?<strong>Chapter 216:</strong>


    After finalizing the purchase contract, Adrian departed with a triumphant air.


    Joelle copsed into her chair, overwhelmed by a mixture of relief and exhaustion. She resented having to rely on her ex-husband during tough times. The thought of him potentially trying to take their child away gnawed at her; it felt like he had found her vulnerability.


    “Joelle, your phone rang earlier. I answered it for you. It was Rafael calling.”


    Joelle and Adrian had kept their marriage under wraps. She now understood that if a man chose to hide their rtionship, perhaps hismitment wasn’t as profound as it should be. In contrast, her rtionship with Rafael was known to everyone, unlike her secretive marriage.


    “Okay.”


    After adjusting her hair and checking the time, Joelle knew it was time to head home.


    Rafael quickly picked up on her good mood. “Did you manage to resolve everything?”


    With a nod, Joelle said, “Yes, finally, it’s all settled!” She walked past Rafael, oblivious to his apparent annoyance.


    “Did you meet anyone else today?”


    Joelle shrugged off his question. “No.”


    “Are you sure?”


    “Yes.”


    Joelle considered revealing her meeting with Adrian to Rafael but feared he might read too much into it. Ultimately, she chose to keep it to herself. She now focused solely on taking good care of her family.


    After a pause, Rafael said, “I need to take care of something tonight. I’m heading back to my parents’ ce.”


    “What?” Joelle’s face fell. “My brother is returning from overseas tonight.”


    Rafael remained silent and departed without another word.


    That evening, the children joyously rushed toward Shawn. “Uncle Shawn!”


    “Aurora, Rnd!”


    He had brought presents for both children, filling the home with more energy than usual.


    While Joelle was preupied in the kitchen, she paused to shout to Shawn, “Shawn, could you please call Kathy and ask her toe over?”


    A subtle smirk crossed Shawn’s face. “Do we really need to?”


    Held in someone’s arms, Aurora yelled, “I want Kathy toe too!”


    With no other option, Shawn begrudgingly made the call to Katherine.


    “Hello? Shawn, what’s going on?”


    “I’ve just arrived back home. Joelle is hoping you can join us for dinner.”


    “Sorry, I can’t tonight. Bobby and I are off to see a movie.” Upon hearing Bobby’s name, Shawn experienced an ufortable twinge and preferred to keep the conversation short.


    “Alright then, enjoy your movie night.”


    Oblivious to his mood, Katherine responded, “Okay, say hi to the kids for me.”


    Shawn ended the call and settled into the living room, his mood turning somber. He harbored a lingering emptiness from the time his online rtionship with Katherine had ended years ago. Shawn, buried under the demands of work and family, rarely found time for his personal life. Connecting deeply with someone was unexpected, especially with Katherine.


    Since their separation three years ago, Shawn returned to his routine lifestyle, which nowcked its previous spark of joy.


    “Shawn?” Joelle’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.


    “Where’s Rafael?”


    “He went back to his parents’.”


    Pausing, Shawn faced her. “You two didn’t have an argument, did you?”


    “No.” Joelle’s smile was bright. “We’re doing great!”


    Relieved, Shawn finally took a seat. “Rafael looks out for you well, but make sure you’re attentive to his feelings too.”


    “Got it,” Joelle responded casually, but she took his words to heart.


    After the evening meal, as the children dozed off next to her, she feltpelled to check on Rafael. She was determined not to merely receive Rafael’s affections without reciprocation. Caring for Rafael was crucial to their rtionship’s health.


    As the phone connected, she heard a voice. “Hello?” It wasn’t Rafael’s voice. Although it was a man’s voice, Joelle couldn’t recognize who it was.


    “Hello, I’m trying to reach Rafael.”


    “Rafael? You mean the owner of this phone? He drank too much and is out vomiting. I’ll tell him to call you back once he’s here.”


    Rafael drank too much? Joelle was puzzled. Hadn’t Rafael said he was dealing with family issues? That was why he hurried back to his parents’.


    “Could you tell me where you are right now?”


    “Flex Club.”


    Rafael was out drinking? It never crossed Joelle’s mind that Rafael might deceive her. Herst marriage had crumbled under simr strains.


    “Please look after him, and don’t bother calling back.”


    After ending the call, Joelle sat on her bed, lost in thought for a long while. The thought of being misled was unbearable. She struggled toprehend why Rafael, ever so gentle, would fabricate such a story. Initially furious, her anger softened as she spected that Rafael might have had his reasons.


    In a sudden decision, she flung back the covers and knocked on Shawn’s door. “Shawn, can you keep an eye on the kids for a bit? I need to go get Rafael!”


    Without even changing her outfit, she drove directly to Flex Club. Though the night was shrouded in fog, her determination was unwavering. She realized her mistake. She had been the one to lie to Rafael initially.


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