Chapter 811
After showering, Skylar felt dizzy and unintentionally fell asleep. Waking in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, she confirmed Joe hadn't returned. A message awaited her: he was on another business trip, this time abroad, and wouldn't be back for a week. His brief WhatsApp message explained a project had encountered problems, requiring his immediate attention. Reading it, Skylar felt it was the sort of message a husband sends a wife before leaving—a small, ordinary gesture.
Unable to sleep, she checked the time: 3:00 AM. The message had been sent at 6:00 PM. She hadn't checked her phone since dinner with colleagues, missing his message and several calls. She wondered if the message signified he cared. Her heart fluttered. Realizing she was overthinking, she got up for a glass of water. Her thoughts turned to Jenny; she decided to wait until Joe's return to discuss things.
When Joe's plane landed, he saw Skylar's reply: "Alright, have a safe trip. I'll wait for your return." "Wait for my return?" he mused, a slight smile playing on his lips. Nearby, Paul noticed this sudden shift in mood; it was past 3:00 AM in Jipsburg City, and just hours earlier, on the plane, Joe had been cold and distant. Paul cast a subtle, curious glance—enough to see the familiar profile picture and understand: Joe and Skylar had reconciled. Joe’s anxiety visibly lessened.
On the way to the hotel, Paul received a WhatsApp message from private detective Louie Ferguson: "I've found more information about Jenny, including photos and videos. Should I send them now?" Paul, preoccupied, replied, "Please compile everything into a single file and send it later. I'm busy and will review it when I have time."
Louie responded, "Alright, I'll prepare the file."
A few days later, Skylar, busy all day, received a message from Caleb: "Skylar, look at this! The Ruell family is in trouble again!" He showed her a news article about a fire at the Ruell residence. The blaze was intense; several fire trucks responded, leaving the villa almost completely destroyed. Vera suffered only smoke inhalation; Penelope had burns from falling embers, but the Ruells could easily afford treatment. Buck, however, was in critical condition. Trapped under debris, he suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation, leaving him in a coma and undergoing emergency treatment.
The Ruell family’s recent misfortunes led reporters to speculate whether these events were coincidental. While speculation, most believed human intervention or retribution was more likely.