The substitute bride is a mute

Chapter 12

After Clark returned, Sally explained the entire incident and threw in a couple of fabricated details.

The man nonchalantly looked over at Judy who was in a corner. He didn't say anything.

Judy wasn't dejected, she had predicted this outcome long ago.

Jenna however, was silently snickering. This meant that he didn't care about that mute at all.

She approached him with a smile plastered on her face. She then handed him the coffee she brewed earlier.

"Have some coffee, Clark. Something to soothe your throat after a busy day."

She didn't expect the man to refuse.

"No need," Clark refused flatly. "It's getting late, you should be heading back."

Her smile stiffened on her face.

She pretended like she didn't understand that he was kicking her out. "I'd like to learn from you, Clark. That way I can help my father with the company in the future, is that okay?" She tried to sound adorable.

A regular man wouldn't have had the heart to reject the requests of a dainty woman like her.

Clark, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes at her. "If you don't leave now, you won't need to come back in the future."

When his gaze is void of emotion, the scar on his face would make him look extra menacing.

Jenna's expression shifted before she promptly laughed it off to ease her awkwardness. "Oh alright. You must be afraid my dad would worry about me, right? I know you only want the best for me.

"I'll head home first then. I'll visit again soon, goodbye!"

Jenna's smile immediately vanished as soon as she stepped out of the manor. She turned to look at the doors with grit and determination.

After her departure, Judy made him a cup of tea.

She knew he always enjoyed a cup of tea after work, that's why he refused the coffee Jenna offered him. She could feel his eyes on her even as her head was lowered. Her body stiffened subconsciously.

"What are you doing here?"

She pursed her lips and met his gaze. She then placed her palms together in between her neck and shoulder to make a sleeping gesture.

"Are you not going to bed?" She signed.

It was a casual question, yet he seemed to have misunderstood it.

He lifted a brow and asked, "You want to sleep with me?"

She froze before shaking her head.

"Then don't disturb me." He marched away.

Judy stayed frozen in place before leaving.

None of them noticed Dominic standing by the window.

His expression was laced with shock. He initially wanted to catch up with his cousin, he didn't expect to come across this.

As it turned out, Clark wasn't nice to her.

Upon realizing this, his previous confusion had been cleared as well. No wonder Lora also had the gall to pick on her.

According to the nurse who was in charge of the old woman's care, someone initially funded her grandmother's treatment, but it had been revoked all of a sudden.

Dominic's guess was that Clark put a stop to the funding, and Judy was stressed out over it.

He'd heard the things that Lora said to her. He'd also seen the way his mother treats her.

What else was there to understand?

A speech-impaired mute was cast aside by her husband. Having no power within the Reid family was a difficult position for anyone, let alone a weak, helpless woman. How was she supposed to afford her grandmother's medical bills?

She was a random woman he'd only seen twice, but she’d invoked a strange feeling inside him.

Maybe he should help her out.

… © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

The next morning, Judy woke up and was ignored by the entire manor, as per usual. After she was barred from doing chores by Clark Reid, Sally didn't force her to do anything anymore.

She finished her meal under the demeaning gaze of the maids. She got up and Dominic called after her.

"Ms. Blake."

He never referred to her as his sister-in-law and called her by that title instead. This made her feel less awkward as well.

She shot him a puzzled expression.

He continued, "The director of the hospital told me your grandmother is awake. I'm on my way to give her a check-up, I can bring you along."

At first, she was overjoyed by the news of Lilly regaining consciousness. Then, she hesitated and gestured, "Is that okay?"

He was aware of her reservations and smiled as he shook his head. "It's alright."

In the end, she gave in to the urge to see her grandmother.