Chapter 169: The Hidden Strings

Summer gritted her teeth, forcing herself to remain patient. "Tell me," she said, "the great Bossinan, Mr. Graham, is going on his word now!"

Fraser exhaled a slow stream of smoke, his lips clinging to that annoyingly used gum. “Simmer down,” he said. “I said I needed to be satisfied. But clearly I was the one who did all the work last night.”

Is he seriously suggesting I should have been the one? she thought. This man is absolutely insane!

The way Summer was biting her lower lip and frowning made her look like an irritated kitten about to unleash its claws and scratch someone.

As if reading her thoughts, Fraser’s free hand, the one not holding his cigarette, snaked around her waist with practiced ease, pulling her flush against his body. His dark eyes sparkled with mischief and something more dangerous as he leaned down, his warm breath ghosting across her ear as he whispered, “Shall we continue tonight? Give you a chance to participate more actively?”

Summer couldn’t help the sneer that escaped her. “How energetic of you, Mr. Graham!”

His answering chuckle sent vibrations through her entire body. “Can’t afford not to be.”

He murmured, his lips brushing deliberately against her sensitive earlobe. “Not when my temporary…sufficiency might be leaving any day now. I should make the most of our…limited time together, don’t you think?”

She brought her hands up to press against his chest, just as Merry’s voice echoed down the hall. “Summer? Summer, where are you?”

Reacting instinctively, Summer clenched Fraser’s expensive shirt in her hands and pressed herself closer into his shadow, as if she could disappear inside him.

A low, knowing laugh rumbled from above her. “All that fire and attitude, and you’re afraid your little assistant will see us together?” His tone dripped with amusement.

After several days of working closely together, Summer knew Merry’s personality all too well; if the girl discovered their relationship, she would undoubtedly begin to “help” in the most well-intentioned but ultimately disastrous ways.

“There’s no point in letting people know about our relationship,” Summer murmured against his chest, her words slightly muffled by his shirt. “Since we’re going to go our separate ways eventually anyway, I don’t want you to think I’m using your precious family name and title for advantage.”

Fraser’s grip on her waist tightened almost painfully for a brief moment. “How…considerate of you,” he said, his voice suddenly several degrees colder.

They remained frozen in that position until Merry’s searching footsteps finally faded down the corridor. Only then did Fraser release her, not without giving her a sharp, stinging slap on the backside that made her jump.

“She’s already gone away, little rabbit.”

Outside the Sonata Bar, Summer stepped into the cool night air and immediately spotted Merry waiting anxiously at the…

“There you are!” Merry ran over, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you! Where did you go?”

Summer straightened her slightly wrinkled blouse. “I went to the washroom.”

Merry narrowed her eyes. “I had just searched all over the bathroom.”

“I went there too, how come I didn’t see you? Huh, why is your lace so red?”

Chapter 169: The Hidden Strings

When driving down the road, Merry opened her mouth.

“Summer.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I just knew that man back there was Fraser Graham, the Bossman of the Graham Group! Did you know that their family is worth tens of billions? They practically own half of Havenbrook!”

Summer kept her eyes on the road as she carefully turned left. “We’ve met,” she said, hoping it sounded sufficiently noncommittal.

Merry carefully looked at Summer, a hint of gossip in her voice. “What is your relationship with him?”

Summer looked ahead; her voice was even. “Just acquaintances.”

“Oh, well.”

Merry pouted at the non-answer, but sensing Summer’s unwillingness to elaborate, she wisely changed the subject.

The car soon arrived at the hospital. Summer and Merry carried the fresh fruits and nutritional supplements they had just purchased, heading toward the hospital room.

Merry, bouncing with energy, was about to push the door open when they heard voices inside.

“Why is our family so unfortunate? Now we can’t even afford your father’s minor surgery fees?”

“Mom, I’m sorry. If I hadn’t brought Mason into our home back then, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”

“Ah, Sienna, this is just fate. Over these years, our family has been constantly paying off debts, and your design firm keeps requiring investments. Maybe…you should just find a stable job instead.”

Summer knocked on the door, interrupting the conversation between Sienna’s mother, Laurett Reed, and Sienna. She glanced at Sienna’s father, Natelie Monroe, who was still unconscious after the surgery.

“Hello, Madam Laurent,” Summer greeted warmly.

Merry followed behind, placing the supplements and fruits on the table before greeting politely, “Hello, Madam Laurett.”

Laurent studied Summer’s face, a flicker of recognition passing through her eyes.

Summer smiled and explained, “Back in university, Sienna once brought me and Yvette to your home for dinner.”

The reminder sparked Laurent’s memory. Her gaze swept over Summer. Once a timid young girl, now a poised and elegant woman. Having been a society lady herself, Laurett could tell at a glance that Summer’s outfit wasn’t cheap.

“Summer. I remember you all now. I’ve seen in the news that Yvette has become a big celebrity. You’ve all grown up so well. Unlike my Sienna, who just…gets ahead.”

Chapter 169: The Hidden Strings

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