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Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: The Rivalry Intensifies

After discreetly leaving the hotel with her assistant, Summer sat in her car, her expression inscrutable but her aura spine-chilling and fearsome. Her assistant, Sammy Grills, dared not speak a word, the deafening silence in the car a testament to Summer's formidable mood. Both the driver and Sammy felt a nerve-wracking pressure due to the intense atmosphere she exuded.

Except for a few close friends, family members, and trusted subordinates, no one in the world knew the real Summer Carter. Her true face remained unseen by the public. Those who insisted rather threatened on meeting her in person for business often faced severe consequences, either suffering huge losses or dealing with Sammy for some well-intentioned people, who posed as Summer to seal contracts. At a young age of 24, she was already a formidable figure that commanded respect as well as fear.

Finally, in a cold, commanding voice, Summer broke the silence, "Find out who drugged me at yesterday's event." Her words cut through the air like a blade.

Sammy nodded, not daring to question her boss. "Yes, ma'am. I'll handle it immediately."

Summer's gaze then shifted, her voice icy and calculating, "What's the progress on gaining our business project collaboration with White's Corp?"

Sammy hesitated for a moment, knowing this information might not be well-received. "We're making headway, but there's another party vying for the project as well."

Summer's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint forming in them. "Who?"

Sammy gulped, her fear palpable. "It's… it's the Stark Group, led by Tristan Stark."

The driver's hands tightened on the steering wheel, and he glanced nervously in the rearview mirror, feeling the temperature drop even further.

Summer's expression hardened, her voice a whisper of menace, "Trash-tin Stark. Of course."

The Carter Family, Stark Family, the Thompsons, Whites, and the Hiddleston family were among the top five prominent families in country R, and no one in the country dared cross them, not even the government. Among those five, the Starks and Carters topped the ranking with equal footing; not even the other three families dared cross either of them. They were all family friends, except for Tristan and Summer, who were sworn enemies since they were teens. No one knew what transpired between the two to make them hold such enmity except for the two themselves.

Suddenly, Summer instructed the driver, "Take me to Carter Inc. headquarters."

Upon arrival at her office, Summer went straight to her private cabin, opened her laptop, and entered a series of codes. Within moments, Stark Corp's stock prices began to plummet at a rapid rate. Satisfied with her handiwork, she smirked evilly, thinking inwardly, "This is the punishment you get for meddling in my business, Trash-tin Stark." She knew he would handle the crisis in a few minutes, but the satisfaction of pushing him to the edge was worth it.

Meanwhile, Tristan, already in a foul mood from the insulting note and money he received, was confronted with the sudden news of his company's stocks falling rapidly. His face darkened as he opened his laptop to counteract the attack. Within minutes, he managed to stabilize the situation, recognizing the malicious intent behind the move.

He scowled, muttering to himself, "Summer Carter, you evil witch… I'm not going to spare you! But unlike you, I'll defeat you head-on. Just you wait."

Satisfied with her revenge, Summer decided to leave the office and head to her secluded high-end apartment, away from the Carter mansion. She reached the private underground parking of Carter Inc., asking the driver for the keys to her stylish yet understated private car where she could avoid dealing with her mother daily.. Taking the keys, she sped off.

On her way, her car was suddenly hit from behind. Furious at the damage to her favorite car, Summer stepped out, ready to confront the culprit. The young driver, panic-stricken at her fierce expression, stammered, "I-I'm s-s-sorry, ma'am…"

Before Summer could respond, a man emerged from the front passenger seat, offering a pile of cash. "Please accept this as compensation for the damage," he said, pointing to the cash. "My employer asked me to give this to you."

Summer's rage intensified at the sight of the money. She asked in an icy tone, "What's this? Who are you?"

"I'm Alex, the assistant of the owner of this car," he replied, hoping that mentioning his employer's name would appease her. "Tristan Stark." He thought mentioning Tristan's name would appease the lady, as he was well aware of how many women craved Tristan's attention. But contrary to his expectations, Summer's reaction left him stunned.

At the mention of Tristan's name, Summer's fury knew no bounds. She turned back to her car, retrieving a large pile of cash and a baseball bat from the trunk.

Alex's eyes widened in fear. "W-what's the m-meaning of this?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Summer smirked wickedly, handing the money to Alex. "You'll soon find out," she said, her tone laced with menace.

With a determined stride, she walked toward Tristan's car and, without a moment's hesitation, swung the bat, shattering the front windshield. Glass shards flew into the car, some reaching the back passenger seat where Tristan was sitting, watching the scene unfold with amusement rather than anger. There was something familiar about her, and instead of feeling rage, he found himself intrigued by this fiery woman.

Summer continued her assault, smashing the rearview mirrors and the front tires until she was satisfied. She cast one last icy glance at Tristan's car before speeding off in her own.

Tristan remained seated, a bemused smile playing on his lips. He hadn't been able to see her face clearly, but her actions had left a lasting impression. He was captivated by her audacity and the brief glimpse of her beauty. Both his driver and Alex were left stupefied by the encounter, standing in stunned silence.

As the dust settled, Tristan leaned back in his seat, his thoughts swirling. "Just who is this lady," he muttered to himself, a smirk forming on his lips. "Who didn't even show a speck of Interest after knowing my name."

After a moment, Tristan got out of the car, his amusement evident despite the chaos. Turning to Alex, he said, "Find out who she is. I want to know everything about her."

Alex, still stunned, nodded quickly, "Yes, Mr. Stark."

As Tristan watched Summer's car disappear into the distance, he couldn't help but feel a growing fascination with the woman who showed no fear and no interest in his identity. She was different, and he was determined to uncover the mystery surrounding her.