Chapter 5

Sharon turned her head and saw Theo standing behind Carter. Though he was speaking to her, his gaze remained fixed on Kelly, worry written plainly across his face.

Since forever, even the slightest sign of trouble from Kelly would send both Carter and Theo into a frenzy of concern.

There was a time when the four of them went to a park together. No one could tell if it was a heatstroke or some sudden onset of illness, but Kelly suddenly looked as if she were about to collapse. Both Carter and Theo rushed toward her at once.

In his panic, Carter even pushed Sharon to the ground. And yet, no one noticed.

The cruelest part? Later, when Carter saw her injured and bandaged hand, he actually asked her how she'd gotten hurt.

The memory shattered as Kelly's fragile voice broke into her thoughts. "Theo, I just lost my balance. It had nothing to do with your mother."

Kelly shook her head at Theo, tears sliding down her cheeks in pitiful silence. "It's my body… it's just too weak…"

Theo pouted, lips pushing forward. "But I saw it. I saw Mommy push you."

He turned to Sharon then, his little face serious. "Mommy, you always told me that when someone makes a mistake, they should admit it and fix it. You're a grown-up… you wouldn't go back on your word, would you?"

Sharon had put everything into caring for Theo's health. But when it came to his studies, she had hardly needed to lift a finger.

At only five years old, Theo was already fluent in three languages and possessed an extraordinary gift for speech. More than once, he had left grown adults speechless.

Carter's mother often said the boy's brilliance reminded her of Carter when he was young.

And now, this little boy was using that sharp mind… against her, for Kelly's sake.

As his mother, as an adult, she knew she had to set the right example. If she couldn't live by her own words, how could she ask a child to?

Sharon looked at her husband and son, both standing beside Kelly. In that moment, she felt that they looked more like a family than she ever had with them.

She had long since stopped hoping for anything from this father and son, but still, Theo's words pricked at her heart.

Lowering her gaze to meet his eyes, Sharon said softly, "You're right. I did tell you that if we do something wrong, we should apologize. But—"

She paused, her voice calm and deliberate.

"I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?"

In the past, she would've yielded. She always did when it came to Theo.

But today, she didn't.

Theo spoke without thinking, "But I saw you push Kelly."

Sharon didn't argue. Instead, she smiled faintly.

"Just because I pushed her… does that mean I was wrong?"

"But Mom, you said hitting people is wrong…"

Her tone was light, even serene. "And I also told you that we shouldn't bully others. But that doesn't mean we should let others bully us. If someone keeps crossing the line, then—you shouldn't hold back."

For all his cleverness, Theo was still only five. He hadn't expected her to say something like that. For a moment, he was stunned into silence.

Just then, John's voice came from the side. "Theo, that's not how you speak to your mother."

Both Carter and Theo turned toward the sound, surprised. As if they had only now noticed John standing nearby.

Theo blinked. "Mr. Westin?"

Carter's expression darkened. "Why are you here?"

John — Sharon's childhood friend and senior schoolmate — was someone Carter had met many times. He'd heard about him from Sharon, too.

She once told him that John had grown up without parents, raised by his grandparents.

By middle school, he had lost even them, and was left completely alone in the world.

It was around that time Sharon's mother discovered his musical talent and took him under her wing.

But John had been a withdrawn, melancholy child who ignored everyone around him. It took Sharon three years to get through to him, for him to accept her as a friend and fellow student.

And yet, for reasons Carter couldn't explain, he'd disliked this man from the very first moment they met.

"You can meet your ex-girlfriend, but it's strange that Sharon has a meal with someone who's like family to her?"

John's tone was flat, but every word carried weight, each one slicing through the pretense like a blade.

He stripped away Carter and Kelly's carefully constructed facade with chilling precision.

Carter's eyes darkened, and his face hardened. "Sharon, come home with me."

She answered without emotion, "No. I'm still eating with John."

His voice grew cold, laced with threat. "Sharon, I'll say it one last time. Come home with me."

She knew this tone well — it meant he was furious. If she didn't yield now, it wouldn't end with a simple fight.

He would take action. He always did.

She could never forget that night, when thunder rolled through the sky and rain soaked her from head to toe. She had knelt at his feet, soaked and shivering, begging him with tears streaming down her face to return Theo to her.

He had looked down at her, cold and arrogant, and asked, "Do you admit your mistake?"

The sound of her tears had echoed against the ground like rain, and in the end, she could only agree to apologize for Kelly's fall into the water.

He always had a way of forcing her hand.

The thought made Sharon smile.

Then, calmly, she said, "No."

Carter's eyes turned icy, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"Sharon, think carefully about the consequences."

She met his gaze without fear.

"Mr. Biggs, whatever tricks you've got, go ahead and use them."

Her only weakness had ever been Theo. But now, she didn't even want him anymore. Carter had nothing left to threaten her with.

Turning to John, she said, "John, the vibes here aren't great. Let's find another place to eat."

He paused for a beat, then nodded. "Alright."

Without sparing the three behind her another glance, Sharon picked up her bag and prepared to leave.

Behind her, Theo called out stubbornly, "Mommy, are you really not going to apologize to Kelly?"

She paused, just for a second — then walked away without looking back.

Carter stood where he was, watching her retreating figure. His gaze grew colder and darker by the second.

Beside him, Theo stared after her too, a flicker of confusion crossing his delicate little face.

Something about his Mommy felt different.

Noticing both of their gazes locked on Sharon, Kelly's eyes gleamed with something sharp and cold. Then, all at once, she let out a weak gasp. "Ah…"

In an instant, both Carter and Theo snapped their attention back to her.

Kelly's face was pale. Her body swayed unsteadily, as if she might collapse at any moment.

Carter's expression shifted, and without hesitation, he swept her up into his arms.