Chapter 133
“Theo, I’m sorry,” Kelly said another time. “I have a full-body check-up later, so I can’t stay with you today. I’ll come back
tomorrow.”
“Theo,” she said another time, with a soft sigh, “I’m not trying to avoid staying the night with you. It’s just… your mom has such a deep bias against me. If she saw me here, she’d be even less willing to come visit you…”
His grandmother and aunt had stayed with him for two days, but they complained about the hospital-said they couldn’t sleep well-and once they left, they never came back.
Dad was too busy with work, then suddenly went on a business trip. There was no way he could stay.
In the end, it was the housekeepers from home who took turns looking after him at the hospital.
After that day, Mom didn’t come again either.
Not even a phone call.
Kelly told him it was because Mom hated her, and since he kept spending time with her, Mom didn’t want to see him anymore.
But Theo knew deep down that wasn’t the real reason.
Mom was angry because he ate something he wasn’t supposed to. But he’d only had a little. Why was she being so petty?
So what if he had an allergic reaction? It was just an accident.
Her coldness, her sudden change, made Theo angry. Really angry.
Then the voice of the kindergarten teacher broke through his thoughts.
“Has everyone finished filling out their performance sheets?”
A chorus of tiny voices answered, “We’re done!”
“Good,” the teacher said. “I will collect them now. If there are any changes, let us know by Friday.”
Each child had to discuss their performance with their family, then fill it in on the form.
Based on that, the teachers would invite professional judges to score the acts live.
Live scoring-pretty brutal for kids this young.
But this wasn’t the kind of kindergarten where you just played and had fun. It was a place meant to shape futures.
This talent showcase was about developing each child’s artistic potential.
After class, Theo strutted over to Matty with his usual smugness.
“Hmph. You again? I bet you’re skipping the event, like always. Just making excuses because nobody wants you.”
Theo had always hated Matty.
His mom had been “taken” by Matty, after all.
And Matty always pretended to be sweet while mocking him behind his back.
Theo was sick of it.
Ever since Kelly told him Matty had tried to mess with the doctors during his emergency, on purpose, he couldn’t stand him.
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when no one was looking-he had to be the
he’d started picking on Matty whenever he had the chance.
Every time, Matty stayed quiet.
Theo figured it was guilt. What else could it be?
Matty was coloring when Theo came over. He paused for just a second at the sound of those words.
“You didn’t see the form our teacher collected?” he said softly. “Sharon already agreed. She’s going to perform with me this time.”
Theo froze, then snapped, “No way! She wouldn’t! That’s impossible!”
Matty set down his crayon, a quiet smile playing on his lips.
“Maybe Sharon sees me as her own son,” he said. “That’s why she’s willing.”
He leaned in close, lowering his voice just enough-his tone carrying a smug edge, just a touch of challenge. “Starting today, I’m her son. You’re the one nobody wants. Theo, Sharon doesn’t want you anymore.”
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