The moment Wendy saw who it was, the smile on her face froze."Xavier."Xavier glanced around. "Sharon hasn't returned?"Wendy shook her head. Worry clouded her eyes. "I've been calling her, but she hasn't answered, not even once. Her phone's still on, though."She looked at Xavier. "You haven't heard from her either?"A rare look of solemnity settled over Xavier's face. "Start the performance without her. I'll check the surveillance footage."Just as he was about to leave, a small hand tugged at his sleeve.Xavier turned and saw Matty gazing up at him with wide, worried eyes. "Daddy, Sharon will be okay, right?"Xavier gently patted Matty's head. "She'll be fine.""Then promise me, Daddy. Promise you'll find her.""I promise."With that, he turned and walked out, the door closing softly behind him, letting in a gust of cool air.The others stared at the now-shut door, their expressions heavy with concern.…In the audience, Victoria glanced at the nearby seats, where the
John checked the time. "Only ten minutes left. I need to head onstage."He turned to Wendy. "Push the ensemble and Sharon's solo to later in the program."Wendy thought for a moment and nodded. Fortunately, since it was an internal performance, the order of appearances could be adjusted freely. As long as Sharon appeared a bit later, it wouldn't be an issue.Casey asked anxiously, "But what if Sharon doesn't come back at all?"John paused for a few seconds, then said in a low voice, "Then the rest of us will perform."He looked at Matty, who had been quietly waiting for instructions. "Matty, if Sharon really can't go onstage, could you play two extra pieces?"Matty gave a small nod. "Yes."He'd been learning the violin from Sharon recently and could play quite a few pieces. Performing a few more wouldn't be a problem.John then turned to Casey. "If Sharon doesn't make it back, you'll need to play a few more piano pieces as well."Casey nodded. "Got it."Although this performa
Sharon had only two words in response. "You're crazy."Cole was, without a doubt, someone she despised even more than Nate.At least Nate had always made his disdain clear. Cole, on the other hand, had hidden his loathing behind a false facade of kindness, only to orchestrate a grand spectacle that ultimately ruined her reputation.Noticing the open disgust on Sharon's face, Cole let out a laugh, appearing completely unfazed.To him, the hatred and resentment of the weak were utterly meaningless."Sharon, my grandfather was only fooled by you because he doesn't know who you really are. But now that I'm here, I won't let you keep deceiving him."Sharon looked at him calmly. "Then go ahead. Go to Uriah right now and expose me. I'll wait right here."Cole's gaze narrowed, studying her face.She wasn't afraid at all.In fact, she had the boldness of someone with nothing to fear—either because she had something powerful backing her, or because she was confident that even if the tru
If the performance failed, it would simply mean that Sharon lacked skills.However, it seemed the Kalen family would also be attending the banquet.What Uriah didn't know was that Sharon was actually the long-lost daughter of the Kalen family. And as for the Kalens, when they saw the daughter or sister they had once cast out, not only far from destitute but living such a dazzling life, what kind of expressions would they wear?Unlike Sharon and Wendy, who remained unaware of the true significance behind this performance, Xavier knew exactly what it meant.That was why, after learning the performance schedule, he asked Uriah for an invitation to avoid mishaps like the one just now.Not long after leaving Carter and the others, someone spotted Xavier and lit up with recognition, walking over warmly."Mr. Cooper! I didn't expect to see you here!"Sharon glanced at the man and immediately recognized him as one of Xavier's business associates.She said, "Mr. Cooper, if you have busi
Theo grew anxious as he watched the group of people surround his mother, seemingly trying to force her out."Mommy," he said anxiously, "if you just apologize to Kelly for what happened last time, Daddy will help you."Not long ago, Kelly had been hospitalized again after falling into a lake. When he went to visit her, Nate told him that his mother had pushed Kelly into the water. He'd asked his father about it, and though his father didn't confirm it, he hadn't denied it either.So now, seeing all this, Theo naturally assumed his father was still angry at his mother over what happened, and that was why he refused to help her.But Sharon simply looked at him—deeply, quietly.That single look made Theo inexplicably uneasy.Then Sharon spoke, "That won't be necessary."At her words, Carter's dark eyes grew even darker, his handsome features hardening noticeably.If Sharon had just told the steward that she was the child's mother, or even that she had come to see Theo, he would ha
"Mommy," Theo's voice called out, pulling Sharon's attention back.She turned and saw Theo dressed like a little gentleman in a crisp, formal suit.It had been some time since she last saw him.In the past, she had cherished Theo more than her own life. Even the slightest sign of discomfort from him would send her into a panic. There were moments she truly believed that if she ever lost him, she wouldn't survive.But life had taught her otherwise—no one, not even her own child, was worth losing herself over.She gave a slight nod in response to his greeting, acknowledging him without a word.At the same time, a faint sense of confusion stirred within her.Why had Uriah invited them, too?Could it be that Uriah was trying to ease the tension between her and Theo, so he invited the boy, and the Biggs family simply followed?Their exchange soon drew the attention of the banquet's floor manager.A middle-aged man approached, his tone sharp with authority."What's going on here?