Chapter 6 Repeating an Old Trick

Skylar stood in the grand hall of the Gresham Villa, listening to Amber's sweet, affected voice, and her stomach churned.

She instinctively pulled Eileen closer.

Eileen had been trembling ever since they arrived, her face buried against Skylar's neck, too afraid to look up.

"Grandma misses them," Travis said flatly. "Just arrange any room for them and have someone keep an eye on them."

Amber's expression stiffened for a moment, then broke into a smile.

She descended the staircase in soft slippers, her tone light and syrupy. "Since Travis has already spoken, I suppose I don’t have a say.”

Walking straight up to Skylar, she reached out and took Eileen’s hand "Eileen has gotten so thin."

"She must have suffered a lot at the orphanage, right?"

At that, Eileen suddenly broke down, clutching Skylar tightly as quiet sobs shook her small frame.

Skylar immediately stepped in, shifting sideways to shield Eileen. “Don’t touch her.”

Amber's lingered awkwardly in the air before she withdrew it. She looked at Travis with a wounded expression. "Travis, I just wanted to care about the child. Look, Skylar still misunderstands me."

Travis frowned. “I’ve got things to deal with. Skylar, take the child to the room first."

Without another word, he turned and headed upstairs.

Amber’s expression hardened for a split second, the warmth vanishing from her eyes, replaced by a faint, calculating smile.

"Skylar, you're still protecting this illegitimate child. Makes sense. After all, she's your only bargaining chip now."

Skylar's arm muscles tensed immediately.

She couldn't get into a conflict with her. Now wasn't the right time.

She took a deep breath. "Where's my room?"

Since Travis had just said that, he probably wouldn't let her and Eileen go back to their original room.

Amber covered her mouth and laughed rather loudly. "You know what I was just thinking?"

She crossed her arms and walked around Skylar.

"I remembered the first time I went to your house. Such a big living room, so many rooms. Even the bathroom was bigger than the house I used to live in.

"Remember what the first thing I asked you was? You must have forgotten, but I still remember. I said, Excuse me, where's my room?"

After saying this, she burst out laughing, almost unable to straighten her back.

"Skylar, back then, did you ever think you'd end up like this?"

Only after calming down did Amber wave her hand dismissively. “Alright, follow me. I’m sure the servants have finished cleaning by now.”

She turned and walked ahead, Skylar trailing behind with Eileen in her arms.

At the end of the corridor, Amber stopped and pushed open a door. “Here it is.”

Skylar walked in. The room was simply furnished: a bed, a wardrobe, a dressing table, and a window facing the backyard wall covered with withered vines.

Compared to the master bedroom she used to live in, this place was as bare as a servant's room.

But she said nothing. She simply laid Eileen on the bed and gently soothed her.

Leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, Amber watched like it was all some kind of show. "Skylar, why are you doing this? You've already been kicked out. Why come back? Do you think Travis still wants you?"

Skylar ignored her and continued comforting the Eileen.

"I came back to take back what belongs to me," she said.

Amber snorted. “Yours? What exactly do you still have? After being in the mental hospital for so long, haven't you faced reality yet? The Sterling family is long gone, your father is dead, and you're nothing but a crazy woman nobody wants."

Skylar paused briefly, her hand still resting on Eileen’s back.

"If you're done talking, please leave," she said. "I need to put the child to sleep."

Amber stared at her for a long moment, something sharp flickering in her eyes before she turned and left.

The moment the door clicked shut, Skylar closed her eyes. Tears she had been holding back finally slipped free.

But she quickly wiped them away and looked down at Eileen in her arms.

The child had already fallen asleep, though her tiny brow remained furrowed.

Skylar leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

The next morning, Skylar was jolted awake by urgent knocking at the door.

She opened her eyes. Dawn was just breaking, and Eileen was still sleeping beside her.

The knocking grew louder, more insistent, as if the door might be kicked in at any second.

Skylar quickly got dressed and went to open the door.

Outside stood a maid, a new one she hadn't seen before.

Her expression was cold. "Ms. Sterling, Ms. Crowder asks you to come to the greenhouse. She says she has something to discuss with you."

This early?

Skylar frowned. "What does she want?"

"I don't know. I'm just delivering the message." The maid turned and left after speaking.

Skylar glanced back at Eileen, hesitating. It was still early; she wouldn't wake up so soon.

After a moment’s thought, she quietly closed the door behind her and headed toward the greenhouse.

Whatever Amber was planning, she had to face it sooner or later.

The greenhouse was on the east side of the villa. She had arranged it herself when she first married into the family, filling it with precious flowers from around the world. She used to visit seven or eight times a day.

As Skylar stepped inside, warm, humid air wrapped around her, carrying the mingled fragrance of blossoms.

Amber stood in the center of the greenhouse, dressed in a pale pink dress, her long hair cascading down her back. She looked soft, almost gentle.

Seeing Skylar enter, she smiled sweetly. "Skylar, you're here."

Skylar stayed near the door.. "What is it? Just say it."

Amber slowly walked closer, her smile deepening. “Nothing serious. I just thought we could catch up. It’s been a long time, after all.”

Skylar looked at her coldly. "We have nothing to talk about."

"How can we have nothing to talk about?" Amber stopped in front of her. "After all, we used to be family. Although I'm not Dad's biological daughter, he was so good to me. I've always been grateful."

At the mention of Kyle, a sharp ache pierced Skylar’s chest.

“You don’t get to bring up my father,” she said, her voice tightening. “If it weren’t for you, he wouldn’t have—”

"Wouldn't have what?" Amber interrupted her, her eyes turning sharp. "Died? Skylar, don't talk nonsense. What does Dad's death have to do with me?"

"You were the one who hurt Travis's mother first and seduced men outside. Dad ended up like that trying to protect you."

Skylar's chest heaved violently, but she forced herself to calm down.

This was the Gresham Villa. Amber had Travis's protection. She couldn't be impulsive.

"If you only wanted to say this, then I'm leaving." She turned to go.

"Wait." Amber suddenly reached out and grabbed her.

Skylar turned back, her eyes meeting Amber’s seemingly innocent gaze.

Just then, Amber's expression suddenly changed. She abruptly let go, her whole body staggering back as if hit by some great force, directly knocking over a flower stand.

The flowerpots on it shattered all over the ground. Amber fell to the floor in a mess, her palm pressing on a broken ceramic shard, blood flowing freely.

Skylar froze, stunned.

Before she could react, the greenhouse door swung open.

Travis stepped in, and the moment he took in the scene, his face darkened with barely restrained anger.