Chapter 56: Chapter 56



Kiera brought Miley to her dance class for the first time. Knowing Miley might be nervous, she had invited Joelle along. Kiera, clad in a form-fitting dance outfit, moved with elegance during her warm-up routine.

Joelle, now dressed for the occasion, stepped out of the changing room with Miley by her side. It had been a long while since Joelle had danced. She had spent nearly six years studying ballet before she switched her focus to mastering the violin.

Today, her main goal was to support Miley and help strengthen her bond with Kiera. Kiera showed Miley some basic steps, and Joelle tried to follow. However, as more people gathered to watch, Joelle started to feel uncomfortable.

The dance studio was situated in a mall, bordered by a large glass window that allowed shoppers to peer inside. The growing crowd made Joelle feel more self-conscious by the minute.

Meanwhile, Kiera remained unbothered. She was accustomed to the attention. Through the reflection in the mirror, she corrected Joelle’s form. “Joelle, why are you so stiff?”

Joelle’s cheeks tinged with pink. “I’m trying my best.” Kiera then turned to praise Miley. “Miley, you’re doing wonderfully, just like a fairy.”

“And what about me?” Joelle chimed in.

“You look more like an ostrich,” Kiera responded candidly.

Miley covered her mouth with her hand and giggled. Both Joelle and Kiera exhaled in relief.

The rest of the lesson unfolded with light-hearted banter. Sensing the positive atmosphere, Joelle decided to step out and give Miley and Kiera some time alone to bond.

As she exited the studio, Joelle was surprised to see Adrian. The dance studio was next to a music studio, separated only by a narrow corridor that most people overlooked. But there was Adrian, seemingly waiting for her.

Joelle considered turning back but didn’t want to interrupt Kiera and Miley. Left with no other choice, she pretended not to see him and kept walking until Adrian spoke.

“All that money your dad spent on dance lessons, and look at you. Dancing so awkwardly, but you still put on a show. This studio must regret having you here.”

Having watched her rigid movements, Adrian couldn’t resist commenting that Joelle might be better off sticking to the violin.

With her cheeks flushed, she retorted, “What’s it to you? Looking at others dancing… Mr. Miller, it seems you have too much free time on your hands.”

Adrian stepped closer, causing Joelle to instinctively press herself against the wall of the dance studio. He lifted her chin and examined her with interest. “You’re so patient with someone else’s kid, but you don’t want one of your own?”

He had observed her earlier, laughing and joking with the little girl. This had only deepened his desire to have a child with Joelle. Joelle was both gentle and thoughtful, qualities of a perfect mother.

“Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not against having children, but I am against having them with you. If a woman marries the right man, having children is a blessing. But with a scumbag, it’s just a way to ruin her life.”

Adrian detected the sarcasm in her voice. “So, I’m a scumbag?”

“Yeah.”

Adrian moved even closer. With his grip tightening around her waist, he whispered in her ear, “But this scumbag makes you feel pretty good, doesn’t he?”

Joelle’s ears turned red. She tried to push him away, but he was too strong. Therefore, she resorted to verbal defiance. “Sorry, but you’re just average.”

“Average?” Adrian echoed. His lips brushed against her ear, and his fingers teased the sensitive parts of her back. Joelle involuntarily recoiled, trapped in the narrow space with no way out.

“Who was it that couldn’t help but call me baby in bed?” Adrian teased, his voice dripping with amusement. He loved the way her body tensed, remembering him despite her resistance.

Just as Joelle felt herself wavering, a passerby interrupted the moment. Flushed with embarrassment and anger, she buried her face in Adrian’s chest, too ashamed to see who it was.

Just then, she heard Rebecca’s voice. “Adie, what are you doing here?”

Joelle sensed that despite Rebecca’s composed exterior, her voice revealed a hint of shock. Driven by the memory of her earlier humiliation, Joelle impulsively wrapped her arms around Adrian’s waist, pulling him closer.

Adrian raised an eyebrow and looked down at Joelle in surprise. Rebecca could see clearly who the woman was in Adrian’s arms. But seeing how intimate their position was, a spark of jealousy ignited within her.

“Adie, who is that woman?”

“It’s none of your concern. Go back inside,” Adrian replied coldly.

Rebecca was reluctant to leave. The idea of someone else getting close to Adrian was unbearable, especially since she had pushed Joelle to the brink of divorce. The last thing she wanted was for another woman to take her place.

However, Adrian preferred women who never questioned him. With this in mind, she forced herself to hold back and muttered, “Fine.”

She didn’t go far, though. Concealed within the mall, her gaze remained fixed on the narrow corridor. Soon after, Joelle and Adrian exited one after the other. She watched as Joelle adjusted her disheveled clothes.

Seeing this, Rebecca clenched her teeth, her rage simmering just below the surface.

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