Chapter 3

3

Summer frowned, and stepping between Chad and my guards, she looked at me with pleading eyes.

"He's just a kid, fresh out of college, and he doesn't know anything. Do you have to be so cruel?"

"We can't be using someone else to inflict harm! It isn't fair."

I stared at her, my eyes boring into her, making my feelings crystal clear.

It was her constant support of him that emboldened Chad to behave this way.

All these years, Summer had been crafting a single image. But today, she'd thrown it all away for this assistant.

I'd begged her many times to go public with our relationship. But she always had an excuse to postpone it.

Now, for the sake of Chad, she didn't care what people thought. She even openly allowed his public display of affection.

Where was the justice in that?

My gaze was cold. She walked up to me, her eyes full of frustration and pain.

"Babe, when did we become like this? You told me you would give me space to do what I want, you'd give me freedom."

"I'm not a bird in a cage. I hired an assistant. Why are you reacting like this?"

"Living in your shadow, I'm suffocating."

Listening to her, all the anger just drained out of me, replaced by a deep disappointment.

My concern and care was now used as a weapon against me.

The freedom she wanted was to live it up with some young, hot assistant.

If someone doesn't love you, they'll find a reason to hate even your breathing.

My heart was heavy with mixed feelings, all the things I wanted to say, stuck in my throat.

I made a call to my lawyer, right in front of her, telling him to prepare divorce papers.

Summer finally realized I was serious.

"Divorce? Babe, you're kidding, right? Please tell me you're kidding."

Her hand squeezed mine, tears in her eyes.

"How could you do this to me? Chad is just an assistant, nothing more."

She thought those words would magically fix things.

Chad chimed in, all fake concern.

"Mr. Walker, please think about this! Summer is gorgeous and intelligent, every man wants her. You're going to regret this!"

I glared at him and he gave me a smug grin.

"I know your little game, and you think you can control me? Get real, pal."

I spat those words out, then stormed away from the wedding.

Summer tried to follow, but I ignored her.

If we were going to divorce, I had every right to take back the company I'd funded, Reed Enterprises.

I had given her freedom, never getting involved in her company operations.

I had given her the space to do whatever she wanted, giving her both money and people when she asked for them.

I'd never even stepped foot in her CEO office.

On a whim, I told my driver to head to Summer's office.

But as soon as I stepped in, I could feel my blood start to boil.

Her desk had two workspaces, side-by-side, one for her, one for Chad.

This meant they spent all day working next to each other.

And the worst thing, the top of the desks was covered with photos of them together.

Summer had always been reserved. She'd never smiled for photos with me.

But in these snapshots, she and Chad were pulling silly faces together.

The smiles were so pure, so happy, it was like the joy was about to burst out of the frame.

I was looking at them when Summer suddenly appeared in the doorway. She rushed toward me, snatching the frame from my hands.

"What… what are you doing here?"

Her eyes darted around, and she hurriedly stuffed the pictures back in her drawer.

When she saw me staring at the empty desk beside her, she explained.

"I set up his station right beside mine to make work more convenient. Don't misunderstand."

I just shrugged, my eyes casually looking around the office.

"Don't explain. I just came by to see what's become of my company."

Summer knew what I meant and her face turned white.

"Babe, I don't want a divorce! This company is my life. It's the culmination of all my efforts, you can't take this away from me."

"Let's not talk about that now. How about you take a look at this?" I said, pointing to something written on her desk.

Two lines written in pen, one on top of the other.

The first line, in beautiful calligraphy: "Forever, I only want to be with you".

The other line, a messy scrawl: "My love for you is forever."

I knew Summer's handwriting so well. As for the other one, it wasn't hard to guess.

Summer's face was pale as she stared at the lines on the desk. She hugged me.

"Babe, I just wrote that in the moment, it didn't mean anything."

I pushed her away.

"Does it matter? If that doesn't mean anything, how about those photos?"

"Summer, don't make me out to be a fool."