Chapter 43
Alick kept sizing up Toby with a sharp gaze that had a hint of disdain. He thought, ‘Her taste really isn’t that great!
Toby handed over a business card, maintaining a confident and composed demeanor as he said, “Hello, Mr. Hill. I’m Toby Beam.”
Alick naturally would not take the business card, but Toby did not mind. He just placed the card on the office desk.
*Mr. Hill, I wonder why you ask my wife to come over with such a big fuss,” he said, his tone growing serious, and his glasses-clad eyes giving off a cold glint.
The moment he entered, he noticed the red marks on Summer’s neck and thought, ‘He actually laid hands on a woman. He’s a real jerk!”
Alick raised his eyebrows, thinking. Wife? Then, he replied, “None of your business. As he noticed Toby’s gaze, he added coldly, “You seem quite displeased with me, huh?”
“Actually, I’m also turning up my nose at you,” Toby said with a smile. “Mr. Hill, I never expected that a well-known guy like you would lay hands on women in private. Quite surprising, I must say.”
Summer was stunned.
She knew Toby was speaking up for her, but she always thought of him as mild-mannered. She never expected. him to say such things to Alick’s face.
‘After all, this darn man is petty and seeks revenge at the slightest grievance, she thought. If he gives Toby payback down the road, how am I going to deal with it?
She instinctively glanced at Alick, who was having an intimidating look.
“This one’s got some serious swagger, Alick thought.
Then, he said coldly, “This is between her and me. None of your business. When did you two get together?”
The children in the photo appeared to be around the same age as Sanford. Even if Toby did get together with Summer, Alick was still skeptical about it.
“Summer and I were in the same college,” Toby said. “I fell in love with her back when we were in college.”
Toby was quite the storyteller. Initially, Summer was a bit concerned about the story falling apart, but after hearing what he said, she almost could not help but believe it.
“After she went abroad, we got together, and then we had children, Toby said in a calm tone. When he talked about the
past with Summer, he revealed a sweet and nostalgic smile from time to time.
“Mr. Hill, is there anything else you want to know?” Toby added. “I’ll tell you everything.”
“Enough!” Alick said before grabbing the cup on the table and throwing it. Toby instinctively pulled Summer into.
sarms, but he accidentally got his cheek scratched by the shards.
“Summer, are you okay?” Toby asked.
Summer was angry and moved. She shook her head at him before glaring at Alick and saying, “Alick, are you out of
1/5
Chapter 48
your mind? Thinking you’re some kind of dictator and can hurt people as you please, huh?”
She thought, “If this darn man really takes away the children, with his violent temper, I’ll have to live in constant fear every day.”
Seeing her care so much about Toby, Alick was livid, thinking, ‘I felt guilty for a whole four years, and this womant got involved with another man right away, even having children with him. What have these four years meant for me? A joke? Maybe she faked her death back then for this Toby. All that talk about severe bleeding and difficult. childbirth was probably all staged by her. She just wanted to go abroad and be with this man!”
Alick was badly shaken. Suddenly, he felt a tinge of heartache.
“Get out of my face!” he said, cupping his forehead and roaring in a low voice.
Toby was still preparing to sort out the puzzle of who was right and who was wrong with this man, but Summer pulled him away by the sleeve.
It was not until they walked out of the Hill Group that she was relieved.
“Thank you for your help, but you shouldn’t have provoked Alick for me, Summer said awkwardly. “He is d a m n
petty.”
Toby chuckled at her choice of words, and he said, “Fret not. I’m not scared of him.”
His voice softened as he continued, “After spending so many years in Landom City, I’ve got some self-defense skills.
Summer did not take his words seriously. She simply thought he was clueless about Alick’s tricks. When he offered to take her home, she did not refuse.
“You are itching to ask about my relationship with Alick, right?” Summer said.
As Toby drove her back, he was hesitant to speak. He was pulled in at the last minute to salvage the situation. Anyone in his shoes would have some doubts.
Summer wasn’t one to kick down the ladder. Since she had already asked him for help, she decided to tell him. everything.
“He’s my ex-husband,” she said.
Summer briefly explained the past between her and Alick, including the fact that her first meeting with Toby at the Earl’s Mansion was to evade the search by Alick.
“So, you asked me to pretend to be Abby and Ballard’s father because you were afraid Alick would take the children away? Toby asked.
Summer nodded. She was well aware that this lie could be exposed at any moment, but she had no choice but to come up with this makeshift plan earlier to keep Alick in check.
If Alick did not give up and continued to investigate, it probably would not stay hidden for long.
Summer looked at Toby apologetically and said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have dragged you into this, but I really couldn’t think of any other way just now.”
2/5
Chapter
“It’s okay, Toby replied. “I’m glad you turned to me when you were in need.”
There was a hint of joy in Toby’s tone. Being able to help Summer and being trusted by her truly made him happy.
The car quickly entered a certain residential area, and Toby asked, “Is this your friend’s house?”
Summer nodded. She had not moved out of the villa yet, and given the current situation, it was unlikely she would return. Since she had not found a suitable house yet, she had no choice but to return to Fay’s home.
“I have an unused estate in the western suburbs, Toby said. “If you don’t mind, you can consider moving there with the kids.
Summer was stunned. She had always thought of Toby as a businessman involved in small ventures. But few businessmen could afford an estate in Landom City, at least not the small-scale businessman she had imagined.
Thinking that she might have misunderstood something, Toby took the initiative to explain, “Don’t worry. I don’t live there.”
These words made Summer feel a little ashamed. She thought, ‘He just helped me. Why am I doubting his good intentions now?
“I didn’t mean that,” she said seriously. “I just don’t want to trouble you, and I need to discuss this with Abby and Ballard.”
She thought, ‘If I’m really going to move there, I must get the approval of both kids.
“Sure.” Toby said happily. He thought, At least Summer didn’t refuse. There’s hope!”
He left with joy, while Summer went upstairs, feeling worried. As soon as she opened the door, Abby and Ballard rushed into her arms and said, “Mommy, how come you are here? Don’t you have to go to the villa?”
“Yeah,” Summer said. “Mommy came back just to be with you. Are you happy?”
She pinched Abby’s nose. Her unhappiness vanished the moment she saw Abby and Ballard’s smiles.
“Of course!” the kids replied..
Abby rubbed against her like a little kitten. Grinning from ear to ear, she said, “I can finally sleep with Mommy tonight!”
Ballard leaned over as well and said, “I want to sleep with Mommy tool”
Ever since Summer moved to the villa, the two siblings had almost always slept on their own. Fay often performed surgeries in the evening, so most of the time Abby and Ballard were alone at home.
Although they knew that Summer had no choice, sometimes they still missed her embrace.
Summer said, “Alright. Both of you sleep with Mommy tonight.”
Summer was on the verge of crying. She had indeed neglected the two little ones during this period. Feeling guilty, she said, “How about from now on, we all sleep together?”
“Yay!” Abby said, feeling so joyful that she jumped and planted a kiss on her face, but Ballard’s gaze suddenly turned somewhat serious as he asked, “Mommy, does that mean you won’t go to the villa anymore?”
Chapter 43
He thought, ‘If she doesn’t go to the villa, what about Sanford then?”
Summer’s smile froze for a moment. She was worried about Sanford. But Alick probably won’t let her see Sanford
again.
As if knowing what Summer was thinking. Ballard took the initiative to hug her.
With her soft and adorable hands gently touching the teary eyes of Summer, whose long eyelashes fluttered, Abby said in a sweet and childish voice, “Fret not, Mommy. We’ll help you figure it out.”
Summer’s vulnerable side was completely shattered. Unable to contain herself any longer, she hugged Abby and Ballard. Tears poured out instantly as she held them on her back.
“Everything will be fine, and Mommy will definitely protect you,” she said, choking up yet remaining incredibly determined. “I won’t let anyone take you away.”
Inside the villa, the room on the far left of the second floor still had its door tightly closed, and Mary Harlow said, “Mr. Sanford locked himself in his room since he came back yesterday. He didn’t even have dinner…”
Mary, who was a maid. looked worriedly at that room. She had been taking care of Sanford’s daily life. Ever since Summer came. Mary only occasionally came to help around the house.
But yesterday. Bill suddenly asked her to stay and continue taking care of Sanford.
Alick’s expression was grim, and his eyes were cold as he said, “If he doesn’t want to eat, let him stay hungry. Let’s see how long he can hold on.”
Yesterday, when Sanford found out that it was not Summer who picked him up from kindergarten, he started asking about her whereabouts. Upon learning that she would not come anymore, he began to throw a tantrum.
“Throw away everything that belongs to that woman, Alick instructed Mary before leaving the villa expressionlessly. He thought, ‘Since she has already married another man and has had children with him, she no longer has the right to enter this home. She is not worthy to be Sanford’s mother.
In the room, Sanford, still wearing the coat from yesterday, could be seen hugging his legs and curling up floor, appearing very pitiful.
on the
When he came back yesterday and found out that Summer was gone, he began calling and messaging Abby and Ballard, but they ignored him. He was overcome by a huge sense of fear as he had no idea what happened. He just
felt scared.
His tears kept streaming down his face, and his body started to tremble slightly as he thought, ‘Why didn’t Mommy return? Did I do something wrong and p i s s her off? Mommy doesn’t want me again, huh? I’m really scared of losing Mommy and my two siblings.
Sound could suddenly be heard coming from the adjacent room, and Sanford immediately perked up, wondering if his mother had returned.
He quickly got up from the floor, opened the door, and rushed to the adjacent room. However, the mommy he kept thinking about was not inside/Instead, he heard someone calling out to him, “Mr. Sanford…”
Chapter 43
He thought, ‘If she doesn’t go to the villa, what about Sanford then?”
Summer’s smile froze for a moment. She was worried about Sanford. But Alick probably won’t let her see Sanford again.
As if knowing what Summer was thinking. Ballard took the initiative to hug her.
With her soft and adorable hands gently touching the teary eyes of Summer, whose long eyelashes fluttered, Abby said in a sweet and childish voice, “Fret not, Mommy. We’ll help you figure it out.”
Summer’s vulnerable side was completely shattered. Unable to contain herself any longer, she hugged Abby and Ballard. Tears poured out instantly as she held them on her back.
“Everything will be fine, and Mommy will definitely protect you,” she said, choking up yet remaining incredibly determined. “I won’t let anyone take you away.”
Inside the villa, the room on the far left of the second floor still had its door tightly closed, and Mary Harlow said, “Mr. Sanford locked himself in his room since he came back yesterday. He didn’t even have dinner….
Mary, who was a maid, looked worriedly at that room. She had been taking care of Sanford’s daily life. Ever since Summer came. Mary only occasionally came to help around the house.
But yesterday, Bill suddenly asked her to stay and continue taking care of Sanford.
Alick’s expression was grim, and his eyes were cold as he said, “If he doesn’t want to eat, let him stay hungry. Let’s see how long he can hold on.”
Yesterday, when Sanford found out that it was not Summer who picked him up from kindergarten, he started. asking about her whereabouts. Upon learning that she would not come anymore, he began to throw a tantrum.
“Throw away everything that belongs to that woman,” Alick instructed Mary before leaving the villa expressionlessly. He thought, ‘Since she has already married another man and has had children with him, she no longer has the right to enter this home. She is not worthy to be Sanford’s mother.
In the room, Sanford, still wearing the coat from yesterday, could be seen hugging his legs and curling up on the floor, appearing very pitiful.
When he came back yesterday and found out that Summer was gone, he began calling and messaging Abby and Ballard, but they ignored him. He was overcome by a huge sense of fear as he had no idea what happened. He just
felt scared.
His tears kept streaming down his face, and his body started to tremble slightly as he thought, Why didn’t Mommy return? Did I do something wrong and p i s s her off? Mommy doesn’t want me again, huh? I’m really scared of losing Mommy and my two siblings.
Sound could suddenly be heard coming from the adjacent room, and Sanford immediately perked up, wondering if his mother had returned.
He quickly got up from the floor, opened the door, and rushed to the adjacent room. However, the mommy he kept thinking about was not inside/Instead, he heard someone calling out to him, “Mr. Sanford…”
4/5