
Two days before my wedding, my fiancé Robert dropped a bombshell—he had to leave for a sudden trip. Something felt off, and when a call from his boss didn’t add up, I followed him. What I uncovered wasn’t what I expected, leaving me questioning trust, love, and the man I was about to marry.
When I turned thirty, I couldn’t help but feel a growing fear that I might never get married. I worried that love had passed me by. But here I was—just two days away from becoming a wife.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
It felt like a dream. I was about to start a new chapter with Robert, the man who had stolen my heart and shown me what love could truly be. Robert was everything I’d ever wanted: smart, sweet, and endlessly kind.
Even when I was upset, he could make me laugh with his silly jokes or warm smile. I felt complete.
But that joy wavered the moment Robert walked into the bedroom. His uneasy expression stopped me cold. Something was wrong.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What’s wrong?” I asked as soon as I noticed his troubled expression.
Robert hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “Katherine, I’m so sorry, but I have to go on a work trip.”
“What?” I said, my brow furrowing. “But our wedding is in two days.”
“I know,” he said, his voice soft. “I promise I’ll be back in time. Maybe even the night before the wedding.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Are you serious right now? You’re leaving me alone at a time like this?” My voice was sharper than I intended, but I couldn’t help it.
Robert sighed and stepped closer. “I wouldn’t go if it wasn’t important. Everything is already planned, so nothing should go wrong. I’m sorry it’s happening this way, but I really have to go.”
“But why?” I asked, feeling the heat rising in my face. Words failed me as I tried to keep my emotions in check.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Robert pulled me into a hug, holding me tightly. “I hate doing this to you, but we have our whole lives ahead of us. I’ll always be there for you, Katherine.”
“Who’s going with you?” I asked, my voice quieter now.
“Travis. That’s why it’s so important,” he said. I knew Travis was his boss, and I understood. Still, I wanted to scream like a child. But I swallowed it. I was an adult, after all.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Fine,” I said after a long pause. “But think about how you’re going to make this up to me while you’re gone.”
Robert chuckled softly, his lips brushing my forehead. “Alright,” he said. Then, he turned and began packing.
Robert moved quickly, folding clothes and placing them into his bag. I stayed on the bed, watching him silently, hoping he’d change his mind. Each item he packed felt like a step farther from me.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
My eyes wandered to the edge of the bed where his plane tickets sat. The destination caught my attention.
I didn’t think his company worked in that city. Maybe they were expanding, I thought, trying to convince myself it made sense.
When he finished, I walked him to the door. He hugged me tightly, kissed me goodbye, and left. Minutes later, my phone buzzed.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Seeing Travis’s name made my heart jump. Why was he calling? Had something happened to Robert?
“Hello? Is everything alright?” I asked, my voice trembling as I clutched the phone.
“Everything’s fine,” Travis said calmly. “I just wanted to let you know I won’t be able to make it to your wedding. I’ll be out of town on a business trip. But I’d still like to send you and Robert a gift. How can I get it to you?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
My stomach tightened. “Wait, Robert will be back by the wedding, right?” I asked, feeling a knot of confusion.
“Katherine, I’m not sure what you mean,” Travis said, sounding puzzled. “I would never send Robert on a trip this close to his wedding. Did he say I did?”
I froze, struggling to think of a response. “Oh, no. I must have misunderstood,” I said quickly. “I’ll let you know about the gift.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Okay,” Travis said, his tone uncertain. “Let me know if you need anything.” Then he hung up.
Without hesitation, I grabbed my bag, my wallet, and my coat, leaving behind everything else. My mind raced as I drove to the airport.
Robert had lied to me. I didn’t know why, but I needed answers. The uncertainty was unbearable.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
My hands trembled as I booked a ticket for his flight. Luckily, there were still seats available.
At security, I fumbled to pull off my shoes and jacket, feeling like everyone was staring at me.
Once through, I tucked my hair into a hood and put on sunglasses. I scanned the waiting area, and then I saw him.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Robert sat near the gate, his head down, staring at his phone. I positioned myself far enough away to stay unnoticed but close enough to follow.
When the flight was called, I let him board first. My heart pounded as I followed him onto the plane, keeping my distance.
I couldn’t believe I was doing this, but I had to know the truth. The flight felt endless. Every time Robert shifted in his seat, I wondered what he was thinking.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
When we landed, I spotted him again and followed him outside. He hailed a taxi, so I did the same.
“Follow that car, but keep your distance,” I told my driver, who gave me a curious glance but nodded. My pulse quickened as we drove.
The car stopped in front of a small house in a quiet neighborhood. I asked my driver to pull over a few houses away and paid him quickly.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Hiding behind a tree, I watched as Robert got out of the taxi. He hesitated at the door, then knocked.
I held my breath, watching closely. After a moment, the door opened, and someone stepped forward.
From my position behind the tree, I couldn’t see who it was, but their silhouette made my chest tighten. Then, to my disbelief, Robert stepped inside.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I stood there for a moment, frozen. Summoning my courage, I crept closer to the house.
My hands shook as I peeked through a nearby window, my breath fogging the glass. What I saw made my knees buckle.
Robert was inside, sitting with a woman I didn’t recognize. He leaned in and hugged her, the way he always hugged me.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Tears blurred my vision, streaming down my face as my heart shattered into pieces. I couldn’t understand what I was seeing.
I don’t know how long I stayed there, frozen and trembling. The sound of the front door opening snapped me back to reality.
Panicked, I ducked into the bushes, crouching low to stay hidden. From my hiding spot, I watched Robert step outside, his expression unreadable. He climbed into another taxi and left without looking back.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Gathering every bit of courage I had, I stepped out of my hiding spot and approached the door. My legs felt shaky, and my chest was tight as I raised my hand to knock.
After a few moments, the same woman I had seen earlier opened the door. She looked at me with concern, her gaze softening when she noticed the tears streaming down my face.
“Are you alright? How can I help you?” she asked gently, her voice calm.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I swallowed hard, my words barely forming. “I’m Robert’s fiancée,” I said, my voice trembling. “In two days, I’m supposed to be his wife.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “Oh,” she said, her hand moving to the doorframe as if to steady herself. “Please, come in.” She stepped aside, motioning for me to enter.
She led me into the kitchen, where she pulled out a chair for me and handed me a glass of water.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I sipped it slowly, my hands trembling. She sat across from me, her expression still kind but cautious.
“I know how this must look,” she said after a moment of silence. “But I promise, it’s not what you think. My name is Liz. I’m Robert’s first love.”
The words hit me like a punch to the stomach. “That doesn’t make it better,” I said, gripping the glass tightly. My thoughts were a whirlwind of anger and confusion.

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Liz sighed and leaned forward, her tone steady. “He didn’t cheat on you, if that’s what you’re worried about. When Robert was younger…he wasn’t the same man you know now.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
“Our relationship wasn’t healthy,” Liz said simply. “There were things he needed to fix in himself. He came here to apologize.”

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“Apologize? Why now? Why before our wedding?” I asked, my chest tightening again.
“Because he didn’t want to carry the weight of his mistakes into his future with you,” Liz said. “He told me he loves you deeply. He wanted to make peace with his past so it wouldn’t affect your life together.”
I shook my head, my voice shaking. “Why didn’t he tell me? Why lie?”

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Liz gave me a small, understanding smile. “We all have things we carry. Some we share, and some we don’t. I’m happily married now, with two kids. Robert talked about you like you’re his whole world. You’ll make each other happy. We were never meant to be happy together, but you and Robert will be.”
I nodded slowly, unsure of how to feel. Liz offered to let me stay until my flight.

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Meeting her family, I saw the love in her eyes for her husband. It reminded me of how I felt about Robert. Slowly, I began to calm.
I arrived home just as the first light of dawn was breaking. Robert was waiting by the door, his face full of worry. The moment he saw me, he pulled me into a tight hug.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Katherine, where were you?” he asked, his voice tense. “I was so worried. I called you so many times, and you didn’t answer. I thought something had happened.”
I hesitated, unsure of how to begin. “It’s not… I don’t know what to say,” I finally admitted.
Robert stepped back slightly, his hands still on my shoulders. “Then let me start. I lied to you,” he said. “I wasn’t on a work trip—”

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“I know,” I interrupted, looking into his eyes.
He nodded, his face filled with regret. “I’m sorry for lying. I should’ve told you, but I swear I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I know,” I said softly. “And I’m sorry too.”
Robert frowned. “Why are you apologizing?”

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“Because I doubted you,” I said, my voice trembling. “I followed you after Travis called and told me you weren’t with him. I went to Liz’s house. I talked to her. She explained everything.”
Robert’s face softened. “Katherine, I love you,” he said. “Only you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
I felt a weight lift from my chest. “I know. Now I’m sure of it,” I said, leaning forward to kiss him.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: At nine months pregnant, I thought bending over to clean would be the hardest part of my life. But my husband’s distance and a shocking discovery in his closet made me question everything. When I uncovered strange bills and a truth he’d been hiding, I knew I had to face what was tearing us apart.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
My Stepmother ‘Gifted’ Me an Old, Smelly Couch — When She Saw What I Did With It, She Demanded $2,500 From Me

When Nicole’s stepmother calls her saying that she has a gift for her, Nicole goes over excitedly. But when she discovers what the gift is, Nicole is torn between keeping her father happy or retaliating. Finally, she accepts it and plans to transform it into something completely different. In the end Nicole is ready to claim the rewards of her hard work.
Ever have one of those moments where you should’ve just trusted your gut? Yep, that was me, standing in my stepmother’s basement, staring at the ugliest, smelliest couch I’d ever seen.

A close up of a young woman | Source: Midjourney
My stepmother, Susan, called me earlier that morning with a grand gesture for my birthday. She insisted that she had a “priceless” gift that was too big for her to move alone.
“You’re going to love it, Nicole!” she said. “It’s absolutely priceless! Come over later today, and we’ll show it to you.”
Now, this is the point when I tell you that Susan and I had never been close. In fact, if I’m being honest, she barely tolerated my existence. So, imagine my absolute surprise when she offered me a gift.

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
“Curiosity killed the cat, Nic,” I said to myself as I got into the car.
I just wanted to see what it was, and I hoped that, for once, she might actually be genuine.
So, I get to my dad’s house, and he tells me that Susan’s busy.
“She’s sorting out the basement, honey,” he said. “Susan is finally cleaning out her clutter. It’s about time, to be honest. Come, have a cup of tea.”

A smiling older man | Source: Midjourney
“No, let me check out the gift first, Dad,” I said. “I’m so curious!”
He chuckled, oblivious to my nerves. Susan had a knack for random gifts. Last year, she gave me water bottles and socks for my birthday. I wondered if this year would be any different.
“Fine,” he said. “I’ll get Susan, and then we can have some tea and a slice of cake. Susan made lemon cake this morning.”

A slice of lemon cake | Source: Midjourney
I paced in the foyer while my dad went down to the basement. Moments later, I heard them on the stairs.
Then I saw it.
My dad and Susan were making their way out of the basement with the monstrosity of a couch. The fabric was stained and ripped, with a stench that could probably knock out an adult horse! It looked like it had been neglected for decades!

A stained yellow couch | Source: Midjourney
“Happy Birthday!” Susan beamed, as if she were handing me the keys to a new car.
My dad looked at me expectantly, hoping I’d be happy with the gift. But it was horrendous! Rejecting it would hurt him, and Susan knew it. I could see it on her face.

A close up of a man | Source: Midjourney
I swallowed my frustration and called my boyfriend to bring his van over.
“I’ll be there in about ten minutes, babe,” Derek said.
“Thank you!” I replied. “I think they want the couch out today, so I need to take it home.”

A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
“Not a problem, Nic,” he said. “I’m just gaming online. But I’ll be done soon.”
I knew that Susan was using me as a free dump and delivery service. That couch wasn’t fit to be in any home. But again, I was determined to keep the peace for my father.
Derek showed up as I was drinking my cup of tea, and we loaded the couch and left for my home. He was going to follow me home, and we planned on having dinner together.

A young man in a driving | Source: Midjourney
“This couch is rough,” he said. “Looks like it’s been through a storm or two.”
My initial plan was to dump it at the curb and let someone else take it, but then something shifted inside me. I wasn’t going to let Susan win.
I decided to restore the couch and give it a second life. And so began a project I ne ver thought would lead to surprising results.

A young woman with yellow rubber gloves | Source: Midjourney
First, I tackled the smell.
The couch reeked of a stench that it seemed to have a life of its own. And the odor only got stronger as the day went on.
Luckily, I found a recipe for a DIY deodorizing solution online: white vinegar, water, and a few drops of lavender essential oil. I mixed it up and sprayed it generously over the couch, letting it sit for a few hours.

Glass bottles on a counter | Source: Midjourney
The vinegar smell was overpowering, but it faded, taking most of the nasty odor with it.
Next, I had to deal with the stains.
The years of spills and neglect had left their mark, so I whipped up a cleaning concoction of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and a small amount of dish soap. With a soft brush in hand, I carefully scrubbed the stained areas, working the mixture into the fabric.

Different cleaning supplies on a counter | Source: Midjourney
I let it sit for about fifteen minutes before wiping it off with a damp cloth. The transformation was already noticeable. The stains were fading, and I felt optimistic about my restoration project.
But then I had to deal with the rips and tears. A simple needle and thread weren’t going to fix this.

A woman scrubbing a couch | Source: Midjourney
“Nic, you need material,” Derek said while marinating chicken in the kitchen. “There’s no other way than to do a funky patch job.”
“I agree,” I said. “Will you be fine here while I do a quick dash into town?”
Derek nodded.
“But why are you rushing?” Derek asked.

A young man in the kitchen | Source: Midjourney
“Because if I don’t, it’ll end up as another sidelined project.”
“Go,” he laughed. “I’ll finish dinner in the meantime.”
So, I went to the local thrift store and found some reasonably matching fabric, random buttons, frills, and even two throw cushions.

A young woman in a thrift shop | Source: Midjourney
I used fabric glue to patch the larger holes and an iron-on fabric mender for the smaller tears. Finally, to give the whole couch a more cohesive look, I added some decorative buttons and tufting in key areas, making it look almost intentional.

A young woman sitting on a couch and looking through buttons | Source: Midjourney
“Alright, give it a rest, Nic,” Derek said as he took the last flatbread out of the pan. “You can finish it off in the morning.”
My arms were exhausted from all the scrubbing, so I was ready to listen to Derek and just sit down and eat everything he prepared.

Flatbread on a board | Source: Midjourney
But the next morning, I was back at it. I used my steam cleaner and thoroughly steamed the couch. I spent hours going over every inch of it, bringing the fabric back to life while I imagined every germ evaporating into oblivion.
By the time I was done, the couch looked like something out of a high-end furniture store.
“Damn, Nic!” I said to myself. “Well done, girl.”

A woman steam cleaning a couch | Source: Midjourney
Feeling pretty proud of my work, I decided to post the couch on a social media marketplace for $5,000. It was almost a joke because I just wanted to see if anyone would go for it.
I loved the restoration of the couch, but I also just wanted to see if I could make some money from my DIY project.
“What on earth?!” I exclaimed when my phone buzzed with a notification. Someone named Maggie was ready to purchase my couch!

A woman holding a phone | Source: Midjourney
To my shock, within a day, I got an offer from someone in the ritzy part of town. I couldn’t believe my luck, but I accepted the offer anyway.
“This is just wonderful,” Maggie said.
The moment I agreed to the sale, she came flying over to my place to test out the couch.
“This couch is going to be perfect for my art studio! Why would you ever want to get rid of it?” she asked.
“I’m just redecorating,” I said sheepishly. “But look, it’s yours to love and enjoy.”

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
A few days later, Susan showed up at my doorstep, furious. She had seen the post and the fact that the couch had been purchased for $5,000.
“You ungrateful little brat! How dare you sell my gift?” she screamed.
“Susan, you gave me a piece of junk. Actual junk. I put in the time and effort to restore it. The only reason it was worth anything now is simply because of my work.”
But she didn’t back down.

A close up of an angry woman | Source: Midjourney
“It was my couch! I expect half the money since you sold it. That’s $2,500!”
I couldn’t believe her nerve.
“No, Susan. If you wanted to sell the couch, you should’ve done it yourself. The transformation and profit are all mine.”
“You’ll regret this!” she shouted, storming off.
She hasn’t come back, so I don’t know what she’s planning. But I know I’ll be getting a call from my dad soon.

A smiling young woman | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done?
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you |
In-Laws Kicked Us Out of the House They Gifted After We Paid for Renovations — Then It Got Even Worse
When Mike’s parents offer him and his family a home, they are over the moon. Mike and Maria have a growing family, and they need the extra space. So, they venture into renovations, making the house a home. But one day, Mike’s parents called, wanting their home back.
When my in-laws offered us a house, we thought it was a dream come true. With three kids and a tight budget, any help came as a blessing.

A close-up of a house | Source: Midjourney
But, let me be honest with you: the house was far from ideal.
“It’s in the middle of nowhere, Mike,” I told my husband when we were sitting on the couch talking about the possibility of moving into the house.
“It’s miles away from the kids’ school and our jobs! We’ll have to leave a lot earlier just to make it on time,” I said, sighing.

A couple sitting on a couch and talking | Source: Midjourney
“I know, Maria,” my husband said. “It irritates me that the nearest grocery store is twenty minutes away. But I don’t want to seem ungrateful.”
I understood. Their gift came at the perfect time. Our little two-bedroom house was cluttered, and our three kids had to share one bedroom.

A cluttered bedroom | Source: Midjourney
“We’ll do it for the kids,” I said, taking his hand. “Whatever happens, we’ll make it work for them.”
“Think of it as a fresh start, kids,” Mike’s mom said when we went over to their home for dinner. “You’ll love the peace and quiet, and the kids will have a lot of space to run about in. This is going to be good for you.”
“Yes, Mom,” Mike said. “We agree with you. We’re looking forward to this new start and just going on a journey together as a family.”

A family sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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