Chapter 294: After the Storm

After saying her piece, Summer set down the microphone and stood up to leave. Haynes was stunned at first, but quickly recovered and rushed to grab the mic she’d just put down.

“Everyone,” he announced, “as Ms. Summer just explained, her pregnancy is a private matter. She and her boyfriend are planning to get married. It has absolutely nothing to do with Philip. As for what Philip has done to Ms. Summer, our legal team will be issuing a formal statement later. That concludes today’s press conference. Thank you all for coming!”

The reporters all stood up in confusion. “What the hell? That’s it? She basically said nothing. Half a statement is as good as none. It didn’t clear anything up at all.”

Lucas saw something was amiss with Summer and stood up, worried, ready to follow her out. The reporters noticed and quickly swarmed around him. Microphones shot up in his face.

“Mr. Lucas, can you tell us who Ms. Summer’s boyfriend really is?”

“And was that hotel video staged by you two?”

Lucas was blocked before he could take a step. “Everyone, please don’t jump to conclusions. There’s nothing going on between Summer and Philip. Soon, Stewart Group will be suing Dale Group. When that happens, the truth will come out—Summer is the real victim here.”

Then someone in the crowd shouted another question. “Mr. Lucas, you’re defending Summer so fiercely… are you her boyfriend? Are you the father of the baby?”

The room shifted. Reporters were catching the scent of a new headline. “Mr. Lucas, please give us an answer.”

Lucas paused for a moment. He thought of Summer’s fragile figure as she walked away and felt a sharp pain stab through his heart. Then why can’t I be the one to take care of her? I can give her a better future.

Another reporter pressed, “So Mr. Lucas, are you the father of the baby?”

Lucas gave a small smile, but didn’t answer. “Thank you all for your time today. When you leave, the Fu Group will be handing out red envelopes as a small token of appreciation. We hope you’ll be kind with your words.”

At that, every reporter in the room immediately understood. They weren’t new to the game. They now knew exactly how to write today’s headlines.

Summer returned to her office and immediately called Julia. The phone rang for a long time before it was finally answered.

“Mom, are you okay?” Summer asked anxiously.

Julia slowly opened her eyes, dazed, looking out the car window. Her voice was weak. “Why am I by the river?”

Summer had received a video earlier with two clips. The first showed Julia unconscious in a car, parked dangerously close to the Havenbrook River. The next moment, the car looked like it was about to drive into the water. The second was footage of Yvette hanging on wires.

Julia slowly tried to piece things together. “Right… I was on my way to the press conference to support you, but the driver took a weird route. I was about to say something, then I blacked out. When I woke up, I was already here.”

Suddenly, she panicked. “Did the press conference end already? Did you tell them Fraser is your boyfriend? Did everyone find out you were being framed?”

Summer blinked back the sting in her eyes. She had planned to say it. And then everything went to hell. She stayed silent. She didn’t even have the strength to lie.

Julia connected the dots immediately. “I’m going to make her pay!”

Tears welled in Summer’s eyes, her voice trembling. “Mom, please…. just go home. That would help me more than anything right now.”

Hearing the pain in Summer’s voice, Julia’s heart broke. “Okay, okay. I’ll go home right now. I won’t cause any more trouble. Summer, don’t cry. Please don’t cry.”

Summer then called Yvette. It was Yvette’s manager who picked up.

“Summer?”

“Is Yvette okay?” Summer asked, sniffling.

“How’d you know something happened? She was doing a wire stunt and fell! This crew is unbelievable. If they’d pulled the rope just a second later, Yvette’s leg would’ve been broken!”

“How is she now?”

“She’s alright, thanks to the crew pulling just in time. She’s resting now.”

“Okay. Please take good care of her for me.”

After hanging up, Summer bit her lip hard, her eyes burning red. Helen! I will never forgive you!

Just then, there was a knock at the office door. Lucas walked in with long strides.

“Summer, what happened just now?”