?<strong>Chapter 167:</strong>


    Adrian cut the conversation short. “Let’s go.”


    Reba took tentative steps forward, her voice tinged with regret. “Adie, I’m sorry about today. I tried to refuse him repeatedly, but he was insistent about meeting you.” Today’s meeting was for Adrian to engage with a businessman keen on a partnership. Reba had been a consistent presence by his side for years, solidifying the Lloyd family as a reliable conduit to him in the eyes of many. So she often found herself an intermediary for those seeking his influence.


    Despite herck of business acumen and her usual inclination to decline, today’s contact had been particrly persistent. Ultimately, she had no choice but to enlist Adrian’s support—a convenient pretext to see him.


    After the divorce, Adrian had been reaching out to her much less. He still monitored the Lloyds’ affairs but delegated the groundwork to his team, making any interaction with him rare and all the more precious. The thought of weaving herself into the Miller family seemed ever more distant.


    Upon entering the private room, they were greeted by a few early arrivals. As Adrian entered, the room stood in deference, clearing a path for him.


    “Mr. Miller, it’s great to finally meet you!” A man with a neat mustache stepped forward, offering Adrian his business card.


    “Kenny Collins?”


    “Yes, Mr. Miller, please, take a seat.”


    Every chapter lives on g a lno vels ;m


    Kenny gestured to the central seats reserved for them. As they sat, Adrian queried, “I’ve heard about an advertising firm gaining tractiontely. The shareholder’s surname is Collins. Any rtion?”


    Kenny’s smile widened. “You’re astute, Mr. Miller. That’s my father’spany.”


    “Really?” Adrian’s response was smooth, tinged with intrigue. “nning to branch out on your own?”


    “Exactly.” Kenny exhaled, a mix of frustration and ambition in his tone. “To be honest, my father and I don’t see eye to eye on many aspects of business.” He seemed eager to borate, but Adrian’s interest waned.


    “Let’s skip the long stories. What do you have for me?”


    Kenny, at the threshold ofunching his venture, had assembled a team of prominent designers aiming to prate the fashion market for niche clientele. With Miller Group’s extensive portfolio of popr intellectual properties, Kenny envisioned a coborative line of co-branded apparel, hence his outreach to Adrian.


    Reba struggled to follow the intricate details and underlying dynamics of the conversation between Adrian and Kenny. Yet, she intuitively felt that Adrian held a certain regard for Kenny. This gave her a sense of aplishment, and she couldn’t help but feel a little uplifted.


    As autumn’s chill set in, Joelle and Shawn made ns to visit their mother’s grave. Adrian, showing unexpected eagerness, reached out to Joelle beforehand, volunteering to drive them to the cemetery, a gesture that seemed to surpass even Joelle’s own interest in the arrangements.


    When Leah heard about the visit, touched by memories of the kindness shown by Joelle’s mother, she expressed a desire to apany them. Unlike previous years, where a long procession of cars would ascend the mountain, this time they opted for a simple, solitary car ride—quiet and serene, which seemed fitting.


    At the gravesite, Leah, Joelle, and Shawn busied themselves clearing autumn leaves from the tombstone. Adrian, however, stood apart under a nearby tree, smoking pensively. Leah watched him for a moment before exhaling deeply, feeling it was time for Adrian to engage more thoughtfully.


    She bowed to the tombstone before speaking. “Ms. Watson, Mr. Watson, I’ll wait in the car for you.”


    Joelle and Shawn nodded. “Alright.”


    Approaching Adrian, she suggested, “Mr. Miller, why not pay your respects to Mrs. Watson? She was very kind to you, after all, wasn’t she?”


    Adrian’s demeanor was somber as he watched Joelle and Shawn from a distance, his mncholy palpable. “Do you think I even deserve to face Mrs. Watson?”


    Leah, momentarily speechless, finally responded by cing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “If you’ve done wrong, the best course is to make amends. Actions speak louder than words.”


    With a sigh, she walked away, leaving him to reflect. After a moment’s hesitation, Adrian found the resolve to approach the grave.


    As he neared, Joelle’s voice reached him. “Mom, Shawn and I are doing well. I’ve found my path, though it’s a shame Dad can’t visit yet.”


    The gray sky above mourned with them as ashes from the ritual paper fluttered in the breeze. Adrian, moved by the moment, bowed before the tombstone. “Mrs. Watson, I’m sorry. From now on, I’ll look after Joelle like a sister.”


    This promise might never havee if not for the child Joelle had “lost”—a fact that underscored both Adrian’s guilt and the pain he had caused. Joelle maintained herposure and sniffed despite the emotional weight of the moment.


    As dusk fell, they left the cemetery together. On the drive back, Adrian naturally resumed his role as the driver, steering them through the quiet evening towards home.


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