Chapter 3: Chapter 3: The Past Between Us

After they left, Summer Lancaster remained motionless for a long time as memories flooded her mind. They were just children back then. At a banquet, Summer had met Kenneth Yates, and her younger self had fallen for him at first sight. He was elegant and radiant, standing out from his peers. She became captivated by him. Later, she got to know him through her father’s connections and often went to the Yates Family’s home to play. Madam Yates, Lianne Vance, was very fond of her, but Kenneth Yates, the boy she adored, gave her the cold shoulder. Kenneth’s younger brother, Ethan Yates, was very kind to her. They spent most of their childhood playing together while Kenneth was usually off to the side, reading. Summer watched his every move. One time, she saw him staring intently at some champagne roses, so she secretly ran to her grandmother’s garden and picked a bouquet of thirteen champagne roses for him. She happily went to give them to him, but upon seeing them, he flew into a rage. He threw the roses on the ground and stormed off alone, leaving her utterly bewildered.

In high school, Kenneth Yates got a girlfriend named Thea Shaw. He treated her very well, and they seemed like a perfect match. Summer Lancaster was heartbroken, but she watched him from afar, not wanting to disturb their blissful relationship. Then one day, her father told her she was to marry Kenneth Yates. She was speechless. ’What about Thea Shaw?’ At first, she refused. But when she later heard that he and Thea Shaw had already broken up, she was overjoyed. ’Could it be that Kenneth finally noticed me? That he realized a girl has loved him for over ten years, and now he wants to marry me?’ She happily became the new bride of the Yates Family. Ethan Yates wasn’t at the wedding, but she assumed he was away on a business trip and didn’t pay it much mind. Kenneth Yates wore a grim expression throughout the ceremony. She noticed his somber mood but chalked it up to nerves.

At the Yates’ home, she overheard Kenneth Yates on the phone, saying, “I only love Thea. You all forced me to marry Summer Lancaster, but she’ll only have the empty title of Mrs. Yates. I’m not giving her anything.” Summer froze. The teacup in her hand crashed to the floor as tears streamed down her face. Hearing the crash, Kenneth Yates came out.

“So you heard. I only married you because it’s what my mother wanted. I don’t like you one bit. This marriage is nothing more than a business arrangement, a mere formality. From now on, I’ll stay out of your life, and I expect you to stay out of mine.” With that, he grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

“And one more thing—I won’t be living here anymore.” He threw a cold glance over his shoulder before turning and leaving. A moment later, Summer heard a car engine roar to life. It was his car; she knew every single one he owned, though she had never once ridden in any of them. The tears finally fell. A wave of agony, more intense than anything she had ever experienced, crashed over her. Her heart ached. She slowly sank to the ground, burying her head in her knees. The moonlight concealed her weeping face, but it glinted off the tears that pooled on the floor…

In the beginning, Summer had cried and caused scenes, but Kenneth Yates never responded. Gradually, she grew accustomed to being alone.

Lianne Vance did, however, come to see Summer. She encouraged her to join Kenneth Yates at the Yates Group, telling her, “Kenneth will come around. He just hasn’t figured out his own heart yet. Thea Shaw isn’t right for him; they could never be happy together. You, Summer, are the one meant to be his partner.”

’Heh,’ Summer thought. ’As if anyone else gets to decide who’s right for whom. Kenneth loves Thea Shaw, and I’m just an obstacle standing between them. He must despise me.’

And so, Summer went to work at the Yates Group. She started as a junior staff member and worked her way up to Director of Planning. She felt it was a good arrangement. At least she could see Kenneth Yates every day. She was content with that.

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