Billionaire And His Son Betrayed Me: Brothers Back Me Up novel Chapter 10

Xylia glanced up. It was Ziggy Schultz, the eldest son of the Schultz family. Dressed in black, 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. 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 a laugh 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 own company and single–handedly lifting the Schultz family to success. 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 bitter laugh. ‘Of course. Blood runs thicker than

water.’

Nearby, Gia smiled as she added food to Tessa’s plate. “How’s your dance competition prep going?” she asked gently. “Feeling confident?”

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

Tessa’s laughter tinkled as she cast a sidelong glance at Xylia. “Almost ready,” she said breezily, “just a few tricky parts left.”

With deliberate sweetness, she placed a serving of fish on Xylia’s plate. “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 plate, 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 accident. Her throat swelled within minutes. The fever that followed burned so high she needed twenty–four 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 claimed exposure would build immunity. Later, Tessa returned to the Schultz family. She loved fish, so every dinner became fish–centric. Not a

11:44 Wed, Sep 10

Chapter 10

:

single meal since had ever considered Xylia’s needs.

75

55 vouchers

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,” Tessa laughed, filling Xylia’s glass with milk. “Maybe she’s just upset because I’m competing while she can’t dance anymore.”

Her small white teeth flashed, eyes glinting with playful 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 this competition.”

‘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 ever compare 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–out shoes. They had seen it all, yet they attributed her hard–earned success 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 suddenly laughed, her tone light, as she turned to Connor, “Don’t you agree, Connor?”

Connor’s eyes flickered with discomfort. 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.”

11:44 Wed, Sep 10

Chapter 10

75

55 vouchers

Xylia stared at his hypocritical face, a bitter laugh 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.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify