Return, My Love: Wooing the Neglected Ex-Wife

Chapter 608:

Later, after she’d finally drifted to sleep, Adrian stepped out to find Aurora lingering in the doorway.

“Daddy, is Mommy crying again?”

“It’s okay.” He beckoned her over.

Aurora came to him, her doll clutched tightly, eyes flickering to Joelle with a mixture of sympathy and worry. She laid her favorite doll next to Joelle, hoping it could comfort her. Since Ryland’s disappearance, Aurora had learned to read her parents’ forced smiles.

She had grown up too fast, and Adrian could see it in her quiet maturity.

“Did you have a bad dream?” he asked.

Aurora leaned against him and said, “Ryland will come back, right?”

Adrian hugged her close.

“I promise, sweetheart, we’ll bring him home.”

Aurora had her own way of reading people. At first, she hadn’t seen Adrian as much of a father. But he always kept his word. She rubbed her eyes sleepily. “I’m tired.”

“Let’s get you back to bed.”

Aurora nestled into her pillow, content in the warm glow of the small light she liked to keep on.

Adrian kissed her forehead.

“I’m right here. Sleep well.”

She smiled and closed her eyes, then peeked at him again, her expression turning hopeful.

“Dad, I really want to go to Riverdale Elementary School.”

They’d looked at several schools lately. At Aurora’s age, they needed to start thinking about her future.

Adrian and Joelle had long discussed Riverdale Elementary School, but hadn’t asked Aurora for her opinion yet.

“You’re sure about that?”

She nodded eagerly.

“I am.”

“Alright.”

Adrian would never say no to Aurora.

“I’ll talk with your mom tomorrow, and we’ll do what we can.”

“Thank you, Daddy.”

“Better go to sleep now.”

Adrian stayed until her breathing deepened, reading her a couple of picture books before she drifted off.

Life resumed its rhythm in the days that followed: wedding plans, work, and school.noveldrama

On the surface, everything seemed normal.

But one evening, on their way home, Callan glanced in the rearview mirror.

“Mr. Miller, there’s a black car that’s been tailing us. Should we lose them?”

Adrian barely looked up, engrossed in texting Joelle about dinner plans. They were planning to have fried beef steak that night.

“No need.”

“Understood,” Callan replied.

When they arrived, the house was filled with the rich aroma of seared beef.

Joelle waved Callan in.

Callan hesitated.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude.”

“It’s fine,” Adrian chimed in, slipping off his shoes.

“The more, the merrier.”

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