Episode 3

"Are you mute?" Edwin asked in a sweet tone when he inquired of Diana.

The girl shook her head to answer the young man's question. Immediately, Edwin felt his blood boil with fury.

"How dare you try to make a fool of me..." Edwin clenched his teeth tightly.

Realizing the expression on Edwin's face upon learning Diana was mute, Mateo took a step back, his nerves fraying since he never told Edwin about the girl's condition.

Meanwhile, Susana couldn't help her heart from leaping with joy; the moment she had been waiting for was materializing.

With cunning, Susana sidled up to Edwin and began to speak in a mocking tone.

"She's been mute since she was three, never able to utter a word!"

"Diana can't speak, and she never will," Susana revealed to Edwin with the full intention of disheartening him about Diana.

The young man withdrew his fingers from Diana's chin; and without a word, turned to leave as swiftly from there... leaving the entire Wlop family stunned.

Mateo thought all was lost; he couldn't allow Edwin to leave the mansion in such a manner. His family stood to lose everything that had taken years to accumulate.

"It's all your fault..." Mateo murmured as he passed by Diana.

Diana felt awful, her tears beginning to fall down her cheeks. She hadn't expected to be rejected like this, yet she needed to be realistic - what man would want to marry a mute?

Susana watched with amusement at the humiliation Edwin inflicted on Diana. She approached her cousin, flipping her hair back over her shoulder with a gesture of disdain.

"I've told you your whole life, you're hideous, and now you see it's true. No man can stand to be with a 'Mute' woman..." Susana whispered near Diana's ear.

Diana's heart shattered completely; every word from Susana's lips was like daggers slowly slicing through Diana’s heart.

It wasn’t just Susana making her feel worthless, but everyone there made her feel lower than a cockroach.

Diana couldn't help it, her legs quivering, her breathing turned shallow, her tears consistently falling, utterly ruining the makeup on her beautiful face.

Before Edwin could open the door to leave, Mateo caught up to him, almost grabbing his arm to stop him from leaving his home...

Yet, he hesitated, his hand hovering mid-air; regretting what would be a grave mistake, not only risking the total loss of his businesses but potential imprisonment.

Mateo quickened his pace, getting very close to Edwin... The young man couldn't leave without becoming engaged to one of the Wlop family daughters...

Thus, Mateo swiftly devised a plan to offer Edwin his only daughter, making Diana the servant of the mansion until they could marry her off to a wealthy man.

"Mr. Shop!" Mateo called out forcefully.

Edwin stopped for a second and turned to look at Mateo, his brow furrowed, his annoyance plainly visible.

The elder stopped short of reaching Edwin, instantly bowing his head, willing to kneel if Edwin so demanded...

"What is it you want? Is my response not clear enough?" Edwin inquired.

"If Diana being mute does not appeal to you, you may marry my daughter Susana. She is very beautiful, speaks several languages, and was educated at one of the finest schools for young ladies abroad. She surpasses Diana in beauty, and her voice is like that of an angel; your family would be delighted with such a wife..."

Edwin's demeanor changed entirely, repulsed by the sort of man Mateo was.

Given a choice between the two women, he would undoubtedly choose Diana. She was mute, but not like Susana, who clearly revealed the sort of woman she was.

"Arrange everything, tomorrow at noon, I shall marry your niece Diana."

Susana's face transformed completely, expecting a different response from Edwin, at least considering her a far more serious option, not preferring Diana over her...

Edwin left the mansion, leaving the family astounded by his decision. Though not entirely in agreement, a smile appeared on Mateo's lips.

Susana, utterly furious, turned around, unable to control the raging hatred inside her, her heart pounding as if it might burst forth from her chest.

Diana remained rooted to the spot, her feet seemingly nailed to the floor, overcome with joy at hearing Edwin choose her over her cousin.

Susana approached Diana, delivering two hard slaps. Diana couldn't stop herself from falling to the ground, swiftly bringing her hands to her cheeks, which burned fiercely.

"Don't lie, and pretend those slaps didn't hurt!" Susana pointed at Diana accusingly.

Susana, not content with just striking her, grasped Diana by the shoulders, shaking her violently; Susana was indeed a malicious woman.

At Diana's first lapse in attention, Susana took the chance to crush Diana's fingers against the floor...

The pain was so intense that, unable to scream, Diana bit hard on her lower lip, and quickly, blood flowed from the wound.

"Curse you mute! How dare you presume to be above me?" Susana spat out, pressing her shoe's heel even harder onto Diana's hand.

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