?<strong>Chapter 187:</strong>


    At Illerith Airport, Katherine stood inconspicuously behind a ck SUV, her identity shielded by sunsses and a hat. She constantly scanned the crowd with cautious eyes every time someone passed, pressing down her sunsses, wary of being followed.


    Atst, familiar figures emerged from the terminal, and Katherine’s vignce melted into relief. There was Joelle, looking even more radiant than she had in videos over the past three years. Her hair, a gentle chestnut wave, fell softly around her shoulders, and she was dressed elegantly in a water-blue slender dress paired with sunsses.


    Beside her was Rafael, timeless in his handsomeness, exuding a newfound paternal aura. He held the hand of a ponytailed little girl while cradling a sleeping boy in his arms. Ovee with emotion, Katherine waved to the striking family of four, tears welling up in her eyes. “Joelle!”


    Joelle spotted her and, without hesitation, dashed over in her high heels, embracing Katherine. “‘Kathy!” Katherine, who rarely shed tears, found herself overwhelmed by the sight of her friend who, after three years apart, had formed her own beautiful family. Joelle reached out to wipe away Katherine’s tears. “Why are you crying? I’m fine.”


    Katherine, touched, held Joelle’s face, noting that she looked neither thinner nor heavier, just genuinely content—proof of Rafael’s loving care these past two years. “You won’t leave again, will you?” she asked.


    Joelle shook her head, her voice firm. “I n to settle back home with the kids. Rafael and I prefer the educational system here over abroad.”


    “Okay,” Katherine sniffled, her voice stillden with relief but tinged with urgency. “‘Let’s get moving. I’m worried Adrian might have someone tailing me.” Joelle smiled reassuringly, her confidence shining through. “I’m back for good now. I won’t let Adrian intimidate me anymore. Don’t worry; I’m fully prepared this time. I’m not the same woman as before.”


    Just then, Rafael approached with the children. The little girl, bubbly and sweet, greeted her cheerfully. “Hello, Kathy!”


    Katherine was taken aback by how quickly she was recognized, despite her disguise. The difference between seeing someone on video and in person was usually enough to obscure her identity slightly. “Hello, are you Aurora?” Katherine pinched Aurora’s nose yfully. “Why are you so beautiful?”


    Aurora puffed up with pride. “Because I look like Mom! Dad and Uncle say so all the time!” She was referring to Rafael as Dad.


    Caught off guard by the naturalness of Rafael and Joelle together, Katherine felt a mix of awkwardness and disbelief. Joelle, sensing her friend’s difort, gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “You’ll get used to it.”


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    Nodding, Katherine then turned her attention to the sleepy boy in Rafael’s arms. “Can you introduce me to this sleepy young man?”


    Rafael smiled wryly, amused by his son’s deep sleep, which seemed impervious to the surrounding bustle. “He’s my brother. His name is Rnd Watson!”


    Aurora dered proudly. Joelle had originally only given birth to Aurora, but ten monthster, during a video call, Katherine was stunned to see Joelle cradling a newborn boy. The surprise had nearly made her spit out her coffee. Even more astonishing was Joelle’s announcement that she and Rafael were formalizing their family legally.


    “Wait, wait, wait!” Katherine eximed, eager for rification. “First, tell me where this little guy came from.”


    Exchanging a nce, Joelle and Rafael simply stated, “Our son.”


    “What?”


    Katherer learned that Rnd was an abandoned baby whom Joelle and Rafael had adopted, though they introduced him unequivocally as their son.


    Once they were all in the car, Katherine asked while driving, “Why didn’t Shawne with you?”


    Just as Rafael reached to buckle Aurora in, she stood up and said, “Uncle has work to do. He willeter!” Catching Aurora’s reflection in the rearview mirror, Joelle cautioned her, “Aurora, please sit properly. It’s not safe to stand while we’re driving.”


    “Sit down, or your mom will get upset,” Rafael added, supporting Joelle’s instruction.


    Katherine chuckled from the driver’s seat. “You really do sound like a mother.”


    Joelle responded with a half-smile, “It’s funny, isn’t it? I never knew how universal some aspects of motherhood were until I became one myself.”


    Katherine teased, “Rafael, when are you nning to take Joelle home to visit your parents? Now that you’re married and have kids, you can’t be helping her out for free forever, right? It’s time to settle down properly!” Joelle gave Katherine a gentle pat, amused yet embarrassed by her friend’s audacity.


    Katherine, true to form, remained fearless in her humor. Seated between the children, Rafael replied with his usual calm, “You’ll have to ask her about that.”


    Aurora, momentarily distracted by the scenery outside, turned and chimed in energetically, “I agree!” Her enthusiasm sparkedughter throughout the car.


    The sudden noise woke Rnd, the two-year-old still groggy and disoriented from his nap. Feeling the sudden shift in his environment, he began to cry.


    Rafael, ever attentive, checked his diaper and quickly surmised the problem. “He might need a change. Kathy, can we pull over soon?”


    “Sure.”


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