?<strong>Chapter 157:</strong>


    Reba trembled, the tension palpable in the air. Adrian, visibly intoxicated, sat up, his legs syed and his gaze foggy. “Adie?” Reba’s voice was tentative,ced with apprehension.


    “Joelle, are you trying to drug me again?” Adrian slurred, his voice deep andmanding, tinged with a dark authority. He resembled a weary predator on the brink of a hunt, his presence both terrifying and thrilling to Reba. Misidentifying her as Joelle, might this not simplify her intentions?


    But indignation quickly surged within her. Would she really allow herself to be used under the guise of another?


    Resolved, Reba rose to her feet and stepped closer to him. “Adie, I’m Reba. Don’t you remember me? Joelle has divorced you.”


    “Divorce?” Adrian clutched his head, the fog of alcohol slowly lifting as reality set in. Yes, they had divorced. The woman who had once manipted him into marriage had boldly defended another man in the streets.


    Reba’s eyes widened as Adrian stood, hisrge frame unsteady. In a fit of turmoil, he swept the contents of the bedside table to the floor.


    “Adie!” Reba eximed, pressing him down on the bed. “Adie, don’t be sad. I’m here for you.”


    Her fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, her actions deliberate as she edged closer to her objective. As she progressed, a smirk nearly betrayed herposure.


    Climbing over him, she whispered persuasively, “Let me look after you, okay?”


    Reba then began to loosen her own dress, her intentions clear as she maneuvered herself.


    Michael drove cautiously, scanning the illuminated streets. As he spotted a woman with flowing hair and high heels by the roadside, he pulled up beside her. “Need a lift, beautiful?”


    Without a word, Lacey opened the passenger door and slid into the seat, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from thepartment. She took a deep drag, her frustration visible in the plumes of smoke.


    “What’s got you this time?” Michael asked, stealing a nce at her.


    “My father’s being ridiculous,” she muttered dismissively. “What now?” Michael probed, his tone unsurprised yet concerned.


    Lacey remained silent, her usual sass subdued by anger, making her silence even more poignant. Michael chose not to press further, knowing she’d speak up once she was ready. After a moment, Lacey blurted out, “He’s trying to set me up on a blind date.”


    Michael’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel as he forced a smile. “Don’t you usually have a way out of these setups?”


    Lacey ran her fingers through her hair and leaned back, staring nkly at the city lights whizzing by. “It’s different this time.”


    Michael was uncertain why this time was different, but he didn’t see it as a significant issue. Ever since Lacey reached adulthood, her family had been pressing her to marry. In the Hudson family, abundant with children, daughters often felt pressured to marry for strategic alliances.


    Yet, Lacey’s fiery temperament set her apart. While her half-sisters had sumbed to marital ties, only Lacey and Fiona remained resolutely independent.


    As they drove, Lacey’s mood seemed to lighten slightly. Yet, suddenly, Michael remembered something and cursed. “Oh, no, I forgot about Adrian.”


    “What about him?” Lacey sat up, concerncing her voice.


    “He drank too much tonight. I had to leave him with Reba because I came to get you.”


    “What?” Lacey straightened, her tone sharp. “Michael, how could you?”


    “I know, but there was no one else. Adrian was too wasted to be left alone,” Michael reasoned, scratching his head.


    Lacey’s anger red, but she tried to keep it in check. “Call Adrian right now.”


    Michael hesitated. “Do you really think something bad will happen? One’s sick and the other’s drunk. If anything, Adrian won’t be the one at a loss.”


    Lacey’sugh was bitter, filled with incredulity. “Would you be content if you were exploited by someone?”


    Michael fell silent, his thoughts a jumble as he drove the car through the city streets. At the next intersection, he executed a sharp turn. Lacey, phone in hand, tried several numbers in quick session, but all attempts to reach someone went unanswered.


    “Something’s definitely wrong,” she dered, her tone firm with concern.


    “Why not try calling Reba?” Michael suggested tentatively.


    “I don’t have her number.”


    “I don’t either.” Michael paused, then a thought struck him. “How about calling Joelle?”


    Lacey gave him a knowing smile, tinged with mischief. “Are you sure? That might just add more drama to the mix.”


    Michael met her gaze, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Don’t you enjoy a bit of chaos?”


    So, ten minutester, Lacey concocted a pretext to coax Joelle, who was already preparing for bed, out of her house. Once Michael obtained the location where Reba and Adrian werest seen, the trio made their way there. Standing outside the door, room card in hand, Joelle looked puzzled. “Why am I here?”


    Lacey, gripping her shoulder from behind, whispered conspiratorially, “Aren’t you curious about what Adrian’s up to? Open the door. You might find something interesting.”


    With a mix of reluctance and curiosity, Joelle slid the card into the reader and pushed the door open. The room was dark except for the faint light spilling from the bathroom, where Reba’s voice could be heard. “Adie,e out quickly.”


    Joelle stood frozen, unsure of the situation. As the door swung wide, revealing three unexpected guests, Reba turned, her expression one of utter shock.


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