Return, My Love: Wooing the Neglected Ex-Wife

Chapter 18:

Leah exited the room after placing the milk on the table, but not before tossing Adrian a covert wink, unnoticed by Joelle. The two cups of milk looked conspicuous in the room. With his lips twisted into a sinister smirk, Adrian stood up from the bed and emptied both cups into a nearby potted plant. Almost immediately, Joelle detected the sharp, distinct scent of medicine mingling with the milk.

Their gazes locked, and Adrian began to unbutton his pajamas. Joelle froze, then was jolted by his icy voice. “If you’re that desperate, just say it. There’s no need to team up with Leah to drug me.” Adrian approached without waiting for Joelle to respond. His towering height loomed over her like an imposing wall. Joelle denied, “I didn’t… No!”

Adrian didn’t give her a chance to finish. In one swift movement, he stripped off her towel. Joelle backed up until she found herself pressed against the glass door of the balcony, completely exposed. Anyone looking up from outside would have a clear view of her body against the cold glass. She glanced outside and felt a wave of relief when she found the area below empty.

Time seemed to blur. Her voice broke as she pleaded, “No more, please. I can’t take it anymore.” Adrian’s grip was firm on her hips, and her back scraped against the glass with each movement. Her legs encircled his waist, clinging like an ornament. Despite his palpable anger, his vigor showed no signs of flagging. He continued with unyielding force and made sure she knew exactly how much he despised her.

“Joelle, it’s like you’re made of water. Why the tears? Isn’t this exactly what you wanted? Look at yourself. You’re nothing but a tease.” The night felt like an unending nightmare. Adrian didn’t stop until Joelle succumbed to sheer exhaustion. Unlike their previous, detached encounters, Adrian seemed consumed by a compulsion to destroy her completely.

As the first light of dawn crept in, Joelle was startled awake by yet another nightmare. The space beside her was cold and empty, as if it had always been. She got up to fetch a glass of water downstairs but paused upon overhearing a conversation between Leah and Adrian. “Sir, don’t hold it against your grandmother for being anxious. She was the one who arranged your marriage with Joelle. She’s just worried about your relationship.”

Adrian remained silent. If anyone else had tried to lecture him, he would dismiss their comments right away. However, Leah was an exception. She had taken care of him since he was little. Though merely a maid, Leah was akin to family, closer than any of his actual kin. In their elite social circles, where true affection was rare, bonds formed with household staff often held more sincerity.noveldrama

Joelle had recently learned of a wealthy heiress who had purchased a luxurious mansion for her longtime nanny and planned to personally care for the nanny in her old age. Despite being sent by Irene to monitor their marriage, Leah was among the few who could speak candidly with Adrian. “Sir, please listen to your grandmother’s wishes. Have a baby with Joelle, settle down, and give her peace of mind,” Leah advised.

Adrian’s temper flared. “I’ve already agreed to move back home. As for having a child, we’ll see if fate allows it.”

“Then you and Joelle should try harder! You’re both young and healthy. Surely, with more effort, a baby will be made. Your grandmother wants a great-grandchild desperately,” Leah suggested, her eyes alight with hope. She was wrapped snugly in a cozy blanket, with two steaming cups of coffee at her side. Adrian picked up one of the cups and continued in a detached tone, “It appears Joelle is nothing more than a tool in your eyes.”

“How can you talk about your wife like that?” Leah rebuked him. “She genuinely cares for you. I’ve seen it with my own eyes over the past three years. Your grandmother chose the right person for you!”

Adrian said nothing in response. He had repeatedly told Irene that he only saw Joelle as a sister. Nevertheless, Irene had insisted on their marriage and exploited the drugging incident involving Joelle to seal the deal. This manipulation only served to deepen his disdain for Joelle. “Doesn’t she deserve to face consequences for her actions?” Adrian sneered.

Leah fell silent, realizing she might have overstepped. Though she held Adrian’s respect, she knew better than to cross the line. Sensing Adrian’s increasingly frosty demeanor, she ventured, “Sir, do you really feel nothing for her after all this time?” Behind the wall, Joelle held her breath, her heart thundering in her chest.

“I’ll never have feelings for her,” Adrian chillingly declared. “If it weren’t for Grandma’s wish for a great-grandchild, do you think I’d bother returning?” Joelle slid down the wall and collapsed to the floor in despair. So, Adrian only stayed because of Irene’s wishes. All the nights Adrian came back to her, all the intimate encounters… They were just to turn her into a breeding machine for the Miller family.

Joelle staggered back into the bedroom. Her steps faltered as she hurried into the bathroom. In the mirror, her tear-streaked face stared back at her. Concealed behind the mirror was a box of contraceptives she had hidden away long ago. The very first time Adrian had been obligated to be with her after their marriage, he had someone deliver those pills. In a burst of anger, Joelle had consumed them all without even bothering to read the instructions. They wanted her to have a baby, huh?

But it would be on her terms alone. No one else was going to dictate that for her.

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