Chapter 561
Even though Paul wouldn’t dare look at Skylar and Terence was elderly, Joe still didn’t want anyone to see her dressed like this. He intended for Skylar to show it to him privately at
home.
Skylar was still dazed but nodded nonetheless. “Okay.”
As she went to the fitting room to change out of the traditional dress, she suddenly realized that Joe was no longer upset.
That night, he exuded a cold and intimidating demeanor when he got out of the car and left.
When Skylar emerged from the fitting room, Joe took her hand. Then, he grabbed the traditional dress from her and didn’t bother to let Ralph bag it.
He turned to Paul and said, “Skylar and I are heading out first.”
Paul nodded in agreement. Terence and Ralph were slow to catch on. They only then realized that this young lady was Joe’s girlfriend.
Seeing that Terence and Ralph were still in shock, Paul smiled and said, “Let me settle the remaining balance.”
When Joe saw Skylar walking out of the fitting room, his eyes widened in astonishment
Skylar’s figure was truly stunning.
No wonder Joe couldn’t resist and immediately pulled her away. Whatever conflicts they had before were now forgotten.
Joe gave him a raise, which was well deserved. Just look at how smoothly he managed their encounter today, leaving no trace behind.
Back in the car, Joe took the passenger seat.
Every time Joe sat in her car, Skylar’s car seemed even smaller and narrower. His long legs. seemed to have nowhere to go.
“You…”
Just as Skylar was about to speak, Joe suddenly cupped her face. He pulled her toward him and planted a kiss on her that left her speechless.
It was intense and commanding.
The kiss was urgent and prolonged.
Skylar’s heart raced.
Faintly, there was a sense of illusion. She wondered if Joe had truly developed feelings for
Chapter 561
her. Otherwise, the kiss seemed to carry a touch of genuine emotion.
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When Joe finally pulled away, he looked at Skylar’s flushed cheeks and slightly swollen lips. His fingers gently combed through her soft hair.
“Put on the traditional dress for me when we get home,” he said with a possessive tone.
Joe would have taken things further with her if they weren’t in the city but a secluded spot in the woods.
Skylar couldn’t find a word to say and asked, “You’re going home too?”
Joe’s hand paused briefly. He raised his eyebrows slightly and said, “Where else would I go if not home? I can pretend I never heard what you said before. Just don’t bring it up again.”
He was committed to spending his life with her and wasn’t considering divorce. Any concerns she had, he could handle.
Skylar was stunned. The fluttering in her heart made her acutely aware of her feelings. She looked down at the steering wheel in her hands and finally asked, “Do you like me?”
Joe was momentarily taken aback. He glanced at her lowered eyes, noticing the fluttering of her long lashes.
“We don’t talk about these things,” Joe said. His voice was low and serious.
Joe wondered if he had developed feelings for Skylar. He questioned himself once again. He had never experienced romantic love between a man and a woman before, and he didn’t really know what it meant to love someone.
Skylar tightened her grip on the steering wheel and said softly, “Can we talk about it?”
Joe raised an eyebrow. “Talk about what?”
Instead of discussing it, Joe thought they should hurry home. Her image in the traditional dress was still vivid in his mind. She was so alluring. It almost made him feel like he was losing his composure.
Skylar’s heart sank as she heard Joe’s casual response. She took a deep breath and said, ” What I said last time was sincere. Although it was a sudden decision, after reflecting over the past few days, I believe we’re not suitable for each other.
“Life is long and full of unexpected events. Even two people in love might not stay together for a lifetime. So, let’s just fulfill our three–year agreement.”
Chapter 562
Natalie didn’t notice the person following her. After the elevator doors closed, she watched as it ascended.
Soon, she reached her apartment door and was about to unlock it when her phone rang. It was Austin calling her.
“Hello, Mr. Powell,” Natalie answered cheerfully.
Austin’s concerned voice came through the line. “Are you home yet?”
Natalie smiled and replied, “I just got home. My complex has security guards, so don’t worry about my safety, Mr. Powell.”
She was joking, but Austin was truly someone who could make people feel warm and cared for anytime, anywhere. Even though he was injured, he insisted on driving her home and was now calling to check on her.
His warmth and kindness always comforted her. This was the kind of idol she had admired for years.
Austin chuckled softly. “That’s good. Get some rest.”
“I will, Mr. Powell,” Natalie responded promptly.
Even as she ended the call, she could still hear Austin’s laughter.
It had been such a joyous day with everyone together. It was rare to experience this kind of atmosphere since graduation.
As she stepped into her apartment and was about to close the door, a shadowy figure grabbed it. The person seemed to prevent the door from shutting.
Natalie froze in fear. She was ready to scream for help from her
neighbors.
Most people should be home at this hour.
“It’s me.” That voice made Natalie’s expression darkened, and her smile vanished instantly.
She slowly looked up to see Jeremy standing there.
“What are you doing here?” Natalie asked coldly.
Natalie gripped the door handle stubbornly. She didn’t want him to
come in.
Whenever she saw him, her heart, which she thought was strong, would instantly be filled with pain. It felt like it was falling apart.
A chill ran through her.
Jeremy glanced at her hand clutching the door handle. He realized she truly didn’t want him to enter.
This apartment was once filled with memories of their love. He still had a key to this place.
“Nath, let me in. We need to talk,” Jeremy said. He tried to calm the intense emotions he had just experienced.
Seeing her just after she had parted ways with Austin stirred something in Jeremy. Her phone call with Austin right before she stepped into the home intensified his feelings.
He felt an uncontrollable urge to take her away and keep her from seeing anyone else. This impulse was almost overwhelming.
i
“I don’t think there’s anything left to discuss between us. I’ve already said what I needed to say before, and I’ve handed over the
Chapter 562
divorce proceedings to the lawyer. If you want to talk about
Annabelle coming to see me today, I’ve already clarified that on the phone.
“Tell Annabelle not to worry. I’m definitely not an obstacle between
you two. Even if you weren’t coming to see me because of Annabelle but because of another woman, I wouldn’t hold it against you. I’m very generous. I’ll still wish you well out of respect for the fact that I once treated you like family,” Natalie said.
Natalie was influenced by the alcohol. She said a lot more than
she intended.
She was struggling and feeling deeply wronged. It was hard to believe that Jeremy was still bullying her this way, and she wondered if she appeared so easy to bully.
Jeremy’s forehead twitched with frustration. “There won’t be any more Annabelle or other women around me. My wife will only ever be you, and you alone. Nath, there are some things we can clarify with Skylar. I didn’t intentionally cheat.”
“You didn’t intentionally cheat? Is it because Annabelle seduced you? You couldn’t resist her temptation and ended up in bed with her? Jeremy, do you really have to be so cruel?
“I might not be the smartest, but I’m not a fool. I can tell the difference between facts and lies. Are you trying to tell me that even though you cheated physically, your emotions stayed faithful? Jeremy, you make me sick!” Natalie shouted.
Her eyes reddened with anger.
Jeremy’s face tightened. His muscles were tense. “Natalie, calm down. I don’t deny that I had an affair with Annabelle, but this situation was a setup.”
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Natalie retorted coldly, “You blame it on drunkenness? Is that your reason for not wanting a divorce? Jeremy, no matter your excuse, you’re tainted in my eyes. Tainted, do you understand?”
Jeremy felt a sharp pain in his chest. His face turned pale. “Natalie, you drank too much. You’re not thinking clearly.”
“No, I did drink, but I’m not drunk. I’m clearer than I’ve ever been. Jeremy, from the day you cheated, we were done. Completely done.
Natalie’s face was also pale.
Each word she spoke cut into Jeremy and herself as well.
Jeremy’s lips tightened, his presence growing colder. “We’ll talk when you’re sober. Get some rest.
With those words, he walked out. He gently closed the door behind
him.
The moment the door shut, tears streamed down Natalie’s
reddened eyes. She crouched down, and her head buried in her knees. She cried silently.
She hated Jeremy. She hated him deeply.
All the happiness they once had was shattered. The love she had always been so proud of now seemed like a cruel joke.
And now Jeremy had the nerve to stand before her and make excuses. He claimed that it wasn’t what she thought, that it was just a physical betrayal. He even suggested it might have been a drunken mistake.
Natalie wondered if he even understood what he was saying.
Chapter 563
Drunkenness didn’t absolve him from cheating. Just because he couldn’t resist temptation didn’t mean it wasn’t his fault.
When Rowan arrived at Mystic Bar with his friends and spotted. Joe drinking alone, he finally confirmed he wasn’t being tricked.
“Damn it! It really is Joe. Doesn’t he rarely come to places like this?
someone asked Rowan.
Rowan raised an eyebrow. “You said he rarely came here, not that he has never been here before.”
For Joe, this place was indeed too noisy.
Though Joe was drinking alone, several women nearby attempted to approach him and initiate conversations. Anyone with eyes could tell Joe wasn’t an ordinary man.
However, it was clear Joe wasn’t here to have fun. He looked like he was trying to drown his sorrows.
Rowan walked over briskly and sat beside Joe. “What made you come to a bar?”
“To drink,” Joe replied. He handed Rowan a bottle.
Rowan looked at the offered bottle and couldn’t help but twitch his lips. “You’re just drinking like this? Didn’t you ask me to bring people?”
He had brought both men and women. The men looked uneasy when they saw Joe, while the women blushed, and their hearts skipped a beat.
This was Joe Martin, someone they had never dreamed of meeting before.
Chapte: 563
If one of them could catch Joe’s eye, their status at home would surely rise.
Rowan knew what these women were thinking and didn’t stop them. Joe wasn’t as resistant to people getting close to him as he
used to be.
Felicia Ingram sat next to him. She had a delicate, almost angelic appearance. She maintained just the right amount of distance. without encroaching too much.
“Mr. Martin, we’ve actually met twice before. The last time was just a few days ago at a charity gala,” Felicia said softly. Her voice was gentle and pleasant.
She even looked a bit like Skylar.
Chapter 564
Rowan was curious to know if Joe truly had feelings for Skylar. Hence, he stayed silent. He took turns with his friends and
continued to drink with Joe.
Joe glanced at Felicia. His eyes lingered for a moment.
Felicia’s heart skipped a beat. Previously, Joe always had a cold, aloof demeanor when she saw him.
Many people wanted to get close to him but were too intimidated. The most common thing people heard about him in Jipsburg was how ruthless he could be.
Many women admired him, but he never paid them any attention.
Tonight, Joe was looking at her.
“Have we met before?” Joe’s voice carried a hint of coldness, though it was not unusual for him.
Felicia was taken aback but tried to remain composed. “Yes, but there were so many people, and I didn’t dare approach you. So, your probably don’t remember.”
The other women nearby noticed Joe speaking to Felicia and felt jealous.
Felicia noticed their envy but didn’t care. In Jipsburg, if she managed to form any connection with Joe or if luck was on her side and she got to marry him, every socialite would envy her.
Joe raised an eyebrow: This woman did resemble Skylar to some
extent.
But there was a significant difference. Skylar, that heartless
woman, could act as if she never saw him, even when she did.
It wasn’t that she was too intimidated to speak to him. She simply had no desire to engage.
Many women wanted to get close to him. With just a nod, he could have had countless women eager to spend their lives with him. Yet, Skylar turned him down.
Thinking of this, Joe took another heavy gulp of his drink.
Felicia waited for a response from Joe, but his silence made her smile falter.
Rowan wasn’t surprised by the situation. It was actually better than he expected. He tentatively asked, “Is there something wrong?”
With others around, he couldn’t directly ask Joe if he’d fought with Skylar.
It certainly wasn’t about Martin Group matters. No matter how many issues the company faced, Joe wouldn’t pay much attention, and his mood would not be affected. For a workaholic like him, work–related problems were always manageable.
“It’s nothing. Just drinking,” Joe replied tersely. Although he said. nothing was wrong, his demeanor made it clear that approaching him was intimidating.
Rowan had picked up on some clues. Given that they had grown up together, he might as well leave if he couldn’t pick up on such
signs.
He didn’t press further. “Alright, let’s just drink.”
Rowan had guessed the issue was probably related to Skylar. Skylar was really something else.
She managed to stir Joe’s emotions, which was rare. Even more.
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remarkable, she could affect his mood.
Seeing that Rowan was only drinking and not asking questions, the others dared not speak up.
However, Felicia had a sudden idea and took a discreet photo.
She then posted it on Instagram with the caption, “Joe isn’t that intimidating.” She also added a playful tongue–out emoji.
Coincidentally, Paul followed Felicia on Instagram.
In Jipsburg, many tried to get close to Joe through Paul, who was known for his charm and diplomacy. Naturally, he accepted follow requests from attractive women, though they rarely interacted beyond that.
Lying in bed before sleep, Paul scrolled through his phone as usual. At first, he thought he was seeing things. He rubbed his eyes and looked again, and his eyes widened in shock.
“What the heck! What’s going on? Shouldn’t Mr. Martin be with Skylar right now? He seemed completely focused on her when he left the traditional dress shop. How is he possibly at a bar so close to another woman? Damn it! Is something wrong again?”
Chapter 565
A sense of foreboding stuck with Paul. He sighed. “Is tomorrow going to be hellish? What on earth did Skylar do to upset Mr. Martin? Mr. Martin is letting other women get close now.”
Looking closely at the photo, Paul noticed that the woman resembled Skylar. “Is this a stand–in?”
He thought this was a disaster. He wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight.
Back at Hughes Residence, Jeremy tried calling Joe several times, but there was no answer. Jeremy wondered if Joe was already in
bed.
He tossed his phone aside and examined the items on the table. They were all things he had found at Annabelle’s place.
Jeremy had seen these items before and had questioned their presence. They didn’t fit Annabelle’s usual style, and she wouldn’t normally carry such things.
He also found the painting unusual. It didn’t match her home decor, and she wasn’t the type to collect artwork like this.
These items seemed out of place, almost deliberately put there for him to see. When Jeremy first saw the painting, he felt a sudden urge–having a child with Annabelle seemed intriguing.
However, the thought quickly faded.
Jeremy seethed with anger as he recalled the situation. It was clear that Annabelle had done this on purpose.
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“Annabelle, you’re asking for trouble!” His eyes were icy, and his voice was equally cold.
Meanwhile, Annabelle had just returned home. Her flight for the following day was already booked.
She confirmed with Raelyn that Mason was going to Jipsburg City. They knew she had money and demanded she give it all to them to enjoy.
They assumed she was still young enough to earn more.
They now knew her address. Annabelle never imagined that Jeremy would actually follow through on his threats. He truly hated her.
Even now, she couldn’t understand. She had thought that, even if he didn’t like her, he would still hold some regard for her after all the time they had spent together.
“Jeremy, you’re too heartless. You know my past. You should understand that I need care and affection the most. Do you have any sympathy for my plight?”
Her desperate questions seemed to mock her at this moment.
not
The next moment, she returned home. She went to her room to pack and glanced at the wall.
A painting that had been hanging there was now missing.
Her eyes widened in alarm as she quickly searched the rest of her belongings. The items that had been in her vanity drawer were also
gone.
“How could this be? Jeremy, did you notice something? No, you couldn’t have noticed. It must be a thief who broke in.”
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She frantically called the airport customer service. Her hands were shaking.
She said, “I need to change my flight. Are there any flights tonight?
I just need to get out of Jipsbury. Any available flight will do.”
“Sorry, all fights tonight are fully booked,” the staff replied.
Annabelle felt a wave of despair and collapsed onto the floor.
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