Summer’s distant attitude was making Karen feel awkward. Retracting her hands, Karen glanced back at Jerome, who returned her gaze with a gentle smile. He appeared very mild-tempered.
Karen was now more confident. “Summer, let us talk it over outside.”
Summer turned around and walked out. Once outside, Jerome came up, wanting to speak with her. However, before he could get close, her bodyguards stopped him. There was a fleeting change in his expression before he reverted to normal again. He then said jokingly, “I just want to talk to you, but your bodyguards are so zealous. Is Leonardo treating you like a prisoner?”
He was merely joking with her like any other close friend, but Summer knew their relationship was less than close. She did not think that he was joking. Jerome had to be saying that on purpose to draw a wedge between her and Leonardo. She did not know what was wrong with Jerome; it just seemed like he wanted to take a shot at her.
“Mr. Patel, you must not have paid attention in school last time. Otherwise, how would you not know what the job of a bodyguard is? Do you want me to explain it to you?” Summer sneered at him.
It felt as if Summer saw him as a clown. He felt humiliated and wanted to save his face. “Of course, I know what bodyguards do. I just wanted to approach you, yet they still blocked me. Don’t you think that’s a bit paranoid?”
“Not at all. Don’t you think we aren’t that close?” She sounded as if she could not have cared less about him.
Karen suddenly said, “Summer, stop talking to Jerome like that. I know there’s been a misunderstanding between you two, but he’s taken care of me all this while. Would you please bury the hatchet with him?”
Jerome? That was so affectionate.
Summer had no idea how Jerome met Karen, and why he wanted to take care of her. However, she knew one thing: Jerome would not have done anything for nothing.
She could not convince herself to think that it was because of her past relationship with him that he took care of Karen.
“There hasn’t been any misunderstanding between us. What hatchet is there to bury?” Summer looked at Karen, pretending to be confused. “Vicky is your daughter. She used to have a wedding engagement with Mr. Patel. A kind-hearted person like Mr. Patel gave you shelter when he saw you wandering about out there. Isn’t it entirely natural?”
Karen was trying too hard to put in a few good words for Jerome. So, it seemed that Jerome must have pleased and taken really good care of Karen during the past few days.
“Summer…”
“I have things to do. I need to go now.” Summer checked the time, acting as though she was busy. “I guess since you’re so kind-hearted, Mr. Patel, do you mind sending your ex-fiancee’s mom back?”
Jerome provided shelter to Karen because he wanted to get close to Summer. He knew things about the Jarrett family and knew that Summer cared for her mom. But now, it seemed that was not the case. However, since Summer had asked, he could not have said no.
“Of course, not. It’s my pleasure.”
“Then I’m leaving now.”
Summer turned around and got into the car without even looking at Karen. Standing on the spot, Karen looked flustered as Summer disappeared into the distance in her car. She felt miserable because Summer was too cold toward her.
Jerome’s expression collapsed after Summer left.
“Mrs. Jarrett, let me send you home.”
Noticing his expression, Karen said, “Don’t take it to heart. Perhaps it’s due to her pregnancy that her mood swings can be terrible sometimes…”
Her words agitated Jerome. He gripped her arms and demanded, “What did you just say? Say it again!”
“Jerome, what’s wrong with you?” Karen was frightened by his reaction.
Jerome had been very gentle to her for the past few days. He had even arranged for someone to bring her shopping, but he had taken a sudden one-eighty change and scared the wits out of her.
Jerome’s voice softened, becoming as gentle as it previously was. “Did you say she’s pregnant?”
“Yes.”
Karen breathed a sigh of relief when Jerome calmed down. Was it an illusion? She wondered.
“I know now. Let me send you home.” Jerome looked down, his voice sounding soft but weird.
…
The incident was just a little episode, and Summer had forgotten about it entirely.
As New Year was just around the corner, Summer guessed that Leonardo would bring her back to the Emersons’ old mansion.
After all, it was the first New Year’s Eve since Leonardo took over the helm of Emerson Corporation. It would only be proper for him to go home.
Even if Leonardo could choose not to go, she would be the one to account for his decision.
Two days before Emerson Corporation closed for New Year, Summer started to prepare the things that she was going to bring.
The old mansion had everything she needed, but it was a matter of habit.
Leonardo was going to come home late tonight. After cleaning herself up, Summer carried her laptop with her.
Before going to bed, she wanted to work on her script for a while. Leonardo was back at this point, carrying his jacket in his hand as he came in. His hair looked a little messy; he was extremely tired.
“You’re back!” Summer looked up at him.
It was a cold night. Even with the heater working overtime, Summer still needed to put on a fluffy sleeping gown, which looked as soft and warm as sheep’s wool.
Since the pregnancy, she had been staying home. The maids were taking good care of her, and she was leading a regular lifestyle, becoming a lot healthier than before. Sitting under the light, her skin seemed to glow on its own.
She snuggled up at the corner of the sofa and straightened her legs before she placed the laptop on her lap.
Her long dark hair cascaded down her shoulders, and the way she looked at him with her cat eyes was a little alluring.
Leonardo threw his jacket aside and went up to her. Bending over and throwing her laptop to one side, he sat down beside her and hugged her in his arms.
Cold sweat broke out on her forehead when Summer saw that he was being a little too rough with her laptop.
“Take it easy…” she reminded him.
Leonardo did not seem very pleased with her reaction, thinking that she was more concerned about her laptop than him. He slipped his hands under her sleeping gown and moved up to her globes. Stopping there, he fondled them a little too hard than usual.
“They feel bigger now.” He heaved.
Summer smacked his hands. “It hurts! Get your hands off me!”
“I just want to feel them.”
Men were born rebellious. The more you restricted them, the more they wanted to do something. Summer was trying to stop him, but he was adamant to get his hands under her clothes. He put one arm around her waist and caught her bent leg with the other. Then, he lifted her onto his lap so that it was more convenient for him to do his things to her. He knew when to stop, but still, both of them were panting in the end.
“My aunt’s back,” Leonardo said all of a sudden.