Semua Bab Side Chick Era… Over: Bab 201 - Bab 210

"Theo said... he hates me," Matty murmured. "He doesn't want you and me to be together. He said the only reason he came to the amusement park was to make up with you. That if he just acted soft and sweet, you'd forgive him. And then you'd stop paying attention to me. He also said... he said..."Matty's eyes reddened suddenly. His voice caught in his throat, thick with the weight of something he didn't want to say.Sharon leaned forward. "He said what?""He said I'm just a substitute," he whispered. "Sharon, am I really just Theo's replacement?"His wide eyes shimmered with tears, like a stray animal left out in the rain—beautiful, fragile, and aching to be loved.Sharon's heart tightened. And with it, her disappointment in Theo cut deeper.A substitute?Theo was just like his father. They liked to play substitutes. Like father, like son.She knelt down to Matty's eye level. "You're not a substitute for anyone. You are yourself, Matty. That's more than enough. If you want an apo

At first, Theo had listened to her. But as he grew older, he began brushing off her words like dust on his sleeve—no longer bothering to hide his disdain."It was all his plan! He jumped in just to frame me!" Theo's angry voice snapped her out of her thoughts."He made sure I saw you two laughing together at the amusement park. Then he came right up to me and said it felt great stealing my mom. He said I wouldn't have a mom anymore. He was scared I'd take you back, so he jumped in first. If he can jump, so can I! Who's afraid of who?!"His voice cracked at the end. His eyes were red now, burning as he looked at Sharon."We both fell into the water at the same time, but you saved him first. You didn't even look at me. Do you really… not want me anymore?"Sharon was quiet for a moment before she spoke, her tone even."I didn't see you," she said. "I didn't know you had fallen in too."A little warmth returned to the cold stillness in Theo's chest."Then… about what I said to Matt

"If Theo is really that easy to manipulate," Sharon said coolly, "then maybe you should take a good look at yourself—ask why your own son has absolutely no instinct to protect himself. What happens if one day he gets kidnapped? Will you finally regret it then?"She paused, her gaze shifting to Carter, a mocking glint in her eyes."Oh, I forgot. Regret isn't really your thing. You're more the type to shove all the blame onto someone else. You never want to give anything yourself, yet you're quick to criticize the efforts of others. Carter, you're astonishing in how self-righteous you are."Her words hit their mark. For a second, Carter found himself speechless. Then his voice turned cold."Sharon, I thought you asked to speak with me because you had some remorse. If you just brought me out here to spout this nonsense, I suggest you save your breath."Sharon knew it was pointless. Talking to someone who lived inside his own narrative was like yelling into the wind. Even with facts l

As soon as Nate heard about it, he launched into a heavily embellished version of the story for Theo.The boy's face crumpled—equal parts sorrow and anger.Mom really had been bewitched by that awful Matty. She was a bad mom.Nate continued, his tone full of disdain. "Last time at the talent showcase, your mom only beat Kelly by sheer luck. She threw juice all over Kelly before the performance, remember? Not to mention, she used that legendary violin—Shaluna."With all those unfair advantages, she still only managed to win by 0.1 points. What's there to brag about?"Theo's expression dimmed.He'd truly thought his mom was amazing. But Kelly and Nate made it sound like she'd just gotten lucky.How could a mom who hadn't even graduated high school possibly be more talented than someone like Kelly, who went to one of the best music schools in the world?Besides… he had seen it with his own eyes—his mom really had thrown juice on Kelly.But Kelly didn't dwell on that. She said gen

Nate added, "Oh, right—they're going on a date tomorrow, too."Kelly's expression shifted instantly. "A date? Where are they going?""I didn't catch exactly where, but I heard Sharon say something about ten in the morning. Kelly, you have to make sure she doesn't get her way."A sharp glint flashed in Kelly's eyes. "I know."…When Wendy found out that Matty had fallen into the water and ended up in the hospital, she rushed over to visit him. Once she saw Matty was okay, she finally let out a breath.Then, turning to Sharon, she said, "By the way, Sharon, aren't you and John performing in a charity concert at the end of the month? He happens to be free tomorrow—why not take the chance to rehearse together? You could use your newly renovated studio.""Tomorrow…" Sharon paused for a moment, not giving an immediate answer.Wendy looked at her, surprised. "What's wrong? You're not free tomorrow?"Matty would be at kindergarten during the day, and usually Sharon didn't have other p