LOGINSmart people didn't need to spell things out for each other. Jamie caught Thomas's meaning almost instantly.He didn't push the matter. "I understand."Taking over the Walton Group really would do Sharon more harm than good at this point. There were hundreds of people in the Walton family, and there was no way to cut them all out at once. If Sharon and her children ever became targets, she'd never have a moment's peace again.Power and status were already more than enough for Sharon and Thomas. All they wanted was a safe, quiet life, raising their children without having to look over their shoulders.Thomas looked at Jamie. "If you really don't want to take the Waltons on yourself, I could point you toward another way out."Jamie's tone was flat. "You mean... Lesley?"Thomas wasn't surprised that Jamie already knew Lesley was alive."How much of Lesley's stake did you take from him back then?" Thomas asked."Twenty percent," Jamie said.He'd seized that stake from Lesley by ho
Johanna was even more confused. Jamie's train of thought jumped so fast—from Lesley straight to Thomas. Still, at the mention of Thomas's name, she asked right away, "Did Thomas come to see you about something?"Jamie stroked Little Tabby's sleek, glossy fur, his gaze drifting somewhere far away.Thomas's reason for coming to him was simple enough.He'd told Jamie, "Thank you for lending Sharon those shares for so long, and for helping her take over the Kalen family. I know you wanted to make up for the mistake you made back then, and now that Sharon's gotten what she wanted, consider the debt paid. "As for that thirty percent stake, it's not that we don't want it. It's that we can't take it. You know better than anyone what state the Walton family is in. Even when you were head of the family, you only ever controlled forty-eight percent of the shares. The rest would be next to impossible for you to buy back. "I know you've lost the taste for running the Walton Group, but I'm so
Before Johanna could finish, Jamie cut her off, his brow furrowing."You agreed to it?"Seeing his expression darken, Johanna shrank back a little."No—no, I didn't... I'm just asking you first..."In truth, Johanna had been tempted to say yes. After all, who in their right mind turns down more money?Jamie saw straight through her thinking and said, voice flat and cold, "If you agree to it, you'll be the one cleaning up the mess yourself. When the rest of the Walton family comes to tear you apart over it, don't expect me to step in. Johanna, you should know better than anyone—you can't hold onto shares like that."Walton family shares weren't something just anyone could hang onto easily. Even with the Kalen family's backing, with Jamie's support, and with the Hayser family and the Westin family as allies, Sharon had barely managed to keep the balance of power stable. Johanna had neither the ability nor the connections to manage that—if she alone tried to hold that many shares, t
Rain fell in a steady drizzle outside, streaking long trails down the coffee shop's floor-to-ceiling windows, like tears.Jamie sat by the window, watching the rain, his expression distant, unreadable.Not far behind him, Marina was busy opening a can of cat food to feed the resident cats. Even on her days off, Marina still came by the coffee shop to spoil the cats with treats. Once she'd finished dishing out the food, she settled in for a proper session of cuddling every cat within reach.Jamie had long since grown used to the sight. He didn't even bother glancing back at her—simply tuned her out entirely.After a while, once she'd had her fill of cats, Marina ordered herself a coffee from the counter and plopped down right across from him."Jamie, you heard Sharon's pregnant, right?" Marina went on without waiting for a response. "I hear it's twins, too. Wonder if they're boys or girls. I can already picture how gorgeous those two are going to grow up to be. Anyway..."She look
By the dim glow of the bedside night-light, Sharon studied the side of Thomas's face and suddenly felt a small ache in her chest."Thomas."His eyes opened almost instantly. "Still uncomfortable? Should I call Uriah?""No." Sharon pressed her face into his chest, her voice muffled. "I just wanted to say—thank you for putting up with all this."Thomas pressed his lips to the crown of her head, dropping a soft kiss there."It's no trouble at all." His voice came quiet. "As long as you and the babies are here, none of it is ever too much."Sharon didn't say anything more. She just buried her face deeper into his chest, listening to the steady, solid beat of his heart.Outside, the night had settled in deep, the oak tree in the courtyard swaying gently in the evening breeze, the occasional unfamiliar birdcall drifting in from somewhere far off.Thomas had once stood alone amid blades and blood, believing that was the whole of what his life would ever be. And now here he was, gettin
From then on, aside from major decisions, Thomas took over every bit of the day-to-day work and minor business for the Kalen family. Sharon got to sleep in every morning, and whenever she woke, there was always a cup of honey water waiting at exactly the right temperature by her bedside.Thomas had turned her entire diet into a precise weekly spreadsheet, every meal prepped in advance, each one labeled with its nutritional content and calorie count. Fruit came washed and cut, placed within easy reach. Even the snacks she occasionally craved had all been swapped out for pregnancy-safe alternatives.One afternoon, Sharon suddenly found herself craving sour plums, mentioned it in passing, then went down for a nap. When she woke, she found a small white porcelain bowl waiting by her bedside, holding six freshly washed green plums, still beaded with water. Beside it sat a note in Thomas's sharp, precise handwriting: Don't eat them on an empty stomach. Milk's warming in the kitchen.She h
As if sensing Sharon's distraction, Thomas's explanation faltered. He lowered his gaze to hers."What's wrong?"His eyes held her reflection.Sharon snapped back to reality, a flush of shame warming her neck. What had she been thinking? If Thomas had wanted to harm her, he'd had countless opportu
Silas realized he'd misspoken and pressed his lips together, frustration simmering in his chest."No matter what, with that much power in Sharon's hands, she's bound to throw her weight around. Just wait, she'll turn the Kalen Group upside down."Victoria replied coolly, "Not necessarily. Even if
A flicker of unease crossed Rick's face. "Of course not. You're family—we would never use you as a bargaining chip. We just need to draw them out. Once they show themselves, we'll rescue Victoria and Samantha."Sharon nodded slowly, her voice calm but laced with sarcasm. "Let me get this straight.
In the past, Johanna had always been a whirlwind of energy, incapable of staying quiet for long. But lately, she had vanished for days on end, not even appearing in their group chats. It was strange. Unsettling.Johanna was not a woman who could sit still.Victoria found it odd, too. She had tried







