My wife Jane’s love for fitness started as a healthy habit. But little did I know, her trips to the gym were hiding a shocking secret that would shatter our family.
Woman exercising on a mat | Source: Pexels
Jane had always been into fitness. She loved working out, especially during college. Recently, though, her gym routine took over her life. What started as a few visits a week turned into a daily obsession.
At first, I thought nothing of it. Jane was 40 and still in great shape. She balanced her job with taking care of our kids, who were five and nine.
About 18 months ago, she started going back to the gym. It fit into her schedule, so I didn’t see a problem. Then, things changed.
Woman training at the gym | Source: Pexels
She began going every day, even on weekends. She started doing double sessions, one in the morning and one in the evening. It felt extreme, especially since she was four months pregnant.
I noticed she was irritable when she missed a session. “It’s like she’s a junkie needing a fix,” I thought. I shared my concerns, but Jane got upset. “The gym is my time,” she said. I suggested working out together, but she refused.
Woman using a leg press machine at a gym | Source: Pexels
I confronted her one evening after she got back from the gym. “Jane, we need to talk,” I began, trying to keep my voice calm.
She sighed. “Peter, can this wait? I’m exhausted.”
“No, it can’t wait. I’m worried about you. You’re at the gym all the time. It’s not healthy, especially with the baby on the way.”
Jane’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t understand. The gym helps me relax. It’s my escape.”
“Escape from what?” I asked, my frustration growing. “From me? From the kids?”
Woman working out at the gym | Source: Pexels
She threw her gym bag on the floor. “No, Peter. It’s not about you or the kids. It’s my time. I need it.”
“You’re overdoing it,” I insisted. “You’re missing out on time with us. The chores are piling up. People are starting to notice. Some even think you might be having an affair.”
Her face flushed with anger. “An affair? Seriously, Peter? That’s absurd.”
“Is it?” I shot back. “Because it feels like you’re hiding something. You won’t even let me join you at the gym.”
A couple quarreling | Source: Pexels
“That’s because I need this for myself!” she shouted. “Why can’t you understand that?”
“Because it’s tearing us apart,” I said, my voice breaking. “I miss you, Jane. The kids miss you.”
Jane’s expression softened for a moment, but then she shook her head. “I can’t give this up, Peter. I won’t.”
We stood there in silence, the distance between us growing. Finally, she picked up her bag and walked past me. “I’m going to bed,” she said quietly. “We’ll talk about this later.”
An up-close image of a sad woman | Source: Pexels
I wasn’t insecure. I also worked out and stayed in shape for my job. But Jane’s obsession with the gym was different. She was over-exercising and neglecting chores, leaving them all to me. People around us noticed.
They commented on her constant gym visits and how she’d changed. Some even hinted at an affair. It made me afraid to face our close circle of friends and family. I felt embarrassed and ashamed. The rumors were like a dark cloud hanging over me.
A pensive man looking out the window | Source: Pexels
Every time I saw someone whispering or casting a sympathetic glance my way, it cut deep. I started to avoid social gatherings, fearing the inevitable questions and silent judgments.
Emotionally, I was a wreck. My mind was constantly racing, filled with thoughts of Jane’s strange behavior and the possibility of her being unfaithful.
A man standing by the window | Source: Pexels
I felt betrayed, but more than that, I felt helpless. I couldn’t shake off the anxiety that gnawed at me every day. My confidence was shattered, and I started doubting myself. Was I not good enough? Had I failed as a husband? These thoughts consumed me, making it hard to focus on anything else.
I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I needed answers. Recently, I followed her to the gym. I waited 20 minutes before going in as a visitor. After changing clothes, I walked into the main hall.
A fitness club lined with gym equipment | Source: Pexels
I was amazed. There was Jane, teaching aerobics to about 20 men. “She must be working here as a trainer,” I thought. I went to the registration to check. They confirmed it – Jane was conducting personal lessons there.
Relief washed over me. This explained her absence. I decided to wait for her near the hall. When the training ended, the men left. But then I went in and saw Jane kissing a man. Anger surged through me.
A couple kissing while lifting barbells | Source: Pexels
“What are you doing?” I shouted. “Are you cheating on me?”
Jane’s eyes widened in shock. “Peter, what are you doing here?” she stammered, pulling away from the man.
“I followed you, Jane. I had to know what was going on,” I said, my voice trembling with rage. “And now I see it. Who is he?”
The man stepped forward, his expression smug. “I’m James,” he said. “Jane and I… we love each other.”
“Love?” I echoed, my heart breaking. “Jane, you’re pregnant with our child. How could you do this?”
Jane’s face crumpled, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Peter. I didn’t mean for this to happen. But James and I… we just connected.”
A close-up of a woman crying | Source: Pexels
“Connected?” I repeated, feeling a surge of bitterness. “While I’m at home, taking care of everything, you’re here with him?”
James put an arm around Jane, and I wanted to punch him. “We’ll make it work, Peter. I’ll take care of her, and the baby too,” he said confidently.
I looked at Jane, searching her eyes for any sign of the woman I married. “Is this really what you want?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
Jane nodded, her eyes full of pain. “Yes, Peter. I’m sorry. I can’t live a lie anymore.”
I turned away, feeling the weight of betrayal crush me. “Then we’re done,” I said, my voice hollow. “I’ll file for divorce. And I’ll demand a paternity test.”
I walked out of the gym, my world shattered, leaving Jane in tears.
A close-up of a sad woman holding a tissue | Source: Pexels
I filed for divorce and demanded a paternity test. Jane took her belongings and left with her lover.
It broke me. Our 15-year marriage ended so abruptly. Jane explained, “I finally found true love at 40.”
She was willing to share custody of our kids. The paternity test confirmed I was the father of her child.
A man and a woman reading a document | Source: Pexels
Months later, I heard from relatives that James had been treating Jane poorly. He also started being distant toward Jane, just like she was to me. He snapped at her every chance he got and made her feel worthless.
Jane, who once thrived on attention and affection, was now craving the love and support she had taken for granted. James, once attentive and caring, became cold and dismissive.
A man sitting on a couch | Source: Pexels
He would leave the house for long hours, sometimes not even bothering to tell Jane where he was going. The vibrant woman I once knew was now a shadow of herself, living in constant anxiety and regret.
Arguments became frequent. Jane would plead, “James, please talk to me. We can work through this.”
But James would snap back, “I don’t have time for this, Jane. You’re always nagging. Just leave me alone.”
A distant couple sitting on a sofa | Source: Pexels
Each harsh word and cold shoulder chipped away at her. She realized too late the mistake she had made. The man she left me for was not the loving partner she thought he would be. He made her feel insignificant and alone.
Jane found herself reflecting on our life together, understanding now the stability and care she had traded away. When we spent time with the kids, she barely looked me in the eye.
People sitting on a couch with their devices | Source: Pexels
She was embarrassed about how her life had turned out. Her once confident demeanor was now replaced by a sense of shame and regret. She tried to put on a brave face for the kids, but I could see the pain behind her eyes.
She was haunted by the choices she made, knowing she had thrown away a stable and loving family for a relationship that quickly soured.
Surprisingly, it amused me. She deserved it for her betrayal. I moved on, focusing on our kids and rebuilding my life without her.
A man and his children looking at a tablet | Source: Pexels
Old Lonely Lady Receives Deliveries from Unknown Person Every Day, the Last Was a New Home – Story of the Day
A poor old lonely woman named Emma started receiving deliveries every day from an unknown source. She and her late husband never had children together, so she could not tell where these deliveries came from.
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When Emma Richards’ husband died seven years ago, she was devastated. She now had to live out the rest of her life alone, taking care of herself as she had no one else to do it for her.
She and her husband John didn’t have any children that could look after her. Every time Emma was asked why, she always just shrugged and avoided answering.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
One day, while Emma was sitting in her bedroom watching TV, somebody rang the doorbell. She wasn’t expecting any visitors, so she decided to go check who it was.
As she opened the front door, a delivery man in his 40s stood there with several boxes. He was wearing a mask, so she could not see his face clearly.
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“Hello. I am not expecting a package from anybody. May I know who this is from?” Emma asked him.
“I’m sorry ma’am, but these packages were sent anonymously. Rest assured, our security checked them and they are absolutely safe. These are for you,” he said, placing the boxes on Emma’s table by the door.
“That’s strange… thank you, sweet boy,” Emma replied before shutting the door.
When the delivery man left, Emma opened the boxes quickly as she was curious about what was inside. In the first box, there were small household appliances like a new oven toaster, sandwich press, and coffee maker.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Who would give me all of these?” she said to herself. She proceeded to open the second box, and there were beautiful clothes inside, as well as groceries.
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Every day, Emma started to receive more packages. It’d always be the same delivery man handing them over, so she decided to get to know him.
“What is your name, sweet boy?” she asked.
“My name is Ted Harrison,” the delivery man smiled. “Mrs. Richards, the sender requested for us to give you this. I’ll wait until you finish answering it,” he added, handing her an envelope.
Curious, Emma opened it and read it quickly. It said: Mrs. Richards, please let me know what you need for yourself, and I will grant them.
“Oh, I am dying to know who has been giving me all of these! Now that person even wants me to make requests!” she exclaimed.
“I’m sure the sender loves you very dearly, even though you don’t know who it is,” the delivery man smiled.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
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Emma obliged and wrote what she needed. She didn’t want the person to spend a lot for her, so she only wrote down necessities.
Since that short and sweet encounter, Emma began to prepare quick snacks for Ted the delivery man. For an entire month, he went to her house, handing her parcels that had clothes, food, books, and other novelty items.
At one point, Emma started to get used to Ted’s company. He would spend time with her by eating snacks together and volunteering to do some housework that she couldn’t do herself.
However, one day, Ted didn’t come. Suddenly concerned, Emma decided to head over to the local post office to find him.
“Hello, can you please page Ted Harrison? I just have some donuts I wanted to give him,” she asked the young woman at the reception table. The young woman looked confused.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. There’s nobody named Ted Harrison who works here,” she replied.
“Oh… but he has been delivering my packages every day. That’s strange,” Emma said, suddenly disappointed. She did not know where to find Ted, and it upset her.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
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She walked back home with so many thoughts suddenly going through her head. Who could this kind Samaritan be? Did I go to the wrong post office? Was Ted just pretending to be a delivery man?
As she got to her front porch, she was surprised to see a tiny box in front of the door. There, she saw a key and a note that read:
I learned the truth just a month ago when I decided to hire a private investigator to find out where I came from. I know you blame yourself and regret what you did. However, I want you to know that I don’t blame you and that I know you only had my best interest at heart.
You and your husband could not feed me, so you gave me up for adoption. I ended up in a wealthy family that treated me like their own, but something always felt lacking. I realized that was you, mom.
You’re lacking in my life, and I would love to spend more time with you. If you’d be willing, I recently bought a new house. I had a key duplicated for you in case you wanted to move in with me. Please, allow me to take care of you. With love, your delivery man, Ted.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
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Emma was shaking by the time she finished reading the message. She had always longed to see her son before she died, and she couldn’t believe that it was him who found her. And that son turned out to be Ted! She couldn’t help but cry, all the guilt from her past catching up with her once again.
It was true what Ted found out about their past. Emma and John were on the verge of bankruptcy when they found out she was pregnant. They knew they wouldn’t be able to raise Ted in a good environment, so they put him up for adoption.
They left their son at an orphanage when he was only months old. With his belongings, Emma left a letter that explained why they could not raise him. The letter was anonymous, but after convincing the orphanage directors to disclose the contents of his adoption papers, Ted found Emma’s name.
Emma wanted to see Ted immediately. She prepared to leave her house to meet him, but someone knocked on the door. When she opened it, she saw Ted.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
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“Hi, mom,” Ted said softly.
Emma started to cry. “I can’t believe it. My son,” she started sobbing. She pulled him in for a hug and refused to let go. “I am so sorry, sweetheart. I truly am. I wish you can forgive me,” Emma continued to cry.
“You don’t need to apologize, mom. I’m here because I want to spend more time with you. It’s not too late to start over. We can still be a family,” Ted said before breaking their long hug.
That night, Ted and Emma spent time together by packing her belongings in boxes. A truck was waiting outside, where they loaded her things so they could transfer them to Ted’s house.
There, Emma was surprised to see Ted’s wife and children. They were just as excited as Ted to welcome her into their home, and since then, Emma never had to be alone again.
What can we learn from this story?
- The past doesn’t have to define the future. Emma thought she’d never get to spend time with her son ever again until her son decided to search for the truths of his life that led him to find his biological mom. They ended up moving in together and starting anew.
- Forgiveness can be a beautiful thing. Instead of holding a grudge against his biological parents, Ted chose to forgive them. He even decided to introduce himself to his mom so as to build a relationship with her.
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