?<strong>Chapter 501:</strong>


    “Go assist her. There are simply too many items to manage.”


    “Okay.”


    Leah discerned Adrian’s mood but chose not to probe further, especially as he had already made his way downstairs. Leah held out two freshly pressed shirts for Adrian.


    “Ma’am, should I pack these two shirts?”


    “Yes,” Joelle responded, retrieving arge ck suitcase from the floor. “ce Adrian’s and Aurora’s clothes here.”


    “Alright.”


    Downstairs, Adrian settled onto the sofa, still d in his work suit, having not taken the time to change since arriving home. He absently toyed with a lighter in his hand, yearning for a cigarette to soothe his troubled thoughts. However, with Aurora still in the house, he refrained from doing so.


    He repeatedly admonished himself not to sumb to sadness. Joelle had no choice. He had endured solitude since his childhood. In this world, there was no one who would steadfastly choose him without reservation. Perhaps such a person, or even such feelings, simply didn’t exist.


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    “Daddy.” Aurora descended from the second floor, rubbing her eyes and tugging on the ear of her beloved bunny toy. “You’re back.”


    Adrian pushed aside his mncholy and conjured a smile for his daughter.


    “Did you just wake up?”


    “Yeah.” Still drowsy, Aurora nestled onto Adrian’sp and rested her head against his shoulder, drifting into a contemtive reverie.


    “Daddy, why do you appear so despondent?”


    “Am I?”


    Children are remarkably astute. Aurora’s inquiry suggested she had sensed Adrian’s atypical demeanor.


    “Yes. Usually, when you return home from work, you trail after Mommy. Why aren’t you staying close to her today?”


    Adrian couldn’t tell her that her mother had decided to leave the house with her.


    “Your mom is upied, so I didn’t wish to interrupt her,” he simply replied.


    Aurora nced upstairs.


    “Oh, right, Mommy is busy packing.” Aurora yawned and sumbed to slumber once more in Adrian’s embrace. He gently carried her back to her room before proceeding to check on Joelle in the adjacent room.


    Joelle was ensconced in the walk-in closet, selecting garments, betraying no visible signs of distress. All Adrian could perceive was her palpable urgency. Did departing from him not evoke any semnce of sorrow in her?


    Her finger still adorned the engagement ring he had given her, fortifying Adrian’s resolve.


    “Leah, you can leave us for a moment.”


    Leah had discerned Adrian’s inner turmoil earlier and now cast a furtive nce at Joelle, silently hoping the couple would refrain from engaging in conflict.


    “Okay.”


    Joelle extracted a thin jacket from the closet and asked Adrian, “Do you think this is too thin? Maybe I shouldn’t take it.”


    Adrian took the jacket from her hand and stepped closer.


    “Adrian, what are you doing?” Joelle asked in confusion.


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