The Villain Mom Awakens — Going Viral by Parenting on a Reality Show-Chapter 172: Naomi Kenway Is My Only Wife

Jane Chandler frowned at him, then told a servant to bring Ethan Shaw another jacket.

"Have you eaten dinner yet? How many times have I told you to take care of yourself? I’ll have Auntie Warren make a couple of your favorite dishes, son."

"That’s not necessary. I’ll just say a few words and then I’ll be on my way."

Jane Chandler’s delicate brows furrowed. "Go on, then."

"Mom, I don’t want you to keep making things difficult for Naomi Kenway like this." His expression was grave.

"I’m making things difficult for her?" Jane Chandler let out a laugh of disbelief. "I was wondering why you were sticking around. So you came here to criticize me, huh? What a good son you are. Ian, you used to listen to every word I said. Now that you have a wife, you’ve forgotten your mother. Have you forgotten who raised you?"

"That’s a separate issue." Ethan Shaw’s tone was impatient, a chill creeping into his features. "I went along with all of your previous demands, no matter how unreasonable, from studying a major I disliked to entering a business-alliance marriage. I’ve had enough of this life. I don’t want you to keep using that same old argument to control me."

Jane Chandler stared at him in disbelief. "I carefully planned out your entire life for you, and all I get in return is your resentment?!"

The man before her was none other than her own son.

The more Jane Chandler thought about it, the more wronged she felt, and she couldn’t help but pull out a handkerchief to dab at the corners of her eyes.

Jonathan Shaw felt a pang of sympathy for his wife and chided Ethan Shaw, "Ethan Shaw, is that any way to talk to your mother?"

Ethan Shaw lowered his gaze, his thick lashes casting a shadow that made him look somewhat desolate. His voice remained cold and hard. "Since you can’t stand Naomi Kenway, I won’t have her come to the main residence anymore."

’For Naomi Kenway,’ he thought, ’every visit to the main residence is an ordeal of suspicion and harassment.’

"How can that be?!" Jane Chandler said urgently. "She currently has the status of a Shaw family daughter-in-law. For important banquets and such, if she doesn’t show up at all, won’t our family become a laughingstock for being discordant?"

Ethan Shaw chuckled. "So what? You can’t stand her, yet you still want her to come over?"

"You think I want to see her?!" Jane Chandler was furious. "She should go back to wherever she came from! Just seeing her irritates me!"

"Impossible," Ethan Shaw said. "That’s impossible. I will never marry anyone but her."

The last time he chose not to divorce, it was because of their child. But this time...

Just hearing those words was unbearable. He couldn’t bear the thought of Naomi Kenway marrying someone else.

"I’ve said it before: Naomi Kenway is my only wife, and Ian is my only heir. That will never change, no matter what schemes you use to pressure me." Ethan Shaw’s long, handsome eyes were rimmed with red, a rare loss of emotional control.

He averted his gaze, no longer looking at Jane Chandler’s vulnerable expression. "I’ll tell Naomi Kenway to come over less often."

His voice returned to its usual gentle tone, as if nothing had happened. "You should get some rest."

With that, he left.

Jane Chandler was almost brought to tears by anger. She said in disbelief, "How could he do this to me? How can he treat me like this now?!"

Her son had been so lively as a child, easily mingling with his peers. Back then, three-year-old little Ethan was very clingy, always tugging on her sleeve and calling for "Mama."

’But... when did he start to change...’

Jane Chandler swayed unsteadily, and Jonathan Shaw quickly steadied her.

’It seems like their relationship started to grow distant right around the time Ethan Shaw began to fit her idealized image of him more and more...’

The child who used to cling to her and call her "Mama" had suddenly put on a suit of armor, calling her "Mother" with a polite yet distant tone.

Jane Chandler dabbed her cheeks with the handkerchief. She didn’t know why she was crying...

Jonathan Shaw helped wipe away her tears. "Don’t cry, Jane. I’ll call him back right now and give him a piece of my mind!"

"No, don’t scold him..."

Jonathan Shaw sighed. "From the time he was a child, your expectations for him have always been too high. I’ve always felt that he’s a rebellious kid at heart, but he always listened to you. It’s rare for him to find someone he likes. Jane, just let him have his way this once."

「*」

The scenery outside flew past as the car sped along at its maximum speed. It wasn’t until Liam Sherman reminded him from the back seat that Ethan Shaw finally slammed on the brakes.

The car screeched to a halt, and Liam Sherman, sitting in the back, clutched at his heart.

President Shaw had suddenly insisted on driving himself, which led to this scene. Liam Sherman was scared half to death.

"President Shaw..." He wanted to say something but didn’t dare, as anyone could see that Ethan Shaw was in a terrible mood.

Liam Sherman tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.

The car window slid open. After a CLICK, the faint blue glow of a flame appeared as Ethan Shaw lit a cigarette. He turned his head slightly, and from behind, Liam Sherman could only catch a glimpse of his perfectly defined jawline.

「*」

When Naomi Kenway got back, she put Ian to bed as usual before returning to her own bedroom.

On the way home, Ian had been telling Naomi Kenway jokes, making her laugh again and again. She asked Ian where he had learned them. Ian Shaw said he saw them online and asked Naomi Kenway if he told them well.

Naomi Kenway kept telling him he did a great job.

Before she knew it, Naomi Kenway’s mood had been completely lifted by Ian.

The door was pushed open and Ethan Shaw walked in. As he drew near, Naomi Kenway caught the distinct scent of men’s cologne on him.

Ethan Shaw usually liked to wear cologne, but his typical choice was a subtle, woody scent. Today’s fragrance was surprisingly strong, and Naomi Kenway wondered when he had changed his style.

Sensing something, Ethan Shaw tugged at his collar, lowered his head to sniff it, and asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "Is the scent still a bit strong?"

"No, it’s fine. As long as you like it."

"I’m going to take a shower first."

With that, he walked into the bathroom.

When he came out, only the fresh scent of body wash remained. He got into bed from the other side and looked at Naomi Kenway with a focused expression.

Naomi Kenway sensed something and put down her phone. "Ethan Shaw, is there something you want to tell me?"

"You were wronged today," he said slowly.

"From now on, you don’t have to go to the main residence, especially if Mom is the one who asks you to go."

Naomi Kenway was taken aback. "...Really?" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Really. The estate is quite large; you can go wherever you want."

At the thought of never having to see Jane Chandler again, of no longer having to face her deliberate provocations, Naomi Kenway let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

"But Grandma..."

She despised Jane Chandler, but Susan Hughes had always been genuinely kind to her.

"If you want to see Grandma, we can go together. We’ll bring Ian with us."

Naomi Kenway agreed, gazing deeply at him. "Thank you, Ethan Shaw."

There was real sincerity in her words. She was truly grateful to Ethan Shaw.

"If you want to thank me, you can give me a shoulder rub." His voice was so soft that Naomi Kenway almost thought she was imagining things.

In the blink of an eye, Ethan Shaw’s playful expression vanished, replaced by his usual demeanor. He turned off the light. "It’s getting late. Let’s sleep."