Substitute Wife, Genius CEO novel Chapter 222

"Summer, the power is out at Lily's place. She's terrified of the dark and thunderstorms. I have to go check on her immediately."

Summer raised an eyebrow, letting out a soft scoff. "Scared of thunder? She must have a guilty conscience."

Xavier's voice darkened. "Do you always have to be so vicious?"

Summer merely sneered.

Given that Summer was supposedly carrying the Sterling family's only remaining heir, her stomach pain was treated as a major emergency.

But with the howling wind and roaring thunder outside, Zelda Sterling was fraught with worry. She clung to Xavier's arm, refusing to let him leave.

"Xavier, we have doctors right here in the house. Let them take a look at Summer."

"Mother, do our in-house doctors specialize in obstetrics? If something goes wrong, do you really think our equipment can handle an emergency delivery?"

Zelda fell silent.

The medical team and equipment at the estate were originally set up for her eldest son, Xander Sterling. They could handle general issues, but a pregnant woman...

However, Xander was in a vegetative state, and Xavier was all she had left.

Compared to Xavier, the child in Summer's belly was naturally less important to Zelda.

Gritting her teeth, Zelda suggested, "Then let the driver take Summer to the hospital."

"Mother, she is carrying my child! I will take her myself!"

Xavier was forceful and unyielding, the anxiety and concern in his eyes looking entirely genuine.

Everyone thought it was all for Summer.

They believed he loved her deeply.

The estate staff watched with absolute envy, for who hadn't dreamed of marrying a billionaire and transforming their life?

Summer was just a girl from a rural town, yet their boss defended her so fiercely that he didn't even care about defying the matriarch. It showed just how favored she was.

But Summer alone knew that the anxiety and worry in his eyes belonged entirely to another woman.

Xavier's hands jerked on the steering wheel in sheer panic. The car swerved wildly, nearly skidding into the landscaping by the side of the road.

He frantically redialed Lily's number. It rang, but no one answered.

Summer was in so much pain her vision was spotting with darkness. "Xavier, focus on the road. My stomach is killing me. Just drop me off at the hospital on your way."

Already burning with frantic anxiety over Lily not answering, seeing Summer curled up in the passenger seat ignited a flash of deep irritation within him.

He didn't believe she was actually in pain, considering she had been perfectly fine just moments ago.

Furthermore, Summer had a track record of lying to him tonight—she had deliberately pretended not to be dressed just to toy with him.

"Summer, I told you to drop the act! Is this fun for you?"

Summer felt as though her internal organs were being thrown into a blender. The pain was so agonizing she barely had the strength to speak.

She slowly lifted her tear-dampened lashes to look at him, her voice barely a whisper. "Xavier... I'm not faking it. I really am in pain."

Xavier had absolutely no time to bicker with her. His entire heart and mind were locked on Lily. Impatiently, he snapped, "Fine, your stomach hurts. Then just wait until I pick up Lily, and I'll drop you at the hospital after."