Single Mother of 3 Shows up for the Reading of Her Late Husband’s Will Only to Find Out the Lawyer Was His Mistress — Story of the Day

Megan showed up to hear her late husband’s will, expecting closure—not betrayal. But when the polished young lawyer read his final words, Megan learned the unthinkable: everything had been left to her. Not to his wife—but to his mistress. And that was just the beginning.

The morning sun spilled across the windshield like melted gold, casting soft light on the dashboard, but Megan could barely keep her eyes open.

Her head throbbed, her eyes burned, and every part of her felt heavy. The kind of heavy that doesn’t come from lack of sleep—it comes from loss.

In the back seat, Eli and Noah were wrestling over a crumpled snack wrapper. It crinkled loudly between them as Noah shouted, “It’s mine!” and Eli yelled back, “You had your turn!”

“Stop it! Both of you!” Lily, their sister, tried to keep the peace, her small voice trying to sound like a grown-up’s.

“You’re acting like babies.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Boys, please,” Megan said, her fingers tightening around the steering wheel.

Her voice was calm, but there was a sharpness in it, a crack just under the surface. “Just… stop for five minutes, okay? Please.”

The car fell into a brief, tense silence.

Being a single mom was never easy. Megan had learned to juggle lunches, laundry, late-night fevers, and broken toys. But today, it felt like the weight of the world was on her shoulders.

Two weeks ago, Tom, her husband, the kids’ dad, the one person who used to balance her out, had passed away.

The kids still laughed, argued, and played like always. They didn’t fully understand what had happened.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

But Megan did.

She couldn’t afford to fall apart. Not now. Not ever. She had to be their anchor, their shield.

She dropped them off at school. Noah ran ahead. Lily skipped, her ponytail bouncing. But Eli—Eli lingered.

He stepped out of the car slowly, backpack dragging behind him. Megan saw the sadness in his eyes, the weight he was trying to hide.

“Hey,” she said gently, stepping out and walking around to him.

She bent down, so they were eye to eye, and placed her hands on his small shoulders.

“We’re gonna be okay.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

He didn’t say anything. Just looked down.

“We’ll get through whatever comes. I promise.” She ran her fingers through his hair the way Tom used to.

He nodded, slow and unsure, and turned toward the school doors.

Megan got back into the car. The silence now felt louder than the chaos before.

She reached up to flip down the sun visor, hoping to block the sharp sunlight. Something slipped out and fluttered into her lap.

It was a photo—an old Polaroid, edges curled slightly with time. It was her and Tom, laughing on a beach somewhere.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Their hair messy from the wind, cheeks sun-kissed, arms wrapped around each other like nothing could break them.

Her breath caught.

The tears came fast, too fast to stop. Her body shook as she leaned forward, pressing her forehead to the steering wheel.

The grief hit her like a crashing wave, the kind that pulls you under.

Ten minutes passed before she finally sat up, wiped her face with both hands, and whispered, “Be strong.”

Then she started the car and drove to the lawyer’s office.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The law office was too clean, too quiet. The smell of lemon polish mixed with something faintly metallic—maybe from the filing cabinets or the air conditioning.

Megan stood in the doorway for a second, adjusting her blouse and brushing invisible lint off her skirt.

She wanted to look put together, like someone in control. But her fingers shook just a little as she opened the door.

A woman in a navy suit stood to greet her. She was tall and polished, her makeup perfect, her blonde hair pulled back into a neat twist.

Her smile was sharp, like it had been practiced in front of a mirror.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“You must be Megan,” she said. “I’m Jennifer Green, Tom’s attorney.”

Megan blinked. The name meant nothing to her. “You were his lawyer?” she asked, her voice flat with disbelief.

Jennifer nodded and handed her a clipboard. “Yes. I’ll be reading Tom’s final will.”

Megan took the clipboard and signed quickly, her hand tightening around the pen.

“Let’s just get this over with. I’ve got three kids and too many things to handle.”

“Of course,” Jennifer replied smoothly, sitting behind her desk with a little too much ease. That smile again—it didn’t feel warm. It felt smug.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Jennifer opened the folder in front of her and began reading.

“Thomas Carter’s final will… item one: the family home… item two: vehicle… item three: bank accounts…”

Megan listened, her face blank. This was all expected.

Then—

“And I leave all assets and property to Jennifer Green.”

The words hit like a punch. Megan blinked. “Wait. What did you just say?”

Jennifer looked up, face calm. “Tom left everything to me.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“To you?” Megan’s voice cracked. “You’re the lawyer. That doesn’t even make sense!”

“I only follow his instructions,” Jennifer said, folding her hands like she was preparing for a board meeting.

“It was his decision.”

Megan stood up fast, her chair scraping loudly behind her. “No. No, this is wrong. You were sleeping with him, weren’t you?”

Jennifer didn’t flinch. She only tilted her head, like she was bored of pretending. “He loved me.”

Megan’s chest tightened. The office began to blur around the edges.

She stepped back, barely able to breathe. “You’ll regret this,” she said, voice low and shaking.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Jennifer didn’t answer.

Megan didn’t wait for one. She turned on her heel and walked out, the sound of her heels hitting the floor the only thing keeping her upright.

Later that afternoon, Megan pulled into the school parking lot, trying to push the morning’s shock to the back of her mind.

Eli and Noah came running, backpacks bouncing, shouting about who won kickball. Lily followed close behind, holding a paper crown she made in class.

“Mom, what’s for dinner?” Noah asked, climbing into the backseat.

“Can we have pancakes?” Lily added, already buckling in.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Megan smiled weakly. “We’ll see, honey.” Her voice was steady, but it didn’t feel like hers. She kept the smile on her face, even as her heart felt like it was crumbling.

They were noisy and hungry and full of questions, just like always. And she couldn’t bring herself to tell them the truth yet.

When they pulled into the driveway, Megan’s stomach dropped. A man in a dark suit stood waiting on the porch. He held a folder and looked like someone delivering bad news.

“Mrs. Carter?” he asked as she stepped out of the car.

“Yes?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I’m here on behalf of the property owner. I’m afraid you’ll need to vacate the home within seven days.”

She stared at him, frozen. “What? No. There must be a mistake. I have three kids!”

“I’m sorry,” he said, but his voice was flat. “It’s all legal. The ownership’s been transferred.”

Megan begged. She raised her voice. “Please, this is our home. My kids—”

But the man only shrugged. “There’s nothing I can do.”

Inside, Megan closed the door behind her and slid down to the floor. Her back pressed against the wood, her hands in her lap, useless.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Everything was slipping through her fingers—her marriage, her home, the life she thought she had.

“Mom?” Noah’s voice was small now. He stood a few feet away, holding his backpack. “Are we going to be okay?”

Megan looked at him, her throat tight. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to promise him everything. But no words came.

That night, after the kids were asleep, she walked into the bedroom and opened Tom’s closet. His shirts still hung neatly, still smelled like him.

She started pulling everything down, ready to throw it all away.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

A jacket slipped from her arms and fell to the floor.

Something slid from the pocket and landed near her feet.

A sealed envelope.

She picked it up, staring at her name written in Tom’s handwriting.

With shaking hands, Megan broke the seal on the envelope. Her fingers trembled as she unfolded the paper inside.

One glance at the handwriting, and her breath caught in her throat. It was Tom’s. She’d know those messy, uneven letters anywhere.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Her eyes moved slowly across the page.

Megan,If you’re reading this, it means I’m gone.I know I already gave a copy of the will to Jennifer, but I’ve started to doubt her. Something feels off. Just in case… here’s the real version. Give it to a good lawyer. One you trust.You were the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m sorry if I ever made you feel otherwise.I love you. Always.—Tom

Megan covered her mouth with her hand. Her eyes burned. For a moment, she just sat there, holding the letter close to her chest.

Inside the envelope was another folded paper—an official-looking document. A second will.

She opened it, reading carefully. Every word felt like a breath of air after being underwater.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The house. The savings. Everything. Left to her and the kids.

Her shoulders shook. But it wasn’t sadness this time.

It was anger.

Jennifer had lied. She’d tricked everyone. She tried to steal what Tom had left behind for his family.

Megan wiped the tears from her face, but her hands were steady now. Her heart beat strong in her chest.

She wasn’t broken anymore. She was ready.

This wasn’t just about what was taken. With the real will, Jeniffer`s days were numbered.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

It was about what she was going to take back.

Within a week, everything changed.

Megan didn’t waste a second. The next morning, she called Carol Reynolds, a local attorney known around town for her no-nonsense attitude and sharp sense of justice.

Carol was in her sixties, with gray curls and reading glasses that hung from a chain around her neck.

She listened carefully as Megan told her everything, then nodded and said, “Let’s fix this.”

The court moved faster than Megan had expected. Carol brought the real will, Tom’s letter, and the story

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Megan had lived through. The truth came out like sunlight through clouds. Jennifer was exposed—she had faked the will, lied, and nearly got away with it.

She didn’t.

The court stripped Jennifer of her law license. Charges were filed. Megan didn’t feel joy seeing her fall—just relief. Like something heavy had finally been lifted.

In the end, Megan kept the house. The car. The savings. But more than that, she kept something deeper—her children’s home.

Their place of safety. A piece of the life she and Tom had built together.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

One warm Sunday morning, Megan sat on the front porch. The kids laughed in the yard, chasing each other under the soft breeze.

Her coffee was warm in her hands. The trees swayed gently, sunlight flickering through the leaves.

Life wasn’t perfect. She still missed Tom. That ache hadn’t left. But it didn’t rule her anymore.

“Mom!” Lily called, running up with a bunch of wildflowers. “These are for you!”

Megan smiled and took them. “They’re beautiful, honey. Thank you.”

She looked at the sky, eyes soft, and whispered, “We’re going to be just fine.”

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I Asked My Husband for Money for Office Clothes After Maternity Leave — He Replied, ‘Get a Job as a Cleaner, You Don’t Need Fancy Clothes There’

Sometimes, life hands you lemons in the form of a careless husband. When mine suggested I become a cleaner instead of buying new work clothes, I took his advice. But I did it with a twist he never saw coming.

The worst part about betrayal? It always comes from someone you trust.

I went on maternity leave a year ago, completely devoting myself to our son, Ethan.

A woman holding her baby | Source: Pexels

A woman holding her baby | Source: Pexels

Late-night feedings, endless diaper changes, keeping our house together, making sure Tyler always had a hot meal waiting after work… I did it all.

And honestly? I didn’t mind. Being a mom was challenging but rewarding in ways my office job never was.

The tiny smiles and the first giggles… they just filled my heart with joy I can never explain in words.

A toddler sitting on the floor | Source: Pexels

A toddler sitting on the floor | Source: Pexels

But after a year, it was time for me to go back to work. I was actually excited. I missed adult conversations that didn’t revolve around baby food. I missed feeling like more than just a mom.

Except, there was a problem.

“Tyler, none of my work clothes fit anymore,” I said one evening while folding laundry. Ethan was finally down for the night, and Tyler was sitting on the couch.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

A man sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney

A man sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney

I sighed, holding up a pencil skirt that used to be my go-to office staple. “I mean, my body changed after having your child. I’ve tried everything in my closet, and nothing fits right anymore.”

“So? Just wear something else.”

“That’s what I’m saying. I don’t have anything else. I need to buy a few new outfits for the office.” I sat beside him on the couch. “I was hoping we could use some of our savings for that.”

That’s when he gave me the look that made me feel like I was asking for something out of this world.

A close-up shot of a man's face | Source: Midjourney

A close-up shot of a man’s face | Source: Midjourney

“Do you have any idea how much daycare is going to cost?” he asked. “Plus, all the baby expenses? Your job barely covers those costs as it is.”

“It’s just a few outfits, Tyler. I can’t exactly go back to work without clothes.”

That’s when he said it.

“Your job costs us a lot. Just get a job as a cleaner. You don’t need fancy clothes for that.”

I couldn’t believe his words.

Had he really just said that? This man whom I’d been making breakfast, lunch, and dinner for? The one whose laundry I’d been doing? Whose baby I’d been taking care of 24/7 while he continued his career without interruption?

A close-up shot of a woman's face | Source: Midjourney

A close-up shot of a woman’s face | Source: Midjourney

“A cleaner?” I repeated.

Tyler shrugged. “It’s practical. Better hours for childcare too.”

I had sacrificed my body, my sleep, and my career momentum for our family. And now, when I needed something basic to continue moving forward, he couldn’t even be bothered to support me.

Instead of yelling at him, I just smiled and said, “You’re right, babe. I’ll figure something out.”

And I did.

But not in the way he expected.

A man in his house | Source: Midjourney

A man in his house | Source: Midjourney

I wasn’t about to beg for basic respect or a few new shirts.

Instead, I followed his suggestion and got a job as a cleaner.

But not just anywhere.

I applied at his office.

Tyler works at a prestigious corporate law firm downtown. When I discovered they needed part-time cleaning staff through a job listing online, it felt like the universe was handing me exactly what I needed.

A woman looking for a job on her laptop | Source: Pexels

A woman looking for a job on her laptop | Source: Pexels

Within a week, I was hired for the evening shift, which worked perfectly with our childcare situation. My mother was more than happy to watch Ethan for a few hours in the evening, especially when I explained what I was doing. She never did like Tyler much.

The best part? Tyler had no idea.

He assumed I was taking night classes to “improve my skills,” as I’d vaguely mentioned. He never asked for details, which was another sign of how little he actually cared about my aspirations.

A man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

A man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

For three weeks, I worked the cleaning shift, making sure to avoid the floor where Tyler’s office was located. I needed to pick the right moment.

The perfect opportunity presented itself when I learned through office gossip that Tyler would be hosting an important client meeting on Wednesday evening.

The cleaning schedule had me on his floor that night, and I made no requests to change it.

Documents on a table | Source: Midjourney

Documents on a table | Source: Midjourney

When Wednesday arrived, I walked into his office in my gray uniform, hair pulled back in a simple ponytail and wearing minimal makeup.

I pushed my cleaning cart deliberately, the squeaky wheel announcing my presence before I even reached his door.

Tyler was in the middle of presenting something to a group of five people seated around his conference table when I entered to empty the trash bins. I kept my head down initially, methodically going about my work, but I could feel the moment his eyes landed on me.

The confident flow of his presentation stuttered to a halt mid-sentence.

A man standing in a meeting room | Source: Midjourney

A man standing in a meeting room | Source: Midjourney

“And the quarterly projections show—” His voice cracked. “The projections show that… I’m sorry, excuse me for a second.”

I continued working, moving to the bin beside his desk, feeling his stare burning into my back.

“Marilyn?” he finally spoke up. “What are you doing here?”

I turned and smiled politely. “Oh, hello, sir. I didn’t mean to interrupt your meeting.”

The blood drained from his face so quickly I thought he might pass out. Meanwhile, the clients and his colleagues looked between us in confusion.

Men sitting in an office | Source: Pexels

Men sitting in an office | Source: Pexels

Then, one of his coworkers, who had seen me at company events before, spoke up. “Wait, this is your wife? What’s she doing here?”

Tyler stammered. “I… I don’t know. Marilyn, what are you doing?”

I maintained my composure, standing straight with dignity despite the uniform. “Oh, I just took my husband’s wonderful advice! He suggested that since my old job was too costly with childcare and professional clothing, being a cleaner would be more practical. No dress code to worry about. To be honest, it’s actually been quite educational.”

The room fell silent.

Every eye turned to Tyler, whose face had now gone from pale to flushed with embarrassment.

A man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

A man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

His boss, Mr. Calloway, raised an eyebrow. “Your husband told you to be a cleaner instead of continuing your career?”

I shrugged with an innocent smile. “Well, he said my previous job was too expensive because I needed new clothes after having our baby. He thought this would be a better fit for me.”

Mr. Calloway’s expression hardened as he looked at Tyler.

An angry man | Source: Midjourney

An angry man | Source: Midjourney

The atmosphere in the room had completely changed.

“Marilyn, can we discuss this at home?” Tyler whispered. “Now isn’t the time.”

“Of course,” I replied cheerfully. “I wouldn’t want to interfere with your important meeting. I’ll just finish up here and be on my way. You gentlemen have a wonderful evening.”

As I pushed my cart toward the door, I heard Mr. Calloway say, “Let’s take a fifteen-minute break, shall we?”

That told me Tyler was in for an uncomfortable conversation.

A boss talking to an employee | Source: Midjourney

A boss talking to an employee | Source: Midjourney

But I wasn’t done yet. This was just the beginning.

Over the following weeks, I made sure to be exceptionally diligent at my job. I always cleaned Tyler’s office last, timing it perfectly so his coworkers would still be around wrapping up their day.

I smiled sweetly whenever someone asked about my presence there, and I made a point of thanking Tyler loudly for his “amazing career advice” whenever we crossed paths.

Back-view shot of a woman working as a cleaner | Source: Midjourney

Back-view shot of a woman working as a cleaner | Source: Midjourney

One day, Tyler tried to talk to me about it at home.

“This has gone on long enough,” he insisted. “You’ve made your point. This is embarrassing.”

“Embarrassing for whom?” I asked calmly. “I’m following your suggestion. I thought you’d be proud of me for being so practical.”

“You know I didn’t mean it like that,” he said. “It was just a comment. I was stressed about money.”

A man looking down | Source: Midjourney

A man looking down | Source: Midjourney

“Funny how your ‘just comments’ always seem to minimize me and my needs,” I chuckled. “And funnier still how my stress about returning to work professionally wasn’t worth considering, but your stress about money justified belittling my career.”

At that point, Tyler didn’t know that I was having conversations while cleaning offices. Real conversations. With people who saw me as more than just “the cleaner” or “the mom.”

Specifically, Carol from HR had stopped me one evening to chat after finding me reading a legal brief I’d spotted on a desk.

A stack of papers on a desk | Source: Midjourney

A stack of papers on a desk | Source: Midjourney

After learning about my background in corporate communications and the circumstances that led me to cleaning, she was appalled.

“We actually have an opening in the marketing department,” she told me. “The pay is competitive, and the hours would work with your childcare situation. Would you be interested?”

I was more than interested. I was ready.

The final act in my plan came together at the next company event, where spouses were invited. Tyler had begged me not to attend, claiming we should “leave work at work,” but I insisted.

A man sitting with his head in his hands, worried about his image | Source: Midjourney

A man sitting with his head in his hands, worried about his image | Source: Midjourney

I arrived fashionably late, wearing a stunning new navy dress that I’d purchased with my first advance from my new marketing position that would start the following Monday. It was a position that paid significantly more than Tyler’s.

The look on his face when I walked in was worth every second of pushing that cleaning cart. He just stared at me with wide eyes as Carol from HR approached me with a glass of champagne.

A woman holding a glass of champagne | Source: Midjourney

A woman holding a glass of champagne | Source: Midjourney

“Everyone, I’d like to introduce our newest team member,” Carol announced to the small group near us. “Marilyn will be joining our marketing department on Monday as our new Communications Director. Some of you may have met her already in a different capacity.”

The smirks and raised eyebrows around the circle made it clear everyone understood exactly what “different capacity” meant. Tyler looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.

Later that evening, Tyler cornered me by the drinks table.

“You planned this whole thing, didn’t you?” he hissed.

A man standing in a party | Source: Midjourney

A man standing in a party | Source: Midjourney

I sipped my champagne calmly. “No, Tyler. You planned it when you decided I wasn’t worth a few new outfits to restart my career. I just adapted to the circumstances you created.”

“It was a joke,” he insisted, his voice desperate. “I was stressed. I didn’t mean for you to actually become a cleaner.”

“And I didn’t mean to discover that my husband values me so little,” I replied. “Yet here we are, both surprised by outcomes we didn’t expect.”

Over the following months, things changed dramatically between us.

An upset man | Source: Midjourney

An upset man | Source: Midjourney

Tyler’s position at the firm became increasingly uncomfortable as the story of his “career advice” to his wife became part of company lore. Meanwhile, my role expanded as my talents were recognized. The power dynamic in our marriage shifted noticeably.

Tyler tried to apologize repeatedly.

He bought me clothes, jewelry, and even a new car, but it didn’t work.

A man holding car keys | Source: Pexels

A man holding car keys | Source: Pexels

You see, the moment he made me feel like I wasn’t worth basic respect was the moment something fundamental broke between us.

Now, six months later, my closet is filled with clothes that fit the woman I’ve become.

Meanwhile, Tyler has lost his job. He’s apologized more times than I can count, but no amount of regret can erase the moment he made me feel small, the moment he dismissed my worth so easily.

And now, the choice is mine. Do I forgive him and give our marriage another chance? Or is it time to walk away for good?

What would you do?

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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