Margaret had been looking forward to a peaceful evening at home with her husband, Stephen. After all, it had been years since they’d had a moment of quiet, just the two of them. They’d met during their university days, and although their relationship had faced its challenges, things seemed to be finally falling into place. However, her father, Robert, had never been fond of Stephen.

His distaste wasn’t because Stephen had done anything wrong, but rather due to Robert’s deep-seated mistrust of people. His wariness had grown over the years, especially after he built his successful business, Kingsley Enterprises, and accumulated a considerable fortune. But this cautious mindset had taken root much earlier, when the family dynamic had shifted forever.

The turning point had come the day Lorraine, Margaret’s mother, left their family. Margaret was only five years old at the time, but she could still recall that day with startling clarity.

It wasn’t just the fights. It was the tension that always seemed to be hanging in the air. The shouting behind closed doors, the hushed conversations, the unbearable weight of something broken in their home.

One night, after yet another argument, Lorraine slammed the door and walked out. She never came back.

During the years that followed, Robert had worked tirelessly to keep a roof over their heads, taking on multiple jobs before building his company. Over time, he would rise to the top, but not without struggling first. Despite everything, he raised Margaret on his own, never seeking help from Lorraine.

As time went on, Robert came to accept Stephen, and even began to respect him. He respected his independence, especially when Stephen turned down a job offer at Kingsley Enterprises. Instead of following the easy route, Stephen pursued a career he was passionate about, something Robert admired deeply.

Margaret, on the other hand, had chosen to work at the family business, not because she was his daughter, but because she had earned it. Robert acknowledged her dedication and hard work.

One evening, as Margaret was heading home from work, she couldn’t help but think about what Stephen would say when she told him about the unexpected events that had unfolded over the last day. However, when she arrived at her front door, she noticed something strange: a small yellow post-it note stuck to the door.

Please give me a call. Love, Mom.

Below, a phone number was hastily scribbled.

Margaret’s heart sank. It had been decades since her mother had tried to contact her. Not once had she reached out for birthdays, graduations, or even when Margaret got married. What could possibly have changed now? Was she in trouble? Did she need money? There were so many questions, but Margaret knew she wouldn’t have any answers until she called the number.

With a heavy heart, she dialed the number.

“Hello, my sweetheart!” The voice on the other end was unexpectedly cheerful, as though time had not passed. Lorraine’s warmth, however, only made Margaret more uneasy.

There had been a hesitance on Margaret’s part when she made the call, but curiosity won out. When she arrived at the café the next day, she found herself seated across from Lorraine, the woman who, despite being her mother, felt like a complete stranger.

"Hello… Mom," Margaret said, her voice awkward, unsure how to address the woman sitting before her.

Lorraine’s smile was kind, but it felt almost too practiced. "It’s alright if you don’t want to call me Mom," she said gently. "For now, just call me Lorraine. I’ve been so eager to see you again."

Margaret didn’t respond immediately. She simply sat there, unsure of how to process the situation.

"Let’s get to the point, Lorraine," Margaret said abruptly. "Why did you contact me now, after all these years? The last time I saw you, I was five years old. What do you want from me?"

Lorraine folded her hands on the table and looked at her daughter with a mixture of sadness and resolve. "I wanted to tell you the truth about what happened," she began. "It was all your father’s doing…"

Lorraine then explained that she had tried to see Margaret a few years after she left, but Robert had prevented it. He believed it was in Margaret’s best interest to stay away from her mother. Lorraine claimed Robert’s actions were overly controlling, even though she admitted that she had honored his decision at the time. But now, she had found a way to contact Margaret and wanted to make amends.

Margaret’s skepticism was evident. "I don’t understand. If you really cared about finding me, why didn’t you try harder all these years? Why now? Is it money that you need?"

Lorraine quickly dismissed the idea. "No, not at all. I’m married to a wealthy man now," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "Look, I’m paying for lunch today, just like I can pay for anything I need. Your father’s money—and your own—are of no concern to me. I’ve come to realize that life is about the things that truly matter. I just hope it’s not too late for us."

Margaret paused, her emotions in turmoil. She needed to know more. "It’s not too late. But tell me about yourself. How have you changed?"

The conversation shifted to lighter topics, and for the next few hours, they ate, drank, and talked. Lorraine ordered lavishly—lobster, caviar, rich appetizers, decadent desserts, and the most expensive wines on the menu. Margaret noticed the stark contrast between Lorraine’s insistence on paying for lunch and her past claims of needing help. It seemed as though she was doing everything she could to appear as though she wasn’t in need.

But by the end of the meal, Margaret’s patience was wearing thin. Lorraine had made it clear that she blamed Robert for keeping them apart, but as Margaret drove away, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this story than her mother was letting on.

She hadn’t visited her home but instead drove directly to Robert’s house.

"How could you keep her away from me all these years, Dad?" Margaret demanded as soon as she entered. "This isn’t fair! I should have been the one to decide whether or not to see her. We’ve wasted so much time!"

Robert’s tone was firm, though tinged with sadness. "No, Margaret, you’ve been deceived."

Margaret’s anger flared. "What do you mean? How could you lie to me about this?"

With a deep breath, Robert led her to his office, where he sat down at his desk and began scrolling through some files on his computer. "I’ve been protecting you from this for years," he said quietly. "But now, you’re old enough to understand the truth."

Robert pulled up a video from several years ago. It showed a much younger version of him and Lorraine in the midst of a heated argument. Lorraine was threatening to take Margaret away from him, and in the end, Robert had handed her a large sum of money to make her leave. The shift in Lorraine’s demeanor was immediate—her smug smile confirmed that the money was the only thing she cared about.

Robert clicked to another video, showing Lorraine doing the same thing again, demanding money and leaving with a smile.

"I didn’t record the first time," Robert said, his voice calm but hurt. "But after advice from my attorney, I set up cameras to document it. Every time she came back, it was always about money."

Margaret watched in disbelief, trying to reconcile the woman she’d just shared lunch with and the cold, manipulative person on the screen. "But what if she’s really changed?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Robert’s face softened, but the pity in his eyes was unmistakable. "This video was filmed just the day before yesterday. I’m guessing she left that note for you shortly after."

On the screen, Lorraine was once again at Robert’s house, demanding money in the same manner.

Margaret’s heart sank. "Why would you offer her anything, then? I’m an adult now. She can’t control me anymore."

"I never wanted her to be a source of conflict for you or Stephen," Robert replied. "If paying her was the only way to protect you, I would have done it. I’ve always done what I thought was best for you."

Margaret sat in silence for a long time, her anger ebbing away to be replaced by a deep, painful understanding. "No, Dad. I’ll handle this. It’s over."

Two days later, Margaret contacted Lorraine.

"I’m so happy to hear from you, sweetheart!" Lorraine’s voice was warm. "I really enjoyed our lunch. Have you thought about what I said? Are you ready to forgive me?"

Margaret’s response was calm but firm. "Of course, Mom."

When Lorraine heard the word "Mom," her face lit up with excitement.

"That’s wonderful to hear!"

Margaret smiled and said, "I’m paying for lunch today. Feel free to order whatever you like."

Lorraine didn’t hesitate. She ordered lobster, caviar, a variety of appetizers, and two bottles of the finest wine on the menu. Margaret knew that Lorraine was well aware of her position at Kingsley Enterprises, and she knew Lorraine was fully aware of what she was doing.

Two hours later, after most of the meal had been devoured, Lorraine excused herself to use the restroom. "I’ll be right back," she said. "When I return, you can pay for the bill, and we can do something fun together."

Margaret nodded.

Lorraine left a post-it note on the bill for the server.

When Lorraine returned, she immediately saw the note: "I had a great time today, you thief. How hard is it to pay for the meal?"

Margaret’s stomach turned as she realized the truth.

This was the last time she saw her mother. Later, she learned that Lorraine had thrown a massive tantrum when she realized she couldn’t pay.