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.

her up and whispered, “I’ll take you away from this

“What are you doing, Julian? What

from the entrance with all his fury.

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

to die?” Justin looked at

“Because of your abuse.”

told him? That I’m abusing you?” Justin looked at her and came up

drained from her face,

took a step back,

calmly. “Your friend was injured because of you. You’ve been throwing a tantrum for a few days now. Yes, you blame yourself for this, but I don’t think your friend

this, right?”

quickly looked up, and she

Julian frowned, “What happened?”

tell

but Rachel tugged on his shirt and signed at

already taking her from him.

but Justin the criminal

up nonetheless. Even though she was in his arms, all she could feel was a

out. Comminuted fracture in his left

You’re a madman,

from me. You have no choice but to follow my orders from