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Janine sighed helplessly. “Let go and get up.”
Then she turned to Skylar.
“Skye.”
“Mom, I was just passing by and thought I’d drop in,” Skylar said.
She walked over to the table, poured herself a glass of water, and poured one for Harvey. She asked Harvey, “Why are you home today?”
“I came back to get some things and happened to see this brat shamelessly clinging to Mom,” Harvey said angrily. “I figured she was here to put on a show for someone else. Does she think everyone would foolishly be used by her?”
The more he looked at Maisy, the more annoyed he became.
Maisy blushed deeply. “It’s not like that.”
“Your mother just had a car accident and needs someone to take care of her. Leaving now would be ungrateful. Go back and take care of her,” Janine said with a stern face.
7-”
Maisy looked at Skylar and begged, “Skylar, you know Mom’s temper. She’s very upset with me right now, and is always constantly scolding me. I can’t stay there. Can we get along in the future?”
She also wanted to take the opportunity to find out what Skylar and Joe’s relationship was.
Skylar raised an eyebrow and remained silent. Nothing Maisy says could be taken seriously.
“You can’t stay because she’s upset with you? She raised you for nothing. You are truly selfish. I’m younger than you, and even I know how to be grateful. You’re clearly just avoiding responsibility. Don’t assume others are as brainless as you,” Harvey said, rolling his eyes.
Then he stepped forward and forcefully dragged Maisy away, violently pushing her out of the house. With a loud bang, he slammed the door shut.
He had wanted to do that earlier. He only held back because of his mom.
Janine sighed, “She’s really been spoiled.”
Some ideas had been deeply ingrained in her as she grew up in a family like that..
Skylar said nothing but showed Janine her phone with the news on it. Janine rarely used social media and was shocked when she saw the news and photos.
“They are really inhumane!”
Although Sadie wasn’t a good woman, she had already suffered enough from the car accident. That was enough punishment.
But to have her husband and children be to cold and cruet? Anyone would break under that. It was a wonder she hadn’t gone mad already.
After chatting with Janine and Harvey briefly, Skylar went downstairs to leave. She received a call from
Joe
“Why arent you home yet?”
“I stopped by my mom’s place. I’m heading back now. Are you home already? Skylar asked as she walked toward her car.
The old neighborhood had no parking space, so she had parked far away.
Joe answered, “Yes. Want to go out for dinner?”
Skylar suddenly thought of what Natalie had said about Jeremy being too busy to come home.
Joe, as the company head, managed to be home most nights except for occasional business trips.
“Answer me,” Joe said after hearing a minute of silence on the phone.
Skylar snapped out of her thoughts.
“Sorry, I was just thinking about something and spaced out. Let’s go out for dinner. What do you want to eat?”
“Barbecue?” Joe suggested.
Skylar knew Joe wasn’t a big fan of barbecue. She remembered the restaurant she and Natalie had coincidentally run into Joe at the last time.
“Let’s go to that restaurant we ran into each other at last time.”
“Okay.”
As Skylar drove away, Maisy emerged from the shadows.
“Restaurant?” She quickly ran out, hailed a cab, and said, “Follow that car!”
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30 minutes later, Skylar sent Joe a message after arrivirig.
He was still on the way, about three to five minutes away. She decided to wait by the entrance. True to his word, Joe sirived in under five minutes. The two walked into the restaurant together.
As they entered, Maisy glared with resentment, sitting in a taxi.
It was Joe! She couldn’t understand why Skylar was so lucky to end up with Joe.
The taxi driver glanced at Maisy, “Miss, are you getting out or do you want to move?”
Maisy bit her lip, seething with anger.
“Keep driving.”
Just as they sat down and finished ordering, Joe received a message from John.
“Jeremy and Annabelle are still seeing each other. They just checked into a room at my hotel.”
Joe stared at the message, lost in thought.
Jeremy was usually so rational and cold. He would be able to outmaneuver anyone in business. However, he was completely irrational when it came to this matter.
Seeing Joe’s unreadable expression as he looked at his phone, Skylar remained silent.
“I heard about the Williams family’s news today.” Joe said, putting his phone aside.
“Do you think their issues will affect you in any way?” Skylar asked.
Although she could completely sever ties with the Williams family, she wondered if their connection might cause Joe some trouble.
She hadn’t met Joe’s other family members yet, but his and Gloria’s avoidance of the topic made her suspect a few things
“No,” Joe replied. The Williams family didn’t exist to him. Something nonexistent couldn’t affect him.
Skylar nodded and didn’t press further.
Dishes began arriving at the table: Skylar wasn’t a big fan of steaks–she could eat them but didn’t particularly enjoy them.
However, watching Joe eat with such elegance and refinement was a visual pleasure. She couldn’t help
but let her gaze linger on him.
Joe looked up, catching her in the act. Their eyes met, and Skylar blushed
Joe smiled and asked, “You’re staring Have you fallen for me?”
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Skylar almost choked on her steak.
After swallowing, she said, “I like to appreciate beautiful things and people. You’re handsome, so there’s
nothing wrong with me looking at you more. It just means I have good taste.”
She was being realistic. They could be married and share a bed, but love was another matter.
Joe’s eyes darkened.
Skylar noticed Joe’s rapid mood shifts, making it hard to guess his thoughts.
Even though he was right before her, their hearts felt miles apart. It made sense–people who didn’t love each other couldn’t be close. Not knowing what he was thinking was normal.
After an intense session in the hotel room, Jeremy sat by the window, smoking.
He smoked several cigarettes, puffing fiercely. His phone screen was still on, displaying his messages. with Natalie.
Natalie had mentioned she was going on a three–day business trip.
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It sounded simple–she just said she’d be on a three–day business trip, telling him he could focus on work and not worry about her
There was nothing wrong with these words. Yet, precisely because there was nothing wrong, it proved there was something wrong.
Natalie didn’t cling to him anymore and seemed to need his company less and less.
He took out another cigarette and started searching for “Austin” on the search bar
A few years ago, he heard that Natalie liked a celebrity named Austin, but he didn’t pay much attention to
- it.
It was usual for young girls to have celebrity crushes. But now she was working as Austin’s ‘assistant. They interact closely and frequently.
He suddenly thought about his recent endeavors with Annabelle. He looked down at Austin’s profile.
A triple–award–winning actor who was never involved in any scandals, with critically acclaimed shows. The only actor with fans surpassing three hundred million.
He was outstanding in every way. Any young girl would find him attractive…
When Annabelle came out of the bathroom, she saw Jeremy lost in thought, staring at his phone, looking different from just moments ago.
He looked intimidating and distant, as if pushing her further away again. This feeling made Annabelle nervous. She immediately walked over and hugged Jeremy.
“What are you looking at?”
Annabelle froze when she saw Jeremy looking at Austin’s profile.
“Mr. Hughes, are you going to take me to see his movie? I heard his latest film grossed over five billion. dollars, and his acting is superb. I’ve always wanted to watch it, but going to the movies alone feels so boring. Can we go now?”
Annabelle smelled wonderful, fresh from the bath.
Jeremy’s expression turned cold, and he ruthlessly pushed Annabelle away.
Jeremy couldn’t understand himself at that moment. He didn’t like Annabelle. Sometimes, he wanted to stay away from her, yet he often couldn’t resist the urge to sleep with her.
This conflicting emotion sometimes made him question himself. Did he just need something new?
If Natalie found out about this, she would never forgive him.
“Mr. Hughes, you’re so heartless. You were so eager and controlling just now. My back still hurts.”
Annabelle wasn’t angry. Instead, she acted coyly.
During this time together, he often treated her coldly after their encounters. No matter how wild they were together, he remained indifferent toward her.
However, she looked down at her slightly bulging but barely noticeable abdomen with some pride and anticipation. Just wait. When the time came, she would become Mrs. Hughes, and Natalie would have to give up the position for her.
“Put on your clothes and leave the hotel,” Jeremy said coldly.
Annabelle’s face stiffened “It’s so late, I….
Jeremy extinguished his cigarette, stood up, and looked down at Annabelle. “Do you know the consequences of disobedience?”
Annabelle didn’t dare say another word. She quickly got dressed and left the hotel.
After she left, Jeremy called Natalie. She didn’t answer. He wondered if she was on the plane.
Jeremy looked toward home from the hotel window and decided Natalie didn’t need to keep her job any longer.
After dinner, as they left the restaurant, Joe received a call. After hanging up, he said, “There’s a situation with Rowan. I need to check on it.”
“Okay, be careful. I’ll head home first.”
Joe watched Skylar drive away and got into his car.
A few minutes later, he arrived at Rowan’s place.
As soon as he walked in, he saw the floor littered with empty bottles. This was the apartment Rowan often stayed in.
“What’s going on?” Joe glanced at the unshaven Rowan.
Rowan gave Joe a resentful look.
“I wish you weren’t my friend.”
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Joe raised an eyebrow. “Speak.
“I went to Kotel City
the day before yesterday and just got back today”
Rowan mentioned Korel City with a more resentful expression, almost like a jilted lover. If it weren’t for Rowan’s unshaven face, Joe might have thought Rowan went to Korel City for a failed sex reassignment
surgery
Joe glanced at the sofa with some disdain and looked at Rowan.
“I went to see Jenny. She had a major surgery and didn’t even tell me. Joe, do you like her or not? Give me
a straight answer!”
Rowan took a swig from his bottle, looking particularly dejected. He didn’t understand why he ignored so many beautiful women and only had Jenny in his heart. Unfortunately, that girl only had eyes for Joe.
He thought that by mingling with other women, one of them might take a place in his heart. But they were
all just meaningless flings. Those women were nothing to him.
When he heard about Jenny’s surgery, he rushed to Korel City without a second thought and asked Jenny if she would consider being with him.
Jenny refused without hesitation. She didn’t explain why, but he could guess the reason. It was always the
same.
Whenever Joe was around, Jenny only had eyes for him. Her emotions revolyed around Joe. They had.
grown up together; he could see it.
“I’m married and have no plans to divorce, Joe said blankly.
At first, Rowan didn’t hear clearly, thinking he must be drunk and misheard. He knew Joe had been very attentive to Skylar recently, but married?
“Did you just say you’re married? To whom? Rowan asked.
When did this happen? Did he lose his memory from drinking too much?
Skylar.”
“Skylar?”
Rowan instantly sobered up. No wonder Jenny seemed off and down when he saw her this time.
“So, Jenny knows you’re married? And you married Skylar? When did this happen? Are you secretly
married?”
He had sensed that Joe had a special interest in Skylar but hadn’t thought much of it.
Joe even had a falling out with Annie, who he’d known for years, just because of Skylar. That was enough
to prove how much he cared for her.
John had mentioned Joe’s interest in Skylar before, but Rowan had simply thought it was rare for Joe to be interested in any girl.
Rowan knew Joe was merely concerned for Jenny with no other intentions.
Rowan had always thought Joe was generally cold and indifferent in matters of romance. He might even marry Jenny if she wanted. Or he might marry someone his family arranged without much objection.
Yes. We’re secretly married,” Joe replied coolly, kicking a bottle aside. “Do you like Jenny that much?”
Now mostly sober, Rowan approached Joe and said helplessly, “You’ve known for a long time, haven’t you? But that girl is completely into you. I’ve tried to move on using other women, thinking I didn’t care about her anymore. But when I heard about her surgery, I panicked and rushed over.”
Joe said, “Your family would be against it.”
Rowan’s expression darkened. “I can make my own decisions.”
“Your situation with her is for you to figure out,” Joe said coldly.
Rowan stared at Joe, scrutinizing him.
“You really don’t like Jenny?”
Joe gave a slight nod.
“Do you like Skylar? Did you marry her because she’s pregnant? She’s really quite scheming, huh,” Rowan continued with his wild guesse
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“I don’t need you poking into my affairs or speculating about Skylar. She’s not the type of woman you think she is. I’m leaving if you don’t need anything else,” Joe said, about to walk away.
As Joe reached the door, Rowan finally reacted and exclaimed, “You’re really married?”
Joe glanced back at Rowan. His glance made Rowan understand that Joe wasn’t joking.
After the door closed, Rowan called Jenny.
“Joe is already married. Can you think of me now?” Rowan asked.
Jenny took a deep breath.
“So even you know Joe’s married now. Is he making Skylar’s existence known to everyone around him?”
Listening to Jenny’s despondent response, Rowan felt pain and jealousy.
“Yeah, he told me. I’ve met Skylar before, but I didn’t know they were secretly married,” Rowan admitted truthfully.
Jenny was silent for several seconds before she spoke again. “Do you think Joe likes her?”
That question left Rowan momentarily unsure of how to respond. “He seems to care a lot about Skylar.” But he had no idea if Joe loved her or not.
Earlier, he had asked Joe directly, and Joe didn’t give a straight answer. Joe also said he was married and was not getting a divorce, indicating he was quite satisfied with Skylar.
Jenny fell silent again for a few more seconds. “In another month, I’ll finish my studies here and return to Jipsburg.”
Rowan was excited to hear Jenny was coming back. “Let me know when you’re coming back, I’ll pick you up at the
airport!”
Jenny replied faintly, “Okay.”
Maisy had no choice but to return to the Williams family.
The house was eerily quiet. Even the household staff moved about quietly.
Samuel’s work had almost stopped due to the hospital incident, so he was confined to staying at home.
Peter and his father had gone to the company, and when Maisy asked Peter about the situation, it seemed they were doing their best to salvage what losses they could, but their company was on the brink of collapse.
Kenny was also at home and would only return to work the next day.
Everyone was hiding away in their rooms.
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As for Sadie, she was probably resting alone in her room.
Maisy passed by Sadie’s room on her way back to her room and paused briefly before quickly moving on.
She didn’t want to stir up any trouble.
She quietly returned to her room and found Kenny waiting for her there.
“Where did you go?” Kenny asked.
“I went to see Janine, hoping that, since she’s my biological mother, she might help convince Skylar to come back. But I don’t know what Skylar told her. Janine was very firm,” Maisy lied without batting an eye.
Kenny hadn’t seen Maisy earlier and had feared she might follow Skylar’s example and leave while the Williams family was in turmoil. It turned out he was overthinking it..
Maisy wasn’t that heartless.
He stood up, walked over to Maisy, and hugged her. In a moment of impulse, he kissed her.
Maisy responded eagerly.
As they kissed passionately, they were unaware that the door was not fully closed.
Samuel stood outside the door, shocked at the scene before him. He had only come to see if Maisy had returned, but what he saw was beyond his expectations.
“Kenny, Maisy, you… you two…”
He was flabbergasted. Kenny and Maisy were siblings, and yet they were kissing.
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Were they out of their minds?
The two who were passionately kissing immediately pulled apart upon hearing the noise.
They tuned to see Samuel standing at the door, his eyes wide with disbelief, as if they had committed some unforgivable crime. Both of them were momentarily stunned.
Maisy was the first to react.
Her eyes were red as she said, “Kenny and I… we like each other. We only realized our feelings recently. We didn’t want this, but sometimes love isn’t something you can control.
“We’re not biological siblings, so we can be together, can’t we? Samuel, don’t look at me like that. I’m not a sinner. I’m just in a helpless situation.”
Hearing this, Kenny felt a pang of heartache and hugged Maisy, then coldly addressed Samuel, “Close the door first. No one else can know about this.”
Samuel, still in shock, closed the door.
“Maisy isn’t our biological sister. We aren’t blood–related, so we can be together. This isn’t her fault. It’s mine. I should have controlled my feelings for her. But she’s right, you can’t stop your feelings.
“She likes me, and I like her. I know exactly what I’m doing, Samuel. You’re my brother, you should be happy for us,” Kenny said, taking an authoritative stance as the eldest brother.
Every word he spoke was to paint himself and Maisy as victims.
However, this revelation was too much for Samuel to handle. He could never have imagined the brother he respected the most, Kenny and his most beloved sister to be in such a relationship.
Something felt off, but under Kenny and Maisy’s pitiful gazes, Samuel stiffly nodded.
“I won’t tell anyone for now, but given the current situation at home, you two should avoid acting like this. If Dad or Peter finds out, there will be another problem, and most importantly, Mom must never find out.”
Kenny and Maisy agreed. With the current state of affairs at home, they certainly wanted to avoid causing more trouble. If Mom found out, it would indeed cause a huge problem.
All three fell silent at the thought of their mother’s current state.
Maisy hesitated, wondering if she should tell them about Skylar and Joe. After some deliberation, she decided against it.
If she told them, they would was more capable of managing to catch Joe’s attention.
only think !
And so, the three of them kept their thoughts to themselves, remaining silent.
The controversy about the Williams family continued to escalate online.
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The TV channel was also facing significant troubles, with some programs being suspended. The director and hosts‘ careers took a heavy blow.
The director, in particular, was exposed to various scandals, some of which involved illegal activities. Things were quickly getting out of hand.
Public opinion made it nearly impossible for the Williams family to recover. Many who considered continuing working with them had backed out.
Within days, the company went into a financial crisis. They couldn’t even pay their employees.
When payday arrived, the household staff had no salaries and had to complain to the Department of Labor, causing chaos in the Williams household.
These developments were widely reported online.
Ever since Caleb found out how malicious the Williams family was, he kept a keen eye ort their situation and brought the latest updates to Skylar each day at work. Thus, Skylar was always informed without having to search for news herself.
That day, she and Joe were scheduled to visit Gloria at Pearhall Residence. After work, she drove there. As she approached the place, she received a call from Edgar.
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“Mrs. Martin Senior just went to the auction. She asked you and Joe to join her there.”
After hanging up. Skylar drove toward the auction. She know the location from a previous visit, but the traffic was heavy then, so she turned on the navigation.
As she drove, she wondered why Gloria suddenly decided to go to the auction. While she was wondering, Joe called.
“I’ll be at the auction in ten minutes. How much longer will you take?”
Skylar glanced at the navigation, which showed a little over ten minutes. After telling Joe the approximate time, he said they would enter together once she arrived.
1
merely his companion. But today,
The last time she attended an auction with Joe, others thought she was with Gloria present, she would be known as Gloria’s granddaughter–in–law.
She wondered what Gloria had set her sights on at the auction.
15 minutes later, Skylar saw Joe in the parking lot. This time, her car entered the parking lot smoothly.
Joe was dressed in a tailored suit. He looked very striking and cold.
Skylar realized she was dressed very simply in jeans and a trench coat.
“I have prepared a dress for you. Get changed in the car.” Joe handed her a bag.
Inside the bag was a white dress. The lighting in the parking lot was dim, and no one could see her in the backseat.
Skylar took the bag and went to the backseat to change. The car’s tight space made it awkward, especially with Joe sitting in the front.
“Hand me your clothes once you’ve taken them off,” Joe suddenly said,
Skylar hesitated for a moment, then handed him her clothes. When she finished changing and tidying her hair, she was surprised to see Joe had folded her clothes neatly.
Her eyes lingered on the folded clothes for a few seconds, feeling her heart skip a beat.
She took the neatly folded clothes and thanked him.
“Thank you.”
“It will be cold inside, put on this shawl.”
Joe handed her a beige cashmere shawl.
The soft, warm touch of the cashmere shawl made Skylar’s heart flutter.
It wasn’t until they arrived at the auction and met Gloria that Skylar truly calmed down.
There weren’t many people at the auction today. Beside Gloria was another elegant elderly woman.
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When she saw Skylar, she was a little surprised. After hearing Skylar call Gloria “grandmother“, she asked Gloria quietly, “Do you have another granddaughter? I’ve never seen her before.”
Gloria looked proud as she replied, “She’s my granddaughter–in–law.”
“What?” The woman was very surprised and looked at Skylar closely.
She hadn’t heard anything about this.
She had just returned from abroad and called Gloria to attend the auction together, aiming to strengthen. their relationship and potentially arrange a marriage between their families.
But someone had made a faster move. Moreover, she has never seen this woman before.
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Seeing Janet’s surprised expression, Gloria laughed and said, “I called my granddaughter–in–law over to help identify some items I plan to bid on later. I need to see if they belong to Viola.”
If the items were indeed Viola’s, there was no reason for them to end up elsewhere. She wanted to buy them back. Even if she couldn’t see Viola, having her belongings was still comforting.
Janet Lawson was still in shock.
“Would she know anything about this?”
A young girl who seemed inexperienced might only know a bit from visiting art exhibitions. Could she tell between genuine and fake items?
Janet suspected Gloria was just trying to add prestige to the young woman.
She looked at Joe, who didn’t seem affectionate toward Skylar. Perhaps Gloria liked this pretty and well- behaved woman, but Joe might not.
Hearing Janet’s doubts, Gloria nearly rolled her eyes. “Yes, she does.”
Skylar listened to their conversation. She could tell that Gloria and Janet weren’t very close. Gloria had invited her because she knew Viola’s items were up for auction.
Skylar hadn’t expected to find Viola’s belongings here.
Back when she was in the countryside, Viola rarely mentioned her past. Viola appeared to be a prominent figure in the city before moving to the countryside.
Both Gloria, George, and Alexander always thought fondly of her.
Skylar herself missed Viola dearly and wondered where she had gone. She longed to see Viola and share all that she had been through, significantly since Viola had predicted so many things in her life.
“Would this young lady really know anything?” Janet asked Skylar sharply, her eyes showing a hint of skepticism.
Skylar responded calmly, “I know a little.”
Gloria couldn’t help but smile when she heard that. If that were true, nobody else in the city could claim to understand antiques truly.
Joe, too, subtly raised an eyebrow, glancing at Skylar blankly.
Janet thought she had her answer. The lady was probably afraid of embarrassing herself on abo
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would be up for auction. If not, Gloria would be very disappointed.
As the first item came up for auction, Gloria told Skylar, “If you see anything you like, just let me know,
and I’ll bid on it for you.”
Janet’s face fell upon hearing this. She couldn’t understand how this young lady, who seemingly appeared out of nowhere, had earned such favor from Gloria.
Gloria treated her as if she were her granddaughter. Her tone was so gentle and kind.
“Okay, thank you, Grandma,” Skylar replied with a smile.
Gloria was delighted that Skylar was becoming closer to her. She had no intention of leaving empty-
handed that day.
If there were something suitable for Skylar, she would bid on it. With that thought, she gave Joe a
knowing look.
When Joe saw Gloria winking at him, he instantly understood her intentions.
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Joe should bid on some items to give to Skylar to improve their relationship as a couple.
da
He subtly nodded. They had a mutual understanding. A glance and a nod were all it took to know each
other’s intentions.
Gioria was very pleased with Joe’s response. It was good that he was looking out for his wife.
Joe might not have noticed, but his attitude toward Skylar had changed recently. It wasn’t the same as the previously staged affection for Gloria’s sake.
Now, there was a hint of genuine affection in his gaze towards Skylar. How much was unclear, but there
was some.
Unaware of the silent exchange between Joe and Gloria, Skylar focused on the auction items.
Janet scoffed inwardly as she watched Skylar’s serious attention to each auction piece. Despite her youth, she had a remarkable composure. Even if she lacked skill, her calm demeanor set her apart from
many girls.
When a painting was presented, it sparked murmurs among the attendees.
The artwork was by Viola.
Viola was a well–known figure among the elite in Jipsburg. Many had once queued up, offering hefty for her art. A foreigner had bought this particular painting and now returned to auction.
v sums
Viola was renowned for her extensive astronomy and geography knowledge and ability to read people’s
fate. She was also an expert in identifying and restoring antiques.
Even the highly respected Alexander addressed her as a mentor.
Viola’s mastery of painting was unparalleled, though she rarely created original works, mostly replicating
and restoring ancient paintings.
This piece was her only original work. It was previously sold at a high price, making it highly valuable.
After all, nobody knew Viola’s current whereabouts, not even Gloria, who was once close to her.
The auctioneer provided a detailed introduction to the painting, including its creation context.
Gloria stared at the painting with teary eyes. It was a landscape painting featuring a figure resembling
Viola from the back.
Janet exclaimed excitedly, “What a wonderful painting! If you don’t bid on it, Gloria, I will.”
She knew this painting would be a great bragging point among friends, though she doubted she’d win against Gloria.
Tears brimmed in Gloria’s eyes as she looked at the painting. She asked Skylar, “Skye, is this Viola’s painting?”
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She had never heard of Viola painting a self–portrait and landscapes.
on years o
She was skeptical despite rumors that someone had bought Viola’s
However, this auction house in Jipsburg rarely dealt with fakes and had built a strong reputation for authenticity over
the years.
Skylar confidently replied, “No, Grandma, this painting isn’t Viola’s work. She only ever replicated ancient paintings and never painted herself or landscapes.”
Viola believed destiny should not be defied, having experienced too much in life. Therefore, she refrained from creating original works, only replicating others‘ art.
“Not hers? Young lady, you should watch your words. The staff here confirmed and there are even witnesses attesting this is Viola’s work,” Janet challenged, thinking she had caught Skylar in a mistake.
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Janet thought Skylar was still too young. She just couldn’t hold her composure. She tried to show off her knowledge before Gloria, but now it was backfiring on her.
Joe glanced at Janet. He hadn’t noticed her much before, but now he found her chatter annoying.
Gloria subtly furrowed her brow, her voice slightly cold, “You seem to know a lot.”
“I don’t know much,” Janet replied, “but auction houses rarely make mistakes. If this painting by Viola was a fake, wouldn’t that damage their reputation?”
Janet felt her argument was quite logical.
Gloria wanted to roll her eyes. These people didn’t know any better than Skylar. She was Viola’s apprentice, always by her side.
If Skylar said it wasn’t Viola’s work, then it definitely wasn’t. Besides, Gloria had never heard of Viola painting self–portraits.
“Maybe the auction house was also deceived,” Skylar said calmly. She wouldn’t speak on matters she
wasn’t sure of.
She had to do her due diligence and inform Viola that it wasn’t Viola’s work. After all, Gloria was interested in the painting solely because it was supposedly Viola’s.
“There’s nothing else worthwhile today. It’s not worth wasting our time. Skylar, let’s go,” Gloria said, not wanting to spend another moment with Janet..
They had never been close, and just because they were older now didn’t mean they would get along any better. Gloria wouldn’t have come if it weren’t for the rumor about Viola.
“Yes, Grandma.” Skylar helped Gloria stand up, and the three of them left the auction.
Janet was too stunned to react. When she finally did, she muttered, “Why did they leave so suddenly?”
She still had so much to say! That woman, aside from being pretty, had nothing on her granddaughter.
How could Gloria’s judgment be so poor in her old age, falling for the tricks of a cunning girl?
“As long as they’re not married, my granddaughter still has a chance!”
After leaving the auction, Gloria got into Skylar’s car instead of Joe’s..
Skylar was worried that Gloria might feel uncomfortable, so she drove slowly, with Joe’s car close behind her.
When they reached a turn, Joe’s car moved ahead and signaled for Skylar to pull over.
Skylar rolled down her window as Joe approached.
“is something wrong?” she asked. She couldn’t understand why they were stopping midway.
sent the driver home. I’m going to ride with you to Pearhall Residence,” Joe said
Riding alone wasn’t very appealing to him.
Gloria frowned, “Skylar’s car isn’t big it’s fine for the two of us, but you’ll take up too much space.
She was having a perfect chat with Skylar. Joe was being such a bother
Joe maintained a straight face, although he could clearly feel Gloria’s disdain for him.
“The driver has already left.”
Glona felt sorry for Joe when she heard that. She couldn’t let him stand outside. Reluctantly, she said,
Fine, get in
Skylar watched the interaction between Gloria and Joe with amusement.
Who would have thought that the mighty president of Martin Group would be treated like this by his grandmother at home?
Joe noticed Skylar holding back her laughter as he got in. He raised an eyebrow subtly and gritted his
teeth
She would get her punishment tonight
Skylar’s heart skipped a beat, sensing the implication of Joe’s gaze. Over time, she had come to
understand him a little better.
Chapter 401
Intonately familiar with Joe, Skylar couldn’t help but wonder about his thoughts With Gloria son tri the siblity, would he truly be entertaining such lascivious thoughts?
Feeling flustered, Skylar quickly looked away.
“Grandma, Skylar sald, her voice sweet and childlike. “How about I stay with you tonight at Pearlhall Residence? We have so much to catch up on.”
Gloria’s face lit up. “That sound’s lovely! I have things I want to share with you too. We’ll stay at Pearlhall Residence tonight. I’ll tell Edgar to prepare some snacks and fruit. We can relax, watch TV, and chat all evening.”
Joe’s gaze darkened as he watched Skylar.
Suddenly, Gloria seemed to realize Joe’s presence and spoke again. “Actually, why don’t you call Lucas to take you back to Galaxy Villa? Skye and I will be fine on our own tonight.” She clearly desired a private conversation with Skylar, and Joe’s presence was becoming a hindrance.
Feeling a familiar sting of rejection, Joe scowled. “Are you my grandmother or Skylar’s?”
“I’m both yours and Skye’s,” Gloria firmly declared.
Joe couldn’t find the right words, silently fuming over the thought of returning to Galaxy Villa. He then
cast a glance at Skylar, who seemed smug. She had avoided him today, but tomorrow was another ston
Skylar caught Joe’s lustful stare in the rearview mirror. Unease prickled her skin.
“Why do you keep staring at Skylar?” Gloria snorted. “You can’t sleep without her around, huh?”
Skylar remained silent.
Unexpectedly, Joe admitted, “Actually, no. I can’t.”
He planned to make up for lost time tomorrow.
Gloria rolled her eyes. Tonight, she just wanted some quality time with Skylar. Besides, she’d heard from the maid at Galaxy Villa that the sheets were being changed nearly every day.
Joe needed some self–control, she thought. He was going to wear Skylar out at this rate. And that look in his eyes earlier was pure, unadulterated desire.
When they reached the next intersection, Joe got out and drove back to Galaxy Villa on his own while Gloria and Skylar continued on to Pearlhall Residence.
30 minutes later, Joe arrived at Galaxy Villa. After showering, he climbed into the large, now strangely
empty bed. He had become accustomed to Skylar’s warmth beside him.
A realization struck him, and his expression darkened further.
E
Chapter
Jacky was engrossed in a new case file. He typically visited the Martin Group on Mondays and Fridays, dedicating the rest of his time to the law firm.
Within half an hour of starting his workday, Emily Diaz, his assistant, walked in.
“Mr. Lourdes, there are two gentlemen here to see you without an appointment. They say it’s about a Ms. Sullivan,” she announced.
“Ms. Sullivan?” Jacky immediately thought of Skylar.
“Yes, sir.”
“Please show them in.”
A few minutes later, Jeffrey and Peter entered the office.
Upon hearing their voices, Jacky looked up from his documents. Jacky recognized Peter, from previous encounters and had seen Jeffrey at social functions. Their unexpected arrival piqued his curiosity, though his expression remained unchanged.
His mind began to race with calculations.
The Williams family, it seemed, was never far from trouble.
Chapter 402
is there something you need?” Jacky asked coldly.
Jeffery furrowed his brow at Jacky’s aloof demeanor. “We’re here to confirm your relationship with my daughter
Peter chimed in, “It’s Skylar Sullivan.”
Baffled, Jacky furrowed his brow, pondering whether he had any relationship with Skylar. “Ms. Sullivan?” he inquired.
Suddenly, a curious incident came to mind. John had mentioned the Williams family approaching the Gardners, questioning his relationship with Skylar.
They believed she was his mistress and hoped to exploit their connection to escape their predicament. Now, they were desperate enough to seek him out.
“She’s my client,” Jacky stated firmly.
Knowing how much Joe valued Skylar, Jacky wondered who dared claim a relationship with her. John had mentioned Joe’s displeasure at seeing photos of Skylar working on his phone. Jacky didn’t want to spark Joe’s jealousy.
“Just a client? We’re all intelligent people here, Mr. Lourdes. You wouldn’t represent Skylar solely because of her finances. Many in Jipsburg City couldn’t afford your services, let alone someone like Skylar,” Peter stated frankly.
Despite the Williamses approaching Jacky for legal help previously, he wouldn’t even grant them a meeting, let alone listen to their case. Peter found it difficult to believe there was no relationship at all.
Jeffrey spoke gravely, “Since we’ve come to you, Mr. Lourdes, we would appreciate your honesty. You can simply tell us the truth.”
“The truth?” Jacky’s voice deepened.
“Is it true you’ve been involved with Skylar, using your connections to get her on Alexander’s team and halt the television program?” Peter wasted no time, getting straight to the point.
The Williams family was desperate for any opportunity to turn things around.
After hearing their accusations, Jacky discreetly activated his phone’s recording function.
“So?” he said.
“If you have a relationship with Skylar, we hope you can help our family. Our company is in trouble. Banks are refusing loans.
“You wouldn’t want Skylar’s family to drag you down, would you? Help us, and it can benefit your relationship with Skylar. She’ll be grateful, even if you don’t marry her. She’ll be devoted to you, willingly becoming yours. We’ll support you,” Peter laid out his scheme.
The Willems Group was in dire straite. The company was doomed if they didn’t come up with a solution
Jeffery nodded. “That’s our only request. If you can assist, I can ensure Skylar becomes your lifelong mistress. She’ll obey you faithfully and won’t interfere with your family.”
The Williams family disliked Skylar. If she could be of service, then perhaps her existence wouldn’t be
entirely in vain,
After hearing their plan, Jacky recalled what John had told him previously. He couldn’t help but wonder if they knew how foolish they sounded.
His two encounters with Skylar had left him with a positive impression. Gloria and Joe had also accepted her. Yet, here she was, being bullied by her own family.
“I repeat, Ms. Sullivan is a client. This entire conversation has been recorded, and it can be used as evidence of slander in the future. You have two options. Leave on your own accord, or I will have our security guard, Anthony Richardson, escort you out,” Jacky said coldly.
He would have demanded compensation for his wasted time if he hadn’t intended to record their conversation.
“You!” Both Peter and Jeffrey’s faces turned pale. They wondered if they had approached the wrong person again. It seemed impossible–they couldn’t have made the same mistake twice.
“Are you truly saying there’s nothing between you and Skylar?” Peter found it hard to believe. He was convinced there had to be more to the story.
Skylar had grown up in the countryside. Peter couldn’t understand how she could have managed to hire Jacky. He wondered if she had used up all her money to secure his services.
Chapter 403
Jeffrey couldn’t understand why Jacky would only help Skyfer when so many wealthy people in Jipsbu City were willing to pay him. It didn’t make sense unless Skylar was using some kind of seduction,
“Did Skylar say something to make you treat us differently?” Jeffrey frowned. The more he thought about it, the more suspicious he became. Skylar’s behavior was really starting to get on his nerves.
Jacky turned to Emily and said curtly. “Call Anthony.”
“Okay”
The mention of Anthony darkened both Peter’s and Jeffrey’s faces.
“Mr. Lourdes, aren’t you taking this a bit too far?” Jeffrey exclaimed angrily.
Peter stared defiantly at Jacky, but his expression was unreadable. Jipsburg City’s most renowned lawyer was a master at concealing his emotions.
Within two minutes, Anthony arrived.
Peter and Jeffrey’s faces fell even further upon seeing him.
Ten minutes later, Joe finished a meeting and checked his phone. Jacky had left him a message and a
recording.
The message said that Peter and Jeffrey Williams had confronted Jacky. They believed Skylar was his mistress and tried to pressure him into helping them.
The recording revealed Peter and Jeffrey disparaging Skylar with every word. Each insult made Joe
angrier.
It infuriated Joe to think the Williams family saw his wife this way? Were they trying to pimp her out? Did they want Skylar to be someone’s mistress for life?
and the Williams family seemed no different. These
The Martins had their fair share of shameless people, experiences fueled a burning resentment in Joe’s heart.
“There’s no need to tell Skylar about this,” Joe decided as he dialed Jacky’s number.
Jacky chuckled. “If the Williams family knew Skylar married you, they’d be in for a shock. They might even come begging. But trust me, they won’t get a simple escort out by security this time.
“I’ve gathered evidence of their corporate crimes. That evidence is enough to put them away for a decade at least. I’ll hand it to Mr. Ziegler when he gets back.”
“Good,” Joe said before hanging up. His mind drifted back to the day he and Skylar registered their
marriage. She had looked pale and heartbreakingly fragile.
Was she really being bullied by those Williams jerks? And what about Christopher?
Restless and frustrated, Joe lit a cigarette. A few drags didn’t ease his agitation.
He glanced at his chat with Skylar on his phone. Was she truly happy living at Pearlhall Residence? She had yet to send a single message or call him. He took a few more drags and dialed her number. However, it wasn’t Skylar who took his call,
“Hello, this is Caleb Gardner, Skylar’s assistant,” Caleb said, surprised to see “Partner” displayed on the caller ID.
Caleb pondered whether Skylar was engaged in a business venture with someone.
My Joe insured hea voice laced with suspicion
Joe’s voice, a deep, menacing rumble, sent a jolt of terror through the phone and straight down Caleb’s
ne, leaving him trembling
Yes, I’m Skylar’s assistant. She’s currently unavailable and can’t take your call. Please let me know if I can help you with anything. ITI pass the message along”
Joe’s expression hardened as he listened to Caleb’s voice. He bristled at the thought of a male assistant, especially one who sounded so young.
“Tell her to call me when she’s free,” Joe said curtly before hanging up.
Caleb blinked, confused. Who could that have been? Despite the icy tone, the caller seemed close to Skylar.
He approached Skylar, who was engrossed in work.
“Who was it?” Skylar asked.
“Someone named ‘Partner‘ called, Caleb said. “He said to have you call him back when you’re free. Are you in business with someone?”
Hearing “Partner piqued Skylar’s curiosity about Joe’s reason for calling.
Nonetheless, Caleb’s casual mention of “Partner” sent a jolt through her. Hadn’t she, on a whim, renamed Joe’s contact to “Partner“? She saw their relationship fitting that label. However, she hadn’t anticipated Joe calling while she was busy, and Caleb stepping in to answer had led to the misunderstanding.
She smiled. “That’s my husband.”
Skylar’s revelation caught Caleb off guard, the realization hitting him hard. When he thought about Skylar being another man’s wife, a pang of dissatisfaction settled in his gut. He wondered if this man deserved her and if he treated her well.
“So, that was your husband,” Caleb said, attempting nonchalance.
Skylar hummed in acknowledgment. She quickly finished her work and called Joe back.
“I was busy with work just now. Did you need something?” Skylar asked.
Joe’s response was sharp. “Can’t I call without needing something?”
Skylar was taken aback and unsure how to respond.
“What time will you be home tonight?” Joe continued.
“I should be home around 5:00 pm. If there’s anything you’d like for dinner, let me know. I can cook something for you,” Skylar replied.
Joe’s irritation subsided slightly at her concern. However, he wasn’t interested in food.
Chapter 404
“I’ll be devouring you tonight. Be ready by 9:00 pm,” he said, his tone a chilling mix of casualness and possessiveness. Skylar’s cheeks flushed at his suggestive words.
Taking a deep breath, Skylar was gr
Chapter 405
Skylar spoke softly into the phone. “Mr. Martin, I’m sorry, but it’s that time of the month.
Silence hung heavy on the other end. Skylar almost thought the call had dropped.
A sly smile played on her lips. “You’ll have to handle it yourself, then.*
There was a boat of silence, and then Joe’s voice returned, even colder than before. “See you at 9:00 pm.”
After ending the call, Skylar returned to work.
Only later, as Joe pulled her into bed, did Skylar realize escape was futile. His kiss silenced any questions she might have had.
Exhaustion washed over her. Drifting off to sleep, Skylar contemplated her visiting Gloria and staying over at Pearlhall Residence for the next few days.
The dimly lit room at Williams Residence held the aftermath of a passionate encounter.
Despite Jeffrey and Peter being at home, Kenny and Maisy couldn’t resist each other. Maisy had left at trail of love bites on Kenny’s shoulder.
After they finished, they snuggled back into bed. Nestled in Kenny’s arms, Maisy murmured, “When can we finally tell Dad about us? Sneaking around is getting tiresome.”
Kenny sighed, feeling somewhat helpless. “Let’s hold off a little longer. The family situation is complex right now, and my job is on the line. They’re downsizing, and I can’t focus on research with all this going
- on.
“I was thinking I could process my resignation in a couple of days. Either I’ll take over the family business or start something new.”
Maisy’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. “I support you completely. We could use some of Dad’s money to launch our own business. You’d be the CEO. How prestigious is that?”
She saw Kenny as a diamond in the rough, with the potential to someday eclipse the brilliance of even Joe.
Maisy fantasized about being the CEO’s wife, a position Skylar could never hold. She believed Joe only saw Skylar as a fling. He’d get bored eventually, and then her hopes of staying on Alexander’s team would be dashed.
Owning a four–bedroom apartment wasn’t that impressive, Maisy thought. Only people with limited experience found it so grand. Sure, it was expensive, but to their family, it was nothing extraordinary.
As for the millions Skylar supposedly earned in a month, Maisy scoffed. It was likely a “paycheck from Joe. If she were Skylar, she wouldn’t be bragging about it. There was nothing honorable about that kind of
arrangement.
Maisy, meanwhile, was about to step into the role of a CEO’s wife. But did she brag about it? Moreover, the Williams family assets would eventually pass to Kenny.
“Yeah, we shouldn’t concern ourselves with others in the company. Let’s proceed with this decision. Kenny hesitated initially. But Maisy’s words convinced him.
Besides, he’d also noticed Steven’s increasing competence and how his colleagues distanced themselves. Staying on seemed pointless.
“Kenny, there’s something I’ve been debating telling you,” Maisy confessed. “I only found out yesterday, and it’s been weighing on me. I can’t be certain, but Dad and Peter went to see Mr. Lourdes and came back furious. I’m torn because Dad will only get angrier if it’s wrong.”
“Tell me, whatever it is,” Kenny urged. “This is a safe space.”
“Well, I saw Skylar and Joe at a restaurant. They seemed close. It makes me wonder if Joe, not Paul or John, is the one secretly supporting Skylar financially.”
Kenny’s eyes widened in surprise. “What?”
It turned out that it was Joe who had been backing Skylar all along.
Suddenly, he remembered the day Skylar had returned and declared she’d be getting into Joe’s bed. Back then, they’d all thought she was crazy, spouting nonsense.
But Skylar had gotten into Joe’s bed. And if Joe was her benefactor, then Jacky helping Skylar made perfect sense.
ateful Caleb was in the restroom and hadn’t overheard their conversation.
Chapter 406
Kenry pondered for a moment before saying, “We need to tell Mom and Dad about this.”
if it truly were Joe, his assistance would completely alleviate their current predicament. Everything troubling them could be effortlessly resolved.
“No, I need confirmation first. Three mistakes in a row–if we get this wrong again, Joe’s anger might fall upon our family, and we’ll be done for in Jipsburg City.” Kenny quickly turned cautious again.
Maisy gave a firm nod. “Your concern is valid, Kenny.”
After that, they made love once more.
As dawn approached, Kenny quietly returned to his room. Passing by Sadie’s room, he heard pained gasps coming from within, He hesitated, contemplating whether to check on her.
However, the thought of potential trouble deterred him. After all, Sadie had just had surgery, and some pain was to be expected. Besides, she might be exaggerating.
He quickly dismissed the thought and went back to sleep. After waking up, he intended to go to the company and hand in his resignation.
Meanwhile, Sadie lay in bed, wide–eyed and unable to sleep in the dim light. The constant pain made her feel like giving up.
Throughout the day, no one from her family had visited her, and it shocked her that they hadn’t heard her complaints. Only the maid had briefly checked in.
But the maid was overworked and couldn’t provide proper care.
Scenes from her dreams resurfaced. She vividly recalled how they had ignored Skylar’s situation, just like they were doing to her now, or even worse. At least the maid visited Sadie, while in her dreams, they dismissed the maid whenever she tried to help Skylar.
Sadie wondered if this was karma. After all, Skylar’s accident was her fault, yet they ignored her. Even in reality, since Skylar’s return, Sadie hadn’t shown her an ounce of kindness, bordering on mistreatment.
Sadie began sobbing. “K–Karma. This is my retribution… They will get theirs too!” she almost screamed, the vast silence amplifying her words.
Everyone in the house practically heard her outburst. However, they feigned ignorance. Their patience with Sadie was wearing thin.
Jeffery cursed inwardly, “Fuck your karma!”
Sadie had constantly tormented others; she was her own karma! That was why the accident happened to her, not someone else.
Startled awake, Jeffery clenched his fists. He couldn’t believe he was married to such a selfish and erratic woman. All she had to do was rest quietly.
Chapter 406
During her lunch break, Skylar headed to the mall across the street to meet Natalie for lunch. Natalie happened to be nearby.
Austin was filming nearby last night and had a break during the day. He would resume filming around 5:00 pm. Natalie took advantage of this free time to visit Skylar.
However, within ten minutes of sitting down, Skylar yawned twice.
Chapter 407
Natalle squinted. “You seem out of it. What were you up to last night?”
Skylar admitted candidly. “I spent the whole night with Joe.”
Natalie rolled her eyes, wondering if Skylar was becoming obsessed with Joe. The thought even crossed her mind that maybe Skylar was even having erotic dreams about him.
Yet, there was no denying Joe was a top catch. If Skylar could snag him in real life, Natalie would be genuinely happy for her.
Skylar remained tight–lipped, unable to elaborate further. Natalie, sensing this, wisely changed the subject.
“It’s so refreshing to be back working again,” Natalie remarked. “I feel like a whole new person.”
Skylar expressed her happiness for Natalie sincerely. “The vibrant Natalie is back, shining bright like a sun!
Welcome back!”
Natalie had seemed listless a while back. Her life essentially revolved around Jeremy, who was perpetually swamped with work.
At their age, they should be pursuing their dreams.
Despite that, an inexplicable weight settled on Skylar’s mind as she thought about Natalie and Jeremy.
“If I didn’t have work later, we’d be celebrating with drinks right now,” Natalie lamented.
“We can always do that after you’re finished,” Skylar replied with a smile.
Natalie raised her smoothie. “Let’s toast with our smoothies instead.”
They both took large gulps of their smoothies.
Suddenly, Natalie spotted a familiar face. She blinked, unsure at first, but a closer look confirmed her
suspicions.
“What’s going on?” Skylar followed Natalie’s gaze.
“It’s my husband’s secretary,” Natalie explained. “That’s odd. The company is nowhere near here. What’s she doing at the mall on her lunch break?”
Natalie checked the time.
The commute from Jeremy’s company to the mall and back took roughly 40 minutes, barely enough time for lunch. It wouldn’t make sense for someone to travel this far just to shop at an ordinary mall in Jipsburg.
Natalie couldn’t help but notice the smile plastered on Annabelle’s face as she chatted on the phone. The woman was undeniably beautiful, captivating the attention of everyone around her.
Unfamiliar with Annabelle, Skylar furrowed her brow upon seeing her for the first time. “Mr. Hughes‘ secretary?”
“Yes, I met her at the company last time,” Natalle replied. “She’s new. She’s absolutely stunning, a real
head–turner.
“Still, you outshine anyone, Skylar. You’re one of a kind! But you must look at her physique! She’s Incredibly fit. If were a man, I’d be amitton!”
Natalie admired Annabelle’s well–proportioned figure with a touch of envy. Such a figure was undoubtedly the result of dedicated exercise.
Unlike Annabelle, Skylar avoided outfits that’accentuated her figure. She believed that her allure would surpass Annabelle’s if she chose to dress that way.
The distance hampered a clear view, but Skylar managed to catch a glimpse of a bracelet on Annabelle’s wrist. It was an unassuming piece, almost easy to miss, and there seemed to be a faint mist surrounding
- it.
“There’s something strange about that secretary,” Skylar frowned, a feeling of unease washing over her.
Natalie was perplexed. “Strange?”
“I can’t quite explain it,” Skylar admitted. “Is she just Mr. Hughes‘ secretary?”
“Yeah. But when I saw her at the company last time, she wasn’t dressed as casually or seductively as she is now. I even asked Jeremy why he suddenly changed secretaries.
“He merely said the previous one had some personal problems and left. He doesn’t seem to have much of an impression of this secretary, Natalie explained, shrugging off her concerns.
Chapter 408
Natalie didn’t think Annabelle was Jeremy’s type. During their movie or TV nights, Jeremy never seemed interested in actresses who looked like Annabelle. Moreover, Jeremy wasn’t one to pursue someone readily available; he seemed to prefer more challenging pursuits.
Skylar didn’t dwell on it. She just had a nagging suspicion. Ultimately, she trusted Jeremy’s character and their relationship. Besides, their situation was entirely different from hers and Christopher’s. Furthermore, Jeremy and Natalie were familiar faces to each other’s families.
At that moment, Annabelle was carrying several shopping bags filled with newly purchased clothes. She was on the phone with Jeremy.
“Mr. Hughes, please don’t do that again like this morning. I slept in until 10:00 am, and my back is killing me,” she said in a soft, flirtatious voice.
A passerby overheard her conversation, his eyes widening in shock. Was this something meant for his ears?
The passerby couldn’t help but be captivated by her stunning figure. Annabelle possessed the kind of beauty that left him almost dizzy. If things went further, he knew he wouldn’t be able to resist.
Annabelle noticed the man staring at her with lust after ending the call.
A disdainful smile played across her lips as she pondered how an ordinary man like him could dare to think such thoughts about her. How audacious!
The man scoffed at her disdainful look. “Mr. Hughes, huh? You’re probably just his little plaything! What’s with the act?”
Annabelle bristled at his mocking tone. “You!”
The man leered. “What’s the matter? Are you trying to seduce me now? You’re a looker, I’ll give you that. Beg me nicely, and maybe I’ll consider spending the night.”
With that vulgar remark, the man disappeared, leaving Annabelle fuming. His words struck a deep chord, echoing the truth she desperately tried to ignore.
She was indeed a plaything to Jeremy.
“No,” she thought, “I’ll be Mrs. Hughes!”
A glance at her watch told her lunch was almost over. She decided to grab a quick bite before heading to the Gardner Group across the street. First, though, she needed to get something from her car.
Skylar and Natalie parted ways after lunch.
Skylar returned to her workroom to continue her restoration work.
Chapter 409
porcelain piece. He wants you to see if it can be restored.”
“Let’s go check it out,” Skylar said, putting down her current work.
They then headed to Alexander’s office.
Skylar was surprised to see Annabelle there. Now, it made sense why she had been at the mall across the street. She had come to get a porcelain fixed.
Skylar’s gaze briefly landed on the bracelet on Annabelle’s wrist. A faint, unfamiliar scent lingered in the air.
Annabelle didn’t recognize Skylar. However, the moment their eyes met, a flurry of comparisons flooded Annabelle’s mind.
Chapter 409
Annabelle couldn’t help but compare herself to Skylar, whose beauty rivaled her own. Within the company. Annabelle had always prided herself on her unique attractiveness. But now, doubt gnawed at her.
Annabelle frowned, Was Alexander serious about sending his greenest team member to evaluate her precious item? It felt like a blatant dismissal.
Even if Alexander wasn’t interested in the repair or found her offer lacking, surely he shouldn’t have sent someone so obviously unseasoned to appease her. Annabelle simmered with anger but kept her composure.
Alexander held immense power in Jipsburg. Every family treated him with cautious respect. Openly displaying displeasure would be akin to declaring him an enemy.
Annabelle wouldn’t have come to Alexander if there were any other options. Furthermore, Jeremy’s generous gift had dwindled to nothing, leaving her unable to afford exorbitant repair costs.
The porcelain, accidentally dropped and shattered that morning, had consumed her thoughts since Jeremy’s departure. Due to the severity of the damage, her search for a repair person yielded only rejections.
This porcelain held immense value to her. A swift repair was crucial to her marriage plans with Jeremy. “Skylar, take a look,” Alexander said, gesturing toward the scattered fragments for her examination. Skylar cast a discreet glance at Annabelle before focusing on the heavily damaged pieces.
The porcelain was indeed severely damaged. There might even be missing fragments.
Picking up a piece, she examined it closely. Upon noticing the patterns and a faint lingering scent, her eyes narrowed. She immediately put the piece down and retrieved a tissue to cleanse her fingers of the
scent.
Alexander observed Skylar’s actions with surprise.
Caleb blinked as Skylar’s clear aversion to the fragment she had just handled was impossible to miss. A sliver of unease snaked through him. Were these broken pieces beyond even her exceptional skills?
Annabelle, noticing Skylar’s hand–wiping, spoke with a hint of displeasure. “I clean the porcelain daily. It’s not dirty. Besides, the breakage happened at home. There’s no dirt on it. There’s no need for such disdain.” Skylar’s response was cold and direct. “I can’t fix this.” She looked at Annabelle before turning to Alexander.
Alexander’s surprise was evident. Skylar had readily accepted a far more damaged porcelain for repair, yet she was refusing this one. There had to be a reason.
“You’ll need to find someone else,” he advised Annabelle.
Annabelle had already anticipated Skylar’s inability to repair it. How could such a young team member handle such extensive damage?
Seeing Alexander usher her out. Annabelle’s anxiety flared. I understand repairing it by you would cost significantly more than my offer, but Mr. Gardner Sentor, could you please reconsider? This porcelain is very important to me.”
1 can’t repair it. Please find someone else.” Alexander refused outright.
Clearly, her usual charm tactics were ineffective on Alexander.
Caleb crossed his arms and sized Annabelle up. “Miss, are you targeting the wrong person with charms? Mr. Gardner Senior is getting on in years. You’d be better off saving your effort.”
Her limited funds and attempt to win them over with tears wouldn’t secure the repair, especially considering their apparent reluctance. Annabelle flushed in embarrassment.
Alexander shot Caleb a stern glance. “You’d better watch what you say.”
Alexander wouldn’t change his mind. Annabelle knew there was no point in persisting.
your
The vast city of Jipsburg surely held someone with the expertise to mend her porcelain. She just had to find them.
Caleb, confused, turned to Skylar after Annabelle’s departure.
Chapter 410
ter porcelain isn’t as broken as the one we’re working on,” Caleb sald. “Why’d you say it couldn’t be fixed after one look? Is there a reason?”
Alexander’s curiosity piqued. “What’s wrong with that porcelain?”
Skylar saw no reason to withhold the truth. “There’s definitely something off about that porcelain. It’s not meant for decoration; it houses a negative Item for some dark purpose.”
She’d also noticed something suspicious about the bracelet Annabelle wore. Her intentions weren’t pure. Alexander was taken aback. “Negative items?”
He wasn’t familiar with such things, but Viola was, and Skylar was her protégé. That was enough for him to trust her.
“No wonder I felt on edge when she came in, Caleb admitted belatedly. “I couldn’t explain it, but the feeling vanished the moment she left.”
The same for me,” echoed Alexander. “I thought it was just my age catching up with me, but I never imagined someone would resort to such dark magic.”
He sighed. It reflected the darker side of humanity–manipulative and opportunistic.
“Did either of you touch the fragments? Wash your hands if you did. We should also air out the room by opening the windows,” Skylar advised. The unpleasant odor still lingered for her.
Suddenly, she thought of Jeremy. Annabelle was Jeremy’s secretary, and they spent nearly every day together. Their constant interaction might influence him.
However, the company was large. Even with daily interactions, as long as Annabelle’s actions didn’t directly involve Jeremy, the impact would be minimal.
Furious after leaving Alexander’s office, Annabelle contacted several renowned restorers through a friend.
However, after sending photos of the shattered porcelain, all she received were messages of
helplessness. The porcelain was too badly broken, and even her high–price offers couldn’t tempt anyone to take on the job.
“Why is my luck so bad lately? Everything’s going wrong. Everything seems to be falling apart just as I’m about to become Mrs. Hughes!” she cried in frustration.
That morning, she shouldn’t have messed around with Jeremy in the living room. In a moment of recklessness, she’d accidentally knocked over the porcelain.
As the porcelain shattered, she tried to hide her nervousness, fearing Jeremy might suspect something.
Annabelle gently touched her still flat abdomen. The baby inside was remarkably calm. Despite all the passionate encounters with Jeremy, it seemed unaffected. She might have forgotten she was pregnant if
not for the occasional fatigue,
Just a little longer,” she whispered. “Soon, we’ll both be part of the Hughes family. No one will stop us. That Natalie can’t compete with me. Your father will eventually see how amazing I am, and we’ll all be a family.”
Gazing at the shattered porcelain, a deep unease settled over Annabelle. On some level, she sensed it signified something.
Natalie had planned to stay up late with Austin, but his evening shoot was abruptly canceled. The female lead sustained an injury and was rushed to the hospital.
Austin decided to rest, and so did Natalie. She passed by Jeremy’s company on her way back and decided to stop by. Instructing the cab driver to pull over, she dialed Jeremy’s number.
It was nearing the end of his workday, so he shouldn’t be too busy. As she expected, Jeremy answered promptly. “Nath.”
Natalia murmare, may be heading home tree Arn your busy today?
There was a twn–encond allence before Jeremy repliest. I’m heading to the airport now. I meant to call you from there, but things got hectic. Take care of yourself these next few days. I’ll make it up to you when 1 retum from this business tip
“Another trip? If I had known earlier, I would have come to the airport to see you off. We could have at least seen each other. Even though she was somewhat mentally prepared, Jeremy’s response still left Natalie feeling unsettled
“111 be back in just a couple of days, Nath. I’ll miss you.” Jeremy reassured Natalie in a gentle, soothing
tone
Natalie, mollified by his tone, simply said, “Alright.”
The driver saw Natalie end the call. “Ready to go?”
Natalie glanced longingly at the Hughes Group building. She’d hoped to surprise Jeremy.
Just as she was about to instruct the driver, she spotted Jeremy walking out. Her expression changed abruptly. Wasn’t he supposed to be rushing to the airport for his business trip?
As Natalie watched Jeremy disappear into a car, a wave of nausea washed over her, leaving her dizzy and disoriented. Her mind reeled, struggling to grasp the reality before her.
The driver had to call out to her several times before she finally snapped back to reality, her face pale.
The car Jeremy was in disappeared from her sight.
“Sorry. Let’s go,” Natalie mumbled.
The driver noticed Natalie’s pale face. She had been so lively and cheerful when she got into the car. He then remembered her phone call. Putting two and two together, a flicker of understanding crossed his
face.
Experienced and a man himself, he kindly said, “You’ve recently gotten married, haven’t you? Don’t be too heartbroken. Take some time for yourself to explore. Sometimes, you need to focus on yourself more. Don’t lose yourself in a relationship.”
The driver privately remarked that losing oneself didn’t always signify being loved more. He viewed men as generally practical and realistic in matters like these.
The driver saw no need to elaborate further, sensing Natalie’s Intelligence.
Natalie felt adrift, her mind a tangled mess. The driver’s words, though kind, seemed distant and
irrelevant. She moved mechanically through the motions of returning home, and before she knew it, she had finished her bowl of pasta.
A sudden ring from her phone startled her. It was Austin. “Are you home?”
“Yeah, I’m home,” Natalie replied, her voice muffled. Only then did she realize she had been crying Into fier paste just moments ago.
Her voice was thick with emotion.
Austin paused briefly before asking, “Are you crying?”
“Uh… I. I just watched a show,” Natalie stammered. “The male lead deceived the female lead. She
trusted him so much, but he still lied to her. Are there no good men left in this world?”
The words tumbled out, a desperate plea for reassurance that contradicted a belief that seemed to be crumbling around her.
Austin could sense that something was off. “Natalie, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing… Nothing’s wrong. I’ll talk to you later. I need to go. See you tomorrow, Mr. Powell.” Natalie hurriedly terminated the call.
With her still trembling hand, she called Skylar.
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Natalie’s facade crumbled the moment the call connected. “Jeremy lied to me! He lied to me!” she cried, her voice cracking. She knew all too well the sting of deception. This wasn’t the first time Jeremy had betrayed her trust.
Skylar had just returned to Galaxy Villa when the sound of Natalie’s distraught words drifted through the receiver, sending a jolt of worry through her. An Image of Annabelle Inexplicably flashed in her mind.
“Nath, where are you? I’ll go to you.” Skylar grabbed her shoes, ready to dash out the door.
Just then, Joe returned. He raised an eyebrow, surprised to see Skylar about to leave in such a hurry.
“My friend needs me urgently,” Skylar explained after confirming Natalie was home. “I won’t be back tonight.”
Without waiting for a response, she hurried out.
Joe stared at the empty doorway, a cold mutter escaping his lips. “A friend?”
What kind of friend, he wondered, could whisk Skylar away so abruptly after a phone call? She hadn’t even acknowledged him.
A hint of coldness flickered in Joe’s eyes as he clenched his jaw.
Natalie had stopped crying by the time Skylar arrived at Hughes Residence. However, she’d managed to unearth a few bottles of alcohol, one of which was already half–empty. The strong scent of liquor hung
heavy in the air.
As soon as she saw Skylar, tears welled up in Natalie’s eyes again. “He deceived me, Skylar! Jeremy
deceived me!”
“He could have just told me he didn’t want to come home anymore, that he didn’t want to be with me,” Natalie sobbed. “I would have let him go. But lying to me? How could he do that? I trusted him completely!
Skylar took the bottle from Natalie. “What exactly did he lie to you about?”
Through her tears, Natalie recounted the events that had transpired earlier.
“Are you sure it was him?” Skylar asked.
Natalie nodded forcefully. “I’m absolutely sure. I know him and his driver, Lucas. When he said he was on a business trip, he sounded normal. But I’m sure he’s been lying about all these trips lately. Maybe…. Maybe he’s fallen for another woman.”
The thought sent a fresh wave of pain crashing over her, making it hard for her to breathe.
Skylar’s expression turned serious. “All we know is that he lied this time. We shouldn’t jump to other
conclusions about him.
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“Nath, I know little about your relationship. And I don’t know your husband as well as you do or what changes he might be going through. You need to calm down and think carefully about what to do next.”
Earlier, Natalie had felt utterly lost. But as the alcohol wore off, a sense of clarity began to return. She
sank onto the couch, burying her face in her knees.
“You’re right. We’ve known each other for so long. I understand him better than anyone. I remember the way he used to look at me, the admiration in his eyes.
“That’s why his recent behavior, coldness, and distance make me question myself and wonder if I’m imagining things. I need to know the truth, why he lied to me.”
Seeing a flicker of determination return to Natalie’s eyes, Skylar offered her unwavering support. “No matter what you discover, even if it’s just a misunderstanding, I’ll be here for you.”
Natalie stopped crying. A strong intuition gnawed at her, whispering that Jeremy’s deception was more
than a simple misunderstanding.
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Two days of unlamad passion unfolded at the hot spring resort Jeremy and Annabelle remained secluded, indulging in their desires and having meals delivered to their room. It was as if they had unleashed their inner wildness.
Annabelle reveled in Jeremy’s unrestrained ardor, which fueled her belief that his feelings for her had deepened. After all, his past flings had never reached this level of intensity.
As their departure after lunch approached, a pang of reluctance settled in Annabelle’s heart. Her affection for Jeremy had blossomed further during their seclusion.
“Mr. Hughes,” she pleaded, her voice tinged with vulnerability she couldn’t quite conceal, “I can’t bear the thought of being apart from you. Couldn’t we delay our departure until tonight?”
The immensity of the future stretched before her, yet all she craved was the present, every moment spent by his side.
Jeremy declared in a cold, emotionless voice, “Starting today, you’re leaving Jipsburg City. You can’t return without my permission.”
Annabelle was taken aback. She thought she must have misheard. “Leave Jipsburg City?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Why do you want me to leave Jipsburg City? Where would I go? Mr. Hughes, I can’t just leave without you!” Annabelle panicked.
His abrupt demand fueled a storm of questions in her mind. What triggered this sudden change? All her efforts, almost on the verge of fruition, were met with such callous indifference. It clashed with their recent intimacy. She refused to leave.
Memories surfaced. He’d forced his previous secretary to resign. Now, it was her turn to be banished. from Jipsburg City.
Did Natalie mean so much to him that he could readily abandon her?
Jeremy then handed her a bank card. “Leave Jipsburg City. If there’s a need, I’ll go to you. You can marry someone else or do whatever else you want. There’s five million dollars in this card.”
Despite succumbing to his desires with Annabelle, his heart harbored a gnawing fear. The call from Natalie two days ago served as a stark reminder. He couldn’t lose her.
Annabelle stared at the card, taking a deep breath. “Didn’t you promise I could stay as long as I behaved? Haven’t I been compliant? I cater to your every whim, and when you lose interest, I’m simply your secretary again. Haven’t I been flawless at work? Is this still not enough?”
Her fists clenched, her heart a constricted knot. It had to be Natalie. This ordinary woman threatened to unravel all her meticulously laid plans.
“No,” Jeremy replied curtly.
He rose, methodically putting on his clothes. The finality in his demeanor brooked no argument.
Annabelle’s face drained of color. “Since starting college in Jipsburg City, I vowed never to leave the city. Mr. Hughes, you can’t be this selfish. I can resign, disappear from your sight entirely.” Her voice trembled
with forced resolve.
But a silent vow echoed in her mind. She wouldn’t leave. She was determined to be his wife. She wouldn’t
let anything tear them apart.
Jeremy studied Annabelle. He acknowledged her recent impeccable behavior and the promises she kept. With a curt nod, he conceded, “Okay.”
Later that evening, after finishing work, Skylar received a call from Joe. He mentioned being nearby and offered to pick her up. She readily accepted since she hadn’t driven that day, and he’d dropped her off
earlier.
When work was done, she wasted no time heading to the curb, where Joe’s car awaited conspicuously
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Skylar hurried into the car, anxious to avoid being seen by her colleagues. “Let’s go,” she told Lucas once she was settled.
Joe raised an eyebrow, noticing Skylar’s eagerness to leave. He wondered what was making her so
anxious.
“What are you hiding from?” Joe asked in a slightly chilly tone.
“I’m worried about being seen by colleagues,” Skylar replied honestly, glancing outside. Relief washed over her when she confirmed no one saw her.
Joe’s expression darkened. “Am I that embarrassing to be seen with?”
His thoughts spiraled. Was being his wife such a disgrace? Was he really so terrible that she had to avoid being seen with him by her colleagues?
Skylar initially didn’t understand his meaning. But she realized he had misunderstood when he said, ” embarrassing to be seen with“.
“It’s not about you,” she clarified. “I just want to avoid the endless questions from my colleagues, which always lead to complicated explanations.”
“Don’t your colleagues know you’re married?” Joe’s expression softened slightly, but his tone remained
cool.
Skylar adjusted her posture and leaned comfortably against the seat. “The people at your company don’t know you’re married either, do they?” Skylar remarked casually.
Skylar pondered the situation, considering who was judging whom.
To the uninformed observer, it might seem like Joe deliberately avoided her, almost as if he were preemptively rejecting her.
Joe fell silent for a moment. He hadn’t considered that point.
Lucas kept his eyes on the road, seemingly oblivious to their conversation. However, a hidden smile played on his lips. He sensed Joe growing to value Skylar, evidenced by his uncharacteristic anger. Yet, neither of them seemed to recognize the other’s feelings.
Unbeknownst to them, Kenny had been watching for hours and witnessed Skylar entering Joe’s car.
“We were completely wrong!” he exclaimed in shock. “We never considered Skylar because we thought
she wasn’t good enough for Joe, and that he wouldn’t be interested in someone from the countryside. But
it seems the most unexpected scenario is true! This could be our company’s big break!”
Meanwhile, doubt had taken root, and Natalie hadn’t contacted Jeremy in days. Work offered a welcome
escape from the turmoil in her mind.
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She hadn’t expected Jeremy to return this soon. However, upon arriving home after work, she found him already there. A large bouquet of flowers stood Invitingly by the door, their fragrance filling the villa.
Jeremy was cooking dinner in the kitchen. The scene, so warm and domestic, felt like a distant memory.
While Jeremy rarely cooked, it wasn’t entirely unheard of. The last time, however, was nearly a year ago.
Memories stirred within Natalie. Since their marriage, she’d taken pride in preparing meals, waiting for him to return home. It was something she enjoyed, and she’d never considered hiring help.
But now, an unsettling calm washed over her. The suitcase by her side served as a constant reminder of Jeremy’s betrayal.
She then glanced at the vibrant bouquet. It was indeed beautiful.
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The flowers were undeniably beautiful, yet Natalie felt no joy receiving them. A coldness settled in her heart.
Shaking off her thoughts, she changed her shoes and entered just as Jeremy emerged with a freshly prepared dish.
“I landed this afternoon,” Jeremy said with a gentle smile. “Then, I handled some business at the company before I rushed back home. It’s been a while since I cooked. Come try this.”
“Okay,” Natalie said, searching his expression for clues.
But Jeremy was an enigma. If he didn’t want something known, it remained a secret. His thoughts were buried deep, his true feelings impossible to discern.
Once, this inscrutability had been a source of admiration. His love, she believed, was enough. It had been palpable. Now, however…
Jeremy still seemed the same, his eyes lighting up at the sight of her. But…
A direct confrontation wouldn’t work. Natalie knew his acting skills were flawless. He’d weave a convincing web, leaving no trace of his deception.
Jeremy’s smile vanished as she excused herself to wash her hands, replaced by a dark glint in his eyes. He knew his neglect had hurt her.
He’d been too busy in the past to see her for months at a time, but the panic gnawing at him now was new. He wondered if his anxiety stemmed from Austin.
Halfway through the meal, Natalie pushed away her plate. “Sorry, I had a sandwich on the way home. I didn’t know you were coming back and that you would cook dinner. I’m not really hungry.”
It was true. Her appetite had dwindled lately, but she wasn’t keen on skipping meals. Spotting a long line at a sandwich shop, she impulsively bought two and finished them on her way home.
O
Jeremy’s gaze darkened slightly, but his tone remained gentle. “Alright. If you’re not hungry, don’t force it. I wanted to discuss something.”
A flicker of hope ignited in Natalie. Could he be confessing? The reason didn’t matter. She’d believe him.
“Quit your job. I can help you open a flower shop or a café if you want to work. The choice is yours,” Jeremy stated firmly.
He offered post–resignation options without even asking whether she wanted to quit.
Natalie’s face paled. Mustering a smile, she said, “Ldon’t want to quit yet. It’s a new job, and leaving now would be irresponsible. Besides, I like it.”
Whether it was Austin or Hank, they were supportive, even with her mistakes.
Jeremy’s gaze turned icy. “Look at me, Nath.
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Natalie took a deep breath and met his gaze.
After a moment, Jeremy spoke softly, “I remember when you first started college, you said you wanted to open your own flower shop. I’m giving you the opportunity now. Why the change of heart?”
“People’s desires change with time. I enjoy my work environment now. Maybe I’ll want to open a shop later, but not right now.” Natalie was resolute. She wouldn’t budge for anyone.
Unless she quit or Austin fired her, she was determined to stay.
Jeremy suddenly realized how much he had neglected Natalie. She no longer saw him as important as
before.
Realizing this, Jeremy found it hard to breathe. He responded heavily, “Alright, we’ll talk about it later.’
He had ways to make Natalie quit her job.
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When Skylar stepped out of the bathroom after her shower, she found Joe already out. He was drying his hair, water droplets dripping from his lock.
Shirtless, with only a towel around his waist, Joe turned toward her, his gaze deepening with desire.
“Finished with your period?” he asked, approaching her.
Joe possessed an undeniable presence. He stood there intimidatingly and without a word, yet the raw hunger in his eyes eclipsed his commanding presence. Despite his aloof demeanor, Skylar knew his
intense desires.
Ever since their relationship began, their shared bed became a battleground. Upon recalling his intensity, Skylar’s legs went weak. “Yes, but… I have work to do. You should sleep first.”
She moved toward the door, but Joe, a tall wall of a man, blocked her path. His gaze narrowed. “First, the secrecy about our marriage. Now, this neglect of your wifely duties. Explain yourself, or else…”
“Or else what?” Skylar thought. But her retort died on her lips as Joe pulled her into a fierce kiss.
The force of the kiss almost knocked Skylar off balance. He didn’t give her a chance to explain.
Lost in his embrace, Skylar bit his shoulder and called him a “scoundrel“.
At Williams Residence, sleep eluded everyone. Uncharacteristically, the entire Williams family gathered in Sadie’s room, their first visit since her hospital discharge days ago.
Visits during those days had been scarce. Occasional nighttime appearances lasted no more than three minutes, followed by claims of exhaustion and a need for rest.
Today, however, the entire family arrived unexpectedly.
Sadie’s initial curiosity quickly morphed into suspicion. They wouldn’t appear out of the blue without a reason. An agenda was afoot.
As expected, after hearing Kenny’s account of the day’s events, Sadie understood their motives perfectly. They wanted to use her.
Their sudden visit wasn’t fueled by pangs of conscience or a desire for heartfelt family bonding. It was all wishful thinking on her part.
Jeffery’s voice boomed, laced with caution. “How can we be sure you’ve identified the right person this
time?”
Three prior mistakes had left him wary.
Peter also frowned.
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Samuel scoffed, “That’s unlikely. Does Skylar have that much charm? Joe has plenty of women around
him.
“Any of them could easily outshine Skylar, so why would Joe be interested in her? I even saw her with a boy toy!”
In his eyes, Skylar, whom he disliked, was inferior to Maisy in every way.
Maisy met Kenny’s gaze. With newfound determination, she spoke directly. “I’m positive. I saw Skylar and Joe acting intimately at a restaurant the day before yesterday. They were chatting and laughing.”
If Kenny had been the only one claiming this, Jeffrey might have hesitated and possibly even been reluctant to take such a risk again.
Having mistakenly targeted the wrong person three times already, they had significantly offended John and Jacky. It was a significant blow to the Williamses. Offending Joe on top of that would be self-
destructive.
“Seems like it might be true then,” Jeffrey conceded.
Samuel’s face darkened. “How could Joe be interested in her? What’s so good about her?”
Maisy secretly agreed with Samuel’s doubts. She pondered what made Skylar so special. Joe must have
been misled by her words.
“She’s on Alexander’s team and earns a substantial monthly salary, which says a lot about her capabilities. We clearly misunderstood her before,” Sadie spoke up unexpectedly, defending Skylar.
From an outside perspective, Sadie finally realized how badly they had misjudged Skylar. Skylar had always been sincere and kind to them, yet they constantly made things difficult for her, even making her a
scapegoat.
Samuel was incredulous. “Mom, why are you sticking up for Skylar? We all know what kind of person she
is, don’t we?”
“Do we really? Do we truly understand her? We know what Joe’s like. If he’s interested in Skylar, it means she has qualities we’re unaware of,” Sadie countered firmly.
“Qualities? I think Joe is just interested in her skills in bed.” Samuel sneered.
He held the belief that Joe was like any other fickle–minded man, solely interested in a woman’s body, and predicted he would soon abandon Skylar.
Sadie raised her hand to slap Samuel, but Jeffrey quickly intervened. “Enough! You’ve changed completely since your accident. You’re not thinking straight!”
“Mom, whether Skylar is a good person or not doesn’t matter. What matters is if she can help us. Dad said the company is on the verge of bankruptcy. We can’t let that happen, Mom,” Maisy said gently.
On the surface, Maisy appeared respectful toward Sadie. However, inwardly, she was furious. She was
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convinced that Sadie had lost her mind. Why was she defending Skylar?
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There was no doubt in her mind that Sadie was not her biological mother. She felt that all her efforts to please Sadie over the years had been wasted.
Sadie could now see through Maisy’s charade. She hadn’t been able to see it before, but now she deeply
regretted it. She wondered why she had always favored Maisy and neglected Skylar, who deserved her
love and care the most.
“She’s completely disappointed in us and has distanced herself. Finding her won’t help,” Sadie said coldly.
Over the past few days, Sadie had become increasingly clear–headed. Since her accident, Kenny and the
others had relentlessly pressured Skylar.
Skylar’s choice to escalate the situation rather than return home made it clear that she didn’t care if the
Williams family went bankrupt.
“Even if it’s a long shot, we have to try. It’s our last hope. You’d better come to terms with this and cooperate with us to record a video to convince Skylar to come back,” Jeffrey said.
His gaze toward Sadie held a clear disapproval of her behavior that day.
“Dad’s right. We can’t afford distractions right now. Our priority is surviving this crisis. Mom, if the company goes bankrupt, we’ll lose everything.
“We could be homeless, forced to rent a tiny apartment. We have to take this opportunity,” Peter finally chimed in after a long silence.
“We also need to find a way to meet with Joe,” Kenny added.
Samuel’s expression darkened. “Have we really come to this?”
The weight of their situation hit him hard. No acting jobs, no work, no income. Their family was on the verge of collapse.
Sadie took a deep breath. “Alright,” she conceded.
At this point, they had no other choice. Besides, she, too, yearned to see Skylar.
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Skylar remained oblivious to the Williams family’s schemes.
The next day, as she clocked in for work, Steven called to inform her that Kenny had resigned. The company executives had been considering firing him anyway.
Charles also mentioned that Samuel’s career in the entertainment industry was over. No one would hire an actor with such a damaged reputation.
The Williams family’s situation was dire, and desperate people could sometimes lash out.
“So, if you encounter anyone from the Williams family, keep your distance,” Steven cautioned anxiously.
News of the Williams family’s troubles had spread throughout the company, and the situation was no longer a secret in Jipsburg City.
Despite his busy filming schedule, Charles managed to warn Skylar via WhatsApp. He advised her to be
cautious around the Williams family and to call them immediately if she faced any trouble. He wouldn’t
tolerate her being bullied.
Next, she received a phone call from Natalie.
“There might be some serious issues between Jeremy and me,” Natalie confided. “He’s hiding it too well.
I can’t figure out why he’s deceiving me. He still acts caring and loving, but last night, he stayed in his
study all evening, claiming a video conference that would last for hours. I think he’s hiding something.”
Skylar listened attentively to Natalie’s analysis. “Have you considered talking to him about it?”
“Talk? He won’t be honest. Even if I catch him in a lie, he’d have a believable explanation. He wouldn’t tell
me the truth if he was determined to deceive me.
“Yesterday, he even offered to support me financially if I quit my job to open a shop, but I declined. I feel like I need this job to clear my head. Maybe with time, things will become clearer,” Natalie said rationally.
After ending the call with Natalie, Skylar headed to the restroom, rubbing her lower back. She had barely managed to get out of bed that morning. Joe had kept her up most of the night.
A sharp pang shot through her as she noticed her slightly swollen lips in the mirror.
Yesterday, Joe’s kiss had been unusually passionate. After they became entangled in bed, he’d kissed her deeply for a long time.
For a fleeting moment, Skylar even thought he might have developed feelings for her, given the intensity
of the kiss.
Just then, a colleague entered and greeted her. Skylar immediately pushed aside her inappropriate
thoughts and returned to work.
Later that afternoon, after work, Skylar received a surprising message from a high school classmate with
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whom she had lost touch. This classmate had helped Skylar in the past. They occasionally interacted by liking each other’s posts on Instagram.
She simply replied with a “yeah” to see what her classmate wanted.
Almost immediately, her classmate sent a video along with a voice message. Skylar listened to the voice message first.
“Skylar, sorry to bother you. Another classmate reached out to me. She asked me to show you this video.
recently found out about what’s been happening in your family.
“I know things are more complicated than they seem. After watching this video, I felt uneasy and decided to share it with you. I’m really sorry for any inconvenience caused. I hope it doesn’t trouble you too much.”
Skylar then proceeded to watch the video.
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Sadie appeared in the video. It had been a while since their last meeting, and Sadie looked worn and frail, a stark contrast to her former elegance.
The air of superiority had vanished from her eyes, replaced by remorse and helplessness.
“Skye, it’s me, Mom. I’m bedridden now. I couldn’t go anywhere after the accident. I’ve been thinking a lot
lately.
“When you first came back home, I treated you terribly. I even allowed others in the family to criticize your
every flaw. We found fault with everything you did.
“This made you feel like you could never find happiness in this family. Those scenes replay in my mind every day, a constant reminder of how I’ve ended up in this state. I know it might be difficult for you to
visit, and you probably don’t want anything to do with us anymore.
“But I had a dream. In that dream, you pushed me away during the accident, saving me. But you ended up
paralyzed from a severe injury. Instead of feeling sorry for you, I mistreated and neglected you because of
your paralysis.
“Watching my dream self and reflecting on my real–life actions, I was filled with regret. This is my divine punishment, and I don’t expect your forgiveness. I hope you can come back and visit me one last time.
“Please, just come and visit me.” Sadie’s words in the video were sincere. Her tone was filled with sorrow,
and her repentant demeanor was more genuine than ever.
Skylar hadn’t expected Sadie to dream about experiences from before her rebirth after the car accident.
She wondered what else Sadie might have dreamed about.
She pondered if Sadie had undergone a rebirth of her own after surviving the car accident.
She was so absorbed in watching the video that she didn’t hear Caleb saying goodbye to her. Caleb
noticed and asked, “Skylar, it’s time to go!”
Skylar snapped back to reality. She smiled and said, “Let’s go.”
“Skylar, what were you so deep in thought about just now? Is something wrong? If anything is bothering you, please tell me,” Caleb asked.
Skylar glanced down at Caleb’s feet. “Is your foot completely healed?”
“Yeah, all good now. It’s not a big deal. I just can’t jump around, but walking is fine,” Caleb replied. He was
unable to suppress a smile at Skylar’s concern for him.
“After work, do you have any plans?” Skylar inquired.
“Not really. I’m just heading home to read and study.” Caleb scratched his head. When it came to reading, he struggled to focus. However, he managed to read a few pages a day.
Every day, he followed Skylar around, watching her handle things with great professionalism. It made him feel inadequate, pushing him to study and improve himself.
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Skylar smiled. “If you’re free, could you accompany me somewhere? I’ll treat you to dinner.”
Without hesitation, Caleb agreed. “Sure!”
When they arrived at Williams Residences about half an hour later, Caleb’s face showed a conflicted
expression.
“Skylar, why are you here? They haven’t treated you well, right? And they even tried to force you to resign,” Caleb remarked. He didn’t have a good impression of the Williams family at all.
Every aspect of their behavior seemed rotten.
Skylar glanced toward Williams Residence. She stood there and felt a surge of disgust.
But since they had gone through so much trouble to show her the video and Sadie had spoken so sincerely, she felt compelled to visit.
Skylar wanted to see what tricks they were up to.
“They arranged to meet me through someone else. Let’s go in together and see what they’re up to. With you by my side, they won’t dare to do anything reckless,” Skylar replied to Caleb as she walked toward the entrance of Williams Residence.
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“Don’t worry,” Caleb said confidently. “If they try to cause any trouble, I can call dozens of people here in a
minute.”
With a group message, he could easily summon a show of force. He would love to see if the Williams family dared to act recklessly after that.
Skylar’s appearance stunned the Williams family maids. They rushed to inform the family.
Entering the villa, Skylar saw nearly the entire Williams family walking down the stairs. A laugh bubbled up in her throat. She was amused, not expecting that all of them were waiting for her in a single file.
Their expressions were strange, a mix of uncertainty and awkwardness. They didn’t quite know how to face Skylar anymore.
Skylar was no longer susceptible to coercion nor cared about their opinions like she used to. Joe’s unwavering support had bolstered her confidence, rendering their opinions irrelevant.
“You’re back?” Jeffrey spoke, his voice strained.
He couldn’t help but lament that his least favorite daughter had become Joe’s favorite. If only it had been Maisy, things would be so much easier.
Kenny and Maisy had complex expressions, especially Maisy, who clenched her fits in silent fury. She truly wished Skylar dead.
Peter appeared much more mild–mannered than before, but his insincerity was evident.
Samuel, ever the odd one out, seemed impatient and dismissive, as if Skylar’s visit was an inconvenience.
Caleb followed Skylar into the house, smirking as he observed the family’s forced welcome. Each person wore a mask of superiority that couldn’t hide their underlying insincerity. He marveled at Skylar’s genuine demeanor in stark contrast to their phoniness.
Still clinging to their misplaced pride, the Williams family presented a comical picture to Caleb.
Initially unnoticed, Caleb’s tall stature and youthful confidence inevitably drew attention. His genuineness was a breath of fresh air compared to the calculating gazes of the Williams family, who, despite their attempts, couldn’t hide their true intentions.
“Who is he? Why did you bring a stranger home?” Samuel snapped, his irritation evident.
Caleb clenched his fits. He had an urge to punch Samuel.
Skylar’s voice turned cold. “He’s my colleague. Didn’t you ask me to visit Mrs. Williams? Are you going to let me see her or not?”
“Skylar, Mom’s sleeping right now. Why don’t we sit down and chat for a bit? It’s been a while since you’ve been back. We really miss you,” Maisy said sweetly.
Maisy couldn’t help but steal glances at Caleb. He seemed a few years younger than her and Skylar. He
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seemed like a refreshing change from the older men she usually dated. A pang of envy shot through her. Skylar always seemed to attract the best men, leaving her with the likes of Christopher.
She regretted getting entangled with Christopher.
“Yeah, let’s sit down and have a family chat. You’ve been out of touch since you moved out, and your mother and I have been worried about you,” Jeffrey said with a fatherly attitude.
Jeffrey’s complete turnaround was interesting. Their behavior hinted at something more than just wanting Skylar to quit her job for Sadie. There was more to it.
Meanwhile, Caleb was speechless, dumbfounded by the Williams family’s audacity.
