Chapter 243: The Unyielding Standoff

Summer’s gaze unconsciously flickered to the man in the driver’s seat. His broad hand gripped the wheel, knuckles taut. Even bathed in the neon glow of the windows, his chiseled profile remained a marble statue of restrained anger. She knew that look. He was angry.

As the Mystery pulled into Brookhaven Estates, Summer quickly unbuckled her seatbelt. “Thanks for the ride,” she said. The driver’s door slammed shut.

Fraser circled the car, all towering arrogance, one hand in his pocket. “Let’s go,” he said.

Summer blinked. “I can walk myself.”

“I’m not escorting you,” he said flatly, his eyes glittering. “I’m making sure the mother of my child doesn’t trip and crack her skull on the sidewalk.”

The riverfront confrontation was still simmering between them, sharpening his tone to the edge of a blade.

Summer huffed. “What danger could lurk in a 300-yard walk through a gated community?”

Ignoring him, she marched on. Fraser kept pace, watching the way her skirt fluttered with each step, small, defiant swirls in the night air.

At her front door, Summer jammed the key in the lock and barricaded it. “Home safe. Good night,” she said.

Fraser’s grin was icy as he noticed her white-knuckled grip on the doorframe. “Tidying someone in there?” he asked.

Unbelievable. Every rational conversation tonight had bounced off his titanium skull.

Summer’s voice turned arctic. “One last time, Fraser. This baby… is mine!”

The smart lock beeped as she slammed the door. Thud.

Fraser stared at the sealed entrance, then barked a humorless laugh. When had she grown such a backbone? First, she’d tried to terminate the pregnancy. Then she’d unilaterally decided to raise the child on her own.

Since when did women get to make all the rules?

His phone vibrated. Xavier’s name flashed on the screen.

“So, Mr. Graham,” came the teasing voice. “Have you successfully wooed back our dear Summer?”

Fraser’s gaze lingered on the closed door. “Since when are you the relationship office?”

Navier chuckled. “Just looking out for you. It sounds like you’re getting some, though. How about a drink? Let my mind solve your problems. Come on, I’ll be waiting at Aurora.”

Chapter 243: The Unyielding Standoff

Fraser grabbed a glass. A waiter materialized and poured in the whiskey. The whiskey burned like liquid fire in his throat—fitting given the inferno in his chest.

“Broke with the father and only left the baby,” Fraser muttered, swirling the amber liquid. “What kind of twisted logic is that?”

Xavier raised a brow. “Really?”

“Even my own family, the Hathaway’s, would rather bury an illegitimate pregnancy than risk a scandal. If I accidentally knocked some girl up, my mother would probably write an abortion check before the stick dried.”

“You’re not actually thinking of marrying her, are you?” Xavier snorted. “Madam Graham would have an aneurysm.”

Fraser’s grip on the glass tightened. Amer had added the same question earlier. He’d been held back not by reluctance, but by fear. Fear that the name Graham would suffer. But leaving my child in limbo was equally unthinkable.

His eyes went to Xavier. “What would you do if you were me?”

“Me?” Xavier stretched his arms along the back of the couch. “Cash settlement and a signed NDA. Kids are anchors, my friend.”

Fraser swallowed the rest of his drink. “Right. Asking you was my mistake.”