All Chapters of The Muted Wife’s Return: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

21 Chapters

CHAPTER ELEVEN

{Adrian's POV}"Mr. Cole, if I may have a word?"I looked up from my desk to find Dr. Harrison standing in the doorway of my study, his expression grave."Of course," I said, gesturing for him to enter. "Is this about my grandfather?"Dr. Harrison closed the door behind him and sat down heavily in the chair across from me. "I'm afraid so. I've just come from examining him at the old house."My stomach tightened. "How is he?""Not well," Dr. Harrison said bluntly. "The confrontation today took a significant toll on his health. His blood pressure spiked dangerously high, and his heart rate was extremely irregular. I've managed to stabilize him for now, but..." He trailed off, shaking his head."But what?""Mr. Cole, your grandfather is dying." Dr. Harrison's words were clinical, matter-of-fact. "He has perhaps a year left, maybe less. And any additional stress or agitation could trigger a cardiac event that would kill him much sooner."The words settled over me like a heavy blanket."I'

Last Updated : 2026-02-02

CHAPTER TWELVE

{Ava's POV}It is amazing how fast time can fly and more amazing how Nova seemed to grow every single day.It had been a year since that horrible conversation with Adrian. A year since he'd promised to turn my life into hell. And the past year has been filled with complete silence, walking on eggshells and existing in a marriage that was barely more than a business arrangement.It was like he was hell bent on fulfilling his promise to me. Funny enough, it seems like this time around was way worse than the period I was pregnant.But despite everything, the past one year has been filled with a joy that knew no bounds because I had to watch my wonderful grow.See her smile, hear her laughter watching her take her first steps and say her first words…"Mama" being one of them, which had made me cry for an hour straight the first time I heard it.Nova was everything to me.And in her I found a reason to get up every morning and endure every hell that came with each day.I stood in the kitche

Last Updated : 2026-02-03

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

{Ava's POV}For the past month, I'd taken the subway to work every day.Adrian had suggested—well, more like ordered—that the family driver take me to avoid embarrassing the Cole family. "What will people think," he'd said coldly, "when they see Mrs. Adrian Cole taking public transportation like some common commuter?"But I'd refused. It was one of the few things I'd stood firm on in the past year.The short commute to work was one of my few moments of freedom. Thirty blissful minutes where I could sit by the window, watch the city pass by, and simply exist without the weight of expectations pressing down on me.During those thirty minutes, I wasn't Mrs. Cole, the mute wife who'd trapped her husband into marriage. I wasn't the daughter trying desperately to keep Carter Group afloat. I wasn't the mother constantly worried about losing her child.I was simply Ava.Just Ava.The subway doors opened at my stop, and I stepped out into the morning sunshine, feeling my shoulders relax for the

Last Updated : 2026-02-03

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

{Adrian's POV}After agreeing with Ava not to divorce, my dislike for her had actually lessened considerably over the past year.She hadn't caused any more trouble. She stayed home quietly to care for Nova, avoiding any further problems. The house ran smoothly. There were no scandals, no drama, no scheming that I could detect.Besides, I had to admit that Ava's cooking was actually quite to my liking. More than quite, if I was being honest. Every morning, I found myself looking forward to breakfast in a way I hadn't in years. The way she prepared eggs—perfectly seasoned, just the right texture. The sandwiches she made for lunch. Even the simple dinners she left covered on the stove when I worked late.So my attitude toward her had gradually softened.Not that I'd ever admit it out loud.Six months ago, my assistant Damian had brought Linda to be Nova's tutor. I'd reviewed Linda's resume myself—she had been outstanding from childhood, holding a doctorate in education from a prestigious

Last Updated : 2026-02-03

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

{Ava's POV} I froze the moment I heard Adrian's voice. What on earth was he doing here at the school?My heart hammered in my chest as I looked up to see him standing there in the hallway, his expression dark and furious, his eyes fixed on David's hand that had just been on my arm. Oh my God, this is bad. This is very, very bad. I quickly moved toward him, my hands already flying through the air, trying to explain. Over the past year, Adrian had learned to roughly understand some of my sign language—not fluently, but enough to grasp the basics when I signed slowly. David was just helping me,

Last Updated : 2026-02-04

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

{Ava's POV} Adrian dropped Nova and me off at the old house and left immediately. He didn't even turn off the engine. Just pulled up to the curb, waited for me to unbuckle Nova from her car seat, and drove away the moment my feet hit the pavement. I stood there for a moment, watching his taillights disappear down the tree-lined driveway, Nova balanced on my hip. I took a deep breath, bracing myself. Eleanor. For the past year, I'd been trying to avoid her as much as possible. But I couldn't stop Eleanor from liking Nova very much and wanting to see her often. And Nova was too young—only fourt

Last Updated : 2026-02-04

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

{Ava's POV}By the time I returned home with Nova in my arms, my anxiety was already off the charts.Adrian's driver had dropped us off at the front door, and I carried my daughter inside, my head still spinning with Eleanor's words.Think about taking the initiative to divorce Adrian. Nova needs a better mother. Issue a statement that you're voluntarily giving up custody.My hands trembled as I locked the door behind me. Nova had fallen asleep against my shoulder during the car ride, her small body warm and trusting. I carried her upstairs and laid her gently in her crib, pulling the blanket up to her chin and pressing a kiss to her forehead."I'll never let them take you," I whispered. "Never."But the promise felt hollow even as I made it.What if Eleanor really took action? What if she convinced Adrian that I was an unfit mother? What if Vivian—polished, capable, perfect Vivian—really was having something with Adrian? What if they decided together that Nova would be better off w

Last Updated : 2026-02-07

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

{Ava's POV}I tried to calm myself down.I tried as much as I could to drag deep breaths through my lungs, as I stood there against the wall as Adrian’s words ran through my mind over and over again.But the deep breaths didnt help…did nothing to push down the hurt and fury that threatened to overwhelm me.I had to stay calm. I couldn't let Eleanor's pressure and Adrian's accusations throw me off balance.I only wanted Nova. That was all. I had to endure until I was capable enough—financially stable enough, independent enough—to leave Adrian and take my daughter with me.Just endure. Just survive.I'd been doing it for over a year. I could keep doing it.I pulled away from Adrian without meeting his eyes, picked up Nova from her high chair, and carried her upstairs to get her ready for the day.Adrian didn't follow.I went to work at school as usual, dropping Nova off with Mrs. Chen and taking the subway despite the heaviness in my chest.The children were a welcome distraction. Their

Last Updated : 2026-02-08

CHAPTER NINETEEN

{Adrian's POV}Ava's recent actions had been irritating me beyond measure.First, she'd gotten entangled with that male colleague—David, the physical education teacher who couldn't seem to keep his hands off my wife. And now, now she was getting involved with Ryan Collins. Her ex-fiancé. The man who'd abandoned her when her family needed him most.Had I been too lenient with her lately? Had I allowed her too much freedom, given her too much space to operate?Maybe she was taking advantage of my... my what? My tolerance? My distraction?I gripped the steering wheel harder, my knuckles white, as I drove us away from that school.Away from Ryan Collins and his sincere eyes and his pathetic explanations.I'd actually been quite reluctant to attend the gala with Vivian last night. The whole evening had felt wrong from the start.Vivian was wonderful, objectively speaking. She was beautiful—strikingly so, with her perfect features and designer wardrobe. She was intelligent, well-educated, ho

Last Updated : 2026-02-09

CHAPTER TWENTY

Chapter 19{Ryan's POV}I was overjoyed to see Ava again.Even with a throbbing jaw and the metallic taste of blood in my mouth from where Adrian Cole had punched me, even knowing I'd just made a powerful enemy—I couldn't regret it.Because I'd finally found her again.I touched my lip gingerly, feeling where it had split, and allowed myself a small smile despite the pain.Worth it.I'd met Ava several times before our engagement was called off, during those formal family gatherings and carefully chaperoned outings that were meant to help us get acquainted. And I'd actually been quite satisfied with her from the start.More than satisfied, if I was being honest.Yes, Ava couldn't speak. But she'd never needed words to communicate with me. She would always smile shyly when I approached, ducking her head in that endearing way that made me want to tease her until she looked up again. And her eyes—those bright, expressive eyes that spoke volumes—were deeply etched in my heart from the ver

Last Updated : 2026-02-10

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