Chapter 362
Summer’s POV
I was jolted awake by Brandon’s voice, his face hovering above mine in the dim light of our bedroom. The serious expression he wore immediately set off alarm bells in my head.
“Summer, wake up,” he said, his voice unnaturally tense. “Parker just called. Your grandfather collapsed and is unconscious. They’ve rushed him to Manhattan General for emergency treatment.”
My mind snapped from groggy to fully alert in an instant.What? Grandpa George?‘ I sat up so quickly I nearly knocked heads with Brandon. “How? Why? What happened to him?”
“I don’t know all the details yet,” Brandon replied, already moving to grab clothes for both of us. “But we need to go now.”
“Oh my god,” I mumbled, my hands shaking as I pulled on the clothes Brandon handed me. “He was fine yesterday when I spoke to him. How could this happen?”
Brandon’s strong hands steadied mine. “He’s going to be okay, Summer. I promise. The best doctors will take care of him.”
The hospital corridor was blindingly bright after our midnight drive. As soon as we stepped off the elevator, I spotted Jenkins pacing near the emergency operating room doors. His normally composed face was drawn with worry.
“Jenkins!” I rushed toward him. “How is he? What happened?”
The elderly man turned to me, relief washing over his features. “Mrs. Stark, Mr. Stark, thank goodness you’re here. The doctors are with him now, but they haven’t told us anything yet.”
“What happened?” I pressed, my voice cracking. “Was he having chest pains? Did he fall?”
Jenkins’s gaze drifted over my shoulder, and I followed it to see Victoria sitting on a bench against the wall. She looked completely shell–shocked, her usually perfect makeup smudged, her eyes vacant.
“Miss Victoria went to see Mr. Taylor this evening,” Jenkins said carefully. “I heard raised voices from his study. When I went to check, I found Mr. Taylor collapsed on the floor and Miss Victoria standing there, frozen.”
I stared at Victoria, a horrible suspicion forming in my mind. “Victoria was arguing with Grandpa? About what?”
Before Jenkins could answer, my mother’s shrill voice cut through the corridor. “This is completely normal for a man his age! People collapse all the time!”
Elizabeth stalked toward us, her heels clicking aggressively against the tile floor. “Summer, I should have known you’d rush over here to play the devoted granddaughter.”
“Mother, not now,” I said firmly, turning back to Parker.
“This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t been filling his head with lies! Elizabeth continued, her voice rising. “Always manipulating him against us!”
I whirled around. “The last time Grandpa had a stroke wasn’t random either, was it? You people just won’t leave him alone!
Elizabeth’s face contorted with rage. “How dare you! What exactly are you implying?”
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Chapter 362
“I’m not implying anything, shot back. “I’m asking directly what did you do to Grandpa? What did Victoria do?”
“Summer!” My father’s stern voice interrupted as he approached from the elevator. “That’s enough. Show some respect to your mother.”
I could feel Brandon standing silently beside me, his eyes scanning the Taylor family with calculating precision. His gaze lingered on Victoria, who still hadn’t moved or spoken.
“I’ve called Dr. Sullivan,” Brandon said suddenly, his voice cutting through the tension. He’ll be bringing specialists to look after your grandfather.”
Jenkins visibly relaxed. “Thank you, Mr. Stark. That’s
Thoughtful
Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed at Brandon. “We don’t need your charity. The hospital doctors are perfectly capable-*
“This isn’t up for discussion,” Brandon interrupted coldly.
Just then, the elevator doors opened, and Dr. Sean strode out with two other doctors. He nodded briefly to us before heading straight for the operating room.
“Brandon,” Dr. Sean called over his shoulder. “A word, please?”
Brandon squeezed my hand reassuringly before following Sean down the corridor.
Left alone with my family, I turned my attention back to the operating room doors. The thought of losing my grandfather was unbearable. He was the only one who had ever truly loved me unconditionally.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice Elizabeth approaching until she was right in front of me.
“Summer, you disaster–bringing bitch!” she hissed, her face contorted with rage.
The shock of the blow left me momentarily stunned. My cheek burned, and I tasted blood where my teeth had cut i
my inner lip.
“Every time something bad happens to this family, you’re involved!” Elizabeth continued. “You need to return those Taylor shares to the family immediately,” she demanded.
I turned my gaze to Victoria. “Speaking of shares, Victoria came to see me today, demanding I return my shares. Then she stormed off in a rage. And now, mysteriously, my grandfather is in critical condition after an argument with her.”
Victoria suddenly jerked to attention. “Summer, you evil bitch!” she shrieked. “You did this on purpose! You sent me to confront Grandfather knowing it would upset him! You made me argue with him! You made me make him angry! What kind of sick game are you playing?”
The corridor fell silent as Victoria’s outburst echoed off the walls.
“You went to see Grandpa?” I stepped closer to her. “You argued with him? About the shares?”
Victoria’s eyes widened as she realized what she’d admitted. /No, I didn’t mean-
“Jenkins was there,” I pressed. “He heard you arguing with Grandpa before he collapsed.”
It wasn’t like that!” Victoria tried to backpedal.
Elizabeth, seeing her daughter cornered, rushed toward me again. “Summer, you manipulative little-
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Chapter 362
A pained scream cut through the air as Elizabeth suddenly crumpled to the floor, clutching her stomach. I had backed up instinctively, but before Elizabeth could reach me, Brandon had appeared out of nowhere, positioning himself between us and pulling me protectively agains his chest.
“Find another death wish, Brandon said, his voice deadly quiet as he stared down at Elizabeth writhing on the floor. His gaze shifted to Victoria and Richard, who stood frozen in shock. “Very impressive. I can’t even hear to touch my wife too roughly, yet yess think you have the right to strike her?”
Richard knelt beside Elizabeth, who was moaning dramatically. Victoria stood paralyzed, unable to move toward her mother or away from Brandon’s intimidating presence.
Brandon’s arm tightened around my waist. ‘I warned you before, he said, his voice so cold it sent shivers down my spine. “Anyone who touches her deals with me.”
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