Chapter 45
Carter and Kelly stood in each other’s arms, the picture of perfection-like a couple painted into existence by the heavens.
Sharon stared at them, her face devoid of emotion. Yet her throat tightened, as though a hand had reached down and gripped it from the inside. She couldn’t breathe.
So this was it. Carter hadn’t come to the hospital for her. He was here for Kelly. And, along the way, had enjoyed the spectacle of her public humiliation.
A faint crease formed between Carter’s brows. He gently stepped back, loosening Kelly’s embrace. “Kelly…”
But by then, Xavier was already supporting Sharon, guiding her away.
Carter’s gaze darkened. He moved to follow, but Kelly suddenly clung to his arm.
“Carter,” she said quickly. “Just this morning, a few more eyewitnesses reached out to me. They’re willing to testify.”
His eyes shifted. “Testify?”
“Yes.” Her voice was soft, like a breeze. “Didn’t Sharon refuse to admit she hit me with her car? With these new witnesses, she won’t be able to deny it anymore.”
She looked up at him, her smile tender. “But don’t worry, Carter. Sharon is your wife-I would never make things difficult for her. My injuries weren’t serious anyway. I won’t pursue charges. I just want a simple apology.”
She paused, then added gently, “There’s already so much nasty talk about Sharon online. If she takes this opportunity to come forward and clear things up, it might even help her image.”
“I’ll cooperate,” Kelly said with perfect calm. “I’ll say it was all an accident, that she didn’t mean it. That’s what it was, wasn’t it? Just an unfortunate accident. If we present it that way, it shouldn’t cause her any more trouble.”
She smiled again, that ever-so-graceful smile that never once hinted at pain or grievance. It was as if she truly cared about Sharon, as if she were doing all of this for her.
Carter’s eyes softened slightly. “If Sharon had half your sense…”
Kelly laughed. “It’s alright. Maybe she’s just confused for now. She’ll come around eventually.” 1
That night, a few people claiming to be eyewitnesses began posting videos online, describing what they saw.
“I’d just gotten off work, walking home,” said one man. “I saw Sharon’s car suddenly veer out-just slammed straight into Kelly’s car. Didn’t even slow down. Scared the hell out of me! At first, I thought she just hit the gas instead of the brakes, but then I noticed-she didn’t even try to steer away. It looked intentional. There were a bunch of people around. It wasn’t just me who saw it.”
With the first video posted, others followed. One after another, so-called eyewitnesses spoke out. They all said the same thing- Sharon’s actions had gone too far. They demanded an apology.
Just as the news began to cool and fade from the public eye, Sharon made a move.
She announced a press conference.
Everyone immediately assumed the same thing: she had finally buckled under the pressure. She was going to apologize.
The internet lit up with celebration, like fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
1/2
When the day arrived, the press conference was packed.
Sharon hadn’t restricted media access. Anyone could attend. And they did. The room was overflowing.
Xavier glanced over the crowd, a dark sea of faces.
“Sharon,” he murmured beside her. “Once you let this arrow fly, there’s no taking it back. If you go through with this… there’ll be no turning back with Carter.”
2/2
