Chapter 267: The Dangerous Trap
Julia looked at the gift. It was an extremely rare, millennium-old ginseng. Hardly a small gift.
“This is very thoughtful of you,” she said.
Lucas smiled. “I’ll leave now, not to disturb you and your mother!”
A short time later, back in the house, Julia suddenly slapped her thigh. “Now I remember! Lucas Aldridge, of the prestigious Aldridge family, Havenbrook’s intellectual elite.”
Summer hummed absentmindedly and headed upstairs to the shower. Julia followed closely. “Does he like you?”
Summer frowned. Was it that obvious? Julia took one look at her expression and knew.
“Summer,” Julia began, “I know you’ve decided to raise the child on your own, but have you considered…if the opportunity arises…it might not be a bad idea to find a suitable father for the baby?”
Summer stopped in her tracks. “Mom, what nonsense are you talking about?”
Julia continued. “A mother’s intuition is never wrong. This Lucas seems cultured and refined, with excellent manners. The Aldridge family is known for its scholarly heritage; they wouldn’t care about background or status. If he really likes you…I think you should consider it.”
Summer became increasingly uncomfortable. “Stop. Lucas and I aren’t like that. I don’t have feelings for him.”
“Feelings? You liked Trevor at first, then you got involved with Fraser. But neither of those men was good,” Julia said, realizing she’d gone too far. “Summer, I misspoke. I just don’t want you to fight alone.”
Summer’s voice became firm. “Don’t bring it up again.” She cut herself off.
Meanwhile, in a luxury hotel, Philip climbed out of bed and tied his robe. On the mattress, Sienna’s barely healed wounds were now crisscrossed with fresh lash marks, grotesque and horrifying. These days, whenever Philip had free time, he summoned her to vent his sadism. Each session brought new tools—belts, electric prods, and tonight, a whip. A few more rounds like this, and I will be dead. Despite his wealth, the man was stingy. Each time, he tossed her a few hundred thousand, barely making a dent in her debt. With this thought and the stench of Philip clinging to her skin, Sienna nearly vomited. Philip lit a cigarette on the sofa and grinned. “When are you going to deliver that woman? I’m tired of fucking you.” Sienna wiped her tears with the back of her hand and bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.
The Certigen bus… The cailles; the place was unusually overrun. She… The wording here is unclear and requires further context to correct accurately.
Merry handed her the…choose what you want. L…have no… The wording here is unclear and requires further context to correct accurately.
The moment Merry left, Sienna… “Go home, Merry.” Merry frowned… Ill…unde…Afferopologie…sy…then…immen. The wording here is unclear and requires further context to correct accurately.
Sama glanced into the private room. Deven could be card…winn. She pushed Mesmo! che…erit. “Anvedter…nena Tomica is not the un.” Something felt wrong, but Merry couldn’t put her finger on it. Nieve…rune…dent…went…LP…THEMES…UN…MATT…hamllation. Send Gifts.