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.

university offered comprehensive language programs, and Sharon, with her exceptional musical talent, had spent years attending global masterclasses and

her and Wendy, it wasn’t even

disbelief hardening his face. “Wendy, stop lying for Mom. She

“Says who she didn’t go

“Grandma said so.”

“Theo, you shouldn’t believe everything

a soft laugh, as if she couldn’t hold it in

please, Wendy. I get wanting a child to admire his mother–to paint her as strong, brilliant, admirable. A little exaggeration here and there is understandable. But lying just out of pure

head to toe, laced with undisguised scorn. “Jealous of you? Honey, you and Sharon aren’t

trace of anger. Instead, she smiled, like someone who’d already seen the ending to a play. “Well. If that’s what you say… then

voice turning gentle again. “Theo, how about this? Let Sharon accompany you to

mom had been to him earlier surged back, and

doesn’t even want to be my mom anymore. I don’t want her to

gone out of his way to get the cup back from Kelly to give it