?<strong>Chapter 485:</strong>


    “Take responsibility?”


    The elderly gentlemen, mere spectators seeking entertainment, quickly realized that Adrian was clearly in the wrong upon hearing this.


    “If you truly care for someone, why did you string M along?”


    “Exactly! No wonder your ex-wife divorced you!”


    “Young people these days…”


    Just as Adrian was about to speak, M instinctively covered her mouth. Her eyes welled up with tears that began to spill over. She acted as though Adrian had profoundly wronged her, stubbornly refusing to ept any ountability.


    “Look at what you’ve done! How could you possibly torment her like this?” Stephen, a seasoned performer,mented theatrically. “Oh, my poor granddaughter! How could she be so woefully unfortunate?”


    The atmosphere shifted into a fervent examination of Adrian, with each word a sharp critique cutting through the tension. Just then, the door swung open, revealing two figures—one tall and the other petite. Both wore white coats, seemingly in matching outfits.


    The arrival of Joelle and Aurora cast a spell of surprised silence over the room, and all eyes turned toward them in astonishment. M’s face drained of color, her uncertainty evident as she fidgeted, unsure of where to ce her hands.


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    “Daddy!” Aurora dashed toward Adrian, her youthful exuberance captivating the room. The elderly, fond of children, regarded her with warm affection as she bounded in. Adrian picked her up.


    “What are you doing here?” he asked.


    “Mom and I are here to pick you up!”


    Everyone’s gaze shifted toward Joelle, who remained poised and steadfast, a striking presence amidst the unfolding chaos.


    Joelle smiled. “Did Ie at a bad time?” In fact, she arrived just in time. Had she not intervened, Adrian would have been inexorably pushed into an unwanted marriage.


    “Let’s go home,” Adrian said, disregarding the others. He cradled Aurora in one arm while sping Joelle’s hand firmly with the other.


    “Why is your hand so cold?” he asked, tenderly enfolding Joelle’s icy hand into his pocket for warmth.


    All rumors were dispelled.


    Observing the blissful family of three, it was clear who was truly suffering the injustice.


    “Stephen, we were genuinely trying to help you. But you made fools of us!” one of Stephen’s friends eximed.


    Stephen’s friends departed one by one, their indignation palpable in the air.


    M sank into a chair, her sorrow overwhelming as she wept genuinely this time, tears cascading down her cheeks. Outside, the temperature plummeted further, the chill creeping in like an unwee specter.


    As Joelle, Adrian, and Aurora prepared to step into the car, delicate snowkes began to drift down from the sky, transforming the world into a shimmering winter wondend.


    “Daddy, Mommy, it’s snowing!” Aurora eximed.


    The family of three strolled hand in hand along the roadside, marveling at the enchantment of the falling snow.


    “Aren’t you going to thank me?” Joelle teased Adrian. “If I hadn’t shown up, you would have found yourself in quite the predicament, trying to exin yourself.”


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