Chapter 310: Battles over Breakfast
At one side of the dining table sat a middle-aged couple: the man in a neatly tailored, shimmering silver suit, and the woman in a glamorous, regal dress. These were Helen’s nephew and niece. Fraser, holding Summer’s hand, walked confidently to the table, pulled out a chair, and had Summer sit beside him. August smiled, without even glancing at Summer.
“Fraser, it’s been a while. Thinking you were back, Sharon and I came early today to join Aunt Helen and you for breakfast,” August said.
In fact, they had received Helen’s complaints the night before, alleging Fraser had rebelled, brought a “wild woman” back to the Graham Mansion, and, despite her objections, planned to marry her. The Graham Mansion symbolized the heritage of generations of the Graham family. Even girlfriends or fiancées weren’t entitled to stay in the mansion without the formal status of a family lady. Fraser’s actions had blatantly broken the traditional rules of the Graham family.
Though the Shae Group wasn’t as prominent as the Graham family, it was still a notable financial empire with numerous business dealings with them. August and Sharon also held a minor share in the Graham Group. Although Fraser was now the head of the Graham Group, they were still his elders and veterans of the Graham family.
Fraser, lifting his eyelids slightly, responded indifferently, “Is that so?”
Sitting directly across from Summer, Sharon looked her over with a hint of scorn. “She’s pretty enough,” Sharon thought, “but such women are the most scheming. Using a child to climb up, even in this day and age.” Fraser must have been momentarily soft-hearted because of the child to have been deceived by her.
Summer lifted her head, her gaze coldly meeting Sharon’s disdainful look. So Helen had brought reinforcements. Sharon smirked condescendingly, her tone mocking. “Of course, with changes in the Graham family, we had to come and see for ourselves.”
Fraser sat back in his chair, his arm casually draped over the back of Summer’s chair.
“Now that you’re all here, let me introduce Summer, the mother of my child. We will be getting married next month,” Fraser announced.
At this, Sharon interjected displeasure. “Fraser, I’m not criticizing you, but the Graham Group is one of Havenbrook’s top families. Your marriage isn’t that simple. A casual mention of marriage doesn’t settle it.” With that, she gracefully motioned behind her, and a servant immediately handed her a tablet. Sharon took it, opened it up, and tossed it on the table.
“So, your family owns the Stewart Group department stores, right? Honestly, they’re hardly worth mentioning. And what about the rumors about Lucas? Wasn’t he supposed to be the father of your child? Now it’s Fraser? Miss, you’re playing with fire juggling two men like that. Aren’t you worried about risking even those few stores you have?”
Summer saw Fraser’s gaze drop to the trending news on the tablet. Under the crystal chandelier, his long lashes hid the emotions in his eyes. Summer’s hand tightened. Just as she was about to speak, she heard the low, icy voice of the man beside her.
“Since when is it your place to judge my woman?”
Sharon’s face stiffened, meeting Fraser’s sharp, warning gaze. A chill rose from her feet, and she dared not speak another word.
August took on an elder’s demeanor. “Fraser, Sharon didn’t mean it that way. We’re just worried you’re being deceived. You say you let a scandal-ridden woman move into the Graham Mansion; your grandfather would turn in his grave.”
Fraser scoffed coldly, his voice unusually dark and chilling. “Why don’t you go meet him and ask how exactly he would turn?”
Stung by the rebuke, August’s face darkened, his tone somewhat harsh. “As chairman of the Graham Group, your marriage affects the future of the Graham Group. Don’t you care about the opinions of the shareholders and elders? If you want children, let this lady have them for the Graham family to raise, but not just anyone can take the place of your wife.”
Sitting at the head of the table, Helen leaned back comfortably in her chair, a smug smile on her face. Her narrow eyes slightly narrowed, venomous and cunning like a snake, she glared fiercely at Summer. Helen despised Summer! If not for her, her relationship with Fraser wouldn’t have deteriorated like this.