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.

years, he had sent people to search all over Somerset Mountain, but he never succeeded in finding even a

she was

the fire to

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

the charity event this Saturday. If… if you want to see her, you can attend

while for him to calm himself. “I’ll attend the

you.”

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

and she looked down at the bruise on her wrist-a result of

had made

20 years was enough to shake

girl from all those years ago, the consequences

chill in Amber’s cold eyes was reflected in the

bureau,

“Officer Hawkins.”

call me that. I’ve been stripped of my position, so

can’t do that. The position issue is temporary and I’ve already

Beneath her short haircut, her

files concerning Somerset Mountain. If I

of files from her

to its long history, the box had already yellowed

are you going to do

“To save someone.”

her eyes betrayed a

weren’t for the limitations set on her due to her position and also the confidentiality period, she would’ve given those

from the hospital, he never appeared

was stuck in the ward. Even though she had

managed to catch sight of Julian a distance away on a few occasions, but Jennifer had always pulled her back to the ward

the door and leaving, Jennifer

on the

“Miss Jennifer.”

voice rang

that Mr. Burton has warned me before; if

I don’t mean it like

“Then…”

she

as she used to, but it’s way better than when she

great.” Julian seemed panicked as he placed a folder in Miss