After marrying my childhood sweetheart, I thought our happily ever after had finally begun. That was until he handed me a notebook filled with his mother’s secrets.
I didn’t expect to run into Michael that morning. I was just grabbing my usual coffee, walking down Main Street in our old hometown, when I spotted him. Tall, familiar, with a hint of gray in his hair, he was standing outside the coffee shop we used to go to after school.
A man with a book in a cafe | Source: Pexels
“Michael?” I called out, almost in disbelief.
He turned, and for a second, he just stared. Then, a big grin spread across his face. “Is that really you?” he said, his voice warm, just like I remembered. “I never thought I’d see you around here again!”
“Same here!” I laughed. “What are the odds?”
A couple holding hands on a date | Source: Pexels
We decided to grab coffee together, just like old times. Inside the shop, everything felt like it had back then. The old wood counters and the smell of fresh pastries. It was almost like time had rewound itself.
We chatted for hours that day, catching up on everything and nothing. We laughed over old stories, like the time we both got lost on a hike or how we’d leave each other notes in history class. The hours melted away.
A couple on a date | Source: Midjourney
Coffee turned into lunch, lunch turned into long walks, and before we knew it, we were calling each other every day. There was something so easy, so natural about being around him.
A few months later, Michael proposed. It was simple, just him and me, sitting by the lake one evening.
“I don’t want to waste any more time,” he said, his voice steady but full of emotion. “I love you. I’ve always loved you. Will you marry me?”
A marriage proposal | Source: Pexels
I didn’t hesitate for a second. “Yes,” I whispered, tears filling my eyes. Two months later, we tied the knot.
After the wedding, we drove to his family home, where we’d spent many afternoons as kids. The house hadn’t changed a bit. Even the wallpaper in the hallway was the same, and the old oak tree in the yard was still there.
A small house | Source: Pexels
Later that evening, after I’d freshened up, I came back to find Michael sitting on the edge of the bed, looking… different. His usual easy smile was gone. He was holding a small, worn notebook in his hands.
“Michael?” I asked, sitting down beside him. “Is everything okay?”
A nervous man | Source: Pexels
He didn’t look at me right away. His eyes were on the notebook, fingers tracing the edge. “There’s… something I need to tell you.”
The tone of his voice sent a chill down my spine. “What is it?”
He took a deep breath, finally meeting my gaze. “This notebook is my mom’s,” he said quietly. “She kept notes… about our family. About something she thought was important.”
A worn notebook | Source: Pexels
“Okay…” I said slowly, not quite understanding.
He handed it to me, and I opened it. Pages and pages of neat, looping handwriting filled every page. “My family has this… belief,” he began. “A curse, actually. It sounds ridiculous, I know, but they believe it’s real.”
“A curse?” I asked, eyebrows raised, trying to hide my skepticism.
A woman talking to her husband | Source: Midjourney
He nodded. “My mom says that any woman who marries into the family… is cursed with bad luck. Tragedy. Pain. It’s happened for generations, or so she says.”
I almost laughed but stopped myself when I saw the worry in his eyes. “Michael, you don’t really believe this, do you?”
A worried man | Source: Pexels
He ran a hand through his hair, looking torn. “I don’t know. I’ve always told myself it’s just an old family superstition. But… I’ve seen things, you know? My dad’s marriage to my mom wasn’t exactly smooth. My uncle — well, let’s just say things ended badly for him, too.”
I took his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Look, that doesn’t mean anything. Marriages are hard for a lot of people.”
Woman holding a man’s hand | Source: Pexels
He gave a faint smile, but his eyes still looked troubled. “Maybe you’re right,” he said, though he didn’t sound convinced.
A week after the wedding, small misfortunes began to pile up. First, it was a flat tire right before we departed for our honeymoon, leaving us unable to drive anywhere.
“Just bad luck,” I told him, forcing a laugh.
A flat tire | Source: Pexels
Back home, things took a strange turn. The business I’d spent years building started losing clients. A string of bad reviews appeared online, some from people I’d never even worked with. I tried everything to fix it, but nothing seemed to help. It felt like someone had cursed my work.
Then, someone broke into our house. Nothing important or valuable was stolen, but the psychological damage was done.
A man picking a lock | Source: Freepik
Michael noticed, too. “You think this… this curse could be real?” he asked one night, his voice low.
“Of course not,” I replied quickly, though I was starting to doubt myself. “There has to be an explanation for all of this. Maybe it’s just… I don’t know… a phase.”
The turning point came just before Thanksgiving. Michael’s mother insisted we host the holiday at our home. We chatted on the phone about the menu, and she seemed in good spirits.
A woman talking on her phone | Source: Pexels
After the call, I placed my phone down on the couch and picked up a book, settling in to read. But as I turned the page, I heard voices. The phone was still connected.
“Do you really think this curse nonsense is still working?” Michael’s father asked her, sounding exasperated.
Without thinking, I immediately pressed the record button.
A serious woman on her phone | Source: Pexels
She laughed. “It works every time. Look at her! Her business is already struggling, and Michael is so wrapped up in worry he can hardly think straight. And I will put an end to this when I ruin her turkey.”
“Enough, Marianne,” he replied. “You’ve already scared off enough good women from our sons.”
“If they aren’t right for my boys, I’ll do what I have to,” she said, her tone cold. “I know what’s best for them.”
Mature couple talking | Source: Pexels
My stomach turned. I ended the call, feeling numb, replaying her words in my mind. All those strange things — the flat tire, the bad reviews — they were her doing. There was no curse. It was all a lie, a twisted trick to control her sons and their wives.
That night, I sat across from Michael, clutching my phone with trembling hands. “Michael,” I began, “there’s something I need you to hear.”
A woman talking to her husband | Source: Freepik
He looked at me, his brows knitted in concern. “What’s wrong?”
I pressed play, and his mother’s voice filled the room.
Michael looked stunned, his eyes darting from the phone to me as he tried to process what he’d heard. “This… this has to be a mistake,” he stammered, the disbelief thick in his voice. “She wouldn’t… my mother would never—”
A shocked man looking at his phone | Source: Pexels
I took his hand. “Michael, I overheard the whole thing. She’s been trying to break us apart.”
Finally, he looked at me, his face set with determination. “I need to hear it from her. I need to hear the truth, from both of them.”
We arrived at his parents’ house late that night. Michael’s father opened the door, looking surprised to see us. “Michael, is everything alright?”
A surprised man | Source: Pexels
Michael pushed past him, his face pale with anger. “Where’s Mom?”
His father’s face fell, and he took a step back. “Michael, please, calm down.”
“I am calm,” he said, his voice strained. “But I need answers, Dad.”
Marianne looked taken aback, her eyes flicking to her husband, who wouldn’t meet her gaze. “What are you talking about?”
A surprised elderly woman | Source: Pexels
Michael held up my phone. “I heard you, Mom. You and Dad, talking about the curse. Talking about how you’ve been… interfering. Scaring off women, making them think they’re cursed.”
Her face went from feigned confusion to a hard, calculating expression. “Michael, I don’t know what you think you heard, but—”
“You know what you said, Marianne,” his father interrupted quietly, stepping forward. “There’s no point denying it.”
An angry elderly man | Source: Pexels
She whirled on him, her eyes flashing. “Don’t you dare!”
“Don’t I dare?” His father shook his head, looking tired and worn down. “I’ve kept my mouth shut for years. Watched you chase off every woman Michael or his brothers ever loved. Watched you lie, sabotage, play with people’s lives just because you thought you knew what was best. It’s gone on long enough.”
An elderly couple arguing | Source: Midjourney
Michael’s face crumpled as he looked from his father to his mother. “So it’s true?” he whispered. “All of it?”
Tears began streaming down her face. “I did it because I love you, Michael.”
He took a step back, shaking his head. “This isn’t love. This is control.”
A heavy silence fell over the room. His father spoke next, his voice weary. “Michael, I’ve tried to reason with her, believe me. But she’s… she believes she’s doing the right thing.”
A frustrated elderly man | Source: Pexels
Michael turned to his father, his voice full of hurt. “And you let her do this? All these years?”
His father looked down. “I was afraid of losing my family. I thought maybe one day, she’d stop. That you’d be strong enough to… break free from it.”
Michael turned silent. Taking my hand, he led me to the door. Outside, he looked up at the stars, his shoulders slumped in defeat. He glanced over at me, his voice barely a whisper. “I’m so sorry. For all of it.”
A sad man looking at the skies | Source: Pexels
I squeezed his hand. “We’re free now, Michael. That’s all that matters.”
But as we walked to the car, I felt the weight of the past, the sadness of a family broken by secrets and a mother’s misguided attempts at love. Michael’s heart would take time to heal, but we were leaving the curse and his mother behind.
Holding hands | Source: Pexels
Liked this story? Consider checking out this one: Colleen believed she knew everything about her husband until she accidentally overheard his therapy session. Michael’s startling confession revealed his darkest secrets, destroying their 12-year marriage and leaving Colleen to pick up the shattered pieces of their family…
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.
I Served a Rich Couple on a Plane, Next Day My Mom Introduced Me to Her Young Fiancé from the Same Plane — Story of the Day
Kristi tended to a rich couple in business class who were very affectionate with each other. The next day, she was shocked to discover the same man engaged to her mother. Kristi knew she had to act, but had no idea what she was about to unleash.
High above the clouds in the business class part of a commercial plane, Kristi, in her crisp flight attendant uniform, walked the aisle with practiced grace.
She stopped by a couple nestled by the window, absorbed in their private world. The man, in a sharply tailored suit, presented a small velvet box to the woman, whose eyes lit up like the 4th of July.
As he opened it, a delicate necklace gleamed, its stones scattering prismatic colors across their seats. Kristi’s eyes widened, and she paused her rounds for a second.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“May I, my gorgeous Isabella?” the man whispered to his companion, excitement coloring his voice. The woman nodded, her cheeks blushing as she lifted her hair for him to clasp the necklace.
“That’s a lovely shade of lipstick,” the woman said, turning her attention to Kristi with a warm smile.
Flustered and touched, Kristi touched her lips. “Thank you, it’s my favorite,” she replied, stuttering at being caught snooping.
The man smiled up at Kristi, offering her a generous tip. “Thank you for making this flight special,” he said sincerely.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
“It’s my pleasure. Enjoy your journey together,” Kristi responded, her heart fluttering as she moved on, the couple’s joy lingering in her mind.
***
The next day was her only day off that weekend, and Kristi had promised to visit her mother. Upon arriving, the older woman grabbed her arm and introduced her to Edwin, her new fiancé.
Except, he was none other than the man from the plane who had given another, younger woman a beautiful diamond necklace. Kristi’s shock froze her, but she schooled her expression.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kristi. Your mother has told me so much about you,” Edwin said smoothly, offering his hand as if they had never met.
“Nice to meet you too,” she replied cautiously, playing along for her mother’s sake.
Edwin then took over the kitchen, whipping up a meal with the flair of a seasoned chef. “It’s my way of showing care,” he explained, serving dishes with ease.
As they ate, Edwin regaled them with stories from his travels, yet he only responded vaguely when Kristi probed further into his past.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
It only made things worse, but she wasn’t sure what to say to her mother. Could she be wrong about him?
After dinner, Kristi decided to take her mother outside, hoping the air would clear her mind.
***
The cool breeze of the terrace was exactly what she needed before asking some tough questions. “Mom, what do you really know about Edwin?” Kristi asked carefully.
“He’s wonderful. A billionaire, a diamond tycoon’s son. He’s shown me such a glamorous life,” her mother replied, eyes shining. “We’ll be married in just a few days!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
“Mom, I know this is going to sound strange, but I swear I saw him on a recent flight with another woman, now suddenly he’s with you and getting married,” Kristi pressed.
Her mother frowned. “Why are you lying? Can’t you be happy for me? Edwin loves me. You just don’t want me to be with another man after your father’s death.”
“That’s not it! Doesn’t his quick move seem odd?” Kristi argued.
“Odd? No, it’s romantic. You’re too young to understand. Edwin is all about love,” her mother shook her head.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Kristi sighed. “Mom, please think about it. He could be a scammer. That act on the plane… he’s like a Casanova.”
“Scammer? Kristi, that’s ridiculous. Edwin is a good man!” her mother defended.
“I just don’t want to see you lose everything to a man we barely know,” Kristi said, desperately trying to make her understand.
But at that moment, Edwin appeared, drinks in hand.“Ladies, let’s celebrate,” he said cheerfully, and Kristi’s mother excused herself for a second.
Kristi frowned at Edwin once they were alone and couldn’t hold back any longer.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay
“How can you manipulate my mother’s feelings?” she demanded, exposing everything she saw him doing on the plane.
Edwin’s smile faltered. “Kristi, I only want your mother’s happiness. No need for hostility.”
She scoffed and poured a drink over his head. “You think you’re clever, but I see through you. I won’t let you hurt my mother,” she declared firmly. “You’re a fraud!”
Her mother appeared, and her eyes bulged at the orange slice that was still dripping from Edwin’s face. “Kristi, how could you? Edwin, I’m so sorry…”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Edwin reassured her. “It’s alright. Let’s not let this ruin our evening.”
Kristi’s frown deepened as her mother tended to the scammer, and she realized there was no way to win that night. Still, she knew she had to prove Edwin’s true nature to protect her mother.
It would just take some time.
That’s when she remembered an important detail from the day of the flight where she saw Edwin…and Isabella.
***
Kristi paced outside the airline office, gathering her courage before entering. At the front desk, a cheerful representative greeted her. “Good morning! How can I assist you today?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
“I need to see the passenger list from my last flight. It’s important,” Kristi said, stumbling over her words.
“That’s confidential. May I ask why you need it?” the representative asked, her brow furrowing.
Kristi tried to hide her nervousness as she said, “A passenger left something valuable. I want to help return it.”
“Okay, I can’t show you the list, but I can help if you give me more details,” the representative said, leading Kristi to a private office.
Once seated, Kristi explained that a passenger named Isabella lost her jewelry and was talking about it as they disembarked.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
The representative confirmed the Lost & Found department had received Isabella’s missing item report, and they had, in fact, found the jewelry.
“Could I return it to her myself? It might mean more coming from someone who was on the flight,” Kristi asked.
After signing a release form, Kristi received Isabella’s jewelry and contact details. She called the strange woman, arranging to meet the next day in a hotel lobby.
***
Kristi approached Isabella, the same woman Edwin was affectionate with on her last flight, in a beautiful hotel coffee shop and was recognized immediately.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
“You were the flight attendant on my last trip, weren’t you?” Isabella asked, surprised.
“Yes, that was me. It’s a small world.”
Kristi went right into it, telling her about Edwin, her suspicions, and everything else she knew. The young woman frowned, frustrated.
“I knew something was off. Edwin asked me for a large sum of money for an emergency. I trusted him, and I’m supposed to meet him soon to give it to him,” Isabella revealed, leaning back and crossing her arms.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Kristi told her that was their chance to expose him. “We can set up a scenario to catch him. We’ll record everything. I’ll disguise myself; he won’t recognize me,” she planned.
Isabella agreed, and they spent the next hour devising their strategy, focusing on every detail and potential reaction from Edwin.
As Kristi left the coffee shop, she felt nervous but resolved. The plan was set, and together, they were going to save her mother.
***
In a dimly lit upscale restaurant where Isabella had arranged to meet Edwin and give him the money he asked for, the young woman waited, twirling her wine glass.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Meanwhile, Kristi was disguised as a waitress and watched from across the room as Edwin entered confidently and greeted Isabella.
“Isabella, my dear, sorry to keep you waiting,” he said, sitting down.
Kristi approached their table to take their order, and Isabella played along perfectly, suggesting they celebrate with red wine.
“Excellent choice,” Edwin agreed, keeping his eyes on Isabella. Kristi quickly brought the wine, her heart racing with each step.
“That’ll be all, thank you,” Edwin said, looking only briefly at Kristi. It wasn’t enough to notice who she was. His attention quickly turned back to his date.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
As they sipped their wine, Isabella suggested that instead of giving him money, she could give him a gift, something more tangible like jewelry as he had been so generous to give her diamonds.
Intrigued, Edwin pulled out his phone to show her some options, from Cartier and Rolex watches to designer clothes.
As soon as his phone was on the table, Kristi saw her chance. She pretended to refill their wine glasses and accidentally spilled some on Edwin’s shirt.
“Damn it! My shirt!” he exclaimed, jumping up in irritation.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay
“It’s just an accident, Edwin. Let’s not make a scene,” Isabella calmed him, giving Kristi a discreet nod.
Kristi apologized profusely, then hurried away, claiming she needed to fetch club soda and napkins.
She had swapped Edwin’s unlocked phone during the commotion with a temporary decoy, and rushed to the restroom to check the real phone.
After searching for a few minutes, Kristi discovered Edwin’s active dating profile and flirtatious messages similar to those he’d sent her mother.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Not the undeniable proof she hoped for, but troubling all the same. Therefore, Kristi started typing a message, making a last-ditch effort to trap Edwin.
Suddenly, a knock startled her. “I know you’re in there with my phone! Come out now!” Edwin shouted from outside.
“I’m calling the police!” he declared, his voice stern and urgent.
Kristi stood, phone in hand, heart pounding. She opened the stall door to face Edwin in a tense standoff. He lunged for the phone, but Kristi dodged him.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay
“Stay back!” she warned, her back against the cold restroom wall.
“Give me my phone, or you’ll regret it!” Edwin cornered her, his hand reaching out. Kristi screamed, hoping someone would come to her aid and bracing for what might happen next.
***
In a sterile police station, Kristi sat under the cold glare of fluorescent lights.
“You’re lucky Mr. Edwin hasn’t pressed charges,” a stern officer warned, “Consider this your only warning.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Kristi nodded, her voice small. “I thought I was doing the right thing.”
“Good intentions don’t always lead to good actions,” the cop replied before walking away.
Just then, her mother burst through the doors, her face etched with disappointment. “Kristi, this isn’t the daughter I raised,” she declared, her voice thick with emotion.
“Mom, I was trying to protect you from Edwin,” Kristi explained, looking down.
“Protect me by breaking the law?” her mother retorted sharply. “You’ve gone too far.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay
An officer intervened. “Mr. Edwin had filed a restraining order. Any further actions will lead to arrest.”
Kristi closed her eyes, but her mother didn’t give her any reprieve.
“I don’t want to see you anymore. Learn from this. Goodbye, Kristi,” the older woman said before leaving.
***
Kristi returned to the same hotel where she had met Isabella and sat at the lobby bar. While nursing a stiff drink, Isabella slid next to her.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay
“I heard about what happened. I’m sorry,” she sighed, linking her fingers on the bar surface.
“Thanks,” Kristi said, half-smiling. “But before everything went down, I changed Edwin’s password on the dating site.”
“That’s brilliant,” Isabella responded, intrigued. “We can use that. Let’s warn the other women.”
Kristi laughed as they logged into Edwin’s dating profile together, crafting many messages to alert his targets.
“Beware of Edwin. He’s not who he claims to be. Protect your heart and your wallet,” Kristi typed steadily.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay
Their initial laughter faded into a determined silence as they saw how far this man would go to scam women off their one.
It was late at night when Isabella closed her laptop and squeezed Kristi’s hand.
“And just think, what we’ve started tonight is only the beginning. Edwin has no idea what’s coming for him. Wait until the wedding—it’s going to be unforgettable!”
***
The morning sun cast a golden glow over the city chapel as Edwin, clad in a sharp black tuxedo, prepared to marry Kristi’s mother.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay
However, he didn’t know that today was the last time he would ever get away with his Casanova scam.
Kristi watched from the trees, her heart pounding as the ceremony began. Suddenly, an unusual murmur spread through the crowd.
Heels clicked on the floor as one woman, then another, and dozens more converged at the chapel. All were women Edwin had deceived.
A woman in a bright red dress yelled, “Scammer!” Her voice cut through the ceremony’s solemnity.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Edwin frowned, his confusion turning to horror as he recognized her and others.
“He’s a liar!” shouted another.
“You won’t get away with this!” added a third.
The ceremony descended into chaos. One woman smashed a piece of the wedding cake into Edwin’s face, covering him with cream.
He started fleeing down the aisle, but a guest tripped him, sending him sprawling into a flower bed.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay
The women swarmed, using handbags, shoes, and floral arrangements to exact their vengeance, shouting accusations.
The police eventually intervened, clearing the crowd and leading a disheveled Edwin away. As calm returned, the chapel buzzed with hushed conversations and occasional sobs.
Kristi stepped out from her hiding spot just as her mother exited the chapel, tears falling from her face. The older woman shook her head at her and got into a car.
Her mother was too proud to admit she was wrong. But Kristi would wait and give her enough time to grieve. In the meantime, she would make sure Edwin felt the full extent of the law.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
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This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
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