Chapter 5

Since she was young, Skylar had been warned by Viola not to use the skills Viola had taught her before marriage. This applied to the knowledge she gained from Viola's books as well. Viola had also forbidden Skylar from disclosing this knowledge to Janine, warning her of dire consequences.

In Skylar's previous life, Amelia Campbell, Christopher's mother, needed approximately one million dollars for her kidney transplant. Unable to bear Christopher's distress, Skylar secretly helped restore a painting, receiving exactly one million dollars in return.

A few days later, while shopping with Sadie, Skylar saw a speeding truck and instinctively shoved Sadie out of the way. This resulted in Skylar's paralysis from the waist down.

Fortunately, none of these events had occurred in Skylar's current life. She hadn't seen Viola again, not even before Viola's death in her past life.

As Skylar read Viola's letter, her emotions overwhelmed her. The familiar handwriting triggered a torrent of tears. The letter revealed Viola's final divination: Viola had bequeathed her remaining fortune to Skylar, predicting a life-threatening calamity—possibly within three years.

The letter also stated that Skylar's survival of this calamity was akin to a phoenix's rebirth, signifying limitless potential. Viola concluded by mentioning their eventual, unforced reunion.

When Skylar was young, she had wanted to learn divination from Viola, but Viola refused, claiming it wasn't a gift to be casually bestowed. While not as skilled as Viola, Skylar could sense whether antiques were auspicious or inauspicious. She later focused on Viola's books.

"Oh, dear, Skylar, why are you crying? Is something wrong?" Gloria's heart ached at the sight of Skylar's tears. She felt inexplicably anguished by Skylar's distress, which triggered a memory.

"Grandma, I'm fine. I just miss Grandma Viola very much," Skylar replied, her tears subsiding as she offered a reassuring smile.

Later, while Skylar was in the bathroom, Gloria secretly called Joe. "You brat, did you give Skylar a hard time at the courthouse today?"

Joe, preparing to leave work, was startled. "What did she tell you?"

Gloria snorted. "She didn't say anything. But I'm perceptive enough to know she's upset."

"It wasn't me," Joe said, heading for the elevator and pressing his temples. He'd expected Skylar to honor their marriage agreement. Her shrewdness surprised him. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"It better not have been you! Come pick her up tonight. And remember my task—I need a great-grandchild, and soon!" Gloria ordered before hanging up.

Joe felt helpless. As the elevator arrived, he noticed Paul's distraction since dropping Skylar off at Pearlhall Residence.

"What's wrong with you?" Joe asked.

Paul sullenly showed Joe the emerald charm still around his neck, recounting Skylar's words outside the mansion (they were alone in the elevator). He asked, "Did I offend Ms. Williams? Her reaction was so… superstitious."

Joe raised an eyebrow, his expression hardening. He suspected Skylar had manipulated Gloria.

"Just ignore her," he said coldly.

Paul nodded fervently. "Alright." Relieved after his earlier distress, he realized Skylar had probably intended to frighten him. He considered the charm's value, planning to make it a family heirloom.

The elevator descended rapidly. At the 30th floor, it violently shook, the lights flickering three times before returning to normal. They dismissed it as a minor malfunction, but the elevator then plummeted. Even Joe, usually composed, showed perturbation.

Paul's eyes widened. "Holy crap!" He feared death. The lights completely died.

"Mr. Martin!" Paul shrieked.

Eerily, the elevator stopped just before impact. The lights returned, as if the near-catastrophe were an illusion.

Paul gulped, noticing his distressed state compared to Joe's composure. Joe's gaze seemed sharper than usual. After the ordeal, Paul instinctively looked at the charm. "Why do I feel like Ms. Williams wasn't joking?"

Joe, unswayed by superstition, glanced at the elevator ceiling. "Call the technicians. All the elevators need thorough inspection and repair; they must be operational tomorrow."

"Alright!"

As Joe exited, Paul nervously asked, "Mr. Martin, could you ask Ms. Williams if she was joking? Can I still wear this?" The incident had shaken him profoundly.

Glancing at the charm, Joe replied, "Wear it. It was an accident." He implied Paul shouldn't heed Skylar's warnings.

Paul agreed. "I'll call the technicians now." He imagined the technical support team facing consequences for the near-disaster. They'd likely work through the night.

Upon arriving at Pearlhall Residence, Joe found Gloria unusually happy, laughing heartily with Skylar while watching a dating show.