No matter how unhappy and resentful Summer was toward Raine, she kept it polite when talking to her. “Thank you, Aunt. But I don’t need it.”Likewise, Raine was resentful of Summer, but her expression remained the same, except for the slightly more serious tone of voice when she spoke.“Well then, you had better remember to keep a distance from those men around you.”Summer was pissed by what Rained said, but she fought back her anger. “I know. I will keep that in mind.”Raine furrowed her brows upon hearing Summer’s reply. “Since you know, why did you still do that?” She looked at Raine puzzledly. “Can you please be more specific about what I have done?”“The newspaper headlines have caused a squabble in the Valentine mansion. Shouldn’t you keep your distance and control your own behavior?” Raine’s voice slightly deepened as she was displeased with Summer’s behavior.Because of the headline news in the newspaper, the relationship between Yvette and Jazz had gone sour, and ther
She felt the two were in their own world where she could not get in.Mark’s well-knotted hands gripped Summer’s wrist tightly as he took her into the apartment. His face was grave all this while.Not that Summer wanted to catch up with him, he just walked too fast. She reminded Mark. “But Aunt is still there.”“Mark.” Raine called out at him from behind.The corners of Summer’s mouth turned up in a smile as she expected him to let go of her.But he did not. Instead, he clenched her wrists harder. “I will stay here tonight. You go back and tell her.”He said nothing further and brought her into the apartment.Raine stood alone outside in the cold—the type of cold that she had never experienced before.He walked away with Summer and abandoned her by the roadside.Perhaps it was not the weather but Mark’s action and words that caused the chills.But she believed Mark had never fallen in love with Summer. Absolutely not. She was confident of this.Her black skirt fluttered in th
Summer came out of her thought after a while and went into the kitchen to make a simple corn chowder. She then sat at the dining table and started eating, once again ignoring him completely. Mark found the water hard to swallow when he saw she was giving him the cold shoulder again. Gloominess shrouded his good mood, his deep squinted eyes staring at her from behind. “Let’s talk, Mrs. Valentine.” After taking a sip of the corn chowder, her hands and feet warmed up. She looked up at him and spelled out her words. “What does Mr. Valentine want to talk to me about? Is it about the tripartite relationship between the three of us? Since you refuse to divorce, then your intention must be to maintain the status quo. And the so-called status quo means that our marriage is just a transaction. When you have the right to interfere with my affairs, but I can’t with yours, what is the point of talking?” Mark narrowed his eyes, thinking she was not ordinarily smart. She always hit the nail o
After that, he picked up the quilt and blanket from one side. Instead of returning to the living room, he spread the blanket on the floor and lay down beside the bed. The room was small and just for two people. Even though the heater did not work properly, it was still much better than sleeping in the living room. There was only the faint breathing sound of the two of them in the room. Summer woke up in the middle of the night to answer nature’s call. Pregnancy made her not only lethargic but also prone to frequent urination. Sitting up in bed, she could barely make out a person lying on the floor under the faint moonlight. She frowned, turned on the table lamp, and she finally saw it clearly. The man was sleeping on the floor with his handsome face resting on his arm. He was casual, lazy, and looked entirely different under the moonlight. Perhaps, outside the apartment, after he ignored Raine, grabbed her by the wrist, and took her away; or perhaps, when she asked him if h
But at the same time, the landlady could not quite understand something. Judging by Mark’s attire, graceful and dignified way of speaking, deeds, and every move, and his car that was worth millions, he was a rich man. But why did he stay in such a place?The landlady shook her head, stretched as she walked toward the nearby square for her morning exercises. Summer was still asleep when Mark returned. He did not wake her up, but sat at the dining table and pecked at the breakfast. After that, he put the rest of the breakfast in a heat-insulation container, checked the time, picked up his black coat and left. He had to attend an international conference at 7:30 am, and it was 7:00 am now. It was 7:10 am when Summer woke up. The first thing she did by instinct was to glance down at the floor. The quilt on the floor had been folded up and placed aside neatly, and there was no sound coming from the living room. Obviously, he had already left. She got out of bed and freshened up.
Standing in the crowded airport, Summer’s eyes searched for Jazz. She took out her cell phone and called him again. “Where are you, Jazz?” “The bakery on the side.” Hearing this, Summer’s tensed body and heart eased up instantly. She panted, patting herself on the chest in relief, knowing that Jazz had not left yet. She carefully looked at the surrounding shops, searching one by one, until she saw a bakery. When she walked in, Jazz was sitting on the corner table by the door, fiddling with his cell phone. He looked up and broke into a bright smile that was unique to a teenager. “Why didn’t you go to school? What are you doing at the airport?” Summer gave him an earful. Saying nothing but still with the corner of his mouth turning up, he rose to his feet and stood in front of her, then put his hands on her shoulders and looked at her carefully. “Let me take a look at you.” “What are you looking at?” She asked in puzzlement. “Look what you look like when you are worried a
Jazz looked up at her. He had that youthful look, but more of seriousness and solemnity on his face. “I am already an adult, and I know what I am doing. I am not on an impulse.” “Then why did you suddenly decide to go to Athana? You haven’t finished your high school. What kind of decision have you made? Do you think you are rational enough? “What happened yesterday accounts for only a quarter of the reason I want to go to Athana. The other reason is my future career. Of course, one of the most important reasons is you.” Summer was startled. But she said nothing. He then continued with his firm and unshakable tone of voice. “I like you, but in name you are my sister-in-law. If I continue to look at you like this, I will only sink deeper and deeper in the hole, and eventually become unable to extricate myself. I need something else to divert my attention. I have never been so rational. So don’t stop me because I will not change my mind, no matter who it is.” Although he was s
Summer stood on the spot until Jazz went out of sight. Blinking her welled up eyes, she left the airport to return to the school. She had always not been a sentimental person, but at the moment, she was. She just could not bear to see Jazz go. The afternoon class ended quickly. But during the class, she could not help glancing at the seat in the last row by the window. It was as if she could still see the charming boy lying his head lazily on the table and dozing off, and when the sun shone in through the window, it coated him with a faint glow. That was not all; she seemed to have heard that boy humming with his naughty voice, ‘Reserve my love for you with golden quill, and precious phrase by all the muses filed.’ He left to fly higher. So how could she break his wings? Some girls in the class had not given up asking his whereabouts. So Summer told them the truth, that he had applied to leave the school and gone to Athana. They all had a disappointed look on their faces,