Chapter 57

Skylar hung up immediately. Her heart, crushed long ago, felt a flicker of hope after Steven's words. She'd thought they weren't entirely hopeless. But ultimately, she'd expected too much.

Joe, going downstairs, heard Skylar's phone ring and overheard her conversation. She shed no tears afterward, yet looked like an injured puppy, pitifully tending its wounds. Joe's eyes deepened; something tugged at his heartstrings. He remembered a time when he'd licked his wounds alone.

Skylar, startled by the sound of footsteps, looked up to see Joe. He was taken aback by the hatred and pain still in her eyes. Realizing she'd lost her composure, she quickly lowered her gaze.

Joe strode toward her, sensing her low spirits. "The tea you gave me last night was very effective," he said. He'd fallen asleep about an hour after finishing it, his anxious heart finally calmed.

Slightly panicked, Skylar nodded. "Good to hear it was effective. I can make you more, but I have something else to do. I'll be going." She didn't want anyone to see her panic and helplessness. She grabbed her bag, rushed to the door, put on her shoes, and left without a backward glance.

Joe frowned, noticing the untouched yogurt. If she were truly fine, he thought, she'd have made herself a nutritious breakfast. The pitiful look in her beautiful eyes flashed in his mind, intensifying the frigid air around him. He glanced at a message from Paul.

Skylar hadn't retaliated against the Williamses on social media; not for lack of evidence, but because her accounts had been blocked. The Williams family had blocked her, and Sadie had treated her coldly, even after learning the truth.

Joe tapped his fingers on the table and called Paul.

"What are your orders, Mr. Martin?" Paul asked, sounding rushed. Since changing his charm, he'd felt luckier—he'd even won a thousand dollars on a lottery scratch-off, the most he'd ever won. It was a windfall. He also believed Skylar's remark had saved his life; he might have died wearing that emerald charm. He felt he had to help Skylar, knowing the truth and tormented by his conscience all night. He'd been enraged seeing those misled by the Williamses' staged comments, but he'd waited for Joe's command.

Chapter 58

"Don't do it in Martin Group's name. Find a way to help her fight back; I think she wants to handle things herself." Joe tapped the table again, having made a decision. He had no feelings for Skylar; their marriage was contractual. Still, she was his wife for three years, and he wouldn't allow others to openly oppress her.

"Got it!" Paul answered promptly. Before hanging up, he couldn't resist asking, "Have you fallen for Ms. Sullivan, Mr. Martin?"

"You're overthinking it," Joe replied coldly. Paul didn't dare press further. Joe's thoughts were inscrutable; besides, Gloria favored Skylar, so Joe might be helping her for Gloria's sake.

At the Williams residence, Sadie stared at her phone long after the call ended. Unwilling to accept defeat, she reviewed the videos of Skylar. Recognizing Maisy instantly, she realized the person in the videos was her daughter. She'd met Christopher once and disliked him from the start. She'd previously asked Skylar to break up with him, but Skylar had refused. Now, Christopher was involved with Maisy. Hadn't Maisy denied any connection to Christopher, blaming Skylar for the accusations?

Fury etched across Sadie's face as she watched the videos. She took her phone and went to see Maisy.

Maisy was gleefully chatting with Christopher on WhatsApp, planning how to ruin Skylar's reputation completely, so Skylar would be forced to obey them.

Hearing the door open, Maisy turned. "Yes, Mom?"

"What's going on between you and Christopher, Maisy? Are you lying to me?" Sadie demanded.