Chapter 919
“In the end, Shayla provoked Richard’s fury and was driven out of the house.”
Sharon’s lashes trembled violently. A sharp light flickered in her eyes.
“Where did you hear all this?”
Jamie lowered his gaze, studying her.
“Why? Hoping to find out who told me so you can sic your ex–husband and your suitors on them for revenge?”
“I only want to remind you,” Sharon said evenly, “that whoever told you this may not be speaking the truth.”
Jamie arched a brow. “You’re not suggesting Victoria lied to me… are you?”
“Victoria? I never once said it was Victoria who told you.”
She didn’t believe Victoria would dare repeat such things to him–not because Victoria was too virtuous, but because the truth was too easy to expose. Outsiders might be kept in the dark, but Richard knew the past better than anyone.
If he heard such accusations from Jamie’s mouth, what would he think of Victoria?
No one but Victoria would smear Shayla’s name like that.
It might not sever their bond as father and daughter, but it would plant a wedge between them.
Of course, Jamie wasn’t a fool. What he said to Sharon now, he wouldn’t necessarily repeat in front of Richard. After all, he had only overheard a fragment of a conversation between Victoria and her uncle years ago. Whether it was truth or fabrication remained uncertain.
From his lofty stance, Jamie’s eyes narrowed. “What’s this? Trying to play word games with me?”
Sharon met his gaze head–on. “Or would you only be satisfied if I dumped every ounce of filth on Victoria?”
Jamie fell silent.
He studied her for a long time, his stare probing, dissecting. At last, he said, “You’re very cunning.”
He still didn’t believe her.
In his mind, Sharon hid too much, too well.
Any ordinary woman in her place would have seized the chance to denounce Victoria, to rip away her so–called mask of purity.
But she hadn’t. Not a single insult had crossed her lips.
And the more restrained a woman was, the more poisonous she must be beneath the surface.
His gaze turned icy. How dare Sharon play games before him!
1/2
Chapter 919
Without warning, Jamie hurled the Shaluna to the floor.
The violin struck the ground with a heavy thud.
Sharon’s heart lurched violently with the sound.
+25 BONUS
She never took that violin out except for the most important occasions. Every time she touched it, she cradled it with infinite care, terrified of the slightest scratch.
Now, Jamie had tossed it aside like trash.
Her fists clenched instinctively. Her eyes fixed on the instrument lying on the floor, aching with every beat.
The Shaluna had been crafted from the finest materials of its era. That was why it was revered worldwide as a legendary violin–resilient enough to withstand more than most. It hadn’t splintered or snapped upon impact.
But before she could breathe in relief, a polished black leather shoe came down hard upon it.
Sharon froze, stunned.
Her lips parted before she even thought. “Don’t-”
Jamie pressed down with brutal force. The violin wailed beneath his foot; a string snapped with a sharp twang.
Her eyes flushed red in an instant.
Agony flooded her chest.
She whipped her gaze upward, meeting Jamie’s merciless stare.
“Jamie! If you have a quarrel with me, take it out on me. Why…” Her teeth ground together. “Why destroy a relic of the dead?”
But her plea met only with further cruelty.
His foot ground down again. From the violin’s body came the sickening crack of wood giving way–splintering under the weight. 1
