My Mute Bride

Early the next morning, the sound of running water could be heard coming from inside the bathroom.

After doing up his necktie and fastening on golden cufflinks, Justin threw open the wardrobe door and pulled out a set of clothing. Tossing them on the bed, he ordered, “Get dressed and pack your things. You’re coming with me.”

The redness on Rachel’s face was slowly fading away, making her look pale and weakened. Where are you taking me?

“Why so many questions? Are you intending to tell Julian or someone else?”

Hearing that, she clutched the blankets tighter to herself and fell silent again.

The car sped the entire way.

Inside the car, Frankie looked in the rearview mirror for a moment at the two people in the backseat. The interior of the car was very strange and quiet.

Once they reached the hotel and the driver went to park, Frankie mumbled, “They were so quiet the whole way. I didn’t even dare breathe too loud. Are they fighting?”

Unimpressed, Ramsey side-eyed him. “President Burton was never especially chatty and Mrs. Burton can’t

speak. Why wouldn’t they be quiet? Did you expect President Burton to speak up first?”

With a pause, Frankie conceded that Ramsey had a point and that he was probably reading into things too much.

After all, if the couple were truly quarreling, Rachel wouldn’t have come on this business trip with Justin.

By the time they reached Brookville, it was already late in the morning.

Since Justin had to rush off to the meeting, he left Frankie behind to handle Rachel’s check-in.

“I’ll leave your luggage here, Mrs. Burton. If there’s anything you would like to eat or drink, the hotel menu is over there and you can eat downstairs or call for room service.”

The moment she entered the room, Rachel sunk down on the couch, looking listless.

Seeing that she wasn’t responding, Frankie added, “You must be tired. The car ride was very long. We were all quite surprised that President Burton was willing to do so much traveling just to celebrate your birthday.”

Celebrate my birthday?

Astonished, she jerked her head up and gaped at Frankie.

Burton might be a bit busy these two days and might not make it back during the daytime

and the room descended into

his words were still ringing in

turned out that Justin rushed back to Riverdale

waiting at the bottom of her apartment building when he saw her and Julian handing cake out to the children, as

that why he was

angry because I was with Julian or because I said I never

thoughts in her mind

eye, she caught a glimpse of the floor-length mirror

face was gaunt and her eyes were dull and

when did / start looking like that?

would I assume Justin was starting to fall in

can that

phone chimed

have a new development on Hans’

eyebrows jerked skyward at the

the killer?

I have a new lead. Let me show you a picture. See if you

message, Rachel received

and dressed in a black jacket, he had the eyes of a hawk that were cold

Suddenly, her heart clenched.

met this

Southwind Villa. It was also the person who

of Justin’s hired thugs. He met up with a

box. If I had to guess, they were carrying

started to shake as she could guess what Janice was about to

killed to prevent him from spilling the beans. Be on your guard, Rachel. Hans’

Rachel stared silently at the words on the screen, she couldn’t keep herself from

she was unable to catch any breath. She felt like she was drowning or crushed beneath a large boulder. No

length of time, Rachel finally sucked

rolled down her cheeks and a silent roar echoed

after going around in a huge circle, Hans’ death was ultimately found to

a long time to force herself to calm down and reply