Chapter 2

"Summer, you don't mind if I come over for a meal, do you?"

Mandy pushed open the door and strutted in.

She carried several designer shopping bags in her hands and wore overpowering perfume.

Completely disregarding that Summer Lynn was supposed to be a "critically ill patient."

"This is my home. You're not welcome here."

Summer Lynn leaned against the sofa, looking coldly at this woman who had taken over her nest.

"Oh my, Summer, why are you so petty?"

Mandy sat down on the sofa uninvited, tossing the shopping bags onto the coffee table.

"Ethan said you were bored at home alone, so he specially asked me to keep you company."

"He's just too kind. He always feels like he's wronged you."

Mandy covered her mouth and giggled, but her eyes were full of provocation.

"After all, your illness can't be cured anyway. He just wants to let you go peacefully."

Summer Lynn looked at her smug expression, her stomach churning again.

"Mandy, do you think you've already won?"

Summer Lynn picked up the water glass from the table and took a leisurely sip.

"I don't know if I've won, but you've definitely lost completely."

Mandy leaned in closer, lowering her voice.

"Ethan told me last night that he gets nauseous just looking at your sickly appearance."

"He said he doesn't even want to touch you now."

Summer Lynn's fingers tightened slightly, but her expression remained unchanged.

"Really? Then why doesn't he divorce me?"

Summer Lynn shot back, hitting Mandy's sore spot.

"It's because of those worthless shares under your name!"

Mandy got agitated and blurted it out.

"Once he gets your shares, do you think he'll keep you around?"

"Summer, I advise you to be smart and sign the papers early."

"Otherwise you'll end up with nothing, not even enough money to buy a burial plot."

Just then, the front door was pushed open again.

Ethan Carter walked in carrying bags of groceries.

As soon as he saw Mandy, the fatigue on his face instantly vanished.

"Mandy, what are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to rest at home?"

Ethan Carter hurried over, fussing over her.

Completely ignoring Summer Lynn sitting nearby.

"Ethan, I missed you."

Mandy immediately put on a wronged expression, her eyes reddening.

"And Summer doesn't seem very welcoming. She just tried to make me leave."

Hearing this, Ethan Carter's expression immediately darkened.

He turned to look at Summer Lynn, his eyes full of reproach.

"Summer Lynn, what's wrong with you now?"

"Mandy came to see you out of kindness. What kind of attitude is this!"

"Came to see me? She came to see if I'm dead yet."

Summer Lynn let out a cold laugh, mercilessly exposing the truth.

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

Ethan Carter slammed the groceries he was holding onto the floor.

"Mandy is pregnant. Can you show some decency!"

"Pregnant? Whose baby is it?"

Summer Lynn raised an eyebrow, her gaze shifting between the two of them.

Ethan Carter's face instantly turned pale, panic flashing through his eyes.

"You... what are you making a fuss about!"

"Mandy is carrying my dead buddy's child. It's my duty to take care of her!"

Ethan Carter tried to remain calm, defending himself loudly.

"Really? Then this baby better not look like you."

Summer Lynn looked at him with a half-smile.

Seeing this, Mandy quickly grabbed Ethan Carter's arm.

"Ethan, don't be angry at Summer. She's just in so much pain from her illness, she's unhappy."

"I'm not wronged. As long as I can be by your side, a little grievance is nothing."

Mandy's retreating-to-advance words completely ignited Ethan Carter's protective instinct.

He patted Mandy's hand affectionately.

"Mandy, you're just too kind."

Then he turned and glared viciously at Summer Lynn.

"Summer Lynn, apologize to Mandy right now!"

"Apologize? Why should I?"

Summer Lynn found it somewhat amusing. These two really were a perfect match.

"Because you just insulted her!"

Ethan Carter pointed at Summer Lynn's nose, his attitude arrogant.

"If you don't apologize today, you can figure out your own medical bills!"

He was threatening her with medical expenses again.

Summer Lynn looked at this despicable man before her, feeling only sadness in her heart.

"Fine, then I won't get treatment."

Summer Lynn stood up and walked toward the bedroom without any hesitation.

"Stop right there!"

Ethan Carter grabbed her wrist, his gaze suddenly falling on her wrist.

There was a jade bracelet of excellent quality.

It was a keepsake from Summer Lynn's mother.

"Mandy mentioned yesterday that she likes jade. Take off that bracelet and give it to her."

Ethan Carter commanded matter-of-factly.

"In your dreams!"

Summer Lynn violently shook off his hand, her eyes cold to the extreme.

"A woman who's about to die has no use for such nice things anyway."

Ethan Carter snorted coldly and reached out to snatch it again.

"Ethan, forget it. If Summer can't bear to part with it, just let it go."

Mandy pretended to dissuade him, but her eyes were fixed on the bracelet.

"No way! This bracelet must go to you today!"

To show off in front of Mandy, Ethan Carter used more and more force.

Summer Lynn desperately protected her wrist as the two struggled in the living room.

A crisp "crack" sounded.

The bracelet hit the edge of the coffee table during the struggle and broke in half.

The clear sound of breaking echoed through the living room.

Summer Lynn looked at the broken jade on the floor, her eyes instantly reddening.

That was the only keepsake her mother had left her.

"So it broke. What's the big deal?"

Ethan Carter glanced at the fragments on the floor, dismissively curling his lip.

"At worst I'll buy you a fake one to wear."

He turned to look at Mandy, his tone immediately becoming gentle.

"Mandy, you weren't scared, were you? Come on, let's go out for a nice meal."

"But what about Summer?"

Mandy looked at Summer Lynn with feigned concern.

"Let her die! Come on, let's go pick out a diamond ring."

"But Ethan, what if she reports us for robbery?"

"Report us? She's a useless invalid who can barely get out of bed. How's she going to report anything!"