Substitute Wife, Genius CEO novel Chapter 35

Displayed on the screen was a photograph.

In the picture, the over-bed table was laden with a lavish breakfast spread—chicken soup, artisanal oatmeal, a smoked salmon breakfast bowl, an array of delicate side dishes, and a very familiar-looking food container.

Besides the food, there were two open velvet boxes sitting next to the breakfast trays. One held a ruby ring, and the other held an emerald ring.

The person sitting in that hospital bed was none other than Lily.

One of the nurses had sneakily snapped the photo and dropped it into the hospital staff's group chat, sparking a wave of envious gossip among the nurses.

As fate would have it, Tessa was in that very group chat. The moment she saw it, she took a screenshot and forwarded it to Summer.

If not for that, Summer never would have known that Xavier had arrived at the hospital bright and early.

He hadn't bothered to check on his own wife and son first. Instead, he had marched straight into Lily's room, carrying a homemade breakfast.

Two rings. He had let Lily take her pick, then brought the leftover reject—the trash Lily didn't want—to pacify Summer.

Did he think she was a damn recycling bin?!

Grumble...

Leo's stomach growled from the next bed over. He looked a little embarrassed but tried his best to play it cool.

Mrs. Gable, the housekeeper, had prepared breakfast, but she had gotten caught in brutal morning rush-hour traffic, so she still hadn't arrived.

None of them had eaten yet.

"You haven't had breakfast yet?" Xavier asked in surprise. The moment the words left his mouth, he noticed Summer's mockingly sweet smile. His face heated up, the color draining from his cheeks as his expression turned ugly.

"That container you're holding. I bought it on a business trip. I made some snacks for Leo once, brought it over to the estate, and never brought it back."

"Honey, I can explain," Xavier said, spinning a lie with practiced ease. The words flowed effortlessly. "Lily almost miscarried because of you, and I heard she wasn't feeling well this morning. I was terrified something would happen and you'd have a baby's death on your conscience. I only went to see her first to protect you."

Tessa felt a profound ache for her best friend. She felt terrible for her, and honestly, a little terrified.

Thank God Summer had finally seen the truth. Otherwise, with Xavier's devastating good looks, his faux-devotion, his massive wealth, and his terrifying ability to flip the script, he would have drained Summer dry until there was nothing left.

"Whatever you say," Summer replied, completely unfazed. She pulled open the drawer of the nightstand and took out the divorce papers.

She had asked Tessa to print them from her office printer earlier.

"I told you last night I'd give you the divorce papers. I've already signed. You should, too."

Three strikes and you're out. This was the third time.

Xavier dropped the act. A storm brewed in the dark depths of his eyes. He snapped the ring box shut, stood up, and glared down at Summer.

It was the look of an untouchable deity sneering at a bug—his gaze pitch-black, freezing, and utterly merciless.