Summer’s POV
The glittering ballroom of the Stark mansion buzzed with New York’s elite as Brandon guided me through the crowd. Every eye tracked our movement, hushed whispers following in our wake. I forced myself to smile despite my aching feet–these designer heels were gorgeous but absolute torture devices.
“You’re the center of attention,” Brandon murmured, his hand warmgainst the small of my back.
I maintained my smile while scanning the room. “Not by choice.”
After what felt like the hundredth introduction, my face muscles cramped from the forced pleasantries.
Brandon leaned closer. “Tired?”
I nodded slightly. “A bit.”
His eyes softened. “Let’s take a break. We can find somewhere quieter.”
Just as Brandon began steering me toward a less crowded area, a collective gasp rippled through the ballroom. Every head turned toward the entrance, and the crowd parted like the Red Sea.
William Stark had arrived–but it wasn’t his entrance that caused the stir. It was Lyanna supporting his arm.
She looked eerily like me–same height, similar facial structure, even her hair styled in a way that mimicked mine. But her eyes held a calculating coldness I recognized immediately.
“Lyanna York,” someone whispered nearby.
My body went rigid. Brandon’s arm tightened around my waist, his jaw clenching visibly.
“Summer,” he said softly, “I’m here.”
William’s eyes found us in the crowd, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips as he deliberately paraded Lyanna through the room. The message couldn’t have been clearer–this was a calculated move designed to humiliate me.
William tapped his cane against the marble floor, commanding attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce Ms. Lyanna York, Brandon’s…” he paused dramatically, “future wife.”
A shocked silence fell over the room.
Future wife? What the hell was that supposed to mean? Brandon was already married to me. I bit my lip hard, my fingers digging into Brandon’s hand.
Brandon’s eyes darkened dangerously, and I could feel the tension radiating from him as he opened his mouth to speak.
Suddenly, a small figure darted through the crowd and latched onto Brandon’s leg.
“Daddy!” the child red, looking up at Brandon with wide, tearful eyes. “Daddy!”
The silence in the room became deafening. I felt the blood drain from my face as I stared down at the little boy–maybe four or five years old–clutching Brandon’s leg like he belonged there.
“Daddy, why don’t you come see Timothy anymore?” the boy wailed, his voice carrying through the stunned ballroom. “You promised
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Chapter 347
you’d visit!*
I couldn’t breathe. The room started spinning around me. A child. Brandon had a child. With her.
I pulled my hand from Brandon’s grip, taking an instinctive step back. His face had gone completely blank.
The boy–Timothy–noticed me for the first time and scowled. “Daddy, you don’t want Timothy and Mommy anymore because of her? He tried to push me away. “You’re a bad lady!”
Brandon immediately pulled Timothy away. “That’s enough.”
Timothy’s face crumpled, and he began to wail. “Daddy, you don’t love me and Mommy anymore?”
I stood frozen, unable to process what was happening. Brandon had son. A son he’d never mentioned.
Brandon reached for me again. “Summer, be careful-”
I jerked away from his touch, my eyes cold. “Don’t.”
“Summer, Brandon said quietly, “you don’t believe this, do you?”
I looked at him, this man I’d trusted completely. “You told me never to lie to you. You said if I had to lie, make sure it was forever so you’d never know. But you-” My voice cracked. “You lied to me, Brandon. You lied about everything.”
“Brandon Stark!” Victoria’s voice cut through the tension as she pushed forward. “How dare you! How could you do this to my
sister?”
“The Stark family has gone too far!” Victoria declared loudly. “First, you marry my sister while having a wife and child waiting at home? And now William Stark parades your mistress around like she’s royalty?”
The whispers around us grew louder. Brandon’s expression turned murderous.
Victoria turned to the crowd. “That woman is the mother of his child. And my poor sister is being humiliated while Brandon Stark enjoys having both women!”
I’d had enough. I pulled my arm from Victoria’s grasp.
“Humiliated? Why should I feel humiliated?” I asked, my voice surprisingly steady. “You’re such a caring sister, aren’t you?”
Victoria’s triumphant expression faltered.
“I am Brandon Stark’s legal wife,” I continued, my voice growing stranger. I am the woman he married in a legal ceremony. Unless he doesn’t want me anymore, or I don’t want him anymore, nobody can change that fact!” I turned my gaze directly toward William and Lyanna. “Nobody.”
Brandon moved to stand beside me, his expression softening.
“Actually, if you want Brandon and me to divorce, it’s not that difficult.” I paused. “It all depends on one thing… whether Brandon wants to divorce me. So if you can convince Brandon to tell me he wants a divorce, I’ll agree immediately. But if you can’t get Brandon to say it, then you’ll find it much harder to get me to agree
I turned toward Timothy. “Children are innocent. Ms. York, using a child as a bargaining chip… you showed your cards too early, which could be fatal for you.”
Lyanna’s face paled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
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Chapter 347
I smiled thinly. Medical scieite is quite advanced now, Ms. York. DNA testing is very reliable these days. Have you considered that once you tell one lie, you need countless others to cover it up?
Lyanna grabbed Timothy’s hand I’m taking my son and leaving. He mine alone,
William stepped forward. “Wait! You are Brandon’s future wife, Lyan
I laughed softly. “Mr. Stark, are you suggesting your grandson comm bigamy? Or are you trying to force us to divorce?” I raised an eyebrow. “Either way, your grandson’s position is legally and morally indefensible.”
William’s eyes narrowed. “Aren’t you afraid that this old man will dislike you even more?”
I smiled calmly. “Why should I care if you like me or not? I only need to please one person–Brandon. You’ve picked the wrong side, Mr. Stark.” I turned to Lyanna. “You’ve chosen the wrong position, Ms. York. Don’t you agree?”
Lyanna’s face had gone ashen. She looked at Brandon, who stood beside me with the faintest smile on his lips, and something in her expression crumbled
“Ms. Taylor, you’re being too harsh,” Lyanna said desperately. “I never intended to break up you and Brandon.
I cut her off with a soft laugh. “I hope you remember what you’ve said today, Ms. York. If one day you break your word… you won’t end well
Lyanna stared at me, finally understanding the steel beneath my polite smile. She clutched Timothy closer, the boy looking confused as he glanced between Brandon and his mother.
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