?<strong>Chapter 370:</strong>


    Joelle was aware of Adrian’s tendency to overthink things, which made her realize that dodging the conversation could lead to unwarranted doubts. She dismissed it with a smile, saying, “Something came up, but I’ve got it under control.”


    “Joelle,” Adrian gazed at her intently. “Aren’t we together in this? We should handle things as a couple.”


    Adrian’s earnestness left Joelle momentarily stunned. The man who had once been distant and stern now exhibited a tender vulnerability. Just as Joelle was about to respond, a knock at the door interrupted them.


    The interruption shifted the mood, and Adrian quickly resumed his usual detached demeanor as Can appeared at the doorway. “Who allowed you toe up here?”


    “I apologize.” With his head lowered, Can spoke. He would not have intruded if the situation wasn’t urgent. “Mr. Miller, there is an urgent matter I need to tell you.” Joelle looked away. “I’ll leave you two.”


    “There’s no need for that.” Adrian sped her hand. “You’re my girlfriend now. You deserve to know everything about my life. I don’t want any more misunderstandings between us.” Can looked towards Joelle. “Ms. Watson is also involved in this issue.”


    Joelle had an inkling of what he was about to say. Adrian gestured for her to sit beside him on the sofa. “Go ahead.”


    Can stepped forward, clutching a stack of documents. “Mr. Miller, while you were away, your mother took it upon herself to manage Miller Group. Here are the documents she authorized.”


    As Adrian reviewed the documents, his face grew stern. “Who gave her the permission to sign these? Did the board really allow her to take these actions?”


    Can made a respectful bow. “The board and I strongly advised against it. Despite our pleas, she insisted on managing the important documents before you returned. She became quite upset each time, using us of excluding her from the group. Her decisions were often rash. For instance, she spent millions on streetlights for every meter along the road outside the Miller Group building because she found it too dark at night. Recently, she ordered an expensive batch of imported furniture, deeming the existing ones subpar, and even granted all the employees unexpected leave. Now, Miller Group is in disarray.”


    By this point, Adrian was already distressed, but Can had more to reveal. “I have seen her coborating with Eliza Becker to harm Raelyn Sampson and put the me on Ms. Watson.” He gave Joelle a sympathetic look. “Unless I’m mistaken, Ms. Watson was detained at the police stationst night.”


    Angry and confused, Adrian turned to Joelle for rity. “Is this true?”


    “It’s nothing.” Joelle was trying to keep Adrian calm. He had his hands full with Lacey and Michael’s problems already.


    Can bowed his head lower and said, “Mr. Miller, your mother is losing control. I’ve learned that Raelyn woke up only today. Eliza worked as a teacher at Aurora’s kindergarten under your mother’s orders, trying to win over the little girl and drive Ms. Watson away.”


    Adrian grasped Joelle’s hand. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”


    “Do you think I’m a child? No matter how much Aurora likes her, she won’t be taken away from me.” Joelle gave Adrian a reassuring smile. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’ve got everything under control here.”


    “How will you manage that?” Adrian asked, his face void of emotion. “Will you go easy on her because she’s my mother?” Adrian looked at Can with a stern expression. “If her actions have be this unstable, it might be time to consider professional intervention. We should send her to a mental hospital.”


    Can raised his eyes in surprise, yet Adrian’s solemn look told him that he was dead serious. He found himself unable to muster any sympathy for Amara. “Understood, Mr. Miller.”


    “You may leave now.”


    Once Can had departed, Adrian gently ced his uninjured arm around Joelle. “From now on, Joelle, I’ll protect you from anyone who tries to harm you.”


    Joelle felt a sense of relief. “Alright.”


    They hurried back, fretting over the children’sfort at the Finch family’s. To their astonishment, Aurora and Rnd were enjoying themselves with Dunn more than they ever did at home.


    That night, they received news from the hospital that Michael and Lacey had woken up. They asked the Finch family to watch the children for another night as they dashed to the hospital.


    Michael and Lacey shared a room. Michael, having not expected to awaken, thought Lacey might not have survived. Yet, there she was across from him, her heart monitor disying a fragile but constant beat. He wondered if this was heaven or reality. His only desire was to touch her, to feel if she was still warm. The moment he touched her hand, Lacey’s eyelids fluttered, and her eyes opened slowly.


    “Michael?”


    Michael jerked his hand away, but Lacey grasped it just in time. “You idiot, why would you think of dying? If you were so eager, you should have jumped from a rooftop. Why did you have to give me your heart? Did you want me to mourn you forever? You never once confessed your feelings, and now you want me to live alone for the rest of my life? Who acts like that?” As Lacey berated Michael, her other hand couldn’t resist pinching his face.


    Realizing he was indeed alive, she burst into even more tears.


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