Chapter 301
No matter how fired up Nate was, even he knew this price for the bracelet was way beyond its real value.
The auctioneer’s smile looked like it might split his face. He was practically trembling from holding back his glee.
Their commissions were tied directly to the final sale price. Sure, the starting bids were high, but the cut they got from something selling at the base price was always modest.
The higher the markup, the fatter their paycheck.
The more suckers in the room, the better.
Sharon noticed Nate hadn’t raised his paddle again. Her voice was calm, almost teasing.
“Nate, if you’re not bidding anymore… does that mean this bracelet is mine?”
The auctioneer jumped right in.
“Eight million. Anyone else?
“Eight million going once-”
His words hadn’t even fully landed before Nate’s eyes went bloodshot.
He jerked his paddle up. “Nine million!”
Sharon smiled. She didn’t bid again.
The auctioneer glanced around, confirmed no further offers, and then gave a wide grin.
“Nine million-sold!”
Nate’s whole body tensed. His head snapped toward Sharon.
Why… why didn’t she keep bidding?
Their eyes met, and Sharon returned a helpless little shrug. “Nate, you’re truly generous. I really can’t keep up with someone like you. Nine million’s just… beyond my budget.”
Something about her tone made an odd twist form in Nate’s gut.
Still, pride won out. His mouth curled into a sneer.
“If you can’t afford it, maybe don’t show up to places like this. This isn’t somewhere for broke nobodies like you.”
Sharon didn’t even flinch. Her smile stayed serene. She said nothing more.
Kelly’s eyes flickered, sharp and quick. Something clicked in her mind.
Carter’s voice dropped low, heavy with warning. “Nate, stop bidding against Sharon. She’s baiting you.”
Nate might be impulsive, but he wasn’t brain-dead. (1)
The warning had already started gnawing at the back of his mind.
Still, pride wouldn’t let him admit it. His lips curled into a cold laugh.
“She’s baiting me? You don’t think I can bait her back?”
He shot Carter and Kelly a defiant look. “Just watch. I’ll drive the price sky-high, then stop bidding and see if she panics.”
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Carter opened his mouth to say more, but the next round of bidding was already starting.
This time, it was for an ancient mural
As expected, Sharon raised her paddle again.
Nate’s lips curled into a sharp, ky grin
So, she was going to jack up the price?
Did she really think she was the only one who knew how to play that game?
When the bid hit two million, Nate went straight to four million.
Sharon calmly called, “Five million.”
Nate instantly shot back, “Eight million.”
And then… silence.
Sharon didn’t bid again.
Nate stared, dumbfounded.
At least he could justify the previous item as a gift for Kelly.
But this mural…
Kelly wasn’t even trying to hide her disinterest. She leaned in and murmured, “Nate, this thing’s worth, what, maybe three
million at most.”
So now, he’d just spent eight million…. on something he didn’t understand, didn’t like, and had no use for.
Was he an idiot?
Apparently, yes.
The staff came over, faces full of smiles, holding the mural with exaggerated care.
Nate gritted his teeth and took it
Kelly leaned closer, lowering her voice like she was offering helpful advice. “Nate… maybe from now on, let’s only bid twice. Go up to double the market price at most. Beyond that, just let it go.”
Nate’s eyes narrowed, burning with malice as he locked onto Sharon’s face.
He wouldn’t be satisfied until he turned the tables on her.
“Fine,” he said darkly. “This time, we do it your way.”
The next item came up-a porcelain vase.
Nate clenched his fists, itching for revenge.
But what happened next… wasn’t something he was prepared for.
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Chapter
Chapter 302
Sharon didn’t bid.
Nate froze, suddenly unsure what to do.
He leaned toward Carter, lowering his voice. “Carter, since Sharon isn’t bidding… should I call a price? You know, just to rattle her a little?”
Carter’s tone was cool, almost indifferent. “Childish.”
“I just want to teach her a lesson! Come on, Carter, give me something. Help me figure this out.”
Nate was impulsive, sure, but when it came to a mental game like this, he wasn’t Sharon’s match.
Normally, Carter wouldn’t waste his energy entertaining something this petty. But for some reason, his mind drifted back to that earlier moment-Sharon, radiant and confident, her presence so distinct it felt like she’d become someone entirely new.
His gaze darkened slightly.
Since leaving him… she didn’t seem to be doing poorly at all.
In fact, showing up here on Xavier’s arm, bold and unapologetically radiant, she almost seemed… happy.
But.
A thin, cold smile tugged at the corner of Carter’s mouth.
If she were really doing so well, she wouldn’t need to parade herself in front of him like this-wouldn’t need to force herself back into his line of sight.
“If you really want to figure it out… bid. Just once. Nothing outrageous. Then watch-if she raises right after you, then you’ll know if she’s targeting you.”
Nate’s eyes lit up.
Of course. Why hadn’t he thought of that?
Following Carter’s advice, he called out a bid-not too high, safe enough that if no one followed, he wouldn’t be stuck with it.
Sure enough, as soon as the words left his mouth…
Sharon’s paddle went right up.
Nate’s lips curved, eyes narrowing with mischief.
So. She really was targeting him.
‘Fine. Let’s play,’ he mused.
This time, he got smarter, Gone were the reckless jumps of millions-he raised the price steadily, no more than three hundred
thousand each time.
Eventually, when the bidding reached double the item’s actual value, Nate smoothly pulled out.
Sharon secured the porcelain vase for six million.
Nate sat back, practically humming with satisfaction.
He couldn’t wait to see her face when it hit her-when regret sank in, when the weight of her own stupidity caught up with her.
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Chapter 302
Except…
That moment didn’t come.
Sharon didn’t look regretful. Not even close.
Calmly, she accepted the vase from the auction staff and swiped her card without a flicker of hesitation. Wendy gingerly held the vase, wide-eyed. “This thing… really worth six million? That’s insane.”
Sharon’s voice was serene. “For this auction? Honestly, not that expensive.”
Xavier studied the vase, then nodded. “Slightly overpriced, sure. But the shape is elegant. The patterns are clean, old-world. It’ll appreciate. Not a bad investment.”
Wendy leaned in, lowering her voice. “Xavier, you don’t have to sugarcoat it. Sharon wasn’t even planning to bid. If it weren’t for Nate-Kelly’s ultimate simp-she wouldn’t have bothered.”
Xavier chuckled. “It’s fine. Whatever Sharon wants to bid on tonight… I’ve got her covered.”
The three of them laughed, unbothered, relaxed-no trace of regret anywhere.
Nate’s face flushed an ugly shade of green. “Disgusting. Letting a man pay for her like that. Shameless.”
Kelly’s tone was breezy, but her eyes flickered. “Well… for Xavier, six million really isn’t a big deal.”
Nate’s expression darkened. “Six million isn’t much, huh? What about ten million? You telling me that wouldn’t matter either?”
Kelly blinked, realization dawning. “Wait… Nate, you’re not seriously thinking-”
Nate scoffed. “I refuse to believe Xavier could just buy every item in this auction for her. No way.”
Sure, he still had some money left, but even Nate wasn’t dumb enough to throw ten million at a single item without thinking.
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Chapter 303
Chapter 303
Nate didn’t dare provoke Sharon the way he had before-not anymore. Not when there was a real chance she wouldn’t take the
bait.
But the more items she bid on, the more he convinced himself of one thing: piece by piece, this would add up. There was no way Xavier would keep footing the bill for her.
One auction after another, Nate bid. And each time, Sharon swooped in and secured the item.
At first, Nate felt pretty smug, thinking he’d finally managed to trap her into overpaying for junk.
But each time, she swiped her card with that same calm, unfazed expression. She collected the items as if none of it mattered, like spending that kind of money was as easy as breathing
And slowly, Nate started to feel… something was off.
By now, Sharon’s total spending had crossed well over ten million.
Nate’s gaze drifted toward Xavier.
The man hadn’t lifted his bidding paddle once. He just sat there, lips curved in that faint, unreadable smile, like none of this had anything to do with him at all.
Nate’s mind-never exactly his strong suit-started to scramble. “What the hell is going on? Is Sharon seriously trying to buy these things… or not?’
With that tangled thought circling his head, he raised his paddle again, and the battle resumed.
When the bidding hit nine million, Sharon suddenly stopped
Nate nearly exploded. ‘What is wrong with this damn woman?!”
It wasn’t just him-even Kelly was starting to look confused.
Whenever Nate raised the price aggressively, Sharon would back down. But when Nate withdrew, letting the item go, Sharon would casually take it, without a hint of hesitation or regret.
By now, the auction felt like it had narrowed down to just the two of them.
Everyone else sat back, watching the chaos unfold with a mixture of disbelief and thinly veiled amusement.
It was like watching two rich idiots set fire to stacks of cash just to spite each other.
No one was going to stop them. After all, what’s better than free entertainment?
Before the auction started, Nate had earmarked a few pieces he really wanted.
But after going head-to-head with Sharon like this… none of those items had even come up yet. And his budget was already circling the drain.
He did the math-he’d burned through over twenty million.
Even worse, part of that money had been set aside by his father-the money meant for picking out a birthday gift for his mother. And it was gone. Spent.
It wasn’t until that sickening realization hit him that he finally understood just how many pointless things he’d actually bought tonight.
And then, as if fate was mocking him, a necklace appeared on the stage.
Chapter 303
It was stunning.
An ocean-blue gemstone shimmered under the lights, catching the room in its glow, like sunlight scattered over deep water. It was beautiful enough to steal the breath from anyone who looked at it.
Kelly’s eyes lit up instantly.
“That’s… Deep Blue.”
The matching piece to her violin, Deep Sea.
The story behind them was famous-almost tragic. Deep Blue and Deep Sea had once belonged to a couple bound by profound love. After the woman who wore Deep Blue died in an accident, her partner-who owned Deep Sea-composed a violin piece that would go on to become world-famous. Then he disappeared.
No one ever heard from him again.
Some said he died. Others said losing the love of his life shattered him, leaving him unable to play the violin ever again. That was why Deep Sea eventually surfaced in the market.
A love story like that… people never forgot it.
Because Deep Sea was one of the world’s most renowned violins, the necklace Deep Blue had skyrocketed in value over the years.
But that wasn’t the only reason it was priceless.
It was simply… breathtaking.
No woman could look at that necklace and not want it.
Kelly stared at it, completely mesmerized. Then, as though struck by a sudden realization, she snapped her gaze to Carter.
“Carter… you…”
His voice was low, clear, and steady. “I promised you. I said I’d buy you a new necklace.”
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Chapter 304
The last time Kelly lost out on a necklace at auction, she had stayed gloomy for days. Her mood dipped so low, she even ended up in the hospital more than once.
Later, Carter had promised her-he’d get her a new necklace. One that would be even better than the one Sharon’s mother had once owned.
And now, seeing the necklace Deep Blue under the auction lights, Kelly suddenly understood.
Tears welled up in her eyes. “Carter… you didn’t have to do all this for me.”
Carter’s deep, steady gaze fell on her. “Deep Blue with your violin Deep Sea-that’s perfection.”
Kelly had wanted Sharon’s mother’s necklace purely to spite Sharon. But compared to Deep Blue, that necklace felt utterly insignificant.
Right now, her entire mind was consumed by the vision of herself on stage-Deep Blue at her neck, Deep Sea in her hands. Elegant. Untouchable. A vision made real.
And Deep Blue wasn’t like the other items tonight. It started with a base price of two million.
Unlike earlier lots, where the minimum increment was just in the low thousands, this one required at least ten thousand per bid.
Plenty of people had come tonight for this necklace alone.
Realistically, Deep Blue was worth somewhere around ten million. But given how tonight’s auction had gone so far, even ten million might not be enough.
Most predicted it could climb to twenty million easily.
As expected, the price quickly shot to eight million.
Then, for the first time all night, Carter’s voice sounded. “Ten million.”
The whole room shifted. The atmosphere tightened instantly, like the air itself had crystallized.
All eyes flicked toward him.
This was Carter, the man at the pinnacle of the business world in Zachemaine.
Who would dare go against him?
Even his rivals wouldn’t openly embarrass him. In business, today’s enemy could be tomorrow’s partner. Best not to burn bridges.
The auction hall fell into dead silence.
Even the auctioneer felt a moment of awe.
So this was what it meant to be a real boss.
A single line from him silenced the entire room. Like a walking mute button. (1)
Normally, the auctioneer would hype the crowd, do a little song and dance before starting the countdown.
But this time… it was Carter.
No one else was bidding. No one would dare.
No need to waste anyone’s time.
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“Ten million-going once.”
“Ten million-going twice.”
Just as the gavel was about to drop, a clear, melodic voice sliced through the silence.
“Twenty million.”
The room exploded.
“What?!”
Every head snapped toward the bidder.
Twenty million.
She’d doubled it. Instantly.
That wasn’t ten bucks. That was an entire ten million. 1
Sharon sat there, wearing the same serene smile as if this was the most natural thing in the world.
Her calm didn’t falter-not for the gasps, not for the stunned stares.
Yes, the necklace was beautiful. Maybe worth ten million at most. So was this a matter of love… or something else entirely?
The room collectively shifted their gaze toward Carter.
Bold. She was bold. No fear at all-not even of crossing Carter.
His eyes darkened as they settled on her.
Then, his gaze flicked to Nate.
Nate, still stunned, caught the signal and scrambled to react.
He lifted his paddle with visible hesitation. “Twenty-five million.”
He knew full well-whether or not the necklace landed in his hands, Carter would cover him.
But even so… his swagger from earlier was long gone.
This wasn’t fake money. This was real. Cold, hard cash.
No matter how much he wanted to play the hero, some numbers were enough to make anyone’s knees shake.
Nate understood exactly why Carter signaled him.
It wasn’t because Carter couldn’t afford it. It was because he wanted to test Sharon.
See if she was serious. See if this was just another stunt to bait them into overspending,
Because by now, the price had soared more than ten million over its real value.
This was no small number-not even for them.
But then… something happened.
Sharon didn’t stop.
She raised her paddle again.
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Chapter 305
Chapter 305
“Thirty million,” Sharon called out.
Nate stared at Sharon like he was looking at someone clinically insane. “Is she out of her mind?”
He glanced at Carter, silently asking whether he should keep going.
Carter’s eyes were dark-deep pools of ink, unreadable and cold. He gave a subtle nod.
Nate cleared his throat. “Thirty-five million.” His voice lacked its earlier confidence. He didn’t dare push it the way Sharon had -jumping in tens of millions.
But Sharon didn’t hesitate. “Forty million.”
The room, which had been buzzing with shock before, now sank into a stunned, suffocating silence.
Every single person looked at Sharon as though they were watching a madwoman.
Even someone hell-bent on burning money wouldn’t throw it away like this.
Kelly’s face flickered through shades of disbelief and anger.
She had finally seen something she truly loved, and Sharon was willing to pay any price just to rip it from her hands?
Kelly couldn’t hold back anymore. “Sharon,” she said, forcing composure into her voice, “I know there’s some… history between us. But is ruining the entire auction just to get back at me really worth it?”
Her words stirred the room. The audience’s gaze shifted, laced with doubt now.
Because this price-this absurd price-was simply too outrageous.
Forty million.
Who could casually throw out that kind of money?
No one here believed Sharon had that level of wealth.
As for Carter… Sure, he had the money. But no one thought he’d be foolish enough to burn it like this-over a necklace.
Even the auctioneer found himself unsure what to do.
An auction was a serious affair. If someone placed a winning bid and then failed to pay, the consequences were severe.
Because if anyone could bid recklessly without accountability, what was the point of holding auctions at all?
A staff member leaned in to whisper something to the auctioneer.
The auctioneer nodded slightly, then signaled.
Soon after, a staff member approached Sharon.
“Miss,” the man said carefully, “if this is… a joke, we can void the bid and restart.”
The implication was clear-no way did they believe she could actually pay this much.
If it were Carter, maybe. But the woman sitting in the fourth row? No. Absolutely not.
Before Sharon could respond, Nate jumped in, pointing straight at her.
“She can’t afford it! She’s doing this on purpose-to ruin the auction!”
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The staff’s face turned stern. “Miss, please… this really isn’t something to joke about.”
Had she not already successfully bid on several items, they wouldn’t have been this polite. They wouldn’t even bother giving her a second chance.
But Sharon simply smiled.
“I’m not joking,” she said. Her tone was light but carried a sharp edge. “I’m very serious. I do intend to purchase this necklace for forty million. Is that… an issue?” Her gaze swept over the staff. “Or is there some sort of bidding cap I wasn’t made aware of? Is my bid too high for your auction house to handle?”
The staff’s brow twitched. “Miss… are you certain… you’re not joking?”
Then, a low, lazy voice cut through the tension.
Xavier’s voice was unhurried, yet carried a distinct chill, “Are you looking down on my friend, or are you simply trying to insult us both?”
His eyes narrowed slightly. “If that’s the case, then why don’t you just throw us out now? Make an example of us. Reinforce your authority.”
The staff member’s expression shifted the moment he heard Xavier’s name. Panic flickered behind his eyes.
“Mr. Cooper, that’s not what I meant…” His tone softened immediately. “It’s just… the price is… unusually high. I only wanted to confirm that this young lady… truly intends to purchase it.”
“I do,” Sharon replied, her smile cool, her gaze sliding lazily toward Carter and Kelly.
“Carter,” she said lightly, “do you still want this necklace?”
A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.
She dared to provoke Carter… openly?
Was she reckless, or was she brave?
Either way… if Carter couldn’t handle even one woman challenging him like this, then wouldn’t his pride shatter right here in front of everyone?
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Chapter 306
“Damn it! Sharon’s still got the nerve to provoke us!” Nate’s face twisted, his voice sharp with rage. “Carter, we should keep bidding! No way she can outbid you!”
Sharon smiled faintly, her gaze falling squarely on Carter. “My budget’s eighty million,” she said, her tone light but laced with steel. “If Carter’s willing to go higher than that, the necklace is his. But if your budget’s less… I suggest you don’t waste your energy fighting me for it.”
She paused, lips curving just slightly. “Either way… you won’t win.”
“Eighty million?!” Nate nearly threw his head back laughing. His voice dripped with mockery. “Sharon, you really talk big for someone so broke. Without a man backing you, could you even cough up eight thousand?”
Sharon glared at him. “Since you’re so impressive, Nate, why don’t you bid the eighty million?”
Nate opened his mouth, then shut it, tongue-tied.
Eighty million. No way in hell was he reckless enough to fake it now.
But still, no part of him believed Sharon could possibly afford it.
His finger shot toward her like an accusation. “Oh, I get it now-you’re trying to pull the same stunt as earlier! Bait us into driving the price up, then drop out at the last second! You’re trying to scam us again!”
It was like he’d just uncovered some grand conspiracy. He practically jumped in place. “Sharon! You are absolutely shameless!”
Sharon blinked, then let out a soft gasp of mock surprise. “Nate, you should be careful with your words. We’re all bidding in good faith here. What scam?
“If I think something’s worth it, I’ll pay whatever price I want. If it exceeds what I believe it’s worth, then I’ll stop. Pretty simple, isn’t it?”
Her gaze sharpened further. “So by your logic… anyone who backs out of bidding against you is malicious? Interesting.”
Her lips curved into a slow, amused smile. “Besides… I’ve won more bids than you tonight.”
Nate snapped back without thinking, “Yeah, because you’ve got another man paying for it all!”
A low, languid voice cut through the tension. Xavier leaned lazily back, his tone indifferent but weighted. “Nate, not every woman needs a man to buy things for her.”
He glanced lazily at him. “Everything Sharon’s won tonight was paid for with her own money. Has nothing to do with me. You really shouldn’t project your own limitations onto others. Especially not onto women.”
His gaze turned sharper. “The very women you look down on… might just be richer and far more capable than you.”
A ripple moved through the crowd, especially among the women.
Several nodded, eyes filled with approval for Xavier.
At the same time, their faces twisted with disgust toward Nate.
Someone muttered under her breath, “This guy… isn’t he from the Hendricks family? What a misogynist. I need to tell my sisters
-never, ever marry into that family,”
Another woman pulled out her phone. “My mom’s the chairwoman of our group. Looks like we need to reconsider working with the Hendricks family. A guy this sexist? The company’s culture can’t be much better.”
“I just remembered-my cousin’s supposed to go on a blind date with someone from the Hendricks family next week,” another
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whispered arpaty “Yeah, I’m calling her and selling her to run.”
The mus Salled pen whispers, fingers pointing, eyebrows raised.
Nate’s face turned the color of bad watercalen – streaked with embarrassment, humiliation, and panic.
Fir stumbled grasping in words ‘No, no that’s not what I meant…
He could already picture his father’s face when this got back to him. A man who cared about nothing but profit-if he knew Nate had trashed the family name ever a few stupid remarks, he’d break his legs.
But no one was listening
The looks directed at Natte were pure contempt.
Even those who realized Nate had just spoken without thinking didn’t bother offering him any grace.
They were thinking, Too stupid Way too stupid. If we work with idiots like him, it’ll rub off.”
Then Kelly leaned forward, her tone dipped in sugar and poison. “Sharon do you really think… you can actually afford this necklace?
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Surprisingly, Carter spoke up, “Of course.”
His gaze rested quietly on Sharon, reflecting her figure with a depth that seemed to see straight through her.
“She’s not lying,” he said evenly. “Everything she’s bid on tonight… she’s paying for herself. After all…” His voice was directed at the others, but his eyes never left her. “She has a fortune of 100 million. However she chooses to spend it is her business.”
Sharon’s lashes fluttered slightly, but the faint smile on her lips didn’t waver. She didn’t deny it.
Instead, she asked, “So, Carter… are you still planning to raise the bid?”
A cold, distant smile tugged at the corner of Carter’s lips, though his eyes were nothing but ice.
“Sharon, you are clearly determined, throwing money around like it’s nothing. I suppose… I’ll yield.”
Sharon’s smile deepened. “My budget’s eighty million. Carter, aren’t you going to keep bidding? Wear me down a little?” Carter’s voice was as cool as mountain spring water. “And let you pull the same trick? Drive me up, then suddenly drop out? If you really want it for eighty million, you can just raise it straight there. No one will fight you for it.”
Sharon replied calmly, “But I like a bargain too. If I can get it for forty million, who’d willingly offer eighty? My money doesn’t grow on trees. If I save forty million… well, that’s enough for me to live the rest of my life in luxury.”
Only then did Kelly finally come to a realization. Sharon… really did have money.
Not long ago, Sharon had threatened Carter for 100 million-using her own life as leverage.
Of course. Of course! The things she’d won earlier barely totaled over ten million. She still had eighty million left. She could absolutely afford to play this game.
And worse… what if Sharon suddenly pulled the same stunt she had with Nate? Drive the price high… then stop cold. Let them be the fools holding the bag.
Sharon had the nerve to gamble. But they… absolutely didn’t.
A sharp wave of fury flooded Kelly. She wanted nothing more than to tear Sharon apart with her bare hands.
Sharon had snatched back her mother’s necklace. And now, even Deep Blue, the necklace Kelly coveted, Sharon wanted too.
Noticing Kelly’s hateful stare, Sharon turned her head toward her.
“What’s wrong, Kelly? Are you thinking of raising the bid too?”
Kelly forced out a brittle smile. “…No. Since you want it so badly… I’ll let you have it.”
But Sharon simply corrected her politely. “You’re mistaken. You’re not letting me have it. I’m winning it… on my own merit. Unless, of course, you’d like to stop being so generous and compete with me fair and square?”
Kelly’s fists clenched at her sides, nails driving deep into her palms. She didn’t even feel the pain.
This b*tch was doing it on purpose. Deliberately humiliating her.
The metallic tang of blood filled her mouth.
Even Carter seemed to lose his patience. “Sharon, I’d advise you to be a little more restrained. Otherwise… karma tends to come
back around.”
But Sharon didn’t flinch. Her smile was arrogant and defiant.
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“Sure I’ll be waiting for the day it does.”
A flash of icy sharpness sparked in Carter’s eyes.
He wasn’t someone who argued. He only gave Sharon one last, deep look-then said nothing more.
Moments later, the auction staff carefully carried Deep Blue over to Sharon.
The weight of it-forty million-was enough to make anyone’s hands tremble.
If the necklace slipped, fell, and shattered, Sharon could still back out. She could refuse it on the spot.
But now, every single pair of eyes in the room was locked on her.
All of them were wondering, after all her grandstanding, would she actually pay?
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Chapter 308
If Sharon really defaulted on the payment, what kind of punishment would she face?
For a moment, the entire room held its breath, waiting for the scene to unfold.
Even Kelly stared at Sharon, holding on to a last shred of hope.
If Sharon couldn’t pay up, Deep Blue would still be hers.
But Sharon let them all down. Without hesitation, she pulled out her bank card and swiped it.
The soft electronic beep-confirmation of a successful payment-echoed in the air.
Everyone stared at her in stunned silence.
She really paid forty million for a necklace.
For a while, many people had thought she was just a reckless fool.
But now… they had to admit… this woman was actually loaded. 1
Several more standout pieces came up for auction afterward.
Sharon bid on two more.
And by then, whenever she raised her paddle, no one dared compete.
Somehow, she even won a couple of items for less than their starting price.
Nate didn’t dare challenge her again.
His budget had been blown long ago. One more misstep and not even Carter could save him.
Sharon knew when to pull back. After that, she gave the others some breathing room and stopped bidding.
Carter and Nate had clearly caught on-if Sharon was deliberately targeting them, it was a lose-lose game. Either they’d overpay, or they’d lose to her.
So neither of them placed another bid.
When the auction finally ended, Wendy still felt like she was dreaming.
“Sharon, I can’t believe you went head-to-head with Carter like that. Aren’t you afraid he’s going to come after you?”
She glanced at the Deep Blue necklace now resting against Sharon’s neck and clicked her tongue.
“But seriously… it really is beautiful.”
Sharon smiled faintly. “Even if I didn’t provoke them, they’d still come after me. Rather than sit around waiting to get bullied, I might as well strike first.”
Wendy muttered under her breath, “Still… spending that much money just for payback… my heart aches just thinking about it.”
100 million was enough for them to live easily for the rest of their lives.
“But…” Wendy suddenly changed her tone, “after the way Carter and Nate got us kicked out of the hotel, giving them a little
taste of their own medicine doesn’t sound so bad.”
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Xavier, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. “You two got thrown out of your hotel?”
Wendy nodded vigorously. “Exactly! You have no idea how miserable we were last night. Ended up sleeping in my junky car. We figured if we tried booking another hotel, chances were we’d get kicked out again.”
Xavier hadn’t known that both Sharon and Wendy’s homes had been sealed.
Hearing Wendy’s account, Xavier let out a laugh.
“That’s easy enough to fix. I’ve got more than a few properties under my name. You two can move into one for now. Think of it as… employee housing on my dime.”
Wendy started, “Thanks, Xavier, but there’s no need. I was planning to go house hunting tomorrow…”
Before she could finish, Sharon’s voice cut in, “Perfect. Thank you, Xavier.”
Wendy stared at her, surprised.
With the money they had now, they could easily buy a few houses outright. Why bother staying at Xavier’s place?
But then… she understood.
A little extra sting for Carter, just to remind him that Sharon wasn’t some abandoned housewife no one wanted.
Xavier casually helped Sharon carry her auction items, laughing softly as he did.
“If Mr. Malcolm knew how much money Nate just wasted on useless junk, I bet he’d be… quite comforted.”
Sharon met his gaze, making no attempt to deny it. Her eyes drifted toward Nate, whose face was dark as he exited the auction hall.
“If he won’t compensate Mr. Malcolm,” she said quietly, “then he can bleed a little somewhere else. Sooner or later… one has to pay for what one owes.”
Wendy couldn’t help but admire Sharon’s nerve.
Spending millions just to make a point for Mr. Malcolm… that took guts.
“Damn it! Sharon really screwed me over!”
Nate’s face was ashen as he glared at the worthless, overpriced junk piled around him.
The overpriced mural stared back at him like a silent mockery.
He wanted to rip it to shreds.
But even that… wouldn’t help him explain things to his dad.
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Chapter 309
“Carter, she’s out here blowing your money like it’s nothing. She’s buying whatever she wants and even fighting us for it. Seriously, how long until we can freeze her assets and stop her from pretending she’s something she’s not?” Nate’s face twisted with frustration.
Carter shot him a cold glance. “Sharon and I are divorced. You think freezing someone else’s assets is that simple?”
A temporary freeze? Sure, that was doable. But a few days-ten at most-would be pointless.
“I’ve got things to handle,” Carter said, “Nate, I’ll leave it to you to make sure Kelly gets home.”
“Got it,” Nate replied.
As soon as Carter left, Kelly leaned in, lowering her voice. “Nate, didn’t you say you were going to pin something on her? How’s that coming along? Once Sharon’s convicted, all her funds will be seized and returned to Carter.”
Nate scratched his head, irritation flickering in his eyes. “I talked to the lawyers. It’s not that easy to fabricate charges. Still… I’ve already got people working on it. Just needs a couple more days. Two, maybe three.”
Kelly visibly relaxed. Two or three days-she could wait that long.
But Nate couldn’t. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.
“No. I need to expose this gold-digging scam artist. Let everyone see her for what she really is.”
Snatching up his phone, he started calling contacts, tapping into his network to destroy Sharon’s reputation.
“Hmph. She thinks she can take us on? Does she even know who she’s dealing with? Just because she has 100 million, she thinks she’s invincible? I’ll show her how powerless money really is when it’s up against capital itself.”
Smearing someone’s reputation was disgustingly easy.
Of course, Nate wasn’t stupid enough to spread anything truly scandalous-nothing vulgar or salacious. Sharon was still Carter’s ex-wife. She was also Theo’s mother. If he crossed that line, it’d be a direct slap in Carter’s face.
But there were still ways to socially ruin her.
In a low, venomous tone, he ordered, “Put it out there-Sharon has pissed off both me and Carter. Anyone who helps her will be openly making enemies of us.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. The man’s breath caught.
A message like that was basically a death sentence in the Zachemaine business world.
Nate’s lips curled. “Oh… and one more thing. Sure, accusing her might not be enough to convict her right away. But if a few reporters happen to snap photos of her walking in and out of a police station? No matter what the truth is, those gossip accounts will eat her alive.”
Satisfied with his plan, Nate made a few more calls to set it all in motion.
When he finally hung up, Kelly asked, “Nate… didn’t you think about teaming up with Julliard?”
“Julliard?” Nate waved his hand dismissively. “Forget it. That guy’s too soft. He’d never get involved in something like this. Doesn’t matter anyway. As long as Carter and I are on the same page, it’s enough.”
Inside her room, Sharon scrolled through her phone, scanning the latest gossip.
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“Oh my god. So that female violinist disappeared because the Hendricks family blacklisted her?”
“Sources say she pissed off the Hendricks and Biggs families. That’s why she got banned.”
“Hendricks and Biggs? No way… Did she get caught seducing both Nate and Carter, made Kelly jealous, and got herself blacklisted?”
“Or maybe she crossed Kelly. Everyone knows Nate and Carter treat her like a princess.”
“Not gonna lie… yeah, I know it’s problematic, but Kelly really is talented. Can’t blame those two for fighting over her.”
Right then, a sharp knock sounded at the door.
Sharon rose, walked over, and opened it.
Standing outside were two officers in uniform.
“Sharon McKinzie,” one of them said, voice clipped, “you’ve been reported for leaking trade secrets. We’ll need you to come with us for questioning.”
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Chapter 310
Wendy stepped out of the kitchen, and the moment she saw who was at the door, her face drained of color.
“Officers, you’ve got it wrong. Sharon didn’t leak any trade secrets. There must be some kind of mistake.”
The officer’s tone remained firm. “Whether there’s a mistake or not, that’s for us to determine. For now, we need Ms. McKinzie to cooperate.”
Wendy opened her mouth to argue, but Sharon gently pressed her hand down.
“It’s fine,” Sharon said, nodding at the officers. “I understand.”
Then she turned to Wendy, her voice calm. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. Just help me call the lawyer.”
Seeing how composed Sharon was, Wendy’s panic eased-if only a little..
Right. The lawyer. She needed to contact him now.
“And one more thing…” Sharon leaned in, quietly giving Wendy a string of instructions.
Wendy’s eyes widened with shock, disbelief written all over her face. “Sharon… You… You planned for this?”
Sharon gave her a small nod.
Soon, the officers escorted Sharon out.
It was night when they took her in.
By the time the interrogation finally ended, dawn was already breaking.
Right after, her lawyer processed the bail.
Attorney Cassian Ramsey had actually arrived the night before but was denied a meeting on the grounds that Sharon was still being interrogated.
Cassian wasn’t just any lawyer-he was one of Xavier’s people. It had taken multiple negotiations and a whole lot of effort, but by morning, he managed to get Sharon out on bail.
Sharon knew exactly whose handiwork this was.
The moment she stepped into the police station’s front lobby, two all-too-familiar figures came into view.
Nate and Kelly.
The sleepless night had left Sharon visibly worn out. She looked pale and tired, a stark contrast to Kelly, who stood there perfectly styled, polished, and glowing.
Nate spotted Sharon and let out a mocking whistle.
“Well, well… isn’t it our dear Ms. Multi-millionaire herself? What’s this? Out of the police station this early? What crime did you commit this time?”
Sharon gave them a sideways glance. “Wow. You two really got up early just to catch me walking out of here? That’s… dedication. Anyone watching might actually think you’re in love with me.”
No pretense, no sugar-coating. They were long past that stage.
“Love? Pfft.” Nate sneered, feigning a gag. “Takes someone legally blind to fall for a high school dropout like you. Shameless.”
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Then his face twisted with glee. “But hey, I’m just being a good guy here-thought I’d drop by to remind you. Your little fantasy life? Ends today.
“Weren’t you full of it the other day? Throwing money around at that auction like you were untouchable?
“You think spending money makes you safe? Forgot to mention something-those auction items? Yeah, the police seized them from your place this morning.
“Oh, and your accounts? Frozen. All of them.”
Nate stepped closer, eyes gleaming with spite. “And no, we’re not here to see you. Don’t flatter yourself. We’re here to submit more evidence. By tomorrow? You’ll be right back in there. No amount of lawyers will save you.”
“Get comfortable with the idea of prison, Sharon.”
For the first time in a long while, Nate felt vindicated and powerful.
“Of course… if you don’t want to end up behind bars,” he sneered, lowering his voice, “beg me. For Theo’s sake, maybe-just maybe I’ll ask Carter to go easy on you.”
But Sharon only smiled, her lips curving with lazy amusement. There was not a hint of panic, nor a flicker of fear.
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The expression on Sharon’s face was far from what Nate and Kelly had hoped for.
Nate’s brows knitted together. “What the hell are you laughing at?”
Sharon’s voice was light and airy. “I’m laughing at how stupid you are.”
Kelly let out a delicate chuckle. “Sharon, I understand… You don’t want to look embarrassed in front of us. But really, with things as bad as they are, there’s no shame in surrendering.”
Her gaze shifted to the necklace around Sharon’s neck.
“If you’re willing to return that necklace to me,” Kelly said, “along with Shaluna, I believe… Carter might be willing to forgive you for stealing his trade secrets.” 1
The necklace Sharon wore wasn’t Deep Blue—it was the one her mother had left her. Kelly had never cared much for its actual value. Still, she wanted it.
Whatever she laid her eyes on should belong to her. Whether it was the necklace, Shaluna, or even Carter himself.
Sharon smiled. “Kelly, I used to think you were clever. Turns out, not so much. You should’ve known-I asked Carter for a divorce long ago. But you didn’t believe me. You thought I was playing hard to get… sabotaging things on purpose.
“Truth is, if it weren’t for your constant meddling, we would’ve divorced ages ago. And I would’ve left the marriage with no money or assets to my name. But now, thanks to you… I walked away with a fortune.”
She paused, letting her words sink in, then fixed her gaze on Kelly.
“Kelly, you’re really a saint, you know? Without your help, I wouldn’t have had the money to show up at that auction… or to fight you for everything you wanted.”
“That necklace… Deep Blue. You wanted it badly, right? If not for you pushing things the way you did, I wouldn’t have gotten it either.”
Kelly’s eyes burned red with fury. Her lips trembled as she forced a cold laugh. “Just wait. However you got that 100 million, you’ll have to return it the same way.”
Sharon tilted her head, her smile cool. “We’ll see.”
Without another word, she turned and walked away.
Every sentence she’d said stabbed at Kelly.
Kelly stood there, fists clenched, teeth grinding, her eyes radiating hatred.
Fine. Let her act smug a little longer. Once she walked out that door… she wouldn’t be smiling for long.
The moment Sharon and her lawyer stepped outside the station, a mob of reporters swarmed toward her like they’d been lying
in wait.
“Sharon, after going viral recently, it seems you were suddenly blacklisted. Was it because you offended someone powerful?”
“Sharon, why are you coming out of the police station? Is your ban related to a criminal investigation?”
“Sharon, rumors say you’ve been impersonating Mrs. Biggs to deceive people. Were you summoned today for infringing on Mrs. Biggs’s legal rights?” 1
Chapter 311
While Sharon spent the night in custody, the tide online had shifted again.
With Nate’s careful orchestration and a flood of insider gossip leaking out, the internet had exploded. The hate was overwhelming-impossible to suppress.
Right then, Nate and Kelly stepped out of the station, catching sight of Sharon being completely surrounded by the press Nate sneered. “She got lucky last time with that livestream. No way she’s getting out of this one.”
He pulled out his phone and casually opened a livestream.
Kelly stood beside him, her lips curling into a cold smile. She glanced around. “Didn’t you invite Carter here too? When’s he getting here?”
Chapter 312
Carter had always considered himself above petty schemes like framing Sharon.
The only thing he ever involved himself in was freezing her 100 million in assets. That part-yes–he had personally arranged.
But just freezing. Nothing more.
He made no move to retrieve the money, nor did he make any effort to claim it back for himself.
Nate, who had been close buddies with him for years, knew exactly why. It wasn’t that Carter was being generous or indifferent about that 100 million.
No. He was forcing Sharon’s hand.
In Carter’s mind, this divorce wasn’t the end. Not really.
He had countless ways to stall it, to drag her back, to make it impossible for her to leave. But he didn’t use any of them.
Because he wanted her to understand something-without him, she was nothing.
If he didn’t let her hit the wall, didn’t let her suffer a little, she’d always hold onto some childish illusion of freedom.
Let her try. Let her see how brutal the world could be. Let her realize that without his protection, even surviving would be a struggle.
And when that realization hit, she’d come crawling back. On her own. And completely defeated. (1)
That was the plan.
So no-he didn’t stop Nate from stirring the pot. But he didn’t help Nate either.
Nate’s eyes lit up when he spotted Carter moving through the crowd.
“Carter’s here!”
Kelly glanced between Sharon-still surrounded by reporters-and Carter, who was approaching with his usual calm, measured
pace.
She whispered, “Nate… do you think Carter’s gonna be mad… seeing her getting hounded like this?” 1
“Mad? At what?” Nate scoffed. “He’s probably glad. We just handed him the perfect excuse to force her to come begging. Although…”
Kelly picked up on the unsaid part, smiling faintly. “Although… with Sharon’s personality, it’s unlikely she’ll ever bow her head.
11
Nate nodded. “Exactly. The more stubborn she gets, the worse it’ll blow up between them. Once that happens, we can do whatever we want. No need to worry about what Carter thinks.”
For now, Nate was still holding back. He couldn’t go too far-yet.
If he really wanted to destroy Sharon, one smear campaign would do it. A little rumor, a little dirt, and Sharon wouldn’t be able to show her face in public again.
“Wait… is that… Carter? Why is he here?”
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Chapter 312
“Don’t tell me… what that woman said earlier was true?”
A few reporters paled as realization sank in.
Moments ago, they’d been grilling Sharon-asking whether she’d been impersonating Mrs. Biggs to scam people and if that was why she’d ended up in police custody.
Her answer had been calm. “Back then… I hadn’t divorced Carter yet. At the time, I was, without a doubt… Mrs. Biggs.”
She wasn’t stupid. She wasn’t going to stand there silently, letting rumors devour her. Divorce or not, she had no reason to protect Carter’s image-or the Biggs family’s-anymore.
The reporters had frozen when she said it.
No one told them… she really was Mrs. Biggs.
Or more accurately… had been.
And the real bombshell-when exactly had they divorced? Was it recent? Was it official?
Before anyone could process it… Carter himself appeared.
Was he here… to defend his ex-wife?
A sudden ripple of unease spread through the crowd of reporters.
None of them had the guts to piss off Carter.
Carter’s sharp gaze swept across the scene, momentarily freezing when it landed on Sharon trapped in the middle of the swarm.
Off to the side, Nate raised a hand in greeting, flashing him a meaningful glance.
It was enough. One glance told Carter everything he needed to know.
The reporters, sensing the shift, surged toward Carter like bees to honey. But not with the same recklessness they’d shown Sharon.
No shoving. No rude questions. Not a single toe stepped out of line.
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Chapter 313
The moment the reporters reached Carter, they wasted no time. Their questions came sharp, fast, and relentless.
“Mr. Biggs, this woman-Sharon McKinzie-just claimed she’s your ex-wife. Do you know her?”
Carter barely spared Sharon a glance. “No.”
For a split second, there was total silence. Then laughter-loud, mocking-rippled through the crowd.
Every pair of eyes turned to Sharon, dripping with scorn, their gazes sharp as needles.
A circus act, that’s what she was to them now.
“She said it so convincingly. I almost believed she really was Mr. Biggs’s ex-wife. Turns out it’s a joke!”
“Unbelievable. Lying right in front of a police station-she’s not even afraid of getting caught red-handed.”
“Probably one of those wannabe socialites who wish they could be Mrs. Biggs. Hell, maybe she’s hoping we’ll write about it just to get Carter’s attention.”
“Yeah. Any kind of publicity, right? Even this kind of garbage. She’s desperate for it.”
“No wonder she got blacklisted. Shameless.”
Their words came like darts, sharp and poisonous, stabbing into Sharon without mercy.
A reporter smirked. “Sharon, Mr. Biggs says he doesn’t know you. Care to explain?”
Sharon’s tone was light. “I don’t know him very well either.”
The reporter blinked, then laughed. “Oh? Not very well? But just a minute ago, you said you were his wife. Wow, you flip faster than a page in a book.”
Sharon stared straight at him. “I said at the time. Not now. We’re divorced. We’re strangers now. Naturally… there’s no reason to
be familiar.”
The crowd broke into laughter.
Not a single person believed her.
To them, she was either desperate for fame… or desperate for a man. Maybe both.
Off to the side, Nate had his livestream running, camera pointed straight at Sharon.
In the past few days, under his careful manipulation, negative press about Sharon had flooded every corner of the internet.
Any comment defending her? Deleted.
Any post linking her to Carter? Vanished-whether by his orders or by someone else who understood the unspoken rules.
His livestream chat was nothing but a barrage of vicious and relentless insults.
Some people even dragged up the old car accident scandal as if they’d never heard the truth that came after. Like they were willfully blind to anything that didn’t fit the narrative.
Sharon watched the sneering faces. She knew-right now, no matter how clearly she spoke, no matter how many times she explained, it would only make things worse.
The more she talked, the uglier it would get.
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Her brow furrowed slightly. She didn’t want to waste another second on these people.
But as she stepped forward, the crowd shifted, blocking her path.
“Sharon, where you going?”
“Yeah, leaving already? You haven’t explained yourself.”
Sharon’s voice dropped, cold as steel. “What are you trying to do? Block my way in front of a police station? Planning to break the law?”
The reporters sneered, unfazed. “Oh, come on now. Don’t turn it around on us. You were the one pretending to be Mr. Biggs’s wife right here at the police station. If the cops show up… looks like we’re all in trouble, huh?”
They pressed closer, like a wall of flesh and cameras, sealing her in with no way out.
Then her gaze drifted-past the lenses, past the laughter-to a figure standing quietly just beyond the crowd.
Carter.
His expression was unreadable-half amusement, half something colder. His lips curved slightly.
And then, soundlessly, he mouthed the words, “Beg me and I’ll save you.”
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Chapter 314
Sharon slowly raised her hand and, without a word, flipped Carter the middle finger.
His eyes darkened.
Even now-even backed into this mess, surrounded and humiliated-she still refused to bow her head. Not a single word of compromise.
Fine. Perfect.
He wanted to see how far that stubbornness could carry her.
The reporters swarmed, their questions overlapping into a messy blur, a buzzing storm in Sharon’s ears.
She stood there-silent, composed, almost detached. Not an ounce of panic. Not a flicker of shame.
The calmer she appeared, the more vicious they became. They thrived on fear, on the unraveling of someone cornered.
Nate was practically glowing with excitement. His livestream was catching every second of this. Finally, a front-row seat to Sharon’s public downfall.
As he reveled in it, his other phone suddenly started ringing.
Nate shoved his livestream phone into Kelly’s hands. “Kelly, hold this for me. I gotta take this.”
“Gladly,” she grinned, her eyes glued to the stream, relishing the flood of insults pouring in.
Nate stepped aside and answered. “What is it?”
“Boss… something’s wrong! Sharon is on the trending searches again!”
Nate scoffed. “Yeah? She’s been trending for days. What’s new?”
“No, no, this time it’s… it’s different-”
“I know,” Nate cut him off, impatient. “I made that happen. What’s the panic?”
Silence. Then, “…This was your doing?”
“Obviously. Why? What difference does it make? Is there a problem? If not, I’m hanging up.’
“Wait, wait!” The voice on the other end scrambled. “Do you… do you need us to coordinate anything on our side?”
Nate’s face twisted with irritation. “Are you serious? Do you want to keep your job or not? Why are you even asking?”
“Got it! Understood!”
He hung up, annoyed, then turned back, ready to savor more of Sharon’s humiliation.
But something was wrong.
A new wave of reporters was rushing in, charging straight toward Sharon. A crowd, bigger than before, pushed past the ones already surrounding her.
Kelly blinked. “Nate… did you call another group of reporters?”
Nate’s brows knitted. “No. I only called one group. Maybe my team overbooked…?”
Before either of them could figure it out, the newcomers shoved their way through, practically elbowing aside the earlier crowd. Cameras raised, mics thrust forward, they swarmed Sharon like a jackpot had just dropped in front of them.
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Their faces were lit up, eyes gleaming with excitement.
“Sharon! The museum has just released the donation records-you donated auction items worth sixty million dollars! Can you tell us more about that?”
“Sharon, sources confirm you also donated forty million to impoverished regions, orphanages, and elder care homes. What inspired you to make such a massive contribution?”
“Sharon, considering you’re not officially on any of the country’s wealthy lists, how did you come to this decision? What drove you to give such a staggering amount?”
Their questions poured in like a flood, loud, relentless, eager-completely drowning out the earlier reporters who had been circling her like vultures.
Those reporters stood frozen, confused, shoved to the outer ring.
Donation?
What the hell just happened?
Not wanting to lose out, the ones further back scrambled to pull out their phones, starting their own livestreams in desperation. “Good morning, viewers! We’re reporting live from Amstern City’s morning news. Behind us is the breaking scene of Miss Sharon McKinzie’s press interview…”
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Chapter 315
The reporters streamed excitedly.
“I’m sure everyone’s seen the trending headlines today! That’s right-the mysterious donor who contributed sixty million in artifacts and forty million in charity funds… is none other than Miss Sharon McKinzie!”
“Among her donations to the museum are several priceless relics that had been lost overseas for years.”
“Sharon’s generosity is truly admirable!”
“I’m sure you’re all dying to know-just who is this mysterious donor? Well, let’s meet her right now!”
The camera panned, locking onto Sharon, still surrounded by a swarm of reporters.
“Surprised? Bet no one expected the donor to be this young and this stunning!”
Viewers watching both the livestreams on their phones and the morning news on their TVs collectively froze.
“Wait… why does the woman on the livestream look exactly like the one on the morning news?”
“Exactly like? They are the same person!”
“What the hell? Wasn’t this woman just accused of pretending to be Carter Biggs’s wife? How is she suddenly a multi- millionaire philanthropist?”
“100 million?! Did I hear that right? She’s that rich?”
“No way. This has gotta be a PR stunt.”
“Stunt your ass! This is the Amstern City Morning News. You ever seen a government news channel pull PR stunts?”
Nate’s livestream exploded.
The comment feed was moving so fast it turned into a blur of illegible text.
The entertainment reporters, who had been shoved to the outer edges of the crowd, gaped as they overheard the questions pouring from the official media.
“Bro… you sure you’ve got the right person? This chick’s buried in scandals. Faking her marriage to Carter, hyping herself online … isn’t she even under investigation for financial crimes?”
A reporter from one of the networks shot him a cold, dismissive glance. “No wonder you entertainment guys never make it into serious journalism. You spend your lives digging dirt, twisting stories, and you don’t even notice when something real happens right in front of you.”
The guy blinked, stunned. His eyes dropped to the logos stamped on the microphones clustered around Sharon.
His face went pale.
These weren’t gossip rags. These were major broadcasters. State-owned. National channels. Even reporters from the most prestigious network in the country were here.
The entertainment reporters stared at one another, dumbfounded.
“What the hell just happened? Weren’t we here to expose dirt? How did this turn into a press conference for a philanthropist?” ”
They stood frozen, watching as the official reporters crowded around Sharon, fighting to get their questions in.
These weren’t the types who chased celebrity scandals. These were the faces of national news. These were people whose job wasn’t to gossip, but to represent the voice of the country.
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Chapter
Unlike the entertainment crowd, who were known for twisting headlines and spinning narratives however they pleased, these reporters operated under strict standards. Every word, every broadcast, had to be verified, accurate, and precise.
They weren’t here to flatter, nor to belittle. Whether the subject was a superstar or someone buried under controversy, they approached every interview with the same calm neutrality, the same professional distance.
And now, seeing these elite reporters swarming Sharon with this much enthusiasm, it was nothing short of surreal
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Chapter 316
Nate, who had been waiting eagerly to watch Sharon crash and burn, stood there, mouth wide open in disbelief.
“What the hell… What’s going on?” he muttered. “Why are all these national news reporters treating Sharon like royalty? Have they lost their damn minds?”
The smile that had barely formed on Kelly’s lips froze, then disappeared completely. She stood there, stunned, unable to process what was happening right in front of her.
The flash of cameras lit the air in rapid bursts. The reporters closed in, their questions relentless, but the tone was unmistakable
-warm, even reverent.
Every question was wrapped in praise. Words like benevolent, selfless, beautiful inside and out filled the air.
A gossip reporter, unable to hold back, squeezed forward and snapped at one of the mainstream media reporters. “Hey, she’s covered head-to-toe in scandals. Don’t let her fool you!”
The network reporter shot him a look as cold as steel. “Those scandals are all fabricated, made up by people like you. We’re here to report on a philanthropist’s donation, not to peddle garbage. Watch your mouth-we’re live.”
The man’s voice dipped, heavy with warning. “And just so you know, any statement you make that damages someone’s reputation without evidence… you’ll be legally responsible for it.”
The gossip reporters stiffened, heads lowering as they hurriedly scrolled through their phones.
This wasn’t right.
The last thing they’d heard was that Sharon was blacklisted from the entire internet. Without clearance from above, any news about her couldn’t even be published. The system would block it automatically.
Except… her dirt? The hit pieces? Those were mysteriously allowed to spread like wildfire.
Her accounts were suspended. Her voice was silenced. She had no way to defend herself, no way to explain.
This was how the game was played when you crossed powerful capital. Silenced. Stripped of any platform to fight back.
And every gossip reporter here knew the unspoken rule: when the order came to dig dirt, you dug. If you couldn’t find any, you made it up.
It was understood. Sharon would never have a positive headline again. Not on any platform. Not unless someone powerful flipped the switch.
They’d come today thinking it was business as usual.
But now? Now, six of the top ten trending topics were about Sharon’s donations.
The realization hit them like a brick wall.
While they were busy orchestrating smear campaigns, the very same mainstream media they’d always secretly envied-those reporters who usually sneered down at them from their ivory towers-were circling Sharon with glowing praise.
It was the cruelest kind of irony.
Yes, they were just doing their jobs. Yes, it was for the money. But being slapped in the face this hard? Even they couldn’t pretend it didn’t sting.
Just then, a voice sliced through the buzzing chaos like a knife.
“If Sharon is really so kind-hearted,” the voice rang out, dripping with sarcasm, “why didn’t she donate anonymously?”
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The square fell silent.
Every head turned toward the voice.
The gossip reporter stood there, chest puffed, smug, as though he’d just delivered some grand, undeniable truth.
“What’s wrong?” he sneered. “Hit a nerve, Sharon? Cat got your tongue?”
Sharon’s expression didn’t falter. No panic. No flinch. Just calm.
“Let me ask you something.” Her eyes met his, unwavering. “What do you think I’m trying to do?”
He didn’t miss a beat. “You’re doing it for hype. For fame.”
Sharon nodded slightly. “And tell me, if I want fame… what do you think I want it for?”
Chapter 317
The reporter blurted out without thinking, “Obviously, for the money.”
Sharon’s gaze stayed steady. “If I’m so obsessed with money,” she asked calmly, “why did I donate it? Money like this-I couldn’t finish spending it all in three lifetimes. Why wouldn’t I keep it for myself?”
The reporter froze, caught off guard, his mouth half open but no words coming out.
It was a good question. If she was after money, why give it all away? The logic didn’t hold.
But before the silence could stretch too long, another tabloid reporter stepped forward. “Sharon, from what I’ve found out, you didn’t even finish high school. You’re not some heiress, nor are you not a multimillionaire. How did someone like you even get that kind of money?”
His eyes narrowed. “There are rumors… rumors that you once pretended to be Carter Biggs’s wife. So, this money… it isn’t something you scammed off some man, is it?”
Sharon didn’t so much as blink. Her tone was still level and cool. “Then let me ask you,” she said, “what kind of scam could possibly bring in 100 million?”
The man sneered. “Well, scamming one man for 100 million is tough. But several men? Not impossible.”
A slow, smug smile curved at the edges of his lips, eyes gleaming with malice. “Come on, everyone knows men in love have negative IQ. And a woman like you-pretty, clever-it’d be so easy to bleed them dry.”
He tilted his chin. “So tell me, how else do you explain where that money came from?”
His words hit like a rock thrown into a still pond-sending shockwaves everywhere.
No high school diploma. No rich family background. And yet, she had 100 million.
It was the kind of thing that made people’s minds spiral.
Sharon’s gaze didn’t waver. She looked the man right in the eyes. “So what you’re saying is, if a woman is young, beautiful, and happens to have wealth… then that money must be dirty?”
The tabloid reporter’s breath caught. His confidence faltered.
He couldn’t say yes in front of this crowd. Not with all these cameras rolling. Admit that, and he’d basically be declaring war on every successful woman watching.
His eyes flicked around, scrambling. “That’s not what I’m saying,” he stammered. “I’m just questioning the source of your wealth. You owe the public an explanation, don’t you? If that money is dirty-what, you think doing charity with it suddenly makes it clean?
“Imagine it. A ‘great philanthropist’ who’s actually laundering dirty money. Isn’t that the biggest joke on earth?
“Sharon, unless you can prove that money came from a legitimate source… well, the police station’s right behind you. I suggest you turn yourself in.”
“Confess, and maybe people will go easy on you. Resist… and suffer the consequences.”
What he didn’t say was that just an hour ago, a text had popped up on his phone.
[Drag Sharon down in public-there’s five million in it for you.]
For that kind of payday, of course he was going all in.
The rest of the gossip reporters jumped on like sharks smelling blood. “Stop dodging the question! Either give us the truth, or
admit you faked it!”
“Seriously, a woman without even a high school diploma claiming she earned 100 million on her own?” one of them scoffed.” Does anyone here actually believe that?”
“If you can’t explain it,” another snapped, “we’re calling the cops. Right here, right now!”
Chapter 318
The reporters were relentless-voices overlapping, questions hurled one after another, drowning out any chance for Sharon to speak.
And then, the police station doors swung open. Another group of officers walked out. They paused for a brief second, taking in the chaotic scene in front of them.
When their eyes landed on Sharon, they headed straight for her.
“Sharon,” one officer said, his tone flat but firm. “New evidence has been submitted regarding the report against you. Your accounts have been frozen. The auctioned items are to be temporarily seized and held for investigation.”
He paused, then added, “We need you to come with us again to cooperate with the investigation.”
Nate’s lips curled into a slow, satisfied smirk.
The efficiency of the police was impressive. That follow-up report must’ve checked out faster than he expected. Looked like they were officially moving to interrogate her now.
What perfect timing.
And with the entire internet watching-broadcast live-Sharon was destined for ruin.
The viewers glued to the stream were practically buzzing through their screens.
“Damn, I was one of the people trashing her online earlier. Then the news said she was a philanthropist, and I thought maybe I jumped the gun. But… looks like I was right after all.”
“So even the official media screws up sometimes, huh?”
“Reporting someone as a hero without even verifying the money source… Man, the credibility of these national news portals is about to tank.”
It was morning, but online, it felt like the Fourth of July. Fireworks. Chaos. Frenzy.
A plot twist inside a plot twist-the kind of real-life drama people lived for.
Viewers were frantically calling friends, coworkers, and family. “Turn on the stream-right now. You won’t believe what’s happening.”
Sharon calmly looked at the officers. “Can you give me five minutes?”
One of the officers glanced at the crowd, then nodded.
With this many people around, there wasn’t much risk of her running. Plus, the media were here in full force. If Sharon wanted to make a statement, there was no reason to stop her.
And if it turned out she was guilty, this might just be her last public statement before things came crashing down.
Facing the sea of gloating faces, Sharon’s voice was cool. “First,” she began, “the 100 million I donated is not dirty money. It comes from entirely legal channels.”
She pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, and held up a photo for the reporters to see.
“This is the bank transfer record. The full amount-100 million-came directly from my ex-husband’s account.”
Cameras flashed like lightning. Phones pointed toward her screen, capturing every inch of the record.
Sharon waited patiently, letting them get their shots.
million to me?”
Her thumb slid across the screen. A second photo popped up.
A divorce certificate.
Name of the wife: Sharon McKinzie.
Name of the husband…
Carter Biggs.
A collective gasp swept through the crowd.
No. No way.
It had to be someone else with the same name… right? 1
But what were the odds of that?
Every single person instinctively turned to look at Carter.
He stood there, silent. His expression unreadable, a storm hidden behind glass. (1)
The date on the certificate was clear. The identification numbers were blurred, but the rest-crystal sharp.
Sharon’s voice cut through the tension. “Since the police are here, anyone who doubts this can have them verify it. Check whether this document is real or not.”
The police wasted no time. They ran the certificate through their system. Seconds later, one officer looked up. “It’s genuine,” he confirmed. “Sharon is telling the truth.”
The crowd erupted. 1
Even the people watching the stream online were shocked.
Chapter 319
“What?! You’re telling me this girl is actually Carter Biggs’s wife?!”
“Correction. Ex-wife.”
“No wonder everyone wants to marry rich. Walk away from a divorce with 100 million in your pocket? Unreal.”
“Not gonna lie, Carter’s taste isn’t bad. She’s gorgeous. You’d never guess she’s a mom to a five-year-old.”
“Pfft. Please. This woman’s not worthy of Carter. She didn’t even finish high school.”
“Exactly. Only someone like Kelly Walt, talented and brilliant, is good enough for Carter.”
By now, the entire internet had flipped.
The police confirmed it-Sharon really was Carter’s ex-wife. That was irrefutable.
With Carter’s level of wealth, handing out 100 million to an ex was practically pocket change. 1
The chatter exploded. People had a lot to say-but one thing was certain. No one was questioning where that money came from
anymore.
Sharon slowly swiped her screen again. “I’m guessing everyone’s wondering-why would Carter give me so much money?”
A new image appeared on her phone screen-a contract between her and Carter.
The terms were simple. Brutally simple.
Sharon would hand over the life-saving medication to Kelly Walt.
Sharon would sign a letter of forgiveness for Nate Hendricks.
After the divorce cooling-off period, both parties would finalize the divorce at the courthouse.
In exchange, Carter would pay Sharon 100 million dollars.
Note: Sharon must ensure Kelly’s condition is fully cured. If the medication runs out in the future, she must continue providing it. Failure to do so requires the full refund of 100 million dollars.
For a moment, the crowd-online and in person-fell into stunned silence. 1
“I thought Carter was just being generous… like, sure, they divorced, but at least he compensated her decently. Turns out… the money was for Kelly’s medication?”
“And a letter of forgiveness… plus signing a divorce agreement… Wow. Carter… you’re cold.” (1)
“Call him trash if you want, but he did fork over 100 million for Kelly’s treatment without even blinking.”
“Divorcing her… must’ve been for Kelly, right?”
“This is… this is insane. The biggest plot twist of the year.”
Nate’s smug grin shattered the moment those documents hit the screen. His face went stiff.
Then his eyes darted to his still-running livestream. Panicked, he lunged for his phone and killed the feed.
Kelly’s face darkened. “Nate… it’s pointless. The news stations are still streaming it live.”
If anything, shutting it down only made it look guiltier.
1/2
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The viewers noticed immediately.
“she drops the truth bomb and suddenly-boom-livestream’s gone? Oh, this just screams cover-up.”
“Relax, Amstern City Morning News is still streaming. Everyone, switch over there!”
“Also, that sleazy reporter who was attacking Sharon? He’s still live. Look at his smug face crumble in real time. Everyone go flood his chat.”
“Carter… what a scumbag. Absolute scum. Love Kelly all you want, divorce your wife if that’s your choice. But how do you turn around and be generous to your mistress while being stingy to your own wife?”
“I used to think the story between Carter and Kelly was romantic. I thought he was a loyal amd devoted man. But no… I mean, he doesn’t have to love his wife, but did he have to be so cruel?”
Chapter 320
At that moment, the entire narrative surrounding Sharon shifted-so did the public’s perception of Carter. Completely.
However, some fans who shipped Carter and Kelly previously were stubborn as ever. They refused to back down.
“Carter being cold to Sharon just proves how deeply he loves Kelly! Would you rather him be one of those guys who’s nice to everyone?” (1
Someone shot back immediately, “Are you serious? Sharon isn’t just some random person. She’s his wife. The mother of his child. He needs permission from his mistress to treat his own wife decently? Is your brain broken?” 1
“Our goddess Kelly is not the mistress! Sharon’s the one who forced her way into this relationship!”
“Oh, right, right. Sure. Your ‘pure and innocent’ goddess isn’t a mistress-she’s just the woman walking around in public with a married man. How saintly of her.” 1
When Kelly’s fans realized they were losing ground, they scrambled to shift the narrative.
“Fine! Carter being trash has nothing to do with Kelly! She’s a victim too, okay? He tricked her just like everyone else.”
Meanwhile, the entertainment reporters who’d been circling Sharon like vultures earlier were now pale, practically choking on their own words.
The instructions they’d received were simple: bring Sharon down-fast. No one told them there was this much buried under the
surface.
This… this was a disaster.
One of the more stubborn tabloid reporters, desperate to salvage something, snapped, “Even if your money’s legit, you’re still under investigation. If you’re innocent, why are the police here?”
Off to the side, the officers, who’d been quietly watching this circus unfold, exchanged uneasy looks. They were starting to piece together the bigger picture from the surrounding chatter, and none of it was looking good.
“Captain McGarrett,” one of them muttered, “Sharon already donated every cent in her accounts to charity. Freezing them now … seems kinda pointless, doesn’t it?”
Another chimed in, “And the auction items have already been donated to the National Museum. If we try to confiscate those… well, the museum’s definitely not handing them over.”
A third officer added, “Publicly announcing donations like this… if it turns out to be fraud, yeah, that’s a crime. But she’s already proven the funds are clean. Going after the donations now would piss off the charities and the national museum.”
“And the public won’t stand for it…” someone else murmured.
The tension among the officers was palpable.
On paper, they had a formal complaint-Sharon allegedly leaked trade secrets and committed financial crimes. Which meant her assets should be frozen. Standard procedure. 1
But she’d moved faster than anyone expected. The money was already gone-donated. The items, too.
So now what? Stand on the wrong side of a woman who’d just become a public hero? Go against the entire crowd watching this
unfold live?
They’d be eaten alive.
Sharon turned her gaze toward the reporter who’d just spoken.
Chapter 320
Her lips curved into a quiet, almost imperceptible smile.
Something about the way her eyes settled on him made the man’s stomach flip. A bad feeling lodged itself in his chest.
His mind raced back, realizing with growing dread that from the moment this all started, Sharon had calmly deflected every question, every attack. And each time, she’d backed her answers with undeniable proof-proof a thousand times more convincing than their baseless accusations.
Proof that would’ve never survived online-any hint of it would’ve been wiped out in seconds.
But this wasn’t the internet. There were still cameras rolling. Livestreams running.
And suddenly, the reporter felt it-this wasn’t just some spontaneous media scrum.
This was a press conference.
No. It was worse than that.
A press conference could be suppressed, censored, and wiped clean.
This? This was happening live.
Chapter 321
Now, leveraging her identity as a donor, Sharon had pushed her own visibility to the highest point possible.
Even though she was still blacklisted online, a 100 million dollar donation wasn’t something that could be buried. It was the government itself broadcasting the news.
And really–who would dare take down the official accounts of government media?
All those so-called scandals circling Sharon online? To the state media, they were nothing more than petty gossip.
A donation of this size was not just newsworthy-it was encouraged.
The government wanted to promote philanthropy. Sharon was now the perfect poster child for it.
Sure, she could’ve done this anonymously. But the moment she chose to put her name on it, it came with weight, with responsibility.
Public donations were no joke. If she said she was donating 100 million, she had to deliver 100 million.
And once the money was officially declared, as long as it was clean and legal, no one could touch it.
Not the media. Not random bystanders. Not even Sharon herself.
Any attempt to take it back would be a crime.
Sharon turned calmly toward the officers. “Officer, may I ask… exactly what crime am I suspected of committing?”
One of the officers stepped forward. “There was a report accusing you of leaking trade secrets and having undisclosed contact with a competitor. The accuser submitted what they claim is evidence of your interaction. Due to the large sum involved, we’re obligated to investigate. We hope you’ll cooperate.”
“So,” Sharon asked, “that means… I’m just being investigated. It doesn’t mean I’m guilty. Correct?”
The officer nodded. “That’s right. An investigation doesn’t equate to guilt. But since we received a formal complaint, we’re required to look into it. We hope you understand.”
Sharon gave a cooperative nod. “Of course. I’ll fully cooperate. But before that… would you allow me to say something?”
The officers exchanged glances. Looking around at the dozens of cameras, the crowd of reporters, and the livestreams still running, they hesitated.
Given Sharon’s public status-and the fact that she had just donated a fortune-the last thing they wanted was to be seen as persecuting a good citizen.
The officer eventually said, “While the investigation itself won’t be public, you are free to address the public as you wish.”
“Thank you.” Sharon dipped her head politely, then turned, her gaze settling on the tabloid reporter who’d been the loudest voice against her.
“The police have called me in merely to conduct an investigation. There has been no determination that I’ve committed any crime. So may I ask…” Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “On what grounds do you claim that I’m guilty?”
All eyes turned to the reporter.
Under the weight of the cameras and the crowd, a thin film of sweat broke across his forehead.
He was used to stirring the pot-twisting words, manufacturing narratives. But this… this was different.
“W-Well… if the police are looking for you, doesn’t that mean you’re guilty?” he stammered.
1/2
Chapter 321
Even the officer visibly frowned at that. His voice sharpened. “Who told you that being contacted by the police means you’re guilty? Plenty of people come to us to report crimes or provide assistance. Are they criminals too?”
The reporter stubbornly pressed, “B-But… she’s under suspicion. Someone reported her!”
Sharon didn’t flinch. “Sir, you work in media. Are you really unaware how reckless and unprofessional it is to make such assumptions? To publicly suggest guilt without evidence? It’s not only irresponsible-it’s a violation of basic journalistic ethics.
“Officer, I would like to file a formal report. These reporters have committed defamation, slander, and the deliberate spreading of false information, causing serious harm to my personal reputation. I have reason to believe they are acting under someone’s direction and are deliberately targeting me.
“In addition, I will be suing every platform that illegally shut down my social media accounts. If those platforms cannot provide concrete evidence that I violated any policies, I will hold them accountable. All the way.”
Chapter 322
At the very moment Sharon made her statement, a new post quietly appeared on Wendy’s account.
[I’m Wendy Cohen, Sharon McKinzie’s agent. Not long ago, every single one of our accounts on all social media platforms was suddenly banned without warning. I contacted every platform, again and again, trying to get an answer. We got no explanation.
[We built those accounts from scratch. We poured everything into them-content, time, and effort. After countless sleepless nights, a few of our videos finally went viral. We gained over ten million followers.
[We thought things were finally getting better. But what waited for us was a complete blackout-an inexplicable, ruthless ban. We were devastated.
[For a while, we even wondered if maybe, somehow, it really was our fault. Maybe we’d broken some rule without realizing it. So I started a backup account… but before it even gained traction, it was banned again.
[That’s when I knew. We’d offended someone. Someone powerful. Someone with money. Someone who wanted us erased.
[We are just ordinary people. There’s no way we can fight the kind of capital that controls the world.
[This post… won’t stay up long. It’ll be deleted, like everything else.
[But that’s okay. We’ll fight. We won’t give up. No matter what, we believe one thing-evil never wins against justice.]
Attached to the post were screenshots of the ban notifications and audio recordings of conversations with platform reps-some of whom blatantly admitted, “You’ve pissed someone off. Your account is permanently shut down.”
Given how hot Sharon’s case had become, the post exploded almost immediately, landing squarely at the top of the trending
charts.
Inside the office of one social media company, a panicked technician stared at his monitor. “Mr. Parkson… do we still delete this? This post’s been shared over a million times already…”
Gray Parkson, the manager, wiped the sweat beading on his forehead. He hovered, hesitating. Then, his phone rang.
He answered. No one could hear the voice on the other end, but Gray’s face shifted instantly. His back straightened, expression
grim.
“Understood. Yes. No problem. I’ll take care of it immediately.”
When he hung up, he turned to the technician, his voice crisp and decisive. “Forget deleting it. Pin it. Put it right at the top of the trending list.”
Then he called over several other staff members. His tone was sharp now, all business. “Push out directives to every marketing account. Start promoting Sharon as a fearless figure fighting back against the elites. Frame her as someone brave enough to stand up to capital.”
The employees blinked at him, completely thrown. Just days ago, they’d been cranking out hit pieces on Sharon. Now they were supposed to flip the script and do positive PR?
What the hell was going on?
Back at the livestream site, the police officers moved swiftly. As Sharon requested, they detained the group of tabloid reporters who’d been deliberately stirring chaos.
There was no question-they were far from innocent. Their line of questioning, their presence here… it was targeted, malicious,
and blatant.
No one was about to argue they didn’t deserve this.
The police officers didn’t care for rumor-mongers. They knew better than anyone how much damage an offhand lie could cause
-how many lives it could ruin.
Whether Sharon was guilty or not was for the law to determine. It wasn’t the job of these so-called reporters to act as judge and
jury.
Even as they were being cuffed, the tabloid reporters wailed about how unfair it was.
But the lead officer only said coldly, “Whether or not you’re innocent, we’ll determine that. Don’t worry, we don’t wrong the innocent. But we also won’t let the guilty walk free.”
The fact that this was all happening during a live broadcast made it even better. It sent a clear message. A warning. Let this be a lesson to anyone who thought they could sling lies online without consequence.
Honestly, the officers had been waiting for an excuse to make an example out of someone. And today… the example delivered
itself.
Across the scene, the state media reporters didn’t show a shred of sympathy. In fact, their expressions made it pretty clear- they thought those tabloid reporters got exactly what they deserved.
Chapter 323
These tabloid reporters spent their days chasing headlines for money, writing whatever stirred chaos. It served them right to be brought in for further investigation.
Once they were hauled inside the police station for “a little talk,” the atmosphere outside the police station turned quieter and
calmer.
Sharon, prepared to cooperate with the investigation, exchanged a quick nod with the state media reporters before stepping back inside the station.
The reporters didn’t leave. They clustered near the entrance, waiting. Firsthand information was gold, and waiting a day-or even a night-meant nothing to them. This was the job.
Inside, the officers’ attitude toward Sharon was noticeably different from before-less rigid, more respectful.
Sharon calmly began explaining her side of the accusation against Nate.
“At the time, I was still married to Carter. I visited the competitor’s mall to observe and learn. It was strictly business research,
not corporate espionage.
“And every item I bought that day, I paid for properly. You can check Carter’s transaction history. The funds came directly from
his account.”
The officers nodded, signaling a colleague to verify. Within minutes, someone returned, handing over a printed report.
“She’s right,” the officer confirmed, scanning the page. “All the purchases were paid for, and every payment came from Carter’s account.”
Sharon’s tone remained steady. “If you don’t believe me, Carter was just here. You can bring him in. He knows exactly where that money went.”
The officer considered it, then sent someone outside to check if Carter was still nearby. Upon getting confirmation, they ordered someone to escort him in.
Outside the station, reality was sinking in fast for Nate and Kelly. The color drained from their faces. They looked like they’d swallowed poison.
“She really donated all the money? And everything she bought at auction?” Kelly’s voice was brittle. “What… what is she trying to do?”
Nate was still trying to process when his phone suddenly rang. It was his assistant.
“Sir,” the assistant’s voice came through, cautious and hesitant. “Did you order the PR team to clean up Sharon’s image… and position her as someone standing up to capital?”
Nate nearly dropped his phone, “What the hell are you saying? Clean up her image? Turn her into a hero? Are you people out of your minds? If I wanted to do that, why would I have her blacklisted?!”
The assistant stammered, “But… ever since her donation went viral, it’s out of control. We can’t suppress it anymore. Public opinion is overwhelming… and the account bans triggered huge backlash online…”
Nate’s face twisted with rage. “I told you! Delete every single positive mention of Sharon! Every one! I don’t want to see even half a sentence suggesting she’s innocent! Do you people not understand such simple instructions?!”
The assistant’s voice shrank. “B-but… the government accounts… we… we don’t have the authority to ban those… And now, all of Sharon’s social media accounts have been restored. The PR department is… they’re running positive campaigns for her.”
Chapter 323
“What?!” Nate’s chest tightened.
“Every influencer and every media account has been lined up… they’re just waiting for your final confirmation before pushing
the news.”
Nate gritted his teeth, livid. “Waiting for my confirmation? For what? I told you to push negative coverage! Who told you to flip it and run PR for her?!”
The assistant sounded like he was about to cry. “They said… the order came from you. They even said they confirmed it over the phone. 1-1 just only found out about it and felt something wasn’t right. That’s why I called to double-check…”
Chapter 324
Nate growled under his breath, his voice sharp with rage. “When the hell did I ever tell you idiots to post positive press about Sharon? Are you all brain-dead? Delete it. Delete every single piece of positive coverage about her. Push out the dirt. I don’t care if it’s real or fake. Flood it. And hire more trolls to stir the pot. Damn it! I don’t believe I can’t ruin her!”
The assistant hesitated. “But, Sir… Sharon’s 100-million-dollar donation really won her a lot of public support. Even the state media praised her for it. Sir… going against the state media… are you sure that’s wise?”
Nate’s face contorted, his jaw clenched so tight it looked painful. “I already said-post the dirt. Push it out!”
The assistant sighed, helpless now. He was a media professional, a top graduate from a reputable communications university, and everything about this screamed disaster.
Dropping negative press now, when public sentiment was tilting overwhelmingly in Sharon’s favor, wasn’t just reckless-it was suicidal for their reputation.
“Sir… given the current online climate, I’m afraid any smear campaign won’t work. It’ll just make the public hate us even more.”
“Besides,” the assistant continued, “the tide has fully turned. The narrative’s no longer balanced. Before, we could still spin it- play the donation against the accusations. But that reporter… the one who pushed those aggressive questions during the livestream… actually gave Sharon the perfect opening to explain everything.”
“If it hadn’t been for that,” the assistant added, “we might still have room to maneuver. But now… there’s nothing left. Every path’s blocked. My suggestion? We think long-term. Let’s not rush into this.”
Nate froze. His mind reeled. It was him. He was the one who instructed those reporters to go hard, to ambush Sharon during the livestream, to tear her down in front of everyone.
And now… he’d shot himself in the foot. No-worse. He’d handed her the gun.
Nate wanted nothing more than to slap himself.
“Fine. Pull back. Cancel everything the influencers and PR accounts were about to post.”
The assistant finally exhaled in relief. “Understood. I’ll handle it right away.”
But not even two minutes passed before Nate’s phone rang again. It was the PR manager-the same one who’d called earlier.
“Sir… the order came too late. The positive press releases… they already went out. About ten minutes ago…”
“Fuck!” Nate exploded. “Are you insane? I told you to ruin Sharon. You think this is the time to turn her into a hero? What the hell is wrong with your head?”
The PR manager sounded like he was about to cry. “Sir, I swear, I was following your instructions! You told me this was your strategy!
“Right after the donation hit the trending lists, I called to confirm with you. You said it was your plan and told me to coordinate the rollout…
“I thought… I thought it was one of your tactics. You know-start with controversy, get attention, then flip the narrative to paint her as resilient and courageous. We’ve done it before. It works…
“Besides, it was your account that initially promoted Sharon’s livestream. That’s why I believed this was deliberate…”
Nate’s relentless smear campaign against Sharon had once made him certain-Nate truly bore a grudge against her. He genuinely wanted her blacklisted.
But the phone call with Nate not long ago had shaken that belief.
Smear first, then clean up-this wasn’t a tactic they hadn’t used before.
But this time… this time was different. Out of all the most successful publicity stunts he’d ever witnessed, nothing else even came close. And more importantly, it was impossible to replicate.
For a moment, he’d even thought Nate must’ve received guidance from some master strategist, as if he’d suddenly unlocked some hidden power to come up with something this brilliant.
The PR manager was afraid he might’ve misunderstood Nate, so he kept a close eye on the livestream.
And when he saw the reporters corner Sharon, only for her to dissolve their attacks with ease, he was finally confident that his assumptions hadn’t been wrong.
Chapter 325
The Hendricks family had built their empire on media. Everyone in the industry understood the unspoken rules-how
sometimes a reporter’s smear piece was just a setup, designed to hand the subject a perfect opportunity to clear their name in the most memorable way possible.
And clearly, Sharon had come prepared. Every piece of evidence she’d pulled out was precise and deliberate, ready long before today ever began.
After this public clarification, her reputation online flipped almost overnight.
The PR manager had genuinely believed Nate was a sharp operator-ruthless, but brilliant. Turned out… he was wrong. Completely wrong.
Nate was still the same short-sighted fool.
Working under someone like Nate was a dead end. Maybe worse-an invitation for disaster. The thought of quitting quietly began settling in his mind.
On the livestream, Sharon sat poised, calm, and composed. Her confidence wasn’t arrogance. It was dignity-grace under fire.
Viewers watching from behind screens couldn’t help but feel their affection for her grow.
Some, who hadn’t even paid attention to the drama before, started looking her up, only to realize her accounts were still suspended. Curious, they dug deeper and stumbled upon Wendy’s post-the one detailing how their entire team had been mysteriously banned across all platforms.
And that was all it took. The story exploded.
Sharon standing up to the weight of capital, refusing to be crushed-it resonated far and wide.
More influencers who had themselves been quietly suppressed by the powers that be began speaking out, throwing their support behind her.
Sharon’s name was everywhere. The fire wasn’t dying down. If anything, it was burning hotter.
Back at the police station, after a round of more detailed questioning, the officers had reached their conclusion.
“Sharon,” one of them said, tone apologetic, “we’re sorry. Our investigation shows you had no involvement in any theft of trade secrets.”
Sharon nodded. “It’s alright. Cooperating with an investigation is every citizen’s duty. But if I hadn’t been able to prove my innocence today, I would’ve been crucified by the entire country. My name would be ruined, and my future destroyed.
“The person who maliciously reported me… their intentions were rotten. I hope the police will take this seriously.”
The officer’s expression turned stern. “Don’t worry. We absolutely will not let the person behind this get away with it.”
Sharon nodded lightly, about to speak again, when she felt a sudden grip around her wrist.
She turned. “Carter… is there something else?”
During the investigation, Carter hadn’t tried to slander her. If anything, he’d helped clear her name.
But Sharon felt nothing, not even the faintest ripple of gratitude.
No. This man… he was far more dangerous than Nate could ever be.
Nate was impulsive, messy Predictable.
But Carter… you could never quite tell what he was thinking.
His gaze was dark. Bottomless.
“I need to talk to you. Alone.” His voice was low but firm.
Sharon knew it the moment he spoke-this had to end.
She didn’t have the time or energy to play this endless game of manipulation anymore.
“Fine,” she replied simply.
They found a small café nearby. After ordering coffee, Sharon looked up at him. “So? What do you want to talk about?”
His eyes stayed on her.
“From the moment you showed up at that auction…. you’d already planned everything that’s happened today, hadn’t you?” His voice was framed as a question, but it wasn’t one. He already knew the answer.
The scent of bitter coffee lingered between them.
Sharon took a slow sip. “Tell me, Carter… would you really have handed me 100 million so easily? And do you think Nate and Kelly would’ve just stood by, watching me live out my rich-lady fantasy?
“You were all waiting. Waiting to watch me crash. Waiting to see me broke. Desperate. On my knees.
“So… naturally, the first step was making sure I’d lose that money.”
She set the cup down and looked him in the eye. “Which is why I made sure none of you would ever get the chance to touch it again.”
Chapter 326
Hearing Sharon’s words, a faint discomfort stirred in Carter’s chest.
Sure, he’d intended to teach her a lesson, but not once had he considered taking that 100 million back.
And yet, the way she spoke… it was as if he were some shameless man reneging on his word.
A subtle chill surfaced in his eyes. “Sharon, have you ever thought about this? You donated all that money… but if you fail to uphold your end of the deal, you’ll be left with 100 million in debt.”
Sharon smiled. “And have you ever thought… that the moment I dared to donate it, I was never afraid of that debt?”
His sharp brows lifted, forming an elegant but threatening arc. “So what-you’re betting that I won’t actually do anything to you?”
For a second, Sharon froze. Then she let out a laugh.
“Carter, do you think too highly of yourself? Won’t do anything to me? What about orchestrating my blacklist across the internet? What about leaking fabricated scandals to ruin my name? What about trying to send me to prison? When did you become this shameless?”
Carter’s eyes darkened. His lips parted, as if to defend himself, but Sharon’s voice sliced through his silence before he could.
“You’re going to say you weren’t behind it, right? Maybe. But even if it wasn’t directly your doing, you didn’t stop it either. You sat back, watching Nate use every filthy trick in the book against me… waiting for the perfect moment to deliver the final blow yourself.”
She set her coffee cup down. A crisp sound echoed between them.
“You disgust me.”
A flicker of something-shock, maybe-crossed Carter’s eyes.
How did she know? How was it that she seemed even more informed than he was?
Sharon met his gaze. “I know exactly why you wanted to talk to me. You’re here to ask me to let Nate go. But let me make this perfectly clear-that’s not happening.
“He targeted me again and again. You turned a blind eye every single time. And now that he’s finally reaping what he sowed. You think you can come to me and negotiate? If you didn’t want this to happen, you should’ve thought about that earlier.”
Her voice grew colder, threaded with contempt. “Nate’s been able to act so recklessly all this time because he had you-his ever- reliable, ever-cleaning-up-for-him best friend. You let him believe that no matter how bad it got, you’d be there to bail him out. That’s why he is where he is today.
“And you know what? I get it. With your power, protecting him would be easy. I don’t even care. In fact, I should thank you. People like him… when they get too arrogant, that’s when they walk themselves straight into ruin. You just made sure he went faster.”
She stood, her gaze cutting straight through him. “As for why I’m not scared of owing 100 million… it’s simple. Kelly isn’t going to die, because she never had a terminal illness to begin with.”
She knew full well Carter wouldn’t believe her. It didn’t matter.
Doubt, once planted, had a way of growing roots. (1)
In an office somewhere uptown, Julliard scrolled leisurely through the headlines on his phone, sipping his tea.
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“Hey, Carter. I heard Sharon’s accounts are all unlocked now. Every platform issued a public apology. The whole internet’s blowing up about her going head-to-head with the capitalists.”
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Her follower count jumped another twenty million overnight. No one can suppress her heat now, even if they tried.”
Carter stood at the window, his back to him. His face was hidden, unreadable.
His voice floated out, low and quiet. “She spent 100 million. If that wasn’t enough to buy this… then it would’ve been a waste. And… it seems Sharon knew about Nate’s entire plan. Every detail.”
The teapot paused mid-pour in Julliard’s hand. “Oh?”
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“When I talked to her this morning,” Carter said, “I realized… there were details-even I didn’t know. And yet, she knew them.”
Julliard’s gaze deepened. “Maybe she knew… she couldn’t hold onto that 100 million. So she’d already decided to donate it and turn it into a way forward for herself.
“Besides… let’s be honest. Nate’s plan wasn’t exactly clever. It was sloppy. Full of holes.
“I think we underestimated Sharon. She’s no helpless little lamb like we thought.”
If it had been Carter and Julliard handling this themselves, there never would’ve been so many mistakes. But Carter had always disdained such cheap tricks, and Julliard simply wasn’t the type to hurt others. Neither of them had ever stepped in.
Carter’s black eyes were like still water over black ice. “She’s got skill. She’s smart. No denying that. But…”
Julliard glanced toward Carter’s tall, rigid silhouette by the window. “But what?”
Carter’s voice darkened. “Everything that’s happened lately… she’s always one step ahead. It’s as if she already knew what Nate was planning. No matter how sharp she is… she’s not clairvoyant.”
Julliard immediately caught the meaning. “You’re thinking… someone tipped her off?”
Carter didn’t respond, but the thoughtful crease between his brows deepened.
Julliard frowned, his tone turning serious. “If that’s the case… besides Nate, the only one left is… Kelly.” 2
Carter’s expression tightened. His first instinct was to reject it. “Impossible.”
Julliard took a slow sip of tea, unfazed. “It does feel strange… like something’s off everywhere. The chances that someone fed her information are way too high to ignore. Maybe it wasn’t intentional. Maybe Kelly just let something slip… and Sharon figured it out.”
His eyes flicked to Carter’s face, watching carefully. “Or maybe… Kelly’s too kind-hearted. Maybe she thought Nate had crossed the line… and when she couldn’t talk him out of it, she gave Sharon a little nudge.” 2
For a moment, he said nothing, but then his brow furrowed further, a hint of confusion in his voice. “But… come to think of it… isn’t it strange, Carter? What exactly is between Nate and Sharon? Why’s he so dead set on going after her like this?”
Carter was silent for a moment. “Maybe… it’s because of Kelly. Some kind of misunderstanding.”
Julliard gave him a sharp look. “That’s exactly what’s strange. If it were about Kelly… you and Sharon are already divorced. What’s his reason for still going after her?”
Carter caught the undertone in his words immediately. “Say it, Julliard. Whatever it is, just say it.”
Julliard stared at him. “Carter, the three of us grew up together. We’re like brothers. I shouldn’t be meddling, but I don’t want to see this tear us apart until we’re strangers to each other.”
He sighed. “Tell me honestly. Don’t you think… Nate has meddled too much in your marriage? He’s been pushing you toward
divorce from the start.
“Sharon is Theo’s mother. No matter what, you two shouldn’t have reached the point where you’re enemies like this.”
Carter’s gaze darkened. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
Julliard looked at him long and hard. “Carter… don’t you think… Nate’s focus on Sharon is… excessive? If he really liked Kelly as much as he claims, shouldn’t he want you and Sharon to stay together? Not tear you apart?” 1
Carter’s brow tensed.
Julliard pressed on. “Think about it. If it weren’t for Nate constantly pushing, would you have even divorced Sharon at all?”
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Carter’s lips pressed into a thin, cold line. He fell silent.
Julliard didn’t stop. “It was Nate who kept pushing you, telling you to get a divorce first. He kept talking about teaching Sharon a lesson and making her come crawling back. But look how that worked out. Not only has she shown no intention of coming back, she’s getting farther and farther away. (1)
“I know… maybe I shouldn’t be the one saying this. But, Carter… I don’t want to watch brothers turn against each other. Do you understand?”
Julliard had never been one to speak much, especially about other people’s business. Yet today, the words kept coming.
Carter’s expression darkened, shadows settling across his features.
Just then, a sudden knock echoed against the office door.
“Carter, Nate’s been taken by the police!”
Kelly rushed in, her face tight with panic, her brow creased with anxious urgency. “The lawyer tried to get him out on bail, but… they refused. They won’t release him.”
It was only after blurting this out that she noticed Julliard standing there as well. “Oh. Julliard, you’re here too.”
Julliard gave her a polite nod. “Kelly.”
Carter’s voice cut through her wandering thoughts. “Why won’t they allow bail?”
Kelly replied, “The internet’s gone completely mad. People are furious after reading Sharon’s post about fighting back against the corporations. They say Nate filed a false report, framed her, and slandered her… now they’re demanding the police hold him. fully accountable.
“Originally, it might’ve been handled as a misunderstanding. But someone just leaked Nate’s dirt online-reckless driving, drunk driving, even hitting someone.
“Now the police have reopened old investigations based on that. If the charges stick…” Her hands clenched, her voice dropped. Nate could face serious consequences.”
A suffocating tension filled the room. The air itself felt heavier.
The Sharon situation had spiraled into something far beyond anyone’s control.
Carter’s face darkened. “What are the lawyers saying?”
“There’s still room to negotiate. Most of that stuff happened years ago.” Kelly exhaled slowly. “But… the public outrage right now is overwhelming. Everyone wants answers and a resolution.
“The lawyer says… there are only two options left. First, Nate publicly apologizes to Sharon. But that… that’s basically admitting everything. The smear campaigns, the blacklisting-it’ll all fall on him.”
Carter’s tone didn’t waver. “And the second option?”
She bit her lip, hesitation flickering in her eyes. “The Hendricks Group’s media branch launches a full PR campaign. They push the narrative that Sharon’s whole ‘fight against the capitalists’ story… was just manufactured. A PR stunt.
“Technically, there’s ground to spin it. After all… the livestream that first made her go viral came from Nate’s account. We could twist it. Say it was all part of a scripted show.”
But everyone in the room knew the truth.
11
It would mean swallowing the humiliation. Nate would have to take the fall quietly-pretend none of it was real. Worse, he’d be forced to promote Sharon himself.
It would be a slap to his own face.
Losing the battle, the war, and his pride-all at once.
This time, Sharon had come out of it with everything. Public opinion was on her side. Nate fell hard, and yet, she gained not just victory but an even stronger reputation. Free publicity, a spotless image, and a powerful narrative.
She’d played it perfectly.
As for Nate losing… Kelly could accept that. But watching Sharon walk away, triumphant and untouchable… that, she couldn’t
stomach.
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Kelly said gently, “Carter… isn’t there any other way to help Nate?”
Carter’s reply was cold and emotionless. “I’ll assist the Hendricks Group with the PR campaign-repackaging Sharon’s image. But as for Nate… it’s better to let him cool off for a while. Keep him from stirring up more trouble.”
Kelly froze. “Carter… you’re not getting Nate out?”
His expression didn’t shift. “Tell him this: If he doesn’t have the ability to clean up his own mess, then he shouldn’t be making one in the first place. Not every time will someone be there to bail him out.”
Kelly was shocked. Something was different. The way Carter spoke about Nate… had changed.
All this time, because Nate once saved his life, Carter had tolerated nearly everything from him-indulgent to a fault. But now… why the sudden shift?
Had Sharon said something to him?
Yes. That had to be it. After they left the police station, Carter and Sharon had gone to that café together.
It must have been then.
No. She couldn’t let Nate stay locked up. If he was gone… Sharon would only grow more arrogant, more untouchable.
Kelly bit down hard, jaw tense.
Yes, Nate was reckless-stupid, even. But he was still a useful weapon and a sharp blade in the right hands.
For the first time in a long while, Wendy felt a genuine, unrestrained sense of relief.
Not only had they survived the crisis, but Sharon’s reputation had completely flipped.
Sitting in the private room of a restaurant, Wendy couldn’t help but grin, giving Sharon a big thumbs-up. “Sharon, you’re brilliant. Honestly, that 100 million was worth every penny.”
It was a number that felt astronomical-absurd, even. But Wendy knew very well… holding that kind of money wasn’t as easy as it sounded. It was scorching hot in their hands.
Nate and his cronies had been watching, waiting, circling like vultures for any excuse to snatch it back.
Sharon nodded calmly. “To be fair… we have to thank Nate for his cooperation. Without him, this outcome wouldn’t have been nearly as good.”
Wendy burst out laughing. “That idiot! Every smear campaign he threw at us? It all became free advertising! Seriously, this is the most satisfying thing ever.”
She had never felt this free, this victorious.
Nate had taken one hell of a fall.
Wendy chuckled. “By the way… we also have Julliard to thank for this. Without his intel, we wouldn’t have pulled this off so cleanly.”
Her eyes darkened a little, her voice lowering to something only the two of them could hear. “It makes sense that he tipped you off. He didn’t want to watch Nate spiral any further out of control.
“But… why hand us all that dirt? The drunk driving. The hit-and-run. That’s stuff that could actually land Nate in prison. Why ga
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that far? Aren’t they supposed to be close? Like brothers?”
Sharon said, “Maybe… maybe it’s not all real. Or maybe… he just didn’t want to watch Nate destroy himself. Letting him sit in there a while might be the best thing for him.
“Right now, Nate’s emotions are completely unhinged. If he takes one more wrong step… even Carter won’t be able to save him.
Wendy sighed. “Poor Julliard… carrying the weight of being a responsible friend all by himself.”
As they talked, a gentle knock came at the door.
Xavier walked in with Matty beside him.
Sharon had invited the father and son to dinner-after all, this comeback was worth celebrating.
As everyone settled, Sharon reached for the service bell, but Matty tugged lightly at her sleeve. He whispered, “Sharon… I have something I want to tell you.”
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Chapter 330
Sharon smiled gently. “What is it?”
Matty replied, “It’s about Theo.”
The moment she heard Theo’s name, Sharon’s smile faded, just slightly. Still, she asked, “What about him?”
Matty said, “Theo… I think he found out that you and Mr. Biggs got divorced. He’s really upset. He said… he wants to ask you if it’s true… if you really don’t want him anymore.”
Sharon stayed quiet.
Matty continued, “I think… I saw Theo following us earlier. I’m pretty sure… he’s waiting outside right now. Sharon, why don’t we let him come in?”
Still, Sharon said nothing.
Wendy glanced at her expression, then chuckled lightly. “Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve seen Theo. You know, I kinda miss the little guy. I’ll go check.”
Sharon didn’t stop her, just quietly watched Wendy walk out.
A few minutes later, Wendy returned, holding Theo’s hand.
“Come on, come on. Theo, sit over here,” Wendy said warmly, guiding him to the seat beside Sharon’s left. Matty sat on her right.
Sharon didn’t say anything about it, just let it happen.
Theo didn’t look too different on the surface, but there was a noticeable heaviness about him-quieter than before.
His presence brought an awkward tension to the room, subtle but undeniable.
Matty, perhaps sensing it, was the first to break the silence. “Theo, Sharon’s treating today. You can order anything you want.”
That innocent, almost territorial tone sparked something sour in Theo’s chest.
He didn’t say a word, but his lips pressed into a tight, unhappy line.
Matty blinked, puzzled. “Theo… what’s wrong? Did I say something that upset you?”
The scene was oddly familiar. Theo suddenly remembered-back when the three of them used to have dinner with Kelly. Kelly would say the same kind of thing to his mom, telling her to order whatever she liked, not to hold back.
Back then, he thought Kelly was considerate, thoughtful… someone who cared about his mom’s feelings. And his mom, she never seemed grateful. Always distant. Always rejecting.
But now… now that he was the one on the receiving end, he realized how suffocating it actually felt.
Wendy leaned forward. “Theo, what’s wrong? You don’t look happy.”
Normally, the tiniest frown from him would send his mom into a flurry of concern. But today… she didn’t even glance his way. She just quietly sipped her water. (1
Something in Theo’s chest tightened. He felt an unfamiliar kind of emptiness. He shook his head. “I’m fine.”
Wendy couldn’t quite figure out what was going on inside his head. Instead, she simply handed him the menu. “Here, Theo. Pick whatever you want.”
Theo took the menu and ordered his usual favorites-things he liked recently.
1/2
But Matty frowned, his little face serious. “Theo, why are you ordering fried food? We’re still kids. Fried food’s not good for us…
we should eat less of it.”
Theo had never liked Matty. Hearing that only made his irritation bubble up faster.
He shot Matty a sharp glare. “What I eat is none of your business. Mind your own.”
Matty flinched, shrinking back. “Sorry..” he murmured.
Sharon opened her mouth as if to say something, but the words never quite came out. Instead, she simply rested a hand on Matty’s head. “Don’t worry about what others do. We just need to take care of ourselves.”
Comforted by that, Matty’s face lit up again. “Sharon, I’ve been really good lately. I’ve been eating all the herbal meals you made for me. My hands and feet aren’t as cold anymore.”
