Side Chick Era... Over

Hearing Sharon bring up the topic on her own, Richard thought it was the perfect opportunity to bridge the distance between father and daughter.

He softened his tone and asked, “Sharon, will you tell me what happened?”

Sharon’s voice was calm. “He and his first love, Kelly, were torn apart years ago by his mother. Kelly later developed depression overseas. When she returned, she told him she didn’t have long to live. When Carter found out, he was overwhelmed with guilt. He didn’t want her to die with regrets, so he did everything he could to make it up to her.

“How he chose to make amends is his business. But he had no right to sacrifice me in the process.

“He owed Kelly, but I didn’t.

“To me, Kelly was the woman who stole my husband’s attention–who turned him against me every time we argued. Whenever it came to her, his choice was always clear. I couldn’t stand her.

“So after she reappeared, it only took half a year for our marriage to end.”

She smiled faintly at Richard. “Dad, do you think I was wrong?”

A flicker of uncertainty passed through his eyes. “Between husband and wife, there must be mutual understanding,” he said slowly.

smile deepened, though it didn’t reach her

fortune buying Kelly a villa, when he found her the best doctors money could buy. I

understanding enough. But he never once tried to

of staying married? Living freely on my own–doesn’t that sound better than suffocating beside

was stubborn enough on her

moment, Sharon’s expression froze.

from his seat. “Sharon, I have work to attend to. I’ll leave you to

he turned and

motionless, watching his retreating

reflect on his mistakes. Yet her mother had been dead for years, and Richard still blamed Shayla–still thought she was the

almost overnight, wiped clean from every

1/2

had no place for her chaos. And he knew the truth

what hadn’t.

already given Kelly a final warning: if she dared to

could see it in his eyes.