Chapter 62: The Art of Manipulation
Peyton’s face darkened, her eyes twisting into a vicious glare. “Summer, I’ll be frank with you. If you know what’s good for you, leave Trevor willingly. Otherwise, I’ll make you regret it.”
Love is a double-edged blade. The deeper you love, the deeper you bleed. But Summer no longer loved Trevor, so Peyton’s threats could no longer cut her. Peyton, however, was different. She still loved him.
Summer’s lips curved into a mocking smile. “And what if I say no?”
Suddenly, a knock echoed through the room. A moment later, the door handle slowly began to turn. The instant Peyton heard it, she knew exactly who had come. A strange, icy glint flickered in her once-beautiful eyes; a glimmer of resentment, of something sinister lurking beneath.
“Summer, this time, I’ll make sure you suffer.”
At the same time, Peyton shut her eyes, lifted the steaming cup of water in her hands, and, without hesitation, flung it straight onto herself. “Ah!” A piercing scream shattered the air.
Scalding hot water splashed onto Peyton’s delicate skin, the burning sensation spreading like wildfire, searing through her flesh. Within seconds, angry red welts bloomed across her arm and chest, the sight almost gruesome. It had all happened in the blink of an eye.
Summer, standing to the side, hadn’t expected Peyton to go to such extremes and harm herself so deliberately. She had assumed Peyton was about to throw the water at her and had instinctively raised her bag to shield herself. But now, seeing Peyton’s masterful self-directed performance, Summer couldn’t help but think that Yvette should take notes. This was some next-level acting.
Almost at the same moment, the door burst open with a loud bang. Trevor stormed in, moving as fast as the wind. The moment he saw Summer, a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes. But then his gaze shifted and fell upon Peyton, who lay slumped on the sofa, her body drenched in water.
His face darkened instantly. Without hesitation, he grabbed a towel and began patting her dry. His voice was sharp, accusing. “Summer, what did you do to Peyton?”
Tears welled in Peyton’s eyes, two shimmering streaks rolling down her pale cheeks as she curled into Trevor’s embrace. Her voice was soft, trembling with emotion. “Trevor, I’m fine. Don’t blame Summer, please. It was my own fault… I wasn’t careful, and I spilled the hot water on myself.”
Trevor immediately pulled out his phone, made a call, and got Josh to come help out.
Hearing that Peyton had been burned by hot water, Josh wasted no time. Within minutes, he stormed into the hospital room. With swift precision, he began treating Peyton’s arm by cooling the burn, applying antiseptic, and doing everything he could to ease her pain.
Meanwhile, Peyton kept reassuring them in a soft, fragile voice. “Trevor, Josh, I’m fine. Luckily, the water wasn’t too hot. It’s really nothing.”
But the implication was clear. If the water had been just a little hotter, she would have been permanently scarred… all because of Summer. Death by a thousand cuts. Peyton had mastered this game.
Josh’s fury ignited at once. He turned sharply, jabbing a finger toward Summer’s face. “Summer, how could you be so cruel?! Peyton has surgery tomorrow, and yet you scalded her with hot water today? Just what kind of vicious heart do you have?!”
As the words left his mouth, his hand lifted, and he wanted to slap Summer across the face. But before he could strike, Trevor’s hand shot out, blocking the blow.
Summer let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Which one of you actually saw me pour the water on her? Ever consider that she did it to herself? Or is blaming me just easier?”
A flicker of something dark like resentment, jealousy, and rage flashed through Peyton’s eyes the moment Trevor stood between them. But she masked it in an instant, quickly shifting back into her delicate, pitiful act. “Summer, I know you didn’t mean to hurt me. I don’t blame you.”
Then, she turned to Josh with a pained look, her voice trembling as she whispered, “Josh, please don’t be mad at Summer. It’s my fault. She doesn’t like me… Everything that happened is my fault.”
That was the final straw for Josh. Hearing Peyton sound so wronged, yet she was undeservingly kind and forgiving, his anger burned even hotter. Peyton was gentle, kind, and incapable of harming anyone. If something happened to her, it could only mean one thing: Summer had set her up.
Nothing else mattered at that moment. Not even the fact that Trevor was his boss. “Trevor, let me go! I have to teach this woman a lesson today. She needs to know her place!” Josh struggled against Trevor’s grip, his face flushed with anger.
Trevor, however, remained composed, his sharp gaze landing on Summer, who stood there expressionless, indifferent to the chaos unfolding around her. A flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes before he frowned. “Josh, finish what you came here to do and leave. Don’t cause trouble here.”
Josh was livid. “Trevor, don’t be naive! Last time, Summer forced Peyton to jump into the water. Now, she came here and scalded her with boiling water. How much more proof do you need? This woman is ruthless. She’s trying to kill Peyton! If you won’t punish her, then I will!”