Chapter 168: Want to Help Her

"We don't have time for that." Reuben frowned, his tone brooking no argument. "Jade's life is what matters."

"Besides, we showed up, we gave our gift. We're not being rude."

Skylar thought about it. He was right.

Jade was in critical condition. How could she have any mind to stay here at a wedding?

"Okay, let's go."

Without further hesitation, they turned and headed for the ballroom exit.

Just as they reached the door, they ran into someone.

Travis.

He'd somehow come out from inside and now stood at the entrance, his gaze heavy as he looked at Skylar.

Skylar paused briefly, then looked away, planning to walk around him.

"You're leaving?"

Travis spoke first, his voice low, carrying a barely perceptible rasp.

Skylar stopped and glanced at him coolly. "Yes. Something came up. We're leaving."

"I already had someone deliver your gift. You don't need to thank us."

Travis looked at her, his expression complicated.

He wanted to say that wasn't what he meant.

He didn't care about the gift.

He just...

"That's not what I meant." Travis's voice was hoarse.

Skylar raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then what did you mean, Mr. Gresham?"

Her tone was detached, clearly distant.

As if they were nothing more than strangers.

Travis felt something stab into his heart—a dense, spreading pain.

He looked at Skylar, his lips moving as if to speak, but he didn't know what to say.

What could he say?

That he regretted it?

That he didn't actually want to marry Chloe?

That he'd only agreed to the marriage alliance to save the Gresham Group with the York family's influence?

That seeing her stand beside Reuben made his chest ache unbearably?

He couldn't say any of it.

And even if he did, what would it change?

Skylar didn't love him anymore.

She had Reuben now.

"Nothing." Travis looked away, his voice low. "Just... drive safe."

Skylar hesitated briefly, then decided she should tell him after all.

She looked at Travis, her gaze cold. "Mr. Gresham, there's something I think you should know."

Travis looked at her, thinking perhaps she still had some feelings for him. "What is it?"

"Chloe may have been taken by Amber."

Travis's face changed instantly.

"What did you say?"

His voice shot up, laced with disbelief.

"I said Chloe may have been taken by Amber." Skylar repeated calmly. "Believe it or not, that's up to you."

"Impossible!" Travis rejected it without thinking. "Amber, she..."

He stopped mid-sentence.

Amber...

Travis's expression grew increasingly dark.

If Chloe really had been taken by Amber...

The consequences would be unthinkable.

Amber was unhinged. She was capable of anything.

"I've passed along the message. Believe it or don't." Skylar shrugged, her tone casual. "We have somewhere to be. We're leaving."

With that, Skylar looked at Reuben and nodded.

The two left together.

Travis stood frozen, his face cycling between pale and flushed.

He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles went white.

It couldn't be...

How could Chloe have been taken by Amber?

Those two had no connection whatsoever.

And today was his and Chloe's wedding. Why would Chloe just leave with someone?

But...

Why did he feel so uneasy?

Travis frowned, his heart churning. He couldn't let anything happen to Chloe. Otherwise, the York family would never let him go, and he and the Gresham family would truly be finished.

He pulled out his phone and called Chloe.

The phone rang for a long time. No answer.

Travis's heart sank.

He tried again.

Still no answer.

He called five or six times in a row. Every call went unanswered.

Travis's expression turned completely grim.

Something was wrong...

Definitely wrong.

"Someone!"

He barked out the order.

A bodyguard immediately rushed over. "Mr. Gresham, what do you need?"

"Pull the hotel's security footage. I want to see where Chloe went just now." Travis's voice was ice-cold. "Also, check if Amber came to the hotel."

"Yes, sir!"

The bodyguard didn't dare delay and immediately went to carry out the orders.

Travis stood there, radiating a dark aura.

His unease grew heavier by the second.

He hoped...

He hoped he was overthinking it.

Please, let nothing have happened.

Otherwise...

He wouldn't be able to face the York family.

Reuben and Skylar got in the car and headed straight for the hospital.

Skylar sat in the passenger seat, her face pale, her hand gripping the seatbelt tightly.

"Don't worry." Reuben freed one hand to hold hers. "Jade will be fine."

Skylar shook her head, her voice low. "It's all my fault."

"What's your fault?" Reuben frowned.

"I should have paid more attention." Skylar's voice was laced with guilt. "If I'd noticed Jade was missing sooner, if I'd sent people to find her earlier, she wouldn't have been tortured like this."

"I was careless."

She'd thought Wilma had just hidden Jade away, that she wouldn't actually hurt her.

She never imagined Wilma could be so vicious.

Going straight for the kill.

"This isn't your fault." Reuben squeezed her hand, his tone earnest. "Wilma hid too well. We searched for so long and couldn't find any trace of her. That's not on you."

"Besides, Jade's been found now and is on her way to the hospital. She'll be okay."

Skylar still shook her head.

"You don't need to comfort me." Her voice was soft. "I know I didn't do enough."

"If I'd been more careful, if I'd had someone watching Wilma earlier, Jade wouldn't have suffered like this."

Reuben looked at her guilt-stricken expression, his heart aching.

He knew this was how Skylar was.

She always blamed herself for everything.

"It really isn't your fault." Reuben sighed. "Wilma is a vicious woman. This is her doing, not yours."

"You've already done everything you could."

Skylar said nothing, just kept her head down, fingers twisting together tightly.

She still couldn't let it go.

Jade had ended up like this because she'd helped her.

If something really happened to Jade, Skylar would never forgive herself.

"When Jade gets better," Skylar suddenly spoke, her voice quiet, "I want to help her."

"She's been through too much."

Reuben paused, then nodded. "Okay. Help her however you want."

"As long as you're happy."

Skylar looked up at him, warmth flooding her chest.

No matter what, Reuben was always like this.

Whatever decision she made, he supported her.

"Thank you, Reuben." Skylar said softly.

"Don't be formal with me." Reuben smiled and ruffled her hair. "We're family."