Chapter 131 An Unwelcome Visitor
Mr. Murphy was silent.
Daphne, halting mid-step, was speechless as well.
"If you play it like that, sis is going to think that you're acting super weird and ask what's up with you." Lydia continued steering the conversation. "If you say nothing's wrong, she won't buy it. She'll figure something's up for sure. That'll get the ball rolling, won't it?"
"Idiot!" Lydia capped off with a final remark.
Daphne thought Lydia was the type who needed a reality check every now and then.
She just watched her, shooting the kind of questions that make every student cringe. "How many scholarships have you racked up since college? Do you have all your certifications? How's grad school prep coming along? Got your career path all mapped out?"
"Nailed a scholarship every year, certifications are done, already secured a spot for grad research, just mooching off my folks at home." Lydia answered breezily with a chuckle, navigating the interrogation with ease.
"Oh yeah?" Daphne looked at her, those two words cloaked in softness.
Yet Lydia sensed danger. A full-blown red alert.
"What about your life's plan?" Daphne got straight to the point. "Are you thinking of marrying your boyfriend or being swept off your feet by him?"
Lydia was stunned and too embarrassed to react. She coughed lightly.
She really shouldn't have provoked her sister. This was a mere slap on the wrist compared to what could have been if she'd pushed her luck further. She could imagine herself being trapped beneath her sister's relentless grilling.
Whimpering internally.
"Ding dong!"
The doorbell's timing was impeccable.
Lydia dropped the snack she was holding and bounced up, saying, "I'll get it!" Then, she made a beeline away from the scene.
Mr. Murphy, mulling over Lydia's earlier words, pursed his lips and tentatively suggested, "Hey Daffy, why don't you hang out for a little longer? It's not every day we get to catch up like this."
"I should get some rest," Daphne said, cutting it short.
Mr. Murphy didn't dare push it. "All right. I understand."
Just then, Lydia walked in. Hesitation etched across her face as her gaze darted back and forth between Daphne and Mr. Murphy,
Daphne asked, "Who is it?"
"Ummmm..." Lydia seemed at a loss and hesitant.
Dad had instructed a thousand times not to bring up Sophia or her daughter in front of her sister.
Now that Summer had suddenly shown up, she didn't quite know how to handle it.
"What's this 'umm'? Who is it?" Mr. Murphy pressed on.
Lydia sent a meaningful glance at Mr. Murphy.
With just that, he got the message — it was the person they had talked about. Didn't he tell them not to disturb tonight? Why the unexpected visit?
"His new lover?" Daphne ventured a guess.
"Nope!"
"Summer?"
"Ah!!!!" Stunned, Lydia gaped at her, burning with curiosity, "How... how did you know?"
'Summer?!' How on earth did her sister get wind of that name?
"Let her in." Daphne wasn't budging from her spot; she wanted to see what this was all about.
Lydia glanced towards Mr. Murphy instinctively, waiting for his nod of approval before she went to open the door and let the visitor in.
Mr. Murphy had already scolded Summer in his mind countless times. Normally she was such an understanding child; why did she have to stir things up just when he was trying to have a peaceful time with Daffy?
To avoid any misunderstandings with Daphne, he clarified, "Before you came back, I'd called them and told them I wanted to spend the day with you, without interruptions. I don't know why she suddenly decided to show up."
"It's okay," Daphne said, not in the least bothered.
If she wasn't mistaken, Summer must be here for Tony, or perhaps to use something against her as leverage.
It wasn't long before Lydia returned with Summer.
Surprise flickered across Summer's face as she saw Daphne there, her gaze shifting to Mr. Murphy with a kind of shocked curiosity. Her expression seemed to ask, 'How could Mr. Murphy have the nerve to bring Daphne back?'
Wasn't he afraid that his other daughter would find out?
"Summer, what brings you here?" Mr. Murphy asked politely.
"I need to discuss something with you," Summer took a couple of steps toward him, biting her lip, "Could you ask them to step out for a moment?"
Mr. Murphy was shocked. Did she realize what she was saying? These two were his precious daughters!
If he asked them to leave, they'd surely wonder if their dad had stopped loving them in favor of his "new daughter."
"Whatever it is, you can say it here," Mr. Murphy asserted, sensitive to Daphne and Lydia's feelings. "They're not strangers."
Summer clenched her hands. Wondering if Lydia truly accepts her in their lives so quickly?
"What I have to say is rather private, are you sure you want me to speak in front of them?" Summer pondered, inching out each word as she recalled what her uncle had told her.
Mr. Murphy was puzzled. 'Private? What did that mean?'
Summer took a deep breath, stepped closer, and whispered so softly, "I know about the relationship you have with that investment consultant."
"And?" Mr. Murphy asked simply.
So, what if she knew? Daphne was now working at the Murphy Group, which meant she was willing to be seen. He had been wanting everyone to know he had another daughter.
Summer was baffled. "And?"
His response threw her for a loop. A frown formed, and she blurted out, "Aren't you afraid Lydia will find out?"
"What are you talking about?" Mr. Murphy's confusion grew.
The fact that Daphne was his daughter was never a secret to Lydia; there was nothing to fear.
'Has this kid lost her mind over resigning?'
Summer spoke at a regular volume with an edge of threat as she glanced over at Daphne, "Did you know your investment advisor was also involved with Charles from the Lancelot Group?"
Mr. Murphy and Lydia paused, taken aback. How could she know something that was supposed to be a secret among a select few?
Daphne reclined on the sofa again, amusingly watching her like one would a fool.
Seeing Daphne's composed demeanor, Mr. Murphy's brow furrowed more seriously as he asked, "Who told you this?"
"My uncle."
"How did he know?"
"It's my uncle who played matchmaker for her and Charles," Summer blurted out, no longer holding back.
Mr. Murphy was puzzled, to say the least, and Lydia's forehead was all question marks.
Nibbling on a piece of fruit, Lydia blinked her expressive eyes and probed, "Your uncle brought them together?"
"Yes!" Summer asserted confidently.
With the cat out of the bag, there was no point in hiding anything. Her uncle had messaged her to deal with the "videotape" situation with Mr. Murphy to avoid a defamation lawsuit.
The only solution was to talk to Mr. Murphy directly.
"You're on different wavelengths here," Daphne kindly clarified. "Summer's 'seeing each other' refers to a sort of transaction within their social circle, not an actual romantic relationship."
With that explanation, both Mr. Murphy and Lydia caught on – they were adults after all, and familiar with deciphering gossip.
Lydia scowled at Summer, clearly displeased, while Mr. Murphy glowered at Summer, fury in his eyes. For the first time, he exploded with such rage, pointing towards the door, "Get out!"
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