?<strong>Chapter 425:</strong>


    Adrian leaned over, nting a kiss on the corner of her lips. “Haven’t you been sleeping well because I wasn’t around?”


    “From now on, I’ll take you with me wherever I go.” Adrian had been Joelle’s greatestfort. He was always by her side.


    She knew he was trying his best to be good to her, and she could feel everyone’s care and concern.


    She couldn’t go on like this; she had to pull herself together.


    “I’ve asked Katherine to help me find a psychologist,” she said.


    Adrian smiled. “That’s good.”


    Joelle fell silent for a moment before asking, “How’s Michael holding up?”


    “He’s been drinking heavily,” he replied, his expression somber. “His parents areing to take him home with them in a couple of days.”


    “Lacey’s passing taught me a lesson,” Joelle said, reaching up and taking his hand in hers.


    Adrian nodded in agreement. It had taught him a lesson too. Life was too short to waste on regrets.


    Feel the thrill at g aln  ov el s .


    Unless the inevitable urred—like aging or death—people, especially lovers, should live their lives free of regrets.


    Hurdles and challenges were temporary and a natural part of rtionships. As long as they faced everything together, things would eventually work out.


    So that if one partner were to pass away one day, the only regret would be not having enough time together, as everything else would be a cherished memory to hold onto forever.


    Adrian held Joelle’s hand tightly, mirroring the intertwined hands of Michael and Lacey during her final hours in the ward.


    He loved Joelle as much—perhaps even more—but he felt something was missing.


    The next day, they returned to Illerith.


    At the airport, Joelle held Adrian’s arm, her sunsses protecting her eyes from the harsh sunlight. Can was waiting beside a Rolls-Royce, just as expected. However, they were unaware that someone had been following them since they boarded the ne.


    News of their return to the country spread quickly online, apanied by photos that reignited public outrage once again.


    The headlines were utterly ridiculous and defamatory, painting Joelle in a negative light for what they assumed was a vacation after her son’s death.


    Thankfully, Joelle didn’t go online as much as she used to, so the news hadn’t reached her yet.


    But Adrian could no longer ignore the damaging attack on her image.


    The criticism was biased and deliberate, as though someone was purposefully trying to tear Joelle down.


    “Investigate the flood of negative articles about Joelle and have them taken down immediately. Show no mercy to anyone who refuses to cooperate,” Adrian instructed Can once they were alone.


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