Unspoken Hearts: My Neglected Mute Wife’s Escape

Chapter 74:

Kallie regarded Jake with a calm expression, her expectations low. She suspected that Jake’s questions stemmed from curiosity rather than concern. He wasn’t the type to defend her, and she doubted he would challenge Shirley or shield her from the relentless bullying.

Instead of going into detail, Kallie signed simply, her gestures saying, “Every year, on your mother’s birthday, I end up working like a servant at the mansion for a week. I can’t keep doing this. Is that a problem?”

“Did she force this on you? What exactly were you made to do? What happened last year?” Jake probed, seeking clarity. “Why haven’t you mentioned this before?”

Kallie nonchalantly listed a few of her previous tasks in sign language, her gaze distant and cold. She described duties akin to those of any household servant, including washing dishes for all the guests and kneeling to scrub the hallways. Cleaning the dusty cellar left her with a persistent cough from her allergies.

Jake’s face slowly registered disbelief. “Why didn’t you bring this up sooner?”

Kallie’s response was sharp, her gestures asking, “Would you have believed me if I had? Even now, would you believe me? When have you ever believed me?”

New chapters now on .cøm

Jake fell silent, recognizing his long-standing skepticism toward Kallie and others. He often relied on his own judgment, mistrusting the perspectives of those around him. Now, faced with Kallie’s revelations, his initial thought was whether she was fabricating the story to push for a divorce.

Kallie’s eyes were filled with disappointment. She gave Jake a brief, piercing look before turning to gaze out the window, choosing to remain silent.

Jake restarted the engine and began driving toward the house.

“I had no idea about any of this,” Jake muttered, his voice laced with sympathy.

truly cared enough to find out. If he wanted to know the truth, he could

stopped the car but made no move to exit.

to escape the tension, quickly agreed and stepped out of the

seated, took a moment to gather his thoughts before

it, Jake?” Shirley’s voice was light and carefree, as if she was in the

to

Shirley excused herself and moved to a more private area. “What’s the matter? Is something wrong with the

mansion for your birthday last year, what exactly did you

was a brief pause before Shirley replied, “Why do you want to

to

the party preparations—organizing the guest list and checking what

pressed, his tone skeptical. He knew

you?” Shirley responded, her voice filled

before revealing what Kallie had told him. “You didn’t make her do any housework? No

stammered, caught off guard by the specifics. “Kallie said that? She’s lying! We have housekeepers for that. Why

a cane. And that

I hit her a few times, but only because

involved with Brent?” Jake asked

her distance. Are you telling me I was wrong to think that?” Shirley replied, her tone self-righteous. It was as though, in her mind, Kallie was always at

against it, biting back