Victoria’s POV
Just now, I rushed through the Ritz–Carlton hallway, my wedding dress rustling with each quick step. Turning the corner, I froze ani saw there they were–Alexander and Summer–standing way too close together outside the restrooms. My fiancé–no, my husband in just a few hours–was practically cornering my sister against the wall his hand gripping her wrist. And now there was another man. A tall figure in an impeccable suit approached Alexander and Summer. My breath caught. Brandon Stark.
My blood boiled. I started forward, ready to figure out what the fuck was going on, when Anna grabbed my arm, yanking me back behind a pillar.
“What the hell?” I hissed, trying to shake her off.
“Just watch what they are going to say.” Anna suggested.
Brandon ignored Alex completely and turned to Summer. “I was just speaking with George Taylor. He mentioned you.”
“Mr. Stark is friends with my grandfather?” Summer sounded surprised but pleased. “He actually just called me, asking me to join
him.”
“Perhaps we could head there together?” Brandon suggested smoothly.
“I’d like that,” Summer replied with a smile that seemed far too friendly.
Alexander stepped forward desperately. “Summer! You promised we’d talk.”
She frowned, looking genuinely annoyed. I couldn’t believe it–even with Brandon Stark right there, Alexander was still chasing after
Summer.
“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Brandon said, his voice dropping to a dangerous pitch, “but this is your wedding day with the Taylor family’s eldest daughter. Running around bathroom hallways to corner your former fiancée seems… interesting.”
Alexander paled visibly. “I–I just—”
“Your absence from the ballroom might be noticed,” Brandon continued. “Miss Taylor, shall we proceed to see your grandfather?”
“Sure.” Summer replied quickly.
Alexander tried again pathetically, “Uncle Brandon, you-”
“It’s your wedding day,” Brandon cut him off coldly. “Act like it. Your father invited me to witness a celebration, not a spectacle.”
Alexander retreated like a scolded puppy.
I was pissed off, ready to confront Alexander before he got away when Anna stopped me again. I yanked my arm away from Anna, spinning to face her. “What the fuck are you doing?” I snarled under my breath. “I’m going to…”
Anna said, “And do what exactly?”
“What do you mean ‘do what? That’s my fiancé–my almost–husband and my sister!”
“It’s your wedding day,” Anna reminded me. “If you go over there making a scene, you’ll be the laughingstock of New York society. You will marry Alexander soon–how will it look if you start a fight now? The Stark family will be humiliated,
1/4
Chapter 142
I stared at her, taken aback. This calculating approach wasn’t the Anna I knew. “Since when did you get so… strategic?”
“What, you think I’ve gotten smarter?” Anna asked, her scarred face unreadable.
“No! That’s not what I meant,” I backtracked quickly. “Don’t misunderstand.”
“It’s fine, we’re friends,” Anna said with a tight smile. “I admit I wasn’t thinking clearly before. But after what that snake Summer did to me, how could I not wise up? That woman is evil.”
Anna glanced down the hallway where Brandon and Summer had disappeared. “We’ll deal with her later. Right now, your priority is locking down Alexander. Once you’re officially, married, why worry about Summer?”
“You’re right,” I admitted, my thoughts clearing. “I lost my head for a minute. Come on, let’s go.”
“Mom!” I called the moment I reached my bridal suite. “Come here, quick!”
Elizabeth swept in, looking irritated. “What now? I’m running around like crazy out there, and your father’s asking for me. If it’s not urgent, can’t it wait?”
“Mom, I can’t wait any longer. Until Summer’s married off, I’ll never have peace. You promised you’d help me!”
“Why the rush?” Elizabeth asked, studying my face. “Did something happen?”
“I…” I hesitated, not sure how to explain what I’d just witnessed.
Elizabeth’s face darkened. “It’s that little bitch again, isn’t it?”
“Exactly,” I nodded eagerly. “Mom, I can’t stand it anymore. Alexander just can’t for get about Summer! I’m sure if she would take him back, he’d cancel our wedding and marry her instead! We really need to get Summer out of our hair and make Alexander completely mine!”
“Calm down, I’ve gotten everything ready.” Mom said with a calculating smile.
She pulled out her phone and dialed. “Hello, Daisy? Has your son arrived yet?”
“Yes, he’s here!” a woman’s voice replied. “This is perfect! I always said those two would be a match. Thank goodness we arranged this when they were just babies. Yes, I’ll wait for him.”
Mom hung up with a smug smile. “There’s my solution.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“It’s perfect,” Mom explained, eyes gleaming with malice. “I’ve arranged a suitable marriage for dear Summer. She doesn’t deserve such a good match, but it benefits the Taylor family to connect with the Sullivans.”
A slow smile spread across my face as understanding dawned. “Mom, that’s brilliant! You’re my rock, seriously.”
“Let’s go,” she said, smoothing her dress. “Your father’s probably foaming at the mouth by now.”
We found Dad pacing near the entrance to the ballroom, looking annoyed.
“Where the hell have you been?” he demanded. “I’ve been looking everywhere!”
2/4
Chapter 142
‘Checking on Victoria, of course,” Mom replied coolly. “It’s her wedding day–a mother has duties. I heard Old Alexander was unhappy with you. What happened?”
Dad leaned in, lowering his voice. “You’ll never guess who showed up–Brandon Stark!”
Brandon Stark?” Mom’s eyes widened.
Mom’s eyes took on that calculating look I knew so well. “If only Victoria had set her sights on Brandon instead of Alexander…”
“What about Summer? Dad suggested, his voice dropping even lower “She’s still single.”
“Absolutely not,” I cut in sharply.
Mom shook her head firmly. “Out of the question.”
“What?” Dad looked genuinely confused. “Why not? Brandon Stark is Wall Street royalty. Having him as part of the family would be a dream come true.”
“Summer?” I laughed incredulously. “Dad, are you serious? She’s nowhere near Brandon Stark’s league. She’d embarrass us all.”
“Besides,” Mom added, “I’ve already made arrangements for Summer.
“What arrangements?” Dad asked.
“Remember that woman I saved years ago? Daisy Sullivan? She’s Sullivan family–another of the Wall Street dynasties. When I saved her life, she promised me a favor.”
“Wait,” Dad’s eyes widened. “You’re saying-”
“Summer will marry her son,” Mom confirmed. “I just got off the phone with Daisy. Her son is coming today specifically to meet
Summer.”
“Sullivan?” Dad looked thoughtful. “I didn’t know Daisy had a son.”
“Few people do. He keeps an extremely low profile. The arrangement is perfect, though–Sullivan family connections would be invaluable to us.”
“That’s… actually brilliant,” Dad admitted, a greedy gleam in his eyes
“Of course it is,” Mom smiled coldly. “Summer gets a husband far above her station, and we get the Sullivan connection. I just spoke with Daisy–it’s all arranged. He’s already here.”
I felt a surge of satisfaction. Soon, Summer would be married off and shipped away, leaving Alexander fully committed to me. Even better, she’d be stuck with some mystery Sullivan nobody who’d probably keep her locked up in some mansion far away from New York.
“Just wait till Summer finds out,” I whispered, unable to keep the glee from my voice. “She won’t know what hit her.”
