I Found a Lace Robe Hidden in My Husband’s Closet – Then I Saw My Stepmother Wearing It

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

My daughter and Son In Law shamed me for getting a tattoo at 75. I decided to give them a lesson

Elis, 75, made the audacious and surprising decision to do something on a bright morning in New Orleans. She’d been thinking about getting a tattoo for a long now. She desired to relive her youth and greet life with renewed energy. Thus, she entered a tattoo parlor, selected a delicate pattern that represented her strength and passion for life, and had herself inked. She was so happy with the artwork on her arm that she experienced a surge of joy. She declared to the world that age was merely a number.

The Unexpected Reaction

Elis threw a modest party for her family, excited to show off her new tattoo. She hoped they would respond favorably, imagining their astonishment. Nevertheless, her daughter’s face contorted in disapproval the moment she saw the tattoo.”What in the world were you thinking, Mom?” she cried out. “Getting a tattoo at your age is not only inappropriate—it’s also embarrassing. Not some disobedient adolescent, but a respectable grandmother is what you’re meant to be. People will make fun of you because it seems stupid.Just For Illustrative UseA twinge of pain shot through Elis, but worse was to come. She laughed uncontrollably at her son-in-law, who she had always loved like her own son. He laughed till he was almost unsteady on his feet, tears rolling down his cheeks.”Mom, that’s hilarious! Between chuckles, he managed to ask, “Really, a tattoo at your age?” Elis’s heart fell. The thing that stung more than the words was the vile mockery. Their responses hurt her profoundly and made her feel ashamed.

Organizing the Ideal Refund

Elis made the decision to take her grief and use it as fuel, refusing to allow their mocking remarks and harsh comments define her. She remembered how badly her son-in-law had hurt her; a man who relied solely on her daughter and dreamed of becoming a millionaire. This was the last straw. Elis decided to impart to him a knowledge that he would never forget.Elis spent the next two days carefully organizing her retaliation. She made the decision to reveal her son-in-law’s apathy and lack of drive in a way that would shock and enlighten him. She made contact with some of her acquaintances who were talented in other fields, one of them being an outstanding actor.

The Day of Judgment

Elis carried out her plan two days later. This time, she pretended to need assistance with some home maintenance when she extended an invitation to her relatives. Reluctant to face the real world of employment, her son-in-law finally consented to attend.Elis was waiting for them when they got there, carrying a toolbox and a list of things that needed to get done. She gave her son-in-law the list, and his expression was puzzled.He was perplexed and questioned, “What’s this?”Elis remarked kindly, “I thought you could help out with these tasks.” “After all, you constantly boast about your handyness.”Just For Illustrative UseHe took a quick look at the list, which included jobs like rewiring a lamp, replacing a broken fence, and repairing the leaky faucet. Glancing around, he realized that he was incapable of doing any of these responsibilities.Elis was about to object when the actor, who was dressed like a professional contractor, showed there. After introducing himself, he started by making each task appear simple as he demonstrated how to complete it. The son-in-law, unable to keep up, watched, looking uncomfortable and ashamed as he fumbled with the tools.

An Acquired Knowledge

As the day went on, it became evident that the son-in-law was completely unable to finish even the most basic responsibilities. Elis observed with a conflicted sense of relief and sympathy. As her daughter witnessed her husband’s incapacity, she started to see how much she had been supporting his sloth.Elis’s strategy was a complete success. Her son-in-law was worn out, ashamed, and forced to face his lack of practical abilities by the end of the day. With a composed yet assertive tone, Elis drew him aside and remarked, “You laughed at me for wanting to feel young and vibrant again. But now look at you. Perhaps it’s time you matured and began accepting accountability for your actions in life.Her remarks had an impact. The incident humbled the son-in-law, who expressed regret for his actions. He committed to working hard to get better and more independent. Elis took his apology and told him that she would not put up with any more mistreatment.

Going Forward: Elis observed a shift in her son-in-law during the ensuing weeks. He started to actively work on improving himself and took on greater duties. Her daughter also began to value her mother’s fortitude and self-reliance.Elis, on the other hand, kept living her life with the same carefree attitude that inspired her to get the tattoo. She resumed going to social gatherings, took up a local fitness class, and even started dating once more. She demonstrated to herself and everyone around her that living life to the fullest was possible at any age.Elis’s audacious move had not only lifted her spirits but also resulted in a much-needed shift inside her family. She smiled every time she saw her tattoo, being reminded of the bravery and strength it took to defend herself and impart an important lesson in the process.

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