Semua Bab Side Chick Era… Over: Bab 991 - Bab 1000

"Don't underestimate someone like Kelly. She's caused Sharon plenty of trouble before," Wendy said.A flicker passed through Thomas's eyes, and he fell into an uncharacteristic silence.Just then, a man's low, gentle voice sounded from behind them."Sharon."Sharon turned, finding Julliard standing beneath the dazzling lights. Handsome, with soft, refined features, he looked every bit the prince out of a fairy tale.Wendy's voice lifted in surprise. "Julliard!"Sharon wavered for a moment, caught off guard.Julliard stepped forward at an unhurried pace until he stood before them."Hello, Sharon. Wendy. Thomas."Wendy grinned. "Julliard, you look especially dashing tonight."He smiled faintly, then looked at Sharon. "Sharon, congratulations.""Thank you," she replied.He explained his lateness. "Apologies. I was delayed on the road."Thinking of how Julliard had arranged for assassins to strike at Jamie, Wendy felt a conflicted mix of gratitude and pity for him. She knew Sh

Just as Thomas was about to follow from the shadows, someone lightly tugged at the hem of his sleeve."Thomas."Thomas turned and found himself facing Johanna.Her smile bloomed, bright and radiant. "Thomas, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Sharon?"Without betraying the slightest emotion, Thomas slipped his sleeve free from her grasp."Do you need something?"Johanna glanced around, then lowered her voice. "Thomas, I have something to tell you. Will you walk with me for a bit?"He had nothing pressing at the moment, and after a brief thought, agreed.Johanna had always admired Thomas. Once she discovered his true identity was more than a match for her own status, the last lingering doubt in her heart vanished. Now, the more she looked at him, the more she liked him.The two strolled into the quiet, secluded rear garden.Thomas's identity had yet to be made public. Johanna, eager to appear as though she cared only for the man himself and not his rank or power, c

"Besides," Victoria added, "he sided with Sharon so openly just now. It's hard not to suspect something's off."Victoria and Jamie had already analyzed the situation. The likelihood that Johanna had successfully passed herself off as Thomas's long-lost love was slim. Otherwise, why would Thomas show Jamie no mercy at all?Victoria had never doubted the truth in Jamie's claim that Thomas had tried to assassinate him. With Jamie's temperament, he would never make such an accusation without certainty.Johanna countered, "Thomas is helping Sharon only to gain her trust. For all we know, his real target is the original shares in her hands. The fact that she returned to the Kalen family with him at her side proves she trusts him deeply. Otherwise, why would the head of the Ferrero family linger at her side?"Her lips curled with a mocking laugh. "Did you think he likes her? Sharon is a divorcee with a child! Do you honestly think he would like her?"Jamie gave a derisive chuckle. "Don't

A fleeting shadow crossed Thomas's eyes, a glint of cold light gone as quickly as it appeared.He, too, would never let this go.Sharon hadn't even blamed Julliard, so how could she ever blame Thomas? After all, she was the one who had granted his leave of absence.Neither Julliard nor Thomas deserved blame. The one who bore it all, the true culprit, was Jamie.Wendy broke the silence. "Sharon, it's already late. You should rest. Tomorrow, Thomas and I will accompany you to pick up the Kalen family's files."Sharon's expression shifted slightly at that."Tomorrow I won't be able to go. Something's come up. I'll tell my dad. You and Thomas can go without me."There was so much she had yet to learn. Not only the intricacies of business, but every detail of the Kalen Group itself.Since she had chosen to join the family company, she needed to understand it thoroughly.The documents waiting for her were not business contracts but family records—things every Kalen heir ought to know

Sharon couldn't hold back her curiosity."Thomas, did you used to work with antiques?"It would make sense—his wide range of knowledge could be explained that way.But Thomas denied it outright. "No. I know nothing about antiques.""Then why did Wendy say you used to restore artifacts?""I lied to her," Thomas replied calmly. "If I hadn't said that, she wouldn't have trusted me enough to hand over Shaluna."Sharon froze for a beat, then let out a soft laugh. "Weren't you afraid that if you failed, Wendy would blame you?""No," Thomas answered with quiet certainty.Sharon nodded. Wendy might be fiery by nature, but when it came to the important things, she knew where to draw the line. She wouldn't hold it against him.Yet the next moment, Thomas's voice came again, steady and low."I never take on something I can't accomplish. I said I would restore Shaluna, and I did it."Sharon's lashes trembled as she turned toward him.Only then did she understand. When he said "no," he