Chapter 898
Though Rick’s expression remained dark, he couldn’t deny that Carter’s reasoning held some truth.
Was the identity of the Kalen family’s heiress really less respectable than that of Carter’s ex- wife?
And the company’s plummeting stock-what benefit would that bring to Sharon?
Sooner or later, she would hold a portion of the shares herself. If Kalen Group’s stock fell, she would be affected negatively just the same.
He had simply let anger cloud his judgment. His first instinct had been to suspect Sharon.
To ease the tension, Rick deliberately lifted his glass and took a slow sip of water, forcing a veneer of calm. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Richard sitting beside him.
Yes, he had misunderstood Sharon. But at the time… his father had seemed to think the same.
Sharon glanced at Carter, an unnameable emotion rising in her chest. It felt strangely like the first time he had ever stood up for her the way he once used to defend Kelly.
Had this been in the past-before their divorce-she would have been moved to tears.
Now… the joy wasn’t as sharp as she had imagined.
Still, even if her heart did not swell with happiness, she couldn’t deny her gratitude. At this moment, Carter’s defense was a shield she needed.
And since he had already spoken so firmly on her behalf, Sharon saw no reason to reject his support.
Unbidden, Xavier’s words resurfaced in her mind. “Sharon, don’t let online chatter brainwash you-those empty slogans about how a true heroine never relies on men. Look around: who among the powerful got to the top without connections?
“And what are connections? They are family, friends, partners, every resource at your disposal -people who step in when you need help. Without the Cooper family behind me, I wouldn’t be where I am today, Call it nepotism, call it ‘privilege’-I call it reality.
“And that’s not all. My friends, my network-they’re resources too. Many of them are ambitious women who see me as a marriage prospect. Do you think I turn them away because they have feelings for me? Of course not. We’re all adults. We know the rules of business-no one cuts ties over a bit of attraction.
“And
you, Sharon—you accept Wendy’s help without hesitation. But when I try to help, you refuse. Why? Because I’m a man? That’s discrimination, isn’t it?
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“Now take Victoria. Without the Kalen family behind her, would she still be called the number- one socialite? Every one of us from wealthy families stands on someone’s shoulders.
“Even Carter, without the Biggs Group, would anyone still praise his strength? Strip him of that foundation, tell him to build everything from scratch, and let’s see if he can reach such heights in just a few years.”
The memory struck deep.
Sharon thought of Lex, of Jamie, of the Kalens… and once more, she felt the sharp, suffocating weight of her own vulnerability. She was so terribly alone against them.
Just then, a low, rasping voice drifted from the staircase.
“In fact, there’s a better way to determine whether Sharon is truly responsible.”
Sharon’s heart jolted. She whipped around instinctively toward the sound.
A tall, imposing figure stood at the top of the stairs. She had no idea when he had arrived or how long he had been watching.
The man’s features were strikingly handsome, his bone structure chiseled, as though carved from stone. His skin was pale-not the healthy fairness of one sheltered from the sun, but a pallor born of shadows, a complexion that spoke of long years untouched by light.
At this moment, his lips curved into a razor-sharp arc, cold and cutting.
And his eyes-dark, brooding, venomous-were like poisoned ice. Even sunlight, caught in their depths, seemed to vanish, swallowed whole into darkness.
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