Chapter 2

I was dead set against it. "Do you even realize what could happen if you go through with this? There are a million ways this could go wrong. You could even end up dead! Are you really willing to risk your life for this?"

Taylor didn't even hesitate. "I am! Even if I die on the operating table, at least it's for Tania. She'll never forget me.

"Mom, don't worry. She'll find me a top-notch clinic overseas. Nothing bad will happen to me, trust me," he said.

I held my ground, refusing to budge.

He then called up Tania to try to convince me.

"Yvette, Taylor and I really love each other. Just because your marriage failed doesn't mean you can dismiss everything he's done for me," Tania said.

I was speechless, but I still gave her some respect.

"You want my son to transition. I know you're up to no good. As long as I'm alive, you won't get what you want!"

Seeing I wouldn't budge, Tania changed her approach and tried to talk Taylor down. "Maybe we should just drop it. Let's not make things harder for your mom. I'd rather you stay true to yourself than see you and your mom turn against each other."

Getting hung up on pushed Taylor over the edge.

He threatened suicide and jumped from the second floor, breaking his leg.

"Next time, I'll jump from higher up. Will that make you happy?"

I lost all hope.

I gave in.

When he asked me to come to the hospital and take care of him again, I just went cold. "You've made your choice, so from now on, you're no longer my son. Don't ever contact me again."

He stared at me in disbelief. "Mom, what's going on? You already agreed! Why are you acting like this now?"

"I'm not throwing a fit, and I'm not asking for your opinion. I'm just letting you know."

"Mom! You're just a conservative, old-school woman. I don't want to hear this anymore, or I'm seriously going to get mad!"

I've always spoiled him rotten.

After I divorced his father, Terence Cole, I felt so guilty for him that I went out of my way to give him everything he asked for.

But not this time.

I didn't reply to him. Instead, I sent a message in the family WhatsApp group.

"Taylor Cole and I are no longer mother and son. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other."

As soon as I sent that, the family WhatsApp group erupted.

I was completely overwhelmed by the flood of messages from relatives and friends.

[How can you just disown your own child like that? That's so cruel.]

[No matter what he's done, he's still your child. You can't just turn your back on him.]

[Taylor's in college. It's just a phase. Don't be so rigid about it.]

[Try to see things from his perspective. Parenting isn't just about being strict—you need to be smart about it.]

[I've always told you to find a husband so you wouldn't put all your focus on Taylor. Now look where that's gotten you! You're way too controlling—no wonder he's suffocating!]

My throat tightened as I read all those messages.

Everyone was questioning me.

After a long pause, I finally typed out: [His actions really broke my heart.]

The group chat went silent for a few seconds, then everyone started bombarding me with questions about what happened.

[Just tell us, don't keep it bottled up. Maybe it's all just a big misunderstanding?]

[He's still young—kids mess up sometimes, that's just how it is.]

Before I could even reply, Taylor dropped a photo in the chat.

He was sprawled out on a hospital bed, his leg covered in a thick cast and wrapped in layer after layer of bandages.

His face was pale as a sheet, looking like he was in real agony.

[This is my mom, guys. What did I even do wrong? Just because I wouldn't break up with my girlfriend like she wanted, now she's treating me like this. Her marriage failed, so why does she have to mess with my love life?]

That message blew up the group chat again, with relatives lining up to lecture me from their moral high ground.

[Seriously, what kind of mom are you? Taylor broke his leg, and you're not even there for him!]

[Wow, you're so heartless. Honestly, being related to you is just embarrassing.]

My parents, who'd been silent this whole time, finally jumped in.

[Yvette Lane! My grandson's in the hospital with a broken leg, and you're here chatting in a group thread? Can't you show a little more concern as a mother? If anything happens to Taylor, I'll pretend I never had a daughter!]

I took a deep breath, steadied myself, and replied firmly.

[He made his own choices, so he should deal with the consequences. Why am I the one who has to step in? It's easy for you all to judge from the outside, but if it were your own kid wanting to transition, would you really say yes?]

As soon as I sent that, the group chat went dead silent.

I started tagging everyone who'd just roasted me.