Chapter 8 I Am Not Deaf

The butler, with a smile plastered on his face, spoke to Selena Patrick. "Young Madam, the matriarch said that once married, a couple should live together. This way, you can take better care of Young Master; he hasn't been well lately."

Selena Patrick was at a loss: Is he about to die?

"Is... is he suffering from some life-threatening illness?" Selena Patrick asked tentatively.

The butler seemed reluctant to elaborate, "With proper care, the Young Master will get better."

This vague response only piqued Selena Patrick's curiosity about Jeffrey Maugham even more. Was he really as rumored, half-dead and barely alive? Since he could give birth to a child, it meant his body used to be fine. So what exactly happened to turn him into such a sickly person?

With mixed feelings, Selena Patrick finally met the legendary Jeffrey Maugham. He appeared to still be asleep, lying stiffly on the large bed. The butler whispered to her, "The Young Master needs to take his medicine when he wakes up. Perhaps, Young Madam, you could go downstairs and prepare his medicine?"

"Oh, I see."

Isn't this something a family doctor should handle? She had just arrived, and they were already assigning her tasks.

Reluctantly, Selena Patrick prepared to go downstairs. Just as she turned the corner of the staircase, she heard a woman's voice.

"The matriarch is being too kind to this sickly person. He's almost dead, yet she spent a fortune to marry him off for good luck. With that money, we could have divided it between our two brothers."

Recognizing the voice, it sounded like her sister-in-law Yang Ru.

Selena Patrick paused, wanting to hear more.

Lydia Maugham, while cracking sunflower seeds, added, "Perhaps the matriarch thinks there's still hope. After all, one has just passed away, and she doesn't want to lose another. But in my opinion, he might not make it through the year."

"I pray every day for him to die sooner. Without Edward Maugham, that troublemaker, and this sickly person, our lives would be much easier," Yang Ru continued.

Such words weren't to be spoken lightly in the Maugham household.

Lydia Maugham glanced around, then hushed Yang Ru, "You mustn't let anyone hear you say that. Otherwise, people might think he's so ill because we poisoned him."

"We?" Yang Ru pointed at herself, scoffing, "If I had poisoned him, he'd be long dead, not left half-dead and annoying everyone."

"Anyway, we shouldn't talk about this here."

Hearing this, Selena Patrick clenched her fists. How could these people be so cruel? Who was this Edward Maugham they mentioned? Was he Jeffrey Maugham's brother?

After a brief pause, she descended the stairs. Seeing her, Yang Ru and Lydia Maugham stopped their conversation.

"Oh, Sister-in-law, today is your wedding night. The responsibility of carrying on the Maugham family line now rests on your shoulders."

Yang Ru's sarcasm was unmistakable, making sure Selena Patrick understood the underlying message.

Selena Patrick smiled coldly, "Thank you for your concern, I will do my best."

"In fact, even if you don't try, it's fine. After all, Jeffrey's first wife already gave him a son, the legitimate heir. As a stepmother, you'll need to teach him well."

Yang Ru's mocking expression made Selena Patrick feel nauseous. On her first day in the Maugham household, she felt nothing but malice.

"I heard that you, Sister-in-law, have been married for many years without bearing any children. It seems you've been focusing your energy on the wrong things. What a pity."

Selena Patrick's sharp words angered Yang Ru, who was about to retort when Lydia Maugham pulled her away, "It's getting late, let's go back, Sister-in-law."

Lydia Maugham dragged Yang Ru away. Selena Patrick's brows furrowed; the Maugham family seemed more complicated than she had imagined.

A servant brought the medicine for Jeffrey Maugham, and Selena Patrick took it upstairs. She wasn't sure if he was awake yet. She knocked lightly on the door and entered.

By the window, someone was sitting in a wheelchair. Against the light, she could only see a vague silhouette.

She decided to introduce herself, "Hello, I'm Selena Patrick, your new wife."

The man didn't turn around, as if he hadn't heard her. No response.

Selena Patrick wondered if he also had hearing problems. She cleared her throat and spoke louder, "Hello, I'm ..."

"I'm not deaf."

The man suddenly spoke, startling Selena Patrick. She patted her chest, "Then why didn't you answer?"

Her complaint, though soft, was piercing.

The man slowly turned his wheelchair to face her. Still against the light, Selena Patrick couldn't see his face clearly. She squinted and took a few steps closer, finally able to see his face.

He looked nothing like the image of Jeffrey Maugham she had imagined. Shouldn't he be pale, with no color in his lips, thin and frail, on the brink of death?

Why did he look healthier than an average person?

Wait, something was off...

This man seemed familiar. Where had she seen him before?

His appearance, combined with his voice...

Selena Patrick, with a hint of suspicion, took another step closer, bringing them face to face.

"Have we met before?"

Jeffrey Maugham locked eyes with her, "What do you think?"

He really did look like that "gigolo" from that night.

Selena Patrick, startled, shook her head, dismissing the thought. Impossible, it was just that he had a very handsome, conventional-looking face. Handsome faces are all the same.

"No, we haven't."

Turning, Selena Patrick put down the tray, took out the medicine, and handed him a glass of water, "Take your medicine first."

"Put it down." He didn't take it.

Selena Patrick placed it down. His voice was so familiar, reminding her of that night when he held her and asked if she was satisfied.

Her face flushed.

Embarrassed, she quickly rubbed her cheeks and turned to ask, "Do you need help with daily activities since you're in a wheelchair?"

Jeffrey Maugham remained silent, giving her a disdainful look.

Selena Patrick: ...

"Even though I'm married to you, I'm not your caregiver. I can't assist with bathing or using the restroom. You don't mind, right?"

Jeffrey Maugham: "I do."

"What?"

Selena Patrick, puzzled, blinked and looked back at him, "What do you mean?"

"Since you're my wife, you're responsible for my daily needs. I'm thirsty, pour me a glass of water."

Damn, another task.

Seeing Selena Patrick unmoving, the man pointed at her, then at his ear, "Deaf?"