Chapter 9

Summer had just pawned off all of her personal investments and trust funds to the bank in hopes of helping her family.

She had also sold off all of the branded goods Fred had bought her for her birthday to get some more cash.

Summer hadn't expected these second-hand goods to be worth much. So, she was surprised to find that someone had bought them all for a price much higher than she had expected.

Her jaw dropped when she took the money from the vendor who had helped her sell her goods. "Did the buyer leave any way for me to communicate with them?"

When the owner shook his head, Summer pressed on relentlessly. "So, what did the buyer look like? Was it a man or a woman?"

She proceeded to describe Hank's and Simone's appearance to the owner, but the owner insisted that the buyer wasn't either of them.

According to the owner, the buyer was a tall and handsome man who seemed quite powerful.

Summer had racked her brain, trying to think of anyone she knew who fit that description. But she couldn't figure out the mysterious buyer's identity.

In the end, she could only shake her head while suppressing her confusion.

Despite selling her goods for a much higher price than expected, it was still chump change when it came to relieving the financial strain the Charters were facing.

Summer sighed desolately before sliding her card back into her bag.

Before she got home, she stopped by to pick up some ravioli she knew her parents would like. She was even able to make Fred a bowl of oatmeal before he left for work.

When Amelia saw the food prepared on the table, she couldn't help but tear up. "Summie … this must be so hard on you …"

"Don't say that, Mom. The two of you went through so many hardships to raise me. You've had it way worse than me, so this is nothing!" Summer exclaimed with a smile as she set the table for breakfast.

After breakfast, Summer got up to leave, but she was called back to the table by her parents again. Amelia looked worried while Fred's expression was unreadable.

"Don't worry, Mom. I'm all grown up now. We can get through this together as a family."

Summer's words only served to make Amelia all choked up. She wanted to speak up, but something was preventing her from doing so.

Eventually, Fred said solemnly, "We received a call this morning from the bank saying that they will be withdrawing our loans. We have one month to repay the loans along with the interest. So, you should be prepared for the worst-case scenario."

This was something that Summer had expected would happen. Still, it hurt to hear Fred say it out loud.

"Summie, it would be quite impossible for Charter Corporation to return to its former glory. You may never be its successor. We'll have to declare bankruptcy soon …"

Summer's heart broke for her parents, who were now watching her with tear-filled eyes. She felt as if the future she had been working so tirelessly toward had been snatched away from her.

She was raised to be the successor of Charter Corporation and to continue Fred's legacy. But now, it was as if she no longer had anything to work toward.

Her life was falling apart, and she couldn't even deal with her emotional problems, much less the company's problems.

Summer knew that she had to mature soon and work toward becoming a better and more powerful person in order to save Charter Corporation.

She took a deep breath before taking out all the cash she had gotten that morning. Then, she said resolutely, "There's always hope. I won't give up on your life's work! Even if Charter Corporation goes bankrupt, I will find a way to save it. This is what I can promise you!"

Both Fred and Amelia felt as if a weight had been lifted off their chests at that. They knew now that their daughter had finally grown up.

The days that followed were filled with the process of selling off assets and traveling back and forth between the bank and the shareholder meetings. Summer utilized all the knowledge she had gained to try and reduce the damage.

On the day Summer sold the car, she had just placed the check in her bag when her phone rang. Simone's name could be seen on the screen.

Was her ex-best friend finally calling her?