Grandpa Emerson uttered without waiting for Summer to speak, “It’s different now. There is just not enough maid in Leonardo’s mansion. So I have selected a few maids to take care of you.”
Summer looked at the maids and roughly made out there were a dozen of them. She and Leonardo were the only ones living in the mansion. What were they going to do with so many maids? And she would only feel uncomfortable when there were too many people in the mansion. But she could not say no to Grandpa Emerson for his kindness.
“Thanks for your kindness, Grandpa. The doctor says I am all good.”
“Whatever. You still need to be taken care of. When Leonardo’s grandma gave birth to Michael, medicine wasn’t as advanced as of now, so she suffered quite a bit…” Grandpa Emerson paused, sighing. “That aside, if you need anything, just tell Leonardo. If the stinky rascal doesn’t let you have it, call me. You have my number? Perhaps you can add me to your WeChat.” While speaking, he took out his mobile phone and opened his Wechat.
Summer was amused as she saw a young boy in Grandpa Emerson. She took out her mobile phone with a smile. “Let me scan the QR code and add you.”
“Is it here?” Grandpa Emerson leaned closer, tapping to open the QR code.
Leonardo came in and saw the two adding each other as friends in Wechat. He took a glimpse at them as he sat down on the sofa.
Grandpa Emerson saw him and said with a stern face. “Take good care of Summer from now on.”
“As if I don’t know what to do.” Leonardo glanced up.
“If not for Summer, I wouldn’t have come.” Grandpa Emerson hissed.
Leonardo sat with his legs crossed. “So are you done yet?”
“You just want to piss me off!” Grandpa Emerson barked, pointing at his nose. But he did not look angry.
He did not stay long. After a few moments of talking to Summer, he left in the middle of the night, leaving behind a group of maids.
Summer sat on the sofa in the living room, her eyes sweeping over the maids, finding that they all were appealing in the look department. Appearance was one criterion the rich looked for in their maids. Now a few of them were quietly casting their eyes at Leonardo
Feeling her head throbbing, Summer rubbed her brow as she looked at Leonardo. “I’ll leave them to you. I’m going to bed.”
After Summer was out of his sight, Leonardo said with a toneless voice, “Listen to Ava’s instructions and never ever go upstairs without permission. Do what you are all supposed to do; otherwise, go back to where you all come from. Understand?” His voice was low but pleasant. The maids eyeing him just now kept their head low, not daring to look at him again.
“Understood!” The maid replied in unison.
When Leonardo was back in the bedroom, Summer had fallen asleep in bed. Too many things happened today. She was exhausted and crashing out at once. He could smell a flowery fragrance, which always fascinated him, on her hair when he lowered to kiss her. Going around to the other side, he climbed into bed and gingerly drew her in his arms.
She must not have been in a deep sleep state yet as the movement woke her up. Opening her eyes, she looked groggily at him with her cat eyes. He gave her a peck on the forehead and patted her on the back as if he was coaxing a child.
“It’s alright. Let’s go to sleep.” His low voice was very soft.
Summer closed her eyes as she was told. Half-asleep, she habitually wrapped her hand around his neck. He whisked her long hair onto the pillow, tucked the duvet, then fell asleep.
…
Leonardo sued Vicky, with Warren representing him in the case. Warren was a top business lawyer in Hoover City. Such a minor case was only a walk in the park to him.
When the Jarrett family finally knew what happened to Vicky, Karen called Summer, who did not pick up nor return her call. But Karen was persistent in calling her every day. By the looks of things, Karen would come looking for her in person. So she decided to pick up the call when Karen called again.
“Summer, you finally answer my call.” Karen’s voice sounded thick. “Please listen to me, your elder sister—”
Summer cut her off. “Leonardo had started legal action. The court will hear the case in a few days.”
“The thing is, Summer, Vicky is your elder sister no matter what. I know she is at fault this time, but she is still young. Do you really want to see her going to jail?” Her voice was wobbly. She must have been distressed about Vicky all this time.
But Summer had given up on Karen. “What about me? Had she succeeded in hitting me with the car, I and my baby would have been dead!” She sneered.
Karen was silent. After a few seconds, she said softly, “Aren’t you fine now? Your sister…”
“It’s not the first time she’s been hitting me. Don’t call me again. And never come to me again. It won’t change anything,” said Summer, her voice dead. Then she hung up.
She knew Karen would call and lead with her to let Vicky off. She could not imagine what would have happened to her if Vicky hit her with the car that day. She reached to stroke her tummy, which was still flat but a life was growing inside. She did not think this was the ideal time to have a baby, but since it had come, she could accept it.
After the line went dead, Karen looked over at Lynn in a dilemma. “Summer, she…”
“What did she say?” Lynn had had a few sleepless nights because of what happened to Vicky. He looked tired, voice extremely hoarse.
“She… she asked me not to look for her again. She will not help us.”
As soon as her voice trailed off, Karen saw Lynn’s face crashed. The next moment, his hand was raised in the air before slapping down on her face with force, sending Karen falling done on the floor.
Karen tasted a metallic sweetness in her mouth. Touching her lips with her fingers, she saw bloodstain. Half of her face felt numb and her ear rang.
Lynn glared hideously at her. “What use do you have? You can’t even help with this minor thing. She is your daughter! And she is sending our daughter Vicky to jail now!”