Chapter 139
Theo stood closely by Kelly’s side, his posture full of trust, of dependence.
Carter suddenly realized something unsettling-his wife and son, somewhere along the way, had turned into strangers. No, worse than strangers-opposing forces, like oil and fire.
Sharon was showing affection to someone else’s child, while his own son placed his full trust in another woman.
Where had it all gone wrong?
Things used to be fine.
“Theo,” Carter finally said, his voice level. “You weren’t fully conscious at the time. You didn’t see clearly what was happening. But the truth is, it was your mother and that boy who saved you.”
Theo blinked, stunned. “No way. That’s impossible. They couldn’t have saved me!”
Sharon’s gaze shifted lightly. “If you don’t believe it, why don’t you ask Kelly?”
Theo immediately turned to Kelly. “But Kelly, didn’t you say-”
“Theo!” Kelly cut in sharply, eyes flashing as she shot him a warning glance. “It’s true. Your mom and that boy saved you…”
Sharon caught every bit of Kelly’s panic. “Kelly, what was Theo about to say just now? Why not let him finish?” 1
Matty chimed in, tilting his head innocently. “Sharon, is there something wrong with Kelly’s eye? She keeps blinking and winking. We have great eye drops at home. Should I recommend her some?”
Even Carter, no matter how slow he was to pick up on things, couldn’t ignore what was happening now.
Still, with so many people around, he couldn’t ask directly. Instead, he gave Kelly a long, unreadable look, then turned toward the kindergarten teachers.
“What exactly happened this time?”
The teachers, who had been quietly enjoying the drama unfold, now stepped in. After witnessing enough of these interactions, they had begun piecing together the bigger picture, and there was no small amount of curiosity still lingering.
“Well,” one of them began, “it wasn’t anything too serious. Just… a quarrel between the two children…”
She paused, glancing between Carter and Sharon.
“Would you both mind stepping aside to talk privately?”
There was more than one teacher per class. Two of them guided Carter and Sharon into separate offices for a one-on-one
conversation.
Theo and Matty had been either fighting or arguing far too often. It was beginning to affect the other children. After a discussion with the principal, the staff was even considering whether one of them needed to be asked to leave.
While the teachers spoke with Carter and Sharon, Kelly seized the chance. Hurried and uneasy, she pulled Theo aside into a quiet corner of the school.
“Theo,” she said quickly, crouching down in front of him, “didn’t you promise me you wouldn’t tell anyone I was the one who told you that?”
“I’m sorry, Kelly. I didn’t mean to mess up. It’s just…” Theo looked at her, confusion furrowing his small face. “Didn’t you say Mommy and that bad kid Matty stopped the doctor from saving me? But Daddy says they’re the ones who saved me…”
1/2
Kelly leaned in, her voice low and coaxing. “Silly boy. Your dad just didn’t want to hurt your feelings. He and your mom aren’t getting along, so he told you that on purpose…”
Before she could finish, a soft, clear voice rang out behind them.
“You’re lying.”
Both of them jumped and turned at the same time.
Matty stood a few feet away, his eyes calm and clear, watching them steadily.
“I was wondering why you two slipped away like that. So it was to whisper secrets in the corner.”
Kelly stared at Matty like she’d just seen a ghost. “You…”
Gone was the pitiful, naive expression Matty had worn earlier. In its place, sharp intelligence gleamed in his eyes-cunning, cool, and far too knowing for a child his age.
2/2
