She experienced memory loss, stated. “But not complete amnesia
‘No, not complete,” Thompson confirmed. “Just that specific period of time.”
‘Professor,” I said, a bitter smile touching my lips, ‘she forgot me too
Thompson’s eyes widened before understanding dawned. “Yes… after that, she never mentioned you again. And you went abroad, I thought your teenage relationship had come to an end…”
I felt a cold fury rising with me. Thompson must have sensed it because he suddenly stopped speaking, his eyes fixed on mine.
“Brandon,” he said carefully, “you’re not the same young man who sat in my classroom anymore, are you?”
I ignored his question, “After I left, what happened to Summer?”
“She met Alexander Stark at Columbia. They dated for years. Were engaged until…” he trailed off.
“Until he betrayed her with Victoria,” I finished.
“Yes, Thompson sighed. “That was a terrible blow to her.”
“So,” I said, my voice dangerously soft, “if Alexander hadn’t betrayed Summer, would you have let her marry him? If Summer had actually married someone else, what do you think I would have done, Professor?”
Thompson met my gaze steadily. “You wouldn’t have done anything inappropriate. I know your character.”
A smile spread across my face that made Thompson shift uncomfortably. “People change, Professor. Summer has always been mine. Always will be.”
Thompson nodded slowly. “I understand that now. And I suspect your hand in what happened with Alexander and Victoria was far more significant than what I saw.”
“You’re very perceptive,” I acknowledged.
“Let’s play chess, he suggested instead.
As we reset the board, I said, “After this game, you’ll need to answer one more question for me.”
“What question?” Thompson asked.
“About Summer’s parents.”
The bishop slipped from Thompson’s fingers, clattering onto the board. “What about them? She’s Richard and Elizabeth Taylor’s daughter, of course.”
‘Professor, I said quietly, “are you still going to hide the truth?”
Thompson sighed deeply. “You’re right. Summer isn’t Richard and Elizabeth’s biological daughter. She’s my youngest daug! child.”
“Your youngest daughter?” I repeated, genuinely surprised.
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Chapter 358
Amanda has been gone for years,” he said bitterly. “She had a terrible fight with me when she was twenty two. She ran off with a married man. When she retured to New York, she was carrying Summer. Within weeks, she died from postpartum complications
“Her final wish was for Summer to have a normal family. She made my promise never to tell Summer the truth. Thomperin’s eyes glistened. “I couldn’t raise an infant alone, so I asked Elizabeth and Richard to take her. I promise them if they see Summer as their own daughter, I will give them all my assets after I die. By the time regretted my decision and wanted to bring Summer hark, it was already too late. She had grown so much and had developed her own understanding of family and kinship. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her such a cruel truth. That’s why George and I went out of our way to be good to Summer we just hoped she
wouldn’t have to live a worse life.”
Thompson suddenly gripped my arm, his fingers suprisingly strong Brandon, I need your word that you won’t tell anyone about this. Especially not Summer. His eyes were intense with urgency. And this isn’t just my request–it was Amanda’s dying wish. If Summer learns the truth now, she’ll question everything about her life,
His voice broke slightly. “This isn’t just about Summer’s lappiness anymore. It’s about your child too. I know you love her. I know you won’t let anyone hurt her–and this truth would hurt her more than anything.”
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