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Carter’s voice turned icy. “Nonsense. How could I possibly have a girlfriend?”
As he spoke, he lifted his gaze, catching Sharon’s reflection in the rearview mirror. She was listening intently to Matty, completely oblivious to Xavier’s provocative words.
Xavier’s expression held a teasing edge, his eyes flashing with a look that said: I
understand.
“If you don’t have a girlfriend,” he pressed, “then whose lipstick is this? A lady friend’s, perhaps?”
“Xavier.” Carter’s voice dropped to a frigid low. “If you spout any more nonsense, I’ll throw you out of my car.”
Xavier’s tone remained maddeningly amused. “Alright, alright, I’ll say no more.”
Just then, Carter’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his brows knitting, before silencing the call.
Five minutes later, it rang again. This time, he muted it without answering.
For about ten minutes, the car remained quiet… until the screen lit up once more.
“Why won’t you answer?” Xavier asked.
“I’m driving,” Carter snapped, his tone sharp. “It’s inconvenient.”
“Shall I answer for you then?” Xavier offered with mock sincerity.
“That won’t be necessary,” Carter bit out, colder still.
“But what if it’s important?” Xavier’s voice was almost playful. “If you miss something urgent, you might regret it.”
Carter’s eyes stayed fixed on the road, his expression flat. “It’s none of your concern. I’d
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advise you to keep your nose out of matters that don’t involve you.”
Xavier only smiled faintly and fell silent.
The quiet didn’t last long. Soon, Theo’s smartwatch chimed with an incoming call.
At the wheel, Carter’s eyelids twitched. Before he could stop Theo, the boy had already
answered.
“Kelly.”
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On the other end, Kelly’s gentle, lilting voice floated through. “Theo, are you with your dad right now?”
The boy glanced at his father, who was driving, and nodded earnestly. “Yes, we’re together. Daddy’s driving.”
“And where are you headed?” she asked.
“To the amusement park.”
Excitement crept into her voice. “Which one? I’ll come meet you there.”
Theo hesitated, caught between honesty and discomfort. “But…”
Before he could finish, Kelly’s voice rushed in, sweet and eager. “I just remembered I left my lipstick in your dad’s car. I’ll swing by and pick it up.”
Before Theo could respond, Xavier chuckled.
“Carter, didn’t you just say this lipstick didn’t belong to Kelly?”
On the line, Kelly froze, startled at the unfamiliar male voice. Recognition flickered almost immediately.
“Theo,” she asked quickly, “besides your dad, who else is with you?”
Theo, innocent and straightforward, replied, “Mommy, Matty’s dad, and Matty.”
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There was a long pause on the other end, heavy with disbelief.
“You’re… all going to the amusement park together?”
Xavier and Matty. Carter and Theo. And Sharon.
It was such an absurdly awkward mix that Kelly could hardly fathom it.
“Yes,” Theo confirmed.
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Even knowing Sharon and Xavier were there, Kelly wasn’t ready to let the chance slip away. She had intentionally left her lipstick in Carter’s car as an excuse to see him again.
Clinging to her boldness, she pressed, “Which amusement park? I’ll come get the lipstick from you there.” 1
Theo instinctively glanced at Sharon, torn and unsure if he should answer.
It was then that Sharon spoke up.
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“We’re going to the amusement park you and Carter used to take Theo to. Kelly, if you wish to come, you can,” Sharon said.
Carter’s fingers tightened unconsciously around the steering wheel. He and Kelly had
indeed brought Theo here a few times. But with Sharon, never once. 2
Kelly’s voice softened. “Alright, I’ll call once I arrive.”
When the call ended, silence filled the car.
Not long after, Matty, ever the lively one, found a new topic and soon had Sharon chatting
again. Carter and Xavier, however, remained quiet.
By the time they reached the amusement park, Kelly was already waiting inside. That
simple act revealed her true intention-she was determined to join them.
Theo quickly handed her the lipstick. “Kelly, this is yours.”
Kelly gave a sheepish smile. “I was far too careless, always forgetting things.”
Xavier quipped, “If you didn’t insist on riding in Carter’s car, you wouldn’t have this trouble
at all.”
Kelly forced a laugh. “Xavier, you do love to joke.” 1
He let the matter drop with a faint smile.
With her presence, their little group-two men, two women, and two children-looked less like an odd arrangement and more like two families out for the day.
Good looks drew eyes wherever they went. Passersby whispered as they watched the striking adults with their adorable children.
“These two boys are beautiful. I’ve never seen such handsome little ones.”
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“Well, look at their parents. How could they not be?”
“That boy… he’s the spitting image of the tall, cool-looking man. No doubt about their
relation.”
“The other one doesn’t resemble his father as much, but that man is gorgeous too. Definitely my type!”
“I just can’t tell which of those two women is the real mother.”
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At that moment, Sharon held both boys’ hands, her gentle smile making it hard to tell who belonged to whom.
Meanwhile, Kelly lingered at Carter’s side, chatting in a way that invited misunderstanding.
“Carter,” she said sweetly, “the next competition begins the day after tomorrow. Will you
come watch?”
Carter’s face remained unreadable. “I have contracts to sign that day. No time.”
Undeterred, she pressed on. “Then when are you free?”
He didn’t answer, but his gaze drifted, almost unconsciously, toward Sharon.
Kelly noticed and bit down lightly on her lip before forcing another smile. “Sharon is competing too. You could come see her performance. She ranked first last time, after all.”
Only then did Carter glance at her. “I hadn’t realized she was that capable.” [x
Kelly’s expression faltered before she lowered her eyes and murmured, “Sharon has improved so much lately. Unlike me… if I don’t advance, I’ll only fall behind. At this rate, I might not even place at all. Perhaps I’ll be eliminated…”
Though he hadn’t seen it in person, Carter had rewatched the video of that part of the competition. Sharon’s score spoke for itself; her victory in the kindergarten contest was no
stroke of luck. 2
But Kelly…
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Remembering her illness, his expression softened slightly. ‘
“You’re pretty good too. Don’t belittle yourself.”
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While they spoke, the two boys tugged Sharon toward the carousel. She didn’t refuse and
chose a pumpkin carriage close to them.
As soon as she sat, someone slid into the seat across from her.
She looked up… and froze.
It was Xavier.
Her eyes widened, momentarily dazed.
“Xavier… you’re riding the carousel too?”
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Xavier glanced at the pair not far away, a faint laugh escaping his lips.
“I’m not about to play the third wheel. Besides, I’ve never been on a carousel before. Thought I’d give it a try.”
Sharon followed his gaze and said evenly, “Kelly isn’t in good health. Rides like this usually make her dizzy. Once, when we took Theo to the park, he insisted she ride the carousel with him. She fainted halfway through and had to be rushed to the hospital. Afterward, Carter scolded him harshly.”
At the time, Carter had been tied up with work and hadn’t joined them. But the moment he
heard Kelly had collapsed, he dropped his meeting and rushed over.
Sharon herself had even been blamed for the incident.
The reason? Children don’t understand, but shouldn’t adults know better? Why let Kelly take such a “dangerous” ride?
The accusation had struck Sharon as laughable, yet it left her bitterly wronged.
Theo didn’t know about Kelly’s condition, but didn’t Kelly know it herself? If she couldn’t ride, why hadn’t she spoken up?
Hearing this, Xavier said, “Sharon… you’ve suffered far too many injustices at his side.”
Sharon gave a wry little smile. “Looking back now, I think I had the patience of Obi-Wan Kenobi waiting on Tatooine.”
Her self-mockery drew a genuine laugh from Xavier. Yet when his gaze fell on her again, the usual spark of amusement was tempered with a rare, solemn intensity.
“I’m fiercely protective by nature. I can’t stand to see those close to me-let alone the woman by my side-suffer in silence, Sharon, not every man in this world is like Carter.
His pupils reflected her figure, as though she were the only person in his world.
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By the time Carter managed to free himself from Kelly’s chatter, he arrived to witness precisely this scene.
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Sharon and Xavier sat face-to-face inside the pumpkin carriage of the carousel, their eyes
locked in tender, lingering connection.
From where he stood, Carter could clearly see the admiration—and unmistakable affection
-in Xavier’s gaze.
He knew that look. He’d seen it countless times when women confessed to him. That soft,
fervent glow-the expression one wore only when drawn to someone’s brilliance.
Sharon, whom he had once dismissed as nothing more than a pretty face, was now shining
so brightly she could attract other men.
For the first time, panic stirred in the depths of Carter’s heart. The primal fear of something
irreplaceable-something that belonged to him-being stolen away.
He had always believed that without him, she could never find someone better. That, with Theo tying them together, she would inevitably come back. He had always been so certain.
But now, he suddenly realized-Sharon was never short of men around her.
Xavier. John. Felipe.
Even Thomas, whom he had always considered utterly useless, had revealed feelings for
her.
And how many more were there, hidden from him? None of them seemed to care that
Sharon had once been married, or that she had a child.
The thought made his breathing turn ragged, his gaze sharp and murderous.
Sharon felt an inexplicable unease. She instinctively looked away from Xavier, only to be ensnared again by Carter’s cold, shadowed stare.
Her brows knit, a wave of bad luck and frustration settling in her chest. She forced her gaze
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back toward Xavier instead.
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The sight made Carter’s fists clench tight. With long, decisive strides, he began walking straight toward her.
Chapter 714
Just then, the carousel whirred to life.
Carter stepped forward but was stopped by a staff member.
Noticing the scene, Xavier lifted his hand in an easy wave, the curve of his lips carrying a deliberately provoking smile. He dropped the previous subject and turned the conversation to lighter matters, easing Sharon’s tension.
When the ride ended, Theo and Matty hopped off, faces glowing with delight. The two children immediately began scanning for their next adventure.
Xavier’s gaze slid to Kelly, who clung to Carter’s side like a stubborn shadow. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he suggested, “Matty, haven’t you always wanted to try the pirate ship? How about we go now?”
The first thing Matty did was turn to Sharon, seeking her opinion. “Sharon, do you want to go?”
Meeting Matty’s hopeful eyes, Sharon gave a small nod. Then she turned toward Theo.
“Theo, if you’d rather not, you can wait for us down here…”
Her words were cut short.
“I want to go!” Theo interrupted firmly.
She studied him for a long moment, then nodded. “Alright, let’s go.”
In the past, whenever Kelly was present, outings were limited to safe, gentle activities— rowboats, quiet strolls-yet trouble always seemed to follow her anyway. This time, Sharon didn’t bother asking Carter’s opinion. She simply led the group toward the pirate ship.
Carter’s eyes never left her. He had already decided he could not allow Sharon and Xavier to grow any closer. The moment they moved, he followed.
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“You’re going on the pirate ship?” he asked.
Sharon didn’t even spare him a glance.
“Yes,” Theo answered.
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Within moments, they reached the entrance. Carter trailed directly behind his son, ready to step aboard, when Kelly suddenly grabbed his arm.
“Carter, you’re going too?”
His brows furrowed. “Mm.”
She glanced uneasily at the swaying ship and murmured, “Carter, I don’t think my body can
handle something so dangerous.” She hadn’t forgotten her act.
He gave her a strange look. “If you can’t ride, then wait down here.”
Kelly froze. “Wait… alone?”
In the past, whenever she couldn’t join an activity, neither Carter nor Theo would give it a second thought. Now, he expected her to stay behind by herself?
Distracted, Carter’s eyes never left Sharon and Xavier. As soon as they moved to enter, he strode quickly after them, not sparing Kelly another glance.
She stood rooted for a moment, stunned, unable to believe it. Then, almost instinctively, she hurried forward. Spotting Theo about to step inside, she called out, “Theo, you’re still young, and your health isn’t good. This ride is dangerous. You shouldn’t go.”
It had become her habit to deprive Sharon of anything she wanted. Whatever Sharon longed for, she seized. Whatever Sharon enjoyed, she found ways to forbid-always ensuring her own presence felt indispensable.
Theo’s delicate face creased with conflict.
“But… the pirate ship isn’t really that dangerous. And my health’s already much better. Aunt Victoria said if I never exercise, my body will just waste away. And besides…”
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He looked straight at Kelly. “I want to ride with my mom.”
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Kelly’s expression faltered. She opened her mouth to argue again, but Sharon was already
stepping through the entrance. Panicked, she rushed after them.
“Wait for us here, Kelly,” Theo called over his shoulder.
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Without waiting for Kelly’s response, Theo stepped inside as well.
Theo and Matty claimed their usual spots at Sharon’s side-one to the left, the other to the
right.
Xavier took the seat beside Matty, while Carter, who had followed them in, sat down next to
Theo.
Just then, a pale figure lowered herself into the seat beside Carter.
Startled, he turned. “Why are you here? With your condition, aren’t you forbidden from riding things like this?”
Kelly lowered her voice into a soft murmur. “My health has improved a great deal lately. Besides, Theo just said that if one never exercises, the body will only grow weaker. I’ve never ridden a pirate ship before. I thought… why not give it a try?”
With a single sentence, she neatly shifted the blame onto Theo.
After the safety officer checked everyone’s restraints, the pirate ship began to sway. At first, the motion was gentle. The ship was massive, and its rocking was smooth, hardly enough to
cause dizziness or discomfort.
For Theo, it was his first time on something even remotely “thrilling.” His wide eyes
brimmed with excitement, and he couldn’t help letting out a gasp of wonder.
Matty, too, broke into a radiant smile.
In that moment, the two children revealed their pure, unguarded joy.
But halfway through the ride, a discordant voice shattered the cheer.
“My head is spinning… Carter, I feel sick… Am I having another attack?”
The lighthearted atmosphere instantly collapsed. Even the other passengers, summer-
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bright moments ago, turned to stare in shock at Kelly.
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She clutched her chest, her face ashen, her expression twisted with pain as if she might collapse at any second.
Panic rippled through the ship.
“Oh my goodness, what’s happening to her?”
“Is she having a heart attack?”
“Who gets on a pirate ship with heart disease? Is she trying to kill herself?”
“Safety officer! Someone’s in trouble here!”
“Stop it, stop it now! If she dies here, I’ll never set foot in an amusement park again!”
Within moments, chaos engulfed the ride. The shrieks of fun vanished, replaced with frightened clamor.
The safety officer pieced the story together from the passengers’ shouts and rushed to halt
the ride. The pirate ship gradually slowed to a stop, its riders left muttering in confusion
and fear.
Even Carter hadn’t expected Kelly’s “illness” to flare so violently. His expression darkened
to stone.
Theo, alarmed, crowded around her with concern. “Kelly, are you all right?”
The park’s manager, terrified of liability, wasted no time calling an ambulance.
Sharon stood quietly to one side, her gaze cold and unblinking. She studied Kelly’s pained expression and the fleeting glint of triumph and provocation that slipped through when Kelly thought no one would notice.
A fine ambush indeed.
If Sharon wanted something, Kelly would snatch it away. If Sharon wanted to play, Kelly
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would make certain no one could. And once again, she had succeeded.
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Carter and Theo clustered protectively around her as always, the “ailing” center of their
world.
Beside them, Xavier gave a low chuckle. “So this is her trick. This is how she ruins things?”
Sharon’s heart no longer rippled at the sight; her voice remained steady. “That’s right.”
He shook his head, smiling faintly. “Such a cheap tactic.”
Sharon’s lips curved. “Cheap or not doesn’t matter. So long as someone believes it.”
Xavier turned his gaze on her, his mouth lifting into a slow, wicked smile.
“Sharon… you’ve grown dangerous.”
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Chapter 716
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Chapter 716
It was Sharon who had told Kelly about this amusement park. If she dared to reveal the
location, then clearly she wasn’t afraid of Kelly causing trouble. Or perhaps, she had already prepared herself for it.
Sharon only smiled faintly, offering no denial.
“They shouldn’t have come with us in the first place,” she said calmly. “If they’ve left, all
the better.”
Yes-she had done it deliberately.
Sharon knew Kelly would make a scene. Since Carter had chosen to come along, he could
leave the same way.
Whether “they” included Theo, Xavier couldn’t be sure. He didn’t ask. Instead, he turned to
her and asked, “So, do you still want to ride the pirate ship, or something else?”
Sharon glanced around before asking Matty, “Matty, do you want to try the bumper cars?”
Matty’s face lit up, his joy sparkling brighter now that the bothersome Carter and Theo
were finally leaving.
“Yes! I want to!” he beamed.
Sharon took his small hand. “Then let’s go.”
Just as they were about to leave, Theo-sharp-eyed-spotted Sharon’s retreating figure.
“Mommy, where are you going?” he called out anxiously.
Sharon stopped and looked back at him.
“Kelly needs to be taken to the hospital. You and your father should go with her. Mommy won’t be going.”
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The boy’s breath caught. Today, he had come specifically to be with his mother. Finally, he had a rare chance to spend the day at her side. Was it really going to be ruined because Kelly ended up in the hospital?
He remembered: when he himself had been sick and hospitalized, Kelly never once stayed by his bedside through the night. She hadn’t even remained during the day—she always left early, claiming she didn’t feel well. At most, she would drop by briefly, only to disappear
again.
It had always been his mother who nursed him.
So, of course, being with his mommy mattered far more than accompanying Kelly to the hospital.
Resolute now, Theo lifted his head and said to his father, who was about to carry Kelly into the ambulance, “Daddy, you take Kelly to the hospital. I’ll stay here with Mommy.”
Carter froze, only then remembering Sharon and Xavier.
His gaze followed toward Sharon—she was holding Matty’s hand, already preparing to walk
off with them.
If he went to the hospital with Kelly, he would be leaving Sharon alone with Xavier and his son. And even if Theo stayed behind, what difference could the child make?
The boy was still too young to understand the subtle calculations of adults.
Matty, though also a child, was far more shrewd than Theo. Judging by how naturally Sharon and Xavier interacted, Matty must have played his part in drawing them closer.
After a moment’s thought, Carter sought a compromise.
“Stay with your mom,” he told Theo. “I’ll put Kelly in the ambulance and then come find you.”
Kelly’s expression of frail suffering nearly slipped from her face.
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Xavier, however, cast her a sidelong glance, clearly unimpressed by her performance. He spoke with a faint, pointed disapproval, “Carter, leaving Kelly alone like this doesn’t seem
right. If she needs emergency treatment and no family is there to sign for her, how pitiful would that be? You’d better go with her. As for Theo…”
He lowered his gaze to the boy and blinked, almost conspiratorially.
“Sharon and I will take good care of him. He and Matty are already friends from kindergarten. They’ll get along just fine. You can rest assured.”
The more Xavier spoke, the darker Carter’s expression grew.
Kelly, realizing Carter truly meant to abandon her to the ambulance, panicked. Her hand clutched his sleeve with desperate strength as she played along with Xavier’s words.
“Carter, please don’t leave me. What if… what if something really happens to me, never see you again? Please, I beg you-don’t let me go alone.”
and I
Onlookers nearby joined in, voices rising with judgment.
“Your wife is in this state, and you still won’t go with her? What could possibly be more important than your wife’s health?”
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“Yes, the boy is still young. If he doesn’t want to go, then so be it. But you’re a grown man. How can you still not know how to care for your wife?”
“He looks proper enough, but who knew he’d be this cold-blooded?”
The crowd’s reproachful voices came one after another, each sharper than the last, and
Carter’s expression grew increasingly grim.
Instinctively, he tried to explain. “She’s not my wife.
The moment the words left his mouth, the scolding only intensified.
“If she’s not your wife, then why are you holding her?”
“Exactly! If it’s nothing, why are you the only one clinging to her while everyone else keeps
their distance?”
“And that child earlier-isn’t he your son? With a boy that old, you must have been married for years. If this young lady isn’t your wife, yet you’re holding her so intimately, then isn’t that adultery?”
Carter felt a surge of inexplicable anger at their accusations.
How could they twist things so badly?
Unwillingly, his
like the others.
gaze shifted toward Sharon, desperate that she wouldn’t misunderstand
Sensing his eyes on her, Sharon met his look calmly.
“Carter, you’d better accompany Kelly to the hospital. No matter what, leaving a frail
woman behind reflects poorly on you. Besides, among all of us here, if she can’t rely on you,
who else could she possibly rely on?”
“You could come with me…” Carter blurted out.
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Sharon cut him off. “Forgive my bluntness, but Kelly and I don’t share that kind of closeness. She came here for you. Now that something has happened, you don’t want to take responsibility yourself and instead expect outsiders to tend to her? Ask anyone here, does that make sense?”
“It doesn’t! Not at all!” voices from the crowd echoed in agreement.
“He won’t even take care of his own wife. Imagine how poorly he must treat her at home.”
“And he still won’t admit she’s his wife. What, is he trying to parade around as single so he can lure in pretty girls?”
Amid the chorus of disdain, the ambulance finally arrived.
Theo said, “Dad, just go. Don’t worry about me. I can look after myself.”
Under the weight of the crowd’s contemptuous stares, Carter had no choice but to follow the paramedics onto the ambulance.
Before boarding, his lips parted as though he wanted to say something to Sharon. But she had already turned away without hesitation.
The ambulance sped toward the hospital.
Afraid that once she was pushed into surgery, Carter might slip away to chase after Sharon, Kelly dared not feign unconsciousness any longer. Instead, she clung tightly to his sleeve, murmuring weakly, “Carter, please don’t leave me…
“I still have so much to tell you…
“Carter, I’m terrified that if I close my eyes, I may never see you again…”
Carter swallowed his rising irritation and soothed her in low tones.
The examinations dragged on for most of the day. At last, after treatment, Kelly’s condition
stabilized.
The doctor spoke gravely, “Kelly, you must avoid overexertion. Absolutely no risky or overly
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stimulating activities. You need rest and a calm state of mind.”
Once the doctor left, Kelly lowered her head in guilt.
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“Carter, it’s all my fault. My body is useless, and I’ve caused you so much trouble again.”
Carter’s expression remained unreadable, his tone cool. “If you knew you couldn’t handle it, why insist on forcing yourself?”
Her head drooped lower. “I… I just didn’t want to spoil everyone’s fun.”
His voice was faint, almost detached. “Even if you chose not to go, no one would have blamed you.”
“I understand… I won’t do it again,” she whispered.
Glancing at his watch, Carter rose to his feet. “Since you’re fine, I’ll be leaving now.”
Kelly froze, staring at him in disbelief.
“Carter, where are you going? Are you really going to leave me here alone?”
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Carter said, “Theo is still at the amusement park. I’ll go find him.”
He made it sound as if he were only going to pick up his son, but the truth was, he was looking for Sharon.
Kelly’s voice trembled, fragile and pitiful. “Carter, are you really going to leave me here all
alone?”
In the past, the sight of her like this would have stirred his pity. But now, for reasons he
couldn’t explain, it only made him irritable.
Suppressing the impatience boiling inside, he said flatly, “Don’t worry. You won’t be alone. I’ve already asked Nate to come keep you company.”
The moment his words fell, a knock sounded on the hospital room door.
Nate hurried in, his face lined with worry. “Kelly, why are you hospitalized again? Hasn’t your health been stable these past few weeks?”
Kelly’s fingers twisted into the bedsheet.
So, just to chase after Sharon, Carter had even called Nate here.
Since when did Sharon hold such sway over him?
Were all men the same-that what they couldn’t have was always the most tempting?
She shot Carter a look filled with grievance and whispered, “I went to the amusement park with Theo today. I overestimated my condition. After playing one ride, my illness flared up again.”
But Carter didn’t spare her so much as a glance. He turned to Nate instead.
“Theo is still at the park. I’ll pick him up. You stay here and keep Kelly company.”
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Nate had been restless lately, eager for distraction, and truthfully, he’d been looking for a chance to unburden himself to Kelly. He waved dismissively. “Go, go. Don’t worry about a thing. She’ll have me here.”
It never even crossed his mind to question why Carter would leave his son alone at an amusement park.
Kelly opened her mouth to call Carter back, but before she could, Nate leaned closer, dropping his voice in conspiratorial secrecy.
“Kelly, did Carter tell you about Damien?”
Annoyed and distracted, she frowned. “You mean the business with Sharon’s injured
hand?”
She had already heard of that during their last gathering.
“Not just that.” Nate darted a glance around the room before lowering his voice further. “From what I can tell, Carter’s planning to get revenge on Damien. When he and Julliard were drawing up plans, they even sent me away on purpose. Later, when I asked, neither of them would admit a thing. They’ve kept it locked up tight.”
Kelly gave a cold little laugh. “And so what if they are?”
She had already mentioned the matter to Thomas afterward, but he’d only been amused, eager to watch from the sidelines. Since Thomas had no intention of interfering, she could do nothing either.
Still, the thought struck her-if they avenged Sharon, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
The Malcolm family might turn their hatred onto Sharon instead, and when they came for her, Kelly could sit back and reap the benefits while they tore each other apart.
Nate, meanwhile, was practically buzzing with gossip. “Didn’t Damien end up in the hospital after hurting his hand? Someone reported him—said he was hiding contraband in his place. They dragged him off for questioning overnight. When they finally released him, he got jumped, stuffed into a sack, and beaten half to death. His face was nearly ruined.”
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Kelly only half-listened, her thoughts elsewhere.
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If Carter really meant to punish Damien, then these incidents almost certainly traced back
to him.
“But that’s nothing,” Nate continued, his tone growing darker. “What’s truly vicious… can you guess?”
For once, the usually blunt Nate hesitated, his expression twisted with something
unspoken.
Kelly, mind preoccupied with how she might persuade Nate to go after Carter later, asked absently, “What?”
Nate’s eyes gleamed as he leaned closer, relishing the scandal. “That night, after they beat
him unconscious, Damien woke up with nothing on him. Not a stitch of clothing. And his body was covered in… indescribable marks.
“In short, no one knows exactly what happened to him that night.”
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“Word of the scandal is spreading like wildfire through the upper circles. Some are claiming Damien has finally come out of the closet. Others are whispering that he had been violated. Rumors are running rampant, each more lurid than the last,” Nate said.
Kelly, who at first had paid little mind, was stunned into silence when she heard Nate’s
words.
“What did you just say?! Damien was—
Nate, clearly reveling in the misfortune, leaned closer, his eyes gleaming with malice.
“He was dumped naked in the middle of the street. Plenty of bystanders caught it on
camera. Now his nude photos are everywhere. If you ask me, Damien’s reputation is ruined
beyond repair.”
Kelly’s eyes flickered with unease. “This… was Carter’s doing?”
1
Nate nodded with absolute certainty. “You already knew he and Julliard were plotting revenge against Damien. But I never imagined Carter would go this far. Ruthless! Still, I have to admit—it’s exactly what I like to see.
“Best case, Lex, that pervert, gets the same treatment, and his indecent photos flood the net too. Then his claim as heir will be stripped away.”
Kelly froze, unsettled. “That doesn’t sound like Carter’s style. Are you sure it was him?”
“Who else could it be?” Nate countered. “Sharon? Please. She doesn’t have the means for
something like this.”
But Kelly knew the truth. With Thomas acting as a mole by Sharon’s side, she was certain it hadn’t been Sharon. The most she had done was smash Damien’s hand-shattering it into pieces-and even then, she hadn’t struck the blow herself. No one could pin the act on her.
After a long silence, Kelly murmured, “Carter was too cruel this time…”
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And indeed, for a man, suffering such humiliation was worse than death.
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Though Lex moved quickly to suppress the news, this was Zachemaine-their efficiency lacked the precision he desired. By the time the posts were scrubbed, photos and videos had already been saved and circulated in private. Many young heirs with grudges against the Malcolm family spent a fortune to acquire them.
Good deeds rarely leave the house, but bad news travels a thousand miles.
Some even bought plane tickets to Amstern City just to sneer at Damien to his face, their expressions laced with ridicule.
“Well, well, Damien, you’ve got quite the figure. Better than most hostesses in the clubs.”
“The Malcolm family really is twisted. Lex’s a pervert, and Damien’s an exhibitionist.”
“Disgusting. Don’t tell me he actually likes men? He touched my hand once-ugh, I feel
sick.”
“Hey, Damien, interested in dating me? You can be the top, I’ll be the bottom. How about
it?”
Damien’s face turned the color of iron. To have been stripped bare and left lying in the street all night-it was beyond humiliation. It made him burn with the urge to kill.
When Lex arrived, he found the room in ruins, every object smashed to pieces. Damien sat amid the wreckage, drinking.
“Your hand hasn’t healed,” Lex said calmly. “You shouldn’t be drinking.”
Damien gave a cold laugh. “I’m useless now. If my hand is ruined, so be it.
“The news has been silenced. Every loose end tied up,” Lex replied evenly. “From now on, no one will dare speak of this in your presence.”
Damien took another heavy swig, his words slurring with drunken bitterness. “No, they won’t speak to my face. They’ll whisper behind my back instead…”
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Lex fell silent. He didn’t know how to console Damien. After a moment, he asked, “Who do you think did this?”
Damien set down the bottle. A venomous gleam flickered in his eyes, sharp and cold as a
serpent’s.
Through clenched teeth, he spat, “Sharon.”
Not interesting at all
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The moment Lex heard Sharon’s name, his brow furrowed instinctively.
“Sharon, again? How did you and Sharon become enemies?”
Damien recounted the entire story of his grudge with Sharon.
After listening, Lex said, “You nearly crippled her hand. She certainly has a motive for doing
this.”
He offered no real opinion beyond that, nor did he feel Damien had been in the wrong. After all, Sharon had interfered first. Even if her hand had truly been ruined, it would have been nothing more than her just deserts.
“But,” Lex added, “I don’t believe she’s capable of pulling something like this.”
Planting contraband on Damien wasn’t something Sharon could manage. Locking him up for a night, drugging him unconscious, and stripping him bare-such a series of maneuvers might sound simple, but carrying them out was anything but.
Damien’s voice turned dark. “She may not have the ability, but that doesn’t mean the people around her don’t. This is Amstern City. Xavier, Carter, Nate… any of them are
suspicious.”
“I’ve already sent people to investigate,” Lex said. “But remember, this is Amstern City. With the methods those men use, there may not be a single flaw to find. Especially Carter. He’s the type who leaves no evidence behind.”
As he spoke, Cole entered with the results of the investigation. His expression was strange.
Lex narrowed his eyes. “What’s with that look?”
“The findings are out. No hard evidence, but everything points toward Carter…” Cole’s tone carried disbelief. “When did Carter become so vile?”
He knew Carter well enough. Ruthless against enemies, yes, but ruthless and base were not
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the same. Beating Damien, locking him away-that could be understood. But stripping him and throwing him out on the street? That was beyond comprehension.
Lex’s gaze darkened with thought.
For the Biggs family to have risen so high, Carter clearly possessed both ability and
cunning. He was no gentleman, but neither was he usually this shameless.
After a moment’s hesitation, Lex turned to Damien. “Damien… are you certain you weren’t violated?”
Though Damien was a man, his striking looks and rakish charm were undeniable. Within their circle, there were plenty who preferred such a thing. In short, anything was possible. Lex needed to be sure: had Damien only been stripped, or had worse occurred?
It was an awkward question, one difficult to voice. However uncomfortable, he had to know.
Better to face it now than leave Damien vulnerable to attacks later without clarity.
Cole, listening at the side, looked equally embarrassed. Damien had truly suffered
something wretched.
Damien’s fingers tightened around the wine bottle in his hand. Cracks spread across the glass until it shattered in his grip. He ground his teeth. “If they really dared do that to me, then even if it costs me my life, I’ll drag every last one of them to hell with me!”
Lex said, “Even if nothing happened, the rumors are already out there. Carter may not have come up with such a malicious scheme himself. Whoever gave him that idea is truly
venomous.”
None of them named the mastermind explicitly, but they had an idea who it was.
Damien clenched his jaw tight. “I’ll remember this grudge. The day I get my chance, I’ll make sure she begs for death and finds none.”
Without Carter and Kelly around, the very air felt cleaner.
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Even Theo and Matty, for once, were oddly harmonious. Matty was gentle and obedient, never once provoking Theo. As long as Theo didn’t stir trouble, the two of them could maintain a fragile peace on the surface.
While the children went off to enjoy the amusement rides, Sharon and Xavier stood outside,
chatting idly as they waited.
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Xavier never returned to the uncomfortable subject that had unsettled Sharon. Instead, most of their conversation circled around her competition and upcoming concert.
Before long, noon arrived, and the group chose a buffet restaurant for lunch.
Throughout the meal, Xavier busied himself attending to everyone-fetching cups, cutlery, pouring water, and juice. His attentiveness left Theo staring in stunned silence.
When Sharon and Matty went to get food, Xavier glanced at Theo with a smile.
“Theo, why are you looking at me like that?”
Theo’s gaze darted elsewhere. “N-no reason.
Of course, Xavier saw through his thoughts. His smile deepened.
“Tell me, whenever you eat with your parents, the one rushing back and forth, serving, is always your mother, isn’t it?”
Theo hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded honestly. “Yes.”
“And do you think your mother prefers being the one who runs around,” Xavier asked gently, “or would she rather be cared for?”
Theo thought it over, then said, “Probably… cared for.”
Even a five-year-old could understand such a simple truth.
Xavier’s eyes softened with amusement. “Theo, have you noticed? Since your mother divorced your father, she’s changed. She’s become brighter, stronger, and more dazzling.”
Theo gave a small nod.
“And if you had to choose between the mother you had before, and the mother she is now…
which one would choose?”
you
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Theo’s small face twisted with hesitation. The mother from before had doted on him in every way, and he loved it. Sometimes, he even longed for her to treat him like that again.
But the mother she had become-strange yet full of surprises-he loved her just as much.
He wrestled with the question for a long while, unable to decide. At last, he murmured, “Can I… choose both?”
Xavier chuckled. “No. You can only choose one. No being greedy.”
Theo fell quiet, thinking hard. Finally, he said, with rare seriousness, “Then… the mother
she is now.”
The answer did not surprise Xavier.
People admired strength. Children, pure and unfiltered, did so all the more.
Theo added, “I didn’t know my mom could do so much. She speaks other languages, plays
the violin, paints… Even though she doesn’t take care of me like before, she seems happier than she used to be. So I’d rather have the mom I have now. I’ve grown up a little. I can take care of myself. I just want her to be happy.”
For a moment, Xavier froze.
He had always thought Theo was a spoiled child. He hadn’t expected such thoughtfulness
from him.
Looking at the boy, Xavier said, “If you believe the mother you have now is better, then you can’t let your parents remarry. If they did, your mom might go back to being unhappy. And
you don’t want her to be unhappy… do you, Theo?” 2
Theo nodded instinctively, though something about the reasoning felt odd. Before he could puzzle it out, Sharon returned with Matty, carrying a plate of food. She had even picked out some of Theo’s favorites.
His eyes
Mom.”
lit up. For the first time, instead of taking it for granted, he said, “Thank you,
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Sharon smiled. “Go ahead. Dig in.”
After lunch, the four of them continued their day out together.
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By the time Carter arrived, they had not yet left.
Tracking their location through Theo’s wristwatch, he followed it to a lakeside. There, he
caught sight of Sharon’s familiar figure.
His expression shifted as he started toward her… only to freeze in place.
Because before his eyes, Sharon was in Xavier’s arms.
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Carter’s eyes darkened with anger as he strode toward Sharon.
Just then, Sharon’s foot slipped on the damp stones, and she nearly fell. Fortunately, Xavier reacted swiftly, catching her before she hit the ground.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
She had barely steadied herself when a powerful force wrenched the two of them apart.
Unprepared, Sharon staggered back two steps. Her heel struck a slick pebble, and she almost toppled again.
“Sharon!” Xavier instinctively reached out to steady her once more.
But before he could, Carter seized her wrist in a brutal grip, yanking her sharply into his
chest.
“Sharon. Xavier. What the hell are you two doing?!”
Xavier caught hold of her other wrist, his expression darkening. “Carter, let her go.”
Carter’s voice cut like ice. “You let go.”
At the sight of him, Sharon’s face paled. “Carter, what are you doing? Let me go!”
She tried to wrench her hand free, but his grip was like iron, unyielding and merciless. Her struggle only made his fingers tighten, pain lancing through her wrist.
The ever-smiling charm on Xavier’s face vanished, replaced by a dangerous chill.
“Carter, Sharon is divorced from you. Whoever she’s with, whatever she does-it’s none of your business.”
Carter gave a cold laugh. “It’s none of my business? And what, it’s yours instead?”
Without sparing him another glance, he tugged Sharon forward, intent on dragging her
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away.
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But Xavier held fast to her other hand, barring his path. “Carter, let her go. She doesn’t want to leave with you.”
His grip tightened further. “She doesn’t want to come with me? You think she wants to go with you?”
Neither man would yield. The searing pressure on her wrists made Sharon break out in a cold sweat.
“Let go… it hurts!”
The plea jolted Xavier back to himself. Seeing the pallor of her face, he immediately released
her hand.
But Carter did not. His grasp remained firm, tightening once more as if she might vanish
the moment he let go. 1
“You’re hurting her,” Xavier said coldly. “What do you want, Carter? To crush her wrist
until it breaks?”
Carter finally lowered his gaze to her, only then noticing her ashen face. His grip eased slightly. The pain subsided, yet he still refused to release her entirely. It was as though the thought of loosening his hold terrified him-if he let go, she would disappear forever.
His voice dropped, hoarse and low. “Sharon… we need to talk.”
Before Sharon could respond, he had already pulled her away toward a quieter corner. Xavier, unwilling to risk injuring her further, did not stop him. He merely stood there, silent, watching their retreating figures.
Once they reached a secluded spot, Carter finally loosened his grip.
The instant he let go-
Smack!
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A sharp slap landed hard across his face, snapping his head to the side.
Yet not a flicker of pain crossed his expression.
“Feel better now?” he asked.
Sharon’s voice was colder than ice. “No.”
“Then hit me again.”
Without hesitation, she slapped him a second time.
His expression remained unchanged, as if her fury couldn’t reach him.
His gaze
drifted to her reddened palm. “If it’s not enough, keep going.”
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A bitter laugh escaped her. “Your skin is thick enough not to feel it. I’m just worried I’ll hurt
my hand before I hurt you.”
She rubbed at her sore wrist, her voice sharp with venom.
“Carter, tell me, if you don’t break my wrist for Kelly’s sake, will you feel like you’ve
somehow failed her?”
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Chapter 723
Carter’s voice came low and hoarse. “That’s not what I meant. You misunderstood. I just…”
He seemed as though he wanted to explain, but in the end, he gave up.
All he said was, “I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
Sharon’s eyes burned with unmasked disgust as she glared at him.
“Carter, when will you finally stop showing up in front of me and tormenting me? Is divorce not enough to get rid of you? Do I have to leave this world entirely to be free of you?”
A flicker of raw hurt flashed across his eyes, disbelief laced with pain. “Sharon… am I really
so loathsome to you?” 1
Sharon’s lips curved into a mocking smile.
“Only just realizing it now? This past year, you and Kelly haven’t only disgusted me, you’ve made me sick. Just the sight of the two of you turns my stomach.”
Her gaze stabbed into him, sharp and merciless, and it burned his
eyes.
A shadow of fury crossed his expression.
“Then who do you like? Xavier? Is it because of him that you abandoned your husband and
child, that you divorced me?” 1
Sharon had no desire to dredge up old grievances. He never admitted fault, never once considered that he might be in the wrong.
Her voice was cool and detached. “Because of who-or what-it was never because of you.”
Blood rushed behind Carter’s eyes. “So you admit it?”
She looked at his anger, and laughter slipped from her lips.
“Carter, why do you look like a man who’s just been cuckolded? Does it really enrage you
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that much? At the very least, I only met another man after we divorced. You, on the other hand, were already tangled up with Kelly while still married to me.”
“I wasn’t-” The denial leapt instinctively to his lips. “I wasn’t entangled with her. I’ve already explained this to you. What I feel for her is only-”
Sharon cut him off, impatience sharpening her tone.
“You held her, embraced her, kept her close, and you still dare say you weren’t entangled, that you were innocent? In that case, even if I were in Xavier’s arms, what of it?”
Carter opened his mouth, but no words came.
And then he caught the look in her eyes-half smile, half scorn.
A sudden memory struck him like a blow: only recently, he had carried Kelly when she collapsed in one of her attacks.
At the time, it had felt natural, beyond reproach. In fact, when Sharon voiced her
displeasure, he had gone so far as to accuse her of being petty, of being heartless toward a
woman with a terminal illness.
But the bystanders’ comments he’d heard earlier in the day… they had planted a seed of
doubt.
Had he really gone too far?
“If you don’t like it, I’ll be more careful from now on. Sharon, you don’t need to retaliate against me by being with Xavier.”
Sharon stared at him, utterly speechless.
Her patience with Carter had been wrung to its limit.
“Carter, are you deaf? What happens between me and Xavier has nothing to do with you, and it is certainly not about provoking you. I divorced you because I wanted to. I have no intention of ever reconciling.”
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She locked her gaze on him.
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“Carter, marriage is not a child’s game. You don’t divorce in a fit of anger, and you don’t reconcile just because you regret it. If you’re still harboring the delusion that I’ll return to you, kill that hope now.”
She paused, her expression sharpening with solemn gravity as she delivered the final blow.
“Carter, I don’t love you anymore. The Sharon who once loved you, truly and deeply, died the moment you chose Kelly over me again and again. Every time you accused me,
abandoned me, and stole away what was mine… you killed that old Sharon with your own
hands.”
Chapter 724
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Carter stood frozen long after Sharon left.
In the past, he could always comfort himself with the thought that she was just throwing a tantrum. Once Kelly’s concert was over, he would coax her gently, and she would come
back.
After all, they still had a child together. No one knew better than he how much Sharon cared about Theo. He couldn’t believe that, as a mother, she could truly bear to abandon her son.
And he he owed her far too much because of Kelly.
He used to think of it this way: Sharon was his wife, part of him. What harm was a little grievance? Kelly, on the other hand, was an outsider. Better to shortchange Sharon for a
while than be indebted to Kelly. 1
Once Kelly’s troubles were resolved, he would make it up to Sharon.
He had believed with such certainty that half a year’s time was nothing, that Sharon could
endure it. 3
But once neglect turned into habit, every concession Sharon made became, in his eyes,
matter of course.
By the time Carter finally woke from his delusions and went looking for her, he found Xavier examining Sharon’s wrist.
Neither of them noticed his approach.
He heard Xavier’s guilty voice.
a
“Sharon, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you just now? Should we go to the hospital for a check-up? We can’t risk affecting your competition. Your hands mustn’t suffer the slightest
injury.” 1
“It’s fine,” Sharon replied softly, her tone gentle-so unlike the cold, weary edge she
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always reserved for him. “The bone isn’t hurt.”
“But your wrist is bruised,” Xavier protested.
“It’s only a superficial injury. And it wasn’t even caused by you.”
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Xavier had already noticed something wrong earlier and quickly released her. He hadn’t even pulled that hard.
Still, he said, “Whether or not I caused it, it happened because of me. I should take responsibility.”
Sharon smiled faintly. “If you hadn’t caught me, I would have fallen. The injury might have
been much worse than this bruise.”
Carter’s body jolted.
So… he had misunderstood?
His eyes fell on Sharon’s right wrist-encircled by a stark, angry bruise he’d given her. He had lost control of his strength earlier and left it behind.
He knew better than anyone how carefully a violinist like Kelly guarded her hands. And yet,
he realized with a chill, he had been carelessly, perhaps even habitually, hurting Sharon’s.
The step he was about to take faltered.
In the end, Sharon yielded to Xavier’s insistence and went to the hospital.
After a thorough check, the doctor confirmed there was no serious damage to her hands. Only then did Xavier finally breathe easy.
“Sharon,” he said, “it’s getting late. Let me take you home. I’ll take Matty back first. These next few days, you need to rest. Don’t overthink. And if you run into anything you can’t handle, call me.”
Lowering his voice, he added, “I’ve arranged for someone to keep watch over you, but still, be careful when you go out.”
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Sharon nodded.
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Though Matty lingered reluctantly, he was sensible enough to say, “Sharon, good luck with your competition!”
Sharon smiled, bidding the child goodbye, then left with Theo.
Theo asked if he could stay with her for a couple of days, and Sharon agreed.
With the competition and Kelly’s concert looming, her time was stretched unbearably thin.
But no matter what, Theo was her son. And now that he was no longer as willful as before, she couldn’t bring herself to turn him away.
When they went upstairs, Theo immediately began exploring her apartment with curious
eyes.
Chapter 725
It was Theo’s first time in Sharon’s apartment, and everything filled him with curiosity.
Sharon prepared a room for Theo. Her apartment wasn’t small; aside from the rooms reserved for Wendy, Matty, and herself, there were still two spares.
Once she finished tidying, she found Theo sitting quietly on the living room sofa, lost in thought. She walked over and asked, “What would you like for dinner? I’ll cook for you.”
Theo snapped back from his daze.
“Your hand is hurt, Mom. You shouldn’t be cooking. Let’s just order takeout.”
As he spoke, something came to mind.
“Mom, the ointment I gave you doesn’t just prevent scarring. It reduces swelling and bruising too.”
Eager to prove himself, he offered brightly, “Let me put some on for you.”
Sharon didn’t refuse. She pulled the ointment from her bag-the very one he had given her.
Carefully recalling Julliard’s instructions, Theo applied it to the bruise on her arm. A faint, herbal fragrance drifted through the room, soothing yet rich. 1)
Having studied traditional medicine under Uriah for a time, Sharon recognized at once that it was top- quality ointment.
“Did your daddy give this to you?” she asked.
Theo shook his head.
“No, I bought it myself.”
Sharon said nothing more.
Biggs Group, CEO’s Office.
Julliard finished recounting Damien’s situation.
Carter’s brows furrowed.
“You’re saying Damien was stripped naked and thrown onto the street?”
“Yes,” Julliard replied. “Our men only beat him up. We never expected someone else was already watching him.” 2
Carter’s gaze darkened, his voice low. “Lex will likely pin this on us.”
A man could be crippled, even beaten within an inch of his life. But humiliation of this kind was intolerable.
Julliard calmly lifted the teacup before him and took a measured sip.
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“Carter, we left no traces this time. There’s no way they can connect it to us. Judging from this, Damien has plenty of enemies. It’s impossible he’d just happen to suspect us.”
He set the cup down, lips curving into a faint smile. “And even if he does… so what? Since when have we ever feared the Malcolm family?”
Carter’s tone sank further.
“I’m not worried about Damien. What concerns me is that if he can’t find anyone else to blame, he might take it out on Sharon again.”
“He won’t.” Julliard’s answer came fast, firm as steel. 1
Carter’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you so certain?”
For a moment, Julliard’s fingers stilled on the cup. A flicker of something dark flashed through his eyes.
“Carter, have you forgotten? Uriah won’t stand by and let anything happen to Sharon.”
Carter drummed his long, pale fingers against the desk. Something still felt off, though he couldn’t quite place it.
Then, suddenly, he noticed the edge of Julliard’s rolled-up sleeve-beneath it, a faint wound.
“You’re hurt?” Carter asked, eyes narrowing.
Julliard lowered his sleeve with deliberate ease.
“Just a scratch from my cat,” he said lightly.
He rose to his feet.
“I’ve still got work at the company. If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back.”
Carter nodded.
But instead of returning to the office, Julliard drove straight to his villa.
He unlocked a concealed door and stepped into a secret room. Its walls were covered with photographs of
Sharon.
Rolling up his sleeve again, he revealed the mark on his arm- an identical wound to the one on Sharon’s.
–
Lifting his arm slowly, he drew in a deep breath, and with a reverence bordering on devotion, pressed a kiss against the bruise, 2
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Chapter 726
The next morning, Carter was once again waiting outside Sharon’s apartment.
Last night, Theo had already told him that Sharon planned to take him to the sports club for shooting practice today. She wouldn’t bring Matty along. It would be only the two of them.
Carter longed to reconcile with her, and such a rare opportunity was not one he could let slip by. He had stayed up late finishing his work, just so he could be here early.
He hadn’t even told Theo. Theo was too young to keep a secret, and Carter didn’t want him to accidentally blurt something out that might make Sharon change her plans.
Before long, the apartment door opened, and two figures stepped out-one tall, one small. Sharon and Theo.
Carter’s tense expression eased. He was just about to approach when another figure emerged from the doorway.
A tall, upright man.
Carter froze in place.
Neither Sharon nor Theo noticed Carter.
Theo looked up at the man beside his mother and asked eagerly, “Thomas, do you really know how to shoot?
Thomas smiled. “Shooting and darts share the same principles. I’ve been practicing these past few days. It won’t be a problem.”
Theo’s eyes lit up. He had been training in marksmanship for some time now. “Then I want to compete with you!”
Theo liked Thomas very much.
At the sports club last time, it was Thomas who had helped him find his mother’s protective charm and brought him safely back. To keep him from getting wet, Thomas had even draped his own coat over him.
Theo hated Matty, and by extension, disliked Xavier as well. But although he hadn’t spent much time with Thomas, he liked him immensely.
Thomas chuckled. “All right, we’ll compete. But don’t expect me to go easy on you.’
That only made Theo happier, “I don’t need adults to go easy on me!”
Sharon glanced at him with a small smile. “Thomas, thanks for accompanying us today,”
Thomas laughed. “After such a delicious breakfast, how could I leave without doing anything in return?” He lifted the bag in his hand. “Eating and taking-if I don’t help out a little, wouldn’t that be terribly rude?”
Since Theo was staying with her for a few days, Sharon couldn’t order takeout every meal. That morning, she had risen early to prepare him a hearty breakfast.
By chance, Thomas had come by to deliver something to Wendy. Sharon had invited him to join them, and
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had even made extra pastries.
She said no more, and the three of them started heading out… only to suddenly catch sight of a figure standing nearby.
Theo blinked in surprise. “Dad? What are you doing here?”
Carter’s face was dark, his voice sharp and biting.
“What’s this? You don’t welcome me anymore? You’ve only spent one day with your mother, and already you’ve forgotten your father?”
Sharon frowned, about to speak, when Thomas stepped forward.
“Carter, no matter how bad your mood is, you shouldn’t take it out on a child.”
Seeing Thomas walk out of Sharon’s home first thing in the morning, chatting and laughing with her and Theo like a real family, Carter’s chest tightened with irritation. 2
Why were there always so many buzzing flies around Sharon?
His gaze turned cold as he shot Thomas a glare. “I’m Theo’s father. I can speak to my own child however I wish. You’re an outsider. You have no right to interfere.”
But Thomas didn’t bristle. He only smiled pleasantly, his tone still mild.
“Now, that’s not quite fair. Whenever Sharon and Theo speak, Kelly has interrupted plenty of times. If you say I’m an outsider with no right to interfere, then why does Kelly have the right to meddle?” 1
Chapter 727
“Is it because… she’s your woman?” As he spoke, Thomas gently guided the still-dazed Theo to stand
beside him.
“Theo, your dad’s in a bad mood today. Don’t be mad at him, okay?”
Theo nodded obediently, though he didn’t fully understand why his father was upset.
Thomas’s emotional intelligence was exceptional-he neither blamed nor provoked, unlike Kelly, whose words always carried subtle jabs. Even Carter, who disliked him on principle, couldn’t find fault with anything Thomas said.
Yet that didn’t make Carter like him. On the contrary, he found Thomas unnervingly calculating. He had already suffered losses at Thomas’s hands more than once.
His tone remained curt. “Keep your schemes to yourself. Don’t act sanctimonious here.”
Thomas only sighed softly. “I truly care about Theo. I’m sincerely just looking out for him.”
Then he looked at Sharon. “I don’t know what I’ve done to cause such a misunderstanding between us. Sharon… maybe I should leave for now. You were planning to take Theo out today anyway. Had I known you already had plans, I wouldn’t have come.”
He smiled at Carter. “I wouldn’t want to interrupt your family’s quality time.”
Sharon said, “You don’t need to leave. We didn’t schedule anything. And if anyone should leave, it should be
him, not you.
She called to Theo and Thomas. “Let’s go. Thomas, you drive.”
“Okay,” Thomas replied.
As they passed Carter, Thomas glanced at him with a radiant smile.
“So, it seems you and Sharon didn’t have prior arrangements. You came uninvited? Since you’re in a bad mood today, you probably wouldn’t enjoy it anyway. I’ll take Theo out in your place. When you feel better, you can come find him. Don’t let your foul mood ruin everyone else’s day.”
Theo, realizing what Thomas said, hesitated. He had initially wanted to invite his father, but now… if Dad’s mood was bad, it could upset Mom. Better to leave Dad behind for now. 1
Nodding politely, he waved to Carter. “Bye, Dad.”
With that, the three of them got into Sharon’s car. Thomas pressed the accelerator, and the vehicle quickly disappeared from Carter’s sight.
Only after a long moment did Carter come back to his senses. Somehow, the scene felt eerily familiar.
Suddenly, it hit him-this was so much like the past, when he had taken Kelly to pick up Theo. The only difference was the victim of the situation: now it was he instead of Sharon.
Today, Sharon hadn’t even scolded him, yet he felt so painfully uneasy. Then he thought of all the times he
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had criticized Sharon for being immature-how much must she have suffered? >>
It was as if a massive stone were pressing down on his chest.
He stood frozen for a long moment before finally deciding to follow.
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He didn’t trust Thomas, whose background remained a mystery. Even he hadn’t been able to uncover anything about Thomas.
Thomas… was definitely trouble.
Chapter 728
Chapter 728
At the sports club, Theo and Thomas were competing in shooting.
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As he had promised, Thomas didn’t hold back. Every shot hit the bullseye-ten points-without a single
miss.
Theo, who had entered the match brimming with confidence, was stunned as he watched Thomas’s flawless streak. Every shot hit the mark. There was no way he could match that. Even before the competition had fully started, he already knew he was going to lose.
After a few rounds, Thomas turned to Theo and smiled. “That was just a warm-up. We haven’t officially started yet.”
Theo swallowed hard. “J-Just a warm-up?”
Thomas nodded. “I’m an adult, so to keep it fair, I’ll give you a five-meter distance advantage. How about that?”
Theo knew well that even with a head start, he still couldn’t beat Thomas. He nodded.
Even with the added distance, Thomas continued to hit ten points with every shot. Eventually, he moved to the farthest distance available.
In the entire sports club, there were almost no people who could shoot with such precision, shot after shot hitting the bullseye.
Theo’s eyes followed Thomas’s every movement, sparkling with admiration.
The sound of the shots made Theo leap with excitement. “Another ten points! Thomas, you’re amazing! You’re even better than Aunt Victoria!”
Even at the farthest distance, hitting ten points was something Aunt Victoria could manage—but she wasn’t as spectacular as Thomas. While she could hit ten, there were times she landed only eight or nine. Theo had thought she was incredible-until now.
Thomas was on a completely different level.
Following that, no matter what sports Theo suggested, Thomas performed nearly flawlessly. Even in activities he was less skilled at, he mastered the techniques in record time,
Sharon, though mentally prepared-having heard from Wendy that Thomas was a natural athlete- couldn’t help but glance sideways, impressed by his talent.
Theo, meanwhile, had officially become Thomas’s little superfan.
Today, every target hit in the archery events earned a reward-but each participant had only three arrows, and no one could shoot on another’s behalf.
Theo had his eye on a car model not too far away. He took his three shots and missed every time.
Archery, while requiring precision like shooting, was far more difficult. Pulling the bow tested arm strength and hand coordination in ways a gun never could.
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Sharon tried three shots as well and failed each time. Her talent shone in music, but in sports, she was admittedly outmatched.
Just then, an arrow whizzed past them and hit the car model dead center.
A staff member carried the model over to Thomas. “Congratulations, sir. You’ve won this car model.”
Thomas handed the car to Theo. “You like car models, right? This one’s yours.”
Theo’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Thomas!”
Thomas asked, smiling, “Is there anything else you want? I will win it for you.”
Theo glanced at the array of prizes and whispered, “Anything I want?”
“Anything,” Thomas confirmed.
Theo’s gaze drifted forward. The prizes at the front were all inanimate objects-close and easy to win. But the ones further back were live animals.
To ensure their safety, the staff had outfitted the animals with light protective gear to prevent any accidental injury or worse during the archery events.
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Each prize was marked with a designated reward zone somewhere on the object. Only by hitting that zone could the participant claim the prize.
The live animals, constantly moving, were positioned at the far end, making the task exceptionally difficult.
The most challenging was a cat placed at the very back. Its reward zone was affixed to its tail-hitting it was nearly impossible. But the prize was correspondingly exceptional: a pair of earrings designed by the renowned jewelry designer, Rose. The earrings were worth roughly three hundred thousand. Until now, no
one had ever claimed it.
Theo knew how difficult it would be to hit the live animals and didn’t want to put Thomas in a tough spot. Thomas, I’ll love whatever you give me,” he said.
Thomas glanced at the distant prize, pondered briefly, and then nocked an arrow.
Whoosh!
The arrow shot out like lightning. The little animal sensed danger and instinctively tried to dodge-but it was too late. The arrow struck the reward zone with perfect precision.
11
Gasps of amazement rippled through the crowd. Many applauded Thomas, while a group of children looked at Theo with wide-eyed envy. A few boys even approached him, greeting him excitedly.
“Your dad is amazing! He hit it!”
“Yeah, I wish my dad was that skilled!”
Theo froze. “He’s not-”
But before he could finish, another round of astonished voices rang out.
“Oh my god, he hit the first-prize target!”
“What the heck? How can someone hit the hardest target? Is he a professional?”
“Even professionals probably couldn’t do that on the first try!”
On the second floor, Johanna stood by the window, holding a cup of coffee. Her eyes shimmered with awe as she watched the scene below. “Incredible,” she murmured. “Victoria, he’s even better than you.’
Victoria had witnessed the event moments earlier and nodded softly. “He really is.”
By now, the staff had verified the result and handed the earrings designed by Rose to Thomas, who promptly gave them to Sharon.
Johanna said, “Your nephew’s here. Let’s go downstairs and greet him.”
Victoria glanced at her. Johanna’s eyes flickered briefly when she saw Thomas present the gift to Sharon, but she didn’t react. Years of friendship had taught Victoria that Johanna’s lack of response didn’t mean she disliked Thomas-it was that she hadn’t even considered Sharon significant.
Indeed, someone like Johanna-a young lady of talent and beauty from a prominent family-wouldn’t
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bother competing with a woman who had already been married and had a child.
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As an heiress, Johanna had her pride. She wouldn’t, like Kelly, constantly provoke rivals to assert her importance. True confidence, she knew, came from within, not from others.
In this, Victoria and Johanna were alike.
She nodded. “Alright.”
When Carter arrived, he saw Theo clustered around Thomas, talking to him with unquestioning admiration. His gaze toward Thomas radiated pure awe-something he only ever reserved for someone he truly admired.
Carter’s heart stuttered. Then he saw Thomas handing a half-opened gift box containing the earrings to Sharon. Sunlight gleamed off the box, scattering dazzling light in every direction.
Carter’s eyes were instantly pierced by the brilliance, and a sharp, uncomfortable sting shot through him.
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Under all those watchful eyes, Sharon didn’t refuse. She smiled as she accepted the gift and said a soft ” Thank you.”
Theo’s admiration for Thomas deepened even further. He now felt that Thomas was just as impressive as
his dad.
At that moment, the crowd instinctively parted to make way. Victoria and Johanna approached.
From the moment Johanna laid eyes on Thomas, her gaze stayed fixed on his face. She and Victoria had become close friends precisely because they shared similar values. Both were drawn to strength-but the kind of strength they admired differed. Victoria admired power and influence, while Johanna admired personal excellence.
And she had been right about Thomas.
“Thomas,” Johanna greeted with a smile, “we meet again.”
Thomas remained polite and courteous. “Hello, Johanna.”
Johanna studied his face for a moment. “Your performance just now… really impressive.”
“Thank you,” Thomas replied.
Victoria turned to greet Sharon and Theo. “Hello, Sharon and Theo.”
Sharon nodded lightly, while Theo ran up to Victoria, eyes sparkling with delight. “Aunt Victoria! You’re here too?”
Victoria noticed the car model in his hands and smiled. “How’s your shooting practice going, Theo?”
Theo looked sheepish. “Not very well… Thomas has only practiced a few times, and he’s already better than me. I’m really too clumsy.”
Victoria’s gaze casually swept over Thomas and quickly moved on. Just as she was about to speak, a familiar figure appeared in the crowd.
Her eyes widened. “Carter?”
She had assumed it would be just Sharon and Thomas, with Thomas accompanying them. She hadn’t expected Carter to be here as well.
Carter’s expression was dark. He walked forward silently, taking a bow and arrows from a nearby staff member without a word.
Theo’s eyes widened. “Daddy, are you going to win a prize too?”
Carter nodded slightly, cast a sharp glance at Thomas, and then drew his bow.
Victoria noticed the perfection of Carter’s posture with the bow-it was flawless.
A sharp “whoosh” split the air.
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The arrow shot from Carter’s hands struck a small animal squarely in its reward zone.
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Gasps of astonishment echoed around them. “Another pro! His first arrow hit the animal perfectly- amazing!”
“This archery event really paid off; it’s attracted such skilled players.”
“I wonder which one of the two is more skilled?”
By the time people were talking, Carter had already fired all three of his arrows, hitting every target without
fail.
Since the first prize had gone to Thomas, Carter claimed two second-place prizes and one third-place prize.
Theo stared in awe. “Daddy… you can shoot too? And you’re this amazing?”
Carter handed one of the second-place prizes to Theo. “There are many things I can do, you just don’t know yet.”
Theo’s eyes lit up even more. Boys were easily impressed by their fathers, especially when their dads were genuinely talented.
Carter handed the remaining two prizes to Sharon. “These are for you.”
The moment Carter appeared, anyone who had mistakenly assumed Thomas was Theo’s father immediately realized the truth.
“Oh? He’s the kid’s dad? No wonder they look so alike! He must be the boy’s biological father.”
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Chapter 731
“That handsome guy isn’t bad either. He shoots really well.”
“If only there were more than one first prize, he might’ve won it too.”
“I just heard that little boy call her ‘Mommy’. She’s so young and beautiful. You’d never guess she’s had a child. Someone who didn’t know might even think she’s unmarried.”
“And both these handsome men gave her their prizes… I’m so jealous!”
For a moment, comments flew from every direction, but most people assumed Sharon and Carter were a couple, since they had a child together.
Sharon looked at the gift Carter handed her with a polite, distant expression.
“Thank you, but you don’t need to give me anything. Just give it to Theo.”
Carter’s expression shifted immediately.
She accepted Thomas’s gift but refused his. In front of all these people, who were fully aware that he was Theo’s father, she hadn’t even left him a shred of dignity. (2)
A silent, bitter anger surged within him-not because she had embarrassed him-but because, in her heart, he wasn’t as important as the mysterious Thomas.
Carter opened his mouth to speak, but Victoria stepped in first, smiling.
“Theo, your mom has so many prizes now she can hardly carry them all. Go on, help her out.”
Children loved rewards, and Theo eagerly took them.
“All right, I’ll help Mom carry these.”
Sharon shot Victoria a quiet, meaningful glance but said nothing.
Meanwhile, Johanna first complimented Thomas, then said, “Thomas, do you have a moment later? I’d like to challenge you to some mounted archery.”
Thomas’s tone was calm and distant. “Sorry, I came here to work, not to play.”
Johanna’s smile faltered for a moment before she remembered Sharon, who had been slightly overlooked.
“Sharon, would you mind letting me borrow Thomas for a moment?”
From Thomas’s demeanor, Sharon could tell he wasn’t inclined to interact with Johanna. She herself had no strong feelings for Johanna, positive or negative, but she didn’t want Thomas inconvenienced.
“Johanna, I’m afraid Thomas will be teaching Theo archery later, so he won’t have the time,” Sharon replied.
Johanna’s smile softened, but she didn’t press the issue.
“All right, then perhaps next time,” she said, politely greeting everyone before turning to leave.
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A proud lady from a wealthy family never embarrassed herself in public. Victoria, seeing this, also bid the group goodbye.
Theo, too young to understand the subtle tensions among adults, looked surprised and asked, “Daddy, why are you here?”
He hadn’t expected his father to come, since Thomas had said Daddy was in a bad mood.
Carter, never one to act on impulse, replied evenly, “I heard you’ve been practicing shooting lately. I happened to be free today, so I thought I’d come teach you a bit.”
Theo blinked. “Daddy… you know archery too?”
“Of course,” Carter said.
“Are you as good as Thomas?” Theo asked innocently.
Carter cast a sharp glance at Thomas. “Why don’t we find out?”
Thomas’s expression showed hesitation. “A competition? I think we should skip that.”
Carter had never been boastful or eager to compete, but for some reason, he couldn’t let Sharon think he was inferior to Thomas.
Coldly, he said, “What’s the matter? Afraid you’ll lose?”
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Chapter 732
Thomas nodded honestly. “I admit… I’m a little afraid.”
Carter’s voice dripped with scorn. “I thought you had courage, but it seems… not much at all.”
Thomas remained calm, unshaken by the ridicule.
“Competitions have winners and losers, and winning or losing comes with conditions. I can’t agree lightly to your terms. What if I fail? I’d only be digging a hole for myself. After all, I’m not like you, Carter. I don’t have your power and influence. I can’t afford to lose.”
Carter’s eyes narrowed. “The condition is simple. You can meet it, and you can bear the consequences. If you lose… you have to leave Zachemaine, and you’ll never appear before Sharon again.”
Thomas raised an eyebrow. “And if I win?”
Carter’s voice was cool, calm, and confident. “Then the condition is yours to set.”
Thomas smiled faintly. “Carter… what do you take Sharon for? She is not your possession, nor a tool for your gambling. You open your mouth with terms like this-don’t you think it’s disrespectful? Have you asked her opinion?”
Sharon frowned. Carter had some nerve. Was he so confident he would win? Or did he truly believe he could meet the conditions if Thomas set them?
She thought back to his earlier performance. Those long years of marriage, yet she realized just how little she truly knew him-and perhaps he didn’t fully know her either.
A faint twinge of irony rose in her chest. He was always buried in work, never sharing his preferences, never bringing her to places like this.
Thomas continued, his tone steady and principled. “I’m sorry, I refuse. Call me a coward, call me spineless. But I won’t compete with you unless Sharon gives her consent.”
Even Sharon couldn’t help but glance sideways. Thomas’s words carried weight, tempered with honor. And having seen him earlier win a first prize and immediately gift her such expensive earrings without hesitation, she couldn’t help but think higher of him.
If Carter insisted further, pressing to compete without Sharon’s approval, it would only make him appear petty, even childish. He said nothing, instead calling Theo over and beginning to teach him archery.
He had made his decision: he wouldn’t leave. As long as Theo was present, his presence here was justified.
Theo quickly focused, taking his lessons seriously. Sharon, meanwhile, found it impossible to outright drive Carter away in front of her son. She chose simply to ignore him.
Seizing a moment while Carter’s attention was on teaching, Sharon returned the earrings to Thomas.
“Thomas, you earned these. Take them. Even if you can’t wear them, sell them for money. It’s fine.”
Thomas didn’t take them. “The tickets, the costs. My entire trip here is paid for by you. Any rewards Learn here belong to you as well.”
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Sharon hesitated. She didn’t like to accept gifts lightly, but before she could insist, Thomas said, “Once something is given, it isn’t taken back. I gave this to you in front of everyone. If you don’t like it, throw it in the trash. It’s yours to decide.”
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.
Sharon watched his retreating figure, surprised. Thomas’s kindness made it easy to assume he would never lose his temper. But now she realized, even he had boundaries.
Thomas went to the rest area and bought a few bottles of water, careful not to deliberately exclude Carter.
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Chapter 733
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]
Thomas held up his phone and snapped a photo in the direction of Carter.
He immediately sent it to Kelly, attaching a short message: [I can only help you this far.
Kelly’s reply came almost instantly.
[I’m on my way!]
As if remembering something, she quickly sent another message: [Thomas, thank you.]
Thomas carried the four bottles of water back slowly, taking his time.
When he returned, he saw Victoria sitting across from Sharon, deep in conversation. On the table sat the four bottles of drinks he had brought.
His ears were exceptionally keen, and he faintly caught Victoria’s voice.
“Think it over carefully. If you return, Dad is willing to give you ten percent of Kalen Group’s shares.”
Sharon, who was about to respond, noticed Thomas’s return and said instead, “All right, I will consider it.”
Victoria stood. “Then I’ll be going now.” She gave Thomas a polite smile as she prepared to leave.
Thomas’s eyes suddenly sharpened. “Victoria, wait a moment.”
Though Victoria and Thomas had met several times, they barely knew each other—just casual acquaintances, having exchanged only a few words. Now, his calling her out like this surprised her.
“Yes, Thomas?” she said, puzzled.
Thomas’s gaze fell on her earrings. “I wanted to ask, where did you get these earrings?”
Victoria instinctively touched them. “My earrings… is there something special about them?”
Thomas didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked, “May I borrow them for a closer look?”
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The request was bold, even somewhat impolite, unlike the courteous, composed Thomas she usually knew.
Sharon glanced at him but did not intervene.
Victoria studied Thomas for a moment. She admired the strong, and while he was not her type, she had a good impression of him-he was a strong man among ordinary people.
After a brief pause, she nodded. “All right.”
She removed her earrings and handed them over.
Thomas examined them carefully. The material felt warm to the touch, identical to the pair he kept. He quickly returned the earrings.
“I’ve seen enough. Thank you, Victoria.”
Victoria took them back, lowering her eyes to look. These were custom-made by her father-not unique, but distinctive. Still, she could see nothing extraordinary about
them.
She didn’t ask why he wanted to inspect them and instead smiled politely.
“Thomas, is there anything else? If not, I’ll be going.”
“Nothing further,” Thomas said.
Victoria left. Halfway down the hall, she noticed Carter teaching Theo archery.
Suddenly, she remembered-Kelly had also wanted to buy this exact pair of earrings. Why were Thomas and Kelly both showing such intense interest in them? Did the two of them have some connection?
Victoria thought carefully but could find no evidence linking Kelly and Thomas,
After she left, Sharon asked, “Thomas, is there something special about Victoria’s earrings?”
The pair Victoria wore only seemed familiar to Sharon. She had spent years around Victoria and must have seen her wear them before. She hadn’t paid them much attention at the time. 2
Thomas turned to look at Sharon, his eyes dark and intense, sending a subtle shiver through her.
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Thomas said, “It’s nothing… they just look familiar, like I’ve seen them somewhere before.”
Sharon asked, “Have you regained some of your memory?”
He was quiet for a few seconds. “Sometimes I dream of scattered fragments… but they’re hard to piece together.”
“That’s a good start,” Sharon said. “It means your memory is showing signs of recovery. Don’t rush. The rest of your memories should come back quickly.”
They had just exchanged a few words when Carter, who was teaching Theo archery, noticed Thomas had returned. A frown creased his forehead.
“Theo, practice on your own for now. I’ll teach you the other techniques in a moment,” he said.
Theo nodded obediently.
Carter then walked toward them. Sharon’s expression immediately went cold. Five years of marriage had produced only a handful of outings together. Now divorced, he had free time-yet he chose to appear in front of her constantly, whether needed or not.
Seeing him approach, Thomas tactfully said, “Sharon, I’ll go help Theo with archery.”
“All right. Go ahead,” she replied.
Once Thomas left, Sharon lowered her head to her phone, treating Carter as if he
weren’t there.
Suddenly, a bottle of drink was placed in front of her. She looked up to see Carter holding a sealed bottle.
“Drink some water,” he said.
“I’m fine, thanks,” Sharon replied coolly.
He sat opposite her. “Sharon, do you have to be so cold to me?”
She gave him a strange look. “We’re divorced. Are you expecting me to be warm and friendly?”
Before he could reply, an exclamation and applause erupted from the direction of Theo.
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“Thomas, you’re amazing!”
Sharon’s attention was drawn there. Thomas had three arrows nocked on his bow. With a single release, all three pierced the bullseye simultaneously.
Theo’s admiration was boundless-he was practically ready to become Thomas’s apprentice.
Carter’s expression darkened.
Thomas was definitely not an ordinary guy. If he was deliberately approaching Sharon with no ulterior motive, Carter didn’t believe it for a second. The moment he left Sharon’s side, he immediately latched onto Theo. People like this never had simple
intentions.
And right now, both Sharon and the recently acquainted Theo trusted and liked him immensely.
Turning to Sharon, Carter said, “Sharon, you can’t keep this unknown guy close to you. He’s dangerous… he will harm you sooner or later.”
“My matters don’t need your concern,” Sharon replied calmly. “I know what I’m doing.
11
Carter spoke in a low, warning voice. “If you insist on acting recklessly, you could put Theo in danger. Even if not for yourself… can’t you at least think of Theo?”
Sharon met his gaze. “You claim Xavier isn’t a good person. And Thomas has ulterior motives. And John sows discord. Carter… do you think all the men around me are bad?”
She was blunt. “We have no relationship anymore. Don’t let your possessiveness get out of hand. If Kelly sees this, her condition might worsen again.”
Carter parted his thin lips to speak. “Kelly and I—”
Before he could finish, an excited voice rang out,
“Carter! You’re here too!”
Carter turned, his eyelid twitching at the sight of the newcomer.
“Kelly… what are you doing here?”
Kelly smiled. “Last time, Theo said he liked shooting, right? I wanted to come practice
too, so that next time, I can go shooting with him.”
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Kelly happily walked over. “Carter, how do you have time to come here today? Are you here to help Theo practice shooting too?”
Carter responded coldly with a single acknowledgment, giving no sign that he wanted
to say more.
As she got closer, Kelly seemed to finally notice Sharon. She greeted her softly.
“Sharon.”
Then she sat down beside Carter. She paid no attention to his frosty demeanor and immediately began chattering about this and that.
At first, Carter could respond casually with a word or two. But gradually, his expression grew colder, and by the end, he had stopped replying altogether.
Kelly seemed oblivious to his change in mood and launched into memories of the past.
“Carter, do you remember? Back when we first got together, you loved listening to me play the violin. Every time we met, you’d ask me to perform for you. I even joked that you were the first audience for my personal concert.
“And do you remember the day you confessed to me? You… you were so subtle in your confession that I didn’t even realize it at first. If it weren’t for those boys harassing me later and you stepping in, claiming to be my boyfriend, I might not even have known we were together.”
Kelly chattered on endlessly.
In the past, Carter would listen without much thought, occasionally reminiscing with her about those moments. Now, all he felt was an inexplicable irritation.
He glanced instinctively at Sharon and noticed her expression calm, listening attentively. Her face showed no annoyance or impatience; if anything, there was a hint of intrigue and amusement.
Carter’s fingers tightened, his thin lips pressing together.
Finally, he couldn’t hold back. He interrupted Kelly.
“That’s enough,” he said, his voice cold. “The past is the past. Let it remain there.”
Kelly’s smile faltered for a moment. “Carter, I mean no harm. I just thought that time
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was carefree and beautiful.”
Even as she spoke, she desperately wanted to recount every intimate detail of their romance, aiming both to stir Carter’s memories and to irritate Sharon.
Sharon, of course, was not oblivious to Kelly’s intentions. In the past, whenever Kelly mentioned the past with Carter or with Nate and others, Sharon had felt like an outsider, a sense of being completely excluded. It had been a world she could never
enter.
Now, that feeling was gone. Instead, she found a certain amusement in eavesdropping on the gossip.
When Kelly paused, Sharon took the initiative to ask, “So, Kelly, do you remember when you and Carter had your first kiss?”
For a fleeting moment, Kelly froze.
Sharon actually asked that? Was she insane?
No matter how much Kelly pretended to be innocent, she would never recount something like that in front of Carter. Other memories could be nostalgic and harmless, but this-if spoken aloud-would only come across as foolish or malicious. Carter certainly didn’t want to hear it.
Kelly forced a smile. “Sharon, you really have a sense of humor.”
“I’m not joking,” Sharon said, her interest piqued. “Gossip is human nature, and your stories genuinely intrigue me. I’m sure you don’t mind sharing these romantic little episodes, do you?”
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Kelly glanced at Carter, only to see his face darken. His gaze toward her grew icy, a silent warning that she had crossed a line.
Sharon seemed completely unfazed. She pressed on with a journalist’s persistence.
“When did you first hold hands? Who reached out to whom? After you became a couple, where was your first official date? Did either of you ever prepare any romantic surprises for the other?”
Her questions came rapid-fire, leaving Kelly feeling increasingly tense. She could sense that with each inquiry, the air around Carter grew colder, more suffocating. Beads of sweat began to form on her forehead.
Sharon was doing this on purpose.
If she were acting irrationally, it would be petty, spiteful even. But instead, Sharon played a subtler game-asking pointed questions, drawing Carter’s simmering anger toward herself rather than exposing it directly. She was intentionally making him dislike her while leaving Kelly in the crossfire.
“I… I don’t really remember the details from back then,” Kelly stammered.
“But Kelly,” Sharon said, her tone light yet cutting, “you remember your first meeting with Carter so clearly. How could you possibly forget something so important and meaningful?” She cast a faintly teasing glance at Carter.
“I always thought you were deeply devoted to Carter. But if you can’t even recall something so significant, then all this talk of ‘never forgetting’-it seems it was just empty words.”
Kelly’s expression shifted uneasily, caught in an impossible trap. If she admitted remembering, Sharon would dig for more. If she said she didn’t, Sharon would mock her sincerity. No matter what she said, she would be wrong.
Feeling cornered and humiliated, Kelly muttered, “I’ll go say hi to Theo first… I’ll come back to chat with you later.”
Sharon responded casually, almost teasingly, “Alright, I’ll be waiting for you to share more of those beautiful memories.”
With Carter’s mood too tense to resolve, Kelly had no choice but to redirect her attention toward Theo. She gave a polite nod to Thomas before speaking to the boy.
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“Theo, has your archery practice been tiring? Do you want to take a short break?”
Theo was in the middle of drawing his bow and aiming. Distracted by Kelly’s voice, his arrow went wide and missed the target entirely.
Seeing this, Kelly hurried to reassure him. “It’s okay. You just started; we can take it slow. There’s no rush.”
He picked up another arrow and focused once more. Just as he aimed, her voice interrupted again, “Come on, Theo! I’m cheering for you!”
His hand wavered, and the arrow veered off course again.
Kelly continued fussing over him-offering water, wiping sweat from his forehead more attentive than even a mother might be.
But Theo wasn’t impressed; he was annoyed. Every time she distracted him, his arrows missed.
He lowered his bow and looked at her seriously.
“Kelly, can you please stop talking for a bit? I want to concentrate on practicing.”
Kelly froze. “Am I… bothering you, Theo?”
In the past, he would have waved her off politely. But now, inspired by the skill of his father and Thomas, he was determined to become just as capable. He wanted to focus, to train like the two men he admired.
“I’ll be fine,” he said firmly. “Kelly, why don’t you go rest with Mom and Dad? I’ll come keep you company later.”
Then, without another word, he eagerly picked up his bow and arrows, resuming practice.
A flush of embarrassment spread across Kelly’s face. For now, there was no way for her to return to Carter’s side,
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To Kelly’s shock, even Theo was shooing her away. She felt like a pariah, unwelcome wherever she went.
Thomas, who had been silent until now, finally smiled and spoke.
“Kelly, if you don’t have anywhere else to go, you can head up to the leisure area on the second floor to rest for a while. Victoria and Johanna are there. You can greet them
while you’re at it.”
Victoria and Johanna?
To be honest, Kelly had always wanted to meet them but never had the opportunity. She had heard from Thomas that Sharon’s relationship with Victoria wasn’t particularly good. Back then, Sharon had been driven out of the Kalen household, apparently because Sharon had “stolen” Victoria’s fiancé.
If she could gain Victoria’s favor…
Kelly felt a surge of excitement.
Thomas truly was a reliable ally-far better than Nate!
“Thank you for the tip. I’ll head there now,” she said.
When Kelly arrived at the second-floor leisure area, she indeed spotted Victoria and Johanna chatting on a corner sofa.
“Victoria, Johanna, hello,” she greeted politely.
Victoria glanced up at her. “Kelly, what a coincidence.”
Kelly smiled. “Are you here for fun as well? By the way… did you see what Theo just did?
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“I saw it,” Victoria replied calmly.
Though Victoria was speaking to her, she didn’t invite Kelly to sit. As for Johanna… she didn’t even spare her a glance.
Kelly noticed Victoria’s cool distance but didn’t feel embarrassed. She scanned the area, then leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice.
“Victoria, I have something I’d like to discuss with you privately. Could we step aside
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for a moment?”
Johanna glanced at her but remained silent.
Victoria’s expression stayed neutral. “Kelly, you can speak here. Johanna and I share everything-we’re close friends. You don’t need to worry about her.”
Kelly stopped pressing and sat across from Victoria.
“I’ve heard that Sharon is the long-lost heiress of the Kalen family.”
That Sharon was a Kalen family heiress wasn’t news to Carter, so it wasn’t surprising that Kelly knew as well.
Victoria nodded politely, a faint smile on her lips.
Kelly continued, “I’ve also heard that your relationship with Sharon isn’t very good- that she even ‘stole’ your fiancé.”
Victoria remained composed. “Kelly, what is it you’re trying to say?”
Kelly leaned slightly forward, her eyes glinting. “You might not know, but Sharon married Carter through some rather unscrupulous means.” 2
Her mind flashed back to the last time Johanna had approached Thomas first among the group. In that gathering, she alone had taken the initiative with Thomas…
Kelly smiled. “Even Thomas, who now stays by Sharon’s side, was kept there using some rather… underhanded methods. Sharon forced him to remain as her assistant.”
Sure enough, Kelly noticed Johanna finally turning her gaze toward her. A small thrill ran through her.
“An enemy’s enemy is a friend,” Kelly said slyly. “Ladies, perhaps you’d be interested in working with me?”
As for the nature of this collaboration, it was understood without words.
Victoria didn’t immediately agree, but she didn’t reject the idea either. She studied Kelly for a moment before speaking.
“If you want to collaborate, then you’ll need to show some sincerity.”
Kelly’s eyes lit up at the opening.
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“What kind of sincerity do you want?” she asked eagerly.
Victoria touched the earrings on her ear. “Kelly, can you tell me… why you were so interested in my earrings last time? And why… you wanted to buy them?”
Kelly’s eyes widened, her face turning pale the moment she saw the earrings on Victoria.
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Kelly suddenly remembered Thomas’s suggestion that she approach Victoria.
Had Thomas also noticed Victoria’s earrings?
Was he testing her? Or did he already know something?
Even if Thomas had seen them, it didn’t necessarily mean the earrings belonged to Victoria. After all, identical items existed all over the world.
Yet, despite this logic, Kelly couldn’t shake a sense of unease.
Victoria… also played the violin.
What if she owned two identical pairs of earrings?
Kelly hurriedly explained, “I saw someone wearing these earrings before and liked them very much, so I wanted to buy a pair for myself. When I saw you wearing them that day, I thought I’d buy them right away.”
Victoria knew that Kelly wasn’t telling the truth-and she wouldn’t.
She fixed her gaze on Kelly and asked again, “Just now, Thomas reacted to my earrings the same way you did that day… Kelly, do you know Thomas?”
Kelly had mentally prepared herself. She didn’t show panic, only smiled faintly.
“Yes, I’ve met Thomas a few times. We’re acquainted. But I’m not clear about the earrings.”
Victoria scrutinized her for a few more seconds. Seeing no cracks in her expression, she relaxed and smiled lightly.
“Alright, Kelly, how exactly do you propose we cooperate?”
The earrings had made Kelly slightly wary of Victoria.
Kelly asked cautiously, “Does that mean you’re agreeing to work with me?”
Victoria replied calmly, “Kelly, you should explain first. Once I understand, I’ll decide. After all, Sharon is my younger sister. I won’t do anything that could cost her life.”
Kelly nodded. “Perhaps you haven’t been in contact with Sharon all these years, so you might not fully know her. Sharon is a dangerous person. Even if she weren’t a Kalen
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heiress, she’s already gathered a circle of powerful people willing to help her. With the likes of Xavier, John, and Uriah at her side, it wouldn’t be impossible for her to take over the Kalen family’s leadership.”
She paused briefly, then continued. “And now Carter is determined to remarry Sharon. He will surely support her. Once Sharon returns to the Kalen family, your life there won’t be easy.”
Victoria’s expression remained calm. “So, Kelly, what do you want me to do?”
“We can’t let her remarry Carter, and we can’t allow her to return to the Kalen family.”
Victoria’s eyes flickered. “It’s easy to say, but I doubt it will be that simple in practice.”
Kelly smiled. “This is merely the ultimate goal for a win-win outcome. If you’re willing, I’ll contact you at the right time.”
Victoria nodded. “Then I’ll wait for your message.”
Kelly departed.
Once she had gone, Johanna finally spoke. “Victoria, are you really going to cooperate with her? From what I’ve seen, she’s not exactly trustworthy.
Victoria withdrew her gaze, calm as ever. “Of course not. I’m just testing her.”
Johanna chuckled. “I knew it. How could you possibly cooperate with that fool? As for Sharon fighting over the family fortune…”
She smirked. “Once you give the word, my brother and Lex would go through fire and water for you. And you’re seriously considering teaming up with someone who can’t even be taken seriously?”
Victoria said, “Still, she’s not as dumb as I thought. Her caution is quite strong. She didn’t reveal anything valuable in the end.”
Johanna asked, “Why were Thomas and Kelly so interested in your earrings?”
Victoria casually touched the earrings on her ear, her expression relaxed, unreadable as
ever.
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“I’m not entirely sure… maybe it’s just some ridiculous case of mistaken identity. But none of that matters. If they have ulterior motives, sooner or later their true colors will show. Whoever loses their composure first is the loser. All we need to do is wait quietly, “Victoria said.
When Kelly returned, she saw Thomas already riding and competing with Theo in horseback archery.
Thomas’s skill far surpassed Johanna’s.
Theo looked at Thomas with awe that was impossible to conceal, his admiration practically radiating from him.
Kelly felt a chill run through her.
She had put so much effort into gaining Theo’s favor.
Thomas, on the other hand, had managed to captivate Theo after just a few encounters. And just now, Thomas had deliberately sent her to greet Victoria.
What was the meaning behind that? Was it suspicion? Or just a casual move?
With Thomas, Kelly didn’t dare entertain even the slightest hope.
She wanted to ask him, but he was glued to Theo’s side, leaving her no chance.
Anxiety gnawed at her. She didn’t even have the energy to hassle Carter. Carter could wait-he was always available.
But without Thomas’s help, it would be like cutting off both her arms.
Thomas was dangerous, yes, but the assistance he offered was concrete. Without him, she could never have kept her “illness” hidden for so long.
Nearby, Sharon noticed Kelly hadn’t gone over to bother Carter. Instead, she was moving relentlessly closer to Theo.
She raised an eyebrow and teased, “Carter, your beloved Kelly might be shifting her affections elsewhere.”
It was obvious Kelly’s attention had been entirely on Thomas.
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Her intentions? Unknown.
But given Kelly’s habit of flaunting her charm while neither fully accepting nor rejecting, perhaps she was just testing the waters.
Carter’s gaze darkened slightly. He still hadn’t figured out how to push Thomas away from Sharon.
But Kelly’s actions gave him an idea.
She constantly clung to him, making Sharon misunderstand his intentions. Thomas, with his own hidden motives, was approaching Sharon.
Why not… let them occupy each other?
The thought crossed his mind for only a moment before he immediately dismissed it.
The tactic was far too underhanded.
What if Kelly didn’t like Thomas? That would put her in danger.
He couldn’t let his selfish desires endanger Kelly. Even if someone needed to keep an eye on her, his first choice would be Nate-not the unpredictable Thomas.
Yes, if Kelly got involved with someone else, she wouldn’t be thinking about him all the time.
Seeing Carter silent for so long, Sharon glanced toward him.
His eyes were fixed on the direction of Kelly and Thomas, deep and fathomless-not a gaze of tenderness, but one that sent a chill through the body.
It was the look of someone quietly plotting mischief.
For the rest of the day, Thomas didn’t stick to Sharon’s side to assert his presence. He remained fully devoted to playing various sports with Theo.
By the end of the day, he had completely won over the boy, even arranging to play together again next time.
Sharon finally witnessed Thomas’s astonishing athletic talent firsthand.
Carter’s expression darkened.
No matter how careful he had been, he hadn’t been able to prevent Thomas from showing off like a resplendent peacock.
Carter looked on with disdain and contempt. In his eyes, Thomas was no different from a male escort at an entertainment club, pandering to women.
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Kelly didn’t come to bother Carter either. She wandered about absentmindedly, but no one paid her any attention.
After leaving the sports club, Sharon, wanting to avoid further interference from Carter, didn’t go anywhere else. She planned to head straight home.
Passing by a supermarket, she decided to get out and buy some groceries. As her assistant, Thomas naturally followed along.
Carter stayed close behind their car and, seeing this, followed them inside.
When it was time to leave, Kelly tried to latch onto Carter’s car, only to be rebuffed. For once, she didn’t insist; instead, she walked away on her own.
Inside the supermarket, Carter saw Sharon pushing the shopping cart, carefully selecting vegetables.
Thomas didn’t cling to her side but walked behind her with Theo.
Theo chatted animatedly with Thomas, occasionally exclaiming, “Amazing!” or Really?” His usual composed and obedient demeanor had vanished-he was practically a different child.
Watching his son be so close and at ease with another man, Carter felt a strange, unpleasant sensation. 1
For the first time, he realized what it felt like to see his child bond so naturally with a man he disliked.
In the past, he had thought Sharon petty and jealous, unable to tolerate anyone even slightly good to their son. Now, standing in the same position, he finally understood her feelings back then.
Sharon, for her part, wasn’t chatting and laughing with Thomas like how Kelly and Carter had done in front of her in the past. Even then, he could barely stand the sight of it. Had she been like that, he would have likely stormed over long ago,
Carter closed his eyes briefly. He realized he had neglected Sharon too much because of Kelly’s antics. He didn’t intervene but simply followed Sharon’s group,
Sharon was focused on picking vegetables. From his vantage point, he could only see the side of her fair, delicate face. Through the glass windows, sunlight fell on her
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features, highlighting her beauty in a way that made his heart skip a beat.
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It seemed she sensed his gaze. Sharon lifted her eyes toward him, frowning slightly. She had long known he had followed.
She was annoyed, but there was no way she could drive him away. After all, it wasn’t her supermarket. She ignored him and continued selecting vegetables.
Theo and Thomas were engrossed in their conversation, completely unaware of Carter trailing behind them.
The vegetables Sharon chose were fresh and of excellent quality. Even the service lady at the produce section couldn’t help but praise her.
“You clearly buy groceries often. You picked the best ones. You must cook at home a lot. You know which parts of the vegetables taste best.’
Sharon smiled. “Yes, I cook. The dishes taste best when you make them yourself.”
Carter’s pupils flickered as he watched her chatting with the lady. He had never accompanied Sharon shopping, let alone picking out vegetables. He had no idea there were so many subtleties involved.
Hearing the conversation, Theo glanced over.
“Wait… picking vegetables isn’t just random?”
The lady laughed. “Of course not. Good vegetables taste different. There’s also the matter of cooking technique-the heat, the timing, the seasonings… there’s a lot to it.”
Theo whispered, “So it’s really that hard when Mom cooks?”
The lady nodded. “Staying home to care for the family isn’t easier than working. In fact, it can be more exhausting. Most people wouldn’t choose to stay home to raise their kids if they had the option to work outside.”
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