Chapter 61: Chapter 61



“Adrian Miller!” the man replied.

Joelle’s face turned pale.

The girl kicked the man on the floor. “Get the hell out! The police are already on their way. If they catch you here, they’ll lock you up!”

Once the man had fled the scene, the girl took Joelle’s hand and said, “We should leave this place too. If those people return, things could get ugly.”

The girl’s statement left Joelle puzzled. “Wait, didn’t you say that you called the police?”

“I didn’t. I lied,” the girl admitted bluntly. “If I actually called them, my manager would fire me. Getting groped in a nightclub is a common occurrence and is already considered normal.” She then led Joelle toward the back door.

Suddenly, Joelle remembered her phone was still with the male student. “What’s going to happen to that boy?”

The girl seemed embarrassed. “I don’t think he’ll come back.”

“Why wouldn’t he?”

“Don’t ask,” the girl responded, trying to hurry Joelle along. “This street leads to the main road. It’s safer with more people around.”

Joelle pulled her hand away before stopping in her tracks. “Why should I even trust you?”

From the very beginning, she had been feeling something ominous. This girl’s timing was way too perfect. Aside from that, the boy disappeared without a trace.

Joelle felt tense and began confronting the girl. “You’re working with those people, aren’t you? Where are you trying to lure me?”

“I’m not luring you!” the girl protested. “I’m just trying to help you.”

With a blank expression, Joelle countered, “And why should I believe that?”

The girl paced back and forth with her hands on her hips, clearly feeling conflicted. Eventually, she exhaled deeply. “Okay, I’ll be honest. When you came in looking for a job, I remembered my manager mentioned a $500 referral bonus if I brought someone in. I really needed the money, so I decided to talk to you. But when that boy showed up, I realized that something was wrong. I saw him leave the restroom, change his outfit, and slip out the back door.”

She spread her hands in a gesture of helplessness. “I had no clue you were being targeted. I got set up too.”

Joelle remained skeptical. She was unable to easily trust anyone at this point. Hearing Adrian’s name earlier had confirmed her fears that he would stop at nothing to get her back.

“If you’re telling the truth, do you mind if I use your phone?” Without hesitating, the girl handed her phone over.

Joelle tried calling Shawn first, but he wasn’t picking up. Then she dialed Katherine, who answered immediately. “Hello? Who is this?”

“Katherine, it’s me, Joelle. Can you please come pick me up?”

Thirty minutes later, Katherine arrived to pick Joelle up in her car.

Joelle expressed her gratitude to the girl before she stepped into Katherine’s car. Once Joelle was seated, Katherine growled, “That bastard will do anything to get you, won’t he? He seriously hired men to harass his own wife? Has he gone insane?”

Joelle gazed through the window, her heart descending into a gloomy abyss. “He doesn’t care about me. Why would he even bother?”

“Don’t fret, Joelle. You’re with me now. If Adrian tries anything, he’ll need to bulldoze my house because that’s the only way he’ll get you out!”

While Joelle was less concerned about where she was staying, her job situation was on her mind.

Katherine waved off her concerns. “Forget about that. Come work with me at my company. We can even carpool.” Joelle cracked a slight smile. “Yeah, if I have to work for someone, I’m glad it’s you.”

Their conversation turned light-hearted as they discussed the potential joys of working together.

Yet, the very next day, Adrian made a personal appearance at Katherine’s modest office. For the first time, Joelle felt an overwhelming sense of vulnerability, as if she was being hunted. Katherine gave her a comforting pat on the back. “Don’t worry. Stay composed. We’re not for sale, and we won’t be intimidated! Nobody can pull us apart!”

Katherine confronted Adrian assertively. “Adrian, if you think you can just snatch Joelle from me, you’re sorely mistaken.”

Adrian placed his coffee cup on the table and looked around the cramped space. “This office seems quite small, doesn’t it?”

Katherine, caught off guard momentarily, stared at him fiercely before taking a seat across from him. “You can’t bribe me, Adrian. Joelle is my best friend. She has no desire to bear your child, and your despicable tactics won’t change her mind!”

Adrian’s smile was frosty, more akin to a gesture between business rivals than a genuine expression. He sat relaxed, legs crossed, his presence bringing a chill that matched the air conditioning. He spoke slowly, his tone measured. “If Joelle consents to have my child, I’ll boost my annual investment in the Watson Group from one hundred million to five hundred million. And as her trusted friend, I’ll ensure you receive several projects worth millions each year.”

Katherine was taken aback.

Adrian continued, “Once the child is born, they will inherit half of my wealth. Joelle can choose to remain my wife if she wishes, or she can leave with half my fortune. My mother has promised her a yacht worth a billion dollars. Joelle doesn’t need to raise the child. I will arrange for nutritionists and nannies to ensure she recovers completely to her pre-pregnancy condition. After the birth, she can pursue any international symphony or elite music academy she desires. All her dreams are just an agreement away.”

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