The Villain Mom Awakens — Going Viral by Parenting on a Reality Show-Chapter 409 - 411: Birthday

"Today is..." Naomi Kenway feigned a thoughtful expression. "Is today a special day or something?"

Recalling the plan she had arranged with the production crew, Naomi could only play dumb.

Hearing Naomi’s question, Ian’s little face visibly fell. "It’s not a special day."

Looking at Ian’s dejected expression, Naomi felt like slapping herself and pulling him into her arms to tell him the truth. But when she caught a look from a crew member, she stopped herself.

’What I’m doing now is for an even bigger surprise later.’ Despite thinking this, Naomi still felt a pang of heartache.

Ian turned his head and asked Ethan Shaw, "What about Daddy? Does Daddy remember what day it is today?"

Ethan paused, clearly struggling as well. After a moment, he walked over and ruffled Ian’s hair. "Today is our last day on vacation here."

"Oh..." Ian’s face fell again. He never hid his emotions, so his disappointment was plain to see. But he quickly brightened up with a smile and took Naomi’s hand. "We get to go home tomorrow! I kind of miss Mona."

[Ian, don’t be sad! Your mommy and daddy are tricking you. How could they possibly forget your birthday?]

[Can we fast-forward? I can’t stand seeing Ian looking so heartbroken. I want to skip right to the moment he sees his surprise gift.]

[You silly boy. Your mom wished you a happy birthday first thing this morning, but our Ian was sleeping too soundly to hear it.]

[You can tell this task is a bit difficult for Nina and President Shaw. You can see the pain in their eyes.]

[Today really is a special day! It’s our baby Ian’s birthday! Happy birthday, Ian! This auntie wishes you a happy birthday!!]

...

A staff member handed over another task, but this time, the task card was given to Ian.

Seeing Ian’s confused look, the staff member explained with a smile, "Ian, this is your task. Open the card and take a look. By the way, can you read the words on it? Do you need me to read it for you?"

Another voice, from a different staff member, chimed in from the side. "You’re new, so you wouldn’t know. Ian is a great reader and he’s fluent in French. It’s no exaggeration to call him a little genius!"

"Really?"

Ian took the task card and glanced at it a few times. He blinked, then looked up and asked, "I have to go herd sheep with the older kids? Then, Mommy and Daddy... Aren’t Mommy and Daddy coming with me?"

The staff member shook his head. "Mommy and Daddy have other tasks. Herding the sheep is your task, Ian."

After getting used to so many tasks, Ian was long accustomed to leaving his parents to complete missions with his friends. But he was feeling down right now, and it took him a few seconds to process this. "...Okay."

Jared Woods shouted a couple of times from outside the yurt, followed by Carina Sanders’s call. They ran over, calling for Ian to go herd sheep.

Ian had just finished breakfast, and he obediently let Naomi put a hat and sunglasses on him.

The moment the sunglasses were on, Naomi couldn’t help but laugh. She adjusted them a bit. "Aren’t these sunglasses too big? They cover half of our Ian’s face."

Indeed, the top half of Ian’s face was almost completely covered by the sunglasses, leaving only the round, fair skin of his lower face visible.

"Ian, remember to stick close to the older kids. If anything happens, tell one of the cameramen nearby. Also, the sun is very strong here, so don’t take off your hat, okay?"

Ian was back to his cheerful self. He nodded and said, "I’ll remember every single word you said, Mommy!"

Naomi was amused. "Such a sweet talker. Who taught you to say that?"

"Nobody taught me. I just say what I want to say."

After Ian left with his friends for the task, Naomi followed Ethan Shaw out to their own task location.

Ethan noticed Naomi was preoccupied. He put his arm around her shoulder and sighed. "Don’t overthink it. Just think about how surprised and happy Ian will be when he sees his gift. It won’t be long."

Naomi nodded.

They arrived at the task location, an open area with just a few tables. The stage behind them was empty, but not far away was a large pile of supplies—the materials they would need to decorate the birthday venue.

Ruby Preston was the first to see them and walked over with Seth Sawyer. She greeted them with a smile, "Nicole, President Shaw."

"You can just call me what you did before," Ethan said.

Ruby considered her options. "Simon?" She immediately laughed after saying it. "That doesn’t seem quite right, President Shaw."

"There’s nothing wrong with it. Since you call my wife Nicole, Director Preston, it’s only fair you call me Simon."

The smile on Ruby’s face deepened. "Alright, I’ll drop the formalities then." She continued, "It’s Ian’s birthday today. With so many of us, I’m sure we can get this place set up in no time. The other guests should be on their way. Why don’t we get started? Seth, bring the balloons over!"

Seth Sawyer did as he was told.

The other guests arrived one after another, all making it within the specified time.

Chelsea Raines picked up a decoration and looked around. "We get all these decorations without having to do a task? Your production crew is getting awfully generous lately."

Margaret Jennings walked past her, holding a few trays. "If they made us do that, we probably wouldn’t have enough time."

Naomi was making a cake. All the ingredients and tools had been prepared by the crew.

From whipping the cream to spreading it and adding the final decorations, Naomi felt a wave of emotions. In the end, she wrote on top: Happy birthday, my darling son!

As she finished the last stroke, a smile bloomed on her face.

Ethan Shaw, who was standing nearby, couldn’t help but smile when he saw this.

[She’s smiling, and he’s smiling too. Fam, I gotta ship this!]

[Nina’s smile is so beautiful! So gentle and yet so pretty. She’s always so tender whenever she looks at Ian. This is the power of a mother’s love!]

[The cake is gorgeous, but it’s a shame I can’t eat it through the screen! (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻]

[That cake looks so sweet and delicious. And Nina is making other food now! Mom, I want some too! I’m actually your long-lost daughter! Look at me, just give me one look! Your precious daughter is dying of craving!]

...

With the help of Ethan Shaw and Ruby Preston, Naomi prepared a number of dishes. After she was done, she went to help set up the venue.

Jeanette Kensington grabbed Caleb Bishop’s arm, her voice filled with dissatisfaction. "Caleb, don’t even think about going over there. Every time you try to help, doesn’t Naomi Kenway just give you the cold shoulder? I can’t stand to watch it anymore. She’s been a spoiled brat since she was a kid. She won’t thank you at all! I can’t bear to see you put up with this. You’re not going!"