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.

not make it back during the daytime to

shut the door and the room descended

still

turned out that Justin rushed back to Riverdale from Brookville

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

he was

or because I said I never wanted

thoughts in her mind

her eye, she caught

her shoulders. Her face was gaunt

looking like that? She looked

assume Justin was starting

that

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

a new

eyebrows jerked skyward at

found the killer? Who

Let me show you a picture. See if you

that message, Rachel received a

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

Suddenly, her heart clenched.

had met this

brought her back to Southwind Villa. It was also the person who watched over her

continued, ‘His name is Winston. He’s one of Justin’s

people at Tran-Q that day, carrying an aluminum box. If I had to guess, they were

she could guess what Janice was about

spilling the beans. Be on your guard, Rachel. Hans’ death might be related to Justin and you mustn’t be tricked by Justin’s words. Those businessmen prioritize profit

words on the screen, she couldn’t keep herself from

and fell, and she was unable to catch any breath. She felt like she was drowning or crushed beneath a large boulder.

an interminable length of time, Rachel finally sucked in

a violent bout of coughing, tears rolled down her cheeks and a silent

a huge circle, Hans’ death was ultimately found

a long time to force herself to calm