Chapter 1033

Gloria said, “Just tell her I went to meet a friend. She can come back in a few days. I’ll stay in the hospital awhile and try to hang on a bit longer.”

Edgar’s eyes misted at her words. Gloria had endured so much. Even in her old age, worries still plagued her. His concern for her health intensified, the Martins being a handful. He hoped she could hold on for a few more years.

Vera chatted with friends over tea, feeling bored.

“Vera, are you and Joe getting engaged soon?” one friend asked.

Vera paused, considering her relationship with Joe. Since their brief encounter at the recent gala, he’d been too busy to meet. Their current status was unclear. Yet, Molly’s confident assertion lingered: Joe would soon divorce Skylar, and Vera should wear the ring. Vera wondered if she’d simply grown accustomed to wearing it, but it instilled an inexplicable sense of trust.

“I’m just friends with Joe. It’s not what you think,” Vera said casually.

To her friends, she seemed effortlessly confident, a quality they envied. Others would have faltered around Joe, but Vera remained composed.

“In all of Jipsburg, you’re the only one who matches Joe. If you don’t get engaged to him, who else is worthy?” another friend joked.

The others agreed. It did seem that way.

Vera’s expression subtly shifted. She hadn’t married Joe while Skylar had. A wave of discomfort washed over her.

“Alright, let’s stop the jokes. If anyone overheard, they might actually think I have a relationship with Joe. We’re just friends for now, and whether that changes depends on him. I’m tired, so I’m leaving,” Vera said, rising.

The tea had lost its appeal. Her friends exchanged surprised glances at her sudden shift in mood. She seemed indifferent, yet the intensity behind her words suggested otherwise. They wondered if rumors of Joe taking another woman were true. That would explain her irritation.

Leaving the tea house, Vera drove toward the city’s outskirts. The drive was smooth. Soon, she arrived at Galaxy Villa.