?<strong>Chapter 29:</strong>


    Without a moment’s hesitation, Joelle raised her hand and delivered a sharp p across Adrian’s face. Yet, her disy of anger only seemed to amuse him. The greater her fury, the more he believed she remained untouched by anyone else.


    Despite the p, Adrian didn’t back away. He kissed her with wild abandon. “You belong to me, Joelle.”


    Overwhelmed by his intensity, Joelle felt her resistance falter. Eventually, she copsed to the floor, her arms wrapped around herself, utterly defeated. “Adrian, just fuck off.”


    Ignoring her plea, Adrian picked her up and carried her toward the bedroom. Joelle pounded on his chest, sobbing until she was utterly drained. “Adrian, you bastard! How dare you treat me this way? I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!” Her voice cracked with each repeated deration.


    Adrianid her on the bed, wiped her tears, and continued to kiss her. Joelley staring nkly at the ceiling, resigned to her inability to stop him. It was a cruel irony. She couldn’t garner even a sliver of respect from her husband.


    Later, Joelley motionless on the bed, her mind tormented by the thought of needing birth control pills again. Adrian stepped into the bathroom for a shower. Emergingter, he answered his ringing phone. “Hello? Mom?”


    It was Amara on the line, her tone calm yet authoritative. “Bring Joelle back. We have a problem.” Adrian, towel-drying his hair with Joelle’s pink towel, responded calmly, “What’s the issue?”


    Amara’s sigh was deep, her voice turning cold. “Are you two avoiding having children?” Adrian stopped short. “Why would you think that?”


    “L and Katie saw Joelle buying birth control pills. If it wasn’t a joint decision, would Joelle have dared to make such a choice alone?” Adrian turned to look at the bed where Joelley, evidence of their recent encounter still visible on her flushed skin.


    After ending the call, he walked to the living room and found Joelle’s purse. Inside was an open box of birth control pills. Joelle, who had juste from the bedroom, braced herself for the impending confrontation.


    Adrianughed bitterly, holding up the box of pills. “So, you really don’t want to have my child?”


    “That’s right,” Joelle replied, her tone cold and detached. “I don’t want your child. I’ve been asking for a divorce. I want a divorce!” She stressed her demand for separation twice, yet it barely scratched the surface of her anguish.


    Adrian, seizing her wrist tightly, erupted in anger. “Joelle, will you never be satisfied with what I give you and your family? You know how much Grandma longs for a great-grandchild, and yet you still went behind my back with these?”


    “Why don’t you ask the other woman to have your baby?” Joelle’s smile was devoid of warmth, her eyes brimming with sorrow. “Adrian, you’re eager to please your grandmother, but why should I be involved? If we had a child, I’d be bound to you for life.”


    She shook her head, her voice tinged with despair. “It’s just not worth it. It really isn’t.” Adrian’s eyebrows furrowed in anger. It took him a considerable time to regain hisposure, and only then did he grasp the strength of Joelle’s resolve to divorce him. Neither spoke as they changed clothes and made their way back to the Miller Mansion.


    Upon their arrival, they learned Irene was too upset to leave her bed, with the entire Miller family assembled around her. Once Adrian and Joelle entered, Irene summoned them to her bedside. Her greatest wish was for them to have a baby. Although their marriage had been forced, she was convinced a child would mend everything.


    The revtion that they were secretly using birth control felt like a profound betrayal. “Joelle, you always think things through. Is Adrian making you take these pills?”


    On the drive over, Joelle had braced herself, knowing she had to look out for her own welfare first. “No,” she answered with calm resolve. “I don’t want a baby.” Adrian shot her a piercing nce, his rage held in check only by the presence of his family.


    Irene coughed violently into a wastebasket beside the bed, her body shaking with each convulsion. The sound of her coughing deepened Joelle’s sense of guilt. “I’m sorry. I know I’ve disappointed you, but I don’t want a baby.”


    Irene sped Joelle’s hand, her eyes welling with tears. “Why, Joelle? Why do you want to sever our family line?”


    Joelle inhaled deeply, her determination palpable. “Because I must divorce Adrian. He has been unfaithful!” A stunned silence enveloped the room. Everyone appeared shocked, Adrian included.


    Irene momentarily forgot her cough. “What did you say?” Joelle stood firm. “You heard me. He’s keeping another woman at Oak Vis.”


    L gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in disbelief. “Adrian, how could you do such a thing?”


    Amara quickly intervened. “What woman? I’m well aware of the woman at Oak Vis. She’s the frail girl from the Lloyd family. Adrian took her in purely out of pity!”


    .


    .


    .