Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover

Tim's voice was quiet. "I haven't seen you smile in forever, Summer."noveldrama

Summer blinked, surprised for a second.

Then he reached out, ruffled Tim's hair, and let a gentle smile slip through. "You

make me happy, little brother. I'm always happy when I'm with you."

Tim grinned, his eyes bright. "You have the best smile, you know that?"

Without another word, Tim wrapped his arms around Summer.

Summer hugged him back, holding him close.

Their two small figures, side by side, caught the attention-and the hearts-of Chloe and Cassie, who were watching from nearby.

Every word the boys shared hung in the air between the women.

Cassie, with an unlit cigarette between her lips and a scowl on her face, muttered, "This is all Lucas and Linda's fault."

She turned to Chloe, eyes sharp. "You're really going to keep that boy here? He's still Lucas's son. Aren't you worried Connor will feel weird about it? Sure, Summer's just a kid now, but with a background like his-and all the Sartori family business-who knows if they'll ever accept him?"

Cassie's voice dropped lower. "And you and Connor aren't exactly private people. The media is always watching. How are you going to explain suddenly having another son?"

Chloe met her gaze, steady and calm. “I don't have to explain anything to anyone. I don't care what other people think. All I care about is my son being happy."

Cassie still wasn't convinced about Summer staying.

His history was just too messy.

And he always seemed so distant, so closed off.

She knew he wasn't to blame, but every time she looked at his face-so much like Lucas's-it made her uneasy.

She couldn't understand how someone like Linda could exist, someone twisted enough to bring a child into the world the way she had.

Cassie couldn't shake the feeling that Summer was a ticking time bomb-like he was born to be the villain.

What if, one day, he tried to take everything away from Tim?

Tim had always been hers to protect. Cassie's thoughts were simple: she was fiercely loyal to those she loved.

She wanted to say more.

But Chloe saw right through her.

"Cassie," Chloe said gently, "have you forgotten how you grew up?"

Cassie froze.

Memories came rushing

back-growing up without parents, drifting through life like a stray deaf. The ancy mansion had felt more

like a beautiful prison.

She'd craved love so badly. She used to wonder if her dad would have cared more if she'd been born a boy. That idea stuck with her so much, she started dressing like one, hoping for a different kind of acceptance.

Losing her mom and barely knowing her dad had left a huge, aching hole inside her, full of fear and loneliness.

But Chloe had helped her heal, bit by bit.

Chloe had always been there-someone to laugh with, to fight with, to lean on.

Now, Cassie lived life on her own terms, free and bold.

She'd nearly forgotten how it felt be that lonely kid with no one to t

all

the money in the world covethet

to,

kind of pain that not

fix.

Really, Summer's life wasn't so different from hers back then.

Both of them had complicated pasts. Both of them were outsiders.

Cassie's eyes filled with tears. She looked down, her voice thick with guilt. "Chloe,

I was wrong. I'll treat him like I treat Tim. I promise."

Chloe started toward the kids.

Just then, the butler stepped over, lowering his voice. “There's a Mr. Antonio

outside, from the Sartori family."

Chloe barely reacted. "Let him in, then."

"He says he won't come inside, ma'am. He's asking if you could step out-he says he just wants a quick word."