I decided to surprise my son by visiting his restaurant. Wearing a simple, neat dress, I entered the place with excitement. An arrogant woman approached me, asking me to move because she thought my attire was unsuitable. I felt humiliated. The next day, my son introduced his fiancée. Can you guess who it was?
I’ve always lived frugally, saving every penny for my son. My life was simple, living in a modest home and wearing the same clothes for years. I dedicated everything to my son’s education and future, raising him alone.
John grew up to be intelligent and hardworking, opening his own restaurant. I was incredibly proud of him. One day, I decided to visit his restaurant without telling him. I dressed in my usual simple outfit and took the bus there, planning to have a modest cup of tea while waiting for him.
The restaurant was bustling with activity. I chose a cozy table by the window, enjoying the warm sunlight. As I sipped my tea, a young woman with a smug expression approached me. She was dressed in designer clothes and walked confidently.
“Excuse me,” she said condescendingly. “This table is reserved for my boyfriend and me. You’ll have to move.”
Surprised, I replied politely, “Oh, I didn’t realize. There wasn’t a reservation sign on the table.”
She smirked, “That doesn’t matter. This table is meant for someone dressed more appropriately. You wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself or anyone else.”
Her words stung. Humiliated, I quietly gathered my things and left the restaurant. As I walked to the bus stop, I felt insignificant in a place that represented my son’s hard work. The bus ride home was filled with thoughts of the humiliating experience.
I decided not to mention the incident to John. We had planned to have lunch together the next day, and I didn’t want to spoil the mood. But the humiliation gnawed at me.
The following day, I prepared for lunch with John and his girlfriend. I set the table with my best china and cooked his favorite dishes. When they arrived, my heart sank. The same young woman from the restaurant was now standing at my door. She recognized me but acted confidently as if nothing had happened.
“Hi, Mom!” John greeted me warmly. “This is Sarah.”
“Nice to meet you,” Sarah said insincerely.
“Nice to meet you too,” I replied, forcing a smile. We sat down to eat, and the atmosphere was tense. John chatted happily about his restaurant and their plans, while Sarah chimed in occasionally with the same smug tone.
“Mom, I wanted to ask you something,” John said. “Sarah wants to buy a café and run it herself. We were hoping you could lend us some money to get started.”
Taken aback, I asked, “A café?”
“Yes,” Sarah nodded enthusiastically. “It’s a fantastic opportunity.”
Sarah stood up, avoiding the serious money conversation. I took the opportunity to talk to John.
“Are you sure about this? It’s a lot of money,” I said.
“Mom, Sarah has big dreams. She wants to grow, not just rely on me,” John replied, looking frustrated.
“I don’t trust her, John. She treated me poorly at your restaurant,” I explained.
“Why didn’t you tell me then? It seems like an excuse now,” John said.
“John, I just want you to be careful,” I pleaded.
Sarah returned, sensing the tension. “What’s going on?”
“Mom says she won’t give us the money,” John said, upset.
“Why not?” Sarah demanded, looking at me with narrowed eyes.
“I don’t trust you, Sarah. You treated me badly,” I said.
Sarah’s expression shifted. “Oh, dear, there must be a misunderstanding. I would never do such a thing,” she said sweetly. When her innocence act didn’t work, she pouted and turned to John. “If your mom doesn’t accept me, our relationship is over.”
“Sarah, wait…” John tried to calm her, but she was adamant.
“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. They left, leaving me alone at the table. I hoped John would see the truth before it was too late.
A month later, I received an invitation to the café’s opening. John had found the money for Sarah. He wanted reconciliation, so I decided to go with a plan in mind.
On the day of the opening, I dressed carefully. As I approached the café, I saw the cheerful crowd and beautiful decorations. John greeted me warmly, hopeful that everything would be fine.
During the celebration, I asked Sarah to talk outside. We stood near the back entrance, and I casually asked about her plans for the café. Sarah boasted about the money and her intentions, revealing her true colors.
Inside, everyone heard her through the speakers, as I had set up a recorder connected via Bluetooth. John was shocked and humiliated. Sarah tried to justify herself, but it was too late. The damage was done.
A few days later, John invited me to the restaurant for dinner. He apologized, acknowledging his mistakes. He had ended his relationship with Sarah but couldn’t recover the money. It was a hard lesson, but he had learned from it. We enjoyed the evening, surrounded by friends and family, knowing John had grown stronger and wiser from the experience.
