Chapter 24

*Summer's POV**

"Careful. Richard." Grandpa George's voice carried the kind of authority that could silence a boardroom. "Remember whose house this is. Is this how you speak to my granddaughter? Is this how you treat your own child?"

The tension in the air thickened as Father's face darkened. "Father, you don't understand-"

"Oh. I understand perfectly." Grandpa's grip on my arm tightened protectively. "I understand that you've forgotten what it means to be a father. That you've chosen to sacrifice one daughter's happiness for another s ambition."

Victoria's perfect smile faltered for just a moment. "Grandpa,please.We only want what's best for everyonie. Summer is just being... difficult."

"Difficult?" The word dropped from Grandpa's lips like ice. "Some things,once tainted, should be discarded. Like trust. Like family loyalty." His eyes fixed on Victoría and Alexander with unmistakable disappointment. "Like the illusion that blood is thicker than water."

The weight of unsaid words hung heavy in the air. I could feel Mother's fury radiatingfrom where she stood, her fingers white-knuckled around her champagne glass, *This isn't how tonight was supposed to go. They wanted a puppet show, with all of us playing our assigned roles.*

A sudden hush fell over the room. The kind of silence that spreads like a wave, pulling everyone's attention toward the entrance. Even the soft music seemed to fade into the background. Brandon Stark stood in the doorway, cutting an impossibly elegant figure in what had to be a custom Tom Ford suit. Everything about him radiated power- from the perfect cut of his clothes to the quiet authority in his bearing. James followed two steps behind, carrying an elegantly wrapped box.

*What is he doing here?* Mly mind raced with possibilities. Sure, he was Grandpa Thompson's former student, but this was a Taylor family event.And despite Alexander sharing the Stark name, I knew Brandon held no real connection to that branch of the family.*Isthis about our dinner the other night? Or is there something else going on?*

The whispers started immediately, rippling through the crowd like wind through tall grass:

"Brandon Stark?"

"Stark Group's CEO..."

"What's he doing here?"

"I didn't know the Taylors had that kind of connection..."

I watched Victoria's hand tighten on Alexander's arm. "Darling," she whispered, though her voice carried clearly in the hushed room, "you never mentioned this Mr. Stark before." *Of course he didn't mention Brandon, I thought wryly. Hard to brag about a connection that barely exists.* The way Brandon completely ignored Alexander's presence spoke volumes about their supposed "family"relationship. Alexander's expression shifted through several emotions before settling into something carefully neutral. "Brandon Stark. He's... family." "The Brandon Stark?" Victoria's eyes widened slightly. "One of Wall Street's Four Kings?"

I couldn't help but notice how Alexander's posture had changed -something about the way he held himself now reminded me of a smaller animal in the presence of a predator. The realization brought an unexpected smile to my lips. *Interesting. The mighty Alexander Stark,reduced to this by just Brandon's presence.*

James approached with smooth efficiency,presenting the wrapped package to Grandpa with a perfect bow. "Mr. Taylor, Mr. Brandon Stark sends his warmest birthday wishes."

"Summer," Grandpa's voice carried a hint of amusement, "would you do the honors?"

My fingers trembled slightly as I helped unwrap the gift. The moment the lid came off. I felt my breath catch. *No. He didn't...* But there it was -the exquisite silver chess set from Christie's, each piece gleaming like captured starlight.

"My word," Grandpa breathed, his eyes lighting up with genuine delight."This is from the British Royal Collection, isn't it? I've only ever seen photographs..." Old Mr. Stark materialized at our side like a ghost, his smile just a touch too eager. "Brandon! What a pleasant surprise. We didn't expect you at George's birthday celebration." He turned to Alexander with barely concealed impatience. "Alexander, aren't you going to greet your uncle properly? He was supposed to be at your engagement, but I'm sure that something had kept him busy." I watched Alexander approach Brandon with careful steps, like someone trying not to startle a dangerous animal. "Uncle Brandon. We... we didn't know you were coming."

Brandon's dark eyes swept over Alexander with casual indifference before finding mine. The intensity of his gaze made my pulse skip, even from across the room. *That chess set... he knew exactly what he was doing,didn't he?*

"Mr. Stark," Grandpa's voice carried genuine warmth as he carefully examined one of the silver chess pieces. "That's too kind of you. You must join us for a game later."

Brandon's lips curved into that dangerous half-smile I knew so well. "It would be my pleasure, Professor Thompson."

Victoria's smile widened, satisfaction glinting in her eyes as she turned to me. "Summer, darling, what did you get for Grandpa? I do hope it's not something cheap."

I stepped forward, retrieving the carefully wrapped box from my bag."Grandpa? Would you like to open your gift now?"

His eyes crinkled with genuine warmth as he took the package. "From my favorie granddaughter? Of course!"

I heard Victoria's soft scoff but kept my attention on Grandpa as he carefully unwrapped the Christie's box. His eyes widened as he lifted out the fountain pen, fingers running reverently over its elegant lines. "Oh, just a pen?" Victoria's voice dripped with false sympathy."How...practical." "Actually," James's smooth voice cut through the tension like a knife, "I believe I recognize that piece from Christie's. Quite the coincidence-Mr.

Stark had his eye on it as well."

A ripple of interested murmurs swept through the crowd.I caught Brandon watching the scene unfold, his dark eyes unreadable as always.

"Christie's?" Mother's voice had taken on a different tone entirely. "Summer,darling, you didn't mention..."

Grandpa was still examining the pen with obvious delight, his expert eye catching details others might miss. "Summer, this must have cost-"

"The price doesn't matter," I said quickly. "I just wanted to get you something special."

"Thoughtful as always." His eyes met mine with understanding. "Though I hope you didn't spend too much."

The evening had become suffocating. I slipped away to the gardens,seeking refuge among the carefully tended roses. The cool evening air did little to ease the tightness in my chest. *All these years, was this how they really saw me? The difficult daughter, the stubborn one, the disappointment?*

"Alone out here?"

The deep voice made me jump. Brandon stood a few feet away, his tall frame casting long shadows in the garden lighting. Even here, away from the polished marble and crystal chandeliers, he looked impossibly elegant.

"Mr. Stark?" I took an instinctive step back, my heel catching on the garden path. "What are you doing here?"