery had been rough and somehow, his dad held a grudge against a literal newborn for making it so dramatic.


    The greenhouse was quiet, save for the soft rustle of leaves and the distant hum of the night.


    Joshua¡¯s voice was deep and soft, like slow notes drifting in the air.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but weave these images together in her mind.


    She pictured how Aaron, always so stern and reserved, might have devoted himself to nting flowers for the woman he loved, let down his guard and embarrassed himself in her presence, or been moved to tears by the pain she endured during childbirth.


    Love is never simple.


    But with Joshua¡¯s parents, it became something pure and uplicated.


    <b>6:59 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    ¹ú


    Growing up surrounded by that kind of love, Joshua just naturally learned how to care for someone <b>with </b><b>all </b>


    his heart.


    Xylia shifted onto her side, her dark eyes quietly soaking in every detail of Joshua right in front of her,pletely caught up in the moment.


    The warm glow from the greenhouse painted Joshua¡¯s face with soft golden light. Xylia¡¯s eyes traced his perfect profile¨Cthe golden lines outlining his strong features, his tall nose casting a gentle shadow, and those feather¨Clightshes quivering ever so slightly.


    Right then, Xylia¡¯s inner fangirl totally took over; she was helplessly mesmerized by his looks.


    ¡°This face¨Cso breathtaking anyone would do a double take¨Cand yet, he¡¯s all mine, Xylia thought with a hint of pride.


    As Xylia¡¯s eyelids grew heavy, she let herself sink into the peaceful warmth of the greenhouse, the quiet night and Joshua¡¯s soothing voice weaving around her until she slipped softly into sleep.


    She drifted off with a gentle, happy smile still resting on her lips.


    When Xylia woke up the next morning, she found herself lying in a huge bed, wrapped in luxuriously soft silk sheets.


    The spot beside her was empty now, but the lingering warmth told her Joshua had only just left.


    He must¡¯ve just gotten up.


    Her thoughts were still lingering aroundst night, wrapped up in the warmth of Joshua¡¯s parents¡® love story, where she¡¯d drifted off to sleep with a smile.


    ¡®Joshua must¡¯ve carried me back here¡­ Xylia guessed to herself, tracing her fingers over the still¨Cwarm sheets beside her.


    She let her mind drift for a few seconds before finally getting out of bed.


    The staff around the estate hadn¡¯t slowed down for a moment¨Cnow that Joshua was back, there seemed to be even more for them to do.


    When Xylia went downstairs, Joshua was nowhere to be seen.


    One of the staff told her he was in the study.


    Xylia knew he had work to take care of, so she let him be.


    After breakfast, she brought herptop into the living room and got to work.


    Amidst the emails in Xylia¡¯s inbox was a coboration invitation from Prairie Rose, the renowned international fashion house.


    ¡®Wait, is this really from Prairie Rose?¡® Xylia wondered, briefly stunned by surprise¨Cthen excitement bubbled up and she hurriedly opened the message.


    <b>6:59 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    [Dear Ms. Sadler, my name is Lily Evans and I¡¯m the creative director at Prairie Rose. For our uing season, we¡¯re unveiling a bridal collection themed around ¡°Love¡°-and we¡¯d love to invite you and your studio to coborate with us on this special project. We truly hope to work together and look forward to <b>your </b>reply.l


    Prairie Rose was an absolute giant in the fashion world¨Calways in the top three internationally, no less. <b>Xylia </b>could barely keep her hands steady as she stared at the email, heart racing.


    <b>Her </b>studio had only been around for half a year, just getting started.


    An invitation from Prairie Rose? Honestly, she never even let herself imagine something like this could happen.


    After double¨Cchecking that the email really came from Prairie Rose¡¯s official address, Xylia could barely contain herself as she rushed to break the news to Josie.


    Josie replied with a barrage of exmation marks.


    Secondster, her phone lit up¨CJosie was calling.


    ¡°Prairie Rose! It¡¯s Prairie Rose, Xylia¨Cwe¡¯ve made it!¡± Josie squealed in excitement, her voice practically bouncing off the walls.


    Josie couldn¡¯t hide her excitement¨Cit was written all over her face and in her voice.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes got a little misty from how overwhelmed she felt.


    ¡°We have to grab this chance,¡± Xylia said, her voice trembling with excitement. ¡°If our studio coborates with Prairie Rose on their newest bridal line, we won¡¯t just make a name for ourselves in the Norhill anymore- we¡¯ll finally get recognized internationally.¡±


    ¡°Exactly! The creative director mentioned our studio in the email¡ªwe have to nail this coboration and make it unforgettable!¡± Josie agreed, practically bouncing with excitement.


    ¡°I¡¯ll reply to her right away,¡± Xylia said, already thinking ahead. ¡°Once the coboration is confirmed, we¡¯ll n out the rest. For the next three months, let¡¯s pause taking most new orders and free up our designers¡® schedules¨Cthis one is going to be our biggest challenge yet.¡±


    ¡°Got it, leave it to me!¡± Josie replied, her voice full of determination.


    Once everything was sorted, Xylia shot off an email reply to Lily, her fingers flying across the keyboard in excitement.


    The two quickly added each other on contacts and locked in their partnership. As for all the nitty¨Cgritty details, they decided to hash it out in an online call scheduled for tomorrow morning.


    After everything was settled, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but smile even wider.


    She could almost see her brand sparkling on the global stage in the future, making a name for itself all around the world.


    Meanwhile, Joshua walked straight out of the study and made his way to the bedroom.


    <b>6:59 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    ¡®She was so tired yesterday¡ªI bet she¡¯s still sleeping,¡® Joshua thought to himself, expecting Xylia to be out cold well into the morning.


    But when he arrived, the bed was perfectly made and Xylia was nowhere to be seen¨Cshe was already up and moving.


    Joshua headed downstairs and found Xylia in the kitchen.


    Xylia was happy as a m, humming a tune as she simmered a pot of chicken soup¨Cthe joy practically radiating from her.


    Ìï

 Tricked 285

    <b>Chapter </b><b>285 </b>


    The kitchen was filled with the scent of chicken soup.


    Joshua walked in, eyebrows furrowed, and snatched the spoon right out of Xylia¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I say you weren¡¯t allowed in the kitchen?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was cold, his expression stormy with anger.


    Xylia tried to defend herself, ¡°It¡¯s just now and then. It¡¯s no big deal, right?¡±


    She thought Joshua was making a mountain out of a molchill. She knew her way around a kitchen, and it wasn¡¯t like she¡¯d never set foot in here again.


    Joshua¡¯s irritation only grew when he saw her attitude.


    ¡°In this family, women don¡¯t do kitchen duty. From now on, don¡¯t you even think abouting in here,¡± he snapped.


    With that, he shoved Xylia out of the kitchen.


    Xylia wasn¡¯t about to back down. ¡°But I was just making some nourishing chicken soup for Grace. Is that really a problem?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what the servants are for. And if worstes to worst, if I¡¯m home, you could¡¯ve just asked me to do it instead,¡± Joshua shot back.


    ¡°But you¡¯re busy with work, and making the soup myself shows how much I care,¡± Xylia argued.


    Xylia snapped back.


    It wasn¡¯t even about the soup, really. Xylia just couldn¡¯t ept how Joshua was always so bossy, insisting on keeping her out of the kitchen no matter what.


    ¡®No way I¡¯m spending the rest of my life banned from the kitchen, Xylia grumbled inwardly, her defiance burning even stronger.


    ¡°I said no,¡± Joshua repeated, his voice sharp with frustration.


    Joshua¡¯s face was stormy, his words dripping with raw emotion.


    Xylia fixed her gaze on him, refusing to back down.


    An uneasy silence settled between them, with sparks of anger flickering just beneath the surface.


    They didn¡¯t say a single word to each other all the way to the hospital where they went to see Grace.


    This was the very first fight they¡¯d ever had since bing a couple.


    And it was nothing but a silly argument about whether Xylia was allowed in the kitchen.


    <b>6:59 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    ¼°´¨Ò°


    When they arrived at the hospital, Xylia grabbed the chicken soup from Joshua, head down and refusing to speak, her stubbornness written all over her face as she marched ahead.


    Joshua watched her walk away, his face clouded with gloom, and he kept silent too.


    It wasn¡¯t until they stepped into Grace¡¯s hospital room that Xylia¡¯s smile finally returned.


    ¡°Grace, how are you feeling today?¡± Xylia asked gently.


    Grace¡¯s face lit up when she saw Xylia.


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling so much better! But you really didn¡¯t have to make chicken soup and bring it all the way here¡ªit¡¯s such a hassle for you,¡± Grace said, clearly touched.


    ¡°How could making chicken soup for you ever be a hassle?¡± Xylia replied with a genuine smile. ¡°Here, give it a taste and see if you like it.¡±


    By the time Joshua had kicked her out of the kitchen, the soup was almost done.


    Seriously, the only thing Joshua actually did was toss some chopped scallions on top when hedled out the


    soup.


    Joshua followed Xylia into the room and greeted Grace warmly.


    Grace¡¯s gaze drifted between the two of them. On the surface, they seemed perfectly friendly, both sporting polite smiles, but she could instantly pick up on the chilly tension hanging between them.


    Grace saw right through it. ¡®Yep, these two just had a fight,¡® she thought.


    She let out a helpless little sigh and gave a wan smile. ¡®Young couples¨Cguess dramaes with the territory.


    Grace couldn¡¯t quite figure out what could¡¯ve gotten under Xylia¡¯s skin. Xylia was always known for her gentle, easygoing nature¨Cwhat on earth could have made her lose her temper this time?


    Grace nced at Joshua, her smile full of maternal warmth.


    ¡°Joshua, my husband went home to grab me some fresh clothes, and if I¡¯m not mistaken, he should be back anytime now. Could you please go downstairs and meet him for me?¡±


    Joshua nodded and quietly walked out of the room.


    As he left, Joshua¡¯s gaze lingered on Xylia for a moment. Seeing herpletely ignore him, his expression sank even deeper¨Che could feel that familiar frustration simmering inside.


    Once Joshua was out of the room, Xylia¡¯s shoulders finally loosened up, but she still couldn¡¯t hide how down she felt.


    Grace took it all in, not missing a thing.


    She slowly sipped the chicken soup. ¡°It¡¯s been ages, Xylia. You¡¯ve really gotten even better at this.¡±


    <b>6:59 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    Grace¡¯s words snapped Xylia back to reality.


    Xylia realized what Grace was saying, and forced out a smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m d you like it,¡± Xylia replied.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Is </b>this your handiwork, or did Joshua cook it?¡± Grace teased, her tone warm and yful.


    At the mention of Joshua, Xylia¡¯s smile dropped in an instant.


    ¡°I made it,¡± Xylia muttered after a pause, her tone dull. ¡°Joshua just sprinkled a few scallions on top, that¡¯s about it.¡±


    There was still a sulky edge in her voice¨Canyone could tell she was holding onto that grudge.


    Grace set her bowl aside and gave Xylia a knowing smile. ¡°So, you guys had a spat?¡±


    Xylia stayed quiet for a couple of seconds.


    But the annoyance was already simmering inside her, and with Grace being her old teacher, she just couldn¡¯t keep it bottled up any longer. She finally let it all pour out in a rush.


    By the time she was done, Xylia couldn¡¯t hide how upset she was, her words turning into a string ofints.


    ¡°Grace, do you think Joshua is just being petty? Am I seriously supposed to never step foot in a kitchen again?¡± she grumbled, frustration clear in her voice.


    Grace listened patiently, letting Xylia vent all her frustrations. Once she¡¯d finished, Grace let out a soft chuckle, unable to resist poking a little fun.


    ¡°Seriously, are you trying to throw all this lovey¨Cdovey stuff in the face of someone my age?¡± Grace teased yfully.


    ¡°Come on, Grace!¡± Xylia protested, her tone half sulky, half embarrassed.


    Xylia gave Grace a mock¨Cusing re.


    She knew if she told anyone else about this, people would just say she was humblebragging.


    After all, Joshua treated her like a queen¨Che wouldn¡¯t even let her lift a finger in the kitchen. Where on earth could she find another man so ridiculously doting?


    But honestly, Xylia felt he was taking it a little too far.


    Back in Norhill, any time she set foot in the kitchen, Joshua would burst in and practically drag her out, all bossy urgency and no patience.


    She¡¯d always felt a flicker of annoyance in her heart, but she¡¯d just kept it to herself.


    Now, though, all that bottled¨Cup frustration finally came out.


    <b>6:59 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>26


    (95)


    Be vouchers


    And seriously, if they were butting heads over something this trivial, who¡¯s to say what other drama might pop up once they actually tie the knot?


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but let her thoughts run wild¨Cgetting all pessimistic in a sh, her heart twisting into knots, aching quietly inside.


    Grace reached out and held Xylia¡¯s hand, her voice warm and tender. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell? Joshua just can¡¯t bear to see you run yourself ragged.¡±


    Xylia nced up at Grace, eyes wide, silent.


    ¡°All those years you were married to Connor, you spent so much time working away in the kitchen. You always said Joshua pulled you out of that exhausting life. But you should realize, while he was helping you, how much his heart ached for you every step of the way.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s mind drifted back to the first time Joshua had cooked for her.


    Back then, she was still married to Connor, suffering under the Ford family¡¯s harsh treatment.


    Joshua would stubbornly refuse to let her go near the kitchen, always saying it was no ce for women.


    At the time, Xylia had been deeply touched.


    But now, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder¨Cwhy did that sense of being moved fade away?


    But now, she was actually getting mad at Joshua for being so stubborn?


    Xylia frowned, starting to seriously question herself¨Chow had things changed to this point?


    Grace seemed to pick up on exactly what Xylia was thinking. Her words were gentle, but each sentence struck a chord deep in Xylia¡¯s heart.


    ¡°You think Joshua¡¯s being too forceful now, but maybe it¡¯s because you feel so loved and cherished by him that you¡¯repletely at ease¨Cfree enough to just let yourself go and even throw little fits in front of him. Really, would you have dared to do that before?¡±


    Xylia found herself thinking back to those days when she¡¯d force down her pain and bite back everyint¨Cno matter how badly she was treated, she¡¯d just grit her teeth and <i>keep </i>quiet.


    But after getting together with Joshua, she¡¯d loosened up a bit; now she could show her feelings whenever the mood struck, not bothering to hide anything anymore.


    ¡®Is this what happens when someone loves you so much you just stop holding yourself back?¡® Xylia mused to herself.


    Her chin dropped to her chest as she slipped into a daze, lost in her swirling thoughts.


    Grace just watched Xylia quietly, not interrupting her, letting her sort through her feelings on her own.


    She understood her student all too well¨Cshe knew exactly what was going through Xylia¡¯s head right now.


    <b>0.39 </b>


    §Ô§Ú<b>, </b><b>§Ò§Ö§â </b><b>20 </b>


    :..


    Years ago, when Xylia married Connor, it was because she had nowhere else to turn. That¡¯s why she keptpromising in that marriage, putting up with everything just to survive.


    But now, she¡¯d finally found the real deal¨Cthis was true love.


    Ìï

 Tricked 286

    Joshua picked up Grace¡¯s husband, and the two returned to the hospital room.


    Xylia turned to steal a nce at Joshua, but the moment their eyes met, she quickly looked away.


    Her demeanor had softened, but Joshua was oblivious to the change.*


    He assumed Xylia was still mad at him, to the point she couldn¡¯t even stand to look his way.*


    ¡®Why does my chest feel so sour?¡® Joshua wondered, a wave of self¨Cdoubt crashing over him. ¡®Was I too forceful? Did I end up pushing Xylia, who¡¯s always so gentle, into losing her temper?¡®*


    But he really didn¡¯t want to see Xylia always busy in the kitchen anymore.


    She just didn¡¯t seem happy at all living like that.


    Whatever crossed his mind made his face look even gloomier.


    Grace nced at the couple, who were still acting awkward around each other, and just shook her head lightly.


    ¡°Xylia, now that your grandmaster is here, you two should head out. I¡¯ll catch up with him for a bit,¡± she said warmly.


    Noticing that Grace clearly had some private words to share, Xylia didn¡¯t feel right hanging around. She exchanged farewells with Grace and her husband, then slipped out of the room.


    Joshua trailed behind her, his steps heavy.


    They walked one behind the other toward the hospital entrance, a quiet distance stretched between them.


    Just yesterday, they were inseparable, their hands intertwined as they walked together. But today, they might as well have been strangers, the air between them thick with an awkward tension.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t stand the thick awkwardness hanging in the air.


    She thought to herself, ¡®I guess I can swallow my pride if I have to. Maybe I¡¯ll just be the first to say sorry.


    Just as she was about to turn and speak to Joshua, he suddenly grabbed her wrist from behind. A deep voice whispered in her ear.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Joshua murmured, his voice low and rough.


    Xylia was genuinely stunned¨Cshe froze for a moment before finally turning to face Joshua.


    Joshua¡¯s face was tense, his jaw clenched so tightly it made his cheeks stand out. His eyes were rimmed with red, like he was struggling to hold back a flood of emotion.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have snapped at you this morning,¡± he continued, his voice quiet and pleading. ¡°Can we


    <b>6:59 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    please not give each other the silent treatment anymore?<i>¡± </i>


    Earlier, as she walked ahead of him¨Csilent, her eyes icy, her pace unchanging, not slowing down for him even a bit¡ªhe couldn¡¯t shake the feeling she was leaving him behind.


    For a moment, he thought Xylia was done with him.


    He thought she would just walk away, leaving him behind without a second thought.


    They would break up, and from then on, they would be nothing more than strangers.


    The mere thought of it made his chest tighten, like he couldn¡¯t catch his breath.


    So, just before he could lose control, Joshua reached out and grabbed Xylia¡¯s hand, apologizing without hesitation.


    His tone was humble,ced with a desperate plea, as if he was begging her not to leave.


    Xylia was so stunned by his sudden apology that she stood frozen, unable to say a word for a long moment.


    Joshua thought she was still angry, maybe even so mad that she wouldn¡¯t forgive him, which exined why she didn¡¯t react to his apology.


    His grip on her hand tightened, his knuckles turning white.


    Just as he was starting to feel hopeless, Xylia finally spoke. ¡°I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn¡¯t have snapped at you.¡±


    Her voice was light and gentle, and Joshua wasn¡¯t even sure he¡¯d heard her right.


    ¡®Wait¡­ Xylia¡¯s actually apologizing to me?¡® Joshua thought, baffled.


    ¡®She¡¯s not angry or ming me at all?¡® he wondered, surprised.


    Xylia gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. ¡°From now on, I won¡¯t go in the kitchen again, okay? So please, don¡¯t be mad at me anymore.¡±


    The crushing sadness in Joshua¡¯s chest was suddenly swept away by a rush of pure joy¡ªso sharp and fierce, it nearly drowned him, leaving his heart aching and numb all at once.


    His eyes


    burned as he yanked Xylia into his arms, holding her as tight as he could, refusing to let go.


    ¡°I¡¯m not mad at you. Honestly, there¡¯s no way I could ever be angry with you,¡± he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.


    All he ever wanted was to cherish her¨Churting her was thest thing on his mind.


    Xylia hugged him back, letting all her worries fade away as she rxed into theforting warmth of his


    arms.


    After everything that happened, the two finally made up and found somemon ground.


    <b>6:59 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    Xylia could head into the kitchen whenever she wanted, and Joshua wouldn¡¯t stop her just as long as she kept


    it to five times a year, tops.


    Xylia nced at Joshua¡¯s serious face and realized this was as much as he was willing topromise, so she decided not to argue anymore.


    After Grace cleared things up for her, Xylia didn¡¯t feel like rebelling anymore<i>¨C</i>her heart was just bubbling with sweetness.


    ¡®Honestly, Joshua¡¯s just the sweetest, Xylia thought, lips curving in a tiny smile.


    Meanwhile, Connor had no idea that Xylia and Joshua had already arrived in Jupiton.


    Lately, he¡¯d been a wreck¨Cever since he¡¯d gone out of his way to cover for Tessa.


    After finally making bail and getting out of the police station, he returned home only to get chewed out by his parents. They just couldn¡¯t figure out when their well¨Cbehaved son had started messing up so badly.


    He was either getting into fights at school or throwing his family¡¯s weight around to push other kids around.


    Connor was already caught up in all the public drama, and once word got out that his son Sonny had been throwing his weight around too, the media flooded the feeds with stories.


    Thanks to the Ford Group¡¯s top execs screwing things up, their stock had crashed hardtely, and thepany was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.


    Connor locked his troublesome son up in the Ford family home and turned his focus entirely to dealing with thepany crisis.


    Since he hadn¡¯t been sentenced, there was still a slim hope of saving thepany.


    The shareholders kept putting the pressure on, demanding that a new chairman be chosen.


    But the Ford Group was the Ford family¡¯s inheritance, and Connor was determined to hold onto it¨Cno matter what.


    Just when Connor was about to lose all hope, a business partner from Daltonia got in touch. The deal they offered was massive.


    It was big enough to potentially bring the Ford Group back from the brink of bankruptcy.


    Connor didn¡¯t waste any time¨Che scheduled a sit¨Cdown with the partner for Friday night.


    Richard had already booked a private room, waiting unhurried and confident for Connor to arrive in


    When Connor showed up with Sonny, Richard was leisurely sipping his tea.


    person.


    Richard was disarmingly refined¨Cporcin¨Cpale skin, schrly features, and a graceful air that radiated dignity. Even when he greeted Connor and his son, every word and gesture was gentle and weing.


    <b>6:59 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>26


    ¡°You¡¯re here! Come on in, have a seat. I just made some fresh tea,¡± Richard said warmly.


    Richard gently ced two cups of tea on the other side of the table, offering them to his guests.


    Connor and Sonny took their seats.


    Connor was puzzled why Richard had insisted he bring Sonny to the contract meeting. The whole thing made him a bit uneasy, but he couldn¡¯t risk losing out on this partnership, so he brought his son along and decided to keep a close eye on how things yed out.


    Richard couldn¡¯t help ncing at Sonny¡¯s round, cheerful face.


    The kid was the spitting image of Connor, but his eyes and brows were a perfect copy of Xylia¡¯s.


    Richard¡¯s grin grew even wider.


    ¡°It¡¯s my first time experiencing your country¡¯s tea tradition¨CI hope it¡¯s up to your standards,¡± Richard said with an easy warmth.


    ¡°We¡¯re honored,¡± Connor responded.


    Connor took a sip of the tea Richard offered, and Sonny copied him, trying a small taste.


    But Sonny didn¡¯t care for it¨Che scrunched up his nose at the bitter vor, set the cup aside, and didn¡¯t touch it again.


    Richard didn¡¯tment on it at all.


    After some polite chit¨Cchat, Connor decided to cut to the chase and brought up the partnership.


    Richard shed a rxed smile. ¡°Jupiton is the capital of Alvend, and the Ford Group basically runs this city. Full disclosure, Mr. Ford¨Cwe¡¯re not looking to work with any otherpany this time around.¡±


    Connor couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®This deal feels almost too good to be true. Whenever he¡¯d worked with Burke Sterling before, he was always on guard.


    Now, his guard was up even higher.


    Richard caught the look in Connor¡¯s eyes and said lightly, ¡°Rx¨Cwe work with Burke, and he¡¯s actually the one who put your name forward.¡±


    Connor paused, a little caught off guard, but then finally let his guard down.


    The Ford Group had what it took to stand at the very top, after all. If a trusted connection like Burke was vouching for him, then this partnership was all thanks to his own abilities.


    Guess there was no reason to stay on edge anymore.


    Just as they were about to get down to business, Richard suddenly shifted gears, his gaze turning sharp. ¡°But I have one condition.¡±


    Chapter 287.


    <b>Chapter </b>287

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    Chapter 287.


    <b>Chapter </b>287


    After their argument, Xylia and Joshua¡¯s rtionship seemed to heat up even more. They were back <b>to </b><b>being </b>inseparable, just like when they first fell in love.


    Honestly, ever since they first got together, they¡¯d been glued to each other 24/7 anyway.


    After that incident, Joshua was totally rattled. The minute they got home, he turned clingy¨Changing on to Xylia, stubbornly repeating over and over, ¡°I¡¯ll never leave you,¡± and, ¡°I¡¯ll never stop loving you.¡±


    It was onlyter that Xylia realized just how much what she thought was just a minor cold war had shaken him. That made her feel even guiltier.


    She wrapped her arms around Joshua, reassuring him again and again with, ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you either. I¡¯ll always love you.¡±


    Joshua seemed to take her words to heart, but he still looked like there was a cloud hanging over him.


    The next morning, Xylia joined a scheduled video meeting with Prairie Rose¡¯s Director Lily Evans.


    They finalized the details of their coboration, and Lily mentioned she was still overseas and needed some time beforeing to Jupiton. Fortunately, anotherpany executive was already in Jupiton, so Lily gave Xylia his number and suggested she reach out to him first to discuss the basics.


    Xylia nodded, ¡°Got it, I understand.¡±


    As soon as the meeting wrapped up, Xylia wasted no time and called the executive Lily had mentioned.


    This deal was a once¨Cin¨Ca¨Clifetime windfall for her and her studio¨Cno way was she letting this golden opportunity slip by.


    But when the call went through, Xylia was surprised to hear a voice she knew all too well.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    Xylia blinked in confusion, uncertainly asking, ¡°Mr. Shaw?¡± ¡°Wait, is that really him?¡® she wondered.


    Joshua had been right next to her, and the moment he heard Xylia talking on the phone, his head snapped in her direction.


    The line went quiet for a moment, then came a soft, warm chuckle.


    ¡°So you¡¯re the special designer Lily was talking about, huh, Xylia?¡± said Mr. Shaw.


    ¡®No mistaking it¡ªthat was Mr. Shaw,¡® Xylia thought.


    She nced at Joshua, who had already walked over, and at his silent urging, she put the call on speaker.


    Richard continued, ¡°Honestly, ever since we started brainstorming the new bridal collection, I thought it¡¯d be incredible to coborate with someone as talented as you, Xylia. I can¡¯t believe they actually brought you on


    4M4


    953


    board¨CI¡¯m really looking forward to working together.¡±


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    Joshua looked pretty grim and was about to say something, but Xylia was quicker¨Cshe pped her hand over his mouth before he could get a word out, shooting him a warning look.


    Xylia, feeling a bit awkward, scratched her head and said into the phone, ¡°I¡¯m really d to work with yourpany too. How about we pick a time to go over the details together?¡±


    Richard chuckled, ¡°Lily told me you¡¯re in Jupiton. How about we find some time to meet up and talk it through in person?¡±


    ¡°Sure, just text me the time and ce,¡± Xylia replied.


    ¡°No problem. Can¡¯t wait to meet you,¡± Richard responded.


    As soon as the call ended, Xylia finally moved her hand away from Joshua¡¯s mouth, letting him go.


    Just then, her phone buzzed with a new message. Before she could even reach for it, Joshua grabbed her wrist, pulled her down onto the couch, and pinned her there.


    He stared down at her, his voice tight with anger and a hint of hurt.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let me talk?¡± Joshua demanded.


    Xylia could practically taste the jealousy thick in the air.


    She didn¡¯t resist¡ªshe just gently reached up and hooked her arms around Joshua¡¯s neck. ¡°What were you about to say?¡± she asked softly.


    ¡°I wanted to tell him to get lost,¡± Joshua said.


    His voice couldn¡¯t hide the raw disgust simmering beneath the surface.


    Xylia wasn¡¯t surprised.


    ¡°But I have to work with him,¡± she said, keeping her voice level. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve got no idea how he went from being that banker upstairs at ourpany to suddenly owning a piece of Prairie Rose, but I really need to team up with him on this. This deal could make or break the future for me and my studio. You cannot blow this for me.¡±


    Joshua frowned. ¡°I could set you up with way more contracts¨Ctop¨Ctier brands, way bigger than Prairie Rose.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Xylia retorted, not giving an inch. ¡°If you help me like that, what¡¯s the point of me going out on my own?¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t back down.


    ¡®I started my own business to prove I could make it on my own, Xylia thought. ¡®If I just coasted on Joshua¡¯s connections, then everything would be meaningless.


    Joshua knew exactly what was on her mind. All his protests were just talk¨Cwhen it came down to it, he always


    put Xylia first and let her have things her way.


    But Richard was obviously looking for every chance to worm his way into Xylia¡¯s life.


    ??


    It was so clear: Richard¡¯s real objective was to mess with Joshua, and he was trying to use Xylia as the perfect


    weapon.


    There was no way Joshua was letting him get away with that.


    Joshua gazed at Xylia¡¯s gorgeous face, her eyes shining with pure innocence.


    Her lush crimson lips were far too tempting¨CJoshua couldn¡¯t resist. He bent down and imed her mouth in a kiss<b>. </b>


    Right then, the maid walked in to tidy up. One nce at the two tangled up and kissing on the couch was all it took¨Cblushing furiously, she covered her eyes and beat a hasty retreat from the living room.


    After a few minutes, Joshua finally let go of Xylia.


    Both of them were out of breath, and Xylia waspletely wrecked¨Ckissing Joshua always left her feeling like she¡¯d died ande back to life.


    Her cheeks were burning red, her shirt askew from their wild struggle, and her pale corbone was on full disy¨Cdrawing Joshua¡¯s gaze like a ma.


    His eyes lingered on her, filled with such intense focus that it made her skin tingle.


    Feeling him look at her like a hungry wolf, Xylia hurriedly shoved him away.


    ¡°Either way, I¡¯m sticking with this partnership¨Cthere¡¯s no chance I¡¯m giving up on it,¡± Xylia said, absolutely determined.


    She had made up her mind. No matter how much Joshua tried to persuade her, she wasn¡¯t going to back down.


    But she reassured Joshua, ¡°I¡¯ll keep things strictly professional with him, promise.¡±


    Joshua trusted Xylia, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to trust Richard for a second.


    He knew Xylia¡¯s decision was set in stone, so he said, ¡°If you¡¯re meeting him for work, I¡¯m going with you. No way I¡¯m letting you deal with him alone.¡±


    This was as far as he was willing to bend.


    Xylia caught the stubborn determination in Joshua¡¯s eyes and chose not to object.


    The appointment with Richard rolled around before they knew it.


    When Xylia and Joshua stepped into the private suite together, Richard looked like he¡¯d been expecting exactly this¨Che wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised.


    29530


    He slid two cups of tea across the table toward them, shooting Joshua a teasing grin.


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    ¡°Didn¡¯t expect Mr. Garcia to be such a clingy guy¨Cfollowing your wife wherever she goes, Richard joked, not even bothering to hide his amusement.


    The word ¡°wife¡± instantly warmed Joshua¡¯s heart, but he just shot Richard a cold re. ¡°There he goes again with that sanctimonious act¨Cstill the same phony jerk, Joshua thought, his disgust clear as he looked away.


    Xylia could sense something undeniably strange between them¨Cit felt less like old friends catching up and more like two rivals sizing each other up. ¡°They definitely weren¡¯t buddies. It was more like a silent battle brewing, she thought.


    Richard tried to bait Joshua into reacting¨Ceven hoping for a heatedeback¨Cbut when Joshua stayed silent, he just shot Xylia a disappointed nce.


    All Xylia could do was sh him an awkward, cating smile.


    ¡°He¡¯s just got that personality¨Cthanks for putting up with him.¡±


    Richard grinned and teased, ¡°Come on, Xyli?, no need to stand on ceremony with me. With your boyfriend, we¡¯re basically family now¨Che¡¯s like my own brother¨Cinw.¡±


    Before Xylia could even respond, Joshua suddenly hurled his knife and fork across the table. The cutlery shot past Richard¡¯s face and embedded itself in the wall with a sharp, echoing thud.


    He¡¯d put so much force into it that if his aim had been off by just a hair, he would¡¯ve nailed Richard right in the face<i>. </i>


    Xylia¡¯s eyes went wide in shock, and she frantically grabbed onto Joshua¡¯s arm, desperate to hold him back.


    Joshua, though, didn¡¯t even bat an eye. Totally unfazed, he just reached over and gently patted Xylia¡¯s hand, casually reassuring her like nothing serious had happened at all.


    Joshua shot back icily, ¡°Mr. Shaw, what gives you the right to call me your brother¨Cinw? My wife doesn¡¯t have some calcting brother like you sniffing around.¡±


    He was blunt, not bothering to sugarcoat his words.


    Xylia sat stiff as a board,pletely stunned¨Cshe couldn¡¯t even move.


    ¡®Great, the meeting hasn¡¯t even kicked off and Joshua¡¯s gone and ticked everyone off already,¡® Xylia thought, feeling utterly helpless.

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    <b>Chapter </b>288


    The tension between Joshua and Richard was practically palpable, Xylia felt like she was sitting on <b>pins </b><b>and </b>needles.


    Joshua always seemed cold around strangers, but he never truly made enemies with anyone.


    Looking back now, Xylia realized Joshua¡¯s expression had shifted the moment he heard Richard¡¯s name.


    She couldn¡¯t believe Joshua was this hostile just out of jealousy. Something must¡¯ve really gone down between.


    those two.


    Xylia turned to Richard, her tone direct. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Shaw¨CI¡¯m not your ¡®little sister, and we¡¯re not that close. We¡¯re just here to talk business today.¡±


    Her blunt reply caught both Richard and Joshua off guard.


    Joshua sat up a little straighter, shooting Richard a look that was pure mockery, like he was thinking, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. You heard her.¡¯


    Richard¡¯s eyes flickered with something dark and venomous, but he quickly masked it with his usual warm smile.


    He didn¡¯t miss a beat, smoothly apologizing to Xylia. ¡°My bad, Ms. Sadler. I thought we were closer than that.¡±


    Xylia stayed quiet.


    Richard had helped her out before, and right now, they were still partners in business. She couldn¡¯t afford to be too harsh.


    ¡®I was just making my position clear, nothing more, Xylia thought to herself.


    ¡®Between Joshua and Richard, I¡¯d pick Joshua every single time,¡® she knew, without a shred of doubt.


    Joshua, feeling pretty pleased, drummed his long fingers on the table, his voice cool and icy, dripping with indifference.


    ¡°Mr. Shaw, shall we talk business now?¡± he said.


    Richard was about to ask why Joshua even had the right to be part of these Xylic Studio partnership talks, but he bit his tongue.


    Even though Joshua and Xylia were sitting a bit apart, there was this undeniable vibe between them, like they were two halves of the same whole. It was clear to anyone who looked that they were a team, and no one coulde between them.


    So, Richard decided not to ask that stupid question.


    So Richard turned his attention to Xylia and started hashing out the partnership details.


    <b>953 </b>


    Joshua faded into the background, pretending to be absorbed in his phone, acting like he was just there for


    the ride.


    But in reality, his focus never wavered from Xylia. The moment Richard tried to sneak in anything unreasonable or push his luck, Joshua would jump in and cut him off¨Cno hesitation.


    Honestly, it was like Xylia had brought her very own legal cagle to watch her back, making sure nobody could pull a fast one on her.


    By the time they wrapped up the partnership details, even Richard, who was usually so good at hiding his feelings, couldn¡¯t help but look a little pissed off.


    ¡®Really, Joshua? You just can¡¯t help going against me every single time, Richard grumbled to himself.


    Once the meeting wrapped up, the three of them stepped out of the club.


    Richard invited them to dinner, but Joshua didn¡¯t even wait for Xylia to answer¨Che cut in and turned Richard down for her, quick and sharp.


    ¡°If we don¡¯t have dinner, Mr. Shaw, are you going to back out of the partnership?¡± Joshua asked.


    ¡°Of course not. How could apany project change just because of my personal feelings?¡± Richard replied.


    ¡°You might as well eat by yourself, Mr. Shaw. If we stick around<i>, </i>you might just lose your appetite,¡± Joshua said.


    Joshua took Xylia by the hand and led her away without a second nce.


    Richard watched their figures disappear, the trace of a smile at the corner of his mouth gradually fading.


    Xylia nced at Joshua, unable to hold back her curiosity. ¡°Joshua,¡± she asked, ¡°is there some kind of history or bad blood between you and Richard?¡±


    Joshua¡¯s answer was instant¨Calmost reflexive. ¡°No,¡± he said, just as Xylia finished asking.


    Xylia stopped in her tracks, her gaze fixed on him, silent but intense.


    Joshua turned and met her eyes¨Cso dark, and already flickering with a hint of irritation.


    He knew he was in trouble. Clearing his throat, he admitted, ¡°Okay, fine. There was some bad blood.¡±


    But he wasn¡¯t about to spill the details.


    Xylia let go of Joshua¡¯s hand, stepped forward and faced him head¨Con, her clear, unwavering gaze fixed on his eyes¨Clike she wanted to see right through him.


    ¡°Most people don¡¯t stay at odds for this long,¡± she said, her voice steady. ¡°Unless¡­¡±


    Joshua tensed up, his expression hardening.


    Xylia teased, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you two were fighting over the same girl¨Cand you came up short?¡±


    ¡®Her imagination never ceases to amaze me. Joshua thought, then shot back, ¡°Absolutely nort


    Joshua¡¯s clenched jaw and gritted teeth said it all, at least to Xylia¨Che looked exactly like someone who called out on his secret and was low¨Ckey freaking out about it.


    Ha! I totally nailed it, Xylia thought, smug.


    got


    ¡®Wow, why does that make me feel a little sad, though?¡® Xylia caught herself, but she shook it off quick and patted Joshua¡¯s shoulder, all casual, like she was his cool big sis or something.


    ¡°You know, sometimes life just throws you curveballs and you don¡¯t always get what you want,¡± Xylia said, giving Joshua a reassuring pat. ¡°Gotta learn to roll with it.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s jaw tightened even more, his frustration almost palpable. ¡®She has no idea how much this gets under my skin,¡® he thought.


    ¡®Seriously, she¡¯s hit a nerve.¡¯


    Joshua didn¡¯t hesitate; he slipped his arm around Xylia¡¯s waist and pulled her flush against him.


    His voice was low but fierce, ¡°The first woman I ever went after¨Cand the only one who ever mattered¨Cis you. So, tell me, when did Richard ever make a move on you?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s eyes went wide in shock as she looked up at Joshua.


    ¡®Wait, has he really never had a girlfriend before?¡® Xylia thought, half¨Cstunned, half¨Cskeptical.


    Hershes quivered, and as soon as she snapped out of it, she blurted out in a hurry, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Since when did Richard try chasing me? I was the one questioning you!¡±


    ¡®Seriously? How did he just flip the whole thing and make it sound like I¡¯m the one at fault here?¡® Xylia grumbled inwardly, a little indignant.


    ¡®No way I¡¯m letting him pin this on me,¡® she huffed to herself, totally unconvinced.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who said Richard and I were after the same woman,¡± Joshua shot back, his voice low and intense. ¡°And the only woman I¡¯ve ever gone after is you. So, isn¡¯t it fair for me to ask you about this? Plus, you got it all wrong.¡±


    Joshua leaned in a little, their faces now just inches apart, his voice dropping to a soft, almost hypnotic tone. ¡°I ended up with you, didn¡¯t I? That means I win.¡±


    Xylia realized she¡¯d totally walked right into Joshua¡¯s trap.


    But honestly, with words like those¨Cher being the only girl he¡¯d ever put his heart on the line for¨Cwho could stay mad?


    Before she knew it, a gentle sweetness welled up inside her.


    Xylia studied Joshua¡¯s face¨Cso perfectly shaped it could have been carved by a god. Her gaze fell to his lips, red and tempting.


    7:00 Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    Suddenly, she leaned in and nted a quick kiss on his lips. ¡°Yeah, you win,¡± she said softly to him.


    Joshua saw her smile blooming like a flower, and in that moment, all the anger lingering in his heart quietly faded away.


    He pulled her into his embrace, a low chuckle rumbling from his throat.


    ¡°Yeah, I win,¡± he said, his voice full of satisfaction.


    From a distance, Connor and Sonny caught sight of Joshua and Xylia,pletely wrapped up in each other¡¯s


    arms<b>. </b>


    They hadn¡¯t even gotten out of the car yet.


    Watching through the window, they saw the couple standing together under the patchy shade¨Cpractically a match made in heaven. Xylia beamed with happiness as she leaned in and kissed Joshua, then the two hugged close. The whole scene radiated so much love and sugary affection, it felt like the sweetness was thick enough to seep into the air around them.


    It was so sickeningly sweet it almost made you want to gag.


    Sonny quietly averted his gaze, his little head drooping, silent¡ªno one could tell what he was thinking.


    But Connor¡¯s face darkened instantly. The frustration in his eyes grew, morphing into anger¨Che was so close to storming out and tearing that couple apart.


    But he knew he had no right to.


    His knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel.


    Connor turned his head away, refusing to look at them anymore. His voice was cold as he ordered Sonny, ¡°Get out of the car.¡±


    ¡°Get out of the car,¡± he said.


    Sonny obediently got out.


    Joshua and Xylia walked over, hand in hand¨Ctotally caught up in their own little world.


    Sonny couldn¡¯t help gazing at Xylia, his eyes full of quiet hope and barely¨Chidden longing.


    Maybe he was staring a bit too openly, because Xylia suddenly looked his way. Flustered, Sonny ducked his head, avoiding her gaze in a hurry.


    Sonny braced himself, expecting Xylia to look at him with the same disgust as before.


    It hurt him so much that his mom disliked him, but he couldn¡¯t help sneaking nces at her, longing just to see her face.


    But when Xylia finally nced their way, she just gave Connor and Sonny a nk look, like they wereplete strangers.


    <b>7:00 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    There wasn¡¯t a hint of emotion in her eyes.


    She simply shifted her gaze away and continued her conversation with Joshua, as if nothing had happened.


    By the time Joshua and Xylia¡¯s car was finally out of sight, Sonny¡¯s face had drained of color, turning pale bit by bit.


    Îå


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    Connor fought the urge to go after Xylia until she and Joshua left. Then he nned to take Sonny to meet Richard.


    But just as he took a couple of steps, his phone rang. It was Richard.


    ¡°Sorry, Mr. Ford, something just came up. We¡¯ll have to cancel the contract signing today. I¡¯ll send someone over with the paperwork for you to sign. Hope that¡¯s okay and you aren¡¯t too upset,¡± Richard said.


    Connor was initially annoyed, feeling like he¡¯d been yed.


    But when he heard that Richard would send the contract over, his irritation faded.


    ¡°No problem, Mr. Shaw. Take care of your business,¡± Connor replied.


    After hanging up, Connor left with Sonny.


    He had nned to head back to the office, but Sonny had a training session in the afternoon, so he needed to drop him off first.


    If Richard hadn¡¯t insisted that Connor bring Sonny along¨Cgoing on about how adorable the kid was and wanting to see him more often¨CConnor definitely wouldn¡¯t have dragged the little guy around with him all day.


    After dropping Sonny off, Connor went to work.


    The tutor was already there.


    Sonny just couldn¡¯t stand this endless coaching anymore.


    Back when Xylia was in charge of his schedule, he still had tons of courses, but things were way more chill. He actually got to y and kick back once in a while.


    But now, Connor was set on treating him like the next in line¨Chis future sessor.


    Every single day was jam¨Cpacked with lessons, and honestly, Sonny felt like he could hardly catch his breath.


    He thought his grandparents would feel bad for him and stand up for him.


    But all the adults, weirdly enough, were on the exact same side whenever it came to his lessons, like they¡¯d all secretly agreed to team up against him.


    He was just so tired.


    Sonny watched as the tutor¡¯s ruler swung back and forth in front of his eyes, making him feel a wave of annoyance again and again.


    While the tutor was in the bathroom, he slipped out the door.


    <b>7.00 </b><b>§Ô</b><b>, </b><b>§Ö§â </b><b>20 </b>


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    Wearing denim overalls and sporting a small backpack, Sonny looked every bit like a tiny grown¨Cup as he strolled right into the inte caf¨¦.


    Inside, a young guy in a denim jacket spotted Sonny and waved. ¡°Hey, kiddo, you made it! Come over here!¡±


    Sonny walked up, casually pulling a wad of cash from his backpack and putting it down in front of him.


    The guy¡¯s eyes practically sparkled when he saw the money. With a grin, he scooted a chair out for Sonny to


    sit.


    The


    He couldn¡¯t y any of those fast¨Cpaced online games the older kids liked. Honestly, he couldn¡¯t even figure out how Minesweeper worked, and yet here he was, getting shoved into lesson after lesson.


    Really, all he wanted was a nap. He just needed a break.


    The ce was buzzing, all the keyboard tapping and mouse clicking mixing together, and Sonny loved the whole lively energy of it.


    Seeing Sonny nodding off, the young man felt a pang of responsibility. Wanting to protect his little VIP, he took off his denim jacket and gently draped it over Sonny.


    Sonny had been missing for a full eight hours.


    When Connor got the news, he mobilized everyone he could find to search for him.


    But it was like all their efforts just disappeared into the void¨Cthere was absolutely zero word from Sonny.


    Jupiton was huge, and looking for a missing kid in this city really was like hunting for a needle in a haystack.


    But technically, it wasn¡¯t even time to call the cops yet. Connor sat brooding in the living room, watching the surveince feed on hisptop¨Cthere was Sonny, backpack slung over his shoulder, quietly sneaking past the staff and slipping out the front gate.


    Connor was so annoyed he almost wanted to drag Sonny back and teach him a real lesson.


    He was already buried with work, and yet this little rascal just had to add more chaos to his te¨Che couldn¡¯t catch a break.


    ¡°What should we do? Where could my precious Sonny have gone?¡± Mnie cried, dabbing at her eyes.


    Mnie kept wiping away her tears.


    All her crying was starting to wear Connor down, making him even more restless.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go look for him. Why don¡¯t you rest up for now, Mnie. Sonny¡¯s a clever kid¡ªif he¡¯s gutsy enough to sneak out, he¡¯ll know how to keep himself safe for a while,¡± Connor said gently, doing his best to soothe Mnie¡¯s nerves.


    7:00 Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    Once he¡¯dforted her, Connor grabbed his things and headed out of the vi.


    45 Parchers


    Meanwhile, Joshua had to swing by Garcia Group in the afternoon for somest¨Cminute business, and Xylia went with him.


    All afternoon, she had to listen to Joshua griping nonstop.


    Joshua keptining that his dad bailed for just two years and now acts totally clueless, relying on him for literally everything.


    The whole deal was that his dad had promised to leave him out ofpany stuff for two whole years.


    But this past month, Joshua¡¯s barely had time to breathe, getting roped into a million things.


    Joshua was really on a rant, grumbling nonstop about it.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help butugh, resting her chin in her hand as she watched Joshua running around like <i>a </i>whirlwind.


    She just thought he was extra adorable when he acted all pouty and dramatic.


    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s the family business, right? A little hustle never hurt anyone. Just think of it as stacking up some extra cash,¡± Xylia teased, trying to lift his spirits.


    She tossed him a few words of encouragement, just to brighten things up.


    But Joshua just wasn¡¯t buying it.


    He was totally head over heels in love right now, and thest thing he wanted to talk about was work.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help butugh at him.


    She switched gears, trying a different approach. ¡°Back in Norhill, you were always dropping everything toe hang out at my office. Now it¡¯s my turn to keep youpany here. Isn¡¯t that kind of nice?¡±


    Joshua thought about it for a second and realized she had a point.


    Xylia got up from the couch and walked over to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows.


    She looked down at the city¨Ca jumble of traffic, buildings, and people, all shrunken, everyone down there just seemed like a bunch of busy ants on the move.


    Feeling a bit sneaky, she thought to herself, ¡®Man, it feels great to ck off and watch other people scramble around while I just chill up here.


    Joshua was t¨Cout all afternoon, bouncing between meetings, and each one tanked his mood even further.


    With David Baldwin still out in Norhill, none of the other secretaries dared get close¨Cthey just nervously tried to keep Joshua¡¯s day running smoothly, like they were walking on eggshells.


    7:00 Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    Once things finally settled down, Xylia slipped over and started rubbing Joshua¡¯s temples. Softly, she asked, ¡°All done?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, all done,¡± Joshua muttered.


    He tipped his head, leaning into her hand, soaking up thefort.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t resist giving Joshua¡¯s cheek a yful pinch, then bent down to wrap her arms around his neck -her chining to rest on his soft, messy hair.


    ¡°I remember there¡¯s a night market just around the corner,¡± she teased. ¡°What if we skip dinner tonight and just pig out on street food, hmm?¡±


    Xylia¡¯s eyes gleamed mischievously.


    Joshua caught her slender wrist, a frown on his face showing he was not amused.


    ¡°Snacks are fine, but we¡¯re not skipping a real meal. You need something with actual nutrition,¡± he said, firm but gentle.


    ¡°Come on, it¡¯s no big deal if we just skip dinner for once. If we load up on a full meal, there won¡¯t be any room left for all those tasty snacks,¡± Xylia whined, trying to sweet¨Ctalk him.


    Xylia had always been obsessed with the street food stalls in Jupiton. Those ces were cheap as chips, and all the greasy, spicy treats always hit the spot for her.


    Just a moment ago while waiting for Joshua, she¡¯d been glued to food vlogger videos, drooling as they munched on all kinds of street food that looked absolutely delicious.


    Knowing there was a food street right nearby, she was already plotting to rope Joshua into going with her.


    Xylia dipped her head, nuzzling Joshua¡¯s cheek and tempting him. ¡°Pretty please, let¡¯s go? Hmm?¡±


    With Xylia begging him like that, sweet and persistent, Joshua couldn¡¯t even think of another excuse¡ªevery bit of protest he had just vanished.


    He could only manage to mutter one word.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Night was falling in Jupiton, and the city started to glow.


    Neon lights from every shop lit up the dark streets, painting them with sshes of every color and giving the night its own special vibe.


    Xylia grabbed Joshua¡¯s hand, pulling him right into the heart of the bustling snack street where the smell of all kinds of street food filled the air.


    The air was a little chilly, so Joshua wore the light coat Xylia made for him. His tall, ssy vibe made him look totally out of ce in that rowdy, crowded alley.


    <b>7:00 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    Food vendors and people weaving through the stalls kept throwing curious looks their way.


    Joshua didn¡¯t pay any mind to the curious stares around them he just kept Xylia close, making sure nobody bumped into her in the crush of the crowd.


    ¡°Xylia Schultz! Wow, it really is you! When did you get back?¡±


    Xylia was busy waiting in line at a grilled squid stall when out of nowhere, she heard someone familiar calling out from behind her.


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    Xylia turned around and saw Ziggying over with his arm around a woman.


    The smile on her face vanished in an instant. She turned away,pletely ignoring him, treating him like he <b>was </b>just some stranger.


    Ziggy wasn¡¯t happy about Xylia¡¯s attitude at all. If Joshua hadn¡¯t been standing right there, knowing his usual temper, he definitely would¡¯ve made Xylia pay for it.


    Backed by the Sadler family¡¯s cash and reputation, Ziggy had been raking in one advantage after another in the business worldtely. He was starting to feel pretty untouchable.


    He was getting a bit too smug for his own good.


    Ziggy shot Xylia a frosty re. ¡°What, now that you¡¯re back with the Sadler family, you¡¯re seriously going to pretend I¡¯m not your brother anymore?¡±


    Hearing Ziggy call himself her ¡°brother¡± made Xylia feel like she¡¯d swallowed a live fly¨Cshe could barely hide her disgust. ¡®Gross, Xylia thought to herself.


    Before Xylia could respond, Joshua drew her protectively into his arms, putting himself between her and Ziggy so their eyes couldn¡¯t meet.


    Joshua was a shade taller than Ziggy, and when he nced down at him, his gaze was cool andmanding


    -a silent message that he was on a whole different level.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you take two hundred million from Kaden in exchange for a contract severing all family ties? The terms are crystal clear. Now you¡¯re trying to y both sides?¡± Joshua cut straight to the chase.


    Ziggy¡¯s face immediately turned as ck as the bottom of a pot.


    The fact that Joshua would t¨Cout humiliate him like this in public was an utter p in the face.


    The woman hanging on Ziggy¡¯s arm didn¡¯t recognize Joshua, but she definitely knew Xylia from seeing her before.


    She knew Xylia was just the fake heiress of the Schultz family but had never even heard of the Sadlers.


    She thought Xylia had simply found her birth family and cut off the Schultzs because of it.


    With clear sarcasm in her voice, she turned to Xylia and snarked, ¡°Ms. Schultz, the Schultzs fed you, raised you, and even married you off. Don¡¯t you think you at least owe them a little gratitude? So howe you¡¯re acting all cold toward Ziggy and pretending the Schultzs don¡¯t even exist?¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t want to waste any more time on these two.


    She was just out to grab some street food with Joshua, and if she let them ruin her mood, her whole snack run


    would be a bust.


    <b>7:00 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


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    She broke away from Joshua¡¯s arms, her gaze cold and piercing as she looked straight at Ziggy and the


    Woman.


    Xylia had seen this woman before¨Cone of Ziggy¡¯s many girlfriends, and honestly, the only one who¡¯d ever stuck around for more than five minutes.


    Xylia turned to Ziggy.


    ¡°My real brother handed over two hundred million to repay the Schultzs for raising me. That was your idea, wasn¡¯t it? You wanted a clean break. Now what? You signed the contract yourself, and now you want to pretend it never happened?¡± Xylia snapped.


    ¡°If my brother finds out you took the cash and are still here pestering me, do you think you can keep leeching off the Sadler name to build up the Schultz Group?¡± she continued, voice icy.


    ¡°You used me, and I don¡¯t expect you to beg for forgiveness when we meet again¨Cbut do me a favor and just stay out of my sight. You¡¯re polluting the scenery,¡± Xylia finished, eyes steely.


    Her words came out swinging, one verbal nuke after another.


    Ziggy¡¯s face twisted with rage, turning a nasty shade of purple. His eyes burned so fiercely it looked like he was barely holding himself back from tearing Xylia apart.


    Joshua nced down at Xylia, watching her get all fired up¨Cand couldn¡¯t help the smirk tugging at his lips.


    ¡®ssic Xylia,¡® he thought, a hint of pride in his eyes. ¡®When it¡¯s time to get tough, she never wimps out!


    Piecing together the truth from Xylia¡¯s words, the woman realized Xylia¡¯s birth family was just as well¨Coff as the Schultzs and not someone she could look down on.


    Realizing she was way out of her depth, the woman wisely decided to keep her mouth shut.


    They finally made it to the front of the line at the grilled squid stand. Joshua tugged Xylia up to the counter to order.


    ¡°Don¡¯t waste your energy on those random people. Just pick something you love,¡± he said, his tone warm and


    easy.


    Xylia followed his lead, grinning as she told the vendor, ¡°Two skewers¨Cmake them extra spicy!¡±


    Joshua watched her, looking like he had something to say, but held back.


    ¡®Should¡¯ve just ordered for her myself,¡® he thought, a bit regretful.


    Ziggy and that woman had slipped away at some point without anyone noticing.


    Xylia didn¡¯t even care.


    Xylia and Joshua strolled down the food street, weaving from stall to stall and soaking up the lively vibe.


    Joshua took one bite of the super spicy squid and set it down right away.


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    A thin sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead, and his cheeks turned bright red¨Che was clearly feeling the


    heat.


    Xylia nced over at him in confusion. ¡°Wait¨Cdidn¡¯t you say you could handle spicy food?¡± she asked.


    Joshua shot her a deeply aggrieved look, like he¡¯d just been wronged and had no one <i>to </iin to.


    To be honest, he couldn¡¯t handle spicy food at all. Every time he shared something spicy at the table, it was just to keep Xyliapany because she liked it so much.


    But this level of fiery heat? Even for her sake, there was just no way he could handle it.


    Suddenly realizing, Xylia rushed to grab some milk for him to help with the spice.


    Joshua stopped her immediately, picking up a bottle of water for himself instead.


    ¡°Milk works way better against spicy food,¡± Xylia reminded, still worried.


    ¡°No can do,¡± Joshua interrupted, totally stubborn.


    He was unshakably stubborn about it.


    Xylia stared, baffled. ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡®It¡¯s not like he¡¯s allergic or anything,¡¯ she thought, confused.


    Joshua lowered his gaze to her, all serious.


    ¡°If I drink milk, I can¡¯t kiss you afterward,¡± he said, voice calm but teasing.


    Right. Xylia was allergic to milk.


    Xylia: ¡­


    Xylia didn¡¯t say a word¨Cshe just leaned over and took a bite out of the super spicy squid Joshua had eaten from, like it was the most natural thing in the world.


    After that, she was extra thoughtful, ordering herself the spiciest snacks while picking out the mild ones for Joshua so he wouldn¡¯t get burned again.


    Joshua kept ncing at her, several times almost saying something, but hesitated each time and held back.


    But when he saw how much fun she was having, he couldn¡¯t help but feel her happiness rubbing off on him, so he just let her do her thing.


    By the time they finished roaming the food stalls, Xylia was stuffed and sweating buckets¨Cbut honestly, she was on cloud nine.


    Joshua grabbed a wet wipe and started dabbing her face, his brows knitting together. ¡°It¡¯s pretty chilly out. You really want to risk getting sick?¡±


    <b>7:01 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    ¡°Oh please, I¡¯m not made of ss! One night like this won¡¯t kill me. My immune system¡¯s basically supercharged.¡± Xylia joked, waving him off.


    Joshua ignored her little bravado, just took off his own jacket and threw it around her shoulders.


    Xylia was about to say something smart, but Joshua shut her down with a look that screamed warning.


    ¡°If you take it off, there¡¯ll be consequences,¡± he said, with that teasing¨Cbut¨Cserious vibe only he could pull <b>off </b>


    He didn¡¯t spell it out, but trust¨Chis eyes made it very clear what he meant.


    Xylia instantly zipped her lips and decided not to push her luck.


    They were heading toward the exit of the food street when, just a few steps in, a frantic shout broke out nearby.


    ¡°Thief! Stop him!¡± someone yelled.


    A blur darted past, and Joshua, reacting on pure instinct<b>, </b>snatched up a little kid mid¨Crun.


    The moment he looked down and saw who he¡¯d grabbed, Joshua wished he could turn back time and just


    miss<b>. </b>


    ¡®Seriously? Of all people, I had to grab Sonny?¡® he thought, exasperated..


    Sonny clung tightly to a handbag, his face instantly shing with fear the second he got caught.


    But the instant he spotted Xylia, every bit of fear melted into pure puppy¨Ceyed misery¨Che burst into tears.


    ¡°Mommy, help me!¡± he bawled, wailing for rescue.


    Xylia didn¡¯t say a word.


    The guy who¡¯d been yelling stomped over, grabbed Sonny roughly from Joshua¡¯s hands, and threw him to the ground.


    Just as he was about to step on Sonny, Joshua lifted his leg and knocked the guy¡¯s foot out of the way- effortless<b>. </b>


    The punk stumbled in ce before finally finding his bnce.


    As soon as he steadied himself, he jabbed a finger at Joshua and spat, ¡°Who the hell are you to butt into my business<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Joshua just shot him a chilling nce, totally unfazed.


    He was a punk with brassy yellow hair, decked out in beat¨Cup jeans.


    ¡°If you really think he stole from you, let the cops handle it. And call your folks over while you¡¯re at it,¡± Joshua said coolly.


    <b>7:01 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>26


    The moment he heard ¡°folks,¡± the punk¡¯s eyes narrowed with rage. He clenched his fist and swung at Joshua


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you mind your own damn business!¡± he yelled.


    Joshua kicked out, sending the punk crashing to the ground. He curled up in pain, all his swagger gone.


    Joshua went ahead and called the police.


    Sonny scrambled to his feet and dashed over to Xylia, grabbing her leg desperately and holding on for dear life.


    ¡°Mommy¡­¡± he whimpered, his voice trembling.


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    Sonny looked utterly miserable; his chubby little face was covered in dust, and one strap of his overalls had slipped off during his frantic escape, leaving his clothes hanging loosely on his tiny frame.


    Xylia paused for a moment, her heart softening. She just couldn¡¯t bring herself to push him away.


    But she didn¡¯tfort him either. Instead, she asked in a detached tone, ¡°What happened?¡±


    Sonny clung tightly to Xylia¡¯s leg, burying his face against her pant leg, his small body trembling all over from fear.


    He didn¡¯t reply, just kept mumbling ¡°Mommy¡± over and over again.


    Xylia¡¯s fingers twitched, but she didn¡¯t show any reaction.


    After taking down the young guy, Joshua turned and caught sight of the scene.


    He clenched his jaw and walked over, reaching out to pull Sonny off.


    But Sonny just hugged Xylia¡¯s leg even tighter, refusing to let go no matter what.


    For someone so small, he was unexpectedly strong.


    Joshua tugged a couple of times, but Sonny wouldn¡¯t budge. Joshua¡¯s patience was starting to wear thin.


    ¡°Let go,¡± Joshua said, his voice chillingly calm.


    Sonny trembled at Joshua¡¯s cold tone, but he only clung tighter to Xylia¡¯s leg, refusing to let go.


    Joshua¡¯s face grew even more stern.


    Xylia tugged Joshua¡¯s hand. ¡°Once the cops get here, let them call his dad.¡±


    Hearing that, Joshua might¡¯ve been annoyed, but he kept his mouth shut.


    The cops showed up pretty quickly.


    The blond punk freaked out as soon as he heard the sirens and tried to bolt, but Joshua pinned him down and kept him from escaping.


    Sonny just wouldn¡¯t loosen his grip on Xylia, refusing to let go no matter what.


    Xylia had no choice but to drag Sonny along with her to the police station. Even after the police managed to contact Connor, Sonny still clung to her stubbornly.


    Sonny clung to Xylia, voice trembling as he pleaded, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m scared. Can you stay with me?¡± His words were barely a whisper, thick with dread.


    His little face was streaked with dirt and tears, his eyes wide with fear and longing¨Ca look that tugged at the


    11:41 Sat<b>, </b>Sep 27


    A


    55 vouchaity


    heartstrings with how vulnerable he was.


    Xylia hesitated for two seconds, then softly unsped his small hands from her leg, despite her reluctance.


    ¡°Your dad will be here soon to get you. Be good and wait here for him, okay?¡± she told him in a gentle tone.


    All of a sudden, Sonny just broke down¨Cletting out a loud, aching wail that echoed through the station.


    ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t go! Please don¡¯t leave me! Don¡¯t abandon me¨Cwahhh!¡± he cried, clutching at her desperately.


    His heart¨Cwrenching sobs bounced off the walls of the police station. If anyone overheard, they¡¯d probably think Xylia was some cold¨Cblooded mom trying to ditch her own kid.


    One of the cops, clearly feeling awkward, stepped up to Xylia and tried to persuade her.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re his mom, why not just stay with him for a while? Letting the kid cry himself sick can¡¯t be good


    for him.¡±


    Xylia had no choice but to let Sonny cling to her.


    She shot a helpless look at Joshua, who¡¯d been scowling since they arrived, and grabbed his hand with a resigned gesture.


    ¡°We¡¯ll leave in a bit,¡± she said softly.


    Joshua pursed his lips, casting a cold nce down at the little runt glued to Xylia¡¯s leg.


    He squeezed her hand back, staying silent.


    When Connor finally showed up, his eyesnded on Xylia right away.


    A flicker of somethingplicated crossed his face.


    He walked over to them, but his gaze seemed topletely ignore Joshua.


    ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re here,¡± Connor said.


    His voice was so gentle, just like when they¡¯d first gotten married.


    Xylia got goosebumps all over.


    She squeezed Joshua¡¯s hand tighter and gently tried to push Sonny over to Connor.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re here, I¡¯ll leave Sonny to you,¡± she said, sounding determined but not cold.


    But Sonny clung harder to Xylia, refusing to let go of her hand.


    ¡°Mommy, I want to be with you. Can youe home with me? I promise I won¡¯t say you¡¯re not my mom anymore. Let¡¯s go back¨Ccan things be like before? Please?¡± Sonny begged, desperate and shaking.


    Without a second thought, Xylia shook off Sonny¡¯s hand.


    <b>11:41 </b><b>Sat</b>, <b>Sep </b>27


    Connor frowned at Xylia, a bit put off by how cold she was acting.


    ¡°Xylia, even though we¡¯re divorced, Sonny is still your kid. You can¡¯t be this heartless to him,¡± Connor said, his voice tinged with frustration.


    Just as Xylia was about to respond, Joshua let out a low chuckle, his eyes filled with sarcasm.


    ¡°Did you forget about that custody termination agreement you signed when you two split? Just wiped it from your memory, huh?¡± Joshua said, his tone dripping with mockery.


    Back when Xylia and Connor split up, full custody of Sonny went to Connor.


    And, to make sure Xylia couldn¡¯t ever try to im Sonny as her son again, Sonny made Connor push her into signing a family severance agreement.


    There were two copies of the agreement.


    One of them was still sitting in Xylia¡¯s filing cab.


    Connor red at Joshua, his tone icy. ¡°Mr. Garcia, this is my personal business. You really have no ce to speak up here.¡±


    No matter how you spin it, Xylia was my wife for eight years. That kind of connection¨Cno piece of paper could ever truly cut those ties.


    With all that history, Joshua would always be the outsider¨Cend of story.


    A sh of arrogance crossed Connor¡¯s face as he looked at Joshua, almost smug, eyes full of contempt.


    Joshua¡¯s face was stone cold, about to say something, but Xylia stepped up, ring at Connor with icy eyes.


    ¡°If this is your so¨Ccalled family business, then keep it to your damn selves. I¡¯m not Xylia Schultz anymore- I¡¯ve got zero ties to you or your kid. We¡¯re outsiders, we helped out today, but you can¡¯t even be bothered to thank us. And now you wanna act all entitled? Nobody owes you anything,¡± Xylia snapped back, her words sharp as knives.


    After that rant, Xylia grabbed Joshua¡¯s hand and marched out.


    ¡°Seriously, like anyone¡¯s dying to clean up your family¡¯s mess,¡± she threw over her shoulder, full of contempt.


    She threw ¡®your family this, your family that, we¡¯re just outsiders¡® in his face over and over.


    She was drawing the line for good¨Ccutting all ties with them and making it clear she was backing Joshua all the way.


    Xylia¡¯s obvious siding with Joshua instantly sent Connor¡¯s temper through the roof.


    He lowered his gaze to Sonny, his face darkening with fury.


    ¡°So, you ran away from home, huh? Think you¡¯re some kind of big shot now?¡± Connor said coldly.


    <b>11:42 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>


    Sonny turned his head away, acting like Connor didn¡¯t even exist.


    ¡°Just stay out here and don¡¯t make a scene!¡± Connor tossed over his shoulder.


    He went with the cops inside to figure out what was going on.


    Xylia storied out with Joshua, but she was still fuming inside.


    ¡®Seriously, I just can¡¯t stand seeing Joshua get bullied like that, she thought, her anger simmering.


    ¡®I should¡¯ve pped that jerk across the face right then and there!¡® she cursed herself.


    ¡®Damn it, I¡¯m really regretting not doing it now!¡® she grumbled.


    Suddenly, Xylia halted, spun on her heel, and stormed back toward the police station.


    Joshua pulled her back before she could get far.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± he said, blocking her path.


    ¡°I just realized I forgot to p that bastard!¡± Xylia snapped, frustration zing in her eyes.


    Joshua was momentarily stunned.


    Then he let out a low chuckle and gave Xylia a little tug, pulling her back to his side.


    Xylia looked up, her gaze meeting his eyes¨Ceyes that sparkled like the night sky.


    ¡°Are you mad?¡± Joshua asked, his voice gentle.


    Xylia frowned, her brows furrowing. ¡°Don¡¯t pay any mind to what Connor said. They¡¯re the real outsiders!¡±


    She didn¡¯t want Joshua getting all up in his head, or holding onto any of that crap Connor said and letting it mess with their future together.


    Honestly, every time Xylia actually lost her cool, it was pretty much always to stand up for him.


    Damn, just like that, all his anger was gone.


    Back in the station, he¡¯d seriously been ready toy Connor out.


    But seeing Xylia go to bat for him like that? It made Joshua feel all warm inside¨Cand twisted as it was, he couldn¡¯t help but be a little grateful to Connor for giving him the chance to see this side of her.


    Seeing Xylia stand up for him like that, Joshua couldn¡¯t help but feel a little grateful¨Che never thought he¡¯d get to see this caring side of her.


    Joshua smiled, ¡°Honestly, I did care at first. But with you defending me like that? I don¡¯t even mind it anymore.¡±


    He wrapped an arm around Xylia and led her out of the police station.


    <b>11:42 </b><b>Sat</b>, <b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>


    Xylia watched Joshua closely, trying to spot any trace of anger. When she saw none, she finally breathed easy,


    She couldn¡¯t care less about whatever trouble Sonny had gotten himself into.


    All she wished for was to never have anything to do with that father and son duo ever again.


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    Xylia filled Josie in on the details of her meeting with Richard.


    At the start of the partnership, the designers needed toe up with a n. Xylia handed this task to Josie, asking her to discuss it with the designers and present her with a preliminary proposal.


    Josie agreed.


    Grace had been discharged from the hospital and nned to stay in Jupiton for a couple more days before heading back.


    Joshua had been busy these past few days, so Xylia didn¡¯t bother him much and focused on her own work.


    In her spare time, she nned to design qipao and Tang suits for her mentors.


    She visited Grace¡¯s ce to take their measurements and got started on some draft designs.


    Since the Garcia family estate didn¡¯t have any art supplies like sketch boards, she sketched out some initial ideas on her tablet.


    The designs wouldn¡¯t be ready anytime soon; she¡¯d have to wait until she got back to Norhill to start working on them.


    So she wasn¡¯t in a rush.


    Remembering Joshua had a lunch break on his schedule, Xylia rolled up her sleeves and whipped up a meal for him, delivering it herself.


    She didn¡¯t give him a heads¨Cup beforehand.


    ¡®If Joshua knew I was messing around in the kitchen, he¡¯d just start nagging again, Xylia thought. ¡®Might as well do it first and tell himter¨Cat least that¡¯ll cut down on the lecture.


    As Xylia reached the bottom of the stairs, she bumped into Richard, who was clearly here to see Joshua too.


    Richard spotted her and greeted her with a friendly smile.


    ¡°Here to see Joshua too?¡± he asked.


    He nced at the lunchbox in Xylia¡¯s hands and teased, ¡°Bringing lunch for Joshua, huh? You two sure seem close.¡±


    Xylia smiled. ¡°Yeah. Are you here to talk to Joshua about something?¡±


    ¡®Funny, I don¡¯t remember seeing Richard on Joshua¡¯s schedule today,¡® Xylia wondered to herself, a little. surprised.


    Richard¡¯s smile stayed pleasant.


    11:42 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>27


    2255 volchera


    ¡°Yeah, it was kind ofst minute¨CI just have something to discuss with him. Let¡¯s go up together,¡± Richard said.


    Xylia nodded.


    Even though he said it was spur of the moment, Xylia guessed Richard had probably given Joshua¡¯s secretary a heads¨Cup beforeing over.


    She shrugged it off.


    Xylia followed Richard into the elevator.


    Xylia and Richard were the only ones in the elevator.


    But after just a couple floors, something went wrong¨Cthe elevator suddenly jerked to a stop.


    It screeched to a halt between the tenth and eleventh floors, and the jolt threw Xylia hard against the wall, her stomach lurching with that terrifying drop.


    The lights flickered wildly, and the air felt instantly sucked out of the ustrophobic box. Just like back then¡­ when the Ford family locked me up in that attic,¡® Xylia thought, panic surging.


    Richard¡¯s figure blurred as Xylia¡¯s vision swam.


    ¡°Xylia? Xylia?¡± Richard¡¯s voice echoed in her ears, sounding distant and fuzzy¨Clike he was calling her from another world, she realized.


    Richard mmed the emergency button, urgency in his voice as he called out to her: ¡°Xylia!¡±


    Xylia could vaguely hear someone calling her name, and little by little, she managed to pull herself back together.


    Thankfully, the lights stayed on, so she didn¡¯tpletely freak out. ¡®At least I¡¯m not totally losing it, she told herself, taking a deep breath.


    Noticing Richard looking seriously worried and holding onto her, Xylia steadied herself and offered a reassuring smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine. You should lean against the wall, too¨Cit¡¯s safer.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay? You really don¡¯t look well,¡± Richard asked, worry etched all over his face.


    Xylia¡¯s lips were almost white, and tiny beads of cold sweat dotted her forehead¨Cshe looked like she¡¯d just been through a nightmare.


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°Really, I¡¯m fine,¡± she insisted, trying to keep herself together.


    Richard still seemed uneasy. Instead of pressing against the wall like she¡¯d suggested, he reached out hesitantly with a tissue, gently dabbing at the sweat on her brow.


    ¡°I¡­ I can do it myself, thanks,¡± Xylia said quickly, pulling back, a little embarrassed.


    Feeling a bit embarrassed, Xylia hesitated before reaching out to take the tissue from Richard, her


    <b>11:42 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>


    movements slightly timid.


    But Richard deftly avoided her hand, not letting her take it just yet.


    ¡°Your hands are ice cold. Are you ustrophobic or something? If it gets bad, it could really be dangerous. Seriously, you can¡¯t just ignore it,¡± he said, voice gentle but obviously worried.


    No matter how softly he spoke, Richard¡¯s concern was written all over his face.


    Just as he was about to wipe her forehead again, Xylia reacted fast and snatched the tissue from him herself. ¡°I¡¯m honestly feeling a lot better now¨Creally,¡± she insisted. ¡°You should stand against the wall and wait for help. It¡¯s safer.¡±


    Richard abruptly seized her hand.


    ¡°Xylia, are you dodging me?¡± he asked, voice low and direct.


    He suddenly leaned in so close that Xylia¡¯s brows knit together in difort. ¡®Why is he getting all up in my space?¡® she wondered.


    The sound of metal groaning suddenly echoed from the elevator doors.


    Someone was forcing the doors apart, but since the elevator was wedged between the tenth and eleventh floors, only a narrow gap at the very top was open¨Cjust big enough for one person to climb through at <i>a </i>time.


    Firefighters and Joshua were crouched outside, watching the scene inside with anxious eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, we¡¯ll get you out, just one at a time,¡± a firefighter called, his voice steady and reassuring.


    He reached in, arm outstretched, ready to help them up to safety.


    Richard told Xylia to go first.


    Xylia didn¡¯t protest. As the firefighter pulled her out, Richard made sure her legs were protected, gently guiding her


    up and out of the elevator.


    Joshua reached out and took Xylia¡¯s hand, his gaze darkening as he saw how pale she looked. He didn¡¯t hesitate he was ready to drag her straight to the hospital.


    ¡°Seriously, I¡¯m okay. Just got spooked, that¡¯s all. No need for a hospital run,¡± Xylia protested, trying to hold him back.


    When she tried to grab Joshua¡¯s sleeve with her free hand, she only then realized she was still clutching the food she¡¯d brought him like her life depended on it.


    Joshua caught sight of it too, and his frown only got deeper.


    Once Richard was out, he immediately came over, giving Xylia a quick once¨Cover to check if she was really okay.


    <b>11:42 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>


    ¡°Xylia, are you alright?¡± Richard asked, his tone gentle and full of worry.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine. Really,¡± Xylia answered, forcing a casual note into her voice even though she still felt rattled inside.


    For some reason, she couldn¡¯t help but feel that Richard was purposely getting a bit too close¨Clike he was trying to close the distance between them.


    But ncing into his eyes, Xylia saw nothing but sincere concern¨Che wasn¡¯t faking it, not even a little.


    ¡®Guess I was reading too much into it and judging him unfairly, Xylia thought, feeling a little embarrassed for doubting his intentions.


    Xylia nervously tightened her grip on Joshua¡¯s hand, the uneasy feeling lingering inside her.


    Joshua nced down at Xylia, then over at Richard.


    Joshua couldn¡¯t get the image of Richard grabbing Xylia¡¯s wrist out of his head¨Cit kept reying over and


    over.


    Joshua motioned for Xylia to head upstairs with his secretary and wait for him in his office, making it clear he wanted a private word with Richard.


    Xylia felt a huge weight lift from her shoulders as she left¨Cfinally, she could breathe easy again.


    After handing the rest over to his secretary, Joshua headed over to a quiet spot with Richard.


    Joshua looked at Richard with open hostility.


    ¡°Was today your doing?¡± he demanded.


    Richard looked baffled. ¡°Mr. Garcia,e on, you¡¯re ming the wrong guy. This is yourpany, and I just happened to run into Xylia. Even if I wanted to pull something, do you really think I¡¯d have that kind of power?¡±


    Joshua cut him off, grabbed Richard by the cor, and threatened icily,


    ¡°I¡¯m warning you¨Cstay the hell away from her. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll drag you down with me,¡± Joshua growled.


    Richard just broke into a wide grin, clearly amused by Joshua¡¯s intensity.


    ¡°Drag me down with you? Mr. Garcia, you really do care about Xylia, don¡¯t you?¡± Richard taunted, his tone sly.


    ¡°Who said you could call her by that name?¡± Joshua snapped, tightening his grip.


    Richard struggled to push Joshua¡¯s hand away. ¡°Mr. Garcia, you should know by now¨Cbetween you and me, the things you treasure most are exactly what I want to destroy.¡±


    Richard stepped forward, his grin fading and a snake¨Clike chill flickering in his eyes.


    ¡°The more you care about her, the more determined I am to make sure she dies. If you don¡¯t want her to end


    <b>11:42 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>


    up dead, you¡¯d better keep your distance,¡± Richard hissed.


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    ¡°People like you¡­ you¡¯re meant to spend the rest of your life alone,¡± he spat, his words sharp with hatred.


    There was real venom in Richard¡¯s tone as he spoke.


    Having said his piece, Richard walked away without sparing Joshua another nce.


    Joshua watched as Richard walked away, his fists clenched so tight at his sides that his knuckles turned white.


    ¡®Finally¨Che¡¯s shown his true colors,¡® Joshua thought, anger burning in his chest.


    Today was just the beginning; the real face¨Coff between him and Richard had officially started.


    If only Richard knew who he was up against.


    Joshua wasn¡¯t the kind to back down¨Cno matter what.


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 Tricked 293

    <b>Chapter </b>293


    When Joshua returned to the office, Xylia had alreadyid out all the food.


    Seeing Joshuaing in looking all stern, Xylia jumped in before he could say a word.


    of fouchers


    ¡°We¡¯ve been together for ages and you¡¯ve never tried my cooking, you know. So eat up and don¡¯t hold back,¡±


    she said.


    Joshua just bit his tongue and swallowed hisints.


    He sat down right next to Xylia, taking the chopsticks she passed to him.


    ¡°You¡¯ve used up one of your five annual kitchen passes already,¡± Joshua teased.


    He was talking about how she only got to cook in the kitchen five times a year.


    Xylia let out a helpless sigh.


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    When Joshua got this stubborn, it was impossible to win against him.


    Joshua picked up a piece of ribs and took a bite.


    Xylia blinked her sparkling eyes at Joshua, watching him with clear anticipation.


    She asked, ¡°Well? Do you like it?¡±


    ¡®Wow, this <b>is </b>seriously delicious, Joshua admitted inwardly, a little surprised.


    Still, he kept his face perfectly neutral and teased, ¡°It¡¯s alright¨Cbut you know, it¡¯s still not quite as good as mine.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s smile froze for a second. She snatched the chopsticks straight out of Joshua¡¯s hand, a pout on her face. ¡°Fine, then¨Cyou can just get takeout next time.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s expression flipped in an instant. He put on a sincere face and said, ¡°No, seriously, Xylia, it¡¯s delicious! I was only teasing you.¡±


    He wrapped his arms around Xylia, gently coaxing the chopsticks back from her grasp. ¡®Better not risk her going nuclear,¡¯ he thought.


    Xylia let it slide, no longer making it difficult for him.


    Joshua gave her a piece of rib. ¡°You¡¯ve got skills, but maybe leave the cooking to someone else next time.¡±


    ¡®Okay, was that apliment or an insult?¡® Xylia thought to herself.


    Joshua mmed up right away, worried he¡¯d push her buttons if he said anything more.


    After they finished eating, Xylia was about to head out to do some shopping, but Joshua stopped her.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got work to handle soon, and I¡¯m bored just sitting around, so I¡¯ll go check out some shops, Xylia said.


    ¡°No,¡± Joshua replied, his tone unexpectedly firm.


    For once, Joshua¡¯s attitude was insistently unyielding,


    Xylia was taken aback.


    But then, Joshua cleared his throat and squeezed Xylia¡¯s hand, trying to reassure her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll finish up work real quick. Just wait for me¨CI¡¯ll be your personal bag guy when we go out,¡± he promised.


    Joshua didn¡¯t even wait for her reply; he was already out the door in a sh.


    Xylia just barely had time to blink. ¡®What¡¯s up with him today? He¡¯s acting super odd, she thought.


    And earlier, when he got back, Xylia had no idea what he and Richard talked about¨Cbut from Joshua¡¯s stormy face, it couldn¡¯t have been anything good.


    Thinking back to Joshua saying that he and Richard were basically at odds, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but worry. ¡®If Richard came all the way here to talk, it¡¯s gotta be something bad,¡¯ she thought, tension prickling at her veins.


    With a soft sigh, she obediently settled herself down in the office, deciding to wait for Joshua¡¯s return¡ªeven if it meant twiddling her thumbs for who knows how long.


    Time crawled by. Two whole hours slipped away.


    By then, Xylia had curled up on the sofa and drifted off to sleep.


    In her dream, she saw Joshua lying on the street, covered in blood.


    This time, there was no one around to save him.


    Xylia rushed over, shouting his name, but Joshua couldn¡¯t hear her. She tried to grab him, but her hands just went right through his body.


    Suddenly, a pack of tattooed street thugs wielding knives and iron rods marched over, surrounding Joshua, who was huddled and bleeding in the gutter. With brutal force, they swung their weapons down at him.


    ¡°No!¡± Xylia cried out, snapping awake.


    Xylia jolted awake, her forehead slick with cold sweat.


    The office was kept at a perfect temperature¨Cair conditioning steady, afternoon sunlight filling the space with warmth¨Cbut her whole body still felt chilled to the bone.


    The nightmare¡¯s images wouldn¡¯t stop haunting her, heart pounding in her chest. She was breathless, like she¡¯d just barely surfaced for air¨Cher body wracked with lingering dread and panic.


    Joshua still hadn¡¯te back.


    Just as Xylia was about to head out, Joshua walked in through the door.


    Seeing Xylia looking all flustered, Joshua asked, ¡°What¡¯s up? You gotta use the bathroom?¡±


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    But when Xylia saw Joshua standing right there, safe and sound, the panic that had been gripping her started to fade.


    She shook her head. ¡°No, I just wanted to see when you¡¯d be back.¡±


    Joshua could tell something was off with Xylia.


    He studied her face, noticing how pale she was, and saw her lips and cyshes trembling¨Cshe genuinely looked scared out of her wits.


    His gut reaction was to me Richard, that bastard.


    Joshua held Xylia¡¯s cold hand tightly. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on? You look seriously shaken¨Cdid something happen?¡±


    Xylia shook her head.


    ¡°Really, it¡¯s nothing,¡± Xylia brushed him off, forcing a faint smile and quietly telling herself to get it together.


    ¡®Just a stupid nightmare, that¡¯s all,¡® she thought, trying to shake off the lingering fear.


    But ncing at Joshua standing here alive and well, she finally exhaled the tension she¡¯d been holding in.


    Right then, Xylia felt a surge of gratitude toward her younger self¨Cthat she¡¯d actually stepped up and dragged Joshua out of trouble on that street overseas, way back when.


    But Joshua kept pressing her, unwilling to back down.


    ¡°Come on, tell me. What¡¯s really going on? Did someone threaten you?¡± he asked, anxious.


    ¡°No,¡± Xylia replied, casting him a confused look. ¡°Why would anyone threaten me?¡±


    Seeing she was being honest, Joshua finally let out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°I was just worried about you, that¡¯s all,¡± he admitted.


    He couldn¡¯t bring himself to tell Xylia about Richard¡¯s problems. She was someone who belonged in the sunshine, far away from that sort of darkness.


    Joshua gently pulled Xylia into his embrace.


    ¡°I¡¯m all yours now, let¡¯s go shopping together,¡± he said with a warm smile.


    Xylia gripped Joshua¡¯s sleeve tightly, her pale fingertips betraying her unease.


    11:42 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>27 </b>


    ¡°I don¡¯t really feel like shopping anymore. If you¡¯re finished, let¡¯s just head home,¡± she said softly.


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    The sun was setting, and Xylia really didn¡¯t want Joshua to be outside anymore¨Cshe just wanted him <i>to </i>stay


    with her.


    The lingering fear refused to fade. Even with Joshua¡¯s steady heartbeat thumping right beside her, she found nofort¨Cinstead, the panic digging into her chest was impossible to hide.


    It was as if something huge was looming on the horizon, about to crash down at any moment.


    After Connor brought Sonny home, he basically put him on lockdown.


    Connor assigned two bodyguards to stick to Sonny like glue, keeping him under constant watch so he couldn¡¯t slip out even if he wanted to.


    Sonny was fuming inside, but with his father calling the shots, he didn¡¯t dare cause any trouble.


    Sonny slumped over his desk, half¨Clistening as his teacher rambled about Han dynasty ssics¨Cmost of it went straight over his head. But all Sonny could really think about was every small memory he had with Xylia.


    Whenever he had extra lessons, Xylia always showed up with juice and fruit, sometimes reduced his workload, and would even take him out for a breather if he was feeling overwhelmed.


    Xylia was the best cook around, and honestly, the thing Sonny looked forward to most after all his sses was her delicious dinners.


    Whenever homework got dull, she¡¯d invent little games and sneak his study material right into them¨C<b>so </b>even ying around made reviewing fun.


    Sonny missed his mom so much.


    ¡°Sonny? Sonny?¡±


    Sonny snapped back to reality at his tutor¡¯s voice. He turned and looked over, clearly distracted.


    The tutor frowned. ¡°Sonny, if you keep cking off, I¡¯m telling your dad.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead!¡± Sonny shot back, temper shing in his eyes. He grabbed his book and flung it aside, then made a break for the door.


    But just as he yanked the door open, he froze¨Cthere stood his dad, blocking the way.


    Connor was looming over him, face dark and stern, giving off that unmistakable strict¨Cdad vibe.


    Sonny was no match for his dad¡¯s intimidation tactics¨Che dropped his head and tried to look as sorry as possible.


    ¡°My bad, Dad. I¡¯ll get back to studying right now,¡± Sonny mumbled, almost whispering.


    11:42 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>27


    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Connor said, his voice calm but firm.


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    Sonny¡¯s eyes lit up. He turned to Connor, hope shining on his face. ¡°Really? Does that mean I can go out and y?¡±


    Connor didn¡¯t answer Sonny right away. Instead, he turned to the tutor. ¡°That¡¯s it for today.¡±


    Since Connor had said so, the tutor gathered his things and left.


    Connor crouched down so he was eye¨Clevel with Sonny.


    Connor asked gently, ¡°Sonny, tell me¨Cdo you want Mom toe home?¡±


    Sonny¡¯s eyes sparkled with hope. ¡°I do!¡±


    ¡®I wish for Mom toe back every night, even in my dreams,¡® Sonny thought, heart aching with longing.


    Connor let a soft smile appear at the corner of his lips. ¡°Then we¡¯ll do everything we can to bring her back.¡±


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    6743


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    On the day Joshua and Xylia nned to head back to Norhill, a heavy rainstorm hit, causing their flight to be canceled.


    Just then, Aaron called, asking Joshua to stay in Jupiton for a few more days. A major client wasing to Jupiton, and since Joshua was already there, Aaron wanted him to handle the meeting.


    Without hesitation, Joshua declined. He reminded Aaron of their previous agreement and insisted that Aarone to Jupiton to negotiate in person.


    Only then did Aaron tell Joshua that Eliza had been in a car ident in Norhill. Her leg was injured, and she was stuck in the hospital recuperating, so Aaron couldn¡¯t leave her side.


    ¡°When did this happen?¡± Joshua demanded, his voice rising despite himself.


    Joshua¡¯s face instantly darkened, brows furrowing as his temper red. ¡®No way¡­ Why now?¡® he thought, unable to keep his concern from showing.


    Xylia, who¡¯d been packing nearby, heard the tension in Joshua¡¯s voice. Realizing something serious had happened, she immediately stopped, her eyes wide with concern as she hurried over to him.


    ¡°Last night,¡± Aaron replied, sounding a little guilty. ¡°It waste, and your mom kept insisting I shouldn¡¯t tell you. She didn¡¯t want you to worry about her.¡±


    ¡°She didn¡¯t want me to know, so you just went along with it?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was sharp, his frustration clear.


    ¡°Seriously, don¡¯t worry,¡± Aaron reassured him. ¡°It¡¯s just a minor leg injury. A few days in the hospital and she¡¯ll be just fine.¡±


    Joshua fell silent for a moment before asking, ¡°Who was the driver?¡±


    ¡°I know what you¡¯re getting at,¡± Aaron said, voice low. The background sounds got noisier, making it obvious he was at the hospital, probably ducking out so Eliza wouldn¡¯t overhear their conversation.


    ¡°It was just some guy runningte for work¨Cpanicked and mmed the gas instead of the brake,¡± Aaron exined. ¡°He hit your mom on the sidewalk, but another car was making an illegal U¨Cturn and crashed into his vehicle, which softened the blow. That¡¯s why your mom ended up not being seriously hurt.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound like something Richard would pull,¡± Joshua said under his breath.


    Joshua asked Xylia to grab him a ss of water.


    Once she was gone, Joshua lowered his voice. ¡°Richard¡¯s in Jupiton now. He¡¯s already getting close to Xylia. If he wants to go after you, he¡¯ll probably use Eliza as his way in. Watch your back.¡±


    Aaron¡¯s voice grew noticeably more somber.


    ¡°Got it,¡± Aaron replied.


    11:42 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>


    After a moment of thought, Joshua added, ¡°Dad, find a reason to get Noelle back to Jupiton¡±


    ¡°What are you nning?¡± Aaron asked, clearly curious.


    74


    ¡°Since Noelle¡¯s in cahoots with Richard, I can use her to find out what he¡¯s really nning,¡± Joshua exined.


    ¡°Got it. Watch your back out there in Jupiton,¡± Aaron said.


    After he hung up, Xylia walked in holding a ss of water and passed it to Joshua.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes were full of worry as she asked, ¡°Did something happen?¡± Her voice was gentle but anxious.


    She hadn¡¯t fully heard the call, but the words ¡°car ident¡± had sent her heart racing.


    Joshua quickly shared with Xylia everything Aaron had told him about Eliza¡¯s ident, his own worry hidden beneath the facts.


    ¡®No way¡­ Eliza got into an ident?¡® Xylia thought, her heart tightening with concern.


    Xylia asked anxiously, ¡°How did this even happen? Is she badly hurt?¡±


    Joshua took Xylia¡¯s hand, his voice gentle. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s nothing serious. I just have to stay in Jupiton for a few days before heading back to Norhill. Will you stay here with me?¡±


    ¡°But what about Eliza?¡± Xylia asked, still worried.


    ¡°My dad¡¯s with her,¡± Joshua exined, giving her hand a little shake as his voice softened into a yful plea. ¡°Just stay with me, please?¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t resist when Joshua acted like that¨Cshe could only nod. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stay.¡±


    She reached up to gently caress Joshua¡¯s cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll stay with you. Let me give Eliza a call and see how she¡¯s doing.¡±


    Joshua nodded.


    Xylia grabbed her phone and gave Eliza a call.


    Eliza picked up almost immediately. ¡°Xylia, what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Garcia, how are you feeling?¡± Xylia asked, her voice full of concern.


    Eliza¡¯s voice sounded strong and steady, which, based on Xylia¡¯s experience, meant she was doing okay.


    ¡°So you found out, huh?¡± Eliza grumbled, annoyed that Aaron couldn¡¯t keep a secret. She quickly switched to a more cheerful tone and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xylia. I just scraped my leg a bit, that¡¯s all. Couple days in the hospital and I¡¯ll be good as new. I told Aaron not to tell you guys, but I swear, he just can¡¯t keep his mouth shut.¡±


    ¡°Eliza, please don¡¯t downy it,¡± Xylia replied, sounding genuinely concerned. ¡°A car ident <b>is </b>serious stuff. You really should¡¯ve let Joshua know.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s voice had a firm, serious note to it.


    :


    Elizaughed softly, trying to put Xylia at ease. ¡°Okay, okay, don¡¯t worry. I really do know. You¡¯re right¡±


    Xylia chatted with Eliza a little longer, gently pressing to make sure she was truly alright. Only after she felt relieved did she finally hand the phone over to Joshua.


    When Eliza spoke to Joshua, she turned into ssic Eliza¨Cno more gentle talk.


    ¡°You little punk! Take good care of my daughter¨Cinw, you got that?¡± Eliza snapped. ¡°If I <i>see </i>Xylia even a pound lighter next time, don¡¯t think I won¡¯t dig out my old golden cane and smack you with it!¡±


    It was obvious she was unloading all her irritation at Aaron onto Joshua.


    Joshua guessed Aaron probably ducked out to avoid the storm when he realized Xylia was calling Eliza.


    All Joshua could do was mumble his agreement, going ¡°yes, ma¡¯am, of course¡± until he could finally hang up.


    Xylia grinned at Joshua, teasing him. ¡°Eliza¡¯s got you whipped, huh? I¡¯ve never seen you act so humble.¡±


    Joshua raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh?¡±


    He feigned deep thought and shot her a sly look. ¡°Pretty sure every time I beg you for something, I¡¯m just as much of a pushover.¡±


    Xylia blushed instantly, her ears turning red all the way to the tips. Then she gave Joshua a firm smack on the


    arm.


    ¡°Enough with the useless teasing,¡± she shot back, though she couldn¡¯t hide her smile. ¡°Go fetch the things you just packed up.¡±


    ¡°Yes, boss wife!¡± Joshua replied with a yful salute.


    Xylia shoved Joshua¡¯s head aside, her cheeks burning as she slipped out of the bedroom.


    As she reached the bottom of the stairs, one of the servants rushed over.


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, there¡¯s a kid outside named Sonny. He says he¡¯s your son and wants to see you,¡± the servant announced, a little flustered.


    Xylia¡¯s brows furrowed in suspicion.


    Joshua had always said the Garcia family kept a low profile, rarely hosted any events, so barely anyone even knew where the old Garcia family estate was.


    ¡®How on earth did Sonny figure that out?¡® Xylia wondered, a wave of unease passing over her.


    ¡®And why did hee looking for me now?¡® she thought, feeling even more unsettled.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t stand anyone from the Ford family¨Cnot even her own son.


    11:42 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>27


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    ¡°Just have the driver drop him off at the Garcia family estate. I don¡¯t want himing inside,¡± Xylia said, voice icy and unyielding.


    The servant hesitated. ¡°He seemed really sick, so I thought I should let him in.¡±


    That was when Xylia noticed the little boy curled up tight on the living room sofa.


    Sonny¡¯s face was burning red, and his small features were scrunched up in obvious pain.


    ¡°Mommy¡­ Mommy¡­¡± he whimpered, barely audible.


    Xylia frowned, uneasy and reluctant, but after a moment she walked over and pressed her palm against Sonny¡¯s forehead, her mind torn between annoyance and worry.


    ¡®Damn, he¡¯s burning up, Xylia thought, feeling the heat against her skin.


    ¡®He¡¯s definitely running a fever,¡® she realized, concern cutting through her resistance.


    Xylia acted quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll apply a fever patch for him. Go call the driver¨Cwe¡¯ll have him taken to the hospital


    soon.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± the servant replied and hurried out.


    The servant left the room.


    Xylia quickly grabbed the first aid kit and applied a fever patch to Sonny¡¯s forehead.


    He was feverish all over; despite her reluctance, Xylia moistened a cloth with alcohol and carefully wiped down his body to lower his temperature.


    ¡°Mommy¡­ please¡­ don¡¯t leave¡­¡± Sonny whimpered, voice barely a whisper, his tiny hand shooting out to grab Xylia¡¯s sleeve, clutching with all the strength he had left.


    Xylia¡¯s heart squeezed tight as she felt his desperate grip¨Cshe couldn¡¯t help but pause, her annoyance wavering in the face of his raw need.


    Xylia looked down at Sonny¡¯s little face. He was her son¨Cher own for seven years, someone she¡¯d once loved dearly. But now, she couldn¡¯t muster even a trace of sympathy for him.


    If it were any random kid lying there sick, her heart would be racing with concern.


    But with her own flesh and blood right in front of her, she didn¡¯t feel worried at all.


    ¡®When did my heart turn this cold?¡® Xylia thought, a flicker of guilt passing through her.


    Sonny opened his eyes groggily, and when he saw Xylia right there beside him, it felt just like those old days¡ª her taking care of him whenever he was sick.


    A wave of relief came over him, and he clung to Xylia¡¯s hand, like he never wanted to let go.


    ¡°Mommy¡­ you finally want to talk to me again.¡±

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    Xylia didn¡¯t pull her hand away; she just gazed at him coolly.


    ¡°How did you get here?¡± she asked.


    ording to the servant, Sonny had found this ce on his own. But how did he even know where to go?


    Sonny was the Ford family¡¯s only heir. Given how sick he was, there was no way they¡¯d just let him roam free without knowing where he was.


    Too many questions were swirling in Xylia¡¯s mind.


    A flicker of panic shed in Sonny¡¯s eyes.


    Sonny looked a little flustered. ¡°I overheard Dad in the study mention you were staying here, so I snuck out to find you,¡± he admitted quietly.


    Xylia didn¡¯t miss the way Sonny moved.


    After looking after Sonny all these years, she could read his little habits like a book.


    Just watching him nervously grab at his shirt, she knew right away he was making things up.


    She didn¡¯t call him out on his lie and simply pulled her hand free from his grasp.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a fever. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to take you to the hospital, and I¡¯ll tell your dad so he cane see you. Don¡¯t run off from home again,¡± she said seriously.


    Sonny couldn¡¯t believe it¡ªeven though he was burning up with fever, Xylia didn¡¯t seem to care at all and just wanted to kick him out.


    He grabbed her hand tightly, desperation in his grip.


    ¡°Mom, are you really going to leave me behind? Howe you don¡¯t care about me anymore? I¡¯m your son,¡± Sonny said, his voice trembling.


    His cheeks were burning hot from the fever, tears rolling down his face.


    He looked just like a poor kid left all alone by his parents.


    He looked so pitiful that anyone else watching would¡¯ve felt instantly sorry for Sonny.


    But Xylia¡¯s heart stayed cold¨Cshe didn¡¯t feel even the slightest bit of sympathy.


    She slowly pulled her hand away.


    Sonny was just a kid, after all, and it wasn¡¯t hard for Xylia to break free from his grip.


    ¡°Mom!¡± Sonny cried out through sobs, his voice cracking.


    Sommy burst into tears.


    Seeing Xylia stand up to leave, he scrambled off the couch, trying to follow her.


    His steps were unsteady, and he was crying so hard it was almost impossible to breathe, hupping between sobs.


    Joshua strolled downstairs, only to walk right into this emotional mess.


    The moment he spotted Sonny at the estate, a chill shed through his eyes.


    Hardly anyone in the upper crust even had a clue where the Garcia family estate was hidden.


    So how did Sonny make his way here?


    Stomping down the stairs, Joshua reached out and forcefully pulled Sonny away from Xylia.


    Xylia¡¯s chill towards Sonny was nothingpared to how cold¨Cblooded Joshua could be.


    He didn¡¯t care one bit that Sonny was bawling his eyes out, or that he was just a helpless kid.


    Joshua grabbed Sonny¡¯s arm, his tone icy and fierce.


    ¡°How did you get here?¡± Joshua demanded.


    Sonny was so startled by Joshua¡¯s fierce re that he froze mid¨Csob, then immediately started bawling even louder.


    Joshua had zero patience for this. ¡°Shut up! Keep crying, and I¡¯ll throw you out!¡± he snapped.


    Sonny finally stopped wailing, but he just couldn¡¯t stop hupping and sniffling.


    His gaze instinctively went to Xylia, but she didn¡¯t even look his way, just turning her head aside.


    It was clear as day¨Cshe was on Joshua¡¯s side.


    Sonny felt utterly crushed. With his head hung low and sniffling, he repeated the same exnation he¡¯d just given Xylia, now to Joshua.


    Joshua scoffed, a mocking smirk on his lips.


    ¡°Your dad? He¡¯s a loser¨Che isn¡¯t even qualified to know where the Garcia family estate is. Lie to me again and I¡¯ll dump you out behind the house. The guard dogs out there? They¡¯ll tear you apart before you can even scream.¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was icy, every word a threat.


    He spoke with a chilling indifference.


    Sonny¡¯s imagination ran wild¨Che could practically see himself getting gobbled up by some huge beast.


    Panicking, he struggled and cried out, ¡°No! I don¡¯t want to get eaten! Let me go!¡± The thought alone made his heart race with fear.


    <b>11:43 </b><b>Sat</b>, <b>Sep </b>27


    ¡°Tell the truth?¡± Joshta snapped, his tone turning even colder.


    Joshua¡¯s voice was downright icy now, sending chills down Sonny¡¯s spine.


    Terrified of Joshua, Sonny hesitated for a moment before finally blurting out how he got here.


    ¡°Dad¡¯s friend brought me. He told me he could take me to Mom, so I came, Sonny mumbled, his voice trembling.


    <b>¡°</b>Who is this friend of your dad¡¯s?¡± Joshua demanded, his voice ice cold,


    ¡°I don¡¯t know his name. I just call him Uncle Richard,¡± Sonny answered, barely above a whisper.


    ¡®Richard? No way¨CRichard!¡® Xylia¡¯s eyes shot wide open.


    Of all people, it¡¯s actually Richard?¡® Xylia¡¯s heart skipped a beat, shock hitting her hard.


    Xylia¡¯s gaze sharpened¨Cthe surprise was all over her face.


    ¡®Even if I was slow to catch on, I¡¯d know something¡¯s seriously wrong here, Xylia thought, a chill running down her spine.


    Joshua had always said Richard was nothing but trouble¨C<i>a </i>full¨Con enemy. Now, after showing up way too oftentely, Richard had gone as far as to drop Sonny off here himself, like he was making a point.


    That move practically screamed provocation¨CRichard was clearly trying to get under Joshua¡¯s skin.


    If anything, Joshua wasn¡¯t even fazed.


    The moment Sonny showed up at the door, Joshua instantly guessed Richard must¡¯ve been behind it- nothing slipped past him.


    After all, there were barely a handful of people in Jupiton who knew the location of the Garcia family estate, and really, no one else would dare turn up unannounced except Richard.


    Sonny was just a kid¨Cno one in their right mind would use him for something like this.


    If Sonny could name Richard without a hitch, then Richard sent him here on purpose. This was his way of flipping the warning right in Joshua¡¯s face.


    Richard had all sorts of tricks up his sleeve to mess with the Garcia family.


    Joshua¡¯s face grew colder and colder.


    His hand mped down even harder on Sonny¡¯s arm, making him wince in pain.


    Sonny¡¯s voice broke as he cried out, ¡°It hurts! Let go of me! You¡¯re such a jerk! Mom, save me!¡± ¡®Why does nobody care about me anymore?¡® Sonny thought, panic and betrayal swirling in his chest.


    Seeing Joshua get distracted for a moment, Xylia rushed over and grabbed his hand, pulling him away and rescuing Sonny.


    <b>11:43 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>


    ¡°How did Richard even know this address<b>?</b>¡± Xylia asked.


    When Joshua turned to Xylia, heposed himself.


    The icy glint in his eyes dissipated, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.


    He didn¡¯t answer her question¨Cinstead, he reassured her softly,


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle everything.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t shake her worries.


    But Joshua was already packing up and about to leave for work.


    The car to take Sonny to the hospital was already waiting, but Joshua said, ¡°Just call the doctor over here.¡±


    Xylia asked, ¡°So you¡¯re really not sending him off?¡±


    Joshua pulled Xylia to the side.


    ¡°Sonny was most likely sent here by Connor. Who knows what games he¡¯s ying¨Cit¡¯s safer to keep the boy here for now,¡± Joshua said quietly.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it Richard who brought Sonny here?¡± Xylia asked, her eyebrows knitting with confusion. ¡®How did Connor get involved all of a sudden?¡® she wondered.


    ¡®I¡¯m so lost¨Chow is this about Connor now?¡® Xylia thought, her mind spinning.


    Joshua gave a littleugh and gently patted her head.


    ¡°Richard and Connor are working together.¡±


    ¡®Man, these connections are a total mess, Xylia thought, her mind tangled in knots.


    Xylia pressed her lips together, keeping quiet.


    Noticing her silence, Joshua quickly stepped in to reassure her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have someone move Sonny to another vi where he can be taken care of. You won¡¯t have to see him or worry about all this. There¡¯s a drawing board and some art supplies waiting for you in the study¨Cgo check it out when you get a chance,¡± Joshua said gently, hoping to cheer her up.


    Xylia sounded a bit disappointed. ¡°You¡¯re really not letting me tag along to work today?¡±


    ¡°Gotta meet clients today, so you¡¯re staying here,¡± Joshua said, matter¨Cof¨Cfactly.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Xylia replied, her gaze dropping to the floor, uncertain what to think.


    Joshua looked down at her, a teasing smile on his face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Can¡¯t bear to be without me?¡±


    Xylia shot him a quick nce, rolling her eyes. ¡°You wish.¡±


    <b>11:43 </b>Sat, Sep 27


    Joshua smiled, gently lifting her face and leaned in to kiss her softly on the lips.


    ¡°I know you can¡¯t bear to be away from me. When I get back, I¡¯ll bring you something really delicious,¡± Joshua teased.


    Joshua fussed and clung to Xylia for a bit, not wanting to leave her side, before he finally pulled himself away and walked out the door.


    Watching Joshua disappear out the door, Xylia felt her nerves tighten¨Cthe uneasy feeling in her heart only


    got stronger.


    She just knew deep down, the beef between Richard and Joshua wasn¡¯t just about business. There was way more to it than some corporate fight.


    Xylia was sure there was some serious bad blood between them¨Csome kind of hidden vendetta she still had no clue about.


    As she remembered the Prairie Rose deal she¡¯d been talking over with Richard the past few days, Xylia absently fiddled with the edge of her shirt.


    ¡®It¡¯s time to make a choice,¡® Xylia thought, her mind running in circles.

 Tricked 296

    <b>Chapter </b>296


    As Sonny was being led away by the servants to another vi, he started throwing a tantrum, insisting that Xylia had toe with him.


    Xylia¡¯s ears were aching from his constant wailing, and when she saw Sonny looking like he might faint from crying, she told the servants to put him down.


    Once he was free, Sonny staggered over to Xylia.


    He immediately wrapped his arms tightly around Xylia¡¯s leg.


    ¡°Mommy, please forgive me. I was wrong. I promise I won¡¯t say I don¡¯t want you ever again. You¡¯re my only mommy,¡± Sonny sobbed.


    He was crying his eyes out, and every word out of his mouth was the sweetest kind of pleading.


    Even his words were so soft and adorable, it was hard not to want to give in.


    If Sonny had said something like this before she left the Ford family, she would¡¯ve happily forgiven him in a heartbeat.


    But now, she just couldn¡¯t do it anymore.


    ¡®It¡¯s all toote now,¡® Xylia thought to herself, a heavy sense of finality settling in her chest.


    She knelt down so she was eye level with Sonny, meeting his tear¨Csoaked gaze.


    She remembered when Sonny was just born¨Ctiny, wrinkled, eyes squeezed shut, and honestly, she¡¯d found him a little funny¨Clooking at first.


    But he changed so quickly¨Cevery single day, he grew softer and fairer. When he finally opened those beautiful, crystal¨Cclear eyes, it was like gazing at a little angel dropped straight from the heavens.


    Back then, Xylia¡¯s heart overflowed with motherly affection. She¡¯d cradle Sonny for hours on end, and even when her arms started aching, she still couldn¡¯t bring herself to put him down.


    The very same son she was afraid would break in her hands or melt on her tongue¨Cher whole world once- had ended up driving knife after knife into her heart.


    The wounds in her heart had scarred over, only to be torn open again and again. Each time, the jagged marks left behind never truly faded¨Cthey were just part of her now.


    She could let those painful memories go and make Sonny her son again.


    But inside, it still didn¡¯t sit right. She couldn¡¯t help feeling cheated, as if she was betraying herself¨Cand worst of all, she¡¯d be failing Joshua.


    She gently took Sonny¡¯s small hand, her voice barely above a whisper.


    11:43 <b>Sat</b>, Sep <b>27 </b>


    ¡°You might not get this right now, Sonny, but not every mistake can be erased with an apology, I¡¯m not going to forgive you,¡± Xylia said, her tone steady but cold.


    ¡°Just remember¨CI¡¯ve already been the mother you always wanted. From now on, you and I are done,¡± she finished.


    Sonny didn¡¯t really understand everything Xylia said, but he knew exactly what she meant by ¡°we¡¯re done¡°¨C that their bond was over.


    Mom still refused to forgive him.


    ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m sorry¡­ please, can¡¯t you forgive me? I can¡¯t live without you!¡± Sonny begged, his voice shaking with sobs.


    He gripped Xylia¡¯s hand tight, like it was hisst lifeline.


    Xylia kept her tone ice¨Ccold, ignoring Sonny¡¯s pleas. ¡°When you¡¯re back with the Ford family, don¡¯t evere looking for me again. You¡¯ll have a mom, but it won¡¯t ever be me.¡±


    As soon as she finished, she let go of Sonny¡¯s hand and got to her feet without a second thought, nodding for the servants to take him out.


    No matter how hard Sonny struggled and cried, Xylia remainedpletely unmoved, her heart shut tight.


    The servants couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of sympathy. Sonny was her own flesh and blood¨Cno matter how deep the conflict, it was hard to imagine any mother being this ruthless.


    They¡¯d worked at the Garcia family estate for years, and at that moment, everyone quietly reached the same conclusion.


    Xylia was definitely not someone you¡¯d ever want to cross.


    The living room fell silent again.


    After hearing what Joshua said, Xylia made her way to the study.


    The Garcia family¡¯s study was huge, with towering bookshelves lining every wall, packed with all sorts of books¨Csome real treasures among them.


    The room was defined by its ssic solid wood finish, giving it a vibe that was both refined and impressive.


    The only thing that didn¡¯t quite match the study¡¯s style was the area by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows that had clearly been set aside for something else.


    There, a small patch of soft carpet wasid out with an easel, fine paper, an array of paints and brushes, and even a tiny little stool.


    Joshua had set up all of this himself.


    Xylia felt her heart turn unbelievably soft when she saw all of this; she just wanted to hold the man who always understood her.


    <b>11:43 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>


    ??


    But instead of heading to that little creative corner, she sat down at the desk and opened theptop Joshua had set up for her, then sent a message to Lily.


    She gave Lily a quick update on the project¡¯s progress and asked if, going forward, they could keep all projectmunication between just the two of them.


    Lily didn¡¯t respond right away, so after sending the message, Xylia simply closed the chat window.


    Since Joshua and Richard were basically at each other¡¯s throats, Xylia wanted nothing to do with Richard anymore¨Cshe didn¡¯t want to make things any tougher for Joshua.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for the initial contract already being signed for this project, she would¡¯ve dropped the whole partnership without a second thought.


    Richard was out on the golf course when he got Lily¡¯s message.


    Holt leaned in and said, ¡°Xylia¡¯s made it clear¨Cshe doesn¡¯t want to work with you anymore.¡±


    After sinking a hole¨Cin¨Cone, Richard let a chilling smile y at his lips.


    It wasn¡¯t the kind of smile that warmed a room¨Cinstead, it was that icy curve Holt knew all too well. The sort that signaled trouble, maybe even something deadly.


    ¡°Xylia, you¡¯re really something else,¡± Richard muttered, his tone loaded with dark amusement.


    He shed back to that day at the Garcia Group¡¯s elevator¨Cshe¡¯d been so shaken, keeping her distance like he was radioactive.


    ¡®Was it just shyness, or was she worried Joshua would get the wrong idea?¡® Richard wondered to himself.


    ¡®Are those two really that tough to shake?¡® Richard mused, a hint of cynicism in his eyes.


    ¡°Have Lily message her back, and send her over to Alvend right away. From now on, she¡¯ll handle everything with Xylia,¡± Richard ordered, not leaving any room for discussion.


    Holt just frowned and nodded.


    After messaging Lily, Holt just couldn¡¯t hold back and asked, ¡°Boss, what about your n?¡±


    Richard replied, ¡°Just because Lily¡¯s handling the negotiations doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t show up, right?¡±


    Then he shot Holt a ¡°Are you actually serious?¡± kind of look.


    Holt dropped his gaze, thinking, ¡®Why does this make me feel like such a doormat?¡®


    He was already bringing the deal to their doorstep, and now he still had to dance to all their tunes?


    Joshua arrived at the golf course, striding straight over to where Richard was waiting.


    11:43 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>27


    Richard set his club aside and shed Joshua a smile.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, you finally decided to show up. Two hourste, huh?¡± Richard teased, eyebrow raised.


    He¡¯d arranged to meet with Joshua today.


    ??


    After dropping Sonny off at the Garcia family estate, Richard was certain Joshua would make an appearance- so he didn¡¯t mind hanging around those extra two hours.


    He didn¡¯t seem the least bit annoyed.


    Joshua, on the other hand, was all ice, his gaze fixed on Richard with a hint of something dangerous simmering just beneath the surface.


    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you leave?¡± Joshua asked, his voice low and sharp.


    ¡°I knew you¡¯d show up eventually, Mr. Garcia. Two hours isn¡¯t that long to wait. Besides, I got in a few extra rounds,¡± Richard replied, his tone casual, like he didn¡¯t have a care in the world.


    Joshua stood there with his hands stuffed in his pockets, the scorching sun zing down on his silver hair. Shadows from those icy strands fell across his eyes, making his whole presence feel dark, cold, and intimidating.


    ¡°Richard, since you want to y, I¡¯ll y with you,¡± Joshua said, his tone frosty, pure challengeced in every word.


    He strode forward, stopping right in front of Richard, a cold, razor¨Csharp smirk curling at his lips.


    ¡°All these years, you¡¯ve been nothing but a worthless nobody, hiding out in Daltonia just like your father- scared of the light. You really think you can pull strings and walk out of Jupiton without a scratch?¡± Joshua spat, every syble a calcted insult.


    Every word out of Joshua¡¯s mouth was brutal, hitting Richard right where it hurt most.


    Richard¡¯s smirk faded, his jaw tightening.


    Joshua kept going,pletely unbothered. ¡°Your father¡¯s been waiting for you for ages. Maybe it¡¯s time you went to pay him your respects.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare talk about my father!¡± Richard snapped, his face twisting with anger.


    The smile vanished from Richard¡¯s face, and those usually gentle features took on a hardened edge, making him look downright cold and sinister.


    Joshua narrowed his eyes, voice filled with icy usation. ¡°You set up my mom¡¯s car ident, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Richard¡¯s face flickered, unease shing through his eyes as he hurried to deny it. ¡°I was in Jupiton¨Chow could I possibly hurt your mom?¡±


    ¡°Younded my mom in the hospital, so I dug up your dad¡¯s ashes and tossed them to the chickens. Consider it payback,¡± Joshua sneered, every word a deliberate insult.


    <b>11:43 </b>Sat<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>


    <b>C </b>


    ¡°What the hell did you just say?¡± Richard practically shouted, eyes zing with fury as his fists clenched tight at his sides.


    Joshua red back at him, his jet¨Cck eyes cold and merciless¨Cthere was nothing but emptiness in that


    stare.


    ¡°If you want a war, let¡¯s do it for real. This time, I¡¯m not letting you get away,¡± Joshua said, every word dripping with icy resolve.


    <b>AD </b>

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    <b>Chapter </b>297


    After Joshua left, Richard looked like he was about to explode with rage.


    A


    You think you¡¯ve won? The game¡¯s far from over. One day, I¡¯ll have you on your knees begging me!¡® Richard hissed under his breath.


    Holt noticed Richard¡¯s phone lighting up and handed it over.


    Richard¡¯s eyes narrowed as he read the message.


    ¡°What the hell is Noelle doing in Jupiton? She should¡¯ve just stayed in Norhill,¡± Richard muttered.


    Richard shot Holt a look that said ¡®You gotta be kidding me, are you really that dumb?¡®


    Holt mulled it over and said, ¡°Who knows, maybe the Garcia Group¡¯s secrets are stashed at the family estate.¡±


    Richard¡¯s expression shifted¨Chis mood visibly perked up, clearly relieved as the idea sank in.


    Night had fallen, and the Schultz Vi shone brightly against the darkness.


    Moonlight flowed through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, mixing seamlessly with the bright lights inside.


    The atmosphere in the living room was tense.


    Ziggy sat on the sofa, his hands pressed against his forehead. Yves wore a stern expression, while Gia silently wiped away tears.


    ¡°That bitch! She waltzes back to Norhill and cozies up to some big shot, now she turns around and stabs us in the back? After all these years of us raising her, does she even realize without us, God knows where she¡¯d be now!¡± Yves spat.


    He grunted loudly.


    ¡°I always knew Xylia was ungrateful. When she was married to Connor, she wouldn¡¯t even consider helping the Schultz Group unless we begged her for it. Now that she¡¯s the Sadler family¡¯s precious daughter, she acts like she¡¯s way above us!¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯d known things would turn out like this, I would¡¯ve kicked her out of the Schultz family a long time ago!¡±


    ¡°Tessa¡¯s locked up, and now the Schultz Group is falling apart¡­ What are we even supposed to do next?¡± Yvesmented, his voice heavy with despair.


    Gia started sobbing uncontrobly.


    Just a little while ago, Ziggy had managed to pull the Schultz Group back from the brink, even if only for a


    short time.


    <b>11:43 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>


    FA


    5 Vouchers


    No matter where Gia went¨Cespecially those mahjong games with the high societydies<b>¨C</b>she¡¯d get showered with endless ttery.


    They all gushed, ¡°You really hit the jackpot with your son. He¡¯s a business prodigy, snatching the Schultz Group out of bankruptcy like it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Their praisesnded in her ears one after another, sparkling like strings of pearls.


    But now, the Schultz Group¡¯s stock was crashing harder than ever¨Ceven more brutal thanst time.


    And all thosedies who used to shower her with praise? They literally ghosted her when it came to card


    games.


    Just picturing herself living broke, stuck in some tiny rental with nothing but home¨Ccooked meals, no facials, no poker nights¡­


    Just thinking about it made her skin crawl.


    ¡®I can¡¯t live like that!¡® she thought.


    She turned to Ziggy, desperation in her eyes. ¡°Ziggy, you¡¯ve gotta do something!¡±


    Ziggy looked up, rubbing his forehead, agitation all over his face. ¡°Mom, what do you want me to say? The Sadler Group ising at us hard, and with things like this, how am I supposed to go up against them?¡± he muttered, feeling helpless.


    Ziggy thought back to when he was in Norhill. Kaden didn¡¯t even hesitate¨Cjust offered up the cash, no questions asked. He really didn¡¯t seem like the vengeful type at all.


    ¡®It has to be Xylia. She must¡¯ve said something to Kaden, that¡¯s the only reason why the Sadler Group is suddenly trying to swallow up the Schultz Group, Ziggy mused, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips.


    He recalled that day on the food street, catching a glimpse of Xylia.


    She looked right past him, treated him like a total stranger¨Cnot even a nce his way.


    Ziggy couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®She¡¯s still pissed about what happened. Guess she believes we treated her way worse than Tessa back then.¡¯


    After all, Tessa was their flesh and blood¨Cthe real Schultz daughter. But Xylia? She had no ties to them, just a freeloader who¡¯d mooched off the family for so many years. They never once threw her out, even set her up with a golden marriage.


    ¡®We really did right by her, Ziggy thought, bitterness rising. ¡®She owes us everything!¡¯


    And what do we get in return? Not even a scrap of gratitude! Instead, she turns around and screws us over- how shameless can someone get?¡® Ziggy fumed internally.


    ¡°What are we supposed to do now?¡± Gia sobbed louder, her voice full of anguish.


    Ziggy lowered his hands and looked at his mother. ¡°Xylia¡¯s just arrived in Jupiton. If she¡¯s determined to drive


    <b>11:43 </b>Sat, Sep 27


    the Schultz family into a corner, then I won¡¯t sit back and do nothing. She¡¯ll regret crossing us.¡±


    Yves and Gia both turned to Ziggy, their eyes wide with surprise.


    ¡°Nylia¡¯s back in Jupiton?¡± they asked in unison.


    Ziggy nodded. ¡°Yeah, I ran into her. She¡¯s with Joshua now, probably staying at the Garcia family estate.¡±


    Gia ground her teeth and red, barely able to contain her anger.


    ¡°That brat¨Cshe¡¯s ying princess now, the Sadler family¡¯s precious daughter and dating Joshua! Went from nobody to queen bee, and she¡¯s got them all gunning for us. Well, it¡¯s time she learned whose turf she¡¯s messing with!¡± Gia snapped, her voice icy and fierce.


    Ziggy reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. I know exactly what to do.¡±


    By the evening, Sonny¡¯s fever had finally broken.


    The next day, he was feeling a lot better.


    Sonny kept pleading with the maids to let him see Xylia. Feeling bad for the little guy, they finally got permission and went to ask the adults.


    And when someone finally turned up, it wasn¡¯t Xylia¨Cit was Joshua who walked in instead.


    As soon as Sonny saw Joshua, fear shed across his face and he bolted to the far side of the bed, trying to keep out of sight.


    Sonny buried his head and shouted, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you! I want my mom!¡±


    Joshua dragged over a little stool and sat down right in the middle of the room, ncing coolly at Sonny.


    ¡°Don¡¯t want to see me? You¡¯re crashing at my ce, eating my food, drinking my stuff, and you still don¡¯t wanna look at me?¡± Joshua said, sounding half amused, half serious.


    ¡°Then let Mom leave with me! I won¡¯t eat a single thing from your house,¡± Sonny retorted, his voice shaky with stubbornness.


    Joshua rested his hand on his knee, absentmindedly rubbing his fingers together. ¡°I remember the first time I saw you there you were with your dad and your Tessa aunt, shouting that your mom was some homewrecker out to seduce men. Tell me, do you really think you deserve to call yourself her son after what you did?¡±


    Sonny thought back to that banquet hall¨Che and his dad really did throw those ugly words at Mom.


    Back then, Mom was so thin and fragile, standing under the harsh spotlight, everyone staring at her like she was on trialpletely alone and left out in the cold.


    Sonny felt a flicker of guilt, but he jutted out his chin, trying to sound defiant. ¡°I know I was wrong before, but


    <b>11:43 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>27 </b>


    I¡¯m her son. I apologized¨Cshe¡¯ll forgive me.¡±


    ¡°Just because you say sorry doesn¡¯t mean you deserve forgiveness,¡± Joshua shot back, his tone frosty.


    Joshua looked at him coldly. ¡°You think just sharing her DNA means she owes you everything? You¡¯re just a little brat picking on your own mom¨Cand you really believe the whole world should revolve around you?¡±


    ¡°If I have anything to say about it, she¡¯s got nothing to do with you or anyone else from the Ford family,¡± Joshua added, voice hard as steel.


    Sonny was just a kid, after all.


    ¡®I wanna talk back, but Joshua is just way too scary¡­¡® Sonny thought, shrinking away from this intimidating uncle.


    He gripped the nket with both hands; though you could see the resentment in his eyes, Sonny kept his mouth shut, not daring to speak up.


    Joshua gave up on any more pep talks and got straight to the point. ¡°Did your dad even know you came here?¡±


    Sonny stared down at the floor, shoulders slumped, silence dragging out before he finally gave a tiny shake of his head.


    ¡°No,¡± he mumbled.


    Sonny had barely finished when Joshua got up and headed for the door.


    Sonny panicked and rushed after him, blurting out, ¡°If you won¡¯t let me see Mom, at least let me go back home, okay?¡± ¨C his voice cracked with desperation.


    Joshua didn¡¯t even bother turning around.


    After hearing what Uncle Richard said, Sonny snuck out without packing a single thing. Sick and feverish, he managed to dodge the bodyguards and drag himself here all alone.


    His dad still had no clue where he was, and Sonny could already imagine them panicking like crazy back home.


    He desperately wanted to borrow a maid¡¯s phone to call his dad, but no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn¡¯t remember the number¨Cfrustration bubbling up inside him.


    Anxious and restless, Sonny crawled around the room. But pretty soon the exhaustion won out, and he passed out clutching the nket, falling fast asleep.


    That day, Joshua brought Xylia to the Garcia Group with him.


    When they got to the building, Xylia told Joshua to go ahead upstairs, saying she wanted to pick up a couple of things.


    Joshua offered to have his secretary do it, but Xylia just waved him off and told him to get going. She turned and walked out the door herself.


    <b>11:43 </b>Sat<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>27


    Since there was a meetinging up and it was almost time, Joshua went straight upstairs.


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    Noelle knew Joshua was in Jupiton, so when Aaron asked her <i>to </i>return to Jupiton to help him retrieve some documents, she happily agreed.


    Noelle thought to herself, ¡®Xylia is so obsessed with her rinky¨Cdink studio, she must have already gone back to Norhill.


    Noelle figured, ¡®I¡¯ve got this window of opportunity¨CI¡¯m going to win Joshua over.


    Noelle added in her heart, ¡®Even if I have to pull some tricks, it¡¯s totally worth it!¡®


    Besides, those files Aaron wanted might just be the ones Richard has been after.


    This trip to Jupiton was definitely going to kill two birds with one stone!¡® Noelle thought to herself.


    Noelle asked one of the secretaries and found out that Joshua had gotten to the office early for a meeting.


    So she picked up a cup of Joshua¡¯s favorite coffee and went straight to his office to wait for him.


    The morning meeting didn¡¯tst long, and Joshua was back in his office in no time.


    Through the blinds, Joshua saw a figure inside and figured it must be Xylia.


    With a smile on his face, Joshua pushed the door open, but his expression changed when he saw who was sitting on the couch.


    ¡°Who let you in here?¡± Joshua demanded, his face darkening as soon as he saw her.


    Noelle was more than used to Joshua¡¯s icy attitude¨Cshe just shed him a gentle smile and spoke softly as always.


    ¡°Joshua, it was Uncle Aaron who sent me back to fetch those files,¡± Noelle replied, her voice sweet.


    Joshua t¨Cout ignored her, heading straight for his desk. Without even ncing her way, he pulled out his phone and sent Xylia a quick message.


    How can buying something take so long?


    Seeing that Joshua wasn¡¯t paying her any attention, Noelle had to scramble for something to say.


    ¡°Joshua, I know I messed up before, and I¡¯m really sorry,¡± Noelle said softly, almost pleading. ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll treat you like a real brother, and I won¡¯t ever give Xylia a hard time again. Will you stop being mad at me now?<b>¡± </b>


    Xylia didn¡¯t reply to Joshua¡¯s message.


    Joshua frowned, set his phone down, and looked up at Noelle.


    ¡°These days, everyone¡¯s throwing around apologies. They hurt people, then act like a half¨Chearted ¡°sorry¡±


    makes it all disappear,¡® Joshua thought, feeling increasingly annoyed.


    ¡®So arrogant, he scoffed inwardly.


    ¡°Grab the files and go. Don¡¯t just stand here getting in the way,¡± Joshua said coldly.


    474


    74


    95 vouchers


    Joshua didn¡¯t bother sugarcoating his words¨Cthey stung, just like always. Noelle bit her lip so hard it almost hurt, and her face went white. ¡®Why does he have to be so savage every single time?¡® she thought to herself, feeling the sting but refusing to back down.


    Still pretending not to notice the pure annoyance in Joshua¡¯s eyes, Noelle got up and walked over to his desk, keeping her tone soft and pleading¨Cas if nothing had happened.


    ¡°Joshua, I swear I get it now. Please¨Cjust for my brother¡¯s sake, can you let it slide and forgive me onest time?¡± Noelle whispered, trying her best to sound cute and pitiful.


    Joshua didn¡¯t respond. His jaw was tight, and he looked seriously pissed.


    He looked anything but pleased.


    Noelle knew that, no matter how much Joshua hated her guts, he¡¯d still end up cutting her some ck¨Cat least for her brother¡¯s sake.


    After all, Joshua literally owed his life to her brother.


    Noelle kept going, trying her best to sound sweet and vulnerable. ¡°My brother raised me all by himself. I miss him a lot, and I know he¡¯d want me to treat his brothers like my own family. Joshua, I really do know I was wrong.¡±


    Noelle kept her voice gentle and sweet, ying up her most adorable side.


    Then she moved closer, reaching out to grab Joshua¡¯s sleeve, trying to act all cutesy and clingy.


    Joshua frowned and quickly moved aside, but Noelle, in her rush, identally twisted her ankle and tumbled straight toward him.


    Reacting instantly, Joshua kicked at the desk, sending his chair rolling backward and pulling himself out of reach.


    Noellended t on the office floor.


    ¡°Joshua, guess what I brought back!¡± Xylia called out cheerily from the door.


    She stepped in carrying a stic bag with some cut¨Cup fruit in it.


    Xylia looked up and saw Joshua sitting all the way at the back of the room, nowhere near his desk.


    Then her gaze dropped¨Cto the floor beneath the desk, where she spotted a pair of delicate ankles and white stilettos poking out.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes went wide.


    11:43 Sat<b>, </b>Sep 27


    Joshua practically jumped to his feet, blurting out, ¡°It¡¯s Noelle¨Cshe just came to pick up some files.¡± Noelle was still sprawled out on the floor, whimpering in pain, her whole body aching from the fall.


    As soon as she heard Xylia¡¯s voice, Noelle froze solid, her mind nk for a second.


    ¡®Wait¨CXylia¡¯s still in Jupiton?¡® Noelle thought in a panic, her thoughts spinning.


    Noelle gingerly picked herself up, looking super frustrated at how embarrassing this whole scene was.


    She shot Xylia a fierce look, almost blurting something out, but with Joshua watching, she quickly caught herself, stering on a smile instead.


    ¡°Hey, Xylia! You¡¯re still in Jupiton? I figured you¡¯d already headed back to Norhill. I <b>just </b>came by to get some documents¨Cand, of course, to see Joshua too!¡±


    Noelle called out ¡°Joshua¡± in that soft, syrupy voice, making it sound almost too sweet to be real.


    ¡®Noelle¡¯s never looked at me like that¨Cwhen did she get so friendly?¡® Xylia thought, genuinely shocked.


    ¡®Did Joshua sending her overseas and then bringing her back totally flip her personality or something?¡® Xylia wondered, still trying to figure it out.


    Noelle was wearing a cute little dress, but after that tumble, it looked totally rumpled and messy.


    She didn¡¯t even bother to straighten it out¨Cshe was just about to walk right out the door.


    Xylia shot her a look and said, ¡°Hey, you might want to fix your dress before heading out. If anyone sees you like that, they¡¯re gonna think Joshua roughed you up or something.¡±


    Noelle¡¯s face went from pale to ashen, her lips twitching as she tried to hold onto her smile.


    ¡°Got it. Thanks.¡± Noelle replied quietly.


    Noelle straightened her dress as best she could, her face still stiff, then slipped out of the office, doing her best. to avoid everyone¡¯s gaze.


    Xylia nced at Joshua.


    Joshua froze for a second, then hurried over to Xylia and took the bag from her hands.


    ¡°Let me see what you bought,¡± Joshua said, trying to y it cool.


    He dropped his gaze, acting all nervous for reasons he couldn¡¯t even exin¨Cafter all, that scene just now had looked super awkward, and anyone walking in would¡¯ve totally gotten the wrong idea.


    ¡®Anyone walking in would¡¯ve totally gotten the wrong idea,¡® Joshua thought.


    Joshua barely nced at the bag before dropping it and hauling Xylia down to sit beside him, almost like he needed her close for backup.


    11:44 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>27


    ¡°She twisted her ankle and tried to fall on me, so I dodged, and she totally crashed onto the floor instead. Seriously, it¡¯s not what it looks like,¡± Joshua said, sounding a bit flustered.


    ¡°Seriously, I didn¡¯t think anything was weird,¡± Xylia said, raising an eyebrow at Joshua¡¯s awkwardness.


    ¡°Come on, of course I trust you. Why are you so nervous?¡± she teased, sounding both confused and a little amused.


    Joshua reached out, took Xylia¡¯s hand, and hugged her close.


    ¡°I just don¡¯t want us to have any misunderstandings, or for you to get the wrong idea because I screwed something up,¡± Joshua said softly, his tone serious.


    With a soft smile, Xylia reached out and gave Joshua¡¯s fingertips a reassuring little squeeze. ¡°I believe you.¡±


    Joshua finally let out a sigh of relief.


    Xylia pulled out some apple slices from the bag. ¡°I saw this apple treat in a video yesterday¨Cthey said it¡¯s awesome with passion fruit and honey, all chilled. I just had to get some. Let¡¯s try it together!¡±


    Joshua finally realized Xylia had gone out just to buy snacks. ¡®She¡¯s got such a sweet tooth, he thought, suppressing augh.


    ¡®Such a foodie,¡® Joshua couldn¡¯t help but think.


    Joshua gave a wry smile and opened his mouth, letting Xylia feed him a bite.


    It was sweet, refreshingly cold, and seriously tasty.


    Xylia hadn¡¯t tried it yet, her eyes full of expectation as she watched Joshua. ¡°Well? Is it tasty?¡±


    ¡®Are you using me as your guinea pig or what?¡® Joshua wondered to himself, a little amused.


    ¡°Pretty good!¡± Joshua replied, giving Xylia a yful grin.


    Xylia finally took a bite, instantly rxing. ¡°It really is delicious!¡±


    ¡®Guess the inte wasn¡¯t lying!¡® Xylia thought happily.


    Xylia popped another bite of apple into Joshua¡¯s mouth, then shooed him back to his desk. ¡°Come on, work time! Chop¨Cchop!¡±


    ¡®Yep, I¡¯m definitely her personal foodb rat now,¡® Joshua grumbled to himself, totally resigned.


    Joshua let out a helpless chuckle, gave Xylia¡¯s head a gentle little pat, and went back to his desk to dive into work.


    After finishing her snack, Xylia pulled out herptop and got back to her remote work.


    Josie and a couple of designers hade up with some initial drafts, and Xylia started going over them.


    Chapter 298.


    Out of nowhere, Xylia¡¯s phone buzzed¨Cunknown caller ID.


    Xylia instantly got a bad feeling. She picked up, bracing herself for whatever wasing.


    ¡°Xylia Schultz. Tomorrow at 2 p.m.,e by the Schultz family house. Grandma left something for you,¡± said a voice she knew all too well.


    <b>AD </b>

 Tricked 299

    11:44 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>27 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b>299


    It was Ziggy¡¯s voice.


    Xylia frowned slightly.


    :


    ¡®Something Grandma left for me? The only thing Grandma ever gave me was that ne, and Tessa already ruined it. What else could there be?¡® she thought.


    She wasn¡¯t about to get tricked. ¡°I¡¯m not with the Schultz family anymore¨Cyou all do whatever you want with whatever Grandma left. It has nothing to do with me.¡±


    Ziggy¡¯s tone grew more agitated.


    ¡°Xylia, no matter what, Grandma always doted on you most, didn¡¯t she? We were clearing out the storage room and found her notebook¨Cshe wrote she¡¯d left something especially for you. So if you still give a damn about Grandma,e to the vi tomorrow afternoon. If you don¡¯t want it, I¡¯ll just torch it. It¡¯s nothing but bad luck to us anyway.¡±


    Without bothering to hear Xylia¡¯s reply, he hung up.


    Xylia set her phone down, Ziggy¡¯s words echoing in her mind.


    She couldn¡¯t get Ziggy¡¯s voice out of her head¨Cit kept reying, no matter how hard she tried to ignore it.


    Grandma had left her things before¨Cshares, a ne¨Cbut the Schultzes had taken them all back.


    Everything that was supposed to be hers ended up reimed by the Schultzes.


    She¡¯d cut ties with them, so even if Grandma really had left her anything, there was no chance the Schultzes would actually give it to her.


    Now Ziggy was calling her, his tone sharp and urging her to hurry back.


    Clearly, something must have happened.


    She didn¡¯t keep up with the Schultz Group anymore, so if she wanted the inside scoop, she¡¯d have to ask an industry insider.


    She got up and walked over to Joshua. Seeing he was busy, she reached out and turned his face toward her.


    ¡°Let me steal you for two minutes¨CI have a question,¡± she said.


    Joshua¡¯s cheeks got squished between her hands, his lips forming a slight pout, which actually made him look kind of adorable.


    She gave them another gentle squeeze before letting go.


    Joshua asked, ¡°What¡¯s your question?¡±


    Is there any trouble at the Schultz Group right now? she asked,


    Joshua had overheard her phone call


    He asked, ¡°Was that Ziggy?


    Xylia nodded.


    2300


    ¡°Ziggy said Grandma left me something and wants me toe to the Schultz ce tomorrow afternoon to get it¡±


    Joshua snorted, ¡°You really think the Schultzes would hand over whatever Grandma left you out of kindness?


    No way they¡¯d be that generous


    As always, Joshua hit the nail on the head.


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I thought,¡± Xylia said.


    He took her hand and pulled her closer.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother with the Schultzs. The Schultz Group¡¯s being bought out by the Sadlers, and now they¡¯re trying to rope you in. But with their stock tanking, they won¡¯tst another two days. There¡¯s nothing you can do for


    them.¡±


    Something seemed to ur to him, and his tone turned serious. ¡°They¡¯re not after your help¨Cthey just need someone to vent their frustration on. Don¡¯t even think about going tomorrow.¡±


    It was like being bossed around. Joshua basically told her she wasing with him to the office tomorrow and wasn¡¯t allowed anywhere else.


    ¡®Xylia couldn¡¯t help feeling a little helpless. she thought.


    Xylia said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning on going anyway.¡±


    Joshua gave her a satisfied look, like she¡¯d finally learned her lesson, and gently squeezed her wrist.


    ¡°Good. Go rest in the lounge,¡± Joshua said.


    Joshua¡¯s office had a lounge tucked away behind a hidden door just behind his desk.


    Once, while waiting for Joshua, Xylia had dozed off in there¨Cand when she woke up, she found herself still in that lounge.


    ¡°Someone¡¯s dropping by?¡± Xylia asked, ncing around.


    If nobody was actuallying over, Joshua would never have hustled her into the lounge in the first ce.


    Joshua nodded. ¡°Didn¡¯t want you to feel awkward. Go on, get inside.¡±


    Xylia grabbed her notebook and slipped into the lounge.


    11:44 Sat<b>, </b>Sep 27


    Not long after Xylia was inside, the office door swung open¨Cthe secretary showed Connor in


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, Connor is here, the secretary announced.


    Joshua nodded and motioned for Connor to sit.


    Connor spotted the half¨Ceaten apple dessert sitting on the coffee table and caught a lingering trace of sweetness wafting through the air.


    He couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡°That scent¡­ Xylia must be here, suspicion flickering in his eyes.


    His expression darkening, Connor sat down on the sofa without a word.


    Once Joshua came over, Connor asked, ¡°Is my son here with you?<b>¡± </b>


    Joshua shrugged, ¡°Honestly, he¡¯s been dropping by way too oftentely¨CI¡¯m getting a bit tired of it.¡±


    But Joshua didn¡¯t give a straight answer.


    Connor could feel Joshua¡¯s anger practically radiating off him.


    But Connor just brushed it off. ¡°Come on<i>, </i>Xylia¡¯s his mom¨Cof course my son wants to <i>see </i>her. Isn¡¯t that justmon sense?¡±


    Connor thought Joshua would blow up at him, but Joshua barely batted an eye¨Chis good looks totally unruffled, not a hint of annoyance on his face.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s normal for a kid to want his mom. But you know what¡¯s really messed up? When the kid pushes his own mother away, runs to some other woman, then acts like saying sorry is going to magically fix it. That¡¯s not how it works.¡±


    Joshua shot Connor a cold, challenging look.


    ¡°Connor, if you¡¯re incapable of teaching your son how to behave, I¡¯ll dly handle it myself,¡± he said.


    But trust me, my methods won¡¯t be nearly as gentle or polite.


    Connor pressed his lips together, matching Joshua¡¯s icy re with one of his own.


    ¡°My son is none of your business, so back off. Where is he? I¡¯m here to take him home myself,¡± Connor snapped.


    Joshua leaned back in his chair, absolutely unbothered. ¡°Richard Shaw dropped him off, so tell him toe get his own kid.¡±


    Connor blinked, stunned. ¡°Richard Shaw?¡±


    He never would have guessed Richard was the one who¡¯d brought his son to Joshua. Connor¡¯s mind spun. ¡®What was he thinking?¡±


    ¡®Why would Richard do something like that?¡® Connor couldn¡¯t wrap his head around it.


    <b>11:44 </b>Sat, Sep 27


    Connor snapped, ¡°You¡¯re trying to steal my kid¨CI¡¯ll sue you for this!¡±


    Joshua rolled his eyes. ¡°Go ahead and call yourwyer. See if I care.¡±


    Seeing that Joshua wouldn¡¯t budge, Connor finally got up and left the Ford Group.


    Joshua¡¯s lips curled into a sly smile.


    <b>ZB </b>


    50 ouchers


    ¡®Nothing like watching these two go at each other¡¯s throats, he thought, thoroughly entertained by the mess unfolding.


    As soon as Connor walked out of the Ford Group, he went straight to find Richard.


    Richard might¡¯ve brought him plenty of perks before, but when it came to his own flesh and blood, Connor wasn¡¯t about to take any chances.


    ¡°Mr. Shaw, you slipped away with my son behind my back, dodged the bodyguards, and went straight to Joshua¨Cdon¡¯t you think that was crossing the line?¡± Connor said, his voice tight.


    Richard stared at Connor for a moment, then suddenly pped his forehead.


    ¡°Man, I totally forgot to tell you.¡±


    ¡°Your son missed his mom so much¨Cand he was burning up with a fever, looking all kinds of miserable. I just couldn¡¯t stand it, so I took him to the Garcia estate. My bad¨CI¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    Richard put on his best apologetic face, but there wasn¡¯t a shred of genuine remorse in his


    eyes.


    ¡®Connor felt his temper rising, but he kept it in check. He said coldly, ¡°Mr. Shaw, do you realize what you¡¯ve done? I could charge you with kidnapping.¡±


    Richard offered Connor a ss of water, putting on a polite show of apology.


    ¡°I know. I¡¯m sorry,¡± Richard said, his tone almost too casual.


    Connor ignored the drink, his gaze calmly fixed on Richard.


    ¡°Joshua said he¡¯ll only hand over my son if youe pick him up yourself, so however you got him there, you¡¯d better bring him home the same way,¡± Connor said, his tone clipped.


    With that, Connor stood up, clearly done with the conversation, and walked out without another word.


    As soon as Connor walked out, Richard¡¯s warm smile disappeared, reced by a chilly, menacing look.


    Holt watched Connor leave and sneered, ¡°The Ford family¡¯s already on its way out, but he still thinks he¡¯s the prince of Jupiton?¡±


    Richard flicked Connor¡¯s untouched ss of water right into the trash can.


    ¡°Since Joshua¡¯s the one who told him toe, we should head over to the Garcia family estate,¡± Richard said.


    <b>11:44 </b>Sat, Sep 27


    ¡°We brought him there, after all¨Cso it¡¯s on us to make sure he gets back safe.


    <b>AD </b>

 Tricked 300

    <b>Chapter </b>300


    After leaving the Garcia Group, Noelle headed straight back to the Garc¨ªa family estate.


    She couldn¡¯t stop reying what happened in the office in her head.


    ¡®I was about to fall, and Joshua didn¡¯t even bother to catch me?¡® Noelle thought, feeling aggrieved.


    200


    ¡®And Xylia hasn¡¯t even left Jupiton yet. Could it be that Joshua¡¯s so worried about Xylia getting the wrong idea that he doesn¡¯t even want me near him?¡® Noelle fumed inwardly.


    That shameless, clingy bitch Xylia just won¡¯t stop hovering around Joshua, Noelle fumed to herself.


    ¡®If it hadn¡¯t been for that woman butting in all the time, I¡¯d be the one at Joshua¡¯s side now, Noelle seethed inwardly.


    Back at the Garcia family estate, Noelle didn¡¯t waste any time and made a beeline for the study.


    She was nning to dig up some files for Aaron, and while she was at it, maybe track down that document Richard had been asking about.


    But when she opened the study door, she immediately noticed something that didn¡¯t quite belong. The room, usually all somber and businesslike, suddenly had this jarring touch.


    By the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, a plush carpet wasid out, and everything needed for drawing¨Csketch paper, brushes¨Cwas neatly arranged.


    Beside a low stool sat a beanbag chair, absolutely overflowing with girlish charm.


    Noelle¡¯s hands clenched into fists.


    She¡¯d lived with the Garcia family for years¨Cthere was never any of this girly stuff here before.


    It was obvious this whole setup was for Xylia. ¡®Seriously? Joshua pulls out all the stops for her,¡® Noelle thought, bitterly.


    ¡®Oh, Joshua really knows how to take care of Xylia!¡® Noelle scoffed internally.


    Jealousy zed in her chest, hotter by the second.


    She barely held herself back from tearing up all those art supplies, gritting her teeth as she forced herself to start digging through the study for documents.


    The files Aaron wanted were a breeze to find; the real headache was tracking down that confidential file Richard had asked for.


    She searched the study for what felt like forever, and finally, she spotted a safe hidden at the bottom of a bookshelf.


    Her heart skipped a beat. Safes were where people stashed the really valuable stuff¨Cthings like confidential


    <b>11:44 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>


    files. Surely, that was where it¡¯d be.


    But then it hit her¨Cshe didn¡¯t have the code. There was no way she could crack it open.


    ¡®Guess I¡¯ll have to get Richard to help with this, Noelle thought, sighing.


    She closed the bookshelf and walked over to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows.


    On the sketch paper was an almostplete clothing design, with a small note scribbled beside it about next month¡¯s International Fashion Competition.


    Noelle figured this had to be Xylia¡¯s entry for thepetition.


    A sly smile crept onto her face. She whipped out her phone, snapped a picture of the design, sent it to someone in her contacts, and then deleted all traces.


    Richard showed up the next day to pick up Sonny.


    Joshua had already left early that morning with Xylia, telling the servants to just hand Sonny over to Richard.


    Richard was a little disappointed he didn¡¯t get to see Joshua or Xylia.


    Sonny was also bummed he didn¡¯t get to see Xylia.


    He¡¯d been staying at the Garcia family estate for two days, and even though he was feeling better now, he still hadn¡¯t seen Xylia once.


    ¡®So that¡¯s how it is,¡® Sonny thought, finally realizing Xylia would never be his mom again.


    Noelle heard Sonny was here, and since she knew he was Xylia¡¯s kid, she hurried outside to check it out.


    But right at the door, she bumped into Richard.


    ¡°Richard, what brings you here?¡± Noelle asked.


    Richard, knowing Noelle hade back to Jupiton, didn¡¯t look surprised. He just gestured at Sonny next to him.


    ¡°I¡¯m here to take him home,¡± Richard said.


    Noelle frowned, puzzled. ¡®Why is Richard involved with Xylia¡¯s son?¡® she wondered.


    ¡®Could this be one of Richard¡¯s tricks to win Xylia over?¡® she thought to herself.


    She shrugged it off. None of it was really her concern anyway.


    She leaned in and quietly told Richard about the safe.


    Richard paused, then told Noelle, ¡°I¡¯ll deliver what you need. Just wait for it.¡±


    ¡°Richard, I¡¯m almost done with my part. You really need to hurry up,¡± Noelle said.


    <b>11:44 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>27 </b>


    Richard didn¡¯t pay her any more attention, just took Sonny by the hand and walked straight out of the Garcia family estate.


    At the Garcia Group, Joshua was watching the security footage showing Noelle meeting up with Richard..


    He couldn¡¯t help but smirk, looking pretty pleased with himself.


    Xylia, lounging on the couch, caught that look on Joshua¡¯s face, and instantly thought, ¡®Yeah, whatever he¡¯s up to¨Cit can¡¯t be anything good.


    Lately, Joshua¡¯s been all cryptic, like he¡¯s brewing up some kind of huge scheme.


    She let out a sigh and pushed the thought aside.


    Joshua usually tells her everything, buttely he¡¯s been really secretive, keeping a ton of things to himself.


    Since he clearly didn¡¯t want to talk, Xylia decided not to press him. She knew he¡¯de clean when he was ready.


    ¡®He¡¯ll tell me eventually,¡® she reassured herself, letting it go for now.


    Joshua was clearly in a good mood. Suddenly, as if he¡¯d thought of something, he set his phone aside and strode over to Xylia.


    He took the tablet right out of her hands.


    Looking at her, he said, ¡°We¡¯re free this afternoon. Why don¡¯t we stop by the Schultz family estate?¡±


    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Xylia shot Joshua a puzzled look. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say we weren¡¯t going?¡±


    ¡®What¡¯s up with him changing his mind all of a sudden?¡® Xylia wondered to herself.


    Joshuaid it out, ¡°I¡¯ve been mulling it over. Ziggy has already zeroed in on you, and even if you skip out today, he¡¯s just going to keeping after you.¡±


    ¡°So I say we confront it head¨Con today and nip this problem in the bud for good!¡±


    With that striking silver hair of his, Joshua delivered those words with a kind of raw determination.


    He looked every bit like a hot¨Cblooded protagonist straight out of an anime.


    Xylia thought she¡¯d barely scratched the surface when it came to Joshua.


    Before she even snapped out of it, Joshua whisked Xylia off for lunch, and then they made their way to the Schultz family estate.


    At exactly two o¡¯clock, Joshua¡¯s car rolled to a stop in front of the Schultz family estate.


    They parked right at the grand entrance, the ce looming as silent as ever.


    It was just like Xylia remembered¨Conly now, it felt eerily deserted. There wasn¡¯t even a security guard


    <b>11:44 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>


    Chapter 300.


    anywhere.


    Xylia locked eyes with Joshua, and when he gave her a nod, she stepped up and pressed the doorbell.


    After a while, Gia¡¯s voice echoed from inside the house.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± Gia called out.


    ¡°It¡¯s me, Xylia,¡± Xylia replied.


    There was a brief pause, and then the line cut off.


    Right then, the front door swung open.


    Xylia grabbed Joshua¡¯s hand and led him inside the Schultz family estate.


    No wonder Xylia had that empty feeling. She remembered how bustling the ce used to be, with servants scurrying around everywhere.


    But now, there wasn¡¯t even a security guard, and even the folks who used to look after the garden had disappeared.


    The garden was choked with weeds, and there were barely any flowers in sight.


    It looked like it hadn¡¯t been tended to in ages.


    That was when it finally dawned on Xylia¨Cjust how long the Schultz family had been struggling.


    ¡®Not that any of this has much to do with me,¡® Xylia thought to herself.


    They walked right into the main house.


    Ziggy was the one who answered the door.


    His face was thunderous, and he looked just about ready to snap at whoever was there.


    But the second he saw Joshua, he instantly bit his tongue, all that attitude vanishing in an instant.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, what brings you here?¡± Ziggy asked, his voice shaky.


    Joshua kept his face nk. ¡°Xylia said Grandma Schultz left her something. We¡¯re just here to see what it is.¡±


    But hearing Joshuay on that cold, bossy tone, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but let out an amused snort to herself.


    When she¡¯d first met him, she used to think Joshua was all ice and walls¨Ctotally impossible to warm up to.


    But ever since they¡¯d gotten together, Xylia had gotten way too used to his soft looks and yful sweet¨Ctalk.


    Now that he was putting on this tough guy act, all she could think was, ¡®He¡¯s totally just faking it.¡®


    Xylia ducked her head, pressing her lips together to smother augh. ¡®Seriously, Joshua is reallyying it on


    11:44 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>27


    thick with that icy act,¡® she thought, amused.


    :


    Ziggy¡¯s expression turned uneasy when he heard Joshua speak.


    He mentally pped himself¨Che¡¯d totally forgotten to tell Xylia she was supposed toe alone.


    He never thought she¡¯d actually show up with Joshua in tow.


    of ¡®Now how am I supposed to pull off the n I¡¯ve spent all day setting up?¡® Ziggy thought, feeling a surge panic.


    ¡°Wow, Mr. Schultz, did the Schultz Group go bankrupt already? Can¡¯t even get us a ss of water these days?¡± Joshua joked, not holding back at all.


    Joshua sure didn¡¯t pull any punches.


    Xylia watched as Ziggy¡¯s face kept changing colors¨Cone second pale, the next flushed. He looked ready to explode.


    Xylia, for her part, just found the whole scene funnier by the minute.


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 Tricked 301

    <b>Chapter </b><b>301 </b>


    Ziggy couldn¡¯t really refuse, so he just put on a polite smile and let Joshua and Xyliae in.


    Gia and Yves had met Joshua before.


    They hadn¡¯t expected him to show up with Ziggy¡ªboth of them froze, surprised, and their faces were soon clouded with worry.


    Are all our ns going to go down the drain today or what?¡® Gia and Yves couldn¡¯t help but think.


    Ziggy turned away from Joshua and Xylia, secretly shooting his parents a meaningful nce.


    Gia stood up, motioning for Joshua and Xylia to have a seat, and went off to pour some water.


    Joshua flopped onto the couch, lifting his hand to get Gia¡¯s attention.


    ¡°I¡¯m not really into in water. I prefer coffee. I mean,e on, the Schultz family is supposed to be one of Jupiton¡¯s elite, right? Don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t even serve a decent cup of coffee?¡±


    Gia¡¯s face instantly soured.


    Wouldn¡¯t that just be embarrassing?


    But the fact was, there really wasn¡¯t any good coffee left in the house.


    Gia could only bite the bullet and head for the kitchen, deciding to brew up thest bit of good coffee they¡¯d been saving.


    Yves hadn¡¯t even been willing to drink that stash himself.


    Xylia sat quietly next to Joshua, not saying a word.


    On the way over, Joshua had told her to keep quiet and let him handle everything once they got here.


    So when Ziggy¡¯s eyesnded on her, she quickly looked away.


    Xylia thought, ¡®No eye contact, no awkward small talk.


    Before Ziggy could say anything, Joshua cut in, ¡°Xylia mentioned that her grandma left something behind. What is it? Can we see it now?¡±


    Ziggy and Yves exchanged a quick nce, guilt shing in their eyes.


    Xylia noticed their guilty reaction, but she stayed silent.


    Ziggy broke the silence, his voice a little tense.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ about the shares. While going through Grandma¡¯s diary, we found out she wanted to leave Xylia three percent of Schultz Group¡¯s stock¨Cno conditions, just like that.¡±


    <b>15:47 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b>Sep 28


    66


    55vouchers


    Xylia was honestly at a loss for words.


    Her grandma had left her those shares before, but back then Tessa basically swooped in and took them for


    herself.


    And now they¡¯re saying they magically ¡®found¡® something about the shares in Grandma¡¯s diary? Seriously, who would ever believe that?


    She just wanted to curse them out right there and then..


    But Joshua beat her to the punch.


    ¡°Look at Schultz Group now¨Caren¡¯t you going bankrupt any day? Yet you still want to hand over shares to Xylia¨Cwow, the Schultz family sure knows how to put on a show. Talk about being phony.¡±


    Joshua didn¡¯t hold back; every word hit them straight in the gut.


    Ziggy¡¯s expression went through a whole rainbow, but he somehow kept his cool.


    Xylia was having such a hard time holding back herughter, she felt like she was about to get an injury from it.


    Gia walked in, carrying the coffee tray.


    She shot Ziggy a meaningful nce.


    Ziggy quicklyposed himself, turning to Xylia and Joshua with a smile.


    ¡°If Xylia doesn¡¯t want the shares, it¡¯s not like we can make her take them. Now that she¡¯s part of the Sadler family, she probably couldn¡¯t care less about our Schultz Group shares.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. I honestly couldn¡¯t care less,¡± Xylia replied, her voice totally calm, not a hint of emotion.


    She kept her face unreadable, sounding almost bored as she answered.


    ¡®I just can¡¯t take it anymore. Time to roast the Schultz family a bit,¡® Xylia thought, finally letting herself take a dig at them.


    Ziggy was literally trembling, anger fizzing through every muscle¨Che couldn¡¯t hold it back at all. ¡®Seriously? They¡¯re pushing my patience to its limit,¡® he thought.


    All because he was furious.


    Gia hurried over and set the coffee on the table.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, the coffee¡¯s ready. This is Hawaiian Kona Coffee¨Cplease, help yourself.¡±


    Hawaiian Kona Coffee, huh¡­¡± Joshua muttered, sounding more sarcastic than disappointed.


    Joshua couldn¡¯t hide the mix of mockery and regret in his tone.


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    ¡°Well, looks like coffee is a hit in your house, but I can¡¯t stand the stuff. Honestly, you should ship this tea straight to jail and let the whole Schultz family have a taste behind bars.¡±


    ¡°Joshua!¡± Ziggy couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore and smacked the coffee table, jumping to his feet.


    His voice was so loud that Xylia jolted in surprise.


    Joshua caught her reaction, slipped an arm around her waist, and gave her a reassuring pat¨Ctelling her not to be scared.


    Then he shot Ziggy a nce, cold as ice.


    ¡°What are you trying to pull here, Mr. Schultz?¡± Joshua asked, his voice cool but with a clear edge.


    ¡°Joshua, you¡¯ve been throwing shade at my family since you walked in. What exactly are you trying to say?¡± Ziggy snapped back.


    Joshua let out a coldugh, sprawlingzily on the couch like Ziggy¡¯s anger meant nothing to him.


    ¡°At least I¡¯m just talking, Mr. Schultz. Looks like you¡¯re the one who¡¯s about to get physical now.¡±


    ¡®Physical?¡® Xylia wondered, ncing over at Joshua in confusion.


    Joshua caught her look and gave her a calm, reassuring nod¨Chis eyes saying, ¡®Don¡¯t worry.¡¯


    Ziggy sneered, ¡°Since you¡¯ve worked it all out, I might as well drop the act. Mr. Garcia, you got me cornered here¨Cdon¡¯t put it on me,y all the me on Xylia instead.¡±


    Before the words were even cold, a wave of bodyguards came surging through the door.


    There were at least a dozen guys, all stone¨Cfaced and looking like real hired muscle¨Cevery single one ready


    for action. <fnb55b> This text is hosted at find?novel</fnb55b>


    Xylia¡¯s brows knitted. ¡®So that¡¯s what this is all about? Ziggy really dragged me here just to pull something like this?¡®


    Seeing the bodyguardse in, Gia and Yves looked visibly relieved.


    Ziggy shot them a quick look, and the two elders quietly retreated to their bedroom.


    Joshua didn¡¯t bat an eye at the bodyguards, just sat there coolly, locking his gaze on Ziggy with an almost bored look¨Clike he was peeling back theyers of some cheap drama and ready to ask the next question.


    ¡°Why would I me Xylia?¡± Joshua replied, utterly calm, a slight edge in his tone.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? She¡¯s the one who brought you here,¡± Ziggy retorted, shooting Xylia a sidelong re.


    Ziggy red coldly at Xylia. ¡°My original n was to kidnap her and extort the Sadler family, or maybe you I had to. But since you¡¯re both here, why not make it a package deal? I¡¯ll kidnap you both and squeeze the Garcia and Sadler families at the same time. This time, I¡¯m saving Schultz Group, whatever it takes!¡±


    if


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    6.6


    Xylia stared at Ziggy like he¡¯d lost itpletely. ¡®Is he seriously out of his mind right now<i>? </i>This guy¡¯s gone off the deep end, she thought.


    ¡°Are you out of your damn mind? Kidnapping and extortion are crimes! Even if you get the money, once the copse knocking, you¡¯ll lose everything!¡± Xylia snapped, her voice edged with fury.


    ¡°Then what the hell do you expect me to do?¡± Ziggy bellowed at Xylia, his voice raw with desperation and


    rage.


    Ziggy looked like he¡¯d totally snapped, hollering at Xylia with wild¨Ceyed fury.


    ¡°You ungrateful brat! Ever since you got in with the Sadler family, you¡¯ve wiped the Schultz family who raised you out of your mind! I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re their daughter now, or that their blood runs in your veins¨Cwe were the ones who fed you, who brought you up!¡±


    ¡°Not a shred of gratitude in you, not even a thought to pay us back. We went through all that just to end up with a traitor like you!¡±


    Xylia was so numb to these rants, she felt like she could recite them in her sleep.


    Ever since she ditched the Schultz family, they¡¯d find any excuse to hassle her, always biting her ear off about how ¡°ungrateful¡± she was.


    She didn¡¯t even bother trying to defend herself anymore.


    Honestly, trying to reason with them was just beating her head against a wall¨Cand she was so over it.


    Just as Xylia was sitting there, too stunned to even respond, a sudden crash sounded through the room, followed by Ziggy¡¯s cry of pain.


    She nced up to find Ziggy clutching his mouth, his face soaked and beet¨Cred, with coffee stains all over his head.


    He looked about as pathetic as a person could possibly get.


    Xylia shot Joshua a look.


    He was ring at Ziggy, ice in his eyes.


    Even sitting down, Joshua radiated pure alpha energy¨Cboss vibes so strong that, even with a squad of bodyguards around him, he was still the most intimidating guy in the room.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot of nerve mouthing off to her while I¡¯m sitting right here.¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was calm, but every word hit like a warning shot.


    Ziggy¡¯s face was scorched by the hot coffee, and his lip was busted and bleeding where the cup had smashed


    into him.


    He totally lost it, jabbing a finger at Joshua and barking at the bodyguards. ¡°Tie them up¨Cboth of them!¡±


    The bodyguards charged at them all at once.


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    Joshua grabbed Xylia, pulling her safely behind him, then marched forward to take on the whole bunch by


    himself.


    He struck with lightning speed and ruthless uracy¨Cone move after another, each one dead on target.


    Joshua had more street¨Cfighting experience than any of those security firm grunts could ever hope for.


    In a matter of seconds, the whole crew wasid out t on the floor, groaning and defeated.


    Xylia considered grabbing something to hurl at the bodyguards¨Cmaybe she could back Joshua up, even if just a little.


    But before she could even pick her weapon, Joshua had already finished off the fight.


    She nced around at the bodyguards, all writhing in agony on the floor, then at Joshua standing in the middle like none of this had even fazed him.


    Xylia quietly gave him a mental thumbs¨Cup.

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    Ziggy was absolutely floored by how insanely strong Joshua turned out to be.


    With only a handful of men, he figured snatching Xylia would be a breeze¨Cjust call in a bodyguard or two and finish the job. But then Joshua had to show up out of nowhere.


    As soon as Ziggy thought about kidnapping Joshua too, he reluctantly rounded up like ten more bodyguards to back him up.


    He was sure that with the numbers on his side, even if Joshua had some skills, he¡¯d get taken down easy. But he couldn¡¯t have been more wrong.


    Ziggy thought to himself, ¡®Damn, this guy¡¯s a beast!¡®


    Joshua stood in the middle of the living room, looking like he hadn¡¯t even broken a sweat¨Chis hair was the only thing a little messed up.


    Ziggy just stood there, stunned, he didn¡¯t even feel the pain in his face or mouth anymore.


    Joshua walked over to Ziggy, grabbed him by the cor, and lifted him off the ground.


    ¡°Listen up, don¡¯t you ever mess with Xylia again. She¡¯s got nothing to do with you or the Schultz family, got it?¡± Joshua growled.


    ¡°Y¨CYes, I got it,¡± Ziggy stammered.


    Joshua tossed Ziggy to the ground like he was nothing.


    Then he turned and walked over to Xylia, gently taking her hand.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, princess. Time to head home,¡± Joshua said softly.


    He switched gears faster than a stage actor flipping a mask.


    One moment he was like amanding general, and the next, he turned into a total puppy in front of his


    wife.


    Xylia had been through enough wild scenes to keep her cool, no matter how intense things got.


    A trashed living room like that in the Schultz house didn¡¯t even make her flinch.


    She gripped Joshua¡¯s hand in return, steady and sure. ¡°Let¡¯s go home!¡±


    The two of them left the Schultz house, hearts all wrapped up in each other.


    Ziggy was the only one left, crumpled on the floor, his spirit totally crushed. ¡®Is this what rock bottom feels like?¡® he thought, hollow inside.


    On the way back, Xylia kept stealing secret nces at Joshua.


    15:48 <b>Sun</b>, <b>Sep 28 </b>


    When he noticed, he reached over and pinched her cheek.


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    ¡°Why do you keep looking at me? Am I just too damn handsome for you?¡± Joshua said with a smug grin.


    Xylia snorted, rolling her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re such a narcissist.¡±


    Joshua pouted a little. ¡°Not handsome enough for you?¡±


    ¡°Handsome, definitely!¡± Xylia replied, honest and without hesitation.


    She really meant it¨CJoshua was absolutely her type.


    Joshua¡¯s face lit up.


    ¡°If the Schultz family¨Cor anyone else¨Cgives you trouble, just let me know. I¡¯ll settle it for you,¡± Joshua promised, his tone serious but cool.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll totally take you up on that,¡± Xylia teased with a bright smile.


    Sheughed, and Joshua, keeping one hand on the wheel, reached over and intertwined his fingers with hers.


    Since the afternoon was wide open, they just went out together for a casual date.


    And of course, Joshua suggested hitting the hot springs.


    Xylia agreed right away.


    Joshua picked out the ce.


    He went for Jupiton¡¯srgest hot spring resort¨Call natural spring pools, really great for your health.


    Lately, Xylia had been a bit worn out from sketching designs, her shoulders and waist feeling kind of sore, so she thought a massage sounded perfect.


    Joshua heard what she wanted and quickly volunteered to give her one himself.


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, my massage skills are way better than any pro out there,¡± Joshua puffed up proudly.


    Xylia shot him a suspicious look, her eyes clearly saying she didn¡¯t buy it for a second.


    ¡®If I actually let Joshua massage me, there¡¯s no way things wouldn¡¯t get weird,¡¯ she thought, a little wary.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take the professionals over you any day,¡± Xylia replied, firm.


    Just as she was about to ce an order on her phone, Joshua swooped in and snatched it right out of her


    hand.


    ¡°You belong to me, Xylia¨Cheart and soul. Even if it was a woman massaging you, I¡¯d still get jealous,¡± Joshua teased, half¨Cjoking but clearly a little possessive.


    ¡°Fine! I just won¡¯t get a massage then!¡± Xylia fired back, not willing to give in an inch.


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    Xylia was basically ready to fight him off if he even tried¨Cno way was she letting Joshuay a finger on her.


    Truth be told, they¡¯d both been working nonstoptely, so things between them had been remarkably tame- no flirting, no steamy moments<i>, </i>just pure self¨Ccontrol.


    Honestly, Xylia found herself weirdly enjoying this stretch of peace and quiet.


    Her back was a little sore, but not nearly as bad as before.


    She wanted this kind of easy, peaceful life tost a few more days.


    Joshua paused, then shrugged and let her be.


    ¡°How about we just soak in the hot springs instead?¡± he suggested, trying to sound casual.


    Xylia nodded, relieved.


    They booked a private suite with their own hot spring pool.


    Once Xylia changed into her swimsuit, she slid into the steaming water, letting it soak into her skin as she leanedfortably against the stone edge, totally unwinding.


    Joshua came in after her, stepping into the spring himself.


    He moved through the water to join Xylia, settling right next to her, both of them side by side against the stone wall.


    ¡°What do you feel like eatingter? I¡¯ll ask someone to set it up for us,¡± Joshua murmured gently.


    The air between them was charged with flirtatious tension.


    Xylia had totally expected Joshua to get flirty or drop some yful line, but he surprised her by just acting chill and normal.


    Seeing him pick up on the vibe, Xylia actually appreciated his restraint.


    After a moment, she said, ¡°I¡¯m in the mood for some seafood.¡±


    Joshua nodded and pulled out his phone, quickly sending a message.


    eyes. <fnf213> Follow current nov?ls on FindN()vel</fnf213>


    Once he finished texting, Joshua reclined against the stone edge of the pool and shut his eyes.


    Xylia sneaked a quick look at him, checking him out without him noticing.


    When she realized Joshua really didn¡¯t have any other intentions, she could finally breathe easy. ¡®Guess I don¡¯t have to stay on guard,¡® she thought, secretly relieved.


    She drifted back against the stone wall too, closed her eyes, and let herself totally rx, finally enjoying a moment of peace.


    After soaking for a while, they stepped out of the hot spring and made their way to the restaurant.


    <b>15:48 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>28 </b>


    Joshua wasn¡¯t big on crowds, so he took Xylia to a quiet, private spot for dinner.


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    It was up on the rooftop terrace, barely anyone around. Flower baskets separated little cozy corners, each with its own rattan table and chairs, giving the whole ce such an intimate and romantic vibe.


    ¡°How¡¯d you find this hidden gem?¡± Xylia asked, her eyes lighting up in surprise.


    She loved how peaceful and beautiful it was here.


    Seeing the delight on Xylia¡¯s face, Joshua¡¯s grin grew even wider.


    ¡°Found it by chance. As long as you¡¯re happy, that¡¯s all that matters,¡± he said, the warmth in his voice undeniable.


    ¡°Totally love it!¡± Xylia chirped, her eyes sparkling with genuine excitement.


    They were treated to a seafood spread¨Clobster, sea urchin, and an array of mouthwatering delicacies.


    Suddenly, as they were savoring their meal, a familiar voice cut through the air.


    ¡°Josh!¡±


    Noelle practically bounced over, her face lit up with surprise, and Richard followed close behind.


    Richard spotted Xylia and Joshua, but just greeted Xylia, ignoring Joshua.


    ¡°Hey Xylia, long time no see,¡± Richard said, his voice friendly.


    Xylia shot Joshua a quick look first, then replied to Richard, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been a while.¡±


    Xylia noticed Noelle and Richard had arrived together and asked, ¡°Did youe here together?¡±


    Noelle slid right up next to Xylia, looping her arm around hers like they were besties.


    ¡°Yeah, Xylia! Mr. Shaw and I just bumped into each other and we¡¯re working on a jewelry project together. I seriously didn¡¯t expect to run into you and Joshua here!¡± Noelle chirped, sounding way too enthusiastic.


    Noelle practically cuddled up to Xylia, her arm clinging close.


    Xylia felt goosebumps prickling on her arms from Noelle¡¯s sudden burst of friendliness.


    ¡®Wait, since when did Noelle and I get this chummy?¡® Xylia thought, raising an eyebrow in confusion.


    She politely slipped her arm out of Noelle¡¯s clingy grip, trying not to make things awkward.


    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that a funny coincidence,¡± Xylia said, putting on her best polite smile.


    Richard made his way over to Joshua and shed him a friendly grin.


    ¡°Hey Mr. Garcia, mind if I join you over here?¡± Richard asked, keeping it casual.


    15:48 <b>Sun</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>28 </b>


    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Joshua replied tly, not even bothering to think about it..


    He didn¡¯t hesitate; his face was already clouded with irritation.


    ¡°Oh, what a shame,¡± Richard replied, totally unfazed.


    Unbothered, Richard just dragged a chair over and settled himself down on the other side.


    Joshua¡¯s expression was thunderous, like he was about ready to explode.


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    ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you to join our table. Get out,¡± Joshua said tly, not even bothering to hide his impatience.


    Noelle, ignoring how pissed off Joshua looked, just grinned. ¡°Come on, Joshua, we all know each other! Don¡¯t kick us out, okay?¡±


    ¡°Knowing each other isn¡¯t the same as being friends. Trust me, if I get up to throw you out, you won¡¯t be leaving gracefully. Wanna see how it goes?¡± Joshua shot back, almost daring them.


    Noelle¡¯s smile instantly went stiff, all the cheer falling off her face.


    Richard just chuckled, still sounding easygoing. ¡°Guess Mr. Garcia really is stingy¨Cwon¡¯t even spare a meal for us, huh?¡±


    Seeing Joshua on the verge of snapping, Xylia jumped in to calm the situation.


    ¡°Joshua, since we bumped into them, why not just have dinner together? Let¡¯s order a few more things,¡± Xylia said, giving him a soothing look to keep the mood light.


    She moved to his side, sat down close, and squeezed his hand reassuringly¨Cher way of telling him to chill out a little.


    After all, Noelle was Joshua¡¯s little sister; Xylia figured it wouldn¡¯t be right to not give her any respect, even if it was annoying.


    ¡®Guess we¡¯ll just have to put up with it for now, Xylia thought, resigned but determined to keep the peace.


    Joshua finally held his tongue, but it was obvious he was only biting back his temper because Xylia had stepped in to calm him down.


    Then, noticing Xylia was seated way too close to Richard for his liking, Joshua immediately got up and swapped seats with her¨Cmaking it crystal clear he wasn¡¯t about to let anyone else get cozy with his girl.


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    Suddenly, Xylia reached out and caught Joshua¡¯s hand, stopping him in his tracks.


    Joshua lowered his gaze, looking down at her.


    With a yful curl to her lips, Xylia smiled, ¡°We¡¯ve pretty much finished eating. How about we order <b>a </b>couple more dishes just for Ms. Coffey and Mr. Shaw? They still have to talk business, so let¡¯s not interrupt them.¡±


    As Xylia spoke, Joshua¡¯s expression turned stormy, clearly not pleased.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Joshua replied.


    Richard watched the two of them.


    ¡°We¡¯re basically done talking now, Xylia¨Creally, you don¡¯t need to worry about bothering us,¡± Richard said casually.


    ¡°No way,¡± Xylia replied with a smile. ¡°Noelle¡¯s finally got a chance to talk business with someone. We can¡¯t hold her up. You guys take your time.¡±


    With that, Xylia grabbed Joshua¡¯s hand and pulled him away.


    Noelle didn¡¯t even have a chance to stop them before they slipped out the side door.


    ¡°Noelle? Since when did people get so chummy with her?¡± Noelleined, her tone bristling with


    annoyance.


    She dropped into her seat with an annoyed huff.


    Richard hit her with a frosty re, his eyes so cold they practically radiated danger.


    Noelle shut up right away.


    ¡®I just mentioned Xylia once, and Richard was already quick to defend her?¡® Noelle thought, annoyance bubbling up inside.


    ¡®Does he actually have feelings for Xylia?¡® Noelle wondered.


    The more she mulled it over, the icier her expression became.


    ¡®What is it about Xylia, anyway¡ªwhy does everyone seem to love her so damn much?¡® Noelle fumed to herself.


    ¡®Even a guy like Richard is falling for her too?¡® Noelle gritted her teeth.


    Jealousy gnawed at Noelle, but then another thought popped into her mind¨Cmaybe Richard whisking Xylia off to Daltonia wasn¡¯t such a bad thing after all.


    That would mean I¡¯d finally have Joshua all to myself, Noelle smirked to herself.


    15:48 Sun, <b>Sep </b><b>28 </b>


    :


    With the gratitude Joshua owes my brother, plus a few tricks up my sleeve to make him fall for me, I can totally pull this off, she schemed, her confidence ring.


    Just imagining it made a wave of relief wash over her.


    ¡°Mr. Shaw, since you¡¯re here too, why don¡¯t we join forces again?¡± Noelle suggested with a sly smile.


    She had already handed over the files from the safe in the Garcia family¡¯s study to Richard, making good on her promise.


    Her stay in Jupiton wouldn¡¯tst much longer¨Cshe needed to make sure her ns for Joshua went off without a hitch. <fnff43> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find_Novel(.</fnff43>


    Richard watched as she took out a sachet of powder from her bag¨Cthe kind of potent stuff that was all toomon in the nightlife scene.


    A sly smile tugged at his lips.


    ¡®Well, that¡¯s actually a pretty solid move,¡® Richard smirked to himself.


    Xylia pulled Joshua out of the little restaurant.


    ¡°Did you eat enough? How about we order a bit more and have it sent up to the room?¡± Xylia asked.


    Joshua was still in kind of a bad mood.


    ¡°Why are you so afraid of them?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m afraid,¡± Xylia replied. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to waste time arguing with them.¡±


    ¡®If we¡¯d gotten into an argument just now, it would¡¯ve killed the mood and totally wasted our date, Xylia thought to herself.


    Xylia held Joshua¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°Are you really full?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joshua replied, his answer blunt with honesty.


    So Xylia ordered a bit more food to be delivered to their room.


    ¡°How about we watch a movie after we finish eating? There¡¯s a new one that¡¯s juste out¨CJosie said it¡¯s really good,¡± Xylia suggested.


    ¡°What genre is it?¡± Joshua asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s supernatural¨CJosie promised it¡¯s not scary at all,¡± Xylia replied.


    Joshua¡¯s grin grew, like he was remembering something funny.


    ¡°That works,¡± he said.


    Back in their room, after finishing dinner, they put on a movie, flipped off the lights, and cozied up together


    <b>15:48 </b>Sun<b>, </b>Sep 28


    on the bed.


    The ce was wrapped in a soft, dim glow¨Cmovie night vibes in full swing.


    260 youchers


    Xylia leaned a little closer to Joshua, settling down beside him and getting ready to really enjoy the film.


    Joshua shot her a look, then casually stretched his arm back, his broad chest inching just a bit closer to her side.


    Ten minutester.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Xylia squealed, yanking the nket over her head.


    Josic, you little brat!¡® Xylia grumbled to herself.


    ¡®What kind of freaky horror flicks does she normally watch?¡® she thought, shivering.


    ¡®How can Josie say this isn¡¯t scary?¡® Xylia thought, her heart pounding.


    Xylia had had enough¨Cshe couldn¡¯t watch anymore.


    The creepy music kept ying in her ears.


    She peeked out from under the nket and looked at Joshua. ¡°Can we stop watching this?¡±


    Joshua opened his arms, ready for Xylia to dive in¡ªbut she stayed put instead.


    He couldn¡¯t help but feel a little exasperated.


    But when she looked up at him with those big, watery eyes and her voice went all soft, Joshua found himself forgiving her instantly.


    ¡°Come on, ghosts are just make¨Cbelieve. There¡¯s nothing to be scared of,¡± Joshua said gently.


    ¡°I¡¯m superstitious, okay? I just can¡¯t watch this¡ªlet¡¯s pick something else,¡± Xylia insisted.


    The creepy background music was only making Xylia more jumpy.


    Not even waiting for Joshua to answer, Xylia hit stop and killed the movie on the spot.


    Once the bedsidemp was switched on, Xylia looked like she¡¯d just been brought back from the dead.


    ¡°Why are you such a scaredy¨Ccat?¡± Joshua chuckled.


    Then, grinning, he reached over and gave her cheek a gentle pinch.


    ¡®Ugh, Joshua just can¡¯t stop with the snark, Xylia thought, shooting him a re. Fed up with hisments, she was ready to give up on movie night altogether and just burrow into bed.


    ¡°All right, all right, there¡¯s no way you¡¯ll fall asleep after that. Let¡¯s watch something else¨Cthis time, I¡¯ll choose, and I swear, cross my heart, no horror movies. Sound good?¡± Joshua said, his voice soft and encouraging.


    15:48 <b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>28 </b>


    Xylia curled up tight under the nkets, trying to block out the world,


    Be vouchers


    Every time she shut her eyes, those gory, blood¨Csoaked scenes shed before her¨Cmaking her shiver.


    But when Joshua spoke, Xylia finally mustered the courage and poked her head out from beneath the covers.


    Just as Joshua was about to queue up a new movic, his phone lit up with a message.


    It was from Richard.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, Suite 6002. We need to talk. If you don¡¯t show up, I¡¯ll message Xylia myself,¡± Richard texted.


    Joshua¡¯s brows knit together in a sh.


    Xylia didn¡¯t catch Joshua¡¯s sudden shift in mood¨Cshe was still lost in those freaky scenes from the horror flick.


    ¡°I¡¯ll put on aedy for you to watch while I¡¯m out. I¡¯ve got to handle something real quick, but I¡¯ll be back before you know it,¡± Joshua said.


    ¡°Where are you headed?¡± Xylia asked.


    ¡°Someone wants to discuss something with me,¡± Joshua replied.


    Joshua reached over, gave Xylia¡¯s hair a gentle ruffle, then bent down and nted a soft kiss on her lips.


    ¡°Wait for me,¡± Joshua murmured, giving her a reassuring look.


    Xylia let him go without saying a word.


    Before Joshua left, he made sure every light in the room was switched on.


    The bright lights made Xylia feel a lot safer.


    Joshua really knew how to pick a good movie.


    Xylia quickly got swept up in theedy, the yful scenes making herugh and finally helping her shake off the lingering dread from that horror movie.


    Joshua headed straight to Suite 6002.


    Richard was already sitting on the couch, looking like he¡¯d been waiting for ages.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, you finally made it,¡± Richard said, smirking a little.


    Joshua sat down across from Richard.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s up?¡± Joshua cut straight to the point, his tone sharp and impatient.


    Joshua¡¯s face was cold as ice, his impatient gaze practically screaming, ¡®Hurry up and spit it out already!¡¯


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    Richard leisurely poured him a ss of water. ¡°Don¡¯t get all tense, Mr. Garcia¨Chave a drink and chill out first.


    Joshua shot Richard a look, but ended up reaching for the ss and taking a slow sip.


    Watching Joshua gulp down the water, Richard¡¯s smirk grew even wider.


    ¡®Now it¡¯s all in Noelle¡¯s hands,¡® Richard thought, his eyes glinting with anticipation.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, I haven¡¯t forgotten your threat fromst time. Guess it¡¯s only fair I give you a taste of your own medicine,¡± Richard said coolly, his eyes glinting with warning.


    ¡®A lesson?¡® Joshua scoffed, the corner of his mouth lifting in pure disdain.


    He set the ss down slowly. ¡°So you actually believe slipping something in my drink <b>is </b>enough to put me in my ce?¡±


    Richard froze, his heart skipping a beat. ¡®Wait¡­he actually knew?¡®


    ¡®He figured it out and still went ahead? Is he insane?¡® Richard thought, panic creeping in.


    Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened in an instant. Without warning, he mmed his foot into the coffee table,unching it straight at Richard with brute force.


    Richard shoved off from the couch, twisting his body to narrowly dodge the table as it came crashing over.


    The coffee table smashed into the couch with a heavy, resounding thud.


    Holt, catching the noise from the hallway, charged into the room, instantly spotting Richard and Joshua locked in a brawl.


    Acting purely on reflex, Holt moved to help Joshua without hesitation.


    Joshua felt a fierce heat igniting in his gut. Heshed out, kicking Richard away, then snatched a te off the floor and sent it flying straight at Holt.


    Holt dodged to the side, barely evading the te.


    Joshua seized the opening and dashed for the door.


    Just as Joshua reached the doorway, he nearly ran straight into Noelle, who was just about to walk inside.


    Noelle blinked in surprise at him. ¡°Joshua?¡±

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    ¡­


    Joshua¡¯s cheeks were flushed, and when he looked up, there was a dangerous glint in his eyes.


    Noelle was frightened.


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    As her gaze fell on the two men chasing behind Joshua, Noelle steeled herself and threw her arms wide open.


    ¡°Joshua, you can¡¯t leave!¡± Noelle called out anxiously.


    Joshua¡¯s cheeks were flushed, his eyes rimmed with a fierce red¨Canyone could tell he¡¯d been dosed with something.


    This was it¨Cher chance. Noelle wasn¡¯t about to let it slip through her fingers.


    The footsteps pounding behind her were getting closer and closer.


    Without hesitating, Joshua kicked Noelle away with force.


    He didn¡¯t hold back¨CNoelle was sent flying and mmed hard onto the ground,nding a good six feet away.


    Taking advantage of the distraction, Joshua bolted toward the stairs.


    Richard and Holt rushed out, not even sparing Noelle a nce as they shot straight for the staircase.


    Only when the two of them had gone downstairs did Joshua quietly slip upstairs, heading up a floor and hitting the elevator button.


    Richard and Holt dashed down two whole flights, but there was no sign of Joshua¨Che¡¯d vanished without a


    trace.


    Richard suddenly stopped dead in his tracks.


    ¡°Something¡¯s off!¡± he muttered, a sudden realization hitting him. He bolted toward the elevator, pounding the button like a man possessed.


    The elevator came down from the floor above, but when the doors slid open, it waspletely empty.


    Richard¡¯s face darkened, his expression stormy and grim.


    Meanwhile, Xylia was snuggled up in bed, watching a movie.


    Joshua had picked a great one¨Ca cheerful, lightedy. Soon enough, she was so caught up in it that she forgot all about the scare she¡¯d had earlier.


    Xylia was curled up in bed, totally absorbed in the movie, when suddenly there was a loud, urgent bang at the door.


    Startled, she jumped up, heart racing.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Xylia called out, her voice trembling.


    Joshua lurched into the room, barely keeping his bnce.


    He was soaked in sweat, his face burning red, and his breath came in short, harsh bursts.


    Xylia rushed over to steady him, worry rising in her eyes.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xylia asked, her voice trembling.


    As soon as Xylia¡¯s scent filled the air, Joshua¡¯s mind went foggy¨Che couldn¡¯t think straight. Driven by impulse. he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, unable to hold back.


    Xylia didn¡¯t see iting. She immediately tried to resist, confusion and unease swirling inside her- something was definitely wrong.


    She shoved against Joshua¡¯s chest, desperately pushing him away with all her strength.


    ¡°Joshua, wait!¡± Xylia managed, her voice shaky with worry. ¡°Did you drink something you weren¡¯t supposed


    to?¡±


    Joshua nted a kiss on her cheek, his grip tight and voice shaky. ¡°Help me, Xylia,¡± he pleaded.


    ¡®So someone really set him up,¡® Xylia thought, her mind instantly clear¨Cno wonder he¡¯d lost control like this.


    ¡®This is making me angry, Xylia growled inwardly.


    Xylia struggled to break free and hauled Joshua straight into the bathroom. <fn5e1c> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? f?ndnovel</fn5e1c>


    Then she dumped cold water all over him. The freezing ssh jolted Joshua back to his senses, clearing the fog in his mind.


    He looked up and met Xylia¡¯s angry face, managing to hold her gaze even though he felt absolutely awful inside.


    ¡°Xylia¡­¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was hoarse, barely able to speak, clinging to her for help.


    ¡°Who did you run into?¡± Xylia snapped, her anger ring.


    From her fierce expression, it looked like Xylia was ready to charge out right now and make whoever was behind this pay.


    Joshua closed his eyes, his sharp, chiseled features scrunched in pain. Under the cold, sterile bathroom light, the flush on his face became even more obvious, making him look absolutely pitiful.


    He remained silent.


    Xylia watched helplessly, her chest tightening at the sight.


    She bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, then knelt down and began to unbutton his shirt.


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    Joshua grabbed Xylia¡¯s wrist and gave her a hard tug, catching her off guard¨Cshe stumbled andnded right against his chest.


    ¡°It was Noelle,¡± Joshua finally muttered, his voice barely audible.


    Xylia froze, every muscle in her body going tense.


    ¡®Here I was, thinking Noelle had really changed this time. Turns out, she¡¯s still got her eyes on Joshua!¡® Xylia fumed inwardly.


    Joshua buried his face in the curve of Xylia¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Help me get revenge, will you?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was rough, barely held together, as if fighting for control.


    His words came out hoarse, thick with something he was struggling to rein in.


    Xylia nodded, and his lips descended on hers once more.


    The next morning.


    Xylia was actually up before Joshua for a change.


    She¡¯d already gotten ready and sat on the edge of the bed, pinching Joshua¡¯s nose shut.


    Joshua woke up feeling suffocated.


    When Joshua caught Xylia giving him that cold, no¨Cnonsense stare, the little grumpiness thates from waking up too early quickly red into real irritation.


    Joshua swallowed hard.


    ¡°Why are you up so early?¡± he grumbled, his voice raspy with sleep and a hint of annoyance.


    ¡°I¡¯m having breakfast with Noelle. Want toe?¡± Xylia said, giving him a sidelong look.


    Joshua let out a sigh of relief andy back onto the bed.


    ¡°I can¡¯t move,¡± he groaned.


    Xylia assumed he just didn¡¯t want to go.


    ¡°You have to go!¡± Xylia¡¯s voice went cold, leaving no room for argument.


    Normally, Joshua would¡¯ve sprung out of bed and gotten himself ready in a sh.


    But today, he justy there like a lump, barely moving, and gently guided her hand up to his forehead.


    Xylia had been ready to let loose on him, but as soon as her palm brushed his zing hot skin, every bit of annoyance she felt just melted away.


    ¡°You¡¯re burning up. Why do you have a fever?¡± she asked, her tone shifting to concern.


    Joshua held her hand, leaning into her touch, seekingfort.


    ¡°I got drenched in cold waterst night,¡± he mumbled, sounding weak.


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    Xylia remembered pouring cold water over him, but it wasn¡¯t for that long¨Chardly enough to make him sick, right?


    ¡®Could that drug have messed with his immune system?¡® Xylia thought.


    Joshua was usually built like a tank¨Che never seemed to get sick, no matter what he put his body through.


    But seeing him now, all pitiful and curled up in bed, you couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of sympathy for the


    guy.


    Xylia had no choice but to cancel her breakfast with Noelle and haul Joshua off to the hospital.


    After getting his IV drip, Joshua waspletely out of it and soon fell into a deep sleep.


    Xavi arrived at the hospital, all geared up to roast Joshua, but the guy was already knocked out cold.


    With a tinge of disappointment, Xavi set the fruit he¡¯d brought down on the bedside table.


    Xylia shot Xavi a sharp look, ¡°How did you find out Joshua was sick and in the hospital?¡±


    She¡¯d brought Joshua in that morning, but she was sure she hadn¡¯t breathed a word to anyone about it.


    ¡°Noelle told me,¡± Xavi shrugged.


    Xavi sat down with an easy air, spinning his chair a bit until he wasfortable.


    ¡°Noelle said Joshua was sick and stuck in the hospital. But she was too embarrassed to show her face, so she sent me to check in instead.¡±


    As he said this, there was outright gossip gleaming in Xavi¡¯s smile, mischief written all over his face.


    ¡°Xylia, word is Joshua got set up by Noellest night,¡± Xavi added, voice dropping conspiratorially as he leaned forward, clearly itching to hear the drama.


    Xylia frowned slightly. ¡°She told you all that?¡±


    Xavi waved it off. ¡°Of course not. She only said Joshua got dosed by Richardst night. She happened to be there for something with Richard, and by pure coincidence, ran smack into Joshua right as he was making his getaway.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s scared Joshua might think she¡¯s teaming up with Richard, so she didn¡¯t daree check on him at the hospital. What do you think¨Cis she actually turning over a new leaf?¡± Xavi grinned, sounding like he was loving every bit of the gossip.


    Noelle had always been the type to cling to Joshua like a shadow.


    Xavi had known Joshua for years, and he¡¯d seen firsthand how Noelle would pull every trick in the book to get


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    close to him, while Joshua did everything he could to avoid her.


    Something like drugging him? That¡¯d be totally in character for Noelle.


    And now that Joshua was sick, with the way she usually acts, you¡¯d bet she¡¯d be all over here ying the caring and attentive friend. The fact that she¡¯s not? Yeah, something¡¯s definitely fishy.


    Xylia listened to Xavi, but she wasn¡¯t even thinking about whether Noelle was making things up right now.


    What really shocked her was finding out that it was Richard who drugged Joshua, ¡°Wait, it was Richard all along?¡® she thought, stunned.


    ¡°Do you know Richard?¡± Xylia asked Xavi.


    Xavi shook his head. ¡°Never heard of him.¡±


    Xylia pulled out her phone, scrolled through Richard¡¯s Instagram, and found a selfie of him. She showed it to Xavi.


    Xavi looked totally thrown off when he saw the photo.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this Richard?¡± Xavi asked, his voice full of surprise.


    ¡°Richard? Who¡¯s that?¡± Xylia jumped in, curiosity sharp in her voice.


    Xylia zeroed in, immediately firing off another question.


    ¡°Richard is¡­¡± Xavi began, then abruptly trailed off.


    Xavi was just about to say something, but at thest second, he mmed up.


    He nced over at Joshua, who was sprawled out on the bed, dead asleep.


    Xavi swallowed hard and turned to Xylia. ¡°Xylia, maybe you should let Joshua tell you about this. It¡¯s not really my business to share.¡±


    ¡®Why does that sound so weird?¡® Xylia wondered, her mind immediately running wild. ¡®Seriously, what¡¯s up with that?¡¯


    ¡®It almost sounds like Joshua and Richard have some kind of thing going on!¡® Xylia thought, half¨Camused and half¨Cbewildered.


    16:17 <b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>29 </b>B

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    A wild thought popped into Xylia¡¯s head, and she couldn¡¯t help but nce over at Joshua, who was fast asleep next to her. <fn77b8> Updates are released by Find1Novel</fn77b8>


    ¡®Could it be¡­ Joshua and Richard were once a couple?¡® she wondered.


    But Joshua had always said she was the only woman he¡¯d ever loved.


    ¡®Yeah, the only woman,¡® she thought.


    ¡®Only woman, huh.¡®


    ¡®Guess men don¡¯t count.


    Xylia remembered how Joshua would tense up, like he was going to battle for his life, every time he ran into Richard.


    And he¡¯d always make sure she kept her distance from Richard.


    The deeper she thought about it, the scarier it got.


    After Xavi left, Xylia couldn¡¯t sit still.


    When Joshua finally woke up, he saw Xylia sitting in her chair with a furrowed brow, fidgeting restlessly and shifting from side to side as if her seat had suddenly turned ufortable.


    ¡°Xylia,¡± Joshua called out softly.


    Xylia stiffened, almost as if she¡¯d been caught off guard, and turned to Joshua. But her eyes held no warmth, not even the slightest hint of happiness.


    Joshua sat up slowly.


    It had been ages since he¡¯d been sick, and this fever had really taken a toll on him.


    Even though the fever had broken, his head was still muddled and heavy, like someone had stuffed it with cotton, leaving him feeling restless and uneasy.


    Thinking Xylia was still upset, he reached out to her, hoping tofort her.


    Xylia hesitated for a moment before getting up and walking over to him, cing her hand in his.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake. Does your head still hurt?¡± she asked softly.


    Joshua pulled her into a gentle hug, leaning his head on her shoulder, acting a little needy.


    ¡°It still hurts,¡± he whispered, his tone low and affectionate as he deliberately nuzzled against Xylia¡¯s cheek.


    Xylia pursed her lips, staying silent, not sure how to react to Joshua clinging to her.


    :


    Honestly, looking at Joshua right now, he was giving off major straight guy energy.


    She wasn¡¯t stupid¨Canyone could tell how much he loved her.


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    ¡®Did Joshua get so wounded by his thing with Richard that the heartbreak knocked him straight? Xylia couldn¡¯t help but wonder.


    Her imagination started running wild again.


    Now that Joshua and Richard were officially done, and judging from the way Joshua was acting, he definitely wasn¡¯t about to go back there.


    ¡®Guess I¡¯d better just y dumb and pretend I have no clue, Xylia mused. ¡®Guys like Joshua care a lot about their pride, after all.¡®


    After thinking it through for ages, she chose to keep quiet and act clueless.


    Xylia reached up and stroked Joshua¡¯s hair, her eyes full of concern. ¡°Your headache will be gone once you¡¯re better. Hungry? Want me to get you something to eat?¡±


    Joshua grinned and replied, ¡°Yeah, I could eat,¡± still hugging her tightly and refusing to let go.


    Xylia gave his back a gentle pat. ¡°Alright, let go now, I¡¯ll run and grab you some food.¡±


    ¡®Why is he back to his puppy mode again?¡® Xylia thought.


    Joshua nuzzled against her shoulder for a while longer before finally letting go.


    But even then, he kept holding onto her hand, like he just couldn¡¯t get enough of her.


    It had been days since they¡¯d hooked up, sost night things definitely got out of hand.


    Even after Xylia fell asleep, Joshua found himself still craving more. He ended up standing under a cold shower for half an hour just trying to chill out.


    He hadn¡¯t counted on that little stunt ending with him getting a full¨Cblown fever.


    Once she finished ordering takeout, Xylia kept hold of Joshua¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°So, will you finallye clean about what really went downst night? How did Noelle manage to drug you?¡±


    Just thinking aboutst night made Joshua¡¯s expression darken.


    When Joshua took a sip from the water Richard handed him, he immediately tasted something weird. Right then, he called Richard out and tried to figure out a way to get the hell out of there.


    Richard¡¯s whole scheme was to drug him and send some random woman in, hoping Xylia would walk in, see the mess, and think Joshua was cheating on her.


    It wasn¡¯t until Joshua bumped into Noelle at the door that it all clicked¨CNoelle and Richard were in on it together, setting him up.


    So, he kicked Noelle, too.


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    That bought him just enough time to rush back to the room and see Xylia before anything else could happen.


    Joshua never nned on using Xylia as the antidote, but by the time he stumbled back, he was practically out


    of it.


    When Xylia sshed him with cold water to snap him out of it, he realized the hot spring resort was way too far from the hospital.


    Seeing Xylia all worked up, Joshua knew he couldn¡¯t just leave her alone to stew in her thoughts.


    So, unable to fight the effects of the drug, he couldn¡¯t help but get intimate with her.


    Joshua said angrily, ¡°Noelle just won¡¯t change, always using these low¨Cdown tricks to mess with me. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting her walk away from this.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s heart gave a little lurch¨CJoshua hadn¡¯t breathed a single word about Richard. ¡®Why¡¯s he dodging that part?¡® she wondered.


    ¡®It¡¯s obvious he¡¯s keeping something from me, Xylia thought, feeling a twist of annoyance.


    Joshua immediately caught the shift in Xylia¡¯s expression¨Che was always sharp about these things.


    ¡°Are you still mad?¡± he asked gently.


    ¡°Of course I¡¯m mad!¡± Xylia shot back, ring at him as she pulled her hand away.


    Xylia yanked her hand out of Joshua¡¯s grip and snapped, clearly pissed.


    ¡°So what, the minute she calls, you go running in the middle of the night? Then you just drink whatever she hands you¨Ceven when you know she¡¯s into you? Seriously, Joshua, ever heard of keeping your distance?¡± Xylia¡¯s voice was sharp as she let it all out.


    She was definitely making a mountain out of a molehill now, practically fuming with anger.


    Joshua knew this wasing if he didn¡¯t exin himself.


    But he was determined to keep Xylia and Richard far away from each other for good.


    He tried to hold Xylia¡¯s hand, but she just slipped out of reach, squaring her shoulders and staring off to the side, clearly not interested in dealing with him right now.


    ¡°I know I screwed up. I crossed the line this time¨Cpromise I won¡¯t let it happen again,¡± Joshua said, sounding genuinely remorseful.


    Xylia snorted. ¡°Joshua, you know what they say¨Conce it happens, it¡¯s bound to happen again. If you¡¯re really tired of me, just be honest.¡±


    Xylia was pissed about all the secrets Joshua kept from her, so she took out all her anger on him, not holding back as her words came out sharp.


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    Joshua knew this wasn¡¯t just another fight¡ªhe couldn¡¯t just shrug it off this time. When his integrity and loyalty were put on the line, his face grew instantly serious.


    ¡°Xylia, do you honestly think I¡¯m the kind of guy who¡¯d just move on from woman to woman?¡± Joshua said, his voice tight with frustration and hurt.


    ¡°All men are alike¨Chow can I ever be sure about you?¡± Xylia snapped back, bitterness clear in her voice.


    Joshua stared at Xylia¡¯s frosty expression, feeling like his heart was being torn to shreds. It hurt like hell.


    Ignoring Xylia¡¯s struggling, Joshua held her firmly by the shoulders, forcing her to meet his eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯ve loved you for more than ten years, chased after you all this time, and finally got you by my side. Do you really think I¡¯d ever look at anyone else?¡± Joshua said, voice heavy with emotion.


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that¨Cthose are just words,¡± Xylia snapped, icy and relentless.


    Joshua froze, lips pressed together in silence,pletely at a loss for what to say.


    Not a single word left his mouth.


    Seeing Joshua so defeated, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart ache for him.


    She pushed his hands away and turned her back to him.


    Joshua had promised her he¡¯d never keep secrets from her again.


    But here he was, breaking that promise first. Ever since Richard showed up, Joshua had been hiding so much from her.


    She just felt miserable inside.


    And to make matters worse, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little jealous whenever it came to Richard and whatever history he had with Joshua.


    The silence in the hospital room hung heavy for a long time. Then, all of a sudden, Joshua tossed aside the covers and got out of bed.


    Xylia finally turned around, her tone tense. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to settle the score with Noelle right now,¡± Joshua said sharply, anger simmering in his eyes.


    Richard¡¯s next.


    They¡¯d actually schemed together and made Xylia question his loyalty. He¡¯d never let them get away with that.


    ¡®Unforgivable!¡® Joshua fumed to himself.


    Xylia scrambled to block his way, grabbing his arm. ¡°Joshua, you¡¯re still sick! What¡¯s the point of picking a fight now? Get back in bed!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Joshua shot back, shaking off her hand.


    He ignored her and strode straight for the door.


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    Xylia gave Joshua a good smack right on the forehead¨Chis fuzzy brain was spinning even more now.


    ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re Mr. Tough Guy all of a sudden? Fever just broke and now you wanna y hero?¡± Xylia shot back, eyes zing. ¡°Let me deal with Noelle. The real problem here is you! Get your butt back in bed and take a long, hard look at yourself!¡±


    Joshua clutched his forehead, giving Xylia that pitiful, kicked¨Cpuppy look.


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    Comment

 Tricked 306

    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¨Cshe¡¯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¨Cnot gonna ask for trouble,¡® Noelle decided, biting back her retort.


    After all, Joshua was incredibly attentive to Noelle¨Cording 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!


    16:17 Mon, <b>Sep </b>29 B


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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¨Cif 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¨Che 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¨Cso baffled she didn¡¯t even know what to say.


    Xylia knew just how clingy Noelle could get with Joshua¨Cshe 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.


    16:17 Mon<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>29 B


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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¨Cher 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¨Cyou 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¨Cit¡¯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¨Cjust 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.


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    Xylia had always turned down any invitation before¡ªno way she would¡¯ve gone. But today, she just wasn¡¯t in the mood, so she gave in.


    She pulled out her phone and saw a message from Joshua asking what she was up to.


    She hadn¡¯t checked her phone earlier, so she missed it.


    She quickly called Joshua.


    The phone rang and rang, but no one picked up.


    ¡®He must be caught up in something,¡® Xylia thought, so she left a message for Joshua saying she was discussing work with a business partner and would be hometer.


    Joshua didn¡¯t reply right away.


    Xylia¡¯s phone was almost out of juice, so she just dropped Joshua another quick message and let it be¨Cshe figured she¡¯d deal with itter.


    Lily couldn¡¯t help teasing when she saw Xylia glued to her phone.


    ¡°Reporting to your boyfriend?¡±


    Xylia nodded. ¡°Yeah, or he¡¯ll worry.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s so sweet.¡±


    Lily smiled and nced at Xylia.


    ¡°I just got out of a messy marriage, and now when I see people falling in love, I can¡¯t help but feel a little jealous.¡±


    Xylia responded, ¡°Honestly, you look so young¨CI never would¡¯ve guessed you¡¯d been married already.¡±


    ¡°Look who¡¯s talking, Xylia. You don¡¯t look old enough to have a kid at all.¡±


    Xylia¡¯s smile froze on her lips.


    ¡®Wait, how does she know I have a kid?¡® Xylia thought, suddenly on edge.


    ¡®We¡¯ve been chatting for ages, but I never mentioned anything about my personal life¡­¡® she mused, growing


    wary.


    ¡®Lily seems to know me pretty well,¡® Xylia thought, feeling a bit on edge.


    Lily caught Xylia¡¯s reaction and hurried to exin, ¡°Sorry, Xylia. Since we¡¯re working together, Mr. Shaw and I looked you up a bit. Hope you don¡¯t mind?¡±


    16:17 <b>Mon</b>, Sep 29 B¡­


    Even Mr. Shaw didn¡¯t know she had a kid.


    So it must¡¯ve been Lily who did a bit of digging into her past.


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    ¡®I get it, but this still feels like a vition of my privacy, Xylia thought, feeling her impression of Lily slip a


    little lower.


    Xylia was clearly less lively for the rest of the ride.


    When they arrived at the bar, Lily seemed genuinely surprised.


    ¡°Wait, I could¡¯ve sworn this used to be some chill lounge. When did it turn into a full¨Con nightclub?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t like Lily misremembered.


    Xylia grew up in Jupiton and knew this ce used to be a low¨Ckey bar. Guess it must¡¯ve gotten a facelift¨Cor just switched owners.


    ¡°Whatever, we¡¯re already here. Let¡¯s just rx a little,¡± Xylia said, as Lily pulled her in. <fnb797> For original chapters go to Find_Novel(.</fnb797>


    At the entrance, Xylia¡¯s phone was dying at just 2% battery, so she managed to borrow a power bank.


    Once she got some charge, she saw Joshua¡¯s text: ¡°Send me the address. I¡¯ll swing by and get you in a bit.¡±


    Xylia sent him the location.


    Then, she shot Joshua another message: ¡°Hurry up ande get me!¡±


    ¡®Something just felt off,¡® Xylia thought, her unease growing and her impression of Lily sinking lower and lower.


    She was especially irked that Lily had pulled her inside without even bothering to ask how she felt about it.


    Joshua shot back a quick ¡°Okay.¡±


    Xylia slipped her phone away.


    Lily led her over to the door of a private booth.


    ¡°I went ahead and reserved us a booth at the front desk¨Cit¡¯s so loud downstairs. Let¡¯s head inside so we can actually talk,¡± Lily said, gesturing for Xylia to follow her in.


    Xylia stared at the booth door, unease twisting in her stomach¨Ca voice in her head warning her that walking through that door could mean trouble.


    Trying to y it cool, she memorized the booth¡¯s location and told Lily, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll head to the restroom real quick. I remember the booth number, I¡¯ll find you in a minute.¡±


    Lily didn¡¯t suspect anything and went in ahead.


    Through the crack in the door, Xylia caught a glimpse of shadows moving inside.


    Without a second thought, she turned and made a beeline for the bar entrance.


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    ¡®Never thought my innocent¨Clooking business partner would actually try to hurt me!¡® Xylia thought, her heart thumping in her chest.


    She couldn¡¯t even let herself dwell on it¨Cshe just picked up her pace, hurrying for the exit.


    Downstairs, the nightclub was wild¨Cbodies spinning under the lights, deafening music crashing through the


    air, and a haze of glitter and booze that barely hid the cold indifference and lurking danger.


    Xylia swore someone was watching her.


    She kept moving, never pausing for a second.


    Only when she made it to the front door did she finally allow herself to exhale, just a little.


    She nced back¨Cno one was following her. She called Joshua right away.


    This time, the call connected almost instantly.


    ¡®Where are you?¡® Xylia blurted out, her voice tight with nerves.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Joshua asked, concerned.


    They spoke at almost the same time, their voices ovepping in a rush.


    Joshua heard the urgency and a hint of panic in Xylia¡¯s voice. His chest tightened, and he replied in a low, steady voice, ¡°I¡¯ll be there in five minutes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting,¡± Xylia said, keeping her voice as steady as she could.


    Xylia slipped across the street and settled by a nter, keeping her eyes trained on the bar entrance, nerves taut as she waited for Joshua.


    Just then, her phone buzzed¨Cit was Lily calling.


    Xylia forced herself to sound calm as she picked up.


    ¡°Where are you, Xylia? I checked in the bathroom but didn¡¯t see you,¡± Lily said, her voice just a bit too sweet.


    Xylia felt like she¡¯d wandered straight into a scene from a horror flick¨CLily sounded sweet as pie, but there was something about her voice that made Xylia picture a devil hiding a knife behind her back, all friendly on the surface but danger lurking underneath.


    ¡®Better y it cool,¡® Xylia told herself, keeping her tone steady as she replied, ¡°Something came up at home and I had to rush out. I sent you a text about it¨Cdidn¡¯t you see?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t see it,¡± Lily said, her voice sounding a little anxious.


    ¡°Maybe my signal was bad just now. Sorry, Lily, let¡¯s catch up next time I¡¯m really in a rush,¡± Xylia said, doing her best to sound apologetic even though she was anxious to get off the call.


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    On the other end, Xylia could hear Lily¡¯s breathing turn a little heavier¨Cshe could sense the irritation beneath that calm exterior.


    But Lily was clearly used to handling scenes like this; her voice smoothed out almost instantly, sounding polite and professional.


    ¡°No worries, Xylia. We¡¯ll do it another time. Go handle your stuff.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Xylia said, and with that, the call ended.


    Cold sweat prickled down Xylia¡¯s back, the chilly night air making it feel like ice shards stabbing into her skin ¨Cshe couldn¡¯t help but shudder.


    ¡°There¡¯s just no way I can keep this project going now,¡® Xylia thought, her nerves still strung tight.


    Joshua showed up in less than five minutes.


    Joshua didn¡¯t spot Xylia at the bar entrance and was about to rush in when a familiar voice called out from behind.


    ¡°Joshua!¡±


    He whirled around to see Xylia walking toward him from across the street. He hurried over, reaching out to steady her, concern etched on his face.


    ¡°Are you alright? Are you hurt?¡±


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s just get in the car.¡±


    Joshua could sense just how shaken she was¨Chis brows knitted with concern.


    Once they were both in the car, Joshua drove away from the bar.


    Joshua¡¯s car had barely left the bar entrance when Lily and Richard stepped out.


    Richard red after the car, his face as dark as a thundercloud.


    ¡®She escaped again! Xylia slipped right through our fingers!¡® he fumed.


    Lily bit her lip hard, her face clouded with unwillingness and simmering frustration.


    ¡°Mr. Shaw, Xylia must¡¯ve sensed something was off. She made up that story about family just to get out¨CI¡¯m sure she realized I was trying to set her up,¡± Lily muttered, barely able to hide her irritation.


    ¡°She really <b>is </b>sharp,¡± Richard said coldly.


    Richard¡¯s tone was frosty.


    It was the first time Lily had ever heard Richard say anything that sounded like praise, so she couldn¡¯t tell if he meant it or was just being sarcastic.


    16:18 <b>Mon</b><b>, </b>Sep 29 B


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    After a moment, she muttered, ¡°Looks like the deal with Xylia is off.¡±


    Richard¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile. ¡°It¡¯s all in ck and white¨Cher signature¡¯s there. There¡¯s no way she¡¯s backing out now.¡±


    Holt pulled up to the bar entrance just then.


    Richard climbed into the car without a word, and they sped off.


    Lily stood there alone, lost in thought.


    On the drive home, Xylia filled Joshua in on everything that had happened at the bar.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I was just imagining things, but I swear I saw someone moving around in that booth. If I wasn¡¯t seeing things, it looked like a man. It gave me the creeps,¡± Xylia admitted, her voice still a bit unsteady.


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 Tricked 308

    Joshua¡¯s face darkened as he listened to Xylia¡¯s words.


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    Richard was the point of contact between Prairie Rose and Xylia, and as for the man Lily had taken her to meet in that private booth¨Canyone could figure out who he was without even asking.


    He freed up one hand and took Xylia¡¯s, holding it gently in his palm.


    ¡°Xylia, this time you have to listen to me,¡± Joshua said quietly.


    Xylia shot him a puzzled look. ¡°Listen to you about what?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow, set up a meeting with Richard. I¡¯ll handle negotiating the cancetion with Prairie Rose, Joshua said firmly.


    Xylia went quiet, her heart heavy with reluctance.


    ¡®It stings to watch such a lucrative deal slip right through my fingers, Xylia thought, frustration gnawing at


    her.


    ¡®But worse than that, I just can¡¯t make peace with it,¡® she admitted to herself.


    ¡®It all boils down to theirck of integrity¡­ Stepping away like this leaves me feeling utterly powerless and wronged,¡® Xylia brooded.


    But Joshua was right¨Cit just wasn¡¯t possible to keep working together anymore.


    She gave a soft nod. ¡°Okay.¡±


    The next day, Richard received Xylia¡¯s invitation, and a flicker of excitement stirred in his chest.


    But he quickly squashed that feeling, recing it with suspicion.


    ¡®Xylia¡¯s been dodging me whenever she couldtely. Why would she suddenly want to meet?¡® he wondered.


    Still, it had to be business. She was all work, no y these days anyway.


    He left early, heading to the location Xylia had sent him.


    But when he arrived at the restaurant, he realized the person waiting was Joshua¨Cnot Xylia.


    Richard froze for a split second, then forced a smile, made his way over, and sat down.


    ¡°Why are you here, Mr. Garcia? Where¡¯s Xylia?¡± Richard asked, trying to sound nonchnt.


    Joshua replied coolly, ¡°I¡¯m here to talk about ending the coboration with Prairie Rose for Xylia.¡±


    Richard froze, the smile sliding off his face.


    8:09 Tue, Sep <b>30 </b>


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    ¡°Mr. Garcia, do you really think you have the right to speak for Xylia?¡± Richard shot back, his voiceced with


    sarcasm.


    ¡°I¡¯m her fianc¨¦, so I absolutely do,¡± Joshua replied, his voice icy. ¡°Enough small talk¨Clet¡¯s get straight to thepensation.¡±


    Richard had absolutely no intention of breaking things off with Xylia.


    Joshua can say whatever he wants¨Cit¡¯s not going to change my mind, Richard thought,pletely unfazed.


    Richard leaned backfortably, eyes fixed on Joshua. ¡°The partnership between Prairie Rose and Xylic Studio is well underway. If you try to call it off without a justified reason, I¡¯ll have to question Xylic Studio¡¯s integrity, in and simple.¡±


    Prairie Rose was a big name worldwide¨Cand Richard knew it. <fnbb2c> Official source is f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnbb2c>


    He was basically saying that if the contract got canceled, Prairie Rose¡¯s international reputation might end up ruining Xylic Studio¡¯s standing in the industry.


    Richard was straight¨Cup threatening them.


    Joshua¡¯s tone was ice¨Ccold, daring. ¡°Go on then, take your shot. Let¡¯s see who gets dragged down first¨Cyour name or Xylic Studio¡¯s.¡±


    Joshua wasn¡¯t worried about ying hardball, either. With all the leverage he had on Richard, making him pay wouldn¡¯t even be a challenge.


    Richard knew Joshua was no pushover.


    Fury burned in his chest, but when he thought about the files he had on Joshua, Richard felt a bit more confident.


    ¡°Joshua, I wonder how much longer you¡¯ll keep acting all high and mighty,¡± Richard sneered.


    Finally, Richard caved and agreed <i>to </i>call it quits.


    Thepensation for breaking the contract? Fair enough¨Cnot a bad deal all things considered.


    Once Richard had taken off, Xylia walked in to find Joshua,


    ¡°How did you get him to agree <i>so </i>quickly?¡± Xylia stared straight at him as she asked.


    Joshua frowned, picking up on a strange vibe in her eyes. Was she watching him closely, or was she trying to


    test him?


    Joshua didn¡¯t bother digging deeper into her look¨Che just gave her a straight answer.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got plenty of leverage over him. Rx, I¡¯ll take care of everything,¡± Joshua said, never missing a beat.


    He said it with a spark in his eyes, not noticing the trace of disappointment flickering across Xylia¡¯s face.


    8:09 Tue, Sep 30


    ::.


    He¡¯s got plenty of dirt on him, Xylia thought, her mind churning.


    ¡®Sounds like they really do go way back,¡® she mused.


    Xylia was out of options¨Cshe just had to suck it up and slowly wrap her head around it.


    Joshua finally noticed something was off and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    Xylia shook her head.


    ¡°Oh, and Noelle¡¯s heading back to Norhill tomorrow,¡± Xylia added.


    Joshua nodded. ¡°Makes sense for her to go back now.¡±


    Since her task¡¯s done, there¡¯s no reason for her to stay in Jupiton.


    Joshua thought it was time for Noelle to head out¨Cbut Noelle had other ideas.


    She¡¯d booked her flight, sure, but actually leaving? No way.


    Even with Richard¡¯s help that night, she¡¯d stille up empty¨Chanded¨Cand she couldn¡¯t stand it.


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    Noelle needed a whole new strategy¨Csomething that would help her take Joshua for herself, once and for all.


    So Noelle dialed Joshua¡¯s number.


    When he picked up, she made her voice extra soft and pitiful, almost pleading.


    ¡°Joshie¡­ are you still mad at me?¡±


    Xylia clutched Joshua¡¯s phone, feeling awkward as she looked across at him¨Cthere he was, totally absorbed in scrolling through news on her phone.


    Joshua¡¯s expression was <i>cool </i>and indifferent, clearly not bothered by whatever was happening on her end.


    Xylia spoke up, direct and unfazed, ¡°He¡¯s busy right now. If you need anything, just talk to me.¡±


    You could hear Noelle practically breathing fire on the other end, her breaths quick and unsteady.


    She was doing her best to hold back the rage boiling inside.


    She stayed silent for a long moment before finally speaking.


    This time, her voice didn¡¯t sound cutesy or fragile at all.


    Instead, there was pure contemptcing her words.


    ¡°Why are you picking up his phone anyway? Where¡¯s Josh?¡± Noelle drawled, her tone dripping with disdain.


    ¡°He¡¯s busy,¡± Xylia replied coolly, no hint of emotion slipping through.


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    Xylia didn¡¯t bother to exin further¨Cshe just stuck to the same response as before.


    Noelle realized she wasn¡¯t going to get any answers, so after taking a deep breath, she said, ¡°<b>I¡¯m </b>heading out tomorrow. Why don¡¯t you twoe back for dinner tonight?¡±


    There was a clear reluctance in her words, but even so, you could still catch a trace of hope in her tone.


    Xylia shot Joshua a questioning look.


    Joshua looked like he couldn¡¯t care less.


    So Xylia just agreed without another word.


    After hanging up, Joshua finally turned to look at Xylia, an impatient frown etched onto his face.


    ¡°Why bother having dinner with her?¡± Joshua asked, his tone t and a little cold.


    ¡°What, you worried she might tempt you and you¡¯ll give in?¡± Xylia shot back, a sly smirk tugging at her lips.


    Joshua put down his phone, then suddenly pulled Xylia right into his arms¨Cholding her close, possessiveness clear in the gesture.


    ¡°Keep talking nonsense and I¡¯ll really get mad,¡± Joshua said, half¨Cserious and half petnt, his grip refusing to loosen.


    ¡®Aww, look at you¨Cthrowing a little puppy tantrum, Xylia mused, her smile full of teasing affection.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but ruffle Joshua¡¯s silky silver hair, grinning at how good it felt under her fingers.


    ¡°What, can¡¯t handle a bit of honesty now?¡± she teased, her voiceced with yful mischief.


    Joshua finally realized she was just messing with him, and he couldn¡¯t help but let a yful smile slip.


    Xylia, still in his arms,ughed like a blooming flower. As Joshua moved, strands of her hair fell aside, showing off a bold hickey on her pale, wless neck.


    Joshua¡¯s gaze turned noticeably darker¨Che lifted his hand and brushed his fingertips gently over that red


    mark.


    ¡°That¡¯s not honesty, it¡¯s nder. Are you prepared to ept your punishment?¡± Joshua murmured, voice low and teasing.


    Xylia¡¯s heart did a backflip, and before she could react, Joshua caught her off guard, stealing a kiss just as she looked up.


    His teeth grazed her lips, and the mix of gentle pain and sweet pleasure sent sparks through her nerves.


    They were still in the restaurant, for crying out loud.


    Xylia <b>was </b>on edge, worried that a waiter might walk in


    any second.


    She clutched Joshua¡¯s sleeve tightly, parting her lips, about to say something.


    But that just gave Joshua the perfect chance to deepen the kiss.


    Xylia was pinned there, enduring the ¡°punishment¡± for what felt like forever before Joshua finally let her go.


    She gasped for air, copsing into Joshua¡¯s arms, too breathless to say another word.


    ¡°Are you still talking nonsense?¡± Joshua teased, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction.


    He ran his fingers through her hair, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.


    Xylia shot him a yful re, shoved him off, and stood up.


    ¡°Seriously, can¡¯t take a joke anymore? Are you running out of patience with me?¡± she teased, sounding slightly pouty.


    Joshua could only shake his head¨CXylia had just tossed yet another baseless usation his way.


    Now he finally got why people online always say, ¡°Women¡¯s hearts are impossible to read.¡±


    Because with Xylia, he never had a clue what wild usation she¡¯d pin on him next.


    Joshua spent a good while trying everything to coax Xylia, not letting up until her signature smile finally returned.


    Seeing him like that, Xylia couldn¡¯t help butugh¨Che looked so adorably flustered that she found it kind of hrious.


    She had no idea what was up with her these days; her emotions were totally out of whack, mood swings flipping from annoyed to over¨Cthe¨Cmoon in the blink of an eye.


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    <b>8:09 </b><b>Tue</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>30 </b>

 Tricked 309

    <b>Chapter 309 </b>


    Xylia attributed her mood swings to all the stress she¡¯d been dealing withtely.


    For the sake of all the favorite dishes Joshua ordered for her, Xylia forced herself to forgive him.


    ¡®Guess I¡¯ll let him off the hook¨Cjust this once,¡® Xylia thought grudgingly.


    After the meal, she tagged along with Joshua on ast¨Cminute business trip.


    Their destination turned out to be an auction hall.


    Apparently, the person Joshua was searching for was supposed to show up there.


    Xylia followed Joshua inside, asking nothing and just going with the flow¨Cshe looked around the auction <b>hall</b>, her energy low, like she was just there for the ride.


    She picked out a prime spot.


    Then she grabbed an auction catalog, let go of Joshua¡¯s hand, and started checking out what was on offer. <fn443d> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find?novel</fn443d>


    Joshua nced over at her but chose not to disturb her.


    He spotted the person he needed and, noticing Xylia was interested in something at the auction, let her take care of the bidding on her own.


    ¡°Go ahead and bid on whatever you like. I¡¯ll foot the billter,¡± Joshua told her.


    Xylia wagged a finger at Joshua, teasing, ¡°Please¨CI¡¯m Ms. Sadler, and Daddy¡¯s favorite, too. I can totally afford this. Go handle your business.¡±


    She wasted no time heading to her chosen spot, waiting for the auctioneer to kick things off.


    Joshua just shook his head, a smile full of affection curling on his lips, and walked away.


    Xylia had been to her fair share of auctions in the past, but this one had a freshness to it she couldn¡¯t quite exin.


    There were several lots up for bid today that she genuinely liked.


    One in particr¨Ca pink diamond¨Chad her eyes glued to the catalog.


    She was determined to snag it and turn it into a cufflink for Joshua.


    His wardrobe was way too in. With a face like his, it¡¯d be a crime not to add some style.


    She decided she¡¯d have to take it upon herself to give him a makeover.


    The other day, she¡¯d designed a new suit for Joshua, and with that pink diamond as the cufflink, it would <b>be </b>the ultimatebo.


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    Xylia could practically picture Joshua wearing the suit she created, that cufflink gleaming at his wrist¨Ca look that was all her doing.


    He¡¯d look incredible, with pink bubbles floating all around him in her imagination.


    Just picturing it put a blissful smile on Xylia¡¯s lips.


    A man sitting beside Xylia nced at her, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, then quickly looked away, lost in his own thoughts.


    The pink diamond was actually the second item up for bid.


    Earlier, Xylia had already picked up a few things as gifts for her Sadler brothers.


    Active bidders who won several lots in a row always attracted plenty of attention at an auction.


    After Xylia scored several items back¨Cto¨Cback, people around her began murmuring and whispering.


    ¡°Who is thisdy? Snatching up so many lots in a row¨Cevery single one at least a million. How loaded is she?¡± someone whispered.


    ¡°She looks kind of familiar¡­ Where have I seen her before?¡± another murmured.


    The room went quiet for a moment, then someone suddenly blurted out,


    ¡°Wait, that¡¯s Xylia Schultz! Connor¡¯s ex¨Cwife. Remember how Mr. Ford used to bring her gifts from every auction he attended?<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Oh, right! Their wedding was all anyone talked about back then. After that, it was radio silence. Only things that made the rounds were Mrs. Ford¡¯s hit¨Cand¨Crun drama and the whole divorce mess.<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Didn¡¯t they clear up that hit¨Cand¨Crun thing? The real culprit was Xylia¡¯s sister, Tessa Schultz. Word is, Mr. Ford did a ton to cover for her.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, gossip like that¨Ceveryone knows how those things go,¡± someone snickered.


    ¡°But didn¡¯t Xylia just drop off the map after the divorce? Mr. Ford went all out trying to track her down, but she totally vanished. So what¡¯s she doing back here now?¡±


    ¡°Is she here trying to win him back?¡± someone spected.


    ¡°Bet that¡¯s it. No way could she throw down that much cash at an auction unless Mr. Ford was funding her- she¡¯s totally spending his money,¡± another scoffed.


    The auction hall was mostly filled with men.


    They weren¡¯t exactly whispering, so their chatter reached Xylia¡¯s ears.


    Xylia could only roll her eyes.


    People always said women loved to gossip, but turns out, men could be even louder about it when they got


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    She pretended not to hear a thing.


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    When the auctioneer finally presented the pink diamond, Xylia didn¡¯t hesitate¨Cshe raised her paddle again.


    ¡°Five million,¡± she said loud and clear.


    The starting bid was four million¨Cshe instantly bumped it by a million.


    Earlier, when she was buying gifts for her Sadler brothers, she¡¯d been cautious, upping the price in small increments.


    But the pink diamond was a must¨Chave for her. This time, she was all in and didn¡¯t n to drag things out. But out of nowhere, the guy sitting next to her raised his paddle and, in a low voice, called out, ¡°Ten million.¡± Xylia turned her head, curiosity sparking in her eyes as she nced at him.


    This was the only time he¡¯d bid in the whole auction. ¡®Is he here just for the pink diamond?¡® Xylia wondered.


    Xylia asked with a hint of interest, ¡°Hey, are you here just for this pink diamond?¡±


    The man turned and gave her a soft, boyish grin.


    He had gentle features, and when he smiled it lit up his whole face¨Che looked downright youthful.


    He said with a bashful chuckle, ¡°Yeah, sis¨CI want to get this pink diamond for my girlfriend.¡±


    ¡®Well, too bad,¡® Xylia thought, biting her lip before saying, ¡°Funny, I want it for my boyfriend. Guess we both have our reasons, huh?¡±


    She raised her paddle again. ¡°Eleven million.¡±


    ¡°Twenty million,¡± the man fired back, cool as ice.


    ¡®Wow, this guy¡¯s packing some serious cash,¡® Xylia thought, impressed.


    She¡¯d already blown a small fortune on gifts for her brothers earlier; if she kept going, her wallet would be


    toast.


    She gritted her teeth. ¡°Twenty¨Cone million!¡±


    ¡°Fifty million!¡± The guy didn¡¯t even blink.


    The crowd sucked in their breath¨Chard.


    Sure, the pink diamond was rare, but this was just crazy money.


    Xylia put her paddle down. No way she was going any higher.


    Shelling out way more than it was worth just left a bad taste in her mouth.


    ¡®Sorry, Joshua. You¡¯re just gonna have to deal with it, she thought, a little regretfully.


    The auctioneer¡¯s gavel mmed down, and the pink diamond went to the man beside her. Xylia couldn¡¯t help feeling a twinge of envy¨Cbut hey, what could she do?


    Once the staff brought over her purchases and she settled up, she headed off to find Joshua.


    But as Xylia was about to head out, the guy suddenly called after her, ¡°Hey, wait a second!¡±


    ¡°Hang on, can you wait for a sec?¡±


    Xylia nced back at him, puzzled. ¡°You talking to me?¡±


    He gave a little nod, looking totally defeated, then held out the pink diamond to her.


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    ¡°You can have it,¡± he said with a wry smile. ¡°My girlfriend just broke up with me over the phone. I don¡¯t want it anymore.¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t dare reach out and take it, pulling her hand back instinctively.


    ¡°Breaking up is a big deal,¡± she said gently. ¡°Maybe you should keep it and talk to her. Who knows? You might still have a chance to give it to her.¡±


    ¡°No way,¡± he muttered,pletely defeated.


    He looked utterly drained. ¡°Sis, you don¡¯t know the half of it. She¡¯s been wanting to ditch me for ages, but I just kept holding on. Watching her hook up with other guys over and over¡­ I¡¯m just exhausted.¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t know what to say.


    ??


    Xylia waspletely out of her depth¨Cthere nothing she could say to make it better.


    The guy grabbed her hand and shoved the diamond into it, his grip firm.


    ¡°Sis, if you don¡¯t want it, just chuck it,¡± he said, his voice t.


    Before Xylia could even react, he turned and bolted out of the auction hall.


    ¡°Hey, wait! I don¡¯t want it!¡± Xylia called after him, but he was already gone.


    She chased after him a few steps, but by the time she reached the entrance, he was nowhere to be seen.


    The pink diamond, which she¡¯d been so eager to win earlier, now felt like a hot potato in her hand¨Cheavy and ufortable.


    When Joshua came out, he found Xylia spacing out by the entrance. He walked over and gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder.


    8:10 Tue, Sep 30


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± he asked.


    Xylia turned to him, awkwardly clutching the diamond in her hand.


    She grumbled, ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s like a freaking hot potato¨C1 can¡¯t shake it off no matter what.¡±

 Tricked 310

    Xylia filled Joshua in on everything that had just happened.


    Joshua was clearly annoyed. Seriously? Why would he call her sister?


    ¡°Sister? He really called you ¡®sister?¡± Joshua blurted out.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes at Joshua¡¯s odd reaction. ¡®Is that really what he¡¯s hung up on right now?


    Xylia rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Seriously, that¡¯s what you¡¯re focusing on right now?¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be? You¡¯re supposed to be my sister¨Cand only mine!¡± Joshua retorted, sounding both possessive and childish.


    He was being so bossy and immature.


    Xylia just gave him a look, totally speechless.


    After sulking for a while, Xylia finally deted with a sigh. ¡°What are we supposed to do about this? I can¡¯t just take someone else¡¯s stuff for free¡­ I really need to pay him back somehow, don¡¯t I?¡±


    Except¡­ she didn¡¯t even know who the guy actually was.


    Joshua took the box from her and opened it. Inside was a pink diamond.


    Its color was absolutely gorgeous, and it looked exceptionally rare.


    He snapped the box shut and grabbed Xylia¡¯s hand, pulling her back into the auction hall.


    They found a staff member and headed straight to the security room to check the surveince footage. <fn008a> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn008a>


    ¡°That¡¯s Ethan Hayes, the youngest in the Hayes family,¡± Joshua said.


    Xylia turned to him, surprised. ¡°You know him?¡±


    Joshua nodded. ¡°Yeah¨Cthe guy I was just talking to? He¡¯s Ethan¡¯s uncle.¡±


    ¡®Figures, it¡¯s all people we know, Xylia thought.


    Xylia squeezed Joshua¡¯s hand, sounding anxious. ¡°Hurry up and get in touch with his uncle¨Clet¡¯s pay him


    back.¡±


    No way was she returning the diamond. Since Ethan didn¡¯t want it anymore, she¡¯d just buy it off him. At least this way it wouldn¡¯t end up getting thrown away.


    Joshua nodded, agreeing with her n.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up with an idea, and she tugged on Joshua¡¯s sleeve.


    ±Ø


    ¡°I¡¯m tapped out, so you¡¯ll have to handle the payment. Just send Ethan fifty million,¡± she said.


    Joshua raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. ¡°Wait, even with the auction markup, this diamond isn¡¯t worth that much, is it?¡±


    ¡°He went all in for love and jacked up the price, trying to surprise his girlfriend¨Conly for her to break up with him as soon as the auction ended. So now he¡¯s selling it to me instead, Xylia exined.


    ¡®Girlfriend?¡® Joshua thought, even more confused.


    Rumor had it. Ethan wasn¡¯t even into women.


    But honestly, Joshua couldn¡¯t care less about other people¡¯s private lives.


    Still, he couldn¡¯t help but suspect Ethan had seen how badly Xylia wanted that pink diamond and deliberately hiked up the price¨Cjust to have some fun at her expense.


    Still, he agreed to Xylia¡¯s request.


    As he watched her struggling with a huge bag full of stuff, he couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°What did you even buy?¡±


    ¡°Gifts for my brothers,¡± Xylia replied.


    Xylia thought about it¨Cshe¡¯d never really gotten gifts for her brothers when she moved back in with the Sadler family. This was her chance to make up for it.


    She¡¯d spotted some goodies at the auction that just felt right, so she grabbed them as a little something for her brothers¨Cjust her way of showing she cared.


    Joshua eyed the pile of shopping bags with a slight frown.


    ¡°So where¡¯s mine?¡± he pouted.


    ¡®Seriously, she¡¯s got gifts for everyone but me?¡® Joshua thought, feeling a bit left out.


    Xylia caught him throwing a mini tantrum and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡®He¡¯s way too adorable like this. So she decided to mess with him a little, just for fun.


    ¡°Nope, nothing for you! These are just for my brothers,¡± Xylia said with a mischievous grin, purposely teasing


    him.


    Joshua¡¯s pout deepened, clearly not amused.


    ¡®So she buys something for everyone but me? Guess I¡¯m not even on her mind¡­ he grumbled inwardly, feeling that ssic boyfriend¨Cleft¨Cout frustration.


    But then Joshua remembered that Xylia had personally made clothes for him¨Cnone of her brothers had gotten something like that. That made him feel a whole lot better.


    ¡®Hah! My gift was made by Xylia herself. Her brothers just got stuff she bought with money. Honestly, a handmade gift shows way more love than something you just pick up at the store,¡® he thought, feeling secretly


    ±ØÁã()


    proud.


    ??? ?? ??


    ¡®No need to evenpare¨Csomething crafted with heart trumps anything bought with cash, hands down Joshua told himself, smug satisfaction blooming in his chest.


    With that thought, his mood instantly flipped from cloudy to sunny.


    Joshua was totally capable of hyping himself up¨Cno help needed.


    Xylia nced at him, watching his face go from sulky, to pale, to bright red, and finally settling on a look of breezy self¨Csatisfaction.


    She wasn¡¯t sure what was running through his head, <b>but </b>judging by his grin, he¡¯d clearly moved on and wanne bothered anymore.


    Xylia hid a knowing smile, choosing not to let on just yet that the pink diamond was actually meant <i>for </i>him. ¡®Let him stew a while longer¨Cit¡¯ll be fun to see his reaction, she thought.


    She¡¯d hold onto the secret for now and blow his mindter¨Chanding him both the diamond and the custom clothes she made, all in one epic moment.


    After leaving the auction, they headed straight for Garcia Vi.


    They¡¯d promised Noelle they¡¯d be home for dinner, but Xylia had no idea what kind of antics the Garcia family¡¯s resident troublemaker had nned for them.


    Still, Xylia was in a good mood, and now she was actually looking forward to it.


    An hourter, they pulled up to Garcia Vi.


    Noelle heard the car engine outside and immediately knew Joshua was back.


    She quickly set down thest dish on the table and practically skipped over to the door.


    But the moment she caught sight of Joshua crouching down to swap out Xylia¡¯s slippers, her grin froze- straight¨Cup jealous vibes radiating off her.


    ¡®Damn it, Xylia!¡® Noelle cursed silently.


    Xylia caught Noelle staring from the living room out of the corner of her eye.


    She got a mischievous idea.


    As Joshua finished helping her change into slippers and started to get up, Xylia suddenly leaned in, grabbed his cheeks, and stole a kiss right on his lips.


    ¡°Now, isn¡¯t my Joshua just the best hubby material!¡± she gushed,ying it on thick.


    Joshua blinked, not sure what had gotten into Xylia¨Cthis kind of bold move totally threw him off. But hey, he was loving every second of it.


    <b>8:10 </b><b>Tue</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>30 </b>


    <b>¡°</b>You know it<b>!</b>¡± Joshua shot back, all smug.


    Then, not missing a beat, he took Xylia¡¯s hand and leaned in, determined to steal a kiss right back.


    Xylia didn¡¯t shy away¨Cnot even a little.


    But Noelle jumped in, unable to hold back any longer. She called out loudly, ying her angle, ¡°Joshua, you guys just got back?¡±


    Joshua was about to kiss Xylia, lips barely an inch away, but Noelle¡¯s shout interrupted him mid¨Cmove, leaving him hanging.


    His face justpletely copsed.


    Xylia watched Joshua¡¯s instant meltdown¨Chis expression did a total 180¨Cand honestly, she couldn¡¯t help bur find it hrious.


    Xylia lowered her head with augh and squeezed Joshua¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s see what our troublemaking chef has cooked up for us,¡± Xylia said, purposely teasing since she knew Noelle could hear them.


    As soon as Xylia stepped inside the vi, the delicious smell of dinner hit her.


    Between Noelle¡¯s cheery phone invitation and the apron she was wearing, it was pretty obvious she¡¯d made the whole meal herself.


    Joshua still couldn¡¯t quite get used to Xylia calling Noelle ¡°little sister,¡± but he bit his tongue and let her lead him into the dining room.


    He didn¡¯t say a word, just let Xylia pull him along to the dining room.


    The table was piled high with dishes¨Cmeats, greens, you name it. Everything looked mouthwatering and smelled incredible.


    ¡°Well, who knew our little troublemaker could cook up a spread like this?¡± Xylia teased, throwing Noelle a yfulpliment.


    Xylia threw Noelle a yfulpliment.


    Too bad Noelle found all this ¡°little sister¡± talk utterly gross.


    She shot Xylia a pointed look and muttered, ¡°You and Joshua aren¡¯t even married yet, so quit calling me that,¡±


    ¡°Well, we¡¯re definitely tying the knot sooner orter¨Cbetter get used to it now,¡± Xylia replied,pletely unfazed.


    Xylia didn¡¯t care whether Noelle was annoyed or not; she just grabbed Joshua and sat down <b>with </b>him.


    Xyliadled out a bowl of soup for Joshua, shing Noelle a sugary smile, <b>¡°</b><b>Here</b><b>, </b>have some<b>¨C</b><b>this </b>chicken broth looks absolutely delicious. Who knows how long our sweet little <b>sister </b>ved <b>away </b>at <b>it</b><b>? </b>She <b>really </b>went


    8:10 Tue, Sep <b>30 </b>


    all out for us!¡± she chirped, making sure Noelle heard every word.


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    Noelle felt like she was one little sister¡® away frompletely losing it. ¡®If she calls me that one more time. I¡¯m going to lose my mind, she fumed inwardly.


    She clenched her fists and swallowed her frustration, then spun around and marched straight to the wine cab. ¡®Better get a drink before I say something I¡¯ll regret.


    Joshua turned to Xylia with a grin.


    ¡°Are you getting revenge for me?¡± he teased, voice low.


    She¡¯d promised to help him get even before, and clearly she¡¯d remembered.


    Joshua was genuinely touched¨Cand over the moon.


    Xylia just shook her head, grinning. ¡°Nope. I just thought it¡¯d be funny, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s smile went stiff. He shot her some real betrayed puppy eyes.


    Xylia acted like she didn¡¯t see it, stifling a giggle as she just grabbed a chunk of slow¨Cbraised BBQ pork belly and dug in.


    Not gonna lie, Noelle actually knew her way around the kitchen.


    Noelle swept back in with two bottles of wine in hand.


    By the time she returned to Joshua and Xylia, she looked like she¡¯d gotten her emotions under control¨Cher smile was sweeter than ever, and there wasn¡¯t a hint of her earlier irritation left.


    ¡°Joshua, Xylia, since I¡¯m leaving tomorrow, how about a farewell toast?¡± she called out brightly.


    Xylia blinked, genuinely puzzled. ¡°You¡¯re just heading to Norhill. We¡¯ll be going over there ourselves soon too, so what¡¯s with the drama?¡±


    Noelle seriously wanted to shut Xylia up right then and there.


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    8:10 Tue, <b>Sep </b>30

 Tricked 311

    :.


    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¨Coff 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¨Cas 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¨CXylia wanted some one¨Con¨Cone 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¨Che 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.


    ±Ø


    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¨Ceven 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¨CI 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¨Cnow


    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¨Cyet 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¨CI¡¯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¨Cshe 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¨Cmotion, 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¨Cgive 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¨Cyou 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¨Cthey really do know all the angles.


    Sure enough, Mrs. Wright was thinking exactly what Noelle had in mind¡ªand 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¨Conce she got upstairs, she headed straight for the study.


    Joshua was glued to hisputer, still neck¨Cdeep 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¨Cshe 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¨Cbig 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.


    EX 55 Vouchers


    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¨Cdrink up and you¡¯ll sleep well tonight, Mrs. Wright announced.


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 Tricked 312

    <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¨Cyears 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¨Cit 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¨CXylia 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¨Che 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¨Cinw 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¨Cjust in case her soon¨Cto¨Cbe daughter¨Cin-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¨Cbefore 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¨C¡®I¡¯m not letting him off the hook that easy¡®¡ªbut¡­


    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¨Call 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.


    Even then, you could already <i>see </i>hints of his handsome features, <fna009> Discover more novels at f?ndnovel</fna009>


    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¨Ctwo big, one small¨Cplus 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¨Cthere was nothing to look back on, no treasured


    8:10 Tue, Sep 30


    snapshots from when she was growing up


    20


    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¨CZylia had booty never seen of heard of anything like it before.


    For her, this waspletely new¨Ca 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¨Cdor 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¨Cday celebration¨Chands down, he¡¯s a born money¨Cgrubber! 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¨Cchaser 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¨Cgrubber 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¨Cshe 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¨Cfirst, 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¨Cyou 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¨CJoshua¡­¡± Noelle blurted out, her voice shaky with panic.


    ¡°M¨CMr. 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¡ªis this really what you¡¯vee to?¡±

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    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¨Ctimers 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¨Cwhen 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¨Cso 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¡ªI 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¨CI 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¨CMrs. Wright stared at Joshua, wide¨Ceyed 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¨CI 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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    hard


    But seeing Joshua¡¯s anger¨Cand knowing he seemed to have everything figured out¨CNoelle 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¨Chelp 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¨Cwhat 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.


    1100


    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¨Cinsted 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¨Cher 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¨Cdid 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¨Cboth 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¨Cadorable.


    8:11 Tue, Sep <b>30 </b>


    :


    It was insanely adorable¨Cand 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¨Cshe¡¯d definitely out¨Ccute 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¨Cshe caught Joshua¡¯s hand mid¨Cgrab and looked up at him, giving the culprit a yful yet using stare.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked, half¨Camused and half¨Cdemanding.


    ¡°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¨Ccheck the album¨Cand 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¨CI¡¯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¨Che 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¨Cshe 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.


    8:11 Tue, Sep 30


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    Before Xylia could get another word out, Joshua suddenly tackled her, pressing her down onto the bed. ¡°No way¨CI¡¯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.

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    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¨Che 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¨Cshe didn¡¯t feel special happiness about it, just saw it as part of life.


    But whenever she thought of that sweet, chubby¨Cfaced 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¨CJoshua 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¨Che 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¨Ceveryone 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¨Cit 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¨Cthe 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¨CI¡¯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¨Cthe 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¨Cjoking, half¨Cserious 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¨Cthere 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¨Che 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¨Cwhy shouldn¡¯t I be there?¡± Joshua shot back, sounding totally unapologetic.


    He said it so matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, 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¨Che really wanted her to bring him some food.


    Xylia could only give in with a sigh.


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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¨CI 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¨Ccut 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¡ªhe 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¨Corder 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¨Climits.¡±


    Ethan shot her a yful smile. ¡°Deal.¡±


    Ethan was actually way more easygoing than Xylia had imagined¨Ctotally chill and friendly.


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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¨Cshe 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.

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    Ethan muttered something under his breath.


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true.¡±


    Xylia didn¡¯t hear him. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    Ethan looked up, his expression calm, a faint smile in his eyes.


    ¡®She didn¡¯t suspect a thing, Xylia thought.


    After finishing their meal, Xylia packed a meal to¨Cgo for Joshua, said goodbye to Ethan, and left.


    Once she was gone, a man stepped out from the restaurant and walked up to Ethan.


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    He took Ethan¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried Joshua will give you a hard time over this? That guy isn¡¯t easy <i>to </i>handle.¡±


    Ethan turned to look at him, his eyes full of tenderness and affection.


    ¡°For the chance to be with you, I¡¯d risk anything.¡±


    The man gazed at Ethan with a tender, aching look. <fn0f32> This text is hosted at Find1Novel</fn0f32>


    ¡°Did you get enough to eat? Want to head back in for a little more?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Hand in hand, the two of them went back inside the restaurant.


    Meanwhile, Xylia called Joshua to see if he was done with work.


    Joshua had just wrapped up a meeting and was sitting in his office, rubbing his temples in exhaustion.


    When he answered Xylia¡¯s call, he asked her toe straight to the office.


    It was already after hours, and only a few employees were still workingte. Most had already left for the day.


    Garcia Group didn¡¯t have a culture of overtime.


    When Xylia got to the Garcia Group building, she headed straight up to the top floor¨Cthe executive suite¡ª and walked right into Joshua¡¯s office.


    ¡°Bet you¡¯re starving. I brought your favorites, and picked up a couple of drinks on the way,¡± she said with a smile.


    She had gotten two fresh fruit juices, still cold from the shop.


    Joshua had been exhausted all day, but just seeing Xylia felt like all the tiredness melted away for a moment.


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


    He walked over, pulled her into a tight hug, and rested his head gently against her shoulder.


    ¡°Tired?¡± Xylia asked, tilting her head with a gentle smile.


    She reached up and softly brushed Joshua¡¯s cheek.


    Joshua pouted, acting all cute. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m exhausted,¡± he admitted.


    ¡°Poor thing, let me get you some food,¡± Xylia said, turning and nting a quick kiss on his face.


    She coaxed him to eat, her voice full of warmth.


    The two were practically glued together, totally wrapped up in each other.


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    Once Joshua had finished his meal, Xylia looked over and asked softly, ¡°You still got work tonight?¡±


    ¡°Nah, I¡¯m done. Let¡¯s head home,¡± Joshua said.


    After tidying up the desk, Joshua took Xylia¡¯s hand and walked out of the office with her.


    When they got back home, Joshua got a message from David.


    [Mr. Garcia, Ethan really does have a boyfriend. The guy¡¯s from the Garcia family¡¯s second house, and he¡¯s the only son of his generation. His parents found out he¡¯s dating a guy and now they¡¯re forcing him to break up and pushing him into an arranged marriage, all so he¡¯ll have kids for the family. Ethan¡¯s still refusing to give in.]


    Xylia flopped down on the couch the second she walked in, dead tired and not wanting to move a muscle.


    Joshua shot her a look, his brows drawing together.


    ¡®Ethan¡¯s been getting closer to Xylia. What¡¯s his angle?¡® Joshua wondered to himself.


    After replying to David¡¯s message, Joshua walked over and sat down beside Xylia.


    ¡°How did it go with Ethan today?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Go how? What are you talking about?¡± Xylia blinked at him,pletely lost.


    ¡®I just went out for this awkward meal because I felt guilty. It¡¯s not like I¡¯ll ever cross paths with Ethan again, so what¡¯s with all these questions?¡® Xylia thought, baffled.


    Seeing Xylia so clueless, Joshua just gave a helpless little smile.


    He reached out and gave her head a gentle pat.


    ¡°So, what kind of guy do you think Ethan is?¡± Joshua asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s just a bit na?ve, young at heart¡ªa kid, really. We only had one meal together. I barely know him, and I honestly doubt I¡¯ll ever see him again,¡± Xylia replied.


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


    ¡®Fair enough, Joshua thought.


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    ¡®But I can¡¯t help but wonder¨Cis Ethan purposely getting close to Xylia, <i>or </i>is it all just a coincidence?¡® Joshua mused to himself.


    But that ¡®girlfriend¡® Ethan told Xylia about was never real¨Cit was all fake.


    Joshua let it go and didn¡¯t ask any more.


    He¡¯d keep an eye on Ethan from now on.


    Richard had gotten thepensation from Xylia, but he still hadn¡¯t leaked the story to ruin her studio¡¯s reputation¨Cthough the temptation was definitely there.


    But even after being forced into a corner like this, he was still pissed off.


    He held the documents Noelle had stolen from the Garcia family, his eyes cold and ruthless.


    ¡°Joshua, this time, I¡¯m not letting you off easy!¡± Richard growled.


    The documents were Garcia Group¡¯s top¨Csecret files¨Cthe very lifeblood of thepany.


    Richard nced over the files¨Cthese weren¡¯t just any contracts, but the Garcia Group¡¯s closely guarded secrets. A sly grin tugged at his lips as he waved Holt over.


    ¡°Go give Garcia Group some trouble, will you? And while you¡¯re at it, pass a word to Connor¨Clet him know the Ford Group¡¯s glory is riding on this. Let¡¯s see if he can handle the heat,¡± Richard said, his voice cold and sharp.


    Holt shot him a quick nod and slipped out to set the n in motion.


    Ever since Richard had run off with his son, Connor had started seeing him in a whole different light.


    But since they were partners for now, Connor had to keep things civil.


    When Connor got Holt¡¯s call and heard what Holt had to say, he couldn¡¯t believe his ears.


    ¡°You want me to tell everyone not to work with Garcia Group?¡± Connor asked, his voice dripping with disbelief.


    ¡®Is Richard seriously out of his mind?¡® Connor thought.


    Jupiton might be a sprawling metropolis, and sure, Ford Group sits at the top¨Cfor now. But honestly, that¡¯s only because Garcia Group keeps things low¨Ckey and out of the spotlight.


    If Connor started making noise for no reason, he¡¯d just be ignored. Worse, he¡¯d be painting a huge target on his back for enemies to take aim, basically asking for trouble.


    Connor had zero interest in doing something this pointless¨Cbusting his ass for no reward? No thanks.


    Holt just waved it off. ¡°Just roll with it. Once you put the word out, you¡¯ll see how people react. Remember,


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    Joshua didn¡¯t just steal your wife¨Che stepped all over Ford Group when you were at your lowest. Come on, you telling me you¡¯re still scared of him?¡±


    ¡°Me? Afraid of him? Not a chance, Connor shot back instantly, tone sharp.


    Connor retorted without thinking.


    After a couple seconds of silence, he said, ¡°I know exactly what I need to do. No need to bait me, alright? We¡¯re just working together¨CI¡¯m not here to take orders from you guys every darnn time.¡±


    Before Holt could say another word, Connor ended the call.


    Holt reported back to Richard, who simply gave a cool, subtle smile.


    ¡°Rx. Connor¡¯s petty enough¨Che¡¯d never pass up a shot at putting his rival in his ce,¡± Richard said.


    Holt nodded in agreement.


    After hanging up, Connor left his study.


    As he was heading out to the office, he passed by Sonny¡¯s room.


    Ever since Sonny hade back, he¡¯d been way quieter than usual.


    He wasn¡¯t his usual yful self, and he¡¯d even started focusing on his schoolwork.


    It wasn¡¯t ss time yet, and Sonny¡¯s bedroom door was open. He was sitting at his desk by the window, sketching something with his pen.


    Connor walked over and saw Sonny sketching on a nk sheet of paper¨Ca family portrait.


    He, Sonny, and Xylia were all there, together in the drawing.


    The sight hit Connor hard, knocking the wind out of him.


    He remembered, albeit vaguely, that when Sonny was very young, he¡¯d once drawn a family portrait too.


    Back then, Sonny could barely hold a pen¨Cthe people on the paper were just messy, colorful squiggles, three tangled linesing together as their little family.


    Xylia still praised Sonny¡¯s drawing, insisting it was great, even though it was just a colorful mess.


    Connor¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile.


    ¡°Sonny, do you want your mom toe back?¡± Connor asked, not really thinking before the words came out.


    He caught himself and quickly rephrased.


    ¡°Are you hoping your momes back?¡± he said, softening his tone.


    Connor knew just how much Sonny missed Xylia. For a second, he hesitated, then decided to rephrase his


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    question.


    He never expected Sonny would shake his head.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want Mom toe back, Sonny replied, looking up at him, totally serious.

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    Connor was visibly stunned by Sonny¡¯s words. ¡°What did you just say?¡±


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    Sonny turned to face Connor, speaking slowly and clearly. ¡°I said I don¡¯t want Mom toe back.¡±


    The smile faded from Connor¡¯s lips, and his face turned somber.


    Connor asked, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because I think Mom is really happy right now,¡± Sonny replied.


    Connor hadn¡¯t expected that answer. He tensed up a little, caught off guard.


    He froze for a moment and then listened as Sonny went on to exin.


    ¡°Mom once told me that not every apology deserves forgiveness,¡± Sonny said, pausing to think. ¡°Looking back, we really were awful to her. We hurt Mom, even sided with Tessa to hurt her. And yet, Mom¡¯s the one who¡¯s always been our closest, our real family.¡±


    ¡°And I realized, if I were Mom, and the ones I loved most hurt me like that, I wouldn¡¯t want to forgive them either,¡± Sonny added.


    Sonny¡¯s voice was innocent and earnest, but every wordnded like a punch right in Connor¡¯s heart.


    This was the truth Connor had never wanted to face or even think about since he¡¯de back.


    Back then, he¡¯d messed up plenty just for Tessa.


    His marriage to Xylia had always been about Tessa.


    He¡¯d had Xylia thrown in jail, let her suffer crippling injuries, and refused to let her get medical help¨Call for


    Tessa.


    He¡¯d let Sonny ignore his real mom and doted on him, just because Sonny liked Tessa.


    That kind of favoritism shattered Xylia, left her broken and hopeless. Even now, she refuses to forgive them.


    ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve seen Mom with Uncle Aaron. She¡¯s really happy. I haven¡¯t seen her smile like that in ages,¡± Sonny said, sounding thoughtful. ¡°So I think we shouldn¡¯t bother her anymore.¡±


    Sonny looked like he¡¯d finally let it go, his face rxed and calm.


    But Connor wasn¡¯t happy at all.


    ¡°Two days at the Garcia Vi and you¡¯re already sticking up for Joshua?¡± Connor shot back, his voice sharp.


    When Connor¡¯s face turned cold like that, it was honestly kind of scary.


    Sonny didn¡¯t dare say anything more.


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    The room grew quiet. Atst, Connor spoke, his voice cool. ¡°Stop worrying about all that. Right now, all you should care about is your studies¨Cso you¡¯ll be ready to take over the family someday.¡±


    With that<b>, </b>Connor walked out of the room.


    Sonny pursed his lips, feeling a little disgruntled.


    He had spoken nothing but the truth.


    But he was just a kid; there was nothing he could do to change how the grown¨Cups thought.


    With a sigh, he sat back down at his desk, staring nkly at the family photo.


    Outside the vi, Connor¡¯s face was dark as a storm cloud.


    ¡®Joshua, what a piece of work, Connor thought, his jaw clenched.


    ¡®He didn¡¯t just lure Xylia over¨Cnow he¡¯s got my kid hooked too, Connor thought, bitter.


    ¡®At this rate, is Sonny going to move in with Xylia and the Garcias, drop the Ford name and all?¡® Connor seethed, rage bubbling up inside him.


    He got angrier the more he dwelled on it, and finally just shot off a message to Holt on his phone.


    [I know what to do about that thing you told me.]


    He was dead set on finding out if Xylia would still have the guts to stay with Joshua once he turned into public enemy number one.


    Holt got the message and shot a look at Richard.


    ¡°Boss, we¡¯re good,¡± Holt said.


    Richard¡¯s lips curled into a sly grin, like he¡¯d seen thising from a mile away.


    The next day, Joshua got a message from David.


    ¡°Joshua, Connor¡¯s putting the word out¨Che¡¯s telling everyone in the business that if you work with Garcia Group, you¡¯re cklisted from Ford Group.¡±


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    ¡®About time,¡® he thought to himself.


    He shot a message off to his dad.


    ¡°Richard¡¯s about to make his move. Brace yourself.¡±


    Aaron replied with a simple ¡°Got it,¡± and went quiet.


    Joshua walked over to Xylia, who was stillzily burrowed under the covers, and leaned close to whisper in her <fn90d0> Readplete version only at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn90d0>


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    ear, ¡°I¡¯m heading to work. Things might get hectic for a while, so if you need anything, just give me a call.¡±


    Xylia heard him through a sleepy haze, barely registering his words and just mumbling back without much thought.


    Joshua could tell she hadn¡¯t really listened.


    Grinning, he reached out to ruffle her hair, and then, unable to help himself, dipped down and kissed her at the corner of her lips before heading out the door.


    Xylia didn¡¯t wake up until ten in the morning.


    As soon as she came to, she shot up in bed, almost like she¡¯d just had a nightmare.


    But once reality set in, she flopped right back down, embracing her inner cker.


    ¡®Wow, only a few days off work and I¡¯m already sleeping in like a bum?¡® Xylia grumbled <i>to </i>herself.


    It was awesome, but she couldn¡¯t shake off this weird sense of unease.


    She hopped out of bed, freshened up, and headed straight for her home office, logging in to get down to work.


    Josie practically buzzed with excitement as she told Xylia, ¡°The studio¡¯s blowing uptely¨Cwe¡¯ve made twice as much this month as we didst month!¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t hide her grin. She messaged Josie, suggesting they give out bonuses to everyone next month.


    Josie was all for it.


    After talking shop for a bit, they shifted the conversation to next month¡¯spetition.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already sketched out the first draft,¡± Xylia said. ¡°But honestly, I¡¯m still not satisfied¨Cso it¡¯s just been sitting there. I¡¯ll try to tweak it and get it perfect soon.¡±


    Josie nodded. ¡°Hey, I know inspiration isn¡¯t unlimited. But this contest is a big deal for our studio, so give it everything you¡¯ve got and make sure yound us a win!¡±


    ¡°Deal!¡±


    Powered up by Josie¡¯s pep talk, Xylia went to the window and looked over the early draft she thought she¡¯d already settled on.


    She kept staring at it for ages, but she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to put pen to paper.


    It wasn¡¯t right. Something still feltpletely off.


    Getting annoyed, she raked her fingers through her hair¨Cno spark of inspiration wasing to her.


    She got up, gathered her sketchpad and pencils, and headed downstairs.


    9:10 Wed, Oct 1


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    The gardener had just finished watering the garden; when Xylia came into the greenhouse with her sketching gear, he was about to head out,


    ¡°Ms. Sadler, do you want to pick some flowers?¡± the gardener asked,


    Xylia shook her head quickly. ¡°Nope, not picking anything. Just here to unwind for a bit. You go thing


    do your


    ¡°All done here. I¡¯ll leave you to it,¡± the gardener replied with a friendly smile.


    With that, the gardener left the greenhouse with a smile.


    Before she left, she said, ¡°Looks like you and Mrs. Garcia both have a thing for flowers.


    Xylia wasn¡¯t exactly passionate about flowers, but you can¡¯t deny the appeal of beautiful things¨Cthey have a way of winning you over.


    She settled into the lounge chair by the greenhouse, setting her sketchpad up in front of her.


    Instead of working on her design, she grabbed her pencil and started sketching the flowers around her.


    The greenhouse was peaceful, and every so often you could hear water flowing through the pipes¨Cmore soothing than annoying. That gentle background noise helped Xylia chill out and let her earlier restlessness fade away.


    After a good while,


    her hand was getting sore, but she¡¯d finally finished sketching a corner of the greenhouse.


    It was so vivid, it looked almost alive.


    Xylia gave her sore hand a shake, and fresh inspiration suddenly flooded her mind.


    She grabbed her design sketch in a hurry and started sketching ideas all over it.


    With each tweak, the grin on her face just kept getting bigger.


    Once Xylia finished up, she snapped a pic of her revamped draft and sent it straight to Josie.


    Josie called back almost instantly.


    ¡°Xylia, this is so good! The way you worked in those natural elements totally nails thepetition theme. I really think we can go with this <i>one</i>,¡± Josie said, her voice bubbling with excitement.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but feel proud of her new draft too.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll touch it up and send it in right away,¡± Xylia said, her spirits lifted.


    ¡°Go for it! I swear, I can totally see our studio¡¯s future shining now!¡± Josie cheered.


    Xyliaughed, ¡°Honestly? I think I can <b>see </b>it too¨Cour future looks pretty bright.¡±

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    When Kaden heard that Connor was out there telling everyone not to do business with the Garcia Group, his first thought was, <b>¡®</b><b>He¡¯s </b>got some nerve thinking he can pull that off


    But when more and morepanies actually started cutting the Garcia Group off, Kaden started to smell something fishy.


    ¡®How did Connor suddenly have enough clout to go head¨Cto¨Chead with the Garcia Group?¡® Kaden thought, frowning.


    So he started digging around on the down¨Clow.


    Turns out it wasn¡¯t just Connor pulling strings¨Cthere was also a major yer from Daltonia, a business tycoon who¡¯d been working closely with Connor for quite some time.


    Kaden recognized this guy. He was infamous in Daltonia¨Cdominating both the legit business world and the shadier underground.


    His empire might¡¯ve been rooted in Daltonia, but he¡¯d been tight with major Alvendpanies for years


    now.


    And the kind of benefits he could dish out? Easily rivaled what the Garcia Group had to offer¨Cmaybe even better.


    ¡°Richard,¡± Kaden murmured, rolling the name on his tongue.


    ¡®Why does that name sound like trouble?¡® he thought, a chill running through him.


    Hudson, sitting just a seat away, stiffened, his eyes widening for a split second.


    ¡°Richard¡­ That name rings a bell,¡± Hudson said, frowning as he tried <i>to </i>recall where he¡¯d heard it before. <fn0e6e> Latest content published on find?novel</fn0e6e>


    Rosalind had nothing on her te that afternoon, so she just dropped by Kaden¡¯s office to chill for a bit.


    She¡¯d heard the gossip about what Connor had been up totely too. As she took a slow sip of her coffee, she nodded, a thoughtful look flickering across her face.


    ¡°If Connor¡¯s actually listening to Richard and targeting Joshua because of him¡­ yeah, now it adds up,¡± Rosalind said, connecting the dots out loud.


    Kaden nced at Rosalind, confusion flickering in his eyes. ¡®What is she getting at?¡® he wondered.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kaden asked, frowning.


    Rosalind smirked, one eyebrow raised. ¡°Oh? Since when did you start worrying about your soon¨Cto¨Cbe brother¨Cinw?<b>¡± </b>


    Kaden¡¯s face remained impassive. ¡®I¡¯m not ying along with her jokes,¡® he thought, keeping his real concern


    hidden.


    9:10 Wed, <b>Oct </b><b>1 </b>


    ¡°I¡¯m worried about my sister,¡± Kaden replied tly.


    Rosalind let out augh.


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    ¡°Typical Kaden¨Calways acting all tough, but he¡¯s got a soft spot under that armor, she teased inwardly, smirking to herself.


    Rosalind said, ¡°I heard some of the old folks in my family mention that Joshua¡¯s dad once had an employee who double¨Ccrossed him. So Joshua¡¯s dad sent the guy to prison, but he broke out and ended up in Daltonia. Hisst name was Shaw.¡±


    ¡°I got curious about the whole thing back then and kept asking my grandpa about it. Apparently, that employee had a son¨CRichard. That¡¯s about all I know.¡±


    Her family¡¯s business never did anything with Daltonia, so she had no shot at ever meeting Richard herself.


    But from what she¡¯d heard, people said he was the kind of guy you¡¯d rather not deal with¨Cdefinitely not someone easy to get along with.


    Kaden went quiet, turning over Rosalind¡¯s words in his head:


    He¡¯d always known the Garcia family had enemies, but never once heard exactly who they were.


    Keeping Xylia away from Joshua hadn¡¯t just been a hunch¨Cdeep down, he knew the Garcia family had way more skeletons in the closet than people thought.


    Now that this enemy was openly going after Joshua, things had gotten real.


    With Xylia heading to Jupiton with Joshua, she might be in danger too.


    The thought made Kaden¡¯s expression darken.


    ¡°I¡¯m heading out for a minute,¡± Kaden said, picking up his phone.


    He grabbed his phone and walked out.


    Hudson called out, ¡°Hey, where you headed?¡±


    Kaden just ignored him and walked off.


    Rosalind rolled her <i>eyes </i>and shot back, ¡°What do you think? He¡¯s obviously gonna call Joshua, offer him some backup <i>or </i>something.¡±


    Rosalind added with a smirk, ¡°Seriously, what else could he be doing? Ringing up Joshua, seeing if he needs help.¡±


    Hudson rubbed his chin, unable to believe it. ¡°He¡¯s really gonna do that? Doesn¡¯t sound like my brother.¡±


    Picking up the phone just to ask Joshua if he needs help? That¡¯s so not Kaden.


    Rosalindughed. ¡°For his sister¡¯s happily ever after? He¡¯d totally go above and beyond.¡±


    <b>9:10 </b>Wed, Oct <b>1 </b>


    Hudson grabbed his coffee and bumped it against Rosalind¡¯s cup.


    ¡°Sis¨Cinw, you really do know my brother better every day,¡± Hudson teased with a grin.


    ¡°Like I¡¯ve ever not had him figured out,¡± Rosalind retorted, shooting him a chilly re.


    Hudson instantly caved, waving his hands in defeat.


    *****


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    Outside the office, Kaden found a quiet conference room and dialed Joshua¡¯s number.


    ¡°Well, look who¡¯s calling. What made you reach out, Kaden?¡± Joshua answered, his tone aszy and nonchnt as always.


    Joshua was still acting all chill, totally unfazed by the situation.


    Kaden cut right to the chase. ¡°Do you have any clue what Richard¡¯s got nned for you? Is he targeting you? Are you up to speed on all this?¡±


    ¡°You worried about me, Kaden?¡± Joshua teased.


    ¡°I¡¯m only worried about my sister,¡± Kaden snapped. ¡°If she gets hurt because of your family¡¯s baggage, I swear I¡¯lle for you myself.¡±


    Joshua let out a couple shortughs on the other end. ¡°Yeah, I know what you¡¯re getting at.¡±


    Then his voice turned serious, and for a second there was nothing but silence¨Che must¡¯ve stepped into a quieter room.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already ounted for everything when ites to Richard. Trust me, Kaden, Xylia¡¯s perfectly safe with me,¡± Joshua said, calm and confident as ever.


    Hearing the confidence in Joshua¡¯s voice, Kaden felt a weight lift off his shoulders.


    He hadn¡¯t spent much time with Joshua before, but from what he¡¯d seentely, he knew Joshua was more than capable of handling things.


    ¡°If you ever need backup, just hit me up,¡± Kaden said.


    ¡°Trust me, I won¡¯t hold back if I need anything,¡± Joshua replied with aid¨Cback grin.


    Once Kaden had asked Joshua about his n, he hung up.


    Before heading back to his office, Kaden called his assistant over. ¡°Juste up with an excuse and pull the plug on our partnership with the Garcia Group.¡±


    The assistant blinked, looking at Kaden with obvious confusion. ¡°Mr. Sadler, are you sure about this¡­?¡±


    Wait, isn¡¯t Joshua Miss Xylia¡¯s boyfriend? The Garcia Group¡¯s already getting hammered by the whole industry¡­ Shouldn¡¯t the boss be helping out, not piling on?¡® the assistant wondered, his head spinning with


    wed,


    disbelief.


    Kaden shot him a chilly look. ¡°You don¡¯t get it?¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± the assistant mumbled, backing off right away.


    He knew better than to mouth off <i>at </i>the boss<b>. </b>


    At the end of the day, he was just hired help¨Cthe boss gave orders, he followed, simple as that.


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    Xylia had just finished tidying up her design files and handed them in for thepetition, right on schedule. Next up was moving on to the gown¨Cmaking stage, so she dove straight into nning for that.


    Lately, Joshua was swamped with work¨Cor <i>at </i>least said he was¨Cso Xylia figured she¡¯d better not bug him and kept her distance, not wanting to be <i>a </i>distraction.


    Ironically, it was Joshua who kept flooding her phone with texts, all the way from his office.


    He¡¯d randomly check in to see what she was doing, remind her to let him know every time she stepped out the door, and even insisted she send him her location¨Cjust to be safe, he said.


    Xylia started to seriously question if Joshua was actually working or just spending his time keeping tabs on


    her.


    That night, Xylia picked up her phone to hear Joshua on the other end, his voice all slurred and whiny. ¡°Xylia¡­ I¡ªI¡¯m drunk¡­ Can youe pick me up, pretty please¡­?¡±


    Xylia was in the middle of a face mask when she got the call.


    She could hear Joshua¡¯s voice, with noisy singing and chatter sting in the background.


    Joshua had said he was going out for a business dinner tonight, <i>so </i>she guessed he must¡¯ve gotten hammered whileworking.


    ¡°Are you still with it? Send me your address, Xylia said, her voice sharp with concern.


    ¡°Okay¡­ I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll send it,¡± Joshua slurred, barely able to get the words out.


    Jeez, he¡¯s slurring already¨Cjust how much did that guy drink?¡® Xylia thought with a hint of exasperation.


    She hurriedly peeled off her face mask, washed up, threw on some clothes, and rushed out to get him.


    At least Joshua wasn¡¯t so gone that he couldn¡¯t send her his location.


    Xylia hopped in her car and followed the address he texted her.


    She finally tracked Joshua down in a private suite <i>at </i>an exclusive lounge, sprawled half¨Cdrunk on the couch.


    When Xylia walked in and saw Joshua for the first time, she just stopped in her tracks.


    ¡°How do I even describe this¡­?¡® Xylia thought, the words sticking in her mind for a moment.


    9:10 Wed, <b>Oct </b><b>1 </b>


    She¡¯d never seen Joshua looking so wrecked before¨Cnot once in all the time she¡¯d known him.


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    Honestly, even that time overseas when he¡¯d been drenched in blood didn¡¯tpare. This was on a whole different level of messy.


    A few guys in expensive suits loungedfortably on the couch, while Joshua¨Cdrunk out of his mind¡ªhad been dumped at the table off to the side, totally ignored by the rest.


    His suit jacket was MIA, and his white dress shirt was stered with booze stains, clinging to his skin as if someone just doused him for kicks.


    He waspletely dead to the world, sprawled face¨Cdown on the table and out like a light.


    Meanwhile, the guys on the couch wereughing and drinking like there was no tomorrow, having the time of their lives.


    It was like two different worlds in the same room.


    Xylia felt her hands ball into fists¨Cshe was so pissed off she could barely hold herself back.

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    ¡°Looks like Joshua¨Cthe golden boy¨Chas finally hit rock bottom,¡± one man said with a smirk.


    ¡°Seriously. Ever since Connor publicly warned people off doing business with Garcia Group, their partnerships have tanked one after another. This month¡¯s losses nearly wiped out everything they earned in the first half of the year,¡± another chimed in.


    ¡°Can you believe Joshua¡¯s now stooping to drinking with us just to beg for a deal?¡± a third guy cracked,ughing.


    ¡°I always heard Garcia Group was this powerhouse, always acting all humble and low¨Ckey. Turns out that wasn¡¯t modesty¨Clooks like they¡¯re actually going downhill,¡± someone else remarked.


    ¡°Word is Joshua¡¯s dating Xylia, right? But just this morning, I heard even the Sadler Group was forced to pull the plug on their contract with Garcia Group. At this rate, Garcia Group¡¯s basically be public enemy number one,¡± another man chimed in.


    Everyone burst outughing.


    Xylia stood by the door, taking in every word.


    ¡®What the hell is going on with Garcia Group? It sounds like everyone¡¯s ganging up on them, she thought.


    ¡®And why the hell is Kaden kicking them when they¡¯re already down?¡® She couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it.


    ¡®I just can¡¯t figure this out,¡® Xylia frowned inwardly.


    But now wasn¡¯t the time to dwell on it.


    She shoved the door open, her gaze sweeping over the group sprawled on the couch.


    Startled by her sudden entrance, they all turned to look at her, confusion written all over their faces.


    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± one of them finally asked.


    Xylia swept her gaze over the group as if they were dirt beneath her shoes, then strode wordlessly over to Joshua.


    Joshua¡¯s jackety tossed on the floor, trampled by more than one pair of shoes.


    Obviously, several people had stomped on it.


    Xylia turned to the crowd, her eyes sharp. ¡°Which one of you decided to bully him?¡±


    Her frosty words made everyone shiver.


    They weren¡¯t intimidated by some young woman, but Xylia¡¯smanding vibe made a few guys <fn41ec> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n ?ovelFind</fn41ec>


    unconsciously second¨Cguess who she really was.


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    ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t Joshua¡¯s girlfriend that Sadler heiress who just got brought back into the family? Could this be her?¡± someone muttered, ncing around.


    The crowd went dead silent.


    Xylia asked again, her voice icy cold, ¡°Are you the ones who bullied him?¡±


    Her tone was downright frigid.


    One guy stood up from the couch, shooting her a look full of disdain.


    ¡°So what if we did? Joshua¡¯s a kicked¨Caround rat now¨Canyone can take a shot at him. We¡¯re just doing what everyone else is, nothing personal-¡±


    Bang!


    He didn¡¯t even get to finish his sentence before Xylia grabbed a bottle.


    She swung it and cracked him right over the head.


    ¡°Ah! My head! Blood! I¡¯m bleeding!¡± the guy screamed, clutching his head.


    When he saw the blood on his hands, whether it was a fear of blood or something else, his eyes rolled back and he passed out cold.


    The whole scene suddenly blew up like someone chucked a live grenade into the room¨Cthe crowd that had been sitting in awkward silence jumped to their feet, all of them ring furiously at Xylia.


    Some of the sidekicks and spineless hangers¨Con just shrank back, heads lowered, retreating to the sidelines without daring to make a peep.


    ¡°You actually hit someone! You out of your mind? You want us to call the cops on you?¡± someone yelled.


    Xylia scoffed, ¡°So it¡¯s fine for <i>you </i>guys to gang up on someone, but once I fight back, you start whining?¡±


    ¡°Who the hell are you supposed to be? If you¡¯ve got the guts, tell us your name! I swear, I¡¯ll make sure you regret messing with me!¡± The guy red at her, his ill¨Cfitting suit hanging awkwardly on his rat¨Clike face- sharp and dirty all at once.


    Xylia let out a cold snort.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t someone just say it out loud? I¡¯m Joshua¡¯s girlfriend. Go on¨Ctake a wild guess who I am,¡± she shot


    back.


    The guy instantly grew wary, his whole demeanor tightening.


    ¡°Wait¡­ you¡¯re with the Sadler family?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Xylia replied, her eyes cold. ¡°Xylia¨Cdaughter of the Sadler family, and now one of the top


    9:10 Wed, Oct <b>1 </b>


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    shareholders at Sadler Group. I don¡¯t know what kind of business you thought you had lined up with us, but starting tomorrow, every deal you¡¯ve signed is as good as shredded.¡±


    The guy¡¯s face twisted with anger.


    ¡°You¡¯re just a woman¨Cwhat do you even know about business deals? You think you can just rip up contracts because you say so?¡± he sneered.


    Xylia smirked, pride shing in her eyes. ¡°Right now, my brothers would bend over backwards for me. So go ahead and tell me again¨Cdo you really think what I say doesn¡¯t matter?¡±


    She let her gaze sweep over each of them, slow and deliberate. ¡°Just looking at how you¡¯re dressed, it¡¯s clear none of you run any big¨Cnamepany. Let¡¯s be real¨Csmall¨Ctimers like you don¡¯t get to eat at my family¡¯s table. I¡¯ve got every one of your faces locked in. However you tried to mess with my boyfriend? I¡¯ll pay it all back¨Cwith interest.¡±


    Xylia shot a cold nce at the group before turning to look at Joshua.


    He was still asleep.


    She leaned down, gently patting his shoulder. ¡°Joshua? Joshua, wake up.¡±


    Joshua blinked his eyes open, still groggy. The moment he saw Xylia, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.


    ¡°Xylia¡­ you¡¯re here¡­¡± he murmured.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m here. Can you stand up by yourself?¡± she asked softly.


    ¡°I can!¡± Joshua said, nodding determinedly.


    He braced himself against the table and stood up.


    Xylia¡¯s eyes grew colder when she noticed the red wine stain on his shirt.


    Joshua staggered a bit, <i>so </i>she hurried over to support him.


    ¡°Hold on to me. I¡¯m getting <i>you </i>out of here,¡± Xylia said, her voice gentle but firm.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joshua mumbled, trying to sound steady,


    He slung his arm over Xylia¡¯s shoulder, and as he let his head drop, his eyesnded on the group lounging on


    the couch.


    Joshua managed a faint, crooked smile. ¡°Well, bosses, I¡¯m heading out. You guys go ahead and think about the deal¨Cgood luck with that.¡±


    Xylia tightened her grip around his waist.


    Her gaze followed Joshua¡¯s and fixed sharply on the group.


    9:10 Wed, Oct <b>1 </b>


    They all instinctively shrank back.


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    It wasn¡¯t Xylia herself they were nervous about¨Cit was the might of the Sadler family backing her that truly made their blood run cold.


    Xylia nced down at the guy lying passed out on the floor, barely sparing him a second look.


    ¡°If he wakes up and wants to call the police, let him. Seriously, don¡¯t even bother stopping him,¡± she said coldly.


    With that, she supported Joshua and headed downstairs.


    Once she¡¯d gotten Joshua settled into the passenger seat, Xylia started unbuttoning his shirt, about to help him out of the soaked fabric.


    She barely finished with the buttons before Joshua¡¯srge hand wrapped around her slender wrist.


    ¡°Why are you trying to undress me so soon?¡± Joshua mumbled.


    His voice was syrupy and slow¨Cthe ssic sound of a guy who¡¯s had way too much to drink.


    Xylia¡¯s heart ached for him. Even though she was upset, she still tried tofort him, coaxing him like you would <i>a </i>little kid.


    ¡°Your shirt¡¯s soaked. If you keep it on, you¡¯ll catch a cold. Come on, be good and let me help you change,¡± she said softly.


    ¡°No! I don¡¯t want to!¡± Joshua protested, sounding just like a stubborn child.


    He clung to his shirt, pulling it tighter around himself as he shrank back into the passenger seat like a kid refusing a bath.


    Xylia coaxed him gently, her tone yful. ¡°Come on, be good. If you don¡¯t take off your shirt, I¡¯ll just have to leave you here all by yourself.¡±


    Joshua whipped his head around to stare at her, eyes red and ssy, giving her the saddest, most using look.


    He didn¡¯t bother to hide the pure, dramaticint in his gaze¨Clike a stubborn kid who thought he¡¯d been wronged by the whole world.


    ¡°You don¡¯t love me anymore!¡± he pouted, voice shaky.


    Xylia chuckled, not missing a beat. ¡°Take off your shirt and maybe I¡¯ll start loving you again.¡±


    Xylia patiently coaxed him, her voice soft and gentle, never losing her cool¨Clike she was soothing a stubborn


    child.


    Atst, Joshua relented and let Xylia help him out of his shirt.


    Xylia tossed the soaked shirt onto the backseat, then grabbed a towel she always kept in the car for moments


    9:10 Wed, <b>Oct </b><b>1 </b>


    like this, and wrapped it snugly around Joshua.


    After taking care of everything, Xylia slid behind the wheel and drove straight to Garcia Vi


    Joshua fell asleep almost as soon as they hit the road.


    When they arrived at Garcia Vi, he was still out cold.


    Xylia called the butler for help and together they carried Joshua upstairs to his room.


    Once everything was settled, Xylia nced at the clock, then pulled out her phone and dialed Kaden


    When he answered, she wasted no time: ¡°Kaden, I want to use my status as the Sadler family¡¯s daughter to put a few people in their ce. Is that alright?¡±


    Kaden hesitated for a beat, then replied, ¡°Go right ahead.¡±

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    Xylia nced at Joshua, fast asleep on the bed, then slipped out with her phone in hand,


    Her voice faded as she walked away, and through the door you could just make out her murmuring,


    ¡°Big brother, I need you to help me investigate a few people,¡±


    The moment the bedroom door clicked shut, Joshua¡¯s eyes snapped open.


    He turned his head toward the door, a faint smile ying on his lips.


    The whole scene tonight was his setup, designed to make the world believe that Garcia Group was starting to crumble under Connor¡¯s deliberate attacks.


    But Xylia¡¯s actions were something he hadn¡¯t anticipated.


    Normally, Xylia was like a kitten that never got angry, her asional outbursts more like yful pouts.


    He had never seen her with such amanding presence as she had tonight.


    And he liked it.


    After finishing her call with Kaden, Xylia brought a cup of coffee from the kitchen into the bedroom, careful not to spill as she carried it.


    As she walked in, she saw Joshua lying on his side, his big bright eyes watching her by the door.


    They locked eyes for a moment.


    Joshua¡¯s lips slipped into a small smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry,¡± he mumbled.


    His face was tinged with a light blush, and his voice sounded both clingy and slurred.


    Xylia thought to herself, ¡®Seriously? He¡¯s drunk, but he still wakes up from hunger?¡±


    ¡®Looks like he really didn¡¯t get a proper meal tonight,¡® she grumbled inwardly.


    ¡®Those damn people!¡®


    Still cursing those people in her heart, Xylia came over to the bed, the herbal tea in hand.


    ¡°Drink this first,¡± she told him.


    Joshua lounged at the edge of the bed, lookingzy and rxed, but he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off Xylia¡¯s face.


    He watched as she softly coaxed him into drinking the herbal tea.


    Her gentle gaze seemed to caress him, full of tenderness as she looked his way.


    He let Xylia gently take his hand, helping him up and guiding him downstairs.


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    Joshua had been ying it cool, but the moment Xylia was about to head into the kitchen, that all changed.


    He caught her hand and, with a little pull, settled her right onto hisp.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked, his voice soft.


    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, so I¡¯ll whip up some noodles for you,¡± Xylia replied.


    She couldn¡¯t bring herself to wake the staff at this hour¨Cthey were all fast asleep.


    Joshua said, ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself.¡±


    D


    Xylia kept her voice gentle, teasing, ¡°With you this tipsy, you¡¯d probably set the kitchen on fire. Better let me handle it.¡±


    She kept her tone soft, still fussing over him.


    Even though she could tell Joshua was much more awake now, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little sorry for him after what happened earlier.


    ¡°You¡¯ve never had my noodles, have you? The kitchen made tomato beef stew earlier¨CI¡¯ll turn it into tomato beef noodle soup, okay? Let¡¯s eat together,¡± Xylia suggested.


    She reached out, yfully pinched his earlobe, and coaxed him in a gentle murmur.


    Joshua, for some reason, was stubborn about this.


    He caught Xylia by the hand and sat her down at the dining table.


    ¡°Just stay put and don¡¯t move,¡± Joshua told her.


    Then, without another word, he marched off toward the kitchen.


    Surprisingly, his steps were pretty steady.


    But from the look of him, there was no way he was really sober.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but worry, so she ended up following him anyway.


    She hovered by the kitchen doorway, watching as Joshua pulled out the leftover tomato beef stew, grabbed some fresh greens, and fished out a couple of eggs.


    He handled the veggies and eggs like a pro¨Cif you didn¡¯t know better, you¡¯d think he hadn¡¯t had a drop to


    drink.


    Seeing he was getting along just fine, Xylia didn¡¯t want to bug him and risk him getting annoyed, so she just watched from the doorway.


    <b>9:10 Wed</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>1 </b>


    The study was spacious, and Joshua cutting across the kitchen looked all the more imposing from behind.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t help but sh back to how Joshua had been messed with at the club carlier.


    Her lips pressed into a thin, stubborn line.


    No way was she letting those people off the hook.


    Joshua had two steaming bowls of noodles ready in no time.


    He nced back and saw Xylia waiting in the doorway, giving her a gentle look. ¡°Hungry already?¡± he teased.


    ¡°A bit,¡± Xylia admitted.


    She reached out for a bowl, but Joshua yfully moved it out of her reach, dodging her hand with a subtle grin.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go dinner¡¯s served,¡± he said, giving her a wink as he led them over to the table.


    Each bowl of tomato beef noodles was crowned with fresh, crunchy greens and a perfectly crisp, golden fried egg¨Cmouthwatering just to look at.


    Even though she¡¯d had dinner earlier, the sight and smell had Xylia¡¯s cravings kicking in all over again.


    After they finished eating, Xylia could tell Joshua was mostly sobered up.


    ¡°Go wash up and get some sleep. You have work tomorrow, don¡¯t you?¡± she reminded him.


    Joshua half¨Cexpected Xylia to start questioning him.


    He¡¯d already rehearsed what he¡¯d say in his head.


    But instead, she just told him¨Ccalm as could be¨Cto get some rest.


    It was <b>as </b>if none of what happened tonight ever urred.


    He parted his lips to speak, but ultimately said nothing.


    Early the next morning, Joshua woke up and found himself alone in bed¨CXylia was already up and gone.


    He was usually the first one awake, so seeing she¡¯d already disappeared this early caught him off guard.


    After washing up, he headed downstairs, but Xylia was nowhere to be seen.


    One of the staff mentioned she was in the study, so Joshua made his way over to find her.


    When Joshua walked in, he saw Xylia dressed exceptionally formal¨Ca white zer over a slim camisole and matching dress pants, her hair pulled neatly back and just a hint of natural makeup on her face.


    Joshua found it a bit odd.


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    Most days, Xylia preferredid¨Cback clothes, and if she was feelingzy, she¡¯d skip makeuppletely. Even on her more presentable days, it was just a quick swipe of brow pencil and some lipstick.


    It was rare to see her this polished and professional.


    ¡°You heading somewhere important today?¡± Joshua asked,


    He strolled into the study, tossing out the question without much thought.


    When Xylia saw Joshua walk in, she greeted him casually, ¡°You¡¯re up.¡±


    She set down her tablet and walked over to him.


    ¡°I¡¯m meeting a few business partners today. The meeting should be done by noon, so why don¡¯t we get lunch together afterward?¡± she suggested.


    Her radiant smile¨Cand the touch of fresh makeup¨Cmade her look even more dazzling.


    ¡°What kind of business partners? Richard?¡± Joshua asked.


    ¡°Of course not! Didn¡¯t you help me end things with Prairie Rose? How could I possibly still be talking to Richard now?¡± Xylia replied.


    Joshua got it, but with how things were right now, he needed <i>to </i>be sure she was safe.


    ¡°Send me your live location. Real¨Ctime updates,¡± he insisted.


    ¡°Alright, alright!¡± Xylia answered, grinning at him.


    They headed out together, but each got into their own car.


    Xylia headed over to a rtively smallpany in Jupiton.


    As Sadler Group¡¯s partnership liaison, she easilynded a meeting with the boss.


    It was none other than one of the men fromst night at the private lounge¨CVictor Quinn.


    He was Victor Quinn.


    Victor Quinn was stunned when Xylia walked in¨Chis whole body went stiff, eyes wide with disbelief.


    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re with the Sadler Group? You¡¯re here on their behalf¡­?¡± he blurted out.


    Before he could get another word out, Xylia set a contract down on the table, her movements crisp and no-


    nonsense.


    ¡°After careful consideration, Sadler Group has decided to end our cooperation with yourpany,¡± Xylia dered, her voice cool and resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.


    Victor froze for a moment, then shot Xylia a defiant re.


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    ¡°So you¡¯re breaking off our deal just because of Joshua? We already hashed things out with Sadler Group, everything was set. Who gave you the right to just drop our partnership whenever you feel like it?¡± he snapped.


    Xylia couldn¡¯t be bothered by his rant.


    There was an indifferent curve to her lips, as if none of this was her problem.


    ¡°Why? Because I¡¯m one of Sadler Group¡¯s top shareholders¨Cand you better get this through your head,¡± she replied, her voice cool and in control.


    She rose to her feet, shooting him a frosty stare.


    ¡°This has nothing to do with Joshua. Frankly? I just can¡¯t stand you,¡± she said, blunt and unforgiving.


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    After leaving Victor Quinn¡¯s ce, Xylia made her way to several morepanies, paying each a visit in turn.


    She repeated the same strategy and used the exact same pitch to end their partnerships, just as she¡¯d done


    before.


    ¡®So they think they can flex their authority? Lucky for me, I¡¯ve got some pull of my own now! Xylia mused.


    If they¡¯re going after my boyfriend, then it¡¯s only fair I hit them right back, she decided.


    After taking care of her business, Xylia picked up some takeout from a nearby restaurant and headed straight towards Garcia Group.


    Today, instead of using the executive elevator reserved for Joshua, Xylia chose to ride the one meant for employees.


    Standing quietly in the corner, she caught snippets of a few Garcia Group employees whispering amongst themselves.


    ¡°Ford Group used to be nowhere near our level. Seriously, what¡¯s gotten into Mr. Fordtely? He¡¯s telling everyone in the business to cut us off,¡± one employee whispered.


    ¡°For real! He used to chase after our CEO for a partnership, and now he¡¯s suddenly ying hardball and wants. to go head¨Cto¨Chead,¡± another added.


    ¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t think it was a huge deal, but the CEO totally snapped over this yesterday. Our manager¡¯s been on edge ever since, and several contracts have already fallen through. The tension in the department is unreal,¡± a third chimed in.


    ¡°Guess we just gottay low at work and hope thepany can hold on. I really don¡¯t wanna have to start job hunting, someone else muttered.


    ¡®Wow, these Garcia Group employees are really glued to thepany, Xylia thought, a little amused by how attached everyone seemed.


    When the elevator finally stopped at the top floor, Xylia stepped off, unfazed, and strolled straight toward Joshua¡¯s office.


    When she walked in, she found Joshua sitting at his desk, totally lost in his own gaming world instead of doing any real work.


    Xylia stood in the doorway, hearing the sounds of battle¨Cgunshots firing, music ring with adrenaline- and seriously wondered if she was dreaming.


    ¡®Shouldn¡¯t Joshua be freaking out right now? Thepany¡¯s totally under fire, she thought, still in disbelief.


    She stared at the guy at the desk, gaming away like a little kid, grinning like he just beat the final boss. ¡®Who is this person, really?¡® she wondered.


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    As soon as Joshua saw Xylia walk in, he instantly closed out of his game¨Cdidn¡¯t even blink at his teammates getting left behind¨Cand hurried over.


    ¡°You¡¯re finally here! I¡¯ve been waiting ages for you,¡± Joshua said, grinning from ear to ear.


    He took the takeout from Xylia¡¯s hands, wrapped her into a hug, and buried his face in her neck, breathing her in deep. Looking thoroughly satisfied, he gently took her by the hand and led her to the couch.


    ¡°What are you up to?¡± Xylia asked, even though she could already guess the answer.


    I mean, I totally saw him gaming, but I just couldn¡¯t help myself from asking. Xylia thought, a bit amused by her own question.


    ¡°Just ying games. I¡¯ve had some free time today, and my old squad messaged me to team up. Couldn¡¯t resist jumping in for a couple of rounds,¡± Joshua answered with a careless grin, clearly not bothered at all.


    Free time? Xylia echoed in her head, skepticism written all over her face.


    Is now really the time to be goofing off?¡® she wondered, unable to believe Joshua could be so rxed.


    Xylia fixed her gaze on Joshua, scanning his face for any trace of anxiety¨Canything <i>to </i>show he was even a little worried.


    But Joshua¡¯s eyes were crinkled withughter, not a hint of stress or exhaustion over thepany¡¯s mess to be found.


    ¡°Are you¡­ really all right?¡± Xylia asked, unable to hide her worry as she watched Joshua closely.


    ¡°Me? What could possibly be wrong?¡± Joshua said,ying out the dishes Xylia brought and handing her some chopsticks. Only then did he finally look at her, a rxed smile on his face. ¡°If you¡¯re worried about me being drunkst night, I¡¯m perfectly fine now.¡±


    ¡°What about thepany, though? I heard Connor¡¯s been spouting crap, telling everyone in the industry not to work with you guys,¡± Xylia said, her voice already tinged with anger.


    Just thinking about Connor really pissed her off.


    That guy is like super glue¨Cno matter what you do, you just can¡¯t shake him off, Xylia fumed to herself.


    If he¡¯s not clinging to me, he¡¯s finding new ways to mess with Joshua¡®


    I seriously want to p that annoying face of his, just to see if he even has the decency to blush, she muttered


    under her breath.


    When Joshua heard Xylia¡¯s words, he chuckled and gently pinched her cheek. ¡°Took her long enough to finally ask, he thought.


    ¡®About time she brought it up, Joshua mused.


    ¡°There¡¯s really nothing to worry about with thepany. Connor doesn¡¯t have what it takes to actually harm Garcia Group,¡± Joshua said, sounding totally at ease.


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    But Xylia¡¯s worry didn¡¯t fade.


    She took the chopsticks Joshua handed her, absently picked at her food, then spoke up again.


    ¡°What about Richard? One moment, he¡¯s just another guy working one floor up from us; the next, he¡¯s sitting among the Prairie Rose higher¨Cups. I¡¯m telling you, he¡¯s definitely got more going on than he wants people to see,¡± Xylia said, her tone heavy with suspicion.


    ¡°You said you two don¡¯t get along. If he decides to stir up trouble while Connor is alreadying after you, you¡¯d be getting hit from all sides,¡± Xylia continued, her concern deepening.


    Joshua stilled for a second, his hand hovering, a flicker of caution in his eyes. ¡°Do you actually know who Richard is?¡±


    Xylia shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m just guessing.¡±


    When she first met Richard, he was the general manager of thepany right upstairs from her studio. He¡¯d even helped her out a few times, so she didn¡¯t really have any bad feelings toward him at first.


    But then, when he turned up in Jupiton as the head of Prairie Rose, Xylia immediately sensed something fishy going on.


    ¡®This guy has way too many identities, and none of them are small¨Ctime,¡® she thought, the suspicion swirling stronger now.


    With his whole rivalry with Joshua, Xylia started to suspect Richard got close to her on purpose. ¡®Maybe his ¡°manager¡± gig in Norhill was fake the whole time,¡® she mused.


    Or maybe it was all legit, and thepany right upstairs from her studio really did belong to Richard.


    Richard was shady as hell¨CXylia could sense there was serious danger lurking behind that guy.


    Joshua, on the other hand, didn¡¯t seem the least bit concerned.


    Still, seeing that Xylia was already wary of Richard made Joshua feel honestly pleased with her. ¡®Finally, she¡¯s starting to sense who she shouldn¡¯t trust,¡¯ he thought, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips.


    He gently pinched Xylia¡¯s cheek and said, ¡°You really don¡¯t need to stress. I¡¯ve got this handled. Richard¡¯s trying to y me using Connor, but I¡¯m just rolling with it, biding my time until I can kick Richard out of Alvend¨Conce and for all.¡±


    His jet¨Cck eyes shed with an icy, ruthless edge.


    That ambitious, devil¨Cmay¨Ccare Joshua she remembered suddenly came back to life, ready to face anything


    head¨Con.


    Xylia finally understood¨CJoshua wasn¡¯t just aware of everything going on, he¡¯d already mapped out <b>exactly </b>


    how to deal with it all.


    Suddenly, Xylia turned to him, blurting out, ¡°Hold up, did you get drunk on purposest night?¡±


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    ¡®Did he really pretend to be weak in front of those jerks, putting on a show like <b>Garcia </b>Group <b>was </b>under so much <b>pressure </b>that even he had to go out and drink just to keep them happy?¡® Xylia wondered, <b>suspicion </b>flickering in her eyes.


    Joshua nodded, confirming her suspicions.


    Xylia practically exploded. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?! I was convinced those jerks bullied you, so I went out and got revenge for you!¡±


    Xylia gave Joshua¡¯s arm a little smack, obviously annoyed.


    Joshua just grinned, looking way too smug. ¡°I mean, didn¡¯t I get totally wastedst night? I <b>was </b>gonna tell you, but you bolted out of here so fast this morning, I couldn¡¯t squeeze it in.¡±


    ¡°You totally did that on purpose!¡± Xylia snapped, refusing to fall for Joshua¡¯sme excuses.


    She wasn¡¯t buying it¨Che¡¯d obviously sobered upst night and had plenty of chances to tell her, but kept quiet just so he could watch her run around all anxious.


    Seriously, he¡¯d been enjoying every second of her freaking out over nothing.


    He was having way too much fun watching her sweat; if she hadn¡¯t confronted him just now, he wouldn¡¯t have spilled a thing.


    Bet if she hadn¡¯t grilled him, Joshua would¡¯ve happily kept her in the dark forever.


    Xylia shot Joshua a death re, barely holding back the urge to strangle him.


    But Joshua just tugged her into his arms, softly coaxing, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. I saw you were really upsetst night, so I didn¡¯t say anything.¡±


    ¡°You knew I was mad and you still didn¡¯t tell me? Do you have any idea how worried I was about you?¡± Xylia snapped at him, totally exasperated.


    Without hesitation, she leaned in and sank her teeth into his shoulder.


    Joshua just grunted, but didn¡¯t even try to stop her.


    ¡°I know, I know, my bad,¡± he said softly, trying to coax her.


    Seeing Xylia¡¯s eyes fill with tears, Joshua felt a sharp pang in his chest. He just couldn¡¯t take seeing her all upset<b>, </b>so he quickly switched gears and changed the subject.


    ¡°So, you said you went out and got revenge for me today¡­ What kind of mischief did you get up to?¡± Joshua asked, smirking and shooting her a yful wink.


    Just as Joshua finished speaking and before Xylia could reply, his phone suddenly rang.


    It was an unfamiliar number.


    He paused for a moment, then decided to pick up.


    9:11 Wed, Oct 1


    He kept Xylia cuddled in his <b>arms</b>, not letting her go as he answered the call


    As soon as the call connected, Victor Quinn¡¯s voice came through¨Che didn¡¯t waste any time.


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    ¡°Mr. Garcia, I¡¯m calling to apologize for what happenedst night, Victor said, sounding genuinely serious

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    Joshua heard Victor¡¯s voice and turned to look at Xylia.


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    There was a puzzled look in his eyes, as if to say, ¡®So this is your way of helping me get revenge¨Che couldn¡¯t quite believe it.


    Xylia shed him a smile, slipping out of his arms and starting to eat.


    Joshua leaned back on the couch, his gaze gentle as he watched her eat, the curve of his lips never fading.


    The voice on the other end kept going.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, I¡¯m in. About the deal¨Ccould you please ask Ms. Sadler not to pull out?¡± Victor¡¯s tone was practically begging.


    Joshua¡¯s reply was ice¨Ccold: ¡°I don¡¯t need your deal.¡± He didn¡¯t even wait for Victor to react before hanging up.


    Xylia knew Joshua was just ying the fool, so she didn¡¯t bother paying attention to how he replied.


    But the memory ofst night popped up¨Cshe¡¯d been so worried about him, while he just sat back like an audience member, watching her scramble all over the ce.


    It honestly left her feeling more than a little irritated.


    Seeing Joshua reaching for the sweet and sour ribs, Xylia was quicker¨Cshe beat him to it and nabbed the very piece he¡¯d set his eyes on.


    Joshua¡¯s hand froze midair, and he turned to Xylia, whose expression was anything but subtle.


    She had ¡®I¡¯m mad at you¡® written all over her face.


    Honestly, she was more cute than intimidating, cheeks puffed out and all.


    Joshua reached for the stir¨Cfried veggies next, but Xylia was quicker¨Cshe snatched them away before his


    chopsticks even got close.


    The grin on Joshua¡¯s face just got bigger.


    ¡®Guess I better give her my best apology right now, Joshua thought.


    He even grabbed another rib and set it on Xylia¡¯s te, ying up the whole ¡°sorry¡± act. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad. I shouldn¡¯t have kept stuff from you. I¡¯ll punish myself¨Cjust in rice for lunch, no dishes!¡±


    But when Xylia saw Joshua actually digging into nothing but in rice, her heart softened and a pang of guilt


    hit her.


    She stole a nce at Joshua, noticing how seriously he kept to his word, eating just in rice and nothing else, looking surprisingly pitiful.


    <b>9:11 </b>Wed, Oct <b>1 </b>


    She huffed, ¡°You¡¯re totally doing this on purpose, aren¡¯t you?*


    ¡°I¡¯m genuinely sorry,¡± Joshua replied, utterly solemn.


    To show he meant it, he held up three fingers, making a little pledge right there at the table.


    His dark eyes couldn¡¯t have looked more sincere.


    Xylia just sighed, feeling totally defeated.


    With a little reluctant care, she reached over and gave him some veggies.


    ¡°If you ever make me worry like that again, I¡¯ll just ignore you,¡± she threatened, pouting


    Joshua knew Xylia could never actually let him suffer, no matter how mad she pretended to be


    He just grinned and nodded, ¡°Alright.¡±


    After they finished eating, Xylia suddenly remembered something and asked. ¡°Even if you¡¯re just pretending for outsiders, Garcia Group is actually losing real contracts. Are you still okay for cash?¡±


    She recalled that just a few days back, she¡¯d asked Joshua to wire a cool fifty million to someone.


    Without missing a beat, she pulled out her phone, ready to send him some cash.


    ¡°Dividends from Sadler Group just came in this month. Let me send you some money,¡± she offered.


    Joshua reached out and stopped her from transferring the money. ¡°You really think I¡¯m hurting for money?¡±


    Xylia looked him straight in the eye, her expression earnest.


    She nodded all seriousness.


    ¡°Sure, you¡¯ve got a cushy background, but with the way you¡¯re handling things, it feels like you¡¯re in this for the long haul. Money¡¯s always good to have¨Cwhy not stash a little extra just in case?¡±


    Joshua couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at how serious she looked.


    He reached over, turned off her phone screen, and pulled her into his arms.


    ¡°Rx, sweetheart. Your boyfriend is loaded. Even if I ever find myself t broke, I¡¯d never hit you up for cash,¡± he teased her softly.


    ¡°Why draw a line between your money and mine?¡± Xylia shot him a yful re.


    She never saw the point of splitting finances with Joshua. After all this time, she refused to just sit back in his shadow, always the one being protected.


    She wanted to do her part and be someone Joshua could rely on whenever he needed support.


    Joshua reached out and gently pinched her cheek.


    <b>9:11 </b><b>Wed</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>1 </b>


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    ¡°We don¡¯t need to keep things separate. If I ever really need help, I¡¯d turn to <b>my </b><b>wife</b>,<b>¡± </b>he said softly.


    Xylia took his hand in hers without saying a word.


    Joshua paused for a moment, then grinned, ¡°I¡¯m freeter. Want to hang out this afternoon?¡±


    Xylia turned him down gently.


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve got something to take care of. I need to catch up with Josie about some studio business.¡±


    Even though she wasn¡¯t in Norhill, she couldn¡¯t rely entirely on Josie to handle everything at work.


    It was only right to shoulder her share of the responsibilities.


    Joshua looked a little disappointed.


    But he wasn¡¯t about to get in the way of her work.


    ¡°Alright, you do your thing here this afternoon, and I¡¯ll just kick back with some games,¡± Joshua shrugged, trying not to sound too bummed.


    ¡°Is that really okay?¡± Xylia asked, sounding a little unsure.


    ¡®I¡¯m hogging his desk for work, and the real owner¡¯s just sitting here ying games?¡® she thought, feeling slightly embarrassed.


    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? Company¡¯s dead quiet these days, anyway. We¡¯ll hang out till quitting time and split¨C<b>no </b>biggie,¡± Joshua shrugged.


    ¡®Seriously, does Joshua even clock out like a normal employee?¡® Xylia chuckled to herself, finding it hard to imagine.


    She didn¡¯t protest any further. iming Joshua¡¯s desk as her own, she pulled up a video chat with Josie and jumped right into work mode.


    When Connor heard that Sadler Group had pulled out of their deal with Garcia Group, he was pretty stoked.


    He figured Kaden must¡¯ve been scared off by Richard¡¯s tactics.


    But then he found out that a few small businesses that had shed with Joshua a couple of days ago were now being targeted by Sadler Group.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Connor to figure out that Xylia had to be behind it.


    <b>¡®</b>Is she really that head over heels for Joshua?¡® Connor muttered under his breath. ¡®She used to keep business. and personal stuff miles apart¨Cnow she¡¯s using her position to throw her weight around? When did she <b>learn </b>to be such a bully?¡®


    Fuming, Connor mmed the stack of papers down onto his desk.


    Richard, sitting across from Connor, <b>was </b>looking downright sour.


    A couple days ago, he¡¯d tried to hit up Xylia¨Conly for her to t¨Cout block his number.


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    He hadn¡¯t been snubbed like that in forever, for a second, he couldn¡¯t even wrap his head around it.


    Damn, when was thest time someone shredded my ego this hard? Richard thought<i>, </i>feeling seriously


    bruised.


    ¡°If she¡¯s so dead set on helping Joshua, then let her<i>, </i>Richard said, his voice carrying a dangerous edge.


    Connor frowned at him. ¡°What are you getting at?¡±


    ¡°None of your business,¡± Richard shot back coolly, ¡°Just keep your eyes on Garcia Group. I¡¯ll clear out every obstacle¨Cincluding anyone who tries to get in our way?


    Connor had a hunch Richard meant Xylia when he mentioned ¡°anyone getting in the way?


    His chest tightened. Leave Xylia to me¨CI¡¯ll make sure she gets what¡¯sing to her, Connor thought grimly.


    Richard¡¯s eyes fixed on Connor, icy and downright chilling, filled with a cold lethality. <fn0378> Content originallyes from f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn0378>


    Even someone as unreadable as Connor actually felt the murderous vibe in the air¨Che had to admit, for a split second, it got to him.


    But he simply responded with a slight frown.


    Connor spoke up, his tone steady. ¡°She¡¯s my ex¨Cwife, after all. No one knows her better than I do. If anyone¡¯s going to deal with her, it should be me.¡±


    ¡°You think you can tell me what to do?¡± Richard¡¯s voice was cold, almost threatening.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a suggestion,¡± Connor countered, his eyes never leaving Richard¡¯s.


    He didn¡¯t back down or show even a flicker of fear¨Cinstead, he met Richard¡¯s gaze, steady andposed.


    After a long stretch of silence, Richard finally gave a faint chuckle, breaking the tension.


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll go with Mr. Ford¡¯s n,¡± he said, his tone cool and controlled.


    Connor breathed a sigh of relief and walked out of Richard¡¯s office.


    Once Connor was gone, Holt moved over to Richard¡¯s side.


    ¡°Boss, are we really gonna do what Connor says?¡± Holt asked, a bit doubtful.


    ¡°That guy¡¯s fucking nothing!¡± Richard spat, sounding seriously pissed off.


    Richard cursed under his breath, clearly annoyed as hell.


    ¡°That self¨Cimportant asshole. So what if Xylia¡¯s his ex¨Cwife? If he actually knew her, he wouldn¡¯t have screwed things up so bad that she¡¯s not even angry at him anymore¨Cthey¡¯re just total strangers now.¡±


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    Holt kept his head down, sensing the tense vibe in the room¨Che couldn¡¯t help feeling that something was off with the boss today.


    Richard whipped around to re at Holt, his eyes cold and sharp.


    ¡°Go look into that Josie Dunn¨Cyeah, the one always sticking close to Xylia. Dig up any dirt, see what weaknesses she¡¯s got. Since Xylia¡¯s decided to y hardball first, I¡¯ve got no problem getting nasty right back,¡± Richard said, voice low and menacing.


    Holt got his orders and left to take care of it.

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    :


    The Garcia Group¡¯s stocks dropped several points in just one week.


    All thanks to Connor, who orchestrated the whole thing.


    While Joshua was struggling to keep up with the chaos, Connor sent him an invitation.


    It was to a charity g at the Capital City Club on Friday.


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    Connor personally delivered the invitation to Joshua, and couldn¡¯t help but feel quite pleased seeing how worn¨Cout Joshua looked.


    ¡°Mr. Garcia, don¡¯t hold it against me for ying hardball¨Cbusiness is business, there¡¯s no right or wrong to it. But I¡¯m throwing you a bone here. A lot of big shots in the business will be at that charity g. You never know, maybe someone there can give you a hand,¡± Connor said.


    Connor had cornered Joshua in the underground parking garage of the Garcia Group.


    At that moment, Joshua and Xylia were taking a break and nning to visit their teacher.


    When Connor handed over the invitation, Xylia couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, thinking, ¡®Seriously? Can¡¯t he pick a better time for his games?¡®


    Noticing Xylia¡¯s obvious eye roll, Connor threw her a look and said, ¡°Xylia, here¡¯s a word of advice: you¡¯d be smart to keep your distance from all this drama. It¡¯s better for both you and Joshua.¡±


    But if Xylia didn¡¯t listen, Connor had no problem forcing her hand¨Ceven if it meant making her take a hard line.


    Xylia thought Connor was absolutely unnecessary¨Clike an extra scene in a drama nobody asked for.


    In her opinion, after a divorce, an ex should be as good as dead¨Cno contact, no crossing paths, pure radio


    silence.


    But Connor just wouldn¡¯t quit; he was always in her face, never giving her or Joshua a break, and hell¨Cbent on driving a wedge between them.


    Only now did Xylia realize Connor wasn¡¯t just a piece of trash¨Che was the kind of creep that made her skin crawl.


    ¡°Whatever happens in my life has absolutely nothing to do with you. If you¡¯ve got so much free time to hand out invitations, maybe you should use it booking yourself a psych consult¨Cseriously, get your brain checked,¡± Xylia shot back.


    Xylia grabbed Joshua and hustled him into the car, making sure he didn¡¯t spend another second around Connor. ¡®No way am I letting him get dragged into Connor¡¯s drama again,¡® she thought.


    Watching Xylia step up for Joshua like that made Connor¡¯s chest ache with envy and bitterness.


    <b>9:11 </b>Wed, <b>Oct </b>1


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    That sour feeling burned through him, pumping through every vein, and he felt like he could blow up any


    second.


    Joshua kept his lips sealed the whole time, just letting Xylia guide him straight into the driver¡¯s seat without a


    fuss.


    Once Xylia got in, he hit the ignition and drove off without looking back.


    On the way to see Grace, Joshua couldn¡¯t wipe the smile off his face.


    Xylia, still in a bad mood, gave him a sideways nce and said, ¡°What¡¯s with that smile? You really think all this drama is funny?¡±


    ¡°Wow, I never pegged you for someone who could take so much, Mr. Garcia. No matter how many jerks line up to try you, you never blow up or even lose your cool,¡± Xylia scoffed.


    Joshua just shot Xylia a soft look, then reached out andced his fingers through hers.


    ¡°Come on, how could I ever get pissed off when I¡¯ve got my sweetheart watching out for me? With you by my side, all I feel is lucky,¡± Joshua teased.


    ¡°What if they mess with me?¡± Xylia asked, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°I¡¯d beat them to a pulp,¡± Joshua replied, his voice soft but deadly serious.


    Xylia nced at Joshua¡¯s side profile while he was driving, let out a couple of annoyed little huffs, and shook off his hand.


    ¡°Just focus on driving, will you?¡± she shot at him, her voice a mix of impatience and concern.


    Joshuaughed softly, then finally put both hands back on the wheel.


    She wasn¡¯t really mad at Joshua; she just hated seeing anyone try to mess with him, that¡¯s all.


    They picked up some gifts and headed over to Grace¡¯s ce. The old couple weed them with open arms.


    ¡°Ms. Chase, how are you feeling now?¡± Xylia asked gently.


    Grace gently pulled Xylia <i>to </i>sit beside her on the couch, wrapping her up in a warm wee.


    Grace looked <i>so </i>much healthier now, her cheeks rosy as she sat in a deep green cheongsam. Years spent dancing had given her a dignified poise and a peaceful, graceful aura.


    ¡°I¡¯m feelingpletely fine now. It means so much that you both remembered me and came by together,¡± Grace said with a warm smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re my teacher¨Cyou¡¯re like family to me, almost a parent. How could I note visit you?¡± Xylia said, her tone full of warmth.


    Every time Xylia was around Grace, she¡¯d instantly turn into her cutesy, clingy self, unable to stop herself from acting a little spoiled.


    9:11 Wed, <b>Oct 1 </b>


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    Grace was now the only senior Xylia genuinely looked up to.


    Grace smiled and patted Xylia¡¯s hand, then turned to Joshua with a gentle look.


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    ¡°Joshua, you look a little run¨Cdown. Haven¡¯t been sleeping well these days?¡± Grace asked, her voice full of care.


    ¡®Honestly, I¡¯m really wiped out,¡® Joshua thought, acknowledging the truth.


    ¡®Not that I¡¯ve been pulling all¨Cnighters for work or anything,¡® he mused, ¡®it¡¯s just that I keep losing track of time gaming these days.¡®


    Joshua just shed a sheepish smile and said, ¡°I¡¯ve just been a bit of an insomniactely.¡±


    Grace frowned, her worry clear. ¡°Is it work stress? You young people can hustle all you want, but healthes first¨Cyou need to take care of yourself.¡±


    Joshua smiled, nodding warmly at her concern.


    ¡°Got it, Ms. Chase.¡±


    Joshua joined Grace¡¯s husband for a game of chess.


    Xylia cozied up next to Grace, the two of them wrapped up in conversation.


    Grace nced at Joshua for a moment, then turned back to Xylia.


    ¡°Xylia, you know I don¡¯t really follow all that business drama, but word¡¯s been getting around from a few of my friends¨Cis Connor giving Joshua a hard time?¡± Grace asked, her tone full of genuine concern.


    Xylia was a bit surprised that Grace had caught wind of all this.


    Wanting to reassure her, Xylia said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Chase. The Garcia family has a strong foundation -Joshua¡¯s going to be just fine.¡±


    After a moment, she added with a confident smile, ¡°Besides, I¡¯m here too. I¡¯ll have his back.¡±


    Grace knew that Xylia had be the Sadler family¡¯s heiress¨Cher status was sky¨Chigh these days.


    Grace let out a soft sigh.


    ¡°I know you two are more than capable, but if Connor is moving against you, you can bet he¡¯lle prepared. In this world, you don¡¯t have to worry about the decent folks, but you¡¯d better keep your guard up around the schemers.¡±


    Xylia couldn¡¯t hold back augh. ¡°So even you think Connor¡¯s just a snake, huh, Ms. Chase?¡±


    Grace snorted. ¡°Please! I remember all too well how he treated you. Any guy who can go that far against his own wife? No way he¡¯s a stand¨Cup guy.¡±


    Xylia rarely saw Grace let her feelings show like this.


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    She grinned and looped her arm through Grace¡¯s. ¡°Connor¡¯s nothing but a sideshow clown now¨Che¡¯s not worth letting get under your skin.¡±


    Grace¡¯s expression softened as she pulled herself together, affectionately patting Xylia¡¯s head.


    They stayed for lunch at Grace¡¯s ce before heading back.


    On the way back, Joshua turned to Xylia, chuckling. ¡°Grace¡¯s husband saw I was having a tough time and just now he almost tried to slip me some cash.¡±


    ¡°He seriously looked ready to pull out his wallet for me.¡±


    Xylia caught that cocky tone in his voice and shot him a look. ¡°What¡¯s got you so smug?¡±


    Joshua grinned. ¡°See? He¡¯s looking out for me just because of you¨Cwhich means, in their eyes, we¡¯re officially a team now.¡±


    Xylia just blinked at him, totally baffled by the way Joshua¡¯s mind worked.


    Honestly, it never got old.


    ¡°We always show up as boyfriend and girlfriend¨Cof course they see us as a couple. What else would they think?¡± Joshua teased.


    ¡°Besides, don¡¯t you get it? Grace¡¯s husband was totally looking out for you.¡±


    Joshua paused for a moment, mulling it over. ¡°Honestly, I guess he was looking out for me, but let¡¯s be real¡ªif


    it wasn¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t even know them. It¡¯s you they truly care about, so I just got pulled in by association.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s roundabout logic was making Xylia dizzy.


    ¡°Just remember how good they¡¯ve been to you, that¡¯s what really matters,¡± Xylia replied.


    The two of them made their way back home, side by side, a little more rxed than when they¡¯d left.


    As soon as they walked through the door, Xylia¡¯s phone buzzed¡ªit was Josie.


    ¡°Xylia, I need to head back overseas for a bit. Can you go to Norhill for me?¡± Josie¡¯s voice held a hint of


    urgency.


    Hearing the seriousness in Josie¡¯s voice, Xylia¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is everything okay?¡± <fnfb51> This content belongs to Find_Novel(.</fnfb51>


    ¡°I¡¯ve got some personal stuff I need to take care of, and I have to leave right away,¡± Josie said, her voice tight with urgency.


    Xylia knew Josie was carrying her own secrets, but she wasn¡¯t about to pry. ¡®Whatever it is, she¡¯ll tell me when she¡¯s ready, Xylia thought.


    ¡°No worries¨Chandle your business. I¡¯ve got things here under control,¡± Xylia replied, her tone light but confident.


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    Tin catching a flight this afternoon. I¡¯ve already sent you the details for the work I¡¯ve been handling. Just touch base with Shiyao for anything else,¡± Josie said, her voice steady but hurried.


    ¡°Got it. You go ahead, and if you need anything, just say the word,¡± Xylia replied, her tone warm and reassuring


    ¡°Will do,¡± Josie said, her voice softening just a bit.


    After hanging up, Xylia turned to Joshua,


    ¡°I need to go to Norhill,¡± she said,


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