Side Chick Era... Over

Loving Mom 337

Theo’s voice faltered, his mind flashing back to that recent talent how competition the one where his mom, together with that awful Matty he hated, had taken first place.

Matty’s words pierced something in him and not just him. Kelly simile flickered, her lips tightening ever so slightly as a cold glint briefly crossed her eyes.

Losing to Sharon had always been her greatest humiliation.

But soon enough, Kelly pulled her smile back into place like slipping on a mask.

“Well, since it’s a parent–child event,” she said lightly, “If Sharon wants to accompany Theo, I’m happy to step aside.” respond, Theo huffed, lips curling in disain. “Kelly, there’s no way Mom knows any foreign

Before Sharon could even w

languages!”

Wendy couldn’t hold back anymore. “Theo, who told you your mom doesn’t speak any foreign languages? Her skills are actually excellent.”

A Bell University student, after all, had to be. It was an international conservatory filled with musicians from every corner of the world, with every language imaginable floating through its halls. If you couldn’t handle foreign languages, you couldn’t even survive your courses, let alone excel.

years attending global masterclasses and exchange programs. Mastering multiple languages–mainstream and obscure- was as

Wendy, it wasn’t even worth

for Mom. She never even went to college. How could

“Says who she didn’t

“Grandma said so.”

exasperated. “Theo, you shouldn’t believe everything your grandma says.

laugh, as if she

as strong, brilliant, admirable. A little exaggeration here

undisguised scorn. “Jealous of you? Honey, you and Sharon aren’t even in the same league. Don’t

trace of anger. Instead, she smiled, like someone who’d already seen

“Theo, how about this? Let

the memory of how cold his mom had been

stubbornly. “She doesn’t even want to be my mom

to get the cup back from