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.

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 need, just come

a click, Frankie shut the door and the room descended into

were still ringing

Justin rushed back to Riverdale from Brookville just to celebrate her birthday

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

he was

was with Julian or because I

her mind were

then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse

shoulders. Her face was gaunt and her eyes were dull and lifeless. Startled, Rachel felt her

looking like that?

was starting

that

a ‘ding, Rachel’s phone chimed as a

have a new development on Hans’

eyebrows jerked skyward at the

killer?

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

that message, Rachel received a

man 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 person

brought her back to Southwind Villa. It was also the person who watched over her with his men after

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

If I

could

transaction and he was killed to prevent him from spilling the beans. Be on

on the screen, she

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

interminable length of time, Rachel finally sucked in

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

in a huge circle, Hans’ death was ultimately found to very likely still be related to

long time to force herself to calm down and reply to