My ex-husband once told me, “It’s just harmless fun.” That’s what he called his infidelity. But when he tore the wallpaper off my walls after our divorce, karma decided to have some fun—with him.
Do you believe in karma? I never really did. I thought people just said, “Karma will get them,” to make themselves feel better. But let me tell you, karma is real. And in my case? She had a WICKED sense of humor.
Let me take you back. My ex-husband, Dan, and I were married for eight years. I thought we had something solid—a home we worked on together, two beautiful kids, and a life that, while not perfect, felt like ours.
But I was the only one who believed in “ours.”
I should have seen the red flags, but the night I found out the truth is burned into my memory.
Our daughter Emma had a fever, and I was rummaging through Dan’s drawer for the children’s medicine. That’s when I saw his phone. I wasn’t snooping, but a message popped up: a heart emoji followed by “I love you!”
My stomach dropped. I opened it. Dozens of texts. Intimate words. From someone named “Jessica.”
“How could you?” I whispered, confronting him later that night, my hands shaking. “Eight years, Dan. How could you cheat on me?”
He didn’t even look guilty. “It just happened,” he shrugged, like he was talking about the weather. “It was just harmless fun with my secretary. It won’t happen again. Trust me.”
“Harmless fun? No, Dan. You made a choice.”
I wanted to believe he regretted it. I wanted to believe we could fix it. But then, it happened again. And this time, I had proof—red lipstick on his collar. I never wore red lipstick.
“I thought we could work through this,” I said, holding up his shirt. “I thought you meant it when you said ‘never again.’”
Dan sighed, bored. “What do you want me to say? That I’m sorry? Would that make you feel better?”
Something inside me snapped. “No! I want you to pack your bags.”
I filed for divorce before he could spit out another excuse. It was messy. But the house? That was mine. It had been passed down from my grandmother, long before Dan.
“This is ridiculous!” Dan shouted during mediation. “I lived there for eight years! I paid for things!”
“And the deed is still in my name,” I said calmly. “You don’t own the house, Dan. You never did.”
Legally, he had no argument. But he was determined to make things difficult. He demanded we split everything 50/50—down to the groceries.
And then, the worst part.
“She can have full custody,” he told the lawyer, not even looking at me. “I don’t want the responsibility of raising the kids.”
I froze. “They’re your children, Dan! How can you just—”
“They’re better off with you,” he cut me off. “You’re good at that nurturing stuff.”
Our kids, Emma and Jack, were in the next room.
That was the moment I knew he was truly heartless.
Dan asked for a week to pack. To avoid more drama, I took the kids to my mom’s.
The night before we left, Emma clutched her stuffed rabbit. “Mommy, why can’t Daddy come to Grandma’s?”
I held her close. “Sometimes grown-ups need time apart, sweetheart.”
“Will he miss us?” Jack asked.
“Of course he will,” I lied. “Of course he will.”
A week later, we came home. And what I walked into was a nightmare.
The wallpaper—the beautiful floral wallpaper—was GONE.
Jagged patches of drywall peeked through. My stomach twisted as I followed the destruction to the kitchen.
And there was Dan, ripping off another strip of wallpaper, like a madman.
“WHAT are you doing?” I shouted.
He turned, unfazed. “I bought this wallpaper. It’s mine.”
“Dan,” I managed. “You’re tearing apart the home your kids live in.”
“Mom?” Jack’s voice trembled. “Why is Dad doing that?”
He burst into tears. “I loved the flowers!”
I pulled the kids close. “Hey, it’s okay. We’ll pick new wallpaper. Something even better.”
“But why is he taking it?” Emma hiccupped.
Dan smirked. “I paid for it. I have every right to take it.”
I didn’t argue. I just took the kids and left.
When I returned, it was worse. Dan had stripped the house of anything he’d ever bought. Toaster? Gone. Coffee maker? Gone. Even the toilet paper.
“UNBELIEVABLE,” I muttered.
But I refused to let him win.
A month later, I joined a book club. At first, it was just an escape. But the women became my support system. One night, after some wine, I told them the wallpaper story.
“Wait,” Cassie choked out, laughing. “He took the toilet paper too?”
“Yes!” I laughed. “I married a man who ripped wallpaper off walls.”
“Girl,” Cassie wiped tears from her eyes, “you dodged a BULLET. He sounds like an overgrown toddler.”
We all laughed. And for the first time, I felt free.
Months passed. Life settled. Dan was barely a thought—until he called.
“I’m getting married next month,” he said smugly. “Just thought you should know. Some women actually want me.”
“Congrats,” I said, and hung up.
A few weeks later, I saw him downtown. Holding hands with a woman.
At first, I ignored it. But then, she saw me.
“Oh my gosh, hey!” she waved, dragging him closer. “This is my fiancé—”
I smiled tightly. “Yeah, Dan. I know.”
Cassie’s face froze. “Wait… you KNOW each other?”
Dan looked like he wanted to disappear.
“Oh, we go WAY back,” I said casually.
Cassie’s eyes narrowed. “Wait. That story you told at book club… about the wallpaper… is that… HIM?”
Dan’s face turned white.
“Cassie, it’s not what you think—” Dan started.
“Oh, it’s EXACTLY what I think,” she snapped. “You lied to me. You said your ex was a monster! That she stole your kids! But YOU’RE the monster!”
She turned to me. “I’m so sorry, Nora. I had no idea.”
Then she turned back to Dan, ripped off her engagement ring, and threw it at him.
“You’re a walking red flag,” she spat. “I can’t believe I almost married you.”
And with that, she stormed off, leaving Dan standing there, humiliated.
That night, as I tucked Jack into bed, he smiled.
“Mom, remember when Dad took the wallpaper?”
I tensed. “Yeah, honey.”
“I’m glad,” he said. “The dinosaurs in my room are way cooler!”
Emma giggled. “And my butterflies! They’re so pretty!”
I looked around at the colorful walls. Walls that told OUR story.
I smiled. “I think so too.”
Because sometimes, you don’t need revenge. Just give karma a little time.
