Chapter 540

Paul was the best secretary in Jipsburg, possessing a keen eye for detail. However, he didn't always voice his observations. He also believed Skylar deserved Joe's love; how could Joe have been mistaken? After all, Gloria constantly praised Skylar and treated her like a granddaughter.

"Alright, you can go," Joe said.

Paul left immediately, having much to do. He could easily be busy all day.

Once Annie arrived home, she showered. Unable to sleep, she stayed awake until sunrise, only then summoning the courage to contact Steven. She made multiple calls, but he didn't answer. She wondered if he had already started work.

Grayson and Sabrina were also sleepless. Seeing Annie's unsuccessful attempts, Sabrina exclaimed, "What's going on?"

"I think he's busy; his phone's probably not with him," Annie replied.

"Busy this early? Does he have that much to do?" Sabrina complained. Steven was a working-class man of modest status.

Grayson grumbled, "Is he ignoring you on purpose? He must have been a saint in a past life for you to fall for him in this one. How dare he not answer!"

"He wouldn't ignore my call deliberately. If he's not answering, it means he's busy," Annie explained.

Sabrina and Grayson cared only that Steven could help them. As they tried to reach Steven, other family members called. The entire Silver family was in a state of panic. Joshua Silver, the head of the family, received a call and berated them for their recklessness. How could they give Joe an aphrodisiac? Joshua was nearly breathless, on the verge of fainting. Grayson, Thomas, and Annie hadn't informed him of their plan; he knew nothing until the call.

The Silver family descended into chaos. They knew they couldn't undo the damage and were doomed. Their future in Jipsburg was over; decades of effort were wasted.

An hour later, Annie realized she had lost many Instagram followers and that her friends were distancing themselves. Panicked, she called Steven twice more, but he still didn't answer. Feeling helpless, she suddenly thought of Skylar and called her.

The call connected, but Skylar didn't answer; Joe did.

"Why are you calling Skylar?"

Chapter 540 2/2

Joe's voice made her tremble, even though they weren't face-to-face. Terror surged through her veins. Annie gripped the phone tightly, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

"It was a misunderstanding. I can explain. We…" Despite being a TV host accustomed to handling pressure, her mind went blank. She couldn't think of an excuse.

"The only people who treat me like an idiot are the Silvers," Joe said coldly.