Chapter 856
Victoria frowned slightly. “Of course, not! If I were truly interested in him, I wouldn’t have given you the chance in the first place.”
Johanna broke into a bright smile. “True enough. You’re pursued by the heads of great families-men like that hardly surprise you anymore.”
As she spoke, a thought seemed to spark in her mind.
“Victoria, my brother only secured his position because of you. He has always been devoted to you, following your lead, even supporting your ambitions and career. 1
“As for Lex… the Malcolm family has been drowning in scandals lately. Your dad’s dissatisfaction with them is obvious, so the odds of you being forced into that marriage alliance are slim.
“If you married my brother, you’d not only become my sister-in-law, but also gain the Ferrero family’s support. You’d be my sister-in-law and my dearest friend-who else would I help, if not you?
“You know I have no head for business. In the future, whether in the Walton family or the Kalen family,
the stage would be yours to command.”
Victoria teased her with a smile. “Johanna, it seems you really are serious this time. I’ve never heard you
talk about a man in terms of a future before.”
Johanna lowered her eyes, her lips curving in a smile. “He’s exactly my type. And now, with a family
background that matches mine, nothing can stand in our way.’
Victoria gave a faint laugh. “That much is true.”
Johanna studied Victoria for a moment longer. Seeing no trace of jealousy or regret on her face, she
finally let her guard ease. After being friends for so many years, she knew well how formidable Victoria
could be.
Any man Victoria set her sights on had never escaped her grasp. If Victoria wanted to compete, Johanna would stand no chance.
While the two women spoke, elsewhere in the hall, Carter and his son, Theo, waited together, chatting quietly,
Theo’s eyes shone with excitement. “Mommy’s about to perform! I never knew Mommy was even better than Kelly!”
Carter gazed toward the empty stage, his breath catching inexplicably in his chest. He could hardly remember now why he had chosen Kelly over Sharon, why he had divorced Sharon in the first place.
It felt as if he had been brainwashed back then. What did Kelly ever have that could compare to Sharon?
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His voice came low and uncertain. “Theo, do you still want Daddy and Mommy to be together?”
In the past, his son would have answered without hesitation-Yes. But now, Theo faltered.
“If being with Daddy makes Mommy unhappy again, if she becomes like before… then it’s better if you don’t get back together.”
Carter’s brows knit. “Even if… even if she became someone else’s mother?”
Confused, Theo looked up at him. “But Grandpa said, even if Mommy became someone else’s mother, she’ll always be my mommy. That will never change. No matter what, Mommy will never stop wanting me.” (1
He looked at Carter with wide, serious eyes. “Daddy, would you stop wanting me if you had another child?
“1
These days, Theo had been spending more time with Richard. He had grown far more mature than before, and sometimes he spoke words far beyond his five years.
Carter had thought to use Theo as a bridge to reconcile with Sharon. But he couldn’t bring himself to deceive a child.
After a long silence, he finally said, “Theo… Daddy still wants to be with Mommy. Don’t you want us to be together?”
Theo replied, “But Mommy doesn’t want to be with Daddy anymore.”
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