Chapter 1169

"Are you back, Skye?" Natalie asked firmly. "I don't care what you say. Since you're back, you need to spend today with your mom and brother. Tomorrow, it's just you and me."

Skylar smiled. "Alright, alright. Tomorrow is all yours." She planned to stay for a month. Her return was necessary; a negative artifact, absent for over three years, had resurfaced. Many had become interested in antique collecting because of her three years prior, but as time passed and the artifacts faded from the market, most forgot about them.

A recent incident involving the Ruell family—Vera had fallen victim to the artifact twice—rekindled suspicion, prompting everyone to contact Skylar. The Hughes family had also experienced trouble, with Jeremy reaching out a few days earlier. Before returning, Skylar spoke with Gloria; the artifact's reappearance indicated Kevin's return. While they didn't know why he'd been missing, his reappearance demanded her presence.

Three years felt both short and long. Jipsburg City remained largely unchanged since her departure. After ending her call with Natalie, Lizzie called; having completed a year-long world tour, she'd just returned. They planned dinner in a few days.

Skylar then thought of Muriel. After moving to Murida, Muriel had contacted her, knowing Lizzie had facilitated her current job. Despite lingering feelings between Lizzie and Muriel, they hadn't met in person for three years. However, with Muriel's contributions and Janine's guidance, the Sullance Group had thrived, boasting over twenty live-streaming influencers and a diverse product range extending beyond jewelry to clothing and general merchandise. Their strict selection criteria fostered high fan loyalty, resulting in over forty million followers on their main account. Even without active involvement, Skylar could simply wake up and count her earnings.

Skylar admired Janine's business acumen. Muriel had also established herself as a successful online designer, her jewelry selling exceptionally well. Steven and Mona were preparing for their wedding, while Charles remained focused on his career and Harvey was preparing for graduate school entrance exams.

Lost in thought, Skylar arrived home—the house she'd purchased years ago, where Janine had lived for the past three years. With four bedrooms, it comfortably accommodated visitors, though tonight she planned to stay at Galaxy Villa. Edgar had prepared the villa, allowing for an immediate move-in. As she entered, Janine rushed to embrace her.

"Welcome back, Skye! It's so good to see you," Janine said, her eyes glistening. "Dinner is ready—all your favorites."

Three years might seem short to many, but they felt incredibly long to Skylar. Life had been cruel.

"I just heard from Charles that everyone made their signature dishes," Skylar said, beaming as she embraced Janine. "I've missed your cooking so much. I'm definitely indulging tonight."