Sadie was stunned. “Has our company really reached that point? Do we actually need to sell off our properties?”
Jeffrey gave a heavy nod. “We should. The company won’t last much longer.”
He never imagined he’d one day fall into such a dire situation. For years, he had carried himself with pride, convinced he had solidified his status in Jipsburg. He had even envisioned transforming the Williams family into one of the city’s most influential households.
But that dream was crumbling right before his eyes.
Sadie began to panic. The children were still chatting idly in the family group chat, unaware of the seriousness of the situation. That only deepened her fear. If the family truly collapsed, they could end up drowning in debt.
A sense of foreboding settled in her chest—one she couldn’t quite explain.
—
After lunch, Skylar casually glanced at her phone. A series of messages from Steven and a few other friends caught her attention. As she scrolled through them, she quickly realized what had caused the buzz—Natalie had posted a photo on her Instagram.
It was that photo.
Skylar sighed inwardly. She understood Natalie’s intention—to help her strike back at the people who had looked down on her. The post gave the impression that she was no longer mired in her past and had found someone new.
Though her friend meant well, the misunderstanding had spread like wildfire.
Skylar took a moment to explain the truth about the photo to her close friends and family. The man in the image was none other than Natalie’s cousin. Then, after some hesitation, she decided to clarify things with Joe.
“That Instagram photo was posted by my friend. She doesn’t know I’m married. The man in the picture is her cousin.”
Joe’s reply was simple.
“Okay.”
After reading his response, Skylar quietly slipped her phone into her bag.
Beside her, Natalie leaned in with a mischievous grin. “So, did the post blow their minds? A bunch of people just want to see you embarrassed, so I used that photo to crush their hopes. I wanted to show them you’re still very much desired.”
Skylar gently pinched Natalie’s cheek, half amused. “Well, that post overwhelmed me too.”
“That’s nothing!” Natalie scoffed, undeterred. “Just look at Elliott. Don’t keep your guard up all the time. He’s really great. If he ever treats you badly, I swear—our whole family will come after him.”
Skylar hesitated for a moment, then decided it was time to be honest. “I’m married, Nath.”
Natalie blinked, then laughed as if Skylar had just cracked a joke. “Stop it. Be serious.”
“I am serious. I’ll show you my marriage certificate next time.”
Still skeptical, Natalie shook her head. “I don’t believe you. I know you too well. You wouldn’t just get married on a whim. You just broke up with Christopher. You’ve been trying to rebuild yourself and find a job—when would you have had time to meet someone new, let alone marry him?”
She narrowed her eyes playfully. “Besides, what kind of man could make you dive into a flash marriage without hesitation? If you’re not interested in Elliott, fine, I’ll introduce you to someone else.”
Skylar sighed. Natalie clearly didn’t buy her story.
Just then, Elliott stepped out of the restroom. He noticed the two women whispering to each other but chose not to interrupt.
Skylar made a mental note to bring her marriage certificate the next time they met—anything to get Natalie off the matchmaking train.
—
Meanwhile, Joe, after reading Skylar’s message, quietly made a phone call.
“You can stop investigating,” he instructed.
Now that he knew the man in the photo was just someone insignificant, there was no need to dig further.
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