The Villain Mom Awakens — Going Viral by Parenting on a Reality Show-Chapter 46 - 47: You’re Such a Careless Mother

The terrain here was rugged and the jungle was dense, making the journey exceptionally difficult. Naomi Kenway was carrying a large backpack, holding Ian Shaw’s hand with one of hers and using a wooden stick in the other to help her walk.

It wasn’t a stick she had bought; she had just found it by the side of the path. It was smooth all over and didn’t give her any splinters.

Before they left, Renee Jennings had made sure she and Nathan Lynch put on rain boots. For some reason, though, the muddy ground felt stickier and stickier the farther they walked.

Renee Jennings was carrying food supplies in both hands, so she didn’t have a free hand to hold Nathan Lynch’s. Mona was walking on his own when he suddenly stumbled and fell to his knees with a SPLAT. Muddy water splashed everywhere, and his rain boot sank deep into the earth, leaving a hole.

"Mommy, it hurts!" Nathan Lynch’s eyes instantly reddened.

Renee Jennings looked around. Her hands were full of supplies, leaving her no way to help. The ground was covered in mud, and she couldn’t possibly set down the food they were meant to eat.

The tour guide, who had been leading the group up front, saw what happened and hurried back. He picked Mona up, set him down on a clear patch of ground ahead, then pulled the boot out of the mud and helped Nathan Lynch put it back on.

"Are you okay, Mona?" Renee Jennings asked as she slowly walked over, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

The lower half of Nathan Lynch’s body looked like it had been soaked in mud; he was an absolute mess. The little boy looked down, and seeing himself covered in filth made him cry even harder. He wiped away his tears. "It’s bad... My clothes are dirty... Nobody likes a dirty kid..."

Margaret Jennings came closer. "Don’t cry, Mona. If your clothes are dirty, we can just change them."

She turned to look at Renee Jennings. "Rachel, the poor boy is heartbroken. Go on and get Mona into a fresh set of clothes."

An embarrassed expression appeared on Renee Jennings’s face. "I... I only brought a jacket and his boots for Mona."

Margaret Jennings’s eyes widened. "We’re going to be here for three days, and you didn’t even pack a change of clothes for your child?"

Renee Jennings bit her lower lip. "It’s my fault, I was careless. I thought I’d pack less clothing and more food to make sure Mona had enough to eat. Having a full belly is more important than wearing nice clothes. I didn’t expect something like this to happen..."

She lowered her gaze, the very picture of repentance. Margaret Jennings couldn’t help but wonder if her words had been a bit harsh.

"That’s not right, Rachel. I remember you saying you brought several outfits..." Chelsea Raines clapped a hand over her mouth, as if she had just realized something.

Naomi Kenway finished Chelsea Raines’s unspoken thought. "You didn’t only pack clothes for yourself, did you?"

"I..." Renee Jennings’s face went pale, then she snapped angrily, "What did you ’see’ this time? Don’t you dare frame me. You need evidence to make accusations like that!"

Naomi Kenway said lightly, "I was just asking. Why are you getting so worked up? Could it be..." She arched a delicate brow. "That I hit the nail on the head?"

"I..."

Ruby Preston, who had been silent until now, handed over a set of clothes. "These are Sean’s. He’s a year older than Mona, but it’s fine if they’re a little big. Go on, get him changed out of those dirty clothes."

Renee Jennings said gratefully, "Thank you so much, Hazel Preston."

"Don’t mention it. Just remember to pack them next time. You’re being far too careless as a mother. If you know your son hates being dirty, you should have packed extra clothes. Doesn’t it break your heart to see him cry like this?"

Renee Jennings’s face alternated between pale and flushed at the admonishment. But she couldn’t talk back, especially not to the highly respected Ruby Preston, so she could only nod hastily.

Seeing her compliant attitude, Ruby Preston’s expression softened. She rubbed her temples. "Perhaps I’m just sensitive to the sound of children crying. I’ve always been busy with my career, and I feel guilty every time I hear Sean cry."

"No, no, no," Renee Jennings said, lowering her gaze demurely. "What you’re saying makes perfect sense, Hazel Preston."

’She was hoping to land a few major productions from Ruby Preston to boost her own popularity, so of course, whatever Ruby Preston said was right.’

Nathan Lynch was still crying, completely lost in the painful thought that ’no one will like me’.

Nathan Lynch was covered in mud. Renee Jennings subtly took half a step back, extending only her hand to him. "Mona, come on. Mommy will take you over there to change."

Nathan Lynch stopped crying and obediently stood up.

’Before she left, Renee Jennings glanced at her luggage again. She was worried Naomi Kenway might steal her food, but... Naomi had bought so many tasty things, she probably wouldn’t give this bag of steamed buns a second glance.’

This realization only made Renee Jennings even angrier.

’What kind of stupid show was this? How did it let Naomi Kenway find a loophole?!’

Five minutes later, Renee Jennings returned with Nathan Lynch. "Sorry to keep you all waiting."

The tour guide blew his whistle, and the group set off again.

Naomi Kenway scooped her son up with one arm, her other hand still using the wooden stick to keep her balance. The path here was treacherous, and Naomi was afraid Ian Shaw might take a tumble too.

Ian Shaw wrapped his arms around Naomi Kenway’s neck and snuggled his soft cheek against hers. "Mommy, is Annie heavy?"

"Mommy can lift you just fine."

’Ian Shaw had fleshed out a bit recently, a development Naomi Kenway was delighted to see. She didn’t even want to think about how scrawny her son had been at first.’

"Mommy, I’m so tired!" Jared Woods shouted, panting heavily. "I can’t walk anymore! Why did we have to come here to suffer? I want to go home and watch Ultraman..."

"We’ve only been walking for a short while and you’re already whining. You’re so hopeless!" Chelsea Raines had a sharp tongue, but she doted on Jared Woods. She quickly freed a hand to take his. "Jared, you’re too heavy for Mommy to carry. Come on, I’ll hold your hand while we walk!"

The other mothers were either carrying their children or holding their hands, offering encouragement. Only Renee Jennings kept a person’s distance between herself and Nathan Lynch.

’Kids don’t walk carefully; they’re always splashing mud everywhere. What if he gets my pants dirty...’

But.

As Renee Jennings looked around, she confirmed that she was the only one keeping her distance from her child. Before joining the show, Renee had built up a sizable following as a social media personality, and she had a very precise grasp of online trends.

’All the other mothers are being so close with their kids, while I’m ignoring mine. I can just close my eyes and imagine the nasty things the gossip blogs are going to write.’

"Mommy..." Nathan Lynch held out his hand. "I wanna hold hands."

Renee Jennings hurriedly stuffed the steamed buns she was holding into her backpack. She took Nathan Lynch’s hand and said gently, "Are you a little scared to walk by yourself? Here, Mommy will hold your hand."

Nathan Lynch was in a daze. ’Mommy really does love me, doesn’t she?’ he thought. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The mothers were carrying heavy loads, so they had to stop and rest every so often.

Their energy drained quickly, and soon it was time to eat. Each mother had prepared different food, but most had brought cheap and filling items like steamed buns and flatbread. The canned luncheon meat and bread Naomi Kenway pulled out seemed to come from another world, sticking out like a sore thumb.