When Calla finds a lace robe hidden in her husband’s closet, she assumes that it’s a romantic surprise. But her world turns upside down when she sees her stepmother, Lorraine, wearing it. Suspicion mounts and tensions spiral as Calla overhears Lorraine’s true scheme…
When my dad passed away last year, it felt like the house lost its soul. He’d built that place himself, a sprawling two-story home that always smelled like pine and fresh paint.
After his death, my husband, Jason, our six-year-old daughter, Emma, and I moved in to help my stepmother, Lorraine.
A couple packing | Source: Midjourney
She and my dad had been married for five years, but Lorraine made sure that everyone knew she’d been his “rock” during his final days.
“You can’t deny it, darling,” she said to me after her speech at the funeral. “Seriously, Calla, if I went on my holiday to Thailand, your father would have died by himself. All alone. Poor thing.”
Living with her, though, was like walking on a tightrope. Everything about Lorraine was sharp—her stilettos, her words, even the way she eyed Jason when she thought I wasn’t looking.
An older woman in a black dress | Source: Midjourney
But family is family, and I tried to make it work.
Until I found the robe.
It started innocently enough. I was folding Jason’s laundry, something I did a thousand times without a second thought. As I opened his closet to hang up a shirt, I noticed something out of place.
There it was, a small glossy gift bag shoved into the corner, partly hidden beneath his jackets.
A glossy gift bag | Source: Midjourney
Curiosity got the better of me. I pulled it out, my pulse quickening when I saw what was inside: a lace robe, sheer and intimate.
My first thought was that Jason had bought it for me. Christmas was around the corner, and while he wasn’t exactly the romantic type, maybe this was his way of surprising me.
I smiled at the idea of him stepping out of his comfort zone.
A lace robe on a hanger | Source: Midjourney
If only that had been the truth.
A few days later, Lorraine called me into her room. Her voice was syrupy sweet, the kind of tone that always set me on edge. She had changed the room since my father passed. It was now a maroon, velvety… something. Luxurious yet somehow seductive… I couldn’t quite find the words to describe it.
“Oh, Calla, sweetheart,” she cooed. “You won’t believe what my new boyfriend got me!”
A maroon bedroom | Source: Midjourney
New boyfriend? Lorraine hadn’t mentioned anyone else before.
When I walked in, my stomach dropped.
There she was, draped in the robe, my robe. The one I’d found in Jason’s closet. She twirled, the lace floating around her like some cruel joke.
“You like it?” she purred, smirking at my expression. “He has exquisite taste, don’t you think? And I have a pair of heels that would make it look magical.”
A smiling older woman | Source: Midjourney
I couldn’t breathe. My mind raced, piecing together a picture I didn’t want to see.
Was Jason…? No. He wouldn’t. Lorraine?
No. Never. Unless… Would he?
“Where… where did you get that?” I managed to stammer.
Lorraine’s smirk deepened.
A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, my boyfriend gave it to me,” she said. “I just told you, Calla! You’re not listening to a word I say, sweetheart! Don’t you worry, maybe you’ll get one too… Anyway, he’s discreet.”
My knees felt weak. Look, there could have been a logical explanation. But something felt so wrong. I stumbled out of her room, her laughter echoing behind me.
That night, I cornered Jason after reading with Emma. She had gone to sleep quickly, ready for her “Dress as your favorite character” day at school. She was going as Princess Belle.
A mom and daughter reading a book | Source: Midjourney
My heart was pounding, my hands shaking.
“Jason,” I began, my voice trembling. “I need to ask you something, and I want the truth.”
He looked up from the TV, confused.
“What’s wrong, honey?” he asked. “Hang on, let me pause this movie.”
A man lounging on a couch | Source: Midjourney
“Did you… Did you give Lorraine a robe? The lace one I found in your closet?”
Jason’s face twisted in disbelief.
“What? No way! What are you talking about?”
“She showed me a robe before dinner tonight,” I said, tears threatening to spill. “The same one I found in your closet.”
A shocked young man | Source: Midjourney
Jason’s jaw dropped.
“You think I’d buy her something like that? Are you serious right now?”
“Then how did she get it?” I demanded.
“I don’t know,” he said, running his hand through his hair.
A woman holding her head | Source: Midjourney
“I don’t know what to say,” I said.
His frustration seemed genuine, but doubt gnawed at me.
“I swear, I didn’t give her anything! Seriously, Calla. The only thing I’ve given Lorraine today was a piece of garlic bread at dinner.”
Over the next few days, I couldn’t shake the unease. Lorraine’s smug looks, Jason’s denial—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle I couldn’t solve.
A plate of garlic bread | Source: Midjourney
Then, one afternoon, as I organized Emma’s art supplies in the dining room, I heard Lorraine on the phone.
“Yes, Kerry, of course, I planted it,” she whispered. “That idiot husband of hers didn’t even notice. It’s only a matter of time before they’re at each other’s throats. Once they leave, this house will finally be mine. I’m telling you, that’s why they moved in. They want my house.”
My blood ran cold. She planned this. She had planned this!
A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
She’d planted the robe in Jason’s closet to make it look like they were having an affair. All to drive us out of the house my dad had left behind.
That night, I told Jason everything I’d overheard. His face darkened with anger, and he crunched his beer can in his fist, spilling the final contents.
“She’s trying to ruin our marriage,” he said, his voice tight. “And to think that we uprooted Emma for this? This ends now.”
An angry man | Source: Midjourney
We hatched a plan.
The next morning, over coffee and bagels, I casually mentioned to Lorraine that Jason and I were considering moving out. Her face lit up, though she tried to hide it behind a thin veil of concern.
“Oh, well, if you think that’s best…” she said, barely containing her glee.
That evening, Jason and I invited a lawyer friend over for dinner, someone Lorraine didn’t recognize. We told her he was a “realtor” helping us look for new homes, but honestly, we just wanted to figure out where we stood. Lorraine spent most of the dinner talking about how much she preferred to live alone.
Bagels on a counter | Source: Midjourney
“I’m old now,” she said, as if she were trying to convince herself. “I need my space. And I’m sure you kids need yours. Don’t you want to give Emma a baby brother or sister?”
I wasn’t sure that I wanted the house, but Jason had persuaded me to fight.
“Come on, honey,” he said. “It’s important for you to have a piece of your father’s legacy. You are his legacy, yes. But he built this with his hands. This home has been around since you were a child. You want Lorraine to have it, really?”
An older woman sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney
“I don’t know,” I said. “Honestly, I’m not sure what I want.”
A week later, we called a “family meeting” in the living room. Lorraine sauntered in, confident and smug, as if she’d already won.
Jason handed her a stack of papers.
“What’s this?” she asked, flipping through the pages.
A pile of paper on a coffee table | Source: Midjourney
“It’s the deed to the house,” Jason said calmly. “We had it reviewed, and it turns out that Calla and I are the primary beneficiaries. You don’t own this house, Lorraine. We do.”
Her face went pale.
“That’s not possible. Calla! What did you do? Your father would never leave me with nothing…”
“He didn’t leave you with nothing, Lorraine,” I said. “He left you with a lot of money. But this is my childhood home. Of course, he’d want me to have it.”
A shocked older woman | Source: Midjourney
Lorraine started to protest, but Jason cut her off.
“And before you think about pulling another stunt, know this: we’re not going anywhere. But you might want to start packing.”
“Or you can see if your boyfriend will take you in?” I said nonchalantly.
Lorraine stammered, her sharp tongue suddenly useless.
A close up of a woman | Source: Midjourney
“What? There’s no boyfriend?” I asked.
“I planned that! I staged the entire thing! There is no boyfriend, Calla. There is no cheating, which is what I wanted you to think. I wanted you to see the robe and know that… or think that something was going on.”
“I know,” I said. “I overheard you. But look, you have a week. I’ll give you that because it’s what my father would expect from me.”
“I’ll be better. I’ll do everything—the cooking, the cleaning, homework with Emma, you name it!” she begged.
An older woman covering her mouth | Source: Midjourney
“I don’t want my child around you,” I said simply. “I’m sorry, but that’s just how I feel.”
Within a week, Lorraine was gone. And I finally had peace in the home my dad had loved so much. I turned Lorraine’s bedroom into a reading room for myself, and half of it a playroom for Emma.
And that robe?
Lorraine had conveniently left it behind. I donated it to charity with the rest of the things she’d abandoned. Let someone else enjoy it because I sure as hell wasn’t keeping it.
A cozy reading room | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done?
If you’ve enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you |
I Suspected My Husband Was Cheating on Me and Followed Him One Day
When Lily and Jason’s son, Nathan, brings his fiancée home for the long weekend, Lily is excited to get to know the young woman. But during that weekend, she notices her husband acting strange. So, she tries to uncover what is going on with Jason — only to open a can of worms with secrets wriggling everywhere.
From the moment Nathan introduced us to his fiancée, I knew something was off.
It wasn’t that she wasn’t sweet or lovely, because she was. Her name was Tessa, and she’d come to Chicago with Nathan from his college in Michigan to spend a long weekend with us and meet the family.
A smiling couple | Source: Midjourney
My son and his new beau had been dating for over a year, and she’d just been a name until now. Now that she was here, I could see why my son was head-over-heels. Tessa was sharp, funny, and kind in a genuine way.
Within minutes, my eight-year-old daughter, Sophie, was practically glued to her side.
But my husband, Jason, was different that night. Usually, he’s animated and easygoing, especially around Nathan and his friends. But when Tessa was around, he was quiet, almost as if he were retreating into himself.
A smiling little girl | Source: Midjourney
It was strange. Very strange.
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.
If you’re not a fan of spring cleaning, these 10+ Amazon gems will do the job for you
Even those of us who don’t like cleaning can enjoy the process and admire picture-perfect results with these 11 household gems from Amazon. Dust, dirt, grime, rust, grease, and mold don’t stand a chance of survival with these powerful cleaning products and tools that act fast and are super easy to use. Buy them now and have a fuss-free start to your spring cleaning!
1. Say goodbye to dirt and grime in your toilet with this cleaning pumice stone. It scours away mineral deposits, rust, stains, and limescale from toilets, sinks, tubs, and showers. The item quickly shapes into curved or flat surfaces, thoroughly removing the dirt without damaging the surface. The usage is super simple. Wet the pumice stone in water and gently rub the stain away using back-and-forth movements until the stain disappears.
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We have good water except for calcium content. Consequently we had a noticeable water ring in the most used toilet bowl. Happened to see this product on Amazon. I had my doubts it would work as any cleaner failed to have any affect at all on removing the water ring. I was pleasantly surprised how easily it removed the water ring without any scratches to the bowl and made the bowl look brand new. — Mike H.
2. This rust stain remover powder will eliminate rust stains from surfaces inside and outside of your house, thanks to its powerful formula. This heavy-duty cleaner was specially formulated to quickly and easily rinse away the toughest rust spots without scrubbing. This multi-purpose product works equally well on toilets, tubs, showers, white laundry, and exterior surfaces.
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I have iron in my water. It’s ruined a lot of things. It’s been hard to keep sinks, tubs and toilets white until now. I tested this on a piece of plastic out of my washing machine that turned orange. No more orange. Back to white. Great buy. — Teresa Shankle
3. Stubborn oven grease and burnt-on food don’t stand a chance of surviving when you use this oven cleaner. Its formula is safe for everyday oven cleaning. This powerful product is easy to use. Just spray it on the stain and wipe. You won’t recognize your oven once you use this wonder-working product!
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hands down the best oven cleaner ever! We’ve used this stuff to clean up heavily caked on parts of our smoker and BBQ. It works great! My wife just got through cleaning our oven and stove and was just again commenting on how good this stuff is compared to anything else we’ve ever used. This will be our go to cleaner! It’s just the best! — Richard C.
4. Amazon customers swear by this no-rinse evaporator coil cleaner. It will liquefy dirt, grease, oil, and other residues quickly and easily. The cleaner can be sprayed upside down for your ultimate convenience. Its powerful foam is completely self-rinsing and is safe to use on metals and other materials. The product leaves the area deodorized with a pleasant lemon scent, which is the cherry on top.
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I could not believe how good this product works! My dryer repair guy looked at my fridge coils after finding out that I had dogs. I was shocked at the amount of dust on them. He recommended this product and it works within seconds! — heyb
5. Cleaning hard-to-reach areas will not be a problem if you have this dryer vent cleaning vacuum hose attachment by your side. It can help you remove lint that has been accumulating for many years in the dryer vents, helping your appliance work more efficiently. The tool can get into curved corners, which makes it perfect for cleaning appliances that you can’t move.
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I honestly had no idea that so much lint was stuck when I removed my dryer lint screen. It was deep down in there. I figured let me give this a try. It’s not expensive so if it doesn’t work it wouldn’t be a big loss. I hooked it up to my small car vacuum which took about 2 seconds. There was so much lint that the little opening kept getting clogged. So I would pull the lint off and go in again, and repeat. Once all the big chunks were removed it finished the job. I highly recommend this. — Eileen L
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6. Put less elbow grease in cleaning your toilet tank with this powerful toilet tank cleaner. It removes hard-water deposits, rust, stains, and odor in the blink of an eye, eliminating the need for scrubbing. The product is safe for toilet tanks, bowls, and pipes. When you flush it, it leaves a pleasant citrus scent. Just look at the before and after photo collage below. It looks pretty impressive!
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ According to the instructions I was supposed to use the whole bottle but being that it was so big and that I had 2 toilets needing to be cleaned I only used half. Other than that I followed the instructions, stirring to make sure it was dissolved and then letting it sit overnight. I used a cheap (new) toilet brush from the dollar store to scrub the rust off the sides before flushing. I took these before and after photos to compare and I was pleasantly surprised. The toilet tank is from the 1960’s and I doubt it’s been cleaned within the last few decades. — Nicole
7. This carpet cleaning machine will finally remove all those stubborn stains that other products failed to remove. The appliance works perfectly well on carpets and rugs where pet messes happen, lifting dirt and dust that an ordinary vacuum cleaner may leave behind. Its compact design makes cleaning easy and convenient. This is a must-have for households with pets.
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This cleaner is really lightweight and easy to use. It’s also very powerful and effective for such a budget friendly and small machine. This is perfect for area rugs. I imagine it would be less suitable for large carpeted rooms as it does need emptying and refilling frequently due to the smaller tanks. In addition, this model lacks an upholstery brush, so consider that if you are looking for something more versatile. Overall I would recommend this machine, it’s effectively cleaned and refreshed our area rugs that had gotten dingy and were holding pet odors. — Sll1977
8. Don’t miss out on this heavy-duty cleaner specially designed for cleaning brick and stone fireplaces. This safe and non-abrasive gel swiftly removes soot, creosote, ash, and all sorts of grime from your fireplace. Its concentrated formula can break through the toughest spots and works great on surfaces such as brick, stone, tile, and rock.
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ It works really well, and it’s great that it’s non-toxic and non-abrasive. You can literally apply it with your bare hands. You do need to scrub it in pretty well after applying. And make sure to «rinse» the brick afterwards. It’s slow work, but it pays off. — Amazon Customer
9. If your hot tub needs cleaning, this hot tub cleaner is just what you need. It quickly and effectively removes residue from dirt, sweat, grime, and bath products. One bottle is enough for up to 2 cleaning sessions. Dirty filters and poor flow can negatively affect your hot tub. This product solves this problem, making your hot tub clean in about an hour.
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Our hot tub was so much grosser than I could have imagined. The amount of ick that this stuff got out of the jets was surprising. Honestly, it’s so embarrassing. I drained and cleaned the tub a few months ago but did not think to get this jet cleaner. I will not make that mistake again. The hot tub smells so clean now. I will definitely use this again next time I drain the tub. — Kaerlia
10. This electric high-pressure washer is a real hit on Amazon with more than 56,000 ratings. The appliance tackles a variety of cleaning tasks: homes, buildings, RVs, cars, trucks, boats, decks, driveways, patios, and more. It automatically shuts off the pump when the trigger is not engaged to save energy and prolong pump life. Its long spray wand guarantees extended reach for your ultimate convenience.
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This power washer was easy to use and did the job well. I used it on my driveway, paver path and patio. The attachments for soap and the various angle heads snap on quickly and are conveniently stored on the unit. Some assembly is required out of the box, but it is simple and only requires a screwdriver. — Michael
11. Get rid of mold in your house with this amazing mold cleaner. Its highly effective concentrated gel formula clings to tiles, silicone sealant (around windows, sinks, and baths), shower heads, and more. The usage is pretty simple. Just apply the gel evenly on the surface you want to clean, let sit for 3-5 hours, and then rinse with water or wipe with a towel.
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I was skeptical that this product would work because I have tried a lot of different things with no luck. After one application almost all of the staining is gone! I was also shocked that this product has no smell! No harsh chemical odor at all. I have a couple spots I want to treat again to see if I can get it completely clean, but my tub looks 100% better than it did before. It’s super easy to use. I’m so happy with the results. — Kerri
In this selection of Amazon best sellers you will find even more cleaning products that will help you get rid of stains and dirt in every corner of your house.
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 Haj / Amazon, Emojipedia
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