Loving DAD 41-80

Chapter 41

Nate’s face flushed red with anger. He lunged forward, clearly intent on confronting Sharon, but Xavier intercepted him halfway.

With a cool, almost languid tone, Xavier spoke. “Nate, there are so many people here, and yet you still dare to get violent. That says a lot about how arrogant you are on a regular basis. And the reason you’re so brazen…”

He glanced toward Carter, a faint, unreadable smile curling at the corner of his lips.

“…is because someone keeps indulging you. Mr. Biggs, it’s one thing to show favoritism to your girlfriend, but what now? You’re extending that same indulgence to your girlfriend’s friends as well? Taking them all under your wing?

“Are you telling me that from now on, anyone remotely connected to Kelly gets a free pass to walk all over Sharon?”

Carter’s dark eyes grew deeper, heavier with silence. After a moment, he turned toward Sharon.

“What do you want me to do for you to be satisfied?”

Nate’s expression shifted. “Carter…”

Sharon’s tone was detached. “Since he splashed water on me first, let him experience the same. A hundred cups should do.”

Nate’s fists clenched instinctively, his expression contorted with resentment. Kelly’s eyes widened in disbelief. She hadn’t expected Sharon to be so unrelenting, especially in front of Carter.

Kelly opened her mouth. “Carter-”

Her plea was swiftly cut off by Carter’s calm voice.

“Do you want to do it yourself, or should someone else handle it?”

He was speaking to Sharon.

She replied in an unhurried tone, “I’m not in the best condition to move around. Better have someone else do it. Not worth worsening my injuries over someone like him.”

Carter’s gaze darkened, like ink pooling in a still well. “Alright.”

Nate gave Sharon a venomous glare before turning on his heel and storming out of the room.

Kelly realized that bringing up the car accident now wouldn’t do her any good either, and quickly followed after him.

The whole ordeal left a trace of quiet exhaustion on Sharon’s features.

Carter taking her side was no surprise. It stirred nothing in her. With clear evidence and the absurd fact that his friend attacked his wife, what kind of man would he be if he turned a blind eye? 1

Besides, Kelly hadn’t lifted a hand. If she had… things would’ve likely gone very differently.

Sharon closed her eyes. “I’m tired. I’d like to rest. Whatever it is, let’s talk tomorrow.”

Neither Xavier nor Carter moved.

Xavier stepped forward. “Sharon, eat something before you sleep.”

She opened her eyes again, meeting his gaze. These past couple of days, he had been the one looking after her. She gave him a small, grateful smile.

“Thank you.”

“I asked the kitchen to prepare a few of your favorites,” he said. “But your wounds haven’t healed yet. Best avoid anything too

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Chapter 41

spicy.”

She glanced at the food he brought. Her eyes lit up. It really was all her favorite dishes.

Off to the side, Carter took in the scene-and for reasons he couldn’t name, it made him feel uneasy.

It looked as if Xavier were the real husband. And he… was just an outsider.

Carter pressed his lips into a tight line. A quiet irritation flared in his chest.

“Mr. Cooper,” he said abruptly, breaking the moment’s warmth. “If there’s nothing else, I think you can leave now. I’ll take it from here.”

Xavier paused, clearly surprised by the bluntness.

“Mr. Biggs, it doesn’t seem that you’re particularly helpful by staying here,” he replied, his tone gentle but sharp. “Why not go check on Kelly instead?”

Carter’s expression remained unreadable. “Sharon is my wife. My presence here, naturally, matters more than yours.” (1

Chapter 42

Xavier raised his eyebrows, as if about to say something, but Sharon cut him off.

“Xavier, why don’t you head back for now? There’s something I’d like to discuss with Mr. Biggs. Alone.”

Xavier paused, then gave a small nod. “Alright. If you need anything, call me anytime.”

Carter’s face darkened for reasons even he couldn’t explain.

Once Xavier had left, Carter stood stiffly, his expression cold. “Sharon, we haven’t even divorced yet, and you’re already eager to bring another man here to-what-build a connection?”

Coming from him, kind words were a rarity.

Sharon’s voice was calm. “Your phone was unreachable. After I was taken to the hospital, the doctor kept urging me to pay. I could only call someone I knew to help out.”

Truthfully, she had called Wendy first. But because of the accident yesterday, she hadn’t been able to pick up Matty. So when she woke up, she called Xavier to explain the situation.

Not long after, Xavier arrived with Matty to visit her. Later, when Wendy came, the two of them left.

Wendy had stayed with her the entire night, and in the morning, Sharon told her to go get some rest.

She lifted her gaze toward Carter. “What was I supposed to do-wait for the hospital to throw me out?”

His Adam’s apple shifted slightly. He didn’t respond.

While she had no one to call, he had been running around the hospital, busy with Kelly.

Sharon picked up the food Xavier had brought and started eating slowly.

The hospital room fell into a momentary silence.

Only after she finished eating did Carter speak.

“You and Kelly-why did your cars collide?”

“That’s a question for Kelly, not me.” Her tone was even, completely unbothered. “I told you already-her car crashed into

mine.”

Carter’s gaze deepened, shadows swimming behind his eyes. “But I spoke to some eyewitnesses. They said you suddenly rushed out without slowing down.”

Of course.

So it wasn’t a coincidence. Kelly had done it on purpose.

Sharon looked straight at him. “And the surveillance footage? Did you find it?”

“Not yet.”

She wasn’t the least bit surprised.

If Kelly had planned everything, she would never have made a rookie mistake like leaving behind evidence.

“Well, do you think I rammed into Kelly on purpose?”

“Intentional or not, you didn’t slow down. According to the eyewitnesses, the accident is entirely your fault.”

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“And?”

“The public’s already in an uproar. If you issue a public apology to Kelly, we’ll consider this matter closed.”

Sharon blinked, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. She gave a quiet, ironic laugh. “Just an apology? Kelly’s so badly injured. I would’ve thought you’d insist I go to jail.” D

Carter’s face remained impassive. “Kelly’s injuries aren’t serious. I’ll handle her side. If you apologize, I’ll make sure the public outcry dies down.”

Her brow twitched. “So what you’re saying is, if I don’t apologize, you’ll just let the online attacks keep piling up?”

Carter looked down at her. “Sharon, this accident-at the very least, I owe Kelly an explanation.”

An apology. That was all. As if that could smooth over everything. It wasn’t even a punishment.

There wasn’t the slightest ripple in Sharon’s heart. Not anger, not sorrow-nothing.

“I didn’t crash into Kelly. She crashed into me. If there’s an apology to be made, it should come from her.”

Carter looked like he hadn’t expected her to still be this obstinate.

His brow furrowed. “You claim Kelly crashed into you. I had people investigate. The evidence is clear. Are you really going to keep denying it?”

Chapter 43

“Don’t you think it’s reckless to decide I’m guilty based on the words of a few bystanders?” Sharon asked bitterly.

He hadn’t jumped to conclusions the way he used to-hadn’t blindly believed Kelly this time–but everything he’d found was exactly what Kelly had wanted him to see.

“What are you trying to say, Sharon?”

She looked at him squarely, her voice firm and unshaken. “What I’m saying is that I didn’t hit her. I won’t apologize to Kelly. In fact, she owes me an apology.”

His expression grew colder, the lines around his eyes sharpening.

“Sharon, it’s just an apology. Does it really have to be this hard?”

“Not at all. Apologizing isn’t hard-when you’re in the wrong,” she said quietly. “But I’m not. So why should I?”

His face remained unreadable, his voice clipped. “Whether you meant it or not, you hit someone. That alone warrants an apology.”

“You’re right,” she said. “But like I told you, I didn’t hit Kelly. She hit me.”

Carter’s patience snapped. “You’re being completely unreasonable, Sharon!”

She turned away, withdrawing her gaze. “Then stop wasting your time. I won’t apologize to Kelly. If you’ve got the guts, go ahead and throw me in jail.”

“Fine. You’ve got backbone,” he said, a bitter laugh catching in his throat. “Don’t come crying to me later.”

Carter didn’t return after that. Maybe he was waiting for her to cave, to admit she was wrong. She didn’t.

Then, a headline about the car accident shot to the top of trending topics. The story was everywhere, red-hot, impossible to ignore.

To boost credibility, they even attached photos.

The article painted her as cruel and calculated, a woman who wouldn’t hesitate to cause a crash to kill someone in her way.

With so-called “concrete evidence,” the entire internet turned on her.

[This woman is absolutely vicious! It wasn’t enough to break them up-she actually wanted to kill her? She thinks Mr. Biggs will fall for her if Kelly dies? Dream on. A snake like her doesn’t deserve love!]

[She’s terrifying. Mr. Biggs, get away from her! Divorce her before she turns on you too!]

[Jhope Sharon drops dead. She’s evil to the core!]

[A killer like this shouldn’t be allowed to walk free. Lock her up now!]

[Death penalty!)

[ +1 for death penalty!]

The comments section was a wasteland of hate. Some even went as far as saying they’d send her funeral wreaths. Someone had Photoshopped a funeral portrait. Her phone number was posted online.

Her phone wouldn’t stop ringing. Message after message, curse after curse.

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in the flood of condemnation.

To say anything neutral was to be accused of defending her. Anyone who didn’t join the mob was labeled a paid shill.

Three days later, Sharon was discharged from the hospital.

She was mostly recovered and saw no need to tell anyone.

But the moment she stepped out the hospital doors, a crowd materialized as if from nowhere, closing in on her fast.

“Sharon! You heartless murderer!” someone screamed. “Think you can bribe your way out of this and escape justice?”

Chapter 44

“All that scheming just to marry rich. How do you even have the nerve to keep living in this world?!”

“Women like you, all vanity and no shame, deserve to rot!”

“If the law won’t punish you, then we will. Today, we’re delivering justice on behalf of the heavens!”

The crowd had her surrounded, hurling insults and shoving her from all sides. Someone pushed her hard enough that she stumbled and fell to the ground.

It was only then that a hospital security guard noticed the commotion and rushed over.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing? Get out of here! This is a hospital!”

The group scattered at once, vanishing as quickly as they had come.

Sharon tried to get up. But before she could lift herself, a pair of polished black leather shoes appeared before her.

She instinctively looked up. Through blurry vision, she saw a face-cool, handsome, distant.

Carter’s dark eyes stared down at her, reflecting her disheveled state in their depths.

He said, calmly, “I’ve spoken to Kelly. She’s agreed not to pursue legal charges about the accident, but you’ll have to apologize. Publicly.”

Sharon closed her eyes for a moment. She drew in several deep breaths before she could steady herself.

She braced her hands on the ground and tried to sit up.

But her limbs felt like lead. She struggled and still couldn’t stand.

So useless. So pathetic.

Somehow, she was always this way around Carter-caught in her weakest, most humiliating moments.

And just then, the absurdity of it all made her want to laugh.

Her lips lifted into a faint smile. But for some reason, her eyes stung first.

Carter looked down at her pale, fragile figure, and his gaze deepened. His thin lips tightened. He stepped forward, intending to help her up.

But before he could reach her, a hand extended past him. 1

“Sharon, are you alright?”

She looked up to see Xavier’s familiar face-handsome, slightly roguish.

Her throat tightened, aching with a sour pressure. “Xavier…”

Xavier gently lifted her from the ground. “Sorry, things have been hectic these past few days. I forgot you were being discharged.

”

Her voice was hoarse. “I didn’t want to trouble you. That’s why I didn’t tell you.”

He glanced down at the wound on her leg, then at the scrape on her forehead. “Your head’s bleeding. Let’s get you back in for a proper checkup.”

“It’s fine. Just a scratch. I can have it cleaned and bandaged-”

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“No,” Xavier’s tone turned firm, rare seriousness settling over his features. “We need to make sure you’re really okay.”

Seeing his insistence, Sharon finally nodded.

“Alright.”

With his arm supporting her, they started back toward the hospital.

Just then, a hand gripped her wrist.

Carter’s face had gone dark, his voice cold and restrained. “No need to trouble you, Mr. Cooper. I’ll take her back in.”

Xavier didn’t release her. Instead, he gave a look of mild surprise, like someone pretending not to notice the chill in the air.

“You want to take her in, Mr. Biggs? But just a moment ago, when she fell, it didn’t seem like you were planning to help her at

all.”

Carter’s expression turned stormy.

But before he could respond, a delighted voice suddenly rang out.

“Carter! You’re here!” Kelly hurried over and threw herself into his arms, as if no one else existed.

“You knew I was getting discharged today, didn’t you? You came just to pick me up, right?” Kelly’s voice was full of joy, her eyes shimmering like water, spilling over with tenderness.

Her face glowed with happiness. “Carter, I told you, if you’re too busy, you don’t have to come for me…”

Chapter 45

Carter and Kelly stood in each other’s arms, the picture of perfection-like a couple painted into existence by the heavens.

Sharon stared at them, her face devoid of emotion. Yet her throat tightened, as though a hand had reached down and gripped it from the inside. She couldn’t breathe.

So this was it. Carter hadn’t come to the hospital for her. He was here for Kelly. And, along the way, had enjoyed the spectacle of her public humiliation.

A faint crease formed between Carter’s brows. He gently stepped back, loosening Kelly’s embrace. “Kelly…”

But by then, Xavier was already supporting Sharon, guiding her away.

Carter’s gaze darkened. He moved to follow, but Kelly suddenly clung to his arm.

“Carter,” she said quickly. “Just this morning, a few more eyewitnesses reached out to me. They’re willing to testify.”

His eyes shifted. “Testify?”

“Yes.” Her voice was soft, like a breeze. “Didn’t Sharon refuse to admit she hit me with her car? With these new witnesses, she won’t be able to deny it anymore.”

She looked up at him, her smile tender. “But don’t worry, Carter. Sharon is your wife-I would never make things difficult for her. My injuries weren’t serious anyway. I won’t pursue charges. I just want a simple apology.”

She paused, then added gently, “There’s already so much nasty talk about Sharon online. If she takes this opportunity to come forward and clear things up, it might even help her image.”

“I’ll cooperate,” Kelly said with perfect calm. “I’ll say it was all an accident, that she didn’t mean it. That’s what it was, wasn’t it? Just an unfortunate accident. If we present it that way, it shouldn’t cause her any more trouble.”

She smiled again, that ever-so-graceful smile that never once hinted at pain or grievance. It was as if she truly cared about Sharon, as if she were doing all of this for her.

Carter’s eyes softened slightly. “If Sharon had half your sense…”

Kelly laughed. “It’s alright. Maybe she’s just confused for now. She’ll come around eventually.” 1

That night, a few people claiming to be eyewitnesses began posting videos online, describing what they saw.

“I’d just gotten off work, walking home,” said one man. “I saw Sharon’s car suddenly veer out-just slammed straight into Kelly’s car. Didn’t even slow down. Scared the hell out of me! At first, I thought she just hit the gas instead of the brakes, but then I noticed-she didn’t even try to steer away. It looked intentional. There were a bunch of people around. It wasn’t just me who saw it.”

With the first video posted, others followed. One after another, so-called eyewitnesses spoke out. They all said the same thing- Sharon’s actions had gone too far. They demanded an apology.

Just as the news began to cool and fade from the public eye, Sharon made a move.

She announced a press conference.

Everyone immediately assumed the same thing: she had finally buckled under the pressure. She was going to apologize.

The internet lit up with celebration, like fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

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When the day arrived, the press conference was packed.

Sharon hadn’t restricted media access. Anyone could attend. And they did. The room was overflowing.

Xavier glanced over the crowd, a dark sea of faces.

“Sharon,” he murmured beside her. “Once you let this arrow fly, there’s no taking it back. If you go through with this… there’ll be no turning back with Carter.”

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Chapter 46

Lately, Sharon and Xavier had started to grow familiar with each other.

As the days passed, she found herself surprised by how many interests they shared.

Xavier, like her, loved going to concerts. Back in college, he’d even minored in violin. Though he’d eventually let it go to take over the family business, the way he spoke about music revealed a depth of thought that left Sharon quietly impressed. His technique may not have been perfect, but his insights were sharp, and often gave her new ways to think about what she loved.

Sharon let out a quiet smile. “Kelly thought she played her part perfectly, but in reality, her lies are full of holes. Today, I’ll let the world see who she really is.”

The truth was, ever since Kelly had reappeared, Sharon had suffered in silence more times than she could count. She didn’t deny that she disliked Kelly deeply, but she had never once wanted to destroy her completely. When a man strayed, the root of the problem usually lay with him.

After all, flies only buzz around cracked eggs. It wasn’t fair to place all the blame on the other woman. 1

If she couldn’t keep a man’s heart, that was on her.

If it hadn’t been Kelly, it would’ve been someone else.

At first, Kelly only played petty games. But lately, she had gone too far-so far, in fact, that she had crossed every line Sharon had drawn.

Trashy men and manipulative women like them-well, they deserved to go to hell together.

Xavier raised a brow. “But if you really show that video… your life with the Biggs family might get ugly.”

It was true. The Biggs family didn’t consist of Carter alone. There was also his mother, Madeline, and his younger sister.

Sharon’s expression didn’t change. “It doesn’t matter. There is no future for me and Carter.”

Her name had been trending online for days, yet not a single word had come from the Biggs family in her defense.

Why should she protect their reputation?

She wasn’t going to keep compromising for people who weren’t worth it.

Xavier’s lips curved into a faint, unreadable smile. He didn’t say anything more.

When it was almost time, Sharon nodded lightly to Xavier and stepped onto the stage.

The reason she hadn’t released the video earlier was because she’d feared Carter would find a way to suppress it.

That wasn’t the result she wanted.

Now, with the press conference broadcast live across multiple media outlets, even if Carter wanted to bury it, he wouldn’t be able to.

There were thirty minutes left until the press conference began.

Carter leaned back in his office chair, watching the scene on the screen with a detached gaze.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Simon stepped in, his expression strange. “Mr. Biggs, I just received some important news I think you need to hear.”

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Carter’s eyes shifted slightly. He glanced over.

“What is it?”

Simon hesitated. His lips parted, then closed again. A thin sheen of sweat began to gather on his forehead.

“Sharon’s press conference today… it’s not for an apology. She’s planning to play a video.”

“A video?” Carter’s voice sharpened.

“It’s… it’s from the crash site.” Simon struggled to get the words out. “Mr. Biggs, you should watch it yourself.”

He handed over the iPad in his hand.

Carter took it and saw that the video was under a minute long.

He tapped play.

Within seconds, his pupils contracted sharply. His eyes flickered with disbelief.

The seconds ticked by.

The video ended.

Chapter 47

The office was suddenly swallowed by silence.

The video had captured everything with devastating clarity. The accident wasn’t caused by Sharon darting into Kelly’s path.

It was the other way around.

Kelly had hit Sharon on purpose.

She had lied.

Which meant every so-called eyewitness, every statement they’d made… was also a lie.

The footage flipped the entire narrative on its head. A scandal like this-broadcast and shared-would tear through everything

like wildfire.

Simon spoke quietly, “Mr. Biggs, in thirty minutes, Sharon will release this video to the public. What… what should we do?”

Once it was out, Kelly’s reputation would be ruined, irrevocably.

Carter was silent for a long time. Then finally, he said, “Replace the footage. Prepare the car. I’m going to the press conference.”

Simon froze, a flicker of shock tightening his chest. “Understood,” he said quickly, backing out of the room.

He had guessed Carter would try to protect Kelly-but he hadn’t expected him to go this far.

Replacing the video? Right before a live global broadcast?

Sharon had every reason to want to clear her name. But if this footage was swapped out, she’d carry this stain on her name for

the rest of her life.

Of course, if she succeeded in airing it, Kelly would be the one to fall. Kelly would be branded not just a liar, but a homewrecker as well. And nothing riled the public more than a homewrecker.

Simon sighed to himself.

Between Sharon and Kelly, Carter had made his choice.

The press conference began on time. Sharon stepped onto the stage.

A volley of flashbulbs erupted like fireworks, forcing her to squint.

She swept her gaze across the sea of journalists and cameras and spoke calmly, “Before I take any questions, I’d like to play a video for everyone.”

The lights in the room dimmed. The large LED screen behind her lit up.

The audience shifted, curious. Murmurs rose as people leaned forward, waiting to see what she was about to reveal.

But the screen remained blank. A flat, white glow. Nothing more.

Confused whispers broke the silence.

“What’s going on? Where’s the video?”

“Is she joking? Trying to stir up drama?”

“I thought she had something huge to expose-turns out there’s nothing.”

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“What a waste of time. Is this just some kind of stunt?”

The crowd began to buzz with irritation, and the camera shutters started again, clicking more aggressively.

The live chat stream exploded with sarcastic comments, ridicule flooding the feed.

Sharon frowned. Something was wrong.

A staff member hurried onto the stage, leaned in, and whispered in her ear.

“Sharon… the video file. Someone’s replaced it.”

She froze for a heartbeat-then it hit her. She knew exactly who was behind this.

A flicker of fury rose in her eyes, but her lips curled into a cold, controlled smile.

“It’s fine,” she said, lifting her chin. “I’ve made multiple backups. In fact, the video is right here in my cloud drive. Or-better yet-I’ll just play it directly from my phone. No need for the screen.”

Modern tech made everything easier. Even if people in the back couldn’t see with their eyes, the cameras could zoom, focus, record. No detail would be missed.

Did Carter really think swapping the file would stop her?

Wishful thinking.

Just then, a stir broke out near the entrance.

Someone shouted, “Carter Biggs is here!”

All heads turned toward the commotion at the door.

Chapter 48

Carter walked in, his posture tall, his presence cool and aloof.

Every movement he made, no matter how small, carried a natural grace, as if elegance had been etched into his bones. A quiet but overwhelming aura radiated from him-one that made it hard to breathe.

At the sight of him, Sharon instinctively clenched her fists, a cold light flickering in her eyes.

The reporters, however, reacted like bees drawn to a bloom, rushing toward Carter.

“Mr. Biggs, are you here today to do the right thing-to bring the murderer to justice?”

“Mr. Biggs, you’ve remained silent about your wife’s car crash involving Kelly Walt, even as public outrage has exploded online. Does your silence mean you believe she’s guilty?”

“Mr. Biggs, are you planning to divorce Sharon?”

They swarmed around him, cameras flashing in a frenzy.

Carter’s face remained unreadable. The same detached, cold expression he always wore. He looked at no one in particular and simply said, “Step aside.”

There was nothing emotional in his voice, and his eyes were still and distant, yet the force behind them felt tangible. The weight of it pressed down on everyone present. No one dared take another step forward.

He moved through the crowd and turned to Simon beside him. “Clear the area. Cancel the press conference.”

A wave of shocked whispers swept through the room at his words.

But Carter didn’t spare them a glance. With long, steady strides, he walked straight toward Sharon on the stage.

A faint, mocking laugh slipped from her lips.

Even amidst the crowd’s noise, her voice cut through with unsettling clarity.

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“Mr. Biggs, are you canceling the press conference because you’re afraid I’ll expose the truth about Kelly? Afraid her secret will come to light?”

The reporters, sensing the shift, turned their attention back to Sharon, filming and recording like mad.

“What truth is she talking about?”

“Could this be a reversal?”

“She wouldn’t call a press conference without something to show for it.”

Carter reached the stage. His dark eyes, as deep and unreadable as a still lake at midnight, fixed on her.

He reached out, taking her wrist. “Let’s talk back home.”

Sharon took a step back and yanked her arm free, her voice sharp. “Talk back home? You want me to go back with you and keep pretending? Keep taking the fall for Kelly? Let the world keep calling me the villain?”

His eyes darkened. “I’ll handle this. But right now, we’re leaving.” (1

Sharon let out a bitter laugh. “That doesn’t sound like you at all, Carter.”

He knew that once the truth came out, Kelly would be done for. That’s why he suddenly wanted to “handle” it.

But where was he when the entire internet tore her apart? Most likely in the hospital, comforting Kelly in a soft voice, promising

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to make everything right and punishing the ‘murderer’ who had hurt her.

Carter seemed to lose his patience. His voice turned cold. “Sharon, how long are you planning to keep this up?”

“Keep this up?” She looked at him, her tone colder than ice. “So in your eyes, anything short of me covering for Kelly makes me

unreasonable?”

He didn’t respond immediately. A silence hung between them. It was the kind of pause that admitted guilt.

“I’ll give you an explanation,” he finally said. “I’ll clear your name. But Sharon, do you really want the whole world watching us unravel like this?”

She studied him, her eyes narrowing, her mind weighing his words.

After a beat, she said, “Fine. We’ll talk.” 1

Only then did the tension in Carter’s face ease slightly.

Sharon turned, stepping off the stage and walking toward the back.

Chapter 49

If Sharon was right, the live broadcast had already been cut.

Everything she was about to reveal today-none of it would make it out. It would only look like she had called a press conference for nothing, played a trick on the public, and walked away with empty hands. (1)

Carter would still be able to run full-scale PR for Kelly. He might even find a way to twist this back on her. He really didn’t hold

back.

In the quiet of the backstage lounge, Sharon looked at Carter.

“Mr. Biggs, what is it you want to say to me?”

His voice was calm and low, like water with no ripples. “I’ll take care of the online attacks, the public backlash…”

Before he could finish, Sharon interrupted him coolly.

“If all you have to offer is pressure and silence, I’m afraid I’ll have to refuse. Even if you manage to erase every post, scrub the news clean-what’s imprinted in people’s hearts won’t vanish. Those labels-vicious, a murderer-it’s already been carved in.”

She stared into his deep black eyes, her voice light, almost amused.

“Who knows, I might just stir up public anger again, provoke a real siege this time.”

Carter’s gaze flickered toward the scabbed wound on her forehead. His eyes darkened.

“I’ll make a statement to clear your name.”

“A statement?” Her tone turned mocking. “Now you want to clear my name? After all this time, after my scandal’s been plastered everywhere? Isn’t it a little late, Mr. Biggs?”

He looked at her steadily. “If you have any conditions, name them.”

Her eyes shifted slightly. “I have two.”

Without hesitation, he nodded. “Fine.”

Sharon’s voice was calm. “Maybe you should hear them first before agreeing.”

“Go ahead.”

“My first condition,” she said, “I want ten million.”

His gaze dimmed. That wasn’t a small amount.

“What do you need that much money for?”

“Emotional damages. And compensation for my reputation.” Her tone didn’t waver. “I’ve been cursed out for days. You don’t seriously think an apology from Kelly is enough to settle this?”

After a brief silence, Carter spoke, “Alright.” 1

Sharon laughed inside. For Kelly, he really was willing to give anything. Ten million, just like that–no hesitation.

But then Carter’s voice cut through the air again. “So this is what you were after?”

She looked up. “What?”

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Chapter

“You went in circles, played this whole game, just to extort money from me?”

Her expression turned flat. She didn’t even bother to explain. “If that’s what you think, then sure.”

His dark eyes never left her, deep and unreadable like a cold, still lake, or some shadowed mountain pass.

“This footage,” he said, “came from your dashcam. You had evidence all along, but you didn’t say anything. You didn’t turn it over to the police. Sharon, you did this on purpose, didn’t you?”

“I did.” Her smile was cold and empty. “If I’d shown my hand too soon, how could I wring ten million out of you, Mr. Biggs? Besides… I wanted to see what Kelly would do without evidence. And how much you would believe me. And just like I thought… everything played out exactly as expected.”

There was no grief on her face. No disappointment. She spoke as if recounting someone else’s story.

Carter frowned. “You’d let yourself be slandered, attacked, hated-just for money? Sharon… is money that important to you?”

Chapter 50

Sharon looked at Carter with a flicker of disbelief in her eyes.

“If you think money doesn’t matter, then freeze your accounts and try living without it. See how long you last before realizing how important it really is. Besides, do you really think I want your money? That I want you?

“Want you, when you run off in the middle of the night for another woman? Want you, when I’m stuck playing housemaid, cooking herbal remedies for your first love? Want you, when I ask for help and you question if I’m at fault, or when I’m in danger and you hang up on me-just to leave with another woman in your arms?”

She met his gaze head-on.

“But if you must insist I want your money-what have I actually gotten out of our marriage?”

When Kelly returned to the country, she was given a seaside villa in Amstern City-prime real estate, worth eight figures. Carter bought it without hesitation and signed it over to her name.

Sharon, on the other hand, left the Biggs estate and ended up renting a small apartment. (1)

Five years as Mrs. Biggs couldn’t compare to Carter’s first love who’d only just come back after half a year.

There wasn’t a more ironic punchline in the world.

Her role as Mrs. Biggs had been nothing short of suffocating..

Carter’s brows furrowed. “Kelly doesn’t have much time left. Why are you so fixated on someone who’s dying?”

“Dying?” Sharon’s lips curved in a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Are you sure she’s really dying?”

He heard the undertone immediately. His gaze went cold. “What are you trying to say?”

Sharon let out a light laugh. “Carter, want to make a bet? Let’s see if Kelly actually dies in the next six months.”

She’d been thinking about this a lot. Kelly lied easily, acted effortlessly-who’s to say the terminal illness wasn’t just another performance?

Aside from a few dramatic fainting spells, there wasn’t a single sign she was seriously ill. And who, in the late stages of a terminal disease, still had the energy to scheme against people every day?

“Ridiculous,” Carter said, voice clipped.

“What’s wrong? Afraid to bet?”

“Medical technology is advanced now. And Nate’s doing everything he can to find top specialists. Her illness might still be

treatable.”

Sharon couldn’t help but wonder what kind of spell Kelly had cast on him-how else could he believe in her so blindly?

Clearly unwilling to stay on the topic, Carter asked, “What’s your second condition?”

Sharon held his gaze, steady and cold. “I want a divorce.”

His patience finally cracked.

“Sharon, you wanted to set terms. I agreed. You asked for ten million. I said yes. What more do you want from me?”

Something flickered in his expression. Annoyance. Maybe something close to disdain.

“Who taught you these petty tricks?”

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Sharon looked at him calmly. “You still think I’m doing this to mess with you?”

His gaze grew darker, locked tight on her face. “You love me, don’t you?”

For a second, Sharon froze-then it clicked. “You read my diary?”

There was the faintest shift in his eyes. “Theo mixed up the notebooks. When he returned it, I saw it.”

Sharon had always kept a diary. In that book, she had recorded five years of marriage.

Before Kelly came back, Carter hadn’t treated her badly. He was young, handsome, and powerful-loving him wasn’t exactly difficult. Especially when he was her husband.

But hearing those words from Carter’s mouth now, all she could think of was one sentence.

Chapter 51

All Sharon could think of now was, ‘Those who are favored, always act with impunity.’

Carter was sure of her feelings for him, sure that the existence of their child tied her to him. That’s why he treated her like this- so brazenly, so crudely.

Suddenly, Carter’s phone rang.

It was his assistant, Simon.

“Mr. Biggs, bad news!”

Carter frowned. “What’s going on? Why are you panicking?”

“There are a ton of videos spreading online-bad ones about Kelly. We can’t stop them, no matter what we try…”

Carter’s voice turned sharp. “Didn’t I tell you to block everything from that press conference? All footage, all livestreams, shut them all down?”

Simon’s voice trembled. “We did block everything at the scene. Nothing leaked from there. But the thing is… the videos didn’t come from the press conference.”

Carter’s tone went ice cold. “Then where? Speak clearly.”

“They’re playing on every single public advertising screen in the city… and we can’t take them down fast enough.”

Simon was on the verge of tears. “And it’s not just Kelly in those videos. You’re in them too, Mr. Biggs.” 1

He didn’t dare tell Carter the full extent-that it wasn’t just the big outdoor screens. The footage had been broadcast in subway

stations, on buses, in elevators-everywhere. The entire city had seen it.

Even if they’d held the press conference and posted everything online, the impact wouldn’t have reached this scale.

But now, plastered across giant screens?

Everyone was seeing it-old men in their seventies, little kids on their way to school. There was no filter, no distinction. Just a

full-scale, indiscriminate blast.

Sharon had played her hand with brutal precision.

Carter’s eyes narrowed, sharp as a blade. He turned to Sharon.

“It was you?”

She didn’t flinch. “Yes.”

Of course, he understood now. In an instant, it all made sense.

“So everything you just said to me-that was just to stall for time?”

“That’s right,” Sharon said coolly. “Against someone like you, with the power to control everything in Amstern City, I had to be prepared. If you hadn’t come, or if you refused to stop me, I wouldn’t have used the backup plan.”

But the moment he showed up, she knew the press conference wouldn’t go forward. So she sent a message to Xavier, quietly, while keeping Carter distracted. She’d made sure he had no time to pay attention to anything else.

By the time he found out what had happened, it was already too late to contain it.

Before the call even ended, Carter’s phone lit up again.

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This time, it was Nate.

“Carter, something’s happened! Kelly just stepped out and got surrounded by some angry people there was a confrontation, and she’s been taken to the hospital!”

Carter’s expression darkened. “How is she?”

“For now, nothing life-threatening. But somehow the reporters found out she was hospitalized. They’ve completely surrounded the hospital. She’s really shaken up… Carter, come quickly.”

Carter was silent for a moment before saying, “I’m on my way.”

After he hung up, he turned to Sharon. His voice was glacial.

“Sharon, that was ruthless.”

She smiled faintly. “Some people don’t deserve mercy.”

Chapter 52

Carter froze for a moment. Something about Sharon felt different-subtly, but undeniably changed.

Could she really want a divorce?

Before he could think further, his phone rang again.

Without another glance at Sharon, he turned and walked away grimly.

Outside, the massive LED screens across the city lit up with footage showing the so-called “intentional car crash” involving

Sharon.

The video played clearly, exposing the truth in stark contrast to the earlier rumors. Sharon hadn’t caused the crash. It was Kelly’s car that had deliberately rammed into hers. (1

At first, the crowd was confused, murmuring as they watched:

“What’s going on? Wasn’t someone accused of intentionally hitting someone else? But this… this looks like the opposite.”

“God, that car didn’t even slow down. That’s straight-up attempted murder.”

“Who mistakes the gas for the brake and drives that straight? No way-this was on purpose.

Then came another clip-the full footage of Kelly tearfully claiming she’d been bullied by Sharon, lamenting that she didn’t have much time left to live.

On the screen, Kelly looked pitiful and innocent as she spoke about the bracelet she wore-an heirloom, supposedly meant for the Biggs family’s future daughter-in-law.

Although Sharon had long since lost hope in Theo, he was still just a child. She didn’t want him dragged into a storm of online hate, so she had cut out all mentions of him in the released footage.

What she left intact, though, was enough.

The part where Kelly smugly described how well Carter treated her.

It was more than enough.

Viewers were quick to react.

“Damn, this Kelly girl is seriously manipulative. And judging by what she said, she doesn’t look bullied at all.”

“She’s bold, showing off like that in front of the wife. Props to Mrs. Biggs for staying calm. I’d have slapped that bitch already.”

“Did you hear that? Even if Carter is with his wife, he runs off the second this side chick calls. Unbelievable.”

The tide of public opinion turned fast. Those who saw the whole truth were openly disgusted by Kelly’s performative innocence.

Still, as an influencer with a sizable fanbase, Kelly wasn’t without support. Her die-hard fans jumped in, twisting the narrative.

“Sharon stole Kelly’s man first! Now it’s just karma.”

“Kelly doesn’t have long to live. She’s just trying to make peace before it’s too late. What’s so wrong with that?”

“If you’re not the one being loved, you’re the mistress.”

“Sharon, let go already. All you’re losing is a marriage. Kelly’s losing her life.”

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But then Sharon brought out her final piece: concrete evidence that Kelly and Carter had broken up long before she and Carter got together. It was a slap in the face to Kelly’s fans.

To make her stance clear, Sharon recorded a video herself.

“To those spreading false rumors, attacking me online, and leaking my private information-I’ve preserved the evidence. My lawyers are already handling it,” she said calmly. “And those who physically assaulted me earlier, I’ll be pursuing criminal charges against each of you.”

That afternoon, the police released an official statement.

The accident had been fully investigated. Sharon bore no responsibility whatsoever. The public was urged to stop perpetuating

false narratives.

As for those so-called eyewitnesses? Turns out, they’d fabricated their accounts for attention-none had any real evidence.

Shortly after the announcement went live, those same self-proclaimed witnesses began issuing public apologies, one after

another.

Chapter 53

Because of the uproar their words caused, the so-called “witnesses” were taken into custody by the police.

Those who had gathered at the hospital entrance and resorted to violence were also found one by one, thanks to Xavier’s intervention. They were made to issue public apologies before being officially detained for intentional assault. 1

After this wave of swift, decisive action, the tide of online abuse directed at Sharon subsided significantly. The government’s official statement had an anchoring effect-many people, who had joined the chaos in a frenzy, now took a step back in silence.

But not all.

There were still keyboard warriors who clung to their baseless suspicions, hurling malicious speculation in Sharon’s direction.

Sharon filed lawsuits against those who continued to spread slander. After being tracked down, many of them confessed that their words had no basis-they were entirely fabricated. Some even admitted to being paid trolls hired specifically to tarnish her reputation and steer public opinion.

In the hospital room, Kelly was a mess.

Her face and body were smeared with eggshells, wilted greens, and an assortment of brightly colored, unidentifiable liquids. The gash on her forehead had been treated and begun to crust over, but the sight of it remained jarring.

When Carter opened the door and stepped inside, he found Kelly sitting there sobbing, her face buried in her hands. Nate hovered beside her, murmuring words of comfort that clearly weren’t working.

The moment Nate saw Carter, he launched into an angry tirade.

“Carter, those lunatics who attacked Kelly today were sent by that bitch, Sharon!”

Carter’s voice was even. “And how exactly do you know Sharon sent them?”

Nate snapped, “They surrounded us and kept shouting about karma, saying we deserved to be cyberbullied like she was.”

After Sharon had been wrongly accused of attempted murder, she had endured brutal online attacks. Her daily life had been disrupted. She’d even been injured.

Nate spoke as if the conclusion were obvious. “Sharon has always hated Kelly. She’s constantly targeting her. After suffering such a huge loss, she must’ve wanted revenge. Who else could it be if not her?”

Carter’s eyes darkened. “So, just because of something those people yelled, you’ve decided Sharon was behind this?”

It was then that Kelly, who had kept her head down this whole time, suddenly looked up and stared directly at Carter.

“Carter,” she said softly, “Sharon’s hated me for a long time. This time… the way she posted that video publicly-it’s like she wants me dead…” (1

Carter’s voice turned sharp. “Kelly, why did you lie?”

Tears welled in Kelly’s eyes. “When the crash happened, I had a dizzy spell. When I came to, I saw the car charging at me and just assumed… assumed it was Sharon driving into me…”

Nate quickly jumped in to support her. “Carter, Kelly didn’t even know it was Sharon behind the wheel at the time. She even offered a reward to find eyewitnesses to prove her innocence. Who would’ve thought those so-called witnesses would just make things up for money? Kelly is just as much a victim here.”

“Kelly doesn’t have much time left, and now she’s being harassed online…” Nate clenched his fists, his voice rising. “Sharon’s trying to kill her!”

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Kelly gave a tearful, fragile smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I know. It doesn’t matter what I say now. You won’t believe me anymore. Carter, just go. Don’t get dragged into this. I don’t want to hurt you”

Carter’s brow twitched ever so slightly.

“Then tell me, why did you say those things to Sharon outside the bathroom that day?”

Chapter 54

Kelly dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “I heard Nate say that Sharon didn’t care about Theo at all, that she went out to a bar looking for male models. And lately… she’s been acting really strange.”

“So I just thought I’d provoke her a little,” she continued, voice soft, “make her pay more attention to you, Carter. I didn’t want her to keep going down that path.”

Nate chimed in. “This time, Sharon went way too far. Even if she doesn’t care about Kelly, she should at least consider you and Theo! She’s stirred up such a mess online-now everyone knows there’s trouble in your relationship. Even the Biggs Group’s stock value has taken a hit. Sharon’s up to no good. Always has been.”

Carter was quiet for a few seconds, then finally said to Kelly, “Just focus on getting better. I’ll take care of the online harassment.

The video Sharon posted had a far greater impact than any previous news stories.

Even though Carter managed to suppress all related content within a day, it was already too late. The more perceptive users had downloaded everything-photos, clips, the full video-and were sharing it in private groups without pause,

Many of Carter’s business partners had started to subtly bring it up, asking him what exactly had happened.

Some smaller tabloid accounts even tried to post bits and pieces of the story. The posts were taken down quickly, but their popularity soared, greater than that of most A-list celebrities.

Because Carter wasn’t just anyone.

He was one of the most prominent business figures in all of Zachemaine-young, sharp, striking. He wasn’t someone the entertainment world’s heartthrobs could even hope to compare to. He was the man in countless women’s dreams.

The world had placed halos on his head and added filters to his name. But now, those filters were starting to crack-and with them, his pristine public image.

Even the normally unshakable Biggs Group had begun to feel the ripple.

The Biggs family, always composed and quiet, could no longer stay silent.

That very evening, Sharon received a call from Madeline.

“Sharon! That video you posted—are you trying to ruin the Biggs Group?! Come here immediately! I’ve already contacted the press. You’re going to make a public statement and say that everything you posted was just a desperate stunt to get Carter’s

attention!

“Back then, to climb the social ladder, you clung to Carter without a shred of shame. After you married him, you refused to work and just spent his money. And now you have the nerve to stab him in the back?!

“I’m warning you! If the Biggs Group suffers even the slightest loss because of you, don’t think for a second we won’t throw you out with nothing!”

Sharon listened without a word, her face blank.

From the very beginning, Madeline had never liked her. Madeline believed Sharon had schemed her way into the marriage, using the oldest tricks in the book, and climbed into Carter’s bed and into the Biggs family. 1

Madeline had told her, more than once, that if it weren’t for her, Carter would’ve already married the heiress she’d handpicked for him-a girl with a prestigious education, an influential background, a perfect match for the Biggs family, a woman who could actually bring something to the table.

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Not someone like Sharon, who had nothing but a pretty face.

When Kelly returned, Madeline didn’t even bother to caution Carter to respect boundaries now that he was married.

She mocked Sharon instead, saying it was only natural she couldn’t hold on to a man. She even said that being abandoned was what Sharon deserved.

During the three years Sharon had been married to Carter, she had endured Madeline’s endless coldness and harshness.

The worst of it came right after the wedding, when she was forced to visit Madeline’s house every day to be “taught the rules.”

She was made to do laundry, cook, and clean the house. Madeline even forbade her from sitting at the table during family dinners, saying a woman like her didn’t deserve a seat.

Chapter 55

At every Biggs family event, Sharon was the one who worked the hardest.

She moved constantly, pouring the drinks, serving food, and attending to everyone’s needs. She was treated even less than a

servant.

Yet no matter how hard she tried to please, no matter how humbly she bowed her head, Madeline was never satisfied.

And no matter what Madeline said, Sharon wasn’t allowed to talk back. She couldn’t protest. If she did, she’d be labeled rude, ungrateful, and lacking upbringing.

For the longest time, Sharon believed she had to endure it all. Madeline was her elder. She was Carter’s mother. It was her place to yield, to avoid making things difficult for him.

But now, she had even given up on her own child. What else was left for her to endure?

“I’m not going back.” Her voice no longer trembled. She didn’t weigh each word like she used to, carefully testing its tone before speaking, terrified of saying the wrong thing.

She said coldly, “And please, do hurry up and kick me out. Being your daughter-in-law is an embarrassment I’d rather not carry.

She didn’t wait for a response. She hung up the phone.

On the other end, Madeline stared blankly at her screen, momentarily unable to process what had just happened.

Sitting nearby, Denise Biggs noticed the expression on Madeline’s face and asked, “Mom, is Sharon still coming? I’m craving those pastries she makes. When she gets here, can you ask her to make some?”

She didn’t particularly like Sharon either, but she had to admit-Sharon’s baking was unmatched, better than any of their chefs

or patissiers.

Madeline snapped out of her daze, her expression darkening with anger. “What’s wrong with Sharon today? Did she take the wrong pills or something? She actually hung up on me. And she said we should go ahead and throw her out! I’ve really been too lenient with her lately. She’s forgotten her place!”

Denise didn’t seem too bothered. “She probably didn’t mean it. I mean, she fought so hard to marry Carter. Would she really be willing to walk away? Especially now that they have a child.”

She let out a sigh. “But still, I get why she’s upset. The way Carter treats Kelly… it’s a bit much. Anyone would think Kelly’s the real wife. Sharon’s just staking her claim. Now everyone knows she’s Mrs. Biggs.”

Madeline scoffed. “Mrs. Biggs? Who said I acknowledged her as that? And don’t think Kelly is any better. But since Carter says she’s not going to live much longer, I won’t bother getting involved.”

She picked up the teacup in front of her and took a delicate sip.

“She can be useful-for now. Let her help break things off between Sharon and Carter.”

Denise hesitated, her brows knitting slightly. “Mom… you’re not still thinking of…”

Madeline spoke calmly. “With Carter’s status and background, even as a divorcee with a child, there are still plenty of young socialites lining up to marry him. Even if not a debutante, at least someone with a proper education.”

She let out a small, cold laugh. “I showed Sharon some courtesy for Theo’s sake, and now she dares to act superior? She should look in the mirror. Who does she think she is?”

Denise knew all too well-her mother valued status and background above everything else.

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Even if the match wasn’t perfectly equal, at the very least the woman had to be well-educated.

A pretty face with no substance like Sharon? That was exactly the kind of woman Madeline despised most.

Now, with Sharon’s exposé causing fluctuations in the Biggs Group’s stock prices, it looked like the days ahead for Sharon were only going to get harder.

Chapter 56

The weekend came quickly.

Theo’s kindergarten was hosting a parent-child event.

Kelly arrived early.

The chaos that had erupted online not long ago had been swiftly and brutally shut down by Carter. Any thread or post that dared to surface would vanish in seconds. Negative comments about Kelly couldn’t even be published.

On the surface, the internet had returned to a calm, idyllic state. But Carter could silence online chatter-he couldn’t silence people’s hearts.

The moment Kelly stepped into the kindergarten, she felt it-those strange looks from passersby, sharp and invasive like needles under her skin.

Then, without warning, a scalding cup of coffee was thrown onto her chest.

She let out a sharp cry as the heat hit her skin.

“Oh dear, I’m so sorry! My hand slipped,” the woman said with mock concern. Her words were an apology, but her tone didn’t carry even a flicker of regret.

“You did that on purpose-” Kelly started to speak, but the woman cut her off.

“Well, look who it is! Isn’t this today’s viral headline-Kelly Walt?”

The woman’s voice rang out, drawing the attention of the nearby parents.

One by one, heads turned. The looks in their eyes were anything but kind.

“I can’t stand those fake types,” someone muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Always playing the victim. Ugh, she’s disgusting.”

“She ran someone over on purpose, then tried to blame the wife! Even paid people to lie for her-how shameless can she be?”

“She’s the worst kind of manipulator. She had long broken up with Mr. Biggs when Mr. Biggs got together with Mrs. Biggs, but she made those public comments to confuse everyone and make it look like she was the one wronged.”

“Pathetic. Pretending to be pitiful just because she has some terminal illness? She’s using it to seduce someone else’s husband. And who knows if she’s even really sick!”

After Sharon’s revelations that day, Kelly’s past had been torn wide open. Her recordings and photos had been transformed by netizens into countless memes. Clips paired with her voice became the perfect image of a sanctimonious, manipulative woman.

Even actresses known for playing villainous roles in dramas were reportedly studying her interviews to master the role of the ” perfect snake.”

The crowd closed in, hurling insults like stones.

Trapped in the middle, Kelly could feel herself shrinking. Her heartbeat scattered in her chest.

Faces full of contempt surrounded her.

Then-“Thud!”

Something struck her head. A cup, hard and fast. Pain exploded in her skull, and stars flashed behind her eyes.

Tears welled up instantly, but the bystanders only looked pleased. Some even clapped.

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“Nice shot!” someone shouted.

Infidelity was rarely the fault of one person alone. People knew that. But Kelly’s actions, her posturing, the theatrics-

She wasn’t just a mistress.

She was that kind of mistress. Obnoxiously bold. Unapologetically manipulative. The kind that didn’t even try to keep a low

profile.

That made her far more intolerable than most.

The commotion quickly drew the attention of the kindergarten’s security team.

They stepped in professionally, politely. Their manner was civil, but even so, Kelly could see the judgment flickering in their

eyes.

She finally broke free, staggering out, humiliated.

Aside from her own orchestrated dramas, she had never looked quite so pathetic.

Her fists clenched at her sides. She bit down on the fury rising in her throat.

This was all Sharon’s fault. Everything.

She would make Sharon pay for this!

Sharon hadn’t planned on going to the parent-child event.

But Matty didn’t have a mother. And Xavier was too busy to leave work.

Matty looked up at her, wide-eyed.

“Sharon,” he said softly, “we don’t have to play the games. Can you just come to school with me? Just to talk to my teacher and

ask for time off?”

Chapter 57

“All the other kids have their parents with them,” Matty said, his voice small and uneven. “But my dad doesn’t care about me… I just don’t want the others to think I don’t have a mom or dad.”

Thinking of how Matty’s mother had passed away early on, Sharon couldn’t help but soften.

There were many classrooms at the kindergarten, and if she was just there to help excuse Matty from activities, the chances of running into Carter and Theo were low. And even if they did cross paths, it didn’t matter.

She just didn’t want to see anyone she disliked. That was all.

Sharon gave a slight nod. “Okay.”

She deliberately avoided the start of the event.

By the time she and Matty entered the kindergarten, the parent-child event had already begun.

From the direction of the playground came the hum of excitement-cheering, laughter, a warm chaos.

Matty, still so young, was instantly drawn in.

His eyes lit with curiosity. “Sharon, can I go take a look?”

She nodded. “Go on. I’ll wait here for you.”

“You’re not coming?” he asked, puzzled.

“No,” she replied softly. “I’ll stay here.”

Matty hesitated, then nodded without insisting. “Okay, I’ll just watch for a bit and come right back.”

Theo would never be this easy.

If he wanted something and she said no, he would immediately put on a face.

He wouldn’t lash out, no-he had his father’s coldness. He’d go silent, freeze her out, and let the air between them frost over.

A few minutes later, Matty returned, cheerful and bright.

“Theo’s parents are amazing! They’re in first place right now!”

Sharon’s heart stung. “Theo’s… parents?”

Matty’s expression dimmed slightly, though his admiration lingered.

“Yeah. At school, Theo always says his dad is the most amazing person in the world, and his mom is the most beautiful. The best parents anyone could have. Some of the other kids didn’t believe him at first, so he said he’d bring them both to the parent- child day to prove it. And today, he really did. And they are amazing.”

Sharon stood in silence, unable to respond.

Still caught in her thoughts, she barely heard Matty continue, “Before, some kids thought the young lady who always picked him

up was his mom. But Theo said no-she’s just the nanny. And now he’s won one of the games and he’s bragging to everyone about how cool his parents are.”

She had heard it before, from Kelly, that Theo only ever saw her as a nanny.

But hearing it from Matty-those casual, innocent words-it suffocated her.

No wonder Theo was always so ungrateful about all her sacrifices. He had thought of her as just the nanny, no different from

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Marie, their housekeeper.

“Sharon, you look really pale. Are you feeling sick?” Matty had finally noticed her expression, his voice tinged with concern. ” Do you want to see a doctor?”

She gently touched the top of his head and said softly, “No need. Let’s go talk to your teacher first.”

He nodded obediently. “Okay.”

It wasn’t convenient to bring him along while speaking with the teacher, so Matty went to wait in the music room nearby.

He had heard Sharon was a violinist, and had taken an interest in the instrument himself. He’d even said he wanted to learn from her one day.

After finishing her conversation with the teacher, Sharon left the office and headed toward the music room to find Matty.

But just as she stepped outside, she ran into someone she never expected to see.

Chapter 58

Sharon glanced at Kelly, then quietly looked away.

“Sharon, are you here to see Theo and Carter?” Kelly’s voice was soft and gentle. “They’re not here at the moment. Would you like me to take you to them?”

“That’s not necessary,” Sharon replied, her tone flat.

With that, she stepped around her and started down the stairs. The music room was on the lower level-she was going to find

Matty.

But Kelly caught up quickly. “Sharon, could we talk for a moment?”

“I don’t think there’s anything worth discussing between us,” Sharon said without looking back. Her voice was cool, almost

detached.

“I’d like to talk about Carter.”

“Then there’s even less to talk about.”

She turned a corner, heading for the staircase.

“Whatever’s going on between you two has nothing to do with me.”

“Sharon,” Kelly called again, suddenly grabbing Sharon’s wrist. “Just five minutes. That’s all I’m asking.”

Sharon’s expression remained calm as she pulled her hand free. “I’ve made myself clear. There’s nothing for us to talk about.”

Kelly watched as Sharon turned to leave. In a panic, she stepped forward, too quickly-her footing slipped.

Her heel missed the step.

With a sharp cry, she tumbled down the stairs.

“Ah!”

Blood seeped out from beneath her body, spreading across the pristine marble floor.

Sharon froze. She hadn’t expected it to happen. For a moment, her mind went blank

“Kelly!” Theo rushed over to Kelly, panic written across his face. “Kelly, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Kelly said weakly, forcing a smile. “Theo, don’t tell your dad about this. Promise me.”

Tears welled up in the boy’s eyes. Then, suddenly, he turned and glared up at Sharon, who was still standing at the top of the

stairs.

“Why did you push Kelly?!”

Sharon’s brow twitched slightly. She began to descend the stairs slowly, wordlessly.

But before she could get close, Theo ran forward and threw his small body in front of Kelly.

He looked up at Sharon with guarded eyes, like a child shielding someone from a monster.

“What do you want? I won’t let you hurt her again!”

Sharon’s steps faltered. Just as she was about to speak, a voice, low and cool, sounded from behind her.

“Kelly, what happened?”

Chapter 58

+25 BONUS

A man in a dark suit approached. It was Carter.

The moment his eyes caught sight of Kelly crumpled at the foot of the stairs, his expression shifted. The calm in his gaze

darkened instantly.

He strode forward and scooped Kelly into his arms.

“Call an ambulance,” he said, his voice tight.

At the hospital, the red light outside the emergency room glowed like a wound.

Carter’s face, usually composed, was now clouded with tension and darkness.

Nate arrived soon after, and the moment he saw Sharon, he marched over and pointed at her without hesitation. 1

“It was you, wasn’t it?! You pushed Kelly down the stairs, you vicious woman! You won’t be satisfied until she’s dead, is that it? What kind of disgusting, heartless woman are you? Do you even have a conscience?”

Sharon looked at him coldly, as though watching a stranger put on a show.

Anyone who didn’t know better would think she’d killed his father.

“If shamelessness were a competition,” she said calmly, “you’d take the gold. I wouldn’t even make the finals compared to you.

Nate was seething, practically foaming at the mouth. And yet Sharon’s unshaken calm only made him more unhinged.

“I’ll teach you a lesson today, you bitch! Kelly doesn’t deserve this!”

Sharon didn’t flinch. Not even a trace of fear crossed her face.

“You couldn’t win her over, so you lash out at others. You’re pathetic, petty, and weak!”

Chapter 59

“Sharon!” Nate’s voice cracked through the still air, eyes bloodshot. His rage echoed down the hospital hallway.

“That’s enough.” Carter’s voice was low but cut clean through the noise. A layer of frost had settled on his face, and the light in his eyes was sharp and biting

The heat drained from Nate’s anger like water poured over flame. He froze, reality sobering him instantly.

For the past five years, whenever Nate saw Sharon, it was nothing but disdain-sarcasm, mockery, sneers. Even when Carter witnessed it, he never stepped in. Sometimes he’d even side with Nate, which only fueled Nate’s arrogance.

Nate’s stance faltered. “Carter, Sharon pushed Kelly down the stairs. We can’t just let that slide.”

A quiet scoff slipped from Sharon’s lips. “Nate, you weren’t even there. How can you be so sure I pushed Kelly? We’re all adults here. You should know words have consequences. Slander is a criminal offense.”

Nate choked, unable to fire back. He didn’t know when she had become like this-sharp and unrelenting. Every sentence knocked the air out of him.

Just then, the long-silent Theo finally spoke. “I saw it.”

All eyes turned to him.

Theo lifted a hand, pointing directly at Sharon. “I saw her push Kelly.”

Nate’s face lit up, smug and triumphant. “There, see? Your own son is saying it. What more proof do you need?”

Carter’s gaze shifted to Sharon-cold, empty of warmth.

“Why would you do that?”

Sharon smiled faintly. “If even you don’t know, how would I?”

Nate let out a harsh snort. “Why else? Jealousy. You’ve always hated seeing Kelly happy.”

Sharon turned her eyes on him. “Jealous? Didn’t she say she and Carter were just friends? Pure and innocent? Then why would I be jealous of her?”

Nate fumbled. “Well… because… you care that Kelly and Carter used to be together…”

Sharon’s smile didn’t waver. “And why would I care? Because Carter treated her too well? Or because he still carries a torch for his first love? Or maybe because they never really cut ties….”

She hadn’t finished when Carter cut her off, voice frigid.

“Sharon, that’s enough. Are you really going to say something like that in front of Theo?”

She laughed silently. Ah, here it was again-the child, always the shield. (1)

Before, she would’ve swallowed her words, smiled politely, and let it pass. She never wanted her fights with Carter to bleed into their son’s world.

But now, with father and son standing side by side, united against her, all those years of quiet endurance suddenly seemed laughable.

Her voice was cool. “You and Kelly get handsy in broad daylight without a care in the world. I didn’t do a thing. So tell me, why should I be afraid?”

Something dark flickered in Carter’s eyes. “Sharon!”

1/2

She didn’t flinch. “What, you think you’re innocent?”

Her tone chilled further. “Forget the past. Let’s just talk about today. During the parent-child event… Would you dare post those pictures and videos online? Let everyone see how cozy the three of you looked? I’m guessing no. You’d probably have every photo and video scrubbed clean before anyone could even blink.”

Carter’s face darkened further, lips pressed into a flat line.

But before he could speak, the harsh red light above the operating room clicked off.