The Villain Mom Awakens — Going Viral by Parenting on a Reality Show-Chapter 15: Fighting

The fact that Naomi Kenway had managed to build her own furniture was a constant thorn in Renee Jennings’s side. She had made a mistake by underestimating Naomi, allowing her to steal the spotlight. For the past two days, Renee had been practicing furniture making herself, but the results were far from ideal. The more discouraged she became, the more convinced she was that Naomi must have been practicing for months before the show started.

’Making furniture already takes so much energy,’ Renee thought. ’Naomi couldn’t have also trained her cooking before the show. And there’s no way she just happened to practice making knife-cut noodles, of all things. The odds are just too low.’

Renee Jennings glanced toward Naomi Kenway out of the corner of her eye. She strained to listen and heard that the video Naomi was playing started from the very beginning. ’She’s a complete beginner.’

Renee Jennings relaxed considerably and went back to chatting with the others.

Chelsea Raines affectionately linked her arm with hers. "Rachel, I heard you won first place in a cooking competition. You have to help me out later when we cook. To be honest, I rarely cook at home, and my food is pretty average."

Margaret Jennings smiled in surprise. "I had no idea Rachel had won a cooking competition! You really are an all-around supermom." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Renee Jennings basked in the flattery but kept a modest expression on her face. She placed her hands together on her lap and smiled shyly. "Oh, you all make me sound much better than I am. It was just a small competition, and I was lucky to win."

"It’s truly an honor to be on this family reality show with all of you. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to ask me. I’ll tell you everything I know!"

Renee Jennings’s warm and playful tone instantly endeared her to the others.

Noticing Ruby Preston had been sitting quietly, Renee Jennings leaned in and took the initiative. "Hazel Preston, I’m a pretty decent cook. If you need any help, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’d be more than happy to help."

Ruby Preston smiled. "No, thank you. I can manage just fine. At my age, I don’t really care about winning or losing. I’ll just wing it when the time comes."

Having her attempt to curry favor so bluntly rejected, Renee Jennings’s expression soured. But Ruby Preston’s family was very influential, so she couldn’t afford to show her anger openly.

"Alright," Renee Jennings said, sitting up straight again.

As Renee Jennings’s loyal ally, Chelsea Raines saw her friend get snubbed and immediately wanted to start something. However, the target wasn’t the "brainless and arrogant" Naomi Kenway. Chelsea just pouted in displeasure and kept her mouth shut.

The previously lively conversation died down at once.

An hour had passed by the time Naomi Kenway finished watching the tutorial video. The children still hadn’t returned, and she couldn’t help but stand up and ask a nearby cameraman, "Are the kids not back yet?"

The cameraman shook his head. "Not yet. But don’t worry, Nina. The young guests all have cameramen with them, so they won’t be in any danger."

Naomi Kenway nodded, but she still felt a little uneasy. This was her son’s first time completing a task on his own, after all.

Naomi Kenway slipped her phone into her pocket and started walking toward the town square.

*

On a country path:

"Jared Woods! Give Annie back the wildflowers he picked!"

Carina Sanders stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at Jared Woods. "Why are you such a bully, stealing other people’s things?! Give them back to Annie! Give them back now!"

Jared Woods clutched the bouquet of wildflowers, a smug look on his face. "Hmph, only girls like flowers. What’s a boy doing with flowers? Who even likes wildflowers? My house is filled with fresh roses every day. He’s so pathetic, he can only pick weeds!"

Standing off to the side, Nathan Lynch stared blankly at the scene unfolding. He clutched his full basket of vegetables and discreetly took a step back.

Simon Sawyer couldn’t stand by and watch any longer. He reached out to snatch the flowers from Jared Woods’s hand, but Jared deftly dodged him.

Annoyance flashed across Jared Woods’s tanned face. "You guys are so annoying!"

Ian Shaw held his breath, took two steps forward, and held out his hand to Jared Woods. "Please give me back the flowers I picked. They’re a gift for my mom."

"For your mom?" Jared Woods’s eyes darted slyly, and he broke into a wicked grin. "Then there’s no way I’m giving them back! This bouquet is tied up pretty well. I’ll take it home to my mom!"

Carina Sanders was so furious she stomped her foot. "You’re shameless! So shameless!"

Jared Woods pulled down his eyelid with a finger and stuck out his tongue. "Nope, not giving ’em back! Nyeh-nyeh-nyeh! Finders keepers, losers weepers! My mom says anything I like is mine!"

Ian Shaw clenched his fists. He was always getting bullied by the other kids at kindergarten. ’What should I do?’

His eyes fixed on the flowers in Jared Woods’s hand. ’That’s my gift for Mom. The flowers are so pretty—there are red ones and blue ones, all kinds I’ve never seen before. I wanted to ask Mom what they’re called, and how they can grow to be so beautiful.’

"Give me back my flowers."

Ian Shaw took another step forward.

Jared Woods was a little surprised. He hadn’t expected the little coward to be so persistent.

"Hmph, I told you, what I take is mine! If you come any closer, I’ll have my bodyguard beat you up!"

"Give it back."

"You...!" Jared Woods stumbled a step back.

"You’re so annoying, just like your bitch mother! You’re both worthless trash!"

Jared Woods had no idea how vicious those words were. He was just repeating what Chelsea Raines often muttered, things he had gradually learned by heart.

Ian Shaw’s expression instantly twisted with fury, his eyes turning red. "Don’t you insult my mom!"

Jared Woods was startled by the roar, but then felt embarrassed for getting scared. He dropped his basket and grabbed Ian Shaw by the collar. "I’ll say whatever I want about your mom! You and your mom are both trash!"

Jared Woods was two years older than Ian Shaw and looked much taller and heavier. He lifted Ian by the collar as if he were picking up a helpless chick.

Jared Woods raised his fist, and someone let out a cry of alarm.

Ian Shaw ducked his head, dodging the blow, and clenched his own fist, swinging at Jared Woods. His beautiful eyes were red with rage, a stark contrast to his usual quiet, almost invisible demeanor. He was like a provoked little animal.

He kept shouting, "Don’t you insult my mom!"

The two boys started wrestling on the ground.

Jared Woods looked bulkier, but it was all baby fat. He had no real strength and his movements were sluggish, so he ended up taking several of Ian’s punches. Ian, though lean, was surprisingly strong. In no time, Jared was crying.

Carina Sanders had initially wanted to break up the fight, but when she saw that the annoying Jared Woods was the one losing, she decided to stand aside. She even held back Simon Sawyer, who was about to intervene.

"He’s a bad guy! He stole Annie’s flowers and insulted Aunt Kenway. Bad guys deserve to get beat up!"

In the end, Simon Sawyer stopped in his tracks.

Nathan Lynch watched it all happen. His first instinct was to break them up, but he remembered what Renee Jennings had said and decided to stay out of it.