The man's palm was large and warm. The moment it pressed against her abdomen, Summer felt her mind falter slightly. She frowned, forcing herself not to indulge in that warmth. But just as she reached out to push him away, Fraser caught her hand, his fingers wrapping securely around her delicate ones. He held onto her. A moment ago, his eyes had been sharp and ruthless, but now they were unbearably soft. "Missy, stop making a fuss, will you?" Summer's gaze fell on their hands. The contrast in skin tone was striking yet oddly reassuring. Her eyes trailed upward. Fraser was looking down at her, and when their gazes locked, Summer felt as if she had plunged into an abyss of unknown depth. Then, his deep, magnetic voice followed. "I heard women get moody during their period. I'll allow you to do whatever you want to me today." As soon as he finished speaking, Summer bit down on his toned, tanned arm. A sharp inhale came from Fraser. A moment later, a set of small, red teeth marks appeared on his skin. Fraser's brows twitched slightly, but he did not pull away. Instead, he let out a low chuckle, his tone tinged with mockery. "Summer, are you trying to murder me?" Looking at the imprint of her teeth on his arm, half of Summer's anger dissipated. She pouted. "Bastards like you have tough lives anyway." Fraser reached out and pinched her cheek. "You curse me so naturally," he mused. His fingers brushed against her cool, smooth skin, and for some reason, his heart gave a small jolt. His fingertips moved, tracing slowly from her cheek to her lips, lingering with a teasing friction. Summer's lashes quivered, and instinctively, she bit down on his finger. Both of them froze. The air between them thickened, charged with an unspoken tension. Heat slowly crept into the atmosphere. Fraser's gaze darkened, his Adam's apple rolling slightly. His voice was low, husky, and tinged with helplessness. "What do we do now? It's reacting." "Pervert!" Fraser raised a brow, shamelessly pushing the blame. "Who told you to tease me?" Summer glared. "I didn't even do anything!" He leaned in lazily. "You seduced me." Her ears tinged red. She shoved him away. The bedroom lights mixed with the moonlight filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow. Summer looked at him, her heart weighing heavily with the thoughts she had been suppressing for days. She had intended to let them go, but now, she just needed to ask. "Why didn't you come back a few days ago?" Fraser studied her with amusement, his lips curling slightly. "What, are you mad I didn't keep you company?" Summer took a deep breath. Her voice was soft but clear. "That night, the one when it rained heavily. I… really wanted you to come home." Fraser's heart clenched. He had no idea that the message she sent that night had been deleted by Helen. He only thought that on the night of the storm, she had been waiting for him, but he had not returned. After a moment of silence, he said, "The old man was sick. I had to stay with him." Summer had not expected that. Maximus' condition had been kept under tight wraps by the Graham Group. As the wealthiest family in the country, even the slightest change in their leadership could shake the entire Havenbrook. If the wrong people got wind of it, the consequences would be immense. But Fraser had told her so casually. As if he was not worried she would leak the information. Lowering her gaze, Summer simply replied, "Oh." Fraser's dark eyes gleamed as he drawled, "Petty little thing. Guess I need to report to you from now on." …Sienna's father was discharged, and Sienna returned to work. Seeing how busy Summer was, she felt guilty. Her eyes were slightly red. "Summer, I used to feel discouraged working alone. But you gave me the confidence to keep going." A few days ago, Summer had managed to secure two contracts with Merry. One for a villa design and another for a bar. They were not major projects, but they marked a fresh start. Summer was focused on her computer, sketching a 3D design. Without looking up, she said, "Sienna, we're just getting started. Save the emotional speeches for later." Merry popped her head in with a grin. "Exactly! Today, GloryPath Construction announces the results of their project bids. If we get selected, Bosses, we're celebrating!" Summer and Sienna exchanged smiles. Summer suddenly remembered something. "Yvette is finishing her shoot soon. She's been saying she wants to visit us. She also mentioned knowing a few five-star hotel owners looking for redesigns. She might recommend us."