After a messy divorce, a mysterious package from her ex-mother-in-law offers Emilia a chance to escape her struggles, but at a shocking price. Years later, she’s thriving in a new life when a chance encounter reveals the cost of arrogance, leaving her to decide if forgiveness can outweigh the past.
When I married Wyatt, it felt like I was stepping into a whirlwind romance with a man who was so unlike anyone I’d ever met.
At least, that’s what I told myself.
A woman sitting in an armchair | Source: Midjourney
He was charming and unpredictable, always full of big dreams and bigger promises. But charm doesn’t keep a marriage afloat, does it? A year later, that whirlwind turned into a storm, and I found myself alone, betrayed, and shattered after discovering his infidelity.
Our divorce was swift and sterile. There were no kids. No shared assets to fight over. But emotionally?
It left me gutted. Financially, it was even worse. Wyatt left me drowning in legal bills, trying to rebuild a life from the wreckage he caused.
A woman holding her head | Source: Midjourney
I moved into a tiny apartment on the outskirts of the city, took on a second job at my lawyer’s firm. To be honest, I think the man just felt sorry for me when he offered me the job. I canceled every unnecessary expense. It was exhausting.
Lonely.
Every day felt like an uphill climb. But I pushed through.
A woman sitting at a desk | Source: Midjourney
Then, one cold afternoon, a package arrived at my door.
No name. No return address.
It was just a set of keys and a note with an address, a date, and a time. The courier had disappeared before I could ask questions.
A set of keys and a note | Source: Midjourney
I held the keys and note to my chest, my heart racing. Was it Wyatt? Had he come to his senses and wanted to apologize? I wasn’t naïve enough to think we could get back together, but closure?
That, I desperately wanted.
Maybe this was his peace offering.
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
The address led me to a sleek apartment downtown, the kind of place I used to dream about when I was younger. The key turned smoothly in the lock, and when I stepped inside, I found someone waiting for me, but it wasn’t Wyatt.
It was Jill, my ex-mother-in-law, perched on a plush white sofa. Her pearls glinted under the soft light, and her smile felt more like a performance than a welcome.
“I’m glad you came,” she said, motioning for me to sit.
A woman sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
“What is this?” I asked, holding up the keys.
“This apartment is my gift to you,” she said smoothly. “Of all the women my son has been with, you were the best. The most deserving.”
My stomach twisted.
The apartment could change everything, no more scraping by, no more endless nights worrying about rent. But Jill’s generosity wasn’t exactly her signature trait.
A lavish apartment | Source: Midjourney
I didn’t trust this, and I didn’t trust her.
“On one condition,” she added.
Of course.
“A grandson,” she said, as if it were the most reasonable request in the world.
A woman sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
My jaw dropped.
“What do you mean?”
Jill tilted her head, calm and businesslike.
“Wyatt is my only child, and I doubt he’ll ever become a family man. We need a grandchild to carry on the family name. You deserve this, darling. You’ve been through so much with Wyatt. Let me make it easier.”
A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney
“But we broke up!” I said, my voice rising. “We don’t even talk anymore! I don’t think he knows where I live, Jill!”
Jill rolled her eyes, waving off my concerns like they were trivial.
“Oh, please, Emilia!” she said. “Just call him, tell him you miss him, invite him here for a romantic dinner. He’ll come. I know he will. I’m not asking for anything complicated. Once my grandson arrives, I’ll provide everything you need. And more.”
“And what if it’s a granddaughter? Then what, Jill?” I pressed, curious to see how far her arrogance stretched.
A romantic dinner setup | Source: Midjourney
Her expression didn’t even flicker.
“Then, Emilia,” she said. “You will try again, darling. No one else will offer you what I’m offering. A comfortable life, all the amenities, all the luxuries. Heck, you wouldn’t even need to work.”
Her words sank in.
A woman holding her head | Source: Midjourney
This woman thought I was desperate. She thought I was incapable of standing on my own. She didn’t see me as a person. She just saw me as a means to an end.
The thought of being with Wyatt… being intimate with Wyatt… it put me off. I felt sick.
“No,” I said finally.
Jill’s polished exterior cracked, surprise flashing across her face.
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
“Think carefully, girl,” she warned. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“I have thought carefully,” I replied, meeting her gaze. “And I’d rather struggle than sell my soul and my child over to you.”
I left the keys on the table and walked out, ignoring her protests.
A woman standing in a doorway | Source: Midjourney
The two years that followed were the hardest, and the most rewarding of my life. I poured myself into my job at the law firm, staying late, volunteering for extra projects, and building connections.
One of the senior partners noticed my dedication and started mentoring me.
It wasn’t easy at all, and there were nights when I cried from the exhaustion, but I refused to give up. With every promotion, I felt like I was proving to myself that I didn’t need Wyatt or anyone else to succeed.
A woman lying in her bed | Source: Midjourney
Eventually, I was offered the role of head of client relations. It came with a solid paycheck, a corner office, and something I hadn’t felt in a long time:
Pride.
It was at the firm that I met Daniel.
He was an associate attorney, and he was kind, empathetic, and quietly funny in a way that made bad days seem lighter. He knew all about my messy marriage to Wyatt, and he never pitied me for it.
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
Instead, he admired how I’d clawed my way out of the wreckage.
“And I’m not just saying it, Emilia,” he said, handing me a bottle of water. “I mean it. I saw that kind of relationship first-hand. But my mother couldn’t get away from my father, no matter how hard she tried. I guess she wanted to believe in some fantasy that he would change.”
“I get that,” I replied. “At first, a part of me thought that Wyatt would come back with some sense of remorse. But then one day, I opened my eyes. And they stayed open.”
A bottle of water on a desk | Source: Midjourney
Our first date was a simple coffee after work. And by our third, I knew he was the real deal. Daniel wasn’t flashy or unpredictable. He was steady. Honest.
A man I could build a life with.
We got married a year later in a small ceremony with close friends and family. A year after that, we welcomed our son, Ethan.
An intimate wedding | Source: Midjourney
“Finally,” I said to Daniel as I looked at our son. “I’ve waited for this little boy for decades. I always knew I wanted to be a mom. But I also knew that I wasn’t going to be a mom with Wyatt.”
Immediately, that bright-eyed, giggling baby boy became the center of our world.
One morning, I was walking through the park, pushing Ethan’s stroller while Daniel jogged ahead. The air smelled of snow, and the bare trees cast long shadows on the path.
A baby boy in a stroller | Source: Midjourney
As I paused by a bench to adjust Ethan’s blanket, I spotted a woman sitting a few feet away.
It was Jill.
She was crying, her face buried in her hands. She looked older, wearier somehow. Her hair was unkempt, her clothes plain, and her signature pearls were nowhere in sight. A stack of papers had fallen from her lap, scattering at her feet.
I hesitated, but then instinct took over. I reached into the diaper bag, grabbed some napkins, and walked up to her.
A woman sitting on a park bench | Source: Midjourney
“Here,” I said softly, holding out the napkins. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
Jill looked up, startled.
Her eyes flickered to the stroller, landing on Ethan’s smiling face. Something between longing and bitterness passed across her expression.
“Thank you,” she said, taking the napkins. I bent down to gather the papers she’d dropped and handed them back to her.
A woman holding a stack of paper | Source: Midjourney
“For hours,” Jill muttered, her voice thin. “I’ve been sitting here for hours. Sometimes, it’s the only place I can think. Your child is beautiful.”
I didn’t know what to say, so I stayed silent.
“Wyatt married again,” she blurted out, her voice dripping with bitterness. “It didn’t last, of course. He married her after only three months, thought she was the perfect trophy wife. But she was just as cunning as he was. Took him for everything.”
A crowd at a wedding | Source: Midjourney
Her shoulders shook as she cried again.
“He lost a fortune in the divorce. And now? There’s nothing left. He came crawling back to me. I’ve spent every penny trying to keep him afloat.”
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly.
Despite everything Jill had put me through, I meant it.
A woman sitting on a bench | Source: Midjourney
We talked a little more, about Ethan, about life, before Jill gathered her things and stood.
“You could have given me a grandson after all. He’s lovely,” she said. “Goodbye, Emilia.”
I watched her walk away, her back hunched against the cold.
A smiling baby boy | Source: Midjourney
A few minutes later, Daniel jogged up to me, his cheeks flushed. He leaned down, kissed me, and scooped Ethan out of the stroller, making him laugh.
“Ready to head home?” he asked.
“Yeah, always,” I said, smiling as I slipped my arm through his.
Together, we strolled away, leaving the past where it belonged.
A smiling woman in a park | Source: Midjourney
Bus Driver Insults Breastfeeding Mom Unaware Her Husband Would Get in at Next Stop – Story of the Day
A bus driver mocks a breastfeeding mom on his bus and is surprised to see her being greeted by his son at the next stop. Moreover, the son is unexpectedly in a wheelchair.
Keith was behind the wheel, ferrying passengers across the city, when a young lady with a baby boarded the bus. Keith’s lips curled into a sly smirk.
Babies were too unpredictable and could start bawling at any moment. So nothing was worse to Keith than putting up with the baby’s loud cries during rush hour.
As the lady occupied a vacant seat with her toddler, Keith grumbled. “That should stop the child from whining,” he frowned…
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
When a stop light arrived, and Keith turned around to check how many people were aboard, he saw the lady breastfeeding her baby. His anger flared, and his cheeks turned crimson red. “Hey, Lady! You can’t do that here!” he yelled.
“Why, of course, I can! I’m nursing my baby,” the mother responded.
Keith looked around at the others and was unsettled. The traffic light turned green, and he started driving, expressing his disapproval of the woman feeding her child.
“Disgusting! Kids think they’re entitled to everything and just display their breasts in front of complete strangers,” Keith mumbled loudly.
Keith’s murmurs intensified as the woman adjusted to cover up her chest. “Youngsters lack respect for others. Since when did breastfeeding in public become the norm?”
The lady overheard everything, and Keith’s discomfort persisted, echoing through the bus.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
A few men near Keith joined in taking a dig at the woman. Keith chuckled, and the mocking continued. “Like I said, no decency! Where’s her husband? Why didn’t anyone in her life teach her some self-respect?” he added.
The woman finished feeding her child and prepared to leave. As the bus doors opened, Keith’s gaze shifted to a man in a wheelchair waiting for her, and his jaw dropped.
“DANIEL?” he gasped, recognizing his son, who was now in a wheelchair. It was only the second time he’d ever seen him. Daniel was perfectly alright seven years ago, and Keith couldn’t understand what had happened to him.
His anxiety surged even more when he realized the woman he had insulted for the last half hour was his daughter-in-law. And the baby…his grandson. Keith’s heart cracked again.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Are you going to drive, old man?” a youngster in the back yelled, snapping Keith out of his reverie.
Keith turned around, trying his best to get his job done. But it wasn’t easy, especially when the vision of his life 22 years ago came flashing back into his mind…
“Honey, I’m home,” Keith gleefully cried out to his girlfriend, Sarah. “Ummm! That tastes delicious!” he exclaimed, gobbling a spoonful of pasta.
“I can’t do it, Keith,” she rose. “I want to have this baby.”
“I thought we agreed. You know we’re not ready for a baby yet,” he sighed.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
“I’m already 15 weeks along,” Sarah brushed her belly. “I want this baby. I love him. I…I’m sorry…I can’t.”
Keith was worried now. He tried to explain to Sarah that their one-bedroom flat in the secluded part of town and their minimum wage salaries wouldn’t be enough to raise a baby. But she stood her ground.
“Fine!” Keith eventually agreed. “We’ll figure out something.”
Deep inside, he was haunted by what to do all evening. And that’s when he remembered his best friend, Victor, and left for the pub to meet him.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Keith! Where the hell have you been, man?” Victor exclaimed as soon as Keith walked through the door of their favorite bar. They often hung out there, but Keith had refrained from nights out after moving in with Sarah.
“And how’s your girl?” Victor said, downing a drink.
“She’s good, man,” Keith nodded, licking his dry lips. “Is there any job for me…with you? Look, man, I’m ready to do anything. Please…talk to your boss Mr. Abraham. I’m good with cars…”
Keith knew the stakes were high but took up a job pretty soon. Hotwiring a car in less than a minute and stealing parts was a cakewalk for Keith, and soon, money started rolling in.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Keith and Sarah eventually moved to a new area only a month after he started his new job. They were doing exceptionally well, and one night, when he arrived home, he found Sarah crying on the couch.
“The cops were here, Keith. They asked terrifying questions about you and Victor…and some Mr. Abraham… Why are the cops after you?” she asked.
A lump rose in Keith’s throat. “It’s better if you don’t know,” he said as Sarah’s worst fears were confirmed.
“Jesus! Are you in a gang, Keith? Wha—what if you get arrested? What’s gonna happen to me and our baby if you go down?” She cried.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Nothing’s gonna happen,” Keith pressed Sarah’s shoulders. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Really, Keith? You think the cops will spare you?”
Keith’s anger boiled over. “For God’s sake, Sarah! Can’t you see why I’m doing this? I had to bring more money…I’m doing all this for us!”
“Please, stop it,” Sarah cried her heart out, begging Keith to quit his illegal gig and return to the normal, simple life they once lived.
“We need MONEY to live!” he yelled.
“You can make that MONEY by doing something else…NOT THIS!” Sarah shot back as she cried, squinting her eyes. “The baby kicked…Ow!”
Keith calmed down as he cupped her face and looked into her eyes. “Look, babe, I have this huge gig coming up. It could set us up for life. I can’t give up in the middle. I want to give our son everything,” he said.
Sarah’s face contorted. “If you don’t quit this job, you’ll never be able to get out of it. The cops are after you…do you even realize that?”
“Sarah, this is my chance. I don’t want to return to some stupid low-wage job, okay? This is beyond my control. I used to feel low. But now, I have everything they said I could never have.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Sarah’s gaze lowered as she clutched her belly tight. “I don’t think this is gonna work out, Keith. You’re not the man I loved,” she sobbed.
“Oh, c’mon! How convenient, Sarah,” Keith lashed out at her expletively. “You enjoyed the money I made…What’s wrong now? Like it or not, I’m not quitting,” he declared, storming out of the room.
It was early morning when Keith returned home from another successful score. “Honey, look…I’m sorry. Things got a bit intense last night…Sarah?” He called out to her over and over.
But still no answer. So Keith hurried to their bedroom, wondering if she was sick or still sleeping, only to find it empty.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Keith grew anxious as he rang Sarah’s number. But all his calls landed in voicemail. He rummaged through the closet and noticed some of her clothes were gone. All the onesies were missing from the nursery. “Sarah?” Keith panicked and ran around the house, but she was nowhere to be found.
They didn’t have many friends, so Keith thought Victor or the rest of his gang could help find her. Just as Keith frantically pressed the call button on Victor’s number, a loud knock on the front door jolted him.
“Police! Open the door, Mr. Griffith. We know you’re in there,” a cop yelled and banged on the door. “We have an arrest warrant.”
“Argh!” Keith held his head, knowing there was no escape now.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Keith was arrested and sentenced to 20 years. However, he was released on parole after 15 years owing to good conduct. He didn’t go back to Victor or Mr. Abraham, and all he wanted was to find Sarah and their baby.
Keith tracked down their address and eagerly raced to a suburban area several miles west of their old neighborhood. The beautiful houses and picturesque landscapes pleased his eyes. This was the kind of place he wanted to live with Sarah and their son.
Finally, Keith made it closer to Sarah’s house, and just as he was about to enter the gate, an SUV drove past him. A well-dressed man got down as Keith stood puzzled. “Did I get the address wrong? But the mailbox shows the same number…”
“DAD!” a boy’s voice startled him. Keith looked up, his heart pounding in his chest, and a smile formed on his face.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Keith’s heart shattered to a million pieces when he saw a teen boy bolting from the front door toward the stranger who had just gotten down from the SUV. And Sarah emerged from the doorway. “Guys, dinner is ready! Hurry!” she chuckled.
“Dad, let’s go,” the boy chirped. “Mom made spaghetti!”
“You’re right, Daniel! Let’s hurry!” Keith watched as the man wrapped his hand around the boy’s shoulder, and they walked inside the house. It could mean only one thing—he was the boy’s stepfather who had taken Keith’s rightful place in Sarah’s and their son’s lives.
Heartbroken, Keith decided to turn around and leave. But he wanted to see how happy they were together. He secretly peeked through the window and saw the teen and his stepdad cheering for a baseball game on TV. Sarah was sitting beside them and looked as beautiful as ever.
As the street lights turned on, Keith gathered his bits and pieces and walked away.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
A blaring horn in the distance snapped Keith to reality as tears rolled down his cheeks. He finished his last route for the night, and the thought of seeing Daniel in a wheelchair broke his heart again. “What happened to my boy? He was fine when I saw him seven years ago…” Keith wondered.
A few days later, he drove to the same address he last saw Sarah and Daniel to find out. He pulled over outside a neighboring house and waited nervously until a knock on his side window startled him.
“Hey, who are you? Why’s your car parked outside my compound? If you don’t leave, I’ll call the cops,” an older lady barked at him.
Keith stepped down from his car with a start. “No, please, ma’am. I just wanted to go there…”
“Go where?” she raised her hands and growled.
“Over there…to that house. I want to meet Sarah and Daniel. I haven’t seen her in years,” Keith clarified.
“Oh, dear,” the older lady’s voice softened. “Don’t you know what happened?”
“Yeah?” Keith’s forehead wrinkled with unease.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Sarah and her husband died last year,” the older woman revealed. “Their son Daniel lives with his wife and baby there.”
“WHAT? NO!” Keith’s eyes bulged with shock.
“Car accident. Daniel luckily survived because he was in the backseat. But he can’t walk,” the lady added. “It’s so sad. I saw that boy grow up. They were such a lovely family. And his baby…he won’t ever see his grandparents.”
Keith thanked the woman and regretfully walked past her, heading straight to the front door. He knew it was time to step up and face his son, no matter what. Keith adjusted his voice and sighed deeply before knocking on the door. It creaked open moments later, and Daniel rolled his wheelchair closer.
“Yes?” He looked up at Keith.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
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A spoiled rich teen thought he could get away with insulting a flight attendant. However, his dad, who was watching everything from behind, decides to teach his arrogant kid an unforgettable lesson.
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.
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