Chapter 994
Johanna had never minded that, in her brother’s heart, Victoria was more important than she was.
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But she could not accept that Jamie would betray her for Victoria–dig into her corner and steal what belonged
to her.
There were so many things she had already yielded to Victoria. Why must even a man be taken from her?
Fury simmered beneath Johanna’s composure. For a moment, she wanted nothing more than to storm up to Jamie and demand an explanation. But in the end, she restrained herself.
“Thomas,” she said softly, “don’t take Jamie’s words to heart. He only… only wants me to marry well. That’s why he deliberately said those things.”
Thomas replied evenly, “He wasn’t wrong. You’re the cherished daughter of the Walton family. I’m just an ordinary man. I truly don’t deserve you.”
At once, Johanna rushed to counter him, her voice firm with conviction.
“What does being ordinary matter? In this world, there’s no such thing as being worthy or unworthy—only whether someone is worth it.”
Her gaze locked on him, earnest and heartfelt. “Thomas, in my heart, you will always be worth it.”
If their roles were reversed, Johanna believed, she would have been deeply moved by such words.
But Thomas merely said, “I think… it would be better if we kept our distance.”
Her heart, so full just moments ago, sank by degrees into cold emptiness. “Thomas, what do you mean?”
He met her gaze calmly. “Your brother has already accused me once–claimed I tried to assassinate him in the hospital. Who knows what else he might pin on me in the future?
“My skills may be sharper than most, but I’m no professional killer. That hospital was secured like a fortress. I can’t imagine how I could have infiltrated it to make an attempt on his life.”
He sighed. “Johanna, I can endure any criticism. But I will never accept being slandered for something I didn’t do.”
“Thomas, I don’t doubt you!” Johanna cried, her voice urgent. “I’ll explain everything to Jamie! I’ll make him understand.”
But Thomas only shook his head. “I have matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave.”
This time, no matter how she called after him, he did not look back.
Johanna stood watching his departing figure, her chest tight with grievance, resentment burning toward both Jamie and Victoria.
When she returned, she found Jamie and Victoria sitting together in the room, deep in conversation.
At the sight of her, Victoria asked gently, “Johanna, were you just with Thomas?”
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Chapter 994
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Her head lowered, lashes veiling her eyes, concealing her thoughts. She paused mid–step, then turned to Victoria with a faint, enigmatic smile tugging at her lips.
“Victoria, you seem very concerned about what’s going on between me and Thomas.”
Something flickered in Victoria’s brow at Johanna’s strange tone. Just as she was about to speak, Jamie’s voice cut in, low and stern.
“Johanna, I’ve already told you, Thomas tried to kill me. He may even have been acting on Sharon’s orders. Whether he belongs to Sharon’s camp, I can’t yet say. But one thing is certain: he is not on our side.”
“But…” Johanna argued, “Thomas believes I’m the one who played the violin in the back garden. Now Sharon can no longer play, and she doesn’t even seem to remember ever losing an earring.
“Back then, he helped Kelly without hesitation. He would help us, too:”
Victoria fell silent for several seconds, her eyes thoughtful. Then she said, “Johanna makes a fair point. But if that’s true… why would he try to assassinate Jamie?
“If he truly believed you were the one he was searching for, then he wouldn’t have tried to kill Jamie.”
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