His Muted Bride

6 When Ivan is cured, you must disappear

Megan got the herbs she needed for Ivan's treatment, but she still didn't know how to make potions and pills for him without being caught. May was hired by Jason. She would definitely rat on them if she noticed it. Megan was immersed in her own thoughts as she walked to the main house. Someone suddenly stood in her way and snatched those things away from her. Megan looked up in shock. It was Stacy.

Stacy always liked to take things away from her. That necklace around her neck was just one of those things she had robbed away. Seeing the beautiful necklace that used to belong to her, Megan went blank for a while. It was a gift from Ivan, but her older sister had taken it away from her. The necklace was probably the most precious thing she had ever had. She had no one to turn to in that family. She could only survive by being an obedient daughter. That was why she had let Stacy take away the thing she cherished the most.

Noticing Megan's sorrowful gaze, Stacy hid the necklace and huffed, "What are you looking at, mute? I'm here to ask you a question. Are you sure you can make Ivan see again?"

Taking a step back, Megan stared at her sister in shock, not saying a thing. Stacy let out a cold laugh, "I know what you're thinking. You can never hide anything from me." Megan snatched the herbs away from Stacy instantly. She felt extremely anxious right now. When did Stacy know about this?

Stacy, however, c****d her head to one side as a bright smile displayed across her face, "Why are you acting so defensively around me? You know I am not your enemy. The person you should be afraid of is Jason. If he gets to know that you're trying to cure Ivan's eyes, he will definitely come to stop you. So, why don't we work together? I'll help you take care of those 'rats' he left in this mansion, so you can focus on curing Ivan's eyes…"

Megan had never expected her sister would offer to help one day. Her eyes were lit up by the offer. With Stacy's help, surely she could make Ivan see soon enough. It would save so much trouble. But why did Stacy suddenly become so nice? She had never been nice to her.

"But I still have a condition. After Ivan's eyes recovered, you must disappear and you can't show up before him anymore. And I'll tell everyone that I was the bride who cured his eyes."

Megan knew this selfish sister of hers was up to no good! Why would she help her for no reason? Megan fixed her with a hot stare. She wouldn't let Stacy get what she wanted this time.

"Mute, come on. I know you want your Grandpa's clinic. If you agree with this, I'll ask dad to let you work at the clinic. This has been your little dream, right?" Megan's grandpa had run the clinic. Megan's mom succeeded after she got married. It was all she had ever had. When Megan's mom had passed away, her dad had taken the clinic away. He knew nothing about medicals or herbs at all. The clinic was falling under his operation. Megan's only wish had been to take the clinic and rebuild her grandpa's legacy. She couldn't let those people run the clinic. So, after hearing what Stacy said, a trace of hesitation appeared on her face.

"You're only my substitute. It's not like Ivan is really in love with you or something. Guess what will happen after his eyes recover? He will be so disappointed and call you a liar." Stacy knew Megan too well. This little sister of hers was too kind. She never knew how to fight back or protest. Stacy thought she was benign enough to offer her the clinic. She was 100% sure that Megan would accept the offer in the end.

"Stop being so hesitant, mute. I bet you still don't know. But the clinic doesn't profit much. Dad is considering selling it. In fact, he will sell it at any price as long as he can get rid of it. If you agree to give my legal title back, I can try to persuade him into giving up the idea. That little clinic is the only thing your grandpa and mom left. I bet you don't wanna lose it."

What? Her dad was gonna sell it? How could he? Megan's eyes widened like two saucers.

"What is your answer? I am running out of my patience. If you won't accept my offer, fine, I'll just go back and tell dad to sell your shitty clinic…" Stacy threatened to turn away but she felt Megan pull on her sleeve. A vicious smile of triumph showed up on the corner of Stacy's lips.

"So what? What do you say?" Stacy asked coldly.

Megan nodded meekly. She needed to keep the clinic and make Ivan see. If she agreed, she could achieve both things. Stacy was right. The woman Ivan loved was not her. He hadn't loved her before and he wouldn't love her in the future. But even if Ivan didn't love her, she still wanted to cure Ivan. He deserved a better life.

Before she could leave, Stacy shouted behind her back, "Hey! Mute! Ivan will probably notice that you are not wearing the necklace. Just find a random excuse to make him less suspicious."

Megan started to make herb soups the second she stepped into the kitchen. May had been bribed by Stacy, so she just let Megan do whatever she wanted to do. Megan brought the soup upstairs and fed it to Ivan with a spoon. She even used the needle treatment her grandpa taught her. Inserting silver needles in a man's body could activate his nerve endings and lead his body to heal itself. Megan's hands were deft and gentle. Ivan didn't feel much pain. He even smiled warmly at her, “Honey, I’m so glad that I have you.”

...

After the treatment, Ivan received a call. It was from Cody, "Sir, your grandfather's funeral will be held tomorrow morning at 10."

"Okay, thanks"

Putting the phone away, Ivan's hand groped its way to hold Megan's small hand, "Honey, will you come with me tomorrow?" Megan left a kiss on his cheek and squeezed his hand back.

Megan sneaked out of the house with Ivan the next morning. They drove for an hour and finally arrived at the cemetery. The weather was rainy and grim. The cemetery was filled with black-clad people. Megan tiptoed to hold an umbrella above Ivan's head. So he wouldn't be soaked. Cody was waiting for them by the gate, his eyes red and sad. "Sir," Cody's voice was hoarse and thick from the sadness, "They have buried your grandfather. Jason was still there."

"Thank you, Cody. You can leave now," Ivan pressed a big hand on Cody's shoulder, "I don't want Jason to see us standing together."

"Sir… It will be too dangerous for you… Jason is a bastard…" Cody was a bit anxious.

"Don't worry. I've got this…" Ivan smiled at him, groping his way into the cemetery.