Skylar fought to maintain her composure as she stepped out of the elevator. She had just finished a quiet meal with Janine, and her thoughts were still occupied by the tense events with Sadie and Maisy. As the elevator doors closed behind her, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of everything pressing down on her. The last thing she wanted to do was discuss it with anyone, especially Joe.
As she made her way toward the hotel entrance, her phone buzzed. A message from Joe: “Wait for me. I’ll be out in a few minutes.” Skylar paused, a frown forming on her face. She wondered if Joe intended to talk about the argument, or perhaps something else entirely.
Just as she was lost in thought, a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist, yanking her into an embrace. Skylar’s breath caught as she recognized the person—Christopher. His embrace felt strangely familiar, as though it were an act of habit, one she had long since tried to escape.
“I’ve finally found you, babe!” Christopher’s voice rang out, his words overflowing with a mix of regret and affection. “I’ve been reflecting on myself these past few days. We’ve been so busy with everything in Jipsburg that I’ve neglected you. It’s my fault. I realize that now.”
His words continued to pour out, each sentence dripping with an intensity that made Skylar’s stomach turn. “Besides, you know how much I adore you. I’ve only had eyes for you since high school. I’ll only want to marry you in this lifetime. Please don’t be mad at me, okay? You don’t have to donate blood if you don’t want to. Nobody here is more important than you, and I’ll do whatever you ask me to from now on.”
Skylar’s heart raced, a mix of disbelief and resentment rising within her. She hadn’t expected him to show up like this, to push her boundaries with such familiarity when everything between them had changed. But before she could process her feelings, Christopher leaned in, about to kiss her.
It was at that precise moment that Joe emerged from the hotel, his sharp eyes locking onto the couple. His gaze hardened instantly, and Paul, who had been following behind, noticed the shift in the air. His eyes widened as he muttered under his breath, “Wait… is Ms. Sullivan…?”
Paul had been investigating Christopher in the background, having hired a private investigator to dig up information. The results had been… questionable. Seeing Skylar and Christopher like this left him confused, especially given what he knew of their relationship.
Joe’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits, a cruel glint appearing in his gaze. His jaw tightened as he turned to re-enter the hotel, not a word spoken yet his intentions clear. “Bring the marriage agreement that Skylar and I signed over here.”
Paul was momentarily stunned. Did that mean Joe planned to end the agreement now?
Skylar, still caught in Christopher’s grip, could feel her body tensing up with fear and frustration. Her entire being trembled, not just from the physical contact but from the rush of emotions that came with it. She had pushed Christopher out of her life, yet here he was again, like an unwanted specter from her past.
When Christopher’s lips finally neared her face, Skylar snapped into action. Without thinking, she shoved him with all her strength, pushing him away.
The force of her shove caught Christopher off guard. His eyes widened in confusion, his mind racing to process what had just happened. She had never done this before—whenever he’d hugged her and apologized in the past, Skylar had always been the one to forgive him. His method had always worked on her. But this time, things were different.
Skylar’s breath quickened as she stepped back, her eyes now cold and filled with an intense fury. Her once soft, forgiving gaze was now full of bitterness and hatred. She felt a rush of disgust toward the man who had betrayed her, who had taken advantage of her time and time again.
“Babe…” Christopher’s voice faltered as he looked at her, clearly rattled. But Skylar was already past the point of forgiveness.
Her words came out in a low, sharp hiss, “Don’t ever call me that again.”
For a moment, time seemed to stop. The tension between them was unbearable. Skylar had thought she could handle confronting Christopher, but seeing him again, after everything he’d done to her, unleashed a torrent of emotions she couldn’t contain. Hatred. Betrayal. A deep-rooted resentment that she had buried for far too long.
She could feel Joe’s presence behind her, but right now, everything was a blur. All she could focus on was Christopher—the man who had shattered her trust and left her broken.
Christopher, still reeling from the rejection, took a step back, his face a mixture of disbelief and anger. “What’s happening to you, Skylar? We’re supposed to be together,” he said, his voice tinged with desperation.
But Skylar wasn’t listening anymore. Her heart had closed off to him. Whatever bond they once shared was gone, replaced by the realization that she had been living a lie.
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