"Alright! I won't disturb you anymore. Have fun!" Henry was clearly flustered.He had called just to see if Summer was home or not. Ever since that morning, the possibility of Summer being in a relationship had popped into his head, causing him to feel uneasy."I'm already out. I'm heading home now." Summer paused for a moment. "Are things busy at the company? If they aren't, I can pick you all up after work.""Great! Come over!" Henry replied.Then, he hung up.Summer drove right to Hartford Group.Ever since the security guards and the reception failed to recognize her the last time, both departments had undergone emergency training. So, this time, the moment she got out of her car, a security guard rushed up. "Ms. Hartford, welcome!"Summer was startled. "There's no need to be so formal."The security guard acted like he didn't hear her as he followed closely behind her and even pressed the elevator button for her.Summer looked helpless, but she couldn't refuse him, either
Henry was one of the earliest entrepreneurs of his generation. Back then, society wasn't so disorganized. Veteran businessmen also valued morality and ethics.But Summer knew very well that ethics was easy to talk about nowadays, but only contractual agreements truly mattered."I understand what you mean, Grandpa. That's why I said we should retain the right to claim damages. When it comes to reputation risks, it refers to scandals that harm societal values or severe product issues that cause major harm to users," Summer patiently explained.After a pause, she said, "If that happens, it's entirely their fault. There's no need to talk about ethics with people like that."Henry was deep in thought for a moment. "You're right."Summer said, "That's why you should just add the clauses. Even if you don't do it now, I'll add them when I take over Hartford Group anyway."Henry looked at Summer and feigned anger, gently patting her arm. "You little brat, are you threatening me now?""I'
"He's always flying around everywhere. Isn't that normal?" Henry scoffed.Luke suddenly dropped his serious demeanor. "There's a small rumor. Do you still remember his fiancée who passed away unexpectedly?""Didn't you just mention her?" Henry didn't seem inclined to interrupt Luke."Well, that accident took a lot of lives, including her family members. I heard her sister was seriously injured and ended up in a vegetative state. Mason sent her overseas for treatment. I'm guessing his sudden trip has something to do with that," Luke explained.Henry frowned.After a long time, he said, "Luke, I'm starting to think you have way too much free time lately."Luke was confused."Do you even have the time to dig up gossip?" Henry's gaze turned serious."Dad, it's not what you think. Dad, we're still at the company. Don't do this, Dad! Summer, save me!" Luke cried out.Just like that, the father and son pair started chasing each other around the office.Summer sat on the couch. She d
Summer lowered her gaze. "That's wonderful. I hope I can have a husband as good as Dad in the future."Henry said firmly, "You definitely will. I'll keep an eye out for you. Any bad man won't even get close. I'll beat them away with a big stick!""Alright!" Summer grinned, linking her arm through Henry's.A vague memory resurfaced at that moment. Back then, Henry adamantly refused Summer's marriage to Anthony. He really had tried his best to chase Anthony away, just like he said. In the end, Summer was the one who let herself down."I'll definitely listen to you, Grandpa. I won't want anyone that you say is no good," she promised.Henry patted the back of Summer's hand. "You are the best granddaughter I could hope for. Don't be in a rush to find a husband. We're not like other financial conglomerates, marrying off their children just to strengthen business ties."When you choose a husband, the only thing that matters is whether he treats you well, loves you, and whether you lov
"Where did you even hear all this?" "The sources are reliable, I swear!"Just as they were chatting away, a cool voice came from behind, "Oh? Is that so?""What the heck?" Turning around, they laid their eyes on the exact woman they had just been gossiping about."Ms. Hartford, what are you doing here? If you're looking for the restroom, it's that way." A curly-haired woman, Peggy Sue, was the one who had sworn her information was credible. Her lips twitched awkwardly. "So, tell me. Where did you hear all this? I'll help you verify whether the information is reliable or not," Summer asked slowly."Ms. Hartford, she said it! We had nothing to do with it…" the others hurriedly said."It's not what you think! I was only joking around. There are plenty of ridiculous rumors around. Please don't take it to heart," Peggy blurted out, glaring at the others. They were all just happily listening to her gossip just now, but they were so quick to throw her under the bus when something hap
"If I really did make a scene, we'd be on the front page of the news tomorrow. I even thought of the title for them, 'Heiress to a Financial Empire Has a Mysterious Background. Online Rumors Claim that Grandpa is Actually Dad!'" Summer shrugged.Luke couldn't help but laugh at that."By the way, I said I'd sue that lady who kept on saying I cheated on my SATs at the Dincht residence that day. So far, it just looks like all talk and no action. Dad, could you help me sort it out?" Summer asked sweetly."Alright. I'll have the legal team draft the paperwork tomorrow," Luke replied."Dad, you're the best!" Summer exclaimed."Alright. I'll go over to your mom. You should keep Grandpa company." Luke ruffled Summer's hair.Summer agreed, and they parted ways.When she got back to the car, Henry was already snoring. She pulled out her phone and saw a missed call from Mason.Then, she remembered what Luke said that afternoon.After some thought, Summer sent him a message. "I'm with Gra
That night, Janice got drunk again.Anthony received a call and rushed over. Seeing her in such a state, Anthony knew he couldn't let her go home. So, he brought her to a hotel.Janice grabbed his collar and demanded, "Anthony! When the hell are you going to finish your damn game? You said you'd get revenge on Summer! Now look at her. She's the top scorer! She's an heiress! And look at me!""You're doing fine. So, you should really stop drinking," Anthony said.Janice was very pretty, and she had a great figure, too. Anthony was never exactly a gentleman. With her clinging onto him like this, something in him snapped."Let me go!" Janice started to struggle.But Anthony had no intention of letting her go. They were already engaged anyway. No matter what happened, what could Janice possibly do to him?…The next morning, Janice woke up with a splitting headache. Memories of the previous night came rushing back. She sat up immediately and saw Anthony stepping out of the bathroom
Summer stayed up all night writing her script. She had only slept for two hours before her alarm rang.That morning, she needed to take Lindsey to Eridanus. It was a good excuse to check out the company as well. She hadn't been there since it opened. She picked up her phone to see a message from Mason. Hesitating for a moment, she decided to give him a call.The phone rang for a while before someone answered."I was up all night writing a script and didn't check my phone. I just woke up," Summer mumbled."Who are you?" A woman's voice was heard on the other end."Cynthia, give me the phone!" came Mason's voice."Mason, you have another woman now? My sister died because of you, and you've moved on to another woman?" the voice shouted.After a shriek, the call was cut off.Summer's drowsiness vanished instantly. As she sat on her bed, she suddenly had the absurd feeling like she had been caught cheating."Ms. Hartford, are you up?" Phoebe asked outside her room after she sat o
Five million dollars. It was five million dollars.Ruddy's eyes were practically glued to the card.Aspen gave Malcolm an impatient look, and Malcolm handed the pen and paper to Ruddy.Ruddy was taken aback when he saw the pen and paper. "Aren't you supposed to write it, and I just sign it?""It would be better if you wrote it yourself," Malcolm said.Ruddy looked embarrassed. "But I don't know how to write?"Aspen finally lost his patience. He slammed the table and stood up. "What? You're illiterate?""What are you yelling at me for? When did I say I could write? I'm doing you a favor by agreeing to this, and this is how you treat me?" Ruddy didn't care that Aspen was rich at that moment.Aspen was begging him for help, so why should Ruddy tolerate Aspen?"Stop arguing." Malcolm was getting a headache. He never imagined that Ruddy would be illiterate."Fine. I'll have someone print out the content. You can just copy it, right?" Malcolm just wanted this done as quickly as pos
Malcolm looked disgusted. "Got it. We'll get back to you soon."Then, he hung up. "Bastard!" Aspen slammed his hand on the table hard.Malcolm said grimly, "I told you before Paul didn't have many relatives. His parents are both gone, and other than his wife and children, there's only his brother left. The Hartford family is watching the West family closely. "No one answered when I called, so I had to try this guy. Who knew he'd be this stupid?""Is a letter of forgiveness from his biological brother useful?" Aspen asked.Malcolm frowned. "It has some value, but it wouldn't nearly be as effective as getting it from the wife or children.""I don't care. Even getting one is something. Offer him three million dollars." Aspen felt a headache coming on.Malcolm hesitated for a moment. "You really want to pay him? This thug has never treated his brother well before. If the family mentions that in court, this three million dollars might as well go down the drain.""Get that letter
"Go ahead." Summer showed no intention of stopping him.Ruddy was stunned. "I'm not joking around. I really will go."Summer didn't seem to care at all. "Go ahead. Also, you were talking so much about inheritance just now. What inheritance? Since when did this ten million dollars count as inheritance?"Ruddy said smugly, "It's still compensation! I get a share either way! I know the law, Ms. Hartford."Summer nodded. "Seems like you got it wrong. This money isn't for Paul.""Don't try to fool me!" Ruddy frowned.Summer turned to gently soothe the baby, who was still sobbing. "Hey little cutie, you shouldn't cry anymore. I gave you a ten-million-dollar gift, and you're still upset? Come on, give me a smile."Everyone widened their eyes in shock."What ten-million-dollar gift? What are you talking about?" Ruddy tried to grab Summer, but Robin stopped him.Summer held the baby's tiny hand. "My grandfather already gave the funeral expenses to Mrs. West. I'm only giving the ten mil
Summer added, "Another example. You happily get home and reach your building when suddenly, some lunatic jumps out of nowhere with a knife. He slashes through everyone, not leaving a single one of you left."She shrugged. "Or maybe you make it home safe. But in the middle of the night, when everyone's sound asleep, there's a gas leak. Or better yet, a fire. Everything's gone in a blaze, just like that. Stories like that pop up among rich families all the time. You can give it a shot if you don't believe me.""Quit trying to scare me! I'm fearless!" Ruddy thumped his chest."Paul was a good man who had been nice to my whole family. Ten million dollars is no small sum. I believe I've shown more than enough sincerity. As for what you choose, I won't interfere," Summer said calmly as she motioned for someone to open the door.Seeing this, Ruddy rushed forward and pulled his relatives to leave. "Come on. Let's go first. We'll talk about it among ourselves later.""If you want to leave,
Bailey had never been one to make decisions.Her two sons had their own difficulties as well. They didn't want to betray the truth behind Paul's death, but Ruddy had a point. Pauh was gone, and the living had to carry on."Ms. Hartford, my uncle is right. This is a family matter. I think we should handle it ourselves," the eldest son, Dustin West, said with great difficulty.Bailey looked at him in shock, then lowered her head silently."I understand. We all have our own burdens." Summer didn't blame him.Only those who had truly suffered understood how hard it was to make choices in the midst of hardship."Come on, let's go! The lawyer's still waiting. As long as we sign the letter, that ten million dollars is ours!" Ruddy urged eagerly."Bailey, you really need to think this through! You're doing Paul so wrong here!" Phoebe felt like crying.Summer said, "If it's for the money, you don't need to leave. Paul died because of me, so I was planning on compensating you anyway.""
Summer didn't have much of an expression on her face as she walked down slowly.But Phoebe explained anxiously, "Let's not even talk about whether the ten million dollars is real or not. Ruddy, that's your brother's life! Are you really going to be the kind of person to take money in exchange for his life?""What's it got to do with you? You're already siding with this family anyway!" Ruddy glared at the lavish interior of the Hartford residence. "Just look at this place. Is this how you all make your money?"Ruddy's last sentence had been aimed at Kristen, it was obvious he knew that Kristen was the lady of the house.Summer walked over to Kristen and said, "Mr. West, what's the rush? You didn't even bother with basic manners before coming in, and you started shouting the moment you entered. Don't you think that's a bit out of line?"She looked at Bailey's arm and saw that her wrist was red from being grabbed too hard. "Why don't you let go of Mrs. West's hand first? Her wrist is
"I got it." Summer knew that going head-to-head with the Hunt family this time must have caused Mason to be caught in the middle of some immense pressure and criticism.So, she didn't want him to worry about her too much.Chandler's incident had stirred massive public attention following Summer's live stream. In the next two days, more and more people were speaking out online.The police department responsible for the investigation was finally compelled to issue a statement, promising a lawful and thorough investigation into the case.Paul's family had rested at the Hartford residence for a day before they started to recover a little."We won't hold the funeral here. Our family back home is already handling the arrangements," said Paul's wife, Bailey Oak. Her eyes were still swollen from crying.Kristen nodded. "Alright. Don't worry. Mr. West has worked with our family for over ten years. He was practically one of us, so we'll make sure to take care of your family in the future."
"You know how vicious the Hunt family can be. Back then, I…" Kristen instinctively pressed her hand to her lower abdomen with an expression of grief. "I'm afraid of losing another child."Luke had an expression that was full of heartache. He gently pulled Kristen into his arms. "That won't happen. From now on, we will face everything together. We'll definitely protect Summer."Can I really do that?" Kristen's tears fell uncontrollably.Back then, she thought she could protect the child in her belly, too. But in the end…Luke said firmly, "You can. You definitely can. My wife has always been the strongest person I know!""Yes." Kristen nodded as she leaned against his shoulder.They had never spoken of that pain over the past 20 years. This was the first time. Summer's actions today had been like a key that unlocked this long-suppressed wound in Kristen's heart.Neither of them knew that Summer hadn't gone to sleep, either. She stood at the window in her room and could just see th
"Something like that happened?" Rosanna looked shocked. She had been locked up at the time.Jane sighed deeply. "I just heard about it, too. The kidnappers told her not to go to the police. They said they'd kill the kids if she did. In the end, she didn't report it and ended up paying 70 million dollars in ransom."Jane sighed again. "But she ran into some real monsters. After they got the money, they sent her a location to get the kids. When she got there, all she saw were their decomposing bodies!"Rosanna covered her mouth. "Oh, my God! Did they catch the kidnappers in the end?"Jane shook her head regretfully. "They were professionals, so how could anyone catch them? She lost her money and her children. Mrs. Mills fell seriously ill and is still in the hospital.""Those kidnappers are truly heartless!" Rosanna said."They were only missing for three days. Based on the state of the bodies, the kids were probably killed the moment they were kidnapped," Jane said.As Rosanna lis