Chapter 271: Nolan Doesn’t Like You

Chapter 271: Chapter 271: Nolan Doesn’t Like You

"Miss Forrester, what are you talking about? I don’t understand." Summer looked at her innocently, as if she truly knew nothing about the matter.

"It really wasn’t you?" Mrs. Forrester scrutinized her.

She didn’t believe that Summer knew nothing.

’Is she really not involved, or is she just putting on an act?’

"Miss Forrester, please speak plainly. I’m getting more and more confused."

"Is Nolan hurt? How is he? Is it serious?"

Her voice was rapid, her tone full of concern.

Mrs. Forrester’s expression softened. She picked up her teacup, took a sip, and recounted the events in a low voice.

"To think something like that happened... What about Shiloh Sloan? Was she completely unharmed?"

"Nolan got there in time. Shiloh wasn’t hurt!"

Summer’s eyes reddened. "I can’t believe Nolan would risk his life for her. He even chose to leave the Forrester family to be with her, willing to abandon even you, his own mother."

"Miss Forrester, I was by his side for three years. I gave him my all, but he remained unmoved, refusing to accept my affection. What do I lack that Shiloh Sloan has?"

At this, Summer lowered her gaze, wiping away tears as she began to sob uncontrollably.

As if she had suffered some great injustice.

Seeing her crying so pitifully, Mrs. Forrester’s tightly furrowed brow relaxed slightly.

"Alright, stop crying. It’s Nolan who lacks judgment. When he’s had his fill of hardship out there, when he finds himself at a dead end, he’ll realize just how foolish today’s decision was!"

’I’ve already cut off his financial support. Let’s see how long he can last out there!’

Summer sniffled. "Miss Forrester, do you think it’s possible Shiloh Sloan offended someone, and this is their revenge?"

"I’m not sure about that. But can you believe Nolan called specifically to question me over this! I always act with integrity; I’m not one to take the fall for others."

’If I do something, I’ll admit it. But I didn’t do this, and no one is going to pin this shit on me.’

"I heard Shiloh Sloan recently bought a nursing home and locked her own biological parents and former stepfather away in it! I can’t believe she’s so vicious!"

Mrs. Forrester put down her teacup. "Are you certain?"

"Yes."

"Just as I thought, a ruthless little thing. All that supposed kindness and innocence was just an act. It’s only because Nolan is so inexperienced with women that he’d be fooled by a poor, scheming little viper like her."

’A lowly birth, no proper education, divorced parents, and she was almost... by her own stepfather. I disliked Shiloh Sloan the moment I first saw her. Someone like her doesn’t belong in our world!’

’Thinking she could defy fate and climb the social ladder just by seducing Nolan... what a pipe dream.’

’I will never allow someone like that to set foot in the Forrester home.’

"But Miss Forrester, Nolan is completely bewitched by her now. Will he really regret it and come back?"

"He will."

People strive to climb higher, just as water flows downward.

’He can’t possibly want to live a life that’s a constant step backward, can he?’

"Miss Forrester, in that case... is there still hope for Nolan and me?" Summer asked cautiously.

’I’ve been in love with Nolan Forrester for so many years. I can’t just give up this easily.’

’After all, a man like him was the best she could ever hope for.’

"Summer, I had hoped you could be my daughter-in-law too. But you followed him abroad for three years and still couldn’t win his heart. That proves he truly doesn’t like you!"

"You should stop entertaining these unrealistic hopes about Nolan."

’I used to like Summer, but now I see she’s completely useless. She can’t even handle one man. Someone so incompetent has no right to marry into the Forrester family.’

’With Nolan’s capabilities, he can find a much better match.’

Summer froze, then hurried to Mrs. Forrester’s side and gripped her hand tightly.

"Miss Forrester, I really do love Nolan. Please give me another chance, okay?"

"It’s not that I’m not giving you a chance; it’s that Nolan doesn’t like you. You can’t force something that isn’t meant to be sweet. Do you understand?"

"That’s only because Nolan has never had a taste. That’s why he thinks it isn’t sweet."

"Enough. You should go home for now."

Mrs. Forrester pulled her hand back and massaged her temples. ’If she really had what it takes, she would have let my son have a ’taste’ long ago. Why would she still be here begging me for a chance?’

After leaving the Forrester home, Summer angrily slammed her hands on the steering wheel.

She wouldn’t accept this!

’To love Nolan Forrester for so many years, only for it to end in nothing, and to be shown up by that bitch Shiloh Sloan!’

’If I can’t have him, then Shiloh Sloan can’t have him either.’

’I will never let them get back together!’

A vicious light, like that of a viper, flashed in Summer’s eyes.

Just then, Summer received a call from Mrs. Summers.

"Summer, something’s happened at home!"

Mrs. Summers was sobbing on the other end of the line.

"Mom, don’t cry. Tell me what happened."

"Your father... he was taken away by the disciplinary commission..."

"How could that be? My dad has always been a law-abiding citizen. There must be some kind of misunderstanding, right?"

"It’s true. A few men showed up just a little while ago. They said your father was suspected of tax evasion and took him away for investigation."

"Don’t panic. I’ll go over and find out what’s going on."

After calming down Mrs. Summers, Summer immediately drove to the disciplinary commission offices to inquire about the situation.

She also contacted a lawyer to accompany her.

She waited anxiously in the lobby.

Half an hour later, the lawyer walked up to her with a grave expression.

"Miss Summers, the disciplinary commission received a tip-off. Your father is suspected of falsifying accounts and tax evasion. The department already has concrete evidence. They are still verifying the specific amounts. If the amount is small, paying a fine and back taxes is a small matter. But if the amount involved is too large, he could end up in prison."

"Impossible!" Summer exclaimed, agitated. "My father has always operated his business legally. That evidence must be forged! Someone is deliberately trying to frame him."

"Miss Summers, please calm down. I have just seen the evidence, and it appears to be genuine." The lawyer sighed. "Don’t worry, I will do everything I can to help your father."

...

"Ma’am, it appears it really wasn’t Miss Summers."

The butler refilled Mrs. Forrester’s teacup and said in a low voice.

Mrs. Forrester snorted coldly. "If it had been her, I might have thought a little more highly of her. But now it seems she’s truly useless. How could I ever have taken a liking to her? A brainless idiot like this isn’t even fit to carry my son’s shoes."

"As you say, Ma’am."

"If she comes here again, don’t let her in."

"Understood."

Mrs. Forrester picked up her teacup and took a sip. "Where is Frederick? Wasn’t he supposed to come back from his business trip today? Why isn’t he back yet?"

"Sir was already on his way back, but..." The butler hesitated. "He received a call from your sister, Clara Shepherd, and rushed over to her place."

"What’s wrong with Clara?"

"She said her stomach was bothering her."

"She was fine. Why would her stomach suddenly be bothering her?" Mrs. Forrester stood up. "Come on. You’re coming with me to check on her."

...

"Brother-in-law, I heard Nolan abandoned the company and ran off?"

"He’s a twenty-eight-year-old man, how can he act like such a child? So immature."

"I heard it was for his ex-girlfriend, too. I don’t know what he’s thinking."

Clara Shepherd leaned back on the sofa, stroking her eight-month belly as the man fed her pieces of fruit. She complained in a delicate, wheedling tone.

"That’s his business, not mine." Frederick Forrester’s gaze fell to her belly. "You said you weren’t feeling well. Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?"

Clara Shepherd threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"I wasn’t feeling well, but seeing you made it all better."

Frederick Forrester frowned and pushed her away. "Don’t joke about the baby."

"You haven’t come to see me in so long. Tell me, did you find some little temptress while you were abroad?" Clara Shepherd looked at him with a pout.

"Besides you, you little temptress, what other temptress could there be? Your sister knows I’m back today, so don’t cause a scene."

Frederick Forrester patted her shoulder, his tone softening.

"So what? That fool will never find out anyway. I just wanted you to see me and the baby first after you got back from your trip."

She took his hand and placed it on her belly.

"I will give you a smart, well-behaved, and devoted son. When the time comes, he’ll take over the family business. He’ll be far more brilliant than Nolan."

Frederick Forrester shot her a warning look. "I will ensure that you and our child are well taken care of. Don’t you go coveting anything else!"

Sensing his displeasure, Clara knew to quit while she was ahead. She quickly switched to a coquettish tone. "Fine, fine. As long as you’re with me and our baby, I don’t want anything else!"

She drew circles on his chest with her finger, bit her lip, and gave him a seductive look.

"Frederick, I’ve missed you."

The implication was unmistakable.

Aroused, Frederick rolled over and pinned her beneath him. "You really are a little temptress. I just got back, and you’re already desperate to seduce me?"

Just then, the electronic BEEP of a keypad lock sounded from the door.