Chapter 26: Chapter 26



The next day, Joelle awoke to discover that Adrian had already left. She had arranged to meet Katherine later, so she quickly got ready and left.

Along her route, she entered a pharmacy and requested from the clerk, “I’d like a box of birth control pills.” As the pharmacist began to hand her the box, Joelle paused and changed her mind. “Wait. Could you give me ten boxes instead? The kind with the fewest side effects?”

After what had happened the night before, Joelle was convinced Adrian was set on having a child with her, so she had to be cautious around that bastard. Since she had already made up her mind to divorce him, introducing a child into the mix was not possible.

The pharmacist, with a forced smile, advised, “All birth control pills have side effects. If you don’t want to get pregnant, maybe it would be better to use condoms.”

As Joelle exited the pharmacy with a box of pills, she took one pill and swallowed it with water she had on hand. At that moment, she noticed two familiar faces approaching—Lyla and Katie.

“Oh, look! What a coincidence, Joelle,” Katie remarked while eyeing her with a mix of curiosity and envy. Joelle’s outfit was last season’s, yet she still managed to look fabulous. It was said that style was a personal affair, and Joelle was a testament to that. Her beauty was timeless and sophisticated, marked by her impeccable complexion and delicate features. Katie, filled with envy, was aware she could never mimic Joelle’s inherent grace.

Lyla offered a polite smile to Joelle, but her eyes briefly landed on the box of pills Joelle was holding. Knowing that Lyla and Katie liked gossiping, Joelle quickly concealed the pills behind her and greeted them. “Lyla, Katie.”

Lyla asked, “Feeling a little unwell? What did you buy from the pharmacy?”

“Just some cold medicine.”

Lyla nodded, her curiosity piqued. “Caught a cold, have you? Is the medicine effective? I’d like to see it.”

As Lyla extended her hand, Joelle quickly placed the box into her bag. “It’s actually for a friend.” She glanced at her watch and excused herself. “I’m due for an appointment. I’m sorry, Lyla, Katie, but I have to go.”

Without waiting for their response, Joelle hurried to a nearby bus as it arrived. Katie watched her leave with a disdainful look. “As expected from someone with a poor background. She’s married to Adrian but still relies on those dreadful buses.”

Katie looped her arm through Lyla’s. “Let’s go, Mom. Dad’s waiting for us.”

“Just one second.” Lyla turned her attention from the pharmacy to the bus Joelle had boarded. “I have a feeling that medicine wasn’t for a cold.”

Katie brushed off her mother’s suspicion with a scoff. “What does that matter to us?”

Unconvinced, Lyla led Katie back into the pharmacy. When they exited, both had knowing smiles on their faces.

Katie could barely contain her excitement and exclaimed, “Mom, did I hear it right? Joelle bought birth control pills? But Grandma has been pressuring her to have a baby with Adrian!”

“Joelle wouldn’t dare oppose Irene. If she’s using birth control, it must be Adrian’s idea.” Lyla grinned and adjusted the pin in her hair. “It looks like Amara might just find herself in a predicament.”

Meanwhile, Katherine was fuming over Rebecca’s latest videos. “My goodness! I’ve never seen anyone this shameless! How could a mistress like her broadcast her affair so openly? Isn’t she terrified of the backlash and disgrace that might follow? This has truly been an eye-opener for me!”

Joelle listened with a mix of amusement and surprise until Katherine shifted gears and eyed Joelle’s collar. “Whoa! Things got pretty intense between you and Adrian last night, huh?”

Understanding the implication, Joelle’s ears flushed with embarrassment. Before she had left her apartment, she had changed into long sleeves and pants to cover up. She even tried to camouflage the marks on her neck with concealer, but it hadn’t helped much.

“Joelle, what’s really happening between you and Adrian? Could your talk of divorce be making him feel threatened? He’s been coming home every day lately. Do you think there’s a chance he’s turning over a new leaf?”

Joelle felt a pang of bitterness at the thought. If only Adrian’s motives were genuine. “No,” she responded while absentmindedly swirling her coffee. “It’s just Irene pressuring him to father a child with me.”

Katherine quickly grasped the situation, so she shifted the topic. “By the way, I’ve got some leads on that investigation you asked for my help with.”

Joelle leaned in, her interest piqued. “What did you find out?”

“Landen and his daughter have been using the same means to scam several women. The police have also confirmed that Landen is a repeat offender.”

It confirmed that Joelle was merely one of many victims. Joelle nodded, relieved but not surprised. She had recently watched a video by Rebecca detailing a similar experience. She sighed in relief and remarked, “It appears this matter has nothing to do with the Lloyd family. Sure, Erick can be detestable, but he wouldn’t go as far as to harm his own sister, would he?”

Katherine paused, her sharp mind quickly turning over possibilities. “Or could it be that the Lloyd family is trying to divert suspicion? What if the video you saw was a setup by Rebecca and Erick to throw everyone off the scent? Makes sense, doesn’t it?”

Joelle’s fleeting relief turned to anxiety. “Katherine, please don’t scare me like that.”

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