Chapter 54: Chapter 54



Joelle pulled her coat tighter around her chest, her voice cutting through the chill as she warned, “Adrian, if you touch me again, I swear I’ll bite you.”

Adrian wiped a drop of blood from his lip with his thumb, staring at it with a wild grin. “You’re my wife, Joelle. I can kiss you whenever I damn well please!”

Without another word, Joelle pressed the button to unlock the car door. Just before stepping out, she threw him a cold smile over her shoulder. “Don’t count on me being your wife much longer!”

Her high heels clicked against the pavement as she hurried away, glancing back after a few steps. Adrian’s car remained where she left it. With a sigh of relief, she quickened her pace. At the bus stop, her phone buzzed incessantly. Adrian again. She ignored the first few calls, hoping he would give up, but when he kept at it, her curiosity got the better of her.

“Hello?”

“Joelle, let’s strike a deal.”

“What kind of deal?”

Adrian offered, “We’ll get divorced in a year, at the latest. But first, you’re going to give me a child. Once the baby is born, I’ll let you go.”

For a brief moment, Joelle thought he was joking. But the unyielding firmness in his voice quickly dispelled that notion. Adrian continued, “I’m giving you a minute to think about it. This is the only way we part on good terms. If you give me a child, I’ll make sure your brother lives a good life.”

He was using her brother, Shawn, as leverage, which made Joelle curse under her breath.

Adrian’s chuckle echoed through the phone. “You can refuse, but believe me, I have plenty of ways to make you agree.” Joelle didn’t hesitate. “There’s no way in hell I’m having your child. I’d rather sleep on the streets with my brother than give you what you want. Go to hell, Adrian!”

She hung up, acutely aware of the curious stares from the people around her. Her face burned with embarrassment as she quickly boarded the bus.

The next day, Joelle tried to bury Adrian’s threats in the routine of her daily life. She continued teaching Josiah at Olive Villas every other day and visited Miley’s home weekly. She even asked Katherine to help her find a few more clients to fill the gaps in her schedule.

As her days became more structured, the memory of Adrian’s words slowly faded into the background.

On one of those hot summer days, she arrived at Miley’s house for a lesson, as usual. Kiera answered the door and led Joelle inside. “She’s in her room. Locked herself in as soon as she got home.” Kiera, as usual, seemed detached.

Joelle had grown accustomed to it. She greeted Kiera briefly before knocking on Miley’s door.

When the door swung open, Joelle was startled by the sight before her. “What happened to your face?”

Miley didn’t respond immediately but instead pulled Joelle inside. Her face was mottled with bruises, varying in size and severity.

“I’m okay, but I need to talk to you about something.”

Joelle’s demeanor turned serious. “We’ll get to that, but first, you need to tell me how you got those bruises.”

Joelle wanted to check for other injuries, but Miley was bundled up in layers of clothing, concealing any further harm. As Joelle scanned the room, her gaze landed on Miley’s torn school uniform crumpled in the corner. “Miley, is someone bullying you at school?”

“No!” Miley was unwilling to divulge more.

Joelle exhaled slowly, searching for another way to get through to her. “You have two options. Either I go ask your stepmother, or you tell me the truth yourself.”

Faced with this ultimatum, Miley forgot she could refuse both options. She quickly confessed, “I had a fight with a classmate because she said I wasn’t good enough at violin to get into the best music school. I got mad and ended up confronting her about it.”

Joelle was silent, processing this revelation. After a moment, she asked, “What was it you wanted to talk to me about?” Miley looked up, her eyes pleading. “Can you teach me more often? Once a week isn’t enough. When my mom taught me, I practiced from seven in the morning until eleven at night. I promise I’ll pay you! I have my own savings.”

Miley’s father had originally set the once-a-week lesson schedule. Joelle had previously advised Kiera not to put too much pressure on Miley, and soon after, Miley’s father had called to explain his reasoning. He wanted Miley to enjoy playing the violin as a hobby, not as a relentless pursuit.

But Miley had her expectations, far beyond what Joelle had anticipated.

“Miley, do you enjoy playing the violin?”

Miley nodded, but under Joelle’s steady gaze, she hesitated, her confidence wavering. Finally, Miley dropped her head. “My mom enjoyed watching me play the violin. I want to play for her.”

“So, you don’t really enjoy playing the violin for yourself, do you?” Miley paused, then tried to shift the conversation away. “Should we start the lesson?”

Joelle chose not to press further and focused on the lesson instead. When they finished, she said gently, “I’ll need to discuss the extra lessons with your father first, and I’m not sure I can come every day.”

Miley nodded obediently.

Joelle hesitated, then added, “Miley, I wouldn’t recommend overdoing it. Practice does make perfect, but when something you love becomes a chore, it can drain all the joy out of it. Do you understand what I mean?”

Joelle had just finished speaking when Kiera walked into the room.

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