Chapter 825

Skylar sneered coldly. "What else could it be?"

She didn't care about the potential loss of her hands. Rising, she headed upstairs. The restaurant's air conditioning, where she'd dined with Charles, Natalie, and Austin, had been inadequate; the heat had left her sweaty and uncomfortable. She decided to shower first.

Joe's icy gaze followed her ascent. Skylar felt his stare but dismissed it. If Joe sought to trouble her because of Vera, she wouldn't be intimidated. She was prepared to confront him directly, if necessary.

Three days later, while working on antique repairs, a colleague knocked. "Skylar, someone's here to see you. She claims to be a college classmate and seems urgent. Should I send her up?"

Skylar put down her tools. "I'll go see her."

Downstairs, in the waiting area, she found Charlene. Charlene approached, her expression shifting between embarrassment and distress.

"Skylar… I was wrong the other day. I thought you were jealous of my family heirloom, prompting my comments. Then, I foolishly blocked you and Natalie. I was wrong."

"An apology seems insufficient," Skylar observed, her expression composed. Charlene looked exhausted; pale, her hair disheveled, her eyes red and swollen.

"You were right about the emerald pendant. My mother found it. She saw two men arguing by the roadside, both driving expensive cars. The pendant must have fallen during their altercation. My dad, a fan of treasure appraisal shows, believed it valuable but feared being scammed.

Initially, I wanted to return it, but my dad refused. Then… I got carried away. A few million dollars would solve our family's problems.

But then… Mom fell off her bike, injuring her back. Dad's had nightmares nightly. And I've had a series of near-miss accidents. Yesterday, I tried selling the pendant, but everyone said I should return it.

I don't know what to do! Is this bringing misfortune? Could the owner sue us? Leaving an auction house yesterday, I saw someone making a call, and I think I'm being followed."

Charlene spoke rapidly, clearly terrified. Skylar understood. With her family's troubles and the owner's search making a sale impossible, Charlene believed Skylar's earlier words. Skylar had anticipated this. The pendant's loss highlighted its importance; it was a negative item, capable of disrupting minds and creating a tenacious magnetic field.

"Skylar, please… I'm so scared. My dad won't leave the house. He keeps talking about his nightmares. I'm terrified, I can't sleep. I know I was wrong," Charlene cried, tears streaming as Skylar remained silent. She feared her actions had angered Skylar beyond forgiveness.

"Does your mother know the owner?" Skylar asked.

Charlene's eyes flickered. "I…"

"There's no point in lying," Skylar's tone hardened. Charlene, realizing she couldn't hide the truth, bit her lip. "My mom knows. She's scared because she knows."

"Who is it?" Skylar pressed.

"Edwin Martin, father of the Martin Group's CEO. He was arguing with someone from a bar." Charlene lowered her head. "Mom works at that bar now; she heard the pendant belonged to him."

Edwin's identity wasn't surprising; he had the resources to spread the word after the pendant vanished.

"Let me see the pendant," Skylar said.