At that moment, her phone rang again. Ever since After School launched, she had been getting calls much more frequently than before.She walked to the living room and picked up her phone from the couch. The caller ID read Puppy.Summer's heartbeat started to quicken. That subconscious reaction caused her to feel a bit helpless."Hello," she answered."Come to the beach," Mason said, his voice accompanied by the sound of waves."You're here?" Summer was caught off guard."I brought the company staff here for a vacation," Mason said indignantly."The mighty Royal Financial Group brought its employees to a seaside resort for a vacation?" Summer found Mason both exasperating and endearing.Mason answered, "Yes, so hurry up and come out."Summer didn't know what to do with Mason. She put on a jacket and walked toward the beach.It was supposed to be peak travel season, but the whole hotel had been booked out by the production crew to facilitate filming.So, the place was empty
The sea breeze that night seemed particularly warm. Mason and Summer held hands as they strolled along the shoreline.In the shadows, Kyle and the others, who were following Mason, sat in a beach buggy. They had complicated expressions on their faces as they watched Mason walking ahead with Summer."So, Mr. Hunt is serious about this?"Kyle took a drag from his cigarette as he said with worry and some melancholy, "Since when has Mr. Hunt not been serious about anything?"The others nodded silently."But doesn't Mr. Hartford Senior hate Mr. Hunt? I still remember that old man storming off after being seated at the same table as Mr. Hunt at some banquet a few years ago," someone else said.Kyle sighed. "Exactly. What's Mr. Hunt thinking? Of all the people he could choose, he chose the pearl of the Harford family. The road to him getting a wife won't just be this young lady. The ones behind her are the real nightmare."The bodyguards chimed in one after another.Very quickly, they
Mason glanced in that direction and murmured, "It's probably just a rat.""There are rats by the sea?" Summer was actually terrified of rats.Back at that filthy asylum, she had been bitten on her hands and feet by rats.When Mason saw how scared she looked, he immediately changed his tune. "Why would there be rats at the beach? I was just making it up. Let's go."Summer thought he was playing a prank on her."Mason, are you a child? Why would you make such a childish joke?" Summer said in exasperation.Mason smiled and asked, "Are you afraid of rats?""Yes." Summer nodded.Mason was silent for a moment. "You weren't afraid of them when you were young.""Did I tell you that?" Summer asked.Mason was silent for another moment before he said, "That day, a rat tried to run inside to take shelter from the rain. I was about to chase it away, but you stopped me. You said you weren't afraid and let it come in to hide from the rain."Summer was speechless. Was she really that naive
Mason couldn't have been happier."I really did bring my employees here on vacation. I even scheduled a diving trip for them tomorrow, so I'll be staying another day," he said warmly.Summer was naturally happy that she could spend more time with Mason.Summer nodded. "Alright, then. I'll see how things go and call you tomorrow.""Okay." Mason nodded."Then, I'll take my leave. Good night." Summer waved before she turned around and headed to the hotel.But she had just taken a step forward when someone suddenly grabbed her wrist. Then, she was pulled back with some force as a big palm cupped her face. Then, a kiss that was deeper than on the beach landed on her lips.Summer immediately froze.The area was particularly bright, and people could walk by at any moment. If anyone did, they would likely be Kristen's staff.Thankfully, the kiss had been deep but brief.Mason quickly let go of her. His beautiful eyes seemed to be filled with a thousand emotions as he said in a soft a
There were many actors staying in the hotel. It was quite normal for actors to cover themselves up like that to avoid being noticed by fans or paparazzi.However, as Summer brushed past the man, she smelled the scent of kerosene on him.It was a smell that she had encountered countless times in the asylum. In fact, she had died in that very smell, so she was incredibly sensitive to it."Wait a moment." Summer stopped and looked at the man.The man stood inside the elevator and asked impatiently, "What do you want? I'm busy.""This floor is reserved for the main cast. Who are you?" Summer blocked the elevator door and maintained her politeness, but her gaze was incredibly sharp."That's none of your business. Now move!" The man suddenly turned aggressive.Summer studied the man.He seemed absolutely murderous, and the eyes that peeked out from under his cap were filled with malice.She had no bodyguards with her at that moment, and there was no way Emma could fight. So, they co
The manager quickly switched the surveillance feed to Elevator 3 and rewound the footage to ten minutes ago as Summer instructed.The video played until it showed her and Emma inside the elevator.Soon, the moment when Summer stopped the man played on screen.After their brief exchange, the elevator doors closed. The man seemed visibly agitated inside the elevator.When the elevator arrived on the first floor, he didn't go out. Instead, he pressed the button for Kristen's floor and headed straight back up.Even more terrifying was the fact that he reached into his pocket and pulled out a glinting knife as he walked out of the elevator."This man isn't from our hotel. Is he a part of your production crew?" The manager was shocked to see the dagger.Summer's expression turned cold.From the moment she noticed the man to when she checked the surveillance footage now, she had been very quick. Everything had happened in the span of less than ten minutes.She switched the elevator s
"Why did you bring all of this to the hotel?" Summer caught a whiff of the kerosene and immediately felt uneasy.The man sneered. "Because I wanted to! Miss, are there any rules against bringing kerosene into the hotel? Are you trying to accuse me of arson? When did you see me setting a fire? What exactly did I burn?""Ms. Hartford, look at this." A bodyguard pulled out a tattered and crumpled piece of paper from the man's pocket.After unfolding it, Summer's and Emma's expressions immediately darkened when they saw what was on it.It was a poster of Kristen. On the poster, a red X had been drawn on it, along with the word "die" repeatedly."Who exactly are you?" Summer asked coldly."That's none of your business," the man retorted."Did you do this?" Summer squatted down and shoved the poster in front of the man.The man looked incredibly arrogant. "I did. Is that a crime? Kristen is a bitch. She's a heartless woman who betrayed her husband and child. I can do whatever I want
"There's no need." Summer didn't seem intimidated by the man at all.She pulled up a chair and sat in front of him.She was in no hurry to say anything as she stared at the man coldly while he struggled. All the while, she had her legs crossed and her arms folded.The bodyguards exchanged baffled looks with one another.After the man continued his struggles for a while, he slowly calmed down when he saw that Summer wasn't reacting at all. However, his eyes were still filled with hostility."Are you done now?" Summer said coolly.The man still looked like he wanted to tear Summer apart. Summer waved her hand. "Take the sock out."The bodyguards hesitated for a moment but still followed her orders as they pulled the sock out from the man's mouth.The man immediately started cursing, "Bitch! You're just a bitch under Kristen, aren't you? Do you know who I am? Just call her over and ask her!"A bodyguard who was right next to the man immediately slapped him. "How dare you speak
Jane always outshone Rosanna in every way, so how could Rosanna possibly like her?Jane said softly, "Rosanna, I know you don't like me, but you're still family. I know you're just a straightforward and blunt person. You've never meant me any harm.Rosanna rolled her eyes internally at that. Jane couldn't be more wrong."I don't want you and Aspen to get divorced." Jane helped Rosanna sit down and crouched to examine her ankle. "It's sprained. I'll call a doctor.""No!" Rosanna was incredibly vulnerable at that moment.A vulnerable person's greatest weakness was someone being gentle to them.Jane frowned. "How could you not see a doctor? Just wait here. I'll go quietly. I'll make sure no one notices and bring the doctor over. No one will find out."After a pause, Jane continued, "I won't tell anyone about the divorce, either."Rosanna's ankle was throbbing with pain. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded. "Don't tell everyone!"Jane smiled gently and went off to find the doc
"As lawyers, we only need to achieve the desired outcome for our client. Nothing else matters," Malcolm said.The assistant fell silent.Aspen slumped down onto the hospital bed, looking defeated, while Rosanna sobbed uncontrollably."Enough crying. Go check on Mom," Aspen said impatiently.Rosanna choked out, "I refuse! Your mother never liked me to begin with. With what happened to Chandler, both of us are responsible as his parents, but your mother will definitely only blame me! You can go if you want!"After that, Rosanna grabbed her purse."Where are you going?" Aspen asked."I'm going to figure out a way to save my son!" Rosanna snapped and started to walk off.Aspen grabbed her arm. "I'm warning you. Don't go after Kristen again! This has nothing to do with her!""Kristen, Kristen! She's all you care about, even now. Her daughter stood there and humiliated you in front of everyone, making you out to be some creepy stalker, and you're still defending her?" Rosanna finally
"Chandler from that certain all-powerful family underwent a psychological evaluation every six months at his school abroad. Just over two months ago, when he had just returned to the country, he had one done. "His mental state is fine. You parents might've been driven crazy by anger, but not him."There was a frenzy online.The original post was quickly deleted, but people had already saved screenshots of all the relevant documents.Inside the Hunt residence, Aspen's hand was wrapped in gauze when he heard what the lawyer had to say. He exploded on the spot. "Who leaked something this private? Check with Chandler's school! I'm suing them! Every last person who leaked it!"The lawyer said gravely, "I've already checked. The school's digital database was hacked. Mr. Hunt, I told you yesterday to maintain a good line of communication with the victim's side. If you did, there might have been a chance for settlement. Why did you hire online trolls to spread lies?"The lawyer added, "N
"Mason, I'm not doing this for the Fridman family. I'm now a part of the Hunt family as your aunt. Even if you don't want Violet, that's fine. Summer really isn't right for you!" Jane still wore that sincere, gentle expression."Have you ever thought about why a girl with such ambition would want to be with you?" Jane asked.Mason looked at Jane. "That's where you're wrong. Summer wasn't the one who came looking for me. I'm the one who chased after her."Jane was speechless.Who in their right mind would believe that?At that moment, the elevator arrived. Mason didn't say another word to her as he got in the elevator and left.Jane stood in place.She never imagined that everything she had so carefully planned would be thrown off by the Hartford Group heiress who appeared out of nowhere."All that effort, Jane, and you were paving the way for someone else." A flamboyantly dressed woman walked over at that moment.She, too, was one of the many daughters-in-law of the Hunt family
"Tell Grandma I was here," Mason said before he turned to leave.These past few days had been unbearable for Aspen, especially with everything Summer exposed that day.All these years, people had assumed that there had been something between him and Kristen. It had always been something he could brag about, but the truth was exposed to the public today. That last shred of connection he had with Kristen had shattered as well.On top of that, Chandler was about to face serious criminal charges. Aspen felt like his heart was being set on fire."Mason!" he shouted after Mason, but Mason ignored him.Aspen clenched his teeth and rushed toward Mason with a sharp fruit knife in hand.Things had come to a point of no return anyway. If he had nothing left to lose, he might as well drag Mason down with him. If he killed Mason, maybe Royal Financial Group would fall back into Victoria's hands.But Aspen had underestimated Mason too much. His blade didn't even graze Mason. Mason merely gra
In the end, Mason still went to the private hospital that the Hunt family owned. As he stepped out of the elevator, all he saw were members of the Hunt family, gathered in full force.Mason knew exactly what was going on.These people hadn't shown up out of affection. They were just afraid that Victoria might actually die, so they were here early to wait for the inheritance."Mason, what the hell did you do to Grandma?"The moment they saw Mason, they pounced like a pack of wild dogs, but not a single one of them actually dared to touch him.If Victoria did die, Mason's threat level would skyrocket a hundredfold."This is a hospital. Why are you all being so loud?" Mason asked coldly.Jane ran over. "Everyone, calm down. This had nothing to do with Mason. She only got a heart attack because of Ms. Hartford's press conference."After that, Jane looked at Mason. "Mason, everyone's just worried, so they're a bit emotional. Don't take it to heart.""Where is Violet?" Mason asked.
"Mr. Hunt, is Ms. Hartford seriously that fierce?" Kyle was stunned after watching the live stream."She is." Mason nodded."But won't her attitude cause you a lot of trouble?" Kyle asked.Mason seemed completely composed. "It's a good thing. This gives me the perfect excuse to tear off that fake peaceful facade in the Hunt residence. I won't have to go back there anymore.""Where did Ms. Hartford even get all the evidence from?" Kyle wondered.Kristen and the others were wondering that at home as well."Summer, getting the footage from the school is one thing, but where did you get the other stuff?" Henry asked, pointing to the case files and mediation records Summer had shown during the press conference."Yeah, I don't even have those myself," Kristen said emotionally.She had never imagined that this matter could ever be cleared up. In fact, one of the reasons she'd refrained from making a comeback for so many years was because of that."Mr. Cohen!" Summer looked at Robin.
Summer paused in disgust. "I don't know how Mr. Aspen Hunt defines courtship these days. At the very least, I was taught that if someone dislikes you to the level of reporting it to the police, they want you out of their lives."Summer said, "Continuing on, Mr. Aspen Hunt, in a mediation from September 26 years ago, promised that he would no longer stalk or harass Ms. Kristen Woods."Summer put down the documents in her hand and faced the camera. "That's about it for now. I'll upload everything online later, including the surveillance footage I showed earlier. Anyone interested can go take a look."With how calm she seemed to be, those who didn't know she was trying to set the record straight might have thought she was giving a lecture."My mother has never been a fighter. She's gentle by nature. Because of Mr. Aspen's background, she didn't want to cause Hartford Group trouble and has endured silently all these years. But as her daughter, I couldn't keep letting filth like this spr
Summer played two segments of surveillance footage. She said calmly, "This is only a part of it, but it's enough to prove that I never knew Chandler before. He was the one persistently harassing me. With that, the rumors should collapse on their own."Everyone had assumed that the purpose of her conference was just to clarify the relationship between her and Chandler. But everyone was wrong."Let's set that part aside for now. I'm sure you all saw the trending news this morning. Chandler deliberately ran over and killed my family's driver," Summer uttered.Violet and the others sitting in front of the television were on the verge of losing it.The live stream had drawn over ten million viewers, and the number was still steadily climbing."I also know who's behind these disgusting rumors. After all, this isn't the first time they've resorted to these tactics. I don't like being in front of the media, and I didn't hold this press conference today for the sake of clearing my own nam