The young man sat in front of the glowing screen, his fingers moving slowly across the keyboard as if trying to gather his thoughts.
Carolina watched him for a moment, her brows slightly furrowed. There was something different about Tom’s expression tonight—something deeper than a usual evening’s exhaustion.
It was as if he was hiding something…
She stepped forward slowly, setting her bag down on the small table in the corner of the living room. As she did, she caught the faint scent of her own perfume lingering in the air—a mixture of the sun, the breeze from outside, and perhaps a fleeting moment of peace she had stolen for herself that day.
The brown knitted dress she wore hugged her body gently, its fabric draping down from her shoulders and buttoning neatly at her waist. A belt cinched her silhouette with an elegant touch. Her long, wavy hair cascaded over one shoulder, and the subtle makeup on her face enhanced her already striking features.
"How was your day, sweetheart?" she asked, her voice as soft as ever, yet laced with a quiet curiosity.
Tom slowly lifted his gaze from the computer screen, but his eyes lingered for just a moment—his focus seemingly caught on Carolina’s legs.
However, he quickly recovered. Clearing his throat, he replied, "Good… It was a busy day. Classes, some work… nothing special."
But there was a slight tremor in his voice. A hesitation. And Carolina noticed.
She tilted her head slightly, her instincts immediately sharpening.
Tom’s voice wasn’t as steady as usual.
Was he hiding something? Or was he just exhausted?
After a brief silence, Carolina smiled lightly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Aren’t you going to ask how my day went, my son?"
Tom flinched slightly, his thoughts seemingly tangled. He blinked, as if it took him a second to process the question. "Of course… How was your day?" he asked, but his voice was distant, almost forced.
Carolina walked closer, leaning lightly against the desk and letting her weight shift naturally. She studied him, her eyes scanning his face with quiet concern.
"You’ve been distracted lately, Tom," she said. "Is there something you want to tell me?"
Tom briefly pulled himself out of his thoughts to answer, but his eyes kept flickering back to the tabs on his computer screen. His fingers idly moved the mouse, making it clear his mind was elsewhere.
Carolina continued watching him carefully. Then, after a moment, she spoke, her tone casual but carrying a deliberate weight.
"I ran into Ethan the other day."
Tom’s eyes immediately snapped back to her. His brows slightly furrowed. "Ethan?"
Ethan had been Tom’s childhood friend. But now… now he was someone completely different. Years had passed, their paths had diverged, and their conversations had long since ended.
Carolina observed her son’s reaction before nodding. "Yes. He asked about you."
Tom hesitated for a moment, then muttered indifferently, "Interesting."
Carolina caught the coldness in his voice and frowned slightly. "Why do you say it like that?"
Tom’s gaze flicked back to the computer screen as he clicked the mouse. "Because Ethan isn’t the same person anymore, Mom. Not the way you remember him. He’s living the life of a spoiled rich kid now."
Carolina straightened slightly at his words. "What do you mean by that, Tom? That doesn’t sound like you."
Tom let go of the mouse and turned to face her, exhaling deeply. "Mom, Ethan isn’t the same. Why are you so surprised? Even the last time I saw him, he was already turning into someone else."
Carolina arched a brow as she studied him. "Aren’t you going to ask where I ran into him?"
Tom let out a short, almost amused laugh, then smirked. "I don’t care, Mom."
"Ethan’s life doesn’t cross with mine anymore, and honestly, that’s for the best."
Carolina couldn’t understand her son’s dismissiveness. A discomfort stirred inside her, and she didn’t bother hiding it. "Why are you talking like this, Tom? You never used to be like this."
Tom averted his gaze and sighed. "Because I don’t want to talk to him." His voice was unexpectedly serious. Then he turned back to Carolina, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Seems like he left an impression on you, though. You’ve been talking about him quite a bit…"
Carolina frowned, unimpressed. "What are you implying, Tom? Are you seriously saying that to me?"
Tom inhaled sharply, irritation creeping into his expression. "Mom, Ethan has changed. He’s not that kid anymore. You still look at him through a different lens, but I know exactly what he’s become."
Carolina’s confusion deepened. "But why are you so angry? Did he do something to you? Or is there something else going on?"
Tom shook his head, avoiding her gaze. "It doesn’t matter, Mom. The more we talk about this, the more annoyed I get. But I do wonder why he’s caught your attention so much. You ran into him by chance, yet you made a point to bring it up to me."
Carolina inhaled slowly, straightening her posture. "Because I thought you should know, Tom. But clearly, this is a more sensitive topic for you than I expected."
Tom narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice turning colder. "Maybe it’s not as sensitive as you think, Mom. But is Ethan still just that sweet kid to you? Because I know exactly what he’s become."
A tense silence settled between them. Carolina struggled to process Tom’s hostility. "Tom, what is this attitude? Why are you being so harsh? I don’t like this side of you."
Tom shook his head and exhaled deeply. "I’m just stating facts. I don’t care about Ethan anymore, but clearly, he’s caught your interest. Otherwise, why are you dwelling on him so much?"
Then, with a smirk, he added, "Or is it that you want him to fill your loneliness, Mom? Maybe you’re looking for something more than just a reunion."
Carolina’s expression hardened instantly. Her anger flared, and before she could stop herself, her hand snapped across Tom’s face.
The sharp slap echoed through the room.
Tom’s face turned to the side, shock flashing across his features. He hadn’t expected her to react so violently.
Carolina’s eyes burned with fury and disappointment. "How dare you speak to me like that, Tom? I am your mother!"
Tom touched his cheek, his expression unreadable. Then, after a few moments, he let out a bitter, mocking laugh.
"Congratulations, Mom. That’s the first time you’ve ever hit me. I wonder if I deserved it."
Then he turned sharply and stormed out of the room.
Carolina stood frozen, her chest tightening with a mix of regret and frustration. She had never struck her son before, and now, the weight of that action sank deep into her bones.
She wanted to call out to him, to say something, but the words wouldn’t come.
All that remained was the echoing silence.
As Tom stormed out of the house, his mind raced with dark thoughts. His mother’s words rang in his ears, but they only fueled the growing fire inside him.
"Derek was right," he muttered to himself.
"This house needs a man’s presence. And I’ll be the one to show them what that means."
A dangerous glint flickered in his eyes as he disappeared into the night.
