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The staffer was flushed with excitement.
“Our stream just blew up! Sure, we paid for some promotional traffic, but this effect-this reach-is off the charts! Right now, we’re closing in on a million viewers, and the numbers are still climbing!”
Fabian hurried over to check.
One glance, and he froze.
In the time it took for him to exchange a few words, the viewership had already broken the million mark.
A million… A million!
All his years in directing, and he had never seen such heat around a project.
For a moment, he just stood there, stunned. Then the realization hit, and his blood surged. His instincts sharpened-this was it. At
last, he could feel it: his chance to finally step out of the shadows.
He spun toward the technicians at their consoles. “Keep the servers and the stream stable. I don’t want so much as a hiccup or a
freeze.”
Everyone present was part of his original team. They understood the gravity of the moment. This broadcast could make or break
them.
The staffer leaned closer, voice brimming with excitement. “Fabian, this contestant, Sharon McKinzie-she’s not only stunning, her skill is top tier. Even if she doesn’t win the championship, I’d bet she’ll be the most popular contestant by far.”
Fabian’s eyes lit with determination. “Then we put the spotlight on her. She could very well be the one who turns things around
for us.
“And make sure we push traffic to her upcoming opponent, Kelly, too. Let’s see how many viewers Kelly can draw in comparison.”
The staffer nodded. He knew what Fabian was doing-measuring popularity to decide where resources should go. This was survival of the fittest. Strength mattered, but so did public appeal.
On the live feed, the comment section was a blur, scrolling too quickly to follow.
Fabian leaned in, scanning carefully.
About half the audience gushed over Sharon’s beauty-entranced by her face before anything else.
Another twenty percent were dissecting her performance, their remarks sharp and technical; insiders, without a doubt.
Another fifth were obvious fans, promoting her tirelessly, praising both her skill and charm, introducing her to newcomers.
And the last fraction? Her haters, of course.
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Fabian had the tech team pull backend analytics, keeping a real-time grasp of the situation.
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Meanwhile, onstage, Sharon was fielding the host’s questions. Each contestant received five minutes after their performance to engage and win over the audience.
“Your piece just now was extraordinary,” the host said, his curiosity mirrored by the entire hall. “I’ve never heard it before. Could you tell us its title, and which master composed it?”
Every ear in the venue tilted toward her answer. Even Maestro Warner sat straighter in his seat.
The level of this composition was on par with Star. He hadn’t managed to track Star down, but if he could at least discover the creator of this piece, this trip to Zachemaine would already be worth it.
Since Star, it had been years since the industry produced a composition with the potential to become a true classic.
A man of Warner’s experience needed only a single listen to know-this song was no weaker than First Love.
Through the microphone, Sharon’s voice flowed steady and calm.
“This piece is called Moonlight Over the Sea. It’s one of my original works.”
The host blinked. “Your original? You composed it yourself?”
Sharon smiled. “Yes.”
The host, himself a member of the Violin Association and no stranger to musical expertise, immediately grasped the significance.
“My goodness me!” He couldn’t hold back a gasp. “A performer and a composer? Even on the world stage, this piece could stand
proudly alongside works by the great masters.”
The audience erupted.
“She really wrote it herself? That’s insane! She’s a genius!”
“I just looked it up online. There’s no score for Moonlight Over the Sea anywhere. It really might be her original!”
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“She’s not only beautiful, but incredibly skilled. And she composes her own pieces… She might even be stronger than John.”
“I think this year’s championship belongs to her, no question.”
The audience murmured in excitement.
Reina couldn’t help but glance at Maestro Warner. “Teacher, didn’t you say Sharon doesn’t have much real skill? But what she just
displayed… it’s extraordinary-far beyond what I saw in the videos.”
Johnny added, “I’ve been watching her closely. Her performance didn’t look like cheating at all. And those tricky transitions in the
high-difficulty D major section? Her fingerwork was flawless. There’s no way she could have faked that.”
Low-difficulty pieces were easy to cheat on.
But Moonlight Over the Sea was a technical challenge-no shortcuts, no tricks.
David chimed in from the side. “You’re all overestimating Sharon. I don’t think she’s that impressive.”
Reina and Johnny turned toward him in unison. “David! What are you saying? Among all our teacher’s students, very few could rival Sharon on the violin. How can you say she’s not impressive?”
David shrugged. “I’m not saying she isn’t talented. I’m saying… since Teacher accepted Kelly as his final student, then she must be
more impressive than Sharon.”
Reina and Johnny’s eyes instantly lit up.
Of course. Sharon might be extraordinary, but their mentor had chosen Kelly instead. That could only mean one thing-Kelly was
even more exceptional.
In that moment, their admiration for Sharon turned into anticipation for Kelly.
They had reached their own positions by facing the strongest; they weren’t afraid of power. Now, they eagerly awaited Kelly’s
performance.
Backstage, Kelly’s gaze was fixed on the screen showing Sharon’s serene smile and the host’s awed expression. Her face grew darker by the second
She pressed her nails into her palms. A sharp crack echoed as one split
Sharon’s performance had been near perfect- and now with the added advantage of an original composition…
Kelly bit her lower lip nervously.
Unless she performed beyond her limits, surpassing Sharon seemed almost impossible.
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What could she do? What should she do?
Could she really afford to embarrass herself in front of her mentor and the entire world?
Her phone rang.
It was Thomas.
And the news he brought was worse than anything she feared.
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“Kelly, Sharon’s performance just shattered the broadcast records. Even the viewership for the finals hasn’t reached this level. Do you know how many online popularity votes she has now?”
Kelly’s fingers whitened from pressure around the phone. “How many?”
“One million,” Thomas said.
A million votes. In ten minutes. Each vote was tied to a real identity, limited to three per person per day.
To amass such numbers in such a short time… Sharon’s popularity and influence were terrifying.
Kelly ground her teeth. “A bunch of shallow, face-obsessed animals!”
She was furious. Sharon’s advantage came entirely from looks. Aside from professionals, who else could truly appreciate her
talent?
It was all surface-level admiration-a swarm of sycophants.
With her own stage time approaching, Kelly felt a mix of anger and helplessness.
She asked Thomas, “Even if my skill matches hers, today, with her originality advantage, I’ll likely lose. Thomas… what should I
do?”
Thomas paused, thinking for a moment, then spoke slowly, “I might have a good idea.”
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Thomas was quick-witted and always full of ideas.
Kelly’s eyes lit up. “Thomas, what’s your idea? Tell me now!”
Thomas said, “I can’t intervene in the live competition itself—that has to be on you. But on the broadcast, I can make your
numbers look better.”
Immediately, Kelly understood what he meant. “You… you mean you want to boost my stats?”
Pre-sale ticket numbers, now broadcast figures… all artificially inflated.
Kelly felt a pang of unease.
True, Carter and Nate had once spent large sums to help her gain followers and create hype. But those were real fans, with genuine
support.
Thomas’s method, while costly, felt different. It carried a sense of false prosperity.
Who wouldn’t want real fans? Facing a sea of fake bots made Kelly feel… wrong.
Sensing her hesitation, Thomas added, “I can throw money at boosting traffic. You still have to attract fans yourself, but whether
you can beat Sharon… I can’t guarantee.”
Kelly remained silent.
The competition had already begun. Even with artificial hype, she might still lose to Sharon. Normal promotion required time—
time she no longer had. Thomas’s approach was the fastest way.
Finally, she made her decision. “Fine. Let’s do it your way.”
Thomas asked, “Any other requests?”
Kelly hesitated. “Thomas… can you bribe the judges?”
He chuckled lightly. “Kelly, I’m not from Zachemaine, and this is Carter’s territory. That’s beyond my reach. You could ask Carter.
Maybe with his influence, he could manage it.”
Kelly went silent. She could never involve Carter. That would be an open admission that she needed dirty tricks to surpass Sharon. How would he see her then?
With the clock ticking, Kelly ended the call without another word.
Staring at Sharon’s confident expression on the TV screen, a cold, dark light flashed in Kelly’s eyes.
The five-minute interview window passed in a blink. The host lingered, reluctant to move on.
A competitor like Sharon-talented, confident, and visually striking-was a rarity he hadn’t seen in years.
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Of the ten finalists, six were returning competitors from last year, and he knew their skill levels inside out. The outcome would
have been predictable if these veterans went head-to-head.
John hadn’t entered this year, which worried many insiders. Zachemaine’s music scene had been severely weakened after past
scandals, and it had been a long time since a truly strong newcomer appeared.
Now, Sharon had arrived, gorgeous and capable. She was a natural star. Music was both an auditory and visual experience; her
presence alone made her perfect for this stage.
As Sharon exited, Kelly stepped onto the stage.
Her piece was a classic-Yearning for Freedom.
The difficulty rivaled First Love and Moonlight Over the Sea. Unlike Sharon’s serene, peaceful piece, Yearning for Freedom was
passionate and grand, a storm of energy.
From the audience, Wendy whispered, “I never expected Kelly to perform properly. I thought she’d pull some stunt.”
John smirked. “This is a real competition. Nobody’s going to indulge her. If she screws up, Sharon wins automatically. She might get second chances in local contests, but internationally? If you keep faltering, you’re done. However good she is, no team wants a
problem child.”
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Kelly knew this all too well, and naturally, she dared not act recklessly.
Wendy nodded. “Her song choice is actually quite good. She’s clearly got some competition experience, and her performance was
solid. No major mistakes.”
John commented, “She got into Bell University and even caught Warner’s attention. She does have some talent. If she applied herself properly, her achievements could be much higher. But, unfortunately…”
He sneered. “She spends all her time scheming to take things from Sharon, plotting against her every chance she gets.
Wendy agreed wholeheartedly. “I admit she has talent, but compared to Sharon, she’s far behind. Warner really must be blind to
think Kelly is better than Sharon.”
John continued, “If she performs normally, taking second place shouldn’t be a problem.”
He knew most of the other competitors personally-they all moved in the same circles. He had a good grasp of their skills. Kelly
was indeed stronger than them, and on the international stage, her ability was still first-rate.
John added, “If she behaves herself, and with Sharon on our side, our country could easily take a top-three spot in the team
competition.”
Wendy frowned. “Only top three? Sharon has never even placed second in a competition before.”
John glanced at her. “This is a team contest. A top-three finish would already be excellent.”
At that moment, the previously silent Xavier spoke up. “And the individual competition? Can Sharon take first place?”
John looked at him. “You know what they say: no matter how good you are, there’s always someone better.”
Xavier raised an eyebrow. “Are you implying…”
John replied simply, “I mean Sharon is that ‘someone better’.”
His voice was calm, but his words carried pride and a hint of arrogance. Even now, Sharon’s skills weren’t fully restored. It wasn’t
strange, given that she hadn’t touched a violin in five years.
Even with rigorous practice, a complete recovery this fast would be impossible. Yet, after this domestic competition and the
upcoming concert, her abilities would surely return to their peak.
The domestic competition concluded before their concert, while international matches were scheduled afterward, Sharon had
ample time to prepare.
John didn’t hesitate to say it: her talent and skill represented the absolute ceiling among violinists of their generation.
Xavier didn’t show surprise or skepticism; instead, a faint smile curved on his lips. “I knew it. I wouldn’t have been wrong about
her.”
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John gave him a glance but said nothing. Xavier’s faith in Sharon went far beyond that of Carter; he never doubted her, and he never dampened others’ spirits either.
While the few of them chatted, Kelly’s performance came to an end. The audience erupted into enthusiastic applause once more.
The host stepped forward, his smile brighter than before. “This year’s competitors truly hide many talented violinists. So many
surprises!”
He smiled not because Kelly had surpassed Sharon, but because, although slightly weaker, she was undeniably talented—a formidable contender. With this year’s lineup, their country finally had a chance to shine internationally.
The host began interviewing Kelly.
Meanwhile, in the backstage control room, Fabian’s eyes stayed glued to the live data.
The operator frowned. “Her fan-gathering speed isn’t as good as Sharon’s. The live viewership has dropped quite a bit. Sure, new viewers are joining, but the rate of departure is faster than the rate of incoming.
Fabian watched the live count fall from over a million to just over 800,000 and felt a pang of heartache.
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But there was nothing to be done. Even if they continued streaming Sharon, viewership could still drop.
The live chat scrolled furiously, comments flying faster than anyone could read.
“What’s this? Compared to Sharon, she’s nowhere near as good.
“Sure, it sounds intense, but I still prefer the calm, soothing feeling Sharon brings.”
“Ugh, I can’t stand that pitiful, delicate look-leaving!”
“Don’t go! Kelly is excellent too. Give her a chance, get to know her.”
In the audience seats up front, Reina and the others exchanged uneasy glances after watching Kelly’s performance.
Reina couldn’t help asking, “This… is Kelly’s skill?”
Johnny’s face was one of disbelief. “This is just…”
Halfway through, David nudged him and gave him a meaningful look. Johnny paused, realization dawning.
He adjusted his tone. “I can see she has a solid foundation, certainly some ability…”
Yet he couldn’t suppress the doubt gnawing at him. “Teacher, is she not feeling well today? Not performing at her true level?”
David and Reina glanced at Warner, sharing the same puzzlement.
It wasn’t that Kelly lacked talent-far from it. She was strong, but compared to Warner’s other prodigious apprentices, she
seemed painfully ordinary.
And then there was Sharon’s performance-so dazzling, so flawless, a shining benchmark. Kelly’s showing paled in comparison.
They already knew from Niel that, some time ago, Warner had refused Sharon’s request to become his student and instead
selected Kelly as his final student. Naturally, they had assumed Kelly must be more impressive.
People always want the best; who willingly chooses what someone else has rejected?
Sharon’s brilliance had set their expectations for Kelly impossibly high. Under normal circumstances, they might have appreciated Kelly’s skill-adequate for a student of the great Maestro Warner-but now, against Sharon, she seemed lacking.
Years had passed without a true standout in their circle. Kelly’s other merits justified Warner’s decision-perhaps-but it was one thing to judge her in isolation, another entirely to compare her against a prodigy.
The audience, full of anticipation, was met with disappointment.
Reina and the others weren’t merely slightly disappointed; they were utterly let down.
No one wanted to accept that Warner had passed over a genius like Sharon in favor of a mediocre talent like Kelly. They searched
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for some other explanation.
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Warner, caught between the astonished, expectant eyes of his apprentices, fell silent. He disliked discussing personal judgments and genuinely didn’t know how to explain this decision.
On stage, the host began interviewing Kelly.
“Kelly, you’re certainly facing a formidable opponent today… but your performance wasn’t bad either. May I ask if you are satisfied with your showing?”
Kelly let out a quiet sigh. “Not really… I didn’t perform at my best.”
The host’s eyes widened in surprise. “This isn’t even your best?”
Kelly nodded gently, a trace of melancholy crossing her brows. “Yes.”
The host leaned forward, intrigued. “Could you tell us what affected your performance?”
A faint, bitter smile touched Kelly’s lips. “Those around me know… over the past year, I’ve suffered a serious illness and have been undergoing continuous treatment.”
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“The medication I take affects my nervous system, making it difficult for me to perform at my best. To be honest, it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to play a piece that truly satisfies me.”
Hearing Kelly speak of her illness, the host’s eyes softened with sympathy and concern.
“May I… ask what kind of illness it is?”
Kelly smiled faintly. “I won’t say exactly. Everyone is here to enjoy the performance, and I don’t want to dampen anyone’s mood. But rest assured, my condition is currently under control. Participating in the competition won’t be a problem.”
The host instinctively glanced at her hands and suddenly noticed something alarming.
Kelly’s wrist bore clear signs of bandaging.
“Kelly… your hand… is it injured?!” the host exclaimed, his voice sharp with surprise.
The cameras immediately zoomed in on her wrist. Kelly’s long-sleeved shirt had hidden the injury from view, but at such close
range, the bandage was unmistakable. The lens magnified it further, making it painfully obvious.
Kelly instinctively tugged her sleeve down, but she didn’t adopt a pitiful pose as she sometimes might. Instead, she offered a
poised, graceful smile.
“It’s just a minor injury; it won’t have a major impact on my performance.”
“Not a major impact,” the host repeated, his expression filled with concern. “But that implies it still affects you, doesn’t it? How
did it happen?”
“I injured it accidentally. It’s nothing serious,” Kelly replied calmly.
The revelation sent the audience into an uproar.
“Good heavens! She’s this talented and she’s not even at her peak?”
“If she were at her absolute best, could she have matched Sharon?”
“Don’t forget, her hand is injured. If it weren’t, she might even have beaten Sharon.”
“If she could beat Sharon at full strength, Kelly would be terrifying!”
“Don’t you know? She’s Warner’s final student. If she weren’t strong, why would he choose her?”
“I heard Sharon tried to apprentice under Warner too, but he refused her.”
“Yes! Sharon even went to him three times, trying every possible way to meet him, hoping for a chance. And yet, Warner still
chose Kelly.”
“By that logic, Sharon kind of won unfairly, didn’t she?”
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The audience buzzed with discussion, many feeling deep sympathy for Kelly.
Reina and the others were stunned by this revelation.
“So… Kelly is sick?” Reina asked.
“Teacher, what illness does she have? Is it serious?” Johnny chimed in.
Warner let out a quiet sigh. “Yes, it’s reportedly terminal. Quite severe. The reason I accepted her as my apprentice was because,
despite her illness, she could still demonstrate this level of skill. She truly has remarkable talent. Even with limited time, she has
never abandoned her love for music. I haven’t seen such genuine devotion in a long while.”
Niel’s expression softened, touched. “I had no idea… she never mentioned this.”
At that moment, David asked, “Master, given her condition, how do you think the judging panel will score her?”
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Maestro Warner said, “Competitions are ruthless. No matter what happens, it cannot influence the judges’ scoring. Otherwise, it
would be unfair to the other contestants.”
Having served as a judge in numerous major competitions, Warner had seen countless unexpected incidents. Even if a contestant
collapsed mid-performance and had to be rushed to the hospital, they would not be given a chance to perform again. Otherwise, if everyone started collapsing and replaying their performances, the whole competition would descend into chaos.
Reina nodded. “True talent will always shine. Kelly has the skill-this one performance doesn’t define her. I checked the schedule;
the second-round cycle comes last. She still has a chance to compete against Sharon and even fight for the championship.”
Knowing that Kelly hadn’t shown her full potential, the tension in the room eased slightly.
Online, viewers who had been about to leave the livestream paused, their attention caught by what had just unfolded.
[Oh my God! Kelly is not only ill but also injured! If she were at full strength, I can’t even imagine how terrifying her skill would
be.]
(All these adversities, and she faces them with a smile, not a single tear. She’s so strong!]
[Yes! I hate watching shows where contestants just cry and play the victim. People tune in to enjoy themselves, not to watch sob
stories. Look at Kelly, so positive and inspiring.]
[Kelly is so motivating! I’m voting for her!]
[Sharon got lucky. An effortless win.]
[Wait a minute! Don’t twist it. Sharon won on skill, not luck. Why are you imagining Kelly could’ve beaten her if she performed at
full strength? Give me a break.]
[Luck is part of skill. If Kelly were really that strong, she wouldn’t have told anyone about her illness. Isn’t that just subtly playing
the victim?]
For a while, the comments section erupted with every opinion imaginable. Fans of Sharon and Kelly clashed, each claiming their idol as the strongest. Some even dug up dirt on the opposing side, turning the livestream into a frenzy.
Fabian was watching the comments when the livestream coordinator suddenly inhaled sharply.
“Fabian, the livestream just surged with viewers-more than during Sharon’s performance! Kelly has broken Sharon’s record!”
Fabian hurried to check. In just a short time, the livestream had hit 1.5 million viewers.
Perhaps the sudden influx had overloaded the servers, because the stream started lagging.
Fabian immediately turned to the tech team. “Brendan, didn’t I tell you to stabilize the servers? How is there still lag?”
Brendan Mark was drenched in sweat and bewildered. He shook his head. “Normally, even with tens of millions watching, the
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livestream would hold. This is only 1.5 million viewers… something’s off.”
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Another technician hesitated before speaking. “I’ve seen this happen before. If too many people enter at once, it can cause
congestion: Brendan and I reinforced the system to prevent this.”
Fabian’s brow furrowed. “And?”
The technician swallowed, unsure if he should continue. “I checked the backend data. Over 500,000 people entered within the
same second. That’s what caused the lag.”
Fabian raised an eyebrow, realization dawning. Half a million people in a single second. No wonder the servers were giving out.
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Half a million viewers had entered their live stream in a single second. It was an unusual statistic.
Fabian frowned. “Are those accounts fake?”
The technician shook his head. “No, they’re all verified accounts. But the timing is suspicious. There’s a chance the numbers are
being artificially boosted.”
Fabian’s brow furrowed further. He despised inflated metrics-it was completely unfair to the other contestants.
“Do we have proof?” he asked. If there were concrete evidence, he couldn’t disqualify Kelly from the competition, but he could
limit-or even block-the livestream’s exposure for her.
The technician hesitated. “Not yet. We need to observe it a few more times.”
Fabian nodded. “Keep monitoring, then.”
At the front of the hall, the host concluded Kelly’s interview. It was now time for the judges’ scores.
Both Sharon and Kelly were called back to the stage.
“May we have our judges present their scores for the two contestants,” the host announced.
The judges were all renowned domestic violinists with strong reputations. While not as internationally famous as Reina and the others, for national competitions, foreign judges were never invited to score. Visiting international musicians could offer opinions as special guests, but the final verdict rested with the domestic panel.
The judges conferred briefly before recording their scores. Out of ten judges, nine awarded Sharon a perfect ten, while only one
gave her a nine. Her total score reached ninety-nine points.
Kelly, however, could only garner eights and nines, with the highest individual score being nine. Her total came to eighty-eight
points.
Wendy exhaled in relief. “Good, good. I was worried the judges might fall for Kelly’s act.”
John, himself a former judge, remained calm. “Judges must remain objective and impartial. Emotions cannot influence scoring.
Especially in a competition that has previously been marred by scandal, every detail must be handled with caution. Millions of viewers across the country are watching.”
Kelly’s suffering drew sympathy from many, but others suspected it was exaggerated. And when it came to international competitions, no one would accommodate your illness just to fulfill your personal wishes. The competition was fierce.
Wendy remarked, “It seems her act only works on Carter and Nate. The discerning public sees through it. In the end, the audience’s eyes are sharp.”
John added, “Her self-fashioned image may attract significant attention-possibly even more than the champion.”
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Casey raised an eyebrow. “Really? Shouldn’t the champion attract the most attention?”
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Wendy shook her head. “You don’t understand. Social media fandoms are incredibly influential now. I once saw a contestant who won first place, yet no one cared. The reporters went to interview the runner-up instead, because the runner-up managed their social media exceptionally well and had amassed a loyal fanbase. That runner-up had the skills to compete for the championship, but anything can happen in a competition-they still ended up second.”
John continued, “There was another incident where a domestic champion was publicly insulted simply because the audience
preferred another contestant who failed to place. It brought so much embarrassment to our country that even foreigners heard
about it.”
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Casey frowned. “The domestic scene really does need a change in attitude.”
Soon after, the results of the match between Sharon and Kelly were announced.
Sharon scored a perfect ten points.
Kelly… zero.
Even though the host and judges praised Kelly for losing honorably, she couldn’t shake the sting of humiliation. She had lost to Sharon again.
At least she had prepared herself before stepping on stage, preserving a shred of dignity. Kelly forced herself to smile gracefully and said to Sharon, “Sharon, congratulations on winning the first round.”
Sharon returned the courtesy with a polite smile. “Thank you for your kind words, Kelly. I look forward to our next encounter. I hope your health recovers quickly and your hand heals soon, so that in the next match, you can try to win it back.”
Sharon had scored ninety-nine points. To surpass her would have required perfection. Even John, dazzling as he was, had only managed ninety-five at his peak. Kelly hadn’t even matched that. Winning against Sharon wasn’t nearly so simple.
After exchanging polite, almost perfunctory smiles, the two descended from the stage.
Other contestants took their turns, but by the end of the day, no one came close to surpassing Sharon. Kelly’s score was the second highest after Sharon. Yet, because of the scoring system, losing to Sharon still meant zero points.
It was only the first day of the preliminary round. Other contestants still had opportunities to chase points in subsequent rounds. Even if they couldn’t catch up in the first round, the second round remained.
When all the matches concluded, the host announced the results of the online popularity vote.
“Judges, take a guess: who is today’s most popular contestant?”
Some guessed Sharon, others Kelly, and a few suggested other contestants. Of the ten judges, five voted for Sharon, three for Kelly, and two selected other contestants-both different.
The host smiled, knowing the audience’s curiosity was piqued. “Today’s most popular contestant is… Kelly Walt! By the end of the competition, she amassed 1.5 million popularity votes! Sharon, on the other hand, received 1.4 million votes!”
The third-place contestant wasn’t announced. The gap was so wide that revealing it would embarrass the
next in line.
Kelly blinked in disbelief. What?! Sharon was only ten thousand votes behind her? Even with Thomas helping boost her votes, she had only narrowly beaten Sharon?
Immediately after the competition, Kelly called Thomas.
“Thomas, didn’t you help me with the votes? Why did I barely beat Sharon?”
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Thomas’s voice was lazy, almost teasing. “Sharon was today’s champion, undisputed first. Her talent, looks, and skill all surpass yours. You thought pity alone could help you beat her? How many votes were you expecting? Three million? Five million? Or… ten million? People aren’t idiots. Do you really think that’s possible?
“Besides, winning by one hundred thousand votes is still a win. Just like your match score-second place, yet still zero points.”
Thomas’s words hit Kelly like a knife. She clenched her teeth in fury, yet found herself speechless. After all, she had technically beaten Sharon in terms of online popularity ratings.
Not daring to offend him, she could only hang up in frustration.
On the first day of the competition, Sharon had already defeated the infuriating Kelly, which delighted Wendy immensely.
She waved her hand with a grin. “Let’s celebrate! I’m buying today!”
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Matty cheered enthusiastically. “Yay! Let’s celebrate Sharon getting first place!”
Sharon hadn’t seen Matty for a long time. She said, “The next competition won’t start for another three days. I don’t have much to do in the meantime. Would you like to stay at my place for a few days?”
Matty’s eyes lit up immediately; he was about to agree eagerly. But then a hint of hesitation crossed his face.
“Sharon, you have a concert to prepare for and competitions to attend… if I stay with you, won’t it affect your practice?”
Sharon shook her head with a smile. “Not at all.”
Wendy chimed in from the side, “A balance of work and rest-nothing wrong with that.”
John nodded. “Sharon has been working intensely lately. She really could use a couple of days off.”
Sharon herself had the same thought. She wanted to take advantage of the free time to spend two days hanging out with Matty. Soon, finding another stretch of free time would be much harder.
Looking down at Matty, Sharon said, “Matty, how about I take you to the amusement park tomorrow?”
Matty’s voice rang out clear and bright, his eyes sparkling. “Yes!”
The group headed to the restaurant together. Once seated, Wendy glanced around and suddenly asked, ” Sharon, did you see Thomas today? Why isn’t he here?”
Sharon replied, “He has something to do today and asked for a day off.”
Wendy tilted her head. “It’s pretty late now. He should be done by now. I’ll give him a call.”
She pulled out her phone and dialed Thomas. The call was brief, and she returned with a smile. “He says he’s done and will be here soon.”
Xavier, sitting to Sharon’s right, suddenly asked, “Sharon, has Thomas still not remembered anything?”
Sharon shook her head. “Wendy and I have taken him to several hospitals for check-ups. The results were always the same.”
Xavier looked at her seriously. “Sharon… if he never remembers, are you planning to let him stay here forever?”
Sharon was a little surprised. “I’ve never thought about that.” She believed that Thomas would remember eventually it was only a matter of time.
“My people have been investigating his identity,” Xavier said, his eyes dark and intense, “but they’ve found nothing. Sharon… I suspect he isn’t an ordinary person.”
Even if he wasn’t from their country, it was strange that after such extensive searching, nothing had been
uncovered.
Sharon’s expression shifted slightly. Her own past had been erased; even Carter and Xavier couldn’t trace it. Could it be… Thomas was in the same situation? If so…. the power backing him would be no weaker than the
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Kalen family’s.
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Wendy suddenly remembered something. “By the way, Sharon, have you resolved the issue with your academic credentials? What did the Kalen family say about correcting your identity? I’m a bit worried- later in the competition, Kelly might resort to underhanded tactics. She could even attack
record.”
Hearing this, Sharon’s expression darkened unusually.
your
academic
“I’ve already spoken with my father,” she said. The last time she went to the Kalen family with Carter, she had had a private conversation with Richard.
Her face grew grim. “They threatened me with my credentials, demanding I return to the Kalen family. Otherwise, they wouldn’t help prove my identity.”
Wendy could hardly believe it. “Are you serious? They actually threatened you with that? Are they even your family? And when you were in the Kalen family, they treated you badly and even drove you out. Now that you’ve left, why do they insist you go back?”
Hearing the conversation, a flicker of something unreadable passed through John’s eyes. He hesitated before speaking. “Sharon…”
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Chapter 691
Sharon looked at John. “John, what’s wrong?”
John asked, “If you don’t return to the Kalen family, everything about the Kalen family will likely have nothing to do with you. Are you… okay with that?”
Sharon was a little surprised by his words. John was an idealist. He didn’t care much about money; otherwise, he wouldn’t have turned down his father back then.
She answered honestly, “If it’s not mine, I don’t bother thinking about it.”
John pressed on, “But what if something that should belong to you exists?”
Sharon paused to consider. “If it’s not mine, I don’t want it. But if it is mine… I won’t allow anyone to take it from me.”
John calculated the timing in his mind. By the end of the year, Shayla’s original shares would mature. At that point, the lawyer and the company’s veterans would inevitably reach out to Sharon.
On one side was the career she loved most; on the other, the shares left behind by Shayla. She hadn’t had to make that choice yet-but soon, she would.
Aside from John, no one knew that Shayla had left shares behind-not even Sharon herself. The Kalen family probably didn’t know either. If they had known, they would never have driven Sharon away. But when the shares matured, the Kalen family would inevitably discover the matter.
With the four Kalen men’s scheming nature, they would surely pressure Sharon to transfer the shares.
Although Sharon appeared to be in the spotlight now, facing those four cunning men would still be
exhausting.
After the concert, John planned to return to the Westin residence as quickly as possible, ready to help Sharon claim the shares if necessary.
For now… she needed to focus on her competition without distractions,
Before long, Thomas arrived.
The
group ordered food and enjoyed a lively meal together.
Afterward, Sharon remembered that she had left something in the studio. She asked Wendy to take Matty back to her place for a while, so she could retrieve her items and stop by the market to pick up ingredients for the big dinner she was making for them that evening.
Wendy’s eyes sparkled at the mention of Sharon cooking. Since the divorce, she had often come over for meals. Upon hearing this, she high-fived Matty excitedly and began suggesting dishes.
Sharon quickly noted down what Wendy and Matty wanted, then prepared to return to the studio and then to buy the ingredients.
Xavier wanted to accompany her, but he had urgent work at the company and had to return to handle it. He needed to finish these tasks quickly to free up time to spend with Matty-or rather, to spend more time
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with Sharon.
Thomas drove Sharon and Casey back to the studio. Casey planned to practice the piano, while Sharon intended to rest for a few days. As an employee, she couldn’t relax like her bosses.
She knew that, unlike Wendy or John, just because she was friendly with Sharon didn’t mean she could be lax. Moreover, she genuinely wanted to improve her skills. She had wasted too much time because of
Damien.
Seeing Sharon’s dedication and talent, she couldn’t afford to let Sharon down.
When they got out of the car, Sharon said to Thomas, “Wait here for me. I’ll be down shortly.”
Thomas nodded.
As Sharon and Casey chatted, they walked toward the studio.
Just as they reached the door, Sharon’s steps faltered.
Casey noticed her hesitation. “Sharon, what’s wrong?”
Following Sharon’s gaze, Casey’s expression shifted slightly when she saw a familiar figure.
It was Damien.
She hadn’t seen him in a long time. Since their breakup, she hadn’t paid much attention to any news about
him.
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Chapter 692
However, Casey and Damien had been together for so long that they shared many mutual friends. Through them, she had learned quite a bit about Damien and his first love.
They said Damien cared most about her, and he hadn’t shown the slightest favor toward that other woman.
They urged her to come back.
After all the hardest times, she had stayed by his side, cared for him, and supported him. Now that the chance for happiness was within reach, why should she give it to someone else?
Her friends weren’t wrong.
But Casey refused to go back.
It wasn’t because she was prideful or incapable of living a comfortable life. If Damien hadn’t been involved in an accident, with her family background, the Malcolm family would never have accepted her anyway.
She had considered ignoring Damien’s past and focusing solely on her own wealth. But… she couldn’t.
She felt disgusted—utterly and completely repulsed.
How could she be with someone who made her feel nauseated at even a glance, even for money?
After being around Sharon for some time, Casey had gained a certain understanding of Sharon’s background. She could understand why Sharon’s mother, Shayla, had left the Kalen family.
Shayla hadn’t left out of weakness or because of a romantic folly; she had left because of disgust. The very thought of it was physically nauseating. Anyone who could endure it would stay, but she had to escape, even leaving her children behind.
Casey thought of how Damien had kissed her, and kissed other women as well. The idea of enduring a lifetime with him made her shiver with revulsion. Life felt meaningless.
“Casey, babe.” Damien saw her and immediately stepped toward her. “Let’s talk.”
Casey instinctively stepped back, her face full of caution.
“I don’t see anything to talk about between us.
Damien froze, shocked by her wary expression.
“Casey, babe… what is that look? Do you think I would ever hurt you?”
Suddenly, he seemed to remember something. He turned to Sharon, and his eyes went ice-cold.
“It’s you, isn’t it? You said something to Casey, didn’t you?”
Sharon blinked, completely blindsided.
Besides Uriah, did the Malcolm family have anyone who wasn’t a troublemaker?
Casey’s face flushed with anger. “Damien, what nonsense are you spouting? Our relationship has nothing to
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do with Sharon!”
Damien sneered. “She charmed Grandpa so thoroughly, practically trying to put all the Malcolm family’s shares into her hands. And then she went and tried to drive a wedge between us. Without her… would you have broken up with me?”
Casey laughed incredulously. “We broke up because your ex came back! Don’t blame an innocent person for your problems… Damien, are you even a man?”
Damien’s expression darkened. “Casey, babe, before you met Sharon, you never spoke harshly to me. And now, after being friends with someone like her…”
He cast a mocking glance at Sharon. “…even your words have become harsh.”
Damien’s constant shifting of blame made Casey flush with embarrassment. It was humiliating. Sharon had offered her work and treated her as a friend, and yet Damien only spoke ill of her.
Luckily, Sharon believed Casey and didn’t overthink things. Anyone else might assume she’d whispered secrets to Damien behind their backs.
Casey chided, “Damien, I’ll say it again. Our relationship has nothing to do with Sharon.”
Then a faint, mocking smile touched her lips as she seemed to recall something.
“You want to know why we broke up, don’t you? Fine. I’ll tell you right now.”
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Chapter 693
As she spoke, Casey pulled out her phone and opened a chat window. On the screen, a photo came into view.
A man and a woman were pressed close together. The man appeared to have dozed off, while the woman’s lips were pressed against his face.
A mocking smile flickered across Casey’s eyes.
“Damien, do you understand now?”
Damien froze for a moment, then instinctively started to defend himself. “It’s not true… She… Adriana took that while I was drunk. You know I can’t hold my liquor, and there were so many friends around… They can
all vouch for me…”
Casey cut him off coldly. “If you weren’t with Adriana, how could she have gotten such a photo?”
Damien’s eyes darted nervously. “She works at that club. We just… ran into each other by chance—”
Casey’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “By chance? Every single day by chance?”
Ever since Adriana returned, Casey had been inundated with harassing messages. Adriana begged her to control her boyfriend, claiming she’d already paid for past mistakes and asking not to be further punished.
At first, naive as she was, Casey felt genuine sympathy. She even pleaded on Adriana’s behalf, and when Adriana once again messaged her-claiming Damien and a group of friends had come to trouble her-Casey personally went to the scene.
She saw Adriana being harassed by a spoiled brat. Damien watched coldly.
But Casey noticed something: the moment the brat grabbed Adriana’s hand, Damien’s eyes turned deadly. Shortly after, he smashed his glass and punched the man.
Casey had been with Damien for years and had never seen him lose control like that. Since taking over the company, he had grown mature and composed. He had learned to conceal his emotions. Fighting… was something only immature boys did.
It was at that moment Casey realized that all of Adriana’s pleas had been another form of provocation- designed to show that Damien would lose control for her, and only for her.
Damien suddenly stepped forward and took Casey’s hand, breaking her train of thought.
“Casey, babe, you know the truth. Back then, she abandoned me when I needed her most. She ignored my pleas and walked away without a glance. I feel nothing for her now-only hatred.”
Casey snapped back to herself and impatiently shook off his hand. Even looking at him made her physically
nauseated.
“Sharon, let’s go,” she said.
Sharon, standing nearby, finally seemed to understand what had happened and nodded slightly.
Just as they were about to leave, Damien blocked Casey, his voice unusually gentle.
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“Casey, babe, I haven’t agreed to this breakup.”
Casey, repulsed, stepped back several paces, keeping her distance.
“A breakup doesn’t require the other person’s consent.”
Her expression of disgust cut into Damien’s eyes like a blade. Yet the smile on his lips deepened, a predator’s calm.
He leaned down, looking at her from above.
“Casey, babe, you need to understand. I only indulge you, so you have the right to throw a fit. But if you insist on breaking up…”
He paused, his smile turning cruel.
“I could very well keep you as my lover. You know I never joke… and I… can make it happen. Don’t you remember your homeless days?”
Casey’s pupils constricted. Her face went pale. She would never forget that time in her life, how utterly desperate she had been.
When she had attempted to leave Damien, he had tried to stop her multiple times. Seeing her unyielding, he lost patience entirely.
“Casey, I will make you beg to come back to me.”
He froze her bank accounts, leaving her unable to rent a place or find work. She would rather sleep on the streets than return to him. Then he even sent someone to steal all the money she had left. She couldn’t even afford food.
Old friends avoided her. None dared to help.
He had been forcing her back. She had tried to rationalize it, telling herself to be with him just for money, but she couldn’t swallow that.
She had cared for him when he was blind. And yet, once they fell out, he left her no way to survive, as though she had been an enemy rather than a devoted girlfriend.
How had she survived those days?
She scavenged leftovers at KFC, slept at train stations at night. Eventually, a good friend of Damien’s couldn’t bear it and secretly gave her some money, allowing her to finally leave the city.
After leaving, her luck seemed to change. She met Sharon on the very first day, found a job, picked up the piano again, and met a group of good friends. She treasured this new life and never wanted to return to that nightmare.c
Casey took a deep breath to calm herself.
“Fine. If you’ve got the guts, come on then.”
As she turned to leave, Damien’s voice rang out again.
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“Casey, babe, you can’t leave until I say so.
Before she could react, two bodyguards stepped out from behind him. They moved to restrain her.
Sharon rushed forward to help.
But then a hand gripped her wrist.
Before she could react, she was slammed violently to the ground, scraping her arm and leaving a streak of blood.
Damien’s voice loomed over her.
“Out of respect for my grandfather, I’ll give you one chance. Meddle again, and don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
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Chapter 694
The moment Sharon hit the ground, she instinctively shielded her hands, and as a result, only her arm was injured.
Seeing this, Casey’s face drained of color as she rushed over.
“Sharon, your hands… are you okay?”
For a violinist, hands are more important than life itself. Casey knew this better than anyone. Sharon was not only competing in a contest but also preparing for a concert. If her hands were injured and it affected her performance… Casey would never forgive herself.
Damien was unforgivable.
With Casey’s support, Sharon slowly stood up.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
Casey’s eyes reddened as she examined Sharon’s arm.
Sharon’s hands were beautiful-pale and delicate. The backs of her hands had a few scrapes, and the blood streaks along her forearm were alarming.
Damien watched Casey’s expression, full of concern, and was suddenly reminded of how she used to look at him. But now, the look Casey gave him held only icy indifference.
A surge of anger flared in Damien’s chest. He seized Casey’s hand forcefully.
“Come with me,” he said coldly. “If you do, I’ll let her go. But if you persist in defying me, Casey… you wouldn’t want to see what I can do.”
Casey’s eyelashes trembled. She knew all too well the lengths Damien could go.
Her lips quivered, but she forced herself to speak.
“Sharon, I’m leaving first. Go get your wounds treated at the hospital. I’ll come see you another day…”
Damien was a shameless villain. She couldn’t let Sharon be dragged into this.
But Sharon suddenly held her hand.
“Casey, don’t worry. He can’t touch me, and he has no ability to.”
Her gaze was cold.
“Damien, you really are full of yourself. Do you think the Malcolm family reigns here in Amstern City?”
Damien sneered down at her.
“Carter has already divorced you. Do you think he would risk tangling with the Malcolm family over an ex- wife? If you were truly that important, how could you have become an ex at all?”
He was deliberately rubbing salt into her wounds.
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Casey’s expression darkened, and she opened her mouth to speak, but Sharon stopped her.
“You think that without Carter, I can be bullied at will?”
Sharon let out a faint laugh and pulled out her phone.
“It’s been a while since I visited your grandpa. I’m free lately, perhaps I should pay him a visit.”
Damien’s eyes turned icy.
“Grab her phone!” he barked.
He had forgotten-Sharon could still report him to Uriah. And with Uriah’s fondness for her, he might very well side with Sharon.
The two bodyguards reacted instantly. One of them slammed a hand onto Sharon’s hand.
Smack!
The phone flew from her grasp and slid across the floor to Damien’s feet.
He stomped down on it.
Crack!
The screen shattered into a web of spider-like fractures.
Casey trembled with rage.
“Damien! Are you out of your mind?!”
Damien glanced at her, a cruel smile playing at his lips.
“Casey, babe, I already gave you a chance. You refused it. You’ve been so disobedient… how should I punish you?”
For some reason, his gaze landed on Casey’s hand.
“I told you before, no one else is qualified to be my wife. You abandoned our years of relationship for some so-called career… Is playing the piano really worth that?”
After Damien recovered his sight, Casey had repeatedly expressed her desire to work elsewhere, but Damien had opposed it every time.
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Damien said, “Casey, I’ve grown used to seeing you every day after work. If you need money, just tell me. Whatever you want, I can buy it for you. Tomorrow, I’ll have my assistant raise the limit on your credit card by another hundred thousand. Stop going out to work. Let me take care of you, alright?”
At that moment, although Casey was swayed by his sweet words, she still clung to a rare thread of clarity.
“I don’t work for money. I… I truly love playing the piano.”
Damien grabbed her in a tight embrace.
“Casey, babe, can the piano really be more important than me?”
Of course, the piano wasn’t more important than Damien.
In the end, Casey gave in.
Now, facing Damien’s intense, calculating gaze, she felt her hands and feet grow ice-cold.
Could he really be insane enough to destroy her hands?
Damien seemed to sense her thoughts. Meeting her horrified gaze, a slow, triumphant smile curled on his lips, as if he controlled everything.
“Casey, you are mine. No matter what happens, I would never hurt you.”
Casey wanted to say: Haven’t you already hurt me enough? Is harm only measured in physical pain?
But she held her tongue. This was not the moment to provoke him.
Damien cast a glance at Sharon and then looked to the bodyguards beside him.
“Break her hands.”
The words were cold and merciless, sending a chill down Casey’s spine.
“No!” Casey stepped in front of Sharon, her voice fierce. “Damien, you cannot do this! Our relationship has nothing to do with Sharon. You cannot drag an innocent into this!”
Damien’s lips curved into a leisurely smile, as though he enjoyed watching her despair.
“But I don’t think she’s innocent. If she hadn’t taken you in, you wouldn’t have had the confidence to defy me for so long. We would have reconciled ages ago.”
Casey knew this wasn’t the time to mention his ex-girlfriend. She tried another approach.
“You know the relationship between Sharon and Uriah. If you harm her, he will never forgive you.”
Damien didn’t flinch.
“Uriah is my grandfather. He can tell right from wrong.”
He had to act before Uriah learned of this. Otherwise, Sharon might get a chance to intervene. Even if Uriah found out afterward, so what? He didn’t care. Uriah had long retired from power, and even if he still held authority, would he really kick him out of the family for the sake of an outsider?
Today, Casey had to learn a lesson she would never forget. Otherwise, she would always rely on others for support, always think about leaving him.
As for Sharon… she wasn’t even on his radar. Cole and Lex had restrained themselves only because of their own caution and
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heavy responsibilities. He had no such fear of Sharon.
He looked to the bodyguards.
“What are you two waiting for? Do it!”
The bodyguards didn’t dare hesitate and approached Sharon.
Panic finally flared across Casey’s face.
“Damien, don’t touch Sharon! I’ll go with you!”
Damien’s expression remained cold.
“It’s too late.”
Casey pressed herself in front of Sharon, stepping backward inch by inch.
“Damien,” she pleaded, tears brimming in her eyes. “Sharon has helped me so much… I’m begging you, please don’t hurt her, okay?”
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Tears streamed down Casey’s face in heavy, hot drops.
A profound sense of helplessness gripped her. She was too weak to save Sharon.
“Damien… for all the time I’ve stayed by your side, cared for you… please, for my sake, don’t hurt Sharon, alright? I’m begging you… I’ll go with you right now. I won’t ever bring up the breakup again.”
Damien’s gaze darkened, sharp as a blade.
“You’re begging me… for an insignificant woman like her?”
He knew Casey better than anyone-how proud she was. Even in the depths of her most desperate moments, she had never spoken a soft word to him.
She had known perfectly well that just one pleading sentence would make him relent. Yet she had chosen to endure the streets, not send him a single message, even going so far as to block him.
And now… she was pleading for an insignificant nobody?
Damien’s fury and disbelief churned inside him.
Though Casey had once acted similarly for him when he was blind, he was himself-and no one else could be compared to him. Anyone who could even be considered his equal… could not remain.
His eyes grew colder, more menacing.
He looked at Casey, his smile soft.
“Casey, babe… don’t you understand? The more you care for someone, the more you beg for them, the more I want to destroy
them.’
11
By now, the two bodyguards had closed in. One easily restrained Casey. She struggled violently, but she was no match for these professionally trained men.
“Damien! You ungrateful, despicable scum! I will never forgive you!”
Damien’s expression remained indifferent, unmoved by her screams.
In his eyes, the furious words of the weak and their so-called hatred were nothing but impotent rage.
Casey was his girlfriend. He shouldn’t have taken things this far. Yet he noticed that after only a brief taste of freedom, her heart had already strayed. She refused to return to him. Pleading and charm had proven far too slow and ineffective.
Acting against Sharon would serve as the perfect lesson-a warning to the flock. He would make her understand that whoever she relied on would suffer as a result.
Wherever else could she go? Nowhere but by his side.
As for whether Sharon was innocent… that wasn’t in his considerations. She wasn’t a saint, anyway.
The other bodyguard approached Sharon. As he grabbed her hand, a light tap landed on his shoulder.
The man froze, confused.
Sharon quickly pulled a can of pepper spray from her bag and aimed it straight at his eyes. She sprayed viciously.
The burning, stinging sensation overwhelmed him. He clutched his eyes and howled in pain.
“Ah-!”
Before he could take another breath, someone’s foot struck him with full force. He flew backward, tumbling across the floor and landing at Damien’s feet.
Everyone froze.
Sharon’s eyes narrowed, scanning the shadowed corner where a figure had silently appeared. Half of his body remained shrouded in darkness, his face hidden, but his stance… it could only be-
“Thomas!”
A spark of hope lit up Casey’s eyes.
“Hurry! Get Sharon out of here! Don’t let him break her hands!”
Thomas slowly stepped out of the shadows. He was lean, and he looked fragile against the two bulky bodyguards, appearing like
no match at all.
Yet Damien’s gaze lingered on the groaning, clutching bodyguard at his feet. His expression darkened.
Even as a Malcolm family bodyguard, trained in combat from childhood, the man had been powerless against this new arrival. Damien sensed immediately that this person was not to be trifled with.
Thomas reached Sharon and asked, “Sharon, are you alright?”
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Sharon exhaled a breath of relief. “I’m fine.”
She glanced at Casey, then whispered to Thomas, “Bring Casey over here. Under no circumstances can they take her.”
A faint, careless smile tugged at the corner of Thomas’s lips. “Got it.”
He began walking toward Casey with slow, deliberate steps.
Damien’s expression darkened. He turned to the other bodyguard.
“Protect her. Don’t let that guy take her.”
Thomas raised an eyebrow.
“Protect? Damien… you should ask Casey if she even wants that kind of protection.”
Damien’s voice was cold. “Alright. We’ll let Casey decide for herself.”
He looked at Casey directly. “Casey, babe, will you come with me… or choose them?”
Though he said nothing more, the threat in his tone was unmistakable.
A flicker of struggle and hesitation crossed Casey’s eyes. She wasn’t reluctant because of Damien; she worried only about the trouble her choice might bring to Sharon.
Then Sharon’s voice cut through, “Casey, don’t worry about me. He can’t touch me. Coming to my studio, openly attacking us and attempting to take you away by force… all these won’t go unpunished.”
She paused for a moment, then added to Casey, “Don’t give in to him. Give in once, and you’ll give in countless times. Casey… think carefully. Is this the kind of life you want to live?”
Tears welled in Casey’s eyes. “But…”
Sharon, knowing what she was thinking, softened her tone. “This is Amstern City. He can’t just do whatever he wants here.”
Thomas suddenly spoke.
“Sharon, the reason he’s so brazen is that he thinks we’re easy to bully. If we don’t teach him a lesson, he’ll only do something worse next time. Today, he comes here to hurt you and kidnap Casey… tomorrow, he could come to kill.”
Sharon nodded, acknowledging the truth in his words. “Then, what kind of lesson do you think he deserves?”
Thomas considered for a moment.
“The only way to teach him a lesson… is to treat him as he treats others. Sharon, if your hands had been destroyed today, your future would have been destroyed along with them. No amount of money or compensation could ever replace that, right?”
Sharon agreed wholeheartedly. “You’re right.”
She turned to Casey. “Casey… what do you think?”
Damien was worse than Carter, utterly irredeemable. But he was Casey’s ex-boyfriend-they had been together for years. She needed to know Casey’s thoughts. (1
A spark of hatred flared in Casey’s eyes.
If last time she had merely felt disgust, now, seeing him try to destroy Sharon’s hands, her loathing for Damien was complete.
She spoke firmly. “Sharon… I agree with Thomas.”
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Her eyes locked onto Damien’s hands, gleaming with cold intent. “We’ll give him exactly what he gave us,” she said.
He could dismiss Sharon and Thomas, but Casey’s words made Damien’s face harden. “Casey… you dare?!”
The words were barely out of his mouth when a sharp glint cut through the air.
Before Damien could flinch, a burning pain seared through his palm. He looked down to find a throwing knife buried deep in his hand, the point having gone clean through. Blood welled up and began to streak down his wrist.
A grin spread across Thomas’s face.
“See, Sharon? All those hours of target practice really paid off.”
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Ever since their outing to the sports club, Thomas had become obsessed with throwing darts.
After returning home, he even bought a full set of dart equipment for practice. In his spare time, he would often train, and his natural talent showed immediately. After just a day of practice, his throws were almost uncannily precise.
Wendy, who enjoyed baseball, invited Thomas to join her, and he quickly proved to be skilled at that as well. It seemed that no matter the sport, he could pick it up with extraordinary speed. Wendy couldn’t help but praise his athletic talent.
Sharon laughed. “Well done. I’ll raise your salary tomorrow.”
Thomas’s smile was dazzling. “Thank you, Sharon.”
At that moment, he twisted the arm of the bodyguard controlling Casey, freeing her. Casey wasted no time and hurried toward
Sharon.
Thomas cast a glance at Damien, whose expression had darkened, and asked, “Sharon… are we just going to let him go?”
“Of course not,” Sharon said.
In her hands, a baseball bat had somehow appeared. It was the one Wendy had left outside yesterday after her game, not yet collected. Earlier, Wendy had asked Sharon to bring it back with her. As Sharon had been retreating, her hand had already brushed against it.
If Thomas hadn’t arrived in time, Sharon, after using the pepper spray, would have followed up with the bat to disable the bodyguard first.
A soft smile graced her face, yet her eyes were colder than ice. She had enemies trying to steal everything she owned, enemies seeking to ruin her reputation, enemies plotting to frame her-and some even wanted her dead.
She had thought that Nate and Lex were the most unscrupulous people she had ever met. Damien had shattered that assumption completely.
She had never relied on violence to solve problems. But this Damien-she could not tolerate him.
She could die, but she would not lose her hands.
Step by step, Sharon advanced, gripping the baseball bat tightly.
Thomas watched her movement and seemed to understand her intent. Thomas’s eyes-darker than the night itself-flickered with sparks of light, a subtle glow of excitement igniting within him. His blood seemed to boil with the thrill of seeing a kindred spirit.
Just as Sharon was about to reach Damien, Casey suddenly stepped in to block her.
Damien’s lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. He had anticipated this-Casey could never truly bear to leave him.
Casey took the baseball bat from Sharon’s hands and said firmly, “Sharon, let me handle this.”
Sharon glanced at her, reading the determination in her eyes and the unspoken plan behind it. After a moment, she nodded.
“Okay.”
Casey wasn’t acting for herself-she was acting for Sharon. This entire situation had arisen because of her. She would not allow Sharon to be tainted by blood.
Thomas said, “He has some fighting skills since he was trained from young. I’ll first weaken him so you two can act safely.”
Casey knew that even with a weapon, she might not be Damien’s match. “Good. Weaken him first.”
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Damien’s eyes widened in disbelief as they locked on Casey.
“Casey… you would do this to me, would you?”
Seeing the hurt in his expression, Casey scoffed.
“Don’t look at me with that ‘I’m wronged’ expression. When you were blind, I stayed by your side. I took care of you tirelessly. Do you even remember the promises you made back then?
“You said you’d treat me well for life.
“And this is your idea of treating me well-forcing me into the streets, all alone and helpless when I tried to break up with you?”
Chapter 699
Your idea of treating me well… is completely disregarding my feelings and trying to cripple my friend’s hand? You’re crazy.”
Casey didn’t waste time questioning the grand, poetic promises of love once made in the heat of passion. When love disappears, vows are nothing but empty words.
She looked at Damien coldly, her eyes stripped of every trace of feeling-only the icy disdain reserved for someone utterly
detested remained.
“Damien, I owe you nothing. You’re the one who owes me. So consider this swing today as a means to settle your debt to me.”
She turned to Thomas. “Go ahead.”
Thomas stepped toward Damien.
Damien sneered at Thomas.
“You scrawny thing think you can take me on?”
Before he could finish, a fist shot forward with blinding speed. Had Damien not trained himself before, he wouldn’t have had a
chance to react.
Instinctively, he raised his hand to block. But he’d forgotten that his palm had already been pierced by a flying knife, leaving it
useless.
Thomas, however, hadn’t aimed for his face. He gripped the knife handle tightly, a cruel, bloodthirsty smile curling his lips.
With a flick of his wrist, the blade traced a circle across Damien’s palm.
Cold sweat beaded on Damien’s forehead.
Damien had some pride; he didn’t scream. He gritted his teeth and endured the pain.
Just as he prepared to retaliate, a sudden, sharp pain shot through his calf.
Thomas had struck Damien’s most vulnerable spot-the shinbone.
Damien faltered, collapsing onto one knee.
Thomas gave him no chance to recover. A powerful kick to his face sent Damien sprawling to the ground.
ཇ ཇ་ ཇ ཇ་ ྋན་བ་ཚན་
People often say “don’t hit the face,” but Thomas made it his target. He even pressed his foot firmly against Damien’s face and said over his shoulder, “This is enough. If I knock him out completely, your revenge won’t feel half as satisfying.”
Damien’s face was pressed under the cheap sneakers on Thomas’s foot, utterly humiliating.
Having been born with a silver spoon, raised in privilege, and pampered from childhood, Damien could immediately recognize quality. The shoe trampling on his face was nothing but a few-dollar bargain.
Now, someone so lowly had used such cheap footwear to trample him. The shame was indescribable.
Casey approached Damien, her expression indifferent.
She looked down at him from above, echoing the exact gaze he had once cast upon her when she had been at her lowest, powerless before his towering presence.
Suppressing the pain coursing through his body, Damien gritted his teeth.
“Casey… after all these years together, can you really bring yourself to do this?”
Casey smiled without emotion.
1/3
“I took such great care of you when you were blind. And I didn’t expect anything in return. But you crossed the line and hurt me, again and again. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t retaliate?”
Damien wanted to argue that he had thrown her a grand proposal, set off fireworks across the city on her birthday, and ensured no one dared insult or harm her. Surely, that counted for something, didn’t it?
But before he could speak, Casey’s bat came down.
It struck his injured hand.
Pain flared like wildfire, radiating from his chest to every corner of his body. It felt a hundred times worse than the injury Thomas inflicted on his hand.
He could no longer endure it and screamed.
Casey didn’t even flinch.
“Does it hurt? Good. Pain is what you should feel before you think of causing it to others.”
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Chapter 700
Sharon’s gaze shifted from Casey to Thomas,
Damien, trapped under Thomas, was utterly powerless-completely overpowered. Thomas hadn’t even given him the slightest
opening.
It wasn’t that Damien was weak; it was that Thomas’s intelligence outmaneuvered him completely. Every move, every possibility had been calculated to perfection.
Casey hadn’t held back at all.
A crisp, bone-shattering “crack” echoed. Damien’s hand bones were pulverized under her strike.
Her expression remained calm, but her face had gone pale. This was her first time doing something like this, and her hand trembled slightly.
She knew she had to act today-not just to avenge Sharon, but to protect her. Damien could seek revenge on her all he wanted; she would not let him touch Sharon.
Sharon’s gaze moved from Thomas back to Casey’s face.
“Okay, Casey, that’s enough.”
Although Sharon felt that someone like Damien didn’t deserve to live, this was still a society governed by law. That was where
she drew the line.
She turned to Thomas. “Call an ambulance for him.”
Thomas nodded and dialed 911. He knew Damien couldn’t die-not here, not now. Injury and death were entirely different
matters.
After making the call, Sharon looked at Casey.
“Don’t practice the piano today. Go home and rest.”
After everything that had happened, Casey felt drained, as if a light breeze could knock her over. She didn’t refuse. “Okay.”
Once Sharon had retrieved the sheet music from the studio, she said to Thomas, “Let’s take Casey home first.”
Thomas drove carefully, ensuring Casey got home safely.
Before getting out, Sharon said, “If anything happens on your end, call me immediately.”
Casey gave a reluctant smile. “Okay.”
After Casey left, Thomas asked, “Sharon, should we go to the hospital first?”
Sharon shook her head. “Let’s go see Uriah first.”
Last time, her conflict with Lex had blown over because neither side suffered serious injuries. This time, Damien was severely hurt, and the matter couldn’t be hidden.
Thinking this through, Sharon borrowed a phone from Thomas and called Xavier and Wendy, giving them a brief account of what had happened.
Judging by Damien’s character, he seemed even worse than Lex. Sharon worried he might seek revenge. With Matty now at her house, she feared Damien might target him.
Xavier’s voice carried a rare weight.
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“Sharon, don’t worry. Matty will be safe. I’ll have people secretly protect you during this time. Don’t refuse, Sharon.”
Sharon, aware of how many enemies she had made recently, simply said, “Thank you.”
After hanging up, she went to see Uriah. She didn’t hide anything and recounted every detail of the incident.
Uriah was furious.
“Sharon, well done! That bastard Damien! If he dares to try anything again, don’t worry about me. Deal with him on the spot! Our family isn’t short on heirs; losing a few isn’t a problem! You did the right thing, and I promise Damien won’t trouble you again.”
Despite his support, Sharon felt a deep pang of guilt.
In truth, neither Lex nor Damien’s misdeeds had anything to do with Uriah. Lex acted for Victoria, and Damien for Casey. Yet in the end, Uriah had to bear the consequences for these two unfilial descendants.
Uriah sighed.
“The Malcolm family is a large, established dynasty. I’ve long since stepped back from its affairs and generally don’t involve myself in guiding the younger generation…”
Chapter 701
“No one holds them accountable, so they’ve become unruly… But then, the kinder children in the family are far too gentle and soft-hearted to take on any real responsibility.”
Uriah had many children, and with them came many grandchildren. It was impossible for him to keep an eye on everyone.
His eldest grandson had been raised personally under his care, inheriting not only his steady temperament but also his superb medical skills. Unfortunately, the boy had no interest in business whatsoever. He was utterly consumed by medicine, much like Uriah himself had been in his youth.
As for Lex, the youngest of his sons, Uriah had never invested much attention in him. After his wife passed away, he spent more than a decade away from the Malcolm household, keeping only the most occasional contact with his family.
Sharon said, “Uriah, as long as you don’t blame me for injuring Damien, I’ll be relieved.”
Uriah replied, “Damien is the only son in my third son’s family. His mother almost died giving birth to him, so they’ve always coddled him and treated him like he’s made of glass. I tried talking to my son about it a few times, but his wife acted like I was the enemy-as if I was just using ‘tough love’ as an excuse to take her boy away from her. I finally got too tired to deal with their drama. If parents won’t discipline their own children, eventually the
world will do it for them.”
Hearing that Damien had been injured didn’t bother him at all. He had always been disgusted by his third son’s branch of the family.
His tone softened as he said to Sharon, “Sharon, I should be thanking you for doing what I, as an elder, should have done―teaching him a lesson in how to behave. As for his hand, you needn’t worry. As long as there’s breath left in him, my children and I will see that he
recovers.
“And in the future, should anyone else dare to provoke you, don’t hold back on my account.
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Chapter 701
Do whatever you must. If anyone gives you trouble, come straight to me.”
Sharon’s heart eased. “Thank you, Uriah. With your word, I can rest easy.”
+15 BONUS
After taking her leave, she went to the hospital for a thorough check-up. She didn’t believe
her hand was seriously hurt, but better safe than sorry.
The results came quickly. The doctor glanced over the X-ray and smiled. “Sharon, there’s
no damage to the bones in your hand. Just a few scrapes on your arm. A bit of ointment will
do the trick.”
Relief washed over her at last.
While the doctor cleaned and dressed her wounds, Thomas went to pay the fees and collect
her medicine.
At that moment, the door to the examination room was pushed open. A handsome, refined young man burst in, slightly out of breath.
“Sharon! I heard you injured your hand. Are you all right?”
Seeing him, Sharon was caught off guard.
“Julliard? How did you even know? And… why are you here?”
Julliard’s eyes flickered before he answered, “I passed by your studio earlier and thought I’d stop in. Then I saw an ambulance carrying away someone covered in blood. I asked around and learned Damien had actually brought people to make trouble for you.”
His gaze dropped to her hand, filled with concern. “Sharon, are you sure you’re all right?”
“It’s just a few scratches,” Sharon reassured him. “Nothing serious, no bones were hurt.”
Even before he got there, Julliard had already figured out most of what went down.
His voice was as calm and polished as always, but you could hear a hint of anger underneath. “Damien went way too far. To just barge into your studio like you’re someone he can push around? Sharon, don’t worry. I’ll make sure he pays for this.”
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Chapter 702
Sharon stared in surprise at the anger burning in Julliard’s expression. In a low voice, she said, “Julliard, thank you, but I’ve already taught him a lesson.”
Realizing his loss of composure, Julliard quickly tried to explain. “You’re about to hold your concert, and you’re still in the middle of a competition. If anything were to happen now, it
could jeopardize your results.”
His words made Sharon’s expression tighten.
The stage was unpredictable; victory and defeat could change in an instant. She was not arrogant enough to think she could ignore an injury to her hand and still look down on all
her rivals.
་
Damien’s malice ran far too deep.
“I never thought he’d have the nerve,” she said, her voice cold. “To come right at me and
Casey out in the open like that-hurting me and even trying to drag Casey away. I was careless. I underestimated how low he would actually stoop.”
The truth was, even someone as reckless and stupid as Nate had never dared to barge in
with a bunch of thugs, attacking people and trying to kidnap them right in the open.
Julliard didn’t bring up getting payback again. Instead, he asked, “Sharon, should I arrange for a couple of bodyguards to watch over you? The Malcolms have no shame. Who knows what they’ll try next.”
Sharon smiled lightly. “Thank you, Julliard, but there’s no need. Xavier has already arranged for people to watch over me in secret.’
For a fleeting instant, Julliard’s expression froze. The stiffness passed quickly, replaced by
his usual composure. “In that case, if you run into any trouble, promise me you’ll call.”
Sharon nodded.
1/4
5
is settled, we can leave now.”
As he stepped into the room, his gaze fell on Julliard. His stride faltered, and a flicker of something unreadable crossed his eyes. With a faint smile, he said, “What a coincidence, to run into Julliard even here at the hospital.”
Sharon explained, “Julliard came to my studio to see me. He saw the ambulance and
thought something had happened, so he came here.”
“Oh, I see…” Thomas’s smile deepened, carrying an undertone difficult to miss. “Quite the coincidence indeed. But Julliard did arrive a little late, didn’t he?”
Julliard’s expression darkened. He quickly admitted, “Yes, it’s my fault. I came too late, and
Sharon was hurt because of it.”
“Don’t talk nonsense, Thomas,” Sharon interjected. “Julliard has helped me a great deal.
None of this was his fault.”
Thomas’s lips curved into a mild smile. “Just a joke. If blame must be placed, it belongs entirely to Damien.”
Calmly and unhurriedly, he proceeded to recount the entire incident from beginning to end.
The more Julliard listened, the colder his eyes became. By the time Thomas finished, even
the refined smile that usually graced his face could no longer hold. He lowered his gaze, hiding the storm in his expression.
“Sharon,” he said, “since you’re heading back, I’ll take my leave as well.’
Sharon assumed he had matters to attend to and didn’t press him to stay. “All right, go ahead if you’re busy.”
After he left, Sharon and Thomas departed as well.
Once in the car, Sharon suddenly remembered she hadn’t thanked Thomas properly for
stepping in. “Thomas, thank you. If you hadn’t shown up when you did, I might really have
2/4
Chapter 202
been hurt.”
Thomas brushed it off. “I’m your assistant, Sharon. You pay me a salary. This is simply part
of my job.”
“But how did you happen to come upstairs just then?” she asked curiously.
“I noticed several cars parked downstairs. They didn’t look right, so I came up to check,” he
replied.
Sharon didn’t take his help for granted. She looked at him earnestly. “Regardless, I still owe you thanks.”
After a moment’s thought, she took out some cash. “Consider this a bonus.”
Thomas didn’t accept it. “I hardly have any expenses. Keep the money.”
But Sharon insisted. “I promised you a bonus. I intend to keep that promise.”
Chapter 703
This time, Thomas had appeared just in time. He was practically her savior.
After a brief pause of thought, Thomas said, “To be honest, I’m half a useless man who can’t take care of himself. If you truly wish to thank me, then perhaps, when you’re free, you could treat me to a few meals. And also…”
Sharon didn’t like owing favors, so she asked, “And what else?”
Thomas smiled. “I don’t enjoy shopping for clothes, nor am I good at choosing them. You have a good eye. Could you help me pick out a few outfits?”
Because of the scrapes on her wrist, Sharon had been told to avoid water to prevent infection. That meant her evening cooking plans were ruined anyway. With no pressing tasks that afternoon, she agreed.
“All right. Do you have time now? If you’re free, we can go straight away.”
Thomas nodded. “Perfect.”
Sharon took him to a high-end boutique she had frequented in the past. She used to come
here often to buy clothes for Theo and Carter.
Thomas had saved her life, and Sharon was no longer short of money. Naturally, she brought him to the best.
The moment they entered, a sales associate greeted them warmly. “Welcome!”
When the woman saw Sharon, her smile brightened further. “Sharon! It’s been a while since we’ve seen you. Are you here again to choose clothing for your husband and son? We just received a new shipment yesterday. Would you like to take a look?”
Sharon was a valued client here. Though she always dressed simply, she spent lavishly, and almost always chose the best pieces. From her purchases, the staff had long assumed she
was a married woman with a son.
+
1/4
་་་་་ ་5
+15 BONUS
Privately, the saleswomen often speculated that Sharon must have married into money. Judging from the sizes of the clothing she bought, her husband had to be at least 1.88 meters tall, with an enviable physique. A wealthy man who maintained such a figure—well, even if he were older, they wouldn’t have minded.
Too bad none of them had a face as stunning as hers. That dream was destined to remain a fantasy.
“I’m here to pick out clothes for a friend,” Sharon explained. She turned slightly and gestured behind her. “Please help this gentleman select a few pieces that would suit him.”
The moment the saleswoman’s gaze landed on Thomas, her eyes lit up
‘Good heavens, what a handsome man!’ she couldn’t help thinking.
with astonishment.
Sensing her stare, Thomas offered a polite, courteous smile. “Thank you, miss. I’ll trouble you, then.”
She snapped out of her daze, cheeks warming. “N-no trouble at all…”
Hurriedly, she led them deeper into the boutique, introducing different styles while sneaking glances at Thomas.
Just friends? She found that hard to believe.
Men and women rarely shared such “pure” friendships, especially not when the man looked
like this.
Could it be… Sharon was keeping him as a lover outside her marriage?
The possibility seemed all too likely. He had the look of a freshly graduated college student -young, striking, and dangerously attractive.
Guided by the saleswoman, Sharon selected more than ten sets of clothing.
“Thomas, go ahead and try these on. If none of them feel right, we’ll choose again.”
Thomas accepted without hesitation. “All right.
2/4
Chapter 703
The saleswoman, watching Sharon spend as freely as ever, felt a flicker of doubt.
Could it be she wasn’t relying on some rich husband after all?
+ BONUS
Perhaps she was the wealthy one-the real power behind it all. Maybe her husband and son were being supported by her instead.
That would explain why she could spend money with such effortless ease.
3/4
Chapter 704
That possibility wasn’t far-fetched.
Working in a luxury boutique, the saleswoman had met her fair share of wealthy women. But a woman as young and beautiful as Sharon-those were rare.
Heavens, what a dream it must be, she thought, to be kept by someone like that. To have such a gorgeous, wealthy patroness-what happiness!
Unaware of the saleswoman’s thoughts, Sharon continued browsing the racks.
Just then, a familiar voice drifted over from not far away.
“Carter, I finally got out and found the chance to meet you, yet you’re acting so stiff! You have no idea how sinister that perverted Lex really is. He even tried to set a business trap for me! If Julliard hadn’t spotted it, I’d have been thrashed by my dad again.”
Sharon’s head snapped toward the sound. Three familiar figures stood together by a display shelf.
Kelly’s voice was soft, coaxing. “Carter, don’t you like this brand? Since you’re here today, pick a few pieces. I’ll pay for them. Nate, you should choose some too.”
She had long noticed that aside from haute couture, most of Carter’s clothing came from this very boutique. From Theo, she had learned that Sharon had been the one choosing
those clothes.
So the moment Nate’s confinement ended, Kelly encouraged him to rope Carter into a casual outing.
Carter’s expression was cold, yet in the end, he didn’t refuse. 1
Meanwhile, Nate flipped through hangers with restless hands, grumbling nonstop.
“That freak Lex even blamed the car accident on me-said I tampered with his brakes! Damn it, if I’d done it, I’d admit it. But I’ve got no grudge against him! Jumping straight to
1/4
such malicious suspicion-he’s out of his mind!”
The longer he spoke, the angrier he grew. “That degenerate… God knows what kind of monstrous thing he’s done to earn someone’s vengeance. But no-he has to pin it on me, try to crush the Hendricks family! He really thinks we’re that easy to topple?”
In the end, it had been Julliard and Carter who stepped in at the critical moment to save the
Hendricks family. The family had taken losses, but its core business survived.
Nate’s expression twisted viciously. “Damn it, this time it’s to the death between me and that bastard! I don’t care if he’s the Malcolm heir. I’ve got nothing to lose. If I can’t drag
him off that pedestal, I’m not a Hendricks!”
Because of that debacle, he had already lost his right to inherit the Hendricks family. The blame in his heart fell squarely on Lex. He swore he would never let him live peacefully.
Carter’s brow furrowed. “If you cause another mess, I won’t help you again.”
As he spoke, his gaze shifted sharply, as though sensing something. He turned toward
Sharon’s direction.
For a moment, he froze, then strode toward her.
“Sharon.” His voice was low, gentle. “You’re here to pick out clothes for me and Theo?” 1
“No,” Sharon replied, her tone icy.
But Carter acted as if he hadn’t heard. “The seasons are about to change. Theo does need
new clothes. Why don’t we choose a few for him together?”
1
Sharon almost laughed in exasperation. Why were all these men so narcissistic?
Before she could respond, Thomas’s voice sounded from behind her.
“Sharon, how about this one? Does it suit me?”
All eyes turned toward him.
2/4
Kelly’s expression froze in shock.
Carter’s face darkened.
And Nate’s eyes lit up as if he’d uncovered some great secret. He looked between Sharon and
Thomas, then jabbed a finger at them with triumphant certainty.
“Carter, I told you, didn’t I? Those two definitely have something going on!”
Chapter 705
How long had they known each other, and they were already shopping together?
“Carter, can you believe this? Sharon is using your money to keep a boy toy!”
Kelly finally shook off her shock. She had contacted Thomas not long ago, confiding her grievances to him, and he even suggested a plan to help her. Yet now, of all places, she ran
into Sharon and Thomas together… 2
Was this intentional?
What exactly was Thomas playing at?
Before Kelly could unravel his motives, Thomas straightened, his expression solemn and righteous. “Nate, I am simply Sharon’s assistant. Our relationship is clean and aboveboard. Please stop spreading baseless rumors.”
Nate burst out laughing.
“An assistant? Is that what you call it? Some kind of role-play, huh? I’ve seen plenty like you. Shut the office door, and suddenly it’s all games and playacting. Who would’ve thought -Sharon, always so prim and proper on the surface, but behind closed doors, you’re just as
wild as the rest.”
He hadn’t even finished when a cold voice cut him short.
“Nate, that’s enough.”
The one who spoke was Carter. His face was dark, ugly, as if his wife had cheated on him.
Nate froze, fear seizing him.
8
Damn it. He had only just regained his freedom, and already he had gotten carried away, saying things he never should have voiced.
He scrambled to backtrack.
1/4
Chapter 705
How long had they known each other, and they were already shopping together?
“Carter, can you believe this? Sharon is using your money to keep a boy toy!”
Kelly finally shook off her shock. She had contacted Thomas not long ago, confiding her grievances to him, and he even suggested a plan to help her. Yet now, of all places, she ran
into Sharon and Thomas together… 2
Was this intentional?
What exactly was Thomas playing at?
Before Kelly could unravel his motives, Thomas straightened, his expression solemn and righteous. “Nate, I am simply Sharon’s assistant. Our relationship is clean and aboveboard. Please stop spreading baseless rumors.”
Nate burst out laughing.
“An assistant? Is that what you call it? Some kind of role-play, huh? I’ve seen plenty like you. Shut the office door, and suddenly it’s all games and playacting. Who would’ve thought -Sharon, always so prim and proper on the surface, but behind closed doors, you’re just as
wild as the rest.”
He hadn’t even finished when a cold voice cut him short.
“Nate, that’s enough.”
The one who spoke was Carter. His face was dark, ugly, as if his wife had cheated on him.
Nate froze, fear seizing him.
8
Damn it. He had only just regained his freedom, and already he had gotten carried away, saying things he never should have voiced.
He scrambled to backtrack.
1/4
Chapter 706
+15 BONUS
“No, no, Carter, don’t take it to heart. I wasn’t talking about Sharon. I meant someone else.”
His eyes darted, and he quickly jabbed a finger at Thomas, his voice sharp with accusation.
“You scheming pretty boy! Tell me, what’s your real motive in getting close to Sharon? I’m warning you, stay away from her. If not, don’t blame us for what happens next!”
The sudden outburst startled Kelly more than anyone.
Even Thomas remained calm, while her own panic spiked. If Carter ever discovered that she and Thomas already knew each other, he would despise her completely.
But Thomas’s face showed no trace of unease or guilt. He simply looked at Sharon and spoke evenly, “Sharon, though working for you wasn’t my choice at the beginning, I have still done my best. I don’t take your money for nothing. 1
“First, Carter tried to buy me off, threatening me to stay away from you. Now his friend calls me a gigolo. But I am a man with dignity. I earn my living with my own ability, and I
feel no shame in that.
“What I cannot accept is this kind of humiliation. So I’ll resign. That way, I won’t cause you
any more trouble… or risk interfering with your reconciliation with Carter.”
He had arrived just in time today, not only pulling Sharon out of a bind but also standing up for her. She already didn’t know how to repay that debt. Now, seeing him repeatedly insulted because of her, guilt pressed heavier on her chest.
Yet the word that struck her most sharply was the one he had just spoken
-“reconciliation.”
It landed like a barb, bitter and ironic.
Her expression cooled as she turned on Nate.
“Nate, watch your mouth. If you keep slandering me, I will expose your words and actions online and pursue legal action against you.”
2/4
Then her icy gaze shifted to Carter.
“And you, Carter. Who I choose to be with is my business, not yours. 1
1
“There’s something I want you to understand clearly. From the day we divorced, I never once considered reconciling with you. Even if every other man in the world were gone, I still wouldn’t be with you. Stop flattering yourself.
“Without you, I won’t die; I’ll only live better.”
3/4
Chapter 706
Sharon’s words were merciless, stripping Carter of the last shred of dignity in front of everyone. His expression darkened like storm clouds, while Kelly secretly rejoiced. 1
So Thomas had shown up not by coincidence, but to deliberately sow discord between
Sharon and Carter.
As expected, Thomas was shrewder-far more useful than the brainless Nate, who only knew how to offend people everywhere he went.
Carter’s lips pressed into a thin, rigid line. He looked as if he wanted to speak, but in the
end, forced himself to remain silent.
Thomas, however, poured fuel on the fire.
“Carter, it’s no wonder Sharon divorced you. She’s injured, yet you didn’t bother to ask once. Every word from your mouth is nothing but slander and blame. A man so utterly lacking in care-tell me, who but a blind woman would ever look at you twice?”
Kelly lowered her eyes, keeping quiet at the side.
She remembered how, long ago, when Thomas first learned that she liked Carter, he had been completely baffled. He even offered to help her find another man. Clearly, he held
Carter in contempt.
Carter stiffened at Thomas’s words. His head snapped toward Sharon.
“You’re hurt?”
Sharon wore long sleeves. The fabric concealed the wound on her arm. He hadn’t noticed
until now.
“It’s just a scratch,” she replied coolly.
“If I’d arrived a few minutes later,” Thomas added flatly, “Sharon’s hand might have been
ruined for life.”
1/4
Chapter 708
+ID BONUS
Carter’s gaze fell instantly to her wrist. Only then did he notice faint traces of injury beneath
the sleeve.
Without warning, he seized her wrist and pushed back the fabric, revealing the scabbed-
over wound.
Sharon hadn’t expected him to act this way, especially in front of Kelly. The suddenness of
it caught her off guard. 1
When she came to her senses, she yanked her hand back and stepped away, putting distance between them. “Carter, what do you think you’re doing?”
His face was a mask of shadow, his voice colder than ice. “Who did this?”
“What does it matter to you?” she countered.
His eyes locked onto the injury, his voice sinking lower, heavier. “Sharon, I asked you. Who
did this?”
He didn’t know the details, but from Thomas’s earlier remark, it wasn’t hard to deduce that
this hadn’t been an accident.
Sharon stared at his frost-covered expression and suddenly laughed. “What, do you plan on avenging me now?”
She didn’t bother to hide the truth. “It was Damien. His ex-girlfriend, Casey, works for me. He barged into my studio to drag her away. When I intervened, he tried to cripple my hand.”
Her eyes flicked briefly to Thomas. “Fortunately, Thomas arrived in time.”
Before Carter could speak, Nate jumped in with glee.
“Damien? Another one from the Malcolm family? Sharon, looks like you’re really hopeless.
Aside from Uriah, every single one of them despises you! Your people skills… tsk, tsk, are
truly lacking.”
Sharon had no interest in entertaining him, but Thomas cut in calmly.
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Chapter 70S
TID BONUS
“And how do you know the Malcolm family’s hostility isn’t precisely because Sharon has
Uriah’s favor?”
Carter’s dark eyes deepened with meaning. He caught the implication immediately. 1
Nate, however, remained clueless. “What do you mean? If Sharon’s so close with Uriah, shouldn’t the whole Malcolm family like her? But instead, one after another, they can’t
stand her…”
He smirked. “Someone really ought to start looking at themselves for the answer.”
Thomas gave him a look reserved for the utterly hopeless.
“Uriah treasures Sharon. He shields her, introduces her to Lex, and even talks of giving her
shares. It’s plain he regards her as one of his own.”
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Uriah didn’t hold the largest share of stock in the Malcolm Group, but it wasn’t insignificant either. In a dynasty as sprawling as theirs, many had no shares at all.
Take Lex and Damien, for example-even if they possessed a portion, who among them would willingly watch family stock fall into the hands of an outsider? In this world, was there really anyone who thought they had too much money?
Nate froze. He hadn’t thought it through that far. But when he did, he realized-it made
sense.
Even with his own family, he resented the idea of his father’s illegitimate children claiming
a slice of the Hendricks inheritance. How much worse to hand it over to someone
completely unrelated?
To the Malcolms, Sharon was just that—an intruder threatening their cake. Their hostility was only natural.
Carter, too, carried an instinctive disdain for the Malcolms. Yet now, not only did they
repeatedly strike at his ex-wife, they did it on his turf, right under his nose.
They might as well be declaring that he was beneath their notice.
His gaze fell on Sharon. “How do you want to deal with this?”
“I already have,” she replied coolly. “No need for you to worry.”
Thomas fanned the flames again. “If you truly cared, Carter, wouldn’t you take care of things first, and then tell Sharon afterward? Instead of standing here like those stingy men who never intended to buy a gift, yet still ask if a woman wants one. Isn’t that the height of hypocrisy?” 1
Carter shot him a look of pure irritation. He’d been too busy lately to deal with Thomas, and though he loathed admitting it, Thomas’s words, harsh as they were, carried a bitter edge of truth.
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“I know what needs to be done,” Carter said at last. He didn’t press further about Damien, instead turning to Sharon’s injury.
“How’s your wound?”
“It’s fine,” she answered flatly. She had no wish to exchange more words with him, and
instead looked to Thomas.
“Thomas, what do you think of these clothes? Do you like them?”
Thomas accepted her kindness without hesitation. “They’re great. I like them a lot.”
Sharon turned to the sales associate. “Wrap them all up.”
The sales associate beamed. “Of course, I’ll pack everything for you right away.”
Running into Carter had ruined Sharon’s mood for shopping. She glanced back at Thomas. “Do you still want to buy anything else?”
“These will last me a while,” Thomas replied with a smile. “No need for more.”
The sales associate handed over the bags-more than a dozen in all. Thomas took them and, still smiling, said, “You’ve spoiled me, Sharon.”
“You saved me. This is the least I can do,” Sharon replied, dismissing the others entirely.
Then she said to Thomas, “Let’s go back.”1
“Alright.”
Thomas hefted the bags, then turned deliberately to Carter with a cheerful wave. “Carter, we’ll be taking our leave.”
To Carter, that smile was nothing short of provocation-a deliberate challenge. His expression darkened, and he made to step forward, but Kelly caught his sleeve.
“Carter, everyone’s gathered today for a rare occasion. Do you really plan to stand Julliard up?”
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Nate, finally freed of his earlier unease, chimed in as well. “She’s right, Carter. And that little pretty boy wasn’t entirely wrong-discipline the Malcolm family first. Then go to Sharon. Who knows, she might even be more moved that way.”
Of course, Nate wasn’t offering advice to help Carter win his ex-wife back. His motives were
far from pure. 1
He bore a grudge against Lex. If Carter clashed with Damien, Lex would inevitably be dragged in. And with Carter as his shield, Nate could strike Lex without a shred of
hesitation.
He had always been a man who paid back every slight, a grudge-bearer to the core.
feat stag t
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That evening, after Julliard joined them, Nate eagerly recounted their chance encounter with Sharon earlier that day, adding fuel to the story as he spoke of her offending Damien.
“Sharon made such a big deal out of it, but in truth, it was just a scratch. The wound had already scabbed over, yet she played it up like a tragedy, milking sympathy from everyone. And that talk about not wanting to remarry Carter? Please. Isn’t it obvious she just wants him to avenge her? Playing hard to get as usual… What a manipulative little act.”
In the dim light, Julliard’s eyes flickered faintly.
Carter, still on his call, didn’t notice the slight change in Julliard’s expression. It was only after he finished giving orders and hung up that Nate finally steered the conversation in a different direction. He wasn’t going to talk trash about Sharon right in front of Carter.
“Carter, any news on the investigation? Was it really Damien who sent guys to go after Sharon?”
Carter’s face turned grim, his voice icy. “Damien’s in the hospital. They’re calling it a comminuted fracture. His hand was shattered.”
Nate let out a low whistle. “Sharon did say she’d already handled him. I guess she literally smashed his hand to pieces. Damn, that’s hardcore. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”
Julliard asked calmly, “Carter, do you want me to intercept Damien’s company orders? I can get the Macaron Group to cooperate.”
A cold glint flashed in Carter’s eyes. “Just intercepting orders would be letting him off way too easy.”
A sharp, understanding look passed over Julliard’s face, “Carter, are you saying…”
“On my turf, he dared to lay a hand on someone under my protection. That kind of arrogance calls for a lesson he’ll never forget.”
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Julliard nodded. “The Malcolm family has gotten way too bold. Lex keeps targeting Sharon, even trying to bankrupt the Hendricks Group. And Damien-he actually tried to cripple her hand. With that much hatred, who’s to say he won’t try to kill her next time?”
At the mention of Lex, Nate immediately perked up.
“Exactly! The Malcolm family must be crushed. How dare they come flaunting themselves on our turf?”
Julliard said, “Carter, whatever you decide, I’ll coordinate with you.”
Carter gave Nate a sidelong glance.
Catching it, Julliard said smoothly, “Nate, why don’t you take Kelly out for a walk?”
Nate wanted desperately to hear Carter’s plan, but the icy weight in the man’s gaze stopped him from pressing further. Instead, he turned to Kelly, trying to coax her into intervening.
“Kelly, are you still feeling well? If not, then-”
Kelly cut him off with a soft smile. “It’s fine, Nate. Let’s step outside for now.”
Thomas, after all, had deliberately leaked this matter to Carter. He had his reasons—
perhaps the very situation unfolding now was exactly what he’d intended. It
Recalling Sharon’s words from earlier, Kelly felt a surge of elation.
It wasn’t hard to see that Sharon trusted Thomas deeply now. She had even turned cold and
hostile toward Carter for his sake. Perhaps she really had fallen completely under Thomas’s
spell. B
Not that it was surprising-Thomas’s looks alone could be dangerously persuasive.
All the better, Kelly thought. If Sharon really fell for him and tied herself to him, it would only be a matter of time. With Thomas’s temper, once she touched his bottom line, he would kill her without hesitation.
…
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The next morning, as Sharon stepped out of her apartment with Matty, she spotted a small figure waiting at the entrance.
Her footsteps faltered.
“Mom.” Theo’s eyes lit up the moment he saw her, and he ran toward her.
Sharon frowned slightly. “Theo, you came out here alone again?”
“No,” Theo said obediently. He pointed off in one direction. “Dad brought me. He’s right
over there.”
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Chapter 709
Following the direction of Theo’s small finger, Sharon’s gaze fell on Carter standing not far
away.
Beside her, Matty politely greeted him.
“Good morning, Theo.”
“Morning,” Theo replied with a glance.
He no longer looked at Matty with the hostility he once carried, as if every encounter were a
mortal grudge. Perhaps it was because of the last time, when Matty defended his mother in
a fight against other children and bravely took responsibility. Or perhaps it was because
Aunt Victoria had told him that the worse his temper grew, the further he would push his
mother away.
Either way, his attitude had softened. At the very least, he no longer caused trouble in front
of Sharon.
Lowering her head slightly, Sharon looked at him.
“Theo, did you come here to see me for something?”
Theo nodded, then carefully opened the little backpack he carried. From inside, he pulled
out a tube of ointment.
“Daddy said you hurt your hand. I came to bring you medicine.”
He placed the ointment in her hand, his voice serious. “Daddy told me this works really well. Any wound will heal quickly.”
Sharon glanced at the medicine, then at the boy’s bright, expectant eyes. After a pause, she accepted it. 1
“Thank you.”
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At once, Theo’s face lit up, his smile blooming like sunlight. He eagerly took her hand.
“Mommy, are you taking Matty somewhere fun today?”
It was the weekend. Both boys had no school.
Sharon didn’t hide it. “I was planning to take him to the amusement park.”
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Theo’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. “Mommy, I want to go too! Can I come with you?”
She hesitated, her silence betraying a flicker of doubt. 1
At that moment, Matty suddenly spoke up.
“It’s been so long since Theo’s seen you, Sharon. If he wants to play together, let’s all go. You only have a few days to rest, and I’ve been keeping you to myself. If Theo comes along,
it’ll be livelier, and you can spend more time with him.”1
He turned to Theo with a smile-innocent, harmless, yet tinged with a quiet pride.
Theo’s small fists clenched before he realized it. He could hear the subtle triumph in Matty’s words.
Sharon considered it, then finally nodded.
Theo broke into a grin. “Daddy drove me here. Let’s take his car to the amusement park.”
Sharon opened her mouth to refuse, but Matty interjected smoothly. “My daddy drove too.
We can ride in his car instead.”
Sharon froze. “Matty, your dad came as well?”
He nodded.
Just then, a sleek black sedan pulled up in front of them. The door opened, and a tall, broad- shouldered man stepped out with unhurried grace.
“Sharon, Matty… I’m not late, am I?”
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With a laugh, Matty rushed into his arms. “Daddy, you came just in time!”
Sharon hadn’t known Xavier would appear today. Surprise flickered across her face.
“Xavier?”
Xavier smiled. “I’ll come along too. You won’t mind, will you, Sharon?”
“I don’t mind, it’s just—”
Her words trailed off as another tall figure strode toward them.
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“Xavier,” Carter’s cold voice cut in, “dropping by uninvited-don’t you find that a little impolite?”
Xavier arched a brow. “Uninvited? Were you formally invited?”
Carter’s expression didn’t shift. “A child coming to see his mother needs no invitation. He may come whenever he wishes.”
Xavier chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with something sharper. “A child seeking his mother-of course, that’s only right. But Sharon isn’t your mother, Carter.”
Carter’s voice dropped, colder than steel. “I’m his father. Visiting his mother is as natural as breathing. But you… you have neither name nor standing here.”
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Xavier raised his brows in mock surprise. “I’m Matty’s father. Coming to see my own son is only natural. How could that possibly be improper?”
Carter was momentarily silenced, unable to find a retort.
Sharon pressed her fingers to her temple, already feeling a headache forming. She turned to Carter. “You should head back. I’ll take Theo out today.”
Carter’s gaze hardened, cutting toward Xavier with a cold edge. “What’s this? You plan on taking my son out while fostering feelings with another man?”
Sharon frowned. “Must you always speak so harshly?”
“Truth has always been the harshest thing to hear,” Carter replied flatly.
Sharon parted her lips to argue further, but Theo tugged gently at her sleeve. Tilting his small face up to her, his eyes shone with pleading hope.
“Mom, Dad pushed aside work today just to come with me and see you… Can’t we let him come along too?”
Indeed, Carter had deliberately canceled his schedule, planning to take Sharon and their son out together, just the three of them. He had not expected Xavier and his son to appear first
and steal the moment away.
Sharon hesitated. Taking Theo along was fine-she had no objections. But including Carter… that was something she found far harder to accept.
Sensing her reluctance, Xavier interjected smoothly, “Since Carter is already here, we should all go together.”
Sharon looked at him in surprise. “You mean… take him too?”
The corner of Xavier’s mouth curved into a faint smile. “If you don’t, I doubt any of us will be going anywhere today.”
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Carter shot him a sidelong glare. “At least you’re self-aware.”
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Xavier chuckled softly. “When you’ve dealt with enough shameless people, you learn to recognize them easily.”
Carter sneered. “Or perhaps you measure others by your own standards. That would explain such familiarity.”
Xavier raised a brow. “You seem to know the method well, Mr. Biggs. Do you practice it
often yourself?”
Before the sparring could escalate further, Sharon pressed her throbbing temples and cut them both off. “Enough. It’s getting late. Let’s just go.”
She hated to admit it, but Xavier was right. If she refused Carter outright, knowing his petty nature, he might very well ensure no one went anywhere today.
A few minutes later, they were all seated in Carter’s car. Xavier played the part of the gracious guest, unconcerned about whose car they took. Since both Theo and Matty wanted to sit with Sharon, the arrangement left them no choice but to ride together.
Carter took the wheel, his expression unreadable. Xavier claimed the passenger seat, while Sharon sat in the back between the two boys.
The car eased onto the road toward the amusement park.
With a lazy smile, Xavier remarked, “We’ll have to trouble you today, Carter, for driving us all the way there and back.”
His tone dripped with implication, reducing Carter to little more than a chauffeur.
Carter kept his lips pressed thin, offering no reply. He wasn’t fond of verbal sparring, and he had no interest in indulging Xavier’s baiting. Instead, he pressed harder on the accelerator, face like stone.
But Xavier wasn’t done. He glanced around the car interior with idle curiosity. Then, as though struck by a thought, he chuckled. “This seat I’m in-it must usually belong to Kelly,
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doesn’t it?”
The pointed jab darkened Carter’s face.
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“A car is for transportation. There’s no such thing as a seat reserved for anyone.”
Xavier gave a low laugh and suddenly reached beneath the seat cushion, pulling out a tube of lipstick.
“Well, that’s strange. From what I hear, you haven’t given anything to Sharon recently. If this lipstick doesn’t belong to Kelly… then who does it belong to?”
Feigning confusion, he turned the tube in his hand, his voice laced with feigned innocence.
“Unless… you’ve found yourself another girlfriend, Carter? If so, my apologies. I must have
misunderstood.”
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