Year after year, he promised that we would go, but life always seemed to get in the way—work obligations, family matters, and an endless parade of excuses.
“I’m sorry, Darling,” he would say. “It’s just that something came up at the office, and I have to attend to it.”
But then, when Tom forgot our 10th wedding anniversary, something inside me snapped.
“I have to leave town for the week,” he said while shaving. “It’s for work. We’re prospecting new clients.”
I had hoped that Tom would have told me to pack my bags and get ready to celebrate our romantic milestone—yet, it slipped his mind entirely.
Enough was enough.
I wasn’t about to be a footnote in my own love story.
So, I called my best friend, Jenny.
“We’re going away for my wedding anniversary!” I said as she answered the call.
“What?” she asked, surprised by my words, I could hear her slurping on her usual smoothie.
“Tom would hate that!”
I explained to her that Tom had to be on a business trip and that I was tired of being alone.
“Pack your bags, Jen,” I told her.
I went straight to my closet and began to pack my bags. I needed this. I needed a moment to myself. I got onto my laptop and booked a hotel. This weekend was going to be a weekend to heal, laugh, and forget the sting of neglect.
The hotel Tom had often raved about was our first stop.
As we stepped into the lobby—a place he described right down to the gilded frames on the walls—my heart raced with anticipation and a twinge of sadness.
I was happy to be here with my best friend, sure. But being with Tom would have made it so much better, with memories that would have lasted a lifetime.
“Let’s check-in and leave our bags,” Jenny said. “And then get some fish and chips from that place you’ve been talking about for the past hour.”
And then I heard it.
Tom’s laugh.
I looked up, across the room, and there he was. My husband, standing across the lobby with his arm wrapped around a woman who was decidedly not me.
The scene was like a punch to the gut. There he was, living our dream with someone else.
My first instinct was to storm across the lobby and confront them. But anger gave way to a colder, sharper strategy.
Ten years of marriage for this? This was Tom’s important business trip?
Sure.
I pulled out my phone and started filming them discreetly, capturing their intimate laughs, their shared glances—all the things that should have been mine.
“Are you okay, Eliza?” Jenny asked me, oblivious to the scene I had just witnessed.
“Look,” I said, pointing at Tom.
Jenny clasped her hands to her mouth and gasped.
Feeling emboldened, I approached the reception desk.
“I’m Mrs. Cooper,” I said. “You’ll see my husband checked in as Tom Cooper? It’s our anniversary weekend, and I wanted to surprise my husband.”
The woman behind the counter bought it. She beamed at me and told me there would be complimentary couple massages if I could prove we were married.
And then, she gave me the key to his room.
I went in and filmed everything—their clothes strewn about, the champagne on ice, the unmistakable aura of a romantic getaway.
With Jenny’s encouragement, I took to the streets of Bellport. We showed the footage to anyone willing to watch it.
“What do you think of a man who promises a romantic weekend to his wife and then takes his mistress instead?” I asked the locals.
Jenny filmed all their reactions while I spoke. People were shocked, and hurt on my behalf; some were even empathetic.
And as I met more people, it turned out that people didn’t just disapprove of Tom—they shared their stories of betrayal, connecting with my own pain.
Jenny and I went back to our room and ordered room service while she whizzed away on her laptop, turning our footage into a short film.
Forgotten Promises: A Bellport Betrayal.
Then, we uploaded it online—tagging Tom on Facebook.
It went viral overnight. And as the support began to pour in, so did the outrage towards Tom.
When Tom saw the video, he called me, furious.
“Eliza!” he barked. “Take it down! This isn’t fair!”
“It’s too late, Tom,” I replied coolly. “It’s out there now, and it’s the truth.”
Tom went on, airing his grievances through the phone.
“Why doesn’t he just come and find you?” Jenny asked. “We’re in the same hotel.”
I didn’t understand that either. But Tom seemed perfectly fine spending time with his mistress. I knew she was there with him—probably comforting him while he was distressed by my actions.
“I don’t know,” I replied to Jenny.
I cut the call, and Jenny and I took to the streets, ready to eat our feelings away in ice cream.
As we were walking, out of the blue, a travel company reached out to me. They had seen our short film and offered me a job in creating “Truthful Travelogues.”
“You’ll just have to do exactly what you did for your short film,” a woman named Natasha told me. “We’ll send you a laptop so that you can edit on there, too.”
Suddenly, I was more than just another scorned wife who had to suffer in silence and wait to be acknowledged by her husband. Now, I was a storyteller, weaving narratives of authenticity in beautiful locales.
And on the other hand—Tom’s life began to crumble. His professional image soured as colleagues and clients questioned his integrity.
That trip he took to Bellport, meant to be hidden away like a secret, became his public undoing.
His car was even egged by some of the kids who lived on our street—something that he deserved.
Shortly after I returned home, I packed all my belongings and moved in with Jenny. She was single and my constant support—there was nobody else I wanted to reinvent myself with.
Looking back, the trip to Bellport was nothing like I had imagined it would be. Initially, I had wanted it to be a romantic escape with my husband, but then it had turned into a girls’ weekend.
Only for it to become an unraveling of my marriage.
Even now, I’m not completely sure that my actions were the greatest, but at the same time—I needed to do it. I needed to expose Tom for the liar that he was.
And in the end, I needed to empower myself again. I couldn’t keep living in the shadow of Tom’s job and deceit.
Now, I have to try and rebuild my life as a newly single woman ready to get what she deserves.
What would you have done?
I Planned a Surprise Birthday Party for My Wife but Was Completely Shocked by Who She Came Home With
When Liam throws a surprise birthday party for his wife, Lora, he gets the biggest shock when she brings over an uninvited guest—a man who’s been absent from Lora’s life for years. Why was he there and what did he want?
My wife loves surprises. Every year for her birthday or Valentine’s Day, I try to surprise her because I know how much it means to her. Her eyes light up like a child’s, making every special occasion an opportunity for something extraordinary.
A blindfolded young woman | Source: Midjourney
“I love how well you know me, Liam,” she would say. “You always get it right!”
“You’re worth it all, Lora,” I said.
So, this year, for her birthday, I planned a surprise that I hoped would be unforgettable. Pretending to be away on a business trip, I called her the day before her birthday to say that I’d be home late.
A man on the phone | Source: Midjourney
“You’re not coming back tomorrow?” Lora’s voice carried disappointment that broke my heart.
“I’m so sorry, love,” I said, laying on the regret. “Work got hectic, but I’ll make it up to you. How about a spa weekend when I’m back?”
There was a pause then Lora let out a resigned sigh.
A smiling couple at a spa | Source: Midjourney
“Fine, but you owe me big time, Liam,” she said in a huff.
“Oh, darling, you’re going to love it,” I assured her, smiling at the thought of her reaction to the real surprise.
As soon as I hung up, I swung into action, calling our close friends and relatives to invite them to a surprise party at our apartment.
A man holding a tablet | Source: Midjourney
I’d been planning it for a while, but I just needed to remind everyone.
“Yes, of course, Liam!”
“We’ll be there!”
“I’ll bring wine!”
An excited person on the phone | Source: Midjourney
Everyone was in on it, and the place buzzed with excitement as we decorated, set up food, and waited for Lora’s arrival.
“Do you think she’ll suspect anything?” asked Karen, her best friend, as she hung the streamers.
“No way,” I replied confidently. “She thinks I’m out of town until tomorrow.”
A woman hanging streamers | Source: Midjourney
Finally, we heard footsteps in the hallway and the sound of her laughter. I frowned, puzzled.
“Who could she be with?” I asked Karen. “If it’s not you or me, then it’s very strange…”
“Maybe her sisters?” Karen asked.
A frowning man holding balloons | Source: Midjourney
“No, they’re going to be here. They did say that they’d be a bit late because they’re going to pick up Lora’s present.”
The door opened, and as Lora stepped in, we all jumped out.
“Surprise!” we shouted.
People at a surprise party | Source: Midjourney
But the joy was short-lived.
Gasps filled the room as everyone stared at the man standing beside Lora. It was Michael.
Michael was Lora’s father who had recently been released from prison. The shock on everyone’s faces mirrored the shock and confusion I felt.
A group of shocked people | Source: Midjourney
Lora had never mentioned anything about her father being back in her life.
“Look, he’s in prison, Liam,” she told me when we spoke about her father one night over dinner. “That’s all I have to say about it.”
“But what did he do?” I asked. “Why did he go to prison? Was it that bad?”
A couple eating together | Source: Midjourney
But Lora just shook her head and refused to answer.
Years later, Lora began speaking about it and the turmoil that Michael had caused her family. Michael had been imprisoned for embezzlement, having stolen a significant amount of money from the company where he worked.
“That ruined us, Liam,” Lora said to me in tears.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
The scandal had not only disgraced him but also brought shame and financial hardship to their family.
Now, seeing her laugh and at ease in his presence confused me. And for a moment, I felt betrayed. At that moment, I almost wished she had brought home another man.
Anything but this.
A shocked man | Source: Midjourney
“Lora, what’s going on?” I asked her, unable to hide the edge in my voice.
Lora, looking nervous and caught off guard by the crowd’s reaction, spoke first.
“Everyone, this is my dad, Michael. I know that most of you have heard about him, but here he is. Finally out of prison. He… he just wanted to apologize to me.”
A woman standing next to her father | Source: Midjourney
Michael, clearly uncomfortable to have an audience, took a deep breath and addressed the room.
“I know I’ve caused a lot of pain to Lora, to her mom, Nancy, and the rest of our family. But I’ve spent my years in prison working on myself. I know that when our financial issues began, I took it out on my family. I’ve been trying to overcome my trauma and stop being so aggressive. I’m truly sorry for everything.”
The room was silent. Michael’s words hung in the air. It was as if time had stopped, and everyone had held their breath to process the unexpected turn of events.
A close-up of a man talking | Source: Midjourney
“I understand if you don’t want to forgive me, but I wanted to make amends. I want to be a part of Lora’s life. Of all my children’s lives. I just started my apology tour with Lora because she’s the eldest. I’m here to show that I’ve changed.”
I didn’t know how to react. I didn’t know what my thoughts were. On one hand, I believed him. There was something about his words and body language that made him genuine.
But could he change?
A pensive young man | Source: Midjourney
As he turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of Lora’s face. She looked torn and on the verge of tears. But there was a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
Despite everything, she wanted to give him a chance.
“Michael, wait,” I called out, surprising myself with the firmness in my voice. “Stay. If Lora wants you here, then you should be here.”
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
Michael looked at me, stunned, then turned to Lora, who had tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Thank you, darling,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
I nodded.
“If this is what makes you happy, then I’m willing to try and make this work,” I said.
Michael, visibly moved, nodded as well.
A close-up of a smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
“Thank you, Liam. I promise I won’t let you down,” he said.
As the evening wore on, the atmosphere gradually shifted from tense to awkward to cautiously hopeful. But once the platters of food came out, everyone seemed to be calmer.
“Lora, are you sure about this?” Karen asked when we were in the kitchen getting more bottles of wine.
Lora sighed, her gaze drifting to her father.
Platters of food | Source: Midjourney
“Yes, he’s my dad, and he’s trying to make things right. I want to give him a chance,” she said.
I stood back, watching as Lora and Michael hugged, both of them in tears.
“Come on,” I said. “It’s time for the birthday cake!”
We carried out the birthday cake for Lora, and nobody sang louder than Michael, who seemed genuinely proud and happy to be there.
A birthday cake with candles | Source: Midjourney
As the party wound down, Michael stood up to address everyone.
“I want to thank you all for giving me this opportunity. I know it will take time to earn your trust. But I promise you, I am committed to making amends and being a better person and father.”
There was a hesitant round of applause, more out of politeness than genuine acceptance, but it was a start.
Later, when everyone was gone, Lora and I stood on the balcony together, taking in the final moments of her birthday.
A couple standing on a balcony | Source: Midjourney
“I’m so grateful that you welcomed my father, Liam,” she said. “I know what I said, but I think that it’s time to heal from the past. You know?”
“I know,” I agreed. “I think that Michael needs to meet the adult Lora. Not the version of you that he knew before he went to prison.”
She nodded as she held her glass of champagne.
A woman holding a glass of champagne | Source: Midjourney
“And anyway, I promised to help him find a new apartment soon. Will you help me? It will be something small and simple.”
“Of course, honey,” I said, embracing her.
A small apartment | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done?
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