Summer walked out of the Jarrett Group and headed straight to the bus stop where there was a crowd waiting.
At that moment, a familiar-looking black vehicle stopped in front of her. The window was wound down, and Lynn poked his head out slightly. “Get in.”
Summer was hesitant, but alas, she climbed. Only the chauffeur and Lynn were in the car. Summer did not say a word. After the chauffeur drove a distance, he brought the vehicle to a stop on a road shoulder. It was only after a while that Lynn started to talk.
“Summer, I know that the whole skipping-work fiasco was a misunderstanding. Your elder sister has gotten what she deserves. The past is in the past, don’t take things to heart.”
“The past is in the past?” Summer sneered.
“Lynn frowned. “Your elder sister has gotten what she deserves. What more do you want?”
“Here.” Summer pointed at her face. “This is all thanks to Vicky.”
What gave Lynn the right to say that the past was in the past?
“I never knew you were this spiteful!”
“I’m not on your level; you had the heart to hit your own daughter that hard.”
Summer lowered her head and fiddled with the zip head on her handbag absentmindedly, but her voice was full of mockery.
After being humiliated by “Douglas” today, Lynn was in a dark mood. He was now a bear with a sore head.
“How could you still have the nerve to say that? A man at my age had to eat crow in front of a lad and hit Vicky black and blue, how could I not feel bad?”
Lynn was emotionally disturbed, his voice loud. Summer covered her ears with her hands, appearing impatient.
“I know, I know. That’s enough, cut the cackle.” She needed to go home and cook for “Douglas”.
Lynn glanced over at Summer, her impatience and indifference were plain to see. He previously thought that he could talk her into persuading Leonardo to inject capital into the Jarrett Group. But now, he did not know anymore.
He thought for a moment and sighed. “You must have heard what Douglas said today.” Summer said nothing, so he continued, “The company is having a capital chain rupture because of a mistake made in an investment. No matter what, you’re part of the Jarrett family. You should help us in this time of need.”
Summer could not help but scoff, “Didn’t you get the three-hundred-million dowry? I’ve already sold myself for that money. What else do you want from me? Do I need to sell myself again? I’m afraid nobody’s going to buy that.”
Lynn’s voice turned stern. “The marriage was done right and proper. How could you say something like that?”
“Yeah, right and proper. Unless you’ve forgotten, it should have been Vicky who got married.” Summer looked him in the eye. She was fearless.
Her meanness stunned Lynn for a while. Unlike the obedient Summer of the past, she was now indifferent and estranged. Since he could not talk her into cooperating, Lynn’s face collapsed. He started to threaten her, “Do you really think that the Emersons will treat you well after the Jarrett family collapses? Without our support, you’re going to have a difficult time gaining a foothold in the Emerson family!”
“If push comes to shove, I’ll just get a divorce!” Summer looked like she could not have cared less. She finally figured out why Lynn was willing to transfer his shares to her and invite her to work in the Jarrett Group. He just wanted to make use of her to persuade Leonardo to inject capital into the Jarrett Group. As always, the Jarretts were good at nothing but thinking of ways to milk her.
“You…” Lynn was livid as he pointed at Summer, but he was at a loss for words.
“To be honest…” Summer regained her composure, her voice solemn for the first time. “Why was there a marriage arrangement between Leonardo and Vicky in the first place? Was there some shady deal going on in the background?”
Lynn’s expression changed, his voice desperate. “What are you talking about? Your elder sister is too good for Leonardo. He doesn’t deserve her!”
Lynn had always been pragmatic, and the Jarrett Group did not perform as well over a decade ago compared to the present. As much as he loved Vicky, Lynn should have known that, under normal circumstances, the chances of the Emersons having a marriage arrangement with the Jarretts were nil. The expression on Lynn’s face and his desperate rebuttal only reinforced the notion that something fishy was behind the marriage. Although Summer had long suspected it, she did not mean to question it. However, Lynn’s reaction had aroused her interest.
Summer checked her watch and got out of the car. “It’s getting late. I have to go home. If there’s anything else, let’s talk it over tomorrow.”
Lynn shouted at her, “Summer!”
Summer looked back and waved at him with a broad smile on her face, then off she went.
…
Back in the mansion, Summer saw “Douglas” wearing the same suit he wore during the day. It was an elegant, expensive retro suit with gray and blue stripes. He started to speak when he saw her.
“You’re late by an hour today. That’s long enough for you to have a candlelight dinner date with another man.”
“Douglas” checked his watch and looked at her, his face cold. Summer glared at him and tossed her handbag at him before she disappeared into the kitchen. He caught it just in time, cocking an eyebrow at her. Was she throwing a tantrum?
Just then, a phone blared. It came from the mobile phone inside Summer’s handbag. Leonardo undid the zip and took out the phone. He checked the screen, which told him it was Jessica calling. Jessica? Was it that B-list actress in Carl’s house? He also noticed that there was a layer of tempered glass over the mobile; it showed that the owner took meticulous care of it.
Leonardo smirked. He brought the mobile to the kitchen. On his way, his fingers unwittingly touched the answer button on the screen, and Jessica’s voice blared through.
“Summer, tell you what, Adams’s back in Hoover City. Get out there, who knows you may bump into him! I’ll be back soon, and I’ll check if he has any activities and where. I could find an opportunity to bring you out to see him…”
Leonardo stopped in his tracks when he heard that, while Jessica wondered what was with all the silence.
“Hello? Summer, why aren’t you saying anything? Are you too dumbstruck, or is there a signal problem on my side…”
Just then, Summer emerged from the kitchen and said, “I heard my mobile rang.”
Leonardo tossed the phone to her and left, his face deadpan. Summer nearly did not manage to catch it.
She glanced at “Douglas” as he walked away, mumbling to herself, “His temper’s like the weather in June-it’s always changing without notice.”
Summer took the phone and doubled back into the kitchen.
At that moment, Leonardo looked back and was not too happy.
That day when Summer got home early was also the day when Adams returned to Hoover City. During their meeting, Adams had asked him several questions about Summer. He took out his phone and called Tim.
“Check where Summer went and who she saw last Friday.”