He stood facing her, bent over slightly, and helped her put on her hat and gloves. He was afraid of her feeling cold.When they arrived back at Valentine mansion, it was already 12:00 am. Surprisingly, Yvette was still awake.She frowned as they entered the mansion. Displeased, she questioned, “Why are you home so late? Where have you been?”Before Summer could reply, Jazz answered, “Mom, Summer was helping me with my French.”Yvette was left speechless. Nevertheless, she uttered, “Next time, tutoring can happen at Valentine mansion. Besides, no more staying out later than 10:00 pm.”“Mom, aren’t you too strict? We’re not kids anymore, is curfew still necessary?” Jazz responded casually.Yvette tapped on his shoulders. She chuckled, “Strict? It’s a rule.”Fortunately, she said no more but went to the bathroom. Summer quickly slipped upstairs at the opportunity.After she had bathed, applied mask, washed her face, and completely washed up, it was almost 1:00 am. Still, he wasn’t
He did not let go. He squeezed her shoulder so hard to the point where it felt like they were going to break. Then, only did he let go.The pain caused Raine’s face to shrivel. “Ouch... it hurts...”“So, you are still able to feel pain, huh?” His breath could be heard from behind her. Mark grasped her and turned her around. As they faced each other, he said sarcastically in a deep voice, “You don’t know how to make me stay, do you? I said I would leave, and you just let me leave?”‘You don’t know how to make me stay, do you? I said I would leave, and you just let me leave?’Such simply words. Yet, it had caused her tears to flow uncontrollably.She cried silently, leaned forward, and grabbed his waist tightly. She buried her face in his chest. Her tears wet his coat.Whether it was the past three years or the next three years, she had tried her very best to keep him by her side, but...Mark’s squinted sight fell upon her embrace. He cleared his throat and wrapped his arms over
“In the future, if you have not decided who you love, do not simply arouse my anger. Do you understand? Let’s return to Valentine mansion!”Still unable to remain calm, Raine answered, “But I still have to go—”Before she could finish saying, Mark cut her off coldly. “Where is a lady trying to go at 2:00 am? Get in the car!”As they rode on the black Land Rover, they did not speak to each other. There was only a dead atmosphere of awkwardness.Raine looked out the window. She still held on to the lilies he had gifted her. It was a bouquet that she would cherish.As she recalled her brother’s words, and when she had witnessed the closeness between Mark and Summer, she was deeply irritated, and her feelings wavered.But whenever she met Yvette, her wavered feelings would come undone.Undeniably, she was somewhat afraid of Yvette.Sadly, she had thus been trapped in her emotional turmoil.Seeing how close Mark was with Summer, she desperately wanted to hug him.But she regretted
Swiftly, he looked to one side, his lips twitched, and subconsciously replied, “I went to sign a contract……”“You went to sign a contract? Do you do that in a private box at the Opera? And with Raine too?”Deliberately looking puzzled, she questioned him with suspicion. Then, she gave him a good stare.She wanted to find out how he would respond.‘Signing a contract? Who was he trying to fool?’Mark looked back, and their gaze met.He kept quiet but looked at her with his eyes half-opened.Summer could clearly see her tiny reflection through his dark pupils. Although small, it was very much in focus.Her gaze was indescribably oppressive, but she remained calm and put on a faint smile.“No need to overthink. Jazz and I were just a few steps away from you. As we were leaving, I coincidentally saw you both. Also, there was a bouquet of lilies on the table.”She described everything she saw and left no stone uncovered.“What are you trying to say…” Mark stammered as he looked a
Right now, it felt like an insult.“Could it be that Mrs. Valentine has fallen for me?” He fixed his gaze was upon her, not wanting to miss any slight expression of her.Summer took a deep breath. With a bright smile, she answered, “You must be overthinking. We only take what we need in a trade.”His lips formed a straight line; he frowned, and there was immense coldness. Turning away, he strode into the bathroom.He took off his sweater and pants. He wore only his underwear and let warm water from the shower sprinkle over him from head to toe. But it did not take away his irritation.That irritation was queer, vague, and indescribable...In the room, Summer put the glass back on the table. Her lips curled as she sat quietly on the sofa.Sure enough, whoever reacted emotionally first would be the loser.After all, she could have overthought it. He didn’t have the slightest affection toward her.It was funny that she didn’t feel the slightest warmth but only coldness despite th
Seeing her back, Daisy frowned and asked, “Why are you back?”Suppressing the emotions that had been torturing her all night, Summer put on a fake smile and said, “Am I so unwelcome, Mrs. Hart?”“It’s not that I don’t welcome you home. It’s just that the New Year is coming in a few days. How can you come back at this time?”“Mom, when did you become so superstitious? What does it matter?” Her face was full of disapproval.“It’s not about superstition. You come home at this time, others will gossip about you, like you and your husband are quarreling or something like that. Also, your mother-in-law won’t be happy either. Listen to me. Go back now. I won’t stop you from staying here as many days as you want after the New Year!”Summer wrapped her arms around Daisy’s shoulders, bargaining, “One night, just one night, okay?”“All right, just one night.” Daisy agreed.While the two were talking, Amara came out of the bathroom with a toothbrush. “Summer, you’re back!”She answered fai
Sitting down, he took a few sips of the fish soup and frowned. Compared with the fresh noodle soup, the fish soup was obviously much richer in flavor.Suddenly, Mark lost his appetite. He put his bowl on the table and got up and walked upstairs.Looking at his back, Yvette asked in surprise, “Mark, you’re not having dinner?”“No, I still have some files to deal with…” He did not stop or look back. His straight figure soon disappeared in the stairwell.Raine noticed that his eyes never rested on her, not even for a moment.Indescribable disappointment and bitterness gathered in her heart, and she lost her appetite. She ate half a bowl of porridge, made some excuses and went upstairs.Yvette watched quietly, and the corners of her mouth slightly turned upwards. An obvious smile appeared on her delicate and elegant face.She didn’t like Summer. A woman who trapped a man with a baby in her belly was never a good woman.But she still preferred Summer to Raine.From the bottom of he
Looking at her stomach, Amara smiled and said.Summer thought that Amara had really changed. Perhaps because of the pregnancy, her focus began to shift from gambling to the baby, which was undoubtedly a good start, a good change.They went to the park side by side. The sun had not yet risen and the air was damp and cold.The leaves were wet with early morning dew, and the air breathing in was fresh and moist, though cold.Amara chattered away like a sparrow all the way to the park, never keeping her mouth shut.“Summer, I don’t mean to be rude, but your mother-in-law doesn’t look like a nice person,” Amara said without a second thought.Summer smiled. “You’ve only met her once, are you sure?”“I’m not sure of anything else, but I have a taste for people. She is annoying at first sight: she has a pointed face, curved eyebrows, and thin lips. And though she looks pretty and elegant, she has a mean countenance.” Amara sounded sure of her judgment.The corners of Summer’s mouth mov