?<strong>Chapter 198:</strong>


    Adrian’s behavior was nothing short of degrading. Joelle’s cheeks burned with both humiliation and rage, but the memory of past intimacies made her body respond despite herself. Three years had not dulled her basic needs. Justst night, she had approached Rafael, her longing sharpened by prolonged neglect.


    Adrian’s touch oscited between tenderness and aggression, pushing her to the edge of sanity. The curtains fluttered open, revealing nothing but the dense forest beyond—her only shield from prying eyes in this vulnerable moment.


    His free hand wandered higher, caressing her corbone, then ascended further, encircling her neck in a firm grasp. The pressure was a bitter reminder of their passionate, painful past before marriage—how closely pleasure and pain could intertwine.


    His grip tightened, and through clenched teeth, Adrian seethed, “Three years, Joelle. For three years, I’ve searched for you. Do you know how often I’ve thought of strangling you?”


    Her eyes flew open to meet his intense, bloodshot stare. The animosity in his eyes was palpable. “How could you let my daughter call another man Dad? How could you, Joelle?”


    In a swift motion, he pushed her away. Gasping and clutching her throat, Joelle staggered between overwhelming sensations of ecstasy and agony. Adrian stood frostily, his dark eyes ominous. “Hear me out. I will reim my daughter.”


    “Don’t you dare!” Joelle shot back, rising to challenge him. “What im do you have, Adrian Miller? When I was pregnant, you wanted the baby gone. I saved her. What right do you have now to take her from me? If you try, I swear, it’ll be over my dead body!”


    With a sneer, Adrian retorted, “There’s always another way—divorce Rafael, return with my daughter, and I wouldn’t mind taking you back, even if you are secondhand.”


    The term “second-hand woman” cut through her, cold and demeaning. Was that all she was to him—a usedmodity? In a sh of defiance, Joelle’s hand flew up and struck him across the face. Adrian made no move to evade the blow, epting it as a debt owed. Throughout, Joelle’s face remained stoic, masking the storm within.


    “Do you really think I’m the same woman you used to manipte? Adrian, before I came back here, I prepared for everything, including your attempt to take our daughter. Let me be clear; that will never happen. I anticipated this move two years ago. Do you want Aurora to know her father as someone who doesn’t care, or would you rather she remain happily unaware of who you really are? Think carefully about whether your actions are truly out of love for her before you try to take her from me!”


    With those final words, Joelle turned and left him standing alone.


    Shortly thereafter, Adrian’s phone rang with an urgent update from Pa. “Adrian, you need to hear this—there’s an unknown woman at your ex-wife’s ce, and the kids could be at risk!”


    Given his openness about his past, Adrian wasn’t shocked by Pa’s discovery, but he took her warning seriously, knowing she wouldn’t fabricate such a im. After ending the call, he made his way to Joelle’s house posthaste.


    Meanwhile, Gina, sensing the urgency, prepared to call Joelle. “Gina.” Aurora tugged at her sleeve, her big eyes blinking. “Mommy’s busy with a very important meeting today. Maybe we shouldn’t disturb her.”


    “But what should we do?”


    Aurora blinked, her ingenuity shining through. “I have an idea.” She raised her wrist, disying the smartwatch.


    Gina’s eyes widened in surprise. “Did you call the police?” Aurora nodded assertively. “Her actions count as trespassing, don’t they?”


    Meanwhile, oblivious to the unfolding scheme, Pa embellished her narrative over the phone, while Gina and Aurora shared conspiratorial grins, eager to witness Pa’s reaction to the impending chaos.


    As Adrian and the police arrived simultaneously, Aurora burst into tears and dashed towards them. Adrian’s heart melted, expecting his daughter to seekfort in his arms. However, she brushed past him, rushing into the weing embrace of a police officer instead. Adrian’s expression turned grim as he realized his own daughter viewed him as a stranger.


    “Officer, I’m terrified!” Aurora cried out. “That woman forced her way in and made me serve her water. My little brother and Gina were here, but what if they hadn’t been?”


    The officer, moved by her plea, scooped Aurora into his arms to console her. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’m here to protect you.” Aurora, tears still streaming down her face, pointed usingly at Pa. “Then please, officer, you have to arrest her!”


    It was only at this moment that Pa grasped the gravity of her predicament. She protested vehemently, “I haven’t done anything wrong! This child is manipting the story. She’s lying!”


    The officer, maintaining his neutrality, turned to Pa. “Is this your residence?”


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