Chapter 1203
Skylar replied to Minerva, “I’m heading downstairs now.” She put away her phone and looked at Aiken. “Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
After her earlier calm, Skylar felt completely at ease. They descended and took seats beside Caleb, who remained engrossed in a phone conversation. “Uncle John, I wish I hadn’t brought Skylar. You have no idea. Ned looks just like Joe! I can’t see a difference at all.”
John replied almost instantly, “Send me a picture. I refuse to believe there’s someone who looks that much like another person.”
Caleb immediately snapped a photo of Ned from the side—a frontal view was impossible—and sent it to John. Just as he was about to reply, he noticed Skylar. “You’re back? How are you feeling now? Should we leave?”
“I’m good. Has the auction started?” Skylar smiled, her gaze drifting to the preparations underway. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ned talking to Rosa, their conversation prompting happy laughter from Rosa. Skylar quickly looked away.
“Yes, it’s started. Some attendees from the charity gala have brought items from their collections to auction, and the proceeds will be donated. Uncle John has participated a few times before and donated items as well,” Caleb explained.
Caleb omitted the fact that Ned’s presence had elicited exceptionally valuable auction items, far surpassing those of previous events.
Skylar smiled. “Great! Let’s see if there’s anything good.”
The auction progressed rapidly, with enthusiastic participation. However, Skylar found herself somewhat distracted, nothing capturing her interest; Caleb seemed to feel the same. At that moment, Minerva sat beside her, leaning in to whisper, “These events can be pretty boring. How about we go out for a drink tonight?” Minerva, initially expecting an ordinary charity gala, hadn't anticipated encountering Ned, Joe's near-identical double.
Chapter 1203
Minerva, unfamiliar with such a situation outside of fiction, found it melodramatic and worried about Skylar's reaction to Ned's presence. Skylar glanced at the time and agreed. “Alright, let’s go.”
“I’ll head out too. I’m meeting some friends,” Caleb added.
As they left, Ned, observing the auction, glanced at Skylar. Her slender figure, seen from behind, appeared almost too frail. It was as if she shouldn't be so thin.
Half an hour later, as Ned and Rosa prepared to leave, Rowan stepped in front of Ned, his eyes narrowing in scrutiny. “Are you really not Joe?”
Rowan, having observed Ned from a distance, noted his striking resemblance to Joe, identical in every way except name and birthplace. He needed to understand Ned’s identity, wondering if Joe, weary of the Martin family, had created this new persona, feigning his death three years prior. Rowan felt he was on the verge of discovering the truth.
Ned, maintaining a stoic expression, replied coldly, “I’m not. Move aside.”
The authoritative tone chilled Rowan. It echoed Joe's manner of reprimand. He instinctively stepped aside, letting Ned and Rosa pass. As they did, Rosa stopped and addressed him. “You’re all mistaken. I’ve known Ned for years. He is Ned, not Joe. I hope you and your friends won’t bother us again.”