When Kenneth Yates returned, Summer Lancaster still hadn't picked out an outfit. 'This woman is unbelievable,' he thought. He leaned against the doorway, casually watching her.
"How about this one?" Summer picked up a sky-blue dress and asked Kenneth, her face full of anticipation.
Kenneth pouted and said it didn't look good. He walked over and chose a beige dress. The simple, clean color was perfect for Summer. Afraid she was running out of time, Summer hurriedly changed into it. Only after she had it on did she realize she couldn't pull up the zipper in the back by herself, so she went to ask Kenneth for help, her face blushing.
Kenneth was sitting on the sofa, playing on his phone. When he saw Summer approach, he asked, "What's wrong?"
Blushing, Summer lowered her head and said, "I can't get the zipper. Can you help me?" 'This woman is so awkward,' he thought. 'What's there to be shy about?' Kenneth zipped her up. His fingertips accidentally brushed against her skin, and it felt like an electric current shot through his entire body. Summer didn't seem to notice anything. She turned around, saw him in a daze, and waved a hand in front of his face. Kenneth snapped out of it, and the two of them left for home in his car.
「Yates Residence」
A servant opened the gate, and Kenneth drove the car into the courtyard. The grounds were lined with lush greenery, like a hidden paradise. There were also the champagne roses Kenneth loved. Amidst the emerald green, their creamy white petals stood out vibrantly. Summer suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Kenneth.
"Kenneth, why did you throw away the champagne roses I gave you when we were kids?" Summer asked. She had been so heartbroken at the time that she'd sulked at home for days without going out. By the time she finally recovered, she no longer wanted to see him.
"Because of the meaning of thirteen champagne roses," Kenneth said without looking at Summer.
'The meaning?' Summer had no idea what he was talking about. Seeing that Kenneth wasn't saying anything more, she kept quiet as well. When they got out of the car, Kenneth's long legs carried him forward quickly. Summer hurried after him, asking sycophantically, "So what is the meaning of thirteen champagne roses?"
"..." Kenneth didn't answer. He just gave a wicked smile and picked up his pace.
"Hey, Kenneth, wait for me!" Summer called out, jogging to catch up. Hearing the commotion, Lianne Vance came out of the house and urged them to hurry inside.
"Mom, where's Ethan?" Summer asked Lianne, noticing Ethan wasn't in the room. 'As for Kenneth, his own brother, you'd think he'd be more concerned,' Summer thought, despising him.
Seeing her anxious expression, Kenneth suddenly grew displeased. He ignored her and sat down on the sofa. Just then, Ethan came downstairs.
"Summer, I missed you so much!" Ethan said, pulling her into a hug without another word. Summer was thrilled and hugged him back just as tightly. The two of them laughed and chatted happily, making Kenneth, who was sitting not far away, feel like a third wheel...
"Ethan, you should be calling her 'sister-in-law' now!" Lianne said, smiling at them. When they were younger, Lianne had thought Summer liked Ethan and had even tried to play matchmaker. She never expected that the one Summer liked was Kenneth. When their engagement was announced, Ethan also announced he was going to study abroad. The family all thought it was a coincidence, believing Ethan only saw Summer as a good friend, so they didn't worry about it.
Summer quickly cut in, "Mom, it's fine. We've known each other for so many years, don't make him call me that. It would feel awkward for me too." And it was true; Summer really didn't want such a grown-up brother-in-law.
Kenneth lit a cigarette on the sofa and exhaled a puff of smoke. He watched them through the haze, the scene so blurry, yet so jarring. Just like... when they were children.
"Brother, when did you start smoking? You should cut back, it's bad for you." Ethan smelled the acrid odor and realized Kenneth was smoking. He remembered that Kenneth didn't smoke when he left to study abroad.
"I'm going upstairs. Call me for dinner." Kenneth extinguished his cigarette and headed up the stairs. Ethan watched his retreating back. 'Brother, can you still not bring yourself to love her? Maybe my leaving was a mistake.'
"Summer, are you and my brother doing okay?" he asked. He wasn't sure what answer he wanted to hear. Yes? Or no.
"We're doing great," Summer said, picking up an orange from the table, not giving his question much thought. Her relationship with Kenneth seemed to have smoothed out recently. It was a strange, indescribable feeling. She offered a slice of orange to Ethan.
"Have an orange. These were your favorite when you were a kid."
Ethan looked down at his shoes. 'Is she really doing well? It doesn't seem like my brother treats her well at all. I heard from Mom that they've been living apart for the past two years, and his scandals are all over the news. How much sadness is she hiding in her heart? How carefully must she be concealing it to act so carefree?'
He took the orange slice from her. 'She's always been like this, paying attention to other people's likes and dislikes, always thinking of others.'
"So, Ethan, did you date anyone while you were abroad?" she asked, still munching on her fruit.
"All the foreign beauties were fighting over me. My charm didn't diminish one bit even after going abroad," he said, flicking his stylish bangs with his hand. Of course, he had already concealed the emotion in his eyes from a moment ago.
Summer burst out laughing with a PUFF. "And your narcissism hasn't diminished one bit either." Speaking of narcissism, she thought of Kenneth. That man was usually so cold, but she hadn't expected him to have a narcissistic streak as well. The thought made her laugh even harder.
"Summer, what's so funny? I'm telling the truth," Ethan said, giving her a look of mock disdain.
"It's nothing. I'm going to go check on your brother." Summer stood up, leaving only the impression of her body in the sofa cushions.
「Kenneth's Room」
Kenneth heard the door open and knew it was her. The anger in his heart flared. He put down his phone and stormed toward her. Summer saw him approaching and was just about to ask what was wrong when a crushing kiss swept over her, leaving her stunned. The kiss was rough, giving her no chance to resist. He gripped the back of her head, his kiss so forceful it felt like he was trying to devour her.
"Mmph... Ken..." Summer tried to push him away, but he only held her tighter, leaving her powerless to struggle.
Kenneth kissed her furiously, his body seemingly out of his control. He was always rational; he would never do something so impulsive...
The unending kiss left Summer breathless. She tried to pull away, but there was no escape. Just as she felt she was about to suffocate, she bit down hard on Kenneth's lip with all her might. The taste of blood filled her mouth instantly. Kenneth cried out in pain and released her. He wiped the blood from his mouth, his expression turning bloodthirsty, demonic.
"Kenneth, what are you doing?" Traces of his blood stained the corner of her mouth. The metallic taste was strong, but she felt a strange pang of pity for him. 'I don't know what's gotten into him today.' She had only bitten him out of desperation, but she still felt a sense of guilt.
Kenneth didn't speak, just continued to stare at her with the same intensity. Summer's heart softened. 'Maybe I was a little too rough.'
"Kenneth, are you okay?" she asked, reaching out to touch his injured lip, but Kenneth slapped her hand away. Her hand was left hanging in mid-air as Kenneth brushed past her and went into the bathroom. Summer stood there, stunned, for a long moment before it registered. 'What's going on? I didn't mean to hurt him.'
At the dinner table, Lianne Vance noticed the cut on Kenneth's lip and asked, "Kenneth, what happened to your lip?"
"Bumped it by accident," Kenneth answered nonchalantly, without looking up.
'Bumped it?' Lianne thought. 'Does he take us for fools? How do you "accidentally bump" your own lip?' Lianne didn't say anything more. She could already guess what it meant about their relationship... Across the table, Ethan's gaze was deep in thought.