Skylar? Wasn’t that the woman Caleb had mentioned yesterday? He had looked so heartbroken, clearly devastated by something.
But if that was the case, why was Skylar’s father suddenly here to see John?
Something didn’t add up.
Suzy didn’t waste a second. She turned and rushed into the manor to report the unexpected visitors.
When John heard that Jeffrey wanted to see him, he was surprised. Jeffrey? Logically, if anything, the man should be looking for Joe—not him. Why come here?
Feeling suspicious, John told Suzy to invite them in. He wanted to see for himself what they were up to.
Downstairs, Jeffrey and the others took Suzy’s invitation as a sign they had been right. Their guess seemed to be confirmed—John probably liked Skylar.
Peter smirked to himself. He had always looked down on Skylar, dismissing her because she came from the countryside. To him, she was an embarrassment. But now? Even someone as powerful as John Gardner was showing interest in her?
Maybe she had some tricks after all.
Sadie, meanwhile, couldn’t stop admiring the opulent surroundings. Though she often acted arrogant—especially around Janine—deep down, she felt inferior around real wealth. The sheer grandeur of the Gardner estate made her feel small and envious.
She couldn’t help but daydream: If only the Williams family could rise like this… Maybe one day, we’ll have a manor like this too.
But despite being welcomed in, they didn’t see John right away.
Suzy offered them tea and explained politely, “Mr. Gardner is occupied at the moment. He’ll be with you shortly.”
In truth, John was already present—he just hadn’t come downstairs. Instead, he stood on the second floor, watching the family settle in from above. His sharp eyes studied every gesture, every smirk, every subtle glance they exchanged.
Then, after a pause, he raised his phone and snapped a discreet photo.
He sent the picture to Joe with a short message.
At that moment, Joe and Skylar were enjoying a quiet breakfast at home.
They had returned late the night before and decided to sleep in, making the most of their weekend. By the time they got up, it was already past eight. Skylar had kept things simple—just toast and a bit of fruit for breakfast.
As they ate, Joe’s phone buzzed with a message.
It was from John.
Joe casually opened it, expecting business, but instead found a photo. In it, Jeffrey, Peter, and Sadie were sitting inside Gardner Manor, sipping tea like honored guests.
Joe’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
Skylar noticed him pausing mid-bite and staring at his screen with focus.
Assuming it was work-related, she didn’t say anything and quietly continued eating.
But then Joe turned his phone toward her.
“Are these your biological parents?” he asked.
Skylar froze. The coldness in her eyes was instant.
Why would they come up now?
She took the phone, her gaze sharp as she scanned the photo. There they were—Jeffrey, Peter, and Sadie—sitting there as if they belonged, as if they had any right to be there.
“What are they doing in Gardner Manor?” she asked, voice low and controlled.
“They went to see John,” Joe explained. “Claimed they were there on your behalf. John has no idea what their intentions are.”
Skylar’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Then please tell Mr. Gardner,” she said slowly, “that I have no relationship with them. None. If they insist on a connection, just tell him they’re my enemies.”
Joe glanced at her. In her eyes, he saw a flash of pain beneath the frost—an old wound that still hadn’t healed.
He nodded. “Alright. I’ll handle it.”
Skylar grew quiet again, quietly chewing as she stared out the window. She wasn’t surprised. The Williams family would stoop to anything. Shameless wasn’t even the word.
Joe studied her for a moment and added softly, “If they bother you again, just use my name. They won’t dare touch you in Jipsburg.”
Skylar looked up, startled. Her expression softened. There was something about Joe’s calm confidence that made her feel protected—something she hadn’t felt in a long time.
But she still hesitated. “They’ll just get worse. They’ll try to take advantage of you instead.”
Joe chuckled, his voice low and steady. “They won’t dare try that with me.”
The Williams family might be underhanded, but Joe Martin had far more ruthless methods. If they wanted to test him, he wouldn’t hold back.
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