Chapter 11 That Ungrateful Daughter Who Tattles On Me Again


    Chapter 11 That Ungrateful Daughter Who Tattles On Me Again


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    I was wearing a sleek, sleeveless ck 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 baster skin and cool undertones. My long, wavy hair was chestnut-colored, which made myplexion 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 bete 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 cheeks, 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 ssmates,” 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 <ol><li></li></ol>


    In the rearview mirror, I caught onest glimpse of him-still standing there.


    Yuna pulled out her handheld game console and started ying, casually asking, “Mom, why didn’t youe 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 ns toe, I would’ve looked really pitiful.” She was ming me. I wasn’t living up to her standards of what a mother should be.


    Inside, I let out a silent, bitterugh. 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 some.”


    I repeatedly tried to test her, only to discover that she was still very young and not on my side. I couldn’t


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    Chapter 11 That Ungrateful Daughter Who Tattles On Me Again


    keep forcing myself to love her.


    s


    We arrived at the restaurant. My piano teacher and ssmates were already there. A few of the single men who had subtly shown interest before looked surprised-almost stunned-to see that I’d brought my daughter.


    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, sess, and independence. I wanted to build something for myself. If I could be sessful, there would always be men-plenty of them.


    Dinner was pleasant, filled with easy conversation and sharedughter. I even picked up some intriguing information-there might be uing 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, ying 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-inw, 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 ced her backpack on the couch and said, “Mom, I’ve got dinner ns 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 busytely. 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-inw liked to see her daughter-inw constantly out and about.


    “Yuna,” I said sharply. “What have I told you? Kids stay out of grown-up business.”


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    Chapter 11 That Ungrateful Daughter Who Tattles On Me Again


    She looked hurt and pouted, hiding in Susanna’s arms, peeking at me with a re.


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    “As I expected, Susanna started getting suspicious. She gave me a serious look. “Tiffany, I’m not going to meddle in your friendships, but please be mindful of the people you surround yourself with. You still carry the Hartwell name, and we count on you to uphold that. Don’t let Shawn get dragged into anything messy.”


    In my past lives, hearing something like that would’ve sent me into a spiral. I’d start ming 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 Mnie. She got in the car and immediately started ranting about hertest 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 ss president from university! He’s doing great now. I heard he’s a manager at a big techpany. Super promising.” She lookedpletely 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 butugh. Mnie hadn’t changed a bit. Still quirky, still dramatic.


    Despite her absurdity, she was my closestpanion 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 Mnie and I walked up, someone called out with a grin, “Well, isn’t that our campus be!”


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