Side Chick Era... Over

Loving Mom 192

Chapter

Chapter 192

“How could Theo just disappear?!” Madeline’s voice rose, sharp with tension. “Are you sure he didn’t go to that birthday party he mentioned?”

Carter replied calmly, but with a grim edge. “He left both his phone and tracking watch at home. Clearly, he didn’t want to be found.”

Madeline gasped. “But he loves Kelly the most, doesn’t he? Have you asked her?”

“Not yet,” he said. “I’ll call her now.”

Theo was her precious grandson. Madeline hurriedly added, “Let me know if you hear anything… No, forget it. I’ll go search with Denise too.”

After hanging up, Carter dialed Kelly.

She sounded surprised when she answered. “Theo’s not with me… Is he missing?”

Panic crept into her voice. A real accident would ruin everything. Without Theo, she had no excuse to stay close to Carter. It was so much easier to manipulate a child than an adult.

a pause, her voice softened. “Carter, do you

furrowed. “But Marie is sure he left on his own. No

left his phone and watch behind. That’s not something he’d do if he was coming to see us. He didn’t want anyone to know where he was going. If he was coming to you-or me-why sneak around like

“Didn’t you say Sharon has been pushing

how much your son still needs his mother. That way, you’d think twice about the

this was planned. Maybe it was Sharon who reached out to him and made him run away from

a few seconds before answering. “I don’t

she brought

explain it exactly, but he had a feeling-Sharon

Kelly’s heart sank.

trusted

His attitude… had changed.

to be because of her little performance that day. Somehow, Sharon had

certain-Carter had always admired women with talent. If a woman was just a pretty face with no substance, no matter how stunning she looked, she couldn’t hold his interest. Just like Sharon used

exactly how Kelly had attracted him in the

She couldn’t let him fall

the amusement park, Sharon had no idea Theo had gone