Chapter 897
Rick was sipping tea. Though his face showed no overt anger, the warmth that usually lingered in his smile had long since vanished. His lips pressed into a thin line, his expression as cold as
frost.
When he saw Sharon enter, not a flicker of a smile appeared.
Richard, on the other hand, managed to squeeze out a faint curve of his lips.
“Hello, Sharon… Hm? Carter came with you as well?”
Carter gave a calm explanation.
“Theo hasn’t seen Sharon for some time. When I heard she was returning today, I went to the airport to meet her. I thought we’d have dinner together tonight, so Theo could spend some time with his mother.”
Richard cast him a sidelong glance, his tone carrying a deeper weight.
“I’ve not seen Theo myself in quite a while. Lately, I’ve missed him dearly. Carter, you haven’t brought him by in so long. What is it has the Kalen family suddenly become some kind of menace?”
Carter smiled faintly.
“Richard, you misunderstand. It’s simply that one of my enemies seems to have arrived in Zachemaine. I worry he might target the child, so I’ve been especially cautious. Surely you wouldn’t wish anything to happen to Theo. After all, he is your grandson.”
Richard raised a brow. The hand holding his teacup paused.
At that moment, Rick spoke, his words laced with insinuation.
“Quite the coincidence, isn’t it? Theo hasn’t been to our home for some time, and now Victoria finds herself embroiled in a scandal. To an outsider, it might even look like you arranged it.”
Carter widened his eyes slightly, feigning surprise.
“With Theo’s connection to your family, even if we aren’t bound by blood, we’re at least friends. Why would you doubt me?”
Of course, Rick heard the hidden sting beneath his polite words. He stopped circling and spoke directly.
“Because right after Sharon was exposed as an illegitimate child, Victoria’s secret came to light as well. It’s difficult not to suspect that someone was diverting disaster onto another.”
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Carter had already decided to take the blame upon himself if necessary. Naturally, he would never foolishly blurt out to the Kalen family that he was the culprit.
The more he defended Sharon, the more convinced they would be that he was shielding her. And now, with the convenient fact that Theo had not visited the Kalen family for quite some time, suspicion naturally shifted toward him.
He smiled lightly.
“Rick, the news of Sharon being an illegitimate daughter-surely that wasn’t spread by your family, was it?”
The Kalens had indeed considered such a move, but before they could act, the story had already exploded across the internet.
“Of course not,” Rick replied, his voice firm, his posture righteous.
Carter nodded.
“If it wasn’t you, then what reason would Sharon have to expose Victoria? Even if she wanted revenge, wouldn’t her target be the one who fabricated rumors against her, not Victoria?”
Rick froze, caught off guard, his tongue faltering.
that Sharon couldn’t stand to see Victoria shine? Or was it because Sharon
truth, and now she sought to clear her name? 2
first was nothing more than his own assumption, weak and indefensible. The second… he couldn’t bring himself to say aloud. 1
Carter pressed on, “Sharon has been away from the Kalen family for years, yet she’s never once spoken ill of you. Why, then, would she, on the very eve of her return, do something so senseless and self-destructive?”
He turned his gaze to Richard, who had been silent all this while.
“Sharon is still a member of the Kalen family. No matter how you look at it, this situation offers her no be
on was clear. His stern gaze softened, his lips curving into a
ve never believed Sharon was behind this. The reason I asked her here today is mily meeting-to discuss how we’ll handle matters moving forward.”
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