Chapter 81
Sharon had no choice. She dialed Carter’s number.
No one picked up.
After a while, the call cut off on its own.
The two receptionists looked at her with even more disdain now, their expressions openly mocking-as if she were something dirty, something offensive to look at.
One of them, eyes lingering on Sharon’s striking face, sneered with a flicker of jealousy. “What a joke. The great Mrs. Biggs can’t even get her husband on the phone? Who’s she trying to fool? Every random stray thinks they can just come in here and ask to see Mr. Biggs… These homewreckers really have no shame nowadays.”
“I’ve seen plenty of flashy women thinking they can seduce Mr. Biggs just because they’re pretty. But pretending to be his wife? That’s a new level of pathetic.” 1
They didn’t raise their voices, but they made sure every word was clear enough for Sharon to hear. Their contempt was unmistakable, almost tangible in the air.
Sharon hadn’t expected this. After five years of marriage, she had nothing-not even the bare minimum of respect.
She asked quietly, “Is Carter in the office today?”
One of them replied stiffly, “Sorry, company policy. We’re not allowed to disclose Mr. Biggs’s whereabouts to outsiders.”
The other one laughed in a mockingly sweet tone. “Aren’t you supposed to be Mrs. Biggs? Shouldn’t a wife know if her husband’s at work?”
Sharon stared at their sneering faces, then turned without a word and walked toward the seating area in the lobby.
The receptionists had already written her off as just another scheming woman trying to get close to Carter. Now that she didn’t leave, their tone turned even sharper.
“Hey, I’d suggest you leave now. Mr. Biggs won’t see you.”
“Women like you just pollute the air by staying here.”
“If you don’t leave, I’m calling security.”
“Get the hell out already!”
Sharon hadn’t intended to argue with them. They were just doing their jobs, and she had no desire to make things harder than they already were.
But this wasn’t about protocol anymore. This was personal.
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She looked at the two of them, their hostility flaring like they were guarding some sacred gate. A cold smile tugged at her lips.
So this was the kind of pull Carter had.
She turned back toward them. “Oh? So this is the standard of professionalism at the Biggs Group’s front desk?”
She pulled out her phone, calmly pointing the camera at them. “I wonder what would happen if I posted this online, or sent it to a few media outlets. Might even make headlines. Let’s go with… ‘Receptionists at the Biggs Group verbally assault visitors like street bullies-lack of professionalism or company culture?’ I wonder… would the Biggs Group’s stock price take a hit?”
The moment they saw her recording, the color drained from their faces.
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Whatever kind of woman Sharon might be, her actions were one thing. But their own professionalism-or lack thereof-was
another entirely.
If this went public and damaged the company’s image… the consequences would be more than they could handle.
They were panicking now.
Working at the Biggs Group came with top-tier pay and benefits. Even a receptionist position was coveted. But after being here
long enough, they’d started to see themselves as superior and untouchable.
This time, they’d gone too far. They’d picked the wrong woman to cross.
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Chapter 82
One of the receptionists immediately softened. “Miss, I’m sorry. I spoke out of line. Please, can you not post the video online?” The other one, clearly just as anxious to keep her job, rushed to add her apology.
“We’re sorry. Our attitude was unprofessional… According to company policy, we can’t let you upstairs without an appointment, but you’re welcome to wait in the lobby.”
Sharon hadn’t come to make trouble. Seeing that they’d already apologized, she lowered her phone without another word.
Time passed quietly. Outside, dusk crept in, darkening the glass panels of the lobby windows.
She hadn’t eaten all day, afraid that if she left for even a moment, Carter might appear just then and vanish again. She waited
silently.
She didn’t know how long it had been when the sound of calm, steady footsteps began to echo across the marble floor.
Sharon looked up and saw a familiar figure walking toward her.
Nate saw her too. He paused at the entrance, taking in the sight of her sitting alone on the waiting area sofa, then turned to the receptionists.
“What’s she doing?” he asked, his voice laced with disdain.
The receptionists, who clearly recognized him, still carried a trace of resentment toward Sharon, though they now tried to hide
“Nate,” one of them said, “this woman came to see Mr. Biggs, but she didn’t have an appointment. Company policy says we can’t let her up.”
The other muttered under her breath, “She claims to be Mrs. Biggs, but couldn’t even get through to his phone…”
Nate’s face lit up with understanding. A cruel smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he stepped closer to Sharon.
“Well, well,” he said mockingly. “If it isn’t Sharon. Or-sorry, my mistake.”
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He corrected himself deliberately. “Didn’t you say you were Mrs. Biggs? If that’s true, why are you sitting out here instead of heading upstairs?”
Sharon looked at him, her gaze blank and unmoved by his sarcasm. She said nothing.
The quieter she was, the more arrogant Nate became.
“Sharon,” he said, his tone dripping with contempt, “I warned you last time, didn’t I? Told you to stop bothering Carter. But here you are again, begging for humiliation.”
He tapped his own cheek with exaggerated flair. “Aren’t you ashamed?”
Sharon’s voice came cold and even. “Wendy-what happened to her. That was you, wasn’t it?”
Nate had shown up around her and Wendy far too often lately. It didn’t take much to guess what he was trying to do-poke, provoke, stir things up. 1
Wendy, direct and fiery by nature, had always felt that Sharon had been wronged in her marriage. Seeing Nate act out in front of them only fueled her anger.
Nate looked pleased with himself, almost proud. His arrogance swelled.
“So what if it was me?” he said, shrugging. “It’s your friend, not you. Even if it were you, Carter still wouldn’t blame me.”
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He paused, something clearly occurring to him, and his smile widened.
“Remember when I splashed water on you last time? Did Carter cut ties with me over that? Nope. You know what that means, don’t you?”
Sharon’s pupils contracted slightly, but her eyes only grew colder.
Nate gave a theatrical sigh and turned to the receptionists. “Ah, I showed up unannounced today. No appointment. Is it okay if I head up to see Carter?”
The receptionists rushed to reassure him. “Nate, with your relationship to Mr. Biggs, of course you don’t need an appointment. Please, go right ahead.”
Nate gave Sharon a dismissive glance and said pointedly to the two women, “There’s always a certain kind of shameless woman trying to get close to Carter. You two better keep your eyes open and don’t let trash like that slip past.”
They both picked up on the implication immediately and gave flattery-laced smiles.
“Don’t worry, Nate. We won’t let in any strangers.”
Only then did Nate seem satisfied.
Upstairs, he recounted everything with smug excitement. “Carter, guess who I just saw downstairs? Sharon. Can you believe it?”
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Chapter 83
Carter had just finished a meeting. As he glanced at his phone and saw the missed call, his gaze deepened, turning unreadable. Nate, smug as ever, leaned over with a smirk. “Didn’t I tell you? Ignore Sharon for a few days, and she’ll come crawling back.” He chuckled softly, pleased with himself. “Next step? Keep ignoring her. She’ll drop the act in no time and show her true colors.”
Half an hour later, the elevator doors slid open again.
Nate and Carter stepped out, one following the other.
Sharon stood up. “Carter-”
Before she could finish, Nate cut her off.
“Carter, let’s hurry. Something’s wrong with Kelly. You should check on her.”
Carter had no intention of acknowledging Sharon in the first place. Now, with Nate’s prompting, he walked past her without so much as a glance.
Sharon stepped into his path. “Just one minute…”
Nate’s angry voice rang out behind them. “Sharon, I know you’re desperate for a man, but seriously-read the room! Kelly’s in trouble, and you’re still trying to stop Carter? Are you trying to get her killed? What kind of poisonous woman are you?” (1
Sharon’s voice was calm. “Funny how you weren’t in any rush when you were mocking me earlier. But now suddenly you’re in a panic?”
Nate feigned indignation. “Stop wasting time, Sharon! If anything happens to Kelly, Carter won’t let you off the hook!” Sharon laughed quietly. “You’re really something, Nate. I haven’t even done anything, and you’re accusing me of attempted murder? What, you think I’ve got some kind of superpower, that I can kill from a different location?”
“You-!”
Carter’s voice cut in, low and cold. “Enough.”
He turned to Nate. “Where is she? Take me there.”
Sharon’s brows furrowed. “Carter-”
His voice was even colder this time. “Sharon, if anything happens to Kelly because of this delay… I really will blame you for it.”
Her hand loosened instinctively.
Carter strode off without looking back. Nate gave her one last contemptuous glance, satisfied, and followed.
The situation with Wendy couldn’t be delayed any longer. Sharon didn’t know when she’d get another chance to speak with
Carter.
She called a cab and followed them to the hospital.
But she wasn’t reckless. She didn’t barge in. Instead, she waited quietly outside the room, watching as Carter went in to see Kelly. She’d speak to him after. After all, disturbing Kelly during her “recovery” was not something to take lightly.
An hour passed before the door finally opened.
Carter stepped out.
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He wasn’t the least bit surprised to see her there.
Without even glancing her way, he walked straight past her.
Sharon followed. “Carter-”
But again, he cut her off, his voice low and clear.
“Didn’t you say you’d never come begging me for anything?”
Her fingers curled into fists, almost reflexively.
She wanted to say that if he hadn’t gotten her friend locked up somewhere, she’d never have shown up. Not in this lifetime.
But for Wendy’s sake, she swallowed it down.
“I want to talk to you about Wendy.”
His steps didn’t slow. “Sharon, if you’re asking for a favor, act like it.”
Asking for a favor?
Sharon realized at once what he meant.
So that was it–he wanted her to beg. To humble herself before him.
She felt a wave of cold amusement rising inside her.
He really thought he could have it all.
But she wasn’t about to give him what he wanted.
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Chapter 84
If Sharon hadn’t come prepared, she never would have dared to face him alone, let alone try to strike a deal.
Sharon stopped walking. Her face was unreadable as she looked at Carter’s tall, imposing figure ahead. Her voice, when she spoke, was cool and detached.
“If you’re willing to release Wendy, I’ll give you the medicine your mother needs.”
Carter halted in his tracks.
He turned sharply. His eyes, sharp and glacial, cut through the air like frost.
“So you really do have the medicine.”
Sharon didn’t flinch at his tone. “You’ve always been a filial son. I can’t imagine you’d just stand by and watch your mother
suffer.”
“You’ve really learned how to negotiate.”
Sharon offered a faint smile. “When it’s about feelings, there are rules for that. When it’s about bargaining, well-those have their own rules. Didn’t you make the same choice, Mr. Biggs? You didn’t spare Wendy just because she’s my friend, did you? I’m only returning the favor now-learning from your example. What’s so wrong about that?”
Human nature is inherently hypocritical.
If the punch doesn’t land on your own body, you’ll never feel the pain.
When he threw her into one humiliation after another for Kelly’s sake, did it ever occur to him what she was feeling?
And now, when the tables are turned, he’s the one who can’t take it?
Wasn’t Kelly the one who liked making him choose between two people?
Fine. Let him choose now.
Let’s see what matters more to him-his mother’s wellbeing or defending his precious Kelly.
Carter stared at her for a long time.
Sharon looked back at him with calm, steady eyes. There wasn’t even a flicker of hesitation in her gaze.
At last, he looked away. Disappointment flickered across his face like a shadow he didn’t bother hiding.
But Sharon had long since stopped expecting anything from him. Whatever he thought of her, he could think it. She had no
interest in explaining herself any further.
“Fine,” Carter said quietly. “Bring me the medicine. I’ll let Wendy go.
Sharon gave a small nod. “Alright.”
The next morning, Sharon arrived early at a small alternative medicine shop.
The shop was tucked deep inside a narrow alley, hard to find and easy to miss. Even the signboard had faded to a dull gray, the whole place old and worn.
As soon as she stepped inside, the rich, earthy smell of herbs enveloped her.
An elderly man with silver hair was hunched over a counter, wearing reading glasses. He sniffed at a bundle of dried herbs in his
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hand, then bowed his head and jotted something down in a worn notebook.
Sharon stepped closer and spoke softly. “Mr. Malcolm.”
Uriah Malcolm didn’t even look up. “Back for more medicine? Didn’t I tell you last time-that was the last time I’d give you anything?”
“I was hoping to ask for a favor…” she began.
He cut her off without hesitation.
“No. I’m not helping. Get going, get going.”
Uriah was seventy this year, a notoriously temperamental doctor of alternative medicine.
But he was also brilliant. When Sharon found out that Madeline had long suffered from chronic headaches, she had gone to great lengths to track Uriah down. She’d hoped earning Madeline’s favor might win her a sliver of acceptance.
But on her very first visit, before she’d even explained why she’d come, Uriah had thrown her out.
His reason?
He didn’t like her face.
Sharon had dealt with all kinds of strange people-but never a doctor like him.
She thought maybe he’d just been in a bad mood that day. So she went again the next day.
And again, he threw her out.
She kept going for an entire week before he finally gave her more than a glance.
“I only sell medicine to the poor,” he said. “You look like a well-off young lady. With your background, you could get the best doctors money can buy. Why bother with an old man like me?”
Sharon replied, “They say you can cure even the toughest cases. Your skill isn’t something ordinary doctors can match.”
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Chapter 85
Uriah’s face betrayed a flicker of pride at her words, though he said curtly, “Don’t think flattery will get you anywhere. I’m not treating anyone just because you butter me up.”
Sharon answered sincerely, “Then may I ask, what would make you willing to help?”
He shot her a sidelong glance. “If you’re really that determined, start by doing chores around here. When I’m satisfied, I’ll consider it. How about that?”
Sharon didn’t hesitate. “Alright.”
Uriah looked at her with mild surprise.
At first, he’d assumed she was the one needing treatment. But her complexion was clear, her energy steady-nothing about her screamed illness. She looked like just another wealthy girl with too much time and too little purpose. He’d seen his fair share of those in his younger days-idle young ladies inventing ailments just to pass the time.
So he made it hard on her. Every unpleasant, exhausting task he could think of, he pushed onto her. When she misidentified herbs, he’d scold her viciously, loud enough to echo through the whole clinic. He’d even made her cry a few times.
But she kept showing up-on time, every day.
After about six months, Uriah finally relented. She didn’t seem to be sick, true, but she was sincere. Persistent. That was rare enough. So he decided to hear her out.
Only then did he learn: Sharon wasn’t asking for herself. She was trying to get medicine for her mother-in-law.
That changed things. Filial devotion like that-he didn’t see much of it anymore.
His impression of her softened immediately.
And through their conversations, he eventually discovered who she was-Mrs. Biggs, wife of Carter Biggs, president of the Biggs Group.
From then on, for the past two years, he’d been preparing medicine for Madeline’s headaches. It was an old condition, the kind that took years to mend. But he figured, with another year or so, she’d be free of the pain completely.
But then the last six months happened-Carter and Kelly, flaunting themselves so openly even a man like Uriah, who rarely paid attention to the news, couldn’t ignore it.
And in all that time, only Sharon had ever come to him. Carter never once showed his face.
That alone had Uriah fuming.
“I’ll help you one last time, and only because of how much you’ve done for me,” he said, pulling off his reading glasses with a sharp huff. “But your husband has to come with you. This is medicine for his mother-what, is filial piety something you can outsource now?”
Sharon knew how much Uriah loathed the wealthy, especially the kind who tried to wave money around like a magic wand. Families like the Biggs’s-arrogant, entitled-were the exact type he disdained.
She paused for a moment, then said quietly, “This is the last time, Mr. Malcolm. Please… I need the medicine to save a friend.”
Uriah raised a brow. “To save your friend?”
She nodded. “She crossed someone she shouldn’t have. So now…”
Uriah had lived long enough to recognize what wasn’t being said. Her words painted a clear enough picture.
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He couldn’t hold back his anger. “Is that bastard husband of yours threatening you? Shameless! He won’t come himself but grabs your friend to make a point? That’s low, even for him!”
Sharon shook her head gently. “You’ve misunderstood. It’s true that my friend made the first mistake.”
Though she hated Carter, she wasn’t the kind to twist the truth. She explained the whole situation, plainly and honestly.
She knew the kind of man Uriah was. He didn’t care about money. What he valued most was sincerity.
Trying to deceive him would only backfire.
After a long silence, Uriah finally looked up.
“I’ll help you,” he said. “But only if you agree to one condition.”
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Chapter 86
Sharon felt a jolt of energy surge through her.
As long as Uriah was willing to help, everything was back on the table.
Sharp-tongued as he was, he was a good man at heart. When he first heard that Theo had been born prematurely and wasn’t in the best health, he’d taught her many ways to nurse Theo back to strength.
“Please go ahead, Mr. Malcolm,” Sharon said.
He glanced at her, then said, “Didn’t you tell me before that you play the violin? I have quite a few elderly patients, folks who live alone. They get lonely. So, I’ve been thinking of organizing a small appreciation event for them. If you perform for them, I’ll give you the medicine. What do you say?”
Sharon didn’t even need a second to consider. “Of course. I’d be glad to.”
She hesitated a moment, then added, “Mr. Malcolm, would it be alright if I invited a musician friend to perform with me?”
Uriah narrowed his eyes, studying her face carefully, as if trying to discern whether she was being sincere.
“You’d really perform for us old folks?”
Sharon smiled. “Before my mother passed, my friend and I used to do charity performances at orphanages and senior homes all the time. This kind of thing isn’t hard for us.”
Uriah nodded slowly. “Alright then. We’ll say it’s settled. Just don’t back out later if you see the venue’s a little rough around the edges.”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Malcolm,” Sharon said seriously. “Once I give my word, I never go back on it. When are you planning to hold the performance? And where?”
He thought for a moment. “Let’s set it for the end of the month. As for the location… I haven’t decided yet. I’ll let you know once I’ve figured it out.”
Sharon wasn’t picky about the venue. She nodded. “Alright.”
Uriah handed the medicine to her and looked her square in the eye.
“Once you take this, there’s no turning back. Even if it rains knives that day, you have to show up and perform.”
Sharon took the packet carefully and answered with full sincerity, “Don’t worry, Mr. Malcolm. I’ll be there.”
Uriah finally waved his hand, “Alright, that’s enough. If there’s nothing else, get going. Don’t bother me while I’m sorting
herbs.”
Sharon gave him a polite farewell and left the shop.
As her figure disappeared down the street, Uriah pulled out his phone and made a call.
“I’ve decided to come back,” he said simply.
༠་སྐ་༴་ ེ
Roughly ten minutes later, more than twenty luxury cars-each one a limited edition-lined up outside the old shop.
Several middle-aged men and a few elegant, well-dressed women hurried inside, all of them visibly emotional.
“This is wonderful! Dad, you’re finally willing to come home!” one of the men cried out.
But the moment Uriah saw the extravagant display, his face darkened with fury.
“Idiots! Who told you to make such a big spectacle?! Get those damned cars out of here!”
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One of the middle-aged men didn’t dare he
Another man hurried up to Uriah. “Dad, we’ve already prepared a welcome banquet. Let’s go now-”
Uriah shot him a sharp glare. “Did I say I’m going right now?”
The man froze, confused. “Then… Dad, what do you mean?”
“I’ll return at the end of the month. In the meantime, send invitations-under my name-to the families we’ve long had ties with. Invite them to the banquet.”
The man’s eyes lit up. “Dad, you’re finally showing your face again! This is incredible, I—”
Before he could finish, Uriah cut him off. 1
“I need you to take care of something for me. If you can’t do it right, I won’t be coming back.”
“Of course, Dad. Just tell me what you need.”
Uriah explained the matter.
At first, the man looked stunned. Then, gradually, his expression turned solemn.
He nodded. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll take care of it.”
Once his sons and daughters were gone, Uriah gave a cold snort. 1
“The Biggs family, always sucking up to whoever’s in charge, thinking they can mess with that girl just ’cause she’s got no family backing her. Well, I’ll show them!”
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Chapter 87
“That Biggs boy plays the perfect golden heir, but he’s just as rotten as the rest-sneaking around on her, keeping some side piece,” Uriah spat. “And Sharon actually loved that bastard. What a damn shame.”
He snorted. “This time, I’ll make sure they get what’s coming. With the Uriah name backing her now, let’s see who still has the balls to mess with Sharon.”
As soon as Sharon had the medicine in hand, she went straight to find Carter.
“I’ve brought you the medicine. Now, will you let Wendy go?”
Carter studied the small, unassuming bottle in his hand, his expression skeptical.
“You’re sure this isn’t fake?”
Sharon instinctively clenched her fists.
No matter what she did, he always met her with doubt.
But Kelly-no matter how many vile things she did-always had his unwavering trust.
“It’s real,” Sharon said flatly. “If you don’t believe me, show it to Madeline. She took it for two years. She’ll know right away if it’s the real thing.”
Carter’s tone remained cool. “In that case, come back to the old estate with me.”
His distrust didn’t sting her anymore.
She nodded. “Alright.”
At the Biggs family’s old estate, Madeline slammed her hand hard against the table, face stormy with rage.
“What? Sharon hasn’t been home in ages? Not only is she ignoring you, she’s out there taking care of someone else’s child?”
Theo nodded, the memory still fresh and raw. His voice trembled, nearly breaking into sobs.
“When I told Mommy to choose between us, she picked that bad kid. His dad said she doesn’t get paid to take care of me, but she gets money to take care of his son.
“That kid-Matty-he keeps telling me how good Mommy is to him. That she picks him up and drops him off every day. That she makes him snacks. Different ones every day.”
Madeline opened her mouth to scold Sharon, but the sight of Theo’s pitiful face softened her anger.
“Don’t listen to him,” she said gently. “That boy is lying to you.”
“He’s not,” Theo said, pulling out his phone. “He takes pictures of every meal Mommy makes him and sends them to me.”
Denise leaned over for a look. Her eyes widened at the images.
“Hey, these really are Sharon’s snacks. Only she makes treats in those shapes and designs.”
She flipped through more photos. “This dish, too. Isn’t it her specialty?”
“The way it’s plated… no one else does that but her.”
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“Oh! This isn’t even sold in stores-it’s that medicinal meal she made just for Theo.”
With every word from Denise, Theo’s eyes grew redder-sorrow, anger, and jealousy churning together.
Madeline frowned and cut her off. “That’s enough. Theo, don’t worry. When your mother gets here, Grandma will make sure
she hears about this.”
Theo pushed up his sleeve, revealing faint bruises on his delicate arm.
“That bad kid bullies me at school, too. He hit me first, but when the teacher came, he pretended I pushed him. Everyone blamed me and made me apologize.”
Though the bruises weren’t severe, his tender skin made them look worse than they were.
Madeline’s heart ached at the sight, her eyes brimming with tears. She raised her voice, trembling with fury.
“Outrageous! Tomorrow, I’m going with you to that kindergarten. I’ll make sure that little brat learns a lesson-”
She was cut off by a servant rushing in.
“Madam, Mr. Carter and his wife have just arrived.”
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Chapter 88
Just as she stepped into the living room, Sharon unexpectedly caught sight of Theo.
Theo turned his head sharply away the moment her gaze met his, letting out a loud “hmph,” his delicate little face set in a frosty
scowl.
Everything about him said: I’m not going to talk to you-better start begging for my attention.
Sharon’s eyes shifted calmly away.
Madeline slammed her hand on the table. The teacups and pot on it clattered sharply, the porcelain ringing in protest.
Her face was cold and unyielding. “Sharon, do you know what you’ve done wrong?”
Sharon furrowed her brows but said nothing.
Back then, she used to see the Biggs family through rose-colored glasses. She even believed Madeline’s constant belittling. Over time, she began to doubt herself-began to think she truly wasn’t good enough for them.
She used to see Madeline as someone far above her, elegant and untouchable.
Now that the illusion had shattered, the woman who once seemed so noble and refined looked… rather ordinary.
Carter glanced at Sharon, then spoke, “Mom, what’s going on?”
“You should be asking your wonderful wife!” Madeline exploded, yanking up Theo’s sleeve to reveal the bruises underneath.” This wife of yours incited another child to bully her own son! What kind of mother does that?!
“Carter, let me make this perfectly clear-if Sharon doesn’t earn Theo’s forgiveness, she can forget about ever stepping foot in this house again!”
With his grandmother behind him, Theo’s little face lifted with pride. Mom always feared Grandma most-always did what she
said.
Soon, when Mom came to apologize, he’d be sure not to forgive her so easily. Right-and she’d have to apologize to Kelly, too.
Carter stared at the bruises on Theo’s arm, his brow deeply furrowed. “What actually happened?”
Denise, standing nearby, answered, “Carter, Theo said there’s a boy at kindergarten named Matty who bullies him every day. The bruises on his arm are all from that boy. And…”
She cast a hesitant glance at Sharon, then lowered her voice. “Theo says Sharon never comes home anymore, never takes care of him. Instead, she’s out making money by babysitting someone else’s kid.”
Madeline’s voice thundered again, louder this time. “Are we starving you? Are we not giving you enough to live on? And yet you abandon your own child just to make money? You’ve completely disgraced the Biggs family!”
But just as everyone expected Sharon to lower her head like always, she opened her mouth.
“I earn my money through my own efforts. That’s not shameful. When I wasn’t working, you called me a housewife living off a man. Now that I’m working, you say I’m disgracing the family. So which is it—should I work, or stay at home?”
Madeline froze for a second. Her first reaction wasn’t reflection. It was outrage.
“You dare talk back?!”
Sharon said flatly, “Madeline, not everything you don’t want to hear counts as talking back.”
Madeline’s fury only deepened. “Sharon, how dare you make excuses?!”
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At that, Sharon stopped respоnumь
Carter looked at Theo. “Theo, is what you said true?”
Theo looked utterly wronged. He gave a heavy nod and handed over his phone. “These photos-this is proof.”
After looking through them, Carter turned to Sharon. “What do you have to say?”
Sharon stood quietly to the side, her face devoid of emotion.
Madeline snapped, “Sharon, are you mute now?”
Sharon replied, “If everything I say is considered talking back or making excuses, I might as well be.”
Madeline’s whole body trembled with rage. “You-!”
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Chapter 89
Carter frowned, cutting off the conversation. “Sharon, take a look at these photos first.”
Sharon lowered her gaze, flipping through them. “Yes. I made these for Matty.”
“Then what about him bullying Theo?”
Her brows shifted slightly. “These photos don’t have much to do with whether or not Matty bullied Theo.”
Carter caught the undertone in her voice-an unmistakable slant-and his expression turned cold.
“What are you saying? You think Theo is lying?”
“I’m saying, if we want to know who’s lying, we’ll need to look into it first.”
Her words were perfectly reasonable, but Carter had never liked Matty or his father. Sharon’s insistence on fairness didn’t sit well with him.
“Don’t tell me you don’t even believe your own son.”
“I never said that.”
His voice chilled further. “But you don’t believe him either, do you?”
Calmly, Sharon replied, “Theo is still young. He hasn’t developed a clear sense of judgment yet. We shouldn’t take the word of a child as absolute truth.”
Carter’s stare grew sharper, his tone clipped and heavy. “He’s not just any child-he’s your son.”
Sharon let out a quiet laugh. “And you’re my husband. Have you ever believed me?”
That caught him off guard. He opened his mouth, ready to say something, but she continued in a flat tone, “I’m not saying I don’t believe him. I just want to investigate before drawing any conclusions. Besides, when Kelly fell down the stairs, it was Theo who swore I pushed her.
“And what happened in the end? The truth was plain for everyone to see. Is it really so wrong for me to question his version of events?”
Carter couldn’t respond.
Even Theo, who had been full of righteous indignation moments earlier, lost a bit of his steam.
But Madeline had no interest in the details. Her tone brooked no argument. 1
“Sharon, I don’t care if you want to work or make money. Right now, I want you to quit that job! I hear that bastard-”
“Madeline,” Sharon cut in, her voice cool and even. “Matty is not some bastard. Please watch your words.”
Madeline clutched her forehead in frustration, rubbing her temples, too angry to speak.
Sharon turned toward Carter. “Can we talk about everything else after you release my friend?”
དེ རྗ ཧ ཚༀ ཝཿཅ
He still looked displeased, but when he noticed his mother’s condition worsening-her old symptoms creeping in-he took a bottle of pills from his pocket and handed it to her.
“Mom, Sharon brought this medicine for you. Is it the kind you usually take?”
But Madeline only saw red. She hadn’t forgotten how Sharon had refused to deliver her medicine before, leaving her with days of splitting headaches.
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Chapter 89
She snatched the bottle-and hurled it in Sharon’s direction.
Her hand clutched her forehead while the other pointed furiously at Sharon. “You think you can use medicine to control me? You’ve got the wrong idea! Let me tell you-this isn’t over. You’re not walking away from this today!”
The bottle exploded at Sharon’s feet. Shards of glass scattered everywhere. One fragment grazed her cheek, slicing the skin. A thin trail of blood began to drip down.
Pills rolled across the floor in every direction.
The room fell into a strange, tense silence. No one said a word.
Then, in a near-whisper, Denise spoke. “Mom… I think Sharon is hurt.”
Madeline actually laughed at that. “Guess the universe was watching. That’s karma for her-thinking she could puppet me with a handful of pills.”
212
Chapter 90
Carter’s eyes went dark the second he saw Sharon’s injuries.
His voice dropped, low and tense. “Mom, that’s enough.”
But Madeline only grew more enraged. “Carter, at a time like this, you’re still taking her side? It’s bad enough she threatened me
-now Theo is being bullied because of her! Isn’t her role supposed to be taking care of her husband and raising her kid? And now, she’s failed at everything. What’s the point of keeping her around?”
Sensing the tension thickening in the room, Denise quickly stepped in, trying to smooth things over like a peacemaker. “Well… Sharon, don’t blame Mom for being upset. This has to do with Theo. Whatever happens between us adults doesn’t matter as much, but we can’t let the child be wronged, right?”
She shot Madeline a subtle look. “Mom, take it easy. Theo’s right here. Let’s not scare the kid. Just have Sharon apologize and be done with it. Right now, handling Theo’s matter is what’s important.”
Though still fuming, Madeline managed to force herself to calm down-for Theo’s sake, and perhaps even for Carter’s. But her tone remained hard as stone.
“Fine. Since Denise spoke up for you, just apologize and we’ll call it a day.” 1
Sharon dabbed at the blood trailing down her cheek, the delayed sting finally registering.
She lifted her eyes and looked straight at Madeline’s self-righteous expression. A smile slowly spread across her lips.
“No wonder Carter’s always demanding apologies from everyone-turns out it runs in the family.”
If it were any other day, Sharon would’ve worn a grateful expression and said whatever was needed. But not today. Instead, she answered with mockery. 2
Madeline’s just-cooled fury instantly reignited, flaring up like dry leaves catching flame. She had already swallowed her pride for the sake of the child, and yet Sharon had the nerve to spit on her goodwill?
“You insolent girl! Speaking to me like that? Kneel! Right now!”
Sharon’s eyes turned cold.
“I’ll kneel to God and my parents-that’s it. You? What have you ever done for me? Didn’t birth me, didn’t raise me, not even for a day. So why the hell should I bow to ‘the great Madame Biggs’? Your name means less to me than loose change. You get off on making people kneel-what, you think you’re some kind of royalty? News flash: this ain’t your fairy tale. If you want to play queen, go take a nap and dream about it. Maybe in your sleep you can be Empress of Whatever-the-Hell.”
Madeline’s chest heaved violently. Her finger trembled as she pointed at Sharon, lips quivering, but no words came out.
Seeing his own mother nearly faint from rage, Carter’s eyes darkened as they fixed on Sharon.
“Sharon,” he said coldly, “show some respect.”
Sharon’s expression didn’t change. “Respect goes both ways. I treat others how they treat me.”
Madeline clenched her teeth, voice shaking with fury. “Fine, Sharon. You come here to show off your power, huh? Come! Someone get in here. Bring out the goddamn punishment ledger!”
ཨོཾ་ཤྲཱ་ཏེ་ཛིན་ངོ་ཝེའི་ཙ་
Two maids immediately stepped forward, faces grim.
Everyone at the Biggs family estate knew Madeline didn’t like Sharon. And when it came to power, Madeline reigned like an absolute monarch. No one dared defy her. As for Sharon-her time of comfort in this house was clearly over.
Carter’s expression shifted, as if about to intervene, but just then, Sharon stepped back and raised her voice.
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“Anyone who lays a hand on me, I’ll sue for assault. Don’t think I won’t.”
Her gaze swept over the room, pausing on Madeline’s face-flat and emotionless, but sharp as ice. When she spoke again, her lips curled. 1
“Seriously? What is this-the 1800s? You still trying to enforce your little ‘house rules’ on me? Still playing vigilante judge and jury? I played along briefly, but did you actually mistake that for deference? News flash, you’re not a sovereign. You’re just a woman with a very inflated ego!”
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Chapter 91
“You-!” Madeline’s face drained of color, her voice sharp with fury.
Her lips parted as if to speak, but before the words could form, her eyes rolled back. She collapsed.
“Mom!” Denise cried out, running to her side in a panic. “Mom, are you okay?”
“Call an ambulance-hurry! Madam’s passed out!”
The room exploded into chaos.
Sharon stood still, watching the scene for a moment. Then she turned and walked away without a word.
That afternoon, Sharon received a call from Carter.
“My mother’s awake,” he said. “She’s stable now. Nothing serious.”
“Then,” Sharon replied evenly, “Mr. Biggs, can you release my friend?”
“You made my mother faint and caused her to be hospitalized, and you’re still asking me to let your friend go?”
Sharon’s voice didn’t waver. “You saw everything that happened. I didn’t say anything out of line.”
There was silence on the other end.
Even if he wanted to side with his mother, Carter couldn’t ignore what had happened. The way Madeline had spoken to Sharon- the accusations, the contempt-none of it could be justified.
This whole mess had started when Sharon gave Madeline the medicine.
Instead of showing a shred of gratitude, Madeline had flown into a rage.
And Denise? She hadn’t been surprised at all. In fact, she looked like she’d seen it a hundred times before.
Was this how his mother usually treated Sharon?
Still caught in hesitation, Carter was jolted back when the call ended abruptly. 1
He stared at his phone, the screen gone dark, and his eyes darkened with it.
The next day, in Carter’s office.
“Did you let Wendy go?” Julliard asked.
Before Carter could answer, Julliard’s phone rang.
He picked up, listened for a moment, and his expression changed.
“What did you say? Sharon found Wendy?” His tone turned cold. “Where is she now…? Got it.”
He ended the call and looked back at Carter, face tense.
“Carter, Sharon found Wendy. They’re at the hospital.”
In the hospital, Wendy sat with a face swollen and bruised, quietly receiving treatment.
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་་་ཅ་་་
SUC San M
people who kidnapped me after that-it wasn’t him.”
It was the day after she’d confronted Kelly that Carter’s men found her and detained her.
They didn’t hurt her. Just locked her up.
2
Later, Simon came to see her, trying to convince her to apologize. He said Carter was letting her off easy for Sharon’s sake. If she kept being stubborn, things would only get worse-for everyone.
So she apologized. What was the big deal? It wasn’t going to kill her. Better to bend a little than make trouble for Sharon.
Once she apologized, Kelly-of course-pretended to forgive her in front of Carter.
But not long after she was released, Wendy was kidnapped again.
And this time, it was brutal.
They beat her until her face was unrecognizable. Fortunately, no bones were broken-it was all superficial.
While the doctor dabbed ointment onto her injuries, Wendy winced and sucked in her breath sharply.
Sharon watched Wendy’s bruised face.
“But Carter was involved,” she said softly. “Wasn’t he?”
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Chapter 92
Sensing the shift in Sharon’s tone, Wendy lowered her voice.
“Sharon, no matter how you look at it, Kelly tried to take her own life because of what I said. Even if I’m your friend, it’s not unreasonable for him to come looking for an explanation.”
Wendy was usually the one to flare up at the smallest spark. But today, she was surprisingly calm.
“She gambled with her life and ended up in the emergency room, going through all that pain. And me? All I had to do was offer a half-hearted apology. Honestly, I got off easy-if anything, I came out ahead.”
She paused before adding, “Don’t blame Carter. If it weren’t for your sake, there’s no way this would’ve ended so cleanly.”
Sharon knew Wendy was right. But still, there was a heaviness lodged in her chest that wouldn’t budge.
She glanced at the bruises on Wendy’s face. “But… your injuries-”
“They weren’t from Carter. Every debt has its debtor. This one’s not his to carry.”
Wendy looked at her, gaze steady and serious.
“Sharon, maybe this was Kelly’s goal all along. Don’t fall for it.”
Sharon didn’t reply.
Just then, there was a soft knock at the door.
Kelly stepped in.
“Carter just told me he saw you both downstairs… I heard Wendy was hurt, so I came to check in.”
The sight of Kelly made the distaste on Wendy’s face impossible to hide.
“Fox coming to offer New Year’s greetings to the hen,” she muttered.
Kelly didn’t seem to mind the jab. She smiled at Sharon.
“Congratulations, Sharon. You finally found Wendy.”
Sharon looked at her calmly. “Was it you, Kelly, who kidnapped Wendy?”
Kelly tilted her head, confusion written across her face. “Sharon, I’m not sure what you mean…”
It was clear-she was going to play dumb to the end.
Sharon gave a cold smile and stepped forward. “If you don’t want to admit it, that’s fine. I’ve already reported it to the police. Whether it was you or not, an investigation will make it clear.”
Sharon had no power, no influence. Rescuing Wendy hadn’t been easy. So she’d taken the simplest route-called the police. It was the authorities who had ultimately gotten Wendy out.
She looked Kelly straight in the eye and said, slowly and clearly, “It’s actually perfect you came. If you hadn’t, I was just about to go looking for you.”
Kelly didn’t even blink. She merely smiled.
“Carter won’t allow it.”
At that moment, another knock came from the door. Two uniformed police officers stepped inside. They approached Kelly directly.
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Chapter 92
“Excuse me, are you Kelly Walt?”
She nodded lightly. “I am.”
“You’ve been reported as a suspect in a kidnapping case. Please come with us.”
“I didn’t do anything,” she said, shaking her head. “There must be some mistake.”
“That’ll be determined after the investigation. We’ll need your cooperation.”
Just as the officers moved to take her, Kelly suddenly let out a sharp, piercing scream.
“Aah!”
The shriek startled everyone in the room, even the officers.
Her expression twisted into panic, her pupils flashing with a wild, erratic glint. She started shouting, unhinged.
“I didn’t do it! I didn’t! Stay away from me! It wasn’t me! I swear it wasn’t me!”
The change in her was so jarring, so abrupt, it left the room frozen.
Kelly clutched Sharon’s hand in a desperate grip.
“Sharon, I really didn’t do it… Please, I’m begging you… Please let me go, okay?”
Her long, sharp nails dug into Sharon’s skin, sharp enough to draw blood. The sudden sting made Sharon instinctively yank her hand away.
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Chapter 93
Not sure if Sharon had pushed too hard, but Kelly suddenly collapsed to the floor.
Right then, as if on cue, the door swung open. It was Carter. His eyes darkened as he spotted Kelly on the ground. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and helped her up.
“Kelly, are you alright?”
Still caught in her breakdown, Kelly stared up at his familiar face. For a second, the haze in her eyes seemed to lift. Then she threw herself into Carter’s arms and broke down sobbing.
“Carter, it was terrifying! They were going to lock me in a dark room! Please save me–I don’t want to go into that dark room!”
Carter frowned slightly, his voice low and steady. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here. No one’s going to take you anywhere.”
Something sharp lodged itself in Sharon’s chest. A stabbing pain, sudden and cold.
Tears blurred Kelly’s eyes as she looked up at him. “Carter, will you really protect me?”
“I will.”
His words, soft and certain, seemed to calm her.
Timidly, she said, “Carter, I don’t want to stay here.”
“Okay.”
Watching Carter prepare to take Kelly away, Wendy couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Carter, are you really going to cuddle up to another woman right in front of your wife?”
Only then did Carter seem to notice the others in the room.
His eyes landed on Sharon, who stood silently nearby. His gaze dimmed slightly.
The police, still rattled from Kelly’s earlier outburst, finally came to.
“Kelly is suspected of kidnapping. We’ll need her to come with us for further investigation.”
Carter turned away, his voice cool. “As you can see, her mental state is unstable. She’s not in any condition to cooperate.”
The officers exchanged uneasy looks. Mentally unwell suspects like her were always the most complicated.
Just then, Simon walked in holding a stack of documents.
“Kelly is still receiving treatment at the hospital. She’s been diagnosed with severe depression. This is her psychiatric
evaluation.”
A suspect like Kelly-undiagnosed in court, mentally unstable, and still hospitalized-couldn’t be taken by force.
The officers glanced at each other, then said, “In that case, her legal guardian will need to come with us to give a statement.”
Carter looked at Simon. “Take Kelly back to her room.”
“No, Carter, don’t go!” Kelly suddenly clung to his arm, her face full of panic. “I’m scared. Please don’t leave me.”
Sharon watched in silence, lips twitching faintly. Her gaze lingered on Kelly’s terrified expression as she leaned into Carter’s chest.
Perhaps mindful of Sharon’s presence, Carter gently eased Kelly off him.
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“Go rest. I’ll come see you later.”
“No! I won’t!” Kelly’s voice spiked, her emotions flaring without warning. Her pupils widened with fear. “Carter, don’t go. The dark room is so scary. They use whips. It hurts so much… Please don’t go, I’m begging you!”
“I’ll be fine.”
Color drained from Kelly’s face. Tears streamed down, one after another, as she clung tightly to Carter, refusing to let go.
“Carter, if someone has to go, let it be me. Don’t go, please-it’s too dangerous…”
With that, she rushed to the police.
“Take me instead. Carter’s innocent! This has nothing to do with him. Don’t make things difficult for him!”
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Chapter 94
It was useless to reason with a lunatic. The police knew that. They didn’t waste time arguing with someone clearly unwell.
“Mr. Biggs, we’ll be leaving now,” one of the officers said. “Please come by when you have time to give a statement.”
Not bothering to linger a second longer, the officers made their way out of the hospital room.
Sharon didn’t spare the couple another glance. She followed the officers, ready to leave as well.
But just as she passed Carter, his hand suddenly reached out and caught her wrist.
“Where are you going?”
She looked at him, her expression colder than he had ever seen.
“I called the police,” she said quietly. “As someone directly involved, I should cooperate with the investigation.”
A shadow passed through Carter’s dark eyes. He looked like he wanted to say something, but with others still in the room, he stayed silent.
Then he turned to Simon. “What are you standing around for? Take her.”
Simon didn’t dare hesitate again. He stepped forward and, ignoring Kelly’s frantic sobs, forcefully led her away.
Wendy watched the scene unfold, then curled her lip and left as well.
Carter had only asked her to apologize to Kelly-not much trouble, and she’d thought maybe he was finally thinking clearly. She’d even said a few kind words on his behalf. And now, just minutes later, this farce had played out right in front of Sharon.
Soon, everyone was gone. Only Sharon and Carter remained.
She said nothing.
Her silence wasn’t the quiet before a storm-it was a silence with no intention behind it, like an unspoken refusal to engage.
Carter stared at her. The cool, detached look on her face felt both familiar and distant, as if it belonged to someone he used to know but hadn’t seen in a very long time.
He was the first to speak. “How did you find Wendy?”
Sharon looked at him, a faint smile playing on her lips, though it never reached her eyes.
“Even someone as powerful and influential as Julliard couldn’t track her down. I’m just a powerless housewife. Without a little divine guidance from a snitch, how could I possibly know where she was?”
“When did you find out?”
She gazed at him, her voice soft. “If I said it was Kelly who told me, would you believe me?”
Carter’s brow furrowed. “Kelly told you?”
“What, you don’t believe me?”
His deep eyes flickered with something unreadable.
“She wouldn’t tell you that.”
“Are you saying I’m lying? That I’m trying to frame her?”
A beat of silence fell between them. Then, Carter said, “Maybe you misunderstood something.’
”
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“Misunderstood?” Sharon’s eyes sharpened like a blade reflecting light. “Why would I misunderstand her, and not someone
else?”
Time passed-whether minutes or seconds, it was hard to tell. Finally, Carter’s voice came low and even, like the hush of a
mountain stream.
“My mother had her kidnapped, trying to break us up. Since then, Kelly has suffered from severe claustrophobia. I can’t just leave her like that. There’s nothing romantic between us.”
Sharon let out a short laugh. “If I’m not wrong, those nights you’ve been slipping out late… it’s to be with her, isn’t it?” 1
Thinking back to how Kelly had clung to him, her voice grew edged.
“You say there’s nothing between you two. Do you think I’d believe that?”
Her biting tone erased what little warmth remained in Carter’s face.
“Are you interrogating me, Sharon?”
Her fists clenched, almost without her realizing it.
Carter’s eyes dropped for a second-he had noticed the scabbed-over injury on her cheek. His expression softened slightly.
“Do you have any actual proof that Wendy was kidnapped by her?”
Without a word, Sharon took out her phone, opened her messages, and held it out to him.
“She sent me these. All of them.”
Carter took the phone. His fingers moved slowly as he scrolled through the messages.
In a short while, he finished reading.
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Chapter 95
Carter looked at Sharon, his eyes deep and still as a midnight pond.
“Sharon, that phone number doesn’t belong to Kelly. And the person who sent those texts never claimed to be her. You can’t prove they came from her.”
Sharon answered calmly, “But who else besides Kelly would know you were the one who took Wendy? She asked to meet me at a café the day after Wendy went missing. She mentioned she knew Wendy’s whereabouts clearly in the texts. What-do you think Kelly and I are such good friends we’d just meet for coffee like that?”
Gazing down at her, Carter asked, “Are you sure Kelly really met you?”
Sharon nodded. “I’m sure.”
“Alright. I’ll have someone look into it right now.”
Once the investigation concluded, Carter brought Sharon to Kelly’s hospital room.
By then, Kelly had calmed down a bit. When Carter questioned her, she looked surprised. “Wasn’t it Sharon who asked to meet me at the café?”
Sharon froze. “I asked you?”
“Yes,” Kelly said, blinking. “You sent me a message asking to meet. You even said you chose a café downtown so I wouldn’t feel unsafe.”
She handed her phone, which had been sitting on the bedside table, to Carter. “The message you sent is still in here.”
Sharon stepped closer to look.
Sure enough, the text Kelly had received matched the ones Sharon had. The number was the same.
A quiet unease began to settle in Sharon’s chest.
Even though she had assumed the messages were from Kelly-and she had, in fact, met Kelly at the café-what Carter said earlier was true: the number didn’t belong to her.
There was no concrete evidence linking those texts directly to Kelly.
Still, one thing was undeniable-Kelly had shown up.
Carter had confirmed that too.
Just as Sharon was trying to sort out the implications, Nate, who had been sitting silently nearby, stood up. The truth, it seemed, could no longer be contained.
“I sent the messages,” he admitted. “It had nothing to do with Kelly.”
Kelly turned toward him, stunned. “Nate… why would you do that?”
“I just couldn’t stand watching Sharon anymore,” Nate said, bitterness in his voice. “I wanted to teach her a lesson. She’s been bullying Kelly ever since Kelly got back-pushing her into the water, sending her to the hospital. Then her friend comes to the hospital to humiliate Kelly, and Kelly ends up trying to take her own life and lands in the emergency room…
“That friend of hers just says sorry and walks away like nothing happened. And Kelly has to suffer all this? How is that fair?”
Nate’s voice was sharp now. “If Carter won’t punish the person who hurt Kelly, then I will. You all know the truth now. Do
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whatever you want with me.”
Kelly burst into tears.
“Carter, I know what Nate did was wrong. But he’s been taking care of me day and night while I’ve been sick. Can you give him a chance? And Wendy-she’s fine now, right? Can’t you ask Sharon to drop the case? Nate’s the only one by my side right now. If he goes to jail… what am I going to do?”
Kelly looked up at Carter with tear-filled eyes, her already delicate frame now seeming even more fragile, pitiful in a way that begged not to be turned away.
Carter’s eyes darkened. He turned to Sharon.
“What do
you think?”
Sharon stared back at him. “You’re not seriously asking me to let the person who hurt my friend walk free, are you?”
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Chapter 96
These people had bullied her enough already. Now, to set their sights on her friend too-that was crossing a line.
Nate acted so brazenly because he thought that even if he hurt Wendy, Carter wouldn’t do anything about it.
Sharon could take a lot of things-put up with unfairness herself-but she would never let her friends suffer that way for her.
Besides, how could this possibly have nothing to do with Kelly?
Carter looked at her steadily. “But Kelly can’t be left without care right now.”
At once, Sharon’s eyes turned cold.
On the surface, this was a conflict only between Wendy and Nate. But behind it, what it really represented was the divide between Sharon and Kelly.
And clearly, Carter had chosen Kelly over her.
Sharon opened her mouth to say something, but Carter beat her to it, taking her hand gently. “Sharon, let’s step outside and talk.”
After they left, the anger on Nate’s face faded, replaced by doubt and uncertainty. “Kelly, Carter won’t really send me to prison, will he?” 1
“Of course not.” Kelly smiled faintly, her confidence unmistakable. “Don’t worry, Carter won’t do anything to you.”
Hearing that, Nate relaxed. He chuckled. “The more Sharon keeps dragging this up, the more it’ll just annoy Carter.”
Kelly nodded. “You haven’t done anything to Sharon. Those little things don’t matter to Carter. Besides, the one who got hurt was Wendy. To Carter, Wendy’s just someone unimportant.”
In the hallway, Sharon and Carter stood facing each other.
“Sharon, I don’t want this to keep escalating.” 1
Though she already understood Carter’s stance, Sharon felt a flicker of anger rise inside at his words.
He continued, “My work keeps me busy, and Kelly needs someone to care for her. If we take Nate away, it’ll be a blow to Kelly.”
“And what does that have to do with me?”
Carter’s tone remained flat. “You can keep pursuing this, but have you thought about what you’ll really gain by putting Nate in jail? Other than a bit of satisfaction?”
Sharon understood now.
Even if Wendy had been seriously hurt-though she hadn’t-Carter wouldn’t hold Nate responsible.
Because, to him, Wendy simply wasn’t worth it..
She stared into his eyes. “And what if I insist on holding Nate accountable?”
Carter’s expression didn’t change. Calm as always, his words were colder than ice.
“Sharon, you won’t have the evidence.”
A mocking smile curled on Sharon’s lips. “Carter, it’s best not to be too confident.”
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She shook the phone in her hand. “Nate admitted it all himself. I recorded every word. Doesn’t that count as evidence?”
Carter lowered his gaze, meeting the sharp irony in her eyes, and something strange stirred in him.
If before, her coldness toward him and Theo could be taken as a game of push and pull. But now, she showed no tolerance at all toward his mother either.
Could it be… she really wanted a divorce?
But the thought barely flickered before he pushed it aside.
Theo was a big boy now. Why would Sharon want a divorce?
Sharon noticed the way Carter kept staring at her, silent.
She raised an eyebrow.
“What’s the matter, Mr. Biggs? Planning to grab my phone and destroy the evidence?”
Carter’s pupils shifted as he came back to himself.
“And if I say yes?”
Sharon smiled. “Since I’m saying it out loud, I’m not afraid of you trying. Even if it disappears from my phone, there’s still plenty backed up in the cloud.”
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Chapter 97
Carter chuckled. “You’re sharper than I gave you credit for.”
“When dealing with people like you and Kelly,” Sharon replied, her voice calm but edged, “if I’m not careful, I might not even know how I end up dead.”
He didn’t know why, but in that moment, the wife he used to think of as bland as tap water-colorless, tasteless-suddenly intrigued him.
“Sharon, if this is your way of getting my attention, I’ll tell you now-you’ve succeeded.”
She couldn’t help it. A small, dry laugh slipped out.
If narcissism had rankings, Carter would be SSS-with a plus.
Of course, he didn’t actually make a move to take her phone.
And Sharon wasn’t foolish enough to let him.
He’d tried to suppress her before-stopping that press conference-and she’d only made a bigger scene. It was clear now: she wasn’t as easy to control as he’d once thought.
“Sharon,” Carter said, his tone measured, “whether or not this gets pursued-that’s not up to you.”
She froze. But quickly, she understood the implication in his words.
Anger surged in her eyes. “Carter, are you threatening my friend again?!”
He shot her a glance. “I’ll offer your friend a satisfactory compensation.”
She blinked.
Compensation?
She knew Wendy well. Wendy would never compromise with Carter over something like money.
But this time, because of Sharon’s own impulsiveness, Kelly had attempted suicide.
Wendy felt deeply guilty for dragging others into it. She was the type who would rather endure hardship herself than create trouble for the people she cared about. And she was smart enough to know that if she clashed with Carter head-on, she’d be the
one to suffer.
There was a real chance… Wendy would accept the offer.
Sure enough, when Sharon found her again, Wendy was already with Simon, having signed the settlement agreement.
Sharon looked at her apologetically. “Wendy, I’m sorry.”
Wendy grinned. “What’s there to be sorry about? I got a big apartment downtown out of it. It’ll appreciate like crazy. If it were just me, I’d never be able to afford something like that.”
She patted Sharon on the shoulder and lowered her voice.
“Sharon, I know you’re worried I’m compromising, but… you’re about to divorce Carter. You’ll need a place to stay. If he tries to mess with you later, this apartment is legally mine. He can’t touch it. It might just be your safety net. Think about it. Kelly’s been playing this crazy act from the start. This whole thing-she clearly put Nate up to it. If Nate ends up in jail, she’ll just have another excuse to cling tighter to Carter.”
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Wendy paused, then scoffed.
“You saw the way she ‘relapsed’ today? That switch flipped fast. There’s no way her mental state’s actually unstable.”
After confirming Wendy’s injuries weren’t serious, the two of them left the hospital together.
As they stepped out the front doors, Sharon caught sight of a familiar figure.
“Hey, isn’t that Julliard?” Wendy asked. She’d known him for years too. “What’s he doing here?”
Before she could finish the thought, Julliard looked up-right at them.
He walked over, stopping in front of Sharon. “Sharon, I need a word with you.”
Up until recently, Sharon had thought highly of Julliard. She had trusted him. But that was before she found out he’d lied to her about what happened to Wendy. And just like that, the trust unraveled.
He was Carter’s friend, after all. His loyalty was always going to lie with Carter. There was no way he’d betray Carter for her.
Sharon’s tone was distant. “Julliard, I’m busy right now. I don’t have time.”
She took Wendy’s hand, planning to walk right around him.
But Julliard stepped into her path. “Just one minute.”
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“You have your position, and I understand that. I’m not blaming you,” Sharon said quietly, her expression calm. “Julliard, I have something else to do. Goodbye.”
“Sharon-”
Julliard tried to speak, but she didn’t give him the chance. Without a word, she turned and walked away, pulling Wendy along
with her.
Wendy glanced at Sharon, then back at Julliard, left behind in silence.
“Sharon, did he come here just for you?” she asked, unable to hide the curiosity. “When did you and Julliard get that close?”
Sharon said, “When I found out you were taken by Carter, I went to the hospital to confront Carter. I ran into Julliard there. After I told him why I came, he said he could help track you down.”
She paused, something cold and fluid flashing through her eyes.
“Turns out… he was waiting for me on purpose.”
Wendy frowned. “On purpose?”
Sharon went on to explain everything that had happened-how the meeting had played out, what was said, and what wasn’t. “It was probably Carter’s idea.”
Wendy’s eyes narrowed as she listened. “Sharon, I think you might be misunderstanding Julliard.”
“Misunderstanding?”
“Think about it. Even if you’d found Carter, and even if he denied everything, you couldn’t have done anything to him. So why bother setting up this whole thing and have Julliard wait there for you? And maybe… Julliard really didn’t find where I was being
held.”
She looked Sharon in the eye, voice steady.
“Or maybe he did, but couldn’t get me out, so he didn’t say anything yet. I mean, doesn’t it seem strange? Why would Carter suddenly go soft-let me go just like that after I apologized to Kelly? My guess is, Julliard must’ve said something to him behind the scenes. Maybe that’s what made Carter stop short of going too far. Sharon, I really think you should talk to him. If I really got out that easily because of his help, it’d be unfair to hold this kind of grudge.”
Sharon hesitated.
Wendy had a point.
Just because Julliard hadn’t explained everything didn’t mean he hadn’t tried.
She’d made assumptions. Because of Carter, she’d projected that mistrust onto Julliard too.
“You’re right,” Sharon said. “If I get the chance, I’ll talk to him.”
Wendy was just about to ask if Sharon wanted to go see the new apartment together when Sharon’s phone suddenly rang.
“Hello? Is this Theo Biggs’s mother? Your child had a disagreement with another kid at kindergarten. Could you come in for a moment?”
Sharon blinked, caught off guard for a moment.
Theo’s mother.
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Ever since she had a child, it was like she no longer had a name of her own.
She was either Theo’s mother-or Mrs. Biggs.
“I’m sorry,” Sharon said lightly. “You’ve got the wrong number.”
There was a pause on the other end. “Wrong number? Aren’t you Theo’s mom?”
“No. I’m just the Biggs family’s nanny.’
Before the teacher could respond, Sharon ended the call.
But before she could put the phone down, it rang again.
“Hello, are you Matty Cooper’s guardian? Something’s happened. Could you come in?”
Sharon’s brow furrowed slightly. “What happened to Matty?”
“He got into a fight with another student. He’s injured… please come as soon as you can.”
Her expression shifted. “I’ll be right there.”
After hanging up, she gave Wendy a quick explanation and rushed toward the kindergarten.
The kindergarten was a long way off. By the time Sharon arrived, forty minutes had already passed.
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Chapter 99
Just as Sharon reached the kindergarten’s office door, she caught voices from inside.
“This boy keeps bullying Theo. Just look at the bruises-he hit him again today. Carter, we can’t let this slide. When the other kid’s parent gets here, they’d better give us an explanation.”
A low, cool male voice responded, “Mm.”
Sharon paused only for a second before knocking and pushing open the door.
“Sorry I’m late.”
As soon as she stepped in, Theo’s childish voice rang out, sharp with anger, “What are you doing here?!”
Sharon’s eyes flicked toward Theo, who was nestled protectively in Kelly’s arms.
Theo lifted his chin when their eyes met, a flash of arrogant satisfaction crossing his face.
“You’re just our nanny. You shouldn’t have come here!”
Theo was clearly furious. He’d gotten into trouble, the teacher had called her, and she had the nerve to deny she was his mother. Hmph. Just like Kelly had said-Mom was only playing games to get attention, from him and from Dad. She claimed she didn’t care, but here she was, showing up anyway.
Kelly turned to Sharon with an expression of surprise, as if she were an intruder who had barged in uninvited.
“Sharon, what are you doing here?”
Then, as if realizing she’d said too much, she quickly covered her mouth.
“Sharon, I didn’t mean anything by that. It’s just… I heard the teacher called you and you refused to come, even said you weren’t Theo’s mother… I was worried Theo would be treated unfairly, so I came to check on him. Please, don’t misunderstand. I have no intention of taking Theo away from you.”
The teachers, the director, even the principal in the room turned to look at Sharon with a mix of surprise and discomfort.
“So… she’s Theo’s actual mother? There was that parent-child event the other day-she didn’t come either. This woman did instead… No matter how busy you are, you should still make time for your kid.”
“Exactly. And claiming she isn’t his mother? That’s going a bit too far.”
A few of the teachers whispered among themselves.
This was a private, elite kindergarten. Its staff were carefully chosen-not just highly educated, but also sincerely devoted to children. Even if the people in front of them were powerful and not to be offended, the school’s own backing wasn’t insignificant either. Within reason, the teachers had the right to speak up equally to parents.
Standing off to the side, Carter’s expression darkened.
“Sharon, you can play whatever games you want with me, I’ll tolerate it. But this involves Theo now.”
He stared at her, eyes steady. “I won’t let you use Theo as a bargaining chip.”
Kelly’s voice trembled as she wiped her eyes.
“Sharon, I know you hate me. You don’t want to see Theo getting close to me. But you’ve been gone for a while, and Carter’s been busy too. That’s the only reason I’ve been helping out. If you’re willing to come back, I promise-I’ll stay away from Theo, and I won’t show up in front of you again.”
Before Sharon could respond, Theo broke in, indignant. “No! She’s the one who doesn’t want me. She doesn’t want to be my
mom!”
He glared at Sharon. “If I have to choose between Kelly and Mom, I choose Kelly!”
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Instead of blaming Theo for his outburst, everyone turned sympathetic eyes toward him.
Their gazes shifted to Sharon-cooler now, more complicated.
Even your own son won’t choose you. That kind of rejection didn’t need to be spoken aloud-it was written in every look.
Clearly, this mother must’ve failed in more ways than one. Clearly, she hadn’t been good to the boy at all.
The teacher assigned specifically to Theo let out a quiet sigh.
“When Theo transferred to our class this semester, I thought…”
She glanced at Sharon, her voice faltering.
Though Theo had listed his mother’s contact number on his file, the woman herself had never once shown up.
The teacher’s eyes shifted to Kelly.
It had been Kelly who handled the enrollment paperwork. She’d attended the parent-child activity days. She’d even come to pick Theo up several times.
The teacher had assumed, naturally, that this was the boy’s mother.
Now, thinking back on Sharon’s indifference, her absence-she seemed exactly like the type of woman who married into wealth only to spend her days shopping, playing poker, and getting facials, too busy enjoying herself to spare a glance for her own child.
Sharon hadn’t said a word, but already the accusations were piling up, pressing in from every corner of the room.
From the side, a flicker of triumph passed through Kelly’s eyes.
Then, all at once, Matty’s voice broke the tension.
“Sharon… you came.”
Sharon lowered her gaze, her cool eyes softening when they landed on Matty, half-hidden behind the crowd.
She crouched down until she was eye-level with him and spoke gently, “Matty, are you okay?”
The moment Matty saw her, his eyes turned red.
“I’m okay, Sharon.” He dropped his head, like a child who knew he’d done something wrong. “I’m sorry. I… I hit Theo.”
He reached up and wiped the corner of his eye.
As he lifted his arm, his sleeve slipped down slightly, revealing several long, dried scratch marks on his forearm.
Sharon’s eyes darkened. Her hand shot out, gently but firmly gripping his arm.
“Matty, what happened to your arm?”
A flash of panic crossed Matty’s face. He instinctively pulled his arm behind his back, eyes darting.
“It’s nothing, Sharon… I just scratched myself by accident.”
Sharon’s expression turned serious. “Matty, let me see.”
He hesitated. But when he saw she wouldn’t back down, he finally stretched his arm out again.
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Sharon rolled up his sleeve.
His small arm was crisscrossed with old, crusted-over scratches-startling, angry marks that stood stark against his skin.
A collective gasp rippled through the teachers.
If Matty had been injured at the kindergarten, they would all be held accountable unless the cause was made clear.
After examining him carefully, Sharon asked quietly, “How did this happen?”
Matty couldn’t meet her eyes. “I… I hurt myself by accident.”
“Matty,” her voice was calm, but firm, “tell the truth.”
His lips moved, as if forming words, but then he lowered his head again.
Sharon’s tone softened. “Don’t you trust me, Matty?”
Her voice, low and steady, gave him something to hold on to. Slowly, he lifted his head.
He took a long breath, then turned his gaze toward Theo.
“Theo did it.”
The room fell into stunned silence.
Theo’s eyes flew wide. He turned red with rage. “That’s a lie! I didn’t do it! You hit me just now-everyone saw it! All the kids did!
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Matty didn’t deny it. Instead, he said, “That’s because you called me a bastard with no mommy. And you talked badly about Sharon.”
Theo snapped back, still fuming. “Sharon is my mommy. I can say whatever I want about her!”
Matty raised his voice, defending her. “She’s not some nanny. I won’t let you talk about her like that in front of me!”
“And what are you gonna do about it?” Theo shot back, eyes blazing. “No matter what I say about her, she’s still my mom. That’ll never change. But you…”
He glared at Matty with all the cruelty a child could muster. “You’ll always be a bastard with no mommy.”
“Theo.”
“Enough!”
Two voices rang out at once-Carter’s and Sharon’s.
They both instinctively turned toward each other, eyes meeting for just a second before looking away, each expression cold and unreadable.
Carter’s gaze was icy, sharp as glass.
“Where are your manners?”
Theo was the future heir of the Biggs family. Carter had always held him to a strict standard.
And Theo had always respected and feared his father.
He could throw tantrums at Sharon, but never dared to talk back to Carter.
But today, for the first time, he did.
“I didn’t say anything wrong!” Theo said, chin lifted defiantly, eyes wet with resentment as he stared at Sharon, who was now crouched beside Matty, her voice low and gentle.
His voice trembled with jealousy.
He pointed straight at Matty. “That bastard said his daddy is going to marry my mommy. He said my mommy’s going to become his mommy, and that she won’t be my mommy anymore. He said she won’t care about me.
“He said Mommy cooks for him every day, gives him baths, tells him stories, and tucks him in at night. He said that I’m the one without a mommy!
“These days, he keeps coming up to me, going on and on about how nice she is to him… and that even though I have a mommy, it’s no different than not having one at all…”
By the time he got to the end, Theo’s voice had taken on a choked, teary edge. He looked completely miserable.
Seeing this, Kelly quickly stepped in. “Carter, this isn’t entirely Theo’s fault. Sharon abandoned her own son and went to care for someone else’s…”
She trailed off, as if trying to hold herself back.
“Theo just wants his mother’s love. Is that so wrong? Isn’t the real issue that Sharon isn’t doing her job as a mother?”
As she spoke, her tone shifted, and she glanced toward Sharon with a subtle air of blame.
“Sharon, Theo is your son. Why are you taking care of someone else’s son instead?”
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Sharon looked at her, her expression unreadable. “You’re right. Theo is my son. Carter is my husband. So tell me, why are they supporting you instead of me?”
Theo didn’t catch the meaning behind her words. He yelled back, “That’s because you’re always bullying Kelly!”
Sharon turned to him. “So what you’re saying is, you and your father are fair and impartial, that you treat everyone equally?”
“Of course!”
Up until now, most people in the room had been quietly blaming Sharon, thinking she was an unfit mother. But after hearing this exchange between her and Theo, all eyes slowly shifted to Kelly, expressions shifting.
There was a lot hidden in those few sentences.
Whether or not Sharon had wronged Kelly, Theo had just told everyone-he and his father had taken sides with someone outside the family.
Kelly’s face stiffened. Just as she opened her mouth to respond, Sharon’s voice cut through the tension-calm, but laced with irony.
“Then I’m just like you. Since you’ve been bullying Matty, I’m being fair and impartial, too. What’s wrong with that?”
Theo froze.
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Theo stared at her in disbelief. “But… you haven’t even asked what happened yet!”
Sharon replied calmly, “You, too, have never asked what happened-you’d always just decide it’s my fault, remember?” She lowered her head, glancing gently at Matty. “Besides… I believe in Matty. He would never hit someone without a reason.”
She had been looking after Matty for a while now. He was a remarkably bright child, so considerate it tugged at her heart.
He wasn’t like Theo, who would leave right after dinner with a quick goodbye.
Matty stayed behind to help her clear the table and the dishes. During meals, he’d always offer her food first. No matter what she cooked, he praised it without fail, chewing happily with a face full of contentment.
Theo, on the other hand, only ever found things to complain about.
Just then, Matty’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts. “Sharon, I was wrong. No matter what Theo said, I shouldn’t have hit him … I’m willing to apologize.”
Sharon looked down at him. “Are you really willing to do that?”
Matty nodded. “I am.”
Her expression softened. “Alright. Then go ahead and apologize.”
Matty stepped up to Theo. “Theo, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hit you.”
Even though Theo came from a well-disciplined, prominent family, he was still a child-and one who had been provoked for
days.
He turned his face away with a sharp huff, clearly refusing to accept the apology.
Matty looked lost, unsure of what to do. He turned to Sharon instinctively.
She gave him a small wave and an encouraging smile. “Whether he forgives you or not is one thing. But knowing you did something wrong and having the courage to say sorry—that’s something else entirely. Matty, you owned up to your actions. That makes you a real man.”
Matty’s eyes sparkled at her praise.
Watching the exchange, the teachers finally started putting the pieces together.
“Mrs. Biggs… are you Matty’s guardian?”
Sharon nodded gently. “His father is currently away on a business trip, so I’m stepping in for him.”
Kelly’s face tightened, her expression hard to read. “Sharon… so you weren’t here for Theo… You were here for this boy?”
Sharon’s voice turned cold. “That’s right.”
Carter’s tone followed, cool and edged with ice. “Sharon, Theo needed you and you didn’t show up-but for someone else’s child, you come running? Don’t you think that’s a bit much?”.
Sharon turned to look at him. “I’m just the Biggs family’s nanny, remember? Do I even have the right to care for him?”
Carter’s brows drew together. “Nanny? What nonsense is this?”
“Oh? So you didn’t hear your son telling people I’m nothing more than a nanny for the Biggs family?”
“He’s just a kid. Why take it to heart?”
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Sharon gave a low laugh. “I can’t take offense at a dying person. I can’t take offense at elders. I can’t take offense at your friends. I can’t take offense at children. Tell me, Carter-ever since I married you, why do I have to live beneath everyone else and let everyone walk all over me?”
Carter’s face turned grim. “Sharon, do you really want to have this argument here, now, in public?”
“Oh? Now you’re embarrassed?” Sharon shot back, her voice sharp. “But you had no problem standing here five minutes ago, trying to guilt-trip me in front of everyone.” 1
Kelly, unable to hold back, tried to stir the pot. “Sharon, Theo is your biological son. Why are you even comparing him to another boy…”
Before she could finish, Sharon cut her off-her voice fierce, cold as steel.
“Shut up. Who do you think you are? Who are you to speak here?”
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Kelly’s eyes reddened in an instant. Tears welled up, threatening to spill over.
Just then, Matty’s young, puzzled voice cut through the silence.
“Excuse me, why do you cry so much? Every time I see you, you’re crying… Even when Theo and I got hurt fighting, we didn’t cry. You’re already a grown-up, and you still cry like this-it’s really embarrassing, you know?”
Kelly’s expression froze. She couldn’t cry, but she couldn’t stop either.
The kindergarten teacher, having witnessed enough drama, quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
“Um… maybe we should get back to discussing the children.”
Sharon turned to the teacher. “As for Matty hitting Theo, we’re willing to apologize to Theo. And once Matty’s father returns, he can apologize to Theo’s parents as well. We’ll also make sure nothing like this happens again. We’re prepared to cover all medical expenses and compensation. I’m sorry for the trouble this has caused you and the school.”
Families who could afford to send their children to this kindergarten weren’t short on money. Medical fees and compensation were never the real issue. What mattered more was the attitude of both child and guardian.
And Matty had already apologized. Sharon’s attitude was also sincere and respectful. By any measure, the matter should’ve been
settled.
But the complication lay in the fact that this Sharon wasn’t just any guardian. She was also Theo’s mother, and now acting as
Matty’s.
The teacher wiped the sweat from her forehead and turned to Carter.
“Mr. Biggs, Matty has apologized, and his guardian has already spoken. Do you have any further concerns or requests?”
Theo stepped forward, still aggrieved. “I don’t accept it! That wasn’t the only time he hit me. He always does it. When no one’s looking, he sneaks up and hits me!”
Carter had heard versions of this before-from his own son’s mouth-complaints about Matty picking on him when no one was
around.
His gaze turned cold, settling on Matty with an icy sharpness.
The intensity of it made Matty shrink back instinctively. He moved closer to Sharon, hiding behind her.
She shifted slightly, placing herself between him and Carter’s glare.
Seeing this, Carter’s expression grew even darker.
“Sharon,” he said, his voice low and cold, “your own son is standing here, and you’re shielding someone else’s child?”
Sharon glanced at him, then at Kelly. “He already has so many people protecting him. He doesn’t need me.”
She paused, then lowered her gaze to Matty.
“But Matty only has me.”
Matty, as if reassured, gripped her hand tightly. “Sharon, you’re so kind.”
Then he turned to look at Theo with something like longing in his eyes.
“I really envy Theo. He has such a wonderful mommy like Sharon. I wish… I wish Sharon were my mommy…”
Theo, already fuming from Sharon’s coldness toward him and her open protection of the one person he disliked most,
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completely lost control.
“She’s a bad mommy!” he shouted. “She bullies Kelly! She’s a terrible woman!”
Matty stepped forward, defending her at once. “Sharon’s not bad! It’s all of you bullying her. I’ve seen it so many times-you always make her apologize to that mean lady. You even said she was embarrassing, and you told the other kids she wasn’t your mommy-just your family’s nanny. You broke her heart.
“You’re the one who keeps saying bad things about her. Sharon was hurt so much by you and your mean daddy, she left. And then you all turned around and said she didn’t care about you. Sharon is the best mom ever. If you don’t want her, I do!”
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The children who attended this kindergarten either came from families with immense wealth or wielded significant power.
Born with silver spoons in their mouths, they lived cushioned lives, many of them spoiled to the point of being utterly lawless. Young as they were, they already carried the haughty airs of little princes and princesses, looking down on the world with unblinking arrogance.
And yet, among all these miniature royals, Theo and Matty stood out-for being the most polite, the most well-mannered.
Theo, now and then, still showed signs of pride. But Matty? There wasn’t an ounce of pretense in him.
Nearly every teacher at the kindergarten liked Matty.
When they heard he didn’t have a mother, their affection only deepened into quiet sympathy. To them, Matty was an obedient, thoughtful, and unusually bright child-hardly the kind who would lie.
So if someone like Matty cared enough to stand up for someone… that person probably wasn’t all bad.
What’s more, everyone knew Theo’s father treated his mother coldly. Of the few words he ever said about her, most were tinged
with blame.
And Theo himself… he had gone so far as to call his own mother a nanny, like she was someone to be embarrassed about.
That thought left everyone exchanging odd, uneasy glances in Carter and Kelly’s direction. 1
Had he really chased the boy’s biological mother away… just to make room for a mistress in front of the child? And if little Theo had been exposed to that mistress early on-poisoned by her presence and fed on resentment-it would explain why he treated his real mother so poorly.
Kelly could feel those looks falling on her like soft but cutting rain. The shame came instantly. And with it, her resentment toward Sharon only deepened.
When Matty spoke, tears blurred Sharon’s eyes. She’d only looked after the boy for a few days, and already he was trying to
defend her.
She thought about Theo, the son she had raised all these years. His response to her now? Cold stares and sharp words.
Carter’s gaze was dark and deep, like the surface of a frozen lake.
“Sharon,” he said, his voice measured, low, “didn’t you hear what Theo said? That boy’s been bullying him for a while- sending him mocking photos and messages. I know my son. He wouldn’t hate someone without a reason.”
His cold stare drifted slowly toward Matty.
“That child,” he said, “is not as innocent as you think.”
A faint flicker passed through Sharon’s brow.
She had raised Theo herself. She knew his temper. He came from a strict upbringing, and it was rare for him to speak so crudely in public.
She lowered her gaze to Matty.
“Matty, can you tell me what really happened?”
Matty looked aggrieved. “I didn’t send Theo any photos. I just posted them on the kindergarten app.”
Sharon frowned. “Kindergarten app?”
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leachers quickly chimed in, “It’s our internal platform. We use it to share announcements or updates about school events. Each child has their own account. They can post little updates to help build social interaction. But it’s a closed network. Only our teachers and students can see it. It’s not open to the public.”
So it was basically a private version of social media-built for preschoolers.
Sharon turned back to Matty. “Matty, can I take a look at your phone?”
Matty obediently handed it over.
Sharon flipped through the feed casually.
Sure enough, Matty had been posting updates every day. Underneath each post, other children had commented:
[I’m so jealous!]
[I want to eat that too!]
[Your mom is amazing!]
One comment stood out to her. [Did your mom make all that?]
Matty had replied: [Yes, my mom made it all!]
His voice was quiet as he tried to explain, “The other kids always post photos of the food their moms make for them. I’ve never even seen what my mom looks like. I just… I didn’t want them to know I don’t have one. So I posted those photos.”
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“Sharon, I’m sorry… I’m the one who made Theo misunderstand.” Matty’s eyes were rimmed with red as he reached for the phone. “I’ll delete everything.”
In that moment, it wasn’t just Sharon who felt it-even the kindergarten teachers watching nearby found their hearts tightening.
To treat a nanny as your own mother… It was heartbreaking.
Matty was simply yearning for a mother’s love. What wrong had he really done?
A wave of ache moved through Sharon’s chest. She gently stopped him. “Matty, no need to delete them. Just leave them.”
Matty lowered his head. “But Theo will be upset.”
“That’s okay.”
“But-”
Softly, Sharon said, “As long as you’re not hurting anyone, you don’t need to compromise yourself just to please others.”
Matty gave a small nod. “Okay. I’ll listen to you, Sharon.”
Suddenly, Carter’s voice broke the stillness. “I want to check his phone.”
Sharon’s brows drew together. “Carter, seriously? Looking through a child’s phone? Don’t you think that’s crossing the line?”
Carter’s voice stayed calm and flat. “I know Theo’s temperament. I don’t believe he would lie.”
Sharon was about to respond, but Matty tugged lightly at her sleeve. He said understandingly, “If Theo’s daddy wants to look, let him. It’s okay.”
The teacher nearby could only marvel at how thoughtful Matty was.
Sharon hesitated, then nodded. But she didn’t hand the phone directly to Carter. Instead, she said, “If we’re going to check, we’ll all check together. We can’t just take one person’s word for it.”
She looked toward the teachers. “There’s a projector setup here, right?”
“Yes, yes-just next door in the conference room,” one of them replied quickly.
The group made their way into the conference room. Matty’s phone was connected to the screen, and its contents appeared across the projection.
Most of the posts on the kindergarten app were innocent-photos and kids’ thoughts.
It was a classic case of the speaker meaning no harm, but the listener taking offense.
Sharon then opened Matty’s text messages and call logs. Nothing unusual there either.
She said calmly, “You’ve all seen it for yourselves. Can we now agree Matty wasn’t trying to provoke Theo?”
Kelly cut in, “Theo said there were photos and videos Matty showed him directly on his phone. Sharon, maybe check the photo gallery?”
Sharon glanced at her, then opened the photo album.
Sure enough, there were a number of pictures of Matty and Sharon-some selfies, some candid shots he’d taken quietly. None were inappropriate.
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Kelly pressed on, “Check the videos too.”
Sharon opened them.
Most were of her in the kitchen, cooking or preparing snacks. Some were of her picking Matty up from school.
One by one, she played them, calmly and without pause.
Then she tapped open a video-one of Kelly falling down the stairs in the kindergarten.
Kelly’s eyes flashed with panic. “Turn it off! That has nothing to do with today’s situation!”
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Sharon gave a cold smile. “Let’s finish it. Just in case later you claim Matty spliced something together, and we can’t clear things up.”
She said no more. Letting the video play through, she moved on to the next clip only after it ended.
The people watching, who had been viewing everything with quiet composure, now began to shift.
Their expressions were changing.
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It was a video from a recent parent-child activity at the kindergarten.
Theo had just won first place and was now surrounded by a crowd of excited children. His face glowed with pride, basking in the
admiration.
One of the kids asked, “Theo, were those your mom and dad who came to play the game with you?”
Theo hesitated, then gave a small nod.
The children around him gasped in envy.
“Theo’s dad is so cool! He’s handsome and looks so powerful-and he’s great at games too!”
“And his mom is so pretty, and she seems really gentle!”
The wave of compliments seemed to lift Theo higher and higher. He tilted his delicate chin up, soaking it all in like sunlight.
Then another child asked, “Hey, Theo, you never mentioned your mom before. I thought you didn’t have one. What does your mom do?”
Theo answered with pride, “She’s a violinist. She’s really amazing. She’s going on a concert tour in a few months.”
“Whoa!” the kids chorused, visibly awestruck. “Your mom is that talented?”
“No wonder Theo kept her a secret. If I had such a beautiful and talented mom, I’d hide her too, so no one could take her from
me.”
“I wish my mom were like that… but she just stays home all day. She doesn’t even work. My grandma says she’s like a vampire… It’s so embarrassing. I don’t even like talking about her. Theo’s mom is way,better.”
Voices piled on, one after another, building Theo up higher and higher. He floated in their praise, lost in the feeling.
Then someone asked, “But Theo, a while ago I saw a pretty lady dropping you off at school every day. I thought she was your
mom.”
Theo’s face tightened.
“She’s not my mom,” he snapped. “She’s just our nanny.”
The video ended.
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Sharon’s fingers curled unconsciously into fists.
She already knew, from what Kelly and Matty had told her, how Theo saw her. She thought she was prepared. But hearing it with her own ears-watching Theo’s face as he said it—was like something sharp plunging straight through her chest.
Theo’s gaze flicked to the screen, a flash of unease crossing his eyes.
Kelly gently patted his hand. Only then did he manage to calm himself down.
The next few clips were ordinary, daily routines from the kindergarten. Nothing stood out.
Until the final video played, drawing everyone’s attention back to the screen.
In it, Matty walked up to Theo.
“Theo, why did you lie?”
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Theo was bent over, drawing. When he heard the voice, he turned his head sharply, irritation on his face.
“Lic?”
“Sharon is your mom. Why did you say that mean lady was your mom?”
Theo curled his lip, clearly unimpressed.
He didn’t even bother to explain. His voice came cold and flat. “That’s none of your business.”
Matty’s voice rose, frustrated. “Don’t you know that saying that kind of thing would hurt Sharon?”
“So what? No matter what I say about her, she’s still my mom.”
Matty raised his voice. “I won’t let you talk about Sharon like that!”
Theo was getting annoyed, his tone turning sharper. “She’s my mom, not yours. Why are you so mad? Are you jealous I have a mom and you don’t?”
The words landed hard.
Matty froze. His face turned completely pale.
The kindergarten teachers watching couldn’t help but feel a wave of sympathy for him.
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Chapter 107
The sound of Theo’s irritated voice still echoed in the conference room.
“She’s just a housewife who doesn’t have a single useful skill. So she cooks a little-what’s so great about that? Even my housekeeper can do all that. If you think she’s so wonderful, then fine-take her. She can be your mom. Kelly is a hundred times. better than her anyway. I’d never want a mom that embarrassing.”
The teachers who had once thought Theo was a polite, well-mannered boy now began to reconsider. Their expressions shifted subtly, the look in their eyes toward him edged with unease.
Theo opened his mouth, as if to defend himself, but the hard truth played out in the video left him speechless. His face flushed red. All he could do was stand there, staring blankly at Sharon.
Sharon’s lashes lowered, her expression unreadable.
The video footage wobbled slightly, then cut off.
Silence dropped over the room like a curtain.
In that stillness, a flicker of excitement lit Kelly’s eyes.
Yes. This was what she wanted. The worse things became between Sharon and Theo-the deeper the divide-the more room
there would be for her.
Sharon turned off the projector. Her tone was quiet. “Since there’s nothing else on Matty’s phone, we’ll be leaving now.”
She took Matty’s hand and began walking toward the door.
The boy followed obediently, silent. His calm, too mature composure made the teachers’ hearts ache.
They watched the pair’s retreating backs in silence-one child motherless, the other rejected by her own husband and son. What a pitiful sight.
Just as Sharon and Matty reached the door, Carter’s voice rang out behind them. “Wait.”
Sharon stopped and turned, looking back. “Is there something else?”
–
Her face was calm-no anger, no sorrow- -as though none of this had anything to do with her.
Carter said, “Don’t you think those two videos were a little too much of a coincidence?”
“Coincidence?”
His gaze, sharp and steady, landed on Matty standing beside her.
“There were only two videos on his phone-and both just happened to paint Theo in the worst possible light. Especially that last one… It feels a lot like he was deliberately trying to mislead him.”
Sharon’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What are you trying to say? That Matty did it on purpose?”
Carter asked in return, “Isn’t it obvious?”
The moment the words left his mouth, every eye turned to him.
Sharon stared at him in disbelief. “Carter, are you seriously accusing a five-year-old child?”
His dark, cool eyes remained on Matty. “Have you really not noticed? Ever since he came into the picture, your relationship with Theo has only grown colder.”
Sensing Matty’s discomfort, Sharon stepped in front of him, shielding him from view.
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“Theo and I grew distant for reasons you should know perfectly well. You’re just too soft-hearted to let your precious Kelly take the blame, so instead, you’re pinning it on a child? Don’t you think that’s a little pathetic?”
“Pathetic?” Carter gave a soft laugh, but it didn’t reach his eyes. His smile was icy. “So now, even when Theo says he’s being bullied, you don’t believe him?”
“Not really,” Sharon said flatly. “After all, he’s already lied once, pretending I’m not his mother. If he hates Matty, spinning another lie or two wouldn’t be anything new.”
Carter’s gaze darkened, his eyes narrowing. “So in your mind, that’s what Theo is a liar?”
–
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Chapter 108
Sharon’s voice was cold. “That depends on what he’s done.”
Carter’s tone grew heavy. “No matter what he’s done wrong, he’s still your son. Sharon… are you really going to stop acknowledging him?”
“The one who doesn’t want to acknowledge me-is him.” Her face was blank. “To him, I’m just an embarrassing mother. Maybe he’s better off without me.”
“So you’re really going to keep that scheming boy by your side?”
Sharon’s expression darkened. “Carter, don’t you dare talk about Matty like that. He’s only five. How could a five-year-old possibly be scheming? If anyone’s being ridiculous…”
Her lips curled into a cold smile. “You’d rather believe a five-year-old is full of cunning than admit your precious Kelly isn’t as innocent and flawless as you imagined. Carter, that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all year.”
Carter’s brows furrowed. “We’re talking about Theo. Why do you keep dragging Kelly into this?”
“You were the one who said my relationship with Theo deteriorated because of Matty. I think it’s because of Kelly. What’s the issue? If even hearing her name rattles you this much, then I don’t think we have anything more to say.”
Sharon truly had no interest in arguing with someone like him any longer.
She turned to Matty. “Matty, let’s go.”
Without looking back, she walked away with Matty.
By the time everything settled down, it was already noon.
Sharon took Matty to a nearby restaurant with a solid reputation.
“I’m sorry, Matty,” she said softly. “You didn’t deserve what happened today.”
Matty shook his head earnestly. “I’m not upset.”
After a pause, he added, “Actually, Theo doesn’t hate you as much as he says he does. If he really didn’t care, he wouldn’t feel like I was stealing his mommy.”
Sharon looked into his eyes. “Even after everything, you’re still willing to speak up for him?”
“I just don’t think he’s a bad person,” Matty said, then suddenly reached out and took her hand.
“Sharon, can we just let it go? Please don’t be angry with Theo. And…”
He glanced around the restaurant, eyes wide with innocence. “Let’s not tell Daddy about this, okay?”
Sharon paused. “But your injury—”
“It’ll heal in a few days. It’s not that serious. Besides, boys get scrapes and bruises all the time. Daddy always says boys shouldn’t be so delicate, and we definitely shouldn’t go crying to people every time we get hurt. He’d look down on me.”
Matty blinked up at her. “Sharon, I don’t want Daddy to think less of me. Can you keep it a secret?”
A wave of guilt rose in Sharon’s chest.
He was still just a child-not yet old enough to mask his emotions like an adult. She could tell right away he was lying. He only said that to keep her from worrying.
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Her heart ached. The guilt deepened.
Even though Matty was thoughtful and mature beyond his years, when it came down to it, she always leaned toward Theo. She couldn’t help it.
In that moment, she understood why Carter and Theo still chose to protect Kelly, even after everything she’d done.
It wasn’t about reason. It was about how much they cared for her. 1
She called over a waiter and ordered a kids’ meal for Matty and another for herself.
Matty had a somewhat delicate stomach, but compared to Theo, he was much healthier, with far fewer dietary restrictions.
Just then, Theo arrived at the restaurant. From a distance, he saw them-Sharon and Matty, sharing a milkshake. A familiar bitterness crept back into his chest.
Kelly, noticing where Theo’s gaze had landed, followed it.
Chapter 109
A sharp glint flickered in Kelly’s eyes.
She frowned slightly and spoke, “Carter, that boy-Matty-what exactly is his relationship with Sharon? I get the feeling… she treats him even better than she treats Theo.”
Carter hadn’t been paying much attention to Sharon until then, but at Kelly’s words, a crease formed between his brows. He looked over in her direction.
He didn’t know what Matty had said, but Sharon was smiling at him gently, pulling out a tissue to wipe the corner of his mouth.
Matty beamed back at her, his face lighting up with adoration.
There was something in the way he looked at her-full of trust, reliance, and something close to worship. It was the kind of look a child might give his mother.
The sight landed hard in Theo’s chest.
Once, she used to smile at him like that. Once, she would wipe his mouth and laugh softly at his crumbs.
Now, she didn’t even come home. She didn’t ask about him at all.
“Dad…” Theo tugged at Carter’s sleeve. “Now that she has that bad kid, does it mean… she doesn’t want me anymore?”
Before Carter could say a word, Kelly spoke up quickly, “Of course not. Sharon’s just been misled by that boy for a while. You’re her real son. She’d never give you up.”
“But just now, she was on that bad kid’s side!”
Theo’s voice rose with anger, his small fists clenching in frustration. The more he thought about it, the more upset he became. ” If she doesn’t want me, fine! I don’t want her either!”
Kelly reached out and gently took his hand. “It’s okay. Even if your mom doesn’t want you, I will always be here for you.”
Theo looked at her, moved. “You’re the best, Kelly…”
His voice trailed off. Something darkened in his eyes. His lip trembled. “But… but Kelly, you can only stay with me for six more months. After that… you won’t be here anymore.” 1
Kelly froze. She had forgotten about that part.
But she recovered quickly, blinking rapidly as her eyes grew wet.
“I don’t want to leave you either. If I go… who would stay by your side?”
Theo threw his arms around her suddenly, clinging to her like she was his only anchor. “I don’t want you to die! Kelly, don’t die, okay?”
Carter watched the pair silently, a shadow in his eyes.
ལྷ་ཟླ་ཊ་ཇཙོ་ཅ་ ཋན་ ༤ ཇ ཕང།
Then he said, “Nate mentioned someone-a friend of his knows an old alternative medicine specialist, surnamed Malcolm. Supposedly, his skills are exceptional. If we can find him, he might be able to slow your illness down.”
Kelly’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
He nodded. “But he’s not easy to locate. Nate’s already put people on it. We’ll let you know as soon as there’s word.”
Kelly sighed, her voice soft. “I just… I just hope heaven will give me a little more time. Just enough to stay by Theo a while longer. If I could watch him grow up… I’d have no regrets, even if I died.”
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Carter was quiet for a few seconds. “Don’t talk like that. You’ll be fine.”
They settled into their seats.
Theo ordered a kids’ meal for himself.
Then, catching sight of Sharon across the room, he muttered, “Kelly, I want a milkshake too.”
Kelly smiled. “Alright. Whatever you want, we’ll order it.”
But Carter’s face darkened. “No. You’re lactose intolerant. You can’t have that.”
Theo’s lips pushed into a pout. “Mom never lets me eat this, or that, says it’s bad for kids. But then she turns around and drinks
milkshakes with some other kid…”
His voice dropped to a grumble. “She lied to me. She just didn’t want me to have it.”
Kelly’s eyes flicked to Carter, then softened. “Carter, I want one too. Let’s order a milkshake. Theo can just have a little sip. It
won’t hurt him.”
Then, as if something occurred to her, she turned toward Sharon’s table.
“And besides…”
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“That kid gets everything,” Kelly said softly. “If Theo doesn’t get the same, won’t he be heartbroken? Theo’s no worse than Matty. I don’t understand what Sharon is thinking, being so good to a boy who bullied her own son.”
Theo clenched his fists without realizing it.
Yeah. His mom didn’t take his side anymore-she was standing with Matty now. The thought only made him angrier.
Kelly turned to a nearby waiter. “Could you bring us the same set as that table over there?”
The waiter smiled politely and said, “Of course,” before leaving.
It wasn’t long before their table was covered with the exact same dishes as Sharon’s. Most were desserts-meant for children.
Milkshakes. Cream cakes. Even milk tea.
Kelly couldn’t help but remark, “I heard the desserts here are the restaurant’s specialty. Sharon certainly knows how to treat herself.”
“We’ve been here so many times,” Theo snapped. “She’s never ordered any of this. And she never lets me have any!”
Carter looked down at the desserts, his voice calm. “They’re all dairy-based. She was just worried about your health.”
Kelly’s brows lifted slightly. She glanced at Carter.
He was defending Sharon. He had never done that before.
She lowered her eyes and gently said to Theo, “Theo, your health’s not great. You promised me, just a little taste, remember? You have to keep your word.”
Theo’s face crumpled, but he nodded. He had promised, after all.
“Okay.”
Just like she said she would, Kelly only let him try a small bite before taking the rest away.
He looked longingly at the desserts but didn’t complain. Quietly, he returned to his own food. 1
Still, deep down, his resentment toward Sharon grew stronger..
Grandma and Kelly were right-if Mom had taken better care of him when she was pregnant, he wouldn’t be this weak. She owed him. Being good to him wasn’t kindness-it was her responsibility.
Halfway through the meal, Carter’s phone rang.
He glanced at the screen. It was Denise.
His brow furrowed slightly as he stood to take the call.
“What is it?”
“Mom threw away the last batch of medicine,” Denise said. “She’s had a terrible headache for days. Can you ask Sharon to send more? She’s still our mother. So what if Sharon argued with her? And besides, she really upset Mom that day, made her faint.”
Carter was silent for a moment. Then he asked, “Has Mom always treated Sharon like this?”
There was a brief cough on the other end. Denise’s voice faltered. “You know… Mom never really liked her. This time, she blew up because she thought Sharon was trying to use the medicine to manipulate her.”
She paused, then added, “And mostly because Theo got bullied, and Sharon didn’t do anything about it…”
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Chapter 110
+25 BONUS
“You’re not answering the question,” Carter interrupted coldly.
Sharon had spoken back to Madeline, yes-but nothing that would warrant such harsh treatment. The fact that Denise seemed unfazed made one thing clear: this wasn’t the first time.
Denise hesitated. “Well… okay, yeah, maybe she’s been like that before. But it’s gotten better over the last couple of years. If Sharon hadn’t been all over the internet again, and if she hadn’t ignored Theo-Mom wouldn’t have blown up like that.”
Carter was quiet for a few seconds.
“I see. Don’t worry about the medicine. I’ll take care of it.”
Denise exhaled, relieved. She was just about to hang up when a voice shouted frantically from the other end of the line.
“Carter! Something’s wrong with Theo!”
Carter’s expression changed. He turned and walked quickly toward them.
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Chapter 111
Suddenly, Theo’s face broke out in angry red rashes. His cheeks flushed, and his breath came in sharp gasps. His body twitched slightly he looked like he was about to lose consciousness altogether.
Carter rushed to his side and called his name a few times.
No response.
Without hesitation, he turned to Kelly, who stood frozen nearby. “Call an ambulance! Now!”
As if waking from a trance, Kelly’s face went pale. She fumbled for her phone, her hands trembling as she dialed.
Around them, the restaurant fell into chaos. Other diners had taken notice, some standing up from their seats in alarm.
“Looks like an allergic reaction,” someone muttered. “He needs emergency treatment right away. If they wait, he might not make it till the ambulance gets here.”
Tears welled in Kelly’s eyes. “Carter, what do we do?”
Carter’s brow was deeply furrowed. He’d never seen Theo like this. He wasn’t a doctor. He didn’t dare move Theo, unsure of what would make things worse.
He raised his voice, clear and steady. “Is there a doctor here? Anyone who can help this child-I’ll pay ten million.”
Ten million?
Gasps rippled through the room like a dropped stone in water.
If it had been anyone else throwing out numbers like that, it would’ve sounded like a joke. But Carter-with his tailored clothes, his calm composure-radiated a quiet authority. He could very well mean it.
With that kind of reward on the table, someone was bound to step forward.
And someone did.
“I’ll do it!”
Carter’s eyes turned sharply to the man. “You can save him?”
For a second, the man flinched under his gaze. But then the weight of that offer steadied him.
“I’m a doctor,” he said, lifting his chin.
He wasn’t lying-but he was a surgeon, not a pediatrician. Not even close. The distinction mattered, but to him, ten million
meant more than playing it safe.
He pulled out his ID badge. “Here. My credentials.” 1
Carter studied it briefly. His expression eased just enough.
The man knelt beside the boy, giving him a quick once-over. He was just about to begin CPR when a sharp, clear voice rang out
“Stop!”
His hands froze mid-air.
Sharon pushed through the crowd, striding forward with urgency.
She’d only stepped away to use the restroom. When she came back and saw the crowd gathered, she caught sight of Kelly and
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Carter at the center. Something in her chest clenched. She rushed over and found Theo unconscious.
The man had been about to administer emergency care.
Sharon didn’t hesitate to speak.
Kelly looked at her, distraught. “Sharon, he’s in danger! If we don’t act now, he might not last until the ambulance arrives! Sharon, please let the doctor help him!”
But Sharon’s tone was icy.
“His condition does not call for CPR.”
Her gaze was cold and sharp.
“You don’t even know what’s going on. Don’t touch him. If something happens to him, you won’t be able to bear the consequences.”
The man’s expression hardened. Someone else trying to snatch away that reward? No way.
“I’m a licensed professional,” he snapped. “I know these symptoms better than you ever could. Who the hell are you to stand here making wild claims?”
Sharon had no time to argue. Her eyes were fixed on Theo. Without another word, she shoved the man aside, reaching for the boy.
But her wrist was suddenly caught mid-air.
Carter’s voice came from behind her-low, cold, and biting.
“Sharon, could you stop causing trouble for once?”
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Chapter 112
The situation was critical. Sharon had no interest in wasting time arguing.
“Carter, let go,” she said firmly. “If we delay any longer, Theo’s life will really be in danger.”
Kelly stepped in front of her, blocking the way. “Sharon, I know you’re worried too. But none of us are professionals. We can’t act recklessly. We could make things worse.”
“Let the professionals handle it,” she added. “That’s the safest way.”
“Professionals?” Sharon let out a cold, sharp laugh. “If he were really a professional, he wouldn’t be jumping straight to CPR without thinking.”
The man’s face flushed. “He’s struggling to breathe. If his heart stops, CPR is the only option to stabilize him. What’s wrong with that?!”
Then his voice sharpened. “Get out of the way, woman. Just because that man offered ten million, doesn’t mean you get to pretend you know what you’re doing!”
Kelly’s voice was almost pleading now. “Sharon, this is a life we’re talking about. Theo’s in real danger. If this is about money, let this doctor try first. We’ll compensate you afterward. Please?”
A flicker of anger crossed Carter’s face. He thought of how Sharon had left Theo home alone for the sake of money, running off to care for someone else’s child instead.
“Sharon,” he snapped, “have you lost your mind over money? Look at Theo! And you’re still thinking about a reward?”
The onlookers began to murmur, judgment thick in the air. 1
“My god, is she really stopping someone from saving the kid just for money?”
“Miss, this is a human life we’re talking about. Every second counts. Please don’t stand in the way.”
“If that child dies because of her, she’s legally responsible.”
Sharon tried to move to Theo again, but Carter’s grip on her wrist held firm. She struggled, twisting hard, but he wouldn’t let go,
Her eyes reddened in frustration, teeth clenched. “Carter, if you let that quack touch him, he’ll die! I’m his mother. I know better than anyone what’s going on with him!”
Carter’s gaze flickered with hesitation.
Kelly’s tearful voice cut through the tension. “Carter, please! Do something! Theo looks really bad. He might not make it!”
The doctor hadn’t expected the woman to be the child’s mother. That detail caught him off guard.
Still, Carter turned and said, “Save him. Now.”
ཇ ཆ་ ྃ་Ë
Snapped from his hesitation, the doctor readied himself again.
The mother might understand the child’s condition well, but that ten million was still burning in his mind. It was a once-in-a- lifetime chance. If he got lucky and the kid was fine, the reward would be his.
Just as he reached out, Sharon’s voice cracked, urgent and desperate.
“Don’t touch him! If you really want to save him, check his pockets. There should be emergency medication. Spray it near his nose and mouth-that might buy us time until the ambulance arrives!”
The doctor paused, uncertain. Then, reluctantly, he followed her instructions and searched the boy’s pockets.
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Nothing. They were empty.
He looked up at Sharon, eyes filled with doubt. There’s nothing here. You’re not lying about this just for the money, are you?”
A flicker of satisfaction passed through Kelly’s eyes.
Chapter 113
Her eyes rimmed red, Kelly pleaded, “Sharon, I’m begging you. Stop it. If something really happens to Theo… what are we going to do?”
Carter had her wrist clamped in an unrelenting grip, while Kelly stood in her path. Sharon’s forehead broke into a fine sweat
from the urgency.
No matter how disappointed she was in Theo, he was still her son, the child she had carried for ten months and brought into the world. She couldn’t just stand there and watch him die.
Her eyes hardened.
With sudden force, Sharon shoved Kelly.
“Ah!” Caught off guard, Kelly stumbled backward, falling to the ground.
“Kelly!” Carter’s expression shifted, instinctively loosening his hold on Sharon to help Kelly.
Sharon seized the moment and lunged toward the doctor performing CPR.
Kelly caught the movement and shouted, “Carter, stop her!”
But by the time Carter moved, it was already too late.
Kelly turned to the crowd. “Is anyone kind enough to help? If we can save this child, there will be a generous reward!”
Her words had barely landed when several bystanders near Sharon rushed forward.
They’d long been frustrated by her interference in the rescue. Now they had a reason to act-a reward on the table. Why hesitate?
“Let go! Let me go!” Sharon thrashed wildly, nearly frenzied, but they pinned her arms down with brute strength, leaving her
no room to move.
Her voice cracked from strain. “I have the medicine on me! Just take it-use it on him—!”
She didn’t even finish the sentence before Kelly cut in sharply. “Sharon, stop obstructing his rescue!”
Sharon struggled so violently that it took several men just to hold her in place.
She stared at Carter, her eyes filled with fury and disbelief. “I’m his mother. I raised him. I know his condition better than anyone. Carter, you’d rather trust some stranger than believe me?!”
Kelly stepped between them, her tone edged with reproach. “Sharon, when you weren’t coming home, when you were off ignoring Theo, did you still think of yourself as his mother? And now that he’s sick, you keep blocking every attempt to save him. Can you blame anyone for questioning your motives?”
The words stirred the crowd.
“She’s the kid’s mother?”
“Never at home, doesn’t even take care of him-and now she’s stopping them from helping? What kind of person does that?”
“Hard to believe a mother could be this heartless.”
“Probably wants to remarry and thinks the kid’s a burden.”
“Unbelievable. Coldest woman I’ve ever seen.”
One comment after another, none grounded in fact, but all laced with judgment. In just a few moments, they’d painted her as a
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wicked mother with no redeeming qualities.
The doctor had never been fully confident, and after Sharon’s repeated objections, doubt gnawed at him. His hands hovered,
unmoving.
Carter saw the hesitation, his expression darkening. “What are you waiting for?!” he barked.
The doctor took a deep breath, about to act, when Matty darted out from between the crowd. 1
In a blur, Matty reached into Sharon’s pocket and pulled out a small bottle of aerosol medication. He sprinted to Theo’s side.
Both Carter and the doctor noticed him at the same time, but by then it was too late.
Matty lifted the bottle and sprayed it directly toward Theo’s nose and mouth.
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S
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Matty was shoved hard to the ground by Kelly. 1
“What are you doing?!”
The small aerosol bottle slipped from Matty’s hand as he fell, skittering across the floor.
་་ང་ཇ་༴༴
Kelly frowned. “How dare you fool around here!”
Matty sat where he had landed, a scrape on his arm beginning to sting. He wrinkled his nose. “I wasn’t fooling around.”
“Oh really?” she snapped. “You bully Theo at kindergarten all the time, and now that he’s seriously ill, you come here to make trouble. Are you trying to get him killed? How can a child your age be so vicious?”
Matty replied quietly, “I didn’t mean to hurt Theo.”
Carter’s gaze turned cold. “Then what exactly were you doing just now?”
Matty shrank back slightly. “I was saving him.”
“Liar,” Kelly said, brows tightening.
“I’m not lying. I just did what Sharon told me to.”
Kelly laughed bitterly. “We have an actual doctor here, and you chose to listen to her instead?”
“But Sharon is Theo’s mom. She knows more about him than the doctor does,” Matty said.
Carter’s eyes flashed with something chilling. “If anything happens to Theo,” he said coldly, “I don’t care if you’re just a child- I won’t let it go.” 1
As soon as the words left his mouth, a murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd.
“Look! He’s getting better!”
Carter’s brow twitched. He turned quickly.
The color that had flushed Theo’s face was fading. His breathing, once labored, had calmed. Though red rashes still dotted his
skin, the convulsions had stopped.
The doctor stared, momentarily stunned. He bent to pick up the bottle Matty had dropped. It wasn’t a medication he recognized -nothing available on the market.
A distinct herbal scent lingered in the air. It was alternative medicine. Custom-made.
Seeing Theo stabilize, the tension in Sharon finally snapped. Her legs gave out and she collapsed where she stood, gasping for breath as if surfacing from a long, suffocating dive.
The crowd fell silent. Those holding her down slowly released their grip.
Maybe… she hadn’t been lying after all.
Just then, the ambulance arrived.
The paramedics quickly assessed Theo’s condition and fitted him with a breathing apparatus.
As they prepared to move him, one of them remarked, “There must’ve been a professional on-site. The treatment was both timely and accurate. This child’s condition is unusual. If CPR had been done the standard way, he probably wouldn’t have made
it.”
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“But don’t worry,” the medic added, “thanks to the swift and appropriate response, his vitals have stabilized. He’s no longer in immediate danger.”
The moment the words landed, the crowd fell utterly silent.
All eyes turned to Carter and Kelly.
The medic paused, sensing the shift in atmosphere. Had he said something wrong?
Seeing everyone watching them, he assumed they were the parents. “Are you the boy’s father and mother? Please come with me.
Under the weight of all those stares, Kelly felt as if she’d been slapped across the face-burning and raw.
She had come with her own hidden agenda, but this embarrassment… came far too fast. Not wanting to stay under the spotlight any longer, she quickly followed the medic, trying to disappear behind him.
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Chapter 115
Matty’s voice suddenly broke through the silence.
“She’s not Theo’s mom. Sharon is.”
By now, Matty had gotten to his feet. He walked over to Sharon and helped her up, his small hands gently steadying her.
“Sharon, are you okay?”
Sharon looked up into his worried eyes, and for a moment, a sharp sting rose behind her nose.
“I’m okay,” she said, though her voice came out raspy and hoarse, barely recognizable to her own ears.
She gripped Matty’s hand, trying to push herself up. But her body was still trembling, legs weak and unsteady. The moment she got halfway upright, her knees buckled again.
Matty tried to hold her, but he was just a child. He couldn’t bear the weight of an adult.
Just then, a hand reached out and caught her firmly.
“Thank you,” Sharon said reflexively, before her eyes met Carter’s cool, handsome face.
Her expression instantly changed. She pulled her hand away on instinct.
But Carter held her wrist tightly. “Theo’s still not out of danger. Don’t you want to go with us to see him?”
A flicker of hesitation passed through her eyes.
Matty chimed in from the side. “Sharon, let’s go to the hospital and check on Theo together, okay?”
Sharon lowered her head. Her gaze softened when it fell on him.
She took his hand. “Alright.”
Carter glanced down at Matty too. His eyes had lost their earlier sharpness.
Behind them, Kelly stood alone, as if forgotten. She watched the three of them walk away, her presence slipping further into the background.
The onlookers, witnessing it all, began murmuring amongst themselves again.
“Who even is that woman? She’s the one who kept stirring things up, kept insisting the kid’s real mom was just in it for the
money.”
“Her own child was dying-what kind of mother would care about money at a time like that? That woman tried to paint the mom as a gold-digger, that’s just sick.”
“She was the one stopping the mom from helping. She even offered a reward to keep her restrained. God, if anything had happened to that kid, we’d all be accomplices.”
“The mom had the spray on her the whole time. That woman looked like she cared, but she didn’t even know what to do in an emergency… Could she be the infamous stepmom?”
“I was at the table next to them. The dad left to take a call, the kid was eating with her, and then-bam-severe allergic reaction. Maybe she did it on purpose?”
“Only a blind man would fall for a woman like that.”
The voices around her stung like needles. Kelly’s face flushed red, then turned pale.
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She scrambled to get into the ambulance, trying to hide from the stares full of judgment and disdain.
Inside the ambulance, the air was tight with silence.
Sharon borrowed some antiseptic swabs from the medic and gently dabbed at the scrape on Matty’s arm.
He let out a soft hiss and instinctively pulled back a little.
“Does it hurt a lot?” Sharon asked, her eyes focused on him.
Meeting her gaze, Matty puffed up his chest a bit, then stretched his arm out again, trying to act brave,
“I’m fine… Do it, Sharon!”
The medic couldn’t help smiling at how sweet he was. “Is this your son? He’s so well-behaved and adorable.”
Sharon opened her mouth to say no, but then she caught a glimpse of Matty’s little face-tense, and touched with disappointment.
She smiled gently, and said nothing.
But the moment was broken by a sharp voice that cut through the stillness.
“Sharon, don’t you think this is a little inappropriate?”
Chapter 116
Sharon turned to look in Kelly’s direction.
Kelly put on a face of false concern and said, “Theo’s still in critical condition, and yet you’re treating the kid who bullied him like your own son… Isn’t that a bit much?”
Sharon’s voice was calm. “He didn’t bully Theo. In fact, it was Matty who saved his life just now.”
She looked straight at Kelly, her expression hovering between a smile and something colder.
“But you, Kelly, you blocked me multiple times and even incited the crowd to hold me back. If anything had happened to Theo, you would’ve been responsible for killing him.”
Kelly’s face stiffened. She quickly lowered her gaze, adopting a sorrowful tone.
“That man was a doctor, so I thought he would give Theo professional treatment. I just didn’t want to delay treatment. That’s why I stopped you.”
Tears welled in her eyes as she turned to Carter. “Carter, I’m sorry… I almost caused something terrible to happen to Theo.”
Carter’s voice was flat. “It’s not your fault. You just acted out of concern.”
A bitter laugh echoed silently in Sharon’s chest.
Of course he’d take Kelly’s side. He’d stopped her too, right along with Kelly. To defend her now was to defend himself.
Sharon turned away, eyes settling on Theo, who lay quietly now, his breathing steady again. But the fear still lingered in her chest, tight and sharp.
This medicine-specially formulated by Uriah-was meant to be carried at all times in case of emergencies like this. Thankfully,
she had it on her. If not…
A sudden thought struck her. She turned to Carter.
“He always carries an emergency spray. But it seems to be gone. Did you throw it away?”
Carter frowned slightly. “No. Theo usually changes his own clothes. Marie handles the laundry. Maybe she took it out while washing.”
Sharon shook her head. “That’s not possible. I’ve spoken to Marie about this many times. She’s been working in the house for years. She wouldn’t make such a basic mistake.”
Kelly flinched almost imperceptibly at Sharon’s words, a flicker of guilt flashing in her eyes.
Carter didn’t seem to notice. “Maybe Theo lost it himself?”
Sharon rubbed her temple, fatigue creeping into her voice. “I’ve reminded him countless times. That spray is his lifeline-never forget it, never toss it… Forget it. I’ll ask him when he wakes up.”
Since Kelly’s return, her relationship with Theo had only grown more distant. And ever since she stopped going home, it had plummeted to near freezing.
Maybe this was Theo acting out. Maybe he’d thrown it away on purpose.
She looked at the two of them again and asked, “What caused the allergic reaction?”
Carter’s brows furrowed. He turned to Kelly.
“What happened?”
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Chapter 116
Panic flickered in Kelly’s eyes.
“I… I’m not really sure.”
Sharon’s gaze sharpened, landing squarely on Kelly’s face. Her voice was low and deliberate.
“You gave him something with nuts in it, didn’t you?”
Though it was phrased as a question, her tone left no room for doubt.
Theo’s only allergy was to nuts.
Carter didn’t often handle Theo’s day-to-day care, but even he knew that much.
He looked at Sharon. “I checked everything Kelly ordered. There weren’t any nuts. Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”
Sharon felt the bitterness rise again.
No matter how serious the incident, if Kelly was involved, Carter would always defend her.
Even if his own son nearly died from Kelly’s negligence.
And her-no matter how trivial the matter-he’d always doubt her.
Then Matty’s voice cut through the tension. “But Sharon and I… we ordered a slice of nut cake earlier.”
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Chapter 117
Sharon didn’t quite understand what Matty meant at first.
Matty said softly, “I just checked-everything Theo’s table ordered was exactly the same as ours. Sharon told me Theo’s allergic to nuts. But we did order a slice of nut-filled cake.”
Sharon turned her gaze toward Kelly, her voice cold. “Anything you’d like to say now?”
Kelly didn’t bother putting up a front anymore. She lowered her head and conceded, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know the filling had
nuts.”
Carter stepped in, his patience seeming to fray. “Sharon, do you have to go after Kelly like this? She didn’t know there were nuts in the cake. It was Theo who saw what you were eating and insisted on ordering the same thing. This has nothing to do with Kelly.”
Sharon turned her eyes to him. “Fine. She didn’t know Theo had a nut allergy. Then what about you? As his father, you didn’t know either?”
Carter avoided her gaze. “I don’t really eat desserts, so I didn’t realize cakes could contain nuts.”
“Desserts?” Sharon’s voice sharpened. “Theo is lactose intolerant. Cakes like that-cream-based desserts-are things he absolutely can’t eat. You didn’t know there were nuts in the cake, fine. But you’re telling me you didn’t even know it had dairy?”
Color drained from Carter’s face.
Kelly jumped in quickly to defend him. “Sharon, kids are always drawn to tasty things, especially desserts. The more you tell them they can’t have it, the more they want it-sometimes even sneaking it behind your back. Isn’t it better to let them try just a little, under our watch?”
Sharon cut her off bluntly. “So this is the twisted logic you used to convince both Carter and Theo? You told them it was for his own good?”
Kelly looked startled, like a scolded schoolgirl caught in a lie. Her voice trembled. “I didn’t… Sharon, you’re really misunderstanding me…”
Carter seemed unable to bear Sharon’s unrelenting tone. “Sharon, Kelly’s not wrong. Letting him eat it in front of us is better than him sneaking it when we’re not looking.”
Sharon wasn’t letting up. “Better? He ended up convulsing from an allergic reaction. He nearly died. That’s what you call better?
Carter fell silent.
After a long moment, he finally said quietly, “This time… it was purely an accident.”
Sharon let out a cold, mirthless laugh.
Just then, Matty, who had been sitting quietly beside her, suddenly spoke up. “Sharon, this is so weird.”
Sharon looked down at him. “What is?”
With innocent clarity, Matty said, “Theo’s daddy and Kelly keep saying everything they do is for Theo’s good… but they don’t even know he’s allergic to nuts. They knew he couldn’t eat desserts, but still gave him stuff that’s bad for his body. Then they said it was for his sake. That’s just really strange.”
One of the paramedics nearby couldn’t help chiming in.
“It’s true that kids want to eat desserts, and letting them have a small taste now and then usually isn’t a big deal, but only when they’re healthy. But from what I’m hearing, this child has lactose intolerance and a nut allergy. His digestive system must be
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incredibly sensitive.
“High-calorie, high-burden foods like desserts aren’t good even for most adults, let alone a child like him. In his case, letting
him eat something like that isn’t love. It’s harm.”
Chapter 118
Kelly offered an awkward, embarrassed smile as she lowered her head and apologized. “I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful next time. I promise, it won’t happen again.”
The medical staff, seeing how quickly she admitted fault, decided not to press the issue.
Watching all this unfold, Sharon couldn’t help but feel a kind of twisted admiration for her. Kelly had a rare talent. She could appear delicate to draw sympathy, and steer the crowd in her favor with just the right expressions. And if things turned against her, she’d bend without breaking, apologize without hesitation.
Her skin was so thick, others would feel secondhand embarrassment on her behalf. But she remained perfectly composed, even smiling as she clung to the image she’d built for herself.
That was how she managed to keep both Carter and Theo tightly in her grasp..
The ambulance arrived at the nearby hospital. Theo was rushed into the emergency room.
Sharon sat with Matty on a bench in the corridor. They waited quietly.
Kelly stood outside the operating room, hands clasped, eyes brimming with tears as she whispered prayers. “Please, God, please … Let Theo be okay. I’m begging you…”
Her display of remorse moved Carter. He spoke gently, “Kelly, this wasn’t your fault. You didn’t do it on purpose.”
Wiping at the corners of her eyes, Kelly replied, “If something really happens to Theo… how will I ever face him again?”
Sharon looked at the pair, her gaze frosty. The sight of them made her stomach turn.
Then Matty’s soft voice broke the silence.
“Sharon, didn’t the doctor say Theo’s not in any real danger? Why is Kelly crying like someone died?”
Sharon glanced at him, her voice tender. “I’m not sure either. Why don’t you ask her yourself?”
Matty nodded obediently. He walked over to Kelly and gave a light tug on her sleeve. “Kelly, why are you crying so hard?”
Kelly felt her performance unraveling-again-at the hands of this child. She was growing more and more irritated. But with Carter nearby, she had no choice but to maintain her carefully curated image.
She crouched down and explained patiently, “I’m just very worried about Theo.”
“But… isn’t he okay now? If you keep crying like this, someone might think he died.”
Kelly froze, then quickly covered Matty’s mouth. “Shh, you can’t say such unlucky things.’
She took him by the hand and led him a few steps away, just about to start working on his impression of her, when Matty suddenly dropped to the floor with a soft thud.
He looked up at her, eyes wide, clearly hurt and confused.
Kelly stood still, stunned, not sure how to react. “I-I didn’t push you…”
Sharon rushed over and helped Matty up. “Matty, are you alright?”
“I’m okay, Sharon,” Matty murmured, head down, his lips trembling. “I’m sorry… I said something wrong.”
Sharon noticed the dried blood on his arm-the wound from earlier, when he had tried to help Theo and Kelly had pushed him down.
Her gaze chilled.
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the raised her head, looked Kelly straight in the eye, and said one wordt text sherp
“Apologize.”
Before Kelly could speak, Matty cut in “Sharon, 1 fell on my own. I didn’t stand steady, it’s not Kally’s Land”
Sharon’s tone was firm and cold. “Matty, don’t defend her, I saw it with my own eyes. The gashed you. Do you think I’d lie about that? Besides ”
Her eyes never left Kelly, “tot long ago, you pushed him once already-when he tried to help Theo. Did you think I wouldn’t remember that?”
Chapter 119
“You owe Matty an apology, Kelly,” Sharon said.
But Kelly didn’t even glance at Sharon. Instead, she turned quickly to Carter, her voice laced with urgency.
“Carter, I didn’t. I swear I didn’t push him…”
Carter’s eyes flickered, and just as he was about to speak, Matty’s voice cut in first. “Sharon, let it go. Don’t ruin your relationship with Kelly and Theo’s daddy because of me. I wanted to save Theo. No matter how badly I got hurt, it was my own
choice.
“Daddy says we shouldn’t use our injuries or sacrifices to morally guilt others. And Kelly is a grown-up. Grown-ups don’t have to apologize to kids, right?”
Coming from a five-year-old, the words carried a sting of irony that couldn’t be ignored.
Everyone present, aside from Matty, was someone close to Theo. And Kelly had always put on the face of someone wholly devoted to him. Yet now, the person who had risked his life to save Theo was standing there, wounded and wronged-receiving neither thanks nor an ounce of kindness from Kelly or Carter.
It was laughable. Ridiculous.
Even if Carter had the urge to take Kelly’s side, there was no way he could push back against a child.
After a long, quiet pause, he finally spoke. “Kelly, apologize to him.”
Kelly stared at him, eyes wide with disbelief.
If she chose to apologize on her own, that was one thing. But being told to? By Carter? That was something else entirely.
Her eyes reddened.
“Carter, I really didn’t…”
Carter cut her off. “Matty saved Theo’s life. For Theo’s sake, thanking Matty-or apologizing-is the least we can do.”
He looked at her, gaze steady and quiet. “Or is it that, even for Theo, you can’t bring yourself to say a single word?”
Kelly’s expression wavered. The gentle, pitiful mask she wore almost cracked.
And then it hit her-this scene felt all too familiar.
Three pairs of eyes watching her with quiet judgment…
Wasn’t this her usual tactic?
Her eyes snapped to Matty.
This kid… was playing her own game against her.
When Matty noticed her gaze, he looked up, blinking innocently. “Sharon, it’s okay, really. I’m fine.”
And now, Kelly finally understood how Sharon must have felt.
Wronged. Stifled. Beaten-by a five-year-old.
Bitterness welled up in her chest, but she forced herself to wear a look of remorse.
“Matty, I’m sorry. I was too panicked at the time… That’s why I pushed you. Please don’t hold it against me, okay?”
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Matty nodded with understanding. “I know you didn’t mean to, Kelly. I don’t blame you.”
A soft ding sounded from the elevator down the hall as the doors slid open.
Two figures came rushing out.
“How’s Theo? Is he alright?”
It was Madeline and Denise,
Denise had gotten the call about Theo’s accident and immediately contacted Madeline. Upon hearing the news, she had rushed over in a panic.
“He’s still in emergency care,” Carter answered. “But for now, he’s not in any life-threatening danger.”
Madeline let out a breath of relief.
Then she turned and saw Sharon sitting quietly nearby. Her expression hardened in an instant.
She strode over, raised her hand, and slapped Sharon hard across the face.
“Is this how you take care of Theo?!”
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Chapter 120
The sharp sound of a slap echoed through the corridor.
Sharon hadn’t seen it coming. The blow landed squarely on her cheek, loud and heavy.
Madeline hadn’t held back. In an instant, Sharon’s face flushed red and began to swell.
Matty cried out, startled. “Sharon!”
Carter stepped forward, his voice low and tight. “Mom, what are you doing?”
Denise rushed over too. “Mom, calm down! This might be a misunderstanding!”
Only Kelly stood off to the side, the corners of her mouth curling into a small, satisfied smile, as if watching a show unfold.
Madeline stood tall and furious, her voice sharp and slicing. “What misunderstanding could there possibly be? She’s the one who’s always with Theo. If he ended up in the hospital, it’s her fault! Sharon, I’m telling you now-if anything happens to my grandson, I won’t let you off the hook, you wretched woman!”
Sharon stood there, disheveled from rushing to the hospital. She hadn’t had time to clean up. Her head was lowered, long hair falling across her face, making it impossible to see her expression.
Matty looked up at her with worry, instinctively reaching out and holding her hand.
“Sharon…”
Her hand was ice cold.
“I’m fine,” Sharon said quietly, finally lifting her head. Her eyes were devoid of warmth as they swept over Madeline’s aggressive face. Then, unexpectedly, she smiled.
The others froze. She had just been slapped, yet she was smiling.
Before anyone could speak, Sharon suddenly raised her hand and delivered two crisp slaps across Carter’s face.
Smack. Smack.
The room went still.
Madeline stared at her, finger trembling as she pointed. “Sharon… you dared hit my son?!”
Sharon looked her in the eyes, her voice slow and steady. “Carter isn’t just your son. He’s my husband. He’s Theo’s father. Those two slaps-I gave them on your behalf.”
Madeline shook with rage, nearly fainting.
“You-you’re rebelling now, is that it?!”
Sharon’s voice turned cold. “Rebelling? That’s a bit much, Madeline. If I’m getting hit for doing nothing, then the one who actually took Theo out deserves at least two.”
It was Carter who had taken the child out?
Madeline’s breath caught. She turned toward her son.
Carter stood stiffly, his face dark and sullen from the slaps. Meeting her eyes, he said, “Mom, this wasn’t Sharon’s fault.”
Madeline realized her mistake, but kept her chin raised, too proud to admit it. “She’s his mother. Isn’t it a woman’s duty to stay home, care for the kids, and support her husband? Even if it’s not her direct fault, she should take responsibility.”
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Sharon’s gaze was cool and clear.
“I take responsibility for my own actions. But am I also supposed to shoulder the consequences of my husband’s mistakes?”
She stared straight at Madeline. “Is that how little you think of women? Have you forgotten-you’re a woman too?”
Madeline’s face twisted with fury. She stepped forward, hand raised again, ready to strike.
Sharon didn’t flinch. Her voice dropped to an icy calm. “Try it, Madeline. If you touch me again, I’ll report you for assault.”
Madeline let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Assault? Didn’t you just hit Carter? You think the police won’t come after you too?”
Sharon smiled faintly, but her tone held a mocking edge. “You’re wrong. Carter and I are married. If there’s any violence between us, it’s considered a domestic issue. No one’s going to intervene.”
She looked Madeline straight in the eye.
“So it’s fine to hit ME, but I can’t lay a finger on him? Because I married a Biggs, I’m suddenly bottom of the food chain? What- I’m the easy target? The one you can just slap around whenever you’re pissed?”
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