Summer’s POV
Jane Sinclair’s perfectly manicured nails drummed against the mahogany table as her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. My comment about her marriage to the wealthy Sinclair family had clearly struck a nerve.
“You…” she spat, her voice trembling with rage. “Such a sharp tongue You think speaking to me this way puts us on equal footing?”
I kept my expression neutral, refusing to be intimidated. “That wasn’t my intention at all! Actually, I’d prefer if you complimented my eloquence. Brandon thinks I’m quite articulate, you know
Her palm slammed against the table, sending crystal glasses rattling. How dare you! So you’re absolutely refusing to leave
Brandon?”
“I have no reason to leave my husband,” I replied firmly, meeting her gaze without flinching. “Honestly, I’m confused about why you asked me here today. Most mothers want their children to be happy, yet here you are, desperately trying to destroy your son’s marriage. It’s… fascinating, really.”
Jane leaned forward, her designer jacket pulling taut across her shoulders. “Of course I want him to be happy. Just not with you.”
“Why?” I asked, genuinely puzzled. “I don’t believe I’ve ever offended you, so-”
It’s that face of yours!” she cut in, her voice rising. “Do you really think Brandon chose you for who you are? It’s nothing but your face! You’re nothing more than a substi-”
The door to our private dining room suddenly burst open with such force that both of us jumped. Brandon stood in the doorway, his expression dark as a gathering storm. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees at once.
“I’m what?” I asked Jane quickly, desperate to hear the rest of her sentence.
Brandon’s voice cut through the tension like a blade.
Jane’s face drained of color. “Bran… Brandon, what are you doing here?”
Brandon strode into the room, each step deliberate and controlled. He positioned himself beside my chair, one hand resting protectively on my shoulder. The weight of it was comforting, anchoring me amidst the chaos.
“Mrs. Sinclair invites my wife to lunch without explanation. I’d like to know why,” his voice dangerously soft.
Jane straightened, attempting to regain her composure. “Brandon, I’m your mother. You got married–don’t I have a right to meet my daughter–in–law?”
“Mother?” A cold smile played on Brandon’s lips. “I don’t have a mother.”
Those words hung in the air like shards of ice. Jane visibly flinched, her body swaying slightly as though sl
struck.
Deen physically
“You…” Her voice cracked. “Brandon, I know you hate me, but you can’t change the fact that you’re my son.”
“Blood can’t be changed,” Brandon agreed, his tone flat. “But everything else can.”
Jane’s hand flew to her throat. “Brandon!” She stumbled backward, gripping the edge of the table for support. “Brandon, you’d oppose the entire Stark family–and the Sinclairs–for this… this woman? Do you even realize what you’re doing? Is she worth it? You’re the heir to one of Wall Street’s most powerful financial dynasties!”
1/3
A
“Whether she’s worth it is my Concern alone, Brandon replied coldly
Brandon’s fingers tightened slightly on my shoulder. “Your brother leffrey just left New York. Seems he forgot to take you with him.”
“I am a Stark by marriage,” Jane insisted, her chin lifting. I am your father’s wife!
“How convenient that you remember that now. Brandon’s voice dripped with sarcasm. Consider this my final warning: if you approach my wife again, I’ll make sure you regret.”
Brandon took my hand, preparing to lead me out. My heart was racing, trying to process everything happening around me.
“Fine! You’ve made your point!” A strange look of realization dawned on Jane’s face. “So you’ve been married to this woman all along. And those rumors about you and Victoria that were all over New York–you orchestrated that yourself, didn’t you? To divert attention while we were busy dealing with Victoria?”
Brandon said nothing, but his silence was confirmation enough. I watched Jane’s expression shift as she pieced together the truth.
“So Elle…” Jane’s voice trembled: “That’s your doing too?”
Brandon released my hand, the sudden absence of his touch making me anxious.
“Brandon, your mother is-” I started, concerned by the pallor of Jane’s face.
Brandon gently motioned for me to step aside. I could feel Jane’s hatred intensifying as she glared at me.
“The Sinclair family has been declining under Jeffrey’s management for years,” Brandon said coldly. “Perhaps it needs new
ownership.”
Jane’s eyes widened in horror. “What are you planning? Leave the Sinclairs alone–they’re innocent in this!”
“Innocent?” Brandon’s laugh was chilling. “The Sinclairs are the furthest thing from innocent. Don’t think I was too young to understand what was happening. My father may have been soft–hearted because he cared for you, but I won’t show the same mercy. You trampled his feelings while trying to seize everything the Starks had. The Sinclairs were too ambitious for their own good.”
Brandon took a step closer to Jane, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Ask your dear brother what he did to you thirty–five years ago. My father treated you with nothing but kindness, yet you helped outsiders hurt him. Ask Jeffrey what he did to my father twenty–five years ago. Or what he did to Elle three years ago.”
Jane stumbled backward. “That’s impossible!”
“You are smart enough to understand I’m not speaking idly,” Brandon continued. “If you want answers, I’d be happy to show you the evidence.”
“No,” Jane shook her head frantically. “No, I don’t want to see anything!”
She turned to me, her face twisted with bitterness. “Well, I’ve raised quite a son, haven’t I? Willing to treat his own mother this way for an outsider. For this woman, you’d disregard blood ties completely? Does it make you happy to reopen my wounds?*
“Weren’t you ruthless and self–serving when you used your wounds to hurt my father all these years?” Brandon countered.
Jane looked genuinely shocked. “You… is this really how you’ve seen me all these years? Is this who I am in your eyes?”
“When I was six,” Brandon said calmly, “I saw you drugging my father’s drink, then sending a woman to his bed. That moment, I understood you’d do anything to achieve your goals. Wasn’t that the truth?”
2/3
