Chapter 833

chapter833

Edwin’s refusal was exactly what they had expected, so they weren't surprised. Objects with negative energy tended to befuddle the senses of those they possessed, clouding their judgment. However, it was Molly’s frantic attempt to intervene that truly sharpened their suspicion.

Joe fixed his gaze on Edwin, his voice low and calculating. "Was the pendant a gift to you? Or did you win it at an auction?"

Edwin let out a long, shaky sigh of relief. He thought Joe was backing off from his demands. "Oh, I bought it while I was overseas. It only cost eight million dollars—an absolute bargain, really."

"It definitely isn't just a regular piece of jewelry. You wouldn't have sent out a massive search party to recover it if that were the case." Joe’s tone shifted, becoming forceful once more as he pressed the demand.

Edwin’s face drained of color. He looked cornered as he stammered, "I’ve told you already. It’s just a cheap little trinket. Why are you so obsessed with seeing it?" Even as he complained, he slowly reached into his pocket and pulled it out.

It was a point of deep embarrassment for Edwin, but those close to the family knew the truth: Edwin was terrified of Joe. He knew Joe’s tactics all too well—after all, those same tactics were the reason Edwin had stayed out of the country for years.

Once Joe was handed the pendant, he inspected the deep green stone. He confirmed it was a perfect match for the one in the photograph Skylar had shown him. He glanced at her, and Skylar gave a subtle, firm nod.

With the confirmation settled, Joe looked up at his father. "I know exactly what you’ve been involved with overseas. It clearly has something to do with this pendant. Are you aware that several 'negative items' have recently surfaced in Jipsburg?"

Edwin froze at the mention of the term. He immediately averted his eyes, terrified that Joe would pick up on a hidden truth in his gaze.

"I... I heard the Doherty family mention something about a negative item," Edwin muttered defensively. "But this pendant of mine isn't one. I’ve worn it for years. Don’t tell me you believe those stories about these items being lethal. Look at me—isn't my current health proof enough that they're harmless?"

"I think you’re overthinking this, Joe," Molly added hurriedly, her voice pitching higher in her panic. "It’s just a normal emerald pendant. Edwin has simply worn it so long that he’s become overly attached to it."

Joe raised an eyebrow, his voice dropping to a cold intonation. "Is that so?"

It was painfully clear to Joe that both Edwin and Molly knew exactly what the item was. Despite knowing its malevolent nature, Edwin refused to part with it. Something was deeply wrong.

"I’ll be keeping this for the time being. Now, let’s take a tour of your study," Joe said. He pocketed the emerald, completely ignoring the distraught expressions on Edwin and Molly's faces. He took Skylar’s hand and began lead her up the stairs.

"Joe! That is my favorite piece! I can't just give it to you!" Edwin shouted, trailing behind them with a vehemence that bordered on desperation. "If you wanted anything else in this house, I would have given it to you—anything but that!"

Molly followed, her voice trembling. "Yes, Joe! I have several beautiful antiques in my collection. Please, you and Skylar can choose any gift you like as a replacement!"

Joe ignored them entirely, his boots thudding rhythmically on the stairs. As they climbed, he leaned down and whispered into Skylar’s ear, "Inform me the very second you pick up on anything feeling 'wrong.' Leave the rest to me. You don't need to pay them any attention."

Skylar looked back over her shoulder at Edwin and Molly. The raw panic written across their faces was chilling.

Suddenly, the weight of Joe’s future felt incredibly heavy. A father like Edwin—one who was a slave to his own impulses and didn't know what was best for him—was a ticking time bomb. Skylar felt a literal pressure on her shoulders, a dark intuition telling her that they were walking into something far more dangerous than a simple family dispute.