Ch. 361..370
Chapter 361
Enemies Across the Aisle
The moment Summer's donation was announced, the room's energy shifted. Everyone started looking at her differently.
Compliments poured in like confetti. She nodded politely, her gaze drifting-slow, unbothered- toward Emelia and Morgan.
The two of them stood stiffly among a cluster of society ladies, their faces visibly pale and tight.
Morgan rolled her eyes more than once.
Summer gave a soft smile, her tone light and casual. "Mrs. Harper and her daughter don't look too thrilled to see me."
Emelia had no choice but to force a smile.
"Of course not. Mrs. Graham, you look so healthy and vibrant-it's truly a blessing to see you back on your feet."
Summer's smile didn't waver. "Is that so? After getting locked in a freezing storage room by one of your household staff, I'd say it's a miracle I'm still breathing."
She said it right out in the open.
Emelia hadn't expected her to bring it up-let alone in public. Her smile froze, cracking at the edges.
There was an audible shift among the crowd. Heads turned. People leaned in.
Gossip was a universal language, after all.
Still, Emelia was an old pro. She recovered quickly, smoothing her face into gentle politeness.
"That maid's already been dealt with. I hope you'll be gracious enough to let it go, Mrs. Graham. After all, the poor girl is dead. May she rest in peace, right?"
What a pretty little line.
Yvette gave a sharp laugh. "Wow, okay. So a maid's worthless life is supposed to weigh the same as Mrs. Graham's? Please. Forget the maid-your daughter Morgan's not even in the same league."
Morgan's expression snapped. She wasn't her mother-she didn't know how to play nice.
Just as she was about to lash out, Emelia clamped a hand on hers.
Emelia smiled sweetly, her voice soft and weaponized. “Everyone is equal. And I'm sure Mrs. Graham, being so kind and generous, wouldn't throw her weight around."
Summer's face remained calm unreadshla
Then she smiled.
"There's a saying," she began, "the servants only do what they're taught. I don't know if you've heard it. Madam Harper. But I'm someone who remembers kindness—and repays cruelty in kind. I'm not good at pretending. I don't let a single grain of sand stay in my eye."
Morgan snapped.
She couldn't stand Summer. Just seeing her made her skin crawl.
If it weren't for Summer, that maid wouldn't have died.
She blamed Summer entirely.
"Don't push it!" Morgan hissed. "Whatever happened between us is over and done with!"
Holly, the charity chairwoman, looked like she was about to panic. She stepped in, trying to smooth things over with a nervous chuckle.
"Let's not dwell on unpleasant things tonight. We're here to support a great cause. The event's about to begin-everyone, please take your seats!"
Morgan shot Summer a venomous glare before turning away with a sharp pivot. Emelia, scrambling to clean up the mess, followed quickly.
"She's still young. Emelia said to the crowd with a breathless smile. "Please don't take it to heart."
As soon as they were seated. Emelia leaned in close, whispering sharply. "How many times have I toid you to keep it together? Do you know how many reporters are here tonight? Do you want to tank your reputation and the Harper name with one temper tantrum?"
Morgan slouched in her seat, wanting badly to light a cigarette-but forced herself to hold back.
This is ridiculous, she muttered. That woman is practically dancing on our heads. How do you expect me to sit here and do nothing? If I bottle this up any longer, I'm gonna explode."
Emelia was far calmer than her daughter. She was playing the long game.
"Your grandfather said the Graham Group's upcoming shareholder summit could
be a turning point. There's a good chance someone will knock Fraser off his throne. And once he's Summer loses her safety net. That's when you can strike- however you want. But for now? Keep
gone, it zipped."
Morgan grumbled, "Fine. I'll wait. But once the chance comes, I'm not holding back."
The charity gala officially began in a swirl of warm applause.
The emcee smiled on stage, going over the night's schedule and highlighting the causes the fand. would support.
Enemies Across the Aisle
away, radiating pure hatred.
Morgan's glare could have cut glass. The sheer loathing in her eyes was sharp enough to chill the
mer barely blinked. She just smiled faintly in return.
That smile made Morgan's face twist even more.
Yvette returned from the hallway and sat down next to Summer, leaning in to
whisper. "I just found out-Emelia arranged for Morgan to go on stage after the auction. That might be our opening
Chapter 362
Charity or Combat
Summer gave a small nod.
"If I'd been there that night, I would've ripped that woman's mouth apart before she even had the chance to cause trouble," Yvette muttered, shooting a dagger of a glare in Morgan's direction. "Just wait. By the time we're done, this entire ballroom will be watching her break down. Let's see if her mommy can still cover for her. This is for my goddaughter!"
Summer's hand drifted down, gently resting on her belly.
Just then, the emcee introduced the first auction item of the night.
Inside a crystal display case stood a jade necklace, gleaming a vivid emerald green under the spotlight. It sparkled like a drop of spring water, flawless and luminous.
Summer turned to Yvette. "Didn't you wear something like that during a film shoot once? You loved it.
Yvette gave it a glance, admiring it for a moment-until her eyes landed on the price tag.
She liked it, sure. But the price? That was a whole other story.
There was still a world of difference between actresses and capitalists. Every dollar she had came from long, grueling days on set. Even now that she was dating Xavier, their finances weren't exactly entangled.
Someone in the crowd called out a starting bid-eight million.
Summer lifted her paddle slowly. "Ten million."
"Twelve million!",
"Thirteen million!"
Summer raised her paddle again, voice calm. "Seventeen million."
The emcee lit up. "Seventeen million once, seventeen million twice.. sold for seventeen million!"
"Congratulations to Mrs. Graham for winning the first featured piece of tonight's
auction!"
Yvette blinked. "Wait is that for me?"
Summer smiled and nodded.
If they hadn't been in public. Yvette might have jumped up and kissed her on the spot.
"Oh my god, baby girl, you're gonna make me cry!"
Charity or Combat
"Oh Yvette's excitement dimmed just a notch.
Summer continued, "think you could delete that little recording from earlier? Yvette's expression froze.""
Damn it!
B Pearls
Here she was, getting all emotional, and it was just a bribe from her bestie-on behalf of that
smug man.
Traitor. Sellout. Shameless
The charity auction rolled on, the atmosphere heating up with each item. The next one was Junveiled with a sweep of red velvet, traditional landscape painting, intricately detailed and
elegantly framed.
This painting had significant collector value-subtle brushwork, rich texture, and an unmistakable depth.
It was the exact piece Emelia had come for.
She leaned in and told Morgan. "Your grandfather's had
s eye on this for years. If we bring it home and you give it to him yourself, he'll be
touched. He'll think you're thoughtful and filial."
The emcee cleared his throat and called out. "Starting bid-five million.
Emelia didn't hesitate. Paddle up. "Six million."
Almost immediately, someone called out, "Seven million."
Emelia raised again. "Eight million."
Most of the crowd wasn't too interested-traditional scroll paintings usually appealed to older collectors, and tonight's attendees skewed young and glamorous.
Just when Emelia thought the piece was hers
Summer raised her paddle, calm and steady. "Ten million.
Emelia frowned. She calculated what she could afford, gritted her teeth, and
raised again. "Eleven million"
Without skipping a beat, Summer went to twenty million.
Gasps rippled through the room.
People began to turn in their seats, murmuring with interest as the bidding war clearly turned personal
Charity or Combat
She yanked up her paddle. Thirty million!"
Emelia nearly had a heart attack. "Morgan!"
Summer smiled faintly, raised her paddle again. "Fifty million."
This b*tch.
Morgan's pride snapped like a rubber band. Her temper flared, her blood boiled.
She bit down her fury and shouted, "Sixty million!"
The emcee nearly bounced off the stage with excitement.
"Sixty million! Miss Morgan Wynn, daughter of the Wynn Group, has bid sixty million!"
Then, without even looking up. Summer's voice rang out again-smooth, unfazed. "Eighty million."
Eighty. Million.
+B Pearls
The whole ballroom shifted in an instant. Everyone knew the painting wasn't worth even a third
of that.
Whispers exploded across the tables. Guests turned to one another in disbelief. The auction had officially turned into a battle. And it was getting bloody.
Chapter 363
One Billion Mistake
Emelia stared in disbelief. Summer had just bid eighty million on a landscape painting.
Is the Graham Group really this rich and brainless? Just because they had money to burn didn't mean she did.
She immediately tried to stop Morgan, pressing down on her left hand. "No need to keep going." she whispered urgently.
But Morgan's right hand was already in the air, paddle held high. "One hundred million!"
The entire room fell silent.
People glanced between the painting and each other. Was this thing secretly some national treasure? Did they miss something?
Emelia's brain blanked. Her whole body felt like it had been turned upside down, blood rushing to her head.
Most of her assets were tied up in stocks and real estate. Where was she supposed to cough up that kind of cash? And even if she could-why on earth would she blow it on a painting worth, at best, a tenth of that?
Her pupils dilated in shock. She couldn't stop herself from snapping at Morgan.
"Morgan! That painting is worth maybe ten million, max. Even if the artist drops dead tomorrow, it won't be worth more than thirty mil! What were you thinking, bidding one hundred million?! Your grandfather won't see you as filial-he'll think you're an idiot!"
Morgan's face froze, her high-flying emotions instantly yanked back to earth.
What the hell just happened? Did I seriously shout a hundred million?
She swallowed, suddenly unsure. "Mom, that bitch Summer was trying to compete with us. I figured if I shouted a billion, she'd have to outbid me. If she did, I'd stop-let her choke on the
But as the seconds ticked by, nothing happened.
The room was quiet-eerily quiet
The emore outage called out, 'One hundred million once, one hundred million twice..."
Emelia and Morgan listened like they were hearing their own death sentence being read aloud Each syllable felt like a countdown to bankruptcy
Morgan's face went pale. She mustered, "No, something's wrong. Why isn't Summer bidding?* She turned her head-and saw Summer abradu chatting and bas
One Billion Mistake
Summer looked right at her and smiled.
That smile was taunting. Mocking.
Morgan's teeth clenched so hard her jaw ached. Her face turned blotchy with rage.
That b*tch did this on purpose!
"Sold-for one hundred million!" the emcee announced with glee, slamming down the gavel.
"Congratulations to Miss Morgan Wynn of Granthera Bank for winning this treasured landscape. painting!"
Emelia could barely breathe. Her chest tightened, and for a second she thought she might pass
out.
Half her net worth-gone, just like that.
Morgan sat frozen, staring at Summer with murderous eyes.
Yvette watched the mother-daughter pair like she was watching a tragic comedy. "Summer, when you shouted eighty million, I nearly had a heart attack. I was terrified that idiot wouldn't take the bait."
Summer twirled her paddle between her fingers. "Someone like Morgan-spoiled and arrogant, obsessed with status-was always going to bite. She'd never let me walk all over her without striking back. Getting her to scream a billion? Easy."
Yvette side-eyed her. "What if she hadn't? What if she didn't fall for it?"
Summer shrugged. "Then we'd just donate a little extra to charity. Not the end of the world."
Yvette blinked, staring at her best friend.
She was still the same Summer she'd always known-but something about her was different now. Steadier. Stronger.
It hit her. Confidence.
Summer had the kind of quiet, unshakable confidence that came from being truly backed-by power, by love, by Fraser.
No wonder they say love is like sunlight to a flower, Yvette thought. Look at her bloom.
The auction portion of the evening came to a close.
The emcee stepped up once more, voice bright and excited. "That concludes our charity auction! All proceeds will go to support the disabled. And now, for a special performance from tonight's highest donor, we invite Miss Morgan Wynn of Granthera Bank to the stage for a cello solo. Let's welcome her with a warm round of applause!"
One Billion Mistake
herself to perk up.
Morgan's performance was the highlight of the night-the one Emelia had banked on to win her daughter praise, admiration, and hopefully, a wealthy fiancé.
Once Morgan dazzled the crowd with her talent and charm, Emelia planned to hand a few envelopes to the local gossip blogs and let the PR machines do their work.
Her baby girl would shine tonight, no matter what.
But she had no idea that Summer and Yvette were already three steps ahead.
Chapter 364
A Slap on Stage
Tonight was Morgan's chance to shine.
+ Pearts
Wearing a pale yellow mermaid-cut gown that hugged her curves and shimmered under the lights, she looked every bit the glittering heiress. Her long hair was curled into glossy waves, makeup flawless, smile poised.
Emelia squeezed her hand. "Go get them, darling. Show them what you're made of."
"Relax, Mom, Morgan said with confidence. "I've performed in venues across Europe. This crowd? Easy."
She stood up, waved at the cameras with practiced grace, and began making her way to the stage.
Unfortunately for her, the stage was past the front row.
And in the front row? Summer and Yvette.
Morgan walked gracefully in her seven-centimeter heels, hands clenched at her sides, fighting the overwhelming urge to slap Summer right then and there. Her whole body still buzzed with fury over that billion-dollar humiliation.
But just as she passed by-
Yvette, casual as ever, extended a single leg into the aisle.
Morgan didn't see it coming.
She stumbled.
"Ahh!"
She pitched forward, arms flailing, her perfectly polished image crumbling in real time.
On instinct, she reached out to steady herself-right toward Summer.
Summer calmly shifted her seat an inch to the left, dodging the flailing arm. Morgan dropped to
her knees with a loud thud.
Yvette burst out laughing. "Wow, Ms. Morgan. Such a generous bow. No need to be so formal."
Morgan's face turned scarlet. She scrambled upright, eyes blazing. "You bitch! You tripped me on purpose!"
Yvette blinked innocently. "Tripped you? Sorry, didn't see a thing
"You liar! I know it was you!"
A Slap on Stage
Emelia rushed over and grabbed her arm. "Sweetheart, don't let them win. They're just jealous. They don't want you to shine tonight."
Morgan ground her teeth, still seething. But with so many eyes on her, she swallowed her anger and stormed up to the stage, heels clicking.
When she was gone, Emelia turned to Summer and Yvette, her voice low and scathing. "Mrs. Graham, I expected better."
Summer just smiled. "Well, it's a good thing I don't care what you expect. And really, what can you even do about it?"
Emelia had no comeback. She glared, lips pressed into a tight line, then turned back to her seat.
Onstage, Morgan composed herself.
She adjusted her dress, settled onto the stool, and lifted her cello with the grace of a swan.
The lights dimmed. The room hushed. And then-music.
The first notes were soft, like dewdrops on glass. Her fingers danced across the strings, coaxing out a haunting melody that echoed through the ballroom. The audience leaned forward, captivated.
"She's not just pretty," someone whispered. "She's actually talented."
"Isn't she the heiress of Granthera Bank? Heard she just got back from Europe. What a catch."
Emelia's chest swelled with pride as the compliments rolled in. That's my daughter.
Let them talk about Summer now, she thought smugly. Once Morgan marries up, the tables will turn.
But just as the final crescendo approached, a strange crackle interrupted the speakers. Then- voices.
Projected clearly through every audio system in the ballroom.
"I can't believe it.. Morgan, you actually... killed her."
The entire room froze.
Then, another voice. Cold. Sharp. "Yeah, it was me. If she didn't die, someone might've traced it back to me."
A third voice chimed in. "Damn, Morgan, that's brutal."
The last voice came back, louder this time. "Brutal? Please. If that bitch Summer hadn't the freezer, no one would've ever found out it was my idea to trap her in there!"
The cello's strings fell silent.
A Slap on Stage.
The guests looked around, stunned. Whispers exploded across the ballroom.
Was that real? Was that a confession?
Morgan's face turned white as a sheet.
Emelia lurched to her feet. panic in her eyes.
And in the front row, Summer sat perfectly still.
Smiling.
Chapter 365
Public Confession
Too bad she and that baby survived. If she lost the kid, she'd be worthless. Fraser wouldn't have gone this far."
The voice played over and over.
Again and again.
Looping through the venue like a curse..
The entire charity gala froze. Everyone exchanged shocked glances.
Had they heard that right?
Was that..... an actual murder confession? And who could say something so disgustingly vile?
The crowd erupted into murmurs and gasps, some rising from their seats to track where the voice was coming from. All signs pointed to one thing.
That voice-everyone knew who it belonged to.
Morgan.
The woman standing on stage, cello in hand, now trembling in the spotlight.
Flashbulbs exploded like fireworks. Reporters swarmed the stage like sharks scenting blood.
Morgan's face drained of all color as the voices kept playing. She dropped her cello with a thud and stumbled back a step.
Her hands trembled violently.
Turn
it off! Turn that thing off!" she shrieked, voice cracking.
Cameras kept flashing. Reporters shouted over each other, pushing closer.
"Ms. Morgan, was that really your voice in the recording?"
"Did you kill the maid to cover up what you did to Mrs. Graham?"
"Were you trying to murder Summer Graham? Was it premeditated?"
Morgan snapped. "Shut up! It's fake! That's a deepfake! I'm being framed!"
Her shouts only made the frenzy worse.
The scene descended into chaos.
Public Confession
toch
"What the hell is happening?" she muttered to herself "Who leaked that Shut it off! Shor it off now!
But it was too late.
Summer stood slowly from her seat, calm and poised as always. Her voice cum through the noder
like a blade.
"Morgan," she said coldly, "you locked me in that freezer at the Harper family
estate. You killed your maid to pin the blame on her. You're not getting away with
it
All eyes turned to her.
Morgan pointed a shaking finger. "Liar! You evil bitch! I'll sue you for slander!"
Summer didn't flinch. "Better call your lawyer fast. You'll need him to get you out on bail"
Right on cue, the entrance doors burst open.
Uniformed police officers filed in.
The room fell dead silent as they marched down the center aisle and climbed onto the stage.
The reporters backed off just enough to let them through.
Morgan's knees buckled. She turned to run, but the lead officer stepped in front of her.
In one swift move, he pulled out a pair of handcuffs.
Click.
Cold metal locked around her wrists.
"Morgan Harper, you are under arrest for suspicion of murder. You'll need to come with us."
"No!" Morgan thrashed wildly. "You can't arrest me! You don't have any real
evidence! This is just an edited recording! I demand a lawyer!"
"Save it, the officer said, already guiding her toward the steps.
Morgan screamed, "Do you even know who my grandfather is? The chief of police
has dinner with him! You mess with me,
ess with me, and your career is over!"
But the police weren't fazed.
They dragged her, kicking and shouting, out the front doors,
With the stage empty, the journalists turned to the next obvious target.
Emelia
330PM
Chapter 365 Public Confession
"Madam Harper, did you know your daughter was involved in this murder?"
"Was there a conspiracy? Did she act alone?"
"How does the Harper family plan to handle this crisis?"
Emelia snapped. She slapped away the nearest mic and snarled, "Which network
are you with? Give me your names! All of you!"
The reporters flinched, then quickly recovered.
"Madam Harper, we're just doing our jobs. Your daughter was arrested by the
police, not us,"
Emelia clenched her jaw, fists shaking at her sides..
The perfect Harper image-shattered.
And Summer?
Summer simply sat back down, watching it all unfold. Silently Victoriously.
Chapter 366
Madness in the Parking Lot
The once elegant and grand charity banquet had descended into chaos. People were whispering to one another, voices buzzing with speculation.
Security guards moved quickly to maintain order, blocking the reporters and beginning to clear the crowd.
Summer could see that her goal for the night had already been achieved.
She was ready to head back with Yvette.
The two of them walked to the parking lot, about to get into the car- when a figure came rushing toward them at full speed..
It was Emelia.
Right now, she looked like a rabid animal. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she had completely lost the poised, dignified image she was known for.
"Summer! You can't leave! This whole thing was a setup-you framed her! You're coming with me to the police station to tell them it was all fake. Tell them to release Morgan!"
Yvette immediately stepped forward and blocked Emelia's path.
CL
She sneered, "Your daughter did this herself. What's there to explain? She killed your housekeeper, and Summer got trapped in the cold because of a trap Morgan set."
"You're lying! You're all liars! This is all nonsense! You framed her!"
Emelia refused to believe it.
Her daughter, Morgan, might be a bit spoiled, but she was kindhearted. She'd never kill anyone!
These bitches were just jealous of Morgan's talent. That's all this was a calculated smear campaign to bring down the Harper family.
Emelia forced herself to her feet. Just the thought of Morgan being arrested for murder-
A lifetime of hard work, gone in an instant.
At this point, Emelia had lost all sense of reason. She shouted at the Harper family bodyguards standing not far away.
"What are you waiting for? Grab her! I don't care what it takes-drag that woman to the police station and get Morgan out!"
Coveral larme intimidatina holumiarde heard her command and immedistalu adusnead handling
Madness in the Parking Lot
Yvette watched them step closer and closer, clearly intent on grabbing them both.
She was just one woman. Summer was pregnant. There was no way they could fight off a bunch of men.
She shouted, "Get in the car, Summer! That woman's lost her damn mind!"
But just then-
a flash of movement lit up the parking lot like lightning.
Fraser's bodyguards, stationed in the shadows to protect Summer, suddenly appeared.
Trained, quick, and disciplined, they moved as one, forming a solid wall between Summer, Yvette, and the advancing threat.
The two groups of bodyguards stood face-to-face.
But the difference was obvious-Summer's side had nearly ten men, while Emelia had brought only four. They were completely outmatched.
Summer looked straight at Emelia.
"If you keep pushing it, I won't mind sending you to the police station to join your daughter."
On the drive back-
Yvette was at the wheel. She glanced over, curious. "When did you get
bodyguards? And a whole damn football team, no less!"
Summer leaned against the window, her hand supporting her forehead, staring out at the glowing city lights.
"After I was hospitalized last time. Fraser arranged it."
She had thought it would just be two or three guys. She hadn't expected nearly
ten of them, all hidden in the shadows.
The scale of it made her feel like she had presidential-level security.
Yvette nodded. "Your man really goes all out."
She turned the steering wheel, then added, "Anyway, Morgan may be in police custody now, but a single recording isn't much. With the Harper family's resources, they could easily fake a mental illness diagnosis and bail her out." Of course the Harper family would do whatever they could to save face. Chapter 366 Madness in the Parking Lot
Seeing Summer deep in thought, Yvette suggested, "You should talk to your man. Have him put pressure on the police."
When Summer got home, she saw that Fraser's black Ferrari was already parked in the garage.
She walked into the house and asked one of the maids, "Where's Fraser?"
"Mr. Fraser is in the study," the maid answered respectfully.
"Got it."
Summer headed into the kitchen, picked up a bowl of soup the maid had prepared, and walked toward the study,
She stopped at the door and knocked twice.
"Come in.
The deep voice of a man came from inside.
Summer opened the door and saw Fraser standing by the window, one hand in
his pocket, the other holding a phone to his ear.
He had his back to her. Broad shoulders, long legs, dressed in a black need to
say a word to exude power and authority.
Summer quietly closed the door behind her.
Fraser turned around, glancing at her with dark, intense eyes.
"Do it," he said into the phone, then hung up.
His eyes stayed fixed on her, unwavering and deep.
rt and slacks-he didn't
Summer started to feel uncomfortable under his gaze. "Is there something on my face?"
"Come here."
She walked over, first setting the bowl of soup on his desk, then moving closer to him.
Chapter 367
A Sweet Interrogation
Fraser held her hand, gazing down at her with eyes dark and deep. "When did recording of Morgan?"
you get the
The charity banquet tonight had stirred up quite a storm-reporters, police, and now it was trending at the top of the hot search online.
It wasn't surprising that Fraser knew.
Summer pressed her lips together, then explained everything honestly. "The day I came with Yvette, I had her help find someone to follow Morgan and her friends. I planted a recording device to eavesdrop on their conversation. Once I had it, I used the recording to expose what Morgan did. That's what tonight was about."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well, I wasn't completely sure Morgan was behind it at the time. It was just a suspicion, so... I didn't say anything."
"Hm."
Summer looked up at him. His expression was unreadable. The moonlight from the window fell across his face, casting shadows over his long lashes and making it impossible to tell what he was. thinking.
"I only did this after making sure I wasn't in danger."
She was one step away from raising three fingers and swearing an oath.
"Hmph."
Fraser lightly tapped her forehead with his knuckles, clearly annoyed but not truly angry.
Seeing his expression soften, Summer let out a quiet breath of relief.
Feeling like the tides had turned in her favor, she decided to throw a jab of her own. "You were so scary just now. You know that?"
Fraser raised a brow. "That was scary?"
Summer straightened her back proudly. "What else would you call it?"
"If I were actually scary, you wouldn't have made it into the study."
"Oh, so you were planning to shut me out? And here I brought you soup, out of the goodness of my heart."
Fraser's dark eyes drifted to the bowl of lotus seed soup on the desk. He let out a small scoff.
330 PM
A Sweet Interrogation
She was caught.
Summer didn't care.
"If I eat it, that means the baby eats it. If the baby eats it, then that makes you happy too."
Fraser's lips curved slightly. He let out a low chuckle, his voice rich with amusement. "Alright. alright. Women really do know how to twist logic."
He walked over, picked up the bowl with his clean, graceful fingers, scooped up a spoonful, and held it out to feed her.
Summer enjoyed every second of the pampering.
She opened her mouth and accepted the sweet soup.
It was made with lotus seeds, goji berries, coconut milk, and red dates. Sweet, creamy, and smooth on the tongue.
She couldn't help but lick a bit of coconut milk from the corner of her lips.
Fraser's eyes darkened at the sight. His voice turned low and husky. "Is it sweet?" Summer assumed he wanted a taste. "Mm-hmm. Want to try? It's really good." "Okay."
The next second, the man lowered his head. His lips brushed against hers, tasting the sweetness left on her mouth. Bit by bit, he took in the flavor.
"It really is sweet
After a moment, he slowly pulled away. His obsidian-like eyes shimmered as he looked at her with a teasing smile.
Summer's pale checks flushed with a rosy hue.
And just like that, the bowl of lotus seed soup was finished between the two of them.
Outside the window, a gentle breeze rustled the garden flowers. Their subtle fragrance wafted through the study, filling the air with sweetness.
Summer suddenly remembered something. She looked at Fraser.
"Even though Morgan got taken into custody because of the recording, the Harper family is definitely going to try to bail her out. Can you help put pressure on the police?"
Fraser arched a brow. "Did you really need to ask?"
Summer thought of the phone call earlier. "So that call just now-it was to the police?"
A Sweet interrogationm
Summer threw her arms around his neck, her voice serious. "Thank you."
+E Pearls
Fraser pulled her into his embrace, his voice lazy and low, laced with something almost hypnotic. "What exactly are you thanking me for?"
Did she think that with their relationship, she still needed to offer something in return?
Summer blinked. Thank you for what?
A flicker of awkwardness passed through Fraser's eyes "What did you say the last time you
thanked me?"
Summer tried to remember-she had said a lot of things to him recently.
"Can you give me a hint?"
His deep voice called her name, one word at a time "Summer.
A spark of realization hit her.
She looked up at him with soft eyes and whispered gently-
"Honey?"
The moment the word left her lips. her ears turned red
Fraser's
lit
eyes up. and he buried his head into the crock of her neck, murmuring. "I want to
hear it again..."
After a while-
Summer's eyes shifted thoughtfully.
"Look, I just told you everything on my end. To be fair, shouldn't you tell me about your stuff
Chapter 368
Like You
"What would I even need to tell you?"
Summer blurted out, "Aren't you holding the Graham Group's consortium meeting tomorrow?"
Under Fraser's dark, piercing gaze, Summer stuck her tongue out slightly.
"I know that ever since the marriage announcement, Graham Group's stock has dipped a little, and now some of the senior shareholders are trying to impeach you."
Fraser's brows furrowed, and the hand resting on her back suddenly tightened. "So you don't want to get married anymore?"
"No, no, that's not it."
Only then did Fraser's grip on her loosen a little.
Summer closed her eyes for a moment. "It's just... I worry about you too, you know?"
Fraser stared at her. Warmth flickered in his eyes as he said lazily, "Relax. You think I can't handle a bunch of old men? Don't forget, I've got a ninth-degree black belt in taekwondo. Ten old geezers wouldn't stand a chance."
Summer rolled her eyes. "Seriously? I'm trying to have a real conversation with you."
"I'm being serious. You know how strong I am.
Summer was speechless.
That night after dinner-
Summer took a bath, then sprawled out on the sofa.
Lately, she'd gotten into the habit of half-lying there to watch movies.
The couch was curved, plush like cotton, and every time she sank into it, it felt like
being cradled by a cloud. So soft. So comfortable.
Pudding was curled up beside her, resting its head against her leg, quietly watching the screen. with her.
Fraser finished his work in the study, opened the bedroom door, and walked over
to the sofa. He sat down and gently placed her legs across his lap, his fingers
moving expertly over her calves to massage them.
He'd been reading prenatal books.
Like You
Massaging helped with blood circulation.
Summer's expression softened with comfort
Fraser glanced up at the TV screen.
"Another movie? Let me guess-your best friend Yvette again?"
"Nope," Summer said. "This one just came out."
Pearls
She remembered his scathing review of Yvette's last movie. She knew he wasn't into romance flicks.
"You should go shower. I'll watch it by myself."
"I'll stay.
Night fell, and the moon hung high in the sky. Its silver light spilled into the room, casting dreamy shadows across the floor. The atmosphere was warm and quiet.
"Fraser," Summer called softly.
Fraser's long fingers pressed gently down her leg, from her calf to her ankle. "Hm?"
"Do you want our baby to be a girl or a boy?"
“Doesn't matter,” he said, eyes narrowing slightly. "But if I had to choose. I'd want the first one to be a girl."
"Why?"
"So she can be like you."
Summer couldn't hide her pride. Her lips tugged upward in a smug smile. "You love me that much?"
Fraser looked at the hint of triumph in her expression, and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "What do you
think?"
"Isn't that proof enough? You said you wanted a daughter just so she could be like me."
Fraser leaned in, his voice teasing, lips curving slyly. "Because you're such a handful. I want a sweet little girl who actually listens."
The next morning-
Dawn broke slowly, and the early silence was pierced by the chirping of birds.
Like You
She blinked, just about to sit up-
Then out of the corner of her eye, she saw him in the full-length mirror across the
room.
Summer propped her head with one hand, turned to her side, and just stared at him without moving.
He was buttoning his shirt-black dress shirt, black slacks, standing tall and straight.
His long fingers were poised at his collar, about to fasten his tic.
Summer vaguely remembered Fraser going to shower last night while she curled up with Pudding to finish the movie.
She didn't even know when she'd fallen asleep.
She definitely didn't remember getting into bed.
Fraser heard the stir at the edge of the bed. He turned to glance at her, the corner
of his lips lifting slightly. "Awake?"
Summer responded with a lazy hum, her voice still raspy with sleep.
Fraser chuckled. "Know how to tie a tie?"
"Huh?" Summer blinked, "Yeah, I do."
Fraser let his hands fall away from his tie, walked to the bed, and leaned down.
His voice, low and magnetic, wrapped around her. "Then help me." Summer sat up halfway in bed.
A faint, woodsy scent clung to his shirt-clean, fresh, distinctly him..
She reached out and adjusted the collar of his shirt. Her slender fingers looped
the black tie around his neck, crossed it neatly beneath the shirt, and tied a perfect knot.
Fraser lowered his gaze, eyes deep and locked onto her the whole time.
Chapter 369
A Sudden Message
After sleep, Summer's skin was glowing, her focus on the tie.
Sunlight warmed the room. It felt precious.
"Any plans today?" Fraser asked.
"I have meetings at the office," she said, smoothing his shirt.
Summer thought to herself, I am handing over Stewart Mall to professional
manager, planning my post- baby career.
"Busy day," she added.
"Come home early," he said, ruffling her hair.
"Okay," she replied.
As he was ready to go, she grabbed his hand.
Fraser stood still, turned to Summer with a question look. "What's up?" he asked.
"Good luck today," she said seriously looking into Fraser's deep dark eyes.
She thought to herself, although I believe, with Fraser, there won't be any problem. But I still want to support him.
"I'll make my Mrs. Graham official," he promised.
The sun shone on the entire city. A luxurious limited-edition Ressug-Resemog drove smoothly on the main road of Havenbrook. This car was specially arranged by Fraser for Summer's daily travel. Summer leaned back in the back seat. Her gaze passed through the car window, staring at the scenery that kept moving backward. She opened her phone and clicked on today's online headline news. The news title said, "The eldest granddaughter of Granthera Bank was arrested in public at a charity gala for suspected murder. Reporters gathered at the police station door and got more details and news. That night, a group of Harper family members and lawyers went to the police. station one after another. They offered a high bail to bail out Morgan. The senior inspector accepted an interview and said, "To ensure the transparency and fairness of the case, Morgan's bail is prohibited before the truth is found out.""""
Summer sent the screenshot to Yvette. Yvette quickly replied with a message. Thumbs up, your man is awesome!"
Summer exited the WhatsApp interface and continued to look down. Soon, she saw another message related to the Graham Group, the financial group conference. Summer's fingertips
A Sudden Message
The entrance of the Graham Group was surrounded by a dense crowd.
A male reporter in a white shirt held a microphone. He stood at the forefront of the crowd, reporting live to the camera, “This year is the annual financial group conference of the Graham Group. As the richest in Havenbrook and a listed group in the world, the financial report affects the economic situation of the whole world. Let's look forward to this year's financial report of the Graham Group."
The camera then swept across the entrance of the Graham Group. Luxury cars stopped one after another like a long dragon. Many shareholders began to arrive, their expressions quite serious. Burly bodyguards lined up neatly and kept reporters and media far away to ensure order and safety at the scene. It was clear that today's financial group conference of the Graham Group was very grand and tense.
Suddenly, a sharp braking sound rang out. The driver, Gabriel, stepped on the accelerator urgently. The Ressug-Resemog stopped abruptly. Summer was looking down at her phone and didn't notice. A strong force pushed her forward. She almost lost her balance and nearly fell.. Gabriel quickly turned his head to look at Summer in the back seat. Fear filled his face.
"Madam, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he said. "Suddenly, a car turned around. I... I didn't step on the brake on purpose."
Summer stabilized her body and rubbed her somewhat dizzy head. Fortunately, the quality of the Ressug-Resemog car was good. With such a sudden brake, the movement inside was still relatively stable. Gabriel saw Summer pressing her head. The nearly 50-year-old man was so scared that he almost cried, his eyes red.
"Madam, I have been driving for the Graham family for more than 20 years and have never made such a mistake. It really wasn't my fault just now. That car somehow overtook us. Madam, can you not fire me?" he said.
Chapter 370
An Unexpected Photo
Summer was not injured. She looked out of the car at the car that had just sped by. It quickly disappeared. It seemed to be just a simple overtaking behavior.
"Gabriel, don't worry, I won't tell Fraser," she said.
Hearing Summer's assurance, Gabriel was grateful and almost bowed to Summer.
"Thank you, Madam, thank you, Madam! You are really a great person," he said. Gabriel restarted the car. This time, he drove more cautiously. Summer exited the phone interface. For some reason, she felt a little uneasy.
At this moment, Summer's phone dinged. A photo popped up on the phone screen. Summer thought it was company information. Since she got sick, she had fallen behind on a lot of work. She didn't think much and swiped it open.
A malicious photo unfolded in front of her. The photo showed a cozy man and woman. The man was someone she knew all too well. In the living room of the back house of the Graham estate, Fraser was lazily lying on the sofa. His legs stretched out casually. He supported his head with one hand, covering his eyes. Mia was half-squatting beside the sofa. She stretched out her hand, seemingly gently placing it on his arm. In the photo, her eyes greedily looked at him. It was clear this was a photo from several years ago.
Then the phone received a message, "If you want to know what happened in the photo, come alone to the warehouse in Floastia.
Summer thought to herself, at the sensitive time of the Graham Group's financial group conference, this person deliberately sent me such a photo and lured me to a place.
Summer knew that person must have some purpose. But her chest still couldn't help but feel nauseous. Her hand loosened, and the phone dropped under the
car.
The driver heard the sound and quickly turned his head. "What's wrong, Madam?" he asked.
Summer pursed her lips tightly and clenched her hands. She thought for a while and said, "Gabriel, let's not go to the company first."
The Graham Group, this huge business empire, welcomed its annual financial group conference today. The conference room at the group headquarters was incredibly spacious. It had enough space to accommodate nearly a hundred people. One wall of the conference room was seamlessly spliced by three huge display screens into a huge projection screen. It could clearly show all the content.
All shareholders of the Graham Group and highly respected elders attended today's financial group conference. Their ages were mostly over 40, some even 70 years old. On one side of the conference room, nearly ten recorders sat upright. They were ready to record every important. detail of the meeting at any time. The atmosphere in the entire conference room was unusually serious.
330 PM
Fraser wore a rigorous black suit. He sat in the main seat in the first row, expressionless looking down at the documents on the table. August glanced at Fraser in the main seat. Then he exchanged glances with several shareholders and nodded meaningfully
On the stage, the vice president was speaking. He elaborated on the financial situation of the Graham Group this year. He also presented the economic budget and key investment project plans for the next year. The shareholders and elders sitting below nodded frequently when they saw this year's profit assets.
At this time, sat in the second seat of the third row, shareholder Percy. He raised his hand, stood up, and looked at the data on the display screen.
"Regarding the 15% decline in overseas profits this year compared to previous years, please explain the reason," he said.
As soon as he spoke, everyone noticed the -15.
The vice president said. "The overseas market has inevitable political and economic influences. Regarding the 15% decline, Mr. Graham has taken corresponding measures and will restore normal profits in the new year. Everyone need not worry."
Percy pursed his lips. His dark and gloomy gaze slid over August. He continued. "But the information I got is not like that."
"The reason why overseas profits declined so much is because when Mr. Graham canceled the engagement with the Lastesh Group, he unconditionally transferred the Galaxo Group to the Lastesh Group. You know, Galaxo Group's assets can reach hundreds of billions every year. This affected the overseas branches of the Graham Group, so it led to a 15% decline in profits."
The shareholders and elders below listened. Although they didn't speak, their faces visibly darkened.
The vice president on the stage heard this and swallowed.
He thought to himself, this involved Mr. Graham's private affairs. It was not right for him to say it. It was also not right not to say it.
Then the vice president raised his eyes and secretly looked at the noble man in the main seat. He sent a signal for help.
Fraser closed the document in his hand slowly. He lazily lifted his eyelids and glanced at Percy.
"Didn't you receive the Graham Group's dividends this year?" he asked.