LOGINThomas didn't answer, only watched as Sharon and Weston walked closer together, side by side.Sharon tilted her head slightly, listening to whatever Weston was saying, a faint smile on her lips. Weston kept just the right amount of distance as he spoke, his manner warm and courteous, never once feeling standoffish.Sharon really had stepped out to discuss the collaboration details with Weston. The private room was too loud for a real conversation, so Weston had suggested getting some air outside and going over the project with her while they were at it."So that's roughly the shape of it," Weston said. "My company's putting together a series of concert performances. I heard your studio has a lot of connections in the classical music world, so I wanted to ask if you'd be interested in a partnership."Sharon nodded. "What would the collaboration actually look like? Are you just looking for performers, or would you want us handling the whole production?""If you're able to take on
Inside the private room, the atmosphere was lively.The moment Sharon walked in, a group of girls swarmed around her."Sharon! You finally made it!""Long time no see! You keep getting prettier!""Right? We were literally just talking about you!"Sharon laughed and greeted them all one by one. Someone pulled her down onto the sofa."Sit, sit, we were just waiting on you."Sharon glanced around the room. Most of the faces were familiar, though there were a few she didn't quite recognize, probably plus-ones some of her classmates had brought along.One of the girls leaned in close, lowering her voice. "Sharon, is that video online real? Come on, spill the tea. What's actually going on between you and that guy?"Sharon lowered her eyes. "We're just friends.""Oh, just friends?" The girl's face fell in disappointment. "Aw, you two look so good together. I was really hoping."Right then, a man's voice cut in."Sharon. Long time no see."She turned to find a man in a white dress
"Once that day's passed, the feeling won't ever be quite the same again. No matter how much effort we put into a redo after the fact, it won't come close to something as simple as them just having a meal together on the actual day," Sharon said.Wendy knew Sharon had a point, but it still tugged at her heart. Pushing the person you liked straight into another woman's arms felt cruel, plain and simple.Sharon seemed to want to drop the subject. She turned to Wendy. "All right, let's not talk about this anymore. We've still got some setup left to finish, and then we need to head to the alumni gathering. We can't be late."Wendy could tell Sharon had made up her mind, and let out a sigh instead of arguing further.…At eight that evening, Sharon showed up at a bar.The place was an upscale, low-key lounge, only recently opened, and already a favorite with young women around town. It wasn't just that the atmosphere was quiet and elegant, the owner and every staff member happened to
A week later, Sharon was discharged.Silas and Scott came to pick her up in person. Seeing Thomas carrying Sharon's things for her, the two brothers exchanged a look, both wearing satisfied smiles.Over the past week, Shayla, Rick, Silas, and Scott had all made regular visits to the hospital, and they'd run into Thomas there just as often. They'd also heard from Wendy that Thomas and she had been taking turns keeping watch over Sharon overnight.Thomas being a man made the whole arrangement a little awkward on the surface. But Sharon wasn't so incapacitated that she needed round-the-clock care, just someone to bring her tea and water now and then and fetch a doctor if something came up.Silas and Scott had both seen firsthand how Thomas looked after her. It was hard to put a label to it, exactly. If you said he was interested in Sharon, well, he'd never once overstepped or acted the least bit forward. But if you said he wasn't interested, he was clearly far too attentive and cons
The door clicked softly shut, and quiet settled back over the room.A while later, Thomas finally returned.Sharon was still asleep, likely still under the effects of the sedative. She was sleeping deeply, her brow faintly creased, as if caught in some unpleasant dream.Thomas stood by the bed, watching her without a sound. The light fell across her face, softening the lines of it. His gaze stayed heavy, weighted with something even he couldn't quite name.For some reason, whenever he looked at her, whatever restlessness had been building in his chest always settled, strangely, into calm.He reached out, hesitated, and in the end didn't touch her, only pulled the blanket back up over the shoulder it had slipped from. His movements were gentle, and his fingertip brushed her cheek by accident, catching a moment of warm, soft skin.His hand stilled. His dark eyes went deep, like the night outside the window that never quite lifted.…By the time Sharon woke, the sun was already hi
Julliard stood just outside Sharon's hospital room. He pressed down the excitement churning in his chest and gently turned the handle, pushing the door open.Only a small bedside lamp was lit inside, its dim glow settling over the bed. Sharon lay with her eyes closed, breathing slow and even, her long lashes casting a small shadow beneath her eyes.Julliard's gaze fell on her face, greedy and unrelenting, his chest filling up with something that ached and swelled at once.'Sharon…'He repeated her name silently in his head, stepping closer to the bed one step at a time. With every step, his breathing grew a little more ragged.Just then, from the direction of the sofa, came the faint, unmistakable snap of a magazine page falling shut.In the silence of the room, it landed like a thunderclap.Julliard went rigid, snapping his head around toward the sound.In the dim light, he made out a figure seated on the sofa. The man's long legs were crossed lazily, his posture unbothered. H
Theo nodded obediently. "Alright."Watching the scene, Carter's dark eyes deepened.For some reason, Kelly's face suddenly came to mind.Whenever they ate together, she would always order overly sweet drinks to please Theo. Even when it was something he wasn't supposed to have, she would coax, "J
Carter narrowed his eyes. "Then explain this—why are you disparaging Sharon and trying to whitewash Jamie's crimes? He kidnapped her, the evidence is undeniable, and the whole world has seen it. As her own family, shouldn't you be seeking justice for her? Why are you defending the perpetrator? Is th
Miles felt an unbearable itch of desire, like his heart was being scratched by a cat's paw."Of course," he said with a smirk. "Even if I wanted to deceive someone, I wouldn't dare deceive a beauty like you, Sharon."Half of Miles's soul seemed to leave his body. Cup in hand, he leaned forward tow
Everyone froze.Scott and Victoria exchanged stunned looks.Victoria whispered, "Sharon has been in Marcentine this whole time and hasn't returned to Zachemaine. Could there be some mistake about Lex?"Lex snorted. "She wouldn't be stupid enough to do it herself. She only needed someone who worsh







