Steven was quiet for several moments, his voice distant as though he had moved the phone away from his ear. Skylar couldn’t help but feel a slight twinge of worry. What was going on? But after a few minutes, Steven spoke again, his voice back to its usual reassuring tone.
“It’s okay, Skye. It’s just a minor issue. I’ll handle it. Get some rest. If you still feel unwell, you have to go to the hospital, okay?”
Skylar relaxed a little, her concerns easing. “Alright, I will,” she replied softly.
She trusted Steven, knew that if it were something serious, he wouldn’t hesitate to share it with her. He had always looked out for his siblings, and she knew that whatever it was, he’d handle it without involving them unless it was absolutely necessary. She was grateful for his protection, his constant care.
Once the call ended, Skylar turned her attention to her phone and opened her banking app. Checking her balance, she saw that Daniel had deposited 50% of her payment for restoring the paintings. The total amount was substantial—800 thousand dollars in her account now.
Her thoughts wandered to Steven. After his graduation, he had taken a job at a scientific research company, but the salary was modest, and his contract was restrictive. He was stuck in a position, unable to move forward without a hefty penalty if he resigned. Skylar knew this all too well—she had seen it in her past life, how he struggled to climb the career ladder. She was determined to help him this time around, but there was still a long way to go. She wasn’t quite there yet financially, but she would get there. For now, she just needed to focus on recovering and getting back on track.
She fell asleep thinking about how she could help her family, how she could support Steven in a way that would allow him to finally break free from the limitations of his career. She drifted into a peaceful, albeit restless, sleep.
Meanwhile, in the next room, Joe couldn’t find rest. His mind was racing, the quiet discomfort gnawing at him. Unlike the calm, uninterrupted sleep he had enjoyed at Pearlhall Residence, tonight was different. He tossed and turned, unable to shake off the feeling of restlessness. Irritated by his inability to sleep, he got out of bed and walked downstairs in search of a glass of water.
As he passed by Skylar’s room, he noticed that the light was still on. His steps faltered for a moment, and without thinking too much about it, he walked toward her door. He knocked three times.
“Skylar,” he called out softly.
There was no response.
His concern deepened. Was she still feverish? Had she fainted? He couldn’t just stand there. His hand hesitated for a brief second before he opened the door. His eyes immediately searched the room. Skylar was lying still on the bed, her eyes shut tight, her body silent except for the faint rise and fall of her breathing.
Joe walked closer, checking her temperature with the thermometer. The reading showed 99.5 degrees. Her fever had subsided, but she was still weak. He set the thermometer down, glancing at her as she slept.
If Skylar could stick to the terms of their contract for three years without any ulterior motives, he was willing to give her a generous sum when it ended. It was the least he could do. However, his thoughts darkened when he recalled her murmuring Christopher’s name in her sleep. There was clearly something unresolved between them. He was determined to find out what had happened, and he was confident that Paul would uncover the details soon enough.
With a final look at Skylar, Joe left the room, his mind occupied with thoughts of the future and the mysteries still surrounding her.
Skylar woke up to the soft morning light streaming through the curtains. It was 6:00 a.m., and while the fever had broken, she still felt a little weak. After a moment of deliberation, she decided to call Daniel and let him know she needed to take sick leave.
Once the call was over, she made her way downstairs to prepare breakfast. Galaxy Villa was far from the city, and there weren’t many takeout options available. She felt like something simple, like porridge, would do the trick. But when she entered the dining room, she was surprised to find Joe already sitting at the table. A bowl of porridge and some buns were placed neatly in front of him.
When Joe saw her, his expression softened slightly. “Grandma sent these,” he said, gesturing to the food.
Skylar’s heart warmed at the thought of Gloria looking out for her. “Grandma is so nice to me,” she said with a smile. Her phone buzzed in her hand, and she quickly typed a message to Gloria to thank her for the thoughtful gesture.
The kindness was a small but meaningful reminder that, despite the complicated dynamics in her life, there were still people who cared for her, people like Gloria who always looked out for her well-being.
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