Chapter 323

Joe hadn't been part of the plan, and neither Skylar nor Paul had noticed. Nearby diners whispered about how perfect Skylar and Paul looked together, mistaking them for a couple. Joe arrived just in time to see this and hear the comments. His eyes grew colder than a Jipsburg winter.

Paul felt a chill and was about to ask the restaurant to adjust the air conditioning when he saw Joe. Was that icy glare directed at him?

“M-Mr. Martin…” Paul stammered. Had he done something wrong? He’d made sure Skylar had a fantastic day.

Hearing Paul's greeting, Skylar looked up to see Joe. His expression was typically stern and cold. The restaurant was cramped, crowded, and noisy; Skylar figured it must have made him uncomfortable.

"Have you eaten?" she asked.

Joe sat beside her, but his demeanor remained tense. "No."

Sensing the tension, Paul quickly said, "I… I just remembered I have some work to finish. Mr. Martin, I'll skip dinner and head back to the hotel now." He didn't want indigestion from the overwhelming tension, or to face Joe's clearly murderous glare. Paul was practically tingling with anxiety.

"Okay," Joe agreed.

Paul swiftly exited, unwilling to be a third wheel or face Joe's wrath any longer. Skylar laughed at the sight of him scurrying away. Was Joe really that intimidating?

"Did you have fun today?" Joe asked.

"Yes, a lot! Mr. Ziegler did an awesome job planning, and we took so many photos," Skylar said between bites, famished after a long day.

Joe glanced at their plain dishes. Skylar seemed to enjoy them; Paul must know her tastes well. Joe pursed his lips thoughtfully.

"The chicken is really tender. You should try it," Skylar said, noticing Joe hadn't eaten much.

Some of the iciness in Joe's demeanor melted as he picked up his cutlery and took a bite. The flavor was decent.

"I'm not very hungry. You go ahead and eat. I'll wait for you."

Skylar nodded and resumed eating. Joe seemed a bit off. She glanced at the modestly presented, surprisingly good dishes.

While Skylar ate, Joe picked up the camera Paul had left and scrolled through the photos. Seeing Skylar radiant—almost fairylike—softened his expression. However, his tongue pressed against the roof of his mouth in contemplation.