Chapter 7: Chapter 7



“What?” Irene erupted into a fit of coughing, her breaths growing shallow and weak. Joelle regretted her bluntness.

“Get Adrian here!” Irene barked.

“Irene, please calm down. I…”

“There’s nothing to discuss! I warned him ages ago not to be so lenient with the Lloyd family. He ignored me, and now you and Shawn are paying the price!” Irene snapped, slamming the call button by her bedside with force.

Ten minutes later, Adrian was in the room, enduring Irene’s harsh reprimand while the rest of the family waited anxiously outside. Among them was Amara Miller, Adrian’s mother. Since her husband’s death a decade ago, she had retreated into a life of isolation, her cold demeanor setting her apart from the rest of the family. She lived alone in a separate house and had minimal contact with others.

The family of Irene’s second son appeared outwardly harmonious, but beneath the surface, each member harbored their own agendas. Joelle, who had never warmed to Adrian’s uncle’s family, stood with Amara, even though Amara’s feelings towards her were equally cold.

“What did you say to Irene about Adrian this time?” Amara asked, her voice edged with cold suspicion. Joelle lowered her gaze, silence her only reply. Amara had always believed the conflict between her and Adrian was her fault, without ever seeking the full story.

Joelle knew that no matter how much she tried to please Amara, it would always be in vain.

“Why aren’t you speaking? Lost your voice again?” Amara’s arms were crossed tightly, her displeasure evident. “I still don’t get why Adrian married you. I’ve barely been back, and already I see Adrian has lost weight. Have you even bothered to take care of him?”

“He’s home less than a day a month.” Joelle met Amara’s gaze steadily, her voice calm. “How am I supposed to take care of him? If he’s lost weight, it’s because the other woman hasn’t cared for him properly.”

Amara was momentarily thrown off, sensing a subtle change in Joelle’s attitude. But to her, Joelle remained the same—an impediment rather than a person of worth.

“If he’s not coming home, haven’t you considered that it might be your fault?” Amara shot back. Joelle struggled to suppress a laugh at the absurdity of the accusation.

Adrian had another woman, Rebecca, and a home at Oak Villas. She almost revealed this truth but restrained herself, knowing that Amara would only find a way to blame her anyway.

“From now on, whether he comes home or not has nothing to do with me,” she declared.

Amara’s frown deepened. “How could you talk back?”

“Amara, don’t be too hard on Joelle. She’s in a bad spot,” Lyla spoke. She had been silently observing the confrontation with a hint of satisfaction.

Amara’s gaze turned cold. “How I handle my daughter-in-law is none of your concern!”

Undeterred, Lyla said, “Joelle, it’s almost lunchtime. Why don’t you prepare a meal? Adrian will probably be hungry when he comes out.”

Lyla’s suggestion was less about kindness and more a thinly veiled command, as if Joelle were a servant rather than Adrian’s wife. Despite being Adrian’s lawfully wedded wife, Joelle faced a harsh reality behind closed doors.

“Who do you think you’re ordering around? I’m not a servant! Why should I cook?” Joelle’s voice was steady.

Lyla’s smile was a thinly veiled sneer. “Adrian is very particular about his food. He only eats what you make. If you refuse, who will cook?”

“Exactly!” Katie nodded, idly toying with the tassels of her dress. “Joelle, did you really believe that marrying Adrian meant a life of ease and luxury?”

Amara remained detached, as if the scene didn’t concern her. Joelle’s hands clenched into fists, her injured right wrist throbbing with pain.

Just then, the door to Irene’s room swung open, and Adrian emerged, his face a storm of fury. His eyes locked onto Joelle, and the tension grew heavy.

“You went and tattled to Grandma?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“If it wasn’t you, then who?” Adrian seized her right wrist.

Joelle’s face went pale as pain shot through her.

“Joelle, you’re something else. You talked to me about divorce, but then you ran to Grandma behind my back. Are you satisfied now?”

“Adrian, I swear, it wasn’t me!” Before she could finish, Adrian pushed her away with a violent shove. She stumbled and collapsed onto the sofa, her hair falling over her face as she looked up at the cold, unfeeling faces around her.

If even her husband could treat her this way, how could she expect any respect from anyone else?

Lyla, visibly shaken by Adrian’s outburst, quickly spoke up. “Adrian, it was Katie. She let it slip. She was at the hospital yesterday.”

Katie’s face was a mask of fear as she apologized, “Adrian, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to.”

Amara’s voice was cold. “With Irene’s health in such a state, why would you bring this up in front of her? What the hell were you thinking?”

Adrian’s glare turned to Katie. “If you can’t control your tongue, then maybe you should cut it out and keep quiet forever!” Katie crumpled, her legs unable to support her.

“Enough!” Irene’s authoritative voice cut through the chaos as she emerged, leaning heavily on her cane. “This ends here. No one is to pursue this matter any further!”

At this moment, Joelle rose slowly from the sofa, her movements deliberate, and walked up to Adrian. She slapped him across the face.

The room fell into stunned silence.

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