Page 104 of The Billionaire's Fake Wife
My gut clenches and I tighten my hold on Summer. "You came this far for your daughter’s wedding, the least you could do is pretend to be happy on her behalf."
"Hmm." He taps his chin. "Oh, I think my daughter understands how happy I am on her behalf." He peers sideways. "Don’t you, Summer?"
She drops her head and her features fold into a hardened mask. I’ve never seen Summer this… cold, this defeated. She’s been sassy, full of life, angry and upset… but always, always she’s worn her emotions on her sleeve. It’s one of the things I’ve come to expect of her, that she can’t hide from me. That is also her appeal. It gives me the security that she’ll speak her mind, challenge me, always get a rise from me. It is a fucking turn on. It’s also what I miss the most right now. I don’t relish seeing her this defeated, this on the verge of being broken… Only I get to do that.
"My wife is tired."
Summer doesn’t react to my using that term aloud. Damn it, that isn’t good. Why isn’t she saying something?
"I think she needs to get some rest."
"Of course," he angles his body, "but first I want her to meet someone."
"Victoria," he beckons to the woman behind him. "Come dear, meet your stepdaughter."
A woman steps forward. She’s wearing an exquisite golden-brown dress that falls to below her knees. The cut clings to her curves and highlights her pale skin. Her dark hair is a lustrous cloud about her shoulders. She’s at least two decades younger than Adam, about Summer’s age. Broad forehead, sharp features, her ethereal beauty is enhanced by the haunted look in her eyes.
Behind me, I hear a sharp inhalation of breath. Saint draws abreast with me. I glance sideways and find him staring at Victoria.
Victoria frowns then inches away from Adam. Her movement also takes her closer to Saint, who stares between the two of them.
"Summer, it's lovely to meet you." Victoria stretches out a hand.
Summer swallows. "I didn’t realize…"
"That you had a stepmother?"
“...that I had a father.” She spits out the words, then straightens.
Adam’s jaw firms. "I was hoping you two could get acquainted."
Saint shuffles his feet; his hands are clenched at his sides. Huh? It’s as if the man is upset about something.
Victoria’s lips twist, "I didn’t mean for this to come as such a surprise. I wish there had been a way I could have warned you of our coming… but..."
Summer nods, "You don’t need to apologize." Her gaze travels to her father, her eyes narrowing, "I understand how it could have been."
No doubt, the bastard planned this out, springing his new wife on his daughter. I clench my fists at my sides.
Victoria glances from Summer to me, "Perhaps, we can catch up once you are recovered from your wedding and the honeymoon—"
"There is no honeymoon." I interject.
Summer’s body tenses again.
Damn it, I hadn’t meant for it to come out quite that way…Okay, so I had planned to drop that little piece of knowledge at the most opportune time, which is clearly now, seeing the way Summer’s breath caught in her chest. She tries to pull away and I grip her to me tighter.
"Not until we’ve sorted out the little business between us." I nod toward Adam. "Tomorrow."
Why am I postponing this meeting, one for which I’ve waited for so long?
I step around the couple. Summer follows my lead without protest. That’s so not like her. Clearly, her father’s presence has completely taken the spirit out of her. It's not exactly what I’d intended. And I don’t like it, not one bit. I increase my pace, dragging her along.
I hear Saint strike up a conversation with Adam’s wife, "So, Victoria, is it?"
"Mrs. Rhodes to you." Victoria cuts him off. "Are you the hired help?"
