After April 1st, Alexander Summers had not returned to the Summers Residence, busy not only with the funeral arrangements but also with the aftermath of Flynn Howardâs issues.
Flynn Howard had been incarcerated, but how to handle Flynnâs subordinates, who would take over the territoryâthese issues needed consideration.
Suzanne Saundersâ birthday was approaching fast.
It happened to fall on a Saturday. Purple Summers lied to Atra Blanc in advance, claiming she would spend the night at Jane McCainâs home due to a party and would not return until Sunday.
Atra Blanc did not suspect a thing and told Purple Summers to have fun with a smile.
Purple Summers felt incredibly guilty. She thought Atra Blancâs treatment of her children was just tooâ¦
Ah, it was indescribable.
On second thought, it made sense. If Atra Blanc were a bit shrewder, how could she have failed to notice her sonâs oddities? If Atra Blanc were more assertive and fought for her childrenâs interests, would Alexander be the person he was today?
Atra Blanc was that kind of person; sometimes, she moved Purple deeply, and yet at other times, there was a helpless frustration with her, like hating that iron could not become steelâ¦
After school on Friday, Purple did not go home but met Aria Jackson. Together, they pushed a supermarket shopping cart, selecting ingredients.
âHow about hot pot?â Purple Summers looked at the vast array of hot pot bases and asked Aria Jacksonâs opinion. âNo need to sauté vegetables or steam rice, just wash and cut the vegetables should be simple enough.â
âIs this your birthday youâre planning for, or someone elseâs?â Aria Jackson was speechless, observing Purple Summers enthusiastically as if she was preparing for someone elseâs birthday celebration.
âIt counts for both.â Purple Summers chuckled, âRight now, I am Purple Summers. Iâm celebrating Suzanne Saundersâ birthday, so itâs both for myself and for someone else.â
âSecretive as everâ¦â Aria Jackson gave her a suspicious look and muttered, âEvery birthday before, it was you and I celebrating together. This time, youâre ditching me⦠Could it beâ¦â
She stopped suddenly, surprised, and looked at Purple Summers: âYouâre not in an early romance, are you?!â
âPfft!â Purple Summers laughed, leaning on the shopping cart, âIâm 26 years old, a big leftover womanâwhat âearlyâ romance?â
âThatâs not right.â Aria Jackson scrutinized her seriously, her gaze piercing, âYou are definitely in love.â
Purple Summers pursed her lips, smiling without reply, took a hot pot base from the shelf, and asked her, âDo you prefer the tomato flavor or the mushroom soup?â
âLetâs go with spicy.â Aria Jackson pulled out a spicy hot pot base packet, jesting, âAfter eating, youâll feel hot and fiery, your blood boiling and your heart racing, guaranteeing you a passionate night.â
Purple Summers tossed the spicy one back out, choosing a mushroom soup base packet instead, âBetter to keep it light, a gentle and enduring flow is preferable.â
âHa! You really are hiding something!â Aria Jackson was extremely surprised and immediately followed up, âWho is it? How did you meet? How old are they? What do they do for a living? Surely, they canât be a student from your class?â
Aria Jackson couldnât believe Purple Summers would fall for some teenage kid; her eyes darted around, then she exclaimed, âOr could it be⦠youâre in a teacher-student relationship?!â
She had heard the school Grey attended was full of promising young men.
Purple Summers was picking eggs when she heard this and almost crushed the free-range egg in her hand.
âWhat nonsense are you talking about?â Purple, feeling helpless, glanced back at her, âWhen the time is right, Iâll introduce you! Stop guessing wildly!â
Hearing that, Aria Jackson continued to help Purple pick vegetables. After a while, she couldnât help asking again, âWhat about Nathaniel Summers? Since itâs been clarified that Jade Carlson was behind the medication incident, doesnât that make Nathaniel somewhat an innocent party?â
Upon hearing this, Purple Summersâ mood turned somber. She remained silent for a long while before replying, âGetting together with him in the first place⦠was a mistake.â
There was never love to begin with, and it was irresponsible to deceive herself into thinking feelings could develop over time. If love could blossom easily, it should have during the four years he pursued her.