Chapter 1069
Skylar felt utterly drained after her shower. Joe had offered to help, and despite her exhaustion, she initially considered accepting. However, upon getting out of bed, she noticed the marks on her body. She couldn't bear to face Joe, even though he was responsible for them. The intimacy made confronting him impossible. Returning to bed, Joe pulled her close and called Gloria.
Though the phone wasn't on speaker, Skylar heard Gloria's strong voice, scolding and threatening Joe. "You better handle things properly, and don't you dare hurt Skye. If you ever hurt her, I won't forgive you. Even if this engagement is just for show, if she's unhappy, you'll end it immediately."
Gloria paused, sighing heavily. "You two have been through so much. It breaks my heart to watch. If it ever gets too hard, tell me. I'll explain everything to Skye. I just don't know who's behind all this. I've lived a long life, and besides Viola, I've never seen anyone so capable. In any case, be careful. Protect Skye well and make sure to explain things clearly to her. You two must stick together; don't let anyone drive a wedge between you, understand?"
Gloria's worry was evident. She'd once believed old age brought fewer troubles, but now realized there were still battles she couldn't, or wouldn't, avoid.
Joe reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything. Mr. Gardner Senior and Mr. Querbach Senior both support what I'm doing. We'll protect Skylar."
Gloria sighed in relief. "That's good. If they support your actions, the person behind all this is growing bolder. You need to be extra cautious."
Joe softly agreed, then asked Skylar, "Do you want to say a few words to Grandma?" His voice was gentle. After their intimacy, he was unusually approachable; his usual aloofness had significantly lessened.
Hearing this, Gloria quickly asked, "Is Skye with you?"
"Yes, we're in bed," Joe replied promptly. Fearing Joe might say something inappropriate, Skylar quickly took the phone. She feared losing the courage to face Gloria if he did.
"Grandma, it's me. I just returned from the countryside and was a bit tired, so I napped. Don't worry. I know about Joe's plans, and we'll face everything together."
Gloria chuckled warmly. "Good, good. If you're tired, you should rest a bit longer. I believe you two can handle this together."
After a moment, Gloria hung up and smiled at Edgar. "They really think I'm an old fossil who can't tell what's going on, huh? I had endless energy when I was young, and now I see Joe has some of that too."
Edgar replied, "There will surely be more intruders looking to disturb you later, so don't let them see you smiling, Mrs. Martin Senior."
The Martin family was in an uproar over Joe's divorce from Skylar and his swift engagement to a stranger. Everyone wanted to visit Gloria in the hospital, hoping to influence Joe's marriage to someone advantageous to them.
Hearing this, Gloria's expression darkened. "Thanks for the reminder. These people are so troublesome. Instead of helping Joe face everything, they only create more trouble for him."