Chapter 197
Chapter 197
Xylia hadn’t expected their design proposal to be approved when Joshua told her just now.
For a moment, she thought Joshua had pulled some strings for her.
4
ร. 1873
55 vouchers
But when she heard that another studio’s proposal had also been approved, she realized Joshua hadn’t given her any special treatment.
‘So I guess Joshua really didn’t do me any favors, Xylia thought to herself.
After she and Joshua agreed on a time, Xylia hung up, practically buzzing with excitement.
On the other side, as soon as Joshua ended the call, the warmth in his eyes vanished without a trace.
With his face blank and unreadable, Joshua turned to David and ordered, “Find out where Xylia went tonight.”
David headed out and before long, he was back.
He didn’t leave anything out as he told Joshua every detail of what went down at the bar with Xylia.
Joshua leaned back in his chair, looking all lazy and casual with a couple of buttons undone, showing off just a hint of his sculpted chest. But the curl of his lips had a venomous edge to it–there was danger lurking in that smile.
“Do I seem like a nice guy to you lately?” Joshua asked, his tone all teasing.
David didn’t dare say a word.
Joshua had spent years clawing his way through the dead waters of the Garcia family. Was he ever the merciful type? Hardly.
David had followed Joshua for years, and had witnessed firsthand how his boss could spill blood without so much as blinking–real devil stuff.
Whenever Joshua was with Xylia, he turned into a total puppy–all his edge just melted away.
But now, it looked like the Sinclairs and Noelle were about to learn the hard way what crossing him really
meant.
Joshua rose from his seat, moving deliberately.
“Let’s go,” he said coolly. “Time to pay Mr. Sinclair a little visit–got some old business to settle.”
David headed downstairs in silence to get the car, already mourning for the Sinclairs in his heart.
*Two hours later*
*Sinclair residence*
8:37 Thu, Sep 18 N
Chapter 197
‘Bang! The sharp sound of breaking glass ripped through the room.
87
55 vouchers
Jessica’s head crashed into a bottle, smashing it to pieces. Blood mixed with the strong scent of alcohol, seeping into the air. Just moments before, she’d been basking in her smugness in front of Xylia–now, she lay sprawled on the floor like a lifeless heap.
Her eyes fluttered shut as she slipped into unconsciousness.
Glenda and Ryan watched, unable to hide how distressed they were by the sight.
Glenda clung to Ryan’s sleeve, her gaze fixed on the crumpled form on the floor–she looked torn up, but was too afraid to go over and help her daughter.
Ryan’s face was dark with anger, his fists clenching and unclenching as he stood a little off to the side of Joshua, trying to keep his composure.
Joshua had a cigarette pinched between his long fingers, its tip burning in and out in the dim room.
“Joshua, you storm into my home and leave my daughter in this condition–you think I’m afraid to call the police?” Ryan’s face was red with fury.
Joshua’s face stayed completely blank, not a trace of emotion showing.
He stood there in the Sinclairs‘ courtyard, half his face swallowed by darkness. Even if you couldn’t read his mood, everyone could feel the suffocating pressure pouring off him.
“Call the police?” Joshua snorted coldly. “Be my guest.”
He didn’t seem the least bit worried.
Ryan’s hands trembled as he fumbled for his phone, but before he could even dial, Joshua cut in.
“Let’s see what arrives first–the police, or your daughter’s death,” Joshua sneered, flicking the ash off his cigarette.
He wasn’t even smoking it–just watching it burn like it was nothing.
Joshua looked utterly cold, exuding an inescapable pressure–like some ancient emperor whose very presence crushed everyone around him.
Under the nearby streetlamp, silver in his hair shone with a frosty gleam, adding a chill to the night.
In the end, Ryan’s finger never pressed the button.
He knew Joshua wasn’t like other people–raised in a world far removed from normal. Most folks tossed around threats just to sound tough, but Joshua? He would actually follow through, Ryan understood that all too well–and that was what truly terrified him.
Seeing Glenda and Ryan frozen in place, too scared to make a move, Joshua flicked his cigarette aside.
The burning tip landed on the grass. He stepped down with his leather shoe, grinding it out with slow,
8:37 Thu, Sep 18 N
Chapter 197
deliberate force.
Joshua strode right past Jessica’s unconscious body, stopping directly in front of Ryan.
87
55 vouchers
“When I had Jessica sent back to you a couple days ago, I made it very clear–keep your daughter in line and don’t mess with my wife. Guess my words didn’t sink in for you people,” Joshua said, voice deadly calm.
Ryan’s hands trembled as he looked at Joshua, fear etched across his face.
“Mr. Garcia, Jessie was your fiancée once, after all, she…” Ryan could barely get the words out.
Joshua let out a dry, mocking laugh.
His laughter rang out even clearer now, brimming with cold contempt.
Ryan fell silent.
Joshua’s voice was icy. “How many years ago was that? You keep mumbling about some old engagement- what, nobody else wants your daughter now?”
Those words stung, cutting deep.
Glenda and Ryan’s faces fell, the room turning icy in an instant.
Joshua raised his hand, and David immediately handed him a document.
Joshua held it out to Ryan.
“Your daughter’s had Hyperman Syndrome since she was a kid, and now her mental problems have only gotten worse. You can’t even keep her in check, just let her run wild everywhere–seriously, what kind of parenting is that? Need me to give you a crash course in how to be a parent?” Joshua’s voice was ice–cold, slicing straight through the silence.
Glenda opened her mouth to say something, but Ryan quickly stopped her.
Ryan took the medical report, swallowed hard, and said to Joshua, “Rest assured, Mr. Garcia. Jessie won’t be leaving this house again.”
Joshua gave him an icy stare, then turned on his heel and walked out.
David followed close behind.
Once the two left, Glenda threw herself down and gathered her daughter in her arms, Jessica’s hair matted with blood.
“Call a doctor!” she shouted, panic shaking her voice.
Ryan stood there, staring at Jessica’s battered figure and the ten broken bottles of every size littering the floor.
If David had gone any further, his daughter might not have survived the night.
8:37 Thu, Sep 18 N
Chapter 197
Ryan shot Jessica a look full of disappointment and anger, wishing she could be stronger.
87
$55 vouchers
“How much longer do we have to keep cleaning up after her?” Ryan snapped, his anger clear for everyone to hear.
Spitting out those words, he stormed back into the house–who knew if he’d even bothered to call a doctor.
Meanwhile, after leaving, Joshua shot Noelle a message, telling her to head over to the Garcia place.
When he arrived, Noelle was already settled comfortably on the couch at the Garcia family home.
Eliza was wrapped up in conversation with Noelle, and the two looked genuinely happy, mother and daughter catching up like best friends.
Their smiles grew even brighter when Joshua walked in.
“Joshua,” Noelle called out in a sweet, almost bashful tone.
Her voice was soft, and you could see the tips of her ears turn slightly pink.
She really couldn’t hide how flustered she was.
When Noelle got Joshua’s message inviting her over, she honestly couldn’t believe it–her heart was racing with excitement.
‘He hardly ever messages me at all,‘ Noelle thought, her cheeks still warm. ‘This must mean something…‘
VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Billionaire And His Son Betrayed Me: Brothers Back Me Up