Stephen clasped her hand in his. His eyes caught the vivid handprint etched on her cheek, but he decided to let it slide.
Facing Fred, Stephen proclaimed, âMila hasnât been home in years, and Iâve missed her so much. From now on, sheâll live with me in Illerith and wonât be leaving my side!â
The only one who bristled at Stephenâs words was Fred, yet he found himself unable to challenge his authority. Once they left the room, Fred could only urge Mila to tread carefully moving forward.
âAdrian and Joelle share a strong bond. If you keep spouting this thoughtless nonsense, I wonât defend you before Adrian anymore.â
Having absorbed the lesson from the slap, Mila now carried herself with a newfound humility, her demeanor noticeably more subdued. âI know.â
Fred didnât waste any more time on her. As Mila watched his figure fade into the distance, a wave of indignation surged within her.
Did Adrian really harbor such profound love for Joelle? She could hardly wrap her mind around it.
She had everything Joelle had; she deserved a man who would be just as unwaveringly devoted to her.
Mila had long perceived Joelle as her phantom rival, and the idea that she couldnât capture this manâs heart was simply inconceivable to her.
A few days later, Adrian set off for an international conference.
This conference had been on the calendar since the beginning of the year, and Adrian was set to represent all domestic businessmen, poised to deliver a pivotal speech and proposal.
The conference was being broadcast live on television. Joelle lounged in her hospital room, snacking on fruit while captivated by the unfolding events on screen.
Adrianâs face, already a sight to behold in person, became even more mesmerizing on screen, radiating an undeniable charm.
His long, thick eyelashes, captivating gaze, and sculpted features elicited praise even from Katherine, who found herself unable to resist complimenting him. âIsnât he absolutely breathtaking? The whole world knows heâs yours.â
Joelle skewered a piece of apple with her fork, a smug satisfaction swelling in her heart. âHeâs not bad. Iâve grown accustomed to his looks after seeing him every day.â
The camera swept over the audience, landing on Shawn, who stood out distinctly among a cluster of middle-aged men.
He smiled serenely at the camera, extending a warm greeting to viewers across the nation.
âWow, Mr. Watson is quite the handsome one too!â the nurse teased playfully as she removed Joelleâs IV. âMs. Watson, your brother doesnât have a girlfriend, does he?â
âNo, he doesnât.â
âIs there someone heâs interested in?â
Joelle shot a sly glance at Katherine. âThe person he likes doesnât feel the same way. I doubt Iâll be getting a sister-in-law anytime soon.â
.
.
.