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Whenever George personally gave instructions, the security guards had to remember. No unauthorized personnel were allowed on the grounds. But Skylar was different.
Skylar smiled and shook her head. “I’m just waiting for my brother. He’s filming inside today.”
“Your brother? Who is he? Let me tell the butler. The film crew will be staying here tonight. We can arrange a better room for your brother, Ms. Sullivan.
“This way, he doesn’t have to share a small room with the others,” the security guard said, already sending a WhatsApp message to the butler.
The butler replied almost instantly. “I have a list of crew members. There’s a gentleman named Charles Sullivan, who must be Ms. Sullivan’s brother. I’ll arrange it immediately.”
Skylar was amazed by the security guard’s efficiency. She didn’t even have a chance to reject. Well, she could prepare some antiques as a gift for George in return for his hospitality.
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure, Ms. Sullivan, It’s our job,” the security guard replied with a smile.
She waited for about two minutes more before she saw Charles running out.
“Skye.”
“Charles, over here.”
Charles ran up to Skylar. “I have the whole afternoon for you. Come on. You haven’t been here before, right? I used to film nearby, and there’s a lake not far away. The water is clear and beautiful. Let me take you there.”
“Ms. Sullivan, you can’t drive on the road toward the lake. Do you want me to take you both there on a motorcycle?” the security guard asked enthusiastically.
Charles couldn’t help but be a little surprised. Skylar had a remarkable ability to connect with people. It had only been a few minutes, and the security guard was already bending over backward to help her.
He recalled the crew’s arrival. The guard had been a stern figure then, peppering them with demands. Even the assistant director had treated the mansion’s staff with deference.
Skylar politely turned down the security guard’s offer. “No thanks. We’ll take our time to walk there.”
“Alright. If you need anything, just call us. There are security guards patrolling by the lake, and we are with them,” the security guard said.
As Skylar and Charles strolled away, Charles leaned in conspiratorially. “If he wasn’t old enough to be your father, I might suspect he had ulterior motives. He’s too attentive to you.”
“Grandma brought me here a while back to help Mr. Querbach with some antiques. So, a lot of the staff recognize me,” Skylar explained.
HE
Chapter 10%
Charles was indeed an actor. Having seen many films, he had a wild imagination.
Charles Immediately understood. “I see. Come on, let’s go. It only takes roughly ten minutes to walk there.
“Once this film’s finalized, I’ll buy you a bag. There were many women in the crew who owned that specific brand.
“I even took a picture of it. I’ll buy one for you when the time comes.” Charles thought Skylar would look even better with that bag.
“Thanks, Charles.” Skylar didn’t refuse and continued, “We siblings are so telepathic. I’ve also prepared a gift for you. It’s in my car.”
“It’s different now that you’re working and making money. Now, I have a sister who’d buy gifts for me,”
said Charles.
Two figures emerged from the mansion as Skylar and Charles walked further away. They were Kenny and Samuel. Many things were happening at home, so Kenny wanted to talk to Samuel personally.
Seeing Skylar and Charles laughing and chatting together, their expressions changed.
“Did she forget who her real brother is? She came to see Charles and didn’t even think of seeing me?” Samuel muttered, a strange disquiet settling in his stomach.
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Chapter 162
Seeing Skylar and Charles having fun together, it was like Charles was her real brother.
That made Samuel fume with anger.
“Let’s go take a look,” Kenny said, walking toward Skylar’s direction.
Samuel scowled. “What’s the point? We’ll just get the cold shoulder anyway.”
“Stop talking so much. Let’s just go.”
“Fine.”
Reaching the lake, Charles and Skylar found a handful of groups enjoying camping trips. The vast expanse of azure blue water shimmered invitingly.
“We could bring the whole family here to camp sometime. Look over there. Having the entire family gathered together seemed so cozy.
“Does it remind you of our childhood? The time when I took you swimming? After Mom found out, I got taught a lesson.”
Skylar finally remembered. “Mom used the broom to hit you, right? The broom she sweeps the yard with?
She even broke the broom hitting you.”
“I don’t blame her. That summer, two or three kids around our age drowned in that river. Mom was just
worried something might happen to us.” Charles just thought about it and realized they lacked safety
awareness as kids.
Skylar picked up a stone, and she sent it skipping across the surface with a flick of her wrist. It bounced five or six times before disappearing beneath the water.
Charles‘ eyes lit up with a competitive spirit. “Skylar, you’re so good at this! Did you practice in secret?”
Charles also took a handful of stones and threw them one by one into the lake.
“I’m just naturally talented,” Skylar replied.
Growing up with only brothers, Skylar thrived on rough–and–tumble games. Stone skipping was a
childhood favorite; the three siblings–Skylar, Charles, and Harvey could play stone skipping for a long
time.
“Watch and learn, little sis; I’ll show you that the master is always better than the disciple.” Charles picked
up a stone he was satisfied with and threw it.
The stone skipped ten times,
Skylar gave him a thumbs–up. “Impressive, but Harvey won’t be easily convinced.”
“Ha! Harvey learned everything from me. There’s no way he can surpass the master. Charles was quite
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confident.
Skylar didn’t want to burst Charles‘ bubble. She and Harvey used to practice secretly when they were kids. They had long surpassed his level. She had held back her strength just now.
“How childish!” A cold sneer disrupted the siblings‘ fun.
“Everywhere I turn, there you are.” Charles frowned at Samuel. His expression was unfriendly as he asked, “Can’t the Williams family keep their attack dogs on a leash? This isn’t the jungle, we have laws here.”
*Manners make the master. Don’t expect too much Skylar stifled a giggle; Charles was really good at being sarcastic.
Samuel erupted. “Charles, you’ve got some nerve! How dare you talk to me like that? Believe it or not, I’ll have a word with the director and your role as the male fourth lead will vanish faster than smoke.
“You want to make a name for yourself in the entertainment industry, right? I’ll make sure you don’t have the chance!”
100
Charles‘ jaw clenched, anger flashing in his eyes. “You’re vicious and shameless! You’re lucky to have your family backing you up. But your arrogance won’t last you forever, Samuel!
“With your lousy acting skills, do you really think you can make it in the entertainment industry? What goes around comes around.”
“That’s enough! Stop it!” Kenny coldly reprimanded. He hadn’t come here to escalate tensions. He came only to have a civil conversation with Skylar.
“Skye, do you know who’s targeting our family? Do you really have a powerful benefactor?” Kenny tried to keep his tone gentle.
Their family couldn’t afford to have problems. If they did, Kenny’s position at the company would be jeopardized. He’d already tried suppressing Steven once, and the company turned a blind eye.
But things had changed; the company valued Steven more and even acknowledged his research. They were about to reward Steven with another bonus.
A few hundred thousand dollars in bonus wasn’t a big deal to him; however, the public recognition stung
Kenny’s pride.
“Think before you speak!” Charles spat as he raised his fist, ready to strike.
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Steven was right. The Williams family was a terrible bunch; their words always left Skylar feeling battered.
and bruised.
Charles had only heard about this before, but now, he witnessed it firsthand.
Skylar said lightly. “They’re all insane.”
“They’re seriously messed up,” Charles fumed.
“Skylar, I’ll say it one last time. You will no longer be considered my sister if you can’t answer my question. “Samuel acted as if he had found Skylar’s weak spot.
Kenny frowned. “Samuel, things are different now.”
Kenny could see that Skylar didn’t care about their family at all, and it pained him. A few months ago, Skylar still cared about him.
“How are
are things different? She’s found herself some sugar daddy and gone off the deep end. That’s why she doesn’t care about us anymore, isn’t it?” Samuel thought he’d figured everything out. Just like Maisy said, Skylar was cheap.
Skylar felt a rising wave of nausea as Kenny and Samuel spouted their accusations.
“Security!” she called out to two passing guards. “These two lunatics are harassing everyone! Please get
them out of here.”
The two guards immediately approached to subdue Kenny and Samuel. “Lunatics?”
“Yes, lunatics! Take them to the police station, Some mental asylum must be missing them. My sister is really intimidated. She’ll be traumatized for weeks!” Charles chimed in, exaggerating for effect.
Kenny and Samuel were hot under the collar. “Y–You!”
“We’re not lunatics! We know them! That girl is my sister!” Samuel roared at the security guard who had
pinned him to the ground.
Kenny also saw red. “Don’t listen to their nonsense! She’s my sister!”
“This is the latest scam. Even if they aren’t lunatics, they could be human traffickers. My sister’s beautiful.
They might snatch her and take her to some godforsaken corner of South East Otania!” Charles‘ voice trembled with manufactured horror; his acting truly was top–notch.
Skylar immediately hid behind Charles, her voice quivering, “Charles, I’m so scared!”
With such a convincing act, any confusion vanished. Fueled by a desire for justice, the security guards puffed out their chests. “Don’t fret, miss. The law will handle them!”
“Law? Fuck you!” Samuel spat.
Kenny couldn’t say anything as his face was pressed into the ground.
“Didn’t you hear what we said? She’s our sister! Human trafficking? Don’t be ridiculous!” Samuel struggled desperately but couldn’t break free.
The security guards there were mostly ex–soldiers. Kenny and Samuel were no match for them.
One of the security guards gave Skylar an “okay” gesture. With them on the watch, these villains didn’t stand a chance to harm anyone.
Kenny and Samuel were beside themselves with rage. They watched helplessly as Skylar and Charles walked away. Then, they were taken to the nearby police station.
After all that commotion, it was already dark.
Samuel returned to the mansion looking l
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Chapter 164
At that moment, Skylar gave Joe a call.
“Mr. Martin,” she began, “as long as we’re married, I’m happy to give you a daily head massage to improve your sleep. But I need a favor in return.”
She knew the massages had a significant impact on his sleep quality.
“What favor? Shoot,” Joe replied, accepting his coffee from Paul.
He was playing golf with his friends today. It was break time when she called him. contact, so this came as quite a shock to him.
I rarely i
In fact, Joe had been contemplating how to ask her for daily massages. Her call, mentioning the massages herself, saved him the trouble.
“Charles is currently shooting a film, and Samuel is also on it. We had a conflict today. Given Samuel’s despicable nature, he’d definitely…”
Joe grasped the situation immediately. “Alright, I’ll handle it.”
“Thank you.”
After ending the call, Joe issued instructions to Paul. Paul then went to a secluded area and made two phone calls
Meanwhile, Joe’s gaze drifted toward Jeremy, who was teaching Annabelle how to play golf not far away.
“Mr. Hughes and his secretary seem to have a rather ‘special‘ relationship, Paul remarked quietly after. returning from making the calls, glancing in their direction.
Annabelle stamped her foot coquettishly. “Mr, Hughes, I’m so clumsy.”
Jeremy held onto Annabelle’s hand. They were really close. His eyes showed tenderness when he said, ” Try again a few times. I’ll teach you until you get it.”
“With you as my instructor, Mr. Hughes, I’ll work hard to learn even if I’m slow. I wouldn’t want to disappoint you.” Annabelle took a deep breath and puffed out her cheeks, making her look cuter.
Annabelle was not only adorable; her figure was also undeniably sexy.
A flicker of curiosity crossed Paul’s mind. Didn’t Jeremy dote on his childhood sweetheart–his wife? Why was his relationship with his secretary becoming ambiguous?
Looking at the other CEOs nearby, it seemed like they were accustomed to it. They probably knew about Jeremy and Annabelle’s relationship earlier on.
Joe only glanced for a moment before retracting his gaze. He looked at the WhatsApp message Skylar sent. It was a thank you emoji and a message saying she would add two more dishes to his dinner tomorrow. A warmth spread through him as he contemplated the upcoming feast.
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Meanwhile, the assistant director accepted 20,000 dollars from Samuel.
Samuel went to change his clothes.
He stared at the villa across from him with a sense of unease. He was the male lead, yet he had to live in the same apartment shared with other crew members.
The building, though not dirty, was clearly intended for temporary staff who cleaned up the villa. While the rooms were well–equipped, they certainly weren’t on par with a five–star hotel.
Several villas stood across from him, but he heard that they were reserved for high–profile guests. They were strictly off–limits to most people.
He was the male lead, yet he couldn’t even stay in the villa. However, the director managed to stay there.
After stewing for a while, he donned his costume and headed out for his next scene. Charles didn’t have many scenes. As the fourth male lead, his role was relatively minor.
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But Samuel would never give Charles a chance to climb up. He wanted to show Samuel and Skylar that the Williams family had absolute authority in Jipsburg. They were merely peasants from the countryside who had come to the city. [1
Challenging the Williams family head–on? It’d be like bringing a knife to a gunfight.
As he exited the building and headed to the set, the assistant director called him. Samuel smirked, thinking it had been settled. “Have you gotten rid of Charles?”
“Cut the crap and answer straight. Does Charles have someone backing him? Is he merely playing the role of an extra just to experience life? What’s his background? Are you deliberately making things difficult for me because you don’t like me?
“Samuel, you think you can outsmart me in the entertainment industry just because you’ve had a few lead roles?” The assistant director blew a fuse.
Samuel was bewildered. “What?”
“Fuck you, Samuel!” The assistant director stormed over to punch Samuel. “I’ve been in this industry longer than you. I’m tired of your tricks!
“Are you trying to replace me with your own people? Let me tell you, the director is a family member of mine. He won’t let you succeed.”
“I have no grudge against you. Why would I target you? The one who I have a grudge against is Charles!” Samuel was hitting the roof. He was lucky to have dodged the punch. If it had landed on his face, he would have to hide from the public.
The assistant director finally calmed down. “You don’t know?”
“What?” Samuel scowled.
“I suggested to the director to replace Charles, saying that he might be a risky actor. But the director scolded me. He’s thinking of giving Charles more scenes now.
“He warned me to steer clear of any trouble with Charles. If anything happens to Charles, he’ll be out. I asked again, but he refused to say anything.
“Charles must have someone backing him. So, tell me the truth. Do you know who’s backing him?” the assistant director asked.
“What background could he, a country bumpkin, possibly have? Could the director have been fooled by him?” Samuel was still puzzled.
“You think the director is so easily fooled?”
The assistant director considered buttering up Charles, hoping to ride his coattails if he rose to stardom. Luckily, the director had stopped him from making a mistake.
“I’ve transferred back the 20,000 dollars to you,” the assistant director said, then stormed off.
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Samuel was left with a bunch of questions that night. Then, a realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. He clenched his jaw. “Skylar, you keep denying this sugar daddy business! Who are you trying to fool? You used your sugar daddy to back Charles up, right?”
Samuel was seething with anger. Sometime after that, he noticed that the film crew group chat was abuzz with talk of Charles. He didn’t even receive a fraction of the attention as the male lead.
“Charles, do you know Mr. Querbach personally?” the female lead inquired.
“If Charles didn’t know him, why would they arrange a villa for him?” chimed in the second female lead.
“Charles, let’s have a drink tonight,” suggested the second male lead.
Despite being mentioned in every message, Charles didn’t respond, and it wasn’t because he was aloof. On the contrary, he was stunned.
The butler had personally escorted him to the villa. He didn’t have much belongings, just a bag and the shopping bags filled with clothes and shoes Skylar bought.
Wasn’t he supposed to stay in the apartment? Why was the butler so attentive in arranging a villa for him?
“Mr. Sullivan, are you satisfied with this villa? If not, I can arrange another one. There are still three villas available,” said the butler.
Charles swallowed hard, his nerves on edge. “It’s not that. Did you make a mistake? I’m just the fourth male lead. I should be staying in that apartment.”
“You’re Mr. Charles Sullivan, right?” the butler asked with a smile.
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Charles nodded in confusion, “Yes, I’m Charles Sullivan.”
“There’s no mistake then, Mr. Sullivan. Please go inside and have a look. If there’s any issue, you can give
me a call.”
“Oh? Okay.”
With a mix of confusion and fear of being kicked out at any moment, Charles gritted his teeth and went
inside.
He thought that this might be Samuel’s retaliation. The villa might be rigged with something to embarrass
him.
However, Charles wasn’t easily frightened by Samuel’s attempts to intimidate him. Upon entering, there
was no sign of any funny business. He meticulously checked each room, and there was no one. Even
everything seemed normal inside the fridge.
It didn’t seem like someone was trying to cause trouble..
Charles hadn’t lived in a villa before and rarely had scenes filmed in one. Hence, he was a little curious
and explored every corner.
Finally, he felt relieved. “Huh, even if they have made a mistake, I’m not at a loss today. Maybe I just got
lucky?”
Just as he was about to message Skylar about this, he saw a bunch of people mentioning him in the group chat. He was even more bewildered and had no idea how to respond.
Weren’t these people usually quite arrogant? Why were they addressing him by his first name and acting all chummy now?
Samuel read all the messages directed at Charles and was enraged. He immediately started a private message with Charles. “Did Skylar make a deal with her sugar daddy so that you could stay at the villa? No one even knows the kind of person she is with. But hey, you must be enjoying perks.”
Seething w
with dissatisfaction, Samuel called Peter. “Have you figured out who Skylar’s sugar daddy is? He must be powerful enough to strong–arm our film crew. Now, Charles has the nerve to act high and mighty, and everyone’s kissing up to him. Fuck! I really want to kill him!”
Peter was feeling harried. He hadn’t been home for a few days and had been staying at the company.
Even his white shirt was wrinkled.
Without the energy to console Samuel, he said, “I haven’t found out who’s backing her. But I can confirm it’s someone close to the Jakeman family. Only they have the power to suppress us. How much money do you have now?”
“I don’t have much. I’ve spent almost all the money I earned over the years,” Samuel admitted, lacking the concept of saving money.
2/7
Peter fell silent for a few minutes. “Let’s find on opportunity to meet Skylar together. I found out she’s working in Mr. Gardner Senior’s team.”
“Mr. Gardner Senior’s team? Is she working as a cleaner there? She’s really embarrassing us.” Samuel was convinced that Skylar couldn’t possibly hold a respectable position there.
Rubbing his temples, Peter said, “It’s not certain yet. It’s also possible she’s been placed there to gain a good reputation.”
“That’s disgusting.”
“If there’s nothing else, just hang up. There’s too much going on in the company right now. We might not be able to hold on for much longer.” Peter had a hunch that their company’s downfall was approaching. They might end up burdened with enormous debts.
Samuel was astonished. “Our company’s so big. It can’t possibly go under, right?”
Could it really be that serious?
“We’ll go
to Gardner Group on Monday.” Peter didn’t elaborate further and just told him the time.
Samuel rolled his eyes. “Do you really have to be this terrified?”
The Williams family was prominent in Jipsburg. Besides, the company had been operating for so many years. How could it go bankrupt just because of a few minor difficulties?
They would overcome them eventually, right?
After hanging up, Samuel noticed that Charles ha
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Charles wrote, “Karma is a bitch. Don’t ever think about getting away, Samuel!”
Samuel fumed at the message and typed, “Charles, mark my words, you’ll pay for this!”
But as he tapped away on his phone, he was met with a notification. “You are no longer friends with the other party.” He’d been blocked!
Samuel’s anger twisted his face even more. One day, he’d have Charles and Skylar groveling at his feet, begging for forgiveness!
Skylar was lounging on her bed and managing Amazon orders when Natalie’s call came through.
“Hey there, trophy wife! What’s got you calling me today?” Skylar asked.
“My husband’s busy today. I’m alone in this empty villa, feeling lonely and bored. Skye, I’m thinking of having a baby,” Natalie said, caressing her flat belly.
They hadn’t been taking precautions recently. There might be a little one on the way already. If so, she
wouldn’t have time for idle thoughts.
Skylar was slightly surprised, “Is Jeremy busy even on Saturdays?” Speaking of Jeremy’s workload, it seemed Joe hadn’t returned either.
“He’s probably caught up in some tough project lately, and he’s really dedicated to it. But I don’t know, maybe because I’m always home, I feel like he’s not as attentive as before,” Natalie admitted, her insecurity evident.
Skylar suggested, “Why not consider finding some work yourself?”
“I want to, but Jeremy and my mother–in–law won’t allow it. She wants me to take care of Jeremy at home. My own mom isn’t too thrilled about the idea either.” Natalie sighed.
“They’re all pushing me to have a baby, and I’m gearing up for it. Maybe we’ll have some good news soon.” Her mom believed having a child would bring fulfillment to every day. Jeremy had even mentioned wanting three kids in the future.
Skylar sensed Natalie wasn’t quite herself and asked, “Have you talked to Jeremy?”
“I’ve been meaning to discuss finding work with him, but he’s been too busy lately. He’s often on business trips. He’s only been home for seven or eight days this month.” Natalie sighed heavily.
She felt like the once lively Natalie was slowly morphing into a resentful woman with no aspirations.
“Oh, Jeremy’s back! Skye, let’s catch up later!” Natalie hung up and ran downstairs.
“Honey!” She rushed into Jeremy’s arms.
Jeremy stiffened slightly when he hugged Natalie. He then gently asked, “You haven’t slept yet?”
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“I couldn’t. I was waiting for you to be back. We haven’t seen each other for days,” Natalie said adorably. Suddenly, she froze and sniffed Charles vigorously. “Do you have another woman, Jeremy?”
Jeremy’s expression tensed. “What nonsense is this?”
“You smell of a perfume that I used before. You said you didn’t like it, so I stopped using it. Jeremy, you know I have OCD. I won’t forgive you if you mess around with other women!” Natalie said angrily, her eyes
red.
Jeremy’s eyes deepened, his tone tinged with helplessness. “I had a dinner tonight. Maybe someone wearing that perfume accidentally brushed against me. Nath, you’ve been off lately.”
Natalie suddenly felt deflated. “I’m sorry. I overreacted.
“Let’s plan a trip in a few days, just to unwind,” Jeremy suggested.
“Promise this time you won’t bail on me.”
On Sunday, Skylar arrived at the restaurant following the address sent by Annie.
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Annie arrived at the restaurant ahead of time and the restaurant was relatively empty. Perched on the 20th floor, it offered a panoramic view of the nearby urban area.
Spotting Skylar’s entrance, Annie motioned for her to take a seat.
*Please have a seat, Ms. Sullivan. I’ve just ordered some dishes. Take a look and see if there’s anything else you’d like to add,” Annie said with a poised smile and a steady tone.
As expected of a TV host, every gesture Annie made oozed sophistication. Her demeanor was flawless.
“Alright, thanks.” Skylar didn’t bother with the menu. After settling in, she took a few sips of water and waited for Annie to explain the purpose of their meeting today.
The club’s dim lighting and the late hour had made it difficult to get a clear read on her appearance the other day. But seeing Skylar now, she seemed even more youthful and radiant, like a college freshman embarking on her first semester.
As Annie stirred her coffee, her gaze darkened slightly Observing Skylar’s composed demeanor, she couldn’t help but wonder how she had caught Joe’s eye
Despite her young age, Skylar was not an easy match. What did a woman without a background seek by
becoming the mistress of a successful man?
Annie knew the answer all too well. With a sense of self–assuredness, she slid a one million dollar check
across the table to Skylar
Skylar was surprised at the sight of it. She had anticipated Annie’s motive for their meeting, but she hadn’t
expected to witness a melodramatic scene straight out of a TV drama unfold before her eyes. How
peculiar.
Skylar glanced curiously at the amount on the check. Was it a million dollars?
“Ms. Sullivan, you’re smart enough to understand what I mean. As long as you leave Mr. Martin, this check
is yours to take,” Annie’s tone held a hint of pride
Coming from an educated and privileged background, Annie felt herself a fitting match for Joe. As for Skylar in front of her, her background alone destined her for nothing more than the role of mistress.
Skylar remained indifferent, as always. She recalled Viola’s advice about maintaining composure in their
line of work.
Calmly, she asked, “What exactly is your relationship with Mr. Martin?”
After leaving the club that day, Skylar had carefully pondered over it and suspected there might have been some misunderstandings. Joe didn’t seem to have any connection to Annie. But then again, it was
all just speculation on her part.
Annie frowned. “You don’t have to know our relationship. I know you’re only with him for the money. Beyond that, it’s none of your business if you choose to take the money and leave, as I’ve requested”
Chapter 16
“So, you guys are not dating then?” Skylar’s tone remained calm.
Annie’s expression turned cold. I’ve investigated you. You’re the Williams family’s estranged daughter. Since the Williams family does not favor you, it’s unlikely they’d give you money to spend recklessly.
“And that’s why you set your sights on Mr. Martin. But do you honestly believe a relationship built on superficialities can endure? It can’t even withstand the light of day.”
Skylar’s expression remained neutral. “Your investigation was quite thorough, Ms. Silver.”
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Chapter 169
Skylar’s initial impression of Annie, formed during their encounter at the club, had been somewhat favorable. After all, beauty tended to catch the eye. However, Annie’s recent investigation into Skylar had changed her opinion.
“Your foster family isn’t exactly well off. This one million dollars could really change their lives, Ms.
Sullivan. I suggest you consider the offer before it’s too late,” Annie said, visibly annoyed by Skylar’s cold response from earlier till now.
Just as Maisy had warned, Skylar’s greed knew no bounds. If not for her greed, the whole Williams family wouldn’t have disliked her either.
“A one million dollar check seems a bit tight, Ms. Silver. I pocketed several millions in cash just from some casual card games that night at the club. Is this one million check some sort of joke to you or Mr. Martin?” Skylar shot back, a faint smirk gracing her lips.
Since she was young, Skylar had a habit when dealing with people she wasn’t close to. If they treated her rudely when she was in a good mood, she would have simply brushed it off. But if she weren’t, she would be ruthless.
It wasn’t too obvious before she got reborn back in time. But now, why should she let this woman, Annie, get away with it?
“It was a few million dollars. Did he really give you all that cash?” Annie asked, surprised. She had heard from Rowan about Skylar’s Incredible luck that night. The other three had lost terribly.
At the time, Joe had indeed promised to cover the losses, and Skylar was to keep all the winnings. Originally just a courteous gesture, but unexpectedly, Joe followed through and handed Skylar the
e money.
No wonder Skylar found the offer underwhelming compared to Joe’s casual spending of several million dollars. It only fueled her greed, Annie thought.
“Mr. Martin always keeps his promises,” Skylar said confidently.
Skylar felt Annie was running out of excuses. She didn’t know much about Joe either. Even if it hadn’t been her that night, Joe would have kept his promise regardless.
Annie’s face turned pale. There was obvious hostility and anger in her eyes. “Name your price.”
“Even if I were to negotiate, I should talk to Mr. Martin. How much could you possibly offer? Ms. Silver, you’d better keep this check. If you ever want to kick someone out next time, you’ll have to be prepared
enough.” Skylar tapped the one million dollar check on the table.
Angered by Skylar’s provocation, Annie took a deep breath,
“This is your final chance, Skylar. Miss it, and when Joe gets tired of you, I’ll ensure you won’t survive a day in Jipsburg. I’ve dug up plenty on your foster family. Think long and hard. You’re not alone now. You’ve got a whole family to consider.”
“So, what you’re saying is, take the money and leave, or else you’ll threaten my family’s safety? You’re
16 Chapter 169
quite powerful, Ms. Silver, People might reckon you could rule Jipsburg City alone,” Skylar sneered.
Skylar had once admired Annie’s professionalism, but now she saw her in a different light. Annie was no different from Maisy and the rest. Birds of a feather, indeed.
“It seems you’ve got it all figured out.” Annie narrowed her eyes.
Annie had many methods to deal with such a young lass. She didn’t mind teaching Skylar a lesson if she refused to take the offer. Skylar would then face the consequences of offending her, Annie Silver, in
Jipsburg.
“Mr. Martin, did you catch all of that?” Skylar suddenly spoke into her phone.
Annie’s expression changed. “You! Did you call Joe?” Didn’t that mean Joe had heard it all?
“Ms. Silver, you came here with a million dollars to humiliate me and threaten my family. Haven’t you
heard of live and let live?
“Mr. Martin had heard our entire conversation, and I even recorded it. If this goes to the police, Ms. Silver, I may not be famous, but can you handle the public scrutiny?
Skylar wasn’t one to be easily intimidated. Annie had pushed her too far by threatening her family.
This mess was Joe’s doing, and he should be the one to clean it up.
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11/2
Annie was thrown into a panic. She never expected Skylar to call Joe during their conversation. Regret washed over her as her true colors were unveiled to Joe amidst her threats to Skylar.
*Joe, please, let me explain. I just thought her situation was complex, and she must have had an ulterior motive for getting close to you. So, I took it upon myself to try to get rid of her.
“What I said to scare her earlier, it was just really me speaking without thinking,” Annie explained frantically, desperate to salvage her image in Joe’s eyes.
She hoped to appear bright and pure in front of Joe. The image of her threatening Skylar just now was completely different from what she wanted him to know.
Joe’s voice came through the phone, his tone still cold. “Are you trying to meddle in my woman’s affairs,
Annie?”
Annie was startled by this blunt question. In Jipsburg City, no one dared to poke their nose into Joe’s business aside from the Martin family. Even their closest friends knew better than to interfere.
As for Skylar, she was equally shocked. When did she become associated with him? But she brushed it
off, assuming it was to intimidate Annie.
Annie forced herself to calm down. “I’m sorry. I acted rashly today.”
“Was it a spur–of–the–moment decision? Trying to make Skylar leave with just one million dollars is an
insult to me, Annie Silver. You’ve been getting a bit too ambitious lately,” Joe’s voice remained flat and
emotionless.
Skylar rarely witnessed this side of Joe, but just hearing his voice sent a shiver down her spine.
Although Annie’s face had drained of its color, Skylar felt nothing. Annie had threatened her and her
family, and if not for this call and recording, she believed Annie would have taken real action.
“Mr. Martin, please hear me out. This was my decision alone. My parents don’t know, neither does Rowan.
Also, you may not fully understand Skylar’s background, which is why I hurriedly approached her. I can go
to the Martin Group now to explain this matter to you in person.” Annie gripped her bag tightly.
She had to get her family out of this. Annie hadn’t expected Joe to take action against her family for
Skylar. There was indeed support from her parents and grandfather for her to be with Joe.
Joe, however, didn’t let Annie continue. His voice suddenly softened a bit as he called out, “Skye.”
His mention of Skye made Annie’s face even paler.
“I’ll handle this matter. Don’t worry,” Joe said.
Skylar answered, “Okay, I got it. I apologize for troubling you today.”
‘If there’s a similar situation in the future, just inform me directly instead of calling.” Joe reminded Skylar
with concern.
prer
He was aware of the ruthlessness within their social circle. They would do whatever it took to achieve their goals, regardless of the law. So, he suspected Skylar might have been frightened today.
With that in mind, a flash of coldness flickered in his eyes. Skylar acknowledged softly before ending the call. She stowed her phone in her bag and rose to leave the restaurant.
Seeing her about to leave, Annie immediately grabbed her wrist. Her expression showed jealousy, panic,
and a hint of resentment, but her words softened a bit.
*You should explain to Mr. Martin. Tell him that there was a misunderstanding earlier, or come with me to
find him and explain in person.”
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“Ms. Silver, do I look like Mother Teresa to you?” Skylar asked.
Annie was asking for her help right after threatening her to harm her family. Had she lost her senses? It seemed her logic had taken a vacation to act like such a prima donna.
“Please, I’m begging you! Just name your price! If one million dollars isn’t enough, how about two million or even five million dollars? I can give you five million dollars!
“As long as you ensure Mr. Martin clears up his misunderstanding, I’ll wire you five million dollars right
away,” Annie gritted her teeth as she made her desperate offer.
Annie had a hunch that Joe meant real business when he said he would target the Silver family. She
couldn’t allow her own reckless actions to drag down her family.
“Sorry.” Skylar walked straight out from the side.
Forget about five million dollars; she wouldn’t accept it even if it were ten. Annie was manipulative and likely to stab her in the back once she got what she wanted. She wasn’t trustworthy; therefore, not worth
her time.
Annie clenched her trembling hands, biting her lip as she dialed Rowan’s number.
“Rowan, I made a mistake.” Then, she briefly explained what had just happened to Rowan.
After a brief pause, Rowan responded, “You’re too reckless, Annie. We had talked about Skylar a couple of
days ago when I met John. John mentioned that Joe cares a lot about Skylar and advised us not to
underestimate her.
“Who would dare to mess with Joe’s favorite? Annie, you’ve got into trouble.”
Annie gripped her phone tighter and was drowned in a panic she had never experienced before. “Help me.
figure out a way to meet him,” she pleaded.
“No way. If I help you again, Joe won’t see me as a friend anymore. You’re on your own now. Good luck.
Instead of coming to me for help, you might as well talk to Skylar.” Rowan refused without hesitation.
Neither of them were fools. People like them understood the consequences of going against Joe. Rowan was pragmatic and saw things clearly. He wouldn’t risk alienating himself from Joe.”
Annie ended the call, feeling utterly lost, sitting alone in the restaurant.
After leaving the restaurant, Skylar headed straight to the supermarket. She planned to prepare a feast for tonight, so she had already planned out the menu in the morning.
She even took the time to ask Gloria what Joe liked to eat the most. Yet, Gloria advised her not to fuss. too much over Joe’s food preferences.
Gloria advised against fussing too much over Joe’s food preferences, as he could easily request them
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from the housekeepers–Skylar’s hands weren’t suited for cooking every day.
After a half–hour chat with Gloria on the phone, Skylar had a clear iden of Joe’n culinary preferences. With all the ingredients purchased, she could head home and start cooking. By tonight, the dishes would be
ready.
As she exited the supermarket, she unexpectedly bumped into Marcus, accompanied by a woman whol appeared to be a naïve college student.
“Skylar?” Marcus sounded surprised.
Skylar greeted him with a smile, “Mr. Lennon.”
“Why are you shopping alone? Need a hand with all those items?‘ Marcus‘ eyes sparkled as he looked her
over.
Ever since their encounter at the club, Marcus couldn’t get Skylar out of his mind. Now that he had run into her alone, he couldn’t let the opportunity slip by. It would be foolish to pass up this opportunity.
Skylar pushed her cart away, avoiding him. “Thank you, but I’m good on my own.”
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Marcus halted Skylar by grabbing the shopping cart. His gaze was fixed on her like a predator eyeing its prey. “Let me give you a lift.”
“Marc…” The woman’s expression soured as she witnessed Marcus showering attention on Skylar.
She felt insecure as Marcus now had his attention on another woman despite promising to spend the whole day with her. What made it
Orse was that Skylar appeared more stunning than her.
Marcus glanced at the woman with a dismissive attitude. “You go on ahead.”
Among the people Skylar had met at the club, Marcus was the one she liked the least. He was a playboy. and with his wealth as leverage, Marcus was bound to meet his downfall at the hands of a woman sooner or later.
Skylar suddenly grabbed Marcus‘ arm and applied pressure with her fingertips. “I said, I can handle this myself.”
After she spoke, Marcus seemed to be electrocuted, his entire body jolting. “Ah!”
He had already suppressed the scream to avoid alarming others, but the sudden movement had already
startled the woman beside him.
“Marc?” she asked. What was happening? Why did Marcus leap as if he were about to perform a magic
trick?
By then, Skylar had pushed her cart into the elevator leading to the parking lot. It was as if she wasn’t the one causing Marcus to jump around like a clown.
It was too late by the time Marcus reacted. He could only watch as Skylar entered the elevator. His handsome face turned dark and gloomy.
“I’ll own you one day, Skylar! You’re not better than anyone else just because you are with Joe.” Marcus gritted his teeth.
He was confident he could win over any woman he set his sights on.
The attractive woman beside him felt aggrieved after hearing Marcus‘ W
“Marc… do you not like me
anymore? Didn’t you promise to spend the day with me? Aren’t we going to the mall after finishing shopping at the supermarket?”
She wasn’t bothered by Marcus‘ many flings, but she couldn’t help feeling a bit uneasy.
“What shopping? Get lost!”
After leaving the supermarket, Skylar went to the hospital to visit Caleb. Caleb was speechless, looking at the large lollipop in his hand. “I’m not a kid anymore.”
Was he still a child in her eyes? He suddenly felt bitter.
22
Caleb had wanted to ask her about her feelings toward him, but the words got stuck in his throat. He feared she would say she saw him as a child or a little brother..
Skylar smiled and said, “You’re still a kid in my eyes. That’s why I deliberately chose a motorcycle–shaped lollipop.”
Caleb forced a mile. “Skylar, I’m not a kid anymore. There are plenty of girls wanting to be my girlfriend.”
“Okay, okay, you’re the patient, you call the shots. The doctor probably won’t let you eat lollipops now. Save it for later when you’re discharged. Skylar persuaded him in a tone as if coaxing a child.
Caleb felt he had a long way to go in pursuing Skylar. Though John said he and Skylar were impossible,
Caleb wanted to prove him wrong. He was determined to win Skylar over!
After leaving the hospital, Skylar drove straight back to Galaxy Villa. It was already 2:00 pm when she arrived, so she began preparing the ingredients in the kitchen.
Time passed quietly.
etav at the
In between, she received a call from Charles, who said the butler had mistakenly let him stay
mansion last night.
Today, everyone on the film crew was trying to please him like a lord. He felt even greater looking at Samuel’s bitter expression and murderous gaze.
“But I’m worried that my good times will be over butler realizes his mistake. Charles said.
Skylar couldn’t tell Charles the specific details, so she simply said he was lucky and told him not to worry about it. She then convinced him that it was perhaps because he often did good deeds that someone wanted to repay him.
From a young age, Charles had always been kind–hearted and helpful to the elderly.
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hapter 173
It didn’t seem impossible.
Charles was skeptical, but he remained optimistic. “Hahaha! It doesn’t matter if it’s a mistake or not. What matters is that these past two days have been amazing!”
Soon, Skylar had already washed and prepared all the ingredients, including the meat, which she had also marinated. After checking the time, she called Joe.
th a few
“What time will you be home?” Skylar asked Joe, who was playing basketball with a
friends.
After wiping the sweat from his forehead, Joe glanced at the time and replied, “I’m getting ready to head back now. I’ll be home in about an hour.”
“I’ll leave first,” Joe said to the group, including John.
“Why are you leaving so early? Let’s play for another hour,” John suggested. It was rare that everyone had time today to gather for basketball.
Joe shook his head. “I have plans tonight.”
Raising an eyebrow, John immediately guessed after looking at Joe’s smile. “Are you heading home?”
John whispered, “Didn’t you say you didn’t like her? It doesn’t seem like it.”
Joe suppressed his smile and replied, “You don’t understand.” Then he walked away.
John raised an eyebrow. Who was the one talking?
Joe caught a whiff of delicious food as soon as he reached Galaxy Villa. Perhaps it was because he was tired from playing basketball, but his stomach had started growling on the way back. Now, he couldn’t wait anymore after smelling the enticing aroma of food.
In the dining area, Joe saw several dishes already laid out on the table. Though Skylar’s cooking might not
be as fancy as that of a five–star chef, her dishes had a homely charm.
They were simple yet delicious, and each time he ate her food, he found himself eating more than he
intended. After playing basketball all afternoon and burning a lot of calories, it wouldn’t hurt to eat a little
extra that night.
Skylar brought out the seared salmon she had just finished cooking and noticed Joe had returned. “You’re
back!”
It seemed like he had returned ten minutes earlier than she expected. She still had two dishes that would be ready in ten minutes.
“The traffic was smooth today,” Joe said with a faint smile, his tone relaxed.
He seemed to be in a good mood. Skylar smiled too. “There are two more dishes. Just wait for me for
Chapter 1731
another ten minutes.”
“Sure, take your time.” Joe nodded.
Looking around the table, he counted nearly 20 dishes. Though there were various dishes, each had a small portion, they wouldn’t be wasting any food.
Ten minutes later, Skylar completed the last two dishes. She peeked out from the kitchen and asked Joe, Mr. Martin, would you like something to drink? We have red wine, and there are some other beverages in the fridge.”
“Red wine then,” Joe replied.
“Alright.”
An hour later, Skylar’s cheeks were flushed from the effects of the wine. She hadn’t expected to get drunk from red wine, but her eyes were misty as she looked at Joe.
Joe was only slightly tipsy as this amount of alcohol meant nothing to him. He had known that Skylar had a low alcohol tolerance, but now it seemed she was indeed a lightweight drinker. Even a little alcohol made her intoxicated.
However, in her current state, Skylar appeared defenseless with a hint of coquettishness and cuteness. Her lips were stained with the gloss of red wine, and she bit her lip, an unknowingly playful gesture.
“Don’t just drink with anyone in the future,” Joe said, his voice slightly husky.
Skylar felt rebellious, especially now that she was drunk and her brain was foggy. “No, I can drink with anyone I want. Do you know how much I can drink? It could scare you to death if I told you.”
“How much can you drink?” Joe’s eyes deepened as he wasn’t able to suppress his smile. Could she really scare someone to death with this little alcohol tolerance?
Skylar extended a hand, her index finger glistening under the light. “Guess what this means?”
Joe’s gaze fell on her finger. “Oh? What does it mean?” The drunk Skylar was behaving like a lazy kitten. “The answer is so obvious, and you still can’t guess?”
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Didn’t she already reach out her hand to tell him the answer?
“It means I’m going to continue drinking!” Skylar exclaimed, then took another sip from her glass, but Joe stopped her.
His strong hand completely wrapped hers, and his palm felt warm.
Because of the alcohol, Skylar was slow to react. She didn’t notice anything wrong and protested, “Let go of me! I’m not afraid of you just because you always have a stern face. Let me tell you, I can fight really well!”
Joe couldn’t help but smile at her drunken antics like a kid throwing a tantrum. Though the description of him always being stern was accurate–he had always been indifferent and hard to read.
“Come on, you’re drunk. You can’t continue drinking,” Joe said patiently, in a soft tone.
But Skylar wasn’t easy to reason with in her drunken state, especially now that Joe had changed in her eyes. “Why do you look ugly now?” she asked.
Joe’s face darkened instantly. Ugly? He had never thought that word could be associated with him.
“Think carefully before you speak. Who’s ugly?” Joe’s voice was low, with a hint of allure.
Skylar was speechless. “Obviously, it’s you. How could it possibly be me? Wait, I’ll go search online for a plastic surgeon for you. We’ll get rid of those ugly eyes on your forehead. Once they’re gone, you won’t be
ugly anymore.”
If she had studied medicine, she could have done it herself. What a shame. He was too ugly! If not for those extra eyes, Joe would be quite handsome.
Joe smiled at her increasingly drunken state.
As Skylar stood up, the room spun, and she couldn’t support herself before falling to the ground.
Then she leaned on the chair and mumbled, “How did I end up on the bed? I’m going to sleep. Remember to find a plastic surgeon. Those eyes on your forehead might affect your dating life. Remember, it’s too
ugly!”
After this earnest speech, she closed her eyes and fell asleep on the chair. She appeared obedient but was sleeping in the wrong place.
It was the first time Joe had dealt with a drunk person like this. Even when drunk, they wouldn’t dare to cause a scene in front of him. Skylar was the first.
And she was also the first person to earnestly advise him to get plastic surgery. Who would ever believe it if he told anyone?
He scooped Skylar up. She was very light.
As she was asleep, she found a comfortable position to continue sleeping when he lifted her. Her hand
wasn’t obedient. It was wandering over his chest and even pinching him.
“My bed is too hard… I need a new mattress.”
With a disdainful tone, she leaned on his chest and insisted, “It must be changed… definitely.
Joe’s eyes were deep and unread
about I lay my hands on you?”
as he gazed at Skylar. “Do you know what you’re doing now? How
But his threat didn’t faze her. Skylar slept soundly.
Joe intended to head for a shower after carrying her upstairs and putting her in bed. He needed to calm himself after being touched like that.
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Chapter 175
Joe stood up, but Skylar pulled him back gently. “Don’t go…”
Joe raised an eyebrow, peering down at Skylar on the bed. “Are you really drunk or just pretending?”
Skylar blinked her foggy eyes, trying to focus on the figure before her. However, her vision stayed fuzzy, as if a mist clouded the person before her. Yet, she felt an unknown danger, like a dream she couldn’t shake off.
She slumped onto the bed, powerless as she was betrayed by the person she trusted the most.
“Christopher…” Skylar mumbled.
At the mention of Christopher, Joe’s expression turned cold. How could a scumbag like him still be on her mind?
“Get away from me…” Skylar had been holding Joe’s hand tightly, but now she released it. Joe’s expression remained sullen. She was all over him just moments ago, yet now she wanted him to leave?
“Leave me alone!” Skylar added, feeling her earlier words weren’t firm enough to express her disgust toward Christopher.
She never wanted to see Christopher again in her life. He disgusted her too much.
Remembering those years now made her heart ache. And it was not because of the pain Christopher caused, but because she realized she had wasted her youth on him while there were other boys who admired her.
Even the top student in the class had professed his feelings to her. It was such a waste.
Joe held a stern gaze as he said, “I should’ve left you to sleep on the ground to sober up. Otherwise, who knows what kind of filth is filling your mind?”
After saying that, Joe felt somewhat relieved. He roughly grabbed the blanket that Skylar had kicked away, yanked it up, and tossed it back over her before striding away.
skylar woke
The next morning, up with a pounding headache and a vague recollection of Joe’s warning
about drinking. And she seemed to have blacked out. Did she say anything in response?
The aftermath of the alcohol made her regret drinking. She rubbed her temples, trying to piece together
the previous night’s events.
“Oh, no. I can’t remember a thing! I didn’t do anything weird after getting drunk last night, did I? I mean, I have a good character, so I would have good drinking manners too, right?”
With that, she felt confident that she must have obediently gone upstairs to sleep after getting drunk.
Just as Skylar walked out, she bumped into Joe, who had just come out of the room.
“Good morning,” Skylar greeted with a hint of guilt in her voice, sensing that something had happened. Otherwise, Joe wouldn’t have looked at her with such frosty eyes as if he felt wronged.
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Joe raised an eyebrow slightly. “Sober now?”
He asked about being sober, not if she had awakened. Skylar sighed inwardly. Well, one couldn’t have a good character and be a good drinker, huh?
In a questioning tone, she asked, “I went upstairs to sleep after I got drunk yesterday, right? Did I cause you any trouble?”
“Trouble? Not trouble, but injuries,” Joe calmly responded.
Skylar was startled. Did she hit him while drunk? Was she such a problem drinker?
“Let me see where you’re hurt. I really don’t remember anything. Is it serious? Should we go to the hospital? Let me check, Skylar anxiously asked.
Joe pointed to his chest. “The injury is here. Are you sure you want to see it? Should I take my clothes off for you to check?”
Skylar misstepped and nearly fell. She was mortified. “I… How did this happen?”
Her fighting skills were rather civilized, and she typically wouldn’t hurt vital areas unless under exceptional circumstances.
“You touched, rubbed, and pinched almost all over my chest. Do you still want to see it?” Joe smiled faintly, and his eyes were filled with a hint of anticipation for her reaction.
Skylar’s face flushed instantly.
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“Were you interested in me since long ago?” Joe added. This sentence was like a bombshell that made Skylar’s rationality vanish.
“Can I still explain?” Skylar was at a loss for words. She got to quit drinking! She vowed never to touch alcohol again, not even a drop of cooking wine!
Joe’s mood improved when he saw Skylar looking aggrieved, which oddly pleased him.
“It’s fine. I get it because you were drunk.” Joe smiled.
But Skylar couldn’t forgive herself for the entire day because of her embarrassing drunken behavior. She touched and pinched his… Yet she couldn’t recall a single detail. Did he have pecs?
Just as Joe was about to go downstairs, he suddenly turned back. “Oh, by the way, you kept commenting on how ugly I was last night and eagerly helped search for plastic surgery hospitals.”
Skylar bit her lip, on the verge of tears, while staring at his handsome face. She said, “Darn it!” Would any other man stand a chance if Joe were to get plastic surgery?
Joe couldn’t hold back his laughter anymore. Skylar was even more adorable when she was sober.
As Joe disappeared up the stairs, Skylar took out her phone and saw her recent search history. It showed, “Where is the most expensive plastic surgery hospital in Jipsburg?”
So it meant everything Joe said just now was true.
Annie had arrived outside the Martin Group building ten minutes ago. Her messages to Joe went unanswered. But she couldn’t bring herself to lower her pride and beg Skylar.
In her eyes, Skylar wasn’t worthy for her to plead. She didn’t believe that Joe would always be interested in Skylar.
Joe definitely meant every word. Last night, Annie had discussed the matter with her parents, and they, too, didn’t expect Skylar to be so scheming to call Joe right away.
Skylar would never have been so bold if it weren’t for Joe’s favoritism. At the thought of this, Annie felt like her heart was being pricked with needles.
Finally, Paul arrived. Paul walked over and was rather surprised to see Annie. “Ms. Silver?”
“Mr. Ziegler, I’d like to see Mr. Martin.” Annie went straight to the point.
Anyone who truly knew Joe would know that Paul was the person Joe trusted the most. Now, she had to go through Paul first to meet Joe.
Paul remained a polite smile. “I’m sorry, Ms. Silver, but Mr. Martin’s schedule is packed today. He’s going on a business trip after a meeting. If you have anything important, just let me know and I’ll convey it to Mr.
Martin.”
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It was a joke. Joe had specifically instructed Paul to reject all of Annie’s appointments from now on. She should have known her place. Not only did she meet Skylar, but she also threatened Skylar to leave Joel
with a check.
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“It’s impossible for Annie to dismiss the person chosen by Gloria with just a million dollars,” Paul thought
to himself.
Apart from undermining Joe’s authority, the value of the large diamond ring gifted to Skylar alone
exceeded a hundred million dollars. If Skylar had been a gold digger, targeting Gloria might have been a more strategic move.
Annie’s decision to offer a mere million dollars to threaten Skylar appeared foolish and inappropriate.
Annie felt embarrassed.
“Mr. Ziegler, I’m sure you would understand why I need to speak with Mr. Martin face–to–face. Some misunderstandings are difficult to clear up over the phone. We’ve known each other since childhood. Is it truly necessary to deny me a chance to explain?” she pleaded.
“Ms. Silver, you’ve crossed a line. By interfering in Mr. Martin’s affairs, others might misunderstand your relationship with him. Since you’re nobody to Mr. Martin, meddling in his affairs is inappropriate. I doubt you can explain why you threatened Ms. Sullivan. You should leave, Paul stated bluntly.
People just love stirring up trouble based on their long–standing connections. Paul’s straightforwardness. couldn’t hurt.
Annie’s face turned even paler than before. “Have you investigated Skylar?”
“Ms. Silver, you’ve crossed another line.” Paul’s demeanor darkened, dropping the fake smile.
It was clear that Annie had investigated Skylar. Would people like her dare to dig deeper if they knew Skylar wasn’t just Joe’s lover but his wife?
Annie froze in place. She had crossed the line again. She suddenly realized that anyone who could be by
Joe’s side would surely be investigated thoroughly.
Joe knew everything about Skylar, but he completely ignored it. It felt suffocating. Annie then took a deep
breath.
Annie watched Paul enter the building, and his resolve was unwavering without a hint of hesitation.
Clearly, there was no room for negotiation.
Her mother, Sabrina Madison, suddenly called. “Mom.”
“How did it go? Did Mr. Martin listen to your explanation? Let’s tone it down a bit first. I mean, it’s just a fling. Mr. Martin wouldn’t really go against us because of her,” Sabrina said.
Annie’s voice was strained. “Mom, I couldn’t see him, and there’s no room for discussion.
“What? He won’t even let you apologize to him in person? Is he ignoring your lifelong friendship just for a
woman?
“I happen to have Mrs. Martin Senior’s phone number. I’ll talk to her and let her know how abed d
Sabrina hung up
She immediately called Gloria. “Mrs. Martin Senior, it’s me. I’m Sabrina Madison, Grayson Silver’s wife. We met at Gardner Manor a few years ago,” Sabrina said, trying to cotton up with Gloria.
Gloria listened to her absentmindedly while watching TV. She was used to receiving such calls frequently. Sudden calls like this always had a purpose, especially when they weren’t close.
“I know,” Gloria replied indifferently.
“Well, Mrs. Martin Senior, something happened these past two days. Annie and Joe have known each other since childhood and even attended the same university. There might have been something between
them.
“But suddenly, a woman named Skylar Sullivan had intruded on their relationship recently. She’s a homewrecker, even her own parents despise her. Annie was worried that Joe was deceived, so she…” Sabrina explained the whole situation.
Gloria was initially uninterested, but her face turned cold as she listened. Edgar saw Gloria’s sudden change in demeanor and knew that someone had upset her.
“Skye’s is a homewrecker ? It seems to me that the Silver family had failed to educate Annie. How dare you guys meddle in our family’s affairs?” Gloria said before hanging up the phone
Then she called Joe. “Are you even a man?”
“What’s wrong, Grandma?” Joe was bewildered
“Just now, Annie’s mother called me to slander Skye. How could they bully my granddaughter–in–law? Did you agree to let the woman from the Silver family bully Skye? Did you let their whole family bully Skye?” Gloria bombarded him with questions
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Joe’s demeanor turned cold. “I’ll handle this, Grandma. The Silvers are acting on their own,” he assured
Gloria.
Understanding the situation, Gloria saw the Silvers were being too audacious. “They called me. If not, would they have targeted Skylar? Handle it properly,” she said, frustrated.
In Jipsburg City, many sought to match their daughters with Joe, a fact Gloria usually tolerated. Yet now, they had crossed a line by targeting Skylar. With Gloriaping, she’d ensure no one dared to bully
Skylar.
After the call, Joe summoned Paul, Paul was shocked to hear about Sabrina’s call to Gloria.
His eyes widened in disbelief. “Just now, Annie was blocking me at the company entrance because she wanted to see you. Did they contact Mrs. Martin Senior after I declined? When did the Silvers become so
reckless?”
“Go talk to Grayson and have the bank press them for their loan,” Joe instructed.
Paul immediately went to carry out the orders.
Meanwhile, Sabrina panicked after being hung up on by Gloria. She learned about the Williams Group’s recent crises. They could face bankruptcy at any moment, probably because Joe was venting for Skylar.
Gloria’s attitude showed she wouldn’t intervene in Joe’s affairs. Sabrina suddenly felt flustered. She explained the situation to Annie, whose face turned even paler.
At the same time, Grayson received a call from the bank.
Meanwhile, Kenny, along with Peter and Samuel, headed to the Gardner Group. With Peter driving, they got stuck in traffic on the way.
“We need answers today! I have to know who’s backing her! What’s her gain if the Williams family goes bankrupt?” Samuel was enraged.
“Why didn’t you bring Maisy with us? We could show Skylar how respectful she is to us. We also have to bring Skylar to the hospital today. They’ve run out of blood. Now, we can’t find a blood donor even at a high price,” Samuel said.
Samuel’s mind was consumed with thoughts of teaching Skylar a lesson. Just the thought of Skylar reminded him of Charles. On set, Charles, with a minor role, received better treatment than him!
It was probably because the director learned about the Williams family’s crises. He had reduced Samuel’s scenes to increase Charles‘. This was like a slap to his face.
Peter’s expression was solemh. “Calm down. First, we have to make her reveal who’s behind her. If it’s someone targeting the Williams family, we must stop them. That’s our main priority. And whether she would go to the hospital or not is irrelevant. If she doesn’t go, she won’t be able to stay in Mr. Gardner Senior’s team. Today, we’ll let Mr. Gardner Senior’s team learn her true colors
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“Have you guys ever wondered why her attitude toward us has changed?” Kenny’s expression was grim.
He’d been having nightmares. They all depicted them mistreating Skylar. It hadn’t bothered him before, but now it weighed heavily. He felt they had gone too far as no one bothered to ask Skylar if she wanted to donate blood since the start.
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Peter and Samuel turned to Kenny simultaneously.
*Kenny, Skylar doesn’t hold much significance for us. Whether she’s our sister or not doesn’t matter. Being swapped at birth was her misfortune. She’s unrelated to us,” Peter stated coldly.
“But if she’s really teamed up with outsiders against our family’s company, then she’s ungrateful. After all, she had quite a good time during her time with us,” Peter added, his tone harsh.
Samuel continued, “I’ve said it before, I only
have one sister, and that’s Maisy. I don’t care how she sees
us! If killing people was legal, I’d strangle her right now.”
Kenny noticed their attitudes and recalled their parents‘ and Maisy’s behavior earlier when they left home. He realized the whole family still blamed Skylar. They all thought she had to listen to them and be controlled by them.
Kenny pressed his lips together and asked firmly. “Well, can’t Skylar feel the same way too? She used to treat us like family, but now she sees us as enemies. Do you guys think she’ll still follow your commands?”
Peter and Samuel were taken aback. But their expressions quickly changed.
“It doesn’t matter how she sees us. She’s got the Williams family blood in her veins,” Peter said coldly.
Samuel snorted. “She’s living a great life now. Look where she’s working. That’s Mr. Gardner Senior’s team. Our family might not be able to get her in even if we go all out.”
Kenny knew it was pointless to continue with the conversation. He just hoped things wouldn’t turn out as he feared. Hopefully, Skylar still cared about them–her brothers.
In the Williams Residence, Sadie felt uneasy sitting in the living room. She fiddled with her phone, checking the time.
“Your brothers should’ve arrived by now. I wonder how their talk with Skylar is going. How did Skylar become like this? She’s too despicable if she really got someone to target our family’s company.” Sadie said.
Maisy couldn’t calm down either. For these past few days, she hadn’t been feeling well and could only stay at home. She wished she could join them to find out who Skylar’s backer was.
“Mom, is our company really in big trouble?” Maisy asked.
Sadie sighed, “Jeffrey said the company is facing the risk of bankruptcy. He had hired someone to investigate who was behind Skylar, but no luck yet. So, this situation might be related to Rowan and his
group.”
“Rowan?” Maisy’s eyes lit up. She knew Rowan. Rowan, Joe, and John were all good friends. Their circle was one that many people in Jipsburg wanted to integrate into and a circle the Williams family couldn’t
compare to.
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“Yeah, but it probably isn’t Rowan. Rowan’s women are always in the news, and John also has a fiancée We need to figure out who it is before we can solve this. Our company can’t go bankrupt! That’s your dad’s years of hard work,” Sadie said, frowning.
Sadie felt uncomfortable about Skylar’s coldness and unanswered calls.
Maisy’s eyes drifted as she pondered a solution. She suggested, “Mom, I think I’ll go check it out. I have a feeling that they can’t handle this. Maybe I can find out who’s behind this after after clearing the air with Skylar in person.”
“Alright then, be careful.”
After clocking in, Skylar was informed that Alexander wanted to see her. When she entered Alexander’s office, he was on the phone.
“I’m too old for these extremely complex and delicate repairs. I probably can’t do them anymore, but there’s a young person in my team who might be able to,” Alexander said.
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“However, this kind of repair work is time–consuming and labor–intensive. Even for a young person, the price won’t be much lower than mine. Have you made up your mind?” Alexander chatted for a few more moments before hanging up the phone.
Then, Alexander turned to Skylar, his face unable to hide his admiration.
Skylar was the most talented young person he had ever seen. Despite her young age, she was more skilled than the more senior team members.
During Skylar’s time here, she had been modest and humble, yet she had quickly earned her place in the team. She even managed to silence skeptics with her professional abilities. And now they were even vying to be her apprentice.
“Come, take a look at this. Can you handle this task? If you can, the commission for the team is 30 percent, and the rest is yours.” Alexander showed Skylar the videos and photos on his phone, one by one.
Skylar watched attentively, carefully examining each photo and video.
“I believe I can, but it will take some time. I can do it if they’re not in a rush,” she said earnestly after thorough consideration. She was confident that she could take on this job.
Alexander couldn’t help but smile at Skylar’s serious expression. “You didn’t even ask about the pay?” he teased.
Skylar shook her head. “This job marks my entry into the industry. The pay isn’t my main concern. What matters is the quality of the restoration.”
As long as she performed well and gained recognition in the industry, her value would naturally increase.
Alexander grinned broadly. “You’re young but wise beyond your years. Alright, I’ll take this job for you. Rest assured, it won’t be less than seven figures.”
“Thank you, Mr. Gardner Senior.”
Alexander looked at Skylar and regretted not being able to mentor her or better yet, have her as his granddaughter–in–law.
What a pity. Alexander recalled John’s mention that Skylar and Caleb were impossible, leaving him to treat Skylar as an apprentice rather than actively matchmaking her with Caleb. Skylar had already been spoken for, and that person was Joe.
But it would be best not to tell Caleb about this. He couldn’t keep his mouth shut, and who knew, he might
just blabber everywhere or act out of impulse.
It was indeed a shame. The one and only granddaughter–in–law he had his eye on couldn’t be with Caleb.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Alexander responded.
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Skylar was about to leave. Instead of entering, the person outside spoke directly to Skylar, “Skylar, your family is here to see you. We’ve already arranged for them in the waiting area, and they’re currently waiting for you.”
“My family?” Skylar frowned. If her foster parents were visiting, they would have informed her beforehand. How would they come without letting her know? Could it be something urgent?
“Yes, they said they’re your family.”
Skylar pushed away her doubts and responded, “Thank you.”
Then she turned back to Alexander and said, “Sorry, Mr. Gardner Senior, I’d like to go see them first. They must have something urgent to discuss with me, so I’ll go meet them now.”
“Go ahead. Don’t worry. If it’s something urgent, you can take a day off today,” Alexander said gently.
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After thanking Alexander, Skylar headed straight to the waiting area. Her expression turned cold upon spotting Kenny and his brothers on the couch.
Without hesitation, she called the security.
“The three individuals who just came up have nothing to do with me. They’re impostors. Please come and escort them out,” she informed the security over the phone.
Upon hearing Skylar’s voice, Kenny and the other two stood up.
“You’re still our sister, even if you want to deny it. That’s a fact! Today, we’re extending an olive branch. Why won’t you accept it?” Samuel barked.
How could she have the audacity to call the security guards on them? She was really getting out of hand. Peter’s expression was stern. “Tell us what you want. We’ve all come today, so make your demands clear. You can name your price, but we have to know who’s backing you.”
“In the past, we may have done some wrongs that hurt you, but we won’t hurt you ever again. We’re siblings, and you’re our parents‘ daughter. Even if there have been disagreements, it’s time to put an end to it. Come home, Skye, Kenny urged her gently.
Each brother had a different approach, but their goal was the same. They all wanted Skylar to obey them. The Williams family were opportunists, so they were all very shrewd. They knew exactly when to make which choice.
“Check my birth certificate then. We’re not even related. Don’t embarrass yourselves. Leave now,” Skylar said expressionlessly.
“You! So you’re after your inheritance rights? Just admit it! Did you really have to stoop so low? Refusing to donate blood for Maisy and now targeting our family for inheritance rights? Skylar, you’re utterly disgusting.” Samuel sneered, convinced he had uncovered Skylar’s motives.
Inheritance rights were coveted, especially by outsiders like Skylar. From their perspective, her methods were despicable. Indeed, someone from a lower class like her had a shallow perspective.
Offending them for the inheritance rights was foolish. She should have tried to please them. Now, the whole family disliked her, and they surely wouldn’t like her in the future.
Samuel deeply despised having Skylar as a sister since she would resort to any means to achieve her goals.
Kenny frowned. “Was it really just for legal rights? Skye, didn’t Mom and Dad want to file for adoption recently? You’d already be on the Williams family’s adoption papers if you hadn’t left home.”
“Filing isn’t difficult. I promise you this. If you can take a day off today, we can take you to file your adoption papers right now,” Peter said firmly, his disdain barely concealed. Many people resorted to unsavory means to gain inheritance rights, but to think that his biological sister would also stoop to such disgusting tactics in front of them.
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“It seems like you guys can’t get the message, huh? Then, let me make it clear. Fortunately, I’m not related to you guys. From now on, you guys should stay far away when you see me,” Skylar said, glancing at the approaching security guards.
“What?” Samuel and Peter exclaimed simultaneously.
Kenny’s face paled slightly, and he stepped forward anxiously.
“Even if we’re not legally related, we’re still siblings by blood. Could you bear watching our family go bankrupt? Just tell us what’s on your mind. We can correct our mistakes and let you name your
conditions.”
“Blood ties mean nothing,” Skylar sneered. They were too dumb to comprehend simple facts.
“Ms. Sullivan, are you sure you don’t know them?” the head of security asked as they approached Skylar.
Without hesitation, Skylar replied, “Yes, please escort them out.”
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The captain of the security team approached Kenny’s group with his subordinates.
*Please leave immediately,” he demanded.
Being surrounded by the burly security guards, their expressions faltered due to feeling intimidated.
“You better think this through! Are you really ready to sever all ties with the Williams family?” Samuel was convinced that Skylar was just playing tricks on them.
Skylar turned to leave. She didn’t want to waste her breath talking to an unreasonable brute like Samuel. It was a pure waste of time and emotions to deal with him.
“Stand right where you are, Skylar!” Peter shouted. At that moment, even he felt that something was
amiss.
Skylar didn’t give a damn about what they would think or whether they would still consider her their sister. Peter found it hard to believe that Skylar could be so heartless. He thought that Skylar shouldn’t cut ties with them just because they sided with Maisy.
Without looking back, Skylar walked away. Why would she stop just because they asked her to? They were being idiots.
Kenny gritted his teeth and said to Peter and Samuel, “I told you she wouldn’t entertain us. Let’s go.”
Peter could only nod stiffly as the security guards were about to intervene..
Samuel looked extremely pissed off. “She will regret this!”
She was jealous that the whole family favored Maisy. No matter what she did, she couldn’t compare to
Maisy in their eyes.
“Skylar, my dearest elder sister. If you watch me die without so much as batting an eye, I won’t blame you. It’s all my fault, after all. How I wish we hadn’t been switched at birth back then!
“Even so, you can’t join forces with outsiders to harm our family! Do you know how much more weary Dad became overnight? Mom hasn’t been able to sleep as well. Her hair grayed so much over the past few
days.”
Maisy ran over in a hurry. With all the staff around, she wanted to expose Skylar’s true colors to them and see if Skylar could remain there while being judged critically.
Skylar looked at Maisy coldly, fully aware that she was putting on a show again. It was the same old act of playing the pity card.
Several colleagues passing by were a little bewildered because Skylar was seemingly bullying the bawling lady.
Skylar was usually gentle, so she was popular among her colleagues despite having started working there fairly recently. If there was any task that required two people to complete, the old–timers were keen to partner up with Skylar.
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It wasn’t because Skylar was new. Instead, it was because she was highly professional. Many admired her and wanted to learn from her.
Assessing the situation before them, they wondered if this was some complicated infighting within Skylar’s family.
People involved in academics weren’t simpletons. They were usually emotionally stable too. Skylar was
one such person.
Her red lips curled into a sneer. “Here comes another crazy one. If you like acting, join the entertainment industry and improve your acting skills. You give the same performance every single time. You don’t seem to tire of doing that, but I’m so sick of it that I could barf.
“Don’t go around calling me your sister in the future. If you like being babied this much, go put on some diapers. You shouldn’t simply address others as your elder sister.”
Some of the staff snickered, unable to hold back. They wanted to remain composed, but Skylar made it
hard to do so.
She was usually easy to get along with–gentle in her speech and actions. However, she was sharp and witty when putting others in their place. No wonder they had felt that something was somewhat off previously.
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Now, it all became clear.
Maisy was quite pretty, but she was not as beautiful as Skylar. In fact, she even looked older than Skylar- appearance–wise. Yet, she kept calling Skylar her elder sister“. She resorted to those cliché guilt–tripping
tactics seen on TV.
The staff didn’t know the specifics of what had happened, nor did they feel there was a need to know. Skylar had been very professional and pleasant to work with. That was all that mattered to them.
Maisy froze in disbelief upon seeing the reactions of the people around her.
She quickly added, “Skylar, do you know how rare our blood types are? Only you can save me. Are you really going to watch me die?”
It should be clear enough now. Skylar surely wouldn’t want others to think of her as heartless, right?
Skylar didn’t even react in the slightest. She merely said indifferently, “So what if you die? What does that have to do with me?”
“You… How can you be so heartless? What kind of person have you become? You even colluded with outsiders to harm our family. You’re a homewrecker who destroys someone else’s family. How can y
you be so immoral? How much money did that man give you?
“I
n ask Mom and Dad to give you even more money. Please stop going down the wrong path. Also. You don’t know anything! That man helped you secure a position within Mr. Gardner Senior’s team.
“But when he realizes that you know nothing, you’ll be kicked out. It’ll be a disgrace to the Williams family when that happens!” Maisy gritted her teeth, slinging as much mud as she could.
Several of Skylar’s colleagues exchanged puzzled looks. Was this lady out of her mind? Since when could one get in through interpersonal connections?
As long as Skylar showcased her talents, everyone in Jipsburg would be fighting over her!
Besides, Skylar could earn a lot of money on her own. Why would she bother with becoming some man’s
mistress?
“Are you trying to smear us, miss? Don’t assume you know about us carelessly.” One of Skylar’s female colleagues couldn’t stand Maisy anymore and decided to speak up.
“Yeah. I heard some people have dirty minds, so everything they see is dirty. I took a short course in traditional medicine. Look at her! Don’t you think her complexion looks a bit off? She looks like she could be pregnant.
“Could it be that she’s the one who got pregnant from being a mistress? Is she picking on Skylar because she thinks Skylar’s a pushover?”
The other staff stepped forward to defend Skylar too
Skylar had worried that her colleagues might believe Malsy’s words. After all, Maisy’s pretentious acts.
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had always been very effective. Everyone in the Williams family believed her.
Skylar wasn’t the only one surprised; Maisy was also taken aback.
2/2
She looked incredulously at the people in front of her. “I’m not pregnant, and I’m definitely not someone’s mistress! Skylar is the one. You’ve been deceived by her. She isn’t capable of doing anything.
“If you don’t believe me, ask her to repair an antique. She even gave my mom a birthday gift that turned out to be a fake painting. Someone who can’t tell what’s real or fake can’t be capable of doing restoration
works.”
Did these people only have antiques on their minds all the time? Was that why they couldn’t understand simple words?
Otherwise, they wouldn’t be defending Skylar.
“I suggest you investigate Skylar thoroughly, and you’d better bring Mr. Gardner Senior here. Don’t let Skylar tarnish your team’s reputation,” Samuel said icily.
He wanted to see if Skylar would come begging them in desperation after being rejected by her employer.
“It’s you who should be investigated. Didn’t Skylar ask you to leave? Do you think the Gardner Group building is a place for your nonsense?”
“Security, escort them all out!”
Skylar’s colleagues didn’t give her a chance to speak. They immediately stepped up to defend her.
“Please leave right now,” the captain of the security team said to the Williams siblings coldly.
Samuel and Maisy could hardly contain their anger. They had said so many incriminating thi Skylar, yet these people still believed her!
Had Skylar fed them some sort of brain control drug?
Skylar felt a sense of warmth in her heart. Joining Alexander’s team was no doubt the right decision.
about
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The four of them were escorted out of the Gardner Group building.
The security captain even told them threateningly not to con:e back. They were warned that if they were seen at the entrance again, the security would not hesitate to call the police.
If news about such an incident ended up in the media, the Williams family would be utterly disgraced in Jipsburg.
Thus, they returned to the car in embarrassment.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, Peter forcefully pounded the steering wheel twice. He was used to having his way all these years. Yet, he had suffered humiliation at every turn lately. Today, even a security captain could threaten him to his facel
“What’s wrong with those people? I’ve already said everything so clearly, but they still defend Skylar. She must have been buttering them up,” Maisy complained angrily.
Because of her intense resentment, she momentarily forgot to conceal her thoughts.
Samuel saw the astonishing hatred in Maisy’s eyes and froze. He thought she had always been kind and timid. However, she looked like she could kill Skylar now with that twisted expression of hers.
“It’s no use trying to get anything out of Skylar. Let’s get someone else to investigate, Kenny said, sighing
helplessly.
He then glanced at the time and said, “I have to go to work now. I’ll go talk to Steven again later and see if
he knows anything.”
“I know someone who might know something. I’ll go find her.” Maisy suddenly thought of Annie.
The last time they met, Annie had asked her all sorts of questions about Skylar. Back then, she hadn’t thought much of it. Reflecting on it now, Maisy believed that Annie must know who was supporting Skylar
financially.
Otherwise, why would she waste her time asking about Skylar?
She hadn’t thought about it before, but now she realized that Annie might have manipulated her. Of course, she wouldn’t simply keep quiet and become a pawn to someone else.
Caleb returned home after being discharged from the hospital. He lay on the bed lazily, watching TV or playing on his phone. Other than that, he would read the thick books his grandfather threw at him from time to time. Occasionally, some tutors came over to give him lessons.
It was very boring and mundane to him.
He wanted to see Skylar, but he couldn’t ask her to come to his house. Skylar still didn’t know he was Alexander’s grandson.
2/2
He had never missed or liked a girl this much before.
Feeling bored, he called Alexander. “Grandpa, what’s Skylar busy with right now? Did you give her a lot of work to do? She’s so busy that she isn’t replying to my WhatsApp messages!”
Alexander frowned and replied. “You’re not good enough for Skylar. Stop daydreaming about dating her, and don’t bother her. Look at those superficial WhatsApp messages you sent. Skylar doesn’t have time to look at her phone when she’s working. You two are individuals from different worlds. Don’t force it.”
“Are you really my grandpa? Have you been invaded and replaced by a body snatcher? I thought you wanted Solar to be your granddaughter–in–law! I’ve just undergone a surgery. It’s not like I’m crippled for life. Why do you have to beat me while I’m down?”
Caleb was so angry that he wanted to jump out of bed and confront his grandfather. He wanted to go
straight to his grandfather to ask him what was the matter with him. Why would he discourage his
grandson so readily?
This has nothing to do with whether I’m your grandfather. You’d better get rid of any improper thoughts early on it’s impossible for you and Skylar to get together,” Alexander stated sternly and hung up.
Celeb grimed his teeth in anger. Why did it feel like Alexander had become even more disdainful of him than before?
Gancing at the book beside him, he couldn’t help but open it with clenched teeth.
He would become worthy of Skylar
After work, Skylar went to Pearlhall Residence first. She had dinner with Gloria before returning to Galaxy
There she received a WhatsApp message from Joe that he would be on a business trip for the next two
days
Recalling the embarrassing incident earlier that morning. Skylar breathed a sigh of relief. She was grateful that she didn’t have to face him that day
She texted back, “Okay. Don’t worry about Grandma. I’ll visit her these two days.”
Joe replied, “Sure. Please don’t drink with anyone these two days.”
Skylar’s face flushed red when she saw the word “drink“.
She felt mortified as she let out a soundless scream of anguish in her heart. Suddenly, she felt like Joe had some sort of leverage over her.
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Once again, she learned a profound lesson that alcohol led to trouble. But since the incident had already happened, there was no need to dwell on it any longer.
“I think you should forget about this unpleasant experience and not let it occupy your mind.” Skylar typed out a message swiftly and sent it.
Then, she took a relaxing shower and lay on her bed, looking at the photos sent by Alexander. As she scrolled through them, a restoration plan formed in her mind. She envisioned how it would look once she repaired it.
Meanwhile, at the airport, Joe looked at his WhatsApp message with a faint smile playing on his lips. Beside him, Paul felt a chill run down his spine upon seeing his smile.
It was as if he had witnessed something frightening. Why was Joe suddenly smiling for no reason? This wasn’t his boss‘ usual demeanor. Why was he staring at his phone and smiling all of a sudden?
The next moment, Paul caught sight of the WhatsApp message with Skylar on Joe’s phone. He came to
an epiphany
He asked, “You seem to have a good relationship with Ms. Sullivan nowadays, Mr. Martin. Do you like her?
This question made the smile freeze on Joe’s lips. He exited WhatsApp with a deadpan expression and
turned off the screen.
In a chilly tone, he said, “Not exactly.”
“But you’ve been chatting with her a lot recently,” Paul remarked.
He spent a lot of time being around Joe day in and day out, so he would be the first to notice any
changes. In the past, he rarely saw the esteemed Mr. Martin demonstrate any sort of patience when it
came to messaging others.
Even when chatting with his friends, Joe was always succinct. Just now, even though he didn’t need to
type on his phone, he still smiled at the screen. Paul was sure something was going on between them. He
was even willing to bet on it with his life.
“We’re just talking about Grandma’s situation. Why do I feel like I’m not giving you enough work to keep
you occupied?” Joe asked icily, cocking an eyebrow.
Paul was at a loss for words. Indeed, he wasn’t very busy, but he would like to keep it that way. He
immediately made the motion of zipping his mouth shut.
“Mr. Martin?” A surprised voice reached their ears.
Joe glanced over. “Marcus?”
Marcus was accompanied by a beautiful lady with a voluptuous figure. They had just arrived at the airport and made their way through security.
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Paul had just zipped his mouth shut and was taking a selfie. He coincidentally included Marcus in the photo he snapped.
Ten minutes later, after Skylar finished looking at the photos sent by Alexander, she casually opened her. Instagram and took a glance. She saw the selfie Paul had taken at the airport.
Paul was actually quite handsome. He didn’t look much different from those cute guys on the talent shows. He could definitely debut as an idol if he participated.
Suddenly, her gaze fell on Marcus, who was standing behind Paul. She was surprised to learn that Marcus was at the airport and on the same flight as Joe. Her eyes focused on the barely visible thumb ring
Marcus was wearing.
One of her eyelids twitched. She had a premonition that something would happen to Marcus in the next few days. So, she immediately called Joe.
“The number you have dialed is unavailabl
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Skylar hurriedly sent another WhatsApp message. “Joe, don’t get too close to Marcus. He will bring trouble to you! I’ll explain the situation to you in detail when you have the time”
However, both WhatsApp messages went unanswered. Skylar was restless as she waited for his reply. She didn’t turn on the sleep mode on her phone for fear of missing Joe’s call or message
Sometime later, she woke up groggily to the sound of her phone ringing Without delay, she answered the call.
“I just got off the plane and saw your message.” Joe’s voice came through.
Skylar immediately became alert. “Are you and Marcus on the same flight?”
“Yes, we are.” Joe glanced at Marcus, who was beside him.
This chance encounter was an opportunity for Marcus to get closer to Joe. Marcus needed to do this because the Lennon family was facing some problems recently.
Skylar took a deep breath. “Listen to me. He’s wearing a thumb ring. That ring is nothing good. He’s a womanizer and changes girlfriends frequently. Plus, with that sinister ring, he must be afflicted with
something
“Don’t get too close to him! He’s your friend, so his energy will definitely affect you. It might even endanger your life.”
Joe raised an eyebrow discreetly. Then, he glanced at Paul, whose forehead was red and swollen after accidentally bumping it against a hard surface.
Finally, his gaze fell on his shoes. There was a smidge of orange juice on his bespoke leather shoes. There was even a scratch from a broken glass
There had been a severe turbulence earlier. The glass in the flight attendant’s hand fell. Paul, who was about to get up to go to the washroom, fell down as well. Sitting behind them, Marcus spat out blood.
In that short one–hour flight, chaos erupted in the cabin. But right now, Marcus just looked a little pale and seemed fine otherwise. His condition didn’t stop him from being physically intimate with the beautiful woman beside him.
Joe felt that he should learn to believe in things that didn’t seem logical at a glance sometimes, or it could be that he was more willing to trust Skylar now.
“Are you worried about me?” Joe asked with a half–smile. He quickened his pace and distanced himself
from Marcus.
Skylar was momentarily stunned to hear his teasing tone as he said that. She answered honestly, “I don’t want Grandma to suffer the pain of having her descendant pass away before her.”
Another reason was that she didn’t want to cite widowhood as the reason for when she had to get a
divorce.
Joe smirked with a slightly amused look in his eyes. “It’s late now. Go to sleep.”
“Okay, good night.”
As Marcus walked, he noticed Joe walking faster, as if he had forgotten all about him. He immediately hurried to catch up. The beautiful woman beside him struggled to keep up in her high heels.
“Mr. Martin, can I hitch a ride with you to the hotel? My ride broke down on the way,” Marcus asked upon
catching up.
Paul deduced that Marcus had something to discuss with Joe. After all, they were acquaintances who had known each other for some time. They weren’t close friends, but Marcus frequently appeared in Joe’s
social circles.
Suddenly, his forehead started to hurt. He reached up to massage it and felt the big bump, thinking to himself that no wonder it hurt so much.
This was a first for him. After so many years of flying and spending almost as much time on planes as he was at home, this was the first time Paul had been so unlucky.
“It’s inconvenient for me,” Joe refused stoically without giving any reason.
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This was exactly how Joe treated those he didn’t care about. Marcus was well aware of this, but he didn’t expect Joe to reject him so firmly without so much as a sliver of regard that they were mutual friends with Rowan and the others.
This embarrassed Marcus greatly. Weren’t they fine before boarding and during the flight? Why did his áttitude change after getting off the plane? Could the phone call Joe received put him in a bad mood?
If so, who made the call? Who could have made a call in the middle of the night to cause Marcus unnecessary trouble?
Once they got into the car, Paul took out his phone and snapped a picture of his forehead while cursing, Damn it! How unlucky! I’ve been having a streak of good luck lately. How did it suddenly take a turn for the worse?”
Joe glanced at Paul. Then, his gaze fell on the photo Paul had posted on Instagram over an hour ago.
In the photo, Marcus could be seen behind Paul. Skylar must have called him after seeing this photo. He hadn’t noticed any ring on Marcus‘ hand before, but now he could vaguely see it in the photo. Perhaps it was because of what Skylar said, that ring did give off a bad vibe.
“If Marcus contacts you, keep your distance from him,” Joe said.
Paul was taken aback. Joe was rather cold toward Marcus. Had he offended Joe in some way? Or did the series of incidents on the plane affect Joe’s mood?
“Did Marcus offend you?” Paul asked.
Joe showed Paul his WhatsApp conversation with Skylar. After reading it, Paul’s eyes widened suddenly.
“No wonder I’ve been so unlucky today!” He hadn’t understood it before, but now he did.
Suddenly, he thought of something. If Marcus was sick, wouldn’t that affect a lot of people? Would Rowan, Ethan, and even Lukas be affected?
The situation seemed especially worrying for Ethan and Lukas. They were not picky about their romantic partners. There was a chance they might have shared the same girlfriends before. Would they have gotten the same disease too?
“Should we ask Mr. Jakeman and the others to get a thorough medical check–up?” Paul asked.
Joe remained silent for a few seconds. Then, he typed a message and sent it to the group chat with Rowan and John in it.
He wrote, “Marcus vomited blood on the plane. If you’ve had a common girlfriend with him, go to the hospital for a detailed check–up.”
This caused a huge stir.
Rowan responded instantly. “Vomited blood? What’s going on? And when did you two become so close that you would meet up personally now? I thought you disliked hanging out with Marcus and Ethan
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John texted, “Could Marcus have AIDS? He seems to always have a cold whenever I run into him at
restaurants.”
Rowan replied, “Fuck this!”
John advised, “Rowan, you hang out with Marcus quite often. Go get yourself checked. Let’s not meet for
now. Good luck.”
Joe texted, “Good luck.”
Rowan didn’t reply anymore. He was probably in hysterics or was busy booking an appointment with a hospital for a check–up. He could also be checking his Instagram diligently to see if he had any overlapping girlfriends with Marcus.
In short, Joe and a few others would be staying up that night, unable to sleep.
Steven had just walked out of the laboratory at the company when he saw the haggard Kenny standing
before him.
Steven pretended not to see Kenny and walked past him.
However, Kenny stopped him. “Wait, do you know anything about Skylar being a mistress? Not only that, she also got that guy who’s having an affair with her to sabotage our company. We’re facing a lot of problems now, and she’s likely the one behind all of this.”
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Chapter 188
“Bullshit! The way your family does business is immoral, which is in tandem with your unsavory
characters. It’s no surprise that you’ll go bankrupt sooner or later. You’re just trying to pin the blame on Skylar for your own faults.”
Steven was usually soft–spoken. However, for shameless people like Kenny and his family, he didn’t see the need to be cordial toward them. They didn’t deserve it.
He had heard from Charles about how Kenny and Samuel had treated Skylar. They had been so despicable that it made Steven’s blood boil.
Kenny was displeased but also embarrassed at being called out by Steven. “We’re not pinning the blame on her. Skylar and her boyfriend broke up because she found a better option.”
Steven didn’t understand how Kenny could be so foolish. “Has your whole family been brainwashed by Maisy? What did she use to brainwash you guys so thoroughly that you can’t think independently anymore?
“Even if Skylar did get someone to deal with you, it’s because you pushed her to it. Don’t come to me for anything about Skye in the future. I will never help you guys!”
He couldn’t help but wonder what Skylar had experienced in the Williams family. The Williams family wouldn’t be hounding her like this if there weren’t any suspicious signs. Who exactly did Skylar marry?
Steven decided that he would have to ask Skylar about it again. He wouldn’t let anyone bully her again. What happened with Christopher was more than enough; there must not be a repeat of that.
Steven pushed Kenny away and walked to somewhere with no one around. He was about to call Skylar when he received a message from her.
“Hey, Steven. When are you free? My husband will be back from his business trip when you’re not so busy with work. I’ll arrange for you two to meet.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ve thought this through. Once bitten, twice shy. I won’t let myself be fooled again.”
Steven’s tense emotions relaxed a bit upon reading this message. He reminded himself not to be swayed by Kenny–he should trust Skylar.
After his confrontation with Kenny, Steven returned to the laboratory. He stared blankly at the instruments before him but couldn’t focus. He sent another WhatsApp message to Skylar. Yet, there was only silence
from the other end.
Peter mentioned the current situation of the Williams Group in the family group chat. All the troubles they faced stemmed from the Martin Group attacking their business.
How did Skylar get involved with the Martin Group? If it wasn’t Paul whom she was involved with, then who else could it be?
Chapt
Now that he carefully thought about it, it was as Steven had said. Why were they so quick to assume that Skylar was pulling strings behind the scenes and not that they were genuinely in trouble because of their
actions?
The Williams Group had expanded by leaps and bounds in recent years. Perhaps they had done
something that displeased the Martin Group in some way?
Kenny took a deep breath. He had just sent his thoughts to the group chat when Samuel and Peter opposed and questioned him. Even Jeffrey commented that it was impossible. They all insisted that Skylar had something to do with it.
They went on to say that Skylar wanted their approval so that she could settle down with their family and in Jipsburg. That was why she pulled all those tricks.
Now, Kenny hoped it was indeed Skylar who was behind everything. If that were the case, perhaps there was still room for a turnaround.
Today, the painting that needed to be restored was brought before Skylar. Alexander was also there to inspect it.
He spoke to Frank Doherty, who was beside him, as he examined the painting. “This painting looks even more tattered in real life than in the photos. It really tests the skills of the restorer.”
When he was younger, he would feel intimidated when he received such a damaged and ancient painting because restoring it would be very challenging. If one didn’t do it well, all previous efforts would be in vain. It required a lot of patience.
Frank had a solemn expression. “This is a painting left by my ancestors. It’s very precious and meaningful to me. Unfortunately, I didn’t store it properly and accidentally damaged it.
“When I discovered the extent of the damage, it had already become like this. Money is not an issue. I will pay double as long as it can be restored.”
It was evident that the painting was way more important than money to Frank.
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Chapter 189
After Skylar heard their conversation, her expression remained calm, and she didn’t say anything either She just told them that she could do it.
“Skye, are you sure there’s still a possibility of restoration?” Alexander asked grimly.
Frank turned to look at Skylar too. In fact, he had little confidence.
If even Alexander felt it was difficult, restoring it must almost be impossible. However, he seemed to trust the pretty young
relatively young age Woman in front of him, who didn’t seem capable of undertaking such a task at her
Frank was mentally prepared that his painting couldn’t be saved. Upon thinking that such a precious. heirloom was ruined in his hands, he felt helpless and dreaded facing his ancestors in the afterlife.
To his surprise, Skylar nodded and said, “I can restore it. Give me another half a month.”
Frank was shocked. Alexander was also quite surprised. If this were the first time he met Skylar, he would have no doubt that she was bluffing.
Now, after working with her for some time, Alexander had a good grasp of her character. She wouldn’t simply claim she could do something when she couldn’t. This meant that she was confident about restoring this painting.
Excitedly, he inquired, “Are you sure about this, Skye?”
“Yes, I’m sure. A few years ago, I restored a painting that was even more daunting than this,” Skylar replied.
She thought of the time when Viola would bring back some antiques that were very difficult to restore every time she went off a few years ago. She would bring back items like ancient paintings and porcelain
vases.
Back then, she restored many of those artifacts. Viola trusted her a lot and gave her many opportunities to practice, and she would also guide her carefully from the side.
Alexander felt reassured when he heard this. “Good! Very good!”
Frank asked emotionally, “Does she mean what she said?”
“Rest assured, Frank,” Alexander said with confidence.
Skylar smiled and said, “I will do my best to restore it, but you need to manage your expectations. This painting is too ancient and badly damaged. It’s impossible to restore it to its original state, but I
guarantee that I’ll do my best.”
“That’s great!” Frank nodded repeatedly.
If even Alexander trusted her, what reason did he have to doubt her? Besides, no team other than Alexander’s team would dare to take on this task.
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Skylar took the ancient painting with her to get on with repairing it.
Just as she left, Frank’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. He asked, “Does she have a boyfriend? My grandson is 23 years old. He’s a young and promising fellow–a virtuous young man! He doesn’t have a girlfriend. Can you please help me arrange for a blind date for the two of them, Alex?”
The Doherty family needed a composed and mature lady like Skylar. On top of that, she was pretty too. His grandson would definitely like her when he saw her.
Alexander glared at Frank. “Even my grandson doesn’t even stand a chance, so forget about yours.”
“How old is your grandson? Isn’t he even 18 yet?” Frank asked, thinking that Alexander wanted Skylar for his own grandson, Caleb.
Alexander felt a little heartbroken when he thought of this. “No, she’s already seeing someone.”
Chapter 190
Outside the TV station building, Annie’s car had just pulled out of the parking lot when suddenly someone appeared and blocked her path. She quickly stomped on the brake, and her expression changed instantly, Where did this person suddenly appear from? She hadn’t noticed them at all.
Annie had been restless over the past few days. Not only was she absent–minded, but she also kept making mistakes at work. Now, she almost hit someone!
If she rammed into someone at the entrance of the TV station, her career would be over. With cold sweat breaking out on her back, Annie took a deep breath and suppressed the restlessness in her heart.
She put on a worried expression and got out of the car. “Are you okay? Do you need me to take you to the hospital? I’m sorry. You were in the blind spot just now, so I didn’t see you.”
Maisy didn’t expect that Annie would almost hit her. She was startled at what had just happened as well. She replied, “I think I just twisted my ankle. I’m not hurt anywhere else.”
“Maisy?” Annie’s face sank, and her expression turned cold when she recognized who the person in front of her was.
Maisy was about to smile back at her. But when she saw Annie’s sullen expression, she understood everything. Annie had tried to find out more about Skylar through her. Once Maisy fulfilled her purpose, Annie didn’t bother to contact her anymore.
Now that she saw Maisy again, she didn’t even care to conceal her displeasure.
Clearly, she was taking Maisy for a fool.
“So, you still remember me. I thought after our chat last time, you’ve forgotten about me. I wonder if you’re satisfied with the information about Skylar that you got from me? You’re so curious about Skylar. Is it because you know the man who’s backing her?” Maisy asked without beating around the bush.
her
what do you want?” Annie stared at her coldly and maintained haughty demeanor. She didn’t seem
to care about Maisy exposing her true colors at all.
Maisy patted away the nonexistent dust on her skirt. “Nothing, really. Since we clearly can’t be friends, I’m not here to befriend you. I just want to know who Skylar was looking for and the identity of that man.”
Annie’s expression became sullen right away. These past two days, various things had been happening at home. Even when she called Rowan, he would find reasons not to talk to her.
Thinking that all of this was happening because she couldn’t hold back her emotions, Annie regretted her actions a lot and blamed herself for the blunder.
She had already made a wrong move, so she couldn’t afford to screw up her next step.
Because of that, she responded indifferently, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not very with Ms. Sullivan.”
familiar
If Joe found out that she was gossiping about Skylar with someone from the Williams family, unbearable.
Chapter 150
consequences would await her.
“Don’t lie to me, Ms. Silver. I’m not a child.” Of course, Maisy would do anything to hold on to this opportunity to find out more. She didn’t want to lose such a useful lead.
2/2
Annie looked at the relentless Maisy, her patience running thin. “The Williams family has encountered at lot of trouble recently. If you don’t want to make things worse, don’t pester me for information.”
After saying that, she opened the car door and got in.
Maisy tapped on the car window furiously. She shouted her speculations at Annie, “There aren’t many people who can make you shut up in Jipsburg. You asked me about Skylar because you like the man
who’s seeing her, don’t you? Who’s the guy you like? I…”
She stopped mid–sentence upon realizing something. Her expression soured immensely, and her eyes
widened in disbelief.
Annie put on a pair of sunglasses that concealed the mocking look in her eyes. She knew Maisy had
figured something out. If Maisy went and stirred up trouble, she would divert Joe’s attention toward the
Williams family.
That was what Annie wanted.
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