Chapter 65
Theo’s face set stubbornly. “I’m not apologizing to him.”
Sharon didn’t push. She simply said, “If you don’t want to apologize, then step aside.”
There was a time when Sharon moved around Theo like a shadow, always busy with him. Now, she was cold-almost indifferent –and telling him to apologize to another child. That kind of change was hard for Theo to accept.
“I won’t let you take care of him!” Theo snapped.
Sharon’s voice was calm, almost teasing. “Why should I listen to you?”
“Because you’re my mom!”
“Mom?” Sharon smiled softly, a quiet irony in her tone. “Aren’t I just your nanny?”
Theo was left speechless, eyes wide.
Kelly frowned, clearly uncomfortable. “Sharon, kids say what they think. Theo’s still little. Why argue with a child?”
Sharon looked up at Kelly, steady and cool. “Kelly, this is my family business. You’re an outsider; you have no right to interfere.”
She repeated exactly what Carter had said earlier. Kelly’s eyes reddened instantly, her face folding into a look of hurt.
“I’m sorry… I spoke out of turn. I just think Theo is still a child, and as his mother, Sharon, you shouldn’t talk to him like that.”
Sharon was blunt. “How I am as a mother, how I speak to Theo-that’s my business. You don’t get to teach me. Our family matters are none of your concern.”
Her words cut hard.
Tears welled in Kelly’s eyes, spilling down her cheeks like a fragile flower trampled underfoot-pitiful in the extreme. 1
Nate pointed at Sharon, voice raised. “Sharon, how can you talk to Kelly like that? Are you acting so cocky because someone’s got your back today?”
Sharon smiled lightly. “Yeah, normally I don’t dare talk like this. Four against one isn’t fair, you know.”
With that, she ignored Nate, turning instead to Theo, who was blocking the doorway.
“We’re leaving now. Please move.”
Theo clenched his teeth. “If you leave today, I won’t call you my mom anymore. You have to choose-me or that bastard!”
She had heard that exact sentence more times than she could count. It wasn’t that it didn’t hurt. But by now, all that was left was
numbness.
“Fine. Then I choose Matty.”
With those words, Sharon stepped around Theo and opened the door.
Theo stood frozen, stunned, as if he’d been hit. He never expected her to be so cold.
Xavier glanced at everyone’s expressions, shrugged with an indifferent smile, and followed her out.
Only then did Theo feel a nameless panic rising inside him.
He looked helplessly at Carter, eyes red.
“Dad, does Mom really… not want me anymore?”
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Before Carter could answer, Nate scoffed dismissively.
“No way. Sharon’s just trying to make you and Carter jealous by choosing them. Don’t believe her. Remember when she faked being sick and even pretended to be kidnapped just to get your attention? She’s done worse.”
Theo looked at Nate, uncertain. “Nate, is that really true?”
“When have I ever lied to you? Just wait and see. As long as you and Carter don’t fall for it, Sharon will come back on her own soon enough.”
Theo still looked uneasy. “Really?”
“Of course!” Nate said with conviction. “Once a woman has a child, she’ll be loyal to her family and kids to the death. I’ve got a buddy whose wife was icy and distant before the baby. After the baby came, you couldn’t get rid of her. Funny thing-my buddy’s first love came back recently. His wife begged him not to divorce, saying she wanted to give their kid a complete family.”
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