?<strong>Chapter 348:</strong>


    As Joelle and Aurora exited the store, a middle-aged woman identally dropped her wallet. Aurora was quick to spot it and picked it up. “Ma’am, you dropped your wallet.”


    “Oh my! Thank you so much! You’re such a sweet girl!”


    “Ma’am, you look absolutely lovely today!”


    Raelyn Sampson was so delighted she couldn’t help but keep smiling. “It seems my investment in beauty treatments was worth every penny!”


    “Here, lovelydy, this is yours.”


    “Thank you.”


    Raelyn’s wallet was stuffed with cash; it had been so long since she was home that she was unaware of the local advancements. Transactions were nowpleted, orders were ced, and services were requested through apps on people’s phones.


    She looked to Joelle for assistance. “Could you help me figure out how to use this app?”


    Joelle took her time exining the process step by step.


    “Thank you both. How about I treat you to a drink?”


    “No, thanks!” Joelle kindly declined. “We need to get going now.”


    “Alright, take care! Goodbye!”


    Raelyn gave them a cheerful wave. A bodyguard close by stepped forward. “Raelyn, are these your daughter-inw and granddaughter?”


    “Hey, don’t be silly.” Raelyn shook her head. “I got paid to give birth to Adrian, and he has nothing to do with me anymore.”


    “But didn’t you return after hearing about his situation from Effie?”


    “I just wanted to see how he’s turned out and if the person he’s with is decent. As long as he’s happy, that’s all that matters.”


    “But I’ve heard he’s not doing well.” Raelyn shot him a look, and the bodyguard, realizing he had crossed a line, quickly fell silent. Raelyn snorted coldly, her emotions masked.


    As Joelle arrived home, her phone rang with Shawn on the line. “Joelle, it looks like I might not make it back for the parent-child sports day.” She had talked to Shawn that afternoon, and he had promised to be there, so this sudden change surprised her.


    “I’ll find another solution. If that fails, I’ll reach out to Bobby.”


    “Can we depend on Bobby?”


    “He should be… I think.”


    Someone called out to Shawn in the background, prompting him to quickly wrap up the conversation. Aurora emerged from her room, clutching a stuffed toy asrge as herself. “Mom, I want Mr. Miller toe to the sports day with me.”


    Joelle noted that Aurora had brought up Adrian more than usual today and seemed especially excited. Rather than probe further, Joelle crouched down to Aurora’s level. “I promise, if Bobby can’t make it, I’ll ask Adrian to step in.”


    “Okay.”


    After tucking Aurora into bed, Joelle attempted to call Bobby, but he informed her apologetically, “I can’t make it, Joelle. I’m on vacation abroad. You’ll need to find someone else!”


    “Alright.”


    Joelle stared at her phone. Adrian’s number was still disyed from a few minutes earlier. She hesitated, wondering if calling Adrian would give him too much satisfaction.


    Meanwhile, Adrian was still at his office, workingte. Can entered. “Mr. Miller, there’s something important you need to know.”


    Adrian had been engrossed in his work since noon, his expression intense as he reviewed the documents. “Make it quick.”


    “The security team secretly watching over Aurora reported that she had a conflict at kindergarten. Not only was Aurora pped, but Joelle also ended up confronting the other child’s aunt.”


    Adrian looked up sharply, and a momentter, his anger erupted as he mmed down his pen. “Why wasn’t I informed earlier?”


    Can bowed his head. “I got tied up this afternoon and only just got the details.”


    Adrian grabbed his coat and made for the exit. Can shouted after him, “Mr. Miller, you’re scheduled for a remote meeting!”


    “Handle it yourself!” Adrian walked away, then paused. “Send two people. Whoever struck my daughter, ensure they get a taste of their own medicine.”


    His anger was palpable, and Can knew better than to push further. He felt some relief seeing Adrian show concern for someone; the past few years had seen Adrian be increasingly isted and temperamental, pushing others away.


    “Understood.”


    Adrian’s unexpectedte-night arrival took Joelle by surprise. Upon entering, his first concern was not Aurora, but Joelle herself. “Were you hurt?”


    Joelle shook her head. “No.”


    That she was unharmed was enough for him. Adrian moved deeper into the room. “How’s Aurora?”


    “She’s asleep. I spoke with her afterward to ensure she wasn’t frightened, and she seemed alright.”


    Adrian remained concerned. “What caused the conflict?” Joelle hesitated, worried it might sound like she wasining to Adrian.


    “It’s nothing serious. Children argue sometimes. It was the other child’s aunt who escted things.”


    Adrian settled beside her. “Next time, I’lle with you to pick her up.”


    “There’s no need.”


    “It is necessary.” Adrian fixed her with a serious look. “I want people to know you have support. If something like this happens again, I don’t want you handling it alone.”


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