Chapter 876
Carter’s expression tightened. “I haven’t found any leads yet.”
It baffled him—someone had managed to frame him right under his nose, and he hadn’t even noticed. Even after launching a full investigation, every trail had been wiped clean, leaving nothing useful behind.
His first suspect had been Thomas. The chance that Thomas staged the entire scheme to pin it on him was high. Yet when he sent people to track Thomas’s movements during that period, everything appeared normal-no irregularities at all.
If not Thomas, then who?
Xavier? Perhaps he wanted to kill two birds with one stone?
But Xavier had been unusually busy lately. Apart from showing up at Sharon’s competitions, he rarely appeared by her side. And Carter knew his temperament well enough—yes, Xavier had methods, but his character was upright. He didn’t seem like the type to orchestrate such a
scheme.
That left no clear suspect.
Whoever managed to frame him so seamlessly in Amstern City had to know him well-well enough to anticipate his next steps and avoid every line of his investigation. Which meant the culprit was most likely someone close to him.
His thoughts drifted to Nate and Julliard.
Nate had both motive and opportunity. He might have done it to avenge Kelly. But Nate wasn’t exactly clever. The last time he deleted surveillance footage to protect her, Carter had easily
uncovered the traces.
As for Julliard… he certainly had the skill, but the motive? None that Carter could think of. After all, they had grown up together as best friends. Why would Julliard ever betray him?
With no concrete evidence, all he could do was bide his time and wait for something to surface.
Sharon’s expression shifted into one of quiet inevitability. “I see.”
The look in her eyes told him everything. She’d already decided it was his doing.
His breath hitched unevenly. “In your heart, am I really that despicable?”
She answered with disarming honesty, nodding. “You’re not exactly a good man.”
Carter’s chest tightened. “I admit I misjudged Kelly, but when have I ever stooped to scheming like some petty villain?”
1/2
Chapter 876
+15 Bonus
Sharon’s lips curved in a faint, mocking smile. “You are known by the company you keep. Perhaps after staying with Kelly too long, you picked up her bad habits.”
He had no reply.
Sharon rose to her feet. “It’s getting late. If there’s nothing else, you should go.”
But his gaze flickered. “There’s one more thing.”
Her brows pinched slightly. He looked as if he were weighing his words, hesitating.
“What is it?” she pressed. “Spit it out instead of hemming and hawing.”
Carter said slowly, “Recently, I’ve caught wind of a rumor… about Richard-your dad. That he has an illegitimate daughter. Many believe it’s you. After your concert, Wendy confirmed it in a reply to a fan online-she admitted you’re Jenna from Bell University.”
The truth of Sharon’s connection to Richard wasn’t exactly a secret anymore. At least among the Malcolm family, Westin family, Blakely family, and other major families, everyone already knew.
She fixed him with a calm stare. “And what are the rumors saying, exactly?”
“That you’re Richard’s illegitimate daughter,” he replied. “So far, the story hasn’t spread widely in Zachemaine. I’ve already had it suppressed. But it won’t stay buried for long. With the upcoming international competition, many foreign families will be coming to Zachemaine. When they arrive, the rumor will almost certainly resurface.”
2/2
