?<strong>Chapter 389:</strong>


    “He is quite sincere.”


    Wade had also taken into ount the deep bond that Adrian and Joelle shared with the children, so he had suggested that once he took Rnd, he would ensure the child remained in contact with the Miller family. In simple terms, Rnd would gain a new home and a loving uncle.


    After hearing this, Joelle couldn’t find any fault.


    At that moment, she wished Wade were unreasonable and domineering. At least then, she would have had a clear andpelling reason to refuse to give Rnd up. But Wade was a man of impable character, his actions motivated by a deep sense of responsibility.


    Wade’s sense of kindness andpassion left Joelle and Adrian with little room for criticism, forcing them to reconsider their position.


    Thus, they quickly arranged a second formal meeting.


    Joelle was direct and to the point.


    “Mr. Potter, I can’t hand Rnd over to you. I’ve raised him since he was a child, and now that I’m his mother, I won’t allow him to be abandoned again.”


    Wade was impably dressed, his formal suit a testament to the importance he ced on the oue.


    “Ms. Watson, I’m not asking you to abandon him. I just hope he cane back to me.”


    Joelle maintained herposure.


    “I understand you’re hurting from losing your brother, but you can’t see Rnd as a recement for him.”


    “No!” Wade denied. “That’s not what I meant. I just want to honor my brother’s legacy.”


    The atmosphere grew subtly quiet for a moment. Adrian and Joelle exchanged a nce. They both knew, as they had suspected the day before, that this was a matter that would not be easily resolved.


    They knew they couldn’t sever Rnd’s ties to the Potter family. Even if it went to court, Wade had the ability to fight for custody.


    But none of them wanted the matter to escte to that point.


    Adrian, who had been quiet until now, finally broke his silence.


    “Rnd’s been with us for so long. Even if we sent him back, would he even know how to fit in? It might not feel like home to him anymore.”


    Wade’s lips curled into a bitter smile.


    “By the time I realized all this, the damage was already done. My brother, when he had Rnd, was barely more than a boy himself—juste of age, not thinking straight. His first instinct was to keep it all a secret from the family. But the moment I found out about Rnd, all I could think about was how to bring him back where he belongs. No matter what issues the adults are dealing with, a child should never be the one to carry that weight.”


    Joelle and Adrian exchanged nces but held back any judgment. Wade’s demeanor alone made it hard to say anything harsh.


    When he mentioned Chris, his brother, his voice faltered—it was clear he was weighed down by guilt and regret. Wade’s love for his brother made it hard to believe he wouldn’t do right by his nephew.


    Joelle’s heart tugged in different directions.


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