Chapter 7 Discussing Your Marriage with Trevor

The next day, Summer went to the nearest mall to get a new phone and SIM card. The moment she turned it on, dozens of missed messages flooded in. Before she could even check them, her phone started ringing. Julia Chapman. Her biological mother. The Stewart Group’s matriarch. Summer hesitated for a second before answering. The moment the call connected, Julia’s irritated voice rang out. “Summer, what have you been doing these past two days? You didn’t answer my calls or reply to my messages. Do you even consider me your mother? Why can’t you be more thoughtful like Margaret?” Summer instinctively replied, “I was kidnapped, so I lost my phone—” Julia let out a cold laugh. “Kidnapped? That’s the excuse you came up with? What, you want to use this to milk money out of the Stewart family? You’re just like that woman who raised you. I can’t believe you’re even my daughter.” A dull ache spread through Summer’s chest. Julia always said things like this when she was angry. Summer was the Stewart family’s real daughter. Before she was reunited with them, her name had been Summer Leonard. Twenty-three years ago, Julia Chapman had given birth in a private hospital. At the same time, in another hospital room, a nurse named Yolanda Finley also gave birth—to Margaret. But Margaret was born with a serious congenital illness. Yolanda had no money for treatment, and to make things worse, she had a gambling-addicted husband, Quill Leonard. Fearing that her daughter would suffer through a life of hardship, she made a cruel decision. Taking advantage of her position, she secretly swapped Margaret and Julia’s newborn daughter—Summer. From that moment on, their fates were sealed. The Stewart family doted on Margaret, raising her like a treasure. Even her name, Margaret, meant “precious pearl.” Meanwhile, Yolanda treated Summer with cold indifference, using emotional manipulation to control her. It wasn’t until three years ago, when Margaret got into a car accident, that the truth came out through a DNA test. The Stewart family was shaken. After raising Margaret for twenty years, they couldn’t bear to part with her. But under the insistence of the family matriarch, Holly Stanton, they eventually brought Summer home. Summer still remembered her first day in the Stewart residence. Julia had given her a cold, assessing look, her brows furrowing in displeasure. “You got dirt on the custom Luscaro carpet I ordered last month.” Then, looking her up and down with distaste, she added, “What the hell are you wearing? Is this how Yolanda raised you? No manners, no sense of presentation. You show up looking sloppy in front of your elders? Typical. A woman like Yolanda could never teach you anything good. You’d better learn how to behave properly now that you’re part of the Stewart family.” Harvey Stewart, her so-called brother, had been even more direct. He scowled in disgust. “I only have one sister, and that’s Margaret. I don’t know where this random stray came from, but I’m not accepting her.” Her father, Jasper Stewart, had been calm and emotionless. He simply stated, “From now on, you’re my daughter. You and Margaret should get along.” And Margaret… She had stood there with a mix of resentment and satisfaction in her gaze, as if saying, See? Even though you’re their real daughter, they still love me more. Then, as if playing the part of a saint, she spoke softly, “Mom, Dad, since Summer is back, I should leave the Stewart family.” Julia panicked immediately. “Margaret, none of this is your fault. Yolanda is the one to blame. You will always be our precious daughter. I would never let you leave.” … Julia was still ranting on the other end of the phone. Snapping out of her thoughts, Summer cut her off, her voice sharp and cold. “You’re right. I’m not your daughter. Margaret is. Happy now?” Julia’s anger boiled over. “Summer, is that any way to talk to your mother? They say the one who raises you matters more than the one who gave birth to you, and it’s true! Margaret is a hundred times more thoughtful than you—she’d never be this disrespectful!” Summer’s eyes burned slightly. “Then why are you calling me? Let’s just cut ties for good.” “Summer! You’re trying to give me a heart attack, aren’t you?” Julia took a deep breath, nearly choking on her frustration. Every time they talked about Margaret, Summer became unbearably stubborn. But Margaret wasn’t the one to blame. She had done nothing wrong. The real villain in all this was Yolanda. And Yolanda had already paid the price—locked away in prison. Julia forced herself to calm down. Tomorrow was too important. “Tomorrow is the Stewart Group’s 30th anniversary gala. We’re hosting a banquet, and I expect you to bring Trevor. Your father and I will take the opportunity to discuss your wedding.” Summer already knew the truth. Ever since she was brought back into the family, Julia had never shown her much affection. In fact, she seemed to resent the twenty years Summer had spent being raised by Yolanda. But when Julia found out that Summer was dating Trevor? She had finally started treating her better. Summer didn’t hesitate. “Trevor and I broke up.” Julia’s voice shot up. “What? Break up? Did I hear you wrong, or have you completely lost your mind? What kind of childish tantrum is this? Do you even realize how much the Stewart family has grown in recent years, all because of the Larson family’s support? As a member of this family, you need to consider the bigger picture. And let’s be honest—Trevor is the best match you could possibly get. What more do you even want?” The Stewart family owned large shopping malls in Havenbrook. After Summer returned to them, thanks to her relationship with Trevor, they had expanded from ten locations to thirty—dominating nearly a third of Havenbrook’s commercial districts. Summer’s tone was steady. “He already had a wedding ceremony with Peyton. Do you really think I’d be pathetic enough to throw away my dignity and beg him to take me back?” Julia frowned at the mention of the wedding. She had heard about it. But whose fault was that? If Summer had held onto Trevor more tightly, Peyton wouldn’t have had the chance to take her place. Summer was her biological daughter, but she had none of her cunning. Not surprising—after all, she wasn’t raised by her. She had been completely ruined by Yolanda. “I heard about the wedding. It was fake. Just young people messing around. As a woman, you need to be patient. Once you marry Trevor, you can deal with Peyton however you want. But right now, you have no official status. If you keep making a fuss, you’ll only push Trevor away for real.” “What Trevor does is no longer my concern. I am never going back to him.” “Summer—Summer! Hello?” Julia stared at her phone in disbelief. Summer had actually hung up on her. Furious, she took a deep breath, then immediately dialed another number. The call connected. “Trevor, it’s Summer’s mother.” She didn’t hesitate. “Yes, about Summer—don’t take her tantrum seriously. She’s just jealous, acting childish, hoping you’ll coax her. If she did anything to upset you, I apologize on her behalf. Just come to the Stewart Group’s 30th anniversary banquet tomorrow. Her father and I want to discuss your marriage.”