Chapter 1000
The trio turned toward the voice and saw Johanna standing not far away, her face lit with
delight.
At first, her eyes had been fixed only on Thomas. But the moment she noticed Sharon, her
smile faltered.
Sharon had long known of Johanna’s interest in Thomas. It hadn’t bothered her before- after all, her contact with Johanna had been minimal. But after everything that happened with Jamie, she found it harder to look at Johanna with the same indifference.
Still, Thomas’s friendships were his own to choose. She had no right to interfere. And besides, her kidnapping had been tied to Victoria, not Johanna.
So Sharon kept her tone neutral as she said to Thomas, “Johanna might have something to discuss with you. You should talk with her. I’ll walk around with Julliard for a bit.”
But Thomas refused without hesitation. “No. I’m not that close to her.”
Johanna’s smile stiffened, her expression cracking. She knew full well he had said it on purpose, to draw a clear line in front of Sharon, so she wouldn’t suspect anything. Yet hearing it aloud still cut like a knife.
Sharon made no effort to greet Johanna. “Then let’s go.”
“Mhm.” Thomas nodded.
The three of them turned and walked away.
Johanna stared after their retreating figures, her teeth sinking hard into her lip.
“Stop looking. They’re gone,” came Jamie’s cold voice beside her.
His
gaze followed the trio into the distance, sharp and frigid as a blade.
“Johanna, don’t fool yourself. Thomas is not on our side.”
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Chapter 1000
Johanna bit down harder, words slipping out in defense before she could stop herself.
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“Thomas only said that to keep Sharon from suspecting anything. He was putting on an
act.”
Jamie let out a derisive laugh. “If it’s just an act, then why has he never once passed you a message in secret? Why did he even try to assassinate me in the hospital?”
Johanna wanted to scream-and whose fault is that? If he hadn’t deliberately made Thomas doubt her, how could things have soured between them?
Even Kelly, with her laughably bad acting, had once managed to win Thomas’s support. How could she be any less capable than Kelly?
No-this was Jamie and Victoria, deliberately sabotaging her.
She understood well: now that Jamie’s every move revolved around helping Victoria, he would never allow her and Thomas to be together. Perhaps even that so-called “assassination” at the hospital was nothing more than his fabrication.
Arguing further would be useless. So Johanna fell silent.
Before long, Victoria returned, having finished signing autographs and taking photos with her fans. She caught sight of the strange tension on their faces and asked, “What’s, wrong? Did something happen?”
Jamie answered coolly, “We just ran into Sharon, Julliard, and Thomas. Didn’t expect them to still have the mood to stroll through an art exhibition.”
Victoria frowned at him. “Jamie, maybe you should apologize to Sharon. No matter what, that incident… it really was your fault.”
She already knew from his own mouth that he had been the one behind Sharon’s
kidnapping-and she had strongly disapproved. 2
Jamie waved it off. “I only meant to give her a small lesson. Don’t worry, Victoria. Even if she joins the Kalen Group, she won’t threaten your position. I’ll make sure of that.” ↑
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“Jamie,” Victoria pressed, “my relationship with Sharon isn’t that bad. I’ve already explained-those rumors about me being illegitimate didn’t come from her.”
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It doesn’t matter if she spread the rumors or not. It’s better to eliminate her by mistake than to risk letting her go. She dared to covet what is yours. That alone is a death sentence.
“And have you forgotten? She even wants to sever the alliance between the Kalen and Walton families. Can’t you see her ambition now? She’s playing a much bigger game.” 1
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