By evening, Joelleâs hospital room had transformed into a lively hub of activity, bustling with people and resembling a joyful family gathering.
Joelle was struck by the realization that so many people had rallied around her, offering their unwavering support.
While peeling an apple for Aurora, Adrian stole a glance at Joelle, only to find her shedding tears, her emotions spilling out amid the lively chatter around them.
He quickly made his way through the crowd to her side. âWhatâs wrong?â
âNothing,â Joelle replied, her expression carrying an undercurrent of sadness. Even when she smiled, Adrian sensed it was forced, a smile she felt obligated to wear.
âAre they bothering you?â he asked.
Joelle shook her head. âIâve just realized how invaluable life is.â
Adrian sighed in relief, gently patting her head. âIf you ever hurt yourself again, Iâll make sure they all give you the cold shoulder.â
âOkay,â Joelle nodded. âRest assured, I wonât put you through that again.â
Find your favorite stories at g Ɐ ln Ï Î½ð ðs., conn She looked around the room, noticing that even Michael had shown up, but Shawn and Katherine were noticeably absent. âWhere are Shawn and Katherine?â
Adrian had reached out to Shawn, only to learn he was overseas and couldnât return soon. Katherine had promised to come but, for some reason, had not yet arrived.
Meanwhile, Katherine was at home, anxiously glancing at the clock every few seconds. âDad, Mom, whatâs going on? Iâm going to the hospital!â
Her parents exchanged knowing glances. Her mother, Agate Nash, said, âDid you know that Bobby is engaged?â
âIs that all?â Katherine leaned back on the sofa. âI know.â
âYou know?â Her parents stood up, their expressions a mixture of surprise and curiosity. âWerenât you seeing him?â
Katherine chuckled lightly. âWhere on earth did you hear such gossip?â
They exchanged uncertain looks before sitting back down. âWeâre just concerned for your wellbeing.â They had only heard fragments and rumors from various sources. Bobby had been the one closest to Katherine, and based on this, they had naturally assumed she was dating him.
Initially, their concerns were palpable. While Bobby had admirable qualities, his personal life was infamously tumultuous.
Whispers had spread that his engagement was a manipulation, with his mother feigning illness to pressure him into acquiescence. However, from Katherineâs familyâs perspective, the engagement between Bobby and the girl seemed tenuous at best. Once his mother was discharged, Bobby wasted no time indulging in a three-day clubbing spree, completely disregarding his fatherâs persistent calls to return home. Instead, he rented a yacht and invited around a hundred women to join him.
Despite this, his parents were still enthusiastic about the prospect of Bobby finally settling down, while Katherineâs parents were equally convinced that it was time for her to begin a more grounded journey.
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