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?”

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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.

no response. She knew there were many things Jake didn’t know, but only because he never truly cared enough to find out. If he wanted to know the truth, he

but made no move to exit. Instead, he turned to Kallie. “You go

tension, quickly agreed

to gather his

voice was light and carefree, as if she was in the middle of a

I need to ask you something,” Jake said,

his voice, Shirley excused herself and moved to a

the mansion for your birthday last year,

brief pause before Shirley

just need to know,”

sighed. “She helped with the party preparations—organizing the guest list and checking what

the truth?” Jake pressed, his tone skeptical. He knew

to you?” Shirley responded, her voice

what Kallie had told him. “You didn’t

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

cane. And that wasn’t the only time,” Jake

again, clearly searching for an excuse. After a pause, she finally said, “Yes, I hit her a few times, but only because she made mistakes! Isn’t it my right to discipline

thought she was involved with Brent?” Jake

her distance. Are you telling me I was wrong to think that?” Shirley replied, her

almost responded but decided against it, biting back his