Chapter 150


    It took every ounce of patience for Summer to make it to thest period of study hall. She seized the


    opportunity to concoct an excuse about needing to return to her artist camp for training. With a slightly


    hesitant request, she approached Morgan for a leave of absence.


    Morgan, who typically frowned upon students making a habit of ducking out early, was nheless


    swayed by the noticeable uptick in Summer’s recent test scores and granted her


    the pass.


    Stepping through the school gates, the day’s umted pressure began to dissipate. Summer


    slipped on her mask and sunsses, blending into the crowd as she paused at the curb. Her fingers


    danced over her phone, eventuallynding on a familiar number – Zach Davis. She hesitated for a


    moment before hitting the call button. Zach, who was currently wrapped up in court proceedings, had


    entrusted his phone to his assistant, a guardian of his privacy. The assistant knew the significance of a


    call from a personal number and didn’t answer when Summer’s attempts came through.


    After two unanswered calls, Summer didn’t bother trying again. A wry smile yed on her lips, hidden


    beneath her shades, as her eyes shed with a knowing darkness.


    Had the years ofradery truly fallen short against the weight of blood ties? Had ite to the point


    where even her calls went ignored? Mirabe really was quite the force to be reckoned with.


    With a cynical chuckle, Summer gged down a taxi and rattled off an address.


    Half an hourter…


    “What brings you by out of the blue, Summer? Didn’t you have ss this afternoon?” Emmitt dismissed


    his secretary and poured a ss of water for Summer.


    She epted it with a nod of thanks. Her mask and sunsses now rested on the table as she spoke


    warmly. “Thest period was just study hall, nothing too pressing. I was hoping to catch lunch with


    Zach, but he wasn’t picking up. Maybe he’s tied up with something.”


    There was a tinge of disappointment in her voice, which didn’t escape Emmitt’s notice. He nced at


    his watch subtly before replying. “He’s probably busy.”


    “It’s been ages since we all got together. Why don’t you give Zach a ringter, Emmitt?” Summer


    suggested softly, taking a sip from her ss.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Emmitt’s thoughts drifted to something Zach had mentioned a few days ago. After a brief pause, he


    replied, “He seems swamped these days. Let’s not bother him for now. We can n something when


    he’s less upied.”


    A faint tension gripped Summer’s hand around the ss, but she casually set it down. “Sure, that


    works too.” After a pause, she added, “I just don’t want Zach to get the wrong idea.


    Chapter 150


    “What do you mean?” Emmitt’s brow furrowed, not quite catching her drift.


    Summer bit her lip, her voice dropping to a whisper, “After the incidentst time, Mira’s been avoiding


    me. And now Zach isn’t answering my calls… I can’t help but worry he might be


    getting the wrong impression.”


    Emmitt’s expression grew more concerned as he listened, taking a while before responding in at


    measured tone, “You’re overthinking it. Zach isn’t one to be easily influenced by rumors.”


    Summer’s face momentarily stiffened, then rxed, “Well, that’s a relief.”


    “Make yourselffortable for a bit. I’ve got some things to wrap up.” Emmitt turned back to his desk,


    immersing himself in his work.


    Silence enveloped the office, leaving Summer sitting there, lost in thought. Watching Emmitt pore over


    his documents, she felt an unfamiliar awkwardness, a void where conversation used to be. It was as if


    today marked some peculiar asion, a day where everything and everyone seemed to be shifting,


    subtly but surely.


    Summer was growing weary of this uneasy sense of losing grip on the world around her.