The Silent Wife

Chapter 136

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

even offer some to anyone, a group of children was surrounding her and staring eagerly

cake is so

a ‘wait’ motion with her hand, she lifted a knife and a

out of a box to the side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday. Before she treats you all to some cake, what should we

the group, which happened to be a little girl in pigtails, immediately said,

must sing the

close her eyes and make

must blow out the

her head to indicate to Julian that there was no

had the children sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

birthday, Miss Rachel. My mommy says you have to say it in your heart and not out loud, or the wish won’t come true,” a very young voice piped up beside

to look, she found a little girl who wasn’t even at table height yet looking up at her with pretty,

and, under the gazes of the children, clasped her hands and made a wish. After that, she blew out

thank you!” their parents

raced off, dabbing icing on each other’s faces. Just like that, the strangers in the community suddenly seemed

Rachel finally smiled for the first time in days. Thank

Walking her back to her apartment building, Julian continued, “The most important thing right now is to take care of your body and

I never wanted it, anyway, so I might as well pretend it never existed for now. At that point,

up the child, he changed the topic and told her, “Go on upstairs, then.

turned and headed toward

was inside her apartment

propped open by

Justin glowering at her, his darkened face made all the more grotesque by the centipede-like scar on it. Suddenly,

he out on

himself, he slid sideways into the house and shut the door

been getting along

she took two steps back. Why

her resentfully, he stalked toward her as he pulled off

sneered, “I suppose you wouldn’t want me to ruin your blissful days, would

her, forcing her back inch by

Rachel had no idea what

hold of her arm and pulled, she staggered after him and was