My Fiancé's Scandals Never End, So I Married His Uncle Instead-Chapter 143: True and False

Wealthy, powerful families aren’t like ordinary large corporations.

Even at an ordinary corporation, transferring equity takes more than a day or two. The asset structures of prominent families are far more intricate and wide-reaching. A simple transfer of shares, even one that doesn’t affect decision-making power, is an extremely time-consuming affair that can take weeks. If someone deliberately obstructs the process, it’s not uncommon for it to drag on for six months or even a year.

Before today, with Kenneth Sutton’s time being uncertain, the struggle between the Sutton Family’s eldest and second sons was intensifying. The entire family was desperate to reclaim the shares Summer Sutton held, hoping to use them as a bargaining chip for the next person in power.

But realizing that the shares had been quietly transferred without their knowledge was another matter entirely.

The unknown is often the most frightening thing.

It wasn’t just the Second Young Master Sutton; Wyatt Sutton’s expression shifted as well, and he silently fixed his gaze on Summer Sutton.

Summer Sutton’s entire body tensed. She couldn’t recall ever signing any equity transfer documents. Lately, even seeing Kian Sterling had become incredibly difficult, let alone asking for the shares back from him. At Sterling Manor, she had only tentatively brought it up, but Kian Sterling’s cold, harsh reaction was still fresh in her mind. How could a man so determined not to return the shares possibly have a change of heart in just over half a month?

But she wasn’t the real Summer Sutton, and the two young masters of the Sutton family were veritable wolves. Her only choice was to follow Kian Sterling’s lead, silently acquiescing and passing the question to Evan Rhodes. "Assistant Rhodes, why don’t you explain?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Evan Rhodes gave her a meaningful look. ’So the boss was right,’ he thought. ’Summer Sutton really doesn’t dare to speak a single word of truth.’

"Over half a month ago, the equity transfer contract was signed by Miss Sutton and the Boss. It was immediately processed in Metropia by the Boss’s personal legal team at the Sterling Consortium."

"Over half a month ago?" Both Wyatt Sutton and the Second Young Master Sutton stared at Summer Sutton with inscrutable expressions. The Second Young Master Sutton sneered, "And here the Sutton Family has been running around, calling in favors to back you up, little sister. To think you were already making secret deals with the Ninth Master so long ago. You really kept your dear second brother in the dark, didn’t you, Summer?"

Summer Sutton still didn’t explain. Her mind was racing, trying to piece together the timeline. ’Over half a month ago... that must have been when I was in Port Sovereign, and Kian Sterling was also there, accompanying Miss Sterling to the Lowell Fragrance Gala?’

’A matter as significant as an equity transfer... if Lawyer Hollis’s side says it was signed, then it couldn’t possibly be a fake.’

’During that time... who did the Ninth Master sign it with?’

She suddenly recalled collecting the samples a few days ago. Besides her sample and Kenneth Sutton’s, there had been a strange "Sample No. 2" mixed in...

’Did Sample No. 2 belong to the real Summer Sutton?’

’Then who is the real Summer Sutton?’

Her mind reeled. Summer Sutton remained silent, playing her part as a pawn. The panic and desolation in her heart could not be put into words. After a long moment, she finally replied in a hoarse voice:

"I follow the Ninth Master’s lead."

No one paid any mind to her ambiguous statement. The matter was settled. Kenneth Sutton nearly choked, and after another frantic round of emergency care, he asked about the issue that concerned him most:

"Summer has decided to return to the Sutton Family. Since the Ninth Master has returned the shares to you, bring them over in the next couple of days and make it official with the family. Ahem, your second brother... and your older brother... will teach you what to do next."

Kenneth Sutton favored his second son, but with Wyatt Sutton present, he couldn’t be too obvious about it.

Wyatt Sutton’s face was grim, but he said nothing. ’Now that the shares are in Summer Sutton’s hands,’ he thought, ’dealing with her will be much easier than dealing with Kian Sterling. I have plenty of ways to handle her. There’s no need to start a fight right here in the hospital room, in front of Father...’

"Miss Sutton." Evan Rhodes seemed to notice Summer Sutton’s predicament and intentionally offered her an out. "Now that things are clear, Lawyer Hollis and I will take our leave. Would you like to come with us?"

"Summer Sutton..." the Second Young Master Sutton’s voice was laced with a warning. "Don’t forget our private agreement..."

Without looking back, Summer Sutton followed beside Evan Rhodes, ignoring the Second Young Master Sutton.

The group left the hospital and went their separate ways.

"Assistant Rhodes..." Once they were alone, Summer Sutton took a deep breath. "I was wondering if you could help me schedule a meeting with the Ninth Master? I’d like to see him."

"The Ninth Master is in Port Sovereign." Evan Rhodes gestured for her to proceed. "I can take you to him right now."

「Blackwater Creek Villa.」

Summer Sutton followed Evan Rhodes to the villa. She took in the unfamiliar surroundings without a word. Having spent over a decade in Port Sovereign, she naturally knew Kian Sterling had a villa here, but she had never once been allowed to visit. Now, seeing it for the first time, she found it much more desolate than she’d imagined. It was even older than his Wyvern Bay residence, filled with traces of a bygone era.

Kian Sterling was sitting in the front yard, drinking tea.

He was dressed in a casual yet fashionable, stunningly vibrant suit of rich gold. His expression was languid, his features bewitching, and he was holding a cat in his lap.

Evan Rhodes silently moved several dozen meters away.

Summer Sutton walked toward Kian Sterling step by step, an indescribable feeling in her heart. "Ninth Master."

Kian Sterling gave a soft "Mm," without looking at her.

Summer Sutton’s eyes shimmered with a complex light. Her gaze traced from his long fingers stroking the cat, up to his elegant collarbones and jawline, finally settling on his half-lowered face.

Every time she saw him, it felt like their first meeting on the cargo ship all those years ago, filled with a deep sense of awe and wonder.

"Ninth Master..." Her voice was low and soft. "Evan Rhodes said you had me sign an equity agreement over half a month ago, but I don’t seem to recall..."

It was both a probe and a confrontation.

Kian Sterling finally looked up, his indifferent gaze sweeping over her. "Because the person who signed it was not you."

Summer Sutton froze for a moment, then forced herself to continue, "B-But I’m Summer Sutton, aren’t I...?"

"Oh, are you?" Kian Sterling swirled the delicate teacup in his hand, took a slow sip, and suddenly asked, "I heard you went to Oakhaven. Was it fun?"

The color drained from Summer Sutton’s face, leaving it ashen white.

She curled her cold fingers and feigned ignorance. "It was just for a shoot. I didn’t really have any fun."

Kian Sterling didn’t indulge her little tricks. "Did you go back to Lambert Village for a visit?"

The moment he said the words "Lambert Village," Summer Sutton, who was already pale, staggered. She lost her footing and slid down along the tea table, collapsing into a chair.

She bit her lip hard, remaining silent.

Kian Sterling’s expression was perfectly calm, his voice as cold and smooth as jade. "Since you’ve been back, do you still need me to answer whether or not you are the real Summer Sutton?"

Summer Sutton’s heart hammered in her chest, and a numbness spread through her body. It took her a long moment to find her voice. "So you knew. You’ve known everything all along. If you knew my real identity, then why did you raise me as Summer Sutton all these years? What was the point?"