Chapter 41

Skylar broke into laughter. "It's tomato soup with croutons."

Judging from Joe's reaction, he probably hadn't had such a simple meal before. Then again, that made sense; people would cook and offer Joe any delicacy he desired.

"Croutons?" Joe wondered aloud, setting his bowl on the dining table. He hadn't tried it yet—the soup was still hot. Plus, he was picky about food and somewhat reluctant to eat anything so mushy.

Meanwhile, Skylar ate spoonful after spoonful. The simple ingredients didn't detract from the soup's deliciousness.

Joe eventually picked up his spoon after watching Skylar eat several mouthfuls. With a reluctant frown, he took the tiniest sip. Then another spoonful, and another. Before long, he went to the kitchen and returned with another bowl.

Skylar, who always had a small appetite, felt full after one bowl. She got up, grabbed her bag, and took out the jewelry box containing the ring Gloria had given her at the hospital earlier. Placing it before Joe, she said, "You should keep this."

Although the ring was gorgeous, and she wanted to keep it, she knew it wasn't hers. It was meant for the woman Joe would marry.

Joe looked at the jewelry box. He suddenly pictured Skylar wearing the ring earlier. He thought her hand was a rare and beautiful sight, resembling a sculpture. Her fingers were slender, barely wrinkled, and her simply trimmed nails looked pretty and clean. Joe felt that Skylar seemed to be the only person worthy of wearing it.

"Grandma gave it to you as a gift. It's yours," he stated.

"It's too much. Grandma only gave it to me because she thinks we're married. The person she wants to give this ring to is her real granddaughter-in-law, not me." Skylar felt her willpower had increased; she could now refuse a hundred-million-dollar ring.

Joe looked up at Skylar. "Grandma intended it for you. She wouldn't have given it to anyone else, so keep it."

"Alright, I'll keep it for now." Skylar kept the ring, as Joe had said. She figured she could return it someday if he regretted his decision.

Chapter 41

Early the next morning, Skylar rushed to the hospital. She left at 6:00 a.m., when Joe was unlikely to be awake, texting him that she was leaving.

Few people were at the hospital when she arrived at 7:00 a.m. It was a private hospital, so it wasn't usually crowded.

Gloria was eating breakfast when Skylar arrived. Her complexion had improved significantly since the night before.

Skylar chatted with Gloria for about an hour before leaving the hospital and heading toward the antique street. While en route, Joe replied to her text with one word: "Noted." She didn't give it much thought.

As she neared the antique street, she received a call from Charles.

He asked, "Skye, have you seen what Christopher posted on his social media account?"

"I'm driving and can't look at my phone. What is it, Charles?"

Charles was so upset he clenched his jaw. "I'm livid! I thought Steven said you broke up with Christopher. Does Christopher have a death wish?"

"I would have marched over there to teach him a lesson if I didn't need to film a few scenes today!"

"Don't waste your energy on a jerk," Skylar commented. "Let me pull over and see what he posted."