Chapter 8

Fiona finally came home that day.

The moment she saw several suitcases sitting in the living room, her brows drew together.

She walked up behind Joe, who was sorting through a stack of books, and wrapped her arms around him from behind.

"Why are you packing?"

There was a subtle tension in her voice.

Joe stiffened.

He didn't turn around or answer. He simply kept packing.

Fiona turned him around to face her.

"Are you still angry? Xavier was wrong to lock you in the morgue, but you kicked him into a freezing lake. He got sick and spent days recovering too. Can't we put this behind us?"

She softened her tone.

"It's your birthday. I planned a party for you at the officers' club. You've always liked a good party, haven't you? Come with me."

Joe hadn't properly celebrated his birthday in years, not since his mother died.

It was Fiona who had made him feel cared for again.

But now, everything she did for him only left him exhausted.

"I don't want to go."

He lowered his eyes, his voice flat.

"Why are you so stubborn this time?" Fiona coaxed patiently. "I invited a lot of your friends. They're already there. Come on. Don't keep everyone waiting."

Half coaxing and half insisting, she took him to the party anyway.

And she had gone all out.

There were flowers, music, and tables full of food. Gifts were piled high.

Fiona had even pulled some strings to bring in one of Joe's favorite bands to perform live.

There was only one thing that ruined the entire evening.

Xavier was there too.

Dressed in a crisp white shirt, he sat quietly in a corner, looking as frail as ever.

But every so often, his eyes drifted toward Joe with a subtle hint of provocation.

Joe couldn't be bothered with him.

A few of his friends, however, gathered around Joe and lowered their voices.

"So that's Xavier Blake? The guy Fiona's really in love with? He doesn't look like anything special. How the hell is he better than you?"

"Seriously. Fiona must be blind. She's got you, and she's still hung up on that guy?"

Joe listened without responding.

What did it matter if he was better?

When someone was in love, none of that mattered.

Soon, it was time for the cake.

A huge three-tier birthday cake was wheeled out, covered in elegant candles.

As everyone cheered him on, Joe closed his eyes and made a wish without giving it much thought.

The moment he opened them again, a loud crash came from across the room, followed by startled cries.

Someone had knocked over the champagne tower.

Joe turned toward the commotion.

Xavier was sitting on the floor, while several of Joe's friends stood around him, visibly furious.

Joe frowned and started toward them.

But Fiona was faster.

She rushed over, carefully helped Xavier to his feet, and immediately moved him behind her protectively.

"What happened?"

Xavier's eyes instantly reddened.

"They... they accused me of stealing the birthday gift they brought for Joe. They wanted to search me, but I refused, so they tried to do it by force."

His voice trembled.

"Then somehow... they actually found it in my bag. But I swear I didn't take it. I don't know how it got there."

He swallowed.

"Then they started insulting me and shoving me around. That's how the champagne tower got knocked over."

"That's bullshit!" one of Joe's friends snapped, his face red with anger. "We saw you put it in your own bag! It fell out, and that's why we confronted you. We barely said two words before you threw yourself into the champagne tower and started putting on this whole act!"

"Enough."

Fiona cut him off coldly.

Her sharp gaze swept over Joe's friends.

"Apologize to Xavier."

"What?"

His friend stared at her in disbelief.

"He stole something, and you want us to apologize to him?"

"Because I believe Xavier's version of what happened."

Fiona's voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Anger immediately surged through Joe.

He strode over and stepped in front of his friends, shielding them behind him as he faced Fiona.

"Well, I believe my friends. They wouldn't accuse someone of stealing for no reason."

His eyes hardened.

"So no. We're not apologizing."

Fiona's expression darkened at the sight of Joe openly taking their side.

She stared at him for a long moment before speaking coldly.

"Xavier already has things far more valuable than any of those gifts. He has no reason to steal them."

The words stabbed straight into Joe's heart.

Her meaning couldn't have been clearer.

She knew Xavier had better, more expensive things because she'd been the one giving them to him.

It was another reminder of just how close they'd once been.

Another reason she trusted him without question.

Joe looked at Xavier.

For a split second, he caught the smug satisfaction in the other man's eyes.

And suddenly, he understood.

Maybe Xavier had never cared about stealing anything in the first place.

He'd wanted exactly this.

Joe and his friends on one side.

Fiona and Xavier on the other.

He'd deliberately created a situation that forced Fiona to choose sides.

And she'd chosen his.

Again.

"Apologize," Fiona repeated, impatience creeping into her voice.

"Not happening."

Joe refused to budge.

Fiona finally lost her patience.

She stopped looking at Joe and turned directly to the soldiers standing nearby.

"Take these men away for causing a disturbance and making false accusations. Twenty strikes each."

Her expression remained cold.

"Afterward, contact their families and ask their parents whether they need the military to discipline their sons for them."

Joe's eyes widened in shock and fury.

"Fiona Spencer, don't you dare!"

But Fiona acted as though she hadn't heard him.

She bent down, swept Xavier into her arms, and carried him away.

No matter how many times Joe shouted after her, she never once looked back.