Side Chick Era... Over

Loving Mom 10

Carter’s patience wore thin. His voice was cold and clipped. “That’s enough.”

Nate opened his mouth to speak again, but Kelly held him back, giving a small shake of her head.

“That’s enough, Nate. It’s fulliard’s birthday tonight. Let’s go.”

Nate caught the shift in Carter’s expression–dark and unreadable. He shut up and followed them in silence.

+25 BONUS

Inside the private room, Wendy had been planning to call in a few male escorts for the party. But Sharon firmly refused, leaving her no choice but to give up on the idea, albeit with obvious regret.

“The guys here are top–tier,” Wendy said wistfully. “Incredible bodies, killer abs… the kind that make you never want to let go once you’ve touched them. I’m telling you, it’s addictive.”

Sharon remained calm. “I’m planning to divorce Carter. I need to be careful right now. I don’t want to give them anything they can use against me.”

Wendy tapped her fingers on the table, thoughtful. “Makes sense. Wouldn’t want them flipping the script and playing the victim.

She was never the type to sit still for long. Since the models were out of the picture, she resorted to singing karaoke instead.

Time passed, though neither of them paid much attention to the clock. Sharon’s phone vibrated softly on the table. She glanced down. It was John.

She raised a finger at Wendy, mouthing a quick “hold on,” and stepped outside to take the call.

John wanted to talk about setting up his own studio. His contract with the agency was about to expire, and with Sharon considering a return to work, he figured it was the perfect time to start something new.

Sharon didn’t hesitate. She agreed on the spot.

After hanging up, she headed to the restroom. On her way out, she saw Kelly standing by the sink, touching up her makeup in

the mirror.

Their eyes met briefly. Sharon’s gaze was flat, uninterested, and she looked away.

She turned on the faucet, washed her hands, and was about to leave when Kelly called out.

“Sharon.”

“What

pulling something from

you

worn amulet.

Her breath caught, just for a

for, back when he

“What exactly are you

this back, his fever started to break. He got better. So now, he’s giving it to me–hoping it’ll heal me

Chapter 10

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when he suddenly became gravely with a high fever. Nothing worked–no medicine, no physical cooling. The doctors had exhausted every method. They even told the family to prepare

home.

quietly suggested

up. Desperate, she turned to anything that offered hope, even if it meant placing her faith

she returned with that charm, Theo’s fever began to fade. Slowly,

relied on her for everything, he once told her, “This is the charm Mommy got for me. I’ll wear it every day and keep it

that one day, this same charm

on her wrist. The bracelet shimmered softly, its pale

Sharon’s papils contracted sharply.

bracelet was Carter’s family heirloom. It was meant to be passed

never liked her. Not even a little. She never

to Theo,

refined, high–born women. She didn’t

said that Carter’s breakup with Kelly had been orchestrated by

Carter would go on to marry someone even less

Carter’s family had ever truly accepted her. Even the household staff treated her with condescension, convinced she’d schemed her

see her. On holidays and family gatherings, she was

Theo began to grow up–looking more and more like Carter, smart and charming–that things began to

lower her guard, for Theo’s

she even handed the emerald bracelet over–not to Sharon, but to Theo,

wife.

asked

Theo had refused.

future wife. If I

face had made her laugh at