Chapter 292: Truth on the Record
A hotel staff member had secretly kept a backup copy. Lucas had negotiated for hours before finally getting his hands on a partial surveillance clip.
“I also tried tracking down Philip,” Lucas said. “But he’s already fled overseas to ride out the backlash. Still, the video footage proves that I was present at the hotel, too. Once it’s shown at the press conference, the rumors about you and Philip should fall apart.”
He paused before adding, “But now that the pregnancy’s out in the open, people are going to want answers. You’ll need to give them something.”
Summer exhaled slowly. “Mr. Lucas, thank you.”
Lucas studied her delicate face, noting the tiredness she couldn’t quite hide. His hand lifted, almost instinctively, wanting to rest gently on her shoulder—to comfort her.
But Summer saw the movement from the corner of her eye and shifted away, just slightly. Lucas’s hand paused in mid-air for a beat before he silently withdrew it, the light in his eyes dimming.
He smiled, brushing it off. “Don’t worry. Tomorrow’s press conference will go just fine.”
“Thank you,” Summer said again.
He gave her a teasing look. “If you say thank you one more time, I’m going to start charging interest.”
Summer had told Julia she’d be working late to prepare for the press conference and wouldn’t be coming home. She didn’t want to worry her mother. But the real reason? She still hadn’t been able to reach Fraser.
This place—Fraser’s home—still carried the faint imprint of him. A scent, a warmth, the memory of his voice in these walls. Summer sat curled up on the bed, arms around her knees, staring out the floor-to-ceiling window at the brilliant lights of the city below.
The press conference was tomorrow. And she still hadn’t heard from him. It wasn’t the public pressure that scared her most—it was the quiet fear in her chest. What if something had happened?
Chapter 292: Truth on the Record
Ever since that explosion at the Graham Group’s overseas factory, she had sensed it: someone out there was targeting them. Her fingers brushed the sapphire bracelet on her wrist.
“Fraser,” she whispered, “where are you?”
“You never did ask me what kind of wedding I want. When you come back… I’ll tell you, okay?”
The apartment had never felt this big before. In the silence, it felt like the night itself was swallowing her whole. She tossed and turned for what felt like forever. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore.
Summer kicked off the covers and padded barefoot to the closet. She opened the door and pulled out one of his black dress shirts. Back in bed, she curled around it. It smelled clean—laundered and fresh—but the scent of him was long gone. Still holding it close, her breathing began to slow. And eventually, she drifted to sleep.
The next morning, the Stewart Group press conference was set to begin. Media outlets from across Havenbrook had swarmed the event, cameras flashing, microphones raised. Everyone was ready to feast on scandal.
Haynes and Lucas stood beside Summer in the backstage area. Haynes, head of PR, had worked overtime to prepare for every possible outcome. She handed Summer a printed sheet of talking points.
“Ms. Summer, the press conference will be broadcast live. The questions might get aggressive. These are prepped responses—you can use them if needed.”
Summer nodded and took the paper.
Chapter 292: Truth on the Record
He lowered his voice. “Is he here?”
Summer tightened her grip on her phone and gave a small shake of her head. “No. He won’t be here today.”
Lucas’s eyes darkened with anger. Where the hell was Fraser! This press conference was a battlefield. And Summer was walking into it alone. Lucas clenched his jaw. He wanted to do more. Say more. Shield her from all of it. But that man—he was nowhere to be found. And he had the nerve to think he deserved her?
Still, Lucas forced a steady tone. “Don’t worry. I’m right here with you.”
Onstage, Haynes wrapped up her opening remarks. The moment she finished, the reporters erupted. Summer walked up calmly, her steps unhurried. The crowd of journalists looked at her like a pack of wolves seeing blood. The questions came hard and fast.
“Ms. Summer, are you actually pregnant? Who’s the father?”
“Is it true you had an affair with Philip from Dale Group? Why did you get involved with a married man?”
“You’re both high-level executives. Do you realize what kind of damage this has done to your companies? What are you going to do about it?”
“Aren’t you worried about how Philip’s wife must feel?”