Chapter 507
Austin chuckled lightly. "You're right, Hank," he said.
"I expect a raise," Hank replied.
Natalie, Jeremy's wife, wasn't short of money. However, Hank couldn't deny her excellent work ethic. Natalie's eyes widened. "A raise? Thank you!" she exclaimed, quietly thrilled. "Wow!" she added. She always said hard work paid off, and dedication was rewarded. It turned out she was right—she just got a raise!
Not far away, a car pulled up in the rain. Jeremy glanced at the car across the street. He clearly saw Natalie chatting happily with Austin. His expression darkened.
"Mr. Hughes," Jeremy's assistant, Tristan Howell, said from the front seat, "Mrs. Hughes's lawyer, Truman Harper, wants to talk to you."
Jeremy pulled his gaze back. "No need," he said. "Tell him divorce is out of the question."
On the weekend, Skylar went to Harvey's school to drop off some necessities. With exams approaching, Harvey hadn't returned home all month. After a brief conversation with Skylar at the school gate, he returned inside to continue his studies. Skylar then returned home and discussed opening a store with Janine. Skylar planned to source items from the antique street and list them in their store. They also wanted to hire people to handle shipping, with Janine managing the business. As they chatted, Skylar called Daniel to discuss the partnership details. Skylar's store had achieved some success; hence, it was a good time for transformation.
Janine suggested thinking through the process and making a plan. While Harvey was staying at school, Janine often attended classes at a nearby community college to learn computer skills. She even created well-organized spreadsheets and downloaded popular apps.
Seeing Janine keep up with the times, Skylar was fully supportive. They chatted until they were parched, then Janine made some lemonade.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you about Steven," Janine said. "His relationship with Annie is very stable. He's considering marriage. He's not getting any younger. In a few days, he'll visit her parents. We'll see what conditions they have, and he'll let us know afterward. I've saved the money Steven and Charles have earned over the years. Steven's career is doing well, and his income is high. I hope his visit to Annie's family goes smoothly. After all, he's had a tough time over the past few years."
The children lacked a father figure. Steven, the eldest brother, filled that role. With Steven's help and the maturity of the other children, Janine persevered. Looking back, she wasn't sure how she had managed to raise them. When she went to heaven after she died and saw her husband, she would be able to face him with a clear conscience.
Skylar sipped her lemonade, reflecting on Janine's words. "You're right, Mom," she said. "Steven has never once thought about himself all these years. He's always sacrificed for our family. He deserves to be the happiest."
With recent events, Skylar had almost forgotten about Steven and Annie's relationship. Steven's decision to discuss his plans with Janine showed his genuine feelings for Annie. However, Skylar pondered whether Annie truly loved Steven or had ulterior motives.