My Daughter Wants A Different Mother

My Daughter Wants A Different Mother

Jack Thornton

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When my daughter said for the tenth time that she wanted a different mom, I didn't let it upset me. Instead, I calmly asked her who she wanted as her mom. Without hesitation, she blurted out, "Natalia." Natalia was her tutor and also the woman my husband couldn't forget-his unattainable love. On my daughter's birthday, she publicly expressed her gratitude to Natalia, saying she cared for her like a mother. Looking at her candid young face, I realized my daughter didn't like me. So, I stopped taking care of her and my husband as I used to. I decided to focus on a confidential government initiative. Rather than wasting time on those who don't appreciate me, I'd rather serve my country!

Chapter 1

When my daughter said for the tenth time that she wanted a different mother, I didn't get angry.

I simply asked her calmly who she wanted as her mother.

Without hesitation, she replied, "Aunt Natalia."

Natalia was her tutor and the woman my husband couldn't forget, an idealized first love or unattainable romantic notion.

At my daughter's birthday party, she openly thanked Natalia, saying she took care of her like a mother.

Looking at her innocent face, I understood completely that my daughter didn't like me.

So, I stopped caring for her and my husband as I used to and decided to join a national secret project.

It's better to focus on meaningful work than on relationships that aren't valued.

...

When my daughter said for the tenth time she wanted a different mother, I wasn't angry.

I just returned to my room and took out the secret agreement from the cabinet.

I'm a researcher in a government laboratory, dedicated and competent.

That's why, as soon as the secret mission was conceived, the leadership approached me to join.

But I thought about Elyse being young and Aydan busy with work; I worried she would have no one to care for her.

Moreover, leaving for years meant missing out on my daughter's growth.

So, I declined the offer.

However, I kept the agreement at home, just in case.

I hadn't expected Elyse to be indifferent to me, her heart set only on Natalia, the tutor.

At her birthday party, Elyse publicly thanked Natalia, saying she cared for her like a mother and wished for a different mom.

Everyone stared at me, their gaze was intense and scrutinizing.

I didn't get angry; I calmly asked Elyse who she wanted as her mother.

"Aunt Natalia, " she blurted out.

So, I turned and left.

That night, Aydan and I had a big argument. He said I was being unreasonable, wondering why I cared about something our daughter said offhandedly.

I looked at him calmly.

"Then what should I care about? Your relationship with her?"

Aydan probably thought I loved him too much to care about his lingering affection for Natalia.

We met in college and worked hard together to have what we do now-a car, a house, savings.

Seven years of love seemed to have given us the best the world could offer.

That is, until I found the photo Aydan had hidden. Natalia was just a teenager, with a ponytail, looking impossibly innocent.

After seeing that photo, I considered confronting Aydan but held back, thinking of Elyse and our years together.

Perhaps they were just in the past, weren't they?

But now, I realized how wrong I was.

I sighed, picked up my phone, and called my friend Cathleen.

"Hello, Cathleen, can you tell the team leader that I want to join this mission?"

I said, signing my name on the document.

"Huh? Weren't you not going to participate?"

Cathleen and I worked in the same research institute, sharing a lab every day.

She was also on the project list.

The moment the list was announced, Cathleen asked if I would join.

I refused back then, thinking of Elyse.

But now, my sudden decision to go shocked her because everyone close to me knew how much I valued family.

I always made time to be with them.

"Yeah, I've made up my mind."

I hung up the phone, packed the document back into the envelope, but then a tear fell unexpectedly onto it.

I wiped it away, but tears fell like a cascade of pearls, uncontrollably.

How could I not be heartbroken?

Elyse was the child I brought into the world facing life-threatening complications.

When I was just pregnant, due to health issues, I suffered from severe morning sickness and couldn't eat anything, even fainting at times.

After ten difficult months, when it was time to give birth, there were complications due to the baby's position.

The doctors issued a life-threatening complications notice, suggesting Aydan sign an agreement to terminate the pregnancy.

But I stopped it all.

Thankfully, both mother and child survived in the end.

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