Chapter 817

The caller ID displayed “Mr. Martin.” The phone, seemingly damaged, remained silent and still; only the illuminated screen betrayed the incoming call. Skylar wondered if “Mr. Martin” was Edwin, puzzling over Jenny and Edwin’s connection.

Joe returned, glancing at the unconscious Jenny. “We can leave now,” he said to Skylar.

“Someone called her,” Skylar replied, indicating the phone.

As Joe looked, Edwin called again. “Mr. Martin” was visible on the cracked screen. Joe’s expression hardened; his eyes, narrowed and cold, fixed on Jenny. They left the ward without further comment.

In the elevator, they encountered Vera. Her face, pale and devoid of makeup, lacked its usual vibrancy and confidence. Her composure faltered upon seeing them.

“You two…” she began.

Skylar’s presence dispelled any notion that Joe had sought Vera out. His gaze was dark as he asked, “How’s your family?”

Vera’s eyes reddened. “They’re not doing well. I was just going downstairs to check on them.”

Joe’s characteristically indifferent tone, marked by a perceived distance, usually went unnoticed by Vera. However, with Skylar present, it felt like a pointed slight. She wondered about his demeanor when alone.

Noticing Vera’s glances, Skylar met her gaze directly. Vera’s lips tightened. “She is… Joe, aren’t you going to introduce her?”

Vera’s unease stemmed from Skylar’s calm demeanor; she saw an opportunity to remind Skylar of her perceived status as a paid companion. Unexpectedly, Skylar simply looked at Joe, awaiting his response.

His dark eyes, unreadable, held a mysterious depth. “My wife,” he stated simply.

Skylar was stunned. Vera’s expression twisted in disbelief and anguish. “What did you just say she was?” she exclaimed, believing she had misheard. She couldn't accept Skylar as Joe's wife, given their shared social circle and the absence of any mention of his marriage.

The elevator doors opened. Joe’s voice, now slightly stern, announced, “I’m going to visit Mr. Ruell Senior.”

Vera followed them out, her steps heavy, her face even paler, her gaze lingering on both Joe and Skylar. Skylar waited on a bench outside Denton’s ward while Joe and Vera went inside. Vera emerged within minutes and approached Skylar.

“What exactly is your relationship with Joe? The way he introduced you… I know he’s trying to provoke me, to make me jealous. Am I right?” Her tightly clenched hands betrayed her struggle to control her emotions.