CHAPTER 828: CHAPTER 828: FATHER AND SON TURN AGAINST EACH OTHER OVER A WOMAN

His deep, resonant voice filled her ears, and Leah Thorne lifted her gaze to look at him.

Her eyes met with his, and her reflection was firmly etched in his profound eyes, unwavering and composed.

"Brother, did I... cause trouble?"

Justin Xavier touched her small face and then curled his thin lips lightly, "You call me ’Brother’ when there’s trouble, and just ’Justin Xavier’ when there’s none. You’re quite practical, aren’t you?"

"..."

Justin Xavier looked at the slap mark on her face; her skin was delicate. Earlier, Madame Goldie had already pressed ice on her face, but it was still red and swollen. He lowered his voice, "Someone hit you."

Leah Thorne turned her face away and said nothing.

Justin Xavier withdrew his hand, "I’ll go take a shower first."

He pushed open the bathroom door, and soon, the sound of running water filled the room.

He was already taking a shower.

Leah Thorne sat still for a while, then slipped out of bed, hanging his black coat and suit jacket on the hanger. The clothes carried his scent—a healthy, clean masculine aroma.

With a few slender fingers, she clutched the cold, hard fabric of the suit, bringing it to her nose to sniff lightly. This mature and familiar male scent inexplicably gave her a sense of peace and fascination.

Wherever he was, it felt safe even if the mountain crumbled—this was the unique allure he exuded.

Leah Thorne knew that after all these years of his protection, certain things had sunk into her bones.

Even if she were to carve out her flesh and heart, she couldn’t erase the traces he left on her. Suddenly, her eyes turned red.

At this moment, the bathroom door was pushed open, ushering in a refreshing chill. Justin Xavier came out, standing behind her, "What are you thinking?"

In that instant, he saw her hugging his clothes, dazed.

Leah Thorne suppressed the tears in her eyes, "Brother, I want to leave here, leave the Xavier family. I don’t want to come back anymore."

The last time she left, she had just gotten out of Justin Xavier’s bed, and upon returning, she mistakenly ended up in Hugh Xavier’s bed.

She felt disgusted.

So disgusted.

"Leah..." Justin Xavier reached out his strong arms to hug her slender waist.

But the moment he touched her, Leah’s soft, boneless body turned rigid like ice. She knitted her brows, pressing her small hand against her chest, looking uncomfortable.

"What’s wrong?" Justin Xavier asked.

The next second, Leah Thorne pushed him away and dashed into the bathroom. She leaned over the toilet, starting to vomit.

She hadn’t eaten anything; this bout of vomiting was intense, expelling even the bitter bile from her stomach.

Justin Xavier stood at the door, watching her; her complexion was pale as paper, like a broken doll, devoid of any vitality.

His gaze was obscure and uncertain. He knew she was sexually indifferent; what he didn’t know was that she now so resisted being touched by men that even a simple hug was too much.

Forcing herself to stop vomiting, Leah Thorne’s body was like a kite with its string cut, on the verge of collapsing.

Justin Xavier scooped her up sideways, placing her on the soft bed, covering her with a blanket. He spoke softly, "Leah, sleep for a while. I need to handle some things. Once it’s done, I’ll take you away from here."

Leah Thorne buried her pale little face in the soft pillow. She knew he was going to handle those messes, and outside, it was probably chaotic beyond belief now. She closed her eyes, exhausted, wanting only to sleep.

In her darkened vision, Justin Xavier bent down, kissing her forehead lightly, "Sleep well, goodnight."

Leah Thorne closed her eyes, quickly falling asleep.

Justin Xavier looked down, observing her small sleeping face in the sparse light. He slowly squinted his cold black eyes, a chilling, sinister anger emanating from his gaze...

...

The next morning.

Leah Thorne was awakened by a melodious phone ringtone, slowly opening her sleepy eyes. The space beside her was empty; Justin Xavier was gone.

She had woken too late; it was already eight o’clock in the morning. The morning sun seeped through layers of sheer curtains, filling the room with warmth.

She was no longer at the Xavier family.

While she was sleeping, Justin Xavier had carried her away, and now she was resting in her apartment’s bed.

Stretching out her slender hand to retrieve the phone from the bedside, she pressed the button to answer, "Hello, Madame Goldie."

It was a call from her assistant, Madame Goldie.

"Leah, how was your rest? If you’re all rested, let’s leave Bayside. You have many scheduled events to attend."

Leaving Bayside?

Yesterday, such a huge incident happened at the wedding banquet; Madame Goldie also said her star path was coming to an end. How did the storm suddenly calm overnight, turning into a sunny day?

"Was it Justin Xavier?"

"Yes, Leah. President Xavier has taken care of everything for you. Last night, President Xavier silenced the eight major entertainment newspapers with vast influence in Bayside. Something happened up top, and reporters fled. Also, on Weibo, all topics about you were suppressed—videos and recordings disappeared before they were even exposed. President Xavier used thunderous means to cleanse the entire city, and now, regarding you, it’s become a taboo topic."

Justin Xavier cleansed the entire Adlerville.

This handsome and gentlemanly Bayside tycoon, Justin Xavier, rarely does anyone get to see him in action, but when he does, it’s with destructive thunderous force.

Regarding this monumental scandal, he had no comment; he simply sheltered the city under his hand, keeping her safe under his wing, protecting her from all storms.

Leah Thorne’s heart slowly curled up; last night, he returned amid a tempest, outwardly unchanged.

Yet outside, he wielded thunderous power.

"Leah, when are we leaving?"

Leah Thorne could hear the urgency in Madame Goldie’s words; Madame Goldie had never been like this before. Madame Goldie seemed eager for her to leave immediately.

"Wait a bit; I want to see Justin Xavier before deciding." After speaking, Leah hung up the phone.

...

At the Xavier family.

Hugh Xavier sat furiously in the living room, angrily smashing a teacup on the floor, "Where is Justin Xavier? Call him now, have him come over. What does he mean by not letting me out? Does he want to keep me imprisoned here?"

The servants stood trembling in the corners, not daring to make a sound, fearing Hugh Xavier would unleash his fury on them.

Even the Xavier family’s butler broke out in a cold sweat; last night when Leah Thorne came knocking, it was supposed to be a good thing. But who knew it would stir such a massive storm? Before he could handle it, a group of black suit bodyguards stormed in, detaining Hugh Xavier and him within this villa, guarding the entrance, not letting them out.

This was clearly imprisonment!

The Xavier family was in chaos, the son imprisoning the father for a woman.