Unmasking the Heart

Joi seethed quietly as she moved through the house. Her encounter with Rachel had left her boiling. To be called a "whore" by someone like Rachel... it stung more than she was willing to admit. She had been trying so hard to be the woman Adrain deserved, but Rachel's words had ignited something deep within her.

Determined to distract herself, she went into the kitchen to help Mrs. Catlin prepare dinner.

"I told you, you don't need to help me," Mrs. Catlin said, blocking Joi's path as she tried to pitch in.

"I'm just giving you a hand. You're making too much food." Joi smiled, her tone light, though her mind was elsewhere.

Mrs. Catlin, knowing Joi's persistence well enough, stepped aside without protest.

They worked together in silence—Joi helping prepare the meal, while Mrs. Catlin set the dishes. It felt like a small comfort, doing something for herself, for the house. But even so, she couldn't shake the unease in her chest.

Once dinner was ready, Joi went to call Adrain, but the room was empty. She walked to his study, only to find him hunched over his desk, working in his pajamas.

"You're supposed to rest," Joi said, her voice soft but firm as she stood across from him.

"I'm fine," Adrain replied without looking up, still focused on the documents in front of him.

"Okay..." Joi sighed. "When you're done, dinner is ready. We should eat before it gets cold." She sat down on the sofa, waiting for him.

Her gaze wandered around the study. The walls, lined with framed photos of Sophia, felt suffocating. And there, at the side of the room, sat a suitcase, another indication that Adrain's business trip was imminent.

Her chest tightened, and for a brief moment, she asked herself, What am I doing here?

Adrain's voice broke through her thoughts. "You should leave. I never asked you to come in. I'll eat when I'm done."

Joi's smile faltered. For a moment, she stood frozen, unsure of how to respond. But then she quickly masked her emotions.

"Oh, I'll wait for you in the dining room then," she said, her tone light again.

"No need," Adrain said, his voice as cold as ever, before returning his focus to the paperwork.

Joi's smile froze. She left, her mind swirling with confusion and hurt.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," she muttered under her breath, hitting her forehead with her palm.

Leaning against the wall near the dining room, she took deep breaths, trying to calm the storm brewing inside her. She was angry, hurt, and unsure of where she stood with him.

Taking one last glance at the empty table in the dining room, Joi finally sat down, her appetite feeling distant. The mushroom soup warmed her body, but it couldn't settle the turmoil inside. She had made all of the dishes for Adrian, but the thought of him not appreciating them made her lose all desire to eat.

She stood up, trying to push aside the feelings gnawing at her, and walked to the backyard where Mrs. Catlin was sitting, taking in some fresh air.

"Mrs. Catlin..." Joi called softly, hesitant.

Mrs. Catlin turned to her, smiling warmly. "Yes, ma'am?"

Joi shook her head. "Please, just call me Joi. No need for formalities."

"Of course, Joi." Mrs. Catlin smiled. "What's on your mind?"

"Have you eaten?" Joi asked, masking her own feelings with a faint smile.

"No, I'm waiting to clean up after dinner," Mrs. Catlin replied.

"Then come and eat with me," Joi insisted, before Mrs. Catlin could respond.

Mrs. Catlin hesitated for a moment, fully aware of the tension in the house. But when Joi started walking back to the dining room, Mrs. Catlin followed.

Sitting at the table, Joi dished herself a plate of the skillet chicken thighs with creamy tomato and started eating in silence. Mrs. Catlin sat next to her, serving herself garlic shrimp and quinoa.

"This is delicious," Mrs. Catlin commented after a few bites. "I didn't know you could cook like this."

Joi offered a small smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thank you."

The quiet lingered between them, and Mrs. Catlin noticed the subdued mood. "Honestly, I'm really enjoying this," she said, her voice lighter.

Joi's smile returned briefly, though it didn't fully erase the sadness in her eyes. "I can cook for you another day if you like it that much."

Mrs. Catlin smiled back, her gaze warm. She wiped a small spot of food from Joi's mouth with a napkin.

"Something's bothering you, isn't it?" Mrs. Catlin asked softly, her tone gentle.

Joi shook her head quickly, forcing a smile. "Nothing." But even she couldn't fool herself.

Mrs. Catlin saw the tears in Joi's eyes, but she said nothing, simply sitting quietly beside her.

After dinner, they cleaned up together, but the silence between them remained. Joi washed the dishes before heading back to the bedroom, trying to shake the feelings of isolation.

When she opened the bedroom door, she was surprised to see Adrain, already dressed in a suit.

"You're going out?" Joi asked, walking toward him.

"Hmm..." Adrain didn't bother acknowledging her.

"Are you coming back tonight?" Joi asked, her voice full of an emotion she hadn't meant to let slip.

"No," Adrain answered shortly.

"When will you be back?" Joi pressed, almost desperate to know.

Adrain stopped and looked at her with a frown. "You should stay here. I'll be back soon."

"Are you going on a business trip?" Joi's curiosity got the better of her.

Adrain pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Yes."

"I cooked dinner for you, and you didn't even taste it," Joi said, her voice barely above a whisper, filled with frustration and hurt.

Adrain's expression remained cold. "I never asked you to cook for me."

Her breath caught in her chest. Joi held back her emotions as best as she could. "That means I can do whatever I want, right?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly, the resolve she'd been trying to keep slipping away.

"Do whatever you feel like doing, but don't leave this house while I'm gone," Adrain replied coolly as he brushed past her and left the room.

Joi watched him walk away, the door clicking shut behind him. The emptiness in her chest deepened as the weight of the conversation settled over her.

With a sigh, she turned back to the room, hoping a warm bath would help clear her mind.

Later, Joi was jolted awake by the sound of her phone ringing. She stretched lazily and reached for it.

"Hello?" she answered, still groggy from sleep.

"Hey, are you busy today? I need your help with something," Debbie's voice chimed brightly on the other end.

Joi rubbed her eyes. "Uh, no, I'm not busy. What's going on?"

"It's crazy, but I'll tell you when I get there." Debbie laughed.

"Okay… I'll see you later then," Joi replied, a faint trace of a smile on her lips as she hung up the phone.