Helen’s seemingly perfect life shattered with a single FaceTime call from a stranger claiming to be her husband’s fiancée. As Helen and the mysterious Lucy unraveled the deceit, they discovered a web of lies that would lead them to a dramatic showdown on what was supposed to be Mark’s wedding day.
Helen sat at the kitchen table, sipping her morning coffee. She was a devoted wife and mother, living a simple, happy life with her husband, Mark, and their two children, Emma and Jack. Her days were filled with routine activities—cooking, cleaning, and making sure everyone was taken care of.
A photo of a happy family | Source: Pexels
As Helen scrolled through her phone, a FaceTime call came in from an unknown number. She hesitated but answered it. The screen flickered, and an unfamiliar face appeared.
“Helen? Hi! I’m Lucy. Nice to meet you!” said the woman cheerfully.
Helen’s heart skipped a beat. “Um, hello. Do I know you?”
Happy smiling woman | Source: Pexels
“You must’ve heard a lot about me,” Lucy continued. “But I decided to take the initiative and call you for such a moment!”
Helen’s confusion turned into a cold dread. “What moment?”
Lucy giggled nervously. “Oh, I’m probably just nervous! My and Mark’s wedding!”
Shocked Helen | Source: Midjourney
Helen felt the room spin. “Wedding? What’s the…? Okay, Lucy, if this is Mark’s prank, you can stop it now.”
“Prank? Of course, no.” Lucy looked puzzled.
Helen’s voice shook. “So you are fully aware that you’re calling Mark’s WIFE, right?”
The line crackled with tension.
Black and white shot of a shocked woman | Source: Pexels
“Wife..? But…but Mark said you are…” Lucy’s voice trailed off.
Helen and Mark had been married for twelve years. They had built a warm, loving home with their two children, Emma, ten, and Jack, seven. Mark was a dedicated husband and father, always helping with school projects and weekend soccer games. To everyone, including Helen, their marriage seemed perfect.
A happy couple in a park | Source: Pexels
Helen’s days started early. She packed lunches, dropped the kids at school, and managed a part-time job. In the evenings, she and Mark would talk about their day while Emma and Jack played. Mark always seemed attentive and loving.
“Helen, you’re the rock of this family,” Mark would say, hugging her tightly.
They often spent weekends at the park or watching movies together. Helen felt blessed to have such a caring husband and happy children. There were no signs that anything was amiss.
Watching a movie together | Source: Pexels
The FaceTime call continued, Helen’s heart pounding in her chest.
“Lucy,” Helen said slowly, “you need to tell me what Mark told you.”
Lucy’s eyes filled with tears. “He said you were his sister. And the kids were his nephews. He said his parents were dead, and he had a bad first marriage, so he didn’t want a big wedding.”
Helen’s disbelief turned to anger. “That’s all lies. Mark and I are still very much married. We have two kids together.”
A woman hides her face in her hands | Source: Pexels
Lucy gasped. “But… but he promised me. He said we would get married quietly because of his past.”
Helen’s mind raced. “Lucy, listen to me. Mark is living a double life. You need to know the truth.”
The tension between them was palpable. Lucy wiped her tears. “I can’t believe this. Why would he do this to us?”
A crying woman | Source: Pexels
Helen’s voice was firm. “I don’t know, but we need to figure this out. Together.”
Lucy nodded slowly. “You’re right. We need to do something. This can’t go on.”
Helen felt a surge of determination. “Let’s meet. We need to talk more and decide our next steps.”
A shot of a serious woman | Source: Pexels
Lucy agreed, her voice shaky but resolute. “Okay. Where and when?”
Helen took a deep breath. “Tomorrow, at the café on Main Street. Noon.”
“Alright. I’ll be there,” Lucy said, her voice filled with a mix of sadness and resolve.
Helen ended the call and sat back, her mind swirling with thoughts of betrayal and a newfound determination to uncover the truth.
A tired devastated woman | Source: Pexels
Helen and Lucy met at the café the next day, both looking tired but determined. They ordered coffee and found a quiet corner to talk.
“Lucy, how did you meet Mark?” Helen asked, her voice steady but tinged with pain.
“Online,” Lucy replied. “He was so charming and sweet. He told me about his terrible first marriage and how he didn’t have any family left. I felt so sorry for him.”
Lucy meets Helen | Source: Midjourney
Helen clenched her fists under the table. “He told you his parents were dead?”
Lucy nodded, tears welling up. “He said it was just him and his sister… you. He even showed me pictures from his ‘previous life.’ But now I see they were of you and your kids.”
Helen took a deep breath. “I found out through a Facebook post. A friend tagged him in a picture from a work event. In the background, I saw you two together. When I asked him about it, he brushed it off, saying you were a colleague.”
A sad tired woman | Source: Pexels
Lucy looked down, her voice breaking. “He told me you were his sister, that he was helping you out because you were a single mom.”
Helen’s anger bubbled up. “I can’t believe he lied to both of us like this. All those nights he was ‘working late,’ he was with you.”
Lucy wiped her tears, her face hardening. “We need to make him pay. He can’t get away with this.”
A black and white shot of a crying woman | Source: Pexels
Helen and Lucy spent hours at the café, sharing their stories and coming up with a plan. They decided the best way to expose Mark was at the wedding he had planned with Lucy.
“We’ll both show up,” Helen suggested, her eyes narrowing. “He won’t expect it. He’ll be too confident, thinking he has everything under control.”
Lucy nodded. “I’ll tell my parents the truth. They deserve to know. We’ll invite them and make sure they see what kind of man Mark really is.”
Lucy and Helen make up a plan | Source: Midjourney
Helen agreed. “I’ll bring some of our close friends. They need to know too. We’ll expose his lies to everyone.”
The two women felt a bond forming between them, united by their mutual betrayal and a shared goal. They were determined to take control of the situation and ensure Mark faced the consequences of his actions.
The two women hug | Source: Pexels
The day of the wedding arrived. Mark stood at the altar, looking confident and smug. He glanced around at the small gathering of Lucy’s parents and a few close friends. He had no idea what was about to happen.
The music started, and everyone turned to watch the bride. But instead of Lucy, it was Helen who walked down the aisle, dressed impeccably and holding a bouquet. The guests gasped in confusion.
Mark’s eyes widened in shock. He stumbled back, his face turning pale. “Helen? What are you doing here?”
Shocked Mark | Source: Midjourney
Helen maintained her composure, her voice clear and strong. “Oh, just sharing this special moment with you, Mark. Isn’t that what weddings are for?”
The guests murmured among themselves, trying to understand what was happening. Lucy appeared from the side, her eyes red from crying but with a look of determination on her face.
“You lied to both of us, Mark,” she said, stepping up beside Helen. “This isn’t happening.”
A disappointed crying woman | Source: Pexels
Mark began to panic, looking from Helen to Lucy and back again. “I… I can explain!”
Helen shook her head. “No, Mark, you can’t. You’ve been living a lie, and now it’s all out in the open.”
Lucy turned to the guests. “Thank you all for coming, but there won’t be a wedding today. Please feel free to enjoy the reception in our absence.”
Sad Lucy | Source: Midjourney
With that, Helen and Lucy walked out together, leaving Mark standing at the altar, humiliated and exposed. The guests remained in stunned silence, slowly realizing the depth of Mark’s deceit.
As Helen and Lucy left the venue, they felt a sense of closure and empowerment. They had taken control of the situation and ensured that Mark would never be able to manipulate or deceive them again. It wasn’t the revenge they had initially imagined, but it was perfect in its own way.
Lucy and Helen walk away together | Source: Midjourney
I Saw a Poster in My Neighborhood with My Son’s Name and Face on It – When I Called the Number, I Felt Sick
When I saw the poster with my son’s name and face, I felt a chill run down my spine. Little did I know that calling the number would uncover deep-seated secrets and stir emotions I never imagined, leading to a neighborhood showdown that threatened to tear us apart.
I remember the morning like it was yesterday. Danny was running around the backyard, his laughter filling the air as he kicked a ball against the fence. Tom was inside, making breakfast. I was sipping my coffee, enjoying the early sunshine, when something caught my eye.
Poster taped to the old oak tree with Danny’s face and “Beware of the Dog!” headline | Source: Midjourney
It was a poster, taped to the old oak tree at the corner of our street. Curious, I walked over, my heart sinking as I got closer. Danny’s face stared back at me, smiling in the photo I’d posted on Facebook just last week. Above his picture, in bold black letters, it read: “Beware of the Dog!”
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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.
