A rich man and an older woman are linked by a strange twist of fate, which they discover after four years of living under the same roof.
The heavy pattering rain on the window and the thunderous boom playing in the sky distracted Dylan, who was busy on his laptop. In a rage, he marched to the living room window to close the curtains when he noticed something odd.
A woman stood drenched and shivering in the pouring rain, staring at his house. Even in the darkness of the evening, he could make out her frail figure, trembling from the cold outside.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash
“Lyra, honey!” he called out to his wife. “Did you call someone home?”
“No, I didn’t, Dylan,” she replied, joining him at the window. “Who’s there?”
“Do we know her?” he asked. “That woman out there… she’s just standing in the rain.”
Lyra looked out the window and shook her head. “I don’t know… she seems old. Let’s ask her if she needs any help.”
So Dylan and Lyra went downstairs and outside, carrying an extra umbrella and blanket for the older woman.
As soon as the older woman saw them, Dylan noticed a panic in her eyes.
A mother loves her child no matter what.
“Ma’am, are you alright?” asked Dylan, sheltering her under the spare umbrella. “Can we help you with something?”
“Oh well, I don’t know…” she said. “I—I don’t have a place to live here. I’m new in town and have no idea where to go…”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash
The woman didn’t have any luggage, which confused Dylan and Lyra. She could be faking it all, they thought. And they had two kids at home. They didn’t want to risk their safety by letting a stranger in, but something about the woman told Dylan she wasn’t a threat.
“Do you have any family we could contact, ma’am?” asked Lyra. “We could call the police.”
“Oh no, no,” she cried out. “I don’t have a family… I came here looking for a job, children… I don’t know why I—I just stopped here. I should leave…”
“It’s alright!” Dylan stopped her. “Come on in. You’ll get sick out in the cold. Have some tea with us.”
So Dylan and Lyra brought her inside. Lyra gave her some of her mother’s old clothes, and after the older woman had dried up and changed, they all had tea together.
“I’m Marlene,” the old woman told Lyra and Dylan, who had discussed hiring her as a maid back in the kitchen. She seemed fine, and Lyra needed help with the house chores.
“Thank you for the tea,” said Marlene. “I really needed it.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash
“So you said you came here looking for work?” asked Lyra. “Would you like to work for us? We have two kids who are asleep right now. You could meet them in the morning, and I need help with the house.”
“Really?” asked Marlene. “Would you really hire me?”
“Well, why not?” Dylan said. “So long as you’re fine with it. We’ll also need your information… any ID… We can’t just keep anyone home.”
“Oh, OK,” Marlene said. “But I would need help with that. I was robbed right after leaving the station, so I’d need a laptop or something… I was wise enough to save digital copies.”
“Perfect!” smiled Dylan. “You can rest in the guest bedroom tonight, Marlene…”
That was four years ago. Marlene started working as a maid at Dylan and Lyra’s house four years ago after Dylan sheltered her from the rain, but she quickly became like family to them. Their children, Aaron and Lisa, affectionately called her “Ganma Marlene,” and the entire family adored her.
But on her birthday that year, everything changed. Dylan and Lyra planned a lavish celebration for Marlene and invited everyone they knew.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Marlene blew out the candles, had the most lovely dinner with her family, and received tons of precious gifts.
After everyone left, she was busy unwrapping the gifts with Aaron and Lisa. Meanwhile, Dylan went to her room to retrieve something and noticed her laptop was left on.
He was about to close it when a message on her social profile on Facebook caught his attention.
“Happy birthday, dearest Marlene! I hope you’re having the best days of your life now that you’ve found your son. Your little boy, he must love you so much!”
Dylan felt like his heart had dropped to the floor. 28 years ago, he was heartlessly abandoned by his mother on the doorstep of a shelter when he was just a little boy of three. She never came looking for her, and he could never find her. He knew nothing about her.
Shocked, Dylan walked into the living room and saw Marlene smiling and playing with her children. He was disgusted and enraged.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Marlene!” he cried. “Why did you do that? Just why?”
Marlene turned around and saw Dylan crying.
“Honey,” said Lyra, concerned. “What’s the matter? Why are you crying?”
“I’d like to know the truth, Marlene. Or should I call you ‘mom?'”
“What?” gasped Lyra. “Mom?”
Marlene’s eyes welled up. “I’m sorry, Dylan,” she said. “I didn’t want to deceive you all these years. I am sorry.”
“What else have you lied about, huh?” he yelled. “Tell me, goddammit! Why did you do it? Why did you come here and hurt me again?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Dylan…” whispered Marlene. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t have a choice. You were a three-year-old boy… you needed a loving home, and I would never have been able to give you that. I was diagnosed with cancer, and I never thought I’d live through it, Dylan. So I had to let you go. I came to take you when my cancer went into remission, but it was too late.
“A wealthy family had taken you in, and they said you were happy. I was happy for you, Dylan, so I stayed away and watched you from afar all these years. Look at you; you are rich and successful today. It’s due to their upbringing. I’m so thankful to them…and I’m sorry. I don’t know why I couldn’t hold myself back when you took me in four years ago… I just couldn’t… I was scared to tell you the truth… I’m sorry…”
“OUT!” yelled Dylan. “Don’t you think you’re too mean to deserve such kindness? You can’t just walk into my life and then walk out. Just leave!”
“Dylan, honey,” said Lyra. “Let’s talk about it—”
“It’s OK, Lyra,” Marlene said in tears. “I deserve this. I shouldn’t have kept you all in the dark. I am sorry.”
And Marlene left Dylan’s house that evening. The kids asked Lyra and Dylan why Ganma Darlene left, and all Dylan told them was, “Because she wasn’t your grandmother! She was a liar!”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
A week later, Dylan regretted saying that. He found out that Marlene was not the biological mother who had abandoned him.
Dylan chanced upon Marlene’s Facebook profile on the laptop because she hadn’t logged out, and he read another message her friend Linda had left her.
“You should tell him the truth, Marlene. How devastated will he be to learn that he has lost his mother twice? He deserves to know that his mother abandoned him in a park and that you took him in. He will love you, Marlene. He really will…”
Dylan couldn’t believe what he had read. He went through her entire profile in tears, reading Linda’s messages, and guess what? He found out Marlene had been living only a few blocks away from him.
Dylan rushed to her home, and as soon as she answered the door, he cried his heart out and hugged her.
“Mom,” he sobbed. “I love you! I’m so sorry, Mom… I am just so sorry. Why didn’t you tell me you’re not my biological mother? You… you saved me!”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“How would it matter, Dylan?” she asked, hugging him back. “I loved you like my son, and it pained me when I left you. I did abandon you… I was no different from your mother, except I left you because I loved you.”
“You’re coming home,” he said. “That’s all I want. I love you.”
What can we learn from this story?
- A mother loves her child no matter what. The fact that Dylan wasn’t Marlene’s blood didn’t matter to her because, at her heart, she was a mother who just wanted to give her son all the love she could.
- Making a sacrifice is never easy, but it is sometimes the only way out. Marlene had let Dylan go because she loved him enough to put his interests above hers.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
How These 5 Female Stars Look in Unedited Close-up Photos as We All Age Differently
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez is known for her radiant beauty and flawless skin in photo shoots and Instagram posts. With the help of skilled makeup artists and photographers, her skin appears perfectly smooth.
In these photos, her eyes are bright, and her features are sharply defined. All one can see is her glow and youthfulness, further emphasizing the artificiality of the edited image.
These highly edited photos often erase any signs of aging, leaving her looking perpetually youthful. For instance, the perfect lighting in Lopez’s picture enhances her appearance, further contributing to the illusion of agelessness.
In unedited close-ups, Jennifer Lopez’s skin shows a more natural texture. You can see the lines under her eyes and face, revealing the authentic signs of aging.
While she still looks stunning, fine lines and the natural sheen of her skin are visible, particularly under the eyes, which may exhibit signs of age-related tiredness.
Additionally, under poor lighting conditions, her complexion can appear uneven. This doesn’t diminish her beauty but rather highlights the normalcy of aging, even for a superstar.
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston has been a beauty icon since her “Friends” days. In her Instagram photos, her skin looks flawless, with any signs of aging, such as fine lines or blemishes, expertly edited out.
Her hair always looks perfectly styled, making her face shape appear flawless. Her makeup enhances her classic features without any flaws, highlighting her beauty in a polished and elegant manner.
Her hair always looks perfectly styled, making her face shape appear flawless. Her makeup enhances her classic features without any flaws, highlighting her beauty in a polished and elegant manner.
Some of Aniston’s pictures make it seem like she hasn’t aged a day since her “Friends” era. She has very beautiful eyes that continue to captivate, contributing to her timeless appeal.
When captured in unedited close-ups, Aniston’s natural beauty shines through, albeit with some visible signs of aging, such as pores and lines on her forehead.
Her skin texture is more pronounced, with fine lines around her lips and eyes becoming noticeable. These photos illustrate that, even with an excellent skincare routine, aging is unavoidable.
Unlike the edited pictures, her skin’s glow is more subdued, and the sparkle in her eyes, while still present, is not shining as brightly, hinting at the gentle passage of time.
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani is renowned for her ageless appearance on Instagram. Edited photos often show her with porcelain-like skin, vivid makeup, and strikingly bright features, giving an almost doll-like perfection.
Her signature red lips, perfectly contoured face, and immaculate hairstyle are hallmarks of her high-definition makeup and skilled photo editing.
These photos often maintain Stefani’s image of perpetual youth and chic elegance. Moreover, photoshoots have a way of making her eyes and skin glow with youthfulness.
In unedited photos, Stefani’s skin reveals more texture, and the signs of aging become evident. Fine lines and wrinkles around her eyes and mouth are visible.
The less-than-perfect lighting accentuates the natural imperfections, showing a stark contrast to her edited photos, and highlighting the reality of her aging skin.
Additionally, as much as her complexion shows the gentle signs of aging, her skin retains a luminous quality. This showcases a perfect blend seen in those getting older but with great skincare routines.
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton’s public image is synonymous with glamour. Her Instagram photos are meticulously edited to maintain her youthful appearance, with smooth skin.
Her vibrant makeup, and perfect hair, reinforce her status as a timeless icon. Parton’s signature blonde hair always looks perfectly styled, and her chiseled face is free of any imperfections.
In addition, her lips are full and vibrant with lipstick. Her eyes are made to look intriguing, and her nose and cheeks are flawlessly contoured. These edits and expert makeup techniques ensure she always appears stunning.
However, unedited close-ups of Parton reveal a more natural look, with visible wrinkles and skin texture that come with age around her eyes and on her cheeks.
Still, in certain areas, the makeup seems to have been applied with a heavy hand, creating a mask-like effect on her face and giving her a cakey finish.
Furthermore, Parton’s nose, once delicate, now bears subtle creases, while the surplus of makeup dims the radiance that once emanated naturally from her skin.
Demi Moore
Demi Moore is often seen in her Instagram photos with flawless, glowing skin, enhanced by makeup and editing that minimize any signs of aging.’
Her features are sharp, and her complexion appears almost otherworldly perfect. Her face is expertly contoured with makeup and is smooth with no signs of wrinkles.
Moore’s long black hair complements her appearance, adding to her overall allure. The glow of her skin is magnificent, creating an image of timeless beauty that captivates her audience.
In unedited photos, Demi Moore’s skin shows more natural characteristics, including wrinkles on the sides of her eyes when she smiles.
She also exhibits fine lines and a realistic skin texture on her face. The radiance seen in her edited pictures is less evident, revealing a paler complexion.
These unretouched images highlight the tightness and age in her skin, reminding us that even Hollywood stars are not immune to the passage of time, yet they continue to exude beauty and grace.
Aging is an inevitable journey that we all experience differently, and the unedited photos of celebrities like Lopez, Aniston, Stefani, Parton, and Moore serve as a powerful reminder of this truth.
This comparison between edited and unedited photos also emphasizes the importance of appreciating natural beauty and understanding that everyone, even the most glamorous stars, undergoes the aging process.
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