Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Family Affection and Hatred

A smile touched Kenneth Yates’s lips. He had noticed her little movements all along, but she, completely oblivious, just kept foolishly staring at him.

The next morning, Gregory Lancaster received a letter from a lawyer detailing all of Yvonne Lancaster and Audrey Adler’s crimes. Even the best lawyer wouldn’t be able to win this case for him. To make matters worse, Kenneth Yates’s legal team was the best in Aeston and worked exclusively for the Yates Group. It was unlikely any lawyer in the city would dare to go up against them.

He never imagined Summer Lancaster would disregard their family ties and drag this matter to court. Now, any hope of partnering with the Yates Group was gone. For Gregory Lancaster, this was like adding fuel to the fire. He was already at his wit’s end with his company’s operational problems. If Summer could just persuade Kenneth Yates to invest, they could weather this storm. But given the current situation, that now seemed impossible.

Summer Lancaster and Kenneth Yates were both up early. Kenneth was watching a financial news report while Summer lay in his arms, playing on her phone. He looked down at her. ’This kind of life isn’t bad at all,’ he thought. ’No complex work issues, no clamor from the outside world, and no one to bother us!’

However, it wasn’t long before Gregory Lancaster appeared at the hospital room door. Summer, not noticing him, held up her phone to show Kenneth a funny post she had found. Kenneth gently lowered her phone and motioned for her to look toward the entrance.

Summer’s smile vanished, and her brow furrowed. ’Is this the only time he remembers me? The only time he remembers he still has me as a daughter?’

“Summer! Dad’s here to see you!” The situation was incredibly awkward, but he had to swallow his pride to save his wife and other daughter.

“Thanks,” Summer said without any expression, her gaze cold as she looked at Gregory Lancaster.

“Summer, please don’t be like this. Your sister and your aunt did do something wrong, but we’re a family. We shouldn’t air our dirty laundry in public, should we?” Gregory Lancaster’s palms were slick with sweat. His family’s entire fate now rested in Summer’s hands. All it would take was a single word from her, and their circumstances could be completely overturned.

“They never treated me like family!” Summer stubbornly turned her head, refusing to look at Gregory Lancaster. But who could understand the pain in her heart? Her mother had died when she was young, and she and her father had relied on each other as she grew up. But ever since Audrey Adler and Yvonne Lancaster had entered their lives, her position in the family had plummeted. Even her own father, who used to dote on her, had gone over to their side.

“Summer, I’ll give them a stern talking-to. Yvonne is still young and immature. I’ll be sure to teach her a lesson. Please, will you let them go?” Gregory Lancaster’s pleading expression was a knife to Summer’s heart. She didn’t want to destroy her relationship with her father; after all, besides Yvonne, he was her only remaining blood relative.

Summer’s wavering eyes betrayed her hesitation. Kenneth squeezed her hand, giving her a look of steadfast reassurance.

Summer finally mustered her courage. Torn between family loyalty and her desire for retribution, she chose family. ’He must still love me,’ she believed.

“Dad, I can let them go… but you have to stop indulging them like this!” Tears welled in the corners of Summer’s eyes. The moment they appeared, Kenneth was there to wipe them away, pulling her into a protective embrace, his heart aching for her.

Gregory Lancaster’s face broke into a wide smile. He’d always known Summer was soft-hearted; he had come fully prepared, counting on this. ’If it had been Kenneth, I never would have come,’ he thought. ’His ruthlessness is legendary in the business world. Who would be foolish enough to beg him?’

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