Just then, someone hurried up to Richard and whispered a few words in his ear.Â
His expression shifted slightly. After a brief pause, he nodded to show he understood, then turned to Charles and said, “I have something to take care of. Please excuse me for a moment.”Â
Thinking of the scandal that had just shaken the banquet, Charles nodded in understanding.Â
After all, Johanna was Jamie’s sister. Those indecent photos and videos had to be dealt with quickly. They couldn’t be allowed to spread–and whoever leaked them needed to be found and punished. Otherwise, if the Walton family misunderstood and thought the Kalen family was behind it, the two powerhouses could easily become enemies.Â
Kelly left the banquet in high spirits.Â
It was almost by accident that she’d managed to get her hands on Johanna’s compromising photos and videos. For some time, she’d been tailing and monitoring Johanna, hoping to catch some dirt on her.Â
Lately, Johanna had been receiving frequent deliveries, and every time she picked one up, her expression would turn oddly tense. Kelly had been curious–what kind of secret was hidden inside those packages?Â
So she’d enlisted Niel’s help to intercept one of them.Â
When they opened the parcel, Kelly was stunned to discover that it contained indecent photos of Johanna.Â
Her initial shock soon gave way to contempt. ‘As expected,‘ she thought. ‘That bitch is rotten to the core–sleeping around with so many men. She’s even worse than me.‘Â
At least she only had two men–Nate and Niel. 1Â
To avoid arousing suspicion, Kelly made a full backup of the photos, then carefully resealed the package and returned it exactlyÂ
as it was.Â
From then on, she’d continued to shadow Johanna, intercepting more of her deliveries. Soon, she pieced together the truth- someone was using those photos to blackmail Johanna, demanding confidential business information from the Walton Group.Â
Kelly had no interest in business or corporate warfare. Those high–stakes power struggles were far beyond her reach.Â
But to possess such explosive evidence against Johanna–that alone thrilled her.Â
It felt as though fate itself was helping her. She would finally expose Johanna for what she truly was–not some saintly high- society lady, but a shameless whore.Â
She wanted to see the look on Thomas’s face when he realized what kind of woman his so–called goddess really was.Â
After tonight, she wanted to see if Johanna still had the courage to show her face before him again.Â
After the doctor administered a sedative, Sharon was rushed to the hospital.Â
When Richard learned the full story, his fury was boundless.Â
“That bastard Miles! How dare he! He must have a death wish to scheme against my family! This won’t be brushed aside—he’ll pay dearly for it!”Â
Richard’s anger was genuine.Â
1/2Â
Not only had Miles plotted against Rick, trying to make him take the blame, but he had even recorded a video. What else could he have intended, if not to use it to threaten the Kalen family later?Â
Richard’s chest heaved from rage, a dull pain stabbing beneath his ribs.Â
Meanwhile, Silas stood in the hospital corridor, frowning. “Well, there’s an old saying–flies don’t bite seamless eggs. If Sharon hadn’t been careless, how would Miles have dared? Maybe she gave him the wrong idea…”Â
Before he could finish, Carter’s icy voice cut through the air.Â
“Silas, are you trying to whitewash Miles’s crimes?” His gaze was cold enough to pierce bone. “You’d rather doubt your own sister than believe the man’s own confession? You’re shifting all the blame onto Sharon as if she asked for this.Â
“I’m beginning to wonder–was your entire family in on it? Did you all deliberately set her up and lead her straight into Miles’s trap?”Â
His stare sweeping coldly over each of the Kalen family members.Â
“If Sharon’s return to your family only means endless humiliation and betrayal, then perhaps she shouldn’t go back at all.”Â