Chapter 284: Trust Me One More Time +8 Pearls

“I’ve been eating healthy ever since I got pregnant. I’m so sick of it,” Summer muttered, sipping her milk tea.

“Sounds like your mom’s treating you like a national treasure.”

Julia had taken full control of Summer’s meals—nutritious to a fault. Even at the office, her lunch was delivered straight to her desk.

“You haven’t been on set in a while, huh?” Yvette slouched lazily on the couch. “Nope. That’s the life of a female celebrity. I had to drag myself to some dinner with investors last night just to show face.”

Summer looked at her, a little worried. “Do you need help?”

“You’re pregnant—just focus on staying sane. I can handle this.”

Yvette’s eyes drifted to the bracelet on Summer’s wrist. “Wait a second. That bracelet—isn’t that the one you gave back to Fraser?”

Summer followed her gaze, eyes landing on the glittering sapphire. She let out a small sigh. “I don’t know what we are right now.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

Summer looked conflicted. “I don’t know if I should trust him again.” Then she looked straight at Yvette. “If it were you… what would you do?”

Yvette looked like she wanted to scream. “Girl, I’m not pregnant, and I don’t even have a man to get me pregnant! I’m the last person who can give advice right now.”

Summer took another long sip of her milk tea. Yvette thought for a moment. “Okay, going off TV logic—this is usually the part where the heroine runs off pregnant, and the guy realizes too late and starts chasing after her like crazy.”

“You’re leaving Havenbrook soon anyway. Go abroad like you planned. See if Fraser drops everything to come find you. If he does, that means you really matter to him.”

“Are you serious?” Summer shot her a look. Then her tone shifted, serious for once. “Look, I can’t tell you what to do when it comes to love. But whatever you decide, I’ve got your back.”

Summer’s eyes stung. “Careful. That’s the kind of thing that makes me cry. Now you’re responsible.”

Yvette lightly tapped her forehead. “Please. If that’s all it takes to get you crying, no wonder Fraser can twist you around with a few sweet words.”

“I am not twisted around—”

“You were saying?”

Yvette leaned in toward Summer’s belly and joked, “Hey, baby, what do you think? Should Mommy give Daddy one more chance?”

That night, back at the house, the dinner table was laid out with fish and tofu soup, stir-fried shrimp and broccoli, seared salmon, five-grain rice, and sautéed loofah with pork. The smell alone made Summer’s stomach growl.

Julia walked out of the kitchen, handing her apron to a housekeeper. “Come eat.”

Mother and daughter sat at the table. Julia ladled out the fish soup and placed it in front of Summer. During the meal, Julia kept glancing at her meaningfully. Even if Summer wasn’t the most perceptive person, she could tell Julia was holding something back.

“Mom, is there something you want to say?”

Julia put down her chopsticks, hesitating for a moment before speaking. “Last night… one of my friends saw Yvette at a five-star hotel.”

Summer instantly thought of the excuse she’d used—the thunderstorm, claiming she was staying at Yvette’s. So that was out the window.

Tulia looked at her, concern creeping into her voice…

Julia frowned. “Was it Mr. Fraser from the Graham family?”

Summer knew she couldn’t lie her way through this one. She nodded.

“I knew it. Something’s been off with you lately. Why are you getting tangled up with him again?”

“Summer, you already made the decision to leave Havenbrook with me.”

“I still am.”

“Then why are you with him again? Are you planning not to leave after all?”

Summer shook her head gently. Julia sighed deeply. Her tone softened but held firm. “If you really want to leave, you have to be decisive. You need to cut ties with him.”

Summer’s fingers clenched slightly around her cutlery. “But if you don’t want to leave… and he keeps you hanging like this, while you’re pregnant, and the Graham family doesn’t say a word—what kind of situation is that?”

“We Stewarts may not be some powerful family, but we still have our dignity.” Julia’s frustration mounted, her voice rising. She couldn’t help but think back to the day she’d gone to beg Helen for understanding—and got thrown out instead.

Summer quietly set down her cutlery. Her voice was soft. “He said he’d marry me.”

Julia scoffed. “That old fossil in the Graham family will never agree. And even if you do get married, who knows what kind of hell you’d walk into?”

Summer bit her lip hard, then looked up at her mother. “I believe Fraser will protect me.”