Chapter 136
Carter’s face darkened. “Theo, be quiet.”
Theo flinched, shrinking instinctively behind Kelly.
She stepped in quickly, voice gentle, as if to shield him. “Carter, he’s just a child. Don’t be so harsh with him. Besides, you’ve always expected a lot from Theo, and he’s never disappointed you. He’s always at the top of his class. Isn’t it understandable he wants to be the best at everything?”
She glanced at Sharon, her tone soft but laced with meaning. “With a son as outstanding as Theo, Sharon should really work on improving herself, too. As parents, we shouldn’t be the ones holding our children back.”
Carter’s expression wavered slightly. The light in his eyes dimmed. He said nothing.
But Matty stepped forward, his voice clear. “Sharon would never hold anyone back! She’s amazing!”
Theo let out a scornful laugh. “She’s my mom. Don’t you think I’d know if she was amazing? Matty, if you’re smart, find someone else to perform with. Otherwise, when you get laughed at and end up crying, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Matty’s eyes blazed. He pointed at Theo, his voice sharp and firm in a way that was completely unlike his usual quiet self.
“Sharon’s nothing like what you said! You’re the one who’ll cry! Grades aren’t the only way to measure how good someone is. If you can’t even respect your own mom, what’s the point of being smart at all? The ones who get laughed at aren’t the ones who come in last. It’s the kids like you-mean, ungrateful, and always siding with outsiders!”
The words hit hard. Theo took a small step back, visibly rattled.
Kelly frowned. “Sharon, I understand you may not be happy with me visiting Theo. But Matty’s still a child. Was it really necessary to teach him to say things like that—just to attack your own son? If you’re willing to come back and take care of Theo properly, I can promise I won’t visit him anymore.”
Sharon nearly applauded. Really, it was masterful.
First, she implied Sharon had coached Matty to lash out at her own child. Then, she subtly suggested Matty was just a pawn— used and discarded. And finally, she painted Sharon as a neglectful mother who still had the nerve to keep others from stepping
A perfect display of weaponized language.
Carter looked at Sharon, eyes full of quiet disappointment. “Sharon, have you really fallen so far that you’re willing to use a
child?”
Sharon tilted her head slightly. “Kelly, would you do me a favor?”
The sudden shift threw Kelly off. “…What kind of favor?”
“Could you turn to Carter and say, ‘Carter, actually, Sharon is your daddy?”
Kelly froze.
No-everyone froze.
Carter’s face turned so dark it looked like a storm about to break.
“Sharon!”
&
“Sorry, just joking,” she said, though her tone lacked even a trace of apology. Her eyes sparkled faintly with mischief. “Maybe that was a bit much to ask. Let’s try something easier. How about you say… ‘Carter, the sun now rises in the west, pigs have wings, and they can climb trees.””
1/2
Matty looked up at her, bright-eyed, immediately playing along. “Sharon, I’m five years old and even I know the sun rises in the east. Pigs don’t have wings. And they definitely can’t climb trees.”
Sharon smiled. “You see Kelly over there? Whatever she says, someone out there will believe it. If she claims pigs can climb trees, someone will probably nod and agree.”
Matty tilted his head. “Really? Are there people that dumb?”
