"How dare you not answer my calls!"

As soon as she got in the car, Howard pulled a long face.

"What are your instructions, Mr. Tran?" Summer lazily asked.

"I'm going on a business trip tonight and returning a week later." Seemingly not in a mood to argue with her, Howard softened his tone.

"Mm."

"I've arranged a nurse to look after your mother. Stay at school and do not wander around."

Howard continued after a pause, "But the chance of her revival is close to zero, be prepared."

He said casually as if he was talking about the weather today.

"What do you mean by that?" Summer asked in surprise.

As Howard absently dusted off his coat, she took a tumble.

"You knew it, didn't you? You told the doctor to keep it from me."

"Yes." Howard slightly arched his eyebrow.

First, he deliberately concealed Susan's condition, bribed Daisy with a play role, and asked her to become Lodge's girlfriend by leveraging the quota of overseas study.

Then she would give him up.

What a chain of drama!

"What else? What else is there that I don't know?" Summer sneered.

"Newlife Hospital is owned by Transcendent Group, so the medical bills were a bit urgent."

Howard squinted at her triumphantly.

"Villain, shameless!"

"Don’t be so angry, but you came to me first. You started this by asking me to take you away and called me last night that you wanted to marry me. I was just going with the current." Sneered Howard.

Summer angrily got off the car and slammed the door shut.

Everything was a conspiracy.

He sought all means to force her to give in. What was his aim?

Just because she rejected his proposal of a contract marriage in Tran's villa the other night?

What a vengeful man!

Early the next morning, the doctor informed her of Susan's condition change through a call. Her mother had a multi-organ infection, and the hospital issued a critical illness notice.

Summer signed the notice with trembling hands.

Panic, helplessness, anxiety, sadness, and other bad feelings got the better of her.

On the fourth night of Howard's business trip, outside the hospital's intensive care unit.

Worried about her mother's condition, Summer hadn't slept for several nights and now looked haggard. Her thin shoulders and messy drooping hair looked distressing to the eye.

Cecilia was so anxious that her consolation gradually turned into indignant scolding, "Your husband is so unreliable. However busy he is, he should have the time to use the bathroom and have meals. Somehow, he hasn't even called or texted you once!"

Summer forced a smile without uttering a sound.

How would that cold-blooded man call her? Now, he was gloating and savoring the victory.

Howard reclined lazily against the sofa in the hotel and looked at the busy traffic outside in a daze. From time to time, he would frown slightly at the phone lying quietly on the tea table.

After quite a while, he called out with a cold look, "Mark…"

Mark strode up and slightly bent over, "Sir."

Hesitant in his speech, he slightly turned sideways for a glance at the phone on the tea table.

"Mr. Tran, your phone is working normally. I made a call ten minutes ago." Mark took the hint, looked serious, and said cautiously.

"Who asked you about that?"

As his thought was seen though, Howard felt lost and embarrassed. Turning around, he shot a fierce glance at Mark.

It happened Mark's cell phone rang. In a hurry, he took a step forward and spoke cautiously, "Mr. Tran, it's madam… her roomie's call."

When he took Cecilia back to school last time, he left her his business card.

After a flicker of surprise flashed across his eyes, Howard soon cooled down and snapped, "Can't you finish your sentence at one go?"

"Yes." As Howard turned sullener, Mark didn't dare to say more.

"Put the phone down and go back to rest."

"Yes, sir."

In a rage, Howard didn't pick up the phone. Summer, were you setting yourself against me till the end?

That night, Susan's organs collapsed due to her heavy injury, and she passed away.

Summer was running out of tears, and her heart was like dying embers.

The next day, Mark cautiously reported to Howard who was closing his eyes and resting his mind, "Mr. Tran, Dr. Holt just called. Madam's adoptive mother passed away."

Howard was a bit surprised by the news.

On the one hand, Dr. Holt said that Susan could hold up for about half a month. On the other hand, Summer hadn't called him so far.