เข้าสู่ระบบCharlotte froze at those words. “What… what are you trying to say?”Sarah didn’t flinch. “You still don’t get it? Whether it was divorcing me or marrying you and divorcing you, all of it happened because of him. I figured that out the day we split. Why are you the only one still refusing to see it? The man you love is nothing but trash.”She gave Charlotte a firm shove.Charlotte stumbled several steps before she caught her balance. When she lifted her head again, she realized Sarah wasn’t standing on the same emotional level anymore.Just like Quincy after the kidnapping incident—Sarah’s words were the truth she herself didn’t want to face.Those slaps didn’t just shock her. They hurt.Sarah didn’t bother to look at her again. She pulled a handkerchief from her purse and calmly wiped her palm. “Stop barking everywhere you go like a stray dog. Think about the way you strutted back into the country, full of pride. Just don’t get the wrong idea. I haven’t forgiven a single thing yo
“Charlotte, stop talking nonsense.” Sarah’s voice was cold and steady. “Do you honestly think I don’t know why James divorced you? You gambled with your own son’s safety to manipulate him. That is why your marriage collapsed.”That scandal had already exploded across the entire East Coast.Charlotte had become the target of public disgust, and Sarah knew exactly what kind of shame and denial she was drowning in.Because the truth—the thing everyone mocked her for—was the one thing Charlotte refused to accept.So she pinned the blame on the person she already hated the most.“You bitch! You still won’t admit you love James?” Charlotte shrieked. “Don’t pretend to be some saint. I know you’re the one who ruined my marriage!”Sarah let out a sharp, humorless laugh.Looking at the woman in front of her felt like watching someone unravel in real time.Mrs. Garnett hadn’t expected her daughter to spiral like this.If it were just Sarah, fine—but Zachary was standing right there. They
When she spoke to someone in a wheelchair, she would lower herself to one knee, offering the microphone with grace.Clips like these had been edited together by her fans and posted online, racking up millions of views.Of course, that wasn’t all.When faced with someone malicious, she could turn cold and sharp. She was no fragile “angelic sweetheart” like the internet imagined. Her popularity was massive for a reason.Sarah felt a headache coming on.How was she supposed to deal with someone like this?---Soon it was time to meet Zachary.She didn’t bother with makeup—just tied her hair into a loose ponytail, threw on casual clothes, and headed downstairs.Zachary was already waiting, leaning against his car. When he saw her, he immediately crushed out his cigarette, though the faint smoke lingered on him.“Let’s go.”He opened the door for her, helped her in, and even buckled her seatbelt.Sarah leaned back. The mix of cedar and tobacco on him wasn’t unpleasant.---On the
Zachary’s eyes dimmed. He could do so much for Sarah, but that one word—thank you—was the only thing he couldn’t bear to hear. It made them feel distant, formal, like strangers.“Don’t say those two words to me again,” he said quietly, hurt in his voice.Sarah frowned. What was he doing now?“Sarah, between us—”“Steven,” she cut him off quickly, her pulse tightening, “did you figure out anything from the flash drive?”She didn’t want to hear whatever Zachary was about to say.But seeing the wounded look in his eyes made something inside her… shift.Something she didn’t want shifting.Steven jumped in. “Not yet. I’ve been focused on the phone numbers. As for the flash drive, I tried, but it’s protected by a self-destruct program. If I push harder, it might wipe itself. I’m not taking the risk.”“I understand.”---They headed downstairs together.Melvin immediately slipped into the car, giving them space. Sarah moved to get in too, but Zachary stepped in front of her.“What
She tried to search her memory, but realized her recollection of those four years was frozen in one place—her entanglement with Zachary.During that period, she had spent nearly all her time with him.Everything else had faded.The realization left her frustrated and guilty.She turned toward Melvin, hoping he might remember something, anything.But after studying the photo, Melvin shook his head. “I’ve never seen this woman in front of Uncle David. Not once.”Sarah lowered her eyes, pressing her lips together before saying quietly, “I want to meet her. I need to see Mindy Hicks in person.”At thirty-seven, the actress looked no older than twenty-five. No trace of age touched her face. Her beauty was undeniable, more striking than anyone Sarah had ever met.Suddenly Melvin spoke up. “Sarah… doesn’t she look like your mother?”Her mother?Sarah’s pupils contracted sharply. She stared at the photo again.Her memories of her mother were faint, but she still remembered warm hands
The gold-embossed card belonged to Meridian Corp’s CEO, Mr. Max.Charlotte instantly understood what her father meant.She couldn’t even blame him.After her divorce from James, Garnett Corp no longer had the powerful backing it once enjoyed. The company had only risen because the Chancer family supported it. Now that support was gone. Her father had no choice but to look for a new ally and the easiest path was through her.Charlotte let out a bitter laugh. She understood the logic, even if she hated the meaning.But a question gnawed at her.What if Mr. Max cared about her scandals? Even though every rumor was true.She tossed the gold card aside and collapsed onto her bed, exhausted. If she wanted any chance of fighting Sarah again, she needed leverage and leverage meant finding a new power to stand behind her.So… in a few days, she would let her mother take her shopping for couture.---Sarah was in her office when her phone rang.“It’s done,” Steven said.Just two words b







