Chapter 51: Do You Like Me?
Before summer, reunited with the Stewart family, she earned outstanding scores and was accepted into Havenbrook University at seventeen years old. Her adoptive mother, Yolanda, declared that girls didn't need an education and were better off marrying early. She tore Summer's acceptance letter to shreds. Then, she took a $4,000 referral fee and arranged for her to work as a factory assembly line worker, meticulously planning her future down to the last detail. Summer refused, feeling only despair.
Yolanda slapped her hard. “Summer, if you have the guts, then get lost and never come back. You have no documents, you’re an unregistered nobody, you’re useless trash that’ll never amount to anything. This is your future! Stop struggling!”
Tears streaming down her face, Summer ran out. She accidentally crashed into a luxury car. And it wasn't just any car. The person who stepped out was Trevor.
Back then, Trevor wasn't as cold and indifferent as he would later become. He was still reserved, with jet-black hair and deep, striking eyes, carrying a trace of youthful inexperience. Seeing Summer crying so miserably, he thought she was seriously hurt and anxiously asked, “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”
She had scraped her leg, and a little blood trickled down. But what hurt more was her shattered future. Through her sobs, she could only say, “My college is gone.”
Later, to make up for injuring her, Trevor promised to replace her college acceptance letter. Summer didn't believe him. But the next day, she actually received her letter, delivered personally by a Havenbrook University official. In that moment, Trevor, along with that letter, became the salvation of her seventeen-year-old life.
A year later, she started university and ran into Trevor again while working a part-time job. Summer had never chased anyone before. Rather than calling it persistence, it was more like she placed her whole heart before the boy she had liked since she was seventeen. Until one day, Trevor’s Rolls-Royce finally stopped in front of her. The back window rolled down, revealing his cool and composed face. “Why do you wait here for me every day?”
Summer felt a little shy. “It’s nothing. I just wanted to see you.”
“Do you like me?”
Chapter 51: Do You Like Me?
Summer lifted her eyes and met his deep, dark gaze. “Forever.” Summer snapped out of her thoughts.
“People grow and change. For the past five years, I’ve loved you with all my heart and given everything to this relationship. Trevor, just because of my promise, you think I’ll always be here waiting for you? In your eyes, my love is cheap, and that’s why you hurt me so recklessly.” Her voice trembled, not just because of the man in front of her, but because of five years of devotion and heartbreak.
Trevor frowned, feeling a bit irritated. I already promised her the title of Mrs. Larson. What else does she want? Just because I didn’t reply to a few messages? Because I didn’t pay much attention to her feelings? Because I spent certain occasions taking care of Peyton? She’s making a big deal out of nothing.
He didn’t want to argue with Summer about this today. It was pointless. If they kept talking, it would end the same way as before, with another fight. Suppressing his impatience, he said, “Summer, fine, it’s all my fault. Is that okay? Let’s just go try on wedding dresses today, alright?”
Summer watched his reaction. The mix of emotions she had just felt—excitement, sadness—was instantly doused by a bucket of ice-cold water. She no longer cared to ask, “What exactly did you do wrong?” If Trevor is so eager for me to try on wedding dresses, fine. I’ll go. But he better not regret it.
Summer got into the car with Trevor. They sat on opposite sides, separated by the center console. The ride was silent. Summer gazed out the window, not sparing him a single glance. Trevor sat in the back, tugging at his tie, his brows furrowed, his face expressionless. They had been together for five years. She knew him well. This was his impatient look. But Summer wouldn’t soothe him like she used to. He felt frustrated now, and soon, he’d probably be even angrier.
The driver, suffocating under the tense atmosphere, could only step harder on the gas. The car sped forward, and the passing scenery blurred into streaks of color. Before long, they arrived at Linden, Havenbrook’s exclusive bridal boutique.