Karen was surprised and took a glimpse of the man in the car. The surroundings were dark. She did not get a clear view of him. Then the car door opened, and a man emerged, coming up to her.
“Mrs. Jarrett, it’s me, Jerome.”
“Jerome?”
At first glance, she found the man familiar. Upon taking a closer look, she realized this was the guy who had engaged with Vicky before.
She remembered that Jerome had come to the Jarrett family a few times. He was a good-looking young man. It was no wonder Vicky had taken a liking to him.
But soon after that, many things had happened. Vicky seemed to have broken off with him and started to take a shine to an actor.
“Mrs. Jarrett, what are you doing here at this hour?”
Karen was too embarrassed to tell him, but even without her telling him, Jerome had a rough guess.
“I live nearby. If you don’t mind, Mrs. Jarrett, you can come to stay at my house for the night.” Seeing her dilemmatic expression, he explained, “I’m staying alone.”
Karen first thought if he was staying with his family, it would not be appropriate for her to go there. But when Jerome said he was staying alone, she was delighted.
“Am I disturbing you?”
“Nah, that’s okay.” He courteously opened the car door for her, and Karen got into the car, all smiles.
On the way home, they tried to strike up a conversation with each other. As they went, Jerome steered the conversation about Summer, casually mentioning her. “I haven’t seen Summer for quite a while. How is she doing?”
“You knew Summer?” Karen was surprised. But she quickly realized that Vicky had once complained about Summer stealing her boyfriend, who was Jerome at the time. So Summer used to like Jerome?
“Yeah, I was her senior in high school. That’s how long we’ve known each other.” His tone of voice sounded as if he missed those good old days and had a close relationship with Summer.
“You’re helping me because of Vicky or Summer?” She was curious to know.
“Of course it is because of Summer,” he said, then added. “She is a marvelous girl.”
By now, they had arrived at the neighborhood where Jerome stayed. He stopped the car, got out, and went around to the other side to open the door for Karen.
“Here we are—this is where I live.” He then opened the tailgate. “Just a minute. I’m taking something.”
After that, Jerome led the way and Karen followed from behind. Looking at him from the back, she started to think how nice it would have been if Jerome was her son-in-law. The young man was nice and polite, so much better than Leonardo. Whenever thinking of Leonardo, she would feel a cold run up her spine.
…
The next morning, as Summer walked into the dining hall, Eliza was serving breakfast on the dining table. It was not that she wanted to look at Eliza; it was just that she was too eye-catching. Although Eliza was here thinking of stealing her husband, one thing she could not deny was that Eliza was pretty and gracious, especially when she was wearing makeup. Even the ordinary maid uniform on her looked extraordinary.
After what happened yesterday, Eliza had thought it through and decided to bide her time and take it slow. Seeing Summer coming in, she bowed her head and greeted her.
Leonardo was already sitting at the dining table. She had been rising a bit late recently while he was early as he needed to head off to work. Usually when he finished his breakfast and was about to head out, Summer would only wake up. Sometimes, she slept in, and by the time she got out of bed and downstairs, Leonardo had left.
As soon as she sat down, Leonardo said, “The case is getting its first hearing today. I may be late tonight.”
He was talking about Vicky’s court case, suing her for the intention of causing hurt, though Summer was unhurt. His lawyer was Warren, and it was believed that Vicky was going to be convicted for sure.
“I’m going with you.” Summer said after thinking for a while. She wanted to be present in court proceedings. Not that she cared. She just wanted to know if Vicky had any remorse.
Leonardo frowned. “I will go alone.”
Summer’s expression changed. Putting down her spoon, she squinted at him. She did not understand why Leonardo did not allow her to go to the hearing; it was not an unreasonable demand after all. By refusing her outrightly, he was humiliating her in front of Eliza. One of the reasons she kept Eliza in the mansion was to let her see how much Leonardo loved her. Not that she did not trust him; she did. But sometimes, she would get a little uneasy. No matter which angle she looked at it, she knew she was not good enough for him. All her self-confidence came from the fact that Leonardo loved her.
Leonardo screwed up his face even further. “The weather is getting colder, and you are pregnant now.”
“I would wear more layers of clothes. Doc says I’m healthy.”
His not allowing her to go out of the house earlier still rankled with her. Not talking about it did not mean that thing was over.
Leonardo looked up and stared at her for a few seconds. “I will come back to fetch you later.”
She still felt bitter about what happened earlier. Lowering her head and eating her breakfast, she said, “Fine. You go to work now.” She sounded as if she was hurrying him away.
He pressed his lips together as he walked out with a stony face.
After he left, Eliza looked at Summer with a sneer. She thought Summer had too high an opinion of herself and was too daring to go against Leonardo’s will.
Sensing her stare, Summer looked up at Eliza with her lips curled up at an angle. “I know what you are thinking.”
“Oh, really?” Eliza’s expression changed, but it quickly returned to normal. She would believe that Summer could read her mind.
“Leonardo was an exceptional man; everyone knows that. So you all are attracted to him and fall head over heels. I totally understand it. But…” Summer paused, her expression serious. “Everyone is an independent individual with their own free will and ways of doing things, not an appendage. Being together with a wealthy, handsome man doesn’t mean that I have to lower yourself.”
Eliza’s expression changed again, pursing her lips and saying not a word.
Summer found it ridiculous. “Maybe you don’t really like Leonardo but are just after the privilege of marrying into the Emerson family. You’re not the only one thinking so. What makes you think he will take an interest in you?”
Summer had spoken her mind, and she was a little panicking. “Summer, shut up! Stop getting on your high horse. You are just the same!”
Summer’s mouth twitched. “I’m different from you all, for God’s sake. I am now Mrs. Emerson.”
Watching Eliza’s face flushing, Summer started to find it amusing.