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.”

expression turned

going to become… a

to speak up, but Kelly held up a hand, stopping him. She gave him a subtle shake of

forget? I only have at most half a year left

sister” or “Kelly.” Now, hearing himself address her so differently-“Ms. Walt“-a flicker

wasn’t a

Chapter 7

+25 BONUS

He didn’t even know why he’d asked that

gentle–how could he

besides, she didn’t have much time

he was, he was still a child. He didn’t notice that from beginning to

realizing

“It’s alright. Let’s not talk about that anymore. Think about what you’d like to

quickly let go of the awkward moment and happily launched into a conversation

want fried

even thinking,

“Kelly, your health isn’t great. The doctor told you to avoid fried

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

book? You’ve got to indulge now and

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

always told him

next morning, as Theo descended the stairs, rubbing his eyes with sleep still clouding his face, he

shuffle downstairs, Carter furrowed his brows. “Theo, why

11

lowered his head. “No one woke me

appeared from the kitchen,

to her, sharp with irritation. “Why didn’t you wake

still standing there, and hesitated. Her voice was

Madam who wakes Theo

by Madam, and she

voice was cold, the silence between his words thick with

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

then, as she thought about how much Madam had done over the years, only to

stomachs and can’t just eat anything. You need specially prepared meals. Some of the herbs

Specially prepared incals?

+25 BONUS

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