Margaret was looking forward to a peaceful evening at home with her husband, Stephen. They had first met during their university days, but from the start, her father, Robert, had never approved of their relationship.
Robert’s disapproval wasn’t due to any specific wrongdoing by Stephen, but rather stemmed from his natural distrust of others. This was especially true after years spent building his business, Kingsley Enterprises, and accumulating substantial wealth. Yet, his cautious nature had been shaped long before his success.
His mistrust began the day Lorraine, Margaret’s mother, left their family and never returned.
Even decades later, Margaret could recall that event with startling clarity.
Though she was only five years old then, the memory was etched deep in her mind: the constant arguments between her parents, the raised voices behind closed doors, and the heavy tension that filled their home.
One evening, after yet another fight, Lorraine slammed the door and left — never coming back.
During that difficult period, Robert worked three jobs to keep a roof over their heads. It would be years before he established the business that brought him wealth and respect. Despite the hardship, Robert persevered and raised Margaret on his own, without any help from Lorraine.
Over time, Robert learned to accept Stephen and even grew to deeply respect him. This respect was cemented by one event: Robert offered Stephen a job at Kingsley Enterprises, but Stephen politely declined, choosing to pursue a career he was passionate about.
Robert admired that independence. Meanwhile, Margaret worked for her father’s company — not just because she was his daughter, but because she had earned her position through merit. Robert recognized her hard work.
One day, as Margaret was returning home from work, she thought about the dinner she’d prepare and how she’d tell Stephen about the previous day’s events. But when she approached her front door, she noticed something unusual: a small yellow post-it note stuck there.
“Please give me a call. Love to you, Mom.”
Below the message was a phone number scribbled hastily.
Margaret froze. It had been decades since her mother had contacted her — not at her wedding, birthdays, or graduations. Why now? After all these years, what could Lorraine want? Was she in trouble? Needing money? Questions raced through Margaret’s mind, but she knew she wouldn’t find answers unless she called.
So, she did.
“Hello, my sweetheart!” Lorraine exclaimed joyfully when Margaret arrived at the café where they had arranged to meet the next day.
Margaret hesitated before dialing the number, but curiosity pushed her forward. Sitting across from this woman, she felt uneasy. Though Lorraine was her mother by law, she was essentially a stranger in every meaningful way.
“Hello… Mom,” Margaret said awkwardly as she sat down.
“That’s okay if you don’t feel comfortable calling me that. For now, just call me Lorraine,” the older woman replied with a gentle smile, motioning for Margaret to sit. “I’m so grateful you called back. I’ve been waiting eagerly to see you again.”
Margaret’s tone was blunt: “Let’s get to the point, Lorraine. Why did you contact me? The last time I saw you, I was five years old. What do you want?”
Lorraine folded her hands on the table and said, “I want to tell you the truth about what happened… It was all your father’s doing.”
She claimed she had tried to see Margaret a few years after leaving, but Robert wouldn’t allow it. According to Lorraine, Robert told her to stay away for Margaret’s own good. She said he had exercised unreasonable control. Although she respected his wishes back then, she never stopped thinking about her daughter. Recently, she found Margaret’s address and decided to reach out.
Margaret’s mistrust was clear. “I don’t get it. If you really wanted to find me, you had plenty of chances over the years. Why now? Is this about money?”
“No, definitely not,” Lorraine replied quickly. “I’m married to a wealthy man now. Look, I’m paying for lunch today. Your father’s money and yours don’t mean anything to me. I’ve just realized there are things in life that truly matter, and it’s not too late to make things right. I hope it isn’t too late.”
Margaret paused a long moment before answering, “No… it’s not too late. Tell me about yourself.”
From there, the conversation grew lighter. They talked for quite some time, and Lorraine ordered an elaborate meal — appetizers, mains, desserts, and the priciest wine on the menu. Watching her closely, Margaret saw Lorraine was convincing herself she didn’t need financial help.
But after the meal, Margaret’s emotions boiled over as she drove away. If Lorraine’s story was true, then Robert had kept them apart for years. She understood his protective nature when Margaret was a child, but now that she was an adult, she should have been the one to decide.
Margaret didn’t go home; she drove straight to Robert’s house.
“How could you keep her away from me all these years, Dad?” she demanded as she walked in. “I couldn’t imagine it. That’s not fair! I wanted to apologize, to decide if I wanted to see her. We wasted so much time!”
“No, Margaret, she didn’t,” Robert said firmly. “You’re being deceived by her.”
“No, you’re lying!”
Robert took a deep breath, hands on his hips. “Come with me. I didn’t want to, but I have to show you.”
He led her to his office, sat at his desk, and pulled up files on his computer, then invited her to look.
“What is this?” Margaret asked, wiping tears away.
“I’ve been protecting you from this for years,” Robert said quietly. “But you’re right — you’re old enough now to know the truth.”
He played a video showing a younger Robert and Lorraine arguing fiercely in their old living room. Margaret was a teenager then, in the mid-2000s. Lorraine’s tone was sharp and harsh as she threatened to take Margaret away legally. Robert finally handed over a large sum of money. Lorraine’s expression changed to a smug, satisfied grin before leaving.
Though the day was different, the pattern repeated. Robert played another clip. Each time, Lorraine would arrive, argue, threaten, get money, then leave.
“I didn’t record the first time,” Robert explained. “But on my lawyer’s advice, I installed surveillance cameras in case she came back. She never failed to return. It was always about the money.”
Margaret looked at the screen, trying to reconcile the woman before her with the mother she’d just had lunch with.
“But what if she really has changed?” she asked. “She paid for lunch, maybe she is married to a rich man.”
Robert’s expression softened with pity. “That video was taken the day before yesterday, sweetheart. I’m guessing she left the note for you right after that.”
On screen, Lorraine was again at Robert’s house demanding money — wearing the exact same clothes as the day before.
“Why would you give her anything? I’m an adult now. She has no power over me.”
“I didn’t want her causing problems for you or Stephen. You should stay away from her, Margaret. I wanted her gone, and if paying her meant keeping you safe, I would do it.” His voice was firm but his eyes showed love.
Margaret’s anger faded, replaced by painful understanding. “No, Dad. Not anymore. I’ll handle it.”
Two days later, Margaret called Lorraine.
“I love you! It’s so good to hear from you,” Lorraine said warmly. “I had a lovely time at lunch. Did you think about what I said? Can you forgive me?”
“Of course, Mom,” Margaret replied calmly. Lorraine’s face lit up with joy at the word “Mom.”
“That makes me so happy!”
Margaret smiled. “I’m paying for lunch today. Order whatever you want.”
Lorraine wasted no time ordering lobster, caviar, appetizers, rich desserts, and two bottles of the most expensive wine. Both knew Margaret worked at Kingsley Enterprises.
Two hours later, after nearly finishing the meal, Lorraine excused herself to use the restroom. “Honey, I’ll be right back,” she said. “You handle the check, and maybe afterwards we can do something fun.”
She nodded, then placed a post-it note on top of the bill before giving it to the waiter.
She told him, “She’ll pay when she gets back.”
When Lorraine returned, she was the first to see the note — and the bill.
“I enjoyed lunch, you brat. How hard can it be to pay?”
Her jaw dropped as she glanced wildly around the restaurant.
That was the last time Margaret saw her mother. Later, she learned through a mutual acquaintance that Lorraine caused a scene when she couldn’t pay her bill.