The Silent Goodbye

Nissa Sullivan was born mute, yet by chance managed to marry rich, becoming Mrs. Jules, wife of Benjamin Jules.

However, she knew full well that Benjamin held no love for her.

Naturally, Benjamin got together with his first love, Charlotte Quinn, when she returned to the country.

Nissa, knowing full well that it was time she left, chose to hide her pregnancy result and make room for Charlotte.

Nissa Sullivan, clutching her pregnancy test results, walked into the private dining room. She entered just in time to see Charlotte Quinn holding a piece of dessert up to Benjamin Jules's mouth.

Benjamin smiled as he ate without the slightest resistance.

As his wife, Nissa knew better than anyone that he never ate food others offered him. But that rule did not apply when it came to Charlotte, his so-called first love.

"Nissa, you're here!" Charlotte greeted her with an easy smile, then added with feigned surprise, "Why didn't you call and let me come get you? Oh, right. I forgot you can't speak."

She said it casually, like she was commenting on the weather.

Nissa tugged the corner of her lips into a polite, silent smile and sat down.

Charlotte suddenly added, "Oh, by the way, I ran into Benjamin's uncle yesterday. He mentioned how much they expected you two to have a baby."

The atmosphere at the table froze instantly.

Benjamin scoffed and said, "I'm not letting a mute give birth to my child. What if it turns out mute too?"

Nissa lived her whole life hearing cruel words about her disability, but nothing stung quite like Benjamin's casual contempt.

She instinctively placed a hand on her lower abdomen and thought about the results in her hand. A dull ache crept up her chest.

She was one month into her pregnancy.

She originally hoped this baby might soften the tension in their marriage.

But now? She did not see the point in telling Benjamin at all.

Quietly, Nissa slipped the test results back into her purse.

One month ago, Benjamin came home drunk and forced himself on her.

She was unlucky enough to get pregnant.

The doctor said her body was delicate, and if she chose to terminate the pregnancy, she would have little hope of having another one in the future.

Benjamin would never accept this baby. But Nissa could not bear to let it go.

Maybe it was time to leave.

Charlotte's eyes sparkled with mischief. She leaned in and said with a sweet smile, "Oh no, that won't do. The elders are all so eager to have a grandchild. If that's how you feel, maybe someone else should have the baby for you?"

Her words were loaded, and her gaze flirtatious as she looked at Benjamin with thinly veiled intent.

As expected, Benjamin looked back at her, his eyes burning with interest.

"Can you do it?" he asked.

Right in front of his wife, he was asking another woman to bear his child.

It was not just