Side Chick Era... Over

Kelly said anxiously, “She must’ve picked up that earring! Thomas, you can’t believe a word that liar says!”

If Thomas refused to help her, she was doomed. Right now, he was her only hope.

Thomas’s tone remained calm. “What you said might be true. But I’ll need some time to investigate. For now, we shouldn’t contact each other. If I’ve wronged you, I’ll make it up to you later.”

Before Kelly could say another word, the line went dead.

She stared at her phone, her teeth grinding with rage. If Johanna hadn’t ruined everything, her fake pregnancy plan–handled properly with Thomas’s help–might have gone off without a hitch. She could have married

Carter.

But now, because of Johanna’s interference, all her efforts had gone up in smoke.

If only… If Johanna were gone, wouldn’t everything fall neatly back into place?

The thought sent a dark, icy gleam flickering through Kelly’s eyes.

To live like a rat in the shadows–she would rather die than endure that humiliation. If getting Thomas’s full support meant taking a risk, then so be it. It would be worth it.

the one he had been looking

costs.

at the Kalen Group. Coincidentally, it was also the day

hadn’t shaken Victoria’s composure

wig. Eyebrows could be restored with implants. As

less.

if it were permanently damaged,

all, both her beauty and her talents were merely tools–means to achieve her goals.

once endured, was just something

night before Sharon and Victoria officially joined the Kalen Group, Richard

“You’re all my children. From the beginning, I’ve made it clear–there’s no favoritism here, no preference for sons over daughters. I promote based

given are distributed equally. As for the extra five percent for Victoria, that’s compensation–something

1/2

shot Sharon a warning glance.

and took out

share that

She accepted it with a gentle