While Annie is having a lazy Saturday, sitting around and scrolling through social media, a video message from her mom pops up. As she hits play, Annie discovers that one of her father’s pranks has left her mother scared and alone. Annie rushes over to her parents’ house, ready to teach her father a lesson.
I didn’t think my dad would ever take one of his dumb jokes this far, but here we are, having lived through it. My phone lit up earlier today with a video message from my mom that made my heart stop for a second.
I wasn’t prepared for what I saw, and now, hours later, I’m still trying to process the whole thing.
A worried young woman | Source: Midjourney
Let me back up a second and give you some context on how everything went down. My dad is what you’d call “old school.” He has this grumpy exterior, like he came straight out of the 1970s and never quite adapted to life in the present.
He’s not a bad guy, but he can be ridiculously difficult to get along with. He doesn’t do heart-to-hearts or deep conversations. Instead, he sheds part of his grumpiness off when he’s at home and leans into his pranking nature. They are harmless, annoying little pranks that he thinks are hilarious but leave my mom rolling her eyes and sighing.
A grumpy man | Source: Midjourney
Most of the time, Dad does really stupid stuff like hiding Mom’s glasses when she’s looking for them or misplacing her keys right when she’s about to leave. These pranks have always been annoying, but nothing too wild.
Except today.
Today, Dad decided to really outdo himself.
I was in my little apartment about 20 minutes from my parents’ house. I was minding my own business, sipping on a soft drink and scrolling through TikTok, when my phone pinged with a message from my mother.
A woman sitting in her living room | Source: Midjourney
A video message.
The thumbnail was black, and all I could hear was her voice, which was muffled and kind of shaky. Like she was afraid of something.
That’s when I got a bit panicked. Mom wasn’t the type to send video messages. To be honest, I didn’t think she knew how to do it. Immediately, I knew that something was off.
I tapped play, and there she was. The camera was all shaky, and she was crouched in a corner, whispering like she was about to be caught by someone or something.
A close up of a woman | Source: Midjourney
“Annie,” she breathed into the phone. “Sweetheart, your dad… he locked me in the basement. Can you come help me? He thinks this is funny. All because he wanted to eat in peace. I think there are rats or mice in the basement, Annie. Come quickly.”
What. The. Hell.
I was so shocked, I nearly dropped my phone onto the floor. Locked in the basement? He locked her in the basement? And it was supposed to be funny?
A worried woman | Source: Midjourney
My dad, in all his “wisdom,” had apparently decided that the best way to enjoy his dinner in peace was to lock my mother in the basement. Just so that she wouldn’t remind him to eat his veggies during a precious football game? He truly didn’t care about his cholesterol.
I called her back immediately, but it went straight to voicemail.
“Pick up, pick up, pick up!” I muttered.
A worried woman | Source: Midjourney
My brain went straight into overdrive. My mom never asked for help unless things were way beyond something she could do for herself. She was a woman who could handle herself. I mean, she’s lived with my father for years, so that had to count for something. But she was also a woman who was deeply afraid of the dark and confined places.
So now, she was locked in the basement and not answering her phone. Dad had really crossed a line with this one.
I texted her, but there was no response.
A woman sitting in a basement | Source: Midjourney
“Maybe her phone died, Annie,” I told myself. “She must be so afraid… and livid.”
I knew I had to get to her as soon as possible.
I grabbed my keys and bolted out of my apartment. I live about twenty minutes away from my parents, but I swear, I made it in twelve.
Car keys on a table | Source: Midjourney
The entire drive, I was fuming, and I already knew how this was going to end. My dad thought he was clever, but if there’s one thing I inherited from him, other than his eye color, it’s the ability to come up with a solid revenge plan.
“I can’t believe the nerve of this man,” I said to myself as I turned into our street.
When I got to the house, I didn’t even bother knocking. I had my spare key, so I let myself in. As soon as I stepped inside, I could hear the muffled sound of the TV blaring from the living room.
A woman in a car | Source: Midjourney
Classic Dad.
He was probably sitting there, stuffing his face with steak. It was a home routine—Saturdays meant steak for dinner. Little did he know, I was about to teach him a lesson, too.
I headed straight for the basement. Sure enough, the door was locked, but the key hung from the hook next to the door.
I knocked softly, and Mom’s relieved voice came through the wood.
A woman standing next to a door | Source: Midjourney
“Honey, is that you?” she whispered.
“Yeah, it’s me, Mom,” I said. “Hang tight, we’re getting you out of there.”
I unlocked the door, and when my mother stepped out, she didn’t even look mad. She just looked tired. But there was a glint in her eye, like she wanted to get revenge on my father, too.
“Dad’s still in the living room,” I said. “He didn’t even hear me come in.”
A frowning older woman | Source: Midjourney
“Oh? He’s still enjoying his victory, then?”
“Yeah, well, that’s going to be short-lived, Mom,” I said.
There’s one thing about my father: he loves his “throne.” It’s a ridiculous electric recliner that he spent way too much money on a few years ago. He loves it more than any person in the world, which is sad and pathetic, but true.
A man sitting on a recliner | Source: Midjourney
The chair has heated seats, a massage feature, and even USB ports. He treats it like it’s something sacred in our home.
Naturally, I aimed my revenge at it.
I told my mom the plan, and she laughed nervously. We crept toward the living room where Dad was zoned out, still glued to his game, digging into his dinner.
A woman laughing | Source: Midjourney
I quietly unplugged his precious chair from the wall. And the best part? This man didn’t even notice a thing. Then, with my mom watching, I pulled a little tube of super glue that I had taken from the kitchen.
I smeared it over the chair’s buttons, still absolutely perplexed that my father didn’t register that I was in the room, right next to him.
After that, Mom and I went back to the kitchen. We sat on the bar stools in silence as Mom opened a tub of cookies for us to nibble on.
A container of chocolate chip cookies | Source: Midjourney
Ten minutes later, the game went to half-time. We could hear Dad shift in his chair and he tried to press the recline button. Nothing happened. He frowned and pressed it again, harder this time.
Still nothing.
“What the heck?” he grumbled, fiddling with the controls. Then, I saw it. The moment when the realization hit him.
A man sitting on a recliner | Source: Midjourney
He started pulling at the armrests, trying to get up, but his hands were stuck. His face turned from confusion to full-on panic.
“What’s wrong, Frank?” Mom asked, strolling into the living room.
“The darn chair is broken!” he complained.
“Oh, really? Maybe because you overuse it. But wasn’t it fine before you locked me in the basement?” Mom asked.
My father’s eyes widened.
An expressionless woman | Source: Midjourney
“You didn’t… Wait! How did you get out?” he asked.
“Annie,” Mom said simply.
I stepped out from my spot in the kitchen, where I had been recording their conversation.
“Smile for the camera, Dad,” I said. “This is going in the family group chat!”
“You wouldn’t dare, Annie!” he barked at me, tugging helplessly at his stuck hands.
“Oh, but I would,” I said.
A man sitting in a recliner | Source: Midjourney
I pressed send, and the replies started rolling in soon. If there was one thing my father hated, it was being seen beyond his usual façade. He didn’t want people to see the real him. And this was him, an ugly person.
“I’m taking Mom home with me for the rest of the weekend,” I said. “You can figure out how to get yourself off your throne.”
Mom went upstairs to pack herself an overnight bag. I didn’t want to leave her with Dad. But I doubt he’ll be locking anyone in the basement anytime soon.
A smiling young woman | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done?
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you |
3 Wild Stories About Weddings That Were Totally Destroyed at the Last Moment
Weddings are supposed to be picture-perfect, with every detail planned down to the last petal on the aisle. But sometimes, just as everything’s set to go off without a hitch, life throws in some unbelievable twists.
From jaw-dropping revelations to dramatic exits, these three stories prove that no wedding is truly safe from disaster. So grab a seat and get ready for some wedding mayhem… because you won’t believe what went down at these “I do’s”!
A chaotic scene from a wedding | Source: Midjourney
They Held a Secret Wedding behind My Back
My wedding day was supposed to be legendary. I mean, you can picture it: a huge barn, 250 guests, and every detail planned down to the final candle, all arranged by my family.
But when the big day arrived, I was standing there in my gown, staring at a room with only 30 guests.
As if that wasn’t strange enough, I soon realized that it wasn’t just my distant cousins who’d flaked. No. My parents, my bridesmaids, and even my fiancé were nowhere to be seen.
A wedding ceremony setup in a barn | Source: Midjourney
I pulled out my phone, trying to reach anyone who’d answer. First, my mom. Then Ethan, my fiancé. Then bridesmaids, cousins, and even my uncle Rob.
Dead silence. Until, finally, one of my bridesmaids picked up.
“Where is everyone, Celia?” I demanded, panicked and half out of my mind. “What’s going on? If this is a prank, it’s not the least bit funny!”
A bride talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
Her voice was cold. Celia was Ethan’s cousin and when I needed one more bridesmaid to match the number of groomsmen, he suggested her.
“Lose my number, you has-been woman,” she spat. “Nobody is waiting for you here.”
I froze.
“What do you mean? Celia! What… ceremony are you at? I’m standing alone at the entrance to the barn!”
There was a pause, the air growing thick.
A bridesmaid talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, so you don’t know?” she laughed dryly. “Here, I’ll put your mom on. She’ll explain it to you.”
I could hear a rustling on the other end, and then my mom’s voice came on, casual, like she was calling me about weekly brunch plans.
“Didn’t you get my message this morning?” she asked.
An older woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
“What message? Mom, what are you talking about? Why are you guys doing this to me?” I asked, the tears close to falling down my face.
My mother sighed like I was the one causing the problems.
“Well,” she began, and I could practically hear the smugness in her voice. “Look, Amy. We just thought that Ethan would be better off with your cousin. And well, she’s pregnant.”
An upset bride | Source: Midjourney
Her words hit me like a cheap shot in a fight.
“What? Which cousin? What are you talking about?”
“Ashley, Amy,” my mother said. “She’s expecting Ethan’s baby. And we all thought that they’d make a better match than you and him, anyway. So we set up a ceremony this morning. They’re a married couple now. A married couple expecting their baby together.”
A pregnant bride | Source: Midjourney
I stood there, gripping my phone so hard that my knuckles turned white.
“So, the wedding that I’m at…” I said slowly, feeling the words cut my throat. “It’s just a cover? Or a prank? Did you enjoy hurting me?”
“Sweetheart, you’re young. You’ll get over it,” my mother replied, her tone detached. “Family has to make difficult decisions sometimes. Just… go back in there and wrap things up. Maybe you’ll get a refund on the food.”
A woman talking on a phone | Source: Midjourney
I dropped my phone, my head spinning. This couldn’t be real. I looked around at the guests who had shown up, people who hadn’t abandoned me for some twisted, family-approved plot.
I took a shaky breath, blinked back tears, and did the only thing I could think of.
Stepping to the front of the barn, I raised my voice.
An upset bride | Source: Midjourney
“Hi everyone,” I started, forcing a smile. “Thank you for coming. I know you’re all wondering where everyone else is. Well… so am I.”
A few confused laughs rippled through the room, and I took a deep breath. I noticed that the guests present were mainly mine and Ethan’s colleagues from work. Of course, they hadn’t been told the change of plans.
“The truth is, my family isn’t here because they decided that I wasn’t the one who should be getting married today.”
Guests at a wedding | Source: Midjourney
I sighed.
“Apparently, they had a wedding for my fiancé and my cousin this morning. They’re a married couple expecting their baby together,” I said, echoing my mother’s words.
Gasps and murmurs filled the space. A friend in the front row covered her mouth, her eyes wide.
A shocked woman at a wedding | Source: Midjourney
“Thank you for being here,” I said, looking around the shocked faces. “I don’t know how to make sense of this yet, but I’m so grateful to each of you.”
I gave them all a nod, turned, and walked out of the barn.
It’s been years since that day. I moved far away, cut all ties, and started over. Sometimes people ask why I don’t speak to my family, but I just smile and say they’re better off without me.
They can all go to hell.
A woman sitting in her apartment | Source: Midjourney
My SIL Decided to Ruin My Wedding Because I’m Not Good Enough for Her Brother
I’d heard so much about Colin’s sister, Meredith. He described her as strong-willed and fun, someone he shared a deep connection with.
So, when she finally flew in for our wedding, I was excited to meet her. I’d hoped for a warm start, but nothing prepared me for what happened instead.
A smiling couple | Source: Midjourney
When I arrived home, I could hear laughter coming from the living room. As I walked in, I found Colin and Meredith on the couch, laughing as he tickled her. It seemed playful, but something felt off.
Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a story about inappropriate family relations or anything of the sort. Meredith and Colin were just that close.
“Hey,” I called out.
Siblings sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
But there was no answer. I tried again, louder this time.
“Hey!”
Still, no response.
Finally, fed up, I raised my voice to my best kindergarten teacher’s voice.
“Colin!”
A woman standing in a doorway | Source: Midjourney
They stopped laughing, and Meredith gave me a dirty look.
“Jeez, no need to shout,” she said.
Colin jumped up, looking surprised.
“Alexis! Honey, I didn’t hear you come in,” he said. He hugged me, but I could barely respond.
A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney
“You two seemed pretty busy,” I said, forcing a smile.
Meredith laughed.
“He’s always been like this with me,” she said. “Tickling has always been a family thing. We just love hearing each other laugh.”
Trying to ignore the weird vibe, I reached to hug her.
Two women hugging awkwardly | Source: Midjourney
“Meredith, I’m so happy to finally meet you!” I said.
She hugged me back, but coldly, like touching me was taboo.
“Well, Colin hasn’t told me much about you,” she said.
“Colin hasn’t?” Colin repeated, frowning. “That’s not true, Mer. I’ve told you plenty about Alexis.”
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
She shrugged.
“Why didn’t you come to the airport with him?” she asked, her tone sharp and reprimanding.
“I was at work; I couldn’t leave,” I explained, feeling uncomfortable at this point.
Meredith raised an eyebrow.
“Well, I would have taken the day off if my future sister-in-law were visiting and I was meeting her for the first time.”
A busy airport | Source: Midjourney
“If I could have, I would have,” I replied, keeping my voice steady.
During dinner, I tried to join in, but Meredith kept steering the conversation to memories only they shared. Every time I spoke, they’d just move on as if I hadn’t said anything.
Instead of trying anymore, I twisted my engagement ring around my finger. I mentally went through wedding plans, reminding myself I needed to decide on the final floral arrangements. And the final design of the wedding cake.
An engagement ring on a woman’s hand | Source: Midjourney
I also needed to choose the song I wanted to walk down the aisle. Suddenly, the list seemed too long and tiring…
After dinner, Colin stood to help clear the table.
“Wow, your future wife can’t even handle the dishes herself?” Meredith muttered, glaring at me.
“Mer, I don’t mind helping,” he replied, shrugging.
She just smirked.
Dirty dishes on a table | Source: Midjourney
“Well, I don’t know how things go down here, but I wouldn’t let my fiancé do ‘women’s work’ like this. But it’s your life, Colin.”
She turned around, leaving her plate for Colin to pick up anyway.
“And don’t be long, Colin,” she said. “I’ll be waiting for our movie marathon. You and me, just like old times.”
I felt my patience snap in half.
A couple talking in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney
“What was all that about?” I asked Colin when she was gone, probably already making herself comfortable in his bedroom.
“Oh,” he said, holding a dirty pot. “I forgot to tell you, Mer is doing a movie marathon with me tonight. And I wanted to do it in my bedroom because my back and the couch are just not friends.”
“And where am I supposed to sleep?” I asked.
“You can sleep in the guest room,” he replied calmly.
A couple talking in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney
“Why doesn’t she sleep in the guest room?” I demanded.
“Come on, Alexis,” he sighed. “There’s no TV in the guest room. And it’s just one night, honey.”
“Fine, but only for tonight.”
The next morning, after a sleepless night, I made pancakes, Colin’s favorite. Meredith strolled in, watching me with a smirk.
A woman making pancakes | Source: Midjourney
“What are you making?” she asked.
“Chocolate chip pancakes. Colin’s favorite,” I replied stiffly.
She scoffed loudly as she put the kettle on.
“Colin likes pancakes with bacon, Alexis,” she said as if I was stupid. “I know my brother.”
A kettle on a counter | Source: Midjourney
“Maybe when you were kids,” I said. “But now he likes chocolate chips.”
“Colin!” she suddenly called out. “What kind of pancakes do you like better? Chocolate chip or plain buttermilk with bacon on the side?”
“Bacon, I guess,” he answered quickly.
I felt my heart sink.
“But I make you chocolate chip pancakes all the time,” I said.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
“Yeah, but honey, they’re not the same as Meredith’s.”
“Told you,” she said, satisfaction dripping from her voice.
I set down the spatula.
“Fine, let Meredith make your breakfast,” I said.
A plate of pancakes with bacon | Source: Midjourney
Later, I overheard their conversation.
“Your fiancé isn’t good enough for you, Colin. You deserve better, and you know it.”
“You’re right,” Colin replied. “I’ll talk to her.”
Furious, I marched into the living room.
A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney
“I’ve had enough of this nonsense,” I said. “If you’re choosing to side with her over me, then you can have her, Colin.”
I threw my engagement ring at him, hearing it bounce off him and onto the floor.
I turned on my heel, my mind was made up. I was done. And like that, my wedding dreams were over before they really began.
An engagement ring on a carpet | Source: Midjourney
Man Finds Out about His Bride’s Betrayal – He Goes to the Altar with a Remote Control in His Hands
As my brother Liam’s wedding approached, excitement buzzed through the air. Liam, notorious for his pranks, hinted at a huge surprise for the big day, keeping us all on edge.
He and Denise had been together for years, and when she asked me to be a bridesmaid, it felt right.
Denise was like family.
“Daphne, I need you with me on my big day,” she’d said, gifting me a box of goodies. “You’re not just Liam’s sister, you’re mine too.”
Two gift wrapped boxes | Source: Unsplash
I gladly accepted.
Denise had even planned my 21st birthday when my friends flaked, so I thought I knew her well. And to be honest, she’d spent more time planning her wedding with me than with Liam, who seemed content to just show up on the day.
But secretly, he was putting together a surprise video montage to play before their vows.
Gold 21st foil balloons | Source: Unsplash
“I’m saving all our best photos and videos,” he told me one night, showing me the project on his laptop. I could see the effort he was pouring into it, and it melted my heart.
On the morning of the wedding, I went to see Liam.
“You have no idea what’s coming,” he teased, sipping champagne as he got ready.
A man using a laptop | Source: Unsplash
“Oh boy,” I laughed, feeling the suspense. “I can’t wait.”
The ceremony was perfect. Denise had planned every detail, from the flowers to the music. But when it was time for the vows, Liam held up his hand.
“Wait,” he said to the priest. “I have something to show you all.”
He pulled out a remote, and his groomsmen rolled a large TV to the front of the altar.
A couple kneeling before a priest | Source: Unsplash
“This,” he announced, “this… is our love story.”
The screen lit up with images of Liam and Denise’s life together—their first dates, vacations, nights spent cooking together. The guests were enthralled, and Denise’s face glowed as she watched.
But then the video shifted.
A person holding a remote control | Source: Unsplash
In a sharp turn, a new clip played.
Denise was in their home, but she wasn’t alone. She was with another man, wrapped in his arms, in lingerie.
The room went deathly silent. Guests’ heads turned to Denise, whose face had turned ghostly pale. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.
An intimate photo of a couple | Source: Pexels
“This… can’t be happening,” she stammered, more to herself than anyone.
Then, to everyone’s shock, the man from the video, a guest seated at the back, stood up visibly shaken.
“Oh, hell,” he muttered, looking around nervously.
Liam’s voice broke the silence.
A man in a suit | Source: Pexels
“This is why I won’t be marrying Denise today,” he said, his voice calm but heavy with anger. “I couldn’t let everyone here witness a lie.”
The atmosphere shifted from celebratory to tense. Denise staggered back, glancing around as if searching for an ally.
She kicked off her heels, holding them by the straps.
A bride holding her shoes | Source: Pexels
“Liam, please, not here,” she begged, her voice breaking. “Let’s talk outside.”
My heart twisted as I watched her. Denise and I had been so close, but now I saw her for what she was: someone who’d hurt my brother.
Her tears didn’t move him.
“How long has this been going on?” Liam demanded.
A crying bride | Source: Pexels
“Not long,” she whispered, her composure crumbling. “I never wanted you to find out.”
“In our home, Denise?” he asked, his voice hard. “You brought him into our home.”
Guests gasped, some whispering, others turning away from the unfolding scene.
The priest, at a loss, stepped back. Denise took a shaky step toward Liam, tears streaming down her face.
A couple lying in bed | Source: Pexels
“Liam, please. Let’s just talk this through.”
But he turned on his heel and walked down the aisle, leaving her standing there alone. Denise ran after him, calling his name, but he didn’t even look back.
Later, I found Liam at the hotel bar, eating a bowl of olives and nursing a drink. He looked up as I approached.
A bride running | Source: Unsplash
“Did you know?” he asked quietly.
“No,” I said. “I had no idea.”
He took a long drink, then sighed.
“I found the video while going through Denise’s files. I thought I’d find more photos to add to the montage, but instead… I found that.”
A cocktail on a tray | Source: Unsplash
“Did I go too far, showing everyone?” he asked.
I thought for a moment. There were no good answers here.
“Maybe,” I admitted. “But she left you no choice. You deserved the truth.”
Liam gave a small nod.
“Let’s go find some cake,” he said finally. “It shouldn’t go to waste.”
I followed my brother into the dining room, letting Denise be the past. Right now, he needed me in his corner.
A white wedding cake with fruit | Source: Unsplash
Weddings are meant to celebrate love, but sometimes they reveal shocking truths instead. These stories remind us that no ceremony or relationship is ever safe from surprises.
And some endings are better left at the altar.
If you enjoyed this compilation, here’s another one for you |
3 Amazing Inheritance Stories with Unexpected Twists
When loved ones pass on, they often leave behind more than possessions. In these three stories, unexpected inheritances uncovered surprising secrets, painful truths, and life-changing lessons, proving that true legacy isn’t always material.
These remarkable inheritance stories reveal twists that brought life’s greatest lessons. They proved that the most valuable gifts can’t be measured in money.
An older man smiling | Source: Midjourney
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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