Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Cruelty Is Sometimes a Disguise for Sadness

Today was the day the ad was to be finalized, and the brand’s spokesperson, Audrey, had come to the Yates Group, stirring up another storm. After savaging those who had been spreading rumors about her, she was now heading for Summer Lancaster’s office. Her menacing aura made all her colleagues give her a wide berth.

“Summer Lancaster, get out here,” Audrey yelled as soon as she reached the doorway. Summer hadn’t expected Audrey to come looking for her, but she went out anyway.

“Miss Roya, our planning department has already finished your ad. There’s no work that needs to be handed over,” Summer said robotically.

“Hmph. Summer Lancaster, you’ve got some nerve. How dare you try to seduce my man.” ’Her man? Kenneth Yates? Let’s get one thing straight, I’m the one who’s legally his wife.’ Summer snorted. “Miss Roya, may I ask which man you’re referring to? I don’t recall interacting with any other men, let alone seducing one. Don’t you go around slandering people. Besides, I seem to have heard that you’ve gotten rather close with Director Grant recently. He’s a married man, isn’t he? So, who’s seducing whom, hmm? Miss Roya?” By this point, a crowd had gathered to watch the dispute.

Audrey glared at her fiercely. Her gaze faltered, and she took a small step back.

“You know who I’m talking about,” she said, dodging the question about Director Grant.

“Miss Roya, are we close? How would I know who you’re referring to?” Audrey didn’t dare say Kenneth Yates’s name. Angering him would likely mean the ruin of her entire career.

Audrey knew things were over between her and Kenneth Yates. She blamed that woman, Becky, for ruining her happiness. However, her agent had warned her not to provoke Becky, saying she was not someone to be trifled with. So, Audrey decided to take her frustrations out on Summer instead. But now, she couldn’t even win an argument against her. Furious, Audrey snatched a cup of coffee from a nearby desk and dumped it over Summer’s head. The rich aroma of coffee instantly filled the air. The surrounding colleagues gasped, and a wave of murmurs broke out. Some said they never thought Summer was that kind of person, while others claimed Audrey was spouting nonsense, arguing that Summer was always swamped with work and had no time to seduce anyone. Opinions were divided.

Coffee trickled down from Summer’s hair, drop by drop. From a distance, Audrey watched Summer’s sorry state with a haughty expression, feeling a little better.

“Summer Lancaster, let me tell you, this is what you get for crossing me,” Audrey said viciously, stepping forward and grabbing the front of Summer’s shirt.

“Stop.” It was Kenneth Yates’s voice. Summer gave a bitter smile. ’What is he doing here? To help Audrey humiliate me?’ Seeing him approach, Audrey hastily let go of Summer.

“Kenneth, you’re here.” Audrey went to link arms with him, but instead, he swung his hand and slapped her across the face.

CRACK. It was a clean, crisp, resounding slap.

“Get out.” Kenneth Yates’s bloodthirsty aura sent a chill down everyone’s spine. Audrey jumped in fright. ’In the past, no matter how I tormented Summer, Kenneth never got angry. Why now…?’

Audrey clutched her face, and the onlookers erupted into discussion. Now, she was in an even more wretched state than Summer. Biting back the sharp pain in her cheek, Audrey turned to flee.

“Stop!” Summer’s voice rang out. Audrey stiffened, freezing in her tracks.

Summer swept her soaking wet hair back, picked up another cup of coffee, and walked toward her.

The coffee splashed spectacularly over Audrey’s head. Audrey clearly hadn’t expected this, her mouth hanging open in shock. The dark liquid soaked through her white clothes. She closed her eyes, waiting for it to stop dripping, powerless to resist.

Summer leaned in close to her ear. “Audrey, I couldn’t care less about that man of yours. Hah.” She turned and walked away without even glancing at Kenneth, leaving as if he were a complete stranger.

Kenneth Yates watched her go. Her gaze was that of a stranger, and her indifference made his heart clench. ’This woman… does she really not trust me at all?’

In the restroom, Summer washed her hair and cleaned her stained clothes. ’When did I become like this? After just a few days with Kenneth, I’ve become as cruel as Audrey. Heh, cruelty is just a mask for one’s own sorrow. Both Audrey and I are sad women, but it seems her luck is even worse than mine. On the battlefield of love, there’s no right or wrong, only plunder. But how laughable… I was disqualified before I even got a chance to compete.’

“Summer, are you okay?” Serena Monroe came into the restroom. She had heard that someone dumped coffee on Summer but had been tied up with work. She rushed to find her as soon as she was done.

“Oh, you heard about that? I’m fine. I even threw coffee back at her—and it was hot coffee!” Summer said nonchalantly.

“Did you hear? President Yates pulled Audrey from the ad. He said they’re going to reshoot it,” Serena Monroe said suddenly as she helped dab the stain on Summer’s collar.

“Oh, really?” ’He probably just doesn’t want to be entangled with a woman from his past.’

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