Substitute Wife, Genius CEO novel Chapter 18

Seeing Xavier, Leo thought his backup had finally arrived. He grabbed his father's hand and clearly recounted everything that had just happened.

Though he was only five, his logic and articulation were flawless.

Everyone turned to Xavier, waiting for his verdict.

Xavier paused for a moment before looking at Summer. "Summer, you shouldn't have spoken to my mother like that. Apologize to her."

"Dad!" Leo stared at him, his little brows pulled together in outrage.

Xavier patted the boy's head. "Leo, I'm just looking at the facts. Your mother was in the wrong here. Grandma is her elder. Didn't your teachers tell you to always respect your elders?"

Leo immediately fired back, using his father's logic against him. "My teachers also taught me that elders should care for the younger generation. Grandma wasn't being fair at all, and she tried to punish Mom by making her stand outside all night. What exactly did Mom do wrong?"

Zelda interjected with a cold sneer. "What did she do wrong? As a daughter-in-law of this household, she represents the entire family! Did you hear the way your mother just spoke? Vulgar, arrogant, uneducated, and entirely devoid of manners! She is an absolute embarrassment to the Sterling name. Strict discipline breeds excellence. If I'm not tough on her, she'll never learn. I am doing this for your mother's own good."

The sheer manipulation was astounding. They could spin the darkest lie into absolute virtue.

Summer felt a wave of profound disgust for the entire family.

She didn't want to spend another second in this house. She just wanted to leave.

She looked down at Leo. "Leo, do you want to come with Mom? I'll take you out to play."

When Leo nodded eagerly, Summer grabbed his hand and turned toward the door.

"Summer!" Xavier frowned, seizing her wrist.

"Let go!" she demanded coldly.

"Summer, be good. Stop causing a scene." Xavier tightened his grip until the bones in her wrist felt like they were going to shatter under the pressure.

Letting go of Leo's hand, Summer swung her free arm back and slapped him across the face.

He had said, 'Summer, I'm working this hard for you. Once I secure total control of the family, I'll give you the grandest wedding imaginable. Haven't you always wanted a perfect wedding? By then, our son can be our ring bearer.'

Fueled by the beautiful lie Xavier had fed her, she had worked herself to the bone while pregnant, leading the R&D department through grueling, endless nights.

Meanwhile, Xavier was flying all over the world, supposedly working himself to death.

He had missed almost her entire pregnancy.

She had suffered from severe morning sickness, unable to keep food down, and even passed out from malnutrition...

She had endured severe backaches, swollen legs, and chest pains from sitting at her desk for ungodly hours...

She had suffered through excruciating leg cramps in the middle of the night, struggling just to roll over in bed, battling endless insomnia...

And because she hadn't wanted to distract him from his 'crucial' work, she had never breathed a word of her suffering to him.