Chapter 121
“Madeline, I’m not your punching bag. I’m not here for you to vent your frustrations on.”
Sharon’s voice was calm, but it carried weight.
“Today, I let Carter take those two slaps for you-out of respect for your age. But lay a hand on me again, and I won’t hesitate to return the favor in full.”
Madeline’s lips trembled with fury. “You ungrateful bitch! You’d actually hit me?”
Sharon’s eyes were cold. “Try me.”
Madeline’s pupils contracted sharply. It was clear-Sharon wasn’t bluffing. She meant every word.
The tension in the room tightened, like a string pulled taut and on the verge of snapping.
Carter’s expression darkened, his voice low. “Sharon, that’s enough.”
Sharon turned to him, her tone laced with disdain. “You’re the last person who has the right to say that.”
Kelly couldn’t hold back any longer. “Sharon, no matter what, Madeline is still your elder. How can you talk to her like this?”
Sharon glanced at her. “Since you enjoy being humiliated so much, why don’t you slap yourself a few times and save us all the trouble?”
Kelly fell silent, not daring to utter another word.
Just then, the operating room doors opened, and a doctor stepped out.
“Which of you is the patient’s family?”
Madeline hurried over. “I am. How’s the child?”
“He’s had his stomach pumped. He’s stable now-no major issues,” the doctor replied.
But his tone shifted, edged with reprimand. “The child has a weak digestive system. There are many things he shouldn’t be eating. You need to be much more careful with his diet, especially when it comes to outside food.”
He paused, frowning. “And don’t you know he’s allergic to nuts? What kind of guardians are you?”
Madeline’s face stiffened. She turned and shot Sharon a cold glare, but thinking of what had just happened, said nothing.
The next morning, Theo slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was Sharon, asleep at his bedside. Her head rested on the edge of the bed, her breathing soft and even. Dark bruises had formed under her eyes-clearly, she hadn’t slept well.
So… she had stayed with him all night. She still cared.
A strange warmth spread through Theo’s chest, tinged with a faint ache.
It felt like something lost had quietly returned.
He had never felt this way before.
He used to fall ill all the time, and his mother had always been there for him. He thought it was only natural.
Who else would she take care of, if not him?
1/2
But one day, she suddenly withdrew all that warmth. Took it all back without warning.
He hadn’t known how to handle it. He missed it more than he expected.
He didn’t understand why he felt this way. He only knew-he didn’t like it.
As if sensing something, Sharon stirred and slowly opened her eyes.
When she saw he was awake, her face lit up with surprise and joy.
“Theo, you’re awake!”
“Yeah.” His voice was hoarse. “I’m thirsty.”
Sharon quickly poured him a cup of warm water and held it to his lips.
After drinking, Theo looked much better.
He glanced around and noticed that the room was empty-only Sharon was there.
“Mom,” he asked hesitantly, “where’s Daddy? And Kelly?”
Sharon’s smile faded.
She met his eyes and, after a moment, asked quietly, “Theo, tell me, why did you eat something you’re allergic to? And… what happened to the emergency spray in your pocket?”
2/2
