Chapter 9: Trevor Stands Up for Summer

Just as Margaret was basking in her self-satisfaction, Summer suddenly stepped forward. With one swift motion, she yanked the six-pointed diamond necklace straight off Margaret’s neck. Margaret barely had time to react. All she felt was a sharp, burning pain as the chain was forcibly torn away, scraping across her delicate skin. The sting was instant. A thin line of blood surfaced on her neck.

The commotion immediately drew the attention of the entire banquet hall. Curious onlookers turned their heads, eager for gossip. Julia rushed over in a panic. “What is going on?”

Margaret, her face streaked with tears, threw herself into Julia’s arms. “Mom, Summer was speaking to you so disrespectfully, so I told her not to act like that, and she just lost it! She ripped my necklace off! My neck—she almost broke my neck!”

Julia’s gaze snapped to the bloodstains on Margaret’s skin, then to Summer, her expression darkening. “Summer, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Summer met her glare calmly. Raising the necklace for all to see, she slowly turned it between her fingers. The six-pointed diamond sparkled brilliantly under the grand chandelier, sharp, intricate, undeniably valuable.

Summer’s tone was lazy, unhurried. “I was just taking back the necklace my grandmother left for me. No need for all this fuss, is there?”

Julia’s eyes flickered. She had been so busy tonight that she hadn’t even noticed Margaret was wearing the necklace. If she had seen it earlier, she wouldn’t have allowed it. When Madam Stanton passed away, Julia had tried to retrieve the necklace from Margaret. She had even offered to exchange it for jewelry of equal value. But the moment she brought it up, Margaret burst into tears, sobbing about how she wasn’t loved anymore. Ever since Summer returned, Margaret had grown sensitive. Julia had spent twenty years raising her—how could she bear to break her heart? So, in the end, she let it go. That way, both daughters would be happy.

Julia pursed her lips. “This necklace was given to Margaret when she turned eighteen. At the time, you weren’t part of the Stewart family yet. You can’t blame anyone for that.”

Summer let out a mocking, razor-sharp laugh. “You really do dote on our fake daughter. What, aren’t you afraid Grandma will crawl out of her grave to make you pay for it?”

Gasps rippled through the crowd. The words hit like a slap. Coming from Summer, it was an outright declaration of war.

Margaret snapped. The burning pain on her neck was nothing compared to the humiliation searing through her chest. Her hands clenched into tight fists. She wanted to scratch that smug look right off Summer’s face.

Julia’s expression turned ugly. Her voice dropped to a sharp hiss. “Summer, enough! If you had never returned to the Stewart family, this necklace would have always been Margaret’s!”

Summer’s lips curled in amusement, but the smile never reached her eyes. “That’s right. If I had never come back, everything would still belong to Margaret. They never really wanted me back in the first place.”

Jasper had been busy entertaining guests in the main hall. But the escalating noise from the banquet floor finally forced him to step in. The moment he saw what was happening—Margaret in tears, the guests whispering, the mess his daughters were making—his expression darkened. This was embarrassing.

His voice was stern. “Enough. Stop causing a scene. We’re making a laughingstock of ourselves. We’ll discuss the necklace later. Margaret, go see the family doctor for your neck.”

Margaret’s eyes filled with fresh tears. Her voice trembled. “Dad. Summer attacked me. And now you’re taking her side?”

To Jasper, this was just a petty argument between siblings. Nothing worth ruining the Stewart Group’s 30th anniversary over. All he cared about was resolving this before it damaged the family’s reputation. His gaze shifted to Summer. “Summer, return the necklace to Margaret. We’ll sort this out after the banquet.”

A wave of hushed murmurs spread through the room. Some people looked at Summer with sympathy. Others with ridicule. Summer stared at the scene in front of her: Julia, arms wrapped protectively around Margaret; Jasper, standing firm in her defense. They looked like a perfectly loving family. And she? She was the unwanted outsider, the villain disrupting their peace. She bit down hard, forcing back the sting in her nose. “This necklace belongs to the Stewart family’s real daughter. Why should she give it back?” The voice was cold, firm, carrying a subtle edge of anger. Every head in the room turned toward the source.

The next moment, Summer was pulled into a familiar embrace. She looked up. Trevor. His sharp jawline, his emotionless expression. Summer’s brows knitted together. She immediately pushed him away. Trevor was dressed in a crisp gray suit, his tie meticulously straightened. His entire presence was precise, composed, and impossibly distant. But the moment he had spoken, the air in the room shifted. A powerful, oppressive aura blanketed the hall.

Jasper’s eyes flickered. The Larson family’s wealth far surpassed the Stewart family’s. To him, it didn’t really matter which daughter got the necklace. But if Trevor was backing Summer, then giving it to her would be more beneficial. He immediately forced a smile, trying to smooth things over. “Temar, don’t mind this little…semiment between my daughters. The necklace…is…well, Summer is the Stewart family’s daughter, so of course, it rightfully belongs to Summer.”

Margaret’s heart plummeted. Jasper’s tone had changed. His stance had shifted. Trevor had barely said anything, and just like that, her parents were no longer defending her. Tears welled in her eyes as she turned to Julia for support. Julia understood her silent plea. But Summer was Trevor’s fiancée. And the Stewart family’s business relied heavily on the Larson family.

Even though Julia adored Margaret, even though she was furious at Summer’s behavior, at this moment, there was no way she would go against Trevor. She sighed and gently patted Margaret’s shoulder before letting go. Turning to Trevor, she forced a warm smile. “Trevor, you’re late.” Then, she addressed Margaret directly. “Margaret, your sister Summer is getting married soon. The necklace will be her dowry. When you get married, I’ll buy you a new one.”

Margaret froze. Her mind reeled. Everything had turned against her in an instant. Jasper and Julia had switched sides, just because Trevor had shown up. Her neck was still bleeding. But suddenly, no one seemed to care. Mocking eyes swept over her. She could feel their judgment, their silent laughter. Her face burned. Overwhelmed with humiliation and rage, she clenched her fists, then stomped her foot in frustration and ran from the room.