Quando meu marido me disse que tinha uma festa de trabalho para ir, eu nunca suspeitei de nada descabido até receber uma ligação que me fez parar no meio do caminho! O que ouvi na outra linha me fez pegar as chaves do meu carro para confrontá-lo e arrumar as coisas dele no dia seguinte!
Você pensaria que depois de dez anos de casamento, eu conheceria meu marido, Brian, de cabo a rabo. Mas semana passada, aprendi que mesmo uma década juntos não pode proteger você da traição — ou da satisfação de ver o karma dar um soco perfeito!
Uma mulher de aparência séria | Fonte: Midjourney
Começou inocentemente. Numa quinta-feira à noite, Brian entrou pela porta cantarolando uma música, com uma rara elasticidade em seus passos. “Grandes notícias!”, ele anunciou. “A empresa vai dar uma festa de trabalho amanhã à noite, uma coisa de união da equipe. Estritamente funcionários.”
Ele beijou minha testa e deixou cair sua pasta no chão.
“Vai ser chato, então não se preocupe em vir. Só conversa sobre números e conversa fiada.”
Eu levantei uma sobrancelha.
Uma mulher suspeita | Fonte: Midjourney
Brian não era exatamente o tipo de pessoa que gosta de festas. Sua ideia de diversão era assistir golfe na TV, mas eu dei de ombros.
“Por mim, tudo bem”, eu disse, minha mente já pensando nas tarefas do dia seguinte.
Na manhã seguinte, Brian estava mais doce do que o normal. Doce demais, para ser honesta. Enquanto eu preparava o café da manhã, ele veio por trás de mim, envolveu meus braços em volta da cintura e murmurou: “Você sabe que é incrível, certo?”
“O que é tudo isso?”, perguntei com uma risada. “Tentando ganhar pontos de brownie?”
“Talvez.” Ele me entregou sua camisa branca favorita, aquela com o botão irritante que sempre se soltava.
Um homem feliz segurando uma camisa | Fonte: Midjourney
“Você pode passar isso para mim? E, oh, enquanto eu estiver fora, você pode fazer lasanha? Aquela com queijo extra? Você sabe o quanto eu amo isso.”
“Mais alguma coisa, Alteza?” provoquei.
“Na verdade, sim.” Ele piscou enquanto parecia presunçoso. “Você poderia limpar e arrumar os banheiros? Você sabe que eu gosto do lugar impecável. E não faria mal deixá-los impecáveis só por precaução… convidados, sabe?”
Revirei os olhos, mas ri junto. Meu marido tinha suas peculiaridades, e, apesar de todos os seus pequenos pedidos de diva, eu achava que ele era inofensivo. Se eu soubesse…
Uma mulher rindo | Fonte: Midjourney
Naquele dia, me joguei nas minhas tarefas. O aspirador zumbiu, a máquina de lavar girou e o cheiro de lasanha assando encheu a casa. Minha playlist de limpeza me fez companhia e, por um tempo, a vida pareceu… normal.
Eu estava tão envolvido no meu trabalho que nem percebi que o dia havia passado até meu telefone tocar.
O número era desconhecido, e por uma fração de segundo, brinquei em ignorá-lo, não querendo ser incomodado. Mas atendi mesmo assim. “Alô?”
No começo, tudo que eu conseguia ouvir era música, barulho e risadas abafadas. Franzi a testa, pensando que poderia ser uma brincadeira. Mas então ouvi a voz de Brian. Clara como o dia…
Uma mulher franzindo a testa enquanto fala ao telefone | Fonte: Midjourney
“Minha esposa?”, ele disse, seu tom pingando sarcasmo. “Ela provavelmente está cozinhando e esfregando banheiros ou algo assim. Ela é tão previsível! Enquanto isso, eu estou aqui com você, meu amor.”
Então ouvi uma mulher rindo e meu estômago embrulhou.
Eu congelei, o telefone pressionado no meu ouvido enquanto meu mundo se inclinava em seu eixo. Então, a linha caiu. Um segundo depois, uma mensagem de texto chegou com um único endereço. Nenhuma palavra, apenas um local. O endereço não era familiar, mas algo bem no fundo de mim sabia. Esta não era uma festa de trabalho. Isto não era inofensivo.
Uma mulher chateada olhando para o telefone | Fonte: Midjourney
Meu pulso batia forte enquanto eu olhava para a tela. Tive um momento de questionamento de coisas como isso era real? Brian, meu Brian, poderia realmente ser tão cruel?
Eu não chorei. Ainda não. Em vez disso, vesti um casaco, peguei minhas chaves furiosamente e dirigi direto para o endereço sem pensar duas vezes. A lasanha, que desliguei, podia esperar. Se Brian achava que eu ficaria em casa como uma idiota sem noção, ele tinha outra coisa a fazer!
Eu sabia que tudo isso poderia ser uma brincadeira ou algo inocente, mas não podia arriscar não saber se meu marido estava realmente me traindo. Então eu tive que ir ver por mim mesma. O GPS me levou a um Airbnb elegante do outro lado da cidade.
Uma mulher furiosa dirigindo | Fonte: Midjourney
O lugar gritava “luxo”, com sua entrada grandiosa, janelas brilhantes e paisagismo imaculado. Uma coleção de carros luxuosos estava estacionada na entrada da garagem e, lá dentro, eu podia ver uma multidão de pessoas rindo e bebendo.
Meu estômago revirou enquanto eu examinava os rostos. Ou Brian estava prestes a ter a surpresa da sua vida, ou talvez eu estivesse. Veríamos em um minuto. Enquanto eu caminhava até a porta, um porteiro bloqueou meu caminho, perguntando: “Posso ajudar, senhora?”
Um porteiro suspeito | Fonte: Midjourney
Sorrindo falsamente, respondi: “Oi, sim, só vim deixar uma coisa para meu marido rapidamente”, eu disse, gesticulando para a escova de vaso sanitário e o limpador no balde que eu segurava. Confuso, o porteiro olhou para mim e depois para meu balde.
“Olha, ele é o cara alto de camiseta branca”, expliquei.
O porteiro não pareceu convencido, mas imaginou que eu não era prejudicial, então ele se afastou para me deixar entrar. Todos se viraram e olharam para mim, parecendo todo desgrenhado de limpar e cozinhar, com um balde na mão.
E então eu o vi…
Uma mulher chocada | Fonte: Midjourney
Meu marido estava no meio da sala, seu braço casualmente enrolado em volta de uma jovem mulher em um vestido vermelho apertado. Ele parecia mais vivo do que eu o via há anos, rindo e bebendo champanhe como se não tivesse nenhuma preocupação no mundo!
Cada parte de mim queria correr até ele e me soltar, mas outra parte sussurrou: “Seja inteligente. Não reaja apenas. Faça valer a pena.” Brian me viu quase instantaneamente. Seu rosto ficou sem cor, e ele deu um passo para trás, quase derramando sua bebida!
Um homem chocado abraçando uma mulher | Fonte: Midjourney
“Emily?” ele gaguejou, afastando-se da mulher ao seu lado. “O que… o que você está fazendo aqui?”
“Oi, querida”, eu disse, minha voz alta o suficiente para que a sala ouvisse. “Você deixou algo em casa.”
Brian piscou, confuso. Coloquei a mão no balde e tirei luvas de borracha, uma escova de vaso sanitário e um frasco de limpador de vaso sanitário que eu tinha trazido comigo.
“Já que você gosta de falar sobre minhas habilidades de limpeza, imaginei que você poderia precisar delas para limpar essa bagunça que você fez no nosso casamento.”
Suspiros percorreram a multidão. A mulher de vermelho deu um passo para longe de Brian, parecendo mortificada. Mas eu não tinha terminado.
Uma mulher chocada | Fonte: Midjourney
“Sabe”, eu disse, virando-me para a sala, “Brian adora bancar o marido amoroso em casa. Mas, como você pode ver, ele está mais interessado em brincar de casinha com quem quer que alimente seu ego.”
“Emily”, Brian disse, sua voz baixa e desesperada. “Podemos ir lá fora e conversar?”
“Oh, não”, eu disse bruscamente. “Você não se importou com privacidade quando estava zombando de mim pelas costas. Por que começar agora?”
Uma mulher furiosa | Fonte: Midjourney
Virei-me para a multidão, dirigindo-me a eles como se fossem espectadores de um teatro.
“Aproveitem a festa, pessoal. Só lembrem-se: se ele te trair, ele te trairá!”
E com isso, eu larguei o balde perto dos pés dele e saí, meus saltos estalando contra o chão de mármore. Mas quando cheguei ao meu carro, meu telefone tocou novamente. O mesmo número desconhecido.
Uma mulher olhando para o seu telefone | Fonte: Midjourney
“Você merece saber a verdade”, dizia a mensagem. “Sinto muito que tenha sido assim.”
Minhas mãos tremiam enquanto eu ligava para o número. Percebi que nunca me preocupei em descobrir quem tinha me dado a dica e por quê. Era uma mulher com quem Brian traiu que agora se sentia rancorosa? Ou talvez alguém que o queria para si?
Caramba! Pelo que eu sabia, poderia ter sido a mulher com quem Brian estava, tentando atrapalhar as coisas para que ela pudesse ficar com ele para si.
O telefone não tocou muito antes de uma mulher atender. “Alô?”
Uma mulher em uma chamada | Fonte: Midjourney
“Quem é?”, perguntei.
“Meu nome é Valerie”, ela disse depois de uma pausa. “Eu… costumava trabalhar com Brian.”
“Por que você está fazendo isso?”
“Porque alguém tinha que fazer isso”, ela disse, sua voz tingida de frustração. “Eu o vi mentindo e trapaceando por meses. Se gabando de você, rindo sobre como é ‘fácil’ enganar você. Isso me deixou doente.”
Engoli em seco. “Como você conseguiu meu número?”
Uma mulher em uma chamada | Fonte: Midjourney
“Saí da empresa há um mês em busca de pastos mais verdes depois de trabalhar para garantir o local para a festa do escritório”, ela admitiu. “Mas antes de sair, vi que tipo de homem ele é. Encontrei seu número no banco de dados de contatos de emergência. Sei que estava errado, mas você precisava saber. Meu marido, Ted, era do mesmo jeito. Deixei-o há dois anos e jurei nunca ficar parada e ver a mesma coisa acontecer com outra mulher.”
Suas palavras me atingiram como um trem de carga.
Uma mulher chocada em uma ligação | Fonte: Midjourney
“Consegui que outra colega fosse à festa e acompanhasse Brian, no momento oportuno, ela ligou para você e deixou que você o ouvisse repreendendo você antes de me devolver meu telefone. Fiquei escondida do lado de fora do local no meu carro, esperando você chegar e confrontá-lo de uma vez por todas. Você merecia a verdade, Emily.”
Eu deveria ter ficado com raiva, deveria ter me sentido violado, mas tudo o que senti foi gratidão.
“Obrigada”, sussurrei antes de desligar. Eu estava pronta para ir para casa e lamber minhas feridas e senti que não fazia sentido conhecer Valerie. Ela tinha feito a parte dela, e agora era hora de eu fazer a minha.
Uma mulher furiosa em seu carro | Fonte: Midjourney
Na manhã seguinte, acordei com uma clareza que não sentia há anos! Os pertences de Brian estavam embalados e esperando do lado de fora da porta. Quando ele chegou em casa ontem à noite, sua chave não cabia na fechadura porque coloquei uma tampa de fechadura que tínhamos em casa.
Não sei e não me importa onde ele dormiu ontem à noite. Seu telefone vibrou com uma única mensagem minha naquela manhã: “Aproveite.”
Um homem chocado após olhar para seu telefone | Fonte: Midjourney
E pela primeira vez em muito tempo, eu sorri. Não por vingança, mas porque finalmente retomei o controle da minha vida. O divórcio era a próxima coisa na minha lista de afazeres naquele dia, e eu mal podia esperar para levá-lo para tudo o que ele vale!
Uma mulher feliz sentada em casa | Fonte: Midjourney
Se essa história era do seu agrado, então você pode gostar da próxima sobre uma esposa que suspeitou que o marido a estava traindo quando ele de repente insistiu em dormir no carro. Uma noite, ela o seguiu e descobriu algo mais perturbador do que apenas traição…
Este trabalho é inspirado em eventos e pessoas reais, mas foi ficcionalizado para fins criativos. Nomes, personagens e detalhes foram alterados para proteger a privacidade e melhorar a narrativa. Qualquer semelhança com pessoas reais, vivas ou mortas, ou eventos reais é mera coincidência e não intencional do autor.
O autor e a editora não fazem nenhuma reivindicação quanto à precisão dos eventos ou à representação dos personagens e não são responsáveis por nenhuma interpretação errônea. Esta história é fornecida “como está”, e quaisquer opiniões expressas são as dos personagens e não refletem as opiniões do autor ou da editora.
3 Real-Life Stories of People Who Found Photos from the past They Shouldn’t Have Seen
What if a single snapshot from the past held the power to dismantle your present? These accounts reveal the hidden secrets and connections lurking in forgotten photographs and prove that it’s not always easy to uncover the truth.
A businessman and a teenager are confronted with an image from the past that changes the course of their lives, while a child is traumatized by the painting behind his grandparents’ old picture. Let’s discover what happened to each of them in these three shocking stories.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Millionaire Demolishes Old Man’s House, Unexpectedly Sees His Childhood Photo among Ruins
I’m Elliot, and I used to think success was all about money. As a real estate developer, I thrived on transforming landscapes and turning empty lots into expensive buildings.
My latest project, a deluxe shopping mall, was going to be my masterpiece. But there was a problem: an old house smack in the middle of my prime location.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
The owner, Joe, was an elderly man who stubbornly refused to sell. I tried everything to reason with him. I offered him a more than generous amount for the land, and when that didn’t work, I used a bit of intimation. After all, I had connections with the major.
“Please stop,” he begged, his voice cracking, “this house is all I have left. It’s my only treasured memory. Don’t make me homeless. I have nowhere to go.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
His words hit deep, but I had deadlines, investors breathing down my neck, and a reputation to maintain. Sentimentality couldn’t play a part here.
The major eventually approved the rezoning of the land, so Joe would have to go, regardless of whether he accepted my money or not.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Look here, old man. I’m bringing this thing down in two weeks. All you’ve got to do is pack your stuff,” I said when I visited again, but I left quickly, refusing to hear another word from this man.
As expected, I got what I wanted. Demolition day was a spectacle. The roar of machinery, crashing bricks, and dust clouding the air were signs of my victory.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
“Getting rid of that old thorn was so easy!” I thought as I walked through the debris. Then I saw it.
A broken picture frame with a faded photo. It was a young woman holding a baby. More specifically, it was my mother and me.
“WHAT IS IT DOING HERE?!” I gasped, grabbing it with trembling hands.
What was our old picture doing in this old man’s house? Then, a vague memory came. While raising me alone, she had sometimes spoken of a kind stranger who helped her during her darkest hours.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
She never forgot that man, even through the sickness that took her life, but apparently, I did. Could this be him? The man whose life I’d just destroyed? Why didn’t I remember him?
Guilt and fear ran through my mind. So, I called some people, pulled several strings, and discovered that Joe had relocated to a nursing home after I forced him out of his property.
“What are you doing here??” he rasped when he saw me, his eyes filled with pain. “Did you come here to gloat?”
I knelt beside him, shaking my head. “No, Joe, I found this…” I held the picture up.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
His expression softened. “Samantha,” he sighed, a wistful smile gracing his lips. “She was like a daughter to me.”
Then, he told me how he’d found my mother, abandoned and destitute in the rain, with me in her arms. He gave her shelter and helped her rebuild her life. She and I lived in the house I’d just destroyed for five years.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
This meant that Joe and his old home were the reason I was standing there, successful and wealthy.
What’s more, I’d repaid his past kindness with cruelty. Shame burned through me.
But I had a chance to make things right.
The next day, I halted the mall project. After, I reworked things with lawyers, the major, and the investors. It took a lot of convincing, but it was for the best in the end.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Soon, I had Joe’s house rebuilt, brick by brick, more beautiful than before. Then I presented it to him while begging his forgiveness.
“I forgive you, Elliot,” he said, his eyes filled with compassion. “You saw your errors and started to make amends. Your mother would be proud.”
Afterward, I became a frequent visitor at Joe’s house, and as I learned from his wisdom, I changed my ways.
Aside from lucrative pursuits, which I made sure never displaced honest people from their homes, I also worked with non-profit organizations. Together, we rebuilt and renovated homes within the community.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
This was how I learned that success was more than just projects and numbers in my bank account. It was also about the impact you left on the world.
Girl’s Entire Life Turns Upside Down When She Discovers Who Her Real Mother Is
My mom was always seriously strict. So, when my BFF Stacy invited me to her party, I knew I had to devise a plan. I mean, I was almost 16! All my friends went to parties.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
So, I tried reasoning with her. I reminded her about my awesome grades, how I helped around the house, and how I was basically the perfect daughter. But she wasn’t buying it.
“No,” she said before I even finished asking.
My dad, as usual, was no help. He always sided with her. Frustrated, I blurted out, “If Meredith were here, she would support me!” Meredith was my older sister, and my rock.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
But Mom simply told me to go to my room and have my tantrum there.
I was so mad I slammed the door. But once inside, I knew one thing: I wasn’t giving up. I was going to that party!
Later that night, after my parents went to bed, I snuck out through the garage. I’d done it a million times before. But this time, I bumped into a shelf and knocked some stuff over.
As I was picking things up, panicking, an unfamiliar photo caught my eye. It was Meredith, but she looked about my age…and she was pregnant!
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
My mind raced. Where was this child? My niece or nephew? Then it hit me. Could she be my…? No, that wasn’t possible.
Shaking my head, I shoved the photo in my pocket. I had to get to Stacy’s! This could wait.
The party was awesome! Everyone was dancing and having fun. But then, someone yelled, “COPS!”
It was total chaos. In the confusion, I ran straight into a police officer on my way out. To make matters worse, he took a whiff of my breath and put me in the back of a squad car.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
At the police station, I called Meredith. I couldn’t call my parents; they’d kill me! Meredith was super annoyed about having to drive to the station and pick me up, but she still came.
Once I saw her, I was reminded of the photo in my pocket. So, in the car, I showed it to her.
“Oh boy,” she said, her eyes wide.
“Why are you pregnant in this photo? And where is the baby?” I asked, tilting my head.
Meredith sighed. “We need to talk, but Mom and Dad should be there for this.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Just tell me!” I begged, but she shook her head and kept driving.
We pulled into Mom and Dad’s driveway, and I saw they were already awake. They must have noticed I wasn’t in my room, or perhaps Meredith had called them before picking me up.
Anyway, she rushed out and said, “It’s time for her to know.”
“Know what?” Dad asked.
“That I’m her mother,” Meredith responded.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“What do you mean you’re my mother?!” I screamed, even though I’d suspected it earlier.
No one even looked at me. Instead, everyone started yelling. My mom was furious at Meredith for telling me.
Meanwhile, I was furious at all of them for lying to me my whole life, so I started yelling too. At one point, I couldn’t take it anymore, so I ran.
I ended up at the river near my house. It was my childhood escape. That day, I cried and cried until Meredith found me.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” I asked, between sobs.
She explained that she was only 15 when she had me, and my mom wanted to keep it a secret, so she could have a good future.
Meredith had always wanted to tell me but was afraid that Mom and Dad wouldn’t support her.
Older couple | Source: Pexels
After hearing her story and her pain, I realized that was still angry, but I understood her side. I even understood then why Mom – well my grandmother – had always been so strict.
“Can you forgive me?” she asked. “I’ll try to stop being your sister and start being your mom.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I nodded. “So, should I start calling you Mom?” I asked, managing a small smile to lighten the mood.
“Only if you call Mom Grandma. She’ll be furious,” Meredith joked.
We laughed, and some of the tension finally eased. We had a long road ahead of us, but at least we had each other.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
A Boy Screams Every Time He Sees Old Family Photo until Mom Looks at It Closer
It’s been a year since my son Adam’s kidnapping, and while we got him back, it feels like a part of him is still missing. He barely speaks, his smiles are fleeting, and those big, expressive eyes are often filled with a terror I can’t understand.
One dinner with my husband, Jake, his big brother, Steve, and his wife, Gina, became another painful reminder of how different things were.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
We were looking at old photos when I called out to Adam, “Look, these are your grandparents!” I lifted the photo, so he could see it better.
But his reaction was completely unexpected. He burst into tears and covered his eyes. It was a simple picture of his young grandparents enjoying dinner, but it triggered him to a point I couldn’t understand.
Still, I comforted him and sent him to his room. Later, Gina found me in the kitchen with tears still slipping down my cheeks as I scrubbed dishes.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“No progress?” she asked gently.
I shook my head. “The doctor says the trauma was severe. We’ve tried therapists, but he just shuts down.”
I remembered the awful day he was taken: the ransom call and our race to get the money. Sometime after we’d delivered the money, the police found Adam abandoned by the side of the road.
Yet, the kidnappers were never caught.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“I can understand the trauma, but it’s always that photo,” I confessed to Gina. “I’ve been trying to show it to him sporadically to see if he’s getting better or if he tells us the issue. Like exposure therapy. But every time he sees it, he freaks out.”
Gina didn’t have to say, but she could sympathize.
When she and Steve left, Jake and I went to Adam’s room. He still refused to speak, and just as I was losing hope, my husband had an idea.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
He sat down next to our son and told him that all parents are superheroes. We would never let anything or anyone hurt him again. After all, we saved him before.
Adam nodded, and Jake told me to get the photo. Our son started crying, but with gentle coaxing and assurances, we finally got him to look at the image.
We begged him to tell us what was wrong. To our surprise, his trembling finger lifted, and he pointed to the painting hanging on the wall behind his grandparents in that old photograph.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
It depicted a farm.
His face twisted again, but we told him he had done a fantastic job. Then, I had an idea. I grabbed one of his storybooks and said, “How about you use the words and letters in here to tell Daddy and Mommy what you’re scared of?”
Surprisingly, it worked. Adam began picking out letters with interest. First, he stopped on a page and pointed to the letter “I.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Good job, champ! Keep going!” Jake encouraged, and Adam pointed to the word “here.”
Then, his finger went back to the painting hanging behind his grandparents in the photo. He looked up at both of us, terrified again.
I realized with horror what he was trying to say. It was probably my maternal intuition. What if he’d been held captive in the place depicted in that painting?
Just in case, I asked, and he nodded, before bursting into tears.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Jake and I stared at each other and knew what we had to do immediately. But the next day, when the police proved completely inept, we took matters into our own hands.
Based on the painting, which featured a lake, we had a fairly good idea of where it might be, so we drove there. It took us a while to find the right property, as other farms had been built, but we finally did.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Except, this place was now abandoned. There was a dilapidated barn behind the main house, and something in my gut told me to go inside. Dust and the smell of decay hit my nose as we walked in, but I kept going.
Finally, I saw a cap on the floor. It was Adam’s cap, the one he was wearing the day of his kidnapping. So, Jake called the police. They had to listen now. While we waited, he started searching the barn for any other clues.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Unexpectedly, he found another painting hidden behind some hay bales. It was the same scene depicted in the old photo, but it featured a woman and a young girl near the lake.
Jake flipped the painting over. There was an inscription on the back: “Dorothy & Lesley Marie.”
“Oh no,” he whispered, his shoulders sagging. “I just realized… I know this place. It belonged to my great-grandmother.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Then, Jake explained that he vaguely remembered coming here as a child. He’d forgotten all about it until this moment.
The woman in the painting was his great-grandmother, and the girl was his grandmother, who had inherited the farm and later sold it after her husband died, back when Jake and Steve were young.
Something began nagging in my gut at his words, but soon, the police arrived and searched the farm. Unfortunately, aside from Adam’s cap and the painting, there was nothing else.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Jake told the police what he just remembered and added, ‘My brother, Steve, used to come here with my grandmother too.”
It clicked then for me, and the officer must have gotten his implication. “Are you suggesting your brother was involved in this?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
Was that possible? Steve might have known about the farm, though he’d never mentioned it, not even when we were desperately searching for clues during Adam’s kidnapping. We had no way to truly know unless we tested our theory.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
So, the police suggested a plan. We would call Steve and tell him the police had found a lead in Adam’s case thanks to the old portrait of their parents with the painting of the farm, which they were going to search through.
If he was involved, he might panic and try to cover his tracks.
Of course, we also explored the idea that the current owner of the farm was involved, but police discovered that the bank owned this place. They hadn’t been able to sell it in so many years.
Therefore, we made the call, and Steve fell for it.
The next day, we watched from a distance as he drove up to the abandoned property with a can of gasoline, clearly intending to burn the place down. The police swarmed and arrested him on the spot.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Eventually, we learned that Steve was resentful because Jake had inherited a larger share of their parents’ company. This happened because Jake had worked in the business since he was a teenager, while Steve partied during high school and college.
Believing this to be unfair, my husband’s brother had kidnapped Adam to extort money from us. He chose the farm as his hideout, knowing that Jake had probably forgotten it.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Throughout all of this, Gina had no idea. and left our town as soon as Steve was sentenced.
The betrayal was devastating, but in the end, justice prevailed. We had answers, we had closure, and most importantly, we knew now why Adam cried about the photo. His therapy was adjusted to work on it specifically.
If you liked these stories, check out this other set about selfless acts. Kindness can ripple through the world in unimaginable ways. In these three heartwarming stories, ordinary people performed extraordinary acts of generosity, only to find their lives profoundly changed in return.
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.
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