Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover

Lucas stepped out onto the second-floor balcony, where Summer sat slouched in a chair, absently working a Rubik's Cube. Lucas's face was unreadable, stoic- impossible to tell what he was thinking.

He walked over and paused beside Summer, taking in the boy's small, cool expression. He called softly, "Aaron..."

Only then did Summer finally look up. His eyes were icy-so cold, they barely seemed to belong to a kid at all.

That's when Lucas realized just how much Summer had changed in the past year. Sure, he'd gotten taller, but it was more than that. The old Summer had been blunt, stubborn to a fault, always standing tall with that serious, almost comically grown-up look. It was the kind of confidence that came from being adored-he'd always known everyone loved him, and he never had to second-guess it.

But now, something was different. Summer seemed quieter, more cautious. He still looked proud and upright, but there was a new wariness in his eyes-like someone who'd learned to read the room, to tread carefully because he wasn't sure where he stood.noveldrama

And right now, as Summer looked up at him, Lucas caught a flash of hurt and defiance.

"Are you really just going to leave me?" Summer's voice was tight, but he didn't look away.

The question hit Lucas like a punch to the gut.

"No, it's not like that, I just..." Lucas hesitated, the words sticking in his throat.

"Who am I, really?" Summer pressed. His voice was quieter, but steadier than

ever.

He already knew the truth. Uncle Connor had told him everything. But Lucas never had, and Summer wanted to hear it from him.

Lucas stumbled, searching for the right thing to say. "Aaron, you're overthinking. Don't worry about it."

But Summer just laughed a sharp, cold sound that made Lucas's skin prickle.

Summer spoke slowly, every word clear and deliberate. "My name is Summer. My mother is Linda-I was born from her. But I'm a test-tube baby. Chave your genes and Mom Tim's. Nobody told me why Linda agreed to this. But you knew all along. You created me to keep my real mom, Chloe, trapped. I was just a bargaining chip for you, just like in those years we spent in Japan. Now the truth's out, and I'm useless to you, so you can just toss me aside, like some broken toy."

Lucas stared, speechless. He'd never imagined Summer would know so much about the past. Faced with Summer's words, he didn't know how to answer.

"But I'm not a toy. I'm a person."

Summer's voice shook, but he didn't back down. "What am I to you, Dad? Just a piece in your plan? Or ta

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someone you can cut off the second things get complicated?"

"What am I, Dad? Tell me. Am I even a person to you?"

Summer's eyes were red, brimming with tears he stubbornly refused to let fall. Lucas was floored. He couldn't believe a kid so young was asking questions like this—questions no child should ever have to think about.

He crouched down, holding Summer's shoulders. "Aaron, it's not like that. I swear, it's not."

"Then what is it?" Summer demanded, meeting Lucas's gaze head-on, his pain and stubbornness shining through.

"You're my child. You're the person love most in this world. Everything that happened is because of my selfishness, my mistakes. None of it is your fault, Aaron. Not one bit."