The Villain Mom Awakens — Going Viral by Parenting on a Reality Show-Chapter 94: I’m Luke Lowell

Ian turned around, his round cheeks filled with apology. "I’m sorry, Mommy. It’s all my fault for being too noisy."

"It’s okay. Just sit here and play. I feel better when I can keep an eye on you."

Ian came back, this time holding a science book. He rested his head on Naomi’s lap and held the book up to read.

The back of Ian’s head was perfectly round. From her angle, Naomi could see his slightly pudgy cheeks, and an indescribable warmth and contentment suddenly filled her heart.

Naomi looked at the script again. ’This time,’ she thought, ’I understand.’

Hugh Chandler had a younger sister, and after the accident, they had only each other to rely on. The catalyst for his transformation wasn’t just his own circumstances—it was his sister, the person he cherished most in the world.

Once she realized this, Naomi’s understanding of Hugh Chandler’s character deepened considerably.

A message notification chimed. It was from Margaret Jennings.

[Margaret Jennings: The weather’s been lovely the last couple of days. Any chance you’re free to come over? I’ve got red wine and desserts ready.]

Naomi declined, explaining that she was busy preparing for her audition, but promised she would definitely visit once she had the time.

[Margaret Jennings: Oh, I see. You focus on that, then. If you run into anything you don’t understand, I can help you work through it.]

Naomi’s eyes lit up. Margaret was an award-winning actress—a living, breathing textbook on the craft was right in front of her.

Naomi asked a few questions about acting, and Margaret patiently answered each one in detail.

[Naomi: I really owe you one for this. You should come over for dinner at my place next time, Pearl.]

[Margaret Jennings: I’d love to! In that case, I’ll gladly accept. And best of luck with your audition, Nina. I hope you get it!]

Naomi thanked her and went back to studying the script.

*

Ethan Shaw got back very late. When he entered the bedroom, he was surprised to find Naomi still awake, engrossed in her phone.

He took off his suit jacket. "Why aren’t you asleep yet?"

By the time Naomi looked up, she realized Ethan was already back. She hadn’t been sleeping well for the past two days because of the script, and she looked a bit haggard.

Ethan stared at her for a moment. "Did that phone suck the life out of you, Naomi?"

As he spoke, he snatched the phone from her hand.

"Give it back!" Naomi reached for it. "I’m not done studying the script!"

Ethan paused for a second but didn’t give the phone back. "It’s already eleven o’clock. You need to sleep."

With that, he tossed the phone onto the nightstand. "What script is so important you have to lose sleep over it every night? Is the credit card I gave you not enough to buy your way onto the set?"

"It’s not the same! If I buy my way onto the cast, people will drag my name through the mud. And besides, I want to earn this role with my own skills!" Naomi sighed. "You’re not an actor, Ethan. You wouldn’t understand!"

Naomi had faint dark circles under her eyes, but they couldn’t hide the fiery determination within them. Ethan couldn’t deny it: now that Naomi had a goal to strive for, she seemed to radiate a new kind of light.

CLICK. The bedroom lights went out, leaving only the dim glow of the small night light on the headboard.

"Ethan!"

Ethan stood by the bed, looking down at her. "You can work just as hard by waking up early tomorrow. This way, you’re disturbing my sleep."

Naomi clenched her fists, grumbling, "Aren’t you going to shower? At least turn the lights back on until you’re done!"

"No."

Ethan walked toward the bathroom, his tall frame a looming silhouette in the dim light.

Furious, Naomi flopped onto the bed and pulled the covers over her head. If not for the numerous agreements she had with Ethan that prevented a total fallout, she would have stormed over, flicked the lights back on, and given him a swift kick.

Perhaps because she was so exhausted, Naomi fell asleep almost as soon as she lay down.

When Ethan came out of the bathroom, the room was silent. It seemed Naomi was asleep.

As he got closer, Ethan realized something was amiss. Naomi was clutching his pillow.

She was hugging it tightly. After several failed attempts to pull the pillow from her grasp, Ethan gave up and went downstairs to get a new one.

When he returned, Naomi was still sleeping soundly. A soft chuckle escaped him. ’Is this her idea of revenge?’ he wondered.

*

The day of the audition arrived quickly. Naomi went to the location specified in the notice.

The place was bustling with actors there for the audition. Naomi found a quiet corner to sit, mentally reviewing the script.

For some reason, she felt exactly like a student who had crammed for a test, now anxiously awaiting the results.

The thought made Naomi laugh out loud, and some of her nervousness melted away.

A moment later, her assistant ran over to tell her that the venue had provided a private waiting room for her on the second floor.

Naomi knew she’d often enjoyed such special treatment in the past, but things were different now. With so many people around, if she went off to a private room, the gossip blogs would surely have a field day with it.

Naomi pointed to the spot next to her, telling her assistant to sit. "There’s air conditioning here, so it’s cool enough. I can’t be bothered to move. Let’s just wait here."

Her assistant wouldn’t dare disobey an order from Naomi, so she dutifully sat down beside her, her bag still on her back.

A moment later, a murmur went through the crowd. Naomi glanced up and saw it was Renee Jennings and Nathaniel Lynch. ’So Renee is here to audition too...’

Naomi took one look and then turned away. She had no interest in other people’s affairs.

"Nathaniel, thank you so much for coming with me to the audition."

"Of course. I’m happy to be here with you."

As the two passed by, many people commented on what a perfect couple they made—a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven.

Another wave of chatter rippled through the room, this one even more fervent than before.

Naomi couldn’t be bothered to look up again. She closed her eyes, pretending to rest, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the arm of her chair.

"Naomi?"

A voice called out, uncertain.

"Naomi, is that you?" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

It was the voice of a man she didn’t recognize at all.

Naomi opened her eyes and saw a man in sunglasses standing before her. He had a streak of silver in his hair and a glittering stud in one ear. He was the cause of the latest commotion.

"Do I know you?"

Naomi wracked her brain but couldn’t recall ever meeting this person.

His lips twitched in disbelief. He took off his sunglasses. "You’ve changed so much, and I still recognized you. You really don’t know who I am?"

Naomi thought he looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t place him.

"It’s me, Luke Lowell." Luke put his sunglasses back on. "Wow, your memory is really something. Or am I just that unmemorable?"

Luke Lowell...

A member of the hottest boy band right now, one of the nation’s top celebrities. More importantly, he was the young master of the Lowell Family of Veridia—and Ethan Shaw’s cousin.

Luke could tell from Naomi’s expression that she remembered him now. He chuckled. "Ring a bell?"

A polite smile instantly appeared on Naomi’s face. "Oh, it’s you, Luke! Are you here for the audition too?"