What was supposed to be a dream honeymoon in Bora Bora quickly turned into a battle for control when my in-laws demanded our luxury villa for themselves. But when my husband finally allowed me to handle them, I made sure they got exactly what they deserved.
When we broke the news, my parents were overjoyed. They had always been modest, easygoing people who never expected extravagance.
A happy middle-aged couple | Source: Pexels
Growing up, vacations for us meant road trips, budget-friendly hotels, and simple pleasures like picnics on the beach. So, when Mark and I invited them on this luxurious trip, they were stunned.
My mom teared up, and my dad kept shaking his head, saying, “Are you sure this isn’t too much?” They kept thanking us, calling it the trip of a lifetime.
A happy surprised man | Source: Pexels
Mark’s parents, however, were harder to please.
Before we even booked the trip, I got a taste of just how much control Mark’s parents had over him. We had originally planned to go in late May. But when Mark told his mom, she immediately shot it down.
An upset mature woman | Source: Pexels
“No, Mark. That won’t work for us,” Linda had said firmly. “Your father has his golf tournament, and I have my garden club’s spring luncheon. You’ll have to move it.”
I had expected Mark to push back, to remind her that this was our honeymoon, not a family reunion. Instead, he sighed, gave me an apologetic look, and said, “We can reschedule, right?”
I was stunned. “Mark, we already put down deposits.”
A couple arguing | Source: Pexels
“I’ll cover the change fees,” he assured me. “It’s just easier this way.”
It wasn’t easier for me or my parents, who had to rearrange their own commitments. But for Linda and Richard? It was perfect. And, as always, what they wanted came first.
That night, I confronted him. “You can’t keep letting them run our lives.”
He sighed, rubbing his temples. “Just this once,” he promised. “After this trip, no more. We’re setting boundaries.”
A sad man sitting at a table | Source: Pexels
I smiled and squeezed his hand. “Next time, let me handle things.”
We had booked them a gorgeous bungalow on the water. It had a glass floor, an open-air bathroom, and a private deck. But their expressions when they arrived? Disappointment. They barely said thank you.
A disappointed couple in an airport | Source: Midjourney
Mark and I, on the other hand, had taken the only available villa. It turned out to be a 4,000-square-foot paradise. It had a sauna, an outdoor tub, a private pool, and an ocean slide that dropped straight into the turquoise water. It was breathtaking.
Still, I had a feeling trouble was brewing.
At first, I thought Mark’s parents just needed time to adjust. Maybe they were overwhelmed. But I was so wrong.
A smiling woman near a pool | Source: Midjourney
That evening, we all gathered for dinner. The warm air smelled like coconut and grilled seafood. The sun dipped into the horizon, painting the sky in pink and gold. We were laughing, enjoying fresh pineapple cocktails, when my cousin Jason leaned over to me, grinning.
“That ocean slide of yours is insane! I saw the pics—can I try it tomorrow?”
I laughed. “Of course! It’s so much fun.”
A laughing woman in a cafe | Source: Midjourney
But across the table, I heard a loud gasp.
“Wait… WHAT?” My mother-in-law, Linda, slapped her hand against the table. Her eyes darted to Mark. “You have an ocean slide?”
My father-in-law, Richard, frowned. “Your place has a slide?”
I felt my stomach twist. Here we go.
A frowning middle-aged man in a cafe | Source: Midjourney
Linda grabbed Mark’s phone off the table. She scrolled through the photos we had taken earlier that day. Her face turned red. “Mark, THIS is your place?!”
Mark hesitated. “Uh… yeah?”
Richard shoved his chair back. “And we’re stuck in a bungalow?!”
I blinked. Stuck? The bungalows were luxurious. People dreamed of staying in one.
A shocked woman in a denim jacket | Source: Freepik
“Mom, Dad,” Mark started, “your place is amazing. It’s the best bungalow they offer.”
“But it’s NOT a villa,” Linda snapped. She turned to me, voice sharp. “Why do YOU get the best place?”
I took a slow breath. Stay calm, Emily. “There was only one villa available,” I said. “It wouldn’t have been fair to give it to just one set of parents.”
A serious woman in a cafe | Source: Midjourney
Linda huffed. “We’re the elders! We shouldn’t live like peasants while our children enjoy luxury!”
I almost choked on my drink. Peasants? In Bora Bora?
Richard crossed his arms. “Mark OWES us. We raised him. He wouldn’t even be here without us.”
Linda nodded, smug. “You can’t even sacrifice a little for family?”
An angry middle-aged woman in a cafe | Source: Midjourney
Mark sat frozen. His eyes darted between me and his parents. Linda’s nostrils flared. Richard’s jaw was clenched so tight I thought he might break a tooth.
“Mark,” Linda snapped, expecting him to take their side. “Say something!”
A dissatisfied couple in a cafe | Source: Midjourney
Mark opened his mouth, then shut it. His hands curled into fists on the table. I could see the battle in his head. He had spent his entire life bending to their will. But now, it wasn’t just about him. It was about us.
He glanced at me. His blue eyes searched mine. And then, he exhaled and nodded. A small, almost imperceptible nod. My heart leaped. He was giving me permission.
A tired man in a cafe | Source: Midjourney
I turned to my in-laws, keeping my voice steady. “I understand you want something better. You’re right—family should be treated well. I’ll make sure you get the special treatment you deserve.”
Linda smirked. “Well, it’s about time.”
Richard scoffed. “Should’ve done that in the first place.”
A smirking couple looking at each other | Source: Midjourney
They stood up, practically preening, acting as if they had just won some great battle. Linda threw her napkin onto the table. “We’ll expect the change first thing in the morning.”
Richard grumbled under his breath as they stalked off. I caught the words “ungrateful children” before they disappeared down the wooden walkway.
I turned back to Mark. He exhaled, rubbing his face.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked.
A hesitant man in a cafe | Source: Midjourney
I smiled. “Oh, I’m very sure.”
That night, I made a quick call to the resort’s concierge. The request? An ‘upgrade’ for my in-laws.
The woman on the other end of the line was confused at first, but once I explained the situation, she let out a soft laugh.
“You want me to book them a flight home?” she asked.
A happy smiling woman talking on her phone | Source: Pexels
“First-class,” I confirmed. “Only the best for them.”
“Consider it done.”
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of suitcases rolling across the wooden deck outside my villa. I stepped onto the balcony just in time to see Linda and Richard arriving at the front desk, their chests puffed out in expectation.
An entitled couple at a front desk | Source: Midjourney
They were already gloating. I could see the certainty that they were about to waltz into our villa and take what they believed they deserved in their faces.
The concierge approached them with a warm smile. “Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, your special arrangements have been finalized.”
Linda beamed. “Finally! Where are our new keys?”
A smiling concierge in a hotel | Source: Midjourney
She handed them an envelope. “Your first-class tickets.”
Silence.
Linda’s eyebrows shot up. “Tickets?”
Richard snatched the envelope, ripping it open. His face turned a shade of red I hadn’t seen before. “This is a joke,” he growled. “This is a goddamn joke.”
An angry mature man | Source: Freepik
Linda’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. “YOU’RE SENDING US HOME?!” she shrieked so loudly that nearby guests turned to stare.
I stepped forward, flashing them my sweetest smile. “You said you deserved the best… and home is the best place we could find for you.”
Richard’s face burned. “HOW DARE YOU?!”
“Oh, very easily,” I said lightly.
A laughing blonde woman at a front desk | Source: Midjourney
Linda looked around, desperate for someone to intervene. She turned to Mark. “You’re going to let her do this to us?”
Mark sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Honestly? Yeah.”
Linda gasped like he had just slapped her. “We’re your parents!”
“And we’re on our honeymoon,” he replied. “You don’t even like Bora Bora, Mom. You complained the entire flight.”
An apologetic man in a hotel | Source: Midjourney
Linda sputtered, grasping at an argument. “Well… we… we didn’t think we’d be treated like this.”
I shrugged. “Safe travels.”
And just like that, the resort staff took over. Their bags were already packed and loaded onto a boat. Linda was still screeching when the boat pulled away from the dock. Mark stepped beside me, watching his parents disappear across the water.
A couple at a resort | Source: Pexels
He exhaled, shaking his head. “I can’t believe you actually did that.”
I wrapped an arm around his waist. “Believe it.”
He turned to me, his expression softer than I had seen in days. “I’m sorry I let it get this bad. I should have shut it down sooner.”
I reached for his hand. “You did the right thing in the end. That’s what matters.”
And finally, for the first time since we arrived, we could enjoy our honeymoon.
A couple under coconut trees | Source: Pexels
We spent the next few days soaking up every bit of luxury the villa had to offer.
We had slow, lazy mornings, wrapped up in each other, watching the sunrise over the ocean from our private deck. We sipped coffee in bed, no one interrupting us, no guilt hanging in the air.
At night, we had romantic dinners in our villa, the sound of waves in the background, the entire world feeling like it belonged to just us.
A couple on a romantic dinner | Source: Pexels
One evening, as we lounged in the outdoor tub, Mark pulled me close, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Best decision ever,” he murmured.
I smiled, sinking into his embrace. This trip was supposed to be about celebrating love, and in a way, it still was.
A happy couple at a resort | Source: Pexels
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.
Mom Installs Baby Monitor in Son’s Room and Gets Scared When She Sees Movement There — Story of the Day
A mother installs a baby monitor in her son’s room to keep an eye on him after she notices him tired and restless all the time – only to discover a sudden movement there that sends shivers down her spine…
“Don’t worry, honey. Everything will be fine. Momma is here,” Alicia whispered as she cradled her son Edduin in her arms. The boy had awoken in the middle of the night and refused to stop wailing.
After a while, Alicia had to move all of her files and laptop from the couch to the front table and sit on the couch with Edduin, singing him a lullaby. That didn’t seem to work for the first 10 minutes, but it did eventually, and Alicia breathed a sigh of relief.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
She gently placed Edduin back in the crib in his room, kissed his forehead, and closed the door quietly so as not to wake him, and returned to work.
“How will I manage everything like this? I wish you were here, John! I miss you!” the woman thought as she proceeded to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee.
Almost a year ago…
When doctors told Alicia Silvers and her husband John that they wouldn’t have children, they decided to travel around the world. Shows at the Sydney Opera House, tranquil beaches in Honolulu, tables and buffets in Las Vegas, and majestic fjords in Bergen.
They were going to schedule a trip to the Bahamas when Alicia discovered that she was pregnant. She and John were overjoyed and returned to their hometown Fayetteville, North Carolina, to celebrate the moment with close friends and neighbors.
Alicia and John were both orphans, and they were raised in foster care. Alicia was a stay-at-home wife, while John worked as the managing director of a firm that made parts for household electronics.
They had all they could have wanted in a happy marriage. They had a wonderful home in a lovely area, they enjoyed each other’s company, and now they had the delight of becoming parents. But sadly, this happiness didn’t last long, as Alicia’s world came crumbling down one fateful evening.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Hello? Am I talking to Alicia Silvers?”
“Yes? How may I help?”
“This is Officer Duncan, ma’am. I’m sorry to inform you that your husband was killed in a terrible car accident on Farm Road Highway. We got your contact number from his phone. We’d appreciate it if you could come and confirm the body as soon as possible.”
Alicia couldn’t believe what she was hearing! That morning John had left telling her he was going out of town for a business meeting. She didn’t want him to leave and had told him she didn’t feel right about it. But he’d convinced her that she was overreacting and that everything would be fine.
Alicia was 7 months along with her pregnancy at the time. When John insisted on leaving for his meeting, she relented and kissed him goodbye. He’d promised to return soon, but when she heard the terrible news, she couldn’t bear the shock and went into labor.
Thankfully, she quickly dialed her next-door neighbor, Mrs. Hall, who rushed to her house and called 911. Alicia was immediately rushed to the hospital, where she gave birth to a baby boy. However, due to his premature birth, he was admitted to the NICU for some time.
When Alicia and the baby were discharged from the hospital, she took over John’s business and began working to support her son. Understanding the company dynamics didn’t take her long because she had an MBA. Problems arose because Edduin was very small and constantly demanded his mother’s attention.
John’s secretary, Madison, was extremely helpful to her and understood her situation, so she suggested that Alicia work from home and assisted her in setting up her workspace so that Alicia could care for her baby.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Yes, Alicia could have hired a nanny to look after the boy, but she didn’t want to do that. She wanted to look after her baby on her own, so she started working from home. In that way, somehow, Alicia managed to look after her son and work simultaneously.
Almost a year passed like that. Little did Alicia know she’d soon have another trouble knocking at her door.
The present-day…
As Alicia made a cup of coffee and proceeded to the living room, she arranged all her files and decided to take a final look at the reports for the day. It was around 1 a.m. It took her half an hour to wrap up the work, and the woman retired on the couch due to tiredness.
Suddenly, she awoke at 8 o’clock in the morning due to Edduin’s crying sound. She jumped to her feet and dashed over to him, where she discovered him with tears streaming down his cheeks like a waterfall.
“What happened, honey? Are you hungry?” she asked as she started rocking him. This was the second time in a week that Alicia had noticed Edduin was restless and crying uncontrollably during his sleep.
She looked inside his crib to see if there was anything that was poking him, but she couldn’t find anything. Finally, she concluded that he might be fine after a while and decided to wait and see if the crying continued.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Thankfully, Edduin’s abrupt crying stopped after a week or so, much to her relief, but he appeared to be very tired every day. He kept yawning and touching his face whenever she held him in her arms or tried to play with him, and the toys he’d previously adored seemed uninteresting to him.
Worried, she contacted a doctor about it, but even that didn’t seem really fruitful.
“I’m worried because he seems really calm most of the time, doctor, but he also looks tired in the mornings. Why is that so?” asked Alicia, worried.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Silvers. Babies seem to have a phase,” the doctor advised her. “Perhaps Edduin is going through the same.”
“But how long will it take for him to be fine? I’m really worried about him.”
“Don’t worry much, Mrs. Silvers. There is no such time frame, but everything will be fine. It varies from one baby to another.”
Thinking it was one of those phases, Alicia hoped Edduin would be fine soon. But even after a week, there was no relief, and Edduin just looked more tired with each passing day.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
One afternoon, Alicia decided to check on him after putting him to sleep and heard a strange noise coming from his room. It seemed as if Edduin was giggling and there was someone in his room. At first, she thought it was just her suspicion because she burst open the door but didn’t find anyone inside.
Edduin was staring at her from his crib, and the room was strangely quiet. She looked in the bathroom, inside the cupboard, and under the bed, but no one was in the room.
Alicia returned to the living room, thinking it was work-related stress, but the activity continued the next day and the next. Every day, Edduin would jolt awake from his sound sleep, giggling or simply staring around the room.
Thinking something was off, Alicia installed a Wi-Fi baby monitor inside to keep a watch on Edduin and sat in the living room, watching the live feed.
She fixed her gaze on the screen, watching it intently, and everything appeared to be fine for the first few minutes. However, after about 10 minutes, she noticed a sudden movement in the room and Edduin’s lip tilting in a smile.
Fearing that someone had crept into Edduin’s room, Alicia dashed to his room and slammed the door open. Her hands trembled, and she shivered in terror as she realized her baby wasn’t alone in the room.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
However, Alicia heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that the visitor was no one but a cute little dog circling Edduin’s crib. He appeared dirty and weak, and he made a low sound that was difficult to hear.
When Alicia opened Edduin’s door, the little dog hid behind Edduin’s crib. Edduin began to giggle, and that’s when Alica understood what had happened.
It turns out that Alicia and John had a pet dog named Doblo, and they’d forgotten to close the dog door in the back of the room after he died. That room used to be Doblo’s game room, but it was converted into a nursery for Edduin after he died.
Since a lot had happened after John had left for his heavenly abode and Edduin was born, Alicia completely forgot to close the dog door. And that’s how the little dog got into the room, playing with Edduin all the time and refusing to let him sleep.
Alicia felt terrible for the poor animal after seeing it in that state and decided to adopt it. Casper, as she named him, is now Edduin’s best friend. A huge thanks to little Casper, now Edduin doesn’t cry as much, sleeps well because Alicia makes sure the two don’t spend all of their time together, and is a much happier baby.
What can we learn from this story?
- Becoming a parent is not an easy task. Alicia managing her work and looking after her baby simultaneously is an excellent example of how parents go above and beyond for their children.
- Learn to be kind to animals. Alicia adopted the dog after seeing he was in a terrible state.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a woman who buys a strange Christmas ball at a flea market and discovers a note inside it with an address.
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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