Substitute Wife, Genius CEO novel Chapter 95

Staring into Xavier's face, the traumatizing memories violently assaulted Summer's mind.

The freezing, pitch-black basement. The vile stench of mold and blood. The rats swarming over her body, squeaking as they gnawed at her bruised fingers...

The brutal sensation of being strapped to the chair, the electricity boiling her blood and shredding her nerves...

The searing lashes of the leather whip tearing into her flesh...

Being dragged across the floor like a lifeless piece of garbage while they spat insults at her...

Summer's entire body began to shake. "Get out!"

"Summer, please, stop pushing me away." Exhaustion bled into Xavier's eyes as he finally dropped his arrogant pride. He reached out to gently grasp her uninjured hand, his voice dropping into a desperate plea. "Let's make peace, okay? I only agreed to send you to that etiquette program because I was thinking about our future."

"My grandfather despises you. He thinks you're classless, and he was threatening to indefinitely postpone our wedding. My hands were tied. Summer, it's been seven years. I've dreamed of giving you the perfect wedding. And I know you've wanted one too. Right?"

"Xavier, get the hell out. I can't stand the sight of you." Summer couldn't force out another word; just speaking that much filled her throat with the sickening metallic taste of blood.

She closed her eyes wearily. She was too weak to yell. She had no energy left to curse him out.

She was just so incredibly tired.

"Leave. My mom is exhausted and needs to rest," Leo demanded, leveling an icy glare at Xavier.

Xavier looked down at the miniature version of himself and let out a heavy sigh. "Then stay here and look after your mom. If you need anything, just tell me."

He reached out to affectionately ruffle Leo's hair, but the boy ruthlessly jerked his head away.

Xavier's hand froze mid-air.

Masking his awkwardness with a stoic expression, he retracted his hand and set the roses on the nightstand. "Get some sleep, Summer. I'll come back and check on you later."

With that, Xavier turned on his heel and left the room.

The second the door clicked shut, Summer opened her eyes and stared at the gaudy bouquet.

Before she could even part her lips, Jude snatched the flowers off the table. "Understood. Into the trash they go."

Summer managed a faint smile, but the movement stretched her bruised cheeks, causing her to wince.

Xavier replied without a shift in expression. "I'll keep her contained."

Carlson nodded in approval before turning a furious glare onto Zelda. "Zelda, you were incredibly careless. How could you send Summer to a place like that based solely on hearsay, without a shred of vetting? If that girl had died in there, do you have any idea the mess we'd be in?"

Zelda lowered her head submissively. "I apologize, Father. It was my oversight."

Shortly after, Zelda accompanied Xavier to the hospital.

Gavin and Jude had left to handle a company crisis, leaving Tessa and Leo to stand guard over Summer.

Seeing the mother-son duo walk in, Tessa scoffed loudly. "Look who decided to put on a show."

Xavier set down the insulated soup thermos he was carrying and met Tessa's hostile stare. "Miss Thorne, I'm going to have to ask you to step outside."

Tessa raised a defiant eyebrow. "Why should I? If anyone should leave, it's you two. You're the reason Summer is lying in this bed. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if you orchestrated this whole thing just to kill her off!"

Xavier watched her with chilling apathy, completely unfazed by her accusations. "Escort Miss Thorne out."