?<strong>Chapter 13:</strong>


    If Katherine had been present, she would have cursed Reba’s shamelessness without hesitation. Joelle narrowed her eyes. At first, she had dismissed Reba as just another lovesick girl, but now she saw the truth—Reba was a master maniptor.


    Joelle had no interest in engaging in an argument. As she prepared to walk away, she noticed Adrian approaching from a distance. Without warning, Reba crumpled to the floor. Adrian’s expression shed with panic as he quickly moved to her side, scooping her into his arms. “Adie…” Reba’s voice was weak.


    “Did you have another episode?” Reba nodded, leaning into Adrian’s chest. “Oh, Joelle, I didn’t see you there.” A strange unease gnawed at Joelle, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on the cause.


    Reba’s tearful voice interrupted her thoughts. “Joelle, I’m so sorry. I have some brain disease. Sometimes I don’t even remember what I say.” Joelle had long harbored suspicions. Every time she saw Reba, the girl seemed to carry an air of sickness about her. Adrian was always excessively concerned about Reba’s health, even to the point of getting her a protective charm. Given that Reba’s Twitter handle was Countdown To Death, Joelle began to form a theory.


    “You don’t remember what you just said?” she asked. Tears pooled in Reba’s eyes as she grasped Joelle’s hand. “If I said anything to offend you, I’m truly sorry. I didn’t mean it!”


    “That’s enough!” Adrian’s gaze turned cold as he looked at Joelle, his tone cutting. “She’s unwell. Don’t make things harder for her.” A bitterugh bubbled up in Joelle’s chest. She hadn’t even done anything, yet Adrian was already rushing to Reba’s defense.


    “Adrian, could you be any more biased?” After that, Joelle turned on her heel and walked away, her steps resolute and unwavering. For a brief moment, Adrian was reminded of the confident, spirited woman Joelle had been three years ago.


    “Adie…” Reba’s voice cut through his thoughts, pulling him back to reality. “My head hurts. Can you carry me?” “You didn’t faint this time. Try walking on your own.”


    Reba was surprised by the curt response. Quickly, she shifted tactics. “Then can you stay with me tonight?” Adrian’s gaze locked onto hers, inscrutable and intense. The weight of his stare sent a shiver down Reba’s spine, her heart pounding with fear. “I’m married, Reba. Do you think it’s appropriate for us to be alone together?”


    “My brother will be there too,” Reba pleaded, her fingers toying with the button on Adrian’s sleeve. “Adie, my brothers used to stay with me. I’m really scared. If I wake up and you’re not there…” But when her eyes met Adrian’s cold stare, she trailed off.


    “I understand. I won’t ask again.” Adrian loosened his tie, his voice t and devoid of warmth. “I’ll be home more often from now on. Erick should be discharged soon, and your condition has stabilized. It’s time for both of you to return to Oak Vis.”


    After visiting Shawn, Joelle stepped out of the hospital, only to spot a sleek ck Lincoln parked nearby. Adrian’s driver waited beside it, a polite smile on his face. “Mrs. Miller, Mr. Miller is waiting for you.”


    Joelle inhaled deeply, steadying herself. “Please tell him that if his heart is elsewhere, he should stay there.” The day had been a whirlwind, filled with tasks that left her feeling more alive than she had in a long time. She had missed this—days bustling with purpose, the satisfaction of productivity.


    Leah often spoke of the joys of a leisurely life, but Joelle knew herself better. She thrived on the energy and drive that came from being busy. The Lincoln’s rear window lowered, revealing Adrian’s sharply defined features. His lips parted slightly, his voice a lowmand. “Joelle, get in the car. Don’t make me say it twice.”


    Joelle hesitated, but only for a moment. She turned to face him with deliberate calm. “Mr. Miller, is there something you need?” Mr. Miller? Adrian raised an eyebrow, his voiceced with mild curiosity. “No more honey?”


    In the throes of their passion, Joelle used to call him that. But Adrian disliked it; every time she uttered the endearment, he’d respond with an intensity that bordered on harshness. Joelle’s expression didn’t waver. “Didn’t you get the wedding ring and the divorce agreement I sent? As far as I’m concerned, we’re not a couple anymore.”


    Adrian’s face remained impassive as he lowered the window another inch. The tension in his jaw betrayed his thinning patience. “Joelle, if you get in the car right now, we can pretend none of this ever happened.”


    “No need!” Joelle didn’t miss a beat. “Just sign the agreement and get a divorce!” Divorce! There it was again—how many times had she brought it uptely? Adrian had heard the word more often than he checked the stock market.


    Joelle seemed to believe that hammering the idea of divorce would wear him down, especially with Irene so desperate for a great-grandchild. Did she really think that this strategy would break him? A cold smile tugged at Adrian’s lips. Joelle’s attempts to manipte him struck him as almost pitiful.


    “Don’t push me, Joelle. You know you’re not that important to me.” With that, he signaled the driver to start the car. The window slid up slowly, sealing Joelle out with nothing but the lingering sting of Adrian’s disdain and the dust left in the car’s wake.


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