Billionaire And His Son Betrayed Me: Brothers Back Me Up novel Chapter 2

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Chapter 21

Xylia had no time for them. She scrambled to her feet and ran straight for the hospital room.

She couldn’t wrap her mind around it. Just a short while ago, Orion had seemed perfectly healthy. How could he suddenly be so ill?

Inside the room, Orion was awake. Seeing Xylia enter, a kind smile touched his lips, as gentle as ever. He reached out a frail hand. “Xylia, you came. Come closer. There are things I need to say.”

Eyes red–rimmed, Xylia walked to the bedside and sat down, her gaze fixed on Orion. “I’m here, Grandpa.” she said softly, her voice thick with unshed tears, “I’m listening.”

Orion looked awful lying in the hospital bed. Maybe because he’d just woken up, his eyes were dull, and he seemed completely worn out.

He gave a weak smile, trying to reassure Xylia. “Don’t look so down. I know my own body. I’m not kicking the bucket just yet.”

“Grandpa, you’re just sick.” Xylia replied, her voice tight, “They’ll get you

fixed up. You’ll see.”

Orion just smiled faintly at that. He didn’t push the conversation any further.

“Xylia,” Orion began, his voice raspy, “over the years, you’ve bent over backwards looking after Connor and Sonny. You hardly ever made it back to the Mansion.”

He paused, then asked softly, “I don’t want to stay in this hospital. Could you come stay at the Mansion with me for a while? While I’m still around, I’d just like to see more of you. All I want is for you and Connor to be happy together. That’d be enough for me.”

Happy, the word felt like ash in Xylia’s mouth. She lowered her head, a bitter thought flashing through her mind, ‘Grandpa probably has no clue what Connor’s done.

Her throat felt tight as she looked at Orion’s ashen face. The words “I want a divorce” stuck there, impossible to say out loud.

After a long pause, Xylia managed a tight smile, “Okay, Grandpa. I get it.” she said, her voice quiet.

‘Fine.‘ Xylia told herself. I’ll go along with it. After all, I’m out of here in three months anyway, Grandpa is the only one in the Ford family who truly has my back. I can stick it out a little longer. Staying with him for a while is the least I can do. That’s my way of saying thanks for everything he’s done over the years.

Xylia gently tucked the blankets around Orion. “Grandpa,” she said softly, “I’ll be here with

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Just then, Connor pushed the door open. He saw Xylia looking calm, her skin pale but her lips flushed in the sunlight streaming through the window. For a split second, she looked like some kind of figure of mercy, bathed in light.

Connor’s heart gave a sudden, sharp lurch. He frowned hard, but then he heard her say, “I’ll move back to the Mansion in a couple of days.”

That strange flutter in his chest instantly curdled into scorn. Connor snorted. He figured that Xylia was just playing hard to get. How could she really leave him? She was obsessed with him, needed him too much.

“Cut the act, Xylia.” he sneered, “You’re just hungry for the Ford family’s money and clout. Using Grandpa as your excuse to come back to Ford Mansion? Smooth operator. That’s low, even for you.”

Before Xylia could even respond to Connor, Orion cut him off, his face darkening. “Connor! Is that any way to talk to your wife?” he snapped.

Caught off guard by the sharp rebuke, Connor’s expression soured. But one look at Orion’s worn–out face, and he swallowed whatever he was going to say.

Seeing Connor back down, Orion’s expression softened slightly.

Deep down, he’d known for a while that things weren’t right between Connor and Xylia. He just hoped they could put a lid on the worst of it before he was gone. That would be enough.

Hearing Orion stand up for her, Xylia lowered her gaze, masking whatever flickered in her

eyes.

Orion was the only one in the Ford family who’d ever truly looked out for her. Come what may, she would stay by his side right to the end.

***

That afternoon, Xylia headed home to pack her things. She’d planned to give Joshua a heads- up, but as soon as the elevator doors slid open, there he was.

He leaned casually against her front doorframe, dressed in a sharp suit. His head was bowed, those distinctive crescent–shaped eyes downcast, a slight frown creasing his brow. He gave off

a serious back–off vibe.

“Joshua?” Xylia spoke first, surprised.

Seeing her return from outside, Joshua arched an eyebrow slightly. The chill around him vanished instantly.

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His gaze landed on her, and for a split second, something darker, more possessive flickered in his before he shuttered it away. When he looked up again, his expression was pure

eyes

nonchalance.

“Where have you been?” he asked.

Xylia had actually been meaning to thank Joshua. She invited him inside.

“Joshua,” she began, her voice warm with gratitude, “thanks for letting me crash at your place these past few days. Thing is, I’ve decided to head back to Ford Mansion tomorrow, so I won’t be staying here anymore.”

The moment the words left her mouth, it felt like the temperature in the room dropped.

“Oh? Ford mansion?” Joshua echoed slowly.

Xylia frowned slightly. For just a split second, a sharp, dangerous edge seemed to flicker in his eyes before vanishing as quickly as it appeared.

Joshua looked at Xylia, his expression perfectly calm now, not a trace of anything frightening left. If anything, his eyes, shining with a soft light, held something unreadable.

“No need to thank me.” he said, his tone deceptively casual, “My buddy was actually looking to rent the place out anyway. You saved me the trouble of finding someone.”

His voice was pleasant enough, but there was something cold beneath the surface, impossible to pinpoint.

Xylia murmured an “Mhm,” but before she could get another word out, Joshua cut her off.

His gaze swept over the room. “I’ll keep this place open for you.” he stated simply, “If you ever decide you need to get away from the Ford family, you know where to come.”

Joshua seemed thoughtful in every way. Xylia felt a flicker of warmth at his consideration.

“But this is your friend’s place. Are you sure it’s okay to make that call?” she asked hesitantly,

“It was practically unsellable.” Joshua dismissed, waving a hand. “If anyone should be saying thanks, it’s me. You put up with it without complaining.”

He leaned back against the sofa cushions, crossing one leg lazily over the other. His eyes lifted slightly, fixing on Xylia. “Need a hand packing up?”

Xylia sat across from Joshua. One glance up and she met his amused, appraising gaze. Her skin crawled; it felt like being sized up by a predator.

“No, it’s fine. I can handle packing on my own.” she said.

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