?<strong>Chapter 27:</strong>


    Joelle had been tense for days after hearing Katherine’s haunting words. Not long after, she received a call from the police, requesting her presence.


    There, she met Landen, now sporting a shaved head, among other girls who had been through the same ordeal as her. During the identification procedure at the station, one of the girls, consumed by anger, threw an ashtray at Landen. It crashed loudly against the sturdy ss wall that separated them.


    “You’re a father, but you exploited your own daughter to trick us! Have you no shame? How can you expect your daughter to show herself in public? It’s irresponsible parents like you who lead children down the wrong path!”


    The officers quickly subdued her and arranged a counseling session to help the victims in their recovery.


    “We deeply regret what happened, but we urge you to maintain kindness in your hearts while being vignt. Please, hold on to your faith in society. We’ll do our best to protect you,” one of the officers assured them.


    Joelle, anxious at first, found that attending the session helped her ovee her lingering fears. Halfway through the session, a knock sounded at the door. All eyes turned, and Joelle’s smile vanished in an instant.


    “Hi, I’m Reba Lloyd, also a victim in this case,” Reba announced as she entered. Right behind her was Adrian, impably dressed and with a detached expression.


    The room soon filled with murmurs. Joelle even overheard the girls next to her talking.


    “Is that her boyfriend? God, he’s so handsome!”


    “They look so in love with each other. Look, he only has eyes for her!”


    “Jesus, I’m so jealous! When will I ever find such a perfect man?”


    Adrian ced his arm around Reba’s waist. “Just go.” Reba gently pulled on his sleeve and said in an almost pleading tone, “Will you stay with me? I get nervous around strangers.”


    Adrian noticed Joelle, so he didn’t refuse Reba’s request. As they moved closer, Joelle quickly ced her bag on the empty seat beside her, forcing them to find seats behind her. From then on, she found it difficult to concentrate on the speaker. Instead, Reba and Adrian’s hushed conversation was all she could hear.


    The speaker emphasized the importance of being cautious around strangers. “I’m too trusting. It’s a good thing you’re here with me,” Reba whispered to Adrian.


    The speaker then discussed the importance of being helpful yet cautious. Reba chuckled and said to Adrian, “I once helped an elderlydy who had fallen, but she used me of tripping her! Thankfully, some onlookers were there, or I might not have cleared my name.”


    The speaker also warned against visiting dangerous and unmonitored ces alone. “Adie, if I ever need to go to such ces, will youe with me?” Reba asked in a low voice.


    “Of course.”


    Unable to take it any longer, Joelle turned to them sharply and demanded, “Could you two keep it down? I’m here to learn, not to listen to your love chatter.”


    Every eye in the room turned to Joelle. The girls who had just been admiring Reba and Adrian now regarded her with newfound respect. Adrian simply stared at Joelle, his face giving away nothing. On the other hand, Reba turned a deep shade of red and quickly muttered an apology.


    Once the session wrapped up, everyone dispersed. Joelle left the room without looking back. With her bag slung over her shoulder, she followed the others out of the room. But just as she was about to step out of the police station, Reba stopped her.


    “Joelle!”


    Joelle stopped in her tracks and turned around. “What do you want now?”


    Reba sped her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry for the disruption. I don’t get out much, so I tend to talk more than I should when I’m around people.”


    The wind ruffled Joelle’s hair. She smoothed it back and gave Reba a sardonic smile. “You really are something, Reba.”


    “Compared to you unting my husband around, do you think I’m upset over something so trivial?” Joelle interjected, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Thement, a clear jab at Reba for being a mistress, made her face drain of color.


    “Joelle, it’s not what you think—”


    “It doesn’t matter,” Joelle interrupted sharply, her eyes avoiding Adrian’s. “We’re getting divorced. He’s just another man. I’m leaving him to you now.”


    With those final words, Joelle turned and strode away. The truth was, she had left something unsaid. She was going to leave the past eight years a gift from him. Joelle fought back tears. No, she wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing her cry. Reba, briefly thrilled by the mention of divorce, thought she’d misheard. But upon seeing Adrian’s cold expression, she asked, “Adie, is it true Joelle is divorcing you? Does she like someone else?”


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