A few hours ago...
Gideon came straight to the club and started downing drinks one after another. The image of Summer with another man refused to leave his mind. His chest burned at the thought of her smiling at the man and leaving with him.
What might have happened inside that car? This question made him restless.
’Who is that man?’ The question raged in his mind. ’Her new lover? Or Hope’s father?’
The more he thought about her and that man’s relationship, the more agitated he grew. Back then, he had failed to find out Hope’s biological father. All he had had was a photograph of Summer with a man, entering a hotel. He had tried to track the man down but found no trace.
After some time, he received a letter from an unknown sender, claiming Hope wasn’t his daughter. At first, Gideon thought it was a cruel prank, but the seed of doubt had been planted. When he finally did the paternity test, his entire world collapsed.
Hope wasn’t really his child.
The memory only intensified the fire burning inside him. He downed the remaining drink and slammed the glass on the table.
"Summer, you heartless woman," he muttered. "My love wasn’t enough for you. You went to find another man."
Gideon filled his glass again, his movements unsteady but deliberate. He tilted his head back and swallowed the alcohol in one long gulp. The burn in his throat was nothing compared to the searing pain in his chest. Once the last drop of alcohol slipped down his throat, he flung the glass across the room.
"Summer..." he hissed through clenched teeth, his eyes ablaze. "If you think another man can help you escape me, you are wrong. Your life belongs to me. You belong to me. I’m coming to you. If you dare run again this time, I’ll lock you up forever."
He rose to his feet, but dizziness hit him. His vision swam, and he stumbled back onto the sofa.
"Ugh..." He closed his eyes, leaning backward, his fingers pressing on his temples.
"Sir..." Matthew had just entered the room and found him in that state. Worry clouded his face as he saw Gideon’s flushed face.
"Why did you drink so much?" he muttered, frowning deeply. "You are only making it hard for yourself. Why are you harming yourself like this?"
"Summer," Gideon mumbled.
"She is not here," Matthew snapped. "She doesn’t care. Stop thinking about her."
"Summer..." Gideon murmured again as if he didn’t hear what Matthew had said.
Matthew hung his head down in resignation. He helplessly looked at him.
"I want Summer," Gideon said incoherently. "I need her."
"Fine," Matthew muttered. "I’ll call her. But don’t think she will come. She won’t.
With a frustrated sigh, he dialed Summer’s number. "Miss Summer Wright? Mr. Woods is drunk. Come to the Onyx and take him away."
Without waiting for her response, he ended the call.
Summer blinked at her phone, puzzled. "Did he just say Mr. Woods?" she mumbled. "Drunk? And that man expects me to go there and bring him home." Get faster updates on g.com.
Her expression changed the next minute. "No way..." She slammed the phone on the side table. "Why would I do that? I don’t care if he is drunk or not."
Turning back to her unfinished design draft, she tried to focus, but the pencil refused to move. No matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept circling back to Gideon.
’What if he fires me for not helping him?’ The uneasy thought crept in, making her pause.
It was very much possible. That man could do worse. Maybe he would spare her if she helped him.
"Fine," she sighed, making up her mind. "I’ll help him, and in return, I’ll ask him to stay out of my life."
She slipped her sketches into a folder and got to her feet. Her eyes fell on Hope, peacefully asleep. Gently brushing a hand over her daughter’s forehead, she whispered, "Mommy will be back soon." She kissed her softly before leaving the ward.
Outside, she spotted the attending nurse. "Sister, please stay with Hope for a while. I need to take care of something urgent."
"Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on her," the nurse assured.
At that reassurance, Summer was relieved. "Thanks. I’ll try to come back soon."
With that, she hurried out.
Within minutes, she arrived at the Onyx. She looked around, not knowing where to find him.
"That man..." She quickly took her phone out and dialed the number that had called her earlier.
"Hello," she said as the call logged in, "This is Summer Wright. I have arrived. Could you please tell me which room Mr. Woods is in?"
Matthew froze for a second, surprised. He hadn’t expected her to actually come. "Uh... he is in room 11B. Come right over."
He hung up abruptly, his brows knitting in disbelief. He had been almost sure Summer wouldn’t show up.
Why would she?
That woman had vanished six years ago, faking her death just to escape Gideon. Yet, it took only one phone call for her to convince her to come and take care of the very man she had spent years running from.
He glanced down at Gideon, who was still mumbling incoherently.
"She really came," Matthew muttered in disbelief. "I can’t let her see me."
He strode out of the room and spotted a waiter nearby. "Hey, come here," he called, motioning him over.
"Sir," the waiter approached, "how can I help you?"
"Mr. Woods is in that room," Matthew said, pointing toward the closed door. "He is drunk. His secretary is on her way. Just tell her you were the one who called her."
He slipped some cash into the waiter’s hand.
"Go in." Matthew nodded at the room.
Once the waiter disappeared behind the door, he slipped away.
Summer arrived at room 11B and found Gideon slumped on the sofa, the smell of alcohol assaulting her nostrils. Her hand moved up to her nose instinctively.
"Just how much did you drink?" she muttered.
"Are you Mr. Woods’ secretary?"
At that, she turned and saw a waiter approaching.
"I was the one who called you."
"Oh," Summer nodded.
"He is drunk already. Take him away."
Summer looked at him blankly, wondering, ’Why didn’t he call Matthew instead? Why me?’
Summer didn’t argue with him, though. ’Forget it. I’ll help him this once.’
"Thanks for calling me," she said. "I’ll take care of him."
The waiter left.
Summer’s face twisted into a scowl as she glanced at the man on the sofa. She moved toward the sofa. "Gideon."
No response.
Summer sighed in exasperation, wishing to throw a bucket full of cold water on him.
"Wake up." She gave a kick on his leg.
All she got was a groan in response.
"Unbelievable," she rolled her eyes, "you got drunk to trouble me. You have no idea how much I hate you. Yet, I’m here to help you. Ugh...Why am I so stupid?"
She slapped him in the face. "Wake up."
"Summer, come back," he murmured under his breath.