“Ms. Silver, do I look like Mother Teresa to you?” Skylar asked flatly.
Annie had just threatened to destroy her family minutes ago, and now she had the audacity to beg for help? The woman had clearly lost her grip on reality.
It was baffling—Annie’s logic seemed to have taken a vacation, and she was acting like a spoiled prima donna in a drama she herself had directed.
“Please, I’m begging you!” Annie pleaded. “Just name your price. If one million dollars isn’t enough, then how about two million? Five million? I can give you five million dollars!”
Her voice trembled with urgency, but Skylar didn’t flinch.
“As long as you help clear up this misunderstanding with Mr. Martin, I’ll wire the money to you immediately,” Annie added, gritting her teeth.
She could sense Joe’s anger wasn’t just for show—he was serious when he said he’d retaliate. If she didn’t resolve this quickly, her actions could jeopardize the entire Silver family.
Skylar didn’t bother responding. She simply turned and walked away.
Forget five million. Even if Annie offered ten million, she wouldn’t take it.
She wasn’t going to play the fool, accepting dirty money just to help a woman who’d already tried to manipulate and threaten her once. Annie had shown her true colors—she wasn’t someone to be trusted. And certainly not someone worth negotiating with.
Annie stood frozen, her hands trembling at her sides. Biting her lip in frustration, she pulled out her phone and dialed Rowan.
“Rowan,” she said the moment he answered, “I messed up.”
She gave him a quick summary of what had just happened at the restaurant.
After a pause, Rowan responded coldly. “Annie, you acted far too impulsively. A couple of days ago, I had dinner with John, and we talked about Skylar. He specifically said Joe values her a lot—told me not to underestimate her.”
He added bluntly, “Who in Jipsburg would dare cross Joe Martin’s favorite? You’ve stepped in it, Annie. You’re in real trouble.”
Annie’s grip on her phone tightened as panic washed over her. “Then help me. Please… help me arrange a meeting with him.”
“No chance,” Rowan rejected her immediately. “If I intervene now, Joe will cut ties with me. He won’t see me as a friend anymore.”
“You’re on your own, Annie. Good luck. If I were you, I’d go back and beg Skylar instead.”
Annie was left speechless.
She ended the call in silence, her heart sinking as she sat alone in the restaurant, the consequences of her mistake settling heavily on her shoulders.
Meanwhile, after leaving the restaurant, Skylar made her way to the supermarket. She had already decided that tonight, she would cook a proper meal. She’d even prepared a full menu that morning.
Earlier, she had phoned Gloria to ask about Joe’s favorite dishes. But Gloria had gently advised her not to overthink it. Joe was used to housekeepers preparing his meals—Skylar didn’t need to wear herself out every day in the kitchen.
Still, their half-hour conversation had helped Skylar get a clear sense of Joe’s preferences. With her list in hand, she navigated the supermarket aisles with ease and confidence. Once she’d gathered everything, she could head home and start cooking. By dinnertime, everything would be ready.
But just as she exited the supermarket, she bumped into someone unexpectedly—Marcus Lennon.
He was with a young woman who looked like a sweet, slightly awkward college student, likely in her early twenties.
“Skylar?” Marcus blinked, clearly surprised.
Skylar smiled politely. “Mr. Lennon.”
“Shopping alone? That’s a lot to carry. Want a hand?” Marcus asked, his gaze lingering on her a bit too long.
Ever since their encounter at the club, Marcus hadn’t been able to get Skylar out of his mind. Now, seeing her again—and without Joe—he felt like fate had handed him a second chance.
Skylar, however, wasn’t interested.
“No, thank you. I can manage,” she replied coolly as she steered her cart away.
Marcus stood watching her, unwilling to give up so easily.
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