Chapter 771

Even if Vera insisted it was merely a coincidence, Paul refused to believe it. Gossip often thrived on rumor and speculation, but this was different. Such rumors hadn't surfaced until Vera's return. This was unprecedented.

"Mr. Martin, could you explain what's happening? Are you planning to end your relationship with Mrs. Martin sooner than expected and then give Ms. Ruell a formal position?" Paul asked.

Joe glanced at the headlines with a frosty expression. "Have Sarah handle it."

"So… am I right?" Paul pressed, unwilling to let the matter drop. He felt a pang of sympathy for Skylar, believing she was being treated unfairly. Skylar and Joe's relationship had recently improved visibly, but Vera's sudden reappearance complicated things.

Joe's gaze turned icy. "Get out."

Paul retreated, realizing he shouldn't push further. Joe had always been private about his personal life.

Paul encountered Jenny again during his lunch break, leaving the restaurant as she entered. Though he hadn't been particularly interested in her before, seeing her leave the Moran residence earlier in a daze and now entering a pharmacy looking distraught piqued his curiosity.

His colleague noticed it too. "Jenny seems off today. She used to be so lively, but now she's quiet. She's buying medicine; maybe she's caught a cold."

"A cold?" Paul mused. Could a cold truly account for such distress? He suspected Jenny's departure from the Moran residence was more than coincidental. Something was amiss. Her recent behavior had become increasingly puzzling. Considering the situation between Edwin and Joe, why would Jenny visit the Moran residence? He decided an investigation was warranted.

Meanwhile, after purchasing her medication, Jenny entered a nearby restaurant. Once seated, she opened a bottle of water and took an emergency contraceptive pill. She had hoped last night's events were a nightmare, something she could simply dismiss, but reality proved otherwise. Confusion clouded her thoughts as she considered her next steps.

Just then, she received a text from the bank confirming a $500,000 transfer. Shortly after, a WhatsApp message from Molly arrived: "Thank you for your efforts last night. Here is your payment. Feel free to visit us again."

Had she received this message on another day, she would have been elated and responded immediately. But now… The message felt like a blow to the heart. $500,000… They paid $500,000 for what happened last night. She questioned how this was possible and why it had occurred. She struggled to comprehend the situation.

She wondered if Edwin's claims were true. He said she had willingly joined him in bed, but her memories were entangled with moments of intimacy with Joe. She couldn't accept it. Edwin was Joe's father—how could she ever face Joe after this?

Rowan and Minerva had just finished a passionate encounter; their bodies were slick with sweat. Rowan, ever gentle afterward, suggested Minerva shower first. As he sat on the edge of the bed, smoking a cigarette and scrolling through his phone, an old Messenger notification appeared. He recognized the profile picture instantly. Driven by impulse, he clicked it.

“Rowan, what should I do? I wish everything I’m going through was just a nightmare. I know you probably won’t respond, and I know you haven’t used Messenger in ages. But please let me believe there’s still hope.”