Chapter 975

It was no surprise Joe was likely meeting with Vera. Skylar gave a soft, self-deprecating laugh and closed her eyes. It might be best to cancel tomorrow's wedding photo shoot. She gathered her thoughts and quickly fell asleep.

After leaving the room, Joe went to the hotel rooftop. The wind was strong. He lit a cigarette and took slow drags, watching the smoke dissipate in the evening breeze.

About ten minutes later, he called someone in Jipsburg. "Do you know what Aiken's been up to lately?"

"Aiken? He's out of Jipsburg. He's been abroad for a couple of days. Someone asked him for a favor, but he postponed it for ten days. I'm not sure which country he's in."

Joe was silent for a few minutes, taking a deep drag. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. Are you looking for him, Mr. Martin?"

Joe smirked slightly. "It's nothing."

He pocketed the phone. Suddenly, he heard a noise. He glanced back, his eyes darkening at the sight of Vera.

"Joe? What… What are you doing here? What a coincidence," Vera said, visibly surprised. She hadn't expected to see him; she'd assumed he and Skylar were resting.

Tonight, she felt disoriented and restless. The thought of Skylar and Joe together made her uneasy. Joe shouldn't be swayed by Skylar's influence. Frustrated by Skylar's presence, she found this unexpected meeting almost serendipitous. It seemed fate favored her, reinforcing her belief that she and Joe were meant to be together.

"What are you doing here?" Joe asked, taking a drag from his cigarette.

Noticing his somber expression, Vera raised an eyebrow. She thought he must be upset with Skylar. Given their differences, conflicts were inevitable; such a relationship wouldn't last. Ultimately, she believed she was the one best suited for him. They were meant to be together.

"Since arriving, I've had insomnia. It reminds me of a few years ago when we stayed at the same hotel. We met unexpectedly then, too. Despite not knowing each other's plans, we ended up in the same place in a foreign country. Thinking about it… it's nostalgic," Vera said softly, a hint of sadness in her voice.

Joe simply nodded.

Vera bit her lip. Joe had become even more inscrutable over the years. He'd always been guarded, but now he was harder to read, even unsettling. She was sure he was in a bad mood and probably hadn't listened.

She glanced at the ring on her finger, a gift from Molly, who'd advised her to remove it when Skylar was near. She moved closer, her gaze drawn to his long fingers holding the cigarette. His hands were striking, even more so than those of the male celebrity she'd seen online. In the soft nightlight, her imagination ran wild.

She reached out and took his hand. "Can we go back to the past?"

Chapter 926