Chapter 519

Skylar surveyed the dishes before her. She found them quite to her liking. While not particularly fond of Wiscadian cuisine, she appreciated certain dishes.

"I asked Steven what you might enjoy from Wiscadian cuisine, and I've ordered those," Annie said softly. She'd taken the initiative to connect with Skylar, actively showing goodwill.

Skylar sensed Annie's proactive gesture and nodded slightly. "Thank you," she said. "These look delicious."

Annie noticed Skylar's reserved demeanor. For a brief moment, her face stiffened, but she quickly recovered, dismissing it as inconsequential.

"That's good to hear," Annie said with a gentle smile.

With neither Steven nor Janine present, Skylar's attitude toward Annie became more genuinely indifferent. "If there's something on your mind, just say it," she said.

"Well, there's nothing specific," Annie replied. "It's just that Steven and I are both satisfied with each other and are taking our relationship seriously. But before this, there were misunderstandings between us. Looking back, I deeply regret my irrational behavior." Annie's voice held a note of remorse.

Skylar observed Annie's sincerity, taking a few bites of her food. As Annie glossed over the previous incident, Skylar's eyes flickered slightly.

"Do you not believe me?" Annie asked, locking eyes with Skylar.

Skylar met her gaze. "Does it matter whether I believe you or not?"

Annie looked momentarily surprised. "Of course, it matters. You're Steven's sister, and he cares about your opinion. We both hope for your blessing, and I don't want past issues to affect our relationship. Once I'm married to Steven, we'll be family. Family should avoid suspicion, shouldn't they?"

"Even if you marry Steven, we won't have many chances to meet," Skylar replied calmly. "I've mentioned before that my family matters most to me. If they're hurt, I'll do everything I can to retaliate. Whether you truly love Steven, you know best."

On the way to the restaurant, she had reflected deeply. Steven's feelings for Annie were currently very strong. Any negative comments from her now would likely backfire; she couldn't afford the risk.

Annie's face tightened.

"Of course, Steven is exceptional," Skylar continued. "I'll bless you both if you truly love him and aren't pursuing him with ulterior motives. But that's all. And you should know Joe better than I do. He won't allow himself to be deceived or used. Besides, I'm not as important to him as you might think. It's up to you to decide how you measure yourself." She spoke calmly and slowly.

Annie's face paled considerably.

Skylar smiled faintly. "How's your family lately, Ms. Silver?"

The question caused Annie to look up abruptly. She stared at Skylar with utter disbelief. In her mind, Skylar was unlike their circle; she was different. From a young age, they had learned to plan and manipulate to achieve their goals. But Skylar, having grown up in the countryside, should have been an unsophisticated, guileless girl. Yet now…

"My family is doing fine," Annie responded after a brief pause, pursing her lips.

Skylar nodded with a smile. "That's good to hear. Steven will be visiting your family soon. I hope they will approve of him."

Chapter 519

Annie gazed steadily at Skylar, slowly uttering three words: "They sure will."

Half an hour later, a dazed Annie emerged from the upscale Wiscadian restaurant. She glanced at the bustling street, a chill running down her spine. Skylar had already left. She remained seated for another twenty minutes before receiving a message from Sabrina:

"Please do not bring that man home. Your father and I cannot afford the embarrassment. While our family isn't what it used to be, and we're facing difficulties, we cannot let you marry someone of such a lowly background. If you marry him, rumors will spread like wildfire in Jipsburg City. We've groomed you to be exceptionally capable, hoping you'd marry into a family of equal or higher status, someone like Joe or Rowan. You've been talking about finding a solution lately. Is this it? Can he save our family? We really cannot afford this disgrace."