Chapter 6

Summer's POV

Seven PM. The Mercer Estate.

The century-old mansion was blazing with lights, the driveway packed with multi-million-dollar supercars.

Wearing a dark emerald silk gown, I held Adrian's arm as we stepped into the grand ballroom.

The lively chatter in the room died down instantly the moment we walked in.

Every gaze turned toward me like sharp knives, filled with judgment, disgust, and whispered malice.

"Is that Summer Sterling? The girl who slit her wrist for Ethan? How did she end up with Adrian?"

"What a gold digger. Her family is practically broke, and she thinks she can climb into the Mercer family?"

"She must have used some cheap tricks to play both Ethan and his uncle."

The nasty whispers drifted into my ears.

I kept my spine perfectly straight, but my hand on Adrian's arm tightened involuntarily.

Adrian noticed my tension. He didn't say anything comforting, but his icy glare swept over the crowd.

The moment people met his eyes, they quickly looked down in fear.

"Father," Adrian said, stopping in front of the head of the room.

Old Charles Mercer sat in a large velvet chair, holding a delicate cup of English bone china.

He didn't even look at me. He just let out a cold snort. "So you finally decided to show up? I thought some gold digger had completely blinded you to who you are."

"Father, this is Summer. My wife," Adrian's voice was calm, but it held a terrifying strength.

Smash!

Charles slammed his teacup down right at my feet.

The hot tea and sharp ceramic shards exploded across the floor, splashing onto my bare legs. A sharp sting flared up where the hot liquid hit my skin.

I gasped from the pain, but I bit my lip and didn't make a sound.

"Wife? Since when does the Mercer family let a trashy, scandalous girl be the mistress of this house?" Charles roared, slamming his fist on the table, rattling the silverware. "Adrian, divorce her immediately! Or you can say goodbye to your inheritance!"

"Adrian, Grandfather is right."

Ethan walked out from the crowd, holding Chloe's hand, a smug, vindictive smirk plastered on his face.

"I know exactly what kind of trash Summer is. She's a psycho who will do anything for money. Don't let her fool you. Her company is failing, and she's just using you as a lifeline."

Chloe chimed in with a sweet, fake voice. "Yes, Adrian. Summer was ready to die for Ethan just days ago. Now she suddenly marries you? She definitely has an agenda. Please don't fall for her trap."

Looking at the two of them, I wanted to throw up.

I turned my head to look at Adrian.

I wanted to see what my new "husband" would do.

Adrian's expression didn't change. He slowly pulled a silk handkerchief from his pocket, knelt down on one knee, and gently wiped the tea from my legs.

The entire ballroom went dead silent.

The ruthless head of the Mercer Group was kneeling in public to clean a woman's legs?

Adrian stood up, tossed the dirty handkerchief right into Ethan's face, his eyes colder than ice. "Ethan, who the hell gave you permission to speak about my wife? Who I marry is my business, and no one tells me what to do."

He turned to his father, his voice dripping with deadly venom. "Father, I don't care about the inheritance. But Summer is mine to protect. Anyone who touches a single hair on her head is dealing with me."

With that, he wrapped his arm tightly around my waist and led me out of the mansion, leaving the stunned crowd behind us.

The night air was chilly.

Sitting in the passenger seat, I looked at the man driving beside me, my heart beating fast.

"About earlier... thank you."

"Don't mention it," Adrian said, staring straight ahead, his voice cold. "I was only protecting my own reputation. Even if I have to discipline her, it is no one else's business."

My heart dropped. To him, I wasn't even a human being.