James' implication was evident—the bottle of wine Summer held wasn't only worth a million dollars but possibly several million dollars. This elevated its worth above that of gold! Summer held the bottle cautiously, fearing any accidental damage. James found Summer's current demeanor amusing. She resembled a treasure hunter protecting her find. With a playful tone, he teased, "Are you still intending to give me the wine?" "Certainly not!" Summer wasn't naïve. Being aware of the wine's immense value now, she had no intention of giving it to James. Holding the bottle close to her chest, she felt as if she were protecting her own child. She was worried that James might try to take it from her. "I take back what I said. I'm not giving you the wine. If you want it, you'll have to buy it from me," Summer declared with a mischievous grin. Although she wouldn't directly request money from James, involving herself in transactions was another matter. Summer had a fondness for
Summer looked up, her eyes filled with a longing for a taste. This wine wasn't ordinary. It wasn't the kind one would find on supermarket shelves for a couple hundred dollars a bottle. It was a bottle worth two million dollars! Summer came to the realization that she might never have the opportunity to drink something like this in her lifetime. Swallowing hard, she spoke softly, "I want to drink it too." "Hmm?" James looked at her with furrowed brows. It was as if he hadn't properly heard her, or perhaps was pretending not to. "I said I want to drink it," Summer repeated, her tone louder this time. If James failed to hear her once more, Summer felt tempted to throw a pillow at him. Luckily, James caught on. He handed her the glass and said, "Go ahead, give it a try. It's really good." Summer didn't hesitate. She picked up the glass and poured the crimson liquid into her mouth. In one gulp, she downed the entire glass. The wine indeed tasted exquisite, with its rich
"I'm not drunk," Summer insisted, taking a wobbly step forward. Struggling to rise from the bed, she gestured toward James, declaring, "I am not drunk. You look like a millennia-old iceberg..." "Summie," James interjected, stepping closer and reaching out to steady Summer. He feared she might stumble and fall. However, upon his touch, she forcefully pushed him away. "Don't touch me, you darn millennia-old iceberg! Didn't I tell you to get me some snacks? I want something to eat!" "Yeah, I'll get you some," James replied, not daring to provoke the drunken Summer. This was the first time he had seen her drunk, and he hadn't realized it could be this terrifying. As he was about to leave the room, he saw Summer lifting the wine bottle and pouring it into her mouth. The bottle, worth two million dollars, emptied into Summer's mouth like water, leaving less than three-fifths remaining. James wasn't concerned about the wine itself. Rather, he fretted for Summer's well-being.
"Millennia-old iceberg, what do you think you're doing?" Summer shouted. Then, she saw James raise his palm and deliver a swift chop to her neck. Yes, it was indeed a chop! James had actually used a chop to strike at Summer's neck. With a loud thud, her head spun, and her vision went black as she passed out completely.… The next morning, Summer woke up to the gentle sunlight streaming through the window, casting a warm glow onto the floral bedsheet. She found herself surrounded by the rich scent of alcohol that filled the air. Rubbing her eyes, Summer regained consciousness and recalled yesterday's events. "Oh no, what did I do yesterday?" Memories flooded through Summer's mind as she remembered her behavior the day before. She recalled her outburst at James and how she had called him a "millennia-old iceberg" without any manners. She also remembered how she had clung to him, relentlessly pestering him for alcohol. It wasn't common for Summer to act in such a way. A
However, James wasn't prepared to leave. He stayed on the bed and drew closer to Summer. "I'm not ready to go yet. I've already informed my secretary that I won't be leaving until noon." "You're skipping work until noon? Aren't you concerned about delaying company matters?" "I'm not concerned because I want to spend time with you today." James' sudden expression of such intimate words could easily be misunderstood. "I don't need your company. I'm not a child," Summer retorted. "If you're not a child, then why did you get so drunk last night? I had to help you fall asleep." James had a talent for addressing uncomfortable subjects. Summer would have forgotten how he had helped her fall asleep the night before if he hadn't mentioned it. But now that he had brought it up, she recalled it vividly! The previous night, in his effort to soothe Summer, James had opted to treat her as if she were a criminal. He had swiftly rendered her unconscious with a blow to her neck. It wa
From the day before until that point, Summer felt a significant shift in her relationship with James. The bond between them had deepened considerably. Most significantly, James, who typically exuded an air of superiority and coldness, displayed a remarkable level of sincerity in her presence. It was a stark contrast to his authoritative and distant demeanor in public. Summer couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion within her. How had she and James ended up mirroring the dynamics of a real married couple? Back at her house, Fred and Amelia often engaged in similar playful banter, creating a cozy and harmonious environment. Now, both Summer and James had unknowingly adopted this same style of interaction. "James, I just threw a tantrum. Do you think that's alright?" Sumer cautiously inquired. "Are you throwing a tantrum at me? Isn't that perfectly normal?" he responded. "Normal?" Summer was taken aback. She doubted anyone in the world would dare throw a tantrum at
"Kelly, how have you been lately? You seem to have changed quite a bit." "Of course, I'm working at Myers Corporation now, so change is to be expected," Kelly replied, her tone tinged with pride as she raised her eyebrows. Initially, Summer had sensed a change in Kelly, but upon further observation, it appeared that she hadn't changed much after all. Her speech remained as casual as ever, devoid of any hint of maturity. The transformation appeared to be limited to her external appearance and choice of attire. Ironically, Summer had hoped for Zach and Kelly to become a couple, yet she had unintentionally paired Zach with Yolanda instead. As a form of compensation, Kelly had landed a high-paying position at Zach's company. Seeing Kelly's refreshed and lively demeanor, it was clear that she was indeed thriving in her new role. Summer felt a sudden urge to delve into gossip. She couldn't resist asking, "You must have encountered some remarkable men at Myers Corporation. So, a
Summer's passionate speech left Kelly wondering if the former had somehow taken the wrong medication. "Summie, what's gotten into you? I haven't seen you in a while, and you seem different now," Kelly remarked. "Different? Really?" Summer was surprised. She then came to the realization that she might have indeed undergone some changes. If she had to be honest, maybe her time with James had made her more outgoing and courageous. Despite James' repeated declarations of love for her, he remained unpredictable. As a result, there were times when he fell silent, prompting Summer to take the initiative. Otherwise, they would have remained at a standstill. However, strictly speaking, Summer's and Kelly's situations were different. James had always actively pursued Summer, while she had been more aloof. In contrast, Kelly didn't have exceptional men actively pursuing her, so she had to take the initiative herself. "Come on, Kelly. You've got this. Just take a more proactive app
"Of course. I'm the chairman of Charter Corporation, after all. Why can't I continue working? I took care of Charter Corporation back when you got married, didn't I?" Fred patted his chest firmly, looking quite confident.Summer also believed that her father would be able to manage the company well if she left it in his care.Fred was the founder of Charter Corporation, after all. He had worked on it for decades, and he was the person who knew it the best. If he was the one taking over, Summer definitely had no reason to worry.However, Fred had already retired, so he should be relaxing at home at his age. Summer felt a little bad if he was suddenly asked to manage the company again.James comforted Summer, saying, "Summie, why don't you let him help you? Of all the people in Charter Corporation, he must be the person who's the most invested in the company other than you.""That's right." Fred smiled confidently. "How can I not care about my own company? Don't worry, Summer. Just
They were having a meal right now, so where was Fred going? Summer asked in confusion, "Dad, where are you going?"When Summer asked the question, Fred had already left the living room. He seemed to be on his way back to his room.Amelia explained, "He's preparing a gift for you.""Preparing a gift? What gift?"Soon, the gift Amelia mentioned was brought over to them.Fred was carrying a large cardboard box, which he processed to place on the table. He retrieved children's toys, baby clothes, and a jigsaw puzzle from the box.Summer was speechless when she saw that. So this was the sort of gift Amelia was talking about. But why would Fred give her these things out of the blue?Holding the clothes, Fred explained gleefully, "Several months ago, Amelia and I were shopping when we came across some baby products. We were wondering when you'd have children, and we feared that you wouldn't be able to buy all the baby products you would need, so we bought some ahead of time."Summer s
Nearby, James faked a cough as if there was another matter at hand. Noticing something off with his expression, Summer thought that he choked on something, so she asked, "Would you like some water?""No, thanks… Summie, did you forget why we came here in the first place?"Thanks to James' reminder, Summer finally remembered that she wasn't here for a simple visit. She had to tell her parents the good news of her pregnancy.At that moment, Amelia and Fred were leisurely enjoying the food. Summer knew that if they heard the news, they might get overwhelmed with emotion, so she decided to give them a heads-up. "Dad, Mom, we actually came here to tell you an important piece of news. Maybe you can stop eating for now.""What's the matter?" Fred asked curiously."Well… This is a very serious matter. Before I break the news, I'd like you to be as calm as possible. Please don't get too worked up."When Amelia and Fred heard that, they exchanged glances. They had no idea what exactly Summ
For example, Summer and James were taking a walk in the park. They might look like they were alone, but in reality, more than a dozen bodyguards were hiding in bushes and various corners of the park. To protect the child, the Quigleys pulled out all the stops to ensure Summer's safety."Alright, I get it." Summer chose to compromise. She was living a wonderful life at the Quigley residence, after all, so she felt like she shouldn't ask for too much.Also, as Caroline had said, Summer would regain freedom once she gave birth to the child. Summer would be able to live her happy life with James then, and Caroline wouldn't be around to nag her about the child.The next morning, the Quigleys arranged for a luxurious limousine to send Summer and James to the Charter Estate. Amelia and Fred already knew that their daughter would be coming over, so they were waiting at the entrance. When they saw their dear daughter, elated expressions appeared on their faces."Summer, you're back! We've p
Hence, Summer could do whatever she pleased. If Caroline dared to restrict her freedom, Summer would be upset, and Caroline wouldn't want that.As Summer walked along the even path of the park, she did some stretches to loosen up. "It's a nice life. Before this, I was worried that something bad might happen if I returned to the Quigley residence, but now, it looks like I was overthinking it. Caroline is very good to me, and the others respect me too.""I'm glad to hear that. I was also worried that you wouldn't be able to get used to staying in the Quigley residence. You're pregnant, after all." James glanced at Summer's belly, his eyes filled with fatherly love and tenderness. By the looks of it, he had intended to be a father a long time ago."Hold your horses. I've only been pregnant for three weeks. They say that the baby will be born after ten months of pregnancy, and it's not even been a month yet, let alone ten." With that, Summer suddenly held James' hand and guided it tow
What would it mean to Howe if he gave up on the position of the head of the family? It meant that he would have to depend on someone else to survive, and he would be giving up on glory and riches along with a life filled with extravagance.Thanks to his wealthy background, Howe was already used to life like this. If James became the head of the family in the future, he might exercise his authority as the head of the family to limit Howe's movements. Howe would be stripped of freedom.Maeve felt that Howe was right as well. Her current life of luxury was built upon mountains of cash. If Howe didn't get to be the head of the family, he would definitely face restrictions."Howe, I want you to be the head of the family as well, but do you really have confidence in your capabilities? Your brother is so outstanding, and he's the official heir, too."Maeve hit the nail on the head. This was exactly what Howe was worried about as well. There was a world of difference between him and James,
So, when Caroline asked her to stay in the Quigley residence, Summer somewhat reluctantly agreed.At noon the next day, dark clouds filled the sky, making it look bleak. However, in the bustling Rosseera City, things were as lively as usual.In a luxury hotel situated in the city center, Howe was sitting on a chair, holding a glass of wine in one hand while his other arm was wrapped around the waist of a beautiful woman. At that moment, his expression was as gloomy as the weather.The young woman was good at reading the room. Extending her fingers, she traced circles on Howe's pink shirt. She asked, "What's the matter, Howe? You seem to be in a bad mood today. Could there be anyone in Rosseera City who's bold enough to offend you?""Hmph…" Howe didn't say a word. Instead, he downed the whole glass of wine.Noticing that he wasn't saying anything, the young woman pursed her lips and planted a kiss on his cheek. Smiling, she asked, "What's going on? Are you going to say that women w
James didn't want to agree to this arrangement. Even though it wasn't explicitly mentioned, he was fully aware that Summer didn't want to stay at the Quigley residence. Hence, he said, "I'll take care of Summer, Mom. I even hired Tina to look after her needs. You know how dependable Tina is. With her around, everything will be fine.""Nonsense. Even if Tina was there, there's only so much she can do on her own. This Quigley grandchild is extremely important. I can't just let her handle everything by herself.""That won't be an issue, Mom. Besides, Summer won't feel comfortable staying here either." Summer's feelings were James' top priority. Caroline could see this as well. In the end, the decision was Summer's to make. So, instead of addressing James, she turned to Summer and asked, "Would you like to stay at the Quigley residence, Summie?"If it were up to Summer, she'd say no. There was no way she would want to stay here out of her own free will. Just the mere sight of Caroli
Howe was the quietest person at the table. He was dressed in a shirt with floral patterns, and his hair was slightly curly. He was as still as a rock. He had a look of terror on his face for a while now—he didn't know that Summer was pregnant.Now that his parents were talking about it, he immediately asked, "Pregnant? Is Summer pregnant?""Yes, she is—haven't you heard?" Caroline replied. "No… How is she suddenly pregnant? I didn't hear anything about it until now." "I only found out recently as well." Caroline's hand moved over her mouth before she continued, "Isn't it great? You're going to be an uncle soon.""Yeah. I can't wait." Howe put on a forced smile.Everyone in the family was overjoyed by the news—except Howe Quigley. The Quigleys had a family rule. If the heir had a child, his position as the head of the family would be set in stone.So, if James welcomed a baby, Howe would lose the opportunity to take his place as the family heir. By that logic, he would never be