Chapter 69: No Shares, No Deal

Summer didn't get along with Margaret either. To the Stewart family, she was a wildcard—a potential disaster waiting to happen. As her father, the only way Jasper could keep her in line was by holding something over her. But now, with the unexpected issue involving the Graham Group, Jasper was struggling to navigate the situation.

He looked at Summer and tried to reason with her, appealing to family ties. “Summer, you need to think about the bigger picture. You’re my daughter, and eventually, half of Stewart Group will be yours. Right now, the priority is securing the remaining funds from the Graham Group. I already promised you the shares, and I will give them to you—it’s just a matter of time. Why are you getting so caught up in this?”

Jasper let out a slow sigh. “If it were Margaret, she would understand that I’m doing this for the family.”

Summer almost laughed. So, in the end, Margaret—the fake daughter—was still the one Jasper valued most. She hadn’t forgotten what happened at the event. Jasper had already prepared the equity transfer contract for Margaret well in advance.

Keeping her expression indifferent, Summer casually tapped her fingers against her arm. “I can go to the Graham Group and get the rest of the funds. It’s not impossible.”

“Really?” Jasper’s eyes lit up. “Summer, you really are such a good daughter.”

Summer smiled, unhurried. “Dad, don’t get too excited. Let’s sign the equity transfer contract today, and then I’ll go. How does that sound?”

Jasper’s face immediately darkened. “You… Summer, why do you always have to be this stubborn? Let’s put that aside for now. You’re one of the key executives on the Global Plan. You don’t want to see the project stall halfway, do you? Get the investment from the Graham Group first.”

Summer didn’t flinch. Her tone was cold as she met his gaze. “No. The shares come first.”

Jasper’s sharp gaze locked onto her, dark and heavy, as if he was trying to see straight through her. For the first time, he felt like he didn’t know this daughter of his at all.

But Summer refused to back down. She met his eyes without hesitation. “Dad, you always said that in business, profit comes first. I’m just following your rules. If you want something done, you have to offer something in return. Isn’t that right?”

Jasper stared at her for a long moment before speaking, his voice laced with cold amusement. “You really are my daughter. You’ve learned well.”

Then, he walked over to his marble desk, picked up the phone, and dialed. “Tell legal to draft an agreement for the transfer of 30% of Stewart Group’s shares.”

She glanced at the transfer agreement lying in the passenger seat. As of today, she was officially the second-largest shareholder of Stewart Group. But this was just the beginning.

Over the past few weeks, she had seen things more clearly than ever. If the Stewart family wouldn’t give her love, then she might as well take their money instead. She used to be foolish—never fighting for what was hers, never pushing back. The moment she moved back into the Stewart estate, Margaret made it her mission to make her life miserable, acting like there was no place for her in that house. To avoid putting Jasper and Julia in a tough spot, Summer had even chosen to move out on her own. Thinking back, she had made far too many stupid sacrifices. Why should I always be the one making sacrifices? Life is easier when I stop putting everyone else before myself. That saying had never felt more true.

Half an hour later, Summer pulled up in front of the Graham Group headquarters. The building was the tallest in Havenbrook, a towering display of modern design and cutting-edge architecture that radiated power. Inside, she walked up to the front desk, where three gorgeous receptionists stood like a perfectly curated display. One of them, a long-haired woman, immediately recognized her. She had been here before. Summer wasn’t the kind of woman people easily forgot—sharp, captivating eyes, striking features, and a beauty that turned heads wherever she went.

“She’s back again? She really won’t give up on our boss.” Not that it was surprising. Fraser wasn’t just a dream man for women outside the company. Even inside the Graham Group, he was every female employee’s ultimate fantasy.

The long-haired receptionist, following the same routine as last time, didn’t even bother checking with the executive office before shutting her down. “Miss, why are you here again? You could come a hundred times, and Mr. Graham still wouldn’t be available. Actually, even if he were, he wouldn’t make time for you.”

Summer barely spared her a glance. Without a word, she pulled out her newly repaired phone and made a call. The three receptionists watched her, whispering among themselves with amused, condescending smiles.

As soon as Summer ended the call, a man in a sharp suit quickly emerged from the building. He approached Summer with a respectful nod. “Ms. Stewart, good afternoon. Mr. Graham has asked me to personally escort you upstairs.”

The receptionists were floored. Who is this woman? For Mike himself to come down and greet her, she had to be someone important. Her connection to Fraser clearly wasn’t ordinary.