The Billionaire’s Sudden Bride
Chapter 181
Summer’s POV
Victoria’s face had gone ashen, her perfectly manicured hand trembling as she clutched her champagne flute. Her eyes darted frantically between Charles Windsor’s smug expression and my calm demeanor, the realization dawning that her carefully orchestrated plan had completely fallen apart.
“Windsor… Mr. Windsor?‘ Victoria stammered, her voice higher than usual. “How are you here? I thought I saw you feeling unwell and going to rest earlier?”
Charles’s smile was all teeth, predatory and knowing. ‘Yes, I was feeling a bit tipsy, wasn’t I? Your dear friend was kind enough to escort me upstairs.” He took a deliberate sip of his fresh champagne Quite the helpful young lady, that one.”
Victoria’s foundation couldn’t hide the way the blood drained from her face.
“Miss Taylor, Charles continued, turning to Victoria with mock concern, “are you feeling alright? You look rather pale. Perhaps you should see a doctor? Having such a troubled complexion at your own birthday celebration seems rather… inauspicious, wouldn’t you
say?”
“You’re absolutely right, Mr. Windsor,” Victoria managed, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m not feeling well at all. If you’ll
excuse me-
She didn’t finish her sentence, just turned and practically fled, her designer heels clicking desperately against the marble floor.
Charles watched her retreat with the satisfaction of a cat who’d cornered its prey but decided to let it escape–for now.
“Interesting,” he mused, turning his attention fully to me. “She didn’t even try to salvage her party. Not very hostess–like of her, is it, Miss Taylor?”
“What do you want, Mr. Windsor?” I asked, maintaining my distance.
His smile widened. “Miss Taylor, I believe we truly are destined to cross paths. Don’t you agree?”
“Is that so?” I replied cautiously.
“Indeed.” His eyes glittered with amusement. “After all, here I am, saving you once again.”
“Saving me?” I echoed, genuinely confused. “You’ve saved me before?
Charles laughed, a sound that held no warmth. “How heartless of you. Have you truly forgotten your rescuer so easily?”
“Cut the crap, I said, “I appreciate whatever assistance you provided today. But let’s be honest–you were helping yourself just as much as you were helping me. And frankly, I would have been fine either way.” I thought of poor Sophie upstairs and couldn’t keep the edge from my voice. “What happened to Sophie, though… that shouldn’t have happened to anyone.”
Something flashed in Charles’s eyes–not anger, but something colder, more calculating.
Before he could respond, my phone rang. Brandon’s name lit up the screen, and I couldn’t help the wave of relief that washed over
- me.
“Hello!” I answered, stepping away from Charles.
“Is it over?” Brandon’s deep voice came through, instantly soothing my frayed nerves.
1/3
Chapter 181.
“Yeah.” I said, feeling a genulife smile spread across my face.
“I’m outside,‘ he replied simply, “Come out.”
‘You’re here?‘ I couldn’t hide my delight. “Okay, I’ll be right there,”
I turned back to Charles. “I apologize, Mr. Windsor, but it’s getting late. I need to go.”
The cool night air hit my face as I pushed through the hotel’s revolving door. I spotted Dr. Sean leaning against a black Range Rover, his usual smirk firmly in place.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, unable to hide my disappointment.
Sean clutched his chest dramatically. “Why, Mrs. Stark, you wound me! Is that any way to greet your knight in shining armor?”
I glanced over my shoulder to see Charles Windsor exiting the hotel behind me. “Why is he following us out?
“Who cares? Sean replied, opening the car door. “Get in.”
I slid into the backseat. Brandon sat on the far side, his dark eyes immediately finding mine.
“Brandon!” I couldn’t keep the relief from my voice.
“Seatbelt,” he reminded me quietly, his hand already reaching to help secure it.
“What are you both doing here?” I asked, glancing between Brandon and Sean as the car pulled away. “Oh–Sean, you’re still playing Michael Sullivan tonight?”
“Yep,” Sean sighed dramatically. “I’ve completely lost my identity these days. Forced to live under someone else’s name. The tragedy
of it all!”
I couldn’t help laughing despite the evening’s tension.
The city lights streaked past as we drove in silence. I found myself replaying the events of the evening–Victoria’s shocked face, Sophie’s drugged state, Charles Windsor’s cryptic comments.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Sean observed. “Normally you’d be talking our ears off by now.”
I sighed. “I don’t know what to say.”
Brandon’s warm hand covered mine. “You’re cold,” he observed, concern evident in his voice. Then, to Sean: “Turn up the heat.”
“Yes, sir,” Sean replied, fiddling with the climate controls.
Brandon’s eyes studied my face. “You should have worn something warmer. The temperature drops significantly at night.”
“I’m fine,” I insisted with a small smile. “I’m not that delicate.”
My mind kept returning to the image of Sophie in that hotel room–disheveled, disoriented, betrayed.
“I can’t stop thinking about what happened tonight,” I finally admitted. “Sophie–Victoria’s friend–she was…”
Brandon said simply, his grip tightening on my hand. That’s what matters.”
2/3
Chapter 181
i tumed to him, cuipiteed. 11% and you know what I was going to say the you home what was happening w******
Sean chucked from the front exat. Of course we did, Summer Brendon and i were wounding the satsen Shoes whate time.”
“You had people watching me? I siked, staring at Brandon
“I wasn’t going to let you walk into that party unprotected; Brandonondime, his expression serv
Thank you, Brandon, I whispered.
Sean twisted around in his seat. ‘So, what are we going to do about this? Those women were planning to drug and ate her. That deserves some kind of response, doesn’t it?
I took a deep breath, something shifting inside me, ‘Sean’s right. Victoria crossed a line, and I’m not come sint who can turn the other cheek when someone tries to destroy me, I looked directly at Brandon
Brandon studied me for a long moment before nodding, “Good”
‘Don’t worry, I continued, feeling a new resolve. I’m not that weak, vulnerable Summer anymore. I’ve grown stronger. I don’t want you having to handle everything for me,”
“I don’t mind,” Brandon replied simply.
“I know,” I said softly, squeezing his hand. “And that means everything
As the car turned onto the highway, I gazed out at the twinkling city lights.
“I wonder how Sophie’s doing now,” I murmured, more to myself than anyone else.
Despite everything, I couldn’t help feeling a twinge of sympathy for the poor girl.
Chapter Comments
LIKE
POST CO
