âNo,â Katherine answered firmly. She convinced herself that any discomfort she felt would just be her ego flaring up.
Callan acted swiftly. By the following day, he had identified the culprits who had caused distress to Joelleâthose gossiping colleagues at her workplace. The intern was the first to be called out.
At the hospital, Callan consulted Adrian on how to proceed. Adrian gazed at Joelle with a calmness that seemed almost mechanical, devoid of emotion.
âTake them to the highest bungee tower in Illerith. They could use some excitement.â
Callan was taken aback. The tower in Illerith soared to XXX feet. The mere sight of it instilled fear in most people, let alone the prospect of jumping from it. Yet, Callan quickly grasped Adrianâs intent. He wanted them to experience the terror of being forced to jump from such a height.
That evening, the bungee tower was closed to the public, yet the valley echoed with screams. Each person was forced to jump once. After everyone had taken their turn, Callan contacted Adrian.
âMr. Miller, should we continue?â
Behind him, the intern sobbed, âI canât jump again! Iâm too scared! Iâll never do it again!â
Adrian responded coldly, âKeep going. They need to be desensitized.â
By the break of dawn, some were nearly sick with fear. But Adrian remained indifferent. He simply held Joelleâs cool hand.
She had endured severe online harassment that had pushed her to the verge of suicide. Although she had survived, the ordeal had left her physically and emotionally damaged.
Adrian believed that no amount of fear inflicted on others could ever compensate for the suffering Joelle had endured. Even if the culprits died, it wouldnât restore Joelle to her former health.
After her rescue, Joelle slipped into a deep coma. Adrian remained by her side for seven continuous days and nights, yet Joelle showed no signs of awakening. Her body was extremely fragile. Despite her life being saved, she was like a delicate porcelain doll, vulnerable to the slightest disturbance.
She couldnât eat and survived only on basic glucose infusions. Within days, her face had visibly thinned. Adrian often wished he could trade places with her, wondering why it had to be Joelle who suffered.
Half a month later, the truth became too much to conceal from Aurora. Exhausted, Adrian collapsed at Joelleâs bedside. When he woke up, he found Aurora crying beside him.
âWhat happened to Mommy?â she asked through her tears.
Aurora was a sensitive child. After not seeing Joelle or Adrian for several days, she had grown suspicious. She had accidentally overheard Leah discussing Joelleâs severe injuries over the phone. Even at her young age, she sensed the whispers at kindergarten. But with Dunn absent, she had no one to confide in.
So, she discreetly asked her friends at kindergarten and soon discovered that Joelle had jumped from a building. She understood the gravity of what that meant.
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