Chapter 132: A Resignation

Harvey sensed Summer’s eyes on his injury and assumed she was mocking him. He turned away, anger simmering, but remembering Fraser’s brutal beating, he swallowed his retort.

Jasper greeted her with a warm smile. “Summer, why not rest longer? You’re back so soon.”

Jasper bristled at his father’s doting tone. “Dad, you said Summer and I would compete fairly for the vice chairman position. Time’s up.”

Harvey thought to himself. With Summer absent, I’d worked hard to win over the company’s veterans and boost my performance.

Summer sat down on the sofa, raised an eyebrow.

Jasper mused, “Given Summer’s recent leave, it’s fair to extend the competition.”

Harvey objected, “So what if she was resting? I worked through my injury. She’s just fragile! My performance is higher; the vice chairman spot should be mine.”

Harvey continued, “Dad, you can’t ignore your own son just because you’re cautious of the Graham heir!”

Jasper barked, “Watch your tongue, you brat!”

Summer smirked from the sofa. She knew Jasper’s favoritism stemmed not from affection but from her tie to Fraser, a connection more valuable than family to him.

Harvey pressed on, “Dad, you’re the chairman. You can’t break your word; it’ll be a laughingstock.”

He sneered at Summer and said, “Besides, she’s latched onto the Graham tree. She probably doesn’t care about a petty vice chairman role.”

Harvey thought to himself, The vice chairman position was a steppingstone to chairman, and as the eldest son, I wouldn’t let Summer claim Stewart Group.

Summer observed his flushed face. She thought to herself, I revealed the 80% stake document; I’d become the largest shareholder, effectively owning the company. But that meant accepting Madam Graham’s deal.

Clutching the file, she finally spoke. “I’m here to resign. I’ll handle the handover and finish by month’s end.”

Jasper froze. He thought to himself, If Summer left, the Graham connection, and a potential 14 billion investment, would vanish. I couldn’t allow it.

“Summer, you’re a Stewart. The mall is partly yours. Leaving now will only worsen the rumors. I won’t permit it!” Jasper said.

Summer stood and replied, “I’m informing you, not asking. Your approval doesn’t matter.”

She thought to herself, I’d once fought for their acceptance, but now Stewart Group to me is just a mismatched job.

Jasper shouted after her, “Summer… you’re defying your father!”

Harvey scoffed and said, “Dad, let her go. You still have me.”

Jasper smacked his head. “What do you know? Can you snag a Havenbrook heiress? The Grahams are a century-old dynasty worth hundreds of billions. If Fraser’s willing, the Stewart family could become top one of Havenbrook. Without Summer… why would he bother with us?”

Back in her office, Summer began wrapping up her work. She thought to herself, Each file represented years of late nights and effort to rise from the bottom to director, all to earn my parents’ approval, a futile chase. Now, it was done. Their validation meant nothing anymore. Instead of fighting for a role in someone else’s empire…