?<strong>Chapter 219:</strong>


    Businessmen cherish their wealth and are always on the lookout forwful ways to increase it. Shawn’s approach to making money seemed rooted in deceit and taking advantage of Adrian. In the past, he genuinely relied on Adrian’s financial help to get by. But now, he viewed every meeting as a chance to extract profit from Adrian.


    Missing an opportunity to make money is foolish. Adrian fixed his gaze on him, asking, “Do you think I don’t know about thepany you secretly run?” Three years ago, when Joelle vanished and Watson Group went under, Adrian grew suspicious that Shawn might be concealing assets abroad. After extensive investigation, he found out Shawn was not just wealthy, but exceedingly so.


    Leaning on the door frame, Shawn retorted, “My money is just that—mine. If you im Aurora as your daughter, shouldn’t you be somewhat responsible?” The siblings were cut from the same cloth; one sold him faulty overpriced pianos, and the other never passed up a chance to profit.


    Adrian, tired of arguing, recognized that what truly mattered was seeing his daughter. He gave Shawn a brief look and said, “Miller Group has some guaranteed profitable dealsing up. If you’re interested, let’s discuss it another time.”


    Shawn moved aside and said, “Aurora’s in there. Just this once, and try not to wake her.” Inside the bedroom, Aurora slept peacefully, her doll in her arms. Adrian watched her briefly and then carefully tucked her in. He realized his daughter needed a nightlight and her doll to fall asleep.


    He desperately wished for her to wake up and jump into his arms, calling him Dad as she did with Rafael. But that was not to be. Even if Aurora were awake, she’d only call him Mr. Miller. His own child, bearing his likeness, had to call another man Dad, and his presence felt like an intrusion. This felt terribly wrong.


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    “You’ve seen her; now you should go,” Shawn said. Adrian stood still. “Do you think Aurora will ever see me as her father?”


    Shawn said inly, “You have to ept the reality. Caring for babies isn’t easy. Joelle had to wake up multiple times at night to feed her; she quickly lost weight within six months, and her hair started falling out in patches. Later, it was Rafael who was constantly by her side, supporting her through it all.”


    Adrian listened quietly to these seemingly minor details. “Rafael was there when Aurora was born and has been present for every significant moment of her life. Emotionally, Rafael has contributed as much as you might have, and arguably, he’s done it better.” Adrian had to acknowledge that fact.


    “If the child were with me, I could raise her too. After all, Aurora is my daughter.”


    “Yes, maybe a child being with her real father is the ideal scenario,” Shawn said casually. “So, who do we me for everything that’s happened?”


    Reflecting on the past only aggravated Adrian, prompting him to let it go. He then decided to leave.


    Shawn called out, “Adrian, did it ever ur to you that Joelle was a victim in the drug incident too?”


    Adrian halted in his tracks. That thought had never crossed his mind. He had always assumed that Watson Group was in trouble and that Joelle had married him to gain a powerful ally. The one thing he despised most was the drugging incident. Waking up to find Joelle beside him, he had not suspected a thing.


    “Why didn’t you say this earlier?” Adrian asked. Shawn shrugged and said, “Joelle tried to tell you many times, but you never took her word for it.” In truth, Adrian still didn’t believe it.


    “If she was truly a victim, why would she have stayed married to me for three years? If she really suffered, why would she fulfill the role of a full-time wife during that time?”


    Shawn remained silent. With a scoff, Adrian walked away.


    News of Joelle’s car ident quickly circted. Shawn urged Joelle to take proper rest in the hospital while he looked after the children.


    “I wonder if Aurora and Rnd are missing me?” Joelle sighed as she adjusted herself in the bed.


    Rafael handed her a ss of water, saying, “They’d probably cry if they saw their mom all bandaged up like a mummy.”


    “True,” Joelle admitted,cking energy. “Aurora would be really upset to see me like this.”


    “It’s alright,” Rafael reassured her, gently patting her head. “I’m here now. Just focus on recovering, and we’ll see them soon.”


    “Okay.”


    Many friends and rtives visited Joelle during her hospital stay. When Katherine learned of the ident, she hurried to the hospital, scolding through tears. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack? Couldn’t you have been more careful while driving?”


    Joelle yfully stuck out her tongue, ncing at Rafael. “It was all in the name of love.”


    “Ahem!” Rafael blushed. “My mom and sister will be here soon. I should go meet them at the entrance.”


    Katherine settled into a chair next to Joelle’s bed. “Things seem to be moving fast between you and Rafael. You’re meeting his family already?”


    Joelle simply smiled, unsure of what to say.


    “Well, some people are happy and some are worried!” Katherine said. “I’ve had terrible luck these past few days. My scheduled clients all canceled. It’s like I worked for nothing in the first half of the year, and now there’s no ie for thetter half either.”


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