Loving DAD 1040

A flicker of unease crossed Rick’s face. “Of course not. You’re family–we would never use you as a bargaining chip. We just need to draw them out. Once they show themselves, we’ll rescue Victoria and Samantha.” 

Sharon nodded slowly, her voice calm but laced with sarcasm. “Let me get this straight. You want to use me as bait.” 

“We’ll keep you safe, Sharon,” Rick insisted. 

Before Sharon could respond, Jamie cut in, his voice sharp. “If Victoria hadn’t taken the fall for you, she never would’ve been kidnapped. Acting as bait is the least you can do. You’d better pray nothing happens to her. If she gets so much as a scratch, you’ll have me to answer to.” 

Sharon finally turned her gaze to him, her expression glacial. 

“And who are you, exactly?” she said, her voice dangerously cold. “What gives you the right to speak here? Get out. You are not welcome in this house.” 

Jamie froze, stunned by her audacity. Even now, after everything, she had the nerve to be this arrogant. 

Silas’s temper finally snapped. “Sharon! You don’t get to make those calls! You’re not the head of this family, so stop acting like your word is law!” 

Sharon’s icy eyes locked onto Silas, her words precise and cutting. 

“Oh? So because you’re in charge, it’s acceptable to welcome the man who kidnapped me—who crippled my hand — into our home? To sit and chat with him like an honored guest? What happened? Have you all suddenly become saints, overflowing with forgiveness for anyone who hurts this family?” 

She paused, letting her gaze sweep across every face in the room. 

“Or is it that your mercy is reserved exclusively for crimes against me?” 

“Sharon, don’t twist this,” Rick said, his tone placating. “Jamie is here because his sister was also kidnapped. We believe the same people took Victoria and Johanna. Besides, Jamie has extensive connections in the underworld. We need his help to find 

them.” 

A humorless laugh escaped Sharon’s lips. 

“So, as long as someone is useful, you’d welcome your own father’s murderer back as an honored guest? Is that the new family policy?” 

“That’s not the same thing, and you know it,” Scott snapped, scowling. “Look at you–you’re standing here perfectly fine, aren’t you?” 

Sharon arched a brow. “And if Victoria were also ‘perfectly fine,‘ then by your logic, I should be able to invite the oil tycoon and the financier over for a friendly dinner, correct? They’re part of Marcentine’s elite. I’m sure a few business deals with them wouldn’t hurt.” 

The Kalen family fell into a stony silence, their faces darkening. 

Jamie’s eyes burned with pure hatred. “Your own family has been taken, and you have the nerve to joke? You want her dead, don’t you?” 

A faint, mocking smile touched Sharon’s lips. “And why should her life or death be any concern of mine?” 

Silas stared, momentarily speechless before fury overwhelmed him. “Sharon! I knew it! This is your true face! You wanted Victoria to take the blame, you wanted her to- 

” 

“Enough.” Sharon’s voice cut through his tirade like a blade, “You expect me to care about the fate of people who break bread 

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Chapter 1040 

with the man who ruined my hand and left me for dead?” 

Her gaze swept over them, cold and contemptuous, dripping with disdain. 

“She never cared if I lived or died. So why should I lose a moment’s sleep over her? And as for the rest of you…” 

+25 BONUS 

Chapter 10:41