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Of course, Annie could tell that the Williams family was not fond of Skylar. She guessed that the main reason for their dislike was because of Maisy’s meddling. Annie would like it very much if Maisy stirred up more trouble for Skylar and made her the laughingstock In Jipsburg.
Otherwise, she had no way of venting the pent–up anger she felt due to the recent setbacks she and her family faced. Her life had been smooth sailing all these years. Yet, Skylar disrupted it single–handedly. Whenever she thought of this, she got so furious that her blood would boll.
Maisy remained dazed for half an hour. When the security guard working at the TV station noticed her strange demeanor and came to inquire if she was alright, she finally snapped out of her reverie.
Her hands balled into fists when she returned to her senses. Her icy fingertips pierced into her painfully. The raging jealousy within her caused her eyes to appear bloodshot.
palms
If it was really as she suspected, Skylar was one really lucky bitch. She thought of the silhouette she saw
back at the auction house. Could that have been Skylar?
Then, she recalled the time when she ran into Joe. Even though Paul was always the one to step forward
to speak, Joe had been present.
“Damn it, Skylar. You can’t be that lucky, can you? Your boyfriend cheated on you and slept with me behind your back! You’re only worthy of settling down with an old fart. How the hell can you end up with Joe Martin? No… This isn’t true! I don’t believe this!” Maisy ranted.
Just then, her phone started ringing. She answered it in a fluster. “Hello, Peter.”
“Did you meet Annie? What did she say? Who’s the one behind Skylar?” Peter asked hurriedly, eager to
know the answer.
Maisy was reluctant to divulge the information. If everyone in the Williams family knew that Joe was backing Skylar, they might try to make amends with her and beg her to return to the family.
By then, would Maisy still have a place in the Williams family? The answer was clear as day. That was why Maisy decided that as long as she was around, Skylar must not be accepted into the Williams family at all
costs.
“Annie didn’t say anything. I think she doesn’t know much. She was just curious about Skylar and our family’s affairs, so she asked me about it. I’m sorry, Peter. I wanted to be of help to the family and you, but I ended being unable to help at all.”
Peter fell silent for a few seconds. Then, he said somewhat irritably, “I know you did your best. Don’t blame yourself. There’s a lot going on at home recently. Take care of yourself.”
“Don’t worry. You and Dad need to take good care too. I believe our company will get through this difficult time,” Maisy sald.
“Okay.” Peter hung up.
After the call, Maisy searched for a video online using her phone. She found a video of Annie Interviewing
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Joe. Next, she, scrolled through the photos her friends sent her. They showed Annie and Joe attending John’s engagement banquet together.
Whether in the video or the photos, Maisy could see that Annie only had eyes for Joe. Maisy concluded that Annie’s persistent inquiries about Skylar stemmed from the belief that Skylar might be Joe’s secret
lover.
If Sky
“If Skylar can do it, so can I!”
She searched her contacts and found a number. Without hesitation, she made a call. “Do you know Joe’s schedule? Give me a copy. I’ll pay you for it.”
After getting what she wanted, she quickly booked a plane ticket. Then, she called Christopher. “Are you still stupidly waiting for Skylar to change her mind? Let me tell you, I know who her lover is. It’s Joe Martin! I want Joe. You want to win back Skylar, right?
“Let’s make a deal. I have some medicine that can help you get her into bed. Then, you’ll take some indecent photos of her to blackmall her. I can also use the photos to make Joe dislike her. We can kill two birds with one stone. How about it?”
Chapter 191
Of course, Annie could tell that the Williams family was not fond of Skylar. She guessed that the main reason for their dislike was because of Maisy’s meddling. Annie would like it very much if Maisy stirred up more trouble for Skylar and made her the laughingstock In Jipsburg.
Otherwise, she had no way of venting the pent–up anger she felt due to the recent setbacks she and her family faced. Her life had been smooth sailing all these years. Yet, Skylar disrupted it single–handedly. Whenever she thought of this, she got so furious that her blood would boll.
Maisy remained dazed for half an hour. When the security guard working at the TV station noticed her strange demeanor and came to inquire if she was alright, she finally snapped out of her reverie.
Her hands balled into fists when she returned to her senses. Her icy fingertips pierced into her painfully. The raging jealousy within her caused her eyes to appear bloodshot.
palms
If it was really as she suspected, Skylar was one really lucky bitch. She thought of the silhouette she saw
back at the auction house. Could that have been Skylar?
Then, she recalled the time when she ran into Joe. Even though Paul was always the one to step forward
to speak, Joe had been present.
“Damn it, Skylar. You can’t be that lucky, can you? Your boyfriend cheated on you and slept with me behind your back! You’re only worthy of settling down with an old fart. How the hell can you end up with Joe Martin? No… This isn’t true! I don’t believe this!” Maisy ranted.
Just then, her phone started ringing. She answered it in a fluster. “Hello, Peter.”
“Did you meet Annie? What did she say? Who’s the one behind Skylar?” Peter asked hurriedly, eager to
know the answer.
Maisy was reluctant to divulge the information. If everyone in the Williams family knew that Joe was backing Skylar, they might try to make amends with her and beg her to return to the family.
By then, would Maisy still have a place in the Williams family? The answer was clear as day. That was why Maisy decided that as long as she was around, Skylar must not be accepted into the Williams family at all
costs.
“Annie didn’t say anything. I think she doesn’t know much. She was just curious about Skylar and our family’s affairs, so she asked me about it. I’m sorry, Peter. I wanted to be of help to the family and you, but I ended being unable to help at all.”
Peter fell silent for a few seconds. Then, he said somewhat irritably, “I know you did your best. Don’t blame yourself. There’s a lot going on at home recently. Take care of yourself.”
“Don’t worry. You and Dad need to take good care too. I believe our company will get through this difficult time,” Maisy sald.
“Okay.” Peter hung up.
After the call, Maisy searched for a video online using her phone. She found a video of Annie Interviewing
Chapter 191
Joe. Next, she, scrolled through the photos her friends sent her. They showed Annie and Joe attending John’s engagement banquet together.
Whether in the video or the photos, Maisy could see that Annie only had eyes for Joe. Maisy concluded that Annie’s persistent inquiries about Skylar stemmed from the belief that Skylar might be Joe’s secret
lover.
If Sky
“If Skylar can do it, so can I!”
She searched her contacts and found a number. Without hesitation, she made a call. “Do you know Joe’s schedule? Give me a copy. I’ll pay you for it.”
After getting what she wanted, she quickly booked a plane ticket. Then, she called Christopher. “Are you still stupidly waiting for Skylar to change her mind? Let me tell you, I know who her lover is. It’s Joe Martin! I want Joe. You want to win back Skylar, right?
“Let’s make a deal. I have some medicine that can help you get her into bed. Then, you’ll take some indecent photos of her to blackmall her. I can also use the photos to make Joe dislike her. We can kill two birds with one stone. How about it?”
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At the Gardner Group building, by the time Christopher hurried over, it was already 4:00 pm. By this time, people in the building were gradually leaving the office.
He had spent a long time at the hospital. Not only that, he had also sold the house, borrowed money from relatives, and even cashed out credit cards. He had even borrowed money from college classmates and tried various online lending platforms.
זורי
Finally, he gathered enough money for his mother’s surgery. The surgery appointment was also set. He had initially planned to wait until after his mother’s surgery to settle things with Skylar.
But unexpectedly, Skylar’s lover wasn’t Paul as he had thought. Instead, it was Joe–the person he dared not even think about!
Had Skylar changed? Christopher thought she never cared about her boyfriend’s background. She had supposedly never cared about wealth before. Yet, now she willingly became Joe’s lover and allowed herself to be his plaything
They had been together for seven years! In all those seven years, she wouldn’t let him touch her, but she let Joe touch her. He couldn’t accept this because if she had let him sleep with her, he wouldn’t have slept with Maisy at all.
He glanced at the Gardner Group building that seemingly towered into the clouds. It was a place many people wanted to enter but couldn’t. When Skylar was his girlfriend, she liked to visit museums, stroll through streets selling antiques, and read history books in the library.
Just because she loved reading books and appreciated antiques, it didn’t mean she knew how to restore them. Skylar could only have gotten a job here because of Joe.
For ordinary people, the selection process to make it into Alexander’s team seemed to be fair and based on ability. But for the truly affluent families, those were merely rules set for ordinary people.
Skylar had broken up with him without any hesitation for these matérial benefits!
He waited for another half an hour before Skylar finally walked out of the building. She seemed to be a
little tired. She hadn’t even eaten lunch that day because she had focused all her attention and energy on
her restoration work.
Although she appeared calm and collected, as if she didn’t care much about money, that was just keeping up appearances in front of others. She actually cared a lot.
for
This weekend, she would find time to look at some properties. She wanted to buy a house of her own–a house for their family where her adoptive mother and siblings could live.
Thinking about this, Skylar smiled
Just as she was about to head to the parking lot, someone rushed toward her, grabbed her arm, and forcefully dragged her aside.
Skylar was startled. At first, she didn’t recognize Christopher because of his drastic change. He had lost
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considerable weight and hadn’t shaved his beard. He looked even more disheveled than when they last
met.
“Let go of me!” Skylar forcefully pulled her arm back and delivered two slaps swiftly, one on each side of Christopher’s cheeks.
Skylar didn’t hold back at all. She had wanted to beat him up a long time ago! Since he came asking for a beating, she wouldn’t deny him that. He more than deserved the beating for what he did in her previous
life.
Christopher hadn’t exercised for quite some time; he had given up on himself. Skylar’s attack stunned him, causing him to take two steps back.
“You’ve changed, Skylar! You’re different from before! You would never have acted like this in the past. I’ve heard about everything. You’re Joe’s lover, aren’t you? Skylar, don’t you know he’s just toying with you? He’ll never marry you or take responsibility for you.”
Skylar raised an eyebrow.
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Chapter 193
Christopher’s assumption of the man she was with had shifted from Paul to Joe. How had he guessed it?” Are you done? If you are, then get lost,” Skylar said expressionlessly.
She felt calm seeing him again that day. A scumbag like him wasn’t worthy of eliciting any emotional reactions from within her.
Christopher’s heart ached like someone was stabbing a knife into his heart gradually. “You used to say you loved me, and that you wanted to marry me. We even made a vow to never be apart in this lifetime. Are you aware that you’re going against our vows now?”
“Oh, I see. You’ve picked up some acting skills and the ability to twist the facts around after sleeping around with Maisy for so long.” Skylar retorted sarcastically.
She found that anyone associated with Maisy would become shameless, and they demonstrated the same despicable behavior.
“I… What happened between Maisy and me isn’t what you think. I was deceived by her. She made me think I liked her, but in fact, I’ve always loved you. Skylar, you’ve also made a mistake now. We both trod down the wrong path.
“I’ll forgive you, and you forgive me, okay? I’m the only one in this world who sincerely cares for you, loves you, and wants to marry you,” Christopher said.
His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at Skylar. When she looked at him in the past, her eyes were full of love. Now, she looked at him emotionlessly, with nothing but pure coldness and indifference.
“No, you
made an unforgivable mistake. I did not.” Skylar regretted those seven years she spent with him.
Seven years ago, she was blind when it came to her relationship with Christopher. Of course, she didn’t care to cling to such disgusting memories.
The security guard at the entrance noticed their unusual interaction and hurried over. “Ms. Sullivan, do you need help?”
“It’s okay. I just happened to run into a mental patient,” Skylar explained with a smile.
The security guard was relieved to hear this. He glanced at Christopher, nodding lightly. Indeed, he looked like he wasn’t quite right in the head, The security guard thought his relatively good looks were wasted on him.
“What are you looking at?” Christopher yelled angrily at the security guard.
The security guard rolled his eyes. “Hurry up and leave. Don’t think I won’t hit you just because you’re sick in the head. If you keep bothering Ms. Sullivan, I’ll beat you up.”
Skylar knew that these security guards hired by Alexander were all former soldiers, Hence, they were skilled in combat. Beating Christopher up was a piece of cake for them.
Never could Christopher have imagined he would be humiliated by a security guard one day. He was
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close to suffering from a mental breakdown.
“Get lost! She’s my girlfriend. We’re just having a disagreement,” Christopher shouted.
The security guard looked at Skylar. She remained indifferent, looking at Christopher as if he were a stranger. Clearly, he wasn’t her boyfriend. The security guard couldn’t help but wonder why there were so many loony people around.
“Skylar, we need to have a good talk. This isn’t the place. Shall we go to that fondue restaurant we often visit?” Christopher calmed down.
Even if he was angry, he couldn’t show it. He still had the drug Maisy gave him. Earlier, he was hesitant about doing this and didn’t wish to worsen his relationship with Skylar.
But now… Skylar would have to blame herself for not listening to him.
“Save your breath, Christopher.” When Skylar heard the word “fondue“, she felt nauseous.
She used to enjoy it because Christopher didn’t have much money. Thus, having fondue became the most extravagant dining option for them.
“No, Skye. I can’t let go. I never agreed to break up. You don’t want to cause a scene at your workplace, do you? If you don’t want that, then come with me,” Christopher said, regaining his calm.
His emotions returned to how they were before. He wanted Skylar to remember the good memories they
shared.
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“Are you ready for a good beating?” Skylar rolled up her sleeves and placed her bag aside.
She got into a fighting stance, polsed for a good fight.
Christopher was surprised at first. Then, he accused, “Skylar, you’ve changed. You’re no longer the kind and pure Skylar you used to be!”
‘Kindness doesn’t work for you,” Skylar replied, flexing her wrists and ankles.
As soon as her words fell, she lifted her foot and kicked, Christopher didn’t expect that Skylar would strike again. He was thrown into a very awkward position by the kick. He almost fell on his butt.
Clutching his stomach, he looked at Skylar as if she’d deeply hurt his feelings. “You’ve really changed!”
After kicking him, Skylar walked away and didn’t spare him another glance. In Christopher’s eyes, she had
become heartless after she fell for someone else.
Christopher’s eyes reddened further. He swore that Skylar hadn’t seen the last of him yet!
Ten minutes later, Skylar got in her car and hit the road. What just happened had no effect on her whatsoever. However, Christopher’s shamelessness still somewhat surprised her.
She had truly been blind back then! Thinking of how haggard Christopher looked just now, she thought he must have been having a hard time lately. With Amelia needing surgery, he must have tried all sorts of
methods to raise the money he lacked.
The consequences he would suffer soon would be severe.
Upon returning to Galaxy Villa, Skylar cooked herself a simple dinner. After she was done eating, she went back upstairs to handle the business for her Amazon online shop.
Before going to bed, she received a WhatsApp message from Joe. “I have a friend who wants your help to select an item that can ward off bad energy. Money is not an issue.
Skylar thought for a moment and asked, “Is it one of the people we met at the club that day?”
Joe replied, “Yes, it’s Rowan.”
At that moment, Joe had just finished his work for the day and was standing by the floor–to–ceiling window. He was gazing at the cityscape.
Skylar responded, “I can help choose a protective item, but he shouldn’t rely too much on these things. He needs to go to the hospital for a full check–up. I suggest you go too.”
The corner of Joe’s mouth twitched as he texted back, “I don’t need to.”
Skylar shot back. “Don’t be too confident in your immunity.”
Joe raised an eyebrow and found a digital copy of his medical examination report on his phone. He sent
Chapter 194
it to her right away.
Was she worried aboChapter 194
“Are you ready for a good beating?” Skylar rolled up her sleeves and placed her bag aside.
She got into a fighting stance, poised for a good fight.
Christopher was surprised at first. Then, he accused, “Skylar, you’ve changed. You’re no longer the kind
and pure Skylar you used to be!”
*Kindness doesn’t work for you,” Skylar replied, flexing her wrists and ankles.
As soon as her words fell, she lifted her foot and kicked. Christopher didn’t expect that Skylar would strike again. He was thrown into a very awkward position by the kick. He almost fell on his butt.
Clutching his stomach, he looked at Skylar as if she’d deeply hurt his feelings. “You’ve really changed!”
After kicking him, Skylar walked away and didn’t spare him another glance. In Christopher’s eyes, she had
become heartless after she fell for someone else.
Christopher’s eyes reddened further. He swore that Skylar hadn’t seen the last of him yet!
Ten minutes later, Skylar got in her car and hit the road. What just happened had no effect on her whatsoever. However, Christopher’s shamelessness still somewhat surprised her.
She had truly been blind back then! Thinking of how haggard Christopher looked just now, she thought he must have been having a hard time lately. With Amelia needing surgery, he must have tried all sorts of methods to raise the money he lacked.
The consequences he would suffer soon would be severe.
Upon returning to Galaxy Villa, Skylar cooked herself a simple dinner. After she was done eating, she went back upstairs to handle the business for her Amazon online shop.
Before going to bed, she received a WhatsApp message from Joe. “I have a friend who wants your help to select an item that can ward off bad energy. Money is not an issue.”
Skylar thought for a moment and asked, “Is it one of the people we met at the club that day?”
Joe replied, “Yes, it’s Rowan.”
At that moment, Joe had just finished his work for the day and was standing by the floor–to–ceiling window. He was gazing at the cityscape.
Skylar responded, “I can help choose a protective item, but he shouldn’t rely too much on these things. Hel needs to go to the hospital for a full check–up. I suggest you go too.”
The corner of Joe’s mouth twitched as he texted back, “I don’t need to.”
Skylar shot back. “Don’t be too confident in your immunity.”
Joe raised an eyebrow and found a digital copy of his medical examination report on his phone. He sent
hristopher’s assumption of the man she was with had shifted from Paul to Joe. How had he guessed it?” Are you done? If you are, then get lost,” Skylar said expressionlessly.
She felt calm seeing him again that day. A scumbag like him wasn’t worthy of eliciting any emotional reactions from within her.
Christopher’s heart ached like someone was stabbing a knife into his heart gradually. “You used to say you loved me, and that you wanted to marry me. We even made a vow to never be apart in this lifetime. Are you aware that you’re going against our vows now?”
“Oh, I see. You’ve picked up some acting skills and the ability to twist the facts around after sleeping around with Maisy for so long,” Skylar retorted sarcastically.
She found that anyone associated with Maisy would become shameless, and they demonstrated the same despicable behavior.
“I… What happened between Maisy and me isn’t what you think I was deceived by her. She made me think I liked her, but in fact, I’ve always loved you. Skylar, you’ve also made a mistake now. We both trod down the wrong path.
“I’ll forgive you, and you forgive me, okay? I’m the only one in this world who sincerely cares for you, loves you, and wants to marry you,” Christopher said.
His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at Skylar. When she looked at him in the past, her eyes were full of love. Now, she looked at him emotionlessly, with nothing but pure coldness and indifference.
“No, you made an unforgivable mistake. I did not.” Skylar regretted those seven years she spent with him.
Seven years ago, she was blind when it came to her relationship with Christopher. Of course, she didn’t. care to cling to such disgusting memories.
The security guard at the entrance noticed their unusual interaction and hurried over. “Ms. Sullivan, do you need help?”
It’s okay. I just happened to run into a mental patient, Skylar explained with a smile.
The security guard was relieved to hear this. He glanced at Christopher, nodding lightly. Indeed, he looked like he wasn’t quite right in the head. The security guard thought his relatively good looks were wasted on him.
“What are you looking at?” Christopher yelled angrily at the security guard.
The security guard rolled his eyes. “Hurry up and leave. Don’t think I won’t hit you just because you’re sick in the head. If you keep bothering Ms. Sullivan, I’ll beat you up.”
Skylar knew that these security guards hired by Alexander were all former soldiers. Hence, they were skilled in combat. Beating Christopher up was a piece of cake for them.
Never could Christopher have Imagined he would be humiliated by a security guard one day. He was
close to suffering from a mental breakdown
“Get lost She’s my grifend. Were just having a disagreement Christopher shouted.
The security guard looked at Skylar. She remained indifferent, looking at Christopher as if he were a stranger Clearly, he wasn’t her boyfnend. The security guard couldn’t help but wonder why there were so many loony people around
“Solar, we need to have a good tak. This isn’t the place. Shall we go to that fondue restaurant we often
visit? Christopher calmed down
Even if he was angry, he couldn’t show it. He still had the drug Maisy gave him. Earlier, he was hesitant about doing this and didnt wish to worsen his relationship with Skylar.
But now… Skylar would have to blame herself for not listening to him
“Save your breath, Christopher. When Skylar heard the word “fondue“, she felt nauseous.
She used to enjoy it because Christopher didnt have much money. Thus, having fondue became the most extravagant dining option for them.
No, Sige. I can’t let go. I never agreed to break up. You don’t want to cause a scene at your workplace, do you? If you don’t want that, then come with me,” Christopher said, regaining his calm.
His emotions returned to how they were before. He wanted Skylar to remember the good memories they
shared
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Joe suddenly asked, “Grandma wants you and me to go for a preconception check–up, Skylar. Will you go?
Skylar knew it was impossible for Joe and her to get to the stage of having a baby. But since Gloria
suggested it, she simply responded with an “Okay“.
She was putting on an act, so she should do her part diligently and sincerely. She would strive to make Gloria happy every day for these three years.
Joe looked at her response with a pensive look in his eyes. He forgot all about the lit cigarette that he held between his fingers.
When Gloria suggested that he and Skylar should undergo a preconception check–up, he didn’t feel resistant toward it at all. On the contrary, he thought that if he were to have a child with Skylar, it wouldn’t
be a bad idea.
There weren’t many women whom he didn’t dislike in this world. He had better discuss this with Skylar after he went back. Thinking of that, he snuffed out the cigarette.
Just then, Rowan called. “Damn! I almost hooked up with that female celebrity Marcus had been with. My friend from the hospital told me she’s confirmed to have AIDS.
“Fuck! I don’t know if she infected Marcus or if Marcus infected her! I haven’t been able to sleep a wink
since yesterday.
“Oh, by the way, is Skylar really that amazing? Did she figure this out herself? Have you told her? Ask her to get me a protective item. Money is not an issue as long as it works.”
The way Rowan’s speech sped up indicated his shock and astonishment. After he was done prattling, he realized that he had been talking by himself the whole time and hadn’t given Joe a chance to speak.
“If you want to rely on her abilities, then you should trust her. Otherwise, you can find someone else,” Joe replied calmly.
Rowan didn’t dare to say that he didn’t trust Skylar. Since she was someone Joe trusted, he would be challenging Joe’s judgment if he expressed doubt.
“I can’t trust anyone else,” Rowan said, feeling much calmer now. “Marcus has been fooling around too much lately. He even attended a party at a villa the other day. Luckily, I’m not fond of that kind of scene. I’d better be celibate for the time being.”
Many households in Jipsburg would soon start to panic. The entertainment industry would be in chaos too. With so many people falling victim to AIDS at the same time, one could imagine the extent of the
turmoil.
Skylar had just entered the Gardner Group building when her phone rang.
Chapter 195
“Skye, I heard a juicy piece of gossip,” Natalie said in a deliberately hushed tone.
“Oh? What gossip?” Skylar asked with a smile.
“Last night, my husband and his friends were talking on the phone. There’s a person in their circle who contracted AIDS from sleeping around with women. Now, many people are going to the hospital for check -ups. Many female celebrities and models are involved.
“If it weren’t for Jeremy being faithful to me and having eyes for me only, I might also worry about his health. But to ensure there won’t be unwanted surprises, I had him undergo a check–up too. He just finished the check–up and went to the company. I’m waiting for the results here.”
Natalie had absolute trust in her husband.
“It’s good to have regular check–ups,” Skylar remarked smilingly.
She suddenly thought of the two female celebrities she saw at the club that day. They were both A–listers in the entertainment industry. If Marcus passed the disease to them too, the entertainment industry would have a storm brewing on the horizon.
If there were paparazzi with keen noses who caught a whiff of this news, Jipsburg would be very lively
soon.
“I think so too. It just so happens that we’re planning to have a baby. I’ve just had a preconception check- up,” Natalie said.
Her tone showed how much she was looking forward to having children.
Skylar recalled what Joe said yesterday and casually asked, “Is the preconception check–up complicated?
“Not really. It’s just some routine checks. My husband wants to see the viability of his sperm, and I looked it up…” Natalie told her the check–ups included in des
Skylar nodded as she listened. “It turns out having a child isn’t so simple.”
Natalie chuckled and said, “Of course not. Since we’ve decided to have a baby and become parents, we need to make serious preparations and ensure our bodies are in the best condition to have a healthy baby.
“I believe you’re all set to be a mother now, Natty.” Skylar felt that time flew by very quickly.
In the blink of an eye, they had graduated from college for almost a year.
Natalie laughed along and said, “I can’t imagine what it would be like for me to be a mother. Oh, the report is ready. I need to talk to the doctor. After that, I’ll go get some takeout and take it to my husband’s office. I’m going to surprise him!”
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An hour later, Natalie appeared at Jeremy’s company.
She rarely visited the company, fearing that she would disturb Jeremy’s work. The last time she came was before she and Jeremy got married. The receptionist was a new lady, and she didn’t recognize
Natalie.
When she mentioned she was Mrs. Hughes, the receptionist seemed somewhat surprised.
‘Mrs. Hughes? Ah, wait a moment. Let me… Let me ask Ms. Green where Mr. Hughes is now.” The receptionist seemed a bit flustered.
Natalie frowned, thinking that the current receptionist was not as professional as the previous one.
She said, “There’s no need to ask anyone. I’ll go up myself. If he’s in a meeting, I’ll wait in his office and won’t disrupt his work.”
Also, who was Ms. Green? Did Jeremy hire a new secretary? She didn’t remember him mentioning anything about this. He rarely talked to her about work matters, and she rarely inquired.
Although she seldom visited the company, she knew which floor Jeremy’s office was on. So, she took the elevator herself. After she got into the elevator, the receptionist immediately made a phone call,
unbeknownst to her.
Jeremy’s office was on the top floor. He didn’t like being disturbed when he was working, and the top floor was the quietest. Under Jeremy’s leadership, the Hughes‘ company had doubled in size compared to
before.
Nowadays, the Hughes family was one of the most prestigious families in Jipsburg.
Thinking of how capable Jeremy was, Natalie felt proud. He was her husband, after all! The thought of Jeremy being her husband filled Natalie’s heart with happiness.
Soon, the elevator reached the top floor. The moment the elevator doors opened, Natalie saw a tall and beautiful woman right before her. Her ordinary white shirt added a hint of allure to her beauty.
Natalie was momentarily dazzled. She herself was quite pretty too, so she didn’t feel inferior in any way because whether a figure was attractive was subjective to the eye of the beholder.
Annabelle gave Natalie a once–over discreetly. In her eyes, she had that typical proud look of a woman who was aware of her attractiveness.
She greeted Natalie, “Hello.”
Natalie smiled and greeted her back as she made her way to Jeremy’s office with the takeout.
Annabelle stood in the elevator and looked disdainfully at Natalie’s retreating back. It was no wonder Jeremy was so voracious in bed. Natalie couldn’t satisfy him at all.
They got married simply because they were bosom friends and due to the elders of their family Natalle was the only one who thought that Jeremy married her out of love.
Annabelle looked down at her stockings. She felt somewhat annoyed that they were torn again. Fortunately, she always had an extra pair in her bag.
Natalie knocked on the door. After hearing the familiar “come in“, she walked in.
“Hi, my dear husband! Surprise!”
Jeremy looked at Natalie with a smile. “Do you have the results of the check–up?”
“Yes. You’re extremely healthy, Mr. Hughes. So, our child will be very healthy too.” Natalie placed the takeout on the table and took out the check–up report from her bag.
She added, “We can have a child whenever we want now.”
Jeremy walked over to Natalie and hugged her. “Good. We’ll be having a child of our own.”
The moment Natalie was pulled into his embrace, she felt pure bliss.
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Suddenly, Natalie frowned. “Honey, why do I smell perfume on you?”
The scent of this perfume seemed familiar. She felt like she had just smelled it.
Jeremy pursed his lips. “Do I? It must be the perfume the secretary was wearing. We happened to be in the same elevator this morning.”
“There was a beautiful woman who just walked out. Is she your new secretary?” Natalie didn’t dwell on it, but she didn’t like the scent of this perfume.
If she wasn’t confident that Jeremy only had eyes for her, she would definitely resent Jeremy for hiring a secretary who was even prettier than her.
Jeremy responded with a faint “Yeah.”
Considering Jeremy’s indifferent attitude toward his secretary, Natalie decided not to think too much.
She smiled and said, “Don’t be so aloof toward your employees, Mr. Hughes. What if you scare them
away?”
“Isn’t it a good thing that I’m only gentle to you?” Jeremy ruffled Natalie’s hair dotingly.
Natalie couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course! I’m a jealous woman. I get green with envy easily. My husband
is so handsome. I think many women have their eyes on you.”
“Don’t worry. Even if others have their eyes on me, it’s useless.” Jeremy chuckled.
Natalie’s heart swelled with joy at his words. “Me too. You can rest assured that there are many people pursuing me, but I don’t fancy any of them. I only have eyes for you, Mr. Hughes!”
“If anyone else pursues you, tell them you’re Mrs. Hughes and order them to scram,” Jeremy remarked.
coldly.
Seeing that Jeremy was jealous, Natalie giggled mischievously. “I’m just teasing you. I’ve already announced on my social media that I’m married. Who would dare pursue a married woman?”
Jeremy’s tense expression eased slightly.
After work, Skylar was about to go to Pearlhall Residence to keep Gloria company.
But then, she received a photo sent by an ex–classmate. That classmate happened to pass by Steven’s workplace and saw the scene at the entrance.
Christopher was blocking Steven’s way and kneeling down in front of him.
The photo was quite straightforward. She could see Steven’s shock and how Christopher was humbling
himself.
Skylar couldn’t believe that Christopher had gone to pester Steven. She took a deep breath, gripping the
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steering wheel tightly. Then, she made a U–turn decisively.
There was no traffic on the road, so she arrived fairly quickly at the technology company where Steven
worked.
At this moment, Steven was looking at Christopher indifferently. They were surrounded by a crowd who had gathered to see what was going on.
“Help me, Steven. I beg you. Skylar and I have been together for so many years. We can’t just end our relationship like this,” Christopher pleaded.
He didn’t expect Steven to remain unmoved. He had been talking for almost half an hour while being surrounded by so many people. In addition, he brought several classmates to help. They all urged Steven to help Christopher, but Steven refused to relent.
Steven’s stance was very firm. “You can’t force matters of the heart. You and Skylar are no longer meant to be together. You didn’t cherish her when you had her. It’s too late to come crying now.
“Christopher, no matter what you say or how many people you bring to help you, I will still say the same thing I won’t agree for Skylar to be with you.”
Moreover, Skylar was already married. She had arranged for him to meet his brother–in–law in a few more
days.
Having experienced Christopher’s betrayal, Steven decided to give his brother–in–law a stern warning when he met him. He would make it known that he would protect Skylar at all costs and not let her suffer
anymore.
Christopher lowered his head, his eyes filled with malice.
“Don’t be so unsympathetic. Christopher and Skylar have been together for so many years. They were the golden couple back in school. Weren’t they about to get married? They shouldn’t break up so readily over a trivial matter,” a male ex–classmate spoke up.
Others also joined in to persuade Steven.
Seeing them guilt–tripping Steven from a moral high ground, Skylar couldn’t just stand by any longer. With brisk steps, she walked over to them.
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Pushing through the crowd, Skylar arrived before Christopher.
“Skye…”
Steven felt a bit worried when he saw Skylar. Why was she here? Looking at the ex–classmates
surrounding them, he knew for sure that Christopher had instructed them to inform Skylar. Witnessing Christopher’s shamelessness firsthand made him realize even more that Skylar had been deceived by him all those years.
At the mention of “Skye“, a flicker of anticipation flashed in Christopher’s eyes.
Finally, she had come!
He immediately turned around. “Skye, you finally came. I’ve been waiting for you. I know you don’t really
want to break up with me, right?”
Christopher portrayed the expression of a loyal, loving man vividly. Skylar realized why he had managed to deceive her so convincingly in her previous life. It was because he was very good at acting.
She had been naïve and inexperienced, never having seen the evil side of human nature. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so thoroughly deceived and hurt.
Of course, there were also those so–called relatives who were like demons. They completely reshaped her understanding of human nature too. If it hadn’t been for Janine and Steven, as well as Viola, Gloria, and George being kind to her, her heart might have been completely distorted.
‘Christopher, I know you have no shame, but I never expected you to be utterly shameless,” Skylar said as
she stood beside Steven.
Christopher’s strained facial muscles twitched slightly as he feigned deep affection. “Skye, I don’t understand. Did my poverty really put you off? Are you not willing to share weal and woe with me?
“They all say you’re a mistress. That person can give you immense wealth, but he can’t give you love or
marriage!”
He wasn’t stupid; he knew he couldn’t mention Joe’s name. If he did, he would get into trouble. He knew he wouldn’t be able to bear the consequences. He didn’t believe Joe would marry Skylar, as her background would not be up to his standards.
“Skylar is a kept woman?”
“Why is Christopher trying to win her back, then? What spurred him to do this?”
“Skylar is pretty. It isn’t surprising that she became a mistress. No wonder she doesn’t want to be with Christopher. We ordinary folks, with a measly monthly salary, barely have any money left after paying rent. I’d also like to have a sugar mommy support me.”
“Are women nowadays all so materialistic ? I used to think Skylar wasn’t that kind of person, but now it seems women are all the same. There’s no difference! None of them would endure hardships with a man.
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“Are there no good women left in this world?”
Listening to these people slander Skylar, Steven rolled up his sleeves and glared at them fiercely. “Say that again and see what happens.”
“They can say whatever they like. Only incapable people would slander others just to vent their
frustrations. Steven, there’s no need to waste your breath on them. They’re not worth it.” Skylar’s voice was icy, and she showed no sign of panic.
Then, she looked at Christopher mockingly. “You booked a hotel room with Maisy and went shopping with her everywhere. Are you trying to deceive yourself or deceive me by playing a little trick like this?
“Now that you’ve wrongly accused me of being a mistress, do you feel better? You’re despicable and shameless. If you dare to spread rumors again, I’ll take you to the police station and sue you until you become bankrupt. Do you want that?
“Steven, record a video for me. Record the faces of all those who dared to spread rumors here today. For every accusation, I’ll file a lawsuit and make them pay. I’ll give them a taste of what it’s like to be the defendant in court and lose money.”
Steven didn’t take out his phone but pointed to the nearby camera. “Everything that just happened has been recorded by the ultra–high–definition camera. We can hear whatever they’ve said loud and clear.” Skylar had toughened up, but it saddened Steven to see this.
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Christopher looked at Skylar in shock. “You… Are you serious?”
He wasn’t sure if what Maisy told him was true or not at this point. Skylar didn’t seem like a mistress.
She hit him yesterday, and now she was expressing her intention to sue him.
Christopher stared at Skylar and found her unfamiliar. He remembered the previous Skylar would unconditionally believe him no matter what he said.
This gave him the confidence that even if she caught him in bed with Malsy, she would still believe him after he explained. But now….
“Why are you still pestering me after we broke up? I don’t think you want me back. You just want my money, don’t you? Save your breath, Christopher. I’ll have to hand it to you for managing to scam all that money from me in the past using various ways.
“But if you try to do that again, I’ll make sure you rot in prison,” Skylar warned icily.
The ex–classmates who came to help Christopher were long intimidated by the threat of being sued. They feared that the surveillance camera had recorded what they said that could be used against them.
Silently, without saying a word, they slipped away. Under Steven’s piercing and frigid gaze, the other onlookers felt that they should stop being busybodies there too.
In just a few minutes, Christopher was left alone. He felt helpless.
Christopher regretted his actions deeply. “Skylar, trust me. I will treat you well in the future, and I will never hurt you again. It doesn’t make sense for you not to give me another chance.”
He couldn’t understand how she could be so cold–hearted and resolute.
Steven took out his phone and said coldly, “Say one more word, and I’ll call the police right now.”
“Call the police, Steven. He harassed me yesterday, and now he’s bothering you. Who knows what he’ll do next? It’s necessary for the police to teach him a lesson now.” Skylar looked at Christopher with a smirk, but her words were directed at Steven.
Christopher’s face turned pale, and he looked gloomy. “Skylar, are you sure you won’t regret this?”
*Regret, my foot!” Steven cursed angrily. He couldn’t understand how Christopher seemed to have no
sense of shame at all.
Skylar sneered in silence.
Christopher gritted his teeth. “There are too many misunderstandings between us now. My mother is undergoing surgery soon. After her surgery, we really should have a good talk.
“I don’t want our relationship to be built on misunderstandings. I’m sorry for causing you trouble today, 17 treat you to dinner as an apology.”
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“There’s no need for dinner or apologies. Just leave,” Steven said, driving him away.
He understood now that Christopher could be utterly shameless or super earnest when trying to get his way. Now, he was admitting his mistakes with a heartfelt attitude. It was a waste for him to expound his energy on chasing after a woman with his Machiavellian abilities.
Christopher was a scumbag through and through.
Steven said to Skylar, “Everything he says is nonsense. Don’t believe him. Every word he says has a purpose. Once he achieves his goal, he’ll betray you all the same.”
He was a bit worried.
“Don’t worry, Steven. I’m already married, how could I still have lingering feelings for him? He’s not worth it,” Skylar replied with a smile.
“That’s good,” Steven said, sighing in relief.
Joe entered the hotel with long strides, followed by Paul. The two had just finished their work and returned to the hotel.
They had to catch a flight back to Jipsburg early tomorrow morning.
“Mr. Martin!” A cloying voice that raised goosebumps sounded from somewhere in the lobby.
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Paul shivered, as he hadn’t heard such a pretentious voice in a long time. By reflex, he turned his head to see who it was. When he saw who it was, he was stunned. Why was Maisy here?
Joe glanced over too.
Seeing Joe looking at her, Maisy thought all that waiting was worth it. She approached him quickly, her high heels clacking.
“Mr. Martin, what a coincidence.”
She arrived at the hotel the previous night, but it was too late to go knocking on Joe’s door, especially since he was staying in the presidential suite. So, she couldn’t enter.
She had set an alarm for 8:00 am that morning. She had been waiting since then until she finally
walk through the entrance.
y saw.
Joe
She had already reapplied her makeup four or five times by then. Fortunately, her efforts paid off, as he appeared at long last
There was a flicker of disdain in Joe’s cold eyes. Paul, who was standing beside Joe, had keenly sensed
his boss‘ disgust. He could tell that Joe disliked Maisy from the first time he saw her.
However, Maisy seemed to be oblivious to his obvious aversion to her.
“Is there something you need, Ms. Williams?” Paul asked
Maisy was somewhat displeased with Paul Couldn’t he see that she was talking to Joe? Why was he
interrupting?
With a polite smile, Maisy said gracefully, “I think it’s wonderful that I happened to bump into you here. There have been some misunderstandings between us in the past few encounters. I think I should explain myself and clear the air. I want to talk about Skylar too”
Upon hearing that, Paul frowned. Was Maisy trying to stir up trouble again? Did she really think he hadn’t. investigated her or her family thoroughly?
He knew all about them, and so did Joe. Only Maisy was in the dark.
Maisy thought that she was the princess, and everyone would revolve around her. Her family, her parents,
and her brothers all revolved around her. So, she assumed Joe would naturally do the same too.
As long as she put in some effort, she would eventually have him eating out of her palm.
“You handle it,” Joe said and went straight to the elevator.
Maisy wanted to stop him from leaving, but she couldn’t.
“Mr. Martin, Skylar has deceived you!” she shouted anxiously.
She was sure Joe had heard her, but why didn’t he respond to her?
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After Joe got into the elevator, Paul looked at Maisy and said, “You can just tell me whatever you want to say. What did Ms. Sullivan do to deceive my boss?”
Maisy bit her lip, feeling displeased. Had Skylar bewitched Joe or put him under a spell? Why wouldn’t he
listen to her?
Judging from how Joe was giving her the cold shoulder, Maisy assumed that Skylar had been talking bad about her behind her back.
“Does Mr. Martin know that Skylar has a boyfriend?” Maisy asked.
Paul raised an eyebrow. He was curious as to what Maisy knew. Previously, she misunderstood him and Skylar. Now, she was implicating Joe.
“What does that have to do with anything?” Paul posed a vague question.
“Of course, it matters! If Mr. Martin knew that Skylar had a boyfriend and continued to be with her, wouldn’t he have become the third party in their relationship? If he doesn’t know about that, then Skylar has deceived him.
“Even if Mr. Martin only sees Skylar as a casual lover and nothing more, he still needs to know the truth. Moreover, Skylar is from the Williams family. If she did this, it would bring shame to our family and
embarrass us too.
“If she offends Mr. Martin, we will suffer as well,” Maisy explained with a frown, her voice tight with
impatience.
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Paul couldn’t contain his laughter. Maisy must be out of her mind.
“And another thing, Skylar must have badmouthed the Williams family to Mr. Martin, which is why Martin Group refuses to work with us now. Our company’s taken a
serious hit and might even go bankrupt.
“I need to get to the bottom of this. I hope Mr. Martin will give me the chance and time to clear things up,” Maisy declared confidently.
Paul chuckled, “Ms. Williams, how did you find out where Mr. Martin was?”
Maisy froze at the question, and panic flickered in her eyes.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just happened to run into Mr. Martin today. There’s no rule saying I can’t come to this city or stay at this hotel, is there?”
How did Paul figure out that she had gotten Joe’s whereabouts from someone else?
No wonder Charles had warned her not to underestimate Paul. It seemed that no one Joe kept by his side was simple.
“Really? Do you think I can’t trace your information to whichever private detective you hired? It won’t take long before someone tells me.
“Don’t act like a smartass. If you harass Mr. Martin again, the Williamses will be doomed.” Paul’s smile vanished, replaced by a chilling assertiveness.
Maisy’s face turned ashen. “You!”
“Did you really think no one would see through your intentions?” Paul looked at Maisy as if she was a fool. He found Maisy’s act today highly entertaining.
Maisy’s face was drained of color. She hadn’t expected her plan to be seen through. so quickly.
“You’ve all been deceived by Skylar!” Maisy snapped, her voice trembling with rage.
Paul had no interest in continuing this farce. Maisy’s shallow tricks might fool others, but trying them on him and Joe was an insult.
The fact that he had managed to keep his composure and hadn’t knocked her out was already praiseworthy. After a long day, wasting time with an idiot was the last thing Paul needed.
Paul strode toward the elevator, leaving Maisy dejected and defeated.
Maisy was flabbergasted. She couldn’t believe this was the outcome after all the effort she had put into flying over and waiting all day.
Maisy bit her lip, seething with resentment. “Skylar, I swear I won’t let you have the last laugh. So what if Joe is backing you now?
“The Williams family still prefers me. Soon, Janine and her sons will come to favor. me too, and you’ll end up all alone in agony.”
Maisy took out her phone, opened WhatsApp, and found Janine’s number. With a condescending sneer, she sent a voice message.
“Mom, I’ve realized how wrong I was. I’ve thought it through. You gave birth to me, and I was ungrateful. Mom, please forgive me.
“I know you might not forgive me easily because of Skylar, but I won’t blame you. If you have time this weekend, I’d like to visit you.”
Even though Maisy didn’t receive a reply for a few minutes, she remained unfazed. After all, she was Janine’s biological daughter, and she didn’t believe Janine could truly ignore her.
Janine remained doubtful when she heard Maisy’s voice message.
Had Maisy really changed? As Maisy’s biological mother, she felt conflicted.
After a few minutes of hesitation, Janine replied and agreed to meet.
Paul returned to his room and took a shower. He lay in bed but still couldn’t sleep.
So, he pulled out his phone and sent a message to Skylar.
“Maisy somehow found out where Mr. Martin was and followed him to the hotel. She
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might suspect you’re with him, but she doesn’t know that you two are married.”
Skylar frowned at Paul’s message. Maisy was like a stubborn, sickening leech.
But she would be happy to help if Maisy wanted to bring about her own downfall.
“Mr. Ziegler, can you recommend a reliable private detective?” Skylar texted.
“I’ll send you his number right now. When you call, just mention that you’re my friend, and he’ll handle the task well,” Paul replied promptly.
“Alright, thanks.”
Skylar closed WhatsApp and called the private detective directly. “Hi. I’m Mr. Ziegler’s friend. He recommended you to me. I need you to look into someone for me
After hanging up, Skylar lay back on the bed while her mind drifted to her past life.
After she had become paralyzed from the waist down, she had been bedridden and could only move her hands and head.
As time had gone on, with barely any food and often skipping meals, Skylar had become so weak that she couldn’t move at all.
Seeing how frail Skylar had become, Maisy had no qualms about telling her about all sorts of scandalous affairs.
Maisy and Christopher used to have sex in front of her just to torment her. They had even made her take weird drugs Maisy had bought from shady dealers at bars.
Eventually, Maisy had accidentally gotten involved with drugs herself.
Skylar wondered if Maisy had started using drugs in this life yet. Initially, she had planned to wait until the Williams family went bankrupt.
She had thought that she would then give Maisy the final push into prison when she turned to crime to fund her drug habit.
Yet now, Skylar decided to start by exposing Maisy’s illegal drug purchases. She would send Maisy to hell step by step!
The only disappointment was that in her past life, Christopher and Maisy had been madly in love, even until her tragic death.
In this life, however, they seemed to have no connection. Instead, Christopher was relentlessly pursuing Skylar.
Therefore, Skylar’s rebirth must have had a butterfly effect and changed the course of others‘ lives as well.
Maisy spotted Joe while waiting for her flight at the airport. She considered approaching him but hesitated when she saw Paul giving her a cold stare.
She immediately gave up on the idea. Paul’s words from the previous day were likely what Joe wanted to say to her.
“Fucking Skylar! You must have slandered me to Joe just so he would hate me! Just wait and see; I’ll make sure you lose everything!”
Alexander received a call from his butler and hurried home.
The butler was worried about Caleb, who hadn’t left his room for days. Caleb had only allowed people in to deliver meals and clean up the room before shutting them
out again.
Today, he had even refused meals and cleaning services. Concerned, the butler had
called Alexander.
Alexander had been busy during the day. He had brushed it off, saying that Caleb
wouldn’t die just yet, and waited until he had finished work before returning home.
Alexander knocked twice on the door. Caleb’s voice came from inside. “Come in.”
Alexander opened the door and walked in, with the butler following behind. They were both shocked by the scene that greeted them.
Caleb was lying on his bed, reading a book. Several more books were spread out on
his bed.
How did Paul figure out that she had gotten Joe’s whereabouts from someone else?
No wonder Charles had warned her not to underestimate Paul. It seemed that no one Joe kept by his side was simple.
“Really? Do you think I can’t trace your information to whichever private detective you hired? It won’t take long before someone tells me.
“Don’t act like a smartass. If you harass Mr. Martin again, the Williamses will be doomed.” Paul’s smile vanished, replaced by a chilling assertiveness.
Maisy’s face turned ashen. “You!”
“Did you really think no one would see through your intentions?” Paul looked at Maisy as if she was a fool. He found Maisy’s act today highly entertaining.
Maisy’s face was drained of color. She hadn’t expected her plan to be seen through. so quickly.
“You’ve all been deceived by Skylar!” Maisy snapped, her voice trembling with rage.
Paul had no interest in continuing this farce. Maisy’s shallow tricks might fool others, but trying them on him and Joe was an insult.
The fact that he had managed to keep his composure and hadn’t knocked her out was already praiseworthy. After a long day, wasting time with an idiot was the last thing Paul needed.
Paul strode toward the elevator, leaving Maisy dejected and defeated.
Maisy was flabbergasted. She couldn’t believe this was the outcome after all the effort she had put into flying over and waiting all day.
Maisy bit her lip, seething with resentment. “Skylar, I swear I won’t let you have the last laugh. So what if Joe is backing you now?
“The Williams family still prefers me. Soon, Janine and her sons will come to favor. me too, and you’ll end up all alone in agony.”
Maisy took out her phone, opened WhatsApp, and found Janine’s number. With a condescending sneer, she sent a voice message.
“Mom, I’ve realized how wrong I was. I’ve thought it through. You gave birth to me, and I was ungrateful. Mom, please forgive me.
“I know you might not forgive me easily because of Skylar, but I won’t blame you. If you have time this weekend, I’d like to visit you.”
Even though Maisy didn’t receive a reply for a few minutes, she remained unfazed. After all, she was Janine’s biological daughter, and she didn’t believe Janine could truly ignore her.
Janine remained doubtful when she heard Maisy’s voice message.
Had Maisy really changed? As Maisy’s biological mother, she felt conflicted.
After a few minutes of hesitation, Janine replied and agreed to meet.
Paul returned to his room and took a shower. He lay in bed but still couldn’t sleep.
So, he pulled out his phone and sent a message to Skylar.
“Maisy somehow found out where Mr. Martin was and followed him to the hotel. She
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might suspect you’re with him, but she doesn’t know that you two are married.”
Skylar frowned at Paul’s message. Maisy was like a stubborn, sickening leech.
But she would be happy to help if Maisy wanted to bring about her own downfall.
“Mr. Ziegler, can you recommend a reliable private detective?” Skylar texted.
“I’ll send you his number right now. When you call, just mention that you’re my friend, and he’ll handle the task well,” Paul replied promptly.
“Alright, thanks.”
Skylar closed WhatsApp and called the private detective directly. “Hi. I’m Mr. Ziegler’s friend. He recommended you to me. I need you to look into someone for me
After hanging up, Skylar lay back on the bed while her mind drifted to her past life.
After she had become paralyzed from the waist down, she had been bedridden and could only move her hands and head.
As time had gone on, with barely any food and often skipping meals, Skylar had become so weak that she couldn’t move at all.
Seeing how frail Skylar had become, Maisy had no qualms about telling her about all sorts of scandalous affairs.
Maisy and Christopher used to have sex in front of her just to torment her. They had even made her take weird drugs Maisy had bought from shady dealers at bars.
Eventually, Maisy had accidentally gotten involved with drugs herself.
Skylar wondered if Maisy had started using drugs in this life yet. Initially, she had planned to wait until the Williams family went bankrupt.
She had thought that she would then give Maisy the final push into prison when she turned to crime to fund her drug habit.
Yet now, Skylar decided to start by exposing Maisy’s illegal drug purchases. She would send Maisy to hell step by step!
The only disappointment was that in her past life, Christopher and Maisy had been madly in love, even until her tragic death.
In this life, however, they seemed to have no connection. Instead, Christopher was relentlessly pursuing Skylar.
Therefore, Skylar’s rebirth must have had a butterfly effect and changed the course of others‘ lives as well.
Maisy spotted Joe while waiting for her flight at the airport. She considered approaching him but hesitated when she saw Paul giving her a cold stare.
She immediately gave up on the idea. Paul’s words from the previous day were likely what Joe wanted to say to her.
“Fucking Skylar! You must have slandered me to Joe just so he would hate me! Just wait and see; I’ll make sure you lose everything!”
Alexander received a call from his butler and hurried home.
The butler was worried about Caleb, who hadn’t left his room for days. Caleb had only allowed people in to deliver meals and clean up the room before shutting them
out again.
Today, he had even refused meals and cleaning services. Concerned, the butler had
called Alexander.
Alexander had been busy during the day. He had brushed it off, saying that Caleb
wouldn’t die just yet, and waited until he had finished work before returning home.
Alexander knocked twice on the door. Caleb’s voice came from inside. “Come in.”
Alexander opened
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Caleb’s hair had grown long and unruly, resembling a bird’s nest. His eyes were glued
to the book, and he remained oblivious to everything else around him.
“What’s going on here?” Alexander sensed that something was off.
He had seen Caleb act out and slack off, but he had never seen Caleb this serious, like a bookworm. Was this even his grandson?
Caleb scratched his head and looked at Alexander, tears welling up in his eyes.” Grandpa, it’s too difficult! It’s so complicated! I just can’t learn this stuff!”
Caleb had thought that if he forced himself to study, he would eventually understand it. After all, he had Alexander’s blood running in his veins.
Besides, he used to be somewhat intelligent as a kid, right? So why did he feel so clueless now? His eyes hurt, and his head throbbed from all the studying, but he just couldn’t grasp it.
Alexander was taken aback at first, then he walked over with a sigh.
“Did you lock yourself here for days just to read these books? You won’t understand everything if no one’s here to teach you.
“If you could, you’d be a prodigy! If you really want to learn, I’ll arrange for a tutor to come by tomorrow and start teaching you from the basics.”
“Starting from the basics? When will I ever be able to date Skylar then?” Caleb felt utterly defeated.
Alexander rolled his eyes. “Didn’t John make it clear to you? Stop daydreaming. You’re not good enough for Skylar.”
“You’re all looking down on me!” Caleb shouted in frustration. He believed he was worthy of being with Skylar. So, the more they doubted him, the harder he would try.
Skylar had dinner with Gloria at Pearlhall Residence. Afterward, they watched a variety show together.
Joe will be back tonight I’ve asked Edgar to schedule an appointment at the hospital for you two,” Gloria said.
These two worrisome kids needed a little push. If she didn’t intervene, they might never get together until she passed away, flo, Gloria thought a pre–pregnancy check up would bring them closer.
Gloria knew Joe well. If he didn’t want to go, he would have refused outright. But since he had agreed, he must have some feelings for Skylar.
Earlier that afternoon, Gloria had received a call from Alexander. He had said that he also favored Skylar and mentioned that Caleb was quite taken with her. He had also been stunned to learn that Skylar had grown up with Viola.
Alexander likely hadn’t recovered from the shock since he had cursed his sons for being unreliable. The way he saw it, Joe wouldn’t have stood a chance if his own. sons had had children earlier!
However, Gloria was confident. Even if Caleb had been born early, he wouldn’t have turned out to be as handsome and capable as Joe!
“Alright, Grandma. Joe mentioned it to me. I’ll take the day off tomorrow.” Skylar nodded. She hadn’t had a check–up in a while and could use the opportunity.
“Joe might seem stern, but he’s way better than the first male contestant on this show. Look at that guy–sweet–talking and dating the first female contestant one. day, then cooking for the third girl the next,” Gloria said, shaking her head.
“Well, Joe would never do that. Once he’s set his sights on someone, that’s it for life!” Gloria praised Joe endlessly to secure Skyar as his future wife.
Skylar agreed. “Not just the first guy. Even the second and third male contestants can’t compare with him.”
Joe had assured her that he had nothing to do with Annie. Although Skylar had initially been skeptical, she had realized a few days ago that he genuinely didn’t care. about Annie’s feelings,
As soon as she finished speaking, a deep voice sounded behind her. “Do you really think that highly of me?”
Joe had arrived just in time to hear her praise him.
Skylar’s smile froze, and she turned around in shock to see Joe standing there. When did he get there?
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“Skye’s just being polite. You need to work harder!” Gloria stepped in to spare Skylar’s blushes.
Joe walked over and sat directly beside Skylar.
He casually glanced at the TV. The variety show featured men and women mingling. and flirting over dinner.
In his eyes, none of the male contestants could compare to him, and of course, none of the women could compare to Skylar.
Gloria noticed how naturally Joe sat beside Skylar, and she gave him a knowing wink.
When had they become so close? Gloria had seen through Joe’s earlier pretense, but now he seemed different. He clearly enjoyed being near Skylar.
After all, at Joe’s age, all young men were probably thinking about women and looking for a companion. It seemed he had also finally reached that point.
Skylar, who had been casually discussing the show with Gloria, now felt self- conscious with Joe sitting so close to her.
Gloria glanced at the clock and shooed them away. “It’s getting late. You two should head home. You guys have an early appointment tomorrow. Don’t stay up too late tonight.”
“Alright.” Both of them nodded.
As they left, Gloria turned to Edgar and said, “Do you think I can have a great- grandchild by next year?”
“Yes, I suppose. You can see that Mr. Martin has feelings for Mrs. Martin,” Edgar replied.
On top of being older and more experienced, Edgar had watched Joe grow up. So, he knew that Joe wouldn’t/speak unnecessarily.
But earlier, Joe’s gaze had been fixed on Skylar, and he had even teased her–a clear sign of interest.
However, it remained to be seen how Joe viewed his own feelings.
Gloria chuckled. “I agree. By the way, keep an eye on the Silver family. If they up with schemes to disrupt Joe and Skylar’s relationship, let me know.”
Gloria hadn’t expected to have to worry about Joe’s love life at this age.
come
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Martin Senior. I believe Mr. Martin has already dealt with it. I’ve seen Ms. Silver before, though. She seemed smart and was working as a TV host.
“She should have had a better wit, but her actions were disappointing,” Edgar said.
Rumors had circulated before, but Edgar hadn’t paid much attention to them or informed Gloria about them. In Jipsburg City, many sought connections with the Martin family, but few had been this bold.
“I will never forgive them if they ruin Joe and Skylar’s relationship!” Gloria huffed.
Skylar and Joe went back home together, Joe drove her car while a driver took his car back for him.
Exhausted from the day’s events, Skylar dozed off shortly after exchanging a few words with Joe.
Joe didn’t realize it and continued talking. He even suggested that Skylar should consider their marriage. He mentioned that they could continue being together if they found each other suitable.
But when he got no response, he glanced over and realized that Skylar was asleep..
He felt a sense of contentment as he watched Skylar sleep so peacefully.
A thought suddenly flashed in his mind. Maybe this was better. They didn’t need to be passionately in love.
After all, Skylar had experienced the highs of young love, only for it to end in heartbreak. Perhaps their marriage could be lasting and stable without the
distractions of love.
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Skylar was still asleep when they arrived at Galaxy Villa.
Joe didn’t wake her up. Instead, he gazed at her, and his usually cold eyes softened as he took in her serene face.
Skylar’s rosy lips looked incredibly tempting in the moonlight. Joe felt a slight
tightness in his chest and pursed his lips.
Skylar wasn’t sleeping comfortably, so she adjusted her posture. Slowly, she blinked her eyes, rousing from her slumber.
“Did I fall asleep?” she asked, her voice groggy.
Joe found her disoriented state endearing and couldn’t help but respond gently, “Yes.
Skylar frowned slightly. “I think I heard you saying something, but I was too drowsy to really catch it. I’m sorry.”
Skylar felt frustrated with herself. The past few days had been exhausting; she had been working on restoring Frank’s painting, which had left her with little time to rest.
Sitting in the car with Joe driving had made it too easy for her to drift off. She couldn’t recall exactly what Joe had said, but his tone had suggested that it was something important.
After Skylar sincerely apologized, Joe found it hard to bring up the serious. conversation he had planned. It seemed too practical for the moment.
Given their age difference, Skylar might not take it well right now. Joe then decided
to swallow his words and wait for a better time.
“It’s nothing. That fake heiress from the Williams family came to see me yesterday,” Joe said, unbuckling Skylar’s seatbelt.
Skylar noticed Joe’s thoughtfulness and felt a bit surprised. But her attention quickly shifted to Maisy.
She frowned. She was worried that Joe might get swayed by Maisy’s charms, just
like the Williams family. After all, Maisy had a knack for portraying herself as an innocent, vulnerable victim.
“The Williamses are astonishingly dumb. Who would’ve thought they’d fall for such shallow ploys?” Joe continued.
Skylar was taken aback. “Don’t you find her delicate and feel the urge to protect her?”
Joe frowned. “No, I don’t.” Even as a child, he had easily been able to see through such manipulative acts. By now, they were trivial.
Skylar gave him a thumbs–up. “You’re amazing!”
Joe’s eyes lingered on her cheerful expression and her slender fingers. For a fleeting moment, his thoughts wandered.
His real prowess wasn’t about not being deceived. It was something else entirely- the kind of skills that could be shown in bed.
Being able to see through Maisy’s petty schemes wasn’t something that should be complimented.
As Joe’s thoughts wandered, Skylar had already stepped out of the car. He followed suit.
Over the past few weeks, they had grown accustomed to spending time alone. Back at the villa, they each headed to their rooms to shower and rest.
Although Skylar was yawning, she couldn’t sleep without handling her Amazon shop. orders first. Just as she was wrapping up, Joe’s message popped up on her phone.
“Did you forget what you promised me?”
Skylar was perplexed. What had she promised Joe? They hadn’t really talked on the way back. Had she agreed to something in her half–asleep state?
Then, Skylar remembered her promise belatedly.
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Skylar and Joe had struck a deal. She had asked him to help deal with the Williams family, and in return, she would give him head massages to relieve his headaches.
With Joe away on a business trip and her busy schedule, she had completely forgotten her promise.
Feeling a bit guilty, she immediately put down her phone and got out of bed to knock on Joe’s door.
As soon as her knuckles touched the wood, the door opened.
Joe, almost a head taller than Skylar, looked down as he opened the door. This was the first time Skylar had knocked on his door.
Even though they lived under the same roof, they had their own rooms and seldom intruded on each other’s space. This was a first.
Joe’s room’s interior design reflected his cold, minimalist personality while still blending well with the overall style of Galaxy Villa.
“Sorry, I got busy and forgot. Is now a good time?” she asked.
Joe’s gaze held an unreadable depth as he nodded and stepped aside, allowing her
- in. Then, he headed toward the bed.
Skylar hesitated, wondering if she was supposed to give him a head massage in his
room.
But she quickly reassured herself that Joe harbored no romantic interest in her. That
eased her fears, and she followed him into the room.
“You tend to fall asleep whenever I give you a massage. So, you can lie in bed while I sit beside you. I’ll turn off the lights for you when I’m done.”
Skylar saw a chair nearby that could be positioned near the bed. She was about to lift
it, but Joe took it from her.
“I got it,” he said.
“Thanks,” she replied.
As Joe positioned the chair, a question bothered him. Did Skylar feel so safe around. him that she had no qualms about being alone in his room?
Did she trust him that much? Or did she just not see him that way at all? Joe’s eyes. darkened at the thought.
Skylar
r was oblivious to the shift in his mood. It wasn’t until she settled into the chair that she realized Joe hadn’t takep his place beside her. So, she turned to look at him.
Joe was staring at her with an intensity that made her pause.
“Is something wrong?” Skylar asked.
She was confused. Why did Joe seem different ever since he had gotten back from
his trip? He seemed more enigmatic.
Joe gazed deeply at Skylar and shook his head slightly. “Nothing.”
Half an hour later, Joe was sound asleep, and his breathing was calm and steady.
Unable to resist admiring his chiseled features, Skylar couldn’t help but watch him. for a moment. Even as a woman, she couldn’t deny a twinge of envy.
Joe lost some of his intimidating demeanor when he was asleep. He appeared more like a gentle, approachable guy next door.
Skylar smiled. She might have found herself completely captivated by Joe if she hadn’t been so deeply wounded by Christopher before.
As she realized her wandering thoughts, Skylar swiftly rose from the chair. After stretching her arms and back, she quietly turned off the lights and left the room.
Just as the door clicked shut behind Skylar, Joe’s eyes snapped open.
His gaze, as intense as the darkness beyond the window, lingered for a fleeting. moment before he let out a chilling chuckle.
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Joe thought that Skylar really had no interest in him.
The next morning, Janine rushed to Jubilance Hotel. She hurried along while. glancing at her watch; it was almost 8:30 am.
Traffic had been a nightmare, and even the buses had been stuck in the jam. She had realized that she only had a few minutes left before she would be late.
Janine hated being late and usually arrived ten minutes early. Thus, she had decided to jog the last stretch to the hotel.
Yet, someone blocked Janine’s path as she was about to enter the hotel. In her rush, she hadn’t noticed anyone standing nearby.
Startled, she looked up to see Sadie, and her expression immediately turned cold.
“Excuse me,” she said coldly.
After she recognized Sadie, Janine’s mood soured further. Each encounter with
Sadie had been unpleasant, and Janine had low expectations for her character. Thus, this meeting seemed far from coincidental.
“Mrs. Williams, please step aside. I’m late for work.” Janine’s expression was stern.
Sadie looked at Janine, taking in her cleaning uniform with barely concealable
disdain. Though Sadie tried to hide it, Janine could see it clearly in her gaze.
Janine knew that, in Sadie’s world, people were judged and categorized based on
their social status.
But she believed in the dignity of earning her own living. She neither stole nor
begged, and she certainly didn’t owe Sadie any explanation.
Sadie’s attitude was entirely uncalled for.
“I need to talk to you,” Sadie said, frowning.
Amidst the bustling activity at Jubilance Hotel, Sadie wore sunglasses and a mask to
avoid being seen talking to a cleaner.
“Sorry, I don’t have time. I’ve got a lot of work to do. If you have something to say, you can find me during my lunch break,” Janine replied without hesitation.
Sadie’s face darkened. “How much can you earn for this job anyway? I can pay you a month’s salary for just 30 minutes of your time. Besides, I already spoke to your
manager.”
Sadie would never have come to Janine if Skylar hadn’t been so hostile to the Williams family. The way Sadie saw it, Janine, who was a widow working a lowly job,
wasn’t worth her time or consideration.
Janine’s expression grew colder. “You arranged for me to take time off without even asking my opinion?”
“I said I’d pay you a month’s salary. Just give me your bank details, and I’ll transfer it now,” Sadie replied dismissively.
Janine’s anger boiled over at Sadie’s audacity. If Sadie could display such brazen entitlement toward her, it was no wonder they had treated Skylar so badly.
“Drop your arrogance. Who do you think you are? If it weren’t for Skylar, I wouldn’t even tolerate your presence,” Janine said angrily, pushing Sadie aside.
Janine had gotten accustomed to physical labor from years of hard work. She easily. pushed aside Sadie, whose high heels and elegant attire left her stumbling and
nearly falling.
“Janine!” Sadie shouted, her voice cracking.
Janine looked at Sadie coldly before walking into the hotel. She knew all too well that Sadie wouldn’t have come with good news.
་ ས ་
Janine recalled Sadie’s manipulative tactics in the past, including faking sickness to
lure Skylar back to Williams Residence.
Thus, she harbored no illusions about Sadie’s intentions now. There was simply no
reason to entertain Sadie..
“Do you eve
you even know what Skye is up to these days?” Sadie called after her.
“She’s working for Mr. Gardner Senior now. You probably don’t even know what that means. His team ranks among the top in Jipsburg City for restoring ancient artifacts.
“No one could get in without real expertise! But Skylar got in. How do you think she managed to do that?
“By using her body! I bet those fancy shoes you’re wearing were bought with money she earned by selling herself!
“Don’t you feel ashamed wearing those shoes, Janine? Don’t act like you know.
nothing. Did you push Skylar into this, all for the sake of a better life? Do you even have any integrity left?” Sadie accused.
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Sadie blurted out everything on her mind to blame Janine for the Williams family’s
misfortunes.
In her eyes, if Janine hadn’t failed to raise Skylar right, how would Skylar have neded. up as someone’s mistress instead of living as the Williams family’s heiress?
Sadie’s words struck Janine like a thunderbolt.
“You don’t deserve to be Skye’s mother. Instead of standing up for her when everyone else wrongly accuses her, you just add fuel to the fire! Do you think
everyone’s as low as you?” Janine shouted..
Sadie had been standing with her arms crossed. When she heard Janine, her hand.
shot up to slap the latter. But Janine was faster
The sound of a sharp slap echoed.
Sadie staggered back while holding her cheek. The disbelief written all over her face
was evident, even with her sunglasses on.
“Janine, have you lost your mind? How dare you hit me? Believe it or not, I’ll tell Skylar that you hit me!”
Janine was still seething with anger. She sneered. “So what if I did hit you? You’re
not fit to be a mother.
“I used to hope Skye would treat you guys better because you’re her real family, but now I see that blood relations mean nothing.
“You’re all worse than scum. You’re not worth an ounce of hope or respect!”
Sadie tried to slap Janine back, but Janine reacted quickly and dodged.
“Janine! You’re just a lowly worker! How dare you hit me?” Sadie’s disdain for Janine. was apparent. To her, anyone in the service industry was beneath contempt.
In Sadie’s eyes, people in the service industry were nothing but cheap, low–status, bottom–of–the–barrel people. How could someone like that raise a decent child?
Janine scoffed. “I have nothing to be ashamed of in my work. But can you say the same about the Williams family’s money? Don’t act all high and mighty with me–you haven’t earned the right to do so!”
With that, she turned to leave.
To Janine, they were from different worlds and could never see eye to eye. She and Sadie were simply not cut from the same cloth.
But Sadie wasn’t going to let her go that easily. “Wait! Who said you could walk away? You still haven’t told me who Skye’s man is.”
With her anger getting the best of her, Sadie almost forgot the reason she had come
to see Janine in the first place.
Janine raised her hand again.
“What do you think you’re doing? I’ll report you! Tell me who Skye is sleeping with, or you can kiss goodbye to your job!” Sadie demanded.
“No one! I know my daughter. She’d never stoop to being someone’s mistress. Skye
earned her place on Mr. Gardner Senior’s team all by herself. She doesn’t need
anyone’s help,” Janine declared firmly as she stepped into the elevator.
Sadie tried to follow Janine but stopped as a familiar socialite emerged from the elevator. Frustrated, she quickly found a nearby café to sit in.
No sooner had she sat down than Maisy called her. “Mom, I was just on the plane.”
“Did you manage to speak with Mr. Martin? What did he say? Is he willing to help our family?” Sadie asked anxiously.
Unaware of who Skylar’s backer was, the Williamses thought that Joe was the only hope for them in Jispurg.
Desperately, Sadie prayed that Joe would fall for Maisy now and thus solve their problems.
Maisy felt embarrassed. She struggled to find the words to confess to Sadie that Joe was Skylar’s backer.
“Mom, I didn’t get to see Mr. Martin. He’s been very busy. I waited, but I couldn’t
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approach him without raising suspicion. I’m sorry; it’s my fault.
“Have you spoken with Ms. Yancey? What did she say?” Maisy asked while tightly gripping her phone, unable to hide her worry.
Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!
Chapter 209
Maisy feared that Janine might know something and might have spilled the beans to
Sadie
“Janine didn’t say a word. How rude! She’s just an uncultured swine in the sticks.”
Sadie fumed.
“Mom, don’t get mad. She hasn’t been in Jipsburg for long. She’s still rough around the edges. It’s not worth it to get upset over her,” Maisy said.
Maisy was relieved that she hadn’t been raised by Janine. Otherwise, she would have likely been the same country bumpkin type that Sadie looked down on.
Sadie took a deep breath. “Alright. If Mr. Martin doesn’t like you, it’s his loss.
“Our family is going through a tough time now. We need to come up with a plan as soon as possible. Charles is practically living at the office, and your dad is so
stressed that his hair is turning white.”
“I understand, Mom.”
“And Maisy, have you checked in with the hospital about your health? Skylar is heartless! How could she refuse to donate blood for you? She should at least do it
for herself,” Sadie seethed.
Skylar consumed her thoughts, fueling her anger.
A few days ago, Sadie might have felt a hint of guilt toward Skylar. But now, she was
confident that Skylar was nothing but trouble.
The only daughter she acknowledged now was Maisy.
“She probably won’t donate blood to me anymore,” Maisy said, biting her lip.
Once, she had been confident that Skylar wouldn’t dare defy her because of the need
to appease the Williams family. But now…
“I’m sure she will. She’ll come crawling back. And when she does, she won’t have at choice but to comply,” Sadie declared confidently.
Sadie was confident that Skylar’s relationship as a mistress wouldn’t last and that she would soon be cast aside.
Sadie felt disgusted at the thought of having a daughter who was a forsaken sugar baby.
The hospital was quiet in the morning.
Edgar had arranged an appointment for Skylar and Joe at a discreet private hospital known for catering to celebrities and dignitaries.
Skylar and Joe underwent a series of tests and then waited for the results. Skylar had taken the day off, and Joe had cleared his schedule, so they went to a nearby restaurant for lunch.
an
They chose a small private room and ordered fondue. Skylar specifically requested a pot with both cheese and broth.
“Is this all you’re getting?” Skylar eyed Joe’s choices–bread, vegetables, beef, and pasta. She thought fondue with little variety lacked soul.
“Mind if I order some sausage and seafood?” Skylar asked, salivating over the menu. Fondue was Skylar’s favorite, especially with a mix of flavors.
Joe looked every bit the corporate elite in his sleek suit, and his choices reflected
that. Skylar doubted that he indulged in fondue often…
“You can choose. Order whatever you like,” Joe replied.
With that, Skylar ordered everything she craved, knowing she could eat two to three times her usual amount when it came to fondue.
As the dishes arrived, Skylar noticed that Joe had barely touched the cheese dip. He hadn’t even used the different sauces.
She glanced at Joe before feasting on her seafood platter of prawns, lobsters, crab, and more.
All of a sudden, Joe said, “Maybe we should ask the doctor later if it’s safe to eat seafood while we’re trying to conceive.”
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Skylar was caught off guard. With her mouth full, she blurted out, “Why does my
matter?”
diet
She was bewildered. Weren’t they just going through the motions to appease Gloria?
“Have you thought about making our marriage real and ending the three–year
contract marriage agreement?” Joe asked bluntly.
Skylar nearly choked on her food, which made her eyes well up with tears. Hastily,
she grabbed a napkin to wipe her face, feeling utterly embarrassed.
Joe handed her a glass of water and couldn’t help but think that his words might
have startled her.
“Mr. Martin, you must be joking, right?” Skylar asked, still in shock.
“I’m not,” Joe replied firmly.
After taking a sip of water, Joe continued calmly, “I don’t have time to adjust to living
with another woman. We’ve been getting along fine so far, and we understand each
other.”
“Actually, I don’t know you all that well, and you don’t really know me either. Have you
really thought this through?” Skylar asked.
batch
Could a loveless marriage last? She then recalled her fiery romance with Christopher in their youth, which had ultimately ended in vain.
If so, a marriage without high expectations and drama might be easier to sustain. It would also give their families some peace.
As she thought about it, Skylar’s resolve began to waver.
“We can get to know each other better over time,” Joe said with a smile.
Joe had mulled over this decision extensively and didn’t mind the idea of spending the rest of his life with Skylar. The other details seemed insignificant in comparison.
Skylar smiled, too, her eyes still shimmering from her earlier choking incident.
Alright, we’ll get to know each other better in the future.”
The two quickly reached an understanding. After lunch, Joe and Skylar returned to the hospital to collect their test results.
The results showed that Skylar was a bit anemic from her previous blood donations. She was advised to rest more to recover.
On the other hand, Joe, despite his chronic insomnia and strict lifestyle, was advised to take it easy as well. The doctor said neither issue would prevent them from conceiving.
On the way back, Skylar spoke up after some contemplation. “I graduated from college not long ago and just started a new job. I’m not ready to be a mom yet.”
Plus, she wasn’t mentally prepared for physical intimacy with Joe.
“That’s fine. There’s no rush. Let’s just take it one step at a time,” Joe replied. On second thought, he realized he might have been too impulsive earlier.
“Steven wants to meet you this weekend. Will you be free?” Skylar asked. She felt overwhelmed by everything, and Steven suddenly came to her mind.
“Sure, you can set the time,” Joe replied.
Just then, Gloria called Joe. He immediately answered the phone.
“Are you guys done? What did the doctor say?” she asked.
Joe glanced at Skylar, who appeared noticeably preoccupied by Joe’s recent decision. “I’m fine, as usual. But as for Skye…”
Skylar felt a bit taken aback hearing Joe mention her name so gently.
“She’s donated blood multiple times and hasn’t been resting well. She needs some
time to recover.”
Gloria was worried. “Multiple donations? Did the doctor give specific instructions on
how she should care for herself?
“Joe, you need to make sure she’s well looked after. Don’t rush into starting a family.
Skye’s health should come first. Maybe in a year or two.”
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Gloria and Joe chatted a bit more before ending the call.
Skylar quietly listened from the side. She glanced at her watch, which showed that it was just 2:00 pm. She still had plenty of time since she had taken the whole day off.
“Wanna go to the hot springs and relax for a bit?” Joe asked as he looked down at
Skylar.
Skylar’s eyes lit up as she exclaimed, “Sure!”
She had been doing restoration work for the past few days. Sitting all day long had made her body feel very tense. A soak in the hot springs would be perfect for relieving that tension.
As they were about to get into the car, another car pulled up not far away. A mother and daughter got out of the car.
Natalie’s sharp eyes spotted Joe, and her eyes widened in surprise. Was that Joe?
She was lost in thought for a moment.
Meanwhile, there was a woman in the passenger seat. Her face wasn’t visible, so
Natalie could only see half of her back.
Although it was just the back, it didn’t look like Annie because her hair wasn’t that long. And besides…
“Nath, what are you looking at?” asked Kate Turner, Natalie’s mother.
Natalie withdrew her gaze and shook her head. “Nothing. Let’s go, Mom. We have an appointment with the doctor.
Half an hour later, Natalie was waiting in the corridor for Kate to finish her check–up. As she waited, she sent a WhatsApp message to Skylar.
“I just brought my mom to the hospital for a check–up, and guess who I saw? I saw
Joe Martin. I’ve been running into him a lot lately. Oh, I digress. That’s not the point.
Do you know what the point is?
“I saw him sitting with a woman in the passenger seat of his car. They looked quite
close, and their relationship seemed unusual. I can definitely smell an affair! That
woman isn’t Annie Silver!”
Skylar was sitting in the passenger seat while looking out the window. The moment
she saw Natalie’s message, she was so startled that she almost dropped her phone.
Natalie could have a future as a paparazzo.
“Why does everyone look like they’re having an affair to you?” Skylar texted back.
This was bad. Now, she didn’t knew how to explain her relationship with Joe to
Natalie. It was somewhat tricky.
Could it be that Natalie had already seen her and Joe at the hospital? Probably not.
Natalie was too forthright to keep a secret.
If she had seen them, she would have rushed over to greet them. It was unlikely that
she would describe Skylar and Joe’s relationship as an affair now.
Natalie replied, “Because Joe has never publicly acknowledged any woman around him. I once thought that he was gay. But I’ve seen him with women twice in a row
lately.
“Isn’t it obvious that he’s recently fallen in love? But the woman I saw just now… even
from her back, I could tell she had an amazing figure!”
Skylar couldn’t help but laugh when Natalie complimented her figure. “Is her figure
really that good?”
“Of course. Not every figure can be called good in my eyes. You’re one of the few
exceptions. But…”
“But what?” Skylar asked.
“Now that I think about it, that woman’s figure is quite similar to you
yours. If I didn’t know that you and Joe don’t know each other, I would’ve thought that woman was
you!”
Skylar looked at their chat, and her smile slowly faded.
It was a good thing Natalie hadn’t delved deeper. “I gotta go. I need to accompany my mom for her check–up. Let’s meet up in a few days. Come to my place; Jeremy is
Chapter 211
going on a business trip tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
they had
At the hot spring resort, Joe drove to the villa they had stayed in the last time. Not far
behind them was a stretch Lincoln limousine filled with young men and women.
One of them pointed at the car ahead and said, “If I’m not mistaken, that’s Joe
Martin’s car. There seems to be a woman with him.”
“Joe Martin?” Samuel immediately leaned forward to look at the car ahead upon
Chapter 212
Unfortunately, Samuel couldn’t see anything. He only saw a limited edition car that he couldn’t even book.
Samuel had been hearing Joe’s name a lot lately, especially since Williams Group was facing significant difficulties. If Joe helped a little–or even gave so much as a hint–they could turn things around.
“Seeing Joe here isn’t surprising, right? This hot spring resort is owned by the
Martins. It’s normal for them to come over occasionally to have some fun,” one of them said.
“Can we follow them?” Samuel asked.
One of his friends reacted as if he had heard something unthinkable. “Are you crazy? know who he is? He’s Joe Martin. If you dare to stalk him, you won’t be able to survive in Jipsburg.”
Do you
Samuel finally came back to his senses when he felt a chill down his spine. “I was just joking.”
“Don’t joke around like that. I heard Williams Grou asking Joe to help you out?
is in trouble. Are you thinking of
“If you can take my advice, I suggest you don’t entertain such thoughts. Your family and Joe have no relationship. Why would he help you?
“If you accidentally offend him, your family might miss the chance to turn things around. You can mess with anyone in Jipsburg, but not Joe Martin.”
Samuel completely gave up, not daring to have any thoughts about talking to Joe anymore.
After listening to his friend’s words, Samuel remembered something. Could it be that Martin Group refused to cooperate with Williams Group because of Maisy’s attempt to get close to Joe last time?
That couldn’t be it. Maisy was so smart, beautiful, gentle, and understanding. There was no way Joe could dislike her.
When Skylar got out of the car, she glanced around. The scenery was really good; it wasn’t much different from George’s mansion.
The last time she had been there, they had come at night, so she hadn’t gotten a clear look around. They had only soaked in the hot springs and hadn’t explored much either.
“I want to take a walk first. Do you want to come?” Skylar asked Joe.
“I’ll join you,” Joe said as he closed the door casually. He pointed ahead and continued, “We can take a walk down that way. There’s a golf course nearby. Do you want to play?”
“Sure, but I don’t know how to.” Skylar was very interested. She could climb mountains and swim, but she didn’t know how to play golf.
“I’ll teach you.
The path was very quiet, and no one was around. On both sides of the path, there were well–groomed little groves. If they got tired of walking, there were pavilions and chairs where they could sit and rest.
Not far into the walk, Joe naturally held Skylar’s hand. At first, Skylar didn’t react. She was completely immersed in the scenery.
She only realized that Joe was holding her hand when she was about to raise her hand to tidy her hair.
His fingers were long, and his skin was healthy and bronzed. That made her fair hand. look like a child’s hand.
Her fingers stiffened suddenly.
“Since we’re going to be real husband and wife, let’s adapt to each other now,” Joe said casually. It was as if he were talking about something very ordinary..
Her hand felt boneless, soft, and tender.
Adapt to each other…
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Skylar nodded earnestly, trying to relax as she said, “Okay.”
She thought about having to adapt to each other as real husband and wife. At that moment, a breeze brushed her face, and she suddenly calmed down.
Oh, right…
Skylar suddenly remembered. When they had been in the car earlier, Joe had asked her whether she knew what it meant for the two of them to come to the hot spring
resort together.
At that time, she had just finished a call with Natalie. Plus, they had just decided on a
major life event during lunch.
She had been in a daze and hadn’t thought much about his words. So, she had just
casually said that she knew.
She knew they had come to the hot spring resort to relax. But… if they were going to
be a real couple, they had to do that…
hearing Joe’s name.
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Suddenly, sounds of a couple’s heavy breathing echoed from the small grove. That was followed by the rustling of clothes being hastily put on as the couple whispered.
“You tore my stockings, Mr. Hughes. There’s not much time left now, and I don’t have a spare pair.”
“I’ll compensate you with a hundred pairs.”
“Then, I’ll buy a hundred different styles and let you tear them everyday. By the way, feel my legs, Mr. Hughes. They’re just as smooth with stockings.”
“You little seductress.”
Then, more heavy breathing ensued.
At first, Skylar didn’t realize what she was hearing or what was happening in the groves. But after listening to their conversation and those seductive tones, she finally understood.
At that moment, her face flushed, even though she wasn’t one to get embarrassed easily.
People nowadays were so bold. Having sex in broad daylight? The woods were living up to their reputation.
Joe’s dark eyes seemed unfathomable, though. Those words didn’t seem to ignite
any spark in him. What a true gentleman.
Skylar blinked her eyes, feeling less shy. She whispered, “Do you think if I shout, ‘Hey Bob, let’s go mushroom picking in the woods!” they’d get scared?
“It’s just us now. But someone who enjoys a good show might run over there later
too. The couple won’t even have time to put on their pants.
Oh, no. Joe could imagine it now.
The couple would be in a passionate frenzy at first, then frantically start searching for their pants. At that point, they would be in a dilemma about whether to cover their faces or their private parts.
His dark eyes seemed to change subtly. Her description was quite vivid, and some Images uncontrollably flashed through his mind. He then glanced at her slender lege
“It’s a workday, so there won’t be many people around here,” Joe sald in a low and
hoarse voice.
“Let’s go then.” Skylar couldn’t standing listening to the couple any longer.
Since Joe owned the place, what he said must be true. No wonder the couple was so daring. They had probably assumed no one would come, so they had decided to
have their little fun there.
As they walked away, Joe noticed that Skylar’s face was as red as a tomato.
His tongue pressed against his molars. A man’s desire for a woman was often
physiological, and that was the kind of thoughts he was having now.
After walking quite a distance, Skylar suddenly stopped. Her expression changed.
The man in the grove… Although he had only spoken briefly, he’d had a familiar voice.
She thought she had heard it before.
And Mr. Hughes…
Suddenly, Skylar thought of Natalie’s husband, Jeremy. She frowned. It couldn’t be,
could it? She had seen how much Jeremy doted on Natalie. He was different from
Christopher.
Jeremy and Natalie had been childhood sweethearts and had known each other
since they had been kids. They knew each other inside and out.
Moreover, Natalie had mentioned that Jeremy had a lot of work at his company and
was very busy. Today was a workday, so how could he be here with another woman?
Last time at the bar, Jeremy’s love and care for Natalie had seemed genuine. Skylar had never seen such affection from Christopher. But…
Natalie had said on the phone that Jeremy was going on a business trip tomorrow and wouldn’t be home tonight.
“Are you tired?” Joe asked
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Skylar shook her head. “Oh, I’m not tired.” She hesitated about whether to go and
check.
After all, the voice she heard had come from the grove and hadn’t been very clear.
There were many people with the surname “Hughes” in Jipsburg.
Since her rebirth, Skylar had gained a new understanding of human nature and was
concerned about emotions. It was possible…
She cared deeply about Natalie and didn’t want her to go through what she had
experienced. The feeling of betrayal by a loved and trusted person was hurtful.
“Were you shocked?” Joe asked again.
He knew that Jeremy had been unusually close with his secretary recently. They had
visited this place a few times. But he hadn’t expected Jeremy to be so bold this time
to even be playing with fire outdoors.
Joe thought that Jeremy would regret it deeply if he continued like this.
“Oh, no. I just regret not going in to see.” Skylar accidentally voiced out her thoughts.
If she had caught them in the act, she would have found out whether it was Jeremy
or not.
Joe lowered his head, and his deep eyes stared at Skylar. His voice was low and sexy
as he said, “Quite bold, huh? Wanna know what it’s like to make out in the woods?”
As he spoke, he tugged at his tie. The words seemed to carry a spark, igniting his
throat slightly. It felt itchy and dry. His Adam’s apple bobbed.
Skylar looked up and saw his Adam’s apple move. Joe was undoubtedly the pinnacle of male attractiveness; even his Adam’s apple was sexy.
Skylar’s cheeks flushed, and she said boldly, “Don’t overthink, Mr. Martin. Just a friendly suggestion–don’t do it.
“There a
are caterpillars on the trees, which might fall when the branches shake. There are mosquitoes in the woods during the summer, and any exposed skin will be
bitten. Plus you might end up being watched.”
Joe smirked. He had just thought that she was as pure as a high school student.
Now, she seemed like a little vixen.
He closed his eyes for a second, restraining all the lustful thoughts in his mind.
Two hours later, it was around 7:00 pm. Skylar and Joe returned to the hot spring
resort, all sweaty from playing golf.
The staff brought them dinner and clothes. It wasn’t suitable to soak in the hot
spring immediately after eating. Skylar glanced at Joe, who was in a video conference, and went out with her phone.
Skylar felt uncomfortable after eating too much, so she went for a walk. She left a
message for Joe on WhatsApp.
It was quieter at night. She chose a different path for her walk, strolling leisurely while chatting with Natalie.
“How did your mom’s check–up go?” Skylar asked.
Natalie was also bored alone at home. “It’s just an old disease. When she was young, she often drank alcohol and skipped meals for work. Now, she gets stomachaches if she eats too much.”
“Are you alone at home?” Skylar asked.
“Yes. Jeremy has a lot of work at the company today. He has to attend an
international video conference and will be up all night. There’s a bed in his office, so he’s sleeping there.
“Poor him; he works so hard. It’s only to support the family and make enough money to look after our baby. It must be really tough for him.” Natalie’s tone was filled with love and concern for Jeremy.
Skylar gripped her phone tightly. What a coincidence.
“I was thinking of making him soup to help warm him up. But when I asked how work. was going, he didn’t reply. He must still be in the meeting. If I went, I’d just be a
Chapter
distraction. So, I dropped the idea.
“By the way, I forgot to tell you. Jeremy has a new secretary. She’s a beauty, but I don’t think she’s as pretty as you. Our Skye’s the prettiest,” Natalie added.
Secretary? Skylar thought about the voices in the woods–the calls of “Mr. Hughes”
and the talk of stockings. It seemed likely that the two were in an employer–employee relationship.
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“Why aren’t you saying anything, Skye?” Natalie asked.
“I’m just listening to you. I think you should occasionally send Jeremy some food. He might be touched and work even harder,” Skylar replied, unable to voice her suspicions.
It would be best if it was just a coincidence. Natalie’s and Jeremy’s love for each other was extremely strong.
Natalie’s eyes lit up. “You’re right. Like a good wife, I’ll go to our usual restaurant and pack a surprise for him.”
The last time she had taken her medical report to him, he had been surprised and delighted.
Natalie hadn’t thought about it much before. Marriage shouldn’t be one–sided. He had to go on a business trip the next day. Having an encounter in his office tonight
gan would be pretty wild.
Natalie touched her flushed face. She was about to grab a condom from the bedside table but changed her mind. They were trying for a baby now, so there was no need for precautions.
She knew that his office had a room for international meetings where he sometimes rested. Natalie had always wanted to try it when they had been dating, but she had forgotten about it.
“Bye, Skye. I’m heading out now!” Natalie exclaimed.
Skylar glanced at the disconnected call, recalling the conversation in the woods. That man’s voice had been really similar to Jeremy’s. She hoped she was mistaken and was merely thinking too much.
Joe finished his video conference and noticed that Skylar wasn’t there. He saw her message on WhatsApp and replied, “My video conference has ended.”
Then, he went upstairs to shower. He wasn’t worried about Skylar’s safety at the hot
spring resort. Security patrolled at this hour, and everyone who visited had to register.
Skylar received Joe’s message and headed back. She hadn’t gone far, so she quickly returned to the villa.
When she didn’t see him, she assumed he had gone to the hot spring first. So, Skylar grabbed the swimsuit the staff had brought and went upstairs.
In the bathroom, Skylar opened the door and walked in. She had rushed back and was now slightly sweaty and uncomfortable. She didn’t even notice Joe coming out.
Joe was drying his hair with a towel without a bath towel around his waist, Seeing Skylar half undressed, he said, “You…”
Upon hearing that, Skylar tensed up and turned her head.
She saw Joe’s body still glistening with water. His perfect physique and handsome face were everything one could ask for. She could clearly see a few drops of water trailing down from his chest.
Skylar had known that Joe had a good body, but she hadn’t expected it to be this impressive. She couldn’t help but swallow hard.
“Satisfied with what you see?” Joe tossed the towel aside and casually wrapped a bath towel around his slim waist. Then, he walked toward Skylar.
Skylar stepped back instinctively. She was still shocked by what she had seen. “…”
Joe leaned in close to her ear, his voice seductive as he said, “You won’t lose out by being my wife, Skylar.”
Skylar was utterly stunned by Joe’s words. Swallowing hard, she replied, “And your won’t lose out by being my husband, Joe.”
From a purely visual point, she felt that neither of them would lose out. However, she knew Joe didn’t love her. Their relationship wasn’t about feelings.
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In Skylar’s eyes, Joe was usually impeccably dressed. Hence, he always seemed lofty and exuded coldness to his very core. When he spoke, his voice naturally carried a sense of distance and coldness.
Coupled with his exceptionally handsome face, the contrast between his usual aloof demeanor and the seductive tone he used now was striking.
The difference was stark and filled with absolute allure and charm. His breath still lingered by her ear, making her skin tingle and blush.
Joe’s eyes darkened quickly. His fingers touched her face, finding it smooth, as he had expected. Just as his lips were about to touch hers, Skylar pushed him away.
It was easy to get lost in such temptation. Though Skylar was a bit dazed under his gaze, she wasn’t ready for this
“I haven’t showered yet. I’ll go shower, and you…. you go to the hot spring first.” Skylar, flustered, pushed Joe out and avoided looking at him.
Joe was still caught up in his emotions when he was pushed out. Immediately after, he heard the sound of the bathroom door being locked.
Joe still had traces of desire in his eyes as he gazed at the locked door.
Skylar seemed fierce and bold at times. She could be praising herself at one moment and retreating into her shell the next.
She had agreed with him very decisively earlier in the afternoon. But it was probably because she hadn’t considered what being a real married couple entailed.
Joe envisioned Skylar’s flushed cheeks and trembling eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he hoarsely said, “Alright.”
Inside the bathroom, Skylar’s heartbeat quickened at his response. When she had said that she wanted to take a shower, he could have easily misunderstood.
She took a deep breath to calm herself. His physique was truly exceptional. She hadn’t counted just now… How many abs did he have?
Joe held two glasses of red wine and placed them by the hot spring. While closing his eyes to enjoy the
night, he heard a familiar voice from another villa.
It was Jeremy on the phone.
“Tell my wife I’m already on a business trip. Don’t say too much.” Then, another call quickly followed.
“I just got off the plane. The video conference ended early, and they’re pushing for the contract to be signed tomorrow morning. I didn’t have time to tell you. It’s so late; shouldn’t you be resting at home?
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“That’s a pity. We’ll go out for a meal when I get back.
“You’re the best, Nath. Go home and sleep. I’ll bring you a gift when I return.
Listening to Jeremy’s practiced lies and explanations, Joe remained impassive. He just raised the glass and sipped his wine.
Meanwhile, Natalie felt sad and dejected after ending her call. She felt as if this trip had been a waste.
While waiting at the restaurant earlier, she had noticed a 24–hour adult store downstairs. She had gone there and bought some particularly sexy clothes, planning to surprise Jeremy.
But he wasn’t at the office. It seemed that he was just too busy.
As she turned to leave, the receptionist working overtime at the company breathed a sigh of relief.
The receptionist had a friend who also worked as a receptionist at another company.
Although her friend often helped cover for her boss, she had thought that she wouldn’t have to do the same. After all, Natalie almost never came to the office.
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Chapter 217
It was also because Jeremy maintained his integrity. Many women in the company had their eyes on him, but it was of no use.”
However, things had changed after Annabelle had joined the company.
One had to admit that Annabelle’s beauty was out of this world. Her figure was better than a celebrity’s. and she was very capable.
Compared to her, Natalie, who was a full–time housewife, paled in comparison. But still, Natalie was quite pitiful since she knew nothing of this.
Sitting in the car on her way back, Natalie sent a text to Skylar, “I struck out. The sexy outfit I bought has gone to waste. He had said that he’d be leaving for his trip tomorrow, but he left today.”
After waiting for a few minutes, she didn’t get a reply from Skylar. Natalie played with her phone out of boredom, thinking Skylar might be asleep.
At Mystic Bar, the dance floor was alive with the flickering of lights. A woman’s voluptuous figure swayed to the music. Her twisting waist occasionally collided with the men dancing closely to her
A man gripped her slender waist as his hand moved upward. “Hey, beautiful, how about we get a room upstairs?”
Maisy hadn’t let herself have this much fun in a long time. She leaned against the man’s chest and asked, Got anything good to share?”
The man gave a wicked smile. As a regular here, he knew exactly what she meant by “anything good“.
“Of course, I’ve got some new things to try. How about we test them out first, then head upstairs?” he
proposed.
Maisy didn’t hesitate. She was well–versed in such matters. At home, she always played the good daughter and never revealed this side of herself. Now, she just wanted to enjoy herself, and she knew exactly how to do that.
Maisy could see the lust in the man’s eyes. When they danced, she felt his muscles and was satisfied.
Tonight would be anything but dull,
Soon, Maisy stood in a corner with something in her hand.
“Take it all,” the man coaxed. Without hesitation, Maisy swallowed it all and washed it down with alcohol.
In another corner, a man drinking alone captured the scene with his phone.
At the same time, Christopher came to the bar. He had been struggling to find a job all this time.
He knew Maisy liked this place. They had come together several times. The atmosphere was perfect for indulgence, and they had done everything together here.
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2/2
In the crowd, he spotted Maisy intimately drinking with another man. Christopher’s eyes turned red with anger. If it hadn’t been for Maisy constantly seducing him, he might have still been with Skylar.
Yet, the instigator of his downfall, Maisy, was still enjoying herself so freely!
Christopher walked over in large strides. But Maisy had already entered the elevator with the man to head to the eighth floor. As the doors were about to close, Christopher followed them.
He pulled his hat low to cover half of his face. He watched as Maisy and the man passionately kissed, oblivious to his presence.
As they reached the eighth floor, the two entered a pre–booked room in a hurry. They didn’t even notice that the door wasn’t closed properly and that the room card had fallen.
If they had been sober, they wouldn’t have missed the details.
Christopher held his phone and sneaked into the bathroom. He then recorded the debauchery between
the two.
Skylar had just finished showering and stepped out in her new swimsuit. Her long hair was draped casually over her shoulders.
The swimsuit provided by the staff was modest, unlike the previous one, which had been quite revealing. The light yellow color complemented her skin tone beautifully.
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Chapter 218
When Joe heard the sound, he looked up and was met with a stunning beauty walking toward him.
Skylar’s fair skin seemed to glow. Her gaze was like that of an otherworldly fairy. It exuded a pure desire that she herself wasn’t aware of,
Her body was reflected in the rippling waterl
At this moment, any man there would probably feel an urge to succumb to their desires. Joe had never denied that Skylar held a special place in his heart. Her every move could easily stir his emotions.
Seeing Joe staring at her, Skylar felt a bit puzzled by his intense gaze.
Was there something wrong with her outfit? She had checked herself in the mirror before coming out.
The swimsuit’s style was simple, and the color was not one she often wore. But it shouldn’t look that bad.
“Does it look weird?” Skylar asked.
Joe cleared his throat, feeling a slight dryness. He took a sip of wine to make it better and replied, “It’s
fine.”
Skylar found a comfortable spot to sit down and looked at Joe seriously. “Can we talk now?”
Joe stared into her clear eyes–as innocent and earnest as a child’s. He felt his throat tightening again.”
Don’t look at me like that,” he said.
“What?” Skylar was stunned. What kind of look had she given him? Wasn’t it just a normal look when
discussing something?
“The way you look at me makes me want to make love to you,” Joe said bluntly.
Skylar’s eyes widened, shocked by Joe’s straightforwardness. “You’ve got it wrong. I’m not trying to seduce you.
Truth be told, Skylar knew a lot of things. But seducing someone with her eyes was not her forte. The fact
that a glance from her could make Joe want to make out with her was just wild.
“What do you want to talk about?” Joe took another sip of his wine.
Seeing this, Skylar noticed another glass of wine beside her. She took a sip, mustered up her courage, and
said, “We said we’d be a real couple this afternoon. But now we’re talking about making out. Aren’t we being too impulsive?”
Skylar continued, “I’m afraid you’ll regret it.”
Joe stood up, walked over to her, and sat down next to her. “Why do you think I’ll regret it?”
“You’re several years older than me, and you’ve never had any scandals. Grandma Gloria said you’ve never even had a girlfriend.
“In this kind of situation, you must have an unrequited first love in your heart. At least, that’s what the
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novels say.
22
“If your first love comes back to you, you’ll regret betraying her and take it out on me. Won’t I become the scapegoat then?” Skylar voiced her concerns, which echoed the thoughts she’d had earlier in the shower.
Being husband and wife with Joe was fine. But being the scapegoat would be a disaster.
Joe chuckled, “Love in novels is always grand and always has a happy ending. Do you believe that?”
Once upon a time, Skylar had believed that. But she shook her head now.
“I’ll give you a few days to adapt,” Joe said softly.
Skylar blinked, “…”
“I’m too old for you. Is that it?” Joe remembered Skylar mentioning their age difference.
“Absolutely not!” Skylar exclaimed as she stood up. “That’s not what I meant.”
In that instant, the stones under her feet felt a bit sharp and slippery. She hadn’t been paying attention, so she stumbled forward.
Quickly and accurately, Skylar fell into a strong embrace. Joe’s hands landed on Skylar’s back, and she ended up sitting on his lap as her whole body pressed against his.
His muscles were clearly defined, and the thin swimsuit didn’t offer much resistance. Skylar didn’t know whether the hot spring water was too hot or if it was Joe’s body. But her face flushed instantly.
“I…” Skylar’s face turned red.
Joe suddenly pressed her head down and planted a deep kiss on her lips. It was one that would have made any woman instinctively retreat.
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Skylar’s mind went blank in an instant. She didn’t know when Joe had switched their positions so that she was now straddling him. His hand pressed down on her head, while the other wrapped around her waist.
Skylar felt like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered; unable to move. She had never experienced such a crazy and domineering kiss before.
When Joe finally released her, her breathing was uneven. She had almost suffocated from the lack of oxygen.
Joe stroked Skylar’s hair gently. His touch was tender. His voice was low and teasing with a hint of satisfaction. “Still find me old?”
If she still did, he would make her think otherwise in bed.
Skylar felt dizzy from the kiss and was a bit scared. Once she had caught her breath, she managed to say, “I swear I don’t… I don’t find you old.”
“I’ll believe you this time.” Joe’s voice seemed to have grown even deeper than before.
Skylar wanted to stand up but Joe stopped her. “Don’t move.” His voice was stern.
Feeling a bit wronged, Skylar said, “I’m not doing this on purpose. Sitting like this is uncomfortable.”
“I’m uncomfortable too.” Joe’s voice grew even deeper. Skylar fit his physical type in every way and aroused his sexual desires. Facing her, he felt like he couldn’t restrain himself.
Skylar was on the verge of tears, “Please let go of me.” If he released the hand that was holding her waist, she could stand up. His hand felt like it was on fire; it burned her waist.
Joe looked at Skylar’s slightly swollen lips. He cleared his throat and let go of her waist.
Skylar immediately stood up and walked out of the hot spring pool. It was as if she was escaping something deadly.
“I… I’m tired. I’ll go take a shower and rest. See you tomorrow. Skylar didn’t even glance at Joe as she pushed open the door and entered the villa.
She looked like she was fleeing from something terrifying.
Joe chuckled. His eyes deepened when he realized that he had been a bit impulsive just now. After soaking in the hot spring for a while, coupled with the effects of alcohol, he had become too unrestrained.
He pressed his temples in frustration and stood up.
Skylar went upstairs and went straight into the shower. She washed off the hot spring water from her body. After changing into clean clothes, she returned to her room.
As she lay in bed, her mind was filled with images of what had just happened. It was too much.
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Suddenly, her phone beeped with incoming WhatsApp messages. She picked up her phone to try to calm
herself down.
The private detective had sent over some photos and even a few videos. She watched them one by one.
It showed images of how Maisy had taken drugs and been with men in the bar. Everything had been. recorded. However, it was still unclear whether the substances they had consumed were drugs.
“I’ll continue to investigate and gather solid evidence,” the detective said.
Skylar replied with a simple “okay” and closed the chat. She then saw an unread message from Natalie. She opened it and read it.
Was it really a coincidence? Jeremy wasn’t at the office. He had been supposed to be on a business trip tomorrow, but he had left earlier today?
1/2
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Skylar felt a bit suspicious as she replied to Natalie. “What a coincidence.”
Natalie replied almost immediately. “Isn’t it just! By the way, why did you reply to me so late? Were you up to something naughty? Spill the beans.”
Seeing the word “naughty“, Skylar took a deep breath to calm herself. It was just an accident, after all.
She half–joked but still told the truth, “I was soaking in a hot spring with a hunk, touched his eight–pack abs, and he accidentally lost his pants, I saw everything.”
Natalie stared wide–eyed at the message on her phone. Her previously gloomy mood immediately brightened
“Oh my god! My dear, have you decided to let loose after breaking up with that scumbag? Tell me where you found such a catch. Send me photos. I wanna see!”
She felt like she needed to compensate for the fun she had missed out on with Jeremy tonight.
“I’m talking about a real person, not some video.” Skylar replied.
“Is it for real?” Natalie was hesitant.
“For real.”
“I get it; you had a naughty dream. Poor girl. I’ll help you find a real hunk.
“You know my cousin, right? He spends six days a week at the gym. His chest is even bigger than mine. I’ll
bring him over this weekend. You need a boyfriend like him. You’ll thank me later!” Natalie replied.
“No need; I’m already married.” Skylar clarified her marital status.
But Natalie didn’t believe her. “Yeah, right. Go to sleep. Dreams can be wild. See you this weekend!”
“See you then.”
Skylar turned off her phone and opened her Amazon store. There had been a lot of orders these past few days, followed by substantial income. Once she had more time, she could dedicate a couple of hours daily to live streaming.
Suddenly, one order caught her attention. The buyer’s avatar was a luxurious watch worth a few hundred
thousand dollars.
It adorned a slender, well–maintained wrist with manicured nalls. People with such avatars usually
intended to show off.
That buyer had sent her a picture of a seal with patterns painted on it with gold leaves.
Though Skylar mainly dealt with antiques, she had some knowledge of these things. Viola had once given
her lessons on the subject.
Skylar hadn’t had much talent in this area before. But she had a certain intuition when looking at these
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things now. It was as if she could sense their history and essence just by looking at them.
Her expression turned serious.
2/2
“I heard this seal can improve luck in love. Is it a scam? Do you understand this kind of thing?” the buyer
asked.
Skylar looked at it and replied, “It can attract a partner, but the person you seek likely has a family already.
Am I right?”
The chat window showed that the buyer was typing, but they didn’t send a message for a while. Skylar understood the buyer’s hesitation. Such seals could harm one’s own fortune. Moreover…
Skylar thought for a moment and added, “You must’ve used other items before. The person you desire. has a desired partner. This seal can help, but it will affect your future children’s fortune.”
“You’re right. The person I love has a family, but his wife can’t compare to me. I can tell he likes me more, and we are more suited for each other.
“However, he finds it hard to divorce due to family pressure. Can you offer a better solution? I need to have a child soon. Name your price,” the buyer replied.
Perhaps the anonymity of the internet made the buyer more candid about her desires.
“Sorry, I can’t help you. Please request a refund for this order. Skylar decisively refused. The buyer didn’t respond further.
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