Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Heartwarming

Her words left Gregory Lancaster speechless. He had indeed neglected Summer considerably ever since Yvonne and her mother moved in.

“Summer, don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you married Kenneth Yates! It’s only because…”

“Quiet, Yvonne! Go upstairs,” Gregory Lancaster cut in suddenly.

“Daddy…” Yvonne protested.

“Upstairs!” Gregory Lancaster barked at her.

Yvonne stomped upstairs resentfully.

“Summer, I know I’ve been neglectful in the past, and I’m asking you to be the bigger person. But you can’t hate Yvonne because of it. She’s your sister…”

“Dad, you still don’t believe me? I’m telling you the truth! A group of men abducted me that day and stole my medical report. If Kenneth Yates hadn’t shown up to save me, I don’t know what would have happened! Dad, you need to wake up! See that mother-daughter pair for the vipers they are.” Tears were streaming down Summer’s face, but she didn’t wipe them away, letting them flow freely.

SMACK!

A sharp slap landed squarely on Summer’s cheek. Gregory Lancaster was so furious he wasn’t thinking straight, and he had struck her with all his might. Summer never imagined her own father would hit her and was caught completely off guard.

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. The impact had knocked her hair across her face, completely covering her eyes.

Summer remained frozen, her head still turned from the blow, while Gregory Lancaster’s hand hung in the air.

“Well then. Sorry for the intrusion.” Summer wiped the blood from her lip but didn’t touch her hair. With her locks still in disarray, she bolted out the door.

Gregory Lancaster was instantly filled with regret. ’I was too impulsive,’ he thought. ’Summer is my daughter, after all. Of course my heart aches for her… but maybe this will send her back to Kenneth Yates!’

Summer wandered barefoot and aimlessly through the desolate, quiet streets. Blisters had already formed on her feet from the rough pavement, some even breaking and bleeding, but she didn’t care. She just kept walking, with no destination in mind. She didn’t want to go back to Veridian Community. She didn’t want to face Kenneth Yates.

The road was dimly lit. Suddenly, a car approached from behind, its headlights flooding the space in front of her with brilliant light. As it drove past, it unexpectedly pulled to a stop.

Summer stopped and peered into the car.

“Caleb, what are you doing here?” Summer asked, surprised. ’This area is so remote. Why would Caleb Bell be here?’

“Never mind that. Get in the car. Your feet are all torn up.”

Summer did as he said and got into Caleb’s car. ’I have nowhere else to go,’ she thought. ’Caleb’s a good friend. I can talk to him.’

Inside the car, Caleb Bell struggled to contain his emotions. ’If a friend of mine hadn’t just passed by and told me he thought he saw Summer here, would she have wandered the streets all night? Barefoot, no less! Her feet are a raw, bloody mess. Is this how Kenneth Yates treats her? If I’d known it would come to this, I never should have agreed to Noel Lynch’s plan. Forget torturing him—I should have just killed him on sight. Then Summer might have stayed by my side. She wouldn’t have to endure this kind of pain. How could I ever stand to see her suffer like this?’

“Caleb, are you okay?” Summer asked, noticing his dark expression and silence.

“Huh? Oh, I’m fine. How did you end up out here?”

Summer looked out the window. “…My taxi broke down, so I…”

“Summer, do you really think I’d fall for such a lame excuse? How long have we known each other?” Caleb’s expression grew even darker.

Summer looked at him. “I’m sorry, Caleb.”

“You don’t have to apologize to me. I’ll stop worrying when you start taking better care of yourself.”

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