Side Chick Era... Over

Chapter 898

Though Rick’s expression remained dark, he couldn’t deny that Carter’s reasoning held some truth.

Was the identity of the Kalen family’s heiress really less respectable than that of Carter’s ex- wife?

And the company’s plummeting stock-what benefit would that bring to Sharon?

Sooner or later, she would hold a portion of the shares herself. If Kalen Group’s stock fell, she would be affected negatively just the same.

He had simply let anger cloud his judgment. His first instinct had been to suspect Sharon.

To ease the tension, Rick deliberately lifted his glass and took a slow sip of water, forcing a veneer of calm. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Richard sitting beside him.

Yes, he had misunderstood Sharon. But at the time… his father had seemed to think the same.

Sharon glanced at Carter, an unnameable emotion rising in her chest. It felt strangely like the first time he had ever stood up for her the way he once used to defend Kelly.

Had this been in the past-before their divorce-she would have been moved to tears.

the joy wasn’t as sharp as she had

even if her heart did not swell with happiness, she couldn’t deny her gratitude. At this moment, Carter’s defense was

her behalf,

resurfaced in her mind. “Sharon, don’t let online chatter brainwash you-those empty slogans about how a true heroine

-people who step in when you need help. Without the Cooper family behind me, I wouldn’t be where I am today, Call it nepotism,

women who see me as a marriage prospect. Do you think I turn them away because they

“And

accept Wendy’s help without hesitation. But when I try to help, you refuse. Why? Because I’m a man?

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take Victoria. Without the Kalen family behind her, would she still be called the number- one socialite? Every one of us from

his strength? Strip him of that foundation, tell him to build everything from scratch, and let’s see if he can reach such heights

The memory struck deep.

of Lex, of Jamie, of the Kalens… and once more, she felt the sharp, suffocating weight of her

then, a low, rasping voice drifted from

there’s a better way to determine whether

whipped around instinctively toward