I Found a Christmas Gift for His Mistress—So I Gave Them Both a Surprise They’ll Never Forget
Two days before Christmas, I found a hidden present in my husband’s closet. It wasn’t for me. It was for her. His mistress. And instead of crying or yelling, I decided to give them a little gift of my own—something they’d never forget.
Let me take you back to the beginning.
About a month before Christmas, I started noticing something strange. My husband, Jimmy, began working really late. Like suspiciously late. The kind of late where you wonder if his office secretly has a bed in the back room.
Then, suddenly, one night he came home early.
“Hey, you’re back early!” I said, surprised. “I took half the day off. Had a headache. How was your meeting?”
“Good,” he called from the kitchen. “I made pasta. Want some?”
“I already ate,” I replied, heading upstairs. “Still got a headache. Gonna sleep early.”
Even though I had decorated the whole house—the garlands, the wreaths, the Christmas tree—I did it all alone. The house still felt empty.
That night, I lay in bed next to him, staring at the ceiling while he snored peacefully. I wondered, when did we become strangers sharing a bed? We’d been married five years. No kids yet. We kept saying we were waiting for the “right time.” I was starting to think maybe that time would never come.
My mom had warned me. “You’re only 23, Alina. Why rush into marriage?” But I didn’t listen. I thought Jimmy was different. I thought he was the one.
Then, at 2 a.m., his phone lit up. I glanced at the screen. A message. From someone named Julie. With a heart emoji.
Two days before Christmas, I decided to look around. Something felt off. I went into his messy home office, didn’t find anything. Then I opened his closet. That’s when I saw it.
A small red box, tucked behind some coats.
I froze.
Maybe I was wrong. Maybe he was planning a surprise for me. Maybe all those late nights were to get me something special.
I pulled the box out.
There was a silver ribbon on it and a little note.
“LOVE YOU, JULIE!”
My heart stopped.
Julie. Not Alina. I’m not Julie.
I opened the box slowly—and there it was. A stunning diamond necklace. The necklace I had pointed out months ago during our anniversary dinner.
I remembered it clearly. We’d walked by the jewelry store and I said, “Look how pretty that is.”
He barely glanced at it. “Too expensive,” he muttered.
Apparently not too expensive for Julie.
I didn’t scream. I didn’t cry.
I picked up my phone.
“Mark? Remember when you said I owe you for helping you with those divorce papers? I need a favor.”
“Alina? What’s going on?”
“How good are you at modifying gift boxes?”
That night, I drove to Mark’s workshop. It smelled like sawdust and sweet revenge. He opened the box, eyebrows raised.
“You sure about this?”
“Absolutely,” I said, handing him a little plastic container.
He grinned. “This will go off the second she lifts the lid. Spring-loaded. Three-foot blast radius. It’ll hit everything.”
I smiled. “Perfect.”
The next morning, I placed the red box right back where I found it. Like I had never touched it.
Then, I waited.
Christmas Morning
The day was cold, crisp, and oddly peaceful. Jimmy got dressed, trying to act casual, and grabbed his coat. I watched as he slid the red box under his arm.
“Heading to the office? On Christmas?” I asked sweetly while sipping my coffee.
“Just for an hour,” he said, avoiding my eyes. “Urgent client meeting.”
“Mmhmm. Don’t work too hard,” I replied with a smile.
As soon as he left, I grabbed my keys and followed him to Honey Bunz, our favorite brunch spot. Through the window, I saw her. Julie.
Perfect hair. Designer coat. Red lipstick. She looked like she walked out of a magazine.
Jimmy walked in, holding the box like it was a golden treasure.
“Aww, Jimmy! You shouldn’t have!” she squealed. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Only the best for you, baby,” he said, sliding into the booth.
She unwrapped it slowly. “Is it… the diamond necklace from La Enchanted? The one I showed you?”
“Open it and see.”
“Trying!” she laughed. “This ribbon is stuck.”
“Let me help.”
And just like that—they opened the box together.
“Three… two… one…” I whispered, filming it all from outside the window.
SPLAT!
Green paint exploded everywhere. The whole booth was covered. Julie let out a bloodcurdling scream.
“MY HAIR! MY DRESS!”
She leapt up, flailing, green paint dripping down her face.
“JIMMY, WHAT THE HELL?!”
He stood there frozen, mouth open, paint running down his nose. “I… I don’t understand!”
Julie was furious. “Is this supposed to be funny?! You idiot!”
An old lady at the next table burst out laughing. “I think it’s hilarious!”
“Someone record this!” a teenager yelled.
“Too late—already live!” another said, tapping his phone.
Julie grabbed her ruined purse. “I look like the Grinch vomited on me! This dress cost more than your rent!”
“Julie, wait—” Jimmy stammered.
“Don’t you dare call me that!” she snapped. “We’re DONE!”
Then she turned and shouted, loud enough for everyone to hear:
“And by the way? Your wife is WAY better than you!“
Damn right, Julie.
I got home before Jimmy did. Barely.
When he walked in—soaked in green paint—I almost burst out laughing.
“What happened to you?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “You look like the Grinch!”
“Some… some kids threw paint balloons. Outside my office.”
“On Christmas? That’s awful.” I handed him an envelope. “This came for you today. Consider it your Christmas gift.”
He opened it with shaking hands.
Inside? Divorce papers.
“WHAT?!” he shouted.
“Merry Christmas, Jimmy,” I said, pulling something from my pocket.
The diamond necklace.
“The one Julie would’ve had—if she wasn’t busy looking like a Christmas disaster.”
“You… you swapped it?!”
“Oh yes. I found your little secret box. And I gave it a little makeover.”
“Alina, wait! You don’t understand!”
“Understand what? That you cheated? Lied? Bought her the necklace I loved?”
He looked desperate. “Julie didn’t mean anything! It wasn’t serious!”
I laughed. “You lied for months, Jimmy. I spent so long thinking I wasn’t enough. That I wasn’t pretty enough. Or fun enough. Or worth it.”
“Please… just give me one more chance.”
“No.” I picked up my suitcase. “Thanks for the necklace. Consider it my consolation prize.”
As I walked out, I turned one last time.
“And by the way? Green really isn’t your color.”
Epilogue
I heard Julie dumped him that same day. Said she didn’t want to be known as “the green mistress.”
Jimmy tried dating again, but apparently it’s hard when people know you as “the Grinch cheater guy.”
As for me? I’m doing great. The diamond necklace goes with everything. And every time it sparkles, I remember the best gift I ever gave myself:
Freedom. Wrapped in a big, green, messy bow.
