Chapter 864
Chapter 864
Seeing Thomas’s lack of response, a flicker of displeasure rippled through Johanna’s heart. She felt Thomas was deliberately distancing himself from her in Sharon’s presence.
It was always the same: whenever Sharon appeared, her importance fell a step behind.
Sharon averted her gaze and asked, “Have they caught the attacker?”
Rick’s expression darkened. “No. Johanna rushed to get Victoria to the hospital. There was no time to chase the culprit.”
At that moment, Lex spoke.
“By the time I sent people to search, the attacker had already vanished.”
His eyes locked onto Sharon’s, his meaning sharp as a blade.
“Even the surveillance cameras caught nothing. Someone deliberately wiped away the trail.”
Sharon’s brows furrowed. “What exactly are you implying?”
A ghost of a smile curved Lex’s thin lips. “Sharon, Victoria was attacked during your concert. Don’t you think the timing is… suspicious?”
Sharon met his stare without flinching. “Lex, are you trying to pin Victoria’s injury on me?”
“You misunderstand.” Lex’s smile lingered, but it never reached his eyes. “I only find it curious. Surveillance in other areas being destroyed, fine-but the cameras at the very entrance of your concert? Also gone.
“In Amstern City, aside from Carter and Xavier, who else has the power to pull that off? Not even I, nor Richard, could manage it so cleanly.”
The Kalen, Malcolm, and Walton families held little influence in Zachemaine. Their wealth and power surpassed most, yet even they had to tread carefully in Carter’s domain.
For years, Carter had entrenched himself in Zachemaine, building a commercial empire as unyielding as iron walls-impenetrable to outside families, no matter how elite.
As for Xavier… Though he seemed a man of little presence, the Cooper Group had its hand in countless major international ventures. The fact that he had pried open a breach in Carter’s dominion to establish himself in Zachemaine was nothing short of astonishing.
No one knew how he had slipped in, quiet as a shadow. But one thing was clear: Xavier could
not be underestimated.
Lex never outright accused her, yet every word pointed to Sharon.
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One was her ardent pursuer, the other her former husband. With a mere word from her, either man could have arranged for the deed to be done.
At his insinuation, Rick’s gaze turned doubtful, fixing on Sharon.
“Victoria has no enmity with Carter, and no dealings with Xavier. She’s only just arrived in Amstern City, hardly long enough to make enemies. By reason, no one should be targeting her.
Sharon let out a cold laugh. “So because no one would target her, you’re suggesting I must have?”
The words Rick wanted to voice hovered at his lips-that in the Kalen family, Sharon had opposed Victoria at every turn. That she envied Victoria’s brilliance. And now, with the international competition looming, wasn’t it natural she might use underhanded tricks to prove herself stronger?
But before he could speak, Richard cut him off. “Enough. We’ll discuss this when Victoria wakes.”
Throughout it all, Thomas had not uttered a word.
His long lashes veiled his eyes, his figure swallowed by the shadows beyond the reach of the hospital’s harsh lights. His face was unreadable.
Half an hour later, Victoria was wheeled out of surgery.
Her arm was wrapped tightly in bandages.
Lying on the bed, her delicate features were drained of all color. Yet she did not look pitiful or broken-there was a fragile, ethereal beauty in her pallor, the kind that stirred instinctive pity
in those who saw her. (2
