Chapter 371: Chapter 371

After speaking, he seemed to remember something, "Heard your fiancé abandoned you for a man, causing quite a stir recently. Must be tough for you, huh? Being dumped and still having to put on a brave face, looking for the next unlucky guy, are you?"

Summer Xavier’s eye twitched, wondering what’s Ryan Abbott so proud of; doesn’t he have enough of a mess in the Abbott Family to worry about?

"Thank you, Mr. Abbott, for your concern. Seems your cousin’s been causing you a lot of trouble lately too. Oh, I also heard your father’s mistress ran off with a lot of goods from your family. Have you reclaimed the losses?"

Since Seth Shaw’s death, the Abbott Family kept deteriorating, barely holding up now.

At first, Seth’s mother insisted the mother and son of the Abbott Family killed Seth, demanding they pay with their lives, but with no evidence, she didn’t even seek revenge and instead, took a lot of money from Mr. Abbott, exploiting his guilt before disappearing.

It was merely adding insult to injury for the Abbott Family.

Seeing Mrs. Abbott at the party today, wearing half-year-old outdated couture, it was clear.

Sure enough, Summer’s words darkened Ryan Abbott’s face.

He wanted to say something else, but Mrs. Abbott signaled him with a glare.

Given their family’s current situation, her son still went around offending Summer Xavier—does he have a hole in his head?

Ryan Abbott took a deep breath, calming down, though his tone still carried spite.

"After meeting someone like Harrison Sheridan, you finally realize how good I am now, right? Regret not holding onto me? It’s okay, I can still give you another chance, as long as you..."

Summer couldn’t bother listening to his nonsense, slammed her heel on his instep, and said coldly, "I only regret not killing you, giving you the chance to come and disgust me with your rubbish."

In a public setting, Ryan, despite the pain, dared not scream.

He gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down, "Summer Xavier, you..."

Summer laughed, "You know how reluctant I am to part with you, right? I really feel like hitting you every time I see you."

After speaking, Summer left gracefully.

Mrs. Abbott came over, asking, "So, did Summer forgive you, or not?"

"Mom! That woman doesn’t have a shred of friendliness for me, and you want me to face her cold demeanor with warmth?"

Mrs. Abbott, frustrated, "Girls are all soft-hearted; with what she’s just been through with the Sheridan family, if you just say some good words, care for her, comfort her, won’t she open up to you?"

Mrs. Abbott still had unfounded confidence in her son.

Given the Abbott Family’s status, only by securing help from the Xavier Family could they revive.

After all, with Seth Shaw deceased and no further competition within the Abbott Family, Mrs. Abbott needed to find ways to ensure they wouldn’t starve.

Otherwise, how would they survive?

Just then, several uniformed officers suddenly entered.

The scene quieted, for where police were involved, something significant was bound to happen.

The host immediately approached to inquire, and the officers showed their credentials, saying, "We’re here for Ryan Abbott. He’s involved in a criminal case; is Ryan present?"

The host was stunned, like others, quickly seeking Ryan Abbott’s presence in the gathering.

In the crowd, Ryan Abbott was frozen.

Since Seth Shaw’s death, Ryan faced no threats, emerging triumphant, almost forgetting he had killed Seth.

Now, with officers suddenly here alleging his involvement in a criminal case, Seth came rushing to his mind.

His complexion turned pale, instinctively trying to flee.

The officers had already noticed him, seeing him attempting escape, they stepped forward and shackled him. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝗻𝗼𝘷𝗲𝗹•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝕟𝕖𝕥

Mrs. Abbott panicked, "My son hasn’t committed any crime, why arrest him? Let go, let go!"

"Ms. Abbott, Ryan is suspected of murdering Mr. Seth Shaw. Our police have gathered sufficient evidence requiring him to come for investigation. Please cooperate and don’t obstruct official duties."

Mrs. Abbott was shocked.

What? Seth was killed by her son? No, this cannot be!

Her son couldn’t possibly kill!

Though Mrs. Abbott had thought of Seth’s death, she lacked the courage for murder, let alone her son.

This news stunned not only Mrs. Abbott but everyone present, never imagining the precarious wealth of the Abbott Family warranted Ryan’s murder for robbery—was he insane for money?

A shiver ran through the Xavier Family.

They initially intended to marry Summer to Ryan, yet Ryan committed murder.

Clearly, if Summer had married him, sharing life with a murderer, what could have happened?

Initially denying killing Seth, Ryan adamantly resisted.

But as the police laid out evidence, he had no choice but to admit.

Ultimately, Ryan faced heavy sentencing.

Had the death penalty not been abolished in Veridia, Ryan, for intentional murder, would have been executed.

The Abbott Family’s two sons—one dead, the other a killer—collapsed Mr. Abbott.

Mr. Abbott had a stroke, bedridden, immobile.

The Abbott Family collapsed in an instant.

Mrs. Abbott, resentful of Mr. Abbott, let him remain bedridden, ignoring his life, citing his affair to file for divorce.

The Abbott Family vanished overnight from Jarrow’s elite circle.

Adding to Abbott Family’s plight, alongside the declining Sheridan family, speculation emerged linking Summer Xavier, suspecting her of a curse upon future households.

Rumors spread in circles, claiming those who married into the Xavier Family would face ruin.

In 9102, who’d believe such superstition?

Yet, in these circles, they did, for fortune breeds fear of loss.

Thus, Summer acrquired a ’Black Widow’ reputation; families feared their sons being chosen by the Xavier’s, hosting weddings for eligible young men.

Mrs. Xavier was furious upon hearing of this.

How was it her daughter’s fault? Clearly, people lacked integrity.

Mrs. Xavier, heartbroken for her daughter, ceased pressuring her for blind dates, allowing Summer tranquility.

Julian Hawthorne, in his office, called Paige Sterling, enticing her to the 38th floor with a baked sweet potato.

Unable to resist the sweet potato’s temptation, Paige ascended the elevator to the 38th floor, entering Julian’s office.

The sweet potato was baked in an oven within his office by Julian himself. Upon realizing Paige’s fondness for sweet land potatoes, he installed a machine both at home and office.

Once Paige entered, the sweet aroma of baked potatoes wafted throughout the office, sweet and alluring.

Julian beckoned, "Come over."

Paige noticed the sweet potato on his desk, walking towards it.