Chapter 312

Brandon's POV

The Thompson residence stood proud and elegant in the Upper East Side.its classic architecture a testament to old New York money and academic prestige. I arrived precisely at seven. James Wilson following a step behind me as we approached the entrance. Parker, the elderly butler who'd served the Thompson family for decades, opened the door before I could even ring the bell.

"Mr. Stark," Parker greeted with a formal bow. "Professor Thompson is expecting you."

I nodded curtly as James shifted the packages in his arms-a rare antique from Christie's and a bottle of 1982 Chateau Lafite. When Parker reached to take them, I raised my hand.

"He's my assistant, not a delivery boy," I said coolly. "He'll carry them himself."

Parker's expression rémained professionally neutral."Of course,sir.The Professor is in his study. I stíll have a special dish to prepare, so perhaps you'd like to joina him while I finish in the kitchen?"

The house had always felt more like a library than a home-walls lined with books, the scent of aged paper permeating every room.Parker knocked gently on the study door before announcing me.

Jonathan Thompson sat in his leather armchair, staring pensively at a half-finished chess game.

"Brandon," he said, his eyes lighting up. His smile faltered slightly as he looked past me. "Summer didn't join you tonight?"

"She is at the Stark family residence. What we are about to talk about

tonight isn't something I want Summer to know about yet." I replied.sitting in the chair opposite his.

Thompson's eyebrows rose slightly. "How is she? Her health, I mean."

"She's well." I replied, studying his face. "But I should be asking about you.Professor.You're looking tired."

He waved away my concern. "I'm an old academic. Brandon. As long as you're taking care of my precious granddaughter, you needn't worry about me."

"You're not just Summer's grandfather," I reminded him."You were my most respected professor at Columbia. Your well-being matters to me."

Thompson's eyes softened. "Always the diplomat when you want to be. So unlike the ruthless CEO the financial world knows." He gestured toward the chess set. "What brings you here tonight?"

I leaned forward, my gaze direct. "Professor, I need to know if Summer has experienced some kind of trauma in her past. Or if she's forgotten something...significant."

The change in Thompson's expression was subtle but unmistakable-a flicker of alarm quickly masked. "How did you figure it out?" he asked quietly.

"That's not important," I replied. "What matters is understanding what happened to her."

Thompson sighed deeply. "I suppose now that she's carrying your child.you deserve to know." He paused, his eyes growing distant. "It happened when Summer was fifteen. You were studying abroad at the time."

"One day, Summer didn't come home from school," Thompson continued,his voice heavy, "The Taylor household was in chaos. We searched

everywhere. The next morning. Manhattan General Hospital called.Summer had been found by the East River, half-submerged in water. The person who found her thought she was dead."

My hands tightened imperceptibly on the armrests.

"When we arrived at the hospital, she was unconscious. Bruised all over."Thompson's voice cracked. "No one knew what had happened. She was in a coma for three days."

"And when she woke up?" I prompted, keeping my voice even despite the rage building inside me.

"She had no memory of what happened," Thompson said. "The doctors said it was her mind's way of protecting itself. We told her she'd been very ill."

"So Summer doesn't know any of this?"

Thompson shook his head firmly. "No, George and I made it very clear to everyone that she was never to know."

"She experienced memory loss," I 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 within 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 daughter's child."

"Your youngest daughter?" I repeated, genuinely surprised.

"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 returned 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 me promise never to tell Summer the truth." Thompson'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 I regretted my decision and wanted to bring Summer back, 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 surprisingly strong."Brandon, I need your word that you won't tell anyone about this.Especially not Summer." His eyes were intense with urgency. "And thisisn'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 happiness 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."