Chapter 224: The Ghost of What Was

The admiration in their eyes faded, replaced by scorn and ridicule. Under their scrutinizing gazes, Leann’s face burned with humiliation, her cheeks flushed a fiery red. In Brookhaven Estates, Yvette dropped Summer home. Neither of them spoke a word during the drive.

As Summer was about to get out of the car, Yvette hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. “Think it over carefully.” No matter what decision Summer made, she would stand by her. If Summer decided to keep the baby, they could raise it together.

Tears welled up in Summer’s eyes as she smiled, touched by the gesture. She promised she would think about it seriously.

Since Julia was still in Europe, Summer had not returned to the Stewart Mansion. Tonight, she had chosen to come back here instead. After getting out of the car, she did not go inside immediately. Instead, she wandered aimlessly around the quiet neighborhood.

Her thoughts were a tangled mess. She had made up her mind to sever all ties with Fraser. Yet, fate seemed determined to play cruel jokes on her. A cool autumn breeze swept past, sending a chill down her spine. Goosebumps rose on her arms, and suddenly, nausea churned in her stomach. She retched. The physical reaction stirred something deep within her.

It was only now, in this moment, that she truly felt the life growing inside her. Her chest tightened, a dull, throbbing pain spreading through her ribs, as though she had been stabbed with a blunt knife.

Not far away, a sleek black luxury car was parked in the shadows, its hazard lights off. A man leaned against the car, one hand buried in his pocket. At his feet, a pile of cigarette butts had accumulated. Between his fingers, a scarlet ember still flickered. He had been here for a while. Both the man and the car blended seamlessly into the darkness; people could not even notice if they did not look carefully.

Fraser’s eyes were dark, unfathomable, locked onto the slender figure in the distance. He exhaled a deep drag of his cigarette, his expression unreadable. Yet, whether it was the nicotine or something else, the restlessness in his chest only grew stronger. The image of her fragile back as she left the charity gala haunted him, gnawed at him. He had to come.

Impatiently, Fraser flicked the cigarette to the ground, grinding the ember beneath the toe of his shoe until it was extinguished. After a long pause, he opened the car door, slid into the driver’s seat, and slammed on the gas. The deafening roar of the engine shattered the night’s silence, echoing through the entrance of Brookhaven Estates. The car tore through the streets, leaving a trail of dust in its wake.

Hearing the sound, Summer instinctively turned her head. She caught a fleeting glimpse of a luxury sports car disappearing into the distance. It was too fast for her to see the license plate clearly. But…

Chapter 224: The Ghost of What Was

The next day, when Summer arrived at the office, her assistant was already waiting with the day’s itinerary.

“Ms. Stewart, we have a meeting with the client for the first quarterly review of the Global Plan Project this afternoon. We’ll need to go to the Graham Group’s investment department.” This was the same project the Graham Group had invested 810 million dollars into. As the servicing party, it was their responsibility to present progress reports and future plans to the client.

Hearing the words “Graham Group,” Summer’s fingers tightened around the documents she was holding. Her role had changed. She was now the main person in charge of the Stewart Group. As the servicing party, she had a duty to fulfill.

After a moment of thought, she reassured herself. This was just one of many projects under the Graham Group’s vast investment portfolio. The person in charge had always been Diana from the investment department. Fraser himself was too busy. He would not be there.

With that thought, Summer nodded. “Understood.”

Summer arrived at the Graham Group’s headquarters with two vice presidents that afternoon. The towering skyscraper stood imposingly against the skyline, exuding wealth and power. A secretary led them to the 56th-floor conference room. It was a massive space, capable of holding nearly fifty people. Floor-to-ceiling windows provided a panoramic view of the city’s iconic landmarks.

Seated in the conference room, Summer’s emotions were complicated. The last time she was here, she had been on the verge of gathering the courage to seek out Fraser and to find out if there was even a shred of love in his heart for her. She had been so close. Now, she was here again, but under vastly different circumstances. They were strangers now.

A few moments later, the door swung open once more. Diana entered, followed by a group of well-dressed executives. Summer’s gaze flickered past them instinctively. She did not see him… Only then did the tension in her chest begin to ease. Diana, the head of Graham Group’s investment department, had always been the main overseer of the Global Plan Project.