Chapter 328
Summer’s POV
I stood frozen, watching the exchange between Brandon and his mother with my mouth slightly open, What Jane had just revealed, and what Brandon was saying in response… it was changing everything I thought I knew about the Stark family.
“No, Brandon, listen to your mother, I only did what I did because- Jane’s voice trembled as she tried to explain.
“Because you wanted to divorce my father?” Brandon cut her,off, his voice sharp as steel. And then break up Uncle Gavin’s marriage? Separate Gavin and Meave
so you could marry thy uncle instead?”
Jane’s face drained of color. “1…1…”
“You believe my father forced himself on you,” Brandon continued, each word precise and cutting. “But do you know who drugged my father thirty–five years ago?”
I felt my heart drop. The scandal he was describing was shocking enough, but the cold calculation in Brandon’s voice was even more chilling This wasn’t just family drama–this was something far deeper and darker.
“I told you before,” Brandon said, his voice dangerously quiet, “staying with the Sinclairs would have been your best option. I am your son, after all–I inherited your ruthlessness.”
He took my hand, his grip firm but not painful. “We’re done here.”
As Brandon led me out, my mind was reeling. The man beside me wasn’t the cold, distant person others thought they knew. What I’d just witnessed was more complex–a man deeply wounded by family betrayals, fighting to protect what was his.
Once we were safely in Brandon’s car, he helped me with my seatbelt before sliding into the driver’s seat. Before he could start the engine, I placed my hand over his.
“Hey,” I said softly.
The hardness in his expression melted slightly as he looked at me. Did I scare you?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m just… processing.”
Brandon sighed, running his hand through his hair. “I didn’t want you to see that side of me.”
“The side that cares enough to protect me?” I asked with a small smile.
He looked at me with surprise, then something in his eyes softened
I traced my finger along the back of his hand, hesitating before asking, “What about Alice? Your sister… you mentioned her before.
“Brandon’s jaw tightened. “Stark family dynamics are complicated. Don’t trust anyone I haven’t specifically vouched for. Alice was the child born to that college student I mentioned.”
“What happened to her? The college student, I mean.”
Brandon’s eyes darkened. “She came from a poor family. After what happened, she lost her job and went back home. Her family wasn’t supportive, and she struggled to raise the baby alone. Eventually, she approached the Stark family, hoping they would at least acknowledge her child.”
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Chapter 328
“And your father?” I asked carefully. “What did he want to do?”
“He wanted to divorce my mother. Free her. It was all arranged, but
the last minute, she changed her mind and backed out.
1 frowned. “Why would she do that if she wanted to be with your unde?
“You’re forgetting about the Sinclair family behind her,” Brandon explained. “They would never allow the divorce. Do you understand what that would mean? The Sinclairs would lose their connection to the Stark family–and their foothold on Wall Street. My uncle Jeffrey isn’t stupid.”
“So what happened to Alice?”
R
Brandon’s expression turned distant. “My mother refused to divorce my father, but she also refused to let the Stark family acknowledge Alice. She wouldn’t even let Alice’s mother set foot in New York. Eventually, she took her dowry and returned to Washington. She never came back.“–
I stared at him, finally understanding the depth of his resentment. That’s why you’re so protective of Alice. You feel guilty about what happened to her.”
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