Chapter 5 Ruin

• Faintly, Summer thought she could hear someone crying not far away.
• She stretched her neck and saw a girl in a uniform dabbing her eyes in a pavilion by the lake.
• Summer couldn't stand seeing a beautiful girl upset; she hurried over and handed her a handkerchief. She asked. "Why are you crying?"
• The girl was surprised to find someone there. She hiccuped in shock, quickly halting her tears. "W-who are you?"
• "I'm just a guest," Summer answered casually. "But seriously, why the tears?"
• The girl sniffled, and her voice quivered with sadness. "Sob, sob! My boyfriend wants to break up with me. He said his family can't accept that his future wife used to be a servant." She was filled with grievances and said, "But this is the Jackman Manor! Anyone working here had to pass countless tests to even get hired! I earn 20,000 dollars a month, and my year-end bonus is six figures. Who are they to look down on me?"
• Alright, sister, I get it. You're not here to cry on my shoulder. You're just showing off your salary! I work all year, and I don't even make half of what you do!
• "So, where is your boyfriend from? How much does he make?"
• The girl paused and said, "He's from the mountains of Noit. He makes about 3,000 dollars a month."
• Summer couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Oh my! And he's looking down on you with that income? Why are you fishing in a trash bin for a boyfriend? Let me tell you, if he breaks up with you, you should be thanking him!"
• "Huh?"
• "Thank him for not marrying you!" Summer adjusted her posture and was ready to impart some wisdom. She said, "Men are like dogs. If you try to push them, they won't move. If you hit them, they'll run. The more you pamper them, the more they take advantage of you. But the moment you ignore them and treat them badly, they'll be at your feet."
• "Have you ever been in a relationship?" the girl asked curiously.
• "Well... hmm ... that's not important. What's important is to never give your heart to a man. Make him fall for you, be utterly devoted, and then... don't love him back. Torture him. He'll never leave you, trust me. His money will be yours, and so will his heart! If you tell him to go east, he won't dare go west. If you tell him to chase a dog, he won't dare catch a chicken!"
• Just outside, in the corridor, Theodore stood silently with Travis as he listened to Summer's advice to the young maid.
• Theodore's eyes shifted to Travis, with an intimidating look.
• Is this the fiancée Grandpa arranged for me? Hmm? Men are dogs? Torture them?
• Travis felt a chill and instinctively hunched his shoulders.
• Who would've thought Yelena is this fierce? Honestly, who would dare control his boss? Is she trying to get herself killed?
• Theodore turned and walked away.
• A fiancée like this? Whoever wants her can have her!
• Travis was caught between duty and dread. He hurried after him and said, "Mr. Jackman, perhaps this is just a misunderstanding."
• "A misunderstanding?" Theodore sneered coldly and rebuked, "I'm not deaf. Do you think someone like her would be good for Grandpa? Send her back!"
• Travis said bitterly, "But Mr. Archie …"
• "Tell him it was my order!"
• Just as Travis was about to respond, George approached with a few attendants. He said, "Mr. Theodore, your grandfather instructed me to welcome your future wife."
• Theodore halted in his tracks and said, "No need. I'll explain everything to the Jensons. Send her back where she came from."
• George was always calm and collected. He responded with a respectful but firm tone, "Ms. Jenson is a guest of Mr. Archie. He's been eagerly awaiting her visit and ordering us to prepare all her favorite dishes. Sending her away now might deeply sadden him.
• Travis made a gesture toward George, silently thanking him for saving the day.
• As expected, the mention of his grandfather softened Theodore's expression slightly.
• "Fine. Do as you wish." He strode away without another word.
• George smiled as he watched Theodore walk away, then proceeded to receive Summer.
• Summer was entirely unaware of her rapidly tarnishing image in Theodore's mind. She continued on as if nothing was amiss. To Theodore, she was now nothing short of a gold-digging, vicious, and utterly repulsive woman.
• Even if she knew, Summer wouldn't have cared.
• After all, she never expected to cross paths with the upper echelon of society.
• George quickly led Summer to meet Archie Jackman, the head of the household.
• Archie was already in his eighties. He had recently suffered a severe bout of pneumonia after catching a serious cold.
• Though narrowly saved, the illness had left him frail, and his once-strong spirit was now fading.
• With his chronic ailments, he seemed to be clinging to life by the thinnest of threads.
• No wonder Theodore hadn't refused the betrothal—he likely feared the shock would be too much for his grandfather's fragile heart.
• "Hello, Archie!" Summer greeted properly, and her tone was respectful.
• "Yelena, come closer," Archie beckoned her with a soft smile.
• Obediently, Summer stepped forward. She instinctively took hold of Archie's wrist and unconsciously checked his pulse.
• Hmm? What?
• "What's wrong?"