Chapter 227
Summer’s POV
“I’m Amelia Lee,” Amelia said with a warm smile. “I don’t think we’ve met before, so I should introduce myself! I’m Edward’s sister- Edward Lee, I mean. You know him, right? He’s good friends with Brandon and the others.”
“I’m Summer.” I replied, taking her hand and raising my glass in greeting.
“Please, call me Amy,” she insisted, waving away the formality. “Amelia sounds so stuffy, doesn’t it? Everyone calls me Amy.”
I couldn’t help but smile at her friendliness. “Okay, Amy it is!”
She clinked her glass against mine. “So, if you don’t mind me asking, how did you and Brandon meet? I don’t think I’ve seen you at these gatherings before.”
I hesitated, unsure how much to share. Brandon and I had discussed this earlier–tonight’s gathering consisted of his closest circle, people he trusted with our secret.
“Well, Brandon and I have known each other for quite a while,” I began carefully. “We’ve actually been married for some time now. We just haven’t had a formal wedding, and not many people know about it. As for how we met…” I smiled at the memory. “That’s a long story. Let’s just say there were some chance encounters, and Brandon saved me a few times. The people here tonight are pretty much the only ones who know about our marriage, so…”
Amy nodded understandingly. “I get it. Your secret’s safe with me. Marriage is your business anyway–as long as you and Brandon truly love each other, nobody else’s opinion matters.”
“Exactly!” I agreed, relieved by her reaction. “Though this is just temporary. Marriage involves two families eventually, so there might be some complications down the road.”
At the card table, Brandon suddenly looked up, his eyes finding mine across the room. He raised his hand, beckoning me over with a subtle gesture that somehow managed to be both commanding and intimate at the same time.
“Brandon,” Edward prompted, “it’s your turn.”
Brandon drew a card from the deck and played it without even looking at it, his eyes still on me. “Come here,” he called.
I hesitated, glancing at Amy and the other guests.
Amy grinned, nudging me with her elbow. “Looks like Brandon can’t bear to be away from you for even a minute!”
I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks as I made my way over to the table, Amy trailing behind me. She slipped into a spot between Edward and Saul, while I took the empty seat between Brandon and Michael Sullivan.
“So, Ed, how much have you won?” Amy asked Edward, peering at the chips in front of him. Her gaze shifted to Saul’s depleted pile. “Yikes, that’s rough. Three against one?”
Saul’s expression tightened slightly. “Which would you prefer that I win or your brother wins?”
Amy laughed, the sound light and carefree. “Honestly? Either way is fine with me. It’s not my money on the line!”
I turned my attention to Michael Sullivan, seated on my right. His face was a masterclass in controlled neutrality, his eyes calculating behind a polite mask. Everything about him screamed ‘approach with caution—from his perfectly tailored suit to his rigid posture. The energy he radiated reminded me of Brandon when we’d first met–cold, intimidating, and deliberately unapproachable.
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Chapter 227
“Hello, I offered, trying to be friendly.
Michael acknowledged me with a slight nod but didn’t speak. Message received.
Brandon’s warm hand found mine under the table, his fingers interlacing with mine in a silent claim. I squeezed back, letting him know I was perfectly content where I belonged.
‘I heard Brandon’s been busy with the Manhattan West Side project, Saul remarked casually, though the look in his eyes was anything but casual.
Before Brandon could respond, Edward laid down his cards with a flourish. “I win,” he announced, then turned to Saul with a smile
that didn’t reach his eyes. “Sorry about that.”
Saul’s face darkened. “Edward, you’ve had incredible luck tonight. Winning every hand–one against three–seems a bit much, don’t you think?”
“Winning is just one approach,” Edward replied smoothly. “I focus on results, and clearly, I’m one step ahead this time.”
“That remains to be seen,” Saul shot back. “The Pena family is just as powerful as the Lee family, wouldn’t you agree? And the Manhattan West Side project hasn’t even started yet–nothing is set in stone.”
Brandon’s thumb traced circles on my palm as he nodded. “Saul has a point. Business is like warfare–everything can change in an instant.”
Michael, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. “There’s a type of cooperation called win–win. What do you think, Edward?”
Edward’s eyes narrowed. “Sounds like Michael wants a piece of the pie too.”
Michael shrugged, his expression revealing nothing. “It’s a big cake, and any smart person would want a slice. But I’m not representing the Turner family tonight–I’m here for the Sullivan family.”
From the second table, Dr. Sean’s head snapped up. “Hey, don’t drag me into this! I’m just a doctor, not a businessman. The Sullivan family will eventually pass to my cousin anyway. Don’t ask me about this stuff.”
He cleared his throat, clearly eager to change the subject. “Actually, if you business tycoons wanted to donate some medical resources to Manhattan General, now that would be a great idea!”
“Dream on,” Michael replied, his tone deadly serious. “The Sullivan family is yours, Sean. I’m just looking after it temporarily, Don’t think you can avoid your responsibilities.”
Under the table, Brandon’s fingers tightened around mine, and I felt him apply slight pressure. I pushed back, our silent game of strength familiar and comforting. As our hands wrestled playfully, I found myself studying the complex dynamics around the table.
“What are you thinking about?” Brandon murmured close to my ear.
“I noticed Edward and Saul don’t seem to get along,” I whispered back. “Aren’t they going to be related soon? I thought Saul was
Amelia’s fiancé.
Brandon nodded slightly. “Edward doesn’t approve of Saul, but Amelia is determined to be with him. Edward can’t do much about it.”
I glanced at Amelia and Saul, noticing the strange tension between them. Despite being engaged, they didn’t look at each other the way couples usually. There was something off about their interaction that I couldn’t quite place.
The sound of Dr. Sean’s voice broke through my thoughts.
“Alright, this is getting boring,” he announced, pushing away from his table. ‘Since we’re celebrating Ethan’s return, why don’t we
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Chapter 227
play a game instead of just gambling all night?”
“What kind of game?” Amy asked, perking up immediately.
Dr. Sean’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “How about Truth or Dare?”
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