Return, My Love: Wooing the Neglected Ex-Wife

Chapter 82:

Adrian’s car maintained a steady distance behind them. When Joelle looked back, Adrian honked the horn again. Joelle frowned slightly, while Rafael locked eyes with Adrian through the car window.

“Joelle, it seems we can’t walk together,” Rafael said, his smile tinged with irony. “Adrian appears to be bothered by the fact that I’m standing right next to you.” Joelle doubted Adrian was acting out of jealousy; it felt more like a show of control.

To Adrian, she was like an object he owned, not to be approached by anyone else. The more she thought about it, the more her anger grew. However, she restrained her anger in front of Rafael to avoid making the situation uncomfortable.

“Rafael, I’m sorry. I forgot Adrian was coming to pick me up. I should go with him.”

“Don’t worry,” Rafael said, watching her get into Adrian’s car. After the car pulled away, he walked off.

Adrian checked the rearview mirror, noticing Rafael’s lingering look. With a dismissive snort, he asked, “Did I interrupt something?”

Joelle gazed out the window and stated flatly, “If you were coming to pick me up, you should have let me know in advance. You made Rafael and me uncomfortable.”

“Sure, I should have left you alone so you could enjoy some romantic time,” Adrian retorted sarcastically.

Joelle inhaled sharply, unable to avoid seeing Adrian’s mocking smile. It was so unsettling that it sent a shiver through her. Adrian was truly unpredictable. His moods changed as quickly as storm clouds.

At that moment, Joelle felt compelled to set things straight with him. Not everyone treated marriage vows lightly as he did. While Adrian might be at ease with his indiscretions, she maintained her own ethical standards.

“Adrian, until we’re divorced, I will not get involved with another man. Does that reassure you?” she asked, exasperated by his relentless mistrust.

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Adrian clenched the steering wheel, gritting his teeth. Joelle braced for an outburst, but instead, the tension seemed to dissipate. His tone was steady as he posed a question. “If we weren’t married, would you be with Rafael?”

Joelle turned her head away. “There’s no point in discussing hypotheticals.”

Her indirect response made Adrian recall something Rafael had mentioned. If Joelle hadn’t married him and Rafael had expressed his feelings, she likely would have reciprocated. Adrian saw no reason why she wouldn’t have.

Throughout their marriage, Joelle had been accommodating, never voicing any complaints. Adrian was aware of this, but he also believed that if Joelle had married Rafael, her behavior would have been similar.

The rest of the ride home, they sat in silence. Sensing the tension between the two, Leah attempted to brighten the atmosphere. She recalled that earlier in the day, the Miller Mansion had sent an invitation.

After dinner, she presented it to them. “We received an invitation from the Miller Mansion today. It’s for an engagement party.”

Only then did Joelle remember that Spencer was getting engaged to a girl from the Hudson family. The only member of the Hudson family Joelle knew was Lacey, but Lacey was abroad and seemed too unconventional to get engaged to Spencer.

Lacey had a full-blooded younger sister. Given that Lacey’s father had remarried multiple times, Lacey had several half-sisters, leaving Joelle unsure about who Spencer was getting engaged to. Joelle had met Lacey before and noted that she did not fit her reputation.

Driven by curiosity, Joelle decided to break the silence. “So who is Spencer getting engaged to?”

Adrian, still absorbed in his book and looking relaxed, answered without looking up. “Fiona Hudson.”

Joelle gasped. Fiona was Lacey’s full-blooded sister, known in their circles as the exact opposite of Lacey: a model of propriety, so discreet it was surprising she was a Hudson.

Her brow furrowed as she asked, “Fiona and Spencer? Is Lacey aware of this?” She wondered if Lacey would accept her sister getting engaged to Spencer.

Adrian’s voice was flat and detached. “It wouldn’t make a difference if she did know. It’s arranged by the two families. Neither Fiona nor Spencer has a choice in the matter. All they can do is accept it and live with it.”

Joelle sensed the underlying bitterness in his statement. He seemed to be projecting his own marital dissatisfaction onto Fiona and Spencer’s situation. The realization struck Joelle deeply, making her feel tense and unsettled.

Living with such a reality for a lifetime was a harsh truth. Adrian closed his book and gave her a piercing look. “It’s time to address our issues.”

By “issues,” he was referring to their plans to have a child. Joelle had been residing in Adrian’s house, eating his food, and using his resources. Though not by her choice, she found herself completely reliant on him. This left her with little power to reject his expectations.

“I’ll go take a shower first.”

However, Adrian lifted her into his arms, his expression stern and his eyes flashing with resolve. “Let’s shower together.”

Joelle felt an urge to cry but found herself unable to shed a tear. If he didn’t love her, why did he continue to insist on having sex with her?

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