Summer’s heart leaped into her throat.
Her eyes, shimmering with tears, were wide with panic, threatening to spill over.
Alexander!
Her Alexander!
Right now, all she wanted was just one look at him.
Just a moment—that would be enough to know he was safe, still by her side, to give her a chance to make things right.
But where could he have gone so early in the morning?
Summer was frantic.
She jumped off the bed and ran barefoot through the villa, searching every corner for him like a madwoman.
But he was nowhere.
Not in the living room.
Not in the gardens.
Not in the study.
He was gone.
Her Alexander had left her…
That crushing wave of disappointment hit Summer all over again, making her knees weak and her body sway as if she might collapse.
Then it hit her—something was off.
Why hadn’t a single maid spoken to her this whole time?
Right… Mrs.
Thompson must be behind this again.
Mrs.
Thompson had seen Alexander leave that morning looking deeply troubled.
He hadn’t even touched breakfast before heading straight for the back hill, completely silent.
She’d served him for years—she knew that whenever he was upset, he always went to that hill to see his Tibetan Mastiff.
But it had been a long time since he’d done that.
Today was definitely out of the ordinary.
Mrs.
Thompson figured: it must’ve been that idiot Summer’s fault.
And if Alexander was already annoyed with Summer, she couldn’t be happier—it was the perfect chance to teach that dumb girl a lesson.
As soon as he’d stepped out, Mrs.
Thompson rounded up all the staff.
She gave one clear, strict order: ignore Summer completely until Alexander returned.
Ice her out.
She needed to be reminded—loud and clear—who really ran this household aside from Mr.
Barron.
And if anyone dared break this rule?
They could pack their bags and leave.
Everyone knew Mr.
Barron usually didn’t interfere with staff matters, and the new Mrs.
Barron?
Well, she was known as a bit of an airhead from the start, which made Mrs.
Thompson the undisputed queen of the house.
No one wanted to lose such a comfortable job.
So when Summer ran around in tears, searching for Alexander, not a single soul acknowledged her.
Thompson hid in the shadows, watching it all unfold with a smug little smirk.
“Stupid girl, trying to challenge me?
You’re way out of your depth.”
Panicking, Summer reached out and grabbed a maid passing by.
Her voice trembled as she blinked her tear-filled eyes.
“Pretty sister, have you seen big brother?
I’ve looked everywhere and I still can’t find him…”
The maid looked at Summer’s pitiful, about-to-cry face and was reminded of her own little sister back home.
Her heart softened.
She hesitated briefly but finally tossed Mrs.
Thompson’s order aside.
Clenching her teeth, she whispered,“Mrs.
Barron, Mr.
Barron went to the back hill.”
Then, after a moment’s thought, she added,“He didn’t look well… Skipped breakfast and left looking really upset.”
No breakfast?
And upset?
What had happened to Alexander?
Summer was full of questions, but she still managed a sweet smile at the maid.“Thank you, pretty sister!”
The maid felt her heart melt.Gosh, the new Mrs.
Barron was just too adorable!
Summer quickly turned to head for the hill.
But just as her hand touched the doorknob, she stopped.
He hadn’t eaten…
She bit her lip, then turned and walked back inside.
In her last life, Summer Knight had been completely fooled by Isabella Knight and James Carter.
After marrying Alexander Barron, she constantly picked fights with him, called him a monster and a creep, and kept raving about how wonderful James was.
It drove Alexander crazy.
But no matter how much she provoked him, he never lashed out.
Instead, he’d bottle it all up and go drink alone.
Once, he drank so much he ended up in the hospital with a stomach hemorrhage, and ever since, he’d had chronic stomach issues.
Now, in this life, she was determined to take care of him properly—starting with his stomach.
He hadn’t eaten all morning.
She was going to make something herself and bring it to him!
But just as Summer was about to step into the kitchen, Mrs.
Thompson blocked her way.
“I’m sorry, ma’am.
You can’t go in there!”Mrs.
Thompson declared, standing like a queen with the other maids backing her up, acting as if she owned the place.
Summer blinked, puffing her cheeks in mock confusion.“Why not?”
“Miss Knight, please understand—Mr.
Barron is now the head of the Barron Empire.
His status is extremely important.
If someone with ill intentions tried to poison him, guess who’d get blamed?
Us!”Mrs.
Thompson sneered.
“That’s why the kitchen is a high-security area.
Even someone like you shouldn’t be going in without permission!”
“Exactly!
The kitchen’s off-limits to outsiders!”The other maids chimed in, staring her down with disdain.
Clearly, they’d grown used to following Mrs. Get faster updates on g.com.
Thompson and looking down on Summer, the so-called ‘foolish’ little wife.
Summer didn’t panic.
She looked up at the surveillance camera, blinked innocently, and turned to Mrs.
Thompson with big, pitiful eyes.
“But I just want to cook something for Big Brother.
He didn’t have breakfast; he must be starving.”
“Mrs.
Thompson, she just wants to make breakfast for Mr.
Barron.
Can’t you let it slide just this once?”The kind-hearted maid from earlier couldn’t stand the bullying anymore and spoke up for Summer.
But Mrs.
Thompson wasn’t having it.
She slapped the maid hard across the face.“Who asked for your opinion?!”
The maid clutched her reddening cheek, eyes welling with tears.
“Get her out of here!”Mrs.
Thompson barked.“She ignored my orders, blabbed about Mr.
Barron’s whereabouts, and now sides with this idiot?
Unforgivable!”
“I’d like to see you try,”Summer said coldly, stepping in front of the maid, her innocent face suddenly stern and intimidating.
Everyone froze.
This ‘foolish’ girl suddenly had a backbone?
With a serious expression, brows furrowed, Summer stated,“Mrs.
Thompson, my dad told me that once I marry Big Brother, I’ll be the lady of this house.
If you refuse to listen to me, he said I should put you in your place.”
Before the words even settled—SMACK!
She slapped Mrs.
Thompson across the face so fast it was like lightning.
The sound echoed sharply.
Half of Mrs.
Thompson’s face jerked to the side, burning red.
She’d been slapped—by the ‘fool’?
Seriously?
“You little brat!
I’ll tear your face apart!”
Mrs.
Thompson completely lost it.
Her face twisted in fury as she lunged, her rough hands aiming for Summer’s delicate cheeks.
But Summer just watched coolly.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
No one noticed the silver needle in her hand—it gleamed for a split second as she moved.
The next moment, she jabbed it straight into Mrs.
Thompson’s leg.
With a sharp cry, Mrs.
Thompson’s knees buckled.
THUD!
She collapsed hard in front of Summer, her head bowing down and hitting the floor with a loud crack.