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.

“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?”

Shirley’s gaze then shifted pointedly toward Kallie.

Kallie was overwhelmed with the awkwardness caused by the sudden change in this year’s rules and sensed that Shirley and Melinda were intentionally setting her up. If Melinda hadn’t brought a separate gift, she suspected Shirley would have criticized her for showing off.

“This is from both of us,” Jake said, stepping in for Kallie.

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

“Shirley, happy birthday! May happiness follow you every day.” Just then, Sarah approached with a gift box, presenting it right after Jake. It almost seemed like she and Jake were the actual couple, leaving Kallie feeling like an outsider.

“Thank you, Sarah!” Shirley exclaimed, her mood brightening as she embraced Sarah, treating her like the approved daughter-in-law.

Feeling increasingly out of place, Kallie instinctively took a step back, considering it might be best to leave.

However, Shirley wasn’t about to let Kallie go without a jab. She shot Kallie a disdainful 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 Reeves family’s fame!”

Shirley continued to scold relentlessly, and even Dean, who usually kept his peace, felt compelled to step in. “Mom, we’re supposed to be celebrating. Please, don’t spoil it,” he pleaded gently.

“I just can’t 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 this. Did she really “ride on Jake’s back”? Was she even capable of that?

Jake, noticing the tension, decided to confront the issue head-on. “Mom,” he began, his voice firm.

Shirley’s tone turned serious as she sought to discuss with Jake how to manage Kallie. “Jake, I really think you should—”

But Jake cut her off abruptly. “I need to talk to you about how you’ve been treating Kallie.”

Shirley, taken aback by his cold demeanor, felt a flicker of fear. “What’s this about?”

“Have you been making her life miserable here? Did you force her to kneel and scrub the floors? Did you treat her like a servant?” Jake demanded, his tone accusatory.

Kallie looked up, shocked and touched that Jake was defending her.

Shirley, caught off guard and flustered, tried to deflect. “Where did you hear such things? Don’t bother with Kallie’s nonsense.”

“I didn’t need to hear it. I saw the photos,” Jake countered sharply.

Kallie was taken aback. Who had snapped pictures of her being tormented by Shirley and then shown them to Jake? Or was Jake merely trying to bluff Shirley?

“At such a joyful event, Jake…” Melinda cut in, attempting to dissuade Jake from dredging up the incident.

Yet, Jake was resolute. “I didn’t plan to mention it today, but Dean just called this a joyful event, while your mom has been reprimanding Kallie. I think she might be okay with it being brought up.”

Shirley looked stern. She enjoyed berating Kallie but despised being challenged. Now, with the conversation taking this turn, she could only clear her throat and refrain from further confrontation with Jake. She dismissively muttered, “I was merely teaching her a lesson. It’s nothing serious.”

However, Jake stood his ground. “She is innocent. You’ve been unjustly picking on her and tormenting her.”

“I did not! Do you really see me as that kind of person, Jake? Do you really think so?” Shirley fired back instantly.

“I don’t want to believe you’re that kind of person, but I witnessed it myself,” Jake asserted firmly.noveldrama

Jake then pulled out his phone, displaying his proof. Photos, videos, and a comprehensive description of the events left Shirley unable to refute. All those things were her doings.

Faced with undeniable evidence, Shirley was dumbfounded. She confronted Jake incredulously, yelling, “You’re treating me like a criminal, questioning me like this!”

Ignoring her protest, Jake simply stated, accentuating each word, “I expect an apology from you to Kallie.”

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