The night had everything I’d planned for: candlelight, wine, and the promise of a deeper connection. But when my colleague burst through the door with her kids in tow, the evening spiraled into a disaster I never expected and a truth I wasn’t prepared for.
The third date with Susan was supposed to be the charm. We’d met on Tinder — her profile was a perfect mix of witty banter and effortless beauty. After two great dates and a dreamy stroll in the park, I was ready to take things to the next level.
Couple on a date during sunset | Source: Pexels
That night, I picked a cozy Italian restaurant tucked away from the usual hustle. It was the perfect backdrop for soft candlelight and deep conversation over wine and pasta.
Susan arrived in a navy dress that hugged her figure just right, her hair cascading over her shoulders. She smiled, and I thought, Wow, this might actually be something.
The waiter had just set down a basket of fresh bread when the sound of the door swinging open grabbed my attention. At first, I ignored it. But then I heard a familiar voice.
Couple on a fancy dinner date | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, hey, Rob! Fancy seeing you here!”
I froze mid-reach for the breadstick. Standing at the entrance, unmistakably Linda from accounting. Her bright floral dress clashed with the scene, but that wasn’t the real problem. No, the real problem was the three kids clinging to her, each armed with loud, sticky energy.
“Linda?” I managed, blinking.
She marched over with her kids toward our table. “You didn’t tell me you were coming here tonight!” she said.
Mother and her children walking into a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
Susan’s confused glance darted between Linda and me. “Friend of yours?” she asked, her tone cautious.
“Colleague,” I corrected, a forced smile plastered on my face as Linda plopped her kids into chairs at our table.
“It’s packed tonight,” Linda said, casually stealing a breadstick. “I figured we’d join you. You don’t mind, do you?”
Oh, I minded. I really minded.
Linda had always been an enigma. A single mom of three — ages two, eight, and 12 — from two failed relationships, she was equally magnetic and intimidating.
Woman walking into a fancy restaurant with her three children | Source: Midjourney
Around the office, she commanded attention with her sharp intellect and striking beauty, though she kept everyone at arm’s length. I admired her resilience, devotion to her kids, and ability to balance chaos with grace.
But that admiration was from afar — strictly professional. Besides, a woman like Linda? She’s completely out of my league.
But tonight, as she slid into the booth beside me with her kids, her aura wasn’t awe-inspiring. It was suffocating.
“Linda, what are you doing here?” I stammered, my voice low, my eyes darting toward Susan, whose confusion had quickly hardened into annoyance.
Tense man talking to two women at a dinner table in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, don’t be silly,” Linda replied, casually placing her hand on mine. I instinctively pulled back. “You promised to watch the kids tonight, and here you are… having dinner with her?” She nodded toward Susan as if she were an unwelcome guest.
Susan’s mouth fell open. “Excuse me?” she said, her voice sharp.
Linda wasn’t fazed. “I mean, we’re a family.” She gestured to her children, now happily devouring the breadbasket. “The kids were so excited to see you tonight!”
“Linda, I never promised—”
Tense man talking to two women at a dinner table | Source: Midjourney
She cut me off. “Really, Rob? You’re going to pretend this isn’t a thing in front of her?”
“Pretend what’s a thing?” Susan demanded, standing now, her face a mix of disbelief and fury.
Linda shrugged, a smug grin spreading across her face. “I didn’t mean to ruin your date, Susan. But you should know the kind of man you’re seeing. He’s been leading me — and the kids — on for months.”
My heart stopped. “What? Linda, stop this!” I hissed, glancing around. Other diners were starting to notice.
Susan grabbed her purse. “You two clearly have… unfinished business,” she snapped, glaring at me like I was something stuck to her shoe. She turned on her heel and stormed out.
I stood to follow her, but Linda’s toddler, an adorable baby girl, clung to my leg.
The restaurant went silent.
Toddler smiling while sitting in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
I turned to Linda, my voice barely contained. “What are you doing? You just ruined my date!”
She didn’t even flinch. Instead, she leaned back in her chair, her toddler now happily munching on a breadstick. “You should thank me.”
“Thank you?” I mumbled, my anger rising. “For what? Publicly humiliating me?”
Linda calmly pulled out her phone, scrolling with deliberate precision. “No. For saving you.”
“Saving me?” I stared at her like she’d lost her mind.
Man with a confused expression | Source: Midjourney
She flipped the phone around, holding up an image. “Recognize this?”
I squinted at the screen. It was a grainy photo, but there was no mistaking the face.”That’s… Susan. Why are you showing me this?”
“This,” Linda said, zooming in on the photo, “is a mugshot.”
The words didn’t register at first. “A mugshot?”
Linda nodded, her expression grave. “My brother’s a cop. Last night, I stopped by the station to drop off some paperwork for him. While I was there, I noticed her face on the bulletin board. She’s wanted for fraud.”
“Fraud?” I echoed, my brain struggling to keep up.
Man with a confused expression during dinner | Source: Midjourney
“Yeah,” Linda continued. “She’s been conning men. Gets into relationships with them, gains their trust, and then scams them out of thousands. I didn’t put two and two together until I saw the picture you posted on Instagram before your date tonight. So, I called my brother, and — well, here we are. She’s probably being arrested as we speak.”
The room tilted, or maybe it was just me. “You’re joking.”
“I’m not,” she said, her tone softening. “Look, Rob, I know this was… a lot. But I couldn’t just stand by and let her take advantage of you. You’re a good guy. You don’t deserve that.”
For a moment, I couldn’t speak. The anger drained from me, replaced by something else — disbelief, confusion, maybe even gratitude. “Why didn’t you just… tell me? Why the whole spectacle?”
Man with a confused expression having a conversation with his coworker | Source: Midjourney
Linda sighed, her gaze flickering toward her kids. “I tried calling you before your date, but you didn’t answer. And once I saw you here, I panicked. I didn’t want her slipping away. I did what I thought was best.”
I sat back, rubbing my temples as the weight of her words settled in. “So… you’re saying Susan is—”
“Gone,” Linda finished, her voice firm. “And you’re welcome.”
I stared at her, my emotions swirling into chaos. If she was telling the truth, then maybe she’d saved me from disaster. But the way she’d done it? I wasn’t sure I could forgive that.
Tense, confused man with arms crossed, talking to his coworker in a fancy restaurant | Source: Midjourney
The realization hit me like a freight train. Susan — charming, witty, and gorgeous — was a scam artist. And Linda, with her kids and bold, chaotic interruption, had just saved me from walking straight into a disaster.
The table fell silent, the air thick with unspoken tension. For a moment, I couldn’t look at Linda. My mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions — gratitude, embarrassment, and something else I couldn’t quite name.
Then her eldest broke the silence, kicking his legs under the table. “Are we getting pizza or what?”
I couldn’t help it — I laughed. A real, unfiltered laugh that seemed to cut through the tension in the room.
Man laughing while seated at a dinner table | Source: Midjourney
Linda smirked, leaning back in her chair. “You know, Rob, you should thank me right about now.”
I shook my head, half-amused, half-exasperated. “You’re unbelievable.”
She shrugged. “And yet, here you are. Not scammed out of your life savings.”
As I looked at her — tired but radiant, her kids clearly hanging on her every word — I felt something shift. Linda wasn’t just the brave, maddening woman who had bulldozed into my evening; she was something more. She’d saved me tonight, but she’d also shown me what I’d been too blind to see.
Man and woman in a fancy restaurant having dinner | Source: Midjourney
“Linda,” I began, my voice steadier than I expected, “can I buy you dinner? All of you.”
She blinked, clearly caught off guard. “You want to buy us dinner? After all this?”
“Yeah,” I said, glancing at the kids. “I think you’ve earned it. And honestly? I could use the company.”
Her oldest grinned. “I vote pizza!”
Linda studied me, her expression softening. Then she smiled — a real, genuine smile that made something stir in my chest. “Alright, Rob. But only if you’re buying dessert, too.”
“Deal,” I said, grinning.
Man and woman sharing a happy moment | Source: Midjourney
Two years later, Linda and I are still together. I’ve adopted her kids, and every day, they remind me what it means to love and be loved.
As for Linda? She still insists I should thank her for that night.
And every single day, I do.
Happy couple enjoying breakfast in their home | Source: Midjourney
53-Year-Old Woman Gives Birth to Twins, Son-In-Law Notices Familiar Birthmarks on Them — Story of the Day
A woman conceives at the age of 53 and gives birth to twins prematurely. But things take a bizarre turn when her son-in-law arrives at the hospital and notices the same birthmark on the babies’ shoulders as his.
When 53-year-old Barbara took the pregnancy test, and it showed two lines, she couldn’t believe her eyes! Yes, she was expecting a child! The sudden weight gain and mood swings were not coincidental, but it was too late by the time Barabara realized it.
“Do you hear the heartbeats, Barbara?” Dr. Carter asked her when she visited the hospital.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Barbara was taken aback. “Heartbeats?”
“Yes, Barbara. Don’t you know you’re pregnant with twins?”
Barbara froze in shock when Dr. Carter said that.
Being a mother is one of the most beautiful experiences a woman can have, but it came as a shock to Barbara because, at her age, she was already a mother, and not to mention, a grandmother to two beautiful girls.
“Can we please terminate the pregnancy, doctor?” Barbara asked, worried. “I don’t want to go forward with it.”
The doctor gave her a disappointed look. “I’m sorry, Barbara, but I’m afraid it’s too late. I see some inconsistencies in your report, and I believe we’ll have to admit you to the hospital for a while. I have a feeling you’re going to have a premature delivery.”
“Please, doctor,” Barbara begged, her eyes welling up. “Is there nothing else I can do to avoid this pregnancy? I don’t think I’m prepared for this.”
“I’m sorry, Barbara, but I’m afraid I can’t assist you. As I previously stated, your reports are not normal. And if we perform the abortion, you will be putting your life in danger.”
Barbara was devastated. She was scared of what would happen when her daughter learned that she was pregnant, but more than that, she feared how she’d raise the kids alone. Nevertheless, she knew she wouldn’t be able to hide the pregnancy for long. So she called Melanie that day and told her everything.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Oh, mom, come on!” Melanie burst out laughing on the call. “You shouldn’t be cracking such jokes at that age!”
“I’m serious, honey!” Barbara expressed her disappointment. “Could you please check your phone?”
Melanie was aware that her mother was seeing a man named Jackson, who was once a classmate of hers. They’d gone to the same high school and university and met on Facebook. He’d even asked Barbara out, and they’d gone on a few dates.
However, Melanie didn’t believe her mother was serious until she looked up her message and read the ultrasound reports. It proved that she was indeed pregnant and that she wasn’t lying.
Melanie was taken aback. “Oh my goodness, Mom! This is unbelievable! But, what have you thought about it?”
“I really didn’t want to continue with it, honey,” Barbara moaned. “But I don’t have a choice. The doctors said abortion is too risky, so I have to go ahead with it.”
“Don’t be concerned, mom,” Melanie reassured her. “If God has placed you in this position, he will also guide you. I’m always there for you.”
Barbara was left in tears when her daughter said that. “But honey, don’t you want to know….”
Before Barbara could finish, Melanie cut her off. “I don’t need to know anything else, mom. Just don’t stress yourself over anything. Okay?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“But what about Josh and the others? They’ll judge me for being pregnant at this age, and then those poor kids will have to face society. I’m really worried, honey.”
“Why do you care what others think, mom? You’re aware of how people are. They’ll talk about you today, but they won’t remember you tomorrow. As far as Josh is concerned, he’s very understanding. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to him.”
“Alright, honey. Thank you,” Barbara said and then hung up. But she was still concerned about what would happen if the truth was revealed.
Melanie, like a responsible daughter, visited and cared for her mother from the moment she found out she was pregnant. Josh, Melanie’s husband, was equally supportive and accompanied her to the hospital on weekends to care for his mother-in-law. But all of this love and support vanished the day the twins were born.
When the nurse brought the babies, Melanie and Josh immediately noticed the birthmarks on the babies’ shoulders. Melanie was stunned, to say the least, and Josh couldn’t believe his eyes!
“The birthmark…How is that possible? I can’t believe you did this to me, Josh!” Melanie cried. “Did you cheat on me and with my mother?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“What? Are you crazy, Melanie? There’s nothing like that!” Josh explained.
“Don’t lie to me, Josh! Look at those birthmarks! I can’t believe this! And mom, even she didn’t tell me!”
Josh was at a loss for words at this point. He’d noticed the birthmarks as well, but he wasn’t the father of Barbara’s twins. “Listen, Melanie, please calm down. It isn’t what you think…”
“I don’t want to listen to you, Josh!” Melanie snapped. “I need to talk to mom right now!” The woman said as she rushed to Barbara’s ward.
Barbara, who had just woken after the delivery, was stunned to see her daughter’s face red, with tears running down her cheeks. “Honey, are you alright?” she asked, worried.
“Alright? Really, mom?” Melanie was furious. “I can’t believe Josh and you…. That’s disgusting, mom. When did you two start meeting behind my back? Don’t lie, I saw the birthmarks on the babies’ shoulders. Josh has the same birthmark!”
“Honey, please calm down,” Barbara said.
“How can I calm down, mom?” Melanie burst into tears once again. “I supported you throughout your pregnancy, mom! I was afraid Josh wouldn’t support me in this, but he did. And I was surprised when he did that. Was he acting this way because he was the father? Also, you said you wanted to tell me something about the pregnancy when you called me that day, but I cut you off. I AM DIVORCING THAT MAN! I DON’T WANT TO SEE HIS FACE!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Josh, who had just arrived after Melanie, tried to console her, but the young woman pushed him away and said she didn’t want to hear anything.
Barbara couldn’t hold back her tears when she saw her daughter in that state. She called Melanie over to her side and took her hand in hers. “Josh, you come here as well. There’s something you both need to know…” The older lady started and narrated the entire story.
It turned out that the father of Barbara’s twins was Josh’s father, Mr. Andrew Wilson. A few months ago, they all got together at Andrew’s ranch, where Barbara and Andrew got drunk and a little romantic.
Barbara was terrified of admitting the truth, but even more so of her daughter losing her family. As a result, she kept the truth to herself and never revealed it.
“Josh’s father has the same birthmark as well, honey,” Barbara added. “If you don’t believe me, ask Josh.”
Melanie looked at Josh, who nodded in agreement. “She’s correct, Mel. My father and grandfather share the same birthmark.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“I guess I should have told you guys everything earlier. I’m sorry,” Barbara broke down in tears.
Having heard the whole story from her mother, Melanie realized that she was wrong to jump to conclusions and apologized to Barbara and Josh. “I’m sorry for the whole chaos I created. I should have given you guys a chance to explain yourselves. But mom,” she said, turning to Barbara. “I think you should tell Mr. Wilson about it.”
“Yes, Barbara,” Josh added. “Dad has the right to know what happened. Moreover, the kids are his responsibility too. I think you should tell him.”
Barbara was not sure about it, but she called Andrew and told him everything. He was taken aback by the news, but he decided to take responsibility for the children. A few hours after the call, he paid a visit to Barbara in the hospital with a bouquet and proposed to her on his knees in the most romantic way.
The older lady blushed and nodded yes. A few months later, the two were married at a church in an intimate family ceremony, and they are now a big happy family.
What can we learn from this story?
- Don’t jump to conclusions. If Melanie had been a little patient and listened to Josh and her mom, she wouldn’t have created the chaos.
- Don’t run away from your responsibilities. Mr. Wilson didn’t run away from his responsibilities and agreed to take care of the twins.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a man who gets stuck in the airport on Christmas Eve and meets the lover he lost almost 60 years ago.
This account is inspired by our reader’s story 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.
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