Have you ever had a gut feeling that something wasn’t quite right? I ignored mine for weeks. My husband, Eric, said he’d taken up jogging every morning, and I believed him. But one morning, curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to follow him. What I found turned my world upside down.
My husband Eric started his morning runs about a month ago. At first, I thought it was great — he’s always working long hours at his business, and I knew he rarely had time for himself. I was actually proud of him. After all, isn’t that what we encourage our spouses to do? To take care of themselves?
A man jogging | Source: Unsplash
Eric and I have been married for 14 years. We have two boys — Max, who’s 13, and little Stuart, who just turned 8. On the surface, we were a picture-perfect family. Eric owned a small but successful business, and while we were not rolling in money, we were comfortable.
I work part-time at a local boutique, and most of my free time is spent keeping the house running and wrangling the boys.
Life was good — or so I thought. But then I started noticing some… oddities.
Grayscale close-up shot of a couple holding hands | Source: Unsplash
For one, Max kept asking Eric if he could join him on his morning jogs. Max has always idolized his dad, and the idea of father-son bonding over a jog seemed like a no-brainer. But Eric kept shutting him down.
Not just a simple “Maybe next time, bud,” but a firm, almost snappy “NO, MAX. I WANT TO RUN ALONE.”
“I just want to spend time with you, Dad,” Max had pleaded one morning, his eyes wide and hopeful. The desperation in his voice made my heart ache.
Eric’s jaw had tensed. “Not now, Max,” he’d said.
A man frowning | Source: Midjourney
I remember Max’s confused face the first time Eric said it. “Why can’t I come with you, Dad?” he’d asked.
Eric ruffled his hair and mumbled something about needing his runs to clear his head. I didn’t think much of it back then, but looking back, I wish I’d paid closer attention.
That night, I’d watched Eric carefully. He’d been distant and distracted. When I tried to touch his arm, he flinched… something he’d never done in 14 years of marriage.
A doubtful woman looking at someone | Source: Midjourney
“Everything okay?” I’d asked.
He’d smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Everything’s fine.” A lie so smooth, so practiced, it sent a chill down my spine.
A few days later, I started noticing “other” things. His gym clothes — normally tossed on the floor when he got home — were oddly spotless. His running shoes, which should’ve been scuffed and worn from all the “jogging,” looked almost brand new.
“Something isn’t right,” a voice inside me screamed. “Something is very, very wrong, Anna.”
A pair of shoes | Source: Pexels
My gut whispered that something wasn’t adding up. But instead of asking Eric outright, I decided to keep an eye on him.
Little did I know how much my world was about to change.
One morning, I got up early, careful not to wake the boys. I stood by the window, watching as Eric laced up his pristine running shoes and grabbed his water bottle.
A man tying his shoelace | Source: Pexels
“Going for a run?” I asked casually, leaning against the doorway, my voice deliberately light.
“Yep,” he said, barely glancing at me. The coldness in his tone was unmistakable.
I gave him a small smile, even though my stomach felt like it was tied in knots. “Be safe,” I whispered. He nodded and headed out the door, not looking back.
A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney
I waited a few minutes before grabbing my car keys and following him. My hands trembled slightly on the steering wheel. “What am I doing?” The rational part of my mind screamed. “This isn’t me. I’m not the type of woman who follows her husband.”
But something deeper and primal drove me forward.
At first, everything seemed normal. He jogged down the street, his pace steady and unremarkable. I stayed far enough behind so that he wouldn’t notice me. I was guilty but I had no choice. After two blocks, he slowed down. Then, he turned down a quiet residential street.
That’s when things got STRANGE.
A man jogging on the road | Source: Pexels
Eric stopped in front of a modest blue house — nothing fancy, but well-kept. He glanced around, as if checking to see if anyone was watching, then pulled a key out of his pocket and let himself in.
I sat in my car, FROZEN. “What the hell?” I whispered to myself, a cold fear spreading through my veins.
After a few moments, I got out and walked quietly up to the house. I felt ridiculous, like some kind of amateur detective, but I had to know what was going on. My mind raced with a thousand possibilities, each more terrifying than the last.
A blue house near the road | Source: Pexels
I peeked through the window, and my stomach dropped.
There he was — my husband — wrapped around HER.
Lucy. His new secretary. The woman I’d welcomed into our home. The woman I’d trusted.
I watched in stunned silence as they kissed, laughing like two people without a care in the world. Their intimacy was casual and comfortable… like this wasn’t a new affair. This was something that had been happening for a while.
A romantic couple | Source: Unsplash
My hands shook as I pulled out my phone and snapped a few pictures of them. Betrayal burned through me like acid. Memories flashed: our wedding day, the births of our sons, and the quiet moments of shared laughter.
I wanted to scream, barge in, and demand an explanation. But I forced myself to stay calm and I stormed back to my car.
“Not yet,” I told myself. “Not yet, Anna. This isn’t the time for confrontation.”
My hands were trembling, and my face felt hot with anger. I couldn’t stop replaying what I’d seen — the way he touched her, the way he looked at her… the way they both… Oh my God.
A woman shaken to her core | Source: Midjourney
“Fourteen years,” I thought. “Fourteen years reduced to this moment of betrayal.”
But I wasn’t going to fall apart. If Eric wanted to betray me, I was going to make sure he REGRETTED it… BIG TIME.
My hands shook as I pulled over and walked into a small print shop, the photos burning a hole in my phone’s gallery. The man behind the counter greeted me with a polite smile, but I barely managed to nod back.
“Can you print these?” I asked as I slid my phone across the counter.
He glanced at the images briefly, his brows rising slightly, but he didn’t say a word. He just nodded and got to work.
A woman in a shop | Source: Midjourney
Each click of the printer felt like a bullet of revenge. My heart pounded as the images began sliding out, vivid and damning. I stared at the glossy prints, anger coursing through me like fire.
“He thinks he can do this to me? To our family?” I thought.
By the time the man handed me the stack of photos, my grip was steady, and my resolve unshakable. “Thank you,” I said curtly, tucking the prints into my bag.
Walking out of the shop, I couldn’t help but smirk to myself. “This is going to hurt, Eric. And you deserve every second of it.”
I grabbed the photos I’d taken and headed straight to his office.
A woman driving a car | Source: Unsplash
I wasn’t subtle about it. I marched in, ignoring the startled glances from his employees, and started pinning copies of the photos to every desk. Each one had a caption scrawled in bold red letters:
“THIS IS HOW YOU CAN GET A RAISE IN THIS COMPANY!”
“Look at your perfect boss,” I muttered under my breath. “Look at the man you respect. He’s in her house right now!”
Gasps filled the room as people stared at the images, their whispers growing louder with each passing second. I saw shock, disgust, and disbelief spreading across their faces. Some looked away. Some stared, transfixed. And some started whispering things.
Stunned office workers | Source: Pexels
Ten minutes later, I heard the sound of the door slamming open, and there he was — Eric, his face red with fury. “Anna, what the hell are you doing?”
“Oh, don’t play dumb,” I said, crossing my arms. “Your employees deserve to know the kind of boss they’re working for. The kind of husband you are.”
His eyes darted to the photos, and for a moment, he looked panicked. The confident man from the blue house was gone. Now, he looked like a child caught in a lie.
But then he composed himself, his voice lowering dangerously. “We need to talk. Now.”
I smiled, tossing my car keys at him. “Oh, we absolutely do.”
A startled man in his office | Source: Midjourney
We argued the entire ride home.
“You had no right —” Eric began, his voice desperate.
“No right? You had no right to destroy our family. What were you thinking, Eric? Did you even think about Max and Stuart?”
Tears threatened to spill, but I fought them back. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break.
A woman sitting in a car | Source: Midjourney
“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” he muttered, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white.
“Wasn’t supposed to be like what?” I screamed. “A lying, cheating husband? A father who betrays his family?”
“No, Anna —”
“Then how was it supposed to be, Eric? You cheat on me, lie to our kids, and sneak around with your secretary, but hey, as long as you’re happy, right? You’re free to do anything you please… only because you’re a man, right?”
A man driving a car | Source: Unsplash
A flash of shame crossed his face. For a moment, I saw the man I married — the man who used to look at me like I was his whole world.
He didn’t respond. The silence was deafening.
When we got home, I grabbed my things and locked myself in the bedroom, ignoring his pleas to talk. Each knock on the door felt like another betrayal.
I wasn’t ready to listen… not yet. Not when my entire world had just shattered into a million pieces.
A man standing outside a room | Source: Midjourney
I refused to talk to him after that. And within the next few days, Eric’s business was in shambles.
When word of his rendezvous with his secretary became public, employees began resigning in large numbers. No one wanted to work for a man who promoted mistresses instead of merit. Each resignation was another nail in the coffin of his professional reputation.
I filed for divorce a week later. The paperwork felt like liberation — each signature a step towards healing.
Divorce papers on a table | Source: Pexels
When I told the boys, Max was quiet for a long time. The silence was heavy, laden with disappointment and confusion. Finally, he looked up, his eyes filled with a pain no 13-year-old should ever have to experience.
“I always thought Dad was a hero,” he said softly. “Guess I was wrong.”
Those words shattered something inside me. Not because of Eric, but because of the innocence my son had lost.
Hearing those words broke my heart, but I knew I’d done the right thing.
A heartbroken woman | Source: Midjourney
The last time I saw Eric, he looked like a shell of himself. His business was gone, his reputation was ruined, and Lucy? She’d left him for someone with a bigger bank account.
Gone was the confident man who used to stride through life. In his place was a broken, desperate stranger.
“Anna,” he pleaded on the road. “I made a mistake. Please… can we fix this?”
The audacity. The absolute audacity of that request.
A desperate man | Source: Midjourney
I stared at him for a long moment, letting his words hang in the air. Every memory of our marriage — the good and the bad — flickered through my mind like an old movie reel.
Then I smiled… a cold, empty smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “You know, Eric, you were right about one thing. Jogging really does clear your head.”
And with that, I turned and walked away to my new apartment, leaving him to deal with the mess he’d made.
A woman walking away | 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.
My Newly Adult Daughter Almost Married an Old Man, I Was Shocked until I Found out the Truth – Story of the Day
My 18-year-old daughter fell in love with a 60-year-old man and was marrying him against my wishes. She claimed she was madly in love with this guy. I was shocked when I discovered a chilling truth about him.
The late afternoon sun bathed the living room as I sifted through mundane mail, the doorbell’s chime announcing Serena’s early arrival from her part-time job. She breezed in, her vibrant presence filling the space with energy and the scent of vanilla. I eagerly waited for this time of the month when she’d visit me.
“Hey, Dad! You won’t believe what happened with my roommate, Jessica…” Serena paused, sensing my unease. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, yeah,” I said. “Everything’s great. Come on in, honey.”
“So,” I began, “you were saying…”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Yeah, Dad. Actually…I met someone, and he’s like all nice and caring. Edison. Really loves me. We want to get married. But he’s…”
“But?”
“He’s sixty.”
The word ‘sixty’ hit me hard. My daughter, eighteen, with a man sixty — almost thrice her age? Concern and disbelief clouded my judgment. “Sixty, Serena? That’s… can’t you see the issue here?”
“Age doesn’t define love, Dad. Edison understands me, believes in me.”
“But what about the future, Serena? He’s much older.”
“Love isn’t about numbers, Dad. It’s about feeling seen, loved, cared for, and Edison makes me feel that way,” Serena’s voice trembled with conviction. “Please, can you at least meet him once? Trust me, you’ll love him.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
I was shocked beyond words. Was Serena not realizing what she was talking about? Yet, I couldn’t refuse her. After all, what harm could a meeting do? I agreed to meet this Edison guy.
The next night at Edison’s, I needed a breather and went to the balcony. That’s when a snatch of conversation caught my ear. “Annie, come on now,” Edison’s voice, smooth and practiced, appeared. “I’m your brother. You know me well. It’s just a bit of harmless fun. A chance to win a little something extra.”
“This is reckless, Edison,” a woman’s voice, probably Annie’s, chided Edison. “You’re toying with that girl’s affections for some ‘harmless fun.'”
A cold dread twisted inside me. “What are you talking about?” Edison barked.
“The bet, Edison,” Annie hissed. “You think marrying a naive girl is easy money to clear your debts?”
My heart sank. Edison was using my daughter just for a bet. I was furious.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
I rushed back in and found Serena. “Serena, we’ve been fooled! It’s all a game to him!” I blurted out.
“Dad, what are you talking about?” Serena looked so confused and then shocked as I told her about the bet.
“He’s lying to you, Serena! He’s just using you,” I said, my voice cracking.
But Serena got defensive. “You’re making this up! You never liked Edison! Edison cares for me…unlike you, Dad. You were never around. After Mom passed, it was like you chose your job over me. I felt alone, not like I had a dad. I didn’t need those nannies and expensive boarding schools, Dad. I needed you.”
Her words stung, but I knew we had to deal with Edison’s deception first.
Then, I saw him entering the dining room. Edison. I just couldn’t contain myself any longer. I lost it and punched him in the face, yelling, “Stay away from her daughter, you creep!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
But Serena was furious with me. “Stop it, Dad! It’s my life, not yours!” she yelled, pushing me back. I knew no matter what I said at that moment, Serena would not take my side. She was blinded by the fake love Edison had shown her.
I eventually left, heartbroken but not beaten. I had to save my daughter. So, I called a buddy of mine who’s a private investigator. A few days later, he gave me a report about Edison’s dark past of failures and gambling addiction.
This was my shot to show Serena the truth about Edison and get her back.
The report mentioned Duke R., Edison’s old business partner, who got left in the dust because of Edison’s mess-ups.
The report said Duke hung out at a place called Le Beans Café, a little diner outside of town. I grabbed the phone number listed for Duke and called him up.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
At Le Beans Café, under its dim lights, I met Duke. Life had been tough on him, but he was ready to spill everything about Edison’s gambling issues. He wanted to help me keep my daughter safe from Edison.
After meeting Duke that night, I went to Edison’s favorite casino, pretending to be “Parker,” a rich guy from Texas. I looked the part and had my story ready. Sitting down at Edison’s table, I smiled.
“Welcome, Parker. Big game tonight. Feeling lucky?”
I played my cards right, literally, and ended up winning with a royal flush, beating Edison’s hand. He tried to keep calm, but I could tell he was rattled.
“Looks like beginner’s luck,” Edison snarled.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Or maybe some of us just know how to play,” I said, smiling slowly as I let him realize who I was. “Surprised to see me, Edison?”
He went white, finally getting what was happening. “Billy? What’s this about?”
“It’s about Serena. Leave her alone, and we’re square,” I said firmly, not giving him a choice. “Or,” I added, “you can settle the debt right now. In cash. And let’s just say, I have some… unconventional methods of collecting outstanding debts.”
“Fine, I’ll stay away from her,” he said reluctantly.
I left the casino feeling like I’d won but also worried. Edison gave in too easily, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the end of it with Serena.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
The next morning, fury surged through me as Serena’s voicemail played yet again. Why aren’t you answering my calls, honey? Desperation led me to call her friend, Sarah, who cheerfully informed me of Serena’s engagement party to Edison, a piece of news that left me reeling.
“Engagement party? With Edison?” I was shocked.
“Yes! Didn’t Serena tell you? You should come, Mr. Thompson. It’s at The Grand Springs, starts at eight,” Sarah replied, oblivious to my shock.
Arriving at The Grand Springs, I was met with the sight of Serena, radiant with happiness, and Edison, oozing charm among the guests. My heart raced as I approached Edison, my anger peaking.
“We need to talk, now,” I said, pulling him to the side.
“Now? During the party?” Edison smirked, but I wasn’t having it and dragged him into a quiet bathroom to have it out.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
“You think you can just waltz in and take my daughter’s life?” I accused, pressing him against the wall.
“She loves me. And your dirty little secrets? They could destroy you,” Edison shot back, hinting he knew things about me that could hurt me.
“But you’re not going to get her. Not on my watch!” I said, even though his threat to tell Serena about my past mistakes left me rattled.
“Two minutes, Thompson. Then I call security,” Edison warned, leaving me in turmoil. “You think you can stop this, Daddykins? She loves me. She wants me. And if you try anything, if she sees even a tiny scratch on me, she’ll turn her back on you forever. Is that what you want, Thompson? To be abandoned by your sweet daughter?”
No matter how much I hated that old creep, I had to admit he was right. Serena was already against me. I couldn’t afford to lose her forever.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Defeated and heartbroken, I ended up outside, the bright city lights seeming to laugh at my inability to save Serena from Edison’s lies. I sat down on a bench, overwhelmed and hiding my face in my hands.
While I was lost in my own sadness, a cough caught my attention. Looking up, I saw a woman standing there, tall and with gray hair, looking kind of gentle in the faint light. “You’re Mr. Thompson, right?” she asked quietly.
“Annie? Edison’s sister?” I was surprised to recognize her.
She gave a small smile. “Yes, we’ve seen each other before… At Edison’s, when you tried to save your daughter,” she reminded me.
I quickly told her all about the mess with Edison and how he was tricking Serena. “And you’re aware of it, too, right?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
“That conniving weasel,” Annie finally spat. “He’s wasted everything — our inheritance, my savings from years of theatrical performances… all gone to feed his gambling addiction.”
“We could stop him,” I said, feeling she might want to help.
“What do you have in mind?” Annie asked.
I explained my plan to her and even offered her some money as a start. “Consider this a start,” I said.
“I’m listening,” she said, interested.
So, we went ahead with our plan at the wedding. Annie was there pretending to be just another guest. Right as Edison was putting the ring on Serena’s finger, a young woman stood up and yelled, “He’s a liar!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Then another woman stood up, telling her story about Edison’s lies. More people started speaking up, all exposing Edison’s evil deeds.
Edison tried to deny it. “No, they’re lying! I don’t even know them,” he said, but he was falling apart as everyone saw his true colors.
Our plan worked. The wedding turned into a place where all of Edison’s lies were laid bare for everyone to see.
In a moment filled with tension, an older woman approached Serena.
“Don’t fall for his tricks, dear. He’s nothing but trouble. Get away from him while you can! I’ve been a victim, too,” the woman said firmly. Watching through a video call, I saw Serena’s world fall apart as she threw her wedding ring away, her dream of happiness shattered.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
This was the climax of the plan I had made with Annie and her group of actors to show everyone who Edison really was. Serena ran out of the church, clearly hurt, but it was the only way to save her from a terrible mistake.
Then, things got even more serious when the police showed up to arrest Edison, making it clear he was finally going to face the consequences of his actions. Although it cost me a lot to get Annie’s help, seeing my daughter free from Edison was worth every penny.
When I met Serena at her place later, it was a very emotional moment. “Dad, I’m so sorry. I should’ve listened to you,” she cried.
I held her and showed her a plane ticket to Boston, to remind her of her dream of studying fashion design. “It’s time to start over, to chase your dream,” I told her.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
She looked at me, grateful and hopeful. “Thanks, Dad. I love you,” she said.
This whole ordeal reminded me how important it is to be there for our kids and to do whatever it takes to keep them safe.
If only I’d been there for Serena, she’d never have fallen for someone like Edison. I had learned a huge lesson and decided to make my daughter my priority.
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