Chapter 264

Brandon's POV

"Brandon. I..." Her voice faltered. the words catching in her throat.

I immediately tightened my arms around her, drawing her closer to my chest. My hand moved in gentle cireles across her back, a soothing rhythm I'd learned calmed her.

"Hey, silly girl," I murmured against her hair. "I'm right here. I'll always be by your side."

I felt her body gradually relax as she nestled deeper into my embrace,absorbing my warmth. Her head rested in the crook of my neck,her breath warm against my skin.

"Mmm," she hummed softly, a small acknowledgment that pierced straight through my chest.

I continued stroking her back, the repetitive motion as much for my benefit as hers. The protective instinct surging through me was almost overwhelming-seeing her this broken, this vulnerable, ignited something primal inside me.

"Ready to tell me what you heard now?" I asked gently.

The silence stretched between us. I glanced down to find her looking up at me, her eyes reflecting a storm of emotions-fear, confusion, hurt,uncertainty-all swirling together.

"Not yet?" I asked, understanding her hesitation without needing words."That's fine. Get some sleep. You can tell me whenever you're ready,alright?

0

Relief washed over her features. "Thank you, Brandon," she whispered.

She shifted slightly, reaching up to press a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth. I turned my head, catching her lips with mine for a brief moment.

"Sleep now." I whispered against her ear. "Everything will be better when you wake up."

Only when I was absolutely certain she was deeply asleep did I carefully extract myself from her grasp. She made a small sound of protest but didn't wake as I tucked the covers around her and quietly left the room.

The house was unnaturally quiet as I made my way downstairs. As I approached the darkened living room, the acrid scent of cigarette smoke greeted me.

Sean sat in the shadows, the burning end of his cigarette glowing orange in the darkness. I reached for the light switch, flooding the room with soft light.

Sean squinted up at me, cigarette dangling between his fingers."Well,you look like shit," he observed bluntly.

I glanced down at my rumpled clothes and couldn't argue with his assessment. Sean held out a cigarette, offering it to me with a questioning eyebrow.

"Rough night?" I asked, accepting the cigarette but not lighting it.

"Like you're having a fucking picnic," he retorted, then his expression sobered. "What's going on with Summer? I've never seen her like that.I'd barely stepped into the hallway when I saw Summer looking like she'd seen a ghost. I heard voices from the study,grabbed her, and got the hell out of there." He paused, studying my face. "You think it's about her background? Her real parents?"

I nodded slowly.

Sean continued. "You know, this isn't exactly news to you, is it? You had Edward looking into her background months ago. I heard something about that."

"She was... different tonight." I said quietly. "Whatever she overheard hit her hard."

I pulled out my phone and dialed Edward. He answered on the fourth ring, his voice thick with sleep.

"Summer's background. What have you found?" I asked without preamble.

There was a pause on the other end. "It's been a bitch to trace.Someone's gone to a lot of trouble erasing and altering records." Edward's voice turned thoughtful. "Which is interesting in itself. Nobody bothers covering tracks unless there's something worth hiding."

I pinched the bridge of my nose, impatience rising. "I need answers now.Edward. What do you have?"

"Summer isn't Richard and Elizabeth's biological daughter, that much I've confirmed,"Edward replied. "It validates your earlief suspicion. She isn't a Taylor by blood."

I already suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed still sent a jolt through me. "What else?"

"Here's where it gets odd," Edward continued. "George Taylor and Professor Thompson both show extraordinary affection for her. Not the kind you'd expect for a random adopted child."

"So Richard and Elizabeth taking her in was deliberate," I summarized."Not some charitable impulse."

"Bingo." Edward confirmed. "Look, you might be betteroff asking George Taylor or Professor Thompson directly. They'd know more than anything I can dig up in databases."

He paused. then added. "Oh, and one more thing.Your esteemed professor-Summer's grandfather Thompson? He has some fascinating connections to the Turner family in Philadelphia."

My interest sharpened. "What kind of connections?"

"Still piecing that together," Edward admitted. "But it's not casual. I'll keep digging."

I ended the call and looked up to find Sean watching me with undisguised curiosity.

"The Philadelphia Turners," I said,watching his reaction carefully.

Sean's easy demeanor instantly tensed. "Why the hell are you looking at me like that? It's creeping me out."

"Your cousin is a Turner," I reminded him.

Sean shifted uncomnfortably. "Yeah,and?"

A connection was forming in my mind-Thompson, Turner,Summer's unknown parentage. There was a pattern here, just beyond my grasp.

Sean suddenly straightened. "Wait a minute. A few Turners somehow left the family and change their names many yeas ago. You see, my cousin Jesse Turner, he is also a Sullivan. What if Professor Thompson is actually Professor Turner?" He looked at me with dawning realization. "You don't think...she'sconnected to the Turners somehow?"

My mind was racing through possibilities. If Professor Thompson were originally a Turner, it would explain certain anomalies. And if Elizabeth

had raised Summer to leverage connections to both families... it was starting to make sense.

"Man, Summer's family situation is more twisted than a fucking pretzel,"Sean observed. "But hey, if she's got Turner blood, that makes your marriage even more convenient, right? One more power alliance for the mighty Stark empire."

I fixed him with a cold stare. "Even if she had no family connections whatsoever. I'd make sure she took her rightful place in the Stark family.My wife doesn't need anyone's backing but mine."

Sean raised his hands in surrender. "Easy, tiger. I know you're the big bad wolf of Wall Street. No need to remind me."

I fell silent, considering my next move carefully. After a long pause, I asked,"What kind of drug could cause immediate psychological instability?

Sean dropped his cigarette, burning his fingers. "Jesus! Fuck!" He shook his hand, then stared at me with genuine shock. "Are you serious?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" I asked coldly.

Sean studied me for a long moment.

I didn't respond directly. My priority had always been clear-ensuring Summer could take her place in the Stark family without any complications or distractions. The Sinclairs had been a thorn in my side for too long.

"You've changed, you know that?" Sean said quietly. "When you first got with Summer, I thought it was just because she reminded you of-"

"I've always known exactly what I want," I cut him off, my voice hard and final. "From the very beginning until now, it's only been her. No one else."

I crushed the unlit cigarette in my hand and tossed it into the trash.Rising to my feet. I looked down at Sean.

"Give the details to James," I instructed. "He'll know what to do."