Chapter 889
“Sharon is meticulous and calculating. No wonder Victoria suffered such a crushing defeat at her hands.”
Lex continued, “I think you’ve realized by now that the rumors about Victoria online can’t be silenced. It’s not just Victoria being condemned; the entire Kalen family’s reputation is in tatters.”
Jamie knew little about Sharon. What he did know came mostly from Johanna.
“Why would Sharon do this?” he asked.
Lex replied evenly, “Partly for retaliation. But the deeper reason? She refuses to return to the Kalen family under a tainted, illegitimate name.”
He then relayed Richard’s attempt to bring Sharon back into the family.
“Now Sharon has Carter Biggs and Xavier Cooper at her side. And this is Zachemaine. If you want to make trouble for her, it won’t be easy.”
Jamie’s gaze sharpened. “So your plan is to do nothing? To let Victoria choke down this humiliation in silence?”
Lex gave a low laugh. “And you think you can snatch her out from under Carter and Xavier’s noses? From what I hear, Xavier even has people secretly guarding Sharon.”
A cold arc tugged at Jamie’s lips. “If I want something done, nothing is impossible.”
As they spoke, Johanna emerged. “Victoria has changed her clothes. She’s calmed down. You can go see her now.”
The moment Lex heard Victoria was awake, he abandoned Jamie and strode into the room. Jamie started to follow, but Johanna blocked his path.
“Jamie, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Jamie’s eyes narrowed. “What is it?”
Johanna cast a glance toward the room where Victoria rested. Jamie understood at once. Come with me.”
He led her into his study.
The first thing that caught the eye was a striking painting hanging in pride of place. Familiar— so familiar that Johanna immediately recalled it.
“Jamie, you were the one who won this painting at auction?”
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It was Nightfall, the very piece Victoria had once longed to own. Johanna had attended the auction with her. The painting had been driven to a staggering price before a mysterious buyer claimed it. Even Lex hadn’t managed to secure it.
Jamie raised a brow. “You recognize it too?”
Johanna quickly recounted the events of that night.
“You know Victoria’s skill in painting, and how much she loves this piece. Many even speculated the figure’s silhouette in the painting might be hers. She was devastated when she lost the bid. If you gave this to her now, she’d be overjoyed.”
Jamie’s gaze shifted, resting on the artwork. For once, the chill in his eyes softened.
“I didn’t buy this for Victoria.”
Johanna blinked. “Not for her?”
Ordinarily, if Victoria so much as mentioned liking something, Jamie would deliver it to her without hesitation. Could it be-he had something he couldn’t bear to give her?
His eyes swept across the wall, where other carefully framed works were displayed.
“No. MK’s paintings… I want to keep them for myself.” 1
dn’t know much about art, but she knew one thing well: her elder brother’s lifelong
to become a painter. His talent was undeniable.
family’s bitter power struggles, the tendons in both his hands had been
injured. For ordinary life —or even training in martial arts-he managed well enough. But the delicate precision required for painting… that had been stolen from him forever.
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