Mary juggled everything at home while her husband, George, stayed hands-off. Fed up, she decided to take a day for herself, leaving their daughter in his care. But as she relaxed by the ocean, her phone lit up with missed calls from the school. Now, fear set in—what happened while she was away?
Mary stood in the kitchen, moving frantically as she tried to make breakfast. She glanced at the clock and groaned. She had overslept again. Meanwhile, George was still snoring loudly upstairs.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
She flipped the toast out of the toaster, only to see that it was burnt. “Ugh!” she muttered, tossing it aside. Without slowing down, she cracked eggs into the pan, but in her hurry, they burned just like the toast.
Suddenly, her alarm blared again, making her jump. “Oh, come on!” she cried, and in the confusion, she knocked over her cup of coffee.
The hot liquid splashed onto her arm, stinging her skin. “Damn it!” she yelped, grabbing a towel to wipe off the mess.
With no time to waste, she rushed to Missy’s room. She sat on the edge of the bed, gently shaking her daughter awake. “Missy, honey, it’s time to get up,” she said softly. Missy groaned, rolling over and pulling the blanket over her head.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Mary lifted the still half-asleep Missy and carried her to the bathroom. As she helped Missy wash her face and brush her teeth, she glanced at herself in the mirror. Her hair was wild, her pajamas were wrinkled, and a big coffee stain covered her shirt.
She carried Missy down the hall, heading toward the bedroom. She pushed the door open with her foot and saw George sprawled out on the bed, snoring softly.
“George, I’m running late. Missy’s going to be late for school. Can you help me, please?” Her voice was almost pleading.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
George grunted and rolled to his side, burying his face in the pillow. “Five more minutes,” he mumbled.
Mary sighed and hurried back downstairs, Missy clinging to her. She set Missy down at the table, grabbed a box of cereal, and poured it into a bowl, adding milk.
“I don’t want this!” Missy whined, pushing the bowl away.
Mary took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “What do you want, sweetheart?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Pancakes!”
Mary glanced at the time. She was almost out of it. “George!” she shouted toward the stairs. “I really need your help! Get Missy dressed!”
Silence. Not a single sound came from George.
Gritting her teeth, Mary grabbed the pancake mix and began braiding Missy’s hair as the batter sizzled in the pan.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
George finally strolled into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes. His gaze landed on the stove. “Oh! Pancakes!” he said with a smile, sitting at the table. Without a care in the world, he grabbed a fork and began eating.
Mary glanced at him, her hands busy packing Missy’s lunch. Her shoulders ached from rushing around all morning, but she kept quiet.
“Did you forget to grab my morning paper?” George asked between bites.
Something inside Mary snapped. The words hit her like a slap. “Your paper?!” she yelled. “Why don’t you get it yourself? I’ve been running around like a maniac this morning getting Missy ready for school! I asked you to help! You didn’t even try!”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
George blinked, looking confused. “But I work, and you’re a stay-at-home mom…”
Mary cut him off. “You’re on vacation!” she screamed. “You know what? I’ve had enough! I’m taking the day off. You’re dropping Missy off and picking her up from school. You’re watching her all day. I need a break!”
George scratched his head, frowning. “I thought she still went to kindergarten.”
“Aaagh!” Mary shouted, storming out of the kitchen. She raced upstairs to the bathroom, slamming the door and locking it behind her.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Mary stood in the bathroom, listening to the faint sound of George and Missy leaving. The front door clicked shut, and for a moment, there was silence.
She let out a long breath. Slowly, she turned on the shower, letting the hot water wash over her. It felt good, soothing her frayed nerves.
Afterward, she got dressed in comfortable clothes, grabbed a small bag, and packed a few essentials—her wallet, a book, and some snacks.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
She walked out of the house, locking the door behind her. Climbing into the car, she started the engine and drove toward the ocean, craving a peaceful escape.
Mary stretched out on the warm sand, feeling the sun on her skin. The sound of the waves calmed her, washing away the morning’s stress. She swam in the cool water, floated on her back, and felt a rare sense of peace. For once, she left her phone buried in her bag.
After a while, she sat up and reached for her phone, thinking it was time to check in. As she turned on the screen, her heart skipped a beat. There were over ten missed calls from the school. Something was wrong.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Mary’s hands shook as she dialed the school’s number. When someone finally answered, she could barely keep her voice steady.
“Hello? You called? Is something wrong?” Mary asked, her voice trembling.
“Yes, Mrs. Johnson,” replied an elderly woman on the other end. “Missy has gone missing. She went outside during recess and didn’t come back.”
Mary’s stomach dropped. “What do you mean? How could she not return?” she almost shouted, her fear rising.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“We tried reaching you and your husband, but we couldn’t get through.”
Mary felt like the world was spinning. “How could you let this happen?!” she screamed.
“Please, Mrs. Johnson, calm down,” the woman said gently. “We’re doing everything we can to find her.”
“How can you say that?!” Mary yelled. “You don’t know what’s happened to her!” Her voice cracked as she spoke. Without waiting for a reply, she hung up, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
She dialed George’s number, throwing clothes into her bag. When he answered, she didn’t waste a second.
“Where are you?!” she screamed into the phone, her voice filled with panic.
“I’m with the police,” George replied. “I’m giving them information about Missy.”
Mary froze for a moment, trying to calm her racing heart. For once, George was stepping up, actually doing something for their daughter.
“But I was told the school couldn’t reach you,” Mary said.
“Yeah… I was at the bar with a colleague, but I saw the missed calls and called them back right away,” George replied, sounding guilty.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“All right,” she managed to say, her voice steadier now. “I’m on my way.” She hung up, grabbed her keys, and rushed to the car.
She jumped into the car, her hands trembling as she fumbled with the keys. The engine roared to life, and she sped out of the parking lot. Her heart pounded in her chest as she weaved through traffic, ignoring the honks and angry shouts from other drivers.
She gripped the wheel so hard her knuckles turned white. Tears blurred her vision, but she blinked them away, focusing on the road ahead.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Finally, she skidded to a stop in front of the school. Barely shutting the car door, she rushed inside. The teachers and staff crowded around her, their faces filled with worry.
“Missy didn’t come back to class after recess,” one of them explained. “We’ve been searching everywhere.”
Mary didn’t wait to hear more. She darted down the hallways, calling out Missy’s name. She checked every bathroom, looked under tables in classrooms, peeked behind doors, her desperation growing with each step.
“Missy! Where are you?” she cried. She started to feel dizzy, her breaths coming in short gasps. Her mind screamed, This is my fault! I should have never left her with George!
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Mary sat on the school steps, burying her face in her hands. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her body shook with quiet sobs. She felt helpless. Missy was still missing, and she didn’t know what to do.
Suddenly, her phone rang. She jumped, quickly wiping her eyes. It was George. Her hands trembled as she answered.
“What… what’s the police saying?” she stammered, her voice breaking.
“I found her,” George said, his voice steady.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Mary froze. “You… you found her?” she whispered, hardly believing it.
“Yes, we’re at the park. Come here now,” George replied.
Mary leaped up and sprinted to the park, her heart pounding. When she spotted George and Missy sitting on a bench, relief flooded over her. She ran toward them, dropping to her knees as she wrapped her arms around Missy. Tears spilled down her face, soaking Missy’s hair.
“Sweetie, what happened?” Mary asked, holding Missy close.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Missy looked up, her eyes wide. “Dad said we’d go for a walk later. I got tired at school, so I came to the park,” she said, her voice small.
Mary turned to George, shooting him a furious glance. He shifted his gaze to the ground, guilt written all over his face.
“Sweetheart, you can’t just leave school like that,” Mary said, her voice trembling. “We were so scared. We didn’t know where you were.”
Missy frowned. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again,” she said. “I just wanted to walk with Dad.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Mary sighed, feeling the weight of her daughter’s words. She squeezed Missy’s hand. “All right, let’s go home,” she whispered.
On the drive home, the car was quiet. Missy had fallen asleep in the backseat, her head resting against the window. Mary gripped the steering wheel, her mind racing.
She wanted to scream at George, to shout about how careless he’d been, how he’d ignored their child for so long. But before she could open her mouth, George broke the silence.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice low.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Mary glanced at him, her eyes hard. “Sorry isn’t enough,” she replied, her tone sharp. “Our daughter could have been hurt today. Do you get that?”
George nodded, looking down at his hands. “I know,” he admitted. “I haven’t been the best father.”
Mary shook her head, anger bubbling up again. “It took her going missing for you to realize that? Really?”
George took a deep breath and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small piece of paper and handed it to her. Confused, Mary glanced down. It was a cruise ticket.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What’s this?” she asked, still angry but now curious.
“You deserve a break,” George said, his voice steady. “After you left this morning, I saw the burnt eggs, the cereal, the pancakes. You made three breakfasts in one morning. And that’s only a small part of what you do every day. I’m sorry I didn’t see it before or appreciate you.”
Mary looked at the ticket, then back at George. “And who’s going to look after Missy?” she questioned.
“I will,” he answered, meeting her eyes. “I’m her father. It’s time I started acting like one.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Mary pulled into the driveway and parked. She turned to George, her eyes softening. Slowly, she leaned over and hugged him, letting the tears flow.
“I’ll do better,” George promised, holding her tight. Mary nodded, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. Finally, he understood.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
My Father Fired Me Because His Biological Son Wanted My Job — Karma Didn’t Let It Slide
After years of being groomed in his stepfather’s construction company, Sheldon is discarded when David, his stepbrother returns. Instead of retaliating, Sheldon walks out gracefully, only to be head-hunted by a rival company. But a few months in, his stepfather calls him, desperate…
You know things sometimes come full circle? Well, that’s been the story of my life.
I’ve been working at my dad’s construction company since I was 15. At first, it was simple tasks like filing and cleaning out his office, and then more responsibility was placed onto my shoulders as I got through school. And this wasn’t because I wanted to, but because I had to.
A teenage boy | Source: Midjourney
My dad, or technically my stepdad, didn’t let anyone skate by for free. He had one rule and he swore by it. If I wanted to live in his house, I had to earn my keep.
“It is what it is, Sheldon. Take it or leave it,” he said.
Obviously, I had no choice but to take it. Where else was I going to go?
He married my mom when I was 10, and from then on, he always said that I was his “responsibility.”
A couple at their wedding | Source: Midjourney
It never felt that way, because when I turned 16, I had to pay rent, which meant that I had to work at his company after school and work at the local ice cream place during weekends.
But it was fine, I didn’t complain once. I figured that it was all part of his version of tough love.
Over time, I worked my way up in the company. When I graduated from high school, my stepdad gave me no choice but to join the company full-time.
A boy at his high school graduation | Source: Midjourney
“Sorry, Sheldon,” he said one evening over dinner. “But there’s no room for you to go to college or whatever. Now that you have the time and capacity, you need to join the company properly.”
“That’s fine with me,” I said, feeling an odd sense of contentment.
To me, it felt like my stepdad wanted me there, and that was a big deal.
So, I started with the dirty jobs. I cleaned up sites, hauled materials until my muscles were defined, and just did whatever needed to be done. I worked hard, wanting to take pride in the company; it was a family legacy after all.
A man working in construction | Source: Midjourney
And by my mid-20s, I was foreman. I thought I had proven myself, not just as an employee, but as his son, too.
Then everything changed. David came back. His biological son.
David hadn’t been around in years. After my dad’s divorce, he sided with his mom and blamed Dad for everything.
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
“He said some pretty horrible things to Dad,” my mom told me once when I asked why we didn’t see David.
“So, that’s it? It’s like how I don’t see my biological father?” I asked.
“Pretty much, honey,” she said. “But your father was a cruel man, cruel to the bone.”
An angry man with a clenched fist | Source: Midjourney
While David was gone, I stepped in as the son. I did everything, I put in the work, but when David decided to resurface, all of that seemed to vanish.
“I don’t get it,” I said to my mom one night. “David hasn’t spoken to Dad in over a decade. And now he’s back, acting like nothing happened between them?”
My mother sighed and cut a piece of banana bread for me.
A loaf of banana bread | Source: Midjourney
“Your father misses him, honey,” she replied quietly. “He’s just trying to make things right.”
I sighed. I could understand that, but it still didn’t sit well with me.
A few days later, I was called into my dad’s office. He didn’t even look up from his desk. He just cleared his throat.
“We need to let you go, Sheldon,” he said.
A man sitting in his office | Source: Midjourney
“What?” I blinked, trying to process. “You’re firing me? Really, Dad?”
He finally glanced up but refused to make eye contact with me.
“David’s coming on board, and, well, we don’t have room for both of you in management. He’s got the degree, you know? Construction management?”
An older man | Source: Midjourney
“So?” I asked, struggling to keep my voice calm. “I’ve been here for over a decade. I’ve earned this.”
“It’s time I help David get on his feet,” he muttered. “He’s my son, after all. And I lost so many years with him.”
I sat there for a second, stunned.
“I thought I was your son, too.”
“You are, but you’re not blood,” he said.
An upset man | Source: Midjourney
Just like that, it was over. No severance, no handshake, not even a thank you for my years of hard work. I felt the anger building, but I kept my cool.
“All right,” I said, standing up. “Cool. Good luck.”
I walked out not knowing what would happen next.
“Just move in with me,” my girlfriend, Bea, said when I told her what had happened. “You don’t need to see him every day after this. Take some time away.”
A smiling young woman | Source: Midjourney
I listened, and within a few hours, I was out of our home and into her apartment.
Within a week, I landed a new job at a rival construction company. I’d made some solid connections over the years, and they jumped at the chance to hire me.
“It’s for a project manager role, Sheldon,” the owner said. “I know it’s not what you’re used to, but I’ve followed the projects that you’ve overseen. You’re ready for this.”
A smiling man in a suit | Source: Midjourney
I accepted without hesitation. This new role meant more pay, and best of all? More respect.
“You’re going to love it here,” my new boss said when he took me around, showing me my new office. “We take care of our people, Sheldon. None of that cutthroat stuff that I’ve heard your father does. And don’t worry, we cover dental, medical, and everything else.”
I smiled. I could already tell that this was going to be an entirely different experience from what I was used to.
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
It didn’t take me long to settle into my new job, and I loved every second of it. I had projects that ranged from movie theater construction, to malls, to even theme parks. It was only going to get better from there.
“I miss you at home, darling,” my mother said when we met at a coffee shop for breakfast one weekend.
“I know, Mom,” I said. “I miss you too. But you understand why I had to move, right?”
A woman sitting in a coffee shop | Source: Midjourney
“Of course I do, Sheldon,” she said gently. “And it was time to spread your wings, too. But if I’m being honest with you, there seems to be something big going on with Dad’s company. He’s been very stressed. He and David are not really on speaking terms now. They’re just polite to each other.”
“Trouble in paradise?” I asked sarcastically.
“I think so,” my mother said, buttering a slice of toast.
Toast on a board | Source: Midjourney
It wasn’t long before whispers started to flood our industry, talk of my dad’s company going under seemed to be the biggest news. Apparently, things really weren’t going well since David had taken over.
My stepbrother had been losing clients, mismanaging projects, and making mistake after mistake. Some of the same clients I had built relationships with left my dad’s company and signed with me instead.
Then, one day, I was sitting in my office, flipping through a stack of resumes when I came across David’s.
A stack of paper | Source: Midjourney
“No way,” I muttered, staring at the paper. It was surreal. The same David who replaced me at my dad’s company was now applying for a job at my new one.
I couldn’t resist. I called him in for an interview.
When David walked in, he looked worn, like life had knocked him around. He didn’t even recognize me at first, but when he did, the color drained from his face.
A shocked man | Source: Midjourney
“Have a seat,” I said.
He sat down, clearly uncomfortable. The confidence he once had was gone.
“So,” I began, flipping through his resume. “Why are you looking for a job here?”
He gulped.
“I need something new. Things didn’t work out at my dad’s company.”
A man holding his head | Source: Midjourney
“What happened?” I asked.
“Just… I made some mistakes. I lost us some clients.”
“I see,” I replied, leaning back in my chair. “You do realize that this is the same industry, right? We’re not going to make it easy for you.”
David nodded.
“I’m ready to work,” he said.
“We’ll let you know,” I said.
A man sitting at his desk | Source: Midjourney
As he left, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of satisfaction and pity. Karma had done her job. Still, it felt good to know that I’d landed on my feet while David struggled.
A few weeks later, my phone rang. It was my dad.
“Sheldon, come back,” he said simply. “The company is failing. David walked out after he messed up again. We’re in trouble. I need you to come back. Help me out, maybe take over.”
I let the silence hang in the air for a moment.
An older man using his phone | Source: Midjourney
“I’m sorry, Dad,” I said quietly. “But I’ve moved on. I’m happy where I am.”
He sighed heavily.
“I understand, son. I’m… I’m proud of you, you know?”
“Thanks. I wish you the best,” I said.
“Come over for dinner soon?” he asked hopefully.
A man talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
“Yeah, maybe,” I said.
When I hung up, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. Years of trying to prove myself to him were over.
What would you have done?
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
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