I saw something I shouldn’t have seen on my husband’s phone that made me feel hurt and distant toward him. Luckily for us and our marriage, there was someone close to us who was able to mediate most cleverly. Now my husband sees his mistake and is atoning.Tom and I, Anna, had been pinching pennies for months like crazy. This was all because my husband had his heart set on this sleek new sports car he’d been eyeing. Money was quite tight, so I had to put all my personal desires on the back burner.That included holding back on refreshing my wardrobe. It meant I couldn’t even update my makeup and underwear collection. We were in FULL savings mode, and even small splurges were out of the question.One evening two days ago, I was busy tidying up the living room when I noticed Tom’s phone needed charging. As I picked it up, right at that moment, it lit up with a notification. I usually respect his privacy, but the screen flashed a preview of a photo pop-up that caught my eye.On closer inspection of the image, I realized it was my own underwear drawer! Overcome by curiosity, I unlocked his phone to take a peek. I found myself scrolling through a group chat filled with his closest friends.There, alongside a photo of my plain, utilitarian underwear, was my husband’s comment. I couldn’t believe my eyes as I read him saying he “doesn’t remember marrying a granny.” The caption for the post read, “Check out Anna’s granny panties!”The post was followed by a flurry of laughing emojis and teasing comments from his friends. My heart just DROPPED! I was embarrassed, hurt, and felt utterly betrayed! I couldn’t believe that my husband was mocking me among his friends!They’d left comments like, “Does your mother know Anna’s got her undies?” and “Well that underwear is surely a mood killer in the bedroom.” I couldn’t continue reading the comments as they became worse.When he came home, I didn’t say anything as I wasn’t sure how to handle the matter without him feeling like I was snooping. I tried to act normal so he couldn’t pick up my distress, but I couldn’t get the whole thing out of my mind.The next morning, I met up with Tom’s mother, Joyce, for brunch. I tried to act normal around her too, but my mother-in-law (MIL), ever so perceptive, noticed something was off. I ended up spilling everything, from the group chat to how small and humiliated I felt.Instead of the shock or disappointment I expected, a mischievous glint appeared in Joyce’s eyes. Leaning forward, she whispered conspiratorially:“Leave it to me, dear. I know exactly what to do.”You won’t believe what happened next! Imagine this: That evening, when Tom came home, he found me transformed! I was dressed in an elegant red dress, had my hair styled, and my makeup professionally done.As he walked in his jaw just DROPPED as he saw me looking all kinds of hot!“Wow, you look… amazing! Where did all this come from?” Tom asked. His voice was a mixture of surprise and confusion.“Your car fund,” I replied, my tone steady though I couldn’t bring myself to meet his eyes. “You did what? We were saving that—” Tom’s confusion quickly turned to anger.Before he could continue, Joyce walked in, her presence commanding calm. “I suggested she treat herself,” my MIL interjected. “Seems to me you need a reminder of how to appreciate and respect your wife.”Joyce’s tone softened but remained firm as she continued. “Also, we’ve established that I’m the only granny here. So we thought it’s fair that Anna gets some beautiful underwear that matches her stunning outfit.”She explained further, “We thought she deserved something elegant, not to be mocked or shared in any chat.”Tom, flustered and now clearly outnumbered, tried to argue. He looked guilty and remorseful, but his response was futile against his mother’s resolute stance.“You’ve learned a hard lesson today, son. Maybe next time, you’ll think twice before making fun of someone who sacrifices so much for you.”As Joyce and I prepared to leave for dinner, I paused and picked up Tom’s phone. I snapped a glamorous selfie and sent it to his group chat with a message:“Granny’s going out tonight, guys!”Tom watched us leave, the silence of the house echoing the shock of his newfound realization. Leaving the house with my MIL, I felt a mix of vindication and deep appreciation for her support. I was so happy to have a loving and supportive MIL who made me feel special and seen.I know there are a lot of stories about how mothers-in-law generally mistreat their daughters-in-law, but my case is different. During our outing, I told Joyce, “Thanks for all the support, Mom. I don’t know what I would’ve done without your help and wisdom.” She reached out her hands and held mine, stating:“Tom might be my son, but you’re my daughter and I will not stand by as long as I’m alive while he abuses you.”That evening wasn’t only about teaching my husband a lesson. It was a pivotal moment in reclaiming my self-worth and dignity. All with an unexpected ally by my side!When I returned home I found Tom ready with flowers and a romantic set-up with chocolates and other desserts. “I’m so sorry for taking you for granted and not showing you the respect you deserve,” he said sincerely.Knowing he wasn’t a bad guy I was willing to forgive him. “What you did was VERY hurtful Tom,” I explained to him that it was something I wouldn’t even wish upon my enemy. “I realize that now, love. I betrayed your trust and I am willing to do what it takes to build it back up.”I promised to give him a chance and expected to see immediate changes. He reacted by sending a text to his group chat noting how wrong it was for him to make fun of his wife. My husband also deleted all the posts about me. He even asked his friends to never allow him to do something like that again.His friends showed remorse, and Tom and I agreed to get couples counseling. We realized something was off in our relationship if he could sideline me the way he had to have his needs met. I won’t claim our relationship is perfect, but it sure is a work in progress.While Anna’s husband was willing to redeem himself, Megan, the woman in the following story, found out the hard way that her fiancé was a lost cause. However, when she found out the truth about him, she made him pay dearly!
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