Chapter 193
The first time a person filed for divorce, they would have to wait six months before they could file again. Then there was mediation, more paperwork-layers of procedure. To actually finalize it? One would have to look at two years, minimum.
Getting married was easy. Just sign a paper.
But divorce? It was hard. Even if both parties agreed, there was still a mandatory cooling-off period.
On the other end of the line, silence lingered for a few seconds.
“Sharon,” Carter said. “Is Theo with you?”
Sharon frowned. “No, he’s not.”
“You’re sure?” he pressed. “Theo really isn’t with you?”
Her tone began to cool. “Carter, what exactly are you trying to say?”
“Theo’s missing.”
Her voice turned cold. “Then go look for him. Why are you calling me? You think I can just conjure him out of thin air?”
“You don’t sound surprised. Not even a little worried,” he said.
Kelly’s words still echoed in his mind, planting seeds of doubt.
And Sharon… she didn’t sound shocked at all.
But Sharon wasn’t slow. She caught his implication instantly and let out a low, bitter laugh.
“When I was worried sick about him, you and your mother were the ones always saying I was overreacting. That I was anxious, dramatic. Remember?”
There was a pause.
“Sharon,” Carter said quietly, “now isn’t the time to dig up the past.”
“Oh? Then what is it?”
“You’re his mother. If you wanted to take Theo out, all you had to do was tell me. There was no need to sneak around.”
Sharon didn’t bother softening her voice. “Exactly. I’m his mother. If I wanted to take him somewhere, why would I need to sneak around? Maybe ask Kelly-Theo likes her so much, maybe he snuck out to find her.”
“I already did,” Carter said. “She said he’s not with her.”
“Well,” Sharon replied flatly, “now you’ve heard it from me too. He’s not with me.”
She hung up without waiting for a response.
Matty looked up at her and asked in a quiet voice, “Sharon, did something happen to Theo?”
Sharon answered, “His dad called. Said Theo went missing.”
Matty’s eyes widened. “How could he go missing? Should we go help look for him?”
“No need,” Sharon said, her expression calm. “He probably snuck off to see Kelly.”
She added, almost to herself, “Besides, with Carter’s resources, finding a kid is easy. He doesn’t need us.”
1/2
She wasn’t about to humiliate herself again.
Elsewhere, Simon rushed in with an update.
“Sir, we found Sean. He went to the amusement park. Alone.” 1
“The amusement park?”
Carter’s brow tensed. Suddenly, he remembered the faint background music he’d heard during his call with Sharon.
His eyes snapped to Simon, sharp as blades. “Where is Sharon right now?”
Simon was thorough. The moment Carter told him to investigate Theo’s whereabouts, he’d looked into everyone connected to the boy-Sharon, Kelly, Madeline-everyone.
He lowered his eyes. “She’s… also at the amusement park.”
Carter’s lips pressed into a hard, cold line.
He’d chosen to trust Sharon. And she’d lied to him.
His eyes darkened. “Get the car. We’re going to the park. And have someone hold Sharon there-don’t let her take a single step
outside.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll take care of it.”
Simon pulled the car out and headed straight for the amusement park.
They weren’t even halfway there when Carter’s phone rang again.
“Sir! Sean fell into the lake!” (1)
Today’s Bonus Offer
GET IT NOW
2/2
