Karma Doesn’t Sleep: The Revenge Queen Rises novel Chapter 25

Amelia heard every word from outside the door. Her heart twisted painfully, and she had to steady herself just to stay upright.

Taking a breath, she forced herself to move forward, tapping her white cane against the door so the kids would know she was coming.

“Timmy? Penny? Can Mommy come in?”

The door was already half open, and all she had to do was give it a gentle push.

The moment Amelia stepped inside, Penny bolted for the bed, yanking the covers over her head—making it clear she wanted nothing to do with her.

A heavy ache settled in Amelia’s chest.

Timmy stared up at her, anxious and unsure, his little fists clenched tight and his big, dark eyes darting around nervously.

Did she… hear what he’d just said?

At five, every emotion was written all over his face.

Amelia recognized the guilt in his eyes and felt her own heart soften. She knelt down, keeping her voice light and gentle. “Mommy’s ears still aren’t working that well. You have to talk louder if you want me to hear you, okay?”

Relief washed over Timmy’s face.

So she hadn’t heard. Thank goodness.

He hopped off the bed and crept toward her, one hesitant step at a time.

Amelia wanted nothing more than to pull her son into her arms and never let go. But she held back. She didn’t want to scare Timmy, and she couldn’t risk Clive picking up on anything strange.

“Timmy?” she said softly, crouching to his level and giving him a careful smile. “Can Mommy have a hug?”

Timmy looked at her—a woman who was somehow both a stranger and his mother—and his feelings were a jumbled mess.

He’d seen her so many times before, just lying in bed, still as a statue, as if she were only sleeping. But she never woke up…

When he still didn’t move, Amelia’s heart sank a little. She was bracing herself for rejection when Timmy finally spoke, his voice small and unsure.

“Are you going to fall asleep again?”

Amelia’s breath caught. Before she could answer, Timmy reached out, his tiny hand brushing her cheek, almost like he was making sure she was really there.

Tears threatened to spill from Amelia’s eyes.

“No, sweetheart,” she said, pressing her face gently into his palm, desperate for him to feel her warmth. “Mommy’s not going anywhere. I promise—I’ll never leave you again.”

She knew Clive would be upstairs any minute, so as much as it hurt, she let go of Timmy’s hand. Before she left, she glanced back at Penny, still hidden under her blanket, refusing to even look her way.

Amelia’s chest tightened. She swallowed down the bitter taste in her throat and quietly left the room.

It wasn’t until the door clicked shut that Penny finally peeked out from under the covers, her little face scrunched up in frustration.

She’d heard everything Amelia said.

Even though her brother kept insisting Amelia was their real mom, Penny only wanted Momma Kristen.

At the moment, Penny was completely absorbed in her phone, her thumbs flying as she messaged someone.

Every so often, she’d bite her lip to hide a giggle, looking absolutely delighted.

Amelia, wearing sunglasses, watched her through the rearview mirror. She had a pretty good idea who Penny was texting—Kristen.

It would be a lie to say it didn’t hurt. The whole ride, Amelia kept trying to make conversation, asking about their classes or their favorite things at school.

Timmy answered now and then, even if it was just a word or two. Penny, on the other hand, pretended she couldn’t hear Amelia at all. Even when she had to reply, she’d just mumble a flat “yeah,” never giving Amelia a chance to keep the conversation going.

When they were about fifty yards from the school gate, Penny set her phone aside and leaned forward, grabbing the back of Clive’s seat.

“Daddy, can you stop here? I’m tired of sitting in the car. I want to walk the rest of the way.”

Her big, dark eyes flickered with guilt as she shot a quick look at Amelia in the front seat.

She was lying, and she knew it. She wasn’t tired at all.

She just didn’t want the car pulling up to the front of the school, where Amelia might get out and walk her in. If her classmates or teachers saw her mom was blind, it would be so embarrassing.

And honestly… Penny snuck another glance at Amelia. She wasn’t ugly, exactly, but she didn’t look stylish at all.

No pretty earrings, no sparkly rings, no designer clothes—just plain and ordinary.

All her friends’ moms were glamorous, like Momma Kristen. Penny would much rather everyone at school thought the fashionable, beautiful Momma Kristen was her real mom.