Chapter 6: How Shameless

Summer's POV

The morning sun felt like a mockery as I stepped out of the taxi in front of my apartment building. God, what a night. My head still throbbed from whatever those creeps had slipped into my drink, and Brandon Stark's bizarre marriage proposal kept replaying in my mind like a fever dream.

I stared up at the gleaming glass tower that had been my home for the past year. Alexander had helped me choose this place when I'd finally had enough of my parents' manipulation. "This will be our fresh start," he'd promised. "Just you and me." Now those words tasted like ash in my mouth.

The doorman gave me a sympathetic nod as I walked past. Great. Even the staff knows about the scandal. I jabbed the elevator button harder than necessary, willing the doors to close before anyone else could—

"Hold the elevator!"

You've got to be kidding me. Victoria's perfectly manicured hand shot between the closing doors, forcing them back open. She stepped in with her usual grace, Alexander trailing behind her like a well-trained puppy. The space suddenly felt suffocating.

"Summer, you're finally back?" Victoria's voice dripped with false concern. "We've been so worried."

I watched her reflection in the elevator's polished doors - perfect makeup, designer outfit, not a hair out of place. Even for this early morning ambush, she had to look perfect. My own reflection looked pale and drawn in comparison.

I kept my eyes fixed on the elevator numbers, climbing far too slowly. Deep breaths. Don't let them see you crack. Don't give them the satisfaction.

"You went missing after the party," Alexander added, his tone carrying that familiar note of disapproval that I'd somehow never noticed before. "Do you know how worried we've been?"

A bitter laugh escaped before I could stop it. "Worried? Since when do you care about my whereabouts, Alexander?"

The elevator dinged, and I practically bolted out. But Alexander's hand caught my arm, spinning me around to face them.

"Darling, don't be like this." Victoria's voice was honey-sweet poison. She reached for my hand, and I had to fight the urge to recoil. "I know we hurt you. But Alexander and I... it's real love. This past year while you were in Europe, he went through so much. I was there for him, supporting him through everything..."

Supporting him. The words made my skin crawl. I remembered all those late-night calls from London, when Alexander had been "too busy" to talk. Had he been with her then? Had they laughed about how naive I was?

"Supporting him?" The words tasted bitter. "Right. Thanks so much, Victoria. You knew he was my fiancé, but you just had to support him, didn't you? What's your real game here?"

I shoved past her, perhaps harder than necessary. She stumbled back with an exaggerated gasp that would have made her drama teachers proud.

"Summer!" Alexander's face twisted with anger. "You're being ridiculous! Yes, Victoria and I hurt you, but it's done. We're engaged now. Why can't you just accept reality?"

"Accept reality?" My voice cracked with disbelief. "I already did! Just stay the hell away from me. Looking at you two makes me sick!"

Victoria's eyes filled with perfectly-timed tears. "Summer, how can you say that? Alexander and I came here to explain. We never meant to hurt you... we just... we fell in love."

"Love?" I couldn't hold back the harsh laugh. "That's rich. Victoria, if you're so desperate to steal other people's men, take him. I don't want anything that's been touched by someone like you."

Alexander's hand shot up, and for a moment, I thought he might actually hit me. His face twisted into something ugly - so different from the gentle expressions I'd fallen in love with.

Go ahead, I thought, meeting his eyes steadily. Show everyone who you really are. Give me one more reason to despise you.

"Alexander, stop!" Victoria grabbed his arm, playing the perfect peacemaker. "She's still my sister. I don't blame her."

"Sister?" The word felt like poison. "Don't make me sick. You two deserve each other. Congratulations on your engagement. Now tell me why you're here or get the hell out of my way!"

"You know how Grandpa is." Victoria's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "He's so worried about us, Summer. He says he won't support our marriage unless you come home."

There it was. The real reason for this little performance. My hands clenched into fists as fury rose in my chest. "So that's what this is about? You need Grandpa's blessing for your perfect little wedding?"

"Summer, please." Alexander stepped forward, probably trying for reasonable but landing somewhere around patronizing. "Think about your sister. Don't you want her to be happy?"

The laugh that burst from my throat sounded almost hysterical. "My sister's happiness? When did either of you think about mine?"

"Love just happened, darling." Victoria said in a helpless tone. "You can't blame us for following our hearts."

"Following your hearts?" My voice rose despite my best efforts to stay calm. "Was your heart leading you when you asked about my relationship with Alexander every time we talked? When you played the concerned sister while planning to steal him?"

"That's not fair—" Alexander started, but I cut him off.

"Fair?" The word exploded from me like a bullet. "You want to talk about fair, Alexander? Remember what you said to me? 'I'll never betray you, Summer. You're the only one for me.' Was that fair?"

Victoria's perfect mask slipped for just a moment, revealing something ugly underneath. "Summer, you're being ridiculous. This isn't like you—"

"You don't know me." The words came out quiet but sharp. "You never did. Neither of you did."

"Is this really necessary?" Alexander's voice took on that condescending tone he used with junior employees. "Can't we just move past this like civilized people?"

Something snapped inside me. All the pain, all the betrayal, all the carefully contained fury of the past weeks came rushing out in a torrent. "Civilized? You want civilized? Fine. Let's talk about how civilized it was to carry on behind my back for months. How civilized it was to announce your engagement while I was overseas. How civilized it was to expect me to just smile and accept it!"

"Summer—" Victoria reached for my arm, but I jerked away.

"Don't touch me." My voice shook with rage. "You want to know something funny, Victoria? I actually felt guilty when I couldn't be happy for you. Can you believe that? I blamed myself for not being a better sister."

Victoria's hands trembled slightly - the first genuine reaction I'd seen from her all day. "Summer..."

I opened the door, finally seeing my sister clearly for the first time. "Victoria. You keep saying you're my sister, but what kind of sister are you really? If you had feelings for Alexander, you could have just told me. If you two were in love, I would have stepped aside."

"Summer, please." Victoria's face crumpled with practiced distress. "Remember when we were little? Those men who tried to take you... I saved your life!"

The mention of that childhood incident hit me like a physical blow. How dare she use that against me now?

"Yes, Victoria." My voice came out surprisingly steady. "You saved me once. And now you've destroyed my life. Consider us even."

"But Grandpa—" Victoria started.

"Get out." Each word felt like glass in my throat.

The moment the door clicked shut behind them, my legs gave out. I slid down the wall, the tears I'd been holding back finally breaking free.