Semua Bab Side Chick Era… Over: Bab 591 - Bab 600

Wendy had only asked on a whim. She didn't really expect Sharon to know the artist. It was just that Sharon had studied painting too, so maybe she'd heard something.But Sharon said, "I do."Everyone turned to look at her.Even Xavier didn't know Aurora's true identity.Wendy lit up. "Seriously? Sharon, you know someone that amazing? Don't tell me you studied painting with her?"Sharon turned to Wendy. "Do you know what 'Aurora' means?"Wendy, ever the academic, wasn't stumped by the question. "Aurora—Roman goddess of the dawn. It can also mean the northern lights, or just dawn, morning light…"Her voice trailed off, as if something had just clicked.She opened her mouth, eyes wide. "No way. It can't be…"Sharon could see she'd figured it out. "That's right. Aurora is Victoria."Xavier looked over at Victoria too. "It's Victoria?"Surprise flickered across his face, tinged with something like inevitability.That Victoria could paint wasn't exactly shocking. After all, music

Broad shoulders, long legs, a figure as upright as a pine—he moved with a natural authority, every gesture carrying the weight of presence. He was like an unsheathed sword: dangerous, yet noble in his restraint.Sharon's eyes flickered slightly.It was Lex, the guy Uriah had introduced to her as a blind date, also the future heir of the Malcolm family.He certainly looked the part—imposing, composed, with a powerful aura that commanded attention.Sharon gave him a polite nod, but made no move to speak.It was possible Lex had never seen her photo; initiating conversation would seem presumptuous.Just as she was about to walk away, his voice stopped her."Sharon."She paused mid-step and looked up at him."You know me?"Lex gazed down at her. "You're Sharon McKinzie, Carter Biggs's ex-wife. Your son's name is Theo. You're the daughter of Richard Kalen."Sharon's gaze settled on the man in front of her, her expression slowly cooling.For some reason, a long-buried memory sudd

Sensing her pain, Lex smirked in amusement. He relished this—watching his prey suffer, powerless to fight back.In a flash, Sharon raised her free hand and swung it hard toward his face.But Lex had anticipated the move. He caught her wrist mid-air with unsettling ease.Sharon's pupils contracted. Even if she had been slow to react before, she now understood—Lex wasn't just anyone. He was clearly trained.She tried to knee him in the groin, but they were standing too close—she had no space to maneuver. Before she could move her leg, he stepped down firmly on her foot with his leather shoe.Sharon was just an ordinary woman. She couldn't throw a punch to save her life. The gap between them, in strength and in skill, was undeniable. She was no match for him.Lex watched her struggle with a mocking gleam in his eyes, like a cat toying with a trapped mouse."You want me to let go?" he drawled. "Beg me, and maybe I will."Sharon stared at him, and in that moment, he reminded her of

Sharon gently rubbed her wrist. Though a dark bruise had already formed, the bone itself was unharmed."That guy is dangerous," she said, watching Lex's retreating figure. "He's not like Cole. He won't be so easy to deal with."Unlike Cole, Lex held real power. The resources and connections at his disposal far exceeded anything Cole could muster.Wendy had sensed it too—this man was nothing like Nate or Cole. Even now, just recalling the way Lex had looked at her sent a chill down her entire body.She asked cautiously, "Should we tell Uriah?"Sharon replied, "Xavier once told me that although Uriah still commands respect within the Malcolm family, he's long since relinquished his authority. The real power lies in Lex's hands now. Even Uriah might not be able to rein him in. Besides…"She paused awhile before saying, "Uriah has already done so much for me. How could I ask him to go up against his own son?"Wendy fell silent.Sharon turned to her, offering quiet reassurance. "You

It honestly came as a surprise to Carter.Nate glanced in Lex's direction. "Where did he go? The auction's already started, and he still hasn't come back?"Julliard recalled the water soaking Lex from head to toe. "He probably went to change his clothes.""What?" Nate's eyes widened. "He molests someone, and he has time to change clothes? Don't tell me…"Something seemed to flash through Nate's mind, and his expression twisted into one of profound discomfort."Don't tell me he got his pants dirty? Damn! I always thought he was a suave, refined type. Who knew he could be that sleazy? Ugh, I can't unsee it now!"You said earlier that even after getting hit, he didn't leave, and even told the girl to 'remember him'… Shit, do you think he's into that? Like, a full-blown masochist?"Nate's words grew more and more outrageous by the second.The people seated nearby had begun to listen in. Hearing Nate speak as though he'd witnessed everything firsthand, they turned to look, clearly i