?<strong>Chapter 210:</strong>


    Joelle leaned against the door. “Adrian, stop disrupting our lives. You’re embarrassing yourself.”


    “Hand over my daughter, and I’ll leave you alone.”


    “You don’t have a daughter here!”


    Joelle nced back; Rafael might step out to investigate at any moment. With no other options, she decided to confront Adrian outside.


    “Just go,” she urged.


    However, Adrian held his position. “Joelle, you must be overjoyed to be with your childhood crush, right? Must feel wonderful, doesn’t it?”


    Joelle frowned. “What are you implying?”


    Adrian’s smile was a mix of sly charm, detached coolness, and a hint of pain. “If you wanted Rafael all along, why did you trick me? Why bear my child? You’ve just been toying with me all these years.”


    Joelle’splexion turned ashen. The man she once loved had left her deeply hurt, both emotionally and physically. She had spent nights agonizing over Adrian’s neglect, restless and anxious. But now, she had moved on from Adrian.


    “Adrian, during our three years together, I genuinely tried to make our marriage work. But now, I am focused on building a good life with Rafael.”


    Adrian stood beneath a streetlight, the cool night air mingling with the stench of alcohol around him. He moved closer to Joelle, his toneden with mockery. “Ha, keep dreaming!”


    Joelle’s patience was running thin. “Adrian, what do you really want?”


    “Give me my daughter! She’s all I have left!”


    “In your dreams!”


    “Fine.” Adrian scoffed, smelling strongly of alcohol. “And don’t even think about marrying Rafael.”


    He gripped her hand with his drunken strength, overpowering her easily. Joelle struggled but could only manage to pound on his chest. The noise was hardly noticeable; next to Adrian, Joelle seemed as fragile as an egg against a rock.


    With a quick yank, her back mmed against the wall, and his hand clutched the back of her head. Suddenly, her gaze shifted from Adrian’s intense face to the bugs circling the light overhead.


    “Ugh! Adrian!”


    The wind chilled her, and a sharp sting bit into her neck. Adrian observed his actions with a smug smile. “Now you bear my mark. I doubt Rafael will overlook that.” Joelle felt the spot where the pain originated, suddenly aware of what he had done.


    “Adrian Miller! How much more do you intend to ruin my life?”


    He grabbed her chin firmly. “Joelle, you were the one who decided to cross paths with me, remember?”


    “I regret it.”


    “What did you say?”


    Joelle’s voice wavered with emotion, heavy with usation. “I regret it! I will never let you take my daughter, and you won’t destroy my family!”


    She shoved Adrian off and staggered back into the house. Secured behind the door, she clutched at her neck, trying to muffle her cries. Yet as she stood there, tears streamed down her face.


    Pa returned home with hertest shopping spree and began trying on each new piece in front of the mirror. Shortly after, her food delivery arrived. She answered the door fully dressed in designer clothes. The delivery man, cap pulled down over his eyes, gave her a sharp look.


    “What are you staring at? Look at yourself, so poorly dressed!”


    No sooner had she spoken than the delivery man whipped out a gleaming knife, pressing it against her neck. He covered her mouth and pushed his way inside before Pa could react.


    “Amara Miller wants you to keep your distance from her son! Otherwise, you’re putting your life at risk. Do you understand?”


    Terrified, Pa nodded quickly.


    Once the man departed, Pa scrambled for her phone to call the police, but Reba’s call came through just then.


    “What’s going on, Pa? Didn’t I warn you that Amara wouldn’t let this slide?”


    “It’s you!” Pa yelled. “I hold no resentment towards you. Why are you targeting me?”


    “This is merely a warning,” Reba replied coldly. “You joined this game toote, and now that you’re involved, there’s no easy way out. Pa, if I had wanted you dead, you wouldn’t be here now.”


    Pa took a deep breath, weighing her options rapidly. “What exactly do you expect me to do?”


    “Starting to understand your situation?”


    Fearing further consequences, Pa chose not to argue. A few dayster, the mark on Joelle’s neck had faded enough that she didn’t feel the need to conceal it from Rafael.


    She headed to her recently renovated studio. Seven years ago, after a hand injury, Shawn had financed a handmade violin studio for her. A year after her marriage, Joelle’s studio had remained unused. Now that she had returned, her primary focus was breathing new life into the studio.


    Joelle could recognize an excellent violin, yet she had to learn the art of crafting them from scratch. Consequently, Shawn generously funded the hiring of experts to teach her.


    Joelle’s studio had created numerous violins for their superior sound quality and ergonomic design. As her violin-ying videos gained poprity online, Joelle continually promoted her studio. Today, the studio attracted far more visitors than usual.


    “Joelle, there’s somemotion outside!”


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