Chapter 75
My Mute Bride
The sky was already dark when the MPV drove into the summer villa.
âYoung Master Justin, why are you here at this hour?â
âWhereâs Grandpa?â
âOld Mr. Burton is already resting. How about I get someone to arrange for you to stay here tonight?
Then if thereâs anything, you can talk to him tomorrow night.â
Outside Arthurâs room door, Justin was stopped by the butler. The door was tightly shut, as if the old man didnât intend to see him at all.
âYoung Master Justin, Old Mr. Burton is really resting Justin clenched his fists. âWhereâs Rae?â
The servants on the side dared not speak.
âAre you all mute?â Justin looked around, but no one dared to answer his question, so his face turned gloomy in an instant. âIâm asking all of you a question!â
The atmosphere in the living room was deathly still, and everyone was staying silent out of fear.
âOh, a rare visitor.â
A sarcastic voice sounded from the stairs, and Tina stood there with her hand on the handrail. âI thought I was hearing things, but youâre really back, Justin.â
Justin frowned, but he appeared calm.
âJustin, itâs unlike you to come here and make a fuss so late at night. Did something happen to the company?â
âWhereâs Rae?â
âRae? Oh, you mean my mute cousin-in-law. I seem to have heard that Grandpa called her over today, so you should ask him.â
The impatience in Justinâs eyes intensified. He didnât want to continue talking nonsense with her. âLeon, is Grandpa really asleep?â
The butler replied helplessly, âYoung Master Justin, If Old Mr. Burton says that heâs going to sleep, that means he doesnât want to see anyone anymore. If you believe me, then just listen to me and donât ask any more questions. Tomorrow morning, Mrs. Burton will definitely return in perfect condition.â
âWhere is she now?â
âYoung Master Justin-â He was about to say something but was interrupted by the sound of the door opening behind him.
The servant who opened the door stood by the door, then a cold voice sounded from inside. âAsk him to come in.â
Something flickered across Justinâs eyes, then he immediately entered the room.
The butler wanted to give Justin a word of advice, but he didnât manage to pull him in time, so he could only stare at the closed door and sigh.
He had watched Justin grow up, but he had never seen him act as irrational as he was now. He was focused on searching for one person; no wonder Arthur was so angry.
Right now, the only person in the Burton Family who was delighted was Tina.
Even in August, the mountains were exceptionally cold at night. This temperature wasnât comparable to the cityâs Rachel was only wearing a dress, so she was shivering as she kneeled in the ancestral hall.
The light inside was dim, and she didnât bring her phone in, so she didnât even know what time it was.
The creaking sound of the door opening came from behind, causing Rachel to shudder in fright as she looked vigilantly at the door.
Under the moonlight, a pair of high heels clacked against the floor as the woman stepped through the door with the moonlight shining behind her. Then, she walked toward Rachel.
It wasnât until the visitor got closer that Rachel saw her figure, and her pupils constricted.
âItâs only been a few days, but we meet again, Rachel Tina stood a short distance away from Rachel. As usual, she appeared domineering. âDonât you think that we always meet at the weirdest places? You mustâve owed me a lot of money in your past life, huh?â
Rachel didnât have a phone, nor did she have a paper and pen, so she couldnât respond to Tinaâs remarks and could only listen as she spoke, Tina walked one round in her 4-inch high heels, then she crossed her arms, as if she was watching a show, looking extremely smug. âDid you know that Justin arrived half an hour ago?â
Rachel froze.
Justin is here?
âUnfortunately, he didnât seem to want to care about you at all. Grandpa called upon him to talk about something. After he got out, he went to the guest room to rest. He didnât even ask about you.â
Howâs that possible?
âAre you surprised? You donât believe me? Tina let out a bitter laugh. âLet me tell you why: Itâs because thereâs no need to be falsely affectionate and pretentious with a dead person.â
What did you say?
Rachelâs expression changed to one of disbelief.
âIt wonât be long before you become one of these plaques. Youâll be placed in this ancestral hall, and itâll be declared to the public that you have passed away due to a certain illness, leaving Jefferey a large amount of money as compensation. Do you think heâll pursue it then?â
Rachel staggered as she stood up from the futon.
This is impossible. I didnât do anything wrong, so why would the Burtons want to kill me?
âYou donât believe me?â Tina played the recording. âListen for yourself.â
After a loud noise, Arthurâs voice came from the recorder. âJustin, Iâm very disappointed with your recent behavior. The Burton Family is like a tough bone-not easy to chew-but this does not mean that Jefferey wonât try to fool you.â
âGrandpa, Jefferey isnât that capable yet. Youâve overestimated him.â
*Donât think that I donât know anything. Heâs capable enough to replace the bride. The way you handled It has already disappointed me. You shouldâve let Rachel leave. Sheâs worthless.â
Weâre only keeping her to get the formula.â
âDidnât we already get the formula?â
âWeâre still matching the ingredients, so thereâs no final product yet.â
âThen, let me ask you-what are you going to do after we get the final product?â
After a silence that lasted for several seconds, a gust of cold wind blew in the ancestral hall, causing the back of Rachelâs neck to turn cold.
After some time, Justinâs voice rang in the recording. âIâll take care of it.â
Arthur didnât make any comments, but the conversation changed abruptly. âDid you order for the companyâs personnel transfer?â
âI havenât given the order, but I had that idea.â
âFor that woman?â
âItâs for the normal operation of the company,â Justin answered in a calm tone. âSince Zayn dared to do anything he desired because of one sentence from Tina, that meant that he didnât have any regard for the companyâs rules. Keeping him will cause something major to happen.â
âWhat if I say that something major will happen if that mute stays by your side?â
When this sentence emerged from the recorder, it echoed in the huge ancestral hall.
âThen, itâs all up to you, Grandpa.â
When the simple and concise sentence was spoken, not a trace of reluctance could be heard. It was as if she was an item to be bought and sold at will; only her body substantiated her existence.
Arthur said, âShe will become a plaque in the Burtonsâ ancestral hall. Are you willing to let that happen?â
âMarrying her was originally for the exchange of benefits.â
Rachel was taken aback, unable to believe what she had just heard, After the recording finished playing, Tina gave her a condescending look, but there was slight sympathy in her eyes. âDid you hear that? Grandpa doesnât plan to keep you around anymore Keeping you at the Burton Residence is the biggest mistake Justin has made in his life. If youâre still counting on Justin to save you, then I advise you not to continue with your wishful thinking, because heâs not coming Previously, I thought he cared about you, but now, it seems like he doesnâtâ
Rachel sank down onto the futon Am I really going to die here?
Every one of Tinaâs mocking remarks made its way into her ears, gnawing at her nerves like dense insects.
Justin was so indifferent in the recording that it felt like he was a completely different person from the one who had been taking care of her for the past few days.
Which one is the real him?
Tina continued, âDidnât I say that if you snitch on me, Iâd kill you? Iâm a little upset now that youâre not gonna die at my hands.â
Rachel suddenly came to her senses. Shooting Tina a glance, she was struck with a sudden thought as she retrieved a chalk from the incense case and started writing on the ground.
âWhat are you doing?â
Tina frowned and stared for a long while.
âDo you really think the person who snitched on you was me?â