Return, My Love: Wooing the Neglected Ex-Wife

Chapter 43:

Hearing Rebecca’s voice, Joelle stopped in her tracks. To look at Rebecca now, she would have to look up, so she shot a sharp glare upward. Leah, quickly picking up on the cue, stepped forward. “That’s strange. Why should Mrs. Miller need to announce her arrival before returning to her own home?”

Rebecca descended the stairs slowly and said, “Well, you wouldn’t need to give notice normally, but Adie said there are many important documents in the study. Just to be safe, it’s better to be careful about who enters the home.” Joelle smiled thinly. “Exactly. So please, keep away from the study. If anything goes missing, you, as an outsider, would be the first suspect.”

The term “outsider” clearly struck a nerve with Rebecca. Not in the mood for prolonging the conversation, Joelle headed upstairs to the study. She knew the study was secured with a password, and she happened to know what the password was. One day, Adrian had forgotten a document and asked Joelle to retrieve it from the study, which was how she had learned the password.

At the time, she believed she had become a trusted assistant to Adrian, and she was wrapped up in the fantasies she had imagined all day long. Reality proved harsher. After she entered the password, the door remained locked. Rebecca approached and suggested, “Joelle, why don’t you try my birthday?”

At first, Joelle was stunned by the suggestion but then realized it made sense. As the door unlocked, Joelle took a deep breath, held back tears, and forced herself to remain composed. Rebecca stood by the door, acting very much the hostess of the house and watching Joelle’s every move. Joelle felt a mix of bitterness and helplessness. Those who were favored had nothing to fear. How could she compete with Rebecca?

After finding her passport, Joelle wanted nothing more than to leave. Leah caught up to Joelle in the yard and said, “Mrs. Miller, don’t think too much. There was a time when the study door’s lock broke. Mr. Miller needed to reset the password, and Rebecca insisted he change it to her birthday.” Joelle smiled bitterly. “That still means Adrian trusts her, doesn’t it?”

Leah opened her mouth to say more, but Joelle turned to gaze at the four-story villa. It looked large yet felt suffocating. Each corner was a reminder of her presence. Rebecca was by the third-floor window, standing where Joelle often had. “I’m very happy to be out of there.” She looked toward the road ahead. The sky looked blue and boundless above her. “It’s okay, Leah. I won’t let myself be sad again.”

The next day, Joelle and Katherine boarded their flight to Italy. Both women turned heads with their striking beauty. Katherine, having spent the previous week at the gym, wore a camo tank top that highlighted the subtle muscles on her shoulders. The architecture around them resembled medieval art galleries. And every now and then, they spotted a charismatic street artist performing. As the river breeze played with Joelle’s dress, she donned her sunglasses and sat across from Katherine. Every so often, she took a bite from a pizza they had just picked up from a small roadside stand and soaked in the sunlight.

“Joelle, I can only be with you until six o’clock. I have a meeting with a major client later. Will you be okay on your own?” Joelle waved her hand dismissively. “I’ll be fine. Go ahead with your work!” As the sun set, Joelle returned to the hotel alone. At that moment, a black car pulled up at the hotel entrance. Michael and Adrian stepped out, and the doorman helped them with their luggage.

Joelle first recognized the familiar sound of Michael’s voice. She turned around and saw Adrian’s face. How could she even begin to describe what she was feeling right now? It felt like returning home in high spirits after a long day, only to have her mood sour at the sight of her husband. Joelle pretended not to notice them. But just as she was about to walk away, Michael called out to her. “Joelle, are you here for some fun too?”noveldrama

Given that she had grown up with Adrian, all his friends knew her well. Except for Adrian, they were all polite to her. “Yes, my friend is here on business. I’m just tagging along,” Joelle responded politely. “I see.” Michael glanced at Adrian and then turned back to Joelle. “How about I leave you two to talk?” “No,” Joelle and Adrian said at the same time.

Just then, the elevator arrived at the lobby. As soon as the doors opened, Joelle stepped in without a second thought. Once Joelle was out of sight, Michael nudged Adrian. “What happened between you and Joelle? Did you guys have a fight?” He wanted to ask if it had anything to do with Rafael, but he held back, fearing it might anger Adrian. Lately, tensions had been high between Adrian and Rafael. And even without Rafael, this trip was no exception. Annoyed by the questioning, Adrian quickened his pace. As soon as Joelle got back to her room, her phone rang. It was Adrian. “Why didn’t you tell me you were here?” Joelle had always kept Adrian informed of her whereabouts. But lately, he felt increasingly out of touch with her life. He had no idea she was teaching Josiah the violin, nor did he have any idea about her daily activities.

.

.

.