?<strong>Chapter 247:</strong>


    It was all a big misunderstanding.


    How absurd.


    It was simply a misunderstanding.


    While Joelle was grateful that Belle had nned to gift her an exquisite jade bracelet, she was also upset about the unfair p she received in front of Aurora and Rnd.


    The children had just calmed down, a hint of fear still evident in their eyes.


    It was damaging for adults to have conflicts. Even a brief argument could leave asting impact on a child’s mind. Sometimes adults might forget, but children often remember.


    Now, Joelle had been pped, yet Liza’sments suggested she should downy the incident as if further objections would reveal herck of grace.


    Liza recognized Joelle’s pain and apologized repeatedly. “Joelle, I’m really sorry. This mess is all my fault.” Logically, Joelle understood she needed to stayposed for Rafael’s sake, to keep him from being caught in family tensions.


    But Rafael came to her defense, saying, “If it’s just a misunderstanding, then Mom should apologize to Joelle.”


    “What?” Liza was shocked. “You want Mom to apologize to her? You know how Mom is!”


    Rafael stood his ground and replied, “She pped someone. Shouldn’t she apologize?”


    “But…” Liza thought it unrealistic to expect their mother to apologize.


    After a moment’s hesitation, Liza reached out and took Joelle’s arm. “Joelle, this is really my fault. Would my apology be enough? Mom’s temper is such that she probably won’t apologize. I take full responsibility. Sorry! I’m so sorry!”


    Her plea pulled Humphrey from his study.


    g α? ησ ν?? ?s takes you away


    Humphrey naturally took Liza’s side, making the already tense atmosphere even heavier.


    “What’s going on?”


    Liza tearfully recounted her mishandling of the situation. “Dad, it was really an ident. If Mom hadn’t misunderstood, she wouldn’t have hit Joelle. It’s all my fault!”


    Rafael said firmly, “I’ve said it before, Mom was wrong to hit her. Since it was a misunderstanding, what’s wrong with apologizing to Joelle?”


    “Enough!” Humphrey interrupted sharply.


    And Joelle realized that receiving an apology from Belle was unlikely.


    As expected, Humphrey turned his questions sharply towards Rafael. “Your mother carried you for ten months, and she didn’t raise you to defend an outsider against her!”


    “Outsider?” Rafael was visibly upset—more than Joelle had ever seen him. He hadn’t ever fought this vehemently before. “Dad, Joelle isn’t an outsider! She’s my wife! The mother of my children! Defending her is no different than how you’d defend Mom. If Mom was wronged today, wouldn’t you stand up for her?”


    Rafael’s words stunned Joelle. She thought that even if she couldn’t get justice, having Rafael’s support was enough for her.


    “Rafael, let’s just leave.”


    “No!” Rafael held her hand tightly, facing down Humphrey. “Dad, if you don’t make Mom apologize today, then I will never return to this house.”


    Liza became frantic and responded, “Rafael, what are you saying? Don’t you care about this family anymore?”


    “This house doesn’t feel like the one I remember. I don’t know how it came to this, but if you all can’t ept Joelle, then I have no choice but to distance myself.”


    Rafael knelt to pick up Aurora, still holding Joelle’s hand. Joelle, meanwhile, cradled Rnd in her arms. Together, the family of four stood as one.


    As Joelle was still trying to grasp the situation, Rafael said, “Let’s go home.”


    “Okay.”


    Humphrey then said, “For a woman and two kids who aren’t even your blood, you’d turn your back on your parents and sister? If you’re this disloyal, then you are no longer my son!”


    “Dad!” Liza attempted to intervene but was stopped by Humphrey’s severe look.


    Rafael paused, visibly hurt, but he did not look back as he guided his family away.


    The ride home was quiet.


    From the back seat, Aurora said with displeasure, “Daddy, Mommy, I don’t want to visit Grandma and Grandpa anymore. Grandpa was mean to Daddy. I don’t like him anymore.”


    Rnd added, “Don’t like Grandpa!”


    Joelle turned around and spoke firmly. “Aurora, Rnd, you shouldn’t speak ill of your grandpa.”


    Rafael, driving, responded soothingly, “It’s okay if they feel that way. We won’t have to see them anymore.” At that moment, the sting from the p Joelle had received was fading, but the deeper hurt was seeing Rafael torn between his family and her.


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