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.

people to search all over Somerset Mountain, but he never succeeded in finding

she was

thought she died in the fire to save him, but

grabbed Amber’s arm,

want

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

she looked down at the bruise on her wrist-a result of Justin’s

had made

whom Justin hadn’t seen in more than 20 years

knew that Rachel was that very girl from all

Amber’s cold eyes was reflected

investigation bureau, a conversation was

“Officer Hawkins.”

my position,

temporary and I’ve already

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

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

box of

its long history, the box had already yellowed and it reeked of

are you going to do with these

“To save someone.”

was stern, but her eyes betrayed a certain

limitations set on her due to her position and also the confidentiality period, she would’ve given those files to Rachel long ago. Perhaps if she had done

from the hospital, he

Even though she had gone out for walks, Jennifer

Julian a distance away on a few occasions, but Jennifer had always pulled her back to the ward in case history repeated

closing the door and leaving,

the tray

“Miss Jennifer.”

rang down

Burton has warned me before; if I allow

I don’t mean

“Then…”

is she these

She doesn’t eat as much as she used to, but it’s

great.” Julian seemed panicked as he placed a folder in Miss Jennifer’s hands. “Please pass this to Rae