Chapter 166
Kelly’s tone was polite on the surface, but anyone listening could hear the message loud and clear-she was telling Sharon to back down.
Xavier quietly observed the exchange, then lowered his gaze to Matty.
“Matty, what did you think of Sharon’s violin playing?”
“It was really beautiful. It made me think of a word I just learned,” Matty replied.
“Oh?” Xavier’s curiosity was piqued. “What word?”
“Celestial music.”
Xavier chuckled. “And how does it compare to Kelly’s playing?”
“Sharon’s way better!” Matty said without missing a beat. “Kelly has such a mean heart-there’s no way she could play better than Sharon.”
In truth, Matty had never heard Kelly play the violin. But his bond with Sharon was strong, and his loyalty was unwavering.
Xavier could see that and didn’t push the conversation any further.
Across the room, Sharon heard Kelly’s words and responded with a faint smile. “Sorry, I don’t joke around with people I’m not
close to.”
The smile on Kelly’s face faltered just slightly.
Before she could respond, Nate’s voice rang out from the side, sharp and aggressive. “Sharon, you really don’t know what’s good for you. Kelly and Carter have been giving you a chance to walk away, and you still insist on being difficult? Think you can keep pushing your luck?”
He turned to Kelly. “Kelly, if she wants to compete so badly, then let her. Some people won’t know their place until they’re properly embarrassed.”
Kelly had lost face in her recent run-ins with Sharon. A part of her had been itching for a chance to get even.
She hesitated deliberately. “Are you sure that would be appropriate?”
Nate scoffed. “What’s inappropriate about it? She’s asking for it. Nobody else to blame.”
Kelly turned to Carter, her voice soft, almost performative. “Carter, maybe you could talk to her?”
A crease formed between Carter’s brows.
Sharon had been crossing the line more and more lately. Part of him agreed that she needed to be taught a lesson. But she was Theo’s mother, and the last thing he wanted was to see her humiliated in front of their son.
Keeping his tone even, he said, “Sharon, that’s enough. Don’t make this into more than it needs to be.”
Sharon didn’t even glance at him. Her eyes were locked on Kelly.
“If this is going to be a competition,” she said coolly, “then let’s raise the stakes.’
Kelly’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Alright. What do you have in mind?”
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Sharon pointed at the necklace around Kelly’s neck. “If you lose, return my mother’s necklace.”
Kelly’s expression shifted. Her hand instinctively moved to the chain at her neck.
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Chapter 166
She had just found out that the necklace had once belonged to Shayla.
Even though Shayla was Sharon’s mother, Kelly had always found it strangely hard to associate the two. They felt like they came from different worlds-like strangers.
Back then, she had insisted on keeping the necklace mostly just to spite Sharon.
Nate let out a mocking chuckle.
“Tsk, tsk. Trying to take back a gift Carter gave to Kelly? And you’re still claiming you’re not playing hard to get?”
Wendy shot back with razor-sharp sarcasm. “And you, Mr. Lapdog-are you deaf? Didn’t you hear her say it was her mother’s necklace?”
She turned a cutting glare on Carter. “Some people are truly shameless. Handing out someone’s family heirloom like it’s a party favor. And others-well, some just love clinging to the dead, don’t they? I used to wonder why. But now I get it. Must be planning to take it to the grave.”
Nate, face flushed with anger, moved to lunge forward, but Kelly grabbed his arm and held him back.
Being screamed at like that shook her-her usually calm facade was clearly cracked.
“I accept your terms,” she said, her voice directed toward Sharon. “But since you insist on a wager, then I’d like to ask something of you in return.”
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