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.

don’t you get some rest? President Burton might be a bit busy these two days and might not make it back during the daytime to see you. If there’s anything you

click, Frankie shut the door and the room descended

still ringing in Rachel’s

out that Justin rushed back to Riverdale from Brookville just to celebrate

he saw her and Julian handing cake out to the children, as well as her telling Julian that she never

that why he was

was with Julian or

her mind

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

the mirror had her hair tangled around her shoulders. Her face was

when did / start looking like that?

Justin was starting

can that be

chimed as a

new development on Hans’

jerked skyward at the message

killer? Who killed

new lead. Let me show you a picture.

message, Rachel

and dressed in a black jacket, he had the eyes of

Suddenly, her heart clenched.

had met

the person who kidnapped her from the highway and brought her back to Southwind Villa. It was also

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

that day, carrying an aluminum box. If

hand started to shake as she could guess what

their transaction and he was killed to prevent him from spilling the beans. Be on your guard, Rachel.

on the screen, she couldn’t keep herself from

chest rose and fell, and she was unable to catch any breath. She felt like she was drowning or

length of time, Rachel finally sucked in a deep

bout of coughing, tears rolled down her

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

to force herself to calm down and reply to Janice, ‘Is there anything I can