The Villain Mom Awakens — Going Viral by Parenting on a Reality Show-Chapter 145: Is Ian a Bad Kid?

Ethan Shaw’s body visibly stiffened for a couple of seconds. "Is it really that boring?"

Ian Shaw covered his ears with his chubby little hands and rolled over on the bed. In a whiny, childish voice, he said, "I don’t like this one! Ian wants to hear ’The Three Little Pigs’!"

"The Three Little Pigs?" Ethan Shaw racked his brain but couldn’t recall what kind of story that was. The name alone sounded so childish.

In truth, Ian didn’t actually like the story of "The Three Little Pigs" that much. It just reminded him of his mother.

"I miss Mommy so, so much..."

Ethan Shaw sat by the side, watching him. Ian Shaw was growing more and more attached to Naomi Kenway.

"Does Mommy not like Ian anymore? Sean said that after Aunt Preston started working on set, she didn’t love him anymore. Does my mommy not love me anymore either? I don’t want Mommy to go work on set, but I can’t be like this..." He suddenly choked up, his voice breaking.

Ethan Shaw couldn’t quite make out what Ian was saying. He felt helpless. Looking after a child was far trickier than dealing with his most complicated documents. The task of putting Ian to bed had always been Naomi Kenway’s job. This seemingly simple, everyday chore was not simple at all.

A few unfamiliar emotions suddenly flickered through Ethan Shaw’s heart.

Ethan Shaw called for the nanny, but even her adept techniques for lulling a child to sleep had no effect.

"Ian, stop crying," he commanded in a low voice, his head starting to throb.

The next second, the crying grew even louder.

The sound of a key in the lock was heard, and Naomi Kenway pushed the bedroom door open, looking travel-worn as she walked in.

She heard the faint sound of crying the moment she stepped inside, and her heart immediately ached. She rushed to pull Ian into her arms, shooting Ethan Shaw a glare at the same time. "Is this how you watch a child? You just let him cry?"

For a moment, Ethan Shaw had no rebuttal.

"Mommy, Mommy, you’re finally back! Ian thought you didn’t want him anymore..."

The tip of Ian Shaw’s nose was red.

"How could that be? How could Mommy ever not want you? Mommy will never, ever leave you..."

In Naomi Kenway’s embrace, Ian Shaw’s sobs gradually subsided. He looked up, his big, dark eyes still glistening with tears. "Mommy, is Ian a bad boy? Did I bother you at work? Are you going to hate me?"

"Mommy will never hate you, Ian. It was my fault for not thinking it through. Next time I’m on set, we’ll have a video call, okay?" Naomi Kenway gently rubbed Ian Shaw’s cheek.

"Okay~"

"You should be asleep by now." Naomi Kenway placed Ian back on the bed and tucked him in. She pulled a fairytale book from the shelf in the room. "Let me see... How about we read ’The Little Prince’ today?"

Ethan Shaw stood behind them, listening to Naomi Kenway tell the story. He had never seen this gentle side of her before. The camellia stud on her snow-white earlobe was half-hidden by her soft hair.

He took a few steps forward and took the fairytale book from Naomi Kenway’s hands. "Let me do it."

Naomi Kenway watched him sit down beside her. His brow furrowed slightly as he flipped through the pages, looking as if he were facing a formidable enemy.

Ethan Shaw tried to mimic the way Naomi Kenway had been reading, doing his best to soften his deep voice. But as he read through paragraph after paragraph, his frown only deepened. ’These stories are just too childish.’

A sudden thought occurred to Naomi Kenway. ’Don’t tell me Ethan Shaw has never heard a fairytale in his life?’

The line of Ethan Shaw’s profile was handsome and charming, and his voice was pleasant, always carrying a certain alluring quality.

By the time Naomi Kenway snapped out of it, she realized she had been staring at Ethan Shaw’s crimson lips for some time. She cleared her throat twice, feeling a bit awkward.

On the other side of the bed, Ian Shaw sounded as if he were being tortured. "Daddy, your storytelling is terrible!"

’How is it still terrible? Didn’t we switch to a fairytale?’

Ethan Shaw felt a surge of defeat. He handed the book back to Naomi Kenway and rubbed his throbbing temples. "Sorry for the trouble."

With that, he walked out.

Naomi Kenway felt a little disappointed, too. If Ethan Shaw learned how to tell stories, he could share some of the burden of putting their son to sleep.

She enjoyed reading to her son, but her mouth would often get dry after talking for so long.

A short while later, Ian Shaw was asleep. Naomi Kenway turned off the light and left the room.

She pushed open their bedroom door and was surprised to find Ethan Shaw studying a book. The closer she looked, the more she felt its flashy cover didn’t suit his style. As she drew near, she realized he was holding a fairytale book.

Ethan Shaw glanced at her. "You’re back."

Then he lowered his head and went back to studying the book in his hands.

Ethan Shaw’s voice was very pleasant, but when he read fairytales, it was almost completely monotone, which made it sound rather dull.

Naomi Kenway couldn’t help but let out a laugh. She stepped forward to offer some guidance. "When you tell a story, you need more emotional fluctuation. That’s what makes it interesting for Ian. Otherwise, it just sounds like you’re chanting a spell."

Naomi Kenway had already read the fairytale in Ethan Shaw’s hands to Ian Shaw many times; she could easily recount the plot without even looking at the book.

They were standing very close, and Ethan Shaw once again caught the sweet fragrance that was just inches away. He turned his head slightly.

Naomi Kenway was truly gentle when she told stories, her voice as soothing as if it had been steeped in a hot spring.

Ethan Shaw thought he finally understood why Ian Shaw loved listening to Naomi Kenway’s stories so much.

*

Having learned her lesson, Naomi Kenway made a point to come home every day. Whenever she had a spare moment, she would video call Ian. Seeing the soft, pale little boy on the other side of the screen sweetly call her "Mommy" was enough to cure any bad mood from her day.

During her lunch break, she had just finished a video call when she saw Ruby Preston walk over after instructing some people to pack up the equipment. "Were you on the phone with Ian?" Ruby Preston asked.

Naomi Kenway nodded, a smile still on her face.

"It’s a good thing for a child to be clingy," Ruby Preston remarked with a sigh. "My Sean is so independent. I actually wish he’d be a little more attached to me."

Naomi Kenway started to say something but hesitated. She knew Ruby Preston hadn’t been home for three consecutive days, busy on set. "Maybe Sean misses you, too."

Ruby Preston just smiled, dismissing the idea. "How could he? He’s just like his father—they both hate it when people are clingy."

"Maybe they just don’t know how to express it?"

Ruby Preston froze for a second, then shook her head firmly. "No, that’s not it."

Naomi Kenway could only force a smile. The next second, her vision swam, and she felt a wave of dizziness.

Seeing Naomi Kenway clutch her head, Ruby Preston quickly helped her sit down. "What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well? You look a little pale."

"You helped me move the equipment in the rain yesterday. Don’t tell me you caught a cold."

Naomi Kenway waved her hand dismissively. "It’s probably just low blood sugar. It’s fine, I’ll be okay after a short rest."

"Low blood sugar..." Ruby Preston murmured. She was just about to ask someone to buy some candy when she saw Naomi Kenway’s assistant hand her a piece.

"We still have a few scenes to shoot this afternoon. Do you think you can handle it?"