And Then She Spoke

I was the youngest daughter of the wealthy Sutton family, and everyone knew me as a fool. I had been quiet and dull since I was little, and I could barely get a word out. However, everyone else in the Sutton family was exceptional. My older brother, Julian Sutton, took the world of high finance by storm at 18 years old. My older sister, Yara Sutton, earned two doctorates at the age of 20. My parents simply couldn't believe I was really their daughter. They had 18 DNA tests done and consulted every renowned doctor and expert they could find. After more than a decade of trying, my whole family finally gave up. The truth was, I could speak. I just didn't want to. In my previous life, I was a star lawyer who had never lost a case. I had said all I needed to say back then. In this life, I only wanted to quietly live as someone who never spoke. That was until today, when Sutton Group was hit by a hostile short-selling attack and faced bankruptcy. Our rival showed up at the company with an acquisition agreement. My dad, Richard Sutton, looked grim. Julian went through every clause and couldn't find a flaw. Even Steven Gould, the attorney our family had paid a fortune to retain for ten years, had already been bought off. At that moment, Steven put on a look of righteousness. "Mr. Sutton, just sign it. This is the only way to protect your family. I checked the contract. There's nothing wrong with it." Dad let out a long sigh and shakily picked up his pen. I was getting annoyed listening to all this nonsense, and I couldn't keep pretending. As my whole family stared in shock, I walked over and flipped the agreement to page three. I said, "The main agreement and its attachments have conflicting jurisdiction clauses. If you sign this, the Sutton family will walk away with nothing and still be left with billions in debt." I looked at Steven with a smile that never reached my eyes. "Mr. Gould, it looks like you don't do much online shopping. Those discounts are pretty extreme." Chapter 1 Steven Gould's voice was gentle. He wore a well-tailored custom suit, and his gold-rimmed glasses were spotless. He had even thoughtfully poured a glass of warm water, gently placing it in front of my dad, Richard Sutton. The entire top-floor conference room was dead silent, and there was a suffocating despair hanging in the air. I sat on the couch in the corner, mechanically twisting the Rubik's Cube in my hands. The quiet snap of its pieces filled the silence. No one spared me a glance. In their eyes, I, Celeste Sutton, was only there for show. To them, I was a fool who couldn't understand a word they said. Zander York, sitting across from me, picked up his coffee and took a sip. He was the one behind today's takeover attempt. He was also well known in the business world for being ruthless beneath his friendly exterior. "Mr. Richard, time is running out," Zander said. "Once midnight passes, Sutton Group's stock will plunge when the market opens tomorrow morning. "By then, you won't even be able to get the few billion dollars you need to save the company." Zander spoke lazily, as if he were talking about tomorrow's weather. Dad's face was pale with anger, and the veins in his forehead throbbed. He stared at the thick acquisition agreement on the table with fear and disgust. My older brother, Julian Sutton, stood nearby. His eyes were bloodshot from exhaustion. He took the world of high finance by storm at the age of 18, and he was the business prodigy the Sutton family was most proud of. But at that moment, he gripped his pen so tightly that his knuckles turned white. There was nothing he could say. He went through every word in the contract, but he couldn't find a single flaw. "Julian, look again. Is there really no other way?" My older sister, Yara Sutton, spoke with a slight tremor in her voice. She had always been cool and aloof, but even her eyes were red-rimmed with tears today. Julian let go of the pen in his hand, and it rolled across the polished table with a clear click. "They have three times as much capital as we do," Julian said. "Their short-selling attack was so well hidden that we missed our best chance to fight back. "Now our cash flow has collapsed, and the banks are pulling our loans. Unless a miracle happens, we're done." Julian's voice was incredibly hoarse, and he slowly closed his eyes. Steven let out a soft sigh. He walked over to Julian and patted him on the shoulder. "Julian, I know this hurts. Sutton Group is like family to me, and I've worked here for ten years. "No one wants to see this happen more than I do. But the law is about evidence and contracts, while business is about strength. "Mr. York's terms may be harsh, but at least they'll keep your family safe. "As long as you're still standing, you can always start over." Every word Steven said seemed to be for the Sutton family's sake. I sat in the corner, feeling sick just listening to him. In my previous life, I was a star lawyer who had never lost a case. I had seen plenty of fake, self-righteous men like him. Chapter 2 I could tell what kind of trick was hidden in Steven's contract just by glancing at the table of contents, but I didn't want to get involved. In my previous life, I died from overwork while working on a case. In this life, I only wanted to quietly live as someone who never spoke. If the Sutton family went bankrupt, so be it. At worst, I could take some money from my trust fund and move to the countryside to farm. I kept my head down and continued twisting the Rubik's Cube, with the pieces shifting softly. I turned the wrong piece by mistake. The Rubik's Cube slipped from my hands and landed on the cashmere rug. It wasn't loud, but it stood out in the silent conference room. Everyone's attention instantly turned to me. Annoyance and disappointment flashed across Dad's eyes, while Julian frowned and looked away. Yara came over to me. She bent down, picked up the Rubik's Cube, and put it back in my hands. "Celeste, be good. Why don't you go play in the lounge outside?" Her voice was gentle, and she didn't scold me. She even took a mint from her pocket, unwrapped it, and put it in my mouth. "We have some things to take care of here. You'll bother Dad if you stay," she said. Yara patted my head. There was no anger in her eyes, only the kind of pity people felt for someone they saw as useless. That was how the Sutton family was. They never yelled at me or hit me, but they slowly pushed me out of the family in the gentlest way possible. Steven came over too. He crouched down to my eye level, wearing a warm, affectionate smile that seemed impossible to fault. "Ms. Celeste, listen to Yara," he said. "There are some of your favorite little cakes outside. I'll have my secretary take you to watch cartoons, okay?" As he spoke, he waved toward the door. "Lily, take Ms. Celeste outside and close the door." I held the mint in my mouth. It was so sweet it tasted bitter. Steven had blatantly overstepped his role. He had worked for the Sutton family for ten years, but he was still just someone they paid to work for them. Now, he was trying to force them out of their own company, and my family didn't even react. "Let's go, Ms. Celeste." Lily Hale, Steven's secretary, came in and took me by the arm. "Mr. Gould, why the rush to send her out?" Zander suddenly laughed. He slowly turned the coffee cup in his hand, looking at me with interest. "So this is the Sutton family's youngest daughter everyone's been talking about?" His tone was mild, yet his words sounded like a sharp insult to every member of the Sutton family. Dad's face went from flushed with anger to deathly pale in an instant. Julian whipped around and shot Zander a sharp look. "Mr. York, don't drag my family into business matters," he said. "Celeste might not be mentally capable, but please show her some respect." His tone was icy. Although he usually looked at me with disappointment, he still instinctively protected me at that moment. Zander chuckled. "Mr. Sutton, you misunderstand. I wouldn't dare disrespect Ms. Celeste. "I just think that since this is a moment that will decide your family's fate, the whole family should be here to witness it. "You should let Ms. Celeste see how the family business changes hands under your watch." His words were devastating. Yara trembled with anger and pointed toward the door. "Zander, you're taking this too far!" Steven immediately stood up and stepped in front of Yara. He dipped his head slightly, his tone so sincere it made me sick. "Mr. York, Yara was just upset. Please don't take it personally. "But it really isn't appropriate for Ms. Celeste to stay here. If she gets frightened, Mr. Richard will feel terrible." Steven turned to Dad. "What do you think, Mr. Richard?" Dad looked at me for a long moment. His eyes held exhaustion, helplessness, and a hollow resignation. When I was eight years old, Julian turned down a million-dollar job offer in high finance so he could stay home and teach me to read and write. He spent the entire year with me. Chapter 3 Julian held up the flashcards and read them to me over and over. Instead, I looked at him without emotion. In the end, he threw the flashcards into the trash and gently patted my head, his eyes red-rimmed with tears. He said to forget it. Our family could afford to support one person who could do nothing. When I was ten years old, Yara brought in a top brain specialist from overseas. All sorts of cold medical equipment were placed on my head. The results showed that my brain activity was unusual, but I was unable to develop normal language and reasoning skills. Yara held the report and cried outside the door all night. After that, no one bothered with me anymore. I didn't have to think, speak, or take responsibility for anything. That was the life I had always wanted. But now, someone was about to take that life away from me. "Take her outside." When Dad finally spoke, his voice was rough and dry. "No one is allowed to let her back in without my permission." Lily tightened her grip on my arm and pulled me toward the door. I didn't budge. My feet stayed firmly planted on the carpet. Lily froze for a moment, then gave my arm a hard tug. "Ms. Celeste, don't be difficult. Come on." I still didn't move. I simply stared quietly at the agreement on the table. Steven frowned. He kept up his gentle facade as he came over and lowered his voice. "Celeste, don't make your father angry. Now isn't the time for one of your episodes. "Be good, and I'll buy you some candy later." He called it an episode. In front of my family, he treated me with respect. But whenever he came close, he spoke to me as if I were mentally ill. I looked up and quietly stared into his eyes behind his glasses. My stare made Steven uneasy, and he took a step back without thinking. He actually felt the intimidating presence of someone superior to him in the eyes of a fool. It was an illusion. It had to be. "Why are you still here?" Dad suddenly slammed his hand on the table. Water splashed out of the glass and spilled across the wooden table. "Do I have to show you the way out myself?" he snapped. Julian sighed and came over to pick me up. "Celeste, let me carry you outside." Just as his hand was about to touch my shoulder, Zander glanced at his watch. "There are five minutes left," Zander said. "Mr. Richard, my patience is limited. If you think refusing to sign is the more honorable choice, I won't force you. I'll see you in court." He stood up and calmly buttoned his suit jacket. "But then it won't be a peaceful acquisition. Your family's assets will be forcibly liquidated. "Your wife, along with your daughter who can't even speak, may end up on the streets." Zander's words hit Dad where it hurt most. Dad's shoulders suddenly slumped, and he looked ten years older in an instant. "I'll sign," Dad said. Those two words carried a tremendous weight. Steven immediately pushed the agreement in front of Dad. Then, he uncapped the pen and respectfully handed it to Dad. "Mr. Richard, this is a wise decision," Steven said. The black Montblanc pen gleamed coldly under the overhead lights. Dad's hand hovered in the air for a long time, but he still didn't take it. Yara bit her lip, and her tears finally spilled onto the back of her hand. "Is there really no other way, Steven?" she asked. She looked up at him as if he were her only hope. A faint flicker of pity crossed Steven's eyes, but his trademark gentleness quickly covered it. "Yara, if there were even the slightest chance, I would never let Mr. Richard sign," he replied. "But the overseas capital behind Mr. York is deeply entrenched. "We have nothing left to bargain with." He even turned around and gave Zander a respectful nod. "Mr. York, once Mr. Richard signs, I hope you'll keep your promise. "Leave the few trust funds held in the Sutton family's names intact." Chapter 4 "This is our final offer." Zander waved a hand dismissively. "Of course. I always keep my word in business." What a perfect little act. I sat on the couch, crushing the mint in my mouth between my teeth. In ten years, Steven had learned the Sutton family inside out. He knew what Dad cared about, where Julian was most vulnerable, and exactly what to say to make Yara give up fighting. He had made it seem like he had done everything he could, and this was the best they could do. Steven had convinced the entire Sutton family to walk into ruin willingly. I stood up, walked straight to the conference table, and reached for the agreement. This time, Yara stopped me. Her hand was cold, but she pulled me firmly back into my seat. "Celeste, don't be difficult." Her voice was soft and gentle. "Sit still. It'll all be over soon." She pressed down on my shoulder and forced me back into the chair. They didn't see me as a threat and didn't think I could cause any trouble. They just thought I was nothing more than a burden who needed to be kept under control. I was someone who would only get in the way when things went wrong. Steven watched as I was forced into my chair, the corners of his mouth lifting ever so slightly. He held out the pen again. "Mr. Richard, sign it." Dad took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his eyes were dull and defeated. As Dad took the pen, his hand shook badly. The tip of the pen left a black blot of ink on the paper. "Once you sign, it'll all be over." Zander stood nearby, watching as everything went exactly as he wanted. The smile on his face grew wider. I watched Dad's hand tremble. Memories of the towering stacks of case files from my previous life came rushing back, along with all those days spent battling it out in court. I had sworn I would never have anything to do with the law again in this life. I never wanted to get dragged into the ugliness of human nature again. I looked at Steven's self-righteous face. My family was being driven into a corner, yet they were still grateful to the people responsible. I couldn't hold back my anger anymore. I was sick and completely fed up listening to all of this. Just as the tip of Dad's pen was about to touch the paper, I shot to my feet. I threw Yara's hand off me and moved so quickly that no one had time to react. I rushed to the table and pressed my hand down on the agreement. "Celeste!" Julian barked my name and strode over to pull me away. "Let go. Stop this nonsense!" Anger crept into his voice. I ignored him as I grabbed the thick document, flipped it hard to the third page, and slapped it down on the table. Steven froze, then reached for the papers without thinking. I looked up and glanced at him icily. His hand stopped midair. The entire conference room fell silent as everyone stared at me in disbelief. I cleared my throat. Then, clearly and calmly, I spoke my first words in this life as a member of the Sutton family. "The main agreement and its attachments have conflicting jurisdiction clauses. If you sign this, the Sutton family will walk away with nothing and still be left with billions in debt." I looked at Steven with a smile that never reached my eyes. "Mr. Gould, it looks like you don't do much online shopping. Those discounts are pretty extreme."