Skylar briefly recalled Jeremy—Natalie’s doting admirer whom she had met once. With that memory, she dismissed the noise she heard as a coincidence.
But Joe noticed the sudden halt in her steps. The persistent, sharp noise echoed in their ears, agitating the silence around them.
Seeing Skylar standing motionless at the doorway, a thought crossed his mind—Was she waiting for me?
He quickly regained his composure. Picking up the glass beside him, he took a few slow sips of water, his gaze falling coldly on Skylar and her graceful silhouette. His thoughts shifted—Was she trying to seduce me by standing there like that?
“What’s wrong?” Joe asked flatly, his voice as chilly as the night breeze.
The coldness in his tone jolted Skylar from her thoughts. She turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze.
“I just suddenly remembered something. It’s nothing. Goodnight,” she replied, brushing it off quickly.
Without waiting for a response, she grabbed a towel, wrapped it around herself, and hurried back into the villa and straight to her room.
After showering and drying her hair, she got into bed. But just as she settled under the sheets, a wave of thirst struck her.
She had sweated quite a bit in the hot spring earlier, and there was no water in the room. Reluctantly, she got up again, opened the door, and made her way to the fridge.
Inside, she found a variety of drinks—beverages, bottled water, even alcohol. She didn’t care for sugary drinks or smoothies, so she simply grabbed a bottle of mineral water.
After closing the fridge, she took a few refreshing sips, the cool liquid instantly quenching her thirst.
Just as she turned to head back, she walked straight into something solid.
“Ahh!” she exclaimed softly, stumbling back—only to feel an arm wrap around her waist.
Under the dim hallway light, she looked up and locked eyes with Joe.
“Mr. Martin!” she blurted out in surprise, realizing she had walked straight into his chest.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, still caught off guard.
Joe released her gently. Her sleepwear was loose, modest, revealing nothing of her figure—but he had already seen her in a bikini. He couldn’t forget how slender her waist was.
“I came for some water,” Joe replied, his voice a little husky.
Skylar nodded quickly and stepped aside. “There’s still water left in the fridge. I’ll head back now.”
“Okay,” he replied simply.
She had barely taken a few steps when he suddenly called out.
“Are you still thinking about your ex-boyfriend?”
Skylar’s steps faltered. Her brow furrowed at the unexpected question.
Christopher. The man who had betrayed her.
Her voice turned icy. “Mr. Martin, you said it yourself—he’s my ex-boyfriend.”
Christopher didn’t deserve space in her thoughts, much less in her heart. As far as she was concerned, he was no different from a dead man.
Joe raised an eyebrow. He knew: the deeper the love once was, the stronger the hatred when betrayal followed.
He could feel the intensity of her resentment—which only meant Christopher had once mattered a great deal.
The realization settled over him. Reaching into his pocket, Joe pulled out a cigarette, his thoughts silently unraveling.
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