Chapter 125
Carter was silent for a few seconds.
“With all the cakes available, why did you have to choose the one with nuts?”
Sharon met his eyes without flinching. “So what are you saying? That I deliberately tried to harm Theo?”
“You wouldn’t have picked that cake,” Carter said, gaze unwavering. “If I’m not mistaken, that piece was ordered by Matty, wasn’t it?”
Sharon blinked, then understood exactly what he meant.
She didn’t get angry. She laughed instead. “Yesterday, Matty saved your son. And today, you’re accusing him of trying to trigger Theo’s allergy? Carter, do you even hear yourself?”
Carter’s brows drew together. “You can know someone’s face, but not their heart. He’s picked on Theo more than once behind our backs. Theo’s suffered plenty because of him.” (1)
A quiet, liquid trace of sarcasm flickered in Sharon’s eyes.
“So let me get this straight. Kelly didn’t mean any harm, she’s innocent. But a five-year-old child-he’s the one with the scheming mind, craftier than a twenty-something adult. Is that what you’re saying?”
She stared at him. Her voice was sharp with contempt. “Would you dare say something that absurd in front of a stranger?”
Carter didn’t answer.
Sharon let out a humorless laugh.
Of course, he wouldn’t. They only dared say things like this to her.
With disgust, she yanked her hand free from his grip.
“As for why I lashed out at Kelly just now, maybe you should ask your beloved Kelly. She knew Theo was still recovering, that he just had his stomach pumped yesterday, and yet she still made him seafood porridge.”
Seafood porridge?
Carter glanced down at the mess on the floor.
The spilled porridge looked plain-just simple white porridge, nothing unusual.
“Sharon… are you sure?”
She hated this-this familiar rhythm of being doubted, then forced to prove herself all over again.
Her voice was icy. “I cook every day. My sense of smell is sharp. The seafood in this is faint, but it’s there. My nose doesn’t miss things like that. If you don’t believe me, get it tested. See if there’s any trace of seafood in that bowl.”
Kelly’s face turned pale.
“Carter… I’m sorry,” she whispered. “There really was… some seafood in it…”
Carter stared at her, stunned. “You actually added seafood?”
Kelly hadn’t meant to admit it, but she knew-if Sharon really pushed this and the porridge was tested, she’d be caught. Her intentions would be laid bare.
Better to admit it now and try to spin it.
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Chapter 125
+25 BONUS
Her eyes reddened as she spoke. “I looked up a few porridge recipes online yesterday… Some said adding seafood would bring out more flavor, so I thought… I added just a little. I’m sorry, I didn’t know better…”
Sharon’s expression curled into something cold and mocking.
“Ignorant? Even elementary school kids know patients can’t eat seafood, or anything cold or irritating. Are you saying you know less than a child, Kelly?”
Kelly bowed her head, tears falling again. “I thought… just a little would be okay…” 1
Sharon laughed scornfully.
“First, you knew Theo was lactose intolerant, and you still let him try ‘just a little.’ Now, his stomach is weak, and you feed him seafood porridge-again, ‘just a little.’ Theo has a sweet tooth. If he begged for sweets, I could believe you gave in. But he doesn’t even like seafood.”
She paused here, her tone tightening, sharpness cutting through the air.
“So tell me, Kelly, what exactly were you trying to do, sneaking seafood into his meal?”
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