I came to the island searching for peace, a fresh start to heal from my past. Instead, I found HIM—charming, attentive, and everything I didn’t know I needed. But just when I started to believe in new beginnings, a single moment shattered it all.
Even though I’d spent decades there, my living room felt like a stranger’s space. At 55, I stared at the open suitcase, wondering how my life had come to this.
“How did we get here?” I asked the chipped “Forever & Always” cup in my hand before tossing it aside.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
I ran my hand along the couch. “Goodbye to Sunday coffee and pizza fights.”
Memories buzzed in my mind, unwelcome guests I couldn’t evict. In the bedroom, the emptiness hit harder. The other side of the bed stared back at me like an accusation.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I muttered. “It wasn’t all my fault.”
Packing became a scavenger hunt for things that still mattered. The laptop sat on my desk like a beacon.
“At least you stuck around,” I said, patting it.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
After two years of work, my novel was inside. It wasn’t finished, but it was mine—proof I wasn’t entirely lost.
Then, Lana’s email came:
“Creative retreat. Warm island. Fresh start. Wine.”
“Of course, wine,” I laughed.
Lana had always been good at making disasters sound appealing. The idea felt reckless, but wasn’t that the point?
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
I stared at the flight confirmation. My inner voice was relentless.
What if I hate it? Or if they hate me? What if I fall into the ocean and get eaten by sharks?
But then another thought crept in.
What if I enjoy it?
I exhaled and closed the suitcase. “Here’s to running away.”
I wasn’t running away. I was running toward something.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
The island greeted me with a warm breeze and the rhythmic sound of ocean waves crashing against the shore. For a moment, I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, letting the salty air fill my lungs.
This is exactly what I needed.
But the peace didn’t last. As I approached the retreat, the serenity of the island was replaced by loud music and bursts of laughter. People mostly in their 20s and 30s lounged on brightly colored beanbags, holding drinks that seemed more umbrella than liquid.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Well, this isn’t exactly a monastery,” I muttered under my breath.
A group near the pool burst into laughter so loud it startled a bird from a nearby tree. I sighed.
Creative breakthroughs, huh, Lana?
Before I could retreat into the shadows, Lana appeared, her sunhat tilted at a jaunty angle and a margarita in hand.
“Thea!” she shouted, as though we hadn’t emailed just yesterday. “You made it!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Regretting it already,” I murmured but plastered on a smile.
“Oh, stop,” she said, waving a hand. “This is where the magic happens! Trust me, you’ll love it.”
“I was hoping for something… quieter,” I said, raising an eyebrow.
“Nonsense! You need to meet people and soak in the energy! Speaking of which,” she grabbed my arm, “I have someone you must meet.”
Before I could protest, she dragged me through the crowd. I felt like a frumpy mother at a high school party, trying not to trip over discarded flip-flops.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
We stopped in front of a man who, I kid you not, looked like he belonged on the cover of GQ. Sun-kissed skin, a relaxed smile, and a white linen shirt unbuttoned just enough to be suggestive but not sleazy.
“Thea, meet Eric,” Lana said with excitement.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Thea,” he said, his voice as smooth as the ocean breeze.
“Likewise,” I said, hoping my nervousness didn’t show.
Lana beamed as if she’d just set up a royal engagement. “Eric’s a writer, too. He’s been dying to meet you since I told him about your novel.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
My cheeks flushed. “Oh, it’s not finished.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Eric said. “The fact that you’ve poured yourself into it for two years… that’s incredible! I’d love to hear about it.”
Lana smirked and backed away. “You two talk. I’ll find more margaritas!”
I glared after her. But in a few minutes, whether it was Eric’s undeniable charisma or the enchanting ocean breeze playing tricks on me, I found myself agreeing to a walk.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Give me a moment,” I said, surprising even myself.
Back in my room, I rummaged through my suitcase and pulled out my most flattering sundress.
Why not? If I’m going to be dragged around, I might as well look good doing it.
When I stepped outside, Eric was waiting. “Ready?”
I nodded, trying to act casual, even as my stomach did an uncharacteristic flutter. “Lead the way.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Eric showed me parts of the island that seemed untouched by the chaos of the “retreat.” A secluded beach with a swing hanging from a palm tree, a hidden trail leading to a cliff with a breathtaking view—places that weren’t in any guidebook.
“You’re good at this,” I said, laughing.
“Good at what?” he asked, sitting on the sand nearby.
“Making someone forget they’re wildly out of place.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
His smile widened. “Maybe you’re not as out of place as you think.”
As we talked, I laughed more than I had in months. He shared stories of his travels and love for literature, which matched mine. His admiration for my novel felt sincere, and when he joked about framing my autograph one day, I felt a warmth I hadn’t in a long time.
But beneath the laughter, something tugged at the edge of my thoughts. A faint unease I couldn’t explain. He seemed perfect, too perfect.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
The next morning started on a high note. I stretched, my mind buzzing with ideas for the next chapter of my novel.
“Today’s the day,” I murmured, reaching for my laptop.
My fingers flew over the keyboard as I woke it up. But when the desktop appeared, my heart stopped. The folder where my novel had lived—two years of blood, sweat, and sleepless nights—was gone. I searched every corner of the hard drive, hoping I had misplaced it. Nothing.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“That’s odd,” I said to myself.
My laptop was there, but the most important part of my life’s work had disappeared without a trace.
“Okay, don’t freak out,” I whispered, clutching the edge of the desk. “You probably just misplaced it.”
But I knew I hadn’t. I bolted out of the room and headed straight to Lana. As I passed the hallway, muffled voices caught my attention. I froze, my heart pounding. Slowly, I moved toward the sound. The door to the next room was slightly ajar.
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“We just need to pitch it to the right publisher?” he said.
My blood ran cold. Eric’s voice was unmistakable. Peeking through the gap, I saw Lana leaning in, her voice a low hum of conspiracy.
“Her manuscript is brilliant,” Lana said, her tone syrupy. “We’ll figure out how to position it as mine. She’ll never know what hit her.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
My stomach churned with anger and betrayal, but also something worse—disappointment. Eric, who’d made me laugh, listened to me, and who I’d started to trust, was part of that.
I turned away before they could see me and headed to my room. I slammed my suitcase shut, stuffing clothes into it haphazardly.
“This was supposed to be my fresh start,” I whispered bitterly.
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My vision blurred, but I refused to cry. Crying was for someone who still believed in second chances, and I was done with that.
By the time I left the island, the bright sunshine felt like a cruel joke. I kept my gaze ahead, refusing to look back. I didn’t need to.
***
Months later, the bookstore was buzzing with excitement. Rows of seats were filled, and the air hummed with conversation. I stood at the podium, holding a copy of my novel, and tried to focus on the faces smiling back at me.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Thank you all for being here tonight,” I said, my voice steady despite the swirl of emotions beneath the surface. “This book is the result of years of work and… a journey I never expected to take.”
The applause was warm, yet I felt an ache deep in my chest as I looked out over the crowd. The novel was my pride, yes, but the road to its success had been anything but smooth. The betrayal still lingered in my mind.
After the signing line dwindled and the last guest left, I sank into a chair at the corner of the store, exhausted. That’s when I saw it—a small folded note on the table.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“You owe me an autograph. Café around the corner when you’re free.”
The handwriting was unmistakable. My heart skipped a beat. Eric.
I stared at the note, my emotions a confusing mix of curiosity, irritation, and something else I wasn’t ready to name.
For a moment, I considered crumpling it up and walking away. But instead, I sighed, grabbed my coat, and headed for the café. I spotted him immediately.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“You’re bold, leaving me a note like that,” I said, sliding into the seat across from him.
“Bold or desperate?” he replied with a wry smile. “I wasn’t sure you’d come.”
“Neither was I,” I admitted.
“Thea, I need to explain. What happened on the island… At first, I didn’t realize Lana’s true motives. She convinced me it was all to help you. But the moment I discovered what she was really planning, I took the flash drive and sent it to you.”
I stayed silent.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“When Lana involved me, she said you were too modest to publish your novel yourself,” Eric continued. “She claimed you didn’t believe in your talent and needed someone to surprise you, to push it forward. I thought I was helping.”
“A surprise?” I shot back. “You mean taking my work behind my back?”
“That’s what I thought at first. The moment she told me the truth, I grabbed the flash drive and went to find you, but you were already gone.”
“So, what I overheard wasn’t what it seemed?”
“It wasn’t. Thea, I chose you the second I understood the truth.”
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I let the silence settle, waiting for the familiar anger to surface. But it wasn’t there anymore. Lana’s manipulations were in the past, and the novel had been published on my terms.
“She always envied you, you know,” Eric said quietly, breaking the silence. “Even back in university, she felt overshadowed. This time, she saw an opportunity and used both our trust to try and take what wasn’t hers.”
“And now?”
“She’s gone. Disappeared from every circle I know. She couldn’t face the fallout after I refused to back her lies.”
“You made the right choice. That counts for something.”
“Does that mean you’ll give me another chance?”
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“One date,” I said, holding up a finger. “Don’t mess it up.”
His grin widened. “Deal.”
As we left the café, I caught myself smiling. That one date turned into another and then another. Before I knew it, I fell in love. And that time, it wasn’t one-sided. What started with betrayal had blossomed into a relationship built on understanding, forgiveness, and, yes, love.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
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My Husband and His Mom Got Rid of My Cat While I Was Away — but I Never Expected My Neighbor to Help Me Get Revenge
When I returned from a short trip, I discovered that my mother-in-law had decided to “free” me from my beloved cat, Benji. But thanks to my neighbor’s quick thinking and some dirt from the past, I not only got my cat back but also found the strength to free myself from a useless husband.
Benji wasn’t just a pet to me. He was my heart, my comfort, my family. I rescued him as a kitten when I was drowning in grief after losing my father. My husband, John, never understood. He called my bond with Benji “weird.”
A woman smiling and holding a white cat while a man stands in the background with crossed arms | Source: Midjourney
But I never imagined he and his mother, Carol, would take things this far.
The house felt wrong the moment I walked in after my weekend trip with my girlfriends. The usual patter of paws across hardwood floors was missing.
Some people believed cats weren’t as attached to their owners as dogs, but Benji could prove them all wrong. He always greeted me.
A white cat sitting on a shelf | Source: Pexels
But on this day, instead of his meows, I got silence. And even worse, I could detect the faint scent of my mother-in-law’s overpowering perfume lingering in the air.
I walked further into the house and saw John sprawled on the couch, distracted by his phone.
“Where’s Benji?” I wondered.
“No idea. Maybe he ran off,” he replied with a shrug.
A man sitting on a sofa holding a phone and looking up | Source: Midjourney
The casual tone in his voice set off my alarm bells. Benji never “ran off.” He was an indoor cat who got nervous just looking at the backyard through the window.
That’s when I noticed Carol sitting at the dining table with a smug smile playing on her thin lips as she sipped her coffee.
“Where is my cat?” I demanded, walking toward her.
A woman in a living room looks angry | Source: Midjourney
Carol set down the mug with deliberate slowness. “Well…” she began. “I used your time away to do what was necessary. Finally, you’re free from that animal.”
“Excuse me?”
“You were way too obsessed with that disgusting fur ball to focus on what really matters. It’s time to start a family,” she continued. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
An older woman with an impassive face sitting at a dining table | Source: Midjourney
Fire. Pure, hot, and raging fire coursed through my blood as I walked closer to the dining table. My hands clutched the back of a chair carefully, with all the restraint I could muster.
“What did you do with him?” I asked slowly.
“Now, Frances, don’t get dramatic,” Carol sighed, waving a dismissive hand. “You’re 32, for heaven’s sake. Time to grow up. No more time or money spent on pet food, toys, or whatever.”
A kitten looking at a toy | Source: Pexels
I turned to John, who hadn’t moved from his position on the couch. “You let this happen and you LIED to me?!”
He shrugged again, still not looking up. “I think my mother’s right. It’s time to move on.”
“Move on from what?” My voice cracked. “Having something in my life that actually brings me joy? Unlike this marriage?”
That got his attention. John finally looked up, his face flushing. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
A man sitting on a couch with his mouth open looking offended | Source: Midjourney
“It means you’ve never supported anything that matters to me. Not once. You and your mother just decide what’s best for my life without ever asking what I want.”
Carol stood up, her chair scraping against the hardwood floor. “We decide what’s best because you clearly can’t make good decisions for yourself. Look at you now, throwing a tantrum over a cat when you should be focusing on starting a family.”
An older woman standing next to a table gesturing with her hands | Source: Midjourney
“You mean a family like this one?” I laughed, the sound harsh and foreign to my ears. “Where my husband can’t make a single decision without consulting his mommy first? And he decides to lie to me just to please you?”
At that moment, I wanted to tell her that my husband lied to her, too, about many things. But I held my tongue. I needed to recover Benji first.
“Now you’re just being hysterical,” Carol crossed her arms. “This is exactly why we had to take matters into our own hands.”
“Tell me where he is.” I stepped closer to Carol. “Now.”
A woman looking angry and mouthing something in a living room | Source: Midjourney
“Or what?” Carol smiled, but I caught the slight uncertainty in her eyes. “What are you going to do about it?”
Before I could answer, movement from the window caught my eye. My neighbor Lisa was in my yard, waving urgently. When I met her gaze, she pointed toward her house and mouthed something.
Somehow, only I noticed her.
“I’ll be right back,” I managed to say to Carol through clenched teeth, then added, “And when I return, I want to know exactly what you did with my cat.”
Stepping outside, I felt the cool spring air against my flushed face. Lisa hurried over, and we crossed the street to stand on her lawn. It was then that I noticed the phone in her hand.
Two women talking on the front lawn of a house | Source: Midjourney
“I saw your mother-in-law with Benji yesterday,” she said, breathless. “You might want to see this.”
She held out her phone, open to Facebook, and my blood ran cold at the post. There was Benji, his distinctive white fur and bright green collar unmistakable, cradled in the arms of Samantha.
That woman made my life hell in high school, but ironically, she reinvented herself years later as a lifestyle and fitness influencer who spread positivity. Unfortunately, thousands of people fell for her act, and she now lived fully off social media.
A woman recording herself while wearing sporty clothes and using a floor exercise mat | Source: Pexels
But this particular post was the only thing that mattered to me. The caption read: “Meet the newest addition to the family! Sometimes the perfect pet just falls into your lap. #blessed #newcatmom”
“That’s not all,” Lisa said, swiping to a video. “I was watering my plants yesterday morning when I saw your mother-in-law carrying Benji’s carrier to her car. Something felt off, so I just got in my truck and followed her. I decided to record just in case.”
An older woman hurrying along, carrying a cat in a basket | Source: Midjourney
The video, which was obviously shot from the inside of Lisa’s truck, showed Carol’s sedan pulling up to a modern townhouse.
Carol emerged with Benji’s carrier, walked up to the front door, and handed my pet over to Samantha. My mother-in-law had a big smile on her face as she got back into her sedan and drove off.
The video ended there.
“I’m so sorry, Frances,” Lisa said. “I should have tried to stop her.”
“No,” I said, squeezing her arm. “You did exactly the right thing. This is perfect.”
Two women talking on the front lawn of a house, one holding a phone, both looking worried | Source: Midjourney
“Want me to come with you to confront her?”
I shook my head. “No, just send me the video. I need to do this alone. But thank you. For everything.”
I crossed the street and went back inside. Carol had moved next to John on the couch, and they were in a deep, quiet conversation.
They looked up when I entered, and I felt the urge to do something unpleasant to my mother-in-law. This feeling only intensified when she began speaking.
A man and his mother sitting on a couch looking up with upset expressions | Source: Midjourney
“If you’re done with your little drama,” she said.
“Samantha?” I cut her off. “Really? That’s who you gave my cat to?”
Carol’s eyes widened slightly before she caught herself. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Save it. I have a video of you stealing my cat and giving it to her. What was the plan here? You just happened to choose my high school bully to give Benji to? Was that supposed to be some kind of twisted punishment?”
A girl in a classroom being pointed at by other classmates | Source: Pexels
John stood up. “Frances, calm down. Mom was just trying to help.”
“Help who?” I asked. “Help her maintain control over our marriage? Help Samantha get more social media followers with a cute new pet?”
“This is ridiculous,” Carol snapped. “John, tell her she’s being ridiculous.”
But I was already grabbing my car keys. “I’m going to get my cat. When I get back, I want you both gone.”
***
Samantha’s townhouse sat in an upscale development across town. Each knock on her door felt like a hammer to my racing heart.
Several townhouses | Source: Pexels
Two minutes later, the door swung open. My bully stood there in yoga pants and a crop top, and her surprised expression quickly morphed into a sneer.
“Well, if it isn’t ‘Frances, no Chances,’” she said, blocking the doorway. “You never had friends or boyfriends. Isn’t that why you had to marry that boring accountant?”
She wasn’t entirely wrong. I had been a loner for most of my life. My family was my only haven, which is why I took the death of my father so horribly. My mom and sister were still there, but it was Benji who ultimately saved me.
A woman looking sad and distraught in a cemetery | Source: Midjourney
John had been my first everything.
Now I could understand the importance of dating, learning from mistakes, and experiencing different relationships.
If I had any experience, I probably wouldn’t have chosen him or taken all his mistakes and troubles in stride, thinking I was being a good wife.
“Where’s my cat?” I asked, ignoring her jabs and focusing on what mattered.
“You mean my new cat?” Samantha’s eyebrows rose. “He was a gift. Totally legal. No backsies.”
A woman in black exercise clothes smirking outside her townhouse door | Source: Midjourney
“A gift from someone who had no right to give him away. That’s theft.”
She laughed. “Please. Who’s going to believe you? It’s just a cat. Besides, he’s much better off here. Have you seen how many followers I have? People love me. He’ll be famous.”
“The police might be interested in this video of Carol stealing and giving away my property, especially because Benji is registered to me in his microchip.”
A woman standing on a lawn looking angry | Source: Midjourney
Samantha’s smile faltered slightly. “Please, you won’t call the police.”
“Oh, I’ll do more than just call the police,” I said, pulling out my phone. “Remember high school, Samantha? Remember how you made my life miserable? You laughed at me every day for just wanting to be left alone. And what about my homecoming dress? The one you and your bully friends ripped to shreds?”
A group of friends dressed for a school dance | Source: Unsplash
I pulled up an old photo I’d kept all these years. “I have proof of what you did with that dress. And guess what? I can make a video. A very detailed video. About all of it. And post it to every platform. I’m sure it’ll go viral. After all, so many people love you.”
The color drained from Samantha’s face. Her carefully crafted influencer image trembled before my eyes.
“Don’t,” she whispered, her bravado crumbling. “Please don’t. Just… take the cat.”
She disappeared inside and returned with Benji, who looked relieved to see me. “Please, just don’t post anything.”
A woman in exercise clothes outside a townhouse, holding a white cat | Source: Midjourney
I gathered Benji into my arms, feeling his purr. It gave me comfort, but also, the strength to get in my car and go home.
John and Carol were still there when I walked in with my cat secure in my arms.
Carol jumped up from the table. “How dare you—” she started.
“No,” I cut her off. “How dare you. Both of you. I thought I told you to get out of my house.”
“Frances, you’re being ridiculous,” John said.
A man sitting on a couch, looking up worriedly | Source: Midjourney
“I want a divorce.”
Carol gasped. “You ungrateful—”
“I have video evidence of you stealing my cat,” I said, meeting her eyes. “Leave now, or I’m calling the police.”
“You can’t do that!” Carol insisted. “And this is my son’s house, too!”
“It’s not,” I replied and stared at my husband. “Didn’t he tell you? He might be an accountant, but he has terrible credit. I had to sign the loan for this house on my own. It’s just my name on the deed.”
A woman holding keys to a house | Source: Unsplash
“What?” Carol turned to her son with wide eyes.
“I would also advise on not helping him so much,” I continued. “He actually spends all you give him playing poker with his buddies.”
“Frances!” John shouted, outraged, finally getting up from the couch.
“Leave now, or I might tell your mom that it’s not just poker,” I added. “There’s a little club next to the airport…”
The entrance to a nightclub | Source: Unsplash
“Stop!” he urged, one hand up. “We’re leaving.”
John pulled his mother out, while she bickered the entire time.
At last, the door clicked shut behind them, and the house fell quiet again.
The scent of Carol’s perfume would soon drift away forever, and the evidence of John’s uselessness as a husband would soon be gone, too.
Only Benji’s heavenly smell would remain, along with the promise of a better future.
“With that thought,” I muttered, pulling out my phone and calling my lawyer. After that, I was buying Lisa something special.
A woman standing in a living room, holding a cat and a phone, smiling | Source: Midjourney
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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