Chapter 7

“Hello, clean the mansion until it’s spotless and get rid of everything related to Summer. I don’t want Vic to get upset when she sees something she shouldn’t after she moves in. Do you understand?” As he stood outside the rented house, Jasper gave the nanny working at the mansion at West City a call. Summer quivered. Maybe Jasper did not know that the walls of the rented house, that were made of plasterboard, were not soundproof. The cracks on her feet that were caused by the cold were causing her tremendous pain. Even though the temperature of the water was no longer high, she felt that her feet were being soaked in boiling water. “Vic, I’ll go and get you now. Are you done packing up? “Wear an extra layer of clothing okay? It’s snowing outside and it’s cold.” ….. He did not expect Victoria to take the initiative to move in with him, and she was in such a hurry to do it too. Hence, Jasper was in a pretty good mood. “Tell me if there’s anything you forgot to bring. I’ll take you out to buy them in the morning.” Jasper seemed to be thinking about something as he opened the metal door, which was not exactly sturdy. “This place isn’t very safe. Don’t go outside at night.” Summer raised her head to gaze at Jasper, and she was having flashbacks of the day he first brought her back to his mansion. At that time, it was also snowing in Sea City. Jasper brought her back to the mansion and asked the nanny to make her a bowl of ginger soup. “This place is quite secluded, so don’t go outside if there’s nothing important. It’s not a safe place.” This was what Jasper had told her at that time. He said that the world outside was dangerous. Summer was obedient. It had been a year, and she had never stepped outside that mansion. Time really flew by, but it seemed that a lot had changed. “Just let the nanny know whenever you feel like eating something. The servants will make them for you.” In the beginning. Jasper was quite affectionate toward her. “Jaz, I don’t remember. I can’t remember anything. What do I do?” Summer had just lost her memory at that time, and her blank mind was causing her a lot of anxiety. No one could understand how she was feeling. “Be obedient. You don’t have to recall your past if you’re not able to. I’m here.” Jaz would pull her into his embrace and speak gentle words of consolation. “I’ll stay by your side as you slowly recall your past. Even though the affection was not much, it was enough for Summer to pull through for such a long time. “Jaz, will you abandon me one day?” Summer was in so much pain that she was weeping with all her might the first time they made love. It might have been because of the novelty, but Jasper was the gentlest toward her the first time they did it. “This place is your home from now onward. As long as you’re obedient, I won’t abandon you forever.” The forever he spoke about was very fleeting indeed. Fleeting and fragile. It was so fragile that everything changed the moment Victoria informed Jasper that she was coming back to the country. “Jasper, it’s me, Vic. I feel like going back. Are you still willing to marry me?” That day, Jasper had s*x with Summer late into the night. She could vaguely hear the things Jasper spoke into the phone. And then, everything changed. For a very long time, Jasper was tremendously happy. He picked out a wedding dress and ordered two wedding rings. It was as if he wanted to give all the best things in the world to the woman he loved. But Jasper was so cruel. He made Summer try on everything he was going to give to Victoria. Summer was a human being too. She had a heart too, and it was bleeding. It was painful. “When will it be snowing in Sea City?” For the entire year, aside from sitting by the window and waiting for Jasper, Summer spent most of her time waiting for the snow. “Jasper, is there an ocean in Sea City?” “Sea City is surrounded by the ocean.” Jasper always mocked Summer for being an idiot, for remembering nothing. But Summer was actually not an idiot. Jasper had once said this: “Sum, the snow gave you to me as a gift. I’ll definitely bring you to the ocean on the day of the first snow next year.” The day of the first snow next year. The first snow came, but Jasper never brought her to the ocean. ….. It was very cold in the rented house. There was a crack in the window, and she could hear the whistling of the wind outside. Summer’s body was numb as she rose. She stared at the empty bed for a long time. Jasper reminded Victoria to wear an extra layer of clothing before going out. But he did not realize that the rented house was so empty that there was not even a blanket on the bed. He was not that caring toward her. But he was tremendously caring when it came to Victoria. Summer simply washed up. She felt dizzy as she sat on the rock hard bed, and she hugged herself tight. She was not even aware that her blouse was wet from her tears, and she was chilled to the bone. It was really cold there. Jasper would never care if she was dead or alive. He had no idea that she had not eaten anything all day since she fled the mansion. She curled up and sucked in a mouthful of cold air. Her hands were quivering as she slowly rubbed her freezing feet. “Baby…” She gently caressed her belly with her fingers, and there was a tremble in her voice. The baby was the only connection left between Jasper and her. Summer’s body temperature kept rising because of how cold the rented place was, and she slowly lost consciousness. She decided to endure it. Things would be better in the morning. Jasper said that she would bring her out to buy some stuff the next morning. ….. In the mansion at West City. “Vic, rest assured that you’ll be fine here.” Jasper brought Victoria back to the mansion. “Jasper, I’m afraid.” Victoria’s eyes kept darting around, and she was a little distracted. “Can you sleep with me?” Jasper froze for a moment. This was the first time Victoria had taken initiative like that. “Sure.” Jasper pulled Victoria into his embrace and caressed her back to comfort her. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.” “Jasper… Your mum had always wanted you to get married and have kids. What if… What if she finds out that I am unable to conceive? She wouldn’t let me marry you…” Victoria gazed nervously at Jasper, and her fair and petite face became increasingly pale. “Vic, is that why you’ve been hesitant ever since you returned?” Jasper breathed a sigh of relief. He thought that Victoria was deliberately toying with him. It turned out that this was the reason. He tightened his grip around Victoria affectionately and kissed her forehead. Victoria was a little averse to that, and her body stiffened a little. “Y-yeah… Women who can’t conceive aren’t real women.” “Don’t worry. I’ll come up with a solution to this.” He would wait for Summer to give birth to her baby, and no one would know that the baby was hers.