Chapter 57
“All the other kids have their parents with them,” Matty said, his voice small and uneven. “But my dad doesn’t care about me… I just don’t want the others to think I don’t have a mom or dad.”
Thinking of how Matty’s mother had passed away early on, Sharon couldn’t help but soften.
There were many classrooms at the kindergarten, and if she was just there to help excuse Matty from activities, the chances of running into Carter and Theo were low. And even if they did cross paths, it didn’t matter.
She just didn’t want to see anyone she disliked. That was all.
Sharon gave a slight nod. “Okay.”
She deliberately avoided the start of the event.
By the time she and Matty entered the kindergarten, the parent-child event had already begun.
From the direction of the playground came the hum of excitement-cheering, laughter, a warm chaos.
Matty, still so young, was instantly drawn in.
His eyes lit with curiosity. “Sharon, can I go take a look?”
She nodded. “Go on. I’ll wait here for you.”
“You’re not coming?” he asked, puzzled.
“No,” she replied softly. “I’ll stay here.”
Matty hesitated, then nodded without insisting. “Okay, I’ll just watch for a bit and come right back.”
Theo would never be this easy.
If he wanted something and she said no, he would immediately put on a face.
He wouldn’t lash out, no-he had his father’s coldness. He’d go silent, freeze her out, and let the air between them frost over.
A few minutes later, Matty returned, cheerful and bright.
“Theo’s parents are amazing! They’re in first place right now!”
Sharon’s heart stung. “Theo’s… parents?”
Matty’s expression dimmed slightly, though his admiration lingered.
“Yeah. At school, Theo always says his dad is the most amazing person in the world, and his mom is the most beautiful. The best parents anyone could have. Some of the other kids didn’t believe him at first, so he said he’d bring them both to the parent- child day to prove it. And today, he really did. And they are amazing.”
Sharon stood in silence, unable to respond.
Still caught in her thoughts, she barely heard Matty continue, “Before, some kids thought the young lady who always picked him
up was his mom. But Theo said no-she’s just the nanny. And now he’s won one of the games and he’s bragging to everyone about how cool his parents are.”
She had heard it before, from Kelly, that Theo only ever saw her as a nanny.
But hearing it from Matty-those casual, innocent words-it suffocated her.
No wonder Theo was always so ungrateful about all her sacrifices. He had thought of her as just the nanny, no different from
1/2
Marie, their housekeeper.
“Sharon, you look really pale. Are you feeling sick?” Matty had finally noticed her expression, his voice tinged with concern. ” Do you want to see a doctor?”
She gently touched the top of his head and said softly, “No need. Let’s go talk to your teacher first.”
He nodded obediently. “Okay.”
It wasn’t convenient to bring him along while speaking with the teacher, so Matty went to wait in the music room nearby.
He had heard Sharon was a violinist, and had taken an interest in the instrument himself. He’d even said he wanted to learn from her one day.
After finishing her conversation with the teacher, Sharon left the office and headed toward the music room to find Matty.
But just as she stepped outside, she ran into someone she never expected to see.
