Everyone except Raine was present for breakfast in the Valentine mansion.Yvette looked up at Mark. “Your grandma called this morning. She asked you to visit her in Norwood.”“Did she say anything else?” He stopped what he was doing. His deep voice had a touch of gentleness.“She said that she hadn’t seen you for a long time and missed you. But she is busy and can’t come. So she asked you to go to Norwood instead.”“Okay.” He gently replied. “I will go with Summer tomorrow.”‘Summer?’As far as Summer could remember, this was the first time Mark called her by her name. It felt amazingly pleasing to the ears.Yvette’s expression changed slightly, but she hid it well.“Without Summer here, Mom will feel lonely in this vast mansion.” She made a lovely excuse for Summer.What else could Summer say when Yvette had already said so?Summer snapped back and let out a smile. “Mom has a point. I will stay.”Pleased with the answer, Yvette patted her on her shoulder. It looked like thi
She turned to look at him. “You’re hungry?”He pinched his brow with his fingers, his breath smelling of alcohol. “I drank quite a lot with clients. I need something to fill my stomach.”“I will see what I can get.” She got up and went into the kitchen.There was still some beef, spinach, and carrots in the fridge.So she made him a bowl of spinach beef soup.As Mark stared at the bowl of spinach beef soup, she turned around and looked at him in puzzlement. “What is going on?”“There are carrots in there.”“Carrot is not a poison.” She ignored him and went to take a shower.He had alcohol all night while out entertaining clients. Now the tantalizing aroma of the soup made him hungry.He looked at the carrots in the soup again and frowned. It was not after a while later he picked up the spoon and dug in.Summer emerged from the shower after half an hour.Mark was lying on the bed and had crashed out.She padded over to the coffee table and saw something ludicrous.Now she k
The middle-aged man was disappointed. He thought he had finally met a girl he liked, and he did not want to miss the opportunity.He could no longer chat with her, but that was okay. The most important thing was to exchange contact information with her.But she was asleep, and he could not just wake her up like that. So he felt was like a cat on hot bricks and stole glances at her.Mark slammed the document folder close and sank back in the soft leather seat. He then crossed his legs, and he looked at that man opposite the aisle. “Can I help you?”The middle-aged man was startled, trying to figure out what he meant.Mark frowned with his chin lifted. He raised an eyebrow as he gently tapped the business card on the table. “Don’t you want to pass your business card to my wife. Do you need help?”The middle-aged man had an awkward look on his face for a second before he looked away silently.Two hours later, the plane landed at the airport in Norwood.Summer was full of energy ag
An old lady was standing at the bronze carved gate. She was nearly seventy, but still full of vigor.As the car door opened, she strode over, gave Mark an affectionate hug, and patted him on the shoulder. “It has been a long time, Mark.”A gentle look replaced the deadpan face of Mark. “How are you doing all these days, Ms. Moore?”“I am great. I can even carry a rock on my back.” The old lady’s voice suddenly turned into that of a whining child. “You never come to see me. Did you forget me and not miss me anymore?”“Of course, I miss you. You know what, I have brought your favorite prunes. Do you want it?” Mark embraced the old lady in his arms and coaxed her gently.“Yeah.” The old lady snuggled in his arms like a child.Summer looked on with her jaw dropping to the ground. She did not expect to see that the old lady could be so lovely.And Mark’s attitude toward this old lady was nothing like how he treated Yvette and Gordon.“Are the prunes still with you, Mrs. Valentine?”
Mark was walking ahead at a steady pace.He was tall and wearing a black knee-length coat, which looked great on him.Many female tourists could not take their eyes off this good-looking man. Some even took out their cell phones and snapped photos of him secretly.Summer looked at his man and shook her head because his men had now become the center of attention. Meanwhile, she was out of breath and slowed down.Before long, she had fallen a distance behind him.Mark stopped in his tracks and turned around when he did not hear her footsteps and gasping behind him.Summer sat on the stairs and looked elsewhere. The snow on the ground did not bother her at all.Mark frowned. He walked back and reached to help her up from the ground. “I thought you were the one wanting to come here? Why aren’t you moving?”“I am tired. I don’t want to walk anymore. No one says that we must get to the top. I think the scenery here is pretty good.”The warmth of his palm and fingers quickly warmed h
“Bring me there.”The dormitory was only ten minutes’ walk from the office. She knocked on the door and entered upon hearing a response. “Hey, Ronald.”A man looked up from the document. “I didn’t expect you to be here so soon.”“I should have reported in yesterday. I am a day late—in case you didn’t know.” Raine sat down on the settee.Ronald Valentine, Raine’s elder brother, was middle-aged, but still good-looking, as his body was still in good shape.“Is everything all right at home?” Ronald asked.“Since you are so curious, why don’t you go home to see for yourself?” Rained said.He sat down opposite Raine and took a sip of coffee. “I am busy as hell with a factory coming up here in Grudin North. There is just no time.”His hand holding the coffee cup froze for a second, as if something came to his mind. “Do you know Mark is married?”She tightened her grip on her coffee cup but kept a calm face. “I know. Why?”“Have you completely let go of Mark?”“Come on, I am engaged
“Of course, I know. I raised you and Mark. It is good if you and Mark could be together. I have gone through a lot in the past three years. I am not so obstinately insistent anymore. You are still young. I don’t want you to live your life with regret and hate me because of this.Raine sneered. She did not feel the slightest joy but a hint of hatred.“It would have been nice had you told me this three years ago. But now it is too late.” Mark was married, and she was engaged.“I have never understood Mark, even as a father. But one thing is for sure; he marries that woman not because he loves her. It is not set in stone, and it is never too late. You know better than anyone else if he still has feelings for you.”“Things are not that simple. There is still your wife there I should think about.”She would never forget how Yvette lay in front of her, blood oozing out as Yvette cut herself with a blade.“You could not handle her paranoid and blunt behavior, but not Mark. Otherwise, sh
Summer was not annoyed; she just shot him a few looks. Besides, she was not expecting any kind words from him anyway. She then said to the old lady, “Ms. Moore, let me bring you some prunes.”The old lady was definitely a big fan of those prunes. In a blink of an eye, she demolished the two boxes Summer had taken out. “Where are you planning to go next?” The old lady asked. “What do you reckon, Ms. Moore?”“Have you ever come to Norwood before?”Summer shook her head. “Since it’s snowing recently, skiing in Brighmond Ski Park would be nice. You can also enjoy the snow-kissed scenery on a boat at Harwood Citadel after.”Summer was quite fond of the suggestion. She was even more excited about skiing. As the thought hit her, she looked at Mark and asked, “Do you know how to ski?”“Yes, I do…Why did you ask?” He looked at her and said.“You have got to be my coach then,” she answered naturally.Mark squinted his eyes and looked at her with a calm demeanor, “Did I say I was goin