?<strong>Chapter 251:</strong>


    Rafael finished his ss of milk and set it down in front of Belle.


    Belle picked up the ss and said, “Rest now.” “Okay.”


    Feeling satisfied, Rafael went off to sleep.


    After turning off the lights, Belle left the room with a serious look.


    She hadn’t gone far when she heard some noises of struggleing from inside.


    Quickly, she pulled Liza towards Rafael’s door. “Liza, help me.”


    “Mom, what’s going on?”


    With tears in her eyes and clutching her chest, Belle said, “Liza, I’m truly out of options. I’m so sorry! This is the only way to drive Joelle away and keep you with me forever!”


    Liza became rmed. “Mom, what are you doing?”


    Belle grabbed her hand and whispered, “I put something in Rafael’s milk. I need you to go inside and…”


    Liza’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Mom, have you lost your mind? He’s my brother!”


    “He’s not your blood rtive!” Belle insisted, tightening her grip on Liza’s wrist. “Liza, Rafael is a good man, and he listens to you. Trusting your happiness with him won’t be a mistake.”


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    Liza remained silent.


    She clearly struggled toe to terms with her mother’s n.


    Then Humphrey appeared, walking down the staircase. “Liza, your mother and I have considered this carefully. Your first marriage was a sacrifice for us; it’s time we repaid you.”


    “Dad!”


    “Liza!” Belle held her hands firmly. “Just help us this onest time! It’s for the best for you and Rafael!” With that, Belle opened the door.


    Liza peered inside tentatively. Rafael was twisting in pain in bed.


    With a deep breath and a gentle push from Belle, Liza entered the room.


    “Liza, you’re the only one who can help Rafael now!” Then Belle shut the door behind her.


    No one else was in the room.


    Once alone, Liza’s expression changed as she began to smile subtly, approaching the bed.


    Rafael was in dire need of water, yet his ss was empty.


    His body was burning up.


    Liza gently ced her hand on his chest. “Rafael?”


    Rafael was in such agony he could hardly open his eyes. “Hot…”


    “Are you hurting?” Liza murmured into his ear. “Do you need my help?”


    Rafael, gaining a moment of rity, instinctively pushed Liza away.


    “Who are you?” He was drenched in sweat.


    Cradling Rafael’s feverish hand against her chest, Liza whispered, “Rafael, it’s me, Joelle.”


    “Joelle?”


    “Yes.”


    Rafael’s eyes flickered open, and he saw Joelle before him. He kissed her, calling out Joelle’s name fervently all night.


    Afterward, Liza left Rafael’s room with tear-filled eyes and fastened her clothes.


    Belle and Humphrey couldn’t resist asking, “How did it go?”


    “Dad, Mom, Rafael will be furious with us when he wakes up.”


    Belle was determined. “He won’t find out. I’ll ensure it until everything is sorted between you two.”


    The following day, Rafael woke up feeling like he had spent hours in a hot spring.


    He was neatly dressed, and the room was tidy. Had the passionate events ofst night been merely a dream?


    Belle came in with breakfast. “Rafael.”


    “Mom, did someonee into my roomst night?”


    “No. Were you dreaming? Come eat; I still need to apologize to Joelle.”


    “Okay.”


    Rafael rose from his bed without doubts and returned to living with Joelle. Belle and Joelle acted as if nothing unusual had urred.


    After Belle left, Rafael embraced Joelle with relief.


    “I promised Mom I’d visit more often.”


    “Okay,” Joelle responded warmly. “They’re still your family, after all.”


    A few dayster, Joelle and Rafael took their kids to a movie and unexpectedly bumped into someone.


    Katie, walking arm in arm with Tristan, was surprised to see Joelle, and even more so to see the two children with her.


    “This girl belongs to my cousin, and this little boy is…” Katie’s words seemed calcted, especially in front of the children. Joelle was annoyed.


    “These two children are both mine and Rafael’s. Please remember that and choose your words carefully, or I’ll have to be less gracious.”


    Katie was taken aback.


    The girl looked unmistakably like Adrian.


    And upon taking a closer look at the boy, she suddenly stopped short.


    “Wait! Joelle, are you saying this boy is yours and Rafael’s?”


    Joelle, her face void of emotion, affirmed, “Yes. Is there an issue?”


    “Are you sure?” Katie appearedpletely astonished. Joelle kept herposure. “He’s my child; of course, I’m sure.”


    After they walked away, Tristan expressed his bafflement. “What was that about? Was there something unusual about the boy?”


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