LOGINRain let out a soft, deliberate sigh, feigning reluctance."I only came to know Ms. Kalen through a strange twist of fate, honestly. Someone with my standing simply can't offer a woman as sharp as her much room to grow. It's really only someone with your standing, Samantha, who could give her the kind of space she deserves."Samantha blinked. "Ms. Kalen? Your advisor's surname is Kalen?"Rain looked at her, something deep in her eyes."Samantha, haven't you considered that Sharon herself is a Kalen family heiress, someone of no small standing? If any of this ever comes to light, Ms. Kalen would be implicated too, possibly even lose her life over it. "She has no blood ties to you whatsoever, and yet she's still willing to take that risk. And, well, I'm sure you've wondered why I approached you so suddenly in the first place too."Samantha's eyes went still for a moment. She hadn't expected Rain to be this perceptive. No wonder she'd made it in the business world; she really was s
Though the plan had failed this time, Samantha found herself genuinely impressed by Rain. It had been Rain who'd come up with the strategy for Grant and arranged his escape route. If Samantha had handled it herself, there was no way she could have kept her own hands this clean; she'd surely have left plenty of openings."I really owe this to your help, Rain," Samantha said.Rain smiled faintly. "Your biggest mistake was teaming up with Kelly in the first place. She's a weak link. If Sharon's side applies pressure, Kelly might well give you up.""I've lost contact with Kelly," Samantha said. "My source tells me she's already been contained. She's Carter's ex, so she can't just be made to disappear easily. Rain, what do we do now?"Samantha had originally planned to pin the whole thing on Kelly. But only now did she realize she'd made this all sound far simpler in her head than it had actually turned out. Things hadn't gone anywhere near the way she'd hoped. The variables had bee
Thomas's whole air of quiet calculation left Julliard thoroughly irritated."How am I supposed to believe you didn't let Kelly off on purpose?"This time, before Thomas could answer, Sharon spoke up. "Julliard, Thomas is right. Moving against Kelly now would only drive whoever's really behind this deeper underground."Disbelief flooded Julliard's eyes. "Sharon, you're really taking his side on this?"She looked up. "Kelly's sticking to her story that she knows nothing, and we can't do anything about that right now. If we push too hard, we'll spook whoever's really pulling the strings, and it'll be that much harder to find them."Julliard's fists clenched tight. He knew she was right. But he couldn't accept it.His voice came out rough. "So you're just going to accept what happened to you and let it go?""I'm not letting it go." Sharon said. "I'll settle this score. Just not right now."Just then, Thomas's phone buzzed softly. He glanced down at the screen, his eyes darkening.
Julliard's tone was sharp. "Thomas, what are you doing here?"Thomas turned unhurriedly. "Why shouldn't I be here? Sharon is hospitalized. Isn't it only natural I'd come see her?"Julliard's gaze landed on the thermal container, his eyes practically burning."Cut the act, Thomas. Who knows what's in that porridge.""Julliard." Sharon cut in, brow furrowed, a note of displeasure in her voice.He looked at her, a mix of anger and hurt in his chest."Sharon, this is too much of a coincidence. He could very well be working with Grant..."She cut him off. "I trust Thomas wouldn't do something like that."At how firmly she said it, Julliard's face flushed through shades of pale and red.Not wanting to upset her further, he changed the subject, opening the food box in his hands."I had our family chef make some porridge and small dishes, all things you like. Want to try some?"Looking at the two sets of tableware now on the table, Sharon felt her head start to ache.That was when
"When Kelly came over to greet me last night, Thomas happened to arrive right then. I suspect Kelly was planning to move against me at that moment, but Thomas's sudden appearance interrupted her plan. Once she saw there was no opening left with me, she must have turned her attention to you instead."The room fell quiet for a moment.Wendy took a deep breath. "All right. I'll get someone on it right away."Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door. Thomas walked in carrying two breakfasts, his steps as steady as ever, his manner as composed as ever, as if the man who'd severed someone's hand without so much as a flicker of emotion just hours ago hadn't been him at all.His gaze passed over Wendy and settled on Sharon in the hospital bed.Their eyes met.The moment Sharon saw him, her heart skipped without her meaning it to.Wendy stood off to the side, glancing between the two of them. Taking the hint, she picked up her bag."I'll, um, go have someone look into last night. Sha
By the time Sharon woke, it was the next day. Her whole body ached, especially where Grant had struck her, the pain sharp enough to feel like her skin might split.She turned her head and found Wendy asleep, leaning against the side of the bed, her eyes red and swollen, clearly having gone the whole night without sleep.Sharon didn't wake her. Slowly, she started piecing together everything that had happened the night before. Thinking of Thomas, she glanced around the room.He wasn't there.Something in her chest felt strangely hollow.Just then, as if sensing something, Wendy stirred and opened her eyes slowly. At the sight of Sharon awake, her face lit up."Sharon?" She sat up abruptly. "You're awake?"Sharon nodded. "Yeah.""How are you feeling? Does anything hurt?" Wendy asked, worried."I'm fine," Sharon said.Wendy's eyes reddened. "There has to be something. You've got bruises all over from that belt... Sharon, does it hurt a lot?""I'm okay. Don't worry about it," Sh
Xavier didn't waste a second on hesitation. He hadn't even stepped out of the airport before he called his assistant."Arrange the fastest private jet to Listoria City. Mobilize every available man closest to the area. And one more thing…" His voice sank to a low, commanding timbre. "Look into Jull
"You know Jamie's temperament—he'd rather have nothing than settle for less. If he didn't truly like something, he would never compromise."At the time, MK was still a rookie. The prices weren't high, at least affordable enough for my brother to indulge his passion. Later, when he spent a fortune t
Wendy wept as she screamed, "Sharon, don't! Let them take me instead! I don't need you to sacrifice yourself for me!"Jamie frowned. "Too noisy."At once, one of his bodyguards stepped forward and slapped Wendy across the face. She crumpled to the ground but refused to give in. In that instant, he
When Victoria saw Johanna again, she could hardly believe her eyes."Johanna… you look really different!"Johanna wore an elegant, ladylike dress. Her long hair cascaded smoothly down her back, so different from the image she had always shown the world.Johanna gently adjusted a strand of hair an




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