Side Chick Era... Over

Loving Mom 2

Carter’s brows drew tightly together. He said quickly, “I’ll be right there,” then turned and strode off without so much as a glance back at Sharon.

Sharon stood still, expressionless, watching his retreating figure disappear into the darkness.

She’d lost count of how many times, in the middle of the night, he had left like this—rushing to Kelly’s side at the news of another so-called “critical condition.”

…

The next morning, Sharon wheeled out her neatly packed suitcase, ready to leave.

As she passed by Theo’s room, her steps faltered.

After a moment of hesitation, she decided to go in and see him one last time.

He had been born prematurely. Ever since then, Theo had been frail and prone to illness. Because of that, she had always cared for him personally, never trusting anyone else to take her place.

He looked a lot like Carter—right down to the cool, distant temperament.

It was a weekend. Theo wasn’t at school and was seated at his desk, working on his homework.

When she entered, he greeted her out of habit, “Morning, Mommy,” and went right back to writing without looking up.

Sharon gazed at the profile of his face—so much like Carter’s—and finally said, “Theo, I’m leaving. Take care of yourself.”

He responded with a flat “Oh,” eyes still glued to his paper.

Ever since Kelly had appeared in their lives, he had grown more and more distant from her.

She still remembered that video Kelly once posted on social media.

In it, Theo was munching on cotton candy as he mumbled through sticky lips, “I just like being with Kelly. I get to eat all kinds of yummy things.”

Then Kelly said, “Theo, is your mommy not good to you?”

me what I can and can’t do, won’t let me eat this

between me and your mommy, who’s

treated me half as well as you do, I’d be so

understood. Compared to a strict mother, Kelly indulged him, spoiled him, and let him do whatever he pleased—of course she’d

his condition, she made sure he went to bed on time every night. With his

taken years of meticulous care before he finally

the process, he’d grown more and more distant

was almost out the door when Theo’s voice

“Mommy.”

Sharon turned around.

likes, Mommy will like too.

second.

closed her eyes and smiled

protect Kelly, haven’t you? From now on, you can protect her together with your

passed through Theo’s eyes. He didn’t understand what

simply turned

…

car was already

suitcase into the trunk, Wendy looked at her. “Sharon… you’ve really decided to go through with

a small nod.

“And… what about Theo?”

gave a bitter smile. “And besides… Theo might not even want to come with me. To him, Kelly

almost died giving birth to him—labored through an entire day and night. You’ve been by his side ever since, doing

father and son. Even their taste in

“And Carter… does

her head. “He’s probably

she got married, Sharon had owned a small apartment of her own. It had been a

the space,

gone shopping together since you had Theo. Want to hit the

Theo’s birth, Sharon’s life had revolved solely around home and Theo. She’d lost herself, her time, her

who she used