Richard immediately thought of Xylia, who was still inside the manor.*

His eyes shed with malice.*

“Even if you’re acting as Joshua’s pawn now, it won’t make a difference. My private estate is filled with btraps- /bonce he steps in, there’s no way out for him.“*

Richard’s smile twisted with cruelty, his voice chilling as if he were a demon unleashed from hell.*

“But you’re born and raised in Daltonia. Sure, we’ve got old grudges, but is it really worth going to war against me for some outsider like Joshua? Philia, you’re seriously shamelessb.”/bb* /b

Philia, hit with an unprovoked insult, felt his confusion morph instantly into anger.

“This damn sissy dares call me shameless!‘ he thought.

“Look who’s talking! Wasn’t it your dad who came to Daltonia, yed assistant to mine for just a month, then stole the family secrets and ran off on his own? That’s how you lot got so powerful. If anyone’s shameless, bit’s /byou and your old man–everyone finds you utterly disgusting!“*

“But hey, justice was served. Your dad got what wasing to him for betraying others. You and your father will end up destroyed by your own shamelessnessb!/bb“/b*

Richard couldn’t stand anyone trash–talking his dad.

He lost it and charged straight at Philia, fists swinging hard.

The goons behind both of them didn’t hesitate–they dove right in as their bosses brawled, and the whole basement exploded into a wild mass of fighting bodies.

Everything down there melted into utter pandemonium.

And it wasn’t just chaos underground–Richard’s private manor had erupted into turmoil of its own.

Holt and his crew rolled up to the gate.

He was expecting Joshua to show up, but the one at the door turned out to be Graham Green instead.

Behind Graham, in a sleek ck Maybach, a man in a tailored suit sat in the passenger seat, silver hair gleaming, head bowed, making no move to step out.

That was Joshua himself.

Holt let out a coldugh.

‘Still trying to look cool and mysterious, hiding out in the car at a time like this?‘ Holt thought.

But the whole estate was a trap set just for Joshua.

1911

Even if Joshua didn’t set foot out of that car, Holt knew he could get him anyway.

“Hey, Mr. Garcia, since you’re already here, what’s with hiding in the car?” Holt shouted.

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Graham Green stepped casually to the side, just enough to block Holt’s sightline to the Maybach, almost bas /bif daring him to try harder.

“What’s wrong, is your boss Mr. Shaw too scared toe greet us himself?” Graham asked, arrogance dripping from every syble.

The way Graham looked down on them, that smug attitude paired with his supercilious re, made Holt’s skin prickle with annoyance–it was like the guy considered everyone else beneath him.

Holt fixed Graham with an unfazed re, not giving anything away.

“Our boss doesn’t just show up for whoever knocks–he’s not that easy to meet,” Holt shot back, voice cold.

Hardly had the boss left when Joshua rolled up at the door with his squad.

As for that Philia down the hill? Holt bet that was Joshua pulling strings.

‘Didn’t see thating… Joshua actually knows Philia?‘ Holt thought, surprised.

He figured Joshua must’ve promised Philia all kinds of perks to rope him in.

Holt slid his hand quietly behind his back, gripping the gun at his waist in silent warning.

Graham clocked the move instantly, his eyes sharp and unreadable.

“You really shouldn’t try anything reckless,” Graham said, voice cool as ice. “We’re not here to stir up trouble, but if you want to throw down, trust me–we’re not backing down.”

He just stood there, arms folded across his chest, lookingpletely rxed–like Holt’s threat was nothing to him.

“And just so we’re clear,” Graham said coolly, “if anything happens to me here, my family won’t hesitate to be your boss’s worst nightmare.”

That was enough to make Holt pause, his hand slowly dropping away from the gun.

The Green family was basically royalty in Daltonia.

They had deep connections with the authorities.

And they always protected their own. If Graham got hurt here, Mr. Shaw might really be facing cops knocking at his door.

And for people like them, getting tangled up with the cops was thest thing they wanted.

In the end, Holt didn’t pull his gun. He just eyed Graham warily.

Chapter

331

“What exactly are you up to?” Holt asked.

Graham gave a faint smile and stayed silent.

Xylia heard someone had arrived at the front gate.

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She wanted to go see for herself, but the bodyguard shadowing her barked out an order, his tone icy and unyielding.

“Pleasee back to the vi with me,” he said.

Xylia didn’t want to go back.

But the bodyguard was so stubborn, it was clear that if she didn’t go, he’d just knock her out and carry her back–no hesitation.

Right now, she was stuck in the back garden. If Xylia wanted to get to the vi, she’d have to skirt the flowerbeds and follow that white stone path out front.

Stuck under the eaves with no other choice, Xylia could only force herself to start toward the vi, every step slow and reluctant.

As she passed by the fountain, Xylia spotted something white out of the corner of her eye.

Her eyes darted. She suddenly crouched down and grabbed her stomach, pretending to be in pain.

“Ugh, my stomach! It hurts!” Xylia wailed, acting pathetic as she tried to sell it. ‘If I don’t fake it, he’ll just drag me away,‘ she thought.

The bodyguard frowned, watching her like she was more trouble than she was worth.

He was just about toy hands on her when suddenly, a sharp sting shot through his neck.

He reached up to scratch, confused, and his fingers brushed against a needle stuck in his skin.

Before he could make sense of it, a wave of dizziness washed over him. His vision went dark and he copsed, knocked out cold.

As the bodyguard hit the ground, Xylia dropped the act and scrambled up, dashing straight for the fountain.

Right then, Joshua emerged from behind the fountain and caught her steady in his arms.

The instant Joshua pulled Xylia into his arms, he was struck by just how frail she’d be. She’d always been slim, but now she felt so fragile, like she might break if he held her too tight.

His heart twisted painfully in his chest.

Joshua held her as if she was the only thing that mattered, gently rubbing circles on her back, afraid to let go or even squeeze too hard.

“I’m sorry I waste. I should have been here sooner,” Joshua murmured, regret heavy in his voice.

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In just a few days, she’d wasted away like this. He couldn’t believe what kinds of hell Xylia must’ve gone through. fn5b58 Checktest chapters at find(?)ovel/fn5b58

Xylia’s eyes welled up, and she curled into Joshua’s arms, unable to hold back the tears as they slipped down her cheeks.

Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she quickly pulled away, fear written all over her face as she looked at Joshua.

“Richard set this up,” Xylia stammered, her voice trembling. “He used me to lure you in–he’s been nning for this all along. We need to get out of here, now!”

‘Where the hell are we supposed to go?‘ Xylia thought, panic spiking in her chest.

‘Wait–how did Joshua even get in here?‘ she wondered, totally shocked for a split second.

Joshua didn’t hesitate for a moment; he grabbed her hand and whisked her off toward the flowerbeds, moving fast.

“The whole estate’s electric fence is run by the manor’s security system,” Joshua said, keeping his voice low and urgent. “I hacked the system just now–the grid’s down, we’re safe. Follow me; this way.”

Xylia stuck close behind Joshua, not daring to lose sight of him.

They found an open stretch of the wall, and up top the electric fence had already been snipped, leaving a gap.

But for Xylia, that wall was seriously high–way out of her league.

“It’s kinda tall, I…” she hesitated, ncing up nervously.

Joshua crouched low in front of her, steadying himself. “Come on, step onto my shoulders.”

“I’ll give you a lift–there’s adder waiting outside. You’ll be out in no time.”

“But… what about you?” Xylia asked, her voice full of worry.

“Don’t sweat it, I’ll get up too,” Joshua said, shing her a confident grin.

Xylia didn’t hesitate, putting her feet squarely on Joshua’s shoulders as he lifted her up–steady and sure- helping her onto the top of the wall.

Once she made it up, Xylia caught sight of thedder waiting outside, just like Joshua had promised, and relief flooded her.

The wall had once been topped with jagged ss, but Joshua had already handled it–nothing dangerous remained, making her passage safe.

Determined not to waste even a moment, she pushed herself to move as quickly as she could.

She nced back at Joshua, worry flickering in her eyes, then grabbed hold of the woodendder and began

to climb down.

b9:20 /bbThu/b, bOct /bb2 /b

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She’d barely taken a couple steps down before Joshua vaulted up onto the wall, grabbing hold of the shakydder to keep it steady for her, making sure she was safe.

“Easy does it–don’t rush, take it slow,” Joshua said gently, his voice absolutely reassuring.

With Joshua right by her side, Xylia instantly felt her nerves settle.

She carefully climbed down a few more steps, then waved at Joshua, motioning for him to hurry and join her.

But before she could say a word, gunshots rang out from the other side of the wall.

“They’re escaping! Open fire–don’t let them get away!” someone screamed, their voice desperate.

The air was instantly ripped apart by the stato st of machine guns.

Xylia’s heart leapt into her throat, panic squeezing her chest so tight she could barely breathe.

“Joshua, get down here now!” she shouted, her voice sharp with terror as she waved frantically.

AD