As Leonardo carried Summer downstairs, he bumped into Adams who was coming from the opposite direction.
Glancing at Summer in Leonardo’s arms, Adams broke into a faint smile. “Whoa, where are you taking her to? The last time I checked, she was still a suspect.”
Leonardo gave him a frosty look. “You better mind your own business.”
Dreading to see Leonardo’s hostile reaction, Adams did not say another word. Leonardo then walked past him and left.
Tim had been waiting outside. As Leonardo carried Summer out, he opened the car door for them. After Leonardo placed Summer into the car, he went around to the other side, got in, and drove off.
Upon arriving at the mansion, Leonardo carried Summer and headed upstairs. Just then, Ava came out of the kitchen and greeted him.
“Ava?” A surprise flashed across Leonardo’s face. A day before New Year’s Eve, he had given Ava and other maids a few days’ leave before he and Summer went back to the old residence.
Ava came up and glanced at Summer in his arms, looking worried. “Young Master, what’s going on? Is she all right? I saw the news this morning and hurried back.”
“She’s all right.,” he said faintly before he headed up the stairs. Only after taking a few steps, he stopped and looked back at Ava. “I’ll have to count on you to take care of her these few days.”
Ava shook her head in disagreement. “Young Master, think nothing of it. It’s my duty to look after her.”
Leonardo put Summer on the bed in the bedroom, turned on the heater, and draped the duvet over her. He then stood by the bed, gazing at her for a while before leaving.
…
When Summer woke up, she felt a slight sore in the back of her neck.
“Mrs. Emerson, are you awake?”
Was that not Ava’s voice? Summer looked over and saw that the person standing by the bed was none other than Ava.
“Ava? How did you…” While she spoke, she propped herself up.
Ava quickly leaned over to help her up. “The young master brought you back. You are now in his mansion.”
She glanced around, only to discover that she was no longer in the room of the old residence.
“Leonardo brought me back? Where is he now?” Summer gripped Ava’s arms and asked.
“The young master left not long after he sent you back. I don’t know where he has gone to.”
“Leonardo, that bastard!” Summer gritted her teeth and mumbled to herself.
When they were in the old residence, she thought that she could make him tell the truth. However, that stinky man, Leonardo knocked her out. That was Leonardo’s typical way of doing things. It further reinforced the notion that Leonardo was keeping something from her, not suspecting her.
Her swearing voice was indistinct, and Ava could not make out what she was saying. “Mrs. Emerson, what did you say?”
Summer shook her head with a smile. “Ahh, nothing. I feel hungry now. Is there anything to eat?”
“Sure, Mrs. Emerson. What would you like? I will make it for you.”
Ava treated Leonardo as if he were her own son. When Summer was pregnant, Ava went to great lengths to make a variety of dishes for Summer. Hearing that she was hungry, Ava’s attention was immediately diverted.
As Ava went downstairs, Summer got out of bed and put on a jacket. From the corner of her eye, she saw a mobile phone on the bedside table. Going over and picking it up, she found that it was hers. She twitched her mouth, knowing that it was Leonardo who had taken her mobile phone earlier. Yet, she still could not understand why he did so.
She went into the bathroom and washed her face. Upon exiting the bedroom and heading downstairs, she looked at the familiar interior layout and had a trancelike feeling. After spending three to four days in the old residence and coming home now, she felt as though a lifetime had passed.
Ava had cooked a mixture of everything—from veggies and stew to dim sum—for Summer. After Summer ate, she took her mobile phone and thought of calling Leonardo. She was contemplating visiting Grandpa Emerson as she was worried about his condition.
She pondered for a while and became hesitant. Leonardo had been behaving strangely recently. If she told him she wanted to visit Grandpa Emerson, he would surely shoot her down.
Taking the mobile phone in her hand, she considered it as she walked to the living room. All of a sudden, there seemed to be a commotion outside. Someone was calling out for her.
“Summer, I know you’re inside!”
The voice belonged to none other than Vicky. With her mobile phone still in hand, Summer walked out. She saw Vicky as well as Karen, and behind them was Spencer; they were being stopped by the bodyguards at the entrance.
Vicky saw her and immediately gloated. “Long time no see. Looks like you’ve lost some weight.”
Summer raised her eyebrows and reciprocated. “Really? It looks like you’ve gained a lot of weight.”
Karen spoke. “Summer, let us in, then we’ll talk inside.”
With tons of bodyguards and maids inside, Vicky would not be able to do anything to her even though she hated her to the core. So, Summer raised her hand, signaling the bodyguards to let the three of them through.
Once inside, Summer sat down on the sofa with Karen while the other two sat facing her.
Summer glanced at them and then at Ava. “Please prepare some tea, Ava.”
She was sure that Vicky did not come to say hi but to have a good gloat about her situation. Spencer must have been their driver. As for why Karen was there, she did not know.
Without waiting for Vicky to speak, Summer said, “Adams told you about the situation?” She had just returned home, and Vicky was already at her doorstep. Adams had to be the one who told Vicky.
“You don’t need to know.” Vicky hissed. “You must have a death wish, I guess. If not, how would you have the guts to do such a thing to the Emersons’ grandfather?”
Summer did not want to play up to Vicky, so she turned to look at Karen. “Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Is the news report true? Why did you do that to the old man? The Emerson family will surely not let you off!” Karen looked worried.
“So what if it’s true?” Summer casually remarked. No matter what Karen said, it was not going to affect her anymore. She was calm, cool, and collected—her heart was dead. There would be no sadness and disappointment only when she was not concerned.
“Summer, this is no laughing matter. You know how notorious and powerful the Emersons are. We can’t afford to offend them,” Spencer said.
“We?” There was a hint of a sneer in Summer’s eyes. “You make it sound like you’re all going to help me.”
Spencer said nothing again. They did not stay long, and Summer reckoned that their visit was just to confirm what they saw in the news so they could sever ties with her as soon as possible.