The Revenge of the Mute Wife by Melanie Paulson
Chapter 58

Chapter 58

It was a new day at the Anderson family house, once a mansion that belonged to one of the country's ten most powerful families. Now, it was a mere shadow of its former self. The place had lost its sparkle and elegance, neglected without gardeners or maintenance crews

tending to its once-immaculate façade, simply because the inhabitant couldn't afford it anymore.

The family of four was having breakfast when they were interrupted by one of the few remaining servants.

"Um, sir..." the servant began nervously.

"What do you want?" Frederick snapped, his brow furrowed.

"There's a gentleman here to see you," she replied hesitantly.

"Are you expecting someone?" Vanessa asked.

"No, but I'll go see who it is," Frederick declared, rising from his seat and heading to the living room.

"It might be a new business opportunity," Ernest commented casually as he poured himself more cereal.

"That's good because I saw a new dress at the boutique that I want to buy," his twin sister chimed in, sipping her coffee.

"I saw something I want to buy too, and-"Vanessa was saying when...

"What?!" Frederick's shout signaled trouble. "Get out of my house, you damn idiot!" The outburst was followed by more commotion of furniture crashing and the front door slamming shut, followed by heavy footsteps heading toward the study. "Ugh..." Cassandra scowled, clearly disappointed.

"Looks like another failed deal," Ernest sighed, bored. "Mom, seriously, how much longer are we going to live like this?"

"Yeah, what about the money that rightfully belongs to us as Andersons?" Cassandra complained.

"I'll handle it," Vanessa said, standing up to go see her husband.

In the study, Frederick seethed with rage, re-reading the absurd document that had just been handed to him. No matter how many times he read it, he couldn't grasp it.

+15 BONUS

It was surreal-like a bad joke. After all these years, why was the insurance company now investigating the fraud and suing them?

"Darling." the door opened and his beloved wife sauntered in, her movements deliberate and enticing. "What are you doing?" she asked coyly, settling into his lap and leaning against him.

"Vanessa, I think we have a problem," he said seriously, handing her the papers.

"Huh? What is..." Her emerald eyes widened as she scanned the document." Frederick, what does this mean?"

"I have no idea, but I don't understand why after all these years, the insurance company is suddenly probing into Alexandra's death."

"That's ridiculous. That fool has been dead for ten years.

"I know, but..." Then he remembered what Deborah had said. "Damn it... it was her." "What...?"

"This is Deborah's fault!"

"Impossible... You made sure no one would doubt the story we created about that bitch's death."

"I don't know how they did it, but I'm not going to let that stupid girl ruin my life, Frederick declared angrily. "Tch... I should have killed her when I had the chance."

"Well, I don't know how you'll do it, but your children and I are tired of living in this misery."

"Huh?"

"So if this is your chance to kill your bastard daughter and take the money you promised me, do it!"

"Remember, it was your fault that Alexandra found out about our affair and changed her will to bar me access to her properties and money."

"Well, replace a way to get that inheritance now. I'm tired of being called a fake rich," Vanessa said angrily before she stood up and left the room.

Frederick clicked his tongue in frustration. He had been trying for years to take possession of that money, but Alexandra had outsmarted him and placed numerous obstacles to prevent him from getting his hands on any of it.

2/4

+15 BONUS

Angry, he got up and approached the wall to his right, lowering the painting that adorned the location of the safe. It certainly held something of great value, but even the best experts had failed to open it-its construction made it indestructible. "Damn you, Alexandra. You won't leave me alone even in death."

"You will never be happy."

"What?" At the sound of that strange and familiar voice, Frederick was startled and quickly turned to look around the room, but there was no one there he was alone.

-

"You may have deceived and used me, but your mistake was underestimating me.

"Who are you?" Frederick shouted, and then his gaze settled on the large mirror in the room. A beautiful woman with long brown hair and honey-colored eyes stood in it. "No... impossible."

"It's not impossible. Remember what I told you before you killed me," said the reflection as she moved toward him and placed her hand on the mirror's surface. "I swear even in death you will remember me because I will make you live the life you deserve, you damn traitor." "You're wrong. I am the smart one because you died that day!" Frederick was agitated.

"And my death didn't benefit you at all, did it?"

"Damn it, you planned all this to ruin me.

"All this coming from the man who pretended to marry me when he was already married to another," Alexandra reproached, frowning and pressing hard against the mirror's surface, creating a crack.

"You..." Fredrick was scared. Was she real? The Alexandra in the mirror looked like she was about to step out of the mirror, so Frederick moved quickly to the desk to retrieve the gun he kept in one of the drawers, aiming it at her. "Come out and I'll kill you again!" he shouted; trembling.

"Dad?" Fredrick snapped out of it when he heard his son, turning to see Ernest standing in the doorway and looking at his father with concern. Ernest had come to check on Frederick and noticed the latter was having an anxiety attack. "I-I'm... fine..." Frederick said, lowering his weapon. When he turned back to the mirror, Alexandra was gone and there were no cracks.

+15 BONUS

"Are you sure? Who were you shouting at?" Ernest asked as he entered the office and looked around without replaceing anything strange.

"No one... um... I think I need some air," Frederick said nervously, putting the gun away and rushing out of the room toward the garden. 'What was that? It had felt so real.'

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