The Villain Mom Awakens — Going Viral by Parenting on a Reality Show-Chapter 26: Chelsea Raines Was So Jealous Her Teeth Hurt

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Chelsea Raines Was So Jealous Her Teeth Hurt

"This is all my fault. I wasn’t thinking straight. Nina, please forgive me!" Renee Jennings said, bowing deeply again. She then pulled Nathan Lynch over, intending to make the child apologize with her.

Her pitiful performance, however, made Naomi seem like the aggressor.

Naomi Kenway reached out, grabbed her wrist, and smiled. "Didn’t I already forgive you? I had no idea, Ms. Jennings, that you had a penchant for obsessively apologizing to people."

Renee Jennings’s expression stiffened slightly.

"I respect other people’s hobbies, but I’m not a fan of this one myself. Don’t do it again."

Naomi Kenway smiled gently, but for some reason, a chill ran down Renee Jennings’s spine.

"Nina, as long as you forgive me, that’s all that matters. In that case... I’ll take Mona and head back."

Before leaving, Renee Jennings didn’t forget to glance at Naomi Kenway’s potato patch. It looked like she had dug up about half the plot, roughly the same progress as herself.

’I haven’t even had a sip of water. Naomi must have wasted so much time just teaching Mona how to dig potatoes. How did she manage to dig so fast?’

Renee Jennings’s heart began to race with anxiety.

[See? Naomi Kenway was just teaching Mona how to dig potatoes. Some people shouldn’t always assume others have malicious intentions. Do they really think everyone in the world is as bad as they are?]

[Naomi Kenway really knows how to handle kids. I’m converting from a hater to a fan. Someone who is so considerate and gentle with a child can’t be all that bad!]

[What is Renee Jennings even doing? Naomi Kenway isn’t even giving her a hard time. Why is she apologizing so much? Such a bizarre move. Naomi was kind enough to watch Renee’s son, only to be accused of abusing Nathan Lynch. If that were me, I’d be furious!]

[Naomi Kenway is bad, but she’s also really good with kids. I don’t think she’s completely evil.]

[Don’t be fooled by Naomi Kenway, everyone. It’s all just for her persona!]

...

Walking back, Renee Jennings grew annoyed thinking about Nathan Lynch’s lack of cooperation. ’I’m his stepmother, after all. How could he side with that bitch Naomi Kenway?’

Nathan Lynch, unaware of Renee Jennings’s inner turmoil, tentatively spoke up. "Mom, I don’t think Aunt Kenway is that bad."

Renee Jennings stopped in her tracks. "Why would you say that?"

"Aunt Kenway seems cool, but she’s really gentle when she talks, and very patient..."

"Mona..." Renee Jennings cut him off anxiously. She turned to the camera crew. "This kid, Mona, needs to pee. I’ll take him to take care of it. You all can stay here."

Once in a deserted corner, completely hidden by a large, leafy tree, Renee Jennings crouched down. Her fingers dug into Nathan Lynch’s shoulders, her perfectly manicured nails nearly piercing his delicate shoulders.

"Mona, have you forgotten what I told you?"

"Mom... it hurts..." Nathan Lynch’s small face scrunched up in pain.

Only then did Renee Jennings realize she’d lost her composure. She quickly pulled her hand back. "I’m sorry, Mona. Mommy was just so scared. That Naomi Kenway is full of wicked ideas, and Mommy’s terrified she’ll hurt you. Promise Mommy you’ll stay away from her, okay?"

She spoke with great sincerity.

"But Aunt Kenway, she..."

"See, Mona? You’re already falling for her tricks. Before this show, she used to brutally beat her own child. The way she’s being nice to you now is all part of a plan."

"Annie?"

"Yes!" Renee Jennings clenched her jaw. After glancing around to make sure no one was there, she began to fabricate her story. "Do you know why Annie doesn’t like to talk? It’s because Naomi Kenway used to beat and curse at him all the time, and she even made him drink water with bad stuff in it!"

Her claim was completely baseless and absurd, but it was more than enough to terrify a child who hadn’t even started elementary school.

Sure enough, a look of fear spread across Nathan Lynch’s face. He tremblingly uttered three words: "Big bad wolf..."

Renee Jennings didn’t know how the child judged who was a bad person, but she could tell from his expression that she had achieved her goal.

"Mona, on this show, Mommy is the only one who truly cares for you. Everyone else is just trying to trick you and hurt you. You can only trust Mommy. From now on, you’ll listen to Mommy and stay by my side, okay?"

"You nearly worried Mommy to death when you suddenly ran off. Mommy can’t live without you..." she said, wiping away a tear.

Nathan Lynch reached out and wiped her tears away. "Mommy, Mona won’t do it again."

Renee Jennings, relieved, slowly hugged him. "That’s Mommy’s good boy!"

*

"Mom, I want some water."

Naomi Kenway got the bottled water and gave Ian Shaw a drink. But a moment later, Ian Shaw came back, saying he was still thirsty. After this happened a few times, Naomi Kenway pulled Ian Shaw in front of her. "What’s wrong? Why are you so thirsty? Is there something you want to tell Mom?"

Naomi Kenway could see the conflict in Ian Shaw’s eyes.

Ian Shaw shook his head, then walked off toward the big tree by himself.

An image kept replaying in his mind: his mom giving Nathan Lynch water. Mom was finally being so nice to him; was Nathan Lynch going to steal her away? Just like that bunny doll Cherie Warren had snatched from him at kindergarten...

Ian Shaw sat back down under the big tree.

No one could give him an answer.

「In the blink of an eye, it was noon.」

Naomi Kenway heard someone calling her name from a distance.

Naomi Kenway wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked closely, only to see it was Ruby Preston and the others. All the other guests were there, except for Renee Jennings and her son.

Naomi Kenway took off her gloves, revealing her jade-like hands. She walked over. "What’s up?"

Margaret Jennings took out a handkerchief and stood on her tiptoes to wipe the sweat from Naomi Kenway’s face. "You’re working way too hard. Look how much you’re sweating."

Naomi Kenway leaned down slightly. "It’s not that tiring."

"It’s nice to be young and have so much energy," Ruby Preston complimented, then added, "It’s noon. We need to go find something to eat."

Naomi Kenway frowned slightly. "The production crew isn’t providing lunch?"

"They said we have to arrange it ourselves. It’s too far from our houses," Ruby Preston said, pointing into the distance. "I think I see some houses over there. Maybe we can go and ask to have a meal with them."

Everyone else nodded in agreement.

Naomi Kenway called her son over. As the group was leaving, she heard Chelsea Raines ask in a very low voice from beside her, "You must have thrown a lot of money around, huh?"

"What do you mean?"

"Playing dumb won’t work. It’d be more shocking if your husband *didn’t* invest in this show, wouldn’t it?"

Naomi Kenway smiled. "What, are you jealous?"

Chelsea Raines had also married into a wealthy family, but her husband was a philanderer who kept many mistresses and didn’t care about her affairs at all. He would never throw money at something for her.

Chelsea Raines was so sour with jealousy her teeth could have fallen out, but she still said disdainfully, "I can’t stand people like you, buying your way into the spotlight!"

"A good thing you hate it, then. Otherwise, going your whole life without a single chance like this... that just sounds pathetic, doesn’t it?" Naomi Kenway said slowly, every word a dagger to Chelsea Raines’s heart.