Dinner, Tears, and Freedom, The Night I Chose Divorce

On my birthday, my son treated me to a meal at a fancy restaurant.

As soon as I got home, I received a call from his girlfriend.

“Auntie, how could you let your son pay for your medium rare steak? Don’t you fear shortening your lifespan? Hurry up and transfer the money back to me!”

My husband sighed and said to me, “You too, it’s just a birthday. Why not just cook a bowl of noodles at home instead of going out and spending your son’s money?”

My mother-in-law also muttered, “My precious grandson works hard to earn money. As his mother, how can you not feel sorry for him?”

I was so angry that I immediately drafted a divorce agreement and kicked my husband, mother-in-law and son out of the house.

This family of ungrateful ingrates, I didn’t want them anymore!

——

On my birthday, my son, who had been working for two years, voluntarily invited me to a fancy restaurant to celebrate.

I enjoyed the meal and took many photos.

Just as I arrived home and was about to post on social media about how my son had finally grown up, I unexpectedly received a call from his girlfriend, Chloe Sinclair.

“Auntie, was the meals delicious?”

I was taken aback.

I hadn’t even posted on social media yet, how did she know?

I replied instinctively, “It was quite delicious.”

“Haha, of course it was delicious since you didn’t spend your own money.”

Hearing Chloe’s words, my mood instantly soured.

“What do you mean by that?”

Chloe sneered, her voice rising several degrees, “Don’t you understand what I mean?”

“How can a mother go out to eat with her son and let him pay the bill? If you’re so poor you can’t afford to eat, don’t go out for your birthday! Don’t use your birthday as an excuse to leech off your son!”

“Three hundred dollars! That’s enough for him to buy me a lipstick. Don’t you fear shortening your lifespan by eating it?”

I was stunned.

Was this still the considerate and polite Chloe my son spoke of?

How could she insult and curse her boyfriend’s mother over a steak?

I took several deep breaths and spoke patiently, “I’m his mother! I raised him for over twenty years. Now that he has a job and income, inviting me out for a meal on my birthday to celebrate isn’t unreasonable, is it?”

Chloe grew even more agitated, “Don’t try to intimidate me with your status. He’s going to be living with me in the future and every penny he earns should be spent on me!”

“Transfer the three hundred dollars he spent to me immediately, not a penny less!”

Did she think I spent her money?

They hadn’t even gotten married yet, so why did she have such a strong sense of ownership over someone else’s money?

I was so angry I laughed and I didn’t bother being polite anymore.

“This meal was for my birthday and Caleb voluntarily offered to celebrate it for me. If he feels bad about spending the money, tell him to come ask me for it himself!”

After saying that, I hung up the phone. When Chloe called again, I refused to answer.

Seeing that I wasn’t answering, she kept sending me text messages.

“Old hag,” “bloodsucker,” “short-lived ghost”, she called me every name under the sun.

Seeing the screen filled with profanity, I was so angry my heart ached.

Just over a meal, she had insulted my entire family tree!

I trembled as I screenshotted these messages and sent them to my son.

On his end, it kept showing “typing,” but he didn’t reply.

I called him directly, “Did you see the message I sent?”

On the other end, my son sounded disbelieving: “I saw it, Mom. Chloe isn’t that kind of person.”

I retorted, “Are you saying I’m slandering her?”

My son immediately explained, “That’s not what I meant, Mom. Don’t get angry. I think there must be a misunderstanding. I’m driving right now. Can I call you back after I clarify things with her?”