Chapter 173
My Mute Bride
As everyone stared in wonder at Rachel, cutting through the crowd dressed in a white suit, looking very smart and capable, she stopped next to Amber and whispered, âItâs been a while, my dear sister.â
Clutching her fists tightly, Amber thought in disbelief, She actually came back and can even speak now? Everything was so shocking to her that she couldnât find the words to say and was simply dumbstruck.
In front of the journalists, Rachel faced them with ease. âAllow me to introduce myself. Iâm Chris, the new sales director of Burton Pharmaceuticals, as well as the medical representative of the company for the exhibition this time.â
Her introduction almost made Amberâs eyes fall out of their sockets. Sheâs the new sales director of Burton Pharmaceuticals?
âSince this is an exhibition jointly organized by the pharmas in Riverdale, I hope everyone will focus on the new drugs. After all, the new drugs are the results of painstaking efforts by our researchers for the benefit of society, and I donât think itâs fair if the focus of the day is overshadowed by some meaningless topic.â
At her words, the journalists in the venue all nodded their heads in agreement, while Amber was livid.
Just when she had finally found the chance to make herself public and be interviewed as Justinâs fiancée so that the Burtons could push the wedding bells forward, unexpectedly, Rachel came out of nowhere and foiled her plans!
âHold it right there, Rachel Hudson!â Amber called out and chased after Rachel when they were away from the journalists.
Stopping in her steps, Rachel asked, âHow may I help you?â
Giving her a once-over, Amber said, âI never thought that a mute would be able to speak one day. I thought I was imagining things!â
Rachel snorted, âDidnât Jefferey tell you that I wasnât born a mute?â
Amberâs fists tightened warily. âYou should have just left for good. Why did you return? And you even became the sales director of Burton Pharmaceuticals?â
Five years ago after Rachel disappeared, she had used five yearsâ time to be by Justinâs side. With only one step away from her marriage to Justin, Rachel suddenly returned at this point. Just what is she planning? Amber pondered.
Casting her a glance, Rachel crossed her arms. âWhy canât I return? I have my own legs. Iâm free to go wherever I want.â
âWhat are you planning to do?â
âWhat do you think?â
Gritting her teeth, Amber hissed, âIâm telling you, no matter what youâre planning, Justin is now my fiancé, and weâll be getting married soon. It just goes to show how shameless you are if you try to get between us right now!â
âFiancé?â Rachel snorted. âYou didnât seem to find it shameless back then when he was my husband and were clinging on to him more than myself. Look, youâre still on the same spot even after five years have passed. Did you think with me out of the picture, you could claim the title of Mrs. Burton?â
âYou,â
The elevator doors opened slowly, and Rachel stepped in before saying nonchalantly, âI donât plan to hook up with my exes. If you do, thatâs your choice. Iâm not the least bit interested. Now then, you better pull yourself together. Iâll see you at the exhibition.â
The colors on Amberâs face shifted from pale to red and back again to colorless. She was gritting her teeth so hard that she could have gritted them to pieces. Rachel Hudson. Sheâs like a changed person now, she noted. She definitely has her reasons for coming back.
At the exhibition, the pharmaceutical companies gathered at their own booths as they explained and presented their new drugs to the journalists.
âMiss Hudson, could you please introduce the new drug from Burton Pharmaceuticals this time?â
âSure.â Amber said and glanced at her assistant. Catching her hint, her assistant played the video behind her.
However, Amberâs expression shifted the moment it played, and she gawked at her assistant next to her with a look of confusion. âWhatâs going on?â
Thatâs not the introduction video of the new drug! she thought.
âMiss Hudson, isnât this a capsule based on eastern herbs? But the information we received prior to this stated that Burton Pharmaceuticals is working on a western prescription this time.â
âIâm sorry. This isnât right. She must have played the wrong video.â
âThatâs not the wrong video.â Rachel started explaining to the journalists right after Amber finished speaking. âIn the beginning, itâs true that the new drug started as a western prescription, but after some market and clinical research, we think that the supplement will be better off with an eastern prescription. The result is the new drug from Burton Pharmaceuticals this time, the E-Vital Pill.â Then, she gestured for the assistant to distribute the samples and introduction brochures to the journalists.
Next to her, Amber sulked and questioned the assistant, âWho allowed you to let her change my prescription?â
Hurriedly, the assistant explained, âAmber, sheâs the sales director that the company poached from SG Pharma with a high salary, and the legendary figure in pharma sales for three consecutive years. Sheâs just like an influencer in the world of pharmaceutical and medical equipment. Nobody dares to disobey her!â
With that explanation, Amber was mad and tongue-tied. After five years of absence, Rachel actually managed to climb to this position. All of a sudden, a clamor started some distance away. Amber stared in the direction of the clamor. With a sparkle in her eyes, she rushed over and cried out, âJustin!â
Surrounded by his assistant and others, Justin strode toward the booth of his company.
Amber immediately hugged his arm at the sight of him, saying, âYouâre finally here, Justin.â
âHow are things going?â he asked.
âYou wonât believe this, Justin. Things wouldâve gotten out of hand if you hadnât shown up in time.â
âWhat happened?â
âSomebody changed the new drug that the company is releasing by herself and replaced it with a drug that hasnât been tested by the FDA. The journalists have been through the interview, and there will be a huge problem if we donât resolve this before they publish their articles.â
Before Justin could say a thing, a womanâs voice sounded. âWho said that the new drug I introduced isnât registered with the FDA?â
Seeing the woman approaching them, Justin immediately narrowed his eyes. Itâs her? All at once, everything that happened in the club that day resurfaced in his mind.
In her five-inch heels, Rachel walked over steadily, her straight bob hair that reached right above her shoulders tucked neatly behind her ears. The white on her white suit brought out the boldness and precision of her red lipstick as she said, âDo you think Iâd have the guts to show this to the journalists if I hadnât registered the new drug with the FDA before this?â
âStill, you shouldnât have rejected my drug by yourself. My drug has been approved by higher management and has passed the clinical trials for a long time. Theyâre even ready for mass production and sale.â
âIâm sorry, but Iâm afraid it wonât be mass produced anymore.â
âWhat did you say?â
âAmber,â Justin interjected in a cold tone.
The muscles on Amberâs face froze, and she became nervous when she saw that Justin never once took his eyes off Rachel.
However, after Justin glanced at the name tag on Rachelâs chest, he asked, âYouâre Chris?â
The representative from SG Pharma who was well-known in the industry as well as the sales director he had spent a lot of effort on trying to poach for the past six months turned out to be her.
Composedly, Rachel answered, âThatâs right. Iâm Chris. Are you surprised? Iâve always been contacting your HR department through emails, and this is the first time weâre meeting since I took up the position.â
They held each otherâs eyes. This was the scene that greeted them when they met each other again after five years. From his eyes, Rachel could tell that he thought of her as a stranger. He really doesnât remember me anymore.
Out of the blue, Amber blurted, âSheâs not professional at all, Justin. Itâs risky to have her in the company as the sales director.â
Nonchalantly, Rachel said, âAre you worried that Iâll put the company at risk, or Iâll put you at risk instead because of the fact that Iâm his ex-wife?â
Ex-wife? With furrowed brows, Justin asked, âWhat did you say?â