Chapter 859
“Is it just me, or does Sharon’s performance of First Love sound almost identical to the original composer’s?”
“The composer? You mean Jenna from Bell University? I’ve heard she’s a member of the school’s Hall of Fame-mysterious to this day. No one has ever seen her face.”
“True. Many masters have played First Love, but none have ever replicated the unique timbre of its
creator.”
“It can’t be Sharon, can it? I’ve seen her play First Love before-the feeling was completely different.”
“But back then, she wasn’t using Shaluna. If I remember right, it was that violin called Nameless. I still have a video of her performance on my phone…”
“Don’t tell me Sharon is actually Jenna?”
“The sound is uncanny. It’s almost the same…’
The whispers rippled through the audience, drawing even Johanna into stunned silence. Her brows arched in surprise.
“Victoria, if I remember correctly, the composer of First Love… was called Jenna, wasn’t she? And in the Kalen family, Sharon seems to have gone by that very name. Could it really be her?”
Victoria, too, was taken aback.
She knew the piece had been written by Jenna, but had always assumed it was just a coincidence of names. Never once had she connected Sharon to the brilliant, almost mythical figure enshrined in Bell University’s Hall of Fame.
Johanna caught the flicker of realization on her face and smirked.
“Victoria, it seems your half-sister is far more remarkable than you’ve ever given her credit for.”
course, she knew Victoria had never once regarded Sharon as her equal. Neither had she.
matter how lavishly Shayla had raised her, Sharon could never measure up to the women born and
as true heiresses, silver spoons in their mouths from the start.
etoria quickly smoothed her surprise away and responded with a composed smile.
“Sharon’s popularity is a good thing. When Dad eventually announces her identity, at least the Kalen family won’t lose face.”
Johanna stared at her in disbelief.
1/2
“Your dad… plans to make Sharon’s identity public?”
Victoria gave a nod.
“She holds original shares. If she’s not appeased, she might refuse to hand them over. Imagine-she’s the rightful eldest daughter, yet my dad publicly declared her a foster child. Do you think she’d accept that quietly?”
Johanna frowned. “But if her identity is revealed, the rumors might damage your reputation.”
Victoria’s lips curved in a faint smile. “By then, my dad will simply let word slip that she’s the product of a youthful indiscretion.” (1
Understanding flashed in Johanna’s eyes. So Richard intended to brand Sharon a bastard child.
Yet in truth, the illegitimate daughter was Victoria.
The Kalen family would rather tarnish Sharon than let even a shadow fall on Victoria’s reputation.
Johanna wasn’t surprised. In wealthy families, affection was irrelevant-only value mattered.
And Sharon? A divorced woman with a child, raised in the countryside? How could she ever compare to
Victoria, the country’s number-one socialite?
If it were her choice, she would pick Victoria too.
Still, her gaze drifted to Sharon standing on stage, radiant as starlight.
Unbidden, images flashed in her mind: Thomas handing her a bottle of water, twisting the cap open for her, even kneeling to put her shoes on.
A glint of ice flickered in her eyes.
Turning back to Victoria, she said, “Victoria, if you want those shares, there’s actually a much simpler
way.”
Victoria tilted her head. “And what way is that?”
Johanna said, “If Sharon dies, her inheritance will pass to her family. To your dad-and to you-and your brothers. It’ll all be perfectly legitimate.” (4)
2/2
