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.”

as a smile started to spread across his face, something seemed to dawn on him. His expression

are you going to become…

ready to speak up, but Kelly held up a hand, stopping him. She gave him a subtle shake of her head before turning

only have at most

he called her “pretty sister” or “Kelly.” Now, hearing himself address her so

but Theo wasn’t a child you could

Chapter 7

+25 BONUS

now remembering. He didn’t even know why he’d asked that kind of question. Regret crept in.

so gentle–how could he have

didn’t have much time

was still a child. He didn’t notice that from beginning to end, Kelly had never actually answered

realizing it and murmured, “Kelly, I’m

soft and warm. “It’s alright. Let’s not talk about that anymore. Think about

the awkward moment and happily launched into a conversation with her

want fried chicken

thinking, Kelly

your health isn’t great. The doctor told

if it’s just once in a while,” she said lightly, glancing back at Theo. “Besides,

book? You’ve got to

who never let him eat anything fun, and suddenly felt like–yeah, Kelly really understood

just always told him

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

furrowed his brows.

11

“No one

the housekeeper, appeared from the

with irritation. “Why

still standing there, and hesitated. Her voice was

it’s usually Madam who wakes Theo

she wakes the

was cold, the silence between his words

worked there for five years, but she had never seen him this angry. His presence–long accustomed to command- filled the room with an undeniable pressure. She couldn’t help but shrink

she thought about how much Madam had done over the years, only to have it go unappreciated, Marie couldn’t hold back a

prepared meals. Some of the herbs for these meals take over two hours to stew, and the process is incredibly intricate. Madam even studied herbs for a long time

Specially prepared incals?

+25 BONUS

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