Lahat ng Kabanata ng Side Chick Era… Over: Kabanata 391 - Kabanata 400

Sharon's hand trembled. The water in her glass spilled over, splashing against her fingertips.Julliard acted as if he hadn't noticed her reaction. "Nate mentioned… from the sound of it, Madeline seems to want Carter to marry Kelly."He went on, "These days, it's been Kelly taking care of Theo. Madeline seems pretty set on helping the two of them build a bond."Sharon kept her head down, saying nothing. Julliard hesitated, then softly apologized. "Sorry. Maybe I said too much."She slowly lifted her gaze. "No… it's fine. Honestly, it's not surprising. They've always liked Kelly. I'm used to it. It's just… I didn't expect Madeline to be so accepting of Kelly. I thought she'd want Carter to marry someone… well, someone from his own circle."Julliard nodded slightly. "She probably thought that way at first. But the more she saw Kelly's… qualities, the more her view shifted. "Plus, she's worried. Whoever Carter marries will also become Theo's stepmother. What if the kid doesn't li

Wendy chuckled. "Probably someone here for the interview."But as she turned and caught sight of the two people stepping into the room, her smile froze.The newcomers didn't seem to notice the tension. They glanced around casually, examining the space."This studio's pretty well done," Kelly said. "A bit tucked away, but the surroundings are quiet. There's even a lake out back… It's a nice place."Nate beamed, practically gloating. "Not any worse than your old studio, right? The landlord told me it used to be a music studio too. Seems perfect for you."For the first time in days, Kelly actually smiled. Ever since her old studio had been vandalized, she hadn't cracked even the faintest grin. Now, though, her lips curved.Seeing her smile, Nate puffed up with a ridiculous sense of accomplishment. "Alright, I'll go talk to the landlord—"Wendy finally couldn't hold back. "Hey. Who the hell said you could just walk in here? You know trespassing is illegal, right?"Nate turned, and

Sharon and Wendy both turned toward the door. A young woman stood there, glancing nervously around the room.Sharon walked over. "Yes, this is Jaron Studios. Are you here for the interview?"The woman nodded, her expression slightly stiff. "My name's Casey Windham. I'm here to apply for the pianist position."She handed over her resume as she spoke.Sharon took it and skimmed through. To her surprise, Casey wasn't just a pianist; she was an accomplished violinist as well. Piano Level 10, with an impressive list of awards from international competitions, many of which carried significant prestige.Sharon nodded. "Would you mind playing something for us?"Casey nodded back, walked over to the piano, adjusted the bench, and tested the keys briefly before beginning to play.Her foundation was solid, and her technique was flawless. Her hands moved confidently across the keys.But, something wavered. Maybe it was nerves, maybe something else.A note fell wrong. A mistake like that

Sharon was quiet for a few seconds before answering, "Got it. I'm heading over now."…Inside Jaron Studios, the air was heavy.Wendy stood there, staring at the splattered paint on the walls and the shattered instruments. Her expression was dark, like a storm barely contained.Casey, who had just finished her onboarding paperwork, looked equally unsettled.Her voice was low, hesitant, laced with guilt and hesitation. "Maybe… maybe I should just find another job."She'd been rejected everywhere lately. Finding this job had felt like stumbling onto dry land after nearly drowning. If she lost this one… the only thing left would be playing piano at restaurants or lounges just to survive.She'd almost given up. Almost. Then Sharon and Wendy had appeared like a last lifeline.And now this.Paint thrown across the walls. Equipment smashed beyond recognition.It wasn't just vandalism. It was revenge.Unconsciously, Casey's thoughts drifted to her ex. He had no bottom line, no consc

Nate froze. "Why should I go to Sharon? Let her keep trending—what's it got to do with us?"Carter let out a frustrated laugh. "Nate… you really think just because you covered your face, no one's gonna recognize you? That video's audio is crystal clear. Your friends will know your voice anywhere. Even the mall clerks you frequent will recognize your voice."Nate sat bolt upright. "Video? What video?""The surveillance footage," Carter said.Nate blinked, stunned. "What?"All he'd seen was the trending post—photos of Sharon's trashed studio. He figured it was just her fishing for clues. No way could she pull anything from that. The cameras were destroyed.Carter repeated, "A surveillance video."Nate blurted out without thinking, "That's impossible! I wrecked those cameras myself!"The second it left his mouth, he realized his mistake. His tone faltered. "I… Carter, look, Kelly's studio got trashed. I was just… getting revenge for her, that's all..."His voice grew smaller. He