When I took in a stranded fortune teller and her newborn, I thought I was just offering shelter. But the next morning, my own daughter disappeared from her room. It was late when I pulled off the highway, my eyes heavy after a long shift.
Up ahead, something lay on the side of the road. As my headlights swept over it, I saw a woman, waving weakly. I slowed down, my doctor instincts kicking in.
She looked young and wore a bright scarf wrapped around her head. Her dress was flowing, with patterns and colors that almost glowed under the car’s lights. She looked like she was a fortune teller on a fairground, or maybe a traveling show.
“Help me,” she gasped as I got out and approached. “Are you hurt?” I asked, moving closer. She shook her head, wincing.
“No… not hurt. I—” she grimaced, clutching her stomach.
“It’s my baby… she’s coming…”
It took me a second to process, but then I saw the unmistakable signs. She was in labor, and the contractions looked close.
“Alright, stay calm,” I said, kneeling beside her. “I’m a doctor. Let’s get you through this, okay?”
I glanced around, but we were alone.
I hadn’t delivered a baby in years, not since my residency. Still, I had to do something. There wasn’t time to get her anywhere else.
“What’s your name?” I asked, trying to keep her calm. “Miranda,” she whispered, then cried out, another wave of pain washing over her. The contractions came faster, and she grabbed my hand, squeezing hard.
I guided her through each one, urging her to stay focused. Soon enough, I could see the baby’s head crowning. “Almost there, Miranda,” I said.
“One more big push. You’ve got this.”
She took a deep breath, pushed, and moments later, I held a tiny, squirming newborn in my hands. The baby let out a weak cry, and I felt a rush of relief.
Wrapping the little girl in the towel, I handed her to Miranda. I took a deep breath, glancing around the empty road. “Do you need to get to a hospital?”
“No,” she replied quickly, her eyes darting away.
“I mean… I don’t… I can’t go to a hospital.
I… I left my husband.” She hesitated, as if choosing her words carefully. “He…
wasn’t kind to me. I ran away. I’m afraid the hospital will give me away.”
I nodded, sensing she was holding back details.
“Alright. Do you have somewhere to go?”
She shook her head slowly, looking down at her baby, her expression a mixture of fear and love. “No.
I just… I thought I’d figure it out. But then…
the baby came early.”
For a moment, I hesitated. I lived alone with my six-year-old daughter after my wife passed away from cancer. Just us and our nanny.
But this woman… she needed help. “I have a guest room,” I said, hearing the words leave my mouth before I’d really thought it through.
“You and your daughter can stay for a few days. Just until you get back on your feet. Then, you will have to go to the hospital.”
Miranda’s eyes filled with tears, and she managed a small smile.
“Really? I… I don’t know what to say.”
“Thank you will do,” I replied, giving her a reassuring nod.
“Come on, let’s get you both out of the cold.”
Back at my house, I set Miranda up in the guest room, showing her where she and her baby could rest. She seemed grateful, though clearly exhausted, cradling her newborn as she took in the large room. “I used to work fairs,” she explained.
“Fortune telling, palm reading… that sort of thing. It wasn’t much, but it kept food on the table.”
I nodded, listening as she shared small pieces of her life.
She had a quiet, calm voice, with a hint of sadness. She didn’t say much about her past, but enough that I understood the situation was complicated. Eventually, she finished her sandwich, and I could see her eyelids growing heavy.
“You should get some rest,” I said, keeping my tone gentle. “You’ve been through a lot tonight.”
The next morning, I got up early to check on my daughter, who was still recovering from her broken leg. But when I opened her bedroom door, her bed was empty.
A quick rush of panic went through me. “Sarah?” I called, scanning the room. No answer.
My heart began to race as I checked the hallway, the kitchen, even the living room, but she was nowhere to be seen. Finally, I walked toward Miranda’s room, a strange feeling growing in the pit of my stomach. I knocked softly before opening the door.
Inside, the room was dim, the curtains pulled shut. In the quiet light, I saw Miranda sitting on the edge of the bed. My daughter was curled up next to her, fast asleep, with Miranda’s newborn nestled beside them.
Miranda was humming softly, her hand resting gently on Sarah’s head. “What are you doing?” I asked, my voice cracking a little as I spoke. Miranda put a finger to her lips, her eyes soft as she motioned for me to stay quiet.
She leaned down to brush a stray hair from my daughter’s forehead before whispering, “I didn’t mean to worry you.”
I took a breath, willing myself to calm down. “What… happened?
Why is Sarah in here?”
Miranda gave a small, reassuring smile. “I was awake with my daughter, trying to get her to sleep, when I heard your little girl crying.” She glanced at Sarah, still sound asleep beside her. “She sounded so upset.
I couldn’t just ignore her, so I came in quietly to check on her.”
I nodded, letting her continue. “She was talking in her sleep,” Miranda explained, her voice soft. “Something about ‘Mommy.’ She looked so lost.”
I swallowed, the mention of “Mommy” hitting me in a tender spot I tried not to dwell on.
Sarah often cried out for her mother in her sleep, a wound we were both still trying to heal from. “She held my hand, even in her sleep,” Miranda continued. “I told her a story my grandmother used to tell me.
A silly tale about a guardian who watches over children’s dreams and keeps all the bad ones away. She seemed to calm down after that.”
Miranda looked down at Sarah, her hand resting gently on my daughter’s shoulder. “After a while, I didn’t want to leave her alone, so I brought her here with me.”
I felt my shoulders relax, the initial tension giving way to something softer, something I couldn’t quite name.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice a bit rougher than I’d intended. “She’s… been having a hard time since the accident.
And, well, since her mom passed.”
Miranda looked up at me, understanding in her eyes. “I know what it’s like to lose family. To feel like no one is there when you’re scared.” She reached over, patting Sarah’s hand.
“She’s a sweet girl. She just needs someone close right now.”
I took a moment, watching her with my daughter, and realized that she’d managed to comfort Sarah in a way I hadn’t been able to in a long time. “She misses that,” I said quietly, more to myself than to Miranda.
“A mother’s touch.”
Miranda gave a gentle nod, understanding without any need for more words. I felt a strange mix of gratitude and relief. She’d offered my daughter something I hadn’t been able to, a gentle presence we both seemed to need.
“Look, Miranda,” I began, taking a step closer. “I know you planned on moving on soon, but… maybe you could stay a little longer.
Just until you’re ready. I think it would be good for Sarah.”
Miranda’s eyes softened, as if my words were both a surprise and a relief. “If you’re sure…
I’d like that. Sarah’s a special little girl.”
Just then, Sarah stirred beside her, her eyes fluttering open. She looked up at me, blinking, and then glanced over at Miranda.
“Daddy?” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep. I crouched down beside her. “Morning, sweetheart.
You had a little adventure last night.”
Sarah’s gaze moved from me to Miranda, a small smile spreading across her face. “Miranda told me a story,” she murmured, a spark of excitement in her sleepy eyes. “About a guardian who keeps the nightmares away.”
Miranda chuckled softly.
“You were very brave, you know.”
Sarah’s smile grew, her previous nervousness replaced with a shy kind of joy. “Will you tell me more stories?”
Miranda glanced over at me, and I nodded, feeling a warmth I hadn’t felt in a long time. “Of course,” Miranda said, her voice warm.
“I’d be happy to tell you as many as you like.”
In that small moment, the air felt lighter, as if the dark memories filling our home were giving way to something new. Sarah’s giggle as she asked Miranda questions about the story filled the room, a gentle melody that soothed something deep within me. One night, as Sarah drifted off to sleep, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for Miranda’s unexpected presence.
Somehow, this woman who had come into our lives in the strangest of ways had brought a kind of peace neither Sarah nor I had felt in a long time. Liked this story? Consider checking out this one: What’s worse than seeing your $368 meal crash to the floor?
Watching your friend smirk as it happens. She thought she’d get away with ruining my meal, but karma served up a delicious twist… 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. Our 22nd wedding anniversary should have been a night of celebration, but a casual remark from my sister-in-law turned it into a nightmare. The truth about my husband’s betrayal came out unexpectedly, and what left me speechless was learning who he was cheating with.
I’ve been married to my husband, Leo, for 22 years now, and I never thought I’d catch him cheating on me after knowing him for this long. I thought he was the perfect husband until he wasn’t. Leo and I have always been inseparable since high school.
We were like one of those couples you see in rom-com movies. You know, the kind that everyone looks at and says, “They’re meant to be.”
And honestly, for the longest time, I believed that too. Back in high school, Leo was this goofy, lovable guy who always found a way to make me laugh, even when things got tough.
He’d leave sweet notes in my locker, surprise me with my favorite snacks, and ensure I felt like the most important person in his world. After graduation, we went to different colleges. He stayed local while I went a few hours away, and I was terrified the distance would change us.
But it didn’t. We made it work. We’d take turns driving to see each other on weekends, and those visits were everything.
I remember one particular conversation with my college best friend, Quinn. We were hanging out, and she couldn’t stop talking about how lucky I was to have Leo. “Emma, seriously, he’s a keeper,” she said.
“I’ve never seen a guy care about someone the way he cares about you. You two are so made for each other!”
I smiled, feeling a bit shy. “Yeah, I think so too.
It just feels right with him, you know? Like, he’s the one I’m meant to be with.”
“You better hang on to him,” she grinned. “Guys like that don’t come around every day.”
And I did hang on to him.
I did everything possible to keep the spark in our relationship alive, and so did he. After four years of long-distance, we knew it was time to tie the knot. So, we introduced each other to our families, and everything turned out to be perfect.
My parents LOVED him, and his parents thought he couldn’t find a better girl than me. A few months later, we got married in an intimate ceremony. We had invited our closest friends and family members because we didn’t want to host a huge party.
I vividly remember Quinn standing by my side as my bridesmaid, and Leo’s sister, Margaret, being so supportive, treating me like I was already part of the family. The day was perfect, right down to the dreamy sunset and Leo’s tear-filled eyes as we said our vows. I thought it was the beginning of forever.
Little did I know, the “forever” I imagined would soon come crashing down. Leo and I settled into our life together after the wedding. Two years later, we welcomed our first daughter, Sophie.
She was our everything. Five years after that, we had our second daughter, Ella, completing our little family. Life felt perfect, and I was convinced I had found the man I was always meant to spend my life with.
Now, it’s been 22 years since our wedding. Sophie is 20, off at college, while Ella, at 17, is finishing her last year of high school. They’re bright, kind-hearted girls, and I couldn’t be prouder of the family Leo and I built together.
For the longest time, I felt like I had it all. An adoring husband, two wonderful daughters, and a life full of love. I wouldn’t have traded any of it for the world.
But that all changed on our 22nd wedding anniversary. Leo and I had planned a celebration at our home. We invited close family and friends, and it was supposed to be one of those warm, feel-good evenings where everyone would reminisce about old times and toast to our long-lasting marriage.
I was excited, imagining the lovely night we’d have in our beautifully decorated backyard. The cake was ready, and we had set up the perfect space for our guests. Margaret, my sister-in-law, came over early to help set up.
She’s always been sweet and supportive, and we’ve grown closer over the years. We started chatting about work as we set up the tables and chairs. I told her about my job and how stressful it had been lately, while she filled me in on her jewelry store.
That’s when the conversation took a turn I wasn’t expecting. “Mag, didn’t you like the earrings?” she asked casually. “Earrings?” I repeated, furrowing my brows.
“What earrings?”
“Oh…” she said, looking confused. “Leo spent two hours choosing them at my store two weeks ago! He wanted the emeralds to match your eyes.
I thought you’d be wearing them today!”
What earrings is she talking about? I thought. I was so confused because Leo had gifted me a neck massager that morning.
I never got any earrings and we were too old for surprises now. I instantly knew something was off, but I kept my face neutral. “Hmm…” I began, “Seems like you spoiled his surprise.”
“Oh no!” Margaret was horrified.
“Please don’t tell him I mentioned it! He’d be so angry at me!”
I forced a smile. “I won’t, Margaret.
Don’t worry.”
I continued setting up, trying to stay calm, but the seed of suspicion had already been planted. I knew those earrings Leo bought weren’t for me. Later, as I went upstairs to get ready, I couldn’t help but think who those earrings were for.
Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long for the answer. When the guests started arriving, my best friend Quinn walked in. I was about to go hug her when my gaze landed on her earrings.
Emerald earrings. No way, I thought. This can’t be true.
That’s when I made a beeline for Margaret. “Those emerald earrings she’s wearing…” I said, pointing toward Quinn. “Are those the ones Leo bought?”
Margaret looked at Quinn for a while before her eyes widened.
“It’s them. But that means…”
“Yes,” I said. “Your little brother is a cheater.”
I couldn’t believe the words I just said.
Leo? A cheater? I always thought those two words were the complete opposites, but I guess I was wrong.
And Quinn? How dare she do this to me? I felt heartbroken, but there was something else too.
Humiliation. I felt my cheeks burn with anger and embarrassment thinking about my husband having an affair with my best friend. I knew I couldn’t let them get away with this.
That’s when I came up with a plan. I could see Quinn making her way over to congratulate me, so I smiled and waved at her. “Congrats, Mag!
22 years, that’s amazing!” she said, her voice sweet but her eyes guilty. “Thank you, darling! And those earrings…
my God, they’re stunning!” I replied, my voice dripping with fake admiration. She looked awkward, shifting from foot to foot. “Oh…
thanks… I, uh…”
I leaned in, still smiling. “You’re so modest!
Leo and I were racking our brains trying to figure out what we could get you for your birthday!”
Her face flushed red, and she looked away. “My birthday? Yeah…” she fumbled for words.
“I, uh, have a call to attend. I’ll be right back.”
I could feel a wave of anger shoot up my body as she hurried toward a corner, pretending to talk on her phone. I couldn’t believe my best friend, the one I trusted the most, would betray me like this.
Then, I headed straight for Leo. He was chatting with his friends when I approached him. “Hey, hon,” I said cheerfully.
“I need to talk to you about something.”
“I’ll be right back, guys,” he told his friends before turning to me. “What happened, babe?” he asked, unaware of how his world would soon turn upside down. “Your sister accidentally told me about the emerald earrings,” I smiled.
“I can’t wait to wear them!”
Leo’s face turned pale, and his smile suddenly faded. “The earrings?” he blurted out. “Yeah, I was about to—”
“Why don’t you give them to me now?
I think they’ll match my dress perfectly!”
“I thought maybe, uh, I’d surprise you later,” he lied. I could see beads of sweat tricking down his temples. He was shocked, and so was I.
“Okay,” I nodded. “I’ll wait for the surprise then.”
As the night went on, people started to relax, and I knew it was time for the grand reveal. I grabbed the mic, hoping everything would go as planned.
“I just want to thank everyone for being here to celebrate this special day with us,” I began, scanning the crowd. “It’s been 22 wonderful years, and I couldn’t be happier to share it with you all.”
I glanced at Leo and Quinn, who were both standing near the back, looking a little too uncomfortable. “But you know, life is full of surprises,” I continued.
“If someone told me my husband would gift me a neck massager on our 22nd anniversary, I’d believe it. But not if he’d gift my best friend a pair of emerald earrings on the same day.”
The room went dead silent. “Do you know what’s that called?” I continued, looking straight at Leo’s face.
“C-H-E-A-T-I-N-G. Cheating!”
That’s when everyone turned to Leo and Quinn. Leo went pale, while Quinn looked like she just wanted to disappear.
“How could you, Leo?” one of his best friends shouted. “Couldn’t you find anyone other than your best friend’s husband?” a lady called out. “How terrible!” another guest said.
And with that, I kept the mic on the table, smiled, and walked out. I sent him the divorce papers two days later while he kept begging for forgiveness. I know the road ahead would be difficult, but at least I got rid of the man who didn’t think twice before cheating on me with my best friend.
I’m glad they’re out of my life now. What would you have done if you were in my shoes?
