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Grayson said, “By the way, that boyfriend of yours from the countryside–after tonight, you need to cut ties tomorrow. Our family can’t afford this
embarrassment, got it?”
Annie’s voice was heavy as she replied, “Alright.”
Annie decided to give it one last try.
If all else failed, the Silver family’s reputation could be sacrificed at this point. Steven was her final option.
After leaving the restaurant, Skylar went to meet Natalie.
Today, Austin was shooting a film scene at their college. While Austin was on
break, Natalie took half an hour off and walked around the familiar campus with Skylar.
Despite leaving the campus just over a year ago, it felt as if they had grown somewhat unfamiliar with the place. It felt like many years had passed.
“You have to come clean with me. What’s going on between you and Joe? When did you end up with him?” Natalie squinted at Skylar.
There was a definite sense that Natalie would not let Skylar off if she didn’t explain properly today.
Skylar briefly recounted how Gloria arranged her marriage to Joe. Then, she summarized the current state of their life, where she and Joe were essentially
cohabiting.
“So, you two had a flash marriage?” Natalie widened her eyes.
Skylar nodded. “Yes, we had a flash marriage. So far, I don’t see any downsides.
“Do you love Joe?” Natalie asked.
As soon as Natalie asked, she regretted it. After all, how could a flash marriage involve love?
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Moreover, Skylar had just broken up with Christopher.
Skylar hesitated before replying, “We agreed that love wasn’t part of the deal. We’re just cohabitating. Honestly, it’s been good. Grandma Gloria has been kind to me, and I don’t have any expectations of Joe, so there’s no sense of
loss.”
“Then…” Natalie furrowed her brow. She felt Skylar was being unfairly treated.
But then again, she realized love might not be that important.
After all, Natalie loved Jeremy so deeply that it took a toll on her physically and emotionally. But in the end, they had to get divorced.
“How does Joe treat you?” Natalie asked.
Skylar smiled and said, “He’s good to me. We get along well.”
Of course, Skylar didn’t mention Joe’s unknown quirks. It wasn’t important.
He had unpredictable tantrums and was a bit too unrestrained in bed.
“I’ve seen Joe a few times. I always feel he’s not easy to get along with. How about you two…” Natalie suddenly smirked.
She glanced around to check if there weren’t many people before asking, “Have you slept together?”
Skylar’s mouth twitched. She couldn’t help but blush slightly. She said, “We’ve married. It’s natural for such things to happen.”
Natalie widened her eyes. “You’re so bold! You dare sleep with him? I’ve heard that many socialities in Jipsburg want to sleep with him, but he rejects them outright. For a while, some even said he might have those issues. Seeing you like this… is he capable?”
Natalie was born with a love for gossip. She couldn’t hold back her curiosity. She was genuinely too curious.
People as curious as hep could form a long line in Jipsburg City. Being at the heart of this gossip, she had to ask when she saw one of the involved parties.
Skylar chuckled wryly. “That’s just others misunderstanding him.”
If Joe had any issues, those spreading the rumors would probably be worse
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Natalie exclaimed, “Whoa…”
She couldn’t continue her questions. However, she kept winking at Skylar.
“Since you managed to marry Joe, I’ll forgive you. I’ve been on edge since last night. I worried that Joe might use his power to bully you into being his mistress or something. After all, with your looks, it’s hard for any man to resist.”
Upon hearing Natalie’s words, Skylar chuckled. “You see me through rose- colored glasses. I’m not some rare beauty.”
Natalie raised an eyebrow. “Skye, are you kidding me? If you’re not a stunning beauty, then who is? In my eyes, even those glamorous movie stars can’t compare to you. Back in the college, you were the only one who truly deserved the title of campus belle.”
After strolling around for a while, Natalie checked the time. Then, she said, “I have to get back. Let’s hang out again when I have a day off.”
ย
“Nath, take care of yourself,” Skylar whispered and hugged Natalie.
Natalie seemed her usual self, but Skylar knew she didn’t like to show her
vulnerabilities.
They were alike in this way. They didn’t like to show their weaknesses. They preferred to deal with everything quietly.
Upon hearing Skylar’s words, Natalie’s eyes reddened for a moment. Her voice choked up as she said, “I will.”
She would take good care of herself. The mistake wasn’t hers, so there was no need to punish herself for someone else’s fault. But the pain in her heart remained raw and hadn’t eased yet, and she didn’t know when it would.
Maybe, with time, it would slowly get better.
Skylar had just left the college when Joe called her. He asked if Skylar was free to attend a charity gala with him that evening.
She had planned to visit Charles on set later, but after checking the time, she
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realized she wouldn’t be able to make it in time.
“Sorry, I can’t make it tonight,” she declined.
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Joe’s tone remained indifferent, as if it didn’t matter much to him. “Alright. If the charity gala runs late, I’ll just stay upstairs at the hotel and rest. Don’t wait up for me.”
“Okay,” Skylar replied.
After hanging up, Joe’s expression turned cold. Paul happened to be nearby. He noticed Joe’s displeasure and kept silent.
“Get everything ready,” Joe ordered coldly.
“Sure,” Paul responded.
Before Paul quickly exited the room, he glanced at Joe’s phone. He wondered where Joe ranked in Skylar’s mind among the others.
During the weekend, Skylar was almost entirely dedicated to other people. Joe wondered if Skylar had ever considered spending one weekend with him.
The thought left him feeling restless.
Charles had been extremely busy lately. He shot one film right after another.
His hard work had landed him in many roles as the second male lead.
Occasionally, he even landed lead roles in web series.
His schedule was packed, and his earnings were increasing.
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Charles couldn’t let Skylar earn more than him.
Knowing Skylar would be visiting today, Charles went to the nearby mall yesterday and bought a luxury brand handbag. It was a favorite among many. female celebrities. The brand was popular.
In the past, he couldn’t afford to give it to Skylar while other women had it, but now he could make it happen. Even things other mothers had, he could now give to Janine too.
“See if you like it. Try it on,” Charles said eagerly, handing the bag to Skylar.
Though not particularly fond of luxury brands, Skylar admitted this bag was quite lovely. She said, “It’s lovely. Thank you, Charles.”
“That’s good to hear.” Charles grinned proudly. None of the female celebrities could match Skylar’s grace with the bag. She was extraordinarily beautiful.
“Oh? Charles, is this your girlfriend or a new talent signed to your company?”
Suddenly, Brigham Cohen, a middle–aged man, appeared. When he saw Skylar his eyes lit up. He was visibly captivated by Skylar.
Charles quickly clarified upon seeing Brigham. He explained, “Mr. Cohen, she’s my sister, not an actress. She happened to have time this weekend and came by.”
Brigham’s eyes brightened even more. “Your sister? Did she sign with any company? I think she’s perfect for the role of the enchanting second female lead in our upcoming drama. If she takes it on, she’ll definitely satisfy the audience.”
Upon closer inspection, Brigham realized Skylar was truly stunning. It was as if a character from a screenplay had stepped into reality.
Skylar couldn’t help but smile upon hearing Brigham suggest she play the second female lead. She had never considered entering the entertainment industry, and she had no interest in acting. Her passion lay solely in her work.
“Mr. Cohen, my sister has a job as an antique restorer. She won’t be entering the entertainment industry,” Charles quickly interjected.
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He couldn’t bear the thought of Skylar being in the entertainment industry. A woman as beautiful as Skylar would surely encounter all sorts of challenges there, and he worried about her being taken advantage of.
Besides, Skylar had a job that she loved.
Brigham looked slightly disappointed at Charles‘ response. But upon hearing Skylar’s profession as an antique restorer, his eyes lit up even more. He stared at Skylar as if she were some rare find. He wondered how a beautiful young woman like her ended up with such a dull and uninteresting job.
He hurriedly asked, “An antique restorer? Can you authenticate antique pieces?”
Skylar nodded and replied, “Yes, I can identify most of them. It’s part of my basic training.”
“Well, recently, I purchased a painting for my collection. A friend who visited my home later claimed it was a forgery. I spent 50 million dollars on that painting. If it’s fake, I’ve been duped.
“I believe it’s genuine, but I can’t shake my doubts. Is it worth keeping? Could you help me determine its authenticity? I’ll compensate you accordingly. Just name your price.” Brigham quickly laid out his request.
Knowing Charles, Brigham felt that Skylar could be trusted. He refused the allure of fame and focused on what he loved to do. It showed his calm and composed demeanor, which few young people possess nowadays.
Charles listened in astonishment. He wondered how the conversation had shifted to ask Skylar to help authenticate the painting. Moreover, Brigham rarely treated people so kindly.
“I can take a look first,” Skylar agreed.
She believed in doing what she could. After all, Brigham directed Charles‘ current film. If she had assisted Brigham, Charles would have another supporter in the entertainment industry, smoothing his acting career.
“Could you wait for 30 minutes? I’ll have the crew bring you dinner, and my family will send the painting over right away.” Brigham hurriedly asked.
He had wanted to visit Alexander to ask for help for some time. Alexander’s appraisals were the most trustworthy in Jipsburg City. But unfortunately, he couldn’t establish a connection with Alexander.
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He would likely need to make an appointment in advance if he went there. However, he didn’t have time recently.
“Okay,” Skylar replied and nodded.
While waiting for dinner and the painting, Brigham casually asked Skylar, ” There are numerous auction houses in Uipsburg City. Additionally, there are teams specializing in restoration. Which team do you work with?”
Before Skylar could answer, Charles proudly opened his mouth and said, “She’s in Mr. Gardner Senior’s team, and Skylar does all the repair work alone.”
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Charles‘ expression overflowed with pride as he uttered those words. Initially, he didn’t quite understand Skylar’s job when she mentioned working in Alexander’s team.
However, after looking into and confirming it with Steven, he realized just how impressive it was for Skylar to be part of Alexander’s team.
Charles couldn’t help but feel proud of having such a talented sister like Skylar.
“Mr. Gardner Senior’s team?” Brigham followed up after Charles.
It was only after the words left Charles‘ mouth that Brigham reacted. His eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Skylar. “There is only one Mr. Gardner
Senior in Jipsburg City. Are you on his team?”
People in Jipsburg City, especially collectors of various antiques and
paintings, knew Alexander’s reputation well. Moreover, Alexander was known to be peculiar. He didn’t accept anyone without genuine skills.
Being able to join Alexander’s team meant being among the top in the industry.
If one left Alexander’s team to work in various auction houses, their compensation would be several times higher than others. Those auction houses would definitely be competing to get them.
No wonder Skylar didn’t need to join the entertainment industry. This was a genuine skill.
Brigham felt incredibly lucky today and thought he was absolutely right when he chose Charles as the second male lead.
Skylar nodded with a smile. “Yes, I am currently in Mr. Gardner Senior’s team.”
“At such a young age too! You have such impressive talent. Today, I’m really fortunate. Charles, your sister is remarkable.” Brigham immediately turned to Charles.
Charles scratched his head. He was happier about Skylar being praised than himself. “Skylar has been smart since she was young.”
While they were talking, the crew members brought over dinner.
”
Brigham suddenly felt embarrassed by the crew’s dinner.
“Uh, how about I take you both to a restaurant?” he suggested.
Charles seldom saw Brigham this friendly and accommodating. He felt
somewhat uneasy and said, “No need. The boxed meals from the crew are fine.
“I haven’t tried the crew’s boxed meals yet; I’d like to,” Skylar chimed in.
Brigham didn’t insist further. He was even more impressed with Charles‘ and Skylar’s personalities. Especially Skylar, at such a young age, she was not only more beautiful than most female celebrities but also genuinely talented.
Even while casually chatting over dinner, Skylar identified the small object Brigham was fiddling with as belonging to a particular dynasty with its own intriguing backstory.
Brigham was left dumbfounded. He didn’t dare say much. He was afraid that despite his age, he might not know enough and be ridiculed.
Suddenly, he thought Skylar could be a consultant for future period dramas. There wouldn’t be any mistakes then, for sure.
When the painting finally arrived, Brigham gingerly unfolded it in front of Skylar.
Skylar examined it closely. Brigham stood nervously beside her.
While 50 million dollars wasn’t much to him, if it was a forgery, there was no point in keeping it at home where guests might mock him.
Charles was also nervous. This was the first time he saw Skylar at work. She was really…
Skylar was really outstanding.
After all, if the painting was shown to him, he couldn’t see anything in it. He just felt that this painting looked pretty artistic.
After carefully examining it from top to bottom, Skylar finally spoke slowly, “It’s authentic, not a forgery. However, there are a few areas where the color has been touched up. Apart from that, everything else is fine. It seems the person who did the touch–ups wasn’t very skilled. You can tell upon closer inspection.”
Skylar said, “Mr. Cohen, take a look here… And here…‘
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Skylar pointed out the areas that had been touched up.
Brigham was dumbfounded. “If you hadn’t pointed it out, I wouldn’t have
noticed. Skye, you’re amazing! Let me know how much this appraisal costs. I’ll transfer the amount to you now.”
Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!
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No wonder Skylar made it into Alexander’s team. She really had some genuine skills. She was amazing at such a young age.
Skylar shook her head modestly. “It was just a small effort, Mr. Cohen. No need to fuss over it.”
“No, no! You’ve done me a huge favor! Skye, let me add your WhatsApp contact first. Next time, I insist on paying you for your services.” Brigham hurriedly requested Skylar’s contact.
Onlookers, including Charles and a few crew members, were stunned. It was their first time seeing Brigham actively adding someone on WhatsApp.
Moreover, his attitude was charming.
Usually, it was others seeking Brigham’s favor. However, the situation appeared to be reversed.
Indeed, it almost felt like Brigham was currying favor with Charles‘ sister.
In fact, this young woman was even prettier than the female lead in their film, However, Brigham’s attitude toward her was purely respectful. It was as if Skylar was a big shot.
Someone whispered to Charles, “What’s up with your sister?”
Charles first shook his head, then said, “My sister just helped Mr. Cohen appraise a painting.”
“Damn! What does your sister do? She’s so impressive!”
“She’s an antique restorer. She works in Mr. Gardner Senior’s team.” Charles straightened his posture. His tone was unusually calm. It was as if this was just a very ordinary little thing.
No one knew how proud Charles was to witness Skylar showcasing her talents firsthand. It was a feeling akin to his family’s pride in her becoming a grown–up.
He wondered if anyone else had felt this way. He really wanted to share this with Steven.
Meanwhile, in the crowd behind them, a man wearing a hat watched the scene
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with a dark expression. Samuel deliberately kept a low profile. Hence, no one
noticed him.
His gaze toward Skylar was cold. When he gazed toward Charles, it was filled with jealousy.
Samuel clenched his jaw tightly. His heart brimmed with intense envy.
Their family was almost at the bottom in Jipsburg City, and they might even have to slink back to Liberty County in disgrace.
Today, though Samuel was unwilling, he came out and tried his luck.
Previously, he had collaborated with Brigham on several films and had hoped
to secure a role for him. This was a chance for a comeback.
Then, Samuel happened to see Skylar and Charles. Brigham was actually trying to please Skylar.
Now, Charles was cast as the second male lead in this film. But earlier, Samuel was relegated to an extra role. He earned only a few dollars a day for that kind
of role.
9
Samuel was unwilling. Samuel’s eyes were full of gloom as he stared fixedly at Skylar.
Skylar was so capable. Moreover, she had support from Joe and Alexander, so she must have a way to help him. It was fortunate that he had this opportunity,
and he was determined to seize it.
The charity gala was slated to start at 6:00 pm at Stargaze Hotel.
253 rep
Several celebrities, entrepreneurs, and elites from various fields streamed into Stargaze Hotel.
The event was granted. With so many people gathered, it was easy to imagine how many were trying to infiltrate and network with circles they had never had access to before.
Joe arrived at 6:30 pm. He found the charity gala already bustling with people.
He and Jeremy arrived one after the other.
Despite the crowd, they stood out, especially as they were together at the
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moment.
With the addition of the social influencer Rowan, they became even more conspicuous. Some used their acquaintance with Rowan to strike up a
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It was the opportunity of a lifetime. They wouldn’t miss it for the world. Not only was Joe present, but so was Jeremy
This charity gala was an auction. The money made from the sales would be donated. It happened once or twice annually.
Several people brought their date with them. Usually, people got a date to ward off eager pursuers. It would also save them a good deal of trouble.
However, Joe had never attended galas like this with a date.
A few rumors about Joe’s new paramour had been circulating. She’d attended auctions with Joe, gone shopping with him, and dined in restaurants with him. People had seen them together in public.
However, Joe hadn’t brought his rumored partner to such a momentous
occasion today. That meant that the woman was nothing more than a spot of fun. It was just a game.
Joe became the center of everyone’s attention. Countless people in Jipsburg wanted to marry Joe.
“I’ve never been so popular. How many people have initiated small talk with me today?” Rowan pointed out.
The citizens of Jipsburg were too power–hungry.
Joe was expressionless. However, the cold glare in his eyes gave his feelings away. He also seemed annoyed.
Rowan sneaked a glance at Jeremy. He looked similar to Joe. Both of them held themselves with an icy air.
What was wrong with them? Who was clueless enough to piss them off?
Rowan looked around. Suddenly, he saw a familiar person. He asked, “Isn’t that your secretary? Didn’t she accompany you to such occasions when your wife wasn’t available? Why has she become one of the gala’s servers tonight?”
He couldn’t deny that Annabelle was an extremely attractive woman. Her looks and her figure were gorgeous. He might’ve fallen into Annabelle’s spell if he
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hadn’t liked Jenny.
When he thought about it, Rowan understood why Jeremy couldn’t help himself. If such a gorgeous woman strutted around him daily, he would’ve gotten her into bed long ago.
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Jeremy immediately looked in the direction Rowan was pointing in and spotted Annabelle.
Annabelle was wearing the workers‘ uniform. She was ushering in the people who’d just entered the hall.
Perhaps because she’d just gone through an abortion, Annabelle had slimmed down. That fact further accentuated her figure.
Countless people stared at Annabelle.
Annabelle seemed to sense Jeremy looking at her. She glanced upward and turned to look at Jeremy. Their eyes met in midair. Love shimmered in Annabelle’s eyes while Jeremy’s gaze was cold. It was as though he was looking at a stranger.
Joe raised an eyebrow. Annabelle brought nothing but trouble to Jeremy. He wouldn’t be able to get rid of her that easily.
“What’s going on? Has Jeremy grown tired of his secretary?” Rowan asked Joe softly.
Joe glared at him and eplied, “You won’t benefit from being a gossipmonger.” Rowan clicked his tongue in understanding. Jeremy had indeed tired of her. No matter how gorgeous a woman was, they would tire of her if they didn’t like her after a while. However, if they did, everything was different. They would- never find her boring.
Suddenly, he saw Annie out of the corner of his eye.
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The Silvers had gotten into trouble recently. Why had they sent Annie to the event? Her parents had come as well. Were they trying to pretend like they were wealthy?
With this, the boring gala transformed into an intriguing occasion..
It was 7:00 pm when Skylar left the set. She’d had a wonderful discussion with Brigham. Toward the end, he’d invited her to become his consultant for his next movie. The pay was great. He’d even fixed Charles as one of his leading. men out of three on the spot.
She agreed right then and there.
This was Charles‘ first movie starring as a lead, and it was directed by
Brigham. If he got lucky, he could go viral immediately after the movie came
out.
He was dumbstruck when he learned he would be one of the three leading actors. He would be acting in Brigham’s movie!
The entertainment industry had been rife with rumors that his movie would be the only one that garnered a billion–dollar investment this year.
Many people had been trying their best to obtain an opportunity to audition for it. Who knew that he’d be a part of the movie?
Charles‘ mind was spinning from the wonderful news. He couldn’t come to terms with it. When he finally did, he realized this was all because of Skylar. She’d become someone he could depend on.
Brigham’s attitude toward him improved considerably.
When his talent manager found out, he suggested opening a bottle of champagne to celebrate. He also praised his sister–she was amazing! Charles didn’t need to hear that from him. Skylar had always been a capable person.
That being said, it was fun to enjoy the fruits of her labor without lifting a finger. Who knew that this day would come? Charles chuckled to himself. He was ecstatic. Tonight, he was going to brag about this to Steven.
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As everyone prepared for the next scene, a figure trailed behind Skylar as she left. No one realized it.
The set was rather far from the parking lot. One needed to walk for ten minutes. to get there.
Not before long, Skylar arrived in front of her car. Just as she was getting in, someone grabbed her. She reacted on instinct.
Just as she was about to throw him over her shoulder, she heard him say, “You really are something, Skylar! You’re merely working in Mr. Gardner Senior’s team. Yet, you used him to fool Mr. Cohen into giving Charles a leading role. I’ve underestimated you. You’re such a scheming woman!”
It was Samuel. He criticized her through gritted teeth.
“Who is your biological brother? Charles isn’t related to you by blood. I am your brother!”
Skylar should’ve been helping him regain his footing in the entertainment industry rather than helping Charles.
Skylar found him hilarious. She pushed Samuel away.
When she did, Skylar looked at Samuel properly. He looked much worse than when they’d met in the mall.
Many of Samuel’s contacts had given him the cold shoulder. He’d fallen from heaven into hell, and perhaps this explained his cold attitude and bent spine. It was as though he didn’t dare stand up straight and look people in the eye. He probably hadn’t realized this himself.
“I’ve got nothing to do with the Williamses. When will you get smarter? You should take a leaf from Peter’s book and get out of my sight. Why are you actively looking for trouble?” said Skylar icily.
“Even if you don’t want to admit it, you are still our parent’s daughter. You should be helping the Williamses right now. Have you forgotten how you tried to appease me?” Samuel probably hadn’t eaten dinner. He spoke weakly. It sounded bone–chilling at night. His eyes were affixed on Skylar.
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“I was blind back then,” stated Skylar tonelessly.
She would’ve been fine if Samuel hadn’t mentioned their past. Once he did, she felt like the Williamses weren’t suffering enough. After all, they still had all limbs attached. They didn’t need to lie in bed in fear of their lives.
Samuel widened his eyes and said, “I’m giving you a chance now to help me return to the entertainment industry. I’ll treat you well and tell everyone you’re my sister. As for Maisy, I couldn’t care less if she died outside. She isn’t worth it.”
Skylar chuckled coldly.
In the past, she merely thought that Samuel was a selfish person with questionable morals. Now, she found him to be a shameless, despicable
person.
He’d sought her out time and time again. It was as though he’d forgotten. everything she’d told him. His requests became more extreme with each.
shameless occurrence.
“Fuck off.”
She got into the car immediately after.
When Samuel realized what she’d done, he attempted to open the backseat door and climb in. However, he was too late. Skylar had locked it.
Samuel glared at Skylar with a twisted expression on his face. He roared, Skylar, get out! What did you say you wanted me to do? If you’re willing to help me, I could treat you like how I did Maisy. Wasn’t that all you wanted? I can agree to that right now. Isn’t that enough? Peter and Kenny will treat you as
well as I do.
“Right, Mom has been saying we’ve wronged you, and she wants to make up for that. If you come home, we’ll treat you like a princess. Won’t that do?”
Skylar stepped on the gas, causing the car to jerk forward.
Samuel stumbled and fell flat onto the ground.
After realizing what had happened, he punched the floor and screamed, “You hateful creature! Just you wait, Skylar! You will regret this! I’ll wait for you to beg for mercy. When that happens, I won’t even spare you a glance!
“You’re not worthy enough to be my sister! You’re just as cheap as Maisy! I’ll make sure both of you undergo what I’m suffering through now. You’ll fall even further than I did!”
The empty parking lot reverberated with Samuel’s desperate screams.
At that moment, someone came over to get their car. When he saw a man punching the ground like a madman, he came to watch the show. However, he recognized Samuel.
“Wasn’t this the actor who starred in ‘The Girl Who Loved Me‘? Why is he throwing a tantrum here?”
“Didn’t you know that his family has been embroiled in a scandal? There were -scandals surrounding him as well. The entertainment industry must’ve cast him out. Is he doing this because he couldn’t accept the change in his status?”
“One wouldn’t recognize him if they weren’t looking closely.”
They stood aside while talking about Samuel.
He only realized that he had an audience after he calmed down. Immediately, Samuel scrambled to his feet. He looked down and used his shirt to cover his face.
Samuel refuted uselessly, “I’m not Samuel Williams. You’ve found the wrong person. Fuck off, all of you! Don’t take pictures!”
After the charity gala began, many items were auctioned off. The culminated profits of the night hit ten billion.
-After it ended, everyone started their dinner.
Rowan approached Annie with a flute of champagne in hand.
Annie seemed to be distracted. She hadn’t noticed Rowan.
Rowan popped out from behind her all of a sudden.
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Rowan asked, “What were you thinking about just now? You seemed so engrossed.”
Annie jumped. She stared at him in surprise when he appeared in front of her. She replied, “Nothing much.”
“I heard that you ran into some trouble at the TV station. Your segment was cut, right? Have you thought of trying out somewhere new? You should have many opportunities waiting for you outside of Jipsburg. If you stay in Jipsburg, you probably won’t have much of a choice,” Rowan advised kindly.
After all, they’d grown up together and would encounter each other from time to time. By giving Annie a few suggestions, he was accumulating good karma for himself.
Annie could tell that he was offering suggestions to her. She smiled bitterly and sipped at her champagne. Then, she responded, “The Silvers have grown our roots in Jipsburg for the past few decades. Wouldn’t we become the butt, of the joke if we left?”
In addition, if she left Jipsburg for a station in another city, she would be lowering her worth. Rumors about her would then be spread nationwide. Wouldn’t she be further humiliated in that case?
“Do you know the Williamses? They’ve fallen to such an extent that they’ll never regain their dignity. Proceed with caution” Rowan said. He wasn’t going to give any further suggestions.
However, after taking a few steps away, he recalled something. Turning back to look at Annie, he said, “Stop trying to get Joe’s attention. You’ll regret it if you do.”
-Annie’s expression changed. She pursed her lips and glanced at Joe from the
corner of her eye.
Many people tried to talk to Joe, but he seemed unapproachable. Just one look. from him would drive them away, so they didn’t dare approach him.
Sabrina walked over and asked softly, “I saw Rowan talk to you just now. What did he tell you? Can he help us with our family troubles?”
12
Annie sighed deeply. Sabrina was still extremely optimistic. Who would help them out of their stint? Hadn’t she understood society’s cruelty yet?
When she saw Annie sigh without answering her question, Sabrina guessed what had happened. She asked, “Why had he come if he wasn’t here to help?” “He adviced me to leave Jipsburg as soon as possible. Perhaps I can restart my career somewhere else. If we stay here, we might be fini-”
Sabrina immediately stopped her from continuing. She interjected, “Alright, there’s no point in overthinking now. Don’t say anything to anyone! You’ll be in huge trouble if your father or Uncle Thomas hears about this. Obey your dad’s instructions for today, alright?”
She seemed rather anxious. After a deep inhale, she continued lowly, “This is our chance. Your dad and Uncle Thomas will make the necessary
arrangements. Nothing will go wrong. Don’t think about things you shouldn’t be wondering about, alright?”
Annie felt like her chest was being crushed as she listened to her mom’s confident words. She hummed helplessly in reply.
”
She snuck another glance at Joe. He looked as though he was in a bad mood. He didn’t talk to anyone else. However, he’d drank a few glasses of wine.
There were so many people present. What did they have in mind? Annie’s heart raced when she thought of what was to come. She took a sip of her wine to disguise her anxiety.
At the same time, Annabelle observed Jeremy closely from the shadows. Although she was working at the event, many men had asked after her. She was extremely attractive.
However, she seemed to be invisible to Jeremy. Had he begun the process of divorce with Natalie?
She looked down at her bracelet. A faint fragrance wafted around it. She could make him sleep with her once more if she got close to him.
A few minutes later, Grayson approached Annie with a hotel key card. He said, Go upstairs first.”
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A chill ran down Annie’s spine as she stared at the card in her hands. She asked, “Is everything good to go?”
Grayson replied softly, “I’ve made the necessary arrangements. It’s up to you now. Don’t disappoint all of us, Annie.”
Her face paled. Anxiety clogged her throat. However, when she thought of their predicament, she could only nod and say, “Alright.”
Then, she left the hall with the card.
It was 10:00 pm. The gala would be ending in an hour’s time. Due to the late hour, many people would be staying at the hotel that night.
Joe swirled his glass. The crimson liquid sparkled under the light. He had drunk almost four glasses of red wine out of boredom. However, his frustration remained.
“Mr. Martin, I’ve booked your room for you. Here’s the key card,” said Paul.
Joe took the card from Paul and informed him, “I’m going up to rest.”
Joe wasn’t a stranger to leaving early. After all, he got bored easily at events, like these.
Paul had also booked a room for himself. Since Joe had left, he also went upstairs after a few more sips of wine. These galas offered premium wine. He couldn’t bear to spend on these bottles of champagne, so he would take advantage of the occasion and have his share.
Suddenly, he stared into the distance. Hadn’t Natalie found out about Jeremy’s affair? He’d already fired Annabelle, and they’d broken up. Why…
Annabelle stumbled into Jeremy’s arms. Perhaps Jeremy hadn’t reacted quickly enough to push her away, but he allowed her to fall into his embrace.
Annabelle’s gorgeous face was covered with a dainty blush. Paul couldn’t hear their conversation from where he was standing, and the music also hindered his hearing.
However, he had always been a gossiper
Annabelle’s schemes were ingenious. She could twist the situation to her advantage even after Natalie found out that Jeremy had cheated.
Jeremy probably didn’t care about Natalie’s opinion anymore.
No matter how much Paul wanted to watch the show, he forced himself to turn away so Jeremy wouldn’t think he was spying on them.
At the same time, Jeremy pushed Annabelle away. He seemed cold and unforgiving.
When Annabelle was shoved off him, surprise contorted her features. Yet, the smile from when she’d fallen into Jeremy’s arms hadn’t faded either. She looked ridiculous as the two expressions warred against each other.
“Mr. Hughes,” Annabelle protested weakly.
How could this be possible? When she approached him, his gaze had softened. He had been entranced by her like before. Why was he behaving differently today?
Within a few seconds, Jeremy’s expression had changed completely. He pushed her off him without hesitation.
Jeremy clenched his jaw. He asked, “I see you haven’t given up on seducing me, eh?”
“No, I wasn’t trying to seduce you. I’d worn heels that were too high for me. I couldn’t find my footing in them, so I accidentally fell into your arms. It’s my fault. I remember what you said to me the last time we met.”
Annabelle immediately acted like a frightened doe. However, she was
genuinely terrified. Why had this method lost its effectiveness entirely? How could this be possible?
She did not understand. Was it because of the shattered porcelain? The tactics she’d employed at the beginning became useless when repeated.
“Which perfume do you use?” asked Jeremy. He looked down at her questioningly.
Annabelle was stunned by his question. Her heart pounded nervously as she replied, “I don’t use perfume.”
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Why was he asking this all of a sudden? Had he realized something? She placed her hand behind her back diffidently.
Usually, people wouldn’t pick up on her methods as they no longer believed in black magic. Yet, Annabelle thought of Skylar, who worked under Alexander. Even though she’d offered her billions in hopes that she’d help restore her porcelain, Skylar refused to help her. She wouldn’t even take a look at it.
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Had Skylar noticed the black magic when she observed the porcelain pieces? If Skylar had picked up on it and if Jeremy found out…
Terror seized Annabelle as she thought about the potential links between each possibility.
No, that was impossible. Skylar was extremely young. How would she know so much? The person who helped her had been at least 80 years old. He’d promised her no one would pick up on his black magic anymore.
Annabelle couldn’t suppress her panic as her mind raced.
Jeremy’s expression remained stiff as he scanned Annabelle from head to toe. The faint fragrance that had shaken his determination seemed to have dissipated. It had deprived him of logic, and he had been overcome with the
desire to bed her.
He seemed to remember this fragrance when he’d first lost control of himself and slept with Annabelle. Was it His imagination? Was he trying to find.
excuses for his infidelity?
Jeremy’s expression became even icier. He walked away without saying a
word.
Annabelle trembled slightly. She desperately tried to stop shaking. Jeremy would probably never spare her a glance ever again.
Horror coursed through Annabelle’s veins. Was she going to end up with nothing after all?
She’d already gotten this far. She wouldn’t succumb to her fate. Annabelle couldn’t give up just yet. She was going to seek Natalie out.
Joe leaned into the corner of the hotel elevator. He was frowning deeply out of dizziness. Perhaps it was because he’d drank too much. Another possibility was that he’d gotten used to falling asleep with Skylar at this hour. That being said, they would occasionally mess around till late at night.
He exited the elevator and walked toward his room. Before he arrived, he
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clenched his jaw suddenly. Joe called Paul, saying, “Someone might’ve spiked my drink with an aphrodisiac tonight. Come up here. Wait. Call Skylar and ask.
her to come over.
Apart from feeling faint, he also felt an uncontrollable desire bubbling within him. It wasn’t a familiar feeling.
“Was this a newly developed drug?” guessed Joe with his last remnants of
logic.
At the same time, Annie walked out of the bathroom after showering. She’d been waiting in the room for a long time. However, she did not dare to bathe for too long. Her hair was half–dried.
Annie knew that women were most attractive like that. She wore nothing under her towel.
She stared at the door nervously. She felt as though every sound had been amplified. She could even hear noises coming from the corridor.
Then, she heard the click of the door opening. Annie tensed up. She gripped the towel around her tightly.
Grayson had guaranteed that he’d made all necessary arrangements. There would be no problems.
She had to believe Grayson and Thomas.
Annabelle needed to make sure that nothing went wrong. It was too late for regrets now.
The door was pushed open. A tall figure strode in.
Annie immediately glanced over.
Joe was headed toward the bathroom as though driven by instinct. As he was about to get there, he suddenly noticed her.
His sharp gaze pierced into Annie.
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Annie’s hand shook. The towel wrapped around her nearly fell.
Hadn’t they said that everything had been taken care of? Why did he look so alert?
“…”
Hadn’t they said that they’d done everything that was needed? Annie was terrified.
Joe narrowed his eyes and walked toward Annie. He took his tie off and said, ” You’re here early.”
“W–What?” Annie stuttered in surprise.
What did he mean by that? Did he know she was coming?
In addition, he wasn’t surprised to see her. Had Grayson and Thomas told Joe she would be here? Was Joe not as merciless as she thought him to be? Did he like her back?
Annie’s heart raced.
“Skylar, help me remove my clothes,” Joe said lowly. Anticipation laced his
tone.
He would’ve suppressed it if she wasn’t with him. Now that Skylar was right before him, there was no need to hold back.
Annie’s face fell. She stiffened up. Joe thought she was Skylar!
This realization made her earlier thoughts seem like a joke. She said hoarsely, ” Alright.”
With shaking hands, she reached out to him.
Skylar had been getting ready for bed when Paul called. She was rather surprised. Why would he be calling at this hour?
“Ms. Sullivan, come quick to Stargaze Hotel! Something has happened to Joe! I’ve sent his room number to you. Come as soon as you can!” Paul sputtered
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He hung up immediately after he was done speaking.
Skylar’s sleepiness dissipated. Wasn’t Joe attending a charity gala? Why would something happen to him there?
She had no time to ponder on it. She immediately changed and left Galaxy Villa.
Paul’s fingers trembled around the room card. As he stared at the ascending numbers in the elevator, he cursed, “What broke–ass elevator is this? Why is it so slow?”
What kind of person was foolhardy enough to do this?
Joe’s drink had been laced a while ago. Everyone at the gala should’ve known how he would punish the perpetrator for his actions. Yet, someone still dared to do that!
Finally, the elevator reached Joe’s floor. Paul immediately raced toward his room and opened the door with his card.
However, something was pushing against the door, and Paul couldn’t open it, no matter how hard he tried.
“Mr. Martin, are you inside? What’s going on?”
He pushed even harder. This caused the person behind the door to fall.
A woman screamed.
Paul’s eyes widened. He realized something and screamed, “Holy shit! No matter who you are, you better fuck off right now! Do you know what you’re doing? You’ve got a death wish! I want to see who’s scheming against Mr. Martin!”
A roar came from inside the room, “Get lost!”
Paul was dumbstruck. He asked, “Mr. Martin?”
Was Joe telling him to get lost?
“Paul? What are you…”
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Grayson and Sabrina appeared out of nowhere. They seemed surprised to see Paul in the corridor.
Paul was paying attention to Joe’s condition. He glanced briefly at them
without noticing the panic written across their faces. He didn’t have time to pay attention to them.
He’d hesitated for a moment. However, he suddenly heard the
think the hotel attendants made a mistake.”
Paul frowned. Why did she sound rather familiar?
an say. I
At the same time, Grayson and Sabrina’s expressions changed. Had their plan failed?
The aphrodisiac shouldn’t have gone wrong. It was a newly developed drug from Murida. The person who ingested it would be disoriented and not remember what happened while under the drug’s effect.
An idea popped into Paul’s head. He turned to look at the Silvers and warned,/ It better not have been you guys!”
He knew who the woman was. It was Annie.
Paul gritted his teeth. How could they be so audacious to scheme against his boss during a charity gala?
He took a step back. Then, he raised his leg and kicked at the door. He did not care whether Annie would be hurt by his behavior. He would kick the door down if that was what it took to get into the room.
To the sound of Annie’s screams, Paul kicked the door down.
He saw Joe leaning against the table. He glared at him coldly.
“Mr. Martin…”
Paul saw Joe’s coat on the ground. Although his shirt was unbuttoned, his pants were still on. Paul sighed in relief and looked at Annie.
She was holding a towel tightly in an attempt to cover herself.
At the same time, her forehead and arms were bruised because of her fall. Annie looked like a victim.
Grayson and Sabrina exclaimed simultaneously, “Annie!”
They couldn’t tell whether they’d done the deed.
Sabrina immediately asked, “Annie, what’s up? Why are you… Mr. Martin, what are you both…”
“Mr. Martin, why would you and Annie be..” Grayson looked horrified.
However, their expressions of surprise froze on their faces when they looked. up at Joe.
Compared to Annie’s ruffled appearance, Joe was still fully clothed.
The outcome of their scheme was evident. They’d failed!
“Make them get lost,” Joe ordered icily.
Paul immediately roared, “You will pay for what you’ve done today. Get out!”
The Silvers seemed to be stuck in a trance. They did not move. Upon seeing that, Paul stepped forward and repeated, “Get out!”
Annie came to her senses. Her face was devoid of color. Although she’d realized that she had fucked their plan up, her brain was otherwise blank.
Grayson was reluctant to submit to their fate. He’d arranged everything meticulously, and he wasn’t going to be chased out just like that. He said, “Mr. Martin, you look unwell. You might need Annie. Are you sure you don’t want her to stay?”
“Yeah. You’ve known each other since you were children. It will save you a lot of trouble if Annie stays to help,” added Sabrina.
Paul was speechless. He asked, “Mr. Silver, do you not understand what I’m saying?”
He could tell that Joe was in horrible condition.
Paul said, “Go back and think of how you’l grovel for his forgiveness!”
They could only leave under Paul’s instructions.
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After they left, Paul immediately closed the door.
Joe had rushed into the bathroom.
Paul called Skylar again as he listened to the sounds of gushing water in the bathroom. He asked, “Where are you at now, Ms. Sullivan?”
Paul sounded calmer. However, his tone was still panicked. Skylar glanced at the signboards and replied, “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
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Paul sighed in relief when he heard that Skylar would arrive in a few minutes. He closed the door and Stood outside.
Paul called Joe’s doctor and described his condition. After listening to Paul’s description, he smiled and said, “He’ll be fine. Isn’t Skylar arriving soon? She’ll be more effective than medicine. You should plan the demise of those perpetrators rather than worry about Joe.”
Paul was well–versed in handling such matters.
In the past, Joe’s doctor would come over to help him in such situations. However, Joe had to go through immense suffering in the process. Thankfully, he had Skylar now.
Not before long, Skylar arrived.
Skylar asked, “What’s going on?”
Paul had no time to explain. Joe was probably in a cold shower as they spoke. He opened the door and pushed Skylar in. As he did so, he said simply, “Mr. Martin has been drugged with an aphrodisiac.”
“What?” Skylar was pushed into the room by Paul amidst her confused exclamation.
The door slammed shut behind her. Skylar walked in slowly. She could hear the water running in the washroom. Her heart was pounding.
Joe had ingested an aphrodisiac. She knew the role she’d been called to play.
The bathroom door was half open. It was evident how much of a hurry Joe had been in.
Skylar gently pushed the door open. There was no hint of steam in the bathroom. She felt a little chilly as she stepped into the shower area.
Was Joe taking a cold shower?
Indeed, she could see Joe’s muscled figure under the shower.
Skylar was given an even better view of Joe when he looked over.
Joe stood tall, with broad shoulders. He had a sharp jawline and an aloof expression. Every feature about him was perfect. His attractive muscles were the objects of every woman’s desire.
However, his eyes gleamed coldly. It was as if he were a noble king looking down at his people from a mountain.
Joe’s voice was hoarse but sexy as he asked, “Annie?”
However, Skylar’s face fell upon hearing that.
“Annie?”
She suddenly recalled seeing Annie while she was parking. She had been with a middle–aged couple. They must be her parents.
However, they seemed to be rushing somewhere. Skylar was in a hurry to see Joe. Thus, she did not think much of it.
However… Was Joe calling Annie’s name in this condition because he liked her?
If he liked her, why had he treated Annie so coldly in the past? He’d even taken action against the Silvers. Was there some backstory to this she didn’t understand?
Since Annie was the person Joe wanted to see the most, there was no need for her to remain in his room.
The name he uttered at this point would definitely be the one of whom he cared the most.
“I’ll call Annie now. Give me a few minutes.*
Annie had just left the hotel. If she called now, she could be back in no time.
Skylar began rummaging through her bag for her phone.
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Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of Skylar. It cast a shadow over her.
Then, Joe kissed her furiously. Skylar dropped her bag
“You…“.
When Skylar got the opportunity to take a breath, she reminded him, “Wake up. I’m not who you think I am. I’m not Annie. Do you know that
Skylar moved hastily. It was as though he’d lost all semblance of rationality. He sealed Skylar’s lips with his.
Skylar didn’t want to be anyone’s replacement. She raised her hand to slap him. However, Joe put her hand around his back.
She’d forgotten that Joe was professionally trained. He was different from the men that she’d met. She knew how to fight. However, he was even better at it.
The physical differences between men and women were painfully evident at that moment.
On the way back home, none of the Silvers said a word
The driver could feel the heavy atmosphere. He stared straight ahead throughout the ride and drove carefully.
They were silent because they knew that great trouble was heading their way. The opportunity they’d obtained after a whole night of meticulous planning had gone down the drain.
Grayson was pale. His pursed lips indicated that he was on the verge of a breakdown.
“How did Joe realize it? Didn’t they say that the aphrodisiac would make him disorientated? Even if he didn’t like Annie, he should have thought she was the one he loved. How did they…”
Sabrina collected herself. With horror brewing within her, she asked, “Annie, what happened? You… Were you still thinking of Steven? Did you fail to please Joe and piss him off as a result?”
Joe stood atop the pyramid of power in Jipsburg. Few people dared to upset him.
This time… It looked as though the Silvers were finished.
Annie was as pale as a ghost. Everything that happened in the hotel felt like a slap to her face. It mocked her for overestimating herself.
Even if Joe had been drugged with an aphrodisiac, he still felt nothing for her. The second he touched her, he shoved her off him immediately. It was as though she was a piece of trash he resented. Intense embarrassment washed over her.
“I did nothing. Joe’s self–control was too strong. The aphrodisiac couldn’t influence him. He loves Skylar. When he saw me, he thought I was Skylar at first. However, he recognized me for who I was shortly after. Then, Paul and the both of you appeared,” Annie explained with a smile.
Sabrina was surprised. She asked, “How important is Skylar to Joe? Was she so important that Joe thought of her even then? I’ve seen pictures of Skylar. She is pretty but otherwise incomparable to you in every other aspect. What were Joe and Gloria thinking?
“Mom, this is not what we should bo
focusing on now. Tomorrow, our family will be cast into turmoil,” Annie said. She smiled bitterly. Why was Sabrina unable to see their new reality even now? Did she not
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understand what was going on?
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Grayson bit his lip harder. He said, “We’ve underestimated Joe. This wouldn’t have happened if we’d used a larger dose.”
They were afraid of unexpected developments, so they merely used a regular dose. This was their
outcome.
“Annie is right. Tomorrow, Joe will be hunting us down. We don’t have much choice left.”
Sabrina was terrified. She asked, “T–Then, what should we be doing next? None of you will give this up. We’re in a horrible situation already. What can Joe do to us?”
“All the wealthy families in Jipsburg know how Joe treats his enemies. We do too, don’t we?” Annie chuckled bitterly.
Grayson suddenly had an idea. He suggested, “Annie, your boyfriend is Skylar’s brother, right? Skylar is probably the only one who can save us. Talk to Steven and make him pressure Skylar into helping us!! give my blessing to your relationship right now!”
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Annie was dumbstruck by Grayson’s suggestion. In confusion, she asked, “Dad, have you given up on our family’s dignity?”
Grayson’s eyes darted around.
Sabrina couldn’t meet Annie’s eyes either. However, she still spoke up for Grayson. She advised, “Annie, this is not about our dignity. It concerns whether or not the Silvers can remain in Jipsburg. As to everything else… it doesn’t seem so important. He isn’t going to embarrass us too much.”
Annie bit her lip and asked, “Are you sure?”
“We have no better options. This is our only choice. Even if Steven doesn’t deserve you, you can break up with him in the future. You can just use the excuse of unmatched personalities to leave him. It won’t be problem.” Sabrina had thought of a way out already.
Despite being the one to suggest it, she still felt uneasy about the idea. She’d put her everything into raising Annie to who she was now. She could’ve married into a wealthier family in Jipsburg. In the end, she had to date a poor man. Just the thought of it displeased Sabrina.
Grayson’s mind was a mess. His face was devoid of color as he said, “Your mom is right. Do as she says. Contact Steven as soon as possible.”
Suddenly, Rowan called.
When Annie saw that he was the caller, she hesitated before picking up.
“Who’s calling?” asked Annie.
“Rowan.”
Sabrina frowned and said, “Pick up. Perhaps Rowan is calling to devise a method for dealing with him.”
Annie wasn’t as optimistic as her. Rowan wouldn’t offer help for nothing. In addition, if Rowan called now he probably knew what had happened.
The calmer she felt, the more Her scalp prickled. In the end, she picked up. “Rowan.”
“You’re an idiot, Annie. You’ve known Joe for so long. Haven’t you heard that no one has succeeded in drugging him? How dare you feed him an aphrodisiac? The Silvers could’ve left Jipsburg unscathed. Now, your family is done for,” Rowan scolded. He was dumbstruck by Annie’s stupidity.
They’d just talked during the gala. Yet, she made a dumb mistake immediately afterward.
Annie had left him on speaker. She wanted Sabrina and Grayson to hear him.
Shame colored their expressions after hearing Rowan’s admonishments.
“Initially, I’d thought there wouldn’t be any problems. I also thought that Joe had a place for me in his
heart. In the end, it was all my imagination. Do we have no chance of survival anymore?” Annie tried to remain calm.
A
Grayson and Sabrina stared at her phone together.
Throughout the journey, their hearts had leaped into their throats.
Yet, Rowan chuckled coldly. He asked, “What do you think? You’re so dumb, Annie. You weren’t put up to this by your family, were you? You’ve got a brain, and it functions perfectly. Why would you agree to their antics? The Silvers won’t be able to escape the impending crisis.
2/2
“I’ve called to give you a heads–up because we’ve been friends for a long time. Stop scheming against Joe. If you upset him again, you might suffer a fate worse than the Williamses.”
Did Steven say not to upset Joe?
Would asking Skylar to plead mercy for them through Steven upset him?
The Silvers were thrown into shock time after Rowan’s words.
He did not engage in worthless conversation with them. Rowan hung up once he was finished. He did not give Annie the chance to ask any questions.
“I believe you have gotten Rowan’s message. What do you think we should do next? What happened tonight has disrupted my plans. I was planning to marry Steven as soon as possible. After our marriage, Skylar would definitely vouch for us in Steven’s name,” said Annie with tightly clasped hands.
No one knew how much she regretted her behavior.
She shouldn’t have hoped for a miracle.
She’d told her parents. However, they disagreed.
Upon hearing Annie’s words, they regretted their behavior horribly.
Sabrina’s eyes glistened. She said, “There’s no point in saying all this now. You should think of how to speak to Steven so he persuades Skylar to help us.”
Annie said exhaustedly, “Let me think about it.”
Throughout the night, Skylar felt like nothing in front of Joe.
They labored throughout the night in different positions.
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Toward the end, Skylar was tethering on the verge of consciousness. Even her fingers were numb. It was the first time they did not shower immediately after they were done.
When the morning sun rays streamed through the window and fell on Joe’s face, his eyes snapped open. He recalled how he’d fallen into the trap set for him by the Silvers before losing his mind. He tensed up immediately.
It was a mess. Traces of their mad actions last night were strewn all over the room.
Despite losing his sanity, his body wouldn’t lie to him. Had he lost control and touched Annie last night? Anger took over him. He wanted to murder her.
Joe shouted coldly, “Annie, you’ve got a death wish!”
The woman beside him did not move. It was as though she’d been tortured to death. Even her exposed shoulders were marked with last night’s brutalities. Looking at them made Joe’s stomach churn. Nausea washed over him in waves.
He was going to end the Silvers!
Joe roared furiously, “Get lost!”
It seemed to make the temperature around him drop.
Skylar was still fast asleep. She was feeling extremely weak and had no strength whatsoever. She couldn’t even open her eyes. However, she knew that she was in a weird place. There seemed to be someone who was extremely dissatisfied with her presence.
However, no matter how displeased they were, they couldn’t disrupt her sleep, could they? How could they ask her to get lost?
She shot back before she opened her eyes, “You should get lost! Asshole.”
Her soft, familiar voice made Joe pause amidst his anger.
This voice…
Joe immediately peeked over at the woman facing away from him. When he saw that it was Skylar, he relaxed his clenched jaw.
He’d spent the night with Skylar, not Annie.
The nausea Joe had been feeling subsided rapidly. He felt as though he’d been comforted and reassured. Skylar opened her eyes. She felt sore all over and didn’t want to move However, she’d heard someone asking her to get lost, and her sleepiness had magically dissipated.
She turned to see Joe looking at her. Her expression soured.
tried pushing you away last night “Weren’t you disappointed when you woke up and saw me, Mr. Martin? I while you were holding me and calling Annie’s name. You were too forceful and wouldn’t budge. You shouldn’t have made Paul call me if you wanted me to get lost. Now, you’re the one who should be getting lost!”
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Skylar made all her complaints in one breath. When she thought of the fact that she was Annie’s replacement, she felt uncomfortable all over.
Joe had no time to reflect upon why he was relieved upon finding out that he’d slept with Skylar.
“You’ve misunderstood me. Annie had drugged me. I pushed her off me while I was still conscious. When you came, I thought you were Annie for a second,” Joe explained patiently.
After their night of frantic passion, his body was satisfied. Now, he was in a great mood. He gave his explanations gently and patiently. It was evident that he was feeling fantastic.
Skylar didn’t entirely believe him. She asked, “Is it just a misunderstanding? Didn’t you just ask me to get lost? I think I also heard you calling Annie’s name just now.”
Every single inch of her body was sore. She probably hadn’t slept for long before getting roused from her sleep by Joe. Skylar was furious.
Joe’s gentle expression froze on his face. He had to teach the Silvers a lesson.
“When I woke up, I thought you were Annie. I felt disgusted and furious,” said Joe softly.
Skylar was stunned. She repeated, “Disgusted?”
“Yeah.”
Skylar’s anger dissipated. She did not let their misunderstanding develop further. She could tell that Joe’s explanation was genuine.
If not, Paul wouldn’t have called her, and she wouldn’t have seen the downtrodden Silvers in the parking lot, either.
“Do you believe me now?” Joe pulled Skylar into his arms. He always felt comfortable holding her. It satisfied a part of him deep within.
Skylar suddenly grabbed Joe’s hand, which had been placed over her chest. She said, “I’m different from you. I know how to tell between what’s right and wrong
For some reason, his hands tended to wander while holding her.
“Do you like it when I touch you here? Don’t worry. I’ll touch you even if you don’t press my hand against it, “Joe whispered. His hot breath fanned her ear.
Skylar’s heart skipped a beat. Joe knew every sensitive spot on her.
He asked seductively, “Do you want to do it?”
Skylar’s heart pounded. She replied, “No, I don’t!”
She freed herself from Joe’s embrace. Then, she wrapped a blanket around her body before getting out of bed. She said, “I’m going to take a shower and get to work. If you’re still under the influence of the aphrodisiac, you should deal with it on your own.”
A
She’d been tortured by him for the whole of last night. She couldn’t stand it anymore. Even a piece of metal would bend after a night of hammering.
When Skylar ran to the bathroom and looked back, she found that there had only been one blanket on the bed, and no extras had been available.
Joe’s naked figure was splayed before her. He didn’t even try to cover himself with a pillow.
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Skylar glanced at him briefly. Her guess hadn’t been wrong. He’d wanted to go again.
Skylar inhaled deeply and ducked into the bathroom. She could hear Joe cackling outside.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to touch you for today.”
“A man’s guarantee can never be fully trusted!”
Skylar stood before the mirror and looked at herself. She was marked from head to toe, and her cheeks were flushed. When Joe put his everything into it, she couldn’t stand it.
Her legs trembled as she stood. Skylar probably wouldn’t be able to go to work. She needed to take another day off from work
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Skylar sat in the bathtub, trying to relieve the soreness throughout her body. Her mind was calm.
The fact that Annie and the Silvers had drugged Joe meant that they only wanted to take advantage of Steven. The Silvers must’ve thought that the gala last night was an opportunity. In the end, they’d doomed themselves.
Yesterday, Annie had insisted on her love for Steven. Yet, she climbed onto Joe’s bed on the same night. Her love was too cheap.
Paul probably had evidence of it, which was exactly what Skylar needed.
It was 40 minutes later, and Joe had showered in another room. He glanced at the bathroom. Why hadn’t Skylar come out yet?
Joe checked his watch. Frowning, he strode forward and opened the bathroom door.
When he saw Skylar fast asleep in the bathtub, he sighed in relief. For a moment, he’d recalled multiple articles about deaths in bathtubs.
“Stupid girl.”
Didn’t she know that it was dangerous?
Joe scolded her internally. However, he carefully lifted her out of the bathtub and tightly wrapped a towel around her.
She was completely knocked out. When he picked her up, she found a comfortable spot and snuggled into his embrace. She behaved like a lazy cat who trusted and depended on its owner.
Joe’s breathing hitched. He felt like a feather was tickling his heart.
A few minutes later, Joe walked out and leaned against the corridor walls. He held a cigarette between his fingers without lighting it.
However, the cold expression on his face made Paul nervous.
“Annie’s father and her uncle did it. They bought over the workers at the gala and laced your drink with an aphrodisiac.”
Joe chuckled coldly and said, “Has the Silver family not suffered enough? How dare they scheme against me. I don’t want to see any trace of the Silvers in Jipsburg from today onward.”
“Alright, I’ll head to the office and make the necessary arrangements,” Paul replied. He wanted nothing more than to leave as soon as possible.
Joe was even more terrifying than a lion when he got angry.
They probably went at it like animals last night, judging by how Skylar wasn’t awake yet. Joe should’ve been wholeheartedly satisfied. Why was there a murderous gleam in his eye?
Paul was terrified.
“Wait, check the surveillance footage of the hotel. How did Annie enter my room? How did her parents take her away with only a towel around her? Get the footage and send a copy to Skylar.“.
Paul was stunned. He asked, “You want me to give it to Mrs. Martin?”
“She might need it,” said Joe. When he talked about Skylar, the murderous glare in his eyes disappeared. Paul was terrified. He didn’t know whether to believe his eyes. Joe’s expression changed faster than Paul
could notice.
“The footage was sent to my phone last night. I’ll forward it to Mrs. Martin later.”
Joe hummed in acknowledgment and said, “I’m not going to the office today. Get someone to bring a few outfits for Skylar.”
“They should be on their way here now. Mrs. Martin will be able to wear it once she wakes up,” said Paul. Paul felt that an excellent assistant considered the full picture
Joe raised an eyebrow and said, “When you get back to the office, talk to Chester Parkson. You’ll be getting a raise.”
Paul’s eyes widened. Who knew he’d be given such an awesome surprise first thing in the morning? He thanked, “Thank you, Mr. Martin! You’re an excellent man!”
“When did you start addressing Skylar as Mrs. Martin?” Joe hadn’t noticed.
Paul was stunned. He said, “Oh, I don’t remember either.”
In the beginning, he called Skylar Ms. Sullivan. Now, he’d taken to call her Mrs. Martin subconsciously.
As an outsider, he could tell that Joe liked Skylar. If not, how could Joe push Annie away while she was the case, his self–control was too naked? He had been under the aphrodisiac’s influence too. If that wa powerful. Clearly, Joe adored Skylar. If not, why would he insist on waiting for Skylar, even if that meant taking a cold shower?
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Paul was the best secretary in Jipsburg. He had a sharp eye for things. Only, he didn’t voice out everything he’d seen.
In addition, he believed that Skylar was worth Joe’s love. How could Joe have made a mistake? After all, Gloria praised her incessantly. She even treated Skylar Ike her own granddaughter.
“Alright, you can go,” said Joe.
Paul left immediately as he had many things to do. He could be busy for the whole day.
Once Annie got home, she took a shower. Unable to sleep, she stayed awake till the sun rose. Only then did she gather the courage to contact Steven.
Annie made multiple calls to him. Yet, he never picked up. She thought of what Steven had told her. Had he already started work at this hour?
Grayson and Sabrina couldn’t sleep either. When they saw Annie calling Steven to no avail, Sabrina lost her composure. She asked, “What’s going on?”
“I think he’s busy. His phone probably isn’t with him.”
“Is he busy this early in the morning? Does he have so many things to do?” Sabrina complained in displeasure.
Steven was a working–class man with no status.
Grayson was disgruntled as well. He said, “Is he not picking up on purpose? He must’ve been a saint in his last life for you to fall for him in this one. How dare he not pick up?”
“He’s not the kind of person who ignores my call on purpose. If he’s not picking up, it means he’s busy” Annie explained.
Sabrina and Grayson didn’t care about what kind of person Steven was as long as he could help them. As they tried their best to contact Steven, other members of their family called.
All the Silvers were in a state of terror. Joshua Silver, the head of the Silver family, had received a call. He scolded them for being such daredevils. How could they give Joe an aphrodisiac? Joshua nearly couldn’t breathe. He was on the brink of fainting.
Grayson, Thomas, and Annie hadn’t told him about their plan. Before he received the call, he had no idea about it.
The entire Silver family sunk into a state of chaos. They knew they couldn’t reverse the damage and save themselves this time. The Silvers wouldn’t be able to remain in Jipsburg in the future. Decades of effort had gone down the drain.
An hour later, Annie realized she’d lost many followers on Instagram. All her friends had distanced themselves from her.
夕
Amidst her panic, she called Steven twice more. However, he still didn’t pick up. As Annie was feeling helpless, she suddenly thought of Skylar. Immediately, she called Skylar.
The call went through. However, Skylar didn’t pick up; Joe accepted the call instead.
“Why are you calling Skylar?”
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Joe’s voice made her quiver even though she wasn’t speaking face–to–face with him. Terror coursed through her veins. Annie gripped the phone hard, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
“It was a misunderstanding. I can explain. We…” Although Annie was a TV host who should’ve been able to react and adapt to any situation, her mind was blank as she spoke to Joe.
She had no idea how to come up with an excuse.
“The only people who treat me like an idiot are the Silvers,” Joe stated lowly.
Had Skylar noticed the black magic when she observed the porcelain pieces? If Skylar had picked up on it and if Jeremy found out…
Terror seized Annabelle as she thought about the potential links between each possibility.
No, that was impossible. Skylar was extremely young. How would she know so much? The person who helped her had been at least 80 years old. He’d promised her no one would pick up on his black magic anymore.
Annabelle couldn’t suppress her panic as her mind raced.
Jeremy’s expression remained stiff as he scanned Annabelle from head to toe. The faint fragrance that had shaken his determination seemed to have dissipated. It had deprived him of logic, and he had been overcome with the
desire to bed her.
He seemed to remember this fragrance when he’d first lost control of himself and slept with Annabelle. Was it His imagination? Was he trying to find.
excuses for his infidelity?
Jeremy’s expression became even icier. He walked away without saying a
word.
Annabelle trembled slightly. She desperately tried to stop shaking. Jeremy would probably never spare her a glance ever again.
Horror coursed through Annabelle’s veins. Was she going to end up with nothing after all?
She’d already gotten this far. She wouldn’t succumb to her fate. Annabelle couldn’t give up just yet. She was going to seek Natalie out.
Joe leaned into the corner of the hotel elevator. He was frowning deeply out of dizziness. Perhaps it was because he’d drank too much. Another possibility was that he’d gotten used to falling asleep with Skylar at this hour. That being said, they would occasionally mess around till late at night.
He exited the elevator and walked toward his room. Before he arrived, he
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clenched his jaw suddenly. Joe called Paul, saying, “Someone might’ve spiked my drink with an aphrodisiac tonight. Come up here. Wait. Call Skylar and ask.
her to come over.
Apart from feeling faint, he also felt an uncontrollable desire bubbling within him. It wasn’t a familiar feeling.
“Was this a newly developed drug?” guessed Joe with his last remnants of
logic.
At the same time, Annie walked out of the bathroom after showering. She’d been waiting in the room for a long time. However, she did not dare to bathe for too long. Her hair was half–dried.
Annie knew that women were most attractive like that. She wore nothing under her towel.
She stared at the door nervously. She felt as though every sound had been amplified. She could even hear noises coming from the corridor.
Then, she heard the click of the door opening. Annie tensed up. She gripped the towel around her tightly.
Grayson had guaranteed that he’d made all necessary arrangements. There would be no problems.
She had to believe Grayson and Thomas.
Annabelle needed to make sure that nothing went wrong. It was too late for regrets now.
The door was pushed open. A tall figure strode in.
Annie immediately glanced over.
Joe was headed toward the bathroom as though driven by instinct. As he was about to get there, he suddenly noticed her.
His sharp gaze pierced into Annie.
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Annie’s hand shook. The towel wrapped around her nearly fell.
Hadn’t they said that everything had been taken care of? Why did he look so alert?
“…”
Hadn’t they said that they’d done everything that was needed? Annie was terrified.
Joe narrowed his eyes and walked toward Annie. He took his tie off and said, ” You’re here early.”
“W–What?” Annie stuttered in surprise.
What did he mean by that? Did he know she was coming?
In addition, he wasn’t surprised to see her. Had Grayson and Thomas told Joe she would be here? Was Joe not as merciless as she thought him to be? Did he like her back?
Annie’s heart raced.
“Skylar, help me remove my clothes,” Joe said lowly. Anticipation laced his
tone.
He would’ve suppressed it if she wasn’t with him. Now that Skylar was right before him, there was no need to hold back.
Annie’s face fell. She stiffened up. Joe thought she was Skylar!
This realization made her earlier thoughts seem like a joke. She said hoarsely, ” Alright.”
With shaking hands, she reached out to him.
Skylar had been getting ready for bed when Paul called. She was rather surprised. Why would he be calling at this hour?
“Ms. Sullivan, come quick to Stargaze Hotel! Something has happened to Joe! I’ve sent his room number to you. Come as soon as you can!” Paul sputtered
Chap 592
He hung up immediately after he was done speaking.
Skylar’s sleepiness dissipated. Wasn’t Joe attending a charity gala? Why would something happen to him there?
She had no time to ponder on it. She immediately changed and left Galaxy Villa.
Paul’s fingers trembled around the room card. As he stared at the ascending numbers in the elevator, he cursed, “What broke–ass elevator is this? Why is it so slow?”
What kind of person was foolhardy enough to do this?
Joe’s drink had been laced a while ago. Everyone at the gala should’ve known how he would punish the perpetrator for his actions. Yet, someone still dared to do that!
Finally, the elevator reached Joe’s floor. Paul immediately raced toward his room and opened the door with his card.
However, something was pushing against the door, and Paul couldn’t open it, no matter how hard he tried.
“Mr. Martin, are you inside? What’s going on?”
He pushed even harder. This caused the person behind the door to fall.
A woman screamed.
Paul’s eyes widened. He realized something and screamed, “Holy shit! No matter who you are, you better fuck off right now! Do you know what you’re doing? You’ve got a death wish! I want to see who’s scheming against Mr. Martin!”
A roar came from inside the room, “Get lost!”
Paul was dumbstruck. He asked, “Mr. Martin?”
Was Joe telling him to get lost?
“Paul? What are you…”
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Grayson and Sabrina appeared out of nowhere. They seemed surprised to see Paul in the corridor.
Paul was paying attention to Joe’s condition. He glanced briefly at them
without noticing the panic written across their faces. He didn’t have time to pay attention to them.
He’d hesitated for a moment. However, he suddenly heard the
think the hotel attendants made a mistake.”
Paul frowned. Why did she sound rather familiar?
an say. I
At the same time, Grayson and Sabrina’s expressions changed. Had their plan failed?
The aphrodisiac shouldn’t have gone wrong. It was a newly developed drug from Murida. The person who ingested it would be disoriented and not remember what happened while under the drug’s effect.
An idea popped into Paul’s head. He turned to look at the Silvers and warned,/ It better not have been you guys!”
He knew who the woman was. It was Annie.
Paul gritted his teeth. How could they be so audacious to scheme against his boss during a charity gala?
He took a step back. Then, he raised his leg and kicked at the door. He did not care whether Annie would be hurt by his behavior. He would kick the door down if that was what it took to get into the room.
To the sound of Annie’s screams, Paul kicked the door down.
He saw Joe leaning against the table. He glared at him coldly.
“Mr. Martin…”
Paul saw Joe’s coat on the ground. Although his shirt was unbuttoned, his pants were still on. Paul sighed in relief and looked at Annie.
She was holding a towel tightly in an attempt to cover herself.
At the same time, her forehead and arms were bruised because of her fall. Annie looked like a victim.
Grayson and Sabrina exclaimed simultaneously, “Annie!”
They couldn’t tell whether they’d done the deed.
Sabrina immediately asked, “Annie, what’s up? Why are you… Mr. Martin, what are you both…”
“Mr. Martin, why would you and Annie be..” Grayson looked horrified.
However, their expressions of surprise froze on their faces when they looked. up at Joe.
Compared to Annie’s ruffled appearance, Joe was still fully clothed.
The outcome of their scheme was evident. They’d failed!
“Make them get lost,” Joe ordered icily.
Paul immediately roared, “You will pay for what you’ve done today. Get out!”
The Silvers seemed to be stuck in a trance. They did not move. Upon seeing that, Paul stepped forward and repeated, “Get out!”
Annie came to her senses. Her face was devoid of color. Although she’d realized that she had fucked their plan up, her brain was otherwise blank.
Grayson was reluctant to submit to their fate. He’d arranged everything meticulously, and he wasn’t going to be chased out just like that. He said, “Mr. Martin, you look unwell. You might need Annie. Are you sure you don’t want her to stay?”
“Yeah. You’ve known each other since you were children. It will save you a lot of trouble if Annie stays to help,” added Sabrina.
Paul was speechless. He asked, “Mr. Silver, do you not understand what I’m saying?”
He could tell that Joe was in horrible condition.
Paul said, “Go back and think of how you’l grovel for his forgiveness!”
They could only leave under Paul’s instructions.
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7
After they left, Paul immediately closed the door.
Joe had rushed into the bathroom.
Paul called Skylar again as he listened to the sounds of gushing water in the bathroom. He asked, “Where are you at now, Ms. Sullivan?”
Paul sounded calmer. However, his tone was still panicked. Skylar glanced at the signboards and replied, “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
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Paul sighed in relief when he heard that Skylar would arrive in a few minutes. He closed the door and Stood outside.
Paul called Joe’s doctor and described his condition. After listening to Paul’s description, he smiled and said, “He’ll be fine. Isn’t Skylar arriving soon? She’ll be more effective than medicine. You should plan the demise of those perpetrators rather than worry about Joe.”
Paul was well–versed in handling such matters.
In the past, Joe’s doctor would come over to help him in such situations. However, Joe had to go through immense suffering in the process. Thankfully, he had Skylar now.
Not before long, Skylar arrived.
Skylar asked, “What’s going on?”
Paul had no time to explain. Joe was probably in a cold shower as they spoke. He opened the door and pushed Skylar in. As he did so, he said simply, “Mr. Martin has been drugged with an aphrodisiac.”
“What?” Skylar was pushed into the room by Paul amidst her confused exclamation.
The door slammed shut behind her. Skylar walked in slowly. She could hear the water running in the washroom. Her heart was pounding.
Joe had ingested an aphrodisiac. She knew the role she’d been called to play.
The bathroom door was half open. It was evident how much of a hurry Joe had been in.
Skylar gently pushed the door open. There was no hint of steam in the bathroom. She felt a little chilly as she stepped into the shower area.
Was Joe taking a cold shower?
Indeed, she could see Joe’s muscled figure under the shower.
Skylar was given an even better view of Joe when he looked over.
Joe stood tall, with broad shoulders. He had a sharp jawline and an aloof expression. Every feature about him was perfect. His attractive muscles were the objects of every woman’s desire.
However, his eyes gleamed coldly. It was as if he were a noble king looking down at his people from a mountain.
Joe’s voice was hoarse but sexy as he asked, “Annie?”
However, Skylar’s face fell upon hearing that.
“Annie?”
She suddenly recalled seeing Annie while she was parking. She had been with a middle–aged couple. They must be her parents.
However, they seemed to be rushing somewhere. Skylar was in a hurry to see Joe. Thus, she did not think much of it.
However… Was Joe calling Annie’s name in this condition because he liked her?
If he liked her, why had he treated Annie so coldly in the past? He’d even taken action against the Silvers. Was there some backstory to this she didn’t understand?
Since Annie was the person Joe wanted to see the most, there was no need for her to remain in his room.
The name he uttered at this point would definitely be the one of whom he cared the most.
“I’ll call Annie now. Give me a few minutes.*
Annie had just left the hotel. If she called now, she could be back in no time.
Skylar began rummaging through her bag for her phone.
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Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of Skylar. It cast a shadow over her.
Then, Joe kissed her furiously. Skylar dropped her bag
“You…“.
When Skylar got the opportunity to take a breath, she reminded him, “Wake up. I’m not who you think I am. I’m not Annie. Do you know that
Skylar moved hastily. It was as though he’d lost all semblance of rationality. He sealed Skylar’s lips with his.
Skylar didn’t want to be anyone’s replacement. She raised her hand to slap him. However, Joe put her hand around his back.
She’d forgotten that Joe was professionally trained. He was different from the men that she’d met. She knew how to fight. However, he was even better at it.
The physical differences between men and women were painfully evident at that moment.
On the way back home, none of the Silvers said a word
The driver could feel the heavy atmosphere. He stared straight ahead throughout the ride and drove carefully.
They were silent because they knew that great trouble was heading their way. The opportunity they’d obtained after a whole night of meticulous planning had gone down the drain.
Grayson was pale. His pursed lips indicated that he was on the verge of a breakdown.
“How did Joe realize it? Didn’t they say that the aphrodisiac would make him disorientated? Even if he didn’t like Annie, he should have thought she was the one he loved. How did they…”
Sabrina collected herself. With horror brewing within her, she asked, “Annie, what happened? You… Were you still thinking of Steven? Did you fail to please Joe and piss him off as a result?”
Joe stood atop the pyramid of power in Jipsburg. Few people dared to upset him.
This time… It looked as though the Silvers were finished.
Annie was as pale as a ghost. Everything that happened in the hotel felt like a slap to her face. It mocked her for overestimating herself.
Even if Joe had been drugged with an aphrodisiac, he still felt nothing for her. The second he touched her, he shoved her off him immediately. It was as though she was a piece of trash he resented. Intense embarrassment washed over her.
“I did nothing. Joe’s self–control was too strong. The aphrodisiac couldn’t influence him. He loves Skylar. When he saw me, he thought I was Skylar at first. However, he recognized me for who I was shortly after. Then, Paul and the both of you appeared,” Annie explained with a smile.
Sabrina was surprised. She asked, “How important is Skylar to Joe? Was she so important that Joe thought of her even then? I’ve seen pictures of Skylar. She is pretty but otherwise incomparable to you in every other aspect. What were Joe and Gloria thinking?
“Mom, this is not what we should bo
focusing on now. Tomorrow, our family will be cast into turmoil,” Annie said. She smiled bitterly. Why was Sabrina unable to see their new reality even now? Did she not
Chapter 535
understand what was going on?
2/2
Grayson bit his lip harder. He said, “We’ve underestimated Joe. This wouldn’t have happened if we’d used a larger dose.”
They were afraid of unexpected developments, so they merely used a regular dose. This was their
outcome.
“Annie is right. Tomorrow, Joe will be hunting us down. We don’t have much choice left.”
Sabrina was terrified. She asked, “T–Then, what should we be doing next? None of you will give this up. We’re in a horrible situation already. What can Joe do to us?”
“All the wealthy families in Jipsburg know how Joe treats his enemies. We do too, don’t we?” Annie chuckled bitterly.
Grayson suddenly had an idea. He suggested, “Annie, your boyfriend is Skylar’s brother, right? Skylar is probably the only one who can save us. Talk to Steven and make him pressure Skylar into helping us!! give my blessing to your relationship right now!”
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Annie was dumbstruck by Grayson’s suggestion. In confusion, she asked, “Dad, have you given up on our family’s dignity?”
Grayson’s eyes darted around.
Sabrina couldn’t meet Annie’s eyes either. However, she still spoke up for Grayson. She advised, “Annie, this is not about our dignity. It concerns whether or not the Silvers can remain in Jipsburg. As to everything else… it doesn’t seem so important. He isn’t going to embarrass us too much.”
Annie bit her lip and asked, “Are you sure?”
“We have no better options. This is our only choice. Even if Steven doesn’t deserve you, you can break up with him in the future. You can just use the excuse of unmatched personalities to leave him. It won’t be problem.” Sabrina had thought of a way out already.
Despite being the one to suggest it, she still felt uneasy about the idea. She’d put her everything into raising Annie to who she was now. She could’ve married into a wealthier family in Jipsburg. In the end, she had to date a poor man. Just the thought of it displeased Sabrina.
Grayson’s mind was a mess. His face was devoid of color as he said, “Your mom is right. Do as she says. Contact Steven as soon as possible.”
Suddenly, Rowan called.
When Annie saw that he was the caller, she hesitated before picking up.
“Who’s calling?” asked Annie.
“Rowan.”
Sabrina frowned and said, “Pick up. Perhaps Rowan is calling to devise a method for dealing with him.”
Annie wasn’t as optimistic as her. Rowan wouldn’t offer help for nothing. In addition, if Rowan called now he probably knew what had happened.
The calmer she felt, the more Her scalp prickled. In the end, she picked up. “Rowan.”
“You’re an idiot, Annie. You’ve known Joe for so long. Haven’t you heard that no one has succeeded in drugging him? How dare you feed him an aphrodisiac? The Silvers could’ve left Jipsburg unscathed. Now, your family is done for,” Rowan scolded. He was dumbstruck by Annie’s stupidity.
They’d just talked during the gala. Yet, she made a dumb mistake immediately afterward.
Annie had left him on speaker. She wanted Sabrina and Grayson to hear him.
Shame colored their expressions after hearing Rowan’s admonishments.
“Initially, I’d thought there wouldn’t be any problems. I also thought that Joe had a place for me in his
heart. In the end, it was all my imagination. Do we have no chance of survival anymore?” Annie tried to remain calm.
A
Grayson and Sabrina stared at her phone together.
Throughout the journey, their hearts had leaped into their throats.
Yet, Rowan chuckled coldly. He asked, “What do you think? You’re so dumb, Annie. You weren’t put up to this by your family, were you? You’ve got a brain, and it functions perfectly. Why would you agree to their antics? The Silvers won’t be able to escape the impending crisis.
2/2
“I’ve called to give you a heads–up because we’ve been friends for a long time. Stop scheming against Joe. If you upset him again, you might suffer a fate worse than the Williamses.”
Did Steven say not to upset Joe?
Would asking Skylar to plead mercy for them through Steven upset him?
The Silvers were thrown into shock time after Rowan’s words.
He did not engage in worthless conversation with them. Rowan hung up once he was finished. He did not give Annie the chance to ask any questions.
“I believe you have gotten Rowan’s message. What do you think we should do next? What happened tonight has disrupted my plans. I was planning to marry Steven as soon as possible. After our marriage, Skylar would definitely vouch for us in Steven’s name,” said Annie with tightly clasped hands.
No one knew how much she regretted her behavior.
She shouldn’t have hoped for a miracle.
She’d told her parents. However, they disagreed.
Upon hearing Annie’s words, they regretted their behavior horribly.
Sabrina’s eyes glistened. She said, “There’s no point in saying all this now. You should think of how to speak to Steven so he persuades Skylar to help us.”
Annie said exhaustedly, “Let me think about it.”
Throughout the night, Skylar felt like nothing in front of Joe.
They labored throughout the night in different positions.
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Toward the end, Skylar was tethering on the verge of consciousness. Even her fingers were numb. It was the first time they did not shower immediately after they were done.
When the morning sun rays streamed through the window and fell on Joe’s face, his eyes snapped open. He recalled how he’d fallen into the trap set for him by the Silvers before losing his mind. He tensed up immediately.
It was a mess. Traces of their mad actions last night were strewn all over the room.
Despite losing his sanity, his body wouldn’t lie to him. Had he lost control and touched Annie last night? Anger took over him. He wanted to murder her.
Joe shouted coldly, “Annie, you’ve got a death wish!”
The woman beside him did not move. It was as though she’d been tortured to death. Even her exposed shoulders were marked with last night’s brutalities. Looking at them made Joe’s stomach churn. Nausea washed over him in waves.
He was going to end the Silvers!
Joe roared furiously, “Get lost!”
It seemed to make the temperature around him drop.
Skylar was still fast asleep. She was feeling extremely weak and had no strength whatsoever. She couldn’t even open her eyes. However, she knew that she was in a weird place. There seemed to be someone who was extremely dissatisfied with her presence.
However, no matter how displeased they were, they couldn’t disrupt her sleep, could they? How could they ask her to get lost?
She shot back before she opened her eyes, “You should get lost! Asshole.”
Her soft, familiar voice made Joe pause amidst his anger.
This voice…
Joe immediately peeked over at the woman facing away from him. When he saw that it was Skylar, he relaxed his clenched jaw.
He’d spent the night with Skylar, not Annie.
The nausea Joe had been feeling subsided rapidly. He felt as though he’d been comforted and reassured. Skylar opened her eyes. She felt sore all over and didn’t want to move However, she’d heard someone asking her to get lost, and her sleepiness had magically dissipated.
She turned to see Joe looking at her. Her expression soured.
tried pushing you away last night “Weren’t you disappointed when you woke up and saw me, Mr. Martin? I while you were holding me and calling Annie’s name. You were too forceful and wouldn’t budge. You shouldn’t have made Paul call me if you wanted me to get lost. Now, you’re the one who should be getting lost!”
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Skylar made all her complaints in one breath. When she thought of the fact that she was Annie’s replacement, she felt uncomfortable all over.
Joe had no time to reflect upon why he was relieved upon finding out that he’d slept with Skylar.
“You’ve misunderstood me. Annie had drugged me. I pushed her off me while I was still conscious. When you came, I thought you were Annie for a second,” Joe explained patiently.
After their night of frantic passion, his body was satisfied. Now, he was in a great mood. He gave his explanations gently and patiently. It was evident that he was feeling fantastic.
Skylar didn’t entirely believe him. She asked, “Is it just a misunderstanding? Didn’t you just ask me to get lost? I think I also heard you calling Annie’s name just now.”
Every single inch of her body was sore. She probably hadn’t slept for long before getting roused from her sleep by Joe. Skylar was furious.
Joe’s gentle expression froze on his face. He had to teach the Silvers a lesson.
“When I woke up, I thought you were Annie. I felt disgusted and furious,” said Joe softly.
Skylar was stunned. She repeated, “Disgusted?”
“Yeah.”
Skylar’s anger dissipated. She did not let their misunderstanding develop further. She could tell that Joe’s explanation was genuine.
If not, Paul wouldn’t have called her, and she wouldn’t have seen the downtrodden Silvers in the parking lot, either.
“Do you believe me now?” Joe pulled Skylar into his arms. He always felt comfortable holding her. It satisfied a part of him deep within.
Skylar suddenly grabbed Joe’s hand, which had been placed over her chest. She said, “I’m different from you. I know how to tell between what’s right and wrong
For some reason, his hands tended to wander while holding her.
“Do you like it when I touch you here? Don’t worry. I’ll touch you even if you don’t press my hand against it, “Joe whispered. His hot breath fanned her ear.
Skylar’s heart skipped a beat. Joe knew every sensitive spot on her.
He asked seductively, “Do you want to do it?”
Skylar’s heart pounded. She replied, “No, I don’t!”
She freed herself from Joe’s embrace. Then, she wrapped a blanket around her body before getting out of bed. She said, “I’m going to take a shower and get to work. If you’re still under the influence of the aphrodisiac, you should deal with it on your own.”
A
She’d been tortured by him for the whole of last night. She couldn’t stand it anymore. Even a piece of metal would bend after a night of hammering.
When Skylar ran to the bathroom and looked back, she found that there had only been one blanket on the bed, and no extras had been available.
Joe’s naked figure was splayed before her. He didn’t even try to cover himself with a pillow.
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Skylar glanced at him briefly. Her guess hadn’t been wrong. He’d wanted to go again.
Skylar inhaled deeply and ducked into the bathroom. She could hear Joe cackling outside.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to touch you for today.”
“A man’s guarantee can never be fully trusted!”
Skylar stood before the mirror and looked at herself. She was marked from head to toe, and her cheeks were flushed. When Joe put his everything into it, she couldn’t stand it.
Her legs trembled as she stood. Skylar probably wouldn’t be able to go to work. She needed to take another day off from work
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Skylar sat in the bathtub, trying to relieve the soreness throughout her body. Her mind was calm.
The fact that Annie and the Silvers had drugged Joe meant that they only wanted to take advantage of Steven. The Silvers must’ve thought that the gala last night was an opportunity. In the end, they’d doomed themselves.
Yesterday, Annie had insisted on her love for Steven. Yet, she climbed onto Joe’s bed on the same night. Her love was too cheap.
Paul probably had evidence of it, which was exactly what Skylar needed.
It was 40 minutes later, and Joe had showered in another room. He glanced at the bathroom. Why hadn’t Skylar come out yet?
Joe checked his watch. Frowning, he strode forward and opened the bathroom door.
When he saw Skylar fast asleep in the bathtub, he sighed in relief. For a moment, he’d recalled multiple articles about deaths in bathtubs.
“Stupid girl.”
Didn’t she know that it was dangerous?
Joe scolded her internally. However, he carefully lifted her out of the bathtub and tightly wrapped a towel around her.
She was completely knocked out. When he picked her up, she found a comfortable spot and snuggled into his embrace. She behaved like a lazy cat who trusted and depended on its owner.
Joe’s breathing hitched. He felt like a feather was tickling his heart.
A few minutes later, Joe walked out and leaned against the corridor walls. He held a cigarette between his fingers without lighting it.
However, the cold expression on his face made Paul nervous.
“Annie’s father and her uncle did it. They bought over the workers at the gala and laced your drink with an aphrodisiac.”
Joe chuckled coldly and said, “Has the Silver family not suffered enough? How dare they scheme against me. I don’t want to see any trace of the Silvers in Jipsburg from today onward.”
“Alright, I’ll head to the office and make the necessary arrangements,” Paul replied. He wanted nothing more than to leave as soon as possible.
Joe was even more terrifying than a lion when he got angry.
They probably went at it like animals last night, judging by how Skylar wasn’t awake yet. Joe should’ve been wholeheartedly satisfied. Why was there a murderous gleam in his eye?
Paul was terrified.
“Wait, check the surveillance footage of the hotel. How did Annie enter my room? How did her parents take her away with only a towel around her? Get the footage and send a copy to Skylar.“.
Paul was stunned. He asked, “You want me to give it to Mrs. Martin?”
“She might need it,” said Joe. When he talked about Skylar, the murderous glare in his eyes disappeared. Paul was terrified. He didn’t know whether to believe his eyes. Joe’s expression changed faster than Paul
could notice.
“The footage was sent to my phone last night. I’ll forward it to Mrs. Martin later.”
Joe hummed in acknowledgment and said, “I’m not going to the office today. Get someone to bring a few outfits for Skylar.”
“They should be on their way here now. Mrs. Martin will be able to wear it once she wakes up,” said Paul. Paul felt that an excellent assistant considered the full picture
Joe raised an eyebrow and said, “When you get back to the office, talk to Chester Parkson. You’ll be getting a raise.”
Paul’s eyes widened. Who knew he’d be given such an awesome surprise first thing in the morning? He thanked, “Thank you, Mr. Martin! You’re an excellent man!”
“When did you start addressing Skylar as Mrs. Martin?” Joe hadn’t noticed.
Paul was stunned. He said, “Oh, I don’t remember either.”
In the beginning, he called Skylar Ms. Sullivan. Now, he’d taken to call her Mrs. Martin subconsciously.
As an outsider, he could tell that Joe liked Skylar. If not, how could Joe push Annie away while she was the case, his self–control was too naked? He had been under the aphrodisiac’s influence too. If that wa powerful. Clearly, Joe adored Skylar. If not, why would he insist on waiting for Skylar, even if that meant taking a cold shower?
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Paul was the best secretary in Jipsburg. He had a sharp eye for things. Only, he didn’t voice out everything he’d seen.
In addition, he believed that Skylar was worth Joe’s love. How could Joe have made a mistake? After all, Gloria praised her incessantly. She even treated Skylar Ike her own granddaughter.
“Alright, you can go,” said Joe.
Paul left immediately as he had many things to do. He could be busy for the whole day.
Once Annie got home, she took a shower. Unable to sleep, she stayed awake till the sun rose. Only then did she gather the courage to contact Steven.
Annie made multiple calls to him. Yet, he never picked up. She thought of what Steven had told her. Had he already started work at this hour?
Grayson and Sabrina couldn’t sleep either. When they saw Annie calling Steven to no avail, Sabrina lost her composure. She asked, “What’s going on?”
“I think he’s busy. His phone probably isn’t with him.”
“Is he busy this early in the morning? Does he have so many things to do?” Sabrina complained in displeasure.
Steven was a working–class man with no status.
Grayson was disgruntled as well. He said, “Is he not picking up on purpose? He must’ve been a saint in his last life for you to fall for him in this one. How dare he not pick up?”
“He’s not the kind of person who ignores my call on purpose. If he’s not picking up, it means he’s busy” Annie explained.
Sabrina and Grayson didn’t care about what kind of person Steven was as long as he could help them. As they tried their best to contact Steven, other members of their family called.
All the Silvers were in a state of terror. Joshua Silver, the head of the Silver family, had received a call. He scolded them for being such daredevils. How could they give Joe an aphrodisiac? Joshua nearly couldn’t breathe. He was on the brink of fainting.
Grayson, Thomas, and Annie hadn’t told him about their plan. Before he received the call, he had no idea about it.
The entire Silver family sunk into a state of chaos. They knew they couldn’t reverse the damage and save themselves this time. The Silvers wouldn’t be able to remain in Jipsburg in the future. Decades of effort had gone down the drain.
An hour later, Annie realized she’d lost many followers on Instagram. All her friends had distanced themselves from her.
夕
Amidst her panic, she called Steven twice more. However, he still didn’t pick up. As Annie was feeling helpless, she suddenly thought of Skylar. Immediately, she called Skylar.
The call went through. However, Skylar didn’t pick up; Joe accepted the call instead.
“Why are you calling Skylar?”
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Joe’s voice made her quiver even though she wasn’t speaking face–to–face with him. Terror coursed through her veins. Annie gripped the phone hard, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
“It was a misunderstanding. I can explain. We…” Although Annie was a TV host who should’ve been able to react and adapt to any situation, her mind was blank as she spoke to Joe.
She had no idea how to come up with an excuse.
“The only people who treat me like an idiot are the Silvers,” Joe stated lowly.
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Annie’s eyes brimmed with tears. Her heart throbbed painfully. She asked, “Can you give me a chance to speak to Skylar? After all, I’ll be her future sister–in–law
“Skylar’s future sister–in–law drugged me. Yet, she’s my wife. Do you think she’ll forgive you?” asked Joe mockingly.
The words “my wife” reeked with possessiveness.
Annie was shocked. For a second, she felt like Joe adored Skylar. If not, he wouldn’t have been so protective and possessive over her. In addition, Skylar wasn’t someone to be messed with.
“Seeing as we’ve known each other for so long, can you pretend like last night didn’t happen? The Silvers have made a mistake. I have committed a grave crime. Forgive us this time. Just this once.”
A chill ran down Annie’s back when she thought of the Williamses‘ demise. None of the Silvers would be able to accept a fall from grace.
Her heart.pounded nervously as she waited for Joe to relent and agree to let them go. However, Joe hung up on her mercilessly. The lack of an answer was an answer in itself.
“Why was Joe the one who picked up?” Sabrina held her breath in silence. She only dared to speak when he hung up.
The two women hid in their bedroom. Grayson and several other Silvers were discussing what to do next. It was the first time Sabrina had encountered such a messy situation since marrying into the Silver family. “It’s not a difficult guess. After we left, he called Skylar over. They’re together right now,” said Annie. Her face was entirely pale.
Sabrina frowned and said, “I don’t understand how Skylar seduced Joe. How did she claim his affection? She looks like a manipulative fox.”
“Stop talking, Mom. Scolding them isn’t going to change anything,” Annie sighed deeply. Color had completely drained from her face.
Sabrina was scowling as she complained, “Almost two hours have passed. Why hasn’t Steven called you back?”
“He’s either busy or still asleep. He might’ve worked too late last night.” Skylar knew Steven. Anyone might’ve kept their distance from her or suspected her, but Steven wouldn’t do that.
Annie felt nervous when she thought of Steven’s wholehearted trust in her.
If Steven had learned of last night’s incident, would he have believed her explanation?
When Skylar woke up, she found herself being held by Joe. She was locked in his embrace; his heart pounded against her ear.
“You’re up?”
Joe had just woken up. His voice was rather horse and lazy.
Skylar yawned, still exhausted. She replied, “I woke up out of hunger. She had no idea how long she’d slept for. Her soreness had subsided. Joe asked, “I’m hungry as well. What would you like to eat?”
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“Let’s go for a fondue,” Skylar answered lazily.
If hunger hadn’t woken her up, she would’ve slept till night fell.
However, she had something important to do after finishing her meal.
20 minutes later, Skylar walked out of the bathroom. She scolded Joe furiously, “Joe, go eat that fondue on your own! I don’t want to see you for the next two days!”
She had been disorientated when she’d woken up in the morning. Although she knew he’d gone at her fiercely, she only saw the full extent when she went to shower. Her lips were swollen. There were marks on her body that looked alright in the morning but became terrifying just then.
Her clothes couldn’t cover them. Skylar wouldn’t be able to leave the house like that!
Joe had changed into casual attire. He looked young and energetic. In contrast, Skylar looked like a seductive little temptress who’d been gobbled up by him.
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Joe felt diffident as he stared at Skylar.
Although she seemed very weak, she was still a temptress. Scenes from last night rushed to the forefront of his mind. Joe’s heart pounded, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. Then, his eyes darkened.
Joe took advantage of his height and crossed the room to kiss Skylar in a few strides.
Skylar hadn’t been prepared. She wasn’t expecting Joe to kiss her out of the blue. As Joe’s hands slid down to her waist, she grabbed his hand.
“Joe, can’t you control yourself?”
Skylar was tearing up. She was terrified of him. He went at her so many times last night. How could he still get it up now?
Her legs were still sore.
Joe kissed the corner of her red–rimmed eyes. He said, “Don’t overthink it. It’s only that you seemed so tempting when you looked at me like that. I didn’t want to let you down.”
Skylar exclaimed, “You’ve read too much into it!”
The corner of her lips twitched. How hadn’t she realized that he was great at twisting the truth?
She had been reprimanding him. It wasn’t an invitation. Men were unbearable.
“Don’t even dream of touching me for the rest of the month,” Skylar said. She was livid. Not only could she not go to work today, but she wouldn’t be able to go the following day either.
The markings on her neck were glaringly obvious.
Joe smirked before chuckling out loud. He asked, “If you don’t want to go out, why don’t we have fondue
in the hotel?”
“I’m currently full of rage. I’m not hungry,” huffed Skylar She got back into bed.
Joe looked at Skylar fondly as he suggested, “Let’s have Wiscadian food instead.”
Skylar glared at him as though to warn him that doing so would result in disastrous consequences.
Joe choked back a laugh and called, “Bring me everything needed for a fondue.”
When Skylar heard that Joe had asked for a fondue, her anger subsided slightly.
Steven went to bed at 5:00 am after finishing his work, When he woke up, it was 11:00 am. He’d been given a day off.
After showering, he made himself breakfast. While having breakfast, he scrolled through his phone. He had multiple missed calls from Annie. Why had she made,so many calls consecutively? Was she in trouble? This hadn’t happened before.
Steven couldn’t be bothered to have breakfast. He immediately called back.
It hadn’t rang for long before Annie picked up.
“Steven…” Annie sounded like she had been crying. When she spoke, it carried helpless undertones.
Steven’s heart leaped into his throat. He consoled, “Annie, tell me. Has something happened? Tell me
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about it slowly. I’ll help you think of a solution to your problem.”
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Annie’s racing heart slowed when she heard Steven’s words. Even though it was only through a phone, tears still streamed incessantly down her face.
“Let’s talk about it face–to–face. I can’t explain it over the phone. Can you take a day off from work today?”
Steven answered gently, “I worked till 5:00 am last night. I’ve been given a day off. I’ll visit you.”
“No, I’ll find you,” Annie said hurriedly.
Steven found it strange. He had a feeling that something important was going to happen.
He could tell that Annie wasn’t doing well even through the phone. He was worried about her.
Less than 40 minutes later, Annie arrived in front of Steven.
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Steven’s company had allocated an apartment for one as his hostel. It had everything he needed.
“Annie, you…” Steven was surprised when he saw Annie’s pale face. She looked sick.
Annie hugged Steven and nuzzled against his chest. She pleaded, “Put your arms around me, Steven. Hold me.”
In the time they’d spent together, they’d done some of the things one would expect in a relationship. They’d held hands and shared a few kisses. However, Annie seldom behaved so forwardly.
Steven suddenly felt that he and Annie had entered the next stage of their relationship. His heart throbbed for Annie’s helplessness, and he embraced her with all his might.
“Don’t be scared. No matter what has happened, I’ll face it with you. Believe me, Annie,” Steven consoled her softly.
Tears streamed down Annie’s face silently. Her eyes were red and swollen.
Steven looked down at his tear–stained shirt. He felt a pang of anguish upon seeing it.
“Really? Will you believe me no matter what happens? Will you face it with me? Can I believe you, Steven?” Annie asked softly.
Steven gently caressed Annie’s head and said, “Yeah. You can always trust me, even when you’re in doubt of everyone around you. Since I made the choice to be with you, I’ve
prepared myself to face all sorts of challenges with you.”
Steven did not make promises often. Once he made one, he would keep to it.
Annie was deeply touched. This was the first time she’d been the recipient of such genuineness. At the same time, regret filled her
Would she be in much less trouble today if she hadn’t agreed to Grayson and Thomas‘ plans? Would she feel less diffident in front of Steven?
Without realizing it, Steven had occupied a space in her heart. Although he wasn’t as important as Joe, she couldn’t ignore how much he meant to her.
“Steven, I believe you. I know you. You’re kind. You will fulfill the promises you’ve made. That’s why I chose you,” Annie said softly.
Steven noticed that she seemed much calmer. He took her hand and led her to the couch. They sat down.
Annie saw a glass of milk and a plate of half–eaten eggs on the dining table. She asked, ” Have I interrupted you from having breakfast? You should eat first.”
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“I’m not hungry. Let’s talk about what’s going on with you,” Steven said softly.
Annie bit her lip and repeated, “You should eat first. I’ll tell you about it after you’re done.”
Steven smiled warmly. He gave her a fond nod and said, “Alright. I’ll eat now. However, I can eat while listening to you speak.”
“We’re not in a rush,” replied Annie. She balled Her hands into fists.
Steven did not insist on conversing immediately. He sat down and finished his half–eaten breakfast.
While Skylar was waiting for the fondue, she picked up her phone to call Paul.
When she unlocked her phone, she saw the video Paul had sent her. It depicted how Annie entered the room and how she’d left. It was complete. In addition, the hotel’s surveillance cameras recorded high–resolution footage. Her actions were perfectly captured, and her face could be seen clearly.
Skylar replied, “Thanks.”
Immediately, Skylar downloaded the video.
Tonight, she would seek Steven out. It was time to talk to him about Annie.
Joe looked at Skylar. She wouldn’t even spare him a glance or talk to him. Suddenly, he felt that she was adorable while angry. It showed a genuine part of her he seldom saw. It had brought them closer together. Indeed, he was willing to appease her.
“How can I appease you? Why don’t I let you have your way with me next time?”
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Skylar sent Steven a text to fix a time to meet. While she was doing so, she heard Joe speak. Although she looked up at him, she ignoted him otherwise,
How would she have her way with him? She wasn’t as fast as him, and he was much stronger than her.
Skylar decided not to give him any attention for today, She’d start thinking about forgiving him once her bruises began fading.
A laugh escaped Joe. He’d lost control and went at her too hard last right.
She was probably the only one who could make him get carried away in bed, it was fie
fault. However, they had a lot of time ahead of them. He would csex her back into his arme
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Steven had a simple breakfast. In reality, he should’ve been having lunch at this hour. He finished his milk, eggs, and toast in a few bites. He was absorbed in his thoughts and concern for Annie. He didn’t have much of an appetite.
Annie was distracted. She looked lost. Despite Stever’s soothing consolations and promises, she remained high–strung,
In a few minutes, she would know whether Steven really liked her. Annie would learn exactly how much she meant to him.
“I’m done. Now, you can tell me about it,” Steven said. He came to the couch and sat
beside Annie.
Steven seemed trustworthy. People depended on him. Perhaps that was because he’d needed to care for his younger siblings from a young age.
Annie’s mess of emotions calmed. It was probably because of Steven’ss ability to calm people.
Annie took a deep breath and began telling him what happened.
As Steven listened to Annie’s story, his expression turned somber. When he received Annie’s calls, he wondered what had happened. He’d come up with multiple possibilities, but this hadn’t been something he’d considered,
As Annie spoke, she watched Steven’s expressions change. She couldn’t help but marvel at Steven’s steadiness. No matter what happened, he was able to face it calmly, She couldn’t read his emotions from his expression. Only now had Annie noticed Steven’s host of strengths.
Skylar had originally asked St to meet her at the barbecue restaurant they tended to
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visit. However, Steven said he’d been pulling too many all–nighters, and his stomach had been acting up. He asked her to meet him at his hostel. He would cook for her.
Skylar had tried Steven’s cooking before. He’d learnt all his cooking skills from Janine, so he wasn’t half bad.
Coincidentally, she’d eaten fondue in the hotel. Skylar wasn’t looking forward to greasy
food.
While she was making her way there, Paul sent her more information on Annie. With those reports and the video, Skylar believed that Steven should learn the whole picture.
Skylar had gone to Steven’s apartment twice before. Although it wasn’t big, it was in a quiet neighborhood. It had everything he needed.
When she arrived, Steven was still making dinner.
“How much are you planning to make for just the two of us? Let me help you.”
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There were already three dishes on the table.
“Turn on the television and have a watch. I’ll be done soon. You haven’t eaten my cooking in a while, haven’t you? My skills have improved recently. You should try them later,” Steven
said from the kitchen.
Even before tasting them, Skylar would’ve given them full marks just for its aroma. She exclaimed, “No matter what you make, I’m sure they’ll be delicious!”
Steven busied in the kitchen. When he heard that, his expression underwent a minuscule change. He recalled what Annie had told him in the afternoon. A somber demeanor took over his face.
Ten minutes later, Steven brought three more dishes out of the kitchen. Skylar hurried over to help. Now, there were six dishes in total on the table. It looked and smelled wonderful.
When Skylar arrived, she was still relatively full. Yet, looking at the food before her, she felt a pang of hunger.
Steven smiled and replied, “It’s still far off from what Mom can cook.”
Skylar wasn’t in a hurry to talk about Annie.
Skylar and Steven had grown up together. Skylar knew that Steven was harboring troubles of his own. Perhaps she could wait for Steven to start the conversation.
Her family was the most important thing to her. She didn’t want her family to be hurt at all.
Both of them were in sync with each other. None of them spoke during dinner.
After dinner, Steven started, “Skye, you’re here to talk to me about Annie, right?”
Skylar trembled as she peeled the orange.
“The both of us seldom chat with each other in this manner. In the afternoon, I recalled more than surprise on your face when I brought Annie home. It’s a pity I hadn’t picked up on it. Perhaps it was because I could see nothing other than her. I’ve missed a lot,”
continued Steven.
Skylar put her orange down and asked, “Did Annie seek you out today?”
She was surprised that Annie’s shamelessness could reach such an extent. How could she come to see Steven after what happened last night?
s
Steven seldom saw such a cruel expression on Skylar’s face.
“Have an orange, Steven. Then, tell me what she said,” Skylar said softly. She did not seem hasty.
Steven suddenly found that Skylar had grown up. She could handle anything thrown her
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way calmly. Despite knowing the truth about Annie, she could still conduct herself leisurely before Steven.
While he was comforted by this, sadness overcame him as well.
“She did seek me out today. She told me about her conflict with Joe and the situation the Silvers are in. I’ve even been told about the misunderstanding that happened last night at Stargaze Hotel,” Steven said softly.
Skylar nodded and replied, “She’s given you a good description of the full picture. In that case, you should know about how much she liked Joe. You should also know why the Silvers are currently in a crisis. At the same time, you must know about how she’d given Joe an aphrodisiac, right?”
As she spoke, she took off the scarf around her neck. Skylar hadn’t taken it down during dinner. She didn’t want anyone to see the love bites on her, especially her family.
Although Steven wasn’t particularly experienced in such sexual matters, it did not mean he was clueless. Those colorful bruises told him what Skylar had gone through.
“Last night, because of the Silvers, Joe lost his mind after ingesting an aphrodisiac. At the critical moment, he pushed Annie away. Then, he waited for me,” Skylar said. She spoke without shame and told it as it was.
Steven frowned deeply. He seemed to realize something. However, he swallowed his words before they could escape him.
Skylar continued slowly, “If last night was a misunderstanding like what you said, why would she seek you out today? The Silvers are probably worrying their heads off. They’d prepared the most advanced aphrodisiac they could find. The Silvers might’ve gotten their way if it wasn’t for Joe’s amazing self–control.”
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Then, Skylar handed her phone to Steven.
“You can take a look at this video. Before this happened, I did not want to slap you with this reality. I was hoping that she genuinely liked you. After all, you’re an excellent man. Many girls adored you growing up. I’ve always hoped to have a sister–in–law who adored you.”
As Skylar spoke, Steven clenched his jaw. Tears welled up in his eyes. His fingers trembled slightly as he hovered above the play button. Then, he pressed it after a few moments of hesitation.
In the high–resolution video, Annie used a key card to enter a hotel room. Before entering, she hesitated for a moment. However, she still walked in afterward.
Then, the video began playing at double speed until Joe appeared.
Two minutes later, Paul came into the frame. He knocked on the door and proceeded to kick it down. Then, Sabrina and Grayson arrived.
Although the surveillance camera couldn’t capture their expressions, he could guess how surprised they would’ve been when Paul opened the door. Steven could also imagine how panicked Annie felt when she ran away with nothing but a towel around her.
He could see it clearly.
Steven inhaled deeply, saying, “She told me it was all Grayson and Thomas‘ plans. She knew nothing from the beginning till the end. When she saw Joe in the room, she was surprised. Annie had just finished her shower. She had no idea what happened.”
Skylar nodded, “That isn’t impossible.”
Indeed, the video couldn’t prove that Annie knew of their plans or that she had willingly attempted to seduce Joe.
Annie had an excuse prepared since last night.
She pushed the blame onto Grayson while she played the role of a perfect victim. Indeed, this was typical of Annie. She reacted quickly and skillfully to the situation.
In addition, she admitted to liking Joe in the past. It was as though she’d exposed the whole truth.
What a brilliant move Annie had made.
4
Skylar asked, “Will you believe Annie?”
She knew Steven wouldn’t fall for someone easily. Once he did, he would put his heart into it. How could Annie deserve him?
Steven’s expression was cold. He did not say whether he believed her or not. Instead, he
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told Skylar, “You definitely didn’t come to see me armed just with a video as proof. Let me see everything you have, Skye.”
Skylar agreed. She opened her messages with Paul and said, “These are some of the things
Paul sent me. You can look through them.”
Steven took the phone from her and opened the files one by one.
Skylar did not say a word. She gave Steven time to digest the information in silence. Getting lied to was a horrible feeling. In addition, Annie had gained the upper hand,by reaching out to Steven before her.
Skylar had no idea how the scale of truth would tip for Steven.
As he looked through them, Steven’s grip on the phone tightened. He pursed his lips.
After Annie left Steven’s hotel, she did not go straight home. Instead, she met up with Rowan.
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However, Rowan would not let Annie in. Annie Khew Rowan was home, but she got no response after ringing the doorbell multiple times and making countless calls. No one opened the door or answered her phone calls.
Rowan must’ve been disappointed by what happened last night.
“Rowan, I know you’re at home. You should be able to hear me. Indeed, I did not think it through. I saw no way out of our situation and agreed to their plans. Considering our years of friendship, I’ll be endlessly thankful if you can vouch for me in front of Joe. This is the last time I’m seeking you out. I’m sorry.”
Annie walked away. When she looked back, she found that the door remained closed. It probably wouldn’t open anytime soon. She bit her lip and left.
After she was gone, the door swung open. Rowan stood at the door. His lips twitched as he said, “What had she been doing then? She ignored what I told her yesterday. She’s suffering the consequences of her actions now!
Anníe returned home after visiting Rowan.
The Silvers hadn’t yielded anything from their discussion. After spending a day on it, they were exhausted. One by one, they left.
When Annie got home, Grayson and Sabrina were the only ones there.
Upon seeing her, Sabrina hurried forward and asked impatiently, “How was it? Did Stevem agree to help us? He will ask Skylar to vouch for us, right?”
Annie hadn’t slept a wink last night. After the mental exhaustion of the day, there wasn’t a bit of strength throughout her body. She said weakly, “Steven likes me. He also believes me. Coincidentally, Skylar will be meeting him tonight. He’ll probably speak for us then.”
“Probably? What do you mean ‘probably‘? He has to put all his might into helping us out of this crisis. He shouldn’t think about being with you if he can’t even do that. He doesn’t deserve you at all,” said Sabrina.
Annie felt frustrated when she looked at Sabrina. She seemed to think that this was justifiable. Hadn’t she faced reality?
This time, they were punching above their weight.
Grayson’s expression was one of utter dismay. He asked, “Is Steven confident? Will Skylar listen to him? I heard that they aren’t biological siblings. Will these circumstances make the problem more difficult to handle?”
Annie said worriedly, “Dad, I can guara you that I’ve done my best. I’ve done everything I could do. As to the conclusion, I don’t know how things will turn out.
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“As for Skylar… She might’ve prepared a few things that will make Steven waver. Perhaps he’ll never want to see me again. In addition, will Joe halt his revenge on us for Steven? If yesterday hadn’t happened, he might’ve given us some wiggle space for Skylar. Now…”
She’d done her best to fix things. Annie tried to make Steven believe that everything was a misunderstanding brewing from the past.
However, she couldn’t underestimate Skylar or look down on Joe. What Skylar couldn’t do, Joe definitely could.
Grayson’s face was devoid of color.
Sabrina looked horrified. She asked, “If this doesn’t work, what can we do? Your grandfather has sunk into chaos on his part. Your uncles are planning to move out of Jipsburg. I–I’ve stayed in Jipsburg for a long time. I don’t want to leave just like that.”
Annie balled her fists. She was lost. Yet, terror thrummed in her heart. She said, “It’s too late to leave now. It isn’t up to you whether you want to go or not. Have you seen how people who’ve tried to drug Joe leave Jipsburg?”
For some reason, Annie panicked.
She could only hope she meant enough to Steven so he would stand by her side and vouch for her no matter what happened. No matter what Skylar said or did, he could never believe her. 1
Chapter 548
Steven said nothing after looking through her phone. He passed it back to Skylar. Then, he walked to his balcony. His hostel was high, and he could see the whole city from his balcony.
As the sky darkened, a cloud of loneliness seemed to descend around Jipsburg.
Skylar looked at Steven’s lonely silhouette. Her heart sank. It seemed to curl into itself and throb painfully. Steven shouldn’t have been involved in these happenings, but Annie had dragged him into it despite his innocence.
As Steven was lost in thought on the balcony, Skylar tidied the table and put away their cutleries.
When she walked out of the kitchen, Skylar saw Steven smoking. She seldom saw Steven doing that. To be exact, she’d never seen him smoke before.
Charles and Harvey went through a rebellious period as teenagers. However, Steven had carried huge responsibilities on his shoulders since a young age. He was like their father, ensuring they kept a roof over their heads.
He needed to spend money on cigarettes. Yet, he was unwilling to do so.
After he began working, he needed to support his family with his pay. Sometimes, he carried a pack of cigarettes in his hand, but it was only a decoration.
Skylar’s heart panged for him. She teared up. Suddenly, she got a text from Joe.
“I’m under your brother’s hostel waiting to take you home. You don’t need to hurry. If you can’t get it done, call me. I’ll go upstairs to talk for you.”
Skylar’s tears flowed down her face uncontrollably.
She texted, “Okay.” Tears blurred her vision.
After a brief pause, she added, “Thank you.”
She’d come in a cab and wasn’t feeling particularly energetic. She’d asked Paul to get someone to drive her car back to Galaxy Villa Joe had proposed to drive her to Steven’s hostel. However, she had been angry with him, so she left the hotel in a cab.
However, she wasn’t angry anymore.
When night took the sky over, and a few stars began twinkling, Steven looked down. When he turned around, he saw Skylar standing behind him with red–rimmed eyes.
Noticing that he was staring at her, she smiled immediately.
Steven felt that his heart was being stitched up
Concern came from Skylar, his sister whom he’d pampered growing up. Whatever
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happened, his family would always stay by his side. He’d made Skylar worry.
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Steven walked over and said, “I’ve made my judgment. Don’t worry. I know what to do. Do you know what I was thinking about just now?” He spoke gently. Steven was scared that his silence would worry her and scare her.
Steven remembered many things his younger siblings had no recollection of growing up. After getting into university and starting work, he experienced many things.
Yet, he hadn’t expected that the first time he liked a woman and entered a serious relationship to end like this.
Skylar shook her head and replied, “I can’t guess. I’m rather scared. I’m terrified that you’ll be affected because of me. You guys mean the most to me. I dread seeing any of my family members get hurt. Yet…”
Her throat felt dry and scratchy. Tears filled Skylar’s eyes once again.
She couldn’t hide her emotions from Steven, who’d pampered her growing up. It was as though she’d returned to her childhood. When she felt sad, she would complain about it to Steven.
He caressed Skylar’s head and said, “You’ve never been a burden to me. You’re my sister, I know you’ve run into many troubles frequently and got enveloped by darkness. Yet, while you were going through this, I did not face your problems with you. I didn’t even realize that you were going through this. I was blaming myself for that just now.
“I blamed myself for not caring for you, even though I’m your brother. From the second you saw Annie until now, you’ve been considerate of my feelings. Skye, you’ve grown up. It’s my fault for making you worry.”
Skylar broke down. She choked out through sobs, “Steven, it’s my fault.”
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Skylar left Steven’s hostel.
When she saw the luxury car parked by the side of the road, she sighed deeply. Skylar had just been crying. Thankfully, it was dark outside now. Once she entered the car, he wouldn’t be able to see her face clearly.
She hadn’t expected Joe to have such excellent eyesight.
The second she got into the car, Joe asked, “Have you been crying?”
“No,” Skylar denied hoarsely.
Joe frowned. He briefly looked into Skylar’s eyes before asking, “Did Steven not believe you?”
If not, why would such a strong–willed woman like her cry?
“Whether he believes me or not isn’t important. The worst part is that I’ve dragged him into this. Steven is innocent,” Skylar explained. She did not look at Joe. Instead, she looked out the window at the sea of cars outside. There were many people as well.
However, she was immensely sad. For the first time, she doubted whether she’d made the right decision in marrying Joe. She wasn’t scared of the challenges they might face. She would handle them with Joe by her side. That didn’t mean that her family members weren’t scared.
She’d hoped that Steven’s first love would be one he’d look back on fondly. It would bring him nothing but sweet memories. She hadn’t wanted him to be manipulated and used.
Joe promised lowly, “I won’t let the Silvers get away with this.”
From where he was sitting, he could see Skylar’s eyes. She seemed somewhat lost. He could see a desire to keep her distance from him in her gaze.
He asked, “What are you thinking about?”
There was a heaviness in Skylar’s heart. She looked back at Joe’s searching gaze. Perhaps because she felt rather weak today, she didn’t want to look away.
“Joe, let’s keep our marriage a secret for the next three years. Three years later, no one will know if we get a divorce. Let’s follow the terms of our original contract.”
She wanted to have a peaceful separation.
s
In addition, she was scared that she would fall for Joe as time passed. If Joe fell for someone else in the future and divorced her, she would be reluctant to let him go.
Joe’s dark eyes glinted coldly. He fixed Skylar with a sharp gaze.
“Have you thought it through?”
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Had what happened to Steven scared her? Did she want to distance herself from him?
Skylar húmmed softly. Then, she said, “I’m sorry. I’ve broken the terms of our contract.”
Suddenly, her courage dissipated.
As Steven stood on the balcony, horror had taken over her for a second. If he’d jumped, she wouldn’t forgive herself.
In addition…
The most important thing was that the quickening of her heartbeat when she saw Joe’s text reminded her of reality. She was scared that she would lose control of herself as time passed.
Joe pursed his lips. The veins on his forehead popped. He seemed to be suppressing something.
Suddenly, he ordered, “Stop the car.”
Lucas immediately stepped on the brakes. He hadn’t even dared to breathe too loudly just now. Now, he was even more terrified.
The car stopped by the side of the road.
Joe glared at Skylar and said, “Good, Skylar. You’re great!”
He opened the door and got off. Then, he instructed Lucas coldly, “Take Ms. Sullivan back to Galaxy Villa.”
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Skylar could tell that Joe was furious through his tone.
Lucas‘ back was stiff while color drained from Skylar’s face.
Annie waited for a long time. After she got home, Grayson and Sabrina asked her for updates every half an hour. They wanted to know whether Steven had given her response.
Annie panicked when there was no news from Steven by 9:00 pm.
Steven…
What had Skylar told Steven?
any
When Annie left, Steven had said that he would believe her. Was this just a lie to console and placate her?
“Why does this feel a little off? Haven’t you talked it out with Steven? Seeing as he likes you, he should definitely believe every word you say,” Sabrina said. She was in doubt of Steven.
Grayson did not want to continue waiting. He said, “Annie, call him and ask him about his decision.”
Annie did not need Grayson to remind her. She wanted to call him herself.
With her phone in her hand, Annie suddenly felt like backing down.
Sabrina could tell. She frowned and said, “Are you scared of calling him? Now is the time to test him. If he really loves you, he’ll believe you and help us out of our crisis. If he hesitates and would rather see whether we can make it through this crisis, there’s no need to waste time on him. We won’t let you marry him.”
If it were another man from a poor background, he would’ve been racking his brains out trying to appease the Silvers. If he could help them with their troubles, they would
definitely support Annie’s decision to stay with him.
“Sabrina is right,” said Grayson. He was immensely dissatisfied with Steven.
Annie looked at Sabrina and Grayson. She didn’t know what to say or how to explain to them that their high–and–mighty attitude wouldn’t work on Steven.
Steven’s future could outshine that of the Silvers. In addition, they might not be able to stay in Jipsburg.
Annie took a deep breath and called Steven. It rang for a while, but no one picked up.
What was Steven doing? Was he still talking to Skylar?
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“What? Is he not picking up?” asked Sabrina nervously. She’d noticed what had happened.
Annie gave him another call. Still, no one picked up. Her heart sank. She called twice more.
Steven was definitely not working at this hour. He was on leave today. In addition, Skylar would be seeing him that night. Even if they had much to discuss, he did not need to keep
her away.
Annie stood up suddenly and said, “I’ll go find him.”
“Wait,” Sabrina ordered.
She couldn’t let Annie go. Night had fallen. If Annie went over, he might take advantage of her. Sabrina felt uneasy when she thought of Steven’s background.
Steven didn’t deserve Annie, nor did he deserve the Silver family name.
Grayson glared at Sabrina and said, “At this point, you shouldn’t care about that. Your sole focus should be whether or not we can resolve this crisis.”
Annie knew what her parents were thinking. She smiled resignedly and said, “That’s a figment of your imagination. He’s not the type of man to take advantage of me. He’s a good man.”
After calming down, Annie realized that she knew Steven well. The more she understood him, the more she felt she would lose him.
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Sabrina couldn’t help but clench her fists. She felt utterly lost.
“A gentleman? Only ordinary people bother with that. Annie, don’t tell me you’re really into him. He’s not good enough for you,” Sabrina said with a tone full of disdain.
Annie knew that she couldn’t change Sabrina’s mind no matter what she said. Hence, she muttered quietly, “I understand.”
After Annie left, Sabrina sat on the couch, looking displeased. “That Steven is really taking advantage of Annie.”
Grayson frowned deeply. He looked at Sabrina with the same displeased expression. “If you hadn’t made those impulsive calls to Mrs. Martin Senior in the beginning, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
He replayed the entire situation in his mind. Ultimately, it was Sabrina’s foolishness and thoughtlessness that caused all their problems.
Of course, it was also partly Skylar’s fault. A woman from the countryside caused so much trouble for the Silver family.
“You blame me? You supported me then, believing we couldn’t let anyone hinder Annie’s future. How was I supposed to know Skylar would captivate Joe so much? How could I have predicted he would dote on her so much?”
Sabrina felt embarrassed whenever she thought of it.
Now that the Silver family was in trouble, all her former friends refused to take her calls Some even blocked her on WhatsApp.
Thinking about it felt like a heavy stone was pressing on her chest. She felt a relentless
suffocation.
Grayson fell silent.
Sabrina said, “Our family… If we can’t get through this crisis, will we really be finished? Will we end up like the Williams family?” Sabrina finally realized the gravity of the situation and was scared.
Grayson’s face turned pale. “Our situation could be worse than the Williams family. We might not be able to face our family members afterward. So, let’s hope Steven can persuade Skylar.”
“If Steven manages it, do we really have to marry Annie off to him?” Sabrina asked reluctantly.
A gleam appeared in Grayson’s eyes. He shook his head and said, “It’s too early to discuss marriage. Let’s first see if he can help us. If he does, we’ll support him in his career. That’s more than enough.”
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“You’re right. It’s too soon
Osay anything definitive.” Sabrina nodded in agreement. She had been overthinking the situation.
Annie drove to Steven’s apartment. As she got out of the car, she looked up at the apartment building.
The lights were on in Steven’s apartment, so he should still be there. It was already 10:00 pm; Skylar should have left by now.
Annie had a key card Steven had given her, so she entered the apartment building and took the elevator.
Steven lived on the 28th floor.
Most of the residents in this apartment were Steven’s colleagues.
In the elevator, someone even recognized her. They knew her as Steven’s girlfriend. She had visited his company before in that capacity.
She stopped in front of Steven’s door when she stepped out of the elevator.
Annie felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. She took a few deep breaths.
Then, she rang the doorbell. After a few rings, she thought she heard footsteps approaching from inside the apartment. It should be Steven coming to the door.
But the footsteps stopped in front of the door. Annie’s heartbeat quickened.
She knew Steven was standing just on the other side. However, she couldn’t help but wonder why Steven wasn’t opening the door. Why was he hesitating?
“Steven, are you there?” Annie asked softly.
As soon as she spoke, the door opened.
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Steven stood in front of the door.
At six feet and two inches tall, he had to look down slightly to meet Annie’s eyes. As Annie looked up at Steven, she suddenly felt distant.
This sense of alienation left her standing at the door. It was as if her feet were glued to the floor. She couldn’t lift them to step inside.
It was.a completely different feeling from when she saw him that afternoon.
When he saw her that afternoon, Steven’s eyes shone brightly. It was the kind of light one has when looking at a beloved–firm and full of strength.
It was as if he could give her the whole world and shield her from harm, keeping her safe under his care. Even though his strength might not be that great, he would use all his power to keep her safe.
But now, Steven’s eyes held only a faint coldness as he looked down at Annie. There was no trace of the affection she had seen earlier.
Annie’s heart tightened, and she spoke with a strained voice, “Steven.” Steven glanced outside and replied in a low voice, “Come in, let’s talk.” “Okay.” Annie walked in with heavy steps. She sat down on the couch. The comfort of the couch did little to dispel the cold she felt inside.
“Why did you come to find me?” Steven asked.
Annie’s heart skipped a beat. “You don’t trust me anymore, do you?”
“I do like you genuinely, Annie, but you shouldn’t deceive me. I may not like using manipulation on people around me, but that doesn’t mean I don’t understand it,” Steven said calmly.
Annie’s heart pounded as she listened. She felt her eyes welling up with tears. She couldn’t stay seated on the couch any longer.
She stood up abruptly. She explained, “No, Steven, it’s not like that. There have been misunderstandings, but what I’ve told you is true. I know there’s been a profound misunderstanding between Skylar and me. I understand Skylar’s doubts about me.
“But Steven, since we committed to this relationship, you said the key to lasting is mutual trust. So why are you suddenly doubting me?”
“I did say those words, but I also said there shouldn’t be lies between two people. Annie, everything you’ve said so far still seems self–serving and full of deceit. I understand why you approached me.” Steven’s words were powerful.
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His words weren’t heated. Even his demeanor remained calm.
Yet every word struck Annie’s heart like a blow. Annie looked at Steven in confusion, her facé turning pale. “What did Skylar say to you that made you believe her so unquestioningly?”
She couldn’t understand it. She had taken the initiative. She had come to see Steven early.
Besides, she had admitted to certain things first. This approach should have made Steven trust her first and then question Skylar.
Annie couldn’t believe he would trust Skylar’s words instead of hers.
“When you ask the question, it shows you’re feeling guilty. Annie, you’re someone I’ve genuinely liked. But some things don’t need to end messily. Let’s part amicably,” Steven stated. He proposed a breakup with Annie.
Annie staggered, nearly falling over. She looked at Steven in disbelief. “What did you say? Break up?”
“There’s no need for us to see each other again.” Steven’s voice remained cold and resolute.
The more composed he was, the more he understood the distance that had grown between him and Annie during their recent interactions.
Initially, he had mistaken this distance for a woman’s reserve or simply the dynamics of a boyfriend–girlfriend relationship,.or perhaps it was because his sense of security for Annie wasn’t sufficient.
Today, after learning some truths, he was suddenly clear. It was because he was merely a means to an end for her.
Annie’s heart raced, and she instinctively grabbed Steven’s arm.
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Annie stared intently at Steven. She tried to find any trace of love in Steven’s eyes. But Steven avoided her gaze.
“Fine, I admit I approached you with a purpose initially. My family fell into trouble because of me, and I had to find a way to solve it. Otherwise, my parents would be too ashamed to face the rest of the Silver family.
“With no other options, I had to place all my hopes on you. At first, I thought it was just using you, and I didn’t feel guilty. But now I realize that I really do like you. Steven, I’m falling for you.”
Her words were heartfelt. Any other man might have softened, but Steven remained unmoved. His expression was stern.
Panic surged within Annie as she continued, “Steven, please believe me this time. I won’t ask for your help with my Silver family anymore. I just want you to think about our relationship.
“Ending it like this would be a regret for both of us. I can swear I’ll never lie to you again. I’ll be frank with you.”
She had never felt so humbled before. When she had pleaded with Joe to spare her Silver family, it had been out of fear. She naturally lowered her stance, hoping the Silver family
wouldn’t suffer.
However, her panic now was entirely different. She was terrified of losing Steven, who, unbeknownst to her, she had genuinely fallen for.
“Annie, there’s no need for this,” Steven said. He walked to the door and opened it.
Tears streamed down Annie’s face as she looked at him. She was stunned. “Are you really that disappointed in me? Steven, do you really not care about me anymore?”
Steven’s eyes flickered slightly. “Time will heal everything. Go back and face what you need to with your family. Even if what you said this afternoon was true, I don’t have the power to change Joe’s decision. You sought help from the wrong person from the start.”
“You promised me this afternoon. You said we would face it together and you would find a way to help me. You seemed confident that you could get Skylar to talk to Joe,” Annie said. She stared intently at Steven, seeking an answer.
“No, what I promised was to face everything together with you. Regardless of what happens to your family, I wouldn’t abandon you like others might. If you’ve made mistakes, you need to face the consequences of your actions,” Steven declared firmly.
Annie felt a deep sense of loss. She gave a self–deprecating smirk. She knew there was nothing she could say to change Steven’s mind
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Her footsteps were even heavier than when she arrived. She walked outside one step at a
time.
An hour later, Annie returned home. Sabrina and Grayson were surprised to see her. “You didn’t stay at his place?”
“What did he say? Didn’t he ask Skylar to intercede on our behalf? Didn’t you say he was a young talent with unlimited potential? Can’t he even handle something as simple as asking for a favor for his sister?”
Seeing Annie’s distraught expression, Sabrina’s suspicions were confirmed. Immediately, she began to scold.
Annie sat down. Her voice was weak as she said, “Get ready. Our family is done for. Steven and I have broken up.”
“What?”
It was three days later.
Skylar had just finished breakfast and was prepared to leave for work.
As she stepped out, she glanced at Joe’s slippers by the door. They showed no sign of having been moved.
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That night, after Joe got out of the car, he never returned to Galaxy Villa.
It had been three days since there had been news from him. Skylar’s eyes flickered with a hint of emotion, but she quickly and subtly averted her gaze.
Perhaps maintaining their three–year marriage with this distance was for the best.
Somewhere deep inside, a faint voice reminded her that she was being emotional. It seemed like she was avoiding something.
She tried to downplay it and avoid overthinking it. With so many tasks lined up for the next few days, she would be busy from morning until night and sometimes even working late.
She decided to set those concerns aside and deal with them later once her schedule cleared up.
After the meeting ended at Martin Group, Paul brought over a few documents that needed signing.
For the past three days, Paul had been by Joe’s side. He felt as if he were on a battlefield Joe had seemed in a good mood at the hotel that day. The matter of the Silver family’s drugging had already been handled. The Silver family would soon pay for their actions.
Paul had only recently learned that Joe hadn’t returned to Galaxy Villa and had been staying elsewhere.
When he asked Lucas, Lucas remained tight–lipped. It looked like there was trouble between Joe and Skylar.
Joe finished signing a few documents. Joe called him back as Paul was about to leave with the document.
“Wait a moment.”
Paul’s heart skipped a beat as he looked at Joe with an ingratiating smile. “Is there anything else you need, Mr. Martin?”
“Has Skylar asked you about my whereabouts?” Joe’s tone was dark and intense.
Paul dared to glance briefly before quickly averting his gaze. He answered honestly, “No, she hasn’t.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Paul realized he might have said something wrong. Joe’s expression grew noticeably colder and more severe.
“Get out.” With a sharp command, Paul hurried out as if fleeing from a disaster.
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“Oh my god!” Paul sighed inwardly. He felt like he had just escaped from hell.
As the door slammed shut, Joe threw the pen he had been holding. His lips curled with icy words. “Skylar, you really are something.”
What a schemer!
After escaping from Joe’s office, Paul hid in the break room.
He made himself a cappuccino. He held the cup and thoughtfully contemplated.
Suddenly, he had a brilliant idea. He quickly sent a message to Skylar.
“Mrs. Martin, the custom traditional dress Mr. Martin ordered for you will be ready this afternoon. Please try it on and check if any adjustments are needed. I must say, Mr. Martin is truly thoughtful.”
Paul knew that Skylar would be very busy once she started her work, so she might not respond immediately.
However, Paul was confident she would reply when she found time. He was so clever. He’d planned to take Joe to inspect a project near the traditional dress shop that afternoon.
When they met, it would be…
When they met, things would get interesting…
He smirked to himself.
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The scene was explosive and intense.
On set, Austin completed a dangerous explosion scene in one take. Many in the industry fear the risks and injuries involved, so they often opt for stunt doubles.
But Austin rarely used a stunt double and tackled the dangerous scenes himself.
This was Natalie’s first time witnessing such a perilous stunt up close. She stood by and held her breath, and her heart pounded uncontrollably.
The scenes were terrifying. Seeing it in person was even more shocking.
After the director called cut, Natalie immediately rushed over to Austin. With concern, she
asked, “Did you get hurt?”
The special effects makeup made it hard to tell if he was bleeding or injured. Austin smiled reassuringly. “I’m fine, no injuries. Don’t worry.”
Hank approached with a serious expression. “Did you injure your leg? Let’s get you to the
car and check it out.”
Hank had known Austin for many years and had been together almost daily. Hence, he could spot an injury instantly, while others might fail to notice.
Austin glanced at Hank with a wry smile. He was surprised that Hank could notice it at first glance.
Then, he glanced at Natalie, whose face had gone pale. “It’s probably just a scraped knee! A bit of iodine for disinfecting will do.”
“Should we go to the hospital? The scene is over, and there’s no more filming today until the afternoon. We have time,” Natalie said quickly.
As a woman, she couldn’t assist Austin in the car, and she still didn’t know the full extent of his injury.
Natalie was deeply concerned about Austin’s injury as an assistant and a fan.
“It’s not that serious, don’t worry,” Austin said in his gentlest tone.
It was hard to tell from his expression that he was injured. Natalie nodded in relief.
Hank noticed Natalie’s worried glance and then boarded the car. Austin followed closely behind.
Natalie noticed that Austin seemed to favor his left leg when he got into the car. It looked like the injury was on his right leg.
Inside the car, Hank examined Austin’s bloodied knee with a grim expression. “You injured this badly and still saying you’re fine? Austin, what’s going on with you and Natalie?”
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Hank was no stranger to seeing this level of injury.
The first aid kit in the car was professional–grade.
Hank had learned from medical professionals how to handle such wounds. He treated Austin quickly and efficiently.
However, it must have been quite painful as Austin’s brow furrowed in discomfort.
“She’s going through a divorce with Jeremy. Even if I had feelings for her, it would be after she’s officially divorced,” Austin‘ explained.
Hank’s hands paused, his face filled with shock. He finally blurted out, “Damn it! I knew my instincts were right. She never mentioned a divorce. How did you find out?”
“She’s been different these past few days. She hasn’t been in touch with Jeremy and hasn’t returned to the Hughes Residence. Instead, she’s staying in an apartment. It’s obvious what’s happening,” Austin said. He knew Natalie’s situation well.
Hank grimaced. “You’re asking for trouble. So many female celebrities are in the industry, yet you are interested in Natalie. It’s like you’re competing with Jeremy for her.
“I don’t think her divorce will be smooth. Even though Jeremy was in the car that day, I could see his possessiveness. He won’t let go easily.”
For over a decade, everything had been smooth sailing. But now, out of the blue, this previously easygoing man had become a major headache. This rebellion was nothing short of a disaster.
Austin’s eyes darkened, and he remained silent.
Meanwhile, Natalie stood outside the car. She glanced at the time. 20 minutes had passed, and Austin and Hank still hadn’t come out. This indicated Austin’s injury was likely serious.
Just then, she noticed a familiar figure standing not far away. She stared expressionlessly at the person standing not far away. The sense of humiliation she had deliberately ignored in recent days came rushing back.
Natalie raised her voice slightly toward the car. She said, “Mr. Powell, I need to take a half- hour break for some personal matters.”
After a brief pause, Austin’s voice came from inside the car. He granted permission, saying, “Okay.”
With Austin’s approval, Natalie walked toward the figure.
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Annabelle maintained her smile as Natalie approached. However, the jealousy in her heart grew like wild, unchecked grass. It kept spreading uncontrollably, taking over her emotions.
Jeremy had been indifferent toward her, while Natalie remained unaffected. She continued her life as if nothing had happened.
However, Annabelle felt trapped in Jipsburg, like a lifeless shell. It wasn’t supposed to end like this.
“I mentioned at the hospital that I didn’t want to see you again. Clearly, you didn’t take my words seriously,” Natalie said expressionlessly.
Every encounter with Annabelle brought a sharp pang to Natalie’s heart. Jeremy’s betrayal was like a sword piercing her heart, making it hard for her to breathe.
Annabelle smiled still. “There’s no need for such hostility. You should thank me. If it weren’t for me, how would you have discovered Mr. Hughes‘ infidelity? You might have been deceived for longer.”
She convinced herself that she had done a good deed.
Even though Annabelle hadn’t taken the initiative to seduce Jeremy, with Jeremy’s status, there would have been many others to seduce him. Just because he wasn’t cheating now didn’t mean he wouldn’t in the future.
These words seemed quite reasonable. Natalie suddenly felt that some people’s values could be genuinely eye–opening. If she didn’t firmly believe that her values were correct she might now doubt herself and think that her values were wrong.
Natalie thought the notion disgusting.
“So, did Jeremy not give you what you wanted?” Natalie sneered.
Annabelle’s smile stiffened on her face. “Isn’t it because you haven’t divorced him yet? Natalie, I don’t understand. Even though you know he’s no longer interested in you and doesn’t love you, why are you still pretending nothing happened?
“Why aren’t you divorcing him? Clinging to a marriage that’s already fallen apart–can that really make you happy?”
Natalie pressed her lips together and clenched her fits.
Indeed, she understood very well. She was clear on everything. Jeremy had betrayed their
love, and their relationship was filled with lies.
It was clear he didn’t love her anymore. However, it wasn’t up to a mistress like Annabelle to flaunt this in front of her.
“Annabelle, do you believe I would call Jeremy right now and tell him I’m not getting a
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divorce? Do you think he would come rushing over immediately?
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“And if I told him to deal with you, do you think he would make sure you never get another chance to come near me? You’d better apologize now, or I can easily make your life miserable.” Natalie’s voice was harsh.
She wasn’t one to issue threats lightly, but Annabelle had a talent for pushing her to the edge. After all, Annabelle’s shamelessness came first, and her retaliation came after.
Annabelle brought it upon herself.
Annabelle’s face turned pale. “You! You think Mr. Hughes would deal with me just because of you?”
“Wouldn’t he? You’re just a passing interest for him. If you were important, why would he let your pregnancy be terminated? Just because you’re foolish doesn’t mean I am,” Natalie said. Her tone was icy.
With that, she dialed Jeremy’s number. During this period, she avoided direct contact with him. She relied solely on Truman to relay her messages.
Even when Jeremy called her, she refused to answer. Yet today, it was almost ironic that she was calling him because of his mistress.
The phone barely rang three times before Jeremy answered, his voice urgent. “Natalie!”
Hearing him call her name felt like a distant memory.
Before the incident, she had a certain illusion every time he called her like that. Natalie felt as though she was his entire world and that there was only her in his heart, and it seemed as if it would always be that way.
Such belief felt so vivid and beautiful, but now it was only a fleeting moment of confusion.
X
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Chapter 557
Natalie glared coldly at Annabelle and said, “Take care of your mistress. If she shows up in front of me again, I won’t hesitate to let my parents know about our situation. If you’re not disgusted, I certainly am.”
Upon hearing this, Annabelle’s face turned pale. “Who did you call?”
At the same time, Jeremy’s voice came through the phone. He questioned, “Annabelle went to see you?”
Natalie’s face turned pale as she heard their simultaneous inquiries. She forced a self- deprecating smile and replied, “You two make quite the pair. I wish you both happiness. Just sign the divorce agreement quickly–it’s better for both of us.‘
With that, Natalie hung up the phone.
Annabelle was panicked. She shouted, “How could you call Mr. Hughes? You!”
Natalie glanced at her phone. She felt a heavy weight in her chest. Looking up at Annabelle, she snapped, “Get out! Go find Jeremy. Don’t come back to me. You’re making me sick.”
Annabelle stood frozen. Her face turned pale, and her eyes filled with hatred and fear. “You!
When Annabelle came to find her, she hadn’t anticipated Natalie’s attitude would be so stubborn and unaffected. Furthermore, she had managed to involve Jeremy in the situation. Annabelle wondered what Jeremy would do next. She suddenly realized that if Natalie could marry Jeremy, she couldn’t be as naïve as she appeared.
Annabelle hadn’t had a chance to prevent what had just happened.
“Remember what I just said.” Before leaving, Natalie threw one last remark at Annabelle.
Annabelle stood frozen, her body rigid with fear. Her phone kept ringing in her bag.
Jeremy was calling her.
A wave of intense dread surged through her. She couldn’t bring herself to answer.
Annabelle cursed Natalie.
Meanwhile, Natalie returned to the car. She was a bit distracted and only realized when she reached the car that Austin and Hank had already gotten out.
She asked somewhat belatedly, “Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?”
6
Hank narrowed his eyes at the distant Annabelle. “Was that person bothering you? Who is she?”
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Hank had asked deliberately. They had gotten out of the car two minutes earlier. Austin had mentioned that the woman was Jeremy’s mistress.
If the mistress had shown up, it was clearly meant to intimidate Natalie.
Hank had almost been tempted to charge over there himself.
As Austin’s celebrity agent, Hank couldn’t afford to make his presence too known. It might cause trouble for Austin.
Austin’s eyes darkened slightly as he glanced in Annabelle’s direction. He then turned to Natalie with a gentle voice. “I’m fine. Did she cause you trouble?”
Natalie’s eyes reddened at the two men’s concern. She forced a smile and shook her head. “Of course not. I’m not so easily bullied.”
Annabelle’s appearance reopened the painful memories she had been trying so hard to forget. The call she made to Jeremy only added more pain to her already raw emotions. The fresh hurt was becoming almost too much to bear.
“It’s good if she didn’t trouble you. If she does, let me know,” Austin said softly.
“Yes! If I’m ever troubled, I’ll let you know,” Natalie said, her eyes still moist as she fought back her tears.
It wasn’t a big deal.
Austin cast a subtle glance at the fleeing Annabelle; his disdain was evident. He had little respect for Jeremy.
Chapter 557
hapter 558
Skylar was taking her lunch break when she saw the message from Paul. She had just finished a small portion of her latest painting restoration.
Caleb had gone abroad for the past two days, so he hadn’t come to work–some small tasks needed to be completed by her.
She had planned to eat a sandwich quickly for lunch to save time and then get back to work. After a few bites, she casually checked her phone and saw the message.
She was surprised that Joe ordered a custom traditional dress for her. However, he hadn’t mentioned anything to her.
Skylar immediately called Paul. Paul answered quickly, “Hello, Mrs. Martin. Are you on your lunch break?”
“Yes, I’m just taking a quick break. Why did Mr. Martin suddenly order a custom traditional dress for me?” Skylar asked.
Paul replied, “I’m not entirely sure. Perhaps it’s because traditional dresses have become quite popular among the girls in Jipsburg lately. It’s part of the retro craze. So, Mr. Martin must have thought of you. I must say, Mr. Martin is really thoughtful when it comes to you.
“I’ll send you the address. It would be best if you could get there before 4:00 pm. The tailor is very experienced, and finishes work early, and many people are waiting in line for him to make their traditional dresses.”
“Alright, send me the address. I’ll try to be there before 4:00 pm.” Skylar glanced at the time. It was noon. She should have enough time.
After finishing her sandwich, she immediately got back to work.
“By the way, Mr. Martin has been quite busy these past few days, so he hasn’t returned to Galaxy Villa,” Paul mentioned hurriedly as Skylar was about to hang up.
Skylar’s concern prompted her to tell Paul, “Make sure he takes care of himself.”
“Certainly!” Paul replied enthusiastically. As soon as the call ended, Paul hurried upstairs to Joe’s office.
Joe had only had a cup of coffee for lunch. He skipped the meal entirely.
Paul noticed the steaming coffee on the table He wondered why Joe had returned to his old habit of skipping meals. Previously, Joe’s lunches had been well–balanced and hearty. In the past, it didn’t seem unusual. Paul thought it was normal for Joe to eat this way. But now, he felt that Joe only drinking coffee and skipping meals was really unhealthy.
“Mrs. Martin mentioned during the call that you should be mindful of your health. Skipping lunch and just drinking coffee isn’t good for you. Should I order some takeout for you?”
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Paul asked cautiously.
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Joe’s attention sharpened when he heard the words “Mrs. Martin“. He glanced at Paul and asked, “Skylar said that?”
“Yes, Mrs. Martin asked you to take care of yourself.” Paul nodded eagerly. The specifics of who made the call were less important than the fact that Skylar had expressed concern.
Joe’s stern expression softened slightly. “She’s considerate. Go ahead and order some takeout based on my usual preferences.”
“Understood.” Paul swiftly left to place the takeout order. He realized that Skylar could effortlessly handle what others struggled to achieve. He merely passed on a message, and she got Joe to have lunch.
As the office door closed, Joe tapped his fingers on the phone screen on his desk. Over the past three days, Skylar had not contacted him at all.
They said men turned cold and forgetful once they got out of bed. But in his eyes, the heartless one over the past three days had been Skylar.
“Unfeeling,” Joe muttered to himself.
He might have forgiven her if she had sent even a single message during those three days.
However, for now, he would accept her apology through Paul and try to forgive her.
…
Annabelle felt anxious. She got back into her car and called Jeremy.
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Annabelle said, “Mr. Hughes, I’m truly sorry. I tried to explain things to Mrs. Hughes and clarify that I have no relationship with you. I didn’t expect her to misunderstand. It’s my fault.”
She tried to justify herself as the call connected
Thankfully, she was alone in the car.
Her hand holding the phone trembled uncontrollably.
Jeremy stood by the floor–to–ceiling–windows of the Hughes Group’s building. He gazed outside with no hint of emotion in his eyes; only a chilling coldness emanated from him.
“Annabelle, you’re asking for trouble.”
“Mr. Hughes! I genuinely tried to help. I was just passing by and saw a movie being filmed. I saw Mrs. Hughes and thought I should explain,” Annabelle stammered. She frantically tried to explain herself.
Jeremy exhaled a puff of smoke. Then, he said, “Leave Jipsburg immediately.”
“I…”
“Did you think I haven’t investigated you? If you continue to manipulate things, your stepfather will be here tomorrow to deal with you.” Jeremy’s voice was cold and final.
The seemingly ordinary words caused Annabelle’s face to go pale with shock.
“You… You investigated me?” Annabelle stammered. She realized he already knew about her past.
{
The mention of Mason meant he was aware of her cosmetic surgery and the abuse she had suffered.
“You only have tonight.” Jeremy’s tone sounded very cold.
Annabelle was on the brink of collapse. “I’ve been with you for so long. Isn’t it too heartless for you to be this cruel? If you’ve investigated my past, you should know I’m the victim here. I’ve been mistreated.
“That doesn’t change my feelings for you, Mr. Hughes. Why are you so indifferent and biased? You’re indifferent to me, yet you greatly favor Mrs. Hughes. She’s already planning to divorce you. Why do you still favor her so much? I don’t understand.”
After all her efforts, it felt like a complete waste. She couldn’t accept it.
What she struggled to achieve, Natalie seemed to obtain effortlessly.
Annabelle had done everything she could to please him in bed. Yet, she was only met with a cold rejection as soon as he got out of bed.
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She couldn’t understand or accept it and was unwilling to give up.
“You’re not worthy compared to Natalie,” Jeremy said coldly before hanging up the phone.
He then turned to Tristan and instructed, “Keep an eye on Annabelle. Make sure she leaves Jipsburg before tomorrow morning. Go to her home now and collect anything related to scents and that painting hanging on the wall.”
After the past few days of reflection, the memory of that peculiar scent in the hotel kept invading his mind.
The scent had briefly made him lose control. When he first became involved with Annabelle, her allure drew him in. However, Jeremy had suspected that Annabelle might have used some kind of drug or substance–to–manipulate his emotions.
Once Tristan left, Jeremy returned to his desk and opened a drawer filled with several keys. There were several keys in the drawer. Jeremy picked out one. This key could unlock the apartment where Natalie currently lived.
It was also a spare key she had previously left with him.
Since Natalie was avoiding him, he took the initiative to see her. Their issues needed resolution, and he was determined that she could only be his wife.
Skylar went to the traditional dress shop according to the address Paul had sent her.
Inside, there was only one shop assistant, Ralph Marrow, and a grandfatherly figure in his 60s.
“Are you the young lady Mr. Ziegler mentioned?” the elderly man, Terence Jimenez, asked with a warm smile.
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Skylar nodded with a smile. “Yes, that’s me.”
“The traditional dress was finished just yesterday. Mr. Ziegler gave us the measurements, so please try it on and let us know if it fits,” Terence said with a warm smile.
When Skylar heard that the measurements were from Paul, she realized they must have come from Joe. But she had never told Joe her measurements. Skylar wondered how he
knew.
She suddenly recalled the way Joe had lightly touched her before.
As she carried the traditional dress into the fitting room, her cheeks couldn’t help but flush.
Meanwhile, Joe was inspecting a project for his company nearby. Though the project was minor, and he usually wouldn’t be involved in checking the progress, he made an exception
this time.
However, Paul had mentioned that the traditional dress was ready, and Joe decided to visit.
Perhaps Skylar’s proactive effort to ease the tension between them today stirred his heart when he heard the word “traditional dress“. He could almost picture Skylar wearing the
traditional dress.
His heart warmed slightly at the thought. It was a subtle, barely perceptible flutter.
A few minutes ago, Paul had already received a message on WhatsApp from Ralph. He informed him that Skylar had arrived and was trying on the traditional dress.
He immediately told Joe, “Mr. Martin, let’s look at the traditional dress. Mr. Marrow just told me they’ll be closing soon.”
“Alright,” Joe agreed.
When they entered the shop, Joe immediately sat on the couch.
When Terence saw Paul, he looked surprised and wondered why he was there.
“Is Mr. Ziegler here for your mother’s traditional dress?” Terence asked.
Paul nodded with a smile. “Yes, I’m here to pick up a traditional dress for my mother. She hasn’t been feeling well lately, so I’ll take it home for her to try on and see if it fits.”
Terence nodded, then kindly added, “I’ll go get it. By the way, Ms. Sullivan is here as well and is currently trying on the traditional dress.”
Terence assumed Skylar was Paul’s girlfriend. He knew Paul, but…
Terence glanced at Joe, who was sitting on the couch and had just nodded at him. He wondered why a high–profile CEO would accompany his assistant to pick up a traditional dress.
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At that moment, Skylar emerged from the fitting room. She didn’t notice Joe sitting on the couch or see Paul. Her attention was focused entirely on the traditional dress.
This was her first time wearing such a traditional dress, and she was surprised at how well it fit. It showcased her curves perfectly.
She was aware of her good figure, but the traditional dress made it look even better than she had expected. Standing in front of the mirror, she murmured, “It fits perfectly. There don’t seem to be any adjustments needed.”
The perfect fit of the dress highlighted Joe’s understanding of her figure. She thought, “Is his hand like a measuring tape? So precise?”
As she pondered this, a familiar male voice broke her thoughts. “You look great in that dress.”
Skylar turned around. She was surprised to see Joe standing behind her. “You…”
She thought, “What is he doing here?”
Out of the corner of her eye, Skylar also noticed Paul, who was holding another traditional dress.
After three days apart, Skylar felt flustered and unprepared upon seeing Joe.
Joe noticed Skylar’s surprised and uncertain expression, and Joe felt the gloom that had been lingering in his heart vanish instantly. A subtle smile appeared on his lips.
“Go change,” Joe said with a touch of possessiveness. He thought she looked too tempting in that dress.
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