Chapter 14: Chapter 14



In the days that followed their last encounter, Joelle didn’t see Adrian again. During that time, she settled into her new rental apartment near Olive Villas. The two-bedroom unit had once been home to the landlord’s family, a family of four. But as the children grew, the space became too cramped, and the landlord decided it was time to rent it out.

When Joelle moved in, the apartment was fully furnished, with remnants of the previous occupants still lingering in the corners. After a quick clean-up, she crossed the street to the mall, hoping to pick up some essentials and make the place her own.

What Joelle didn’t know was that Adrian had spent the past few days at home. As he sat at the dining table, Leah served his breakfast, muttering to herself. “I wonder how Mrs. Miller is doing on her own. Is she managing alright?”

Adrian remained silent, eyes glued to the news on his tablet, his expression unreadable. Leah cleared her throat, her movements deliberate as she wiped the already spotless table. “She was pampered by her family all her life. They never let her face even the slightest discomfort. It’s dangerous for a young woman to live alone these days.”

“Leah,” Adrian interrupted, his gaze never leaving the screen. “Why don’t you go keep her company?” Leah seized the moment, her tone hopeful. “Sir, maybe you should bring her back home.”

“She left because she wanted to! When she can’t handle it anymore, she’ll come back.” Adrian checked his watch, took a few mechanical bites of breakfast, and then headed upstairs to change.

But as he searched his wardrobe, something felt amiss. His tie was missing. Normally, the moment he reached out, Joelle would be there, placing it in his hand without a word. Now, without her, everything felt disjointed and out of place. “Leah!” he called out.

When Leah came upstairs, he asked about the tie. She looked genuinely puzzled. “I’m not sure. You’ve always preferred others not to touch your things, so Mrs. Miller handled everything herself. Maybe you should give her a call?”

ɢ𝓪𝓵𝓷𝓸vє𝓵𝓼.co𝓶 for more reading Adrian narrowed his eyes, suspecting Leah could be feigning ignorance, but he had no evidence. “You can go.” Left alone, Adrian pulled out his phone, scrolling through his contacts. Joelle’s number wasn’t saved on his phone. His finger hovered over the call button, hesitating.

Before their marriage, he had saved her number as “Joelle.” Back then, he had seen her as a younger sister, closer to her than even his own cousin, Katie. But after they married, as he switched phones over the years, he never saved her name again. To him, the girl he once knew had vanished.

The call connected after a few rings, and when Joelle answered, her voice carried a note of surprise. This was the first time Adrian had called her since their marriage. “What do you need?” she asked.

Adrian’s tone was as cold as the Arctic. “Have you had enough of this tantrum yet?” Joelle tightened her grip on the supermarket cart, the weight of his disapproval pressing down on her even through the phone. “I told you, this isn’t a tantrum. I want a divorce!”

Adrian’s voice dripped with indifference. “Has Grandma agreed?” “No. But I’m trying to save face for both you and Rebecca.” “So, she hasn’t agreed!” Frustration crackled in Adrian’s voice as he unbuttoned his collar. “Since she hasn’t approved, you need to come back and resume your role as Mrs. Miller.”

“Adrian, I’m not your pet. I’m not the same woman who used to just roll over and take it. If this conversation isn’t about the divorce, bye!” Before Adrian could retort, she ended the call. She knew that if she stayed on the line any longer, the fragile strength she had mustered could shatter. She reminded herself not to let Adrian dictate her life any longer.

After paying for her groceries, Joelle strolled down the street, lost in thought. Suddenly, a little girl with a backpack clung to her leg. “Miss, could you do me a favor?” The girl, no older than five, had a kindergarten name tag dangling from her backpack.

Joelle crouched down, her heart melting at the sight. “What’s wrong?” The girl’s face fell. “The kindergarten wants us to take a picture with our moms, but I don’t have a mom. Could you pretend to be my mom and take a picture with me?”

Joelle’s heart ached. She gently patted the girl’s head, recalling her own childhood losses. At eighteen, she had lost her father to a stroke and her mother in a car accident. The pain of losing a parent was a wound that never fully healed, especially for a child so young.

“Of course,” she said softly. “Thank you!” The girl fished a phone from her backpack, almost too big for her tiny hands. “This is my dad’s phone. Let’s take the picture!”

Joelle smiled as she took a selfie with the girl nestled in her arms. After the photo, the little girl skipped away, her joy infectious, leaving Joelle with a warm sense of fulfillment. As Joelle made her way home, her thoughts drifted back to Irene’s relentless pressure to have a baby with Adrian.

There was a time when she had dreamed of having a child with Adrian. Back when he was seldom home, she had clung to the hope that a baby could mend their fractured relationship. One night, in a moment of desperation, she had removed the condom from Adrian’s hand. “Adrian, your grandma’s pushing us to have a baby.”

He had looked at her flushed face and sneered. “Joelle, you have no sense of shame, do you?”

.

.

.