Joining an old man for a simple fishing trip changed my life in ways I have never imagined.
Following my mom’s accident, she was left with a painful limp, but she still worked long hours at the gas station, struggling to make ends meet. I helped in every way possible, whether it was with the mail, chores around the house, or with dinner.
Being 13, I did all in my power to ease my mom’s life as much as possible.
In my free time, I would go out, playing basketball and other teenage stuff.
Midjourney
One day, I was knocking down bottles with a deflated soccer ball when a brand new SUV pulled over in front of me. An old man got out of the vehicle, all dressed up and elegant.
“Mind if I take a shot?” he asked, pointing to the bottles. I nodded and handed him the ball. He then said, “If I miss one, I’ll give you $100, and if I knock each bottle, you get to do me a favor.”
I was quick to agree, hoping I’d get the money, but the old man knocked all the bottles. And the favor he asked for – to join him fishing the following day.
It sounded like a small favor, so I said yes.
Midjourney
In the morning, I left the house, making sure not to wake up mom, and went to the fishing pond, which was quiet, overgrown, and untouched for years.
The old man then shared his life story with me.
He told me he had a son who got sick, but he was poor at the time and couldn’t afford his treatments. After the boy passed away, the old man made a promise to earn a fortune, and so he did. He started a business that grew over the years, but sadly, he never had any more children.
In the middle of his story, our fishing line caught. We both lost balance as we tried to pull the fish out, and we both burst in laughter.
The day, and the entire experience, was fun. The old man seemed genuinely happy and told me the fishing at the pond brought back memories of his childhood. He used to live in the neighborhood, and even went fishing there with his son years ago.
I told him his son would be proud, watching him from above.
The following morning, I found a bag on the porch. It had money inside, lots of it. Inside was also a note from the old man. He thanked me for the joy I had given him the previous day.
I was stunned. The money could help us afford my mom’s treatments and I could attend the best schools.
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Months later, I received a letter from the old man. He wrote that he was about to undergo a heart surgery, which I later learnt he didn’t survive.
I had no idea that the day we spent together could impact our lives forever. The old man wrote that meeting me brought him the happiness and the peace he hand’t felt in years. He also reminded me to never lose hope and never give up.
Fifteen years later, as I stood at the porch, watching my mom play with my kids, I thought of the old man, and how the encounter with him impacted my future. His generosity had given me way more than a financial stability – it taught me that even the tiniest act of kindness always goes a long way.
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Doris Day, a renowned actress of the Hollywood Golden Age, passed away in 2019, at the age of 97.
She was adored both as an actor and a singer, releasing more than 650 songs and starring in over 30 films. Her impact in the industry of film and music continues to inspire years after her passing.
Doris Day, a huge animal lover known for her modesty, rose to fame with the films Pillow Talk, Love Me or Leave Me, and The Man Who Knew Too Much.
She was married four times, and had one child. Her son, Terry Mulcher, whom she welcomed with husband Al Jorden, passed away in 2004 due to cancer.
Sentimental Journey, Secret Love, and Que Sera Sera were all inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and her dedication to animals inspired the establishment of the Doris Day Animal Foundation.
It was representatives of the foundation who shared the news of Doris Day’s passing. They said the cause of death was pneumonia, and that there wouldn’t be burial ceremonies, gravestone, or other forms of public remembrance.
The actress wanted to be cremated, and her loved ones fulfilled her wish.
Bob Bashara, Day’s close friend and manager, said the actress avoided discussing the prospect of funeral because she feared death.
“She didn’t like death, and she couldn’t be with her animals if they had to be put down. She had difficulty accepting death,” he said in an interview.
“I’d say we need to provide for her dogs [after she died], and she’d say, ‘I don’t want to think about it’ and she said, ‘Well, you just take care of them,’” Bashara recalled.
“She had several when her will was written, and she wanted to be sure they were taken care of. She didn’t like to talk about the dogs dying.”
Day contributed to the cause of animal rights by raising $3 million through the auction of over 1,000 personal items. She also played a role in establishing a Texas Horse Rescue and Adoption Center, dedicated to caring for neglected and abandoned horses.
Raised in the Catholic faith, Day embraced Christian Science after marrying producer Martin Melcher. He adopted her son, who took Melcher’s last name. Day “drifted away” from organized religion following Melcher’s passing, but she remained a spiritual person.
“She believed in God, and she thought her voice was God-given,” Bashara said of Day. “She would say, ‘God gave me a voice, and I just used it.’”
This beloved actress retired from the film industry in the 70s’. She, however, returned for two TV shows. Day also hosted her own television talk show Doris Day’s Best Friends, on the Christian Broadcasting Network which ran for a year.
Following her passing, Day’s estate was donated to charity.
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Mia Robertson, the youngest daughter of Duck Dynasty’s Jase & Missy Robertson, has been born with a condition known as cleft lip and palate, a gap in the upper lip that can involve the gum as well.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shares that about one in every 1,600 babies is born with a cleft lip with a cleft palate in the U.S.
Because of her condition, sweet Mia, who is now 18 years old, has been forced to undergo 13 surgeries, with the 14th taking place just recently. The family truly hopes this would be Mia’s last procedure before her problem is finally solved.
Throughout every surgery, the young girl remains positive. What’s most, she hopes she serves as inspiration for other young children who are born with the same condition. On her own initiative and with the help of her family, Mia established the Mia Moo Fund in order to assist in making certain that each and every child wears a smile on their face.
“One of the functions of the Mia Moo Fund is to spread awareness of the cleft lip and palate journey,” Missy Robertson told Christian Post. “The other one is to help with medical funds for the parents and the families living right here in America.”
On his podcast Unashamed, Jase Robertson shared an update on Mia’s condition and said that his daughter is recovering well.
“She’s doing great. She’s turned a corner,” he said, and then added, “Everything seems great, seems to be fine.”
“Surgery went a little longer than expected, but she is home and recovering,” the loving father told his podcast listeners. “Thank you for praying for her and for our family. She is a champion!”
Before the surgery took place, Missy spoke of her daughter’s condition and explained that she had been constantly asked about the number of procedures Mia would need to undergo in the future. “There is never any other response than ‘We just don’t know,’” Missy said. She then added that they rely on God for assistance. “Since she is 18 now, she is taking the lead in all the discussions and medical forms. It’s been a little strange,” Missy wrote. “But it’s just another reminder to lean on the Lord and that I’m not in control.”
Mia also hopes that she’s at “the finish line.”
“Hopefully the last time I’ll see my doctors in this setting! It’s been a long road but we are at the finish line,” brave Mia said.
Sadly, in the past, 2002 to be exact, the family suffered the loss of their unborn child. Missy suffered miscarriage between eight and ten weeks into her second pregnancy and that loss deeply affected them, both physically and emotionally. Mia was welcomed into the world shortly after.
The Robertson’s have now been preparing for a new addition to the family as they open the doors to their hearts and home for a child whose mother was unfit to take care of.
We wish Mia speedy recovery.
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The chilly Christmas Eve was filled with warmth and holiday cheer, until a knock at the door disturbed the calmness. A young pregnant woman about to give birth, standing on the porch in the freezing cold, uttered the words, “Let your husband explain…”
When I heard the knocking late into the night, I called Mark’s name. “Mark, someone’s at the door.” Absorbed with his PlayStation, he didn’t even turn away from the screen and said, “It has to be a package.”
But I felt the urge to check. When I opened the door, there she stood, a beautiful young woman with a huge belly.
“Who are you? And what are you doing here?” I asked her.
“I need help. Take me to the hospital.”
It was obvious she didn’t have much time before giving birth. “Why are you all alone at this time and this condition,” I asked, now more concerned for her well-being than anything else.
“Let your husband explain,” she said, “he thought he could get rid of me!”
Her words felt like a sharp knife. “What has my husband got to do with this woman?” I wondered, shocked and surprised.
“Get inside,” I said, not knowing if I was doing the right thing by letting her in.
Midjourney
I started calling my husband’s name. “Mark! Come here. You need to see this.”
The moment Mark saw the pregnant woman, he started trembling.
“What… what are you doing here?” he asked, obviously being perfectly aware who she was.
“Somebody explain this to me? Mark, who’s this woman?” I asked in a low voice, trying not to awake my children, who were upstairs, sleeping.
Nervous and running his hands through his hair, Mark turned to me and said, “Claire, I can explain…I…,” but before he could finish, the pregnant woman said, “I’m his daughter. The one he abandoned and never looked back.”
My world started spinning. This couldn’t be right, but Mark’s facial expression said it was.
“Oh, Mark, what have you done?” I asked, doing my best not to cry.
Midjourney
“Claire, this was before we even met,” he said, looking at his feet, ashamed to look me in the eyes.
“Come on, you are running out of time,” I told the pregnant woman. “I gave her a coat, we got inside the car, and I drove to the hospital.”
The silence in the car felt heavy. “I don’t even know your name,” I said.
“I’m Emma,” the woman said. “I’m Claire. Nice to meet you Emma. No matter what happened in the past, I’m not holding grudges against you, nothing of this is your fault.”
Emma thanked me and said, “You are a nice woman Claire. Honestly, when I came to your house, I didn’t know what to expect, but you are so understanding.”
At that moment, all I could think of was to get Emma to the hospital safely.
Midjourney
Once there, she went into labor and I was with her every step of the way. I held her hand, assuring her everything was going to be fine.
Emma gave birth to a baby boy, and my husband was his grandfather.
I went home, relieved that Emma and her baby were fine, but I needed answers.
I told Mark about his daughter and his grandson and told him to make things right.
That evening, I learnt that the hardest truths bring chances for growth, and Emma was someone I was ready to embrace.
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On December 6, 2024, Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, held her fourth annual Royal Carols: Together at Christmas at Westminster Abbey in London.
She first hosted this concert in 2021, even playing the piano as a tribute to those who lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following year, 2022, the concert was dedicated to the memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The concert aired at 7:30 p.m. U.K. time on Christmas Eve, December 24, on ITV.
Kate Middleton attended the event with her husband, Prince William, and her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Karwai Tang/WireImage
“Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year. It is a time for presents, tinsel and mince pies, but it’s also a time to slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all. It is when we stop and take ourselves away from the pressures of daily life that we find the space to live our lives with an open heart, with love, kindness and forgiveness, so much of what the Christmas spirit is all about,” the princess said before the service.
She added: “The Christmas story encourages us to consider the experiences and feelings of others. It also reflects our own vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving empathy, as well as just how much we need each other in spite of our differences.”
During the concert, many noticed the exchange between Kate Middleton and her younger son, Prince Louis, who is known for doing goofy things in public, which is normal considering his young age.
Lip reader Nicola Hickling tried to capture the words the young prince told his mother in a clip that was shared online, showing Kate looking down at him and smiling. According to Hickling, Louis told his mom, “We’re looking out for each other.”
Kate Middleton, who had underwent an abdominal surgery back in January of last year and was diagnosed with cancer, announced in September that she is cancer free.
The news was accepted with delight by her many fans.
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My wife Emma has always had a unique sense of style. The way she combines her outfits brings admiration from everyone who knows her, as well as passersby. Her self-confidence is truly inspiring.
One day, however, she started questioning her beauty after she was humiliated by a clerk from a lingerie store.
Namely, Emma saw a sign that the store, which she loved because of the products they offered, as well as the luxurious display window, was hiring.
She was already looking for a job, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. Excited and hopeful, she entered the store and greeted the store assistant, who didn’t appear welcoming.
Emma asked how she could apply for the job, and the sales assistant looked her up and down with a sneer before delivering the blow: “Look, I don’t think you’re pretty enough for this job. NO CHANCE. Don’t even try.”
My wife felt devastated, and so did I. I couldn’t believe someone could be so heartless as to tell someone they are ugly right in their face.
At that moment, I was so angry that I decided to teach that sell assistant a lesson.
I called my friend Mike, a handsome man who works as a talent scout, and told him about what had happened. He was in for a sweet revenge, so we headed to the store the following day, making sure that same sell-assistant was there.
When we entered, Mike introduced himself, and I pretended to be buying something. He talked to her about modeling and told her how he was looking for a new face for an upcoming campaign.
She appeared eager to make a good impression, groomed herself and struck poses, but after some time, just when Emma entered the store, Mike told the sell assistant, “Sorry, you are not what we are looking for.” He then turned to Emma, pretending to see her for the first time in his life, and said, “Miss, have you ever considered working as a model? You would be the perfect fit.”
From the moment Brandon mentioned wanting a PS5, I started saving every penny to be able to get him one for Christmas. I even took longer hours at the hair saloon, hoping I’d be able to purchase the console just ahead of the holiday. It would be the perfect gift.
It wasn’t that Brandon couldn’t afford one. After all, he worked as a pediatrician and made lots of money, but was more the lack of time that prevented him from getting the PS5 he wanted so badly.
When I was finally able to get it with the help of my cousin, who got it from a reseller since it was hard to get, I was overjoyed. Whenever I passed by the closet where I had stored it, I imagined my fiancé’s face when he would unwrap it.
Brandon led a lavish lifestyle. He gave his family early Christmas gifts and it felt like he was on a spree. His mom and dad got his old apartment, but equipped with new appliances. His sister, Nina, received a bracelet and a high-tech art tablet, while his brother was given Brandon’s old Mercedes.
I was eager to see what he had for me, although I was never a receiver, but a giver.
I once mentioned that I needed new hair-styling scissors, so maybe Brandon got me a pair, who knew.
When the time came Brandon to open the gift I got him, his reaction was exactly like I imagined it would be. He was so excited he wouldn’t stop hugging me.
“Cheer up, Vanessa,” Brandon said, “you don’t like big gifts anyways.”
I was both hurt and confused, unable to understand what was happening.
Heading towards the bathroom, I let the tears roll down my face. I simply couldn’t contain them any longer.
The laughter was killing me, and hearing Brandon’s family saying I needed to lighten up made my stomach churn.
“Come out, honey,” Brandon said as he knocked on the bathroom’s door. “It was Nina’s idea, getting you a random gift. Isn’t she hilarious?” he continued, not realizing how humiliated I felt.
I did get out of the bathroom, but I didn’t stay where I wasn’t appreciated. Instead, I grabbed my coat and wished everyone a happy holiday.
Brandon’s mom turned to me and said, “You are ruining Christmas over a joke and you are making everyone feel uncomfortable.”
“Uncomfortable?” I asked with an icy tone. “That’s how I’ve felt all night.”
I went to my mom’s place, crying my heart out the entire night.
“Vanessa, this isn’t the first time Brandon sides with his family over you, maybe you should reconsider marrying him,” my mom said.
While I was having a cup of tea to calm me down, I saw Nina posted the video on her social media. Random strangers laughed and commented under it, and I felt humiliated and defeated.
When he approached the huge green anaconda, Rosolie was equipped with a custom-made carbon fiber suit. It was designed to withstand the immense pressure of the snake’s constricting coils.
The suit also had an integrated oxygen supply. Of course, there were a number of cameras attached to it in order to film his endeavor.
The attempt of getting eaten alive by the snake was shown in a Discovery Channel documentary.
However, despite wearing the special suit, Rosolie, who didn’t suffer significant injuries, explained that he had a hard time breathing when the anaconda threw its strong coils around his body.
The pressure he felt was immense.
“I’m getting coils over me,” he said during the encounter. “She’s got my arms pinned. She knows there’s nothing I can do.”
As the snake held tighter, his heart rate increased.
After it was extremely difficult for Rosolie to breath, the team who monitored the experiment freed him from the snake’s hold.
In a piece for The Guardian, he described feeling ‘grimly amused’ by the trailers in which he was shown being ‘eaten alive’ by the snake. But at the same time, it sparked criticism from both animal welfare organizations and the public.
“I was willing to try something risky and yes, maybe ridiculous, to bring attention to a place and a species I loved.
“I figured that if feeding myself to a snake was the price I needed to pay to try to alert the wider community about the devastation we are waging on nature, I had to accept.
“So on a sunny September day, I spent two hours in that claustrophobic suit, being constricted by a captive anaconda,” Rosolie said.
Rosolie’s experiment sparked worldwide discussions about conservation and the importance of protecting the Amazon rainforest.
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That morning, as I was having my coffee, glad that I finally found a babysitter after two of them quit after just a day without an explanation, I received a text from Meghan. “Sorry, but I won’t be able to continue working for your family. Thank you for the opportunity.”
I couldn’t believe what I read. Meghan seemed excited about being our babysitter. She clicked with the kids, and now this?
There was no logical explanation. How could a third babysitter quit so fast? Something wasn’t adding up.
As I felt my chest tightening, there was knock on the door. It was Julie, my best friend.
She could sense something was awfully wrong. “What’s wrong, Sarah?” she asked, worried for me.
“Oh, Julie, it’s the babysitter. She quit. Can you believe this?” I poured my heart out.
“The kids are well-behaved, the interviews go well, and I’m paying fairly, but they all quit after a day…no explanation, nothing.”
Julie looked at me, puzzled. “I don’t know, Sarah, maybe it’s not the kids, maybe there is something – or someone – in the house to blame.”
My mind went straight to my husband Dave, but he seemed too enthusiastic about me getting back to work. Still, a seed of doubt was planted in my mind.
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Just to be sure I wasn’t doing anything wrong, I decided to secretly install the nanny cam I used when Luke was still a baby.
I set it up in the living room, tucking it between some books on the shelf where it wouldn’t be noticed. And then, I waited.
As I drove to work the following morning, I could see Rachel, our new babysitter, a college girl happy to be working for us, playing with my kids on the floor.
And then, Dave entered the house.
“How’s it going?” he asked Rachel.
“The kids are awesome,” she replied and continued building the bricks.
“Can I have a talk with you?” Dave asked her.
Midjourney
Hesitantly, she stood up from the floor and sat on the couch. My heart sank as I saw them talking, not knowing what to expect.
“Rachel, was it?” he asked. “Yes,” she replied, shyly.
“Listen, Rachel. Maybe you are not aware of it, but the kids can be a handful. And Sarah, she’s got a postpartum depression and can be a real mess.”
“But the kids are so nice,” Rachel said, confused by Dave’s words.
“You don’t understand,” Dave said, “you better leave before things get messy.”
I stopped my car, unable to continue driving. “What the hell is going on?” I thought to myself.
Next, Dave basically threatened our babysitter. “You better leave, or else,” he said, and I was shocked. I never expected my husband to act like that. It was as though he turned into a man I didn’t recognize.
Midjourney
I drove back home after I saw Rachel grabbing her bag and leaving our house.
“Hey, honey,” Dave greeted me, “you are home early, what’s the matter?”
“Dave, why did you threatened the babysitter?” I asked him.
“What? What do you mean?” he pretended as though he didn’t know what I was talking about.
“You know what. I heard you. I saw the nanny cam?”
“You what!?” he yelled. “Were you spying on me?”
“Oh, Dave, don’t play a victim. I demand an explanation.
It was then that he admitted he hated the idea of me getting back to work. He believed my place was at home, taking care of the kids and the house.
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He claimed he was protecting me. But that wasn’t protection, that was control.
“I want what’s the best for the kids,” he said.
“But what about what’s best for me?” I asked. “Don’t I get a say in that? Don’t I deserve to have a life outside this house?”
Dave disappointed me. I lost my trust in him. He was no longer the man I loved.
I packed a bag of my and my kids’ belongings and went to my mom’s. I still haven’t decided what to do next, but I know I won’t let anyone take the control over my life.
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Dr. James Hiram Bedford was a man of many talents – a professor at the University of California and a veteran of World War I who lived a fulfilled life and traveled the world. But this man will be best remembered as the first person whose body underwent cryonic preservation. It is the practice of preserving a human body (or brain) at extremely low temperatures after death.
Bedford, who was a rather wealthy man, was diagnosed with kidney cancer that metastasized to his lungs in 1967, a time when the medicine was not as advanced as it is today.
At the time of his diagnosis, Bedford was familiar with the concept of cryonic preservation.
He read about in the book The Prospect of Immortality by Dr. Robert Ettinger.
Dr. Ettiger is the founder of the Cryonics Institute and is considered the father of body freezing experiments. His institute provides body freezing services after death, with the aim of potentially reviving it in the future when medical technology has advanced enough to cure the condition that caused the individual’s death.
Having read about this process, Bedfrod asked his body to be frozen after his passing.
On the afternoon of January 12, 1967, he was injected with dimethyl sulfoxide – to protect his internal organs – after all his blood was drained from his body.
Next, they placed Bedford in a tank of liquid nitrogen at minus 196 degrees Celsius.
Twenty-four years later, Alcor, an organization performing cryonic preservation, opened Bedford’s body and checked his cryogenic condition.
It was determined that the body was preserved nicely. His nose and mouth smelled like blood and his face looked younger than his 73 years. Areas of skin on his chest and neck were discolored and his corneas were the chalky white of ice.
Dr. James Hiram Bedford/ Wikimedia Commons
Then, technicians wrapped Bedford in a new sleeping bag and immersed his body in liquid nitrogen to wait.
Today, over 50 years after the promised time to wake Bredford, he’s still just a “mummy.”
According to Robert Nelson, one of three scientist who performed the cryonic preservation, Bredford’s last words were: “I want you to understand that I did not do this with the thought that I would be revived. I did this in the hope that one day my descendants will benefit from this wonderful scientific solution.”
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The sound of dry leaves crunched under Jordan’s feet as he pushed the stroller through the cemetery. It was the first anniversary of the passing of his wife Kyra, the mother of his triplets, whom he was now raising all by himself.
Each step towards Kyra’s resting place felt heavier than the other. With tears in his eyes, Jordan whispered, “We’re going to see mama.”
His triplets were babies when their mom died, and Jordan was heartbroken by the thought that they won’t remember her, her love, her devotion, and her warmth.
Life was cruel, but at least he had his babies, who were the only reason he kept going.
As they approached Kyra’s grave, Jordan noticed a man in his 50s brushing the epitaph that read: A twinkle in our eyes & hearts is now on the skies.
“Who could this man be?” Jordan wondered. His unease grew bigger when he finally got to Kyra’s resting place.
“You must be Jordan,” the man said. “Yes, and you are?” Jordan asked, confused.
The man introduced himself as Denis. He claimed to be Kyra’s old friend from Chicago.
“But she never mentioned someone named Denis,” Jordan thought to himself.
Denis approached the triplets. He observed their features and made comments about their appearance. His behavior was rather awkward, and it made Jordan uncomfortable.
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“Listen,” Denis said, “these babies aren’t yours. I’m their real father.”
These words shattered Jordan’s world.
“You are young and have your whole life ahead of you. Give me the babies and start over,” Denis said and handed Jordan a check on $100,000.
Jordan froze and accused Denis of lying. Kyra could never lie to him.
But Denis knew too much about Kyra. He knew of her love for French cusine, her allergies, and even about the scar on her tight.
Jordan got scared. Without saying anything, he took the triplets and rushed towards his car.
The drive home felt like eternity. He had a hard time letting Denis’ words sink in. How could he know so much about Kyra? Was he right about the children? Could Kyra be unfaithful?
His head was buzzing with countless questions.
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Jordan’s thoughts drifted to the day he and Kyra first met. He was a bartender, and she walked in one day, taking his breath away. At first, she saw him as nothing more than a friendly bartender.
But one evening, as he was leaving the bar, he saw her crying. She had broken up with her boyfriend, and Jordan comforted her. From that moment on, their bond grew stronger, and she eventually fell fro him.
They tied the knot when she revealed she was pregnant. But no family of Kyra was in attendance. She told Jordan that her parents were dead, and he never questioned anything.
Denis’ words, especially his knowledge of Kyra’s scar, made Jordan doubt her love for him. He started asking himself if the triplets were really his or Denis was telling the truth.
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In the days that followed, Jordan went through hell.
Even the thought of losing his triplets sent waves of panic through him.
A week later, he got a call from Denis. “What have you decided? I want my children!” he said. But Jordan wasn’t about to give up without a fight.
“A father is someone who raises them and loves them unconditionally. I will always be there father.”
Denis hesitated a bit and then suggested they meet at a local cafe the following day. “Bring the babies with you,” he said and hung up the phone.
Jordan was fearful. What if it turned out Denis was the real father?
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In the morning, he went to the cafe Denis suggested. When he entered, Denis was already there, waiting for him.
Without saying anything, he handed Jordan an old photo.
Jordan was confused. The young woman on the photo resembled Kyra, and the man next to her was obviously Denis. But there was also another woman on the photo.
“What’s this?” Jordan asked, his hands trembling as he held the photo.
“I’m sorry, Jordan,” Dennis said. “I’m not the father of the triplets, I’m their grandfather.”
“What!?” Jordan asked. “But how could that be? Kyra’s parents are dead. She told me that herself.”
It turned out her dad wasn’t. Sadly, their relationship was strained and they didn’t have any contact. But following Kyra’s sudden passing, he wanted to meet her children.
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Denis wanted to be part of their lives, so he made up the story of being their dad. He wanted to take them and raise them as his own.
“I know I shouldn’t have done that, Jordan,” Denis said, with tears in his eyes. “But I really want to be part of their lives. My daughter is no longer here, but her babies are. I regret not being the best father, but let me be a better grandfather.”
Jordan needed time to think about everything. He was mad Denis lied to him, but over time, he forgave him.
Despite the pain of the past, they were united by shared responsibility.
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After years of struggling to conceive, my doctor delivered heartbreaking news that made me wonder if my marriage could even survive the weight of it. “You are infertile.” My world shattered and my dreams burst like a soap bubble. But my husband was there for me, restoring all my hopes when he mentioned the option of adopting.
Camden and I dreamed of becoming parents from the moment we tied the knot, but that didn’t come naturally to us.
Sadly, I learned I couldn’t be a mom. As much as I felt sorry for myself, my heart ached for my husband who deserved to be a father. “Don’t worry, Zelda,” he said at the doctor’s office after I head the news that broke my heart into a million pieces.
“Adopting a child in need of a family doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” he said smilingly, trying to cheer me up.
Midjorney
The thought of adopting found its roots in my head. It didn’t take long before we met with social workers and started foster care visits. The process was extremely slow, and the paperwork was endless, but we knew it would be worth it.
And then, one day, we met Nicholas, a five-year-old boy with the most beautiful brown eyes. I knew he belonged to us the moment I fist saw him.
We started the process of adopting him, but then, another family, a very wealthy one, came into the picture.
They were as interested in adopting Nicholas as Camden and I were.
Mrs. Jameson said they had the right to apply as well. Nicholas was about to spend a week with each family before making a decision. At that point, it was up to him to choose his family.
When the Featheringhams, the family interested in adopting Nicholas, entered the foster home, they acted as they owned the place. Mrs. Featheringhams wore a diamond necklace and looked at me and Camden from above, as though we weren’t worthy as a competition.
“You see, we can provide Nicholas with the best schools there are. He’ll live a life of luxury. Why don’t you make the kid a favor and quit trying for him?” she told us.
Turning to her husband, who was equally polished as she was, she said, “Honey, they are just a plain, middle class family. What do they have to offer? A tiny house in the suburb?”
The two started laughing, their words cutting deeper than I though they could.
The Featheringhams got a week with Nicholas first.
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When he came to our home, he couldn’t stop talking of the amusement parks they took him to, the toys they bought him, and the fancy food he had.
Whenever he would mention his adventures with them, my heart sank. “Did we have any chance?” I kept wondering, with the hope fading away.
We couldn’t afford expensive things, but we had a lot of love for that boy.
On the first day of his stay at our place, we took him to the zoo, but it started raining and we were forced to get back home where Camden built a fortress of blankets and used a flashlight as a pretended fire.
Nicholas seemed to like it.
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The following day, we visited the local arcade, but most of the machine there was broken. Instead, we went to the park and played the board games we had with us.
Camden even taught Nicholas how to play chess.
We ate at the local diner, took long walks, and shared stories of our childhoods with Nicholas.
One evening, as we were watching a film, he fell asleep in my lap, his hand holding mine tightly.
After the week passed, it was time Nicholas to make a decision.
Camden and I were at the office of Mrs. Jameson. Nicholas was sitting next to her, and the Featheringhams were opposite us.
“Nicholas, darling, don’t forget about all the toys. You can have everything you want with us,” Mrs. Featheringhams reminded him, certain he would choose them, because as she said, love doesn’t pay for college, and they had all the money in the world.
When Mrs. Jameson asked Nicholas about the family he wanted to live with, he was a bit hesitant, or maybe he was afraid to make the choice, not wanting to offend any of the four people eagerly waiting for his answer.
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After minutes of silence, which felt like eternity, he said, “I want to live with them,” pointing at me and Camden, “they are so fun.”
Tears started rolling down my face. The boy I knew belonged to me all along chose me to be his mommy.
The Featheringhams didn’t say a word. They just excused themselves and left the room, and Camden and I felt like the proudest parents ever.
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Going through divorce is never easy no matter how bad the marriage was. Everything around the lengthy court process is extremely tiring, such as splitting the belongings, fighting for custody if children are involved, wasting time, money, and nerves.
As Barbra was preparing dinner, Mike, who has always been obsessed with his social image, placed the car keys on the counter and told her they needed to talk. Barbra knew what was coming. She was certain he was going to ask her for divorce, and it didn’t even took a couple of seconds until she learned she was right.
To Mike’s surprise, she agreed to separate from him.
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He expected her to beg him, cry over his decision, but she didn’t show any emotions. No matter how hard it was and how defeated she felt, she did her best to stay calm and indifferent.
In the days that followed, they barely spoke to each other until they finally found themselves sitting opposite each other in a dull conference room with their lawyers by their side.
Mike started listing the things he wanted; the house, the car, the savings. He was so cold that it looked like he was reading out of a grocery list.
After listening to him without objecting, Barbra said he could have it all.
Her lawyer gave her a serious look, but she said it was fine. All she wanted were her personal belongings and the divorce to be finalized.
With laughter, Mike, who believed he won the divorce, told her she had until the afternoon to take what’s hers and leave his house for good.
Barbra left the room and headed towards the elevator. Once inside, she couldn’t contain her laughter. One would thing she snapped, but she had an ace up her sleeve. Just the elevator’s door opened, she sent a text message that read, “Mon, get ready for my sweet revenge.”
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Barbra’s mom was never fond of Mike. From the moment she first met him she knew he wasn’t the one for her daughter. The two never got along because she was aware Mike was egocentric who only cared about his own interests.
When Barbra and Mike were purchasing the house, Barbra’s mom helped them financially. She was the reason Mike believed he scored a great deal on their new home, but what he didn’t know was that she would also be the reason for him to lose it.
On the day Barbra packed her belongings and settled in a tiny apartment just blocks away, she received a call from Mike. She put him on speaker and leaned back on her chair to enjoy her toast and her revenge. Mike was furious. He told Barbra that her mother moved in with him and refused to leave the house.
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Smiling, Barbra reminded him about the agreement he signed years ago when her mom gave them the down-payment for the house. With small print it read that she could live in that house whenever she wanted for as long as she wanted.
As she laughed at her victory, Barbra could hear her mother telling Mike to turn the TV off. She definitely knew how to drive him crazy.
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Brian, my husband’s best friend, was more like family to us. He was the person we trusted the most – someone we could always rely on. That evening, he came over for dinner, and since my husband wasn’t home yet and I needed to grab something from the store, I left my daughter with him. When I returned, nothing was the same. Emily, my daughter, stopped talking all of a sudden.
Someone rang the doorbell and Emily rushed towards the door. She opened it, and there was Ryan, balancing two huge boxes of pizza in one hand and holding a bad in the other.
Emily clung to his leg, waiting for him to give her a hug. Ryan handed her the beg, saying, “Where’s my girl. This is for you, you are going to like it.”
When she opened it, she found a stuffed toy inside. “Thanks, uncle Bryan,” she said, giving him yet another hug.
“Oh, Ryan, what would we do without you?” I asked, smiling and feeling grateful for his presence in our lives.
Since my husband, Tom, had still not returned from work, I asked Ryan to keep and eye on Emily while I went to the store to grab some juice.
“We’ll be fine,” he said, and there was no reason I could ever think otherwise.
However, when I returned, I saw Bryan grabbing his coat. “I need to leave,” he said, “something came out. Tell Tom I’ll call him.”
This was a bit strange, but I didn’t think much about it.
It was only obvious that something happened while I was gone when my daughter stopped talking. She would refuse to answer my questions, didn’t ask anything, she just stood there quetly.
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The days turned into weeks, and Emily was still silent. We took her to a psychiatrist, but they were unable to discover the reason of her odd behavior.
When she was about to return to school, she finally spoke to me. “Mom, are you going to leave me here forever?” she asked.
Her question surprised me. “Of course not, honey, why would I do such a thing.”
“Mom, uncle Brian told me my real parents abandoned me, and now I’m afraid you and dad would do the same.”
My world collapsed. Emily was adopted, but we believed she was way too young to know that. Why would Brian tell her such a thing?
My suspicions that he was the reason my daughter stopped talking turned out to be true.
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Ever since that night, he didn’t reach to us, and we didn’t call him either, and now I knew why.
I left Emily at school and headed to Tom’s office, telling him everything. He was shocked. Brian was like a brother to him.
After a while, Brian sent me a message saying he wanted to talk. Despite Tom’s advice not to go, I wanted to hear his explanation.
We met at a cafe and Brian didn’t resemble his old self. Something was very wrong.
“What is it Brian?” I asked, with anger in my voice.
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It was then that Brian told me he learned he was adopted a day before the pizza night. He was devastated and angry at his parents for keeping that a secret from him for that many years. Somehow, he felt the urge to tell Emily she was adopted too. He believed if she knew that from early age, he would spare her from suffering later on.
“Brian, it was not your truth to tell. Tom and I had a plan. We would tell her that when the time would be right.”
Brian kept apologizing, but I didn’t accept his apologies.
Luckily, Emily was able to heal from the trauma. It did take time, but her trust in me and Tom returned.
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Ever since she married Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has been under the spotlight. The wider public is very interested in her private life and paparazzi follow her every move. Shortly after their wedding, when she and Prince Harry stepped down from their royal duties and moved to the States, Meghan was a target of harsh criticism as many Britons accused her of distancing the prince from his family.
Recently, Meghan Markle opened up about the heartbreak she and Prince Harry had gone through after she suffered a miscarriage. Following the birth of Archie, the couple were about to welcome another baby into the world, but that didn’t happen.
Meghan’s powerful essay on grief after miscarriage written for The New York Times, The Losses We Share, touched many.
“I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second,” Meghan Markle writes about her miscarriage. Today, we are sharing an essay by the Duchess of Sussex about the loss that she and Prince Harry suffered earlier this year. https://t.co/xCJbgPgufq
“Losing a child means carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few,” the 39-year-old Duchess explained.
“I felt a sharp cramp. I dropped to the floor with him in my arms, humming a lullaby to keep us both calm, the cheerful tune a stark contrast to my sense that something was not right.”
Meghan Markle added of her miscarriage, “I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second.
“Hours later, I lay in a hospital bed, holding my husband’s hand. I felt the clamminess of his palm and kissed his knuckles, wet from both our tears. Staring at the cold white walls, my eyes glazed over. I tried to imagine how we’d heal.”
Credit / Wikimedia Commons
Brave Meghan put a smile on her face despite the pain she has been going through. That’s the curse of being a famous person.
“In the pain of our loss, my husband and I discovered that in a room of 100 women, 10 to 20 of them will have suffered from miscarriage. Yet despite the staggering commonality of this pain, the conversation remains taboo, riddled with (unwarranted) shame, and perpetuating a cycle of solitary mourning,” the former actress wrote.
Meghan wants women who go through the same to be able to speak of their pain openly instead of being ashamed. The tragedy of losing an unborn child is not rare. However, many opt to live with that pain without sharing it with their loved ones.
Since William and Kate have three children, many wonder if the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will eventually welcome a third child themselves.
The couple spoke of the idea of having a third child and their opinion is firm.
When Archie was a year old, Harry spoke to Vogue Magazine and said he feels that there should be a limit on the number of children one can have.
“I think, weirdly, because of the people that I’ve met and the places that I’ve been fortunate enough to go to, I’ve always had a connection and a love for nature. I view it differently now, without question. But I’ve always wanted to try and ensure that, even before having a child and hoping to have children..,” Harry said.
The interviewer, Dr Jane Goodall, replied, “Not too many!” and laughed. Harry continued, “Two, maximum! But I’ve always thought: this place is borrowed. And, surely, being as intelligent as we all are, or as evolved as we all are supposed to be, we should be able to leave something better behind for the next generation.”
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P
Speaking to Oprah, Meghan said in the past, “[I’m] just grateful to have any child. Any, one or two, would have been amazing but to have a boy and then a girl what more can you ask for? Now we’ve got our family, we got the four of us and our two dogs,” Meghan told Oprah.
Harry added that they were “done” with two children, to which Meghan replied, “Two is it.”
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Trudy was a five-year-old girl raised by her mother. Her dad passed away when she was just a year old. Their life was a real struggle, but they had each other and nothing could rock their world. But then, at a party during which Trudy was mocked by her classmates for her cheap dress, a limousine appeared and her life changed forever.
Some life stories are so extraordinary they resemble fairy tales. And Trudy’s is definitely such.
Her father was an archaeologist who had lost his job. In order to provide for the family, he started working at the local mine, a job his wife was not happy about.
“It’s way too dangerous, Joe,” she often told him. He, however, assured her he would be just fine, plus, the pay was good and he didn’t work long hours.
Unfortunately, there was an accident in the mine one day, and Joe lost his life. His wife, Madison, was left to take care of their daughter all by herself.
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For a long time, she was mad at her late husband. Whenever she thought about him, which was most of her days, she remembered begging him to quit that job, but he never listened.
Eventually, Madison and Trudy moved places and Trudy started attending kindergarten.
One day, a wealthy girl from her class invited her to her birthday party. The invitation said that all the girls should be dressed in dresses bought at a certain store with provided discount.
All Madison had in her wallet were $100 she got at the restaurant the previous week.
The two headed to the store, but this mom’s world crushed when she learned that the cheapest dress there cost at least five times more than she had.
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“Trudy, honey, we can’t afford any of these dresses. What do you say we purchase a material and I make you the dress?”
“Of course, mom, let’s do that,” Trudy said.
Madison spent the entire night sewing a dress for her daughter. The final result was awesome. Trudy loved the dress and couldn’t wait to show it off, but sadly, her classmates didn’t agree.
When she arrived at the party, they started laughing at her and mocked her for her cheap dress.
Trudy’s heart was broken. She wasn’t just sad because of the insults by her friends, but also because they mocked the dress her mother spend long hours making.
“Mom, let’s leave. I don’t want to stay here any longer,” she said.
With teary eyes, Trudy left the party, the words about her “cheap dress” echoing in her head.
At the entrance, just as the mother and daughter were about to catch a taxi, a huge white limousine pulled over right in front of them.
A man dressed in a suit, looking gorgeous, got out of the car.
His voice sounded so familiar that Madison turned her head to see who he was. “Joe,” she whispered. It was her husband whom she believed died five years ago.
“How could this be!? You are alive!” she said, still unable to process what she was seeing.
Joe embraced her and Trudy. “Let’s get inside together,” he said, “I need to deliver the gift for the daughter of my associate, and then we can catch up.”
The three got back to the party. This time, everyone wanted to spend time with Trudy because of the wealthy man that accompanied her and her mother. All of a sudden, they didn’t mind her cheap dress.
After the party, Joe explained that at the time of the accident, one of his friends, who died during the accident, wore his jacket, so they believed it was Joe who lost his life.
Joe on the other hand, suffered severe head injuries and lost his memory.
He couldn’t remember much, but was able to start a small business that turned huge. When his memory returned, just a while ago, he went looking for his family at their old house, but they moved and no one knew where.
Luckily, he used his connections, and knew they would be at the party that night.
It took years of suffering, but this lovely family was reunited again. Madison learned that God works in mysterious ways.
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Two years after I saved a woman’s life at 35,000 feet, I was at my lowest, struggling to make ends meet and reeling from my mother’s loss. On Christmas Eve, a knock on my door brought an unexpected gift and a chance at a new beginning from a stranger I thought I’d never see again.
I’d seen every kind of passenger imaginable in my years as a flight attendant — the nervous first-timers, the seasoned business travelers, and the excited vacation-goers.
But there’s one passenger I’ll never forget. Not because of her designer clothes or business-class ticket, but because of what happened at 35,000 feet that day. Two years later, she changed my life in ways I never could have imagined.
A sad, teary-eyed woman | Source: Midjourney
Let me paint a picture of my life first. My basement apartment was exactly what you’d expect for $600 a month in the city. Water stains decorated the ceiling like abstract art, and the radiator clanked through the night like someone beating it with a wrench.
But it was all I could afford now, at 26, after everything that happened. The kitchen counter doubled as my desk, workspace, and dining table. A small twin bed occupied one corner, its metal frame visible where the sheets had pulled loose.
The walls were thin enough that I could hear every footstep from the apartment above, each a reminder of how far I’d fallen from my old life.
I stared at the stack of unpaid bills on my fold-out table, each one a reminder of how quickly life can spiral. The collection agencies had started calling again. Three times that day alone.
Bills on a table | Source: Midjourney
I picked up my phone, thumb hovering over Mom’s number out of habit, before remembering. Six months. It had been six months since I’d had anyone to call.
My neighbor’s TV droned through the wall, some cheerful holiday movie about family reunions and Christmas miracles. I turned up my radio to drown it out, but the Christmas carols felt like salt in an open wound.
“Just keep breathing, Evie,” I whispered to myself, Mom’s favorite advice when things got tough. “One day at a time.”
The irony wasn’t lost on me. BREATHING. That’s what started this whole story on that fateful flight.
“Miss, please! Someone help her!” A loud cry pierced through the aisle.
The memory of that flight two years ago was still crystal clear. I was doing my regular checks in business class when I heard the panic in a man’s voice. Three rows ahead, an elderly woman was clutching her throat, her face turning an alarming shade of red.
“She’s choking!” Another passenger shouted, half-rising from his seat.
My training kicked in instantly. I rushed to her side, positioning myself behind her seat. The other flight attendant, Jenny, was already radioing for any medical professionals on board.
“Ma’am, I’m here to help. Can you breathe at all?” I asked the lady.
A senior woman experiencing discomfort on a flight | Source: Midjourney
She shook her head frantically, her eyes wide with fear. Her perfectly manicured nails dug into the armrest, knuckles white with strain.
“I’m going to help you breathe again. Try to stay calm.”
I wrapped my arms around her torso, found the spot just above her navel, and thrust upward with everything I had. Nothing. Again. Nothing. The third time, I heard a small gasp.
A piece of chicken shot across the aisle, landing on a man’s newspaper. The woman doubled over, taking deep, ragged breaths. The entire cabin seemed to exhale collectively.
A flight attendant on a plane | Source: Unsplash
“Easy now,” I soothed, rubbing her back. “Just breathe slowly. Jenny, can you bring some water?”
The woman’s hands were shaking as she smoothed her silk blouse. When she finally looked up at me, her eyes were watery but warm. She grabbed my hand, squeezing it tight.
“Thank you, sweetheart. I’ll never forget this. I’m Mrs. Peterson, and you just saved my life.”
I smiled, already moving to get her some water. “Just doing my job, Mrs. Peterson. Try small sips.”
“No, dear,” she insisted, holding onto my wrist. “Some things are more than just a job. I was so scared, and you were so calm. How can I ever repay you?”
“The best repayment is seeing you breathing normally again. Please, drink some water and rest. I’ll check on you again soon.”
If I’d known then how right she was about some things being more than just a job, maybe I wouldn’t have hurried back to my duties quite so fast.
Life has a way of making you forget the good moments when the bad ones come crashing down. After Mom’s diagnosis, everything else became background noise. I quit my flight attendant job to care for her.
We sold everything — my car, Grandpa’s house in the suburbs, even Mom’s art collection. She’d been quite well-known in local galleries, and her paintings fetched decent prices.
“You don’t have to do this, Evie,” Mom had protested when I brought her the resignation letter to read. “I can manage.”
“Like you managed when I was sick with pneumonia in third grade? Or when I broke my arm in high school?” I kissed her forehead. “Let me take care of you for once.”
An emotional woman | Source: Midjourney
The last painting to go was her favorite — a watercolor she’d painted of me sitting by our kitchen window, sketching two birds building a nest in the maple tree outside.
She’d captured every detail, from the morning sunlight in my messy hair to the way I used to bite my lip when I concentrated. It was the last thing she painted before she got sick.
“Why did you paint me drawing birds?” I’d asked her when she first showed it to me.
She smiled, touching the dried paint gently. “Because you’ve always been like those birds, honey. Always building something beautiful, no matter what life throws at you.”
Soon, we struck gold online. An anonymous buyer offered us a fortune, way more than we expected. And Mom couldn’t believe her luck.
“See, Evie? Even when things seem darkest, there’s always someone out there willing to help build a nest.”
Three weeks later, she was gone. The hospital room was quiet except for the slowing beep of monitors.
“I’m sorry, baby,” she’d whispered, her last words to me. “Stay strong.”
The doctors said she wasn’t in pain at the end. I hoped they were right.
A doctor in a ward | Source: Midjourney
Time slipped away like grains of sand. Christmas Eve found me alone in my basement, watching shadows dance on the wall from passing car headlights.
I hadn’t bothered with the decorations. What was the point? The only Christmas card I’d received was from my landlord, reminding me my rent was due on the first.
Nobody knew where I lived. I’d made sure of that. After Mom died, I couldn’t handle the pitying looks, the awkward conversations, and the well-meaning but painful questions about how I was “holding up.”
But then, a loud knock on my door startled me.
I approached cautiously, peering through the peephole to see a man in an expensive suit holding a gift box with a perfect bow. His overcoat probably cost more than three months of my rent.
“Can I help you?” I called through the door.
“Miss Evie? I have a delivery for you.”
I opened the door a crack, keeping the chain on. “A gift? For me?”
He smiled politely. “Yes, ma’am, this is for you,” he said, extending the box. “There’s an invitation too. I assure you, everything will make sense soon.”
A man holding a gift box | Source: Midjourney
The box was heavy for its size, wrapped in thick paper that crinkled softly as I took it. I found an elegant cream envelope. But it was what lay beneath that made my heart stop — Mom’s last painting. There I was, forever frozen in time at our old kitchen window, sketching birds on a spring morning.
“Wait!” I called out. “Who are you? Why are you returning this painting?”
The man looked up. “You’ll get your answers, don’t worry. My boss would like to meet you. Do you accept the invitation?”
A woman gaping in shock | Source: Midjourney
I looked down at the painting, then back at him. “When?”
“Now, if you’re willing. The car is waiting.”
The car pulled up to a mansion that looked like something out of a holiday movie, complete with twinkling lights and wreaths in every window. Fresh snow crunched under my worn boots as the man led me up the walkway.
I clutched the painting closer, feeling desperately out of place.
Inside, a grand staircase swept upward, garlands trailing its banister. The man led me through to a warmly lit study where a fire crackled in a stone fireplace. And there, rising from an armchair, was Mrs. Peterson — the same woman I’d saved on that flight two years ago.
“Hello, Evie,” she said softly. “It’s been a while.”
I stood frozen, the painting clutched to my chest. “Mrs. Peterson?”
She gestured for me to sit in a leather chair beside the fire. “I saw your mother’s work featured in a local art gallery’s online post,” she explained. “When I saw the painting of you, I knew I had to have it. Something about the way you were capturing those birds…” She trailed off, her eyes growing distant. “It reminded me so much of my daughter.”
“You bought my mother’s painting?”
She nodded. “I learned about your mother’s diagnosis and even spoke with the doctors,” she continued, her voice breaking. “I offered them any amount of money to save her. But some things…” She dabbed a tear. “Some things are beyond the reach of money.”
“How did you find me?” I whispered.
“I have my ways,” she said with a small smile. “I contacted the hospital and convinced them to share your address, given the circumstances. I wanted to make sure you were taken care of, even if I couldn’t save your mother.”
“Why would you go to such extreme lengths for me?”
Mrs. Peterson moved to sit beside me. “Because I lost my daughter last year to cancer. She was about your age.” She touched the frame of the painting gently. “When I saw this listed online — a mother’s last artwork being sold to pay for her treatment — I knew I had to help. Even if I was too late.”
I felt tears rolling down my cheeks. “The money from this painting gave us three more weeks together.”
“My daughter Rebecca loved art too.” Mrs. Peterson’s voice wavered. “She would have loved this painting. The symbolism of it… building something together, even when everything seems broken.”
She pulled me into a hug, and we both cried, two strangers connected by loss and a moment at 35,000 feet.
“Spend Christmas with me,” she said finally. “No one should be alone on Christmas!”
The next morning, we sat in her sunny kitchen, sharing stories over coffee and homemade cinnamon rolls. The kitchen smelled like vanilla and spices, warm and inviting in a way my basement apartment never could be.
“Rebecca used to make these every Christmas morning,” Mrs. Peterson said, passing me another roll. “She insisted on making them from scratch, even though I told her the ones from the store were just fine.”
“Mom was the same way about her Sunday pancakes,” I smiled. “She said love was the secret ingredient.”
“Your mother sounds like she was an amazing woman.”
“She was. She taught art at the community center, you know? Even when she was sick, she worried about her students missing their lessons.”
Mrs. Peterson nodded, understanding in her eyes. “That’s the hardest part, isn’t it? Watching them worry about everyone else until the very end.”
It was healing to find someone who understood exactly how it felt to have such an enormous void in your life. Someone who knew that grief doesn’t follow a timetable and that some days are harder than others, and that’s okay.
“Evie,” Mrs. Peterson said, setting down her coffee cup. “I have a proposition for you. My family’s business needs a new personal assistant… someone I can trust. Someone with quick thinking and a kind heart.” She smiled. “Know anyone who might fit that description? Someone called Evie?!”
I looked at her in surprise. “Are you serious?”
A woman gaping in surprise | Source: Midjourney
“Completely. Rebecca always said I worked too hard. Maybe it’s time I had someone to help share the load.” She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “What do you say?”
Looking at her hopeful expression, I felt something I hadn’t experienced in months: a spark of possibility. Maybe Mom was right that morning when she painted me watching those birds. Maybe home really is something you build together, one small piece at a time.
“Yes,” I said, squeezing back. “Yes, I’d like that very much.”
As we hugged, I knew my life was about to change. This Christmas, I found a family again. And though nothing could replace the hole my mother’s absence left, perhaps with Mrs. Peterson’s help, I could build a new home… one that honored the past while giving me hope for the future.
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Plastic surgery became extremely popular during the 70s and 80s, and many people, especially celebrities, started going under the knife in order to get rid of their physical flaws. Many never admit having a plastic surgery, claiming their great looks are a result of great self-care or quality genes. The bad thing about these surgeries is that people get addicted and always want more. One such example is New York celebrity and socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein, or better known as “Catwoman.”
Being born and raised in Switzerland in a lower-middle-class family, Jocelyn figured out early in life that her great looks could help her get herself a better life.
Source: YouTube/Selena Marilyn De Ville
When she was 17, she started dating Swiss film producer Cyril Piguet. Two years later, they broke up and she moved to Paris. There, Jocelyn found new love with Italian-French filmmaker Sergio Gabbi.
”My life changed then. Lausanne is very plain, but I began meeting exciting, glamorous people,” she once told New York Magazine.
Jocelyn Wildenstein became a skilled hunter and worked as a pilot.
She often visited Africa for hunting, and it was during one of those trips that she met her future husband, billionaire Alec Nathan Wildenstein.
His father was against his son tying the knot, but Alec claimed back in the day that he didn’t have anything against his wife, he just didn’t believe in marriage.
Source: YouTube/Selena Marilyn De Ville
Jocelyn and Alec welcomed two children and had a beautiful marriage for 13 years, until she found him in the bed with a Russian model.
The divorce was one of the most commented at the time. Jocelyn received $2.5 billion in a record settlement, and additional $100 million each year for 13 years afterward. One of the details in the settlement which caused a stir was that she was forbidden to use any of the money on plastic surgery.
In case you wonder why, just take a look at her face. Especially her “cat” eyes and extremely high cheekbones.
Jocelyne Wildenstein poses for a picture February 10, 1999 in New York City. Photo by Evan Agostini
Many magazines have reported that Jocelyn has spent around $6.7 million dollars on different procedures. It all started when she and her ex-husband Alec decided to go under the knife in 1979. Apparently, she pointed out that he had “baggy” eyes and he wanted hers to look more like those of a cat.
Jocelyn Wildenstein had a hard time deciding when it was enough.
Her extravagant look, which resembles that of a big cat, brought her the nickname “Catwoman,” or “The Lion Queen.”
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However, even though she looks drastically different compared to her younger self, Jocelyn still claims that her appearance is partially natural.
“If I show you pictures of my grandmother, what you see is these eyes — cat eyes — and high cheekbones,” she said.
Speaking of her addiction, her ex, who passed away in 2008, aged 67, once said, “She was crazy. I would always find out last. She was thinking that she could fix her face like a piece of furniture. Skin does not work that way. But she would not listen.”
NNoam Galai / Getty Images
Her current fiancé, whom she started dating in 2003 and got engaged to in 2017, French designer Lloyd Klein, said in an interview with Daily Mail TV that he couldn’t understand why Jocelyn is dubbed “The Catwoman.”
“[Jocelyn Wildenstein] never really did anything to change her face. I have pictures from 16 years old where she looks exactly the same as today,” he said.
Although she has undergone a huge number of procedures, Jocelyn says she looks more or less the same as she did in her youth. “When we are young, there’s a certain freshness we lose with the years. But you still find the same eyes, same high cheeks, or same nose. I think I was more pretty,” she told the Reporter.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Baccarat
Jocelyn tried to keep her life private and has been avoiding the spotlight. However, her publicist Brandon Cohen, told Page Six in 2021, “She now really wants to talk about her life, what drove her, how she built a business with her fiancé in the craziness of their life together in New York.” Apparently, a documentary about this woman’s extravagant life is in the making.
The 84-year-old socialite appeared at Paris Fashion Week in late September/October this year, and fans were fast to point out that Jocelyn Wildenstein has altered her face yet again.
People close to her claim she even has a hard time moving her lips because of the surgeries.
Most recently, the conversation around the appearance of Jocelyn Wildenstein gained further attraction when Oli London, a British internet personality known for undergoing multiple cosmetic surgeries to resemble Jimin, a member of the K-pop group BTS, posted a video featuring Jocelyn on X (formerly Twitter).
A number of people took the time to comment and express their concerns over Jocelyn Wildenstein’s new face.
Billionaire socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein who has been dubbed ‘Catwoman’ shows off her new face, despite denying extensive plastic surgery and claiming her looks are down to her ‘Swiss Heritage.’ pic.twitter.com/FQ0S2yeVzg
“The doctors who did this to her face should be in jail,” while another added, “With that amount of plastic, she would require to be recycled in New York, just sayin.” A third user wrote, “Her face looks like it’s just about to explode, the skin is stretched so tight!!! Like when you blow up a balloon too much. She is scary looking.😳”
There are also those who support her and say that as long as her appearance makes her happy, it’s up to her to make decisions about her own life and health.
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My emotions were all over the place when I entered my baby’s room. The walls my husband and I painted pink, the crib that we spent hours assembling, all of Amelia’s toys – it was all destroyed. The room was dark, painted in black color.
I stood in the middle of the nursery – frozen and scared. “What happened to my baby’s room? Where are all of her toys? Why is the crib broken?”
As I was trying to figure out what had happened, pinching myself just to make sure I wasn’t in the middle of my worst nightmare, my MIL appeared in front of me. “Your daughter doesn’t deserve a pink room. Take her to her real family and don’t make a fool out of my poor son,” Janice said.
She couldn’t understand how my daughter could have dark skin when both my husband and I were white. Explaining to her that genetics are powerful and that Amelia’s skin color was inherited from my husband’s great-grandfather, who was Black, was to no avail.
Janice didn’t want to listen. What’s most, she accused me of infidelity.
But destroying my baby’s room was something I wasn’t willing to tolerate.
As she spoke ill of my daughter, demanding I “give her to her black family,” adding one insult after another, most of which racist, I managed to take my phone out and record her without her being aware of it.
I was about to cry when Tim told me she wasn’t worth it. Her words meant nothing. They couldn’t hurt us.
Since Janice offended me, I decided to teach her a lesson. Taking to the social media, I wrote a post about Amelia, the nursery her dad and I decorated with so much love, and how her grandma destroyed it completely. I uploaded the recording, and in no time, the post got the attention of the entire family, as well as Janice’s friends.
Tim and I received plenty of messages of support, while Janice received backlash for her racist comments.
Later, we learned that the post was seen by her boss, who fired her.
In the weeks to come, we worked to rebuild our lives and our daughter’s room. It took some time, but the place was once again vibrant and full of life, just like our baby daughter deserved.
Over time, Janice tried to reach to us, but both Tim and I agreed that we didn’t need her in our lives. Her words and actions led to her humiliation, and honestly, I didn’t feel sorry for her because I believe she deserved it.
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Christmas has always been my family’s most favorite holiday. As the spirit of the festivity filled the air with joy and togetherness, my 9-year-old daughter, Mia, and I decorated the Christmas tree, creating memories we would cherish forever. As she carefully placed each of the Christmas ornaments, she bombarded me with questions about Santa and his reindeer.
“Mom, do you think Santa feeds his reindeer well?” she asked. Smiling at her innocence, I told her he sure did.
“And mommy, do the reindeer take some rest while helping Santa deliver all those presents?”
“Well, Mia, they probably do get some rest,” I answered, happy that my daughter’s excitement grew bigger and bigger as the holiday approached.
“That’s great mom, because it would be a pity if they don’t get to rest, you know, because they have a hard job,” Mia said, a bit worried.
Trying to put her at ease, I made sure Mia knew Santa was awesome at taking care of his reindeer.
Midjourney
On Christmas Eve, Mia asked to open a present. “Just one, mommy, please,” she begged, but my husband told her to be patient. “Wait until the morning Mia, that’s how things are done, we need to respect the tradition,” he said, smiling.
Unwillingly, Mia accepted her dad’s explanation and promised to wait until the morning to open the presents.
This year, I got her tickets for the Nutcracker and couldn’t wait for her reaction, knowing how much she loves ballet.
In the middle of the night, a sudden feeling of thirst woke me up. “I didn’t have enough water today,” I said to myself.
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As I walked to the kitchen, I noticed the door of Mia’s room was open, and I remembered closing it so I went to check on my girl when I noticed her bed was epmty.
“Hayden, Mia’s not in her room,” I yelled. My husband came running. He was as scared as I was.
“Oh, no, my car keys are also missing,” I said, barely trying to contain my tears. “Hayden, what is going on? Where is our daughter?”
Just as I was about to leave the house and search for Mia, Hayden said, “Look, honey, there is a note under the tree.”
Midjourney
It was written by Mia and addressed to Santa Clause.
Dear Santa,
I know you and your reindeer have a hard time on Christmas, delivering all those presents to so many children.
When you stop my my house with the games I asked for, go to the abandon house across the street. I’ll leave some chicken sandwiches for the reindeer. And if they are still tired after taking some rest, use my mom’s car to deliver the presents, but make sure you return the keys before dawn.
Lots of Love,
Mia.
Reading those words and becoming aware of my daughter’s heart of gold, I cried tears of joy.
“Come on, Hayden, let’s go to the abandoned house.”
Midjourney
When my husband and I went to the house across the street, Mia was there. Wrapped in her favorite blanket and holding a bag of sandwiches in one hand and my car keys in the other, she waited patiently.
“What are you doing here, Mia,” I asked her gently.
“I’m waiting for Santa,” she said.
“Honey, let’s go home, I’m sure Santa will be thankful for your help.”
In the morning, when Mia woke up, she found a note under the tree.
Dear Mia,
Thank you for being so thoughtful. My reindeer enjoyed your sandwiches and your mom’s keys are returned just in time, like you asked.
You’re a wonderful girl and you’ve made this Christmas magical. – Santa.
Midjourney
“Mom, dad, the reindeer loved my sandwiches,” she screamed in excitement.
“Of course they did, Mia,” I said, smiling.
Mia’s innocence and love for the holiday made it the most special ever.
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Christmas is all about celebrating love, family, and togetherness. It’s a time for joy, generosity, and sharing moments of warmth and kindness with others. The gifts are also a very significant part of the holiday as they do not only represent material things but also appreciation.
However, choosing the right gift for the right person is not always easy. In order to make the right choice, you need to know the person, their likes and dislikes, and their preferences.
A woman shared a story of a Christmas gift she had received from her husband after years of not buying her anything.
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When the time came for the gifts to be unboxed, she was eager to see what he had chosen for her. Sadly, the revelation left her both shocked and highly disappointed. Instead of choosing something meaningful and personal, he decided to surprise her with a vacuum cleaner.
Since there were hardwood and linoleum floors all over the house, she felt like she didn’t even need such a vacuum cleaner, but still, she said thank you and decided to forget about it.
However, when her husband accidentally revealed the truth behind the choice of gift, she decided to plot a revenge. It turned out that he bought that piece of equipment because he needed a dry vacuum cleaner for the garage as it even picked up water.
“He said it worked great cause he already tried it before wrapping it up,” the woman explained.
She would have appreciated a cheap piece of jewelry over what she had received.
When she decided to tell him that she was upset because of the gift, he called her selfish, saying that the gifts were supposed to serve the entire family.
Although a year passed by, she didn’t forget about the vacuum cleaner and decided to teach her husband a lesson.
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The next Christmas was just around the corner and she bought a present for him that she packed in a huge box. Realizing the box was for him and anticipating something special was inside, the husband couldn’t wait to see what she had bought him.
To his surprise, the box was stacked with a case of toilet paper. Looking at him, she quoted him, “Christmas was not for what we would want, but what we as a family need or could use.”
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Later that evening, he complained to his family about the gift, but everyone agreed that he got what he deserved. From that moment on, no man from the family even dared to get their wife a vacuum cleaner or anything similar for Christmas.
Eventually, the husband stopped being mad and laughed at his wife’s witty idea.
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Becoming a stepparent comes with plenty of challenges. From the fear of being unaccepted, to doing everything possible to build trust and form connections, it sometimes takes a lot of time and patience for stepparents to be considered family by their stepchildren.
The following stories serve as perfect examples that family is not always about blood.
My stepdaughter invited me to a restaurant – When the bill came I was speechless
Rufus, 50, and his stepdaughter Hyacinth have never been close. They did respect each other, but they simply didn’t click.
It had been years since Rufus last heard of his stepdaughter, so the call that day surprised him.
Hyacinth invited him to dinner at a fancy restaurant. He though they would finally bond, because according to him, they stopped trying years ago, but he still had hopes.
He tried to engage in a conversation, but Hyacinth was as reserved as always, which made Rufus wonder what he was doing there in the first place.
Stepparents / Midjourney
Hyacinth was getting up her seat every now and then, making her stepdad wonder where she was going.
The entire night was a bit awkward and Rufus was hoping it would end as soon as possible, not because he didn’t enjoy his stepdaughter’s company, but because he felt like she was still holding back from connecting with him.
Just as the waiter brought the bill, Hyacinth excused herself to the bathroom. They had lobster and steak – her choice. Rufus waited for a couple of minutes, but as she didn’t return, he paid the outrageous bill.
A feeling of disappointment settled in, and Rufus decided to leave the restaurant.
But just as he headed to the exit, he heard Hyacinth calling his name.
“Rufus,” she yelled, while carrying a cake and plenty of balloons.
Rufus approached closer and saw the words Congrats Grandpa written in blue and pink.
“You are going to be a grandpa, Rufus. We’ve had our differences, but I want you to be part of my life and the life of my child.”
Surprise for stepparents/ Midjourney
Rufus was overwhelmed with emotions. “You did all this for me?” he asked.
For the first time in many years, Rufus felt like had a daughter.
I overheard my stepson talking about me to his friends, and I haven’t been able to stop crying since
It was the day when Mark was taking his stepson, Eli, and his friends to an amusement park. The trip wasn’t just an outing, but a chance this stepdad to bond with his stepson.
Once there, the boys couldn’t wait to try everything, but first, they all rushed towards the roller coaster. “Let’s ride on this one,” one of the friends said, and the rest agreed in excitement.
But, as much as Mark wanted to be the cool stepdad, he was hesitant whether to let the children ride on the roller coaster. “Isn’t this a bit dangerous? Maybe you should try something else,” he suggested.
Mark went to grab some sushi and returned to the laughter of Eli and his friends. Accidentally, he overheard one of the boys say to Eli, “Your mom’s husband is boring. Next time we are coming without him.”
At that moment, Mark felt like he failed to connect with his stepson. But then, something incredible happened. Eli stood up for Mark.
“My dad wouldn’t ruin the fun for us, but if he says it’s dangerous, then it probably is. I trust him, plus there plenty of other fun stuff to do here.”
Midjourney
Mark was stunned. Eli called him DAD. This was the first time he heard that word coming from Eli.
The rest of the day was all about Mark and Eli. They cracked jokes, and then ended up at the bumper cars, where Eli rammed into his stepdad with a mischievous smile.
Earning Eli’s trust was a long process, but the day at the amusement park was a proof that it was all worth it.
The surprise I planned for my stepmom’s 18th birthday completely turned her world upside down
When Sarah’s mom passed away, she was just 11. This experience left her deeply devastated. Her dad was lost as his own sea of grief. However, he eventually found love with someone else and remarried.
Sarah’s stepmom was an incredible woman who never tried to substitute Sarah’s mother, but was always there for her. What’s most, Sara felt love and appreciated and she was lucky this woman became part of her and her dad’s lives.
Life felt good again, but then another tragedy struck. Sarah’s dad lost his life.
A day after his funeral, Sarah and her stepmom stood in complete silence in the dimly lit living room as uncertainty could be felt in the air.
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Then, the silence was broken by the stepmom’s words, “I can’t imagine how hard this is for you. But I want you to know, I’m here for you. We’re family, no matter what.”
Fast forward to Sarah’s 18th birthday, she and her stepmom still lived together and were as close as ever. On the morning on the day which marked a milestone in Sarah’s life, her stepmom greeted her with a gift wrapped in a bow. “Happy birthday, sweetheart,” she said as she handed Sarah the gift.
“Thank you,” Sarah replied, her heart swelling with gratitude for this woman who had chosen to stand by her through everything. “I have a surprise for you too, but… you’ll need to pack your things.”
“Pack my things? Are you… Are you serious?”
Stepparents/ Midjourney
“Yes,” Sarah answered. “I want you to pack your things in the next hour. You’re leaving this house.”
“But why, dear? I thought we were a family…”
“It’s time,” Sarah said, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. “I’ve been planning this since the day Dad died. You are going to another city.”
Her stepmom turned to her, looking at her with confusion. “I understand. You’re an adult now, you have money and you don’t need me anymore. But why are you sending me so far away? You don’t want to see me at all?” she told Sarah.
But, as they pulled up in front of a quaint, beautiful house, the surprise Sarah had been keeping was finally ready to be unveiled.
“I will be spending some of this money on education,” she continued, pointing to the house. “At an Ivy League university in the city, we’re in now, where I have already been accepted. Do you see this house?”
“Yes,” the stepmom said in a quiet voice.
“I bought this house for you. There was enough money for everything. Now I will study here and you will live next door. We won’t have to be apart, and if you want, you can go back to our old house at any time, or we can return together after I finish my studies.”
Sarah’s stepmom couldn’t contain the tears of joy that started rolling down her face.
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A marriage should be built on love, trust, and mutual understanding, and it was this Christmas that I learned the true meaning of this.
Shawn has been my soulmate, the man that meant everything to me. I have never doubted his love, until Christmas Eve approached and I learned he wasn’t telling me the truth about his alleged trip to another city for the sake of business.
“Honey,” Shawn said to me a couple of days before Christmas, “my boss needs me in Boston. I need to take care of an important client. I know the holiday is approaching, but I couldn’t say no.”
Midjourney
His avoidance of eye contact planted a seed of doubt in me, but I dismissed it. After all, it was Shawn, the only person I trusted unconditionally.
As he packed, I sense of disappointment settled in. This would be our first Christmas apart since we got married and I knew the holiday wouldn’t be the same with Shawn not being there.
However, I knew how important his job was to him so I offered nothing but support.
I promised myself to have a good time with my friends and my family, trying not to overthink.
But then, Christmas Eve arrived, and I got a call from Shawn late in the night. Sadly, that call raised more questions than answers.
Midjourney
“Merry Christmas, beautiful,” Shawn said, but his voice sounded strangely strained.
“Merry Christmas! How’s Boston? Did you get the client situation sorted out?”
“It’s… uh… good. Listen, I can’t really talk right now. I have to go—”
In the background, I could hear loud noises, dishes clinking, and laughter.
“Are you at dinner?” I asked. But Shawn said he had an emergency meeting and hung up the phone.
An emergency meeting at 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve? That didn’t make sense.
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Shawn was hiding something from me and I was determined to discover what it was.
As I paced back and forth across the room, my mind raced with a storm of emotions and a million questions. And then I remembered! The previous week, I left my fitness tracker in Shawn’s car. I was quick to open the app, and that’s when my heart sank.
It showed that Shawn never went to Boston, he was at a hotel located some 15 minutes away from our home.
Every second of the drive to the hotel felt like torture. Shawn lied to me, and that was something I couldn’t make peace with.
Shawn’s car was parked in front of the hotel. I rushed towards the lobby, and the receptionist stopped me there. “Madam, can I help you?”
I showed her a photo of Shawn and said, “This is my husband, he claimed to be in Boston, but his car is parked in front.”
With tears rolling down my face, I begged her to tell me the room he was in. She hesitated at first, but she then slid a keycard across the counter and said, “Miss, sometimes things aren’t what they seem.”
I didn’t understand what she meant until I opened the hotel door number 412.
“Shawn, how could you?” I yelled. But then I stopped, shocked at the sight of him standing in front of a man in a wheelchair.
The man, with a silver hair and eyes I haven’t seen in 26 years, looked at me in confusion.
Midjourney
“Dad!?” the word came out as a whisper.
“Andrea, my girl,” he said with a trembling voice.
My father disappeared from my life when I was just a five year old girl after a bitter divorce from my mother. I have missed him my whole life. He was the missing piece of the puzzle in my pursuit of happiness.
But what he was doing there? Nothing made sense to me.
Shawn then turned to me and explained that before my mom’s passing, she told him more about my dad, and he was able to track him down through the social media. My dad was in Arizona this whole time.
Midjourney
Shawn wanted to surprise me for Christmas, but I ruined the surprise. Still, that Christmas was the best ever.
My husband’s secrecy hadn’t been deceit but the purest form of love.
That Christmas, it was just the three of us. My dad shared stories of his life, and I realized that reuniting with him was a blessing I was happy to embrace with arms wide open.
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If you think women are good at manipulating, wait until you see the ways men manipulate women to get what they want. Some men will go to great lengths, using tactics designed to charm, deceive, or emotionally disarm women in order to achieve intimacy. While many women believe they’re in control, these methods can leave them hurt and questioning their judgment.
Let’s explore six common ways men manipulate women into sleeping with them and how you can protect yourself.
1. Using Those Three Words
Source: Freepik
One of the most common ways men manipulate women is by saying “I love you.” For some women, hearing these words creates a sense of trust and emotional vulnerability. Players often exploit this, waiting for the perfect moment to say them, knowing they can break down emotional walls. However, once they achieve their goal, their interest may suddenly disappear, leaving you hurt.
2. The Marriage Trick
Another tactic men use to manipulate is dangling the idea of marriage. For women who dream of long-term commitment, this promise can be compelling. They suggest a future together but often lose interest after getting what they want. This is one of the ways men manipulate women emotionally, playing on their deepest desires to achieve physical intimacy.
3. The Influence of Alcohol
Source: Freepik
Encouraging you to drink more during dates is another sneaky tactic. When alcohol clouds your judgment, you’re more likely to make decisions you might later regret. This tactic is a subtle but dangerous example of the ways men manipulate women, as it puts you in a vulnerable position.
4. The Friend Card
Pretending to be a supportive friend is a clever ploy. Men in this role may spend time with you, build trust, and wait until you’re emotionally comfortable with them. Once their goal is achieved, the friendship often disappears. This method is among the most deceitful ways men manipulate women by taking advantage of their trust and kindness.
5. Sweet Words and Compliments
Flattery is a powerful tool. Some men use charming words to make you feel special and desired, knowing it can break down your defenses. Compliments like “You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever met” or “You’re so captivating” may sound genuine, but they can also be calculated moves. Recognizing this as one of the ways men manipulate women can help you stay cautious.
6. Sharing a Sad Story
Source: Freepik
Emotional vulnerability is another way to build trust quickly. When a man shares a sad story about his struggles, it can tug at your heartstrings and make you feel closer to him. While not all men who open up have ulterior motives, some use this as one of the ways men manipulate women emotionally, knowing it lowers defenses and fosters a deeper connection.
Protect Yourself from Manipulation
Recognizing these ways men manipulate women can empower you to set boundaries and trust your instincts. Healthy relationships are built on mutual respect, honesty, and care—not on deception or emotional exploitation. If you’ve encountered any of these tactics, don’t hesitate to share your story or seek support.
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