Chapter 3

The sound of William's assistant snapped me back to reality. I was a little surprised. Had William really sent someone to look up my number just now? That didn't sound like him at all. The resources at William's disposal had always been reserved for Chloe.

I drifted over to his side. He was frowning at the note in his hand. There was hesitation on his face. Was he struggling with what to say when calling his useless little sister?

No way. I shook my head. I knew my place. Back then, whenever William took the initiative to call me, it was either to make me apologize to Chloe or because he was in a foul mood and needed someone to vent on. "Emily. You have three minutes to stand in front of Dad's memorial."

Second by second, time slipped away. William still stared at my number, unmoving. Even I was getting anxious for him.

The livestream comments were restless too.

[What's Mr. Summers doing? Why isn't he calling her? Hurry up and confront Emily already.]

[They haven't contacted each other for three years—maybe it feels awkward?]

[Just call. Drag Emily onto the show and let everyone see how annoying she is.]

[I bet she won't dare show up. She's completely fallen out with the Summers family.]

The crew grew anxious as well. The director gathered his courage and went up to urge their sponsor. "Mr. Summers, perhaps—"

One cold look from William, and the director scurried away. Yet there was a smile on his face. Because he'd spotted William's phone screen—it was dialing.

Everyone held their breath. Only I wasn't nervous. I drifted around, bored, looking everywhere. After all, that call couldn't possibly go through. I was just a soul. How could I answer a phone?

But the very next second, the call connected. A voice came from the other end. "Hello?"

I jumped in shock. But I quickly calmed down.

William, on the other hand, was fuming. He nearly shouted, "Who are you? Where's Emily?"

"I'm your damn father!" The person on the other end seemed to freeze for a second, then snapped back impatiently.

William paused for a moment before regaining his composure. "You're that friend of hers, Sophie Lane, right? She really enjoys hanging around a broke nobody like you. Put Emily on the phone."

I looked up in surprise. I hadn't expected William to remember Sophie. She was my closest friend before I ever returned to the Summers family. I always thought he never cared about me.

Sophie fired back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, I thought you were calling because you finally grew a conscience. Guess you're still as heartless as ever. Is that just how all businessmen are?"

William stayed cool, totally unfazed. He calmly slipped on the coat his assistant handed him, then replied with a smile, "Ms. Lane, I'm afraid no one in this world is more heartless than your dear friend Emily."

"Right. The kindest person on earth is your sweet fake sister Chloe. There—happy now, Mr. Summers?" Sophie sounded furious, her words tumbling out. "You hype Chloe up, pour money into this trashy show, and now you want Emily to be her backdrop? Haven't you hurt her enough already? Isn't that disgusting?"

She paused, as if still not satisfied, then added sharply, "If you ask me, Emily still wasn't heartless enough. Back then, she should've just let you get kidnapped."

William was shocked, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his phone.

I felt dazed too. My memories drifted back to that year.

William had sneaked me out to play without telling our parents. But then, a tall man had nearly dragged him into a van.

I bit and clawed at the man until he cried out in pain and let go. I kept screaming and crying, finally drawing the attention of passersby.

Seeing things go wrong and William running off, the man gave up chasing him. So he just shoved me into the van instead.

That year, I was four. William was ten.

William's expression turned icy. "Who are you to speak to me? Tell Emily to get her ass on the phone."

"Right," Sophie snapped. "You Summers are so high and mighty. We lowly nobodies aren't even worthy of speaking to you."

Sophie was terrified of William, yet she still clenched her teeth and pushed back. "If you want Emily on the line, dream on."

Sophie, you idiot. Why did you have to poke the lion?

I was frantic, desperate to stop her, but it was useless. I could see William's face was so dark, it looked like a thundercloud.

My heart clenched for Sophie. I was afraid she'd be punished for this. I'd suffered that kind of retaliation before. It was hell. And Sophie was just an ordinary person. She stood no chance against William.

Strangely enough, William just took a deep breath and, for once, actually let it slide.

That was when Andrew suddenly spoke up. "I'll try."