Abbie’s world turns upside down when her husband vanishes without a trace, leaving only a cryptic note behind. Days later, a phone call from her mother-in-law reveals a shocking secret that shakes Abbie to the core. Where is Matthew?
“Matthew? This isn’t funny, where are you?” I called out, expecting to hear his voice from another room.
But the house was silent, except for the faint hum of the refrigerator.
My heart started to race as I noticed a note on the kitchen table.
It read, “Don’t search for me.“
I stared at the note, hoping it was a bad joke. Matthew loved pranks, but this felt different. I grabbed my phone and dialed his number, only to hear it go straight to voicemail.
“Matthew, call me back,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “This isn’t funny.”
I called his mom next. “Hi, it’s Abbie. Have you heard from Matthew?”
“No, dear,” Claire replied. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes, yes, it is. Sorry, I guess he just went out for a walk.”
I hung up and tried his best friend, James.
“No, Abbie, we haven’t heard from him,” James said, his concern mirroring mine.
Matthew never returned.
The kids kept asking, “Where’s Daddy?”
I didn’t know how to answer them. I finally went to the police, clutching the note in my hand.
“Ma’am, with the note he left, we can’t start a search,” the officer said.
“But he’s missing!” I protested, feeling a lump rise in my throat. “What if something happened to him?”
The officer shook his head. “I’m sorry, but adults have the right to disappear if they want to. There’s nothing we can do.”
I left the station feeling helpless and alone.
I returned home to our cozy suburban house, now filled with an eerie emptiness. I gathered the children in the living room.
“Kids, I need to tell you something,” I began, my voice shaking. “Daddy is… he’s gone away for a while.”
“Why, Mommy?” my youngest asked.
“I don’t know, sweetheart,” I replied, pulling her into a hug. “But we have to be strong, okay?”
The days that followed were a blur of tears and unanswered questions.
Every corner of the house reminded me of Matthew.
His favorite coffee mug on the counter, his shoes by the door, the jacket he always wore still hanging in the closet.
I tried to keep things normal for the kids, but it was a struggle. Every time they asked about their father, my heart broke a little more.
Then, one day, I received a call from my mother-in-law.
“If you want to know the truth, promise me you won’t tell Matthew anything,” her voice cracked through the FaceTime call, breaking the silence of the room.
“Promise? What’s going on?” I asked, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach.
“Matthew is here at my house. With his mistress and their newborn baby,” she began.
I was horrified.
“Matthew told me to keep it a secret from you, Abbie,” she continued. “His mistress had nowhere to go, so he brought her here. He’s planning to spend money from your joint account to rent them an apartment. He told me he is going to divorce you and stay with his mistress. She’s… barely 19.”
I felt like the ground had just been pulled out from under me.
My vision blurred with tears as I struggled to comprehend her words.
“He… he’s what?” I stammered.
A woman in tears | Source: Pexels
“I’m sorry for lying to you about his whereabouts and not telling the truth earlier, ” she continued. “I didn’t know what to do since he is my son… I needed some time to think about everything. But you are also family to me and the mother to my grandkids, whom I love dearly. That’s why I decided to tell you the truth. Abbie, you still have time. You can find a lawyer and save your money for the sake of your kids.”
I was shaking, a mix of anger, betrayal, and heartbreak surging through me.
“I can’t believe this,” I said, trying to steady my voice. “Thank you for telling me. I-I need to protect my children and myself.”
Ending the call, I sat in stunned silence, the reality of my situation crashing down on me. Matthew, the man I trusted and loved, was planning to abandon us for another woman.
The kids sensed something was wrong. “Mommy, where’s Daddy?” my youngest asked, her big eyes filled with confusion.
“He’s not coming back, sweetheart,” I said, pulling her into a tight hug. “But we have each other, and we’ll be okay.”
I could hardly believe what my mother-in-law had told me, but I had to keep moving forward for my kids. I immediately contacted a lawyer.
As we discussed my options, I received a call from an unknown number. I hesitated before answering.
“Hi, Abbie? It’s Lisa. I’m the woman Matthew has been seeing. I need to talk to you,” came the voice on the other end.
A chill ran down my spine. “How dare you!” I snapped. “How dare you call me?”
“Please, just meet me. There’s something you need to know, something important. It’s about your family,” she pleaded.
I was seething. I would’ve never agreed to see her face had I not sensed helplessness in her voice.
“Alright. Where do you want to meet?” I asked.
“Do you know that old café on street 8? 6 p.m. Does that work?”
At 6 p.m. sharp, I walked into the café, my eyes searching for her. When I first saw Lisa’s picture, I couldn’t believe Mathew could’ve dated a girl so young.
She was already there at a corner booth.
“Thank you for coming,” she said as I sat down.
“Why did you want to meet?” I asked.
“Matthew told me he was going to leave you, but I didn’t know he was going to abandon you like this. I didn’t agree to any of this,” she began.
“Why should I believe you?” I asked, folding my arms defensively.
She reached into her bag and pulled out a stack of papers.
“These are emails and messages from Matthew. He said horrible things about you, things I know aren’t true. He’s been manipulating both of us.”
I took the papers and began to read.
My hands trembled with rage as I saw the lies and deceit laid bare. “I can’t believe this,” I muttered, shaking my head.
Lisa looked at me earnestly. “He’s planning to take everything from you. But I don’t want any part of it. I want to help you.”
“Why are you doing this?” I asked, stunned.
“Because I didn’t know what kind of man he really was until it was too late. I want to make things right, at least in some small way,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes.
I looked at her, seeing the genuine remorse and desperation in her face. Maybe she was telling the truth.
“Alright,” I said slowly. “If you’re serious about helping, we need to gather as much evidence as we can. I need to protect my children and secure our future.”
We spent the next hour discussing our plan. Lisa shared more details about Matthew’s schemes, and we started forming an unlikely alliance.
It felt strange to trust the woman who had been with my husband, but her willingness to help gave me hope.
The next morning, I sat in my lawyer’s office.
“We need to confront him together. But first, I need to secure my finances and make sure he can’t take anything more from us,” I told my lawyer, Kate.
“With the information Lisa provided, we can freeze the joint accounts and protect your assets,” she assured me.
We went through the details step by step.
Kate filed the necessary paperwork to freeze our joint accounts and secure my assets.
It felt like a race against time, but I knew we had to be thorough.
Every piece of information Lisa had given us was crucial.
One evening, I sat at the kitchen table, paperwork spread out in front of me.
My mother-in-law had come over to help with the kids. She brought me a cup of tea and sat down across from me.
“You’re doing the right thing, Abbie,” she said softly. “I am so sorry for what my son is putting you through.”
“Only Matthew can be blamed for what’s happening, Claire. Nobody saw this coming, not even Lisa,” I replied, sipping the tea. “I’m so grateful to you for your support.”
“You’re stronger than you think,” she said, reassuringly squeezing my hand. “I’m always with you, okay?”
Finally, the day came when everything was in place. I took a deep breath and walked up to my mother-in-law’s door with Lisa by my side. The authorities followed closely behind, ready to enforce the legal actions we had taken.
As we entered, Matthew looked up, shocked to see us.
Abbie, what are you doing here?” he demanded, his eyes darting between me and Lisa.
“It’s over, Matthew,” I said firmly. “We know everything. Your lies, your betrayal, and your plans. You won’t get away with it.”
“What is this? You can’t do this to me!” he shouted, his face turning red with anger.
Lisa stepped forward, her voice calm but resolute. “We already have. You’re not going to hurt anyone else.”
The police officers moved in, presenting the legal documents.
“Mr. Johnson, you need to come with us. You’re being served with a restraining order and an order to vacate the premises,” one of them said.
Matthew looked around, his bravado crumbling. “This isn’t fair,” he muttered, his voice wavering as he tried to find some way to wriggle out of the situation.
“Oh, it’s perfectly fair, ex-husband,” I replied, holding up the divorce papers. “You made your choices, and now you face the consequences.”
As the officers escorted him out, a wave of relief and exhaustion washed over me. I turned to Lisa and my mother-in-law, who stood by my side, their support unwavering.
“Thank you,” I said, tears of relief streaming down my face. “I couldn’t have done this without you two.”
I was crying again, but they were tears of hope and gratitude this time. It was time to rebuild and move forward.
What would you have done?
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one: Harry was shocked when medical tests revealed the twin boys he had raised as his sons weren’t his. Furious, he went home to confront his wife, only to learn a truth that would ruin their family forever.
After 50 Years, Elderly Woman’s First Love Appears on Her Doorstep – Story of the Day
A few years after her husband died, Laura decided to move to her parents’ old apartment in Miami. But she was there only a month when her first love, Nathan, appeared on her doorstep. Their relationship was full of mystery until he simply disappeared. Finally, she was about to learn the shocking reason why.
A month ago, 78-year-old Laura took the plunge and moved to her parents’ old apartment in Miami. They bought it when they retired a long time ago, and she inherited it when they died. But Laura’s entire life was in Durham, North Carolina, so her family used it as a vacation spot for years.
She thought about moving when her husband, Charles, died six years ago, but it simply didn’t happen. Her daughter, Melissa, had just delivered her first child and Laura didn’t want to leave them. But the apartment remained in the back of her mind.
When Melissa announced her second pregnancy, Laura made her an offer. She didn’t want them to get into debt looking for a bigger house, so the older woman offered them her family house. It was big enough in case they expanded their family even more and was located in an excellent school district.
Melissa had tons of fond memories of her childhood, so she accepted immediately. “Are you sure you don’t want to live with us? This house has more than enough room for everyone,” Melissa suggested after Laura explained that she would be moving to Miami.
“Yes, darling. You guys need your space, and I need mine. Besides, that apartment has been empty for a long time, and it’s perfect for older folks. I also miss the beach like crazy. A warm beach, I mean,” Laura replied, nodding her head and patting Melissa’s shoulder.
Moving her life was hard, but she loved Miami. She was also happy that Melissa and her family would no longer pay for rent or be crippled by a mortgage as her old house was completely paid for.
Laura sat down on her balcony furniture and enjoyed the morning sun falling on her skin every day. Doctors might say that too much sunlight is harmful to your skin, but there’s something about that light and the salty smell of the sea that heals your soul. She couldn’t have been happier with the decision.
One day, she was making a nice sandwich with chips to eat for lunch when her doorbell rang. She removed her apron and went to answer it, thinking it might be her next-door neighbor who loved to gossip with her. But it wasn’t Mrs. Cardigan.
Laura’s eyes widened, and her jaw dropped when she recognized the man standing right outside her door. It was Nathan, her first love. And if she was honest with herself, he was the love of her life. Over the years, Laura sighed at the memory of him, even though she loved her husband dearly. Nathan had marked her forever.
They were both in their 20s and most people wouldn’t believe it, but their love felt like something you only read about in books. It was passionate. It was steamy. It was the stuff of legends. The downside was it was also volatile. Some would call it toxic. But Laura was in love.
Their other issue was Nathan’s mysterious nature. She knew practically nothing about his life or family, but she didn’t care, even when he often disappeared for days, weeks, and even months. That was harder to take. He dodged her questions whenever Laura brought up the subject, so she eventually stopped.
One day, Nathan left her old apartment with a smile on his face, and it was the last time she saw him. She waited for him to return and had no way to contact him. After a year of hoping, Laura decided to move on with her life. She met Charles, got married, and Nathan became a memory.
But there he was. Standing on her doorstep as if no time had passed. So many questions ran through her head while she gaped at him like a fish caught in a net. How did he find me in Miami? What is he doing here? Does he think we’re still 20 that he can just appear out of thin air? What does he want?
Finally, Nathan broke the silence. “Hey, Laura. How are you?”
“Hey? It’s been more than 50 years, Nathan. Why are you here? How did you find me?” she asked in a huff. She couldn’t believe Nathan had the gall to sound so carefree after all this time.
“I know. I want to explain everything. But will you let me in?” he wondered and smiled his crazy smile, which still managed to make her heart skip a beat even now. His face had wrinkles, sunspots, and he couldn’t stand as straight as he once did. But he was still… Nathan. Just Nathan.
“Fine. Come in,” Laura finally answered in a huff, crossing her arms and leading him into her apartment.
“How have you been all these years?” he asked after sitting down.
“I don’t have time for chit-chat, Nathan. I want answers. Real answers this time. I haven’t forgotten how you ignored me back then and changed the subject. You either start talking now or leave,” Laura snapped, sitting down on a chair across from him with her arms still crossed.
“Ok… this is not easy. But back then, my parents didn’t want me to date anyone. When I turned 20, they told me that they had arranged a marriage for me with the daughter of one of their wealthiest friends. But I didn’t want it. I only pretended. I fell in love with you. But I knew they would disapprove,” Nathan revealed with a huge sigh.
Laura’s mouth dropped open for the second time that day, and Nathan continued his story. “Whenever I disappeared, I was with her. Kiara. She liked to travel. She was so demanding. But I always returned to you.”
“Until the last time. I waited for a year, Nathan. I waited for you,” Laura hissed, getting emotional. She couldn’t believe Nathan had someone else. “And you were cheating on me the entire time.”
“I wasn’t! I swear I wasn’t! What I had with her was NOT romantic at all. I didn’t even hold her hand. She knew I didn’t want the arranged marriage all along, but Kiara forced my attention and my time. If I didn’t comply, she might have told my parents about you, and it would’ve been bad for you,” Nathan retorted, frustrated.
Laura thought about his words. She didn’t want to believe him, but he sounded genuine. “Ok… so why didn’t you return for such a long time?” she asked quietly.
“That year was hectic. I was graduating. My father got me a major internship, and Kiara started to plan our wedding. It was all so complicated. I couldn’t see you. But then, Kiara died in a car accident and the situation became even more complex. But I let some time pass. I helped her parents out because they thought I was her fiancé, and I went back to you as soon as I could,” he finished, looking down as if he couldn’t hold his head up after revealing everything.
“Oh, wow. I’m sorry. I mean, I wouldn’t wish harm on anyone,” Laura commented but remembered something he said. “What do you mean ‘returned?’ When did you return?”
“One day, I went to your house, and I saw another man there with you. I didn’t know what he meant to you, but I knew I couldn’t show up and ruin it after all that time. I went to your house every day for a month, and he was always there, so I stopped going. I heard you two got married at some point,” Nathan explained.
“Yeah, that was my late husband, Charles.”
“My condolences.”
“What happens now?” Laura asked, raising her eyebrows in question.
“I don’t know. I hoped to explain everything to you, and maybe we could start a friendship,” Nathan suggested.
“How did you find me all the way here?”
“I moved down here in my 30s. I’ve been here since. I never had any family. After losing you, I couldn’t fall for anyone else. Kiara’s death also haunted me. It was tough. But around 20 years ago, I saw your parents walking around. I found out where they lived and hoped to see you at some point. When they died, I noticed that you didn’t sell the apartment, so I continued waiting,” Nathan continued.
Laura couldn’t believe those words. Nathan never got married or had children. And he had been waiting for her to come here for more than 20 years. “Would you like a sandwich, Nathan?” she offered, changing the intense subject.
Soon enough, Nathan started coming over every day. At first, they were only friends. They chatted about everything under the sun. But at some point, they couldn’t deny their feelings any longer. No matter how much time had passed, their love never ceased. It was like a candle that only needed to be relit to burn bright.
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