Chapter 2 I Wish You Were My Mom

The voice on the phone belonged to Jude Landaal, head coach of the national team. Noelle firmly replied, "I've made up my mind. I just have some personal matters to settle, and I'll report to the training camp in a week." Jude agreed without hesitation, "If you need help with anything, come to me. You would've been an international racing star if it weren't for marriage and kids. I'm glad you're coming back!" Her heart clenched as she ended the call. Six years ago, while heading for the racing circuit of an international race, Noelle encountered a car crash that killed her parents. When she woke up in the hospital, Clifford's face was the first thing she saw. She used to think he was heaven's gift, the man sent to lift her during her lowest moments of despair. So, she married him and gave birth to Zayne a year later. Even during pregnancy, she helped Clifford run his fledgling company. Once the business finally found its footing and Zayne was proven to be weak and sickly, she stayed home to care for him. Over time, she became nothing more than a useless housewife in everyone's eyes. Instead of sinking into past memories, Noelle packed her suitcase and decided to move out that night. In fact, there wasn't anything much she could pack. After six years of marriage to Clifford, all her belongings fit into just one suitcase. She'd paid half for the house they lived in, but she didn't want it now. It disgusted her. She booked a room at a high-end hotel. Just as she arrived at the entrance, she received a call from Zayne. When she picked up, his voice came through. "Mom, Dad's drunk. He can't go home tonight, so I'm staying with him at a hotel." She looked up and saw Lola in Clifford's arms through the hotel lobby's glass doors. Turning around, she hid herself behind a pillar and dug her nails into her palm. "I understand." After the call ended, Zayne's voice drifted across the lobby. "Dad, Mom said it's fine for you to stay here tonight. Ms. Perez, you've got to take good care of him!" Lola giggled and bent over to gently pinch his cheek. "Don't worry, Zayne. You'll have the theme suite tonight, where you can watch cartoons all night and eat all the snacks you want. Your mom isn't here to scold you." Zayne clapped. "That's awesome! You're so much better than Mom, Ms. Perez. She's always so controlling, and I hate it. I wish you were my mom instead!" Lola chuckled. "Well, you can call me 'Mom' when your mom isn't around. I don't mind." And off to the side, Clifford said nothing, giving his silent approval. Zayne beamed and called out, "Mom!" Lola stroked his hair. "Good boy." Behind the pillar, Noelle's heart ached so much she could barely breathe. The restriction she'd placed on him, limiting TV and tablets, was because Zayne was born with vision problems. Without strict control, too much screen time could deteriorate those existing issues and leave him blind. Zayne'd always been weak. Too much junk food would ruin his appetite and leave his body malnourished and sickly. But Zayne thought these restrictions were meant to destroy him. That was just laughable. She sneered as she watched the three of them step into the elevator. Then, she texted a private investigator the room number that Lola and Clifford checked into. "Follow them and don't stop until you have evidence." That night, she barely slept. When the first light of dawn spilled into the room, she squinted against the glare and checked the pictures from the private investigator. Clifford and Lola had spent the night at the hotel, just as she had suspected. At the same time, she found Lola's latest post on the internet. Lola, with over a hundred thousand followers as an amateur racer, uploaded a mirror selfie in a bathrobe, flashing a diamond ring. The mirror reflected the massive hotel bed, and in the bed, the bare shoulder and half a man's back were unmistakable. Noelle recognized Clifford instantly. The caption read. "A gift from my love. Does anyone recognize this diamond ring?" Comments poured in. "Wow, he's so generous! That's ten carats at least. It must be worth millions!" "Lola's gorgeous and deserves diamond rings of any size! Unlike me, my husband says I'm a washed-up housewife and only deserve a plain ring." Noelle instinctively glanced at the plain wedding ring on her finger and managed an absurd laugh. After saving all the evidence, she washed up, then threw the ring and the last few pieces of her clothes from the suitcase into the trash can. Immediately after, she headed straight for the mall for new clothes, facial treatments, and a new haircut. As she browsed racks, she received a call from Clifford. "Noelle, it's Monday. Zayne needs breakfast before going off to school. Where are you?" Noelle never cleaned up after they left last night, so the house was still in a mess. She let out a dry laugh. "Zayne likes Lola and wants her to be his mom, doesn't he? Kindly have her step up and act like a real parent. She can make him breakfast and take him to school."