Return, My Love: Wooing the Neglected Ex-Wife

Chapter 58:

“You bastard!”

Joelle got up from the sofa, straightened her pajamas, and wore them properly. Meanwhile, Adrian got up from the couch beside her and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. By the time he got out, Joelle had already left. Adrian scoffed before lighting a cigarette as he stood amidst the empty apartment. Then, he took out his phone to make a call.

All of a sudden, Joelle felt a sense of foreboding. The fact that Adrian bought the apartment made something clear to her. Wherever she went, he could easily buy the place and force her out of it.

Still, she believed that in her line of work, there was no way Adrian could fully prevent her from getting any opportunity.

Once she was out of the apartment, Joelle reached out to the families she had interviewed with. Some of them hadn’t given her a response. Initially, this didn’t bother her, but after what happened with Adrian, she felt compelled to know their answers.

For some strange reason, all of them seemed to have a coordinated response. They all rejected her with the same excuse. “Mrs. Miller, we’re deeply sorry, but we’re afraid we can’t hire you right now.”

Her worst fear had been realized. Adrian proved that he could easily make her life miserable and block every road she could take.

As the harsh midday sun began to wane, Joelle’s phone battery nearly depleted. She had spent her entire afternoon calling potential employers, only to face rejection from all of them. Feeling weary, she sat on a bench within a residential complex. Her phone rang once more. Without even glancing at the caller ID, she answered the call.

“Hello? Who is this?”

“Hey, Joelle, it’s me.” It was Rafael.

Suddenly, Joelle had a bad feeling about this.

“Rafael, please don’t tell me that you’re going to fire me as well,” she pleaded.

Shocked by Joelle’s forthright plea, Rafael paused for a moment before saying, “I’m sorry, Joelle, but Adrian talked to the Walters family.”

This response made Joelle lose all semblance of hope. “I see. I already expected this,” she muttered.

Trying to offer some comfort, Rafael explained, “It’s not your fault. They had already planned to take Josiah abroad for treatment. When they’re back, you can start teaching Josiah again. I doubt he’d settle for any teacher but you.”

Despite her disappointment, Joelle managed a strained smile, knowing Rafael was trying to lift her spirits.

A twinge of guilt struck Rafael. Although he felt the conversation should end, he couldn’t resist offering more help. “Joelle, I could secretly help you find another student.”

“Really?” she responded, her voice tinged with surprise. “Sure, as long as you don’t mind that he has no musical background and learns slowly.”

“That’s fine!” Joelle’s spirits lifted. “As long as he’s willing to learn, I believe anyone can. So, who is he?”

Rafael’s voice grew tender. “Me.”

As the evening breeze teased her hair, Joelle clutched her phone tighter.

After a brief silence, she replied with mixed emotions, “Rafael, please don’t joke about this.”

“I’m serious. We’ll keep it under wraps so Adrian won’t find out. I’ll pay you triple your usual rate, but you’ll need to be patient with me—I’m awful at music.”

Joelle couldn’t help but laugh. “Rafael, that’s absurd. You’re clearly better suited for saving lives, not forcing yourself into something you’re not passionate about. Don’t worry about me. I’ll find another job.”

Rafael hadn’t expected her to accept his offer, so her refusal didn’t come as a surprise. “Alright, but if you find yourself in a tight spot, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can always count on me, Joelle.”

“Thanks, Rafael.”

After Joelle ended the call, the oppressive summer heat bore down on her.

Joelle refused to linger on Rafael’s proposal. Instead, she directed her energy toward carving out her own path. Adrian aimed to coerce her back into the role of a compliant wife, a decorative piece destined to bear his children. But Joelle was resolute in her refusal.

She wasn’t bound to the violin industry alone; myriad opportunities lay ahead.

That evening, while she was sitting in the park, a young woman approached her, sensing she might be seeking employment. “You’re quite striking! You could try working in a bar. The pay is substantial and swift.”

Joelle shook her head. “That’s not really my style.”

“Don’t worry about it! It involves merely serving drinks and popping bottles for patrons. If you’ve got a flair, you might even perform on stage. Bars are considerably safe these days, and patrons generally avoid causing trouble. You could earn more in one night than in an entire month elsewhere.”

The young woman glanced at her watch. “I’m off to work now. Why don’t you come along and see for yourself?”

Joelle grew suspicious. “I don’t even know you.”

“Relax!” The girl perceived Joelle’s hesitation. “We have a referral program. I receive a bonus for every recruit, which is why I’m suggesting it to you.”

As Joelle stepped a few meters back, the girl kept up her enthusiastic pitch.

A young man, overhearing their conversation, stepped forward. “If it’s as good as you say, why don’t I accompany her? I’m on the job hunt too. There’s no gender restriction, right?”

“Absolutely not! Only subpar jobs discriminate based on gender!”

The young man turned to Joelle. “Don’t worry. I’ll go with you.” His appearance was that of a friendly local college student.noveldrama

Given her financial strain and feeling reassured by his company, Joelle decided to take a chance and followed the girl.

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