My ex-husband once told me, “It’s just harmless fun.” That’s what he called his infidelity. But when he ripped the wallpaper off my walls after our divorce, karma decided it was her turn to have some fun — with him.
Do you believe in karma? Like, honestly, I used to think it was just something people said to make themselves feel better after someone hurt them. They’d say things like: “Don’t worry, karma will get them.”
Yeah, right. But let me tell you, karma is real. And in my case? She had a WICKED sense of humor.
A heartbroken woman | Source: Midjourney
Let me set the stage for you. My ex-husband, Dan, and I were married for eight years. Eight long years where I thought we had something solid — a house we worked on together, two beautiful kids, and a life that, while not perfect, felt like ours.
But as it turns out, I was the only one in that marriage who believed in “ours.” And I should’ve seen the red flags.
Because the night I discovered Dan’s infidelity is seared into my memory.
A couple holding hands | Source: Unsplash
Our daughter Emma had been sick with a fever, and I was rummaging through Dan’s drawer for the children’s medicine he always kept there. Instead, I found his phone.
I wasn’t trying to snoop, but a notification that flashed across the screen grabbed my attention: a heart emoji followed by ‘I love you!’
I couldn’t stop myself from opening it and my heart cracked when I found dozens of intimate text exchanges between my husband and a woman named “Jessica.”
A shocked woman holding a phone | Source: Midjourney
“How could you?” I whispered that night, my hands shaking as I confronted him. “Eight years, Dan. Eight years! How could you cheat on me?”
He didn’t even have the decency to look ashamed. “It just happened,’ he said with a shrug, as if we were discussing the weather. “These things happen in marriages. It was just some harmless fun with my secretary, Jessica. It won’t happen again, honey. Never! I’m sorry. Trust me.”
“These things happen? No, Dan. They don’t JUST HAPPEN. You made choices. Every single time.”
An annoyed man shrugging | Source: Midjourney
The first time, I did what so many of us do — I convinced myself it was a mistake and a lapse in judgment. I thought we could fix it. I told myself that forgiveness was the strong thing to do. But the second time? Oh, the second time SHATTERED whatever illusions I had left.
“I thought we could work through this,” I said as I held up the evidence of his second betrayal — red lipstick stain on his collar. The irony? I hated red lipstick and never wore them.
“I thought you meant it when you said ‘never’ again.”
“What do you want me to say?” he asked, his tone almost bored. “That I’m sorry? Would that make you feel better?”
That was the moment something inside me snapped. “No! I want you to pack your bags.”
An angry woman engaged in a heated argument | Source: Midjourney
I didn’t waste a second. I filed for divorce before Dan could even stammer out another pathetic excuse.
The divorce itself was as brutal as you’d imagine.
But here’s the thing: the house wasn’t up for grabs. It was mine, passed down from my grandmother long before Dan entered the picture.
A picturesque house with a breathtaking garden | Source: Midjourney
“This is ridiculous!” Dan had shouted during one of our mediation sessions. “I’ve lived in that house for eight years. I’ve put money into it!”
“And it’s still my grandmother’s house,” I replied calmly, watching him fume. “The deed is in my name, Dan. It always has been.”
Legally, there was no argument. Dan, on the other hand, insisted on splitting everything else 50/50, just as we always had in our marriage. Groceries, vacations, furniture — you name it, he demanded fairness to the penny.
A woman arguing with someone | Source: Midjourney
And then came the moment that broke my heart more than any of his infidelities. We were discussing custody arrangements when Dan looked at our lawyer and without a hint of emotion, said, “She can have full custody. I don’t want the responsibility of raising the kids.”
Our children, Emma and Jack, were in the next room. My precious babies, who deserved so much better than a father who saw them as a burden.
“They’re your children,” I hissed across the table. “How can you just —”
“They’re better off with you anyway,” he cut me off. “You’ve always been the one good at all that nurturing stuff.”
A man staring grimly | Source: Midjourney
After the paperwork was signed, Dan asked for a week to pack his things and leave. He claimed he needed the time to “sort everything out.” To give him the space and to spare the kids from any awkward encounters, I took them to my mom’s for the week.
The night before we left, Emma clutched her favorite stuffed rabbit and asked, “Mommy, why can’t Daddy come with us to Grandma’s?”
I held her close, fighting back tears. How do you explain to a six-year-old what a divorce means, or why her family was breaking apart?
“Sometimes, sweetheart, grown-ups need some time apart to figure things out,” I said.
A sad little girl holding a stuffed rabbit | Source: Midjourney
“But will he miss us?” Jack, my eight-year-old, asked from the doorway.
“Of course he will,” I lied, my heart breaking all over again. “Of course he will.”
I figured it was the least I could do.
When the week was up, I returned home with the kids, ready to start our new chapter. But what I walked into was nothing short of a nightmare.
The wallpaper — the gorgeous floral wallpaper — was GONE.
A startled woman | Source: Midjourney
The living room walls, once covered in beautiful floral paper we’d picked out together, were stripped bare. Jagged patches of drywall peeked through, like the house had been skinned alive. My stomach sank as I followed the destruction trail to the kitchen.
And there he was — Dan— tearing off another strip of wallpaper like a man possessed.
“What the hell are you doing?” I yelled.
He turned around, completely unfazed. “I bought this wallpaper. It’s mine.”
“Dan,” I finally managed. “You’re ripping apart the house your kids live in.”
A man ripping a floral wallpaper | Source: Midjourney
“Mom?” Jack’s voice trembled. “Why is Dad doing that to our walls?”
He burst into tears. “I loved the flowers! They were pretty! Why are you tearing the wallpaper, Daddy?”
I knelt down to their level, trying to shield them from the sight of their father methodically destroying our home. “Hey, hey, it’s okay. We can pick out new wallpaper together. Something even prettier. Would you like that?”
A little boy crying | Source: Pexels
“But why is he taking it?” Emma hiccupped between sobs.
I didn’t have an answer that wouldn’t hurt them even more. I shot Dan a look sharp enough to wither him.
He simply shrugged and said, “I paid for it. And I have all the right to destroy it!”
A man turning around while removing a wallpaper | Source: Midjourney
As Dan continued to rip the walllpaper, I noticed the kids peeking around the corner, their little faces confused and scared. My heart broke for them. I didn’t want this to be the memory they carried of their father in this house.
So I took a deep breath and said, “Fine. Do what you want.” Then I ushered the kids back to the car and left.
When I returned later that evening, it was even worse than I’d expected.
A woman driving a car | Source: Unsplash
Dan had gone full petty. The kitchen was stripped of utensils, the toaster, and even the coffee maker. He’d even taken all the toilet paper from the bathrooms… and practically everything he’d bought with his OWN MONEY.
“You’re UNBELIEVABLE!” I muttered.
It was maddening. But I refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d gotten under my skin.
A man holding a toilet paper roll | Source: Unsplash
A month later, I joined a book club. At first, it was just a way to get out of the house and feel like myself again. But the women there quickly became my support system.
One night, after a couple of glasses of wine, I spilled the wallpaper story. I described every absurd detail, from the stripped walls to the missing toilet paper.
“Wait, he took the toilet paper too?” Cassie, one of the women, choked out between laughs.
“Yes!” I said, laughing despite myself. “I can’t believe I married someone so ridiculous that I don’t even feel like uttering his name.”
A woman laughing | Source: Midjourney
“Girl,” Cassie said, wiping tears from her eyes, “you dodged a bullet. Who does that? A grown man ripping wallpaper off walls? He sounds like an overgrown toddler. Gosh, please don’t reveal his name or we’d start despising every man with that name!”
The whole table erupted into laughter. It was cathartic. It was the first time I’d really laughed about the whole mess.
“You know what the worst part was?” I confided to the group, my wine glass nearly empty. “Trying to explain it to the kids. How do you tell your children their father cares more about wallpaper than their happiness?”
A distressed woman | Source: Midjourney
Betty, another book club member, reached across and squeezed my hand. “Children are resilient. They’ll remember who stayed and who put them first. That’s what matters.”
“I hope so,” I whispered, thinking of Emma’s tears and Jack’s confusion. “God, I hope so.”
Little did I know, karma was just getting started.
Six months passed. Life settled into a new normal. The kids were thriving, and I’d put the chaos of the divorce behind me. Dan barely crossed my mind — until the day he called me out of nowhere.
A man making a phonecall | Source: Midjourney
“Hey,” he said, his tone smug. “I thought you should know — I’m getting married next month. Some women actually want to be with me. And I found a gorgeous bombshell!”
“Congratulations,” I said, keeping my voice even. Then I hung up.
I thought that would be the end of it. But a few weeks later, I was walking downtown, enjoying a rare solo outing, when I spotted Dan across the street. He was holding hands with a woman.
A couple holding hands | Source: Unsplash
At first, I didn’t think much of it. I figured it was his fiancée and kept walking. But then, they crossed the street and walked straight toward me.
As they got closer, my stomach DROPPED. The woman was CASSIE— my friend from the book club.
Her face lit up when she saw me. “Oh my gosh, hey!” she said, tugging Dan toward me. “This is such a small world! I have so much to tell you! I’m engaged! This is my fiancé, his name is…”
I forced a tight smile. “Yeah, DAN! I know.”
A shocked woman standing on the road | Source: Midjourney
Cassie blinked, her smile faltering. “Wait… you know each other?”
Dan looked like he wanted to disappear. His grip on her hand tightened, and his jaw clenched.
“Oh, we go way back,” I said casually.
Cassie’s eyes darted between us, confusion turning to suspicion. “What do you mean, ‘go way back’? How do you know each other? Dan, do you… know her?”
A stunned woman | Source: Midjourney
Dan let out a nervous laugh. “Cassie, it’s not important —”
“Oh, yeah! Not that important. He’s just my ex-husband,” I said bluntly, cutting him off.
Cassie’s face froze, and then realization dawned. “Wait a second,” she said slowly. “That story you told at the book club… the one about the wallpaper? About that freaking guy? Is that… him?”
Her words hung in the air. And Dan’s panicked expression said it all.
A nervous man standing on the street | Source: Midjourney
Cassie turned to him, her eyes narrowing. “Oh my God… that was YOU?”
“Cassie, it’s not what you think —” Dan pleaded.
“It’s exactly what I think,” she snapped. “You ripped wallpaper off the walls of your kids’ home because you bought it? Who does that?”
A furious woman yelling at a man | Source: Midjourney
“It was a long time ago,” Dan stammered. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal?” Cassie hissed, pulling her hand away. “And what about the lies? The evil ex-wife who took your kids to another country? That she cheated on you? You’re unbelievable, Dan. You liar!”
She turned to me, her expression softening. “I’m so sorry, Nora. I had no idea.”
A heartbroken woman with her eyes downcast | Source: Midjourney
Before I could respond, Cassie whirled back to Dan. “You’re a walking red flag. I can’t believe I almost married you.”
And just like that, she stormed off, leaving Dan standing there, dumbstruck, and staring at the engagement ring she’d just flung at him.
He glanced at me, his face a thundercloud of anger and desperation. I just smiled faintly and walked away. This DAMAGE was more than enough!
A woman walking away | Source: Midjourney
That evening, as I tucked the kids into bed, Jack asked me something that made my heart swell.
“Mom, remember when Dad took all the wallpaper?”
I tensed, waiting for the pain in his voice. Instead, he surprised me.
“I’m glad we got to pick out the new ones together,” he said, smiling. “The dinosaurs in my room are way cooler than those old flowers. Daddy can keep that wallpaper to himself!”
Emma nodded enthusiastically from her bed. “And my butterflies! They’re the prettiest ever!”
A stunning kids’ room with gorgeous wallpaper and stuffed toys | Source: Midjourney
I looked around at our colorful walls, now covered in papers we’d chosen together, as a family of three. Walls that told our new story, not the one Dan had tried to strip away.
“You know what?” I said, pulling them both close. “I think so too.”
That day, I learned an important lesson: sometimes, you don’t need to chase revenge. Just give karma a little time, and it’ll serve justice with a side of poetic irony.
A woman smiling | 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.
53-Year-Old Woman Gives Birth to Twins, Son-In-Law Notices Familiar Birthmarks on Them — Story of the Day
A woman conceives at the age of 53 and gives birth to twins prematurely. But things take a bizarre turn when her son-in-law arrives at the hospital and notices the same birthmark on the babies’ shoulders as his.
When 53-year-old Barbara took the pregnancy test, and it showed two lines, she couldn’t believe her eyes! Yes, she was expecting a child! The sudden weight gain and mood swings were not coincidental, but it was too late by the time Barabara realized it.
“Do you hear the heartbeats, Barbara?” Dr. Carter asked her when she visited the hospital.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Barbara was taken aback. “Heartbeats?”
“Yes, Barbara. Don’t you know you’re pregnant with twins?”
Barbara froze in shock when Dr. Carter said that.
Being a mother is one of the most beautiful experiences a woman can have, but it came as a shock to Barbara because, at her age, she was already a mother, and not to mention, a grandmother to two beautiful girls.
“Can we please terminate the pregnancy, doctor?” Barbara asked, worried. “I don’t want to go forward with it.”
The doctor gave her a disappointed look. “I’m sorry, Barbara, but I’m afraid it’s too late. I see some inconsistencies in your report, and I believe we’ll have to admit you to the hospital for a while. I have a feeling you’re going to have a premature delivery.”
“Please, doctor,” Barbara begged, her eyes welling up. “Is there nothing else I can do to avoid this pregnancy? I don’t think I’m prepared for this.”
“I’m sorry, Barbara, but I’m afraid I can’t assist you. As I previously stated, your reports are not normal. And if we perform the abortion, you will be putting your life in danger.”
Barbara was devastated. She was scared of what would happen when her daughter learned that she was pregnant, but more than that, she feared how she’d raise the kids alone. Nevertheless, she knew she wouldn’t be able to hide the pregnancy for long. So she called Melanie that day and told her everything.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Oh, mom, come on!” Melanie burst out laughing on the call. “You shouldn’t be cracking such jokes at that age!”
“I’m serious, honey!” Barbara expressed her disappointment. “Could you please check your phone?”
Melanie was aware that her mother was seeing a man named Jackson, who was once a classmate of hers. They’d gone to the same high school and university and met on Facebook. He’d even asked Barbara out, and they’d gone on a few dates.
However, Melanie didn’t believe her mother was serious until she looked up her message and read the ultrasound reports. It proved that she was indeed pregnant and that she wasn’t lying.
Melanie was taken aback. “Oh my goodness, Mom! This is unbelievable! But, what have you thought about it?”
“I really didn’t want to continue with it, honey,” Barbara moaned. “But I don’t have a choice. The doctors said abortion is too risky, so I have to go ahead with it.”
“Don’t be concerned, mom,” Melanie reassured her. “If God has placed you in this position, he will also guide you. I’m always there for you.”
Barbara was left in tears when her daughter said that. “But honey, don’t you want to know….”
Before Barbara could finish, Melanie cut her off. “I don’t need to know anything else, mom. Just don’t stress yourself over anything. Okay?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“But what about Josh and the others? They’ll judge me for being pregnant at this age, and then those poor kids will have to face society. I’m really worried, honey.”
“Why do you care what others think, mom? You’re aware of how people are. They’ll talk about you today, but they won’t remember you tomorrow. As far as Josh is concerned, he’s very understanding. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to him.”
“Alright, honey. Thank you,” Barbara said and then hung up. But she was still concerned about what would happen if the truth was revealed.
Melanie, like a responsible daughter, visited and cared for her mother from the moment she found out she was pregnant. Josh, Melanie’s husband, was equally supportive and accompanied her to the hospital on weekends to care for his mother-in-law. But all of this love and support vanished the day the twins were born.
When the nurse brought the babies, Melanie and Josh immediately noticed the birthmarks on the babies’ shoulders. Melanie was stunned, to say the least, and Josh couldn’t believe his eyes!
“The birthmark…How is that possible? I can’t believe you did this to me, Josh!” Melanie cried. “Did you cheat on me and with my mother?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“What? Are you crazy, Melanie? There’s nothing like that!” Josh explained.
“Don’t lie to me, Josh! Look at those birthmarks! I can’t believe this! And mom, even she didn’t tell me!”
Josh was at a loss for words at this point. He’d noticed the birthmarks as well, but he wasn’t the father of Barbara’s twins. “Listen, Melanie, please calm down. It isn’t what you think…”
“I don’t want to listen to you, Josh!” Melanie snapped. “I need to talk to mom right now!” The woman said as she rushed to Barbara’s ward.
Barbara, who had just woken after the delivery, was stunned to see her daughter’s face red, with tears running down her cheeks. “Honey, are you alright?” she asked, worried.
“Alright? Really, mom?” Melanie was furious. “I can’t believe Josh and you…. That’s disgusting, mom. When did you two start meeting behind my back? Don’t lie, I saw the birthmarks on the babies’ shoulders. Josh has the same birthmark!”
“Honey, please calm down,” Barbara said.
“How can I calm down, mom?” Melanie burst into tears once again. “I supported you throughout your pregnancy, mom! I was afraid Josh wouldn’t support me in this, but he did. And I was surprised when he did that. Was he acting this way because he was the father? Also, you said you wanted to tell me something about the pregnancy when you called me that day, but I cut you off. I AM DIVORCING THAT MAN! I DON’T WANT TO SEE HIS FACE!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Josh, who had just arrived after Melanie, tried to console her, but the young woman pushed him away and said she didn’t want to hear anything.
Barbara couldn’t hold back her tears when she saw her daughter in that state. She called Melanie over to her side and took her hand in hers. “Josh, you come here as well. There’s something you both need to know…” The older lady started and narrated the entire story.
It turned out that the father of Barbara’s twins was Josh’s father, Mr. Andrew Wilson. A few months ago, they all got together at Andrew’s ranch, where Barbara and Andrew got drunk and a little romantic.
Barbara was terrified of admitting the truth, but even more so of her daughter losing her family. As a result, she kept the truth to herself and never revealed it.
“Josh’s father has the same birthmark as well, honey,” Barbara added. “If you don’t believe me, ask Josh.”
Melanie looked at Josh, who nodded in agreement. “She’s correct, Mel. My father and grandfather share the same birthmark.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“I guess I should have told you guys everything earlier. I’m sorry,” Barbara broke down in tears.
Having heard the whole story from her mother, Melanie realized that she was wrong to jump to conclusions and apologized to Barbara and Josh. “I’m sorry for the whole chaos I created. I should have given you guys a chance to explain yourselves. But mom,” she said, turning to Barbara. “I think you should tell Mr. Wilson about it.”
“Yes, Barbara,” Josh added. “Dad has the right to know what happened. Moreover, the kids are his responsibility too. I think you should tell him.”
Barbara was not sure about it, but she called Andrew and told him everything. He was taken aback by the news, but he decided to take responsibility for the children. A few hours after the call, he paid a visit to Barbara in the hospital with a bouquet and proposed to her on his knees in the most romantic way.
The older lady blushed and nodded yes. A few months later, the two were married at a church in an intimate family ceremony, and they are now a big happy family.
What can we learn from this story?
- Don’t jump to conclusions. If Melanie had been a little patient and listened to Josh and her mom, she wouldn’t have created the chaos.
- Don’t run away from your responsibilities. Mr. Wilson didn’t run away from his responsibilities and agreed to take care of the twins.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a man who gets stuck in the airport on Christmas Eve and meets the lover he lost almost 60 years ago.
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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