Summer had barely stepped out of the lobby when she overheard someone requesting two rooms. The receptionist cheerily responded with a "Sure thing," and Summer''s stride came to a sudden halt.


    She spun around, her eyes locking onto the new guests.


    They were already at the counter, handing over their IDs. The receptionist, with practiced ease, swiped their cards and handed them their room keys.


    At that sight, something inside Summer''s head exploded. Pride be damned, she dragged her suitcase back to the front desk.


    The guests were still there. She pped her hand down on the counter. "Didn''t you say there was a problem with the fire rm? Then why are you letting these people check in?"


    The guests exchanged puzzled nces. A problem with the fire rm?


    The receptionist, caught off guard by Summer''s return, nced at the newly checked-in guests but didn''t offer Summer any exnation. Instead, she stepped around the counter and whispered something to one of them.


    Summer couldn''t hear what was said, but she noticed the peculiar looks the guests shot her way before heading to the elevator.


    The receptionist returned to herputer and faced Summer. "Maybe you should try your luck at another ce. Our little inn can''t seem to amodate the grandeur that is you."


    Summer''s face turned a shade paler. "What''s that supposed to mean? Kicking out a customer for no reason? Do you think I won''t call the Better Business Bureau on you?"


    The receptionist remained calm. "We''ve refunded you double, and you epted it. So, technically, we''re not kicking you out without cause. If it still bothers you, feel free to make that call."


    Fuming, Summer clenched her fists. She should''ve never let the receptionist''s words sway her in the first ce!


    What did they think this was, a castle?


    Taking a deep breath, Summer reminded herself not to stoop to arguing with a country bumpkin. That would only lower her own standards.


    She turned around, suitcase in tow, and headed outside.


    Summer hailed a cab and directed it to another hotel.


    At the next hotel, she presented her ID, and the receptionist briefly looked up at


    her before handing it back. "I''m sorry, miss, but we''re fully booked."


    Summer''s frustration resurfaced. "But you just told me you had vacancies?"


    Did they think she was a fool?


    "My apologies," was all the receptionist would say, offering no further exnation.


    Annoyed, Summer left for another hotel, only to encounter the same situation. Every ce had vacancies until her ID was scanned, then suddenly, no room at the inn. The pattern was unmistakable.


    Even Summer, who might be slow on the uptake at times, realized there was a deliberate attempt to keep her from staying anywhere in town.


    She didn''t have to guess hard to figure out who was behind this.


    Since when did Nick have such influence?


    Summer''s thoughts drifted to the Davis family of her past life.


    Back then, she had assumed the Davis family was broke, so after returning to the Gilbert family, she lost interest in the Davis'' affairs. Only after the Gilbert family''s downfall did she hear about the Davis family''s wealth. But information about Nick


    was scarce.


    Reflecting on her previous life''s dealings with the Davis family, Summer couldn''t help but wonder how much she had underestimated Nick.