Chapter 201
“Theo said… he hates me,” Matty murmured. “He doesn’t want you and me to be together. He said the only reason he came to the amusement park was to make up with you. That if he just acted soft and sweet, you’d forgive him. And then you’d stop paying attention to me. He also said… he said…”
Matty’s eyes reddened suddenly. His voice caught in his throat, thick with the weight of something he didn’t want to say.
Sharon leaned forward. “He said what?”
“He said I’m just a substitute,” he whispered. “Sharon, am I really just Theo’s replacement?”
His wide eyes shimmered with tears, like a stray animal left out in the rain-beautiful, fragile, and aching to be loved.
Sharon’s heart tightened. And with it, her disappointment in Theo cut deeper.
A substitute?
Theo was just like his father. They liked to play substitutes. Like father, like son.
She knelt down to Matty’s eye level. “You’re not a substitute for anyone. You are yourself, Matty. That’s more than enough. If you want an apology from Theo, I’ll make sure you get it. But if there’s anything else you want, anything at all, tell me. I’ll do whatever I can to make it happen.”
Matty hesitated, then looked up at her with cautious, searching eyes.
“I don’t want anything else,” he said softly. “I just want you to stay with me.”
Her chest ached at that.
Ever since she met him, it felt like Matty had been constantly getting picked on by Theo, always suffering, always left behind.
And yet, he’d never once blamed her. Never even blamed Theo.
Sharon took a deep breath and turned toward the man who had been silently standing to the side this whole time-Xavier.
“Xavier,” she said. “If there’s anything you’d like to ask for… please tell me.”
Xavier looked her in the eye. “Sharon, you need to understand-Theo isn’t yours alone. The responsibility shouldn’t fall on just
you.”
“Because you’ve been carrying all of it by yourself,” he continued, “Carter’s never had to step up. He thinks raising a child is simple. He can’t see everything you’ve done. That’s why it’s so easy for him to dismiss you.”
His words stopped her. Something inside her went still.
She had done everything alone. She knew how much Carter had on his plate-running a massive company, his endless meetings, the stress. So she never asked him for help. Never let him worry about the little things.
She had wanted to be a good wife. The kind who made sure he had no reason to look back, no loose ends to tie.
And what did he do with all that free space? He gave it to another woman.
How absurd. How cruelly ironic.
“I understand,” she said quietly. “Thank you, Xavier.”
In Theo’s hospital room, after confirming that Theo was out of danger, Carter sent Madeline and Denise home before pushing open the door.
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Chapter 201
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The sound of it stirred Theo, who immediately turned toward it with hopeful eyes–only for that light to dim the second he saw who it was.
His father.
The disappointment on his face was impossible to miss.
Carter caught it all. He closed the door behind him. “Theo,” he said, “what really happened?”
Theo was silent for a few moments, then looked up suddenly.
“Dad… can you not divorce Mom?”
Carter’s dark eyes flickered. His thin lips curved into a faint, ambiguous smile.
“Did your mother tell you to say that?”
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Chapter 202
Carter’s gaze darkened.
So Kelly had been right-this whole farce was Sharon’s doing.
Theo hadn’t expected his father to say that so bluntly. He froze for a few seconds, then rushed to explain, “Mom didn’t tell me to say that. I just… I really don’t want you and Mom to get divorced…”
But before he could finish, Carter cut him off.
“Tell me this did you sneak out to find your mother?”
His tone was cold, face sharp with disapproval. The pressure he carried-without raising his voice, without needing to-settled over the room like a weight. Theo shrank under it, his confidence crumbling.
He lowered his head. “Yes.”
Carter’s expression didn’t soften. His voice grew even colder. “Who told you she’d be at the amusement park?”
He’d already checked the boy’s phone-no suspicious calls, no messages. Which meant someone had told him in person.
Theo mumbled, “It was… Matty.”
As expected. Carter’s face barely shifted, but the knowledge settled in like something inevitable.
He had already suspected it-either Sharon told the boy herself, or she let Matty carry the message.
She’d sunk so low she was using children now.
Carter looked at his son, eyes full of unease and tension. His voice came out quiet and flat. “Don’t worry. Your mother won’t
divorce me.”
Just then, a soft knock broke the silence. The door opened.
Sharon stepped inside.
At the sight of her, Theo’s eyes lit up. His mom had come to see him!
No wonder that sneaky Matty always acted hurt-it worked. It actually worked.
A sense of discovery bloomed in him, like he’d just stumbled on something secret and useful.
Sharon walked in, her gaze immediately drawn to the boy watching her so intently. Her brows twitched, but she asked calmly,” How are you feeling? Still uncomfortable anywhere?”
Theo opened his mouth to say he was fine-he’d already recovered-but then he remembered Matty curled up in Mom’s arms, weak and pitiful, and how tenderly she held him, how gentle her voice had been.
So he changed his answer. “I… I still feel a little sick.”
But Sharon didn’t come over to comfort him. She didn’t reach out or soften her tone. Instead, she said, “Theo, why did you push Matty?”
He stared at her, stunned.
He thought she was here to check on him. But she wasn’t. She was here to blame him. Because of that awful Matty.
It was like a bucket of cold water dumped over his head. Every ounce of hope he had was doused, replaced by quiet disappointment and a swelling, unspoken sense of hurt.
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Chapter 202
“I didn’t push him! He jumped on his own!”
Sharon looked at him, then sighed softly, shaking her head.
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“Theo, the surveillance footage caught everything. It’s clear who did what. You know I’ve never asked much from you. I only ask that if you do something, you own up to it. Do you think pushing someone and then jumping after them will erase what you did?
Carter and Madeline had always demanded the highest academic performance from Theo. He had private tutors four days a week. Every weekend, Madeline would personally pick him up for lessons.
Sharon, in contrast, had wanted something simpler for him. A lighter, freer childhood.
But she also knew-Theo wasn’t like other kids. He was the heir to the Biggs family. From the moment he was born, he’d been marked for that role. There would be no easy path for him.
So she never pressured him academically.
What she focused on, always, was character.
She spent her time teaching him how to be a decent person. And every time she tried to correct him, Madeline would scold her. Said she was making a big deal out of nothing, that she didn’t know where to put her priorities when raising a child.
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Chapter 203
At first, Theo had listened to her. But as he grew older, he began brushing off her words like dust on his sleeve–no longer bothering to hide his disdain.
“It was all his plan! He jumped in just to frame me!” Theo’s angry voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
“He made sure I saw you two laughing together at the amusement park. Then he came right up to me and said it felt great stealing my mom. He said I wouldn’t have a mom anymore. He was scared I’d take you back, so he jumped in first. If he can jump, so can I! Who’s afraid of who?!”
His voice cracked at the end. His eyes were red now, burning as he looked at Sharon.
“We both fell into the water at the same time, but you saved him first. You didn’t even look at me. Do you really… not want me anymore?”
Sharon was quiet for a moment before she spoke, her tone even.
“I didn’t see you,” she said. “I didn’t know you had fallen in too.”
A little warmth returned to the cold stillness in Theo’s chest.
“Then… about what I said to Matty,” he asked, voice softening, “do you believe me… or him?”
Sharon’s reply was calm and unwavering. “I only believe what I saw.”
“Why?” Theo stared at her, wide-eyed, disbelief clouding his voice. “Aren’t I your son? Why would you believe him over me? You’re my mom! Shouldn’t you be on my side, no matter what?”
Sharon looked at him. “Just because I’m your mother… I’m supposed to be on your side?”
“Yes!” Theo answered quickly, with all the certainty in the world. “You’re my mom! You should believe me no matter what I say!
“I
She didn’t look away. “I’m your mom. Have you ever believed in me unconditionally?”
The question landed hard. She didn’t wait for him to answer.
“Have you forgotten how you vouched for Kelly? How you said I pushed her down the stairs and even asked me to apologize to her?”
“I… I didn’t see it clearly at the time,” he mumbled. The fire in his voice was shrinking now, replaced by a stubborn flicker. ” Still, you’re my mom. Why are you holding that against me?”
Sharon asked quietly, “Does being a mother mean I have to be lesser than you? Theo, trust goes both ways. You didn’t see clearly back then. But this time, I saw everything. I’m not blaming you unfairly.”
She pulled out her phone and opened the surveillance footage.
“You can see it for yourself.”
Theo took the phone.
And there it was, just as she’d said. No tricks. No angles.
Even a child like him could see it-Matty had planned this. All of it.
Right then, Carter, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. “Sharon, was this your way of provoking Theo? Of pushing him to chase after you?”
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Chapter 203
Sharon turned her gaze toward him, brows drawing slightly together. “What are you trying to say?”
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Carter’s voice was cool and clear. “If no adult told him, how would Matty know where you were going that weekend? And why would he keep telling Theo you didn’t want him anymore?”
Ever since Matty came into the picture, Theo had changed. The once polite and thoughtful boy now fought constantly at school -he’d become the kid teachers sighed about behind closed doors. (2)
And every time there was trouble, Theo’s version of events never matched what others had seen. 1
Carter knew his son’s nature well. Theo didn’t lie. (1)
So the only explanation… was that Matty had really said something to him.
But still could a five-year-old child truly be that cunning? 1
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Chapter 204
There was no way a five-year-old child was capable of that, unless someone was telling him what to do behind the scenes.
Lately, he’d had people watching Xavier.
Xavier was busy-always traveling for work. Most of the time, Matty stayed with Sharon.
He’d had someone look deeply into Xavier’s relationship with Sharon.
There was nothing between them. No ambiguity, no blurred lines.
Despite the way Xavier called her affectionately, his behavior never crossed any boundaries. Their contact was minimal, and he kept his distance.
That was the only reason Carter hadn’t moved against him.
Even now, when Theo had been treated so unfairly, he hadn’t suspected Sharon. He’d thought maybe Matty had just said something reckless, that Theo and Sharon weren’t getting along, and some misunderstanding had taken root.
What he hadn’t expected was for Sharon to encourage Theo to run away from home. 1
That-was something that crossed his bottom line.
Theo was only five years old. What if something had happened to him?
Sharon could see it instantly-the doubt in Carter’s eyes.
She turned to Theo. “Did you tell your dad I asked Matty to tip you off? That I told you to sneak out?”
Theo shook his head. “No. It wasn’t Mom. I just wanted to see if what that bad kid said was true, so I snuck out on my own.”
He hadn’t caught the deeper meaning behind his father’s questions earlier. Theo thought Carter was angry simply because he’d
run away.
Carter’s eyes were dark and unreadable. “If no one put him up to it, why would Matty tell you something like that?”
Theo paused, startled, and turned toward Sharon too. “Mom… did you tell Matty to say that?” 1
Sharon let out a quiet laugh. “Carter, when something good happens, you never think of me. But the second something goes wrong, you’re quick to dump all the blame on me.”
She didn’t want to argue in front of Theo, so she said evenly, “Come outside. I need to talk to you.”
Carter understood. None of this should be said in front of the child. He stood up and headed for the door.
Just as he reached for the handle, Sharon turned back, as if remembering something.
“I never told Matty to tell you about the amusement park,” she said to Theo.
Whether or not he believed her was one thing. But she wasn’t going to take the fall for something she didn’t do.
She turned the knob and stepped out.
Behind her came the small, trembling voice of Theo. “Mom… if you knew Matty and I fell into the water at the same time, who would you save?”
Sharon froze, just for a beat. Then she answered, calm and direct. “I don’t know.”
His voice cracked. “You really wouldn’t save me first, even knowing we were both drowning?”
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I’m not so sure.
With that, she left the room-leaving Theo alone, frozen, staring after her in silence.
In a quiet, deserted corner, Carter’s face was drawn tight. His dark eyes were heavy with disappointment that wouldn’t life.
“You told Theo to run away from home. Sharon… when did you become so cunning?”
Sharon’s tone was cold. “If you’re sick in the head, get it treated. Don’t come having episodes in front of me.
He lowered his eyes, watching the chill and impatience on her face, and something sharp stirred in him anger, quick and sharp, rising from nowhere.
Lately, he’d noticed it-how easily Sharon could provoke him.
“To this point, and you’re still refusing to admit it?”
Sharon gave a mirthless laugh. “Admit what? That your big, fancy family-full of nannies and housekeepers-can’t keep an eye on a five-year-old child? Or that you, a high-powered CEO, can’t even find your own son when he disappears?
“When Kelly gets in trouble, you’re always there the moment something happens. But your own son goes missing, and you’re nowhere to be found. You never reflect on your own failures. You’d rather blame someone else for leading him astray.”
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hapter 205
“If Theo is really that easy to manipulate,” Sharon said coolly, “then maybe you should take a good look at yourself-ask why your own son has absolutely no instinct to protect himself. What happens if one day he gets kidnapped? Will you finally regret it then?”
She paused, her gaze shifting to Carter, a mocking glint in her eyes.
“Oh, I forgot. Regret isn’t really your thing. You’re more the type to shove all the blame onto someone else. You never want to give anything yourself, yet you’re quick to criticize the efforts of others. Carter, you’re astonishing in how self-righteous you
are.”
Her words hit their mark. For a second, Carter found himself speechless. Then his voice turned cold.
“Sharon, I thought you asked to speak with me because you had some remorse. If you just brought me out here to spout this nonsense, I suggest you save your breath.”
Sharon knew it was pointless. Talking to someone who lived inside his own narrative was like yelling into the wind. Even with facts laid bare, he would only find new excuses to shield himself.
She got straight to the point. “There are two things I wanted to say. First-Theo pushed Matty into the lake. That’s a fact. He needs to apologize to him. And you, as Theo’s dad, should apologize to Matty’s family.”
Carter’s lips moved slightly, but in the end, he said nothing. He’d seen the footage too. Whether or not the push had been intentional, there had been a struggle and Matty had fallen in because of it. And as for Theo…
It was clear in the footage-he’d jumped in after Matty of his own accord. No one pushed him. [1
Though Carter didn’t care much for Xavier or Matty, he wasn’t the kind of man who blindly shielded his child either.
Expressionless, he said, “I’ll cover Matty’s medical expenses, and the compensation will be fair. Nothing will be missing.”
Sharon didn’t react. No surprise, no satisfaction.
Theo wasn’t Kelly. With evidence this clear, of course Carter wouldn’t protect him blindly. Still, she didn’t know whether she should feel relieved-or just numb.
“There’s a second thing,” she said, locking eyes with him. “I agree to your condition of walking away with nothing. Carter, when are we finalizing our divorce?”
He blinked, as if taken aback, then gave a short, amused laugh.
“Divorce? You’re serious?”
She could see right through him. She laughed too.
“Am I serious?”
He arched a brow, voice light with mockery. “So this time, you’re not going to ask for half of everything?”
Clearly, he still thought she was bluffing, playing some elaborate push-and-pull.
Sharon asked calmly, “If I wanted half, would you give it to me?”
He gave her a half-smile, eyes unreadable. “And if I didn’t, would you still go through with the divorce?”
“It seems your hearing isn’t too good,” she replied. “I said already-I’ve agreed to walk away with nothing.”
His lips curled. “Then what’s your condition this time? Trying to use my mother’s medication to squeeze more leverage out of me? Or maybe you want custody of Theo? Or is there something else I haven’t thought of yet?”
Chapter 205
Her eyes met his-clear, sharp, unwavering. She smiled too, just as slowly.
“If you’re willing to give me custody of Theo, I wouldn’t mind. After all, you’re so busy you can’t even keep an eye on your five- year-old.”
“As for your mother…” she added, “anyone who’d report a mother for kidnapping her own child isn’t exactly a genius. This kind of family is hardly able to provide an ideal environment to raise a child.”
Then her voice shifted, softer but just as firm. “Of course, if you’re not willing to hand over custody, that’s fine too. As long as you show up with me at the courthouse tomorrow to finalize the divorce-I’ll ask for nothing.”
She looked him straight in the eye. “Carter. Will you show up?”
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X
Chapter 206
Carter looked at Sharon, something unreadable flickering behind his gaze.
“Just make sure you’re not the one who backs out last minute,” he said. “In case something suddenly comes up.”
Sharon’s lips curled faintly, but there was nothing warm in her eyes. “What worries me, is that you’re the one who’ll suddenly have something come up and decide not to show.”
Theo’s fall into the lake, coupled with Carter’s interrogation and accusations, had pushed her patience past its limit.
She was done. Done with this ridiculous family and their endless drama. (2)
Today Madeline had called the police, accusing her of abducting her own child. Who knew what kind of stunt that crazed old lady would pull tomorrow?
And though she’d been married to Carter for five years, the truth was, she barely knew his mother at all.
In the past, Sharon had always been deferential whenever they met. She knew Madeline wasn’t easy to get along with, so she had kept her head down and tolerated everything in silence.
Maybe it was that restraint that earned her at least a surface-level courtesy. But once things turned ugly, she saw it clearly-how utterly absurd Madeline truly was.
It was better to extract herself from such a toxic family sooner, before the whole thing came crashing down.
Lately, she found herself wondering what life would look like once Kelly married Carter.
His voice broke into her thoughts. “Time.”
Her lashes fluttered. The drifting thoughts snapped back into place.
So… he was agreeing.
“Tomorrow morning at ten,” she said. “Outside the courthouse. Any objections?”
“Fine.”
He still didn’t believe she would actually go through with the divorce.
Kelly and Nate stepped into the hospital together. After hearing Theo had been found, they’d come right away to check on him.
There was no way Kelly could stay away when something had happened to him. She still needed him as an important pawn, after
all.
But when they reached the hospital room, she found Theo sitting there alone.
She glanced around. “Theo, where’s your dad? Why isn’t he here with you?”
The boy’s lips trembled a little, his expression full of hurt. “Daddy and Mommy went out.”
Kelly’s eyes flickered. “Sharon was here?”
At the mention of his mother, Theo’s mood dropped. He nodded listlessly.
Kelly walked to the side of the bed, her voice gentle. “Theo, where did you run off to today? Do you know how worried your dad was about you?”
Nate chimed in from the side. “Exactly! Where did you go? As soon as Kelly heard you were missing, she got so anxious she
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skipped her doctor’s appointment and rushed right over.”
He let out a short, cold laugh. “When Carter found out you were missing, he called your mom right away. Even told her you were at the amusement park. But she just denied it. Hung up on him, told him to go look for you himself and stop bothering her.”
Theo’s head jerked up. “Mommy knew I was missing?”
Nate waved it off. “Of course. Carter called her the moment he realized you were gone. And your mom? She just said there was no point in calling her. She asked your dad to look for you instead.”
Of course, Carter hadn’t told him that himself. Nate and Kelly had overheard it while coming upstairs-Simon, Carter’s assistant, had been talking to someone about it.
Simon hadn’t meant to criticize Sharon. He was just sighing about how different she was now from before. Back then, whenever Theo so much as had a scratch, she’d be calling in a panic, unable to get a coherent word out. (1)
Now she could say things like, “What’s the point of calling me?” so easily, so coldly.
The contrast was sharp and hard to ignore.
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Chapter 207
As soon as Nate heard about it, he launched into a heavily embellished version of the story for Theo.
The boy’s face crumpled-equal parts sorrow and anger.
Mom really had been bewitched by that awful Matty. She was a bad mom.
Nate continued, his tone full of disdain. “Last time at the talent showcase, your mom only beat Kelly by sheer luck. She threw juice all over Kelly before the performance, remember? Not to mention, she used that legendary violin-Shaluna.
“With all those unfair advantages, she still only managed to win by 0.1 points. What’s there to brag about?”
Theo’s expression dimmed.
He’d truly thought his mom was amazing. But Kelly and Nate made it sound like she’d just gotten lucky.
How could a mom who hadn’t even graduated high school possibly be more talented than someone like Kelly, who went to one of the best music schools in the world?
Besides… he had seen it with his own eyes-his mom really had thrown juice on Kelly.
But Kelly didn’t dwell on that. She said gently, “Theo, do you know what your mom and dad went off to do?”
Theo shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Kelly hesitated, then asked, “Theo… are your mom and dad really getting a divorce?”
“No way!” Theo blurted out before he could stop himself. “I just asked Dad! He said Mom wouldn’t divorce him!”
Something like worry flickered in Kelly’s eyes.
Nate caught the shift in her expression and gently patted her shoulder. “Kelly, I’ll go get Carter.” (1
She gave him a small, graceful smile. “Alright. I’ll stay with Theo.”
On the way to the hospital, Kelly had casually mentioned that Carter’s attitude toward Sharon seemed to be changing. That had
set Nate off. 1
“Kelly, come on. Carter will never be attracted to a middle school dropout like Sharon. Please. As long as I’m around, I’ll never let that happen. It’s all just a game-playing hard to get, pulling back to advance. Carter won’t fall for that.”
Reconciling them would be hard. But sabotage? That, he could do.
After all, Sharon had humiliated him last time, made him bark like a dog in front of everyone. He still hadn’t lived that down.
This time, he was going to make sure she paid for it. There was no way he’d let Carter have feelings for her.
Nate left the hospital room in search of Carter. Of course, he had no intention of finding him. What he wanted was to interrupt- disrupt-whatever was happening between Carter and Sharon.
That performance in the talent showcase was definitely a fluke. Sharon had just gotten lucky. But even so, he couldn’t rule out the possibility that Carter might be drawn in.
And Nate knew better than anyone-Carter had a weakness for women who played the violin well.
He stepped into the corridor and pulled out his phone to call Carter, but no one answered. Frowning, he began walking through the hospital, eyes scanning every corner.
Then, in a quiet hallway tucked away in the building, he caught sight of two familiar figures.
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Of course, Carter-and that fox, Sharon.
So Kelly had been right to worry. Sharon was already swishing her tail, trying to seduce him.
Nate smirked. ‘Let’s see how shameless she can get.’
He crept closer, step by careful step, holding his breath like a thief. He didn’t dare get too near-if they spotted him, it was over. But from this distance, their voices were frustratingly muffled.
Still, he caught fragments.
“Not getting divorced”… “don’t want anything”… “tomorrow at ten”… something about meeting.
His eyes flew open, round as coins. It was like he’d just stumbled onto a scandalous secret.
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Chapter 208
Nate leaned in, trying to catch more of the conversation, when Carter suddenly turned his head and spotted him standing a short distance away.
His brows drew together slightly. “Nate, what are you doing?”
Nate, shameless as ever, showed no trace of embarrassment at being caught eavesdropping.
He smiled and said, “I heard you found Theo, so Kelly and I came to the hospital to check on him.”
Seeing that Nate had shown up, Sharon said nothing more.
“I’m heading back,” she said to Carter. “Don’t forget what you promised. Tomorrow, ten o’clock. Don’t be late.”
Without sparing Nate a glance, she turned and walked off.
Nate let out a dismissive snort and turned to Carter. “Carter, where are you two going tomorrow?”
Carter’s expression was indifferent. “Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t.”
Nate edged closer, a grin lingering on his face. “Wait… don’t tell me you two are going on a date?”
A date?
Carter’s steps slowed, his dark eyes growing distant.
Sharon would never actually divorce him. If she meant to, she wouldn’t have stirred up all this mess with Theo. Could it really be, as Nate suggested, that she was just using the excuse of a divorce to meet him again?
Seeing Carter silent, Nate assumed he’d hit the mark.
He scoffed. “Told you. She’s showing her true colors already. I knew it-she’d never divorce you. All of this is just a game to get your attention. If I had to guess, she probably came up with some excuse to ask you out tomorrow, right? Pretending to be sick, faking a kidnapping-she’s always pulling these cheap tricks. Haven’t you had enough of that by now? Carter, don’t fall for it!”
Carter said nothing, but his eyes were like a dark, bottomless well.
In the past, he might’ve dismissed Sharon’s behavior with the same disdain Nate did. But recently, something had shifted. She wasn’t as dull or insipid as he’d always assumed. There was another side to her—a side that, inexplicably, had begun to intrigue
him.
He felt a pull to understand her.
Meeting her tomorrow… why not?
He was genuinely curious what kind of “date” she had planned-how she would try to patch things up.
Since she moved out, he’d finally gotten a taste of what it really meant to raise a child. He had to admit, she’d carried more of
that weight than he ever realized.
And if she truly understood her mistakes-if she was sincere-then for Theo’s sake, maybe… maybe he could give her one more
chance.
Nate’s heart sank as he watched Carter stay silent.
That silence meant something. It meant he wasn’t denying anything. He was seriously considering meeting Sharon.
No. Nate couldn’t let her succeed. He threw in a few more jabs at Sharon, but Carter remained wordless.
Only when they reached the door of the hospital room did Carter finally cut him off.
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“Nate, whatever else she is, Sharon is still Theo’s mother. Don’t say those things in front of him again.”
Nate froze, caught off guard, and instinctively stopped walking.
Carter pushed the door open and stepped into the room.
After leaving the hospital, Nate hurried to report everything to Kelly, dramatizing the events with relish.
“Kelly, Sharon is shameless. She was definitely trying to seduce Carter. If I hadn’t shown up when I did, they might’ve kissed already!”
Kelly’s pupils contracted sharply. “A few days ago, Theo mentioned something about Sharon and Carter discussing divorce. Are they… not divorcing anymore?”
Nate said. “I caught a bit of their conversation-sounded like Sharon said she’s not divorcing after all, and Carter seemed to agree. After what Theo pulled today, even if Carter was planning to go through with it, he’ll probably have to reconsider now.”
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Chapter 209
Nate added, “Oh, right-they’re going on a date tomorrow, too.”
Kelly’s expression shifted instantly. “A date? Where are they going?”
“I didn’t catch exactly where, but I heard Sharon say something about ten in the moming. Kelly, you have to make sure she doesn’t get her way.”
A sharp glint flashed in Kelly’s eyes. “I know.”
When Wendy found out that Matty had fallen into the water and ended up in the hospital, she rushed over to visit him. Once she saw Matty was okay, she finally let out a breath.
Then, turning to Sharon, she said, “By the way, Sharon, aren’t you and John performing in a charity concert at the end of the month? He happens to be free tomorrow-why not take the chance to rehearse together? You could use your newly renovated
studio.”
“Tomorrow…” Sharon paused for a moment, not giving an immediate answer.
Wendy looked at her, surprised. “What’s wrong? You’re not free tomorrow?”
Matty would be at kindergarten during the day, and usually Sharon didn’t have other plans.
After a beat, Sharon replied honestly, “I’m going to the courthouse with Carter tomorrow. We’re finalizing the divorce.”
Wendy’s eyes widened. “You’re really divorcing Carter?”
In the corner, Xavier and his son stopped their conversation and turned at the sound of her voice.
Sharon nodded. “Yes.”
“He actually agreed to it?”
A faint, ironic smile touched Sharon’s lips. “I’m leaving with nothing. How could he refuse?”
Wendy scoffed. “I remember when you brought it up before, he never took you seriously. He always thought you were bluffing. I figured he just didn’t want to get divorced. But now it seems he was just playing the long game-waiting for you to walk away with nothing.”
Sharon didn’t seem to care. “If we go through the court process, and he drags his feet, it could take up to two years. But if he cooperates, we could wrap it up in a month. As long as I can get out, I don’t care about the money.”
Wendy nodded. “Better to end it now. Dragging it out just gives time for regrets. If you wait two years and he changes his mind, it’ll be even harder to leave. And Kelly probably only has a few months left. Once she’s gone, who knows if he’ll come crawling
back to you.”
“A few months left?” Sharon raised a brow. “You actually believe she’s terminal?”
Wendy rested her chin in her hand, thinking. “She doesn’t look like someone dying. What terminal patient has that much time to scheme and stir up drama? She’s always hovering around your husband… Honestly, it seems like an act.”
Just then, Xavier spoke up. “What exactly is she supposed to be dying from?”
Sharon shook her head. “I don’t know. Carter never told me.”
She had long suspected that Kelly wasn’t actually sick. But without proof, there was nothing she could say.
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Every time she asked Carter what diness Kelly had, he’d brush her off, saying it wasn’t her business
Eventually, the stopped asking
She’d just wait and see When the time came, would Kelly actually die?
Matty sdenly chimed in, his eyes sparkling “Sharon, are you really going to divorce Theo’s dad?”
Sharon looked down at the eager expression on Matty’s face. “Are you that excited to see me divorce him?”
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2/12
Chapter 210
“Yeah.” Matty nodded earnestly. “He isn’t good to you, and you aren’t happy with him. So I don’t want you two to be together. You deserve someone better. You deserve a happier life.”
Sharon let out a quiet, almost helpless laugh.
Even Matty-who had barely spent any time with Carter-could see how badly he treated her.
Wendy turned to her. “Since you’re not free tomorrow, should I tell John to reschedule?”
“No need,” Sharon said. “We’re just filing for the divorce cooling-off period. It won’t take more than half an hour. Can you tell John I’ll be free to rehearse in the afternoon?”
“Sure.” Wendy picked up her phone and lowered her head to send a message.
Matty, curious, asked, “Sharon, where are you and John performing?”
Sharon thought back to what Uriah had said. “It’ll probably be at a nursing home or somewhere like that.”
Matty’s eyes lit up. “Sharon, can I come with you? I want to perform too-can I?”
Sharon hesitated. If it were a gig she had full control over, letting Matty perform would’ve been fine. But this one was organized by Uriah. It wasn’t her place to make that decision.
Seeing her hesitation, Matty added seriously, “I’ve been practicing violin every day. I promise I won’t hold you back.”
Sharon softened. “I can’t make that call. But I’ll ask Mr. Malcolm for you tomorrow and let you know, okay?”
Matty’s eyes sparkled. “Okay!”
He loved performing with Sharon. Nothing else made him feel that kind of joy.
She gave him pride-like when he won first place. She gave him comfort-like when his mom was still around.
He really, really didn’t want to let go of her.
He made up his mind right then and there. He’d do everything he could to treat Sharon well. He’d win her over.
The next morning, Sharon woke early, not wanting to be late.
After checking-again-that she had all the necessary documents, she headed out.
Carter was the kind of man who cared deeply about punctuality. Unless it was Kelly, he wouldn’t wait for anyone.
Worried about traffic, Sharon left well in advance.
By the time she arrived at the courthouse, it was only 9:10 a.m.
She stood outside the building, waiting calmly.
At exactly 9:00 a.m., Carter picked up his car keys and was just about to leave when his phone rang.
“Carter, you need to come now! Kelly slipped in the shower and fell-she’s unconscious and being rushed to the hospital!”
His face darkened. “How bad is it?”
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Chapter 250
“It’s serious! I called her name over and over. She wouldn’t wake up! I’m in the ambulance now-please, hurry!”
“I’m on my way.” His voice turned cold and clipped. Without another word, he left the villa
10:05 am
Sharon stood at the entrance of the courthouse, frowning slightly as she glanced at the time.
It was already past ten. Where was Carter?
Maybe traffic? Or something had come up?
She gave it some thought and decided to wait ten more minutes.
But fifteen minutes went by. Still, no sign of him.
Not even a text. Not a single call.
If something had really come up, the least he could do was call, right?
Unless… there was an accident?
Unease stirred in her chest. She lifted her phone and dialed his number.
Ring after ring, no one picked up.
Her fingers tightened around the phone. Could something really have happened?
Just when she was about to give up hope, the call finally connected.
Carter’s voice came through the line.
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Chapter 211
“I’ve got something going on today… I probably won’t be able to make it…”
Before Carter could finish his sentence, Nate’s voice came through the phone, interrupting from the other side.
“Carter, Kelly’s out of emergency care now. Come see her, quick…”
Kelly?
Of course. How could she forget?
Every time Carter broke a promise, it was always because of Kelly.
Sharon felt no waves in her heart anymore. Her voice was calm and distant.
“She’s already out of surgery. If you have time this afternoon, just drop by. Don’t worry, it won’t take long…”
But again, before she could finish, Nate’s voice cut in.
“Carter, why are you still on the phone? Kelly keeps calling your name-she needs you right now!
The doctor said her condition isn’t good this time. If something really happens, today might be the last chance you get to see
her!”
“…Alright. I’m coming.” Carter’s voice turned cold and sharp.
Just as he was about to hang up, he suddenly remembered Sharon on the other end.
“I’m busy right now. I’ll call you back later.”
The line went dead.
Carter turned to Nate. “How is Kelly?”
Nate glanced at the phone in his hand. A faint trace of satisfaction flickered in his eyes, but his face wore a serious look.
“Not great. The doctor said… with her current condition, she probably won’t last more than six months.” 1
Carter’s brows furrowed slightly. “You still haven’t found that alternative medicine specialist?”
.”I did.”
“Then why haven’t you brought him in to treat Kelly?”
At the mention of this, Nate’s expression grew irritated.
“That old man refuses to come! No matter what price I offer, no matter what terms, he just won’t show up to treat her! Isn’t that infuriating?”
“Did he name any other conditions?”
“No.” Nate shook his head. “I’ve never met anyone so bizarre. He says he’s retired, but he still runs this shabby little traditional medicine shop. I’ve even seen people coming by for prescriptions now and then.
“And when I begged him-literally begged him-he wouldn’t even budge. I’ve gone to see him three times. It’s unbelievable!”
Nate’s face hardened.
“Hmph. I’ll go again tomorrow. If he still acts high and mighty, I’ll just drag him back myself.”
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Carter’s gaze darkened. “Have you ever brought Kelly to see him in person?”
Nate blinked, caught off guard. “…No.”
“Did he ever say you weren’t allowed to bring her?”
“I don’t think… he ever said that.”
“Then why not try bringing her there directly?”
Nate scratched his head. “Kelly’s condition, as you know, needs long-term care. I was hoping to hire him as her private doctor.”
Carter’s steps were steady. “Maybe he wants to treat others too, and doesn’t want to be tied down. Bring Kelly to him in person tomorrow. See how he responds.”
Nate’s eyes shifted. “Well… I kind of cursed him out yesterday. Thought he was heartless. If I bring Kelly now, he might refuse just out of spite. Maybe… you should go instead?”
Carter gave him a long look but didn’t respond.
The two of them reached the door to Kelly’s hospital room.
When they opened it, they saw that she was already awake.
Her eyes lit up slightly when she saw Carter, but the spark faded quickly, like a candle snuffed out by wind.
“Carter… I’m sorry. I’ve troubled you again. If you have work to do, go ahead. I’m… I’ll be fine.”
A shadow passed through Carter’s eyes.
He thought of Sharon.
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Chapter 212
Sharon was probably still waiting outside the courthouse.
That thought drifted quietly through Carter’s mind.
He remembered a time they’d agreed to visit a bridal shop to try on wedding outfits. But Kelly had suddenly fallen ill. It was an emergency-he dropped everything and forgot about the fitting entirely.
His phone had run out of battery that day.
By the time he remembered, it was already night. He called Sharon, only to find out she had waited for him the entire day at the shop. From morning until night.
Back then, when he heard about it, he just thought she was being foolish.
He hadn’t shown up. She couldn’t reach him. So why didn’t she just leave? Why waste her time standing around?
But now, that feeling-it was different.
It felt like… no matter when he showed up, someone would always be waiting for him, right where they’d agreed to meet.
It wasn’t too late yet. He could still make it in the afternoon.
“Carter? Carter, are you listening?”
Kelly’s voice pulled him back to the present.
He turned to look at her. Up close, he noticed her face was still tinged with an unhealthy pallor.
“Yeah. I heard you.”
Kelly felt a chill sink into her chest. If he had no intention of leaving, he wouldn’t have needed to say he heard her. He was still thinking about that date with Sharon.
She shot a glance at Nate. He caught her cue immediately and gave her a subtle, reassuring nod.
Then he stepped behind Carter. “Carter, stay here and keep Kelly company for a bit. I’ll go ask the doctor how stable her condition is.”
Carter responded with a quiet “Mm.”
About ten minutes later, Nate returned with a doctor. The doctor’s expression was serious.
“There seem to be some abnormalities in Kelly’s medical readings. We’ll need to run more detailed tests.”
Carter’s brows furrowed. “What kind of abnormalities?”
“Some of the results from her physical exam don’t look right. We’ll need to recheck them before we can confirm anything.
“Then let’s do it,” Nate said, turning to Carter. “Didn’t you say you’re taking Kelly to see that alternative medicine specialist tomorrow? If we bring the full test results, that stubborn old man might be able to make a faster, more accurate diagnosis.”
It made sense. Carter gave a slight nod in agreement. 1
On the other side of town, Sharon stared at her phone, the call having ended abruptly. Her face was pale with restrained emotion.
Why did Kelly’s condition have to flare up today of all days?
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Not earlier. Not later. Today.
Was it just coincidence… or was it deliberate?
If it was on purpose, it didn’t quite make sense. After all, no one wanted her and Carter to get divorced more than Kelly did.
From what she’d overheard, Kelly had already pulled through the emergency. She was out of danger.
Even if they couldn’t finalize the divorce in the morning, the afternoon would work just as well.
She just needed to reschedule the rehearsal with John.
Sharon gave John a quick call, then found a nearby café-one with a clear view of the courthouse entrance. She sat down and
waited for Carter.
She could’ve gone off to do other things. There was still time.
If Carter really came and couldn’t find her, he’d call.
But she was too eager-too desperate-to end this marriage today.
What if she left, and he showed up just then, couldn’t find her, and walked away?
Better to just stay put.
Noon came. There was still no sign of him.
No texts. No missed calls.
She stared at her silent phone, her fingers twitching slightly before she redialed Carter’s number.
This time, no one picked up.
He often didn’t answer when he was dealing with Kelly’s issues.
Still, Sharon wasn’t upset. She just kept trying. Patiently. Quietly. Over and over again.
She had already agreed to leave the marriage with nothing. Today, no matter what-it had to be done.
She didn’t know how many times she called. Eventually, after endless rings and silence, the call was finally picked up.
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Chapter 213
On the other end of the line, Carter’s voice came through, tinged with weariness. “You’ve called me so many times. Is it something urgent?”
Sharon’s voice was cool and flat. “Carter, did you forget we’re supposed to get divorced today?”
There was a pause-several seconds of silence.
“I didn’t forget,” he said at last. “I told you just now. Something urgent came up. I couldn’t get away.”
Told her?
Sharon let out a cold laugh in her mind.
If she hadn’t called, would he have said anything at all? He’d already pushed her completely out of his thoughts.
But they were getting divorced anyway. She didn’t see the point in arguing.
What mattered now was getting him to show up and finalize it.
“When I called earlier, Kelly had already come out of the ER. You’ve been with her all morning. You should be free this afternoon, right?”
The words hit Carter differently. They carried a tone-faint, maybe imagined-something like jealousy.
He asked suddenly, “You want me to come that badly?”
Sharon frowned. There was something off about the question.
“We agreed yesterday, didn’t we?” Her voice dropped a degree colder. “Carter, don’t tell me you’re backing out now.”
A beat passed before he spoke again. “I understand. I’ll come.”
But Sharon didn’t let her guard down. “What time?”
“I’ll call you when I’m done here.”
She didn’t buy it. “I want an exact time.”
He was quiet for a few seconds, then said, “Two o’clock.”
“I hope you mean it this time, Carter. Don’t go back on your word again.”
With that, she ended the call without hesitation.
After hanging up, Sharon stared at the phone for a moment, thinking, then dialed another number.
“Wendy, can you find out which hospital Kelly’s in right now?”
Wendy had worked as a talent agent. Her connections didn’t run as deep as Carter’s or Xavier’s, but they were still better than
most.
She understood immediately. “No way-Kelly had another episode?”
“Yeah.” A faint crease appeared between Sharon’s brows. “Carter didn’t turn up this morning. I’m not even sure he’ll show this afternoon. If he doesn’t, I’ll go find him at the hospital myself.”
That divorce was happening-one way or another.
“Got it. I’ll have someone check. I’ll text you as soon as I find out.”
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At the hospital.
Nate watched Carter step out of the exam room to take a call. His eyes darkened. Without hesitation, he followed. 1
He had a feeling-It had to be Sharon on the other end.
As he approached, he heard Carter’s voice, low and steady.
“You want me to come that badly?”
“I’ll come.”
“Two o’clock.”
It didn’t sound like a divorce arrangement. It sounded like he was making plans for a date.
Nate kept his tone casual as he stepped closer. “That was Sharon again, wasn’t it?”
Carter slipped his phone into his pocket. “How’s Kelly doing?”
“Not great. The doctor said they’re not even sure if she’ll be well enough for the concert.”
Nate gave him a pointed look. “You know Kelly’s always had poor health. Lately she’s been exhausted-emotionally and physically. She’s even been taking care of Theo for Sharon. That’s only made her condition worse. She kept it from us. I didn’t think it was this serious. But the doctor said they still need to finish the full tests before anything’s confirmed.”
No matter what, he couldn’t let Carter leave today.
“I’ll stay here while she finishes the tests,” Carter said. “But I have to step out for a bit later.”
Nate frowned, clearly displeased. “Her condition’s already getting worse, and you’re still leaving? What could possibly be more important than Kelly’s health?”
Carter’s eyes were like deep, impenetrable water.
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Chapter 214
“It’s going to be a while before Kelly finishes her tests,” Carter said. “You stay with her. I’ll come back later.”
Nate couldn’t hide his emotions. It just wasn’t in his nature. At those words, he let out a sharp, humorless laugh.
“Carter, we both know why Kelly ended up with a terminal illness. Don’t we?” His voice was laced with bitterness. “You promised me back then-you said you’d take care of her. Fine, you didn’t keep that promise. But now, with her life hanging by at thread, you’ve still got time to rum off and go on a date with Sharon?”
Carter’s eyes flickered. He turned to look at him.
Nate caught the shift in his expression and softened his tone.
“Carter, if Kelly hadn’t saved my life that year, I’d be dead. She loves you, and I was willing to step aside for her. Your mom didn’t approve of you two. You were forced to break up with her-I don’t blame you for that. All I want is for you to help her finish this last part of her life without regrets. That’s all I’m asking.”
He and Carter had grown up together. They had risked their lives for each other.
Nate once drew their enemy’s attention to save Carter, nearly dying in the process. And it had been Kelly who appeared just in time to pull him back from the brink.
Nate had feelings for Kelly. But if his best friend and the woman who saved him loved each other, he was willing to give them his blessing.
He knew Carter had married Sharon out of obligation. There was a child involved. Refusing to divorce could be understood.
But now that Kelly was terminally ill, he couldn’t stand by and let Carter turn his back on her.
Two o’clock came.
Carter still hadn’t shown up.
This time, Sharon didn’t wait around like a fool. She called him directly.
She expected it to ring unanswered. Or maybe it’d go straight to voicemail. But instead, someone picked up almost immediately.
Only, it wasn’t Carter. It was Nate.
His voice brimmed with smug satisfaction. “Sharon, you can stop wasting your time. Carter’s with Kelly right now. He’s not coming”
The second she heard his voice, Sharon understood everything.
“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”
Nate didn’t even try to deny it. He wanted her to know.
“That’s right. I did You were planning to meet up with Carter today, weren’t you? Well, not gonna happen. I made sure of that. You angry? Good. I like seeing you pissed off and powerless. That look suits you”
Even without seeing his face, Sharon could picture the self-satisfied smirk stretching across it.
It was laughable his arrogance
“Do you even know what I asked Carter to meet me for?”
Nate snorted. “I don’t give a damn. Whatever it was, it’s not happening. Give it up.”
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Sharon had never seen someone so proudly, unapologetically stupid.
Forget a formidable opponent-what you really had to worry about was an idiot teammate.
If Kelly ever learned the truth, she’d probably want to strangle him herself.
For a second, Sharon was tempted to just let it go. Let the two of them live in their delusions. Let them find out the truth and regret it on their own.
But she caught herself. Wasting her life just to prove a point to someone like Nate-it wasn’t worth it.
She opened her mouth. “Nate, I asked Carter to meet me today because we were going to get div-”
Beep. Beep. Beep.
He hung up.
Sharon stared at her phone, blank for a moment as the dial tone buzzed in her ear.
She called back.
This time, the phone was turned off. (1
She let out a sigh. It looked like she’d have to go to the hospital herself.
When it came to this divorce, Sharon had prepared for both outcomes. If Carter agreed, even if it meant she left with nothing, that would be that.
Why keep dragging it out? Why keep tangling herself up in this mess? At least they could part with some dignity.
But if Carter refused-if he had no intention of making it easy-then she was ready to fight. She had no problem tearing off the last of the polite masks to get what she deserved.
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Chapter 215
In this day and age, divorce had become a nearly impossible task.
Her lawyer had already told her more than once: if it could be helped, a divorce by mutual agreement was the fastest and
cleanest way out.
If she chose to go through legal proceedings, just the court review alone would take about six months. And if she wanted to divide property, given the complexities of the Biggs family’s assets, it might stretch to nine months or more.
Before even getting to court, they’d first have to go through mediation-at least another month. Only if mediation failed would the court officially file the case.
The lawyer politely said to her, “Even if both of you eventually agree to the divorce, because there’s a child involved and Mr. Biggs hasn’t committed any serious offense, the court is very likely to deny the request.” (1
“I know that sounds ridiculous,” he added. “But this is the reality. I’ve handled divorce cases for years-this kind of situation is more common than you’d think. If you want the quickest way out, negotiating is still the best route.”
Sharon asked, “The evidence I’ve gathered-could it prove he’s at fault in the marriage?”
The lawyer shook his head. “Not really. Nothing you have clearly proves infidelity. And even if there was cheating… legally speaking, it wouldn’t necessarily affect how the assets are divided.
“Unless you catch them in bed or can prove they’re living together and publicly calling each other husband and wife-then you might have a case for bigamy. Then you might be able to negotiate for a bit more. But getting him to walk away with nothing? That’s simply not going to happen.”
Before any of this, Sharon had never imagined how convoluted and unreasonable divorce law could be.
It wasn’t until now that she realized the idea that “bad people get what they deserve” was just a moral comfort found in stories. In real life, bad people often didn’t suffer. Sometimes, they even lived better than anyone else.
Half an hour later, Sharon arrived at the hospital.
She already knew from Wendy which room Kelly was in.
The elevator climbed slowly to the top floor.
The moment the doors slid open, two bodyguards standing on either side stepped forward and blocked her path.
“Sorry, Sharon. This floor has been reserved. No unauthorized entry.”
She stopped in her tracks. “Reserved by who?”
The bodyguards had clearly been briefed. They didn’t hesitate.
“Nate Hendricks.”
Nate? He really had gone all in just to stop her from finding Carter-he’d even reserved the entire floor.
She glanced toward the corridor and saw two more guards at the stairwell.
So, they were guarding every entrance. Making sure she couldn’t even use the stairs.
Sharon let out a soft laugh, quiet and without warmth. She didn’t argue, just turned and walked away.
Nate had clearly done everything possible to prevent her from seeing Carter today.
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Chapter 215
She didn’t wait around the hospital. She left right away. She knew Nate would definitely have someone tailing her. If she fingered there, he’d make sure Carter never walked out of that hospital.
When she opened the door, Wendy was sitting on the couch in the living room.
Seeing Sharon’s tired expression, she quickly put the pieces together.
“Carter bailed on you again?”
Sharon nodded. “Yeah. But this time it was mostly because of Nate.”
“Nate?” Wendy’s eyes narrowed.
Sharon told her the full story.
Wendy couldn’t hold it in. “That idiot Nate!”
Sharon leaned back on the couch. “I’ll try to reach Carter again tomorrow. I don’t believe Kelly is on the verge of death every single day.”
Wendy muttered a few more curses under her breath before remembering why she’d come over in the first place.
Her face lit up. “Oh, right! Sharon, I came here to tell you some good news!”
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Seeing Wendy’s face practically glowing with excitement, Sharon couldn’t help but ask, “What’s the good news?”
“Sharon, you’ve gone viral!” Wendy nearly shouted, thrusting her phone into Sharon’s hands. “Remember when you went with Matty to that competition? Someone-bless their kind soul-streamed a video of you playing the violin online!
“You’re blowing up! You’ve almost hit ten million followers! I even heard the video’s making the rounds internationally!”
Wendy’s voice rose with growing exhilaration. “Sharon, didn’t you and John plan to do a concert tour? This is the perfect opportunity to ride the wave-it’s the best momentum for your comeback!”
Wendy, who had once sworn she’d become a top-tier agent and launch a true global star with sheer talent, didn’t like to admit it –but even she had to face the truth: in this day and age, traffic was king.
No matter how talented you were, if no one was watching, it didn’t matter.
And to get an audience, people had to know you existed.
Now, in this fast-paced, attention-deficit era, talent wasn’t the first thing people looked for. Capital could create the illusion of brilliance in the shortest time. With help from marketing accounts, media outlets, headlines, and non-stop hype, they could brainwash the public into thinking someone was exceptional-huge, relevant, unstoppable.
That’s how you built an army of mindless fans.
In the past, success came from real skill. Now, it came from strategy, gimmicks, and persona.
Still, true talent always shone through. The public, despite everything, still had sharp eyes. No amount of promotion could mask a lack of substance. Without real skill, no one lasted long.
Kelly was proof. Despite her legion of obsessive fans, her talent was very real.
John might be popular now, but he had no backing.
And at this stage, he was still far from becoming capital himself.
After severing ties with his original management company, it was still uncertain whether he might face industry blacklisting.
But if Sharon could rise to fame now, this was what you called a god-tier starting hand.
Sharon took the phone from Wendy and saw that it was a screen recording of a livestream.
She asked, “Did Xavier do this?”
“Nope,” Wendy said quickly, shaking her head. “I was sitting right next to Xavier when you performed. He wasn’t livestreaming.
41
Wendy leaned in, watching the clip with her. “From the angle, it looks like the person filming was sitting in the Biggs family section… Anyway, we don’t need to overthink it. Whoever it was, they did us a favor.”
Sharon understood. Times had changed. If she wanted to accomplish anything now, she couldn’t afford to be invisible.
It had been five years since she last touched a violin. Getting back into it wouldn’t be easy.
John’s invitation to co-host a concert was a hand extended in kindness. But she couldn’t rely on him forever.
Now, she’d gone viral-by accident. But it was still the best start she could’ve hoped for.
Wendy’s professional instincts kicked in immediately. Her mind was already racing ahead, mapping out the next steps.
“Since you’re hot right now, let’s get your official account set up fast. While the buzz is still fresh, we’ll post a few violin
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performance clips and start building your fanbase. Carter threw god knows how much money into promoting Kelly online, and look at her now… just so-so.”
Wendy had a sharper mind for management and promotion than Sharon did. Sharon nodded in agreement. 1
“No time to waste. Let’s set up the account now.”
At the hospital.
The examinations had dragged on the entire day before they were finally done.
As evening approached, Carter got an urgent call. Something had come up at work. He had to return to the company immediately.
And with Carter pulled away by business, Nate couldn’t very well use the same old tricks to trap him again.
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Chapter 217
Some tricks worked once or twice. Push them too far, and they start to backfire.
Especially now-Sharon was gone.
The person Carter had sent to watch her had already reported back: she’d gone home.
As soon as Carter left, Nate’s face lit up with the smug satisfaction of a plan falling perfectly into place.
“I knew it. Sharon couldn’t wait for Carter and came running to the hospital instead. Good thing I was prepared, or she really might’ve gotten her way.”
Kelly smiled too, the kind of smile that only comes after enduring too many losses and finally tasting a win. She’d been bested by Sharon too many times lately. She needed this-something to pull her out of the fog.
She turned to Nate, her voice full of praise. “Nate, you really thought of everything. If it were up to me, I couldn’t have come up with all that.”
Nate beamed, clearly pleased. “Kelly, you’re too pure. There’s no way you could outmaneuver someone like Sharon. She’s downright cunning.”
He swore he’d never been this sharp in his life.
Usually, he was careless, impulsive, the kind of person who rarely thought things through.
But somehow, this time, it was like something clicked. Everything fell into place.
Even he couldn’t believe how clever he’d been.
But Kelly’s joy didn’t last long. A cloud passed over her expression, her smile fading into worry.
“Carter didn’t go to see Sharon today,” she said slowly, “but that doesn’t mean he won’t go tomorrow.”
Nate grinned, confident. “Relax. Starting tomorrow, he won’t have the time to see her even if he wanted to. We finally found that alternative medicine specialist I told you about. Carter’s taking you to begin treatment tomorrow. And your concert preparations are about to kick off too. How could he possibly still have time for Sharon?”
Kelly froze. Her expression stiffened. “An alternative medicine specialist?”
“Yeah,” Nate said. “Didn’t I tell you before? I’ve been searching for one to treat you.”
She vaguely remembered him saying something like that before, but she hadn’t taken it seriously.
Nate had made the so-called doctor sound almost mythical, like some miracle doctor. And Nate, as usual, had a habit of exaggerating everything. She hadn’t paid much attention.
But now it seemed the so-called miracle doctor had actually been found.
Nate went on, animated and eager, talking at length. But to his confusion, Kelly showed no sign of happiness.
He trailed off, then asked carefully, “Kelly… what’s wrong? Aren’t you happy?”
She blinked, then forced a smile. “No, I’m just… I don’t want you and Carter worrying too much about me.”
She lowered her head, a quiet melancholy seeping into her voice. “Nate, I’m really grateful. For everything you and Carter have done for me. But I know my own condition. This body… it’s not worth saving anymore. Let’s just leave it.”
Nate grew anxious. “Kelly, how can you say something so hopeless? Carter and I haven’t given up on you. You can’t give up on yourself!”
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The next day, Sharon called Carter again.
The first call went unanswered.
The second was declined.
Her face darkened immediately.
After missing their appointment yesterday, Carter hadn’t even bothered to explain. Not a single call. Not a word.
As if all of it-ditching her, the silence-was perfectly normal.
It was disgusting.
At that same moment, inside Uriah’s alternative medicine clinic, the elderly doctor cast a glance at the three people standing before him. His gaze finally settled on the tall, composed man with the unreadable expression.
“Young man,” Uriah said, “your phone’s ringing. Aren’t you going to answer it?”
Carter’s tone was flat. “The consultation comes first.”
“It’s been ringing quite a few times,” Uriah remarked. “What if it’s urgent?”
Carter reached into his pocket and casually hung up. “It’s nothing important.”
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Chapter 218
Uriah spoke with quiet implication. “You didn’t answer the call. How can you be so sure it wasn’t something important?”
Nate frowned. “You stubborn old man, we’re here for treatment, not to exchange pleasantries.”
Uriah lifted his eyelids slowly. “Treatment for what? Stupidity? Foolishness? Or maybe looking for illness where there is none?”
Kelly’s eyelashes trembled, her breathing quickening for no apparent reason.
Uriah seemed to sense something and turned his gaze toward her.
“Miss, your breathing’s shallow, heart rate’s fast… you seem nervous.”
Kelly forced a smile. “I… I just feel a little stuffy. A bit unwell.”
Uriah raised his reading glasses slightly, studying her from head to toe.
“Unwell, huh? You’ve got a rosy complexion and good energy. Doesn’t look to me like anything’s wrong.”
He looked back and forth between the three of them, confusion flickering in his eyes.
“So… which one of you is the patient?”
“You can’t even tell who’s got the terminal illness?” Nate looked at him skeptically. “Are you sure you’re not just a quack?”
Uriah shot him a glance. “You’ve got excessive liver fire, quick temper, chronic halitosis, constipation-loose, unformed stools. You smoke, drink, stay up late-zero self-control. Your kidneys are depleted.”
He paused for effect, then added in an even tone, “Currently, you have mild sexual dysfunction. If not treated promptly, it may… impact your male performance. I suggest you start treatment soon. Otherwise, your wife’s future happiness might not be looking too bright.”
Nate was a handsome young man, no doubt. Maybe not as refined as Carter, but he had that charmingly roguish edge. In their social circle, he was popular with the heiresses.
Before he met Kelly, Nate changed girlfriends more often than shirts. But ever since her, he hadn’t been with anyone else. Not
one.
Countless women had thrown themselves at him, but none could sway him.
Even though Kelly had never accepted his advances, the moment anyone dared to slight her, Nate would be the first to step in
and settle the score.
Her friends all envied her-having someone so loyal, so devoted, standing guard at her side.
Her vanity had been well fed.
Nate came from a good family and was good-looking too. If things with Carter didn’t work out, he’d always seemed like a solid backup plan.
Unlike Carter, Nate never weighed pros and cons.
Besides, he wasn’t married, didn’t have kids.
Controlling someone like him was far easier than dealing with Carter.
But Kelly had never imagined-never even considered that Nate might have a condition.
She instinctively took a small step back. Her eyes met his, a flicker of something dark flashing across them-shock, discomfort, a trace of disgust she couldn’t quite conceal.
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Could it be that all this persistence, all these years of chasing her, wasn’t love?
Was it because no other debutante wanted him once word of his condition spread? Was she… the fallback?
It made a certain kind of sense.
What normal man would go that long without a single girlfriend?
Maybe… maybe he hadn’t been capable for a while now.
The thought spun around and around in her head.
Suddenly, Kelly realized-she could no longer look at Nate the same way.
Nate’s face flushed crimson. He pointed at Uriah, shouting, “You’re nothing but a fraud! Utter nonsense!”
But Uriah remained calm, even serene. “Whether I’m talking nonsense or not… well, Heaven knows it, you know it, and I know
it.”
Just then, the previously silent Carter spoke for the first time.
“Sir, why don’t you take a look at me instead? Tell me, what’s wrong with me?”
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Chapter 219
Uriah glanced at Carter, his voice low and deliberate. “You… you’ve got the biggest problem of the three of you today. By far.”
He gestured toward the chair. “Sit. Let me check-see just how deep this runs.”
Carter looked over at Nate.
Nate rubbed the back of his head, awkward and uneasy. He could tell what Carter was thinking.
They’d all heard the rumors-this old man was supposed to be some legendary doctor, a true miracle worker. Nate had spent a fortune and months of effort tracking him down.
But now? He couldn’t even tell who had the terminal illness? What if he was just a scam artist?
Kelly, listening quietly, felt a sudden flicker of hope rise in her chest.
So the old man was a fraud.
Perfect.
Frauds wanted money. And money made them easy to control.
She could play along, take whatever medicine he gave her, pretend to follow treatment for a few months, and then declare she was miraculously cured..
Problem solved.
She’d been worrying about how to fake a recovery without raising suspicion-this was the answer, served up on a silver platter.
Carter took a seat in front of the old man.
Nate narrowed his eyes, watching closely.
If this fraud dared to claim that Carter was the one with the terminal illness, Nate swore he’d destroy the old man’s reputation on the spot. He’d smear “Con Artist” across his face and drag him through the streets.
But Uriah just sighed, shaking his head slowly.
“Ay… never would’ve guessed. Young as you are, you’ve already got something incurable. What a pity. What a shame…”
Nate’s eyes went wide.
No way. He really was a con artist!
He was about to explode when Carter’s voice-calm and quiet as a still lake-cut in first.
“May I ask, sir… what exactly is this incurable condition I have?”
Nate held back his outburst.
So Carter wanted to see how far this old fraud would go with his act.
Uriah stroked his white beard thoughtfully.
“Your eyes,” he said. “Big problem there. If you don’t correct it soon, you might go blind.”
He tapped his chest. “And your heart-it’s not where it should be. Grown off-center. Way off.”
“But the worst…” He raised a finger and pointed at his own head. “Is right here. Your brain.”
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He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if revealing some tragic secret.
“Seems like it’s been soaked in something toxic. Whatever it was, it’s eaten away a good chunk of it. Almost liquefied in there.”
He sighed again. “With all these issues piling up, tell me-if that’s not terminal, what is?”
When Uriah first mentioned the eye issue, Nate rolled his eyes. Obvious quack.
But then came the heart thing-and Nate hesitated.
Could it be… Carter’s heart really was on the right side?
By the time the old man finished his talk about brains turning to soup, Nate finally understood.
The old man was mocking them.
Damn it. Who the hell did this guy think he was?
Carter had clearly caught on, too. He looked at Uriah and said quietly, “Sir, you seem to harbor quite a bit of hostility toward us.”
Uriah removed his reading glasses, eyes gleaming. “So your brain’s not completely gone after all.”
Nate was about to blow up, but Carter raised a hand to stop him.
He turned back to the old man. “May I ask… why?”
Uriah answered with a kind of blunt, effortless arrogance. “Why? Because you all just look like bad news. I don’t like the look of you. That’s all.”
Carter didn’t react. His voice remained steady. “Then let me ask you this-do you have a way to treat the illness we came here for?”
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Chapter 220
Uriah looked at Carter with a cryptic smile. “Of course. You’re here to get medicine for that girl, aren’t you?”
Nate blinked in confusion. “Didn’t you say you couldn’t tell what was wrong with Kelly?”
“I can’t see what’s wrong with her,” Uriah replied, tone easy. “I guessed it.”
Nate was speechless. Damn this old man-his mouth is as vicious as Sharon’s.
Carter had already heard from Nate that this old man had a strange temperament, so he wasn’t bothered by the sarcasm. He simply looked into Uriah’s eyes and asked, “Then, how much time can you give her?”
Uriah glanced at Kelly again.
That murky gaze of his, though aged, was as sharp and penetrating as a hawk’s. Kelly felt her whole body tense involuntarily, a chill creeping down her spine-as if he had seen right through her.
He quickly looked away and declared with calm certainty, “I can cure her.”
Carter and Nate both froze.
This wasn’t just some ordinary illness. They had scoured the globe, consulting every renowned doctor they could find. Not a single one had come up with a solution.
They weren’t even hoping for a cure anymore-just a little more time.
And now this old man dared to say he could cure a terminal illness?
Was it genuine confidence, or sheer arrogance?
Carter’s gaze grew colder. “You haven’t even checked her, haven’t read her medical reports—and you say you can cure her?”
Uriah didn’t flinch. “Why else do you think they call me a miracle doctor?”
Carter stared at him without blinking. “Are you sure?”
Nate glared at the old man, his voice laced with threat. “If you’re lying, we won’t just refuse to pay you, we’ll make sure your reputation is ruined.”
Uriah turned to him. “Then tell me-was I wrong about your symptoms?”
Nate fell silent.
Uriah gave a slight shrug, the air of a recluse untouched by worldly judgment. “Anyone who comes to me should know-I don’t always take money. For you two, I won’t charge a cent.”
Nate frowned. “If you’re not taking money, then what do you want?”
A knowing smile crept across Uriah’s face. “I want…”
Sharon hadn’t been able to reach Carter by phone, but not long after, she got a call from Uriah instead.
“Kid,” he said, “the clinic’s a bit hectic lately. We’re short-staffed. If you’re free tomorrow, come help out.”
Sharon hesitated a few seconds before answering.
Uriah sounded a little displeased. “What? Now that you don’t need my medicine, I can’t count on you anymore?”
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“No, no,” Sharon said quickly. “I mentioned last time, I’m taking care of a kid. It’s the school holidays this week, and his father’s on a long business trip-he won’t be back for a while.”
Uriah’s tone softened. “That the same kid who wanted to perform with you?”
“Yes,” she replied.
“Then bring him along.
Sharon agreed immediately. “Alright. I’ll come by tomorrow.”
It wasn’t like Uriah to call her out of the blue and ask for help. He must really be swamped.
That evening, when Sharon told Matty about it, the boy was overjoyed.
“You mean the old doctor who taught you how to make medicinal meals? I want to learn from him too! That way, when you get sick, I can make medicinal meals for you!”
Sharon reminded him gently, “Matty, we’re going to help out, not to play. Helping out is hard work.”
Matty’s eyes sparkled. “As long as I get to be with you, I don’t mind working hard at all!”
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Chapter 221
Sharon felt a quiet warmth bloom in her chest.
Lately, Matty had been sticking to her like a shadow. Wherever she went, he wanted to follow.
The next morning, she tried calling Carter again. Still no answer.
She stared at the messages she’d sent him.
[Carter, when are we getting divorced?]
[You promised me we’d get the divorce. Are you going back on your word?]
[Carter, do your words mean nothing? Are you even a man?]
[Do you even want this divorce or not?]
Not a single reply.
Her finger swiped upward by accident, scrolling to the earlier part of the chat. Those messages, too, were mostly one-sided.
The few responses she had gotten from him were short, indifferent: “Mm.” “Okay.” “Busy.” “Got it.”
And every time he said he’d call her back, he followed through maybe two out of ten times.
What a liar.
No-he wasn’t a liar to the world. He just never kept his word with her.
She had barely put the phone down when it rang again.
It was her lawyer.
“Sharon, the court has officially accepted your divorce petition. Mr. Biggs should be notified shortly after the holiday. You’re not planning to withdraw the case, are you?”
“No,” Sharon replied.
“Good. If there are any changes on your end, be sure to let me know right away.”
After hanging up, she let out a long breath.
Good thing she’d prepared in advance. Otherwise, she might have gotten played by Carter yet again.
Still, this wasn’t going to be over quickly. It was going to be a long war of attrition.
Sharon brought Matty with her to Uriah’s clinic.
The place was quiet, unusually so-no patients, no one waiting for prescriptions. Matty’s eyes widened.
“Sharon, are you sure this is the place?”
She nodded. “Yeah. This is it.”
He looked around, puzzled. “But didn’t Mr. Malcolm say he was super busy lately and short on help?”
Sharon found it strange, too.
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Chapter 221
Back when she used to help out, there were always a few people in line, even on slow days.
But today, the whole place felt deserted.
Not long after they stepped inside, Uriah emerged from the back room, carrying a few herbs.
“You’re here,” he said, setting the herbs down on the table. His eyes dropped to the boy standing beside Sharon. “So this is the kid you were talking about?”
Sharon nodded.
A small smile tugged at the old man’s lips. “Not bad. Honestly, more likable than your own son.”
Uriah had always been blunt, a sharp tongue paired with a soft heart. Sharon didn’t take offense.
“Matty, come say hello to Mr. Malcolm.”
Matty’s voice was sweet and polite. “Hello, Mr. Malcolm! Sharon talks about you all the time-she says you’re kind and wise.”
He handed over a small bag. “These are some snacks Sharon and I made for you. Mine might not be as good as hers, so please don’t mind if they’re not perfect.”
“You’re a good kid. You’ve got a bright future ahead of you.” Uriah squinted with pleasure. None of his own grandkids were this thoughtful or well-mannered.
Despite his age, Uriah had a sharp palate and a picky appetite. Most food didn’t satisfy him. It had taken Sharon ages to figure out how to cook to his taste.
She asked, “Uriah, didn’t you say the clinic was too busy lately? Why’s it so empty today?”
He waved a hand dismissively. “They haven’t shown up yet. But by the looks of the time, they’ll be here any minute.”
No sooner had he said it than footsteps echoed from outside.
And then a stunned voice-
“Sharon? What are you doing here?!”
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Chapter 222
Sharon turned her head and saw three familiar faces walking into Uriah’s clinic.
And in that instant, she understood why Uriah had suddenly asked her to come help.
She wasn’t exactly surprised.
After all, Nate and Carter had been running themselves ragged over Kelly’s illness. Reaching someone like Uriah must’ve taken no small effort.
Nate stared at her, wide-eyed, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“Sharon, really? You followed Carter here? Let me tell you, if you interfere with Kelly’s treatment in any way, I won’t let it slide!” Kelly stepped in gently, “Nate, don’t say that. Maybe Sharon just really wanted to see Carter, so she came here looking for him.” Sharon curled her lips into a cool, faint smile. “I got here first. And you’re saying I followed you? For all I know, it’s you three who followed me.”
Nate let out a mocking laugh. “You? A housewife? What’s there to follow? No, it’s you-you couldn’t stand that Carter didn’t show up to your little date, so you chased him down. Honestly, for a man, you’ve really lost all sense of shame.”
Sharon couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s right, I’ve got no shame-because I handed it over to the mistress who spends all day clinging to someone else’s husband. Without my ‘shame,’ she probably wouldn’t even have the face to show hers in public.”
Nate wasn’t stupid. He knew exactly who she was referring to.
He pointed a trembling finger at her, clearly furious, but unable to come up with a single decent comeback.
The open jab left Kelly flustered. Her expression soured visibly.
Carter frowned, his lips tightening, that handsome face of his frosting over like a windowpane in winter. From the look in his eyes, it was obvious-he thought Sharon had come here just to stir things up.
“Sharon,” he said in a low voice, “I know why you came. I didn’t show up that day, and I’ll make it up to you.”
Kelly’s eyes flickered, but it was Nate who reacted first.
“Carter, can’t you see? She’s obviously here to cause trouble!”
Sharon had had enough of this lunatic.
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She looked at him coldly. “First of all, I didn’t follow you. Second, my being here has nothing to do with any of you. I came to see Mr. Malcolm. Not you. And lastly-”
She turned to Carter, her voice unwavering, gaze sharp.
“You promised we’d get a divorce. You broke your word.”
The air froze.
Carter’s face darkened.
Nate and Kelly stared at her in disbelief, as if she’d just dropped a bombshell in the middle of the room.
Divorce?
That day… was about getting divorced?
Nate was the first to break the silence.
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He burst out laughing. “Divorce? Please. Even Carter said you were meeting up for a date! A new tactic, huh? Throwing out’ divorce’ just to trick Carter into seeing you? Sharon, if you want to play hard to get, this isn’t how you do it. Threatening divorce every time you want attention… pathetic.”
He sneered at her. “Maybe if you stayed home and focused on being a decent wife and mother, you’d get more results than pulling this kind of stunt.”
Kelly, too, gradually regained her composure.
Of course. There was no way Sharon would really divorce Carter.
She put on a gentle face and said softly, “Carter, Sharon is just teasing you. Don’t take her words too seriously. She’s probably just upset because you’ve been so busy lately and haven’t had time for her. That’s all this is-just a little tantrum to get your
attention…”
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Kelly paused for a beat, then continued, “I heard… the sudden onset of my illness the other day disrupted your date with Sharon. Carter, since she’s already found her way here, why don’t you go with her? Nate is here with me. It’s the same either way.”
Carter’s dark eyes chilled like frost, the sharp edge of winter settling behind his gaze.
Over the past few days, Nate had been feeding him thoughts, drip by drip, until even Carter had started to believe that Sharon had only asked to meet so she could see him-like it was a date.
Or maybe, deep down, he just didn’t want to believe that she genuinely wanted a divorce.
His voice was cold. “Sharon, I can’t stand clingy women.”
Sharon had finally had enough of this entire circus act.
“What is it with you people? I said I wanted a divorce, and here you are going on about dates, playing hard to get-do you not understand words, or is there something wrong with your brains?”
At that moment, Uriah, who had been watching the whole drama unfold from the sidelines like someone enjoying a snack during a good show, finally decided he’d had enough.
He spoke slowly, almost lazily. “You three have really misunderstood things today. This girl here, my little apprentice-I called her yesterday and asked her to come help me.”
All three turned to stare at him.
Kelly hesitated before asking, “Mr. Malcolm… you know Sharon?”
“Of course,” he said, raising his brows. “Didn’t I just say that? I asked her to come. Are your ears just for decoration?”
Nate still looked doubtful. “Did you just say… Sharon is your apprentice? That can’t be right. She’s just a housewife. What does she know about medicine? And if you do know her… don’t tell me the two of you cooked up this whole act just to scam us?”
Uriah gave him a long, peculiar look. “Has your brain taken a swim in open water recently? If Sharon and I really wanted to trap you, wouldn’t it make more sense to keep her hidden? Why would I invite her over and then tell you we’re setting you up? You think that makes sense?”
Nate fell silent. He had no comeback-because no sane person would be that stupid.
Carter had assumed Sharon had followed him here. He never expected that she actually knew Uriah.
Which meant… had he misunderstood her just now?
And yet, even with that realization, Carter didn’t feel any relief. Instead, an odd restlessness stirred in the pit of his chest.
He looked at her, eyes unmoving. “Why didn’t you ever tell me you knew Mr. Malcolm?”
Sharon blinked, genuinely confused. “Why would I? How was I supposed to know you were looking for him? Did you ever ask me?”
The truth was, when it came to anything about Kelly, Carter never told her a thing. Even if she asked, he’d just shut down the
conversation.
And now, he was blaming her for not mentioning it? Unbelievable.
Carter seemed to realize that, too-that there was no way she could’ve known they were searching for the miracle doctor. Still, a sliver of doubt remained lodged in his mind.
How did you two meet?” he asked.
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Uriah answered casually, “Oh, two years ago. She came to me for medicine, for her mother in law. That’s how we met.”
Carter turned to face him fully.
“When we came yesterday… did you know who I was?”
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Carter had sensed it all along-that undercurrent of hostility from Uriah. At the time, he’d brushed it off, assuming the old man was just eccentric.
But now, seeing Sharon here, everything made sense.
Nate stared for a moment, then snapped his fingers as realization struck. “Ah! I get it now. You cranky old man-you were deliberately picking a fight yesterday!”
“Picking a fight?” Uriah’s face turned cold. He let out a heavy, disdainful snort. “People like you-swaggering around with your attitude–you think my clinic welcomes that? You come here wanting treatment, and can’t even humble yourselves. I say a few words, and you accuse me of picking a fight? What you heard yesterday was nothing. Back when Sharon came here to ask for medicine for her mother-in-law, I said even worse things!”
Then he turned to Carter, eyes sharp. “And you… why the hell would I know who you are? In those two years she came begging for medicine for your mother, did you ever show your face? Not once! And now you expect me to recognize you? Who do you think you are some stray dog the whole world needs to remember? Utter nonsense.”
The more he spoke, the angrier he seemed to get.
“You run around for some other woman, bending over backward trying to find her medicine, but when it comes to your own wife? All you have for her is blame and accusations. Seems to me your mother’s not even as important as that woman.”
His eyes turned on Carter, full of scorn and contempt.
“You’ve got a short memory, don’t you? Already forgotten how long it’s been since your stomach issues or insomnia last acted up? If it weren’t for Sharon, you think you’d still be standing around here, leisurely playing doctor for someone else? Please. You’d be curled up on the floor in pain by now.
“Out! Out! I don’t welcome heartless bastards like you in my clinic. If I’d known back then that you were Sharon’s husband, I would’ve kicked you all out the door yesterday!”
Both Theo and Carter’s health had improved thanks to Sharon’s care. Over the past two years, she had learned a lot from Uriah— practical knowledge, useful skills. And now, after everything that had been said, it was clear to all three of them: they had misunderstood.
Nate hurried to smooth things over. “Please, you promised us yesterday—you said you’d treat Kelly. You can’t go back on your word now. A healer should have the heart of a parent. If she dies because you refused to help, that’s no different than murder.”
But the old man had lived a long time. He wasn’t the type to be guilt-tripped.
“Sure,” he said dryly. “Call the police. Go ahead and have me arrested.”
Nate opened his mouth to say more, but Carter held him back.
He looked at the still-fuming old man. “Mr. Malcolm… what would it take for you to agree to treat Kelly?”
He still had his doubts about the man’s medical skills, but the truth was, they didn’t have any better options right now. It was worth a try.
Besides, over the years, his mother’s headaches had become less frequent after taking Uriah’s prescriptions. And both he and Theo had noticeably improved in health as well.
This old man might just be the real deal.
Uriah’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “I don’t enjoy turning people away, especially not those with terminal illness. If you want me to treat her… then she’ll have to do what Sharon did back then-stay here and help out around the place.
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“Given her condition, I’ll make a concession. One week. If she can stick it out for one week, I’ll treat her.”
Nate immediately objected. “No way. Kelly’s seriously ill. She can’t be running around doing chores. If it’s help you want, I’ll pay someone-ten people, if that’s what it takes.”
Uriah gave him a withering look. “You think what I lack is people? Or money? What I’m looking for is sincerity.”
Nate faltered, breath catching in his throat. “Then I’ll stay. I’ll do it in her place.”
Uriah raised his chin defiantly. “There’s no such thing as a substitute here. If someone wants to be healed, they stay. If you decide to stay and help out, I’ll assume it’s your hidden illness you’re asking me to cure.”
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“Hidden illness?”
Sharon turned toward Nate, a trace of curiosity flickering in her eyes.
Nate, clearly humiliated at being exposed in public, instantly flushed with anger. “Watch your mouth, you old fool!”
Uriah replied coolly, “Young man, don’t be ashamed of being sick. If there’s something wrong, get it treated. If you keep putting it off, don’t blame anyone else when it’s too late and all you can do is cry.”
Nate opened his mouth to argue, but Kelly stopped him.
“If Mr. Malcolm truly can cure me,” she said, “then I’m willing to stay.”
What was more important-life or chores? Anyone with a brain would know the answer.
If she stayed silent any longer, people would start to question her motives. That said, she didn’t believe for a second this so- called miracle doctor was the real deal. He hadn’t even confirmed her diagnosis before confidently claiming he could cure her.
Even after checking her pulse, his story hadn’t changed. Though she’d breathed a little easier after hearing it, deep down, she couldn’t help but scoff.
Miracle doctor? More like a con artist dressed up in robes.
She’d even considered buying him off someday, turning him into a useful partner.
She hadn’t expected him to know Sharon. Thankfully, it seemed he didn’t have any real skill-otherwise….
A faint, dark glimmer passed through Kelly’s eyes. She would have to seek help from that person again.
Uriah gave a nod, then cast a glance at Nate and Carter.
“Two grown men, and not a single one of you has the clarity of this young girl. You’re not even embarrassed?”
With a wave of his hand, he added, “Starting today counts as day one. Those who aren’t staying, please leave.”
Carter had work waiting for him. Getting Kelly here was already stretching it.
He checked his watch and turned to Nate. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head out.”
Nate nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll stay with Kelly.”
Just as Carter turned to leave, Sharon’s voice called after him. “Carter, I want to talk to you.”
He glanced at the time again, frowning. “I’m in a hurry. Can we talk next time?”
A cold smile tugged at Sharon’s lips. “Next time? You mean the day you die?”
Before Carter could respond, Nate snapped. “Sharon, who the hell are you cursing?!”
Sharon’s tone turned sharp. “Who gave you the right to butt in when I’m talking to Carter? A grown man constantly yapping like some neighborhood gossip, interfering in someone else’s marriage—what, you think that makes you impressive?”
Nate had never been scolded so directly and mercilessly. Wherever he went, people addressed him with reverence and politely.
And now, here Sharon was, practically jabbing a finger in his face. Like he was nothing.
He opened his mouth, ready to let loose, but Uriah beat him to it, his voice slow and steady, carrying the weight of someone who had seen too much.
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“Ah, Nate,” he said. “Let the couple talk. You interrupting them like this—it’s no wonder your own marriage might end up a
mess.”
Carter glanced at Sharon’s face and realized he couldn’t brush her off again.
After a quiet pause, he said, “Let’s talk outside.”
Nate instinctively took a step to follow, but a small figure blocked his path.
Matty stood firm, his tone grave. “Excuse me, if you keep interrupting married people when they’re talking, your own marriage will turn out bad.”
Nate, furious, pushed him aside-only for him to drop to the ground with a dramatic thud.
“Ah! How could an adult like you bully a child!”
Hearing the commotion, Sharon turned in alarm, only to see Matty shoot her a quick wink, silently mouthing, ‘I’ll stall him.’
Only then did Sharon feel reassured enough to follow Carter out.
Once they were outside, she got straight to the point.
“Carter. About our divorce, don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”
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Perhaps realizing he was in the wrong, Carter’s voice-for once-lost its usual chill. “That day, Kelly had a check-up. I really couldn’t get away.”
Sharon let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “You couldn’t get away, sure, but couldn’t bother to let me know either?” Her tone was biting. “You already stood me up that morning, and you promised you’d come in the afternoon.
“You didn’t show, not even a single text. Carter, you’re the CEO of a company, and this is how you keep your word? Can you still call yourself a man?”
Her voice, her eyes-cold and cutting. Each word landed like a blade. Gone was the gentle, composed woman people were used to. This Sharon was unrecognizable, and more than a little unsettling.
Carter’s expression turned dark, his voice low and stern. “Sharon, don’t be unreasonable. You never used to act like this.” (1)
She let out a soft, disbelieving laugh.
“I’m being unreasonable?” she repeated. “You break your promises over and over, and I’m the one being unreasonable?” She stared at him, unflinching. “Is this how you treat your business partners too? You bail on them, no explanation, no message, and when they ask for one, you tell them they’re being difficult?”
A shadow passed through Carter’s eyes. “Sharon, you’re my wife. You’re the closest person to me. I thought… you were different from the rest.”
Her smile twisted, her gaze colder than ever. Even her eyebrows seemed frosted over.
“Wife?” she repeated, scorn thick in her voice. “Closest person?” She shook her head slowly. “Carter, do you even hear yourself? Your mother’s the closest person to you in this world, too. Would you treat her the same way you treat me? Break your word. Vanish without notice. Like it means nothing?”
She looked him straight in the eye. “To you, I’m just a trash can. Something you summon when you need it, and toss aside when you don’t. I don’t believe you’d ever treat another person this way-only me.”
For a moment, Carter looked dazed, as if the realization had hit him somewhere he didn’t know existed.
It was true. He had never been this careless with anyone else. Somewhere deep inside, he had assumed-no matter what-she would understand. She wouldn’t make things difficult for him. She never had before.
But now… now he began to see it. Maybe, just maybe, he had gone too far this time.
He softened.
“You’re right,” he said quietly. “This one’s on me. I apologize. I promise, it won’t happen again. Even if something really comes up, I’ll call you. You’ll know.”
But the only thing that answered him was her cold, disdainful smile.
“From now on, Carter, I won’t believe a single word you say.”
She wasn’t interested in digging through the past anymore. There was no point. She knew exactly where she stood in his world.
Still, this-this latest blow-had pushed her too far.
Looking him square in the eye, she said, calmly but firmly, “And one more thing. I’ve filed for divorce. The paperwork’s already with the court. I just hope that when the official hearing comes, you don’t have something else come up and fail to show.”
With that, she turned and walked away, not sparing him another glance.
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Chapter 226
She didn’t make it far before she ran into Nate, who had just been thrown out by Uriah and Matty.
Neither of them were people he could afford to offend.
So now, he was left skulking outside, humiliated.
As she brushed past him, he let out a dismissive tch.
Sharon didn’t even flinch. Didn’t look back. Just kept walking.
Carter stood there, unmoving. His dark eyes fixed on the direction she’d gone, as if he could hold her in place by staring hard enough.
Nate ambled up beside him, full of nosy curiosity. “So, Carter, what’d Sharon want to talk to you about?”
“She mad you didn’t show up for your little date?” He smirked. “You stood her up last time too. She’s probably cooking up a new strategy, huh?”
Chapter 227
“Who knows where she learned all this-always coming up with new tricks,” Nate muttered, shaking his head.
That’s when Carter spoke up, “She said she wants a divorce.”
Nate rolled his eyes with a sigh. “She’s been threatening that for ages. Has she ever followed through? She always uses it to pressure you. Honestly, I’m tired of hearing it, even if she’s not.
“She just brought up going to the courthouse to file for divorce because you didn’t show up for that date. If you had gone, she wouldn’t be talking about divorce at all.
“And anyway, divorces aren’t that simple anymore. There’s a mandatory cooling-off period now-and even getting an appointment to file takes forever.
“One of my buddies just went with his wife to start the cooling-off period, and guess what? The slots were full! He had to wait until next month just to get the appointment.
“Then there’s another full month of cooling-off after that. So, bare minimum, we’re talking two months. Sharon knows all this. She’s just using it to scare you.”
Nate’s voice rambled on until Carter cut in. “She already filed a lawsuit. Took it to court.”
Nate froze for a moment, disbelief flickering across his face-then he burst out laughing, even louder than before. 1 “Carter, come on. You can’t seriously believe that, can you? A court case? That takes even longer! My God, Sharon-what a drama queen. Just to get your attention, she’s willing to pull something like this?”
Carter said nothing, but the look on his face had darkened, his sharp features drawn tight in thought.
Was she really acting?
If she was… then the performance had been painfully convincing
Nate laughed until tears welled in his eyes. But noticing the expression on Carter’s face-cool, unreadable-he gradually sobered up.
“Alright, alright, don’t look so grim. Didn’t she say she’s already filed? If she wasn’t bluffing, you’ll be getting a call from the court soon enough. And if you don’t get that call… well, there’s your answer.”
Carter’s gaze drifted away. He didn’t respond.
Back at Uriah’s clinic, Matty and Kelly were learning how to identify different herbs. (1
Sharon glanced at them, then turned to Uriah.
The old man caught her eye and gave a small signal, motioning her to follow him inside.
Once they were in the back room, Sharon couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“Mr. Malcolm, what exactly is going on?”
Uriah let out a sigh-
“Nate came to me a while back,” he said. “I didn’t know who he was at the time and refused his request for a consultation. Didn’t expect he’d show up again yesterday-with your scumbag husband and his mistress in tow.”
He had never liked Carter. Seeing him tangled up in scandal after scandal, splashed across the gossip pages with another woman
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Uriah had long wanted to teach him a lesson.
But he lived a quiet life, tucked away in this run-down little clinic. The will was there, but not the means.
Now, age had caught up with him. His children had been begging him to move back home. His eldest son had even drawn a hard line-if Uriah didn’t return this year, they’d drag him back by force.
The Malcolm family was thriving in the business world now, but few knew it had all started with Uriah’s remarkable medical skills in his younger years.
The world-renowned private hospital Aurora Hospital was founded by the Malcolm family.
Aurora Hospital had been named after Uriah’s late wife.
The hospital had been around for decades, with branches all over the globe. But few knew it belonged to the Malcolm family.
And fewer still realized that this seemingly unremarkable old man was the true major shareholder behind it all.
Chapter 228
Ten years ago, Uriah’s wife died in a tragic accident.
Since then, he had moved out of the Malcolm household, retreating into the solitude of his run-down clinic. His temper had grown increasingly eccentric, the edges of his personality sharpened by time and grief.
The clinic sat in a forgotten corner of the city, surrounded by crumbling old buildings. Hardly anyone came seeking treatment. And those few who did often left in a huff, driven away by his prickly disposition.
For an entire year, not a single patient crossed his threshold. But he didn’t care. Treating people had never been the point of coming here. He was simply keeping watch over the place that still held the memories of her.
Still, a gift like his could never truly be buried. Not even in a place like this.
Word of his legendary skills began to spread again, quiet and insistent like water slipping through stone.
Then he met Sharon.
He had lived a long life, met all kinds of people, and seen through countless masks. But never had he come across someone like her-so determined, so quietly resilient.
Of course. Without that steel inside her, how else could she have tolerated a husband like that for so long?
She often came to the clinic when she had free time. Always brought him handmade snacks.
But Uriah wasn’t the kind who accepted gifts with a smile out of politeness. If something didn’t taste good, he’d tell her flat-out: not even a dog could eat this.
Sharon never got upset. Instead, she would ask calmly, “What flavors do you like? I’ll try something different next time.”
He didn’t hold back. Told her everything he liked and disliked in one breath.
Eventually, she made a small notebook just for him, neatly listing all his preferences.
Over time, she started getting it right-baking things he actually enjoyed.
When the weather turned cold and she knitted gloves for Theo, she made an extra pair for Uriah too.
To Sharon, he was like the grandfather she never had. Sharp-tongued, yes, but with a soft heart beneath it.
And he knew she was genuinely kind to him.
So before he returned to his family, he’d planned to give her a parting gift.
He hadn’t expected Carter to show up before he had the chance.
A gift walking in on its own-why not take it?
If he didn’t teach them a lesson, he thought, he wasn’t worthy of his own name.
Sharon glanced toward the front of the clinic, then lowered her voice. “Mr. Malcolm… is Kelly really terminally ill?”
Uriah chuckled. “Of course not. Look how lively she is. Does she look like someone with a terminal illness?”
Sharon didn’t look surprised.
In a quieter tone, she asked, “Then why didn’t you expose her? Why go along with the lie?”
Uriah sighed. “Those two idiots are completely blinded by lust. That woman just needs to squeeze out a few tears, and they’re done for. No matter what I say, they wouldn’t believe it.”
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Chapter
Uriah had never made life easy for anyone.
Back when Sharon first met him, she’d suffered more than a little under his scrutiny.
Now it was lunchtime. The three of them sat at the table-Sharon, Matty, and Uriah-eating together.
Kelly stood off to the side, alone, sorting through medicinal herbs.
“Aah!” A thorn from one of the dried plants sliced across her finger. She flinched in pain, the sting sharp enough to bring tears
to her eyes.
But none of the three at the table so much as turned their heads. No one asked if she was alright.
Matty calmly picked up a dish and placed some on Sharon’s plate. “Sharon, this dish is really good. You should have more.”
Sharon gave her a gentle smile. “Thank you. You should eat plenty, too.”
Matty straightened her back, full of resolve. “Yeah! I need to eat a lot. I still have to help Mr. Malcolm pick herbs this afternoon!” Kelly’s fingers curled around the edge of the table. No one acknowledged her. She bit her lip.
Finally, she forced herself to walk over to them, her voice soft and pitiful. “I… I cut my finger. It really hurts…”
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Chapter 229
“Sharon, sweetheart, don’t worry about me,” Uriah said calmly, his tone carrying a touch of mischief. “Even if you weren’t around, I’d still make sure she got what’s coming to her. Wants to fake an illness, does she? Hmph. Let’s see how well she keeps it up after I’m through with her.”
He’d always had a sharp sense of justice and a long memory for grudges. Nothing disgusted him more than someone pretending to be sick-people like Kelly.
Back when he thought Sharon was doing the same thing, he’d put her through quite a bit himself.
Sharon understood his nature well. She didn’t try to argue.
Something seemed to occur to Uriah then. “By the way, earlier you mentioned divorcing Carter. Are you serious about that, or just trying to scare him?”
Sharon paused. Her voice was soft when she replied. “Even you don’t believe I really want a divorce?”
Earlier, she couldn’t understand it-why Kelly, who should’ve been thrilled by the idea of her leaving, was so eager to stop it.
Now she got it.
None of them actually believed she’d go through with it.
Uriah gave a snort. “You two have a child together. It’s only natural you’d think about what’s best for him. Besides, the Biggs family’s not bad. And Carter, for all his faults, isn’t completely useless. It’s normal if you still have feelings for him. If you really could let him go, you wouldn’t have put up with everything he did to you for so long.”
Sharon said nothing.
The silence stretched before she finally spoke.
“I mean it this time. I’ve already filed with the court. Once the holiday’s over and he gets the call from the courthouse, he’ll
know I’m serious.”
Uriah looked at her for a long moment.
“What about your son?”
“I’m done,” Sharon said. “He’s just like his father-adores Kelly. Now that she’s going to be his new stepmom, I’m sure Theo
will be thrilled.”
Divorce was something most people would talk someone out of. But not Uriah. That kind of thinking didn’t sit well with him.
He had no patience for women who couldn’t cut ties when they needed to.
He nodded with approval. “Good. That’s the kind of clean break I like to see. You’ve got backbone. I didn’t misjudge you. But just because you’ve made up your mind doesn’t mean they should get off easy. We’ll return the favor, eye for an eye. Let them know you’re not someone they can push around.”
He looked straight at her. “And don’t waste time worrying about whether they’ll come back at you later. If you’re always hesitating, you’ll never get anything done. Sharon, I’ll give you the chance. Whether or not you want to teach them a lesson- that’s up to you.”
Sharon’s breath caught for a moment.
No one had ever said something like that to her before.
She had always thought too much, hesitated too long, and done too little. In the end, she was left with nothing.
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+25 BONUS
Uriah had never made life easy for anyone.
Back when Sharon first met him, she’d suffered more than a little under his scrutiny.
Now it was lunchtime. The three of them sat at the table-Sharon, Matty, and Uriah-cating together.
Kelly stood off to the side, alone, sorting through medicinal herbs.
“Aah!” A thorn from one of the dried plants sliced across her finger. She flinched in pain, the sting sharp enough to bring tears to her eyes.
But none of the three at the table so much as turned their heads. No one asked if she was alright.
Matty calmly picked up a dish and placed some on Sharon’s plate. “Sharon, this dish is really good. You should have more.”
Sharon gave her a gentle smile. “Thank you. You should eat plenty, too.”
Matty straightened her back, full of resolve. “Yeah! I need to eat a lot. I still have to help Mr. Malcolm pick herbs this afternoon!”
Kelly’s fingers curled around the edge of the table. No one acknowledged her. She bit her lip.
Finally, she forced herself to walk over to them, her voice soft and pitiful. “I… I cut my finger. It really hurts…”
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2/2
Chapter 230
Uriah glanced at the cut on Kelly’s finger, his voice laced with sarcasm. “Well then, you’d better hurry to the hospital. If you wait too long, the wound might start healing on its own.”
Matty looked up from her plate. “Kelly, it’s just a scrape. Does it really hurt that bad? When I bump into things, I never cry… Are you seriously more fragile than a five-year-old?”
Kelly swayed slightly, as if she might faint, her expression fragile-but her mouth was anything but weak. “Sweetheart, my body’s different from normal people’s… Last week I accidentally cut my finger. There was so much blood. Carter got so worried I might have complications, he insisted I go to the hospital. T
1
“He knows my condition is a bit special now-any small injury could cause nonstop bleeding. He even arranged a blood pack for me in advance, just in case…
“But when I got to the hospital, they were trying to save a patient with major blood loss, so they gave my reserved blood to them instead. When Carter found out, he was furious. What if I had kept bleeding? He ended up firing all the medical staff who made that decision without asking.”
She let out a little sigh. “He’s just overly cautious, really. I mean, it was just a cut. No need for a blood transfusion.”
The whole speech was clearly meant for Sharon. Every word carefully crafted to show how much Carter cared about her. To hint that if anything ever happened to Kelly, he would never let Sharon off the hook. 1
Sharon looked at her and smiled gently. “Kelly, no need to worry. I’ll call Carter right now and have him come pick you up.”
Kelly blinked, stunned.
Sharon wasn’t mad? She was really going to call him?
“No, Sharon, it’s just a small injury. No need to trouble him over something like this—”
Sharon ignored her. She picked up her phone and dialed.
Kelly’s eyes narrowed slightly.
So that was it. She was just using the injury as an excuse to talk to Carter.
Too bad for her-Carter would never pick up.
But before the thought had even settled, the call connected.
“Sharon. What is it?”
Maybe it was the words she’d said to him earlier, or maybe something else had shifted-but his voice wasn’t cold. No irritation.
Just neutral.
Sharon spoke plainly. “Kelly cut her hand while sorting herbs. You should come get her, have her checked at the hospital.”
Carter’s voice grew tense. “Is it serious?”
Sharon glanced at Kelly’s hand. “You’ll see when you get here.”
Before he could reply, his secretary, Peggy, could be heard in the background. “Mr. Biggs, the meeting room is ready. Everyone’s waiting.”
Carter acknowledged her, then returned to the call. “I’m about to go into a meeting. I can’t step away right now. If it’s not too serious, ask Uriah to help her bandage it up.”
Sharon’s tone didn’t change. “Kelly’s condition is unique. We wouldn’t dare risk treating her ourselves. If the wound gets
infected or something goes wrong, we can’t take that responsibility. She’s too delicate for us to handle. You’d better bring her to the hospital yourself.”
A brief silence.
Then, Carter said, “Send me a photo. I’ll see how bad it looks.”
“Photos and videos can’t capture the full picture,” Sharon replied. “She was crying just now from the pain. Better if you come see for yourself.”
She paused for a beat.
“Of course, if you don’t come and she faints from blood loss or something worse happens… we won’t be held responsible.”
Chapter 231
Before Carter could respond, Sharon ended the call.
Kelly stared, caught off guard by how abruptly Sharon had hung up.
What was that about? Did Sharon use her as an excuse just to talk to Carter? Even if he came, it would be for her-what did it have to do with Sharon?
After the call, Sharon turned back to the table and calmly resumed lunch with Uriah and Theo.
Kelly touched her empty stomach. She hadn’t eaten all morning, thinking she’d have lunch with Carter. But instead, she ended up stuck here, thanks to Uriah.
Still, it wasn’t all bad-Carter would be coming soon. That was why she hadn’t stopped Sharon from making the call.
Now he’d see for himself how she’d been wronged.
An hour later, Carter arrived.
The three at the table had already finished eating.
Matty was picking through herbs. Sharon sat nearby, quietly grinding medicinal ingredients. And Kelly, the “patient,” sat in a chair, glancing toward the door every few seconds.
The moment she saw him-tall, composed, walking in with long strides-her eyes lit up.
“Carter, you’re here!”
Carter looked at her hand. “Is the wound serious?”
Startled, Kelly quickly hid her hand behind her back, like a frightened rabbit.
“No… it was just a little scratch. It’s already healed…”
But Carter frowned and reached for the hand she was hiding. He pulled it out.
Then paused.
There was nothing. No wound, no redness. Her skin was smooth, exactly as she’d said-already healed.
He turned sharply toward Sharon, who was still grinding herbs.
“You were messing with me?” His voice was low, cold.
Before Sharon could respond, Matty spoke up from the side.
“Mr. Biggs, why are you accusing Sharon without even asking what happened? It was Kelly who came over saying she was in pain. She told us her condition was special, that she might start bleeding uncontrollably.
“She even said that last week, when she cut her finger, you panicked and rushed her to the hospital. Said you were so worried you had a blood pack prepared just in case.
“But then some patient at the hospital had massive blood loss and they gave that blood to them. And you got so mad you fired all
the doctors on the spot.”
Adults can lie. Kids usually don’t.
Carter didn’t fully trust Matty, but everything he just recited were details only he and Kelly would know. (1)
He didn’t need anyone to tell him whether it was true or not.
Just then, Uriah came out from the back, holding a few bottles of medicine.
“Ahem. Kelly did say all of that. That’s why we didn’t dare touch her hand.”
Carter turned to Kelly, his gaze dark and impenetrable. “Kelly. Is that true?”
Kelly instinctively clenched her fists. She’d almost forgotten-everyone here was on Sharon’s side. No one would speak up for
her.
Her mind spun. Quickly, she came up with a reason.
“I’ve always heard that medicine is, by nature, toxic. I accidentally got a cut from one of the herbs and I got scared. I really did worry about infection… And I only mentioned the hospital stuff to Sharon because little Matty said he never cries when he gets hurt. He said I’m worse than a five-year-old. I was just trying to explain…”
She lifted her eyes to Carter. “Besides… I never said anything bad about Sharon. You’re the one who came in and accused her without asking anything first…”
Chapter 232
Kelly was good at sowing discord–she’d never denied that. But this time, she hadn’t said a word. And yet somehow, the blame still landed squarely on her. She wasn’t about to accept that quietly.
The atmosphere froze in an instant.
Even Kelly, who was usually quick to smooth things over for Carter, suddenly turned her back on him.
The tension in the room thickened, edging into discomfort.
It was Matty’s young, clear voice that finally broke the silence.
“Mr. Biggs, you wrongly accused Sharon. Don’t you think you owe her an apology?”
Sharon lowered her gaze to the boy.
He gave her a mischievous wink.
Clever little boy. Words like that, spoken by him, carried a different weight.
If they had come from Uriah, it would’ve sounded like favoritism.
But Matty was just a child. No matter how fond he might be of Sharon, he couldn’t have come up with all those details if he hadn’t actually heard or seen them.
It landed like a slap across Carter’s face.
His dark eyes dimmed. His Adam’s apple shifted slightly as he gulped.
A few seconds passed before he finally spoke, “…I’m sorry. I misunderstood you.”
Sharon gave him a sidelong glance. “If Kelly’s condition is so delicate, you’d better take her with you. Wouldn’t want to delay
treatment.”
Kelly didn’t want to stay any longer anyway. She held out her pale hand with a pitiful expression.
“Carter, those herbs left so many cuts on my fingers. If it keeps going like this, I might never be able to play the violin again…”
Her fingers did have scattered red scratches. They weren’t deep, but for someone who meticulously cared for her hands, they
were noticeable.
Uriah’s voice came in, cool and unhurried. “Don’t worry, that won’t happen. Back when Sharon was helping me for months, I didn’t see her lose the ability to play. All I asked you to do was sort herbs, not hack your hands off.”
Carter’s gaze shifted toward Uriah. “You knew Sharon played violin?”
The old man frowned. “What, you were married to her for five years and didn’t even know what she used to do?”
Carter parted his lips slightly but said nothing.
Uriah let out a cold snort. “You want to take Kelly with you, fine. But you heard the terms. She has to work here for a week if she wants me to treat her. If she leaves early today, she adds a day.”
Kelly’s expression froze. “Add another day?”
Uriah gave her a sharp look. “What, you think this place is some influencer check-in spot? Somewhere you can just drop by for a selfie and call it effort? If you don’t want to help out here, then stay home. I don’t like forcing people. And I especially don’t like
those whose hearts aren’t in it.”
He gave a short laugh, then turned to Carter with a meaningful glance.
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“Sharon stayed here for months, begging for medicine for her mother-in-law. Some people can’t even last half a day. What can you even expect from that?”
Kelly’s smile faltered. “Uriah, you misunderstood. It’s not that I don’t want to stay. I’m just worried I’ll get in the way I don’t know anything and might mess things up…”
But the old man didn’t buy it.
“Matty is five. He hasn’t once complained about the work. What’s your excuse? You can’t even match a five-year-old? If your so- called terminal illness has gotten to the point where you can’t take care of yourself, then forgive me I can’t treat you”
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Chapter 233
Kelly flushed, her face shifting between red and pale under Uriah’s words. “You’ve misunderstood… I—I haven’t had lunch yet. I just wanted to grab a bite with Carter…”
Uriah didn’t bother softening his tone. “I’ll give you one hour. If you’re not back in an hour, you stay an extra hour tonight. Two hours late? You’ll stay four more. That’s the rule.”
Carter frowned. “Don’t you think that’s a bit too strict?”
“No rules, no order,” Uriah shot back. “You’re a CEO-do you let your employees clock in and out whenever they feel like it?”
Carter answered calmly, “But she’s not your employee.”
Uriah let out a cold chuckle. “I’m treating her so-called terminal illness for free. All I ask is for her to do a little grunt work for a few days, and even that’s too much? If she doesn’t even value her own life, why should anyone else try to save it?”
Carter had no reply.
Kelly felt the words lodge in her chest like a stone. She wanted to lash out, to call this old fraud what he was right to his face and expose him as a con artist to Carter.
But she couldn’t. If she tore off the mask now, her lies would unravel with it.
It had to be Sharon. She must’ve teamed up with this crusty old man just to make her look bad.
The thought made her hate Sharon even more.
Carter turned to her. “Kelly, are you coming with me for the checkup, or staying here?”
He wasn’t blind-he’d seen the scratches on her hand. Minor at best. They didn’t even need a bandage. The wounds had already
scabbed over.
Kelly had wanted to use this chance to leave, but after Uriah’s threat, she had no choice.
She’d already spent half a day here-if she left now and had to work an extra day, it wouldn’t be worth it.
Forcing a smile, she said, “No, it’s fine. You go ahead, Carter. L. I’m okay.”
Carter checked the time. He had a meeting to get back to-there wasn’t time to argue.
Seeing her insist, he nodded lightly. “Alright, I’ll head back, then.”
With that, he turned and left.
Kelly turned her head, just in time to see Sharon looking at her, lips curved in a mocking smile. That look said it all: So this is all you’ve got?
Kelly bit her lip without realizing it. Carter had forgotten she hadn’t eaten.
The rest of the afternoon, she could only grit her teeth and swallow her pride as she worked beside Matty on beginner-level tasks-sorting herbs.
The herbs were freshly picked from deep in the mountains. They were tangled with brittle twigs and thorny vines.
Every time Kelly got pricked, she let out a soft gasp, pulling her hand back as though she might cry.
By the time most of the day had passed, Matty had already sorted three full bundles. Kelly hadn’t even finished one.
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Dusk fell quickly.
Uriah, seeing the time, called everyone to wrap up.
When they stepped out of the clinic, Nate was already waiting outside.
He leaned against a flashy sports car, cigarette between his fingers, the picture of casual arrogance.
Seeing him, Kelly lit up like she’d seen a lifeline. She rushed over and threw herself at him.
“Nate…”
Sharon gave the two of them a glance, then quietly left with Matty. She didn’t need to think twice-she knew Kelly had gone running to tattle.
The next morning, Sharon arrived to find that Kelly was still nowhere in sight.
About half an hour later, a flurry of disordered footsteps came from the entrance, followed by Kelly’s unmistakable tearful sobs.
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Chapter 234
“It was my own carelessness. I got hurt because I was useless…. it had nothing to do with Sharon.”
Nate’s furious voice exploded from outside. “That old bastard knows Sharon—only an idiot would believe she had nothing to do with it!”
Before the words had even settled, he stormed into the clinic, his rage palpable.
“Sharon, I’m telling you now-if you mess with Kelly again, I swear I’ll make you pay!”
Uriah glanced over, his brow lifting with disdain. “So much anger first thing in the morning. What’s wrong-bad breath and constipation acting up again?”
Nate was like a mad dog ready to bite anyone in reach. He turned his fury toward Uriah.
He jabbed a finger right in front of Uriah’s face, his expression twisted with menace.
“You listen to me, you crusty old freak-if you so much as lay a finger on Kelly, I’ll snap every brittle bone in your body!”
“And you-“he spun toward Matty, eyes blazing, “you little punk, insult Kelly one more time, and I’ll rip your damn mouth open!”
Maybe it was the intensity in his voice, or the wild look in his eyes-either way, Matty flinched.
He instinctively stepped back and ducked behind Sharon.
Nate saw the reaction and felt a sick thrill rise in his chest. He glared at Matty, ready to pile on more threats, eyes glinting with
cruelty.
But before the words could leave his mouth, a cup of hot tea splashed across his face.
“Aaah! What the heck?! Are you out of your damn mind?!”
Sharon stepped in front of Matty and Uriah, her voice cool and sharp as glass. “Get out. You’re a coward who only bullies the weak.”
The tea had been freshly steeped just minutes ago, still scalding hot. Nate’s face turned an angry red. His skin stung, and his
vision blurred from the heat.
He had suffered at Sharon’s hands too many times before, and hated her with a passion. To top it off, being mocked by Matty and the old man didn’t help. The contempt from all sides made his blood boil.
Today, barging into the clinic might have started as a way to stand up for Kelly, but it was also his excuse to let everything out, to humiliate them all in one go.
Now, with his face burning and pride wounded, something in him snapped.
His eyes went bloodshot as he roared, “Sharon, you bitch—see if I don’t kill you today!”
Like a wild beast unleashed, he charged at them.
“I’m gonna kill you all!”
From the sidelines, Kelly’s lips curled into the faintest smile.
Her voice called out halfheartedly, “Nate, don’t be rash… talk it out, okay?”
But she made no move to stop him.
Uriah, well aware of the danger, had already slipped away without a sound.
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Sharon wasn’t foolish enough to go head-to-head with a man that far gone. She grabbed Matty and darted into the back room, slamming the door shut and locking it behind them.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The door shuddered violently under Nate’s fists, the entire frame trembling as though it might collapse at any second.
Matty stared at the shaking door, his voice uncertain. “Mr. Malcolm… is this door… strong enough?”
Uriah gave a quiet cough. “It’s been there for decades. I doubt it’ll hold if he keeps ramming it like that.”
Matty’s face tensed with concern. “Then what do we do? He’s totally lost it.”
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Sharon gently patted Matty on the head, her voice calm as she offered comfort. “It’s alright. I’m calling the police.”
As she spoke, the call connected. Her expression remained composed, yet the voice she used was thick with panic. “There’s a madman outside… he’s trying to break down the door,” she said breathlessly. “He’s screaming that he’s going to kill us. It’s terrifying. There’s a five-year-old child in here, and an elderly man over seventy… we’re no match for him.”
She switched to speakerphone.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The violent pounding on the door filled the room like thunder.
The officer’s voice on the other end turned grave. “Stay hidden if you can. Find anything nearby to use as a weapon. We’re on our
way.”
When the call ended, Matty still looked uneasy. “Sharon… do you think we’ll make it until the police get here?”
Sharon smiled faintly. “We will. Don’t worry.”
She then turned to Uriah. “Uriah, do you have any medication here that causes allergic reactions?”
He understood her instantly. His lips curved into a cold smirk. “First time someone’s had the guts to stir up trouble in my place. Let’s see if I can give him a little something to remember.”
Without hesitation, he began pulling jars and vials from a cabinet, mixing powders together haphazardly.
Crash!
The door finally gave way under the relentless assault and collapsed with a deafening thud.
Uriah didn’t miss a beat. He tossed a handful of powder straight into Nate’s face. “Cover your nose and mouth!” he barked.
Sharon and Matty obeyed immediately.
Nate had just stepped across the threshold when the cloud of powder hit him full force.
Whatever was in the mix, it worked fast. His eyes instantly felt like they were on fire-searing, unbearable pain.
The eyes, so fragile and sensitive, betrayed him first. Nate dropped to the floor, screaming, clutching his face, rolling on the ground like a man aflame.
In no time at all, angry red welts bloomed across his skin. 1
He began clawing at himself-his face, his arms-tearing long, bloody streaks into his own flesh.
“It burns! It itches! Ahhhh!” He howled like a dying dog, “Kelly! Help me! Please!”
Kelly had started forward instinctively, but the scene made her freeze. She backed away in horror, not daring to get any closer.
By the time Nate finally stilled, he was barely conscious, wrecked by pain and covered in bloody scratches.
No one knew how long it took, but eventually, the police arrived.
Even the officers were stunned by what they saw. One of them quickly dialed emergency services, and Nate was taken to the hospital.
In the hospital room, Nate lay bandaged head to toe, looking like a mummy, still raging through gritted teeth.
“I swear I’m going to have that bitch Sharon, that damn old bastard, and that little brat all thrown in jail! Goddamn it, they did this to me! I’ll make them regret ever being born!”
His anger had blinded him completely-he’d forgotten that Sharon was still Carter’s wife. And Matty, the little boy he wanted to punish, was the son of Xavier.
These weren’t people he could just trample over.
Kelly sat quietly by his side, offering soothing words, but her tone carried an undercurrent of suggestion, each sentence stoking his fire a little more.
About ten minutes later, Carter arrived.
He rubbed his temples as he entered the room, visibly drained. “What happened now?”
He’d just signed a contract and was on his way back to the office when Kelly’s call came in.
Nate, still seething, shouted, “It was Sharon! Sharon, that brat, and that stinking old man-they ganged up on me and landed me in the damn hospital!”
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Chapter 236
Nate’s face was wrapped thickly in gauze, leaving only his swollen eyes exposed. It looked almost comical-if it weren’t for what it meant: his injuries were real, and not minor.
Carter stared at him, skeptical. “You’re saying Sharon did this to you?”
Nate’s voice was tight with fury. “Yes! Her-and that brat, and that damn old man!”
Carter raised an eyebrow. “Matty is five. Mr. Malcolm’s pushing seventy. Even if the three of them worked together, it’s hard to imagine them putting you in the hospital like this.”
There was no denying the physical disparity. Strength wasn’t on Sharon’s side. Not with a child and an elderly man as backup.
Just then, a knock came at the door. A group of uniformed officers stepped into the room.
“Nate Hendricks,” one of them began, “you are suspected of damaging private property and using violence and threats to intimidate others. The nature of the incident is serious. Given your current condition, we’ll be conducting the investigation here at the hospital.” (1)
Nate gaped. “You’ve got to be kidding. I’m the one in the hospital, and instead of arresting the attackers, you’re investigating me?”
The lead officer remained stone-faced. “Nate, your injuries were not inflicted by anyone else. They were self-inflicted.
“We’ve reviewed the events. You forced your way into the premises, knocked over a shelving unit, and spilled a mix of medicinal powders, which triggered your allergic reaction. It had nothing to do with the others.”
As he finished speaking, his gaze shifted to Carter.
During the course of their inquiry, the police had already mapped out the relationships involved. Naturally, they knew who
Carter was.
“Mr. Biggs,” the officer said, “your wife experienced quite a scare today. Are you sure you don’t want to check in on her? Whatever the case, Nate here was clearly the aggressor. He has no legal standing in this situation.”
Though the officer kept a professional tone, his glance toward Carter held something else-disbelief, maybe even contempt. 1
Carter’s friend had brought his mistress to pick a fight with his wife. The sheer ridiculousness-the audacity of it-left a bitter
taste.
Frankly, the only reason things hadn’t escalated further was because Sharon had remained composed-and well-versed in the law. Had it turned into a physical altercation, it might’ve been ruled mutual assault, which wouldn’t have favored her.
At last, the whole picture began to come together for Carter. His brow furrowed, a heavy, dull annoyance growing behind his
eyes.
Since when had Nate become this much of a liability?
Nate, however, wouldn’t back down. “Nonsense! They were bullying Kelly first! Are we supposed to let them walk all over us and do nothing?”
The officer looked at him calmly. “And how exactly did they bully her?”
Nate straightened, puffed with righteous indignation. “They made her sort herbs. She got her hand cut! Kelly’s a violinist. If her hands get injured, can they take responsibility for that?”
As he spoke, he grabbed Kelly’s hand and held it out for inspection.
The officer glanced down. A few faint scratches, barely breaking the skin. It looked like something from brambles or twigs.
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Harmless. Gone by morning.
Still, he went through the motions. “Was Kelly forced to sort the herbs?”
Nate hesitated-just a flicker in his eyes- then doubled down. “Yes! They threatened her life!”
The officer’s expression changed.
“If what you say is true, we’ll treat this matter with utmost seriousness –
He hadn’t finished the sentence before Nate seized on it like a man drowning clutching driftwood.
“Exactly! You should take it seriously! They threatened her life! They used her life to blackmail us-!”
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212
Chapter 237
Carter couldn’t listen any longer. His voice cut through the tension, “Nate, that’s enough. Don’t talk nonsense.”
Nate snapped back, defiant. “I’m not talking nonsense. I’m telling the truth!”
The officer interjected calmly. “Nate, I must remind you that every word you say right now carries legal weight. I’ll ask you again: are you saying, under oath, that they threatened Kelly’s life?”
Nate faltered. “Kelly… she has a terminal illness. They… they refused to treat her unless we agreed to their terms. If that’s not threatening her life, then what is?”
The officer stared at him like he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing. “By that logic, anyone with a terminal illness who can’t afford treatment should be suing hospitals for blackmail. Are you sure you want to stand by that?”
Nate’s breath caught.
“That’s completely different. We weren’t refusing to pay.”
The officer’s voice cooled further. “So you wanted to buy something. The other party didn’t want to sell. Isn’t that within their rights?”
Nate’s confidence started to slip. “I offered them money. Why wouldn’t they sell?” 1
The officer met his eyes steadily. “Because buying and selling is based on mutual consent. Forcing a transaction is illegal.”
Nate opened his mouth to protest again, but Carter finally had enough.
“Nate. Shut up.”
When had Nate become this unreasonable?
He turned to the officer. “We’ll cover the full cost of Mr. Malcolm’s damages-medical expenses, emotional compensation,
everything.”
He paused. “As for Nate’s responsibility in all this… is there any chance for leniency?”
The officer gave Carter an approving glance, then glanced back at Nate with a flicker of disdain.
What good was all this stubborn arguing now? The law didn’t care who talked louder. If anything, this privileged young man had less sense than most. So much for being educated.
The officer replied, “Nate’s actions have seriously endangered the safety of others. I’ve spoken with the other party. They’ve refused to forgive him. They only want to see him held accountable.”
Nate’s anger flared again. “They were the ones who bullied Kelly! I haven’t even settled that with them yet, and now they have the nerve to play the victim?”
The officer didn’t flinch. “Nate, technically speaking, you should be under arrest. Given your current injuries, your attorney has already arranged for bail. But if you keep up this attitude, you’ll make it impossible to reach any kind of settlement. If they stick to their decision, and no agreement is reached, you’ll be spending some time behind bars-according to the law.”
Nate clenched his jaw. “They wouldn’t dare.”
Seeing he was still lost in his delusion, the officer no longer saw any point in reasoning with him.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going. I suggest you give serious thought to whether you want to seek their forgiveness.”
It didn’t take long for Carter to find Sharon.
As Carter stepped through the door, his gaze paused on the mess strewn across the floor. His footsteps slowed. His eyes
darkened.
The damage… it was worse than he’d imagined.
In that moment, he finally understood why they’d called the police.
And yet…
Nate had to be protected.
Carter stepped in front of Sharon. His tone left no room for discussion. “Sharon. I need you to write a letter of forgiveness.”
Her sweeping paused mid-motion. She reached down and picked up a document that had clearly been prepared in advance.
A divorce agreement.
“I can do that,” she said calmly. “Sign this, and I’ll forgive him.”
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22
X
Chapter 238
The divorce papers were identical to the ones Sharon had prepared before—the same proposal to split their assets evenly.
But Carter had refused them back then. He wanted her to leave with nothing.
In the end, she had agreed, just to be done with it all.
And yet, on the day they were supposed to go to the courthouse, he never showed.
Sharon had long since learned: if she didn’t fight for herself, no one else would.
Carter’s expression darkened. “Sharon, are you really going to keep using divorce to threaten me? Is that all this is to you? I missed one appointment-just one-and you’ve been making a scene ever since.
“If you’re really that upset, fine. Tomorrow-no, we can go right now. Wherever you want. A trip, dinner, anything.”
Sharon looked at him like he was speaking another language.
“A date?” Her voice was flat. “Carter, are you insane? I asked you to go with me to finalize a divorce, and you think I’m asking you out?”
Thinking of Kelly’s interference and Nate’s mockery, Sharon could guess where this absurd idea had come from. 1
She gave a short, cold laugh. “I say I want a divorce, and you people say I’m trying to get your attention. I ask you to go to the courthouse, and you think I’m manipulating you into a date? If this is how you all interpret basic human language, then tell me…
Her eyes, clear and dark, fixed on his face-on that flawless, almost unreal profile.
“What exactly do I have to do to make you believe I truly want a divorce?”
The words hit him like a blow. Carter flinched, barely perceptibly.
When he didn’t respond, Sharon went on, “Of course, you can keep telling yourself I’m playing games. Trying to get your attention. But just so we’re clear-I won’t be signing the letter of forgiveness for Nate.
“His detainment might not be long. But for someone like him -an heir of a prestigious family-one mark on his record is enough to shake his standing in the company.”
Carter’s pupils contracted. “Sharon, how can you be so vicious?”
“Vicious?” Sharon let out a soft, almost amused breath. “Your dear friend insults me, curses me, storms into this place like a madman-and that wasn’t vicious? Now he’s reaping what he sowed, and suddenly I’m the one who’s cruel?”
She was still smiling, but her eyes had turned to glass.
“If fairness looks like cruelty to you, then maybe you shouldn’t be alive. This world might be too toxic for someone like you.”
Carter stared at her, unblinking. His gaze held the quiet force of a storm just waiting to break. “Sharon. Are you sure you want to divorce me?”
She didn’t flinch. Didn’t look away. “I’m sure.”
“Fine,” he said with a nod. “Same terms as before. You leave with nothing. I’ll sign the papers.”
The way he said it-like he was doing her a favor-made Sharon laugh.
“Carter, you’ve got it backward. You’re the one asking me now, not the other way around. If you want to sign, we can end this cleanly. That’s ideal.”
1/2
“But if you don’t?” She lifted her shoulders slightly. “Then we can take it to court. It doesn’t matter to me. Just know-your precious friend will be rotting in there in the meantime. I heard Nate scratched his own face so badly he nearly disfigured himself. Even if the wounds heal, he’s likely to scar.
“After all, his skin was exposed to some of the compounds Mr. Malcolm developed – some of them extremely toxic. And considering he nearly tore down the entire clinic, well… Mr. Malcolm despises him now. He wouldn’t lift a finger to make an antidote.”
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Sharon paused for a moment, her gaze steady as it met Carter’s eyes. Then she smiled, faintly.
“I wonder,” she said quietly, “whether the prestigious Hendricks Group can afford to keep an heir with a criminal record… and a
ruined face.”
Carter’s expression darkened until it was almost terrifying. “You’re threatening me?”
Sharon remained calm, her tone smooth and detached. “You overestimate me. I’m just a housewife. How could I possibly threaten you?”
She knew full well-Carter and Nate had been through life-and-death together. That kind of bond didn’t fade easily.
Otherwise, Carter wouldn’t tolerate a man like Nate, who brought him nothing but trouble.
Even when Nate insulted her to her face, again and again, Carter said nothing.
Yes, Nate mattered to him. But not enough to make him give up half his wealth.
She had written “half the assets” on the divorce papers, but Sharon understood that taking even that would be nearly impossible.
Even if they went to court, Carter would find a way to classify most of it as premarital property.
Xavier had told her: profits made from premarital assets weren’t subject to division.
Besides, Carter was the kind of man who’d had the prenup notarized long before the wedding ever took place.
If her lawyer was good, she might get a small cut. Anything over ten million? Not a chance.
Looking at the tension in his chiseled face, she added, “This whole mess Nate caused at the clinic-for Kelly’s sake, no less- has made Mr. Malcolm furious. He’s refusing to treat her now…”
She hadn’t even finished her sentence when Carter suddenly grabbed her chin, hard. He locked eyes with her, each word sharp as ice cracking against glass.
“Sharon. You’ve gone too far.”
His gaze was frigid, the kind of cold that sank straight to the bone
Sharon’s face went pale with pain, her lashes fluttering involuntarily.
She raised her foot and brought it down hard toward his
But Carter was ready-he stepped back just in time.
Sharon didn’t hesitate. She swung her hand toward his face.
He caught her wrist mid-air.
Maybe he was truly angry now-his grip was crushing, each movement a calculated domination that made resistance impossible.
For all his usual cold detachment, Carter was, at his core, a man used to control.
She had tested him again and again, pushed him to the edge.
There was no way he’d let her off easy.
He wanted to see her cornered. Wanted to break her pride.
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But Sharon just laughed. Without warning, she opened her mouth and bit down on his arm.
Carter hadn’t expected that. He had no time to react.
Her teeth sank into his flesh, deep and merciless, like she meant to tear a piece of him off.
For the first time, Carter saw it in her eyes-pure hatred. Disgust. Emotions he’d never seen from her before.
Something in him twisted, foreign and raw. He pushed her away, reflexively.
She stumbled back but caught herself. Her eyes were empty-cool, emotionless, untouched by pain or fear.
“Carter,” she said flatly, “I’m not your toy. You don’t get to lay a hand on me whenever you feel like it. If you try it again, I swear I’ll take a piece of you with me. So you’ll remember-there’s a price to be paid for pushing someone too far.”
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Carter was stunned-furious and bewildered all at once.
Sharon had actually dared to do this to him?
She picked up a disinfectant wipe from the table and, without a flicker of emotion, wiped her chin and wrist clean.
“What’s got you so worked up?” Her voice was even, almost indifferent. “Didn’t you use to bargain with me the same way? Didn’t you threaten me with Theo, just like this?”
She tossed the wipe into the trash and looked at him, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly-not quite a smile.
“You were a good teacher. I only learned from the best.”
The image of Sharon’s stubborn refusal to apologize to Kelly flickered in his mind, and for a moment, Carter found it hard to
breathe.
She wasn’t wrong. He had threatened her like that before.
Not missing the shift in his expression, Sharon softened her tone just slightly.
“Nate’s future… your precious Kelly’s life… are those really worth less than money?”
Carter narrowed his eyes: “I’m not giving you half of everything I own.”
A trace of cold amusement stirred in Sharon’s chest.
So this was it. His ridiculous, mindless favoritism toward Kelly-it had its limits. As long as it didn’t cost him anything. The moment it touched his bottom line, even Kelly wouldn’t be immune.
Of course, Sharon had never expected to get half.
That was just the opening bid-something to bargain down from.
“You don’t want to give me company shares, I get that,” she said. “And transferring property titles is just too much of a hassle.”
She looked straight at him. “Let’s make it simple. 100 million. If you’re willing to pay that, I’ll sign the agreement. I’ll even convince Mr. Malcolm to make the antidote-for Nate, for Kelly’s treatment.”
Something occurred to her, and she added calmly, “I can promise you-her illness can be cured. Your money won’t be wasted. These past weeks, you’ve been running around finding doctors for her. That can’t have come cheap, either.”
She ticked off the points like they were items on a receipt. “That 100 million covers compensation for the divorce, damage to this shop, mental distress for Mr. Malcolm and Matty… Nate’s future… and Kelly’s life. Carter, this deal isn’t a loss for you. Wouldn’t you agree?”
His dark gaze lingered on her face. After a beat, the corner of his mouth lifted. “You drive a hard bargain.”
Sharon gave a faint smile. “For someone like you, anything that can be solved with money isn’t really a problem at all. 100 million might be generational wealth for most people. But for you, it’s not even a year’s income.
“Matty’s father heard what happened. He’s already on his way back. If he finds out Nate almost killed his son… do you really think he’ll just let that go?”
A flash of icy anger passed through Carter’s eyes. “Sharon. Don’t talk nonsense.”
She pointed toward the door. “Why don’t you check the surveillance footage, Carter? See for yourself just how terrifying Nate looked at the time. Matty is just a five-year-old child. He was absolutely terrified by Nate. You think the police would arrest Nate just on our word? Without real evidence?”
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Chapter 240
The main lobby of the clinic had security cameras. The inner room didn’t.
When Nate kicked down the door and barged in, he got a full face of medicinal powder.
He hadn’t even realized what hit him-he’d assumed it was just some fallen shelving, nothing serious
And the cameras hadn’t captured any of it.
Silence settled in the room.
Carter didn’t say a word for a long time.
