Chapter 444
Summer stood by the floor–to–ceiling windows for a while, listening to the faint sounds from outside before turning around to chug down the glass of milk that was on her bedside table. Holding the empty glass, she opened her bedroom door and stepped out.
Hearing the noise, Bella looked up, her heart aching a bit as she remembered what Ivy had told her earlier about Summer. She wondered how Summer had managed to grow up, how much hardship she had endured. It had been over a year since she returned, and yet, she still didn’t show genuine closeness to Bella, her own mother. Her guard was always up. Ultimately, Bella blamed herself for being too negligent in the past.
Seeing Summer approach, Bella pretended not to know what was on Summer’s mind.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Summer asked.
“Nothing,” Bella replied, suddenly pulling her into a hug, caressing her head. “Honey, you can call me whatever you feel comfortable with. It’s just a title, it doesn’t matter. We have all the time in the world to grow closer, let’s take it slow.”
The unexpected embrace made Summer stiffen up.
Bella usually appreciated these affectionate gestures, but only when Summer acted obedient and compliant, so this behavior from Summer wasn’t out of the ordinary.
However, she had braced herself for a confrontation or blame, like being called out for addressing her mother by her name or being an ungrateful child, but it never came. There was no reproach. That left Summer unprepared and, frankly, shocked.
Growing up in an orphanage, Summer learned to expect punishment for both doing nothing wrong and making mistakes. No one had ever held her and spoken kindly to her when she was in the wrong. Bella was the first. Summer was adept at masking her true feelings, always hiding any trace of darkness with a facade of sweetness and compliance. But this time, she froze, feeling as if something within her was breaking free, warming her from the inside.
Before she could fully comprehend her feelings, Bella placed a blueprint of a mansion in her hands, saying softly, “Take a look, do you like it? You’ve always liked Vista Town, right? I’ve decided, we’ll make our home there. If you like this house, we’ll go reserve it
tomorrow.”
“It’ll be in your name, a gift from me.”
Summer looked at the blueprint of the standalone mansion with a front yard and a swimming pool at the back, the best Vista Town had to offer. Usually, she would accept Bella’s gifts with feigned enthusiasm, but this time, she looked at Bolla
hood “V
This was a departure from her usual tone, somewhat stilted. Speaking the truth for the first time felt awkward. Bella was surprised, “What did you say?”
“Nothing!” Summer quickly placed the blueprint on the sofa, standing up awkwardly and hurrying back to her bedroom.
Bella turned to Ivy, tearful, “Did you hear that? She said wherever I am, that’s her home!”
“Yes, I heard it…” Ivy was equally surprised. This was not typical of Summer; she had always accepted valuable gifts without hesitation. If not for the paternity test, Ivy might have doubted whether Summer was planning to take what she could and leave.
Bella wiped away her tears, picking up the blueprint, “We’ll buy the house tomorrow.” It was time to give her daughter a real home.
Summer, back in her bedroom, berated herself for being foolish. A house worth millions, and she had almost rejected it because of a few words from Bella? Impossible. She was just afraid of future consequences, wanting to leave cleanly when the time came. Real estate was complicated; cash was simpler.
Yes, that had to be it. She couldn’t possibly expect anything from a ludicrous notion of familial affection, especially since she wasn’t Bella’s biological daughter. The kindness shown to her now was all based on that mistaken belief. She was nothing but an
interloper.
Gregory carried me into the bathroom, setting me down on the marble countertop, his nose brushing against mine. “Jane, I’m a man with needs. It’d be a lie to say I don’t want
you.”
“Especially when it’s someone I’ve waited years for.”
“But our first time shouldn’t be like this.”
“Do you understand?”
I felt utterly miserable, but I still clung to a sliver of rationality. Yes, I owed him an explanation. It wouldn’t be fair to either of us to rush into this without clearing the air.
Gregory turned on the cold water, filling up the bathtub before looking at me, “Do you want to undress yourself, or should I help?”
He was considering my lack of strength, but his words felt embarrassingly intimate. With a teasing smile, he lifted me off the counter, “Then you take a bath, I’ll go get your clothes.” He left the bathroom, gently closing the door behind him. But the moment he turned away, his eyes were cold, void of the warmth and tenderness he had shown moments before.
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