Grandpa Emerson furrowed his brows. “Let us start eating.”
The New Year Eve lunch had been arranged in advance, and everyone had been informed to attend.
Grandpa Emerson may have retired, but as the head of the Emerson family, he had the absolute say in everything. Everyone needed to respect him. The exception was Leonardo, whom even Grandpa Emerson could do nothing about.
Grandpa Emerson was conservative. He placed great importance on days like the New Year.
When Summer arrived, Grandpa Emerson had sent word that everyone was to stay and eat together today as well as tomorrow. Unless something of exceptional importance cropped up, no one was expected to be absent.
Today was New Year’s Eve, and tomorrow was the first day of the New Year.
The Emerson family was a large family. There would be many visiting guests on the first day, and everyone was expected to be busy.
It was during this time that Adams was absent, and Grandpa Emerson was not too happy about it.
Summer suddenly had an evil thought: would Grandpa Emerson fly off the handle if he discovered that Adams was picking Vicky up from the prison? Would he be so furious that he would send men to teach Adams a lesson?
It was not until lunch was over that Adams returned.
Hurrying back from outside, he greeted Grandpa Emerson while everyone was still at the dining table.
Grandpa Emerson shot him a sideways glance. “I thought you weren’t coming back!”
His expression hardened, and his brows rose as he sat there, exuding a natural dignity and power.
Even Summer could not help but sit with her back straight. Her keen eyes spotted Adams shuddering when he saw Grandpa Emerson’s face. It turned out that Adams feared Grandpa Emerson, who still commanded respect.
“I’m sorry, Grandpa. I was tied up at work.” Adams kept his head low like an obedient child, which mollified Grandpa Emerson.
While Grandpa Emerson was no longer angry, his voice was still stern. “The entertainment industry is a dirty world, where most scandals and gossip breed. Instead of staying there ruining your reputation, someday, you should leave and achieve something else in life!”
Summer pinched Leonardo’s hand under the table. He looked over at her, and she mouthed, “He’s talking about you.”
Leonardo had founded a movie production company, but Grandpa Emerson turned his nose up at that.
Leonardo squeezed Summer’s fingers and shot her a warning look.
She narrowed her eyes in a smile, but he looked away, speaking to Grandpa Emerson. “Grandpa, I’m tired. I’ll go back to the room and rest early.”
Without waiting for Grandpa Emerson to speak, he held Summer’s hand as he got to his feet to leave.
Grandpa Emerson had no control over Leonardo. He was more than happy with Leonardo’s willingness to come back for the New Year. He would not mind Leonardo’s actions as long as he was back.
Adams glanced at the two as they left. He was indignant that Grandpa Emerson chided him for not coming back for lunch while Leonardo could do whatever he wanted. Grandpa Emerson favored Leonardo more than anyone else.
Summer looked like an obedient puppy as Leonardo held her hand and brought her away.
While they were leaving the dining room, Michael was heard saying, “Dad, why don’t you let Adams work in Emerson Corporation. He and Leonardo have been very close since they were young. With Leonardo still new in Emerson Corporation and having no one to trust, he could be of help to Leonardo.”
Had Michael said that a month ago, Summer would have agreed to it.
Sadly, what Adams had been doing recently showed that he was dead set on opposing Leonardo.
Michael had mentioned the matter once in the old residence. At the time, he said he wanted Leonardo and Adams to watch each other’s backs or something like that. He had made his intentions clear the last time. Now, he was talking about it again in front of Grandpa Emerson.
It was plain to see that Michael was using Grandpa Emerson to force Leonardo to work with Adams.
However, Summer had yet to figure out what Michael was thinking. His relationship with Leonardo had never been good. Michael seemed to want to mend their relationship, but sometimes, what he did seemed to suggest otherwise.
Leonardo stopped dead in his tracks. She looked up at him as he turned around. She thought that he was going to say something, but he just happened to glance at Michael with a sneer.
When they were back in their room, Leonardo took off his jacket and sat on the sofa, staring into space as if he was thinking of something or maybe nothing at all.
“Are you thinking about what your dad just said?” Summer asked.
“Nope.” He shook his head.
“Then, what are you thinking about?” She sat down beside him and looked at him with her head tilted.
He drew her into his arms and rested his chin over her forehead. “Nothing.”
“You’re lying.” She extended a finger to poke his creased brow as she shook her head. “Here has given you away.”
Leonardo stared at her for two seconds before he suddenly laughed. He held her tighter and said half-jokingly, “I regret not torturing Vicky to death and tying up the loose ends.”
Summer was startled, her expression changing.
Vicky wanted to kill her, and she hated Vicky, but she had never thought of killing Vicky. Life should be respected. No one had the right to end another life. That was the perspective Summer held deep inside. Furthermore, Vicky was her blood-sister.
She would do whatever she could to ensure that Vicky would be punished under the law for what she had done. She did not want Leonardo to take the law into his own hands.
“Are you scared?” Leonardo reached out to touch her face. “It’s not like you haven’t seen me killing someone.”
His voice was soft, gentler than his impassive voice on normal days. but it somehow sounded cold-blooded to her ears.
She tried to convince him. “She’ll get her dues. You—”
“Get her dues?” Leonardo sneered at the suggestion. “She was released after a dozen days in jail!”
It was just a couple of weeks of jail time. How could he keep calm when he nearly lost his wife and child?
Leonardo kissed her on the forehead. “She has to pay the price.” His voice was grim.