Gloria felt a sense of satisfaction as she watched the interaction between Skylar and Joe. It was a small sign, but it was enough. She turned to the two of them with a smile. “Edgar sent dinner over for me. It might be a bit bland, but if you don’t mind, would you stay for a meal?”
Skylar didn’t hesitate. “Sure, I’d love to.”
Joe gave a small nod. Normally, he wouldn’t say much unless it was necessary, but something about Gloria’s invitation made him feel more at ease.
Gloria raised an eyebrow as she glanced at Joe. “I know there’s a generation gap between us, but don’t make it uncomfortable. It’s alright if you don’t have much to say to me, but when you’re alone with Skye, don’t be so silent. You don’t want to scare her off.”
Joe could only stare in silence, speechless at her sharp observation.
One hour later, Skylar and Joe walked out of the hospital. It was 7:00 PM, and the sky was darkening, with the streetlights flickering to life. Skylar checked her phone and read a message from Steven. She quickly replied, telling him she’d be home soon.
Turning to Joe, she spoke casually, “Mr. Martin, I’m not heading back to Galaxy Villa just yet. I need to go to my mom’s place.”
Joe’s gaze lingered on her, studying her. He noticed she wasn’t acting anxious or distressed. Even after everything that had been happening online, she seemed composed, almost as if nothing had changed.
His lips pressed together, a thought lingering in his mind. “Have you seen the trending topic online?”
Skylar stopped, taken aback for a moment, but she nodded, already knowing he was referring to the public storm surrounding her. “Yeah, I’ve seen it. And I know what the Williams family plans to do. I’ll figure something out.”
Before Joe could respond, Skylar’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen, then turned to him. “I’ll talk to you later,” she said before walking toward the parking lot to answer the call.
“Hey, Charles. I just left the hospital. I’ll be home soon, don’t worry…” she said, her voice calm and reassuring.
Joe watched her walk away, his eyes darkening with a mixture of concern and protectiveness.
Just then, Paul approached, followed by a man in his mid-thirties, dressed in a sharp suit. Paul looked around, then asked, “Where’s Ms. Sullivan, Mr. Martin?”
The man beside him, Jacky Lourdes, greeted Joe with a formal nod. “Good evening, Mr. Martin.”
Joe’s expression was cold. “She just left.”
Paul’s surprise was evident. “What? But things are getting pretty heated online. The Williams family isn’t considering the toll this could take on Skylar. Their PR team is flawless. Will she be alright?”
“I’ll make sure she’s fine,” Joe said, his voice low and firm.
Paul was about to call Skylar, concerned she might do something drastic, but Joe’s steady voice stopped him. “She won’t do anything foolish.”
Joe turned to Jacky, the man in the suit, his eyes narrowing as he asked, “How soon can you resolve this?”
Jacky’s demeanor remained cool, his confidence apparent. “I can have it done in an hour, as long as you give me the go-ahead, Mr. Martin. I’ve already liaised with the PR team. Sarah Nielson is already drafting the PR article.”
Joe nodded once, his gaze flicking toward the direction where Skylar had gone. “I’ll be in touch with you soon.”
Paul was surprised by Joe’s calm demeanor. “You’re not acting immediately? The Williams family has too many resources. Their influence is far-reaching. You need to act fast before they do more damage.”
Joe shot Paul a sharp glance, his face unreadable. His patience was wearing thin. “I said I’ll contact you.”
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