Chapter 8
She rubbed her eyes, trying to make sure she hadn’t seen it wrong
Beside her, Theo noticed Marie’s odd behavior and couldn’t help asking, “Marie, what’s wrong?”
Cautiously, Matie handed her phone to Carter. “Sir, it’s…”
Carter lowered his gaze/
Sharon had left the group chat.
His face darkened.
The next moment, his phone rang.
Kelly’s choked sobs came through the receiver. “Carter… what should we do? Sharon seems really upset…”
Carter suddenly thought of Sharon.
He rarely saw her cry.
The only time she had, it was after she pushed Kelly into the water and landed her in the ICU–still, she stubbornly refused to admit fault.
To punish her, he took Theo back to his parents‘ home and told Sharon that if she didn’t apologize, she’d never see Theo again.
At the time, Theo was suffering from a relapse of his old illness and running a dangerously high fever.
Sharon chased them to the estate, but he hadn’t allowed anyone to let her in.
That night, a torrential rainstorm swept in.
Everyone had been too busy tending to Theo’s fever to remember she was waiting outside.
It wasn’t until the butler quietly reminded him that he even remembered she was there.
She was brought in, soaked to the bone.
That was the first time he saw her cry.
Kelly’s weepy voice dragged him out of the memory.
“I just saw… Sharon left the group. Carter, maybe we should just let it go. If she doesn’t want to make the medicinal meals for me, let’s not trouble her…”
For some reason, an uneasy restlessness stirred in him.
He said, “Alright.”
Kelly went silent for a moment, seemingly caught off guard by his reaction.
“I’ll find a personal caretaker to prepare your meals and take care of you,” he said calmly, “Since the medicinal dishes help your condition, I’ll have a specialist handle your health from now on.”
Reflexively, Kelly tried to refuse. “Carter, that’s not necessary…”
She wasn’t joking–those medicinal dishes tasted awful.
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She’d never eaten a single bite of the ones Sharon made. Every dish had gone straight down the drain.
The menus she sent were just her way of making things difficult for Sharon.
But Carter, unaware of her real motives, gave no room for argument. “It’s settled. I have things to take care of. I’ll hang up now.”
Chapter 8
+25 BONUS
The line went dead before she could say another word.
Staring at the blank screen, Kelly sat stunned.
A personal caretaker?
If she didn’t eat those meals properly, and the staff reported back to him, wouldn’t her lie be exposed?
Her jaw clenched.
Damn Sharon. She must be behind this.
Her resentment deepened.
Meanwhile, Marie almost broke into celebration. She was finally free of this thankless job–if she could, she would’ve popped a confetti cannon.
In a wealthy household, a wife occasionally cooking could be seen as a way to nurture bonds or cultivate inner peace.
But cooking every single day?
What difference was there between that and being a maid?
No wonder the lady of the house got angry enough to walk out.
After hanging up, Carter turned to his son. “Sit and eat. I’ll take you to kindergarten after.”
Theo rubbed his eyes and nodded obediently.
He wasn’t as healthy as other kids to begin with, and the recent string of late nights was starting to wear on his small body.
Father and son sat facing each other, quietly eating breakfast.
Sharon usually handled Theo’s daily care and schooling.
Carter, busy with work, rarely got involved.
Now, in the silence, something hung heavy between them.
Theo chewed on Marie’s breakfast, but no matter how much he ate it didn’t taste right.
His taste buds had been spoiled by Sharon. He just couldn’t get used to Marie’s food.
Then, from the other end of the table, his father’s cool, clear voice broke the silence.
“Those things you said yesterday–who taught you that?”
Theo paused; startled, and looked up to find Carter staring straight at him, eyes sharp and unblinking.
Before Theo could speak, Carter asked, “Was it your mom?”
Theo wasn’t afraid of his mom, but he was always intimidated by his stern, distant father.
He lowered his eyes. “…No. Mommy didn’t teach me that.”
But to Carter, that very hesitation looked like guilt.
So that’s what she taught him at home?
A faint, mirthless chuckle escaped him.
“If she can’t even teach a child properly, maybe she should take some time to reflect.”
Then he turned to Theo.
Chapter 8
“You’ll stay at Grandpa and Grandma’s for the next few days.”
Theo had wanted to say something, but the moment he heard those words, his eyes lit up.
+25 BONUS
He remembered what his aunt had once told him–how last time, after Mom pushed Kelly into the water and refused to apologize, Dad sent him to his grandparents‘ house. Eventually, Mom broke down and cried, apologizing to both Dad and Kelly.
Maybe… if he went back to his grandparents‘ house this time, Mommy would apologize again.
In Sharon’s apartment, Wendy stared wide–eyed as Sharon quit the group chat and blocked both Carter and Kelly.
“Sharon, are you serious this time?”
Sharon didn’t lift her head until everything was done. “Do I look like I’m joking?”
Wendy let out a long sigh. “You said the same thing last time when Kelly fell into the water–you were dead set on not backing down. But then Theo got sick… I’m worried Carter might use the boy to get to you again.”
Women were soft–hearted by nature. For their children, they could endure almost anything. 1
That’s probably why people say men always assume that once there’s a child, they’ve got the upper hand. And more often than not, they’re right. Eighty percent of women cave once a child is involved. 1
But Sharon’s voice was calm. “Don’t worry. Not this time.”
Wendy still looked skeptical. “Really?”
Sharon gave a faint smile. “Yeah. I used to think that giving everything to Theo made me some kind of a great mother. But in the end, the only one who was moved by all that… was me.”
“Well then…” Wendy grinned, mischief lighting up her eyes. “Tonight, I’m treating. We’re going out–and I’m gonna take care of you properly.”
Wendy was single and proud of it. She loved bars, clubs, and everything that came with them.
Sharon waved it off quickly. “No, no… I’m good.”
“Good? What do you mean good?” Wendy cut her off. “Back at Bell University, you were the campus queen, remember? Do you know how many guys fell for you during prom night, after that dance performance of yours?”
Wendy pouted dramatically. “Our Sharon plays the violin, dances beautifully, and is drop–dead gorgeous. You were every guy’s dream–and you ended up with that clueless jerk Carter who didn’t even know how lucky he was. There are tons of good men in this world besides Carter. Just come with me tonight, for fun. Loosen up a little.”
In the face of Wendy’s relentless persuasion, Sharon finally gave in
At 8 p.m., Sharon and Wendy stepped into the bar.
It wasn’t the wild scene Sharon had imagined. In fact, the place had a more refined air than most bars.
Wendy raised an eyebrow at her. “This place just opened. The eye candy here? Top tier. I promise you won’t regret coming.”
Since she was already here, Sharon didn’t hold back. She smiled. “Alright.”
Just as the word left her mouth, a voice rang out behind her–familiar, and unmistakably mocking.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Carter’s little shadow. What–here to sniff him out again?”
Chapter 9
