I Went to Care for My Sick Boyfriend, but What I Found Changed Everything and Brought Someone Unexpected into My Life

I went to check on my boyfriend, worried he was too sick to even text me back. But what I found shattered my trust and sent my world spinning. Days later, the last person I ever expected showed up at my door, and together, we started something that changed my life forever.

One crisp autumn day, I sat alone in my small, cozy apartment, the sunlight streaming weakly through the windows.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The orange and red leaves outside seemed to mock my restlessness as I stared at my phone, waiting for my boyfriend, Jace, to finally show up.

He hadn’t visited in days, claiming he was just tired, but something about his excuses didn’t sit right with me.

I fiddled with the hem of my sweater, tapping my foot anxiously against the hardwood floor. Finally, I gave up and dialed his number. The phone rang a few times before he answered.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Hello?” Jace answered, his voice low and groggy, like he’d just woken up.

“Are you sleeping?” I asked, trying to hide the edge in my voice.

“Yeah,” he said, pausing for a second. “Sorry I didn’t text you. I just fell asleep. I’m not feeling great—might have a fever or something.”

“Oh…” I said softly, not sure what else to say.

He coughed hard into the phone, making me wince. “Look, I’ll text you later,” he muttered, his words rushed.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Feel bet—” I started, but the line went dead before I could finish.

Frustration bubbled up as I tapped my fingers on the table, my thoughts racing. If Jace was really sick, I couldn’t just sit there doing nothing. I’d take care of him, whether he liked it or not. That’s what girlfriends do, right?

Grabbing my coat, I headed out into the crisp autumn air, determined. The walk to the store was brisk, the kind that makes your cheeks tingle.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Inside, I picked up fresh fruit, tea, and a box of throat lozenges, imagining how grateful Jace would be when I showed up.

Back at his building, I pressed the elevator button, adjusting the heavy bag on my arm. Usually, I took the stairs, but not today.

The elevator hummed softly as it descended, and I distracted myself by humming along to a tune stuck in my head.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

When the doors slid open, my heart stopped. There he was—Jace—with his arms around a woman I didn’t recognize.

Her face pressed against his chest, and they were so close it made my stomach churn. This wasn’t just a hug. It was something more.

“Looks like you’re feeling better,” I said, my voice louder than I intended, cutting through the quiet hallway.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Jace’s head whipped toward me, his face draining of color. “Kate…” he stammered, his arms falling away from the woman. He stepped toward me, his hand reaching out like that would somehow fix things. “I can explain.”

His mouth opened, but I held up a hand to stop him. “Don’t. Just don’t. If you take one more step or say one more word, I swear I’ll make you regret it.” I hurled the bag of groceries at him, the fruit spilling across the floor.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Without waiting for his reaction, I turned and walked away, my heart pounding with anger and disgust.

He didn’t call after me, didn’t try to stop me, and for that, I was glad. He wasn’t worth it. Not anymore.

A few days had dragged by since I’d caught Jace in the elevator with another woman. He hadn’t bothered to call, text, or even send a pathetic apology.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Not even a simple “I’m sorry, I’m a jerk, and I don’t deserve you.” Was that too much to ask?

It gnawed at me, this unfinished business. I couldn’t move on, couldn’t let go, because it felt like he was still lurking in my life, like a shadow I couldn’t shake.

I decided I needed closure, even if it meant facing him. So, I texted him, my fingers trembling with anger. After a few minutes, he replied.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

@Jace:

Let’s meet tonight at 6 p.m., at our café.

Our café. The place where we had our first date. The nerve. Still, I agreed.

At 6 p.m., I sat in the corner booth, the one we always chose. The warm smell of coffee and pastries surrounded me, but it brought no comfort.

Every time the door opened, I glanced up, expecting to see him. But Jace didn’t show.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

By 7 p.m., I was tapping my foot under the table, staring at the cold tea I hadn’t touched. By 8 p.m., I was furious. Finally, my phone buzzed.

@Jace:

I can’t come. I can’t stand seeing you so sad like this.

I stared at the screen, stunned by his cowardice. What did that even mean? He couldn’t stand seeing me?

He was the one who had cheated, yet he was acting like the victim. My anger boiled over.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

When I finally got home, the fury still burned in my chest. I stomped up the stairs, muttering under my breath.

Then, as I turned the corner, I froze. Standing outside my apartment was her. The woman from the elevator. She looked nervous, like she’d been waiting for me.

“What the hell are you doing here?!” I shouted, my voice echoing in the hallway. I couldn’t believe she had the nerve to show up.

“I want to talk to you,” she said, her tone calm but uneasy. “I feel like I owe you… more than just a conversation.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I folded my arms tightly, glaring at her. “You’re a few hours late,” I snapped. “I don’t want anything to do with that jerk. You can have him.” Turning away, I fumbled with my keys, determined to shut this conversation down.

“That’s the thing—I don’t want him either,” she said, her voice firmer this time. It stopped me cold. “I finally realized what he’s really like, and I wanted to talk to someone who understands.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I hesitated, my hand still on the doorknob. This was absurd, completely insane. But a part of me was curious.

With a deep sigh, I turned back to her. “Fine. Come in,” I said, pushing the door open and stepping aside.

As she entered, I asked, “What’s your name, anyway?”

“Ashley,” she said softly, her eyes darting to the floor.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Kate,” I said, introducing myself reluctantly.

“I know,” she admitted, guilt written all over her face.

I walked to the kitchen, motioning for her to follow. “Come on,” I said. “I’d offer you tea, but I think this calls for something stronger.” I grabbed a bottle of wine from the counter and set it down.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Ashley sat at the table, folding her hands nervously. “You didn’t know about me,” she began. “But I knew you existed. Jace told me he had a girlfriend, but he said you were awful to him. He claimed you ignored him, flirted with other men, made him feel worthless.”

“What the—?! That’s exactly what he did to me!” I burst out, anger flaring.

Ashley nodded slowly. “I see that now, after what happened when you caught us. But back then, I believed him. I thought he was going to leave you and be with me.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Looks like the jerk fooled both of us,” I said bitterly, pouring the wine.

“That’s why I’m here. I don’t want him to get away with it,” she said, her voice steady.

“What are you suggesting?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

Ashley smiled, a sly, mischievous grin. “Revenge,” she said simply. “You know how much of a homophobe Jace is?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Her words made me pause, curiosity sparking despite my anger. And that was how it all began.

Ashley and I wasted no time setting our plan into motion. We created several profiles for Jace on popular dating sites, carefully crafting his “interests” and uploading photos we had saved from his social media.

We sent flirty messages to men who seemed eager to connect, pretending to be Jace himself.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I’m looking for someone special,” we wrote, ending with a winking emoji. We even set up meetups at his apartment, choosing times when we knew he’d be home.

The thought of him opening his door to confused strangers made us laugh until our sides hurt.

On another site, we posted his phone number with the tagline: “Night owl? Call me between 2 and 4 a.m. for some fun.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Though we couldn’t track the exact number of calls, the texts we received from Jace told us everything we needed to know. “Who are these people?” “Why won’t my phone stop ringing?” His desperation fueled us to keep going.

The billboard idea was the final touch. We found ad space in the busiest parts of town and designed a bright, eye-catching poster featuring Jace’s smiling face with the caption: “Looking for a man to support and cherish.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Seeing the first billboard go up was priceless. We high-fived in the car, imagining his face when he spotted it.

Our phones buzzed nonstop with texts and calls from Jace. “You have to stop this,” he wrote. “Please, I’m begging you!”

Eventually, we responded.

@Me:

We can stop, but there’s one condition.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

@Jace:

I’ll do anything. Just stop.

I sent him the amount—enough for a two-week vacation to Spain. When the transfer hit my account, I sent him one last text.

@Me:

Oops, we forgot the passwords to the accounts, and the billboards are prepaid for two months 🙂

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

After sending that final text to Jace, Ashley and I blocked his number. There was nothing more to say. The moment felt oddly triumphant, like closing the chapter of a bad book I’d been stuck reading for far too long.

We immediately turned our focus to planning the trip. A few days later, Ashley and I landed in Spain.

The sun was bright, the air warm, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore was the perfect soundtrack to our newfound freedom.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

We found a spot on the beach, stretched out on lounge chairs, and ordered cold sangria.

Ashley turned to me with a grin. “Best team effort ever,” she said, raising her glass of sangria. I smiled, knowing she was right.

I’d lost a terrible boyfriend but gained one hell of a friend. Revenge never tasted so sweet.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Tell us what you think about this story and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.

If you enjoyed this story, read this one: When a grouchy old man slams the door on a persistent teen, he thinks he’s rid of her for good. But when a hurricane traps them together, the storm outside reveals the truth about her shocking connection to his past.

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.

My Teenage Daughter Was Against My Marriage to a New Man, and It Tore Our Family Apart — Story of the Day

Falling in love at 47 was something I never saw coming, especially after the heartbreak of my first marriage. Now, as I prepare to marry John, my teenage daughter, Emilia, is struggling to accept him. Balancing my love for John and my bond with Emilia, I’m faced with difficult choices and unspoken fears.

I never could have imagined that at 47, I would fall in love again, or that I would ever want a relationship after my failed first marriage, which ended 12 years ago.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For a long time, I thought I was done with love. My ex-husband had been horrible to me. He constantly nagged, telling me I wasn’t doing enough around the house, even though I worked just as much as he did.

His words cut deep, especially when he made fun of me for gaining weight after my pregnancy. He didn’t care how hard I was trying or how much I juggled. I knew he was cheating, but I forgave him every time.

I told myself it was for the sake of our family, for our daughter. But when my then 4-year-old Emilia saw him with another woman, something broke inside me. That was the final straw. I couldn’t live like that anymore.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The only good thing from that marriage is Emilia. She’s my everything—the best thing that ever happened to me. We’ve always been close.

For so long, it was just her and me, like a team against the world. I never thought I needed anyone else until a year ago when John came into my life.

John was different. He made me feel loved and cared for in ways I hadn’t felt in years. He treated Emilia with kindness, like she was his own daughter. Watching the two of them together gave me hope. I started to believe that maybe, just maybe, John could be the father Emilia never had.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

But everything changed after he proposed. Suddenly, Emilia wasn’t the same. She argued with John, with me, and left the house every time he came over. I didn’t understand it, and it broke my heart.

One evening, I sat in the kitchen with John, staring down at my cup of tea. I sighed, feeling the weight of everything. “I don’t know what to do,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

John looked at me, concerned. “Maybe we should start meeting at my place instead?” he suggested.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I shook my head. “We’re getting married soon. What are we supposed to do, live apart then too?” I sighed again, feeling even more frustrated. “I don’t understand why she’s acting like this.”

John leaned back in his chair, thinking. “She’s jealous, Lucy. It’s been just you and her for so long. Now, you’ve got someone else in your life. Someone who’s taking up your time and love.”

“I guess,” I said. “But you two were fine before. She liked you.”

“That was different,” he replied calmly. “Back then, I was just your boyfriend. Now I’m going to be your husband and her stepfather. That’s a big change for her.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I nodded slowly. “You’re right. But I still don’t know what to do.”

John reached for my hand. “Talk to her,” he said softly.

I snorted, trying to hide my nerves. “Talk to a teenage girl? That’s like walking into a fire.”

John smiled. “No, talk to your daughter. She needs you.” I leaned my head on his shoulder, wishing I had the answers.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The next day, I knew I had to talk to Emilia. I stood outside her door for a moment before knocking. “Come in,” she said, sounding annoyed. I could almost hear her eyes rolling.

I stepped inside, feeling nervous, and sat down on the edge of her bed. She looked at me, waiting for me to speak. “I wanted to talk to you,” I said.

Emilia raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

“I know it’s probably hard for you, with John becoming part of our family,” I said, trying to meet her gaze.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

She shrugged. “It’s not hard. John’s fine.”

“Then why do you leave every time he comes over?” I asked, keeping my voice calm. “And why do you argue with him?”

“Just because,” she muttered.

I took a deep breath. “Look, just because I love John doesn’t mean I’ll love you any less. You’re my daughter, and—”

She cut me off, her voice rising. “I don’t believe that!” she shouted. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I have homework.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Her words stung, but I stood up slowly. “Alright. But if you ever want to talk, you can always come to me. It’s still you and me against the world, remember?”

Emilia didn’t respond. I looked at her for a moment, hoping for something, but she stayed silent. With a heavy heart, I left the room.

As the wedding day got closer, Emilia’s behavior only got worse. Every decision John and I made, she had a problem with. If we liked a caterer, she’d complain about the menu.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

It wasn’t until we chose the one she recommended that the complaints stopped. Picking out my wedding dress became a two-week ordeal, and she insisted on making my bouquet herself.

I thought it was her way of staying involved, but each time she demanded something to be changed, I could feel the tension growing. She had her own dress altered seven times, and John quietly paid for each adjustment.

It wasn’t just the wedding preparations that were exhausting—it was seeing how much pain she was in. I knew she was struggling, but I didn’t know how to help. Her anger felt like a wall between us, and every day, it seemed to grow taller.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Maybe we should cancel the wedding,” I said to John one evening, my voice soft.

John looked at me, surprised. “What? Did I do something wrong?” he asked, concerned.

“No, you’re perfect,” I reassured him. “I love you, and that hasn’t changed. It’s just Emilia…”

John nodded, understanding. “This is really hard for her,” he said, confirming what I had feared all along.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Yes,” I admitted, finally saying the words out loud. “I thought maybe if we just kept dating, she would come around. She might accept it better if we didn’t rush.”

John took a deep breath and said, “Lucy, I’ll support you no matter what. But this is your life, not Emilia’s. In two years, she’ll be in college, living her own life.”

“I know,” I replied, my chest tightening. “But it hurts to see her struggling like this.”

John reached for my hand. “You’re not alone in this. I’m here for both of you. We’ll figure it out together. I just want to make you both happy.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Then he paused as if considering something. “Actually, I’ve been thinking… I’d like to adopt Emilia. If she’s willing, of course. I already see her as my daughter.”

Tears filled my eyes as I threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly. Somewhere in the hallway, I heard a small noise, but I didn’t pay it much attention. Right now, I was focused on the love and support I had right in front of me.

The wedding day had finally come, and I felt both excited and nervous. I prayed to every god I could think of, hoping everything would go smoothly. But it seemed my prayers went unheard. Just minutes before the ceremony, my friend Kyra hurried into the room, looking worried.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Lucy, we have a problem,” she said, her voice tense. My heart sank instantly. “Emilia hasn’t shown up yet.”

“What do you mean, she hasn’t shown up?” I asked, feeling my chest tighten.

“I don’t know,” Kyra said. “She’s not answering her phone or replying to texts.”

Panic rushed through me. I didn’t even think before I bolted out of the room to find John. When I saw him, I blurted out, “Emilia’s gone. She’s disappeared.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

John stayed calm. “Go find her,” he said with a small smile.

“But the ceremony starts in twenty minutes,” I said, unsure.

“Go,” he repeated, his voice gentle. “This wedding won’t mean anything if Emilia isn’t there.”

I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tight. In that moment, I knew—once again—that I had chosen the right man.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I had a feeling I knew where Emilia might be. My heart raced as I drove to the old playground we used to visit when she was younger. Sure enough, when I arrived, I spotted her sitting on one of the swings, her head down, gently swaying back and forth. Relief washed over me.

“Hey,” I said as I approached her, trying to keep my voice steady.

Emilia looked up at me, her eyes red and filled with tears. “Mom? What are you doing here? Isn’t your wedding starting soon?”

I sat down on the swing next to her and shook my head. “The ceremony doesn’t matter without you,” I said.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

She wiped her eyes and asked, “How did John take it? Did he leave you?”

“No, he didn’t leave,” I assured her. “He’s the one who sent me to find you. He told me the same thing I just told you—the ceremony won’t mean anything if you’re not there.”

Emilia blinked, surprised. “Really? He said that?”

I nodded. “What’s going on, Emilia? Why are you trying to stop the wedding? I thought you liked John.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“It’s not that,” she muttered. “It’s… it’s just that it’s always been you and me. I thought it would always stay that way. What if he leaves us like Dad did? I couldn’t handle that again.”

Hearing her say that made my heart ache. “So that’s what this is about? You’re testing John?”

She sighed, her voice small. “Not on purpose… but maybe.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I reached over and took her hand. “Sweetheart, you don’t need to protect me. I’m the one who’s supposed to protect you. And trust me, John isn’t going anywhere. He loves both of us. He even told me he wants to adopt you.”

“I know,” she whispered. “I overheard you two talking about it. That’s why I’m not at the ceremony right now. What if I let him in, and then he just… leaves? I’m scared, Mom.”

I pulled her into my arms, holding her tight. “Oh, baby. I’m scared too. But love is about taking risks. We don’t know the future, but we choose love because it’s worth it.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

She rested her head on my shoulder. “I don’t know if I’m ready…”

“I get it,” I said softly. “But no matter what, you’ll always have me. No one, not even John, can change that. You and I? We’ve been a team from the start.”

Emilia let out a small laugh. “But now John’s part of the team too…”

I smiled and squeezed her hand. “It’s easier to fight with three of us, don’t you think?”