When Edward got married, he asked his mother, Eleanor, if he and his new wife, Lisa, could move into the spacious five-bedroom house where he'd grown up. Eleanor, who had been feeling increasingly lonely since retiring, happily agreed. She found Lisa to be polite, thoughtful, and charming—a lovely addition to their family.

At first, the arrangement felt like a blessing. Eleanor enjoyed cooking for them and sharing her home. Lisa worked in marketing, and Edward was an engineer frequently on the move, so Eleanor handled most of the household tasks. It gave her a renewed sense of purpose, and Lisa always thanked her with a warm smile and kind words.

Everything seemed perfect—until Edward received a promotion that would send him overseas for several months. The news was bittersweet. On one hand, it meant career growth and financial security; on the other, it meant he would leave behind the two women he cared about most.

“I know it’s going to be tough,” Edward said gently over dinner, holding both women’s hands, “but after this, I’ll be based at headquarters—no more traveling. Just hold on a little longer.”

Lisa wiped away tears. “Edward, we’ve barely had time together since our wedding.”

“I know,” he said softly. “But this is temporary, for our future.”

Eleanor offered support. “We’ll manage, darling. I’ll be here with Lisa—we’ll take care of each other.”

Edward left two weeks later. At first, Lisa and Eleanor bonded even more in his absence. They cooked meals together, watched shows, and talked every night. Edward video-called regularly, his tired eyes lighting up at the sight of their familiar faces. But slowly, the calls became less frequent, his responses shorter. Then, one week, he didn’t call at all.

Concerned, the two women reached out to him repeatedly—no answer. They contacted his hotel, his workplace—nothing. Eventually, Eleanor suggested calling Edward’s manager.

Lisa made the call, her voice shaking. When she hung up, her face was pale. “He left London two weeks ago. Said he finished early and was heading home. They haven’t heard from him since.”

Their panic deepened. The airline confirmed Edward never boarded his flight. They filed a missing person report with British authorities, but days turned into weeks with no word. Eleanor clung to her faith, praying every night. Lisa, however, grew restless, angry, and bitter.

“He left me!” Lisa cried one evening. “He lied! And you must know where he went. He wouldn’t just disappear like that!”

“I promise you,” Eleanor said, heartbroken, “I know nothing. I’m just as scared as you are.”

But Lisa didn’t believe her. Over the next few weeks, her behavior changed drastically. She began going out late at night, returning at odd hours wearing too much perfume and too little patience. Then one night, Eleanor heard unfamiliar male laughter in the house.

“What’s going on, Lisa?” she asked.

“Edward is gone!” Lisa snapped. “I’m not waiting around forever. I need someone who actually wants to be with me. And Bill—Bill wants me.”

The next morning, Eleanor’s belongings were shoved into boxes and stacked by the front door.

“You’re moving into the garage,” Lisa said flatly. “Bill’s staying here now. We need our privacy.”

“Lisa, this is my house.”

“Not anymore,” Lisa said. “Not while I’m here.”

Heartbroken, Eleanor moved into the cold, musty garage. She made a bed from her old couch and kept her few remaining belongings in boxes stacked beside her. Every day felt heavier than the last—not only had her son disappeared, but the woman she once welcomed as a daughter now treated her like a burden.

Weeks passed.

Then, one bright afternoon, as Eleanor sat on a stool in the driveway soaking in the sun, a silver sedan pulled up to the curb. The door opened, and a man stepped out.

Her breath caught in her throat. “Edward?”

“Mom!” he called, his voice breaking as he rushed toward her. “Thank God. I’ve been trying to reach you. Didn’t you get my messages?”

Tears welled in Eleanor’s eyes as she threw her arms around her son. “No! I thought you were… gone.”

Edward held her tightly. “I was in a car accident on my way to the airport. I’ve been in a rehabilitation clinic for the past two months. The hospital said they contacted you.”

“I never got a call,” she whispered. “Lisa never told me anything. She just… took over.”

Edward's brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve been living in the garage,” Eleanor confessed. “Lisa said you abandoned us. She moved a man into the house.”

His face turned stormy. Without another word, he walked up to the front door and opened it. Inside, Lisa stood frozen, mid-conversation with Bill. Her face turned white as a sheet.

“Edward!” she gasped. “You’re—you're alive!”

“I am,” Edward said, voice cold. “But I’m not your husband anymore. Pack your things and get out of my mother’s house.”

Lisa burst into tears, trying to explain. “I was grieving! I thought you were dead! I didn’t know what to do…”

“Spare me,” he snapped. “I trusted you. My mother took you in, and you repaid her with cruelty. Leave. Now.”

Bill quietly gathered his things while Lisa sobbed and screamed, but Edward didn’t flinch. Within the hour, they were gone.

Edward apologized over and over to Eleanor, ashamed that she had suffered so much in his absence. But for Eleanor, nothing else mattered. Her son was alive. He was home. And the darkness that had shadowed their lives for so long had finally lifted.

---

What can we learn from this story?

• True love is loyal and steadfast, even through uncertainty and hardship.

• Cruelty often stems from selfishness—and bullies only strike when they think no one will stand up to them.

• Even in the darkest times, the truth will eventually come to light.