My Mute Bride

During dinner time, Charlotte wanted to sit next to Rachel. “Mommy, I want to eat that!”

“This?”

“Yes!”

“All right. Eat more and grow tall, Rachel said. Then, she dropped the food the little girl liked onto her plate.

With an unreadable look in his eyes, Justin watched as Charlotte chomped down on the food happily. This girl is usually a picky eater and would always complain at the dinner table. No matter how we coaxed her, she wouldn’t even take an extra bite. With this woman around, she just eats anything she gives her and even eats a lot of it. More importantly, everyone knew how Charlotte usually treated other women. She would usually be stubborn, rude, and mean toward them. In contrast, she was very obedient toward Rachel. Is it because they’re related by blood?

Night fell, and after Rachel tucked Charlotte into bed, she sneaked out of the room quietly.

At the top of the staircase, she saw that the light in the study on the first floor was still turned on. If her guess was right, Justin was probably still working there. Therefore, the master bedroom would surely be empty now.

If the surveillance record containing the evidence that could prove that Hans was murdered was in this house, the most probably place it would be was either the master bedroom or the study.

After she slipped into the bedroom, she started searching from the head of the bed, opening and checking every drawer. Finally, in the corner of the closet, she found a black-colored safe.

Password… What’s the password? she asked silently while looking at the number pad.

Beep, beep, beep.

She punched in Justin’s birth date.

It’s not right. What about Charlotte’s birthday?

Beep, beep, beep.

That’s not it, either. I still have one more try left, she thought. At that moment though, the sound of footsteps came from outside the room, so she quickly closed the closet doors.

“What are you doing here?”

Holding her chest, Rachel turned around and said in surprise, “You gave me a scare! You don’t make a sound at all when you walk!”

around in my room?” he asked

around? I just put Charlotte to bed and wanted to tell you that I’m going to leave now. In the end, you came behind me right after I came in and scared the daylights

for me?” he asked suspiciously as he inched in closer to

said, “You don’t believe me? What else could I possibly be doing

you?”

effort to make a trip here. You baked cookies with Charlotte and

this time now, you even came into my room where

couldn’t stop

you laughing

you,” she answered. “At

“What did you say?”

“I don’t care whether you believe it or not, but I’m simply here

Then, he grabbed her arm and stopped her from leaving. In an icy tone, he asked, “If you’re not interested,

she didn’t

“You tell me.”

I had too much to drink that night, so I was a little tipsy. But then, I really didn’t expect that you’re

his jaw

to take it so seriously. We’re adults now. You know we’re capable of anything with a little liquid courage. Don’t take it for real. It’s getting late, so I’m leaving now.” After

face was red. Such a flirtatious woman

found out that Rachel was her mother, she appeared as though she was expecting it when she said, “I’ve told you before your return that you should think carefully about acknowledging your daughter. It’s impossible for you to avoid your daughter if

was Justin’s

of beer, feeling frustrated. “I know it’s unavoidable. I just feel…

Back then, she left Riverdale alone to save herself and left her daughter behind. Earlier, her heart was broken

other choice as well.” She sighed and continued, “But look how great things

“I found the safe.”

“Really?”

nodding. “It’s in Justin’s closet, but I don’t

and ransacked her drawers before coming out again with a thumb-sized glass bottle. “Here’s some fluorescent powder. Just scatter this on the number pad and Justin will leave his prints behind when he opens the

not easy to arrange

random guesses. Maybe