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Joshua asked Xylia what was going on.

Xylia told him that Josie was heading back home.

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“It’s been pretty hectic at thepanytely. With Josie leaving, I’ll have to step in and handle things,” Xylia

said.

‘Richard’s in Jupiton right now,‘ Joshua mused, ‘But even if Xylia heads back to Norhill, the Sadler Brothers will keep her safe.

He nodded. “When are you nning to head back?”

“Tomorrow,” Xylia replied.

“I’ll take you tomorrow,” Joshua said, pulling Xylia into his arms.

Joshua wrapped Xylia in a tight embrace, holding her close.

“Once I wrap things up here, I’lle find you,” he added.

Xylia hugged him back.

‘I know Joshua’s fighting a silent war right now. I really don’t want to be another thing weighing on his mind,’ Xylia thought.

“I’ll be waiting for you,” Xylia murmured, her voice soft and full of promise.

That evening, Joshua helped Xylia pack up her belongings. With everything settled, she booked her ticket to head back home to Norhill the very next day.

Late at night, Xylia’s mind kept drifting back to Josie, leaving her wide awake and anxious.

It was past midnight and she was still lying there, eyes open, staring into the dark.

Joshua felt her breathing grow uneven, so he reached out and gently pulled her into his arms. When he opened his eyes, he spotted her bright gaze glinting in the shadowy room, lit up by the city lights creeping in from outside.

“Can’t sleep?” he asked quietly, his breath brushing against her cheek.

His warm breath hovered against her cheek.

Xylia shifted, looping her arms around Joshua’s. After a moment’s hesitation, she blurted out what had been weighing on her heart.

“Josie seems to be in trouble,” she whispered.

Joshua’s slender fingers threaded gently through her hair. “What kind of trouble?” he asked softly.

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Xylia shook her head, sounding a little down. “She just won’t tell me… Honestly, it’s like she doesn’t want me involved in her private matters.” fn22b8 Official source is find{n}ovel/fn22b8

“Everyone has their own secrets. If she’s not ready to talk, I’m sure she has her reasons,” Joshuaforted her.

“Try not to overthink it, alright?” he murmured, giving her arm a gentle squeeze.

Xylia went quiet for a couple seconds, her voice low and troubled.

“Ever since I met Josie, she’s always had my back–scouting out designpetitions for me, helping me set up the studio… She’s been with me every step of the way,” Xylia murmured.

“Today when she called, I could hear how serious she sounded. I could feel the anxiety in her voice… She’s definitely facing something hard, but I don’t even know how to help her.”

Joshua tightened his hold on her, pulling her even closer.

“It’s hard for some folks to show their vulnerable side, especially to those they’re close to. If Josie ever really needs you, believe me–she’ll ask for your help,” he said softly.

That’s just how Josie is–proud and fiercely independent. If she decides to keep people at arm’s length, no one can break through her walls.

No matter how much you care, her world is hers alone unless she lets you in.

Xylia snuggled deeper into Joshua’s arms, letting his warmth chase away her worries for the night.

Early the next morning, Joshua arrived to take Xylia to the airport.

“Let me know when you get there, okay? I already asked my eldest brother from the Sadler family to pick you up,” Joshua told her, sounding worried.

Xylia shot him a teasing nce. “Come on, Joshua, I’m a grown woman! I can get home by myself. Stop acting like you’re sending a little kid off to summer camp!”

Joshua hugged her tightly, lingering for a moment, then buried his face in the crook of her shoulder.

“I just worry you won’t do well without me around,” he murmured, his voice thick with concern.

‘What kind of talk is that?‘ Xylia thought, exasperated.

She couldn’t help but smile and reached up, running her fingers gently through Joshua’s silky silver hair.

“Shouldn’t I be the one saying that to you? I’m not going to be around, so make sure you eat properly and get enough rest, okay? Even though I don’t really know what you’re working on right now, promise me–no getting hurt,” she said, her tone firm but full of care.

“Got it,” Joshua replied, giving her a small nod.

He apanied Xylia right up to the boarding gate.

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Joshua finally turned to leave only after Xylia vanished beyond the gate.

When Joshua got back to the Garcia Group, it was just about time to clock in.

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Normally he’d be buried in meetings right now, but with Connor putting the squeeze on the whole industrytely, things had ironically gotten a lot quieter around here.

Sure, less work meant he could catch his breath, but with Xylia gone, Joshua couldn’t help but feel strangely empty inside.

Joshua booted up hisptop and let his fingers dance across the keyboard. Soon enough, green profit charts flooded his screen.

They were the records of every business Richard had ever handled–way broader than Joshua ever imagined.

Getting ess to files this top secret was all thanks to Noelle.

That document stuffed with Garcia Group’s top–secret intel forced Richard’s hand, handing Joshua the perfect chance to break into hisputer.

Joshua spent the whole morning busy figuring out how to deal with Richard.

By noon, his secretary brought in his lunch.

As Joshua picked at his food, he caught snippets of lively conversation drifting in from the hallway.

“Did you hear? That flight from Jupiton to Norhill this morning crashed!”

“Yeah, they’re saying someone nted a bomb. The wings blew right off in midair, and the ne spun out of control–smashed straight into a mountain out in the wilderness. Rescue crews are heading out now, but honestly, I doubt they’ll recover a single piece of wreckage.”

“Those poor folks on that flight… No way anyone walked away from that wreck,” someone muttered.

“Dropping from that kind of altitude? Zero chance in hell. Just think about it—so many families shattered tonight,” another voice said, heavy with sorrow.

Joshua caught snippets of “ne crash” and “ident” floating through the hallway, making his heart thud uneasily.

His chest tightened as soon as the words hit him. He turned to his secretary, voice low and urgent, “What’s this about a ne crash?”

“What’s going on with this ne crash everyone’s talking about?” Joshua demanded, his voice tense and clipped.

The secretary stood respectfully at the side. “Mr. Garcia, the 8 a.m. flight from Jupiton to Norhill crashed unexpectedly. The inte’s blowing up over it.”

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Joshua quickly pulled up the news on hisputer.

The screen lit up, broadcasting live coverage of the crash.

A cold chill ran down Joshua’s spine, his heart stopping for a split second.

That was Xylia’s flight.

Joshua’s hands shook as he fumbled for his phone, dialing Xylia’s number.

A cold, robotic female voice came through the line, mechanical and distant.

“Sorry, the number you have dialed is out of service. Please try againter…” The words rang in Joshua’s ears, chilling him to the core.

‘Out of service… His heart sank. For a split second, his mind buzzed and everything around him faded away.

His face drained of all color. Without thinking, he snatched up his car keys and sprinted downstairs, bolting out of the office.

Joshua raced to the airline office, barely stopping before he barged in. Without thinking, he grabbed the manager by the cor, his grip fierce and eyes wild.

“There was a passenger on that flight this morning–Xylia. Check your records right now and tell me if she boarded!” Joshua demanded, his voice raw with urgency.

He hung on to that tiniest sliver of hope, clinging to the idea that maybe, just maybe, the odds would be on his side this time.

But he knew, deep down, that miracles didn’te easy–and luck was never with him.

Xylia had been so desperate to get back to Norhill. No one understood her burning need to go home better than Joshua did, and the thought twisted like a knife in his chest.

But this kind of sudden tragedy–how was he supposed to wrap his head around it? Joshua felt like he’d just been sucker–punched, his mind reeling.

The manager’s hands were shaking as he checked the passenger list. Nervously, he turned back toward Joshua.

“Xylia… She checked in. She boarded that flight,” the manager stammered, barely able to get the words out.

Joshua was rooted to the spot, like he’d been turned to stone. When the manager finished speaking, his mind exploded in a painful, ringing silence–he couldn’t process anything except that single, terrifying sentence.

‘No. No way. This can’t be real,‘ Joshua thought, disbelief hammering at him.

‘How could this possibly happen?‘ It made no sense. Joshua’s thoughts spun, refusal and shock overwhelming

him.

Just this morning, they’d been clinging to each other, neither of them wanting to say goodbye. He’d already decided that after wrapping things up, he was going to ask her to marry him.

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‘What kind of twisted nightmare is this?‘ he raged inwardly, his heart lurching at the sheer absurdity bof /bit ball/b.

Joshua’s eyes burned red as he grabbed the manager by the cor, his grip so tight it was almost choking.

“She’s not dead! She didn’t get on that ne! You’re lying to me! You have to be lying!” Joshua shouted, his voice breaking in desperation, almost losing control. ‘No… I refuse to believe it, he thought, teetering on the edge of hysteria.

The manager saw how out of control Joshua was–but he got it. Anyone who’s loved someone on a doomed flight would lose their mind too. ‘With that crash… odds are basically zero. Honestly, it’s no wonder family members show up ready to go nuts,‘ the manager thought, heart heavy.

For a disaster like this, there’s almost no chance of finding survivors. In moments like these, heartbreak and panic are just what you’d expect–Joshua’s desperation was something the manager had seen before, and it was all too real now.

“Sir, we’re pulling out all the stops investigating the crash. Rescue crews have already been dispatched. For now, let’s just wait for any updates, alright?” the manager said in a steady voice, trying his best to sound reassuring.

‘I can’t–no, this can’t be happening…‘ Joshua’s mind spun as pure rage and panic ripped through him. He felt something burst inside, the world turning white as he suddenly coughed up blood, then everything went ck–his body crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

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