Chapter 106
It was a video from a recent parent-child activity at the kindergarten.
Theo had just won first place and was now surrounded by a crowd of excited children. His face glowed with pride, basking in the
admiration.
One of the kids asked, “Theo, were those your mom and dad who came to play the game with you?”
Theo hesitated, then gave a small nod.
The children around him gasped in envy.
“Theo’s dad is so cool! He’s handsome and looks so powerful-and he’s great at games too!”
“And his mom is so pretty, and she seems really gentle!”
The wave of compliments seemed to lift Theo higher and higher. He tilted his delicate chin up, soaking it all in like sunlight.
Then another child asked, “Hey, Theo, you never mentioned your mom before. I thought you didn’t have one. What does your mom do?”
Theo answered with pride, “She’s a violinist. She’s really amazing. She’s going on a concert tour in a few months.”
“Whoa!” the kids chorused, visibly awestruck. “Your mom is that talented?”
“No wonder Theo kept her a secret. If I had such a beautiful and talented mom, I’d hide her too, so no one could take her from
me.”
“I wish my mom were like that… but she just stays home all day. She doesn’t even work. My grandma says she’s like a vampire… It’s so embarrassing. I don’t even like talking about her. Theo’s mom is way,better.”
Voices piled on, one after another, building Theo up higher and higher. He floated in their praise, lost in the feeling.
Then someone asked, “But Theo, a while ago I saw a pretty lady dropping you off at school every day. I thought she was your
mom.”
Theo’s face tightened.
“She’s not my mom,” he snapped. “She’s just our nanny.”
The video ended.
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Sharon’s fingers curled unconsciously into fists.
She already knew, from what Kelly and Matty had told her, how Theo saw her. She thought she was prepared. But hearing it with her own ears-watching Theo’s face as he said it—was like something sharp plunging straight through her chest.
Theo’s gaze flicked to the screen, a flash of unease crossing his eyes.
Kelly gently patted his hand. Only then did he manage to calm himself down.
The next few clips were ordinary, daily routines from the kindergarten. Nothing stood out.
Until the final video played, drawing everyone’s attention back to the screen.
In it, Matty walked up to Theo.
“Theo, why did you lie?”
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Theo was bent over, drawing. When he heard the voice, he turned his head sharply, irritation on his face.
“Lic?”
“Sharon is your mom. Why did you say that mean lady was your mom?”
Theo curled his lip, clearly unimpressed.
He didn’t even bother to explain. His voice came cold and flat. “That’s none of your business.”
Matty’s voice rose, frustrated. “Don’t you know that saying that kind of thing would hurt Sharon?”
“So what? No matter what I say about her, she’s still my mom.”
Matty raised his voice. “I won’t let you talk about Sharon like that!”
Theo was getting annoyed, his tone turning sharper. “She’s my mom, not yours. Why are you so mad? Are you jealous I have a mom and you don’t?”
The words landed hard.
Matty froze. His face turned completely pale.
The kindergarten teachers watching couldn’t help but feel a wave of sympathy for him.
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