The Revenge of the Mute Wife by Melanie Paulson novel Chapter 4

The outing lifted Deborah’s spirits. Caroline bought her a birthday present and they had a meal at a restaurant before returning to Deborah’s apartment because Caroline insisted on not leaving her alone. But their pleasant mood vanished upon arriving at Deborah’s door, where an older woman was banging and shouting.

"Open up, you mute b*tch!" screamed the older woman with platinum blonde hair, pounding on the door. When she saw them, she snapped, "Who do you think you are? Why aren’t you at home? My poor son suffers because of you."

"Mrs. Peterson, this is an apartment building and your shouting is disturbing everyone," Caroline retorted.

"Shut up, you beggar," Mrs. Peterson shot back before turning to Deborah, demanding she open the door.

Deborah reluctantly opened the door, and the older woman shoved her aside as she entered. Caroline protested, but Deborah gave her a reassuring smile, trying to avoid a confrontation.

Inside, Mrs. Peterson began criticizing the apartment’s cleanliness, throwing things around to make it look messy. Caroline, irritated, called the older woman out for her behavior.

"You wretched beggar!" Mrs. Peterson tried to hit Caroline, but the latter caught the older woman’s wrist and held it firmly.

"I’m calling the police," the older woman threatened just as there was a knock at the door. Deborah opened it to find two police officers.

"Good morning, ma’am. Did you call us?" one officer asked.

"Officers, arrest this woman!" Mrs. Peterson pointed at Caroline. "She hurt me."

[That’s a lie.] Deborah frowned.

"She’s just being dramatic," Caroline stated plainly.

"Officers, can't you see... she's intimidating me. So please, arrest her and get her out of my house."

[This is my house.] Deborah signed and frowned even more.

"This is not your house," Caroline spoke up.

"Actually," the first officer began to say, "we were called over because several neighbors have complained about you, ma'am.”

"HOW DARE YOU! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"

"You’re the crazy lady banging on my neighbor’s door, keeping me from sleeping," a blond man said, stepping into view.

Mrs. Peterson was furious but fell silent upon recognizing the man.

[Jayden…] Deborah mouthed, surprised.

"Ma’am, save it. Officers, please take her away. She’s always harassing my neighbor. I have the evidence for it too," Jayden requested.

"Darling, if your husband won't protect you from his mother, I will, because neither you nor I are here to endure her shouting," he said, smiling at Deborah.

Mrs. Peterson became hysterical. "Let go of me! I’m Isabelle Peterson. You can’t do this to me!”

But the officers moved to restrain her. "Ma'am, please stop resisting and—”

Just then, Roger stormed in, furious.

"Let my mother go!" Roger demanded.

"Sir, we’re arresting her as we’ve received multiple complaints about her," the other officer explained.