Chapter II That Ungrateful Daughter Who Tattles On Me Again
48 Pearls
I was wearing a sleek, sleeveless black top–cropped just enough to reveal a sliver of my waist–and a pair of wide–legged beige trousers that swayed with every step. At five–foot–six, I had a tall, lean frame with alabaster skin and cool undertones. My long, wavy hair was chestnut–colored, which made my complexion appear fairer.
“Mom, what are you wearing?” Yuna asked, her eyes widening in surprise. It looks really good on you!” It was the first time she had ever seen me dressed so differently, and she was clearly taken aback.
Even Shawn looked stunned; his dark eyes couldn’t mask his disbelief.
I flipped my wavy hair over my shoulder and walked up to them. “Yuna, get in the car. I’m going to be late
for dinner”
Shawn gently patted Yuna’s head and spoke softly. “Be good and listen to your mom, alright? Don’t cause her any trouble.”
Yuna puffed up her checks, rebutting in annoyance, “I know, I know. You say that every day. So annoying.”
Shawn gave her an affectionate look, but when he turned to me, his gaze swept over me from head to toe. “Who are you having dinner with?”
“Just my piano teacher and some classmates,” I said casually.
His eyebrows creased with concern as he urged, “Be careful who you hang out with; don’t get involved with the wrong crowd.”
I chuckled and said, “Meeting new people is actually nice. I enjoy it.”
And before he could say another word, I shut the car door and drove off, the engine humming beneath me.
In the rearview mirror, I caught one last glimpse of him–still standing there.
Yuna pulled out her handheld game console and started playing, casually asking, “Mom, why didn’t you come bake the cake with me yesterday?”
I blinked, surprised she brought that up. “Didn’t you already have someone with you?”
“That’s not the same,” she said, not looking up. “Other kids had both their parents there. I only had Dad. If Queena hadn’t canceled her dinner plans to come, I would’ve looked really pitiful.” She was blaming me. I wasn’t living up to her standards of what a mother should be.
Inside, I let out a silent, bitter laugh. Queena likely jumped at the opportunity. She ought to thank me.
“Your dad seems pretty close to Ms. Tackman,” I said casually.
“Of course, Queena … “Yuna slipped up, momentarily changing how she addressed her. Still, she had Shawn’s caution in her blood. She didn’t finish the sentence and just grumbled, “Mom, are you trying to get information about Dad out of me? That’s so lame.”
I repeatedly tried to test her, only to discover that she was still very young and not on my side. I couldn’t keep forcing myself to love her.
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Chapter 11 That Ungrateful Daughter Who Tattles On Me Again
daughter.
48 Pearls
I knew Shawn was fooling around behind my back, but I wasn’t going to stoop to his level just to get even.
Romance didn’t hold much weight for me anymore. What I wanted was money, success, and independence. I wanted to build something for myself. If I could become successful, there would always be men–plenty of them.
Dinner was pleasant, filled with easy conversation and shared laughter, I even picked up some intriguing information–there might be upcoming performance opportunities, and they would notify me. I hadn’t been on stage since college, but I still remembered what it felt like to be in the spotlight. That rush, that admiration–it nourished the soul. And I wanted it back.
It’s the same reason so many people in leadership fall apart after retirement. No more respect, no more attention–they lose their purpose. For women, it’s no different; without nourishment for the soul, we wither.
Yuna, ever the social butterfly, got along well with the group. At one point, she even mentioned she was keen to learn piano with me. But I shut that idea down immediately–it just wasn’t realistic. She pouted, folding her arms. “Fine! If you won’t let me, I’ll ask Dad. One day, I’ll be better than you–and don’t get jealous when I am.”
I knew she had a gift. She picked things up fast. But jealous? Hardly. I was already preparing to let go of this mother–daughter bond. Her future? I wouldn’t be part of it.
She spent the afternoon trailing behind me–napping during my lessons, playing games while I practiced. She was utterly exhausted. So I asked if she wanted to go to her grandma’s house. She said yes right away.
I called my mother–in–law, who was more than thrilled to have Yuna. She even had the maid prepare Yuna’s favorite cupcake and yogurt ahead of time.
“Grandma!” Yuna squealed, running into Susanna’s arms.
“Let me get a good look at you!” Susanna said, kissing Yuna’s cheeks. “My little sweetheart’s gotten taller- and even more beautiful.”
I placed her backpack on the couch and said, “Mom, I’ve got dinner plans tonight. Yuna can stay the night. I’ll pick her up tomorrow around noon.”
Susanna gave me a curious look and asked, “You’ve been pretty busy lately. Are you getting ready to start working again?”
Before I could answer, Yuna chirped, “Mom’s out to lunch and dinner all the time! Today she ate with a whole bunch of people!”
Susanna frowned. I was still part of the family, and no mother–in–law liked to see her daughter–in–law constantly out and about.
“Yuna,” I said sharply. “What have I told you? Kids stay out of grown–up business.”
She looked hurt and pouted, hiding in Susanna’s arms, peeking at me with a glare.
“As I expected, Susanna started getting suspicious. She gave me a serious look. “Tiffany, I’m not going to meddle in your friendshins, hut please he mindful of the neonle you surround yourself with. You still can
arry
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In my past lives, hearing something like that would’ve sent me into a spiral. I’d start blaming myself, doubting myself, trying to please everyone just to avoid causing trouble. But not this time.
“I know, Mom. I won’t do anything reckless. You can trust me,” I said calmly.
She nodded, and maybe because I’d always been steady in the past, she actually believed me.
Once I left the house, I picked up Melanie. She got in the car and immediately started ranting about her latest divorce cases. “The more cases I handle, the more I think–men just don’t have a conscience anymore,” she said, frustrated. “Maybe love just doesn’t work the way we think it does.”
I listened silently, not offering any opinions. Then, out of nowhere, she tugged at my sleeve and grinned. “Tiffany, guess who’s treating us to dinner tonight?”
Stunned, I asked, “Who?”
“Our class president from university! He’s doing great now. I heard he’s a manager at a big tech company. Super promising.” She looked completely starstruck.
“Then go for it,” I teased. “He’s clearly already got your head spinning.”
“Haha! As if he’d be into me,” she said dramatically. Then sighed, “Going out with someone as gorgeous as you, I’m doomed to be the background character. I’ve got no shot.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Melanie hadn’t changed a bit. Still quirky, still dramatic.
Despite her absurdity, she was my closest companion and the source of joy in my otherwise gloomy existence.
A group of familiar faces greeted us when we arrived at the restaurant. The moment Melanie and I walked up, someone called out with a grin, “Well, isn’t that our campus bella!”
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