Chapter 841
Chapter 841
Joe opened the box reverently. A grin grew on his face as he did so.
“It’s great. I love it.”
“That’s good,” said Skylar. Upon seeing his smile, she thought of how he was easily placated.
“Let’s go home.”
“Alright.”
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After meeting her colleague, Natalie shopped with her for a while more. Then, they went to a barbecue restaurant where Natalie had a few drinks.
When they decided to head home, it was 1:00 am. Her colleague called a cab for her.
Natalie was a little drunk. She felt like she was walking on clouds. Perhaps it was because she’d been quite happy today.
Seeing Jeremy and how he was getting over their marriage was the best thing she could’ve envisioned. She’d also picked out Austin’s birthday gift, not to mention her uninhibited chat with her colleague after a good barbecue and some beer.
She hummed as she entered the elevator and continued doing so as she exited onto her floor.
When she got home, she tried twice to get her lock to recognize her fingerprint.
The door remained staunchly locked. Natalie wiped her fingers down and tried once more. Finally, she succeeded.
Just as she was about to close the door with a kick, someone pushed onto the door. Natalie turned around with a frown. The ground was spinning, and the lights weren’t on. She stared at the silhouette of the stranger and uttered, “Jeremy?”
Natalie rubbed her eyes and mumbled, “Why am I seeing Jeremy?”
“Your eyes have not deceived you. It’s me. Natalie, haven’t you been happy? You haven’t seen me since our divorce.” Jeremy drew in on her and closed the door.
Natalie sobered up within seconds. She looked at Jeremy in bewilderment.
“You! Jeremy, is it really you? Why would you be in my house? I–I remember that we’d gotten divorced. Jeremy, you’re not my husband anymore. You’re like a brother to me.”
Natalie felt as though her brain was sloshing around in her skull. Her reactions were sluggish. She was intoxicated to the point where everything felt like a dream.
She beamed at Jeremy. “Smile! We’ve pulled ourselves out of the swamp of our marriage. Isn’t this something worth getting ecstatic over?”
Jeremy clenched his jaw. He was extremely pale. He glared at Natalie in her state of drunkenness.
He knew her too well. When she was intoxicated, her words were full of half–truths and delusions. What could be confirmed was she was genuinely wishing him and Helena the best after their meeting. She Teally didn’t care about him anymore!
“Natalie, have you forgotten what you said? You said we would be together till the end of our lives. I was the only man you’d ever love. No one else could come close. Have you forgotten all this?” Jeremy
questioned her angrily.
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The question caught Natalie by surprise. Her reflexes had slowed after getting drunk. She felt like she was in a dream. However, she knew this wasn’t the
case.
“In the past… You’ve mentioned it was from the past yourself. Back then, we’d promised each other a lot. However, you cheated, Jeremy. Those negative items drove you out of your mind, but I know better. If you’d been determined enough, Annabelle wouldn’t have weasled in.
“However, I do know that it’s a rarity for anyone to have such strong determination. Jeremy, I know everything. I tried to understand you, but I realized I couldn’t live with such a broken relationship.”
Natalie watched Jeremy in his state of rage. She was drunk, and her tongue felt like it was lolling around in her mouth. However, she told him her
innermost thoughts.
“Don’t you have Helena now? Put your hopes into the future. Jeremy, you’re like a brother to me. You’ll always be, till the end of my life.”
Other than that, there would be nothing between them.
Jeremy punched the wall. His jaw was clenched tightly. Natalie’s words had struck him like lightning.
Natalie woke up a little. She noticed that Jeremy had hurt his hand. His knuckles were bleeding.
The drunken tinge in her voice dissipated. She stated, “I’ll get my first aid kit.”
A few minutes later, Natalie applied medication to Jeremy’s wound as though she’d done it thousands of times before.
Austin injured himself frequently while filming. She learned to clean up small wounds from him. Hank had taught her a lot too.
As she cleaned it up, she sobered up. She couldn’t wrap her mind around his behavior. He seemed so unfamiliar now. In the past, he’d never been like that. She thought he’d left their past back where it belonged.
They were silent. Jeremy studied Natalie.
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After leaving him, Natalie had grown. She’d changed. Light danced in her eyes. Yet, he hadn’t been involved in putting it there.
Overnight, Natalie had undergone a huge transformation after her failed
marriage.
When Jeremy thought of how Austin had his sights on Natalie, he felt like he was choking up. His breathing was labored.
He grabbed Natalie’s hand. She jumped and tried to yank her hand out.
“Jeremy?”
Did he even know what he was doing?
Jeremy teared up. He stared hard at Natalie and asked, “Don’t you feel even the slightest bit of jealousy when you see me with Helena?”
Natalie froze. Suddenly, she realized why he’d flown into a rage. He cared about why she hadn’t gotten jealous.
“If I were still your wife, I would be jealous. However, we’re divorced,” Natalie said calmly.
Jeremy’s eyes turned even redder. His fingers tightened around her hand as he pleaded, “Let’s get back together.”
Natalie was horribly surprised. She started, “You…”
“I only agreed to the divorce so that you’d get past this. I didn’t mean to force you away from me. Natalie, you’re my one and only wife,” Jeremy said.
Her expression changed. She stood up suddenly and shook him off.
“Jeremy, you’re mad! The thought of remarrying you has never crossed my mind since our divorce!”
He had a new woman with him now, and they were divorced. Their relationship was in shambles. How would they remarry?
Jeremy paled. He affixed a deadly glare on Natalie.
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After a long time, Jeremy picked his suit up and left.
Natalie was lost in thought as she watched the door slam before her. Jeremy was a lunatic.
Skylar had just clocked in for work on Monday.
Just as she got ready to start, Caleb approached her in a few large strides.” Have you seen the news?”
Skylar was surprised by the question. She repeated, “What news?”
She hadn’t checked her phone after waking up, so she had no idea what news was going viral on the internet. Was there another scandal?
Caleb knew she hadn’t seen the news judging from her reaction. He reported, The Ruells have landed in yet another scandal. This time, it involves my high-
school friend!”
Upon hearing that, Skylar pulled her phone out to check the news. It had been published half an hour ago.
A student committing suicide had fallen on top of Hector. He’d jumped from one of the school buildings, and no one had realized until it was too late.
Thankfully, Hector hadn’t been standing directly under him. He only broke his
arm.
His fracture sent him into such agony he fainted on the stop. The student who’d been committing suicide hadn’t died either. The doctors were saving him.
Due to the fact that Hector was a member of the Ruell family, this piece of news had taken over the headlines.
When college students committed suicide, they had everyone conjecturing about their motivations. Now that the Ruell family was involved, this was blowing up.
In an hour, this had become the most searched issue in Jipsburg.
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“Accidents have been happening one after another. If they still think it doesn’t matter, they’re hopeless. I talked to Hector on WhatsApp about it just now. He drove me away. If he does ask for my help, he’ll need to beg for it,” insisted Caleb. Whenever he recalled how Hector behaved, fury crept up on him.
Skylar pocketed her phone. Then, she said, “If they do contact you, tell them that you’ll only help under two conditions.” Caleb picked up on something off. However, he didn’t ask.
Due to the overwhelming media coverage on the issue, rumors about Vera and Joe’s impending marriage were flying over the internet.
Vera must’ve offended Skylar.
Caleb was curious about Skylar’s two conditions.
In the hospital room of Apollo Hospital, Edwin stared at Jenny with furrowed brows. She’d gotten herself into an accident. She was bruised from head to toe. Hatred prickled within Edwin at the thought.
“Heal up. You may seek me out after you’re discharged. Take the chance to settle yourself with me. You and Joe weren’t suited for each other anyway. Stop fantasizing over him.”
It was as though he’d stuck a needle through her ear. She screamed, “No, I won’t continue getting pushed around by you! Joe knows everything now. I’m not scared of you anymore.”
She’d sought Joe out multiple times in the past few days relentlessly, only to find out she’d been blocked.
Even Skylar blocked her. Rowan had done so too. He used to adore her. Jenny texted her about how she’d regretted her decision and wanted to date him. He would be the only person she ever loved. She’d said things she never would’ve. Yet, Rowan pretended he hadn’t heard.
This meant he’d abandoned her.
In that case, what did she have to be scared of?
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Jenny didn’t want to be Edwin’s lover. He was older than her father, for god’s sake. She didn’t want to give herself a hard time bending to Edwin’s every will to please him.
Edwin looked horrible. He chuckled coldly and promised, “Alright, you’ll be begging me for it in the future.”
He threw that statement out and left mercilessly.
Jenny watched Edwin leave at a moment’s notice. She froze for a second before laughing coldly. She mumbled to herself, “Beg you? I’ll never do that. If I can’t get together with Joe, why would I beg for anything from you?
“I’ve got to come up with an idea so Joe trusts me again!”
Many people were crowded in Denton’s room. His three children and a bunch of grandchildren were in the room.
Everyone who was available had shown up. Those who weren’t available were more or less on their deathbed.
Hector had gotten into an accident today. He was Denton’s favorite grandchild. The news weakened Denton greatly. Everyone else was terrified.
The Ruells were one of the most powerful families in Jipsburg. They’d never encountered crises like what happened the past two days.
In the beginning, they thought it was just an accident. However, when accidents happened one after another, it was unlikely that it was a coincidence.
Buck walked in. Denton asked immediately, “How’s Hector doing? Did the operation go well?”
He nodded and answered, “It succeeded. However, he’s still unconscious. The doctor said his right hand won’t be as flexible as it used to be.”
“Dad, I heard someone from the Doherty family say that there’s a negative item at home. That antique caused a slew of accidents for our family.
“In the past, I thought that the explanation for that car accident was nothing
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more than a conspiracy theory. Such bullshit. However, I’m inclined to believe that there is indeed a negative item. In the past few days, it’s been nothing but car accidents and fires. Dad even got a stroke. He used to be so healthy.
“Today, Hector has become the latest victim. A kid committing suicide fell on top of him. He could’ve died,” said Pamela Hale, Hector’s mom.
They knew Denton was extremely stubborn. He found fault in everything his children said. In the past, people had suggested that it was a more complicated issue and not just an accident. In the end, Denton talked them down mercilessly. He threatened that such words better not appear before him again.
In the end, her child nearly lost his life in a few days! Perhaps the rest of them would suffer the same fate in due time.
Vera was the only one present from her family. Her parents were in a ward. They couldn’t make the trip. Upon hearing what her uncles and aunts said, she wrung her hands.
Negative items…
After Hector suffered, she asked someone from the Doherty family for advice. She knew one of Frank’s granddaughters.
She learned about what happened. Once she heard that the dress was a negative item, she began believing that there might really be a negative item in their family. Whether it was one of the antiques she purchased remained to be
seen.
They’d better not…
Denton furrowed his brows. However, he’d relaxed slightly. He must’ve
internalized what Pamela told him. His sons and daughters said so too. The number of accidents that had occurred influenced his decision too.
After a brief moment of thought. He took a deep breath and said, “Get a master of divination to look over the house.”
He couldn’t embarrass himself so Alexander could laugh at him about it.
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There were countless masters of divination scattered across Jipsburg. Denton didn’t need Alexander for the job.
Even if there was a negative item, some of the state’s more famous masters could resolve the matter.
Vera was afraid Denton wouldn’t take Pamela’s advice and hold on to his beliefs. In that case, she would try to soften him. Then, she’d invite Alexander
over.
She wasn’t expecting Denton to ask for a master for them right away. She sighed in relief.
It would be the same thing no matter who settled it. There was no need to ask for Alexander’s help. Doing so would get Skylar’s attention too.
For the Ruell family, finding them a master wasn’t a difficult task. Within an hour, they found the man for the job.
He went to Denton’s house and looked through it. Then, he headed to one of the residences of the other Ruells. It took the whole day. In the end, he found nothing.
“I apologize for my incapability. All of your residences are in great places. I found no issues. The interior decorating was excellent. As to what happened recently, it might just be a coincidence. However, I’m not sure,” he said before leaving.
They told Denton what he’d said. He was silent for a long time.
Upon hearing the news, Vera paled. She asked, “Grandpa, should we ask Mr. Gardner Senior about it?”
Denton looked horrible. It was clear he was down in the dumps. If this had happened before today, he would’ve given up. But now…
He was silent as he hesitated.
Alexander was highly revered in Jipsburg. Thus, when the Ruells began asking
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for help, he’d heard about what was going on. He’d been told the master’s
verdict as well.
Before getting off work, he called Skylar over.
“After so many things, the Ruells still haven’t made sense of the situation. In
the past, I didn’t think Mr. Ruell Senior was a stubborn man insistent on traditional ideals. Now, it’s clear! He won’t be giving up till the last minute,” complained Alexander with a frown.
Skylar said, “They’ll be befallen with more accidents.”
Alexander furrowed his brows and remarked, “It looks like they won’t be getting past this crisis easily.”
No one in Jipsburg would dare to argue against his word. He remained insistent on his moral principles, and this made him respected wherever he was. Yet, Denton thought he’d been fibbing.
“It’s almost time to get off work. You can leave first,” Alexander told Skylar.
She agreed and left his office.
Ten minutes later, she was about to leave when Alexander called.
“Skye, Mr. Ruell Senior called. He finally believes that there’s a negative item in the Ruell family. He wants us to take a spin at his place now. Do you have time for that tonight?”
Skylar wasn’t expecting Denton to come to his senses so quickly. She thought they would struggle for a little longer by asking more masters to look through
their house.
“Mr. Gardner Senior, I have two conditions for the Ruells if they would like my help. One, they’ve got to pay us 20 million for it. Two, Vera will apologize to me in person. If they agree to these conditions, they’ll do as I order. After that, I’ll head over whenever it’s convenient for them.”
After hearing Skylar’s words, Alexander was silent for a moment. Then, he asked hesitantly, “Did Vera do anything to you? Don’t worry, I’ll talk to them about it.”
After hanging up, Alexander said with a frown, “Skylar wouldn’t demand an apology for no reason. Vera must’ve pissed her off.”
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When Denton came back after Alexander’s call, he looked extremely displeased.
He glared at Vera and said, “Didn’t you say that Skylar was a flirt who tried to seduce Joe, Aiken, and Rowan? She also tried to seduce Mr. Gardner Senior, right?”
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Chapter 846
Vera stiffened. Her face fell. She couldn’t come up with a response to his interrogation. After opening her mouth, she closed it again.
Then, she shot back, “Isn’t that the truth? saw it with my own eyes. If she wasn’t a prostitute, why would she have such uncertain relationships with multiple men?”
Denton roared furiously, “Of course not! She works in Mr. Gardner Senior’s
team. She’s the one doing the appraisal of negative items, not him! Those men behaved in that way because they needed her help. You didn’t even get the most basic information about Skylar right! You declared she was a prostitute just like that. You’re making enemies for us!”
“How could that be possible…” Vera trailed off. She couldn’t believe it. Then, she continued, “Working in Mr. Gardner Senior’s team might not mean she’s actually capable. Perhaps he’s just giving Skylar a symbolic position.”
Pamela interjected with a frown, “Everyone knows what kind of man Mr. Gardner Senior is. No one who wasn’t actually capable wouldn’t have gotten into his team. In addition, he wouldn’t do anything that hurt his reputation.”
Denton must’ve had the same thought. He said firmly, “Do you know that the antiques you bought at the auction are both negative items?”
“What?” Pamela stood up.
Vera balled her fists and said, “I don’t think the antiques from the auction are problematic. Grandpa, it was my mistake I didn’t do due diligence on Skylar. I hope I won’t bring trouble to our family.”
If Skylar wasn’t someone who’d bend for money and needed a man to live, had she underestimated Skylar?
Now that she reflected on what happened, Aiken and Rowan had always treated Skylar with nothing with respect. She definitely wasn’t a plaything to them. She’d been interpreting Skylar’s actions through a layer of personal prejudice.
Suddenly, she thought of Joe. If Skylar wasn’t the woman Vera thought she was, Joe’s feelings for Skylar…
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Vera pursed her lips. She didn’t dare to proceed down this train of thought.
“Skylar laid out two conditions. The first was to pay her 20 million for her services. The second was for you to apologize to her in person. Both of them had to be fulfilled. If not, she wouldn’t help us get rid of the negative item,” reported Denton grimly.
Vera’s features twisted with shock. She exclaimed, “What? 20 million and an apology? Is Skylar out of her mind?”
Not only was 20 million an impossibly high price, Skylar was also asking for an apology from Vera. How dare she do so? She even demanded Vera do so in person. Who did Skylar think she was?
Vera was a member of the Ruell family. Who didn’t revere her? Skylar must’ve bet her lucky stars to get the chance to suck up to the Ruells. Yet, she asked for 20 million dollars and an apology!
“Twenty million is a high price. However, it’s nothing to us. However, when did
you offend Skylar, Vera?” asked Lawrence Ruell, Hector’s father.
Although they were a formidable family in Jipsburg, they didn’t make a habit of showing off their wealth. They seldom offended others.
Vera sucked in a deep breath and explained, “I can’t explain what happened between us. I can fork out 20 million, but I will not apologize.”
“The second she apologizes, we’ll be at a disadvantage,” commented Denton.
Although he’d never met Skylar before, he was highly skeptical of her conditions. She was only a young woman. Was she able to deal with those negative items?
He’d been fuming just now. In the face of his favorite granddaughter, his rage subsided. He managed to calm down.
Vera said sadly, “Grandpa, I’ll talk to Joe later to see what he thinks of the situation.”
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The others beside her said nothing. However, they weren’t pleased either. After all, she was Denton’s favorite granddaughter. They couldn’t comment on her.
They had no idea how capable Skylar was, either. Their problem had stumped many famous divination masters, so they could only test their luck. However, Alexander was a promise for his team’s quality. It was unlikely that he’d cause any problems.
“Fine. Contact him. He’d told me about the negative items and I didn’t believe him. We’ll see his response to this call,” sighed Denton. His regret grew by the
minute.
Vera nodded and replied, “Alright. Don’t worry, Grandpa.”
Then, Vera left to make the call. Denton told Alexander that they agreed to pay 20 million. However, Vera wouldn’t be apologizing to Skylar for the time being.
Upon hearing this, Alexander insisted, “The deal is off if you don’t fulfill both conditions. Why don’t you reconsider?”
Denton hadn’t expected Alexander to take up such an immovable stance.
After hanging up, Denton frowned.
After Vera left Denton’s room, she returned to her own, got into bed, and called
Joe.
It was almost time to get off work, so he shouldn’t have been busy.
After a few beeps, Joe picked up. He asked, “What’s up?”
Vera’s heart clenched upon hearing his cold tone. She bit her lip and said, “Joe, did you tell my Grandpa that I had negative items in my collection when you visited him?”
“Yeah,” answered Joe. He spoke in a monotone.
Vera inhaled deeply. She felt like Joe was drifting away from her. She continued, “Many things have been happening to my family. In the beginning, Grandpa didn’t believe that a negative item had caused this. However, Hector
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came down with an accident today. Thus we believe that it might be the negative items causing a fuss. Joe, do you know how to get rid of negative
items?”
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What she said must’ve intrigued Joe, for his sentences grew longer. He replied, “I do, but have you figured out what you’ll need to sacrifice?”
Sacrifice?
Vera froze.
Did this mean that Joe wanted to sleep with her? Were they going to take the last step?
Initially, she wanted to get closer to Joe. They would only sleep together when he fell for her.
She wasn’t expecting this to happen to the Ruells. All of this would’ve been avoided if she hadn’t bought those antiques at the auction.
However, everything had happened. She couldn’t continue playing the waiting game. If she didn’t sleep with him, she would only push Joe further away from
her.
Vera inhaled deeply and said, “I’ve made my decision.”
Joe hummed. Then, he said, “Skylar is the only person who can help you with this. She listed two conditions. The first being a fee of 20 million and the second being an apology.”
“What?” Vera asked incredulously.
She realized that she had displayed a startling lack of composure. However, this wasn’t what she had been expecting. Vera found it difficult to accept.
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In addition, Joe said the same thing as Alexander had. It meant that they both revered Skylar highly. Even though Skylar’s demands were ludicrous, they still informed her about it as told.
What hurt Vera the most was that Joe seemed to have no idea how his words had struck her down.
“Think of what I’ve said,” Joe said..
Tears welled up in Vera’s eyes. She sobbed lowly, “I can pay her 20 million dollars. After all, that’s nothing to us. However, I don’t know what I’ve done that warrants an apology to her. Joe, I’m feeling helpless and unhappy right now.”
“Have you met Skylar privately?”
Vera paused. Joe’s tone seemed to have turned even colder. She wasn’t sure
whether she had imagined it.
“We have run into each other. However, we didn’t talk about much,” Vera answered calmly.
Was he going to make her suffer for bullying Skylar? Did he care about her that much?
How about Vera? Had he considered how she would think and whether this interrogation would hurt her feelings?
Joe continued, “It’s your choice between an apology and the Ruells.”
He hung up.
Vera stiffened. Her fingers tightened around her phone. Joe had hung up? How audacious of him! What did this mean? Did he really want her to apologize to and give in to Skylar?
Vera had never put herself in such a lowly and humble position before. She would never apologize to Skylar!
After work, Skylar returned to Galaxy Villa and headed into the kitchen straight away. She’d been craving for handmade pasta on her way home.
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rolled and cut the dough in the kitchen. Half an hour later, she heard
noises from the living room.
Skylar popped a head out. Her eyes met Joe’s. She asked, “I’m making pasta. Do you eat beef?”
Joe noticed the flour smeared on Skylar’s nose and face. He grinned and agreed.
Skylar returned to the kitchen. Joe changed and headed into the kitchen after her.
She was already boiling the pasta. The aroma of beef filled the kitchen. It was extremely enticing.
Joe had never been a gluttonous man. He wouldn’t eat if he wasn’t hungry. Even if he was hungry, he could go without food anyway.
However, in the months of cohabitating with Skylar, he found that eating was an enjoyment.
Joe looked down at Skylar and wiped her cheeks.
Skylar asked in bewilderment, “What are you doing?”
“You had some flour on your face,” explained Joe as his fingers rubbed her face gently.
Skylar gazed into his warm eyes. She froze. Then, she took a step backward hurriedly. She said, “Thanks, I can wipe it off myself.”
Joe’s hands were left hanging midair. He hadn’t retracted them when Skylar backed away. There was flour clinging to his fingers.
He could tell that Skylar was keeping her distance from him. The amusement glinting in his eyes dissipated entirely.
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“I’ll check whether the pasta’s cooked.” Skylar avoided Joe’s eyes.
He stared at her for a second before asking lowly, “Did the Ruells seek you out?”
The sparks flying between them subsided. She answered, “The Ruells went to Mr. Gardner Senior. Then, he told them my conditions. If.. you would like to convince me otherwise, I don’t see the point of doing so. I will not alter my conditions.”
“What did you think I wanted to talk to you about?” Joe raised an eyebrow.
Skylar wasn’t expecting him to ask that. She looked up at him and tried, “You don’t want Vera to apologize to me, do you?”
“When have I ever said that?” asked Joe with a frown.
He suddenly felt like things were unclear between him and Skylar. They hadn’t talked it out.
Just as Skylar was about to reply, her phone rang. She picked up.
“Hello.”
“Skylar, it’s Vera here. I asked Mr. Gardner Senior for your number just now. He said you had two conditions. The first is that we’ve got to pay 20 million and the second is that I need to apologize to you, right?”
Skylar eyed Joe. Then, she hummed in acknowledgment.
Vera continued, “The first one is simple. Send me your account number and I’ll transfer the money right
now.
“But I can’t do the second one. We’ve got to keep the peace. Some things should be left in the past where they belong. What happened between us was a misunderstanding.”
“I remember I said you’d be begging for my help. I won’t help if one of my conditions goes unfulfilled,” Skylar emphasized coldly.
Vera was enraged. She asked, “Has Joe seen this ruthless side of you?”
Skylar looked down and said, “He’s right beside me.”
Vera went silent.
Joe was expressionless. Skylar couldn’t get a read on him.
“Skylar, you might do business with the Ruells in the future. You might even need our help. I can promise you that we’ll help you whenever you need it,” Vera took a deep breath and negotiated calmly.
“Ms. Ruell, call me when you’ve made up your mind. I’ll be having dinner now, Goodbye.”
She didn’t want to continue arguing with Vera. After hanging up, Joe glanced at her. Then, he picked a fork up.
Skylar was surprised. It looked like he wasn’t angry.
No matter what Vera said in that conversation, she’d been forceful and unyielding. However, it was as though Joe had heard nothing.
She had no idea what Joe was thinking.
How important was Vera to him?
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Vera was furious.
“Skylar, who gave you the right to be so arrogant?”
Pamela walked in.
“Denton asked me to check on whether you’ve settled negotiations with Skylar. All of us are feeling nervous about it. Denton isn’t doing well. The doctors are giving him a check–up.”
Vera reassured Pamela, “I’ll talk to her about it.”
“Vera, I watched you grow up. I know you’ve always been an arrogant person. You would never give in to anyone else if you could help it. However, this is different. Many things have happened to our family, and we don’t know what’s next.
“Giving in would be worth it if Skylar could help, right? My brother knows Mr. Querbach. He has sung
Skylar’s praises extensively. He trusts her entirely. If Mr. Gardner Senior and Mr. Querbach trust her, why would we doubt her?”
“The two antiques you bought at the auction might be negative items. In that case, you were the bringer of misfortune. Vera, you have to fix it.”
Pamela’s expression had turned grim at the end of her little speech.
Véra had sent their family into a state of panic. She was spoiled rotten!
P
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Skylar never thought Pamela, who she held in the highest regard, would speak to her in such a stern
manner.
This wasn’t a discussion. Pamela was forcing her into this.
Vera felt as though her arrogance had shattered at that moment. When she thought of Skylar and Joe, she felt extremely helpless.
For some reason, she recalled Joe’s introduction of Skylar in the hospital lift. He called Skylar his wife.
Wife…
Were they married?
“Do you hear me? When Pamela caught Vera daydreaming, she screamed at her angrily. She seemed not to care about what Pamela was saying.
Vera woke from her stupor and promised, “I understand the severity of the situation. I know what to do. I won’t let misfortune continue eating into our family.”
Her guarantee satisfied Pamela. She said, “Alright.”
Half an hour after dinner, Skylar’s phone rang yet again. Vera called her.
She had been taking a stroll with Joe. The sky was darkening, and a light breeze caressed them.
Skylar picked up and asked, “Have you made your decision, Ms. Ruell?”
Vera sounded very calm. She said, “My attitude toward you was unacceptable. I apologize. I’m begging you to help us out of this crisis.”
Although she hadn’t said much, it was evident Vera was giving in to her.
Skylar wasn’t an unforgiving person. She agreed and said, “I’ll send you my account details.”
“Alright.”
After hanging up, Skylar turned to look at Joe, who’d been staring at her. She said, “They agreed to my conditions. I’m heading to the Grimwood Residence now. You…”
Before Skylar finished, Joe said, “I’ll go with you.”
Skylar opened her mouth to say something. However, she realized she wasn’t the one who needed to worry about their relationship getting discovered. That person was Joe. Thus, she said nothing.
Vera transferred 20 million to Skylar. Her expression turned colder when the transaction went through successfully.
“I’ve never suffered such humiliation. Skylar, you’d better be able to help us out of our crisis. If not, I’ll make sure you regret pissing me off!“,
Vera bit her lip.
Initially, she was merely disgusted by Skylar. Now, it had turned into full–on loathing.
Then, she asked her doctor whether she could leave the hospital for a few hours. He gave her the green
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light. She immediately changed and headed to Grimwood Residence.
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Skylar and Joe arrived at Grimwood Residence shortly after. Denton and his daughter, Patricia Ruell, were waiting for them.
Patricia was surprised to see that Joe had arrived with Skylar. As she led them in, she scanned them covertly.
All of the Ruells had a similar expectation for Vera and Joe to get together. They would be engaged soon. Yet, Skylar had turned up with Joe.
Before today, they had no idea who Skylar was. What they’d heard about Skylar indicated that she was capable and highly esteemed.
Now that they saw her in the flesh, she was young and gorgeous, perhaps even more so than Vera.
However, Vera was flashier. Although Skylar was young, she was discreet and humble.
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Chapter 851
Subtly, this reinforced the Ruell family’s belief that Joe and Vera would eventually marry.
Joe would occasionally glance at Skylar with the intensity of a man looking at the woman he loved, his eyes filled with focus and concern.
Patricia felt a warning bell go off in her head. They had assumed the arranged marriage between the Ruell and Martin families would go off without a hitch, but it seemed like an unexpected rival had appeared out
of nowhere.
After Skylar entered Grimwood Residence, Patricia began giving her a tour, floor by floor.
The Grimwood Residence was about the same size as Gloria’s Pearlhall Residence. It took time to walk through each level.
When they reached the third floor, where Denton stored his private collection, Skylar’s expression grew
more serious.
The first thing she noticed was the painting Vera had fought Alexander for at the auction. “There’s something wrong with this painting. Take it down and give it to me later.”
“Alright.” Patricia first took a photo of the painting and then instructed a maid to take it down.
Next, she sent a photo of it to the family group chat.
Skylar looked around carefully again.
There was nothing else unusual.
“Other than that, there are no other negative items,” Skylar said.
Upon hearing her words, Patricia let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good. That’s good to know.”
“Ask Vera about the antique she won at the auction a while back. Where is it being kept?” Skylar
continued.
Patricia nodded and immediately tagged Vera in the family group chat, relaying Skylar’s question word for word.
After sending the message, Patricia noticed the family group chat was already in chaos.
It turned out the painting was a gift from Vera to Denton, and everyone was now blaming her for it.
Joe had been standing silently to the side. He watched Skylar calmly handle the situation. His eyes softened with admiration.
Skylar then pulled out a wrapped talisman from her bag. She handed it to Patricia and said, “Keep this with you. Later, take it to the hospital and give it to Mr. Ruell Senior. He should keep it with him. After two months, this talisman will lose its effect.”
Patricia carefully put away the seal she received and said, “I just asked Vera about the other antique. She said it was likely destroyed in the fire.”
Skylar frowned slightly. “It should still be here. Otherwise, your family wouldn’t be having so many incidents back–to–back. Take me to their house so I can check for myself.”
Since she had taken their money, she was determined to handle the Ruell family’s problems thoroughly.
Patricia had no objections. The safety of the entire Ruell family was at stake, and they needed to be cautious.
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However, as she glanced at the talisman in her hand, a doubt crept into her mind. She wondered if Skylar was truly as powerful as everyone claimed.
9
Skylar turned to Joe. “Going to the Ruell Residence might take a while, and it’s getting late. Do you want to head home first?”
They might end up working until midnight.
Joe replied immediately, “No need. I’ll go with you.”
Skylar nodded, saying no more:
Patricia took in the scene and then sent a private message to Vera as they made their way to the Ruell Residence.
“Do you know about the relationship between Joe and Skylar? There’s definitely something unusual going on between them.
“You’ve been away for a few years, and it seems Joe doesn’t want to wait for you anymore. Skylar might end up being the biggest obstacle in you marrying him.”
Vera’s reply was swift. “Skylar won’t be an obstacle for me.”
It was a simple statement, but it spoke volumes about Vera’s pride and ambition,
Patricia smiled. The women of the Ruell family never gave up easily. Besides, there wasn’t another man like Joe in all of Jipsburg City.
They soon arrived at the Ruell Residence.
The entire villa was in shambles from the fire. There were still workers cleaning up the mess in the villa under the supervision of the maids.
Patricia asked Vera where the items were stored, and then instructed a maid to lead them to Vera’s room.
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Vera’s room was also severely damaged by the fire.
Many of the furnishings were scorched and blackened.
While the villa’s first floor was cleaned up, the second floor had yet to be attended to.
In the charred and disheveled wardrobe, they found a pile of severely burned clothes and that antique.
When Patricia saw that the clothes were completely burned, but the antiques remained intact and vibrant, she was astonished. “This thing is really cursed, isn’t it?”
If she had doubts about the painting being a negative item earlier, the scene before her now was truly shocking.
“Hand everything over to me,” Skylar said to Patricia.
Patricia nodded quickly. “Alright.”
She thought to herself, “There’s no use in keeping such negative items anyway.”
Skylar glanced at the villa and continued, “Even if it’s repaired, Vera’s family won’t be able to live here.
Just sell it.”
Patricia was stunned. “The negative items are all dealt with. Why can’t they still live here? What about the Grimwood Residence?”
“The Grimwood Residence is fine. But if Vera’s family continues to live here, it will catch fire again,” Skylar said solemnly.
Patricia sighed in relief. “Okay, I’ll let them know.”
Skylar handled the two items in front of Patricia. She prepared a few talismans and burned them together,
Patricia was utterly stunned. The artifact, which had remained unharmed amid the fire, turned to ashes as soon as Skylar placed the talisman on it.
Seeing this with her own eyes, Patricia could hardly believe it.
No wonder people like Alexander trusted and praised Skylar. She truly had real abilities.
Vera was fuming in the family group chat as she read Patricia’s praise for Skylar. Meanwhile, Denton and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
Once Patricia confirmed that everything was handled, it felt as if the heavy weight that had been pressing on her for days had lifted.
The feeling was quite mysterious.
“Vera, our family has paid a terrible price for you this time. Your parents, Aunt Hayden, Uncle Marlon, Hector, and even your grandfather–have all been affected. Fortunately, no lives were lost.
“I asked Skylar, and she said that if we had waited another month to find her, our family would have been doomed. Thinking back on it now, it’s truly chilling.” Patricia lamented in the family group chat, expressing her relief.
Vera’s expression was dark and grim. She bit her lip tightly.
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Skylar really did have some skill.
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The following day at work, Skylar updated Alexander on the situation with the Ruell family. After hearing that everything was resolved, Alexander smiled with relief.
“That’s good news,” he said.
After her conversation with Alexander, Skylar prepared to get back to work.
Caleb approached her with a mysterious air and said, “Skylar, you’re my absolute idol! There’s no one like you. Even someone as proud as Hector, who barely spoke to me when we were classmates, reached out to apologize today.
“It feels amazing! He actually admitted his mistake to me.”
Skylar smiled and asked, “How is he recovering?”
Caleb replied, “He’ll probably lose some sensitivity in his right hand. He mentioned that he’ll need to endure some hardships during his recovery and then get treatment abroad for a while. It shouldn’t be too serious. Since he’s not the one playing the piano or violin, the impact is minimal.”
Boys tended to be more rational about these things. Once something happened, there was no need to dwell on it. The focus was on the future and taking action.
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Skylar nodded. “Being able to think like that means Hector’s moved on.”
“It was nothing much. What man hasn’t had a few injuries? If you haven’t broken a bone twice, you’re not a real man. Compared to me, his injuries are minor,” Caleb said with a slight lift of his chin, boasting a bit.
He wasn’t happy seeing Skylar complimenting someone else. He had made a lot of progress recently too.
Skylar could see Caleb’s thoughts and managed a smile.
She said, “You’re right. You’re the bravest young man I’ve ever met, and you’re also very eager to learn. When you need to be steady, you can definitely hold your ground.”
“That’s right!”
From that moment on, Caleb worked energetically for the rest of the day as if he had been given a boost of adrenaline. His proactive attitude astonished many of his colleagues.
Later, Alexander discreetly asked Skylar during a break, “Did something go wrong with him today?”
Caleb had always found ways to slack off, but today, he was unusually diligent and eager–unlike his usual
self.
Skylar laughed. “Maybe he’s just grown up.”
Alexander nodded thoughtfully.
When a man said he was grown up, he could change overnight. His attitude toward things could shift dramatically.
Alexander felt a pang of sadness as he thought about how Caleb had finally matured.
Half an hour before the end of the workday, Gloria called Skylar. She asked her to come to the Pearlhall
Residence after work.
Concerned about Gloria’s health, Skylar went straight to the Pearlhall Residence after finishing work.
When she arrived, she saw Joe was also there.
He had probably just arrived. He was still standing with a glass of water in his hand, taking a sip. When he saw her enter, he looked over at her.
Their eyes met for a brief moment.
Skylar went over to Gloria and took a seat beside her.
“Skye, take a look at these wedding dresses and see if there’s anything you like,” Gloria said, handing Skylar a stack of photos.
The photos were of various wedding dresses. Each wedding dress looked beautifully designed. No. woman could resist the allure of a wedding dress.
Skylar had once fantasized about what she would look like wearing one herself.
“Wedding dresses?” Skylar was a bit puzzled. She wondered why Gloria was showing her these wedding dresses.
Seeing Skylar’s confused expression, Gloria chuckled and said, “You and Joe have been married for a while, but you never had a proper wedding. None of your friends or family even know you’re married.
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“I was thinking of arranging a wedding for you two. Maybe I could discuss the details with your mother in the next few days if she’s available.”
“A wedding!” Skylar was taken aback. Why a wedding now?
She and Joe were planning to get divorced, so a wedding was out of the question. They had even signed a contract back then to keep their marriage a secret.
Joe saw the surprise on Skylar’s face and frowned slightly. He said, “Even if we start planning now, it’ll take at least a year to set a date. It’s the perfect time to start picking out a wedding dress.”
“Alright, I’ll take a look at the wedding dresses,” Skylar replied. She noticed Joe’s frown and realized Gloria probably didn’t know about Joe’s desire to divorce her.
So, Gloria was happily planning their wedding, unaware of the truth.
Not wanting to disappoint her, Skylar carefully examined the wedding dresses.
Gloria smiled warmly and said, “Pick out a few, and I’ll have them sent to the Galaxy Villa. You can try them on one by one. If none of them feel right, we can bring in a designer from abroad. These wedding dresses are one–of–a–kind pieces from various designers.
“Since they’ve been sent to me, no one else had worn them. For your wedding, the wedding dress must be truly unique.”
Skylar felt a sting in her nose. Gloria was so good to her. She suddenly felt guilty about continuing to deceive her.
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Skylar picked out six wedding dresses and asked Gloria to help her decide which one looked best.
Watching them discuss the wedding dresses, Joe spoke softly, “Why not have them send all of them over so you can try each one on?”
Gloria gave Joe an approving look. “Joe’s right. Have them send all the wedding dresses over, and you can try them on.”
Skylar glanced at Joe.
When he suggested that Skylar try on all the wedding dresses, he didn’t seem insincere at all.
Sometimes, his attitude left her confused, making it hard to figure out what he really thought.
She knew Joe was willing to sacrifice his marriage and marry a woman he didn’t love just to make Gloria happy. So, it wasn’t surprising that he would hide his true feelings perfectly in front of Gloria.
After having dinner with Gloria at Pearlhall Residence, Skylar and Joe headed back to Galaxy Villa. They arrived separately but close behind one another.
At the door, Joe paused and waited for her to catch up. As soon as Joe opened the door and stepped 
inside, he suddenly received a phone call.
“Where? Wait there.”
He responded briefly to the other person and then looked at Skylar. “Something happened with Jeremy. I need to go there. Could you… come with me? They’ve already called Natalie over, and if you come, it might make things less awkward.”
Hearing that Natalie would be there, Skylar nodded. “Alright.”
About 30 minutes later, they arrived at a club. The drive was smooth, with no traffic.
Skylar had been to this club before with Joe.
When they went upstairs, they found that Natalie was already there.
There were a few other people in the room as well. Rowan was present, along with Ethan and a few other
unfamiliar faces.
Natalie hadn’t noticed that Skylar and Joe had arrived. Her attention was entirely on Jeremy.
“Jeremy, I’m here. Let me take you home,” Natalie said. Her voice was friendly as she tried to spare Jeremy any embarrassment in front of others.
Having known Jeremy for many years, Natalie had never seen him drink so much, and he seemed quite disoriented now. When she arrived, she noticed broken bottles scattered on the floor.
The scene was quite alarming.
Jeremy’s friends looked shaken. They were clearly unaccustomed to seeing him so out of control.
Jeremy looked at her with half–closed eyes, his gaze slightly reddened and tinged with the haze of alcohol. “Home? You want me to go home with you?”
He was twisting the meaning.
Natalie bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. The home he referred to was no longer hers.
“Natalie, right now Jeremy only listens to you. Please talk to him and have him come home with you
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soon. We’re all pretty shaken up,” Ethan said. He could tell that Jeremy was drinking to drown his sorrows today.
Even though Jeremy and Natalie were divorced, he still couldn’t let go of her and was desperately hoping for a reconciliation.
Natalie clenched her fits, unsure of what to say.
Seeing Natalie’s silence, Jeremy’s gaze grew darker.
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Skylar called out softly, “Nath.”
Natalie’s eyes lit up, and she suddenly turned to look at Skylar. “Skye, what are you doing here?”
Seeing Joe behind Skylar, Natalie realized that Skylar had come with him.
She was relieved Skylar had arrived. Earlier, she had felt a moment of breathlessness, unsure of how to face Jeremy and his friends.
“She came with me,” Joe replied.
This answer also served as a response to the other people in the room.
Rowan watched the situation unfold, finding himself at a loss for words. It was truly perplexing. He couldn’t help but wonder why Jeremy acted this way if he knew it would come to this.
Now, he acted as if he couldn’t live without Natalie–this kind of maneuvering to achieve his goals while drunk was something he would never have done before.
As an observer, Rowan clearly saw that Natalie had no intention of remarrying Jeremy.
Natalie sighed in relief and said to Joe, “Could you please take Jeremy home? I still have work to do.”
Jeremy’s drunken haze seemed to clear a little at the mention of Natalie’s request. His gaze turned sharp
as he looked at her.
Natalie faced away from Jeremy and didn’t notice the change in his demeanor. She turned her attention. back to Skylar. “Skye, could you give me a ride?”
“Sure,” Skylar replied.
As they were leaving, Natalie avoided looking back. She was afraid to meet Jeremy’s gaze. She instinctively felt that Jeremy wasn’t drunk to the point of losing his senses.
After knowing each other for so many years, no matter how much people tried to get Jeremy drunk, he would always maintain a level of awareness. He would never lose control completely, despite how drunk. he appeared.
Natalie had rushed over after receiving Ethan’s call without fully thinking things through. It wasn’t until now that she had calmed down.
Seeing Natalie’s pale face, Skylar was concerned. Once outside the club, she asked, “Do you want to go to the apartment or the set?”
Austin often had night shoots to film, and Natalie would stay up late with him.
Natalie’s eyes were red–rimmed. “I can’t drive right now. Could you drive for me?”
“Let’s go,” Skylar said, taking Natalie’s car keys.
As the car drove down the road, Natalie finally spoke up, her eyes still red–rimmed. “I don’t know what Jeremy is thinking. When I saw him with Helena at the mall, I thought he had moved on from the past. But that day, he actually came to find me, saying he wanted to remarry.”
Skylar frowned. She glanced at Natalie while waiting for a red light. “What’s he trying to do?”
Skylar couldn’t help but think that Jeremy was simply clinging to a new love while refusing to let go of the old one.
Natalie shook her head with a bitter smile. “I really don’t know what he wants.”
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“Take me to the set. Mr. Powell is still filming. I just called Hank and told him I had to leave. I feel like I’m being irresponsible with work. No matter what Jeremy is up to, we’re divorced now. We both need to move forward,” Natalie said.
Skylar immediately drove to the set, as Natalie requested.
“It’s actually quite a coincidence. Helena is supposed to make a cameo tonight. But when I left, she hadn’t arrived yet. She’s probably there now,” Natalie added.
She found it even more puzzling that, since Jeremy was in a relationship with Helena, he hadn’t had anyone call Helena over despite his drunken state. It felt like she was starting to understand Jeremy less and less since their divorce.
“Helena is at the set too? After she saw you last time, she should be aware of your past with Jermey. Be careful,” Skylar warned with concern.
Natalie smiled reassuringly. “I know Helena well. She’s just started to rise in popularity, and everyone says she’s very professional and easygoing.
“She’s not the type to be a diva. Even if she knows about my past with Jeremy, it doesn’t matter. We’re divorced now, and she doesn’t need to concern herself with that.”
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Upon hearing Natalie’s words, Skylar felt reassured. Besides, with Natalie’s personality, she would never be easily bullied. Moreover, as Natalie’s role was as Austin’s assistant, she had no direct interactions with Helena.
Skylar soon arrived at the set with Natalie. After parking the car, Skylar quickly hailed a cab and left.
When Natalie returned, Hank was a bit surprised. “Back so soon? I thought you wouldn’t be coming back today.”
“I’ve sorted everything out, so I came back to work. You can get back to your tasks, Hank,” Natalie replied with a bright smile.
Hank nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll head back to the studio.”
Hank had recently made a plan regarding some of Austin’s work arrangements. He also had some publicity to handle, and many things required proper coordination with others. It kept him so busy that he could hardly tell day from night.
Fortunately, Natalie managed to handle many of her responsibilities so he could leave her side for now.
Natalie nodded. She glanced over at Austin, who was still filming. The scene required several actors, including Helena.
Her role seemed to be that of Austin’s ex–girlfriend, appearing only in this one scene.
Although Helena had only recently gained fame, her years of playing minor roles and supporting roles had made her performance in front of Austin look effortless. Her acting appeared particularly natural and
comfortable.
Natalie thought Helena had the potential to go further in her acting career, perhaps even becoming an award–winning actress in the future.
The shoot went smoothly.
The scene was only retaken twice. Helena followed the director’s instructions to perform in two different states, and Austin made subtle adjustments based on Helena’s changes.
The interaction between their performance was captivating and increasingly enjoyable to watch.
After the scene wrapped up, Austin approached Natalie. He took a moment to study her with a calm demeanor. “Is everything resolved?”
Natalie’s eyes flickered briefly as she handed him a water bottle. She said with a smile, “Yes, it’s all sorted. Here’s some water for you, Mr. Powell.”
Her issues with Jeremy seemed to be an inextricable mess. Natalie felt it was best to let go of anything. related to him in the future. If necessary, her parents could handle any further complications.
Austin took the water bottle and took a sip.
He then sat down beside Natalie and said, “Have you decided to come to work with me in Fachington for
three months?”
“Yes. I visited Fachington a few years ago, and it’s been a long time since then. It will be good to visit it again,” Natalie replied.
At this stage in her life, other minor concerns had become irrelevant. Her focus was on work.
Going to Fachington would offer her a chance to clear her mind, and facing new experiences might help
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her resolve some of the issues she had been struggling with.
Austin smiled and nodded. “Great. I’ll make sure to show you around. I have a mansion there, and the grapes should be ripe this season. We can make some red wine together.”
Natalie’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Yes.” Austin’s smile widened.
“That’s great, Mr. Powell. I’m so lucky to be your assistant.” Natalie Immediately began to flatter him.
At that moment, Helena approached and greeted Austin. She said, “Hello, Mr. Powell.”
Austin’s smile faded as he looked at Helena. His eyes held only a faint smile with a stark sense of detachment. “Hello.”
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Helena was momentarily taken aback. She had just observed Austin and Natalie’s interaction. They were chatting and laughing, and Austin’s gaze toward Natalie was very warm, with a smile in his eyes.
However, when he looked at her, although he appeared to be smiling, the smile didn’t reach his eyes. It carried a sense of distance.
When Austin spoke with Hank in Natalie’s absence earlier, he had also lacked his usual warmth.
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Helena could tell that Austin treated Natalie differently.
“I’d like to have a word with Ms. Jakeman,” Helena said with a smile.
Puzzled, Natalie raised an eyebrow. What could Helena say to her?
Austin’s eyes darkened as he looked at Natalie. “Do you know Ms. Hart?”
“We ran into each other at a mall a few days ago,” Natalie answered honestly.
Austin nodded. “Go ahead.”
Helena noticed how much Austin cared about Natalie. Although she had previously been a bit concerned, she suddenly felt no need to worry.
The two walked a short distance away. They stopped under a large tree, where there were few staff members around.
“Ms. Hart, you want to ask about my relationship with Jeremy, right? I can tell you directly, that I’m divorced from Jeremy. His future relationships have nothing to do with me.” Natalie took the initiative.
Rather than wait for Helena to ask, she decided to say it herself.
-Helena nodded with a smile. “I did want to ask about your relationship with Mr. Hughes, but you might
have misunderstood. Right now, Mr. Hughes and I are just friends. I recently became the face of his company’s new product, so we’ve met a few times in private.”
“Oh, I see. Well, then,” Natalie replied. She was a bit surprised.
She thought to herself, “Going to the mall together, but just as friends?”
Suddenly, she remembered that Helena was a rising star and probably didn’t want her personal life caught by the media.
Seeing that Natalie seemed unbothered, Helena found herself even more puzzled. “Are you really not considering getting back together with Mr. Hughes, Ms. Jakeman?”
Given Jeremy’s status in Jipsburg City, plenty of women would jump at the chance to marry him. If she could become Jeremy’s girlfriend, it would definitely boost her career to new heights.
However, Jeremy’s attitude toward his ex–wife, Natalie, left Helena unsure of where things stood.
It seemed that Jeremy hadn’t really let go of Natalie. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have focused solely on her as soon as she appeared. After they left the mall, he left immediately as well.
His demeanor before and after Natalie’s arrival had been noticeably different. Hence, Helena wanted to understand what kind of person Natalie was.
Although they exchanged only a few words, Helena could sense that Natalie was a person of integrity. Others might say they have no lingering ties with an ex but Natalie’s sincerity made Helena believe it was
true.
With a smile, Natalie shook her head and said, “No, I don’t.”
Reconciliation was something only found in novels, not in her life.
“If you have no further questions, I need to get back to work.”
Helena nodded. “Sorry to bother you, Ms. Jakeman.”
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Natalie smiled and assured her it was no trouble before heading back to Austin.
As Natalie returned, Austin’s smile gradually reappeared.
Helena observed Austin and recalled the myths surrounding him in the entertainment industry.
Having been in the entertainment industry for years, he had always maintained a clean reputation and had never been involved in scandals
Many actresses had tried to use him to advance their careers, but none had succeeded. When filming, there was a sense of chemistry between the on–screen partners, and the film crew often marketed them as a couple.
However, Austin seemed to only play along slightly. He never indulged in any extra flirtation that could lead to gossip. But Helena had felt a sense that Austin was fond of Natalie.
On her way back to Galaxy Villa, Skylar received a call from Joe.
He wouldn’t be coming home today.
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Skylar didn’t think much of it. After all, so many of their friends were at the club. But she hadn’t expected Joe to come back so early the next morning. He was a bit drunk, stumbling as if he were walking on
clouds.
“Are you drunk?” she asked.
Joe, who rarely drank so much that his steps would falter, cupped her face with both hands. He leaned in, pressing a hard kiss to her lips, which were squished into a pout.
Skylar hadn’t expected this from him. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“I want to sleep with you,” Joe said, his tone heavy. He kissed her again before she could respond.
Skylar’s strength was no match for Joe’s. He was like an unyielding wall, impossible to break through.
Her rationality shattered into pieces as Joe kissed her hard.
Joe knew her body all too well. His hands seemed to set her ablaze, igniting every inch of her skin.
Joe went wild when he was drunk. They spent the entire morning in a frenzy in bed. The sheets were left in disarray, and several used condoms littered the floor.
It took Skylar a long time to feel connected to her body again. She wasn’t sure how long she had been in a daze after everything stopped.
Staring at Joe’s sleeping face beside her, with his arm still draped over her, she felt disoriented.
They had been so wild just now. He had called her name multiple times. He was focused and full of emotion as if his madness was all for her.
Gradually, as she regained her strength, she gently slipped from under his arm.
Skylar felt sticky and uncomfortable. She couldn’t stand it any longer.
After a refreshing shower, she changed her clothes and headed downstairs.
Joe had come back just when she was getting ready for work. She didn’t have time to ask for leave, and her phone was still in her bag.
When she finally checked it, she saw several missed calls and messages from Caleb and Alexander asking about her whereabouts. Her face flushed with embarrassment.
She quickly called Caleb. “Caleb, could you help me take a day off? I’ve been feeling unwell and have been asleep until now.”
Thankfully, Caleb didn’t ask too many questions. He just told her to rest up and see a doctor if necessary.
The wildness of the morning had left her feeling something she couldn’t quite put into words.
As she went to the fridge to find something to eat, hoping to regain some energy, she heard a noise at the
front door.
She immediately checked the front door surveillance footage.
To her surprise, Vera was standing outside. She had been discharged from the hospital.
Skylar opened the door to let Vera in. However, Vera stood at the door without entering. Instead, she waved the bag she was holding toward the camera.
She wondered if she was here to drop something off.
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Seeing this, Skylar stepped outside.
Vera’s smile faltered for a moment when she saw that the person coming out was Skylar.
In the past few days, Denton and Patricia had been reminding her that Skylar was not the ordinary girl she had imagined. Skylar had her own unique qualities, and if Joe was really keeping Skylar at Galaxy Villa, it could mean he might truly have genuine feelings for her.
Vera had said she wasn’t worried and acted like she was confident in herself.
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But at this moment, seeing Skylar, Vera was reminded of the apology and plea she had made in front of Skylar earlier. It had been the most humiliating moment of her life.
She quickly composed herself. When she looked at Skylar again, she put on her usual aloof and high–and- mighty demeanor. She asked, “Is Joe not back yet?”
The question was not whether he was home but whether he had returned.
Skylar understood immediately. It seemed Joe and Vera had met last night.
“He’s back, but he’s asleep. Do you need me to wake him?” Skylar offered.
Vera noticed Skylar’s calm demeanor and lack of any hint of arrogance, which only made her more uncomfortable. She would have preferred if Skylar had flaunted her relationship with Joe.
“No, it’s fine. He didn’t sleep last night and drank a lot, so I don’t want to disturb him. This is a gift I gave to some friends of mine. He left it at the club. I happened to be passing by and thought I’d return it,” Vera said, handing the bag to Skylar.
Skylar took the bag and turned to go back inside.
“Wait a moment,” Vera called after her.
Skylar stopped and turned back. “Is there something else?”
“Your relationship with Joe… How much does Joe pay you each month?” Vera asked, fixing her gaze on Skylar.
Immediately after asking, she regretted her words, but she felt the need to clarify things.
Every time she saw Skylar, her unease grew.
Skylar’s expression turned cold. “If you have any questions or doubts about my relationship with Joe, you should ask him directly.”
Nowadays, communication and information exchange between people were very convenient.
Vera had so many doubts that it was no use asking Skylar and beating around the bush. It would be better to ask Joe directly. Besides, Skylar didn’t have a good impression of her.
After Skylar’s response, Vera had no opportunity to ask more questions. Vera’s face darkened as she watched Skylar walk away, feeling completely ignored.
She wondered who had given Skylar the courage to completely disregard her.
The more confident and unapologetic Skylar seemed, the more Vera struggled to find a way to confirm things with Joe.
The events of the previous night left her feeling uneasy. Joe was becoming increasingly distant toward her.
Vera stood there, lost in thought for a moment. She pressed her lips together tightly. Once back in her car, Vera called Rowan.
Rowan was likely asleep and didn’t answer. Then she thought of someone else and called Jenny.
It wasn’t long before Jenny answered the phone.
“Jenny, do you know much about Skylar?” Vera asked, cutting straight to the point. She had no patience for beating around the bush.
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Jenny’s voice sounded a bit tired. “Skylar? She’s a very calculating person. You’ll realize it after a few interactions with her.
“She’ll use any means necessary to attract Joe. There’s nothing she won’t do. My advice is to be cautious around her, Ms. Ruell.”
“Last time you mentioned that Joe had special feelings for her. Does he have feelings for her? Or is their relationship not just a sugar daddy situation but a romantic one?” Vera boldly speculated.
In Vera’s view, only a genuine boyfriend–girlfriend relationship could explain why Skylar was so confident in her interactions with her.
Jenny seemed lost in thought for a while before continuing, “It’s not a typical boyfriend–girlfriend relationship. Just be wary of her, or Joe will likely distance himself from you because of her.”
“Alright, thank you for what you’ve shared today. It helps me understand Skylar better,” Vera replied warmly.
As Vera was about to hang up, Jenny quickly added, “Can you do me a favor?”
Vera squinted. Despite her dislike for Jenny, she might find her useful in the future. After all, Jenny had grown up around Joe. She said, “What is it? I’ll help if I can.”
“Please arrange a meeting with Rowan for me. You can use any reason you like, as long as it’s not under my name. We’ve had some misunderstandings, and I’d like to clear them up in person,” Jenny requested.
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“Rowan?” Vera echoed.
Vera had heard a bit about Rowan and Jenny’s situation and knew that Rowan was recently engaged. She couldn’t help but sneer internally. She had always suspected Jenny wasn’t as innocent as she seemed.
And now, seeing Rowan’s engagement, it was clear that Jenny was trying to use Rowan to her advantage.
“Alright, I’ll arrange it. I’ll let you know when it’s set up. When will you be discharged from the hospital?”
Jenny responded, “I should be discharged from the hospital by next week.”
“Okay.”
In the hospital ward, Jenny stared at her phone, struggling to control her expression, She could hardly believe she had been completely shut out. Despite trying every possible way, Joe was ignoring her completely.
Moments ago, she had received a termination letter from her job.
Since she was still on probation, the company offered her compensation. Joe’s words were true–she could no longer see him.
If that car accident had indeed been orchestrated by her mother, then no matter what she did, Joe would never forgive her easily. Now, she could only pin her hopes on Rowan.
As long as she humbled herself and sought his favor, he would surely have treated her well again.
He must have.
He would have.
She was determined to make Rowan call off the engagement. Then, she could gradually change Joe’s opinion of her through Rowan.
What her mother had done had nothing to do with her. The videos were taken under duress by Edwin. She had been a victim from start to finish. She believed that she deserved to be treated well.
Just then, a nurse walked into the ward with a bottle of medication. The nurse was taken aback by Jenny’s dark expression. “Ms. Scott, you…”
A
“What about me?” Jenny snapped, glaring at the nurse.
The nurse hadn’t expected Jenny to suddenly lose her temper, so she warily approached to change the dressing.
Jenny, lost in thought, remained absent–minded.
As the nurse finished and left, she shook her head subtly.
Jenny’s mood swings were faster than turning pages of a book. Previously, she had been very polite to the doctors and nurses, but in the past few days, she seemed like a completely different person.
She had become irritable and harsh. She hadn’t had many visitors during her hospital stay. Fortunately, she would be discharged soon.
Joe slept until 2:00 pm. When he woke and saw that Skylar was not in bed, he noticed the disheveled
Chapter 860
state of the room and couldn’t help but smile.
He got out of bed and went downstairs. Skylar was nowhere to be found.
He wondered whether Skylar had gone to work. He immediately called her.
“Are you at work?” Joe asked as soon as the call connected.
Skylar replied, “I took the day off, I’m on my way to my mom’s house. By the way, Ms. Ruell came by a little over an hour ago. I left the things she brought on the table by the door.”
Joe responded simply, “Okay.”
Then, he asked, “When will you be back?”
Noticing Joe’s lack of interest in Vera’s visit, Skylar was a bit surprised. “Probably after dinner.”
