Love or Die: CEO’ s Daily Dose of Swoon (Cordelia) novel Chapter 51

Cordelia had no intention of getting involved. After all, the girl was Juliana's guest. But when Rosina called her a "deaf-mute," it struck a chord. The orphanage where Cordelia had grown up received children with disabilities who had been abandoned.

Her gaze returned to Joy. The girl offered Cordelia a kind, innocent smile, like those from the children at the orphanage. She was a cute girl, wasn’t she?

Cordelia gestured toward the couch on the other side of the room, inviting her to sit. Joy's eyes lit up as she nodded and walked over.

Once seated, Joy looked at Cordelia with expectant eyes, reminiscent of a kitten awaiting affection from its owner, gentle and understanding. Despite Cordelia's usual aloofness, her heart softened a touch. She joined Joy on the couch.

Joy sat quietly, her hands moving across the coffee table as though playing an invisible piano. Halfway through her silent piece, she seemed to hit a snag. Her fingers paused, and a frown creased her forehead, evoking a pang of sympathy.

Across from them, Rosina entered full-on mockery mode. "Aw, does she think she's capable? A deaf-mute trying to join in? Pathetic."

Cordelia glanced up, her gaze cold as she retorted. "Ever heard of Beethoven?"

Rosina blinked in confusion, taking a moment to grasp the implication. Flustered, she fired back. "How dare you compare her to Beethoven? Do you think sucking up to her will make Mrs. Collins favor you? Let me tell you. This mute can't speak, so your time is wasted on her."

Always concerned with appearances, Juliana worked hard on her piano skills to craft the image of a perfect lady. She wouldn't mistreat a guest. It was just taking advantage of Joy's inability to speak or complain.

At that moment, Joy, oblivious to the contempt directed at her, took out her phone and typed a message. [Juliana, I don't quite understand a part of the piece I want to play later. Could you help me with it?]

Juliana scoffed at the text but nodded toward the grand piano in the upstairs living room, signaling Joy to play.

Grateful, Joy put her hands together in a silent thank you and approached the piano. Her fingers danced across the keys with fluid grace until she reached the problematic section, where she stopped and typed. [Is this part not quite right?]

Of course, it wasn't right. Even Cordelia, from her vantage point, could hear the discordance. It was a composition by Joy, talented but imperfect. Despite being deaf, Joy had an acute sense for music!

Trying to maintain her composure, Juliana realized the extent of Joy's talent. She feigned a smile. "Yes, it's off."

After reading Juliana's lips, Joy typed again. [What's wrong with it?]

Juliana moved closer, her fingers correcting the passage on the piano.

Cordelia frowned. Juliana's "correction" made it worse.

A sense of unease gnawed at Joy, prompting a perplexed frown as she typed on her phone, [Are you sure this is okay?]

Juliana's brows furrowed, her gaze locking onto Joy, "If you don't trust me, Joy, why come to me for help?"

Seeing her irritation, panic surged through Joy. Swiftly waving her hands in a placating manner, she picked her phone back up to type, [I'm sorry, Juliana, please don't be mad. I trust you.]

Nervously nibbling her lower lip, she followed Juliana's instructions and played the segment on the piano. It may have sounded decent to an untrained ear, but anyone who knew their way around the keys could detect the dissonance!

Joy felt something was amiss but didn't dare question it further, her expression one of confusion and helplessness.

But Juliana reveled in her perceived triumph. With Joy's original composition ruined, how could she compete with Juliana in Greenmeadow?

Just then, a detached voice interjected. "That's not right."

Juliana looked up surprisingly to see Cordelia standing by Joy, making hand signs. "She's wrong."