My Son Chose Another Mom

A week later, the storm finally let up enough for flights to resume. I booked the first one out and headed straight to Henry's apartment.

I knocked for what felt like forever, but no one answered. Finally, a neighbor walked by and stopped.

"Are you sure you've got the right place? The people here moved out last week."

My stomach dropped. "Are you positive?"

She must've noticed the disbelief on my face because she led me to her door and pointed. "Yep. Left in a hurry. They even gave me some furniture they couldn't take..."

I glanced over—and there it was, unmistakably Henry's stuff, piled up by her door.

What could've happened that made him leave so suddenly? Was he in debt? Or caught up in something he couldn't escape? But even if there was trouble, why would he keep it all from me?

Anxious and desperate, I thought about going to the police but worried it might just make things worse for Henry. So, I hired a private investigator instead, hoping they could track him down.

We arranged to meet at a hotel, and when I mentioned to the agency that I was searching for someone, they brought extra staff to help. As I headed downstairs to meet them, I noticed a huge commotion in the lobby—a wedding, by the looks of it.

From across the room, I caught sight of the bride and groom, and my heart just about stopped.

It was Henry and Tina.

I froze, barely able to process it. But any lingering doubt disappeared when I saw Henry lift his glass to a middle-aged woman, saying, "Mom, here's to you."

That woman... I'd recognize her anywhere.

Mona Lott. My late husband Sebastian's high school "friend" and relentless shadow. When we were together, she tried every trick in the book to break us up, pulling him into constant drama and misunderstandings. Even after we married, she didn't stop.

Once, while I was pregnant, she came by with "nourishing" soup, hoping to cause a miscarriage. Thankfully, I was cautious and didn't fall for it.

But Mona wasn't done. After Henry was born, she tried to worm her way into his life, almost like she was trying to take my place as his mother. When Henry turned five, we'd finally had enough. Our family moved to another city to get away from her for good.

Two months later, Sebastian was in a horrible car accident.

Mona was involved too. The difference was, she walked away with minor injuries, while Sebastian was gravely hurt and died in the hospital before anyone could save him.

She had no reason to be in the same city as us, yet there she was, right at the accident scene with my husband...

I'd always suspected Mona had something to do with Sebastian's death, but I had no proof. And with Henry still so young, I couldn't chase answers. All I could do was bury that bitterness deep inside.

And now, here was my missing son, cozying up to the woman I despised most, calling her "Mom."

The cruelty of it hit me like a punch.

I couldn't tell if I was more furious or heartbroken, but before I could even react, I looked closer and saw the man sitting beside Mona—

It was Sebastian. The husband I'd buried over ten years ago.

My face went pale, and I staggered back, barely able to process what I was seeing.

Mona spotted me almost instantly. Her face froze for a second, then shifted into a smug, triumphant smile as she leaned over and whispered something to Henry.

In seconds, Henry turned, his eyes full of hostility. He stood up and marched right over to me.

"I've already moved on! Can you stop clinging to me like a leech? Are you seriously trying to drag me down until there's nothing left?"