As Diane runs around doing last-minute errands for her daughter Marissa’s wedding, she comes across her soon-to-be son-in-law—with another woman! Begrudgingly, she tells Marissa and then comes up with a plan to teach Stefan a lesson…
As I bustled through the busy streets, juggling errands for my daughter Marissa’s wedding, I couldn’t help but feel a nagging sense of unease.
An older woman holding shopping bags | Source: Midjourney
Call it mother’s intuition or something like that, but there was just something about Stefan, my daughter’s fiancé, that had never quite sat right with me.
He always seemed a bit too smooth, a bit too charming, like someone who was used to getting what he wanted without much effort.
Marissa, on the other hand, had worked through issues with her self-esteem and self-confidence, spending hours at the gym and the hair salon. She worked hard on herself, to get what she felt she deserved.
A young woman at the gym | Source: Midjourney
“I’m telling you, Brian,” I told my husband one day. “Our daughter is too good for this man.”
“I agree, she’s our little girl. But at the same time, there’s nothing we can do.”
He was right, of course. Marissa adored Stefan, and I had tried to keep my reservations to myself, not wanting to spoil her happiness.
A couple sitting and staring at each other | Source: Midjourney
But then, I saw Stefan’s true colors in the most unexpected way.
It was the day before the wedding, and I was exhausted from a whirlwind of preparations. I had insisted that my daughter spend the day at a spa, getting a full-on pamper session, while I got my nails done, picked up both our dresses, and finalized the decorations.
A woman at a spa | Source: Midjourney
“It’s all set, Diane,” Tracy, the wedding planner, told me at her office. “I just need you to choose between the two backup flower options. But don’t worry, we’re back on track. Go ahead and rest. The mother of the bride needs to be just as refreshed as the bride.”
“I’m definitely going to do that,” I reassured her. “I’m just going to grab a coffee and then head straight home for a bubble bath and a head massage from my husband.”
A smiling woman sitting at her desk | Source: Midjourney
“Get some carbs, too,” Tracy laughed as I walked out.
So, I did just that. I decided to take a break and grab a coffee at a cute little café across the road from Tracy’s office. As I entered, I was greeted by the comforting aroma of fresh pastries and coffee.
Coffee and croissants on a table | Source: Midjourney
“Just what I needed,” I muttered to myself.
But then, my heart nearly stopped.
There, in a corner of the café was Stefan. And he wasn’t alone. A young woman was there with him, laughing and touching his arm, their heads close together.
A couple sitting in a café together | Source: Midjourney
Then, right in front of the bustling café, they kissed. It was a tender, intimate kiss, the kind that spoke of familiarity and affection.
To the rest of the world, they looked like a cute little couple. But to me? This was the ultimate betrayal to my daughter.
I stood there, stunned, unable to process what I was seeing. My hands shook as I pulled out my phone and snapped a photo.
A woman holding her phone | Source: Midjourney
Thankfully, the photo was safely in my gallery when Stefan looked up. Our eyes met for a brief, horrifying moment. He quickly pulled away from the woman, but it was too late.
The damage was done. My eyes had seen the truth.
A close-up of a man’s eyes | Source: Midjourney
“Diane?” Stefan called.
I just shook my head and hurried out of the café, my mind and heart racing.
How could he do this to Marissa? The woman who loved him to her core and who would move heaven and earth for him! And on the eve of their wedding, no less?
An upset woman touching her face | Source: Midjourney
I knew I had to tell her, but how could I break her heart like this?
As I drove home, my anger simmered. Stefan needed to learn a lesson.
I dialed Brian’s number.
A woman driving | Source: Midjourney
“Hi, honey,” Brian answered. “I’ll be home soon, I promise. I just need to pick up some Thai food for Marissa. She said she wanted to have our favorite family meal tonight.”
“We need to talk,” I said, cutting him off.
I quickly told Brian everything as I drove closer to our house.
A man looking at his phone | Source: Midjourney
When I got home, I found Marissa in her room, surrounded by her wedding jewelry. Her face lit up when she saw me, but the look on my face must have given away that something was wrong.
“Mom, what happened?” she asked, concern taking over her beautiful features. “Is everything okay?”
I sat down next to her, taking a deep breath.
A young woman sitting on a bed | Source: Midjourney
“Marissa, I need to show you something,” I said, pulling out my phone. I showed her the photo of Stefan with the other woman.
Marissa stared at the screen, her face paling.
“No, this can’t be real,” she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.
An upset young woman | Source: Midjourney
I put my arm around her, holding her as she sobbed.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” I said. “I wish it wasn’t true.”
Through her tears, Marissa looked at me, anger and betrayal flashing in her eyes.
A mother comforting her daughter | Source: Midjourney
“Mom, I can’t marry him. I just can’t. I won’t. I have to call off the wedding.”
I nodded. I couldn’t blame her at all. She was devastated. The man she adored had been cheating on her.
But then an idea struck me. There was a way to make Stefan face the consequences of his actions in a way he wouldn’t forget.
A determined older woman | Source: Midjourney
“Darling, what if we turn the tables on him? Make sure he knows exactly what he’s losing?” I asked.
She looked at me, confusion mingling with her tears.
“What do you mean, Mom?” she asked.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
I explained my plan, and slowly, a determined look replaced the hurt on her face. She agreed, and we set it in motion.
We spent the rest of the evening in near silence, eating the Thai food that Brian had brought home.
A close-up of a plate of food | Source: Midjourney
The next morning, Marissa and her best friend Leah headed to the resort where she and Stefan were supposed to spend their honeymoon.
The reservation was in Marissa’s name because Brian and I had gifted the couple their honeymoon, so there was no issue with her using it.
A beautiful resort | Source: Midjourney
As for Brian and me, we went to the wedding venue, where guests were already gathering, helping themselves to drinks and canapés. They were blissfully unaware of the drama unfolding behind the scenes.
Stefan spotted me as soon as I arrived. He rushed over, looking anxious.
“Where’s Marissa?” he asked me, trying to keep his voice calm.
Guests mingling at a wedding | Source: Midjourney
I smiled, keeping my tone light. It was almost as if I hadn’t caught him cheating on my daughter just the day before.
“Oh, she’ll be done soon; she had a mishap with her hair stylist.”
He frowned but nodded, trying to mask his discomfort.
A close-up of a groom | Source: Midjourney
As the minutes ticked by and the wedding band began to play, the tension grew. Finally, with all the guests present, I took the stage.
Holding the microphone, I called for everyone’s attention.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here today. We have a slight change in plans,” I began.
An older woman standing with a microphone | Source: Midjourney
There were a few gasps in the crowd, but I continued.
“My daughter isn’t here right now. She’s on her way to the resort where she and Stefan were supposed to spend their honeymoon.”
A murmur of confusion spread through the crowd. Stefan shifted uncomfortably.
Shocked guests at a wedding | Source: Midjourney
“But Marissa did want me to show you something very important.”
With that, I clicked a remote, and the photo of Stefan kissing the other woman appeared on the screen behind me. That, in itself, tugged at my heart because Marissa had wanted photos of her and Stefan to be playing in the background during the ceremony.
Now, the screen was used to show his infidelity.
A couple kissing | Source: Midjourney
Gasps filled the room. Stefan’s parents stood up, their faces a mixture of shock and fury. The murmurs turned into an uproar as people processed what they were seeing.
“Marissa isn’t late,” I said to Stefan simply. “She deserves so much better than this, and now, everyone knows the truth.”
Stefan’s parents approached me, anger across their faces.
An upset older couple | Source: Midjourney
“How could you do this?” his mother hissed. “We paid for this wedding!”
I met her gaze, unflinching.
“Your son did this. Not me. He betrayed Marissa, and she has every right to walk away.”
An embarrassed older couple | Source: Midjourney
Everything was chaotic after that. Guests were whispering, and some were even leaving. Stefan looked defeated, slumped in a chair, while his parents tried to salvage what they could of the situation.
I called Marissa to check in as Brian spoke to some of our family and friends.
“Mom, I made the right decision,” she said boldly. “I’ve been thinking, and I know it now.”
A smiling young woman | Source: Midjourney
“You did, sweetheart,” I replied. “And now, you can move on without looking back.”
After that, Brian and I helped ourselves to the wedding buffet before heading home.
A wedding buffet | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done?
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you.
My Best Friend Gave Me the Wrong Dress Code for Her Wedding — I Decided to Outplay Her Smartly
When Emily’s friend, Elle, gets engaged to her boyfriend, Brian, the supportive bestie is over the moon. Emily does everything she can to help Elle plan her dream wedding. But then Elle starts acting secretive and gives Emily a wedding invite with the incorrect dress code. Thankfully, a mutual colleague gives Emily the correct details, allowing her to show up to the wedding to teach Elle a lesson.
“I’m engaged, Em!” Elle said, rushing through my door while I was sitting on the couch and reading a book.
A woman reading on a couch | Source: Unsplash
“What?” I exclaimed, standing up to hug her tightly. “I’m so happy for you, my girl!”
Elle sat on the couch and showed me her hand.
“Look at this rock!” she said.
A close-up of an engagement ring | Source: Unsplash
Of course, I was over the moon for her. We’d been through so much together, and now it was her turn to walk down the aisle.
For my wedding, a few years ago, Elle had been right by my side. She helped me plan every little detail, from the font on my wedding invitations to the menu selections.
“It’s more like you and Elle are getting married,” my husband, Grant, laughed one evening when I told him everything that Elle and I had planned.
A laughing man | Source: Unsplash
“Well, she’s been around longer than you,” I replied, showing him the mock-up for our wedding invitations.
And it was true, Elle and I had been friends since our childhood, having lived on the same street and gone to the same kindergarten together.
We shared every major milestone, from awkward teenage years to college graduation, together. We even ended up working at the same company, making sure to have lunch and tea breaks together every day.
So, naturally, I expected her to be just as involved in her wedding planning as she was in mine.
“Brian and I don’t want to be engaged for too long,” she said one day at the office while we were having tea and pastries.
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.
3 Inspiring Stories of Kindness Repaid in Full
Small acts of kindness can have life-changing consequences. In this heartwarming compilation, three people share how their simple, selfless gestures were repaid in extraordinary ways.
Kindness doesn’t always ask for recognition, but sometimes, it gets repaid in incredible ways. In this collection, we follow three individuals whose generosity sparked chain reactions that changed their lives forever.
These stories show how even the smallest act of kindness can lead to the most unexpected rewards.
An older woman smiling | Source: Midjourney
1. Single Dad Helps Older Woman Mow Her Lawn, Soon Gets a Call from Her Lawyer
My wife passed away seven years ago, but I still felt her absence in the house. I never thought I’d have to live without her. My only source of joy was my 15-year-old daughter, Alice. Her presence kept me going.
One afternoon, I looked out the window and saw my elderly neighbor, Mrs. White, struggling with her lawnmower.
Without a second thought, I went out to help.
A close-up shot of a lawnmower | Source: Pexels
Mrs. White was fiercely independent, but that day, she accepted my assistance.
“Felix, you’re always so kind,” she said, smiling at me. “You’ve never asked for anything in return.”
“It’s no trouble, Mrs. White,” I replied, brushing it off. “That’s what neighbors are for!”
Once I finished mowing her lawn, she approached me holding an ornate box.
“This is for you, dear Felix,” she said. “It’s a reward for your kindness.”
An older woman talking to a man | Source: Midjourney
“I can’t accept this, Mrs. White,” I politely refused. “You don’t need to thank me for anything.”
Instead, she handed me a bag of apples for Alice.
Back at home, I gave Alice the apples, and her eyes lit up with delight. But then, she pulled out the same ornate box Mrs. White had tried to give me.
“Daddy! Look what was in the bag!” Alice exclaimed, holding it up.
I knew we couldn’t keep it.
“This isn’t ours, Alice. We have to return it,” I said firmly.
A man in his house | Source: Midjourney
When I went back to Mrs. White’s house to return the box, something felt wrong. I knocked, but there was no answer.
I found her lying peacefully on the couch.
Already gone.
“Oh, no,” I gasped.
I left her house with the box in my hands, unsure of what to do.
***
Later that night, I looked up the box online. I found similar boxes that were worth over $250,000. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
A man using his laptop | Source: Pexels
At that point, I still felt it wasn’t right to keep the box.
Just as I was trying to figure out what to do, I got a call from Mrs. White’s lawyer, Jonathan. He asked me to meet him the next morning.
Upon entering his office, I saw Mrs. White’s son, Henry. He accused me of stealing the box.
“I didn’t steal it,” I insisted. “She gave it to me.”
But Henry didn’t believe me.
Instead, he offered me $1,000 to return it.
A man standing in a lawyer’s office | Source: Midjourney
Knowing its real value, I refused and told him he could bid for it at an auction.
But things spiraled out of control at the auction. I had to flee from the venue because I didn’t have proof of ownership.
That night, I went back to Mrs. White’s house, desperate to find anything that could prove she wanted me to have the box. But Henry caught me in the act.
A man standing in a house | Source: Midjourney
“You’ve made a big mistake,” he warned. “This is breaking and entering. It’s a criminal offense. But I’m willing to overlook this if you do exactly as I say.”
“You have until tomorrow,” he stated firmly. “Bring the box to me, or I’ll have no choice but to file a report with the police. They’ll be very interested to learn about your little nocturnal excursion.”
I returned home and thought about my next steps.
A man sitting on a couch, thinking | Source: Midjourney
I knew I couldn’t return the box, so I decided to send Alice to her grandmother’s house with the box for safekeeping.
“Dad, why can’t you come with me?” Alice asked before leaving.
“I might not be around for a while, sweetheart,” I said, trying to hold back my fear. “But I promise I’ll come back.”
After Alice left, I called Henry and told him I was ready to turn myself in. The police arrested me that night.
I spent months in prison, wondering if I had made the right choice.
A silhouette of a man | Source: Pexels
One day, a guard told me to pack up.
To my shock, Alice was there waiting for me. She had found documents in the box that proved Mrs. White had wanted me to inherit it.
Thanks to those papers, Alice had secured my release.
“Dad, we’re free,” she said. “The box was worth everything, but the most important thing is we still have each other.”
“Thank you, my love,” I said, hugging her. “I’m so lucky to have you in my life.”
That day, I realized how my kindness repaid me in an unimaginable way.
A man sitting in his house | Source: Midjourney
2. I Gave My Last Dollar to a Stranger and Saw Him Again at My Prom
Living with my mom and grandma was never easy, but we made the best of it. We didn’t have much, but we had love, and that was enough for me.
Still, I couldn’t help but feel excited about prom. Like most girls, I dreamed of wearing a beautiful dress and feeling like I belonged.
One morning, my mom, Dina, and grandma, Holly, surprised me with an envelope.
An envelope | Source: Pexels
“We’ve been saving up,” Mom said softly, sliding the envelope across the table.
Inside, there was just enough money to buy a dress.
“Thank you!” I hugged them. “I can’t believe you did this for me!”
I was super happy and couldn’t wait to buy the perfect dress.
On the bus ride to the dress shop, I clutched the envelope tightly, imagining the gown I’d choose. But my thoughts were interrupted when two workers started checking tickets.
That’s when I noticed a man at the back of the bus. He looked worried.
A man sitting in a bus | Source: Pexels
“I-I don’t have my ticket,” he stammered. “I forgot my wallet at home.”
The workers exchanged annoyed glances.
“No ticket means a fine,” one of them said sternly.
“You’ll have to pay up, or we’ll have to call the authorities.”
“Please, I’m begging you,” the man said. “I’m trying to get to my daughter. She’s sick, and I have to take her to the hospital. I… I forgot my wallet in my rush. Please, I just need to get to her. I can’t pay the fine.”
A worried man | Source: Midjourney
The bus workers didn’t seem convinced. One of them shook his head.
“We’ve heard every excuse in the book. If you can’t pay the fine, you’ll have to explain yourself to the police.”
My heart ached watching the desperation in the man’s eyes.
I hesitated, thinking about the dress, but something inside me told me this man needed my help more than I needed a gown.
Before I could second-guess myself, I stood up and said, “I’ll pay his fine.”
A girl standing in a bus | Source: Midjourney
The man, Rick, looked at me with wide eyes while I handed money to the bus workers.
“I… I can’t believe you did that,” he said with tears in his eyes. “You’ve saved me. Thank you!”
“It’s okay,” I smiled. “I hope your daughter gets better soon.”
Soon, I got home empty-handed and told my mother what had happened. She was furious.
“You gave away the money?” she asked, shocked. “How could you be so naive, Carly? That man could have been lying to you! What if he tricked you?”
A woman talking to her daughter | Source: Midjourney
Tears filled my eyes. I hadn’t thought about that.
That’s when my grandma wrapped me in a hug.
“You did the right thing,” she whispered. “Kindness always comes back.”
A few days later, I attended prom night wearing an old dress. I felt so out of place as other girls twirled in their beautiful, shiny gowns.
I almost regretted coming until I felt a tap on my shoulder.
I turned and saw Rick standing there, smiling. Beside him was his daughter, healthy and full of life.
An older man smiling | Source: Midjourney
“This is my daughter, Haley,” he said.
Then, she handed me a gift-wrapped box.
“Please open it,” Rick insisted.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I unwrapped it. Rick had bought me the most beautiful dress I had ever seen.
“I don’t know what to say…” I said.
Rick smiled. “You’ve already said enough by helping me when no one else would. Now, it’s time for you to enjoy your night.”
I quickly changed into the dress and walked into prom feeling like a princess.
A back view shot of a woman in a dress | Source: Midjourney
That night, I realized that kindness really does come back when you least expect it.
3. I Paid for a Stranger’s Groceries, and It Led to My Grandma’s $230k Treatment
I was at the grocery store, just getting a few things for my grandma, when I noticed the woman in front of me at the checkout was struggling.
She realized she’d left her wallet in her friend’s car and was about to walk away empty-handed.
“Ma’am, I’ll cover it,” I said without thinking.
A boy at a grocery store | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, no. I couldn’t put you out like that,” she said after looking at me from head to toe. I think she was shocked to see a 12-year-old offering to help her.
“I insist, ma’am. Sometimes, we have to do good things, and karma will reward us later, right? That’s what my grandmother says all the time,” I said.
She hesitated, but I insisted.
I wasn’t rich, but I knew it was the right thing to do.
“Thank you so much,” she said. “I’m Mary. And you?”
A woman in a supermarket | Source: Midjourney
“I’m Mark,” I replied.
“Thank you for what you did, Mark,” she smiled. “Listen, how about you give me your phone number so I can pay you back as soon as I get my wallet?”
I wrote down my number on the receipt and handed it to her. “Here, but don’t worry about it. There’s no rush. I live nearby anyway.”
“Alright, Mark,” she smiled and thanked me once again before leaving.
A woman talking to a boy | Source: Midjourney
I felt good, but honestly, I didn’t think much about it after that. My focus was on my grandma, who was in the hospital and needed a major surgery that we couldn’t afford.
I had started a GoFundMe, but it wasn’t going well.
A few days later, I heard a knock on my door. Mary came with her daughter, Anastacia, to return my money.
“Thank you once again, Mark,” Mary said. “How’s your grandma doing?”
A woman asking a boy about his grandmother | Source: Midjourney
That’s when I explained our situation. They were shocked that I was raising money for her surgery on my own.
Then, they did something incredible. They offered to help.
Anastacia shared our GoFundMe link with everyone she knew. She even posted the story on Reddit, telling people how I had helped her mom.
At first, I didn’t think it would work, but the story started getting attention.
A boy using a phone | Source: Pexels
Soon, more people donated, and the story went viral.
And before I knew it, donations were pouring in. We reached the $230,000 needed for my grandma’s surgery. I was in shock.
I had only spent $20 to help Mary, and somehow, it had led to saving my grandma’s life.
Thanks to Mary and Anastacia, my grandma is getting the treatment she needs, and I’ll never forget how one act of kindness brought everything full circle.
A boy smiling | Source: Midjourney
If you enjoyed reading these stories, here’s another one you might like: When Phoebe decides that her new chapter begins with a divorce and a new house, she finds a little house in a sleepy neighborhood. As she gets unpacking, she meets a wonderful neighbor, who has a big responsibility for Phoebe.
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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