Chapter 1332

After arriving at the Knight Residence, Cade Knight first treated Skylar to iced tea. Only after enjoying the tea did she begin examining the painting.

Cade was an avid collector of antique paintings and a good friend of Alexander. When Skylar returned from Jipsburg, Alexander had insisted she help Cade. Although she hadn’t worked much during her years in Murida, Alexander had introduced her to numerous opportunities. Over time, word spread, and she had been busy with one job after another for several years. Her financial situation improved considerably. Fortunately, the people she encountered were kind and generous. Most elders treated her like their own child, and she never mentioned her fees; they simply transferred money to her account.

Cade’s painting was in deplorable condition. No wonder Alexander had mentioned that several antique restorers had refused the job. Seeing Skylar’s worried expression, Cade braced himself. “Given the extent of the damage, is there any chance of restoration? This is all my fault for not protecting it properly.”

At his words, Skylar shifted her gaze from the painting. “The damage is severe, and restoration will require considerable time—possibly two months. If you’re not in a hurry, I can take it back to my studio and return it once it’s restored.” She knew Cade had collected many antiquities abroad over the years and sent them back to Jipsburg’s museums. Skylar admired Cade’s patriotism in preserving and donating these cultural artifacts, so she had promised not to charge for restoring this painting.

Cade’s eyes lit up. “Can it be restored?” He was genuinely fond of the painting. Skylar nodded with a smile. “Yes, it can. Just be patient, Mr. Knight.”

“I’m not in a rush. Alexander mentioned you’ve been quite busy lately, so I’ll be patient,” Cade chuckled, recalling Alexander’s words.

Afterwards, Skylar casually admired some of Cade’s other collectibles. After about half an hour, Cade insisted she stay for lunch, which consisted of Floan cuisine. He chuckled and said, “I’ve lived here for decades, but I still can’t get used to the local food. Floan cuisine is definitely the best.”

Skylar agreed. “I feel the same way, Mr. Knight. I have a taste for Floan cuisine.”

After lunch, she took the painting and left. The traffic was light. Passing a scenic lake, she stopped, got out of the car, and leaned against it, enjoying the view. Several families were camping and grilling nearby. The scent of barbecue reminded her that she hadn’t yet gone camping or grilling with Joe. When Joe regained his memories, she would ask him to take her and Gloria. She had her sights set on this beautiful spot.

Lost in thought, she was startled by a noise. Someone had parked behind her. Turning, she glanced to see what was happening. As she looked back, a figure emerged from the car. Recognizing him, she was astonished. For a moment, she thought she was hallucinating. “Is this real?” she wondered.

Joe was walking toward her, quickly closing the distance. Once he was close, she snapped back to reality. It was indeed Joe. “What are you doing here?” Skylar asked, her surprise evident.

Chapter 158