The Billionaire's Sudden Bride Chapter 303

Summer's POV

The glittering ballroom of the Stark mansion buzzed with New York's elite as Brandon guided me through the crowd. Every eye tracked our movement, hushed whispers following in our wake. I forced myself to smile despite my aching feet—these designer heels were gorgeous but absolute torture devices.

"You're the center of attention," Brandon murmured, his hand warm against the small of my back.

I maintained my smile while scanning the room. "Not by choice."

After what felt like the hundredth introduction, my face muscles cramped from the forced pleasantries.

Brandon leaned closer. "Tired?"

I nodded slightly. "A bit."

His eyes softened. "Let's take a break. We can find somewhere quieter."

Just as Brandon began steering me toward a less crowded area, a collective gasp rippled through the ballroom. Every head turned toward the entrance, and the crowd parted like the Red Sea.

William Stark had arrived—but it wasn't his entrance that caused the stir. It was Lyanna supporting his arm.

She looked eerily like me—same height, similar facial structure, even her hair styled in a way that mimicked mine. But her eyes held a calculating coldness I recognized immediately.

"Lyanna York," someone whispered nearby.

My body went rigid. Brandon's arm tightened around my waist, his jaw clenching visibly.

"Summer," he said softly, "I'm here."

William's eyes found us in the crowd, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips as he deliberately paraded Lyanna through the room. The message couldn't have been clearer—this was a calculated move designed to humiliate me.

William tapped his cane against the marble floor, commanding attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce Ms. Lyanna York, Brandon's..." he paused dramatically, "future wife."

A shocked silence fell over the room.

Future wife? What the hell was that supposed to mean? Brandon was already married to me. I bit my lip hard, my fingers digging into Brandon's hand.

Brandon's eyes darkened dangerously, and I could feel the tension radiating from him as he opened his mouth to speak.

Suddenly, a small figure darted through the crowd and latched onto Brandon's leg.

"Daddy!" the child cried, looking up at Brandon with wide, tearful eyes. "Daddy!"

The silence in the room became deafening. I felt the blood drain from my face as I stared down at the little boy—maybe four or five years old—clutching Brandon's leg like he belonged there.

"Daddy, why don't you come see Timothy anymore?" the boy wailed, his voice carrying through the stunned ballroom. "You promised you'd visit!"

I couldn't breathe. The room started spinning around me. A child. Brandon had a child. With her.

I pulled my hand from Brandon's grip, taking an instinctive step back. His face had gone completely blank.

The boy—Timothy—noticed me for the first time and scowled. "Daddy, you don't want Timothy and Mommy anymore because of her?" He tried to push me away. "You're a bad lady!"

Brandon immediately pulled Timothy away. "That's enough."

Timothy's face crumpled, and he began to wail. "Daddy, you don't love me and Mommy anymore?"

I stood frozen, unable to process what was happening. Brandon had a son. A son he'd never mentioned.

Brandon reached for me again. "Summer, be careful—"

I jerked away from his touch, my eyes cold. "Don't."

"Summer," Brandon said quietly, "you don't believe this, do you?"

I looked at him, this man I'd trusted completely. "You told me never to lie to you. You said if I had to lie, make sure it was forever so you'd never know. But you—" My voice cracked. "You lied to me, Brandon. You lied about everything."

"Brandon Stark!" Victoria's voice cut through the tension as she pushed forward. "How dare you! How could you do this to my sister?"

"The Stark family has gone too far!" Victoria declared loudly. "First, you marry my sister while having a wife and child waiting at home? And now William Stark parades your mistress around like she's royalty?"

The whispers around us grew louder. Brandon's expression turned murderous.

Victoria turned to the crowd. "That woman is the mother of his child! And my poor sister is being humiliated while Brandon Stark enjoys having both women!"

I'd had enough. I pulled my arm from Victoria's grasp.

"Humiliated? Why should I feel humiliated?" I asked, my voice surprisingly steady. "You're such a caring sister, aren't you?"

Victoria's triumphant expression faltered.

"I am Brandon Stark's legal wife," I continued, my voice growing stronger. "I am the woman he married in a legal ceremony. Unless he doesn't want me anymore, or I don't want him anymore, nobody can change that fact!" I turned my gaze directly toward William and Lyanna. "Nobody."

Brandon moved to stand beside me, his expression softening.

"Actually, if you want Brandon and me to divorce, it's not that difficult." I paused. "It all depends on one thing... whether Brandon wants to divorce me. So if you can convince Brandon to tell me he wants a divorce, I'll agree immediately. But if you can't get Brandon to say it, then you'll find it much harder to get me to agree."

I turned toward Timothy. "Children are innocent. Ms. York, using a child as a bargaining chip... you showed your cards too early, which could be fatal for you."

Lyanna's face paled. "I don't know what you're talking about."

I smiled thinly. "Medical science is quite advanced now, Ms. York. DNA testing is very reliable these days. Have you considered that once you tell one lie, you need countless others to cover it up?"

Lyanna grabbed Timothy's hand. "I'm taking my son and leaving. He's mine alone."

William stepped forward. "Wait! You are Brandon's future wife, Lyanna."

I laughed softly. "Mr. Stark, are you suggesting your grandson commit bigamy? Or are you trying to force us to divorce?" I raised an eyebrow. "Either way, your grandson's position is legally and morally indefensible."

William's eyes narrowed. "Aren't you afraid that this old man will dislike you even more?"

I smiled calmly. "Why should I care if you like me or not? I only need to please one person—Brandon. You've picked the wrong side, Mr. Stark." I turned to Lyanna. "You've chosen the wrong position, Ms. York. Don't you agree?"

Lyanna's face had gone ashen. She looked at Brandon, who stood beside me with the faintest smile on his lips, and something in her expression crumbled.

"Ms. Taylor, you're being too harsh," Lyanna said desperately. "I never intended to break up you and Brandon."

I cut her off with a soft laugh. "I hope you remember what you've said today, Ms. York. If one day you break your word... you won't end well."

Lyanna stared at me, finally understanding the steel beneath my polite smile. She clutched Timothy closer, the boy looking confused as he glanced between Brandon and his mother.

Chapter 305 Chapter305 Forever Be Brandon Stark's Wife

Summer's POV

Lyanna's face was ashen white as she stared at me, her composed façade crumbling. She'd completely underestimated me, thinking I'd fall apart while she swooped in to reclaim Brandon.

"Brandon..." she whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "Please tell Summer that I really... really didn't mean any harm."

Brandon's hand tightened around mine, his grip almost painful.

"Say something," Lyanna pleaded. "After all, if your relationship with her was truly solid, it wouldn't be so easily threatened by me, would it?"

Brandon's expression remained glacial as he cut her off. "I, Brandon Stark, have never loved you, and I have never made any engagement promises to you..."

The room fell completely silent. You could have heard a pin drop.

"Timothy is not my child," Brandon continued firmly. "I have never fathered a child with you or anyone else. My child, when I have one, will only be born to my wife, and my wife..." he paused, his grip on my hand softening, "is only Summer. No one else."

I felt something twist in my chest as he continued.

"If she dies, I will remain alone for the rest of my life; if I l die, she will forever be known only as Brandon Stark's wife."

I looked up at him, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes.

"Tsk, tsk, Brandon..." a familiar voice broke the tension. "Showing off your love in front of all these people? Not very gentlemanly of you!"

Dr. Sean stepped forward, his usual mischievous grin in place. He winked at me before turning to Brandon.

"Summer," Dr. Sean said, placing a friendly hand on my shoulder, "if this guy ever mistreats you, just tell us, okay? The boys and I will sort him out for you."

Behind him, Michael Sullivan nodded in agreement.

I felt a genuine smile tug at my lips. "Thanks, Sean. I appreciate that."

I turned to Brandon with a playful glint in my eye. "You hear that? No one gets to bully me, not even you. If you do, I'll call Ethan and the others for backup!"

Brandon's expression softened slightly. "If I ever mistreat you, you won't need Ethan to step in. I'll handle the punishment myself."

The tension in the room began to dissipate. I felt exhaustion washing over me.

"I'm tired," I murmured to Brandon. "Can we go home now?"

He nodded immediately. "Of course."

The moment we stepped outside, I wrenched my hand from his grip. I walked quickly toward the waiting car, putting distance between us.

I stopped when I reached his Bentley, turning to face him with a deliberately blank expression. When he reached out to touch my arm, I stepped back.

His arm froze mid-air, confusion flashing across his face.

"The keys," I said flatly.

Brandon didn't move. "Summer—"

"The keys!" I repeated louder. "Since you don't want to leave, give me the keys. I want to go home."

After a moment's hesitation, Brandon unlocked the door. I got in and pulled it shut, effectively shutting him out.

When he got into the driver's seat, I turned away, staring out the passenger window. The silence between us was suffocating.

"Summer—" he began.

"Drive," I cut him off. "I don't want to stay here anymore."

We drove slowly through the city, neither of us speaking. I kept my body angled away from him, refusing to meet his eyes.

When we finally reached The Hamptons, I got out before he'd fully stopped the car. I heard him sigh, followed by the sound of his phone ringing.

By the time Brandon came upstairs, I was standing outside our bedroom door with a pillow and blanket in my arms. I thrust them at his chest.

"You go to the guest room," I said firmly.

Brandon looked surprised. "I thought you would have questions."

"I thought you would have told me the truth," I countered. "But Brandon, you didn't."

His eyes searched mine. "Summer—"

"I don't want to talk to you right now," I interrupted. "I don't even want to be in the same room as you."

Brandon took the bedding, his expression unreadable. "Alright," he said quietly.

As soon as he was gone, I sagged against the wall. Eventually, I pushed myself away and went into the bedroom, closing the door behind me.

With shaking fingers, I pulled out my phone and dialed Sean's number.

"Well, Summer, what's up with calling me so late?" Sean's voice was relaxed, but understanding.

"Sean, I... need to ask you about Lyanna."

"Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you everything I can."

I took a deep breath. "What was her relationship with Brandon?"

"Three years ago, Lyanna presented herself as Brandon's fiancée. Brandon neither confirmed nor denied it," Sean explained. "William Stark had chosen her, but there was never any official engagement. Brandon allowed the rumors because Lyanna served two purposes—she kept other women away, and she helped him deal with family pressure."

"Why didn't he just deny it?" I asked quietly.

"Two reasons," Sean said. "First, having Lyanna around kept things simple. Second... Lyanna once took a risk to save him."

My chest tightened. "What happened?"

"That's something you should ask Brandon directly," Sean replied gently. "After a certain incident three years ago, Lyanna left New York. Brandon protected her by keeping the whole thing quiet."

"Protected her?" The words felt bitter.

"Summer, sometimes what we see and hear isn't the full truth."

"Then what should I use to know the truth?" I asked frustratedly. "I can't bear that I gave him opportunities to tell me everything, but he didn't."

"Has Brandon been good to you?" Sean asked suddenly.

I fell silent, memories flashing through my mind.

"Brandon has changed a lot since meeting you," Sean continued. "The way he looks at you, talks about you, protects you... we've all noticed. Brandon has never been like this with anyone else. He's really serious about you and you're so special to him, Summer."

I gripped the phone tighter. "Then why didn't he tell me everything?"

"Maybe he was afraid of losing you," Sean suggested. "Brandon, believe it or not, has his own insecurities."

After hanging up, I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Sean's words echoed in my mind, mingling with the events of the evening.

I needed answers, but I also needed time. Tomorrow would be soon enough to confront Brandon.

For now, I just needed to breathe.