Chapter 16

**Summer's POV**

The smile his words brought to my face faded as soon as I ended the call.*Home.* The word felt different now, heavy with complications I'd never noticed before. Last time I'd been at the Taylor mansion... *No. Don't think about that now.* "Summer." Two days before Grandfather's birthday party, my quiet morning at Fortune Corp was interrupted by a familiar ringtone.

Grandpa George's voice on the phone carried that familiar warmth that always made my heart ache a little. "Come home, dear. Whatever's troubling you, I will stand by your side."

I gripped my phone tight. *I know avoiding things won't soIve anything.No matter what happens, I'm still a member of the Taylor family.* "Of course I'll come, Grandpa. You've always been my strongest support. And how could I miss your birthday? I wasn't here last year - I have to make it up to you properly this time."

"Just having you home is enough." His' tone held a hint of worry that made me feel guilty. "Don't worry about the formalities."

"No way!" I tried to inject some cheerfulness into my voice. "I'm definitely getting you a present that will make you smile."

There was a pause, and I could almost see him shaking his head with that fond exasperation he reserved just for me. "You stubborn child."