Side Chick Era... Over

Chapter 7

Loving Mom 7

Kelly froze. For a second, she wondered if she’d misheard.

“…What?”

Theo repeated the question, his tone serious.

“Ms. Walt, are you a mistress?”

She hadn’t expected that—hadn’t even come close.

The word “mistress” was loaded, sharp, and deeply wounding–especially for a woman.

Her expression went stiff, and for a long moment, she couldn’t respond.

“Theo. Do you even know what you’re saying? Where did all your manners go?” Carter’s voice came low and cold, displeasure laced through every word.

Snapping back to herself, Kelly quickly tried to smooth things over

“Carter, don’t be angry. He’s just a child. He doesn’t know any better.”

She paused, a trace of sorrow in her voice.

I know… Sharon never liked me. But no matter how much she dislikes me, she shouldn’t say things like that to Theo. Adults should keep children out of these matters. He’s innocent. He’s still so young…”

The implication was clear–there was no way Theo could’ve come up with those words on his own unless someone had taught him.

Carter didn’t say a word, but the tight line of his lips and the sudden chill that swept through the air made his displeasure unmistakable.

Theo was a sharp kid. Even though his father hadn’t spoken, he could still sense that something was wrong. The mood had shifted.

He opened his mouth, instinctively trying to explain. “It wasn’t Mom who said that, it was…”

Before he could finish, Kelly cut him off. “Theo, I know. That didn’t come from Sharon. Must’ve been something some random person said on the street, right?”

Theo didn’t catch the underlying message in her words. He just thought Kelly was amazing–like she somehow knew everything. He nodded seriously.

“That’s right. I heard it at the restaurant earlier. Some people at another table were talking.”

Kelly smiled gently. “Theo, I believe you.”

on him. His expression turned serious

going

held up a hand, stopping him. She gave him a subtle shake of her head before turning back to

forget? I only have at

address her so differently-“Ms. Walt“-a flicker of unease stirred in Kelly’s

might only be five, but Theo wasn’t a child you could treat like fast any

Chapter 7

+25 BONUS

as it just now remembering. He didn’t even know why he’d asked that kind of question. Regret

was so kind, so gentle–how could he have

she didn’t have much

didn’t notice

without realizing it and murmured, “Kelly,

voice still soft and warm. “It’s alright. Let’s not talk about that anymore. Think about what you’d like to eat later, and I will

awkward moment and happily launched into a conversation with

want fried chicken

thinking,

great.

while,” she said lightly, glancing back at Theo. “Besides,

everything’s always by the book? You’ve got to indulge now and then–otherwise, where’s the

Sharon, who never let him eat anything fun,

told him what not

the stairs, rubbing his eyes with sleep still clouding his face, he found Carter sitting at

furrowed his brows. “Theo, why haven’t you gone to kindergarten

11

head. “No one woke me up.

Marie, the housekeeper, appeared from the

to her, sharp with irritation. “Why

still standing there, and hesitated. Her voice was awkward as she

Madam who wakes Theo

hardened. “The meals are prepared by Madam, and she wakes the child.

the silence between his words thick

worked there for five years, but she had never seen him this angry. His presence–long accustomed to command- filled the room with an

about how much Madam had done over the years, only to have it go unappreciated,

prepared meals. Some of the herbs for these

Specially prepared incals?

+25 BONUS

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