Chapter 1075

Natalie glanced at the empty seat beside her and said, “Excuse me, ma’am, there’s a seat available next to you.” The woman nearby ignored her, maintaining a blank expression as she stared at Natalie.

Natalie exchanged a look with Skylar. Skylar found the woman vaguely familiar, though her sunglasses and mask obscured her features. The woman seemed intent on avoiding being photographed.

Then, the woman spoke. “I’m Vera.”

Natalie’s eyes widened. “Vera?” While she’d never met Vera, she recognized the name from recent online news, linking her to Joe and Lizzie. Natalie felt relieved that Skylar and Joe had kept their marriage private, shielding Skylar from the ensuing drama. Still, encountering Vera at the mall after their fondue outing was unexpected. Given the headlines, she’d expect Vera to be hiding at home. Vera wasn’t in the entertainment industry; she’d want the rumors to dissipate quickly. Her disguise seemed unnecessarily ostentatious for a public outing.

Skylar calmly replied, “So it’s Ms. Ruell.”

Vera, with an air of arrogance, expected Skylar to appear haggard and heartbroken. Instead, seeing Skylar and Natalie laughing and chatting, Vera found Skylar composed and at ease—unsettling. “Do you know how Joe met Lizzie?” Vera asked, her voice icy.

Natalie rolled her eyes. Vera's audacity in asking such personal questions was appalling. Her high-handed attitude was absurd.

Skylar's expression remained cool. “I don’t know. You’re asking the wrong person.”

“How could you not know? You live with Joe. You must know about his relationship with Lizzie. Did you already know? Is that why you’re so calm?” Vera’s tone implied she’d figured everything out, perhaps believing Skylar’s composure stemmed from knowledge and some advantage given by Joe. Having slept only two hours, Vera found the situation unbearable.

Natalie, unable to contain herself, rolled her eyes again. “Don’t you have too many questions? Why should we answer you? Who do you think you are?”

Skylar might be easygoing, but Natalie had her limits. Vera's display of sophistication and superiority was a façade, masking a desperate need for validation. Skylar glanced at the visibly frustrated Natalie and told Vera, “I have plans with my friend, so you’re free to leave.”

Vera, however, seemed to misunderstand. Peering over her sunglasses, she said, “I’m sure you know something. Just tell me what you want. I just want to know if Joe likes Lizzie.”

“You’re asking the wrong person. Go ask Joe directly,” Skylar said, her patience exhausted. She realized Vera's outward indifference was merely a pretense.