Side Chick Era... Over

Loving Mom 17

hapter 17

The little boy looked up at her and repeated, “You bumped into me. You have to take responsibility.”

Sharon studied him for a moment, then asked gently, “Do you want me to take you to the hospital?”

After a few seconds of hesitation, he gave a small, deliberate nod.

She tried again. “Should we call your parents first?”

This time, he shook his head hard, no trace of hesitation. His resistance was clear as day.

Sharon frowned slightly. Could he be… a victim of abuse? Was that why he didn’t want to involve his family?

In any case, a check–up wouldn’t hurt. If she found any signs of serious injury, she’d have no choice but to call the police.

With that thought, she softened her tone. “Okay. I’ll let my friend know, and then I’ll take you to the hospital.”

She reached out and gently took the boy’s hand.

His hand was cold.

It reminded her of when Theo had been weak and frail, his body always chilled. Back then, the doctors said his condition was congenital–nothing that could be resolved quickly. It would take years of careful care and treatment.

guilty, wishing she could take his pain as her own. But

did everything

learned acupuncture and massage therapy,

was that instinct of a mother, something that stayed with her even when she was disappointed in Theo. Now,

surprise

was warm and soft, a kind of warmth that made him want to hold

and looked down

reason, the boy quickly lowered

of it and led him

Sharon

door was dim, and Wendy could only make out that Sharon was holding hands with a small child. She hadn’t seen the boy’s face clearly and

said. “I bumped into him in the hallway. He didn’t look well, so I’m going to

boy stepped into the light, Wendy finally saw his

beautiful kid! He could pass for

over, reaching out to pinch

ducked away, slipping behind

for a second, then let out a laugh. “What a little

Chapter 17

gently, “maybe don’t. He probably doesn’t ke being touched

+25 BONUS