It had only been five days since Summer departed from Hoover City to come looking for Jessica.
The journey normally took one to two days, at least. With the current condition of the roads, the journey would have been much more difficult and taken much longer.
If the journey took two days, Stanley must have departed two days before the expected time.
Leonardo set off a day after Summer and arrived on the third day.
If that calculation was anything to go by, Stanley must have started his journey the day Leonardo arrived.
Being able to locate her and arrive in such a short time only meant one thing: Stanley had most likely been monitoring her movement.
She had lived with Stanley for a period and experienced a traffic accident with him. In a sense, they had gone through a lot together, but Summer could feel that Stanley’s feelings for her were not that of a lover’s.
If a man monitored a woman’s movements, he either did it for love or something else.
Summer tried to remain positive about Stanley’s intentions.
After all, Stanley had helped her a lot in the past.
He came out of nowhere three years ago, but he had saved her life. Without him, she would have been dead long ago.
“The roads have been totally cut off. How did you get here?”
“By helicopter.” Stanley studied her. “As long as you’re all right.”
Just as Summer wanted to speak, she sensed something off about the atmosphere.
Turning her head, she saw Leonardo staring at her with grim eyes.
She could not help but shudder. Had she offended him or something?
Pursing her lips, she sat down beside Leonardo. When she looked over at him again, his expression seemed to be better. “Have you had your breakfast?” she asked Stanley.
“I had it already.” Stanley swept his eyes over her and Leonardo.
The atmosphere felt strange, and Summer did not know what to say. “We haven’t eaten…”
Right then, Leonardo, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke. “Has your clinic closed down, Mr. Li?”
Stanley’s expression froze for a few seconds. “No, why do you ask?”
Leonardo sneered, and his voice was colder than usual. “Since you’re so free to be concerned about another person’s wife, I thought your clinic had closed down.”
Summer heard him say the word “wife” and stared at Leonardo in surprise.
Meanwhile, Stanley’s words were stuck in his throat after he heard what Leonardo said.
He moved his lips, forcing a smile. “Thank you for your concern, Mr. Emerson. My clinic is running well with many long-term clients. Of course, who doesn’t want their business to grow? If you’re willing, Mr. Emerson, you could refer some clients to me, or you could become my client too.”
Stanley’s expression appeared even more natural now as if he had just gotten to know a new business partner over dinner.
However, Summer’s gut feeling told her that his last sentence had a deeper meaning to it.
Leonardo pasted a smile on his face as his demeanor became even colder. “Would you dare to see me if I paid you a visit?”
“Your visit would be a show of your trust in me. It would be my pleasure to have you drop by. I would have to accept even if I don’t dare.” It sounded like Stanley was excited about it.
Leonardo shot him a look and did not say another word.
The conversation between the two men was filled with the smell of gunpowder.
Noticing that Leonardo was ignoring him, Stanley turned his eyes to Summer.
“Summer, are you thinking of leaving only after breakfast?”
Hearing that, Leonardo peaked at Summer with an indifferent expression. He looked away immediately after he stole a glance at her.
He had said nothing, yet she somehow felt like he had said it all.
There was no love lost between Stanley and Leonardo. Every time the two met, they would always be at loggerheads with each other.
Summer felt sorry for Stanley, but she still tactfully declined his offer. “I’m afraid that I can’t leave with you. We still have friends coming over. We’ll have to wait for them.”
Stanley noticed that she was using “we” instead of “Leonardo and I”.
As if something had crossed his mind, a faint smile appeared on his face. “Well, then. I’ll stay here for your sake until your friends arrive.”
He then looked over at Leonardo. “Are Summer’s friends also Mr. Emerson’s friends? I believe that Mr. Emerson’s friends would not have been this slow.”
Stanley was provoking him. Even Summer could sense it, let alone Leonardo.
She had no idea why Stanley wanted to do that, but it was not the time to ask.
She turned to look at Leonardo. She was secretly relieved when she saw there was no change in his expression.
She was afraid that Leonardo would lose control of his temper like the spoiled-brat that he was and get into a fight with Stanley.
If they came to blows, no one there would be able to stop them.
Besides, it would place her in a difficult situation.
“Breakfast is ready.”
The elderly man’s voice came from the annex. Summer turned to have a look and saw that the elderly man was already in front of the main hall’s entrance. He was holding a bowl of stir-fried vegetables in one hand and a bowl of pickles in the other.
He walked to Stanley’s side and placed the bowls on the table, frowning while glancing at Stanley. After that, he turned around to take a stool and sat down by the table.
The elderly man lived alone, and there were only three stools in the main hall. It just happened to be enough for the three of them to have dinner at the table during the past few days. The elderly man’s expression seemed to indicate that Stanley had taken what was supposed to be his seat.
Judging from how prideful the elderly man was, he was most likely unhappy with Stanley for snubbing him. Stanley did not even greet him when he came to his house.
Summer quickly carried her stool to the dining table. “I’ll fetch the dishes.”
The elderly man nodded at her before he shot Stanley a sideways glance.
Even if Stanley were dumb, he would have understood what that look on the old man’s face meant.
Summer held two bowls of congee in her hands, and as she turned around, she saw that Leonardo had also come in.
The kitchen was a little too small, so Leonardo had to duck as he passed through the doorway. He took the bowls from Summer and brought them out.
Summer then picked up another bowl and followed Leonardo from behind.
Summer and Leonardo sat together with the elderly village man at the old wooden table, which had faded in color. Their breakfast consisted of some pickles, a bowl of vegetables, and congee.
Meanwhile, Stanley took it all in.