Skylar took a closer look at Charles’s injury. “How did this happen? Was it during an action scene?”
Even if it was, she thought, they shouldn’t have been that rough.
“Yeah, it was a fight scene,” Charles answered, clearly avoiding her gaze. “It was a chaotic scene, with everyone battling it out. We all got really into it. Someone else got bruised too, both their eyes. If I hadn’t zoned out for a moment, it wouldn’t have happened.”
“Let’s go home. I’m starving,” he said quickly, trying to steer the conversation away from his injuries.
Steven’s face darkened as he saw how worried Skylar looked. “Charles is tough. He’ll be fine,” he said, trying to reassure her. “Let’s go. Mom’s waiting for us.”
Charles grinned, a little more upbeat now. “I miss Mom’s beef ribs!” he said, looking like he was about to drool.
“I miss all of Mom’s cooking,” Skylar chimed in.
As the two siblings walked toward the parking lot, Steven couldn’t help but glance at them. His fists clenched slightly. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t doing enough as an older brother—he wasn’t protecting them the way he should have.
Meanwhile, at the Galaxy Villa, Joe had returned home earlier than expected. He was reading in the living room, passing the time between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm. He had been out of town for a week, and if he didn’t remind himself that he was married, the silence in the villa would have made him feel like he was still single.
Glancing at the clock, he noticed it was already 11:30 pm. He wondered if Skylar hadn’t come home yet. Could she still be out? He rubbed his temples, thinking about the way she had looked earlier at the hospital—cold and pale. She still seemed to have feelings for Christopher.
When Skylar finally returned to Galaxy Villa, it was already 12:30 am. She had been spending time with her family, and the hours had slipped by unnoticed.
Seeing Joe sitting in the living room surprised her. “Mr. Martin, you’re back?” she asked, surprised. She thought he would be away for a couple of days, especially after reconciling with Annie. She assumed he’d want to spend more time with her.
Joe looked up at Skylar as she greeted him, but instead of responding right away, she started heading upstairs.
“Wait a minute,” Joe called after her.
Skylar paused at the stairs, her heart sinking. Was he about to ask for a divorce? She had been bracing for this moment, but it still felt unsettling to face it.
“Do you need something, Mr. Martin?” she asked, trying to keep her tone steady.
Joe met her eyes with an unreadable expression. “If you’re free tomorrow, come with me to the Pearlhall Residence.”
Skylar was a little taken aback. Joe wasn’t asking for a divorce. Instead, he wanted to take her to see Gloria.
“Sure,” she said, her voice soft.
As she was about to head upstairs, something caught her attention, and she turned back. “Thanks for helping me out at the hospital today,” she said, her voice sincere. He had played a key role in making sure Paul helped her with the situation concerning Christopher and Amelia. If Joe and Paul hadn’t been there, things could have gotten worse.
Joe watched her for a long moment, his gaze intense. “You had feelings for him for years. Can you really just move on that easily?”
Her chest tightened at the mention of Christopher. The truth was, she had wasted so many years of her life on him. Her eyes darkened with regret. How many more years had she sacrificed for someone who never truly deserved her?
She felt a deep sadness. How had she been so blind? If she could go back in time, she would tell herself how foolish she had been.
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