Chapter 545

Three dishes already sat on the table.

"Turn on the television," Steven called from the kitchen. "I'll be done soon. You haven't had my cooking in a while, have you? My skills have improved. You should try them later."

Even before tasting them, Skylar would have given them full marks for their aroma alone. She exclaimed, "No matter what you make, I'm sure it'll be delicious!"

Steven busied himself in the kitchen. Hearing her, his expression subtly shifted. He remembered Annie's afternoon visit, a somber look replacing his previous one.

Ten minutes later, he brought out three more dishes. Skylar hurried to help, bringing the total to six. The table looked and smelled wonderful.

Despite being relatively full, the sight of the food sparked Skylar's appetite.

Steven smiled. "It's still far from Mom's cooking," he said.

Skylar wasn't eager to discuss Annie. She and Steven had grown up together; she knew he harbored his own troubles. She decided to wait for him to initiate the conversation. Her family was paramount; she wouldn't allow them to be hurt.

They ate in comfortable silence.

After dinner, Steven began, "Skye, you're here to talk about Annie, aren't you?"

Skylar trembled as she peeled an orange.

"We rarely talk like this," Steven continued. "This afternoon, I saw more than surprise on your face when I brought Annie home. It's a pity I didn't pick up on it. Perhaps I could only see her. I missed a lot."

Skylar put down her orange. "Did Annie seek you out today?" she asked.

She was shocked by Annie's audacity. How could she see Steven after last night?

Steven rarely saw such a harsh expression on Skylar's face.

"Have an orange, Steven," Skylar said softly, her tone unhurried. "Then tell me what she said."

Steven suddenly realized Skylar had grown up. She handled whatever life threw at her calmly, remaining composed even knowing the truth about Annie. He felt both comforted and saddened.

"She did seek me out," Steven said softly. "She told me about her conflict with Joe, the Silvers' situation, and the misunderstanding at the Stargaze Hotel last night."

Skylar nodded. "She gave you the whole picture. You know how much she liked Joe, why the Silvers are in crisis, and that she gave Joe an aphrodisiac, right?"

As she spoke, she removed her scarf, revealing the love bites hidden beneath it. She hadn't wanted her family to see them.

Though not particularly experienced, Steven understood the meaning of the colorful bruises.

"Last night, because of the Silvers, Joe lost control after taking the aphrodisiac," Skylar said plainly. "At the critical moment, he pushed Annie away and waited for me."

Steven frowned, seeming to grasp something, but he hesitated.

Skylar continued, "If last night was a misunderstanding, why did she seek you out today? The Silvers are probably frantic. They used the most potent aphrodisiac they could find. If it weren't for Joe's self-control, they might have succeeded."

Chapter 546