The Villain Mom Awakens — Going Viral by Parenting on a Reality Show-Chapter 115: The Great Chemistry Challenge (Part 1)

Chapter 115: Chapter 115: The Great Chemistry Challenge (Part 1)

[The way Rachel is talking is definitely a little off. Even as a fan, it’s making me uncomfortable. What’s the deal? She should’ve just apologized sincerely. Why did she have to try and guilt-trip the other person?]

[Didn’t Rachel already apologize? Anyone saying there’s a problem with her apology is just being too sensitive. I didn’t hear anything wrong with what she said. We’re watching the livestream, so we have a bird’s-eye view of everything, but Rachel doesn’t. It’s perfectly normal for her to question things if she feels the game is unfair. Everyone should just drop it.]

[Renee Jennings’s fans have such double standards. You guys don’t act this way when other contestants make a mistake.]

[How could Naomi Kenway get physical in front of so many children? That’s terrible. Think of the trauma it could cause the kids. No matter what, you can’t just hit someone! It’s always better to keep the peace.]

[What’s with the commenter above? You didn’t say anything when Renee Jennings threw a fit in front of all those kids, but you attack Nina for teaching her a lesson when she couldn’t take it anymore? Besides, Nina didn’t even hit her. It was just a little joke, wasn’t it? Can’t Renee Jennings take a joke? If you’re such a sore loser, just quit the show. What a snowflake.]

...

After the fiasco, the contestants’ spirits had visibly dampened. This was especially true for Renee Jennings, whose face was now devoid of any smile.

Nathan Lynch tugged on her sleeve. "Mom..." His eyes were full of worry.

Renee Jennings was filled with impatience. ’When you got down to it, this was Nathan Lynch’s fault,’ she thought. ’Even that little fool Ian Shaw knew how to help Naomi Kenway win, but Mona just stood there like an idiot, clutching a single ball.’

A camera drew near, and Renee Jennings instantly snapped back to reality. She forced a smile and put an arm around Nathan Lynch’s shoulder. "Mom’s okay."

"Next, I’ll be announcing the rankings and scores for the first round of the competition." The host cleared his throat and raised a megaphone. "Team Naomi Kenway, first place, gets 5 points! Team Renee Jennings, second place, 4 points! Team Ruby Preston, third place, 3 points! Team Margaret Jennings, fourth place, 2 points, and Team Chelsea Raines, fifth place, gets 1 point!"

"Ahem. Does anyone have any objections to these results?"

All eyes instinctively turned toward Renee Jennings. Her face burned with shame as she slowly shook her head.

"Alright, let’s move on to our second and final round of competition! Is everyone confident they’ll do a great job?"

"Yes!" the young contestants shouted in unison.

The host was all smiles. "I wonder, do you all play any family games at home?"

Naomi Kenway replied thoughtfully, "A few."

Renee Jennings furrowed her brow, wondering what the production team had up their sleeve.

Chelsea Raines scoffed and muttered sarcastically under her breath, "’A few?’ She’s just putting on an act. As if she ever pays attention to her kid at home. ’Family games’..."

After saying her piece, she glanced warily in Naomi Kenway’s direction.

Thankfully, Naomi Kenway was talking with Ian Shaw and hadn’t heard the muttered remark.

The question seemed to stir a memory for Ruby Preston, who said awkwardly, "I’m always so busy with work. I left Sean with a nanny when he was very little. By the time things freed up, he was already too old for little games..."

Margaret Jennings nodded slightly. "When Carina was little, I was often away on set. Sometimes, filming would go until dawn, and I’d just stay at the hotel the production booked. But... ever since I found out Carina was secretly crying herself to sleep at night, I haven’t dared to be away from home for more than a day at a time."

Ruby Preston was startled and looked at Simon Sawyer. "Son, did you cry because you couldn’t see me when you were little?"

Simon Sawyer froze for a second, then turned his head away. "No."

"You can think of our second round as a little family game, and it’s going to test the chemistry between all of you and your children!"

"Everyone see this partition? The parents and children will stand on opposite sides of it. The board is solid, so neither of you will be able to see the other. We’re going to ask some questions about the children, and whether or not you score will depend on the chemistry and understanding between you."

The contestants on set grew a little quiet, as most of them spent very little time with their children.

Chelsea Raines frowned slightly, then said to Renee Jennings, "Rachel, this round is your strong suit. You’ll definitely be able to make up for the points you lost in the last game!"

Renee Jennings’s expression was a bit strange. "Wh-what?"

"I’m always following your social media, Rachel. I know you spend a lot of time with Mona, and you sometimes post photos of you two playing together." Chelsea Raines’s tone was peculiar. "To be honest, I’m not home very often. To think that I’m not even as good as a step..." She stopped abruptly, swallowing the sensitive word.

"It makes me feel so inadequate..."

Renee Jennings quickly cut her off. "No, no, I’m not as good as you say. I’m actually just average."

Chelsea Raines was dumbfounded. In the past, Renee Jennings would have readily accepted such praise. What was wrong with her now? She covered her mouth and laughed. "Rachel, you’re being too modest. Everyone knows you spend the most time with your child, helping with homework and taking him out to play. You’re the very picture of a model mom."

Margaret Jennings added, "That’s right. Being able to make so much time for your child... you really are doing a great job, Rachel."

Chelsea Raines said, "Rachel, stop being so modest!"

The corner of Renee Jennings’s mouth twitched. She shot Chelsea Raines a look that could have set her on fire, but the other woman remained blissfully unaware, still smiling cheerfully.

’What’s the difference between this and just sabotaging me with praise?!’ Normally, she’d be thrilled to be flattered and adored, but this was different...

At the host’s signal, Renee Jennings walked forward apprehensively.

Before each game began, the live comment section started taking bets on who would win, and the overwhelming favorite was Renee Jennings.

[Isn’t the show basically handing Rachel free points? Rachel spends the most time with her kid, and not a single one of her social media posts is unrelated to him. First place has to be hers!]

[These contestants really haven’t fulfilled their duties as mothers. Every one of them is just focused on her career while neglecting her child’s development. Just think, all the biological moms are going to lose to a stepmom. I’d be embarrassed if I were them.]

[Why is everyone in the comments betting that Renee Jennings will win? I don’t think it’s a sure thing. After all, she didn’t even know the kid was allergic to seafood.]

[The whole seafood allergy thing was because Mona was deliberately pushing Rachel away, right? Hasn’t this all been explained already? Go look at Rachel’s posts, you’ll see how much she loves Mona. I hope Mona can get away from his birth mom’s malicious influence soon.]

[I’m betting on Naomi Kenway! You can see how good she is to Ian at a single glance.]

[Are the people betting on Naomi Kenway joking? Everyone knows Naomi Kenway is only on this show for the clout. She just barely managed to clean up her image a little while ago and she was already rushing off to shoot a new drama. Anyone with eyes can see what’s going on here. Her poor son...]