Leonardo aimed to push Jarrett Group to the edge of the abyss, bringing Lynn to his knees and forcing Jarrett Sr. to come home.
Jarrett Sr. had been abroad for eleven years since he last left the country in a hurry. Never once did he return. Lynn had brought his family to visit Jarrett Sr. but never brought Summer along. She suspected that Adams’s current actions had something to do with Leonardo. There was no way Tip Top Entertainment would allow Adams to be a brand ambassador for Jarrett Group; Carl had a close relationship with Leonardo. If Leonardo was indeed involved with the case, why did he want to go to great lengths to force Jarrett Sr. to come home?
Summer looked up at Jessica. “If the marriage arrangement between Vicky and Leonardo’s related to the kidnapping back then, could we assume that Leonardo wants to force my grandpa to come home because my grandpa’s also involved in the kidnapping?”
Jessica shook her head. “If your grandpa was involved in the kidnapping of Leonardo and his mother, why did the Emerson family allow him to go abroad and have the arranged marriage?”
Jessica had a point, Summer thought. The Emersons’ actions made it seem like they were buttering up the Jarretts. She suddenly had a lightbulb moment, and with her brows knitted, she said, “My grandpa was hale and hearty back then. There was no reason for him to retire abroad. Something must have happened to force him to go. Things look even more suspicious with the Vicky and Leonardo’s arranged marriage. Putting these two things together…”
Summer paused, then continued, “I don’t believe there’s such a huge coincidence in the world. I suspect that my grandpa must have discovered some secrets about the Emersons and used that as a bargaining chip to strike a marriage deal with the Emersons. However, the Emersons were cautious, and they wanted my grandpa to exile himself and not come back ever again.”
Seeing Jessica look at her with dumbstruck expression, she thought she had an overactive imagination. “You think I’m wrong?”
Jessica shook her head from side to side. “No, I think you definitely have a point. Besides, my dad came across the case at some point. Your grandpa’s definitely related to the case somehow but he doesn’t have a direct effect on it.”
…
In the evening, Summer turned on the faucet and let it run. Meanwhile, her eyes were on her phone screen, reading the comments on Weibo about threats against Adams.
“Summer!” Douglas’s voice was heard coming from the outside, and it was getting closer. “Are you cooking dinner now?”
Summer put down her phone and looked out of the kitchen as Douglas ran toward her.
“What dish are you cooking? It smells good!” He came in and lifted the lid from the wok.
“Braised pork.” She smacked his hand. “It’s not ready yet. Please wait outside.”
“Aye.” Douglas giggled and pulled his hand back before he scurried away.
At dinner time, Leonardo had not come home. Summer gazed at the spot where Leonardo usually sat, her mind adrift. Douglas took a mouthful of braised pork with oil stains all over his mouth, mumbling, “Call him if you miss him.”
“Who says I miss him?” Summer fetched him another chunk of meat. “Mind your own business.”
Douglas did not believe her at all. Leonardo was still not back even after they had finished their dinner.
Back in the bedroom, Summer took a shower and sat in bed, looking at the quiet room. She had a vague feeling that something was not right. Was it because of Leonardo’s absence?
Her phone on the bedside cabinet suddenly vibrated. She picked it up and saw that it was Leonardo calling. She hesitated for three seconds before she answered, “Hello?”
However, the voice on the other end was not of Leonardo’s. “Summer, this is Carl. Something’s happened to Leonardo. Could you please come to the Golden Cauldron? Tim’s on his way to pick you up from your house.” He sounded like he was in a hurry, and that started to unnerve Summer. She thought of the gunshot wound on Leonardo and began to have butterflies in her stomach. She got changed quickly and flew down the stairs. Just then, Tim arrived.
“Mrs. Emerson, I’m here to take you to the Golden Cauldron.”
…
Tim drove well above the speed limit, and before long, they arrived at the Golden Cauldron.
Getting out of the car, Summer asked, “What happened to Leonardo?”
“You’ll know when you see him, Mrs. Emerson,” Tim said with his head low and with respect.
Summer grew suspicious as Tim did not look too nervous. The minute she stepped through the entrance, she saw Carl.
He came up to her. “Summer, you’re finally here.”
“Where is he?” Summer asked.
Carl hemmed. “Follow me.” As they entered the elevator, he started to explain, “Something’s happened to Leonardo. Since he isn’t close to anyone, I can’t think of another person to contact except you.” It was as if she was very close to Leonardo.
Coming before a room, Carl pushed the door open. “Please, he’s right in there.”
The room was pitch-dark; all lights were off. Summer started to have a bad feeling again. “What really happened to him?”
“You’ll soon find out.” Carl sighed.
She looked at Carl for a few seconds, then stepped inside. The door was shut behind her, and she groped for the light switch. Glancing back at the door, she called out his name and moved forward.
“Leonardo?”
She called a few times, yet there was no answer. It was a suite. He was not in the living room, so she went to the bedroom. Throwing the light switch, she found no one in there. Just as she was about to go back out, she heard the patter of water from the bathroom. Moving toward it and arriving before the bathroom, she gave the door two knocks.
“Leonardo, are you in there?”
With no light in the bathroom and no response, she could not know for sure if Leonardo was in there. Right as she was about to turn around, a low, gloomy voice came from the bathroom.
“Get the hell out of here!”
It was Leonardo, and he did not sound right.
“What’s going on, Leonardo?” She banged her hand on the door. “It’s me, Summer.”
The bathroom door suddenly swung open, a pale face appeared before her. Leonardo was wet from head to toe with just a towel wrapped around his body. She stood a pace away from him and could feel the coldness exuding from his body. Reaching out, she touched his arm, and it felt terribly cold.
However, Leonardo whisked her hand away. “Why are you here? Go home!”