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.

he had sent people to search all over Somerset Mountain, but he never succeeded in finding even a scrap of information about the

thought she was

fire to save him, but

want to see her.” Justin grabbed Amber’s arm, his cold

attending the charity event this Saturday. If… if you want to

as it took a long while for him to calm himself. “I’ll attend the event this

you.”

signaling that night had fallen over Riverdale like a humongous black cloth that stretched across the entire

at the bruise on

had made the absolute

Justin hadn’t seen in more than 20 years was

knew that Rachel was that very girl from all those years ago, the consequences would be

eyes was reflected

the investigation bureau, a conversation

“Officer Hawkins.”

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

that. The position issue is temporary and I’ve already acknowledged

chair and sat on it. Beneath her short haircut, her features were bright and firm. “Any updates on the

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

took the box of files from

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

going to do with these

“To save someone.”

but her eyes

also the confidentiality period, she would’ve given those files to Rachel

had taken Justin away from the hospital,

though she had gone out for walks, Jennifer

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,

the tray

“Miss Jennifer.”

voice rang down

help you. It’s just that Mr. Burton has warned me before; if I allow you

don’t mean it like

“Then…”

she

eat as much as she used to, but it’s way

as he placed a folder in Miss Jennifer’s hands. “Please pass this to