“Do you no longer trust me?” Sadie’s voice trembled as she defended Maisy. “You’re misunderstanding her. Maisy is obedient, sensible. She would never date Christopher.”
Her words were hurried, almost desperate. “Your boyfriend is too ambitious, always reaching for things that are beyond him. If you’re blaming anyone, blame yourself for poor judgment. You chose a fickle boyfriend.”
Sadie’s natural instinct was to defend Maisy. She had always prioritized her over Skylar, but as soon as the words left her mouth, doubts crept in. She had never stopped to consider how Skylar might feel in all of this.
In the silence that followed, another voice emerged, asserting that if Maisy wasn’t wrong, then it must be Skylar’s fault. Someone needed to pay for their mistakes.
Skylar’s gaze grew colder, sharper, her eyes emotionless yet filled with a knowing, as if she could see through the malice in Sadie’s words.
“Mom, let’s not talk about this today,” Peter interjected, sensing the conversation was going further off course. There was no need to drag it out. They would have plenty of time to make Skylar feel at home in the Williams family, he thought.
“Right,” Sadie muttered reluctantly. “We’ve had misunderstandings, but we’re family, aren’t we? That’s what matters.”
Peter seized the opportunity to try again. “We have tough times ahead, and we need to stick together. The family really needs your help right now, Skylar. If you pitch in, we’ll acknowledge you.”
Skylar didn’t respond immediately. Her indifference was intentional. She had tried to please them once, but now, her air of detachment was deliberate. It was a tactic—her way of drawing their concern.
Jeffrey took a deep breath, softening his tone. He didn’t hold onto the harsh words she had just thrown at them.
“We’re family,” he said. “No matter what mistakes you’ve made, we’ll forgive you. I know you’re angry because we didn’t stand up for you.”
He added, “That was because you smeared Maisy on social media. But don’t worry. I had already planned a way out for you—send you abroad for a few years. When you come back, you can work at Williams Group.”
Skylar’s heart skipped a beat. She had never seen them submit before, especially not Jeffrey and Peter. The father and son duo had always looked at her with sarcasm. But now, they looked the same: proud, yet benevolent—like they were offering her a chance, as if she should be grateful.
Skylar found it laughable. She wanted to know their true motives. If there were no benefits or hidden agendas, neither of them would lower their heads.
“Tell me, what do you want me to do for you?” she asked, her voice laced with skepticism.
Jeffrey’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Let your brother talk to you about it.”
Peter leaned forward, his voice lower now. “I know you know Paul well, and I’m sure you two have a good relationship. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have stood up for you.”
He paused, then added softly, “When a man stands up for a woman, it usually means he’s interested in her. Paul likes you, Skylar. If you two are in a relationship, then it’ll be easy. Just give him a call and ask him to convince Mr. Martin to continue collaborating with the Williams family.”
Peter’s tone grew more calculating. “If you’re not in a relationship, then agree to date him. Use your connection with him to persuade Mr. Martin.”
Skylar’s lips curled into a smirk. “Are you suggesting I sell myself to Paul?”
“Don’t put it so crudely,” Sadie interjected, sounding somewhat guilty. “I’ve met Paul before. He’s a capable young man. As Mr. Martin’s assistant, he has a promising future. We’re thinking of your best interests.”
Kenny kept his head down, unsure of what to think. He glanced up, surprised by Sadie’s words.
“If you compare him to Christopher, Paul is certainly better, right?” Samuel said, clearly irritated by Skylar’s ingratitude.
“Yes, Paul seems like a nice guy,” Maisy added quickly, eager to sway Skylar’s opinion.
In her mind, trading Skylar for the Williams family’s future was worth it. If it meant sending Skylar to be with someone like Joe or anyone else, she would support it. Jealousy was a weak excuse.
Skylar glanced at them with an unreadable expression, her voice laced with irony. “Unfortunately, Paul doesn’t like me.”
“He doesn’t like you?” Peter asked, genuinely surprised. “You’re beautiful. Just be a little more proactive, and he’ll surely like you. If not, I’ll help you get into a relationship with him.”
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