Chapter 196
Theo had been raised under a strict, elite education from the very beginning.
Swimming-one of the most basic survival skills-was something he had mastered when he was just a few years old. In his kindergarten, swimming was a required course. In certain situations, it could mean the difference between life and death for a child. They even held swimming competitions during final exams.
Matty, on the other hand, hadn’t yet learned how to swim. Last year, he’d accidentally fallen into the ocean, and the trauma had left him with a deep fear of water. Still, he knew it was something he had to overcome. He’d made up his mind to learn before the end of the semester-to face that fear, head-on.
Sharon had encouraged him when she heard.
Theo froze, his breath suddenly uneven.
Right. He had forgotten. He could swim.
Just moments ago, he had followed them-shadowed their steps-only to be caught by Matty.
“Theo,” Matty had said. “You really followed us all the way here? After trailing behind us this whole time… what’s it feel like?”
Theo had already been seething, watching the way Matty and Sharon interacted, so naturally close. It drove him mad.
He didn’t hold back. “I’m her son. No matter how nice she is to you, you’ll never take my place. I can call her Mom. You can only call her Sharon. That’s the difference between us. She’s ignoring me right now because she’s mad. That’s all. You? You’re just a substitute. You want to bet that if I apologize, act cute a little, she’ll come right back to me? And she won’t even look at you again.
Matty’s eyes narrowed.
He always tried to provoke Theo, and sometimes succeeded in getting Sharon to side with him. But deep down, he knew-Theo still held a bigger piece of her heart.
Still, he wasn’t worried.
If he had enough time-if he was good enough to her-eventually, he would become the one she cared about most.
But he was still a kid. He couldn’t hide his emotions like adults could. Knowing something in your head was one thing. Hearing it out loud-those harsh, cruel words-was another.
If Theo really did go running back to Sharon and threw a few sweet words her way…she might just come back to him. And Matty
couldn’t let that happen.
No way. He wouldn’t let her be taken back.
He turned his head and saw the lake nearby. Suddenly, an idea sparked. He remembered how Kelly had once deliberately fallen
down the stairs to frame Sharon.
If he hadn’t recorded that video, Sharon would’ve been blamed. By both Theo and his dad.
An idea clicked into place.
Deliberately, Matty said, “If I’m really so much less than you, then why would Sharon tell me a secret… about you?”
Theo blinked, caught off guard. “A secret? What secret?”
“Not telling.” Matty stepped toward the lake. “I’m going to find Sharon now. Bye.”
1/2
Theo’s curiosity snapped into high gear. He had no idea what his mom might’ve told this annoying kid. He followed quickly.
“Matty! Tell me! What did Mom say to you?!”
“Nope. Not telling. Not telling!”
In the middle of their back-and-forth, as they tugged at each other, Matty suddenly let himself fall into the lake.
Just before he hit the water, he gave Theo a sly, victorious smile.
“If I tell Sharon that you pushed me in… she’ll stay by my side to take care of me.”
Theo hadn’t seen it coming. He stood there, stunned.
By the time he snapped out of it, Matty was already thrashing in the water, crying out for help.
2/2
