Chapter 114: You Lied to Me

Immediately, the video played. By the window, Margaret closed her eyes and leaped down alone. Everyone stared in shock at the crystal-clear footage on the screen. The surveillance video had even recorded every word spoken, leaving no room for doubt.

So Fraser had actually used military-grade surveillance cameras just to put on this fireworks show, to make Summer happy.

Julia trembled, staring at Margaret in disbelief. “Margaret, you lied to me.” Margaret had never seen Julia look at her with such cold eyes before. There was no warmth at all, as if she were a stranger.

Tears of fear streamed down her face as she shouted, “No! Mom, Dad, Harvey, this is all fake! It’s all fake!” Julia no longer carried the grace and dignity she had moments ago. Right now, she looked like a mother who had been utterly deceived, her face aging ten years in an instant.

Unable to hold back, she slapped Margaret hard across the face. “Margaret, you really went as far as hurting yourself just to frame Summer? This is how you repay my trust? The daughter I raised with utmost care for twenty years? Ha! I was afraid you’d be unhappy, so I distanced myself from Summer. I was afraid you’d feel left out, so I treated you better. I was afraid you’d be upset, so every time you and Summer fought, I always took your side. And yet, you still lied to me!”

Jasper quickly stepped forward to support Julia as her body wavered. He frowned, glancing at Margaret, who lay on the ground. Margaret’s eyes were swollen from crying. She wanted to kneel and beg for mercy, but her legs were broken, so she couldn’t move. All she could do was crawl forward and try to grab Jasper’s pant leg.

“Dad, Mom, I was wrong! Please forgive me just this once. I won’t do it again! I was just scared of losing you! If you hadn’t thrown this birthday party for Summer today, I never would’ve thought of doing this! I was jealous of how she was slowly taking your love away from me!”

Jasper shook her off in disgust, his voice full of anger. “Don’t call me Dad. I’m not your father.”

Margaret turned to Harvey with pleading eyes, her voice choked with sobs. “Harvey, help me! You said you’d always stand by me!”

Harvey’s face was tense, the conflict in his eyes clear. Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t actually seen Summer push Margaret with his own eyes. He had only heard Margaret scream, and instinctively assumed Summer had done it. But seeing Margaret like this now, he couldn’t help but feel torn. Uncomfortable, Harvey looked away.

Julia took a deep breath and turned to Summer, guilt filling her eyes. Che ctenned forward slowly wanting to take Summer’s hand. But before she could touch her…

How beautiful she is. She looks just like I did in my youth. How did I never see it before?

Julia sniffled. “Summer, I’m sorry. We misunderstood you.”

Summer looked at them with an expressionless face. If not for today’s video proving her innocence, she would probably be in prison by now.

Fraser let out a mocking chuckle. “Mrs. Stewart, how about someone pushing you off the second floor? See if a simple apology can fix it.”

Julia was at a loss for words. Standing to the side, Jasper caught the subtle look in Fraser’s eyes as he shielded Summer. Jasper’s gaze darkened. “Mr. Graham, this was all a misunderstanding, and our adopted daughter is to blame. But today is Summer’s birthday. Why don’t we finish celebrating her birthday?”

Fraser’s dark eyes held nothing but disdain. He scoffed, spitting out each word with sharp sarcasm. “She’s already been through all this before her birthday even started. If the party goes on, how much more do you plan to put her through?”

Jasper’s expression stiffened. “Mr. Graham, you must be joking. Summer is our biological daughter. How could we possibly do that?”

Fraser let out a cold laugh. “Then being your biological daughter must be a real tragedy.”

Some people in the room couldn’t hold back their laughter. Even with Jasper’s notoriously thick skin, Fraser’s blunt words made his face flush red with embarrassment.

Then, without hesitation, Fraser bent down and scooped Summer up into a bridal carry. He threw down a single sentence. “It’s my woman’s birthday. Of course, I’ll be the one to celebrate it with her.”

With that, he turned and strode toward the door, carrying her effortlessly, leaving everyone in stunned silence. As they walked past, Summer felt the weight of everyone’s knowing, ambiguous stares. A wave of heat rushed to her face.

“Fraser, put me down! My face was slapped, not my legs!”

Fraser glanced down at her, his voice tinged with amusement. “What? Now that everything’s settled you’re done using me? Ms. Stewart, at least have some decency, say thank you.”

“I never…”

Before she could finish, Fraser simply carried her away.