Chapter 1168

Ernest and Nelson's brother, Darren Martin, returned unexpectedly after years living abroad. His family's departure from Jipsburg City had rendered them practically forgotten; their once powerful, complex legacy faded into obscurity. Darren swiftly assumed control of the Martin Group, eclipsing Joe's former position as CEO within six months. Meanwhile, Lizzie's numerous media interviews detailing Joe's disappearance and her heartbreak filled the internet. She subsequently announced a year-long hiatus. Gloria retired to Murida, soon followed by Skylar. Three years passed quickly.

At the airport, Skylar prepared to hail a cab when a car pulled up. A handsome man lowered the window. "I checked today's flight from Murida to Jipsburg. You didn't tell us the time to avoid disrupting our work, right?" he asked.

Charles, driving an unassuming MPV, was a major celebrity riding a wave of recent success, his latest film breaking box office records. He quickly unloaded Skylar's luggage, then, noticing onlookers, urged her to hurry into the car. Recognizing his current popularity, Skylar complied. Inside, she smiled. "Charles, you're extraordinary! Two major awards in just three years!"

Over three years had passed since she left Jipsburg. Gazing out the car window at familiar sights, memories flooded back, a fleeting melancholy quickly suppressed. "Mom and Steven are home, cooking your favorites. I even made a special dish," Charles said, subtly observing her pensive expression. He understood her three-year stay in Murida: a relentless search for Joe, fueled by a lingering hope that he was still alive. But three years had yielded nothing, mirroring the fruitless search for their father, lost at sea years before. The rising water and swift current had erased all trace of him. Life, they realized, was unpredictable.

As they approached the city center, Skylar's phone rang incessantly, the first call from Natalie.