Chapter 46 What Is Your Bargaining Chip?
The name ‘Somerset Mountain’ echoed within the office.
Justin’s expression visibly darkened as the ugly scar on his face trembled vigorously, as if the protruding vein from his forehead was suppressing his sudden surge of emotions.
“She was born in Somerset Mountain?”
Frankie returned to his senses and he quickly nodded his head. “Yes, Miss Hudson was eight years old when she was sent to the Hudson Family with her granny.”
“They were brought from Somerset Mountain?”
“That… I’m not sure.” He nervously looked at Justin.
After all, 20 years had already passed and the servants of the Hudson Family had changed many times, so it wasn’t easy for Frankie to find out that Rachel was brought over with her granny, let alone discovering their origins.
Upon listening to Frankie’s answers, Justin was instantly filled with mixed emotions. All of a sudden, he closed the document in his hands and said, “I want you to find out more about it. Let someone else head to Somerset Mountain to investigate.”
For a moment, Frankie was startled. “President Burton, why are you suddenly so interested in investigating this?”
However, Justin didn’t answer as he coldly uttered, “Go and look for the survivors of that forest fire back then. No matter how big or small, I want to learn everything about Rachel, her granny and the Hudson Family. Hurry up and go.”
Upon facing Justin’s cold gaze, Frankie quickly nodded his head. “I’ll ask someone to look into it immediately.”
Justin nodded slightly.
“By the way, there is one more thing I need to tell you, President Burton.”
“What is it?”
“About Miss Hudson renting a house outside, the intermediary couldn’t get into contact with her, but he has Dr. Peters’ number. When I called him today, he told me that Dr. Peters had already rented the house.”
“He rented it? Where is the house?”
Frankie stuttered, “Glendale.”
Justin tightly furrowed his brows in that instant. A house in Glendale?
In the night, the particularly clear sound of an engine was heard in the courtyard of the Burton Residence.
Rachel had already taken a shower and she was now reading a book on the side of her bed. As soon as she heard the engine sound, she immediately closed the book and put it aside before wearing her sandals.
She had been waiting for Justin to return.
When she went downstairs to the living room, he had just removed his jacket and handed it over to the maid. The moment he saw her coming down, he immediately furrowed his thick brows. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
Rachel shook her head and pointed at the kitchen. I’ll go and make some tea for you.
When she was done making the tea, she brought it over to Justin’s study room, but he wasn’t there. However, the bedroom next to his study wasn’t closed shut, so she could hear the sound of water splashing on the floor.
Therefore, she simply waited for him in the study room, but a frayed newspaper on his desk quickly caught her attention.
Even though the paper looked ancient, the masthead ‘Riverdale Times’ was still clear to the naked eye. Below, the front page headline had an eye-catching title—‘Justin Burtin, the eldest grandson of the Burton Family was successfully rescued from a group of human traffickers in Somerset Mountain before their den was burned to crisp by a forest fire.’
It’s a newspaper from 20 years ago.
Rachel was stunned upon that sight.
It wasn’t difficult for her to discover that Justin was abducted years ago, but she was curious as to why he had retained the newspaper until now.
“What are you doing?” A gloomy voice was suddenly heard behind her, which gave her a fright. Immediately, the newspaper fell onto the floor mat.
I’m sorry. Rachel quickly leaned over to pick it up.
However, Justin was much faster than her. Before she even had the chance to touch the newspaper, his huge hand had already taken it away.
With a dissatisfied tone, he asked, “Who allowed you to simply touch my stuff?”
Rachel felt her heart racing as she revealed an apologetic expression. I’m sorry.
After he impatiently glared at her, he placed the newspaper back in the drawer of his desk.
Before he closed the drawer, he saw the black and white photo of ‘the burning Somerset Mountain’ in the newspaper. All of a sudden, he tightened his fingers as if he wanted to tear off the edge of the newspaper.
Out of the corner of his eye, Justin glanced at Rachel and remembered what Frankie said to him earlier in the evening. Suddenly, he had a suspicion in his heart. “When did the Hudson Family bring you back?”
For a moment, Rachel was left startled, but she carefully answered him. When I was about eight or nine years old.
“Don’t you know how old you were when they took you back?” Justin glanced at her sideways and questioned, “Where did you live before coming back to the Hudson Family?”
Rachel shook her head. I don’t remember.
After seeing her reaction, the anger on his face grew as he sneered, “You don’t remember or you don’t want to talk about it?”
Even though he was certain that it was Jefferey who set that fire in Somerset Mountain 20 years ago, he never found any evidence to prove the man’s guilt.
When Justin realized that Rachel was brought back to the Hudson Family not long after the fire, he couldn’t help but suspect whether these two situations were connected.
However, she just couldn’t remember what happened to her back then as she revealed a bitter expression. I fell really ill after they brought me back to the Hudson Family, so I can’t remember anything before I was eight.
She couldn’t even remember what her mother looked like, but Nancy had luckily kept a photo of her so that Rachel wouldn’t forget.
Upon seeing that Rachel couldn’t remember anything, Justin began to lose his patience. “Since you don’t know anything, what are you standing here for?”
After gritting her teeth, she decided to tell him. You told me before that you want to make a deal. Now, I would like to renegotiate the terms with you.
His expression immediately darkened as he scanned her face with his cold gaze.
If I can help you to locate the formula, will you allow me to leave the Burton Family?
“You want to leave the Burton Family?” Justin’s narrow eyes focused slightly on her.
Rachel pressed her lips and explained, Since I wasn’t the one you planned to marry in the first place, you can go to the Hudson Family and ask for compensation after my departure. If you really want to, I’m sure Amber will still be willing to marry you.
In the meantime, Justin’s face became gloomy. “What happens afterward?”
Afterward? She was confused. What do you mean by afterward?
Then, he stepped forward toward her. As she was engulfed by his imposing shadow, she could hear his cold voice sweeping across her ears. “You can finally be together with whoever you like afterward. For example, Julian. Am I right?”
A startled Rachel took a step back, but Justin grabbed her at that moment.
“Are you starting to think that I’ve been too tolerant with you lately?”
She shook her head and tried to calm herself down. There’s nothing between the two of us.
“I’ve known Julian for many years, but I’ve never seen him this concerned about a woman. He would drive you to the hospital, buy you breakfast, take care of your family, and even…” Justin’s eyes suddenly grew colder. “He even took you and your family in to live with him.”
Rachel’s expression immediately changed. What are you talking about?
She was confused because she did not agree to live with Julian at all.
“Are you now denying what I’m saying?” He tightened his fingers around her hand to the point where it almost shattered her delicate wrist. “Don’t tell me that you didn’t know that the house in Glendale was registered under Julian’s name. Also, don’t tell me that you are only renting his house. This kind of childish trickery won’t work on me.”
Her face paled as she never agreed to rent Julian’s house at all. I really don’t know anything about it.
Justin coldly stared at Rachel with his knife-like eyes as if he was slicing her body bit by bit. “If you want to negotiate, you must first have a bargaining chip. What is yours? Is it your body?”
