?<strong>Chapter 230:</strong>


    “Fake my ass!”


    The sound of a crisp p echoed through the room. Then another and another. Pa’s hand struck Reba’s face three times, leaving both her cheeks red and swollen.


    “Mr. Miller, I’ve recorded everything,” Pa announced, pulling out her phone. She had prepared the recording long ago but had never had the opportunity to use it against Reba before.


    After hearing the yback, Reba was left defenseless, her options exhausted. She turned to Adrian, desperate for salvation. “Adie! I wasn’t thinking straight because my love for you blinded me. I was wrong!”


    Adrian remained silent throughout the confrontation. Joelle, understanding him better than anyone, knew that his silence wasn’t indifference. If it were, he would have at least made some sarcastic remark. His quiet was a sign of profound disappointment.


    She decided it was time to intervene. “With witnesses and this recording, it seems I don’t need to ask any further questions. Right?”


    Upon hearing Joelle’s voice, Reba shot her a venomous look. Joelle met her gaze steadily, unflinching. “Do you really hate me that much?”


    “Joelle,” Reba began, “you stole everything that was mine. Do you understand the gravity of that?” Adrian narrowed his eyes. Reba was steadily altering his view of her.


    Joelleughed lightly. “I stole your things? Reba, do you really think I would stoop topete with you?”


    “You’re a liar!” Reba’s expression contorted into a bizarre, frenzied grin. “You couldn’t stand seeing me with Adie. It was driving you mad!”


    “I think you’re the one losing touch with reality.” Joelle leaned back casually, crossing her legs and flicking her toe dismissively towards Reba. “If you’re sopetent, why is the man you obsess over sitting next—”


    “Go to hell!” Reba, ovee with rage, lunged forward. “Go to hell, bitch!”


    Pa grabbed Reba by the hair, ready to prove her allegiance. “Ms. Watson, let me handle her. I owe it to both of us!” She was notcking inbat skills after her ordeal.


    “Just make sure she lives. She must face justice in prison.” Joelle stood up, prepared to leave.


    Behind her, Reba cried out desperately, “Adie, please, for the memory of myte father and brother… save me!” Joelle paused, curious about Adrian’s response.


    Adrian sighed deeply, took a moment, then spoke with finality. “Reba, take Salome and leave Illerith. Don’t ever return.”


    Joelle left with a mocking smile, not bothering to look back.


    Michael observed her departure, concern etching his features. “Adrian, you should go after Joelle. She seems upset.”


    It was only then that Adrian snapped to attention. Disregarding Reba’s attempts to hold him back, he quickly followed Joelle.


    Just as the elevator doors were about to close, Adrian thrust his hands between them, prying them open. Joelle looked up at him, her eyes rimmed with red.


    Adrian felt a stab of guilt seeing her distress. “Joelle.”


    “Don’te any closer! Adrian, I can’t stand to look at you right now.” She frantically pressed the elevator button to close the doors, but Adrian blocked the doorway.


    “Please, just listen to me.”


    “There’s nothing left to say.” Joelle’s voice was controlled yet seething as she spoke. “You love Reba, right? No matter her faults, you always protect her. I understand, Adrian—love can blind you. But don’t treat me with such contempt. I nearly died because of her. Do you realize?”


    Adrian reached for her hand. “I told you, Reba’s brother and father sacrificed themselves for me. I owe the Lloyd family. She survived a brain tumor—sparing her life is my debt repayment!”


    Joelle withdrew her hand sharply. “Stop justifying it. Adrian, everyone has their biases, but yours are particrly ring! If I had been the one who killed Reba today, would you have forgiven me as easily?”


    Adrian fell silent, pressing his lips together tightly. Sometimes, silence spoke louder than words.


    Joelle fought to keep herposure. “I’ve never harmed any of you! I’ve done nothing wrong towards you! Adrian, how have you ever reciprocated? You owe Reba, the Lloyd family, even the whole world—but what about me? Don’t you owe me, too? Don’t you feel any guilt when you look at me? Please, just stay away from me!”


    “I’m sorry!” Adrian’s voice broke through as he stepped forward, the elevator doors beginning to close behind him. Joelle was stunned.


    This man, who had always seemed to scorn her and disregarded her feelings, was now apologizing to her. “Joelle, once all this is resolved, I promise to make things right with you and Aurora.”


    “There’s no need,” she retorted, edging back against the elevator wall, her space shrinking around her. “We already have a happy family.”


    Adrian contained his rising frustration. “I am Aurora’s biological father. I am the one who can truly make her happy!”


    The elevator lurched slightly, causing Joelle’s hand to tremble—a residual effect of her emotional turmoil. “You don’t deserve to be her father!”


    As the elevator reached the ground floor, Joelle hurried out, concealing her trembling hand from Adrian’s view and keeping her gaze down the entire time.


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