Chapter 315

Chapter313

Summer's POV

The afternoon sun streamed through the windows of the Stark family residence as I sat cross-legged on the floor with Angela, colorful letter tiles scattered between us.

"Your turn," I said, watching her small face scrunch up in concentration.

"C-A-T," Angela announced proudly, placing each tile with deliberate care.

"Great job!" I clapped, genuinely impressed. "That's three points for you."

Angela beamed, her smile reminding me so much of Brandon. It was hard to believe I'd been living here for several months now. After everything that happened, the Stark family had been insistent that I needed proper rest and care during my pregnancy. Brandon was even more protective than usual, if that was possible.

I placed my tiles down. "R-A-I-N. That's four points for me."

Angela pouted playfully. "You're too good at this game, Aunt Summer!"

I laughed, about to respond when James appeared in the doorway, my phone in his hand.

"Mrs. Stark, your phone has been ringing repeatedly," he said, extending it toward me. "I thought it might be important."

I glanced at the screen and froze. Victoria. Why the hell would she be calling me?

"Thank you, James," I managed, taking the phone. "Angela, sweetie, can we finish our game in a little bit? I need to take this call."

Angela nodded and started organizing the tiles while I stepped into the hallway, staring at my phone like it might bite me. After a moment's hesitation, I answered.

"Hello?"

"Summer, come out and meet me!" Victoria's voice came through immediately, sharp and demanding.

I frowned. "Victoria, what do you want?"

"Just meet me. We need to talk."

"Victoria, what could we possibly have to talk about?" I kept my voice level, though my heart had already started racing.

"Summer, I want your Capital Corp shares," she stated bluntly.

I almost laughed. "And why would I give them to you?"

"What if I don't give them to you?" I challenged, keeping my voice low so Angela wouldn't hear.

There was a pause, and then Victoria's voice dropped to something almost sinister. "Summer, don't you want to know why you were abandoned by the riverside when you were fifteen? Why you were found half-dead and forgotten?"

My hand froze on the phone. A chill ran down my spine as fragmented memories—flashes of cold water, darkness, and fear—surfaced in my mind. How did she know about that? Nobody ever talked about it. Even I only had vague, disconnected images that haunted my dreams sometimes.

"What did you say?" I whispered, my voice suddenly hoarse.

Victoria's laugh was cold. "You heard me. Don't you want to know why you were found by the East River, covered in bruises and barely conscious? I have quite the story to tell."

My breathing became shallow. The walls of the hallway seemed to close in. "Is it... was it you? Did you do that?"

"Hmm, I wonder." Victoria taunted. "Actually, I still have the photos from that day. You look absolutely broken, Summer. Drowned and discarded like trash. What do you think would happen if Brandon or the Starks saw those images of you at your absolute lowest? Do you think your perfect little marriage would survive a scandal like that?"

"Photos?" I repeated, my voice rising sharply. I gripped the phone so tightly my knuckles turned white. "It was you! It was you who did that to me!"

Victoria ignored my accusation. "Bring the share transfer documents when you come. One hour."

The call ended abruptly. I stood there, trembling, my mind racing with fragments of memories I'd never been able to piece together. I hurried upstairs to my room, my legs feeling like lead. I needed to see those photos. I needed to know what happened to me all those years ago—the truth I'd been denied.

As I grabbed my purse and car keys, Sarah appeared in the doorway.

"Summer? Are you alright? You look pale." Her concerned eyes scanned my face.

"I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile. "Just going to meet a friend."

Sarah frowned. "Should you be going out alone? Brandon asked us to—"

"It's someone Brandon knows," I cut in, desperate to leave. "Really, Sarah. I'll be careful. I know how to take care of myself."

She still looked uncertain, but nodded reluctantly. I hurried past her, my heart pounding. Once in the car, my phone rang again. Victoria.

"I'm at a coffee shop near Central Park. One hour. If you don't show up, these photos will go public." Her voice was cold and calculating.

"Victoria, you dare..." My voice shook with rage. "I'm coming right now!"

I drove as fast as I safely could, my mind spinning with questions. What exactly happened that day? Why couldn't I remember?

The coffee shop was upscale and relatively quiet when I arrived forty minutes later. Victoria sauntered in with Sophie trailing behind her. The smug look on her face made my blood boil.

"Didn't expect these photos to be so important to you," Victoria said as she slid into the seat across from me. "If I'd known, I would have used them much sooner."

"Is it true?" I demanded, ignoring her taunt. "Was it you? Did you have something to do with what happened to me back then?"

Victoria's smile widened, her eyes glittering with malice. "What do you think?"

Fragments of memories flashed through my mind—being pushed, cold water, darkness, panic. I'd always had these flashes, but doctors said they might just be my mind creating false memories to fill the gap.

"It was you," I said, my voice hardening with certainty. "You did that to me."

Victoria merely smiled, neither confirming nor denying. "Where are the documents? The share transfer for Capital Corp that I asked you to bring."

"I didn't bring anything," I said flatly. "Go ahead and release whatever you have. I'm not afraid."

Victoria's smile faltered. "You're bluffing. The shares—where are they? Grandfather George gave them to you!"

I leaned forward, meeting her gaze steadily. "I sold them. Months ago. I told you all back then, but none of you believed me."

"You're lying!" Victoria hissed. "How could you sell them? You'd never give up something from Grandfather!"

"Well, I did," I replied calmly, though my heart was racing. "So go ahead, do your worst. Expose whatever you want."

Victoria's face contorted with rage. She reached into her purse and pulled out a sealed envelope. "If you don't give me those shares, I'll make sure Brandon and the entire Stark family see these. I'll make sure everyone knows exactly how pathetic you looked!"

I studied her for a moment, a strange calm settling over me. "You're sure that's what you want to do?"

"Summer, if you don't give me those shares, I will destroy you," Victoria threatened, her voice rising. "I'll make sure you lose everything—your marriage, your place in the Stark family, everything!"

"Absolutely not," I said firmly.

Victoria's face flushed with anger. She grabbed her coffee cup, clearly intending to throw it at me, but Sophie quickly caught her arm.

"Careful!" Sophie warned, pulling Victoria back.

Hot coffee splashed onto the floor instead of me. Several patrons looked over, startled by the commotion.

"Sophie, what are you doing?" Victoria snapped, yanking her arm free. "You're helping her?"

Sophie said urgently, "Have you lost your mind? Summer is pregnant! If that coffee had hit her—do you realize what you could have done? Remember why we came here. You wanted the shares, right? But Summer is a Stark now. If you hurt her, you're not just dealing with her anymore—you're dealing with the entire Stark family. If anything happens to Summer or her baby, forget about the shares—the Taylor family and Capital Corp would be finished!"

Victoria swallowed hard, the reality of what she'd almost done sinking in. "What do you suggest we do then?" she asked Sophie.