?<strong>Chapter 235:</strong>


    Salome visited the morgue at the police station. Seated in her wheelchair, she wept uncontrobly. “Reba, you were so foolish! I warned you about falling for the wrong person! Why didn’t you listen?” Adrian listened without showing any emotion. He wasn’t naive. The petty schemes of the Lloyd family meant nothing to him.


    He was aware that Erick often exploited his responsibility towards Reba to trick and manipte him. He understood that Salome was leveraging his guilt to ensure a worry-free existence for herself. As long as the Lloyd family adhered to basic principles, he was prepared to cooperate and help them stay afloat. He felt a deep sense of gratitude towards Reba’s eldest brother and father. Moreover, the money was insignificant to him.


    However, he had never suspected that Reba’s illness was a lie and that even Salome’s kindness was merely a pretense.


    When Salome’s tears finally eased, Can approached and presented her with a document. “Mr. Miller has drafted this document. It deres all the financial aid he has given Reba over the years as loans. Now that she has passed, the outstanding amount must be repaid. You are required to work on the farnd Mr. Miller has purchased.”


    Salome was stunned. Shouldn’t Adrian be the onepensating her? Yes, Reba had kidnapped Aurora and caused harm. But could Adrian truly be so harsh with her, considering she was an elderly woman with a disability? And why had the financial aid suddenly been ssified as loans? Adrian had given the money willingly!


    “Adrian…” Salome murmured, her voice breaking as she gripped her handkerchief tightly. “I me myself. After the deaths of Reba’s brother and father, I failed in my duty to guide her properly.”


    She watched Adrian closely, seeking any sign of reaction. When he remained silent, she added, “Her father always spoke highly of you, saying you were a good man who would treat us well in the future.” Can had reached his limit. It was clear that she was guilt-tripping Adrian! Could it be that she had been manipting him all these years? Was she constantly reminding him that he owed a debt because Reba’s brother and father had died for him, just to squeeze more money out of him?


    Yet, since Adrian remained silent, Can felt he must do the same. As Salome concluded, a slight softening appeared on Adrian’s usually stoic face. “Salome, there’s something I need to ask. Did you give Reba those sleeping pills?”


    Salome clenched the armrest of her wheelchair, avoiding eye contact with him. “I often have trouble sleeping, so I keep them with me. Reba took those pills. That’s not my fault!”


    “You’re right. You’re not to me,” Adrian responded coolly. “However, you’ve exhausted any sympathy I had for your family. I will not lend you any more money.” He emphasized the word “lend,” indicating his previous financial support was intended as loans, not gifts. The sheer size of the debt left Salome speechless.


    “I need to ask you something else. Reba imed Joelle took everything that was hers. What did she mean?”


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    “I have no idea!”


    Her face, however, told a different story. Losing his patience, Adrian signaled to Can with a nce. Can got the message and began to crack his knuckles as he moved toward Salome.


    “Alright! I’ll tell you! The one who drugged you back then was not Joelle, but Reba.”


    Shortly thereafter, Joelle watched a news segment announcing that Kendal had been ousted from his position and was now under investigation. At that moment, she was in the living room, engrossed in a game with Rnd and Aurora.


    Gina approached her, saying, “Joelle, Mr. Miller has arrived.”


    Adrian, now wearing a white shirt,cked his usual intense gaze. It seemed the gentle young man she once knew had reappeared.


    “Why are you here?” Joelle was terrified that he might challenge her for Aurora’s custody. Ignoring her, he approached Aurora, knelt down, and held her tiny hand.


    “Are you my Prince Charming?” Aurora asked.


    “No,” Adrian replied with a quiet smile, kissing the back of her hand. “But my love for you surpasses that of any Prince Charming. Always remember that.”


    Joelle felt a sense of crisis. “Adrian! Leave now. You’re not wee here!”


    Adrian turned to her. “How’s your injury?”


    Joelle was taken aback. How did he know she had just nicked her hand while chopping vegetables? “That’s none of your concern!”


    “I was referring to the injury you sustained seven years ago when you saved me from that knife. Does it still cause pain?” He grasped her right wrist.


    Joelle’s pupils dted, and her hand trembled in his grasp. She clenched her hand tightly, attempting to steady it, yet she couldn’t stop the trembling. He observed every expression and gesture she made, from her efforts to hide her condition to her guarded and distant look.


    He felt an overwhelming heaviness in his chest, a suffocating sensation, and a lump in his throat. “Joelle, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”


    He articted each word deliberately, giving weight to his apology. Joelle saw that his eyes were red, yet oddly, she was the one who began to cry first.


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