Summer's hands trembled as she stared at her phone, disbelief etched across her face. Kyle's once familiar voice, a source of comfort, felt distant and cold. His response to her desperate call was curt, filled with impatience, and before she knew it, the line went dead. A wave of panic washed over her as she tried to reach him again and again, each attempt met with the same chilling silence. The realization struck her like a physical blow: Kyle had moved on, and with Audra, of all people. It was too much for her heart to bear.
Frustration bubbled up inside her, leading to a scream that echoed her internal turmoil. How could he betray her after everything they had endured together? She felt as if she was spiraling, falling for Kyle all over again only to be crushed by the reality of his betrayal. Summer's thoughts raced chaotically. She craved answers, desperate to know what Kyle was thinking, how he could possibly choose Audra over her. Every instinct urged her to fly to London, confront him, demand an explanation. But where exactly was he? London was vast, and she knew Audra would keep their affair well hidden.
Yet, Summer refused to accept defeat. With relentless determination, she made frantic phone calls, seeking any scrap of information. Finally, a lead emerged—a friend spotted Kyle with Audra near a hotel in London. That was all she needed to hear. Without a moment's hesitation, she booked the next available flight, her heart racing with a mix of hope and dread.
Back home, Chance watched helplessly, holding Harrison in his arms. He felt his heart break anew at the sight of Summer in such distress. But this time, it was different; he wasn’t the one she was running to. Chance had given her everything—love, loyalty, trust—but it meant nothing. Summer remained entangled in Kyle's web, unable to let go of the man who had hurt her repeatedly. As he looked at her tear-streaked face, a heavy sadness settled within him. The woman he adored was fixated on a man who clearly did not value her, and now she was set on chasing Kyle across the globe, leaving him and their child behind. “You deserve better,” he muttered under his breath, tightening his grip on Harrison. Deep down, he understood that no amount of love could keep Summer from pursuing Kyle.
Arriving in London, Summer's adrenaline surged, her emotions a volatile storm. She felt a nauseating mix of anticipation and dread. After a frantic search, she discovered where Kyle was staying. With every step towards the hotel, her heart raced, palms sweaty, breaths short and shallow. Steeling herself for the confrontation, she pushed through the grand entrance and headed to the garden area.
But nothing could prepare her for what lay ahead. There, standing with his back to her, was Kyle. He was deep in conversation with a woman—no, not Audra. It was Claire, Victoria’s daughter. In that instant, Summer's world shattered. Kyle was down on one knee, a ring box in hand, gazing at Claire with a look of unbridled affection. The words he spoke were lost in the rush of blood in her ears; she didn’t need to hear them. The scene before her spoke volumes—Kyle was proposing to Claire.
Summer's knees buckled, her heart pounding so violently she feared it would explode. How could everything have gone so wrong? She had come to confront Kyle about Audra, only to find him asking another woman to marry him. As if drawn by an invisible force, Kyle turned slightly, their eyes locking for the first time. His expression was a tumult of shock and guilt, but there was also resolve. He had made his choice, and it wasn’t her.
Summer’s voice caught in her throat, her rehearsed words evaporating into the air. All the promises Kyle had made to her, every intimate moment they had shared, felt meaningless now, shattered by the stark reality of what she witnessed. Claire turned to her, her expression calm and confident, as if she had known all along that Kyle had chosen her. Tears filled Summer’s eyes, but she couldn’t find the strength to speak. The pain was too raw, too overwhelming. She had flown halfway around the world only to witness the man she loved pledging himself to someone else.
As Kyle rose to his feet, stepping towards her, Summer instinctively recoiled, trembling with anger and betrayal. “How could you?” she managed to whisper, her voice barely audible against the backdrop of her heart breaking. Kyle’s face reflected regret, but it was not enough to alter the situation. “I didn’t mean for you to find out like this,” he said softly, but the weight of his words hung in the air. “Things have changed.”
Summer shook her head, tears cascading down her cheeks. “You promised me,” she choked out, her voice quivering with disbelief and pain. In that moment, everything she had believed about their love crumbled away, leaving her standing in the ruins of her shattered heart.
