Substitute Wife, Genius CEO novel Chapter 87

She looked up at him, her eyes burning. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Xavier? Release me right now!"

"Since you refuse to cooperate, I'll just have to do it for you." He stood up and reached for her phone. "Once the statement is posted, they'll let you go."

She kicked out toward him. "Put my phone down!"

Lily subtly signaled the bodyguards, and they immediately applied brutal pressure.

Crack!

"Ah—"

At the sickening sound of bone giving way, a sharp, suffocating agony ripped through Summer. She screamed, feeling as though her shoulder had been crushed. Tears immediately welled in her reddened eyes.

Xavier glanced at her, frowning. "Just sit still."

He then looked at the men. "Ease up a bit, you're being too rough."

Unhappy that he was showing her any concern, Lily shot another covert look to the guards. They nodded silently in understanding.

They didn't loosen their grip at all, pinning her down with vicious force.

Xavier smoothly entered her passcode.

But a second later, an error prompt popped up.

A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes as he looked up. "You changed the passcode?"

All her passwords used to be their wedding anniversary; she had never hidden them from him.

"What's the new code?" he asked.

She didn't answer, simply glaring at him with pure hatred through tear-filled eyes.

He furrowed his brow in displeasure. He hated when she looked at him like that, as if they were mortal enemies.

Without asking again, he held the screen up to her face, attempting to force Face ID.

She thrashed her head wildly side to side, refusing to cooperate.

With a heavy sigh, he reached out and clamped his hand harshly around her jaw, locking her face in place to unlock the device.

She deleted the post instantly, but the damage was done. The Sterling PR machine had already bought trending spots and manipulated the media narrative.

In a flash, public opinion swung entirely in Lily's favor.

Summer was relentlessly dogpiled online, mostly by Lily's ravenous fans.

Just as Xavier noticed her awkwardly dangling arm and was about to ask about it, his phone rang.

It was the main estate.

The moment he answered, he was met with a furious barrage of shouting.

Carlson had collapsed from sheer anger.

He had to return immediately. Catching a glimpse of Summer from the corner of his eye, he decided to drag her along to make her apologize and pacify the old man.

He grabbed her roughly. "Let's go. My grandfather is sick. You're coming back to explain yourself to him!"

He unwittingly grabbed her dislocated left arm. His violent pull aggravated the horrific injury, sending a blinding wave of agony through her. The world went black, cold sweat pouring down her face as she nearly passed out on the spot.