?<strong>Chapter 280:</strong>


    Joelle was stunned. “What?” Jackie had been a constant in her and Shawn’s lives since their childhood.


    “Joelle!” Adrian’s eyes widened as he noticed Joelle’s right hand shaking uncontrobly. She clutched her wrist, trying to still the tremor.


    “I’m fine,” Joelle said, striving forposure. Despite the shaking, her face gradually set into a determined expression, drawing on a deep inner strength. “Let’s go.”


    Adrian sped her hand and then noticed the faint scar across her right palm—a thin, pink line that was almost invisible. That was the scar from when she had taken a knife for him. Her hand was now trembling, likely a remnant of that old injury. Adrian felt a tightness in his chest just thinking about it. He owed Joelle more than he could ever express.


    As the car stopped by the river, there was talk that a body had been found in the water, fitting Jackie’s description. Shawn had gone to confirm it. And it was indeed Jackie. The frail, stooped figure of the old man looked even more pitiful and fragile after hours in the water.


    “Jackie!” Joelle struggled through the muddy riverbank, almost losing her footing, but her focus was unwavering. The police intervened. “Please don’t disturb the scene.”


    “Jackie!” Joelle’s tears obscured her view. “Jackie!” She reached out, but her hand closed on nothing but air. Just hours earlier, he had been with her in the car, talking about life and parenting, momentarily filling the paternal void she had always felt. But now he was gone, lifeless before her. “Jackie!”


    Shawn hugged her tightly. He then looked over at Adrian. “Adrian, can you stay with Joelle for a bit? I need to talk to the police and handle some things.”


    “Sure.”


    Joelle’s gaze didn’t waver from Jackie. Hey motionless, his eyes shut, as they zipped him into a body bag. Her vision blurred as the zipper closed, sealing the fact that Jackie would never again see the sky—the sky that was so vividly blue, so clear today. It should have been a perfect day.


    “Joelle!”


    Ovee with a sudden wave of dizziness and a severe headache, Joelle fainted into Adrian’s arms, utterly spent. Adrian quickly scooped her up and took her to the nearest hospital. She slept away the afternoon, not waking until after sunset. Adrian remained by her side the whole time, holding her hand, his thumb softly brushing the scar on her palm. He stared at it intently, and it struck him how prominent the scar really was. How could he not have noticed it during their three years of marriage?


    “Ahem.”


    Shawn entered the room, and Adrian hastily withdrew his hand. “Is everything sorted?”


    Shawn nodded. “Yeah, thanks for helping out today.”


    “No need to thank me. I did what I should,” Adrian said, ncing at Joelle, still resting in the bed. “She’s really been through a lot, hasn’t she?”


    Shawn gave a small smile. “Who hasn’t? You’ve faced your own challenges, too. In the end, we all have our own paths to follow.” Adrian understood the subtext in Shawn’s words. He had never been in a serious rtionship andcked true experience with love. Yet, he fully grasped Shawn’s implication—there was no possibility left for him and Joelle.


    Adrian was puzzled about why Shawn seemed to think there was something more between him and Joelle. Had he unintentionally done something to give that impression? Each time they met, Shawn subtly hinted that he should maintain his distance from Joelle. He had only ever considered Joelle a friend, just like when they were children.


    “I’ll head out now.” His thoughts were jumbled, and leaving seemed like the only clear choice. Shawn made no move to stop him.


    Shortly after Adrian’s departure, Joelle woke up. “Shawn, what happened to Jackie?” she inquired immediately upon waking.


    “The police finished their investigation. It turns out the same people who pushed Jackie into the river had kidnapped him earlier. They’re just a gang focused on money. The police didn’t get much more from them.”


    Joelle looked on in shock. “How could this have happened?” Shawn pulled up a chair and sat beside her. “Joelle, I’ve been wondering the same thing. Jackie was targeted.”


    “Did he have any enemies?”


    Shawn appeared contemtive. Joelle quickly dismissed the idea, saying, “No, that doesn’t make sense. Jackie hasn’t been in Illerith for years. If he had enemies, why would they only seek revenge now?”


    “There’s another possibility,” Shawn said calmly.


    “What is it?”


    “Gina.”


    Joelle was too stunned to speak. But Shawn was always perceptive. Outwardly, he might appear warm and weing, but internally, he was wary of anyone outside their immediate family.


    “Shawn, why would you think that? I can’t imagine Gina doing such a thing!”


    Shawn responded clearly, “The truth is, Jackie came to Illerith by himself. Initially, I had just called him to ask some questions about Gina. But after a pause, he decided toe and meet me in person. Then this incident urred. Doesn’t that seem odd to you?”


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