Caleb’s hair had grown long and unruly, resembling a bird’s nest. His eyes were fixed intently on the book in front of him, completely oblivious to his surroundings.
“What’s going on here?” Alexander asked, his voice tinged with concern.
He had seen Caleb slack off in the past, but never like this—never this serious, as if he were some kind of bookworm. Was this really his grandson?
Caleb scratched his head and finally looked up at Alexander, tears welling in his eyes. “Grandpa, it’s too hard! It’s so complicated! I just can’t understand this stuff!”
Caleb had believed that if he pushed himself to study hard enough, eventually it would make sense. After all, he was Alexander’s grandson, wasn’t he? And he used to be somewhat bright as a child, right? But now, everything seemed like a blur. His eyes ached, his head throbbed, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to grasp the material.
Alexander, momentarily taken aback, sighed as he walked over to Caleb’s side.
“Have you locked yourself in here for days just to study these books? You can’t possibly understand everything on your own without someone teaching you.”
“If you could learn all this by yourself, you’d be a prodigy.” He paused before continuing. “If you really want to learn, I’ll arrange for a tutor to come tomorrow and teach you from the basics.”
“Starting from the basics?” Caleb groaned in frustration. “When will I ever be able to date Skylar if I’m stuck here like this?”
Alexander rolled his eyes. “Didn’t John make it clear to you? Stop daydreaming. You’re not good enough for Skylar.”
“I’m not good enough? You’re all looking down on me!” Caleb shouted, his voice filled with frustration. He was determined to prove himself worthy of Skylar. The more they doubted him, the harder he was willing to work.
Meanwhile, Skylar was having dinner with Gloria at Pearlhall Residence. Afterward, the two of them settled in to watch a variety show.
“Joe will be back tonight,” Gloria mentioned. “I’ve asked Edgar to schedule a check-up for you two at the hospital tomorrow.”
Skylar raised an eyebrow. “A pre-pregnancy check-up?”
Gloria smiled knowingly. “Yes. These two worrisome kids need a little push. If I don’t intervene, they might never get together before I’m gone.” She chuckled softly. “I think a visit to the doctor will bring them closer.”
Gloria was confident that Joe had feelings for Skylar. If he hadn’t, he would have refused outright. The fact that he had agreed to the check-up meant something was definitely brewing between them.
Earlier that afternoon, Gloria had received a call from Alexander. He had expressed his approval of Skylar, though he was still a bit shaken by the news that Caleb had developed feelings for her. He’d also been stunned to learn that Skylar had grown up with Viola. Alexander had cursed his sons for their lack of reliability and lamented that if they’d had children sooner, Joe wouldn’t be in the position he was now.
Despite his reservations, Gloria remained confident. Even if Caleb had been born earlier, he wouldn’t have turned out to be as handsome and capable as Joe.
“Alright, Grandma,” Skylar said with a smile. “Joe mentioned it to me, and I’ll take the day off tomorrow. It’s been a while since I had a check-up, and I could use it.”
Gloria nodded, satisfied. “Joe might seem stern, but he’s a hundred times better than the first male contestant on this show. Look at that guy—sweet-talking one girl today, cooking for another tomorrow!”
Skylar laughed, but Gloria was quick to defend Joe. “Joe would never do that. Once he sets his sights on someone, that’s it for life.”
Skylar nodded in agreement. “Not just the first guy. Even the second and third male contestants can’t compare to Joe.”
Joe had assured Skylar that he had nothing to do with Annie. Initially, she had been skeptical, but after some time, she had realized that Joe genuinely didn’t care about Annie’s feelings. His focus had always been on Skylar.
As soon as she finished speaking, a deep voice sounded behind her. “Do you really think that highly of me?”
Skylar froze. She turned around in surprise to find Joe standing there. When had he arrived?
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