?<strong>Chapter 152:</strong>


    Salome repeated incredulously, “How could Reba possibly deserve to be your daughter?” If Amara truly epted Reba as an adopted daughter, Salome’s dreams of bing Adrian’s wife would vanish. Wasn’t this shattering Joelle’s hopes in front of Reba? Wheeling herself to the center of the group, Salome feigned being ovee with gratitude.


    “The Miller family has been incredibly supportive over the years. Reba and I couldn’t ask for more.” Amara massaged her temples, visibly annoyed. “You know this is more than you deserve. Can’t you just be grateful? By dering Reba my adopted daughter today, we avoidplicationster. She’ll be Adrian’s sister, nothing more. Don’t aspire to any other title.”


    Reba’s eyes welled up with tears as she nced at Adrian, who didn’t even look her way. It was one thing to be named his sister, but to announce it in front of Joelle—wasn’t that openly humiliating her? Reba murmured, “I truly don’t deserve this.”


    Amara clicked her tongue in irritation. “What now? I adopted you as my daughter, yet youin?”


    “No, that’s not it at all!” Catching sight of Joelle, Reba resolved to act, sinking to her knees before Amara. “What are you doing?” Amara was taken aback, her dress clutched in Reba’s firm grip.


    Tears streamed down Reba’s face. “I know you dislike me. I’m aware you think my mother and I are intruding on Adie’s life. But my feelings for him are genuine! Please, don’t make this difficult for me. I cannot bear the title of Adie’s sister! I promise to keep my distance. I’ll even take my mother and leave Illerith!”


    “What on earth are you saying?” Frustrated and flustered, Amara struggled to free herself. Reba’s behavior made it seem as though she were the bully.


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    Tears also filled Salome’s eyes as she implored Amara, “We’ll leave Illerith. If there’s no ce here for two dying souls, we must depart! Come, Reba. Let’s leave this ce!”


    Reba stretched out her hand towards Adrian with desperate urgency. “Adie!”


    “Reba, listen. We need to leave now!”


    Joelle watched, her expression one of bewilderment. She knew Amara would never allow Reba and Adrian to marry, but she wondered how this involved her. As she turned to leave, Adrian brushed past her, his face a mask of sudden anxiety.


    His cool demeanor was gone, reced by visible distress—uncharacteristic for the usuallyposed man. Joelle spun around just in time to see Reba copse at the doorway.


    Adrian scooped her up, murmuring, “Salome, we should leave first.”


    Salome, tears catching in her eyes, pleaded, “Adrian, please, we don’t want to impose any longer. Let her go. I’ll take Reba myself.”


    Her words hung in the air, her frail condition and the wheelchair making the promise seem untenable. “Salome, please, I’m not just an outsider,” Adrian interjected, his brow furrowed with concern.


    Salome, looking sorrowful, replied, “I know both you and your mother mean well. It’s an honor for Reba to be considered family, but we understand our ce. We can’t impose on your kindness.”


    “Salome.” Adrian paused, collecting his thoughts. “I’ve made a promise. No matter our rtionship, I will not abandon her. I will stand by her, always.”


    Salome covered her mouth with a trembling hand, overwhelmed with emotion, and began to cry. Meanwhile, Irene, seated on the bed, coughed harshly—a stern warning.


    Yet Adrian remained resolute. “Grandma, I’ll be back soon.”


    He then exited the room, carrying Reba, with Salome apologetically trailing behind.


    In the ward, Irene’s cough grew weary and strained, her fatigue evident. rmed, Joelle quickly moved tofort her.


    Amara, unable to watch Irene suffer, suggested softly, “No,” Irene refused, steadying herself with a raised hand. “I can’t handle much more at my age.”


    Joelle’s eyes filled with tears. “Irene, please don’t talk like that. You’re going to live a long life.”


    Irene squeezed her hand, reassuring her, “Joelle, don’t worry. Amara and I will ensure Reba and Adrian don’t marry. Today was meant to show the Lloyds it’s time to let go.”


    Joelle offered a wry smile. “Adrian and I are divorced. It doesn’t matter anymore whether they give up or not.” Of course, Irene knew that Joelle and Adrian had divorced. But she always thought that it wasn’t the end of their rtionship. Adrian was indeed a bit too close with Reba, so it was understandable for Joelle to feel dissatisfied. She believed it was a temporary rift, expecting a reconciliation. Joelle was the only granddaughter-inw Irene had ever acknowledged.


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