Three simple words, and nothing more was said.
Timothy York's expression was placid. His gaze swept over her face before he gave a slight nod and brushed past her.
Renee Rowan quickly followed him.
Summer Thorne didn't look back either, following the butler into the room prepared for her.
Downstairs, however, the talk about her was just getting started—
"Speaking of which, that Mason Crawford is one lucky bastard. He actually managed to marry a woman this beautiful..."
"What good is being beautiful if you can't even hold on to your man?"
"She can't hold on to Mason Crawford, sure, but how do you know she can't hold on to other men?"
"You mean..."
"Mason Crawford is obviously trying to destroy the Sutton Family... If she wants to find another way out, isn't this a golden opportunity?"
"You might want to, but would you dare? That's Mason Crawford we're talking about! Cross him, and you've got a death wish!"
"So what about Mason Crawford? The guy's so arrogant, I've been sick of him for ages... Besides, who's talking about actually crossing him? It's a rare chance to mess with his wife a little. Wouldn't that be fun?"
The group of men spoke and laughed without a care in the world.
Renee Rowan overheard some of the remarks from the men by the pool table and frowned at Gale Fawley. "Why did you have to invite so many people? It's absolute chaos!"
Gale Fawley slid a glass of red wine in front of Timothy York, who had just taken a seat. "The more the merrier," he said with a smile. "Wouldn't you agree, Mr. York?"
Timothy York accepted the glass, lowering his gaze to take in the aroma, but offered no comment.
...
Upstairs, Summer Thorne quickly freshened up, changing into a long, knit dress before heading back down.
As soon as she reached the landing, a man handed her a glass of red wine. "Hello, I'm Ian Jennings. I don't think we've met before?"
Summer Thorne accepted the glass with a smile. "Summer Thorne."
"Care to sit for a while?" Ian Jennings asked.
"Sure," Summer Thorne agreed with a nod.
The two of them walked past the sofa where Gale Fawley and Timothy York were seated, settling into another cluster of couches behind them.
Before long, the men who had been playing pool and their dates all drifted over, drinking and chatting, making for a very lively scene.
Summer Thorne sat in the center of the group. Fun, a good drinker, and quick to laugh, she was utterly dazzling.
Ian Jennings said, "You never used to come out much. You should join our get-togethers more often. Having a great beauty like you around is what makes it fun!"
As soon as he said that, the expressions on the other women in the group shifted.
Summer Thorne pretended not to notice, smiling as she replied, "My hands were tied before, but I should have plenty of opportunities from now on... as long as you'll all have me."
Her words prompted a round of playful cheers from the men.
Gale Fawley, sitting with his back to the group, had heard the entire exchange. He couldn't help but smile and shake his head. Looking at Timothy York, he said, "They all talk a big game. I'd love to see how they'd react if Mason Crawford were actually here."
Timothy York was drinking his wine in silence. At those words, he glanced over at the group again.
Summer Thorne sat in the middle of the circle, chin propped on her hand and a faint smile on her face as she watched two people make a bet over a game of cards. When she casually glanced up, her eyes met Timothy York's.
The smile on her face faltered for a second. She quickly looked away, immersing herself back into the noisy crowd.
His expression unchanging, Timothy York also looked away.
...
The group partied until nearly one in the morning before everyone retired to their rooms.
Summer Thorne took a shower, and once she was tucked into bed, she quickly fell asleep.
She woke up for no apparent reason. Outside, it was still pitch-black. The surroundings were perfectly still, a kind of deep silence impossible to find in the city.
Summer Thorne checked the time. She had been asleep for less than two hours.
She didn't know why she had suddenly woken up. Resigned, she sat up, threw a coat over her shoulders, and went downstairs to get some water.
At this hour, the sprawling villa had fallen quiet. It seemed that even city night owls were forced to abide by the laws of nature out here in the vast wilderness.
Summer Thorne found the water cooler, poured herself a cup of hot water, and sat by the fireplace, sipping it slowly.
She was halfway through her cup when she suddenly heard footsteps on the stairs. Summer Thorne looked up to see an unfamiliar, gaunt man walking down.
The moment he saw her, the man's eyes lit up. "Well, well. A beauty like you, all alone at this hour... Did I just stumble upon a vixen from the mountains?"
It was a cheesy pickup line, but Summer Thorne humored him with a smile.
"I'm Mitchell Jonas." He went to the refrigerator, grabbed two cans of beer, and promptly sat down beside Summer Thorne, offering one to her. "Can't sleep at this hour? How about a drink?"
Summer Thorne gestured with the cup in her hand and began to stand. "Cold drinks don't agree with me. Good night."
But Mitchell Jonas reached out and grabbed her arm, his smile suggestive. "That's an easy fix. After we're done drinking, I guarantee I can warm you right up... Want to give it a try?"
Summer Thorne pulled her hand away. "Enjoy them by yourself."
She stood up, but Mitchell Jonas shot up first, blocking her path. "You're already here, so why the act? Don't tell me you actually came all this way just to hunt? It's a long night, and you can't sleep anyway, so you might as well have some fun with me... How much do you want? Just name your price."
"One billion," Summer Thorne said. "Got it?"
Mitchell Jonas froze for a second, then burst out laughing. "What are you, made of diamonds? Fine, we'll pretend you are. As long as you make me happy, I'll give you a hundred thousand. That's a high price, wouldn't you say?"
With that, he reached out to drag Summer Thorne toward the stairs.
Summer Thorne was still gripping the cup she had been drinking from.
Looking at the man in front of her, who was clearly thinking with his dick, she felt an obligation to help him clear his head.
Just then, a loud BANG came from the main entrance.
The two of them, locked in a struggle, both froze.
The moment Summer Thorne turned and saw the person who had just entered, the strength she had been using to resist suddenly drained away.
Timothy York seemed to have brought the dark night in with him. The chill of ice and snow clung to his khaki hunting jacket. Though he exuded a palpable cold, his demeanor was detached and composed as he calmly removed his gloves and scarf, his eyes fixed on the two people in the main hall.
Upon seeing him, Mitchell Jonas immediately reined himself in and put on a fawning smile. "Ah, Mr. York. Where were you off to at this hour?"
"Just went out for a walk." Timothy York's gaze flickered over the hand gripping Summer Thorne's arm. "You seem to have a lot of energy, Mr. Jonas," he said evenly.
"It's too quiet here, I couldn't sleep. If I'd known you were also awake, Mr. York, I would have joined you for a walk..."
As he spoke, Mitchell Jonas let go of Summer Thorne with an embarrassed laugh.
Summer Thorne quickly stepped back, but she didn't look at Timothy York. She simply returned to her seat by the fireplace.
Although Mitchell Jonas was reluctant to let the matter go, he didn't dare act out of line in front of the prim and proper new head of the York Group. "Well, I'll head back to my room, then. You should get some rest too, Mr. York."
He shot Summer Thorne a resentful glance before reluctantly heading upstairs.
Timothy York walked over to the bar and poured himself a cup of hot water as well.
Summer Thorne sat in her chair by the fireplace with her back to him, perfectly still, as if he didn't exist.