Return, My Love: Wooing the Neglected Ex-Wife

Chapter 68:

Adrian had always been a distant figure to Luke, someone he’d only ever glimpsed in the pages of newspapers. Adrian, the heir to the city’s most powerful family, was a business tycoon with a spot on the global rich list.

The fact that he was here, in this small park, felt surreal and inexplicable. But amidst his confusion, he was thrilled—Adrian’s presence could bring the attention and celebrity endorsements this newly opened park desperately needed.

“Mr. Miller? Why are you here?”

Adrian didn’t bother responding, his expression dark as he strode over.

Joelle, overhearing the startled question, turned around, only to meet Adrian’s stern gaze. “Adrian, what brought you here?”

Adrian had been there long enough to see more than he cared for. He watched as Joelle tended to Luke, her familiarity with him unsettling.

His gaze lingered on the Band-Aid she had just finished wrapping around Luke’s finger—a minor injury that certainly didn’t warrant such close attention.

“Joelle, you need to remember your place.” Adrian’s voice was laced with irritation.

Joelle and Luke exchanged glances. While Luke’s confusion was evident, Joelle quickly grasped the situation.

Her hands moved with deliberate calmness as she packed away the first-aid kit. “And what exactly is my place?”

Adrian didn’t answer immediately. His eyes studied her. They had grown up together, and he had always believed he knew her. Yet recently, Joelle had become an enigma, slipping further away from the woman he thought he understood.

“Do I really need to spell it out? Joelle, is this how a wife is supposed to behave?”

Luke, who had been slowly piecing together the dynamics at play, suddenly realized what was going on. Any budding affection he had felt for Joelle evaporated. Noticing the tension between the couple, he wisely decided it was time to leave. “Sorry, Mr. Miller, Mrs. Miller, I have other things to attend to. I’ll leave you to it.”

With that, he hurried away.

Joelle resumed threading skewers, ignoring the weight of Adrian’s gaze. He stood by, lighting a cigarette, the smoke curling around him as he watched her in brooding silence.

“What makes you think you can share my bed and then turn around to entertain a guy like him?” He was referring to Luke.

Joelle was not a fool.

And she wasn’t blind to the shift in the atmosphere earlier—if Adrian hadn’t appeared, things between her and Luke could have taken a different turn.

There were four guys and four girls. Joelle didn’t think much of it at first. But now that Adrian was here, Joelle found the situation pretty amusing.

She smirked and said, “You’re very confident, aren’t you? He’s just a man. And there are plenty of men out there, Adrian. Just because I don’t love you doesn’t mean I can’t love someone else.”

Adrian moved closer, his arm snaking around her waist, pulling her into the small, tense space between them.

Meanwhile, Luke, who had already put some distance between himself and the couple, couldn’t resist his curiosity. He glanced back briefly.

Holy moly!

They were married! He’d vastly misjudged the situation. The thought that he’d actually considered hitting on Adrian’s wife now made his skin crawl.

Flustered, Luke nearly collided with Katherine as he turned around. “Katherine, why didn’t you warn me that Joelle is Mr. Miller’s wife? You’ve practically thrown me to the wolves!”

Katherine arched an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “And how exactly did you come to that conclusion?”

Luke jerked a thumb in the direction of Adrian and Joelle. “When did Mr. Miller tie the knot?”

It wasn’t surprising that Adrian’s marriage to Joelle was like a well-kept secret. From the outset, Adrian had never treated Joelle like a wife, nor had he ever publicly acknowledged their marriage.

Yet Katherine couldn’t fathom why Adrian would bother showing up here if he didn’t care about Joelle.

Was it possible that Adrian was finally starting to see her in a different light?

Men really were hopeless! They only seemed to value something once it was slipping through their fingers.

Meanwhile, Adrian tilted Joelle’s chin with the hand holding his cigarette, his gaze sharp. “Say that again!”

Joelle’s breath hitched, the smile that had graced her lips faltering slightly. “You think I’m scared?”

Adrian sneered, “I think your father has spent too much time in that sanatorium. A change of scenery might do him some good, wouldn’t you agree?”

Joelle’s eyes flared with anger. “Are you seriously threatening me with my father?”

“Joelle, you’d better watch yourself! You’re parading around with the title of Mrs. Miller while flirting with other men. Do you fear I will break your legs?”

Joelle tilted her head, her eyes suddenly gleaming with a challenge.

“Adrian, could it be that you’re starting to have feelings for me?”

“How could that ever be?” His response was immediate, the disdain in his eyes cold and unyielding.

Joelle’s smile was tinged with indifference. “Then let’s stay out of each other’s way. Ever heard of an open marriage? I don’t care how many women you entertain, and you shouldn’t care who I flirt with.”

“An open marriage,” Adrian repeated, laughter tinged with rage escaping his lips. His large hand clamped down on her face, forcing her to meet his eyes. “You really have no limits, do you?”

Joelle shrugged off his grip. “If it’s not an open marriage, then what am I left with?”noveldrama

Living with a man who didn’t love her, alongside his mistress—what could be more miserable? Joelle would only feel a little better if Adrian went through what she was feeling.

Adrian was uncertain if he’d heard her correctly. “What did you just say?”

“Nothing.”

Joelle’s voice was flat as she finished skewering the meat, ready to place it on the grill. But suddenly, her right hand gave out, and the box tipped precariously. As she struggled to steady it, the entire thing crashed down onto the folded table. The contents scattered everywhere. Adrian clicked his tongue in irritation.

“Useless!”

With the cigarette still between his teeth, he grabbed the box from her hands, but he hesitated as he lifted it.

It wasn’t that heavy, so why had Joelle struggled to lift it?

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