?<strong>Chapter 192:</strong>


    Joelle and Rafael had shared their lives under the same roof for three years, yet such moments of closeness were as rare as a blue moon.


    Rafael was taken aback, his instincts kicking in as he absentmindedly bit down on the grape she offered. From that moment, something intangible shifted between them.


    Joelle’s attention wavered, the TV now a mere background noise. Rafael, sensing her unease, weighed his options before deciding it was best to retreat before the situation spiraled out of control. “I’m feeling tired. I think I’ll head to bed.”


    As he rose to leave, Joelle called out, “Rafael.”


    He halted but didn’t turn around, his self-restraint holding him back.


    Behind him, Joelle’s hands clenched into tight fists as she summoned the courage, her cheeks flushing. “Do you want to sleep with me?”


    Rafael froze, caught off guard, his mind scrambling for the right response. After a few agonizing seconds, he turned to face her. He knew Joelle wanted to bridge the gap between them, but something in his gut told him it wasn’t the right moment.


    Earlier, at the mall, when she saw Adrian, the way she involuntarily stiffened told Rafael that she hadn’tpletely moved on from her past.


    Rafael, a man with a particr aversion to emotional messiness, found it difficult to ept this version of Joelle.


    “Why would you say that?” he asked.


    Joelle blinked, clearly not expecting such a reaction.


    “Rafael, I just think it’s time we became closer, don’t you? I’m tired of exining to Aurora why her parents sleep in separate rooms. She’s going to start asking questions as she grows older.”


    She poured her heart out, but Rafael only honed in on one thing. “So, it’s not because you have feelings for me. It’s because of the kids, right?”


    “Of course not,” Joelle replied, her mind reeling.


    “Do you even like me?”


    Joelle hesitated, the question hanging in the air like an unsolvable riddle. She had never truly considered it before, but in the past three years, their rtionship had evolved from awkward new parents to a kind of silent partnership.


    At first, she had thought this little family of theirs was a facade, a picture-perfect scene painted for others. But as time passed, she found herself yearning for it to be real.


    Rafael was a wonderful father, no doubt, and she believed he could be an equally wonderful husband.


    But did that have anything to do with liking him? She had never really thought about it. Did she like Rafael?


    Whether she did or didn’t, one thing was clear—she didn’t want to destroy this perfect family.


    “You can’t answer, can you?” Rafael smiled bitterly. “If you can’t answer that, then don’t say things that could lead me to misunderstand. You have no idea what that means to a man.”


    Joelle felt a deep ache in her chest for Rafael. “I don’t know if what I feel qualifies as love, but I do know I don’t want to be apart from you. I don’t want my children to grow up without a father. I believe our family is perfect just as it is, and that makes me happy every single day.”


    “I understand what you’re saying.”


    His gaze seemed to pierce through her.


    He knew Joelle better than she knew herself. She had been sheltered all her life, always headstrong and resistant to change. She preferred the familiar, even if it meant being pushed into ufortable situations rather than choosing them on her own.


    There was a w in her character—she tended to go along with the current. She so wished to prevent the copse of her hard-earned, content family.


    She couldn’t bring herself to say she loved him because, deep down, she wasn’t sure she did. But she couldn’t say she didn’t love him either, fearing it could drive him away.


    Even Joelle wasn’t fully aware that she was using her body as a means to keep him close.


    In this situation, Rafael felt like Joelle’s feelings for him were more rooted in gratitude than genuine love. “Joelle, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”


    “Go ahead.”


    “It’s about Irene’s funeral. I n to attend with the Romero family.”


    Joelle’s eyes widened in shock as she stepped closer to Rafael.


    “But didn’t we agree? We’re a family, and I wanted to introduce you to everyone.”


    “The children are still too young to be in the public eye. Besides, our presence would only cause a stir at an event that’s meant to mourn Irene, not to focus on us.”


    In truth, Joelle wanted this opportunity to make it known to everyone that Rafael was the father of her children.


    Katherine was right—Rafael couldn’t continue caring for her children without having some recognition. Joelle wanted to make his role official.


    “Rafael, I really hope you’lle with me.”


    But Rafael shook his head. “Trust me on this one.” He reached out and gently touched Joelle’s head. “You should get some rest too.”


    That night, Joelle tossed and turned, sleep eluding her. The next morning, as she fed the two children, the doorbell rang unexpectedly.


    Joelle had only just returned from abroad, and apart from Katherine, no one knew where they lived. And Katherine wouldn’t visit this early.


    When Joelle opened the door, she was surprised to see the man standing outside. It was Adrian’s assistant. Joelle’s expression hardened. “What do you want?”


    The assistant offered a polite smile. “Mr. Miller asked me to bring some wee gifts for the children.”


    “No, thank you. He saw them yesterday, and that’s the end of it. The children have nothing to do with him now. If he truly cares, he’ll leave us alone.”


    The assistant quickly wedged his foot in the door before she could close it.


    “Mr. Miller doesn’t intend to disrupt your life. He’s been worried about his child for the past three years. He just wants to see the child. Please, try to understand him as—”


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