Chapter 233: Chapter 233: I am Mona’s Mother

“I was wondering if you’re free? I’d really like to treat you to a meal. It’s not often I meet a kindred spirit,” Victor Vance said with sincerity.

Naomi Kenway glanced at the time and, after a moment of thought, agreed.

They chose an elegant restaurant. After ordering, Naomi Kenway began to chat casually with Victor Vance across the table.

“I haven’t seen you around lately. Have you been busy?”

Victor Vance took a sip of coffee and smiled. “I was abroad for an awards ceremony recently. I was there for over ten days.”

Naomi Kenway congratulated her, “I remember you said you’re a designer. Winning a major design award is so impressive. Congratulations.”

“It’s not as impressive as you say.” After a moment’s thought, Victor Vance said earnestly, “I watch your reality show often. Your son, Ian, is adorable—so smart and well-behaved.”

No mother could remain indifferent to such a topic, and Naomi Kenway was no exception. A blissful smile graced her lips as she thought of her son. “Ian is my pride and joy. Thank you for liking him.”

The dishes began to arrive one by one.

“You all went to that mountain village a while back. Did everything go well?”

Victor Vance was clearly a devoted follower of the show “Super Mom.” Naomi Kenway was used to this by now and simply took her for an avid fan.

“It was all fine. Looking back, it was a little rough, but it’s all over now.”

Victor Vance nodded knowingly. “That… um… the quiet kid, the one who always has so much homework…”

Naomi Kenway immediately knew who she meant. “Are you talking about Mona?”

“Yes.” Victor Vance nodded, her eyes glistening and her voice turning inexplicably hoarse. “Is he doing okay on the show? I saw that Mona sometimes clashes with Renee Jennings. It breaks my heart to see it, but I don’t know what to do. The thing is, Mona…”

Her voice grew strained and she choked up a little. “Mona is a good kid, but he’s also been pampered his whole life. He’s never had to suffer or be insulted by anyone. I saw people in the livestream chat calling Mona a spoiled, ungrateful brat, and I just…” She forced a smile, though her eyes still glistened with unshed tears. “Thank goodness Mona won’t see the comments.”

“I also saw that Renee Jennings got sick. I hope Mona is all right…” She frowned, her expression showing how her heart ached.

“Don’t worry, Mona is fine. Are you… one of Mona’s ’mom fans’?” Naomi Kenway asked hesitantly.

“…I… suppose so.”

Her answer left Naomi Kenway completely baffled. Seeing that Victor Vance was so interested in Nathan Lynch, she told her more about his time on the show, describing how smart and considerate Mona was.

Victor Vance listened with rapt attention, forgetting even to touch her chopsticks.

When Naomi Kenway looked up again, she saw Victor Vance’s eyes were already brimming with tears.

“I’m sorry…” Victor Vance took out a handkerchief to dab at the corner of her eye. She explained, “I didn’t sleep well last night, so my eyes are a bit sensitive…”

Naomi Kenway was growing curious. “It’s okay. You seem very interested in Mona, don’t you?”

Even for a “mom fan,” Victor Vance’s reaction was too intense, far exceeding that of a typical fan. The worry and heartache she felt for Mona seemed to pour out of her.

Victor Vance’s expression grew serious. She let out a breath and, steeling herself, said, “I’m terribly sorry I didn’t introduce myself properly. The truth is… you may have heard my name before, along with some rather unpleasant rumors. I’m Victor Vance. I’m currently an up-and-coming designer, and I founded my own clothing brand, Brief, abroad. I’m also Christina Lynch’s ex-wife, and… Mona’s mother.”

Seeing the astonishment in her eyes, Victor Vance quickly explained, “I know what the public thinks of me. They despise me. But please, believe me, I’m not that kind of person. The so-called affair… I never did it. It was all a misunderstanding.”

Naomi Kenway collected herself. Seeing that Victor Vance looked as if she were about to burst into tears from anxiety, Naomi Kenway said quickly, “Please, don’t be anxious. I’m not judging you at all. I’ve really enjoyed our time together. I just never imagined you were Mona’s mother. But now that I think about it…”

Naomi Kenway’s gaze rested on Victor Vance for a moment. “You and your son look so much alike. No wonder you seemed so familiar when I first saw you. Now it all makes sense.”

Victor Vance thanked her profusely. “I was so pleasantly surprised when I ran into you at the dessert shop.” A bitter look crossed her face. “You probably don’t know this, Nicole, but the Lynch Family won’t let me see my child. They see me as a disgrace and refuse to listen no matter how I try to explain.”

Naomi Kenway was stunned and grew angry. “Mona is your child! Have they really taken away your right to even see him?!”

Victor Vance shook her head, a bitter smile on her face. “My life feels like a tragedy. My peaceful existence was derailed, and for no reason, my perfect life started to crack. First, I was framed and falsely accused of having an affair. Then, my husband came to despise me, and even my own son… he avoids me.”

It was as if she had been drained of all her strength in that instant. She slowly closed her eyes.

“Don’t be so pessimistic,” Naomi Kenway said. “You left the Lynch Family, started your own clothing brand, and fulfilled your personal dream. You’re fighting for that dream. In a way, isn’t that a kind of rebirth?”

“But… I can’t let go of my son. Not a moment has passed since I left him that I haven’t thought of him. When I close my eyes at night, my mind is filled with his accusations against me. I…” Victor Vance’s gaze fell, her eyes filling with a deep, baseless sorrow.

Naomi Kenway completely understood how Victor Vance felt; she too had been trapped in that kind of pain before. “Have you ever thought about uncovering the truth of who framed you?”

“I’ve been trying to find out, but the whole incident seems like some bizarre, baseless blunder. No one believes me. The media tore me to shreds. I only dare to sneak a few glances at Mona after school. The organizers of the fashion exhibition abroad keep urging me to return, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep living like this, sneaking around…”

Naomi Kenway was silent for a moment. She couldn’t bear to see the pale, pained look on the other woman’s face. “Try not to dwell on these painful things for now,” she said, trying to console her. “Besides, something feels contradictory about what you said. About Mona hating you. I haven’t spent a lot of time with him, but he’s mentioned you a few times while filming the show, and it didn’t sound like he hates you.”

Victor Vance’s face turned ashen. “Christina Lynch told me that Mona was just having trouble letting go, but that deep down he despises me every second of the day. That he’s ashamed to have a mother like me.”

“And you believed that?” Naomi Kenway asked, her tone calm and analytical. “Christina Lynch is the one keeping you from seeing your child. Given that, how much credibility do you really think his words have?”

A look of shock jolted through Victor Vance.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep