I never thought saying yes to houseguests would put my marriage on the line.
When Rick’s aunt Mary asked if she and her stepdaughter Lauren could stay for a bit, I didn’t hesitate. Lauren had just gone through a tough divorce, and I figured a short stay might help her get back on her feet. Even though I knew she and Rick had some kind of romantic past from over a decade ago, I brushed it off. That was years ago—ancient history, right?
Well, their “brief” visit turned into weeks… then months. And slowly, little things started to go wrong. My favorite mug shattered. Meals I prepped got tossed. The washing machine was mysteriously left running for hours. It was like I was losing control of my own home.
But what bothered me most were the subtle jabs—Lauren always laughing at Rick’s jokes a little too hard, pointing out how much they “still” had in common. I started feeling like a guest in my own marriage.
Then one night, I walked past the guest room and heard whispers. I froze when I heard Mary say, “Just keep reminding him of how good it used to be. He’ll come around eventually.” My heart sank. It wasn’t just in my head.
When I told Rick, he dismissed it. Said I was being dramatic. That hurt more than I expected.
So I decided to stop doubting myself—and start collecting proof.
With some help from my phone, I recorded a conversation between Lauren and Mary, where they outright admitted trying to break us up. That night at dinner, I played the clip in front of everyone.
Rick’s face went pale. First shock. Then disbelief. Then something that looked a lot like guilt.
Mary and Lauren packed up and left within the hour.
Rick and I had some tough conversations after that, but we pulled through. Our relationship is stronger now, but the whole experience still haunts me sometimes. I can’t help but wonder—how many other homes have they tried this in?
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