?<strong>Chapter 229:</strong>


    Adrian halted for a moment, a heavy feeling settling in his chest. He resumedcing his shoes calmly. “I once introduced you to someone. You didn’t approve.” He was talking about Joelle.


    Amara looked at him with a dismissive snort. “Did you ever really care for her? She’s about to be part of the Romero family. You’ve lost your wife, and your daughter considers someone else her father now.” Her words stung Adrian deeply. Yet, he had never really expected motherly affection from her.


    In the dead of night, Joelle received a call from Adrian. After she hung up, he dialed her again. She blocked his number. He switched numbers and sent her a text. “It looks like you’re inviting me to see Aurora.”


    Suddenly, Joelle was wide awake. She yanked the curtains open. As expected, Adrian was there below her window. What a bastard! Luckily, Rafael was with the Romero family tonight, which made her feel more confident in Adrian’s presence.


    She stormed down. “Adrian, if you so much as whisper a word to Aurora, you’ll see what a mother is capable of!”


    “Get in the car.” Adrian swung the car door open. The darkness inside was like an abyss. Joelle sensed the danger and recoiled, but Adrian grabbed her and pushed her into the car.


    “Adrian!” Joelle pounded on the window and tried to open the door with her other hand, but it was locked tight. Adrian climbed in on the other side, fastened his seatbelt, and elerated sharply. “Where are you taking me?” she asked.


    “Aren’t you curious about who’s been undermining you?” At this, Joelle’s panic subsided slightly. She had her suspicions, sure, and she figured she could investigate them herself or seek help from Rafael and Shawn. She was determined not to rely on Adrian, convinced that he would only side with someone else.


    “Any idea who it is?” she asked. Adrian didn’t respond; instead, he took out his phone and made a call. “Meet me in the presidential suite at Sapphire Lodge.”


    “Adie! Atst! You’re ready to see me?” The eagerness in Reba’s voice disgusted Joelle, sparking a sudden rush of anger. Yet, she remained silent, noticing something unusual about Adrian’s demeanor today.


    Upon reaching Sapphire Lodge, Adrian hurried her into the presidential suite. Reba greeted them with joy, running toward Adrian.


    “Stay there,” he demanded.


    Reba’s smile waned as she noticed Joelle. “Adie, what’s this about? You called me here. Why bring Joelle?”


    Adrian grasped Joelle’s wrist and guided her to sit on the sofa. “I need to ask you something.”


    Reba sensed something was wrong. “What is it?” Without responding, Adrian made a call, and shortly after, Michael walked in, pulling a battered Pa along.


    Reba gasped at the sight of Pa, retreating several steps, overwhelmed by guilt. Her initial joy turned to horror as she realized she’d walked into a trap set by Adrian.


    Pa charged at Reba with a fury born of vengeance. No concern for dignity or appearances now—they were meaningless. After enduring brutal treatment, all Pa wanted was for Reba to feel the same agony. “Help! Someone! Help!”


    “Bitch!” Pa yelled as she yanked Reba’s hair and delivered three forceful ps across her face. Pa’s strength seemed supernaturally enhanced by her rage. Her hands might have gone numb from the pping, but that was trivial. She flicked a lighter close to Reba’s face, aiming to singe her eyshes.


    Reba attempted to pull away, but Pa held her hair firmly. “You dared to hurt me? Now it’s your turn!”


    Reba, tearful, turned to Adrian for rescue. “Adie! Help me!”


    Joelle watched Adrian, whose face showed no emotion. “Michael.” At hismand, Michael intervened and separated the two women.


    Reba copsed to the floor, sobbing, her once elegant dress now ruined. Pa, still seething with anger, grabbed an ashtray and hurled it at Reba’s head.


    “You’re crying? Go ahead and cry! No one’sing to save you! You crossed the line with me, Reba Lloyd. You’ll regret it!”


    Reba, clutching her bleeding forehead, felt a wave of dizziness. Pa, not done yet, shook her finger at Reba, seizing her moment for vengeance.


    “Mr. Miller, this woman instructed me to attack Ms. Watson. I hold no ill will against Ms. Watson myself. It was she who coerced me into it!”


    “You’re lying!”


    “Lying about what?”


    “You’re trying to smear my name! I don’t even know who you are!”


    “Stop pretending you don’t remember!”


    Their usations filled the room, voices raised in heated confrontation. Joelle could tell—given that Reba and Pa were at each other’s throats without any prompt from her—their actions were certainly nasty. Yet, she stayed quiet, watching, waiting for Adrian to intervene.


    Reba managed to crawl towards Adrian. “Adie, don’t believe her. I would never do such things!”


    Pa wasn’t finished. She seized Reba’s hair again and dragged her several meters. Despite her frailty from her ordeal, Pa’s strength seemed boundless when it came to confronting Reba. “Drop the act! Do you think I don’t have evidence?”


    Reba was visibly shaken. “Whatever so-called proof you have, it must be fake!”


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