My Mute Bride - Season 1 Episode 54

“Keep your injury away from water, or it might get infected.”

Thank you, Doctor Peters.

“Just drop the formalities around me.” While packing the first aid kit, he took a look at the ice pack at the side. “Don’t use that anymore. An ice pack is good for reducing swelling, but you have external injuries as well.”

She nodded obediently.

From the start, she had only been using the ice pack as a pain-killing measure. After putting on the cooling medical ointment, her burning skin felt more relieved. Since the pain was reduced, she didn’t need the ice pack anymore.

“By the way, I haven’t asked you this. How did you get injured?”

She shook her head. It’s nothing. I was just careless.

As it was already late, but Julian was still hanging around, she dared not keep him around for long, even though he was technically helping Justin out.

When Julian noticed Rachel glancing at her watch, he picked up the hint and knew that she wanted him to leave. Forcing a smile, he said to her, “You should get some rest for now. I’m leaving.”

She nodded at him.

On his way back to his room, he walked past Justin’s study. Be it intentional or unintentional, the room to Justin’s study was kept slightly ajar. In it, Justin was seated at the study table and pouring over documents as usual.

Julian went up and knocked lightly on the door. Only when Justin looked up did Julian say, “Justin, Rae’s injury isn’t serious. You don’t have to worry too much about it.”

“Thanks.” Justin stared at him and corrected, “You should call her Rachel.”

Julian tightened his grip on the first aid kit and replied with a serious expression, “Justin, instead of finding fault with me, why don’t you show her more care?”

“That’s between me and her. None of your business.”

Then, he turned his gaze to the documents in his hands and added, “Shut the door when you leave.”

Hearing that, Julian had his eyes darkened, and soon came the sound of the door closing.

Regardless of his emotions, Julian would always remain rational and mannered, a quality that marked the greatest difference between him and Justin.

After the footsteps faded away, Justin tapped on his phone screen and made a call.

“Arrange for two men to follow Rachel around.”

Frankie paused over the phone and said in confusion, “I thought you said not to track her anymore.”

Justin merely answered, “This is for her personal safety.”

In the next two days, Rachel had no choice but to go to work with a face mask on.

The incident at the library entrance went viral, and her coworkers all knew about it, but no one brought it up in front of her. Still, people were gossiping behind her back.

Standing in front of a bookshelf, she was organizing the books according to their codes as usual when she overheard familiar voices a row of shelves away.

“I never heard about her dating, and now she’s suddenly married. Who knows? She might have had an affair with a married man, got him to divorce the wife and marry her!”

“Right? I heard what happened that day! She was beaten up badly, but she didn’t even fight back!”

“I bet the man who protected her was the husband. He’s rather hot, not gonna lie.”

Rachel clutched the books tightly and silently pressed herself against the bookshelf that hid her well. It wasn’t until the two coworkers left that she straightened up and continued arranging the books.

“Why didn’t you explain yourself when they spread the rumors?”

A male voice rang out from behind, causing her to pause in surprise. She whipped around to find Hans standing there. She had known that he’d be here because he had texted her in the morning to inform her about having something to tell her.

They have their freedom. I can’t control what they want to say about me anyway.

“What about your husband? Is he going to watch on as you get bullied?”

Hans’s brows were knitted in a fury. “Last time, it was his cousin who hit you. Today, your coworkers were talking behind you. Is this what you mean by doing well?”

Rachel had no idea what prompted him to blow up right as he met her, and she frowned worriedly.

What’s wrong with you?

He looked as if he had nowhere to release his pent-up anger. He wanted to say something, but he could not speak freely in the quiet atmosphere of the library. Frustrated, he took her arm and said, “Follow me out. Let’s talk.”

Just like that, she followed him all the way to the courtyard between the two library buildings.

“Rachel, tell me truthfully. Did you willingly marry Justin?”

At this point, he had let go of her hand, and a serious expression crept up his refreshingly handsome and clean face.

She was huffing and puffing, and her chest rose and fell with it. His words made her heart sink as she turned her face to the side in an attempt to escape his gaze.

Despite that, he could sense her guilt and said sternly, “Look at me in the eye. Don’t lie.”

She pinched her palm and forced herself to calm down when she lifted her face to look at him.

I have nothing much to say to you.

“Jefferey forced you to marry Justin, didn’t he?” Hans did not want to go in circles anymore. “To finance Hudson Pharmaceuticals, he sold you to Justin Burton!”

His words were direct and firm, and he gave her no chance to explain herself, leaving her staring at him in shock.

How did you find out?

He took a sharp breath, and his face looked ashen. “Ah, so that is the case.”

Muffled groans suddenly escaped from her throat.

Hans!

She exclaimed in her heart, but she failed to stop him. She could only look on as he cursed. “That son of a b*tch!” Then, he whipped around to punch on the wall. The next second, his glaring red blood trickled down from the white wall.

Eyes widened, she hurriedly grabbed his hand to check on him. The skin of his knuckles was torn; the white debris from the wall was mixed with his blood, looking scarily messy.

Follow me to the hospital.

Instead, he tugged at her. “Rachel, get a divorce and leave the Burtons.”

She stopped in her tracks with her back facing him, having no courage to turn around. Of course, she was dying to get a divorce so she could leave the Burtons alongside that scary man whom she called her husband.

“I know what your concerns are. I will help you to take care of your grandma. If you’re worried about the reach of the Burton Group because of their influence, I could arrange for your grandma to settle down overseas. I am going to take up your divorce case, and I promise you that you could leave the Burtons unharmed.”

Since Hans was an attorney who had made his name in the industry, he had the confidence to make the promise.

A long silence later, she mustered up the courage to turn around and face him.

Thanks, but I can’t leave just yet.

“Why?” His expression fell, and he fumed. “What are you waiting for? I heard that Justin Burton is a cruel man who’d do anything to get his way. He’s also a greedy person. What kind of life are you leading with the Burtons?”

She narrowed her eyes upon hearing that. Who told you so?

As Hans had just returned to the country, he wouldn’t have known the details if no one had revealed insider information to him.

“Is that important? Aren’t those facts?”

She nodded solemnly and stared calmly but firmly at him.

It is important.

She had an inkling that someone must have set up a trap behind her back and somehow got Hans involved.

Knowing that Rachel was as stubborn as a mule, Hans could only come clean. “I don’t know who that person is. Last night, I received an anonymous text, but when I called back, the number was already invalid.” As he spoke, he handed her his phone. “Look.”

The text was short, but it succinctly explained the background of how Rachel married into the Burton Family. On top of that, it mentioned the grievances she suffered in the family: facing the dismissive attitude of the servants and getting framed for things she did not do…

After reading the text, she had a better idea of the mastermind behind this plot.

Hans, do you really want to help me?