Chapter 25

Joe tugged at his tie. He said gravely, "Skylar, you have a fever of 102.2 degrees. You need to take some medicine."

Skylar gritted her teeth at the word "medicine."

"I hate you, Christopher!" she mumbled, dazed.

Seeing the tears on Skylar's face and hearing the name "Christopher," Joe understood her distress. She bit her lip so hard it might bleed.

He frowned. "Skylar, wake up."

She may have bitten through her lip; the pain jolted her awake, though her head still throbbed and she felt weak. Opening her eyes, she saw Joe. The dreamlike scene dissipated, but the ache in her heart remained. She reached for him. "Thank you. Is that aspirin? Give it to me."

Joe gazed at her intently and gave her the medicine and water.

"I'll feel better after this. Please get some rest, Mr. Martin."

Joe said coldly, "You'll be okay alone?"

Skylar smiled and nodded. "Yes. It's just a cold and a fever." It was minor; she could handle it.

Joe observed her newfound strength, contrasting it with her earlier fragility. Was she trying to appear tough? He considered this, and his earlier speculations about her, then left her room coldly.

After Joe left, Skylar lay back down. Perhaps the dream had been too real, feeling like a return to her past life and keeping her awake. She still felt weak, but better after the nap and medicine.

Her phone rang. Seeing it was Steven, she answered. "Steven."

"Why do you sound so weak, Skye? Are you sick?" Steven asked anxiously. He'd watched her grow up and recognized her sick voice.

Skylar's eyes reddened—the illness made her miss her family. "I'm okay, Steven. Just a minor cold. I'll feel better after a nap."

"Where are you living? I'm free; I can take care of you." Steven worried she was alone in a rented house.

Skylar quickly fabricated an excuse. "I'm living with someone. My housemate will take care of me. Don't worry, Steven." She hadn't figured out how to tell them about her recent marriage.

Steven relaxed slightly. "Oh, right. Is something going on with you and Christopher?"

"We broke up. Has he looked for me?" Skylar licked her dry lips; the pain from the dream returned.

"He just called, asking where you were. You should have broken up with him sooner! I never liked him. He's changed for the worse these past two years," Steven said.

Skylar said self-deprecatingly, "You're right." Even Steven saw Christopher's change. How could she have been so blind in her past life?

"Steven, come take a look. Don't you think this thesis looks like yours?"

Skylar heard someone call Steven. Worriedly, she asked, "Has something happened, Steven?"