Chapter 190
It was that awful Matty again-him and his dad.
And… his mom.
Sharon was holding Matty’s hand, leaning close, talking to him with a soft, warm smile on her face.
It was so different from the cold, distant look she always gave him.
Theo felt something stir, faint and blurry, like an old photograph half-lost in memory. She used to smile at him like that too, didn’t she?
When had that stopped? When had her eyes turned so cold?
He followed the three of them from a distance, watching as they rode the Ferris wheel, the carousel, the pirate ship.
They even played the balloon shooting game.
Matty won a stuffed animal, then grinned like an idiot as he handed it to Sharon.
She took it with a laugh, gave him a thumbs up, clearly impressed.
Theo scoffed.
He was way better at shooting than Matty.
And yet, seeing that smile on his mother’s face-it felt like something sharp lodged in his chest.
He muttered under his breath, “Grandma was right. Mom really hasn’t seen much of the world. It’s just a stupid toy. I could win one in seconds… What’s there to be so happy about? Matty can only win some cheap stuffed animal. I could’ve won that crystal music box instead. If I gave that to Mom, she’d be over the moon…”
His voice faltered.
He suddenly remembered-he’d already given that music box to Kelly.
She’d just smiled and said thanks, polite and indifferent. Not like his mom. Not like this.
So Mom was that easy to please?
But he hadn’t just given away the music box. He’d given his mom’s birthday gift to Kelly too.
A strange feeling crept up from deep inside-a quiet, shapeless regret.
He wished-really wished-he could make his mom smile like that at him again.
Theo kept following them.
He noticed, keenly, that every time they needed water, food, or help carrying things, it was Matty’s dad who stepped up.
His mom and that stupid kid just sat on the bench, chatting and laughing, waiting.
But whenever his mom went out with him, Dad, and Kelly, his mom was the one doing everything-carrying, buying, running around.
Every time they went out, his mom ended up sweating through her shirt, and never once did she smile.
And during the happiest moments, his mom would always remind him-don’t eat this, don’t touch that. One thing after another, all forbidden. It ruined everything.
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Chapter 190
But with Matty… when Mom reminded him, he didn’t get annoyed. Instead, he smiled and said, “Got it, Sharon. I’ll be more careful next time.”
When she told him not to eat junk food, Matty looked a little disappointed but still nodded. “Alright. I’ll wait until I’m healthy again… Sharon, can I have your pineapple cakes tonight?”
She laughed, gently ruffling his hair. “Sure. I’ll make them as soon as we get home.”
“Yay! Sharon, you’re the best!”
In that moment, Matty’s face glowed with the simple joy only children had-pure, open, nothing like the sneaky, two-faced version Theo knew.
What was so great about her pastries? He’d had them so often he was sick of them.
So why did he suddenly want one now?
Why did his chest feel so tight?
Not long after, Xavier came walking toward them, holding three crispy ice cream cones.
