Side Chick Era Over (Sharon and Carter) novel Chapter 453

Chapter 453

“Well, well, my pretty ladies. Long time no see.”

Melanie and Wendy had always been the extroverted ones in their group, and they’d hit it off easily back in their days at Bell University. The moment Melanie spotted Wendy, her eyes lit up, and she threw her into a warm embrace.

“Wendy! I’ve missed you like crazy!”

Although it had been years since their last reunion, there wasn’t the slightest hint of awkwardness or distance between them.

The quietest among the four, Ginny, hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, “Sharon… have you heard from the Kalen family?”

Ginny came from the most prominent background among them. The Blakely and Kalen families were well-matched in influence and had been close for generations. Recently, there had been talk of a political marriage-uniting the two families by marrying Ginny to Sharon’s eldest brother, Rick.

Just a short while ago, Ginny had even met Rick a few times over dinner.

At her words, Sharon paused with one hand on the car door.

“No,” she said. “Why do you ask?”

“I heard from your brother,” Ginny replied softly, “that the Kalen family plans to bring you back soon.”

The mention of the Kalen family stirred nothing in Sharon. It was like hearing about strangers she no longer had any ties to.

“Bring me back?” Sharon raised an eyebrow. “After all these years without a word, why now?”

“Apparently, someone in the family saw your name in the news recently,” Ginny explained. “Your dad heard about the rough time you’ve had and suddenly felt a pang of guilt. He wants to bring you home.”

Sharon climbed into the car and responded coolly, “We walk different paths. There’s no point trying to force them to cross.”

Ginny understood the weight behind those words. “Sharon, you really don’t want to go back?”

Sharon said, “Whether I go back or not, does it really make any difference?”

Ginny opened her mouth to reply but stopped. The truth was, Sharon was right.

She had earned her place at Bell University entirely on her own, without any help from the Kalen family. Her tuition and living expenses were covered by scholarships and the money she made through performances.

Even without that income, Sharon had never truly lacked for money. Before she entered the Kalen household, her mother had given her a substantial sum-enough to support her studies and her life.

The Kalen family, by contrast, had offered her little in the way of meaningful support. (1)

After she returned to them, Richard was generous. She was given a monthly allowance of 100 thousand dollars, with clothes, handbags, cars, and other luxuries calculated separately.

But Sharon never touched a cent of it.

Because the very next day after receiving her first allowance, her third brother, Scott, pulled her aside and told her plainly, “Our family may be wealthy, but we don’t believe in freeloading.

Rick, Silas, and I started working long ago. None of us takes pocket money from the family anymore.

As for Victoria…”

1/2

He paused then, pride flickering in his eyes.

“Victoria is a physics prodigy. She secured multiple patents before she even came of age. In recent years, she’s been raking in prize money from competitions. She might be an heiress, but she doesn’t need a penny from our family.”

Sharon understood his meaning all too well.

“So what you’re saying,” she asked, “is that you think I came back to the Kalen family just to freeload?”

Scott replied, “Do you know why Dad hasn’t announced your identity to the public yet? It’s because everyone in our family is exceptional. We’re all leaders in our fields. You’re the only one who hasn’t met that standard yet.

“That’s why we’ve given you three years to learn the rules, master etiquette, and adjust to life in this family. If, after three years, you’ve grown into a qualified heiress, then we’ll reveal your identity to the outside world.”