?<strong>Chapter 250:</strong>


    “Liza!” Belle gripped Liza’s hand anxiously. “Do you think Joelle’s still in contact with Adrian? Could Rafael have been fooled by her?”


    “How can you even think that, Mom?” Liza smiled. “Joelle and Adrian are ancient history. You’re just overthinking things.”


    But her words did little to soothe Belle, who felt gnawing unease deep in her chest.


    After all, wasn’t it said that an old me never died?


    And these weren’t just random people.


    Joelle and Adrian shared a child, a bond that was woven into the fabric of their lives.


    The more Belle dwelled on it, the more certain she became that a woman who had once been married and had children could not be the best fit for her son. What if Joelle ran off with Adrian one day, rekindling what once was? Where would that leave Rafael?


    “Liza, tell me, did I make a mistake with this marriage?”


    Liza’s face tightened, her silence speaking volumes as she avoided eye contact.


    Finally, she said seriously, “Mom, Dad was already upset that Rafael brought someone else’s children into the family. We’re not even blood rtives with the kids. Why are we bending over backward to raise them?”


    Tears welled up in Belle’s eyes. “I was wrong! I should never have let Joelle into our lives. Look at what she’s done to Rafael!”


    Liza let out a long, weary breath and tucked her mother into bed. “It’s toote to dwell on it now, Mom. What’s done is done. There’s no changing the past.”


    “No!” Belle sat up suddenly, her mind racing. “I can still change this! Joelle isn’t fit to be our daughter-inw! I need to get her out before she destroys everything we’ve built!”


    She grasped Liza’s hand tightly, desperation etched in her features. “You have to help me, Liza!”


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    “Me? How am I supposed to help?” Liza pulled her hand away. “I’m just a divorced woman who had to move back home. I’m no use to anyone.”


    Belle’s face softened in surprise. “Liza, don’t say that!”


    “Alright.” Liza forced a smile, even as tears slipped from her eyes.


    Belle pulled her daughter into a tight embrace. “This is all my fault. I never wanted this for you. I won’t push you into another marriage. Just stay with me, alright?”


    “How can that work? Once Joelle officially bes part of the family, it wouldn’t make sense for me to stay here.”


    “Over my dead body!” Belle snapped. “You’re not going anywhere. This is your home, and I won’t let Joelle take that from you!”


    Belle was quite insistent.


    “There has to be a way to fix this. I’ll figure it out.”


    A few dayster, after much convincing, Liza managed to persuade Rafael, who had been avoiding the family for days, to join them for dinner.


    The meal began in a suffocating silence until Liza decided to break the ice.


    “Rafael, Mom made this dish just for you. You should give it a try.”


    Rafael barely looked up from his te, continuing to eat silently, his anger still simmering beneath the surface.


    Liza nced at her mother, the difort in the room almost unbearable. She ced a portion of the dish onto Rafael’s te.


    “Seriously, Mom was running around the kitchen like crazy when she heard you wereing. The least you can do is taste it.”


    With his te already filled, Rafael couldn’t bring himself to ignore the situation, but before he could dig in, he ced his utensils down and turned to Belle. “Mom, you still haven’t apologized to Joelle for what happenedst time.”


    Bang!


    Humphrey mmed his fork down in exasperation. “Don’t you have any respect for your mother? She’s been bedridden for days because of your mess, and today she’s barely strong enough to cook for you! And this is the thanks she gets? Why drag up old wounds?”


    It was the first time Rafael had heard that Belle had been ill, and anxiety quickly gnawed at him. “Mom, are you okay?”


    “I’m fine.” Belle replied, sniffling, doing her best to keep a cheerful front.


    Rafael’s heart sank, unease tightening in his chest. “Mom…”


    “I said I’m fine!” Belle took a tissue from Liza. “Rafael, I was wrongst time. I do owe Joelle an apology. Stay tonight, and tomorrow, I’ll go with you to make things right.”


    A hint of relief washed over Rafael’s face; the mother he admired was returning to form.


    This was exactly what he had longed for—to see peace between the two people he cared for most.


    “Alright, Mom.”


    Without wasting time, Rafael dialed Joelle, who sounded stunned on the other end of the line. “Belle wants to apologize?”


    “Yes, Joelle! I promised you I wouldn’t let you be mistreated!”


    Joelle could hear the excitement in Rafael’s voice. She also didn’t want him caught in the crossfire of her strained rtionship with Belle.


    “Okay, I’ll be home tomorrow and wait for you both.”


    “Okay!”


    “Rafael, have some milk.” Just then, Belle approached. Rafael quickly ended the call.


    Back when he still lived at home, Belle always made sure a warm ss of milk was waiting for him every night, swearing up and down that he’d grown tall because of it. It was one of those rituals that never faded from memory.


    “Mom.” He helped her to sit down. “I’m really d you’re willing to make things right with Joelle. I hate seeing tension between you two.”


    Belle smiled gently, her eyes softening. “I understand, sweetheart. I don’t want to make life harder for you.”


    “Thanks, Mom. And I promise, we’ll visit more often.”


    “That would be wonderful.” Belle then urged Rafael to drink his milk quickly.


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