Substitute Wife, Genius CEO novel Chapter 19

Thinking of the past, Summer just wanted to laugh. She had thought herself so noble, fighting for their shared future.

But in the end, she was just the ultimate fool, a complete idiot.

Xavier's frantic ambition and tireless efforts were never for her.

Memories flooded her mind—the grueling agony of pregnancy, the trauma of childbirth, the painful recovery—none of it compared to the agonizing clarity of this moment.

Looking at Xavier's hypocritical, fake-affectionate face made her physically sick.

He was absolutely repulsive.

The simmering rage in Summer's chest erupted into a raging inferno.

She grabbed Xavier by the collar, yanked him down, and drove her knee forcefully upward.

A direct hit.

Xavier gasped sharply.

Caught completely off guard, Xavier took the blow right to his groin. All the color drained from his face as the excruciating pain instantly zapped his strength.

Breaking free, Summer grabbed Leo's hand and marched toward the door.

Because Xavier's injury threatened both his manhood and the future of the Sterling bloodline, Zelda had no time to worry about Summer. She rushed forward, frantically helping Xavier into a chair.

Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Zelda fumed, "Has she lost her mind?! What is she trying to prove? If she thinks securing this wedding makes her untouchable, she's dead wrong! I can cancel it at any second!"

"Mom, you cannot cancel the wedding!"

"You're still defending her! What kind of spell has she cast on you to make you so obsessed? Just because her face looks like—"

Zelda cut herself off, her frustration mounting.

Years ago, when Xavier had demanded the family register for a marriage license, she had gladly handed it over, assuming he was marrying Ms. Whitmore.

Instead, he had brought home Summer.

When the family ordered him to divorce her, he vehemently refused and moved out. When they pressured him harder, he resorted to extreme threats—declaring he would either cut ties with the family entirely or kill himself.

Eventually, the Sterlings stopped pressuring Xavier and redirected all their malice toward Summer.

The Sterlings were genuinely terrified that Xavier's heart would be snatched back by Lily the moment she returned.

That was exactly why Carlson had ordered them to finalize the delayed wedding immediately—to legitimize Summer's position in the public eye. When Lily returned, Summer would have the status necessary to stand her ground and fight off the homewrecker.

At the time, Zelda had rationalized the decision. Summer's background was trash, but she was obedient, devoted to Xavier, and madly in love with him.

As long as the daughter-in-law wasn't that bitch Lily, she could tolerate Summer.

She just hadn't expected Summer to expose her true, vicious colors the second they offered her a shred of validation.

"That's exactly the kind of low-class behavior you'd expect from a country nobody. After years of being groomed by the Sterlings, she's still completely unpresentable."

"Mom!"

Seeing Xavier fiercely defend his wife gave Zelda a raging headache. "Fine, whatever! Do what you want. I'm going to check on your brother."

Xander Sterling, Xavier's comatose brother, had always been cared for at home.

The family employed a full-time, elite medical team dedicated solely to keeping Xander alive.