Mom(Part 2)

Mom's lips tightened into a thin line, a glint of defiance in her eyes. I think she was definitely trying to come up with a way to get try to get a piece of Todd Corporation again. "You don't have the stomach to play around in this business."

I leaned forward, my voice dripping with contempt. "Go back to your loser husband."

To my surprise, my mother's expression softened slightly. "I'm actually in the process of divorcing him," she admitted, her voice tinged with bitterness.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes. We've officially started the process a week ago."

My parents are divorcing? It might seem odd to say, but I'm actually happy about my parents' decision to divorce. Growing up, their relationship was far from harmonious. Constant arguments and tension filled our home, making it a place I often wanted to escape.

When they weren't yelling at each other, they were yelling at us.

It's a conflicting feeling, knowing that I played a role in my parents' divorce after taking over the family business. On one hand, I can't help but feel a tiny bit of guilt knowing that my actions contributed to their unhappiness. But on the other hand, there's a part of me that can't help but rejoice at the obvious misery I had caused my mom.

Taking over the family business was a decision I made out of ambition and a desire to prove myself and tear my siblings a new one and show them who's boss. In doing so, I made myself as the only option of being the heir and completely cut my parents out of everything having to do with the company.

It had to be killing her!

It's a twisted feeling, knowing that my success came at the expense of my family's happiness. It was all worth it to me, after all, I wasn't the one suffering from defeat like they all were.

suddenly mor things made sense – her absence, her detachment. She only cared about money and looks, and my father and siblings couldn't provide either of those anymore. It was no wonder she stayed unaffected while I took down my dad and sister.

"It's about time," I replied coolly, feeling no sympathy for her plight. "The guy turned out to be incompetent. What did you even see in him?"

The look on my mom's face as she gazed at me was one I'll never forget. It was a mixture of disbelief, disappointment, and perhaps even a hint of betrayal. Her eyes bore into mine, searching for some semblance of the son she once knew, but all she found was a smile that seemed to mock her pain. "How good can a divorced woman be?"

"Stop trying to pull at my heartstrings, Mom. I don't care about you guys anymore," I stated bluntly.

"I'm your mother!"

"That's just a title. The caretaker's raised me," I shrugged. "It's more peaceful without you guys around."

Her retort was quick. "Things won't stay peaceful here forever."

I smirked, feeling a surge of confidence. "I'm very prepared for it all. You aren't needed. We don't need to team up just because you acknowledged me. I stopped wanting your validation at a young age.

The air between us crackled with tension as our egos clashed, neither of us willing to back down.

This was far from a typical family scene – it felt more like a showdown where one wrong move could lead to disaster. Even the waitress seemed to sense the hostility, avoiding eye contact as she went about her duties, clearly uneasy.

I cleared my throat, breaking the silence. "Is there anything else you need, Mom? I'm a very busy man."

In reality, I knew exactly why she had come here. Just like me, she would do anything to get what she wanted. And I had a strong suspicion that she wanted an "in" to Todd Corporation. Now that she was divorcing Dad, she was probably scrambling to find a way back into the fold.

A realization struck me like a bolt of lightning – Dad must have initiated the divorce. It made sense now why she was so desperate to strike a deal with me. She needed leverage, and fast.

Maybe he wasn't such an idiot.

But I wasn't about to make it easy for her. I had worked too hard to build Todd Corporation into what it was today, and I wasn't about to let her swoop in and take it from me.

As she opened her mouth to respond, I braced myself for whatever manipulative tactic she would try next. But deep down, I knew that no matter what she said or did, I would be ready. Because when it came to dealing with my mother, I knew better than to let my guard down.

"I don't need anything from you," she finally replied, her tone icy. "I have everything I need."

I raised an eyebrow, not buying into her facade for a second. "Is that so? Funny, you seemed pretty eager to strike a deal just now."

Her lips tightened into a thin line, a hint of frustration flashing in her eyes. "I was simply offering a mutually beneficial arrangement since you're my son. But if you're not interested, then so be it."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at her thinly veiled attempt to save face. "I said I'm not interested in doing business with someone I can't trust. And as far as I'm concerned, you fall into that category of people who can never be trusted."

Her jaw clenched, clearly struggling to maintain her composure. "You're making a mistake, you know. You'll regret shutting me out of the business."

"I think you underestimate how much I give a fuck."

"You think you're something because you turned that shit hole around a bit?" Mom scoffed. "It's only a matter of time before it all comes crashing down. It won't last long."

I shrugged nonchalantly, unfazed by her threats. "We'll see about that."

With that, I signaled the waitress for the bill and stood up from the table, eager to put an end to our tense encounter.

As a show of power, my mother threw an excessive amount of money onto the table to pay for the entire meal. The waitress looked at me nervously, unsure of what to do, but I motioned for her to take it. She quickly scooped up the cash and hurried out of the private dining room without looking back, clearly eager to escape the tense atmosphere.

Meanwhile, my mother grabbed her purse and threw on her jacket, her movements sharp and deliberate. It was clear that she was trying to assert her dominance, but I refused to be intimidated.

"No goodbyes?" I asked.

She looked right at me. It was a chilling realization, to see the depths of my own depravity reflected in my mother's eyes. But even as she looked at me like I was devil spawn, I couldn't help but revel in the power I held over her.

It stung.

I remained calm and composed, refusing to engage in her power play. Instead, I simply watched as she gathered her belongings.

As she made her way towards the door, I spoke up, my voice steady and unwavering. "You can try all you want, Mom. But you'll never have control over me or Todd Corporation again." Despite her attempts to assert her authority, I knew that I held the power in this situation. And I was determined to use it to protect what was mine.

I had hoped for a peaceful resolution, but it seemed I would have to plan some countermeasures against her manipulative tactics.

Despite my determination to remain composed, I couldn't help but feel a profound sadness wash over me. This was my first conversation with my mother in five years, and it had ended in conflict. It wasn't like I wanted a deep bond with her or anything, but I had hoped for some semblance of understanding or at least some mutual kind of respect.

Instead, it was clear that she had come here to play psychological warfare, and the sad thing was, it might have worked a bit too well. Her presence alone had stirred up old wounds and insecurities, leaving me feeling vulnerable and exposed.

I was feeling a lot of things I couldn't explain right now.

But I refused to let her get the best of me. I would strategize, plan, and prepare for whatever she threw my way. Because when it came to dealing with my mother, I knew that the only way to win was to be incredibly ruthless in my takedown.

With each passing moment, my resolve hardened, fueled by the memory of her angry glare. I would show her that I was not to be trifled with, that I held the upper hand in this relationship. It was a dangerous path I was treading, but I was willing to go to any lengths to ensure that she stayed in her place, where I believed she belonged.

My revenge wasn't over just yet.