What Summer meant was, “shame on you for publicly asking about the bedroom affairs between a husband and wife.”
The reporter got the message, of course. Lynn had bought off the reporters at the press conference, trying to gloss over Vicky’s deeds, so their questions were mostly about Summer. However, that particular journalist had asked about Leonardo; he wanted to sell more papers.
No one would want to offend the powerful Emerson family, but there was no shortage of daring opportunists who walked on a tightrope, trying to provoke the Emerson family.
Being laughed at, the color on the reporter’s face changed from red to white, then red again. Since things had gotten so ugly, he became even meaner. “Look at you! If Leonardo didn’t have a limp dick, did you really think you’d be able to marry into the Emerson family? Stop pretending already. People like you who marry the rich by stealing their elder sister’s fiance will be unfaithful!”
Summer had not met Leonardo yet, but deep inside, she did not want to drag him into this mess.
Leonardo’s weird temperament had something to do with his past, and whether he was impotent or not, it should not be a subject of public discussion.
“Unfaithful? Does anyone else in Hoover City have a better future than Leonardo?” Summer laughed, her eyes crescent-shaped and her voice brisk. “Our marriage is happy. You can ask him to verify what I’ve said.”
“You…”
The reporter had expected Summer to throw a fit, but she did not. She was calm and composed, so much so that he could not form any words to respond.
Ask Leonardo about it?
Hell, they were not even qualified to meet him, let alone ask him about such things. Even if they got go see him, they would bend over backward to butter him up.
It dawned upon the other eager beavers that there was more to this woman than met the eye. She was not only the unfavored daughter from a family that owned a small company but also Mrs. Emerson, the daughter-in-law of the Emerson family’s head.
It seemed like the Emerson family did not treat her well at first, but who knew what happened in that wealthy family?
Soon after, the reporters became tactful with their questions as if they had a change of heart.
“How’s your relationship with your elder sister, Vicky?”
Summer immediately said, “I liked her when I was little.”
“But not so much after I grew up.” she thought.
“Does your mother treat both of you well?”
“Yeah, she is caring.” In her mind, she was saying Karen cared only about Vicky.
It was not until later that the reporters remembered Lynn paid them to be there and quickly directed their focus on the video.
“People say that the video was a trap, and you hired a paparazzo to film your conversation with your elder sister while you agitated her. Was it a publicity stunt?”
Summer was silent for a good half a minute before she nodded. “Yes.”
…
The press conference finally ended. Right after the reporters left, Vicky went up to Summer angrily. “You were supposed to admit to creating a publicity stunt, why the hesitation? Was it on purpose?”
Vicky was so upset that she raised her hand to slap Summer.
Summer saw it coming, and she took a step back, cleverly making it look natural. Vicky missed.
Now, Vicky was not only upset but pissed off, glaring at Summer. “How dare you dodge?!”
“Vicky!” Lynn snapped, stopping her from hitting Summer.
Feeling wronged, Vicky went up to Lynn. “Daddy, she hesitated so long when the reporters asked her if it was a publicity stunt!”
Lynn shot Summer a glance, studying her.
He had heard Summer’s answers to the reporter’s questions. They were so clever that they did not sound like words a dumbo could say.
Summer looked at Lynn, taking off her mask and biting her lip. Her voice trembled as if she was in fear when she said, “Dad, I haven’t had my breakfast. I’m hungry. Can I..?”
“Go.” Lynn turned to look at Karen. “You, go with her. Buy her something to eat.”
…
Summer and Karen walked out of the building in tandem.
“Summer.” Karen caught up and pulled her by her sleeve.
Summer looked back at her, asking, “Mom, what’s wrong?”
“Young Master Emerson…” Karen hesitated for a few seconds before she continued, “Is the rumor true? Or is he physically okay?”
Startled by the question, Summer bowed her head, pretending to be shy. “Mom, why are you asking me this?”
Seeing her reaction, Karen frowned. “Please, tell me the truth. Is Leonardo physically unfit? If he’s healthy, you’re unworthy of him. Your elder sis was the one whom Mr. Emerson Sr. chose.”
Summer was struck dumb. If she was not mistaken, Karen was asking her to divorce Leonardo so that Vicky could marry him-if he was healthy.
Summer was half angry and half smiling when she said, “If Leonardo isn’t disfigured and is as fit as a fiddle, both Vicky Jarrett and I wouldn’t have a chance.”
She was tired after pretending too long to appease Karen all those years. She could not care less now.
“She’s your elder sister!” Karen did not like the idea of Summer addressing her elder sister by her full name.
There was only one question Summer cared about. “Am I your real daughter?”
Karen frowned even harder. “Summer, why are you even asking this now? You weren’t like this the last time.”
Yes, because she was stupid and willing to play along previously. However, she had had enough of it and did not want to compromise any longer.
Fed up with Karen, Summer turned around and walked away without another word. Hearing Karen calling out to her from behind, she picked up her pace and disappeared into the crowd.
She kept telling herself not to care, but it was easier said than done-Karen was still her mother no matter what.
Walking at the rear of the crowd, her mind was elsewhere when she crossed the road.
A car blared its horn, jolting her out of her thoughts and also interrupting her balance. She tumbled, and her knees hit the tarmac.
She was wearing a thick layer of clothes in the winter, but the fall still hurt.
She then heard someone alight from the car followed by a voice she recognized. “Summer, you crossed the road without looking? Are you bumping porcelain?”
Summer looked up. Was this dog in a suit not “Douglas”?
Already in a bad mood, the last person she wanted to see was him.
Gritting her teeth and pulling herself up, Summer turned around and wanted to leave at once. Yet, a large hand grabbed her wrist, and an apathetic voice asked, “You fell?”
Summer did not say a word. She just wanted to get rid of him, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not shake his hand off.
The next moment, her body was lifted, and she found herself in his arms.