I was tired of my family’s endless questions about my love life, so I had a wild plan. I found and brought a homeless man as my pretend fiancé to the holiday dinner. Everything seemed perfect until my mother’s reaction revealed a shocking connection between them.
I sat in my car, staring at the park entrance, dreading the upcoming weekend with my family. Every holiday visit was the same: my mom’s subtle looks, my dad’s hopeful smiles, and the never-ending barrage of questions.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
When are you getting married? Have you met someone?
It was exhausting, and the thought of another round of it was more than I could handle.
Suddenly, my eyes fell on a man sitting alone on a bench, huddled in a tattered coat. He looked worn out like life had handed him more than his share of troubles. His sad eyes and the deep lines on his face still made him look like a handsome man. That’s when it hit me. Crazy idea!
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Could he be my fiancé for the weekend?” I muttered to myself.
It was insane, but it could work. Anything to keep my family off my back. I got out of the car and walked over to him. He looked up, and we stared at each other.
“Hey,” I started, feeling awkward. “I know this is going to sound strange, but… would you be willing to pretend to be my fiancé? Just for a weekend. In return, I can offer you a warm place to stay, new clothes, and a nice meal.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
For a moment, he said nothing. His gaze lingered on mine as if he were trying to understand why someone like me would make such an offer. Then, to my surprise, he nodded slowly.
“Okay,” he said quietly.
I was shocked at how easily he agreed. No questions. No hesitation. That made me a little nervous. But at that point, I didn’t care.
“Great,” I said. “Let’s get you ready for the weekend.”
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***
After we got back home, I handed the stranger some clothes that belonged to my ex. His things were still in my closet, and honestly, I couldn’t think of a better use for them.
“Here, these should fit you,” I said, offering a clean shirt and jeans. “You can take a shower if you’d like. I’ll make us some dinner.”
“Well, thanks,” he said with a small smile. “A shower sounds amazing.”
As he headed into the bathroom, I kept myself busy chopping vegetables and trying to ignore the nervousness building up inside me.
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Sharing my home with a stranger… Mia, what are you doing? You still don’t know his name!
When the stranger emerged from the bathroom, I heard the door creak and turned around. He stood there, a towel slung over his shoulder, his hair still damp, and to my surprise, he looked completely different.
“Well, that’s the best shower I’ve had in years,” he joked.
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The awkwardness I’d felt earlier seemed to vanish in an instant.
“Glad to hear it. I hope the dinner will be just as good.”
He glanced at the table, eyeing the plates I’d set out. “Smells incredible. I am Christopher, by the way.” He smiled at me, sitting down at the table.
Feeling a bit shy, I only replied, “Mia.”
As we sat down to eat, he took the first bite and nodded. “It’s perfect. Haven’t had a home-cooked meal in a long time.”
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We ate in comfortable silence for a bit, and then the conversation started flowing naturally.
“So,” I said, breaking the quiet. “Any favorite movies or books?”
He thought for a moment before answering. “I always loved old westerns. And books? Probably The Old Man and the Sea. Simple, but there’s something about it.”
“Really? Hemingway? I wouldn’t have guessed,” I said, a little surprised. “I thought you’d go for something darker.”
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He chuckled. “You’re not wrong, but sometimes, simple stories hit the hardest.”
“I get that.”
We spent the rest of the evening talking about random topics that made us laugh. He had a dry sense of humor that caught me off guard, and by the end of dinner, I felt surprisingly comfortable around him.
Late in the evening, I went back into the kitchen to grab a glass of water before bed. I noticed the dishes had already been washed and stacked neatly by the sink.
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“Did you… do the dishes?” I asked Christopher, peeking around the corner.
“Seemed like the least I could do.”
I smiled, genuinely touched by the gesture. “Thank you.”
“No problem.”
“Good night, Christopher.”
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***
The next day, everything moved quickly. We had one day left before the weekend with my family, and there was still so much to do.
First, we went to the hair salon. As the stylist worked, Christopher sat quietly, letting the transformation happen. I watched in amazement as his shaggy hair was trimmed into something neat and polished.
“This feels weird,” he muttered, looking at himself in the mirror.
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“Good weird or bad weird?” I teased.
“Definitely good,” he said with a smirk.
By the time we hit the shops to pick out new clothes, he was starting to look like a completely different person.
***
The holiday dinner started well enough. My parents were delighted to see Christopher, and I could almost feel my mother’s pride as she glanced at me, finally quieting her usual questions about my personal life.
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Christopher played his part perfectly—polite, attentive, and even charming when he spoke. I began to relax, thinking that maybe my crazy plan had worked.
“Christopher, right?” my mother asked, smiling brightly. “You look so familiar. Have I seen you somewhere before? On TV, maybe?”
She laughed lightly as if she had just made a harmless joke.
Christopher politely shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. Maybe I just have one of those faces.”
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My father chuckled, clearly amused by my mother’s playful banter. “Well, if you’re on TV, I’ll have to start watching more closely.”
“So, Christopher,” Mom continued, “what did you do before you met Mia? Business, right?”
Christopher paused, glancing at my mother a bit too long before answering.
“Yes, business,” he said quietly, but there was something in his tone that felt different. “But everything changed for me about five years ago.”
My heart skipped a beat.
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Wait… This isn’t part of the plan.
I shot him a quick look, hoping he’d catch on, but he continued. “There was an accident. A car accident. It… changed my life completely.”
This definitely isn’t something we talked about.
My mother’s face went pale, her fingers clenched the tablecloth, knuckles turning white. Her expression darkened as if she had just pieced something together.
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“A car accident?” she echoed. Her words had sucked the warmth out of the room. “That’s… unfortunate.”
My father glanced at her. “Olivia, are you okay?”
But she wasn’t listening to him. “Not everyone walks away from accidents unscathed, do they?”
Christopher didn’t flinch, quietly sipping his wine.
“He’s not the kind of man you need,” Mom said bluntly, her voice trembling with anger.
I was taken aback. My father’s eyes widened in shock, his fork pausing halfway to his mouth.
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Christopher calmly set his glass down. “Excuse me. I’ll step outside for a moment.”
As he left, I turned to my mother. “What was that about? He didn’t do anything wrong!”
“There’s something you need to know, Mia. Five years ago, I was in a car accident,” she began, her voice lowering as though she were afraid someone else might hear.
“It was late at night, outside the city. There were no witnesses. The man I hit… was Christopher.”
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My heart dropped. “What?”
“Your Christopher,” she said bitterly, “was under the influence that night. I demanded he get tested, but he refused. No one saw what happened, so I chose not to take him to court. But Mia, you need to understand… He’s dangerous. You can’t trust him.”
Christopher? Under the influence?
Finally, I broke the silence. “I need to talk to him.”
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***
Christopher was leaning against the fence, staring off into the night. His expression was calm, but I could see the sadness in his eyes.
“Christopher,” I called softly.
He spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully. “My last name is Hartman. Yes, I was in that accident. I was on sedatives that night—prescribed for my anxiety after my wife died. I was driving carefully.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, simple ring.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“You’re the first woman I’ve met since my wife’s death that I’ve wanted to leave something with. This was hers. Thank you for dinner, Mia. It was… more than I deserved.”
He handed me the ring, then nodded slightly before walking away.
“Wait,” I whispered, but the words got lost in the cold night air.
I stood there for a moment, staring at the ring in my hand. When I walked back inside, my mother was waiting.
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“You didn’t tell me the whole truth, did you?” I demanded.
She sighed. “No. I didn’t. I was driving too fast that night. I… I was scared, Mia.”
“Is he worth chasing?”
The look in her eyes said it all. Yes. But it was already too late.
***
I couldn’t stop thinking about Christopher. His story, the accident, the weight he carried. It haunted me.
I placed an ad in the local paper, something simple but direct:
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“Christopher Hartman, if you see this, please meet me at the restaurant where we last had dinner. I eat there every evening. Mia.”
I felt a little foolish, not knowing if he’d ever read it or if he even wanted to see me again. But I had to try. There was too much left unsaid.
***
The day after placing the ad, I arrived at the restaurant early. As the minutes ticked by, doubt started creeping in.
Maybe he didn’t see it. Maybe he didn’t want to.
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But then, just as I was about to give up, the door opened. Christopher stepped in, scanning the room until they landed on me. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he walked over.
“I saw your ad,” he said, sitting down across from me.
We locked eyes for a moment before I spoke. “There’s so much I need to tell you. I found out about your past… about the accident… My mother finally admitted she was at fault, too. And…. she took your money!”
“I didn’t want to blame anyone. After my wife died… nothing mattered.”
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We sat in silence for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle between us.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“You don’t have to be,” he said, his voice soft. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“I know, but still… I want to help. My mother wants to make things right. She’s returning what she took from you.”
We spent the rest of the evening talking. It wasn’t about pretending anymore. It was real. By the end of the night, I realized something. I had fallen in love with Christopher. And the best part? He felt the same.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
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Dirt and mess don’t stand a chance with these 11 Amazon best sellers
The spring-cleaning season can become your favorite time of the year if you use these 11 best sellers from Amazon. These products and tools will leave your house sparkling clean, helping you get rid of the most stubborn stains in the blink of an eye. Buy these brilliant cleaners today, and say goodbye to dust, dirt, grime, limescale, and mold in your house!
1. Amazon customers never stop buying this wonder-working toilet cleaning stone. Its ergonomic, heavy-duty plastic handle will help you avoid touching the dirt with your hands. The stone quickly removes hard water stains, limescale, and stubborn dirt that other tools and cleaners can’t remove. The before and after photo collage below speaks louder than words!
4,500+ ratings
4.5 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ After watching the wife try a lot of other methods which didn’t work for removing mineral ring stains in the toilet, I did my own research and discovered pumice stones. I ordered these without any expectations, but they actually worked. We have well water and the stains came off pretty easily with this product. A few minutes of light scrubbing, so it took less than 15 minutes for 4 toilets. I would recommend this product. — Pao
2. This bathroom foam cleaner is a real hit on Amazon with more than 11,000 ratings. Its non-drip formula clings to surfaces quickly removes dirt, and prevents limescale. The product will make your bathroom sparkle and smell amazing whenever you use it. This safe, easy-to-use, and family-friendly product removes dirt, grease, soap, and grime from surfaces, leaving them shiny and squeaky clean.
11,100+ ratings
4.3 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This stuff is amazing! Let me tell you, my bathroom tiles were disgusting and completely discolored. I tried everything to get them clean and nothing worked. I’m so glad I searched online and found this cleaner. My bathroom tiles look like new now! — Maryann
3. You won’t recognize your bathroom after using this all-purpose bathroom cleaner. Its unique formula attacks dirt, grime, soap scum, and hard water stains to make your bathroom shine. The product creates an invisible coating to keep surfaces clean for longer periods of time. This cleaner repels bathroom grime, scum, and dirt, so you won’t have to clean as often.
900+ ratings
4.4 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My tub looks brand new! I have been looking for a cleaner that would get in the cracks and crevices of my tub, and this worked wonders. I sprayed the entire tub, came back after 5–10 minutes and wiped everything down with a damp cloth. It took me no longer than 10 minutes to clean, and it looks like new. I would say that the smell isn’t the best. I would recommend opening a couple of windows before you spray. Overall, it’s a great bathroom cleaner. — Diane McFadgen
4. Say goodbye to rust stains with this rust remover gel. It works equally well on a variety of surfaces, including bathtubs, clothes, carpets, sinks, toilets, furniture, etc. Even if you’ve tried everything to remove those pesky rust stains and nothing worked so far, give this product a try, and you won’t regret it.
600+ ratings
4.2 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had rust stains on my stainless steel outdoor utility sink. It’s probably a cheap stainless that was used, and it was streaked with rust stains. I applied the product to the stains and in a few minutes they disappeared. Then I used it on one of my sailboats sails that had rust stains, and they also disappeared. This product eats rust! — kim hanford
5. This portable carpet cleaner is great for removing and deodorizing pet messes, spills, and tough stains. It’s ideal for cleaning carpets, upholstery, car interior and more. Compact and lightweight, it can be easily carried around the house as you do the cleaning. The built-in hose rinse flushes the machine with water to remove any dirt and debris. Removable water tanks guarantee simple usage.
900+ ratings
4.4 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This product works great in that it’s easy to use and has great suction power. The clean water tank goes fast, but it’s worth all the dirt and grime that is extracted from the seats. I’m never worried about spilling food or drink on my seats again because the cleanup will be easy.
I add in some fabric carpet cleaner too. Just turn the power button and it’s ready to go. I would buy another one. — Andrew Montgomery
6. Here is another portable carpet and upholstery cleaner. This powerful appliance works great on carpets, stairs, upholstery, car interiors, and more. For your ultimate convenience, the package includes stain-removing tools and a cleaning formula. The cleaner combines superior suction and scrubbing action, which guarantees amazing results after each use.
10,600+ ratings
4.6 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I have several cats and a dog, which seem to leave food and dirt stains everywhere. I purchased this item for myself. I loved it so much I purchased three more for my pet loving adult children for Christmas. They each sent me pictures of them using it within days. It is a game changer!
I now clean up a small spot when I find it, no longer waiting for the future’s «big» professional carpet cleaning. I learned the hard way that you must clean it up when finished. Letting it sit for a couple of days resulted in a stinky and more complicated process. If you have a pet, you really need this product! — Sharon S.
7. No more bending or kneeling while cleaning with this electric spin scrubber. The set includes 4 brush heads that you can use for various cleaning purposes. The tool can be used for cleaning showers, bathtubs, tiles, grout, grooves, toilets, etc. The extendible handle will allow you to use the tool while standing, so there’s no need to bend. The appliance can be used for about 90 minutes after only 3.5 hours of fast charging.
13,800+ ratings
4.4 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ OMG, where has this thing been all my life. This is my elderly mother’s bathroom, I moved in recently and finally tackled this mess. Cleaning bathtubs is very awkward, leaning over, trying to put elbow grease on cleaning the tub can be hard. This does all the work for you. Just remember to spray and soak for 15–30 minutes ahead of time. — Laura
8. This brush with a non-slip handle is ideal for scrubbing pots, pans, dishes, and more. Its nylon bristles are safe for non-stick surfaces, while the built-in scraper effectively removes baked-on dirt. Thanks to its clever design, the brush will clean all corners and crevices of pots and pans. The ergonomic handle guarantees a firm grip even if your hands are wet. The tool is dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
25,900+ ratings
4.7 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ It’s very durable and functional. I love this dish brush! I ordered my first one over a year ago, and have made repeat orders. It’s the best dish brush I’ve found.
The bristles are firm, but not «hard». Just right. It’s a good size and great quality. I give it a good workout, as I seldom use a dishwasher, and it holds out for a long time. — Mellie
9. This toilet cleaning brush has a unique design that allows it to reach the under-rim area of the toilet bowl. Its dense and flexible bristles clean the surface thoroughly, leaving no stains, effectively removing odors and keeping your bathroom fresh. The set includes a convenient holder that catches water drips from the brush, eliminating mess and odors.
4,200+ ratings
4.5 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cleaning under the rim of the toilet completely is always a challenge, so when I saw this S-shaped brush, I decided to try it. It really does fit up under the rim of the toilet bowl! Not only does the curved brush fit up under the rim of the toilet bowl, it goes well down into the hole in the bottom of the bowl for complete cleaning.
The bristles are stiff enough to give it a good scrubbing. The handle is easy to hold, and it has a loop on the handle end if you want to hang it for storage, or you use the holder it comes with. — Claudia M
10. Take proper care of your hands while cleaning with these multipurpose vinyl gloves. The thick clear plastic material helps avoid tearing and puncturing, yet it offers enough stretch for finger flexibility. Whether you use these gloves in the kitchen or while cleaning various surfaces around the house, they offer reliable protection against chemicals and odors.
23,100+ ratings
4.5 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I bought these gloves to use while I’m painting and they work well. They cover my hands completely and seal out most of the paint that I’m using. Also, they don’t restrict my hands in any way. — Star Root Press (Consignment)
11. With this DIY mold test kit, you can find out whether there is unseen mold in your house or not. The item shows visible results in as little as 48 hours. The test kit can be used both indoors and outdoors, and it includes everything you need to perform the test, including a Petri dish, a swab, and mold growth medium. Optional laboratory analysis is available. For an additional fee, you can mail the results to determine the mold type.
7,000+ ratings
4.0 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ After weeks of a chronic cough and congestion with me, difficulty breathing for my husband and our baby being congested with a rash, we decided to do an at home mold test of our rental. The results shocked us! We were not expecting this. We have no visible mold in our apartment.
We did an open air test in our bedroom, a swab test of our bathroom, and an air test of our HVAC system. All of them came back positive! The process to complete the test is extremely easy. I highly recommend getting it if you think you might be living with mold. — JILLIAN
Even those of us who love cooking would probably like the idea of spending less time in the kitchen. This is possible when you have these 11 Amazon best sellers by your side. These clever kitchen tools and accessories will make cooking simple, enjoyable, and mess-free while saving space in your drawers.
Bright Side gets commissions for purchases made through the links in this post. Reviews may have been edited for length and clarity.
Preview photo credit Kindle Customer / Amazon, Laura / Amazon
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