When I returned home from my weekend trip, I expected to find my beloved cat, Benji, waiting for me at the door, his soft purrs filling the quiet house. Instead, I was met with eerie silence and the strong, cloying scent of my mother-in-law’s perfume lingering in the air.
Something was wrong.
Benji wasn’t just a pet—he was my comfort, my family. I had rescued him when he was just a tiny kitten, barely surviving on the streets. He had been with me through everything, especially when I lost my father. My husband, John, never understood. He thought my bond with Benji was “weird.” But I never imagined he and his mother, Carol, would take things this far.
Stepping further into the house, I found John lounging on the couch, eyes glued to his phone, acting like nothing was out of the ordinary.
“Where’s Benji?” I asked, my voice already edged with unease.
“No idea. Maybe he ran off,” John replied with a lazy shrug, not even looking up.
That was a lie. Benji never “ran off.” He was an indoor cat, terrified of the outdoors. The alarm bells in my head screamed louder.
Then, I saw Carol sitting at the dining table, a smug smile curving her lips as she sipped her coffee.
“Where is my cat?” I demanded, stepping closer.
Carol set her mug down, moving deliberately slow. “Well… I did what was necessary. I freed you from that…thing.”
“What?” My breath caught in my throat.
She tilted her head, clearly pleased with herself. “It was about time you let go of that filthy animal and focused on what really matters. You’re 32! It’s time to start a family.”
“Excuse me?” My hands clenched into fists. “Where. Is. My. Cat?”
Carol let out an exaggerated sigh. “You should be thanking me. No more wasting money on pet food and vet bills. No more obsessing over a dumb animal.”
I turned to John, fury bubbling in my chest. “And you let this happen? You lied to me?”
He finally looked up, his expression blank. “I think my mom is right. It’s time to move on.”
“Move on?” My voice shook. “From something that actually brings me joy? Unlike this marriage?”
That made him sit up. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’ve never once supported anything I care about! You and your mother just decide things for me—without even asking what I want!”
Carol scoffed, crossing her arms. “We decide what’s best because clearly, you can’t. Look at you now, throwing a tantrum over a cat.”
At that moment, I wanted to unleash years of frustration, but I took a deep breath. I needed to find Benji first. Before I could snap back, movement outside caught my eye. My neighbor, Lisa, was standing in my yard, frantically waving at me.
“I’ll be right back,” I said sharply, turning toward the door. “And when I return, I better hear exactly what you did with my cat.”
Outside, the crisp air cooled my burning rage as I met Lisa at her fence. She looked breathless, her phone clutched in her hand.
“I saw your mother-in-law with Benji yesterday,” she said, unlocking her phone. “And I recorded it.”
My stomach twisted as she showed me a Facebook post.
It was Benji. My Benji. In the arms of Samantha—my high school bully. The caption read: Meet the newest addition to the family! Sometimes the perfect pet just falls into your lap. #blessed #newcatmom
I felt sick.
Lisa swiped to a video. “I was watering my plants when I saw Carol carrying Benji’s carrier to her car. I followed her and recorded this.”
The video showed Carol handing Benji over to Samantha outside a sleek townhouse. She smiled as she got back in her car and drove away.
My blood boiled. “Lisa, you are a lifesaver.”
“Want me to come with you?” she asked.
“No. Just send me the video. I need to handle this myself.”
I stormed back inside, my pulse thundering. Carol and John were still in the living room, whispering. They stopped when I entered.
“If you’re done with your little drama—” Carol started.
“Samantha?” I interrupted. “That’s who you gave my cat to?”
Carol’s smug look faltered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I pulled up the video. “Save it. I have proof. Did you do this just to punish me?”
John stood. “Frances, calm down. Mom was just trying to help.”
“Help who? Herself? Samantha? You?” I spat. “Because she certainly didn’t help me.”
Carol rolled her eyes. “John, tell her she’s being ridiculous.”
But I was already grabbing my car keys. “I’m going to get my cat. And when I get back, I want you both gone.”
Samantha’s townhouse was exactly what I expected—polished and fake. I banged on her door.
She opened it, her expression shifting to a sneer. “Well, if it isn’t ‘Frances, no Chances.’”
I ignored her. “Where’s my cat?”
“You mean my cat?” she taunted. “He was a gift. No backsies.”
“A gift from someone who had no right to give him away. That’s theft.”
She laughed. “Who’s going to believe you? I have thousands of followers. Benji’s a star now.”
I pulled up the video. “The police might be interested in this.”
Her face paled. “You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, I would. And I’d also post about how you and your friends destroyed my homecoming dress.” I showed her an old picture. “Imagine how fast that would spread.”
Panic flashed in her eyes. “Fine! Take the stupid cat!”
Moments later, Benji was back in my arms, his purr vibrating against my chest. Relief washed over me. I left without another word.
When I got home, John and Carol were still there. Carol jumped up. “How dare you—”
“No,” I cut her off. “How dare you. I told you to leave.”
John scoffed. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“I want a divorce.”
Carol gasped. “You ungrateful—”
“I have proof of you stealing my cat,” I said, eyes locked on hers. “Leave, or I’ll press charges.”
Carol turned to John. “Tell her she can’t—”
“She can,” I said. “Because guess what? This house is mine. John couldn’t even qualify for the loan.”
Carol’s face drained of color. “What?”
I smirked. “Also, I’d check where your money is going. It’s not just poker.”
John’s eyes went wide. “Frances, stop.”
“Then leave.”
With no other choice, John grabbed his mother’s arm and pulled her toward the door. Carol cursed the entire way out.
Finally, the house was quiet again.
I held Benji close, breathing in his soft scent.
“I’m buying Lisa something nice,” I muttered, pulling out my phone. “And then I’m calling my lawyer.”
With Benji safe, my future finally looked brighter.
