My Cheating Husband Told Me I am Hideous And Ugly. I Gave him a Taste of His Own Medicine

I still remember the day vividly. His words cut deeper than any blade ever could. “You should be grateful I stay with you because nobody else could stand looking at that hideous face every day.” His cruel comment replayed in my mind like a broken record. At 67, I knew I wasn’t as young as I once was, but I had always believed in my inner and outer beauty. When I dressed up and put effort into my appearance, I still caught a look or two from strangers. His betrayal and harsh words completely shattered my self-esteem.

I was devastated. This was the man I had loved, the father of our four children, the person I had devoted my life to. How could he be so cruel? For days, I was in a daze, hurt and saddened by his words and actions. But then, a realization hit me. This man didn’t love me anymore. He thought that because we were old, he could do whatever he wanted without consequences.

“Okay, Mister Martin,” I thought to myself. “Let’s play it your way. I will make you regret this.”

The Perfect Facade
For the next three days, I played the role of the perfect wife. I served him his meals on time, cleaned the house meticulously, and even showed him extra respect. The satisfaction on his petty little face was almost unbearable. He thought he had won, that he had put me in my place. Little did he know, I was just setting the stage for what was to come.

Behind the scenes, I was planning my revenge. I spent hours researching and thinking of ways to hit him where it hurt the most. The first step was to gather evidence of his infidelity. With the help of a private investigator, I collected photographs, messages, and even videos of his escapades.

The Day of Reckoning
The very next day after my perfect facade, I executed my plan. It started like any other day. I made him breakfast, kissed him goodbye as he left for work, and waited patiently. When he came home, he was greeted by our children, all four of them. They had no idea what was about to happen, but I needed them there for what was to come next.

I gathered everyone in the living room and handed out envelopes containing the evidence of his infidelity. As they opened them, the room filled with gasps and shocked expressions. Martin’s face turned from confusion to horror as he realized what was happening.

For Illustrative purpose only
“Martin, you thought you could humiliate me and get away with it?” I said, my voice steady and strong. “You thought I would just sit back and let you walk all over me? You’re wrong. I’ve had enough.”

I looked at our children, their eyes wide with disbelief. “This man,” I continued, “has betrayed not only me but our entire family. He doesn’t deserve our love or respect.”

I Helped Plan a Family Cruise for My Dad and Stepmom & They Invited Me Too—I Didn’t Know They’d Turn Me Into the Nanny

I thought joining my dad and stepmom on a family cruise would bring us closer. Instead, I found myself stuck in a tiny cabin with two kids and a long list of responsibilities no one warned me about.

It started with a phone call. I was cleaning my tiny apartment when my phone buzzed. Linda’s name lit up the screen.

A woman talking on her phone at home | Source: Pexels

“Hey, sweetheart,” she said, sounding tired. “I’m calling with a big favor.”

I tucked the phone between my ear and shoulder. “Sure. What’s going on?”

“We’re just… overwhelmed,” she sighed. “Your dad’s exhausted. I haven’t had a break in years. We need to get away.”

“A vacation?” I asked.

A woman talking on her phone | Source: Pexels

“Yes! A cruise. Something easy. Family-friendly. Relaxing. You’re so good at planning trips — would you help us put something together?”

I smiled. “Of course. I’d love to.”

She laughed softly. “Knew I could count on you.”

A smiling woman talking on her phone with her back facing the camera | Source: Pexels

I hung up feeling good. My dad remarried Linda a few years ago. Things had been… okay. Not perfect. She had two young daughters from her first marriage — Lily and Sophie. Sweet girls, but I never quite felt like I fit in.

Still, I wanted to try. This cruise could be something special. Something we could all share.

I opened my laptop that night and got to work.

A woman writing while working on her laptop | Source: Pexels

I spent the whole week researching. I read reviews. Compared cruise lines. Checked kid clubs and menus. Looked up excursions, water parks, quiet spaces. I even called the cruise line twice to ask about child care and cabins.

Everything was planned around them — Linda, my dad, and the girls.

When I emailed Linda the itinerary, she called right away.

“This is perfect,” she said. “You really thought of everything. You’ve always been so responsible.”

A smiling mature woman talking on her phone | Source: Pexels

I felt warm inside. Then she added, “You should come with us! It’ll be a great family memory. And after all the work you’ve done, you deserve it.”

I paused.

“You’re sure?” I asked.

“Of course! We’d love to have you.”

A happy woman talking on her phone | Source: Pexels

I was touched. I hadn’t had a real vacation in years.

So, I booked my own ticket. Paid for everything myself. No expectations. I was just excited to be included.

The day of the cruise arrived. I rolled my suitcase into the terminal and spotted them waving near the check-in line. My dad smiled. Linda wore a floppy sunhat. Lily and Sophie had little backpacks with dolphins on them.

A smiling girl on a cruise ship | Source: Midjourney

“There she is!” Linda called. “Our planner! Our lifesaver!”

I laughed. “I’m just glad we made it.”

The ship was beautiful. Huge. White and shining in the sun. I could already smell the ocean.

As we stepped on board, I felt like this was going to be something good. After check-in, Linda pulled me aside.

A serious woman looking to her side | Source: Midjourney

“Here,” she said, handing me a keycard. “This is your room key.”

I looked down. It had my name — and Lily and Sophie’s.

“Oh,” I said slowly. “I’m in a cabin with the girls?”

She smiled wide. “We made a last-minute change! They’re SO excited to have a big sister all week!”

A smiling woman talking to her stepdaughter | Source: Midjourney

I glanced around. “I thought maybe I’d have my own cabin? Even a small one?”

Linda’s voice was sweet, but firm. “Honey, it didn’t make sense to get another room. Richard and I need a little privacy. You’re so good with the girls. This way, they’ll be comfortable.”

My dad nodded behind her, distracted by the luggage. “Thanks for being flexible, kiddo.”

I swallowed my disappointment. “Sure. No problem.”

A serious woman on a cruise ship | Source: Midjourney

I told myself not to make a big deal out of it. Maybe it was just the first night. Maybe tomorrow would be different.

Maybe…

Day one started at the pool.

Lily didn’t want to wear sunscreen. Sophie wanted a different float. Within minutes, both girls were crying. Linda and my dad handed me a towel and disappeared toward the adult deck.

A girl in a pool | Source: Pexels

“You’re the best with them,” Linda said cheerfully. “We’ll just be an hour!”

It turned into three. By the time I got the girls dried off and back to the cabin, I was sunburned and exhausted.

Day two, I was supposed to join a snorkeling trip. I had even packed my bag early.

A smiling woman ready for her trip | Source: Midjourney

At breakfast, Linda leaned over with a cup of coffee in hand. “So, the girls didn’t sleep great. They’re crabby. Could you keep them in the cabin this morning? They need a nap.”

I looked at her. “Wait, what about the excursion?”

She smiled. “Richard and I booked a wine tasting. I figured you’d understand.”

A smiling woman talking to her stepdaughter on a cruise ship | Source: Midjourney

So, instead of snorkeling in clear blue water, I spent the day trying to calm a fussy nine-year-old and a tearful seven-year-old while everyone else got to unwind.

Day three, same story.

They left for a couples massage and a kid-free lunch. I stayed behind again, playing board games and cleaning up juice spills.

Any time I tried to sit alone or breathe for a second, Linda would appear.

A smiling mature woman on a cruise ship | Source: Midjourney

“Sweetie, can you take the girls to the arcade?”

“Do you mind skipping dinner tonight? Richard and I just need a little quiet time.”

By that night, something inside me broke. At dinner, I watched them laugh and sip wine while the girls argued over crayons beside me.

I finally said it out loud.

A serious young woman | Source: Pexels

“Linda… I thought I’d get some time to myself, too. I paid for my ticket. I just—”

She didn’t let me finish. “You’re not a child,” she said, smiling tightly. “Why wouldn’t you help out? That’s what family does.”

I blinked. She went right back to her drink.

That night, after the girls fell asleep, I lay in the narrow bunk bed and stared at the ceiling.

A sleepless woman lying in her bed | Source: Midjourney

The hum of the ship filled the room. I could hear Lily turning in her sleep.

“I came here to feel like part of the family,” I whispered, “not the hired help.”

My eyes burned. I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. The next morning, I got up early. I didn’t say a word.

I quietly packed a small bag and woke the girls up.

A woman with a small backpack | Source: Midjourney

They slipped into their sandals and took their little backpacks. I grabbed their room key from the desk — Linda had given them one just in case — and led them out, still half-asleep, holding each of their hands.

When we reached their parents’ cabin, I unlocked the door and gently guided them inside. The room was dark and quiet. Linda and my dad were still asleep.

A couple alseep in their room | Source: Midjourney

I whispered, “Stay here, okay? This is where you belong.”

Lily nodded, curling up on the empty bed beside her sister. Neither of them asked questions. Maybe they felt the shift too.

I pulled out a folded note I’d written earlier and placed it gently on the nightstand, beside Linda’s sunglasses.

The girls are safe. But I need space too. I’m not your help. — A.

A notepad and a pen on a bedside table | Source: Pexels

Then I slipped out, quietly closing the door behind me.

Back in my cabin, I opened the cruise app and booked a last-minute upgrade to a solo room. It wasn’t cheap, but I didn’t think twice.

For the first time on this trip, I finally chose myself.

A smiling woman standing on a deck | Source: Pexels

By lunchtime, I was on the top deck, sitting in the sun with a book in my lap. My new room was quiet. No crayons. No sticky hands.

Just peace.

That’s when Linda found me.

“You just left?” she snapped. “You’re being selfish.”

An angry woman on a cruise ship | Source: Midjourney

I looked up at her. Calm. Tired.

“I didn’t leave them,” I said. “I brought them to you. Like a mother should’ve had them from the start.”

She stared at me.

“I came here to be a daughter. A sister. Not your nanny.”

She didn’t say a word. She turned and walked away.

A woman walking away on a cruise ship | Source: Midjourney

The rest of the cruise felt like a breath of fresh air.

I spent my mornings on the top deck, reading in the sun with a warm cup of coffee. No interruptions. No crying. No demands.

One afternoon, I joined a small snorkeling group. I floated through clear blue water, the kind you only see in postcards. I laughed with strangers, took silly photos, and let the salty breeze wash the stress off me.

A woman snorkeling | Source: Pexels

I went to dinner alone. Sometimes I chose the buffet. Other nights, I found a quiet café in the corner of the ship and took my time. I ordered dessert. I didn’t rush. I tried new things and let myself enjoy them.

It felt like I’d found a piece of myself again — the part that wasn’t always trying to please everyone else.

A woman walking on a cruise ship | Source: Pexels

I didn’t avoid my family, but I kept my distance. We passed in hallways and at the elevator. Linda barely looked at me. The girls smiled and waved. My dad gave me a tired nod now and then.

On the final night, my dad knocked gently on my cabin door.

“Hey,” he said. “Just wanted to check in.”

I opened the door, unsure what to expect.

A serious man in a cruise ship room | Source: Midjourney

“I didn’t realize what was happening,” he said. “I should’ve. I’m sorry I didn’t speak up.”

I nodded. “Thanks, Dad. That means a lot.”

He hesitated. “Linda didn’t mean to make you feel… used.”

“She did, though,” I said quietly. “And she never even asked how I felt.”

A serious young woman talking to her father | Source: Midjourney

He sighed. “I’ll talk to her.”

I didn’t hold my breath.

The next morning, we took the shuttle back to the parking lot. The ride was quiet. Linda stared out the window. The girls whispered between themselves. My dad sat beside me and didn’t say much.

Before I got out of the car, he gave my arm a quick squeeze.