Chapter 146

Fraser drove smoothly, taking a direct route into Ravenshire Boulevard—one of the most exclusive and heavily guarded neighborhoods in Havenbrook, where even the smallest property cost a fortune.

At the security checkpoint, the guards immediately recognized his license plate and opened the gates without hesitation.

The sleek black sports car cruised through the neighborhood unimpeded, heading straight to its designated parking spot.

Summer had never been here before.

But she knew Ravenshire Boulevard wasn’t just expensive—it was exclusive. Money alone wasn’t enough to secure a home here.

The residents weren’t merely rich; they were the true power players—top executives, high-ranking officials, the elite of Havenbrook’s social hierarchy.

Even the Stewart family, wealthy as they were, didn’t come close to making the cut.

As the car came to a stop, the passenger door suddenly swung open from the outside. Summer remained seated, momentarily stunned.

Fraser stood just beyond the door, one hand casually tucked into his pocket, his gaze sweeping over her.

“Ms. Stewart,” he said lightly, “do you need me to carry you inside?”

Summer frowned slightly, then stepped out of the car.

A private elevator, accessible only by keycard, took them straight to the sixty-sixth-floor penthouse. One residence per floor—yet the building still had six elevators.

Pure luxury.

Summer followed Fraser inside.

To her surprise, the penthouse wasn’t as cold or impersonal as she had imagined.

Floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped around the living room, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. Outside, a long rectangular pool stretched across the balcony, its water shimmering under the soft glow of ambient lights.

A plush white sectional sofa anchored the space, while an open-concept kitchen in muted gray and white tones gave the home a modern yet inviting feel.

Fraser casually tossed his keycard and car keys onto the counter before heading to the fridge. He grabbed a bottle of mineral water, twisted off the cap, and drank it in one go.

Summer watched him quietly before asking, “Where are we?”

Tilting his head back as he finished the bottle, Fraser’s Adam’s apple moved with each swallow. In the dimly lit silence, the deep sound felt strangely intimate.

When he lowered the bottle, his dark eyes locked onto Summer, who was still standing near the door.

“Summer,” he asked quietly, “why don’t you want to live with me?”

She shifted uneasily and looked away. “It’s not that. Yvette’s been having a hard time. She was falsely accused by someone recently, and I wanted to stay with her.”

Fraser took a step closer.

Summer instinctively stepped back, but the solid wall behind her stopped her retreat.

His presence closed in, overwhelming.

“What do you think I am?” he asked softly. “A temporary refuge?”

His familiar scent wrapped around her, making her heartbeat spiral out of control.

“My leg is fully healed,” she blurted out, grasping for anything to break the tension. “I was discharged from the hospital earlier.”

Fraser reached out, lifting her chin so she had no choice but to meet his gaze. His eyes were dark, deep, and dangerously intent.

“Look at me.”

Summer swallowed, her heart pounding painfully in her chest. She wasn’t sure whether it was fear—or something far more dangerous.

“I think…” She bit her lip. “We need to talk.”

Fraser didn’t answer.

Instead, he reached for the hem of his shirt.

Summer’s breath caught as he pulled it over his head, revealing a sculpted torso, every muscle sharply defined under the soft lighting.

The sheer intensity of him made it hard to think.

She instinctively reached out to push him away—but the moment her palm touched his bare chest, the heat of his skin sent a tremor racing through her fingers.

“Fraser, you need to calm down.”

He leaned in, his lips brushing close—close enough that their breaths mingled—yet he stopped just short of touching her.

“Summer,” he murmured, “what exactly are you afraid of?”

What was she afraid of?

She was afraid of losing herself again—of clinging to something that was never truly hers, only to be hurt in the end.

She knew that if she let herself fall this time, she wouldn’t be able to pull back.

That was why she had to leave—before she got hurt.

Fraser’s lips brushed her ear, teasing, coaxing, restrained just enough to drive her mad.

He had always been arrogant, always in control.

But when he heard that Trevor had saved her, something inside him had snapped.

A sharp, electric tension surged between them, spreading like wildfire, making Summer’s pulse race uncontrollably.