âI heard Stephen Finch is arranging a marriage for his granddaughter.â
âMila?â Though she wasnât particularly interested, Joelle felt a flicker of curiosity. âWho did he arrange for her?â
âI heard itâs Mr. Miller. He went to visit Stephen as soon as he got off the plane. Could they be discussing the impending marriage?â The nurseâs words seemed almost too far-fetched, and Joelle found it hard to believe.
Adrian had promised he would come to visit her as soon as he landed. Yet, considering the time that had passed, he should have arrived by now. Why hadnât he shown up?
The nurse, sensing she had said enough, added, âMs. Watson, donât overthink it. Itâs just some idle gossip among us. Iâm just here to keep you informed. Mr. Miller is quite remarkable; any woman would be captivated by him.â
Joelle, far from naive, understood the implications in the nurseâs words. While Adrianâs meeting with Stephen was one thing, the gossipers around her seemed to have their own motives.
Joelle glanced at the nurseâs name tag, committing it to memory.
As soon as the nurse left, Joelle immediately contacted the hospital director and arranged for the nurseâs termination.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Joelle couldnât identify the caller, but she was sure it wasnât Adrian. After all, Adrian would never knock before entering.
âCome in,â she said.
The door creaked open, and Joelle began to sit up, only to freeze in surprise. Her eyes widened as she saw none other than Adrian standing in the doorway.
Joelle was filled with a mixture of astonishment and joy.
He held a stunning bouquet of delicate pink roses, which he had asked Callan to procure before he disembarked from the plane.
Despite being busy with countless responsibilities, Adrian always found time for gestures like this. It wasnât time that people were reluctant to give, but effort and thoughtfulness.
Joelle accepted the bouquet, the fragrance of the roses mingling with a subtle undertone of sandalwood. She tugged at Adrianâs clothing, pulling him closer, and the scent of sandalwood surrounded him even more vividly.
She had encountered this scent before; it felt like a distant memory, haunting and familiar.
âYou met with Stephen?â she asked.
Adrian was taken aback by her perceptiveness, but he had no intention of hiding the truth.
He removed his coat and draped it over the back of the sofa before sitting down beside Joelle. âI was just about to tell you.â
Joelle, holding the bouquet Adrian had just given her, felt a slight unease. âThe first person you met after getting off the plane wasnât me.â
Adrian gently patted her head, teasing her. âAre you jealous of an old man?â
She wasnât jealous. It was more a reflection on the nurseâs conversation earlier. âWhat did you talk about?â she asked.
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