‘It was just a joke.
Why does it feel like he took it seriously?
And seems really unhappy about it?’
Wynn Shaw’s heart was in turmoil as she watched the man’s retreating back, not a hint of hesitation in his stride.
She sighed.
‘This guy is so difficult.’
The Lancaster Family.
Dinnertime.
The elegant dining table was laden with dishes, but the atmosphere was frozen solid.
Rhea Shepherd sat ramrod straight, her expression sour.
Her gaze swept over the dishes on the table, her brow furrowing slightly.
It was only after Jaden Lancaster swore up and down and confirmed that Chase Sullivan was of Lancaster blood that Rhea Shepherd had finally relented and begrudgingly accepted Summer Sullivan.
She had made a special trip back to Jaden Lancaster’s villa these past few days, hoping to get closer to her grandson, Chase Sullivan.
To that end, Jaden had specifically told Summer Sullivan to prepare a few of her best dishes to welcome Rhea.
Summer Sullivan held her son, Chase, with a smile plastered on her face, carefully bringing a spoonful of steamed egg to the boy’s lips.
“Be a good boy, Chase.
Just one more bite.”
She could feel the displeasure radiating from Rhea Shepherd.
It wasn’t the first or second time the older woman had given her a look.
Rhea Shepherd picked up her chopsticks, selected a piece of stir-fried asparagus, and chewed it twice before setting her chopsticks down.
Her voice was quiet, but perfectly clear.
“This asparagus looks expensive, but it doesn’t taste very fresh.
The stalks are woody.
Prices are skyrocketing these days, and Jaden works so hard.
You should save money where you can.”
The smile on Summer Sullivan’s face froze for a second before she quickly composed herself and explained in a soft voice,
“Mother, this is organic asparagus that was flown in today.
Perhaps… I didn’t cook it quite right.”
“Organic?” Rhea Shepherd snorted.
“More like overpriced and poor quality.
Jaden has been working so hard lately.
As the woman by his side, you should be more considerate.
Not like before…”
She paused, shooting a pointed look at Summer Sullivan.
“When Wynn Shaw was around, she always knew what Jaden liked to eat, and what I liked to eat.
The groceries she bought were affordable, and she could even help him shoulder the burden at the company.
But now…
he’s busy until all hours of the night.
With Wynn gone and all the pressure from the company…”
The words were like a thorn, stabbing straight into Summer Sullivan’s heart.
Her fingers tightened around the spoon, the smile on her face threatening to crumble.
‘This old hag is as impossible to please as ever, always finding fault with me.’
‘I study Rhea Shepherd’s preferences every single day, making all her favorite dishes, only to be met with nitpicking and comparisons to Wynn Shaw.’
‘She implies, in every way possible, that I’m not good enough.’ Summer Sullivan sneered to herself. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
‘Wynn Shaw gave so much, and Jaden Lancaster still didn’t love her.’
But there was nothing she could do.
As long as Wynn Shaw hadn’t completely cut ties, the company would be unstable, and Jaden’s heart wouldn’t be fully hers.
All Summer could do was endure it.
‘The day I officially marry into the Lancaster family, I won’t be putting up with Rhea Shepherd’s attitude anymore.
If she wants a fight, I’ll give her one to the bitter end!’
“I understand, Mother.” Summer Sullivan lowered her head, her grip tightening on her chopsticks as she hid the deep resentment in her eyes.
「Late at night, in the brightly lit study.」
Jaden Lancaster rubbed his throbbing temples, the glow from his computer screen illuminating his weary face.
He grabbed the phone next to him.
He had sent Wynn Shaw a barrage of messages, but she hadn’t replied.
Several of Wynn Shaw’s direct subordinates, including Zoe Sinclair, had all left with her in a show of unified loyalty.
They had abandoned all their duties at Lancaster Group.
Jaden thought this was a poor move.
They should have at least left a few people behind; then he wouldn’t be so overwhelmed by multiple clients.
‘How did I never realize how difficult her responsibilities were to take over?’ Many of the clients would only work with her.
The study door creaked open, and Summer Sullivan walked in, carrying a glass of milk.
“Jaden, it’s getting late.
Drink some milk and take a break.” She placed the glass on his desk.
Her voice held a note of grievance, but she forced a gentle and understanding expression onto her face.
“Mm, just leave it there,” Jaden said without looking up, his fingers still clacking on the keyboard.
Summer Sullivan stood beside him for a moment.
When he showed no further reaction, she couldn’t help but speak.
“Your mother picked on me at the dinner table again today…
She said the groceries I bought weren’t fresh, that I waste money, and…
and she compared me to Wynn Shaw.” Her voice caught with a sob.
“I know I made mistakes in the past and she’s held a grudge against me for years, but I’m really trying now.
Why does she always have to find fault with me?”
Jaden Lancaster heaved a deep sigh.
The intense work over the past few days, combined with the silent war between his mother and Summer, had left him utterly drained.
He reached out, pulling Summer into his arms, his voice laced with an undisguised weariness.
“Summer, Mom’s getting old, and her ways are hard to change.
It’s not easy for her either.
Try to be a little more understanding, put yourself in her shoes.
Don’t take it to heart, okay?”
His few words of perfunctory comfort were the last straw, shattering what little patience Summer Sullivan had left.
She looked at his bloodshot eyes and the exhaustion etched on his face.
The understanding and comfort she had hoped for never came—only instructions to “put yourself in her shoes” and “be understanding.”
How much more understanding am I supposed to be?’
‘Understanding enough to put up with Wynn Shaw and now Rhea Shepherd for his sake?!’
‘I can’t do it!’
“In that case, why don’t you transfer me ten million?
I’ve had my eye on a few new bags, and I could also use it to buy more gifts and expensive ingredients to win Mom’s favor.”
Jaden rubbed the bridge of his nose and looked up at her.
“Money again?
Didn’t I just give you fifty million a while ago?”
Summer Sullivan’s smile didn’t falter.
“I’ve saved it all, in case the Lancaster Group has a cash flow problem and you need it.
Think of the ten million as my spending money, okay?”
Resigned, Jaden had no choice but to hand her a new card.
“Try to be frugal.
The company is in a very precarious position right now.”
「The Lancaster family’s living room—the next morning.」
Summer Sullivan’s face wore a strange placidness, but beneath the calm, a storm was brewing.
She placed a small, packed suitcase by the door.
Then, holding her oblivious son, Chase, she walked straight over to Rhea Shepherd, who was in the living room reading the newspaper.
“Mother,” Summer Sullivan’s voice was saccharine sweet, her smile flawless.
“I’ll have to trouble you to look after Chase for the next few days.
I have some…
personal matters to take care of, so I need to be away for a bit.”
Rhea Shepherd paused, lowering her newspaper to look at her in confusion.
“Where are you going?
Does Jaden know?”
‘What kind of personal matter couldn’t she discuss face-to-face?’
“It’s just a small thing.
I’ll be back soon.” Summer Sullivan dodged the question, thrusting the child into Rhea Shepherd’s arms with a swift, decisive motion.
A corner of her mouth lifted into a smirk.
“Chase, be a good boy and listen to your grandma, okay?”
With that, she ignored Rhea Shepherd’s stunned expression and her son’s small hands reaching out for her reluctantly.
She turned on her heel, grabbed the suitcase, and walked out the front door without a single look back.
The door shut with a sharp CLICK, severing the connection between inside and out.
Rhea Shepherd, holding the grandson who had been suddenly thrust upon her, was momentarily stunned.
The little boy stared in the direction his mother had disappeared, his lower lip trembling as he looked ready to burst into tears.
Meanwhile, Summer Sullivan settled into the rideshare that had come to pick her up.
She watched the scenery flash by outside the window, a cold smirk playing on her lips.
She took out her phone and booked a flight to a tropical seaside city, followed by a reservation at a luxury resort.
She needed to relax, to escape this place that made her so uncomfortable.
And she needed to teach Rhea Shepherd a lesson.
‘Otherwise, the old woman will never appreciate me.’
‘As for the mess?
She’d leave it for Jaden—the man who told her to “put herself in others’ shoes”—and his picky mother to clean up.
She was curious to see what would become of this family without her.’
‘Let’s see if her son is closer to his own mother or his so-called grandmother.’