My Stepdaughters Hid My Daughter’s Passport So She Couldn’t Go On Vacation—I Wanted to Cancel It Entirely, but Karma Hit First

Michael thought his blended family was finally settling into a rhythm until his stepdaughters pulled a stunt that made his blood boil. Hiding his daughter’s passport to keep her from a long-awaited vacation? Unforgivable. But before he could act, karma stepped in, and what happened next left everyone speechless.

You think you know the people you live with until they show you exactly who they are.

When I married Pam, I thought we’d build a peaceful life together, even with our complicated family dynamics. But after what her daughters did to Kya, I realized I’d been fooling myself all along.

A man in his house | Source: Midjourney

A man in his house | Source: Midjourney

When my first wife passed away, my world shattered.

But that feeling was not just for me. It was also for my daughter, Kya. She was only 13 when that happened.

I did everything I could to keep her world stable and ensure she never felt alone.

That’s why, when I met Pam a few years later, I thought maybe I could build something good again. She was warm and understanding, and we connected in a way I never expected after my loss.

A woman standing outdoors | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing outdoors | Source: Midjourney

She had two daughters, but back then, I didn’t think it would be an issue.

Danise was already married, and Tasha was engaged. I assumed it would just be me, Pam, and Kya in the house.

A fresh start. A second chance at family.

But life had other plans.

One by one, Pam’s daughters’ relationships crumbled. Within two years of our marriage, both Danise and Tasha had split from their partners and moved back in with their toddlers.

Soon, my once-quiet home became a chaotic whirlwind of toys, tantrums, and tension.

A toddler playing in a room | Source: Midjourney

A toddler playing in a room | Source: Midjourney

I felt for them. Divorce isn’t easy. Being a single mother isn’t easy. But sympathy only goes so far when the people you let into your home start treating your daughter like an outsider.

It started small.

“Hey, Kya, can you get me a glass of water?” Danise asked one evening, lounging on the couch.

Kya, being the sweet kid she was, didn’t mind. But then it became a pattern.

“Kya, take the trash out.”

“Kya, watch the kids for a sec.”

“Kya, go grab my laundry from the dryer.”

An upset girl | Source: Midjourney

An upset girl | Source: Midjourney

One night, I overheard them while I was heading to the kitchen.

“I don’t see why she has to sit around when we’re all working so hard,” Tasha muttered to Danise.

My hands clenched into fists. I walked into the living room and looked straight at Pam.

“This stops now,” I said. “Kya isn’t your daughters’ maid.”

Pam sighed. “They don’t mean any harm. They’re just overwhelmed with the kids.”

“Then they can ask politely. And actually pay her if they want help with the kids.”

A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney

A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney

Pam agreed, and things settled. But only for a while.

Kya, being the smart girl she was, started refusing to help when Danise and Tasha kept “forgetting” to pay her. To keep the peace, Pam finally stepped in.

“I’ll pay you, honey,” she told Kya one evening, handing her some cash. “They should. But since they won’t, I think it’s only fair I pay you.”

That was the balance we struck. And for a brief moment, I thought we had finally found some peace in the house.

Until the day we were leaving for vacation.

A man holding suitcases | Source: Unsplash

A man holding suitcases | Source: Unsplash

I knew things in the house were tense, so I thought a short family vacation might help. I planned a three-day getaway to a nice resort.

Everyone seemed on board. Even Kya, who usually kept her distance from her stepsisters, looked excited as she packed her bags.

But then Danise and Tasha dropped a bombshell while we were going over last-minute details.

“You know,” Danise started, casually folding her arms, “it might make more sense if Kya stays behind to watch the kids.”

A woman talking to her stepfather | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her stepfather | Source: Midjourney

I looked up from my suitcase, my brow furrowing. “What?”

Tasha nodded like this was some brilliant idea. “Yeah! I mean, bringing the little ones would be a nightmare, and we can’t just leave them with any babysitter. You know how fussy they are.”

“Plus,” Danise added, “Kya already knows their routines. It would be way easier for everyone.”

I scoffed. “Not happening. Kya is coming with us.”

A man talking to his stepdaughter | Source: Midjourney

A man talking to his stepdaughter | Source: Midjourney

“Dad, come on,” Danise said. “Think about it—”

“I have thought about it,” I interrupted. “And we already hired a babysitter. If you don’t want to bring the kids, she can watch them. End of discussion.”

They exchanged a look, but I didn’t give them time to argue. I zipped up my suitcase and walked out of the room.

I thought that was the end of it. But it wasn’t.

I woke up to chaos the next morning.

“Dad! My passport is gone!” Kya’s panicked voice echoed through the house.

A girl standing in her bedroom | Source: Midjourney

A girl standing in her bedroom | Source: Midjourney

“What?” I rushed into her room, finding her frantically digging through her backpack. “It was right here! I put it in the side pocket last night!”

I didn’t waste time. “Everyone, check your bags. Check the house. We’re not leaving without it.”

As Kya and I tore her room apart, Pam and her daughters hung back near the door.

“Maybe we should just go without her,” Pam suggested hesitantly. “We can’t miss our flight.”

“Excuse me?” I blurted out, narrowing my eyes.

Tasha shrugged. “She can stay and watch the kids like we planned.”

A young woman | Source: Midjourney

A young woman | Source: Midjourney

Something about the way she said it made my stomach turn.

And then I noticed something else. The babysitter I had hired was nowhere in sight.

I grabbed my phone and dialed her number. She picked up on the second ring.

“Hey, Michael. Just wanted to let you know I got the message. Thanks for the heads-up!”

I frowned. “What message?”

“The one telling me I wasn’t needed anymore. Danise texted me this morning.”

What the heck? I thought. How dare she?

A man holding his phone | Source: Pexels

A man holding his phone | Source: Pexels

That’s when I understood what was going on in my house. I hung up and immediately confronted my stepdaughters.

“Where is it?”

Danise played dumb. “Where’s what?”

I took a step closer. “The passport.”

Tasha cracked first, her face flushing. “Okay, fine! We hid it! But it’s not a big deal, Dad, we were just—”

I held up a hand. “Enough. If that passport doesn’t reappear in the next five minutes, this vacation is off for everyone.”

Silence.

Then, with an annoyed huff, Danise stormed off to her room.

A woman walking into a room | Source: Midjourney

A woman walking into a room | Source: Midjourney

A moment later, she returned and tossed Kya’s passport onto the table.

“There. Happy now?” she muttered.

But before I could say anything, Kya grabbed my arm. Her eyes were wide open as if something was seriously wrong.

“Dad. Maybe you shouldn’t do this,” she said in a shaky voice. “Look at the kids. Is it what I think it is?”

I turned and that’s when I saw it.

Oh. My. God.

A close-up shot of a man's face | Source: Midjourney

A close-up shot of a man’s face | Source: Midjourney

Red spots. Scratching. Restlessness.

My grandkids were covered in them.

Chickenpox.

Kya and I had it as kids, but Tasha, Danise, and even Pam… they never had it.

Danise gasped, stepping back like the kids were ticking time bombs. “No way. NO WAY! Are you sure?!”

Tasha’s face went pale. “Oh my God. Mom, we have to get out of here—”

I crossed my arms. “Well, you wanted Kya to stay home, didn’t you? Looks like now you have no choice but to stay too.”

A man talking to his stepdaughter | Source: Midjourney

A man talking to his stepdaughter | Source: Midjourney

“Dad, that’s not fair!” Danise protested. “We—”

“Not fair?” I let out a bitter laugh. “You mean like how it wasn’t fair when you tried to trap Kya here so she’d babysit for you?”

Tasha clenched her fists. “It was for the kids! We didn’t mean anything by it!”

I shook my head. “No, you meant exactly what you did. You just didn’t expect karma to hit back this fast.”

Silence.

Then, before they could protest, I grabbed my phone. “I’m rescheduling my flight. Kya and I are still going.”

A man using his phone | Source: Pexels

A man using his phone | Source: Pexels

Pam’s eyes widened. “Michael—”

“No, Pam.” I cut her off. “Your daughters showed me exactly who they are today. And you? You stood by and let it happen.”

Pam looked away as guilt flickered across her face.

An hour later, Kya and I were at the airport, boarding our rescheduled flight.

People boarding an airplane | Source: Pexels

People boarding an airplane | Source: Pexels

During the vacation, I had enough time to think about everything that had been going on. Watching Kya laugh, swim, and explore without the constant weight of home on her shoulders made something painfully clear to me.

She wasn’t happy.

Not in that house. Not with Pam and her daughters.

And if I was being honest, I hadn’t been happy for a long time either.

A man lost in deep thought | Source: Midjourney

A man lost in deep thought | Source: Midjourney

At first, I tried to convince myself it was just the stress of a blended family. That things would get better. That I had to be patient.

But while sitting by the ocean and watching my daughter finally enjoy herself, I saw the truth. Kya and I deserved better.

And I needed to do something about it.

When we returned three days later, the house was eerily silent.

Pam barely spoke while her daughters were still recovering from the worst of the chickenpox.

I sat down in the living room, rubbing my temples.

“Pam, this has gone too far,” I said finally. “They went behind my back, tried to manipulate Kya, and now I don’t even recognize my own home.”

A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney

A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney

Pam frowned. “Michael, we can fix this—”

“No,” I said firmly. “We can’t. Because this isn’t about one incident. This is a pattern. They’ve disrespected my daughter over and over again, and I’ve let it slide for too long. But this? This was the last straw.”

Pam’s eyes filled with panic. “You’re overreacting! You would seriously break up this family over a vacation?”

A woman looking at her husband | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking at her husband | Source: Midjourney

I let out a humorless laugh. “No, I’m ending it because my daughter’s feelings will always come first. And you all made it very clear where she stands in this family. I can’t let this happen in my house. This needs to end.”

“Are you going to kick us out?” Pam asked in a shaky voice.

“Yes,” I said.

“But where are we supposed to go?” Danise asked, standing near the door. It looked like she and her sister had been listening to our conversation.

“You can’t do this to us!” Tasha blurted out. “This isn’t fair!”

An upset woman | Source: Midjourney

An upset woman | Source: Midjourney

“I can. And where are you supposed to go? Umm…” I shrugged. “That’s for you to figure out. Just like Kya would’ve had to if I let you treat her like a babysitter instead of my daughter.”

Pam stared at me, searching for any sign that I would change my mind. But I was done.

“Start packing,” I said. “I want you out by the end of the week.”

That’s how I kicked Pam and her daughters out of the house. If they couldn’t respect my daughter, they had no right to live in my house. They always took me for granted because I was the one providing for the family.

Well, let’s see how they handle things now.

If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: A car from my stepdaughter Emily was the last thing I expected on my 55th birthday, especially considering our history. She handed me the keys, and I thought that was it. But then she mentioned another gift hidden in the glove compartment. What I found there changed our relationship forever.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

For Months, I Kept Receiving Gifts From a Secret Admirer, but the Truth I Discovered on Valentine’s Day Shocked Me — Story of the Day

I never cared for romance. It always seemed like a fantasy, something that belonged in movies, not real life. But then the gifts started arriving—flowers, chocolates, even books I had wanted. No name, no clues. Just a secret admirer who knew too much. Someone was watching. But who? And why?

To be honest, I was never the romantic type. It had always been that way. Ever since my teenage years, I never understood why everyone was so obsessed with romantic comedies.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The grand gestures, the dramatic confessions, the over-the-top happy endings—it all felt staged, unrealistic.

Love didn’t work like that in real life. At least, that’s what I believed. Yet, someone decided to prove me wrong.

One day, I arrived at work, juggling my coffee and bag, only to freeze at my desk.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

A massive bouquet of flowers sat there, bright and overwhelming. A note was attached.

My heart pounded as I unfolded it, hoping for a name. But all it said was, “Your smile brightens my days.”

“Did anyone see who brought this bouquet?” I asked, holding up the note.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Robert looked up from his computer. “No. I was the first one here. It was already on your desk when I arrived.” His usual warm smile made me trust him.

Robert was my favorite coworker. He was kind, thoughtful, and always had my back.

“Wow,” Brian said from across the room. “Someone actually noticed you exist.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I rolled my eyes. Brian was my least favorite coworker. Brian never missed a chance to annoy me.

Since my first day at the office, he had made it his mission to get on my nerves.

“Do you have to be like that?” Robert asked, shaking his head. “Jealous the bouquet isn’t for you?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Brian smirked. “Oh, look at our knight in shining armor.” He walked off before I could reply.

“Thanks,” I said to Robert.

“Always happy to help,” he said, winking.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I smiled, pushed the flowers aside, and turned on my computer. Work had to come first.

The thing was, Robert, Brian, and I were each working on a project for the company, but only one of us would receive funding.

Winning meant recognition, respect, and career growth. Losing meant months of effort wasted. I figured that was why Brian had been even more unbearable lately.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

He thrived on competition and loved getting under my skin. This was a battle, and in battles, anything was fair game.

I couldn’t let him—or even Robert—win. I was one of the only women in the company, and I had worked hard to get here.

If my project got funded, it would prove I belonged, that I was just as good—no, better—than the men.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

But then, there were the gifts. The gifts from my secret admirer didn’t stop—they kept arriving almost daily.

At first, I didn’t mind. A bouquet one day, chocolates the next. Then, candy and books—ones I had wanted but never mentioned aloud, at least not that I remembered.

That’s when it stopped feeling sweet and started feeling… unsettling. I wasn’t the kind of person to daydream about romance.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I didn’t swoon over mystery admirers. I analyzed, questioned, doubted. How did this person know so much about me?

Someone was watching. Someone knew my habits, my preferences. I wasn’t flattered. I was scared.

“You must be happy to have a secret admirer,” Robert said one day, leaning back in his chair.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Honestly, it freaks me out,” I admitted.

Robert raised an eyebrow. “Oh, come on. It’s sweet.”

I shook my head. “Not so sure about that.”

Brian, who had been eavesdropping, smirked. “Right. It’s probably some psycho who’s going to be waiting outside the office one day to get rid of you.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I grabbed a pencil and threw it at him. “Only a sick idiot like you would do that.”

Brian dodged it easily. “Touched a nerve?”

I turned back to my work, pushing away the anxious thoughts. My head was already spinning from this project.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I just wanted to get it over with. The presentation wasn’t until February 14th. Ironic, wasn’t it?

Brian wasn’t done. He strolled over and glanced at my computer screen. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

I turned the monitor away from him. “Stop snooping. You probably just want to steal my idea.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“My idea is way better,” Brian said, crossing his arms.

“Sure,” I said, dripping with sarcasm.

Brian rolled his eyes and walked away.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I sighed and reached for my paper cup, but it was empty. “I really need to buy a water bottle. I’m tired of constantly running to the cooler,” I muttered to myself.

The next morning, when I arrived at work, a sleek new water bottle sat on my desk.

A note was attached. “So you don’t have to keep running to the cooler.” I froze.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

What the…?

Someone had overheard me. Someone from this office.

“Want to grab lunch together?” Robert asked, appearing beside me.

“Yeah, sure,” I said, distracted.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Nice bottle,” he said, pointing at it.

“Yeah,” I murmured, picking it up.

“You don’t seem too happy about it. Didn’t you want one?” Robert asked, watching me closely.

I nodded, but my mind kept racing. Something didn’t feel right. Then, it clicked. It was Robert. Robert was my secret admirer.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

He sat next to me every day, close enough to hear my offhand comments. He knew my favorite things.

He had always been kind, always supportive. Who else could it be? It made perfect sense.

I wanted to ask him about it, to confirm my theory. But the presentation was too important.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I couldn’t let myself get distracted now. My focus had to stay on my project.

On February 14th, we finally presented. The conference room was packed, tension filling the air.

As the discussion began, I listened carefully. Robert’s project came up first.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Then Brian’s. Executives asked questions, debated ideas. But no one mentioned mine. Not once.

“You’ve talked a lot about Robert’s and my projects, but you haven’t said anything about Leslie’s,” Brian suddenly said, his voice steady.

“You think it’s worth discussing?” our boss, Paul, asked, barely glancing at my report.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Ouch. That stung.

Brian sat up straighter. “I think it’s the most deserving of the three. It’s obvious Leslie’s project is the best.”

I had to stop my jaw from dropping. Brian, of all people, was defending me?

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I don’t think so,” Robert cut in. “I still believe mine is the best, or at the very least, Brian’s. Men are better architects than women.”

I felt like I had been slapped. Robert, who I had thought was supportive, had said that?

One of the executives finally looked at my project. He flipped through the pages, nodding slowly. “Actually, I think Brian is right. Leslie’s project is the strongest.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

A heated debate followed. People argued back and forth, numbers and strategies thrown around. I held my breath, waiting for the final decision.

Nearly an hour later, we walked out of the conference room.

I had won.

My project had been chosen. Relief and pride flooded through me. I knew I had earned it.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Thanks for speaking up for me,” I told Brian as we walked down the hallway.

He shrugged, hands in his pockets, then kept walking.

I shook my head and turned to Robert. My excitement was quickly fading. “You were acting weird during the presentation. Especially considering how you feel about me.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Robert frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I know you like me. You’re my secret admirer,” I said, crossing my arms.

Robert blinked. “What? Where did you get that idea?”

“Everything fits. Plus, you’re always nice to me,” I said.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Robert sighed. “I’m just polite. I have a girlfriend.”

“Oh…” My stomach dropped.

“Yeah. And I still think my project should have won,” he added.

I shook my head. “Learn to accept defeat,” I said and walked away.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

If it wasn’t Robert, then who was it?

Now, my secret admirer scared me even more. What if he had some kind of listening device at my desk? How else did he know everything?

That evening, as I left the office, unease settled in my stomach. Brian’s words kept replaying in my head—that one day, my admirer would be waiting outside.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

When I stepped out and saw a figure standing by the door, my heart stopped. I panicked and screamed.

“Oh my God, Brian! You scared me!” I yelled, my pulse racing.

“Sorry,” he said, shifting on his feet.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“What are you doing here?” I asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

“Waiting outside the office to get rid of you,” he said, his tone unreadable.

“What…?” My confusion deepened.

Brian sighed. “Remember when we talked about your secret admirer, and I said that one day he’d be waiting for you outside?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I interrupted him. “Yeah, but what does that—” I froze. My mind pieced it together. “Wait… it’s you?”

Brian nodded.

Only then did I notice the large bouquet in his hands. Tulips. My favorite.

“But why all of this?” I asked, staring at the flowers.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I figured you needed to see a different side of me. Not just the Brian who teases you,” he said, shifting awkwardly.

“You could have just stopped acting like a jerk instead of scaring me half to death,” I said, narrowing my eyes.

“Yeah… it didn’t go exactly as I planned,” Brian admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“So… you like me?” I asked.

Brian covered his face with his hand. “I’m not good at talking about this,” he muttered.

“I’ve noticed,” I said, smirking.

“…Yeah. I do,” he finally said, avoiding eye contact.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I smiled.

“Well, happy Valentine’s Day,” Brian said, turning to walk away.

“Hey, that’s it?” I called after him. “No invitation to dinner?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Brian hesitated. “You’d actually want that?”

I walked up to him and took his arm. “Well, I do need to get to know this other Brian,” I said.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Tell us what you think about this story and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.

If you enjoyed this story, read this one: I was living my ordinary life until one of my students gave me a Valentine. It looked familiar, and when I unfolded it, my heart stopped. It was the card I had written years ago for someone I once loved. I had to know how it ended up in his hands—even if it changed everything.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.

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