Chapter 360: Chapter 360



In the afternoon, Joelle and Katherine met at a venue featuring a children’s play area. Ryland wasted no time mingling and playing with a group of other children. As their coffee arrived, Joelle took a small sip, her gaze thoughtful.

“I’ve noticed you’ve been avoiding my brother lately.” Katherine, who had been lost in her own thoughts, blinked and looked up.

“Have I? I don’t think so.”

“Really?” Joelle raised an eyebrow. “Maybe I’m just overthinking it, but things seemed off between you and him when we were in Bristania.”

Katherine lifted her coffee cup, subtly masking her discomfort. “You’re overthinking it.”

“Alright, if you say so.”

Katherine placed her cup back on the table, quickly steering the conversation in a new direction. “How are Adrian and Michael? Have you managed to get in touch with them?”

Joelle sighed, shaking her head. “No, I can’t reach them at all. I even asked Jonathan, but he hasn’t heard from Adrian either.”

“What?” Katherine’s worry slipped into her voice. “Joelle, what if we don’t hear from them for a long time?”

“I don’t know,” Joelle murmured, her eyes drifting toward the window as silence settled between them once again.

“I need to use the restroom. Keep an eye on Ryland for me.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

Joelle headed toward the restroom, but the moment she stepped inside, a figure grabbed her from behind, pressing a towel over her mouth and nose. In her fading consciousness, a man’s voice whispered harshly, “If you don’t want to die, leave Illerith!”

The warning echoed in her mind as she struggled to stay conscious, her eyelids growing heavier. She wasn’t sure how long she had been out when she finally opened her eyes to find herself in an unfamiliar room.

“Joelle?” Katherine’s worried face appeared before her, Ryland clutched protectively in her arms. “Are you okay? What happened? You just fainted all of a sudden.”

“I don’t remember…” Joelle muttered, her head throbbing. “Where am I?”

“This is the mall’s security room. A cleaning lady found you unconscious and brought you here.”

Joelle sat up slowly, holding her head as the memory of the man’s words came rushing back. “I didn’t just faint! A man grabbed me as soon as I went inside, covered my mouth with a towel!”

Katherine’s eyes widened in alarm. “Security, can we check the restroom surveillance?”

But the guards shook their heads. There were no cameras inside the restroom, and the ones positioned outside only showed the entrance. The footage revealed several men coming and going, but it was impossible to tell who had entered the restroom.

“We apologize for our oversight,” the mall manager said, bowing slightly.

Joelle didn’t hold it against them. Though frustrated, she had a strong suspicion of who was behind the attack. Amara had confronted her earlier, demanding she leave Illerith. Then, this man had issued the same warning—it couldn’t be a coincidence.

After a visit to the hospital, the doctor confirmed Joelle was unharmed, much to her relief. In the corridor, Katherine helped her sit down, offering support. “So, you think that man was sent by Amara?”

Joelle nodded, her eyes closed, still processing the day’s events. “I can’t imagine anyone else.”

“What is that woman up to now?”

“Adrian won’t listen to her. She thinks I’m the one leading him astray. Now that Adrian’s not in Illerith, she wants me gone too.”

“Unbelievable!”

As they spoke, Raelyn rounded the corner. “Is what you just said true?”

Joelle hadn’t expected her to overhear. Raelyn was there to collect her medical report, having just returned from an adventurous solo trip to the African savannah. Despite her age, she had the energy and spirit of someone much younger. Her voice was firm, as always. “Amara dares to mess with you?”

Joelle, caught off guard, tried to respond, “Raelyn—”

Raelyn silenced her with a raised hand. “Don’t you worry about it! Adrian is in danger, and instead of focusing on her son, that lunatic dares to come after you? Well, since Adrian isn’t here, I’ll make sure you and the children are safe.”

With a determined turn, Raelyn marched off, intent on facing Amara herself. Joelle made a move to follow, but Katherine held her back. “Hey! Let her handle it, Joelle. It’s between them anyway. Let’s go pick up Aurora from school!”

At the kindergarten, as the children streamed out, Joelle spotted Eliza holding Aurora’s hand amidst the crowd. Katherine observed the interaction closely, noting the gentle grace that Eliza exuded, which reminded her of Joelle. Her fair face was always adorned with a serene smile.

“She really seems fond of Aurora, doesn’t she? Out of all the kids, she’s only holding Aurora’s hand.” Joelle’s smile dimmed at Katherine’s observation. This detail hadn’t escaped her notice before. Eliza was relatively new but had quickly become particularly attentive to Aurora, who often spoke highly of her.

“Mom!” Aurora’s voice broke through her contemplation as she sprinted toward them.

On the drive home, Joelle decided to probe a little. “Aurora, does Ms. Becker pay a lot of attention to you?”

“Yeah, she always asks me to help her with tasks and praises me!”

“Does she like you that much?”

“Of course!” Aurora replied, beaming with pride. “She even naps with me every day!”

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