Richest Mogul

Joe said, "Where are you? I just finished here. I'll come pick you up." His voice carried a trace of exhaustion.

He had been at a business dinner earlier-something he never particularly enjoyed. Even over the phone, Skylar could sense his weariness.

Skylar glanced at Natalie, who smiled and said in a low voice, "You've been married for years, and Joe still chases after you like this. Well, I don't care. Normally, you can prioritize your husband over your friends, but not tonight! It's my birthday, and you're not leaving me alone."

After Natalie's playful threats, Skylar laughed and replied to Joe, "You sound tired. Why don't you get Paul to take you home? Natalie and I are just out walking. I'll drop her off and head back afterward."

Joe paused for a few seconds before responding with a quiet "Okay".

Natalie watched the exchange, then sighed wistfully. She said sincerely, "Your relationship is enviable."

She meant it. She would be overjoyed if her relationship with Austin remained this good after marriage.

A few years ago, Natalie had believed that love was eternal. But recently, she had come to realize that even without infidelity, love could fade over time in a marriage.

The thought made her apprehensive about marrying Austin. But now, with a baby on the way, her maternal instincts had taken over.noveldrama

She thought, "Why fear something that hasn't even happened yet?"

A few days later, rain had been pouring relentlessly since morning. Many streets were flooded, making it difficult to drive home.

Some colleagues had already booked nearby hotels, choosing to stay the night rather than face the weather. The subway system had also been shut down.

Caleb stared at the weather app on his phone with exasperation. "This rain isn't just heavy; it's like the sky is leaking. This isn't rain-it's a river. The underground parking lots of the nearby mall and residential complexes are completely submerged.

"Thankfully, we've got an

above-ground lot here. Still, there's

no way I'm going home in this weather. Grandpa's insisting I stay here with him tonight, but I'd rather book a hotel. He'll use any alone time to lecture me endlessly."

"How was Mr. Gardner Senior's checkup the other day? Everything okay?" Skylar asked as she glanced out at the relentless rain. The weather made driving home out of the question.

In the office group chat, several colleagues lamented that their cars were submerged in water and that the streets couldn't drain fast enough.

Joe had called her earlier and insisted she stay in a hotel for the night. He had already had Paul book her a room.

Originally, Joe was supposed to return today from a business trip. However, with the severe weather, his flight had been canceled, and he wouldn't make it back until tomorrow.

Caleb shook his head with a sigh.

"Grandpa hasn't been doing too well

this year. His memory's slipping lately, but the checkup didn't show anything major. The doctor just told him to avoid overexerting himself.

"We've been trying to get him to retire and relax at home, but he says he'd be bored to death. So now he's coming to work instead. He's more stubborn than I am-doesn't listen to anyone." The Gardner family was at their wit's end, unable to rein in Alexander.

Skylar felt a wave of relief knowing that his health was generally fine. "Can you take this amulet and pass it to him for me later?" she said, handing it over.

She hesitated, glancing out at the gloomy weather. For the past couple of days, she had felt an inexplicable sense of unease, as if something bad was about to happen.

It wasn't the first time she had had such a premonition. She had experienced it years ago when Joe had gone missing after a car accident in Murida.

Or maybe it was the growing

number of negative items that have

appeared in recent years. Of course, with negative items, there were also treasures to be found. Many

Clusians who had lived overseel no

had recently repatriated numerous antiques and rare artifacts, some of which might be considered national treasures, and offered them for sale at auction.

Skylar took the opportunity to acquire a few pieces that resonated with her taste.

Caleb took the amulet from her with a nod. "Sure, I'll give it to Grandpa later. By the way, there's something I wanted to ask you." "What is it?" Skylar asked curiously.