?<strong>Chapter 223:</strong>


    Joelle ascended the staircase, her legs pressing firmly against the railing. Suddenly, her survival instincts kicked in. A strong wind swept through, causing Joelle to wobble and nearly topple from the stairs. The person behind her quickly escaped, with the metal rooftop door squeaking loudly as he fled. Joelle immediately gave chase, but after descending several steps, she paused, driven by caution. What if the person was not alone? This concern made Joelle proceed more carefully with each subsequent step.


    Upon returning to her hospital room, she was surprised to find someone already there. It wasn’t the person she was hoping to see, but his presence nheless soothed her. Adrian looked concerned. “Why aren’t you resting? Where have you been?”


    Joelle exined the entire ordeal. At that moment, her pride was the least of her concerns; she was dealing with a life-or-death situation. Was pride more important than staying alive?


    After listening to her, Adrian left the room abruptly. He came back shortly after. “I’ve arranged for guards around your room. No one unrted will approach you again.”


    Joelley on the bed, staring nkly ahead, her eyes devoid of any light. “Who is trying to hurt me?” Adrian replied nonchntly, “Don’t think too much about it. It’s likely just some folks stirred up by the online mob.”


    Joelle tried to focus on his face, wanting to say more but holding back. Without concrete proof, she felt she couldn’t share her suspicions with Adrian. “Did youe to visit me?” Adrian had indeede to see her, but her direct question made him hesitant to confess. “You’re thinking too much.”


    Joelle was unfazed by his response. She shut her eyes and turned away from him. “You may go now.”


    Adrian scoffed, “So, you’re actually going through with the wedding? You’ve definitely be bolder.” Feeling drained, Joelle braced herself to endure. Just a little longer, she thought, and everything would settle down.


    However, Adrian showed no signs of departing. “When do you n to give me back my daughter?” Joelle realized then that retreating would not resolve anything. “Adrian, get out. I can’t bear to look at you!”


    “Do you think I want to be here?” He roughly pulled the nket from her. d in her hospital gown, Joelle felt an immediate chill and a deep vulnerability wash over her. Adrian forcefully grabbed her wrists, pressing them against the headboard. “It doesn’t matter to me whom you marry or who you have children with, but if you try to take my daughter away, you’ll have to deal with me every day!”


    Joelle thrashed her legs, and Adrian climbed onto the bed, straddling her. Caught between humiliation and rage, Joelle was about to shout for help when he predicted her actions and sealed her lips with his. She writhed and struggled beneath him.


    gα?ησν????s, the ce for amazing tales


    Adrian’s expression grew intense. “Don’t provoke me.” Frozen with fear, Joelle stopped moving, tears starting to form. He was silent for a moment, his longing clear. He leaned closer, and as Joelle defiantly turned her head, Adrian gently nibbled on her earlobe. “Have you forgotten what it’s like to be with me after all this time with Rafael?”


    He restrained her wrists with one hand and began to unbutton her gown with the other. As Joelle’s tears began to flow, Adrian hesitated. “Why are you crying? You were bold enough to drug me once, and now you’re acting all innocent?”


    Joelle regained herposure quickly. “Adrian, I appreciate this. You’ve shown me that sometimes, true feelings aren’t reciprocated. And thanks to you, I’ve lost my trust in others and my belief in love! Thanks for turning my life into a joke!”


    Adrian’s lust faded, his throat constricted, and his expression darkened. “You deserve it.”


    After uttering those words, Adrian recognized the harshness of his tone. With a bitterugh, Joelle responded, “Yes, I had iting. My greatest error was getting involved with you! Now, the mere thought disgusts me!”


    This time, Adrian didn’t react with anger. Instead, he looked steadily into Joelle’s eyes. “Do you understand why I despise being drugged?” Joelle remained silent, her eyes wary.


    “When I first took control of the Miller family, my uncle had many attempts made on my life. The worst was when he drugged me. That’s when I lost two of the most important people to me: Reba’s father and eldest brother. They died protecting me. You should have realized the gravity of your actions from the day you drugged me!”


    Joelle finally grasped why Adrian had always stood by the Lloyd family. With the Lloyd family’s key figures gone,bined with Salome’s poor health, Erick’s unruly behavior, and Reba’s serious illness, their dependence on Adrian was inevitable.


    Perhaps during the time he cared for Reba, their feelings for each other grew. Yet, it was Joelle who suffered. Joelle faced his somber eyes. “Adrian, I’ll say this onest time. I wasn’t the one who drugged you. Do you believe me?”


    .


    .


    .