Chapter 57: Chapter 57



After leaving the dance studio, Joelle felt sore all over. All she wanted was to get home and sleep. She had the next day off, so she allowed herself the luxury of sleeping in until late morning.

However, her peaceful slumber was cut short by a call from her landlady. Her landlady, a mother of two and a remarkably beautiful woman, was always approachable and easy to talk with. “Joelle, are you at the apartment right now?”

Still groggy from sleep, Joelle responded, “Yes, I’m here. What’s up?”

“Well, it’s a bit awkward, but I’m afraid I can no longer rent the apartment to you.”

Joelle bolted upright. “What do you mean by that?”

The landlady paused before explaining, “This morning, a handsome gentleman came to see me. He’s interested in buying the apartment you’re in, and he’s made a very generous offer.”

Joelle had a feeling about what was happening. Although these situations were common, she hadn’t anticipated it would happen to her so soon.

“Don’t worry. I’ll return your full deposit, and I’ll also refund the rent you’ve already paid. We have a contract, and I’ll make sure you’re properly compensated.”

Joelle smiled bitterly. “It seems that man is indeed very generous.”

“Yes,” the landlady admitted, her voice tinged with embarrassment. “I wouldn’t have considered selling otherwise. You’ve been such a great tenant. I’ve rarely had anyone as good as you.”

Joelle massaged her temples and tried to organize her thoughts. “Could I possibly meet this buyer? Since he’s so wealthy, I doubt he’s in a hurry to move in. Maybe I could rent from him for a while.”

“Certainly. He said he wanted to see the apartment, so he should be here soon. You can speak with him about it.”

Ten minutes later, Joelle came face-to-face with the man behind the generous offer—Adrian.

“I’m giving you three days to pack up all your junk and clear out. If you don’t, I’ll have someone toss it all out.”

Three days was hardly enough time to move out, much less find a new place to live. Clearly, Adrian was deliberately making things difficult for her.

“Is this really necessary? Do you really think having money allows you to do whatever you want?” Joelle challenged. Adrian lounged on the small sofa, adorned with a pink floral slipcover she had recently bought. He then casually picked up the white mug she used for drinking water and took a sip.

“Now, it seems that having money does indeed let me do whatever I want.”

Joelle wasn’t about to relent. She crossed her arms and sat next to him. She met his dominant posture with the same intensity and declared, “I’m staying right here.”

Adrian uncrossed his long legs and leaned forward slightly. “Fine, then we’ll live here together. It’s a two-bedroom apartment. Just enough space for us to start a family.”

Joelle shot him a sharp glance. “Who said I’d have a baby with you?”

“Still not willing to give in?” Adrian tilted her chin up to meet his gaze.

At that moment, Joelle’s phone rang again, cutting through the tension. She glanced at the caller ID. It was Kiera.

“Joelle, I’m terribly sorry, but I think it’s best if we put Miley’s violin lessons on hold for now.”

“Has something happened?” Joelle asked, concerned. Everything had seemed fine just yesterday.

“I didn’t realize you were Adrian Miller’s wife. I’m sorry if I offended you in any way. Could you please pass on a message to your husband? Miley’s father would really appreciate some leniency in their business dealings,” Kiera implored in a hushed voice.

It was then that Joelle understood what was happening. Adrian was not only trying to take her apartment; he was also trying to get her fired.

In all honesty, Joelle didn’t hold it against Kiera, knowing the latter was merely caught in the middle.

After ending the call, Joelle tossed her phone onto the coffee table with a look of disdain. “What the hell do you want, Adrian?”

Adrian rolled up his sleeves. “It’s simple. Come home with me and have a baby.”

So, that was his plan all along. Joelle understood why Adrian was fixated on having a child. Irene was getting older and had been longing for a great-grandchild. Adrian, ever the dutiful grandson, was determined to fulfill Irene’s wish, even if it meant doing something he didn’t like. That was the real reason he had married Joelle in the first place.

But why did Adrian’s commitment to fulfilling Irene’s wishes have to come at her expense? Adrian should be asking himself why Joelle was so against the idea of having a child with him.

At last, Joelle quickly pieced together the situation. “And what if I refuse?”

With a swift motion, Adrian pulled Joelle onto his lap, causing her to lose balance and instinctively grab his strong arm. Before she could process what was happening, she found herself enveloped in his embrace.

She was only wearing pajamas, with several buttons left undone, revealing her skin underneath. Adrian’s hand slipped inside, his touch bold and unsettling.

“Do you really think you can refuse me?”

His hand found its way to her breasts. He grabbed one of them and fondled it. In daylight, Adrian shamelessly tore at her pajama top, exposing her shoulders to the cool air.

He then bit down sharply, making Joelle cry out in pain. His voice, laced with threat, chilled her further. “Joelle, believe me, soon, you’ll be begging me to have a baby with you.”

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