Chapter 1228

Just as she was about to send a message, Skylar spoke. "Let's go. Take me home first."

Natalie looked at her with concern. "Are you okay? Is Jeremy asking you to do something difficult?"

Skylar's dazed expression suggested something serious. "If it's too much, just say no," Natalie continued.

Skylar, tears glistening in her eyes, looked at Natalie. "Jeremy didn't ask me to do anything difficult. He found information about Joe, and he may still be alive."

Natalie's eyes widened. "What?"

Skylar nodded.

"Oh my gosh! That's amazing!" Natalie exclaimed, slapping her thigh. She hadn't expected Jeremy's quiet efforts to help Skylar find Joe.

Tears shimmered in Skylar's eyes. "It's good news," she replied, hoping it wasn't an illusion. Regardless of how the information surfaced, she wished for their safety and well-being.

After dropping Skylar off at Galaxy Villa, Natalie drove back to her apartment. She still lived there, having grown accustomed to it over the past three years since opening her café. She'd bought her parents a large house, but preferred the apartment herself; a larger house would be difficult to manage alone.

As the elevator reached her floor, she stepped out and noticed a woman standing before her door. The woman, with long, curly hair and two- to three-inch heels, had a striking presence. Few people knew she lived there.

Natalie quickly texted the building manager on WhatsApp: "Please send a security guard to my apartment immediately."

She then hurried to her apartment, the sound of her own high heels echoing on the marble floor.

The woman turned at the noise. Pausing momentarily upon seeing Natalie, she quickly composed herself. "You must be Natalie Jakeman, right?"

Natalie's eyebrows rose at the familiar tone. She remembered the call she'd blocked earlier that day, near the barbecue restaurant—the woman who'd called repeatedly in the past few days. Her expression darkened. She'd blocked the number, and now the woman was at her door.

"Yes, that's me," she replied coldly.

The woman didn't seem surprised by Natalie's frosty demeanor. "You blocked me, didn't you?"