Chapter 36

Joe sat on the couch, crossing his legs. He looked at Skylar, and she sensed his unease. She wondered if it stemmed from the Jubilance Hotel incident.

As she sat opposite him, she doubted the hotel incident concerned him. Could his distress be related to their secret marriage? That seemed unlikely, given their signed agreement and her silence that day. So, why was he upset?

While pondering this, she noticed the "Covert Marriage Agreement" on the coffee table. Confusion washed over her. Wasn't this the document they'd signed when registering their marriage?

Joe, noticing her confusion, asked, "You remember the terms of this agreement, don't you?"

Skylar, though unsure of his meaning, nodded. She'd skimmed the agreement; it contained only a secrecy clause and an expiration date.

"Cut to the chase, Mr. Martin," she said.

Joe held a cigarette, smoke obscuring his expression. He scoffed at Skylar's confident demeanor.

"Spit it out. What did you and your boyfriend discuss? What do you want from me? For Grandma's sake, I'll give you what I can, then we'll file for divorce. Don't show your face near Grandma again."

Skylar's frown deepened. "I broke up with Christopher long ago, and I never planned to take anything from you. Grandma has always been kind, and I married you to repay her. That's the only reason."

"Broke up, huh?" Joe, disbelieving her, activated his phone and tossed it to her. The screen displayed a picture of a young couple embracing outside the hotel. Christopher's possessive hug suggested deep affection. Skylar, however, felt nauseous at the sight.

With pursed lips, she suppressed her disgust. "Yes, we broke up," she said stiffly.

"Then why the lingering embrace?" Joe's distrustful gaze was unwavering.

"He forced the hug. Anyone watching a few minutes longer would have seen me push him away," Skylar retorted. "I remember our agreement. I won't involve myself with any man during our marriage. However, if you're trying to slander me with this photo, I'm happy to terminate the agreement."

Relieved but aware of Joe's justified suspicion, she watched his expression turn frosty. She produced a photo from her phone, taken at the car dealership.

"Christopher and Maisy have been secretly seeing each other. My feelings for Christopher are irrelevant; this photo ends any possibility of a relationship."

Joe glanced at the photo, then away. His decision remained unchanged. He believed their messy relationship was best ended to protect Gloria.

"That doesn't explain anything," he said.

Seeing his resolve, Skylar ceased her explanations. "I won't object to ending the agreement," she said, nodding.

Her immediate compliance slightly altered Joe's perception of her.