Summer knew how petty Leonardo could get. If she admitted that the person was “a new boyfriend”, Leonardo would find fault with her words. At least, there was still a difference between a “boyfriend” and “new boyfriend”.
After she dealt with the reporters, Summer did not dare go to the movie studio that day.
Eliza saw the news and teased her about it when Summer called her. “You’ve been trending for the past three days. It’s saving our production team a lot of money in terms of publicity.”
“Since that’s the case, will I be getting a portion of the profit from The Lost City?”
Eliza got snappish. “The shooting of the web series hasn’t even been completed, but you’re already thinking about money?”
“Who doesn’t like money? The more, the better,” said Summer.
She was talking to Eliza while walking toward the parking lot. As she got to her car and pressed the Unlock button on the remote, a familiar voice called out from behind her.
“Summer.”
She looked back and saw Kate, who was dressed in a white suit.
“You called me?” Summer pointed at herself.
“Is there anyone else around here?” Kate raised her chin, her voice distant.
“Cut to the chase. The weather’s hot, and I need to hurry back.” Summer swung the car key in her hand as she leaned back against her car, blocking the scorching sun with her hand. The heat at the end of August still showed no signs of letting off.
“You and Leonardo may be divorced, but don’t forget that you are his ex-wife. Please behave yourself. I don’t care if you disrespect yourself, but don’t ride on his popularity and embarrass him.”
Kate got on her high horse, so much so that Summer almost believed that Kate was a loving elder sister.
“I’m afraid, you’re not worried about Leonardo but the Emerson family’s reputation, and by extension, yours,” Summer said slowly as she squinted with a faint smile on her face.
“You, shut up. Who are you to pass comments on things between us siblings?” Kate cut in sternly.
“Really? Then this is my private matter. Who are you to pass comments?”
“If you weren’t riding on Leonardo’s popularity, I wouldn’t care one bit about who you are, where you are, and what you do! You better behave as a woman!” The derision on Kate’s face was plain to see.
Instead of getting angry, Summer just found the whole thing ludicrous. She knew what Kate meant. Kate was not too happy because she seemed to be riding on Leonardo’s popularity every time she made it to the trending list, especially when she was caught kissing in a car. It dragged Leonardo into the gossip rounds, which was something she did not foresee. Nevertheless, that did not mean that she needed to be lectured by Kate.
“Do you really think you’re my mom? Who are you to lecture me? Leonardo knows whether I’ve ridden on his popularity. He would have come for me personally if I did that. Do you think he needs you to give him a hand?”
Seeing that Kate’s face had darkened, Summer’s nonchalant expression faded, and it was replaced by a serious face.
“I know how selfish and nosy you are. If you still think you are Leonardo’s elder sister, you should show more concern for him.”
Kate and Leonardo were siblings, but their relationship was not great.
During the kidnapping incident, Leonardo’s mother was raped in front of his eyes. Before the rescue arrived, his mother killed herself. After that, instead of comforting him, his twin sister frowned upon him, thinking that he was an oddball.
Leonardo would not tell Summer such details; she only inferred them from the few words he had told her.
Kate had always been selfish when she was little. Everything she did was for her self-interest. So most likely, her relationship with her younger brother was more of a self-serving nature than genuine affection.
She was the daughter of the Emersons, and she knew that her ability was nowhere near Leonardo’s, that only Leonardo could manage Emerson Corporation well to afford the Emerson family the lavish lifestyle they had been enjoying.
Summer understood that. With the exception of Douglas, the others from the Emerson family had the exact same thinking as Kate. They were treating Leonardo as their money-making tool.
Kate’s face turned from red to white. “Summer, don’t be full of yourself!”
“You know very well whether I’m full of myself or not.” Summer reached to touch her forehead, and her hand became wet from the sweat. The outdoor temperature was so high that she was sweating like a pig only after a few minutes standing outside.
“I’m leaving,” Summer said.
She had nothing to say to Kate. She opened the car door and got inside. As she drove past Kate, she got a glimpse of her gloomy face. Kate looked a lot like Leonardo; they were twin siblings after all, so they should not look very different from one another.
When Summer arrived at her place, she saw an expensive car outside her apartment. She stopped her car and glanced at the other one, feeling uneasy. The expensive vehicle obviously did not belong there. Was the car there for her again?
She released her safety belt and got out of her car, so did the person in the expensive car. Summer looked over at the man in black who called out her name.
“Summer.”
She was transfixed for a second before she asked, “Mr. Wilson, are you here for me?”
Summer looked at him cautiously. What was Adams up to this time? She was having an exciting day; first, she was besieged by the reporters, then by Kate, and now Adams. These people must have made a date to look for trouble on the same day.
Adams closed his car door and walked up to Summer. “There’s no need to be so cautious of me. I’m here today because I need a favor from you.”
“Something that even Adams can’t take care of? What makes you think I can?” Summer took two steps back involuntarily.
Summer’s words reeked of sarcasm, but Adams appeared unperturbed. He sighed. “My father has passed away, and Douglas is very sad as well as depressed. If you have time, please talk to him.”
Summer was stunned.
As Nathan had passed away in a car accident, she was a little worried about Douglas too. However, she never expected Adams to come and see her.
“You’re his elder brother. Perhaps you should keep him company.” She knew that Adams and Douglas were not biological brothers, but she still wanted to say that.
Adams shook his head. “I’m here just for Douglas. Please don’t be overly sensitive. I know Douglas’s close to you, that’s why I’m seeing you.”
Summer studied Adams’s expression for a while and found nothing suspicious, so she nodded. “I’ll visit him one of these days.”