Chapter 13 Nate shot Sharon a vicious glare . " You dared to bully Kelly ? You're dead . Just wait and see how Carter deals with you . " Sharon finally looked up and said earnestly , " Nate , are you saying being a lapdog isn't enough for you anymore ? You've upgraded to a full - on bootlicker now ? " Nate exploded . " Did you hear that ? Carter , Julliard - did you hear what she just said ?! She called me a bootlicker ! When I ran into her outside , she called me a lapdog ! " Julliard let out a quiet cough . " Nate , maybe we should let Carter handle this . " " No ! " Nate snapped , like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on . ' If Carter doesn't stand up for me today , I'm not leaving ! " Sharon spoke evenly , almost bored . " Then stay as long as you like I've got better things to do . " She moved past them , gently rubbing her swollen wrist , ready to leave . Carter's face darkened . He reached out and grabbed her wrist again . This time , his grip was lighter - she didn't feel much pain- but still , she couldn't break free . Nate opened his mouth , clearly wanting to add something , but one look at Carter's face - so cold and grim - shut him right up . Seeing this , Kelly didn't say another word either . Without a word , Carter dragged Sharon into an empty private room and shoved her inside . His voice was low and mocking . " Is this your new game , Sharon ? Play hard to get now ? " Sharon frowned . " What are you even talking about ? " He narrowed his eyes , full of scorn . " Last time , you faked being in danger just to trick me into coming . And then - nothing . Not a damn thing happened . When did you become the kind of woman who stoops to such dirty tricks ? " Something inside her buckled . It felt like a sharp blade slowly slicing into her , inch by inch . She could barely breathe . Her fists clenched tight , nails digging into her palms until they cracked and split . Dirty tricks ? He was calling her low ? That day - she remembered it vividly - she'd gone out to buy vegetables , Theo had thrown a tantrum that morning because the greens on his plate weren't fresh enough . He'd taken two bites and refused to eat . Sharon had suspected Kelly was behind it , whispering in his ear about how it was Marie , not her , who always did the grocery shopping . Kelly was clearly trying to stir the pot . So that day , Sharon went herself . And then , out of nowhere , a man had taken her hostage . He was a desperate man , scammed out of hundreds of thousands . He'd lost everything - his family , his savings , his home . Now he was hollow with hatred for the world and had decided to kidnap someone . Randomly . She'd just been there , carefully picking out vegetables . He held a knife to her throat , screaming at the police . His hand trembled with rage , and the blade grazed her neck , leaving a thin , bleeding cut . To calm him , she told him her husband was rich . He could pay off the man's debt . Chapter 13 +25 BONUS The crazed man didn't believe her at first . But she was calm , steady , and persuasive . She said she could call and make it all go away . He just had to let her make that call . He hesitated . Then nodded . She dialed Carter's number . She only managed to get out one sentence- " I've been kidnapped emergency surgery and someone had to sign off immediately . * -before she heard a voice on the other end say Kelly needed Carter had said only one thing : " Kelly's condition is critical . I'll call you back later . " Then he hung up . The kidnapper didn't want to give up . Maybe she was the only hope he had left . And so they waited . She and the man stood there in silence . For two full hours . Chapter 14 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!