Chapter 863
Casey said softly, “I was ready for an emergency, but in the end… nothing happened.”
It wasn’t an unreasonable thought. The higher the tree, the more it catches the wind; the brighter the star, the more shadows it attracts.
With so many predators lurking around Sharon, it would have been perfectly normal for some kind of incident to occur. Everyone had braced themselves for the worst. The fact that nothing happened was, in itself, the biggest surprise.
Wendy warned, “The concert may be over, but we can’t let our guard down. The enemy could be waiting for the moment we relax to make their move.”
John, Casey, and the others nodded quietly in agreement.
Sharon glanced at the time and said, “It’s getting late. The celebration party will start soon. Let’s head over. We shouldn’t keep Xavier and the others waiting.”
Wendy nodded. “Alright. Let’s go.”
Meanwhile, Johanna and Victoria were walking out together, chatting as they went.
“Your half-sister really is impressive,” Johanna remarked. “After tonight, her reputation will only climb higher. Even among the circle of society heiresses, her accomplishments are something worth flaunting.”
She paused awhile, then added, “I checked online just now-Sharon is already trending again. A lot of people are connecting the dots, suspecting she’s Jenna. Even the international competitors are starting to pay close attention to her.”
Victoria showed little reaction. After all, her sole purpose in competing had been to lose to Sharon.
For her, these details-reputation, public opinion, recognition-were nothing but trivialities. She had always taken them lightly. Enduring a bit of humiliation was something she could live with.
She smiled faintly. “That’s a good thing. It just means the Kalen family has gained another brilliant daughter.”
Seeing her attitude, Johanna said nothing further.
As they stepped outside the venue, Victoria asked, “Are you coming to my place tonight?”
“Not tonight,” Johanna replied. “I might be meeting Thomas tomorrow.”
“Alright.”
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Just as they were about to part, Victoria’s gaze caught a shadowy figure moving furtively toward them.
Her heart jolted, an ominous premonition flashing through her.
Instinctively, she shoved Johanna aside. “Careful!”
At that very instant, a liquid came splashing through the air, dousing Victoria’s arm.
“Ah!”
Johanna’s face went pale. “Victoria!”
…
+15 Bonus
The rescue room glowed with harsh red light.
By the time Sharon and Thomas arrived at the hospital, it was already the dead of night. The corridor outside was crowded with people-Richard and Rick, Lex and Cole, Johanna, and several unfamiliar assistants. 1
At the sound of approaching footsteps, Richard looked up. His face was lined with age and exhaustion.
“Sharon, you’re here.”
“What happened?” Sharon asked, her voice taut.
Rick recounted what he knew.
“Fortunately, Victoria was wearing long sleeves and managed to block most of the acid with her handbag. Otherwise, her entire arm might have been destroyed.”
Johanna turned at that moment, her expression softening as she caught sight of Thomas following behind. She gave him a tender smile.
“Thomas, you came.”
But Thomas acted as though he hadn’t heard her. He didn’t even look in her direction.
Sharon glanced at him. She knew he wasn’t deliberately ignoring Johanna.
No-he had been unsettled all day. Distracted, absent, not himself.
Even earlier at the celebration party, he had seemed lost, his mind elsewhere. Something was clearly up.
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