Billionaire And His Son Betrayed Me: Brothers Back Me Up

Chapter 1 The Release

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 place 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 too late." Connor's voice shook as he followed the medics into the ambulance.

This man, who was usually all cold composure, actually cried. Xylia had only ever seen him cry twice before—once 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-fiancé had left her behind. None of that mattered anymore.

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 with a hit-and-run."

Xylia shook her head. She thought, 'How could this be his fault? Everyone knew Connor was 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, 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 accused of hit-and-run. 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-up 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.'

*****

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 flat. "Tessa is a principal dancer. Her record can't have a single blemish.

"As for Xylia, she stole Tessa's place 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 place? And Connor—how 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 her later."

Xylia thought, 'Later? What "later" do I even have left?'

Every word they said carried clear into Xylia's ears. The pain clawed 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 delayed it?' A heavy despair pressed down on Xylia's chest, almost suffocating her.

Connor answered with weary impatience, speaking like he was laying 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 was competing 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?'

Chapter 2 Stepped Into The Mess Myself

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 thin layer 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 fiancé 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 had come 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-famous dancer.

Later, when Xylia heard Tessa had become that dancer's last 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 soundless laugh, 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 play 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.

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 delayed her surgery.

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

For a split second, panic flashed 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 flat. 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 good, 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 too late.'

She suddenly felt bone-deep 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 every last 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-wrapped 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 carefree laugh. "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'll come see me on stage."

The lie was paper-thin, 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 glass 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 glass of milk and smiled faintly. She was lactose intolerant. The one who loved milk had never been her.

Chapter 3 My One True Love

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—a 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 a 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 soundless laugh.

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

By dusk, Connor and Sonny still hadn't come back. The weight in Xylia's chest grew heavier. The sad little marriage she had been holding together for years was already over.

Watching the last of the sun sink down, she made a call. "I've made up my mind. I'll come 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."

Three months later 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 one last time.

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

Meanwhile, at Mandé Manor overseas—the sprawling estate of the Sadler family, the richest family in the world—one man hung up the phone.

Impeccably dressed, polished down to the last 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's coming 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." He landed 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—or 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-smile. No surprise there. In this house, she barely left a trace, same as the place she held in Connor and Sonny's hearts. Disposable.

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 ease, sprawled out on the couch, chatting like she owned the place. 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—exactly 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 flat.

Tessa clapped a hand over her mouth, glancing 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.

Tessa laughed 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.

Chapter 4 The Pendant Shattered

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 glass. "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 irreplaceable. In her head, she couldn't wrap it up. 'He actually gave it away to Tessa?'

Connor frowned, shot her a flat 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 a laugh, 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.

"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 necklace. 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 blades, 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 glanced at Xylia's face and burst out laughing. "Relax, 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 go. 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.

The moment she put weight on her legs, pain shot straight up through her, knocking her off balance. 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 glance 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's last 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 she laughed. 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, flat, 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 flat, unreadable. She looked Connor straight in the eye, then shoved him off, her gaze cold enough to make him flinch.

"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!"

Chapter 5 Divorce

Connor's face 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—nothing. 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 crazy lady. You don't look like a mom at all."

That actually made Xylia laugh, 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 class. 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—cold 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."

She gave him one last 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 old lady. You said you're not my mom, so don't act like you can boss me around!"

The broken Lego lay 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-called 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 sharp laugh 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 glared 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 leg hurts so bad. What if I can't dance anymore?"

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 flat, 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 tone laced 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—your 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 and come back."

He glanced 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—she 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."

Her heart skipped. She turned.

A man leaned against his car door, the black 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?"

Chapter 6 Been A Long Time, Xylia

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 overlapped 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-up 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 a completely 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-Royce. 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 quick laugh, and teased, "Looks like you've been doing pretty well. What, struck it rich?"

Joshua's eyes flickered. Then he chuckled and said, "Rented."

That caught Xylia off guard.

"I'm here in Jupiton for some clients," Joshua explained 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 almost laughed. 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 class. 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, landing 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 glanced 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 blame 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 place to stay.

"My buddy's been trying to rent this one out forever. So, want to check it out?"

The place had everything—furniture, good lighting, even looked freshly cleaned. Xylia hesitated, standing in the doorway without moving. A place 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 their company, even handled clients face to face.

And every dime ended up in Connor's pocket. Even her credit card wasn't hers—it was the extra one off his account. If he felt like it, he could just freeze it.

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—"

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 rest later."

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-known divorce lawyer. 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 glanced 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 replaced it was darker, heavier.

His silver hair slipped across his forehead, sharpening the curve of his jaw. He toyed with the 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 accident, you would've been mine already. As for Connor... he'll pay for what he's done.'

Chapter 7 The Neighbor

The light in the apartment grew dimmer and dimmer. Xylia turned on the lamp, 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 bitter laugh. '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 flat, a little cold.

Connor's face darkened in an instant. His knuckles blanched 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't come 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 not coming 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 collapsed onto the bed like a marionette 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 slammed 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 occasional little fits, a 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 too 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 not coming 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.

*****

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 place.

Joshua's lips curved into a smirk. Without waiting for an invitation, he shouldered past her through the half-opened 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, he continued to explain, unloading the bags into her refrigerator. "That Jupiton client is a nightmare. Had to rent my buddy's place. 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-like grace, yet had that natural elegance of someone born wealthy.

Connor would never cook, wouldn't even step into the kitchen. He said, "A gentleman keeps away from the kitchen." But later, she saw him cook pasta for Tessa with her own eyes.

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

His lips curved in a playful smirk. "What's on your mind? Come, taste this." His loose hair framed eyes that sparkled like crushed starlight, completing 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 plate 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 her lashes, and forced a wobbly smile. "It's really good. Thank you." Her voice made the gratitude sound fragile, like porcelain 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-present 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-in-law even make time for that?" He hung up abruptly, not letting her argue.