Chapter 989
Sharon’s gaze sharpened as she turned to Thomas.
“Thomas, you’re not lying to me, are you?”
“How could I ever lie about something like this?” Thomas’s tone was steady and certain.
She was about to press him further when Wendy came hurrying toward her.
“Sharon, are you all right?”
Sharon shook her head. “I’m fine.”
With Wendy came John, Xavier, and Carter.
Sharon had barely sat down to rest when she was summoned again. They hadn’t even had a chance to greet her.
Xavier smiled easily. “Sharon, you look beautiful tonight.”
Sharon returned his smile. “Thank you.”
John added, “Sharon, if anything happens, don’t hide it from me. Whatever I can do to help,
I’ll do.”
“I know,” she said softly.
Carter stood a step behind them, staring at the woman before him. She felt so familiar, yet so distant. A thousand words burned in his chest, but none found their way past his lips.
When Sharon’s eyes met his, she only inclined her head in a faint nod before looking away.
Her attitude was neither warm nor deliberately cold-merely calm, the way one might treat a passing acquaintance.
Carter’s chest tightened sharply.
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A line of truth struck him: true indifference was not icy avoidance, not refusal to speak a single word. It was this-casual, unbothered, as if nothing had ever mattered.
Perhaps… she really had let him go.
Xavier handed her a small gift bag.
“Congratulations on returning to the Kalen family, Sharon. This is for you.”
Everyone present knew she had returned not for sentiment, but to seize power. Still, his words carried no problem.
Sharon accepted the gift with a polite nod. “Thank you.”
John and Carter, too, offered her gifts they had prepared.
Xavier went on, “In a few days, I’ll wrap up my work in Amstern City. After that, I’ll be based here in Marcentine. If you need anything, you can come to me.”
He seemed to recall something, then added, “And if there’s anything in business you don’t understand, ask me. I can teach you myself. It’ll be faster than learning from books.”
Sharon didn’t refuse. “All right. I’ll trouble you when the time comes.”
John also wanted to help her, but he had only just begun learning the ropes himself, and his ability was limited. Still, he had managed to secure a major contract from his father for her
—a foundation she could use to gain footing in the Kalen Group.
Kenneth had always thought highly of Sharon. With her ties to John, her rise to power in the Kalen family could only benefit the Westins. Out of both support for her and gratitude to her mother—who had cared for John all those years he had waved his hand generously and gifted her a contract on par with one of Uriah’s.
—
For Sharon and her mother, who had once saved John, this was hardly too much to give.
Likewise, Xavier and Carter each offered her substantial collaborations. As seasoned men of business, they understood perfectly what Sharon needed most at this stage—capital,
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Chapter 989
leverage, and allies.
After chatting with her for a while, they all took their leave.
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Before departing, Carter said quietly, “Sharon, I’ll be in Marcentine for a while. If you need anything, you can always come to me.”
Once they were gone, Wendy turned to her, curiosity brimming in her eyes.
“Sharon, I overheard some of the guests just now. They said you slapped Jamie and poured wine all over him?”
Sharon nodded. “That’s right.”
Wendy clapped her hands together, delighted. “Serves him right! That must have felt amazing. But… he didn’t come after you for it?”
