. My father' s jaw tightened. Summer

appeared between her brows. "Ethan, what

pered loving words to another man

ision," she continued, stepping

the love I once had. She wasn't worried about me or our

a," I said, my voice cold. "

"Ethan, we all thought... everyon

s just a surprise." She glanced nervously at Chloe. "I guess that mean

rp wit and combative nature had always put me on edge. In my past life, I saw it as a flaw. Now, I saw it differently. She w

, becoming a force to be reckoned with in her own right. She never needed my money. She never as

ould never betray me for a weakling like my adopted brother. This wasn'

ak her name, the doors to

is face flushed with anger. He pointed a shaking finger not at m

of trash! You're the reason my

ed pale and terrified, shrinking behind a decorative vase

tion. She crossed the room in a blur, positioning herself

uder, her voice low and dangerous.

exact same scene. The same instinct. Protecting him, not me. Her charge.

s eyes wide with fake fear. He loo

whole scene was a pathetic repl

ather, my voice cutti

e is Chlo

me, the shock was absolute. Every head,

lightly open, her usual smirk gone. For the first ti