Substitute Wife, Genius CEO novel Chapter 160

Summer motioned for the locals to back away.

"Drop to one knee and bow your head to the memorial! Do it like you mean it. My father's spirit is here, and he can hear you."

Xavier's face turned livid. "Summer, Lily is pregnant, and you're demanding she drop to the dirt and bow?!"

"If it breaks your heart so much, then you can get on your knee and bow for her. As long as she apologizes."

Lily grabbed Xavier's sleeve in a panic. "Xavier, don't do it."

Lily had manipulated her way into this trip by claiming she felt terribly guilty and wanted to honor Edward's memory.

Xavier, wanting to ease her conscience, squeezed her hand tightly. "It's fine. You're pregnant, you can't kneel on the freezing ground. I'll do it for you."

He shot a cold look at Summer. "Summer, after this apology, Lily owes you absolutely nothing. If you ever use your father's death to blame or harass her again, I will not hold back."

Without another word, Xavier adjusted his slacks and dropped to one knee without hesitation. Keeping his back straight, he planted a hand on the cold ground and bowed his head deeply three times toward the memorial.

Watching the scene unfold, Summer felt that the last seven years of her life had been a complete waste on a worthless dog.

Despite everything, she and Xavier were legally husband and wife.

He had been standing there this entire time and hadn't once considered paying his respects to Edward of his own free will.

Yet now, for Lily's sake, he willingly dropped to his knee in the dirt and bowed his head.

When he finished, Xavier stood up, leaned down, and scooped Lily effortlessly into his arms.

Unnoticed by the crowd, Leo had stepped out from the memorial tent. He stood silently beside Summer, gripping her hand tight.

His dark eyes stared at Xavier with eerie calmness, as if looking at a complete and utter stranger.

Xavier averted his gaze, holding Lily tight against his chest as he turned and walked away.

Even though Yates was just an illegitimate heir, Lily despised the idea of him forming any kind of alliance with Summer.

Displaying a rare moment of condescension, Lily demanded, "What are you doing here?"

Yates glanced at her, a wicked, cold amusement dancing in his shadowed eyes. "Do I need to report my itinerary to you, Ms. Sutton? Or could it be... you actually care about me?"

A flash of disgust crossed Lily's face. "Yates, it isn't even dark out and you're already dreaming?"

Yates maintained his lazy smirk, though his eyes were as cold as a frozen lake. "If you don't care, then why should I tell you a damn thing?"

Lily was already seething from Summer's humiliation, and now she was being mocked by a bastard son.

Her face twisted into an ugly scowl. "Yates, don't push your luck!"

Yates let out a dark chuckle. "Ms. Sutton, just a friendly piece of advice: anger doesn't look good on a woman. It makes you look incredibly ugly!"