Richest Mogul

Joe and Vera appeared youthful in the photos.

The photos were clearly taken during their school days. There were many, and Christopher showed them to Skylar one by one, trying to make her see Joe for who he really was, warning her not to be swayed by his charm.

In each picture, Joe and Vera were always looking at each other, exuding a deep bond. Whether it was the atmosphere captured or their real affection, they looked like the perfect couple.

Both were stunningly attractive. Each photo felt like a scene from a heartwarming school romance, leaving anyone who saw it with a sense of envy.

“See? Joe and Vera are meant to be. They’re just tangled in misunderstandings right now, both trying to prove they matter more to each other. You’re just a pawn in their story, helping them realize their true feelings,” Christopher said, stressing every word.

His message was clear–Skylar needed to stop dreaming about Joe.

Skylar shot him a cold look. “Get lost.”

Even after all the effort Christopher put into manipulating, she had nothing to say to him. His face darkened, but he quickly remembered why he had returned to Jipsburg.

Suddenly, his eyes misted over. “Babe, can’t we go back to how things were? They have their youth and love, but don’t we? Our love was the kind people envied. If you want, we can have it all back.

“This diamond ring is yours–I knew it the moment I saw it. Let’s get married. I’ll love you and only you,/ forever,” he pleaded, voice heavy with emotion.

A year ago, those words might have swayed her. Now, they felt empty, like crocodile tears.

Skylar dialed the emergency number. “911? I’m being harassed. The location is…”

She had only listened to Christopher’s rambling to find out what he was plotting. The photos were personal, probably only kept by Joe, Vera, or their close friends. Why did Christopher have them? Even the rumors floating online didn’t include pictures that were this clear or any kind of close–ups.

When Christopher realized she was calling the police, his face twisted. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“You! You really don’t care about our relationship at all, do you? What will you do if Joe throws you away? You can’t afford to go against the Ruells.

“Are you not afraid they’ll target you and make sure you lose your job with Mr. Gardner Senior? I’m doing this for your own good, yet you called the police!”

He couldn’t believe how ruthless she had become. After being apart for so long, he had hoped her anger would have faded, maybe even miss their past together. But now, she was colder than ever; she treated him like he didn’t exist.

Remembering his bold promises to Vera, he reached into his pocket. Before Skylar could react, he sprayed something in her face. “Don’t blame me for this.”

That was the last thing she heard before everything went black. Moving quickly, Christopher pulled a jacket from his bag and carefully dressed her in it. He supported her limp body, guiding her to the side of the road.

A car pulled up shortly after, but just as they were about to leave, Skylar’s colleagues passed by. One of them glanced over at Christopher and muttered, “That girl looks like Skylar.”

“Does she?”

They looked again, but her face was obscured, pressed against his shoulder. Besides, she seemed like someone who had had too much to drink.