My Mute Bride

A while later, Rachel stood up by leaning against the wall and staggering away.

The bodyguards wanted to stop her, but he said coldly, “Let her!”

Without Justin’s permission, no doctor would listen to Rachel’s request, not even if it was an emergency. Hans was crippled now, since there was a comminuted fracture in his left leg.

Later, Justin took her home by force and locked her up for three days. As a protest, she didn’t even take one bite of the food the servants sent her. It was only three days, but she was only skin and bones at the end of it.

Riverdale was once again graced by rainfall and lightning. “She’s still not eating?” The servant shook her head, looking troubled. Julian frowned when he heard that. “This can’t go on.” With that, he went upstairs.

“Hey, you can’t go, Julian!” Sue tried to stop him, but to no avail.

Julian made a beeline for the bedroom. Rachel was curled up on the bed in her white nightgown, her hair unkempt, and her face pale. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought she was dead. “Rachel.” He quickly went up to her, but when he came closer, he carefully hunkered down, worried that any sudden move might make her break apart.

He knew better than anyone what not to do, since it was the same situation as last time. Back then, she was also curled up on the bed, and the bed was caked in blood. She looked like a broken, lifeless doll. “Rachel.” He carefully held her shoulders. “What happened? Tell me.”

But Rachel said nothing. She was shrouded in a deep, dark despair.

Julian felt powerless, but he had to carry on. “You have to live on no matter what happens. Your grandma needs you; don’t forget about that. Just eat and keep on living. Everything will get better.”

Rachel stared at Julian, but she didn’t look like herself anymore. Her mind was blank. On the first day, all she could think of was how Hans’ leg got broken. On the second day, all she could think of was everything that happened ever since she was married to Justin. It was maddening, and it almost killed her. But on the third day, she couldn’t remember anything.

All she could think of was that she was a jinx; she thought perhaps everyone around her would be better off if she never existed. Nobody would be able to threaten them then. There was nothing in her gaze. Her eyes were lifeless.

panicked. He couldn’t take it anymore, so he held her up and whispered, “I’ll take you away from

to see Julian coming out with Rachel. “What are

in from the entrance with

today no matter what.” Julian’s face darkened. “I’m not letting her

is she going to die?”

“Because of your abuse.”

Is that what you told him? That I’m abusing you?”

from her face, and she gripped Julian’s

Julian took a

tantrum for a few days now. Yes, you blame yourself for this, but I don’t think

this, right?”

she quickly

Julian frowned, “What happened?”

story. I’ll tell you after

still had his suspicions, but Rachel tugged on

could put her down, Justin was already taking her from him. “You’re still injured. Best not touch

break free, but Justin the criminal whispered, “You’d better follow my orders

trembled, but Justin took her back up nonetheless. Even though she was in his arms, all she could feel was a terrifying iciness, and all the alarm bells went off in her head,

is out. Comminuted fracture in his left

You’re

choice but to follow my