Chapter 148
Sharon let out a laugh, as if she’d just heard the punchline to a dark joke. “He likes Kelly so much, maybe he’s been hoping for this all along. Hoping we’d split up, so you could give him a new mom. You think… he’d try to stop us?”
Carter’s voice dropped low. “Sharon, can you not always let your imagination run wild?”
“Run wild?” Sharon’s lips curved faintly. She turned her gaze toward Theo. “Theo, tell your dad-between me and Kelly, who do you like more?”
The boy’s mind was already in chaos. Ever since she said the word divorce, everything blurred into noise.
Mom and Dad… were getting a divorce?
He had never even considered that possibility. He’d always believed, no matter what, his mom would stay with him, and with
Dad.
“Theo.” Sharon’s voice pulled him back.
He blinked up at her, dazed. The words between his parents barely registered.
Sharon repeated the question, this time slowly, clearly. “Between me and your Kelly, who do you like more?”
He was still small, but not that small. He knew what the right answer should be.
He should say: I like Mom more.
But when he looked into her eyes-so clear, so calm-the words caught in his throat and refused to come out.
“Hard to answer?” Sharon asked, her voice light but edged. “Why?”
Carter stepped in front of Theo, shielding him. “Sharon, what are you doing? Don’t put him in this position.”
“Oh, this is putting him in a position?” Her laugh was soft, almost gentle. “Fine. I won’t ask him. I’ll ask you instead. Carter, between me and Kelly, who do you love more?”
He pressed his lips into a line, about to answer when she cut him off.
“Don’t give me your usual deflections. Don’t say I’m being irrational, or that I’m making trouble for no reason. I’m tired of hearing that.”
She stood there, still as glass.
“If you’re a man, Carter, then answer me. Directly.”
The air seemed to hold its breath.
Theo looked up at his father, frozen. He didn’t know why, but a strong wave of fear rolled through him.
He liked Kelly-more than Mom. That much he knew.
Kelly was gentle. She was more capable than Mom. When she played the violin, she looked just like a fairy. And she always smelled nice.
Mom didn’t wear makeup. She always smelled like cooking oil or medicinal herbs. She scolded him. Always told him what he couldn’t eat. He stayed up late once, and she had nagged him for days.
༤ རྦ་ ཡེ །
But Kelly… Kelly gave him treats. Took him to play games Mom never let him try because of his weak health.
Even when he stayed up too late, Kelly only smiled at him and asked, “Are you sure you’ll be okay tomorrow?”
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And when he fought with Matty at school, Mom never took his side. She made him apologize-even when he wasn’t wrong.
But Kelly? She stood by him, no matter what. Right or wrong didn’t matter.
With Kelly, he felt truly spoiled. He could mess up, act out, and never worry-because Kelly would always speak up for him.
Even if he got into a fight with someone like that awful Matty kid, he could fight back. Because as long as Kelly talked to Dad, Dad would let it go.
But Mom? She’d just stand there in silence when Dad scolded him, like she didn’t dare speak. She wouldn’t even breathe too loud, let alone defend him.
Kelly had so many good points. Of course, he liked her more than Mom. Wasn’t that normal?
But… if Dad liked Kelly more than Mom too-
Was that normal?
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