When my teenage daughter saved up all the money she could to buy a sewing machine, she didn’t know that her stepmother would destroy it out of sheer vengefulness. But when I heard the news, I enlisted the help of a close friend to get sweet revenge.
I never thought I’d have to go head-to-head with my ex-husband’s new wife after all the disrespect she’d shown to my daughter over the years, but when she took things too far, I knew I had to act. Let me back up a little.
A stressed out teenage girl | Source: Midjourney
I’m 46, and my daughter, Rachel, is 16. She’s smart, creative, and has big dreams of becoming a fashion designer. She usually lives with me but stays at her dad’s house every other weekend. Let’s just say those weekends aren’t her favorite.
Rachel’s dad, Mark, and I split up years ago. Our relationship now? Civil but distant. He’s always been the “hands-off” parent — more of a buddy than a father. He remarried soon after our divorce to a woman named Karen, and she lives up to the stereotype.
A mean-looking woman | Source: Midjourney
She’s cruel and runs their house like a boot camp, setting strict rules and expecting everyone to follow them without question. Rachel, being independent and headstrong, has always struggled with that.
Karen believes in discipline to an extreme, so my daughter isn’t allowed any spending money and has to work hard for everything. Sadly, Mark isn’t willing to support her financially. His reasoning? “I pay for her schooling and feed her when she’s here, right?”
An unbothered man | Source: Midjourney
So when Rachel told me she wanted to save up for her dream sewing machine, I was proud! My little (okay, not so little) go-getter managed to get a part-time job at a local fabric store, balancing school and work like a champ!
She worked so hard and diligently that I even offered to match her savings to help her get the machine faster! When she finally brought it home, her face lit up, and I knew it had been worth it. It was the first thing that truly felt like hers!
A happy girl with her sewing machine | Source: Midjourney
Enthralled with her new purchase, my daughter spent all her free time working. She really hoped to turn her hobby into a career. But Karen? She wasn’t having it.
“You spend too much time on that thing,” she’d furiously scold Rachel, ignoring how passionate she was about sewing. “It’s a distraction. You have responsibilities in this house.”
I could see the tension growing every time Rachel came home after a weekend there.
An unhappy girl | Source: Midjourney
One Friday, she called me in tears, devastated over something her stepmother had done. When she broke down telling me what had happened, I was livid.
“She threw it in the pool, Mom,” my daughter whispered, her voice shaking. “All because I didn’t wash the dishes fast enough. I tried explaining I’d do them right after, but she didn’t listen and felt I was arguing with her. She just picked it up and threw it outside as a way to punish me.”
I felt my blood boil. “Are you serious?!”
An angry woman on a call | Source: Midjourney
“I’ll be there in a bit, my baby. I’m sorry this happened,” I said, feeling like a kettle about to explode.
I quickly grabbed my car keys and drove over. I wasn’t supposed to take Rachel, as I’d just dropped her off earlier in the day, but I was determined to protect her.
When I arrived, Rachel met me at the front door, tears welling up again. “She said I needed to learn a lesson. Dad didn’t even stop her. He just… stood there.”
My heart broke as I comforted her and walked in to confront Karen.
A woman comforting her child | Source: Midjourney
What hurt the most was that Mark just stood by while Karen destroyed something our daughter had worked so hard for. When Karen saw me, she had that smug look she always wore.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, arms crossed.
I didn’t hesitate but kept my voice steady. “I’m here to get Rachel’s things. You had no right to destroy something she worked so hard for!”
Karen didn’t even flinch. “It was a distraction! She’s too focused on that sewing machine and not enough on her chores. Now that she’s learned her lesson, maybe next time, she’ll listen!”
A woman shouting | Source: Midjourney
Rachel stood behind me, fists clenched. I could see how much this had hurt her, and I wasn’t about to let it slide.
“Karen,” I said, stepping closer, “if YOU think you’re teaching responsibility by ruining something she loves, you’re mistaken. What you’re teaching is cruelty!”
Mark, who had been watching from the kitchen, finally spoke up. “Look, I think you’re overreacting. It’s just a machine, and Karen’s just trying to help our daughter stay on track.”
A man being dismissive | Source: Midjourney
I shot him a glare. “Mark, this is exactly why Rachel barely wants to come here! You let your wife do whatever she wants, and you don’t stand up for your daughter!”
He looked away, clearly uncomfortable, but I didn’t have time for his excuses. I turned back to Karen. “You’re going to regret this,” I said calmly.
“Go get your stuff, Rach. You’re sleeping over at my place,” I told my daughter, looking at my ex defiantly.
“I’ll bring her back if she wants to return,” I informed Mark and Karen, who both said nothing.
An upset woman leaving a house | Source: Midjourney
Furious about how things had gone down, I took my daughter home, and we watched comedies, ate popcorn, and snuggled under a blanket. I hoped this little reprieve would ease her, but I was determined to teach her stepmother a very important lesson.
The next day, I set my plan into motion. A friend of mine, Jason, was an actor, and he owed me a favor. He had an old police uniform from a past gig and knew exactly how to pull off a convincing performance.
A happy man dressed as a cop | Source: Midjourney
We devised a little scheme to give Karen a taste of her own medicine. My daughter’s stepmother worked from home and was practically glued to her laptop. That thing was her lifeline — meetings, reports — everything was on it.
I figured it was time for her to feel what it’s like to have something important taken away. The next day, I filled Rachel in on the plan and explained what part she’d play as we finalized things.
Of course, my feisty teenager was on board, ready to take Karen down and give her a taste of her own medicine! Let me just say that Karen’s screams were worth it.
A woman talking to her daughter | Source: Midjourney
On Sunday, we woke up early so I could drop Rachel off at Mark’s house and then pretend to leave. I parked my car out of sight and met up with Jason, who was fully dressed as a policeman.
Jason knocked on their door while I watched things play out from a safe distance.
Karen answered, and Jason launched into his rehearsed speech. “Ma’am, we have an order to confiscate your laptop due to an ongoing investigation.” He flashed some very convincing-looking documents.
A policeman holding a document | Source: Midjourney
Karen’s face drained of color. “What? No! This has to be a mistake!” she screamed in horror, thinking of all the important information she had on the machine.
“I’m afraid not,” Jason said, stepping inside. “I need you to hand it over now.”
I could hear her panicked voice from where I hid. “You can’t just take my laptop! I need it! Everything’s on there — my work, my personal files!”
Jason stayed in character, shaking his head. “Ma’am, I understand this is difficult, but it’s out of my hands.”
A serious policeman | Source: Midjourney
She was almost on her knees, begging Jason not to take what she described as “my life!” Sadly, Karen was one of those people who didn’t believe in saving things on the cloud, so she’d have no access to all the crucial information that helped her do her work.
At that moment, Rachel walked in from behind her through the kitchen with her phone in hand, filming everything. She looked Karen straight in the eye and said, “See? It’s unpleasant to part with something important to you.”
A girl recording with her phone | Source: Midjourney
Her stepmother’s mouth fell open as realization hit! She turned red, her eyes darting between Rachel and Jason. “Wait… is this some kind of joke?!”
I stepped inside then, smiling. “No joke. Just a lesson in empathy.”
Karen’s jaw clenched, and she stammered, “You can’t just—”
“Oh, but I can,” I said, crossing my arms. “Here’s the deal. You’re going to pay Rachel back for the sewing machine, and you’re going to apologize. If not, we’ll upload this video on social media, showing all your friends how you got in trouble with the law. You’ll be a pariah and might lose your company’s trust.”
A serious woman | Source: Midjourney
Karen looked around as if hoping someone would save her, but Mark had gone on a fishing trip the previous day, and she was at my mercy. She sighed heavily and muttered, “Fine.”
She stormed off to grab her checkbook, her face burning with humiliation. She scribbled down the amount and shoved the check into Rachel’s hand. “Sorry,” she muttered, avoiding eye contact.
An angry woman handing over a check | Source: Midjourney
My daughter looked at me, and I nodded. “We’re done here.”
We all left together, leaving Karen behind. I told the evil stepmother that my daughter was going to stay with me full-time for a while until she was ready to visit them again.
Rachel let out a laugh the moment we got in the car. “Mom, that was amazing!”
“Sweetheart,” I said, squeezing her hand, “nobody messes with my daughter and gets away with it!”
A happy woman | Source: Midjourney
Since then, Rachel hasn’t spent a single weekend at her dad’s house unless she wants to. They meet on neutral ground now, usually at a coffee shop or the park. As for Karen? She’s been on her best behavior, though I doubt she’ll ever forget that day.
My daughter used the money to buy a brand-new sewing machine, and this time, she’s keeping it right where it belongs — at home, with me.
A happy girl with her sewing machine | Source: Midjourney
My Greedy Father-in-Law Put a Hair in an Expensive Dish to Get It for Free—but Karma Got Him Immediately
Frank had always prided himself on his sneaky tactics to get freebies, but his luck ran out at a high-end restaurant. What began as a simple meal turned into a public spectacle when karma finally caught up with him, teaching him a lesson he never saw coming.
My father-in-law, Frank, has always been one of those people who never miss an opportunity to scam others for their own benefit.
I’ve witnessed him do that multiple times, but I never thought I’d see the day when his tricks would backfire so spectacularly, leaving him red-faced and scrambling for an exit.
A close-up shot of an older man in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
I’ve known Frank for about nine years now. I first met him when Ethan and I started dating, and Ethan introduced us over dinner at a restaurant. That was the first time I saw Frank trying to scam a restaurant.
The waiters served our food, and we began eating. I ordered pasta, Ethan got a sandwich, and Frank ordered a bowl of rice with sesame chicken.
A bowl of sesame chicken with rice | Source: Pexels
“The chicken is so delicious!” Frank said, enjoying his meal.
“Yeah, even this sandwich tastes great,” Ethan added.
I thought Frank was just appreciating the restaurant’s food and service. But no. Frank had something else in mind, and what he did next caught me completely off guard.
“Let me show you how to get more of the same meal for free!” he said before calling a waiter over to our table.
An older man in a restaurant, smiling | Source: Midjourney
“How can I help you, sir?” the waiter asked politely.
“This chicken tastes awful!” Frank said angrily, shaking his head in disapproval. “I can’t believe you’re serving such tasteless meals. The flavor is bland, and it’s not even properly cooked.”
“I’m so sorry, sir,” the waiter apologized. “I’ll get a replacement right away.”
“Hurry up!” Frank snapped. “I don’t have time to waste here. You better return with something that’s properly cooked!”
A waiter in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
The waiter looked panicked, apologizing as if he was at fault. He took away the half-eaten meal that Frank pretended to dislike, promising to return in five minutes.
Once the waiter left, Frank flashed us an evil smile like he had pulled off something impressive.
At that point, I wanted to ask Frank why he lied to get another meal for free. It wasn’t like he didn’t have money, or he was dying of hunger.
A woman looking straight ahead while having dinner with her family | Source: Midjourney
What he did was so cheap, but I believed I was not in a position to make him realize how wrong he was.
Later that night, I asked Ethan why his father did that.
“He’s always been like this,” Ethan sighed. “He thinks it’s funny and he never listens when we tell him it’s wrong. We’ve tried a million times, trust me.”
“But didn’t you see how hurt that waiter was? He really thought your dad didn’t like the food,” I protested. “This is so wrong, Ethan. So unfair.”
A woman talking to her boyfriend | Source: Midjourney
Ethan told me to let it go, and since we were just starting our relationship, I figured it wasn’t worth arguing over.
I could’ve pressed Ethan to understand how wrong Frank’s actions were, but I didn’t want something so minor to strain our relationship.
However, looking back, I wish I had told Ethan to put an end to his dad’s habit.
An older man in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
The following year, Ethan and I tied the knot, and since then, I’ve been a witness to how cheap Frank is. I’ve watched in horror as he pulled stunts to get free food, free services in hotels, and free ANYTHING, ANYWHERE!
A man shaking hands with a woman at work | Source: Pexels
During the first year of our marriage, I tried explaining to Ethan how wrong his father’s behavior was, but it led to a big argument. Ethan kept saying he had no control over Frank, while I insisted he at least talk to his dad about it.
That night, I decided to stop meddling in Frank’s business because it was useless. Little did I know, karma was about to step in and teach Frank a lesson he’d never forget.
It all started when Frank called Ethan last weekend.
A man talking to his father on the phone | Source: Pexels
“There’s a new restaurant near my workplace,” he said. “I was wondering if you and Bella could join me. I’ve heard the food’s quite expensive so I just wanna see if it’s worth the money.”
“Sure, Dad,” Ethan replied. “We’ll be there.”
Two days later, we found ourselves in the restaurant with Frank. It was one of those fancy places where the plates are tiny, the prices are outrageous, and you need a reservation just to get in.
A fancy restaurant | Source: Pexels
“This place looks nice,” I said as I skimmed through the menu. “But wow, it’s pricey.”
“Yeah, it’s super expensive,” Ethan said. “I think I’ll stick with a simple pasta.”
“Me too,” I agreed. “White sauce pasta for me. What about you, Frank?”
Frank was busy scanning the menu, his finger trailing down to the most expensive item.
“I’ll have the lobster,” he grinned.
“A lobster? Really Dad?” Ethan asked. “You’ve never ordered one before.”
A man sitting in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
“I know you’d say this,” Frank replied. “But it’s nice to try new things, isn’t it?”
“You’re right, Dad,” Ethan said before calling the waiter.
We placed our orders, but I could tell Frank was gearing up for another one of his stunts.
Soon, our food arrived, and we began eating. However, halfway through the dinner, I noticed Frank staring at his lobster. I couldn’t understand what was happening until he plucked a hair from my head and placed it on his dish.
Yep, Frank had the nerve to do that. I was too stunned to say a word.
An angry woman in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
Then he called the waiter over, feigning disgust.
“There’s a hair in my food,” Frank exclaimed, pushing his seat away from the table as if the hair would fly over to him. “This is unacceptable! I shouldn’t have to pay for this filth!”
What the heck? I thought. How can he even think of doing that?
I was mortified, while Ethan looked like he was about to explode with anger.
“I’m so sorry, sir,” the waiter said. “I’ll let the manager know.”
That’s when karma made its move.
A waiter in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
The manager approached our table a few seconds later.
“We’re so sorry for the inconvenience, sir,” he apologized.
I think he was about to offer a complimentary meal when another waiter came over to our table and whispered something in the manager’s ear.
That’s when the manager’s expression changed from apologetic to stone-cold serious. He took a deep breath and said, “Sir, I need to ask you to leave.”
“What? Why should I leave?” Frank protested. “I found hair in my food and you’re kicking me out? Is this how you treat your customers?”
An angry older man | Source: Midjourney
“Sir, I’m asking you to leave because we believe you put the hair in the dish yourself,” the manager said calmly.
I can never forget the look on Frank’s face. Shocked, horrified, and caught off guard, he still tried to argue.
“How dare you accuse me of that!” he yelled at the manager. “I’ll have your job for this!”
By now, the whole restaurant was watching.
People in a restaurant | Source: Pexels
“Sir,” the manager began, “one of our staff members recognized you from another restaurant where you pulled the same stunt. We take food safety seriously here and won’t tolerate attempts to defame our business. Please leave, or we will involve the authorities.”
At that point, people around us started whispering among themselves, and some of them were even laughing. Meanwhile, Ethan and I looked at each other, wishing we hadn’t agreed to this dinner.
But it didn’t end there.
A man sitting with his wife in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
Frank was at a loss for words and knew he couldn’t do anything to prove the manager wrong. So, he stood up and picked up his coat, preparing to leave.
“And one more thing, sir,” the manager said. “We’re sharing your photo and details with several other high-end restaurants in the area. You’ll no longer be welcome at any of them.”
Frank’s face turned pale as he realized what the manager just said.
An older man in a restaurant, looking shocked | Source: Midjourney
What bothered him more was that the entire restaurant heard him and many of them were laughing at him. At that point, he understood he could no longer pull his cheap stunts to claim free food.
Karma had defeated him.
Frank stormed out of the restaurant without saying another word, while Ethan and I sat there in silence. Once the shock wore off, I couldn’t help but laugh at what just happened.
A woman laughing | Source: Midjourney
“I never thought I’d see the day!” I said, still laughing. “Frank finally got a taste of his own medicine, and it wasn’t free.”
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. “Maybe he’ll finally realize that cheating his way through life always has a cost.”
That night, I finally understood how karma works. I couldn’t help but think that sometimes, karma is just waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And that moment might be right when you’re about to dig into an overpriced lobster.
Do you agree?
A lobster served in a dish | Source: Pexels
If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: My wedding day took a bizarre turn when our videographer pulled me aside with shocking footage. What I saw next would test my new marriage, expose a family’s dark secrets, and leave me questioning everything I thought I knew about love and trust.
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
Leave a Reply