?<strong>Chapter 353:</strong>


    “Then whye back now?” Adrian asked.


    Raelyn nced at him, her expression unreadable. “Do you know Jonathan? His mother and I were two small-town girls, dazzled by the bright lights and fast pace of the city.” She took a slow drag from her cigarette, the smoke curlingzily in the air before she sighed. “Back then, we shared the same ambition—find financial security through a wealthy man. I was willing to do whatever it took for money. When Jonathan’s mother saw what I was doing, she started makingpromises too, cutting corners for financial gain. But, as it turns out, shortcuts tend to lead to dead ends. She was cast aside, and I had to give up the children I struggled to bring into the world.”


    Adrian felt a heavy weight settle in his chest. Suddenly, it all made sense—the cold distance Amara had kept from him all these years. His family had always felt fractured, like a puzzle missing pieces, and now Raelyn was confirming it.


    “So, do you regret it now? Is that why you’re here? To acknowledge me?”


    “Regret?” Raelyn’sughter was sharp.


    Adrian’s anger red at her mockery. “You don’t regret it?”


    “Adrian, you’re in finance, aren’t you? Let me put it in terms you’ll understand. Investing in a child takes over a decade, but investing in yourself? That only takes a few months and gives a much higher return. So, as a businessman, which would you choose?”


    Adrian’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, reflecting the moonlight like shards of ss. “But I’m not some investment! I’m a person! A living, breathing person!”


    Raelyn didn’t flinch. “And so am I! I had to survive. How was a young girl with no savings and no support supposed to give you a stable life? Even if I had kept you, could I have provided the luxury the Miller family gave you? Compared to Jonathan, you should be grateful to me! Jonathan had to fight for years to make it, but you? You’ve had everything handed to you on a silver tter, and what did you do with it? Your arrogance, your pride, your sense of entitlement—they pushed away your wife and your child. What more do you want?”


    Adrian let out a bitterugh, a mix of anger and despair in his voice. “Is that really how you see me? Then whye back? To see if you can reconnect now that I’ve inherited everything from the Miller family?”


    Raelyn held her head high, her face betraying nothing. “I didn’te to reconnect. I’m just curious, that’s all. To be honest, you’re not my only child. After I had you for Amara, two other women—childless, desperate for heirs—asked me to carry their children too. I did it for the money, and I won’t deny it was selfish. But without me, the three of you wouldn’t have the lives you have now.”


    Adrian’s voice had turned hoarse. “Thank you. Really, thank you for your sacrifice!”


    He turned away, hisughter hollow, swallowing down the lump in his throat. “So, you didn’t want me then, and now that you’re back, you still don’t want me.”


    Raelyn hesitated, her cigarette dangling between her fingers, her throat souring.


    Adrian covered his eyes with his hand, unable to meet her gaze. “I didn’t know before, so I couldn’t me you. But now I know. Raelyn Sampson, right? I’ll remember you.”


    Raelyn stood momentarily dazed, only snapping to attention when she heard the lock click behind her. Now, in the cavernous house, she was alone. Just her, some worn-out furniture, and the eerie howl of the wind that danced around the corners. The silence stretched, almost lulling her into a trance.


    Adrian returned home, though he hesitated to enter. Unsure of how to cross the threshold, he sat on the front steps, letting the biting wind nip at his skin for a while.


    Joelle emerged, wrapped tightly in her coat, her breath visible in the frigid air. Seeing Adrian huddled on the steps startled her. “Are you alright?”


    Adrian deflected with another question. “Aren’t you cold? What are you doing out here?”


    “If you walk in looking like that, Aurora’s going to overthink everything. You know how sensitive she is.”


    Adrian attempted a smile, though it faltered, resembling more of a grimace than anything reassuring.


    Joelle pulled him toward the greenhouse at the back of the property. “What’s going on, Adrian? Can you talk to me?”


    Adrian opened his mouth to speak but found no words. “Joelle…” He wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes. “After my dad died, you’re the one person left who truly loves me.”


    Joelle stiffened for a moment, surprised by the rawness in his voice. Her heart ached, and instinctively, she raised her hand, brushing it along his back, her fingers moving in soft, soothing circles.


    “There are still people who love you, Adrian. And there will be more in the future. I know the damage your parents caused has left a wound that feels like it’ll never heal, but you have to keep going. You have to find a way to move past the hurt they left behind. You can’t let their mistakes define your life. You are the most important person in your world. As long as you keep moving forward, life will find ways to make up for what you’ve lost. You’ve got to believe that.”


    “Mm.” Adrian nodded wordlessly, tightening his grip, pulling Joelle closer. She could hear his heart pounding beneath his chest.


    Minutes ticked by—ten, maybe more—before Joelle started to feel the heat of the greenhouse pressing down on her. The warmth meant for the nts now made her ufortable, beads of sweat gathering at the back of her neck.


    “Adrian, should we go eat? Leah made all this food, and it’s waiting for us.” Adrian let her go slowly.


    They walked into the dining room, where Aurora and Rnd were already seated in their high chairs. The smell of Leah’s cooking wafted through the room, and the kids, impatient as always, were trying to sneak bites while Leah’s back was turned.


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