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.

bit busy these two days and might not make it back during

door and

were still ringing in Rachel’s

back to Riverdale from Brookville just

her and Julian handing cake out to the children, as well as her telling Julian

he

he angry because I was with Julian or because I said

her mind were

she

Her face was gaunt and her eyes were dull

/ start looking like that?

earth would I assume Justin was starting to

that be

‘ding, Rachel’s phone chimed as a notification popped

a new development

at

the killer? Who killed

lead. Let me show you a picture. See if

Rachel

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

Suddenly, her heart clenched.

met this person

was the person who kidnapped her from the highway and brought her back to Southwind Villa. It was also the person who watched over her with his men

is Winston. He’s one of Justin’s hired thugs. He met up with

carrying an aluminum box. If I had to guess,

hand started to shake as she could guess what Janice was

the beans. Be on your guard, Rachel. Hans’ death might be related to Justin

words on the

she was drowning or crushed beneath

time, Rachel finally

coughing, tears rolled down her

huge circle, Hans’ death was ultimately

took her a long time to force herself to calm down and reply to Janice, ‘Is there anything