The whole Ricard family came to the airport to bid farewell as the group of four departed Bristania.
Jonathan looked at Joelleâs expressionless face and gave Adrian a comforting pat on the shoulder. âGood luck.â Adrian later reflected that meeting Jonathan was his greatest regret.
âLetâs go,â Shawn said, glancing at his watch.
The group waved goodbye. Jax smiled and waved energetically, while Effie kept stealing looks at Adrian.
After they had left, Jonathan asked, âMom, did you know Adrian before?â
âHow could I have? You know my past as a waitress who washed dishes. How would I come to know someone from the Miller family?â
âBut you werenât merely a waitress. A simple waitress wouldnât dare to enter a relationship with Dad. You were fortunate enough to marry into wealth. It wouldnât be surprising if you knew someone from the Miller family.â
At these words, Jax and Effie, who were no longer young, exchanged embarrassed looks, as though they were strangers.
Effie insisted, âI really donât know him.â
ɢαlиÏvÑâÑ.cоm has the newest content âThen why were you staring at Adrian?â Jonathan asked.
âHe just resembled someone I once knew.â
Since it was Effieâs friend, Jonathan lost interest and didnât ask further.
Once at home, Effie made a secretive phone call from the balcony. âI saw your son.â
âWhich son?â
âThe one you gave to the Miller family!â
âOh, that one. Whatâs wrong with him?â
Effie heard a flurry of noise from the other side of the line.
âWhere are you now?â
âAfrica! The savannah is breathtaking! A lion! I must go.â The phone line went dead.
Effie tried to call back but couldnât connect. She sighed.
On the flight, Adrian found himself seated next to Joelle. She was engrossed in a magazine and wore headphones, making conversation difficult.
Adrian wrote on paper, saying, âIâm sorry,â and handed it to her. Joelle briefly looked at the note, then scrunched it up and handed it to a flight attendant, requesting it be thrown away, visibly irritated by its presence.
Adrian, persistent, scribbled down several more lines and passed them to her again. Joelle crushed these too without even glancing at them.
Adrian continued to write.
Joelle continued to discard the notes.
After several attempts, even the flight attendantâs patience wore thin, though he still smiled professionally. âMaâam, could you perhaps speak with this gentleman?â
Caught up by the disturbance she caused, Joelle finally removed her headphones.
âJoelle, I never shared Jonathanâs views, despite what he said.â
Joelle scoffed, âYou are judged by the company you keep.â
âIâm not like him. Iâve never shared his opinions about love!â Joelle faced him squarely. âThen why seek his advice?â
âHe claimed to have experience.â
âAnd you donât?â
Adrianâs ears turned red as he confessed, âThese past years, itâs only been with you that Iâve experienced any real love and hate, for six years.â
âAnd Paula?â
Adrian immediately raised his head. âThereâs nothing between us! I only brought her along to irritate my mom.â
Joelle found his explanation somewhat plausible. A woman like Paula could indeed infuriate Amara.
âDo you really believe Iâm that gullible? That a couple of kind words will make everything okay?â
âYouâll always be that young girl to me.â
Joelle shivered. âThatâs gross.â
However, she had to admit that it slightly lifted her spirits. Joelle thought she was too easily influenced, but Adrian had undergone such significant changes. He seemed almost like a different person.
This change terrified her.
âI understand. You donât need to apologize. I want to sleep. Donât bother me,â she said firmly.
âOkay,â Adrian responded.
Joelle closed her eyes, her thoughts swirling.
Behind them, Katherine also received a note from Shawn. âHave you given it any thought?â
âThought about what?â Katherine frowned at him.
Shawn looked forward nervously. âDo you really want me to spell it out?â
Katherine felt uneasy and handed the note back. âYou better write it down.â
The note returned to her hands. She glanced at it, and her cheeks flushed.
âShould we try it out?â it read.
âSince when did I agree to even think about it?â
Shawn replied, âI believe I deserve a response after my confession.â
âAccording to whom?â Katherine tried to maintain her composure as she wrote a lengthy reply beneath his statement. âTo be clear, there is no future for us. I wonât entertain the idea. Move past your fantasies and stop your fixation on me.â Shawnâs smile vanished as he read her message. He crumpled the note and summoned the flight attendant. âSir, how can I assist you?â
With a grim expression, Shawn handed over the note. âDispose of this. Pretend I never received it.â
Katherine concealed her face with a magazine, silently wishing the plane would hasten its journey to Illerith.
Night had fallen by the time they landed at the airport. As they disembarked, Michael hurried towards them and knelt in front of Adrian and Joelle.
âAdrian, Joelle, I implore you, you must help Lacey!â
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