Caleb sat in his room, feeling the weight of his own self-doubt. He glanced at his phone, and the absence of messages from Skylar gnawed at him. It had been days since she had reached out. Had she already forgotten about him?
Maisy, on the other hand, was seething as she transferred the one million dollars to Christopher. She wasn’t one to save money, and her finances were tighter than she liked to admit. She had once told Peter she didn’t have any money to spare, but now, she was giving it all to Christopher.
The moment the transaction was complete, Maisy immediately called him. “I’ve transferred the money. You should have received it by now. Now, delete those videos and tell me who gave them to you!” Her voice was sharp with frustration.
Christopher’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he checked the payment. “I took those videos. I was there from the start. Maisy, I might’ve had feelings for you in college, but you’ll never compare to Skylar.”
Maisy’s face flushed with anger. “You—!”
“Don’t worry,” Christopher cut in, his tone dismissive. “I’ll delete them. It disgusts me just looking at them.”
After hanging up, Christopher stared at his phone wallpaper—a photo of him and Skylar. He missed her. He had lost something special, and he knew he would never find another woman who loved him the way Skylar had.
He had found the videos and, just as he was about to delete them, a thought struck him. Maisy was unpredictable, and who knew what tricks she might have up her sleeve in the future. He decided to hold on to the videos as leverage, just in case.
Skylar, meanwhile, had been so absorbed in her work that she hadn’t noticed how much time had passed. It wasn’t until her stomach rumbled that she realized it was already noon. She was just about to leave her work area when a stranger stood in her path.
“Ms. Sullivan, I’m John Gardner, Caleb’s uncle and Alexander’s son. Could we talk for a moment?” John’s voice was polite, but there was a hint of concern in his eyes. He worried his serious expression might intimidate her.
Skylar froze. Caleb’s uncle? That meant Caleb was Alexander’s grandson. She hadn’t expected that revelation.
“Sure,” she said after a brief pause. “Let’s talk over lunch. I don’t mind.”
John seemed to relax, giving a small nod. “Don’t worry, I’m friends with Mr. Martin. I’m aware of your relationship.”
Skylar was surprised. Had Joe already told his friends about their relationship?
They walked to a nearby restaurant, a popular spot for lunch. Skylar wasn’t a fan of Wiscadian cuisine, often finding it too heavy, but she didn’t mind it for the occasion. After a few bites, John began to speak.
“Caleb probably didn’t tell you that he’s related to us,” he started, his tone steady. “He’s recently started working part-time at an antique shop. Caleb’s always disliked feeling restricted.”
Skylar’s eyebrows shot up. “Is anything wrong with him?”
She was shocked to learn that Caleb was Alexander’s grandson. It made sense, though. If Caleb had come from a poor background, he wouldn’t have been able to learn multiple languages or navigate social situations so easily. His motorcycle, too, was the real deal, not some cheap imitation like he had claimed.
“Caleb likes you,” John said bluntly.
Skylar blinked in surprise. “He likes me? Mr. Gardner, you must have misunderstood. He sees me as an older sister and a friend. I’m several years older than him, and besides, you know I’m married.”
“But Caleb doesn’t know that,” John countered, his voice firm. “Societal norms don’t concern him. He wouldn’t care if you were ten or twenty years older than him—he likes you.”
Skylar was taken aback by his words, but John continued.
“After he was discharged from the hospital, he became determined to improve himself. He’s been pushing himself too hard, almost to the point of breaking down. His parents are abroad, so I’ve been trying to look out for him. Can I ask for your help? Could you talk to him and tell him that you’re married?”
Skylar’s mind raced. She couldn’t help but ask, “Are you sure there’s no misunderstanding here? Have you talked to Caleb about this directly?”
She found it difficult to believe that Caleb felt that way, but she knew she couldn’t dismiss John’s concerns outright.
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