Chapter 1210

Even after Rosa finished speaking, Ned didn't say they wouldn't go. A twinge of discomfort pierced Rosa's heart, but the situation prevented her from voicing her concerns.

Skylar, noticing Ned's pale face in the rearview mirror, recognized his headache-induced distress. The sight evoked memories of Joe during similar moments of pain; in that instant, Ned became Joe, the two men merging in her mind. Their resemblance, shared insomnia, and headaches solidified this feeling. Skylar's grip on her bag tightened. The familiar sensation she'd felt upon first meeting Ned resurfaced. Taking a deep breath, she regained her composure, her voice calming as she suggested, "Try pressing here; it might help your headache." She pointed to the top of her head, carefully avoiding mention of any specific acupuncture point.

Rosa frowned. "Do you know any traditional massage techniques, or did you just see someone do it and think it might work?" Having witnessed numerous women attempt to capture Ned's attention in similar ways, Rosa suspected Skylar was feigning expertise.

Ned suddenly opened his eyes. His deep gaze fixed on Skylar. "Does it really work?" he asked.

"It varies, and may not suit you, Mr. Sowle," Skylar replied. His voice, mirroring Joe's, was difficult to ignore. The longing and buried memories resurfaced, a voice whispering that this man was Joe. Ned's gaze lingered.

"Then… let's follow Ms. Sullivan's suggestion," Rosa said, unease rising. Ned had never looked at her like that before. Perhaps he was unaware, but Rosa was acutely aware; he'd looked at Skylar the same way last night and at the dress design studio.

"Alright." Ned returned his gaze to the road, closing his eyes and reclining slightly. Rosa began to press on his head.

After only two presses, Ned furrowed his brow. Rosa quickly asked, "Am I pressing too hard?"

"No, stop." Ned moved her hand away. His voice was cold, but the tightly knit brows betrayed his pain. Rosa worried. "Maybe we should return to the hotel. This stop-and-go driving might worsen your headache."

Skylar spoke. "Just drop me off here, please. Thank you for the ride, Mr. Sowle and Mr. Reese."

Rosa sighed in relief. Skylar wasn't the attention-seeking type she'd feared. Rosa had been cautious, sensing an inexplicable barrier hindering her relationship with Ned. Skylar's presence intensified her unease; no one had ever affected her this way before. Ned's previous indifference towards other women had led Rosa to believe it was simply his nature—he avoided closeness. But his gaze towards Skylar revealed something different.

"That's fine, then…" She was about to instruct the driver to pull over.

Then, Ned opened his eyes, fixing his gaze on Skylar. "Since we're headed to the hot spring resort, it's on the way. Let's all go together."

A heaviness settled in Rosa's chest. She bit her lip, glancing at Skylar.