The Fake Mute's Spectacular Revenge Game

Madeline slammed the thick Stuart family prenuptial agreement onto the glass coffee table.

The sharp, cracking sound echoed through the Manhattan townhouse living room. Danielle flinched, her shoulders jerking upward. She immediately wrapped her arms around her ribs, shrinking back into the deepest corner of the single armchair.

Doreen sat across from her, inspecting her fresh French manicure. "Look at her," Doreen sneered. "The mute finally has some use to this family."

The family lawyer pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up his nose. His face was entirely devoid of expression. He picked up a Montblanc pen and extended it toward Danielle.

Danielle kept her chin tucked to her chest. Beneath her lowered eyelashes, her eyes were sharp and clear, taking in the exact position of the pen, the contract, and the exits. But she kept her facial muscles slack, maintaining the dull, vacant stare of a broken girl.

Madeline leaned over the coffee table. Her expensive perfume smelled like chemicals. "Listen to me," Madeline whispered, her voice a low hiss. "If you don't sign this right now, I will make one phone call to the sanatorium. They will pull the plug on your mother's ventilator before you can even blink."

Danielle's pupils dilated. Her breathing hitched, turning into short, shallow gasps, a perfectly timed performance of terror. She had to sell this. Her mother's safety had been secured by Holt months ago, but the Roys didn't need to know that. She let her hands tremble violently as she reached out for the heavy pen. Her knuckles were white, the skin on her wrists marred with faint, old scratches.

Just as her fingers brushed the cold metal, Doreen deliberately shifted in her seat, bumping Danielle's shoulder hard.

The pen slipped from Danielle's shaking fingers and hit the Persian rug.

Danielle dropped to her knees instantly. She patted the rug with frantic, uncoordinated movements, her breath coming out in ragged wheezes.

Madeline clicked her tongue in disgust. "Pathetic."

Danielle found the pen. She stayed on her knees, leaning over the glass table. Her hand shook so badly that the ink blotted the crisp white paper. She dragged the nib across the signature line, leaving a jagged, barely legible scrawl. She had just legally signed herself away as a medical asset.

The lawyer snatched the document back. He checked the signature and nodded at Madeline. "The signature is valid. As per the agreement, once Miss Roy is delivered to the Stuart estate and Dr. Kline confirms the blood type match, the ten million dollar capital injection will be released."

Two massive private bodyguards stepped out from the shadows of the hallway. They flanked Danielle, each grabbing her by the upper arms.

Danielle opened her mouth. A silent scream tore at her throat. She kicked her legs out, the rubber soles of her sneakers dragging uselessly against the expensive rug.

Madeline waved her hand dismissively. "Get this walking blood bag out of my house."

The bodyguards hauled her through the front doors and out into