Chapter 331
Sharon smiled softly. “If you keep eating it for a while longer, the problem with your cold hands and feet will completely go away. After that, I’ll help adjust your digestion too. But you’re still young–your digestive system isn’t fully developed yet. So you should try to avoid sweets, cold drinks, and fried foods as muc
as possible.”
Matty nodded obediently. “Then… Sharon, what do you think I should order?”
Sharon opened the menu and pointed out a few dishes. “These are all good for kids. See if there’s anything you’d like.”
Right beside her, Theo sat quietly. From the moment he arrived unil now… not a single word from Sharon had been directed at him.
Not one.
All her attention was on Matty.
A creeping sense of panic gripped Theo, a suffocating feeling of being shut out.
His mind flashed back to when he used to run eagerly to Kelly, always wanting to tell her every little thing that happened in his day. His small world revolved around her warmth and attention.
And yet… back then, he couldn’t be bothered to say more than a word or two to his own mother.
At his kindergarten, every kid’s parents were at least college graduates. His mother… hadn’t even graduated high school.
Grandma said Mom didn’t belong in their world. Not his father’s, not his.
As he got older, Theo slowly understood what shame was. What vanity was.
Where he’d once clung to his mother, now he found her… embarrassing.
At school, he never dared to mention her to his classmates or teachers. If anyone asked who picked him up, he always said it was the nanny.
Grandma told him it was natural. People should aim higher. It was normal for a child to admire strength.
Before he turned five, his mother was his entire world.
After five… she was no longer anyone he could look up to.
Kelly’s appearance had filled every gap left in his heart where his mother had once lived.
And in his eyes, he wasn’t wrong for feeling that way.
But watching his mom now–laughing, chatting, and doting on another kid so naturally–an unfamiliar, suffocating anger swelled in his chest.
It felt like someone had stolen his most beloved toy.
“I’ll have this, and this… and this one too,” Matty’s voice snapped Theo out of his spiraling thoughts.
Turning his head, Theo saw Matty flashing a bright, sweet smile at Sharon. “I remember you like these dishes too, Sharon.”
A subtle warmth flickered across Sharon’s expression, “You can just order what you like. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“No, that won’t do.” Matty shook his head, face serious. “You always cook what I like, and you always eat plain food just to match me. If I can help it, I don’t want you to keep compromising for me. When we eat together, you should eat wha
too.
“Sharon, you’re so good to me. I should be good to you too.”
ike
For a moment, Sharon felt her throat tighten. The words she wanted to say caught somewhere deep in her chest.
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Chapter 331
All she could manage… was a single word. “Okay.”
Theo’s eyes burned with anger.
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Kelly was right. Mom had a new child now. That’s why she divorced Dad. That’s why she didn’t even want custody of him.
He hadn’t believed it before.
But watching this–this scene right in front of him–he finally believed it.
She really didn’t want him anymore.
What was so great about Matty anyway? He was just a little drama ing who only knew how to play the victim.
Jealousy burned in Theo’s chest. He wanted so badly to tip off Matty’s fake task and expose him right here, right now–to make his mom see that this kid was nowhere near as innocent as she thought.
But after sucking in a sharp breath, he held back.
He’d fallen for Matty’s tricks too many times before. He knew better now. Without proof, no one would believe him.
And besides… that wasn’t why he
Theo had more important things
here today.
do
His sudden appearance forced Wendy to swallow back the things she’d been itching to say about Carter. The conversation drifted into empty small talk to fill the silence.
Throughout the meal, Matty chattered nonstop, sharing stories and little jokes. For someone so young, he had a sharp tongue, witty enough to keep everyone laughing.
Sharon never once looked at Theo, But Wendy didn’t ignore him. She occasionally asked how school was going, whether anything interesting had happened lately.
Theo, for his part, wore the polished manners of a child raised under strict discipline–polite, well–spoken, perfectly put together for anyone outside the family.
Wendy looked at that face, the carbon copy of Carter’s, and sighed quietly.
No one understood better than her how much Sharon had loved Theo.
If not for Theo… Sharon would’ve never endured Kelly for so long, wouldn’t have stooped to cooking her medicinal meals like some kind of servant.
As the meal wound down, Wendy finally asked what had been on her mind. “So, Theo… you came all this way to find your mom. What’s the big reason?”
Theo instinctively tightened his grip on his backpack, voice lowering. “I… I have something for her.”
At that, Sharon finally lifted her gaze to him.
Wendy leaned forward, suddenly curious. “Oh?
What
A flicker of hesitation crossed Theo’s face. He looked up, and for the first time since arriving, his eyes met his mother’s.
Something trembled deep in his chest.
Kelly was right. Mom still cared. She still looked at him.
If he just apologized… if he lowered his head just a little… she would forgive him. She would come back.
The thought gave him a fragile, desperate kind of courage.
Fumbling with the zipper, he opened his backpack and pulled out a cup. His voice grew stiff, awkward. “This… was supposed to be your birthday present. I… I got it back from Kelly…‘
It felt unbearably strange–this act of lowering himself, of trying to make amends. Shame twisted in his chest, but he forced the words out anyway.
He held the cup out to her, his voice getting smaller. “I… I made it myself. I hope you like it…”
This–this was his version of surrender. His way of saying sorry without actually saying the word.
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In the past, even the smallest soft word from him would be enough Mom would immediately scoop him up into her arms and forget everything else.
But not this time.
Sharon stared at the cup in his hands. Seconds dragged out, then tonutes. She didn’t move.
She didn’t reach for it.
Theo hadn’t expected this.
Panic gripped him, draining the color from his small face.
Why wasn’t she taking it?
Mom was supposed to be easy to coax. She always had been.
The air grew heavy and suffocating.
Xavier leaned lazily against the back of his chair, his
eyes
unreadable.
Wendy glanced between mother and son, something tangled and unspeakable flickering in her eyes. Words caught in her throat, but none came out.
Sharon just stared at the cup in his hands like she couldn’t decide what it meant.
The confidence Theo had walked in with–the certainty that things could be fixed–began to fray at the edges. His hand trembled harder, the cup wobbling dangerously,
Then-
“Is that a birthday present for Sharon? It’s so pretty!” Matty’s voice cut through the tension, bright and innocent as ever.
He walked over, smiling. “Here, I’ll help you give it to her.”
Before Theo could react, Matty’s hand darted out and snatched the cup.
For a split second, Theo froze.
Then instinct surged. He lunged forward, reaching out to yank it back.
Chapter 333
The moment his fingers brushed Matty’s hand, the cup slipped.
Crash!
It hit the floor, shattering into pieces.
For a second, no one moved. Silence gripped the room.
Only Xavier, seated lazily in h
chair, had a flicker of something dark cross his eyes.
Then, snapping out of his daze, Matty gasped. “I’m sorry! Theo, I’m so sorry… It’s all my fault. I wasn’t careful enough…” His voice trembled, eyes rimmed with tears, like he was seconds away from crying.
Theo stared down at the broken pieces of the cup–his cup. The one he’d made with his own hands.
All the hours he’d spent shaping it. Firing it. Failing over and over just to finally get one that wasn’t cracked or crooked.
Gone.
Shattered.
Something snapped inside him. Fury surged, drowning out every rational thought. He pointed straight at Matty, hand shaking. “You did that on purpose!” His voice cracked. “You did it on purpose! You broke Mom’s birthday present on purpose!” Matty flinched, then bit his lip, tears pooling. “I… I really didn’t… you’re wrong, Theo… I didn’t mean to…”
He knelt down quickly, hands scrambling to pick up the shards.
“Agh!” A sharp cry escaped his lips as hand.
jagged piece sliced across his fingertip. Blood welled instantly, trickling down his small
“Matty!” Sharon’s face paled. She rushed
vel,
pulling him up into her arms without thinking.
Matty hung his head, guilt written all over his face. “I’m sorry, Sharon… I broke the cup that Theo gave you…”
“It’s fine. My birthday was a long time ago.” Sharon checked his bleeding hand. “It’s just a cup.”
Those words hit Theo like a punch to the chest. His eyes widened, stunned.
Just… a cup?
Since when?
For as long as he could remember, anything he gave Mom–whether it was a silly drawing, a pebble, even a piece of candy–she treated it like treasure.
Once, when Kelly accidentally ate the candy he’d given his mom, Sharon–who never raised her voice–actually got angry.
Furious, even.
She’d always cherished everything from him. Always.
But now…
She didn’t even look at the broken pieces. All her attention was on Matty’s bleeding hand.
“Wendy,” Sharon said, “can you ask the restaurant for a first aid kit? His hand needs to be cleaned and bandaged.”
“It’s not bad,” Matty whispered, shrinking back a little. “I’m fine. His head hung even lower, voice It’s all my fault… I’m so clumsy. I couldn’t even hold a cup properly.”
“It’s not your fault,” Sharon said gently, already reaching for his injured hand.
with self–blame.”
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But her words barely left her mouth before Theo exploded.
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“Mom!” His voice trembled with rage. “He broke the cup I made for you! That’s the one I worked so hard on! The one I made for you!”
Sharon finally turned to him, her brows pulling together. “Theo, what you should be worried about right now is Matty’s hand. Not some cup.”
Her tone sliced right through him.
It wasn’t just anger that filled Theo now–it was something deeper A sharp, aching wound of betrayal.
“He did it on purpose! He’s always like this! Always pretending to be pitiful! How many times does this have to happen before you finally see it, Mom?”
“I don’t see it,” Sharon said coldly, meeting his glare. “All I see Is you constantly targeting Matty. Theo, when did you become so… childish?”
His pupils shrank, breath caught in his throat.
Those words.
Those exact words.
They dragged him back to a night burned into his memory.
A fight. His parents were shouting. His father’s voice was sharp, full of disappointment.
“Sharon, why do you always have to go after someone who’s already dying? When did you become so…
childish?”
Back then, Theo had said the same thing.
“Mom, Kelly didn’t mean it. Why do you always assume the worst bout Kelly? You should apologize to her.”
Sharon’s cold voice yanked Theo back to the present.
“Theo,” she said flatly, “why do you always assume the worst about Matty? As far as I know, he’s never once done anything to hurt you. So why are you always targeting him?”
Theo’s composure shattered. “I didn’t! I didn’t! I didn’t!”
His voice trembled with fury. “He’s the one! He’s always pretending to be nice to my face but doing something else behind my back! He did it on purpose!”
Right then, Wendy returned with the first aid kit. She stepped through the doorway with a strange expression. “Sharon, someone’s here.”
Sharon looked up, her gaze landing on Carter and Kelly standing in the doorway.
Xavier raised an eyebrow. “Mr. Biggs. Kelly. What a coincidence… didn’t expect to see you here.”
Kelly smiled, polite but distant. “We actually came looking for Theo. When we went to pick him up from preschool, he was already gone. So we checked his location tracker and saw he was here. We came straight over.”
Her eyes shifted toward Sharon, and her tone dipped just enough to carry meaning. “Sharon, next time you want to take Theo somewhere… could you let us know in advance? We were worried something had happened to him.”
‘Let us know in advance?‘
Was Kelly already starting to speak like she was the lady of the house?
Sharon felt a chill of irony creep up her spine but didn’t bother responding to the obvious provocation.
She turned her gaze to Theo. “You didn’t tell your dad you were coming here?”
Theo dropped his head. “No.”
Sharon opened her mouth to speak, but Kelly cut in, her voice dripping with suggestion. “Sharon, surely you’re not going to say Theo just happened to follow you here again, are you?”
There wasn’t a single person in the room who couldn’t hear the insinuation in that line.
Carter’s gaze darkened, cold as ice. “Sharon, I’ve never stopped you from seeing Theo. There’s no need to be so sneaky about it.”
Sharon’s face remained expressionless, not a hint of reaction. No defense. No explanation.
She’d been through this song and dance too many times. She didn’t feel like justifying herself anymore. And even if she did, Carter wouldn’t believe her anyway.
Before anyone could speak again, Theo rushed out, “It wasn’t Mom! I followed her myself… I wanted to give her a birthday present.”
Carter’s brow twitched slightly.
Kelly’s eyes, however, fell on the shattered pieces scattered across the floor.
“Sharon,” she said softly, “Theo did lend me this cup for a while, but it was only on loan. A few days ago, he told me he wanted it back, to give it to you for your birthday.”
She sighed delicately. “I know you don’t like other people touching your things, but this cup… it’s some much time and effort making…”
Theo spent so
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Then, lowering herself to the floor, she began picking up the shards.
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“If you didn’t want it, you could’ve given it back to me. There was no need to break it. Either way, this.. this was Theo’s gilt to you
“Ah!”
A sharp gasp escaped her lips. Kelly recoiled, her fingers sliced by a shard. Blood welled from the cut instantly.
Matty, Sharon, Wendy, and Xavier all tell speechless.
Even Theo stared, wide–eyed.
…This scene. This exact scene. Hadn’t it just happened?
Carter stepped forward immediately, helping Kelly up. “Kelly, are you alright?”
Her face paled, but she managed a weak, trembling smile.
Chapter 335
“L… I’m fine, Carter,” Kelly said softly, forcing a smile. “It’s my fat, I wasn’t careful” Carter said, “The cup’s broken. No point picking it up now.”
“But… it was something Theo made himself. It’s a shame for it to end up like this.”
Even as she spoke, Kelly bent down, pretending like she was about to gather the pieces. Her face was full of regret “Maybe… maybe it’s still possible to fix it somehow.”
Carter stopped her, his tone firm. “Don’t. You’ll just hurt yourself gain. If you like it so much, I’ll have Theo make you another one.”
Kelly pressed a few more words of fake reluctance, sigling over how unfortunate it was, but when Carter shut her down again, she finally let it go.
Then, turning her gaze to Sharon, Kelly’s expression carried a shade of disapproval–but buried beneath it was a flicker of smugness and condescension. “Sharon, no matter what happens smashing things to vent your anger isn’t the way, don’t you think?”
Carter’s eyes fell on Sharon as well. “Sharon, is that what you’ve become now? Can’t even tolerate a cup?re
But the moment those words left his mouth, both he and Kelly suddenly realized–the entire room was staring at them.
And the looks weren’t pretty.
A faint tremor flickered beneath Kelly’s eyelids.
It was then she noticed… Theo, who used to always hover around her, fussing over her every word, hadn’t even spared her a glance.
A lazy, cold chuckle broke the silence. It was Xavier.
“Mr. Biggs. Kelly. Bit reckless, don’t you think? Before jumping to conclusions, isn’t it common sense to figure out what actually happened?
“You two don’t strike me as idiots. But here you are, skipping right past the most basic principle of–oh, I don’t know–asking what actually happened first.
“The cup broke, and the first thing out of your mouth is that Sharon did it. What now? You think she’s got some hobby of smashing cups for fun? Or…”
Xavier paused, eyes dark as deep water, turning slowly toward Carter, a half–smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Or… you’re both just so used to throwing her under the bus that at this point, anything broken must be her fault?”
Wendy didn’t even bother sugarcoating. “Seriously? Sharon wasn the one who broke the cup. And with judgment like this… you’re a CEO? God, the bar must be real low these days.”
Even Matty chimed in. “It was me. I dropped it. It has nothing to do with Sharon. She never even touched it.”
All eyes zeroed in on Carter and Kelly. The air felt heavier.
Carter, seasoned in corporate warfare, managed to keep his face perfectly still. But Kelly’s composure faltered.
She bit down on her lower lip, about to speak-
-but Sharon’s cool, quiet voice sliced right through.
“What is it you’re about to say?” Her tone was calm, distant. “That these are all my friends, so of course they’d You think they’re helping me lie… is that it?”
ny side?
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The tension suffocated even Theo’s surging emotions. He shrank little, voice small. “It wasn’t Mom who broke It… It was… if was that bad kid…
Silence dropped like a weight.
Kelly’s gaze sharpened, locking straight onto Theo. “Theo… are you sure?”
Theo blinked, confused why she was looking at him like that. But Sharon knew exactly why.
She turned to Kelly, a slow, unreadable smile curving her lips.
“Kelly… what’s this now? Are you saying… even Theo–my biological son might be helping me lie too?”
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Chap
ter 336
Kelly’s smile stiffened for a second before she quickly recovered. Of course not. Theo’s always been an honest child,” she said softly, casting him a gentle glance. “Which is why, Sharon, I hope you can try to trust Theo a little more in the future TMr
She pivoted fast–barely a few sentences before her words subtly shifted the blame back onto Sharon,
Whatever mixed emotions Theo had felt about Kelly just a mouent ago vanished the instant her gentle voice wrapped around him. His wounded heart, battered by Sharon’s cold indifference, surdenly felt warm again. Eyes rimmed red, he threw himself into Kelly’s arms.
“Kelly… Matty bullied me,” he whimpered, his voice full of grievance.
Kelly stroked his hair softly, her voice tender, comforting. A child like him was something she could manipulate with ease.
Her gaze flicked back to Sharon. “Sharon, no matter what’s liappened between you and Carter, the fact remains–Theo is your son. That’s never going to change. I hope you’ll show him a little more care.”
With her presence solid beside him, Theo’s confidence soared. He lifted his chin. “Kelly… why are you here?”
Kelly smiled. “I heard from your dad that your kindergarten has another parent–child event coming up. A foreign language performance, right?”
Theo nodded, but his mood dipped again. “I asked Aunt Denise to help… but she said doesn’t know anything else.”
Theo spoke three languages: English, French, and Spanish. Of them, Spanish was his strongest after English.
Unfortunately, Aunt Denise didn’t speak Spanish. His father did–but as CEO of the Biggs Group, there was no way he’d show up to a kindergarten event. 1
Kelly’s smile deepened. “I’m pretty good at Spanish. If Sharon doesn’t accompany you, I can step in.”
Her mention of Sharon made Theo glance toward his mother, as if suddenly remembering her existence.
His mom hadn’t even finished high school. There was no way she could speak Spanish fluently.
“She doesn’t even know any foreign languages,” Theo said bluntly clinging to Kelly’s arm with a mixture of relief and admiration. “How could Mom ever go with me?”
His eyes lit up. “Kelly, you really speak Spanish?”
Kelly’s smile softened even further. “I speak five languages fluently. Spanish happens to be one of them.”
The word fluently carried a subtle weight. It suggested she might actually know even more, but these five were the ones she truly mastered.
“That’s amazing!” Theo’s face practically glowed. “I’m top of my class in languages. With Kelly helping me, we’ll definitely win first place again!”
Kelly opened her mouth to respond, but a childish voice suddenly chimed in–Matty’s, full of innocent confusion.
“Again? Theo, how many times exactly have you and Kelly won first place before?”
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Theo’s voice faltered, his mind flashing back to that recent talent how competition the one where his mom, together with that awful Matty he hated, had taken first place.
Matty’s words pierced something in him and not just him. Kelly simile flickered, her lips tightening ever so slightly as a cold glint briefly crossed her eyes.
Losing to Sharon had always been her greatest humiliation.
But soon enough, Kelly pulled her smile back into place like slipping on a mask.
“Well, since it’s a parent–child event,” she said lightly, “If Sharon wants to accompany Theo, I’m happy to step aside.” respond, Theo huffed, lips curling in disain. “Kelly, there’s no way Mom knows any foreign
Before Sharon could even w
languages!”
Wendy couldn’t hold back anymore. “Theo, who told you your mom doesn’t speak any foreign languages? Her skills are actually excellent.”
A Bell University student, after all, had to be. It was an international conservatory filled with musicians from every corner of the world, with every language imaginable floating through its halls. If you couldn’t handle foreign languages, you couldn’t even survive your courses, let alone excel.
Not to mention, the university offered comprehensive language programs, and Sharon, with her exceptional musical talent, had spent years attending global masterclasses and exchange programs. Mastering multiple languages–mainstream and obscure- was as routine to her as breathing.
For her and Wendy, it wasn’t even worth boasting about. It was simply… expected.
Theo shook his head firmly, disbelief hardening his face. “Wendy, stop lying for Mom. She never even went to college. How could she know any of that?”
Wendy blinked. “Says who she didn’t go to college?”
“Grandma said so.”
Wendy pressed her temples, visibly exasperated. “Theo, you shouldn’t believe everything your grandma says. Your mom did graduate from college.”
Kelly let out a soft laugh, as if she couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“Oh please, Wendy. I get wanting a child to admire his mother–to paint her as strong, brilliant, admirable. A little exaggeration here and there is understandable. But lying just out of pure jealousy… that’s pushing it.”
“Jealousy?” Wendy’s brow arched, gaze sweeping Kelly from head to toe, laced with undisguised scorn. “Jealous of you? Honey, you and Sharon aren’t even in the same league. Don’t flatter yourself.”
Kelly didn’t show the slightest trace of anger. Instead, she smiled, like someone who’d already seen the ending to a play. “Well. If that’s what you say… then so be it.”
She dropped her gaze to Theo, her voice turning gentle again. “Theo, how about this? Let Sharon accompany you to the event, hmm?”
Theo hesitated, just for a second. But then the memory of how cold his mom had been to him earlier surged back, and with it came a fresh wave of resentment.
“I don’t want to!” His little chin jutted stubbornly. “She doesn’t even want to be my mom anymore. I don’t want her to go with me, either!”
He’d even gone out of his way to get the cup back from Kelly to give it to his mom, and she had still treated l
e that.
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Theo, still very much a child, couldn’t process the shifting completles of how adults changed. All he could feel was betrayal. Just then, Matty piped up, cheerful and bright. “Then… Sharon, since you won’t be going with Theo, will you go with me?” Sharon’s gaze softened. “You’re sure?”
Matty nodded quickly, eyes serious but sparkling. “I don’t really care about winning. Whether we get a prize or not doesn’t matter. I’ll be happy as long as someone’s with me.‘
A faint warmth touched Sharon’s expression, “Okay.”
But to Theo, the scene felt like a slap.
‘She’s my mom,‘ he thought bitterly. ‘Why is she agreeing to go with someone else?‘
His little face flushed with anger. “She doesn’t even know any foreign languages! You’re really asking her to go with you? Aren’t you embarrassed?!”
Matty’s clear eyes quietly settled on Theo.
“No matter if we come in first or dead last… no matter how Sharon loes… I’ll never feel embarrassed by her. Not ever.”
Theo glared at him. “Hmph! We’ll see if you still say that when you make a fool of yourself! When you lose, don’t come crying like a baby, you little brat!”
He hadn’t always felt this ashamed of his mom. But ever since Kelly came back, his mom just kept embarrassing herself.
Especially at his birthday party, when she got into an argument with one of Nate’s friends. Everyone had watched like spectators at a circus, whispering, laughing behind their hands.
He heard the uncles and aunties muttering that his mom wasil’t presentable, wasn’t the type you could bring to formal events. “No wonder,” they had said. “No wonder your daddy always takes Kelly to social gatherings instead.”
Back then, he hadn’t switched to the new kindergarten yet. Everyone knew Sharon was his mother.
By the very next day, word had spread. Everyone in class knew what had happened at his birthday.
The other kids laughed at him, saying his mom was embarrassing saying he was a hillbilly’s son. Even the kids who used to be his friends started avoiding him. He got isolated.
Thankfully, it wasn’t long before he transferred to a new school.
Here, no one knew who his mom was. His grades were excellent; the teachers liked him, and the other kids admired him.
And with Kelly by his side at school events, he basked in the envy and admiration of everyone around him.
Theo liked that feeling. He liked it a lot.
Still… lately, his mom ignoring him had left a strange emptiness inside him. A hollow ache he couldn’t shake.
If only… if only Mom were as amazing as Kelly…
Kelly smiled. “Theo, if there’s nothing else, shall we head back and start practicing?”
Theo nodded eagerly. “Yeah.”
Carter glanced back at Sharon, his gaze dark and unreadable, then turned to leave with them.
“Wait,” Xavier suddenly spoke up. “Mr. Biggs, Kelly… You wrongly accused Sharon. Aren’t you going to apologize?”
Kelly turned back, smiling as if nothing had happened. “Sharon may be Theo’s mother, but she took him without informing anyone. I believe the one who owes an apology here isn’t me, but her.”
Matty’s voice piped up, clear and direct. “But Theo already explained. He followed us on his own. And just now, didn’t you say Theo never lies? Or did you forget that already?”
Kelly froze, words caught in her throat.
Xavier’s smile deepened, but it wasn’t warm. It was the kind of smile that curled at the edges like a blade.
“What’s the matter? Mr. Biggs, Kelly… Is it that you simply don’t apologize? Or is it that you refuse to apologize to Sharon in particular? Is this the example you want to set for young Theo here?”
His words landed like quiet thunder, their weight settling heavily in the space between them.
Carter’s and Kelly’s expressions shifted, stiff and uncomfortable.
Theo stood between them, looking up at them with wide, expectant eyes. If they refused… how could they ever teach him about right and wrong again?
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A few seconds passed. Then Carter finally opened his mouth. “I’ni orry.”
And once he said it, Kelly had no choice but to follow. Her face softened into an apologetic expression. “Sharon… I’m sorry. It was my mistake.”
Theo glanced away. To him, there was nothing strange about Dad and Kelly apologizing.
He’d always been taught when you’re wrong, you apologize.
And since they had misunderstood Mom, apologizing was only right.
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Chapter 339
Carter and Kelly left with Theo,
This time, no one tried to stop thein.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Wendy exploded. “Sharon what’s going on with Theo and Carter? Why do they always look down on you? Do they seriously not know you went to college”
Sharon took a sip of water, her expression calm. “Maybe not.”
Xavier’s eyes stayed on her. “Why does your record disappear after high school? It’s like there’s nothing past that.”
“I left for overseas before I graduated,” Sharon replied.
Xavier’s brows lifted slightly. “Even if you went abroad, your records wouldn’t just vanish into thin air.”
Sharon lowered her long lashes, quietly hiding the ripple of emotions in her eyes. “That’s because… when I went overseas, I wasn’t using this name. The records tied to that identity were deliberately altered. It’s not surprising you couldn’t find anything.
Xavier’s gaze sharpened. “Deliberately altered?”
Wendy shot Sharon a sidelong glance. Seeing she wasn’t avoiding the subject, but instead opening the door herself, Wendy didn’t hesitate to jump in.
“Xavier, have you ever heard of the Kalen Group?”
“Which Kalen Group?” Xavier’s voice dropped anote, his eyes darkening. “You don’t mean… the Kalen Group in Marcentine, do you?”
Wendy nodded. “Exactly. That Kalen Group.‘
”
For a moment, Xavier’s pupils darkened further. His eyes shifted to Sharon. “Would you mind explaining?”
The Cooper family had done far too much for her. It was time he knew.
Sharon fell silent, then slowly began her story.
“It’s… honestly, a ridiculously cliché story. My parents were in a business marriage. From the day they got married, my father never really loved my mother. He had a first love he never got over. Even after my mother got pregnant and gave birth to his child, he kept seeing his mistress.
“Later… when my mother finally gave up, ready to let him go and set him free… that’s when my father realized he’d fallen in love with her after all.
“He came back. He cut ties with his first love for good, and tried everything to make it up to my mom. He treated her better than ever–so much so that, slowly, she opened her heart back up to him.
“Two years later, she gave birth to twin boys. And just like he promised, my father stayed true–completely cutting off his old lover.
“But then… my mother’s family made some disastrous decisions in business. They were on the brink of bankruptcy. Even so, my father never once looked down on her. He stood by her and helped them survive.”
Sharon’s gaze drifted slightly, her voice turning softer, more distant. “I’ll never forget the way my mother looked when she told me all of this. Her face was softer than I’d ever seen. Peaceful… even gentle. Just when my mom thought that life would finally settle down… something happened.
“For their wedding anniversary, my dad planned a sailing trip. But during the trip, they hit a storm. He gave rescue boat so my mother could be saved. He was swept away by the waves.
spot on the
“After they got back, my mom sent search teams. She put up massive rewards, did everything she could to find him. But…
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nothing. Not a trace.
She had three small children to raise. She swallowed her grief and took over the company in his place.
“Three years passed. Everyone assumed my dad was dead. Everyone but my mom. She refused to give up.
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“Then one day… news came. Someone had seen a man in a remote fishing village. Someone who looked exactly like my father.”
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“All these years, my mother had received plenty of tips like that…sighthigs, rumors. She didn’t hold out much hope.” Sharon’s voice was calm, but carried an undertone of something hollow. ” when she actually went there… the man really was my father.
“She was shocked. Overwhelmed. She didn’t even have time to ask why he’d been alive all this time, yet hadn’t contacted her for three whole years.”
Xavier’s brow lifted slightly, as if something clicked in his mind. “Don’t tell me… he had amnesia?”
Sharon nodded, her lips curving into a faint, helpless smile. “Yeal Pretty cliché, isn’t it? He lost his memory. And–brace yourself–he married the fisherwoman who saved him.”
Xavier’s expression shifted subtly, though he said nothing.
“When my father found out he already had a wife… and children… He couldn’t accept it,” Sharon continued. “To him, my mother and us kids were complete strangers. The woman who’d saved him the one who stayed by his side when his mind was blank- she was his anchor, his salvation.”
Xavier leaned back slightly, gaze narrowing. “So…. he was ready to abandon the entire Kalen family empire, to walk away from his status, his life… just to stay with her?”
Sharon nodded again. “Exactly. He didn’t remember my mom. He didn’t remember anything. No attachment to his past. No sense of belonging to the Kalen family. In the end, it was my grandfather who pressured him… threatened him using the fisherwoman… and forced him to come back.”
Xavier thought for a beat. “When your father went missing at sea…. the Kalen family must’ve blanketed the world with search notices, right?”
“Of course.” Sharon glanced at him, thinking once again how sharp this man was.
She went on, “But the thing that enraged my mother most… was that the fisherwoman knew exactly who my father was. She knew his identity. And instead of contacting the Kalen family… she hid him. For three years.”
Xavier nodded slowly, understanding dawning.
“I’ve met Mr. Kalen a few times. Even at his current age, the man is charismatic–refined, elegant. I can only imagine how striking he must’ve been when he was young.”
Sharon continued, “The fisherwoman fell for him. And even though she knew perfectly well he had a wife and kids, she fabricated an entire backstory and lied to him. She saved his life… they lived together as husband and wife for three years. And when the truth finally surfaced, my father couldn’t bring himself to blame her.”
“After he returned to the Kalen family,” Sharon said quietly, “she followed him.”
Her eyes darkened, filling with something cold and sharp.
“Maybe it’s that ‘a day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of grace‘ thing… but my father felt guilty. He arranged for her to stay nearby. My mother… because she knew my father had lost his memory trying to save her, she tolerated it. She tolerated everything.
“But that woman wasn’t content. She kept trying to drive a wedge between them. My father still hadn’t regained his memory back then… and for a while… that fisherwoman nearly succeeded.
“Just after my parents signed the divorce papers… his memory came back.
“He tore up the papers on the spot. Refused to go through with it. My mother… maybe out of guilt, maybe because she still cared
forgave him.
“My father promised my mother that he’d send the fisherwoman away.
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+20 BONUS
“But a year later… she showed up again. This time… holding a little girl in her arms. She gave my mother two options, One–let them raise the child together. Two–divorce, and she’d raise the child herself.
“No matter how tolerant my mother was, there was no way she could accept living every day with a reminder of that child. She decided to divorce. But my father… refused.”
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“My father was furious with the fisherwoman’s constant interference. Whatever lingering gratitude he had for her… little by little, it all faded.”
Sharon continued, “But right when things were at their worst between him and my mother, because of the fisherwoman, the fisherwoman showed up at our house. My mother threw her out. She tried calling my father, but my mother refused to let the call go through. None of us expected… she’d die in an accident. Just like that.
“The fisherwoman’s sudden death… maybe it triggered something in my father. Maybe it resurrected only the good memories of her. In the end, he blamed my mother for her death.
“He insisted on adopting the fisherwoman’s daughter and demanded that my mother take her in, raise her like her own, as if she were truly part of our family.
“Of course, my mother refused. She was ready to leave it all behind… but before she could, my father found out. He locked her up. Kept her prisoner.”
Sharon’s gaze drifted downward, her fingers tracing invisible patterns on the table.
“Eventually… my mother pretended to surrender. When the chance finally came, she escaped and fled to Zachemaine, as far from my father as she could get.
“When she arrived… she realized she was pregnant again.
“She couldn’t take the three children she’d left behind. So… she decided to raise me.
“Later, my mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness. She knew her time was running out. That’s when she told me… everything.”
Sharon could still remember her mother telling her, teary-eyed, “Sharon… I’m sorry. The grudges between your dad and me… should never have fallen onto you. If I hadn’t been so stubborn… you should’ve been born a wealthy heiress. You should’ve grown up with a silver spoon, not as a child mocked for not having a father.”
Sharon’s voice drifted through the quiet private room, soft and calm, stripped of emotion. It was as if she were merely recounting someone else’s story.
“My first year of high school… they brought me back to the Kalen family. I stayed for a while. But I never got along with anyone there. Least of all… the daughter of the fisherwoman. My half-sister. We were like fire and water.
“After college, I cut ties completely. I haven’t been back since.”
Xavier exhaled quietly, then said, “So… that’s why there’s no record of your college under your current name.”
Sharon nodded. “Yeah. The Kalen family created a fake identity for me. Said I was an adopted daughter. Scrubbed every trace of my real background clean. That’s why no one could find anything. To the Kalen family… my existence was a secret. Everything about me and my mother… was never meant to be known.”
She let out a soft sigh. “So… I’in both Sharon McKinzie and Jenna Kalen.”
Xavier turned his gaze toward her, brow tightening. “Your name in the Kalen family… is Jenna?”
“That’s right.” Her lips curved, bitter and quiet.
Wendy, quiet until now, finally spoke under her breath. “Sharon’s mom just wanted Sharon to try… to live peacefully with her family. Sharon even hoped–just a little-that she could really belong there. But in the end…”
Her voice sharpened with resentment. “In the end, everyone-including her father-chose the illegitimate daughter. Her father was one thing. But even her three brothers… brothers who share the same mother as Sharon… sided with that girl.
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“If it hadn’t been for that girl and her mother… Sharon’s mom never would’ve had to abandon everything.”
There was one thing Wendy didn’t say out loud, though it burned in the back of her throat.
‘Fine. You want to raise the child? Raise her. But to demand that Sharon’s mom raise her, as if she were her own? What the hell was that man thinking? That girl and her mother were the very reason Sharon’s mom’s marriage collapsed.’ (1
And now, Xavier understood everything.
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Chapter 342
The Kalen family was one of the most prestigious and powerful families in Marcentine. Their influence was undeniable.
The current head of the Kalen family, Richard Kalen, was Sharon’s biological father. Aside from Sharon, he had three sons and one daughter. The second and third were twin boys.
To the world, Richard had long claimed that his wife had died during childbirth when giving birth to their youngest daughter, Victoria Kalen. Ever since her death, Richard had never remarried. There had never been another woman by his side.
People praised him for his deep devotion and unwavering love.
Even Xavier had once believed it.
He’d seen plenty of women try to get close to Richard, only to be coldly rejected without hesitation.
He had also met Richard’s three sons and one daughter several times. Richard raised them well-refined in their manners, articulate and poised, each one accomplished and impressive in their own right.
As he thought about it now, Xavier’s gaze quietly shifted toward Sharon.
Sharon didn’t really look like anyone from the Kalen family. But Richard’s three sons bore striking resemblances to him- undeniably blood relatives. No one had ever questioned Victoria’s identity.
As for Sharon, people must have simply assumed she took after her mother.
Xavier asked, “So… you’re not planning to go back to the Kalen family?”
Sharon’s voice was indifferent. “There’s no real attachment. They don’t welcome me, and I have no interest in forcing myself
back.”
Before her mother passed, she’d told Sharon everything-hoping that, with her father and brothers’ protection, Sharon wouldn’t be left alone in the world.
But after returning to the Kalen family, all she got in return was suspicion and guarded distance.
Those so-called brothers… treated Victoria like the jewel of their eyes, as though Sharon were there to bully her or take something away.
After leaving the Kalen family, Sharon reclaimed her name. She became Sharon McKinzie again.
She refused to be anyone’s shadow.
But the issue of her academic credentials… that was messy.
Back in school, everything was under the name Jenna Kalen. Cleaning that up wouldn’t be simple.
Xavier seemed to catch her hesitation. His tone softened slightly. “Correcting your identity isn’t that difficult. If the Kalen family cooperates and provides the proper documentation, it can be done.”
But…
If Sharon hadn’t told him this herself, he wouldn’t even have known someone named Jenna Kalen existed.
There had never been any rumors-no whispers of an adopted daughter or an illegitimate child. Nothing.
It was clear just how deeply the Kalen family had buried her existence.
Then again, it wasn’t surprising.
A family like the Kalen family cared about appearances more than anything. Richard had spent years crafting the image of a
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devoted, faithful husband.
A daughter suddenly appearing out of nowhere? How could anyone explain that? Worse, it would risk exposing things from the
past.
The Kalen business empire was at its peak right now. Scandals were unacceptable.
If word got out, even Victoria’s position would be shaken. After all… being the child of a mistress was a permanent stain-one that would follow her forever.
Of course, they wouldn’t want Sharon to come back. That much was obvious.
Wendy glanced over at Sharon, her voice carrying a sharper edge. “Sharon, the Biggs family’s been using your academic record to look down on you this whole time. Kelly especially-she practically has her nose in the sky over it.
“When you blow up-and you will-they’ll absolutely use this to smear you. Sharon… you really do need to figure this out. Fast.”
Sharon pressed her fingertips to her temples, massaging the tension there. She had no desire whatsoever to deal with the Kalen family again.
If it hadn’t been for her mother’s dying wish-telling her to try and get along with her father and brothers-she never would’ve stayed there as long as she did.
The next day.
At the kindergarten, Matty was in the music room, quietly practicing his violin.
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Chapter 343
Ever since learning that Sharon was skilled at the violin, Matty had made it a routine to spend time in the music room every day, quietly practicing.
Just then, Theo suddenly appeared in front of him.
“Yesterday… you broke my cup on purpose, didn’t you?”
The music room was empty. No teachers. No other kids. Matty saw no reason to pretend.
He set his bow down and nodded. “Yeah. I did it on purpose.”
Theo glared at him. “You act so sweet, so well-behaved… Does my mom know you’re faking it? What do you think she’d do if she found out you’re nothing but an act?”
Matty calmly placed the violin on the table. “Then I’ll just make sure Sharon doesn’t ever find out.”
A cold, mocking smile tugged at the corner of Theo’s lips.
“My teacher taught me something. If you don’t want people to know, then don’t do it in the first place. The things you’ve done… Mom’s going to find out sooner or later.”
Matty suddenly stood, his eyes locking onto Theo’s.
“Bad things?” His tone was even. “I’ve never hurt anyone. What gives you the right to say I’ve done something bad?”
Theo jabbed a finger at him, his voice shaking with anger. “You smashed the birthday gift I worked so hard to make for Mom. You don’t think that’s bad? Do you have any idea how much effort I put into it? Do you have any clue how much she was looking forward to it?”
Matty’s face didn’t change. “Birthday gift? Sharon’s birthday has been over for a while now. When she needed it most, you didn’t give it to her. Now it’s pointless.”
Theo’s voice rose, full of fury. “It’s not your call to say whether it’s needed or not!”
A trace of disdain, far too mature for his young face, flickered in Matty’s eyes.
“Theo… Do you really believe that just because you soften a little, lower your head, she’ll forgive you unconditionally? That she’ll just keep loving you, no matter what?
“You think she actually cares about your birthday gift? Or your dad’s? No. All she’s ever wanted… is sincerity. (1
“If you really cared about her-really-you could give her a single button, and she’d treasure it like gold. But what did you do?” Matty’s tone sharpened. “On her birthday, you took the gift that should’ve been hers… and gave it to Kelly instead. That alone says everything. In your heart… Kelly matters more than your own mom.”
Matty paused awhile, then continued, “You think Sharon didn’t know I smashed that cup on purpose? Of course, she knew. She just didn’t say anything
“You think she actually wanted that cup? If she did, she would’ve taken it the moment you handed it to her. But she didn’t. It’s because she didn’t want it.”
Theo shook his head, refusing to accept it. “No… No. I don’t believe that. Mom would never… She wouldn’t not want my gift. She’s always loved my birthday gifts!”
Matty didn’t flinch. “You took the cup that you gave to Kelly… and tried to pass it off as a gift to your mom. To Sharon, that cup was nothing but a reminder that she’ll always come second to Kelly. That the things others don’t want… are all she gets.
“Did you even bother looking closely at that cup? Your precious Kelly had it engraved with her own name. Her own personal
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mark. What do you think Sharon would feel, seeing that cup every day?
“But you’re her son. What choice does she have? Other than swallowing it. Other than enduring it.
“So…. since she couldn’t throw it away herself, I did it for her.”
Theo trembled, his eyes blazing. “Liar! I don’t believe it! Kelly wouldn’t do that. And Mom… Mom would never not want my gift!
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Despite what Theo said, a flicker of panic flashed in his eyes.
His mind darted back to the moment when he’d tried to give the cup to his mom. She hadn’t taken it–not right away. In fact, it had been Matty who finally reached out and accepted it on her behalf.
If this were before, Mom would’ve taken the gift immediately. She would’ve pulled him into her arms, smiling, eyes soft, full of
affection.
Matty’s voice was calm. “Kelly’s violin… and even her purse… they all have this same mark. I’ve heard her tell Nate-that’s her personal logo.”
“You’re lying!” Theo snapped, glaring at him. “Kelly isn’t like that!”
Matty shot back, “Oh? If Kelly isn’t like that… then what? You think Sharon is?”
Matty knew very well-Sharon still cared about Theo. After all, no matter what, he was her own child, the one she carried for nine months. How could she not care?
If Sharon truly didn’t care, she never would’ve let him back into her life.
And because Matty knew she still cared, he hadn’t gone out of his way to smash the cup just to spite her. No. It was because he knew she didn’t want it.
Who would want a gift that had already been given to someone else?
Matty’s tone turned colder. “Theo… you can’t be greedy. You have to pick. Sharon… or your precious Kelly. You can’t have both.”
For a brief moment, confusion clouded Theo’s face. He stood there, torn, tangled up in emotions too big for his small body. But soon enough, anger pushed everything else aside.
“You… You’re just a rotten kid! All you do is stir up trouble!” he shouted. “I don’t believe a word you say!”
Matty didn’t flinch. “Then fine. You can just stand there and watch while I steal your mom away.”
Panic surged in Theo’s chest. His hands clenched, but his pride wouldn’t let him back down.
“Hmph! Go ahead! You can have that embarrassing mom! I don’t want her anyway! Just remember-you didn’t steal her from me. I threw her away! And don’t come crying to me later when you’re the one who’s ashamed and come begging for Kelly because Kelly’s better in every way!”
The words tumbled out, wild and messy. Even he wasn’t sure what he was saying anymore.
He’d never imagined… that he’d have to choose between Kelly and Mom. The thought felt like being asked to pick between Mom and Dad.
Why couldn’t both exist?
Was Grandma right after all? Did Mom hate Kelly just because she was jealous? Because Kelly was better than her?
Theo’s little brain couldn’t sort through something this complicated. But his instincts told him one thing-run.
When he couldn’t find an answer, he did the only thing he knew. He turned and bolted.
But Matty’s voice rang out, clear and sharp. “Theo Biggs.”
His feet stopped.
For a second, the world seemed to tilt. Matty had always called him Theo, always with that polite, gentle tone. Never by his full
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name.
It felt… strange. Off.
Slowly, Theo turned back.
Matty stood there, staring right at him with a dark and cold gaze Theo had never seen before.
Matty said, “I won’t let anyone bully Sharon. Not even you. Not even if you’re her son.”
His eyes were pitch-black, devoid of light-like a wolf pup, small but fierce.
All this time, Theo had looked down on him. Sure, Matty liked to play the pitiful one, to act weak and helpless. Theo had always thought it was pathetic… beneath him.
He’d never realized that every time Matty took a hit, it was a hit he chose to take.
But Matty’s pride-his upbringing-wouldn’t let him grovel or stoop. That’s why Theo had never seen this side of him.
Until now.
And now, face to face with that steady, unflinching stare, Theo felt something tighten in his chest.
His feet shuffled back.
For the first time, a creeping sense of unease clawed up his spine.
This brat… wasn’t what he thought he was.
Matty wasn’t just someone who played the victim.
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“You… You’re ridiculous!” Theo yelled, his voice shaky with a guilt he couldn’t quite place. Then he turned and bolted.
Nate was released from jail soon after, thanks to Kelly pulling the strings.
The day he walked out, only Kelly was there to meet him. Her face was dark, shadowed with unease.
Carter had refused to help. In the end, she’d had no choice but to turn to… that man again.
She hadn’t wanted to. Every time she dealt with that man, a cold dread knotted deep in her bones. He was terrifying-so terrifying that sometimes, she suspected he wasn’t even sane.
Her gaze dropped to the earring resting in her palm. Her hands trembled..
If… If that man ever found out that the person he was searching for… wasn’t her… she was done for. She would be utterly ruined.
His methods were cruel beyond imagination. Right now, she was dancing with the devil-and she knew it.
She had to marry Carter quickly.
If that madman ever found the real owner of the other earring… if he figured out that she had been lying from the start…
It would be over.
But the world was big. Finding someone wasn’t easy. If it were, that man wouldn’t have appeared on her doorstep in the first place.
Her thoughts spiraled, but Nate’s voice yanked her back. “Kelly! Wait-didn’t Carter say he wouldn’t bail me out? What happened? Did he change his mind?”
Kelly blinked, her face stiff. “No. It wasn’t him.”
“Not him?” Nate’s eyes widened. “Then… was it Julliard who helped?”
Julliard’s lawyers had passed him a message: It’s not a good time for you to be out. Stay low.
Stay low? In jail? Who in their right mind wanted to stay there?
Nate had sent message after message, begging both Carter and Julliard. Neither had budged. He’d resigned himself to being stuck for a while.
But suddenly, he was out, just like that.
Kelly’s eyes flickered. “I asked an old schoolmate for help. A senior.”
“Your senior?” Nate scratched his head. “If he’s got the kind of pull to get me out during a mess like this… he must be seriously connected. You gotta introduce me sometime. I need to thank him properly.”
Kelly brushed it off. “He’s already flown back to Marcentine. Another time.”
Her mind snapped back to the real reason she’d gone to the trouble of bailing Nate out.
“Nate…. after this incident, Sharon has become really famous. She’s already gotten multiple invitations to major music exchanges.”
Nate waved it off. “Kelly, you want into those music events too? No problem. I can pull a few strings and get you some invitations.”
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Kelly stared at him for a long moment.
Nate was always quick to act, and he had the means to. Too bad, he wasn’t smart.
“Nate…. it’s not the damn invitations. I mean, Sharon gained so much from this fiasco. Even Carter ended up eating dirt in front of her. Moving forward… she’s only going to be harder to deal with.
“And… I’m starting to notice something. Carter’s attitude toward her… it’s shifted. He didn’t help you this time. And he didn’t lift a finger against Sharon either. I’m worried…”
Nate scoffed. “Carter likes women who are talented and exceptional. What part of Sharon fits that? You worry too much.
“Sure, she’s been smug lately. We do need to knock her down a peg. But come on… she might have her little fanbase wrapped around her finger, but in our world-this upper circle-she’s nothing. No background. No real power.
“The only weapon she has is stirring up public opinion. That’s it. She’s got nothing else to hurt us with.”
A sly grin crept across his face as an idea took hold.
“Kelly… I think I’ve got the perfect plan…”
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Sharon had started noticing something unsettling lately-there were more and more bruises and scratches showing up on Matty’s body.
Whenever she asked about them, Matty would shrug it off. Either he’d say he accidentally bumped into something, or claim it happened during PE class.
But to Sharon… it didn’t look like that.
That afternoon, while Matty was at kindergarten, she brought it up to Wendy.
“You don’t think… maybe he’s getting into fights with the other kids, do you?” Wendy asked instinctively.
Sharon frowned. “Matty’s always been well-behaved at school. Even the teachers are full of praise for him. I don’t think he’s the type to start fights.”
Wendy nodded, thoughtful. “That’s true. He doesn’t seem like the kind of kid who would. Did you ask his teachers? What did they say?”
“I did. They said there’s been nothing unusual lately.”
Wendy’s brows knit together. “That’s strange…” She tapped her fingers against the table. “Tonight when you give him a bath,
check him over and see if there are more bruises.”
Sharon sighed, feeling helpless. “He insists he’s a ‘big boy’ now. Says he doesn’t need anyone helping him bathe anymore.”
Both of them sat there, puzzled, wondering how exactly Matty had gotten hurt. Sharon was determined-she’d ask him directly
tonight.
But that evening, Matty didn’t come.
And not just that day. For several days straight, he didn’t return.
In the past, even if Matty went home for a day, he’d always throw a fit and beg to come back.
This time, the sudden shift in behavior felt… off. Deeply off.
A dark thought crossed Sharon’s mind. Could it be… Xavier hit him?
Her chest tightened. Unable to sit with the unease, she pulled out her phone and dialed Xavier’s number.
It picked up quickly. His deep, rich voice floated through the speaker. “Sharon?”
She hesitated. “Xavier, you’re not on a business trip right now, are you?”
“Nope. I’m in Amstern City,” he answered casually, with a light chuckle. “Why? Something you need help with?”
“It’s not that…J just wanted to ask about Matty. How’s he been lately?”
“Matty?” Xavier’s brows lifted in surprise. “Isn’t he still at your place?”
Sharon blinked, “No… he went home several days ago You didn’t know?”
“He… went home?” Xavier clearly hadn’t heard about this. “I’ve been tied up with a business summit. Staying at a hotel near the venue. Haven’t been home in days. That little brat didn’t tell me. I assumed he was still with you… figured he just didn’t want to
come home.”
Sharon stiffened. “He hasn’t been back here for four or five days now. I thought… I thought he was with you.”
His tone grew heavier. “Alright. Stay calm. I’ll call home and check.”
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“Okay.”
A few minutes later, he called back.
“He’s been going back home every day. Hasn’t been anywhere else. Don’t worry.”
Relief washed over her, loosening the knot in her chest.
Still, after a slight pause, she quietly brought up the bruises.
Xavier fell silent for a moment before letting out a low laugh. “I’ll head home tonight and check in on that little rascal. Probably nothing serious. You don’t need to worry. He’s… different from most kids. His mental endurance is pretty strong.”
“But I’m worried,” Sharon murmured, “what if other kids are bullying him?”
She had spent enough time around Xavier and his son to roughly understand the man’s approach to parenting.
He was hands-off-wild, almost. He never interfered in the squabbles and fights between kids.
More than once, he’d said plainly that children should solve their own problems in their own way. Once adults stepped in, everything got messier.
Matty was five now. It was the age where a child’s worldview was beginning to take shape.
And in Xavier’s eyes, if a kid always had a parent jumping in to fight their battles… they’d grow up thinking dependence was the solution to everything.
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Matty was the future heir of the Cooper family. If he couldn’t even handle conflicts with a few kids, then maybe he wasn’t fit to
be an heir at all.
This was exactly why Xavier had never once stepped in-not even when he saw Matty come home bruised because of Theo.
His way of raising Matty had its upsides and downsides. As far as grooming an heir went, it worked. But emotionally… it was
cold. Far too cold.
Hearing Sharon worry about whether Matty was being bullied, Xavier couldn’t help but chuckle amusedly.
“Sharon,” he said, “it’s always Matty bullying other people. No one’s capable of bullying him. That little brat’s got plenty of fight in him.”
The truth was, Matty had a kind of innate coldness to him. He cared deeply-but only about the people and things that truly mattered to him. For everything else, he showed an indifference that felt far too detached for someone his age.
It wasn’t like he was a child at all.
Thinking back to the environment Matty had grown up in, Xavier could only sigh inwardly.
Sharon, meanwhile, simply assumed Xavier was trying to comfort her. She didn’t argue. “If anything happens with Matty, please let me know right away,” she said.
Every month, Xavier wired money into her account without fail.
She had told him over and over that he didn’t need to-that she genuinely liked Matty and wasn’t doing it for the money.
But Xavier insisted. Business was business. Personal was personal.
And while the 100 million Carter had wired her had been completely spent, just a few more months with Matty and Sharon would be close to financial freedom anyway.
The next morning, as soon as Matty stepped into the kindergarten, he noticed a cluster of kids stood off to the side, pointing and whispering about him.
A few parents, catching sight of him, quickly grabbed their children and walked away, as if avoiding something contagious.
Even the kids who used to be on good terms with him now hurried to distance themselves.
Matty glanced at them once, expression blank, and then walked straight into his classroom.
The teachers saw him come in and exchanged looks-complicated ones, full of pity. But no one came over to greet him.
It had been like this for days now.
No one-neither the teachers nor the students-dared speak to him. Everyone kept their distance.
At that moment, Matty was like an island, completely cut off from the world.
Theo stepped into the classroom and spotted him sitting alone, quietly reading from his foreign language workbook.
Matty had been suddenly ostracized, though Theo wasn’t exactly sure why.
Not that it mattered. Seeing, Matty sitting there, isolated and silent, filled him with a kind of wicked satisfaction.
Strutting over, he sneered. “Bad kid… what, did everyone figure out who you really are? Is that why no one wants to talk to you anymore?”
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Theo knew exactly what it felt like to be the one everyone ignored.
That time in his life had felt like an endless nightmare-all because he had a mother people looked down on.
Back then, he hadn’t known how to explain it to his mom. So he turned to his grandma for help.
Grandma had told him he’d be transferring to a new kindergarten. And when he got there, he must never admit that Sharon was his mother. If he did that, no one would laugh at him or shut him out ever again.
And sure enough, it worked.
Now, with no one daring to talk to Matty, Theo was the only one bold enough to approach him.
Matty gave him a glance, said nothing, and dropped his gaze back to the pages in front of him.
Theo stood there a moment longer, irritated by the lack of reaction, then huffed and retreated to his seat.
After lunch, Matty walked back toward the classroom alone.
Suddenly, a little girl about his age pulled him into a corner.
“Matty,” she whispered, “do you know why nobody’s talking to you anymore?”
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Chapter 348
The little girl’s name was Renee Wargrave. Everyone knew she liked to follow Matty around. She was like his tiny fangirl.
But for the past few days, even she hadn’t dared to stay near him.
Because…
“My dad told me not to talk to you,” she whispered. “He said… Theo’s dad put the word out. If anyone plays with you or talks to you, it means going against the Biggs family.”
She glanced around, making sure no one was listening, then leaned in a little closer. “I asked my mom about it. She said… it’s not really about you. It’s because… Theo’s mom upset his dad. His parents are divorced. And since you’re close to his mom… that’s why you’re getting dragged into this.”
The fights between Theo and Matty were practically kindergarten legend by now. Everyone knew. And plenty of parents knew about Sharon being Carter’s ex-wife.
Now that Carter had made his stance clear, no one dared defy him.
But then again, Xavier’s son wasn’t someone you wanted to mess with either.
Luckily, word spread from one of Carter’s closest friends that this grudge wasn’t really aimed at Matty himself. It was aimed at Carter’s ex-wife. As long as Matty kept his distance from her, everything would go back to normal.
This was Amstern City. No one here was crazy enough to cross Carter. Not with Nate and Julliard standing beside him-men who practically held up half the business world in the entire country.
When Carter spoke, people listened.
No one was willing to risk offending him over something so trivial.
The kids in this elite kindergarten all came from families with power and money.
Renee was a bright, pretty girl-lively, cheerful. From the first day Matty transferred here, she’d become his friend.
And Matty liked her too. Whenever he had snacks or new toys, he always shared them with her first.
Once, she’d told Matty that when they grew up, she wanted to be his first girlfriend. Matty had agreed.
Their bond had always been a little stronger than with other kids.
Which was exactly why she’d dared to take the risk to warn him now.
Everyone in the kindergarten knew about this-except maybe Theo, who was oblivious as always.
Renee bit her lip. “Matty… just stop talking to Sharon. If you stop, everyone will start playing with you again.”
But Matty’s eyes grew colder, little by little.
“No matter what,” he said, “I’ll never stop talking to Sharon.”
“Go,” he added. “I’ll pretend I never heard this. But if you say anything like this again… we’re not friends anymore.”
Renee froze.
Her eyes immediately welled up. “Matty… I’m only telling you this for your own good. Didn’t you see how everyone’s treating you lately? You… you promised me. You said I’d be your girlfriend when we grow up. And now… you’d rather choose Sharon over
me?”
Matty’s gaze was nothing like before-no longer soft, no longer warm.
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Chapter 348
“I don’t blame you for choosing your family over me,” he said quietly. “So why do you get to blame me for choosing Sharon over you?
“And you’re right. You’re not as important as Sharon. There can be lots of girlfriends. But there’s only one Sharon. From now on, we’re no longer friends. Thank you for telling me.”
Then he turned and walked away.
His small frame seemed to carry an icy, unshakable detachment, without even the slightest trace of hesitation or regret.
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Chapter 349
Renee couldn’t hold it in anymore. She broke down, crying loudly.
Nate had been sure that a little kid like Matty wouldn’t be able to handle being bullied and isolated for long. A few days, tops, before the pressure would force him to distance himself from Sharon. (2)
But to his surprise, Matty seemed completely unfazed by the cold shoulders and sidelong glances. He went about his day as usual -eating when he should, drinking when he should, studying just as seriously as ever, still scoring at the top of the class.
Theo didn’t fully understand what had happened-why the entire kindergarten suddenly decided not to talk to Matty overnight.
But watching Matty walk around like nothing had changed… it was disappointing.
He’d been hoping to see that “bad kid” squirm. Maybe cry a little. Maybe finally show some fear.
Instead, all it did was make Theo more confused.
What kind of kid was this?
He couldn’t help but ask, “Hey, bad kid. Doesn’t it bother you? Everyone ignoring you, not playing with you. Aren’t you sad? Don’t you feel bad?”
Matty was packing up his books, getting ready to head home. Without even looking up, he answered flatly, “No. I came here to learn, not to make friends.” 1
Then he slung his backpack over his shoulders and walked out of the classroom.
Theo followed him, refusing to give up. “Quit pretending! You must be scared. You must be sad.”
Matty stopped, turned around, and looked him dead in the eyes.
“If they don’t want to talk to me, fine. It’s not like they mean anything to me. Why would I feel bad over people I don’t care about?” His voice was strangely mature.
“To be honest… it’s better this way. At least no one’s hanging around me, bothering me with questions or pointless chatter. I don’t have to waste energy being polite. You have no idea how exhausting that is.”
There was no one else around. Matty didn’t even bother pretending anymore.
“You know what, Theo?” he added, voice light but sharp. “I should thank you. You actually did me a favor. Things are a lot better
now. I can focus on the things I actually care about. No more distractions.”
Theo blinked, startled. “Thank… me? What’s this got to do with me?”
Matty tilted his head slightly, eyes glinting with something between amusement and mockery. “You say I’m the one pretending …but aren’t you doing the same thing?”
Theo frowned, completely confused. “Pretending what?”
Matty said, “It was your dad, wasn’t it? He’s the one who told all the teachers and kids to stop talking to me.”
“You’re lying!” Theo snapped. “I never told my dad to do that!”
Sure, he liked watching Matty get left out. But he’d never asked his dad to step in. He never wanted the grown-ups getting
involved in kid stuff.
“Believe what you want.” Matty’s voice was casual. “But the whole kindergarten knows. Ask any teacher if you don’t believe me.
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Chapter 349
“Fine. I will!” Theo huffed, puffing his chest like a challenge.
That afternoon, Matty stayed a little longer in the classroom, finishing some extra work. Theo had purposely waited for him. By the time the two walked out of the kindergarten, most of the kids were already gone.
“Hey! Isn’t that Theo?” A voice called out.
Three big boys stepped out of the shadow near the gate, blocking their path.
“Well, well. It really is you. So this is where you transferred to.”
The boy in front looked no older than six, but his body was round and bulky from a steady diet of candy and fried food. He looked more like he was eight or nine.
The moment Theo saw them, his face went pale.
These were the same kids who used to bully him the worst back at his old kindergarten.
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Chapter 350
They mocked him every single day for having a disgrace of a mother. Eventually, he couldn’t take it anymore and fought back.
But he was no match for the three of them.
After that, their ridicule only got worse. They even rallied other kids to join in, turning his days into something close to hell.
Back at his old kindergarten, these were the last people Theo ever wanted to see.
And now… they were here.
The boys closed in, surrounding him with the same practiced ease as before.
Panic flickered in Theo’s eyes.
The ringleader, a boy named Bob Cosgrove, glared at Theo. In his eyes, something bitter flashed-jealousy.
He’d hated Theo for a long time now.
His mom was always comparing them. Always.
“Look at Theo,” she’d snap. “Straight A’s, every test! And you? You still mess up simple addition and subtraction. How did I end up with a kid as dumb as you?
“Eat, eat, eat. That’s all you ever do. Just like your useless dad, chasing women all day. At least he can run a company. You didn’t inherit even a shred of his brain.
“Theo speaks three languages already. And you? You can’t even get through basic French.”
“Look at the toys he plays with-Rubik’s Cubes, puzzles. And you? Still playing with dirt.”
At first, Bob envied Theo for how smart he was. But over time, that envy curdled into hatred.
If Theo didn’t exist, maybe his mom wouldn’t yell at him. Wouldn’t hit him. Wouldn’t call him stupid.
When Theo transferred away, it was the happiest day of Bob’s life.
No more comparisons.
But when his mom found out where Theo had gone-this fancy private kindergarten-she wasted no time. She hired a tutor, forced Bob to cram French day and night. If he couldn’t memorize his vocabulary, she wouldn’t let him sleep.
His resentment only grew.
He made a vow. The minute he got into this kindergarten, he’d make Theo suffer for everything. He’d pay him back for every slap, every insult his mom threw his way.
So he teamed up with two other boys who hated Theo just as much.
Their plan was simple-make Theo’s life miserable until he couldn’t show his face here anymore. And once he was gone, maybe then their moms would finally stop comparing them to him.
Matty watched the scene unfold.
But he had no intention of helping.
Even if the person behind his isolation wasn’t Theo, Matty wasn’t about to step in.
Sure, he always addressed Theo politely and sweetly. But deep down, what he envied most about Theo wasn’t his grades, his popularity, or anything like that.
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It was his mom.
A mom who loved him. A mom who always stood by him.
Even now, with everyone shutting him out, Matty didn’t really hate Theo.
It didn’t matter if the whole world ignored him-as long as Sharon didn’t, that was enough.
“Hey, brat! What’re you looking at?” Bob barked, noticing Matty’s gaze. “This ain’t your business. Get lost, or I’ll beat you up
too.”
Matty barely spared him a glance. His eyes were flat and indifferent. Without a word, he turned and walked away.
Watching him go, Theo felt his chest tighten, panic crawling up his spine.
As annoying as he was, Matty never actually hit anyone. He’d scheme, sure. He’d pull tricks, play the victim, and get Theo into trouble. But he never resorted to fists.
Which was probably why, despite all the frustration, Theo never really feared him.
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Chapter 351
But these big and strong boys were different.
They didn’t just mock Theo or exclude him-they shoved him around whenever they got the chance. And Theo… he never stood a chance against the three of them.
Bob watched Matty walk away. He felt smug.
Turning back to Theo, he grinned, that mean, nasty grin kids have when they think they’ve won.
“Guess you’re not doing so great at your new school either. Look, no one’s coming to help you. Doesn’t matter how smart you are or how good your grades are. No one likes you. What’s the point?
“The other day, I overheard my mom saying… your mom only finished middle school. What a joke. Guess you’re not so high and mighty after all, huh?
“Bet these kids here don’t know what an embarrassment your mom is. But don’t worry,” Bob sneered, “they’re gonna find out.
Real soon.”
Matty had already turned to leave. But when he heard that… he stopped dead in his tracks.
Slowly, he turned back. His eyes fixed on the three boys surrounding Theo. “What did you just say?”
Bob mistook that for curiosity.
“Oh? You wanna hear about how pathetic his mom is too?” He let out a nasty laugh. “At his birthday party, she tripped and fell right on her face. Looked like a damn dog eating dirt.”
Theo’s face burned. He snapped back instinctively, “Someone tripped her on purpose! That’s why she fell!”
And it was true. One of Nate’s idiot friends had stuck a foot out and sent Sharon sprawling.
Nobody apologized. Nobody cared. They just sat there, snickering, pretending it was an accident.
Even Madeline didn’t bother to ask what happened. She just said Sharon had embarrassed the Biggs family-humiliated them. And from that day on, banned Sharon from attending any Biggs family events.
And Carter? Sure, he scolded Nate a little. But that was it. Nothing happened to the ones who actually caused it.
That’s how this world worked. People only kicked you when they saw you didn’t have any backing.
Once it was clear even the Biggs family didn’t respect Sharon, everyone else followed suit.
Bob laughed even harder. “I don’t care why she fell. All I know is, she looked pathetic as hell. Funniest thing I’ve ever seen. I laughed so hard I almost-”
A fist came flying hard at his face.
Bob staggered back, clutching his cheek, eyes wide with disbelief. “You… you punched me?”
Nobody had ever dared hit him before.
Back at the old school, Bob was the king, the little tyrant. Everyone was afraid of him.
He was bigger than most kids. Stockier. Stronger.
And this scrawny kid standing in front of him? Matty, with his thin arms, small frame, pretty little face?
How dare he?
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lifted a finger.
But Matty didn’t flinch. He didn’t even blink.
He didn’t care.
He’d seen worse. Way worse. The kind of fights over food, over scraps, with grown-ups who didn’t care who got hurt.
Bob was nothing.
“Yes, I punched you,” Matty said, his voice low, razor-sharp. His delicate features were cold, like ice. “And if I ever hear you say one more thing about Sharon, I’ll knock all your teeth out.”
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Bob and the other two boys stood frozen, stunned-like they’d been hit by something invisible but heavy.
Even Theo just stared, wide-eyed.
These three were supposed to be scary and tough. But Matty wasn’t scared at all?
Matty must’ve felt Theo’s gaze. He turned his head, looked right at him—his dark eyes sharp, filled with something cold. Something close to contempt.
Then, he said, “Coward.”
It hit Theo like a punch to the chest.
He wanted to argue-wanted to scream that he wasn’t. That he had stood up for his mom. He had tried.
But what could he say? He couldn’t fight them. He couldn’t stop the other kids from turning their backs on him.
And he hadn’t told his mom. He told Grandma instead. And Grandma… well, Grandma said it was his mother’s fault. If his mom weren’t so embarrassing, none of this would’ve happened.
His mouth opened, but before the words could come out-
Bob’s face twisted. His fists balled up, red-eyed, and he lunged at Matty.
Fists flew, sloppy and wild, typical of kids who don’t really know how to fight but throw themselves into it anyway.
But something was off. Bob was bigger, sure-by a lot. But he was losing. He stumbled, breath ragged, trying to keep up. “What are you two standing there for? Help me! Now!”
And they did. The other two boys rushed in, swinging at Matty.
Matty was five. He wasn’t superhuman. Three against one turned the tide quickly.
Bob’s grin came back, wide and vicious. “You little shit… if I don’t beat you until you’re begging me to be your daddy, then my name ain’t Bob- AH!”
His words cut off with a scream.
Matty’s fist landed square on his face again.
Matty ignored the other two, like they didn’t even exist. Let them pull, scratch, punch-he didn’t care. His hands were locked on Bob, hitting, biting, scratching like a wild little beast.
The fight stopped being fun. It got scary.
The other two kids panicked, trying to pull Matty off Bob instead of fighting him. But it was no use.
They’d never seen anything like this.
Bob was crying now. No swagger left. Nothing but pain and terror. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I swear, I won’t say anything bad about her ever again-please, please stop-Never again, I swear-please-!”
Bob was a mess. Blood. Bruises. Scratches everywhere. But Matty wasn’t much better.
Still, he didn’t stop. Not yet.
He sat on top of Bob, breathing hard. His small hands fisted in Bob’s shirt.
“Who’s Sharon?” His voice was flat and cold.
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Bb wibbed “Theo’s mon she’s his mom…”
Matty nodded “From now on, she’s my mom, too. Got it? If I ever hear you talk bad about her again–just once— you won’t be able to find your teeth afterward”
“I got it-1 got it-Bob hiccupped through his tears
Matty’s gaze shifted to the other two “And you?
Theo stood there, stunned. His heartbeat pounding, his fists clenched without even realizing it.
The two boys gulped.
“We… we won’t-we won’t say anything bad either…”
Only then did Matty finally let go.
His whole body trembled, beaten and battered. He slid off Bob, collapsed onto the ground, gulping air.
The scene had gotten load-too loud
Teachers, still lingering after work, rushed over. When they saw what had happened, they stood frozen, mouths open.
That evening, Sharon glanced down at the pharm
Still nothing from Matty No messages is calle
A few nights ago, Xavier had called, telling her Maring was fine, that the bey just wanted to stay home for a few days.
A normal thing, really. Completely normal
おす
Chapter 353
Maybe it was because she hadn’t seen Matty for a few days. Either way, Sharon suddenly missed him.
She glanced at the time, hesitated for a moment, then decided she’d pick him up from school herself today.
Ever since running into Theo and Kelly a few times outside the kindergarten, she’d stopped going in person. It was always the driver who handled pick-ups and drop-offs.
Matty never once complained. Not a hint of disappointment. His understanding made her feel… worse, somehow.
Somewhere along the line, she’d started loving Matty like her own. Maybe not the same way she once loved Theo-no. Not that kind of self-sacrificing, quietly suffering love. Not anymore.
She packed a bag of handmade snacks and was just about to head out when her phone suddenly rang.
“Hello, are you Matty’s guardian? There’s been… an incident at the kindergarten. Could you come over immediately?”
Her expression tightened. “I’m on my way.”
Sharon rushed out.
But even before she reached the office, the sound of a woman’s shrill, furious wailing hit her like a slap.
“My poor baby! How could anyone do this to you? Bob, don’t worry. Mommy won’t let the little brat who did this to you get away with it! Where’s his mom, huh? Why isn’t she here yet?”
Her voice was sharp, ugly, full of venom.
Sharon stepped into the office just in time to see a woman in her thirties jabbing her finger into Matty’s forehead. Her face twisted with rage.
Sharon’s expression darkened instantly. She strode over and slapped the woman’s hand away.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
The woman spun around, her gaze landing on Sharon’s face, then faltered.
“Theo’s mom?”
Clearly, she recognized her.
A flicker of disdain flashed in her eyes. She glanced, almost lazily, toward the corner where Theo stood with his head bowed.
“I’ve seen the video. I already asked Bob, too. This has nothing to do with your kid.”
She clearly had no idea that Sharon was there for Matty, not Theo.
Sharon’s voice turned cold. “I’m here for Matty. And no matter what happened today, that doesn’t give you the right to stand there and jab your finger at a five-year-old child.”
Bob’s mother’s brows pinched together. “Wait… you’re not… you’re not Theo’s mom?”
One of the teachers quickly stepped in to explain. “Mrs. Cosgrove, Ms. Sharon is currently Matty’s legal guardian. She’s responsible for him for now.”
The shift was instant. Mrs. Cosgrove’s posture relaxed, her gaze shifting-less hostile, but sharper in another way.
“Oh. So… a nanny then?” Her lip curled. “Guess you’re really never gonna escape that fate, huh?”
She hadn’t dared to go too far earlier. Didn’t know if she was dealing with someone important. But now? Seeing that it was
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Sharon, the tension in her shoulders melted completely.
It all made sense now. Must be because Sharon had been getting some attention online lately-charity events, social media, the “philanthropist” label getting thrown around Probably wanted to borrow a little shine, play pretend like she was doing something meaningful.
But Sharon had no background and no power. Everyone in this circle knew what she was
If someone could hand their kid off to her, then how important could that family be? Maybe just a nouveau riche desperate to look respectable.
Thinking that, Mrs. Cosgrove straightened her spine, chin up, arrogance flooding back in.
“Tell that little brat of yours to get on his knees and apologize to my son. Right now. Or I swear, neither of you will walk out of here in one piece.”
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Chapter 354
Theo stood there, lips pressed tightly together.
The look on Bob’s mother’s face-the condescension, the open contempt-the moment she realized Sharon was Matty’s guardian… it was unmistakable. Crystal clear. She didn’t even bother hiding it.
No one respected his mother.
And maybe… maybe it wasn’t wrong to think she was embarrassing.
Besides, his mom couldn’t even protect him.
Sharon caught the sneer twisting Bob’s mother’s mouth, and a cold smile curved her lips. “Kneel and apologize? Do you even hear yourself right now?”
Her dark eyes locked onto Mrs. Cosgrove’s. Bright. Piercing. Unwavering.
“Say it again. I dare you.”
Bob’s mother scoffed, still riding the high of her own arrogance. “What, you think I won’t? I-”
But before she could finish, she noticed something shift.
The kindergarten’s principal and teachers were staring at her, each one of them with a look. Not sympathy. Not support. Something colder. Something closer to judgment.
She stiffened.
No matter how privileged these families were, no matter how heated things got… telling someone’s child to kneel and apologize? That crossed a line.
This wasn’t ancient times. This was a private school for the ultra-wealthy, yes-but everyone had limits. Even if Matty’s guardian wasn’t from money, even if she were nobody special, this was humiliating in a way no one could accept.
Bob’s mother felt the shift in the room, felt her footing slipping. Her mouth twisted. Fine. She would pivot.
“If the kid’s this poorly raised, that’s on the parents,” she snapped, grasping at her last threads of superiority. “If you’re his guardian, then you kneel. Apologize for him.”
Sharon laughed. “Mrs. Cosgrove… it’ not the Middle Ages anymore. You want me to kneel? Please-you haven’t earned that kind of respect.”
Bob’s mother’s face darkened. “Your kid acts up, you take responsibility. That’s Parenting 101. Or what-you think the rules don’t apply to you?”
Sharon’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Since you’re so convinced… why don’t we let the public decide?”
She pulled out her phone. Her thumb hovered over the livestream button.
Panic flickered across Bob’s mother’s face.
She wasn’t stupid. Sharon had made a name for herself recently-philanthropy, charity work, a growing online presence. She might not have real power, but if this went online, the court of public opinion would eat her alive.
It wouldn’t just be her. It’d drag the entire Cosgrove family business down with her.
Even Carter couldn’t fully erase Sharon from the internet-what chance did her family have?
Mrs. Cosgrove’s hand shot out, frantic, trying to block Sharon’s phone. “You can’t record me without my consent! That’s a
violation of my image rights! It’s illegal!”
Sharon’s gaze didn’t waver. “Do you still want us to kneel? Hm?” Her tone was deadly.
Mrs. Cosgrove opened her mouth, but no words came. Her face twisted, shifting between fury and panic.
And then-
A low, lazy voice echoed from the doorway. “Let’s see… who thinks they can make my son kneel?”
Everyone turned.
A tall figure strode in-long legs, crisp lines, posture straight as a blade. His features were sharp, impossibly handsome, every angle precise.
But it wasn’t the looks that made the room stiffen. It was his eyes.
Those famously warm, smiling eyes were ice now-flat, frozen, as if something deep beneath had snapped.
Mrs. Cosgrove was startled. “Who… who are you?”
Xavier didn’t even spare her a glance. His eyes were on Sharon. “Sharon, what’s going on?”
Sharon exhaled. “Matty got into a fight. I just got here. I don’t know the details yet.”
She turned to the principal and the teachers. “Is there surveillance? Can we check what actually happened?”
The principal nodded quickly. “Yes, yes. Of course.”
At that moment, Mrs. Cosgrove finally realized…this man was Matty’s real guardian.
Chapter 355
A flicker of panic crossed Mrs. Cosgrove’s eyes. She didn’t know exactly who Xavier was, but the way he carried himself-the weight of his presence-made it clear he was no ordinary person.
While Sharon and Xavier stood watching the security footage, Carter and Kelly arrived.
Even though Theo wasn’t the one who threw the punch, the incident started because of him. The kindergarten had called his parents as well.
Kelly, hearing something happened to Theo, immediately assumed Matty must’ve lost his temper and started a fight. Naturally, she followed.
The moment they stepped into the office, they saw Sharon and Xavier reviewing the footage together.
Kelly whispered to Theo, “Theo, did someone… bully you?”
Theo hesitated, then shook his head.
Her voice grew even gentler. “Theo, you don’t have to be scared. Whoever hurt you… your dad and I will make sure they pay for it
Sharon didn’t bother lifting her head. Honestly, wasting even a second of energy acknowledging Kelly felt beneath her.
The surveillance footage was from a camera some distance from where everything happened. There was no audio, but the video was clear enough.
It showed, without a doubt, Matty throwing the first punch.
Sharon frowned. “What did those kids say to him… for Matty to lose his temper like that?”
Mrs. Cosgrove, who’d shriveled considerably the moment Xavier and Carter walked in, no longer had the arrogance from earlier. Her voice was sharp, but lacked force. “Whatever was said, it doesn’t justify hitting my son.”
And then, a small voice broke the tension.
“It’s because… Bob and the others were trying to bully me,” Theo mumbled, “so Matty fought them.”
The entire room went still. Everyone turned to him.
Kelly blinked, stunned. “Theo… I thought you and Matty… weren’t exactly… friends? Are you sure… he did it for you?”
It wasn’t a secret. Everyone at the kindergarten knew these two never got along. Even the parents knew.
Theo nodded. “I’m sure.”
The words had barely left his mouth when Mrs. Cosgrove’s voice screeched through the air. “Impossible! My son is an angel! He’d never bully anyone!”
She turned to Theo. “Theo… you don’t have to lie just to protect your mother.”
“I’m not lying,” he shot back.
But Mrs. Cosgrove’s face twisted in disbelief. “Please. Your mother’s a nanny. She’s babysitting someone else’s kid. Of course you’d say whatever it takes to cover for them.”
“I’m not!” His voice cracked.
Kelly’s gaze flickered, sharp with something unreadable. “Theo… tell me. Why exactly were they bullying you?”
But Theo hesitated-stammered-couldn’t get the words out.
Sharon turned her head to look at Matty. “Matty, tell me. Why were they bullying Theo?”
Matty looked up, cool and collected. “They weren’t bullying him. I just didn’t like the look of them, so I hit them. This has nothing to do with Theo. I started it. I’ll take the consequences alone.”
Theo’s eyes flew wide open. He stared at Matty in disbelief.
Across the room, Mrs. Cosgrove exhaled-subtle but real relief flooding her features.
Whatever this kid’s background was… as long as the fight didn’t involve the Biggs family, there was still room to smooth things
over.
In Amstern City, the Cosgrove family survived by relying on the Biggs family’s influence. In a cutthroat business world, it was the only way they stayed afloat.
She’d always used Theo as an example for her son-half to motivate, half to cozy up to the Biggs family.
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Chapter 356
Sharon knew without a shred of doubt that Matty wasn’t the kind of kid to throw a punch for no reason.
Her gaze shifted, falling quietly on Bob, who stood stiff in the corner.
“Bob, why don’t you tell everyone… what exactly started this fight?”
Bob opened his mouth but froze the moment his eyes met Matty’s. His head dropped, and not a single word came out. Mrs. Cosgrove rushed in, quickly stepping between them. “Don’t you dare try to threaten my son!” she snapped.
Carter felt something was off. He said, “Why don’t we try rolling the footage back a little further?”
Sharon’s eyes flicked toward the teachers. “There is no more footage. This is all they’ve provided.”
The teachers shifted uncomfortably. Their faces turned pale.
They had seen how everything started. But they hadn’t dared to show it. Instead, they only clipped this tiny piece.
If… if Carter found out his son was being targeted at school, this wasn’t something the kindergarten could afford to cover up.
Xavier caught the change in their expressions instantly.
The corner of his mouth lifted into a cold, razor-thin smile. “So… you’re afraid of offending Carter. But not afraid of offending
“You thought you’d sacrifice my son… make him the scapegoat. Is that how you educate children around here? Bow to the powerful. Step on the weak. Seems like this place needs a serious change of staff.”
He pulled out his phone and dialed.
“Get me the full surveillance footage from my son’s kindergarten… Yes. And another thing-fire every teacher and the principal.
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The color drained from the principal’s and teachers’ faces. Panic spread across them like a ripple.
But as they glanced at Carter standing silently nearby, their spines straightened again. Almost like they believed… they had nothing to fear.
Xavier’s eyes narrowed, a hint of amusement flickering behind the cold. “You seem awfully calm. What is it? Think your backer can save you?”
His gaze floated lazily over to Carter.
Carter caught the look, his brow tightening just slightly, but he said nothing.
Roughly five minutes later, Xavier’s phone vibrated. The complete surveillance file had arrived.
Without saying a word, he tapped play.
The screen lit up, crystal clear with sound.
Even the conversations between Theo and Matty came through, every word crisp.
When Theo said, “Nobody wants to talk to you anymore,” the air in the room fell dead silent.
Sharon suddenly understood why Matty hadn’t come to her place these past few days.
He was being bullied in this kindergarten.
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A chill surged through her chest. No matter how she turned it over in her head, she never imagined something like this– childhood bullying-would play out in a place like this.
Her eyes swung sharply toward Carter, colder than they had ever been.
Carter instinctively opened his mouth. “I… I didn’t tell anyone to-”
Smack!
A crisp, clean slap rang through the room.
Sharon’s hand was still in the air. Her voice shook, not with fear, but with fury. “Carter, you are despicable.”
No one moved. No one spoke.
Weren’t they divorced? Wasn’t Sharon the one with no status in the Biggs family? Then why-why did she dare slap Carter in front of everyone like this?
Even Mrs. Cosgrove stood frozen, stunned speechless.
And then-almost like a cue-the principal and teachers’ phones started ringing, one after another.
They scrambled to answer, but the moment they pressed the call through-
“You’re fired.”
That was all the voice on the other end said.
No explanation. No chance to plead.
The line went dead.
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Chapter 357
When they tried calling back, no one picked up.
Panic spread fast. The teachers and the principal glanced toward Carter, like drowning people reaching for the nearest lifeline.
“Mr. Biggs… you can’t just leave us like this,” the principal stammered. “We-we were just following your instructions!”
Carter’s face was still shadowed from that slap. His expression was dark, sharp-edged, barely controlled. “When,” he asked coldly, “did I ever tell you to do this?”
The principal was close to tears. “But the order did come from you-or at least that’s what we were told…”
Off to the side, Kelly’s heart sank.
The principal pressed on. “It was… Nate Hendricks. He said it himself-told us directly. He’s been your friend for years. We… we’re just ordinary people. How could we possibly afford to offend someone like him… or you?”
Carter’s face turned stormy. He pulled out his phone and dialed. “Get over here. Now.”
No explanation. No room for questions. He hung up. 1
Kelly’s fingers itched toward her phone, instinct screaming to tip Nate off. But with so many eyes in the room, pulling out her phone now would be suicide. Worse, it might expose her own part in all of this.
Then again… maybe it didn’t matter anymore. If it came out, so be it.
After all, this whole scheme had been Nate’s idea from the start. She only… fine-tuned it a little. Made it less obvious. Stretched it out so no one would notice too quickly.
At first, Nate had simply approached a few parents, dropping careful hints to get their kids to start something with Matty.
But Kelly stopped him. Physical fights left marks-too obvious. Too easy to get caught.
Isolation, though…?
Isolation was cleaner. Sharper. Sometimes, the wounds it left went deeper than bruises.
And if Matty went to complain? Useless. What was he going to say? No one wants to be my friend? No one talks to me?
Friendship wasn’t something anyone could be forced into.
It was the perfect kind of bullying. Invisible. Untouchable.
She never thought it would blow up this fast.
The video kept rolling.
As it played through the full confrontation, Sharon finally understood why both Theo and Matty had kept their mouths shut about this.
To be mocked like that, openly, by a bunch of six-year-olds, Sharon suddenly felt… small and powerless.
She looked at Matty, “You didn’t come home these past few days. You never told us what was happening. Is it because… you didn’t want me to worry?”
This time, Matty didn’t pretend. Didn’t fake being pitiful.
His head lowered, eyes avoiding hers entirely. “I was scared… scared if you found out, you’d worry all this trouble I was facing was because of you. You’d leave me.
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“But I don’t want to stop seeing you. Spending time with you, with Wendy, with Mr. Malcolm… it’s the happiest I’ve ever been. I don’t care if this stuff happens to me. I only care… I only care if you leave me.”
He’d overheard her once talking to Wendy.
“Nate, Kelly, Carter… they’re going to keep coming after me,” Sharon had said. “And Matty might get dragged into it. Maybe… maybe I should send him away for a while.”
Matty stood there, head down like a kid caught doing something wrong.
But he was the one who’d been hurt.
Sharon’s eyes stung. Her throat tightened.
Xavier let out a sigh-soft, almost inaudible.
Sharon wrapped Matty in her arms, holding him tight. “Listen to me. No matter what happens… I won’t send you away. Never.
Okay?”
Matty buried his face in her shoulder. His voice was muffled but firm. “Okay.”
Watching them, a strange, heavy panic started clawing its way up in Theo’s chest.
On the screen, the paused video flickered back to life.
And then-there they were. Bob and the other two boys.
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Chapter 358
The three boys had Theo completely cornered.
Watching it unfold on the monitor, Carter’s brows knotted tight, his jaw set. Meanwhile, Mrs. Cosgrove looked like her soul had nearly flown out of her body.
Even through the cold distance of a surveillance feed, it was clear-Bob and his two friends hadn’t come over to chat. Their movements were practiced. Too practiced. This wasn’t the first time.
Carter’s dark eyes grew colder.
Then Bob’s voice spilled into the room, sharp and mocking.
“The other day, I overheard my mom saying… your mom only finished middle school. What a joke. Guess you’re not so high and mighty after all, huh?
“Bet these kids here don’t know what an embarrassment your mom is. But don’t worry, they’re gonna find out. Real soon.”
And then-silence.
No one said a word. No one dared.
Only Bob’s shrill laughter echoed from the speakers.
Carter’s gaze cut toward Mrs. Cosgrove, sharp as a blade.
Her whole body jolted. Her lips trembled. The blood drained from her face.
She could say whatever she wanted behind closed doors-speak ill of Sharon however she pleased. But to let it spill out in front of others… this was humiliation. Open, public humiliation.
And it wasn’t hard to hear the truth buried in Bob’s words. This wasn’t new. This wasn’t some one-off scuffle. Bob had been bullying Theo for a long time. Probably since the last kindergarten.
Sharon’s face darkened. Her chest tightened.
She had never known Theo had been bullied.
And the worst part was hearing it so plainly… knowing now that she had been part of the reason.
Because of her.
She remembered now that there had been a stretch where Theo was withdrawn, his mood heavy, quieter than usual.
She’d asked him what was wrong back then. But he’d said nothing. Nothing at all.
Then Madeline had stepped in, claiming she wanted to tutor Theo herself. She took him to the Biggs estate for a full month.
Sharon visited often, but Madeline never let her stay. Their interactions were limited-short dinners, fleeting moments.
On weekends, Theo was packed with lessons, never available to see her.
Now that she thought back… that was when it started. The coldness. The distance in Theo’s eyes.
Back then, she thought it was because of Kelly.
Now she knew. That wasn’t all of it. Not even close.
The bullying… it must have started then.
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The entire room sat frozen as the video played on, connecting every cruel dot.
The reason Matty had lashed out couldn’t be clearer now. Bob and the others-what they’d said about Sharon, about her life, her worth.
And to think a kid this young could spit out something so vile…? That didn’t come from nowhere. That came from home. From the adults around him. T
It was one thing for Bob to have witnessed Sharon’s stumble at that birthday banquet. But the bit about her education- someone fed him that. No kid just knows things like that.
Carter’s lips pressed into a hard, bloodless line. His face looked carved from ice.
His gaze shifted to Theo. “Since when?”
Theo kept his head down, not daring to meet his father’s eyes. “Since… sirice Mom fell at my birthday party.”
Carter’s jaw tensed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Theo’s voice dropped even lower. “Grandma said you were busy. That I shouldn’t bother you with… little things.
“And why,” Carter asked, quieter but sharper now, “didn’t you tell your mom?”
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Chapter 359
Theo spoke quietly, “Telling Mom wouldn’t have changed anything. She was tripped by those men, and not a single person stood up for her. No one defended her. Instead, everyone laughed at her. Mom is weak… She doesn’t have the power to solve these problems for me.
“And just now…when Bob’s mom found out Mom was Matty’s guardian, Bob’s mom demanded that Matty kneel and apologize. She wasn’t scared of Mom at all.” His hands clenched at his sides. “If it had been me who messed up today… would she have told me to kneel too?”
Both Carter and Xavier turned to look at Mrs. Cosgrove.
Mrs. Cosgrove’s face drained of all color, legs visibly shaking under their stares.
Theo’s voice dropped lower, “Grandma always says… I’m the future heir of the Biggs family. I have to handle things on my own. I can’t run to the adults every time something goes wrong.”
Xavier’s dark eyes deepened, as though some storm was brewing quietly behind them.
A child raised in love was so different from one who lacked love growing up.
The difference was stark. Someone like Theo, brilliant as he was academically-always ranked top, always praised for his smarts -was still only five. But a five-year-old forced to internalize lessons about power and humiliation… would carry wounds deeper than anyone realized.
In a strange, cruel way, Theo’s brashness around Sharon, the way he threw tantrums and demanded her attention-it all made sense now. He only acted like that with her… because it was the only place he felt safe enough to. 1
Love, it turned out, was a scarce commodity. The rarer it was, the more desperately one clung to it.
But Matty was different. Matty had always known that if you wanted something, you had to grip it tight. Hold on. Never let it go.
Theo’s words left the entire room frozen.
Then Xavier’s lazy, bone-deep voice shattered it. “You know… when a woman is mocked, humiliated, treated like dirt in public… the real reason is simple. It’s because the men around her are useless.”
He let that hang in the air. His razor-sharp words were cruel in their honesty.
“A child watches his own mother get humiliated,” he went on, “and instead of anyone standing up for her, what happens? He’s told to endure it. To handle it himself. To not complain.”
His gaze cut through Mrs. Cosgrove before landing squarely on Carter.
“You ever hear this before, Carter?” Xavier’s smile was soft. But every word hit like a blade. “Only useless men let their wives get humiliated by others.
“And if I’m guessing right, you still don’t understand why Sharon divorced you. You probably think she overreacted. That she’s the difficult one. You don’t even realize what you did wrong… do you? (1
“Sharon was the wife of the CEO of the Biggs Group. She had that title. And yet, even random nobodies think they can humiliate her. Even children think it’s okay to mock her. And because of that… your own son gets bullied, too.
“Tell me, Carter… don’t you think… as a husband, you’ve failed spectacularly?”
Carter’s pupils contracted sharply.
His head snapped toward Sharon, but her face was blank. No anger. No sadness. Nothing he could read. (1
Then Xavier spoke again. “But you see… I’m not like you. I protect what’s mine.”
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His gaze, cold as frost, slid to Mrs. Cosgrove.
“Someone bullies my son? Not happening.” His tone sharpened. “Someone bullies Sharon? Even less likely.
“Mrs. Cosgrove, you seem to like making people kneel and apologize. Since your son’s still young, I won’t bother with him. But you? You’re an adult. A mother. Why don’t you kneel for him? Own up to your mistakes. Apologize.
“After all, you like kneeling so much. I’m sure you’ll do it with grace.”
Chapter 360
Mrs. Cosgrove’s face flushed an ugly, livid shade-dark, blotchy, like overripe liver.
Telling others to kneel had always come easy to her. Effortless, even.
But when the demand was turned on her… it was a whole different story.
Her chest tightened. Even with resentment simmering inside, she couldn’t ignore the suffocating pressure radiating off Xavier. Her tone softened.
“Mr. Cooper, isn’t that a little excessive? The surveillance clearly shows it was your kid who started the fight. No matter what was said, hitting someone is wrong. And now, instead of apologizing, you expect the victim’s family to kneel? What kind of logic is that?”
“Logic?” His gaze sharpened. “What I say… is the logic. I’ll give you one minute. Kneel. Apologize to Sharon, and I’ll let it go.”
His lips curved into something cold. “But if you insist on going against me…well…the weather’s cooling. Seems about time for a certain company to go bankrupt.”
For a second, Mrs. Cosgrove was stunned. She’d thought Xavier was here to defend his son, to settle the matter of Matty throwing punches.
She’d already decided, fine, if it could smooth things over, having Bob apologize to Matty wasn’t out of the question.
But she hadn’t expected this.
He wasn’t asking Bob to apologize. He wanted her to apologize to Sharon.
Her heart clenched.
She’d always looked down on Sharon. Always belittled Sharon in front of the kids.
Sharon was a nobody, a woman with no status, no background, no power. And yet… she married a rich and powerful guy like Carter. She had a son who was smart and gifted.
The bitterness gnawed at Mrs. Cosgrove. She, a well-bred daughter from an old literary family, had been forced into the business world through an arranged marriage. Her husband was a man who’d gotten lucky once-struck gold early in life-but now spent his days gambling, drinking, and chasing women.
Her son had inherited every flaw of her husband. Bob was below average in both looks and brains.
All her scorn toward Sharon… was born out of pure, festering jealousy.
And now… to be told to kneel to Sharon?
Her first instinct was a scream in her head. ‘Kneel? To that woman? Over my dead body!’
Xavier’s gaze didn’t waver. His tone remained maddeningly calm. “I’m not some invincible tycoon, but crushing a small fry like the Cosgrove Group isn’t difficult.”
Then, in front of everyone, he pulled out his phone and dialed.
“Cosgrove Group’s pissed me off. You’ve got ten minutes. Handle it.”
Mrs. Cosgrove’s breath hitched. “Y-You think you can bluff your way through this? I don’t believe you!”
Xavier slid the phone back into his pocket. “Let’s hope you’re still that brave… ten minutes from now.”
Right then, the door flew open. Nate arrived, oblivious to the tension thick in the room.
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scrape on the kid’s face.
His lips curved, smug. “Well, well… kid finally pissed someone off and got what’s coming to him?”
Carter didn’t respond. His eyes stayed locked on Nate.
“Nate,” his voice was low but like steel, “tell me the truth. Were you the one who used my name… to get the teachers and the kids at the kindergarten to isolate Matty?”
For a split second, Nate froze. His heart slammed against his ribs.
‘Shit. So fast. He found out this quickly?’
His eyes darted instinctively toward Kelly. But she stood there, head lowered, refusing to look at him.
His stomach twisted. His hands clenched.
There was no use denying it now.
If Carter was asking, it meant… he already knew.
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