My Mute Bride

Amber answered, “Somerset Mountain. Why?”

“Hudson Pharmaceuticals has funded children from Somerset Mountain?”

“Yes, we have been doing it for more than 20 years.”

“How could it be? I remember there wasn’t anyone left after the fire.”

“The fire?” She was slightly stunned. “Justin, how did you know there was a fire in Somerset Mountain?”

A frown came to Justin’s face as he feigned indifference. “It was on the news. I happened to watch it.”

Amber nodded. “Yes, it was exactly because of the fire that the whole mountain was reduced to ashes. I heard someone almost died too. My dad said that there was a hidden village in Somerset Mountain and it was home to some human traffickers. They were trying to escape security checks, so when the fire happened, they couldn’t be rescued on time.”

Justin clenched his fists tighter. “That’s what your father told you?”

“Yes, those traffickers hid in a ditch and the firemen didn’t even know there were people there. They managed to find them in the end, but a little girl almost died in the process.”

“Almost died?”

His expression changed.

“She was burned badly, but she managed to survive. My dad did everything he could to save her by sending her to hospitals all over the country. In the end, she was even sent abroad to receive treatment.”

Amber didn’t manage to finish her words before Justin grabbed her hand to interrogate her, “Where is she now?”

“She… she’s still out of the country.”

“What’s her name?”

“Justin, what came over you?”

“What’s her name?” he repeated.

“Katherine Cooper.” Amber’s features were distorted in pain. “Justin, let me go! What happened to you?”

Justin’s cold face was stiff as he struggled to believe his ears.

Katherine…

Katie…

He was taken back to the Burton Family after the fire twenty years ago. He didn’t have the ability to investigate the matter at first and when he finally rose to position as the president of Burton Group, the landscape had already changed beyond recognition.

all over Somerset Mountain, but he

thought she was

even thought she died in the fire

her.” Justin grabbed Amber’s arm, his cold eyes burning

this Saturday. If… if you want to see her, you can attend with me this Saturday. However, Justin, what’s wrong with

as it took a long while for him to calm himself.

you.”

side of the car window, signaling that night had fallen over Riverdale like a humongous black cloth that stretched across the

hand and she looked down at the bruise

had

whom Justin hadn’t seen in more than 20 years was enough to shake him to his

he knew that Rachel was that very girl from all

Amber’s cold eyes was reflected in the car

bureau, a

“Officer Hawkins.”

of my position, so just call me

is temporary and I’ve already

haircut, her features were bright and firm. “Any updates on the case that I asked you to

Somerset Mountain. If I were one second late, they would’ve been destroyed since these files had

of

had already yellowed and

Hawkins, what are you going to do with

“To save someone.”

expression was stern, but her eyes betrayed a certain

the confidentiality period, she would’ve given those files to Rachel long ago. Perhaps if she had done

Justin away from the hospital, he never

Even though she had gone out for walks,

managed to catch sight of Julian a distance away on a few occasions, but Jennifer

closing the door and leaving,

on the tray

“Miss Jennifer.”

rang down

Mr. Burton has warned me before;

I don’t mean it like

“Then…”

is she

doesn’t eat as much as she used to, but it’s way better than

panicked as he placed a folder in Miss Jennifer’s hands. “Please