Chapter 1148

Joe called Skylar about ten minutes after she left the hospital. He told her he had something to attend to that evening and wasn't sure when he would return, advising her to go to bed.

After returning home, she showered and followed her usual routine. Before bed, she chatted briefly with Natalie, who had stayed at the hospital for over an hour before taking a cab home. Jeremy had awakened while Natalie was there, though he was weak and fell back asleep after speaking briefly. Natalie felt relieved to see Jeremy out of danger.

After a few more words with Natalie, Skylar turned off the lights and went to bed, succumbing to drowsiness. In a half-sleep state, she found herself in a familiar vision of white mist. Joe appeared, and she ran toward him, but he couldn't hear her calls. As she approached, the mist dispersed, revealing Joe covered in blood—his entire body soaked in it, his white shirt stained crimson. The sight was intensely painful, causing her to cry out, "Joe!" But he seemed unable to hear her. Dense white mist then enveloped him again, obscuring him from view. She tried to wave it away, but it was impenetrable. When she reached the spot where he'd been, he had vanished.

"Joe!" she screamed, jolting awake from the terrifying nightmare. In the dim room, she felt a cold sweat trickle down her forehead, panting heavily. It had been a nightmare, but…

Chapter 1148

Why was the dream so vivid? It felt exactly like when Viola had appeared in her dreams.

After calming down, Skylar noticed Joe hadn't returned. She turned on the bedside lamp, got up, grabbed her phone, and went to the living room, where a soft light created a warm, cozy atmosphere. She poured herself warm water, letting the warmth soothe the lingering chill from her dream.

Gazing out the window at the quiet night, she reflected on the persistent unease and dread she'd felt since Viola's death. Tonight's dream, however, felt shockingly real. The urgency and heartache lingered, leaving her unsettled. But it was just a dream. Perhaps she'd been overthinking things lately, letting recent events seep into her sleep. Dreams couldn't possibly be real.

She unlocked her phone and saw a WhatsApp message from Joe, sent about an hour prior: "There's an issue with the overseas collaboration. I need to catch a flight immediately to deal with it in person. I'll be back in three days. Don't worry, and wait for me." Skylar had fallen asleep three hours earlier.