Xavier pulled his gaze back, his voice quiet. “No. I just didn’t expect you to care so much about Matty.”
Sharon offered a faint smile. “I imagine if you offered anyone else hundred and fifty thousand a month to take care of him, they’d put in the effort.”
Wendy chimed in from the side, her eyes gleaming. “Exactly. Forget a hundred and fifty thousand–if you offered me fifteen thousand, I’d treat Matty like royalty.”
Xavier let out a soft laugh, the corners of his eyes crinkling. His peach–blossom eyes shimmered with quiet amusement.
“All right then. I’ll have someone send you all of Matty’s information shortly. Before I go, there are a few things I’d like to tell him,” he said, glancing at Matty.
Catching the cue, Sharon nodded. “I’ll wait downstairs with Wendy.”
She left the room with Wendy, gently pulling the door closed behind her.
As soon as she was gone, Xavier raised an eyebrow. “You’re sure it’s her?”
Gone was Matty’s lethargy. He straightened up. “Yeah. It’s her. I want her to be my mom.”
Xavier rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “If it were any other woman, could just throw some money her way–even if she had a husband or a kid, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But this one… she’s Carter Biggs’s wife. Not exactly someone you can just take.”
“I don’t care,” Matty said, stubbornly. “I want her to be my mom.
“Well, timing is everything.” Xavier smiled faintly. “Six months ago, that would’ve been impossible. But now… it might just work.”
“In the past half–year, Carter’s antics for his little lover have made plenty of headlines. And somehow, both father and son seem to have the same taste–her kid even likes that woman too.”
He looked down at Matty. “And now Sharon’s moved out, living alone… The opportunity’s there. It’s up to you to take it.”
There wasn’t a trace of childish innocence on Matty’s face. He nodded, serious and determined. “I’ll do my best to win her over.”
“That’s the spirit.” Xavier ruffled his hair, lips curling in a slight smile. “If you want something, you’ve got to fight for it. Even if it means using a few tricks.”
He paused, then asked, “So? What is it about her that you like?”
Not long ago, Matty had transferred to an elite kindergarten. Just days in, he came home saying he’d met someone–someone he wanted to be his mother.
Xavier assumed it was a woman with ulterior motives, someone deliberately cozying up to his son. But after a little digging, he found out it was Carter’s wife.
She didn’t appear much in public. A full–time housewife, rarely photographed. There weren’t even pictures of her online. Everyone knew Carter had married in secret, but no one knew who his wife actually was.
Lately, though, Carter’s name had been all over the news–linked to another woman. The media buzzed with speculation that his secret wife might actually be Kelly.
“I watched her for a few days,” Matty said. “She looked at her kid with such gentle eyes. Not like the other moms. I think… that’s how a mom should look.”
Night had fallen by the time Wendy dropped Sharon off at her apartment. Matty was fast asleep in the back seat.
Once the car was parked, Wendy turned to watch Sharon carefully lift him out of the car.
1/2
Chapter 20
+25 BONUS
“Sharon, are you really going to take care of this kid? I mean, the money’s good, but… his dad doesn’t seem like someone easy to deal with. It anything happened to the boy, he wouldn’t let it slide.
Sharon’s expression remained calm. “I know.”
“Then why still say yes?”
Now that the money–induced daze had worn off, Wendy was starting to see the bigger picture.
Sure, if everything went smoothly, it’d be fine. But if something went wrong… Sharon would be the one paying the price.
Sharon let out a quiet sigh. “To be honest, Wendy… I just needed something to keep myself busy.”
Chapter 21
+25 BONUS
Chapter 21
