Chapter 976
One after another, exclamations filled the hall. Shock rippled through the crowd, too overwhelming to contain.
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With Victoria’s brilliance shining ahead of her, everyone had assumed Sharon would be eclipsed, made into a laughingstock at tonight’s banquet.
And to those who knew Victoria, that was only natural. Wherever she appeared, she was
always the brightest star. No one else could steal her light.
It was precisely for this reason that unless a hostess was particularly close to her, admired her deeply, or had no choice but to invite her, few young socialites dared to include Victoria at their events. Who wanted to be upstaged at their own gathering?
Over time, invitations for Victoria grew fewer. But she never minded.
Envy, jealousy, exclusion-she was used to it. To wear the crown was to bear its weight. And
Victoria carried it with ease.
But now, history had shifted. For the first time, her unbroken reign was shaken-by a woman who had grown up outside their world.
The crowd’s gazes turned back to Victoria, some curious, some gloating, as though watching a drama unfold.
They had assumed this late-acknowledged daughter would be unpresentable. But reality
had proved otherwise. She stood as dazzling as Victoria herself.
By now, every eye in the room was fixed on Sharon. Praise poured forth from every direction.
Though her background was far humbler than Victoria’s, the admiration—bordering on exaggerated-was well earned.
Then, cutting through the chorus of compliments, came a discordant voice.
“So what if she’s pretty? Beauty alone makes her nothing but an empty shell. How could she ever compare to Victoria? Victoria is a violinist, a painter, a racecar driver, a perfumer…
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Which of her achievements isn’t extraordinary? To compare this woman to Victoria is nothing short of an insult.”
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“That’s right. Victoria’s brilliance is obvious to all. And this Sharon… I heard she only went to middle school.”
“Dress her up however you like, she’s still just a pretty face with no substance. The moment she opens her mouth, she’s bound to expose herself.”
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Chapter 976
Melanie couldn’t hold back and stepped forward to argue.
“Who told you Sharon only has a middle school education? You see something online and take it out of context? Let me set the record straight-Sharon is no middle school dropout. She graduated from Bell University Conservatory of Music. She was classmates with Ginny.
“And Jenna-the prodigy whose name still hangs in Bell University’s Hall of Fame-that’s Sharon. Why don’t you go find someone to verify it, or better yet, ask the Kalen family themselves if Sharon’s former name was Jenna?
“If you’ve read about her supposed education online, why not mention the part where she is a violin prodigy? Her victory over Harry Wells made global headlines. Can Victoria manage that? Or would she be begging Harry to teach her?”
The man’s face went rigid. He had no reply.
Then another voice rose, unwilling to give up.
“Fine, so she plays the violin well. What does that matter? She’s still a divorced woman with a child. How could she ever compare to Victoria?”
Carol, usually quiet but with a razor-sharp tongue, cut in coldly.
“So what if she’s divorced with a child? Since when is that shameful? With everyone here as
witnesses, let’s make a pact. From this day on, no one in your family is ever allowed to divorce or have children outside marriage. Otherwise, none of you will have the right to hold your heads high again. You said it-now make sure you live up to it.”
The man was struck speechless, his bravado gone.
All of them worshipped Victoria, and they couldn’t stand anyone surpassing her. Online, they cherry-picked whatever suited their narrative, twisting facts just to smear Sharon in public.
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They’d heard whispers that Sharon was about to join Kalen Group. Tonight’s banquet wasn’t only attended by powerful families, but also shareholders and board members of the Kalen Group who were eager to see for themselves what kind of woman Sharon was.
So these detractors had only one aim: to soil her reputation before she could even take her first step into the Kalen family’s empire.
Yet the disruption barely rippled across the banquet.
Richard took the microphone with a genial smile and addressed the hall.
“Thank you, everyone, for attending tonight’s banquet. Standing beside me is my daughter, Sharon. She is a graduate of Bell University Conservatory of Music. She once went by the name Jenna, and is an accomplished violinist. Soon, she will be joining Kalen Group. I hope you will all look after her.”
With that public declaration, Richard personally shattered the rumors and slapped down
those who had sneered at Sharon’s education.
Of course, confirming her academic credentials came with its price-it was also Kalen Group’s responsibility to resolve those disputes for her.
Laughter and congratulations swept through the crowd. Guests offered polite, practiced words of flattery, their faces all smiles.
Sharon stood by Richard’s side, listening with a calm smile. She showed no trace of nerves despite the overwhelming occasion.
Behind her, Wendy couldn’t help but admire her composure,
As Richard’s daughter, Sharon would draw suitors no matter her past. But the shock was, she wasn’t merely acceptable-she was exceptional.
Many who had long resented Victoria now made a point of approaching Sharon instead, taking pleasure in watching Victoria lose ground.
In an instant, Sharon became the center of attention, the crowd around her so thick it was
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nearly impossible to get close.
Those who had once flocked to Victoria drifted away, now orbiting Sharon instead.
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It didn’t matter whether she was a trueborn daughter, an adopted one, or even an illegitimate child. The fact remained: the moment she returned, she was stepping straight into Kalen Group. That alone revealed her power.
No matter how brilliant Victoria was, she had remained outside the corporation all these
years.
Even if Sharon had a divorce and a child in her past, when it came to real influence and value, she surpassed Victoria.
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