Chapter 857: Chapter 857 Elope_1
The banquet officially began at six o’clock in the evening.
The Presidential Palace, prepared for an entire month for this event, shed its daytime austerity and grandeur, decked out in opulent refinement. Roses everywhere added a romantic quality to the evening feast.
Purple Summers wore a silver-white evening gown with a long skirt. A layer of light purple tulle enveloped the hem, giving the illusion of mist swirling around her as she walked, graceful and light.
Christopher Simonson had dressed her like a princess.
He and Caitlin Carter kept Purple Summers by their side, introducing her to each distinguished guest, letting everyone know how much they valued and adored their daughter.
Everything at the banquet was perfect, the food, the music and dancing, the guests, and even the night sky, which was particularly resplendent with stars twinkling brightly.
During the latter half of the evening, Purple Summers, feeling somewhat weary from socializing, went back to her room to rest for a bit.
She slipped off her high heels and massaged the soles of her feet with neither too much nor too little force, soothing her tense nerves. With just a glance upward, she could see the brilliant stars outside the glass door.
The night in March was chilly, and Purple Summers opened the glass door. The cold air swept over her body, sending a chill through her heels clad in slippers.
Someone was knocking at the door.
“Come in,” said Purple Summers, her figure leaning against the balcony railing, unmoved.
Christopher Simonson came in through the door.
Seeing him, Purple Summers thought she had rested too long and hurriedly said, “I’ll go back down shortly.”
“No rush, if you’re tired, take a bit more time to rest,” Christopher Simonson said with a gentle smile, walking over. “Just make an appearance before the end.”
He was in a good mood today, with everything at the banquet going smoothly, including the old lady, who cooperated very well and did not exhibit any strange temper in front of the guests.
“Actually, you should rest more too,” Purple Summers said. “The doctor advised that after you got discharged, you should avoid crowded places as much as possible.”
After all, one’s immunity couldn’t possibly recover in just a few days.
Christopher Simonson could hear the concern in his daughter’s voice, which warmed his heart. He looked up at the night sky and said, “Your mother and I used to watch the stars .”
Purple Summers smiled and said, “You two must have been very much in love back then.”
“Mmm,” Christopher Simonson’s gaze softened. “Back then, I was hot-blooded and refused to be controlled by my family. I ran away from home and went on an adventure. When I got to Clearwater, I met your mother. We… fell in love at first sight, I suppose.”
Purple Summers couldn’t help but laugh. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe it; it just seemed extraordinary when applied to her parents.
Christopher Simonson also laughed, recalling the love of his youth, with a smile tinged with a bit of embarrassment.
“Her situation was very much like mine. Her family ignored her efforts and didn’t care about her feelings. They seemed to value her highly and cherish her, but in reality, they treated her beauty and talent as a commodity, almost expressly pricing it to climb the social ladder. What they cared about was what Meredith Richards could bring to the family in terms of benefits, not a single person cared for her as an individual.”
Christopher Simonson looked at Purple Summers with a self-mocking expression. “Two young people determined to fight their destiny, they cherished each other, prideful of their talents… and so they eloped.”
Purple Summers’s eyes widened slightly, “You eloped.”
“Yes, we eloped,” Christopher Simonson said with a smile. “We had a bit of money, full of passion to travel every inch of Huaya Country. Your mother even made a contest to see who could travel in the most ways. We took boats, trains, cars, bicycles, ox carts, we walked… but in the end, I lost.”
“Why?” asked Purple Summers, puzzled. “Weren’t you two always together?”
Christopher Simonson laughed. “Because for a part of the journey, it was me carrying her.”
Despite the somber end, that relationship had its beautiful moments.