Skylar answered the call with a neutral tone. “Mr. Martin.”
Joe’s calm voice came through the phone. “Grandma would like to meet with you tonight. Do you have time?”
Skylar was about to respond, but at that moment, the cab she was in turned into Galaxy Villa’s driveway. She glanced out of the window and then spoke again, “I’ve arrived at Galaxy Villa. I’d be happy to meet Grandma Gloria as well.”
Her decision to marry Joe was for Gloria’s sake, and now that the elderly woman wanted to meet her, Skylar knew she would prioritize this. Whatever else was going on in her life, she couldn’t afford to disregard the woman’s wishes.
There was a brief silence on the other end before Joe responded, “Wait at home for about half an hour. Paul will pick you up.”
“Alright, thanks.” Skylar hung up and entered the villa. Joe had already given her the password, so there were no issues getting in.
Once inside, she changed into her slippers, and just as the quiet of the villa settled around her, her phone rang loudly, disrupting the peace. Startled by the noise, she glanced at the caller ID and saw it was Sadie. With a small sneer, Skylar declined the call. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with those people right now, not when she had to meet with Gloria.
Sadie, however, wasn’t pleased when she saw Skylar’s rejection. Her expression darkened immediately. “Jeff, Skye actually rejected my call!”
Jeffrey’s temper flared. “What are you calling her for? She’s been out of college for months and hasn’t even secured a job! Let her be! I’m not giving her any more money. Let’s see how long she can last!”
Sadie, on the other hand, continued with her usual venom. “She never grew up with us, did she? That explains everything. She doesn’t understand us at all, while Maisy is so much more sensible.” A fond smile crept onto her face as she thought of Maisy.
“I’ve already canceled her credit card. Just ignore her. She’ll come crawling back in a few days,” Sadie added with a huff.
Jeffrey’s frustration showed through. “Once she’s back, I’ll give her a piece of my mind.”
Skylar, meanwhile, was heading to Pearlhall Residence, the Martin family estate, as the evening set in. The Maybach MPV pulled up in front of the mansion. Skylar stepped out of the car, thanking Paul quickly.
Paul, who had driven her here, was a bit surprised. During the ride, Skylar hadn’t asked once about Joe’s whereabouts. After all, they’d just married that afternoon, and it was only natural for Skylar to be curious about her new husband. But instead of asking about Joe, Skylar seemed more focused on other matters. Paul had assumed she might be trying to use her marriage to Gloria as a way to get closer to Joe. After all, many women in Jipsburg had their eyes on Joe for years. It was unusual for someone like Skylar to marry into the Martin family so easily.
As Skylar followed the butler Edgar Quinn into the mansion, Paul couldn’t help but arch an eyebrow in surprise. However, just as he was about to leave, Skylar called out to him. “Mr. Ziegler,” she said, stopping him in his tracks.
Paul turned, surprised that she was addressing him. “Is your emerald charm a family heirloom, or was it a gift from someone?” Skylar asked, her eyes glinting with a hint of curiosity.
Paul’s hand instinctively touched the emerald charm resting on his neck. He looked down at it and responded, “It was a gift. I quite like it, so I’ve been wearing it often. I heard it dates back to around 1368 to 1644 AD.”
A faint smile touched Skylar’s lips as she looked at the charm, clearly intrigued. It wasn’t the first time she’d noticed the ornate piece, but now, with a clearer view, she was more attuned to its details. The engraving on it resembled the style of the impressionist painter, Clyde Monet, radiating sophistication.
“That’s a fascinating piece,” Skylar commented. “But I have to tell you… I don’t think it’s auspicious at all.”
Paul looked at her, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Skylar’s gaze softened, but there was a steely edge beneath it. “I believe it was looted from a dead body. If you keep wearing it, it’ll bring misfortune to you and those around you. I suggest you remove it.”
Paul’s eyes widened in shock. “Looted from a dead person?” he stammered, visibly disturbed.
Skylar nodded calmly, her voice steady. “You haven’t worn it for more than ten days, right? The curse will only worsen if you continue wearing it. If you trust me, you should take it off and return it to the person who gave it to you. Otherwise, don’t go near Grandma Gloria for a month.”
The gravity of her words hung in the air, and Paul, still uncertain, was left standing at the entrance in a daze, conflicted about whether he should heed Skylar’s warning.
Skylar, meanwhile, continued her path toward the mansion. She was resolute in her decision to protect Gloria, especially given the elderly woman’s fragile health. She couldn’t let anyone—or anything—threaten her wellbeing.
Inside the mansion, Skylar was greeted by Gloria, who immediately embraced her with a warm smile and teary eyes. “Skye, I couldn’t sleep a wink last night after you rejected my proposal. I’m so relieved you’ve changed your mind. Please, show me your marriage certificate!”
Skylar’s heart ached as she saw Gloria’s tears. “I’m sorry, Grandma Gloria,” she whispered.
Gloria wiped away her tears and chuckled softly. “Stop calling me ‘Grandma Gloria.’ You’re my granddaughter-in-law now. Just call me Grandma.”
Skylar, moved by her words, handed the certificate to Gloria. “Alright, Grandma.”
Gloria’s face lit up as she accepted the certificate, studying it with a joyful grin. “This is wonderful,” she murmured. “Skye, you’ll see. Joe is a reliable man. You won’t regret marrying him.”
Skylar nodded in agreement. Despite their brief encounters, she could already tell that Joe was a man of substance. The fact that he had sacrificed his own desires for Gloria spoke volumes about his character.
As Gloria continued to admire the certificate, she suddenly recalled something. “Oh, I almost forgot! Viola left a letter with me before she left. She told me to pass it on to you if you married within the year. If not, I was to pretend I never received it.” Gloria smiled as she handed Skylar the letter. “It’s time for you to have it.”
Skylar’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Viola. “Grandma, do you have any news of Viola?”
Gloria sighed, shaking her head. “You can’t find her if she doesn’t want to be found. She called me a year ago before leaving and asked us not to worry about her.”
Skylar felt a lump rise in her throat. She remembered how defiantly she had treated Viola in her past life, and now, facing the uncertainty of Viola’s disappearance, her heart weighed heavy with regret.
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