When my mom called me from her honeymoon, begging me to save her from her new husband, I thought she was in real danger. Nothing could’ve prepared me for what she told me or how I had to step in to fix it.
I’ve always been close to my mom, Diane.
She’s been my rock, my best friend, and the person who taught me everything about love and resilience. But after my dad passed away 10 years ago, things changed.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
She became quiet, and withdrawn, like a shadow of the vibrant woman she used to be. She barely called or texted anymore, and every time I tried to check in, she insisted she was fine.
But I could tell she wasn’t.
One day, I couldn’t take it anymore.
I called her and said, “Mom, why don’t you come stay with me for a while? It’ll be fun. We can binge-watch those cooking shows you love and eat way too much ice cream.”
A woman talking to her mother | Source: Midjourney
At first, she resisted, but after a bit of cajoling, she finally agreed.
A week later, she moved into my guest room, and I made it my mission to bring her back to life.
I started encouraging her to get out of the house, make new friends, and attend neighborhood events.
“You’re still young, Mom,” I told her. “You deserve to have fun and meet people. Dad would want that for you.”
A woman talking to her mother | Source: Midjourney
To be honest, that wasn’t the easiest thing to do.
She’d sigh and roll her eyes whenever I suggested going to a book club or joining a gardening group. But eventually, she started saying yes.
Slowly but surely, I saw the spark return to her eyes. She started laughing more, talking about her new friends, and even picking up some of her old hobbies.
I was so relieved to see this side of her again.
Then, about a year ago, Mom told me about Greg. She invited him over for lunch one day.
A man standing in a room | Source: Midjourney
“He’s just a friend,” she said, but the way her cheeks turned pink told me otherwise.
Greg was a tall, silver-haired man with kind eyes and a soft-spoken demeanor. He seemed sweet, the kind of man who would hold doors open and always say please and thank you.
After he left, I couldn’t help teasing her.
“So, Mom, is Greg really just a friend, or is there more to the story?”
Her blush deepened.
A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney
“Well, umm… he’s, uh, he’s my boyfriend,” she admitted.
“OMG, what?” I looked at her with wide eyes. “Mom! You never told me about him!”
“I didn’t know how to…” she said. “I mean—”
“I’m so happy for you, Mom!” I cut her off and pulled her into a hug. “That’s so, so amazing!”
“But, uh,” she began. “Do you think it’s okay? I mean, dating someone else after your dad… is that fine?”
A woman talking to her daughter | Source: Midjourney
“Mom, of course, it’s okay,” I put my hands on her shoulders. “You deserve to be happy. Think about Dad. He always wanted to see you happy, right? He’d want you to move forward and do things in life. You can’t put your life on hold forever, can you?”
Her eyes glistened as she nodded. “You’re right. I just… I hope I’m doing the right thing.”
“You are,” I said firmly. “Greg seems like a great guy. And you’re allowed to have a second chance at happiness.”
A woman sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
From that moment, she fully embraced her relationship with Greg. They dated for a while, and when he proposed, she said yes.
Their wedding was a small but beautiful ceremony, filled with love and laughter. As I watched my mom walk down the aisle, I thought to myself, Maybe this is her happily ever after.
And for a while, it seemed like everything was perfect. But then I received the phone call that sent a shiver down my spine.
A woman using her phone | Source: Pexels
So, after their wedding, Mom and Greg left for their honeymoon in the Florida Keys. It was Mom’s dream trip, and she deserved every bit of it.
I was so happy for her.
My phone rang the day after they arrived, and I saw her name on the screen. Naturally, I assumed she was calling to gush about how amazing everything was.
“Mom!” I answered cheerfully. “How’s paradise?”
But her shaky voice on the other end told me something was wrong.
A woman looking at her phone | Source: Midjourney
“Kayla,” she whispered. “Please. Come and save me from him. I beg you.”
“Mom, what’s going on?” I asked as I sat up straight. “Are you okay?”
“It’s Greg,” she said. “He’s not who I thought he was.”
My mind raced with worst-case scenarios.
“What do you mean? Did he do something? Is he dangerous?” I was already grabbing my car keys, ready to drive to Florida if I had to.
A car key | Source: Pexels
She took a deep breath.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” she said bitterly. “But he brought his kids, and their kids, on our honeymoon. And he expects me to babysit them.”
“Wait… what?”
“Yesterday, he said he had a surprise for me,” she explained. “I thought it was going to be something romantic, like a sunset dinner or a couples’ massage. Instead, his adult children showed up with their toddlers in tow.”
A woman holding a baby | Source: Pexels
I couldn’t believe Greg was capable of doing something so absurd.
“There are four of them, Kayla. Four,” Mom cried. “And now I’m stuck babysitting while Greg spends all his time with his kids.”
“You mean to tell me he brought his entire family on your honeymoon? Without asking you?”
“Yes!” she cried. “And now he’s saying that since I’m ‘the new mom,’ it’s my job to help out. Help out! On my honeymoon! What does he think he’s doing?”
I could hear the frustration and exhaustion in her voice.
A woman using her phone | Source: Midjourney
My mom, the woman who had given up everything to raise me after my dad passed away, was being treated like a nanny on what was supposed to be the happiest trip of her life.
I felt a wave of anger rush through my body.
“That’s insane!” I snapped. “Who does he think he is? Don’t worry, Mom. I’m coming, and we’re putting an end to this nonsense.”
“Kayla, you don’t have to—”
“No, Mom,” I interrupted, my voice steely. “I’m not letting him treat you like this. Pack your bags. I’ll be there by morning.”
A woman sitting near a window | Source: Midjourney
The next morning, I arrived at the resort. I was in such a beautiful place, but unfortunately, I wasn’t there to relax. I was there to fight. To tell Greg he couldn’t mistreat my mother.
To make my point crystal clear, I decided to lean into the absurdity of the situation.
Before heading to the resort, I stopped at a store and grabbed a few props. A bright pink kid’s sun hat, a bib, and a pacifier.
If Greg wanted to turn my mom into a nanny, I’d show him exactly how ridiculous that was.
A woman standing outdoors | Source: Midjourney
When I walked into the resort’s outdoor lounge, I spotted Greg immediately.
He was lounging by the pool with his adult kids, completely unaware of what was heading his way.
Mom was nowhere to be seen, and I could only assume she was stuck babysitting.
I straightened my pink hat, stuck the pacifier in my mouth, and stormed up to him.
“Daddy!” I called out, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Where’s Mommy? I want my juice box!”
The look on Greg’s face was priceless.
A man standing in a resort | Source: Midjourney
His laughter vanished the moment he saw me.
“Kayla,” he said. “What are you doing here?”
“Saving my mom,” I said as I yanked the pacifier out of my mouth. “And calling you out on your nonsense while I’m at it.”
Before he could respond, I turned to his grown children, who were now staring at me with wide eyes.
“Hi, everyone!” I said, plastering on a fake smile. “I’m Kayla, Greg’s other kid, apparently. The one he forgot to mention when he invited the rest of you to my mom’s honeymoon and turned her into a babysitter.”
A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
One of his daughters stammered, “We… we didn’t mean—”
“Oh, save it,” I interrupted. “Let me guess, he told you my mom would be happy to watch your kids so you could enjoy a nice vacation, right? Did he mention it’s supposed to be her honeymoon? You know, the trip where she was supposed to be relaxing, not changing diapers?”
At that moment, my mom appeared, holding a wailing toddler on her hip and looking like she hadn’t slept in days.
I walked over to her and gently took the toddler from her arms.
A woman holding a baby | Source: Pexels
“Here you go,” I said, handing the child back to one of Greg’s kids. “Pretty sure this one’s yours. Maybe try taking care of your own children instead of dumping them on a woman you barely know.”
“Kayla!” Greg snapped. “That’s enough. You’re making a scene.”
“Oh, am I?” I shot back, crossing my arms. “You dragged your entire family into what was supposed to be a romantic getaway with your new wife. And you’ve been treating her like a nanny instead of a partner. What kind of man does that?”
A serious woman | Source: Midjourney
“It’s a family trip!” Greg argued. “She’s part of the family now. Helping out is what families do.”
“No,” I said firmly. “She’s your wife, not your maid. She didn’t sign up to spend her honeymoon babysitting. And honestly, the fact that you thought this was okay tells me everything I need to know about you.”
That’s when one of Greg’s daughters started apologizing.
“We didn’t mean to cause trouble,” she mumbled. “Dad said she’d be fine with it…”
A woman standing outdoors | Source: Midjourney
“Of course, he did,” I said bitterly. “Because he didn’t bother to ask her.”
The crowd around the pool was utterly silent, watching the scene unfold. Greg looked like he wanted to disappear, but I wasn’t done yet.
“Pack your bags, Mom,” I said. “We’re leaving.”
She hesitated, glancing at Greg. “But… what about—”
“No,” I cut her off. “You don’t owe him anything. He disrespected you, and you deserve better.”
Tears welled in her eyes, but she nodded. I grabbed her hand and led her out of the pool area, while Greg mumbled excuses.
A close-up shot of a man’s face | Source: Midjourney
On the drive home, Mom stayed quiet for the longest time. She kept staring out of the window before finally speaking up.
“Thank you, Kayla,” she said softly. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Mom,” I said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “You’ve always been there for me. I’m just returning the favor.”
She gave me a small, teary smile. “I thought he loved me.”
“Someone who loves you wouldn’t treat you like that,” I said. “You deserve someone who puts you first.”
A woman driving | Source: Pexels
“You’re right,” she nodded. “I’m done with Greg.”
When we got home, she blocked his number and started looking into annulments.
Meanwhile, karma turned Greg’s life upside down. His kids weren’t too thrilled about being dragged into his honeymoon scheme, and they stopped speaking to him after finding out what he did.
Last I heard, he was spending his days alone, wondering where it all went wrong.
I can’t explain how relieved I feel after saving Mom from being exploited for her kindness. I’m grateful she decided to call me that day instead of quietly looking after that man’s grandkids and keeping up with his insane logic.
A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney
If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: “My real mom still lives here,” my stepson whispered one night. I laughed it off, until I started noticing strange things around our home.
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 Ex-husband Broke Into My House at Night While My Daughter and I Were Sleeping – Suddenly, I Heard Her Scream
My ex-husband’s selfishness ruined our family, but I thought we had left the worst behind after the divorce. Then, one night, I woke up to my daughter’s scream, and what I discovered had me sending her away and installing security cameras only for my ex to show his worst side.
A few weeks ago, my divorce from Liam was finalized, and as I prepared to go to sleep one night, I remembered all he put me through. Honestly, the entire process had felt like trying to pull a thorn out of my side.
Woman in her late 30s in a bedroom at night with thoughtful look | Source: Midjourney
Liam gave me only years of irritation and pain. I’m not saying marriage should be easy, but life with him wasn’t just hard; it was unbearable.
He had this incredible ability to make everything about himself. We were always second place to his gadgets, schemes, and so-called “investments.”
Let me give you an example. About two years ago, when our daughter, Danielle, was 10, she begged me for ballet lessons. I was ready to make it work by cutting some costs here and there to make her happy. Any parent with a child in ballet can tell you that lessons and clothes are expensive.
Children in ballet class | Source: Pexels
But just as I had arranged everything and was about to call the academy, Liam came home grinning like he’d won the lottery. He said he’d used all of our savings to invest in a cryptocurrency his buddy said would soon blow up.
He swore we were going to be rich. That didn’t happen. The entire thing was a scam in the end, and I had to tell my daughter was ballet wasn’t possible for us at the moment.
As you can imagine, my husband just shrugged it off, saying, “These things happen all the time. The next venture will be our golden ticket!”
Man in his early 40s shrugging and smiling in the living room | Source: Midjourney
But I was tired of going broke with insane “investments” or having someone buy gadgets to their heart’s desire without thinking about what was best for the family.
Months after the scam fiasco, I found Liam watching videos about trading and finally sat down with him for a serious talk.
“Liam, you can’t keep doing this,” I urged. “You have to think about our family’s future. We might have an emergency. We have to build our finances properly. Not only that, but we also have to think about Danielle’s college.”
Woman in her late 30s sitting on couch with a serious expression | Source: Midjourney
He wrinkled his nose and waved his hand dismissively. “I AM thinking about the future. We’re going to be rich thanks to one of these things. You just don’t believe in me.”
“It’s true,” I nodded. “I don’t believe in you. This needs to stop or…”
“OR?” he challenged.
I shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Well, then. Since you don’t trust me, let’s get a divorce,” Liam said, crossing his arms and leaning on the sofa.
Man in his early 40s sitting back on a couch with pursed lips and an unapologetic expression | Source: Midjourney
“Liam, please,” I sighed. “Be serious.”
“I AM serious,” he spat.
My mouth closed, and I stared into his eyes, searching for any sign of remorse or understanding. But there was nothing. He wasn’t going to change. He wasn’t going to fight for our family. So, why should I fight for him?
“Fine,” I replied, my resolve solidified.
Unfortunately, divorce takes longer than you can imagine. Years, actually.
Danielle was now 12, and the separation had been hard on her, particularly because Liam rarely called or visited since he moved out.
A 12 year old girl looking sad while sitting in bed | Source: Midjourney
It was a small comfort that my daughter and I got to stay in the same house as it had belonged to my late grandfather. He’d died suddenly years ago, and my mother said he always wanted me to have it.
I should’ve felt light after my divorce was finalized. But as I drifted off to sleep that night, I considered how my heart still hurt when I thought of Liam. I wished he had been the man he’d promised to be. But most of all, I wished he wanted to be a good father.
Danielle’s shrill scream ripped me from sleep hours later. My heart pounded as I bolted upright, every nerve screaming in alarm.
Woman in her late 30s bolting awake from bed looking scared | Source: Midjourney
“Mommy!” she shouted again, her voice high-pitched and terrified. I ran down the hall to her room faster than I thought possible.
I saw a shadowy figure rushing toward me when I got to her door. Before I could react, he shoved past me, slamming me into the frame. The impact sent a sharp pain through my shoulder, but I was more worried about Danielle.
I stumbled further into her room, flipping on the light.
She was sitting up in bed, trembling. “It was a man,” she stammered, her eyes wide. “He had a crowbar. I think… I think it was Daddy.”
A 12-year-old girl sitting on her bed, late at night, looking confused and scared | Source: Midjourney
I froze. “You’re sure?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm for her sake.
She nodded quickly. “I saw his face, Mom. It was him. But his eyes… they were scary.”
My stomach dropped. The thought of Liam breaking into our house and frightening our daughter like that made my blood boil. But I couldn’t focus on my anger just yet.
“Are you hurt?”
Woman in her late 30s looking scared and sweaty in a child’s bedroom | Source: Midjourney
“No,” she whispered, her voice trembling. Tears welled in her eyes. “But what’s going on? Why did he do that?”
I wrapped her in my arms, holding her tightly, desperately trying to shield her from the terror that clawed at my own throat. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re safe now. I’m here.” But was she really safe? Was I?
My mind raced as I tried to figure out what to do next.
When the sun rose, we discovered Danielle’s gold jewelry had disappeared. It was just a pair of earrings and a small necklace her godparents had given her when she was born, but it still hurt to think Liam had taken them.
A jewelry box overflowing with scattered pieces | Source: Pexels
The thought of Danielle enduring another such night filled me with dread. With a heavy heart, I called my mom, Helen, and asked if Danielle could stay with her for a while.
“Don’t worry, Gina,” Mom said over the phone. “She’ll be safe here. You focus on getting things sorted. I’ll pick her up soon.”
By that afternoon, Danielle was packed and getting into her grandmother’s car. I hated the vision of my daughter leaving her home, but it was for the best. I couldn’t risk Liam coming back while she was here.
A car driving away on a road | Source: Pexels
He’d pushed me… ME!
The anger and fear threatened to overwhelm me, but I couldn’t dwell on it. I needed to make this house safe again. I called a security company and had a top-of-the-line alarm system installed. It consisted of motion detectors and cameras that send notifications straight to my phone.
A security camera in a home | Source: Pexels
Thankfully, I could afford all of it now that Liam no longer had access to my finances.
I spent the entire day following the installers around, making sure everything was perfect. When they left, I tested the system three times to make sure it worked.
For the first week, nothing happened. I threw myself into work and chores, anything to keep my mind busy. But the fear never really went away.
Woman in her late 30s cleaning the kitchen while looking worried | Source: Midjourney
Danielle wouldn’t be coming home for at least a month. In hindsight, this had been a good decision because around ten days after she left for her grandma’s house, just after 2 a.m., my phone buzzed with an alert: “Motion detected – Front Door.”
I grabbed it and stared at the screen. The app showed movement inside the house and then in the garage. This meant the intruder came in and went through the kitchen to the laundry room, where we had a door leading to the garage.
I exited the security app and dialed 911, whispering to the dispatcher, “There’s someone in my house. Please send help.”
The dispatcher’s voice was calm and steady, but I barely heard it over the sound of my own heartbeat. “Stay on the line, ma’am. Officers are on their way.”
Police officer using the intercom in a patrol car | Source: Pexels
I should’ve stayed hidden, but I wanted to face him, so I crept down the stairs, my phone clutched tightly in one hand. The house was dark, but the light from the kitchen spilled faintly into the hallway.
I moved past the kitchen and walked into the laundry room. After a moment, I heard the sound of something being moved inside the garage.
Pushing the door open just enough to see inside, I spotted a figure in black trying to bring down the tool shelf on the wall. A crowbar glinted in his hand. What was he planning to do with that?
A man in black clothes and a mask inspecting the wall tool shelf of a garage | Source: Midjourney
I went deeper inside and called out, “Liam?”
The figure froze and turned toward me. It was definitely my ex. His face was partially obscured by a black mask, but I knew those eyes and that stance.
Instead of bolting like last time, he started walking toward me, the crowbar raised like a weapon.
On instinct, I rushed to the other wall, where we kept a button that opened the garage door. The loud rumble distracted my ex, and soon, the space was flooded with light from the street.
A home garage door opening at night | Source: Midjourney
At that exact moment, two police cars screeched into the driveway, their sirens piercing the night. Officers jumped out with their weapons drawn.
“Freeze!” one of them shouted.
Liam stopped in his tracks, dropping the crowbar with a loud clang. The cops moved in quickly, securing his hands behind his back. One of them pulled off his mask, and there he was, looking more pathetic than ever.
“What the hell were you thinking, Liam?” I asked, my voice shaking with anger.
He avoided my eyes. “Gina, it’s not what you think…”
Man in his early 40s looking down sadly while standing in a garage with police cars behind him | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, really?” I snapped. “Because it looks exactly like what I think. You broke into my house AGAIN! You already stole our daughter’s jewelry! What is wrong with you?”
“I’m so-sorry,” he stuttered as the officers hauled him roughly out to the driveway.
“Wait!” I demanded, focusing on my ex. “What were you looking for?”
He couldn’t meet my eyes as he confessed. “When I was packing, I saw a safe in the garage,” he mumbled. “I thought… maybe there was something valuable in there. I didn’t touch it back then…. But now, I just… needed a little something to get by.”
A wall safe in a garage at night | Source: Midjourney
A safe? I turned and there, on the wall where my grandfather’s tool shelf had already been, was a safe. I had no idea it existed at all.
“You’re unbelievable, Liam,” I turned back to stare at my ex as they put him in the squad car. “Absolutely unbelievable. Of course, you’re out of money already. Pathetic.”
I shook my head and watched as the cops took him away, leaving me standing in the garage.
The next morning, I called a locksmith to open the safe. If Liam thought there was something valuable in there, I wanted to see it for myself.
A man in uniform holding toolboxes while walking up a driveway | Source: Midjourney
When the locksmith cracked it open, I held my breath. There were no gold bars, no jewels, nothing flashy inside. Just a stack of neatly organized bank documents.
As I flipped through them, my jaw dropped. My grandfather had kept his entire fortune in several safety deposit boxes. And the access to all of them was registered to me.
My greedy ex had just handed me and my daughter the key to a fortune I never knew existed.
A hall of safety deposit boxes in a bank | Source: Pexels
Weeks later, I found myself in a courtroom, facing Liam. I had to testify against him to help the prosecution.
My ex-husband looked smaller than I’d ever seen him, sitting there in his orange jumpsuit, and I didn’t feel an ounce of pity.
When the judge handed down his sentence for attempted theft, breaking and entering, and the possession of a weapon, I leaned forward, drawing his attention.
“Thank you, Liam,” I said, my voice steady. “Because of your greed, I found out I’m rich. And you? Well… I hope you like prison food.”
Woman in her late 30s smirking while sitting on a bench in a courtroom | Source: Midjourney
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