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.

might not make it back during the daytime to see you. If there’s anything you need, just come to

the door and the room

were still ringing in

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

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

that why he was

or because I said

in her mind were

of her eye, she caught

the mirror had her hair tangled around her shoulders. Her face was gaunt and her eyes were dull

did / start looking like that? She looked neither alive nor

would I assume Justin was starting to fall

that be

chimed as a notification

a new development on Hans’

jerked skyward at the

found the killer? Who killed

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

Rachel received a

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

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

box. If I

shake as she could guess what Janice was

guess, I’d say Hans likely witnessed their transaction and he was killed to prevent him from 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

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

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

an interminable length of time, Rachel finally

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

in a huge circle, Hans’

a long time to force herself to calm down