Chapter 40: Chapter 40



Rafael noticed the confusion in Adrian’s eyes and poured more wine into Adrian’s glass. “Is it that I’m too close to Joelle, or have you never really paid attention to her?”

When Michael called Joelle by her name, Adrian felt nothing. But hearing Rafael mention her name instantly soured his mood. “She’s my wife. It’s not anyone else’s place to be concerned about her.” Adrian covered his glass with his large hand, stopping Rafael from pouring more wine. Their eyes locked, and Rafael met his gaze with a serene expression.

“Of course. But have you ever really cared about her?” Rafael asked. Adrian’s face flushed with anger, and the veins on his hand stood out prominently. The tension thickened to the point where even Michael felt uncomfortable. “Are you two alright? We’re all friends here. What’s the point of getting upset?”

Rafael was the first to back down. He pulled back his confrontational stance and said, “Sorry about that. It seems my presence is upsetting someone. I’ll take my leave.” Michael called after Rafael a few times but couldn’t convince him to stay. He sighed resignedly and put an arm around Adrian’s shoulder. “What the hell is going on? Does Joelle still have feelings for Rafael?”

Suddenly, the glass in Adrian’s hand shattered from the force of his grip, leaving Michael stunned. “Don’t bring this up again.” Adrian stood up and walked away.

The day arrived when Joelle would take Josiah to the animal protection association’s event. The main activity involved distributing flyers in a bustling plaza to promote animal welfare. For Josiah, merely stepping outside was a significant step forward. With Joelle translating for him, he gradually became more comfortable at the event.

They were stationed at the entrance of a shopping mall, where both Joelle and Josiah, dressed in red vests, handed out flyers with friendly smiles to passersby. However, some people waved them off without taking a flyer. Seeing Josiah’s disappointment, Joelle patted his shoulder. “It’s okay. We’ll take it slow. Don’t be discouraged.”

Josiah’s spirits lifted, and he nodded with newfound hope. As noon drew near and the sun climbed higher in the sky, a member of the animal protection association advised they take a break. Joelle removed her vest and guided Josiah to a nearby coffee shop inside the mall.

While Josiah sat quietly on the shop’s sofa, observing his surroundings with curiosity, Joelle queued up for their drinks. Suddenly, the shop was filled with loud voices. Looking over, Joelle saw Josiah at the center of the commotion, confronted by a couple. She recognized the man at once. It was Erick.

With his arm around his girlfriend’s waist, Erick was hurling insults at Josiah. Though Josiah couldn’t hear, Joelle couldn’t just watch Erick berate him. She stepped closer just as Erick’s tirade reached its peak. “Why don’t you fucking say something? Are you deaf or just pretending? You little brat!”

Unsure of what was happening, the people nearby hesitated to step in. Joelle stepped beside Josiah and fixed Erick with a cold stare. “Is there a problem?” Erick recognized her immediately. Seeing Joelle by Josiah’s side made him falter.

“Joelle, do you know this young man?” Joelle didn’t answer his question and said, “Let’s cut to the chase. I’m not interested in small talk.” Erick’s demeanor turned arrogant, and he pulled his girlfriend closer. “There were no seats available, so my girlfriend asked to share this guy’s table. But no matter how politely we asked, he didn’t respond. Isn’t that rude?”

At first, Erick’s complaint seemed reasonable. Even now, Josiah continued to use his phone, oblivious to the glares he was receiving. A voice from behind Joelle chimed in, “So that’s what happened. Young people these days are so inconsiderate. This is a public place, not his personal space!”

Joelle narrowed her eyes at the self-righteous man before her. “How do you expect him to respond? He’s deaf and mute. What do you want him to do?”

Everyone fell silent as they processed this new information. They looked at Josiah, the quiet young man, with newfound understanding. “What a pity. He’s still young, but he’s disabled.” Joelle turned towards the person who had just spoken. “Please don’t call him disabled. He has a complete personality and a kind heart, unlike those who insult others without understanding the situation.”

Her words were a direct jab at Erick, who caught the implication at once. “How was I supposed to know he’s deaf? Ugh! This is frustrating! Forget it. Come on, babe, let’s go buy that bag you wanted!” Just as Erick was about to take a step, Joelle’s firm voice stopped him. “Where are you going? Apologize to him.”

Knowing very well he mustn’t show his irritation in front of Joelle, Erick retorted with a hint of jest, “It’s not entirely our fault, is it? Just because he can’t hear doesn’t mean he can’t see.” Joelle’s expression remained stern, leaving no room for negotiation. “You insulted him, and your words were cruel. You’re not leaving until you apologize.”

Erick held back his anger. “He didn’t hear it anyway. How about we just call it even and move on?”

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