Substitute Wife, Genius CEO novel Chapter 21

Summer really didn't know what was good for her.

Willard's face darkened with displeasure as he bluntly reprimanded her. "Mrs. Sterling, I never thought you'd be so short-sighted, selfish, and petty. You aren't considering the young boy's future at all! It's no wonder Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling, and the great-grandfather dislike you so much."

"Do you have any idea what a privilege it is for the boy to be personally tutored by his great-grandfather and live at the estate? The entire Sterling family empire might belong to him in the future."

"I told you to shut up," Summer said, staring at him expressionlessly. "I shouldn't have expected anything intelligent to come out of your mouth."

Willard stared in disbelief. "Are you calling me a dog?"

He had worked for Carlson Sterling for decades and was considered the old man's most trusted enforcer. Even Xavier usually gave him a degree of respect.

Carlson practically treated him like half a family member.

For Summer to disrespect him so blatantly was infuriating. Willard sneered, "Fine. Since you're dead set on this, Mrs. Sterling, then be my guest. Just don't come crying when the old man decides to wash his hands of the boy."

Summer was thrilled at the idea of the Sterlings giving up on Leo; it would make winning custody so much easier. She simply smiled. "Please, Willard, try your hardest to make him give up on my Leo sooner rather than later. I'd be eternally grateful."

Willard assumed she was just being sarcastic, but heaven knew, Summer was entirely sincere.

She took Leo and left the estate.

In the car, Leo looked anxious. "Mom, if Great-Grandfather is mad, is he going to punish you?"

Whenever Leo failed to finish his schoolwork, his great-grandfather would punish him.

The old man had a cane, and it hurt terribly when it hit.

He was terrified that his great-grandfather would hit his mother, too.

Summer comforted him gently. "No, sweetheart. He can't punish me. We don't live at the estate anymore. And even if he tried, I have legs, and I can run. He's way too old to catch me."

Leo nodded, then asked, "Then why didn't you run away when you got punished before?"

Summer sighed inwardly. Because of your scumbag father, she thought.

Leo was ecstatic and asked Summer to take a picture so he could send it to Xavier.

At nine o'clock, Summer read him a bedtime story and said goodnight.

She returned to her room, took a shower, and asked Mrs. Gable to prepare a basin of warm water for her feet.

The water was mixed with soothing bath salts to help her relax and sleep.

She hadn't had a proper night's rest since uncovering the truth about her marriage.

Xavier came home just as Summer was soaking her feet.

"Welcome back, sir," Mrs. Gable said, handing him his slippers.

Xavier stepped into the slippers, handed his jacket to Mrs. Gable, and walked toward Summer while rolling up his dress shirt sleeves.

He stopped in front of her, hitched up his sharply tailored trousers, and knelt on one knee. Plunging his hands into the water, he took hold of her feet and began massaging them with practiced ease.