In the beginning, Keen would still listen to her. But as he grew older, he began to dismiss her words with disdain.


    "It was all his n to set me up!" Keen''s frustrated voice interrupted her thoughts.


    "That brat, he purposely let me see you guys having a st at the amusement park, then came running up to me, saying it felt great to steal my mom away. He even said I''d be mom-less from now on! He was scared I''d take you back, so he jumped into the pool. If he can jump, so can I! I''m not afraid!"


    Keen''s eyes, red with anger, locked onto Ste.


    "We both fell in the water, and you chose to save him first, ignoring me. Are you really... nning to leave me behind?"


    Ste paused for a moment, offering an exnation. "I didn''t see you at the time; I didn''t know you were in the water too."


    Keen''s cold, broken heart warmed just a little.


    "So... between what I said and what that brat said, who do you believe?"


    Ste''s voice was steady, "I believe what I saw with my own eyes."


    "Why?" Keen''s eyes widened in disbelief, "Aren''t I your son? Why would you choose to believe that brat over me? You''re my mom. You should be on my side unconditionally!"


    Ste asked, "Just because I''m your mom, does that mean I must always take your side?"


    "Yes!" Keen replied defiantly, "You''re my mom. You should believe everything I say without question!"


    Ste looked at him, "I''m your mom, but have you ever believed me unconditionally? Have you forgotten how you testified for your friend Rachel, iming I pushed her down the stairs and asked me to apologize?"


    "I... I didn''t see it clearly back then." Keen''s confidence faltered a bit, but he persisted, "You''re my mom. Why do you have to nitpick with me?"


    Ste countered, "Does being a mom mean I have to be lesser than you?"


    "Keen, trust is mutual. You didn''t see it clearlyst time, but this time I saw it perfectly. I''m not falsely using you."


    Ste showed him the surveince video on her phone.


    "You can see for yourself."


    Keen took the phone and saw the footage. It was just as his mom had said.


    Even he wasn''t dense enough to miss the fact that Marvin had nned this all along.


    Just then, Haynes, who had been silent, spoke up, "Ste, is this how you try to provoke Keen, to make hime to you?"


    Ste''s brow furrowed as she looked at Haynes. "What do you mean?"


    Haynes''s voice was calm and cool. "Without some adult''s guidance, why would Marvin tell Keen about your weekend ns? And why repeatedly say you don''t want Keen anymore?"


    Since Marvin showed up, Keen had changed.


    The polite and well-mannered boy he once was now got into fights at kindergarten, bing a problem child that the teachers dreaded dealing with.


    Every time they went to sort out an issue at school, Keen''s version of events never matched what everyone else saw.


    Haynes knew Keen too well. Keen wouldn''t lie. The only possibility was that Marvin did say something to him.


    But could a five-year-old really be that maniptive?