Chapter 273: Chapter 273



Joelle’s gaze instinctively shot upward, her reaction betraying her inner turmoil. She did want to know where Rafael was—not to invade his life, not to reopen old wounds, but just to be certain that he was okay.

Adrian picked up on this and played his hand. “I’ll drive you home. We can talk on the way.”

Joelle agreed reluctantly, getting into the car. As she settled into the passenger seat beside him, she realized it had been years since she had found herself in this exact position. A wave of nostalgia swept over her.

She remembered a time when she had been younger, filled with passion, loving recklessly without weighing the consequences. But life had slowly stripped her of that wild abandon, leaving behind someone who meticulously calculated every risk and weighed every decision, always conscious of what could be lost.

Outside, light rain began to patter on the windshield, the wipers moving with a steady hum as they worked. Inside the car, the air was thick, suffocating, heavy with the unspoken weight of Adrian’s presence.

Joelle inhaled deeply before breaking the silence. “Just tell me now.”

“Rafael’s left the country.”

“Where did he go?”

“He’s chasing the person responsible for his father’s death. He’s out for revenge.”

Joelle didn’t feel the relief she expected. Instead, her worry deepened. “Can you reach him?”

“No. These are just bits of information I’ve pieced together from various places. He’s gone to great lengths to stay off the radar.”

Joelle fell into a contemplative silence. It made sense. If Rafael didn’t want to be found, no one could find him. All she could do was hope, silently pray that he remained safe. Adrian stole a glance at her, noticing the constant furrow in her brow, aware that every flicker of emotion across her face was for Rafael, not for him.

“If you want, I could help bring him back.”

“No, thanks.” Joelle shook her head, turning to the window. “This is better.”

“You’re probably right,” Adrian said quietly. “Not like us.”

Her fingers curled into tight fists, anger rising like a tide within her. “Adrian, do you think you can just talk about our past like it’s some casual memory?”

The wounds he’d left on her heart were still raw, barely healing. Every scar he had inflicted burned, a constant reminder of the pain she had carried. Rafael had been her refuge, her solace from the storm Adrian had created. And now, even that had been ripped away from her.

Just seeing Adrian again had unearthed memories of her first marriage—memories steeped in bitterness, resentment, and humiliation.

“Stop the car!” she demanded.

Adrian, sensing her fury and fearing she could follow through, slammed on the brakes. The rain had intensified, drumming harder against the car, and Joelle hadn’t brought an umbrella. But that didn’t stop her from reaching for the door handle.

“Joelle, wait!” Adrian grabbed her arm, pulling her back in, trying to reason with her. “I told you, I want to make things right! I’ve been searching for you and our kid for three years. Do you have any idea what those three years have been like for me?”

“Adrian, don’t you dare try to turn your three years of regret into my burden!”

“Okay, okay. I’m not trying to push that on you.” Adrian held her by the shoulders. “But I know I hurt you. Can’t you give me a second chance? Rafael’s gone. Let me take care of you and the kids.”

Joelle shoved him away with all the strength she could muster, but exhaustion had wrapped itself around her bones. She was tired, but Adrian wasn’t budging.

It was as though all the weight of the past few weeks had come crashing down on her at that moment, leaving her powerless to fight back.

“What gives you the right to take care of us? Who in the universe do you think you are? I fought so hard to leave you, to escape that nightmare! I don’t want you in my life anymore!”

Without warning, Adrian pulled her into his arms, his voice soft and coaxing as she sobbed against him. “Joelle, I used to see you as my sister. You remember how I treated you before we got married. Can’t we go back to that? Back to how things were?”

Joelle gripped Adrian’s shirt tightly, shaking her head repeatedly. Once, she had adored him, seeing everything through those soft, rose-tinted lenses of early love. But after the wedding, the cracks began to show. She saw him for what he truly was—a man as cold and distant as ever, with bitterness simmering beneath the surface. The man she had fallen in love with had long since disappeared.

“Adrian, I can’t do this anymore. Please stop pushing me.”

Adrian didn’t respond, simply pulling her closer, holding her in the silence until her sobs finally ebbed away. When the weight of the moment lifted, he quietly drove her home.

“Can I see Aurora for a bit?” Adrian asked.

In recent days, Aurora had been moody, waking up from her dreams and calling out for her father. Joelle, emotionally drained, couldn’t manage it any longer.

“Yeah, you can spend some time with her.”

“Thanks.”

But the moment Aurora spotted Adrian, her entire demeanor changed. “Go away! I hate you!”

“Aurora! That’s rude!”

“I hate you! I want my daddy!” Aurora shrieked, her tiny hands flinging toys at Adrian. She believed that Adrian had driven Rafael away.

Joelle knelt beside her, trying to soothe the wild tempest that only a child mid-tantrum could summon. But reasoning with a child in the throes of such emotions was like trying to calm a hurricane with a whisper. Impossible!

Adrian crouched down, taking Aurora’s small hand in his. “How about we play together for a bit? Would you like that?”

“No! You’re a bad guy! I only want my daddy to play with me!” And with that, she lashed out, slapping Adrian hard across the face.

Joelle had reached her limit. “Aurora, go stand in the corner. Now! You need to think about what you’ve just done. We’ll talk once you’ve settled down.”

Her tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. Aurora, sensing the seriousness, obeyed reluctantly. In her eyes, her daddy no longer loved her, and now, her mommy didn’t either.

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