Chapter 474 
Steven hesitantly began, his voice hinting at embarrassment. “I’m thinking of proposing to Annie. Do you have any good ideas?” 
Skylar furrowed her brows slightly. “Why the sudden urge to propose?” 
Skylar knew he was not usually one to act impulsively. After all, Steven had only been with Annie for a little over a month. They were still in the getting–to–know–each–other phase. 
Skylar wondered why Steven suddenly wanted to marry Annie. She pondered whether Steven really liked Annie that much. 
“It’s not sudden. I’ve been thinking about it a lot recently. Sometimes, relationships between a man and a woman are just that mysterious. At first, I couldn’t understand why you rushed into marriage with Joe, but now I think I do,” Steven explained. 
Skylar couldn’t manage a smile. She felt she had set a bad example 
for Steven. 
“Steven, our situations are different. Grandma Gloria arranged my marriage to Joe, so we married without any emotional foundation. Until now, we haven’t developed any feelings for each other. 

“We respect each other like roommates. It’s more like a respectful 
cohabitation, really. But you… I know you like Annie. But in my opinion, proposing now might be a bit premature. Don’t scare Ms. Silver away, okay?” 
Skylar carefully avoided saying anything negative about Annie or their relationship. She felt troubled. 
Chapter 474 
Unbeknownst to her, Joe was leaning against the kitchen door, listening to her description of their married life. His brows raised slightly as Skylar described their marriage as cohabitation. 
Skylar remained unaware of his presence. 
Regardless, Joe thought Skylar’s description was on point. He grimaced slightly, feeling a sudden wave of irritation. 
Skylar had her back to Joe as she continued her conversation with 
Steven on the phone. She was so engrossed and oblivious. 
Steven considered her words and realized that Skylar was right.” 
Alright, I’ll wait a bit longer to propose to her. Skye, Annie is the first 
woman I’ve really liked, so I don’t want to disappoint her.” 
Skylar replied, “Yeah, I know.” 
“She told me she used to like someone before, but he didn’t feel the 
same. She felt lost and even gave up on herself for a while. Then she 
met me, and she said she finally understood what true love is. Skye, I 
want to give her a special proposal. 
“I’ll start preparing, and I’ll propose to her when the time is right. Skye, you’re a woman, so you’d probably know what she’d like. Let me know if you have any ideas.” 
Steven was brimming with anticipation for the future, especially the prospect of spending his life with Annie. 
“Steven, have you met Ms. Silver’s family yet?” Skylar asked in a hushed voice. 
Given Annie’s background, the Silver family would never have agreed 
to her being with someone like Steven, who lacked a prominent family 
background. 
Steven paused for a moment. He realized he had overlooked this 
crucial point. “Not yet. Annie mentioned they’ve been busy lately. She plans to introduce me in a few days. 
“Alright then,” Skylar responded. She opted not to dwell further. 
After a few more brief exchanges, they ended their call. 
Skylar stood still for a moment, lost in thought. It wasn’t until she felt someone’s gaze on her that she turned around. 
Sure enough, Joe stood by the kitchen door. Skylar asked, “When did you get back?” She hadn’t heard a sound. 
“Just now,” Joe replied with a chilly tone. He exuded an icy demeanor. 
Then, he turned and walked away. 
Skylar was left puzzled by Joe’s behavior. She wondered who had upset him or if the strain from work had finally gotten to him. 
Just this morning, they parted amicably as they headed to work. They 
had even planned for dinner that night. 
Skylar dismissed her thoughts, thinking that it was pointless to guess his thoughts. She couldn’t figure them out anyway. She continued 
preparing dinner. 
Annie was a skilled host. She was highly adept in language. 
Annie had dropped various hints to Steven, so she was confident he 
Chapter 474. 
understood her meaning. She expected him to propose soon. 
44 
Annie wasn’t afraid of getting married. It was just that her parents 
would be difficult to deal with. 
Given her family’s current situation, she decided to wait and discuss it 
with her parents first. After all, even if she married, she could still get 
divorced.