<b>Chapter </b><b>129 </b>
Summer opened her mouth to speak, but Aiden cut her off with a dismissive chuckle. “What could she possibly be up to? A date, obviously.”
With a carefree swagger, Aiden strolled into the living room, copsing onto the couch with anguid sprawl.
“A date? What date?” Colton straightened up. His smile vanished in an instant as he squinted at his daughter, his interest clearly aroused.
Summer’s sh of irritation was quickly masked as she hurried to exin. “No, nothing like that. Just had dinner with a friend. That’s why I got home a bitte.
Colton had always disapproved of Summer wasting time on frivolities, only showing her affection because of the pride she brought him in public.
“Pff, must be a boyfriend.” Aiden said, with a smirk ying on his lips. Then he raised an eyebrow, adding, “I saw it all from upstairs.”
Summer shot Aiden an icy look. “Don’t talk like that in front of Dad. It’s not any boyfriend. It’s Emmitt from the Davis family where I used to live.”
“Yeah, right. You’re not even rted, so who knows?” Aiden blurted out without a filter<b>. </b>
Summer’s face soured, but with Colton present, she couldn’tsh out at Aiden. Instead, she retorted with barely concealed anger, “You’re my brother. Do you have to be so unpleasant?”
Aiden snorted and reclined on the sofa, propping his feet up on the backrest. “Oh, please. I don’t have a sister like you. Remember how you looked down on the Davis family when you first came back? And now, after six months, you treat them like they’re gold. Wow, you change faces faster than a character in a y.<i>” </i>
Summer’s expression stiffened.
“Enough, Aiden. That’s no way to talk to your sister.” Colton nced at his younger son. There was a hint of reprimand in his words, but his tone was far from harsh.
Aiden pouted but didn’t dare to act up in front of Colton. He kept quiet.
Colton then turned his gaze back to Summer. His eyes gleamed with a trace of displeasure. “You’ve been quite close with your foster parents and their family?”
Summer clenched the hands by her sides and replied calmly. “Not really. Besides studying. I spend time training at the studio. I only contact them asionally for a meal. That’s all.”
Hearing this, Colton looked away and cleared his throat, “I understand your gratitude to your foster parents for their years of care<b>, </b>but some people are better to keep a distance from. They don’t help you, and they might even lower your status. You understand what I’m saying, Summer?”
12:16
Summer lowered her gaze slightly, and her expression was contained as she responded softly. “I understand, Dad. I’ll head back to my room then<b>, </b>read a bit, and prepare for the nextpetition.”
Aiden let out another scoff as she spoke.
Summer heard it but didn’t react.
Colton, reminded by his daughter’s mention of thepetition, suddenly remembered something. “Oh, right. After school tomorrow, go to the Education Association yourself. Dalton has prepared some review materials for thepetition. Be sure to sweet–talk him a bit.”
Summer blinked in surprise. “Dalton?”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you. My friend Dalton is the chairman of the Education Association,” Colton exined<b>. </b>
When Summer heared this, her eyes widened, and a look of sheer joy spread across her face. “Thanks, Dad<b>!</b><b>” </b>