?<strong>Chapter 265:</strong>


    Rafael trailed behind Shawn as they made their way back home. Belle copsed onto the sofa, her hands gripping her temples. They had managed to save the house, but it still felt like everything was teetering on the edge of a cliff. With the future so unclear, all she could do was shake her head and release a weary sigh.


    “Mom, are you seriously going to let Rafael go like that?” Liza asked.


    “What choice do I have, Liza? Who would’ve thought Shawn could pull together that much money? Now that we’re in debt to him, if I keep pressing for a divorce, won’t we look like the most ungrateful people on earth?”


    Liza dropped her gaze to the floor, one hand resting on her belly. “I told you from the start that n wouldn’t work. Now Rafael won’t even look at me, let alone stay because of the baby.” Her voice cracked, and a few tears slipped down her cheeks.


    “Liza, don’t worry.” Belle pulled Liza down to sit beside her. “Just give Rafael some time. Things will get better. You just need to focus on the baby, okay? I promise you, Rafael wille around. He’ll marry you, and you’ll have that dream wedding you’ve always wanted.”


    Liza sniffled, looking up at her mother with wide, trusting eyes. “Okay, Mom. Thanks.”


    Meanwhile, Shawn was behind the wheel, and Rafael sat in the passenger seat. Although they had already said more than enough, Rafael couldn’t shake the feeling that a simple “thank you” was still owed.


    “Thanks.”


    Shawn shot him a nce but kept his focus on the road. “Don’t worry about it. It’s just money. As long as we’re still standing, we can always figure out a way to get back on our feet.”


    Shawn’s words could have seemed like emptyfort to some, but they were rooted in experience. After his parents’ idents, the entire weight of the family had fallen squarely on his shoulders. In those darkest days, he’d even had to rely on his sister’s marriage just to keep their heads above water.


    There were countless moments when he thought no matter how hard he fought, life was set to remain unchanged. Yet, somehow, he and Joelle had weathered that storm. His words came from a ce of truth, though whether Rafael fully grasped that was another matter.


    Rafael stared out the window, watching the scenery blur past. After a long silence, he broke down and asked, “Did Adrian reach out to you, or did you go to him first?”


    Shawn’s lips twisted into a wry smile. He understood where Rafael wasing from and the insecurities gnawing at him. “What’s bothering you? Is it me you don’t trust, or Joelle?”


    “That’s not what I meant.”


    Before he could exin, Shawn cut him off. “Look, you haven’t even sorted things out with Liza yet, and you’re already letting jealousy get the better of you. Joelle’s been through hell, just like you. Maybe even worse. If anything was going to happen between her and Adrian, it would’ve happened by now. Trust me, there’s nothing there.”


    Rafael realized how petty he must have sounded and decided to let it go. When they pulled up to the house, they first saw Joelle sitting with the kids, guiding them as they painted. The moment Aurora saw Rafael, she dropped her paintbrush and dashed over to him.


    The joy in her eyes quickly turned to tears as soon as she was in his arms. “Daddy, you’ve been gone forever! Don’t you love me anymore?”


    Joelle nced up, and her heart sank when she saw Rafael. His face was gaunt, dark circles etched under his eyes. His beard was scruffy, and his skin had lost its usual healthy glow.


    Rafael still managed to pull a smile for his daughter, scooping up Rnd as the little one toddled towards him. “Of course I do! It’s on me. From now on, I’m here for good. No more disappearing.”


    That promise didn’t just soothe Aurora; Joelle felt a weight lift off her chest too. She knew Rafael was going through hell, but she was determined to face it right beside him.


    “Rafael, you really need to get some rest. Aurora, Rnd, why don’t you both go y with Shawn? Daddy hasn’t slept in days; let’s give him a break, okay?” The kids, surprisingly understanding, slid off Rafael, each grabbing one of his hands. “Daddy,e on, we’ll help you get to sleep!”


    Their enthusiasm pulled augh from the adults. Rafael allowed himself to be led into the bedroom, where Aurora drew the curtains and grabbed two storybooks. Rnd, sensing a chance for a free bedtime story, snuggled under the covers without protest.


    No matter how bone-tired Rafael was, watching his kids made the exhaustion feel distant, almost irrelevant. Aurora instructed him, “Daddy, you sleep, and I’ll tell you a story.”


    Rafael smiled and tousled her hair. “Alright, sweetheart.” Aurora, however, wasn’t quite a master storyteller yet; she stumbled through the words, her voice a mix of mumbles and stutters.


    Eventually, Joelle stepped in and coaxed the two kids out of the room. “It’s over now, Rafael. You can let go. Get some sleep.” Before leaving, Joelle bent down to kiss Rafael on the forehead.


    But just as she turned to leave, Rafael caught her wrist, his grip gentle but firm. “Stay with me a little longer, Joelle.”


    Her heart softened. “Alright.” She slid into bed beside him. It had been far too long since they’d had a quiet moment together. Rafael wrapped her up in his arms.


    “Joelle, thank you.”


    “For what?”


    “For giving me this home. For your brother helping with the money.”


    Joelle sighed and cradled his tired face in her hands. “Rafael, we’re family. This is what we do. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more when your dad passed, but you have to know you’re not alone. If it ever feels too much, you always have Aurora, Rnd, and me.”


    Tears brimmed in Rafael’s eyes, his emotions threatening to spill over. Not wanting Joelle to see him break, he cupped the back of her head and kissed her, deeply and desperately.


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