Chapter 121
Victoria’s POV
Ruby planted herself in front of Summer like some deranged bodyguard, blocking the suited men. Back off! You’re not taking her anywhere!”
The tall man–Landon, I think someone called him–looked at Ruby with a flash of recognition before his expression settled back into professional detachment. “Miss, your friend needs immediate medical attention. That snake bite could be fatal if not treated promptly.”
“And why should we trust you?” Ruby challenged, eyes narrowing.
“Miss Scott, we need to move quickly,” Landon replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. Mr. Stark sent me
Ruby’s eyes widened at hearing her name. After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded. “Fine, but I’m coming with her. We both are. She gestured toward Scarlett.
“That’s acceptable,” Landon agreed.
“I’ll come too,” Chris insisted, stepping forward.
One of Landon’s men immediately blocked his path. “That won’t be necessary,” Landon said without even looking at Chris.
As Summer was carried away with Ruby and Scarlett hurrying behind our classmates crowded around, demanding answers.
“What the hell is going on?” someone yelled.
“You can’t just take people!” another shouted.
Landon turned to face the crowd, suddenly seeming taller, more imposing. “What’s going on is that you people have some serious nerve, pulling this kind of stunt at Manhattan Club. Do you have any idea whose establishment this is?”
The crowd fell silent. Manhattan Club wasn’t just any venue–it was legendary among New York’s elite, its membership list a closely guarded secret.
Anna pushed forward, her voice high and nervous. “You can’t do this! You don’t know what happened! This is illegal!”
Landon’s lips curved into a cold smile. “Miss, you’re standing in Manhattan Club. Here, we make the rules.”
Kristina rushed forward. “Sir, I’m so sorry about all this! I’m Kristina Cox–my husband is Louis Cox. We booked this event, and I’m sure we can sort this out!”
“Mrs. C,” Landon cut her off, “with all due respect to your husband his name carries no weight here. Someone brought a venomous snake into these premises and used it to attack another guest. His gaze swept over the crowd. “Not only are those responsible not going anywhere, but no one else is leaving either. Not until we get to the bottom of this.”
As security herded people toward the elevators, Anna grabbed my arm, her nails digging into my skin. “Victoria,” she hissed, “what are we going to do?”
I yanked my arm away. “God, get a grip! Nothing’s happened yet. Stop acting so guilty.”
“But what if they find out-
“Find out what, exactly?” I snapped. “What did you do, Anna?”
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Her eyes darted around nervously. “I just wanted to teach Summer a lesson! After seeing how Chris kept staring at her all night-
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I snarled, keeping my voice low. “I specifically told you not to do anything stupid!”
But I only told them to lock her in the bathroom!” she protested weakly.
‘Don’t give me that bullshit,” I cut her off. “This had nothing to do with me. You saw Chris making eyes at Summer, and you lost it. Just like in college.”
“Shut up, Sophie hissed from beside us. “They’re watching us.”
Across the room, Kristina approached one of the guards, pleading to call her husband. Landon appeared in the doorway. “You may all make calls,” he announced, “but anyone you contact who comes here will also be detained until this matter is resolved.”
I didn’t bother calling anyone. Alexander was useless in a crisis, and my parents would only make things worse. Besides, I hadn’t done anything. Anna was the one who should be worried, not me.
Brandon’s POV
“We need to get her fever down,” Scarlett was saying as I entered the room. She pressed a damp towel to Summer’s forehead while Ruby paced anxiously.
“I’m going to get more water,” Ruby declared, turning toward the door just as I pushed it open.
She froze. “Holy shit… Brandon?”
I ignored her, my focus entirely on June. She lay motionless on the couch, her skin ashen, a sheen of sweat glistening on her forehead. The sight made something dark and vicious unfurl inside me.
I brushed past Ruby and knelt beside the couch, gathering June into my arms. Her skin burned against mine.
“June?” I called softly.
Her eyelids fluttered, gaze unfocused. “Brandon? Is that you? Did you come?”
“I’m here,” I assured her, keeping my voice steady despite the rage building inside me. “You’re going to be fine.”
I turned toward the door. “Sean!”
Sean strode in immediately, medical bag in hand. He examined Summer with swift, professional movements.
“When did this happen?” he asked, checking her pulse.
“Not long ago,” Ruby replied. “She was bitten by a snake in the bathroom. Chris sucked out some of the venom, but…”
Sean’s expression darkened as he examined the puncture marks. “Venomous bite, definitely. Someone extracted most of the venom, which probably saved her life, but there’s still toxin in her system. We need to get her to a hospital immediately.”
wrapped my jacket around June’s shoulders before lifting her into my arms.
“I’ll take her,” I said, already moving toward the door. “Have James bring the car around.”
As I reached the threshold, I paused, turning back to Ruby and Scarlett. “This doesn’t end here. Someone targeted June, and I want
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to know who.”
Ruby and Scarlett exchanged glances.
“If I had to guess,” Ruby said, “it’d be Victoria and her cronies, Anna especially has always had it in for Summer.
“Anna’s been weirdly fixated on Summer all night, it should be them. Scarlett added.
“You’re saying it’s should be them?” I asked, my tone dangerously quiet. ‘I need certainty, not speculation.”
“It has to be them,” Ruby insisted. “No one else would have any reason to hurt Summer.”
I nodded once. “James,” I called.
James appeared immediately, his expression perfectly blank.
“Go find out, and send Miss Scott and Miss Smith to check the surveillance footage,” I instructed. “I want to know exactly what happened, and who was responsible. Once you find out whoever is behind this, seize her ASAP!”
“And Miss Victoria, sir?” James asked quietly.
I looked down at June’s pale face, her breathing shallow against my chest.
“Find out the truth first,” I replied coldly. “One step at a time. As for Victoria…” I smiled thinly. “We have all the time in the world
for her.”
As I carried June toward the exit, Ruby caught up to us. “What’s going to happen to whoever did this?” she asked James.
James’s voice carried an unmistakable edge. “In all my years working for Mr. Stark, I’ve never seen anyone who dared harm what belongs to him live to see another sunrise.”
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