The men who surrounded Joe were all high-profile partners of the Martin Group, businesses that were closely connected with Joe. It seemed that their meeting had been pre-arranged for some socializing.
As Skylar walked ahead, she could hear the lively chatter from behind her. Turning around, her eyes met Joe’s. They both shared a quiet understanding, their expressions unreadable. Despite the fact that they were both in the same place, they behaved as if they didn’t know each other in front of everyone else. There was no sign of emotion between them.
“Wow, it’s Joe! Was he looking at you? I have this weird feeling that you might actually have a chance with him,” Natalie said, her voice tinged with excitement. She was starting to imagine them as a couple and couldn’t help but think they looked good together. After all, they were far more captivating than any couple on dating shows or in the spotlight.
“You think Skylar and Joe? They don’t even know each other. How could that be?” Charles dismissed the idea almost immediately. “Besides, I don’t think Joe would be a good match for her. Marrying into a wealthy family sounds glamorous, but there are so many complications and rules. Joe has plenty of wealthy women vying for him. Even if Skylar is outstanding, she should avoid getting involved in that mess. Those rich families are too complicated.”
Skylar felt a pang of guilt at Charles’s words. She had, after all, been married into that world already, and everything else was still uncertain. There seemed to be no way out now.
Just then, she received a message from Joe: “Dinner tonight?”
“Okay,” she replied simply.
Afterward, she turned to Charles with a thoughtful expression. “If I really married Joe, would you advise me to get a divorce?”
Charles looked at her, startled. “I never thought about it like that. You don’t even know him! You’ve just met by chance. There’s no talk of marriage, let alone divorce.”
Natalie, overhearing their conversation, looked at Skylar with concern. “Skye, don’t get too caught up in this,” she warned. “The fact that you even made a fake marriage certificate means you’re getting too involved. I was just joking about you and Joe as a couple. Did you take that seriously? Are you in trouble because of something I said?”
Skylar’s gaze shifted between Natalie and Charles. There were so many things she wanted to say, but it all boiled down to one thing. She sighed. “Alright, then.” She didn’t expect them to believe her, no matter what she said.
Even though Charles had finished his scenes for the day, he still had to accompany the crew to their next location for a night shoot. After lunch together, Skylar and Natalie parted ways. Skylar then drove Natalie home.
The afternoon was still young, so Skylar decided to visit a few properties. She’d already researched them beforehand and wanted to see them in person for a better comparison. Before she knew it, hours had passed. She found a property she liked, with a beautiful green landscape and a layout that suited her needs. Without hesitation, she made a deposit.
It was a four-bedroom house, priced at ten million dollars. With a few million in hand, she decided to pay half upfront and take out a loan for the remainder. Feeling accomplished, she drove directly to the restaurant where Joe had arranged to meet her.
She was so excited about securing her dream home that she couldn’t wait to share the news with her adoptive mother and family. She planned to tell them once the down payment was fully processed next week and when she received the keys.
But as Skylar parked her car outside the restaurant, she noticed another car parked right next to hers. The realization hit her. The car had been following her ever since she left the first property. Someone had been tailing her.
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