The Williams family’s faces grew pale as the realization set in. They had likely made a grave mistake.
After driving a short distance away, Peter couldn’t keep it in any longer. He abruptly stopped the car by the roadside, his voice tense with frustration.
“Dad, if it isn’t John, then we’ve just offended the entire Gardner family… again!”
Jeffrey was equally grim, but his mind was racing. “If it’s not John, then who else could it be?” His voice was tinged with doubt.
Sadie, still trying to piece things together, offered another possibility. “Maybe we’ve misunderstood Skylar. Perhaps she’s fine, and we’ve just been jumping to conclusions?”
The entire time, Skylar had refused to confirm anything, no matter how many times they’d asked her. But they had never truly believed her when she denied it.
Peter scoffed. “There has to be someone backing her. How else would she have managed to join Mr. Gardner Senior’s team?” He had always underestimated Skylar, dismissing her as a woman with nothing more than a pretty face. In his eyes, she was no more than a decoration. Yet, against all odds, she had secured a position on a team that many in Jipsburg would do anything to be a part of. If anyone suggested that Skylar’s abilities were the reason, Peter would laugh it off as a joke.
“She’s not close to us anymore,” Sadie continued, glancing down at the photo on her phone. “She avoids us whenever she can. No matter how much we try, she won’t open up. We’ll have to confront her with the evidence.”
In Sadie’s mind, it still made the most sense that John was involved. He had to be the key to this puzzle.
Jeffrey, as if reading his wife’s thoughts, spoke next. “Let Kenny take the photo and confront Skylar directly.”
Peter hesitated for a moment before replying, “Alright. Let’s do it.”
Meanwhile, Skylar had just changed and was coming downstairs. She had plans to meet Natalie. Joe, too, had an appointment, but he was waiting so they could leave together.
“John told me he chased them off,” Skylar said, nodding toward Joe.
Joe raised an eyebrow. “They won’t give up so easily. If Mr. Gardner’s fiancée has any doubts, I’ll explain it to her myself.”
Skylar smiled. “You don’t need to worry about that. But if you could help me tell Mr. Gardner what’s going on, I’d appreciate it.”
Joe looked at her seriously. “They don’t deserve to be called your family. You know, the real reason I agreed to marry you so quickly is because you saw through Maisy’s lies. You’re not like the Williamses. You can spot bad people from a mile away.”
Skylar’s gaze softened. “I’ve always thought that if we respect each other, there won’t be any unnecessary complications. That’s what I envisioned for our future—something simple, with no drama.”
Joe met her gaze, his expression unreadable. “Trust is the most important thing. Your family might be shady, but compared to some of my relatives, they’re just small-time players. By marrying me, you did me a favor, Skylar.”
Skylar’s lips curled into a playful smile. “Since you’ve taken advantage of me, you better treat me well. Otherwise, the wolves and tigers in your family will scare me away, and I’ll run faster than anyone else.”
She hadn’t asked much about Joe’s extended family. Gloria had never mentioned them, and the fact that they hadn’t come up at all made Skylar wonder whether they weren’t worth mentioning—or maybe they were just different from Joe and Gloria.
Joe chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Don’t worry, I’ll treat you well. You’ll never have to worry about the wolves.”
Meanwhile, Charles had finished his day’s work and was on his way back to Yancey Residence. He had bought two large bags of things for Janine and Harvey: food, daily essentials, and a pair of basketball shoes for Harvey, who loved the game but had been using old shoes.
Charles had recently landed a supporting role in a new project with a high pay rate, and he was determined to improve his family’s quality of life.
He entered the house, but his eyes widened in surprise at what he saw: Janine had made an extravagant spread of food, all of her best dishes. Charles hadn’t seen a meal like this in ages. The food, which had been a staple of his childhood, still held its magic. To him, it was the best meal he could ever have. The food he ate on set never compared to this.
“Mom, why are you cooking so much today?” Charles asked, surprised. “Isn’t Skye not coming back today?”
Janine smiled warmly as she placed another dish on the table. “I wanted to surprise you. I haven’t cooked for you like this in a while.”
Charles, still holding the bags, sat down at the table, his heart full. Today felt like a good day for the family, and he was determined to make it even better.
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