Chapter 10 Mom Doesn’t Cook for People She Doesn’t Like
Huh?
Well, technically, she wasn’t wrong.
Summer and Alan were the same age. Claudia was a year younger. Back in college, Alan had been a senior.
But did she and Summer really have the kind of relationship where “Claudia” could be said so warmly?
Claudia ignored Summer’s outstretched hand. She had nothing to say to any of them.
“I’m still working. Make yourselves comfortable.”
Her tone was calm, but the rejection was crystal clear.
Summer didn’t seem embarrassed. She didn’t pull her hand back either. Instead, she shifted slightly and reached out to ruffle Andy’s hair in front of Claudia.
“It’s been years since we last saw each other. Andy’s always saying how delicious your cooking is. I happen to love good food too. I’ve been thinking I should stop by sometime.”
Then she turned and gave Alan a gentle smile. “Alan already said yes. I think today works, right? Once you’re done, we’ll head back together?”
Back? Back where?
Who gave her permission? Claudia was still very much alive, thanks.
Claudia was just about to refuse when Andy grabbed her arm and started shaking it.
“Yeah, yeah! Mommy’s cooking is the best! I want some too! Ms. Summer finally has time to hang out–so I have to eat it tonight!”
Claudia’s chest tightened. Her smile nearly cracked.
She was disappointed in Andy.
But as his mother, she had a duty to meet all his reasonable needs.
This wasn’t one of them.
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She took a slow breath, smiled politely, and turned to the man still frozen across the table.
“Mr. Wayne, I’m so sorry. Something’s come up. Please head back for now–I’ll be in touch later.”
No need to air dirty laundry in public. Clear the room first.
Wayne looked like he’d been granted a royal pardon. The whole atmosphere had been suffocating. He hadn’t quite figured out what he’d just walked into, but it definitely felt like a battlefield.
Now that Claudia had dismissed him, he didn’t even ask for his resume back. He grabbed his bag and bolted.
The café was quiet. They were in a corner booth. Once Wayne left, the others took their seats like it was only natural.
Andy sat beside Claudia, still clinging to her arm, pleading for her to cook dinner.
Claudia pressed his hand down firmly, then looked up at Summer–who was smiling–and Alan, who sat there staring out the window like he had nothing to do with any of this.
She almost laughed.
What a show.
She turned to Andy and said seriously, “I don’t cook for people I don’t like.”
Andy froze, stunned. Then his face crumpled. “Mommy, you don’t like me?!”
“I don’t like her.” Claudia looked straight at Summer and spoke each word clearly. “I don’t like Summer.”
Andy didn’t understand. He pulled his arm out of her grip. “Why? Ms. Summer is so nice! Daddy and I both like her!”
He thought Mommy was being rude–embarrassing, even.
To say something like that right in front of Ms. Summer… what if she got upset? Then how was he supposed to keep playing with her?
Panicking, he looked at Summer.
Claudia’s hand–flung off–hit the cold leather of the booth. Numb and frozen, just like her heart.
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Chapter 10 Mom Doesn’t Cook for People She Doesn’t Like
But she didn’t take her words back.
She didn’t like her, and she wouldn’t pretend to.
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Summer, as always, stayed calm. Even after being openly rejected, her smile remained gentle. She patted Andy on the back and said, “Claudia, maybe there’s been a misunderstanding? I haven’t done anything to hurt you.”
Right in her face, and she still had the nerve to play innocent.
Claudia gave a short laugh. “Do you need me to list it out for you? And stop using my name— we’re not close.”
“Claudia!” Alan finally snapped, his voice sharp. “Summer is trying to talk to you civilly. Do you have to be so hostile?!”
Summer? Please.
“Alan, don’t be mad.” Summer gently patted his hand on the table, her tone soothing. “Claudia must have misunderstood something. Let me talk to her.”
Then she turned to Claudia and spoke with a hint of disapproval. “Claudia, there’s no need to get emotional. The child’s right here.”
Claudia bit back the insult that was about to leave her mouth.
She looked at Andy–standing next to Summer–his eyes wide and confused, like he was seeing her for the first time.
Right. In seven years, she had never once raised her voice in front of her child. Never gotten angry. Never said a single harsh word.
Of course this version of her felt foreign to him.
She had spent all those years trying to shield Andy from the negativity of their marriage. Because he was innocent. The most innocent of all.
But the peace she tried so hard to maintain… it had all been fake.
Maybe it had been broken from the start.
Claudia shut her eyes. Her chest ached. Her fingers curled against her thigh, the pain in her palm grounding her.
She opened her eyes, voice steady. “Andy, go play at another table.”
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Andy didn’t move until Summer nudged him. Then he obediently trotted off to the next table, still sneaking glances back.
Suppressing the pain that felt like an ice pick in her chest, Claudia let her mask drop for the first time. Her face was cold, her voice laced with disgust.
“If you want to play your little games, keep me out of it. I’m sick of watching.”
Summer gently held back Alan, who looked ready to lash out. Her smile never wavered.
“Claudia, I know you’re upset that I got the president position at Alan’s company. You worked hard for years and didn’t get in. But I earned it with my own abilities.”
Claudia nodded. “Got it.”
Summer hadn’t expected that. She blinked in surprise, ready to say more–but Claudia wasn’t interested.
She looked straight at Alan, her eyes empty. “I need to speak with you. Now.”
She meant alone.
Alan hesitated. Claudia added, “It won’t take long. Thirty minutes, tops.”
“Alan, we’re supposed to meet Tianyang and the others. It’s almost time,” Summer reminded him gently.
“Let’s talk when I get back tonight,” Alan said.
He didn’t give Claudia a chance to object. He stood, took Andy’s hand, and walked out without looking back.
Summer smiled politely, said goodbye to Claudia, and followed.
Andy, still mad that his mom had been mean to Ms. Summer, didn’t even glance back. He didn’t say goodbye either.
He just followed them out.
Claudia remained in her seat.
Through the café window, she silently watched them walk to the car, get in, and drive away.
Gone.
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Chapter 10 Mom Doesn’t Cook for People She Doesn’t Like
After a long time, she picked up her coffee and took a sip.
Cold. Bitter.
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She set the cup down gently, watching snow swirl in the cold wind outside the window.
Then she laughed quietly to herself and murmured, “It’s cold.”
The car was gone. The coffee was cold.
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