Loving DAD 1107

Sharon looked at Thomas, genuine admiration flickering in her eyes. “Thomas, you’re brilliant.” 

Thomas set the breakfast down on the table, his tone calm but certain. 

“With Miles missing, this is indeed the best possible outcome for now.” 

Carter, of course, wasn’t a fool. He knew perfectly well that turning the situation into leverage for profit was the smartest move they could make. 

But if Sharon had chosen instead to pursue justice–if she’d been too angry to let it go–he would have stood by her regardless. 

She had already compromised too many times because of him. She had endured far too much. Carter didn’t want her to keep yielding to circumstance any longer. 

When Richard and Rick arrived at the hospital, they ran straight into Gerard–his face alight with an unmistakable smile–as he walked out through the main doors. 

The two men exchanged a look. 

What was going on? 

Just yesterday, the Silverstone family had stormed in demanding answers, furious and unyielding. They’d even threatened to sever all ties if the Kalens didn’t hand over Miles. And now, Gerard was smiling? 

Had Miles been found? 

The thought made Rick’s expression darken. He stepped forward, his tone clipped. 

“Gerard, you seem to be in quite a hurry. Did you find Miles?” 

Gerard looked up and caught sight of the two men. The smile on his face faltered slightly. 

“Not yet.” 

In his mind, the possibilities were narrowing. If Miles’s disappearance wasn’t orchestrated by Jamie, then it had to be the Kalen 

family. 

Sharon was the least likely suspect–she’d been drugged and unconscious not long after the incident. There was no way she could have kidnapped anyone. 

But the Kalen family? They could easily have staged the whole thing, making it look convincing while using Miles’s disappearance to hold leverage over him. 

Gerard had dealt with Richard before–more than once–and every time, he’d walked away with losses. The man was a fox who swallowed people whole and left not even bones behind. 

Richard approached with a genial smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. 1 

“Gerard, were you just at the hospital to see Sharon?” 

Gerard replied with a strained grin. “Of course. No matter what happened, Sharon was hospitalized because of my foolish son. It’s only right that I visit and offer my apologies.” 

Something in his attitude made Rick pause in surprise. He had expected Gerard to be just as confrontational and self–righteous 

as before. 

But Richard’s expression didn’t change. His tone remained as pleasantly polite as ever, though his words carried weight. 

1/2 

“Gerard, Sharon went through quite an ordeal this time, and even Rick here got dragged into it. 

If it weren’t for the bond between our two families, would he have stood as Miles’s guarantor? 

“Sharon had only just returned to the Kalen family when she nearly got herself into serious trouble–right under our noses, no less. Tell me, how is she supposed to feel about that? And how is Rick, as her older brother, supposed to face her now? 

“Don’t blame me for being angry, Gerard. Your son really crossed a line.” 

Gerard gave a humorless smile, his thoughts cold and shrewd. So this was what all the righteous indignation was about- another grab for compensation. 

“I’ve already apologized to Sharon,” he said smoothly. “And I’ve agreed to give her a proper settlement. We’ve reached an understanding. As compensation, the Silverstone family will transfer twenty percent of Silverstone Group’s shares to Sharon at 

market value. 

“In three days, I’ll hold a press conference and sign the agreement publicly.” 

Both Rick and Richard froze at that. 

Gerard glanced at their stunned faces, his smile turning faintly smug. 

“I’ve already made arrangements with Sharon. If you want the details, you can ask her yourselves. I still have preparations to make for the transfer, so if you’ll excuse me…” 

And with that, he strode off briskly. 

Rick’s expression darkened, flickering with confusion, calculation–and a hint of unease.