The Silent Wife

"Grandpa actually asked her to sign it?" Tina turned back to look at her assistant.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

"Yes. He offered her ten million for that. I saw the agreement. It's true."

"So she's moving out, I presume?"

"In a couple of days, if nothing else happens."

Tina sneered. "What are you waiting for, then? Now that she's no longer a part of the family, nobody's gonna be there for her, not even if she's dead."

Riverdale's skies were getting overcast. According to the weather forecast, a storm was inbound. It was already dark when Rachel came back to the villa. "What happened, madam? You don't look so good." I'm fine. I just need some rest.

Rachel felt distraught, as if she had no strength. The two-hour trip back had exhausted the last of her strength, so she fell asleep the moment she came back to her room. She didn't even have time to change. The nightmares came as usual. The man in her dream felt more powerful and abusive than he was in real life. Rachel tried to break free of his grasp, but to no avail.

The night engulfed the villa bit by bit.

"Young Master Justin." The servant took Justin's suit from him. "You're early today. Have you had dinner?"

Justin nodded. "Where's the madam? Is she home?"

"She came back a while ago, but she didn't look too good. Skipped out on dinner, too."

Hearing that, Justin frowned.

The room was dead silent. Rachel was on the bed, covered by a blanket. But when she heard someone coming in, she shot up. The moment Justin came in, he was met with Rachel's fearful gaze, and a pregnant silence came between them.

"You need to eat." He came in with Rachel's dinner.

I'm not hungry.

"You'll have to eat even if you're not hungry." Justin brought the spoon close to her mouth, insisting that she needed to eat.

Rachel was still traumatized from what happened earlier, so she had a bite without resisting.

"Is it too hot?"

Rachel shook her head, scared.

"Have some more."

Justin kept feeding her, as if what he did earlier didn't affect him. Rachel couldn't understand him no matter how much she tried. It was like he thought everything could be forgiven after a fair punishment was meted out.

After she was done eating, Justin said, "I'm taking you back to the city tomorrow."

Did your grandfather say you can do that?

"I don't need anyone's permission when it comes to you."

Rachel gripped the blanket tightly, and she felt her heart getting squeezed by something.

Justin knew he shouldn't have said that, not after what happened that afternoon, so he tried to comfort her. However, Rachel instinctively avoided him. His hand froze for a moment, but still he pushed a lock of her hair back and held the back of her head. "I know you hate what happened earlier, but that's on you. You should have known the line you cannot cross." He gazed at her.

Rachel froze up.

"Do you understand me?" Justin tightened his grip around her neck.

Yes.

"I have work tonight, so you'll have to sleep alone." Justin left right after that.

A short while later, Riverdale was graced by rainfall. Rachel pulled back the curtains just in time to see Justin driving away into the dark. After he was out of sight, she texted Hans. 'Two in the afternoon. Tomorrow. That was the only thing she told him.

The rain was getting heavier. Eventually, a flash of lightning arced across the sky. Unbeknownst to anyone, two men in black raincoats were secretly approaching the white car in the villa's car park.

The rain still didn't let up the next day, but that didn't change Rachel's plans. She packed her things and left the villa, while Arthur was standing beside the window to see her off. However, he looked upset.

"Sir, I know you're upset about Young Master Justin's decision, but you don't have to worry about it. He's still young, so he doesn't know you're doing it for his own good. Besides, the madam lost her family's support, and she seems to be a nice person."

"Being nice won't cut it in our circle. Even if she doesn't get herself in trouble, trouble will come to her."

"What are you worried about, sir?"

Arthur remembered something, so he didn't explain. "You'll see."

Rachel was driving down the hill, just going past a sign that told the drivers to be careful. With her hands on the wheel, she glanced at the GPS and realized she was nearing her destination.

There was a corner up ahead, so she stepped on the brakes, but the car didn't slow down. What? She quickly turned the steering wheel, and the tires screeched, but she managed to turn the corner, albeit barely. The car's wipers were clearing the rain away from the windscreen, while Rachel was drenched in cold sweat. The brakes malfunctioned.

At the same time, Justin was in the middle of a negotiation in the club.

"Very well then. Another two percent. For the sake of the collaboration.”

"I know you'll make the right choice, Mr. Leoric."

"I'll be counting on you, then."

"Likewise."

After he sent Mr. Leoric off, Justin got up and buttoned his suit.

Finally getting his chance, Frankie went up to him in a hurry. "Sir, the madam's in trouble."

The news surprised Justin.

"Our sources told us Tina sabotaged the madam's car this morning, and the madam left the villa half an hour ago."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Justin growled.

Frankie panicked. "You were negotiating, so..."

Justin's face fell. "Give me the car key." Right after Frankie handed him the key, he snatched it and stormed off.

The rain was pouring then, as unbelievable as it was. Because of the downpour, multiple landslides were occurring throughout the city, congesting the traffic. Due to the severity of the situation, even the news was livestreaming the government's efforts to solve the situation.

At the same time, Rachel was still stepping on the brakes desperately to stop her car from tumbling down the hill, but to no avail. The car wouldn't go slower than eighty kilometers per hour, and given the weather condition, she was seriously over the speed limit. Her phone started ringing incessantly halfway through, and after much difficulty, she managed to take the call, though she thought it was just Hans. "Where are you right now? Stop the car!" Justin growled.

His voice alone made Rachel shiver in fear, and she almost crashed into the guardrail. The tires started screeching again, and Justin heard it as well.

"Did something happen to the car? Rachel? Dammit!" Justin yelled furiously, but he couldn't do anything, since Rachel couldn't give him any response.

Justin ended the call, and Rachel felt like her last hope was gone. All that was left was despair. She thought she'd play out her fake death plan after she departed the villa, but she never thought she would really die. But just when she thought all hope was lost, her phone rang again. When she saw Justin on the screen, she realized he was video calling her.

"Alright, just nod or shake your head depending on your situation. Are the brakes malfunctioning? Including the handbrake? I got it. Now listen to me. Calm down and head to the East Coast highway." East Coast highway? That's not in my plan, she thought. Rachel had arrived at her destination as they spoke. The rain and the wipers were making it hard for her to see, but she noticed a familiar person on the roadside when she took a glance. Hans!