I have always lived for my son, saving every penny and living frugally. My life was simple and unadorned. I lived in a modest home, wearing the same clothes year after year, and never spending money on luxuries.
I had raised him alone, pouring all my energy and resources into his education and future.
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John had grown up to be intelligent and hardworking, and he had opened his own business, making me incredibly proud.
That day, I decided to surprise my son, John, by visiting his new restaurant.
Dressed in my simple yet neat outfit, I stepped off the bus and entered the restaurant, deciding to have a modest cup of tea while waiting for my son.
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The restaurant was bustling with activity, the clinking of cutlery and the soft murmur of conversations creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere. I chose a cozy table by the window, appreciating the sunlight streaming in.
As I sat there, sipping my tea and admiring the décor, a young woman with a smug expression approached my table. Her designer clothes and confident stride immediately caught my attention.
“Excuse me,” she said, her tone condescending.
This table is reserved for my boyfriend and me. You’ll have to move.”
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I looked up, surprised and a bit confused. “Oh, I didn’t realize,” I replied politely. “There wasn’t a reservation sign on the table.”
She raised an eyebrow, her smile more of a smirk.
“That doesn’t matter. This table is meant for someone dressed a bit more… appropriately. You wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself or anyone else.”
Her words stung. I felt humiliated but didn’t want to cause a scene. I quietly gathered my things and left the restaurant.
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As I walked to the bus stop, my mind raced with thoughts about the situation.
How could someone make me feel so insignificant in a place that represented my son’s hard work and success?
On the bus ride home, I couldn’t shake the feeling of humiliation. I had always lived frugally and sacrificed so much to ensure John had a better future. I was made to feel small and unimportant by a stranger.
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I decided not to mention the incident to John. We had planned to have lunch together, and I didn’t want to spoil the mood with my hurt feelings. The humiliation still gnawed at me, making it hard to think about anything else.
My mood was ruined, but I hoped that our meeting the next day would lift my spirits.
Little did I know, tomorrow would bring even more unpleasant surprises.
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***
The following day, I was waiting for John and his girlfriend for lunch. I had spent the morning preparing, wanting everything to be perfect. It was our first meeting, and I wanted to create a pleasant atmosphere.
The table was set with my best china, and I had cooked John’s favorite dishes. Nervously, I checked the clock and adjusted the flowers in the vase one more time.
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When they arrived, my heart sank. I recognized the same young woman who had forced me out of my seat at the restaurant. She recognized me too, but acted confidently and arrogantly, as if nothing had happened.
“Hi, Mom!” John greeted me with a warm hug. “This is Sarah.”
“Nice to meet you,” Sarah said, her tone dripping with insincerity.
“Nice to meet you too,” I replied, forcing a smile.
We sat down to eat, and the atmosphere was tense. John, unaware of the tension between Sarah and me, chatted happily about his restaurant and their plans. Sarah chimed in occasionally, her voice always holding that same smug tone.
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“Mom, I wanted to ask you something,” John said, breaking the awkward silence.
“Sarah has this amazing idea. She wants to buy a café and run it herself. We were hoping you could lend us some money to get it started.”
I was taken aback. “A café?” I asked, looking from John to Sarah.
“Yes,” Sarah said, nodding enthusiastically. “It’s a fantastic opportunity.”
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Sarah suddenly stood up, her expression overly sweet.
“Excuse me, I need to use the restroom,” she said, clearly avoiding the serious money conversation.
As soon as she left, I took the opportunity to talk to John.
“John, are you sure about this? It’s a lot of money.”
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“Mom, I know you don’t understand, but Sarah has big dreams. She wants to grow, not just rely on me,” John said, looking a bit frustrated.
“I don’t trust her, John. She treated me very poorly yesterday at your restaurant.”
“What are you talking about?” John asked, confused.
I explained the incident at the restaurant.
“Why didn’t you tell me then? It seems like an excuse now.”
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“John, I just want you to be careful,” I pleaded.
Sarah returned right at the peak of our argument. She sensed the tension and immediately took control.
“What’s going on?”
“Mom says she won’t give us the money,” John said, sounding upset.
“Why not?” Sarah demanded, looking at me with narrowed eyes.
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I tried to remain calm.
“I don’t trust you, Sarah. You treated me badly yesterday.”
Sarah’s expression shifted slightly, her eyes widening with mock innocence.
“Oh, dear, I think there must be a misunderstanding. I would never do such a thing,” she said sweetly, sipping her lemonade.
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When she saw that her feigned innocence wasn’t working, her expression hardened. She pouted slightly, then turned to John.
“If your mom doesn’t accept me into this family, our relationship is over.”
“Sarah, wait…” John tried to calm her, but she was adamant.
“No, John. It’s her or me,” Sarah said, glaring at me.
John looked torn but finally stood up. “Let’s go, Sarah,” he said, taking her hand.
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They left in a huff, leaving me alone at the table, the dishes untouched. I sat there in despair. I hoped for a pleasant lunch, but it turned into a poisonous silence.
I could only hope that John would see the truth before it was too late. I still didn’t know that very soon, I would have the chance to expose her motives.
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***
A month of silence passed before I received an invitation to the café’s opening. Evidently, John had found the money for Sarah. John personally asked me to come and see that things weren’t as bad as I thought.
He wanted reconciliation and a true family dinner. I decided to go, but I had a plan.
The day of the café’s opening arrived, and I dressed carefully, wanting to present myself well.
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As I approached the new café, I saw the beautifully decorated entrance and the cheerful crowd milling about. John greeted me at the door, his face lighting up when he saw me.
“Mom, I’m so glad you came, you’ll see, everything will be fine.”
I smiled, trying to push aside my doubts. “I hope so, John.”
During the café’s opening celebration, I watched as Sarah mingled with the guests, her charm and confidence on full display.
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The café was elegant, a testament to the money and effort that had gone into it. John was busy showing people around, beaming with pride.
As the celebration continued, I had a huge plan which had already taken action. I proceeded to Sarah and asked her to talk outside near the back entrance.
“Sure, why not?”
Before stepping out, I discreetly nodded to the bartender, signaling to set my plan into motion.
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We stood near the back entrance, the noise of the celebration muffled by the walls.
“So, Sarah, I’m curious about your plans for the café. How do you see its future?” I asked casually.
Sarah smiled, confident in her victory. “Oh, it’s going to be a great success. I’ve got big plans.”
“And the money John gave you? How are you planning to use it?”
Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she answered, “The money will help with the expansion and a few personal investments. You know, making sure everything is secure.”
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“You know, Margaret,” she said, her tone shifting to one of superiority, “I didn’t really need John if it weren’t for the financial benefits. Love is nice, but security is better.”
I felt my heart sink as she continued.
“John loves me so much he won’t realize I’m manipulating him. And you? You’re not going to stand in my way.”
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I maintained my composure, hiding my satisfaction as she continued to boast. After a few more minutes of her revealing her true intentions, I decided it was time to return inside.
When we returned to the hall, everyone was silent, and John looked shocked and humiliated. Sarah, oblivious, confidently circled around him, but he didn’t smile.
The guests began to hurriedly leave without saying goodbye. Sarah realized something was wrong but didn’t understand what.
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I had placed a recorder in my bag before the event, which I connected via Bluetooth to the speakers. I had asked the bartender to turn it on when I stepped outside with Sarah. John and all the guests inside heard her true intentions through the speakers.
“John, what’s going on?” she asked, confusion creeping into her voice.
John’s face was pale.
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“Mom was right about you all along. I heard everything.”
Sarah tried to justify herself, her tone becoming frantic. “John, it’s not what you think! I was just… I didn’t mean…”
But it was too late. The damage was done. I left them and went home, my heart heavy but relieved that the truth was finally out.
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***
A few days later, John invited me to the restaurant for dinner. He had arranged a wonderful dinner for me. The table was located right in the center of the dining area.
The restaurant was beautifully decorated with fresh flowers, and the soft glow of candlelight made the atmosphere warm and inviting.
“Mom, I want to start by saying I’m sorry. “I should have listened to you. I let my feelings for Sarah blind me.”
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I reached out and squeezed his hand. “It’s alright, John. We all make mistakes.”
As we sat down, John called over the waitstaff and asked them to bring out the special dinner he had planned. The table was soon filled with delicious dishes, each more mouth-watering than the last.
John stood up and tapped his glass to get everyone’s attention.
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“Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to make a toast. To my mother, Margaret, who has been my rock and my guide. For all the years of upbringing and support, I owe her everything.”
He looked at me, his eyes shining with gratitude.
“Mom, thank you for always being there for me, even when I didn’t deserve it. I am deeply grateful for everything you’ve done.”
The guests clapped, and I felt tears welling up in my eyes. It was a touching moment, and I could see how much John had grown from this experience.
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After the applause subsided, John sat back down and looked at me.
“I want to let everyone know I’ve ended my relationship with Sarah. Unfortunately, I couldn’t recover the money. I was left with a loan to pay off. It was a hard lesson, but I’ve learned from it.”
He continued, “I promise to listen to your advice more carefully in the future, Mom. You’ve always had my best interests at heart.”
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I smiled at him, feeling a deep sense of relief and pride.
“I’m proud of you, John. You’ve shown a lot of courage and maturity.”
We enjoyed the rest of the evening, surrounded by friends and family. That night was filled with laughter, good food, and heartfelt conversations. Despite the challenges, I knew John had come out stronger and wiser.
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