Side Chick Era Over (Sharon and Carter) novel Chapter 548

Chapter 548

Before Carter could speak, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed in from a distance, drawing closer with every beat.

“Carter! Pick Kelly!”

Nate appeared out of nowhere, hobbling toward them on an unsteady leg.

Carter frowned. “What are you doing here?”

Nate looked distraught. “If I didn’t come, Kelly wouldn’t stand a chance today! Carter, hurry-choose Kelly! She still has unfinished wishes, just a few months left to live. We can’t let her die here!”

Last night, Nate had taken such a beating from his father that he could barely get out of bed. He’d planned to stay home and recover. But earlier, a call from Julliard shattered that plan-Kelly had been kidnapped. (1)

As soon as he heard, he rushed over as fast as his injuries would allow, terrified that if he were even a minute late, she’d be dead.

Carter’s voice came cool and measured, rational and clear.

“If she only has a few months left… shouldn’t I choose someone who might live longer?”

Nate froze, stunned. He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.

Had Carter really said that? Wasn’t he always the one most inclined to protect Kelly?

Carter continued, “Kelly is terminally ill. She doesn’t have long. She can offer her chance at life to someone else. She’s kind. I’m sure she’d understand.”

With that, he turned to face Kelly.

“Kelly. Am I right?”

For a moment, the fragile mask on Kelly’s face slipped. She forced a smile that barely held. “Carter is right. There’s no point in trying to save me now.”

Then her eyes drifted to Theo, who stood frozen in place.

“Theo, go with your mom. Don’t worry about me.”

He’d heard it earlier-everything. The way his mother had spoken to the kidnapper. His mother knew the kidnapper.

Theo’s eyes flickered, uncertainty shadowing his face.

His small brows knotted in hesitation, but after a pause, he gave a faint nod.

Kelly’s expression faltered.

Her fists clenched at her sides as fury surged up her throat, hot enough to choke.

Just as she’d feared-utter ingratitude. She’d been good to him, and still it meant nothing. 1)

Before the kidnapper could speak, Nate’s furious voice exploded into the space.

“Carter, what the hell are you saying? Sharon’s life matters, but Kelly’s doesn’t? I won’t stand by while you let Kelly die!”

Carter’s voice cooled another degree, now edged with steel.

“Then what do you propose?”

Nate blinked, caught off guard. Reflexively, he answered, “Of course I want to save Kelly!”

Carter said, “Right now, Theo and Sharon are in the hands of a kidnapper. Tell me, how do we save them?”

Nate opened his mouth. “Didn’t the kidnapper say it himself? He wants you to choose. Just pick Kelly and be done with it…”

His voice trailed off. Even he realized something didn’t sit right.

But soon, his confidence surged again.

“Back then, I lured away your pursuers in your place. If Kelly hadn’t saved me, I’d have died. We owe her our lives. This is just repaying the debt. Carter, you’re not going to go back on that, are you?”

Carter’s tone stayed cold. “And everything I’ve done for her since then… what do you think that was?”

Nate’s gaze flickered. He avoided the question. “Whatever the case, today you have to choose Kelly…”

Carter cut him off.

“You want me to stand in front of Theo, and choose a dying woman with only months left to live…

and abandon his mother? Nate, listen to yourself. Doesn’t that sound insane to you?”

From the side, Sharon’s eyes widened slightly, surprised,

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