My Mute Bride

Jolly almost cried. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have come back so soon. I should have been looking after him overseas.”

Rachel said, “Calm down. Samuel was last seen in the hotel, right? Did you check the surveillance camera?”

Jolly froze, and Rachel knew she hadn’t looked through it yet. “Calm down. I’ll call his teacher.” She then called Samuel’s teacher.

The whole conversation was done in a language Jolly barely understood. After Rachel asked the hotel’s staff to check the surveillance, they told her what they saw a moment later. “The staff said Samuel left on his own. They’ll send the video to us in a moment.” After she hung up, Rachel calmed her friend down. “I’ll go to Astoria tonight.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No.You wait here and call the cops once twenty-four hours have elapsed.” After that, Rachel left with nothing but her handbag and keys.

Just when she was about to get into her car, she heard the sound of someone towing a suitcase, and a young child stood behind the car with his luggage behind him. “Mommy!”

Rachel froze, and she stopped opening the door. When she turned around, she saw a boy in a blue navy T-shirt and suspenders. He wore a cap, and tufts of brown, curly hair sprouted underneath it. His eyes were beautifully dark, like olives.

“Samuel!” Rachel ran to him and gave him a hug. “Where have you been? Jolly and I were worried sick!”

Samuel was coughing from how hard he was hugged. “I can’t breathe, Mommy.”

Rachel let him go after that, but she quickly asked, “How did you even find this place? Who gave you the address?”

Samuel blinked. “Hernandez!”

Rachel frowned at the mere mention of that name. “Him again! Forget about it. Let’s go back up.

Jolly’s worried sick.”

the boy, she thought she

After Rachel put her car keys down, she explained, “This boy tricked his teacher into holding a summer camp in Astoria and ran off on his own. I

that, she gritted

behind his mother. “I’m

him in the eye. “Say sorry to Jolly. And tell her how sorry you are. She’s worried sick for

just like

that. You don’t care about me no

look, and Samuel quickly tugged on Jolly’s skirt.

person.”

adorable voice could melt anyone, but Jolly turned away,

not good being angry. It makes you old. You’re a pretty lady, so you should

me that. I’m a sad, old witch. Your mother’s the pretty

different. I’m gonna marry you when I grow up, not her.

hold back any longer, and she chuckled along with Jolly. Then, Jolly flicked Samuel’s cap. “You cheeky

“Who else?” Rachel shrugged.

to flirt. And

not mad anymore, are you, Jolly?” Samuel grinned toothily. “I brought

his nose. “You cheeky

were inside a black car that was in the neighborhood’s corner. The one in the backseat was quiet but

this is…” Frankie looked panicked, but he didn’t know what to say. Justin suddenly woke him up and told him to drive to Rachel’s place, but before he could even get out of the car, they saw Samuel calling out to Rachel. Who is that boy? He’s about the same age as Charlotte. And he called the madam “Mommy”? Is he

was dark. “Look into

“All right.”

calls to Justin the

called out to her from within the bedroom. “I can’t pick my dress.