Skylar’s internal battle was clear as she hung up the phone. She had hoped for some glimmer of support from her family, but it was quickly fading into nothingness. Steven’s words had made her believe that maybe things could still be salvaged, but she had been wrong to expect anything from them.
Joe, coming downstairs at that moment, heard Skylar’s phone ring and overheard her conversation. The coldness in her voice was enough to make his heart ache, but what struck him more was the way she tried so desperately to hide her pain. She didn’t shed a single tear, but the sadness in her eyes was undeniable. It reminded him of his own past struggles—times when he had to lick his own wounds alone.
He watched her, his thoughts shifting as he saw how fragile she appeared despite her tough exterior. There was a time when he had been just like her, though he wouldn’t have admitted it back then.
When Skylar looked up and met his gaze, she instantly lost her composure, her defenses crumbling. She quickly lowered her eyes, trying to hide the vulnerability she so carefully guarded. Joe’s eyes softened with sympathy. He walked toward her, his tone gentle yet laced with concern. “The tea you gave me last night worked. My anxiety settled down and I ended up falling asleep,” he said, hoping to lighten the mood, but also sensing her discomfort.
Skylar nodded quickly, as if trying to mask the turmoil inside. “Good to hear it worked. I can make more if you need it. I have to go now. I have other things to do.”
She grabbed her bag and rushed to the door, not looking back at him as she stepped out into the cold morning air. Joe’s frown deepened as he watched her leave. She hadn’t even taken the time to throw away the yogurt she had started. If she was truly fine, she would’ve made herself a proper breakfast. The sight of her abandoned yogurt and the hollow look in her eyes unsettled him.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized how much Skylar was being backed into a corner by the Williams family. They were doing everything to silence her, to keep her from fighting back. He couldn’t allow them to continue treating her like this.
He glanced down at his phone, seeing the message from Paul. Skylar wasn’t being silent because she didn’t have evidence. It was because her accounts had been blocked. The Williams family was systematically suppressing her every move. Sadie, cold and dismissive, had even gone as far as to reject the truth in favor of Maisy’s lies.
Joe tapped his fingers on the table in frustration. He needed to do something. He quickly dialed Paul’s number.
“What’s your order, Mr. Martin?” Paul answered, his voice slightly rushed. It was clear that the man had been busy.
“Don’t do it under Martin Group’s name. Find another way to help her fight back,” Joe said. “Skylar wants to handle things on her own, but she can’t do it if they keep blocking her at every turn.”
Paul immediately understood the gravity of the situation. He’d been holding back, waiting for Joe’s signal, but now it was clear. He couldn’t just sit idly by while Skylar was being crushed. “Got it, Mr. Martin.”
Before he ended the call, Paul couldn’t help but ask, his curiosity piqued. “Mr. Martin, have you developed feelings for Ms. Sullivan?”
Joe’s response was quick and cold. “You’re overthinking it.”
Paul wisely chose not to probe further. He had learned by now that Joe’s intentions were often more complicated than they seemed.
At the Williams residence, Sadie stared at her phone, her expression filled with disbelief. She had seen the videos—she knew it was Maisy in them, but she couldn’t come to terms with it. The truth was in front of her, yet she refused to accept it. Her anger only grew as she watched the footage. How could Maisy lie so convincingly?
Sadie’s thoughts spiraled. She had always disapproved of Christopher, but she had tried to respect Maisy’s choices. Now, with this evidence, everything was crumbling.
With her phone in hand, she stormed off to find Maisy.
Inside the room, Maisy was in her own little world, chatting with Christopher on WhatsApp, discussing how they could finally take down Skylar. She was already planning how to ruin Skylar’s reputation beyond repair, thinking that once Skylar had nothing left, they could make her do anything.
But when Sadie opened the door, her presence immediately dampened Maisy’s mood. “What’s going on between you and Christopher, Maisy?” Sadie’s voice was sharp, tinged with anger and disbelief. “Are you lying to me now?”
The tension in the room was palpable. Maisy’s face froze as she looked up, unsure of how to respond. Sadie wasn’t a woman who could easily be deceived, and Maisy knew that her mother was not going to let this go easily.
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