Chapter 935

Joe glanced at Skylar. The icy glare in his eyes revealed he knew who was knocking. She felt a pang of sympathy for him.

Her throat tightened as she opened the door to find three men standing there. One appeared a few years older than Gloria; he was accompanied by a middle-aged man and a younger man, roughly Skylar's age. They paused, recalling Edwin's account. Joe, heeding Gloria's advice, had married a "normal" woman—the one before them.

Disdain etched their faces as they sized Skylar up.

"Who are you?" Skylar asked coldly.

"I'm his grand-uncle, Ernest Martin," Ernest stated.

"His uncle, Spencer Martin," Spencer added.

Claudio Martin scanned Skylar from head to toe. "I'm Joe's cousin, Claudio Martin. You're his wife, right?"

This explained Joe's secretive marriage. She was gorgeous. Claudio, having envisioned Joe as a celibate monk, hadn't expected him to prefer such a striking woman.

Skylar felt uncomfortable under his scrutiny. Before she could speak, Joe interjected coldly, "You adore me so much you come see me in the middle of the night?"

His mocking tone offered no deference.

"We're family. Let's keep this out of the police's hands. If word gets out, it'll be all over the gossip columns. You look fine. Tell the police to release Edwin and Derek," Ernest said.

He glared at Joe with dissatisfaction. A few stab wounds? What was the big deal? Derek, also stabbed, had been detained after receiving stitches.

"Joe, Derek and his sons were wrong, but they acted under the influence of alcohol," Spencer explained. "They've expressed deep regret. They won't drink that much again and are offering a sincere apology."

"Right. Joe, you're not petty. You look perfectly alright," Claudio said, disappointed. He'd hoped for a near-fatal outcome, even permanent disability, hoping to replace Joe at Martin Group.

Skylar's anger flared. Were they even human? Joe had eight or nine stab wounds, some near vital organs. He was extremely weak from blood loss, barely asleep when they'd awakened him.

"He has eight to nine stab wounds over two inches long," Skylar blurted angrily. "Some nearly reached his vital organs. He isn't fine! You're trying to kill him!"

She went to Joe's bedside, her heart aching at his pale face. Skylar knew all too well the sting of familial neglect and targeted attacks. Despite Joe's cold exterior, she knew his heart was vulnerable.

Chapter 935

"We're talking. This has nothing to do with you! Get out!" Ernest snapped.

Derek frowned. "Joe, you obeyed your grandmother and married beneath you. Now you know how embarrassing this is. How dare she interfere? What nonsense is she spouting? Unacceptable!"