But then sheâd think of Auroraâgraceful, elegant, and poised. How did one daughter become so refined while the other turned into a tiny troublemaker?
Joelleâs frustration spilled over. âWhen Lucas comes over this summer, Iâll have him educate Molly!â
Adrianâs expression darkened. âWhy should my daughter be educated by him?â
âHave you ever educated her?â Joelle shot back without hesitation. âSheâs spoiled rotten because of you! Even the younger kids have to give in to her!â
Adrian winced at her words, guilt flickering across his face. âItâs good for a girl to be strong. That way, she wonât get bullied.â
Joelle threw up her hands in exasperation. âI canât talk to you! After Auroraâs exam, Iâll teach both Molly and you a good lesson!â
With that, she flopped back onto the bed, yanking most of the blanket with her and turning her back to him.
âHoney, Iâm sorry.â Adrian snuggled closer to Joelle from behind, his voice soft as he murmured her name again and again.
His hands slipped beneath the blanket, moving with deliberate tenderness. After years of marriage, Adrian knew every inch of her, every place that made her melt. Soon, he was under the covers, trailing slow, deliberate kisses down her body, his touch igniting sparks of warmth and desire.
No matter how frustrated or angry Joelle felt, Adrian always knew how to break through her defenses. The fire between them, even after all these years, burned just as fiercely.
Adrian, despite his years, carried an unrelenting energy, a force that left Joelle breathless every time.
The next day, a lively group escorted Aurora to the exam venue.
The street leading to the venue had been blocked off to prevent congestion, so their cars stopped nearby. As Aurora turned to leave, she saw her parents and relatives waving small flags, their cheers filling the air.
Joelle and Katherine smiled brightly at her.
Adrian reminded her to double-check if she had forgotten anything. Shawn chimed in, mentioning the restaurant heâd booked to celebrate with Aurora after the exam.
Surrounded by so much encouragement and support, Aurora felt a mix of warmth and embarrassment. Thankfully, sheâd woken up an hour early. If not, just handling all these people would have made her late.
âAlright, I know! Iâll do my best!â Aurora waved at them before turning to join the other examinees.
Half an hour remained before the exam. She found a shady spot under a tree. She didnât recognize anyone nearby, so she quietly recited math formulas to herself.
A sudden tap on her left shoulder startled her. She turned to her right, only to meet Rickeyâs playful gaze.
âHey, looks like youâve gotten smarter this time.â
A bandage stretched across his cheekâa reminder of last monthâs motorcycle accident, where he had fallen off a bridge.
Aurora had rushed to visit him in the hospital, nearly crying from worry. But Rickey had laughed at her, calling her timid. That day, he had promised her heâd never race again.
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