?<strong>Chapter 338:</strong>


    The whole Ricard family came to the airport to bid farewell as the group of four departed Bristania.


    Jonathan looked at Joelle’s expressionless face and gave Adrian aforting pat on the shoulder. “Good luck.” Adrianter reflected that meeting Jonathan was his greatest regret.


    “Let’s go,” Shawn said, ncing at his watch.


    The group waved goodbye. Jax smiled and waved energetically, while Effie kept stealing looks at Adrian.


    After they had left, Jonathan asked, “Mom, did you know Adrian before?”


    “How could I have? You know my past as a waitress who washed dishes. How would Ie to know someone from the Miller family?”


    “But you weren’t merely a waitress. A simple waitress wouldn’t dare to enter a rtionship with Dad. You were fortunate enough to marry into wealth. It wouldn’t be surprising if you knew someone from the Miller family.”


    At these words, Jax and Effie, who were no longer young, exchanged embarrassed looks, as though they were strangers.


    Effie insisted, “I really don’t know him.”


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    “Then why were you staring at Adrian?” Jonathan asked.


    “He just resembled someone I once knew.”


    Since it was Effie’s friend, Jonathan lost interest and didn’t ask further.


    Once at home, Effie made a secretive phone call from the balcony. “I saw your son.”


    “Which son?”


    “The one you gave to the Miller family!”


    “Oh, that one. What’s wrong with him?”


    Effie heard a flurry of noise from the other side of the line.


    “Where are you now?”


    “Africa! The savannah is breathtaking! A lion! I must go.” The phone line went dead.


    Effie tried to call back but couldn’t connect. She sighed.


    On the flight, Adrian found himself seated next to Joelle. She was engrossed in a magazine and wore headphones, making conversation difficult.


    Adrian wrote on paper, saying, “I’m sorry,” and handed it to her. Joelle briefly looked at the note, then scrunched it up and handed it to a flight attendant, requesting it be thrown away, visibly irritated by its presence.


    Adrian, persistent, scribbled down several more lines and passed them to her again. Joelle crushed these too without even ncing at them.


    Adrian continued to write.


    Joelle continued to discard the notes.


    After several attempts, even the flight attendant’s patience wore thin, though he still smiled professionally. “Ma’am, could you perhaps speak with this gentleman?”


    Caught up by the disturbance she caused, Joelle finally removed her headphones.


    “Joelle, I never shared Jonathan’s views, despite what he said.”


    Joelle scoffed, “You are judged by thepany you keep.”


    “I’m not like him. I’ve never shared his opinions about love!” Joelle faced him squarely. “Then why seek his advice?”


    “He imed to have experience.”


    “And you don’t?”


    Adrian’s ears turned red as he confessed, “These past years, it’s only been with you that I’ve experienced any real love and hate, for six years.”


    “And Pa?”


    Adrian immediately raised his head. “There’s nothing between us! I only brought her along to irritate my mom.”


    Joelle found his exnation somewhat usible. A woman like Pa could indeed infuriate Amara.


    “Do you really believe I’m that gullible? That a couple of kind words will make everything okay?”


    “You’ll always be that young girl to me.”


    Joelle shivered. “That’s gross.”


    However, she had to admit that it slightly lifted her spirits. Joelle thought she was too easily influenced, but Adrian had undergone such significant changes. He seemed almost like a different person.


    This change terrified her.


    “I understand. You don’t need to apologize. I want to sleep. Don’t bother me,” she said firmly.


    “Okay,” Adrian responded.


    Joelle closed her eyes, her thoughts swirling.


    Behind them, Katherine also received a note from Shawn. “Have you given it any thought?”


    “Thought about what?” Katherine frowned at him.


    Shawn looked forward nervously. “Do you really want me to spell it out?”


    Katherine felt uneasy and handed the note back. “You better write it down.”


    The note returned to her hands. She nced at it, and her cheeks flushed.


    “Should we try it out?” it read.


    “Since when did I agree to even think about it?”


    Shawn replied, “I believe I deserve a response after my confession.”


    “ording to whom?” Katherine tried to maintain herposure as she wrote a lengthy reply beneath his statement. “To be clear, there is no future for us. I won’t entertain the idea. Move past your fantasies and stop your fixation on me.” Shawn’s smile vanished as he read her message. He crumpled the note and summoned the flight attendant. “Sir, how can I assist you?”


    With a grim expression, Shawn handed over the note. “Dispose of this. Pretend I never received it.”


    Katherine concealed her face with a magazine, silently wishing the ne would hasten its journey to Illerith.


    Night had fallen by the time theynded at the airport. As they disembarked, Michael hurried towards them and knelt in front of Adrian and Joelle.


    “Adrian, Joelle, I implore you, you must help Lacey!”


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