Chapter 170 November 2nd

Annie panicked. She hadn't expected Skylar to call Joe during their conversation. Regret washed over her as her threats to Skylar were revealed.

"Joe, please let me explain. I thought her situation was complex, and she must have had an ulterior motive for getting close to you. I tried to get rid of her."

"What I said to scare her—it was thoughtless," Annie explained frantically, desperate to salvage her image.

She wanted to appear innocent to Joe. Her threat to Skylar directly contradicted this image.

Joe's voice, cold, came through the phone. "Are you meddling in my woman's affairs, Annie?"

Annie was startled. In Jipsburg City, no one dared interfere in Joe's business, except the Martin family. Even close friends knew better.

Skylar, equally shocked, wondered when she'd become involved with him. She dismissed it as intimidation.

Annie forced herself to calm down. "I'm sorry. I acted rashly."

"A spur-of-the-moment decision? Trying to make Skylar leave with only one million dollars is an insult, Annie Silver. You've become too ambitious," Joe said flatly.

Skylar rarely saw this side of Joe, but his voice sent a shiver down her spine. Although Annie's face had drained of color, Skylar felt nothing. Annie had threatened her and her family, and without the call and recording, Skylar believed Annie would have acted.

"Mr. Martin, please. This was my decision alone. My parents and Rowan don't know. You may not understand Skylar's background, which is why I acted so quickly. I can go to the Martin Group to explain in person." Annie gripped her bag tightly.

She needed to protect her family. She hadn't expected Joe to act against them for Skylar. Her parents and grandfather had, in fact, supported her relationship with Joe.

Joe cut her off. His voice softened slightly as he said, "Skye."

Annie's face paled further.

"I'll handle this," Joe said.

Skylar replied, "Okay. I apologize for troubling you."

"If there's a similar situation, inform me directly," Joe said with concern, aware of the ruthlessness in their social circle. They would do anything to achieve their goals, regardless of the law. He suspected Skylar had been frightened.

A flash of coldness flickered in his eyes. Skylar softly acknowledged before ending the call. She stowed her phone and rose to leave the restaurant.

Seeing her leave, Annie grabbed her wrist. Her expression showed jealousy, panic, and resentment, but her words softened.

"You should explain to Mr. Martin. Tell him there was a misunderstanding, or come with me to find him."

Skylar shook her off.