The Villain Mom Awakens — Going Viral by Parenting on a Reality Show-Chapter 354: The Shaw Family’s Heir

[Just looked it up. Ethan Shaw, President Shaw, is the heir to the Shaw Family, the next family head. Flora Shaw is indeed an only daughter, but she’s Jonathan Shaw’s older cousin, which makes her President Shaw’s grandaunt.]

[I can’t believe my eyes!!! I knew Naomi Kenway was rich, but I never imagined she’d be THIS rich. Her family is usually so low-key, completely flying under the radar.]

[SOB SOB SOB, I take back all the bad things I said about Naomi Kenway. She’s the wife of a tycoon taking time out of her life to film a show for us. I shouldn’t have been so ungrateful.]

[Don’t anyone try to stop me! I’m going to get reincarnated right now! My goal: to be Naomi Kenway’s second child!]

[I told you all President Shaw is our company’s CEO, but a bunch of you didn’t believe me and said I was spreading rumors. You believe me now, right? I’m an InfiniTech employee. P.S., the only reason I have time to watch the live stream today is because it’s my day off in lieu. I’m not slacking off from work, haha.] 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

[This world is too surreal. The family of the richest man in the country is filming a show? What did I do to deserve this...]

[Renee Jennings has completely disappeared since that last incident. She’s barely attending any events. Did she get a heads-up or something? Is that why she’s just hiding at home, too afraid to go out?]

[To think I actually shook hands with Nina once... I’m too excited to sleep. Hoping some of her good fortune rubs off on me.]

[A rich family, a handsome husband who dotes on his wife, and a well-behaved, adorable son. I wouldn’t even dare to dream of a life like that, and you’re telling me it’s real?]

[Our rich queen! Let me give you a hug!]

[I feel like Nina and I aren’t even living in the same world. She’s fabulously wealthy, a total winner at life, while I’m stuck with a basic NPC script (tears).]

[Is Nina just trying out the entertainment industry for fun? Please don’t quit! I’m a huge fan of you and your work!!]

...

When Naomi Kenway returned from the banquet, she discovered her phone was about to blow up. People in the industry she’d barely met were sending her greetings out of the blue, their tones dripping with sycophantic flattery.

"How bizarre," Naomi Kenway muttered. Not understanding what they were up to, she simply didn’t reply.

Besides the DMs, there were also a few missed calls. One was from Laura Grant. As if on cue, just as Naomi was about to call her back, her phone began to ring.

"Lily, did you need something?"

"Ah, Nicole..." Laura Grant’s voice was uncharacteristically hesitant and incredulous. "Don’t worry, it’s nothing urgent. I was just calling to check... I saw online... Are you really a member of the Shaw Family of Veridia?"

Connecting this to what Laura Grant had just said, Naomi quickly pieced together what had happened. ’I went to the company to see Ethan today, so the netizens must have figured something out. This is well within my expectations. I never planned to leverage my connection to the Shaw Family, nor did I ever intend to hide it.’

Naomi admitted it directly. "Yes."

The other end of the line suddenly went silent. After three or four seconds, Naomi moved the phone closer to her ear. "Lily? Are you still there?"

"...I’m here. There are already trending topics about it online, but hearing you confirm it still leaves me speechless. You never told me... I had no idea your background was so powerful."

"I didn’t think it would affect my acting or getting roles, so..."

"I’m not blaming you," Laura Grant explained. "A lot of celebrities play up the ’rich heir’ persona, but your family is this wealthy and you never breathed a word of it. I’m just surprised, that’s all. I knew I wasn’t wrong about you. You’ve always been a grounded, hardworking actress. Trust me, your time is coming."

After witnessing how quickly everyone else’s attitude had turned sycophantic, Naomi actually felt much more at ease hearing Laura Grant’s unchanged tone.

After hanging up with Laura Grant, Naomi opened Weibo and, sure enough, saw the trending topics about her. They were at the very top of the list, followed by a series of other topics all marked as "Explosive."

#NaomiKenwayInfiniTechCEOsWife#

#VeridiaShawFamily#

#EthanShawShawFamilyHeir#

#NaomiKenwayEthanShaw#

*

At ten o’clock, late into the quiet night, the Lynch family home was still brightly lit. The camera crew for the show had all clocked out for the day, but the sound of a heated argument rose and fell from a fourth-floor bedroom.

"Renee Jennings, go apologize right now! You jinx, don’t you dare drag our Lynch Family down with you! My son must have had the worst luck of his life to marry you! At home, you mistreat my grandson and give our family no peace. Outside, you provoke powerful people and bring trouble to our doorstep! You damn jinx!!"

Sophia Zobel was shouting so hard that spit flew from her mouth. She clutched her chest, looking as though she could barely breathe.

Lucy Summers had been complaining recently about how difficult business was, saying that Nathaniel Lynch and his wife had made a mess that was hurting the company’s growth. It was only after asking about it that Sophia Zobel learned the full story.

"Mom, please calm down." Nathaniel helped her sit on the nearby sofa.

Sophia Zobel stared at Renee Jennings’s motionless back, so furious she nearly fainted. She jabbed a finger at Renee. "Look at her! Just look at that disgusting attitude! She won’t even listen to me anymore? I told you not to be so soft and listen to everything she says! You treat her like a wife, but she just treats you like a meal ticket to boss around!"

Not daring to anger his mother, Nathaniel hurriedly nodded in agreement.

"That jinx can’t stay in our house any longer! I want you to divorce her!"

"Mom..." Nathaniel looked conflicted. ’He and Renee were in the same boat. If he pushed her too far and she decided to turn on him, it wouldn’t be worth it.’

Sensing Nathaniel’s hesitation, Renee turned around and scoffed. "He’s not going to divorce me. You can forget about that idea."

Seeing Renee turn to face her, Sophia Zobel grew even more agitated. "Go! Go apologize now! Don’t drag down the Lynch Family!"

Hearing this, Renee secretly clenched her fists. "You want me to apologize to Naomi Kenway? You’ve got to be dreaming! I didn’t do anything to her, so why should I apologize? Is she even worthy of an apology from me?!" she said resentfully. "What’s the point of blaming me? If you have to blame someone, blame your own useless son! If he were the richest man in Veridia, we wouldn’t be cowering here in fear!"

"You... you..."

"Mom!!" Nathaniel quickly took out some pills and helped Sophia Zobel take them. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw some color return to her face.

"If you’re going to die, then get on with it! Don’t be such an eyesore!" Renee snapped, her lips pale. ’Ever since she found out Naomi’s true identity, she hadn’t been able to eat or sleep properly. Every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was Naomi in a luxury car in front of the manor, flaunting her power right in her face.’

’How was it fair? Everything she had schemed and fought for—resources, fame, wealth—Naomi had obtained it all so effortlessly. In fact, she was born with it all. And what did all her own desperate efforts get her? Nothing but infamy. How was any of that fair?!’

At these words, Sophia Zobel shot up from the sofa and stomped furiously toward Renee Jennings.