While My Friend Was on a Trip, I Discovered Her Husband Was Cheating and Plotting to Steal Her House, but She Turned on Me Instead — Story of the Day

When my best friend left town for a work trip, she asked me to watch her house. I agreed, not knowing I’d uncover her husband’s betrayal—and his secret plan to take everything from her. But when I told her the truth, she didn’t thank me. She accused me instead.

They said friends were the family you chose. I used to believe that with all my heart. Jessica had been my best friend since college, and even after all these years, we remained close.

woman portrait

woman portrait

We’d laughed, cried, and shared almost everything. But my intuition had never screamed louder than the day I met Mark, Jessica’s husband. Something about him felt wrong.

Cold eyes with a warm smile. Like someone pretending to be kind but hiding something darker underneath. I didn’t like him then. And I liked him even less now.

One day, Jessica and I were sitting on her porch, like we had so many times before.

friendship

friendship

The air was soft with late spring heat, warm but not heavy, and her cat, Taco, sprawled on the sunlit tiles like royalty, one paw twitching in a dream.

Jessica stirred honey into her tea, slow and quiet. Then she looked up at me with that guilty little smile I knew all too well—the kind she wore when she wanted something but didn’t want to ask.

“I need a favor,” Jessica said. Her voice was soft, like she already knew I wouldn’t like what was coming.

woman portrait

woman portrait

I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms. “What kind of favor?”

She avoided my eyes. “I’m flying to New York next week. Big marketing pitch. I’ll be gone five days.”

I waited. She still hadn’t asked anything real.

“Could you check in on the house?” she added. “Feed Taco, water the plants, maybe bring in the mail. Just keep it from looking empty.”

friendship

friendship

I raised an eyebrow. “And your husband? What’s he doing while you’re gone?”

She looked down at her tea. “He said it’s not really his thing.”

I blinked. “What’s not his thing?”

“Taking care of the house. Feeding the cat. He said it’s not a man’s job.”

friendship

friendship

I scoffed and shook my head. “So, he can close real estate deals and wear cufflinks before noon, but a can of cat food is too much?”

Her jaw tightened. “Mark’s just not domestic. That’s just how he is.”

I leaned forward. “Jess, I love you. You know that. But you’re doing it again.”

She frowned. “Doing what?”

face

face

“You’re making excuses for him. Again. He doesn’t do much, but you keep defending him. Why?”

Her voice got louder. “You’ve never liked him. From day one. You always look for reasons to hate him.”

“I had reasons, Jess. I still do. My gut said no the moment I met him.”

She pointed a finger at me. “You’re alone, Lee. And that’s not his fault.”

woman portrait

woman portrait

I flinched. That one hit hard, but I kept my voice steady. “You think I’m jealous? You think I want your life?”

She stood up and crossed her arms. “You never gave him a chance. You decided you didn’t like him before you even heard him speak.”

Before I could answer, the sliding door opened behind her. Mark walked out like he owned the world. Crisp polo. Perfect hair. Phone in hand, thumbs tapping.

man portrait

man portrait

“What are we talking about?” he said. “Me again?”

“Just your refusal to feed the cat,” I said.

He gave that smug smile I hated. “I delegate where it makes sense. It’s called efficiency.”

I turned to Jessica. “He hasn’t looked up from that phone. Who’s he texting so much?”

friendship

friendship

“It’s work,” she said. “He has a big client. Real estate.”

I stared at his screen. “Must be a very flirty deal.”

Jessica slammed her glass down. “Enough. If you’re going to keep insulting him, maybe you shouldn’t help.”

I sighed. “I said I’d do it, and I will. For you. Not for him.”

conversation

conversation

Mark looked up. “Try not to rearrange the furniture.”

I smiled. “Wouldn’t want to upset your kingdom.”

But I was already planning to keep my eyes open.

It was late afternoon when I pulled into Jessica’s driveway. The sky looked strange—dark clouds rolled in slow, and the air felt still, like it was waiting for something bad to happen.

woman from behind at night

woman from behind at night

I parked and walked up the steps. The back door key was warm in my hand. I unlocked it and stepped inside.

Taco was there right away, rubbing against my leg, purring loud like always. He had no idea what was going on.

I bent down and gave him a quick scratch behind the ears. “Hey, buddy,” I whispered. “Let’s get you some food.”

cat playing

cat playing

I filled his bowl and poured some water, then walked around the kitchen. I checked the plants in the window and the mail on the counter. Everything looked normal. Too normal. That’s when I heard it.

Laughter.

A man’s voice—Mark. And then a woman’s laugh followed.

couple kissing

couple kissing

I froze at the bottom of the stairs. My heart pounded. I moved slowly, quiet as I could. The bedroom door was open just a little. I stepped closer and peeked in.

Mark was on the bed. Half his shirt was unbuttoned. Next to him was a woman, wearing Jessica’s robe, sipping from her favorite glass like she owned the place.

“I told you it would work,” Mark said. He raised his glass and took a sip. “She signed it without reading. Didn’t even ask questions. Just trusted me like always.”

male portrait

male portrait

The woman laughed. “Are you sure this gives you the house?”

Mark leaned back against the pillows. “Yes. Once I get it notarized on Friday, it’s done. She thinks it’s just boring bank papers. Something about refinancing. I made it sound simple.”

The woman looked around the room. “What about all her stuff? Clothes? Books?”

female portrait

female portrait

He waved his hand. “We’ll throw out what we don’t want. Maybe sell a few things. I already packed some boxes. The rest is trash. The cat’s going too.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Wow. She’s going to be crushed.”

Mark smirked. “She won’t be. We’ll be long gone before she knows. I’ve been looking at condos in Miami. Pool, gym, all that. This place will be listed by the time she gets back.”

couple holding hands

couple holding hands

I felt sick. I couldn’t listen anymore. My foot hit the edge of the stair. A soft creak.

Mark’s head turned. “Did you hear that?” he asked, voice sharp.

I didn’t wait. I ran. Down the stairs. Out the back door. Into my car. My hands shook as I grabbed my phone. I hit Jessica’s name.

female driver

female driver

“Lee?” she answered. “What’s going on?”

“There’s a woman in your house. With Mark. I saw them. I heard everything. He tricked you into signing papers. He’s stealing your house.”

She didn’t answer right away.

Then she said, “You’re lying.”

woman with phone

woman with phone

“I’m not. Jess, please believe me—”

“You’ve always hated him. You’ve been waiting for a reason to tear us apart. You’re jealous. And now you’re making up stories.”

“No, I’m trying to help you. I’m trying to protect you.”

Her voice turned cold. “Don’t call me again.”

woman portrait

woman portrait

Click. The line went dead.

Later that evening, my doorbell rang. I opened it. Mark stood there. Calm. Hands in his pockets.

“She told me everything,” he said. “About your little story.”

I didn’t blink. “I’m not afraid of you.”

woman portrait

woman portrait

He stepped closer. “You should be. Keep pushing, and someone’s going to get hurt.”

I knew Jessica wouldn’t believe me unless she saw everything with her own eyes. Words wouldn’t be enough.

Not even tears would move her. Jessica was too in love with him. Too loyal. Too proud.

neon heart

neon heart

She wouldn’t walk away without something solid. Proof she could touch. Proof she couldn’t explain away.

That’s why I did something I hated—something that felt cold and cruel, but also right.

I downloaded a fake call app. I set it up to look like the hospital was calling her.

phone on the table

phone on the table

The message said I had been in a car accident. It said I was in the emergency room and not waking up.

I knew it was wrong to scare her like that, but it was the only thing that would pull her back fast.

And it worked.

woman portrait

woman portrait

Six hours later, there was a knock at my door. Jessica stood there, breathing hard. Her hair was messy. Her eyes were wide. She looked like she had run the whole way.

“Are you okay?” Jessica asked as she rushed inside. Her face was pale, and her breath came fast. She looked like she had been crying.

“I’m fine,” I said. “There was no accident. I’m not hurt. I made it up.”

woman portrait

woman portrait

“You lied to me?” she shouted. Her voice shook. “What the hell, Lee? Why would you do that?”

“Because you wouldn’t listen,” I said. “You wouldn’t hear me. I had to bring you back. I needed you to see it for yourself.”

She stared at me, her eyes wide and full of pain. For a moment, I thought she might hit me. But then she took a deep breath and said, “Okay. Show me.”

woman portrait

woman portrait

We drove to her house. Neither of us spoke. The silence felt heavy.

When we reached her block, I parked a few houses down. We got out and walked slowly. At her window, we stopped and looked inside.

Mark was on the couch with the same woman. They were kissing like they didn’t have a care in the world.

couple kissing

couple kissing

Jessica didn’t speak. She took out her phone. Her hands shook, but she snapped photo after photo. Her jaw tightened.

“I want to go inside,” she said.

We walked to the door. It was unlocked.

Inside, everything was different. The scent of her favorite candle was gone.

woman

woman

The hallway was cold and quiet. Black trash bags lined the wall. Boxes were stacked on top of each other.

Sharp words written across them: “JUNK,” “DONATE,” “TRASH.” Her life was being packed away like it meant nothing.

Jessica’s voice cut through the air like a knife. “Mark!”

indoor garbage bag

indoor garbage bag

He turned around fast, eyes wide. “Jessica? What the hell are you doing here?”

She stepped forward. Her voice was loud. Her hands were tight fists at her sides. “What am I doing here? Are you serious? You liar! You cheat! You’re throwing away my life like it’s trash!”

The woman on the couch jumped up. She grabbed her purse and started moving toward the door. “I’ll just—”

woman

woman

“Sit down!” Jessica snapped. “I’m not finished.”

Mark raised both hands. “Jess, wait. This isn’t what it looks like.”

She laughed, but it sounded sharp and cold. “Not what it looks like? You’re kissing another woman in my house! She’s wearing my robe. Drinking from my glass. You’re tossing my things in garbage bags. And you’re telling her my house is yours now?”

woman portrait

woman portrait

Mark looked nervous. “You signed the papers. You didn’t even read them.”

“You tricked me,” Jessica said. Her voice was shaking now. “You told me it was for refinancing. You stood in front of me and lied.”

He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. They’re signed. It’s legal. It’s done. You just ruined everything.”

man portrait

man portrait

Then he turned to me and pointed. “This is her fault. Lee. She’s been against me from the start. She poisoned your mind.”

Jessica took one step toward him. “No, Mark. You did this all by yourself. Lee told the truth. You think you can break me? You think you can take everything I own and leave me with nothing?”

She shook her head. “You’ll be left with nothing. Just your ego. And that won’t help you now.”

woman

woman

Mark’s face twisted. “You’ll regret this.”

“No,” Jessica said. Her voice was calm now. “You will.”

She pointed at the door. “Get out. Both of you. I don’t want to see either of you in this house again.”

The woman ran out first. She didn’t look back. Mark stood there a second longer.

door

door

His jaw was tight. His fists clenched. Then he turned and walked out. He slammed the door behind him.

Jessica didn’t move. She didn’t cry. She didn’t scream. She just stood there. Still and quiet.

I looked at her. “You’re awfully calm.”

female friendship

female friendship

She turned to me. “Because I already knew. I’ve felt it for a while. I knew he was cheating. I saw the strange paperwork. I just didn’t want to believe it. I needed proof.”

“You could’ve told me,” I said.

“I didn’t want it to feel fake,” she said. “I needed him to think I still trusted him. And I needed you to act normal. You did.”

I nodded. “So… you used me?”

female friendship

female friendship

She shook her head. “No. I trusted you. Even when I acted like I didn’t. You stood by me.”

“I always will,” I said.

She gave me a small smile. Then she looked at the bags and boxes. “Let’s clean this up. I’ve got a life to rebuild.”

female friendship

female friendship

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Poor Guy Escapes on His Wedding Day, 50 Years Later Bride Discovers It Was Her Father’s Plan – Story of the Day

Karl was forced to run away from his wedding, but Jessica never understood why he stood her up at the altar. Years later, she received a note in the mail with his name on it. No matter how much time had passed, Jessica never forgot him, and what he wrote was astonishing.

“You will leave this church immediately and never return. Do you understand me, boy?” Hubert Pennigton, Jessica’s father, threatened Karl with a stern look. They were standing in the men’s dressing room behind the church.

“I’m not a boy, sir. I’m a man, and I love your daughter. I will not abandon her. It’s our wedding day,” Karl insisted, pleading his future father-in-law to understand.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

“I never liked you two dating, and I’m not going to let this continue. My daughter will not be marrying a loser who works paycheck to paycheck,” the older man sneered. “Do you hear me? I have friends in high places, as well as connections in some others. I can make your life a nightmare. If you don’t disappear willingly, I’ll make you leave by any means necessary.”

“Is that a threat?” Karl asked, squaring up to Hubert, trying not to show how afraid he was. He knew Jessica’s family was connected to some important people and a few dangerous folks, too, so Karl knew the older man’s words were not in vain.

“I don’t make threats, boy, I make promises. Now, you will leave this place right now without anyone noticing and ghost Jessica forever, OR ELSE!” Hubert finished, raising his voice, in the end, to get his point across thoroughly. He poked his index finger in Karl’s chest painfully, gave him a disdainful look, and exited.

Karl didn’t know what to do. He truly loved Jessica, but her father would hurt them both just to get his way. He paced around the room for a few more minutes then decided to leave before his groomsmen came to find him. He was quick, exiting through the back of the Masonic Temple in Detroit, Michigan and hailing a cab right there.

“Where to, sir?” the taxi driver asked.

“DTW, please,” Karl replied. He was going to the airport and flying across the country to get away from these people. I hope Jessica can forgive me, Karl thought while resting his elbow on the window sill and facing out.

All they had left was a single Polaroid photo, a painful reminder of a wedding that was never meant to be.

Fifty years later…

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

At 75, Jessica liked to sit outside on her porch and watch the kids running around Rosedale Park Historic District, one of the best neighborhoods in Detroit. She always took a cup of tea and a book to read. It was a peaceful time, but Jessica inevitably thought about her life during those times. Today was that kind of day.

She remembered her first wedding well, as it was the only time she was ever excited to have one. Karl was the love of her life, or so she thought. But when she reached the end of the aisle on her father’s arm, she saw everyone’s worried faces. Karl had disappeared, and no one knew why. They waited hours for him to return.

His groomsmen went to his house, and everything was intact. But Karl never returned, and Jessica cried on the steps of the Masonic Temple for several more hours. It was one of the best wedding venues in the city, and she always dreamed of getting married there. However, it was not to be. Her mother comforted her as best she could, but her father was actually happy.

Five years later, her father introduced her to Michael Keller, the son of a family friend. He was wealthy and connected, so her dad pushed until she accepted his proposal. They got married and had a daughter, Cynthia, almost immediately. However, Jessica filed for divorce the moment her father died.

Her husband had cheated throughout their entire relationship and was glad to separate from her, so it was a win-win situation for everyone involved. She took the then-six-year-old Cynthia, moved to her house in the Rosedale Park area, and forgot about her failed love life.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

Years went by, and Cynthia grew up to become an amazing career woman. She got married right there at the Masonic Temple and gave Jessica three gorgeous grandchildren, who visited often.

I had a great life, Jessica thought to herself while sipping her tea. It was true, although she never tried dating again. But once in a while, she thought about Karl and still wondered why he had disappeared.

Suddenly, the mailman snapped her out of her inner musings with a bright smile and a loud, “Hello, Mrs. Pennington!”

“Oh, dear. You scared me,” Jessica answered after almost dropping her tea.

The mailman laughed and apologized humorously. “I’m sorry, ma’am. But I have a letter for you. I think someone wrote it by hand even. So fancy! People don’t do that anymore,” the mailman said, handing Jessica the letter. She thanked him with a smile, and he left, waving goodbye.

The last thing she expected to see was the name “Karl Pittman” on the envelope, but it was right there along with her name and address.

“I can’t believe this,” she breathed and settled her cup of tea on the porch railing with a shaking hand. Suddenly, she was back at that church, crying on her mother’s shoulders.

Her hands still shook as she tried to open the envelope. She took a big breath before starting to read what was Karl’s unmistakable handwriting.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

“Dear Jessica,

I don’t know if you’ll be glad to hear from me. But after all this time, I want you to know that not a day goes by where I don’t think about you. Your father threatened me on our wedding day, and I was young and afraid. I shouldn’t have listened, but I did, and I ran off. I moved to California with nothing but the clothes on my back.”

Jessica had to stop reading for a few moments and wipe a few tears off. She knew her father had something to do with it. She knew Karl loved her and wouldn’t have done it otherwise. It didn’t change anything, but it soothed that old ache that never went away. Karl was right to leave. Her father never made threats he wasn’t serious about and didn’t take “no” for an answer. She focused on the letter again and continued reading.

“I never married nor had children. You were the love of my life, and I wanted nothing else. I hope this letter finds you well. I’m leaving my phone number, and there’s my address, so you can write me back if you want. I don’t know how to use Facebook, and all that stuff kids have these days. But I hope to hear from you.

Sincerely, Karl.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

Jessica’s tears kept falling for several minutes after finishing the letter, but then she laughed. She also had no idea how to use all that technology available these days. Therefore, she got up and went inside to find her stationery. It was time to write back.

For the next few months, they wrote to each other often, recounting even the smallest moments in each other’s lives. Until Karl finally called her and they stayed on the phone for hours. A year later, he moved back to Detroit, and they rekindled their lost relationship.

They were old and might not have much time together, but they were going to enjoy one another’s love for as long as they could.

What can we learn from this story?

  • It’s never too late to find love again. Jessica gave up on relationships for many years until she found the love of her life again at 75.
  • Tell your partner the truth. If Karl had told Jessica about her father’s threats, they could’ve run away together or dealt with it in some form. But he took off, and they would never know what could’ve been.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a man who stole his grandmother’s money, but she got her revenge.

This account is inspired by our reader’s story 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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