The Billionaire’s Sudden Bride
Chapter 271
Summer’s POV
I sprawled across our living room sofa at the Hamptons estate, my hand resting on Brandon’s lap as evening settled around us. His fingers absently stroked my hair while he scrolled through his phone with his free hand. This peaceful moment was exactly what we needed after the chaos of the past few days.
Something felt off, though. Brandon’s movements seemed oddly calculated, almost hesitant. The muscles beneath my head were too tense, and his breathing pattern wasn’t quite right.
I cracked one eye open to find him staring down at me with an expression I couldn’t quite decipher–that look he got when planning something complicated.
“You know,” he began carefully, setting his phone aside, “there’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.”
He watched me with that inscrutable expression. Is there… anything you want to ask me about?”
I shifted to look up at him better. “What’s going on with you today? You’re acting weird.”
I reached up and smoothed my fingers across his forehead, where a small crease had formed between his brows.
“Stop frowning,” I murmured. “You’ll get wrinkles, and then you’ll look old before your time.”
His mouth twitched upward, but his eyes remained serious. “Are you sure there’s nothing you want to ask me about? Something from today, perhaps?”
I pushed myself up to a sitting position. “Brandon, what are you talking about? Should I be asking you something? Did you do something I don’t know about?” I narrowed my eyes. “Something I wouldn’t like?”
The way his expression tightened told me I’d hit the mark.
“Oh my God, you really did something, didn’t you?”
Brandon reached for my hand.
“Wait,” I cut him off, laying my palm against his cheek. “Whatever it is, as long as you didn’t cheat on me or something, I’m not going to freak out. So just tell me what’s going on.”
“Have you checked the news today?” he asked quietly.
“The news?” I frowned. “No, why would I?”
“Check now.”
I reached for my phone. A quick search of Brandon’s name was all it took–the headlines exploded across my screen:
STARK AFFAIR: BILLIONAIRE CEO CAUGHT IN SECRET RELATIONSHIP WITH ACTRESS
BRANDON STARKS ALLEGED AFFAIR WITH VICTORIA TAYLOR EXPOSED
The accompanying photos showed Brandon and Victoria at the annual party, his hand on hers as he announced her as Diana’s new spokesperson. The angles made their interaction look intimate, secretive–nothing like the professional exchange it had actually
been.
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Chapter 271
I looked up, meeting Brandon watchful gaze. It only took seconds plece it together. This wasn’t an accident or a paparazzi opportunity. This was deliberate.
I tossed my phone aside and cressed my arms. “I’m angry, I declared my tone deliberately dramatic. “Very, very angry. You’d better. start explaining yourself right now!”
Brandon watched me silently, his expression cautious.
I couldn’t maintain the facade. A smile tugged at my lips. “Oh, come on. I’m not actually mad. How could I be?*
‘I don’t believe a word of what those articles say, I continued, waving dismissively at my phone. “As if you would ever be interested in Victoria! First of all, she’s married. But more importantly… I leaned closer. “I know where I stand with you. I know that nobody else comes close.”
Brandon’s eyes warmed with approval.
“What I want to know,” I said, poking his chest gently, “is why you did it.”
His eyebrows shot up. “You knew?”
I rolled my eyes. “Brandon, who in New York has the guts to publish gossip about you without your permission? They’d have to have a death wish.” I tilted my head. “This has your fingerprints all over it. You arranged the whole thing, didn’t you?”
A slow smile spread across his face. “You’re too smart for your own good. I was looking forward to watching you get jealous.
“Keep dreaming,” I laughed. “So why did you do it? What’s the real reason?”
“The Sinclair family is getting impatient. I needed to take action.”
I processed this, the pieces falling into place. “Oh, I get it. You’re using the gossip about you and Victoria to create problems and distract Elle Sinclair? You’re turning her attention toward Victoria instead of me?”
“And?” Brandon prompted, clearly pleased with my quick understanding.
“And you’re using Elle’s reaction to deal with Victoria at the same time,” I finished. “Killing two birds with one stone. That’s… actually kind of brilliant in a devious way.”
“So you approve?”
“Well, it’s not exactly gentlemanly to use two women against each other like this,” I teased. “But when have you ever claimed to be a gentleman?”
“And what would Mrs. Stark suggest instead? Just let things be?”
I shook my head firmly. “No way. I think your plan is solid. I’m not the type to turn the other cheek. If you just keep taking hits without fighting back, all you get is more pain. Sometimes you have to protect yourself proactively.”
That kind of thinking is exactly why I was so determined to marry you.”
“Still,” I said, “there’s something I don’t understand. Why does Elle hate me so much? She didn’t even know who I was before the annual party.”
‘Don’t you remember? You danced with me, Brandon reminded me. You were my opening dance partner.”
So?”
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Chapter 271
“Elle Sinclair targets any woman who comes near me,” he explained. She’s… not entirely stable when it comes to her feelings about
me.”
A realization dawned on me. “Wait, so the whole Diana spokesperson thing with Victoria… you planned that all along? You deliberately gave Victoria that contract knowing Elle would go after er?”
Brandon didn’t deny it. “Elle thought she had the draw rigged. She switched the box so all the numbers inside were hers.”
“What?” I gasped. “She did that?”
“She tried,” Brandon corrected. “But I had Monica switch it back. Elle never had a chance.”
I stared at him, torn between admiration and indignation. “So I was Bait? You used me to make Elle jealous, and now you’re using Victoria the same way?”
“Not bait,” Brandon corrected, his thumb stroking my palm. “More like… a catalyst.”
“Great,” I huffed. “So thanks to your brilliant plan, I’ve got Elle Sinclair hating my guts for absolutely no reason. Meanwhile, you come out of this looking completely innocent. How is that fair?”
“Are you saying I need to make it up to you?” Brandon asked, his voice dropping to that dangerous tone that always made my pulse quicken.
“Absolutely,” I declared. “You owe me big time for this.”
6-
“I’ve already given you my entire self,” he murmured, leaning closer. Isn’t that enough?”
I scoffed. “That doesn’t count! You were already mine to begin with.”
“True.” His eyes darkened. “I’ll give you whatever you want, but first…” In one swift motion, he scooped me up and flipped our positions, pressing me down into the cushions with his weight above me. “I have business to do.”
“Brandon!” I gasped, startled by the sudden movement. “Get off me! What are you doing?” I wriggled beneath him. “And what exactly do I owe you? I haven’t done anything!”
His only answer was a slow, predatory smile that made my breath catch in my throat.
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