?<strong>Chapter 15:</strong>


    The past events had made Joelle acutely aware of Adrian’s disdain for her. After regaining her bearings, Joelle made her way to Olive Vis for Josiah’s violin lesson. This time, Rafael was also present, and she greeted him warmly.


    “Joelle, does Adrian know you’re here teaching?” Rafael inquired. He hadn’t mentioned anything to Adrian yet—partly due to not having seen him recently and also because he wasn’t one to meddle. However, his curiosity led him to learn about the Walters family’s struggle to find a suitable violin teacher for Josiah. Despite offering triple the usual sry, no one had met Josiah’s exacting standards—until Joelle.


    Rafael wondered if Joelle’s decision to take the job was out of financial necessity. Despite Adrian’s indifference, Rafael doubted Adrian would let her struggle financially. Rafael just couldn’t resist his curiosity. “Did you fight with Adrian?” he asked, his intuition keen as ever.


    Joelle managed a helpless smile. “I’m nning to divorce Adrian.” Rafael was taken aback. Reflecting on theirst conversation, he quickly connected the dots. “Is it because of Reba?” Rafael hurried to rify for Adrian. “Joelle, you’ve got it all wrong. Adrian cares for the Lloyd family, especially Reba, because of her health.”


    “But Adrian doesn’t love me,” Joelle replied calmly. “This marriage never should have happened. I just want to move on.” She must have mentally geared herself up for a long time before getting to this point. The peaceful smile on her face hid the intense contemtion and pain she had gone through during the marriage.


    Rafael paused, then spoke gently. “I see. My bad. I shouldn’t have said anything without knowing the whole story. This is between you two. If this is your decision, I wish you a swift return to your passions.”


    Passions? Joelle nced at her right wrist, fearing she could never reach such heights again. Three years ago, she had nearly joined an international orchestra, which was a pinnacle for any violinist. Her journey had started at age three, and the climb had been arduous. Getting back there could end up taking even more time this time.


    “Okay,” she whispered, turning away before tears could fall. By the time she entered Josiah’s room, she wasposed once more.


    When Joelle left Olive Vis, the evening sky was already painting itself in shades of twilight. Rafael offered to drive her home, but she gracefully declined, preferring to take the bus. As she waited at the bus stop, she observed the ebb and flow of people.


    The rush hour had just ebbed away, and the hot wind caressed her, turning the moment into anguid interlude after a long day’s work, as though all her weariness had been eased away. Without warning, someone jostled her shoulder. Before she could react, a firm grip sped her wrist, and a sudden, stinging pnded on her face.


    She stumbled and fell to the ground, surrounded by a crowd of bus waiters who quickly formed a circle around her. At the center was Joelle, dazed and disoriented.


    “Bitch! It’s bad enough you abused my parents at home, but now you’re spending the money I earned at the construction site on another man!” The man who had struck her had a fierce re and a muscr build. Joelle’s ear rang from the blow, leaving her feeling disoriented and terrified.


    “I don’t know you,” Joelle said, panic surging through her. Her instinct was to call for help. “Help! Somebody help! I don’t know this man!” Bystanders edged closer, some ready to intervene. “You don’t know me?” the man sneered, pulling a child forward. “Maybe not, but you recognize our child.”


    “Mommy! Please,e home! I miss you!” Joelle’s heart sank. It was the same child she had taken a picture with that morning. Realization hit her like a cold wave. She reached for her phone, but the man snatched it away. “Give me back my money!”


    “Give me my phone! You’re all scammers! I’m calling the police!” Joelle shouted, but another p sent her reeling. Desperate, she clutched the leg of a nearby bystander. “Please, help me call the police. I don’t know him. I was tricked by that child!”


    The man pulled his leg away. “Miss, do you have proof? It’s hard to interfere in family matters without evidence.” Joelle froze. He was part of the scam!


    Someone in the crowd shouted, “If this is human trafficking, exining won’t help!” “Yeah, but he says she’s his wife. Who knows if it’s true without evidence?” Suddenly, Joelle’s face went pale, and she started trembling all over.


    The man’s phone screen shed with a picture of Joelle and the little girl. “See? I wasn’t lying. She’s my wife!” The crowd fell silent, uncertainty hanging in the air. “Let’s go!” The man grabbed Joelle from the ground. “Time to go home!”


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