Novel Sweet
Chapter 51
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! Property © NôvelDrama.Org.
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."
Cordelia had learned sign language to communicate with the deaf and mute children at the orphanage and had never forgotten it.
Joy's face brightened, and she began signing back.
Juliana watched anxiously, wondering what they were discussing. Could Cordelia play the piano, or had she seen through Juliana's scheme?
As others began to ascend the stairs, Juliana quickly adopted a pitiful demeanor. "Cordelia, don't teach Joy wrong. It's not supposed to be played like that. You're confusing."
Their arrival interrupted the moment. Noticing the tension, Rachel looked at Mrs. Collins with urgency. "Lia, you don't know the piano. Stop interfering and let Juliana guide Ms. Collins."
Hearing it, Mrs. Collins' brow furrowed, visibly upset.
Madeline accused, "Cordelia, what are you doing? If you're clueless, don't meddle! Or are you just jealous and trying to sabotage her? How can you be so spiteful?"
Lorna rushed to Cordelia's defense. "Lia, can you play?"
Cordelia nodded, replying softly, "A little."
Mrs. Collins' expression darkened further.
Juliana inwardly smirked, then put on a show of distress. "Lia, you can't teach Ms. Collins wrong..."
Utterly lost, Joy watched the drama unfold.
The room was abuzz with too many voices, too swift for her to follow, leaving her dazed and confused about the unfolding events.
Then, Cordelia caught her gaze and, with the fluid grace of sign language, asked, "Do you trust me?
Their eyes locked.
After a moment, Joy nodded with conviction.
Cordelia signed back. "Watch closely. I'll only play it once."
Joy nodded again.
Cordelia stepped forward, her fingers dancing across the ivory keys.
In the next instant, a melody poured forth.
It was a simple phrase, played at a moderate pace. To the untrained ear, it might have seemed quite ordinary.
"Ridiculous!" Laurinda scolded. "You think you can play the piano by hitting a few keys? Juliana is at a grade ten level! You don't even have a grade. What do you think you're teaching here?"
Just then, a round of applause erupted. "Bravo! That was a clever rendition," a voice said. The crowd turned to see Stanton clapping enthusiastically. He had arrived unnoticed, but as the crowd parted, he finally saw the girl by the piano.
Stanton was utterly shocked.
Wasn't that Cordelia?