Chapter 208
Summer’s POV
I crouched low in the back seat of Brandon’s car, frantically changing into the elegant midnight blue dress. My heart nearly stopped when I saw someone rushing toward the vehicle.
“Open the door! I know you’re in there!” a woman shrieked. The car ook as someone yanked violently at the door handles. “You home–wrecking slut, open this door!”
I froze, dress half over my head, panic shooting through me. Elle Sinclair. Brandon’s “cousin.”
Through the window, I could see her face pressed against the glass, contorted with rage as she pulled at the handle. Thank god Brandon had locked the doors.
Outside, a crowd was gathering, drawn by Elle’s hysterics.
“Poor thing, that must be his wife,” a woman commented loudly. “And he’s got another woman in the car.”
“Damn, that dude is gorgeous though,” a younger voice chimed in.
“Honey, doesn’t matter how handsome he is,” an older woman called out. “If he’s cheating, he’s not worth it! Leave him now while you can!”
Elle wailed in response: “No! I won’t leave him! Brandon, please, just make that bitch go away!”
Through the tinted windows, I could see Brandon’standing rigidly nearby, his face a mask of cold fury. Jane Sinclair hovered beside him, her elegant composure cracking.
“Mother,” Brandon’s voice cut through the commotion, glacial and precise. “Is this what you wanted? Is this how the Sinclair family raised their children? Your precious niece? You’ve managed to destroy any remaining respect I had for you.”
Jane paled visibly. “Brandon, Brandon! Elle is… you know Elle. Don’t blame her. I’ll take her away immediately.”
She turned to their driver. “Quickly, get her into the car!”
Elle spun around, her face streaked with tears and makeup. “No! Get away from me! Aunt Jane, why aren’t you helping me? Brandon has another woman! You promised I could marry him!”
The crowd’s whispers grew louder.
Jane pressed her fingertips to her temple, visibly struggling to maintain composure.
“Get her in the car now!” she ordered the driver more forcefully.
The driver hesitated, glancing at Brandon for permission, Brandon gave a slight nod. As the driver approached Elle again, she twisted away, lunging toward Brandon. She reached for his hand, but Brandon jerked away, his disgust evident.
“My patience has limits,” Brandon stated, each word like ice. “Mother I have an important client meeting shortly. If I’m late because of this spectacle, I’ll make sure neither Elle nor you can stay in New York. You’ll go back where you came from.”
Jane seemed to crumple. “Alright, alright, I’ll take Elle away right now. Brandon, please don’t be angry. Elle’s… situation… you know
it’s not her fault.”
She moved quickly to Elle’s side, whispering something in her ear. Whatever she said made Elle pause.
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Chapter 208
‘Really, Aunt Jane?” she asked, uncertainty creeping into her voice.
“Yes, dear. When have I ever lied to you? Now, let’s go home.”
I watched as Jane guided Elle to their car. The crowd, intimidated by Brandon’s commanding presence, began to disperse.
Once Jane’s car had disappeared, Brandon approached and tapped lightly on the window. “You can come out now, Summer.”
I let out the breath I’d been holding and quickly straightened my dress, climbing awkwardly from the back seat.
“Why did you move to the back?” Brandon asked.
I felt my face heat up. “The front was too cramped for changing, I explained. “It’s all good now.”
Inside the car, Brandon settled into the driver’s seat while I fidgeted with my dress.
“Were you scared?” he asked, starting the engine.
I hesitated, then shook my head, then nodded. “I mean, not really. I was fine.”
I glanced at him, struggling to find the right words. “But Elle seemed really…” I trailed off, tapping my temple meaningfully. “I mean, she was so emotional, completely unstable. Is she…..?”
“Are you asking if she has mental health issues?” Brandon finished for me.
I nodded, relieved he understood.
“Yes,” he confirmed simply.
“So what’s her deal? She seemed really fixated on you.”
uncle’s first love a
Brandon sighed, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel. “Elle had a difficult childhood. Her mother w woman with significant mental health problems, likely hereditary. The Sinclair family opposed their relation.p, and eventually my uncle married someone else. Elle’s mother also married, but things were unstable.”
“Later, my uncle brought Elle into the Sinclair family and raised her. She seemed normal when she was younger, but in recent years, she’s grown increasingly… obsessive.”
“To you?” I asked. “She’s been obsessed with you since childhood? That’s why she won’t leave you alone?”
Brandon’s brow furrowed, and he nodded reluctantly. “Yes.”
“And your mother knows about her condition?”
“She knows,” Brandon confirmed, his voice hardening.
“And she’s still trying to force you to marry her?” I couldn’t keep the incredulity from my voice. “That’s insane!”
Brandon didn’t respond, and I sensed his mood darkening. After a moment of awkward silence, I decided to change the subject.
“So where are we going now?” I asked, glancing out the window.
“To pick someone up,” he replied. If you want to know more about Elle, I’ll tell you, but right now we have more important things to
- do.
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Chapter 208
He reached over, ruffling my lair affectionately.
“Hey!” I protested, swatting his hand away. “Don’t mess with my hair. You said we’re meeting someone important. How am I supposed to look professional with my hair all messed up?”
I pulled out a compact mirror, checking my reflection with dismay.
“Next time, don’t touch my head without permission,” I warned him.
Brandon glanced at me, a smile playing at his lips. “Alright,” he agreed.
As we drove, I noticed we were heading out of the city center, toward more open roads.
“Where exactly are we going?” I asked. “Wait, this is… are we going to the airport? Are you picking someone up from a flight?”
Brandon nodded, his eyes fixed on the road.
“Who’s so important that you have to personally pick them up?” I pressed.
“I initially asked James to do it,” Brandon explained, “but he was urgently needed at Stark Entertainment. I didn’t have any pressing matters today, so rather than dealing with issues at Stark Entertainment myself, I decided to handle the airport pickup.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Nice work delegation. Does James know you’re throwing him under the bus like this?”
“I’m his boss,” Brandon replied with mock seriousness. “I pay him well to solve my problems.” Then he added, “But there’s another reason. There’s an issue with Victoria, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go there personally.”
My head snapped up at the mention of my sister. “Victoria? What kind of trouble is she causing now?”
I hadn’t been paying much attention to Victoria lately, too consumed with the Manhattan West Side development project.
“We don’t have all the details yet,” Brandon replied. “That’s why James is handling it. But it’s likely related to She’s been busy with that new movie, which means she hasn’t had time to cause problems for you.”
ilming schedule.
“True,” I agreed. “James mentioned she’s heading to Long Island in a couple of days. She’ll be too busy to stir up any trouble.”
“So who exactly are we going to meet?” I asked, unable to contain my curiosity any longer.
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