Finding a hidden Christmas gift is supposed to bring excitement and joy — but what if the tag reveals a name that shatters your trust? One woman’s discovery turned heartbreak into a bold act of revenge that’s equal parts shocking and satisfying.
Two days before Christmas, I found a hidden gift box in my husband’s closet meant for his mistress. I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. I planned the “perfect” surprise instead, one they’d never forget.
I never thought I’d be the type of woman who’d get creative with payback, but life has a way of surprising you. Just like finding that little red gift box in my husband’s closet surprised me. Now, sitting here with a glass of wine, I can’t help but smile at how perfectly my Christmas surprise turned out.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
The first sign something was wrong came a month before Christmas. Jimmy started working late… really late. The kind of late that makes you wonder if your husband’s office actually has a bed hidden somewhere.
Then, one day, out of the blue, he was already home. Weird.
“Hey, you’re home early! I took half a day off today. Headache. So, how was the meeting with the client” his voice echoed from the kitchen as I walked through our front door at 7 p.m. These days, that counts as early.
I dropped my keys in the ceramic bowl we’d bought on our honeymoon. “Yeah, the meeting was fine.”
A man smiling | Source: Midjourney
The house felt empty despite the Christmas decorations I’d put up — the garland along the stairs, the wreaths on every door, and the giant tree in our living room that I’d decorated alone while Jimmy worked another late night.
“I made pasta,” he called out. “Want some?”
“Already ate.” I headed upstairs, my footsteps heavy on the wooden stairs. “Got a headache. Think I’ll turn in early.”
A woman ascending upstairs | Source: Midjourney
That night, I lay awake listening to Jimmy’s steady breathing beside me, wondering when exactly we’d become strangers who shared a bed. Five years of marriage, no kids yet. We’d been “waiting for the right time.”
Now, I wondered if there’d ever be one.
My mom had warned me about marrying young. “You’re only 23, Alina,” she’d said. “What’s the rush?”
But I’d been so sure. Jimmy was different. He was special. He was… well, currently getting a text at 2 a.m. that made his phone light up the darkness of our bedroom.
A man using a smartphone in his bedroom | Source: Midjourney
Two days before Christmas, I finally tackled Jimmy’s disaster of a home office and then started cleaning his closet. Between the messy clothes, tangled charging cables, and abandoned gym gear, something caught my eye.
It was a red gift box tucked behind some of his winter coats.
My heart skipped. Maybe I’d been wrong. Maybe he’d planned a surprise. Maybe all those late nights were just him working hard to afford something special for me.
Then I saw the note attached with a pristine silver ribbon: “LOVE YOU, JULIE!”
Here’s the heartbreaker: My name IS NOT JULIE!
A red gift box | Source: Midjourney
The world didn’t stop spinning. My hands didn’t shake. Instead, a strange calm washed over me as I opened the box to find a diamond necklace — the exact one I’d shown him months ago during our anniversary dinner.
“Look how beautiful that is,” I’d said, pointing to the jewelry store window.
“Too expensive,” he’d replied, barely glancing up from his phone.
Apparently not too expensive for Julie, though!
A heartbroken woman holding a red gift box | Source: Midjourney
I pulled out my phone and dialed Mark, my furniture-fixing friend from college. “Remember when you said you owe me for helping with your divorce paperwork? Time to cash in that favor.”
“Alina? Everything okay?”
“Not really. How good are you at modifying gift boxes?”
Mark’s workshop smelled like sawdust and revenge when I visited. He whistled as he examined the box. “You sure about this, Alina? Once we modify it, we can’t—”
“Absolutely.” I handed him a small canister that contained my secret recipe for revenge. “Make it count.”
A woman holding a small canister | Source: Midjourney
“It’ll trigger the moment anyone lifts the lid more than an inch.” He demonstrated the mechanism with careful hands. “Spring-loaded, just like you asked. It will hit everything within a three-foot radius. Industrial grade stuff.”
I smiled, imagining the scene. “Perfect!”
“Want to tell me who it’s for?”
“Let’s just say someone’s getting an extra special Christmas surprise this year.”
A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney
That evening, I returned the gift box to its hiding spot, right where Jimmy would expect to find it. Now came the hard part… waiting.
Christmas morning dawned bright and cold. I’d always loved the magic, anticipation, and joy of Christmas. This year, I felt a different kind of anticipation as I watched from the kitchen while Jimmy grabbed his coat, the red box poorly hidden under his arm.
“Heading to the office, hun?” I asked sweetly, stirring my coffee. “On Christmas?”
A man smiling against the backdrop of Christmas decorations | Source: Midjourney
“Just for an hour,” he mumbled, not meeting my eyes. “Emergency client meeting, sugar.”
“Of course. Don’t work too hard.”
He smiled and left. I grabbed my car keys and followed him to Honey Bunz, our favorite restaurant.
Through the window, I saw her. JULIE. My husband’s mistress. She had that perfectly styled blonde hair, red lipstick, and a designer outfit. Everything I didn’t have.
A young woman smiling in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
Julie bounced in her seat like a kid on Christmas morning as Jimmy approached. “Awww, Jim, darling! You shouldn’t have!” She clapped her hands together, drawing stares from nearby tables.
“Anything for you, sweetheart.” Jimmy’s voice carried through the window he’d forgotten to close completely. He slid into the booth across from her, presenting the glittery box with a flourish. “I picked it out for you, my love.”
“Oh my god, is it…?” Julie’s eyes widened as she grabbed the box. “The diamond necklace from La Enchanted Diamonds? The one I showed you last month? The diamond ring from Botswana?”
An excited woman holding a glittery gift box | Source: Midjourney
“Open it and see, sugar.” Jimmy leaned forward, grinning like a fool.
“I’m trying. The knot seems a bit too tight,” Julie said.
“Let me help you,” Jimmy rose from his chair and approached her as they untied the ribbon.
“Three…” I whispered, my phone steady and recording. “Two… one…”
SPLAT!
The explosion of green paint was magnificent. Julie’s scream hit a note I didn’t think was humanly possible. “MY HAIR! MY DRESS!” She jumped up, paint dripping down her face like melted ice cream. “JIMMY, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?”
A startled woman shrieking | Source: Midjourney
Jimmy stood frozen, mouth open, green paint dripping from his nose. “I… I don’t…”
“Is this some kind of joke?” Julie shrieked, wiping paint from her eyes. “Do you think this is funny, you MORON?”
An elderly woman at the next table snorted into her mimosa. “Well, I think it’s hilarious!”
“Someone get this on video!” a teenage boy called out.
“Already trending!” another responded, typing furiously on his phone.
A shocked man with his face covered in green paint | Source: Midjourney
Julie grabbed her ruined designer purse. “I look like the Grinch threw up on me! This dress cost more than your monthly salary, you idiot!”
“Julie, baby, wait—” Jimmy stood up, spreading green paint everywhere.
“Don’t ‘baby’ me! I’m done being your dirty little suprise!” She stormed toward the door, leaving green footprints in her wake. “And by the way? Your wife’s way too good for you!”
You got that right, sister!
A furious woman | Source: Midjourney
I barely made it home before Jimmy burst through the door, his face and expensive suit covered in bright green paint.
“What happened to you?” I gasped, fighting to keep my expression concerned. “You look like the Grinch!”
“Some… some kids with paint balloons,” he sputtered. “They were targeting everyone outside my office.”
“On Christmas? How awful!” I reached for the manila envelope on the counter. “Oh, by the way, these came for you today. Consider it my Christmas gift, DARLING!”
A woman holding a manila envelope | Source: Midjourney
Jimmy’s paint-streaked fingers trembled as he opened the envelope. His eyes widened at the divorce papers inside.
“WHAT?” He looked up, anxiety dawning on his green face.
“Merry Christmas, darling.” I pulled the diamond necklace out of my pocket. “By the way, your taste in jewelry has improved since our anniversary. Poor Julie. She missed out on this!”
A woman holding a diamond necklace | Source: Midjourney
“You… you swi—”
“Yep! I switched the gift box you’d so lovingly hidden for your sweet mistress! How was the surprise? Liked it?”
“Alina, honey, let me explain. You don’t understand!” He stepped forward. “Julie means nothing to me! She was a mistake!”
“A mistake?” I laughed. “A mistake is forgetting to buy milk. A mistake is mixing whites with colors in the laundry. Buying your mistress the exact necklace your wife wanted? That’s betrayal.”
A man gaping in shock | Source: Midjourney
“We can fix this!” He reached for me with paint-stained hands. “I’ll do anything! Counseling, therapy, whatever you want!”
“What I want?” I stepped back. “I wanted a faithful husband. I wanted the man I married. Instead, I got a liar who can’t even come up with a decent excuse for being caught. ‘Kids with paint balloons?’ Really?”
“Baby, please,” Jimmy stepped forward, green paint dripping onto our pristine floors. “It was nothing serious. Julie was just… she didn’t mean anything. We never—”
“Save it.” I held up my hand. “I’ve heard all the excuses. ‘She’s just a friend.’ ‘We’re just colleagues.’ ‘Those late nights were just work.’ Do you know what the worst part is? I actually believed you for a while.”
An angry woman yelling | Source: Midjourney
“Don’t do this. Please. I’m sorry.”
I laughed. “You know what’s funny? I spent months thinking I wasn’t enough. That I needed to be prettier, smarter, and better somehow. But standing here looking at you covered in paint, I realize you’re the one who was never enough.”
“Give me another chance.”
“No.” I grabbed my packed suitcase from behind the couch. “But thanks for the necklace. Consider it my consolation prize. Oh, and Jimmy? Green really isn’t your color.”
As I drove away, I caught one last glimpse of Jimmy in my rearview mirror, a pathetic green figure standing in our driveway. My phone buzzed with notifications. Apparently, someone had posted the paint incident online. The video was already going viral.
A woman driving a car | Source: Unsplash
The last I heard, Julie dumped him following the paint incident that made rounds at the law firm where they worked. She couldn’t handle being known as ‘the green mistress.
Jimmy tried dating apps for a while, but it’s hard to find matches when you’re infamous as “the green Christmas cheater.”
Me? I’m doing just fine. The necklace looks beautiful with everything I wear. Every time it catches the light, I smile, remembering my special Christmas payback: the day I wrapped up my marriage with a bow and a whole lot of green paint.
A cheerful woman wearing a diamond necklace | Source: Midjourney
Here’s another story: I mourned my dead wife for 23 years after she died in a plane crash. But fate had arranged for one more meeting with her.
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.
Man Kicked Pregnant Woman out – Story of the Day
I was so thrilled to reveal our pear-sized growing baby to my boyfriend, thinking he would be delighted with a surprise party and the ultrasound images. Instead, he threw me out of his house and the last person I imagined was right there for me.
The doorbell’s bright chime disrupted my excited anticipation. I smoothed the baby blue tablecloth and set down the ultrasound scans on the coffee table, displaying them proudly. After four months, Miles was returning from pursuing his football dreams.
He was coming home to a surprise. As he entered, sweat-streaked and weary, his eyes fixed on the swell beneath my dress. I was pregnant, but my excited anticipation faded under his intense gaze.
“Miles, we’re having a baby,” I stated, my voice wavering.
“I never wanted to be a father, Bella,” he scoffed. “You’re ruining everything!
For illustration purposes only | Source: YouTube / LOVEBUSTER
Suddenly, I noticed his friend, Dave, standing right behind him. He spoke up from the doorway. “Stop yelling at her, man.”
“This is none of your business, Dave!” Miles snapped back and slammed the door in his friend’s face.
I clutched my belly protectively as tears blurred my vision. “I want this child, Miles. It’s part of us,” I insisted.
“I can’t deal with a baby now, Annabelle. It’s your problem if you keep it,” he shook his head.
“But I thought you loved me,” I whispered.
For illustration purposes only | Source: YouTube / LOVEBUSTER
“That’s not enough. Love doesn’t win championships,” he retorted. “It’s the baby or me. You choose.”
“I won’t give up our child,” I declared, strength rising within me.
“Then leave my house—and my life!” he demanded, his eyes unyielding.
With a protective resolve for my unborn child, I packed my things and left, knowing I could never choose Miles over this new life.
Snowflakes spiraled under the streetlamp’s glow as I struggled with disbelief. Miles’ betrayal echoed in my mind, shattering my dreams for the future. I sat on a snow-draped step, cradling my belly, feeling utterly alone.
For illustration purposes only | Source: YouTube / LOVEBUSTER
Echoes of my lonely past – growing up in an orphanage and never making familial connections – loomed over me. But out of nowhere, Dave appeared, his concern etched in the snow-melted paths on his face.
“Annabelle, come with me until you figure things out,” he offered, kneeling to look into my eyes.
I hesitated, pride warring with desperation. “I can’t, Dave. I don’t want your pity.”
His earnest plea broke through my resolve as a sudden pain clenched my abdomen. “You need a safe place. Let’s go,” Dave insisted.
Reluctantly, I acquiesced, guided more by necessity than choice, and we drove through the blizzard to his cozy, cluttered home. It was such a different atmosphere than what I’d known with Miles, filled with warmth and haphazard charm.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Mismatched furniture and overflowing bookshelves spoke of a life well-lived.
“Thank you,” I murmured, grateful yet overwhelmed.
While I settled in, Dave fumbled with hospitality, offering me food and insisting on my comfort. Dinner was simple but nurturing, and it brought a semblance of peace. But when Dave told me he was sleeping on the couch, I had to protest.
“I’m not a burden, Dave. You should be comfortable in your own home,” I shook my head.
“It’s fine, Annabelle. Rest now. We’ll sort everything out tomorrow.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
***
I lay in Dave’s guest room, struggling against the haunting memory of Miles’ indifferent gaze. Sleep eventually claimed me after several hours of sifting through painful thoughts and tears.
A week later, the rhythm of life with Dave brought a semblance of normalcy. He was ever considerate, his kindness so different from what I knew with my ex. However, I had to fend for myself.
One crisp morning, after Dave left for work, I slipped out with a heavy heart. I’d taken a supermarket delivery job, so I wouldn’t burden him with more of my troubles.
But the job proved harder than I imagined. Trudging through the snow, the weight of groceries, and my growing discomfort only made things harder. Also, I should’ve known Dave would try to find me.
For illustration purposes only | Source: YouTube / LOVEBUSTER
Suddenly, his car pulled alongside me on a busy sidewalk. His expression was full of worry and astonishment.
“Annabelle, why are you working like this?” he asked.
Trying to downplay my efforts, I mentioned needing the job for my prenatal needs. Dave frowned and shook his head angrily, but I know it stemmed from care and concern.
“I can’t just sit around, Dave. I need to prepare for the baby,” I continued, my resolve firm.
He sighed, leading me to the back of his car. “Let me show you something,” he said, opening the trunk and revealing a collection of maternity essentials. I began crying, overwhelmed by his thoughtful preparation.
For illustration purposes only | Source: YouTube / LOVEBUSTER
“Why all this, Dave?” I inquired through the tears.
“It’s for you and the little one,” he said with a heartfelt smile. “You’re going to be an amazing mother, Annabelle.”
His words and actions, so full of unconditional support, deepened my gratitude. Hugging him, I whispered, “You’ll make a great dad someday, too.”
Still, I was still hesitant. Accepting even more from Dave seemed wrong. But he proposed a trade-off: my cooking for his support. He also joked and teased me, and that light-hearted banter eased the tension in my body and heart.
For the first time since this nightmare began, I laughed genuinely. Over the next few days, our pact became a beautiful routine at his house. I found solace in the simple acts of kindness he showered upon me.
For illustration purposes only | Source: YouTube / LOVEBUSTER
At the supermarket, I resolved to leave my job. I could afford to, at least for now, thanks to Dave’s support. And as time passed, our connection deepened.
Dave’s gentle presence became a constant in my life. His care was evident in every gesture, from tying my shoes to surprising me with thoughtful gifts.
One day, as he felt the baby kick, the joy in his eyes sparked a realization in me: I was falling in love with him. But fear crept in, overshadowing my newfound happiness. Could someone like Dave truly love a soon-to-be single mother with a complicated past?
These thoughts haunted me, and I wrestled with the idea of confessing my feelings, fearful of risking the precious bond we’d built.
***
For illustration purposes only | Source: YouTube / LOVEBUSTER
During a routine chicken casserole night, Dave arrived from work, smiling tiredly. “Smells incredible,” he complimented, placing some tulips on the table.
As we ate, he praised the meal. “Annabelle, this is phenomenal. Reminds me of my mom’s cooking.”
I felt warmth running through my body at his words. So, as we talked, our shared memories made me bold. “I’m so glad you liked it, honey,” I said, immediately regretting the slip.
Dave’s reaction was immediate: his smile faltered. Our pleasant moment was shattered, and I panicked. “Dave? I… it’s just pregnancy brain, I’m sorry,” I stammered, trying to lighten the mood.
He attempted a grin again but stood from the table. “Delicious, as always. Thanks,” he said, leaving the room abruptly.
For illustration purposes only | Source: YouTube / LOVEBUSTER
The following days were filled with awkward silences. Dave’s behavior changed; he left early and returned late. His greetings were brief, and his eyes always avoided mine.
One afternoon, I was curled up on the couch, lost in a sea of worry and self-loathing, when a sharp electronic chime shattered the oppressive silence.
It was a voicemail notification on Dave’s phone, lying abandoned on the coffee table.
A woman’s voice, professional and polite, filled the room. “Mr. Evans, this is a reminder that the documents for your new apartment are ready for pick-up at your convenience.”
The message struck like a blow, sinking my heart. Dave was planning to move. Heartbroken, I realized I couldn’t stay, not as a reminder of a complicated situation he wanted to escape.
For illustration purposes only | Source: YouTube / LOVEBUSTER
So, I decided to go, my heart even heavier than when I tried to leave before. “We have each other, my little boy,” I whispered to my belly, preparing to face the world alone as I packed.
Before I could leave, though, the blare of the doorbell made my entire body jerk. For a second, I thought it was Dave, but I opened the door to see Miles, who sneered at my pregnant form. His first words dripped with disdain. “Motherhood’s added a few pounds, huh?”
“What do you want, Miles?” I asked, my voice sharp.
He breezed past, dismissing my anger with a smirk. “Just checking on you and my bachelor buddy’s hospitality,” he said, his tone patronizing.
His audacity stunned me. “Get out,” I demanded.
For illustration purposes only | Source: YouTube / LOVEBUSTER
He ignored my command, finally getting to the point. “Let’s be a family, Annabelle. Think of the publicity for me, the ‘devoted dad.’”
Publicity? For his football career? Was he insane? He wanted to use our child for his gain! Revolted, I pushed him away, condemning his monstrous selfishness.
Miles laughed. “What are you going to do without me? You think Dave took you in because he loved you? Cared about you and your baggage? You were just another project, a chance to play hero. A charity case, not his ladylove.”
For a second, I considered his words, my thoughts warring in my head. But a sudden pain, sharp and unavoidable, distracted me. A few beats later, liquid splashed on the floor.
“My water broke, Miles,” I gasped, panic setting in as another contraction hit.
For illustration purposes only | Source: YouTube / LOVEBUSTER
His reaction shifted from mockery to horror. “The baby’s coming?” he asked, staggering back in disbelief.
As pain overwhelmed me, Miles fainted, and darkness edged my vision. But during the chaos, Dave’s voice reached me, like a knight ready to save the princess.
“Annabelle? Are you alright?” Dave asked, worriedly taking my hand. “We need to go to the hospital.”
“I… I’m so sorry, Dave,” I stammered, tears blurring my vision further. “For everything. For intruding into your life, for making you take care of me all these months. I know… about the new apartment. You were moving out because of me.”
Dave frowned and then, sighed, exasperated. “You’ve got it all wrong. The apartment is for us, Annabelle,” he explained. “It has a nursery for our baby. I love you.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: YouTube / LOVEBUSTER
Another sharp pain overtook my body before I could gush over his confession. Dave scooped me in his arms and put me in his car, not even caring that Miles was still unconscious on his tiled floor.
The drive to the hospital was full of agony and anticipation. Our baby boy Matthew’s arrival was a chorus of cries and relief, but it marked the beginning of our new journey, one full of love.
Years later, with the birth of our daughter Hope, our family became complete. Dave’s unwavering passion and protectiveness turned past pains into distant memories I never thought about again.
Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.
While a pregnant Annabelle found true love after being kicked out by her boyfriend, in another corner of the world, Megan found her special someone after her husband David left her. He not only fat-shamed his devoted wife but also dumped her for another woman. Here’s the full story.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers 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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