?<strong>Chapter 166:</strong>


    “Bullshit!” Shawn bellowed, the silence around them growing heavy. He fought to contain his fury. Did they actually believe he wanted to meddle?


    “That’s because…” His voice trailed off suddenly. Katherine gazed at him, puzzled. It was all because she was pregnant. Shawn choked back the words, along with his anger.


    “Fine, it’s none of my business. Katherine, if you choose to be with Bobby, I’ll stay out of it. But don’te to regret this!” He punctuated his final words sharply. As Shawn stormed off, a wave of fear washed over Katherine. “Oh my, Joelle, your brother really loves me. Could he end up hating me because of it?”


    Joelle was at a loss for words. Truth be told, she had never seen Shawn so agitated. He was renowned for his even temper. She had once broken a record Shawn cherished, and even then, he hadn’t lost his cool like this.


    “Enough. This time, you’ve genuinely hurt my brother.” Bobby and Katherine exchanged a look, realizing they might have pushed too far. “I’ll apologize to your brother. I need to speak with him face-to-face.”


    “Okay,” Joelle responded, though her concern lingered. “I need to see my brother. I’m leaving now.”


    After her departure, Bobby propped his head with his hand and queried Katherine, “Did I overdo it just now?”


    “Maybe a bit much.” Katherine lifted her ss and drained it.


    Bobby clicked his tongue, probing further, “Haven’t you ever considered being with Shawn? He understands you and loves you deeply.”


    Flipping her hair dismissively, Katherine retorted, “I have a boyfriend now.”


    Bobby was surprised. “Who is it? Howe I don’t know about it?”


    Katherine’s phone on the table buzzed to life. She picked it up, her face lighting up with joy at the caller ID. Bobby tried to sneak a peek, but Katherine shot him a warning look.


    “Who’s messaging you? You look thrilled.”


    “My boyfriend.” Katherine stood and stepped aside to open the message. It was from Frankie. “Honey, I’m feeling down. I need a hug.”


    Katherine adored the juxtaposition of his public persona as a sessful businessman and his private neediness. Curious, she typed back, asking what was wrong.


    Frankie’s reply came quickly. “I don’t want to discuss it. I just need somefort. Can I hear your voice?” Katherine cleared her throat, mustered her sweetest tone, and activated the voice recorder. “Honey.” She sent the recording, leaving Bobby visibly unnerved.


    “Who’s your boyfriend?”


    “An online friend,” Katherine replied nonchntly.


    Bobby paused, then silently gave her a thumbs-up. As Joelle approached the spiral ss doors of the hotel lobby, two figures caught her eye. Reba, d in a pristine white dress, was linked arm-in-arm with Adrian, who was dressed sharply in a suit. Post-divorce, Joelle had learned to observe them dispassionately as an outsider.


    Adrian and Reba seemed perfectlyplementary—his dark, imposing presence alongside her delicate, almost fragile appearance, reminiscent of Cindere and her prince.


    “Joelle, what a coincidence!”


    Joelle had no desire to engage, so she offered a curt nod and moved past them. Outside, the wind whipped at her figure, catching Shawn’s ck coat. She adjusted her hair and secured the coat more firmly around her shoulders, striding forward with the poise of a solitary rose against the wind.


    Reba turned away, curiosity tinged with envy in her voice. “Whose coat is Joelle wearing?”


    Seeing Adrian’sck of response, she forced a cheerful tone. “It seems Joelle has found herself a very generous friend.”


    Adrian turned to her, his expression unreadable. He was aware that Joelle came to meet Shawn, deducing the coat she wore must belong to him. Reba’s implication nagged at him.


    “Are you suggesting her previouspanion was less considerate?”


    Her previouspanion was Adrian himself. Reba’splexion paled. “No, no, that’s not what I meant.”


    His expression hardened. “Reba, your past doesn’t concern me, but remember why my mother adopted you?”


    “Yes,” Reba murmured, bowing her head. As Amara’s adopted daughter, romantic aspirations toward Adrian were off-limits. This acknowledgment didn’t alter her status significantly. She had hoped that with Joelle out of the picture, the path to bing Adrian’s wife might clear. Yet, circumstances hadn’t unfolded as she anticipated. It felt as though either fate or Joelle herself conspired against her.


    “That’s good to hear,” Adrian stated firmly. “I’ve supported your family all these years out of respect for yourte father and brother. Put any other thoughts out of your mind.”


    Reba pressed her lips together, a mix of frustration and resignation in her voice. “I won’t.”


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