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.

her exceptional musical talent, had spent years attending global masterclasses and exchange programs. Mastering multiple

wasn’t even worth boasting about.

shook his head firmly, disbelief hardening his face. “Wendy, stop lying for Mom. She never even went to college. How could

“Says who she didn’t go to

“Grandma said so.”

her temples, visibly exasperated. “Theo, you shouldn’t believe everything your grandma says. Your mom did graduate

as if she couldn’t

a child to admire his mother–to paint her as strong, brilliant, admirable. A little exaggeration here and there is understandable. But

brow arched, gaze sweeping Kelly from head to toe, laced with undisguised scorn. “Jealous of you? Honey, you and Sharon

anger. Instead, she smiled, like someone who’d already seen the ending

voice turning gentle again. “Theo, how about

memory of how cold his mom had been to him earlier surged back, and with it came

jutted stubbornly. “She doesn’t even want to be my mom anymore. I don’t want

to get the cup back from Kelly to give it to his mom, and she had