hapter 48

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, bthen /bspun 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 faceb, /band 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 bhell /bout, 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 bwas /bstunned 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 bhanging /bup, 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 bskills/b.

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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 ias /isoon 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–Connor 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, band /bso 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 barms/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 byou’re /bgoing 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 bhad /bjust 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 binvited /bto 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 sighb. /b“No.”

She couldn’t help feeling helpless in the face of his hostility.

“Good. If you ever try to mess with bTessa /bagain, 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 band /bXyliaing and hurried over to wee them.

The greeter must’ve been btold /bin advance; he recognized Sonny and let bhim /bwalk 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 btoday/b. Only binvited /bguests can enter. Do you have an invitation?”

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Xylia was left a bit bewildered. When Xavi btold /bher 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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