Freya was eager to start her new life as a newlywed when she moved into her husband George’s ancestral home. However, when Valerie, the housemaid, hinted at George’s hidden life, their marriage vows quickly began to unravel.
Just off the high of our wedding, I moved into George’s grand family home — a place that seemed lifted from a storybook with its towering ceilings, elegant arches, and gardens blooming with flowers. George had been keen on me settling in before we jetted off to our honeymoon in the South of France.
But not all was as idyllic as it appeared. From the start, Valerie, the maid, cast glances my way that seemed to shout, “You’re an outsider.” Despite the chill in her gaze, I was determined to make this my new home. Valerie would just have to accept that.
A few days after moving in, I decided to prepare a big breakfast for everyone in the house, including George’s younger siblings who still lived there.
While I bustled around the kitchen, Valerie watched my every move with sharp eyes as she cleaned around me. Her presence made me uneasy. When I went to grab my phone to look up a recipe, it was nowhere to be found.
“Have you seen my phone?” I asked Valerie, sure it had been right there on the table.
She simply shook her head without looking up.
“I’d get breakfast ready quickly if I were you,” she remarked coldly. “The family will be down soon.”
Heeding her advice, I focused on finishing the breakfast. After she left the kitchen, I found my phone on the seat she had just vacated. But it was the message on the screen that flipped my world upside down:
“Check your husband’s drawer. The top left one. Then RUN!”
Heart racing, I hurried to our bedroom, replaying the warning in my mind. Valerie had already tidied up our room by then.
With a heavy sense of foreboding, I opened the drawer. Inside, I discovered a bundle of letters bound with an old ribbon and an antique key. The letters were from George to someone named Elena.
Sitting on our bed, I read each letter, heart sinking further with every word of love and promises made to another woman.
The last letter was a farewell, dated just days before George proposed to me.
Curious about the key, I asked George’s sister Ivy about it. “It might go to the attic,” she suggested, noting it was George’s favorite hideaway.
In the attic, the truth was starkly displayed. The walls were adorned with photos of George and a woman—presumably Elena. Each image, a testament to their relationship.
Underneath one of the photos, an ultrasound image was pinned, marking another revelation—George and Elena were expecting a child.
How could he have kept this from me?
As I absorbed the magnitude of his betrayal, Valerie appeared in the doorway.
“You weren’t meant to find out like this,” she admitted softly.
“You knew?” I confronted her.
She nodded. “Elena is my sister. She thought you deserved to know. I placed those letters this morning.”
“And the baby?” My voice broke with the question.
Valerie leaned against the wall, explaining how George had fallen in love with Elena, a former maid, and how everything changed when they discovered the baby had Down syndrome. George couldn’t handle the implications.
Valerie and I then faced the family in the living room, revealing everything as George walked in.
“Is this true?” his father demanded, eyes locked on George.
George’s silence confirmed everything.
The fallout was swift. George was disinherited, his future resources redirected to support Elena and her child.
As for me, I was granted a swift divorce, and the family compensated me with assets originally intended for George.
I used some of those assets to start a foundation for children with disabilities, now managed by Valerie, with guidance from me and George’s mother, who had disowned him.
In my position, what would you have done?
Am I Wrong for Teaching My Daughter-in-Law a Lesson after She Made My Wife Pay for a Cleaning Service?
Am I Wrong for Teaching My Daughter-in-Law a Lesson after She Made My Wife Pay for a Cleaning Service?
After my daughter-in-law humiliated my wife by making her pay for a cleaning service after a week of babysitting, I knew I had to teach her a lesson about gratitude. When the opportunity arose, I devised a plan to show her exactly what my wife had endured, turning the tables in an unforgettable way.
Hi, I’m Jacob, and I have a story to share about my daughter-in-law (DIL). My wife and I have always been close to our son and his family. We love spending time with our grandkids and often help out when needed.
Elderly couple and their grandkids | Source: Pexels
Our relationship with our son and his family has always been strong. We see them often, share meals, and celebrate holidays together. We feel lucky to be involved in our grandkids’ lives, watching them grow and supporting them whenever we can.
As grandparents, we take pride in being there for our family. Whether it’s picking up the kids from school, babysitting on short notice, or just offering advice, we’re always ready to help. We know how hard it can be to juggle work and family, so we do what we can to lighten the load.
Happy grandparents | Source: Pexels
A few weeks ago, our son and DIL had to go on a business trip. They asked my wife to babysit for a week. She loves spending time with the grandkids, so she agreed without hesitation. She packed her bags and moved into their house for the week.
While she was there, she took care of everything. She cooked meals, helped with homework, and made sure the house was tidy. The kids had a great time with their grandma, and she even did extra chores to help out. When she returned home, I was eager to hear all about their week together.
Sad elderly woman | Source: Pexels
But something was clearly wrong. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she looked like she had been crying. I asked her what happened, but at first, she didn’t want to tell me.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” I asked gently. She shook her head, avoiding my eyes.
“It’s nothing,” she said, her voice trembling.
I wasn’t convinced. “Please, tell me. What happened?”
Concerned elderly man | Source: Pexels
After some coaxing, she finally opened up. “Right before our son and DIL returned, she called me. She said I had to pay for a professional cleaning service.”
I was stunned. “What? Why?”
“She claimed the house was a mess and it was unacceptable,” she said, her voice breaking. “But I took care of the kids, cleaned up after them, and even did some extra chores.”
“And that wasn’t enough for her?” I asked, feeling my anger rising.
Upset woman | Source: Pexels
“She said it wasn’t,” my wife replied, tears streaming down her face. “I felt humiliated, Jacob. I didn’t want to argue and risk damaging our relationship with them, so I paid the cleaning bill. I thought I was helping, but she made me feel like I failed.”
Hearing this made me furious. “You did them a huge favor, and this is how they repay you?” I said, my voice shaking with anger. “This is unacceptable. You shouldn’t have had to go through that.”
Elderly man in a sweater | Source: Pexels
She nodded, looking defeated. “I just didn’t want to cause any trouble.”
“I understand,” I said, trying to stay calm. “But this disrespect needs to be addressed. I need to teach our DIL a lesson about gratitude and respect.”
And so, I started planning how to make sure this would never happen again.
Elderly man with a tablet | Source: Pexels
I spent a few days thinking about it and came up with a plan. I decided to give my DIL a taste of her own medicine. I called my son and DIL and offered to babysit the kids for a weekend. They were thrilled and quickly accepted my offer. They needed the break and trusted me completely.
The plan was simple. I would document the state of the house when I arrived, take care of the kids for the weekend, clean the house thoroughly, and then present them with a bill for a professional cleaning service. This way, they would understand what my wife went through.
Messy bedroom | Source: Pexels
I arrived at my son and DIL’s house on Friday evening. As soon as I walked in, I took pictures of every room, documenting the cleanliness and order. The house was already in good shape, but I wanted to make sure I had proof of how it looked when I arrived.
I spent the weekend with my grandkids, having a wonderful time. We played games, read stories, and enjoyed each other’s company. I made sure to clean up after ourselves, keeping the house tidy throughout our time together.
Grandfather and his granddaughter | Source: Pexels
Before my son and DIL returned on Sunday evening, I went into action. I cleaned the house from top to bottom, making it look spotless. I vacuumed, dusted, scrubbed, and polished every surface. By the time I was done, the house was immaculate.
When my son and DIL walked in, they were pleased to see how clean and organized everything was. I took a deep breath and decided it was time.
Neat room | Source: Pexels
“Hey, can we talk for a minute?” I asked. My son and DIL exchanged curious looks but nodded. I showed them the pictures I had taken when I arrived.
“This is how the house looked when I got here on Friday,” I said, scrolling through the images on my phone. “And this is how it looks now.”
They both looked puzzled.
“Dad, what’s going on?” my son asked.
Couple arguing | Source: Pexels
I took out the bill I had prepared. “I’m handing you a bill for a professional cleaning service,” I said, handing it to my DIL. Her face turned red with confusion and anger.
“Why would we need to pay this?” she snapped.
I stayed calm. “This is what your mother had to go through after she babysat for you. She did you a favor, took care of your kids, and you humiliated her by making her pay for a cleaning service. I thought it was only fair that you experience the same thing.”
Couple argues | Source: Pexels
My son’s eyes widened, and he turned to his wife. “Is this true?” he asked her.
She stammered, “I… I thought the house wasn’t clean enough. I didn’t mean to upset her.”
My son sighed, clearly disappointed. “You should have appreciated what Mom did for us. She didn’t deserve that.”
Upset concerned old man | Source: Pexels
Turning back to me, he said, “Dad, I’m so sorry. We’ll reimburse Mom immediately. This will never happen again.”
My DIL looked down, embarrassed. “I’m sorry, too. I didn’t realize how much I hurt her.”
I nodded, feeling some of the tension ease. “I hope this experience helps you understand the importance of gratitude and respect.”
Happy elderly couple | Source: Pexels
Since then, things have been a bit tense, but I think my DIL got the message. My wife and I continue to help out with the grandkids, but now there’s a newfound respect for the efforts we put in.
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