Return, My Love: Wooing the Neglected Ex-Wife

Chapter 111:

Joelle couldn’t think of anyone who bore a grudge against her, except the Lloyd family. Rebecca was too frail to orchestrate anything, so it had to be Erick. He was always a troublemaker, the type who would pay someone to tarnish Joelle’s name and get rid of her baby. Lacey didn’t know much about Erick, but Rafael had heard enough to recognize the pattern. When Joelle mentioned Erick’s name, Rafael didn’t argue. He simply fell silent, lost in thought.

“Are you certain it’s him?” Lacey asked. “If it is, I can get someone to take care of him.” She didn’t so much as blink.noveldrama

Joelle, unfazed, picked up a piece of beef and placed it on Lacey’s plate. “No need to rush. We have no proof, and without it, we can’t be sure it’s him. Erick is Rebecca’s brother. Without solid evidence, Adrian won’t let us make a move against him.”

Lacey propped her chin on her hand. “So, how do you plan on getting that proof? Are you going to interrogate Ned? I don’t have any connections in the prison.”

“Well, I have an idea,” Rafael said. He was usually the quiet one, but when he did speak, his words carried weight. Joelle and Lacey turned to him.

Rafael met Lacey’s gaze. “I’ll need your help.”

“Name it. I’ll do whatever I can.”

Rafael said, “Go to Michael. Most of his family is in the judicial department, and he’s skilled at extracting information from criminals. I can’t think of anyone better suited to get something out of Ned.”

Lacey, who was usually composed, was surprised at the mention of Michael. “Rafael, you know Michael is Adrian’s close friend. Are you sure about this?”

Rafael smiled. “I’m his friend too, right? And so are you, Lacey.”

“It’s different.”

Lacey knew Michael and Adrian were practically inseparable. No matter the situation, Michael always sided with Adrian, even if he was wrong.

“It’s not so different. You and I both know we’re here with Joelle because we want to show Adrian the truth.” Rafael’s gaze was gentle and firm. “As Adrian’s friends, we have to let him believe that he hurt Joelle and had their child aborted. Lacey, don’t you think Adrian’s devotion to the Lloyd family has crossed a line?”

Lacey was quiet for a moment, but Rafael’s words resonated with her. “You’re right. But convincing Michael won’t be easy. He’s been loyal to Adrian for years. I’ll need time to persuade him.”

Joelle and Rafael spoke in unison. “Take all the time you need.”

As the meal drew to a close, a sudden sound startled everyone. Joelle had dropped her fork. She quickly flashed a smile, brushing it off as a simple slip of her grip. But Rafael, sitting beside her, noticed it. Her right hand, hidden beneath the table, was trembling uncontrollably. Desperate to stop the shaking, Joelle dug her nails into her palm, leaving red marks on her skin.

Rafael, a doctor, immediately sensed something was wrong. He struggled to believe that Joelle’s right hand had been injured and he had not noticed it until now. Just as he was about to question her, Joelle caught his eye and shook her head slightly.

With Lacey still at the table, neither of them said a word. The moment Lacey left, Rafael put down his utensils, his expression turning serious. “Let me see your hand.” Joelle tried to pull away, but Rafael held her hand firmly. As he examined it, he noted that while she could easily move her wrist, her hand twitched intermittently, and when she became emotional, the shaking worsened.

“How long has it been like this?” he asked.

Joelle lowered her head, knowing she could no longer hide the truth. “More than three years.”

“What happened? How did you injure it?”

“It was an accident.”

Joelle’s lips tightened, her silence speaking volumes. Her right hand had once carried her dreams, her glory. She longed for it to heal, to play the violin again, and to be free from the relentless pain.

Rafael’s words broke her resolve. “Rafael, please. Don’t ask.”

The dam she had so carefully constructed within herself gave way, and her emotions poured out—anger, sorrow, pain—all cascading down her cheeks in a flood of tears. Rafael suddenly realized he had struck a nerve, one buried deep in her heart.

Playing the violin had been her passion, but now it was a dream she could no longer chase. Seeing her like this made his heart ache. Gently, he pulled her into his arms, holding her close but with just enough distance to respect her space. He tenderly wiped away her tears with a tissue.

Meanwhile, in a sleek black car outside the window, Adrian watched the scene unfold with a dark expression. Sensing the tension, the driver remained silent, though he had been on the verge of speaking up in Joelle’s defense. But seeing Adrian’s mood, he knew better than to say anything.

“This is the woman you want me to trust?” Adrian’s cold voice sliced through the stillness in the car. “She’s falling apart. Looks like we’ve been far too harsh on her!” The driver swallowed, still not daring to speak.

After what felt like an eternity, Adrian tore his gaze away from the window and ordered, “Drive. Take me back!”

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