?<strong>Chapter 175:</strong>


    Adrian remembered his flight scheduled for that afternoon. He needed to confront Joelle and inquire why Rafael was with her. But as he awoke, night had already fallen.


    His assistant approached, relief evident in his tone. “Thank goodness, Mr. Miller, you’vee around. Miss Lloyd has been crying for hours.”


    Adrian furrowed his brow. “How did she find out?” The assistant hesitated. “L visited earlier, in tears, asking for you. Since you were still out, Miss Lloyd met with her instead.”


    L’s unexpected appearance suggested she was aware of Quincy’s predicament under Adrian’s control. Adrian felt a grim satisfaction. He had anticipated potential issues and was prepared.


    “Where’s Reba?” he asked.


    “She felt unwell, so I arranged for her to rest in the adjacent room.”


    Adrian’s response was firm. “In the future, ensure she doesn’t act on my behalf. She’s not authorized to make decisions for me.”


    The assistant was momentarily puzzled. Wasn’t Reba close to Adrian? Working for someone as unpredictable as Adrian was like walking on eggshells.


    Not long ago, he had been indifferent to his wife, and now he was nning to fly abroad to find her.


    “Mr. Miller, you’ve missed your flight, and there are no more departures tonight.”


    Adrian merely grunted in acknowledgment.


    A faint, tearful voice interrupted from the doorway. “Adie.”


    Reba appeared, clinging to the doorframe, her eyes swollen with tears. She hurried over, copsing onto the bed. “Adie, I was so scared! I had a terrible dream that you wouldn’t wake up. What would we do without you?”


    Her approach was bold, yet Adrian, recognizing her genuine concern, did not rebuke her.


    “I’m alright now,” he reassured her.


    Reba, tears cascading down her cheeks, managed to say, “But you lost so much blood.”


    Wanting to shift away from the conversation, Adrian turned to his assistant. “Book the next flight out for tomorrow.”


    The assistant confirmed with a nod. “Yes, Mr. Miller.”


    Reba dabbed at her eyes. “Adie, are you nning to leave? You’ve barely recovered.”


    “It’s none of your business. You should head home.” Though reluctant, Reba understood his tone left no room for argument. She exited, her gaze lingering on him with each step. She chose to be obedient, leaving his room with frequent backward nces.


    Once she was gone, the assistant received a call, then turned to Adrian. “Mr. Miller, L is downstairs asking to see you.”


    Adrian exhaled deeply,boring to rise from his chair. “Let here.” This matter wasn’t over yet. He was keen to see how L would navigate the predicament.


    Dressing quickly, he moved to the adjacent reception room, his demeanorposed. L, astute as ever, was trying to gauge the extent of Adrian’s injuries to predict the potential fallout. If it wasn’t too serious, things might not escte too far.


    “Adrian, I implore you, Quincy has lost his senses. Please, could you find it in your heart to forgive him?” Upon entering, L knelt abruptly. Had they been alone, L might not have resorted to such dramatics, but with the assistant present, she gambled on appealing to Adrian’s sense of decorum to prevent her humiliation.


    However, both Adrian and his assistant remained indifferent to her disy. Adrian, sipping his coffee leisurely, responded without looking at her, “If you prefer to kneel during our conversation, that’s up to you.”


    Flushed with embarrassment, L used the coffee table to push herself to her feet and took a seat across from him. She asked, “Adrian, how have I treated you over the years?”


    “Not poorly.”


    Encouraged, she pressed, “Then, considering that, can’t you spare your uncle?”


    “No,” Adrian interjected sharply. “He plotted against my life. How can I simply forgive and forget?” L’s hope dwindled. She grasped her handkerchief, tears welling up. “I’m so embarrassed by Quincy’s actions, I can barely face you. But he is still your uncle, my husband, the father of your cousin. Adrian, even criminals are offered opportunities for redemption. Can’t our family strive to reconcile?”


    The tension was palpable, a distinct crack echoed faintly in the silence that followed. The cup in Adrian’s hand shattered, the ceramic pieces scattering across the floor.


    L, momentarily stunned, stared at him, her tears halting. “Yes, we’re family. So why can’t we just get along? You’ve done so much behind the scenes. Do I need to list it all?”


    L tried to defend herself, but Adrian didn’t give her a chance to speak. “You’re right, even criminals are given a chance to reform. So why shouldn’t my uncle get the same opportunity?” Hope flickered in L’s eyes as she stood, a tentative smile forming. “You mean you’re willing to forgive him?”


    Adrian reclined into the sofa, a cold sneer ying on his lips. “What I mean is, let’s first establish him as a criminal, then he can seek redemption from thew.” L’s face, which showed signs of cosmetic enhancements, contorted into a grimace of dismay and disbelief.


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