Chapter 1293

“I’m happy to see Grandma too,” Skylar said, immediately sitting down. The strawberries on her plate emitted a tempting aroma; freshly picked and vibrant. She selected one and ate it. “This is so delicious!”

“Eat as much as you want. If you need more, I’ll have Veronica pick some,” Gloria said with a loving smile.

“I’ll go right away,” Veronica responded promptly.

“No, it’s fine. I had a large lunch; I can’t eat many more,” Skylar replied.

“Alright, then I’ll get more when you’d like some,” Veronica said. She had no children, her husband having passed away from an illness in her youth. Since then, she and Edgar had resided at Pearlhall Residence to care for Gloria. Now, she treated Skylar like her own daughter. Both she and Skylar earnestly hoped for Gloria’s continued improvement.

“Thank you, Veronica.”

“I’ll go check on dinner.”

Veronica went to the kitchen, a smile playing on her lips as she considered the evening meal. Skylar remained with Gloria, watching a drama projected from a phone; Gloria disliked foreign shows.

Several guests arrived in the evening—Gloria’s university classmates who lived nearby. They visited occasionally to catch up. While the adults chatted, Skylar sat nearby, joining the conversation periodically.

A video call then appeared on her phone, prompting her to go upstairs.

“Simona.”

Simona appeared on screen, in a hotel room bathed in warm light. “Skye, are you in Murida?”

“Yes. By Jipsburg time, you should be asleep. Are you up late or just waking up?” Skylar asked.

Simona yawned. “I might have slept a bit, but I felt half-awake the whole time. Skylar, do you have a moment? There are some things I want to talk about.”

Chapter 1293

These were matters she couldn’t share with close friends or her brother. Skylar was her first confidante.

“Sure, I’m free now. Are you having trouble with your studies?”

“No, it’s about a relationship.” Simona looked at her phone, worry etched on her face.

Skylar raised an eyebrow. “Is there someone you like?”

This time home, she hadn’t seen Simona, limiting their conversations. Recent events with Joe had prevented her from contacting Simona or Aiken. Simona’s expression suggested a relationship or crush.

Simona’s face flushed at the question; even through the screen, her reddened ears and cheeks were visible. A girlish shyness and sparkle shone in her eyes.

“Skylar, you really know me best. Yes, I like someone, and we just started dating a few days ago. He’s a classmate. He’s very caring and talented. Many girls at school like him; I’ve even seen public confessions, but he never accepted them.

“I had a crush, but thought I wasn’t his type. Then, he told me he liked me—completely unexpected—and I fell for him. I’ve never felt this way before. I liked Caleb, but it was different.

“It’s just… my brother dislikes him, saying we’re not compatible. I feel stuck. He wants to meet my brother, but if my brother finds out, he’ll be furious.”

Skylar considered this. Aiken’s comment about incompatibility suggested he'd investigated the young man. Given Aiken's care for Simona, a simple mismatch wouldn't be a major concern. Something about the young man must be troubling.