Side Chick Era Over (Sharon and Carter) novel Chapter 549

Chapter 549

Hearing Carter’s words, Sharon realized–with a quiet jolt-that he was choosing her.

It caught her off guard, but only just. In truth, it made a strange kind of sense. This was who Carter had always been: cool- headed, rational to a fault.

Even now, she could feel a toxic stare boring into her.

She turned her head and found Kelly glaring at her, lips bloodless from being bitten down hard, eyes red with fury.

Kelly hadn’t expected this. Not at all.

Carter had been given two choices, and he had chosen Sharon. He had divorced Sharon for her. How could he choose Sharon

now?

A cold smirk tugged at the corner of Sharon’s lips.

Kelly had played the same hand for years-her terminal illness, her tragic sweetness-tugging on Carter’s sympathy, weaving a perfect image of gentle suffering for the world to admire.

Now, she’d finally overplayed it.

Poetic justice.

Still, Sharon felt no joy in being chosen. She knew too well that it was nothing more than a cost-benefit analysis, just another one of Carter’s decisions made with his usual, mechanical precision.

From the sidelines, Dillon’s voice broke through the stillness. “So, Mr. Biggs, your choice… is your ex-wife, Sharon?”

Carter was silent for a moment. Then he said, simply, “Yes.”

Nate’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Carter!”

The metallic tang of blood filled Kelly’s mouth. She had bitten through her lip as she cursed Sharon to death inwardly.

Carter ignored Nate and looked straight at Dillon.

“I’ve made my choice. Now let them go.”

Dillon agreed without hesitation. “Sure. Sharon, you’re free to leave.”

Sharon walked toward Theo and reached for his hand.

But then, everything went wrong.

“Watch out!” Carter’s voice cut sharply through the air.

Sharon, her back to Dillon, had no idea what was happening behind her. 1

Then came the gunshot.

Her instincts kicked in. Heart racing, she threw herself over Theo, wrapping him in her arms as they rolled to the ground.

In the chaos, a voice screamed, ragged and raw.

“Theo! Run! I’ll hold him off!”

It was Kelly.

She’d lunged forward and clung tightly to Dillon’s arm, shouting so loud her voice cracked and turned shrill. 2

Dillon’s expression darkened. With a snarl, he slapped her hard across the face.

Smack.

Her head snapped to the side. But she didn’t let go.

Like she couldn’t feel the pain at all, she just held on tighter.

Fury flared in Dillon’s eyes. This time, he threw her with all his strength. Her body hit the floor hard.

Still, Kelly didn’t stop. She clawed her way back and clung to his leg, dragging him down, refusing to let go.

Everyone around them froze. Stunned. No one moved.

Sharon saw her chance.

Dillon’s attention had shifted, just for a moment.

She scooped Theo into her arms and ran.

Carter moved fast, stepping in to shield them with his body.

By then, Simon had arrived with backup, having heard the gunshot.

Carter gave him a curt order. “Get them to safety. Now.”

Chaos erupted in all directions.

As Sharon and Theo were being led out, a deafening explosion ripped through the air behind them.

At the hospital, while Sharon waited for the results of Theo’s full-body exam, Kelly was being wheeled into emergency care.

Blood covered her body. Her face was pale. Her breathing, faint.

Sharon frowned slightly at the sight.

“How is Kelly?” she asked.

Neither Carter nor Nate answered. They were too occupied, too lost in their own storms.

It was Julliard who finally paused beside her and began to explain the events.

A

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