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The Billionaire’s Sudden Bride
Chapter 132
Summer’s POV
Fifth Avenue glittered under the autumn sun as I window–shopped, enjoying a rare afternoon to myself. After the snake incident, Brandon had been so overprotective that I’d practically had to fight for my independence.
I was admiring a display of designer shoes when I spotted their reflection in the window–Anna Watson and her mother, stepping out of Bergdorf Goodman. My body tensed instantly. This was the first time I’d seen Anna since the Manhattan Club disaster.
What caught my attention were the two angry red scars running down the left side of her otherwise perfect face–one from temple to cheek, the other across her jawline. I quickly turned away, hoping they hadn’t noticed me, but it was too late.
“Summer.” Her voice carried clearly across the sidewalk.
I reluctantly turned. “Anna.”
Her mother’s arm tightened protectively around her daughter’s shoulders, eyeing me with undisguised hostility.
“Have you got a minute?” Anna asked. “I think we should talk.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You want to talk to me? I don’t think we have anything to discuss.”
Anna’s fingers touched one of her scars. “Don’t you want to know why you got bitten by that snake? And about my face…”
I hesitated, weighing my options. Brandon would lose his mind if he knew I was even considering this conversation.
“Fine,” I finally said, checking my watch. “But I don’t have much time. My friend’s meeting me soon.”
Anna turned to her mother. “Mom, I need to talk to Summer alone. Why don’t you head back?”
“Anna, I don’t think-”
“It’s okay, Mom. If you’re worried, you can wait in the car. I’ll be right there.”
After her mother reluctantly left, Anna gestured toward Madison Avenue. “There’s a café just around the corner. We can talk there.”
The café was exactly the kind of upscale place that charged twelve dollars for an espresso. I ordered a lime water while Anna chose some complicated tea concoction.
“Well?” I prompted once we were alone. “You wanted to talk, so talk.
Anna’s jaw tightened. “God, Summer, that whole unbothered, above–it–all attitude of yours is really fucking annoying, you know
that?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Is it? Well, you don’t like me. You’ve never liked me. So anything I do, you’re not going to like opinion? Honestly doesn’t affect me at all.”
Her face flushed, caught off guard by my directness.
Our
I sighed. “Look, you said you wanted to talk about what happened that night. There’s indeed a lot things that I don’t know. And your
face…”
“Who are you, really?” she blurted out. “What kind of connections do you have?”
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Chapter 132
Brandon. She’s talking about Brandon. My mind raced.
I’m nobody special,” I replied carefully. “If that’s what you wanted to ask, I don’t have an answer for you.”
“That’s bullshit,” Anna leaned forward. “Nobody gets that kind of response from Manhattan Club security unless they’re seriously
connected.”
Her fingers brushed one of her scars again.
“You know what’s funny? I didn’t even hate you at first. It was only after I started hanging with Victoria that I began to see what a bitch you were to her.”
“Excuse me?” I nearly choked. “When exactly was I ever a bitch to Victoria?”
“Are you serious? Victoria told us how you constantly undermined her. She’s your older sister, and you treated her like garbage!”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Wow. That’s rich. Which eye did you use to see me supposedly bullying her? I’ve spent my entire life in Victoria’s shadow.”
“She always looked so hurt whenever you were around,” Anna said, her certainty wavering. “You’d give her these cold looks….
“You mean when she’d deliberately seek me out to make snide comments disguised as sisterly concern?” I countered. “Ox when she’d publicly apologize‘ just to make herself look good?”
Anna fell silent, her expression troubled.
“I’ve often wondered why we can’t act like sisters,” I continued. “What exactly did I do that made everyone think I was the problem?”
“So you’re saying you don’t hate each other?” she asked skeptically.
“No, we definitely don’t get along,” I clarified. “But has Victoria ever, even once, said anything nice about me to you? If she truly saw me as her sister, wouldn’t she occasionally have something positive to say?”
Anna’s gaze dropped to the table. The silence was answer enough.
“Look,” I checked my watch. “Why don’t you tell me why you really wanted to talk?”
Anna took a deep breath. “The snake. It wasn’t me who had it put there.” Her voice was quiet but firm. “I arranged to have you locked in the bathroom. That’s it. I never meant for there to be a snake.”
She gestured at her face. “I’ve paid for it, though. Look at me. My modeling career is over before it even began.”
“So?” My voice was cold. “What exactly do you want from me? Sympathy?”
I’m not a monster, but I’m not a saint either. This woman was willing to lock me in a bathroom to teach me a lesson.” Snake or no snake, she put me in danger.
“I’m apologizing,” Anna said, a hint of desperation in her voice. “But I’ve been punished too. My brother says I should stay away from you, that you’re too dangerous to mess with. So who are you, Summer?”
I studied her for a long moment. “Who I am isn’t important. What matters is that you’re here talking to me now, which means you’ve figured out some things for yourself, right?”
Anna nodded slowly. “Victoria isn’t who I thought she was. And whatever is between you two… I don’t want to be in the middle anymore. I just want this to be over.”
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Chapter 132
“I understand,” I said softly. And for what it’s worth, I’m not some heartless monster out for revenge. What happened to you wasn’t my doing.”
“But you know who did it,” she stated.
“As for whether I have someone powerful behind me,” I continued, ignoring her statement, “trust me when I say you’re better off not knowing.”
As I stood to leave, a thought struck me.
“Anna, do you remember back in college when you received that love letter? The one you thought was from Chris Diaz, but he later
said was meant for me?”
Her expression darkened. “What about it?”
“That letter was meant for me,” I said gently. “But I never saw it. Chris gave it to Victoria to pass to me. And somehow, it found its way to you instead.”
Anna’s eyes widened as understanding dawned. “She wouldn’t have… but of course she would.”
I nodded, turning to leave.
“Wait,” she called after me. “Victoria and Alexander’s wedding is the day after tomorrow. Will you be there?”
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