Chapter 1044
After her angry outburst, Vera, still fuming, called Molly. Molly answered, sounding out of breath, her previous activities unclear. “It’s so late. What’s the emergency?” she asked, her tone annoyed.
Vera disregarded the time and Molly's annoyance. Angrily, she demanded, “Joe was so cold to me, and he even made me explain my relationship with him in front of Skylar! Skylar seems more important to him than I am. Is this what you meant when you said he’d start to hate her and fall for me once I returned to Jipsburg?”
“Did you lie to me?” Vera snapped, frantically searching her bag for a ring.
“Why would I lie? What would I gain? If you don’t believe me, return the ring,” Molly retorted, equally frustrated.
Vera’s expression changed as she cried out in panic, “The ring is gone! I think I lost it leaving Galaxy Villa! I don’t know if I dropped it inside or outside!”
“What? You lost it? Where did you put it? How could you lose it? You better find it! If Skylar gets it, you can forget about getting close to Joe!” Molly’s voice, too, was laced with panic.
A shuffling sound came from Molly’s end; Vera vaguely heard her say, “You can go first.” Despite the commotion, Vera remained focused on her frantic search. Even though she’d downplayed its importance, she realized she’d begun relying on the ring, believing it would help her get back at Skylar.
She emptied her bag, but the ring was nowhere to be found. Her face paled. “I have no idea where it fell. I took it off and put it in my bag because Skylar was there; it shouldn’t have slipped out. I’ll check my car.”
Vera searched her car high and low, spending half the night, but the ring remained missing. Panicking, she called Molly again.
This time, Molly sounded calmer. “If it’s gone, it’s gone. Maybe it wasn’t meant for you. Even if Skylar finds it, she probably won’t understand. In a couple of days, I’ll send you a necklace. Wear it constantly. And avoid Skylar—focus on Joe.”
Vera reluctantly agreed, but a gnawing unease persisted, a feeling of falling into a bottomless pit.
Skylar slept soundly. Waking the next day, she found Joe still in bed. As she tried to rise, he pulled her back. “You already quit your job. Why get up so early? Sleep longer,” he murmured sleepily. Moments later, she heard his even breathing; he’d fallen back asleep.
Skylar rolled her eyes. She didn’t remember Joe being such a heavy sleeper. She’d quit her job, but that didn’t mean she was idle. Minerva had invited her to an auction that evening; she needed help choosing a gift for an elderly relative’s 80th birthday. Minerva feared accidentally bidding on something unlucky, so she wanted Skylar’s “good luck.” Thankfully, the auction wasn’t until 7:00 pm.
Her thoughts drifted to Viola and the two letters, becoming muddled. She drifted back to sleep.
Waking with a start, she realized it was already 11:00 am! She’d slept far longer than planned. Joe awoke around the same time, but this time, he didn’t try to keep her in bed. A full night’s rest had completely recharged him; the exhaustion was gone from his eyes.