Ch. 381..390
Chapter 381
You Like the Baby More Than Me?
Summer took the cup of yogurt and had a spoonful. It was smooth, sweet, and creamy; the taste brought back a wave of nostalgia. Without thinking, she scooped up another bite and lifted her hand, feeding it to the man standing in front of her.
Fraser stood tall in a sharply tailored dark gray suit, his elegant presence entirely out of place int their casual surroundings.
When he reluctantly opened his mouth, Summer couldn't help but smile. It felt like some privileged golden boy was being forced down to earth to experience real life.
They kept wandering forward, though not everything was up for grabs.
Whenever her eyes lingered a little too long on something junky, Fraser would immediately pull her away, firm and domineering.
After a few snacks, Summer spotted an ice cream stand.
"No." Fraser said flatly-end of discussion.
Being shut down that fast triggered her rebellious streak.
Her voice rose, though it lacked conviction. "Ever since I got pregnant, I haven't had a single soda, coffee, or milk tea. You have no idea how painful it is watching my coworkers order coffee every afternoon. And now it's just one stupid ice cream and you still won't let me have it? You really do love the baby more than me."
Fraser looked like he was starting to falter. "You Piglet, can we be fair here? I only love the baby because of you.
"Then are you gonna let me eat it or not?"
It was their first kid, so Fraser was still pretty cautious. He pulled out his phone and went straight to the point.
"Can pregnant women eat ice cream?"
A laid-back voice answered on the other end, "If Summer wants some, then a little is fine. Just
don't overdo it"
Some people used Google. But, Fraser had a personal, perpetually-suffering private doctor.
And just like that, Summer picked out a taro-flavored ice cream and finally, for the first time in four months, got a taste of what she'd been craving.
It wasn't even that she wanted it that badly. It was just-when you're told you can't
have something, that's when you want it most. Damn rebellious instincts.
Fraser walked behind her as the evening breeze rustled by Har hain O
You Like the Baby More Than Me?
She ate her ice cream, eyes glimmering, a faint curve on her rosy lips.
She was about to be a mom, yet still looked just like a little girl.
Fraser's gaze darkened with warmth, his lips tugging up in quiet delight. A little girl, huh? Fine, she could be my little girl forever.
He stepped forward and wrapped his arm around her slender waist, eyes soft as
he looked at her. Reaching out, he gently wiped a bit of milk from the corner of her mouth.
Out on the street, Summer could feel the heat of his fingertips. Her cheeks flushed the faintest pink.
When they were done strolling and got back in the car, Fraser slouched in the driver's seat. It must've been a little warm-he undid two buttons at his cuff, resting one hand lazily on the steering wheel. He glanced at her. "Finally ready to go home, Mrs. Graham?"
That snapped her back. She suddenly remembered something, and asked with layered meaning, "Go where?"
Fraser raised an eyebrow, clearly not getting what she meant.
She thought of that photo-the one with the Graham Mansion in the background.
No way was Fraser going to ruin the mood by stabbing himself with that reminder.
"Your place."
Summer shot him a glance.
At least he knew when to play smart. Just as Fraser started the engine, foot moving toward the pedal-
"Can we go somewhere else first?" Summer asked out of the blue.
Hands on the wheel, he turned his wrist slightly and lifted his heavy lids to check the time on his watch. "Name it."
Her eyes curved. "Can we go to that hilltop you once took me to?"
Fraser clicked his tongue. "What, feeling sentimental all of a sudden?" What is he even talking about?
"I heard there'll be a meteor shower tonight-from ten to midnight. It's a good spot to watch from."
The words had barely left her mouth before she caught the slow curve of his lips and that unreadable smirk in his eyes.
You Like the Baby More Than Me?
He had called her stupid and said she was ungrateful.
She hadn't understood then. But now-now she was starting to get it. That
scheming man had already been jealous, even back then.
The memory made her flustered; she snapped at him in embarrassment, "Are you going or
not!"
Fraser turned to look at her, his dark, lazy gaze landing on her dainty ear, now tinged the softest pink.
And suddenly-he reached across the center console. His fingers brushed her ear lobe and a light squeeze; it was soft, burning hot.
gave
it
Fraser's lips curled with amusement, voice slow and indulgent. "Of course. If my
wife commands jit, how could I dare refuse?"
And just like that-
They found themselves back on that quiet, open hilltop once again.
Send Gifts
Chapter 382I Only Wanted Ice Cream
Summer remembered that night-Trevor had pulled Peyton from the pool, and she had become the target of everyone's mockery.
That same night, this man had dragged her up here, wild and unruly like an untamed stallion. That kind of reckless freedom-raw, unrestrained-was something she had never felt before.
She couldn't say for sure that it was the moment she fell for him; but it was definitely the first time she'd felt something different toward him.
Back then, Summer didn't understand what that feeling was.
Looking back on it now, it must have been something close to warmth. The sky above the hilltop stretched wide like a deep navy canopy, dotted with stars that sparkled like gems-so bright they seemed close enough to pluck right out of the sky.
The air was fresh with a hint of damp earth. She couldn't help but take a few extra breaths.
They got out of the car and leaned against the convertible. From where they stood, the neon lights of the city below and the vast canvas of the sky above spilled out before them like a vivid. painting.
"Make a wish," he said.
"There aren't any shooting stars yet."
Fraser let out a quiet laugh. "This time, I'll make it come true for you-you don't need to wait for
them."
Summer rolled her eyes, though her gaze shimmered like water.
She didn't make a wish this time, because what she wanted most was already standing beside her. She just wanted to relive this place. After a moment, Summer gently rested her head on his shoulder.
Fraser felt her soft weight and lifted his gaze, eyes locking on her profile-fair, beautiful, eyes. bright and dark, lips delicate and tender.
His eyes darkened even more. He suddenly wanted to kiss her hard, to mark her with his scent; he wanted her to be his, completely, down to her bones.
But he held himself back-even though they were already expecting a baby.
He still wanted to make everything feel right for her. To give it all the meaning it deserved. Because tomorrow, he was going to propose to the girl he'd loved for so many years.
So Fraser simply reached out and pulled her into his arms, fingers brushing over the small swell of her belly. His voice was low and husky. "You cold?"
"Hmm?"
She blinked slowly, her voice soft and distant. "I'm not very strong. I'm not that tough. Sometimes I even cry, though not too often."
Fraser's black eyes sparkled like obsidian, and his smile deepened, warm and gentle. "I'm not looking for a rival, Summer. I'm looking for a wife. Why would I want you to be strong? Listen to me-if it's you, then you're already the best there is."
Summer felt her eyes start to burn. Since when did this man get so good with words?
Meanwhile, in a rundown apartment building, Nate and Laurett sat with dark
brows and bitter expressions. They were only in their sixties, but looked like they were pushing eighty.
They never would've thought that after a lifetime of struggle, they'd lose everything. And now that they were back in Havenbrook, they had to sneak around like criminals just to go outside.
If they attempted to ask their daughter what had happened, she would just snap
at them. Don't ask. Just be careful when you leave the house!
She'd talked big a while back-said she'd take them overseas, give them a life of luxury.
And what had come of it?
Not only were they worse off than before, they were living in worse conditions than they ever had in Havenbrook. Her new boyfriend had not only drained her bank account, but had started hitting her-dragging the two of them into it, too. Sigh. Every time they thought about it, they couldn't help but wonder how life had turned out this cruel.
They had spoiled their daughter rotten growing up. That had only made her arrogant, proud, and convinced she was meant for more.
Who would've thought it would become her fatal flaw?
Laurett let out a heavy sigh. "You've already been divorced once. After everything Mason put you through, didn't you learn anything? How could you not see this guy for what he was? Being good-looking isn't everything! You can't eat a pretty face!"
Sienna's face was bruised and swollen; her eyes looked hollow. She kept pacing back and forth across the room.
She'd never planned to come back. She'd figured she could just get some money from Helen and go live the good life.
But fate-it really seemed to enjoy messing with her.
Only Wanted Ice Cream
+B Pearls
He was hot-sharp brows, tilted eyes, that perfect side profile. Everything about him exuded irresistible charm.
She remembered seeing someone that good-looking once before-the heir to the Graham. family.
There was a stubborn streak in her that refused to quit.
Why did Summer get to end up with someone like Fraser? Why did I get stuck with scumbag Mason?
So when she met Alan, she thought. Finally, this is it. This is my true love.
She threw everything into it.
And now-Sienna laughed coldly-turns out it was all just a facade.
Chapter 383
Came Back With Nothing
Alan hadn't just drained her bank account again-what made it even more
disgusting was how he reacted when he found out she wasn't a virgin. Right there in bed, he called her dirty.
So she was left with nothing. No money, no place to stay.
She couldn't survive overseas anymore and had no choice but to crawl back to Havenbrook. That was when she found out she'd been blacklisted by the Graham Group. If they ever caught her, she'd be thrown straight into jail.
She couldn't accept that. So she figured she'd try her luck with Helen, see if she could squeeze out
some more cash.
But Helen had gone down, too-brought down by Summer of all people.
Unbelievable.
These past few weeks, she'd been hiding like a rat.
And tonight, at the night market, she saw Summer's face lit up in the brightest smile. That smile made her sick with jealousy.
It made Sienna want to rip it off her face.
Why? Why am I the one living like trash, while she gets to be so damn happy?
Suddenly, an idea sparked in Sienna's mind. She'd been hovering around the Graham mansion a lot lately.
She'd overheard something-sounded like something big was happening tomorrow. A proposal, maybe.
The thought made her eyes flash with something sharp and bloodshot. Her lips curled into a cold, twisted smile.
No way she's the only one who gets to be lucky in this world.
Meanwhile, at the Brookhaven Estates, the night was still. Outside the balcony, the neighborhood lay in darkness; the amber glow of a streetlamp cast only the faintest light. Every now and then, the distant sound of a car horn sliced through the silence.
Fraser pushed open the bedroom door. Summer was already fast asleep.
She lay curled on her side, hugging the new body pillow she'd bought. Her blue- and-white cotton nightgown wasn't particularly alluring, but both her legs had somehow slipped out from under the blanket, glowing pale and soft in the moonlight.
Fraser walked over and leaned down, gently cupping one of her small feet in his palm. It barely filled his hand. Her ankles were slender, her toes a soft pink-and they curled sli.
Came Back With Nothing
He carefully tucked her foot back under the blanket and pulled the covers up.
Standing there at her bedside, he watched her for a moment, then bent down and kissed her smooth forehead. After that, he placed her slippers neatly by the bed.
Everything done, he stood up, ready to leave the room.
Half-asleep, Summer slowly opened her drowsy eyes and asked hoarsely, "Where... are you going?"
"Did I wake you?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"I'm heading to the living room. Go back to sleep, sweetheart."
Summer looked at the tall silhouette in the darkness.
The light was too dim to see his face clearly, but his obsidian eyes looked like they
were smiling- soft and warm.
Feeling awkward, she mumbled, "Just sleep here tonight."
Fraser raised a brow. "You sure, Summer?"
"Forget it if you're not."
She was embarrassed. She'd kicked him out last night, and now she was asking
him to stay.
"Heh."
A low chuckle broke the stillness of the room.
Fraser knew that photo thing, it was finally behind them now.
His lips curved with quiet satisfaction as he walked around to the other side of the
bed, lifted the blanket, and lay down.
The bed wasn't big-maybe five feet wide at most.
With two people in it, there was no avoiding close contact.
The moment Fraser lay down-
Summer felt the warmth of his body and the familiar, overpowering scent that filled the air around her.
Her sleepy brain started to clear. She could hear her heartbeat thudding in her chest, loud and steady in the quiet room.
Came Back With Nothing
Fraser placed his broad, warm palm gently over her belly.
His hand radiated heat; she could feel it seeping up from her abdomen to her chest, leaving her heart burning in its wake.
His voice was low and magnetic. "I read that after three months, you can sometimes feel movement in there. Has it kicked yet?"
Summer thought back. The only time she'd felt a strong kick was in that warehouse.
Other than that, it had been pretty quiet.
"Not much," she said.
Fraser chuckled lightly. "You didn't have many symptoms in early pregnancy either-just a bit of picky eating. Guess the baby's being cooperative."
Back when the pregnancy started, she and Fraser had practically been falling apart. She never imagined he would've noticed the details of those early days.
"How did you know I was picky back then?"
Fraser pulled her into his arms from behind, his voice soft. "Summer, that time we ate together at the office-you got nauseous."
She remembered now. He'd snapped at her back then, accused her of doing it on purpose to gross him out.
Summer poked at the strong arms wrapped around her with her finger.
Chapter 384
Jealous Men and Missed Call
"Tsk. Mr. Graham, you remember how mean you were to me back then?"
Fraser kissed her pale neck with a hint of guilt. "Mm, I'm sorry."
Back then, he hadn't known she was pregnant. He'd just seen her gagging at the table during their meal and assumed she found him that repulsive.
Jealousy and frustration had flared up in his chest so fast he'd blurted things out without thinking.
When he later found out it was because of the pregnancy, Fraser had been filled with regret.
His lips brushed gently over her skin, his breath warm against her ear.
And somehow, Summer's heart melted. The two of them chatted lazily, drifting from topic to topic.
The room was quiet, filled with soft warmth and a lingering sense of closeness. After a while, Summer's eyelids started to droop, and she drifted off to sleep.
The nights had been getting colder lately. Just last night, she'd slept alone, and it had taken until the middle of the night for the blankets to finally warm up.
But now, in his arms, he felt like a walking furnace-steady, warm, constant.
So warm, in fact, it made her sleepy.
She shifted into a more comfortable position in his arms and unconsciously fell asleep.
Fraser looked down at the woman sleeping beside him. Heklashes curled like tiny fans, her breathing soft and even. "Goodnight, my dear," he whispered.
The next morning, Summer went to work like usual.
Lately, the Stewart Group had been going through a business transition. On top of that, she'd been preparing to slowly hand over the general manager role to a professional executive.
Which meant, of course, she'd been swamped. One meeting after another.
It was only when Summer finally had a moment to breathe that her phone rang-
an unfamiliar number she hadn't seen in a long time.
She froze, then after a pause, answered.
"Mr. Lucas. Something you need?"
Lucas felt a twinge in his chest when he heard Summer's calm, distant voice.
Jealous Men and Missed Call
have something in mind?"
He wasn't surprised-he had been the one to recommend the executive.
Summer didn't hide anything. "My pregnancy's coming along, and soon I won't be
able to manage the
group the way I used to."
Lucas went quiet.
He'd thought... maybe she was still planning to leave Havenbrook.
If she stayed, maybe-just maybe he'd still have a chance.
But his voice over the phone remained calm and polite.
"Alright. If you need anything. I'm always here."
Summer was about to hang up when Lucas suddenly added, "Are you free tonight?"
He quickly explained, "Nothing special-there's an industry networking event tonight. I thought we could go together. Like we used to."
Summer didn't answer.
Lucas' voice dropped slightly. "Don't tell me... he doesn't even let you socialize normally?"
Summer pressed her lips together. "Mr. Lucas, thank you for the invitation, but I won't be attending tonight."
Lucas frowned on the other end, his voice tightening. “Did he force you? He won't even let you have basic freedom? What kind of man is that?"
Summer replied quietly, "It's not that. I just don't want to make him jealous."
Lucas went silent.
Around 5 PM, while Summer was still working through a few business documents, there was a
knock on her office door
A second later, Yvette pushed it open, walking in with her usual confident stride.
Summer looked up and smiled. "Aren't you filming these days? How do you even have time to drop by?"
Because someone sent me. Yvette thought.
"I'm here to take you somewhere," she said.
Summer blinked. "But I still have two more nut
Jealous Men and Missed Call
A big day? Summer looked completely puzzled.
+B Pearls
When she didn't move, Yvette came over, helped her out of her seat, and firmly pushed her toward the door.
"Come on, come on. Stop thinking about it-it's a surprise."
In the car, Summer sat in the passenger seat, glancing at Yvette, who was fully focused on driving.
Curious, Summer asked, "You're being so mysterious. What's going on?"
Yvette just smiled, playing coy. "Don't ask. You'll know soon enough."
Summer saw she wasn't going to talk, so she sent her assistant a voice message, telling them to hold off on signing some documents until she got back the next
day.
As for the two remaining meetings, she had the professional manager take over. He's going to need to get used to it anyway.
Chapter 385
A Proposal Lit in Neon
Summer's assistant replied quickly with a "Got it."
Now that everything was settled, Summer leaned back in the passenger seat and stopped worrying.
The setting sun cast a golden glow as the car drove steadily down the main road, then turned onto a side street. Summer watched the scenery-reflections of plane trees lining the sidewalk- and suddenly felt something was off.
This road... isn't this the way to Summer Hotel?
Just as the thought struck her, the cityscape outside the window transformed in an instant, as if by Imagic. The once-ordinary high-rises lit up in a flash of color and
neon.
Across the towering buildings, bright letters sparkled.
"Marry me, Summer!"
The words looked straight out of a drama-so dazzling, so surreal. Yet the car
didn't speed up or slow down; it kept gliding forward with calm steadiness.
Inside, Summer stared out the window in disbelief, watching those glowing words flicker again and again.
Every time she saw her name-"Summer"-her heart trembled.
Is this for me? But she could only think of one man capable of pulling off
something like this- Fraser.
Her voice was shaky. "Yvette, I...”
Yvette smiled from the driver's seat. "Summer, we're here."
The car stopped at the entrance of Summer Hotel.
The entire front of the hotel had been transformed into a sea of flowers-roses, peonies, and climbing vines overflowing like waves.
And that wasn't all. The neon lights across the building shone even brighter.
From the rooftop down, enormous letters cascaded like a waterfall, "Marry Me!", lighting up the evening skyline of Havenbrook.
The sight was so grand, crowds had gathered outside, drawn by the spectacle. People were gasping, taking photos, trying to capture every second on their phones.
Security guards stood around the hotel perimeter, keeping things in order.
Not far away, Fraser stood tall and poised.
He wore a white suit-something he had never worn before. In his hands, he held a bouquet of soft lavender. The muted purple flowers complemented the crisp white of his suit, making him look impossibly noble, like someone untouchable..
When he saw Summer appear, he began walking toward her, each step steady, elegant, deliberate.
Then, above him in the sky, dozens of drones took formation, shifting in perfect unison to create a massive heart. Inside it, her name-"Summer"-sparkled in midair,
The crowd erupted in gasps and cheers.
"Oh my. this is so romantic! Who is this guy? Must be filthy rich-lighting up the whole city just to propose!"
"Yeah, I drove all the way from the edge of Havenbrook just now. The lights started back there-it all led here."
"Must be the owner of Summer Hotel. You know what this hotel means? I heard it
was built just for the woman he's proposing to today."
"Then the girl must be that one over there-she's gorgeous."
"No no, did
you see the guy? He looks like he walked straight out of a fairy tale."
The noise and chatter swallowed everything.
And that's when Summer realized this was the "big life event" Yvette had mentioned.
Fraser was proposing to her.
For the first time, Summer's palms broke out in a nervous sweat. Her blood seemed to boil, surging with heat.
She started to panic. It's my first proposal. I have no idea what to do. What do people even do in this
situation?
She looked down at herself-today of all days, she'd worn a loose, dark blue dress.
She hadn't even done her makeup properly.
Fraser stopped in front of her, eyes black as obsidian, gaze filled with surging affection-for the woman standing right in front of him.
He'd always been a low-key man. The Graham Group got countless interview requests every year, and he rarely accepted any.
In his mind, a proposal was supposed to happen in some spontaneous moment- he'd just look at her and say, "Marry me?"
A Proposal Lit in Neon
looking at him with misty eyes. He'd pull her close and demand, "Be mine."
None of those ideas looked anything like this.
But even if this was the most cliché, over-the-top proposal in the book-
Fraser still wanted her to experience it. Just once. Because he never wanted her to have any regrets.
Not far away, Xavier had pulled Yvette
glistening in her eyes, he misunders side after she got out of the car. Seeing the tears
"If
you want something like this, I can make it happen for you too."
The moment the words left his mouth, he froze. He'd always thought he'd be against doing something like this... but somehow, the promise came out so easily.
Yvette wiped the corners of her eyes. "It's not that—I'm just a little emotional. Seeing her this happy. I really am happy for her. But watching her step into a whole new chapter of life... it kind of makes me want to cry."
Chapter 386
No Makeup, No Problem
Summer watched Fraser approach, each step he took seeming to press heavily on her heart..
She felt the curious, envious, and gossipy stares of everyone around her, yet noticed that in Fraser's eyes, she was the only one that mattered.
Her nose tingled with a sourness, her voice slightly aggrieved. 'I didn't wear makeup today."
Fraser smiled, his lips curving slightly. "Hmm, you look beautiful.”
Im not even in a dress."
"You look lovely."
"You're lying.
Fraser stepped forward, his fingers gently wiped away the tears that Summer didn't even realize had fallen.
"What, don't believe you're beautiful enough to move my heart, hmm?"
Summer's eyes reddened further.
Just then, a fluffy, snow-white Samoyed appeared in view.
Pudding, dressed in a dapper dog suit with a stylish bow tie, was clutching a precious velvet box in his mouth as he ran up
Pudding barked excitedly, his voice clear and loud. Seeing Pudding, Summer started to laugh, and couldn't help but cry.
Sensing something was amiss, Pudding thought she was being bullied and barked even louder, as if trying to comfort her.
Fraser took the velvet box from Pudding, his slender fingers gently lifting the lid.
Inside, a delicately cut heart-shaped sapphire ring lay quietly, its blue glow dazzling and enchanting.
Fraser took a deep breath and slowly knelt on one knee, his dark eyes intensely and tenderly fixed on Summer.
He held up the sapphire ring before her, his voice low and magnetic, "Summer, will you marry
me?"
Summer's gaze softened more than ever as she looked at the man kneeling before her and Pudding.
No Makeup, No Problem
:
"I know Pudding is gone, and you're heartbroken, but you need to think about your baby, you know. You almost had a miscarriage, we were all terrified."
Summer lowered her eyes, "If it weren't for me, Pudding wouldn't have been poisoned to death. Just thinking about that makes me feel so, so bad."
"Summer, listen to me," Yvette gritted her teeth, "this is Sienna's fault, not yours!"
Yvette was furious, "That woman would do anything to achieve her goals. If I see her, I'll beat her to death."
Summer sighed, "Sometimes I wonder, if I hadn't pulled my funding from Sienna's design firm, maybe none of this would have happened, and Pudding wouldn't have died."
"No! That kind of woman is too jealous, she would have found some other reason to target you!"
Yvette reassured her, "Anyway, Summer, don't punish yourself over someone who isn't worth it. You need to look forward."
At that moment, the door to the room opened.
Fraser, tall and distinguished, walked in, carrying two expensive metal insulated boxes.
Seeing him enter, Yvette stood up from her chair.
"Summer, I'll leave you two alone then."
With that, Yvette quickly left.
Fraser approached and set the two metal insulated boxes on the small table.
One was a large four-layer compartment box, and the other was a single large compartment.
Fraser opened both boxes.
The single compartment held a pot of steaming, fragrant fish porridge.
The four-layer box was filled with various light and delicious dishes.
Fraser picked up a white porcelain bowl and ladled some fish porridge into it.
His slender fingers stirred the porridge with a spoon, cooling it before feeding it to Summer.
Fraser's expression was normal again, no sign of the earlier sadness, "You haven't eaten anything tonight, have some porridge to settle your stomach."
Summer, feeling a bit calmer, shook her head, "I don't want to eat."
Fraser's eyes were gentle as he coaxed her, "The doctor said you're a bit anemic, you need to eat something."
eyes.
Seeing her like this, Fraser's long eyelashes drooped slightly, a flash of pain in his "Summer, I know I didn't protect Pudding well enough. Take your anger out on me, but don't treat your body this way."
With that, Fraser brought the spoon of fish porridge to her lips again; Summer took a deep breath, looking at the approaching spoonful, she felt nauseous for reasons both emotional and physical.
Chapter 387
A Bowl Too Far
Almost instinctively, Summer reached out to push the spoonful of porridge and the man away. "I said I don't want to eat.
With the force of Summer's push, there was a crisp crash.
The white porcelain bowl shattered on the floor, and the fish porridge slowly seeped out, spreading across the ground.
Both of them stared at the scene, momentarily stunned.
Fraser was the first to regain composure, calmly pressing the wall-mounted call button. Soon, at janitor arrived with tools, swiftly cleaning up the broken porcelain and spilled porridge.
After cleaning, the janitor left, and the hospital room felt like an inflating balloon, the tension seeming to suffocate everyone inside.
Summer's eyes flickered, and after a long moment, she opened her mouth, "I... I didn't mean to do that
"I know."
Fraser's handsome face remained gentle as he pulled out a tissue from the table, took her hand, and meticulously wiped off the porridge that had splashed on her.
Summer watched him; his black shirt had more stains, yet he focused solely on wiping her clean. Under the dim light, Fraser's long lashes cast a shadow, accentuating his sharply defined jaw.
A pang of pain surged through Summer's heart, spreading to her limbs, her voice husky as she bit her lip and explained, "I... really didn't mean to."
Fraser tossed the tissue into the trash can, his gaze soft as he looked at her, his eyes as clear as moonlight in the night, his voice magnetic and gentle, "I'm not blaming you."
A sour mist clouded Summer's eyes as she tightly gripped Fraser's hand, her voice choked up. just spoke harshly to you, I'm really awful..."
Summer knew she shouldn't have vented her anger on him.
She knew none of this was Fraser's fault.
Pudding was gone, and Fraser must be feeling the worst of it.
How could I have so carelessly hurt him like that?
“།
Fraser reached up to touch her fair cheek, his fingertips wiping away the tears at
the corners of her eyes, his tone delicate, "I know, that's why I'm not angry."
A Bowl Too Far
twisting the smooth fabric into wrinkles.
"I'm just angry at myself; if it weren't for me, Pudding wouldn't have died."
Fraser slowly wrapped his arms around her slender waist, his voice slow and deep. "He wouldn't blame you, so you shouldn't blame yourself, okay?"
Summer buried herself in his embrace, her voice nasal as she murmured an agreement.
*If I act unreasonably again in the future, you should snap back at me."
Fraser lifted her chin, his deep eyes locked on hers.
Summer's eyes were a bit swollen, tears still swirling in them.
Fraser lowered his head, his thin lips meeting hers in a searing kiss.
Tasting the salty tears at the corner of her lips, Fraser's heart tightened suddenly,
a pang shooting through him.
"Fool, if even I can't be patient with you, what kind of man would I be?"
That day, Nate and Laurett stepped out of their room, hearing the sounds of rummaging from the next room. The next second, they saw Sienna walking out with a large suitcase.
Laurett asked, "What's this all about?"
Nate added. "You moving out?"
Sienna knew she couldn't stay long, so she had gone home to pack her bags to make a getaway.
She had become adept at dodging people and evading tracking!
All she needed was to leave Havenbrook, find a secluded place to hide, and wait
for things to calm down. They would let their guard down, and no one would notice her.
She wouldn't be found out then.
This time Pudding had died. She figured Summer would definitely be looking for her.
She needed to hide well, to plan for another day.
Until the very last moment, no one would know who would win or lose!
Sienna's gaze was fierce, "Mom, dad, I'm going to a place, just stay at home and don't go anywhere. If anyone comes looking for me, just say you don't know,"
Laurett looked worried, "Sienna, what trouble have you gotten into again that you have to leave?"
Sienna snanned "Don't worry about it. Just take care of yourselves and don'
A Bowl Too Far
"Hey, Sienna, don't go!"
Laurett moved to stop her as she headed for the door.
Then, with a loud bang, the door was violently kicked open.
Looking at the person who stepped in from the doorway, it was as if a vengeful spirit had entered, terrifying with every step.
Sienna's face turned deathly pale as she saw who it was, her steps retreating backward.
Chapter 388
A Slap for Sienna
"Trying to leave? And go where?" Yvette smirked coldly, her eyes sharp as knives as she stared down the malicious woman.
Behind her stood Xavier, Mike, and a squad of bodyguards, their presence formidable, chilling the atmosphere to a freezing point.
Laurett recognized Yvette; she was Sienna's college friend, who had visited their home several times with Summer during their university days.
Laurett approached her, "Is that Yvette? Being a celebrity really changes people. I see you on TV all the time. What brings you here with such a crowd?"
Yvette, stepping forward in her high heels, faced Laurett's overly friendly greeting with disdain, "Get out of my way."
Laurett's face fell at the harsh rebuke.
Displeased. Laurett retorted, "What kind of way is that to speak to your elders? Just because you're a big star now and we've fallen on hard times doesn't mean you can look down on us."
Yvette's expression was unforgiving, "My attitude depends on what your daughter has done. If I find out you're accomplices, I won't spare a single one of you!"
These past few days, Summer had suffered a miscarriage scare due to Pudding being poisoned and had to stay in the hospital. Fraser had been by her side without leaving.
During a visit to see Summer, Yvette overheard a conversation between Fraser and Xavier outside in the hallway.
It turned out they had located Sienna's hiding place. Upon hearing this, Yvette was ready to storm
over!
The last time, she had merely warned this woman out of leniency, hoping she would reflect and amend her ways.
But Sienna had only escalated her schemes, repeatedly setting traps for Summer. The fury in Yvette's heart burned like a fierce flame, keeping her awake at night! Laurett and Nate frowned deeply at this revelation.
As parents, they had noticed Sienna's recent changes, including a sudden influx of substantial
wealth.
She suddenly planned to take them abroad and never return.
But every time they questioned her about what was happening, Sienna was either evasive or dismissive.
A Slap for Sienna
Laurett, anxious, said to Sienna. "What have you done. Sienna? Don't alarm me."
Sienna's face turned pale, her temples throbbing visibly.
She turned away, her voice cold, "Mom, dad, she's spouting nonsense. Don't listen to her."
Laurett looked at the menacing crowd, trembling
she's going to raid the house?"
"Isn't she your friend? Why is she here like
Yvette's voice was dark. "Stop. Even hearing the word 'friend' makes me sick!"
With that. Yvette's eyes blazed, her eyebrows inverted in fury as she lunged
forward, grabbing Sienna by the neck and forcefully pushing her down.
She pinned Sienna to the ground, her movements swift and fierce.
"Ah!"
Sienna let out a scream of agony!
Xavier and Mike, watching the scene, couldn't help but admire. "This woman really knows how to fight.
Laurett and Nate, seeing their daughter pinned down, hurried to intervene, but they were stopped by Mike's bodyguards.
Sienna, pinned down, struggled to breathe.
She gritted her teeth and yelled, "Yvette, what have I done wrong? How can you treat me like this!"
"What have you done wrong?" Yvette laughed bitterly, "You're despicable, jealous, cruel, and ungrateful. You used Summer's pregnancy to smear her name to the press, and at her engagement, you poisoned Pudding, causing his death at the scene. A woman like you deserves to die a hundred times over.
With that, Yvette slapped her hard across the face.
The slap resounded loudly, leaving a red mark on Sienna's cheek.
Nate and Laurett were struck as if by lightning, reeling at the revelation of their daughter's deeds.
Laurett cried out, "Sienna, tell them this isn't true."
Nate angrily scolded, "Monster, how did I ever raise a daughter like you?"
Sienna glared back fiercely, her eyes flashing madly, "You pushed me into a corner! I begged Summer at the hospital not to withdraw her funding, but she wouldn't forgive me!"
Seeing no sign of remorse from Sienna, Yvette grabbed her chest tightly with one hand and
A Slap for Sienna
The slaps rang out, Sienna's mouth bleeding, her face swollen and bruised, but the look in her eyes grew colder.
"You're just Summer's lapdog, Yvette! I really regret not teaching you a lesson too!"
Chapter 389
A Brutal Turn
After speaking, Sienna, refusing to show weakness, suddenly raised her thigh and delivered a fierce, powerful kick. Yvette, caught completely off guard, winced in excruciating pain as her grip loosened immediately.
Seizing the rare opportunity, Sienna flipped over swiftly and pinned Yvette down with surprising strength.
Their positions were now reversed, and the room was charged with tense energy.
Seeing this, Xavier quickly stepped forward, his polished shoes striking directly at Sienna without hesitation.
Sienna was kicked across the room, crashing violently into a side table. Her head struck hard against it, gashing her forehead, which began to bleed profusely, staining the floor beneath her.
"Ah!"
Sienna clenched her forehead, which twitched with sharp pain, her body trembling with the intensity of the injury.
Xavier, seeing that Yvette had finally vented enough, pulled out his phone swiftly and dialed Fraser, his expression serious.
Meanwhile, Yvette grabbed a fruit knife from the table and advanced fiercely, her eyes cold and determined. She plunged it into the palm of Sienna's hand without hesitation, the blade sinking in deep!
"Ah!"
A piercing scream, raw with pain, instantly tore through the room, echoing in the tense silence.
Laurett, witnessing this shocking scene, went dark in the eyes and fainted dramatically.
At that moment, Fraser's deep voice came through the phone, "Hello?" Xavier's heart skipped a beat as he cautiously swallowed, his voice faltering slightly. "Hmm... about Sienna, how do you want to handle this situation?"
Fraser, standing at the bedside, looked down at Summer, his gaze deep, cold, and calculating. "What do you want to do?"
Summer knew they had found Sienna, and Yvette had gone with them, promising to teach her a lesson she would never forget.
Summer had originally intended to personally avenge Pudding, driven by a need for justice.
But they all didn't want her to get too agitated and make any rash decisions.
A Brutal Turn
palm. She knew exactly what Sienna feared the most, and it made her shiver.
"Send her to do something utterly shameful!"
Fraser loosened Summer's grip carefully, lifted her delicate hand to his lips, and kissed it gently, his tone slow and deliberate. "Send her to Ardenia, to be an escort.
Xavier understood clearly.
As Sienna writhed in agony from her hand, hearing that she was to be sent to work as an escort in a foreign land, her eyes filled with uncontrollable fear, and she snapped, her voice breaking.
"No! You can't do that! You're taking the law into your own hands. I'll call the police right now!"
Sienna, trembling uncontrollably, tried desperately to push away Yvette, who was restraining her with ruthless strength.
Yvette, holding the knife still embedded in Sienna's palm, sharply twisted it to the left, the blade scraping painfully against Sienna's flesh.
Sienna's palm gushed with blood in a torrent, the pain overwhelming her completely as she rolled her eyes back, her vision fading as she fainted.
Chapter 390
The Place We Call Home
Soon after, Sienna was sent to Ardenia to work as an escort.
Word was, once she got there, she couldn't handle the humiliation. Her dignity crushed, forced to serve several men a day, she tried everything to escape-but every time, they caught her and dragged her back.
The last time she tried, they beat her to death.
Nate and Laurett collapsed after learning what had happened to her. The shock was too much.
Yvette and Summer told this part of the story later.
When Summer heard it, she barely reacted.
If she ever had even a shred of sympathy left for Sienna, it died the day she poisoned Pudding.
After some time in recovery. Summer was finally discharged from the hospital. Fraser showed up pushing a wheelchair from who-knows-where.
He stood tall behind it, his hands casually resting on the handles. His expression was calm and natural.
Summer blinked at the sight.
That's a bit much.
It wasn't like she couldn't walk-she'd just gotten too worked up and triggered some pregnancy symptom
Besides, after resting at the hospital for a while, she felt completely fine.
By now, she was almost six months
pregnant.
Her belly had a noticeable curve.
Even though her frame was still slim and graceful, not even a loose-fitting black dress could hide the fact that she was expecting.
She'd gotten too emotional that day, which stirred up her pregnancy again.
Lately, she often woke up in the middle of the night.
Sometimes her legs would cramp hard out of nowhere, sometimes the baby would kick like crazy.
And every time she woke up-
The Place We Call Home
The man beside her would act like the sky was falling. That usual calm and collected vibe? Gone. He'd be frantically scrambling around.
It was always Summer who took his hand and reassured him, "I'm okay, I'm fine. Don't worry."
Only then would the man slowly settle down, his face returning to something close to composed.
Summer had been feeling it more clearly lately-she wasn't alone anymore.
Her mindset was starting to shift.
She had to take responsibility-for the baby, and for Fraser.
She got out of bed and pointed at the wheelchair with a look of disdain. "Not using that."
Fraser let go of the handles and stepped forward to wrap an arm around her waist. His voice was soft and gentle. "Doctor said you shouldn't walk too much. You'll get tired."
When he saw her still frowning, Fraser bent down, slipped an arm under her legs, and lifted her off the ground. "Then I'll carry you out."
Summer's face turned red. "That's even weirder."
A playful smile crept into Fraser's eyes. "What's weird about a man carrying his own wife?"
Summer couldn't argue with him, so she just let him do what he wanted.
And just like that, he carried her out of the hospital room.
Summer tucked her head into his chest like an ostrich, pretending she couldn't see anyone else.
Down the hallway, Xavier and Yvette came walking toward them.
Yvette had come to pick her up, knowing she was being discharged today. When she saw Fraser carrying Summer, she froze awkwardly in place.
She wasn't sure if she should step forward or not.
Xavier, walking behind her, chuckled. "What, jealous? I can carry you too."
Yvette rolled her eyes. "Carry you? I'm not even pregnant."
"Wanna try getting pregnant? Who knows, maybe I'll out-man Fraser."
"Get lost."
Summer was gently placed in the passenger seat.
Fraser closed the door, walked around the front of the car, slid into the driver's
seat, and casually started the engine The Place We Call Home
The sunlight was beautiful today. Golden rays bathed the earth, and the pine trees lining the road. cast scattered shadows across the windows as they sped by.
Watching the road ahead, Summer turned to look at the man beside her..
He was leaning against the window with one arm, the other hand on the wheel. He wore a white custom-tailored shirt, no tie.
Tree shadows danced across his sharply defined side profile, softening the lines of his cold jaw and making him look unfairly handsome.
Summer couldn't help but lean over the center console, poke his sculpted arm, and ask, "Aren't we going home?"
Fraser glanced at her and didn't say anything. He switched hands on the wheel and used the other to wrap around Summer's mischievous little fingers, gently brushing the base of her ring finger.
"We're going somewhere."
"Where?"
"You'll see."
The Ferrari made a smooth turn and drove straight down the next n front of the Civil Affairs Bureau.
they pulled up in
Summer stared at the sign, stunned for several seconds. Her brain took a while to catch up.
To the rest of the world, it probably already looked like they were married. After all, they were having a baby.
But she and Fraser had never actually made it official.