Unspoken Hearts: My Neglected Mute Wife’s Escape

Chapter 86:

Shirley’s birthday was celebrated in two segments. The morning was reserved for the Reeves family alone, and the afternoon welcomed their high-society acquaintances.

Upon entering the villa, Dean and Melinda were the first to offer their gifts.

“Mom, this one’s for you,” Dean announced, extending a gift box toward Shirley. “It’s the diamond you’ve been dreaming of. I spared no effort to track it down for you.”

Shirley’s face lit up with joy as she opened the box, quickly swapping her old necklace for the sparkling new diamond one.

LΑτєѕτ chαρτєrs ιn g𝓪l𝑛ovєl𝑆.𝗰𝑜𝗺

“It’s gorgeous,” Shirley exclaimed, admiring her reflection. “Dean, you never fail to know exactly what I want.”

“Shirley, here’s my gift,” Melinda chimed in, presenting her offering. “Ninety-nine deep-sea blue pearls.” Traditionally, Dean and Jake would present gifts together, each couple presenting one jointly.

The deviation from the norm, with Dean and Melinda giving respective presents, caught Kallie off guard. She and Jake had prepared just one gift together, and she worried this might draw criticism.

Jake seemed unfazed by the change. He confidently approached Shirley with their shared gift. “Kallie and I picked this out for you,” he declared.

Shirley took the gift but couldn’t resist a pointed comment. “This must be from you, Jake! Surely Kallie has something for me, right?”

gaze then shifted pointedly

Shirley and Melinda were intentionally setting her up. If

of us,” Jake said, stepping

I know Kallie didn’t put any thought into it,” Shirley remarked dismissively, rolling her eyes at

you every day.” Just then, Sarah approached with a gift box, presenting it right after Jake.

mood brightening as she

place, Kallie instinctively took a step back, considering it

look. “Look at Sarah, always thoughtful enough to bring a gift. And you? After five years of marriage into our family, do you even care about us? Have you shown any loyalty? What have you done besides spend our money? Now, you’re even riding on the coattails of the

and even Dean, who usually kept his peace, felt compelled to step in.

bear to watch her ride on Jake’s back,” Shirley burst out, unable to contain her frustration. Kallie’s spirits sank as she listened, her heart growing colder with each word. In the end, she was still treated like

confront the issue head-on. “Mom,” he began, his voice

discuss with Jake how to manage Kallie. “Jake, I really

abruptly. “I need to talk to you about how you’ve been

felt a flicker

miserable here? Did you force her to kneel and scrub the floors? Did you treat her like a

and touched that

and flustered, tried to deflect. “Where did you hear

it. I saw the

being tormented by Shirley and then shown them to Jake? Or was Jake merely trying