CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR

SUMMER'S POV

I woke the next morning with a strange feeling in my chest.

For the first time in years, I didn't wake up feeling like I had to earn someone's affection.

I was married again.

But this time, everything felt different.

Harden wasn't Mattias.

I turned toward the other side of the bed.

Empty.

“Harden?”

No answer.

I pulled the blanket closer and sat up.

My mind wandered back to the previous night, and warmth rushed to my cheeks.

I quickly pushed the thoughts away.

Whatever was happening between Harden and me, I wasn't going to let it distract me from what mattered.

My divorce.

My company.

My future.

And Nora.

I got out of bed, slipped into my robe, and walked downstairs.

The smell of food immediately caught my attention.

I followed it into the kitchen.

Then I stopped.

Harden was standing by the counter.

Cooking.

I stared at him.

“You're cooking?”

He glanced over his shoulder.

“Good morning, princess.”

I blinked.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Cooking.”

“I can see that.”

He smiled.

“Then why ask?”

I looked around the enormous kitchen.

“There are probably hundreds of chefs working in this mansion.”

“And?”

“And you're here cooking breakfast?”

He placed another dish on the table.

“As my wife, everything you eat is my concern.”

I didn't know what to say.

Mattias had never cared whether I ate.

He barely noticed when I was sick.

Harden seemed to notice everything.

He walked toward the table and pulled out a chair for me.

“Sit.”

I obeyed.

He adjusted the chair before taking his seat across from me.

I couldn't stop myself from smiling.

“You're strange.”

“So I've been told.”

He watched me taste the food.

“Well?”

I swallowed.

“It's good.”

“Just good?”

“Very good.”

He smiled.

“Better.”

I lowered my eyes, suddenly shy.

For years, I had convinced myself that being loved meant tolerating pain.

Maybe I had been wrong.

Harden continued watching me eat.

Finally, he broke the silence.

“You're coming with me today.”

I looked up.

“Where?”

“To a board meeting.”

My smile disappeared.

“A board meeting?”

“Yes.”

“I've never attended one.”

“I know.”

“Then why am I going?”

“Because you're my wife.”

He paused.

“And because there's something you need to see.”

Something about his tone made me uneasy.

“What?”

“You'll find out.”

I sighed.

“You really enjoy keeping secrets.”

“Only when the truth isn't ready to be revealed.”

Before I could respond, an elderly woman approached us.

She carried herself with quiet elegance, despite her age.

Harden looked at her.

“Mrs. Catherine will assist you today.”

The woman smiled.

“She will be your personal nanny. If you need anything while I'm away, ask her.”

“Nanny?”

I looked at the woman.

She nodded warmly.

“You may call me Catherine.”

I smiled.

“Mom.”

Her eyes widened.

“I'm sorry?”

“I'll call you Mom.”

She looked at Harden, clearly unsure how to react.

I laughed softly.

“You look like someone who deserves to be called Mom.”

For the first time, her stern expression softened.

“You are quite different from what I expected, Mrs. Blackwood.”

“Please don't call me that.”

She smiled.

“What should I call you?”

“Summer.”

“Very well, Summer.”

Harden stood.

“I'll see you downstairs when you're ready.”

I nodded.

He walked away.

Catherine watched him disappear before turning toward me.

“He has changed.”

I looked at her.

“What do you mean?”

She shook her head.

“Nothing.”

There was something in her eyes.

Something she wasn't telling me.

“Mom?”

“Yes?”

“Has Harden always been like this?”

She smiled sadly.

“No.”

That answer stayed with me.

I went upstairs to get dressed.

As I stood before the mirror, I stared at my reflection.

For years, I had dressed for Mattias.

Today, I was dressing for myself.

I chose an elegant outfit, styled my short black curls, and applied light makeup.

When I returned downstairs, Catherine was waiting.

She looked at me proudly.

“You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

She hesitated.

“Summer…”

“Yes?”

“There are things about this family you don't know yet.”

My smile faded.

“What things?”

She looked toward the hallway.

“Things you should hear from Harden.”

Before I could ask another question, Harden appeared.

His eyes immediately found mine.

He paused.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

“You're ready?”

“Yes.”

He walked toward me.

His gaze lingered on my face.

“You look beautiful.”

I smiled.

“Thank you.”

He held out his hand.

I took it.

As we walked toward the car, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was waiting for me at the office.

I just didn't know what.

---

HARDEN'S POV

I watched Summer through the car window.

She looked calm.

But I knew she wasn't.

She had sensed that something was wrong.

Good.

She needed to start asking questions.

Because the board meeting wasn't simply about introducing my wife.

It was about her.

The moment we entered the company, every board member would see her.

And some of them would realize exactly who she is.

I glanced at Victor.

“Is everything ready?”

“Yes, boss.”

“And the documents?”

“Everything is prepared.”

“Good.”

Victor hesitated.

“There's one more thing.”

I looked at him.

“What?”

“We found another account.”

My expression hardened.

“Whose?”

“It's connected to Hart's Global.”

My eyes narrowed.

“Is it connected to Summer?”

“Yes.”

My hand tightened around the phone.

“How much?”

Victor lowered his voice.

“More than we expected.”

I looked toward Summer.

She was sitting beside me, unaware that her life was about to change again.

“Don't tell her yet.”

Victor nodded.

“Understood.”

The car continued moving toward the company.

Summer turned toward me.

“Harden?”

“Yes?”

“Why do I feel like you're taking me somewhere dangerous?”

I smiled faintly.

“Because you are.”

Her eyes widened.

I reached for her hand.

“But I'll be beside you.”

She stared at me.

And for the first time, I wondered whether I was ready for what would happen when Summer finally discovered the truth about herself.

Because the woman sitting beside me wasn't simply Mrs. Blackwood.

She was the woman someone had spent five years trying to erase.

And today, I was going to put her name back where it belonged.