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Joshua arrived in Odell State overnight.

Graham and his brother Alex had been waiting here for a while.

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As soon as Joshua arrived, Graham said to him, “Richard and Philia ended up injuring each other pretty badly. Then, when Richard got back and realized your wife was gone, he totally lost it–he even gouged out Hall’s eyes.”

‘Yeah, that’s exactly the kind of thing Richard would do,‘ Joshua thought to himself–he wasn’t even surprised.

Joshua wasn’t surprised at all.

“Where’s Richard now?” Joshua asked.

“He’s been holed up in Shaw Manor, hasn’t left at all,” Graham replied.

“What about Philia?” Joshua pressed.

“Richard’s been going after Philia like crazy. His underground arena is wrecked, and Richard’s men attacked Philia’s casino too. Philia’s neck–deep in trouble right now–he probably hasn’t even had a chance to deal with everything else,” Graham said.

Joshua nodded in understanding–he got the situation loud and clear.

“I’ve brought Mr. Lennox’s special authority with me this time. We’re finally going to eliminate Richard–he’s a cancer we can’t let go on any longer,” Joshua said.

Graham’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Quentin Lennox? You actually know him?”

Quentin Lennox might be from Alvend, but his political pull in Daltonia was huge–way beyond anything Richard could dream of.

Joshua really had that kind of connection? Graham couldn’t help but stare–he never expected his friend to know someone so influential.

‘Seriously, Joshua? We’re supposed to be bros, and you kept this ace up your sleeve all this time?‘ Graham thought, half bitter, half amused.

Joshua gave Graham a casual nce. “It’s the first time I’ve ever asked him for help. He and my dad aren’t exactly on good terms.”

“What kind of beef?” Graham leaned in, looking just a little bit nosy.

He couldn’t help but act like he was dying for some juicy gossip.

Joshua just brushed him off and said nothing.

“Tomorrow, let word get to Richard–if he’s itching for payback, I’m right here, ready for him,” Joshua said,

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his voice cool with a hint of challenge.

Alex frowned at Joshua.

“Are you out of your mind? You just made your escape, and now you’re throwing yourself right back in?”

“That’s exactly what I n to do,” Joshua said, his tone firm. “If I don’t put myself out there, I’ll never lure him out and finish this once and for all.”

Joshua’s gaze settled on the direction of Shaw Manor.

In the dim light, his eyes gleamed with a cold, ruthless intensity.

Two days had slipped by in the unfamiliar vi, and Xylia was starting to feel restless.

She’d reached out to the Sadler Brothers back in Alvend to let them know she was safe.

She’d also touched base with her studio team, reassuring them she was alright.

With both Xylia and Josie away, Sharon had been single–handedly holding down the fort at thepany.

‘Sharon really deserves a bonus for this,’ Xylia thought to herself, mentally gging the conversation about her pay raise for when she got home.

But now, Xylia just couldn’t focus on work or anything else–she felt restless, like nothing mattered anymore.

It’d been two days, and she still couldn’t get in touch with Joshua.

‘Where on earth is he? Why isn’t he answering?‘ Xylia thought, growing more anxious by the minute.

But here in Daltonia, Xylia didn’t have a single connection to ask about Joshua–she waspletely stuck, with nowhere to turn.

The bodyguards outside were even more clueless; they’d heard nothing about Joshua’s whereabouts. All Xylia could do was sit tight and wait, feeling totally helpless.

Finally, Lydia showed up at the vi with a few people. She looked paler than usual–the toll of the days was written all over her face.

past

few

Her eyes were rimmed with red, like she’d just finished crying.

When Lydia saw Xylia, she shot her a resentful look before finally speaking.

“My dad told me to arrange a flight for you back to Alvend,” Lydia said, her voice trembling. “Joshua… he’s nevering back.”

Xylia froze, her mind nking as she struggled to process what Lydia had just told her..

“What… what do you mean?” Xylia asked, her voice shaky with confusion and dread.

Lydia’s voice grew louder, her tone brimming with hurt and bitterness.

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“It means Joshua is dead!” Lydia nearly screamed, her voice cracking. “He and Richard destroyed each other in Odell State! Not even his remains are left–he’s gone for good. Joshua’s nevering back!”

Xylia’s mind was buzzing–everything else faded away except that one sentence: “Joshua is dead. Those words just kept repeating in her head, drowning out the rest of the world.

‘No way. I don’t believe it, Xylia thought, shaking her head in denial.

He’d been perfectly fine when he left. He told her to wait for him–that he’de back.

‘How could he be dead?‘ she kept asking herself, her heart racing with disbelief.

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Xylia shot back, her words sharp with denial. She red fiercely at Lydia, her anger and desperation clear in her eyes.

Xylia shoved Lydia out of her way and made a beeline for the bodyguard Joshua had ced by her side.

“Take me to Odell State–right now!” Xylia demanded, her words shaking with desperate urgency.

The bodyguard knew his orders were to obey Xylia without question, so he wasted no time, whisking her straight off to Odell State.

Lydia just stood there and let her go.

It was a two–hour journey.

To Xylia, it felt like centuries had passed.

Her face was so pale and her body so weak that when she finally arrived in Odell State, the moment she stepped out of the car, her legs just gave out and she almost copsed.

If the bodyguard hadn’t caught her, she would have gone crashing straight to the ground.

Xylia wandered down yet another unfamiliar street, feeling even more out of ce.

Up ahead, she suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure standing outside a shop.

It was the same guy who’d saved her and Joshua when they escaped through the hillside that night.

From the way Joshua spoke to him, Xylia could tell they were more than just friends–they were like brothers.

Xylia shrugged off the bodyguard’s help, stumbling forward and clinging onto Graham’s arm like her life depended on it.

Graham just about jumped out of his skin. He spun around to find Xylia–and his jaw dropped. “Xylia? What the hell are you doing here?”

“Where’s Joshua?” Xylia blurted out, her voice desperate with hope.

She was clinging to the chance that Graham would give her an answer–anything that didn’t match Lydia’s grim news.

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But as Graham met her gaze, the light in his eyes faded, sinking into a dull sadness–pity and helplessness written all over his face.

“Sis–inw, Joshua… he…” Graham’s voice faltered, words caught painfully in his throat.

“He’s not dead, right? He’s in the hospital, isn’t he? Graham, please, I’m begging you–just take me to him, please, let me see him,” Xylia choked out, tears streaming down her cheeks, clutching his arm desperately.

‘It felt like someone was tearing her heart to shreds, every word Graham said stabbing deeper until she could hardly breathe from the pain, Xylia thought, as her tears kept falling.

Graham couldn’t hold it together–his eyes grew red and watery, threatening to spill over. He bowed his head, choking on regret as he faced Xylia.

Graham lowered his head, nearly whispering as he apologized to Xylia.

“I’m so sorry, Sis–inw. It’s all my fault–if only I’d protected Joshua, none of this would’ve happened. Richard just snapped–he wentpletely insane! He chose to go down together with Joshuab, /bdragging him into the grave…” Graham’s voice cracked, thick with guilt and pain.

‘It felt like her whole body was hollow, every ounce of strength gone, Xylia thought numbly.

She loosened her grip on Graham’s arm and staggered back two steps, barely able to stand.

‘I don’t believe it…‘

‘No… I don’t…‘

Just a couple days ago, Joshua was right there, speaking to her with that gentle voice, making her feel protected, sorting out every little detail just to keep her safe.

Xylia could still see his smile in her mind, still remember the way it felt to rest in his arms–the warmth, thefort, like she was home.

He’d promised her–swore up and down he’d be back soon, telling her to just wait, that he’de back for

her.

‘No, he can’t be gone,‘ Xylia pleaded with herself, her thoughts wild with denial. ‘He promised me… he can’t just die like that.’

Xylia lunged forward, clutching Graham’s arm even tighter, her voice cracking as she practically pleaded, “Take me to him! Please, Graham, take me to him!” Tears streamed down her face, her grip desperate, like she’d never let go unless he answered her begging.

Graham couldn’t refuse her–not with how desperate she looked. So he led Xylia to the ce where Joshua met his end.

By the side of the dead–straight road, the trees were nothing but ckened skeletons, and the ground was streaked with blood in crooked patterns.

The two totaled cars were basically just burnt–out shells, metal twisted and broken. Thanks to a massive

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Chapter 338 fne161 N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find~Novel/fne161

explosion from spilled oil, whatever was left of the bodies was no longer even recognizable.

Their remains were blown apart, pieces everywhere.

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Graham’s eyes were red with grief as he spoke to Xylia, his voice thick with emotion. “I sent the remains to the hospital for testing. The results confirmed… some of it belonged to Joshua.”

Xylia suddenly pped a hand over her mouth and doubled over, retching hard at the side.

Graham freaked out and hurried over, anxiously rubbing her back.

“Sis–inw, are you okay? What’s happening?” Graham asked, concern written all over his face.

But Xylia couldn’t hear Graham anymore.

Those words kept echoing in her mind: Joshua’s body… shattered, blown apart, nothing left.

‘My Joshua… is he really gone? Is he nevering back?‘ Xylia thought, disbelief and pain crashing together inside her.

Suddenly, everything went dark before Xylia’s eyes, and she crumpled to the ground, knocked out cold.

When Xylia finally came to, the sharp smell of hospital disinfectant hit her like a punch to the gut.

She felt someone holding her hand, and for a split second, her heart leaped with hope.

‘Joshua,‘ Xylia realized, her mind spinning with relief and disbelief.

Xylia turned her head, but instead of Joshua’s familiar face, she saw Eliza’s red, puffy eyes staring back at her.

“Xylia, you’re finally awake,” Eliza said softly, her voice trembling with relief.

With Eliza’s help, Xylia slowly sat up, never taking her eyes off Eliza’s face.

Xylia stared at Eliza for what felt like an eternity before finally blurting out, her voice shaky and desperate, “Where’s Joshua? Where is he? Why hasn’t hee to see me?”

Her eyes were empty, as if she’d checked out from reality.

Eliza finally broke down, and her tears spilled down her cheeks.

Eliza leaned in, wrapping Xylia up in a tight hug.

“Xylia, Joshua’s really gone. You have to take care of yourself now–don’t forget the baby,” Eliza said, voice trembling with heartbreak.

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