Chapter 13
Nate shot Sharon a vicious glare. “You dared to bully Kelly? You’re dead. Just wait and see how Carter deals with you.”
Sharon finally looked up and said earnestly, “Nate, are you saying being a lapdog isn’t enough for you anymore? You’ve upgraded to a full–on bootlicker now?”
Nate exploded. “Did you hear that? Carter, Julliard–did you hear what she just said?! She called me a bootlicker! When I ran into her outside, she called me a lapdog!”
Julliard let out a quiet cough. “Nate, maybe we should let Carter handle this.”
“No!” Nate snapped, like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on. ‘If Carter doesn’t stand up for me today, I’m not leaving!”
Sharon spoke evenly, almost bored. “Then stay as long as you like I’ve got better things to do.” She moved past them, gently rubbing her swollen wrist, ready to leave.
Carter’s face darkened. He reached out and grabbed her wrist again. This time, his grip was lighter–she didn’t feel much pain— but still, she couldn’t break free.
Nate opened his mouth, clearly wanting to add something, but one look at Carter’s face—so cold and grim–shut him right up.
Seeing this, Kelly didn’t say another word either.
Without a word, Carter dragged Sharon into an empty private room and shoved her inside. His voice was low and mocking. “Is this your new game, Sharon? Play hard to get now?”
Sharon frowned. “What are you even talking about?”
He narrowed his eyes, full of scorn. “Last time, you faked being in danger just to trick me into coming. And then–nothing. Not
a damn thing happened. When did you become the kind of woman who stoops to such dirty tricks?”
Something inside her buckled.
It felt like a sharp blade slowly slicing into her, inch by inch. She could barely breathe.
Her fists clenched tight, nails digging into her palms until they cracked and split.
Dirty tricks?
He was calling her low?
That day–she remembered it vividly–she’d gone out to buy vegetables,
Theo had thrown a tantrum that morning because the greens on his plate weren’t fresh enough. He’d taken two bites and
refused to eat.
Sharon had suspected Kelly was behind it, whispering in his ear about how it was Marie, not her, who always did the grocery shopping. Kelly was clearly trying to stir the pot.
So that day, Sharon went herself.
And then, out of nowhere, a man had taken her hostage.
He was a desperate man, scammed out of hundreds of thousands. He’d lost everything–his family, his savings, his home. Now he was hollow with hatred for the world and had decided to kidnap someone. Randomly.
She’d just been there, carefully picking out vegetables.
He held a knife to her throat, screaming at the police. His hand trembled with rage, and the blade grazed her neck, leaving a thin, bleeding cut.
To calm him, she told him her husband was rich. He could pay off the man’s debt.
Chapter 13
+25 BONUS
The crazed man didn’t believe her at first. But she was calm, steady, and persuasive. She said she could call and make it all go away. He just had to let her make that call.
He hesitated. Then nodded.
She dialed Carter’s number.
She only managed to get out one sentence-“I’ve been kidnapped emergency surgery and someone had to sign off immediately.
*
-before she heard a voice on the other end say Kelly needed
Carter had said only one thing: “Kelly’s condition is critical. I’ll call you back later.”
Then he hung up.
The kidnapper didn’t want to give up. Maybe she was the only hope he had left.
And so they waited.
She and the man stood there in silence.
For two full hours.
Chapter 14
