Substitute Wife, Genius CEO novel Chapter 114

"I'm sorry, husband, I was wrong! I shouldn't have made things difficult for your mistress, your precious sweetheart! Please, for the sake of our seven-year marriage, let our son go! Don't send him away!"

"Please, husband! He's only five! How is he supposed to survive all alone in a foreign country? I'm begging you, I apologize! I'm sorry!"

Summer lay slumped on the cold tiles, weeping with such soul-crushing despair that her entire body violently shook. It was a heartbreaking sight that would shatter anyone watching.

They weren't alone outside the operating rooms. Dozens of other families were waiting for their loved ones.

Summer's wails echoed down the corridor, guaranteeing that every single person present heard exactly what she said.

Instantly, the surrounding crowd locked their eyes onto Lily and Xavier, turning them into the center of a very ugly spectacle.

"Disgusting! A mistress is a mistress. She has the nerve to ruin a family but gets offended when someone calls her out? Homewreckers these days have zero shame!"

"That man is absolute trash, too. Dressed in a nice suit but acting like a monster."

"You live long enough, you see every kind of scum. He thinks just because he has money, he can play God? Threatening his own wife with their son? He'll get his karma!"

"People like that deserve to rot!"

"What a pair of adulterous freaks!"

The harsh whispers and disgusted glares sliced into Lily and Xavier like physical blades.

Their faces contorted in humiliation and rage. Just as they were about to explode, Summer suddenly let out a soft gasp and slumped completely unconscious against the floor.

At that exact moment, Sebastian Stone returned from taking a phone call. Seeing the chaos, he sprinted over and scooped Summer into his arms.

"Summer, what happened?"

Summer's face was flushed and tear-streaked, her eyes swollen like walnuts. The tears clinging to her pale cheeks made her look devastatingly fragile.

Sebastian shot a lethal glare at Xavier. Normally gentle and composed, Sebastian's aura was now dangerously sharp. "What did you do to her?"

"In broad daylight, what could we possibly do?" Xavier retorted coldly. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the angry crowd inching closer.

The Sterling Group was already trending in the news, and Lily's public image had only just started to recover.

This was not the time to cause a scene.

True kindness was rare in her world, and she cherished his.

She nodded, quietly accepting his goodwill so as not to dismiss his genuine care.

Sebastian stayed by Summer's side through an agonizing twelve-hour wait. Thankfully, the nightmare ended well—Edward Vance's surgery was a success.

Edward was transferred to the ICU for observation.

Two days later, he woke up, though he remained in the ICU.

Ten days later, he was moved to a regular room, sharing the space with Maeve Vance so Summer could easily care for both of them.

**

Twelve days later, at The Crimson Peppercorn.

Summer parked her car and walked into the upscale restaurant, carrying an elegantly wrapped gift.