The Villain Mom Awakens — Going Viral by Parenting on a Reality Show-Chapter 42 - 43: Nathan Lynch Broke Character

"It’s so hot out, and buying an ice cream bar is spoiling my child?"

Naomi Kenway glanced at Nathan Lynch. His cheeks were flushed, and his face was covered in sweat. "Nathan doesn’t look too well. You should buy him a bottle of water."

Nathan Lynch’s throat was dry, and he was having a little trouble speaking. "Mom, can I take my jacket off? It’s so hot..."

Renee Jennings quickly tightened his jacket. "Nathan, there are bugs everywhere outside. What if you get bitten... Mom doesn’t have any insect repellent." After she spoke, she quietly glanced at Chelsea Raines. ’If I’d known, I never would have gotten involved and wasted that precious medicine.’

"Mom, I’m so thirsty..." Nathan Lynch’s face was flushed. "I can barely walk anymore."

"I always tell you to exercise more, why don’t you listen? Nathan, now you see, don’t you? You have to listen to Mom."

Under the scorching sun, Nathan Lynch’s mouth was parched. He could barely register what Renee Jennings was saying. "Mom, I’ll listen. Just please buy me a bottle of water."

The boy looked so pitiful that Margaret Jennings couldn’t help but try to persuade her. "Renee, just buy Nathan a bottle of water first. A bottle of mineral water doesn’t cost much. Look, the heat is already getting to him. What if he gets heatstroke?"

"I..." Renee Jennings was carrying a large bag of steamed buns in one hand and a plastic bag of pickled vegetables in the other.

She had done her homework before coming. Apparently, the rainforest had abundant water resources that were drinkable after filtering. Their budget was only twenty yuan, so Renee Jennings didn’t want to waste money on water. Buying more steamed buns was the most cost-effective plan; they could last for a few days without issue.

’People like Naomi Kenway who spend money so freely are destined to suffer. When the time comes, I certainly won’t help her. At most, I’ll give Ian Shaw a steamed bun.’

Having decided this, Renee Jennings crouched down to be at eye level with Nathan Lynch. "Nathan, listen to Mom. We’re about to go back and regroup. As soon as we get into the rainforest, there will be water. Can you just bear with it for a little longer, please?"

Nathan Lynch took a step back. He had always been a well-behaved and polite boy, but this was the first time he had ever yelled. "I said I’m thirsty!! I’m really thirsty!!"

Renee Jennings froze. Her first reaction was that Nathan Lynch had broken character. Nathan had a lot of "mom fans" who all praised him for being smart and sensible, but now he was actually yelling at her.

Renee Jennings’s expression turned serious, as if she were disciplining a disobedient child. "Nathan, have you forgotten what Mom told you? Nobody likes a boy who doesn’t listen. Do you want to be a bad boy, Nathan?" Renee Jennings then gently patted Nathan Lynch’s shoulder. "Be good. We’ll have water to drink soon. Mom is thirsty too, but if we spend all our money now, we won’t have anything to eat later. Please just bear with it, okay?"

Naomi Kenway’s lip twitched. She truly hadn’t expected Renee Jennings to be so stingy with her own child. A stall up ahead had water for sale, and Naomi Kenway went straight over, paid, and bought a bottle.

She walked over and handed it to Nathan Lynch. "Here."

Nathan Lynch froze for a moment, then slowly raised his head.

Only then did Naomi Kenway see that the little boy’s eyes were red-rimmed.

Nathan Lynch hesitated. His mom had told him that Aunt Kenway was the Big Bad Wolf and that he shouldn’t interact with the Big Bad Wolf too much. ’But the Big Bad Wolf was kind enough to buy me a bottle of water. Should I take it?’

In the end, his parched throat was too much to bear. Nathan Lynch reached out his hand. "Thank you, Aunt Kenway..."

But before he could take the bottle, another, larger hand snatched it away. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Renee Jennings handed the bottle back to Naomi Kenway. "This bottle costs three-fifty, right? Naomi Kenway, you’re despicable. You spend money recklessly and try to drag me down with you. We’re not taking this water, and I’m not giving you the money. Go return it."

Naomi Kenway was so angry she almost laughed. "Why are you so dramatic all the time? It’s just mineral water. Anyone would think it was your lifeblood. Buying a bottle of water is like asking for half your life. If you’re going to bring your child on a variety show, then treat him properly. Can’t you see how uncomfortable he is? Instead of worrying about the future, maybe you should focus on getting through the present!"

"You..."

Naomi Kenway then placed the water firmly in Nathan Lynch’s hands. "Hold on to it tight this time. Don’t let anyone snatch it away again."

After speaking, she shot Renee Jennings a look and coolly uttered two words: "It’s free."

Renee Jennings’s face turned green with rage.

[Class! Now that’s class! Instantly became a fan of Naomi Kenway!]

[I don’t really like Naomi Kenway, but I can’t deny she’s right. Nathan was so miserable, and it’s just a bottle of water. Renee Jennings is guarding that money like a miser. Money isn’t more important than your son, is it?!]

[Don’t preach to others about virtue when you haven’t experienced their suffering. Why don’t you try to see things from Renee’s perspective? This generation of netizens sure loves to over-analyze. If you were in her shoes, you’d probably think the same way. Right now, you’re all just keyboard warriors.]

[Renee Jennings? "Top Ten Best Mom"? She won’t even buy her kid a bottle of water? Is this a joke?]

[Renee has a point. You have to be frugal with twenty yuan to last three days and two nights. Save what you can now so you can survive in the rainforest later. The way Naomi Kenway is splurging, I bet she barely has any money left. Later, she’ll have to shamelessly go to Renee for food, and she won’t be acting so smug then!]

[I feel kind of bad for Naomi Kenway. How is she going to survive three days and two nights on just a few yuan?]

...

Renee Jennings never expected to be lectured by Naomi Kenway. Being preached at by trash like her was worse than death. She took a deep breath.

"Nina, I’ve already tried to warn you. You’ll regret it when you’re in the rainforest with no food. This isn’t the time for tough talk."

"Oh?" Naomi Kenway drew out the sound mockingly. "You don’t have time to take care of your own son, yet you’re so concerned with managing everyone else."

Renee Jennings’s mouth was twisted with anger. "If you won’t listen, there’s nothing I can do. Food will be scarce once we’re in the rainforest. I’m telling you this upfront: no matter how much you beg me later, I won’t give you anything. After all, Nathan and I have to survive too. I hope you can understand, Nina."

Naomi Kenway bent down to take a small bite of the ice cream bar Ian Shaw offered her, only then glancing at Renee out of the corner of her eye. "Oh."

After she had said so much with such passion, Naomi Kenway just dismissed it all with a single "Oh."

Renee Jennings grabbed Nathan Lynch, called to Chelsea Raines, and turned to leave. "Chelsea, let’s go."

Seeing how angry she was, Chelsea Raines tried to comfort her. "Naomi Kenway is too arrogant to listen to anyone. Maybe we’re overthinking it. Perhaps she plans to catch and eat bugs in the rainforest. I just don’t know if little Ian Shaw can endure that kind of hardship with her."

She sighed. "That poor child..."

Jared Woods, trailing behind her, chimed in, "Mom, I want an ice cream bar! You can’t let your child suffer!"

Chelsea Raines’s expression changed in an instant. "Jared Woods!!"