A flight to surprise my fiancé turned into something I never expected. One kiss, one stranger, and one shocking discovery later, my plan to uncover the truth spiraled into an unforgettable adventure.
I stood in the boarding line clutching my ticket and a cup of cold coffee. The day had started like most days in my life lately: overthinking and just enough caffeine to fuel my questionable decisions.
I was flying to visit Oliver, my fiancé. The man had impeccable suits, a charming smile, and a schedule so packed it felt like I needed to book an appointment just to remind him I existed.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
He’d been working in another city, closing some “big deal.” But lately, the deal seemed to involve more late nights with his secretary. She wasn’t just a thorn in my side but the whole rosebush.
I’d tried to ignore it until THAT text came a few days ago. A message from Oliver lit up the screen:
“Can’t wait to see you. Don’t forget your signature suit!”
But before I could even craft a reply, the message disappeared. Vanished.
“Strange,” I muttered just as Oliver’s name popped up on my screen.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Hey, did you just get a text from me?”
“Yes…”
“Oh, that was for Greg!” he blurted out a little too quickly. “We’ve got a big meeting tomorrow. You know how Greg is always forgetting stuff!”
Sure, Oliver. Sure.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
That’s when I decided I’d had enough of the cryptic texts and excuses. I wasn’t about to sit around playing detective in my own relationship.
When I boarded the plane, my window seat was occupied. A man in his forties lounged there as if he were the protagonist in some indie film.
“Excuse me, that’s my seat,” I said with a smile.
He glanced up lazily. “Is it? I thought seating was more of a suggestion.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“And I thought manners weren’t optional.”
After a dramatic sigh, he moved. It turned out his name was Lucas, and he had a gift for testing the limits of human tolerance. By this time, he’d spread his belongings across our shared space and casually suggested I “relax a little,” and I sat there wondering if I’d been cursed.
Suddenly, the captain announced we’d be making an unscheduled landing in a small town due to bad weather.
Perfect. Stuck in the middle of nowhere. What else could go wrong?
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
The town’s airport was so small it felt like we had landed in a different era. Wooden benches creaked under the weight of weary passengers, and the single vending machine hummed lifelessly, its contents reduced to a solitary pack of stale gum.
Eventually, a manager brought the news. “We’ve arranged accommodations for all passengers. Due to the circumstances, the airline will cover the cost of tonight’s stay at the nearby hotel.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
The word “hotel” sent the crowd into a frenzy. People bolted for the shuttle like their lives depended on it, jostling for a spot and leaving me standing there in the aftermath of their rush.
“Hi,” I said. “I’d like a room, please.”
The receptionist barely glanced up as she typed furiously into her computer. “We only have one room left.”
“One room?”
“Yes,” she confirmed, still typing. “It’s already been booked by the airline for you both.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Excuse me,” I interrupted, stepping closer to the desk. “Can’t I just book a separate room? I’ll pay for it myself.”
The receptionist sighed, finally looking up. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but the hotel is fully booked. Every room in town is. Unless you’d like to try camping.”
I glared at Lucas, who grinned like he’d just won the lottery.
“Looks like we’re roommates.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
When we walked in, my heart sank. It was tiny, barely enough space for one person, let alone two.
“I’ll take the couch,” I said quickly.
“Fine by me,” Lucas replied, dropping his stuff onto the bed.
To my horror, he immediately started spreading his things around.
“Are you trying to set a record for the fastest way to irritate someone?” I snapped.
“Just making myself comfortable.”
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By the time dinner rolled around, I was on the verge of losing my mind. We headed to the hotel’s small restaurant, where Lucas acted as if we were on some luxury retreat.
“This steak isn’t bad,” he said, cutting into his meal with ease. “Honestly, today’s been fun. Don’t you think so?”
“Fun?”
He laughed. “You need to lighten up. Life’s an adventure.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
He shared that he was flying to surprise his fiancée. I told him about Oliver, about how busy he’d been, though my voice faltered when I described our “strong” relationship.
“Sounds solid,” he said, though his tone suggested otherwise.
When the flight was finally back on schedule, I thought I’d be free of Lucas. But life had a funny way of complicating things.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
After we landed in New York, the energy outside the airport was pure chaos. People were darting around like ants, dragging suitcases and waving at taxis. Lucas, standing beside me, looked oddly cheerful—far too pleased with his plan to surprise his fiancée.
“So, what’s the big plan?” I asked, half-teasing.
“Show up, sweep her off her feet, remind her why she said yes in the first place,” he replied with a cocky grin.
I snorted. “Romantic. I hope she’s there to be swept off her feet and not, you know, with someone else.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Lucas said nothing, and I immediately regretted the jab.
“You?” he countered after a beat. “What’s your game plan?”
“I thought about it. Why not surprise Oliver? He hasn’t called or texted in days. A little spontaneity could be fun.”
“Bold move,” Lucas said, nodding in approval. “Let’s see who has the more dramatic reunion.”
We hailed a cab, and as Lucas gave the driver an address…
“Wait,” I blurted. “That’s where I’m going.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Lucas glanced at me, his smirk widening. “Fate. Gotta love it.”
It was absurd. Out of all the places in New York, we were heading to the same building. What were the odds?
***
When we arrived, I stepped out of the cab, heart pounding, and walked toward the entrance. That’s when I saw them. Oliver. And his secretary, Sophie.
They strolled out of the office building together, laughing. She wore a dress that screamed “expensive,” and he leaned in too close.
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Then it happened. The kiss. Not a polite, professional peck, but the kind of kiss that made the ground feel like it was falling out from under me. I froze.
“Kate,” Lucas’s voice snapped me out of my daze. He had followed me, his expression shifting from confusion to fury as he took in the scene. “Is that…”
Before I could process what was happening, Lucas grabbed my arm and steered me back toward the cab.
“Follow them,” he ordered the driver, slipping him a $50 bill.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
The cab jolted forward, Lucas leaned back, running a hand through his hair. His jaw was tight.
“That’s Sophie,” he said suddenly.
“What?”
“The woman with your fiancé,” he clarified. “That’s Sophie. My fiancée.”
My brain scrambled to piece it together.
“Are you sure?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Lucas let out a harsh laugh, shaking his head. “Oh, I’m sure. That dress she’s wearing? I bought it for her. She said it was for some ‘important meeting.’”
“So, let me get this straight. Your fiancée kissed with my fiancé. What are the chances?”
“Apparently, too good,” he said dryly.
The cab driver glanced at us in the rearview mirror, clearly entertained by the drama unfolding in his backseat.
Lucas looked at me. “You okay?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Peachy,” I said with a forced smile. “How about you?”
“Never better,” he replied, the sarcasm in his voice matching mine.
We both fell silent, watching as Oliver and Sophie disappeared into the restaurant. The cab slowed to a stop.
“Well,” he said, breaking the silence. “Now what?”
“I have an idea! But it’s going to require some creativity.”
“I’m listening.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Good,” I said, already reaching for the door handle. “Because this is going to be fun. Give me a few minutes.”
I darted around the corner, finding a small bakery. One cake caught my eye. Perfect. I quickly bought it, grabbed a card, and returned to the restaurant.
“What’s that for?” Lucas asked as I handed him the cake and my engagement ring.
“Trust me,” I said, my voice steady. “Are you in?”
He smirked. “If it ends my relationship with style, I’m all in.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
We walked into the restaurant like actors entering a stage, adrenaline buzzing in my veins. The warm glow of candlelight illuminated Sophie and Oliver, seated at a cozy corner table, laughing like they didn’t have a care in the world.
As we approached their table, their laughter faltered. Sophie’s face stiffened, her smile freezing like a glitching robot. Oliver quickly wiped his mouth with his napkin as if preparing for a courtroom defense.
“Kate?” Oliver stammered, looking as though he’d seen a ghost.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Lucas?” Sophie added.
“Well, well,” I said with a smile. “Fancy meeting you two here.”
Sophie, ever the professional, recovered first. “Oh! Lucas, this is Oliver. Oliver, this is Lucas. And Kate, you both know her. Huh! We were just, uh, wrapping up a business meeting!”
“Business meeting?” I repeated, my tone drenched in sarcasm. “Fascinating. Are kisses part of your standard business negotiations, or was that just a special offer?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Lucas leaned in, his expression mock-thoughtful. “You know, I wondered the same thing earlier. Guess we weren’t imagining it.”
Oliver jumped in. “Sophie and I were just, uh, brainstorming strategies.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh, brainstorming. That’s what we’re calling it now?”
Lucas chuckled beside me, clearly enjoying himself. “Kate, don’t be so hard on them. It’s hard work… kissing and brainstorming.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
The waiter appeared at that perfect moment, holding a cake on a tray.
The words “Sophie, Will You Marry Me?” were written in pink icing.
I gasped theatrically. “Oh my goodness, there’s my ring!”
Reaching over, I plucked the ring off the cake and tossed it toward Oliver. “Were you planning to propose to her again with this? How efficient of you.”
Oliver’s face turned crimson. “It’s not like that! This was just… a fling! I never meant to marry her!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Sophie’s expression darkened.
“A fling?!” she hissed. “I was ready to leave my fiancé for you, and this was just an affair to you?”
Their argument erupted. Heads turned at nearby tables, diners whispering behind their menus like that was the best entertainment they’d had all week.
Lucas and I exchanged a glance. Our mission there was done. As Oliver and Sophie’s shouting reached its peak, we slipped out of the restaurant.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Later, we sat on a park bench, sharing the cake.
“You know,” Lucas said, grinning between bites. “This cake is the best thing that’s happened to me in months.”
“Maybe it’s because we’ve left the past behind. Clean slate.”
“What’s next for us, Kate?”
“I guess we’ll find out,” I said, handing him the plastic spoon.
I felt ready for whatever came next.
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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: I thought I was walking into a dream—a date with the man I’d secretly loved for a year. But the moment I arrived, reality hit me like a snowstorm. Instead of romance, I faced a dazzling fiancée and an unexpected proposal that would change everything I thought I knew. Read the full story here.
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My Husband Came Home Holding a Crying Baby
When Anna’s husband walked through the door holding a crying baby, her world turned upside down. Years later, the child she raised as her own is faced with a life-altering choice.
The scent of garlic and onions filled the small kitchen as I stirred a pot of soup. It had been a long day, and I was trying to distract myself by perfecting dinner. The house felt too quiet, as it often did.
A woman tasting her dish | Source: Pexels
My husband, David, was late coming home again, but I wasn’t surprised. His work as a delivery driver sometimes ran long. I wiped my hands on a dish towel, glancing at the clock.
“Seven-thirty,” I muttered. “What else is new?”
The garage door rumbled open, and I felt a flicker of relief. David was finally home. But then I heard something strange. A baby crying.
A crying baby | Source: Pexels
I frowned, drying my hands quickly. We didn’t have kids. We tried countless times until we found out I couldn’t get pregnant.
“David?” I called out, walking toward the front door.
When I stepped into the hallway, I froze. There he was, standing in the open doorway, holding a baby bundled in a soft, gray blanket.
A man holding a baby | Source: Freepik
“Hi,” he said, his voice shaky.
“David…” My eyes darted to the tiny face peeking out from the blanket. “What is that?”
“It’s a baby,” he replied, as if I couldn’t hear the piercing cries filling the room.
“I can see that,” I snapped, taking a step closer. “But why are you holding a baby?”
A shocked blonde woman | Source: Freepik
“I found him,” David said softly, his eyes wide. “On our doorstep.”
I cut him off. “Wait. Someone left a baby on our doorstep? Like some kind of… I don’t know… a movie or something?”
“I’m serious, Anna,” he said. “There was no note, nothing. Just him.”
A man holding a baby | Source: Pexels
The baby whimpered, and David adjusted the blanket again. “He was so cold, Anna. I couldn’t leave him out there.”
“Let me see him.” My voice came out more forceful than I intended.
David hesitated but finally stepped closer. He peeled back the edge of the blanket, revealing a tiny hand. My breath caught in my throat.
A shocked woman holding a newborn baby | Source: Midjourney
“Anna, are you okay?” David asked, watching my face.
I didn’t answer. My eyes were glued to the baby’s hand. A small, crescent-shaped birthmark rested near his thumb. My knees felt weak.
“Anna,” David repeated, more urgently. “What’s wrong?”
A close-up of a newborn baby’s head | Source: Pexels
“This can’t be,” I whispered.
Six months ago, my younger sister, Lily, had stormed out of my life. The fight was stupid, but the damage it caused wasn’t. She had called me judgmental; I had called her irresponsible. Neither of us had apologized.
Two women arguing | Source: Freepik
When Lily left, she vanished completely. No calls. No messages. Nothing. I’d convinced myself she didn’t care, though I never stopped thinking about her.
But now, staring at that birthmark, the truth hit me like a wave. This baby wasn’t just any baby.
“He’s Lily’s,” I said.
A serious woman holding a baby | Source: Midjourney
David frowned. “What?”
“The birthmark,” I said, pointing to the tiny crescent shape. “Lily has the same one on her wrist. It runs in the family.”
He looked at the baby’s hand, then back at me. “You’re saying this baby is your nephew?”
I nodded, my heart pounding.
A side shot of a woman holding a baby | Source: Midjourney
“But… I didn’t even know Lily was pregnant,” David said.
“Neither did I,” I whispered.
A mix of anger and sadness surged through me. “Why didn’t she tell me? Why would she leave her baby here?”
David looked as lost as I felt. “I don’t know, Anna. But what do we do now?”
A man holding a baby on his shoulder | Source: Pexels
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The baby’s soft whimpers filled the silence. I reached out and touched his tiny hand, feeling its warmth against my skin.
I shook my head. “We should call someone. The police, maybe. Or social services.”
David’s jaw tightened. “You really think they’ll take better care of him than us? He’s family, Anna.”
A serious man | Source: Pexels
I blinked back tears, feeling torn in two. For years, I’d dreamed of holding a baby in my arms. But this wasn’t how it was supposed to happen.
The baby let out a soft cry, and David rocked him gently. “Look at him, Anna,” he said. “He’s just a baby. He didn’t ask for any of this.”
A close-up shot of a father with his baby | Source: Freepik
I took a deep breath, my mind racing. “If we do this… if we keep him… it’s not just for tonight, David. It’s for life.”
He nodded. “I know.”
I looked at the baby again, his tiny face scrunched up in sleep. My heart ached, torn between fear and something else—a small, fragile hope.
A woman holding a baby | Source: Pexels
The years had flown by, but every moment with Ethan felt like a gift. At 13, he was tall for his age, with dark curls that always seemed unruly and a grin that could light up a room. He called me “Mom,” and David “Dad,” and I never got tired of hearing it.
Our home was filled with the sounds of his laughter, his endless questions, and the occasional thud of a basketball against the garage door. He was a good kid, full of heart.
A happy teenager | Source: Pexels
“Ethan!” I called from the kitchen one afternoon. “Don’t forget your lunchbox. You left it on the counter again!”
“Got it, Mom!” he shouted back, running through the house.
David appeared behind me, sipping his coffee. “Thirteen years,” he said, shaking his head. “Feels like yesterday when we found him.”
A couple talking over breakfast | Source: Pexels
I smiled. “He’s the best thing that ever happened to us.”
David leaned in to kiss my cheek, but before he could, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it!” Ethan hollered, already halfway to the door.
I wiped my hands on a towel, following him. When Ethan opened the door, I stopped in my tracks.
A shocked woman | Source: Freepik
Lily stood there, dressed in an elegant coat, her heels clicking on the porch as she shifted her weight. Her diamond earrings sparkled, and her face—though older—was as striking as I remembered.
“Anna,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “I need to talk to you.”
A rich woman | Source: Pexels
We sat in the living room, the air thick with tension. Ethan hovered nearby, watching the woman who was his birth mother with cautious curiosity.
“Ethan,” I said gently, “why don’t you give us a moment?”
He hesitated, then nodded. “Okay, Mom,” he said, disappearing upstairs.
A teenage boy by the stairs | Source: Midjourney
Lily’s eyes followed him, a mixture of longing and guilt flashing across her face.
“Why are you here, Lily?” I asked, my voice steady but cold.
She looked at me, her eyes filling with tears. “I made a mistake, Anna. A terrible mistake. I never should have left him. I wasn’t ready then, but I am now.”
A crying woman | Source: Pexels
I felt my chest tighten. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I want my son back,” she said, her voice breaking. “I can give him everything now. A big house, the best schools, opportunities you can’t even imagine. He deserves that.”
Before I could say anything, Ethan appeared, his gaze locked on Lily.
An angry teenage boy | Source: Freepik
“You’re my birth mom, aren’t you?” he asked bluntly.
Lily blinked, startled by his question. “Yes,” she said slowly. “I am. I’ve come to take you home with me.”
Ethan didn’t flinch. “Home? This is my home.”
A woman talking to an angry teenage boy | Source: Midjourney
Her face softened, and she reached out as if to touch him. “I know this is sudden, but I can give you so much, Ethan. A better life. A bigger house, the best schools, anything you could want.”
Ethan took a step back, shaking his head. “You think I care about that? You don’t even know me.”
Lily’s hand dropped, her expression faltering. “Ethan, I—”
A close-up shot of a crying woman | Source: Pexels
“You don’t know my favorite food. You don’t know I’m terrible at spelling but great at math. You weren’t there when I broke my arm in third grade or when I got my first basketball trophy,” he said, his voice rising.
“Ethan,” I said softly, but he kept going.
A teenage boy signing a cross | Source: Freepik
“They were there,” he said, pointing at me and David. “They’ve been there every single day. You’re a stranger to me.”
Lily’s eyes glistened with tears. “I know I made mistakes, but I’m your mother, Ethan. That’s a bond that can’t be broken.”
He squared his shoulders, his voice firm. “Family isn’t about blood. It’s about love. And I already have a family. I’m not going anywhere.”
A boy with his arms crossed | Source: Midjourney
Lily’s shoulders sagged, the weight of his words sinking in. She turned to me, her expression a mixture of guilt and resignation.
“You’ve raised him well, Anna,” she said quietly. “I can see how much he loves you.”
I nodded, my voice steady but kind. “He’s happy, Lily. That’s all we’ve ever wanted for him.”
A serious woman | Source: Freepik
Lily gave Ethan one last, lingering look, then turned to leave. As the door closed behind her, Ethan let out a long breath.
“You okay?” I asked, pulling him into a hug.
“Yeah,” he said, his voice muffled against my shoulder. “I just… I don’t get how she could leave me like that.”
A woman hugging her son | Source: Midjourney
David joined us, placing a hand on Ethan’s back. “Sometimes people make mistakes they can’t undo. But you’ve got us, kiddo. Always.”
A week ago, God rewarded me with my own child. I found out that I was pregnant.
A happy woman a pregnancy test | Source: Pexels
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.
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