The substitute bride is a mute

Chapter 6

Tension hung heavily in the air at the Blake Mansion.

Matthew's furious pacing betrayed the gravity of the situation. Jenna, who had just returned home, couldn't help but question her father's agitation.

"Dad?"

With a violent crash, he shattered a cup in rage.

"That idiot Judy! The photos she sent were fake!" He roared, his frustration palpable. "Clark Reid must've caught on, and now our stocks are plummeting. We're bleeding money!"

Jenna dropped her purse in shock, her mind racing with worry. "How could this happen? Can we fix it?"

Matthew's expression darkened as he pondered their options. Then, he turned to Jenna with a determined look.

"Only you can help me now."

"Me?"

He nodded. "Yes. Clark's out for revenge because we replaced you with Judy. But I won't let him win! Don't you fancy Sally's son, Dominic? If you can seduce him, I can ensure he inherits everything from Clark. Then, we'll have it all."

He sneered, "I'll make Clark pay dearly for crossing us."

"Do you really have a plan to take him down, dad?"

His cold smile sent shivers down Jenna's spine. "Of course. With Judy as our pawn, there's nothing to fear. You need to get to the Reid Manor immediately. We can't afford to waste any time."

Jenna immediately hesitated at the mention of heading over to the manor.

She expressed, "Dad… seducing Dominic won't be a problem, I wouldn't mind it since he's so successful. But what if that ugly thing Clark tries to… make a move on me?" She dreaded the prospect of facing Clark.

She continued, "I've heard rumors that he likes me a lot, I'm just afraid he will try and take advantage of me, dad."

Matthew was aware of her concerns. He patted her hand to comfort her and said, "Don't worry, just go and try to win Sally over first. If Clark tried to do anything to you, use Judy as a shield.

"Judy wouldn't not help you out. Besides, you can use her to aid you with your plans regarding Dominic too."

Jenna bit her lip hesitantly. For the sake of the family business, she agreed eventually. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Meanwhile, Judy woke to find Clark absent.

She breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the reprieve. But as she began her morning routine, a maid barged in unceremoniously, packing up her belongings without explanation.

Confused, Judy sought answers, only to be met with a patronizing smile. "Mr. Reid said you're to move to the smaller rooms. No more access to the master bedroom."

Her heart sank. She had hoped Clark would let it slide, but his actions spoke otherwise.

Determined to keep her distance, Judy silently gathered her things and retreated to her new quarters.

News of her eviction from the master bedroom spread like wildfire through the manor, drawing mocking stares wherever she went.

Even Sally took pleasure in her misfortune, taunting her with thinly veiled contempt. "Had enough yet? You can still leave, you know."

Every sentence Sally spewed was telling Judy to get lost, but she stuck to her own ways—she acted as though she didn't understand her words and merely stayed silent.

Judy remained stoic, refusing to dignify Sally's words with a response.

Infuriated by her silence, Sally's threats grew sharper. "Stubborn as a mule, aren't you? Let's see how long you can keep this up!"

Judy hadn't received a single visit nor check-in of any form from the Blake family ever since she'd arrived at the Reid Manor. It was evident that she wasn't important to the Blakes. This also became the reason why the woman constantly picked on her.

Judy didn't have the energy to put up with her. She stayed in her room quietly and minded her own business.

But her solitude was shattered when Jenna arrived unexpectedly, only to be promptly escorted out by a steely-eyed Sally.

"How dare you show your face here? Leave, now," Sally demanded.

Jenna's first order of business was to get her affection.

Undeterred, she pressed on, feigning innocence. "I'm sorry, Mdm. Hebert. I only agreed to let Judy take my place because of what she said. Please don't be angry."

Sally picked up on whatever she was trying to imply and demanded with a glare.

"Explain yourself."