Chapter 333
Summer’s POV
The Ferrari purred to a stop in front of the Taylor mansion’s imposing entrance. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was sure to be an uncomfortable evening.
As Parker led us through the grand foyer, I couldn’t help but notice how little the place had changed–still cold, still imposing, still feeling nothing like home. The sound of classical music and forced laughter drifted from the main hall, growing louder as we approached.
We’d barely crossed the threshold when I spotted Elizabeth’s hawk–like gaze zeroing in on us from across the room. She was standing with an elegant older woman I didn’t recognize, and the moment she saw us, her entire demeanor transformed.
“Look who’s here, just as we were speaking of them!” Elizabeth exclaimed to the woman, her voice carrying across the room. “My daughter and her boyfriend have arrived. If you’ll excuse me…”
Elizabeth practically sprinted foward us, her face contorted in what assumed was meant to be a warm, motherly smile but looked more like she was fighting a bad case of indigestion.
“Summer, you finally made it!” She reached for my hands, squeezing them with uncomfortable intensity. “I was just talking about
you!”
Her gaze shifted to Sean, and her smile widened even further. “Michael! You came too!”
I felt Sean stiffen beside me.
“Mrs. Taylor,” he replied, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“Now, now,” Elizabeth trilled, her eyes crinkling with false warmth. She turned back to me, hovering like we were suddenly best
friends.
I frowned, completely bewildered by her behavior. In all my years as part of this family, Elizabeth had never once been genuinely happy to see me. This sudden affection was as suspicious as it was unsettling.
Sean seemed equally confused by Elizabeth’s greeting, but before either of us could say anything more, I noticed someone familiar entering the room. My confusion deepened as I recognized the woman–elegant, with the same aristocratic features as Sean, accompanied by a tall, distinguished–looking man.
Sean caught sight of them at the same moment I did. He immediately pressed his palm to his forehead in a gesture of pure dismay.
“Oh shit,” he muttered under his breath.
“Is that…?” I whispered, as realization dawned.
“My aunt Daisy,” Sean confirmed with a grimace. “And that’s my cousin Jesse beside her.”
“Your cousin? The real Michael Sullivan is here?” I stared at him in disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I had no idea they were coming,” Sean hissed back. “This is going to be awkward as hell.”
Across the room, Elizabeth had spotted Daisy as well and was making her way over with the same exaggerated enthusiasm she’d
shown us.
“Daisy! You finally made it!” Elizabeth called out, reaching for Daisy hand. “Micheal has been here for quite some time already!”
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Daisy smoothly sidestepped Elizabeth’s attempt to grab her hand, he brow furrowing slightly. “My son has been here for a while?” She glanced questioningly at the man beside her the real Jesse Turner.
Jesse’s face remained perfectly passive, showing no reaction whatsoever.
Elizabeth’s gaze settled on the man standing next to Daisy, taking in his commanding presence. “Daisy, who is this gentleman?”
Daisy’s lips curved into a slight smile. “My son, Jesse Turner. I thought you knew him, Mrs. Taylor?”
Elizabeth’s jaw literally dropped. “This is Michael?” Her head swivele back to where Sean and I stood, her eyes widening in horror. “Daisy, are you joking? This man is Michael, so who is that?”
Daisy followed Elizabeth’s pointing finger.
the moment her eyes landed on Sean, the entire room seemed to fall silent. Everyone
was watching now, the drama unfolding like a slow–motion car crash
After a brief moment of surprise, understanding dawned on Daisy’s ice. “Sean? What are you doing here?”
The murmurs that erupted around the room were almost comical. I could practically see the wheels turning in the guests‘ minds as they realized they were in the presence of not just one but two of New York’s elite bachelors–Michael Sullivan and Dr. Sean Sullivan.
Sean sighed, accepting that there was no graceful way out of this mess. He gave me a resigned look. “Come on, let’s go meet my
aunt.”
Texhaled heavily, mentally kicking myself. “I should have just come alone. This is so embarrassing.”
It suddenly hit me why Elizabeth had been so welcoming–she thought Sean was Michael, apparently someone she was eager to impress. The woman was truly unbelievable.
“Let’s get this over with,” I muttered.
Sean led the way across the room, his face arranged in a deliberately innocent expression. “Hey, Aunt Daisy! Cousin Jesse!”
Daisy’s eyes flicked between Sean and her son before settling back on Sean with a knowing look. “Well? Care to explain what you’re doing here?”
Sean shrugged with feigned casualness. “Just thought I’d check out the Taylor family gathering, see what all the fuss was about.” He gestured toward me. “Aunt Daisy, this is Summer, my friend.”
“Miss Taylor,” Daisy acknowledged, her tone indicating she knew exactly who I was despite never having met me.
“Mrs. Sullivan, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” I replied, maintaining my composure despite the awkwardness.
Elizabeth, meanwhile, had gone from pale to flushed with anger as the full reality of the situation crashed down on her. “You’re not Michael she practically spat at Sean. “Then what have you been doing with my daughter all this time? This is deception, plain and simple!”
Sean’s smile remained fixed, though his eyes hardened slightly. “With all due respect, Mrs. Taylor, I never claimed to be Michael.”
“You–Elizabeth sputtered.
Sean’s expression didn’t change, but the temperature around him seemed to drop several degrees.
Before Elizabeth could continue her tirade, Daisy intervened. “Behaving foolishly as usual, I see,” she said, giving Sean a stern look that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Your relationship with Miss Taylor is your business, but you should have been clear with Mrs. Taylor. This misunderstanding reflects poorly on both you and your cousin.”
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Elizabeth was clearly fuming, but she seemed to realize she couldn’t make a scene–not with so many high–profile guests watching, and especially not with Daisy and Jesse right there. No matter how angry she was, Dr. Sean Sullivan wasn’t someone she could afford to antagonize.
I could practically see the calculations running behind her eyes as she reassessed the situation. She’d never met Sean before, but his reputation clearly preceded him. The look she gave me was filled with confusion and something else–a dawning realization that perhaps she’d underestimated me and my social connections all along.
She’d assumed my friends were nobody important, that Jesse Turner was only accessible to me through her connection with Daisy. Finding out I was friends with Sean Sullivan independently had thrown her for a loop.
Jesse broke the uncomfortable silence by stepping forward! “Summer, it’s been a while,” he said cordially, extending his hand. The simple gesture and familiar greeting made it clear that we already knew each other–another shock for Elizabeth and the onlookers.
“Good to see you, Mr. Turner,” I replied, shaking his hand with a polite smile.
Daisy’s eyes widened with interest as she watched our exchange. Jesse leaned close to her ear, whispering something that made her glance at me with new appreciation.
Across the room, I caught sight of Victoria standing next to Richard, her eyes burning with hatred as she watched the entire scene unfold.
Some things never change, I thought to myself. No matter what happened, Victoria would always see me as competition even now that I wanted nothing to do with the life she so desperately clung to
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