Kelly froze . For a second , she wondered if she'd misheard . " ... What ? " Theo repeated the question , his tone serious . " Ms. Walt , are you a mistress ? " She hadn't expected that - hadn't even come close . The word " mistress " was loaded , sharp , and deeply wounding - especially for a woman . Her expression went stiff , and for a long moment , she couldn't respond . " Theo . Do you even know what you're saying ? Where did all your manners go ? " Carter's voice came low and cold , displeasure laced through every word . Snapping back to herself , Kelly quickly tried to smooth things over " Carter , don't be angry . He's just a child . He doesn't know any better . " She paused , a trace of sorrow in her voice . I know ... Sharon never liked me . But no matter how much she dislikes me , she shouldn't say things like that to Theo . Adults should keep children out of these matters . He's innocent . He's still so young ... " The implication was clear - there was no way Theo could've come up with those words on his own unless someone had taught him . Carter didn't say a word , but the tight line of his lips and the sudden chill that swept through the air made his displeasure unmistakable . Theo was a sharp kid . Even though his father hadn't spoken , he could still sense that something was wrong . The mood had shifted . He opened his mouth , instinctively trying to explain . " It wasn't Mom who said that , it was ... " Before he could finish , Kelly cut him off . " Theo , I know . That didn't come from Sharon . Must've been something some random person said on the street , right ? " Theo didn't catch the underlying message in her words . He just thought Kelly was amazing - like she somehow knew everything . He nodded seriously . " That's right . I heard it at the restaurant earlier . Some people at another table were talking . " Kelly smiled gently . " Theo , I believe you . " Just as a smile started to spread across his face , something seemed to dawn on him . His expression turned serious again . He looked over at Kelly in the passenger seat , stubbornly chasing after an answer . " Ms. Walt , are you going to become ... a mistress ? " Carter frowned , ready to speak up , but Kelly held up a hand , stopping him . She gave him a subtle shake of her head before turning back to Theo . " Theo , did you forget ? I only have at most half a year left to live . " Usually , he called her " pretty sister " or " Kelly . " Now , hearing himself address her so differently- " Ms . Walt " -a flicker of unease stirred in Kelly's chest . He might only be five , but Theo wasn't a child you could treat like fast any five - year - old . Chapter 7 +25 BONUS Theo paused , as it just now remembering . He didn't even know why he'd asked that kind of question . Regret crept in . Embarrassment , too . Kelly was so kind , so gentle - how could he have doubted her ? And besides , she didn't have much time left . Despite how clever he was , he was still a child . He didn't notice that from beginning to end , Kelly had never actually answered his question . He bit his lower lip without realizing it and murmured , " Kelly , I'm sorry . " Kelly smiled , her voice still soft and warm . " It's alright . Let's not talk about that anymore . Think about what you'd like to eat later , and I will take you . " Just like that , Theo quickly let go of the awkward moment and happily launched into a conversation with her about food . " Kelly , I want fried chicken today! " Without even thinking , Kelly agreed . " Sure . " But Carter interjected . " Kelly , your health isn't great . The doctor told you to avoid fried food . " " It's fine if it's just once in a while , " she said lightly , glancing back at Theo . " Besides , Theo wants it ... What's the point of living if everything's always by the book ? You've got to indulge now and then - otherwise , where's the fun? " Theo thought about Sharon , who never let him eat anything fun , and suddenly felt like - yeah , Kelly really understood him . Mom just always told him what not to do . The next morning , as Theo descended the stairs , rubbing his eyes with sleep still clouding his face , he found Carter sitting at the dining table , reading the newspaper . Seeing Theo , still half - asleep , shuffle downstairs , Carter furrowed his brows. " Theo , why haven't you gone to kindergarten yet ? 11 Theo lowered his head . " No one woke me up . I overslept . " At that moment , Marie , the housekeeper , appeared from the kitchen , holding a tray of breakfast . Carter's gaze shifted to her , sharp with irritation . " Why didn't you wake Theo up ? " . Marie glanced at Theo , still standing there , and hesitated . Her voice was awkward as she tried to explain . " Mr. Biggs , it's usually Madam who wakes Theo up ... " Carter's face hardened . " The meals are prepared by Madam , and she wakes the child . So what exactly are you hired for ? " Carter's voice was cold , the silence between his words thick with authority . Marie had worked there for five years , but she had never seen him this angry . His presence - long accustomed to command- filled the room with an undeniable pressure . She couldn't help but shrink slightly . But then , as she thought about how much Madam had done over the years , only to have it go unappreciated , Marie couldn't hold back a sense of sympathy for Sharon . " It's not like that , Mr. Biggs , " she began , her voice softer now . " Madam said that you and Theo have sensitive stomachs and can't just eat anything . You need specially prepared meals . Some of the herbs for these meals take over two hours to stew , and the process is incredibly intricate . Madam even studied herbs for a long time to learn how to prepare them . " Specially prepared incals ? +25 BONUS Chapter 7 Carter's gaze flickered slightly . No wonder his stomach issues hadn't bothered him for so long . Marie continued . " After your health and Theo's improved , Madam thought she could take a break for a while . " " But ... " Marie glanced at Carter and murmured , " One time , when Madam brought your meal , Miss Kelly was feeling faint from low blood sugar . You gave her the meal Madain had prepared for you . " Miss Kelly found it to her liking . After speaking with Madam , she found out it was medicinal , and said her doctor had recommended her to eat such meals . But she couldn't find anyone who could make them . She praised Madam's cooking . And you said , since Madam was already preparing meals for you and Theo , it wouldn't be much trouble to make extra for Miss Kelly . " Madam , however , said that Miss Kelly's tastes were different from yours and Theo's , and was worried it wouldn't suit her . You and Theo said , if Miss Kelly wanted it , it was fine - whatever she wanted , you both would like too . Just have her send the menu to us . I'd buy the ingredients , and Madam would cook it . " Just then , Marie's phone vibrated in her pocket . She pulled it out , glanced at the screen , and handed it to Carter . " Look , Miss Kelly just sent another menu . " Carter glanced casually at the screen , only to see it was a three - person group chat . The group consisted of Kelly , Marie , and Sharon . Most of the messages were from Kelly . Kelly : [ Today , I want three dishes and a soup . ] The next message was a long list of recipes that seemed to stretch on forever , filling the screen . Before Carter could finish reading , Marie quickly grabbed the phone and typed a quick reply : [ Okay ] Carter looked at her , taken aback by her hasty actions . Seeing the confusion on his face , Marie quickly explained . " Last time , when I was cleaning , I didn't reply in time . When I brought lunch , Miss Kelly seemed terribly upset and refused to eat . " Later , she fainted from low blood sugar and had to be rushed to the hospital . When she woke up , she said she was a dying person - no matter how much she supplemented , it was useless . She didn't want to trouble Madam anymore . " Mr. Biggs , you were furious with Madam , saying she had intentionally neglected Miss Kelly . No matter how I explained , you and Miss Kelly wouldn't believe me . " As she spoke , Marie began to remove her apron . " Mr. Biggs , Theo , you two can eat breakfast for now . I'll go buy vegetables . If I'm too late , the vegetables won't be fresh , and Miss Kelly will think Madam is giving her spoiled food and is trying to harm her . Then she'll come complaining to you . " Marie grumbled to herself , but just as she moved to leave , a new message popped up in the group chat . Her steps faltered . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!