Mr. Kane Got Blacklisted

Leighton hesitated to share these thoughts with Nicole.
It was mainly because during their previous "relationship" publicity stunt, Nicole unintentionally bumped into his family while they
were together.
Except for his cousins, no one else in his family knew that their relationship was a charade.
They were ecstatic to see Nicole and insisted on treating her to meals.
Despite Nicole's tough demeanor around him, she knew exactly how to act around elders.
She addressed them as grandpa, grandma, uncle, and aunt, melting everyone's hearts.
Even his father, who typically disapproved of entertainment industry stars, seemed to approve of her, silently expressing, "You've
done well, kid, finding such a beautiful and remarkable partner." Nicole's behavior made Leighton question if his previous
perceptions of her were biased or exaggerated.
But after they finished eating, she surprised him in the car, saying, "Didn't realize you're such a mommy's boy, needing your mom
to clean your fish for you." "Mommy's boy" were the two words Leighton despised the most.
It all began when he was in middle school.
One morning, his mother showed up at school with milk for him.
He had overslept and rushed to school without eating breakfast.
His mother was worried he'd be hungry, so she brought him food.
His mother wasn't tall, only about 1.6 meters.
Though her husband wasn't short, she believed a child's height was determined by the mother's genes.
She feared Leighton wouldn't grow tall enough, so she always included milk in his meals.
However, Leighton disliked drinking milk, and she was afraid he'd waste it, so she made sure he finished it.
That day was no different.

After he finished his meal, she hugged him as usual.
Unfortunately, some gossiping classmates witnessed this scene.
Rumors escalated from "Leighton still needs his mommy to hug him" to "Leighton still sleeps with his mommy," spinning out of
control.
Leighton, being hot-headed, ended up hitting the gossiping classmates, landing him in trouble.
On the way home, she lectured him, insisting violence wasn't becoming of a gentleman; only barbarians resorted to it.
Leighton didn't listen; he blamed her entirely.
If she hadn't hugged him at school, the rumors wouldn't have spread.
No longer a child, he disliked being hugged.
Despite numerous rejections, she persisted.
So, for the first time, he vented his anger at his mother, blaming her for everything.
His mother remained silent, tearing up.
His father, upon learning of the incident, pursued him with a belt.
He scolded Leighton for his poor academics and inability to discern right from wrong.
If not for his mother's intervention, he would've been severely beaten.
Afterward, his mother refrained from hugging him before school.
She interacted with him cautiously, sometimes making him feel unworthy.
Though he knew he was wrong, he couldn't bring himself to address it.
Reconciliation became awkward after growing distant from his parents.
Later, after a falling out with his father, he saw his mother even less.

During meals, she'd subconsciously try to feed him like when he was young, then realize and discreetly observe his reaction.
Leighton was heartbroken.
He no longer rejected his mother's affection, but he never expected Nicole to misinterpret it as being a "mommy's boy" again.
Annoyed, he retorted, "Don't you have a mom? Just because I ask for a fish, I'm a mommy's boy? Hasn't your mom ever fed
you?" Nicole was taken aback, then smiled softly.
"I have amom, but she never fed me.
She regrets bringing me into this world." Leighton was stunned.
His words had unintentionally touched a raw nerve.
His upbringing stopped him from making any more sarcastic remarks.