Summer was utterly exasperated. "Did you slam your head in a door? Or is your brain just full of mush? No wonder you can't even handle your family's illegitimate son. If I were your dad, I'd pick The Outsider over you too. With your level of stupidity, the Hawthorne family is doomed."

"Summer!"

Summer scoffed coldly. "Stop yelling. If you don't know how to speak like a civilized person, then shut up. Just because you wear a nice suit doesn't make you human. I sought you out? You're nobody. Do you have zero self-awareness? No wonder everyone says you act more like the illegitimate child. From where I'm standing, you don't even compare to a single strand of hair on his head."

Julian gritted his teeth. "Summer, I should have kicked you to death last time!"

At the mention of last time, fury ignited in Summer's chest. "You're just a cowardly idiot who only knows how to hit women. I hope to God The Outsider takes over your family soon. The first thing he'll do is kick your arrogant, useless self out onto the streets to beg."

"Keep dreaming!" Julian was smug because he had Xavier and Miles backing him.

As long as the Hawthorne family wanted to rely on the Sterling Group and continue doing business with Sutton Heights Capital, his position in the family was untouchable.

As for Yates, that illegitimate stain...

Julian sneered darkly. "Yates will always just be a dog to the Hawthorne family! If you're counting on a dog to avenge you, you're delusional!"

Julian received a phone call, threw a few more warnings at Summer, and hurried off.

Watching his retreating figure, Summer cursed in disgust, "What a rabid piece of trash!"

She turned to leave, but someone called out from behind her.

"Summer." The source of this chapter is novelc⁠eo.com.

Confused, Summer turned around. From behind the lush garden foliage, a slender man stepped out.

He held a cigarette casually between his long fingers. The evening breeze ruffled his hair, highlighting his pale, almost sickly complexion. His narrow eyes held a gloomy intensity, and a striking tear-drop beauty mark rested near the corner of his eye.

Summer didn't recognize him. She asked hesitantly, "You are?"

The man lowered his eyes, tossed his cigarette butt onto the ground, and smoothly crushed it under his shoe. His voice was drawling and careless. "The Outsider."

Summer gasped. "Yates?!"

Yates looked up, a faint, ambiguous smile in his eyes. "Not 'the illegitimate son' anymore?"

Summer immediately apologized with complete sincerity. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. Julian treats you like a thorn in his side. I only said it to piss that idiot off!"

The smile deepened in Yates's eyes, very faint and subtle, though the gloomy aura surrounding him didn't fade in the slightest. "He is an idiot."

Summer smiled and nodded. "So don't take anything that idiot says to heart. He's the real rabid dog, just barking at everything in sight."

Yates raised an eyebrow in surprise. "If I'm not mistaken, are you comforting me?"

"No," Summer shook her head, smiling genuinely. "I'm just stating the facts."

"Heh," Yates let out a soft chuckle, and this time, it seemed like a genuine laugh. "Summer, do you want to exchange numbers?" Read the latest chapters at no​velceo.com.

"Sure." Summer pulled out her phone. "We can relieve stress by trashing Julian together."

After parting ways with Yates, Summer went to the restroom to wash her hands.

Overhearing two waitresses chatting, she realized today was the Hawthorne family dinner. No wonder she ran into both Julian and Yates here.

Summer washed her hands and returned to her private dining room.

"Why are you so late?" Gavin asked, patting the empty seat next to him saved for her.

Summer sat down and said nonchalantly, "I ran into a rabid dog."

"Mom, are you okay?" Leo looked at her with concern.

"I'm fine." Summer ruffled Leo's hair.

The other coworkers in the room kept exchanging bizarre, astonished looks between Summer and Jude.

Summer finally noticed the strange atmosphere and asked with a laugh, "What's going on? Why is everyone staring at us?"