Side Chick Era... Over

Loving Mom 4

Theo curled his lip. “My lactose intolerance is much better now. The doctor said it’s fine if I eat a little now and then. But Mom always wants to control me—make me do what she says.”

That word—control—coming from a five-year-old’s mouth, felt too heavy, too strange.

Carter was just about to respond when his phone rang.

He answered, and Kelly’s voice came through from the other end.

“Carter, are you home now?”

“Yes.”

“Sharon hasn’t come back yet, has she?”

He paused for a moment. “Why?”

“I think I just saw her…” Kelly’s voice hesitated. “She was having dinner with a young man. They seemed… close.”

She fell silent for a beat, then carefully asked, “Is it because of what happened earlier today? Did something upset her again? Carter, maybe you should explain things to her properly.”

A chill slipped into Carter’s eyes.

Sharon didn’t come home to cook—because she was out on a date?

His voice turned colder without him realizing it. “Where is she?”

Kelly gave him an address.

“I got it,” he said, and hung up.

…

In the restaurant, John Westin looked at Sharon steadily.

“Have you really made up your mind?”

She nodded. “Shaluna was something my mother custom made just for me… and I gave it up for my family, for five whole years.”

Her voice trailed off as she let out a quiet sigh. A hint of wistfulness flickered across her face.

you return, you’ll have to perform regularly.

health is fine now.” A trace of irony flashed in her eyes. “Besides, he doesn’t need

about Carter?” John asked. “Will he

mention of Carter, her gaze

permission.

her for a long moment. “But he won’t allow you to be around

don’t need his

was steady, but guilt surfaced on her face as she recalled how she’d once distanced herself from John—just because of something

murmured, “I’m

to me. It’s me who should be sorry. I promised your mother I’d protect you. But I didn’t have the strength to keep

was her senior. The two had studied violin together under her mother since childhood. Now, John was one of the most

him beyond the classical music world, turning him into a heartthrob with

he still couldn’t compare to

fault,” Sharon said

get to

“Sharon, what a surprise to

turned to see Kelly, dressed in a pristine white

disliked—twice in one day—what rotten

voice turned cold.

sweetly. “Don’t be upset, Sharon. I just found it

gentle—an image

Sharon suddenly seemed

could hear the taunt beneath Kelly’s

the flicker of smugness in Kelly’s gaze that hadn’t quite been

why is it rare for Carter to go home? Isn’t it because his time is

spread across Kelly’s face. She

didn’t

then you really don’t know your place.

Kelly let out a shriek and stumbled

react, a tall

“Kelly, are you okay?”

When she looked up and saw who it was, her

Sharon didn’t mean to. Please don’t be mad at her,

finally locking on

drew together, voice

“Sharon, apologize to Kelly.”