Rachel treasures the heirloom jewelry her late mother left her, until one day she finds the box empty. With a confession from her husband, Rachel realizes that’s only half the truth. When she spots her mother’s earrings on another woman, all the puzzle pieces connect…
Now
I went to the store that morning for milk, chicken, and raspberries. An odd combination, but it was what I needed. The milk for coffee and cereal, the chicken for tonight’s dinner, and the raspberries for the raspberry and white chocolate muffins my husband loved.
A woman standing in the aisle of a grocery | Source: Midjourney
I went into the store hoping to get my groceries, but I left with a truth that I didn’t know needed to be revealed.
She was standing in the dairy aisle, our neighbor. Young, blonde, and recently divorced. She was looking at the various yogurt options, smiling like she didn’t have a care in the world. And if I’m being honest, she probably didn’t have any cares.
And hanging from her ears were my mother’s earrings.
A woman looking away at a grocery | Source: Midjourney
My breath caught in my throat. A sick feeling curled in my stomach. My hands clenched around the shopping basket so tightly that I was sure they were white.
No. No bloody way.
I forced my voice to stay light and breezy as I approached her.
“Mel, hi! Lovely earrings!”
A close up of a woman | Source: Midjourney
She beamed, touching them delicately as if they were the most priceless things in the world. They were.
“Oh, thank you, Rachel! They’re a gift from someone special, you know.”
A gift. From someone special. Someone married?
The world tilted slightly. I swallowed the burning rage rising in my throat. Mel looked at me for a moment, and I wondered if the guilt was eating at her. She didn’t act like it, but something had dimmed her shine in that moment.
“Oh, they’re simply beautiful,” I said, smiling through my gritted teeth. “But didn’t it come with a pendant and a bracelet? What a stunning set that would be…”
A pair of earrings in a box | Source: Midjourney
She blinked at me, confusion all over her face.
“I definitely would if I had those pieces. But I don’t. It’s just the earrings. But maybe my special someone can gift me the whole set.”
The ground steadied beneath me.
There it was.
Derek hadn’t just pawned my mother’s jewelry. He had gifted part of it to his mistress.
A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney
It was a selfish, well-thought-out plan.
Except he hadn’t planned on one thing.
Me.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
Then
I had been vacuuming under the bed, lost in the monotony of housework and a nagging nursery rhyme that was stuck in my head, when I spotted the box.
Something made me pause. Maybe it was instinct. Or maybe grief had sharpened my senses.
I bent down, picked it up, and opened the lid.
Empty. The box with my most prized possessions was empty.
A woman vacuuming | Source: Midjourney
The air left my lungs. The annoying nursery rhyme flew out of my head. And just like that, the shock hit me across my face.
My hands trembled as I stood up, my knees weak. I scanned my bedroom like the earrings, pendant, and bracelet might miraculously reappear before my eyes.
But they didn’t. Of course, they didn’t. Wishful thinking didn’t work like that.
There was only one person who I had shown the box and the priceless things inside. But would Derek… Was he actually capable of taking my things? Maybe he had put them away, knowing the importance that they held.
Maybe he had put them into our safe deposit box at the bank. But even if he did, why on earth wouldn’t he tell me?
An empty wooden box | Source: Midjourney
“Derek!” I stormed into the living room, where he was lounging with his laptop.
He barely glanced up.
“What, Rachel? It’s too early for this noise.”
“My mother’s jewelry. Did you take it?”
His brow furrowed like he was truly thinking.
A man using his laptop | Source: Midjourney
“No, maybe the kids took it. You know they’re into dressing up now.”
My stomach twisted again. Why would my children take something from my room? They probably didn’t even know about the box. And I was planning on passing down the jewelry to the girls anyway.
But still, kids have keen eyes. Maybe one of them saw something.
I turned and marched straight to the playroom, where my three kids were sprawled on the floor, lost in their toys.
A cozy playroom | Source: Midjourney
“Nora, Eli, Ava,” I said, almost breathless. “Did any of you take the box from under my bed?”
Three pairs of wide, innocent eyes blinked up at me.
“No, Mommy.”
But Nora hesitated. My eight-year-old, my oldest baby. The most sensitive and honest of the three, and the one most likely to give you a snuggle when you needed it.
She would tell me what she knew.
A little girl | Source: Midjourney
“I saw Daddy with it,” she said. “He said it was a secret. And that he would buy me a new dollhouse if I didn’t say anything.”
A sharp rage sliced through me.
Someone had stolen from me.
And that someone was my husband.
A dollhouse on a table | Source: Midjourney
I spent a long time with the kids, trying to figure out my thoughts and feelings while they played. Eventually, I had no choice but to confront him.
“Derek, I know you took it. Where is it?” I asked.
He let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples like I was the problem here.
“Fine, Rachel. I took them.”
I blinked slowly.
A man sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
“Why?” I asked simply.
His voice took on that tone of his that I absolutely hated. The slow, condescending tone that had always made my skin crawl.
“You were so sad after your mom died. I thought that a vacation would cheer you up, Rachel.” He picked up his beer can and took a long gulp. “So, I pawned them and bought us a trip.”
My fists curled. My vision blurred. I was… beyond shocked.
“You pawned my mother’s jewelry?! My dead mother’s things!”
The interior of a pawn shop | Source: Midjourney
“Rachel, we’re struggling! How can you not see it? Or do you choose to ignore it? The mortgage, the bills… I wanted to do something nice for you and the kids.”
White-hot rage filled me. I was ready to burst.
“Where. Are. They?” I spat out. “You had no right to do that without asking me, Derek! Return them. Now!”
He sighed dramatically.
An angry woman | Source: Midjourney
“Okay, I’ll return the tickets. I’ll fix it if you want everyone to be as miserable as you are. Seriously, Rachel, the kids see it. It sucks.”
I turned away before I did something I’d regret.
Miserable? Of course, I was miserable. I was in pain. I was hurting. My heart felt shattered and stamped upon, and my mind was a cemetery of memories.
My mother had died. And with that, my best friend, my biggest supporter, and the person who had loved me most in this world.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
It had only been two months without her. And this man was putting a timeline to my grief?
What the hell? Who had I married?
I missed her so much. Which was why Derek’s actions had hurt me so deeply. My mother’s jewelry was like a lifeline she had left behind for me. It was something physical, something that I could hold or put on when I needed her touch…
I remembered how she didn’t want me to become a stay-at-home mom.
A tombstone with flowers | Source: Midjourney
“Darling,” she had said, buttering a slice of homemade bread. “You have so much potential. As rewarding as being a stay-at-home mom is, are you sure it’s for you?”
“I don’t know, Mom,” I confessed. “But Derek said that we can’t afford a nanny, so it was either I become the nanny or I pay for one.”
“Promise me one thing, Rachel,” she said. “Keep writing your poetry, darling. Keep that side of you alive.”
A woman writing in a notebook | Source: Midjourney
My heart ached thinking about her.
But do you know what?
The next day, while shopping, I found out that the truth was even worse.
Now
I smiled at Mel in the grocery store, pretending to listen to her rave about Greek yogurt and chia seeds for breakfast.
A bowl of yoghurt and chia seeds | Source: Midjourney
“It really is the best breakfast, Rachel. It cleans out the gut and gives you more protein than eggs. Add some honey or chocolate chips, girl. Trust me,” she spoke fast, as if trying not to think or say anything that would give her away.
I smiled like I wasn’t seconds away from ripping those earrings off her ears.
She had no idea. She had absolutely no clue she had been part of my husband’s betrayal. Or did she? From the way she acted, I didn’t think she knew the value of it. In her eyes, she was standing in front of her boyfriend’s wife and using the expensive gift he had bought her.
So, I made a decision.
A woman in a grocery store | Source: Midjourney
I was going to take back what was mine.
And I was going to make Derek pay.
Big time.
The next morning, I played the part of the forgiving wife.
I was quiet, reciting Shakespearean sonnets in my head. I made pancakes for the kids. I made French toast for Derek. But I couldn’t get my encounter with Mel out of my head.
He was relieved, smug even. I’m sure he thought that I had slept on it and had finally let it go.
“It’s good to see you so chipper, Rach,” he said. “You know I love that smile.”
I wanted to slap him.
Pancakes and strawberries on a plate | Source: Midjourney
Focus on Shakespeare, Rach, I thought to myself.
“Derek, can I see the pawnshop receipt?” I asked, pretending that I just wanted to make sure everything could be bought back.
He rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically but eventually handed it over.
“Nora,” I called, watching her pick at her pancakes. “Do you want to come with Mommy today? We’re going to look for Grandma’s jewelry.”
A smiling little girl | Source: Midjourney
“Yes!” she said excitedly.
I wasn’t sure about taking my child to a pawnshop, but if I’m being honest, that little girl was the only thing that would keep me calm.
We got ourselves dressed and found ourselves standing outside the pawnshop.
“We’re buying the jewelry, Mom?” Nora asked.
“Indeed we are, baby girl,” I said.
The exterior of a pawn shop | Source: Midjourney
And just like that, I went in and tracked down my mother’s jewelry. It wasn’t difficult, but I had to convince the owner that it was mine.
“It would make a good anniversary present for my wife,” he said. “But you look like you’re going to cry your little heart out.”
“It’s my mom’s, sir,” I said. “Please.”
I think he was more floored by being called sir that he just gave it over, not even trying to exploit me with the price.
A man in a pawn shop | Source: Midjourney
I kept the receipt. For later.
There was only one piece left.
The earrings.
The ones that Derek’s mistress had been flaunting.
Earrings in a box | Source: Midjourney
I knocked on her door, and when she opened it, I held up my mother’s will, specifically reading out that the jewelry was mine. I also had a picture of her wearing the set at her wedding.
Then, I showed her the necklace and bracelet I had reclaimed.
“These are part of a set,” I said. “They’re family heirlooms, and I need the earrings back. They were not Derek’s to give.”
Her face paled, and her jaw dropped.
A woman standing in a doorway | Source: Midjourney
“Rachel… I had no idea,” she stammered. “I thought it was a gift from Derek. I didn’t know that it was yours! I had no idea that it was your… mother’s.”
She looked down, something shifting in her expression. Disappointment. Then realization.
“I should have known,” she muttered. “I thought he was being sweet and romantic… but,” she trailed off, shaking her head.
Then, without another word, she ran into her house, returned with the earrings, and placed them in my outstretched hand.
Earrings in a woman’s hand | Source: Midjourney
“Here,” she said. “These don’t belong to me. And honestly, neither does Derek. But he doesn’t belong to you either. Rachel, if it was this easy for him to get with me…”
I knew what she was saying. I understood it loud and clear.
“Hell hath no fury…” I said. “I know. I’ll deal with him.”
“Rachel, I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. It was just that Derek gave me the attention that I craved. This divorce… it took a part of me when it ended. I don’t know who I am without my husband. Ex-husband, I mean. Derek swept me off my feet and made me feel normal again. I’m so sorry.”
I looked at her and smiled. I knew what it felt like to have a part of me missing, but mine was due to death and grief, not cheating.
“Thank you for saying that, Mel,” I said, turning away.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
Later
I waited until he was back at work and the paperwork was finalized.
And then I took the divorce papers to his office and handed them to him in front of his boss and coworkers.
“You shouldn’t have given away my things, Derek. I mean, really. You gave my mother’s earrings to your mistress?” My voice was louder than I expected. “You stole from me. You betrayed me. And that’s your final mistake in our marriage. This cannot be fixed. I don’t want you.”
A man sitting at his desk | Source: Midjourney
Then, I turned and walked away.
He begged, of course.
But I was done.
He had taken the last piece of my mother I had left. He had lied. He had brushed off my pain. And he had betrayed our family.
And now? That man has nothing. Between alimony and child support, he had little to nothing left to his name.
A woman walking down a hallway | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done?
When Dorothy reads her daughter’s innocent letter to Santa, she’s blindsided by a request for the same heart-shaped earrings her husband apparently gave their nanny. Suspicion spirals into doubt, leading Dorothy to uncover a heartbreaking truth tied to a long-kept secret…
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.
My Husband Secretly Sent a Photo of My Lasagna to His Friends, Calling it ‘Disgusting’ — So I Taught Him a Lesson
When my husband mocked my homemade lasagna behind my back, I teamed up with my mother-in-law to serve him a taste of his own medicine. What followed was a dinner he wouldn’t forget, teaching him a lesson in appreciation and respect.
My husband, Dave, and I have been married for about three years. I pride myself on my cooking skills. I’m no gourmet chef, but I’ve never had any complaints — until recently.
Happy couple | Source: Midjourney
Last Friday, I decided to make one of my favorite recipes: homemade lasagna. I spent hours preparing it, making sure everything was perfect. When it was finally ready, I served it up with a smile. I expected at least a ‘thank you’ from Dave.
Instead, he took one bite, made a face, and pulled out his phone. I thought he just took the photo because he photographs everything around. But in a second, I heard the sound of a text message arriving. Curious, I peeked over his shoulder and my heart sank.
Unpleased Dave with lasagna | Source: Midjourney
The message read, ‘Look at what she made tonight. It’s barely edible. I miss Mom’s cooking.’
My blood boiled. “Dave, what the heck is this?” I asked, my voice shaking.
He looked up, startled. “What? Oh, nothing,” he stammered, trying to hide his phone.
Close-up portrait of his he nice attractive funny confused brunet bearded guy wearing pink tshirt waiting news biting lip isolated over violet purple lilac pastel color background | Source: Getty Images
“Nothing? You just texted someone that my lasagna is barely edible and you miss your mom’s cooking!” I snapped.
Dave sighed. “Look, I didn’t mean it like that. I was just… I don’t know, venting. It’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “Do you have any idea how much effort I put into this? If you didn’t like it, you could have just told me.”
Man texting on his phone | Source: Unsplash
“I didn’t want to hurt your feelings,” he said defensively.
“By telling me to my face, or by texting someone behind my back?” I shot back. “Because I think this is way worse.”
Dave rubbed his temples. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. It was a dumb thing to do.”
Sad elderly woman | Source: Pexels
I wasn’t satisfied with his half-hearted apology, but I decided to drop it for the night. The next day, I had a different plan.
I told Dave that I had a work event and would be home late. In reality, I went to his mom’s house. She was a wonderful woman and I wanted to ask her for advice. When I arrived, she welcomed me in with open arms.
“Hey, sweetie! What brings you here?” she asked, giving me a hug.
Mother-in-law | Source: Midjourney
I sighed. “It’s about Dave. He did something really hurtful yesterday.”
She frowned. “What happened?”
I told her about the lasagna incident and showed her the message Dave had sent. She was shocked and immediately agreed to help me.
Mother-in-law comforts the woman | Source: Midjourney
“Oh God! I never brought him up to be such a brat. Hon, he’ll learn a lesson. I have a plan.”
My mother-in-law offered to cook up a storm in her kitchen. She made all of Dave’s favorite dishes, but with a twist. She over-seasoned, undercooked, and generally made sure everything tasted awful.
Then she plated it all up beautifully, knowing Dave wouldn’t be able to resist taking a picture. Then she called him and invited him for dinner.
A slice of lasagna garnished with basil | Source: Pexels
The house smelled delicious, even if I knew better. As she worked, she explained the plan in detail, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
“I’ll make the mashed potatoes too salty, the green beans half-cooked, and the chicken dry as a bone. He’ll be so excited when he sees the spread, and then… well, let’s just see what happens.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You really think this will work?”
Elderly woman with a cup | Source: Pexels
She winked. “Oh, honey, I know it will. Dave has always been a bit too sure of himself when it comes to food. This will be a wake-up call.”
As we set the table, my nerves started to ease. This was going to be interesting.
When Dave arrived, his eyes lit up at the sight of the delicious spread. He eagerly dug in, but with each bite, his face started changing. He looked confused and a bit scared.
Scared man | Source: Pexels
With a smirk on her face, his mom asked sweetly, “Is everything okay?”
He stammered, “Uh, yeah, it’s just… not what I expected.”
She smiled and said, “Hmmm, strange, I thought you missed my cooking?”
Mother-in-law tells Lily the story | Source: Midjourney
Dave went pale as the realization hit him. He turned to me, standing in the kitchen doorway, and I said, “I saw your message, Dave. If you have something to say about my cooking, say it to my face. I hope you enjoyed tonight’s meal as much as I enjoyed making it.”
Dave was speechless, and his mom chimed in, “I didn’t raise you to be disrespectful. You owe your wife an apology.”
Elderly lady with a laptop | Source: Pexels
He mumbled, “I’m sorry.”
But I wasn’t done. I pulled out my phone and said, “You know, Dave, I think I’ll send a picture of tonight’s meal to the boys’ chat, just like you did with my lasagna. Maybe they’ll appreciate a taste of your favorite dishes, ‘Mom’s style.’”
Senior woman and young woman sitting at dining table holding hands | Source: Getty Images
His eyes widened in horror as he realized what I was about to do. “No, please don’t!” he pleaded.
I gave him a stern look. “Maybe next time, you’ll think twice before mocking someone’s hard work.”
From that day on, Dave never complained about my cooking again, at least not behind my back. Whenever I cooked, he made sure to show his appreciation.
Senior woman in her 80s looks away, seeming confused and anxious | Source: Getty Images
His mom looked at him sternly. “Dave, you need to understand how hurtful your words can be. Your wife put in a lot of effort to make that meal. She deserves your respect.”
Dave nodded, looking ashamed. “I know, Mom. I’m really sorry.”
“Actions speak louder than words,” she replied. “You need to show her that you appreciate what she does.”
Senior Caucasian woman with chin in hands | Source: Getty Images
Dave looked at me, his eyes full of regret. “I really am sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
I crossed my arms and said, “Well, now you know how it feels to have your hard work disrespected.”
He nodded vigorously. “I promise, I’ll never do it again. I’ll be more appreciative from now on.”
Portrait of serious mature businessman wearing glasses in office | Source: Getty Images
His mom chimed in, “Good. Now, why don’t we all clean up together? It’ll give you a chance to show some of that appreciation.”
Dave quickly agreed, “Yes, Mom. Let’s clean up.”
As we worked together to clean the kitchen, Dave kept apologizing and thanking me for the meal. I could see he was genuinely sorry, and it felt good to know that he had learned his lesson.
Thankful Dave | Source: Midjourney
Later that night, as we were getting ready for bed, Dave turned to me and said, “I really am sorry for what I did. I was being an idiot, and I hurt you. I never want to do that again.”
I sighed, feeling some of my anger melt away. “I appreciate the apology, Dave. But you need to remember that words can hurt. Next time, just be honest with me. We can work on things together.”
Woman hugging boyfriend | Source: Getty Images
He nodded. “I will. Thank you for giving me another chance.”
“Just don’t mess it up,” I replied, giving him a small smile.
The next morning, Dave made breakfast as a gesture of goodwill. He served me a plate of pancakes with a shy smile. “I hope these are okay.”
Man makes pancakes | Source: Pexels
I took a bite and smiled. “They’re perfect.”
Dave beamed, looking relieved. “I’m glad you like them.”
From that day on, Dave made a real effort to show his appreciation for my cooking. He never complained again, and our relationship grew stronger because of it.
Pancakes | Source: Pexels
The lesson here? Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, especially when that hand can serve up a dish of well-deserved revenge. Sometimes, a little creativity and teamwork with a great MIL are all you need to teach someone a valuable lesson.
Leave a Reply