My Mother Dates my Ex — Story of the Day

Cynthia is heartbroken to learn her mother, Dana, is dating John, her ex-boyfriend. Believing John is still entangled in his troubled past and after Dana's wealth, Cynthia is determined to expose his true motives. But will Dana uncover John and Cynthia's intentions before that?

Cynthia had spent the morning hyping herself to meet Dana's new boyfriend. Dana had been unusually cagey about sharing details, which made Cynthia wary of the man.

"Hello," Cynthia called as she entered the apartment.

She scanned the space with an eagle eye and spotted Mom on the living room sofa. Her mystery man was right there beside her, but all Cynthia could see of him was the back of his head. It was clear from the way Mom self-consciously straightened her dress that they'd just been making out.

"Oh, sweetie, you're early," Mom smiled sheepishly. "But since you're here, let me introduce you to my boyfriend, John."

The man's back still faced Cynthia as he rose, straightened his shirt, and ran his fingers through his hair. She realized he was young, closer to her age than her mother's, but the biggest shock was still to come.

The man turned to face her and froze. Cynthia's jaw dropped as she stared at John, the man she'd broken up with almost two years ago.

The oven timer dinged, breaking the tension.

"How about you two get to know each other? I think the pie is ready!" Dana said before leaving the room.

Noticing Dana was gone, Cynthia confronted John. "Is this your revenge for me dumping you?" she hissed.

"No, Cynthia, not at all," John replied. "I... I understand your reasons for breaking up with me, and I'm over it. I'm sorry, I never realized Dana was your mother."

"Everything's ready!" Dana called out, inviting them for the meal.

Cynthia didn't take her eyes off John as they walked over to the dining table.

"Oh, I forgot the wine!" Mom exclaimed. "I'll be right back. Why don't you finish cutting the pie, honey?"

John reached for the knife as Dana strode toward the kitchen, but Cynthia grabbed his wrist.

"Listen to me," she hissed. "I'm giving you one chance to do the right thing, John. You can get out of here right now and disappear from my mother's life, or I'm going to tell her everything."

"Oh, you noticed the watch! Isn't it beautiful?" Mom said as she returned.

Cynthia removed her hand and noticed John was wearing an expensive watch.

"I bought it for him as a gift," Dana added.

"Oh really?" Cynthia asked skeptically. "Did he ever give you anything?"

"Yeah, like this statue." Mom smiled warmly and crossed to the bookcase, standing against the wall nearby. "Just look at it. He made this for me with his own hands."

Mom reverently carried the statue over and gave it to Cynthia. She examined the misshapen clay statue. It was almost impossible to tell what it was supposed to be, and it was clearly made of cheap, air-drying clay.

"He made this with his own hands? I'd never have guessed," Cynthia said sarcastically.

"I wonder if this statue has a secret like you do." Cynthia smiled sweetly at John.

"What are you talking about?" Mom asked with a sigh as she joined them at the table.

"Oh, I'm just wondering why John didn't tell you that he—"

"I dated your daughter," John interrupted her.

Dana's eyes widened in horror.

"And that's not all, Mom. Do you know why I broke up with him? He's an escort!" Cynthia revealed, her eyes fixed on John.

"An escort?" Dana whispered in shock.

"Yes, I worked as an escort," John admitted. He tried to explain his past, but Cynthia wasn't swayed. She recounted their relationship and his deceitful actions, leaving no room for doubt about his character. "...And he kept me in the dark while he was going on date after date. I was so disappointed that I was in love with a man like him!"

Cynthia turned to Dana. "I'm sorry it had to come out this way, but you needed to know the truth, Mom."

"Is all of this true, John?" Dana asked John.

John couldn't look at her. "Yes..." he said. "I should've told you about my past."

The room fell silent as the weight of the revelation sank in. Dana's expression was a mixture of hurt and confusion.

Cynthia could only watch as the truth she had unveiled began unraveling her mother's image of John.

But then, John made an unexpected confession. "I bought a ring to propose to you, Dana," he said, his gaze fixed on her. "But I think you deserve better."

Cynthia choked on her wine, stunned by his audacity. John stood to leave, but Mom, surprisingly, stopped him. "My answer is yes," she said.

Cynthia's jaw dropped as she witnessed her mother's unexpected response to John's proposal despite the shocking truths that had just been laid bare.

"Are you serious?" John asked, his face brightening.

"You make me happy, John," Mom replied. "Just promise no more secrets from now on, okay?"

Cynthia was appalled. "He's making it up, and you're just buying into everything he says, Mom!" Her frustration boiled over. "Do you really think a young guy like him cares about an older woman like you unless there's something in it for him?"

Dana was hurt by Cynthia's harsh words, but Cynthia remained determined to expose John. In a fit of anger, she smashed the ugly statue he had given her mother.

"I'm sorry, Mom. But he isn't the right guy for you! And I will prove it!"

As she left, Cynthia intentionally bumped into John. "I won't let you get away with this," she hissed.

Outside, Cynthia sat in her car, watching Dana's apartment. She saw John come out an hour later and take a cab. She followed him and noticed the cab stop at a coffee shop.

Disguised in a hoodie and sweatpants from her gym bag lying on the backseat, she entered the shop, sat with her back to John, and used a magazine to shield her face. She waited, listening for any sign that John might be meeting another woman.

Soon, Cynthia observed John greeting an older woman with roses. "These are for you," he said affectionately. Cynthia, believing she'd caught him in a lie, recorded him proposing to the woman.

At her mother's engagement party the next day, Cynthia revealed John's apparent duplicity. She interrupted the celebration as she entered Dana's apartment. "Stop this circus, Mom. John is leading you on!" she said.

Confused and hurt, Dana pulled Cynthia aside for a private talk. Cynthia, determined to protect her mother, showed her the pictures she'd taken of John proposing to another woman in the coffee shop. "Look what your 'love' does in his spare time."

Dana's eyes welled up. "Sorry, but the party is over," she announced, facing the guests.

Right then, John arrived, unaware of the unfolding drama.

"Dana? Is everything okay?" he asked, noticing the tense atmosphere.

Dana, armed with the photos, confronted him. She grabbed a few bills from her purse and tossed them at John. "Here are your wages for the last six months. I don't need your services anymore!" she said, dismissing him.

John, confused, looked at the photos. "What is this?" he questioned.

As Dana left the room, the woman from the photos entered. Cynthia, believing her to be John's mistress, accused him, "You brought your mistress to your engagement party?"

"My mistress? What are you talking about?" John replied, surprised. He turned to the woman. "I'm sorry, Mom, there's been some misunderstanding. I'll be right back."

Cynthia faced the woman, stunned. "You can't be John's mom. He asked you to marry him! I saw the proposal at the coffee shop!"

"It was a rehearsal," Teresa clarified. "I am John's mother."

Cynthia was overwhelmed with regret. "I thought he was back to his old ways," she murmured.

"John's father was very sick," Teresa explained gently. "We couldn't afford the hospital or the medicine. John found a way to make a lot of money in a short space of time. He did it so he could make his father's last few months as comfortable and painless as possible."

Cynthia, weighed down by the realization of her grave mistake, grabbed her purse, ready to leave the party. She paused, spotting the broken pieces of the statue John had made, which she'd shattered earlier. Swiftly, she collected the fragments and left.

Later, at Dana's apartment, Cynthia overheard John consoling her mother. "She didn't mean to humiliate you," John said. "She loves you and was just being protective."

Cynthia, feeling the depth of her misjudgment, approached them. "Mom, John. I'm so sorry," she said, her voice filled with regret. "If you're happy together, I won't interfere again."

Cynthia's mom embraced her, touched by her apology. Cynthia then revealed the repaired statue, a gesture to mend the rift she'd caused.

The atmosphere lightened as John prepared to propose. "My love," John began as he opened the box, revealing a beautiful diamond engagement ring, "every day with you is... uh, it's magical, and uh..."

"That's enough talking," Mom interjected playfully as John nervously fumbled for the right words. "I say yes."

The engagement party continued with an air of joy and celebration, and Cynthia couldn't help but be swept up in the newfound happiness that surrounded her mother and John.

When the night eventually drew to a close, Cynthia found herself sitting with her mom and John in the cozy living room.

Suddenly, an idea popped into Cynthia's mind. "You know what would make this extra special?"

"What, dear?" Dana asked.

"A secret getaway wedding, just the two of you. No drama, no stress," she suggested excitedly.

Her mom's face brightened. "That does sound wonderful! John, what do you think?"

John was taken aback, then smiled, warmed by the idea of a private, magical beginning to their new chapter together.

"Let's do it," he agreed, his smile returning.

Mom rushed upstairs to pack her bags, and Cynthia ran over to John. She removed a thick envelope from her purse and handed it to him. "Ensure Mom signs these right after the wedding," she instructed.

John, skeptical, tucked away the envelope. "Will she trust me enough to sign these?"

"She'll sign without a second thought," Cynthia assured him, her voice laced with a hint of cunning. "She's too trusting."

Oh, Mom! How could you be so stupid? You'll never know what hit you, Mom. You'll never know your daughter outsmarted you. You've kept me begging you for money long enough. 'Not worthy of it yet,' you said? Well...now we'll see how you stop me from taking all that family money.

Pushing her thoughts away, Cynthia kissed John passionately. "I've missed this," she whispered. "Oh, I miss us so much!"

"Don't worry," John said, tucking her hair behind her ear, "soon we won't have to pretend anymore."

Of course, they wouldn't need to. They had successfully duped Dana.

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