Chapter 29 Strings and Schemes
67%
+10 Free Coins
Claudia glanced at the phone screen mounted on her dashboard–it was a call from her son, Andy.
What’s he calling for this late?
Still unsettled from her fight with the boy’s father, and reminded of Andy’s closeness with Summer, Claudia felt a faint crease form between her brows.
“Mom, when are you coming home?”
The car moved slowly through the dark streets as Andy’s soft, childlike voice came through the speaker.
Claudia replied calmly, “Mom’s busy tonight. I won’t be coming home.”
“Oh.” Andy sounded a little disappointed, then asked, “Will you be home at all the next few days?”
Claudia was silent for a moment, lips pressed tight, before she answered firmly, “I’ve got a lot going on. I won’t have time. Let your dad stay with you for now.”
“Okay.”
Andy’s voice turned gloomy. “But Mom, when you do come home, you have to call me, okay? I’ll miss you.”
“…Okay.”
After Andy hung up, Claudia stared at the now–dark screen. Her thick eyelashes trembled, and her grip on the steering wheel stayed tense.
It had been a long time since Andy called just to say he missed her.
Over a year, in fact.
At the Moore family estate, Andy’s little frown disappeared the second the call ended. Cheerfully, he dialed Summer.
At the Zach family villa, Summer was chatting with her parents and Alan when she saw Andy’s call. She excused herself and stepped aside to answer.
30
+x
2
O
1/3
23:45 Sat, Aug 30 MR.
67%
Chapter 29 Strings and Schemes
“Andy, sweetheart, what did your mommy say?”
+10 Free Coins
“Mom said she’s not coming home tonight! And she won’t be back the next few days either!”
Summer’s lips curled into a silent smile. At least Claudia knew when to back off. Hopefully she’d just stay away forever–far away from Alan.
Once the divorce was final and the Moore family merged with the Zach family, everything would be hers.
“Ms. Summer?”
Lost in thought, she had gone quiet for too long. Andy’s curious voice pulled her back.
“Sorry, Andy, I was a little busy just now,” she replied lightly.
20
Andy perked up. “It’s okay, Ms. Summer. Oh! I also told Mom what you said, that she should call me before coming home. When she does, I’ll tell you so you can talk to her and make up, okay? I really like you, Ms. Summer. I don’t want you and Mom to keep fighting.”
“Thank you, Andy.” Summer choked up a little, her voice soft with wounded emotion. “Your mom and I were best friends for years, I don’t know what happened while I was overseas… but when I got back, she just misunderstood me so badly. She even said in front of everyone that she didn’t like me and didn’t want to see me. It really hurt.”
2
Andy quickly tried to comfort her. “Don’t be sad, Ms. Summer. That was Mommy’s fault. When you see her next time, just talk it out and have her apologize, then everything’ll be okay.”
Still smiling, Summer kept her voice sweet and pitiful. “Then I’m counting on you, Andy. Your mom doesn’t want to see me right now, but when she comes back home, you must give me a call. I’ll come by in person and have a proper talk with her. Then, when we play together again, she won’t be mad anymore.”
“Mhm! Ms. Summer’s the best!”
After coaxing Andy a bit longer, Summer finally ended the call and returned to the living
room.
Inside, Mr. Zach, Xia Chuanche, was doing his best to be hospitable.
“Alan, it’s so late and you came all the way here to bring Summer back–we should be the ones thanking you. We can’t just let you drive all the way back tonight.”
He gave Mrs. Zach, Sharon, a subtle look.
30
X4
2/3
23:45 Sat, Aug 30 MR
Chapter 29 Strings and Schemes
67%
+10 Free Coins
Sharon got up to join in. “Alan, your uncle’s right. It’s late. If I let you drive back alone and Nancy finds out, she’ll think I’ve been a bad friend who doesn’t care about her child. Besides, you and Summer grew up together. This is your home too. What’s one night?”
Sharon and Nancy had been close for years. The arrangement between Alan and Summer had been casually agreed upon during one of their playful conversations back then.
Even though the engagement had fallen through, the friendship hadn’t.
The two families remained close.
Sharon had always treated Alan like her own son. With her saying this, a flicker of hesitation crossed Alan’s face.
Just then, Summer walked in and gently took his hand, giving it a little shake.
Her voice was soft as a whisper. “Alan.”
Alan turned to look at her. His expression immediately softened. “Okay.”
Seeing the tender looks exchanged between them, Sharon nudged Summer and the two quietly slipped away, leaving the room to the younger pair.
The night was calm, the moonlight silver over the whispering Bamboo Garden.
Claudia drove into the neighborhood and pulled up in front of the Lane Studio.
As she stepped out, holding up her skirt, her gaze casually drifted across the street to the villa opposite. The moving crew had already left. The house was dark.
Her new neighbor–the one said to be a returning PhD from overseas–still hadn’t moved in.
O
30
30
+x
