"Why not consider…" Caroline didn't continue speaking. However, James understood her intentions; Caroline wanted to seize the opportunity and persuade him to divorce Summer.There was no way James would relent. He scoffed, "It's just a matter of time that Summie gets pregnant. Mom, there's no need to force us to divorce."After that, James lost interest in continuing the discussion. He strode out the door, ignoring Caroline's calls to stop. Frustrated, she had no choice but to let him go.Luca shuffled in quietly, bowing slightly. "Mrs. Quigley, perhaps it's best not to rush this. Mr. Quigley is quite stubborn and hard to sway."Caroline nodded, knowing Luca was right. She knew James' temperament well, and pushing too hard might have the opposite effect. Hence, Caroline resolved to let things unfold on their own. But she was sure that Summer had no future in their family.Three days later, the Charter Corporation buzzed with its usual activities. Summer had just returned home fr
Kelly, still sounding dejected, whispered on the phone, "Summie, what should I do? After this date, I doubt Keith will want to meet me again."The opportunity Summer secured for Kelly was just a one-time date. Logically, after one date, Kelly shouldn't expect a second chance.Summer wanted to get her friend another opportunity to meet with Keith, though. Although she suspected he wouldn't agree, she didn't want Kelly to feel let down. So, Summer said, "How about this? I'll give him a call and see if I can work something out. I don't think Keith would mind a second date.""Really?""Yeah. I'll do my best to talk to him. If it works out, I'll call you back.""Great! Thanks so much, Summie." Kelly finally felt slightly hopeful. Although Summer promised to do her best to get Kelly another date with Keith, she couldn't say for sure she'd succeed. She thought there was a high chance it wouldn't work out. But given the situation, she had to try. It wasn't every day that Kelly could
Keith laughed as if Summer had just said a ridiculous joke. He said with disdain and mockery, "Do you really think Kelly and I are a good match? I've looked into her background. Even as a birthing tool, she doesn't measure up to me."Keith's words were harsh. He implied that marriage was only about having children, and he spoke of Kelly as if she were beneath him. Summer's anger flared. She could tolerate insults directed at her but not at her friends."Keith, mind your words. Just because Kelly likes you doesn't mean you can disregard her feelings and trample on her dignity.""Sorry, but that's just who I am." With that, Keith saw no point in continuing the conversation and hung up without another word.Summer was fuming as she heard the dial tone buzzing in her ears. Glaring at her phone, she muttered through clenched teeth, "That jerk! How dare he hang up on me!"Summer couldn't stand when others hung up on her—it was incredibly rude. Anger flared within her, but alongside it
Summer's eyes widened in surprise. What did he mean by taking Kelly to see Hailey? Wasn't Hailey long gone? Was he suggesting they meet her ghost?Seeing her startled expression, James chuckled and clarified, "No, I don't mean meeting Hailey in person. I mean visiting her grave. "All Souls' Day is coming up in a week. Perhaps if Kelly takes Keith to pay respects, it might have some positive outcome."Summer was intrigued by James' suggestion. While Hailey was no longer alive, her grave could still evoke powerful memories and emotions in Keith. If Kelly accompanied him, it might be the perfect opportunity to help him confront his past.Summer felt a surge of excitement. Forgetting her surroundings in the elegant and serene restaurant, she stood up and cheered, "That's perfect!"Her outburst drew the attention of nearby diners, making Summer feel slightly self-conscious as all eyes turned toward her. She quickly sat back down, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Despite this,
Summer was surprised. "You knew?""Of course. I could tell Keith wasn't into me. During our date, he was so distant. I'm not oblivious. How could I possibly not notice? And when I didn't hear from you about a second date, I figured he didn't agree. If he had, you'd have called me right away."Kelly was smarter than Summer thought. Even though Summer hadn't spelled everything out, Kelly had pieced it together."Summie, let me handle this and talk to Keith myself. You can't always be the one relaying the message, right? If I'm serious about pursuing him, I need to take some initiative."Kelly spoke with firm resolve, which showed that she was committed and serious about this.It was a rare moment, and Summer realized Kelly was right. She couldn't always be her friend's go-between. Although Summer wanted to protect Kelly, she knew she couldn't do so indefinitely. Since Kelly liked Keith, she should be brave enough to pursue him. Relying on others to gain happiness would be meanin
Raindrops gently slipped through Keith's fingers, and he found the delicate, translucent droplets fascinating."'Mom, how does rain happen?"' he asked, filled with the wonder and curiosity a child would have. He couldn't understand how a bright, clear sky could suddenly bring rain.Hailey gazed down at him with a tender smile, brushing her hand gently over his hair. "'There's a Rain God up there. When the Rain God thinks the earth needs a break from the heat, he sends rain. Otherwise, the farmers' crops would dry up, and we wouldn't have any food."'"'Oh, so the Rain God is a good person!"' Keith said, his smile brightening even more. To him, the world was full of magical things. His mother had always said, "'Good deeds bring good fortune, and bad deeds bring trouble."'Keith believed there were gods watching over the world; they were the reason why humans could live happily and healthily. Some gods controlled the weather—like the rain god and the sun god, and others watched ov
Keith played in the rain joyfully. His laughter was bright and innocent, much like a child savoring a lollipop.Hailey was elated to see Keith enjoying himself. She gently brushed back her hair and watched him with loving eyes. As Keith dashed farther down the path, she chased after him. Soon, they were playfully splashing at each other.The world blurred around them in the light rain; a cool breeze swept by, and water droplets danced in the air. Despite the misty weather, the scene felt vibrant and full of life, like an impromptu water park adventure.As the memory faded, Keith's present surroundings came back into focus. He stood at the window of Ritter Corporation, gazing out at the rain that blurred the cityscape. So much had changed since those days. He wasn't the carefree child who found joy in the smallest things anymore.Keith's gaze turned steely, his demeanor calm and composed. Settling back into his chair, he immersed himself once more in the demanding tasks that fil
Kelly was the same. When she saw Keith step out, her previous confidence and energy deflated like a balloon. She lowered her head and stayed silent.Keith signaled for the two security guards holding Kelly to leave and then calmly asked her to enter his office. The atmosphere was tense, and the pressure was palpable. Sitting across from Keith, Kelly found it hard to breathe. She hesitated for a long time, thinking she couldn't come all this way just to say nothing. Kelly had promised Summer earlier that she would bravely confess her feelings no matter what. This was her love, and she had to be courageous."Keith, I have something to say to you!" Kelly finally blurted out after taking a deep breath. It was so difficult to speak under Keith's cold, sharp gaze; even climbing Everest wouldn't have been as challenging. Fortunately, Kelly managed to say the first sentence.Keith maintained his indifferent expression as if he could sit there with authority even if a typhoon were to h
"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