A sliver of doubt crept into his mind. Could they have gotten the wrong person? Was it really not John?
But no—he shook the thought away. The photo was clear. It unmistakably showed Skylar and John together. There was no mistaking it.
Still, sensing John’s growing hostility, Peter tried another angle.
“Are you worried your fiancée might find out?” he asked, trying to sound understanding. “Don’t worry. We’re not going to make this public. It would reflect badly on our family too.”
He gritted his teeth and laid their cards on the table. “Our request is simple. Help the Williams family through this rough patch, and in return, we won’t interfere. Skylar can stay by your side peacefully. That’s all we ask.”
In Peter’s mind, it was a win-win. Skylar should feel honored to do something for her family—no matter what it was.
But Sadie frowned beside him. Peter’s words were too blunt. They made it sound as if Skylar was just a bargaining chip—a tool they could exchange for favors.
To John, the whole thing was laughable. Or rather, infuriating.
This was the family Skylar had been born into? People who tried to sell her out, questioned her abilities, and now attempted to use her as leverage? No wonder she disowned them.
“Suzy,” John said calmly, “Call Connor.”
Suzy immediately stepped away to make the call.
The name alone was enough to send a ripple of unease through the room. Connor Coleman wasn’t just any lawyer—he was the Gardners’ legal shark. And when John called him, it meant things were about to escalate.
Jeffrey’s face twisted with anger. “You’re really going to treat us like this?” he snapped. “Aren’t you worried about what Skylar will think when she finds out you’re so rude to her parents? She’ll be furious!”
Sadie added sharply, “You know the consequences if your fiancée—or anyone else—finds out about your affair with Skylar. Do you really want to risk that?”
They thought they had John cornered. If they couldn’t get his cooperation, the next best thing was to ruin Skylar’s standing with him entirely.
But Suzy returned at that moment, her voice cool and professional. “Mr. Gardner, Mr. Coleman will arrive in five minutes.”
Peter’s confidence faltered. The others might have mistaken John’s calm demeanor for weakness, but Peter was beginning to sense that things were spiraling beyond their control.
John glanced down at his watch, then pulled out his phone to message Joe.
John: They’re still here. Trying to use Skylar as leverage to save their failing company.
Joe replied almost instantly.
Joe: When did you get so soft? You’ve gone full gentleman mode since you took over the Gardner family. If Jacob saw this, he’d never show his face again.
John could practically hear the teasing in Joe’s voice. Jacob Gardner—his older brother—was infamous for his ruthlessness.
John: You think Skylar would tolerate you being this annoying?
Joe: She doesn’t need to. She adores me anyway.
John rolled his eyes and slipped his phone back into his pocket.
Just then, Connor Coleman arrived at the Gardner estate. Suzy had already briefed him on the situation. Even so, he was stunned. He couldn’t believe that three people would be so bold—or so foolish—as to walk into Gardner Manor and try to extort its heir.
He stepped into the room, his expression hard as steel.
Looking directly at Jeffrey, Peter, and Sadie, he asked coldly, “Are you the ones who slandered my client and tried to threaten him into a business deal?”
His words sliced through the room like a blade.
The Williamses turned pale. Their arrogance melted into discomfort.
What followed was ten agonizing minutes of legal threats, reality checks, and a very clear message: They had overstepped—badly.
When they finally left Gardner Manor, the once-proud trio looked thoroughly defeated. Their clothes were neat, but their pride had been ripped to shreds.
Suzy watched them walk away with a broom in hand—just in case she needed to speed up their departure.
As the gate closed behind them, Peter muttered under his breath, “Could it be… we were wrong?”
But no one answered him.
Because deep down, all three of them already knew the truth.
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