Billionaire And His Son Betrayed Me: Brothers Back Me Up novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Connor’s words caught Xylia off guard.

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When she married into the Ford family, everyone treated her like an outsider–everyone 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 placed in her hands the Ford family’s heirloom–their 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–never 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–open 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 elaborate 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 explain things to Orion myself.”

There was a beat of silence on the other end.

Then Connor’s low, mocking laugh 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 play 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 explaining anything to him at all?”

His voice turned to ice, each word a blade. “Xylia, tricks like that only make me despise you

more.”

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Chapter 18

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Her lips curved into another weary smile.

She was leaving anyway. Even explaining felt exhausting now.

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Connor’s voice cut in again, sharp and frigid, “Same thing I told you before–cut 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 place 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–but his blue eyes had already caught every flicker of her expression. His gaze narrowed, and in its depths, a flash of cold, lethal sharpness glinted and vanished.

As long as he was here, no one would ever lay 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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Chapter 18

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His fox–like eyes carried a hint of amusement, his lips curving as he replied, half–smile playing at the corners, “And how does Xylia plan 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–make me dinner. That’ll be thanks enough.”

His tone was light, laced with a smile, platinum blond hair falling carelessly around his pale face as he dropped onto the sofa as if he owned the place.

“Huh?” Xylia blinked, startled, her heart skipping when she crashed straight into those teasing eyes of his. She looked at him, half–bewildered. “Cook for you?”

Joshua only pointed toward the window at the end of the hallway. Night had fallen, and beyond the glass stretched a sea of darkness.

“It’s getting late, 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–like 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–restless, unpredictable, always at her heels.

But this–this 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, his fox–like 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–dark, 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.

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Chapter 18

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Joshua followed her in, leaning lazily 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–Connor 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–the 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 the lazy, 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 and commanding, “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 cabinet beneath the TV and pulled out a first–aid kit as if he’d known it was there all along.

Xylia blinked in surprise.

That kit had been left by the landlord 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.

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Chapter 18

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 overlapped with the boy she’d once known years ago.

Back then, when they were overseas, she’d come 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, comforting Chinese dinner.

The warmth of that meal had eased the raw edges of her loneliness in a foreign land, if only for a moment.

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