My Mute Bride

Rachel took the wooden box from the servant and put down her cup of ginger tea without turning a hair. Then,

she gesticulated several words. I’m going upstairs first.

Sue shot a glance at her and grumbled snappishly, “What are you gesturing about?” She almost hated Rachel to death at this moment. Ever since Rachel married into the Burton Family, Julian’s relationship with Justin and herself had gotten worse. She’s simply a scourge, she thought to herself.

Rachel took a hot bath, during which the wooden box kept floating on the water. The swollen and cracked part of its edges chipped off bit by bit, revealing distinct traces of carving on it. On each of its six faces was a different combination of Arabic numerals. “13, 20, 22, 18…” Rachel mouthed to herself. This wooden box was the only thing left behind by her mother, and she had been keeping it in a safe place before this. She had never found a way to open it, but now, it seemed that this wooden box didn’t need to be opened-what mattered were the numbers on its faces instead. What do these numbers mean, though? she thought to herself. “Achoo!” When she sneezed, Rachel finally realized that the water in the bathtub had cooled somewhat.

The rain stopped the following day, and the sky cleared up. After being exposed to the rain for an entire night, Rachel woke up feeling dizzy. Still, she forced herself to get out of bed. She had to take the wooden box and go to Nancy. Perhaps Grandma knows the secret of this wooden box, she thought to herself.

However, as soon as she came downstairs, she came face-to-face with Justin, who was walking down the

stairs opposite her. Since she was startled by this, she quickly gestured without thinking. Where are you going?

A sullen look instantly took over Justin’s face. “I’m going to my office!” Is she so worried that I’ll give Hans a hard time? he thought to himself. After finishing his sentence, he quickly went downstairs and left by car without having breakfast.

Rachel was deeply perturbed as she heard the roar of the car engine outside. Before leaving the Burton Residence, she made a special effort to send Janice a text message. It read, ‘Tell Hans to leave Riverdale as

soon as possible. The sooner, the better.’ Justin might not lay a hand on Hans today, but she couldn’t guarantee that he might suddenly become irritable one day and strike again.

Janice’s reply came soon afterward. ‘It’s none of your concern.’ Her hostile attitude upset Rachel again for a while.

She then took a taxi to Nancy’s place. Nancy had just come home from grocery shopping, and her face lit up with happiness when she saw Rachel. “Don’t you have to go to work today? Why are you here so early in the morning?”

I want to spend time with you, so I took a day off.

it happens, I just bought some groceries, so I’ll make fish soup for you at midday. Look at you-you’ve lost weight,” Nancy said while carrying the groceries she had bought into the kitchen.

away before tugging at the latter’s sleeve. Grandma, there’s something I’d like to ask

“What is it?”

soaked in water last night from her handbag. Right now, it was not so much a wooden

a moment before she recognized the wooden box. “Is this… what your late mother left

Rachel nodded.

her hands and carefully took the wooden box from Rachel.

became like this after being soaked in water. It’s covered in numbers. What

“Your mother didn’t tell me anything about these numbers back then. She merely told me to give this wooden box to

in her hand and scrutinized it carefully She almost knew all the numbers on its six faces by heart. Still, she couldn’t figure out the

on the third day, she suddenly received a phone call. “Where are you?” Janice’s voice sounded chilly, hoarse,

answer. Just then, Janice continued, “I forgot that you can’t speak. Come here-i’ll send you

Rachel thought to

other end of the line as Janice spoke with a choke in her muffled

her cell phone dropped

be possible? she thought

to the morgue, Hans’ face had been covered with a piece of white

side talking to a few police officers. When she saw Rachel, her face instantly clouded

blank. When she lifted the white cloth, Hans’ good-looking face appeared under it, and his lips were completely colorless. Rachel fell to her knees

him so soon.” Janice’s voice sounded

out loud. Her kindly and serene-looking face looked like that of a robot as she

dragged Rachel to her feet. After a few seconds, she could no longer restrain herself. She thundered, “I’m f*cking talking to you! Do you know that Hans was deliberately