Chapter 158 It Was My Fault
Sharon found it funny seeing Clara's upset face while apologizing.
"Mrs. Clark, did you think you'd be here begging me to drop the charges when you spread those lies about me hitting you?"
Clara's face twitched. She clenched her fist, trying to keep her cool.
"Sharon, I was wrong. I'm sorry. Can we just move on?"
"Sure," Sharon said. "But you need to make a public statement saying I didn't hit you and that you tried to ruin my reputation. Then I'll drop the charges."
Clara's face went rigid. She and Alex had hoped to settle this quietly.
Now Sharon wanted a public statement, which would make Clara look bad.
"Sharon, can't we handle this privately? Let's talk it out."
"Afraid of losing face?"
Sharon smiled coldly. "If you didn't want this, you shouldn't have lied. If you won't make a statement, fine. I'll get a court judgment and make it public."
Clara would be even more embarrassed then.
Clara gritted her teeth, unable to hide her anger.
"Sharon, you're going too far. I won't make that statement. Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you're with Seb? Dream on!"
Sharon's smile didn't waver.
"If you're not willing, stop wasting my time."
She walked past Clara and Alex, following Seb out.
Alex caught up. "Sharon, if you make that statement, the Smith family, including Uncle Seb, will be humiliated. Let's settle this privately. We can discuss compensation."
Sharon chuckled. "How much?"
"One million dollars!"
Sharon was surprised. Alex really didn't want this to blow up.
But hey, free money is free money.
"Alright, but after you transfer the money, my lawyer will check the remaining assets. You wouldn't want to use that to compensate me, right?"
Alex's eyes flickered. "No!"
"Okay, I'll accept your apology. Transfer the money to my account."
After Sharon and Seb left, Clara fumed. "I just said a few bad things about her, and we have to give her a million dollars? Does she deserve it?"
Alex sneered. "If we don't pay, it'll cost us more if this gets out."
Clara stepped back, feeling guilty under his glare.
"I did it for your dad."
"I don't want to hear it. I've booked you a ticket abroad. Take a break and come back when you're calmer."
Clara's eyes widened in anger. "You're sending me away?"
Alex looked at her coldly. "Staying here won't help Dad, and you'll just get in the way. It's better if you leave for a while."
"I'm not leaving. You can't send me abroad. I won't go!"
"You don't have a choice!"
As they entered the living room, Seb finally broke his silence. "Why did you take the money instead of pushing for a public apology?"
"Even if Clara apologized, it wouldn't be genuine. And if Alex got her to do it, it's because he wants to keep it quiet. Pushing for it could backfire."
Seb looked at her. "So, you were after the money from the start?"
Sharon nodded. "Yes, but if I asked for money directly, Alex might accuse me of extortion."
Seb fell silent, deep in thought.
Seeing he had nothing more to say, Sharon turned to head back to her bedroom.
After a few steps, Seb's voice, tinged with helplessness, came from behind her.
"Sharon, if you just wanted the money, you could've told me. I could help you."
Sharon paused, looking back at him with a mix of emotions.
"I was scheming against Alex. He's your family. Wouldn't that bother you?"
She had agreed to Alex's offer in front of Seb, wanting him to know her intentions. If Seb couldn't accept it, it was better to part ways before she fell completely for him.
Seb frowned, his eyes filled with anger. "Do you think I can't tell right from wrong?"
Sharon pressed her lips together. "It's not that. It's just that Alex is your family."
"You are the one I care about. Even if you were wrong, I'd stand by you."
Seeing Seb's serious expression, Sharon's eyes trembled, and something stirred in her heart.
She lowered her eyes, smiling bitterly. "But you might find out one day that I'm not worth it."
"That day will never come."
Seb stepped closer, leaning in to look into her eyes. "I like you, and I won't regret anything I do for you. It's my choice."
Sharon's hand tightened unconsciously. She looked away, unable to meet his intense gaze.
"Sharon, why can't you be a little braver?"
Seb wasn't Alex. Once he chose Sharon, he wouldn't look at anyone else.
Sharon closed her eyes, her heart heavy with bitterness.
She wanted to be brave, to love Seb without holding back.
But she was no longer naive enough to believe that love could conquer all.
To her, love was something she no longer dared to hope for.
But Seb's words made her want to love again, without reservation.
Seeing her fear and confusion, Seb didn't push further. He pulled her into his arms.
"It's okay if not now. I can wait."
Sharon hugged Seb's waist, her voice hoarse. "I'm sorry."
Though she no longer loved Alex, the pain from his betrayal still lingered. She couldn't easily give her heart again, fearing another betrayal.
"I don't blame you. It's not your fault. I just didn't do enough."
Sharon shook her head, tears almost falling. "No, you did great."
She was just too scared, afraid of getting hurt, and afraid that once Seb knew her true intentions, he'd see she was just like anyone else, nothing special.
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