Side Chick Era… Over

Carter turned to Theo, who stood quietly to the side.

"Theo, wait here for me," he said.

Theo gave a small nod, obedient and aware. He knew Carter needed to tend to Kelly first.

As soon as Carter stepped away, a murmur of conversation rose from a nearby table.

"Dennis, look," a woman whispered. "That little boy over there looks even younger than you, but he stood up for his mom and drove away the mistress. Impressive, isn't he? When you see that awful woman again, you need to learn from him. Don't be scared, alright?"

Theo heard them and turned his head toward the voices.

A woman in her thirties was sitting at the next table, dining with a little boy who looked around seven or eight.

The boy—Dennis—nodded earnestly.

Noticing Theo looking their way, Dennis jumped off his chair and walked up to him.

"You're amazing. Can you teach me how to get rid of a mistress?"

Theo blinked, a little thrown off. "Mistress?"

Dennis thought Theo didn't know what that meant and proceeded to explain with grave seriousness.

"A mistress is someone who comes between a mom and dad. The third person. She ruins everything. She makes your mom sad, and she makes your parents get divorced. Women like that are bad!" Dennis's face twisted in anger. "Lately there's been this bad woman who keeps clinging to my dad. But…"

His voice faltered, replaced by a look of helplessness.

"But I don't know how to make her leave. I don't know how to protect my mom."

He looked up at Theo again, his eyes filled with admiration.

"You were so cool just now. Just a few words, and that woman ran away. Your mom and dad got back together, right? Can you teach me how you did it?"

Theo was still struggling to process it all. "Got back together…?"

But… wasn't it Mom who left first?

Dennis tilted his head, confused. "Didn't that woman just get scared off by what you said? And didn't your dad carry your mom away right after?"

Mom?

So Dennis had mistaken Kelly for his mother?

At that moment, Dennis's mom walked over too. She reached out and gently patted Theo's head.

"You're such a good boy," she said warmly. "You didn't hesitate at all to take your mother's side. Not like my Dennis—he once said the bad lady was nice just because she gave him candy."

Dennis scratched his head sheepishly. "Mom wouldn't let me eat candy. I couldn't resist…"

"I don't let you eat it because I don't want your teeth to rot. When you're older, you can eat as much as you want."

Dennis hugged his mother's arm and whined softly, "I know now, Mom. You're just looking out for me. Don't stay mad, okay?"

"That woman almost sold you off. Took that for you to realize your mom's not so bad after all."

Dennis let out a goofy laugh. "Hehe… better late than never!"

Though the woman kept chiding her son, her eyes betrayed nothing but affection and tenderness.

…

More than half an hour passed before Carter and Kelly returned.

"I'm really fine, Carter," Kelly said helplessly. "It's just low blood sugar… no need to go to the hospital."

Carter's tone was firm, his face stern. "You're fainting more often lately. We should get you checked, just in case it's something more serious."

Something flickered across Kelly's face—barely perceptible.

Lately, in an effort to keep Sharon on edge, she had indeed asked Carter to come over more than she used to.

"I'll be alright," she said. "It's getting late, and Theo hasn't eaten yet. Let's let him eat first. I can go to the hospital tomorrow—it's the same."

They spoke as they walked, making their way back to Theo.

He sat alone at the table, staring blankly out the window, a faraway look in his eyes—lost in a way he had never been before.

Carter didn't notice. He simply stepped in front of him.

"Kelly's not feeling well. I'm going to take her to the hospital. We'll eat dinner after."

His voice was calm, but there was no room for argument in his words.

For all his outward coolness, Carter was inherently domineering. Once he made a decision, it was rarely overturned.

On any other day, Theo would've agreed without hesitation. But today, something felt different.

Sharon's face floated into his mind.

Until today, she had always prepared his meals on time.

He had a weak stomach—he needed to eat regularly. Even when they were out with Kelly and it got late, Sharon would insist he eat something light to tide him over.

She'd even customized those snacks just for him.

Her cooking was excellent, though after a while, eating the same things did get old.

Outside food always looked more exciting, more tempting. Gradually, he'd stopped enjoying the things she made.

Kelly's soft voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Carter, Theo's body is weak. Let's let him eat a little first."

Carter's voice was cool. "Your health is more important."

Kelly's cheeks flushed slightly. She didn't argue, only looked down and smiled gently at Theo. "How about we get you a slice of strawberry cake to eat on the way?"

Strawberry cake—Theo's favorite.

On any other day, he'd have jumped for joy.

But now, he only gave a quiet nod.

"Okay."

Kelly noticed something odd about him today, but didn't dwell on it.

After asking the server to pack up a slice of cake, she took his hand, and they walked out of the restaurant together.

…

On the way to the hospital, Kelly sat in the passenger seat, turning back every now and then to remind Theo to be careful while eating.

"If I didn't get carsick, I'd sit in the back with you," she said with a sigh. "Then I could take better care of you."

Even when Sharon was around, Kelly had insisted on sitting in the front. Her reason was always the same: she got motion sickness, and sitting in front made it easier.

Theo looked at the cake in his hands.

Suddenly, he remembered what Dennis's mom had said—that she didn't let her son eat candy because it was for his own good.

He looked up.

"Ms. Walt, are you a mistress?"