Skylar’s dress was a black haute couture piece, sleek and elegant, with thin straps that seemed delicate, almost fragile, but were still stunning in their simplicity. The back of the dress was cut out, revealing her smooth, porcelain-like skin and giving her an air of both grace and allure. As she moved closer to Joe, she noticed his expression darken, and for a moment, she wondered if her appearance was displeasing him.
“Do I look bad?” she asked, her voice laced with genuine curiosity.
Joe’s gaze was cold, his displeasure clear as he frowned. “There are a lot of high-society people here tonight. You’ll attract attention dressed like that.”
Skylar raised an eyebrow, unbothered. “If I really do attract attention, I’ll thank your stylist. The dress and makeup are top-notch.”
Her words carried a hint of sarcasm, and Joe’s tone, while directed at her, hinted at his irritation. He wasn’t one to easily show his emotions, but Skylar could sense his discomfort.
Paul, overhearing their exchange, couldn’t help but gape in surprise. He had expected Skylar to care about how Joe perceived her, but instead, she seemed unfazed. If she had truly been bothered by Joe’s opinion, she would have tried to explain herself. Instead, she shrugged it off with a cool detachment.
Meanwhile, at the auction, Maisy and Jeffrey had taken their seats in the back. Jeffrey, eager to mingle with the upper crust of Jipsburg society, had introduced himself to some of the attendees. Maisy, however, had a more specific goal in mind: she wanted to catch Joe’s attention, or at least, she wanted to be near him.
When Maisy saw Joe sitting with a woman who resembled Skylar, her jealousy flared. She was convinced that the woman was trying to seduce Joe with her revealing dress. Maisy couldn’t understand why Joe would bring someone like that to the auction, even though her thoughts were clouded by her own insecurities. Jeffrey, however, seemed to think the woman was indeed Skylar, but after a closer look, he dismissed the idea. He believed he must have been mistaken.
Skylar, oblivious to the pair’s observations, tried to settle into the auction, but she was already feeling the weight of exhaustion. Her body felt weak, and her head was pounding—likely a result of the busy days she’d been having, compounded by her regular blood donations.
“What does Grandma want?” she asked Joe, needing a distraction from her discomfort.
Joe glanced at her, his face betraying no emotion. “A diamond ring,” he replied flatly.
But Skylar wasn’t paying attention to him anymore. Her eyes had been drawn to the next auction item—a painting she instantly recognized. It was the same painting she had sold for $500,000 not long ago. She had no idea that Daniel would send it to the auction house so quickly, and she was curious to see how much it might go for now. The thought of how quickly the painting was moving through the market left her wondering just how much its value had appreciated.
Joe, noticing her intense focus on the painting, observed her closely. He remembered that she had carried around a roll of paintings when she first moved into Galaxy Villa. Was she genuinely interested in antique paintings? The thought lingered in his mind, but he didn’t express it aloud. Instead, he turned his attention to the auction, as the staff began explaining the history of the artwork.
Skylar, on the other hand, couldn’t shake the curiosity building inside her. How much would this painting be worth now? Would it exceed what she had paid for it, or had she made a mistake by letting it go?
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