Chapter 950

Skylar immediately suspected Minerva was pregnant. When Minerva recovered slightly, Joe offered her water. Minerva sipped, still deathly pale, but feeling a little better. She apologized, "Sorry, I haven't been able to stand the smell of fish recently."

"No problem," Skylar said with a smile. "Coincidentally, I don't really feel like having fish either. I'll ask them to take it away."

Minerva nodded, accepting the kindness. "Alright, thanks."

She ate little after the fish was removed, perhaps lacking an appetite. To avoid concern, however, she ate a small amount. Pregnancy altered her biology; even her dietary habits had changed. Previously a hearty eater, she now found everything tasteless after a few bites. Her appetite had vanished completely, and she felt nauseous. She glanced at Skylar across the table.

Few people made her feel so comfortable so quickly, but Skylar was one of them. Noticing Minerva's discomfort, Skylar didn't question her, instead offering another glass of water.

After lunch, Skylar went to her apartment. Madison lived alone in a minimalist yet comfortable penthouse. Skylar relaxed upon entering. Minerva clearly had a keen eye for decoration; the apartment was enriching and aesthetically pleasing. There was nothing about the décor that seemed to cause Minerva’s symptoms.

"I keep the antiques in the study," Skylar said.

Minerva led her to the study, where a shelf held several antiques, easily visible at a glance.

Skylar nodded. "I'll examine them individually. This might take some time. You might want to sit down."

Minerva immediately complied. Silence filled the study.

Half an hour later, Skylar's gaze fell on a paperweight. It had belonged to a scholar who, despite decades of study, achieved nothing, never even becoming certified. Self-doubt led to his downfall; after acquiring the paperweight, his behavior grew erratic, his temper fiery, and the women who loved him died one after another, ultimately leading to police intervention. Subsequent owners suffered misfortune; some experienced financial ruin, while the less resolute met worse fates.

Minerva, a determined woman with no malicious intent, felt watched at night. The paperweight's angry spirits only frightened her, affecting her mental health and pushing her toward extremism.

Minerva noticed Skylar's gaze, stood, and turned to the paperweight. "Is there anything wrong with this?" she asked, admitting she didn't remember when she'd bought it; it was unobtrusive and had been overlooked.

"It's a negative item," Skylar said.