Lynn fell deep in thought after he heard what Summer said.
“No.”
He shook his head. Before Jarrett Sr. left, he had told Lynn to take care of Jarrett Group, and he would probably have to spend the rest of his life abroad.
“Dad, things aren’t looking good now. You know better than anyone how important brand image is to a company. Everything that’s been happening lately has greatly impacted Jarrett Group—”
Before she could finish, Lynn cut her off, “How are things going on between you and Leonardo?”
“I have no idea how Summer and Leonardo are doing, but I do know she’s been going out with Douglas. Today, they had lunch together and kissed.”After she said that, Vicky turned to look at Summer, smiling.”Am I right?”
Not even looking at Vicky, Summer said to Lynn, “Leonardo’s lukewarm toward me.”She did not know why she wanted to lie for Leonardo.
Lynn frowned.”Summer, Leonardo’s your husband, how could you—”
Summer cut him off. She knew what Lynn was up to;he was just trying to get something out of Leonardo again. She was tired of hearing that crap. She was dead set now.”You want Leonardo to help you again? No way. If things keep going this way, Jarrett Group will be acquired sooner or later. I may as well sell my shares in the company while they’re still worth some money.”
“Summer, you’re mad!”Lynn’s expression collapsed.
“I’m afraid that I’m not the only one thinking of disposing of the shares. Instead of holding on to the shares to only see them turn into worthless paper, I better find a generous buyer.”
Her words sounded like a knife hanging over Lynn’s head. He glared at Summer, his face hideous as he pointed at her.”How dare you!”
“Why not? The shares in my hands can be legally traded!”
The words were stuck in Lynn’s throat. For a long moment, he could not respond.
“Think about it.”
Following that, she turned and left. Once outside, her phone rang. It was from a local telephone number in Hoover City. She picked up the call and the voice of a middle-aged man was heard.
“Hello, are you Douglas’s elder sister?”
Summer froze for a second, then answered, “Yes, I am.”
“I’m Douglas’s class teacher. Something’s happened in school and we need his guardian to come over to help us sort out the problem.”
“What’s happened to him?”
“Douglas is alright, just that…”The class teacher paused.”He had a fight with the other students. He’s fine, but the other students have sustained more severe injuries.”
Summer breathed a sigh of relief.”I understand. I’m on my way.”
…
Outside Jarrett Group, Summer waved down a cab, and while on her way, she called Leonardo. He was probably busy as there was no answer.
The school Douglas attended was not far from Jarrett Group. It only took slightly over ten minutes to get there. Once there, she first met with Douglas’s class teacher.
Nodding at the teacher, she said, “I’m here for Douglas.”
The class teacher nodded back, surprised. He did not expect the elder sister to be just as good-looking as Douglas. Perhaps it was genes, the class teacher thought to himself.
Sensing the class teacher’s stare, Summer asked, “Could you tell me what happened?”
“Douglas was allegedly having a little squabble with the other students. Perhaps the kids lost their temper, and they came to blows. The thing is, Douglas beat the others black and blue. As his guardian, you should really talk to him about that…”
Summer frowned. She was not too happy with the teacher’s judgemental tone. With a solemn face, she said, “Without even knowing the details, how could you expect me to talk to Douglas? Isn’t it unfair?”When Summer smiled, she could melt the coldest ice, but when she gave someone a cold stare, she could send a chill up her target’s spine.
The class teacher quickly explained, “I didn’t mean that. I just feel that Douglas was too violent…”
“I understand, but I need to see my younger brother first.”
The class teacher nodded.”The students are in my office. Follow me.”
Douglas had bruises on his face. His curly hair was a little messy and his clothes were torn, making him look exactly like a stray lifted out of the dumpsite. Standing straight with an unyielding expression, he appeared a little rebellious. Perhaps birds of a feather flocked together. His poker face was a little similar to Leonardo’s, just that it was far less intimidating. When he saw Summer, his expression collapsed, and he blinked as he looked at her with puppy-dog eyes.
Feeling a little sorry for him, Summer went up to him and patted him on his curly-haired head.”Are you injured?”
“No.”He shook his head, then said in a whisper, “My shirt’s ripped, but they’re in a far worse state.”
They? Summer looked back and saw two other kids in the office. The bruises on their faces were obviously worse. It was just that they were sitting while Douglas was made standing. Douglas was not the unreasonable kind of kid. He would not have gotten into a fight without good reason. The injuries on the other two kids were worse than Douglas’s but they were nothing severe. So, why were they allowed to sit while Douglas was made to stand? Summer looked at the teacher.
“Didn’t you say that they sustained severe injuries? Why didn’t you send them to the hospital?”
“It’s the parents…”The class teacher sounded awkward.
It was not an elite school. Most students came from ordinary families. When things like that happened, the parents of the kids probably thought about extorting money from the situation. Knowing that, Summer’s lips curled up in a smirk.
Just then, the voice of a middle-aged woman came from outside.
“Where’s my son?”
As soon as the voice trailed off, an overweight woman barged in, her eyes landing on one of the boys on the sofa. Wiping her tears away, she lunged toward him.”Oh, my sweet little boy, who did this to you?”The woman wailed even louder now.
Summer covered her ears, shooting a glance at the class teacher as if telling him to sort that sh*t out.
The teacher went up and comforted the woman.”Please stop crying. Let’s find out what happened first.”
“Find out about what? Isn’t it clear enough that my son’s been beaten? They have to pay for the medical expenses and everything!”the overweight woman barked.
Summer then said, “We’ll pay for the medical expenses, but first, I have to find out what actually happened. Douglas, tell me, why did you fight with them?”
Douglas did not immediately answer. He just lowered his head, and it puzzled her.
“What’s wrong?”
He continued to keep mum with little expression on his face.
The overweight woman had stopped crying and now spoke in a voice dripping with sarcasm, “What else could be wrong other than the fact he’s a bastard? Look at my poor little boy…”