“Just you wait!” Maisy’s face was pale with rage as she stormed off. After walking for quite a distance, she pulled out her phone and called Janine.
“Ms. Yancey, I just ran into Skylar and Harvey. They ganged up on me, cursed at me, and even hit me. My clothes are ruined from the kick, and my phone screen is shattered. The spot where they hit me still hurts. They’ve gone too far!”
“Why did they hit you?” Janine asked, her tone cold over the phone.
Maisy hesitated. “I’m not sure. But Skylar and Harvey badmouthed me, and then Harvey… he beat me.”
“They wouldn’t attack you for no reason. You must’ve crossed the line,” Janine’s voice remained icy. “Next time, don’t ever call me for something so trivial.”
Maisy was taken aback. “You’re my biological mother! Why don’t you stand up for me?”
“You don’t even call me ‘mom.’ Even if you are my biological child, there’s no reason for me to unconditionally protect you. You’ve never accepted your biological family,” Janine responded sharply, and the call ended abruptly.
Maisy fumed, so furious she wanted to throw her phone. “You’re just a country bumpkin. What right do you have to be my mom? If you were kind to me, I might have willingly called you ‘aunt.’”
It wasn’t her day. Just as she was about to storm off, her phone rang again.
“You must be Ms. Williams. Do you have time to sit and talk?” a voice asked.
Maisy stiffened and turned around. To her surprise, it was Annie.
“Did you call for me, Ms. Silver?” Maisy asked, eyes wide with disbelief.
Annie smiled gracefully. “Yes, Ms. Williams.”
“I—yeah, I have time!” Maisy exclaimed, suddenly feeling elated.
If her friends knew she had met Annie, they’d be envious. And if Annie could use her connections to help the Williamses through this difficult time, it would be even better.
Meanwhile, Skylar had taken Harvey to the Lower Ground level of the mall and bought some of his favorite snacks. It was almost time for work, so she flagged down a cab for him. Reluctantly, the siblings said their goodbyes.
Just as Skylar was about to enter the building, her phone rang. It was Caleb.
“It’s been two days since you last visited me,” Caleb said softly.
Skylar apologized briefly, “I’ve been really busy these past two days. I’ll come see you after work today. Is there anything you’re craving? I can pick it up on my way.”
“My uncle bought me a bunch of stuff, so I don’t need anything. Your presence is enough,” Caleb replied, his voice tinged with loneliness.
Skylar chuckled lightly. “Alright, I’ll come over after work.”
It seemed like hardly anyone had visited Caleb since he was admitted to the hospital. The nurses were his primary caregivers, and he seemed so lonely. It broke Skylar’s heart to think of him like that—like a child no one wanted to be with.
At the Martin Group conference room, John and Joe headed to the CEO’s office after signing the contract.
“I didn’t attend Rowan’s birthday the other day. He mentioned you brought a girl named Skylar?” John asked as soon as he sat down. “Why didn’t I see her today?”
Joe took a sip of his coffee, unfazed. “You’re into gossip now?”
John reached for his coffee as well. “It’s not gossip. There’s just an interesting coincidence.”
He leaned forward. “You know my nephew, Caleb, right? He’s taken a liking to a girl recently. She managed to enter my dad’s team on her own merits, and he sees her as a potential granddaughter-in-law.”
John paused, eyeing Joe carefully. “Interestingly, her name is also Skylar. Just like the girl you brought that day.”
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