Unspoken Hearts: My Neglected Mute Wife’s Escape

Chapter 33:

It was evident that Stella had come to stir up trouble, and Kallie knew that even if she left Hayden’s studio right away, it would make no difference.

Taking a step forward, Kallie gestured her willingness to handle the work and asked if Stella could unwrap the paper bag to let her see what lay inside.

“What did she just say?” Stella, unable to understand sign language, asked rudely.

“She said she can fix it and wants to know if you can open the paper bag to show her what’s within,” Gregory explained, shooting a concerned look at Kallie before facing Stella again.

“Well, you’re certainly bold!” Stella sneered, swiftly opening the paper bag to extract a box emblazoned with the Rowan logo.

“Is this supposed to be an antique?” Gregory’s brow furrowed instantly.

“And why not?” Unfazed, Stella lifted the lid of the box, revealing a heap of turquoise shards, almost unidentifiable.

“These were a pair of bracelets, the very first products Rowan made when they started up a hundred and ten years ago! They’re more than a century old. Don’t they count as antiques?” Stella asserted with a sense of justification.

Hayden’s studio had encountered such luxury antiques previously, though they were trickier to restore than a vase that came with a visual guide.

Kallie moved closer and carefully inspected the broken pieces.

“Five hundred thousand!” Stella took out a bank card and declared with a haughty air, “I can pay the entire sum upfront. After all, your studio’s reputation precedes it. I’m not concerned about you absconding with the money.”

Gregory furrowed his brow and glanced at Kallie, his gaze inquiring if she was up for the task.

Kallie nodded affirmatively. She then signed to Gregory, telling him that she was confident in the repair, while pointing out that Stella had a hidden agenda, necessitating caution to avoid tarnishing the studio’s reputation.

Gregory reassured Kallie that he and the others would handle the rest, allowing her to focus solely on the repair, as the studio had dealt with difficult clients before.

“What’s with all the gesturing? Can you handle the job or not?” Stella demanded impatiently.

“We’ll take the job,” Gregory responded icily, fixing his gaze on Stella. “Kallie will handle the repair personally. No one else will be involved. You’re welcome to either record the entire procedure or remain here to observe.”

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“That won’t be necessary,” Stella retorted with a sly grin. “I trust the credibility of your studio. If you insist on no outside help, I’ll take your word for it. No need to record anything.”

Kallie sensed something amiss when Stella dismissed the need for recording. She knew she had to keep a detailed record of the entire procedure to prove herself.

But Gregory produced a camera and a contract before Kallie could gesture her concerns. “Since you’re prepared to pay all at once, we’ll gladly proceed. Please read the contract thoroughly before you sign and pay. Meanwhile, the whole transaction will be recorded in case anything arises. This will ensure that the items you’ve brought are documented for verification post-repair.”

Stella’s expression darkened, yet she complied. After a brief moment, she turned and departed, while Kallie meticulously gathered the bracelet fragments and returned to her workspace.

“Are you planning to take the bracelet home to repair it?” Gregory inquired.

Kallie shook her head, explaining that she didn’t have the necessary tools at home and that Jake would likely get upset upon seeing her work on the fragments.

“Alright,” Gregory said. “Once you’re done for the day, lock the bracelet in your cabinet and change the password yourself.”

It was evident that Stella hearing about Kallie’s presence at the studio was no coincidence. Someone inside the studio had likely tipped her off, and they might attempt to sabotage Kallie’s work to frame her.

Kallie nodded in agreement.

Instead of diving into the repair, Kallie carefully examined the fragments, snapped some photos to help ascertain their original form, and searched online for details about the bracelet. Despite its century-old origins, the brand still existed today, making it feasible to find comparable designs.

However, the designs Kallie found didn’t quite match what she had in front of her.noveldrama

Unfazed, Kallie decided to call it a day and left for home as dinner time approached. She had assumed she could reach home before Jake returned, but upon entering, she found Jake already seated on the sofa. Not only had he come back home today, but he had arrived earlier than usual.

Kallie, taken aback, instinctively flashed him a smile.

“Did you visit Hayden’s studio today? I thought we agreed you wouldn’t work.” Jake stood up, his expression darkening.

Kallie quickly explained that her visit to the studio was for learning and that she wouldn’t be there every day—it hardly counted as work.

“Don’t go there again,” Jake ordered, his tone firm.

Frowning, Kallie stared at him, feeling a sudden surge of anger. For the first time in all these years, she felt Jake was out of line.

Previously, whenever they had a disagreement, Kallie assumed she was at fault, not Jake. She always held him in high regard and thought she didn’t deserve someone like him. But this time, she felt he was the one in the wrong.

For the first time, Kallie didn’t obey Jake’s command but instead questioned him through sign language. She furrowed her brows, asking why he wanted her to stay home when he rarely returned, and why he wished to isolate her in this vast villa.

Jake’s expression grew even darker. “Kallie.”

Instead of backing down, Kallie locked eyes with Jake, silently pressing him to answer what he truly took her for.

Jake didn’t respond to her question. Instead, he abruptly stepped closer, grasped her chin, and kissed her.

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