During a stormy night, Kallie Cooper propped herself against the headboard and read a book. Abruptly, the bedroom door swung open, her husband, Jake Reeves, walked in.
Before Kallie could utter a word, Jake pressed his lips to hers, the smell of alcohol mingling with the rain’s freshness. “Don’t move.” In a thick, persuasive tone, Jake commanded, his cold hand slid under her skirt, pressing firmly against her resisting leg.
Kallie ceased her struggles, the pain escalating. She emitted faint, distorted noises.
At her sounds, Jake frowned and placed his hand over her mouth.
Being silenced, Kallie clung to Jake’s muscular arm, her grip desperate as if anchoring herself in a tumultuous sea.
She was overwhelmed by the time Jake released her and headed for the shower.
Moments after Jake disappeared behind the bathroom door, his phone on the nightstand came to life.
Out of reflex, Kallie glanced at it and saw a new message flash on the screen. “Jake, I’m sorry, okay? Can you stop going back to your mute wife every time we fight? It’s really hurting me.”
The light faded from Kallie’s eyes. She realized she would never master the art of playful scolding or tender grievances shared softly in the quiet of night.
Due to a childhood illness, Kallie’s voice had been stolen from her, leaving her unable to speak. She could only produce fragmented sounds, which even her own husband found unbearable to hear.
Through the frosted glass of the bathroom window, Kallie could see Jake’s tall silhouette. She averted her gaze quickly.
Jake was carelessly drying his damp hair, looking down at her with a dismissive stare. “Did you just look at my phone?” he asked.
Kallie tensed, shook her head swiftly, and instinctively denied it. She wanted to clarify that it was an accidental glimpse.
But Jake’s patience had worn thin. He declared icily, “Don’t touch my phone again.”
Kallie forced a smile, biting her lip as she nodded. Jake’s love was not hers to claim. Their marriage was arranged by his grandfather.
Jake had bluntly stated he married her solely because she was the adopted daughter of the Reeves family, and he didn’t want to defy his grandfather’s wishes.
For five years, Kallie had never overstepped, fully aware of Jake’s affairs, yet she remained silent, fearing he would find her bothersome.
Taking a deep breath, Kallie gestured to fetch a glass of milk for him. Without the courage to meet Jake’s indifferent gaze, she hastily exited the room.
Behind her, Jake picked up his phone and dismissively deleted the message without even checking its content.
Kallie got up early.
Jake, notorious for his picky eating habits, had a delicate stomach.
For years, Kallie had meticulously prepared his breakfast every morning.
As Jake descended the stairs, the first thing that caught his eye was Kallie, bustling about the kitchen.
The strings of her apron accentuated Kallie’s slender waist, while faint hickeys lingered on her neck from the night before. She was the epitome of gentleness, always serene and avoiding making a fuss, truly an exemplary wife.
A subtle softening touched Jake’s usually impassive features. He broke the silence. “Let’s have breakfast together.”
Overjoyed, Kallie nodded vigorously and signed her gratitude. She removed her apron and seated herself carefully next to him, closer than they’d ever been.
Jake passed her a sandwich, which Kallie accepted with a cautious, grateful smile.
In a nonchalant manner, Jake mentioned, “Tomorrow’s my brother’s baby’s hundred-day celebration. You should come with me.”
Kallie nearly let the sandwich slip through her fingers in astonishment. He seldom invited her to public gatherings. Yet here he was, asking her to join him for such an occasion. Her eyes flickered with hesitation and conflict.
A trace of reluctance crossed Kallie’s expression, unnoticed by Jake.
Nonchalantly, Jake added, “I’ll have my assistant drop off some clothes tomorrow and pick you up at noon.”
Kallie had no other option but to agree.
The Reeves family held immense influence in Arcpool, and Dean Reeves, the eldest son, was celebrating his firstborn’s hundred-day milestone with a lavish affair.
Dean had reserved a premier hotel for the occasion, now buzzing with excitement.
Kallie, dressed in a beige gown complemented by subtle makeup, looked radiant. Her fine features and bright eyes made her the center of attention.
However, the gazes that swept over her were critical, not admiring.
“How fortunate she is! Born unable to speak, yet she married so well. Why can’t I be that lucky? Is it because I can talk?”
“And what good does talking do you? Can you evoke sympathy the way she does?”
“What are you implying?”
“Remember, she seemed so forlorn that Roderick Reeves took her in as his foster daughter and married her off to Jake. Such a pity play!”
“People call it luck, but it’s all calculated. You should learn from her!”
Kallie inwardly protested, wanting to argue that Roderick simply sympathized with her. Yet, she knew her silent rebuttal fell on deaf ears.
“Kallie, there you are! We’ve been waiting for you.”
Chapter 2 Skipped Medicine Last Night A sweet, melodious voice filled the air. It belonged to Kallie’s sister-in-law, Melinda Reeves, who was cradling her baby and smiling warmly at Kallie.
“Come hold the baby for some good luck,” Melinda urged. “You and Jake have been trying for five years without any news. It’s time to pick up the pace.”
All eyes suddenly fixated on Kallie, sharp as knives.
Kallie’s hands began to sweat with anxiety.
Melinda continued, “Look, no one blames you for your disability. But sweetness alone won’t suffice as a wife. How can you meet your responsibilities if you can’t bear children?”
Crushed by embarrassment, Kallie moved to take Melinda’s baby.
However, Kallie was abruptly stopped by another hand. Her mother-in-law, Shirley Reeves, quickly took Melinda’s baby away.
“This child is healthy. We can’t let her risk being affected by bad luck or sickness once you hold her.”
Kallie’s heart sank. She tried to explain it wasn’t that she couldn’t bear children. The thing was…
The crowd was puzzled by Kallie’s sign language, and Shirley interrupted her sharply. “Even if you could have children, we’d rather you didn’t. What if your child inherits your problems? We can’t allow that!”
The crowd murmured in agreement, “Exactly, we must think of the children’s well-being!”
Kallie felt a cold dread. If she couldn’t have children, then surely that woman could? She wasn’t as infertile as Melinda implied. She had once fallen pregnant unexpectedly.
However, Shirley, insisting that the child might inherit her muteness and that Jake would not want such a child, coerced her into having an abortion.
Kallie was unable to convey that her muteness was caused by an illness, not hereditary. Thus, with heavy tears, she aborted the child. The pain of that decision lingered, sharper than she ever imagined it would.
Melinda remarked softly, “Shirley, I hear your concerns. However, I’ve only been able to have one daughter, and I faced complications that may prevent me from having more children. If Kallie is unable to have children, our family line could end here.”
Turning to Jake with a soft expression, Melinda asked, “Jake, what are your thoughts on this?”
The room’s attention pivoted to Jake, many anticipating a scene.
It was common knowledge that Jake was not fond of his arranged marriage. A public rejection of Kallie would certainly stir up headlines.
Yet, a frosty demeanor overtook Jake’s stern features as he retorted sarcastically, “You’re speaking too much. What’s your point?”
Melinda’s expression faltered, realizing she had inadvertently crossed a line with the wrong person.
Shirley intervened, attempting to smooth things over. “Your sister-in-law was only expressing her concern out of care for you. It was out of line for you to respond so harshly.”
Melinda cast her eyes down, her voice tinged with remorse. “Dean is away on business, and I’ve been handling everything on my own since the baby came. I meant only to show I care, but I apologize if I’ve caused any offense.”
Jake’s skepticism was palpable, his voice frosty as he said, “If managing the household feels overwhelming, you don’t have to force yourself to do it.”
Jake gestured to his assistant, instructing the latter to set aside the gifts. “My personal life is off-limits,” he declared firmly.
In the stunned silence that followed, filled with the astonished and perplexed gazes of those around them, Jake escorted Kallie away from the party.
Kallie was dumbfounded, barely registering the events until they were seated in the car. She hadn’t anticipated Jake defending her so openly.
Jake’s brow creased slightly, annoyance tinged his voice as he said, “Ignore what they said.”
Kallie shook her head, indicating the comments hadn’t affected her.
Jake’s frustration grew. “So, in all these five years, have you really never considered the idea of us having children?”
Kallie had always been compliant and kind, her love for Jake unquestionable. Yet, her apparent indifference to the idea of children now made him doubt her feelings.
Ever since their wedding, Kallie had harbored dreams of them sharing a child. However, she knew that as long as Shirley was in the picture, it would remain a dream. She wondered if Jake was testing her desire for motherhood.
Pausing briefly, Kallie finally gestured to let slide of the incident. She was afraid, as Shirley had said, that her child might not be able to talk like her.
Jake looked at her sharply. “You’re saying you don’t want to have a baby with me. But unless I’m mistaken, we were quite careless last night, and you haven’t taken any medicine since then.”
Chapter 3 Sarah’s Thoughts Kallie gestured, saying last night was not her fertile days.
A glint of disappointment flickered in Jake’s eyes as he responded, “Good to know you’ve thought it through.”
Kallie didn’t note his feelings, assuming he wasn’t interested in having children. She turned to gaze out the window, her eyes skimming over the cityscape.
“Would you like to go shopping? Or perhaps a spa day? I can arrange for someone to go with you,” Jake said, his voice trailing from behind her.
Kallie shook her head, her sign language indicating she had work to attend to.
Jake said gently, “You are not in a crucial position. You don’t have to push yourself so hard. You can just stay home and enjoy life as my wife.”
To Kallie, though devoid of love, Jake was nearly the ideal husband in every other respect. Apart from making breakfast for him, she had no other household worries, and he provided her with a generous monthly allowance.
He even furnished her with a supplementary credit card for unrestricted spending.
However, Kallie yearned for love, not material comforts.
When Kallie first moved in with him, Jake was only seventeen. He had vowed to cherish her and love her forever. While he had kept his first promise, the second had long since been forgotten.
Lost in her thoughts, Kallie barely noticed the car come to a stop. A gentle tapping on the window pulled her from her reverie.
As the window slid down, it revealed a pale face marred by swollen, red eyes. It was a pitiful, heart- wrenching sight, Jake’s lover, Sarah Miller.
Tears had already started streaming down Sarah’s face before she managed to utter a word. Clinging to the car window pitifully, she spoke in a soft, pleading voice.
“I waited and waited for you but never heard anything. I went to your house, and they told me you were at your brother’s baby’s hundred-day celebration. I had to follow you here, just hoping for a chance to see you. Are you really angry with me? Did you come to her side to find some peace and escape my incessant talking?”
There was an unmistakable tinge of sarcasm in Sarah’s words.
Kallie could sense the indirect mockery, almost as if calling her mute.
Watching Sarah’s distraught expression, Jake’s aloof demeanor softened slightly. “Do you realize what you did wrong?”
Sarah responded with a playful pout, “If you want an apology, you’ll have to let me do it face-to-face. How can I apologize properly while standing out in the cold?”
Sarah’s gaze then shifted intently toward Kallie’s seat.
Jake turned to Kallie and broke the silence after a moment. “Your workplace is right there. Aren’t you getting out?”
Actually, there was still some distance away from Kallie’s workplace, though not far away. In the past, Jake would always drop her right at the door.
Kallie, obedient as ever, nodded and stepped out of the car, her heart heavy.
But she didn’t go far. Kallie silently observed Jake’s car from a bookstore not far away, standing by a towering window.
Whether by chance or intent, the car hadn’t moved off, and the window remained open.
From her spot, she could see into the vehicle. Sarah was now practically in Jake’s lap, their figures swaying slightly together.
Although Sarah’s position obscured Jake’s face from Kallie’s view, Kallie believed Jake was probably quite happy. After all, he was in the company of the person he loved.
Tears rapidly filled Kallie’s eyes and quietly traced their way down her cheeks, blurring her subtle makeup.
It seems like this five-year marriage of pretense and estrangement should come to an end…
…
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law.
After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her.
Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her…
What happens next?
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In the stunned silence that followed, filled with the astonished and perplexed gazes of those around them, Jake escorted Kallie away from the party.
Kallie was dumbfounded, barely registering the events until they were seated in the car. She hadn’t anticipated Jake defending her so openly.
Jake’s brow creased slightly, annoyance tinged his voice as he said, “Ignore what they said.”
Kallie shook her head, indicating the comments hadn’t affected her.
Jake’s frustration grew. “So, in all these five years, have you really never considered the idea of us having children?”
Kallie had always been compliant and kind, her love for Jake unquestionable. Yet, her apparent indifference to the idea of children now made him doubt her feelings.
Ever since their wedding, Kallie had harbored dreams of them sharing a child. However, she knew that as long as Shirley was in the picture, it would remain a dream. She wondered if Jake was testing her desire for motherhood.
Pausing briefly, Kallie finally gestured to let slide of the incident. She was afraid, as Shirley had said, that her child might not be able to talk like her.
Jake looked at her sharply. “You’re saying you don’t want to have a baby with me. But unless I’m mistaken, we were quite careless last night, and you haven’t taken any medicine since then.”
Chapter 3 Sarah’s Thoughts Kallie gestured, saying last night was not her fertile days.
A glint of disappointment flickered in Jake’s eyes as he responded, “Good to know you’ve thought it through.”
Kallie didn’t note his feelings, assuming he wasn’t interested in having children. She turned to gaze out the window, her eyes skimming over the cityscape.
“Would you like to go shopping? Or perhaps a spa day? I can arrange for someone to go with you,” Jake said, his voice trailing from behind her.
Kallie shook her head, her sign language indicating she had work to attend to.
Jake said gently, “You are not in a crucial position. You don’t have to push yourself so hard. You can just stay home and enjoy life as my wife.”
To Kallie, though devoid of love, Jake was nearly the ideal husband in every other respect. Apart from making breakfast for him, she had no other household worries, and he provided her with a generous monthly allowance.
He even furnished her with a supplementary credit card for unrestricted spending.
However, Kallie yearned for love, not material comforts.
When Kallie first moved in with him, Jake was only seventeen. He had vowed to cherish her and love her forever. While he had kept his first promise, the second had long since been forgotten.
Lost in her thoughts, Kallie barely noticed the car come to a stop. A gentle tapping on the window pulled her from her reverie.
As the window slid down, it revealed a pale face marred by swollen, red eyes. It was a pitiful, heart- wrenching sight, Jake’s lover, Sarah Miller.
Tears had already started streaming down Sarah’s face before she managed to utter a word. Clinging to the car window pitifully, she spoke in a soft, pleading voice.
“I waited and waited for you but never heard anything. I went to your house, and they told me you were at your brother’s baby’s hundred-day celebration. I had to follow you here, just hoping for a chance to see you. Are you really angry with me? Did you come to her side to find some peace and escape my incessant talking?”
There was an unmistakable tinge of sarcasm in Sarah’s words.
Kallie could sense the indirect mockery, almost as if calling her mute.
Watching Sarah’s distraught expression, Jake’s aloof demeanor softened slightly. “Do you realize what you did wrong?”
Sarah responded with a playful pout, “If you want an apology, you’ll have to let me do it face-to-face. How can I apologize properly while standing out in the cold?”
Sarah’s gaze then shifted intently toward Kallie’s seat.
Jake turned to Kallie and broke the silence after a moment. “Your workplace is right there. Aren’t you getting out?”
Actually, there was still some distance away from Kallie’s workplace, though not far away. In the past, Jake would always drop her right at the door.
Kallie, obedient as ever, nodded and stepped out of the car, her heart heavy.
But she didn’t go far. Kallie silently observed Jake’s car from a bookstore not far away, standing by a towering window.
Whether by chance or intent, the car hadn’t moved off, and the window remained open.
From her spot, she could see into the vehicle. Sarah was now practically in Jake’s lap, their figures swaying slightly together.
Although Sarah’s position obscured Jake’s face from Kallie’s view, Kallie believed Jake was probably quite happy. After all, he was in the company of the person he loved.
Tears rapidly filled Kallie’s eyes and quietly traced their way down her cheeks, blurring her subtle makeup.
It seems like this five-year marriage of pretense and estrangement should come to an end…
…
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law.
After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her.
Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her…
What happens next?
