?<strong>Chapter 334:</strong>


    “What do you want?” Joelle asked.


    “Please, don’t ignore me,” Adrian pleaded.


    Joelle was moved by his pitiful tone and replied, “Understood.” Adrian quickly began to loosen the ropes. His experience from previous survival camps made him adept at untying knots. Just as they were about to escape, the disguised man reappeared.


    Joelle and Adrian shared a look. Then she grabbed a stick and positioned herself behind the door, with Adrian set to distract the intruder.


    Upon entering, the man saw only Adrian. “How did you get free? Where is she?”


    Adrian shrugged. “I don’t know.”


    “You don’t know?” As the man turned away, Joelle hit him on the head.


    They then restrained the man and brought him to the police station. On the way, Joelle saw a car trailing them intermittently.


    “It looks like Jonathan’s brother is making his move now.” Adrian checked the rearview mirror and said, “Yes. After we save Rafael, the Ricard family is next.”


    Their followers kept a distance, hesitant to intervene.


    At the police station, Dalton’s assistant confessed everything. The police quickly brought in Dalton’s oldest daughter. After several hours of investigation, the details of Dalton’s death finally became clear.


    It came to light that Rafael had given an overdose of ketamine at Dalton’s request.


    Dalton had be dependent on ketamine after long-term use and had coerced Rafael, a doctor, into supplying him more. His assistant and eldest daughter also contributed to his death. The daughter, eager for her inheritance, had paid the assistant to up the dosage, hastening Dalton’s end.


    There was also suspicion that Rafael had intended to kill Dalton. Rafael neither admitted nor denied these usations.


    Thanks to effective legal defense, Joelle and Adrian managed to secure Rafael’s release.


    Rafael, who had lost much weight and looked unkempt with tangled hair and beard, seemed stiff after being confined for so long.


    Once so full of life, he now looked utterly dejected.


    Liza and Belle ran to him, embracing him tearfully from each side. Joelle and the others watched from afar.


    “Rafael, let’s head home!”


    “I won’t be going back.” Rafael broke away from Belle and Liza and approached Joelle. “Thank you.”


    Joelle held back her tears. “Take care, Rafael.”


    His gaze shifted to Adrian. “Adrian, I leave everything in your hands.”


    He patted Adrian on the shoulder, their mutual understanding clear without words.


    He walked away from the police station, his form gaunt and forlorn. Belle and Liza followed him, their tears and pleas doing nothing to sway Rafael as he continued into the deepening darkness.


    That night, they gathered around a table to discuss Jonathan’s ring.


    “This ring is trouble. The moment you approach the Ricard family with it, eyes will be on you.”


    “Shawn, I understand your point.”


    Joelle and Adrian then decided to divide into two teams. One team would be Katherine and Shawn; the other, Adrian and Joelle.


    “Why can’t I team up with Joelle?” Katherine protested, raising her hand.


    Joelle exined calmly, “If we two women team up, wouldn’t that make us more noticeable as decoys?”


    Katherine sulked, realizing Adrian was also there. Yet, understanding Adrian’s focus was more on Joelle, she chose not toin.


    As Katherine looked down, Shawn shed her a covert smile, prompting her to step back.


    The following day, all four left simultaneously in two cars, heading in opposite directions.


    Their pursuers were baffled. “Boss, which car should we follow?” Bryce Ricard, Jonathan’s half-brother,manded, “Track the car with Adrian and Joelle! We need to intercept them before they reach my father.”


    Adrian drove towards the Ricard family’s mansion. As they neared, the scenery improved markedly. From afar, the grand mansion stood alone.


    Joelle rolled down her window, weing the sweet, refreshing air that helped calm her nerves.


    “Do you like this?” Adrian asked. “One day, I’ll buy you a mansion like this.”


    Joelle retorted, “Why would I need you to buy me one?” After all, she was wealthy herself.


    “Anything you desire, I want to provide for you.”


    Joelle gave a halfugh and checked the rearview mirror.


    The line of cars tailing them resembled a small convoy.


    “Adrian, now’s the time.”


    With those words, Adrian abruptly veered left, tires screeching. The car wasn’t moving quickly, allowing Joelle to exit smoothly. Bryce was taken aback but remained alert.


    As the unmanned car headed for a crash, he noticed Adrian and Joelle escaping together hand in hand.


    “Chase them! Don’t let them get away!”


    Bang! A wave of heat halted everyone in their tracks. The unmanned car had exploded.


    .


    .


    .