Chapter 210

Skylar was caught off guard. With her mouth full, she blurted out, "Why does my diet matter?"

She was bewildered. Weren't they just going through the motions to appease Gloria?

"Have you thought about making our marriage real and ending the three-year contract?" Joe asked bluntly.

Skylar nearly choked on her food, causing her eyes to well up with tears. Hastily, she grabbed a napkin to wipe her face, feeling utterly embarrassed.

Joe handed her a glass of water, thinking his words might have startled her.

"Mr. Martin, you must be joking, right?" Skylar asked, still in shock.

"I'm not," Joe replied firmly.

After taking a sip of water, Joe continued calmly, "I don't have time to adjust to living with another woman. We've been getting along fine, and we understand each other."

"Actually, I don't know you all that well, and you don't really know me either. Have you really thought this through?" Skylar asked.

Could a loveless marriage last? She recalled her fiery romance with Christopher in their youth, which had ultimately ended in vain. If so, a marriage without high expectations and drama might be easier to sustain. It would also give their families some peace.

As she considered this, Skylar's resolve began to waver.

"We can get to know each other better over time," Joe said with a smile.

Joe had mulled over this decision extensively and didn't mind the idea of spending the rest of his life with Skylar. The other details seemed insignificant in comparison.

Skylar smiled, her eyes still shimmering from her earlier choking incident. "Alright, we'll get to know each other better in the future."

The two quickly reached an understanding. After lunch, Joe and Skylar returned to the hospital to collect their test results.

The results showed Skylar was slightly anemic from previous blood donations. She was advised to rest more to recover. Joe, despite his chronic insomnia and strict lifestyle, was also advised to take it easy. The doctor said neither issue would prevent them from conceiving.

On the way back, after some contemplation, Skylar spoke up. "I graduated from college recently and just started a new job. I'm not ready to be a mom yet." Plus, she wasn't mentally prepared for physical intimacy with Joe.

"That's fine. There's no rush. Let's just take it one step at a time," Joe replied, realizing he might have been too impulsive earlier.

"Steven wants to meet you this weekend. Will you be free?" Skylar asked. Feeling overwhelmed, Steven had suddenly come to mind.

"Sure, you can set the time," Joe replied.

Just then, Gloria called Joe. He answered immediately.

"Are you guys done? What did the doctor say?" she asked.

Joe glanced at Skylar, who appeared noticeably preoccupied by his recent decision. "I'm fine, as usual. But as for Skye"

Skylar was taken aback by the gentle way Joe mentioned her name.

"She's donated blood multiple times and hasn't been resting well. She needs some time to recover."

Gloria was worried. "Multiple donations? Did the doctor give specific instructions on her care? Joe, you need to make sure she's well looked after. Don't rush into starting a family. Skye's health should come first. Maybe in a year or two."