The Billionaire’s Sudden Bride
Chapter 96
Summer’s POV
“You’re cooking,” he observed, his expression softening in a way that made my stomach flutter.
“I thought I’d surprise you,” I said, setting down the knife. “But that’s not the only surprise.”
He raised an eyebrow, waiting.
I wiped my hands on a towel, suddenly unsure how to explain. “I, um.. I moved your things. From the guest room. To our room.” The words tumbled out in a rush. “I thought since we’ve already… I mean, I should have asked first, but I wanted to-”
“June,” he said softly, cutting off my nervous rambling.
I looked up at him, searching his face for any sign of displeasure. “You’re not mad, are you?”
Instead of answering, he stepped closer, brushing my hair back before pulling me against his chest.
“Why would I be mad about that, silly?” he murmured.
I relaxed into his embrace. “You’re home early today.”
His fingers traced lazy patterns on my back. “Missed you.”
The simple admission sent warmth through my chest. Rising onto my tiptoes, I pressed a quick kiss to his jawline.
“Come on,” I said, tugging his hand. “I was in the middle of making dinner.”
“Let me help,” he offered, following me back downstairs.
In the kitchen, I returned to my chopping while Brandon rolled up his sleeves.
“I can finish this,” I insisted. “You’ve been working all day.”
“So have you,” he countered, taking the knife from my hand with gentle firmness. “Take a break. I’ll handle dinner.”
“But I wanted to-”
A slight smile played at his lips. “Consider it a reward. For your initiative.”
He tapped my nose playfully, the casual intimacy of the gesture making my pulse skip.
The rich aroma of sizzling steak soon filled the house. Brandon plated everything with expert care while I poured wine into the crystal glasses that caught the light from the chandelier, casting tiny rainbows across the polished dining table.
“Oh my god,” I moaned around a forkful of perfectly seared steak. “Where’d you learn to cook like this?”
Brandon looked amused as he sipped his wine. “College. It was either cook or starve.”
I couldn’t stop stealing glances at him across the table, mesmerized by the way the light caught his jawline. After the third time I got caught staring, Brandon set down his cutlery with deliberate precision. I jumped slightly.
“Not hungry?” he asked.
1/2
Chapter 96
“No! I mean, yes—it’s delicious,” I stammered, suddenly focusing on my plate.
He shook his head. “Eat properly. Whatever’s on your mind can wait.
“Right. Sorry.” I nodded, feeling my cheeks heat up.
When we finished, I straightened in my chait, gathering my courage I told Grandpa George about us today.”
“I know,” he replied calmly. “And?”
“My parents found out too,” I continued, twisting my napkin. “They think I’m lying about giving the shares away. They seriously think I was after Taylor family money all along!”
Brandon’s expression remained neutral. “What’s your plan? Need my help?”
“Not yet,” I shook my head. “I told them as long as they don’t mess with the current ownership structure, my portion won’t threaten them. But if they try changing things, I’ll use my shares to stop them.”
Something flickered across Brandon’s face.
“What?” I asked anxiously. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No, you did well,” he assured me. “But the shares you have now aren’t enough for full leverage. At most, you can establish equal footing. If you want real power, you need absolute advantage. Understand?”
I sighed. “You know I never wanted to get involved in this mess. But get what you’re saying. The problem is, these are all the shares I have.”
I paused. “I just found out today that what Grandpa signed over earlier wasn’t everything. The complete transfer was in the second document. He gave me all of his shares–forty percent of Capital Corp. No wonder Richard and Elizabeth were freaking out.”
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