Sumner addressed her question straightforwardly, revealing, “Xiomara shared her feelings with me, but I didn’t reciprocate.


    ”


    Lindsey’s heart missed a beat when she heard about Xiomara’s confession and was even more taken aback by Sumner’s outright rejection of her.


    “Why would you reject her?” she asked with a hint of disbelief.


    “Xiomara is such a wonderful person.


    I thought you two would be perfect together.


    ”


    As Sumner steered the car, he interrupted her with a calmness in his voice.


    “It’s because my heart belongs to someone else.


    I can’t simply set aside my feelings to love another.


    ”


    He paused for a moment, then nced at Lindsey.


    “Moreover, the one I care for is right here beside me.


    ”


    The directness of his affection left Lindsey frozen.


    Her heart started to beat faster as she teased him, “Sumner, you’re not confusing the jests about engagement from our families as something real, are you? Those were just yful remarks.


    Your mother would want you to follow your heart.


    She’d be happy for you.


    ”


    Sumner couldn’t help but Laugh at her response, unsure if Lindsey was truly confused or just feigning ignorance.


    He pulled the car to a stop and turned to her, his gaze firm, causing Lindsey to nervously cough and avert her eyes.


    “Lindsey, it’s you I’ve fallen for.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    My feelings for you grew while I was abroad,” he said, his voice earnest and startling.


    “I hesitated because you were with someone else.


    But I’vee to see that he doesn’t deserve you.


    He’s not worthy of your trust.


    Someday, he’ll only end up breaking your heart.


    ”


    He gently took her by the shoulders, turning her to face him.


    His eyes were filled with sincere affection.


    “Be with me, Lindsey.


    I promise to make you happy.


    ”


    Lindsey, taken aback, gently removed Sumner’s hands.


    Her eyes met his, showing no hesitation.


    “Sumner, he’s my boyfriend, and I know him better than anyone else.


    I won’t let you speak ill of him.


    ”


    She let out a soft sigh and added, “I can’t be with you.


    Besides the fact that I’m in amitted rtionship, have you considered the fans shipping you and Xiomara? Do you really want to give up them? Besides, it’s just not going to work out between us.


    ”


    Sumner felt a weight tightening around his heart, making it difficult to breathe.


    “Do you think I care about that? Everything I’ve done, from bing your artist topeting in the show, was for you.


    To be there for you, to support and protect you.


    ”


    Lindsey was startled, hearing him express this for the first time.


    She had always thought his goal of bing a singer and choosing her as his agent was purely about pursuing his dream.


    But Sumner, noticing Lindsey’s silence, pressed her further, “And when you pushed that narrative of me and Xiomara, linking us together without asking me, did you think about how I would feel? Did you consider the impact it might have on Xiomara and me?”


    Lindsey, caught off guard by his questions, bit her lip and replied, “That was the n of the production team.


    ”


    “But you yed along, didn’t you?” Sumner continued.


    “You even shared personal stories online to make our connection look stronger.


    You im to value your privacy, yet for the show, you made an exception, didn’t you?”


    Lindsey understood then that Sumner was talking about her decision to address their rumored rtionship during an interview.


    “The show’s producers and I agreed.


    Linking you and Xiomara temporarily increases your visibility and gets you more public attention.


    Once the show ends, we’ll figure out how to separate you two,” she exined.


    Sumner responded critically, “So you’re saying all this was done for my good, with no self-interest? Or was it your n to pair Xiomara and me, hoping to push me away? You don’t like having me around, so without my input, you chose to pass me off to someone else, is that it? What do I mean to you, Lindsey?”


    By the time Sumner finished speaking, the normally calm guy couldn’t hold back his anger.


    He took deep breaths, his gaze fixed on the stunned Lindsey, as if he were searching for answers in her eyes.


    Even though Sumner’s remarks were harsh, Lindsey couldn’t argue because they were undeniably true.


    She tried to respond but ended up staying silent.