Chapter 891
Sharon and Wendy turned out to be the last to learn the news.
Listoria City was a tourist haven, and after Sharon’s competition round ended, the two had gone wandering about, relaxing and sightseeing. Sharon only found out when Rick called her.
On the other end of the line, Rick’s voice was cold as ice. “Dad wants you home immediately.”
Sensing something off in his tone, Sharon frowned. “What happened?”
A bitter laugh slipped into Rick’s voice. “You don’t know?”
The edge in his tone grated on her nerves.
“No.”
Rick’s voice dropped even lower, sharpened like a blade.
“It’s already all over the internet. You mean to tell me you have no idea?”
Her patience thinned. “And what does that have to do with me?”
Rick sneered. “Sharon, I only realized today how good you are at acting.”
Unwilling to play his word games, Sharon ended the call.
For a moment, Rick stared at the dead line, stunned she would dare hang up on him. He redialed, but she rejected the call. He tried again-until finally, she blocked him.
A few minutes later, her phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID read Carter.
Sharon stared at the name flashing on the screen, then answered.
“Sharon, are you alright?” His voice carried a weight of concern.
“I’m fine,” she replied evenly. “Did something happen?”
He paused, clearly not expecting her ignorance. But unlike Rick, he didn’t toy with riddles-he told her outright.
“News has broken everywhere… about Victoria being an illegitimate child. It’s spread across every headline. Your dad, your mom, and Victoria’s mom are all being dragged into the spotlight. Even your dad’s past with his first love has resurfaced. The Kalen Group’s stock price has taken a sharp hit. Right now, the whole world is laughing at the Kalen family.”
Carter’s tone remained calm and objective, devoid of judgment.
1/3
At last, Sharon understood why Rick had been so furious.
Carter continued, “Sharon, you didn’t do it, did you?”
“No,” Sharon said. “I only just found out myself.”
Her word was enough. If Sharon said it wasn’t her, then it wasn’t her. (1
He didn’t question further, though his voice grew somber.
“Sharon, whether you did it or not, this incident harms you most. The Kalen family will blame you. Unless it’s handled carefully, your dad won’t let it go.”
“I know,” Sharon said. “I need to understand the full situation first. If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now.”
“I’ll have Simon compile the data and send it to you,” he replied. “That way you won’t waste time searching.”
She hesitated a moment, then answered, “Alright. Thank you.”
As if he had anticipated this, the files arrived from Simon almost as soon as she ended the call.
Sharon read through the online exposés, her eyelids twitching uncontrollably.
The Kalen family’s carefully constructed façade had been ripped away, exposed in the harsh light of day. For them, it was nothing less than the sky collapsing.
And troublesome-very troublesome.
But instead of satisfaction, Sharon felt only pressure. Victoria had never truly targeted her, and she hadn’t yet fallen out completely with the Kalen family. Now, however, every suspicious eye would turn her
way.
Her original shares remained locked. Mishandle this, and the Kalen family might resort to drastic measures.
Until now, they had held back for the sake of “blood ties.” Once that bond shattered, open hostility would follow, and their methods would know no restraint.
Against a top-tier clan like the Kalens, her bargaining chips were laughably fragile,
No-worse. It wasn’t just the Kalens. There was also Lex.
Rubbing her throbbing temples, Sharon lost all mood for strolling through the city.
…
Three days later, the competition committee released a statement.
2/3
Victoria had withdrawn.
