The Silent Wife

Rachel froze before she grabbed at the bedsheets. She then shook her head and gestured, I didn't do anything.

She was not Jeffrey's dog, and she hated the Hudsons. After all, she was forced to marry into the Burton Family only because she was concerned about her grandmother.

"What? You want me to believe you just because you shook your head?" Justin's voice gradually became deeper. His rough hand moved upward, seeming as though he would snap Rachel's neck at any moment.

He was truly incensed now. Ever since the mute woman arrived at their household, the Burtons hadn't had a moment of peace. Now, she even caused a huge scandal like this. She was just a mute, yet they had underestimated her.

Rachel's face turned red from exertion as she valiantly tried to fight off his powerful grip. She didn't want to die, for her grandmother was still waiting to be rescued-she could not die either.

"Looks like you won't admit it unless I mete out some sort of punishment!" Justin let out a cold scoff when he saw her struggling stubbornly. All of a sudden, he put in more power and lifted her up completely Rachel was so startled that she let out a cry. Even though she couldn't speak, fear still made her throat produce a hoarse sound. It was

scratchy and unpleasant to the ear, and it drew Justin's ire.

The man lifted her up and brought her straight to the bathroom. Then, he flung her into the gigantic bathtub before he coldly ordered, "Take off your clothes!"

Rachel froze.

What was Justin going to do?

She lifted her head, but all that met her gaze was Justin's icy cold eyes, devoid of any warmth. Right now, any explanation she could give would seem weak and useless.

Rachel snapped her eyes shut and bit her lip. After some hesitation, she gave into the situation, and she began taking off her skirt with slow movements. Off went her blouse, and off went her safety shorts. In the end, all she had on was her bra.

Every inch of her body was exposed to Justin's eyes, and nothing was hidden. Right now, she felt she was like a plaything with no respect.

The next moment, Justin turned on the tap filled with cold water.

Icy cold water spilled over her head, viciously drenching the rest of her body. Instantly, all the warmth that her body had vanished. Rachel shuddered violently as all the color left her

face.

It's so freezing cold.

"I'll ask you one more time is the news true?" Beyond the curtain of water, Justin spoke to her in a low voice, each word he said pounding at Rachel's heart icily.

Rachel shivered as she shook her head. Even though her teeth chattered, she would not admit to something that she hadn't done.

No, it's not true.

Her entire body was being assaulted by the cold water to the point that she was shivering from the cold. Any other man would have felt something upon seeing her like this. Likewise, Justin was no exception. After he temporarily stopped the water to let it drain, Rachel wrapped her arms around her chest. She kept shivering, and her face had already turned green from the cold. "As long as you admit it, I will let you go," he said frostily. This was the last chance he would give her.

Rachel continued to shake her head. She forced herself to put up with her discomfort and gestured with her hands, still shivering all this while.

I never did any of it. Won't you believe me?

Justin did not know sign language, but he could still see that she was denying the accusations valiantly

If she hadn't been a Hudson, he wouldn't have continued treating her like this. After all, he had ways of finding out the truth, and there was no need for him to do any of this. However, she was a Hudson, and she had to fail in upholding her duties and caused such trouble.

Can the Hudson family even breed good people?

With that thought in mind, Justin's anger reared its head again. He immediately turned on the tap once more and said, "Stubborn, aren't you? In that case, just stand here until you admit it."

Water once again spilled over her, and Rachel's shoulders shrank back violently.

However, Justin took a step back and coldly looked at his watch, nary a sign of concern on his face. He wanted to see how long Rachel could withstand this treatment.

Time ticked by. Rachel stood in the tub, her mind addled from the rush of cold water. Meanwhile, her thin legs kept shaking. Several times, she nearly toppled over from losing her footing. Despite all that, she had no intention of giving in. She could not shoulder such a heavy, scandalous burden, but she wasn't willing to let

herself be humiliated for nothing either.

She would not admit to something she never did! Wasn't it just water anyway?

She was not afraid.

Rachel had no idea how much time had passed. Justin's expression turned darker and darker as he looked at his watch amidst the sloshing of the water in the bathroom. Thump.

In the end, Rachel could no longer hold herself up and collapsed into the water. The agony she felt when her knees smashed into the edge of the tub left her sight dark, and she keeled over. Justin's forehead screwed up into a tight frown, and the expression on his face turned complicated. His large frame made the bathroom seem cramped in comparison.

She never once said anything even before she fainted

There must be something else behind this matter

In the end, Justin fished the little figure out of the bath. He dried her with a towel and carried her back to the bed.

My head hurts, and my throat itches.

Rachel felt absolutely weak when she woke up, and she was drenched in cold sweat. She shivered as she clutched her blankets tighter, tears misting over her eyes. The door suddenly swung open violently just then, and it startled her.

Mrs. Duncan looked at her in displeasure before slapping a bowl down. "Mr. Burton wishes for you to have this." The soup splashed out of the bowl, splattering over the bedside table. Rachel quietly pulled out some tissue paper and wiped away the spilled soup.

Judging from the smell...

It's ginger soup

"Such a calamity-bringer, falling sick shortly after marrying into the family. A cripple is a cripple, all right," Mrs. Duncan scoffed coldly. With that, she whipped around and left.

Rachel's head felt like it was about to split apart. Naturally, she was in no shape to get worked up over Mrs. Duncan's caustic words. She did her best to lift her hand up and toss the tissue paper into the bin nearby.

Meanwhile, She didn't consume a drop of the

ginger soup. Who knew whether someone had spiked it? After all, there were too many people in this household who wished her harm.

It hadn't been long since she set the ginger soup aside when the door opened again. This time, it was Justin.

Rachel couldn't stop herself from shuddering when she saw him. At the thought of what had happened last night, her skin chilled again, seeming as though she was soaking inside a tub of icy water onceExclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

more.

I'm scared...

Rachel forced down her fear and did her best to sign. Someone framed me.

Unfortunately, Justin didn't understand her. His tone was cold as he said, "There's no need to keep gesturing. Since you won't admit to it, then you will have to prove to me yourself that you have nothing to do with that matter."

Rachel stiffened. What did he mean by that?

"Put on some clothes." With that, Justin turned around. "I'll be waiting for you downstairs."

Justin drove her straight to the private high school she once studied at. Other than the principal, the PE teacher who was involved stood inside the principal's office as well.

"Mr. Burton, there's most likely been a misunderstanding over that incident back then." The principal was a nervous, timid mess when faced with Justin. He was deeply afraid that he would offend the Burtons because of this old incident.

Justin lifted a hand and cut off the principal. "Is that him?" he asked expressionlessly as he looked at Rachel.

Rachel and the bald PE teacher looked each other in the eye from where they stood between the principal and Justin. All those unpleasant memories from high school instantly crashed over her, and she reflexively shrank back toward Justin

Justin caught sight of this instinctive action, and it inexplicably caused his heart to clench.

Yes. Rachel stiffly nodded.

"Tell me everything about the incident now-I want to know the beginning, the in-between, and the results." Justin's voice was frosty and distant. When he looked at Rachel, his gaze was devoid of any warmth a husband should have.

The others inside the office exchanged glances. It seemed that the rumors were true; what kind of rights would a mute who married into the Burton Family have?