Chapter 186

Skylar hurriedly sent another WhatsApp message: “Joe, don’t get too close to Marcus. He’ll bring you trouble! I’ll explain when you have time.”

However, both WhatsApp messages went unanswered. Skylar waited restlessly for a reply, leaving her phone’s sleep mode off for fear of missing his call or message.

Some time later, she woke groggily to her phone ringing. She answered immediately.

“I just got off the plane and saw your message,” Joe said.

Skylar’s alertness sharpened. “Are you and Marcus on the same flight?”

“Yes, we are.” Joe glanced at Marcus, who stood beside him.

This chance encounter gave Marcus an opportunity to get closer to Joe—an opportunity he needed, as the Lennon family was facing problems.

Skylar took a deep breath. “Listen. He’s wearing a thumb ring. That’s not good. He’s a womanizer, constantly changing girlfriends. And that sinister ring… he’s afflicted with something. Don’t get close to him! He’s your friend; his energy will affect you, maybe even endanger your life.”

Joe discreetly raised an eyebrow, then glanced at Paul, whose forehead was red and swollen from hitting a hard surface. His gaze then fell to his shoes: a smudge of orange juice and a scratch from a broken glass marred his bespoke leather footwear.

Earlier, severe turbulence had caused a glass in a flight attendant’s hand to fall. Paul, about to go to the washroom, had fallen as well. Marcus, sitting behind them, spat out blood. Chaos erupted during that short one-hour flight. Yet now, Marcus only looked slightly pale, otherwise seemingly fine. His condition didn’t deter him from being physically intimate with the attractive woman beside him.

Joe felt he should sometimes believe things that didn’t seem logical at first glance, or perhaps he was simply more willing to trust Skylar now.

“Are you worried about me?” Joe asked with a half-smile, quickening his pace to distance himself from Marcus.

Skylar was momentarily stunned by his teasing tone. She answered honestly, “I don’t want Grandma to suffer the pain of losing a descendant before her.” She also didn’t want to cite widowhood as a reason for divorce.

Joe smirked, amusement in his eyes. “It’s late. Go to sleep.”

“Okay, good night.”

As Marcus walked, he noticed Joe hurrying away, seemingly forgetting him. He immediately caught up, the attractive woman beside him struggling to keep pace in her high heels.

“Mr. Martin, can I get a ride to the hotel? My car broke down,” Marcus asked.

Paul deduced Marcus wanted to talk to Joe. They were acquaintances, knowing each other for some time. Not close friends, but Marcus often appeared in Joe’s social circles.

Suddenly, his forehead throbbed. Touching it, he felt the large bump, understanding the intense pain.

This was a first. After years of flying—spending nearly as much time on planes as at home—this was Paul’s first such bout of bad luck.

“It’s inconvenient,” Joe refused stoically, offering no explanation.